Travels, Training and Trial, Chapter 2
Travel, Training and Trials
Chapter 2
September 18, 1999
A Ranma 1/2 fiction by June "KaraOhki" Geraci
Ranma 1/2 and its characters were created by Rumiko Takahashi, and belong to her. This work of fiction was written for entertainment only, and may not be used for commercial purposes.
Chapter 2
Kasumi finished her tea, picked up her dirty dishes, and rushed into the kitchen.
Five minutes later the dishes were washed, her bento was wrapped and in her bag, and she was ready to go out the door. She turned and crashed into her father, who caught her and prevented her from falling over.
"Kasumi! Did I hurt you?"
"I'm fine, Father."
"I wanted to talk to you about Ranma before you left for class."
Before Soun could continue, Kasumi held up her hand.
"Father, I know I acted badly yesterday. Forgive me."
"Of course I will. I hadn't taken your feelings for Dr. Tofu into consideration yesterday, and I won't ask you to give him up, but there is something I would like you to do for me."
Kasumi took one look at her father's face and knew he was up to something.
"What would that be?"
"I want you to pretend to be willing to consider honoring the arrangement. If you could just do this for a little while, and then decide against it, it may be helpful."
"Helpful? Helpful to what?"
"To make Akane volunteer to be Ranma's fiancee. I think she's the best choice, but if we tell her that she's stubborn enough to disagree even if she likes him."
Kasumi thought about it. Her father was right. Akane hated to be told what was best for her.
"All right. Just let me explain it to Tofu first, or he'll murder Ranma. I've got to get going, or I'll be late."
Kasumi kissed her father's cheek, picked up her things, and left.
*****
Nabiki opened her eyes to find her father sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Daddy?"
"I'd like to talk to you for a minute, Nabiki."
*****
Akane was putting on her gi when she heard the sounds of battle. She looked out the window to find Ranma and Genma sparring in the yard.
[So they practice in the morning too. They're good.]
She ran downstairs and joined her father in the dojo. Soun was going through a kata and stopped when Akane arrived.
"You're late, Akane."
"Sorry, Daddy. I was up late last night."
They bowed to each other, and began a basic kata. Once they'd warmed up sufficiently they began to spar. Within a few minutes it was evident to Soun that Akane's heart wasn't in it. He swept her feet out from under her and sat beside her before she could get up again.
"What's wrong, daughter? You aren't yourself this morning."
"It's Ranma."
"Has the boy done something to offend you?"
"No. It's the situation, Daddy. Don't I have enough trouble with boys without this?"
Soun patted his daughter's shoulder and smiled at her.
"I don't think you need to worry about him, Akane. Ranma doesn't seem to be the sort of boy who would push himself at you."
"Actually, he asked if we could be friends. I don't know how to be friends with a boy."
Soun couldn't help laughing.
"You'll learn. We're not a different species, you know."
That got Akane giggling.
"I guess not, Daddy."
*****
Akane bumped into Ranma on her way to bathe. Ranma was dripping wet, and female.
"What happened to you?"
"Pop pushed me in the pond."
Genma's voice came from behind them.
"Better get washed up, boy. You'll be late for school."
"School? Ewww."
Ranma disappeared into the bathroom, but not before he winked at Akane. She had been about to chastise him for his lack of interest in school, but the wink disarmed her. She waited outside the bathroom until it was her turn but he ran past her so quickly she wasn't able to talk to him.
*****
Ranma was sipping from his soup bowl when Akane came downstairs dressed for school, so he wasn't looking when she sat down beside him. He put the bowl down and was reaching for his rice when he felt something pat his leg. He put it down to his imagination, and ignored it. Akane would have no reason to pat him.
Ranma picked up his chopsticks, but hadn't swallowed more than a couple of mouthfuls when he felt the pat again. Except this felt different. Was Akane using her fingernails?
Ranma looked down and saw a gray paw on his leg.
