Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Ghost 1/2 ❯ Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don’t own Ranma ½ and the corruption of the characters and plot that you are about to read is all being done without any profit being made! Also I’m stealing certain ideas from the film Ghost.

Author’s note: This fic came to me from reading a few Ranma ½ fan stories that talk about the possibility of Ranma, on his first meeting with the Tendos, being killed by Akane when she hits him with the dining room table. Apart from the obvious bashing of Akane, this idea also seems to me to louse the humour that is the Ranma ½ world. So I have set it upon myself to develop this idea and try and keep the story of Ranma ½ going after this event. People might cry impossible, because I have killed off the main character of the story but I laugh at these people.

000

“…And I’m better built to boot!”

CRASH!

The sound of the Tendo’s dining room table coming down on the unfortunate and rather socially inept red head was loud, bouncing from wall to wall around the room.

Genma Saotome snorted as he looked at the remains of his child and martial arts heir. ‘Foolish boy. He knows nothing about women. Well… He’ll have to learn.’

“Now that he had com…ing?”

Genma’s statement caught in his throat as he heard what sounded like a gurgled choke. He turned to the table that was on top of his son turned daughter. Taking a closer look he saw that Ranma’s neck was in a rather odd angle. ‘Was that blood coming out of his mouth?’

“Ranma?” Genma said worriedly, trying to awaken the red head. The Tendos, who were acting like this was a usual occurrence, stopped dead upon hearing the tone the father was speaking in. Genma approached the table slowly, grabbing the edges and lifting it carefully of the figure underneath.

Ranma laid were she fell; her necked was at a strange angle. Her eyes were half open like she was in a daze and blood spilled out of her mouth, dripping down the floor next to her hair which was a match in colour.

Genma knelt down beside the girl. He put his hands on her shoulders and started to shake her gently.

“Ranma!” Genma yelled in his best authorative father voice, starting to shake the body more. The Tendo family looked on, none moving a muscle.

“Ranma wake up! Stop playing around boy!” Genma now moved on to slaping the girl, gently at first but quickly getting harder as the bald martial artist began to worry more and more.

Soun finally found his voice. “Saotome is the boy alright? Maybe he’s just unconscious?” Soun tried to muster some false hope but was struggling deeply.

Nabiki stood, her face a mask of ice. Inside however was rather different. ‘Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!…’

Kasumi also stood, a hand covering her mouth. Her mind had not quite accepted the full severity of the scene.

Akane Tendo still sat. She hadn’t moved a muscle since the table had been taken off the one she had struck.

Genma had stopped trying to rise his child, his breathing coming out in short, sharp gasps told the effort he had put in. Steadying himself, Genma slowly, almost fearfully put his hand on the pig tailed girl’s neck, trying to feel a pulse. A shard of ice pierced the martial artist’s heart as what he expected was confirmed. No pulse.

“He’s gone.” Genma said, pain echoing in the whole sentence.

Ranma Saotome was dead.

Ranma Saotome was also at that moment sitting in the corner of the room, looking quite shocked. He had awoken feeling kind of groggy, like his equilibrium had taken a forward flip. Almost immediately he started ranting about violent tempered tomboys and going back to china and his father could go stuff his honor and the wedding when he noticed something. No one seemed to be paying any attention. Ranma didn’t care ‘much’ if he wasn’t the center of attention but the people around him were acting more like they couldn’t hear him rather then they were ignoring him. His father then started to call his name but didn’t seem to be saying it to him. His old man had wandered over to the upside down table. Ranma followed after him, keeping his guard up just in case this turned out to be a trick. He had been knocked out once too many today. It was then that Ranma got the fright of his life. As his father turned the table over, Ranma came face to face with himself or rather herself for she just remembered her current gender, seeing it in front of her. She was lying prone on the ground, her neck obviously broken. Ranma took two steps back before collapsing to the floor. She kept staring at the body in the middle of the room as her father tried to ‘awaken’ her.

Many thoughts rush through Ranma’s mind. ‘Was she dead? Is this a dream? Why wasn’t she waking up? If this was a dream why did it feel so real? Had she actually died? How?’ Then Ranma remembered.

“That DANM tomboy!” she yelled turning now to the dark blue haired girl in the room.

