Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ The Honest Truth ❯ Enter the Wrecking Crew ( Chapter 3 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Ranma 1/2 owned by Rumiko Takahashi and Viz. All original characters are my own. (* denotes thought.)




The Honest Truth
a Ranma 1/2 story
by harmonious jade


Chapter 3: Enter the Wrecking Crew


Ranma stood nervously at the gate beside his mother. He wore his best red Chinese shirt and black drawstring pants. Nodoka wore a blue kimono. Akane hadn't complained when she wasn't invited to dinner. Instead, she had helped him dress. She had very carefully rebraided his hair without complaint. When he asked her why she wouldn't come, her answer was, "because this is your family. I am not part of your family." "Not yet," he had replied under his breath. When she said "what?" he merely shrugged and said, "nuthin'."

A guard led them to the door where Yoko met them. The young woman bowed. Ranma was taken aback. Yoko was really pretty. The emerald green kimono she wore made her hair look redder. It startled him at just how much they looked alike. "Welcome to our home, Nodoka-sama and Ranma-sama. Please, follow me."

She led them down a long hall and into the dining room. The door slid open to reveal a traditional Japanese setting. Ranma was seated to the left of the Amagawa matriarch with his mother on her right. Yoko sat at the opposite end of the table. Megumi smiled. "I am happy to see you. We shall eat first and then talk."

"We are honored with your invitation, Amagawa-san," Nodoka said formally. "I only hope that we can honor you with our presence."

"Stuff the formality for now, Nodoka. Call me Aunt Megumi."

It was as if a great weight was lifted from the room. Everyone smiled as the first course was served.




Cologne was cooking dinner at the Nekkoken when Shampoo burst through the back door. "Nihao, great grandmother!"

The elder looked up from the ramen in front of her and frowned. "You're late. Where have you been?"

"Following Airen. He and his mother go to big house. House belong to new girl at school that he spend lots of time with. May be another iinazuke!"

Cologne frowned. "Take me there. MOUSSE! Take over." The nearly blind boy came over and took the elder's place.


Kodachi Kuno looked up from her bowl. "Did you hear that," she asked her brother. "Ranma has another iinazuke. It must be that girl I tried to poison! If she lived, I must remove her once and for all." Standing, she grabbed Tatewaki's arm and dragged him from the Nekkoken.



Akane sat on her bed reading a book and listening to music on her headphones. She had to do something to forget about Ranma and his current situation. The one thing that really frightened her was that he might not come back. From the way Yoko had talked, it seemed that her grandmother was going to take Ranma away. Deep down, she didn't want that to happen. She would miss the baka.

Suddenly things got very dark and she felt herself being dumped into a sack and carried away.

Genma smiled at Soun. "This is our best idea yet."

Soun was on the verge of tears. "My baby is going to marry a rich man! How wonderful!" Together they ran from the house.

Nabiki watched from behind her cracked door. Akane wasn't going to be happy when they let her out. She was going to have to follow to save the day.



The next thing Akane knew, she was being dropped on the ground. She landed hard on her bottom and looked up to see her father and Saotome-san standing above her. "Time to prove to Ranma's family that you belong with him," Soun said with a smile.

She looked at them aghast. Looking around she noted they were in front of a walled house. Beside the gate leading in was a plaque that said "Amagawa Estate". Jumping to her feet, she backed away from the two men. "NO! I am not going to do whatever it is you're planning. I am not ruining Ranma's life anymore!"

Soun looked at his daughter in shock. He was about to begin crying when Nabiki appeared. "I'll do it, daddy. I'll marry Ranma if she won't."

Akane's eyes widened. "You?! You just want the money! You don't care anything about Ranma!"

"Shut it, little sister," the middle Tendo said with an evil grin. "You finally lost."

Soun and Genma surrounded Nabiki, shoving Akane out of the way. The youngest Tendo stumbled back. Just like that, her family had tossed her aside.



"What you mean I no can see Airen?!" Shampoo screamed at the guard.

"This is a private estate and you are not on the guest list," the young man replied calmly.

Cologne stepped forward. "My son-in-law is in there. I'm sure he would want his wife with him."

"I'm sorry ma'am," he said yet again. "You aren't on the list."