The rice bowl hit the table and shattered, the chopsticks went flying, and Ranma was plastered against the opposite wall, shivering. He gulped and ran upstairs.
Akane handed her kitten to Nabiki.
"Watch Tora for a minute. I'll be right back."
*****
Ranma heard the rapping on his door. He tried to calm himself, but his heart continued to race.
"Ranma? May I come in?"
"O-okay."
Akane peeked through the door. Ranma was sitting on the floor, looking pale and frightened.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just allergic to cats, that's all."
Akane put her hands on her hips and gave Ranma a dirty look.
"Liar. You were scared. My friend Yuka is allergic to cats. Her eyes swell up, and she sneezes like crazy. If you were allergic to cats you would have started sneezing last night when you got here. Mind trying the truth?"
Ranma sighed. He hadn�t thought Akane would fall for his excuse.
"Close the door and I'll tell you."
Ranma briefly explained the Neko-ken "training" to Akane. Her first reaction was disbelief.
"Your father did WHAT to you?"
"I told you. He tied me up with fish sausage and dropped me into a pit of hungry cats."
Ranma pulled up his shirt sleeve and pointed.
"I still have a couple of scars."
"Daddy told me that the two of you have trained in just about everything, but that's the weirdest thing I've ever heard of. Did you learn the technique?"
"You don't want to know."
Ranma didn't know about Akane's stubborn streak, and he'd just set it off.
"Yes I do. We're friends, remember? Tell me."
Ranma's hand went to the back of his head, and he laughed mirthlessly.
"No. You REALLY don�t want to know."
"Baka! If I say I do, I do!"
Akane started to get up, but Ranma grabbed her wrist.
"Okay, I'll tell you. Just don't laugh at me."
Akane nodded, and remained silent as Ranma described what extreme exposure to cats would do to him. She suppressed a strong desire to go downstairs and kill Ranma's father, but restrained herself. Instead she made an instant (if difficult) decision, in order to spare her new friend the embarrassment of turning into a cat every time he met her pet.
"Wait here for few minutes, and then come back down. Tora won't be there."
"What are you going to do, put him in the yard?"
Akane sighed. She loved Tora dearly, and this wasn't going to be easy.
"I'm going to give him to the little girl next door."
Ranma held out a hand as if to stop Akane.
"No! I can't make you give your pet away!"
"It's okay. I've been so busy lately that I haven't paid him very much attention anyway. Besides, Midori really likes Tora, so she'll take good care of him."
"M-Midori?"
"Yes, that's my neighbor's name. What about it?"
"Nothing."
Akane merely raised her eyebrows and returned downstairs. Evidently there was someone in Ranma's past named Midori. If he didn't want to talk about her, that was his business. For now.
*****
Kasumi sat with Tofu, sharing a pot of tea. She had left early so that she could see him before class and explain the situation at home.
"So Father asked me to pretend to go along with the arrangement. I don't like it much, but it's hard to say no to him."
"That kid better not lay a finger on you, or he'll answer to me!"
Kasumi laughed, and kissed Tofu again.
"I don't think you have a thing to worry about. He's three years younger than me, and if he's interested in anyone it has to be Akane. They spent a lot of time together last night."
Tofu frowned.
"I'd like to meet him. Then I can decide for myself."
"Then come to dinner tonight. I've got to go or I'll be late."
Kasumi ran out of Tofu's office. He watched her go and went back inside to get ready for the day. Tofu had loved Kasumi for a long time, but had been too shy to do anything about it. If not for her taking the initiative they never would have come together. No sixteen year old was going to get in the way.
*****
Akane was back at her seat eating when Ranma returned downstairs. Nabiki was watching her, looking rather concerned, and she gave Ranma a disgusted look when he sat down.
"Look what you've done, Saotome. You and your allergy to cats. Akane had to give her pet away!"
Ranma was stunned. Akane had not only given away a beloved pet for him, but she had kept his secret. He felt profoundly grateful, as well as guilty.
"I-I can't help it!"
"Nabiki, don't pick on him!"
