Polarity
A Ranma � fanfiction by Tangent
Pre-reading and editing assistance by:
Fire
Lord Talon;
Nevrmore;
And some guy named Steve
Originally derived from 'Hated' by Fire, who has graciously
consented to allow me to continue the story in my own manner.
Some minor editing exists, but mostly in format and the
occasional grammar error. I also corrected what I viewed as
continuity errors, such as references to Miss Hinako and the
Contrary Jewel, which didn't occur until much later in cannon
(manga or anime). Otherwise this first chapter differs only a little
from the first chapter of 'Hated'.
DISCLAIMER: 'Ranma �' and all characters therein belong to
Rumiko Takahashi, Shogagukan, Kitty, and Viz Video. The
original version of 'Hated' was thought up and written by Fire.
This fanfic has been produced for my own enjoyment and to pass
on without profit. Other characters that come into play in this
fanfic 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 FIRE: This takes place shortly after Ranma
defeated Happosai with the Hiryuu Shoten Ha. At this point,
Ryoga is still under the illusion that Ranma forced himself upon
Akane. Ranma had claimed this to infuriate Ryoga sufficiently that
he would be able to do the training needed for the Hiryuu Shoten Ha.
A few days have passed since the battle in the schoolyard.
Happosai is still really mad about the beating that Ranma gave him,
and at the loss of his "pretties" which Ranma destroyed in vengeance.
Meanwhile, no one remembered to clear up the little misunderstanding
with Ryoga since he wandered off, and always wants to kill Ranma
anyway...
CHAPTER ONE:
"Happosai said you would come here. Four days I have waited.
Four days just to make sure that you would be brought to justice."
Ranma grinned at the lost boy. "Well, if you think that you're
good enough to take me on, let's get to it." He dropped into a battle
stance and waited for Ryoga to attack.
Ryoga just stood there, one hand in his pocket, the other
brushing some of the windblown hair from his eyes. "Not this time,
Ranma. This time I really am going to punish you for your crimes.
Happosai gave me just what I needed too..."
Ryoga whipped his hand from his pocket, waved a jeweled broach
at Ranma, and recited the spell that he had memorized over the past
four days: "For your crimes, I banish and bind you. I send you to a world
where those who know you detest your presence. I send you to a world
where your very name is blight. I send you to a world where I do not
exist so you cannot torture me anymore. Saotome Ranma: be gone!"
Stunned by what his old rival was saying, Ranma did not try to
move. When he saw swirls of black coming out of the broach, Ranma
dodged, moving to the side. For a few moments the blackness got
larger, only to suddenly vanish before it could do anything to touch
him. Ranma looked around startled. "Feh! That fool Happosai, always
messing with things he doesn't know. Now he's gone and disappeared
Ryoga."
Ranma headed off to his favorite bridge. He'd had a really big
argument with Akane today, and did not need any more trouble.
Looking in to the water, Ranma sighed and wondered what it was
that he did this time to make the tomboy so angry.
When the sun started to go down, Ranma figured it would be
time for some food. Better not go back home yet. Akane said she
was going to be cooking. Maybe he could sneak in later tonight,
but doing so now was a bad idea. Figuring the Nekohanten would
be the best bet, Ranma headed off for his usual haunt. All the way
there something called at the back of his mind. His senses
whispering that something was not right. Something was amiss.
Whatever it was, he could not pin it down, so when he saw the
cafe he dismissed it.
He had just pushed open the door when he heard an anguished
scream and saw Mousse charging him. Ranma leapt out the still
open door and faced Mousse. When Mousse ran out the door he
stumbled to a halt. The fiend Saotome was across the street? How
did he move so fast? Gripping several shuriken in each hand, Mousse
began to circle towards his foe. "How dare you come here! Again you
show your true cowardice. Instead of being in China facing the Council,
you would harass Shampoo now! I call you a coward and a dog, Saotome!"
Ranma stumbled to a halt. He still watched Mousse, but something
in his words caught his attention. Mousse usually hated him for trying to
take away his beloved Shampoo, but he had never called Ranma a coward
before. He was just about to retort, something witty and intelligent like '
well, at least I can see, duck boy' when Shampoo came out of the
restaurant. She could sort this out.
