Because of a number of requests, here is chapter one...
Son Turned Daughter
A Ranma � fanfict by Tangent
Pre-reading and editing assistance by:
Lord Talon;
Nevrmore;
And some guy named Steve
DISCLAIMER: 'Ranma �' and all characters therein belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogagukan, Kitty, and Viz Video. This fanfict has been produced for my own enjoyment and to pass on without profit. Other characters that come into play in this fanfict may or may not be pulled from other sources (including other fanficts, RPGs, manga, anime, literature, or possibly even *GASP* American comic books!).
A WORD FROM TANGENT: I've wanted to do a story like this one ever since I read 'An Alternate History of Ranma �' by Ichinohei Hitomi. While I liked the story, I couldn't help but feel that I would have written things a bit differently. But then, that's what alternaverse fanficts are about aren't they? So, in my tribute to both Rumiko Takahashi and Ichinohei Hitomi, I bring you this tale of 'What would have happened if...'
NOTE: This first chapter recaps the beginning of the Ranma � series (it doesn't really matter whether it's the manga series or the anime series, but this Ranma's girl form is a redhead). Other than a few insights here and there, there isn't much of anything different until the story reaches its diverging point in the last few paragraphs. Just thought that I'd provide a fair warning...
CHAPTER ONE: So, Do You Want to be Friends?
Soun Tendo, a man in his early forties, with a strong, kind face, long black hair and a mustache, read through the morning mail. Among the various letters, packages, and postcards was a postcard that had a message for which he had been waiting for a long time. The postcard showed a scene with a panda, and turning it over, he noticed that it was post marked China. Tears started to come from his eyes as he read the message:
Bringing Ranma home.
On Soun's face were tears of happiness as he said, out loud and low to himself, "They are finally coming here...How I have waited for this day."
He decided to tell his daughters immediately.
Soun called out, "Kasumi! Nabiki! Akane!"
Not getting an immediate response, he went to look for them, first checking the kitchen that was his eldest daughter's domain. She was indeed there, as she seemed to nearly always be. A brief pang of sorrow revisited his heart as he thought about this last and strongest connection that she had with her mother. He collected himself. Today's news was to be joyous, not tragic, as his wife's death had been so many years ago.
"Kasumi!" he exclaimed, happily, managing to expunge his grief, "We are expecting company. Please get ready to prepare some tea for our guests."
"Oh? Who is it that is coming, Father?" Kasumi asked curiously.
"An old friend of mine and his son," explained Soun. "I will explain everything when you, Nabiki, and Akane are all at the table." With that, he left to find his other two daughters.
After a brief search of the rest of the first floor, Soun then went to check the bedrooms on the second floor of their family home, expecting to at least find his middle daughter there. As he had expected, he found Nabiki in her room, reading one of her manga books. Not that he minded. She studied and had good grades, so what she did in her spare time was her own concern.
"Nabiki" he called out to get her attention.
"Yes, Daddy?" Nabiki asked neutrally. Her father rarely interrupted her privacy, and when he did, it wasn't always with something that she considered worthwhile.
"We are expecting guests today," Soun began again. "An old friend of mine is coming to visit, and he is bringing his son. Please go wait at the table and I will explain everything as soon as everyone is together." With that, he left the room to search for Akane. Not finding her in her room, he called out a few more times before returning to Nabiki's room. "I can't find Akane."
"I'll find her, Daddy," Nabiki offered. [Now.what to wear? I know! Just the thing,] she thought. [I'll change right after I find Akane].
Akane was just returning from her run, shouting "Hi! I'm home!" and then ran straight to the dojo, pausing only to throw off her running clothes and change into her practice uniform, as was appropriate for training in the dojo. She set up a quick array of concrete blocks and wood, then preceded to reduce said objects to rubble.
"Ahhhh, good!" she sighed as she relaxed. Then she heard a small click. Turning around, she saw one of her older sisters, Nabiki, putting her camera away.
"There you go again, Akane" she said as she shook her head, arms crossed in front of her. "No wonder all the boys at school think you're strange!"
"Why should I care?" she demanded. "I'm not like you! Not everyone thinks the world revolves around boys, Nabiki!"
"No?" Nabiki replied, placing her hands behind her head, "Then I guess what father has to say to us would be of no interest to you would it?"