But before any act of revenge could be committed a sudden warmth came from behind Ranma. She turned around to find a bright golden light shining out in the Tendo’s backyard. Ranma walked cautiously towards it. The light was warm and welcoming. It reminded her of the few times she had woken up early enough to see the sun rise. Ranma felt like it was almost calling her. As she took another step forward she could swear she almost heard heavenly, operatic music being played.

Ranma stopped short and stared at the tunnel of light in front of her for a few moments before snorting and folding her arms.

“Sorry but ain’t going to happen. I got some unfinished business!” Ranma stated, pointing her thumb in the room where her father was apparently trying to slap her back to life.

The golden light lingered as if trying to plead for her to not stay but Ranma Saotome was like a mountain when she had made up her mind. The light faded a moment later, music and all.

Ranma turned and walked back into the room where her father had finally given up on beating her corpse.

“He’s gone.” Genma repeated what he just said again as if trying to make it clear in his own head.

Everyone in the room seemed to adopt a sombre mood.

Soun looked around before using two techniques that he had gotten good at over the years since his wife’s death. Denial and shying away from realty.

“Don’t be ridicules Saotome! From that little hit!” Soun laughed good naturedly.

Ranma flared up.

“Little hit! She hit me with a FREAKING TABLE!!” Ranma yelled, stalking over to the moustached master.

Soun stepped towards the body, literally moving through Ranma who froze, feeling the effects first time of being transparent.

“He just needs a good shake!” Soun said, still talking in that maddeningly happy tone. He bent down and pick up the young red head before lifting her a few inches of the floor and starting to shake her vigorously. The red heads body shook as her neck rolled about making sickening cracking sounds. Soun continued for half a minute before finally giving in. Everyone else looked on in horror.

Soun huffed before barking out a laugh and turning to smile at everyone present. Everybody took a stepped back as Soun smiled at them.

“He just needs to stretch his legs!!” Soun called out madly.

The dark haired man proceeded to try and make Ranma’s body stand. Each attempt ended in the body falling limply to the floor.

Nabiki decided to try and break her father out of his current fit of madness.

“Uhh daddy I don’t think your helping.” She said in her most reasoning voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous Nabiki!” Soun laughed, continuing to try and make the dead girl stand.

Ranma had also had enough of the treatment of her body and decided that a more physical cure was needed.

“Don’t ya have any respect for the dead!” Ranma yelled as she reared back her fist to deliver a haymaker to Soun’s head. Her arm unfortunately passed right through Soun’s face and she lost her balance, falling to the floor.

Soun eventually was able to prop the pigtailed martial artist body against a wall. He stood back, putting his arms on his hips and looking as if he had just accomplished a great feat. The red head’s body stayed propped for a moment longer before it slowly slid down the wall were it end up in a crumpled heap.

Soun looked at the body a moment longer before erupting into tears.

“Oh Saotome it’s terrible. Your son is gone! Now the schools will never be joined!”

Genma woke out of his horrified daze and stared at his old friend. His eye twitched. A moment later Genma was across the room holding Soun up by the scruff of his gi.

“The schools?! The schools?! Damn the schools!” Genma screamed into Soun’s face. “My son is dead!”

Everyone in the room flinched as someone finally said it.

“He can’t be.” said a voice. Everyone turned and looked at the source: Akane Tendo.

Akane started to shake her head. “She- He can’t be. I couldn’t…It’s impossible…This can’t be happening.” Her muttering finally trailed off inaudibly.

Genma let go of Soun and stepped towards the young girl.

“You! This is your fault. Do you have any idea what you did!” Genma pointed at Akane.

Ranma turned and looked at her father. ‘Is he really upset? He’s really hurt by my death. I always knew he really cared for me! Oh Pop!’ Ranma started to feel emotions well up in her chest and she step towards her old man, her arms open, as if she wanted to embrace him.

“Ten years of training! Ten years of martial arts training down drain the drain thanks to you!” Genma howled at the young girl.

Ranma stood, her arms out stretched. A crooked smile on her face. She visibly shaked before her head fell forward. “Typical.” She muttered.

Akane shook her head, trying to look innocent. “It wasn’t my fault! It was an accident.” Akane cried.

“I had spent all that time training him to be the best martial artist and now it’s all wasted.” Genma continued to rant.

Ranma shook her fist at her father. “Pop I am so going to haunt your ass!”

“Years dodging from temple to temple. I even took him to bloody China! For what!” Genma yelled to no one in particular.

“Well you obviously didn’t do a good enough job.” Akane said, indicating the table.

