Okay. After reading all of the C&C I got back
from this the first time, I sifted through the one or
two flames and began digesting all the constructive
comments I recieved. One of my pre-readers ( The only
one who happens to know the whole plot.) told me I
wasn't communicating the main story well enough.
Between this and several replies that stated similar
comments I decided to tweek things here and there.
Unfortunatly I also recieved my next duty station
assignment and was told i have to pack up and go
there. So between packing and moving (From Patuxent
River Naval base to Oceana Naval base.) and a standard
Navy 12 hour work day, it's taken me a while to get
this back onto the list. I do take this time to
appologize to you all.
Thanks to all of you who are my pre-readers for
making this at least readable. I hope you all enjoy
this.
Neil K.
*******************************************************
Story Key:
"speaking in Japanese"
"<speaking in English>"
*Thinking*
Ranma 1/2 is Rumiko Takahashi's sole creation. I
hold no clames to it or her charicters. I do this for
fun and not profit.
Claire is a trademark of Wildfire studios. 1999-2000
*******************************************************
Ranma 1/2: Forgive and Forget.
Episode 1: Here's Claire!
It was his fifth time around on the baggage carousel.
He was sitting between a rather sad-looking suitcase
and an overstuffed duffel bag. He was tired, but
hopeful. Hopeful that his next trip around would show
him ANY familiar landmark.
*Akane, I'm coming home to you!* P-Chan vowed.
As he slid under the flaps for the twenty-third time,
P-Chan noticed a great deal of activity. He stood up
and began to look around. *Akane?!*
WHAM!!!!
A heavy canvas sea bag landed on the hapless piglet.
Ranma stood at the terminal watching people file out
of the gate, his eyes searching for a particular face.
He and Kasumi had been there for over an hour and a
half waiting for the plane. Now, after a half hour
delay it was here. He saw the girl he was looking for
come walking out into the terminal.
She was tall for a girl, almost the same height as
he was. Dressed in a dark green, button-down shirt
and blue jeans that clung to her in very flattering
ways; her skin was a dark honey brown with a faint red
tint. It was accented by long, raven black hair that
flowed down her back to her waist. Her bangs where
kept from her eyes with a yellow, woven bandanna with
red and black triangles on it.
"Hey, I think that's her," Ranma stated. Kasumi
looked up from the magazine she'd been reading. Sure
enough it was her. Kasumi waved at the girl, who
began to walk over to them smiling.
<"Claire?"> Kasumi asked in English.
"Hello Kasumi," the dark-skinned girl replied in
Japanese.
Ranma watched as the two girls gave each other a big
hug. * Oh man, What has she gotten us into?* he
thought.
<" This is my younger sister Akane's fiance Ranma,">
Kasumi motioned to Ranma. "Ranma, This is Claire
Walters. My friend from America."
Ranma Bowed to Cliare. <"Hello. It is nice to meet
you."> It had been a while since he had to use
English but he found he was remembering enough.
The trio made their way over to the baggage claim.
Ranma half listened to Kasumi and Claire talk and
giggle. He couldn't get over the thought that
something bad was going to come from all of this.
Kasumi first told them that she wanted to host the
girl she had been pen-pals with since grade school as
a foreign exchange student back at the beginning of
the summer. She explained that she had taken it up
with Soun and he had agreed. Since Master Happosai
had disappeared six months earlier searching China for
the legendary Amazon Undergarments of Immortality,
things were now calm enough for Kasumi's request. The
family decided it would be okay, after all, Kasumi had
suggested it and nothing ill ever came from one of her
suggestions.
Now here they were preparing to head back to the
Tendo home with a young woman who in all likelihood
had no idea of what she was about to enter. Ranma's
brain began rehearsing all the apologies and
explanations he knew were going to come.
When they got home Kasumi began dinner while Ranma
took Claire up to her room.
<"it's not much but...."> Ranma began.
"It's just fine." She replied in Japanese. Claire set
her canvas sea bag down next to the futon and followed
Ranma downstairs. Neither of them noticed that the top
of her luggage was moving.
Ranma gave Claire a tour of the house while Kasumi
made dinner.
