Letters to Home
A Ranma ½ Fanfic
Disclaimer: This fiction is based on characters created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, etc. These characters are not used with permission with the creator/owner.
Note: This is the first fic I*ve attempted to write in quite a while, so constructive criticism would be appreciated. You*ll note that this is an *altaverse/alternate setting fic.* The nature of the difference, I think, should be obvious rather early. Please let me know if this assumption is in error or if you have any questions.
Also, I know that Ranma is a little OOC with regard to his *speech* patterns here. Then again, since these are written letters, and I can*t recall ever seeing an example of Ranma*s writing in the manga, so maybe it*s OK. Let me know.
Finally, don*t be gentle. If the fic just plain sucks, say so. But please tell me what I can do to fix it.
Well, without further ado:
Letters to Home Part 1
*****
RECRUITMENT
MINISTRY OF WAR
KASUMIGASEKI
TOKYO
September 14, 1941
Saotome Ranma
Tendo-ke
Nerima, Tokyo
You are hereby notified that your country has need of your services in honorable combat against the enemies of Japan. You are ordered to report for duty at 0800 on September 17, 1940 at Akachida Base in Tama City, Tokyo Prefecture.
(signed)
Gen. Matsuda Yoshifune
*****
September 24, 1941
Saotome Genma
Tendo-ke
Nerima, Tokyo
Oyaji,
I*ve finished my first week of basic training. Five more to go. What a bore. They*re teaching us in how to fight, but it*s not what any real martial artist would consider training. Except for getting up early, it*s completely different from any of the training we*ve done. The first thing we have to do when we get up is make our beds and make ourselves presentable! I mean, they*re making us shave and wash up in the morning before we do anything else. It*s ridiculous. I guess they don*t expect us to get attacked in our sleep or anything.
Then there*s the training, if you can call it that. Most of it is just marching around all over the place holding guns. Even Kuno finds it boring. When I think about how little smarts he has, I think that*s saying something. But they have us do it all the time. Marching in formation here. Marching in formation there. As if we*d ever march in formation in an actual battle.
And the combat exercises are no use, either. A whole week*s gone by and I haven*t even fired my gun yet. All we*ve done is practicing pointing our guns! Like that*s going to help. And what little bit of hand to hand fighting they*ve had us practice is useless, too. Mostly its stabbing a bag of sand with a bayonet. We*re not even sparring. It*s so bad that Ryoga and I have called a truce for the duration so we can spar just to stay in shape. I*m sure if we didn*t do this, my skills would just get worse and worse for not using them. I tell you, oyaji, when I get back, we have got to go on a training mission just so I can get back to where I was when I left. I haven*t lost anything yet, but after 6 weeks of this nonsense and a 2 year tour of duty, I might be worse than Kasumi. Just kidding. But you know what I mean.
It*s really sad. I don*t feel so bad for me or Ryoga or Kuno. Even though he ain*t at my or Ryoga*s level, Kuno is a decent martial artist and should be able to handle himself if we ever see any actual fighting. But I have to worry about Hiroshi and Daisuke. What happens to them, or any of the other soldiers in our platoon, if we do get into a fight? They*re not learning anything that could help them in a fight here. They could get killed. I really don*t like thinking about it.
Well, there are another 5 weeks left. Maybe they*ll teach these other guys something that will help keep them alive in that time.
Say hi to everyone for me.
Ranma
*****
October 30, 1941
Saotome Genma
Tendo-ke
Nerima, Tokyo
Oyaji,
Well, basic training is over. It hasn*t gotten any better since I last wrote you. That*s why I haven*t written again until now. There*s just nothing going on worth talking about. Even school was better than basic training. At least at school I got to fight with Kuno on occasion, even if it didn*t improve my skills much.
At least it doesn*t look like we*ll see any combat. The colonel told us we*re not going to the war in China. I*m glad. Even though it*d be a good opportunity for me and Ryoga to get back to Jusenkyo, it*d be weird if I had to fight against the Chinese after hanging around Shampoo, Mousse and the ghoul. And at least Hiroshi, Daisuke, and the others won*t be put in any danger. But I can*t figure out why they drafted us if we*re not going to China.
Say hi to Mom and the Tendos for me.
