All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published
by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz
Communications. Variable Geo is produced by KSS, and brought over to
the states by ADV films.
A Ranma/Variable Geo Crossover fic: "Variable Half"
or: "I Can't Believe Our Fathers Did this to Us!"
Chapter: 2
Nabiki headed for the front gate of the Tendo house, contemplating
where she should start. < So, where should I go first? The Cat Cafe or
Ucchans?> After a few moments pause, she turned toward the Ucchan. <
Ukyo usually pays better, and she won't try to keep me from telling
others.> Nabiki went directly to the counter as soon as she reached the
Okinamiyaki restaurant. The place wasn't too busy. The early breakfast
crowd had gone and it was hours until the lunch rush.
Ukyo poured some batter on the grill and glanced curiously at her.
"Your regular, Nabiki?"
Nabiki nodded, smiling slightly. "On the house?"
Ukyo hesitated only a moment before beginning to prepare Nabiki's
Okinamiyaki. "Sure, sugar. So... what's up?" Ukyo pretended
nonchalance, glancing at Nabiki with feigned disinterest.
Nabiki waited patiently for Ukyo to finish and didn't speak until
after taking her first bite. "Excellent as always." The middle Tendo
sister took another bite, savoring the flavor, before continuing. "What
do you know about a local martial arts tournament... for waitresses?"
Ukyo blinked. "Hmm?" She looked thoughtful. "The Martial Arts
Takeout race isn't for a couple more months, and the Combat Cookoff was
last week." The Okinamiyaki chef glanced at Nabiki questioningly. "If
you're here about the VG tournament, forget it. I'm not really
interested."
Nabiki's eyes narrowed. "Those are the only ones you know of?"
Ukyo looked suspicious. "Yes. Why?"
Nabiki's frown deepened. < They did! I can't believe it, but they
actually did it!> The middle Tendo calmed her outward expression and
looked Ukyo in the eye. "I have some information that you'll definitely
want."
Ukyo hesitated, trying to think of what Nabiki could possibly be
trying to sell, but despite the clues, nothing came to mind. "What? Is
Shampoo getting involved in some new competition? Why should I care?
Let the bimbo do what she likes." Ukyo frowned. < But if there were a
new martial arts waitressing competition, why wouldn't I have heard of
it?>
Nabiki shook her head. "That's not it. Trust me, you want to know
about this."
Ukyo furrowed her brow thinking, then gave up. "Fine, how much?"
Nabiki considered that for a moment. "5000 yen." < I'd charge
more, but I want Ukyo to know about this, especially if daddy has really
gone and done what I think he's done.>
Ukyo popped open her cash register and pulled out five 1000 yen
bills. "Alright, Nabiki, I'm listening. If I can use the information,
I'll pay for it."
Nabiki smirked. "Just this once I'll let you get away with that.
Ranma and Akane have gotten entered into a martial arts waitressing
tournament. Daddy and Mr. Saotome entered them yesterday and now
they're both working as waitresses."
Ukyo frowned. "What tournament? The only tournament with
waitresses that I've heard about that's going on is the VG tournament,
and they wouldn't...." Her eyes widened. "Genma signed them up? He
would, wouldn't he! That slimy bastard!"
Nabiki nodded. "I wouldn't put it past him. Daddy I'd expect more
of... unless he really doesn't understand what he's getting them into."
She deftly plucked the money from Ukyo's hand. "So, what are you
planning on doing about it?"
Ukyo hesitated for several seconds before answering. "I've got to
talk to Ranchan. Where is he working, anyway?"
Nabiki smirked again. "Don't you mean she? It's not a waiter
martial arts tournament, after all." She shrugged. "I have no idea
where Ranma's working right now. Genma hustled him out of the house
right after breakfast."
"What about Akane?" Ukyo questioned quickly.
Nabiki shrugged again. "No idea. Daddy took her off to her new job
the same time Genma and Ranma left. I assume they're going to different
places, but I couldn't find out anything else."
Ukyo popped open her cash register again. "OK... 5000 more if and
when you find out, payment on delivery."
Nabiki nodded. "Certainly, you'll be the first to know." < As long
as no one else pays more.>
Nabiki finished her okinamiyaki and headed for the Nekohanten. < I
can't believe it, Akane and Ranma in the VG tournament?> She shook her
head. < Why would Daddy do that? I mean, I can actually see Ranma in
the tournament... but Akane? I don't want my little sister to have to
go through that.> Nabiki felt her pulse quicken at the thought of the
prize money for winning the VG tournament. < ONE... BILLION... YEN!!!
