First off, I'd like to point out that this is by no means an original
idea. I've seen many spamfics that used it, but never an actual fic. I've
heard complaints about it before, and realized the reason why.
Your average fanfic writer doesn't know enough about Ruroni Kenshin to
deal with something like this. Mostly because it hasn't yet been released
in the US. Thankfully that will be remedied in about a month or so when
the first Ruroni Kenshin video comes out. [Yatta!]
Secondly, I'd like to mention that this is not the product of the recent
spamfic that hit the list, I was entertained by it, but the idea was in
my head far before then. I thought of this when I was reading the Ruroni
Kenshin Manga. I have it all, I bought it at a flea market about two
weeks ago, and it's the complete set. [Taking a moment to weep tears of
joy once again.]
I still haven't finished with it; I just finished the part where they
find out about Kaoru during the Enishi story near the end. [I don't want
to give too much away yet...]
Anyway, here's the fic...
Ruroni Ranma.
Part one, Here's Ranma.
1975...
Nodoka Saotome looked down at her son as he stood proudly with his
father, a shinai was strapped across his back just behind his traveling
bag as he stood and simply smiled at her. She fell to her knees and
smiled at him gently as she pulled him into a gentle hug. "Remember my
son, do not forget your heritage while on your voyage, no matter what
your father tells you." she whispered into his hear. Genma looked away in
frustrated and impatient embarrassment as he eagerly awaited the journey
he was about to embark on with his son. The boy would learn the Anything
Goes style of Martial Arts and forget this foolishness his mother had
implanted in his head. The bamboo practice sword would be thrown out at
the earliest convenience once they left the home.
The boy returned his mothers embrace and simply whispered his answer.
"Hai." Without the elder Saotome noticing she slipped an aged looking
scroll into the boy's backpack.
"When we return, our son will be a true man," announced Genma as he
pulled the boy away.
Nodoka merely nodded and said nothing more as she watched her son leave.
Her instruction had been minimal, and the fact that her own skills with
the blade would be considered atrocious by any master of the art. Still,
she had a faint hope that her own son would secretly carry on her family
style. She bowed her head slightly and turned back into the house having
only her memories to comfort her.
1979...
Ranma Saotome stood in a vacant lot and stared patiently at the street.
"Boy," growled his father angrily.
"I will not leave until he comes," replied Ranma firmly. He simply stood
waiting, the blade at his side kept his father at bay. He knew better
than to press the boy's honor. His son had been practicing with a sword
in secret for most of the journey. Waking up in the night and sneaking
away into the shadows, Genma had ignored it at first, waiting until the
boy's exhaustion would tire him of the game. Unfortunately that day never
came. Ranma just became more and more focused on his mother's arts. After
about three years of vainly hoping that the boy would give up the blade,
he confronted his son. The battle had been remarkably short and Genma
decided to allow the boy to continue to practice his art; so long as it
did not interfere with his training.
Ranma smiled at his father's wary gaze, the shinai had long ago been
destroyed, it was replaced by a worn looking Bokuto. The boy was
progressing favorably in the family school, but his skills with the sword
were down right frightening to the man. If he ever got his hands on the
family blade Genma would have more fear of him than his own wife. Ranma
was not aware of this of course, but still the elder Saotome decided to
wait another day for his son's rival to appear.
On the fourth day, Ryoga Hibiki arrived. He was dressed in black
traveling clothes with a yellow and black bandana tied across his
forehead. He stood firmly opposite Ranma and smiled. "So, you had the
guts to show up?"
Ranma merely nodded his head and smiled. "The same could be said of
you." There was a ferociousness in his eyes that only served to
strengthen the Hibiki boy's resolve. "I will not be so easily beaten!"
Ranma merely took up a loose kenpo stance and waited. Ryoga charged
forward screaming in rage as the pair collided. His fist slammed into
Ranma's face sending the boy back with a look of shock on his face as he
staggered under the force of the boy.