"I'm Claire. It's nice to meet you." She sat down
at the table as the rest of the family gathered.
Soun gestured to a girl with short brown hair who
had sat down next to him. "This is my second
daughter, Nabiki." The girl waved and smiled. Claire
smiled and nodded her head. "This is my dear friend
Genma Saotome. He's Ranma's father." A large bald
man bowed politely to her. Soun cleared his throat.
"Everyone, this is Claire Fontain, the foreign
exchange student from America that will be staying
with us for a while." Claire bowed her head to the
family.
"It's nice to meet you all. Thank you for having
me."
"It's our pleasure, really," Soun replied. With
that, Kasumi began serving dinner. Claire picked up
the chopsticks and gripped them as her Grandfather had
shown her. She wasn't quite sure where he had learned
to use them, but she had stopped questioning the old
medicine man's wisdom when she was six. She carefully
pinched a piece of stir-fry and began to eat.
It was extraordinary. Claire had never tasted food
this good before. She decided she could get used to
eating like this, or at the very least, eating
Kasumi's cooking. Between bites she answered
questions about where she'd come from and what life in
the States was like.
"So what tribe are you?" Nabiki asked.
"I'm Navajo," she replied. Claire looked at the
brown-haired girl and noted that she held herself in
tight check. Her movements were controlled; her gaze
was calculating and piercing. She wasn't sure what to
make of Nabiki. She seemed to be hiding something.
It made Claire uneasy.
For her part, Nabiki was sizing up Claire as well.
She noted that Claire was very calm. This seemed out
of place, as most people would be extremely nervous if
in her shoes. She seemed nice enough overall, maybe a
bit too eager to please, but she decided she'd live
with that well enough.
"What are you studying?" Nabiki continued.
"Business administration. I've always had a head for
figures. My Grandfather says I get it from my
father."
"Really?" Nabiki's voice rose slightly. "Same here.
I'm looking more into the accounting side of the
house, how about you?"
"Upper level management mostly. I'm thinking about
going to work for the tribe's new casino after
college. It's good money and it gives back to the
reservation."
Nabiki mulled over these new bits of data as she
continued eating. The girl was good with numbers and
had a strong loyalty to her people. She didn't know
what to think of the latter quality. It was a good
trait but could be trouble under different
circumstances. Nabiki chalked it up as an unknown
variable she'd have to monitor as the situation
warranted. At the very least she now had someone with
whom to talk shop. This made Nabiki smile to herself.
After dinner Nabiki and Claire headed upstairs to
their rooms while Akane headed to the dojo to work
out. Soun sat down at the shogi board for his nightly
match with Genma. He was happy to see his house not
just quiet but peaceful. It was a welcome change to
the ordinary routine.
Ranma began his nightly stretching regime on the
verandah. He could hear Akane out in the dojo
pounding away at one of the training dummies as she
had been doing for a while now. He wasn't sure what
had sparked it off but Akane was acting differently
lately. He continued to ponder this thought as he
rolled over and began doing push-ups on his
fingertips. She no longer just worked out now. She
seemed to be trying to develop her accuracy and
balance. Ranma had to admit she was getting better.
Finishing his push-ups, Ranma walked back into the
living room. Nabiki was walking down the hall to the
bath and Claire had headed upstairs to unpack. The
house was quiet save for the sound of Kasumi doing the
dishes and the occasional "Hmmmmm." from his dad or
Mr. Tendo as they battled it out on the shogi board.
He turned on the TV and began doing his crunches while
watching.
Akane leapt at the training dummy and let out a
flurry of punches to its midriff. Landing back in
almost the exact same spot, she smiled. All her
punches had landed where she had wanted them except
for one or two that were a little off, but with a
little more practice....
As she debated having another round of assaults on
the dummies she had placed out, a cold, wet nose at
her ankle interrupted her thoughts.
"P-Chan!" She gleefully scooped up the small piglet
and hugged him to her. "Where have you been? It's
been over a month," she chided as she held him up to
see if he was well. Seeing that he was a little weary
but otherwise none the worse for wear, she resumed
hugging and cuddling the little pig "You've had me so
worried." She headed for the house. P-chan enjoyed
himself thoroughly as he snuggled deep into Akane's
loving embrace.
