Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ New World ❯ Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma use it merely for entertainment purposes.

 

In the future if a person were to say that Saotome Genma was a good man many people would have laughed in the person's face. The sad part was, the statement would be true, Saotome Genma was once a good man. The problem was he was always a bit short sighted. This flaw would remain with him through out his life and have dire consequences in the future. One act of that would define the rest of his existence was his choice in training under a strong yet morally absent master of the Martial Arts.

 

What brought the decision on to train under such a man was Genma's want to be a great Martial Artist. His ancestors had served Japan in past wars with great honor and dignity through out the History of Japan. Genma felt it was his duty to be a great warrior like his ancestors, but because Japan was not allowed to have an active military, he had to settle for being a Martial Artist. This would normally be fine if he had just chosen another Master other than Happosai, the Founder and Grandmaster of Anything Goes. Genma wanted to be strong and Happosai was rumored to be among the best Martial Artists in Japan. So in rush to become a strong fighter Genma ignored the other rumors about Happosai and became one of his two disciples.

 

For the next several years Genma was beaten, humiliated, and used as a scapegoat for Happosai and all the remnants of good man the he was vanished from the world. What was left was a greedy, cowardly, lazy and still shortsighted man. If Genma had met his wife Nodoka after he `completed' his training under Happosai it would have most likely ended up with Nodoka brushing him aside. Unfortunately this was not the case and Nodoka fell in love with the man early in the training and still a descent man. And as Genma was pushed down his morally skewed path Nodoka turned a blind eye to, after all love like justice is often blind.

 

After Genma took his leave of Happosai he started to make plans for his future through his son Ranma. He wanted his son to be the best Martial Artist in the World, for in today's world a Martial Artist could gain a person, and their family, a great deal of respect and wealth. Genma knew that to teach Ranma his way properly, he needed to do it away from his wife Nodoka, for he knew she would never approve of the methods he would use. And thus Genma was faced with a dilemma; how to get Ranma away from his Mother? The answer, make it look like Ranma wanted to go and would be happiest with his Father. Thus he asked his innocent son his question, “Boy how would you like to come with me on a trip?”

 

Little Ranma looked up at his Father and smiled. The little boy loved the out doors and thought Genma was talking about going on a camping trip or something along those lines, not to be taken from his Mother for a very long time. “Yeah Papa that would be fun!” Little Ranma beamed.

 

Genma smirked for he knew Nodoka had overheard them. This meant Nodoka would have no objections with Genma taking Ranma. “Then start packing boy we'll leave as soon as you're finished.” Little Ranma nodded and rushed past his Father and up the stairs to his room.

 

Nodoka came out from the other room, away from the stairs, with a sad look on her face. “Very well Husband you can take Ranma,” Nodoka conceded. The deal they made last night was that if Ranma wanted to with Genma on his training trip then she would allow it, all she really wanted was for her son to be happy and seemed this made him happy.

 

Genma saw his wife's sad face and started to think of a way to assure her everything was going to be fine. He looked around and saw something Ranma was playing with earlier; it was a sheet of paper, or to be more precise a blank legal contract. That was when he had an idea, his short sightedness also coming into play, and picked up the contract. He scribbled a few brief sentences and signed his name. “Don't worry Nodoka I'll raise Ranma to be a Man among Men or I'll commit seppuku!” Genma declared. There was no doubt in his mind he could accomplish this goal so to him it was just a reassurance to his wife, nothing more.

 

Nodoka was surprised at the declaration, but her husband's strong determination made her accept the contract. At this point Little Ranma came down the stairs with his backpack filled and ready to go. “Hi Mama,” Little Ranma greeted. “Papa's taking on a trip.”

 

“I know Ranma,” Nodoka said as she leaned down and gave him a hug. “You be a good boy now and come back strong, do you understand?”

 

Little Ranma was actually quite bewildered by his Mother's request, not knowing the full details, but nodded anyway; he wanted to make his Mother happy after all. “Ok Mama, I promise to be good and be real strong when I get back,” Little Ranma said.

 

“All right Boy let's go,” Genma ordered. The sooner they got away the sooner he could begin Ranma's training. Without another word Genma walked out the door with Ranma trailing behind waving back to his Mother.

 

It was only the second day into the trip when Genma ran into a major problem, again because of his lack of thinking ahead. How was he going to feed himself, and Ranma, on the training trip? Then he thought of a brilliant idea, a way to train his son and get food. Have Ranma steal the food; it would teach him stealth, quick hands speed and stamina from running away. “Boy I have a game for you…” thus beginning part of Genma's eventual downfall.

