Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Stars of the Toushin ❯ Take Off ( Chapter 4 )

This is the disclaimer that never ends; it goes on and on my friends. Yes this is the disclaimer that never ends; it goes on and on my friend… (SLAM). Ouchies. No not the face. Ite! Okay, I don't own anything but the plot. Happy now? Sheesh!

 

The votes are now closed. I love all the reviews that you people have given me. I will go on what everyone has given me and try to do well. The votes were to gauge what people tended to lean towards. I think you'll be surprised by what the results are going to be.

 

 

Take Off

 

Ranma was having a good day so far. It seemed that along with changing the trigger, the spell got rid of his water magnet problems. The only times that he got wet in the week since Cologne had cast the spell were when he wanted to get wet. Life was looking up. However, life was about to kick him in the balls very soon.

 

 

Ranma had been pouring over his father's stuff for the last two weeks. He had learned tons of stuff about languages, skills, customs, and the Force. His stamina while using the Force was building up more and more as he used it. He was putting a book away when he saw the pad that had shown a route to take. He brought it out of the trunk with a wave of his hand and turned it on. Once again it showed the same path. Curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to go check it out. With a quick good-bye to his mother, he was off. As he took the route, he could see that the map slowly changed. It compensated for him traveling. Ranma grinned, this was fun. With a ki and Force assisted jump, he cleared a ten story building with ease. Two hours later found Ranma in the mountains following the map. Suddenly he stopped. It led into a cave. He was a little wary; his experience with this stuff being that it was a trap. But his logic told him otherwise. It told him that he found the device in his father's trunk. His father wouldn't leave something in there that would lead to a trap. So it was a cautious Ranma that walked into the cave. As he walked he came to several forks, but with a quick glance at the map, went the right way. After a while he didn't even consult the map, as he could feel a pull coming from the Force. It was telling him where to go. He walked for what seemed like hours but was only half an hour. Then at the end of the tunnel, there was a light. He started walking quicker and soon reached the light. What he saw amazed even him. In front of him was a huge cavern. It was so big that Ranma felt that it had to be in the very core of the mountain. All around the cavern, there were pieces of machinery lying about. Some looked functional, most didn't. In the very center of the cavern there was a big ship. It looked to be the size of a large yacht. It looked very advanced, yet it had an old look to it. Maybe that look was caused by the huge tarp covering it. Jumping down to the ship, Ranma decided to take a look. With a giant pull, the tarp came off and Ranma got his first look at his father's ship.

 

It was sleek and very cool. It was silver in color and had a ramp-way that was currently down. It was very aerodynamic in shape (1). With his curiosity rekindled, Ranma headed up the ramp to the inside. Once inside a light scanned him and then a device said in a robotic voice, “Koren Tou'shin's son. Name, unknown. Age, approximately 18 standard years. Health, perfect. Scan complete.”

“Okay, that was weird,” Ranma commented with a sweat drop.

 

Undeterred, Ranma continued exploring. As he moved around, he accidentally brushed against a panel.

“Weapons armed,” the robotic voice said as a hatch opened on the side of the ship.

Ranma frantically started pushing buttons, hoping that one would turn the weapons off.

“Weapons deactivated.”

With a huge sigh of relief, Ranma sat down in the nearest chair, which happened to be the pilot's seat. Suddenly a beam of light shot up into the air in front of him. An image started to appear in the light as it started focusing. Then Ranma saw something that caused tears to come to his eyes. He realized that this was his father. He looked so much like him. His face was slightly more angular, and his hair was pulled back into a ponytail instead of a pigtail like Ranma. His body was also slightly more muscular, his shoulders broader. It was with a sad smile that the image spoke.

“If you are listening to this, then I am dead and you have found my hidden cavern, where I spent a lot of my early days on Earth. If you're wondering how a ship this big was able to get in here, I created hole into the cavern and then sealed it. I leave you my ship, to do with as you please. I just hope that one day, you will use it to travel the stars. In the chest in the back, you'll find some manuals that will teach you how to pilot the old bird and take care of her. My landing here on Earth was not the landing I had hoped for. I'm afraid that I damaged some key parts for space flight, such as the hyperdrive engine. I have already fixed a few things, but there is still much to do. However it shall have to wait as I am going to go to England to find some information for the love of my life, Nodoka Saotome. She wants me to work my magic and find her family there. It seems that one of her ancestors was an English knight. The English government won't talk to her because she's Japanese. It reminds me of some of my missions back in the Republic. Anyway, you'll find a list of the things that still need to be done in the chest. Farewell and good luck.

