Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ An Important Decision ❯ One-Shot

[ A - All Readers ]

An Important Decision
A Ranma 1/2 fanfic
by Ginrai

C&C appreciated - ranmafics@hotmail.com
http://www.rakhal.com/florestica/ginrai/index.htm l

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its characters are property of Rumiko
Takahashi.

Warning: No pre-readers were used at all (and it might show).

--------------------------------------------

Leani ng against a wall inside the Tendou Dojo, Ranma stared at
the note in his hands. 'Well, here I am.... I wonder where Akane is.'

Looking around to see who else was here, he asked, "So all of you
got a notice from Akane?" As they all nodded, he took note of those
gathered. 'Pops, Mr. Tendou, Ryouga... Kunou.... Hmm... Shinnosuke?'
Stunned by the presence of the last person, Ranma approached the broom-
carrying boy. "Hey, Shinnosuke! Wondering wat'cha doing here?"

The other boy stared back at Ranma, trying to recall who he was,
before shaking his head and replying, "Akane told me she had a very
important decision to make and needed me here." A longing sigh escaped
his lips as he said, "Ah, Akane.... I'm so grateful that I can
remember who she was and arrive here on time. By the way, where is
here?"

Ranma, though, was too stunned by what he had first heard to
answer back. "Important... decision?" was all he was able to get out
before moving away from the other boy so as to get his thoughts
together. 'Akane didn't tell me anything about a decision. Did
she.... _Could_ she have changed her mind about Shinnosuke after all
this time?' Trying to regain some of his swagger, Ranma murmured,
"Feh, not like I actually care about that uncute...." But he was
unable to finish, doubt and concern filling his thoughts.

In an attempt to alleviate some of his worry, he walked towards
his father and Soun, who were in the middle of a conversation. Hearing
parts of what they were saying, which included 'finally uniting the
schools' and 'daughter making the first move', caused the pigtailed boy
to pause and rethink his action.

"So the foul sorcerer no doubt knows of the reason for this
special occasion -- to see the noble Tatewaki Kunou take part in his
greatest victory ever. I had no idea thou art such a gracious loser,
Saotome."

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Ranma screamed back at the
Furinkan High kendo team captain, glad to have his mind occupied by
something else for the moment. If there was one thing the martial
artist was sure about with concern to the current situation, it was
that Kunou had _not_ been invited because he was Akane's choice. 'More
than likely so that he doesn't cause any problems later on.'

Before anything else could be said to the kendoist, the door to
the dojo slid open as a figure stepped through, casting a shadow over
all of the occupants. Sporting short black hair and wearing a dress
normal to girls going to Furinkan High, utmost attention was paid upon
the person. There was, though, something different....

"Say, Tendou," Genma asked, "is it me or does your daughter seem
to be bigger than the last time we saw her?"

Nodding his head solemnly, Soun replied, "You're right, Saotome."
Reaching what he deemed to be the correct reason for the situation,
tears fell from his eyes as he said joyously, "Isn't it wonderful? My
daughter's already pregnant with Ranma's first child!" And with that,
he pulled out a pair of paper fans and started celebrating with his
friend.

While the others were arguing over the reason behind Akane's
sudden largeness, Shinnosuke looked carefully at the figure standing
near the front of the dojo. Certain of what he was seeing, he said,
"That's not Akane. It's a giant chicken!"

Everything became instantly quiet as everyone stopped what they
were doing to stare at the semi-amnesic boy.

"I thought you said you'll always remember Akane," Ryouga said in
a betrayed tone, not knowing how one who loved the Tendou girl so much
could forget how she looked.

Soun added harshly, "Boy, I can well assure you that I know the
difference between my own daughter and a chicken. And that," he
pointed to the subject of discussion, who at that moment was pecking
the wooden floor in front of it, "is most certainly Akane!"

Shinnosuke, though, was adamant with his view. "But I tell you,
it's a giant chicken! _A_ _giant_ _chicken_!"

"LIES!" Kunou screamed out in fury, thrusting his bokken forward
until the tip was touching Shinnosuke's nose. "If thou should know
what's good for thee, thou shall not speak any more offal about the
pure Akane Tendou with thy tongue." Chuckling to himself, he added,
"Next thing I know, thou shall try to convince I that Saotome and the
pigtailed girl are one and the same, or that my peers think that I'm a
delusional buffoon. But the great Tatewaki Kunou can tell a lie from
the truth."

While the others were trying their best not to say anything,
Ranma saw that his friend was in trouble and so grabbed Shinnosuke's
hand, pulling him outside. "Maybe the dojo was too stuffy and your
memory got warped as a result. Some time outside with fresh air should
help out."

