Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ City of Dreams ❯ Origin of Ranma Part 1 ( Chapter 6 )

Nabiki trailed behind Akane as the younger girl seemed to wander aimlessly around the neighborhood. Considering it was getting close to dark, Nabiki wondered what exactly her sister was up to. Eventually they came to the nearby park and Akane went to the swings and sat down.

 

“Damn it Ranma where are you?” Akane shouted. She turned suddenly as she heard someone sit in the swing next to her. Nabiki looked at her sister with concern and curiosity from her position on the swing.

 

“So who's Ranma? A new boyfriend? I could see why you'd keep it a secret with Kuno around and all.”

 

Akane blushed, “He's not a boyfriend. Well, he is a boy and a friend but not like that. Anyway, after that mess back home I decided Ranma couldn't be too far away so I decided to go hang out for a while. That's usually what I do when I dream these days.”

 

Nabiki was now showing confusion along with concern and curiosity, “What do you mean dreaming?”

 

“Oh, well that Ryu guy and his dad. When I saw them change like that I realized I had to be dreaming so I went to find Ranma. He usually helps me with these weird dreams. After all, he stopped my nightmares.”

 

“Akane, you're not making any sense here. You're not dreaming. As hard as it is to believe, Ryu and Genma Saotome have a weird curse and Ryu is going to be engaged to one of us whether we like it or not. If you're going for the insanity ploy to get out of it, I have to tell you that it's working.”

 

Akane stuck her tongue out at her sister playfully, “Don't be silly, magic doesn't exist in the Blind. At least not anymore...” She trailed off trying to remember everything Ranma had told her.

 

Nabiki was starting to worry, “Uh, maybe if you told me everything that's been happening in your dreams I could understand what you're talking about.”

 

Akane sighed. It looked like Ranma wasn't going to show up tonight after all. So she began telling her sister everything that had happened since that night she had first met Ranma. Nabiki listened, becoming more and more concerned for her sister. However, as strange as it sounded, Nabiki somewhat believed that Akane's story could be true. After all, she'd just seen a boy turn into a girl and an old man turn into an endangered species. As Akane finished her tale, Nabiki realized how Akane could have mistaken the day's events as a dream. She wasn't prepared to fully believe the story without proof however. She was Nabiki after all and tended to be a skeptic at heart.

 

“Well sis, even if I believe what you just told me, I have to say that you're not dreaming now. We have to face a very real situation at home. I don't know about you but this Ryu guy pushes all the wrong buttons. Something about him gives me the creeps.”

 

Akane nodded in agreement as she tried to think of some way to determine if she really still in the Blind. Giving up after a moment she related her dojo and bathroom experience to her sister. Nabiki frowned as Akane reached the part where Ryu offered to wash Akane's back and growled at what he'd said afterwords.

 

Nabiki finally sighed, “Sounds like dad really picked us a winner. Starting tomorrow I'm going to find out as much as I can about the Saotomes. Maybe even some information on this Ranma guy from your dreams. In the meantime try to stay away from this guy and don't let him catch you alone. I'll give Kasumi the same warning. I just don't trust him, especially if he can beat you.”

 

Akane gulped and nodded nervously, “All right. I can't believe Daddy would engage us to a perverted rapist though.”

 

“Just be careful.” Nabiki hugged her sister.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

Dinner had been an interesting affair. She'd never seen anyone move that fast when it came to eating. Both Saotomes had nothing even remotely resembling table manners and fought over the food like starving rabid weasels. As the fight degenerated into a brawl over the last pickle it worked it's way outside to the pond where both cursed martial artists ended up. Akane meanwhile had finally gotten around to taking that bath she'd been looking forward to all day. She had just dried off and was making to leave when the door slid open revealing a very naked and very female Ryu. Akane stared a moment in shock then moved to slap the offending redhead for peaking on her. Ryu however caught her hand easily.

 

“Now none of that. Such violence doesn't become a cute girl like yourself. Besides you got a good look at me earlier so I figure I deserve at least the same courtesy. Besides, there's a good chance we'll end up engaged or even married so it's only right I check out the goods.” He smiled evilly, “Maybe even try them out.”

