Ranma ½ is the property and invention of Rumiko Takahashi. The following story is not produced for any monetary or personal gain. Its sole purpose is to entertain using the characters and plots developed by Takahashi. ALL rights reserved

By Lord Overon

Off the pacific brewed the waves of the ocean. The sun beat mercilessly upon it, dragging water from the plethora below into the clear blue skies....

Chapter 1: A friend

The two girls walked into the compound, the rain still falling heavily around them. They were met by the door by Akane's father: Soun Tendo

"Akane why are you out so late..." then he saw the other girl who was soaking to the bone. "Oh, and who is your friend?" asked Soun.

"Well I went to the movies with some Yuka and the others and I kind of bumped into her on my way back," answered Akane with a bit of shame smeared over her face.

"Ahhh...then welcome to my home. My name is Soun Tendo, and you are...?"

"Ranma, Saotome Ranma"

Soun eyes bulged out. That name, the promise. Could this girl be related to Saotome Genma? Could the two families be united?

"Any relation to Saotome Genma?" asked Soun hastily.

"What’d my old man do this time!"

Soun didn’t hear what Ranma said. So Genma did have children. Maybe there was a chance that the promise could be fulfilled.

"Do you have a brother?" continued Soun

"What?"

"Daddy! You’re being rude!" shouted Akane

"Well do you?" persisted Soun.

"No," stated Ranma emphatically

Soun‘s hopes crashed. The lines could not be joined, but maybe their grandchildren?

Soun crushed Ranma in tight embrace. "Welcome daughter of Genma Saotome." Ranma would have told them that he was a man, but he didn’t want to burden them any further. He held his tongue in check just like Master Sung had taught him to. The master had always said that his tongue was the only part of the body that he had the least control over. He hated being in a girl’s body, but he didn’t want to complicate things further. He had come to live with that part of himself. He didn’t want to, but it had forced its way into his life. Permanently or not, it was part of him. Or so the old master said.

Ranma would have liked to keep to his thoughts; however, the pressure from the hug was starting to get to him.

"Daddy! You’re crushing her!" cried Akane.

Soun loosened his grip much to the relief of the two girls.

"Come you must tell me about your father. Where is he anyway!"

"Somewhere in China I guess," replied Ranma without much concern in his voice.

"China!" exclaimed Akane and Soun at the same time.

"Yeah, I kinda lost him back there. He said he would meet me here," responded Ranma with no real excitement or emotion in his voice.

"Then, for the sake of the schools, your must stay with me as my guest."

"What!"

"Genma has trained you in the art hasn’t he?"

"Well yes but...."

"Then until he arrives you will stay as my guest."

Akane looked bewildered at her father, then at the redhead girl.

"Oh my!"

Kasumi saw the Akane and another girl standing by the door. Around their feet were puddles of water.

"Akane, why don’t you and your friend freshen up while I clean up this mess."

She shooed them away into the house.

"Why don’t you go and take a bath?" asked Akane.

"Later," replied Ranma. "I’d just like to take a look at the Dojo first."

Akane shrugged and showed Ranma the Dojo then she scampered up the stairs to change. Ranma looked at his wet body and sighed. He took off the wet shirt, wrung it dry, and started with the pants. He didn’t know if he should do any spells as yet. He did not want to attract any attention to himself or to the Tendo household. Who knows what lurked behind the mask of this peaceful Tokyo ward?

Satisfied, Ranma donned his pants again and gave the Dojo a critical glance. It was large and spacious, certainly not the largest he had ever seen, but it definitely reminded him of something he had seen before when he was younger. He hadn’t been in one for so long. Maybe he would take the old man up on his offer and stay for awhile.

"Hey, you okay?" asked Akane. Only then did Ranma realise that he’d been staring out into space

"My name’s Akane, and since you’re here for awhile, let’s be friends."

Friends, Ranma turned that word over and over in his mind. He had not had any real friends on the road. In fact, the last friend he had ever had time to make was that boy, Ucchan.

