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

[ A - All Readers ]

Scenes from Sayuri 1/2

by Bjorn (ansonbi@gmail.com)

Ranma 1/2 copyright 1987, 1999 by Takahashi Rumiko.
Publishing rights by Shogakukan Inc. (Japan) and Viz
Inc. (North America) This work is not intended to infringe
those rights, and is done without knowledge or consent of
the rights holders.

These are random excerpts from my someday-to-be-released
epic, "Sayuri 1/2." This is sorta Corwin's fault, but
mostly mine.

Comments and criticism can be sent to ansonbi@gmail.com
and will be greatly appreciated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sayuri looked out nervously over the sparse stands of bamboo
that reached through the mist overlaying the valley's many
placid pools. She reached out and tugged on the sleeve of
her father's inexpensive suit. "Dad? Are you sure this is
a good idea?"

Her father turned his head to smile vaguely at her, but
never stopped carefully stepping between the ponds. "Now,
dear. The company thinks that this would be an excellent
market for our new line of natural bathing soaps, and I'm
sure they've done their research. Besides," his smile took
on a hint of genuine warmth, "why are you so worried about
my work? I thought you'd just be grateful for a chance to
see China for free."

"I guess." Still unsettled, Sayuri kept as close to her
father as she dared. "I just feel like I should know this
place...."

"Mr. Customer! Ms. Customer! What you do?!"

An overweight man had run out of the hut that was their
destination, trying to put on his worn army fatigues at the
same time as he frantically gestured at them. "You go back!
This dangerous place to be wandering!"

Sayuri's father nodded respectfully and raised his voice to
carry. "Certainly! We'll just wait for you on the other
side." Politely turning his attention from the guide, who
had tripped over his pant-leg in surprise, he turned
around... and collided with his distracted daughter.

Bouncing apart, their arms windmilled for a long minute as
they fought to regain their balance. Gravity's siren song
could not be denied for long, though, and they fell in
opposite directions into different pools with fountainous
splashes.

Finally dressed, though not quite collected, the guide
rushed up. "Ah! Now you see what terrible place Jusenkyo
is?" He stepped back prudently as the two victims emerged
dripping from the cursed waters.

"Ah, Mr. Customer fall into...." The guide blinked
uncertainly. "Spring of Drowned Hard-working Salaryman.
Very tragic story of hard-working salaryman who go to bottom
of spring on fact-finding mission ten years ago and never
come up." He blinked again at the apparently unchanged man.
"Jusenkyo let you off easy."

"But you, Ms. Customer." He turned to Sayuri, who had been
watching the proceedings as she lay gasping for breath at
the water's edge. "You fall into Spring of Drowned Ordinary
Boring Girl. Mildly depressing story of ordinary boring
girl who drown in pool fifteen... no, nine... thirteen?...
some time back." He shook his head. "Honoured Customers
come with me, yes?"

Stunned and still dripping, Sayuri followed behind her
father as the Guide led them back to his hut. Once settled
into the hard, spartan chairs he provided, they watched as
he bustled about, boiling water and chatting at them.

"Mr. Customer very lucky to fall into pool that have no
effect on him. But Ms. Customer... ah, she get very strange
curse indeed. People with Jusenkyo curses, they live..." he
groped for the right word, "chaotic lives. Much excitement,
much strangeness, good and bad. Always things happening."

Sayuri's ears perked up, and she began to see the glimmer of
a silver lining on the clouds that had hung over her ever
since the sudden panic of falling had prompted her to
remember where she'd first heard the story about springs and
bamboo growths. The thought of being forced to change forms
whenever splashed with cold water had filled her with a sick
dread. Now, however, she could also see herself sharing all
the things she'd envied about Ranma: a life filled with cute
boys changing after her, travel to exotic places,
adventures, heroism. A life that would never be boring!

The guide handed her the now-warm kettle and kept talking.
"But the curse you get no fit at all! How can Ms. Customer
have exciting life when she cursed to be ordinary boring
girl?" He turned from tidying up the stove and frowned at
Sayuri. "You pour hot water on self, you change back to
normal self. No be ordinary boring girl."

Sayuri flushed, and she wasn't sure if it was in anger or
embarrassment. "I know! I did!"

Anger came out on top as the guide snatched the kettle away
from her and dumped the rest of its contents over her head.
She sprang to her feet as he edged away, sweating.
"Um... very sorry, Ms. Customer!" His eyes flicked to her
father, who was wisely keeping quiet. Failing to find any
support there, the guide tried again. "Look at it this way
-- never any problems with clothes!"

Sayuri screamed.

* * *

"Sayuri? Could you come in here for a minute?"

"Sure." She walked into the kitchen, and her father folded
his newspaper and looked inscrutably at her over his
glasses. "What is it?" Unconsciously, she held her breath.

"I have an announcement to make, that may come as something
as a surprise." He put the newspaper down, and folded his
hands in front of him. "You're become an adult now, and as
such you have certain responsibilities, both to yourself and
to your family."

Sayuri's eyes widened. He wouldn't....

"You don't seem to have pursued this seriously yourself,
which I can understand. However, your mother and I feel
there's no time like the present. So I've spoken to an old
friend, and made arrangements..."

Images of Ranma's multitudes of fiancees spun through
Sayuri's head.

"... and you'll start work at his movie theater on Monday."
He paused gravely for a second. "Dear, they won't let you
work the concessions stand if you keep pounding your face on
the table like that."

* * *

"Sayuri!" Yuka shouted, waving her 'Sailor Moon' umbrella.
"Because of you, I have seen Dragonball! Prepare to be
snubbed!"

* * *

The youma brushed the last remnants of the wall from its
shoulders and stepped forward. "Ah, Jusenkyo curses!
Exactly the sort of magical source my master needs!"

Coughing in the dust cloud, Sayuri put up trembling fists.
"Just try it!" Even to her ears, the bravado rung false.

Leaning over, the massive monster peered at her. "*You're*
the one with the Jusenkyo curse?"

"Yes!" When the goliath still looked incredulous, she
quickly poured cold water over herself, followed by hot.
"See? I fell into the spring of Drowned Ordinary Boring
Girl!"

"Uh." The youma scratched its misshapen head. "Maybe I
should come back later?"

"What?" Sayuri found herself mildly affronted at the
youma's refusal to rend her soul. "Don't you believe me?"

"No, you're cursed all right. It's just..." it paused to
yawn, "I dunno. It lacks drama. I'm gonna find somebody
else."

Sayuri stared blankly as the youma wandered off.

* * *

Sayuri blew up. "For the last time, I'm *don't* need hot
water! I'm not *in* my cursed form!"

Raising his hands defensively, Daisuke asked, "Hey, is it my
fault I can't tell the difference?"

* * *

Quite a few girls swooned as the dashing newcomer made his
entrance, and Sayuri had to fight the temptation to join
them. The struggle became all the harder when his attention
swung around to focus on her. He brushed his sea-green hair
away from his enthralling eyes, and started to advance on
her.

"My name," he said in a low, confident voice, "is Spu Lish,
heir to the school of Martial Arts Mixed Pairs Synchronized
Diving. Unfortunately, due to a tragic accident while
developing the new Reverse Two-and-a-half Tuck Divine
Retribution Attack, I must now find a new partner." A small
smile played on his lips as he continued to walk towards
Sayuri. "So I must find a woman of grace, of skill, a
goddess of the water. And such a woman have I found today."

Gently, he reached out with a powerful hand and pushed
Sayuri out of the way. "Akane Tendo, will you be my
partner?"

~~~The End~~~