He recovered instantly and kicked out his leg taking the boy in the jaw
and lifting him off the ground sending him sprawling across the ground.
Hibiki reacted true to form and recovered instantly rising to his feet
just as Ranma slammed his foot into the ground where he had been a moment
before. They stood and charged again, Ryoga faced the wrong direction and
glanced around in confusion before paying for his mistake as he received
a hard kick in the back of his head. Taking advantage of the situation
Ranma pulled Ryoga into a definite hold as he locked his arms around his
neck and squeezed slowly.
Ryoga screamed in rage, but slammed his palm on the ground signaling his
defeat. "Damn you Ranma."
The boy smiled at his opponent and flipped his ponytail back over his
shoulder. "It was a good match, I hope you're stronger when I return."
Ryoga looked up at him from his place on the ground in surprise. "You're
going somewhere?" His voice almost sounded hopeful, but also disappointed
at the same time.
"See you around Hibiki," said the boy as he walked off and met his
father in the middle of the road. Genma looked back and sighed as he
watched his son's rival stare at them in shock as they walked away. He
would miss the boy, he had been good for Ranma; but his training would
progress too slowly even if he remained here with him as a rival. The
best way for them was to move on, besides, he owed rent money on the
apartment anyway.
Ryoga simply watched as they vanished into the sunset. Ranma Saotome was
indeed an honorable man, he had waited four days for him to arrive and
given him a good fight. "All right Saotome, when you return, Ryoga Hibiki
will be your strongest opponent!" He pulled his bag over his shoulder and
turned away for his own voyage of training.
1985...
"Tendo, coming from China, Saotome."
Soun Tendo held the postcard in his hand as he trembled and simply
stared at it in disbelief. "Oh, how I've waited for this day..."
A few moments late his daughters sat around the table staring at their
father in shock. "Is he cute?" asked Nabiki shrewdly.
"Oh my, I hope he's older, younger men are so...young," gasped Kasumi
with a worried look on her face.
"I don't know, I've never met him," replied Soun honestly. The girls
looked at him for a moment when a noise came from the hallway. Soun stood
up and rushed to the door with an excited look on his face. Kasumi and
Nabiki followed close behind him while Akane merely scowled angrily.
Soun threw open the door to greet the newcomer and stopped as a boy of
about sixteen years old stood with his hand in a knock and looked at him
blankly. On his face was a cross shaped scar, his hair fell back into a
long ponytail, and his dress was that of a traditional samurai, although
the red and black color scheme was a little unusual. Soun froze in place
as he saw the scabbard hanging at the boy's side.
The boy merely looked at him and cocked his head slightly. "Oro?"
"Oh my," said Kasumi as she was uncertain of what to do at the moment.
"Is this the Tendo residence?" asked the boy cheerfully.
Soun flustered for a moment and regained himself. "Yes, why yes it is."
"I'm Ranma Saotome, pleased to meet you," replied the boy as he bowed to
them politely.
Soun grabbed him in a rough hug instantly and squeezed him. "Oh, I'm so
glad you came! Tell me, where is your father?"
Ranma looked down at the ground and said nothing for a moment. "He's
dead."
Soun Tendo decided that the information was too much for his brain and
passed out.
Ranma turned towards Kasumi and smiled at her warmly. "Is there a place
I can put this?" He held up his bamboo umbrella. The girl blinked for a
moment and indicated the umbrella stand by the door.
Nabiki sat with the boy at the table with her two sisters flanking her
on either side. "So, who are you?"
"Ranma Saotome," replied the boy cheerfully.
"Why are you here?" snapped Akane.
Ranma looked confused for a moment. "Oro? Didn't your father tell you?
I'm supposed to marry one of you and continue the school of martial arts
in my father's name."
Everyone looked at him for a moment. "You knew about this?"
"Of course, it was my father's dying wish that I come here to honor the
agreement," replied Ranma with a small shrug.
"Oh my, a final request!" said Kasumi with a horrified expression on her
face.