 

 

With that, the image sputtered and died. Ranma was left sitting there, digesting all that his father had told him. He wasted little time finding the chest and bringing it to the front. Inside he found a list and lots of manuals. He sat down and grabbed the first one. He found that while complex and a little confusing, he was slowly getting it.

 

 

Ranma was just finishing the fifth manual when his new watch's alarm went off.

“Oh shit. I gotta get back home or I'll be late,” he exclaimed.

He then proceeded to run all the way back home, arriving just as his mother finished setting the table for dinner.

“Oh Ranma, I'm glad you're back,” she said as she gave him a hug.

As they sat down to eat, Ranma started to tell her about all that he saw. As he finished, he saw that his mom was in deep thought.

“I can take you there to see it if you want,” Ranma offered.

“No Ranma, I don't,” she told him while shaking her head.

“Are you sure?” he asked, slightly confused.

“I'm sure, dear. I put your father behind me long ago. To go see this recording would just serve to open old wounds. No, its better that I don't go see it,” she told him with a note of finality to her voice.

“Okay Mom, if you insist,” he conceded.

 

The rest of dinner went by without much talking, both of them caught up in their thoughts. Afterwards, Nodoka went to her room while Ranma cleaned up. While he was cleaning, Ranma was thinking of what to do. What should he do? Summer break was almost over and he wanted to work on the ship. He finally decided to work on the ship after school. He went to bed that night, thinking about all that had to be done in order to get the ship ready.

 

 

It was a week later that school started. Ranma woke up early and went to use to furo. After a nice soak, he got dressed in his `uniform', meaning black kung fu pants, red silk shirt, and kung fu slippers. While he dressed, he decided not to play the jock anymore. He was going to have fun being smart. So it was a cheerful Ranma that went to his last year at Furiken High School.

 

 

He made it to school ten minutes early only to find Kuno there waiting.

“Hey Kuno, didn't you graduate? Or did you get held back?” Ranma asked.

“Silence knave. I need not explain myself to the likes of you.” he said with a sneer. “Now I, the Blue Thunder of Furiken High, shall smite you.”

“Wait a sec, Kuno. I have a question,” Ranma told him.

“Very well, speak,” Kuno said imperiously.

“How can thunder be blue? It's just sound,” Ranma asked.

“Well…” Kuno started to say before the very rusty wheels in his head started working. He was stumped.

Ranma walked up to Kuno and waved a hand in front of his face.

“Hello?” he asked. “Oh well, guess I broke him.” (2)

 

Everyone was shocked beyond belief. Ranma had beat Kuno with words instead of fists. No one had ever expected this. Not even Nabiki. It was a still cheerful Ranma that walked into class.

 

This happened for the two weeks. Kuno would pop up ready to strike Ranma down, Ranma would ask him a question, Kuno would go temporarily catatonic, and Ranma would walk away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It had been six weeks since the confrontation with his ex-fiancés when life decided that Ranma had enough of a break and continued plan `Screw Ranma's life up'. Ranma had found that quite a few of the things in his father's trunk were needed in the ship. He figured that instead of taking things over one at a time, he would just take the whole trunk with him. He was on his way out when his mother stopped him.

“Ranma? Just where do you think you're going?” she asked.

“To the ship,” Ranma replied.

“With your father's trunk? Just why do you need it?” she asked skeptically.

“Quite a few of the things in here, including the books, are need in the ship,” he told her.

“Oh, well then I guess that's ok,” Nodoka said with a hug.

“I'll see you in a little while, Mom,” he said as he left.

 

 

Ranma arrived at the cavern just as he was starting to get out of breath. That trunk was heavy! He set the trunk down inside the ship and set to work.

 

 

After Ranma set the last part into place, he closed the panel and stepped back to look at the ship as a whole. While it didn't look any different on the outside, he knew better. It was now a whole ship in perfect condition. It had taken awhile, but it was done. He desperately wanted to take it for a fly, but he figured that his mom deserved to be there for that. He had to settle for having it hover to make sure that it could fly. He had been pleasantly surprised to find that he was actually good with mechanical stuff. He gazed at the ship for a little while, admiring the complexity of it. He then realized that he needed to get home. His mom was planning a birthday party for him. It was his 18th birthday and she wanted to do something special for him. He was not going to disappoint her by being late.

