Ranma ½ Night Shift

[Mick]

I have no problems with Ranma killing monsters right away. I find the versions that have Ranma weepy about killing monsters extremely aggravating.

One of the things i found most annoying about Proteus and his fanfics.

 

[WarGiver]

urg, Ranma will kill if needed he didn't cry at all over saffron (regeneration or not). muchless seem to care much. Akane was more importent then that.

While Ranma is more then willing to use what he needs to, remember the yami/umi arcs. he has techniques he has and never uses again. and others he uses all the time. All I am saying is there should be some event, even if a minor demon he encounters that pushes him to make the choice to ignore his pride and just go all out on sight. I think it could be even off camera and illuded to. Have Ranma not want to talk about it after Akane asks.

She knows of the first time, she might ask what happened the second time. Him being evasive and ultimately the subject drops could indicate something happened to stregnthen the resolve.

 

[Lawra]

While Ranma is more then willing to use what he needs to, remember the yami/umi arcs. he has techniques he has and never uses again. and others he uses all the time. All I am saying is there should be some event, even if a minor demon he encounters that pushes him to make the choice to ignore his pride and just go all out on sight. I think it could be even off camera and illuded to. Have Ranma not want to talk about it after Akane asks.

She knows of the first time, she might ask what happened the second time. Him being evasive and ultimately the subject drops could indicate something happened to stregnthen the resolve.

Can include a news report about continuing mysterious deaths or allude to Ranma having shown up too late to find one or more people dead.

---------

Two days later

Akane’s cheeks tinged red as Nodoka complimented her finished look and Ranma’s supposed reaction to it. Turning her body in all different directions to see her reflection in the full length mirror mounted on the wall, she smirked confidently, knowing that she would catch not just Ranma’s eyes.

Grabbing some of the fabric near her hips and pulling it slightly away from her skin, she twisted side to side, enjoying the soft material as it slid across her legs. Nodoka had been generous enough to purchase it for her the day before. The saleswoman had said it was an empire waist evening dress. It was a simple light violet, shoulderless dress down to mid calf; the only decoration being a small border of ruffles around the top and a wide shimmering band that circled just under her breasts.

“I wonder if that nice Hotaru girl ever tries to get my Ranma’s attention.” Nodoka wondered absently, picking at some imaginary out of place fiber on Akane’s western style dress. “Does she spend a lot of time around him?”

“I wouldn’t know.” She answered honestly, fuming silently over the possibility considering her new knowledge that Ranma had a life she was completely clueless about. “Didn’t you ever meet her when she was Chibi-Usa’s nanny?”

“No I didn’t.” The Saotome woman answered slowly, looking away deeply in thought. “But she seems like a respectable young lady. Usa-chan certainly seems to like her.”

“Waaa! My baby girl is going on a date!” Her father burst into the room and glomped onto her, nearly pulling down her shoulderless dress in the process.

“Dad.” She groaned, trying to pry him off.

“Please stop.” Nodoka shook her head in disgust and was able to pull him away by his ear. “You’ll ruin all the work we put into her look.”

Soun sniffled before nodding. “Right! Akane do your best on your date with Ranma, make your father proud! And then we can have the wedding when you get back!”

“As wonderful as that would be, that will not be happening tonight.” Nodoka corrected. “Unless Akane-chan wants too?”

“No!” She answered quickly and shook her head vigorously side to side.

“Some other time then.” Nodoka began to shoo her from the room. “We’ve made my son wait long enough and you don’t want to actually be late.”

Akane agreed with that sentiment, she wasn’t the type to spend endless hours on her appearance, and she had grown eager to finally get going. She had expected to find Ranma waiting impatiently somewhere around the living room or mooching food from Kasumi in the kitchen. But the only thing the two of them found was Genma casually lounging in the living room.

“Husband, where is Ranma?” Nodoka asked, obviously eager to show Akane off.

“Upstairs with Kasumi and Usagi.” He answered absently, sparing only a moment to notice their presence.

“I hope my hair isn’t messed up.” Ranma’s voice complained loudly as several footsteps were heard coming down the steps at the far end of the hall.

“It’s fine.” Kasumi responded in a tired voice, as though this had been a repetitive complaint.

“Can’t I at least put it back in a pigtail?”

“No!” Chibi-Usa shouted in response.

“Didn’t you say you wore your hair like this before you at the dragon whisker?” Kasumi asked.

“Yea but--.”

“It’s good to try new styles.” Chibi-Usa suggested.

“So says the girl who’s going to spend a millenia looking like a pink bunny.” Ranma replied sarcastically.

“If you make fun of my hair-- you’ll go bald!” Usagi threatened. “Momma will put a curse on your entire family! A thousand years of baldness!”

“She’d get distracted by a shiny yen and forget what she was doing.”

“That’s Usagi!”

Akane glanced at her possible mother in law and shared a look of confusion at the banter between Ranma and a nine year old girl. “Do they usually act like this?”

“I don’t know.” Nodoka answered with a small shrug of her shoulders before reaching up to wipe away an imaginary tear. “Usa-chan is a true Saotome just like my Ranma, it’s so wonderful that they are getting along so well.”

The doorbell chimed and Kasumi announced that she would answer before she instructed Ranma to hurry up and see if Akane was ready. Planting her hands on her hips, Akane waited impatiently for Ranma to finally enter the room. He finally did, one hand outstretched to hold Chibi-Usa at bay as she struggled to punch and kick him in a comical fashion.

“Hope you weren’t waiting long.” He apologized before fully noticing her dress. “Hey not bad Akane.”

“You too.” She answered his lazy compliment more timidly.