 

Akane wrenched her hand out of Ryu's grip and pushed past her, Ryu grinning the whole time. Grabbing her robe Akane quickly left to her room. Once the door was shut and locked she slid down to the floor, shaking uncontrollably.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

Akane woke to a noise in her room. She sat up slowly looking around, trying to see in the darkness. Her curtains moved in a slight breeze coming in through the open window. She definitely remembered closing the window before going to sleep. Getting up to shut it she suddenly found a hand over her mouth and another around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides.

 

“Now, now. We can't have you waking the rest of the house now can we. They need their rest.” Akane heard the voice of their newest, youngest house guest say.

 

She felt a piece of tape go across her mouth then her pajama top was ripped down to trap her arms as Ryu pushed her back onto the bed. He grinned at her as he pulled a knife to cut her bra off.

 

“I thought I'd start with the youngest and work my way up. That Kasumi looks like she'd be a screamer don't you think?” Ryu commented.

 

Akane twisted and struggled trying to get away but Ryu held her fast. As the knife slid between her breasts to cut the bra Ryu stopped.

 

“Ah dammit, I canna do it.” He said. Standing up Ryu stepped back with a look of sorrow on his face. “Damn yer eyes woman. I jus canna harm Ranma's woman no matter what me work orders say.”

 

Ryu seemed to blacken and melt until it resembled a humanoid shaped black tar creature.

 

Akane pulled the tape from her mouth as she straightened her top, “Joe? Is that you?”

 

“Aye, it be me.” The nightmare confessed, “Sumtin bad musta happened to ye to get me assigned to ye agin.”

 

Akane nodded as she turned to sit on her bed, “It's horrible. I don't know what to do.”

 

“Ye care ta talk aboot it?” The creature asked.

 

Akane sighed. Nodding hesitantly she began to tell Joe of how her day had gone ending with Ryu's veiled threats in the bathroom.

 

“Ah, so that be why yer dream be the way it be. I apoligize m'lady, I din know it be like that.” Joe was quiet a moment after that. Then he seemed to produce a cell phone from nowhere and dialed a number on it. Akane couldn't make out what he was saying even though he was right next to her. After a moment he hung up and turned back to Akane.

 

“I jes calt yer man Ranma. He saide he'd be right over ta take care o ye. Agin me `poligies m'lady.” Joe said turning and fading into the shadows.

 

Akane sat alone in the darkness for a while before her bedroom door opened and Ranma came walking in with a concerned look on his face. Akane seemed to teleport across the intervening space to hug Ranma tightly.

 

“Oh Ranma! It was so awful!” She broke down crying. Ranma brought her over the bed and sat down, cradling the crying girl in his arms. He let her cry herself out before asking her what was wrong. Once again she relayed the entire story this time to Ranma. His look of concern grew as did his frown as Akane finished.

 

Finally Akane composed herself and blushing, sat up and moved away from Ranma, just a little bit.

 

Ranma seemed to be thinking heavily. Finally he looked at her, “Akane, there is something I should tell you about myself. I'll understand if you don't want to have anything to do with me after that.”

 

Akane shook her head, “I don't care. You're my friend. You can tell me anything.”

 

Ranma hesitated for a second then took a deep breath, “That man Genma... He's my father.”

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

Author's Rant:

 

Damn! Three chapters in one day! I'm just glad I don't have anything due in my Japanese class Monday :)

 

I know that the cliffhanger isn't much of one. After all everyone knows Ranma's father is a fat lazy panda. But I do want to hold off on letting the cat out the bag for as long as possible... Of course if the suspense builds too much then everyone will get all angsty on me. I know I promised Kuno getting the crap beat out of him but oh well... We'll see how Monday morning goes between Ryu and Kuno later on. BTW: is anyone even reading the Ranma and Tenchi bits at the end of each chapter? If not then I'll stop doing it.

 

“Are you positive?” Cliffjumper asked over the comlink.

 

“Absolutely, We're coming back in now. Whatever attached itself to Bumblebee's face is definitely an organic siliconoid life form. Hopefully Ratchet can figure out how to get it off him. Other than these eggs, there's no sign of life anywhere in the outpost.” Ironhide replied.

 

“Get him back here on the double, there's no telling what's going on out there.”

 

-excerpt from Ranma and Tenchi's Excellent Adventure.