Hi all. I got this idea from a thread that was bouncing around last year. It
was mercifully short but it got me thinking.



As always all of these characters do not belong to me but to Ms. Takahashi.
While some readers may notice some similarities between this and the movie,
Sixth Sense I will deny it. So without further ado, Montanto Productions
presents.



                                  Sob Of The Breeze



                               an alternative Ranma

                                          Fanfic



                                     By Bill Morse





The light of the afternoon sun shone though the branches of a pine tree
casting shadows into the sitting room of the Tendo Dojo. If one looked
carefully they could almost make out the shape of a young girl.



Akane watched Nabiki, Kasumi and their two houseguests, the girl, Ranma, and
a large panda bear, waited for their father, Soun Tendo, to recover from his
fainting spell. Their younger brother, Kiri, sat in the corner staring
intently at Ranma.



"Oh dear, Father looks so upset," Kasumi fussed as she replaced the wet
towel on her father^�s forehead.



"He^�s upset?" Nabiki demanded, "This is all your fault, Daddy.  What sort of
fianc� is this?"



I don^�t understand. Saotome said he had a son!" Soun wailed.



"Son? Does this look like a son to you?" Nabiki reached over and squeezing
Ranma^�s breast for emphasis. "It looks like it^�s going to be Kiri^�s job to
unite our families."



"Would you please stop doing that?" Ranma asked.



"Nabiki, stop that! He . . . she is a guest in this house, in my house!"
Akane shouted.



As usual Nabiki ignored her. So did everyone else, though Kasumi rubbed her
arms as if from a sudden chill. Akane was just starting to plan the
nightmares Nabiki would suffer that night when she saw Ranma looking at her.
Akane looked behind her to see what the red haired girl was looking at. When
she saw she was the only thing Ranma could possibly be looking at she smiled
sweetly. "I^�m Akane, do you want to be friends?" she asked.



She was amazed when Ranma smiled and nodded.



* * * * * * * * * *



"Kasumi?" Kiri walked into the kitchen where his older sister was finishing
her preparations for supper.



"Yes, Kiri-chan, what is it?" Kasumi asked turning up from her work.



"Where^�s Ranma?"



"Oh she went into the Dojo by herself. She^�s been practicing martial arts
all her life. Maybe she wanted to work out."



"That^�s great! Maybe she needs a sparring partner!"



"Forget it, kid, she^�d only throw you back," Nabiki interrupted walking into
the kitchen. "Kasumi? Who^�s that old guy with Daddy?"



"You got me," Kasumi replied.



"Kasumi? Nabiki^�s only joking when she said I had to marry Ranma, right?"
Kiri asked nervously.



Kasumi gave Nabiki a sharp look, which Nabiki returned with a knowing smile.
"Yes, Kiri-chan, Nabiki was just joking. "



"Oh good, Ranma^�s really pretty and all but I^�m only thirteen."



* * * * * * * * * *



Akane smiled to herself as she walked down the hallway.  It was so good to
actually be able to talk to someone. She had friends of her own kind, of
course, but most of them were hardly well adjusted. Most of the ones who
were sane enough to talk to had moved on. But this breather had seen her and
was willing to spar with her.  She had loved martial arts since the days she
would watch Akira Tendo teach in the dojo.  When her Soun-chan took his
father^�s place she began to practice the art. She knew she was merely
mimicking the real students but she felt she had managed to keep up fairly
well, even with Nabiki who was coming close to surpassing her father much to
Akane^�s pride.



Ranma was different. Akane hadn^�t been able to even lay a finger on her. In
anyone else Akane would have felt patronized. Ranma didn^�t even consider her
enough of a threat to fight back. Akane dreaded how she might have responded
if Ranma had done more then just tap her on the shoulder.



Akane stopped at the bathroom. A familiar red shirt was in the laundry
hamper.  Ranma must be taking a bath.  Akane let her gi fade away and
concentrated on opening the door. She didn^�t want to scare her new friend by
entering in the usual manner.



A young man was climbing out of the bathtub. He glanced at the open door and
stared at her.  Akane looked back in shock. This was not the first time the
first time she had seen a naked man she had been watching Akira and later
Soun and Kiri bathe for years.  But this was a stranger in her house, and he
could see her just like Ranma could. He could see her naked body. Akane
turned around and walked out of the bathroom.  The door closed behind her.