Genma and Ranma both glared at the girl, letting out a growl simultaneously. Genma step towards the girl, changing into a panda as he stepped into a kettle with cold water that was lying on the ground. With the transformation Genma seemed to turn more ferocious, letting loose a frightening growl. Akane quivered like a leaf. Her martial arts training going out the window being faced against the terrifying bear.

A cruel smirk appeared on Ranma’s face. “Go get her pop! Bite her face off!” She blinked before putting her hands to her mouth. She had never said, never mind thought, something so terrible to anyone in her life. Thinking that she also never been killed before she felt justified in her attitude.

Genma stepped towards Akane, his claws were out and looked sharper then a panda rightly should have. Genma, reaching Akane, let louse a booming roar before descending on her. The girl released a terrible scream , closing her eyes and putting her hands above her face.

THUNK!

Akane opened her eyes at the odd sound, cautiously looking up. She saw the panda, braced to attack. A moment passed before the giant animal fell backwards, it’s eyes spinning showing the sign of unconsciousness. Kasumi stood behind the panda, the metal kettle in her arms stood out accusingly.

“Oh my!” Kasumi stated before dropping the kettle which hit the floor with a clang.

“Please don’t tell me you killed the panda!” Nabiki moaned, stepping towards the large animal.

She leaned down and checked it’s breathing, finding it regular. Nabiki let out a sigh of relief. “He’s still alive!” the rest of the family relaxed somewhat at that.

Ranma stared at her old man a moment longer before putting a hand to her face.

“Great work pop. You’re as useful as always. If you want something done yeh have to do it yourself.” Ranma turned back to the family who had started to talk again.

“What should we do?” Akane asked, fear taking a grip on her.

Nabiki paced around the room for a moment in deep thought before coming to a decision.

“We’ll have to get rid of the body!” she said resolutely.

The others looked at her in shock.

Kasumi frowned deeply.

“Nabiki I don’t think that’s right. We should go to the police and-”

“And have Akane jailed for life?!” Nabiki finished.

“But it was an accident!” Akane cried, tears bursting from her eyes.

Nabiki walked over to Akane and grabbed her roughly by the shoulders.

“So, that’s only second degree murder, manslaughter at best. And even if we claim temporary insanity you’ll still be taken to some type of asylum. Even if you got of scot free you’ll still get a record. How would that look at a job interview?” Nabiki pitched her voice “educated at Furinkan high school, martial arts experience, oh and I see here you killed someone with a table when you were 16.” Nabiki shook her head and looked into Akane’s eyes. “You’ll never get a Martial arts teaching licence if you’ve got something like that in your background. This could ruin your life!” Nabiki finished of with a whisper.

Akane had seemed to shrink as Nabiki had spelled it out to her.

“But it was an accident!” she said quietly, still trying to understand what had happen.

Nabiki put on a comforting look as she rubbed her little sister’s shoulder. “I know sis but they won’t believe you and even if they do…” Nabiki words trailed off.

The sisters looked at each other before Akane broke eye contact a nodded grimly.

Nabiki studied her sister a moment longer. 'I knew something like this was going to happen. I didn’t think it would be this bad though!’ She turned and looked at the body still lying against the wall. A shiver ran down her spine. 'It shouldn’t of happened to her…him… whatever. It should of happened to one of those boys at school at least, probably that baka Kuno. Someone who was the real cause of this! Oh well. I guess he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.’ Nabiki shrugged to herself before turning back to her family.

Ranma had watched the scene with the two sisters play out and had almost felt sorry for them. Almost. It had only taken one look at the body in the corner of the room to remember were her true allegiances laid. She snorted in disgust.

“Don’t think you’re going to get of scot free just yet!”

Soun look at his children grimly. “So what do we do about…that!” he said, indicating the body.

“I know this guy. Well I’ve not met him but he’s supposed to be good at this kind of thing.” Nabiki said, a thoughtful look gracing her features. “He’s a cleaner and his job includes cleaning up these kind of ‘messes’. I’ve got his number. I could give him a call. It won’t be cheap though!”

Nabiki looked at the rest of her family. Her father had a worried look on his face. Kasumi looked pale but stable and Akane looked subdued. They all nodded for her to call this ‘cleaner’

“What about Saotome?” Soun said, indicating the still unconscious Panda. “I doubt he’ll stay quiet about this."

“Panda?” Nabiki muttered, deep in thought. An idea hit her.