"Shampoo never be wife to killer like you!" She leveled her bonbori
at him and spat at his feet. "No care what tricks you try and use,
Shampoo die before she be Saotome wife!"
Ranma staggered to a halt. There was something seriously wrong
here. Why did she suddenly hate him? "Hey, Shampoo, if it's something
I did, just tell me."
That only seemed to make them madder. Mousse flicked out his six
throwing stars and grabbed a pair of daggers. Even though he was looking
at Shampoo, Ranma caught four of the stars and jumped over the other
two. He wandered up to her and tried to see if it was the same Shampoo
he knew. This was made a bit difficult by the fact that she was trying to
brain him with her weapons. He was beginning to feel fairly sure that it
was her when he realized it could not be. The Shampoo that he knew
always went as hard as possible in a fight, she never gave any quarter.
This girl seemed to be much worse than the one that he was familiar with.
Not only that, but she was having a hard time moving the bonbori in the
usual fluid grace that Shampoo had. She made these ones look like they
were the weighty weapons they should be rather than the light show
pieces that they never were.
He was just stepping back from trying to get a good look at her face
when Mouse threw both daggers at him. Catching them, he did a flip to
cover the distance between his attackers. Standing nose to nose with
Mousse, he span a dagger on each index finger. "Come on, Mousse.
You can do better than that." Indeed, Mousse was much slower than he
remembered, actually taking the time to prepare his weapons for use,
rather than pull them out on a whim all ready to use.
He smiled when Mousse opened his robe and brought out a pair of
katanas. [Better watch that, he must have something big planned].
Mousse began to do an intricate sword kata in front of him, creating a
wall of steel. If Ranma wanted to attack him, he would be sure to suffer
a hit. "Hey, Shampoo, does this mean no free Ramen?"
Shampoo snarled and lunged, trying to pin him between two foes.
Ranma shot up into the air, over Mousse and landed behind him. With
a kick to the seat of the pants he pushed the two together, Mousse
barely managing to spare Shampoo from his blades. "I can see this
probably is not the best time to talk. I'll drop by later."
Snarling, the two Chinese watched him jog down the road. "Don't
worry, Shampoo. When Cologne returns, she'll give us permission to
hunt him to the ends of the earth. To break a conclave while under
truce is punishable by death. You'll never have to marry him now."
Shampoo placed a hand on his shoulder and looked after the
departing form. "Good. Shampoo always think evil Saotome a tricky
killer. Never realized he this good. Might be hard to kill in proper combat."
Mousse laughed at that one. "I don't care how good he his. With
this many people wanting to kill him, he'll go down quickly enough."
As he headed back into the cafe, Shampoo snagged his arm.
"Mousse, how evil Saotome able to leap over you?"
* * *
Ranma was almost home when it struck him. No damage. That
was what was wrong. He looked around. Everything was in perfect
condition. Well, it was as worn as you would expect a city to be,
but there were no signs of recent repair. No craters in the roads or
walls. No fist or mallet (or head) marks in the signs and walls.
Feeling a little bit more nervous, Ranma took a quick jog to
school. It was perfect. The walls weren't destroyed. Most of the
windows looked at least a week old. Some of them were even dirty,
and he never knew of a window in Furinkan which lasted long enough
to get dirty. Even those trees which Kuno and Ryoga had chopped
down while attacking him were there.
Ranma felt a chill up his spine. What was it Ryoga had said when
he waved that thing? ' I send you to a world where those who know
you detest your presence'. If people hated him here, then he could
have a real problem. In times like this, there was one person who he
could turn to. One person that would look beyond something as
superficial as personality or past actions. Someone who did not mind
what crimes he had committed if he went to her for help. The one
person who would treat him the same in any world in any situation:
Nabiki. If he had the yen, she could help.
It was full dark when he arrived at the Tendo training hall. Well,
even if Ryoga had sent him away, everyone so far seemed to be in
the right place. Ranma just hoped that he wasn't in there too. He
wandered in the gate and prepared to knock on the door. Before he
did, he checked his money. He had been intending to get some new
clothes, he needed a couple of new outfits after the training with
Cologne and the fight against Happosai. Since that may be all he
had in the world, he thought that he ought to try and go easy on it.