Ranma was wearing a tuxedo she remembered from that whole ordeal with Shampoo and the jewel that reversed a person’s feelings. It was nicely pressed and cleaned, something she didn’t know was possible with the usually pigtailed boy’s clothing. Inspecting his hair, it was no longer tied back into a pigtail but a simple ponytail. Ranma even looked like he had even had it trimmed. The only splash of color to his black and white ensemble was a tiny pin near his breast pocket that was gold, red, and blue.

“Picture!” Nodoka all but shouted. “I need to take a picture!” She expanded and looked around wildly to find a camera that was helpfully produced by Nabiki.

“Here you go.” Nabiki added.

“Hopefully it doesn’t break from the ugly.” Usa sneered and stuck out her tongue at Ranma.

‘What’s Nabiki up to?’ Akane thought suspiciously of her sister, being quickly herded to stand next to her fiance. “You do look nice.” She added under her breath, fidgeting as Nodoka excitedly posed both of them before stepping back to take the picture.

“That dress looks great on you.” He answered, blushing lightly from giving her a compliment.

A click and a flash alerted them to Nodoka taking her photograph. “One more, don’t move!” She ordered, lining up a second then a third picture.

Kasumi finally returned from answering the door to interrupt the impromptu photoshoot. “Your ride is here.”

“Mom, we have to go.” Ranma groaned.

“Our ride?” Akane looked to her elder sister for an explanation but Kasumi wasn’t paying attention.

“Alright, okay-- just-- I think I have a good one.” The woman fidgeted with the camera, as though she would snap a quick shot.

“Better hurry.” He whispered and grabbed her hand to pull her towards the front door. Agreeing with him, she fell into step next to him. At the entrance, Ranma put on a pair of shiny black dress shoes while she donned a set of matching violet pumps. The heel was higher than she usually wore but she figured that she would be fine, even though she was tripping every couple of steps just getting to the front gate.

“Ranma, there’s a limo here.” She remarked, blinking repeatedly as the longer than normal black car waited with the driver already opening the door for them to get in.

“Hotaru’s family was able to set it up for us.” Ranma explained, waiting for her to get in first.

‘She has money, is cute, and Ranma gets along with her?’ Akane realized as she ducked her head down to hurriedly sit in the back seat. ‘How long has he been seeing her behind my back?’ She thought suspiciously with her fists tightly clenched.

“Think we lost em?” He asked with a friendly smile plastered on his face, almost casually placing his hand on her own as the limo slowly pulling away from Akane’s home.

“Uh-- yes.” She nodded, her anger evaporating, and a small blush spreading over her cheeks. Turning her hand over to lace her fingers together with his, she returned his smile.

 

[Wharpt]

While not necessary to the story, it would be interesting to know who cued Ranma onto the facts about Usa's future situation and parentage.

 

[Lawra]

While not necessary to the story, it would be interesting to know who cued Ranma onto the facts about Usa's future situation and parentage.

Ranma found out when getting a rundown of what had happened to everyone else since being reincarnated. Already knows crystal tokyo will come about as well.

 

[Lawra]

Sailor Saturn’s boots settled on solid ground as she completed her teleport. Holding the Silence Glaive with one hand, Hotaru opened her eyes to look around at the rooftop she now stood on. Chibi-Usa was waiting for her, already transformed into her senshi state, the pink haired girl had her arms crossed and was tapping her right foot irritably.

“How could you do that?” Usagi demanded as though her pink and white visage covered in hearts could be terrifying.

“Do what?” She asked innocently.

“Healing me the other day. Now uncle Genma thinks he can do whatever he wants to train me and you’ll just magically appear to make me all better!” Usa waved her hands animatedly in front of her.

“You seem to be doing alright to me.” Hotaru remarked, casually put her weight on the Silence Glaive, and trying unsuccessfully to hide her amusement. “And shouldn’t you be happy to be trained by the same person who taught Ranma? None of us can claim that.”

“Yea-- but that’s not the point!” Usa stomped a foot in frustration.

“Is the point that I missed you too?” She asked and placed the Silence Glaive on the roof to gather her small friend into a big hug. “Why didn’t you tell me you came back again?”

Chibi-Usa hugged her back after a moment. “You grew up-- I didn’t know if you would want a little kid like me around.” She admitted with a small sniffle.

Hotaru pushed the smaller girl away to hold at arms lengths and gave her a cross look.

“So I was wrong?” Usa admitted childishly and looked away. “Sorry.”

“You’re forgiven if you defeat a monster tonight.” She let go of Chibi-Usa to cross her arms.

“What?!”

“You have been taking your training seriously-- haven’t you?”

“If that’s what it takes, I’ll go find one right now!” Chiba-Usa announced and ran to the edge of the roof. “Uh-- where am I supposed to just find one?”

zx

Akane enjoyed the pleasant buzz of excitement as the concert ended and the applause slowed to a stop. Some of the performance had dragged but overall it had been amazing. All the individual pieces, the duets, and the big full orchestra made it such an incredible evening she didn’t think she would be able to stop talking about tomorrow at school.

Even Ranma had been a positive. He sat attentively throughout the entire thing and when she occasionally glanced over to him, while holding his hand, he even seemed genuinely interested in what was going on. It just seemed so out of character for him to be interested in the fine arts. Especially when she remembered how he acted during the Romeo and Juliet play they tried to put on.

‘Not everything is perfect though.’ She thought, leaning towards Ranma more as they filed out of their seats to leave. While she had thought her dress was upscale and appropriate there were so many women here who looked like they had spent a fortune on just their accessories. It made her feel like she was some country bumpkin wearing some thrift shop dress.

“Akane, you alright?” Ranma asked as she paused to fumble with her purse.

“Me? I’m fine.” She answered evasively.

“I’ll tell you a secret.” He sat back down in an empty seat and motioned for her to sit as well.

“What?” She asked softly.