"I’d like that," replied Ranma as she forced her lips into a smile. It had been a long time since he had had any reason to smile

Akane immediately saw the change as her guest’s eyes transformed from a haunted guarded gaze to one of friendliness.

"Well come on, we’re already in the Dojo, lets spar. I hope you can handle me."

Akane hoped she wouldn’t hurt her new friend. She was after all, the best fighter in Nerima.

Ranma smiled at the girl in the yellow gi. He had already measured her power reading and although she had great potential, she was nowhere near his level.

Akane took up her naturally aggressive stance while Ranma just stood there, with a loose open stance that held neither an element of attack nor defence, but one of unreadiness.

"Come on lets go," shouted Akane impatiently while Ranma just nodded at her. Akane attacked.

Akane let loose a fury of slow punches. All she felt was the air moving in front of her. She increased her speed but still, she couldn’t even touch Ranma. She felt her hand smash through one of the walls of the Dojo.

Ranma amusedly dodged all of Akane’s strikes and analysed her technique. She favoured Kenpo from what he saw. He would have really engaged her, but first he had to find out how good she really was.

Akane finally backed him into the corner and smiled, as she was about to deliver a punch that Ranma would have to block. Ranma smiled as well and suddenly he somersaulted over her using her head as an anchor. Akane was stupefied. Ranma took hold of this opportunity and lightly tripped her to the ground.

Akane was at first angry. She had never in her life seen anyone fight like that and Ranma hadn’t even tried to block one of her punches, then reality dawned on her. Ranma could teach her.

"Thanks Ranma, I’m glad I lost to a girl. I’d hate it if I’d lost to a boy. They’re such perverts don’t you think?" muttered Akane as she left the Dojo.

The open-ended question played itself over in Ranma’s mind as he stood there in the Dojo staring out into the rain.

"Ranma, why don’t you go and take a bath?" asked Kasumi as she entered the Dojo.

"Thanks I will...um..."

"Kasumi."

"Thanks Kasumi."

He gathered his backpack and made to the bathroom. Quickly he undressed and into the furo he went. The warm water from the furo warming his cold salted skin. It was good to have the luxury of a warm bath again. Baths like these only came sporadically in his life. He allowed the water to soak through his skin and allowed his mind, the freedom to wander.

'Boys are such perverts,' that phrase stuck in his mind, he didn’t know why.

He was always so glad of those two short months he had stayed at the Temple when a snake had bitten his father. The monks had shown him manners, had trained him in the art and had trained him in magic. What he hadn’t learnt from his father, he had learnt from them. Two months of intensive training. That had been about two years ago. He had hidden his second art from his father as best he could. Not that the old man had ever cared to find out why he acted a bit differently after they had left the temple.

Then his mind wandered to his misadventures of the last few months, those that would change his life forever. His curses...he really wanted to kill his old man the second time, but all he had was the old man, and like it or not, pops was his only true link to this world. He had no friends, only a few teachers and pops, that was all he had.

Ranma’s sixth sense sprung a warning in his mind. The bathroom door was opening. Who would dare walk in on him? Had they managed to find him already? He felt no animosity behind the door.

There she was in all her glory, right in front of him. He could feel the blood pressure rising in his nose. Wait a minute, this was the same thing he had done when he was faced with public baths in China. He forced his valour to his head, shutting down the blood that threatened to spurt out of his nose.

"I’m finished," announced Ranma-chan hurriedly as she ran into the changing room, closing her eyes and the door behind her.

Akane stared after the girl in astonishment at her behaviour. She sure was strange. Akane stepped lightly in the water. Her new friend was indeed an enigma. Never had she seen someone that good in the art or someone that cautious. Akane could sense Ranma’s ever present guard as she moved, always expecting, what? She hoped that someday she might find out. Akane thought the girl might have liked some company in the bath but evidently, she didn’t. Yes, Ranma was very strange indeed.

Outside, Ranma’s ragged breathing settled. She was so beautiful and kind; he had never met a girl like her, ever. He would have to be careful at night. Losing her friendship was something that he could ill afford.

He met Kasumi out in the hallway and she took him to the guestroom.

