ReArrange.txt by Targhan Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 do not belong to me. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi (is that spelled correctly?), and the various licensees that publish Ranma 1/2. Watchers are borrowed from Marvel comics. The characters are used without permission, but not for profit... only my own entertainment. +++ Watcher-1: "What would happen if Ranma was forced to marry Akane right from the start of the series?" Watcher-2: "It's been done already." Watcher-1: "Really? Crap. What about Nabiki or Kasumi?" Watcher-3: "Wouldn't be worth much, too easy. More like one-shot material." Watcher-2: "It wouldn't be *THAT* easy. Particularly, Nabiki." Watcher-3: "Yup, too easy." Watcher-1: *Click* "Let's find out." ========================== Rearranging an Arrangement ========================== Mrs. Tendo sat watchfully beside one Saotome Nodoka. Yup, they were sitting and watching. A very simple thing to watch, really. An act that mothers often do, watching their children play. In fact, a person can find much peace by watching the innocent wile away the hours pretending to be something that is not pre- determined for them to be. A world of opportunities, chances, pain, peace, love, and most importantly hope are all played out in front of the eyes of the one watching the little plays. In this instance, a young Nabiki stands defiantly against the accursed stump of the backyard. "Rammma, the Death-Lord is coming straight for us!!" A serious curl formed upon Nabiki's brow, for she knew that the Death-Lord would not hesitate to destroy the world of the living, and the champion of the land must buy her time to properly destroy the vessel from which the beast's power comes from. Unless, the Death-Lord was summoned. That was it, an evil sorcerer or sorceress was responsible. Ranma bounded past Nabiki to challenge the Death-Lord, only to be rewarded by Nabiki stopping him. "Someone must have brought that thing here! Don't let it touch you, but look for the summoner," Nabiki exclaimed while trying to take a breath. Just then, Akane appeared from nowhere, wearing an old (appearing ancient to the children, but probably on a few years old) dark kimono. In as dark of a voice as the baby-ish Akane could muster, she said, "De worllll will BE MINE!! DeEEEEsDroyee dem, my Monsteee!" A chorus of giggles erupted from the adults watching the pseudo enactment. Both mothers were tickled at the imaginations of their children, and both unaware of the trials and tribulations of the coming years. The enactment soon dispersed as Soun came to give piggy-back rides. Although, the mothers were tickled when Ranma tried to help, only to get a "Tendo Tickle Attack" by the giggling Kasumi (who was soon joined by the other two sisters). The matriarchs of each clan were happy that their children played so well together; yet, even then Nodoka knew that soon Genma would be leaving with her son on a training mission. As much as she enjoyed the moment, she knew that the time was near. Further, the Tendo mother didn't know of her own tragic demise, which maybe was why her off-handed remark would change the lines of fate in this universe of possibilities: "Soun, dear. Wasn't it cute how Nabiki and Ranma kept playing like a little team against the stump in the back yard?" Mrs. Tendo said with a giggle. An action, which in turn, gave Tendo Soun an idea... Something as simple as an off-handed remark sent ripples throughout this instance of the ranmaverse. *************** * note: * * * ******************************************************************************* * Well, consider this: An ant bites the foot of a Ranma two days prior to a * *training trip, thus onna-Ranma is a Sailor-Scout-Mecha-Pilot-Warrior-Amazon- * *Power-Ranger. Well, it *could* happen.... * ******************************************************************************* ===================================================== "KaaahSumiiiiiiiiii!" "NaaahBikiii" "AhhKhaaaaneee!" ===================================================== A teary eyed Soun held a panda embossed post card as if his very existence depended upon the frail piece of card-stock. Kasumi and Nabiki came down to see what the commotion was all about, and soon they had corralled Akane as well. Soon, Soun had their attention as he made his announcement. "Now father," began Kasumi, "I understand that we must uphold our family's honour, but is this truly necessary?" One would normally expect an "Oh My!" from Kasumi with little in the way of fussing; however, this was beyond reasonable. How could her father just announce that her younger sister, Nabiki, was to be married as soon as this Ranma returned from whatever trip uncle Genma had taken him on? Kasumi felt as though she had to defend her sister, who seemed to have a dark and distant look. She remembered Ranma a bit better than her sisters, she was a couple of years older than Nabiki. Her quick trip down memory lane was abruptly ended when her father put his foot down. Her ears rang with the angry sound of her father's voice, "They will be married on the day of Ranma's arrival, and that is *FINAL*!" Thusly, she was reduced to comforting her sisters with no chance of discussing reason with her father. For Soun's part, he truly hated having to do it in such a way. He could envision his late wife's approval of the arrangement, as so long ago she seemed to like the way the two played together. He only hoped they didn't fight it very long. Yes! He knew that it would all work out, and the families would be joined very soon, very soon indeed. *************** elsewhere *************** "I'm goin' back to China to find a cure, pop," onna-Ranma informed her/his father. Genma looked at his son, shook his head, and