[Ranma] "No Need for Ranma!" (2/?)
By Henry J. Cobb
$Id: no_need_for_ranma2.txt,v 1.12 1997/04/26 04:24:27 hcobb Exp $

The Ranma 1/2 characters and situations are the creation of Rumiko
Takahashi.  No infringement of her copyrights is intended.

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So Far:

Five year old Ran-chan jumped from the cart to back for Ucchan.

Ukyou pledged to take Ranma's place, after he was lost at the age of
ten, in a training incident involving a cat.

Ukyou now 16, is a boy (thanks to the Nanniichuan) and Nabiki has chosen
him to be her fiancee. (With Nodoka's firm backing).  Genma and Soun
prefer Akane, but Nabiki stated that Tatewaki is already Akane's suitor.

Ukyou uses the "Anything goes" style and looks just like her old
cross-dressing self.  (Except that he's got the Chinese outfits, instead
of the okonomiyaki chef's clothes.)  Even to the point of using a
ponytail rather than a pigtail. (Apparently he hasn't tasted the
Dragon's whisker.)

The story is told from Ukyou's point of view and Genma is the only other
member of the current cast that even knows that the curses exist.

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Monday morning, I came downstairs to breakfast.

Akane looked at my school uniform and bookpack.  "So, you're going to
the same school as me and Nabiki?"  Akane asked.

"Yes, I am going to be staying here for a while" I sat next to Akane,
then Nabiki sat next to me.

Akane glared at her sister, wolfed down her food then stood.

"What's the matter Akane?"  I asked.

"I've got something to deal with before class.  But you two can take
your time.  I'm sure that you want to walk together, alone."

"Why, thank you Akane", Nabiki replied, "That's so thoughtful of you."

"Now, if you'll excuse me."  Akane raced away.

A few blocks from the school, I finally turned to Nabiki.  "What is this
between you and Akane?"

"Oh, she's just jealous that I caught you first.  I don't know why,
she's got such a good looking boyfriend in Tatewaki.  Ranma, what's the
matter?"

I had stiffened, as my reflexes caught something.  I strained my senses
and heard cries of agony coming from in front of us.  "Something has
happened at the school."

"Oh?  I'm sure it's nothing important."

We entered the gate and saw a scene from a battlefield.  It was much
worse than on Friday.  Some of the boys had broken limbs, a few of them
were bleeding.  Fortunately all of the victims were still breathing and
none of the injuries seemed to be life threatening.  Every injury had
been inflicted bare handed.

"It's all your damn fault!"  Akane kicked the prone Tatewaki in the
guts.  "You and your stupid challenge!"  She kicked him again.  He
seemed to have been unconscious for some time now.

Akane looked up and saw us, then she knelt and wiped the blood from her
hands onto Tatewaki's robes then turned and walked into the school.

I went to Tatewaki and reset his shoulder joint.  I didn't see anything
else that would be much of a problem, besides the possibility of
internal bleeding.

"I thank you."  He sat up.  I was amazed.

Nabiki came up and grabbed my arm.  "Kuno-chan, I'd like you to meet my
fiancee, Ranma Saotome."

"You are to marry Nabiki Tendo?  It is an honor to meet you sir.  We are
fated to be brothers in law, should I prove worthy of Akane Tendo."  He
stood shakily and walked slowly into the school, using his bokutou as a
crutch.

"Not quite the reaction you were looking for?"  I asked Nabiki.

"Why, whatever gives you that idea, Dear?"  She replied coyly.

I had the same class as Akane.  There weren't many boys, but plenty of
empty seats, so I took one next to Akane.  "Here's your lunch Akane,
Kasumi was worried when you left this morning without it."

"Thanks Ranma."

As the classes progressed, some of the victims from that morning
trickled in with various bandages.  The worst cases seemed to still be
under medical care.  Nobody spoke to Akane.

At lunch, I sat across from Akane.  Nabiki sat next to me.  The seat
next to Akane remained vacant.

"Nice weather we're having today",  Nabiki noticed, "pity the Furinkan
High soccer team had to concede that match this afternoon.  It seems
they couldn't field a full team."

Akane looked up from her lunch to glare at Nabiki.

"Hold it",  I said, "I don't care what your family fight is about, but
school is no place for it.  Leave it at home please, you two."

Tuesday morning, Nabiki insisted on a leisurely pace to school, holding
back my hand in hers and stopping to point out the sights along the way.

Finally we got to the gate, but this time there weren't any bodies
scattered about.

Tatewaki still stood, but not for much longer.

Akane circled him, cat and mousing.  She kicked his leg out and he was
unable to stand.

"Come on.  Stand up!  I'm not finished yet."  Akane stepped back to
deliver a stronger kick.

"Hold it, he's beat."  I grabbed her shoulder.

"Hyaii!"  Akane attempted a spin kick on me, but I leaped over her,
grabbed her and pinned her to the ground.

"Control yourself."  I released her and backed away.

She stood, brushed the dust off her dress and walked into the school,
followed by Nabiki.

I moved to Tatewaki and helped him to his feet.  "You keep this up, and
she's going to kill you."

"The sweetness of the rose remains in spite of the thorns."

"Isn't that the point?  You seem to only enjoy the pain of the thorns.
Love isn't about beating somebody into submission.  You need to change
your tactics."

"I need to prove myself worthy of my fair rose."

"Is your worth only measured in the violence you can inflict?"

"Perhaps you are right, underclassman Saotome.  I will consider my
options."