“In my past life-- I never liked going to anything like this.”

“Really?” She questioned, intensely interested in more details about Ranma’s senshi past.

“Yea.” He glanced around to make sure that no one was paying attention. “I couldn’t go anywhere without drawing a crowd. Even if it wasn’t, they’d still try to make everything in my honor.”

“Your honor?” She asked incredulously before remembering that Ranma was a sailor senshi.

“It was always-- weird.” He admitted. “They’d want blessings or for me to stay forever. Everyone was always so excited to see a senshi and what I could do for them.”

“So you were a real celebrity?” Akane wondered how that would have worked with an ego the size of Ranma’s.

“Something like that.” Ranma smirked. “You want to tell me why you’ve been fidgety and watching everybody else the entire time?”

“You noticed?” Her eyes widened in shock, having never expected him to be that observant.

“Well?”

“Just forget it.” She crossed her arms irritably. “Can we go? It’s personal.” Akane was not going to let Ranma know how out of her element she felt, he would never stop teasing her about it.

“It’s okay--.” He sighed dramatically. “I was a tomboy too.” He hummed to himself as he left her sitting in the seat.

“You dress in a fuku and want to act like you’re a tomboy?” She called after him far too loudly before reigning in her anger.

“Yelling isn’t very lady-like.” He chastised and wagged a finger at her in disapproval. “Quit moping, we have to go thank Hotaru’s parents.”

 

[Wharpt]

'Oh, My!' Akane is about to meet Hotaru's 'female' parents!

 

[Lawra]

So yea, I'm thinking Shampoo ends up being the new Sailor Mau.

===

Chibi-Usa launched yet another ineffective attack as the slow monster lumbered towards her and Sailor Saturn. Having lured the large creature away from the shopping district to cordoned off construction site, she was having trouble because all of her attacks bounced harmlessly off the giants skin. Long gorilla like arms dragged on the ground as it slowly tried to catch her. Her training may have been paying off as she effortlessly avoided the gray skinned ogre monster’s attacks.

“So how do you feel about Theia taking Akane to the concert?” She asked Hotaru, more bored at this point than anything else.

“It’s none of my business who Theia takes anywhere.” Saturn responded tersely, standing off to the side and letting Usa deal with the threat. “She prefers to do her own thing.”

“And--?” She drawled suggestively, pausing long enough to give her friend a half lidded stare.

“And it’s not my place to intrude.” The senshi of silence snorted and crossed her arms.

Realizing she was about to be squashed as the monster brought both hands down to swat her small form like a bug, Usagi jumped backwards and away from the impact point. The monster growled deeply as it’s hands met only dirt.

“Why don’t you try some martial arts?” Hotaru suggested helpfully rather than to get involved.

“Why didn’t I think of that sooner?!” Usa exclaimed sarcastically. “I’ll just walk up-- and I’ll punch and kick this monster that ignores all my best magical attacks. Nothing could possibly go wrong!”

The monster gave a rough growl that almost sounded like agreement before it went back to trying to crush her.

“You’re agreeing with a monster.” Hotaru pointed out.

“But he has a point!” She called back, rolling between the giants legs. Facing the monster again, she threw several punches and kicks as it slowly turned around that did more to hurt her knuckles than the demon. ‘Ugh how am I supposed to beat this thing? Magic doesn’t work and it’s so tough and heavy that it doesn’t even notice being hit?’

The cheerful chime of a bicycle bell was the only warning she had before the monster fell forward to crash loudly into the dirt, creating a tiny indentation from it’s massive weight. Perched precariously on top of the demons head was the back tire of a bicycle, the front held up in the air as a purple haired Chinese girl balanced while holding a take out food container.

“Nihao!” The bicycle riding girl greeting happily. “Shampoo curious why little girl fight big monster man?” She asked in broken Japanese.

“Uh--.” Chibi-Usa glanced between the teen and the monster groaning in pain. “That’s a dangerous demon, you shouldn’t be on its head.” She pointed out.

“Oh?” Shampoo raised an eyebrow before hopping her bike down to ride over to her. “Shampoo not worried, I strong warrior.”

“But you should be.” Usagi stood a bit taller, noticing that the monster was slowly standing up, and wondering what could be done about it. She was just a little girl after all, Hotaru would be able to defeat it in a snap if she wasn’t standing by in amusement. “If it touches you then it’ll steal all your energy and you’ll die.”

“Is slow and dumb.” Shampoo left her bicycle to hand Usa the carry out box. “No worry.”

‘Does she ever change?’ She thought, not liking her chances of stopping someone like Shampoo from facing off against the now recovered monster.

The purple haired girl turned towards Hotaru looking for confirmation. “Is no person right? Evil demon?”

Hotaru nodded in response, her posture with the Silence Glaive being held across her body showing that she was no longer expecting to be a spectator.

“Okay.” Shampoo gave a big smile as the monster reached towards her with one hand.

“Watch out!” Usa cried out before Shampoo moved.

The monster stared down in shock at its hand that was no longer attached, severed cleanly just above the wrist by a sword Shampoo had pulled out of nowhere. There was no blood, only sand that sporadically spurted from stone arteries in the otherwise clean edge that showed a perfect cross section of it’s insides. The monster pulled back and let loose a loud metallic roar with enough force to physically shake Usa.

“No wonder why it hurt to hit it, that things made of rock!” She exclaimed in shock, having expected it to be some kind of flesh and blood demon.

“Wrong weapon.” Shampoo commented after analyzing the damage she had done. The sword vanished to be replaced by a brightly decorated blue chui.

The rock monster roared again and moved as quickly as it could to attack Shampoo with its one good arm. Shampoo barely acknowledged the attack, leaping up and bringing her mace directly down on top of its head. Usa turned away and shielded herself as the monster literally exploded from the force of the impact, showering the vacant lot in small and large chunks of rock.