Ranma was sitting in the living room watching TV when
Akane walked by toting P-Chan in her arms. He
exchanged glances with the little pig. P-chan stuck
out his tongue at Ranma and received a disgusted
"Humph" for his efforts. Unfortunately he wasn't the
only one to catch this reply.
"What was that for," Akane asked. "Don't tell me
your still jealous of P-Chan?"
"Why would I be jealous of a breakfast side order?"
Ranma shot back.
Akane was shocked at the thought of poor, cute little
P-Chan served up sizzling next to a side of eggs.
"That's disgusting! Ranma, you pervert, how could you
think of eating cute little P-Chan!"
"I'm a pervert? I'm not the one who sleeps with
livestock, you sexless tomboy." Ranma watched as she
hugged her precious pet more protectively. Ranma's
mouth saw the opportunity and before his brain could
remind him of how BAD an idea it would be, he spoke.
"Gee Akane, if your gonna hold him THAT close, why not
just stuff him in your shirt? I'm sure he wouldn't
mind." He realized what he'd said about a second too
late.
As Claire walked down the stairs, she heard Akane and
Ranma's voices coming from the living room. As she
rounded the steps and headed for the bath, she picked
up two words.
"DIE RANMA!"
Claire walked into the living room to a scene of
unimaginable violence.
Nabiki walked up beside the terrified girl,
seemingly oblivious to the carnage. "Don't worry,"
she said in a casual, if somewhat annoyed, voice.
"They do that all the time."
Nabiki continued to head upstairs while Claire nodded
nervously and headed to the bathroom. As she closed
the door she heard the sounds of a man shouting cut
off by a loud splash.
Having successfully defended sweet, innocent P-Chan's
honor, Akane picked up the slightly horrified piglet
and headed up to her room. Once in her room, Akane
set P-Chan down on her bed and began to get ready for
her bath. P-Chan wisely wrapped his ears down over
his eyes and tried not to imagine any visuals of what
he was hearing. "Stupid...BAKA!" she said as she
slipped out of her gi. "He can't just leave you
alone, can he, sweetie?" She turned and smiled at her
pet. "Oh, isn't that so cute?" She slipped on her
robe and walked over to the bed. "You covered your
widdle eyes for mommy's modesty." She scooped him up
and gave him a little kiss on his forehead. "Ooh,
you're so sweet. Not like Ranma!" Her voice
tightened over Ranma's name like a noose. She set the
pig back down and headed downstairs.
As Akane entered the changing area she noticed
Claire's headband on top of a pair of jeans and the
dark green button-up shirt the girl had worn earlier.
*Hmm. I guess we can both take our baths.* She
undressed and slid the door open.
There was a gasp. Akane immediately looked up.
Claire was standing under the shower at the far end of
the room, a look of surprise on her face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Akane
began. Somewhere in the back of her mind a little
voice whispered *deja vu.*
"It's ok. You just caught me by surprise," Claire
said nervously. She smiled through a deep blush and
resumed her shower. Akane sat down not far away and
began to lather herself.
Claire looked over at her, still feeling a little
uncomfortable. She was not used to people walking
into the bathroom and bathing right beside her. At
school in gym, it was different. This was a house.
" After being on that plane for so long this has to
be just what the doctor ordered," Akane said. Claire
tried not to act too uncomfortable but her mind would
not leave her alone.
"Yeah," she replied. * OK, this isn't so bad. A
little friendlier than I'm used to but.... * She
wasn't sure what to say to Akane. She was, to be
frank, a little nervous after witnessing the earlier
carnage.
"What's wrong, Claire?" Akane asked. She noticed
that Claire had stopped washing her hair and was
staring at her with a mix of thoughtfulness and
something not unlike fear.
"Huh?!? Uh I uh...was just thinking," Claire
stammered. "Akane? Is Ranma...uh is he going to be,
uh, OK?" She wasn't sure if it was out of place to ask
but it was the only thing that she could think of to
say.
Akane's face looked upset for a moment, then
embarrassed. "Yeah...." she said, blushing slightly.
"He's OK. We, tend to fight like that sometimes."