“We’ll use the curse to keep him quiet.” Nabiki started to explain. “We’ll call a zoo or animal collector and say we’re getting rid of our ‘pet’ panda. If he tries to transform we’ll tell them that he’s allergic to hot water!”

The other two sister nodded their consent to this idea, Soun though looked horrified.

“But I couldn’t do that to my old friend!” he shouted.

“It’s either that or have Akane become a jail house bitch.” Nabiki said evenly.

“What!” Akane screeched.

“Oh don’t worry Akane.” Kasumi tried to comfort her. “I’m sure with how strong you are you’ll end up the dominant of the relationship.”

Akane face turned as white as a sheet.

“Thanks sis.”

“Alright. Fine!” Soun said, ignoring the second part of the argument. “But we’ll have to bind him in case he wakes up. Akane, come help find some rope.” Soun left the room and headed upstairs. Akane followed him, still looking very pale.

“I’ll clean this place up a little.” Kasumi said, starting to lift objects into the kitchen.

Nabiki nodded at this.

“And I’ll call this guy then!” She quickly exited the room, heading upstairs to her bedroom.

Ranma stood alone in the room feeling strangely empty. She was trying to summon the emotions to get even more upset at how events were turning out but felt slightly cold, like she’d used up everything she had. She paced around the room for a minute before taking a seat facing away from her body. She was still a girl and suspected she might be stuck as such since water probably didn’t affect ghosts. Ranma sighed. That’s another thing to get this family back for. She turned and inspected her sleeping panda of a father.

“Why did we have to come her pops? You really did it this time. Bringing me to meet this psycho family. You BAKA!” Ranma yelled, attempting to kick her father in the head. Her foot passed through, not having any effect. Ranma sighed and put her head in her hands. That was another thing. If she couldn’t actually physically do something then how could she get revenge on the Tendos. And what would she do to actually get revenge on them. She specialized on semi-honourable ways of fighting. Revenge was not something she’d done a lot. Ranma sighed. Frustration welled up inside her until she felt ready to burst. She eventually couldn’t take anymore and had to release it somehow. She screamed out and slammed her fist on the table. Her fist struck it and made a resounding bang in the once quiet room. Ranma blinked. Had she just hit the table! Physically hit it!

“Hello?” came a voice from the kitchen.

A smile finally graced Ranma’s face as she reared back her fist to hit the table again. Her fist came down and then passed through the table like it was thin air. Ranma frowned and tried the move again. And again. And again. And again. No matter how many times she did this, her fist still didn’t hit anything. She was sure though that she had hit it.

“Hello?” came the voice again, this time from the kitchen door.

Ranma turned to see the oldest Tendo sister standing by the door frame.

Kasumi walked slowly into the room, looking around like she expected someone to jump out at her at any moment. Kasumi looked over the room, into every nook and cranny. Her gaze finally fell on the red headed body in the corner. She shivered automatically and tried to put as much space between her and it.

“I thought I heard…” she muttered to herself.

“What’s wrong sis?”

Kasumi turned and screamed at the new voice. Nabiki, also getting a fright, screamed back at her. The two sisters jumped back from each other clutching their chests.

Ranma burst into laughter at the sight of them. She got a strange feeling of power from seeing the two sisters scare themselves silly. It was as if the fear had rejuvenated her. She didn’t feel so empty now.

“Kasumi? Nabiki? Is everything alright?” Soun voice came from upstairs.

Nabiki took a deep, calming breath before answering. “Everything’s fine daddy. We just scared each other by accident.”

Nabiki turned to her big sister. “Jeez Kasumi. You almost gave me a heart attack!”

“You sneaked up on me!” Kasumi argued back.

“Never mind. I’ve got to call this guy and get him over here.”

Nabiki walked over to the phone, before picking it up and dialling a number that was on a card in her hand.

“Hello? Is this Mr Koji? Mr Rokoro Koji? Hello, my name is….” Nabiki pause in indecision before sighing in defeat. “Nabiki. Tendo Nabiki. I have a problem that requires your specific skills to solve.” Nabiki stopped for a minute, listening to Mr Koji. She gave him there addresses when asked. “How long do you think you’ll be? Half an hour? That’s great. Just ring the bell when you arrive. Thank you. See you soon Mr Koji.”

Nabiki hung up the phone and turned to Kasumi who had been waiting patiently behind her.