Outside Akane leaned against the wall and let the top of her Gi grow around
her. Out of long old habit she took a deep breath.



* * * * * * * * * *



Soun and his friend were toasting each other when a gust of wind burst
through the sitting room. If one listened carefully one could almost imagine
a girl screaming and hear the noise of someone running down the stairs.
Suddenly all of the doors in the room flung open and the table went flying.



* * * * * * * * * *



"Soun-chan! There a pervert in the bathroom!" Akane shouted. For emphasis
the flower vase, which hadn^�t been knocked over by the wind, shattered.



"What^�s that Racket?"  Nabiki asked running into the living room.



"It sounded as if it was coming from the bath room," Kasumi said "I hope
Ranma^�s all right"



"I^�ll go check!" Kiri volunteered.



"Hello," everyone turned to see a young man dressed in Ranma^�s clothes. "I^�m
Ranma Saotome, sorry about this."



* * * * * * * * * *



Akane paced angrily behind the collected Tendos glaring at the two men
sitting in front of them, heavyset man dressed in a white gi, bandana and
glasses and boy who said he was Ranma. The boy looked as if he was trying
desperately not to look at her though she could see him follow her with her
eyes.



"This better be good, Soun-chan, she muttered, "this had better be real
good."



"I^�ll explain this one more time, Soun continued, "this is my dear friend."



"Genma Saotome," the older man finished.



Akane studied the man carefully.  She remembered a --Genma Saotome visiting
years ago and this man did look like him though the Genma she knew had been
thinner and had hair. -



"And this is my son," Genma continued.



"Ranma," the boy finished.



"I don^�t get it, what^�s going on here?" Nabiki asked.



"Yeah, what did you do to the real Ranma?" Kiri demanded.



"Kiri-chan, that^�s very rude of you," Kasumi chastised her little brother.



"Well I want to know," Akane shouted standing in the middle of the informal
circle. "What did you do to Ranma you little pervert?" she demanded.  She
got some satisfaction watching Ranma grit his teeth as he tried not to
react.



"Let me see how can I understand this," Genma commented before Ranma could
respond. "Of course," he grabbed Ranma by the shirt and threw him into the
Koi pond.



Everyone^�s eyes turned at the furious girl who rose from the pond. "What the
hell did you do that for?" she demanded.



"Its her!" Kiri shouted looking at Ranma^�s chest and the way the wet silk
stuck to it. "She^�s not wearing a, wearing a . . . . ." He fainted as his
nose began to bleed.



"Kiri-chan!" Kasumi gasped looking to see if he was all right.



"Deep breathes, Kid," Nabiki chuckled.



"What is going on here?" Akane asked confused. She was sure that she had
seen something happen when Ranma fell into the pond, other then the
transformation of course. She was so distracted she barely avoided being
knocked in as well when Ranma kicked his father in the back sending him
flying into the pond.



"Stop now," she demanded. Genma froze just before he hit the water. Akane
walked slowly around the pond. She was sure that the koi pond was beginning
to glow and it was not the way it reflected the streetlights. She walked
back to the house studying the expression of Ranma floating in mid kick. A
faint blue glow surrounded her.



"Okay start up, but take it slow." Genma slowly began to descend into the
pond. The water slowly raised a thunderous splash as he hit the water^�s
surface. Akane watched as a faint mist filled the pond and Genma Saotome^�s
form was consumed by blue flame. The pond started to glow so brightly that
she could no longer see him underneath the water. As the light faded she
could see the silhouette of Genma Saotome slowly expand. Akane turned for a
moment to watch Ranma slowly land on a rock next to the koi pond. The blue
glow had faded from her entirely.  A Panda rose up from the pond looking
extremely annoyed.



"Okay, speed up again," Akane muttered her curiosity satisfied.



"^�Are you to talk?" Ranma asked the angry Panda.



"Why are you friends with these losers, Soun-chan?" Akane asked walking back
to the house.



"Daddy? Why are you friends from them?"  Kasumi asked.



"They were not always this way," Soun answered, "this is something new."