Akane dressed and set about looking for her new friend. It was a refreshing feeling to find another girl who was as good in the art as she was. Who was she kidding, Ranma was much better! Akane was looking forward to the next few days. Hopefully, Ranma would be able to train her.

Akane opened the guestroom door...

Ranma sat in the middle of the room at the side of the futon. She had already unpacked. Akane couldn’t believe how little Ranma had. On the side of the futon were a couple of rolls of packed clothes, some trinkets and a flat brown leather satchel. Akane shuddered. How could someone live like that for so long? The girl had practically nothing. All Akane could feel was pity for the girl. Akane had no idea if she could last that long without all the stuff she had.

"Oh hi Akane," greeted a cheerful Ranma when he saw her. He tried to hide the blush that was creeping to his face as he was reminded of his earlier encounter with her. The two sat down and chatted.

Akane was naturally curious about his life on the road. Of course Ranma only told her vaguely of his live, leaving out ALL his adventures of the last few months and a host of other things he didn’t want to bother Akane with. After talking with her, he somehow felt strangely refreshed. As if a great load had been removed from his shoulders.

Then the shouting began.

"He what! How could he? How long will she be staying?"

Ranma heard the word freeloading and suddenly understood the situation. He sighed, it had taken him a long time to gather what little he had and keep it away from his father. He still didn’t know if his father owed Soun Tendo any money.

Akane left him to see the commotion downstairs. Cautiously Ranma took a coin from his satchel. He was hopeful that it would be enough.

"So Akane who’s your freeloading friend upstairs?" asked Nabiki.

"My name is Saotome Ranma," replied the girl, who was rapidly descending the stairs, "and I hope this will be payment enough for my stay here."

Ranma flipped a coin to Nabiki who effortlessly caught it. Then she opened her eyes wildly; she could hardly conceal her excitement. A Spanish doubloon. That would be worth at least a couple million yen. Dollar signs flashed in front of her eyes.

"That will be enough thank you," and with that, Nabiki Tendo disappeared into her room with visions of dollar signs bouncing around her head. One could have sworn that she had started to glow.

"You know you didn’t have to do that," chastised Akane.

"Yeah, but I’m tired of my old man’s habit of freeloading."

The two girls resumed their chatting and went to bed very late in the night.

Ranma lay in bed, his hands beneath his head. He smiled. A new home and a new friend. At least he would have some peace now, or so he thought.

Sleep came to him as the sandman sneaked into Ranma’s room, unhindered by the newly erected wards.

************

Early the next morning, Ranma arose and practised his katas in the privacy of the Dojo. He was relieved that no one was around. The last few months had dramatically changed all his views on the world; he had many new katas to practice. Katas that should not be seen by others who did not know his new art.

The smell of breakfast wafted through the air causing Ranma’s stomach to rumble loudly. Then he remembered that he had been travelling for four days straight and hadn’t had a proper meal for the same amount of time.

Ranma joined the others already seated at the table and made a note that the other girl that he didn’t know wasn’t at the table.

Ranma sat down before them and started eating. Only after he had finished his first plate did he realise that the others were staring at him.

Akane initial shock was replaced by laughter. She had never seen anyone eat or inhale so much food so quickly. She gagged as she saw Ranma take down seconds. Only after the fourth plate did Ranma’s hunger look satiated.

"Come on Ranma, time to go to school."

"School? Do I have ta?" implored Ranma. He had always hated going to school except the one at the temple.

"Or do you want to stay here all day and do chores!"

Ranma hated the latter more than the former and followed Akane out of the house. In the street Ranma instinctively jumped onto the chain-linked fence following the river.

"Hey Ranma, why are you doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Running along the fence you baka!"

"Oh it just feels natural...Baka!" replied Ranma.

That had had a negative impact on Akane who looked as if she was silently fuming.

"Wanna try?"

"What?"

"Well wanna try walking up here?"

"Okay," replied Akane as she offered him her hand and smiled. Ranma couldn’t mistake how kawaii that smile made her look.

