Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Herbie's Drive Through Nerma ❯ A Brand New Saotomae! The Cat Fist Under Control ( Chapter 15 )

 

*WHAM*

 

Thus began Kanna's first encounter with an electric alarm clock, and the clock's only encounter with Kanna's mallet. Akane during that time shot awake and saw Kanna silence her alarm for good.

 

“Kanna! What's the problem?!” Akane said sounding concerned for her new friend's reaction.

 

“That thing made a noise at me!” Kanna said a little freaked out.

 

“It wakes people up.” Akane said half tired. “It's an alarm clock. It helps heavy sleepers like me get up.” Just then, Kotaro and Ranma came into the room.

 

“What's going on? We heard Kanna screaming!” Kotaro said.

 

“She had her first experience with an electric alarm clock.” Akane said. Then something hit her. “Hey, how did you know she was screaming? She and I sound alike.”

 

“When you're married, you know your wife from the other women in the world.” Kotaro said as he went to kiss his wife.

 

“You think we'll be like that Ranma?” Akane asked.

 

“I think we already are, tom boy.” Ranma said, but in a tone that Akane knew was affectionate as Ranma took her into his arms.

 

“What makes you so sure you pervert?” Akane said with a smile. Ranma and Akane then kissed.

 

“Hey you two, get a room!” Kanna and Kotaro said at the same time.

 

“This is our house.” Ranma and Akane said. All four teenagers just laughed at the jokes.

 

In Nabiki's room, Nabiki and Mousse were watching the four younger teenagers enjoying each other's company and were amazed at how well Akane and Ranma were getting along.

 

“Well, I think Ranma's safe from anymore mallets, how about you?” Mousse asked.

 

“Unless he strays from Akane, but I doubt that'll happen.” Nabiki said. Mousse than wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and they both smiled.

 

“Nope. He's too in love to do that.” Mousse said just before shutting the door.

 

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

 

Later that afternoon, as Nodoka was driving to the Tendo dojo, she had something on her mind.

 

“Uh… Herbie?” Nodoka asked.

 

(Hmmmm?) Herbie beeped.

 

“Well, if you don't mind my asking,” Nodoka said, “why did you help my family? We didn't know you as long as your other owners and it hasn't been that long since we started realizing you had a mind of your own.”

 

(Oh, that's an easy one.) Herbie happily beeped. (I love helping people out. I'm a friendly little car and if you got any problems, especially ones with the heart, I'll try my best to make sure they're solved. Like I told Kanna and Kotaro, I'm a people car.)

 

“So that's why you were so interested in helping Ranma and Akane and me and Genma.” Nodoka said.

 

(Yep.) Herbie happily beeped. (It's never good when friends are in trouble. I also enjoy setting two people who were met to be together up.)

 

“How do you know that they were met to be?” Nodoka said.

 

(The little things mostly.) Herbie beeped. (The one thing I noticed about humans is the littlest thing they have in common can lead to a lot more things. After all, Mousse and Nabiki got together because they both wanted to see a movie from the States.)

 

“I agree with you on the little things Herbie.” Nodoka said with some thought.

 

(I take it that's how you and Genma met?) Herbie asked.

 

“Yes…” Nodoka thought back to her days in college. “We met at college. He was mostly a jock, but I had some science courses. The only thing we had in common was that we wanted to practice various forms of the art. Also, we liked some various books and movies.”

 

(Was he different back then?) Herbie asked.

 

“Yes, but he was training with the master still though.” Nodoka said. “I guess it was becoming the best and making Ranma better that changed him.”

 

(Well, I hope the time in the village helped him as he said it did.) Herbie beeped.

 

“Thank you Herbie. I hope so too.” Nodoka said. A few miles later, they got to the Tendo dojo, and just saw a female Ranma run out on all fours past them.

 

(What on Earth?! Was that Ranma?!) Herbie beeped.

 

“Yes, but he shouldn't be that way unless he's gone Neeko.” Nodoka said. “We better find out what's going on.” Herbie then pulled up and saw panic looks on almost all of the Tendo Dojo's residences' faces. Save for Kasumi, who had more of a worried mother look. As Nodoka got out, Akane ran up to her.

