Before we get into the fic, I'd like to tell you all a quick story:
I work for an amusement park. Last night after work, I was out in the parking
lot waiting for my ride home when I spotted an aqauitence of mine. We struck
up a conversation and after a few minutes, he mentioned that the Japanese
veiw American cars as exotic. While I have no idea if that's true or not, I
couldn't help myself and agreed with him before pointing out that they really
love Chevrolets.
He took the bait and asked why that was.
I told him that it was because they could drive the Chevy to the levy, even
if the levy was dry and that the good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
and singing that this was the day that you die.
Ah, the look on his face.
Okay, on to bisnuess. I know when I posted the prolouge that I said I wasn't
sure if I was ever going to continue this, mainly because I didn't have a
villan. Well I have a villain, so I'm gonna see where this goes.
Secondly, a big thank you to RC books for archving my fics. I've fallen so
far behind on keeping them updated on my own site its not even funny. So
thank you, thank you, thank you.
Finally, are Sonic the Hedgehog fics permissible on the FFML? I have one,
well, part of one, and I was wondering if I could submit it.
Okay, that's all.
I'll shut up now, and you know where to send the C&C (public or private)
--Komodo
~ Never wrestle with a pig,
You both get dirty,
and the pig likes it anyway ~
**********
Like most major cities, Tokyo, Japan, has districts. Usually, these were
originally towns that simply got absorbed when Tokyo expanded its borders.
One of them, Juuban, has been of late, the home of many sightings of girls in
sailor suits battling monsters.
Then there's Nerima.
Nerima's a small, quiet district on Tokyo's northwestern side. Its mostly
home to traditional Japanese restaurants, shops, and artists. Canals run
through it, and the air is filled with the smells of food, oils and men and
women shouting at each other.
Years ago, the area was home to magicians, sorcerers, and alchemists. Some of
what they wrought still lingers and in the quiet early morning light, you can
feel it, a slight tingle along the hairs on the back of your neck. Nerima is
alive. Not alive as you or I might define the term, but nevertheless, there
is a sort of awareness about the place, which gives rise to many tales and
traditions.
One of those tales tells of how Nerima is protected by a Guardian. A physical
powerhouse which is usually in the form of a great white tiger, though it has
been known to use other forms.
Of late, the current Guardian is believed to be one Ranma Saotome, a teenaged
martial artist who has managed to come out on top in almost every challenge
he has come to.
ALMOST every challenge. . . .
**********
"Oh ho ho oh Ranma darling!"
"Kodachi!" Ranma yelped as he leapt out the way of the spiked gymnastics club
that came whistling down from the rooftops.
Confused? You should be if you're new to Nerima. Ah, so you are. I suppose
you're also wondering why the locals aren't reacting to the fight?
Its fairly simple, for Nerima, especially in the past two years, this is
normal.
You see, Ranma has his share of problems. More then he should.
You see, some time back, Ranma's father engaged him to one of the three
daughters of Soun Tendo. Neither man has much in the way of common sense and
so completely ignored the fact that their children might not be as agreeable
to the marriage as they were.
They weren't.
Ranma wound up being engaged to Akane Tendo, the youngest of Soun's three
daughters, a cute, elfin faced tomboy with a violent temper that Ranma, who
lacks social graces of any kind, manages to trigger on a daily basis.
Ranma's father, Genma, who tends to adopt a "deal with it as it happens,"
philosophy towards life, neglected a few details when he told Ranma that he
was engaged.
One of them was Ukyo Kujoni, another martial artist and damn good okonomiyaki
cook, which is a sort of pizza. Ranma found out that he was engaged to her
the hard way when she showed up to either claim him or kill him. After a
rocky start, the two have settled down into an almost brother/sister style
relationship.
This doesn't stop her from trying to win Ranma away from Akane.
Another one, and it can't really be blamed on Genma, was Shampoo, an Amazon
from China who was beaten by Ranma, and under tribal law, must marry him.
The fourth is Kodachi Kuno, who is, shall we say, a bit loopy. Ranma saved
her life, and thus, she believes that they are soulmates and is constantly
trying to land him and make him hers.
Ranma has one other problem. . . .
With water.
Ranma darted around the corner, ducking the spiked rings that she threw. He
didn't want to run but he was supposed to meet Akane at the Nekohaten and he
didn't want to be late.
