A Little Motherly Love Chapter Two (01/02/98 last revised) by Celeste Byrd ===== Ranma 1/2 is copyrighted 1998 by Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan Inc. and anyone else who rightfully owns the copyrights. This fanfic is solely for entertainment purposes and NOT for monetary benefit. Please don't sue me. Any similarities with other fanfics are purely coincidential unless stated otherwise. This fanfic was inspired by Wade Tritschler's Altered Destinies series, and he has given me permission to use the title. Questions, comments, ideas, suggestions, and constructive criticism are always welcome. Please read the previous chapter(s) to understand the storyline. () Depicts character actions, emotions, sounds "" Denotes changes in the voice [] Translates thoughts <> Chinese dialogue ===== R A N M A 1 / 2 A L I T T L E M O T H E R L Y L O V E An Altered Destiny Akane: Good morning! SCENE: Akane has just come down the stairs in blue dress, ready for another school day. Kasumi walks out of the kitchen. Kasumi: Good morning, Akane! Akane: (looking around) Where's everybody? Kasumi: Well, Father's in the dining room playing shogi with himself again, Nabiki's still upstairs, and Mrs. Saotome is in the yard. Akane: Ah. (pause) Where's Ranma? Kasumi: I don't know. He was helping me with breakfast when Mrs. Saotome called for him. He might be in the yard as well. Akane: Ranma was helping you with breakfast? Kasumi: Oh yes, he's such a nice boy. SCENE: Akane walks to the door that separates the house and the yard. Just as Akane slides the door open a shape flys by her. The shape is revealed to be Ranma. Ranma: (waving) Hey, Akane! Nodoka: Come back here, son! SCENE: Nodoka appears from out of nowhere and throws a constant barrage of flying kicks and weapon thrusts. Ranma continually dodges the aerial attacks from Nodoka forcing himself to to be on the defense. Eventually Ranma can not continue the defense as Nodoka picks up Ranma in midair and tosses him into the pond. Akane: (admiringly) You're very good, Auntie. Nodoka: (landing softly on the ground) Thank you. Ranma-chan: (getting out of the pond) Whoa! No fair, mom! I was distracted! Nodoka: (sternly) Son, I won, and we agreed that you'd go to school if I did! Ranma-chan: (muttering) Me and my big mouth... Nodoka: Besides, we'll be here for a while, and it's time you had a proper education! Ranma-chan: (whining) When am I "ever" going to use a stupid formula for the stupid volume of a stupid cone?! (indignantly) Besides, I don't have any school supplies! Nabiki: (coming out of nowhere and tossing Ranma-chan a schoolbag) You owe me one, Ranma. Ranma-chan: (clasping her head) Why me... ===== SCENE: Ranma, Akane and Nabiki are on their way to school. Akane and Nabiki are occasionally glancing up at Ranma walking on the fence. As the two sisters quicken their pace, Ranma adjusts and matches them step for step. Akane: How do you do it? Ranma: Huh? What did I do? Akane: (rolling her eyes) How do you manage to walk up there? Ranma: (surprised at the question) Um, well... it's balance practice, really... Nabiki: "Sure" Saotome... [Showoff.] Akane: Remember when we're there, you don't know either Nabiki or I! Ranma: Don't worry about me, I know when I'm not wanted! SCENE: Nodoka comes running on the fence behind Ranma and taps him on the back. Startled, Ranma starts to lose his footing. Before he can lose his balance and fall into the river, his arm snakes out and grabs the support pole of the fence. With the grace of an olympic gymnast, Ranma swings up and over the fence and lands on the sidewalk. Akane: (amazed) [Wow.] Nabiki: [Damn, I should have brought my camera.] Show off. Ranma: (turning around) Shut up... SCENE: Ranma suddenly gets splashed with some cold water. Looking around for the source, she notices an old lady splashing the sidewalk with a water dipper. Ranma-chan: (shaking her soggy hair) Dangit, I need some hot water. Nodoka: Actually, that's why I called you. Ranma-chan: Called? More like tapped if you ask me. Nodoka: (hands Ranma a thermos) This should get you through the day. Ranma-chan: (sarcastically) How long do I have? Nodoka: Long enough before I punish you