Author's Notes û
Here's an idea that's been floating around my mind for a while.
# # # # #
One is a lonely number. By oneself one can never have fun. One is an unhappy number.
X X X X X
As the only child in a relatively upscale neighborhood where most of the other families had significantly older children, the bright eyed blond was often left to his own devices to keep himself entertained. While the various television shows aimed at kids his age were entertaining, they did little to catch the attention of the imaginative young boy.
"You're sure about this?" he heard his mother's distinctive voice, a tone of skepticism obvious as she spoke with his dad in the kitchen.
Looking up from the stack of comics (which he'd read several hundred times already, not that they weren't entertaining reads of course) he eyed the door to the kitchen. Adorned in his trademark red and black striped shirt, black pants, and white and magenta sneakers, he eyed is trusty companion.
"They're only action figures," he heard his father say. "And they were cheap. I happened to spot a garage sale on my way home from work. Besides, I think he's outgrown the little army men, what's left of them that is."
"Looks like dad's gotten some new toys for us Hobbes," the clever blond grinned.
The orange and black striped feline shook his head, paying little heed to the boy or his parents. "I wish they'd get you more comics. I wanna know what happens to Gwen Stacy. Besides, it sounds like he's gotten you some old toys."
"Well they're new to me."
"Hey Calvin," his father greeted as the middle aged man entered the room.
"Hey Dad," the boy returned as he sat up.
"I got something for you."
Curious, the young boy stood up even as his feline companion continued to slowly read through the Spider-man comic.
"I know you like Spider-man"
Calvin's eyes lit up as he watched his father produce a red and blue action figure from the box.
"There's also a bunch of other superheroes and other action figures," the dark haired man stated as he set the box down.
"Thanks dad!" Calvin exclaimed as he took the box in one hand while grabbing hold of Hobbes' tail with the other.
Mindful not to spill the contents, the short boy zipped up the stairs and headed into his room.
"Watch the tail!" the stuffed animal turned animated tiger cried out as the two reached the boy's room.
Calvin released his hold on his friend's fifth appendage.
"What are you up to?" Hobbes asked as he rubbed his sore tail.
"I'm looking for the Box," explained the blond.
"The one you swore never to use again?"
The blond paused.
"You remember û the tea party?"
The intelligent boy scowled at the recollection. As smart and intelligent as he was Calvin couldn't always overcome Hobbes' years of experience and wisdom.
"But it's Spider-man," Calvin finally countered. "He's like the best superhero out there besides Superman. And besides, they're all smaller than my hand."
As if to prove his point the blond reached into the box, to pull out another action figure.
"I don't recognize that one," Hobbes stated as he eyed the raven haired figure sporting a red shirt and black pants.
"See, he's probably just some civilian, nothing that you can't handle," Calvin said as he set the figure back in the box. "Besides, Spider-man will be there to help. He's always going on about power and responsibility. And there's Spiderwoman too."
"As long as there's no Hulk or Terminator," Hobbes muttered. "Or Lex Luthor or Joker."
"Take a look," Calvin suggested as he resumed his search for the Box.
Not wanting to have some homicidal character come to life on them, Hobbes did just that as he moved to examine each individual figure. Though he was a tiger, he couldn't help but think that perhaps some of the female characters' outfits were just a bit too revealing. One in particular was a very buxom brunette in a tight white T-shirt and shorts and suspenders, another being a brunette wearing some sort of blue dress. 'At least she's wearing panties,' he mused as he set both figures in the 'good' pile.
"I don't recognize some of these," he said as he eyed a scantily clad woman wearing a towel and bikini top. Adding her to the 'good' pile he spotted a figure that he did recognize, immediately setting the masked figure in the 'bad' pile before returning his attention to another figure that he recognized. "Oh, Snake-eyes!"
"Cool!"
Separating the black figure from its weapons, Hobbes hoped that the handful of pouches on the figure wouldn't contain any hidden surprises.
"Oh," he purred, "a cat-girl!"
X X X X X
There was a time when life was simple and uncomplicated. When all that he had to worry about was defending his food from his father, train, find something to eat for lunch, sleep in class, find something to eat for dinner, keep it from his father, and sleep. Yes, those were the good old days. The days before his stupid old man had dragged him off China and then back to Japan. The days before he'd been told that he had a fiancÚe, and then three, and was expected to hold up his family's honor by marrying Akane Tendo.
Those days were long gone.
Now the days were filled with rivals constantly trying to eliminate him from their equations, which was just stupid and pointless considering that he was one of the greater factors in their equations. By his and Akane's logic, everything that happened had to do with him somehow, thus making everything that went wrong his fault. That logic was pretty annoying really.
By that logic, the fact that his old man and Mr. Tendo had jumped him was his fault. Why exactly he didn't know, but it and all the trouble that was about to erupt because of it was his fault.