"That's because *I* am on the list," Kodachi said as she strut forward. "Isn't that right?"

The poor guard sighed. "There are only two names on the list and both have already arrived."

Genma strode forward. "Those guests are my wife and son. Surely you will allow me to take my son his iinazuke."

"This is a private estate and your name is not on the guest list, sir." He rolled his eyes in disgust. Luckily he had been forewarned something like this might happen.

"Aiya!!!!!!!!" Shampoo let loose a battlecry and approached the gate. Before she got far, there was a line of guards pointing guns at the Amazon. "Oops."



Ranma looked up from his dinner. "That sounded like Shampoo." He jumped to his feet.

Megumi laid a firm hand on his arm. "Sit down and finish your dinner. This is not something you should worry about." When he sat, she turned her attention to Yoko. "Please go check on the commotion, granddaughter."

Yoko stood and bowed. "Hai, grandmother. I shall return soon." She exited the dining room and went across the hall to a sitting room and out the patio doors. She could hear the commotion and imagined it was probably the Nerima wrecking crew coming to take care of Ranma. Shaking her head, she removed her kimono to reveal a jumpsuit underneath. She carefully folded the kimono and set it on a bench before heading for a tree near the gate.

She scaled the tree and looked down. She could see the Amazons and Kunos along with Tendo and Saotome, but instead of Akane, she saw them hawking Nabiki. This enraged her. She let out a small growl.

A soft sob from below met her ears. Looking down, she saw Akane leaning against the wall crying. "Akane?"

The youngest Tendo sniffed and wiped her face. Someone had called her. She looked all around but could see no one.

"Up here."

She looked up. "Yoko? What are you doing here?"

"It's my house," she replied with a grin. "What's going on?"

Before Akane could open her mouth, they heard police sirens approaching quickly. Yoko wrapped her legs around the tree branch and leaned down, stretching her arms towards Akane. "Take my hands."

The girl looked up. "Why?"

"Just do it. I'll get you out of here." She waited until Akane nodded and grabbed her hands. She pulled the other girl into the tree and then they jumped down into the yard. "Come on, you can stay in my room until dinner is finished. I'll come back to take you home after that."



The police soon arrived and surrounded the group. Soun was in tears and Genma had frozen still as a statue. The Amazons tried to hide behind the Kunos until a limo arrived and the brother and sister jumped inside and were whisked away.

The rest were told that no charges were going to be brought up against them. The police were just there to escort them home. As Cologne sat in the back of the car, she noticed the sign by the gate. "Hmm, Amagawa. Why does that sound familiar?"



Yoko dressed in her kimono and reentered the dining room. Those at the table looked up. "What was going on?" Ranma asked.

"Nothing you should worry about," she replied with a smile as she sat back down to finish eating.

"But, I'm sure that was..."

Megumi interrupted him. "Finish your dinner, Ranma. We can talk afterwards."

Nodoka smiled. "Yes, I believe a talk is in order."



Akane entered Yoko's room. It was huge! One corner had a large canopied bed. It was rather plain. Another corner had a training mat. She assumed Yoko used that for her morning warm-ups. Near the window was a writing desk. Her schoolbooks were strewn over the top.

The walls were covered with posters of American movies. It seems she had even more in common with Ranma. She knew that for a fact when she saw the large screen TV with piles of videos, mostly anime. There were also several video game systems.

Akane found herself to be very tired. The ordeal of having to keep quiet about what she knew plus what had happened earlier with the fathers and Nabiki had taken their toll on her. She lay down on the bed and was soon asleep.



Once dinner was finished, Yoko stood again. "May I be excused, grandmother? I'm sure you would like to speak with Aunt Nodoka and Ranma privately."

The elder Amagawa noted something in her granddaughter's eyes. She was up to something. Megumi nodded. "Thank you, dear. We will send for you once we have finished."

"Yes ma'am." Yoko hurried to her room. She walked in to find Akane asleep on her bed. She smiled and moved to the window. From here, she would be able to make out what was being said below.



Megumi led Nodoka and Ranma into the sitting room. "There are many things I must speak with you about," she said as they sat down. "First I would like to address the issue of your multiple iinazuke."

Ranma's brow furrowed. He began to get worried.