What if... could Ranma actually win? One billion yen and a prime piece
of Tokyo real estate... worth almost as much. He'd be set for life!
What could I do with that much money?"
The mercenary girl frowned. < But when Ranma finds out what kind of
tournament he's in, what will he do? For that matter, what will Akane
do? She's gotten involved in some crazy martial arts tournaments
before... and she's never backed out yet. How in the heck can I
convince her to quit this one?>
Nabiki found herself outside the Nekohanten. < OK, what do I tell
Shampoo and Cologne? They might already know something... I've got to
find out.> She went inside and waved Shampoo over. "Shampoo! One bowl
of Pork Ramen please!"
Shampoo bounced over. "What mercenary girl... Nabiki Tendo want?
Shampoo very busy now."
Nabiki smiled. "That crack will cost you, Shampoo, if you want the
info I have." Nabiki tapped the table. "10,000 yen."
Shampoo blinked. "What you thinking? Why Shampoo pay so much?"
Nabiki shrugged and started getting up. "If you don't want to
know...?"
Shampoo blinked again, then made a calming motion with her hands.
"Nabiki sit, Shampoo get very best Pork ramen for you." Before long,
Nabiki was enjoying her ramen, while Shampoo waited impatiently for her
to get to the point. Nabiki finally finished eating and held out her
hand expectantly.
Shampoo frowned, but counted out 10,000 yen into Nabiki's palm.
"This better be worth Shampoo yen, or Shampoo take refund out of Nabiki
hide!"
Nabiki snorted. "Have I every cheated a customer? For your
information, Ranma and Akane have both entered a martial arts
tournament, specifically, a martial arts waitressing tournament, as of
today."
Shampoo blinked. "For waitresses? Shampoo no hear of tournament
like that."
Nabiki looked seriously at her. "There is one tournament that fits
that description, the VG tournament."
Shampoo looked confused. "What is VG tournament? Shampoo hear name
before, but Great grandmother say no is for Amazon warrior, so Shampoo
not interested before."
Nabiki yawned and held out her hand. "1000 yen." Shampoo grimaced
but brought out the money. Nabiki took it, making it disappear
instantly, causing Shampoo to wonder if Nabiki was practicing Mousse's
hidden weapon style. "The VG tournament is sponsored by a big
multinational corporation... as a cable access pay-TV broadcast show.
The contestants are all waitresses, and whenever they fight they are
filmed for viewers around the world."
Shampoo looked interested. "People around world see?"
Nabiki nodded. "As far as I know. I personally haven't seen the
show. Daddy is too cheap for pay-per-view, and I don't generally watch
that ... sort of entertainment."
Shampoo looked confused. "What you mean? Nabiki always promote
fight, sell tickets, take bets, sell merchandise...."
Nabiki coughed in embarrassment. "Never mind that. Ranma would be
getting into fights anyway, so I might as well make a profit. I don't,
however, go to the extremes that VG does."
Shampoo raised an eyebrow. "VG? What they do that Nabiki not?"
Nabiki shrugged. "It's a fine line, I suppose. The VG tournament's
grand prize is one billion yen and a nice piece of Tokyo real estate...
but in exchange, when a contestant loses a match, they have to strip."
Shampoo blinked. "Strip? As in take off clothes?"
Nabiki rolled her eyes, but nodded. "As in take off clothes in
front of a crowd and let the whole world get a good look at you naked.
I told you I don't touch that sort of thing. Sure, I sell a risqu�
picture or two to Kuno, but this is a whole different thing."
Shampoo nodded slowly. "Loser must endure humiliation, Shampoo
understand this. Is similar concept to Amazon challenge match for win
status. Amazon who challenge one of greater rank must accept
humiliation in front of tribe if loose. Lose hair, lose clothes, or be
servant for month or more."
Nabiki whistled. "That must discourage rising among the ranks."
Shampoo nodded. "Is so. Amazon warrior train very hard, but great
grandmother say it make for strong warrior." The purple haired girl
looked concerned. "Ranma and Kitchen Destroyer are in VG tournament?"
Nabiki nodded. "So it would seem."
Shampoo stood up abruptly. "Shampoo need to talk to great
grandmother. Nabiki see self out, yes?"
Nabiki watched Shampoo go into the back room curiously. < So, what
is Shampoo going to do?> She shrugged and got up. < I'll know soon
enough, I suspect.> Nabiki headed for home, coming up with plans, only
to reject them over and over. < Before I can deal with getting Akane
out of this, first I've got to be able to find her. Hopefully nothing
will happen today, and I'll be able to talk to Akane and Ranma tonight.>
********************
Even as Nabiki headed for home, Ranma was settling into her schedule
at work. Compared to working at the Nekohanten, her job was simple
enough, waiting tables and greeting people at the door. The place did
relatively good business, Ranma noted, but their work load wasn't bad,
especially as there were two other waitresses on duty at the same time
as her. The manager had been enthusiastic at her arrival and had told
Ranma not to worry about the job too much.