Ranma
*****
November 8, 1941
Saotome Genma
Tendo-ke
Nerima, Tokyo
Oyaji,
They*re shipping us out to Indochina. I guess we*ve been drafted for garrison duty. At least we*re not going to see combat. I dunno how long we*re going to be there. Hopefully, I*ll be able to take a furlough and visit in a few months. Other than that, nothing is going on. Just more marching and drilling. I thought that would be through once we finished basic training, but I guess not.
Tell Mom I love her and say hi to the Tendos for me.
Ranma
*****
December 8, 1941
Saotome Nodoka
Tendo-ke
Nerima, Tokyo
Ofukuro,
I*m sure you*ve heard about Japan declaring war on the United States and Britain. You don*t need to worry about me, though. We*re still in Indochina. Apparently, we were drafted in order to maintain the garrison in Indochina while the units that were already here attacked the British. To be honest, I kinda wish we were going, because garrison duty is extremely boring. But it*s just as well. Even though I*m sure me and Ryoga would be fine, I*d worry about the other guys in our platoon.
Say hi to Dad for me.
Ranma
*****
December 28, 1941
Tendo Akane
Tendo-ke
Nerima, Tokyo
Akane,
I got your letter. You don*t have to worry. Yeah, we*ve all heard about the start of the war with the United States and Britain. I*m still in Indochina. We were just drafted in order to maintain the garrison in Indochina while the units that were already here attacked the British. Nothing*s happening here, though. The only danger is I might die from boredom.
Ryoga and everybody are fine. I*m sure you*ve been getting letters from Ryoga, so you know how he*s doing. Kuno keeps ranting about the time lost that he could be with you. He*s actually getting worse. Shortly after we heard about the attack on Hawaii I got splashed. You should have heard the speech Kuno gave about *his* pig-tailed girl coming to see for herself that he was still safe. Then he started crying at the thought of me *coming all the way from Japan the instant his life was in danger.* The only danger he*s been in is from the *pig-tailed girl.* It*s also weird that he thinks that the *pig-tailed girl* could have come down from Japan to see him in less than a day, or that nonmilitary personnel would be allowed to come to Indochina. Then again, this is Kuno, so I shouldn*t be surprised.
Seriously, though, that*s been the only noteworthy thing going on. The military sure hasn*t been like Nerima. It seemed like not a day could go by without something totally crazy going on. Here, it*s like watching paint dry. Garrison duty has so far consisted of sitting at my post looking out for an attack that you know damn well will never come. The only relief is we occasionally get to go out on patrol, looking for enemies that aren*t there. I had always thought the military would be kind of interesting, but I*d rather be back in school. This is just terrible. I miss Nerima. At least there, life was interesting. Here, you*re either on duty, which is horribly boring, or you*re off duty, which is only marginally better. You just talk to the same guys about the same things. You almost wish you*d go into combat just to have something to do. I dunno. As I told oyaji, I don*t think me, Ryoga, or even Kuno would be in any real danger if we were to see any fighting, but I have to wonder how the rest of these guys would do. That basic training didn*t teach anybody anything. I hope for Hiroshi and Daisuke*s sake that we don*t go anywhere where there*s fighting.
I never thought I*d say this, but I am really grateful Ryoga is here. I think I*d go crazy if I didn*t have someone at about my level to spar with. We*ve called a truce while we*re out here, but we still spar as it*s the only thing to do.
Say hi to Mom and Dad and your family. It was good to hear from you. We*re safe here in our garrison, so don*t worry about us. I*ll write you again soon.
Ranma
*****
December 31, 1941
Saotome Genma
Tendo-ke
Nerima, Tokyo
Oyaji,
Don*t tell Mom or the Tendos about this, but I just found out that we*re shipping out. We*re apparently going to Siam. Not sure why yet, but I have my suspicions. Don*t let on to anybody else that you know this. I just want to you know what*s happening so, if something does happen, it won*t be a surprise. Don*t worry, you know I*ll be all right, but I may not be able to write to you for a while.
Also, could you do me a favor? I told Akane that I*d write her again soon (don*t get any ideas). Since I don*t know when I*ll be able to write again, could you cover for me if she starts to get worried? Just show her the letters I already sent to you and remind her how boring garrison duty is and tell her you*re sure it*s just because I*ve had nothing to write about, OK?
Thanks, Ranma
*****
End Part 1
Author*s notes: OK, this is pretty short, I admit. But I felt this was a good stopping point for part 1, since this is mainly exposition and there isn*t a whole lot in the way of plot yet.
So, what do y*all think?