"Have you not wondered why Ukyo Kuonji has suddenly began looking at you as a friend?"

He shrugged. "I guess because she just wants to be my friend?"

"Yes, mainly because restitution has been made to her."

"What?"

"I have undone what your father did. Ukyo has been paid back with interest. She has chosen to be your friend. That is more important to her than having to deal with me.

"Now, as for the others. That Amazon has proven to be very reluctant to our advances."

Ranma snorted, "That's 'cause Cologne won't allow it."

"But that old hag will realize the error of her ways soon enough."

His eyes widened and he grinned. He gained even greater respect for his great aunt. "But... what about Akane?" His voice was full of worry.

Megumi sighed. "I have yet to approach Soun Tendo. Yoko has asked me to hold off on that. She seems to believe that you and Akane care about each other."

"Well, I..." Ranma blushed.

A smirk appeared on her face. "Yes, well then. As for you, Nodoka-chan... There is something I need to show you." She clapped her hands and a maid entered with a large stack of papers. "This is a list of all debts your husband has incurred in Ranma's name over the past ten or twelve years."

Nodoka looked at the pile. It had to be several pounds of paper. The maid sat the stack in front of her. On the first page was a highlighted area. She looked down and read the date and item purchased. It was for a case of sake and by the date, Ranma wasn't but six years old. She could feel her anger rise.

Ranma shrunk back. He could see his mother's aura starting to surround her. It was fire red, a color he'd never seen on her before. "Mom?"

"Did you know about this," she asked him quietly.

He shrugged. "Some, but I never knew it was that much."

Nodoka stood, shaking in anger. "Aunt Megumi, this unworthy niece asks your permission for my son and I to stay with you until we can find a place of our own."

"But of course, Nodoka-sama. You are welcome here any time."

Ranma quickly interrupted. "But mom, what about the Tendos?"

"I will not allow you to stay anywhere near that man who claims to be your father. The abuse stops now."

"But mom, it's not abuse, it's training."

Nodoka's aura flare and Ranma flinched. "You consider it training the way he sells you off to the highest bidder? You consider it training when he goes off to get drunk with that friend of his and leaves the bill in your name?"

"Well..."

"Come Ranma, you and I are going to the Tendos to retrieve our things. I must show this list of debts to Genma and make him understand what is happening." She held her hand down to help her son to his feet.

He stood on his own. There was a deep frown covering his features. Megumi noticed and felt sorry for the young man. Genma and the Tendos had been his only family for much too long. "I will have your rooms ready for your return," she said to them.

Nodoka let out a deep breath. "Thank you, Aunt Megumi. We shouldn't be long." Picking up the papers, she led the way out of the house and headed towards the Tendo Dojo, Ranma following in her wake.



Yoko heard Akane shifting on the bed. She turned around to see her friend sitting up and wiping the sleep from her eyes. "So, wanna tell me what happened?"

Akane looked at her and frowned. "Daddy and Uncle Saotome kidnapped me and brought me here in an attempt to get in to see Ranma's aunt. I told them I would have nothing to do with it. And then..." She grew angry as she remembered what happened. "Nabiki showed up and said SHE would marry Ranma. She hates him! Then they just... tossed me aside."

Yoko frowned. "Gosh Akane. I'm really sorry."

"It's okay," she sighed. Getting to her feet, she came over to where Yoko was sitting in the window.

"So, what made you decide not to go along with their plan?"

The other girl shrugged as she sat down beside her. "Dunno. Guess I was just fed up with them telling me how I'm going to live my life."

Yoko nodded. She was still watching the sitting room. She sensed her Aunt's anger and shuddered.

This did not get past Akane. "Are you okay?"

She turned to face her. "Yeah. Let's get you home. But, I need to change first." With a grin she moved to her closet to pick out a pair of pants and a shirt. When she returned, Akane was looking out the window. She had noticed Nodoka and Ranma leaving quickly. Something pulled at her, but she shrugged it off.

"Akane, can I ask you a personal question?"

She turned to look at her friend. She was wearing a pair of jeans with a t-shirt. The shirt had a red dragon fighting a knight on horseback on it. "Sure."

"How do you feel about Ranma?" Yoko began to brush her hair casually.

"What?"

