Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Shadows are Stirring ❯ The Sparring Match ( Chapter 1 )

This is being posted here, as it was deemed against the rules at fanfiction.net. I intend to post a new chapter at least daily here, until it is all up.

Disclaimer: There will only be two of these - one at the beginning of the fic, and one at the end. However, that doesn't change the fact that Ranma does not belong to me - that right sits with Rumiko Takahashi. I just own this particular storyline, as well as a couple of unique moves Ranma pulls off.

Please enjoy, and let me know what you think!

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Chapter One: The Sparring Match

Nermia, Japan, was never really known for much a few years back. In fact, few people could have told you anything about it at all only two years ago. Of course, that has since changed, as Nermia seems to have become a beacon for Martial Arts. If one wanted to prove themselves to be above average in the field, then Nermia was the place to be, without question.

Mind you, this took time to come about. It all started about two years ago, when a panda walked into town, carrying a buxom red-head over his shoulder, and a travel pack in his other hand. It was the arrival of Ranma Saotome and his father that changed everything, and Nermia would never be the same.

And there are few who would have it any other way.

Sometimes, thing did get a little out of hand, though. There was the time that the park was forcibly closed for several weeks shortly after they had arrived that first drew peoples attention. It would have been considered strange beforehand for a young man to tear up a telephone pole to use as a weapon… but now that seems a little tame. And then there were the deadly plants that had been used as a trap in the local high school - Furikan High.

After that incident, things started to calm down a little. This was just as well, as many of the regular, non-super-human residents were beginning to fear for their lives. With explosions of energy, which could be caused merely by depressing the wrong person, or strange people coming in from China with some sort of vendetta, serious harm was a real concern. But after the plants… things calmed down for the most part. There was still the occasional mishap, but overall, Ranma seemed to attract a little less attention.

Few actually knew that Ranma was not always in Nermia at that time. In fact, more than he would have liked to admit, he was often found in China, fighting with everything he had to rescue his first fiancée from some evil or another. The fact that he was rescuing his first fiancée does need to be said, though - he had four that stuck around for any length of time, and surely many more hidden away somewhere.

But the fact remains that he was often trying to rescue Akane Tendo from harm when he vanished for weeks at a time. In between these times, he seemed almost normal, and everything seemed rather calm in Nermia. Well… considering the whole Jusenkyo turn-into-something-when-splashed-with-cold-water curse that seemed to have affected many people, as normal as possible.

There was actually a period of almost an entire year where he had stayed in Nermia, there had been no major damages done, and everything had stayed mostly peaceful. And then, suddenly, that peace had ended in the middle of the night when odd bird-people showed up to attack. Ranma left with most of his friends then for a period of almost a month. Akane had followed shortly afterwards.

When they returned, no one spoke of what had happened in China. Days after their return, a wedding was held for Ranma and Akane… only to be crashed almost instantly by Ranma's other fiancées and rivals. This brings us up to date - the wedding has been crashed, but otherwise, things are almost calm again.

But with Ranma Saotome, nothing can really stay calm forever.

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"Akane?" Kasumi's voice called from the kitchen. Akane looked up from the game board that her father and the giant panda were pawning over. "Could you come here for a moment, please?"

"Sure sis," Akane replied, walking away from the two arguing fathers. Ducking into the kitchen, she saw that her sister had a large container prepared with food, and she looked at it, waiting for an explanation.

"Have you and Ranma had another fight recently?" she asked calmly.

Akane was surprised by the question, and thought about it for a moment. Ever since returning from the battle with Saffron, Ranma had been amazingly subdued, and hardly spoke at all anymore. In fact, she had seen even less of him than usual, too. That certainly left little room for fighting. He was around even less after the failed wedding, and only seemed to meet her eyes when he entered a room, and no one else's. "Not that I know of. Why?"

"Well, it is probably nothing, but he missed breakfast and lunch today..."

Akane snorted. "For him to miss a meal he'd have to be half dead," she muttered, shaking her head as she ran a hand through her blue-black short hair. It would need trimming again before too long.

"I'm worried about him, and you should be, too!" Kasumi said, a bit of an edge to her constantly soft voice. The edge caught Akane off guard - she had only seen her oldest sister upset once before, and it wasn't something she really wanted to see ever again. "He is your fiancé after all, right?"

"So?"

"And he did risk his life for you, right?"

Again. "So?" Akane shook her head. "He's done that a few times for me, remember Kasumi?"

Her older sister nodded. "He seems worried about something. Could you please bring this food to him?" She put the red lid on the large clear container, and handed it to Akane. "And if he needs more, please tell him to let me know."

"Kasumi, this should be more than enough to feed the family for a week!" Akane exclaimed, hefting the food from the table and walking out of the kitchen. So it should be enough for Ranma for about an hour or so...

"Mr. Saotome, dad, have you seen Ranma?" she asked, returning to the living room. Neither looked up from the game in front of them, though Genma-panda did hold up a sign with the word `NO' in big letters written on it.

Akane sighed. "I'll check the Dojo," she said to herself, and walked across the freshly cut grass to push open the double doors to the large training hall. It was completely deserted. She looked around, and then set the food down just inside. I'll check around.