"Yes, I'm afraid I intend to honor my father's wishes, I'm sorry if you
were hoping to convince me otherwise."
Akane's face softened a little, but her glare remained. "I don't care
why you're here. I'm not marrying anybody!"
"I suppose I'll just have to choose someone else then," replied Ranma
simply as he turned his gaze towards Nabiki and Kasumi.
Soun sat up and remained silent as he took up his place at the head of
the table. "Tell me, Saotome is he really..."
"I'm afraid so, he died honorably," said Ranma simply as his face took
on a seriousness that the girls had yet to see from him.
"How?" asked Soun.
"In the final battle of Jusendo, against the Musk Dynasty," answered
Ranma coldly.
"You were involved with that?" asked Akane as her eyes suddenly became
wide in shock. Her sister's reactions were similar.
It was no small matter, several years ago war had erupted in China
between three factions, the Chinese Government, the Musk Dynasty, and The
Joketsuko. In the end the Chinese government had won, but at heavy cost.
An alliance between them and the Joketsuko was formed, they all but wiped
out the Musk Tribe.
"Yes, we were forced into service in the Chinese military, we fought
bravely until the end for the cause," replied Ranma simply.
"I'm sorry," said Kasumi gently.
Ranma snorted, "I would have joined even if they hadn't forced us."
Akane nodded as her eyes fell on the sword that hung at Ranma's side,
the Japanese government had sympathized with the communist government
despite past relations with them. Japan was against the Musk and what
they represented during the course of the drawn out war that lasted
almost nine years. Herb was a monarch, a complete and total ruler. His
rise to power had shaken many of the democracies around the world.
Soun smiled at the boy and took him by the shoulder. "Well, now that
you're here, these are my three daughters! Pick anyone you like and
she'll be your new fianc�e!"
Ranma blinked and his serious face was gone in an instant. "Oro?"
"Oh, he want's Akane!" said Nabiki sweetly.
"Most definitely," agreed Kasumi as they pushed their younger sister
towards him.
"What? Why would I...?" snapped Akane before Nabiki cut her off.
"He's one of those strong martial artist types, you two should get along
well!" reasoned the girl desperately.
"He is a bit young, perhaps you'll grow to love him?" said Kasumi
cheerfully.
"Oro?" said Ranma as he looked at her as she crossed her arms and looked
away from him purposefully. "I guess you're stuck with me then?"
Akane glared at him with a stare that was almost pure hatred. "I'm
leaving," she stomped up to her room and slammed the door, after a moment
it opened back up and she stuck her head out again. "I'm not marrying
him!"
Soun looked at Ranma and smiled. "Don't worry, just give her a little
time, she'll warm up to you."
Ranma merely blinked again and opened his mouth. Nabiki covered it
quickly. "Oro?" Right?" she said in a deadpan voice.
Ranma smiled and nodded his head.
Soun looked at the board in shock, he had intended to sit and reminisce
about his old friend while playing a friendly game of Shogi with the
man's son. Unfortunately, the boy was wiping the floor with him quite
nicely, despite the fact that he was cheating as much as possible under
the boy's careful gaze.
Ranma started a casual conversation. "So, how is the dojo doing?"
Soun looked up at him and blinked as he realized he had been asked a
question. "Well enough, we don't take many students nowadays."
"That's too bad," replied Ranma with a shrug as he placed a tile down on
the board.
Soun looked back and fourth between his side and Ranma's and started to
sweat a little. "It seems you have me."
"It does?" said Ranma as he raised his eyebrow slightly and looked at
the board, he saw at least three ways Tendo could retaliate. "So tell me
Tendo, what kind of girl is your daughter?"
"Ah, trying to find out what you've gotten yourself into now?" asked the
man as he leaned over the board and pat his shoulder.
"Something like that," replied Ranma with a knowing smile.
"Well, her measurements are twenty-seven..." started Soun.
Ranma merely blinked and stared at the man in shock. "Oro?"
A few moments later Kasumi walked up to Ranma with a small armload of
sheets. "I'll show you to your room Ranma."