When the clearing was finally quiet, she blinked her eyes several times, and inspected the devastation. The largest pile of rock was where the monster had been standing but all around it was like a bomb had gone off. Shampoo was standing proudly on the pile with her mace lazily resting on her shoulder.

“Shampoo no see what big deal was about.” The purple haired girl commented just as the remains glowed with a sickly green light and began to dissolve with an audible hiss. “Ew.” Shampoo bounced away from the former monster to where her bike was still standing unharmed. “If play sailor senshi again, shouldn’t play with real monsters.” She chastised Usa and took the takeout box back. “Bye.” The warrior girl waved and sped away on her bike.

“That was a bit odd.” Sailor Saturn remarked and came to stand next to Usa to watch Shampoo vanish down the road behind a fence.

Usagi gave off a little sigh and turned to her grown up friend. “But that still counts.”

“Okay.” Hotaru nodded.

 

[Deathwings]

Sooooo...I've been wondering, or maybe dreading would be a better word, something. The fact that Chibi Usa came back in time for the purpose of training with Ranma rather then train with him in her own time has some worrying implication concerning Ranma's life expectancy. So did she come back for completely different reason or does my hunch have any basis in reality ?

 

[Wharpt]

Hhmphttt... Snort... Snort... Snicker!!! BUH-WAH-HAH-HAHHAA!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lawra]

Sooooo...I've been wondering, or maybe dreading would be a better word, something. The fact that Chibi Usa came back in time for the purpose of training with Ranma rather then train with him in her own time has some worrying implication concerning Ranma's life expectancy. So did she come back for completely different reason or does my hunch have any basis in reality ?

Actually she's training with Genma. Yea that's right, I made it so Genma is such a badass the senshi all respect his abilities. Big whoop wanna fight about it? That and like future Usagi would have let her daughter actually train.

And there other reasons for her presence. She can be back for a multitude of reasons, why can't she?

As for your hunch, It's something I could cultivate, but not my plan. Usa is going to be extremely tight lipped about any spoilers.

 

[shiki]

Why not just make it something minor and have all this training as a pleasant bonus?

Kind of like if you went to the supermarket to pick up some milk and end up buying a something completely unrelated because you were on the way.

 

[Lawra]

Why not just make it something minor and have all this training as a pleasant bonus?

Kind of like if you went to the supermarket to pick up some milk and end up buying a something completely unrelated because you were on the way.

But there are complicated reasons why she is in the present.


=========

Okay this is a bit out of order, this is going to be the end of the chapter. There are going to be two other scenes before it, Akane getting to meet Hotaru's adopted parents and then a thing with Ranma and Nodoka.

This part is where I am going to be very mean to Ryoga to cap off the chapter.

-------------

Ryoga wheezed as he struggled forward, feet dragging across the dirt, and arms hanging limply at his side. He was deep in a forest with no clue how far he was from civilization or if he was on another continent. His traveling pack and umbrella had been left hours ago because he was unable to carry the weight any further. Dirt and worn clothing were the norm for him, but he was even more filthy than usual, having fallen over several times.

Pausing to lean against a tree, he wiped away the thick layer of sweat dripping relentlessly in his eyes. Hugging himself, he slid down the tree to curl his knees up to his chest as he was suddenly freezing cold. Rubbing his shoulders to try and ward away the cold, he shivered uncontrollably, and his teeth clattered together audibly.

‘I know I heard people.’ He looked down at his arms and gulped. A day ago he had noticed dark black spots appearing on his forearms. Ryoga knew enough that this wasn’t a normal occurrence, and he had immediately set off to find someone who could check on the worrying development. Only a few hours after he had noticed, the phantom pains had began.

Weakly slamming a fist into a tree root, he cursed his horrible sense of direction that had led him ever further from help.

Ryoga’s stomach heaved and he tried to cry out in pain but nothing would come out. Falling to the side, it felt like he was being torn apart from the inside out. Tiny claws hacked and slashed, tunneling their way up and down his body. Choking and coughing over every breath, he collapsed bonelessly when it finally passed, leaving him with only a brief reprieve before the pain was replaced by a maddening itch.

Unable to reach inside of himself to satisfy the urge to scratch, he could do nothing but roll about on the ground. Struggling to raise himself up into a kneeling position, he gripped the nearby tree tightly and bashed his head into the trunk repeatedly until it snapped. Dropping back down, he sighed in momentary relief. ‘I’d rather be dizzy.’

‘Nabiki.’ His mind locked onto an image of the girl. This had all begun when he had to fight those demons for her. She had taken advantage of him again and he hated it. Ryoga felt a bit better with that realization, it was something for him to focus on rather than what was happening to his body.

He hated them. Everyone had it so easy. None of them had to deal with even a fraction of his problems. None of them had to endure such a wretched existence. They couldn’t understand why he was so desperate for even the tiniest amount of affection. Tears started to race down his face as he stared upwards at the rapidly darkening sky. He had allowed himself to be used and abused.

His life had revolved around abusive women so long that he didn’t remember what it was like to actually have someone care about him. Nabiki, with her vicious schemes. Kasumi, with her calm disregard and false niceness. Akari, who wanted him to be her sumo pig. Akane had to know by now that he and P-chan were the same, yet she continued to use him as her pet, confiding her hopes and fears to him. Expecting him to care about her petty problems while she laughed behind his back with the worst of the lot, Ranma.