Ranma knocked, then waited till the door opened. It was Nabiki,
perfect. She looked at him intently. He looked at her. Eventually he
broke the deadlock and spoke. "Do you know who I am?"
"No. Should I?"
"I'm not sure about that at the moment. Are you still in the
business of selling information?"
Nabiki got a predatory grin. "You could say that. Who are you
and what do you want to know?"
Ranma looked around. "Do you mind if we take a quick walk? I'd
rather not stand in the doorway all night."
Nabiki smiled at him then yelled out to her sisters that she was
going for a walk around the house. Taking the good-looking young
man by the arm she moved around to the back of the house. Inside,
Akane peered though a crack in the door. Wow, Nabiki had a
boyfriend. She hoped he visited again, Nabiki had a hard time getting
new friends.
When they were in the side yard, Ranma leapt onto a rock around
the Koi pond, sat and looked at Nabiki. "OK, Nabiki. I need some
information, but I'm not sure what questions I can ask until I get some
of the answers. How do you want to do this?"
Nabiki shook her head and tried to get a grip on herself. This hunk
of a man had just done a standing leap across five meters of Koi pond
only to land seated on a precarious rock. Now he spoke to her again.
Shaking her head, she asked him to repeat himself. "All right, how
about you ask a question, then I offer a price. We can negotiate on that
basis. If I can see your money first."
Ranma showed his money. It was not a fortune, but if he did not want
family secrets, it would do for a while. "OK, Nabiki. What can you tell
me about the Saotomes?"
Nabiki grimaced. "Business or pleasure? If you're trying to hire
them, get out now. If you want revenge, come inside and have some tea."
Ranma was stunned. People really did not like him. "Definitely not
business. I don't even know what they do. It's more of a... family problem."
Nabiki chewed on that for a moment. "I suppose that will do. Come
on in. Being a decent hostess is the least I can do for anyone who isn't
a friend of theirs."
Nabiki headed into the house, but pull up short when she saw the boy
had not moved. "Nabiki, is there anyone else in there which knows them?"
"No. Dad's off in China settling a debt with them. Kasumi saw them
once, but that was years ago. Now come on."
Ranma decided to chance it. Even if everyone hated him, perhaps he
would be able to fool Kasumi; people can change appearance in a few
years. Again he leaped over to Nabiki's side. "I've just got to warn you
about one thing. My name's Ranma."
Nabiki sharply inhaled her breath. Backing away she began to dig
into her blouse for something, eventually pulling out a knife. She started
to call for him to stay back when he realised his mistake. "No, no, it's
not like that. I really don't think that I'm related to the Saotomes that
caused you these problems. And I sure ain't gunna hurt you. So calm
down. I just thought I better warn you before we got inside."
Nabiki did calm. It made sense really. She knew that Ranma
Saotome liked to play with his victims, especially the girls, but few
people would be game to try anything at the Tendo residence.
Especially with Kasumi and Akane there. Putting the knife back inside
her shirt, she
led him inside and sat him at the table while she gathered her sisters
and some tea.
When they all arrived, Ranma was glad to see Akane looking so
well. She even gave him a small smile then blushed. Ranma was
shocked. He had never seen her blush before. For that matter, it was
nice to see her smile and not be on the receiving end of a mallet.
What came as a really shock was when Kasumi came in carrying
the tea set while wearing a blindfold.
"Hey, Kasumi, let me help you with that. Is there something
wrong with you eyes? Should I get Dr. Tofu?"
Kasumi nodded in his direction. How did he know her name?
"That's very kind of you, but no thank you. I have been blind for
several years."
Immediately realizing that his ability to put his foot in his mouth
was reaching new heights, Ranma sat silently was the tea was
poured and they began to drink. When everyone was ready for
conversation, Nabiki braced her sisters for the similarity in names,
and then introduced Ranma. Akane looked a bit angry, but Kasumi
smiled sweetly. Ranma marveled: even with a piece of cloth tied
around her blind eyes, she was still the beautiful, composed and
caring mother-substitute he had come to love. "I realize it couldn't
be him, Nabiki. His voice is similar to Saotome's, but this Ranma
has a nice voice. It's full of friendship and compassion. Trust me, I'll
never forget the way he laughed when he did this to me."