for talking back to your mother. Ranma: (pouring some hot water over his head) Sorry, mom. Nodoka: Anyway, you three should hurry to school if you don't want to be late. SCENE: Nodoka leaves the group as they head towards the high school. Just as they approach the gates however, Nabiki grabs a surprised Ranma's hand and runs into the school grounds. Ranma: What the heck are you doing?! Nabiki: No time to explain, I'll tell you later! SCENE: Ranma looks back to see Akane stop and put up a defensive stance. Before Ranma could even blink, a large mob of boys come out of nowhere and start to attack her. Ranma is about to pull out of Nabiki's grasp when he realizes that Akane is beating the daylights out of the mob. Ranma: What a weird school. ===== Teacher: I would like you all to meet a new student from China, Saotome Ranma. Ranma: (bows to the class) Hello. Teacher: Now would you care to take a seat... Ranma: Okay. SCENE: Ranma smiles to the class, and several girls faint. Still smiling, but slightly puzzled, Ranma takes his seat. The morning passes by slowly, with the teacher occasionally yelling at half the class to wake up and half the class to stop staring at Ranma, who is also half asleep, and staring out the window at the rain. Finally, the lunch bell rings, and everyone files out to the lunchroom. In one corner of the room, Nabiki is sitting with her friends eating. Girl 1: Did you hear about the new student? Girl 2: You mean Saotome? What a dream... Girl 3: So, what's the scoop between you and Ranma, Nabiki? Nabiki: What are you talking about? Girl 2: We saw you holding Ranma's hand into the school. Nabiki: (protesting) I was just dragging him into the school! Girl 1: "Sure" you were, Nabiki. Akane: (sitting down beside Nabiki) Cut it out! My sister's right, you know! Girl 2: (glaring at Akane) You're interested in him too?! Akane: (repulsed) Absolutely not! All boys are disgusting! Girl 3: You have half the male population at your beck and call! And you say you hate boys... Akane: Ranma's just staying with us, that's all! Nabiki: (muttering) Spilled the beans... Girls: WHAT?! RANMA'S STAYING WITH YOU!?! SCENE: All the girls in the lunchroom suddenly crowd around Nabiki's and Akane's table, yelling at the top of their lungs. Suddenly, the shouting dies down as a deep voice echoes through the lunchroom. Voice: WHO DARES TO COURT THE WOMAN I LOVE?! ===== SCENE: Meanwhile, on the other side of the lunchroom, Ranma is eating lunch with some new friends. Hiroshi: So Ranma, what did you pay Nabiki? Ranma: What the heck are you talking about? Daisuke: We saw her drag you into the school. She usually doesn't do favours like that unless somebody showed her the green mail. Ranma: What's so hot about being DRAGGED into SCHOOL by a girl? Hiroshi: A girl of Nabiki's calibre? Plenty. Man, she and her sister are so hot... Daisuke: I'd give up my left arm to go out with one of them... Ranma: (sighing and shaking his head) You guys are hopeless. SCENE: All three boys sharply look up as several shouts are heard. Ranma's gaze rests upon the table where all the girls in the room have crowded around. Ranma: (nudging Daisuke) What's going on? Daisuke: I don't want to know. That's the table reserved for Nabiki's "gang". Ranma: Gang? Daisuke: It's where Nabiki and her friends have lunch and do their business. Ranma: Business? Hiroshi: Man, you're really out of it. They organize all the betting pools and monetary transactions of the entire school! Daisuke: And if you aren't careful, they'll suck your wallet dry like a cheap partyline! SCENE: Hiroshi and Ranma give Daisuke a strange look, who has the decency to look away. Ranma then gets up and starts to amble toward the table, bento box still in hand. Ranma: Well, I'm gonna find out what the heck's happenin'. Hiroshi: (calling) I wouldn't, Saotome. You'll get in deep trouble... Ranma: Trouble's my middle name. Mind you, my first name's "Big"... Voice: WHO DARES TO COURT THE WOMAN I LOVE?! Ranma: Huh? SCENE: Ranma looks over at the new voice. A tall man wearing samurai garb and carrying a bokken strides over to Nabiki's table. Several of the girls faint, several look repulsed, and several (including