She made quick work of searching the entire house for Ranma, and knocked loudly enough on his door to wake even him up. She then went back outside and looked into the koi pond. In the reflection of the waters she saw the container of food on the roof of the house.

Akane pulled the ladder out from next to the house and climbed up quickly. She found Ranma with his back to her, stuffing his face with any bits of food he could get his hands on. He froze as soon as he heard her step onto the metal roofing. Standing quickly, he started to run towards the edge of the house and leapt off.

"Ranma!" Akane called after him, surprised by his running away. She chased after him, and leapt from the building as he had done to try and catch up. Just as she leapt she remembered that she had never been any good with heights, and should not have jumped from the building at all. Before she could start to panic, however, she felt strong arms catch her in midair and rise up again. Too startled to say anything, all Akane could see was a red Chinese shirt. She felt very calm instantly, and knew that she was in good hands.

When she was on the roof again, Ranma set her down softly. "Stupid tomboy, trying ta get yerself killed?" he said softly, turning away from her.

"Ranma, what's wrong with you?" Akane retorted. She was mad at the insult, but worried at the same time. He had never run away from her before like he was doing now. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it," he replied, leaping down again.

"Wait!" Akane called. Leaning over the edge of the roof, she saw that he had stopped, and was looking up to her, waiting for her to continue. "I... uh..."

"Thanks fer the food, Akane," he said after a moment, and then he had disappeared as he started to run.

Knowing that it was futile to try and catch him, she sighed and climbed down from the roof. Why is Ranma running away from me? What did I do to him this time? Or, better still, what did he do that makes him run from me? It didn't make any sense.

Confused even later, Akane decided to turn in early after supper, skipping her evening workout session. She doubted that Ranma would be there anyway, so he couldn't say anything to her about slacking off.

Sighing, she pulled her blankets up over her and closed her eyes tightly. Stupid Ranma. What's going on?"

She sat up instantly when she heard a sound coming from her window. A shadow darted away as soon as she looked, but that wasn't going to stop her. "Pervert!" she cried, leaping out of bed and out of the window onto the verandah. "Get back here!"

"I'm... sorry," came a sad, withdrawn voice from the roof. Standing on the railing, Akane pulled herself up onto the roof to find Ranma sitting there, his arms wrapped around his legs. "I wasn't trying to spy on ya or anything."

"Ran... ma?" she said softly. Apologizing? To me?

"Go on, hit me. I deserve it," he said softly.

Akane felt her spirit sort of melt away as she watched a very pitiful Ranma rock back and forth on the roof of the Tendo house. "I'm not going to hit you, Baka," she said, her voice gentle and warm despite the insult. "I am going to ask why you were looking in my window, though."

"I just..." He stopped and shook his head. "Never mind. Doesn't matter."

"Well, it matters to me." Akane put her hands on her hips and stared at him. "Ever since that whole Saffron thing and the wedding that went horribly wrong, you haven't said more than a few words to me, and I haven't seen you practicing at all. What's wrong?"

He smiled, though it appeared to be forced. "I have been practicing. Just didn't want anyone ta know." He looked away from her. "I'm sorry about the wedding mess, too. My life is just one wreck after another, isn't it?"

"Of course it is!" Akane laughed, causing Ranma to look back quickly. "You wouldn't be Ranma if it wasn't!"

"Ya didn't practice tonight," he said softly.

Akane was a bit shocked that he would have even noticed, given how often he was around these days. "How did you know?"

"I was watching. I have been for quite some time now..." he admitted slowly.

"What?" Akane shouted. "You've been... just watching me? Do everything?" She clenched her fists in rage at her side, trying to decide how best to hurt him severely. "I take it back. You are a pervert!"

"N... not everything, Akane. Just making sure that yer where I think ya're."

"What?" she asked, confused.

"I don't want to risk someone trying to take ya again."

Akane swallowed hard, touched briefly by the thick level of concern that showed through his voice. "You... are trying to protect me?" She then shook her head. "I'm a martial artist too, you know!"

Ranma nodded, but didn't say the first thing that came to his mind for once. "But I don't want ya to get hurt. You almost died..." he stopped, and curled up even more. "I can't let that happen." You've almost been taken more than enough times already.

This isn't right. Where is the real Ranma? What is happening to him? Akane wondered. "Would you... like to come inside? You know, so we can talk someplace warmer?"

"No," Ranma replied dully. "I'll be fine here."

Akane sighed, and went back inside her room. Moments later she returned to the roof with two thick blue blankets. "Well, if you are staying out here, then so am..." she trailed off. There was no sign of Ranma anywhere. "Damn it, try to be nice, and see where it gets me?" she muttered, crawling back into bed a short while later. It took her a long time to get to sleep.

With summer vacation well underway, Akane was not willing to give up on all her training, and woke with the sun to go on a morning run. When she went downstairs, she heard low voices talking, and she stopped, curious about what was going on.

"He never came home again last night, did he?" a female voice asked. Akane recognized it as Ranma's mother. "Genma, what is happening to Ranma?"