Ranma coughed into his tea. He did that to Kasumi?! He'd kill
that bastard version of himself when he saw him. No one did that
to Kasumi and got away with it. Not even him!
Nabiki saw her guests enraged reaction. "Sorry, Ranma. I guess
you didn't know about our history with the Saotomes. Since you seem
to like them as much as I do, this ones on the house."
Nabiki paused for a moment to sip her tea. "Where should I start?
Let's see. Sixteen years ago, Genma and Nodoka Saotome have a
child named Ranma. Nodoka wanted Ranma trained in the Anything
Goes School under the Tendos as a peace keeping gesture between
out clans, but Genma disagreed, sometimes quite violently according
to reports and rumors. When Ranma is five, his mother died under
mysterious circumstances." Nabiki noted Ranma's darkening
expression and clenched fists. He is obviously restraining himself
from some sort of furious outburst, perhaps a normal reaction of a
stranger to Nodoka's fate but somehow Nabiki didn't think that was
the case.
"Ranma's father takes him and has him trained in the Arts of Ninjitsu.
Since the age of twelve, Ranma and Genma have been assassins par
excellence. Six months ago they returned from a mission to China.
Since then we have had a Chinese family move here to follow them.
I kind of gather that Ranma and Genma moved here to avoid some
legal problem where they were."
"Apparently our families have had a grudge going back twenty
years or so... something to do with daddy's Martial Arts master.
Whatever it was, ten years ago, Genma killed.... killed... killed our
mother." Nabiki broke down and sobbed for a few moments, causing
Kasumi to move closer and comfort her. Ranma's response, a
whitening of his knuckles as his fists clenched tighter, went unnoticed
by the sistes.
Akane continued the story. "Three years ago, Ranma, err, Saotome
came back to help his father continue to repay their 'debt'. He drugged
everyone, then tied up daddy and made him watch. The three of us were
blindfolded, but Kasumi's came loose. So he blinded Kasumi, and Nabiki,
well..." Nabiki waved shakily at him with both hands. A thumb and three
fingers were on each, with only faded scars showing where her pinkies
once were. Ranma paled. Slowly he looked at Akane and counted her
fingers. She had all of them.
"Did... did he do anything to... to you?" Ranma asked, dreading
whatever answer he might get in return.
Akane dropped her head and looked at the table. She was saved
from answering by the sound of the phone. Akane dashed off to answer
it. Nabiki favored Ranma with a hard look. "That's not for sale. Don't ask."
Incredibly Ranma went even paler, and a thin trail of blood leaked from
within his fists, where his fingernails now cut into his palms. He wouldn't.
He couldn't. Not Akane. He couldn't do that. Somehow he might return to
where he came from, he would have to see Happosai about that, but until
then, he'd be damned if he let that other Ranma live a moment longer than
necessary. NO-ONE did that to Akane and got away with it. "I'm gunna
kill that bastard. I've never wanted to kill anyone before, but for him, I'll
make an exception." His voice came out as a deep growl, almost feline
in nature
Nabiki stared at him. She could almost swear that there was a blue
glow coming off him, and his eyes seemed to almost shine with a cat-like
quality. But that was impossible without some utterance or gesture of a
spell, so it must be a trick of the light. Akane returned and placed a
sheathed sword on the table in front of Kasumi. "That was Shampoo.
She says that Ra... Saotome is back in Nerima. Apparently he's came
over there to force her into marriage again."
Ranma banged his fist on the table, an act that left a visible crack in
the cedar. "When I catch that sorry... Err, if he's this hotshot ninja, will
you girls be OK?" His sudden change from outrage to open concern for
their welfare seemed to relieve the tension that the sisters were feeling.
Nabiki smiled. "Thanks for asking, Ranma, you really are a gentleman.
We should be fine."
"Should be..." Ranma brooded for a moment. "That's not good enough.
Listen, I know we've just met, but... would you mind if I stayed in the dojo?