"To be honest," he explained "all you really need to do is
participate in the tournament, although technically you are supposed to
be a waitress as well. So you should help out a bit, just to keep up
appearances." He handed Ranma a thick white card with electronic
circuitry along the back. "This is your VG card. Your father has
already taken care of all the paperwork, so it's all in order. When a
challenger shows up, all you have to do is go outside..." he pointed out
at the street "and put your card in one of those poles."
Ranma looked and noted the two poles with small computer screens on
in them on either side of the street and blinked. "Oh, is that what
those are for? I though they were some new kind of phone or something."
The manager sweatdropped. "Ah... yes. Well, anyway, simply put
your card in there and announce yourself. Your opponent will do the
same, then the match will start, understand?"
Ranma nodded. "Got it, sounds easy enough. What are the rules,
anyway? Knockout or submission?"
The manager blinked. "Yes, that's about it. The fight continues
until there's a clear winner, or so I am informed." He shrugged. "You
are the first waitress I've sponsored for the tournament." He grinned.
"I'm looking forward to seeing you in action. I've heard good things
about you, Ranma-chan."
Ranma's eyes narrowed. "Hey! Don't call me chan!"
The manager took a step back, adjusting his glasses. "Ah... OK...
Saotome-san." He looked the petite redhead up and down once, reminding
himself that she was supposed to be a very skilled marital artist.
"Well then... I'll leave you to it." He left for the kitchen, thinking
about the lunch course, and trying to take his mind off the way Ranma's
chest moved.
Ranma was unsurprised by the large crowd of younger guys hanging out
at the restaurant. She had little difficulty keeping the crowd happy
without letting anyone get out of hand.
It was just mid afternoon when Yuki, one of the other waitresses,
grabbed Ranma by the elbow. "Ranma-san, I think someone's here for
you." Ranma looked out the front window and noticed a tall woman in a
short yellow waitress outfit and apron. Her long black hair was held
back with a red headband. Upon catching Ranma's eye, the woman nodded
to her and turned to walk over to one of the two white posts outside.
The after lunch crowd murmured, noticing the woman outside, and the
manager came up. "A challenge? So soon? Well, don't worry about
anything. Go ahead, we'll cover for you in here." He patted Ranma on
the back encouragingly. "Win for the honor of our restaurant, alright?
Good luck!"
Ranma ignored the manager's hand, then snorted and started outside.
"I don't need luck. This fight's mine!" Most of the patrons of the
restaurant followed Ranma outside to watch, as did most everyone walking
by the area. Quickly a crowd started to form. Ignoring the crowd,
Ranma walked up to the white post opposite her opponent and pulled out
the card the manager had given her. The slot was obvious, and Ranma
pushed the card in.
The short red haired girl turned to face her taller opponent. "I am
Ranma Saotome of the Saotome school of Anything Goes Martial Arts."
The tall woman slid her own card into the post next to her. "Jun
Kubota, VG warrior." An electronic voice spoke up from both posts.
"Warrior acknowledged, match confirmed." Before Ranma's startled eyes
the street opened up and a large ring rose out of the square hole in the
concrete. On several light posts nearby, cameras popped out of their
hidden locations, focusing on the ring. After gaping at the ring for
awhile, Ranma broke out of her stupor and vaulted on up. Jun Kubota was
up there waiting for her.
Ranma got into a ready stance, taking in the muscular woman before
her. "Jun Kubota? Weren't you on the Olympic wrestling team?" She
nodded to herself. "Yeah... you dropped out to go professional or
something, right? So this is where you turned up."
Jun frowned, then shrugged. "Not exactly... but close enough. The
Olympic team wasn't the place for me. No challenge for my skills."
Ranma shrugged back. "You'll get no argument from me. Well...
let's do this."
Jun nodded. "Agreed." The tall woman had thick, black elbow and
kneepads, and her short waitressing outfit didn't constrict her legs.
Ranma had pulled her own kimono up to free her own legs, and was keeping
her stance open, letting her opponent make the first move.
Jun shot forward with a series of punches and elbow smashes that had
Ranma on the defensive from the start. Finding an opening, Ranma
blocked a punch and came in with a wide sweep kick which Jun barely
managed to avoid, jerking her chin back just before she got hit.
