The idea came to me in the shower.
What? Somebody had to do it.
C&C requested,
--Komodo
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Keep/5268/
********************
Part 1
Some time ago, there was a story about a young man who fell into a cursed
spring and from then on, whenever splashed with cold water, he would
transform into a girl. Hot water would change him back, but only until the
next time.
This is not that story.
For four million years ago, a very tragic thing happened. . .
********************
Jusenkyo Springs, The present. . .
"Ranma, are you sure you need to do this?"
"C'mon Uchan, I can beat pop anywhere and anywhen." Boasted the black haired
youth as he leapt up onto the bamboo pole that stuck straight up out of the
water. "Besides, its just water, what's the worst that could happen?"
********************
Jusenkyo Springs, Four million years ago. . .
Her breath came in short gasps as she limped her away across the narrow
ground. She could hear his footsteps, slow and measured as he pursued her impl
acably.
They were the only two survivors, and soon, there would be only one.
********************
Jusenkyo Springs, The present. . .
Ranma's opponent was a balding middle aged man with a large stomach. But upon
closer inspection, the fat was over forty-five years worth of hard muscle and
his movements were akin to a dancer's.
"Lets see how much you've learned boy." He growled.
********************
Jusenkyo Springs, Four million years ago. . .
"So there you are." She spun at the sound of his voice.
"What more do you want?" She demanded. "The volcano will forever be dormant.
Everyone but us is dead." She spread her arms wide. "It's over."
"Not quite." He raised his arm, indicating the landscape around them.
"What? Here? Now?" He nodded. He was serious, she realized. "One shall stand,
one shall fall?" She asked. He nodded as he set himself, raising his weapon
into position.
Sighing, she also got herself into position. The late afternoon sun was warm,
and she could hear a bird chirping.
It was a good day to die.
********************
Jusenkyo Springs, The present. . .
"This is not good. They standing over cursed springs." Ukyo turned to look at
the speaker, an older man in a green army uniform.
"What's not good?" She paused. "What cursed springs?
"All these springs!" He waved his arm. "Each one cursed. Very tragic story go
with each one. Whoever fall in take form of whatever drown there last."
"Like?" She asked.
"Over there." He said, indicating a spring several yards from where Ranma and
his father traded blows. "Spring of Drowned Girl. Very Tragic story of girl
who drown in spring one thousand two hundred year ago. Now whoever fall in
spring take form of drowned girl."
"And over there?" She asked indicating a spring near where Gemma Saotome,
Ranma's father, had landed.
"Spring of drowned Panda. Very Tragic legend of Panda Bear that drown there-"
"I get the idea." She interrupted, starting forward. "I have to stop them!"
"Wait!" She froze and looked back.
"What?"
"You about to step in Spring of Drowned Boy!" Ukyo looked down, her upraised
foot was hovering over one of the springs. Carefully pulling out the spatula
she carried slung across her back, she pushed against the bamboo pole with
it, sending her stumbling back. Turning, she carefully made her way back to
where the Guide stood, staring at her with something akin to awe.
"What?" She asked.
"You listen to me?"
"Why wouldn't I? You know this place better then I do."
"Oh miss!" He cried, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. "You first person
to listen to me in fifty years!" Unsure what else to do, Ukyo patted the
Guide on the back even as her eyes were drawn to where Ranma and Gemma leapt
at each other.
Now what was she supposed to do?
********************
Jusenkyo Springs, Four million years ago. . .
They stood there, facing each other. Every part of her hurt. He wasn't faring
much better from the looks of things.
"Hm. The first star of the evening." He said thoughtfully. She followed his
gaze upwards, where a single pinprick of light glowed in the sky.
"Its a planet you know." She said quietly. "Venus, I think."
"Ah yes, named for Greek Goddess of Love." He shook his head. "Humans have
such strange notions."
"It makes them special." She said.
"Perhaps." He gazed at the star for a moment longer. "Sentiment. . ." Then he
let out a sigh and looked at her. "It seems we are at a stalemate."
"It seems that way." She agreed cautiously.
"It is fortunate that we are here then."
"Oh?"
"Oh yes." He turned and walked away from her. "The springs are very special.
He stopped at one of them and tossed something in. "Good-bye my dear." With
that, he jumped in.
He never resurfaced.
********************
Jusenkyo Springs, The present. . .
Ranma landed on the bamboo pole, watching as his father plunged into the
spring. He wasn't worried, the man had swam to China from Japan and any
second, the old goat would come leaping out and they could continue.