It didn’t matter that Ranma was not born a girl, no man could be so comfortable wearing that body with such comfort. Pretending to be his fiance, flirting with him by hiding behind deviously cruel disguises, stealing his first real kiss, and flaunting her beautiful form whenever possible. Ranma could defeat him with a flash of female flesh and a giggle because Ryoga was a gullible idiot. Worst of all, Ranma had tricked him into believe that he had a sister. Ryoga had wanted so badly to be able to protect her, to have someone in his life who knew the horror of his family's curse. But it turned out to be just another trick, a joke to amuse that cruel red head.

Liquid fire roiled in his stomach, rising up in his throat to lodge in the back of his mouth. Turning over on his stomach, he tried desperately to throw up, but he could do nothing but gag ineffectually. Another wave rushed up to violently expel black mass from his mouth. Sobbing as he struggled for breath, Ryoga covered his mouth as it continued slowly oozing a thin black, cold ichor.

Ryoga spat out more of the liquid that didn’t seem to want to stop leaking from his mouth. Feeling twitches and spasms around his body, he struggled to find his way back to his feet. “Help.” Ryoga tried to cry out but all he could produce was a wet hacking cough, splattering more of the oily liquid over himself.

‘Ryoga was so stupid. I should have went for help sooner.’ His body exploded in intense and blinding pain. If only he had been smarter, if only he hadn’t been some gullible schmuck. He was finally able to scream in pain as he felt bones all over his body snap. All he knew was misery as it happened again and again, completely aware as his body was consumed.

zx

Yamadera Koichi grumbled as he pushed himself roughly through the branches of a small tree. “Go check on that noise, she says.” He stumbled and nearly fell as the last tree limb released his coat suddenly. “Damn it!” He straightened up and fixed his clothing. “She is going to owe me for this.”

He was simply not built for going out and checking on scary noises in the woods right before dark. Sure his house was only a measly thirty yards from the edge of the forest but it might as well be kilometers away with the thick brush. Stopping as he found the original source of the noise, he scanned the fallen tree with small flashlight.

“Wow-- it’s snapped right in half.” Which was made even more odd by the fact that no trees nearby had been touched in the slightest. “What’s that?” He moved the light to illuminate a discarded set of clothing covered in some kind of black liquid dried to a thick crust.

The crack of a nearby twig altered him to someone standing next to him. Koichi’s eyes widened in horror as a thickly muscled hand shot out to grip him by the throat with incredible strength. Choking, his knees bent, and he nearly folded over backwards. Eyes bulging from his head, he stared at the two cruelly glowing orange eyes.

“So little.” A female voice spoke from a short, porcine like muzzle. “Your energy that is. It’s just not very impressive. Not very much at all.” The monster’s lips tried to pull up into a smile. “But you have to take what you can get, you understand-- right?”

Her fingers loosened around his throat, allowing him to gasp for breath.

“I asked you a question.” She snorted impatiently.

“Please-- please don’t hurt me-- I have a wife and-- two kids.” He pleaded desperately through rapid breaths.

“Oh! You do?” The monster girl released him to fall on his backside. “I’m so sorry I had no idea. I couldn’t possibly kill you now. Please accept my most sincerest of apologies. You should get back to your family as quick as you can so that they know you’re safe.”

Looking wildly between the monster and the surrounding trees, he panicked, and fumbled to grab his flashlight before he took off running as fast he could away from the demon. In his mad dash, he failed to notice that the demon was calmly following him. Orange eyes gleaming in the rapidly approaching dark.

-----

Yes the monster that consumed Ryoga's body is going to follow him and kill that entire family. Hey... monsters be bad.

 

[Deathwings]

Sooooo...I've been wondering, or maybe dreading would be a better word, something. The fact that Chibi Usa came back in time for the purpose of training with Ranma rather then train with him in her own time has some worrying implication concerning Ranma's life expectancy. So did she come back for completely different reason or does my hunch have any basis in reality ?

Actually she's training with Genma. Yea that's right, I made it so Genma is such a badass the senshi all respect his abilities. Big whoop wanna fight about it? That and like future Usagi would have let her daughter actually train.

And there other reasons for her presence. She can be back for a multitude of reasons, why can't she?

As for your hunch, It's something I could cultivate, but not my plan. Usa is going to be extremely tight lipped about any spoilers.

Wait, she was aiming to train under Genma from the beginning ? I must have skipped over something without meaning to because I was under the impression that she came to train under Ranma and then he just foisted her off to his dad.

And yeah, I guess Neo Queen Serenity not allowing Usa to train out of over protectiveness should have been obvious, but it didn't even occur to me at all.

 

[Lawra]

Wait, she was aiming to train under Genma from the beginning ? I must have skipped over something without meaning to because I was under the impression that she came to train under Ranma and then he just foisted her off to his dad.

And yeah, I guess Neo Queen Serenity not allowing Usa to train out of over protectiveness should have been obvious, but it didn't even occur to me at all.

Technically she says that it's from Ranma and Genma and technically he has foisted her completely on Genma.

 

[Lawra]

I was expecting a bit more angry gnashing of teeth that I killed off Ryoga.


Anymore joke suggestions for this scene or just end it?

--------

Ranma dragged a reluctant Akane into the area for performers only. Of course he moved like he owned the place, and received only a few glances from the staff. Mostly because of Akane’s wide eyed staring like she was a small child. The only time he had to stop was to ask for directions to room eleven.

“Hello?! Hello?! Hello?!” He called out upon entering room eleven, childishly giddy over the way his voice died on the sound proofed foam walls.

“Why do you have to be so embarrassing?” Akane groaned and lightly slapped him in the back of his head.

“If no one else was here you would be doing it too.” He answered haughtily. Room eleven was an old sound proof practice room large enough to fit two pianos but with a low ceiling. When it had fallen out of use for a larger, newer room, it had been converted into a lounge with several comfortable chairs and a couch for the performers while waiting renovation.