Akane turned to look at her, "What are you talking about?"
It was raining lightly in the Nerima district. In the Tendo Household, Akane's voice was raised in protest. "FIANCE?!?"
Soun Tendo looked at Akane, "Yes, the son of a very good friend of mine. His name is Ranma Saotome" he stated. "If one of you were to marry him, and carry on this dojo, then the Tendo family legacy would be assured."
Akane wasn't taking this well.
"WAIT A MINUTE!" she shouted angrily. "Don't WE have some say in who we marry?"
"Akane's correct, Father" Kasume interjected. "We have never even met him."
Mr. Tendo chuckled, "Well now, that is easily fixed!"
* * *
At that moment, elsewhere in Nerima during the last part of a light rain, the desperate sounds of running feet could be heard, making light splashing sounds which could be heard getting louder along one of the roads of the shopping district. Suddenly bursting around a corner, a young redheaded girl trailing a backpack was being chased by a large black and white bear. A panda to be more precise.
People stared at this sight, since it was unusual for a Panda to be found outside of a zoo, as they were very rare creatures.
As the panda grabbed for the girl, she let go of the backpack and leaped up, kicking the
panda away.
"STOP THAT!!!" she shouted at the Panda as it was knocked on it back and sent flying down the street.
The Panda slowly got up, standing on it's hind legs and using it's forelegs almost like hands. People standing around could now get a good look at the girl; she was wearing a dark red top and loose, black trousers that were tied at the ankles, reminiscent of ancient martial arts patterns. The clothes had a definite Chinese look to them, and the armbands she wore were made of crushed velvet. Her hair was braided into a pigtail at the nape of her neck, and looked as though it would reach down past her shoulder blades if she released it. However, it was the panda that was drawing all the comments, people not really believing their eyes.
The girl adopted a basic martial arts stance. "Your move..." she commented.
The Panda wasted no time, immediately coming in with multiple strikes which the girl immediately evaded, waiting for an opening.
She saw one, and as the panda struck near her ear, she shouted as she grabbed the front leg, "Well I still say this whole situation stinks! Picking my fianc�e for me WITHOUT EVEN ASKING!!!"
The girl threw the panda hard into the ground and against a street sign, literally knocking it out of the ground. She spent a few moments recovering, her body trembling, and her breath slightly raged, staring at the cause of all her troubles. Knocking the braid (which had ended up in front of her) back over her shoulder, she began to address the panda in a calm but irritated voice, "I'm going back to China! Suck on that, Old Man." Turning away, she grabbed her backpack and slippers, and started walking away, her head held down.
Thinking of China, and how she wanted to get back to a certain set of springs, the girl failed to notice the panda get up and lift the street sign. Wielding it like a weapon, the panda used the sign to knock the girl out. It then picked her up, standing almost as if he were actually a human, and putting her across one shoulder. It then picked up the girl's backpack and shoes.
In the meantime, the crowd was starting to get anxious; some saying how big the panda was, others commenting on how much it acted like a man. Seeing this the panda got a little nervous and then growled in all directions. The crowd quickly turned away and let the panda go on its way.
* * *
Back at the Tendo residence, Soun continued to explain the situation to his daughters. Nabiki, he noted to himself, appeared to be particularly excited about the prospect, and had even gone as far as to change into a kimono for the occasion. Kasumi, whom he suspected of harboring feelings for Dr. Tofu even if she didn't seem to be aware of it herself yet, had just come in straight from the kitchen. Akane, on the other hand, was obviously irritated over the whole affair.
"Ranma is returning from a long training journey with his father." Soun paused briefly to sip his tea. "Recently, it seems, they crossed into China."
"Oooh! China!" exclaimed Nabiki, who was definitely warming up to the prospect of getting to know people who could tell her first hand what other countries were like.
"What's so great about training in China" commented Akane sulkily. Her recent experience with the now daily fights with the boys at Furinkan High School had left her more than a little fed up with boys for the time being. While she knew that she wasn't being fair to the boy she hadn't even met yet, she did not really care at the moment. "It doesn't mean that he is any good."
"Is he cute?" inquired Nabiki, ignoring her sister.
"I do hope that he is older than me" commented a worried Kasumi. "Younger men are so... young."