"I wanna know how you really feel about Ranma. But, you must remember all the times he's helped you out of a situation, like the gymnastic fight against Kodachi. And remember the times you've helped him, like when you got him the hot water when he first fought Mousse. And remember when you both saved each other's life, like the fight against Saffron.

"I know for a fact that Ranma is afraid to speak his feelings. So do you for that matter. The only way he knows how to protect himself mentally is to verbally insult. I mean, look at how Genma trains him. All he does is add insult to injury. Ranma has only been around that for such a long time."

Akane nodded. She was right. But, how did she feel about Ranma? She really didn't know.

"Remember when he stood up to Tatewaki that first day of school?"

She smiled. Ranma had casually defeated Kuno while in female form, therefore enticing the crazy Kendo master to fall in love with him. At least going to school had become much more interesting.

"Remember the skating competition? You've got to sit down and remember everything, Akane. You've got to find your true feelings. Only then will a decision be made."

The youngest Tendo nodded. She now knew this was going to be a long weekend. "I'll need time to think."

Yoko smiled. "I know. Let's get you home."



Genma and Soun sat at the table playing Shogi. After they had gotten home, relieved to not be charged with anything by the police, things went back to normal. Nabiki went upstairs to her room and Kasumi had just finished serving them dinner.

The door flew open and Nodoka and Ranma entered. She nodded and watched her son go up the stairs. "Genma Saotome, you will stop playing that silly game and listen to me."

The two elders' eyes widened at her commanding tone. "What is it, Nodoka? We are busy."

"YOU WILL STOP PLAYING NOW AND COME HERE!" A crash of thunder accompanied her voice and she drew her katana.

Kasumi appeared in the kitchen doorway. Something was definitely wrong with Auntie Nodoka. Never had she seen her this upset.

Genma jumped and literally crawled over to Nodoka. "Yes dearest?"

She dropped the stack of papers before him. "You will explain that."

He looked at the papers and began to rifle through them. "Hm, these look like all of Ranma's debts. That lazy son of mine hasn't paid them off? I must do something about that." He stood and began to move towards the stairs. He stopped when he felt the cold steel of her blade on his neck. "Urk!"

"Why would a six year old buy an entire case of saké?"

"He did it for his poor father." The bespeckled man smiled nervously.

"I think not. Ranma and I are going to stay with my Aunt. You are not to even try to see us at all until you pay off all these debts."

"But... but... there's no way I can make that kind of money!"

"You should have thought of that years ago, Saotome-san."



Ranma winced when he heard his mother yell. He threw his things in a bag. There wasn't much to gather. Behind him, he heard the door open. Suddenly he was tackled to the floor. "Ran-chan! You're home. How wonderful. Now we can be together."

"Gah! Get off me, Nabiki!" He tried pushing her off.

"Oh, but my dearest Ranma, how can you say such things to your fiancée?"

"You must be joking." His eyes grew wide. "Akane is my fiancée."

"Not anymore." She grinned wickedly. "She gave you up tonight. I am now your fiancée."



Yoko and Akane had arrived right when Nodoka dropped the papers before Genma. They watched as Ranma's mother finally put her foot down with the old fool. When Nodoka announced that she and Ranma would be leaving, Akane quickly ran up the stairs towards her room.

She heard voices in Ranma's room and looked in. Nabiki was all over him, smothering him with kisses. She shuddered in anger and slammed her door shut.

Ranma looked up at the sound only to be smothered again by Nabiki. "GET OFF!" He shoved her, throwing her across the room. "I am through with fiancées. NO MORE!" He grabbed his bag, stormed out of the room and down the stairs.

He looked at his mother and nodded. She had sheathed her sword and looked down at the man that had been her husband. "Remember what I said, Genma." The two walked out of the Tendo household.

Yoko had watched the whole thing from her perch in a nearby tree. She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and wrote something on it. Folding it into a paper airplane, she threw it through Akane's window.

The young girl was hit by the airplane and looked out the window. She saw nothing. Opening the paper, she saw four simple words. "Remember what I asked." With a sigh, she sat down and began to think.



Kasumi had watched the entire thing. It upset her to see Akane run up the stairs. Things had been going on much too long. Perhaps now was as good a time as any for her to finally take control. She wiped her hands on her apron and went to make a phone call.