I'd like to be near in case he does try anything."
The girls looked at each other. Having a strange boy on their property
did not really appeal to them. Having Ranma Saotome back in Nerima
when everyone thought he was in China was even worse. This Ranma
seemed a bit strange, scary even, but paradoxically each of them felt
extraordinarily safe in his presence even when he was at his scariest.
More like he was some sort of guardian avatar rather than the cruel
epitome of evil that the other had been to them. Looking to Akane for the
final approval, they finally nodded OK. Akane herself made the offer: "All
right. But no coming into the house during the night unless you hear us
screaming. And if you do come in, I expect you to yell enough to wake
everyone up. I have an aversion to people sneaking around."
That settled, Ranma wandered up to the guest-room with Nabiki and
Akane to get some blankets. "So, Akane. I see the sign out the front still
says Anything Goes School of Martial Arts. Has Mr. Tendo been teaching
you?"
Akane smiled, making his heart leap. "Yes. Currently I'm the women's
free-style Martial Arts Champion in Nerima. Next year I'm going to be
competing for the Tokyo title. Why, do you train?"
"You could say that..."
"Well, would you like a match?"
"Feh! Just so long as you don't mind losing to a guy."
Akane laughed and nodded. Ranma grabbed the blankets and
jumped out the window. The girls dashed over and saw him sprinting
for the dojo, jumping rocks in the dark as though this was his own
home.
"I always thought the stairs were a good way to get down," Nabiki
made the observation with a dryness that she really wasn't feeling. "Hey,
Akane. I think this guy is good to have around. I haven't seen you smile
or laugh so much in years."
Akane winced a bit. "I still don't like men, but... I guess he could
grow on you."
The three sisters went out to the dojo. Nabiki was just there to watch.
Hopefully he would take off his shirt when he fought. She could see he
was well built, and he would definitely look better without a shirt. Probably
look better without pants too... Kasumi was there as moral support. She
might not be able to watch, but her training let her track fighters easily
with sound.
After Akane warmed up, they fought. Kasumi could tell there was
something wrong immediately. She could hear Akane's footsteps, and
she could hear her moving, but from Ranma there was scarcely a sound.
When she concentrated, she could hear his regular breathing, but that
was all. Whatever he was doing, it was not fighting.
Nabiki was as concerned as Kasumi, but for different reasons. She
knew Akane was good. She had watched her fight in many tournaments.
Akane could flatten most girls with one punch, and she was fast enough
to be able to carry the fight to the best of them. Ranma on the other hand,
hardly seemed to pay her any attention. He just stood there, bending,
bobbing and weaving. When Akane started using more sweeping attacks,
he hopped over them, or stepped back, all with perfect grace and poise.
"You're better than I was expecting, Akane."
"Will you stand still and let me hit you!?"
"Oh, come on, a slow-poke like you couldn't even catch a bus. Keep
trying."
This went on for a while, until Ranma hopped over one of her attacks
and reached over gently poked a finger to her forehead. "An opening!"
Akane stopped and stood puffing. Ranma bowed to her. "Well done
Akane. Your technique's much better."
"What do you mean better?"
"I... err.... Just that you must be a lot better for having studied with your
father than I was expecting for someone our age..."
Nabiki eyed Ranma. Something seemed a bit wrong, but she could not
place it. "So Ranma, do you have a last name?"
Ranma started to reply then hesitated. "No. Not anymore. I did a while
ago, but... but I can no longer be a part of the family I once had. And yes,
there was someone I lo- umm... liked a lot, but... but I think she might be
gone too." Not that he and his Akane got along all that well, but he did find
himself missing her.
Everyone was silent for a while at that one. When thunder rumbled in
the distance, Kasumi stood up. "Thank you for offering to stay and protect
us. I am sure father will appreciate it. We will see you in the morning."
As the sisters entered the house, Nabiki reset the wards that protected
the Tendo estate. A few more activated seemed to be a reasonable expense,
given the news that Ranma Saotome was back
PASTE CHAPTER ONE PART TWO HERE
~~~
When given the constants a, b and c, and the variables x, y and z...
I often find it helpful to concentrate on point q
Tangent
tangent@zbzoom.net