At lunch, I again sat with Akane.  Nabiki seemed to have some sort of
business to attend to.

"I'm sorry about this morning.  I shouldn't have cut into your fight."

"No, you were right.  I was beating on Tatewaki for my own reasons.
Thanks for stopping me before it got too serious."

"About the Dojo, your father doesn't seem to have many paying students
at the moment."

"As far as I know he has none."

"Will you help me to keep the Dojo open?"

"Yes."

"Good, Genma can teach.  Now, if we can convince Soun to make an effort,
I think we can rebuild the school.  Do you think we could talk to him
this afternoon?"

"We can try."

"That's all I ask."

After school, we found Soun and Genma playing Shogi.

"Pop, Mr Tendo, Akane and I have something important to talk to you
about."

We seated ourselves around the dining room table.

"Now, as to the future of the school of the art..."  I composed my
thoughts.

"Mr Tendo!"  Tatewaki jumped the wall and approached, holding a bouquet
of roses before him.  He came and sat at the table.  "I have come to
seek your permission to court your daughter's hand in marriage."

"I'm sorry!"  Akane grabbed my hand.  "I already have a fiancee!"

"Ranma?  But he is he not already engaged to your sister?"

"The exact details of the engagement have yet to be worked out",  Soun
said, "including which of my daughters Ranma is to be engaged to."

"Can you not make up your mind which girl you love?"

"Well, you see I..."  Akane wouldn't have said that unless she was
desperate to avoid the Kuno boy.  Things were working out, but a bit
faster than I expected.

"That -- That is why you said worth was not measured in victory this
morning.  You had already beaten her by that point.  The only way I can
prove my worthiness now is by defeating you, foul enslaver of women!"
Tatewaki pulled out his bokutou.

"The living room is no place for a fight!"  I jumped out into the
backyard, then spun around as Tatewaki charged.

"Die!"  He brought the bokutou down in forceful blow that hit the ground
as I rolled to the side.

I kicked the blade from his hands and it flew across the yard.

"Look, violence isn't going to solve anything here."

Tatewaki walked over to his blade and picked it up, then spun around and
charged again.  "The hundred blows!"

I stepped to the side as the pressure waves passed by and hit the wall,
sending cracks through it.  If this kept up, the Tendo house would be
left in ruins.

I stepped inside Tatewaki's guard and threw him into the Koi pond.  I
hoped they wouldn't mind the company too much.  "Now wait, let's talk
this out."

"The time for words is over."

"OK, your loss." I leapt up and dodged his stroke then took him out with
a single kick to the cheek.

"Come on Akane, if we're still here when he comes to, he'll start up all
over again."

"OK, I guess."

"Nabiki!" I called up.

"Yes Ranma, what is it?"  Nabiki came down the stairs.  I swear that
girl wouldn't hear a nuclear war.  At least she used headphones.  "What
happened to upperclassman Kuno?"

"We had a little fight, could you look after him when he comes to?  And
tell Kasumi, that Akane and I won't be here for dinner."

As Nabiki approached to take a closer look I whispered in her ear.  "You
can invite him to stay for dinner.  This is your big chance, don't blow
it."

Nabiki raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing.

I grabbed Akane's hand and hurried out to the street.

"Were we going Ranma?"

"We're going to get distance, then talk.  How about the park?"

"Sure."

"What do you think of the art?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, what do you see yourself doing, to make a living?"

"Teach martial arts, I guess."

"But, you'd like to keep your options open?"

"Yes, at least until after college."

"You may not have that long."

"What?"

"I sense a faction between Nabiki and Nodoka.  What does Nabiki worry
about most?"

"Money."

"And if she suddenly has a rich sister?"

Akane looked up in panic, then said softly.  "Her worries would be
over."

"We could arrange to have Soun and Genma against those two, if you'll
give them some leverage to work with."

"Because they want the two martial artists together?"

"Right.  Now, you'll pretend to be just as attached to me as Nabiki
does, while I say I can't choose between the two of you.  All the
pressure, from both sides, comes against me, while your options remain
open.  Is that OK with you?"

"Yes!"

"Now remember, you're going to have to play this up.  If Soun and Genma
give up on you, you'll find yourself Mrs Kuno so fast your head will
spin."

"Why are you doing this Ranma?"

"I can't stand to see somebody forced into a relationship against their
will.  Marriage should come from love and honesty, not other people's
promises and deal-making."  At that moment I almost believed it too.

"You think it's OK to go back now?"

"I wouldn't risk it.  Hopefully Nabiki has the upperclassman staying
over for dinner.  Wouldn't it be nice if it worked out between those
two?"

"A match made in heaven.  His money and her mercenary nature."

"How about eating out then?"

"Sorry, I left my money at home."

"That's OK, I'll treat, just this once.  Hamburgers do?  I've got 1,250
yen on me."

"You don't have to look in your pockets to know that?"

"No, I grew up very poor.  I don't forget things like that.  Cash, don't
leave home without it."

Later that evening, we returned to the Tendo house.

"That blonde girl who was waiting for her friend to get off duty, do you
think they're an item?"  I asked Akane.

"Maybe, I still think it was weird, that girl across the street who was
video recording the hamburger place."

"Maybe it was an art project?"

We stopped, Nabiki was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

"Trying to steal Ranma away, without even asking?  You owe me big time
Sis."  Nabiki stormed up to her room.

"Problems."  Akane seemed depressed.

"Nothing we weren't expecting."

	Henry J. Cobb	hcobb@slip.net          http://www.io.com/~hcobb