"So, what is he like?" persisted Nabiki.
Soun cleared his throat. "I have no idea," he admitted.
"You have no idea" repeated Nabiki, glaring at her father.
"I've never met them" he confessed.
Before Nabiki could say anything more they heard a commotion from outside. The sound of the front gate being opened and closed was followed by a young voice screaming, "LET GO YOU IDIOT!"
The three girls turned to the entrance, with Kasumi saying, "We have visitors."
"Oooo! It must be Ranma!" Nabiki thought excitedly, not realizing that she had said the thought aloud. She raced her father to answer the door. Kasumi was happy for her sister, and relieved (although she did not just yet realize why).
Akane had other ideas as she moped along behind, [How disgusting. Boys.]
That was when Soun and Nabiki came running inside, Soun's face, a mask of calmness, and Nabiki's face showing her utter fear, especially since she had seen the body that the huge bear running behind them had been carrying. Said body was struggling with the panda, trying to turn around, "Hey!" the girl shouted, "STOP THAT! Put me down, will ya? You're scaring them!"
The panda stopped, and Soun turned to stand in front of his daughters, not quite sure what to do.
Kasumi asked a question that was unusual, but given the circumstances, logical, "Father... This... is your friend?"
Unable to answer verbally, Soun shook his head no.
Meanwhile, Nabiki who hadn't been that scared in a very long time shouted, "Oh. So a panda just decides to drop in for a visit! Happens all the time around here!"
In the meantime, the panda had put what (at the moment) appeared to be a rather bishonen boy that he was carrying down in front of Soun. 'He' was young, and small, being a couple of inches shorter than Akane. 'He' looked up nervously into Soun's face, 'his' large eyes nervous as she watched him carefully.
Realizing how nervous his young guest was, and guessing him to be no older than fourteen or fifteen, Soun bent down and looked at 'him', "You...wouldn't happen to be..."
The 'boy' suddenly looked away and clutched 'his' hands in front of 'his' chest. "Ranma Saotome. Sorry about this."
Soun grabbed 'his' shoulders, excited about the fact that he'd finally arrived while the young 'mans' face reflected an extreme calm. "At last! You've come at last!"
Nabiki looked around her father's shoulders, seeing Ranma for the first time. 'He' looked younger than she was, that was true, and 'he' had a small thin frame. 'His' face was a bit rounded and had delicate features, still having a little bit of baby fat, but there was also a quiet sort of strength there. 'He' definitely appeared to be on the bishonen side, rather than being ruggedly handsome (not that their was anything wrong with that type either...) 'He' would be perfect as a fiancee, and if their children had his looks... "He's cute!"
Soun in the mean time pulled 'him' into a hug, happy and glad to see the child, the son that would take over the school and become part of the Tendo clan. "It's so good of you to come, so..." Soun stopped in mid sentence, feeling something he shouldn't have felt on the body of this young 'man'. Something that he had only felt whenever he had hugged his daughters or his late wife. Not wanting to believe it, but not really having much choice since he had experience with this, he pushed the 'boy' back and got a good look at 'him'. Raising a hand, and unable to speak, he stood there, mouth slightly open.
Kasumi looked on, not quite sure what to say, while Nabiki narrowed her eyes after her fathers reaction and took a closer, more careful look at their guest. Looking at his chest, she noticed something, something that should not have been on a young man. Getting closer, she tested her theory by poking Ranma in the breast. Her suspicions confirmed, she started to look back up, her enthusiasm over a fiancee now dead and buried.
Ranma, in the meantime, just closed her eyes in embarrassment as she asked, "Ahhh... Could you stop that please?"
Nabiki continued, looking straight at her father. "'He' is a girl."
Soun fainted.
* * *
A short time later, Soun slowly awoke to the sound of a wind chime, the normally soothing sound bring back the unfortunate memory of what had happened. He couldn't quite bring himself to move yet, and he knew that he was lying down on his own futon, his comforter pulled up around him, and the sound of someone dipping a cloth into a bowl and squeezing it. Unbidden, tears started to leak from the corner of his eyes, and he thought about how cruel life could be.