raised a sign. The sign stated, "Let's at least get a room tonight, we need hot water." Ranma eyed his father cautiously, it had to be a trick, but he *did* want to return to his normal form. After all, it had been a while since he had decent bedding. "Alright, pop. But, no funny business, OK?" A panda grinning is a funny thing, unless you are a bystander on a street in Japan where a panda just happens to be smiling from ear to ear... "Aaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!! A wild panda attack, " could be heard from somewhere on the streets as a panda and a red-headed girl approached a hotel. Genma, was quite pleased with himself. Once the rain let up in the morning, he would bring his son to the Tendo's, where Ranma could satisfy his family's honour. "I wonder how the boy is going to take it, " he asked of no one in particular. He was still in his panda form, a good thing too, as Ranma was close enough to hear him. "Grrrrawf grawf nnngra grawf?" Ranma replied, "What's that pop?" The sign he spied said, "Nothing let's get bathed and find some Z's, boy." ================= The following day ================= "I cant believe daddy!" Supplied a rather irate Nabiki at the breakfast table. She furred her eyebrows, "Really, I mean I hardly remember the boy. I don't need this; I had plans for collage. Kami, I'm gonna be married before I'm out of high school." Throughout all of her bellyaching though, a very small voice (a child's voice really), reminded her that this Ranma probably grew up to be a handsome hero of some sort. The small voice was, naturally, squashed quickly by the ice-queen facade that made up most of Nabiki's public personality. Soun, their father, cleared his throught then began, "Be ready to be checked out of school, should Ranma arrive during school hours....." Silence fell upon the household, as there was a knock at the door. A heavy feeling fell over the room, each person wondering what their feelings should be, or even what they are. Then a second knock shook them from their stunned silence. Moments later, the door was opened and the joyous reunion between Soun and Genma began. The Tendo girls stood nervously, while examining the younger Saotome. When he first saw that the Tendo's were his friends from so long ago was going to try and catch up with their history, but he noticed their fear, or was that resentment, of him. So, he stood silent. What had his father gotten him into? ++++ "You arranged for WHAT?!!? You STUPID old man! What were you thinking? Do you realize that they don't deserve this? Are you going to wait until it's too late to tell them? What about me? Don't I get a say in this, you old freak?" Ranma was livid, and didn't care to refrain from showing it. He continued, " I'm going back to China, and I'll *consider* it when I get back." Ranma was so angry that he never saw the wooden sign that his father hit him with. "Ranma will make a good husband for Nabiki," Genma proudly exclaimed. The entire rest of the household just looked at him with large eyes, sweat-drops forming on their heads. Apparently during the time in which Ranma was out like a light, Genma explained the curse. Worse still, Soun went ahead with the arrangements. Nabiki had locked herself in her room with Akane, leaving Kasumi to care for Ranma. "What happened, " asked a bewildered Ranma. "Your father did," interjected an angelic voice belonging to one Kasumi Tendo. She continued, "Nabiki is as upset as you are over this, but please be strong. If you fight it too hard, she may think that you don't want her to have a chance." "Ugh, OK look," Ranma answered, "it's not that she isn't cute or nuthin' like that, but there are complications." Ranma exhaled, then continued, " Look, I have a curse. I'm not fit to be anyone's husband right now. I'm sure there's a cure, but.." Kasumi interrupted, "Your father, umm, demonstrated the curse. As odd as it is--and unsettling, it doesn't change who you are. I'm sure if you give her a chance, she'll surprise you. I bet she'll accept your curse in stride as a part of you." Kasumi wasn't lying, but she was doing a bit of sugar coating and she knew it. Further, she hated having to do it, but, her father had requested it. Besides, they had all been friends when they were very small. Then, she was pleasantly surprised as her prey gave in. "OK, I'll get to know her first," Ranma conceded. He heard Kasumi mumble something. "What was that, Kasumi?" Ranma's eyes shot open wide, "Today!??!" +++ Nabiki's head had found a nice comfortable spot, namely the palms of her hands. Her mind was flurried with a myriad of thoughts, all centering around the events of the day. She only barely registered her sister's words of reassurance with various huh's, yeah's, and mm-hmm's. She was slightly more concerned with the fact a justice was on the way over, and she would be married to someone whom she didn't know (and hadn't seen since she was five or six). Well, that and what she was going to do about the families finances. Then her sister said something that startled her out of her Revere, "I can always punt that jerk to the moon; the baka wouldn't dare show back up!" In a single motion, Nabiki jerked up, grabbed Akane's arms, and stared her directly in the eyes. Then she spoke with tone of sincerity, "No, that could make things far more worse than they are now. If he thought I set you up to do it, assuming you *could*, then he may not ever...." her voice trailed off. Her mind reeled, "What am I afraid that he might not ever do if I'm stuck with him?!!? No, I'm cool, controlled, and I don't need anyone, ANYONE!" But, an inner voice protested that last thought. At which point, Nabiki released her grip on her sister. ==================== Later that