 

Weeks later Genma and Ranma were out in the middle of one of Japan's forests hiding out from the local authorities. Genma had made the mistake of going into one of the more technological towns in Japan and got caught instructing Ranma on how to steal by doing it himself.

 

Japan was a unique in its standing on the technology that came about because of Psionics, Chi, and Magic. For the most part Japan reverted back to preindustrial beliefs and practices; however, there were also parts of the country that had an abundance of the technologies, Tokyo being the best known. Still that did not mean that all towns away from Tokyo had low technologies. There were towns scattered across Japan that liked the modern connivances of technology and embraced it wholeheartedly.

 

Genma made yet another mistake of trying to steal in one of these towns. Some of the technologies included devises that could detect Psionics, Magic, or in Genma's case Chi usage. So when Genma used his Chi to silence his footsteps inside of a house the alarms went off and Genma had to ditch the city. There was an alert out for Genma in the neighboring towns so he had to run off into the woods where it would be difficult to find him. “Papa why are we out here?” Little Ranma asked.

 

“Why we're out here for you're next training exercise,” Genma lied. `Why not? I did manage to `acquire' those manuals before I had to run aw…regroup.' He reached into his pack and pulled out the first manual he felt, just missing the Neko-ken that would come later. “Ah here it is, the…”Genma squinted his eyes and reminded himself to get some glasses soon, “The Stone Breaker Fist! We'll start with this technique, it says it will allow you to…'break any stone.'” Genma looked around and noticed a lack of rocks in the area, “Boy go get some big rocks and carry them back here.

 

“Ok Papa,” Little Ranma said. He wondered why he had to do it, but like a good boy he did what his Father told him too.

 

Little Ranma had to go rather far to find a rock that he thought was big enough. It turned out he had ended up at a small shrine deep in the woods far away from his father. When he tried to take the big rock in the middle of a bunch of sand a voice called out to him, “Child what do you think you are doing?” An old man said coming out the shrine.

 

“I'm training to be a Martial Artist,” Little Ranma said proudly. “I need a big rock for the technique I'm going to learn.”

 

The old monk just nodded in understanding. There had been a steady rise in traveling Martial Artists in the past ten to fifteen years and he had witnessed his share of strange training techniques from visitors to his temple, mostly for rest. So he was not surprised to see a young boy trying lift the rock, `Probably for strength training, that Hibiki man did the same thing, though he did not try and take the stone from the sand garden.' “Well child you can't just take that stone, it is part of my shrine and belongs here,” the Monk said to Little Ranma. “Taking things that do not belong to you is wrong.”

 

“But Papa said I need a big rock,” Little Ranma argued.

 

“But good boys don't take things that do not belong to them,” the Monk countered. “You do want to be a good boy, right?”

 

“Yeah Mama said I need to be a good boy,” Little Ranma answered.

 

“Then you cannot take something that does not belong to you without asking,” the Monk continued. “Your Mother would not like that.”

 

Little Ranma became sad at that. He did not want to disappoint his Mother by not being good, but he did not want to disappoint his Father by not getting a big rock. Then he remembered what the Monk said about asking to take something, “Can I have this big rock?”

 

“While I am glad you have asked I am afraid you cannot have that rock for it is part of the shrine,” the Monk answered causing Little Ranma's shoulders to droop. “I can however give you another bid rock that is out back.”

 

“Really?” Little Ranma asked. The Monk nodded, “So, can I have that rock?”

 

“Yes Child you can,” the Monk said smiling. “Come let me show you where it is.” The Monk took Little Ranma out back and showed him a big rock about the same size as one in the sand garden. “You can have that one.”

 

“Thank you Sir,” Little Ranma said as he went to the rock and picked it up with a bit of strain.

 

“You are welcome Child,” the Monk returned. “And remember it is wrong to take things without asking.”

 

“I will Sir,” Little Ranma said walking off and away from the shrine. This small encounter would have far reaching effects in the future and would help form Little Ranma's ideals later in life.

 

For the next two years Genma and Ranma traveled around Japan. In that time Genma's training methods became more brutal and insane, the Neko-ken at the forefront. Also in that time Ranma began to question his Father's actions, everyone told him that being good was often just the opposite of what his Father did. This caused a conflict in Ranma; he wanted please his Father but also wanted to please his Mother by being good.