Akane and Nabiki) look bored. Nabiki: Hey, Kunou. Kunou: I doth heard that some vile fiend of a student has come to take thy hand, Akane! Nevertheless I, Kunou Takewaki, shall hath remove that cretin's clutches and free you, my goddess! Akane: No thank you, I can handle myself. Ranma: [This Kunou must be a real loser.] (waving) Hey Akane, Nabiki. SCENE: The entire lunchroom goes silent as everyone stares at Ranma. This is when the whispers and rumours start. Guy 1: This guy's on a deathwish, talking to Akane like he knows her personally. Guy 2: Especially in front of Kunou, yet! Ranma's not going to survive very long. Girl 1: Oh no, Kunou going to kill our one chance of happiness! Girl 2: Maybe he'll be lenient and just break a few limbs...? Guy 1: Nabiki must have her eye on Ranma. Guy 2: Why's that? Guy 1: Because she hasn't tried to make a profit on him yet! Guy 2: My god, you're right! SCENE: Ranma looks unfazed by the whispering. Akane is very red in the face from several unmentionable rumours, and Nabiki is still keeping her cool. Kunou points his bokken at Ranma. Kunou: You there! You are being quite familiar with the Tendou girls! And residing with them, yet! Ranma: (leaning his head towards Akane but keeping eye contact with Kunou) Does he always talk like this? Akane: Usually it's even worse. You better back off. Kunou's a formidable fighter, and you'll get hurt. Ranma: Thanks for the warning, but I won't need it. Kunou: Who "are" you, boor?! Ah! But it is the custom to give one's own name first! Fine then! Then I shall give mine! Ranma: Huh? Well, if you want... Kunou: My name is Kunou-sempai. Junior. Group E. Captain of the Kendo club. Undefeated new star of the high-school fencing world. But my peers call me... the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High! SCENE: Lightning falshes outside, and startles Ranma. Ranma: Nice touch. Girl 1: "Blue Thunder"? You heard that, Nabiki? Nabiki: News to me. Ranma: Alright, I'm a freshman, group F. Um, as you already know, I'm staying at the Tendou practice hall... Kunou: WHAT?! UNDER THE SAME ROOF AS AKANE?! Girl 2: Thought he already mentioned it. Nabiki: It takes a while for things to register in his head, you know. SCENE: Kunou rushes over and slashes down at Ranma. Everyone in the room braces for the crack, but only the swish of the bokken rings out in the lunchroom. Ranma is now right beside Kunou, and is tapping him behind the back. Ranma: I'm the heir to the Saotome school of Indiscriminate Grappling and Armed Combat... (throws his bento at Akane, who catches it) Hold this for a sec. (faces Kunou, and puts up a stance) I AM SAOTOME RANMA, AND I ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE! ===== SCENE: Furinkan High, soccer field. Everyone is sitting on the not so wet portions of the grass, sitting on towels or just in the bleachers watching the two combatants face off. Nabiki had earlier suggested that they fight outside, as to do less property damage. She had also started a betting pool, much to the dismay of her sister. Many of the more enterprising students have placed bets on the fight, with Nabiki's odds of 2 (Kunou) to 5 (Ranma). Student 1: Ranma's taking on Kunou? Talk about dangerous. Student 2: How much did you place on the fight? Student 1: I bet 1000 yen on Kunou, of course. How about you? Student 2: 5000 yen on Kunou. I need the money to take out my girlfriend somewhere. Student 3: Yeah? Well, I bet 2000 on Ranma. Student 1&2: Are you nuts? Kunou's going to mop up the floor with Saotome! Student 3: Well, I have nothing better to spend it on... SCENE: This type of conversation is happening throughout the battlefield. Of course, the majority of the student body has bet on Kunou, but a few female students had hopefully bet on Ranma-kun. The battle has already started, but not in the usual sense of the word. Kunou: So, you scoundrel. Hounding Akane and Nabiki, eh? Ranma: Who's hounding anybody? I'm only staying with them for a while. Kunou: I, Takewaki Kunou, will bring you to justice! Ranma: Look here, you jackass. I... Kunou: SILENCE, KNAVE! SCENE: Kunou lashes out with his bokken at tremendous speeds. However, these extra speeds are