evening.. ==================== Ranma was in a daze, the day had went quickly after his discussion with Kasumi. First, his father and Mr. Tendo had him sign some papers--likely a marriage license. That's when things got scary. The youngest sister, Akane, threw a fit, where did the girl come up with 'Pervert' for an insult for him? A shiver quickly ran down his spine, "They could have hitched me to HER, ACK!!" He continued replaying the days events in the window of his mind. Their fathers had promised that when summer break came from school that they would be senton their 'honeymoon', and some other reassurances. Lot's of talk, then--praise be to the kami-sama--Nabiki insisted on a short wedding. As if the two freaky old men could pay for anything extravagant without her permission. Oh well, he preferred something short and sweet, well short anyway. Although the day moved in such an expedient manor, he did recognized that Nabiki was as nervous as he. She would look at him, then look away. The thing he remembered the most was the kiss. He had never been kissed before, and never really gave it much thought beforehand. Sure, he thought some of girls. However, it was very little, as his time was usually spent practising the art. Yet, that kiss was like some sort of wake-up call. It was so soft, like the girl giving it. It was very surreal, he summized. Which brought him up to the present, in the middle sister's room unpacking his things. He had just finished unrolling his bedding on the floor next to the bed when his new wife walked in. "Really Ranma, I don't think you'll have to sleep there," she said to him. He just stared at her, what was he to do? His heart sank, he thought surely after that kiss that she liked him some. Apparently, the confusion was written all over his face; because, the next thing she said was, "You can sleep on the floor if you like, but I don't bite......." Ranma's reaction was his natural reaction to such things, he froze like a deer in headlights. +++ Nabiki didn't exactly know what to make of this development. She really thought that she was the more upset of the two, until now. She didn't know what had come over her at the wedding, when she kissed him. But, somewhere in the back of her mind a little girl was still jumping around, and generally having a whale of a good time. "Ranma?" She waved her hand in front of his face. "You know," Nabiki began, "I was thrown into this too, but I don't think making my husband sleep on the floor is a good way to start a marriage." The lop-sided smile that she was wearing during that statement was a testament to her ability to smooth things over. However, her next statement was a little more serious, "You know, we could just talk for a while. We're family now, and we are supposed to work together." Was it really her who was saying all of these things? Wasn't it her elder sister who was supposed to be the one full of comforting words? Maybe, it was the fact that he was as nervous as she that had calmed her? She observed him come out of his pseudo coma, and then the words she heard startled her. It took a moment for her to swallow what she heard, "I've always been taken away from those I care about." She almost visually shuddered when she digested that bit of information. She listened as he continued on about some of the losses he endured from his training trip. The more information she gathered, the more she condemned her now father-in-law. Only interjecting occasionally, she listened intently to everything Ranma divulged about his training trip. Finally, she said, "Well you are MY family now. Family is sacred, and you don't have to worry about being taken away. If the father-Saotome tries, he'll be taking an extended vacation in the Tokyo-Zoo." She eyed Ranma as he laughed at her little remark. After a few hours of talking, they both fell asleep at the foot of the bed; Ranma leaning on the bed with Nabiki's head resting on his shoulder. +++ For most of us, morning comes from our not-so friendly alarm clock (spouse, radio, the smell of coffee, etc.); Ranma, however, was greeted by a screaming Akane. "What are you doing to my sister?!!? You perverted freak!" Ranma began immediately looking for a way out of the path of that larger than life mallet with his name written on it. His flight was interrupted by Nabiki's voice, "Why are you screaming at this hour in the morning, Akane? People sleep here you know. Just what is it that you have against people trying to get some sleep?" That's when Nabiki noticed the mallet and Ranma, "Akane, if you're going to try to murder my husband--have the decency to do it behind my back." ======================================= ======================================= +++ Watcher-1: " I'd like to see more about what happens when the others show up." Watcher-3: "Should've been a lemon." Watcher-1: "Shut up." Watcher-2: ZZZZZzzzZzzZZzzZZzzzz Watcher-1: "Nevermind." *Click* +++ ======================================= ***Addendum*** (^_^) "Why have the gods forsaken the Tendo name?!!? What, praytell, is the relationship between that vile Ranma and the Tendo's?!!?" "Why, Kuno, it will only cost 50,000 Yen." "What!??!!!! Wherefore doest thou ask for a lion's share, harlot?" "Why it's a very deep and personal relationship, and personal costs." "The pain!! The gods are truly frowning upon the fairest Akane... The funds are but a mere trinkleing for the knowledge of the foul one's presence!!" "Thanks, Kuno." "Spill it, thoust must tell me!" "He's my husband, you moron, I'll expect our wedding present post-haste." *CRASH* "Kuno? Kuno?!!? Hmm. Took that well, didn't he?" ================ The ever loving, ever living E N D . ============= *** Hey! This has been fun.. Send C&C to targhan_aga@yahoo.com , flames will be sent to NULL.