Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ City of Dreams ❯ City of Dreams ( Chapter 4 )

Akane stepped out into a crowded street. At least most of it was a street. About ten feet away it became a crowded forest trail. Looking back she saw what could only be a city growing up impossibly high into the distant sky that was lit yet not daylight. Some of the buildings were literally so tall she couldn't see the tops of them. Then there was the weird mix of architecture. The buildings ranged from ancient Greek style temples to huge mediaeval castles to modern skyscrapers to weird futuristic towers. There were even structures that Akane could swear were organic in nature.

 

Then there were the people, if you could call them that. the constant flow of the crowd provided Akane with a continuous variety of forms. There were humans, elves, dwarves, fairies, dragons, and even the occasional cartoon or anime figure. She felt that she was in a Warner Brothers meets George Lucas film. Avoiding a Wacko Warner being chased by a pikachu, Akane turned to look questioningly at Ranma who had appeared behind her.

 

Ranma made a grand sweeping gesture with his hand, “Welcome to the City of Dreams.”

 

Akane continued to stare wide eyed. Off in the distance Godzilla faced off against Goku and a giant Howard Stern.

 

“What exactly is this place Ranma?” Akane asked quietly feeling culture shock set in.

 

“This is where all dream creatures live. This is the very center of the dream reality. Come on, I'll show you around.” Taking Akane's hand, Ranma pulled her towards the city proper.

 

Akane was on the verge of suffering from information overload. There were people and buildings she recognized from TV or movies. She ducked instinctively as three power puff girls buzzed her on their way to deal with the aforementioned Howard Stern. She watched as Hulk Hogan battled Yu-gi-oh in a card match.

 

“Ha! I'll play the dark magician!” Yu-gi announced.

 

“Oh Yeah!? Well the hulkster is gonna play his rare level one hundred Ash's Pikachu card.” Hogan boasted.

 

“Haha! Little did you know that I had secretly played a card face down earlier! Come forth Super Saiyan four Goku!” Yu-gi shouted back.

 

Ranma just looked at Akane and shrugged, “Don't ask me, I don't know how those damn card games are played either.”

 

They continued on for a few minutes before coming to a place Akane found familiar. Ranma walked up and opened the glass door for Akane. As she entered she realized it was the ice cream parlor Ranma had taken her to when they first met.

 

“How did this get here?” Akane asked as they took a booth.

 

“It's always been here. In this reality, things are only as close as they are needed to be.

 

“So when I was depressed the shop was needed in Nerima?”

 

Ranma shook his head, “Not Nerima, it was in your dreamscape. It's kinda hard to explain to someone who has lived in the Blind their whole life.”

 

Celeste once again came to their booth and took their orders. Giving Ranma a wink she went off to get their ice cream.

 

“Why does Celeste have bat wings?” Akane asked Ranma.

 

“Hmm?” Ranma seemed to have become distracted for a moment, “Oh, she's a succubus.”

 

“What?!” Akane had read about such things in some of the manga Nabiki liked to buy. “Aren't they evil creatures who seduce men in their sleep and drain them of their energy?”

 

Celeste came back with their orders and gave Ranma what Akane could only assume was a knowing smile before leaving to serve another customer.

 

Ranma took a sip from his soda, “You're right about everything except the evil part. You have to remember, most creatures in the dream world live off excess human emotional energy. At most a few guys wake up having to change their sheets in the morning. I've never heard of anyone dying of a wet dream.”

 

Akane blushed a little, remembering a few times she'd woken up with her hand where it normally wasn't. She wondered though if maybe Ranma was an incubus. He hadn't made any moves to seduce her though. Then she remembered that Ranma had said he was a special case. She suddenly realized Ranma was talking to her.

 

“...can't keep thinking like you're in the Blind. This place can't be mapped, not in the sense you're used to anyway. This place is built of the wants and desires of not only the people living in the Blind but the creatures living here. It used to be bigger but I guess people don't dream as much as they used to. Then there's the fact that many of the creatures that used to live in the Blind retreated here as humans slowly pushed them out of their lands. You'll see a lot of elves and dragons and other things from myths and legends running around here. Some are dreams and some are real... not much difference anymore I guess.”

 

Akane just nodded while eating her sundae. She wasn't quite sure she understood what Ranma was saying but it sort of made sense. She was starting to wonder if maybe she had finally cracked and she was actually wearing a straight jacket while sitting in a rubber room somewhere. “Heh, at least Kuno couldn't visit me there.” She snorted.

 

“Hmm?” Ranma looked up from his parfait.

 

“Nothing. So, I've already been here before. What else did you have in mind to show me?” Akane asked.

 

Ranma smirked, “Well... have you ever gone diving without scuba gear? Or how about flying under your own power. There are tons of museums to see. There are also quite a few dojos here if you want to learn some new technique or just test your skills.”

 

Akane perked up at the mention of improving her martial arts, “Do you know martial arts?”

 

Ranma nodded, “My father was training me before...”

 

“Before what?” Akane leaned in, curious about Ranma's past.