 

In Genma's mind the conflict in Ranma was hampering his Son's training, thus the need to increase the intensity of training, resulting in training that many would call abuse. The conflict caused Genma's way of acquiring food to change also. He had to steal the food himself, when this started to become to labor intensive he started to sell Ranma off in arrange marriages and then stealing him back and running out of town. The most prominent case being the Kuonji family. The combination of legal charges of breach of contract, theft and child abuse, and because of his superhuman physical acts like jumping two to three stories, brought Genma to the attention of a new class of police. Ones trained specially to deal with criminals that used Chi, Psionics, or Magic. Genma did not want to run into these men. He was confident he could beat any one of them, but like the cowards they were they would not fight him one on one.

 

Fearing jail time Genma made a decision to start the next branch of the training trip outside of Japan. “Boy we'll be leaving for China tomorrow,” Genma said.

 

“Why are you going to China Papa?” Ranma asked. He was excited about going to China he had read there were many Martial Arts techniques he could learn there. He may even be able to learn some of the legendary Amazon techniques, that ones that helped change the world.

 

“We'll be heading to ancient training sites all over China,” Genma answered. He saw Ranma's enthusiasm and decided to brag, best to make himself look like he knew everything so Ranma would listen to him.

 

“What kind of training sites Papa?” Ranma asked again.

 

“Like Jusenkyo, the guide book I have said that's where all the best Martial Artist trained,” Genma said holding out a Chinese tour guidebook that looked close to sixty years old.

 

“But Papa, I read from an American guide book, that Jusenkyo was listed as a dangerous place of Cursed Magic,” Ranma replied.

 

Genma frowned at the news that Ranma was reading again. Genma believed that only scholars, sissies and even worse, women needed to read. “Boy! What have I told you about reading!?” Genma yelled then punched Ranma in the stomach. “You don't need to read, just Martial Arts! And besides what would a Gaijin know about Martial Arts training anyway?” He frowned again at Ranma not being able to block his punch, it looked like he would have to step up his Son's training again. “Now forget what you read in that useless book and go get some firewood!”

 

“Yes Papa,” Ranma said still rubbing his stomach. As he walked away Ranma thought, `Everyone I've asked told me that Jusenkyo is too dangerous to go to. If that's true then Papa is wrong again.' Ranma had the seed of doubt in his mind about his father, and even though the boy was intelligent and tried to read and talk to people as much as he could, Genma still stunted his contact with people and education by the large, so he was very naive about the world. This naiveté was keeping Ranma from running away from his father, even after the Neko-ken.

 

To the fortune of Ranma and misfortune of Genma, fate had other plans for Ranma, other than going to China. What neither Genma or Ranma knew about the forest they were staying in was that the forest was home to many of the things Ranma was deathly afraid of, cats. This forest was plentiful in small rodents and low on natural predators, making it a haven for cats without homes so there were literally dozens of cats all over the forest.

 

As Ranma was gathering firewood by cutting down small trees with knife hands and ridge hands he heard something that made him shake in absolute terror, “Meow.” After dropping the firewood he gathered so far Ranma slowly turned around to confirm if what he thought was behind him was. When his head was far enough around his heart stopped as he saw six cats staring at him with their evil yellow eyes.

 

“AAAAHHHHH!” Ranma shouted out.

 

Around the forest several people heard Ranma's yell. Genma looked up from his food, that he took out of Ranma's bowl, asking, “What is that boy doing now? He better not make miss my dinner.” A few minutes later a rustle from some near by bushes caught Genma's attention, “Boy you missed dinner.” When the usual shout did not come Genma became confused, Ranma was always mad when he ate his food, “Boy?”

 

“Meow,” came from the bush causing Genma to freeze hoping that it was not what he thought it was. Then just as Genma feared Ranma jumped out of the bushes standing on all fours.

 

From past experiences over the last few months, Genma did the best thing he could possibly do, “Saotome Final Technique, RUN AWAY!” Genma ran out of the campsite as fast as he possibly could, he did not want to be cut up like the last time Ranma went Neko.

 

In another part of the forest another person heard and more importantly felt Ranma's scream of terror. One of the Police Officers specially trained to deal with people using Chi, Psionics and Magic to break the law was searching for a thief that used Chi, Genma, which was disturbing the area. This Officer was actually a Psi-cop, and using his Psionics to track the thief. Other than the distance needed to cover it was not hard for the Psi-cop to track him. He could feel the man's greed from several kilometers away. He was about half a kilometer away from where he pinpointed the man and moving slowly in order to surprise him when he heard and felt the wave of terror coming from the same area.