It was at that point that a car turned the corner and splashed Ranma with
water.
Now aside from the fact that Ranma was wearing silk, which is absolutely
destroyed by water, there is that other problem that was mentioned earlier.
Ranma groaned as he felt the tingling sensation that signaled the change.
"Why now?" She asked no one in particular as she leapt to the roof of a car
as gymnastics clubs hammered the spot where she had been standing a moment
earlier.
Yes, she. What? You've never seen a guy turn into a girl when splashed with
cold water? Where have you been?
Still, an explanation is in order. Before he came to Nerima, Ranma fell into
a cursed spring at place called Jusenkyo. Since then, being doused with a
sufficient amount of cold water turns him into a girl. Hot water is the only
known way to reverse the effect, but it only lasts until the next cold water
bath.
Now that we're all caught up on explanations, I'm going to quit breaking the
fourth wall and get on with the story.
Using the car roof as a springboards, Ranma jumped to the top of a light pole
and from there to an awning, which catapulted her to the roof of a small
store.
Kodachi followed.
"You! Where is my Darling Ranma?"
"I'm right here." Ranma pointed out, even though she knew it was useless. Like
her brother, Kodachi firmly believed that Ranma's boy and girl half were
separate people and that the girl half was evil.
"Lies!" Kodachi screamed and lashed out with her ribbon. Ducking, Ranma
sprinted to the edge of the roof and leapt off, aiming for the roof of the
next building.
Unfortunutly, she miscalculated and instead plunged down to land in a heap of
trash piled along the narrow alley between the two buildings.
Stunned by the impact, she rolled over and tried to stand as Kodachi
approached, carrying a spiked club.
"At last, I will eliminate you, and then Ranma will be mine." Kodachi
chuckled and took a firm grip on the club. "The ribbon was coated with my
paralysis powder and these spikes are coated with poison. Your death will be
slow and painful. Oh ho ho ho ho!"
Ranma's eyes widened and she redoubled her efforts to stand. But her body
refused to cooperate and she could only lay there.
"Good-bye," Kodachi said simply, and raised the club. Ranma closed her eyes
and said her good-byes, bracing herself for the impact. But instead the world
was shattered by a loud roar.
Opening her eyes, Ranma saw Kodachi being menaced by a huge white tiger.
"So," Kodachi's eyes narrowed. "My brother is correct, Ranma Saotome does
consort with the forces of darkness!" She looked over at Ranma. "And its your
fault witch!" With that, she bounded away into the street and vanished into
the crowd.
For a moment, the tiger seemed ready to give chase and then it stopped and
looked back at Ranma. It stood there, glancing from the mouth of the alley
and Ranma's prone form then it sighed and padded over to him.
Carefully, it leveled him up onto its back and then turned and ran, moving
with such grace that Ranma was not jostled from his precarious perch.
================
Kasumi hummed to herself as she took the laundry down, eyeing the clouds
gathering on the horizon. It would rain tonight, perhaps tomorrow and she
made a mental note to get the raincoats out for Ranma.
Turning, she witnessed a giant white tiger leap over the back wall and land
lightly on the grass.
"Oh my!" Kasumi gasped, dropping the laundry. On the beast's back was Ranma.
"Inside," Kasumi said, indicating the house. "quickly, before anyone sees."
Once inside, Kasumi slid Ranma from the tiger's back and then crouched over
her.
"Kodachi. . .paralysis powder. . ." Ranma groaned.
"I'll summon Doctor Tofu," Kasumi said gently. "Now rest." With that, she
touched a specific spot and Ranma's eyes fluttered and closed.
Standing, Kasumi stood and looked at the tiger, which had not moved. "Go
now," she said firmly. "You are no longer needed in this matter."
The tiger shuddered and then began to shrink, gradually resolving into a
teenaged girl dressed in blue overalls and a red shirt.
Nabiki Tendo looked up at Kasumi with terrified eyes.
"Kasumi?" She asked quietly.
"Go wash your face and then lie down," Kasumi said. "I will explain
everything after Doctor Tofu examines Ranma."
Nodding, Nabiki stood and sort of staggered up the stairs.
When she was gone, Kasumi walked to the phone and dialed Tofu's number. While
the phone at the other end rang, Kasumi glanced back at Ranma, her expression
one of worry.
Why did it have to be Nabiki? And why now?