Shinnosuke tried to protest. "But--"

Ranma cut him off, saying, "We'll talk about this later," before
tossing the boy outside and shutting the entrance. 'Poor guy. I guess
he doesn't have a chance to be chosen by Akane.' Having taken care of
that situation, he walked towards his fiancee, who was looking around
the dojo. "So, Akane, what was this important decision you wanted to
talk to us about?"

Flapping her arms as if they were wings, Akane replied, "Bak-ba-
kaw! Bak-bak."

As everyone inched closer to her, Soun asked, "So, daughter,
you've chosen whom you are planning to marry? Who is it?"

Shaking her head sadly, Akane said, "Bak-bak-bak-bak-bak! Ba-
kaw!"

There was dead silence as everyone looked as if they just saw a
ghost.

"You--" Genma started.

"--chose--" Ryouga continued.

"--Konatsu!" Ranma finished, not believing what he had heard.

"Bak-bak-bak?" Akane asked, sounding confused.

"Of course none of us knew!" Ranma shouted, his emotions running
wild. "I mean, when did this happen?"

Staring at the floor, she replied quietly, "Bak-bak-ba-kaw. Bak-
bak-bak-bak."

"In the back of an alley near Ucchan's during the middle of the
night?" Soun asked before breaking down in tears.

Patting his friend's back in an attempt to console him, Genma
said, "There, there, Tendou. Just remember, it could always be worse.
Why, imagine if you had No...." Sudden realization came upon him as
his eyes grew wide. "Uh-oh."

Ranma tried to come up with a reason as to how this happened but
was unable to. "Akane, but... why?"

"Bak-bak-bak! Bak-bak."

"Mount Jusendo?" Ranma whispered. "I... well, what I mean to say
is...." The pigtailed boy silently cursed his inability to tell the
truth even at that point. Taking a deep breath, he blurted out, "Yes!
I did say 'I love you!' on Mount Jusendo!" Softly, he added, "But I
guess it's too late now."

Due to Soun's piercing wail, no one else heard what Ranma said.
Continuing his crying, he wondered aloud if his daughter had 'different
preferences' which could only be satisfied by cross-dressing male
kunoichis.

Sitting next to his best friend, Genma went over all possible
excuses he could tell his wife as to why their manly son ended up
losing his fiancee to a girlish male ninja.

As others were going over their grief, Ryouga found the courage
to ask Akane about her choice. "Umm... Akane? Well, I--"

"Ryouga!" Ranma cut in. "Why are you so worried about who Akane
chose? Don't you have Akari?"

"RANMA! I...." Sheepishly, the Lost Boy realized he couldn't
think of a good enough reason to tell him why he was worried about who
Akane chose.

"Let me guess," Ranma said bluntly. "You couldn't decide between
Akane or Akari and so wanted to find a way to have both."

"'Tis the way of a true samurai," Kunou interjected.

Deeming Ranma's question not worthy of a response, Ryouga grabbed
Akane and asked, "Why?"

Staring back at him, Akane said, "Bak-bak-bak-bak-ba-kaw!"

Releasing his hold, Ryouga stepped back as if he had been shot.
"Bu-bu-but I can explain, Akane!" Twiddling his fingers, he stammered,
"P-p-p-p-chan... about him.... Well, you see...."

Gently guiding his beloved away from the Lost Boy, Kunou asked,
stroking her feathery hand, "Why have you broken my heart as such,
Akane Tendou? What does this boy have that I, Tatewaki Kunou, do not?"

"Bak-bak-bak-bak-bak-bak," Akane replied, pecking the top of his
head with each cluck.

Tears streamed down the kendoist's face. "'Tis such a sweet poem
from such a sweet girl. My love for you shall always ring true, but I
shall move on and maybe one day find a love as great as this."

The door to the dojo opened as a familiar voice called out, "Is
everyone here? I'm sorry I came so late."

Turning their attention to the front of the dojo, everyone in the
room received quite a shock.

"T-tw-two Akanes?" Ryouga said, aghast at what he saw.

"How?" Genma asked.

Blinking at the scene before her, Akane asked, confused, "Why are
you all playing dress-up with that giant chicken?"

"What giant chicken?" Kunou questioned, looking back at the Akane
who had recited to him that lovely poem not too long ago. Deep in his
mind he knew Saotome had something to do with the two versions of his
beloved.

"Hmm...." Knowing that something suddenly seemed off with what
had happened, Ranma walked to the Akane near Kunou, grabbed her hair
and yanked it off.