He helped Akane up onto the fence and allowed her to walk in front of him. She faltered at first but then settled into a steady motion until a post below her started to give way. She waved her hands futilely to retrieve her balance, but it was gone already. Before she fell, she grabbed onto the closest thing, which happened to be Ranma.

They turned in the air and Ranma hit the ground first, Akane fell on top of him. He had also grabbed her during the fall and his hands now rested against her ample bosom, her face against his neck. He could feel her breath against his skin.

Akane quickly got up off him, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully she hadn’t seen his change of colour. If she did she didn’t show it as the two of them continued down the road to school.

Outside the school Ranma heard a great commotion coming from inside.

"What’s going on?"

"Oh that’s just the boys in the school. Some stupid senior told them that if they defeated me, they could date me."

"Oh is that all," replied Ranma as he flipped onto a wall to get a better view. After all that time on the road, nothing surprised her too much.

Ranma watched as Akane flew into the thick of things. He had to admit that she was rather good at this. Finally the last one fell, or so Ranma thought...

"Akane Tendo, thoust tenacity hath blinded me. These vermin are no match for thee, I shall bestow upon you the honour to date with me."

Ranma jumped down to Akane’s side.

"Who’s the jerk?" asked Ranma as he pointed to Kuno.

"He’s the stupid senior!"

By now, Kuno had his eyes on Ranma.

"Ah fair Akane Tendo, pray tell you introduce me to the fiery goddess at your side. Her fierce rapture hath indeed captured the very meaning of the word beauty."

"She can speak for herself," answered Akane

"Ah but how uncouth of me not to introduce myself to such a beauty. My name is upperclassmen Kuno. Junior group E. Undefeated new star of the high school fencing world. But my peers call me... The Blue Thunder of Furikan High!" A bolt of lighting pierced the suddenly cloudy sky behind Kuno. Ranma looked into the sky with a wizened look. There was something there in that thunder that just wouldn’t leave his mind. He shook himself out of his little reverie, back to the task at hand.

"So my pig-tailed goddess, I grant you the great honour to date with me."

Ranma walked up to the kendoist.

"I am Saotome Ranma, the heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts and I WILL NOT DATE you."

"Ah I see you share the same passions as the fair Akane Tendo. Fair enough, I challenge you to battle and when I win I will date with thee."

By now a large crowd had gathered around them and the students were staring out of the windows of the school.

"A challenge eh, you’re on!"

"Be careful Ranma," warned Akane

"No problem!" replied as he threw his book bag over to Akane.

To say it was a fight was an overstatement. Before Kuno had started his attack, Ranma held Kuno’s bokken with one hand and kicked the boy into the tree. Kuno got up, muttered something incoherent and fell down unconscious. The rest of the school looked at the new girl in wonder as Akane and Ranma entered the building.

*************

Ranma muttered his annoyance as he entered the class. He had forgot how perverted some boys could actually be. Some of them in his class were drooling over him, a thought that totally freaked him out. 'Oh well!' he thought, It’ll only be for a couple of days until pops shows up then I’ll be gone. Until then he guessed he could take all the stares, but if they dared try anything, they’d meet the back of his fist, and a free trip to the hospital!

School as usual was BOR--ING. Compared to the classes at the Temple he had taken for those two months, this was soooo boring. He looked around and the rest of the class was also drawling into a stupor. Even Akane was fighting the oncoming sleep.

Ranma thanked the gods as the lunch bell rang. He sat with Akane under the tree and began devouring his food, this time at a slightly slower rate. He was having what was a very amusing conversation with Akane and her friends until the kendoist decided to make an entrance again. Once again he challenged her and once again she dispatched him into the wall for an unplanned nap. Didn’t he ever learn? Jeez!

Well, after lunch, there was no further incident until they reached home. There, a surprise awaited Ranma.

Nabiki held up an envelope to Ranma.

"Here, Ranma. Someone dropped this off today."

Ranma took the letter from her, hoping it was a letter from his pop. He ripped in open and was dismayed at its contents. Another Kuno challenge. His face drooped. He didn’t want to answer the challenge, but honour demanded that he do so. Ranma told Akane not to worry and bounded out of the house.