”Auntie! Thank God you're here!” Akane said. “Ranma went Neeko, but he did it quicker than usual!”

 

“What?! How?!” Nodoka asked bewildered, while Kanna had a look of guilt on her face.

 

“It's my fault Ms. Saotomae.” Kanna said as she was starting to tell what happened.

 

FLASHBACK

 

Kotaro and Ranma were outside in front of the pond sparing, Genma and Soun were playing Go, Nabiki and Mousse were watching the two teenagers spar, Kasumi was cooking lunch, and Akane was introducing Kanna to some modern devices.

 

“But, aren't they trapped in the box?” Kanna asked.

 

“Oh nonono, see, a camera films them in a studio and…” Akane said, but Kanna gave her a bewildered look. “Ok, it's like this, a camera takes pictures. There are two kinds. One that takes a picture of a moment, and the other that takes pictures of movement.”

 

“So what we're seeing is something from a... Ka-mar-ra… that films movement?” Kanna asked.

”Exactly!” Akane said happy that her friend got the concept. “Also…” Then, they heard a noise outside. When they went to investigate, they saw at the front door…

 

“Oh, a kitten!” Kanna said.

 

“Oh boy, we better keep it clear from…” Akane started to say, but Kanna was gone with the kitten to where Ranma and Kotaro were sparing after hearing a…

 

*SPLASH*

 

“You caught me off guard that time Kotaro.” Ranma said as he emerged and saw a surprised Kotaro.

 

“R-Ranma?!” Kotaro said bewildered.

 

“I take it Pops didn't tell you about my curse?” Ranma asked.

 

“N-no, he did, and I saw him transform, but I haven't seen one from a guy to a girl before.” Kotaro said. Just then, he heard Kanna yell.

”Kotaro!” Kanna said as she showed the kitten. “Look what I found! Isn't it cute?” Kotaro looked at it and was about to say his wife was cuter when…

 

“CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!” Was heard from Ranma followed by a “Meow!” as Neeko-Ranma ran out of there on all fours.

 

END FLASHBACK

 

“We have to find him. No telling what happens when he goes Neeko.” Genma said. `Kami-sama, must my boy still be punished for my past?' He thought.

 

“I'm sorry Ms. Saotomae.” Kanna said. “I forgot about his fear and---“ She was interrupted by Nodoka.

 

“We'll talk later.” She said. “Right now, Genma and I will take the North; you take your husband and Akane South.”

 

“I'll take the East.” Soun said.

 

(I got the west!) Herbie beeped.

 

“We'll stay here incase he comes back.” Nabiki said and Mousse nodded.

 

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

 

(Ranma! Here kitty, kitty!) Herbie beeped. (I don't want to hurt you! I just want to take you back home!) As he slowly passed an alleyway, he heard two voices.

 

“Are you sure this is a safe place to do this?” The first voice, a male, said.

 

“Look, with the Tendos and the Saotomaes looking for me, this is the safest place we could find.” The female voice said. “Nobody so far knows we're here and this is the only way.” Herbie then slowly turned into the ally, hopping that the two people talking, whose voices he recognized, would be too focused on each other to spot him. But…

 

“MEOW!” The other voice said when she spotted Herbie. Daisuke turned around and spotted the car behind him.

 

(Ranma? Daisuke?) Herbie beeped. (What's going on? Are you back to normal?)

 

“Meow?” Ranma said, but Daisuke went up to her.

 

“I think we've been spotted.” Daisuke said. Ranma then gave him the `I still don't know' look. “Look, its Herbie, he's helped out his friends in the past, I'm sure he'll help us out.”

 

(Uh… not to interrupt or anything, but help you guys out with what?) Herbie beeped. Ranma then nodded in approval, and walked on all fours to Herbie.

 

“My name is Neeko Saotomae, sorry about this.” She said.

 

(WHAT?!) Herbie beeped. (But I thought… aren't you....?)