"Oh. I was on my way in here and kind of walked in
on you. I didn't mean to but...."
"It's ok, Claire."
Claire turned the shower off and started to leave.
She watched Akane pick up a small bowl of water and
rinse herself off. "Hey, Akane? Why didn't you use
the tub?"
Akane looked at Claire. "It's called a furo. We use
that for soaking after we bathe. It's really
relaxing, want to join me? We can talk some more."
Akane watched Claire mull it over. She seemed nervous
but something else seemed behind that. Something
Akane couldn't quite figure out.
"Sure," Claire said. * What the heck. It's not like
it'll kill me....* a little voice in the back of her
mind began to whisper to her. She shushed it up
quickly and swept it deeper into the recesses of her
mind. Why did it have to wait for the worst time to
bother her? Couldn't it wait until she needed it?
Akane leaned back and let out a long sigh. All of
her cares blew out with it. She could feel the hot
water slowly begin to unknot her muscles as it rose up
to the base of her shoulders.
Claire too was beginning to relax as the water worked
its therapeutic magic on her flight-weary body.
"Pretty good huh? Somedays I wish I could stay in
here forever." Akane stretched her legs out and leaned
her head against the wall of the furo.
" I'll say. This is...nice." Claire shifted a
little. Akane glanced over at her. She seemed to be
holding something back.
"Is everything OK, Claire? You seem upset."
Claire looked at Akane. She was silent for a moment.
"It's nothing, really," she replied.
Akane thought for a moment. "If it's about the
fight, don't worry. Ranma and I, we--" she paused.
"We fight like that all the time. Don't worry, in a
couple of hours it'll all be fine."
"Why?"
Akane was taken aback. She stammered for a moment
trying to come up with something to say. She fell
silent again as Claire began to speak.
"Why do you fight like that? Kasumi said in her
letters that you two made a very nice couple. That he
was very sweet to you even if you both got on each
other's bad sides every now and then. On the train
ride from the airport I saw how he was looking at you,
so tender and gentle."
Akane was stunned. She couldn't come up with an
answer. This was somewhere she'd never gone, not even
with her best friends. Not even with Kasumi.
"I...I don't know." Akane looked down to her feet.
"We just see each other sometimes and that's all it
takes." She paused, unsure if she should explain
anything too deeply. * She is going to be here a
while....*
"I guess it's because of the way we met. I mean,
it's not everyday that you get told that a man you've
never met is on his way to live with you and that
you're going to marry him."
"That would be understandable," Claire agreed.
"Kasumi said you're first meeting was a little tense."
Akane caught herself. "I'll say."
"What happened?" Claire asked. "If you don't mind me
asking."
Akane blushed. "It's kind of embarrassing."
"Really?"
"Yeah...I-- you see-- uh-- we-- uh-- well-- we-- uh--
kind of..." Akane closed her eyes and turned the
deepest shade or red humanly possible. "I walked in
on him in the bath."
It was Claire's turn to be stunned. After a long
silence she muttered quietly, "Yeah...that'll
definitely do it." She took a deep breath. "I'm
sorry. I shouldn't have asked about it."
Akane smiled. "It's OK, Claire." She stood up and
sat back down on the edge of the tub wall. "It's not
something I talk about everyday, but you didn't mean
anything." She paused for a moment. "It's kind of
funny in a way."
Claire tried to recover and keep from blushing. She
smiled and climbed out of the furo and began to dry
herself. Akane looked over at her. Her skin was very
soft and a beautiful bronze red. She caught herself
being slightly jealous.
"So, he was really looking at me?" Akane asked.
Claire smiled.
"Are you kidding? He was burning holes in you." She
sighed. "It was really sweet. He looked like on of
those romance novel covers."
Akane secretly allowed herself an inward smile. He
could be so sweet, when he wanted to be.
The two girls walked into the changing room. Akane
was still smiling to herself. Claire was still a
light shade of red. Akane tossed her towel into the
hamper. "So, do you have a boyfriend?" she asked
Claire.
"No," she replied quickly. "I-- I haven't thought
about anyone in a long time." Claire set her towel
down and reached for her clothes. Akane pulled on her
underwear and reached for her bra.