Kasumi noticed when her father's eyes opened slightly, enough so that he could see. She knew that he was still in shock over what had happened, pinning his hopes and dreams on a future son in law only to have had that snatched away. "Poor father. He's so disappointed."
Nabiki couldn't keep her temper at that. Listening to her father, she had come to hope that perhaps she would have been Ranma's choice for a wife. Not so much so that the Dojo could be retained within the family, but more so that she could finally have someone for herself. "HE'S disappointed! Some fiancee this is!"
Akane, who had been fairly silent up to now, got angry herself. She quickly glanced at the girl who was beside her with her guardian panda sitting quietly in back of her. She noticed that Ranma was still embarrassed over what had happened, and that she had remained very silent. She could also see the emotions that the pig-tailed girl had and that she was now in a position where she had no friends, no family, and had been literally dumped upon people who now acted like she was a problem. "Stop it, you two. He...she is our guest!" She said and stressed the word guest in order to drive her point home.
Kasumi had the grace to blush, having (for once) been caught behaving as something less than the perfect hostess. No one appeared to notice as Ranma was looking at Akane, Akane was glaring at Nabiki, and Nabiki...
Nabiki was having none of it. Unlike her two sisters, no one had really wanted her or had gone after her in a very, very long time. She had thought that this was her chance to finally have someone. "This is all your fault father. You should have made sure."
That was finally enough to get Soun to talk, although the rest of his body still refused to function properly. "I assumed Saotome's son would be a boy!"
That made Nabiki angrier than ever with her father. Unlike him, she had seen too much of the modern world. While men like her father still lived in a dream world where rigid rules of honor were respected and expected, she had seen the politicians, businesses, and others who had, to her way of reasoning, no honor.
She suddenly grabbed Ranma by the back and used her free hand to squeeze Ranma's breast, causing the young girl to blush again. "Do you see any boys here, daddy? eh...? Do you?!"
Akane noticed Ranma's face becoming a brighter red, although she refused to raise her hands to stop it. Instead the pig-tailed girl only said, "Could you please stop that?"
Akane had finally had enough, and she also had to get the girl out of there. It was obvious that she was much too polite for her own good. Getting up, she asked Ranma, "Say, would you like to join me out in the Dojo?"
Ranma looked up, a look of surprise clearly evident on her face, and her expressive sapphire eyes showing her emotions. She was obviously a girl that had never learned to hide her emotions, and Ranma didn't even realize how cute she looked with that expression. Still cautious, she nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Akane noticed, and almost giggled at how innocent Ranma seemed. She certainly was brought up to be extremely polite however, just the sort of girl that Akane liked as a friend. "I'm Akane. Would you like to be friends?"
Ranma slowly smiled her thanks although she didn't yet speak.
Leading her new friend out to the Dojo, a fairly modern set of rooms with florescent lights in the ceiling, a small shine, some scenery and the dojo motto, Akane decided that she would have to get Ranma to open up a little. "You do practice Kempo don't you?"
Ranma, still a little nervous about these people and the situation, but none the less glad that she had at least found a friend, replied, "A little."
Akane noticed that Ranma was still very nervous, and since physical exercise always soothed her, she said, "Then let's have a little match, just between the two of us. OK?"
Ranma looked at Akane's face and was a little confused. She was the first girl that the pig-tailed girl had ever met that was really interested in the Martial arts, and that made her a little apprehensive. Despite the fact that she was also a girl, Ranma didn't really want to harm or fight Akane. Besides, she had fought a girl once, and that had turned out to be a disaster. "Aahhhh..."
Akane smiled again, noticing that the girl was now confused. She was definitely too innocent for her own good, especially since it was obvious that she would be living with them now. "It's just for fun. Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
Ranma was still nervous as she replied, "If you say so."
Akane went into a battle stance. She had noticed that Ranma hadn't gone into a stance, and stood with her arms behind her back. Since it was obvious that she wasn't really prepared, Akane had chosen a stance that would allow her to transmit her movements in an obvious way.
She quickly closed the space between the two of them, punching quickly, and shouting aloud. It was with some surprise that she noted Ranma had leapt up five and a half feet. She was obviously not as inexperienced at the arts as she seemed, so Akane reduced the amount that she could be read by half and then did a high side kick at the girl in front of her.