 

“A cat?” Neeko interrupted. “I still am, but I'm apart of Ranma. For the last couple of years, I've actually been what humans would call `sentient.' In fact, I was technically genderless until Ranma fell in the drown spring. I always prefer myself to be a girl cat since then.”

 

(But what are you and Daisuke doing here?) Herbie asked.

 

“Maybe if we started on the day we met?” Daisuke asked.

 

“That's a good idea.” Neeko said. “It actually started three months before you arrived Herbie…”

 

FLASHBACK

 

`Stupid Kuno!' Neeko thought while she was running. `Akane was almost ready to turn him back to normal and things were going great between them until stick boy shows up with a cat.' Neeko looks behind her and sees Kuno and the fiancées and rivals running after her. `On top of all that, the girls want him to try their lunch and the rivals want to kill him. If only I could have just a few minutes, then maybe I can think about…' It was then Neeko went passed a house with the window opened. She heard the fiancées coming from the left and Kuno and the rivals. Seeing no choice, she jumped into a tree and went into the opened room. She looked out the window and saw everybody running to where they thought she'd be.

 

“Phew!” Neeko said, to relived to keep it to her self. “I lost them, now I can help Ranma.”

 

“But aren't you Ranma?” She heard a voice say. She turned behind her and saw Daisuke in his futon and pajamas.

 

“GAH!” She said. “Uh… um… Meow?” Neeko said trying to recover, but Daisuke just sweat dropped.

 

“I take it I wasn't supposed to know that Ranma's Neeko half is just as human as him?” Daisuke said. Knowing when she was beaten, Neeko dropped the façade.

 

“Sort of.” She sighed as she walked on all fours towards him. “I have yet to master walking on two paws. It maybe easy for Ranma, but it's not for us cats you know. I'm sorry for barging in like this, but I didn't know it was your house and I didn't think anybody would be home.”

 

“I was sick today.” Daisuke said. “So how long have you been this way?”

 

“First you tell me how you know about me.” Neeko said.

 

“Hiroshi and I are good friends with Ranma. He told us the whole story.” He replied.

 

“I've been like this for a good couple of years now.” Neeko said. “I just liked to mess around with the wrecking crew, but then I got an idea to help Ranma.”

 

“How?” Daisuke asked. Neeko then tried to stand up and after stumbling a bit, she found her balance. “I thought you said you couldn't walk on two legs.”

 

“Balancing and walking are very different.” Neeko said as she opened her palms and formed what looked like claws with her ki. “For some reason, when I'm out here, I give out extra ki in Ranma's body, hence the claws. So maybe this ki is the key to cure Ranma's curse.”

 

“What?!” Daisuke said. “How?!”

 

“Maybe if enough of it is poured into me, it can cure Ranma or at least make the transformations controllable, but I need time to master it and figure out how I'm going to do it. And I can't with the wrecking crew trying to kill Ranma constantly.” Neeko sighed.

 

“Why not hide out here to do that?” Daisuke said.

 

“You're serious?” Neeko asked and Daisuke nodded.

 

END FLASHBACK

 

“It took awhile, but I think I finally did it!” Neeko said. “But due to my antics, everybody is going to try to turn me back into Ranma before I can finish.” Herbie then opened his door and put his seat down.

 

“Herbie, what…?”

 

(I got an idea!) Herbie beeped. (Get in, quick, the both of you!) Both Daisuke and Neeko did so, and Neeko hid in the back incase they ran into the wrecking crew.

 

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

 

“It figures, the best way to hide her is where I first met her.” Daisuke said to Herbie in his own backyard.

 

(Hey, they don't know she's smart let alone that she comes here all the time, and it's too risky to take her back home.) Herbie beeped. He then saw that Daisuke longing look. (I take it you like her, don't you?)

 

“What?! I… uh… um…” He said prior to remember who he's talking to. “I can't lie to somebody like you, can I?”

 

(Nope.) Herbie happily beeped.

 

“I wish I could go out with her when this is over, but she also think that this would cause Ranma to somehow get the Neeko-ken under control. That would mean she'd disappear.”

 

(You mean she's giving up her self so that Ranma can have a normal life?) Herbie curiously beeped.