 

 

When he got back to the house he didn't see any lights on, but he could feel several strong auras in the house. Being a ki master had its perks, as well as its downers. Oh well, he just had to act surprised. No biggy. As he entered, he mentally counted down, “Three, two, one.” Just as he hit one, everyone jumped out of hiding. “God I'm good,” he thought.

 

Everyone had turned out to be just Happosai, Cologne, Ukyo, Nodoka, and the few servants that work for them. He had a great time. He got many things (new clothes from his mom), but his favorite gift was from Happosai. It was the title of Grandmaster of the Anything Goes Martial Arts. He was honored that Happosai would do that. Near the end of the party, Ranma got a phone call from the Tendos'. They wanted to give him something for his birthday too. He decided to humor them and go, but his mother insisted on coming along with the rest of his guests.

 

They were just arriving when Ranma was ambushed by Ryoga. They fought for a little bit, a spin kick here, a retaliatory side kick there, not to mention a Bakusai Tenketsu followed by a Shi Shi Hokudan. All in all a normal fight for them. They broke apart for some fresh air.

“What do you want now, P-chan?” Ranma asked.

“I learned something new and wanted to try it out on you,” Ryoga said with a smirk.

Ranma was getting some bad vibes from the Force, but ignored them because he figured he could take anything that Ryoga could dish out.

“Ok, P-chan, bring it on,” Ranma taunted as he got into a stance.

 

 

Ryoga let out a battle cry as he charged, his right fist cocked back, almost as if he was carrying something in it. Ranma was preparing to block when Ryoga suddenly sped up and lashed his left hand out, striking a pressure point that caused Ranma's mouth to open. Still using his new speed he threw something in Ranma's mouth, then struck another pressure point that caused Ranma to swallow. Everyone had been brought out by the sounds of battle, and they all saw what Ryoga did. Akane had been prepared to tell Ranma off for picking on Ryoga. Ranma dropped to his knees, feeling his whole body start to burn.

“What… What did you do to me?” Ranma asked weakly.

“I managed to find something very similar to the aging mushrooms, only they're permanent. My revenge is now almost complete. Now all I need to do is kill you,” replied a cocky Ryoga.

“Ryoga, Ryoga, Ryoga. Haven't you heard?” Ranma asked with a sigh. “It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.”

 

 

Just after saying this, Ranma jumped into action. He started off with a flying jump kick, followed by several ki and Force enhanced punches and kicks. Ryoga was shocked by the power that Ranma was using. Never had Ranma showed such strength or speed. He was practically a blur, even to his trained eyes.

“What's the matter, P-chan? Too much for you to handle?” Ranma asked mockingly.

“Arrrggghhh!” Ryoga cried out inarticulacy. He started to use the speed trick he had used before. Suddenly he blurred and was about to smash chibi-Ranma's face in, when Ranma stopped his fist with his little hand. He looked as if he wasn't even trying. This started to scare Ryoga. All his life he had been relatively closed to Ranma in skill, but he always beat him in strength. Now, Ranma was showing a strength that made Ryoga's look insignificant. This truly scared Ryoga.

 

“Scared Ryoga?” Ranma asked. “You have no idea the shit storm you have brought against yourself.”
“What are you going to do to me?” Ryoga asked while backing away.

“What I should have done all along,” Ranma replied, cracking his knuckles. “Not hold back.”

 

Ryoga never knew what hit him. Actually he did, it's just that he never saw Ranma after he charged at him. But boy did he feel it. Even the Bakusai Tenketsu training did him no good. Ranma was everywhere. It wasn't long until Ryoga had been reduced to a bloody pulp.

 

 

While the massacre was happening, the rest of the gang was watching in disbelief. All but Nodoka, as she had seen Ranma using his Force Speed before. They had never imagined that Ranma possessed such abilities. They all turned to Genma, with a questioning look to their faces.

“What?” he asked. “I never taught him how to do that.”

“Of course you didn't, you baka,” Ranma said as he paused from the beating. He was holding Ryoga upright so he wouldn't fall over. Of course, he was holding Ryoga fifteen feet in the air with the Force. When they all saw this, their eyes became as wide as plates, the dinner kind.

“What… How?” Akane asked in shock.

“My father left behind some journals that told me how to use a gift that I was born with, one that I hid from Genma,” Ranma told them, still not letting up on the hold he had on Ryoga.