The only occupants were two well dressed women. Tenoh Haruka, a tall blonde with a short masculine styled hair was wearing an expensive black tuxedo. She was sitting hip to hip on a loveseat with Kaiou Michiru, still wearing the elegant green gown she had worn during the show.

“You really know how to make an entrance, Ranma.” Haruka joked, rising with Michiru from their seat.

“I’m so sorry!” Akane apologized profusely. “I don’t know why he has to be such an idiot all the time.” The youngest Tendo sister paused and her eyes lit up. “You’re Kaiou Michiru! I loved your performance.” She gushed.

“Really? Which part did you enjoy the best?” Ranma asked before the sophisticated woman could give her own reply.

“Well--.” Akane’s mouth opened and closed without a word. “That’s um-- hard to say--.”

“You should know the name of it-- right?” He continued, poking at his volatile fiance because he was unable to resist the easy target.

“As if you know!” Akane countered his teasing by challenging him.

Smirking confidently he replied. “It was the Gavotte en Rondeau from the Bach Partita, and in E major.” Akane glared at him for a moment before she hastily pulled out a program from her purse to confirm. “You were great.” He complimented Michiru as Akane angrily fumed at the page expecting him to suddenly be wrong.

“Ranma, you shouldn’t pick on your beautiful fiance.” Haruka chastised him. “You know to be more tender with a sweet girl’s heart.”

‘Really? You’re going to pull that stuff with Akane?’ Ranma stared at the blonde in disgust while Akane clasped her hands together and smiled brightly at the flattery. Michiru seemed to have a similar line of thought as himself, the woman with sea green hair cutting down Haruka with a sideways glance that went unnoticed.

Haruka left Michiru’s side to take one of Akane’s hands within her own. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance at long last. My name is Tenoh Haruka and Ranma’s description of your beauty was woefully inadequate.”

“Love, leave the poor girl alone.” Michiru warned as she crossed her arms delicately. “And you remember how Ranma-san told us she responds to romantic advances.”

“I only mind when it’s done by stupid perverts.” Akane sneered back at him. “And boys like Ranma.”

“Yea.” He agreed, struggling not to laugh. “She doesn’t like boys.”

“And just what is so funny?” She growled, barely noticing Haruka lean forward to whisper in her ear.

“It’s wonderful to hear that, because I’m a woman.”

“Another crossdresser?” Akane groaned and slapped her forward. “Why is this a consistent thing with you Ranma?”

“Consistent?” He asked in alarm. “Well there’s Ucchan, Konatsu, that moron Tsubasa, I guess Taro kind of counts since he loves pantyhose so much, Shinnosuke and his grandpa did with Ryoga when we fought that orochi.”

“I wasn’t asking for a list!”

“You weren’t kidding when you said she was a little spitfire, Ranma.” Haruka laughed to herself while Michiru watched in reserved amusement.

Akane ignored the blonde to stay focused on him by leaning towards him. “And why exactly where you telling them about me?”

“They wanted to know about who I was taking to the concert.” He leaned away from the shorter Akane, hoping that she wasn’t about to erupt in violence. “They’re paying for it after all.”

“Wait--.” Akane blinked repeatedly and looked between the two women several times. “You said Hotaru’s parents gave us the tickets.”

“I did.”

“But they’re girls.”

“Yes.” He agreed.

“Curse?”

“No.”

“Hotaru-chan is adopted.” Michiru finally volunteered, visibly disgusted with the whole exchange between the three of them..

“Oh!” Akane looked relieved to have this great mystery solved.

 

[Wharpt]

I was expecting a bit more angry gnashing of teeth that I killed off Ryoga.


Anymore joke suggestions for this scene or just end it?


“Oh!” Akane looked relieved to have this great mystery solved.

"Uhh, that explains her purple hair!"

The three remaining people in the room picked their faces up off of the floor. "Righhht..." they drawled.

 

[Lawra]

“Hotaru-chan is adopted.” Michiru finally volunteered, clearly uninterested in making Akane play twenty questions.

“Why didn’t you just say that?” Akane turned to glare at him angrily.

“You didn’t ask.” He answered lamely, seeing that she was ready to explode. “I’m sorry.” Ranma apologized and saw that it was clearly still not enough so he floundered while trying to come up with something suitable to placate his fiance’s anger.

“Don’t feel too bad.” Haruka butted in, saving him from imminent harm. “He thinks you’re cute when you’re angry.”

“Haruka! Don’t say that! You know she’s not cute, she doesn’t have a cute bone in her body, she’s a tomboy through and through!” He waved his arms animatedly in the air in panic, even though Akane seemed to be more focused on the idea of him calling her cute.

“Now Ranma.” Haruka put an arm around his shoulders. “You two are engaged. You shouldn’t be embarrassed to say nice things to her. Pleasant comments lead to even more enjoyable-- bedroom activities.” Ranma’s face blushed crimson along with Akane’s. He rapidly sputtered out denials at the same time as his fiance.

“Haruka.” Michiru warned as a distraction before a camera flash went off. “Perfect!” She announced gleefully at taking a picture of him and Akane with her cell phone.

Akane sobered up instantly and grabbed him by the pigtail to pull away from Haruka. She then shoved his head forward in a bow before letting him rise. “Thank you very much for the wonderful evening, but we need to be going.”

“What? But we just got here.” Ranma whined, wanting to sample some of the high class food. “Look at all the food we can try!”

“I’ll make something when we get home.” She answered, dragging him away from the two women.

“No!” He exclaimed in horror, feet skidding across the floor as he resisted Akane’s pull. “Haruka-- Michiru, save me!”

“Remember foreplay and have fun you two!” Haruka answered his desperate plea with a tiny wave.