 

“I'd rather not talk about it right now.” He looked up with a smile replacing his momentary frown, “Come on, it'll be just like a date!”

 

Akane blushed a little. She took his hand anyway. After all, it was only a dream right?

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

Akane woke with a smile on her lips. Her eye fluttered as she became aware of her surroundings. The room was dark except for the glow of the television set. She realized she'd fallen asleep watching that horrible movie. Then she noticed the movie was still on. Looking at the clock she saw that only twenty minutes had passed. Akane was sure she'd been with Ranma for hours, maybe days, it was hard to tell. She'd seen and done so much it was hard to remember, just like most dreams on waking. She remembered sparring with Ranma in a dojo dedicated to one of the fighting Kami. He was pretty good. She blushed remembering how she had tripped and fallen on him by accident. His body had been firm yet soft in just the right places and she'd been able to feel his muscled chest underneath his shirt.

 

“Baka.” She berated herself, “Falling in love with a dream just because real life sucks...”

 

Getting up, she walked over to the TV and shut it off. Turning out the remaining light she went upstairs to her own bed, thoughts of pigtailed martial artists foremost in her mind.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

Ranma sat back against the wall looking at the spot Akane disappeared from. He brooded for a while, debating on what to do next. It would be a while before he'd see her again. At least it would feel that way to him. Time had little meaning here but to a young man who was quickly becoming infatuated, any wait could seem like an eternity.

 

“Well, nothing to do for it except find something to occupy me until I see her again.” Ranma said to himself as he got to his feet.

 

He turned around and saw a beautiful woman in rich robes walk into the dojo. She radiated an aura of peace and contentment. She looked at Ranma with a soft smile tinged with sadness, “You should not have brought her here Ranma.”

 

“I know, it's just... I've never had anyone my own age to be friends with and she seemed so sad and lonely...”

 

“But she does not belong here. Her world, her life is in the Blind. I might overlook you breaking the rules occasionally but others may not. I'd hate to see you punished over something as trivial as this girl.”

 

“I know. I'll be careful Mother, I promise.”

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

 

It was early Sunday that found Akane on her morning jog. She hadn't seen Ranma again in her dreams since Friday night and was actually missing him when she wasn't banging her head for obsessing over a dream. Returning to the dojo, she decided to break some bricks to work off her frustrations. After changing into her gi she began her warm up. It was almost an hour later when Akane was interrupted by a flash as Nabiki took her picture.

 

“Sometimes I wonder about you sis. In a way it's no wonder boys treat you the way they do with the way you act.” Nabiki teased.

 

Akane stuck her tongue out at her sister, “Sorry I'm not as feminine as you. Besides not every one thinks the world revolves around boys!”

 

“Then I guess this wouldn't interest you.” Nabiki turned and walked back into the house.

 

Confused, Akane decided to follow and see what was going on.

 

It was a short time later that all three girls were sitting at the table across from their father. Akane noticed Nabiki had changed into a formal kimono. Her father had been crying and kept looking at a postcard with a picture of a panda on it.

 

“What's this all about Father?” Kasumi asked.

 

Soun cleared his throat, “Well daughters, this began years ago when Akane was still an infant...”

 

A few minutes later...

 

“Fiancé!?” was heard from inside the house.

 

“Yes he's the son of an old friend of mine, Genma Saotome. If one of you were to marry him then the legacy of the Anything Goes School would be secure.” Soun Continued.

 

Akane didn't hear anything past `Saotome'. That was Ranma's name! She felt chills as a creepy feeling entered her gut. This was too weird. Maybe it was some kind of premonition. If Ranma was anything in real life like he was in her dreams, Akane felt she could possibly go along with the engagement. Her heart began beating faster at the prospect of a real boyfriend who she could do all the stuff she'd been dreaming of with. She vaguely heard her father say something about training in China or something. Then she heard sounds of something coming from the front door.

 

“That must be them now.” Soun said, getting up.

 

Akane got up and managed to beat her sister Nabiki to the hallway right behind her father.

 

“Saotome my old friend!” Soun yelled as her rounded the corner.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

Author's Rant:

 

Am I evil? Yes I am! So far I've gotten nothing but good reviews. I like that. I've also noticed the lack of questions regarding the setting of the story so I'm assuming that means I've written it well enough to be understood easily. Anyway, next time, Akane meets the Saotome's. It's not what you might think.

 

Ranma kicked a rock out of his way as he grumbled beneath his breath. What kind of name was `Third Earth' anyway? So far all he'd seen was some weird robotic care bears and a tribe of Amazon women that he had avoided with great haste. He was starting to wonder if there was anybody on this planet who was good enough to help fight the great evil that had been let loose upon the multiverse. That was when he heard the sounds of a vehicle approaching. It looked like a tank only animal shaped. For some reason it made Ranma nervous. Then the hatch opened and he got his first look at the people inside.

 

“C-c-c-ccccat!” Ranma screamed and hightailed it as fast as he could unfortunately straight towards the Amazon village.

 

“What was that all about?” Lion-el asked Panthro. Panthro just shrugged.

 

-excerpt from Ranma and Tenchi's Excellent Adventure.