"Not bad." The ex-wrestler commented, a confident grin on her
face. "I like having a good match." Jun accelerated her attack and
Ranma responded, blocks and strikes coming faster and faster, creating a
staccato beat to the two fighters' quickening spiral dance.
Ranma was grinning as well. "I feel the same." The petite redhead
had stopped holding back early on in the match, despite her usual
reluctance to hit girls. Jun wasn't, in Ranma's estimation, just a
"girl." She was several years older than Ranma, a fully mature woman
(and quite attractive, although that wasn't a primary factor on Ranma's
mind) with muscles that were anything but weak. Jun was obviously an
experienced fighter, well used to taking hits, and Ranma gave her the
respect she was due, fighting to her fullest, only holding back her
special techniques.
Ranma scored a hit, driving Jun back into the ropes, but the female
wrestler bounced back, scoring a hit of her own, slamming a kick into
Ranma's ribs and knocking the smaller girl back into her own corner.
"Heh." Jun flashed another grin. "You can hit pretty good. Can
you take it?"
Ranma snorted, popping back to her feet and facing off with Jun
again. "I can take whatever you've got." The pigtailed girl came in
quickly, deciding to put an end to the fight. They exchanged another
quick series of blows, then Jun got under Ranma's guard, grabbing onto
the smaller girl and jumping into the air with her.
Jun shouted out as they came down. "Special attack! Kubota super
bomber!" Ranma struggled to get out of the hold, but Jun had her tight
in a reversed pile driver. The powerful wrestler had taken them a good
thirty feet into the air and they hit the mat with a crash, Ranma taking
most of the brunt.
************************
Back at the Tendo Dojo, minutes earlier, Nabiki had noticed the
announcement of a pay-per-view VG match between Ranma Saotome and Jun
Kubota. She turned it on, deciding to pay the fee out of her own
account, just this once.
Kasumi wandered into the living room and noticed the scene on the
screen. "Oh my! That's Ranma-kun on TV!" She turned to her younger
sister. "Nabiki! I'm surprised at you!"
Nabiki blinked. < Kasumi knows about the VG tournament?> "Um, Sis,
it's not what you think... I'm just watching to find out where Ranma
is... I'm not really into this sort of thing...."
Kasumi looked confused. "Oh? I was just surprised that you weren't
recording this." She quirked her head questioningly. "Do you need a
fresh tape for the VCR?" Nabiki blinked again. "Ah... no...."
Kasumi nodded, hitting record on the machine helpfully. "Well
then, I'm sure Ranma would like to see his fight."
Nabiki shrugged and sat down to watch. "He won't be the only one."
She smirked as she considered the profit to be made from selling copies
of the tape to various Furinkan high school students. Kasumi sat down
to watch the fight with her younger sister. Nabiki was quickly
impressed by Jun Kubota. It was rare that anyone gave Ranma such a
tough challenge. When Jun picked Ranma up and brought her down in her
flying pile driver, both sisters winced.
"Oh my!" Kasumi looked worried. "Do you think Ranma will still win
after that?"
Nabiki smirked. "Don't worry, she landed on her head after all."
On the screen, Jun picked Ranma up again and swung her at the ropes
hard, slamming the smaller girl into the backstop with stunning force.
Ranma wavered, barely able to stay on her feet. Jun Kubota grabbed the
front of Ranma's kimono. "Well, you've lost. It's time you pay the
price." She started to pull the neck or Ranma's kimono down when
suddenly the smaller girl reached up and grabbed the older girl's hand.
"I'm not... done... yet!" Ranma's smaller hand squeezed Jun's hand
unremorsefully, halting it and turning it painfully to the left.
Jun yanked her hand away, stepping back. "So, it seems you've still
got some fight in you after all." She took a few more quick steps back,
crossing her arms. "Time to pull out the big guns!" She started to
glow yellow and Ranma's eyes went wide as she realized Jun was beginning
a ki attack.
"No you don't!" Ranma shouted, getting into her own stance and
starting to glow blue. "Ranma Saotome don't lose." The short redhead
put her hands together at her side, gathering her ki into one spot.
"Moko..."
Jun focused her own attack around her hand. "Flaming..."
"Takabisha!"
"Comet!"
A yellow wave of energy shot along the mat toward Ranma, to be met
halfway by the pig tailed martial artist's blast, then overwhelmed by
Ranma's attack.
Jun saw the beam of blue energy rushing towards her, but had no time
for anything but a single thought. < What power!> The crowd cheered at
the fantastic display. Jun was slumped against the ropes, unconscious,
while Ranma stood panting, her hands still out in front of her. A large
L.E.D. sign beeped loudly, lighting up the square on Ranma's side of the
ring, and the fourth of the lower squares below that.