"Thank you," replied the boy with a pleasant smile as he stood up.
Kasumi blinked and felt a tiny pang of regret for dumping him off on
Akane, he seemed like such a nice boy. She shook the thoughts away, he
was after all, still a boy.
As she led him into the spare room she turned to see him placing his
traveling bag on the ground and glancing around at the windows and the
closet carefully. The boy smiled and bowed to her, "Thank you again
Tendo."
"Oh, you can call me big sister if you want too!" she replied cheerfully
and blushed at her reaction to his formality.
"How about, just Kasumi for now?" said Ranma wryly.
"That will be fine," replied the girl. "Would you like to take a bath
now? I just filled up the furo a short time ago."
"I'd like that, thank you," said Ranma warmly.
A few moments later he sat on a stool looking at his reflection in the
mirror. His hair dripped with the water he had dumped over his head and
ran down his breast creating a strange yet familiar sensation. Ranma-chan
sighed heavily as she stared at herself and stood up turning her back and
inspecting herself. "How do I tell them about this?" she wondered out
loud.
After a moment she stepped into the water and relaxed feeling the change
overtake her again. "This is nice."
His hand shot out to the hilt of his blade as a sound caught his
attention just outside the doorway. After a moment he realized where he
was and replaced it back in the corner carefully as the intruder walked
back out the door.
Akane looked at the basket and saw Ranma's clothes there. She frowned
slightly and turned back out the door. "Kasumi, why did you tell me the
bath was ready when Ranma's already in there?"
"Sorry, I must have forgot about him," replied her sister sweetly as she
stuck her head out of the kitchen.
It was evening, Ranma stood out in the yard and breathed calmly as he
stood silently with a shinai in his hands. He slowly opened his eyes and
stepped forward in the first motion of a slow kata. His movements were
smooth and precise, nothing fast or particularly flashy. It was
flawlessly executed though.
Nearby just inside the house Nabiki Tendo watched carefully while eating
a bag of chips. Beside her Akane sat staring at the spectacle only half
way interested. "What style is that? It isn't Anything Goes..." she
commented.
Ranma appeared beside her with his grin still plastered on his face.
"It's called Hiten Mitsurugi style Batoujutsu."
Akane blinked for a moment and stared at him, she hadn't even realized
he was finished yet. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" She slapped him
across his face and he merely stood there looking at her.
"Oro."
"Very impressive," noted Soun calmly as he nodded in approval. "I take
it you learned it while you were in China. I've heard rumors of a
Japanese man who killed with decisive efficiency during the wars. Did you
happen to meet him?"
"He was called Battosai," said Nabiki as her father handed her a small
yen bill with a questioning look on his face.
"Thank you Nabiki, tell me Ranma, did you know this Battosai?" said Soun
cheerfully.
"The name does sound familiar, I've been practicing Hiten Mitsurugi
style almost as long as Anything Goes. I don't remember where I learned
it, but it is very important to me for some reason. I can not stop, I
think it was a promise I made..." the boy trailed off and looked into the
distance outside.
"Hmm, I see. Well, I suppose we can spar a little tomorrow after you get
back from school, I'm getting out of practice myself," said Soun
cheerfully.
"Oro?" said Ranma as he whipped his head around with a confused look on
his face. "School?"
"Well, you are going to be staying a while Saotome," replied the man
calmly.
"I suppose you're right, I should, I kind of forgot what with all the
excitement over the past few years," said Ranma with a small laugh as he
scratched the back of his head.
"Honestly," growled Akane half-heartedly as she turned away from the
men.
TBC...
Well, this is fun. I kind of needed a break from Nerima Park. I'll
probably write more of Permanent tomorrow. Plus I like this one, so I
might do more of it fairly quickly. I haven't completely decided exactly
what to add to this from Ruroni Kenshin either. I'll just have to wait
and see how this comes out...
Next time: Clash of the two samurai.
Should be interesting...
C&C to: Carrotglace@juno.com.