“He’ll be here in thirty minutes.” Nabiki informed her.

Kasumi nodded. Relief evident in her features. Before a questioning look came to her face.

“Nabiki? Why would you know about someone like this… cleaner?” She asked both curious and afraid.

Nabiki was silent for a moment, trying to come up with an answer that her big sister could understand.

“You know how I’ve not always been doing stuff that you would call innocent?”

Kasumi nodded slowly.

“Well some of these ‘activities’ makes me meet people who will talk about certain subjects. One time I heard about this guy, Rokoro Koji, who’s supposed to be the best, very discreet and not too expensive.”

Nabiki stopped and turned to her sister.

“I’d never planned to call him but I thought it wouldn’t hurt having his number. Just in case!” Nabiki looked pleadingly at her worried sister.

Kasumi thought for a moment before shaking her head.

“Lucky for us you did then!”

Nabiki laughed, no emotion in it.

“Yeah! Lucky!”

Kasumi wandered over to a wall before propping herself against it. She turned to face Nabiki, a look of real fear in her face.

“What are we going to do Nabiki?”

Nabiki walked over to her sister and took her hand, stroking it comfortingly.

“It’ll be ok sis. We’ll get away with it! All that matters is the family! Right?”

Kasumi looked at the body for a moment before turning to her younger sister, her feature set in a firm look.

“Right!”

Ranma looked at the pair before shaking her head.

“They’re all Psychos! All of them!”

It was then that Soun and Akane both entered the room with a pile of iron chains in each of their arms. Akane’s face was beat red and she had an embarrassed look on.

Nabiki eyebrow rose as she looked first at the chains, then at her cringing sister.

“Daddy where did you get the chains and what’s with Akane?”

Soun shrugged before dumping his load down on the floor.

“I was just telling her how these chains use to belong to your mother. She liked to use them in the bedroom!” Soun said, a sentimental look coming in his eye.

The two older sisters stood there for a moment, digesting this new bit of information.

“Ewwww!” both sisters said with disgust.

Soun shook his head in annoyance.

“Oh please girls! I don’t think anyone here has the right to judge at this moment!” he said, sweeping his arms around the room.

“Point taken.” Nabiki said, a disgruntled look still on her face. “Well anyway… the man, Mr Koji will be arriving here in half an hour. He told me to leave the scene how it is. So we’ll have to just wait.”

Soun nodded and started to tie the chains around the panda, rather efficiently the sisters noted unhappily.

The time passed quite quickly for Ranma. She’d wandered the house, getting more of a bearing of the place. When she came to the bathroom, she had tried the warm water in the furo. Like she had thought, she didn’t change back from the water. After a few minutes of making some rather bloody threats to the Tendo family she retreated from the bathroom. It was at this point that she accidently walked through the door! The feeling was strange. Like walking through a wall of cold water without getting wet. When she got over the shock she tried it again only to hit the door. There was no effect to the door but she didn’t get through. After some experimenting, Ranma finally discovered the key to walking through doors. She had to believe they weren’t there. Well something like that. It was more believe that doors weren’t solid and to almost forget they were there. After a few tries she was able to pass through the doors of the house with ease and even a few of the thinner walls!

When Ranma headed back down to the living room the Tendos had hardly moved. Each seeming to wait in silence. The time had gone a lot slower for them. The only one who seemed relaxed to Ranma was the tied up panda, who Ranma was now expecting was taking a nap.

Eventually the bell rang. That seemed to set the whole family of as everyone started to scuttle around the place getting ready. Kasumi headed straight towards the front door, a minute later she appeared with a middle age man carrying a large black sack which Ranma concluded was Mr Rokoro Koji.

He entered the room, grinning as he looked at each member of the Tendo clan before setting the black sack down in front of him, making a loud thump as he did.

Mr Koji paused for a moment as if in thought before looking the group over as a whole.

“Right!” he said, slapping his hands together and rubbing them vigorously “ Where’s the body?”

000

End Notes: So that’s the first chapter! Tell me what you think? If you see any problems then please point them out to me. I’m probably going to look for a beta reader for this.

Next chapter! The Tendos get rid of both Ranma and Genma, then have to get back on with their lives. While Ranma starts to learn more about the abilities he has as a ghost and begins to plan his revenge. And how is Nermia going to keep going without our favourite martial artist to shake things up? Will things stay the same or will Ranma’s problems still come to town even if he’s not there to meet them?