* * * * * * * * * *



"It was a fateful two weeks ago." Genma explained fifteen minutes later
after the two Saotomes had taken a quick hot bath. "We had been traveling
through western china for several months, training and honing our abilities
in many of the great training sights until finally we reached our
destination, the training ground of cursed springs.



"The grounds are a large plain covered by an endless honey comb of springs.
The object is to balance on the bamboo poles sticking out of each spring
while trying to knock your opponent into the ponds.



"What we did not know was that each of the pools holds a terrible tragic
tale. In each of the pools something or someone has drowned. If someone were
to fall into one of these springs they will take on the form of the pools
first victim. Ranma knocked me into the Spring of Drowned Panda, afterwards
he fell into the Spring of Drowned Girl."



"Hmmm the Legendary Springs of Jusenkyo, for years but now we know their
true horror," Soun said slowly.



"What do you know about it? Trust me you don^�t know the meaning of true
horror." Ranma growled. "Why the hell did you have to take me to that god
forsaken place, Old Man?" he demanded grabbing Genma by the front of his Gi.



"Oh please is it really necessary to watch all of this macho posturing all
over again?" Akane groaned turning her back from what was essentially a
repeat of the previous fight. "I mean, knowing this idiot he was probably
too stupid to even learn Chinese for his trip."



"Stop this now!" Soun shouted pouring a kettle of hot water over the Panda.
Akane watched the Panda disappear in a flash of blue flame to be replaced
instantly by Genma Saotome. She wondered if any one else could see it.



"Hot water returns you to your true form I see," Soun commented repeating
the process on Ranma.



"Hot not boiling!" Ranma shouted jumping out of its way.



"Well looks as if your problems not that bad after all," Soun grinned
slapping Ranma on the shoulder, ignoring Ranma^�s confusion. "My two
daughters Kasumi, nineteen, and Nabiki, seventeen, choose one and she will
be your fianc�e."



"Oh he wants Nabiki," Kasumi smiled holding her younger sister by the
shoulders.



"What?" Nabiki asked in shock.



"Oh, you^�d be perfect, Sis," Kiri grinned.



"You are going down, squirt," Nabiki growled at her brother. "But why me?"
she turned to Kasumi.



"Because you^�re perfect, you^�re nearly the same age, you both like martial
arts and besides, you know how you^�ve been complaining about some of the
boys in school? Well you^�re in luck! Ranma^�s a boy only half of the time!"



"Can^�t argue with logic like that Akane grinned.



"You stay out of this!" Ranma shouted.



"What did you say?" Nabiki asked turning towards Ranma already angry.



"Nothing! I didn^�t say nothing! Not that it^�s none of your business. I^�m out
of here."



"Ranma! Where are you going?" Genma demanded.



"Back to China to find a cure! I don^�t have time for fianc�es or girls
period. Especially annoying, kaiwaiikune ones like you." he turned pointing
at Akane.



It probably would have been a good idea if he had checked just who Akane was
standing in front of.



"Now that," Genma commented after Ranma had gone sprawling from a direct hit
from Nabiki, "he had coming."



* * * * * * * * * *



Ranma woke up about an hour later with Kasumi and Kiri sitting next to her. 
"Oh, your awake," Kasumi said replacing the wet towel on Ranma forehead.
"You took a really nasty blow there. Nabiki really isn^�t that bad but that
wasn^�t a very nice thing to say."



"You^�re probably right," Ranma muttered rubbing her head.



Well anyway, I^�m glad you^�re all right. You get some rest. I have some work
to do. Kiri-chan? "



"I can look after Ranma, Kasumi," Kiri sounded hopeful.



"I^�m sure Ranma would appreciate that, Kiri-chan, but I think it would be
better if you came with me."



Kiri reluctantly got up and followed his sister out of the room/



Ranma shrugged and tried to relax.



"So, what is true horror?"



Ranma looked up to see Akane standing in front of him." I don^�t see you,
your not here I^�m ignoring you," Ranma looked away angrily.



"You told Soun-chan he didn^�t know true horror. That suggests that you do.
What is true horror?"



"Soun-chan? What is this place to you any way?" Ranma asked.



"I^�m their older sister," Akane replied.



"What? Did Mr. Tendo have a fourth child or something?"



"No, I^�m Soun-chan^�s older sister to. You^�re changing the subject. What is
true horror?"