What came out though, was a large Panda Bear.
Naturally, Ranma was surprised. He was even more surprised when the Panda
executed a perfect punch combo that sent him flying into another spring.
********************
Jusenkyo Springs, Four million years ago. . .
She sat there, watching as the fire slowly roasted the rabbit. Her kind
didn't really need food, but it helped. Besides, it was only fitting that she
have a last meal.
Laying back on the grass, she looked up at the stars overhead. Her foe's last
words about the springs kept running through her head.
What made these springs so special that he would kill himself?
Special Springs. . .Special Springs. It tickled her memory. Something she had
read about special-Curse her blasted memory!
Wait.
Cursed. . .cursed springs?
"Of course! The Cursed Springs of Jusenkyo!" She exclaimed sitting straight
up. "But the springs only change your form. . ." She mused. Wait. He had
thrown something in before he jumped in. Closing her eyes, she ran the memory
through her mind.
She saw him toss the object in and froze it right there. What was it? She
pulled it in.
It was difficult to make out details, but it looked like a parasite drone,
designed to bring out of control drones under control by rewriting their
programs. Most people carried one, you never knew.
But why-unless he had-
She swore loudly even as she took hers out and the small tool kit she carried.
Two could play that game.
When she was done, she tossed the remains of dinner into the bushes and
carefully buried the remains of the fire.
Then she walked over to the nearest spring and stood there, staring at the
inky waters.
What she was about to do was probably the longest shot anyone had ever tried.
There was no garuntee it would work.
"But to do nothing, is the greatest sin of all." She said quietly as she
tossed the parasite drone in.
Then she jumped in.
********************
Tendo Anything Goes School of Martial Arts.
Nerima Ward, Tokyo, Japan. Present Day.
"What?!" Yelled the black haired girl.
"Now calm down Akane." Soun Tendo ventured. "The agreement was made before
even Kasumi was born-"
"This is the twenty first century!" Akane yelled.
"Actually, the twenty first century doesn't start until next year Akane."
"Shut up Nabiki!" Akane yelled and turned back to her father. "Arranged
Marriages went out with Samurais and. . .and Ninjas!"
"Now that's enough!" Soun snapped. "The arrangement was made and you will
abide by it! One of you will marry Gemma's son Ranma, uniting the schools and
that's that!"
"Yes Father." They chorused.
"Very good." Soun said as a knock was heard. "Ah, that must be Gemma." He
said, and exited the room.
"I can't believe he set this up!" Akane seethed between clenched teeth.
"Well maybe he's a Prince Charming." Nabiki said.
"And maybe he's a toad." Akane grumbled as Soun returned with a young man.
"He seems nice." Kasumi said.
"Hmph!" Akane said.
"Girls, This is Ranma Saotome." Soun said, making introductions. "Ranma, this
is Kasumi, Nabiki, and Akane."
"Uh. . .hi." He said, wilting under the gaze of Akane.
"Tendo!" Came the loud voice from the door, turning, they saw a large man in
a white gi enter trailed by a boy with a huge spatula slung across his back.
"Saotome!" Tendo yelled and the two men embraced in a bear hug. "And who's
this?" He asked, turning to the boy who was leaning the spatula against the
wall.
"You remember Ukyo don't you Tendo?"
"Little Ucchan?" Soun asked looking at Ukyo.
"Well she's not so little anymore!" Both men laughed.
"Um?" Ranma spoke up. Everyone looked at him. "Which way to the. . .uh. . .?
"Up the stairs, to the left, first door on your left." Nabiki said.
"Thanks." Ranma said and dashed upstairs.
"He's cute." Nabiki said.
"Fine." Akane said, picking up a copy of the Urusei Yatsura manga and opening
it. "You can marry him." Nabiki didn't answer, but she was staring at the
stairs thoughtfully.
********************
Ranma carefully dried his hands and sighed. What was he going to do when they
found out?
"Its not like you have to stay here." Said a woman's voice.
"Huh?"
"We really need to get back to those springs." The voice continued. "If
someone falls in before we can drown a rabbit or something in that spring,
we're all in trouble."
"Who?"
"Look in the mirror." Ranma raised his eyes to the mirror and was startled to
see his cursed form staring back. He looked back at his hands. Yep. Human
hands.
"What's your name?" Asked the mirror.
"Uh. . .Ranma. Ranma Saotome."
"Mine's Airazor. Looks like you and I need to have a talk."