Ranma waited at the park where Kuno had told him to come. It was two past six. The kendoist was late, and that irritated Ranma to no end. Something was up. Ranma though had no mind to move his gaze from the sunset. Ever since that fated day, he felt a power welling inside him as he watched.

Finally Ranma spied Kuno in the haze of the sunset.

"Ready to get beaten again Kuno!" taunted Ranma.

He saw a blur emerge from the boy’s hands and caught it instinctively.

"Pig-tailed Girl," replied Kuno, "I love you."

Ranma watched the roses in his hands and his legs gave way. Now he was totally disgusted and embarrassed and feeling oh so feminine. Arghhh!

Ranma made it home time for dinner and then depressingly told Akane he was feeling sleepy. Then off to bed he went, leaving a stunned and surprised Akane. Akane tried to get him to talk but he wouldn’t tell her what happened, however, he did enjoy her company and they chatted for the while until she also went to bed.

Ranma waited until the whole Tendo family went asleep before he got up again. He really needed to be a man right now. A quick dash in the bath, and he was a man again. He made his way to the Dojo, intent on doing the only thing that relaxed him in situations like these, katas. On reaching the Dojo and starting his practice, he found the Dojo a bit constrictive. He looked outward to the koi pond and smiled, there was the perfect training spot for him. He removed his shirt and prepared himself.

*********

Akane Tendo stirred in her sleep a bit more than usual. Her new friend had given her a considerable amount to think about. She was more beautiful and she was better in the art; the two things Akane thought she was the best at. Not only that, her friend carried on as if it was the most natural thing in the world, something that was starting to get on Akane’s nerves. But she was a good friend, and Akane had squeezed out a promise from Ranma that she would teach her some of her moves. A sudden gust of wind blew open the curtains of her room, chilling her, pulling her from her thoughts.

Akane got up and was about to close the window when she saw a figure under her window near the koi pond. It was a boy. A boy! What the hell was he doing in her yard at this time of night! It took a great deal of her control to stop her from going to the yard and bashing the boy around. She had tried to see who it was, but in her surveillance, she had become so entranced by his movements that she had forgotten her previous anger.

He didn’t have a shirt on, allowing her ample view of his rippling muscles. She watched him as he went thought his katas. "Beautiful..." escaped her lips as she watched adoringly at the sight before her. His movements flowed like a summer's wind one into the next, each step in tune to the next in a subtle dance. For, it appeared to be an intricate dance being displayed by a master. Akane had never seen anyone do katas like that before. Not even her father could do them like that. Then he began to glow, a soft rosy red colour.

She watched him in silent adoration, and tried to pry a look at his face. All she saw was his pigtail and nothing else. She had to see more, she wanted to see more.

Akane didn’t even realise how much she was drooling until she poked her head out too much, causing one of her flowerpots to disappear over the edge of the windowsill.

The figure stopped at the sound of the noise, looked up, then scurried into the Dojo. Akane was excited the hunt was on. She had to find out who that was.

In her pyjamas, she rapidly descended the stairs and out to the Dojo and wham, into a wet dripping female Ranma.

"Oh Ranma, did you...did you see him?"

"See who?" stuttered a nervous Ranma.

"You must have seen him, he came right past here!" insisted Akane.

" Uh..." Ranma knew he had to say something.

"Oh him!"

"Oh him who?" asked Akane eagerly.

"My cousin...um...Kanma"

"Kanma! So that’s his name!"

Akane left a much relieved and wet Ranma in the Dojo and stumbled back up to her room, mulling in her thoughts.

Ranma sat on his futon, but no sleep came to him at all. He had seen that dreamy look on Akane’s face. Was that all for him? He sighed, knowing him; something was bound to happen. He promised himself that he would be more careful next time.

Akane Tendo tossed and turned again in her sleep. Images of two men following her in her dreams. One was a more mature older man with glasses and a knowledgeable stare, the other, a youth bristling with energy and adventure. Slowly an inward battle took place between the two men in the recesses of Akane’s mind, and eventually the victor surfaced.

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