“Ranma, dear, would you please let the pig… err… young man down,” Nodoka asked.

“All right Mom,” Ranma replied.

 

Ranma decided to give Ryoga one more hit. As he was lowering Ryoga, he sent a Force Bolt at Ryoga. Ryoga light up like a Christmas tree. When Ryoga reached the ground he was unconscious and smoking. Ranma walked up to Ryoga and woke him up with a kick to the face.

“Come on, P-chan. Wake up,” Ranma said.

“Don't call me P-chan,” Ryoga said groggily as he woke up.

“Ya, whatever. Now wake up.” Ranma said, starting to get impatient.

 

With a groan Ryoga managed to stand up on shaking legs. Akane went over to help him stand, shooting chibi-Ranma a glare.

“Are you okay, Ryoga?” she asked him.

“Yeah, I'll be okay,” he told her.

 

Ranma was disgusted. Akane cared more for Ryoga than she did for him. All that he had done for her, down the drain. He realized that there was nothing holding here anymore. He turned around with a sigh, he couldn't stand it here anymore. He started walking away, but not without saying one more thing.

“Akane, I hope you are happier with him then you were with me. Oh, and by the way, Ryoga is P-chan. I have kept it a secret until now because I accidentally knocked him into one of the springs. I've decided that, with this last show of dishonor, he doesn't deserve my silence,” he told her.

“You're lying. Ryoga isn't a pervert like you,” she said with a sneer.

“Oh really?” he asked as he raised his eyebrows.

Ranma then proceeded to throw a bunch of water at them with a push of the Force. Akane was soon dripping wet and holding a little black piglet. She was shocked when she saw Ryoga.

“Ryoga? You're… You're P-chan?” she asked. “You slept with me and saw me naked you pervert!” she yelled as she slammed him with her mallet.

 

Ranma then turned to Kasumi.

“Kasumi, don't let your family drag you down. Live your own life. They are old enough and able to take care of themselves,” he told her. As he turned away, he looked back at her with a sad smile.

“I wouldn't have minded being your fiancé, Kasumi. You were the only one around here that actually showed me any kindness. You are smart, kind, and very beautiful. Goodbye everyone.” Ranma turned and walked away from the only home he had known for quite some time. His mother was right behind him. She gave one last glare at those who had done so much to her son, but her gaze softened when she looked at Kasumi. The poor girl looked absolutely heartbroken. With a sad sigh, she followed her son.

 

 

 

It was two weeks since the incident with the mushroom and Ranma's decision to leave. He figured since there was nothing left for him on earth, he would do as his father wanted and find his future out among the stars. He had tried to get his mom to come with him, but she was adamant about staying. Ranma could still remember what she had said.

 

(Flashback)

“My place is here, Ranma. I have a life and friends here. I can't just abandon them to go off gallivanting among the stars,” she told him.

“But I want you to come with me,” Ranma told her tearfully.

“I will always be with you, Ranma. In your heart, I will be with you,” she replied.

 

(End Flashback)

 

Ranma had finally gotten everything ready. All that was needed was for him to engage the engine. He went outside where his mom was waiting.

“I guess I'll never see you again,” Ranma said while giving her a hug.

“Maybe we'll see each other again someday. If the Gods want us to meet again, then we will,” she told him while holding him at arms length.

“Now, I want you to go and have fun, where ever you end up. Okay?” she told him.

“Okay mom. I will. But what about you?” he asked.

“Oh I'll be fine. My family has already accepted me back,” she told him with a smile. “And don't worry about my safety either, I'm an accomplished swordswoman.”

 

After Ranma was certain that she would be okay, he went back inside the cavern and set about starting everything up. He started up the engines and pointed the nose of the ship up towards the ceiling. He engaged the weapons system and blew the roof out. With a silent prayer to whatever god might be watching, he hit the gas. He was off like a rocket, zooming out into space. Nodoka watched him go with tears streaming down her face.

 

Once in space, Ranma crossed his fingers and engaged the hyperdrive. It took less than three seconds for it to activate, but those three seconds felt like an eternity to Ranma. Finally, he felt it activate and the stars started to stream by as he shot through the heavens to his destiny.

 

 

Authors Notes:

Think of the Naboo Cruisers from Episode 1.

I got this idea from “Shadow's Rebirth”. A really good fic, I highly recommend it.