"Really? I'm surprised the boys don't follow you
everywhere. I'd love to have skin like yours."
Claire turned a deep shade of red. She pulled her
jeans up and buttoned them. "I've never found one
who's my type. Most of the guys I've met wanted one
thing or less." Her voice wavered for a moment then
returned to normal. Akane couldn't place why but it
bothered her.
Claire reached down and grabbed her shirt. "I mean
it's not like I don't like boys but...." She began to
button up her shirt.
P-Chan had hopped off of Akane's bed and headed for
the door. The little pig was furious! *Ranma, how
dare you hurt Akane like that! In front of me no
less! * He roamed the hallway for what seemed like
an eternity looking for the stairs. Finally
discovering them, he decided he would take care of
Ranma once and for all. He charged down the stairs
with an enraged gleam in his eye. It was only a
moment too late that he remembered he was still a pig.
He hovered in mid-air, looking down at the step as it
began to race towards him. Mentally he winced. This
was really going to hurt. A lot.
Kasumi was laying in her bed reading when from
outside she heard a strange "Bwee..*" noise, followed
by a rapid thumping and a meaty "thud". It sounded
like someone was playing basketball with a meat
product of some kind. She placed the copy of Dante's
"Inferno" down and went to the door. Looking out into
the hall she saw nothing. Shrugging, she closed the
door and resumed reading.
P-Chan dragged himself out of the world of hurt he
had landed in and staggered down the hall *The
kishen... yea dach tha tiget....gez um hod water....*
he thought as he used his hoof to slide the door open.
Had his brain not been jarred repeatedly in his
excursion down the stairway he might have realized
that the kitchen never had a door before. * Hey! Why
does the kitchen smell like laundry?*
Claire buttoned the last button in her pants as she
and Akane chatted. "I mean it's not like I don't like
boys but...."
Akane looked up at Claire. She noticed immediately
that the girl's eyes had gone wide with shock. Her
left breast seemed to be a lot larger than a moment
before and was, in fact, moving. Akane jumped as
Claire let out a blood-curdling scream. With a
twisting motion almost too fast for Akane to follow,
Claire ripped off her shirt and sent it flying into
the hall. Akane thought she heard it hit the wall
with a "thud."
Akane walked slowly over to Claire. She was crouched
down with her left arm crossed across her chest. Her
right arm was extended forward with the fingers placed
together. Her eyes had glassed over as Akane bent
down and tried to bring the girl back to the real
world. Slowly, Claire began to come around as Kasumi
and Nabiki entered the doorway. Out in the hall Soun
and Genma had also gathered.
"Claire? Are you alright?" Akane asked. The young
Native American girl could only shiver and point to
her shirt.
"Something...groped me...." she whispered. Nabiki
quickly put two and two together and came up with the
old freak. She went to the shirt. It was stuck to
the wall and appeared to have a round, bulky object
inside it. She lifted the fabric and was rewarded
with the sight of a petrified black piglet relieving
itself on Claire's shirt. Holding the horrified
P-Chan to the wall by his bandanna collar was a long
single edged hunting knife. It wasn't an exotic
throwing knife, rather it was very plain and
functional in its design. The blade seemed to be
fairly long. Nabiki guessed it was about five inches.
She didn't need to touch it to see it was as sharp as
any razor. The handle was at least another five
inches and was made out of what appeared to be an
antler.
"Well, so much for the Happosai theory." She lifted
the fabric over the pig's head, allowing Akane and the
others a view of the poor animal's plight.
"Oh dear, Where did that come from?" Kasumi asked.
Nabiki reached down and slowly pried the knife from
the wall. P-Chan, now free of his restraint fell to
the floor along with the shirt with a solid "thump."
Claire sat back against the wall and let out a sigh.
"It-- it was my older brother Scott's. He gave it to
me years ago. I carry it everywhere, just for
protection. Akane-- I'm-- I--" She hesitated. " I'm
sorry."
Akane picked up P-Chan. He still hadn't moved a
muscle. She looked him over and noticed that he
wasn't bleeding but the crease parted along his neck
hair told her how close he had come.
"I... I felt something squeezing on me," Claire
continued. She seemed to still be pretty shook up.