"You don^�t want to know."



"You should see what some of my friends have been through, try me."



"Why should I? It^�s not as of you^�re even a real person."



"Do you want to know how long I can sing ^�Don^�t Make Me Wild Like You^� when
you^�re trying to sleep?" Akane asked.



"You wouldn^�t."



Akane grinned.



"All right, all right. When I arrived at the training ground it was like Pop
said it was. Except it was vast and empty and the only ting you could hear
was the wind and our guide going on and on about all of the tragic tales
involving each of the pools. It was like that until I got knocked into the
pool and I didn^�t fall the old man pushed me."



"I didn^�t say anything," Akane smiled.



"Got that right. Anyway when I came out it was dark like there was going to
be a storm and thousands of people and animals and things were all standing
next to a pool. All of them muttering to themselves it was deafening. The
only pool that didn^�t have one was the one I was sitting in. It was only
then that I noticed I had changed. Pop still thinks I was screaming cause I
had tits."



"Well that can^�t be that bad. The last real medium I met was a Shinto
Priestess. Poor girl was stuck living with her moocher of an uncle. She
seemed nice enough otherwise."



"Medium? What the heck makes you think I^�m a medium?"



"You and I are maintaining a polite conversation. What else do you call
that?"



"Crazy."



"Oh come on, so you could see all of the victims of Jusenkyo I don^�t see how
terrible that could be.



"Oh you don^�t know the half of it," Ranma muttered, "is there a mirror in
this house?" Akane nodded. "Then let^�s get some hot water and I^�ll show you.



* * * * * * * * * *



"What am I looking at?" Akane asked when they got to the mirror in the
hallway.



"Just keep looking at my reflection," Ranma poured the water over herself.
The Akane watched the transformation in the mirror like his father Ranma was
consumed by a blue flame that lasted only a moment fading into a faint glow.
Akane^�s eyes widened as she saw what was left in the mirror. Ranma had not
changed.



"It^�s always her." Akane turned to see a very much male Ranma looking at
her. "Even when I^�m a guy it^�s her reflection. And if you think that^�s weird
look at this. He waved his hand in front of the mirror. The girl in the
mirror moved her hand as well but it seemed to be about two seconds behind
reality.



"Its as if I was moving a puppet," Ranma sniffed. "Its like her soul is
attached to me. I see through her eyes, I hear through her ears. I have the
sneaking suspicion my soul is trapped in that pool and the next poor schmuck
who falls in that pool will turn into me."



"Well it can^�t be that bad.



"That bad? Do you know what it^�s like having to watch out if whoever you see
is real so people don^�t think your crazy. At least most of the time its easy
most of them are a bunch of head cases. But occasionally you run into ones
that act like normal. Just my luck their un-cute dead girls to."



"Un cute?" Akane growled. The room darkened as wind blew through the
hallway.



* * * * * * * * * *



"Un cute dead girl thinks she^�s so tough blowing me into the pond." Ranma
muttered as she walked to the bathroom. "Thinks she can boss people around
as if she owns the place. She pulled off her shirt and tossed it into the
wash basket. She opened the door to the bathroom walking right into a naked
Nabiki.



"Why you . . ." Nabiki growled.



* * * * * * * * * *



"So she has spunk," Genma looked critically at his son^�s swollen jaw. "It's
what makes a fianc�e cute."



"Cute has nothing to do with it." Ranma muttered.



* * * * * * * * *



I don^�t get it, Sis," Kiri said keeping safely out of Nabiki^�s punching
range, "if you were both girls its okay. Right?"



Nabiki turned saying nothing, and glared at Kiri as a cat would a mouse.
Kiri backed away quickly.



* * * * * * * * * *



Akane stood next to the Koi pond watching the trees in the Tendo garden sway
in the wind. "Un cute dead girl, hmph, who does that jerk think he is?  I
hope Nabiki-chan likes him because she can keep him."



End of chapter one.



Well hope you all tolerated it I the next chapter should be better. I always
find the first chapters of these alt fics to be the toughest because no
matter how hard you try you find yourself plagerizing bits of cannon while
your putting down the groundwork to show just how different everything is
going to be. Anyway C+C is encouraged and appreciated. Hope to hear from you
all soon.







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