 

“We both agreed that after all he's done for his friends, it's the least we can do to help him.” Daisuke said. “You've seen all the stuff that happens to him, right?”

 

(Yeah?) Herbie beeped.

 

“He won't say this, but Neeko told me that he wishes his life had some stability in it.” Daisuke said. “That's all he's asked for. He's willing to die to save Akane, help strangers, and has to go through hell almost everyday just to have some sanity. So the least we can do is control his curse.”

 

(You've been helping her?) Herbie beeped.

 

“How do you think I started developing feelings for her?” Daisuke said. “We talked and I tried to keep her focus on training and whenever our friends would show up, I'd distract them.”

 

(Tell her I wish her luck.) Herbie happily beeped.

 

“I would, but she's asleep.” Daisuke said.

 

(Asleep?) Herbie asked. (But why?)

 

“It's the best way she has to talk to Ranma.” Daisuke said.

 

(Talk?) Herbie beeped.

 

“For the last few months, she's been in Ranma's dreams and they've been talking.”

 

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

 

Inside what would best described as a dreamscape, it's an open field where everything is nice and peaceful and Ranma and Neeko are sitting together.

 

“It's peaceful, isn't it?” Neeko said.

 

“Yeah, it is.” Ranma said as he turned to look at his `sister.' “Thank God you're in your human form. I don't think I can take another cat attack. Why did you take over right away?”

 

“I finally got all the strength and I know what I need to do to make sure this curse under control. And if I'm right, you'll also gain complete control over the neeko-ken.” Neeko said.

 

“So what'll happen to you if this works?” Ranma asked. Neeko then got this sad look.

 

“I might just simply vanish.” She said. Ranma then got this panic look in his eyes.

 

“WHAT?! Wait a damn minute, why the hell do you have to suffer for my sanity?!”

 

“That's why Ranma! You're always good to people, even your rivals and all you get in return is pain and suffering. You shouldn't. The curse is part of it, but so am I. I'm just a personification of the Neeko-ken anyway…”

 

“Like hell you are!” Ranma angrily spat. “You're my sister! I'm not going to let you die because of me!”

 

“Ranma…” Neeko said as she held out her hand. Ranma went to grab it, thinking it was an invite for a hug, but then a bright light was around them.

 

“W-what's going on?!”

 

“I'm sorry Bro, but you wouldn't let me do this willingly, please forgive and forget me! Have a normal life!”

 

“NO WAY! I WON'T LET YOU DIE! LET GO!”

 

“But…”

 

“NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTS, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF ME!” Just then, Ranma generated a light all of his own…

 

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

 

…that can be seen outside of Daisuke's window.

 

(What was that?!) Herbie beeped. Daisuke quickly ran into the house.

 

“Ranma, Neeko!” He called out as soon as he got in the door to see if his friends are alright.

 

`Man, I hope who ever gave me life helps Ranma.' Herbie thought. Daisuke came out of his house then with a surprise look on his face. (What's going on?)

 

“Uh… It seems Neeko was a lot more successful than even she thought.”

 

(Hmmmmm…?)

 

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

 

“We haven't found him.” Genma said when everybody met back at the Tendo Dojo.

 

“We looked everywhere.” Kotaro said. “He seems to have disappeared.”

 

“This is not like him when he's Neeko.” Akane said. “He's usually easy to find.” Just then, they heard Herbie pull up and ran outside.

 

“Herbie? Did you find him?” Nodoka asked. Herbie then opened his two doors and out came Ranma and Daisuke.

 

“Daisuke? What are you doing here?” Akane asked.

 

“We… uh… have something to show you.” He replied.

 

“Yeah… I hope you aren't too shocked.” Ranma said.

 

“Shocked about what?” Genma asked. Herbie then lowered the back of the passenger seat and emerging from the car was Ranma's girl half, but the difference was she had cat eyes and what looked to be cat fangs from her nervous smile.

 

“My name is Neeko Saotomae… sorry about this.” She said. The Tendo and Saotomae families then fainted right there on the spot.

 

(They took it well.) Herbie beeped. Everyone that was still standing nodded in response.