"I, I hate for anyone to touch me like that." She
huddled up placing her head on her knees.
Akane wasn't mad. She thought she should be as her
pet had almost become a shish-kabob but looking at
Claire she noticed that she was seriously shaken. She
was scared, almost in shock. "Hey, it's OK," Akane
began. She sat down next to Claire and put a hand on
her shoulder. Claire leaned over and began to cry a
little.
"I really...hate being grabbed," she sobbed. "Ever
since I was little. It just... makes me feel bad,
dirty...." Akane shifted her arm across Claire's'
shoulders and hugged her. "I'm sorry I almost killed
your pig."
Nabiki intervened. "Well, no one got hurt and
there's no harm done, except P-Chan's blood pressure.
Don't worry about it." With that she turned and left,
making many mental notes on Claire's "accessory" and
its potential impact on her operations. Kasumi stayed
a moment longer to make absolutely sure Claire was all
right, while Soun and Genma went back to their shogi
match. Akane handed the knife back to Claire, who
slipped it back along her belt line. Akane could not
find where it went, even thought she was looking right
at Claire's hands.
" Are you going to be OK, Claire?" Kasumi asked. She
was still very concerned for Claire. That violent
reaction bothered her.
"Yeah. I'm fine." Her voice was just above a
whisper. "Just shaken, that's all."
Kasumi decided that everything was going to be fine
for the moment, and returned upstairs. Akane helped
Claire to her feet. She seemed to be regaining her
color as well as her composure.
"Where'd you learn to throw like that?" Akane handed
Claire her robe so she could cover herself. They
walked along the hallway towards the stairs. "I never
even saw you draw the knife."
"My brother taught me. He said I should know how to
carry and use a knife in case I was ever attacked or
stranded out in the middle of nowhere." She turned to
Akane with pleading eyes but Akane cut her off.
"It's OK, Claire. Nobody got hurt. Don't worry
about it, really."
Claire smiled as the two girls went upstairs.
Claire was lying on her futon writing when she heard
a knock at her door. "Come in," she called. Akane
walked in with P-Chan bundled in her arms.
"I guess you two need to be re-introduced." She sat
down on the floor next to Claire and placed the little
pig in front of her. Claire reached out hesitantly to
touch him. P-Chan flinched but allowed her to pet
him. If Akane had seen fit to forgive her then he
would as well.
When she lightly began to scratch behind his ears,
P-Chan began to loosen up. When she began to rub and
scratch along his back, his ears went flat and a
contented grunt escaped from him. When she started to
rub with both hands, he melted onto the floor and
rolled over so she could scratch his belly. Both
Claire and Akane laughed.
"Yeah, I'd say he's forgiven me." She gave Akane a
hug. "Thank you."
"For what?" she replied.
"For not hating me after all this." She pointed to
the cut in P-Chan's collar.
"Hey, like I said, it's all right. It was an
accident. It's not like when Ranma hurts him."
Akane's voice wavered.
"Yeah, well." Claire paused. "Thanks anyway." She
smiled.
"...and that's pretty much how today went. It's been
unique, to say the least. But you were right,
Grandpa. The Japanese are nice people. I think I
will like it here. Well, I have to go. It's getting
late. Tell everyone I said hello and that I miss
them. Oh, and thank the elders for helping out in
getting me here.
Your loving Granddaughter,
CloudChaser"
Claire folded up the letter and placed it in the
envelope on her desk. She turned out the lamp and had
just crawled into her futon when she heard someone in
the hallway. Walking over the door, she peeked out
into the hallway. She saw Akane standing half out of
her bedroom door with a small glass of water talking
to a short, busty red-headed girl. Claire thought for
a moment. The redhead looked familiar, but from
where? She was looking rather sad; her eyes where
aimed at Akane's feet and looked on the verge of
crying. Akane was looking at the girl with a mix up
annoyance and sadness. Claire watched as Akane put
her hand on the redhead's shoulder and said something
which made the girl raise her eyes. She put her hand
behind her head and giggled nervously before heading
down the hall away from Akane.
Claire closed her door quietly and went back to bed.
She'd have to ask about this in the morning...nah, it
was probably nothing anyway.
__________________________________________________
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