Release 1.2 - Eh, people is confused.
Disclaimer: My ideas, not my characters.
This assumes that you have already read the Foreword, which has been
reposted for your listening pleasure. Assuming that you can hear text, that
is. There are modifications to the timeline...do not be alarmed. I'm
alarmed enough for both of us.
--
Getting Home Wednesday
Exordium: Genma's Friend (1)
(Time Frame: Exactly 6 months since the Foreword, i.e., it's December,
1991. Expect temporal changes. Duh.)
--
The fact was, Genma believed that his son was going to be greater than
him in the Art one day, and he was proud of that. Of course, that didn't
stop him from trying harder. Not much could actually stop Genma at this
point, save for food or possibly Happosai, who thankfully, was buried under
a whole bunch of rubble.
The boy had been acting strangely lately, he thought, ever since June, he
had seemed much calmer and in tune with his emotions. His ability in the
art had grown by leaps and bounds, and he supposed it was the new, calmer
nature of the boy that did it. He had heard that many of the greatest
masters could display that sort of control, and if it made Ranma better,
terrific! Nodoka would surely think that he fulfilled the contract when
Ranma and he returned.
Now if he could only get him to leave without that Ukyo girl, but it
looked like it was going to be more trouble than he first thought.
-----
"So, Ranma, which do you like more? Okonomiyaki or Ukyo?" asked Genma.
Ranma looked up from where he was practicing a new kata that involved
elements of Ukyo's style. It was a melding of both Arts, but one that took
the greatest strengths of both to create a stronger form.
"Well, pops, is there really any choice? I've been thinking about that
since you asked me yesterday, and I choose Ucchan. She's really a good
cook, and I like Okonomiyaki too," replied Ranma.
"You knew she was a girl, boy? I thought you thought she was a boy!"
"How could I think that? I can feel her aura is that of a girl."
Genma groaned. He forgot about the other talents Ranma had been
displaying.
"Very well then, boy. We leave tomorrow, you, me, and Ukyo."
"Yippee! I'm gonna go tell her now...and I'm awfully hungry too!"
Things were not at all going to plan, but now Genma had a chance to
train two youngsters in the Art. <It can't be that bad, Genma. At least
the master is still sealed in that cave, and the boy still respects you!
You're the man!>
-----
Marller walked around the small village, bored out of her mind. <Swell.
Stuck here, on Midgard, with nothing to do, and no place to go, since I have
to find this moron and convince him that he gets a wish. Whoopteedoo.>
Boredom never lasts too long when you involve Ranma, his dad, and his
adopted sister.
-----
"Boy, you must learn the Neko-ken! How can you ever expect to become a
true martial artist without suffering for the art! Now get back in there,
and make sure those cats teach you something this time!"
"Pops, it ain't my fault that they won't attack me! Every time, they
just sit there, and the old one comes over, licks me, and slowly peels all
the fish sausage off me. It's just like they won't attack."
"Well, figure it out and learn the Neko-ken now, boy!"
"Old man, are you sure that's a good idea? What if the cats try and get
him this time?" queried Ukyo.
"Shush."
Ranma went back in, and the cats just stared at him. Then, just as
every previous time, the leader, a white cat with a tint of goldish fur on
his face,
would cheerfully peel the fish sausage off, meow, and bring it back to the
other cats. Not at all interesting, unless you count the fact that the cats
recognized divinity.
-----
"Hey. You, in the gi. What in hell's your name?" asked the
leather-clad blonde girl as she approached Genma.
"Genma Saotome, Master of the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts. Can
you leave us alone? This is a very delicate training exercise."
"You're Genma? Great. I'll just wait here till you're done. What is
it you're doing, anyway?"
"I'm trying to teach my son the Neko-ken, but the stupid cats never
attack him."
<Wow. He really does deserve a demonic wish,> thought Mahler.
"Anyway, look here. I'm sure this is all fascinating for all involved, but
I'm here to tell you that my people have granted you a wish. Whatever you
want. No strings attached. No worries, just wish for whatever the hell you
want, and it's yours!"
"Um..."
"Oh, so you want credentials. Name's Mahler. Demoness Second Class,
Limited. So you got a wish yet?"
"This doesn't involve me going to any of the Hells, or losing my soul,
does it?" asked Genma.
"Genma, you got nothin' to worry about there," chuckled Mahler.
"Hmm...fine. I got one. I wish that Ranma would be above any other
man...that he'd be the best he could be, so that Nodoka doesn't follow
through with that contract."
"Great. That's a great wish. You're a real nice guy there, Genma,"
intoned Mahler as the wind began to pick up and leaves swirled around the
two of them. Well, I'll be going now. Enjoy your wish, have fun with your
kids, and keep robbing shrines. Later!"
Genma just kept looking for the hidden camera in the woods.
Ranma began screaming.
<The boy's finally learning the Neko-ken! Yes!> thought Genma, as Ukyo
ran over.
"Hey, old man, what does it mean when it says that whomever learns this
technique goes insane?"
"Uh...."
-----
Meanwhile, inside the pit, a young boy was frightened by the sudden
change in the cats attitude. Even more frightening to him was the fact that
he could now understand the lead cat.
"What arrrrre you, not-human-god-demon? You werrrren't like this
before...now you arrre differrrent."
"I don't know. Why can you guys all of a sudden talk to me?"
"We could beforrre, not-human-god-demon. You just didn't listen. Why
arrre you herrre?"
"My pop's making me the worlds best martial artist. I'm trying to learn
the Neko-ken so I can become the greatest!"
All the cats turned to face Ranma. "The Neko-ken, not-human-god-demon?
Does he not know of the dangerrrs?" asked the leader.
"He always says that we must face great dangers for the Art."
"Yourrrr fatherrr is an idiot, not-human-god-demon. The Neko-ken will
drrrive any who learrrrrn it imprrrroperrrrly insane, and we arrre not
permitted to teach it to you. Come closer to me, and I will marrrk you with
the cat's sign. One day, though you do not need it, the Lady might seek you
now that you will be marked."
The cat clawed a v-shaped mark into Ranma's left hand, and Ranma
screamed.
"Quiet, not-human-god-demon! You arrrrre not hurrrrrt, it is in your
mind!" scolded the white cat with gold markings.
"You surrre? Huh? Why'd that happen?"
"Don't worrrry, not-human-god-demon. It's a little trrrick on yourrrr
fatherrrr. He'll think you learned the Neko-ken. It will go away in a
turrrrning of the Earrrth. You should leave now. We might meet again,
not-human-god-demon."
"'Bye, cat."
--------------------
(End Exordium, Version 1.0.)
---------------------
(1) An Exordium is a beginning or introduction, especially to a discourse or
composition. But it sounds cool too. Pronounce it like this: eg-'zor-dE-&m
Hmm...now that the Foreword and Exordium are done, I might go and work on
some of my other fics. Again, C&C is appreciated...however, MST's are not.
I'm sorry, I know some of you folks appreciate them, (and even I find them
funny sometimes, but that's mainly Joel and the bots) but I think that it's
a bit rude unless you ask first, which might work better than you think.
----------------------------------
Jerry / Patch Monkey
Lord of Darkness, Brenin of Light
Reverend of the ULC
maddhatter@earthling.net jlevine@wam.umd.edu
http://maddhatter.cjb.net
"You can find true love in the Konan Empire,
but no fast food." - Miaka's Lesson
Hi. Pleased to meet you. I'm a man of wealth and
taste. I've been around for many years, and I've
stolen many a man's soul and faith. Hope you can
guess my name.
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