wasted as Ranma is no longer there. Kunou whirls around to see Ranma hanging from a nearby tree. Kunou: (striking again) Blast it! SCENE: Again, Ranma is no longer where Kunou stikes out. Kunou turns to see Ranma sitting on the fence. Akane: [Kunou's never this fast against me.] Girl 1: (Staring at Ranma-kun on the fence) Wow, he's pretty good. Girl 2: A match for even Kunou! Nabiki: [More than a match for Kunou. Even more of a match for my sister, and she's good!] Akane: (looking at Ranma) [Humph, he's not so great.] Kunou: Coward! Stand still and fight! Ranma: Look here, Kunou-"sempai"... (jumping off the fence to dodge a slash) Why do you care about the well-being of someone... (ducks under) Who doesn't even care about you? Kunou: The gods have smiled upon me to take care of wicked cretins such as the likes of you! Ranma: [The gods are more likely pitying you than smiling.] Fine, have it your way. SCENE: Kunou once again lashes out at Ranma. This time however, Ranma comes up to block Kunou's strike. There is a snapping sound, and Kunou's bokken is broken into two. Kunou: What sort of trickery is this?! Ranma: It's a specialty of the Saotome school of Disarming. Now tell me, why do you care about someone like Akane? Akane: (angry) Why, you pervert! Ranma: (sighing) I didn't mean it that way! Akane: Oh yeah, and what did you mean, pervert?! Ranma: Shut up with the name-calling already! I feel like a five-year old talking with you! Akane: (throwing her bookbag at Ranma) Why you...! Kunou: How dare you speak to Akane that way...! (throws the remains of his bokken at Ranma's head. Ranma: (leaping over both projectiles) Alright, you asked for it. SCENE: Ranma leaps into the air and points a finger at Kunou's head. As Kunou raises his arm to block the attack, Ranma spins around and kicks Kunou into unconsciousness. Ragged cheers ring out from the Furinkan High student body. Hiroshi: Finally, someone who can beat Kunou other than Akane! SCENE: The bell suddenly rings, and the mass of students gradually enter the building. Nabiki is not among these people, for she had to talk with Kunou. Nabiki: (disapprovingly) Kunou-sempai. You lost me a lot of money today. Now you better make amends or I'll have to increase my profits off you... Kunou? SCENE: Nabiki turns the unconscious body of Kunou around so she can take a better look at him. When she looks at his face however, she gasps at the marking on his forehead. Not caring about the warning bell, she traces the kanji scrawled on his forehead. Nabiki: "Fool"...? %End Chapter Two ======================================================================== %Afterword Happy New Year! Finally, after three school projects and working on two other fanfic projects, I've done the second installment! Send in your comments, etc. to [nshampoo@interlog.com] or, for a faster response (actually, it doesn't really matter) send them to [nshampoo@gold.interlog.com]. [07/17/2000: The mailing address doesn't work anymore. belldandy@studio-aesir.net is my new e-mail address] It shouldn't have taken me so long to bring it out, but with school and a part-time job... oh well. Ranma is a freshman, group F? Gosunkugi identifies himself to Kunou in the manga as so, and he's in the same class as Ranma... Sempai? It sounds better than Upperclassman, and people who understand the Japanese would know what kind of title Upperclassman/Sempai holds. Script or prose? Which is better? I've heard so much about this, with people yelling at me from both sides as to what form of writing is better. If they want my opinion, I'd say... both forms are good. What, is this person insane?! Clearly prose/script is the more superior form of writing! I mean, prose is good if there is no real action happening, and script is good to leave the reader to their imaginations... and less harder to interpret. Prose is as good as the writer who uses it. If the author doesn't follow the grammatical structure, it's hard on the eyes to read it. Script is good if prose takes too long to describe things. However, sometimes the script can be too informal. Why do I use script if I like both? Because it's easier for me to transfer my thoughts onto the keyboard.