The steady stream of nearly daily challenges from his multiple rivals had once been enjoyable, and though they seemed to alternate days when they challenged him, the fact remained that Ranma Saotome was bored. Defeating Kuno, Mousse, and Ryoga individually barely taxed him though the few times that they ganged up against him they could almost challenge him, but ultimately they'd lose in the end. Having long run out of new tricks to use against him, the trio of challengers had long ago proven to him that they didn't really merit his attention anymore. The past few fights should have proven that to them, but apparently he'd booted them in the head far too often as their rattled brains hadn't comprehended the fact that they just weren't as good as he was.
Yet here he was, Ranma Saotome, the best martial artist in Nerima, laying in some dark room.
'Shampoo must have snuck into my bed again,' he thought as he a pair of large breasts pressed against his chest. 'Wait, I'm not in bed.'
His foggy mind slowly began to process his dark environment he found himself in even as he silently prayed that the girl laying on top of him was far more forgiving than Akane.
"Um," the unfamiliar voice said as she slowly and purposefully pulled away from him, "where the hell am I?"
"Don't know," another voice answered.
Immediately the master martial artist sat up, trying to extend his keen senses so that he might get a better idea of where the hell he was.
Before anyone else could do or say anything the room they stood in shook, throwing the few who happened to be standing up off of their feet. The soft body that had been pressed against him was now atop him once again, along with several other bodies.
Suddenly the roof or ceiling was ripped off of the room, exposing the startled inhabitants to two sets of gigantic eyes looking down on them.
Ranma paused as he immediately looked at the very feline features of one of the giants.
"I told you to be easy with the Box," chided the giant feline.
With the inside of the house sized box properly illuminated Ranma could make out nearly a half dozen figures beside himself.
"Sorry," the blond giant apologized as it revealed more of its face to the seemingly hapless captives in the box. "I'm Calvin."
The dazed and startled inhabitants of the room/box stood/sat up and eyed each other, unsure what to say or do.
"I'm Ranma Saotome," the raven haired martial artist proclaimed. The others eyed him uncertainly.
"Kasumi," the busty woman, no girl, that had lain atop him added.
"Tifa Lockhart," another young woman introduced herself.
A masked figure remained silent.
"You're Snake-eyes," Calvin said as his eyes focused on the man in black.
"Spider-man," the other masked individual greeted.
"Felicia," the lone non-human in the group said.
"Nice to meet you all," the beaming boy said as he towered over them. "This is Hobbes."
"Hey," the gigantic feline greeted, a warm, friendly smile on his face.
"Where are we?" Ranma demanded. "How'd we get here?"
Hobbes shot Calvin a look.
"That's a long story," the bright eyed boy said. "Why don't I get you out of the box first?"
X X X X X
Here's an idea that's been floating around my mind for a while.
# # # # #
One is a lonely number. By oneself one can never have fun. One is an unhappy number.
X X X X X
As the only child in a relatively upscale neighborhood where most of the other families had significantly older children, the bright eyed blond was often left to his own devices to keep himself entertained. While the various television shows aimed at kids his age were entertaining, they did little to catch the attention of the imaginative young boy.
"You're sure about this?" he heard his mother's distinctive voice, a tone of skepticism obvious as she spoke with his dad in the kitchen.
Looking up from the stack of comics (which he'd read several hundred times already, not that they weren't entertaining reads of course) he eyed the door to the kitchen. Adorned in his trademark red and black striped shirt, black pants, and white and magenta sneakers, he eyed is trusty companion.
"They're only action figures," he heard his father say. "And they were cheap. I happened to spot a garage sale on my way home from work. Besides, I think he's outgrown the little army men, what's left of them that is."
"Looks like dad's gotten some new toys for us Hobbes," the clever blond grinned.
The orange and black striped feline shook his head, paying little heed to the boy or his parents. "I wish they'd get you more comics. I wanna know what happens to Gwen Stacy. Besides, it sounds like he's gotten you some old toys."
"Well they're new to me."
"Hey Calvin," his father greeted as the middle aged man entered the room.
"Hey Dad," the boy returned as he sat up.
"I got something for you."
Curious, the young boy stood up even as his feline companion continued to slowly read through the Spider-man comic.
"I know you like Spider-man"
Calvin's eyes lit up as he watched his father produce a red and blue action figure from the box.
"There's also a bunch of other superheroes and other action figures," the dark haired man stated as he set the box down.
"Thanks dad!" Calvin exclaimed as he took the box in one hand while grabbing hold of Hobbes' tail with the other.
Mindful not to spill the contents, the short boy zipped up the stairs and headed into his room.
"Watch the tail!" the stuffed animal turned animated tiger cried out as the two reached the boy's room.
Calvin released his hold on his friend's fifth appendage.
"What are you up to?" Hobbes asked as he rubbed his sore tail.
"I'm looking for the Box," explained the blond.
"The one you swore never to use again?"
The blond paused.
"You remember û the tea party?"
The intelligent boy scowled at the recollection. As smart and intelligent as he was Calvin couldn't always overcome Hobbes' years of experience and wisdom.
"But it's Spider-man," Calvin finally countered. "He's like the best superhero out there besides Superman. And besides, they're all smaller than my hand."