Ranma slowly relaxed. "Does that mean... I won?"
After a long pause, Jun slowly managed to pull herself to her feet.
"You did. I admit it... I lost. You are a magnificent warrior, Ranma
Saotome. I salute you." She stepped into the center of the ring.
"You've won. The rest of the show is mine."
Ranma blinked. "What? What are you talking about? Ain't we done
yet?"
Jun pulled her apron over her head and undid the loop around her
waist, dropping it to the canvas mat. "It is the fate of the VG
warrior. Victory, or humiliation. Without the possibility of defeat,
the victory means nothing." She opened the front of her waitress outfit
and pulled the whole thing over her head, letting it fall on top of her
apron. "As an honorable warrior," Jun continued, standing now only in a
black bra and panties, stepping out of her shoes and socks, "one must
accept the consequences."
Ranma's mouth was hanging open in shock as the older woman undressed
in front of her. "What...? What in the hell are you doing? You don't
have to do nothing like that!"
Jun reached behind her back to unhook her bra. "Yes I do. This is
my show now. Watch, and see how a true VG warrior accepts defeat." Jun
let her bra drop and Ranma tore her glance away. The wrestler pushed
down her panties, stepped out of them and stood naked before the crowd,
holding her arms out wide to bare herself completely to their gaze.
Watching from the Tendo living room, Kasumi was aghast, covering her
mouth with one hand. "Oh my! Oh dear... can they show that on TV?
Oh... oh my!"
Nabiki swallowed shallowly. "Whoa." Absently, she noted that the
VCR was still recording, then went back to watching the screen. < Ah...
I knew I recognized that corner. So that's where Ranma's working, but
when did they put that big ring in?>
Ranma heard a distinctive cackle and looked out angrily at the
crowd. Happosai was leering at Jun happily, tears of joy pouring down
his ancient wrinkled face.
"Ah, to think I lived long enough to see a day like this! Oh the
joy!" The ancient pervert's eyes were firmly fixed on the ring, or
rather it's main attraction.
Ranma vaulted down, confronting the master of the Anything Goes
School. "Hey you old freak! What the heck's wrong with you?" Ranma
tried to crush the old man with a flying punch but Happosai side stepped
the blow and spun Ranma into the ground with his pipe.
"Ranma my girl, you're never going to win the VG tournament like
that!" The ancient letch laughed, taking one long last look at Jun,
then bounced off. "Keep training, Ranma! This is far from over!"
Seconds later, Happosai was gone.
Ranma got up and dusted herself off. "What in the heck? Why in the
world would the old freak leave now?" She glanced back at the ring
where Jun was still standing quite without clothing. Ranma quickly
averted her eyes again. "What could possibly be more important to him
than something like this?" Ranma wrinkled her nose. "The only thing
that could drag that pervert away from a naked girl would be another
naked girl." Her eyes went wide. "Wait a second... could this
tournament have something to do with that? Could s-stripping
actually... be part of the rules?"
Ranma gulped and forced herself to turn back toward the ring.
"OK... naked or not, I've got to ask." The pig tailed martial artiest
breathed a sigh of relief to note that Jun was finally getting dressed
again, pulling her waitress uniform on even as Ranma approached. "What
you were saying about VG... it isn't part of the tournament, is it?"
Jun blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Ranma blushed. "You know... if you lose you have to... um...."
Jun hesitated. "Strip?" Ranma nodded, not wanting to speak. Jun
blinked again. "You mean you didn't know?"
Ranma shook her head. "No way. Pops signed me up. He didn't
mention anything about nothin like that!"
Jun frowned. "You're kidding!" What a bastard. How in the world
did he expect to get away with it?" She snorted. "I suppose he didn't
mention the prize money either?"
Ranma frowned in response. "Not really...."
Jun looked Ranma in the eye. "One billion yen... and a piece of
real estate in Tokyo. You're being used, girl."
Ranma growled. "Why that fat, greedy, idiot! I'll have his hide
for a blanket!" She paused. "For that much money, he'd sell himself!
Heck, Mr. Tendo might even... he did!" Ranma looked panicked. "Akane!
She doesn't know! Oh Kami... I've got to tell her!"
Jun finished pulling her shoes on. "Another girl? Neither of you
knew what VG was?"
Ranma shook her head. "No... I've got to go tell Akane."
Jun nodded. "I'll help. Where is she? I'll give you a ride...."
Jun's voice trailed off as Ranma bounded away, clearing a nearby rooftop
and going out of sight a moment later. "Er... never mind."
End Chapter 2
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