Nabiki scowled at Ranma again, and then shrugged.
"I guess you can't help it. You two should hurry. I'm not waiting up for you."
Akane put down her chopsticks.
"It's okay, Nabiki. Go ahead without us."
*****
[School! It�s been so long! I can�t wait. If I knew the way there I�d be running.]
Ranma�s eager expression wasn�t lost on Akane.
[I don�t get it. He moaned and complained about school to his father until we left the house, and now he looks so happy.]
Two seconds later Ranma was not so happy. He was also female. He turned to yell at the source of the cold water that had drenched him, but found it impossible to do so when he realized it had been a little old lady attempting to wash down the walk in front of her home.
�Damn! Now I have to go home!�
Akane grabbed Ranma�s arm and steered him down the sidewalk.
�No you don�t. I�ll take you to Dr. Tofu�s office. He always has a teakettle going.�
�Isn�t that Kasumi�s boyfriend?�
�Yes. You�ll like him.�
*****
Akane sat in the waiting room. Ranma and Tofu had been in the back office for a while now. If Ranma didn�t come out soon, they were going to be late. She walked up to the door and knocked on it.
�Excuse me! We�re going to be late!�
The door opened, and Ranma emerged.
�Sorry, Akane. I lost track of time.�
He turned around and smiled at Dr. Tofu.
�Thanks again for your help.�
Dr. Tofu smiled.
�My pleasure, Ranma. Nice to meet you.�
*****
�What were the two of you talking about?�
�I think Dr. Tofu wanted to make sure I wasn�t going to take your sister away from him. He�s not worried about it any more.�
Ranma looked thoughtful for a moment and then smiled at Akane.
�I like him. He didn�t treat me like a freak when he found out about my curse.�
�You�re not a freak, Ranma. Actually, I...�
Akane trailed off, blushed, and turned away.
�What?�
�I like you better than the boys at school. They...they�re always after me!�
�What do you mean?�
Akane didn�t have time to explain, because they had arrived at the gates of Furinkan High School, and the morning battle began.
Ranma was totally taken aback when a horde of boys attacked Akane. He wanted to assist her, but she growled a warning at him and he stepped back. Soon it was evident that Akane didn�t need his help, and her opponents lay in heaps around her.
�What the heck was that about?� Ranma asked as he joined Akane, who was breathing a little heavily.
�It�s a challenge. Whoever defeats me would get to date me. I don�t want to date any of them!�
�Who thought up that crazy idea?�
Both whirled as a voice came from behind them. A tall boy carrying a bokken stood there.
�It was I, and the challenge is sound. Only someone highly skilled should have the right to date with Akane Tendo.�
�Who are you?�
The boy looked down his nose at Ranma before replying.
�I am Tatewaki Kuno, and you will address me as �upperclassman�. Who are you?�
�Upperclassman Kuno, my name is Ranma Saotome. It was your idea that whoever defeated Akane would have the right to date her?�
�Yes.�
�Have you ever defeated her?�
�Alas, no.�
Ranma dropped his bag, and cracked his knuckles.
�Akane. Defend yourself.�
�What?�
Ranma had taken Akane by surprise, but she recovered quickly. Kuno�s mouth dropped open as he watched the two battle each other. It was obvious to him that neither was holding back, and that they were very evenly matched. Then he saw Akane begin to tire.
�Of course my beloved is getting tired. She had to fight all of those wretches who are lying on the ground. I must defend her!�
Kuno didn�t go more than a step after making his little speech before both Ranma and Akane stopped fighting. Then Ranma stepped between Kuno and Akane. Akane was gasping for breath, but she held out a hand.
�Don�t interfere!�
�But--�
The next second, Kuno was on his back. Ranma stood over him.
�She said not to interfere!�
The fight resumed, and Kuno sat up in time to see Ranma trip Akane, and pin her down. She struggled to free herself, but Ranma merely shook his head.
�Do you yield?�
There was a long pause before Akane stopped struggling and replied.
�I yield.