"Zounds!" Kunou shouted in astonishment. "Now there's one Akane
and a giant chicken in a dress!"

Ranma placed the wig back on Chicken Boo's head.

"Now there are two Akanes!"

Ranma pulled it off.

"One Akane and a giant chicken in a dress!"

Ranma placed it back on.

"Two Akanes!"

Ranma pulled it off.

"One Akane and a--"

Ryouga ended the kendoist's misery by placing a well-timed blow
on the back of his head, knocking him out for the next few hours.

Appearing by the door, Shinnosuke said, "See! I told you that
was a giant chicken!" Looking next to him, he spotted Genma, who did
not want to be around when Akane finds out that they mistook a giant
chicken for her, attempting to sneak out. "Who are you?" he asked.

One splash of water later:

[Why I'm just a cute panda!] the sign read before Genma-panda,
holding a tire in his other hand, turned it around. [Look what I can
do with this tire!]

"Shinnosuke, you remembered!" Akane said happily as she
approached her friend.

"How could I forget, Akane?" he replied, returning the smile. It
turned into a frown when he remembered something. "Just... where are
we?"

While they were getting reacquainted with each other, Chicken Boo
was calmly walking around, pecking the floor every now and then, not
taking notice of the danger he was in. The sound of someone cracking
their knuckles brought his attention to where Ranma stood, glaring
menacingly from a close distance at the chicken in a dress.

"Okay.... Now tell us, _what_ was all that for?" the annoyed
pigtailed boy asked. To his left was Ryouga, equally annoyed and
gripping his umbrella tightly. On his right was Soun, ready to do one
of his greatest demon-heads ever.

"Bak... bak... bak?" the giant chicken said, cowering before the
three.

"Not good enough."

Within a split-second, Chicken Boo was hurtled through the dojo's
roof, disappearing over the horizon.

"And that is that," Ranma said, dusting off his hands.

"So, how long have you all been waiting?" Akane called out,
looking apologetic for the delay.

'Oh, yeah! The important decision.' Ranma replied, "Not that
long. What did you want to speak with us about?"

Akane smiled brightly at that. "Well, everyone knows how Ranma
keeps going out to be around Shampoo and Ukyou, right? Not that I care
or anything, but I wondered to myself just what did they have that I
didn't."

As Ranma was opening his mouth in response, Ryouga cut him off by
slapping his hand over it before he could have said anything.

"After some deep thinking, I realized what it was. And so...."
Everyone closed in to hear what it was. "I'm going to open my own
restaurant!"

Everyone except Shinnosuke facefaulted.

"Nabiki said she was going to get someone here today that would
help out with the advertising. I wonder where could he be." Holding
that off as something to question her sister about later on, Akane
asked, "So what do you think of the idea?"

Everyone that was conscious and not in cursed form didn't know
what to say. Soun was continuously splashing himself with cold water,
hoping that it would miraculously transform him as it did his friend.

Shinnosuke finally broke the silence by saying, "I think that's a
wonderful idea! Everyone knows how good a cook you are!"

Smiling at him, Akane said, "Thanks! What about everyone else?"
Wanting to hear her fiance's answer first, she turned towards Ranma.

"You know," the pigtailed boy said, "I think I felt a whole lot
better when it involved the other decision."

***

Konatsu sighed as he took account of the available ingredients in
the storage room of Ucchan's. 'Why is it that almost every customer
decides to order chicken okonomiyaki today?' Looking at how much he
had in stock, he thought, 'Not much remaining and the customers are
still coming.' Staring towards the sky, he asked, with the faintest of
hopes of receiving an answer, "Just how am I going to get enough
chicken in time for Ukyou-sama?"

A few seconds later Chicken Boo came crashing through the
ceiling. As the dust was clearing, he looked around to see just where
he was.

Hearing the faint sound of steel being drawn, he gazed up to see
a feminine-looking ninja wearing a sinister smile that was very much
out of place with concern to his other features.

"Ba-kaw?" he asked, trembling in fear....

--------------------------------------------

A long time ago, after reading a fanfic called 'Tenchi Booyo!' by Mike
Fenton (http://www.tmffa.com/x/tenchi_booyo.txt), I had an idea for a
Ranma fic involving Chicken Boo.

Then I decided to hold off on the idea for some time, thinking that no
one else would write such a fic....

So here I am with the _second_ Ranma/Chicken Boo xover ^_^;

Here's hoping it gave a few laughs.

Thanks to the following for their C&C on this fic:
Brian Randall
DB Sommer
KPJAM
Larry F