"I don't know Nodoka," Genma answered. "He hasn't slept here in weeks. I don't know where he is sleeping." There was a pause before he went on. "And I guess the fact that you are asking says he wasn't staying at your house again..."

"Maybe at one of his other fiancées' houses?" Nodoka suggested.

Genma snorted, as did Akane's father. Akane backed up a little more, not wanting to interrupt this conversation. If he was staying somewhere else... Akane could feel her anger rising just at the thought of it. "If you could have seen him in the last while, Nodoka, you would know. He would never do that to Akane." She was impressed by how collected Ranma's father was suddenly, given how clueless and foolhardy he usually was.

"So he has made his decision after all," she replied. "Well then, when should the date be? I want grandchildren as soon as possible, you know!"

As Mr. Tendo started to wail about how wonderful it would be, Genma's voice cut through the air again, harsh and unforgiving. "This time, we have to stay out of it. I have tortured my son enough for all of us. When he is ready, then we can have our says." Akane thought then and there that she would have to thank him somehow, at some stage.

"What about Akane? How does she feel about him?" Nodoka asked.

"I don't know," Genma replied softly. "I haven't asked."

"And you won't."

"I know."

Akane hurried out the back exit of the house before she could hear anymore. If they had asked... could she have answered? She pushed open the doors to the Dojo quickly, hoping to catch a Ranma that hadn't gotten up in time, but she found the hall deserted. It was the only place that she could picture him sleeping, if not in a house.

Turning around, she ran headlong into the very person she had been looking for. "Hi," she managed, turning before a blush could rise on her cheeks. Why am I suddenly so nervous?

"Not running today?" he asked. "Something wrong, Akane?"

"Ranma, stop being so nice," she said, turning back around. "It doesn't suit you."

"Stupid tomboy, I wasn't being nice. I was trying to make fun of you."

"What?" That doesn't make any sense at all. "How would that be making fun of me?"

"Never mind."

"Stop saying that!" Akane cried. "Get in here!" she said suddenly, stepping into the Dojo. Ranma turned around, startled, and then stepped into the hall, shutting the doors behind him. "I need a sparring partner."

"I'll go and find someone," Ranma replied instantly, turning around again.

"Baka!" she yelled, calling him to a stop. "I want to spar with you!"

"You said before it wasn't any fair. I have to fight back. But I ain't gonna." He shook his head, his pigtail moving with him. Even when he was depressed, though, he was a martial artist, and she could see that he was still ready to act, if needed.

"If you win, then you never have to eat my cooking again," she said. He stopped instantly, and turned back around. "That got your attention. Now let's go!"

"Wait," he said, holding up a hand. "What if you win?"

Akane frowned. "I don't think I will. Why ask?"

"With an attitude like that, you've already lost. But it isn't fair to fight if there is only one wager."

"Fine. If I win, then..." Akane searched her mind quickly. "Then you'll take me out on a date!" She clamped her hands over her mouth instantly, and turned around to keep him from seeing her blush. Her second blush in just a few minutes, caused by the same person. Why did I say that?

"I don't like these stakes," Ranma said flatly.

"What? What's wrong with me? Don't you want to take me out somewhere? Ever?" she asked, anger burning suddenly. He didn't care about her at all.

Ranma backed away quickly. "Not what I meant, Akane! Not what I..." he stopped when she lunged at him. He spun aside and leapt to where she had been standing moments earlier. She was left standing by the exit.

"Who cares? Just fight me, and be done with it!" she replied with heat, and lunged at him again. Her fists flew at him quickly, but he just dodged around them neatly and seemingly without effort, a smile starting to play on his face.

"You'll have to do better than that!" he taunted her. He stuck his tongue out at her, and Akane could feel her blood boil. She would show him!

"Hiiiiyaaaa!" she screamed as she leapt at him. She lost her concentration when she felt her foot actually connect, and Ranma leapt back as she fell to the ground. I hit him? But how?

"Still as clumsy as ever, aren't you?" he said with a smile.

"I'll wipe that smile from your face Saotome Ranma!" she yelled, pushing off of the ground to attack him again. Again, he simply dodged out of the way. Akane was amazed, however, when she felt her fist actually catch him in the shoulder. While he was off balance, she leapt up and spun around to kick him. Ranma was sent sprawling onto the ground, where he remained for a moment before standing.

"Nice work," he said with a straight, flat face. "Guess you won."

"Why'd you go easy on me, Ranma?" she demanded, her anger still very near the surface. "With such a chance as to avoid my cooking forever, and still you couldn't beat me?" she shouted.

"But I didn't want to pass on the other chance, either," he said softly, looking away from her.

"What?" Akane asked.

Ranma shook his head. "I... uh... what I mean is... Akane..."

"Ranma?" she called to him softly as she felt all of her anger drain out of her.

"How could I have asked ya?" he said, and then he turned to leave the Dojo. "Ya know I suck at that kind of thing."

"You threw a match of Martial Arts for that?" Akane cried. "You never lose! You said so yourself, remember, any contest with the words `Martial Arts' in it meant that you couldn't lose!"

"I don't think I lost, though." Without another word, Ranma walked out of the Dojo. Akane sank to the floor slowly, not knowing what to think.

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