‘I’ll remember this.’ He cursed the blonde who had doomed him. Ranma felt his phone vibrate angrily in his pocket, so he let Akane do the work as she stomped down the hall. Checking the message, he found that Michiru had sent the photo to all of the senshi. ‘Oh this won’t end well at all.’ He groaned.

“Ranma.” Akane spoke calmly. “I don’t want to find out that you’ve been talking about me to more perverted lesbians.”

“They’re not-- well yea they are, but you should be more thankful.” He suddenly pulled his jacket free from Akane’s grasp and grabbed her hand to stop her from stomping more cracks in the floor. “They’re good to Hotaru and just spent all this money so we could go to the concert when they didn’t even know you.”

“It’s not-- well not like that.” Akane sighed. “Ranma, why didn’t you ever tell me you were friends with people like that?”

“You’re busy, I’m busy, so I didn’t really think you would want to know.” He answered with a shrug. “Haruka really was just playing around. She didn’t mean anything.”

“Well I didn’t like it. People like that just-- weird me out.” Akane admitted.

“Really Akane?” He asked in a deadpan voice. “You don’t even know them.”

“It doesn’t really matter, just leave me out of it if you’re going to talk to them.” She crossed her arms irritably and stared him down, daring him to disagree.

“Alright--.” He felt bad over her reaction but this may not have been the best way to introduce Akane to Haruka and Michiru. Ranma felt sure that she would come around but with his teasing she was too upset to think straight. It wasn’t like Akane was all that reasonable to begin with after all. “Did you at least like the concert?”

“Yes-- I did like the concert.” She conceded with a cute pout.

“Ya know that limo driver has to take us where we want. So let’s go get something to eat.” He suggested, hoping dearly that she had forgotten her intent to make him something. “My treat.” He added to sweeten the deal.

“Not Ukyo’s or Shampoo’s-- right?”

“Of course not.” He chuckled nervously, cursing the fact that his other fiances ran two of his favorite restaurants.

zx

Ranma knew that something bad had happened the moment he entered into the room he shared with his parents. The light was on with Nodoka kneeling in the center of the floor, family sword placed before her. He stopped halfway through the door, seeing the look of controlled disgust on her face. Placed to her left were several stacks of properly folded clothing that he immediately recognized as his entire stock of female clothing.

“Sit.” Nodoka commanded sternly.

He slid the door closed and did as she ordered. Waiting in an uncomfortable silence, he could hear her breathing noisily through her nose as she looked between her sword, him, and his clothes.

“Mother.” He immediately stopped talking when she raised up a hand. His attempt at formality was apparently wasted.

“You spent a considerable amount of time hiding from me as Ranko. I understand that I-- pressured you into wearing clothing inappropriate for your true gender.” Nodoka took a slow and very deep breath before continuing. “I expected after declaring you manly and that the ruse was over that I would not find you willingly wearing female clothes.”

‘She declared me manly?’ He didn’t remember her making that announcement. “It’s not-- I mean.”

“When I caught you wearing my kimono the other day, I accepted it as a simple relapse that wouldn’t occur again after seeing my reaction.” Nodoka sighed, the disappointment in her voice practically filling the room. “I took it upon myself to do laundry this evening while you were out on your date with Akane, your fiance, and when I went to put your clothing away properly I found these. Carefully hidden where I would otherwise miss them.”

Bowing his head, Ranma felt his throat tighten up, stopping him from explaining himself. His mother was one of the few people that he did not want to disappoint. She had expectations for him, some of which were insane, but there were plenty of others that were reasonable.

“Son-- you’re going to get rid of these and you’ll put all of this behind you.” She explained, sounding less strict and more concerned. “It’s for the best that you put this deviancy to rest.”

“I-- I can’t.” He choked out.

“You-- can’t?” She asked slowly, the hard edge returning to her voice.

“Uh-- occasionally I can’t change back right away. It’s nice to have stuff that fits.” He fumbled with his hands worriedly, hoping that this would be enough to assuage her desire for him to purge his clothing.

“You’re not in the wilderness, hot water is a luxury you can easily obtain. The only reason you could possibly have to remain a girl is if you want to. Why would my manly son want to spend time as a girl?”

“There are reasons.” He really didn’t want to mention occasional trips out with the other senshi or random days he simply spent as a girl. Nodoka was right about hot water, there was no other reason to explain why he didn’t change back quickly. “Can’t it be enough that there are times I need them?”

“No!” She yelled, making him recoil in surprise at the normally composed woman’s outburst. “Explain!”

Wilting under his mother’s anger, he responded in a tiny voice. “I don’t think you really want to know.”

Nodoka finally responded after a long silence, her voice no longer filled with anger. “Ranma-- son-- whatever it is that makes you think you have to spend time as a girl, I’m sure we can find a solution.”

“It might be better if I show you.” His shoulders slumped as he double checked that no one was listening outside the door. Seeing that the hallway was empty and everyone in the home had the good sense not to respond to Nodoka’s earlier outburst, he slid the door closed, and turned around to lean against it. Seeing that his mother was watching him with a look that alternated quickly between curiosity, disappointment, anger, and sadness he raised a hand above his head and made a fist.

“Water.” He spoke softly and flexed his hand causing enough water to squeeze between his fingers to fall on his hair, activating the curse. Dropping her hand to her side, she flicked her fingers to get rid of the excess clinging to her skin. Nodoka was staring at her with wide eyes, shocked over the sudden display of a strange power. She would have to pay the price of using senshi magic as a male but it would help get the point across.

“Was that magic?” Nodoka asked slowly.

“Yes.” Cupping her hands upwards in front of her chest, a silver half circle brooch appeared. “Sailor Theia, Make Up.” The brooch snapped open into into a full circle to reveal an orange flame filling the inside. The flame pulsed brightly as a white light surrounded only her form for several seconds. Starting at her feet, the glow rose upwards like a flame to reveal her uniform. As it finally passed by her head, her now unbound and styled hair rose up with the light before falling into place on her back.