Ranma just leapt up again and opened up her legs wide. Spreading her arms out to keep her balance, she noted how good Akane was, and admired her abilities. The way that she suddenly dropped the amount of movement in the way she could be read indicated that her opponent was very skilled in the arts. If this continued, she could very well be hit since she wouldn't be able to tell how the blow was going to land. However, she still couldn't bring herself to throw a blow that would hit or hurt Akane.
Meantime Akane kept throwing blows, each time reducing the amount of movements that could be read. Punches, kicks, jabs, and so on would continue to miss the small redhead as she bobbed from one side to the other (or even backwards) to avoid getting hit. While Akane was getting closer each time, she still wasn't getting through. She also noticed that Ranma hadn't thrown a single blow at her. "What's wrong? Swing at me."
Ranma didn't respond. How could she take the chance on hitting a friend? The only friend she'd had in a very, very long time.
Akane suddenly started a set of blows that Ranma dodged, although it had been a close thing at the beginning of the series (the redhead had been forced to actually move and give ground a little with each strike).
Ranma backed away a little bit while Akane did the same. This was getting more and more serious with each passing moment and she realized that one of them would get hurt if this continued, and she didn't want to be the one to throw the blow that hurt Akane. She then noticed the change in Akane's stance, A change that indicated that Akane had decided that this Ranma could stand more than just practice...
Akane in the meantime had been wondering why her blows were missing. Each time she struck, she had narrowed the margin that her movements had shown. Most martial artists would have already been beaten back by the series of strikes that she had already tried. [Why? Why am I missing her?] she thought, [It's almost as if she's reading all my moves.]
That was when she realized something. Her father said that he had trained together with this girls father, and if that was the case, then Ranma was probably a practitioner of Arts of Anything Goes as well. She shifted stances, [OK then, this time for real.]
Akane moved fast, approaching Ranma at a high speed and throwing an authentic punch, rather than a practice blow. Ranma barely had time to leap above the fist, having to crouch slightly to gather enough speed. She saw that Akane's hand was still in the wall, and an opportunity presented itself to her to finish this fight quickly. She kicked off lightly from the wall when she was at the apex of her jump, and flipped over to land behind Akane, giving her a light tap on the back of her head with her index finger.
Akane, was still stunned, not at having missed Ranma, she had expected that, but that she had put so much force into the blow that she had broken the wall. When she felt the finger on her head, a strike that (had it been real) would have knocked her out, she turned slowly. Ranma was smiling a bit awkwardly and laughing hesitantly, but it was the first real bit of joy that she had seen on the girl's face since she arrived. Akane joined in the laughter, glad all of a sudden to have made a friend and meeting someone she could really respect, and Ranma's laughter grew steadier in its confidence.
Akane managed to stop herself, although the two of them were now gasping a little, enjoying each other's company. Looking at Ranma over her shoulder as she began to leave the dojo, she said, "You're pretty good. I'm just glad that you're a girl."
Ranma looked back at her, a bit of puzzlement on her face, "Huh?"
Akane giggled a bit and looked back at Ranma, "It's just that...I'd really hate to lose to a boy."
Ranma hesitated for a moment, almost allowing Akane to exit the dojo before getting the resolve to speak up. "But, Akane," she corrected, voice trembling from fear that she was about to lose her new friend with what she was about to say. "I am a boy."
Akane stopped in shock at Ranma's pronouncement, turning around and looking at the redheaded girl as if she lost her mind. "Nani?"
In a small, hesitant voice, Ranma began to explain the Nyanniichuan curse to Akane...
END CHAPTER ONE
OMAKE THEATER PRESENTS: Problem Solved?
It was raining lightly in the Nerima district. In the Tendo Household, Akane's voice was raised in protest. "FIANCE?!?"
Soun Tendo looked at Akane, "Yes, the son of a very good friend of mine. His name is Ranma Saotome" he stated. "If one of you were to marry him, and carry on this dojo, then the Tendo family legacy would be assured."
Akane thought about this for a moment.
"Oh, THANK YOU, daddy!" she cried cheerfully, moving around the table and giving her father a hug. "Maybe this will finally convince Kuno and the other jerks at school to stop harassing me every morning!"
Massive facefaulting abounded, including remarkable ones from the redhead and the panda, who hadn't even arrived yet...
END