 

Such fear caused the Psi-cop to abandon stealth completely. He rushed a head where the terror came from, and oddly no longer there, as fast as he could. He was about half way there when he felt fear from another source, the man he was tracking, spike then heard a faint, “Run Away.” Wondering what was going of the Psi-cop stretched his Psionic Sensitivity even further to find out. What he found was very strange for he felt the presence of a large cat that was some how different from a large cat at the same time.

 

Now even more determined to discover what was going on Psi-cop ran even faster. When he arrived he came the strange occurrence of a young boy walking around on all fours with a piece of food in his mouth. When the child turned and saw the Psi-cop it did another strange actions, the boy hisses and batted at him like a cat. The Psi-cop's further surprise claws extended from the boy's hands made of pure energy. “Chi?” the Psi-cop wondered. The boy hissed again and this time leapt at the Psi-cop. Thinking quickly the Psi-cop called on another Psionic Power he had, Telekinesis and stopped the boy in mid air. “What is wrong with this kid?” He focused his mind again using Telepathy to look into the boy's mind. There he found two presences, one was suppressed and the other active. The active one was the cat and the suppressed was the human part. He could feel strong aggression coming from the cat part but innocence from the human part. “How did this happen? Well anyway, sorry kid I hate to do this, but you're too dangerous right now.” With an application of Telepathy the Psi-cop put the boy asleep.

 

Several hours later Ranma opened his eyes to see he was in a completely white room. He had only been in a room like this once before and that was after the Neko-ken incident. That room was at the hospital, he had not stayed very long as his Father came saying they had to get back to training and took him out the window. Out side his room Ranma could hear some people moving around and a couple of people talking.

 

“He's awake now Dr. Tanaka,” a man's voice said.

 

“Figures you would know that,” another voice said.

 

A few seconds later the three people entered Ranma's Hospital room, “Hello there, Son, I am Dr. Tanaka and these are Officers Yamato and Shinomori. We would like to ask you a few questions. Is that alright?” Ranma nodded and Dr. Yamato continued as the two Officers looked at him with an unusual stare, “What is your name, Son?”

 

“My name is Saotome Ranma,” Ranma answered.

 

“Now Ranma could you tell me where your parents are?” Dr. Tanaka asked.

 

“Um Papa's probably in the woods still and I don't know where Mama is,” Ranma answered. “Papa should be here to pick me up soon just like last time I was in a hospital.”

 

“And who is your Father?” Shinomori asked.

 

“Papa is Papa,” Ranma asked confused.

 

“I believe Officer Shinomori wants to know your Father's name,” Dr. Tanaka clarified. “What do other grown ups call him?”

 

“Um usually they yell at him calling him Genma as we leave a town,” Ranma answered.

 

“Excuse us Doctor we need to speak for to each other for a moment,” Yamada said.

 

“Very well I still need to check on a couple of Ranma's vitals,” Dr. Tanaka returned. The two Officers nodded and stepped out of the room.

 

Once they were outside Shinomori turned to Yamada. “Wasn't Saotome Genma the name of the man you were tracking earlier?”

 

“Yeah, Saotome Genma is wanted for questioning for several crimes all over Japan,” Yamada answered. “One is a kid napping of a young child from a hospital a few months ago.”

 

“If Ranma's father is the same Saotome Genma then it is safe to say he will not get custody of the boy once he's fit to leave the hospital,” Shinomori concluded. “The question is what will happen to him?”

 

“If the Doctor will release him into our custody I plan on taking him to my old Training Center,” Yamada answered. “The boy is at least a Middle Range Psionic and on top of that I think the Telepaths can help with the Neko-ken.”

 

“I see,” Shinomori said. “He should also receive training in Chi, the boy has well above average Chi for his age.”

 

Before they could continue Dr. Tanaka came out of the room. “Unbelievable,” the Doctor muttered.

 

“What is unbelievable Doctor?” Shinomori asked.

 

“From Ranma just told me his father is nothing more than a criminal and he does not even remember what his mother's name,” Dr. Tanaka answered. “Finding someone to take care of him is going to be very hard.”

 

The two Officers exchanged an amused look, “I believe we may be able to help with that Doctor,” Yamada spoke.