As if to prove his point the blond reached into the box, to pull out another action figure.
"I don't recognize that one," Hobbes stated as he eyed the raven haired figure sporting a red shirt and black pants.
"See, he's probably just some civilian, nothing that you can't handle," Calvin said as he set the figure back in the box. "Besides, Spider-man will be there to help. He's always going on about power and responsibility. And there's Spiderwoman too."
"As long as there's no Hulk or Terminator," Hobbes muttered. "Or Lex Luthor or Joker."
"Take a look," Calvin suggested as he resumed his search for the Box.
Not wanting to have some homicidal character come to life on them, Hobbes did just that as he moved to examine each individual figure. Though he was a tiger, he couldn't help but think that perhaps some of the female characters' outfits were just a bit too revealing. One in particular was a very buxom brunette in a tight white T-shirt and shorts and suspenders, another being a brunette wearing some sort of blue dress. 'At least she's wearing panties,' he mused as he set both figures in the 'good' pile.
"I don't recognize some of these," he said as he eyed a scantily clad woman wearing a towel and bikini top. Adding her to the 'good' pile he spotted a figure that he did recognize, immediately setting the masked figure in the 'bad' pile before returning his attention to another figure that he recognized. "Oh, Snake-eyes!"
"Cool!"
Separating the black figure from its weapons, Hobbes hoped that the handful of pouches on the figure wouldn't contain any hidden surprises.
"Oh," he purred, "a cat-girl!"
X X X X X
There was a time when life was simple and uncomplicated. When all that he had to worry about was defending his food from his father, train, find something to eat for lunch, sleep in class, find something to eat for dinner, keep it from his father, and sleep. Yes, those were the good old days. The days before his stupid old man had dragged him off China and then back to Japan. The days before he'd been told that he had a fiancÚe, and then three, and was expected to hold up his family's honor by marrying Akane Tendo.
Those days were long gone.
Now the days were filled with rivals constantly trying to eliminate him from their equations, which was just stupid and pointless considering that he was one of the greater factors in their equations. By his and Akane's logic, everything that happened had to do with him somehow, thus making everything that went wrong his fault. That logic was pretty annoying really.
By that logic, the fact that his old man and Mr. Tendo had jumped him was his fault. Why exactly he didn't know, but it and all the trouble that was about to erupt because of it was his fault.
The steady stream of nearly daily challenges from his multiple rivals had once been enjoyable, and though they seemed to alternate days when they challenged him, the fact remained that Ranma Saotome was bored. Defeating Kuno, Mousse, and Ryoga individually barely taxed him though the few times that they ganged up against him they could almost challenge him, but ultimately they'd lose in the end. Having long run out of new tricks to use against him, the trio of challengers had long ago proven to him that they didn't really merit his attention anymore. The past few fights should have proven that to them, but apparently he'd booted them in the head far too often as their rattled brains hadn't comprehended the fact that they just weren't as good as he was.
Yet here he was, Ranma Saotome, the best martial artist in Nerima, laying in some dark room.
'Shampoo must have snuck into my bed again,' he thought as he a pair of large breasts pressed against his chest. 'Wait, I'm not in bed.'
His foggy mind slowly began to process his dark environment he found himself in even as he silently prayed that the girl laying on top of him was far more forgiving than Akane.
"Um," the unfamiliar voice said as she slowly and purposefully pulled away from him, "where the hell am I?"
"Don't know," another voice answered.
Immediately the master martial artist sat up, trying to extend his keen senses so that he might get a better idea of where the hell he was.
Before anyone else could do or say anything the room they stood in shook, throwing the few who happened to be standing up off of their feet. The soft body that had been pressed against him was now atop him once again, along with several other bodies.
Suddenly the roof or ceiling was ripped off of the room, exposing the startled inhabitants to two sets of gigantic eyes looking down on them.
Ranma paused as he immediately looked at the very feline features of one of the giants.
"I told you to be easy with the Box," chided the giant feline.
With the inside of the house sized box properly illuminated Ranma could make out nearly a half dozen figures beside himself.
"Sorry," the blond giant apologized as it revealed more of its face to the seemingly hapless captives in the box. "I'm Calvin."
The dazed and startled inhabitants of the room/box stood/sat up and eyed each other, unsure what to say or do.
"I'm Ranma Saotome," the raven haired martial artist proclaimed. The others eyed him uncertainly.
"Kasumi," the busty woman, no girl, that had lain atop him added.
"Tifa Lockhart," another young woman introduced herself.
A masked figure remained silent.
"You're Snake-eyes," Calvin said as his eyes focused on the man in black.
"Spider-man," the other masked individual greeted.
"Felicia," the lone non-human in the group said.
"Nice to meet you all," the beaming boy said as he towered over them. "This is Hobbes."
"Hey," the gigantic feline greeted, a warm, friendly smile on his face.
"Where are we?" Ranma demanded. "How'd we get here?"
Hobbes shot Calvin a look.
"That's a long story," the bright eyed boy said. "Why don't I get you out of the box first?"
X X X X X