Her low heels made soft clacks on the wood floor as she took several steps towards her stunned mother who had recoiled at her approach. “In a long forgotten magical kingdom I was Princess Euryphaessa and the Sailor Senshi Theia.” She introduced with as much grandeur as she could muster while worrying about Nodoka’s reaction. “When everything came to an end, our kingdom destroyed, my Queen sent me forward to be reborn along with the rest of the Sailor Senshi.”

“Are you really my Ranma?” She asked, voice quivering with emotion, and covering her mouth with a hand.

“Yes.” Ranma answered, struggling to keep the sadness she felt from being heard. Nodoka’s reaction made her feel like she was back at their first meeting, when her own mother had looked at her like she was a complete stranger. Kneeling down in front of her mother as close as she dared, she smoothed out the tiny flare of skirt her uniform had as best she could. “I’m Ranma, just like I’ve always been, and will always be.”

“You don’t talk like him-- and you move like a woman.”

“Oh--.” She felt her cheeks heat up at her mother noticing that. “Even though Euryphaessa and I are the same person, she had a great deal more experience in emotional discussions, and I guess I just fell into her mannerisms for a moment.”

“So you're a princess named Eu--Eu-- Euryph--” Nodoka struggled to pronounce the alien sounding name, her face scrunched up in concentration.

“Everyone used to just call me Theia, but please I’m just Ranma.” Ranma laughed nervously at being reminded of her past lifes name troubles. Seeing that her mother was giving her a far off stare and was likely being lost, she allowed her senshi form to dissipate. “You could say I'm her but it would be more accurate to say we're us. The only difference is the world we live in.”

“This must be my fault.” Nodoka raised her right hand to cover her mouth in worry. “It’s Jusenkyo-- if only I hadn’t let Genma take you-- or if I set better guidelines this might not have happened.” The woman rambled on in a near panic.

“Mother.” Ranma reached out and grabbed her parents hand, shocking her with the contact. “I wouldn’t say it was the best move-- that contract-- and Pops. But Jusenkyo is the only way you can still have a son.” Seeing that she only increased Nodoka’s confusion she continued. “Only a woman can be a senshi. If I had become aware of my past self without Jusenkyo-- and I changed, I would be a girl permanently.”

Feeling awkward about holding her mother’s hand, she let it go. “As long as I’m careful, and I don’t transform as a guy, I can keep being your son.” She tried to smile as reassuringly as possible.

“Why would you need to ever do that then?”

Ranma took in and released a slow breath. “Because no one else can. It’s my burden to bear.”

“What is so important that you would risk losing yourself for?”

“To bring life.” She answered with as much reverence as she could. Feeling weighed down by the immensity of her responsibility. “And protect it.”

“Who told you this? Why would you trust them?”

“My mother-- and then my queen. But I’ve always known-- it’s a fundamental part of me.”

“I never told you such a thing.”

“Theia’s mother.” Ranma corrected, having only the vaguest memories of the woman. “My oath to my Queen is eternal, death and rebirth were always a possibility. And there would be no greater dishonor than if I ignored my duty and oaths, right?” She asked, trying to appeal to something Nodoka valued.

“It would. But that still doesn’t explain why you have all this clothing?”

“Oh-- heh heh.” Ranma laughed nervously and scratched at the back of her head. “About a third of them you bought me.” She pointed out before adding. “The rest is a mix of things I got myself or were given to me by the other Senshi.”

Nodoka narrowed her eyes in response, clearly not happy with Ranma’s response.

“It’s not as simple as be a guy for me.” She paused to compose her thoughts. “When I go out to fight monsters, I can’t be worried about becoming a girl forever; that means going out like this.” She gestured down to herself. “And you have no idea how annoying it is to constantly pull your pants up or having your chest worn raw cause you’re bouncing all over the place. Why do you think I wear silk?”

“Women in our family are blessed with enough-- bounce to draw a man’s eye.” Nodoka looked away, a tiny mischievous smile on her face.

Ranma raised an eyebrow, mildly curious for a moment over what her mother was remembering. That was before she decided that what the elder Saotome’s look spoke of were things she didn’t want to know or think about her parents doing. “Mom?” She took the risk of interrupting whatever ecchi fantasy her parent was absorbed in.

Nodoka was jerked so hard from her daydream that she nearly fell over. Composing herself as best she could, the elder Saotome female slowly stood up, and headed for the door. “Excuse me.”

“Mom, you can ask me whatever you want.” Ranma suggested desperately, spinning on her knees to continue facing her mother. “Please-- I want you understand.”

“I can tell, I just need some time-- alone.” She answered evenly, struggling to remain calm.

Ranma couldn’t watch her mother exit the room, dropping her eyes to stare at the floor. “I just didn’t want to disappoint you.” She knew how important Nodoka viewed her being a man. Over a decade of waiting, giving up her child on the hope that he would turn out better without her around. Ranma felt like she owed it to her mother to let her live with that vision; even if it was for only a few more years.

 

[ijp92]

I just want to congratulate you on finding a really good and original reason for Ranma to spend more time as a girl in a fukufic. ...you think with such a large sample size that it would have been harder to do too.

 

[shiki]

Not really all that original. I've seen that reasoning as far back as 2005.

 

[Lawra]

Question, how much interest should Happi show in Usa being trained?

And if you haven't noticed the full thing has been posted.

 

[Wharpt]

Question, how much interest should Happi show in Usa being trained?

And if you haven't noticed the full thing has been posted.

You could have Happi and Usa greet each other like 'long lost' relatives and then give Ranma the 'shivers' when they both start plotting together for new embarrasements against Ranma.