Ranko 1/2

Vol. 1: A Visitor From China

Chapter 1

‘Hi. Bringing Ranma from China. Saotome’, Soun Tendo flipped the small postcard over to look at the design again. A Panda looked back at him frozen in the middle of eating a shaft of bamboo almost daring a staring contest. Another turn of the postcard brought the message back up again as he reread it once more. He barely noticed the extremely poor penmanship as he whispered out the message. Nine years ago Genma had left Japan with his child on a training voyage.

For a moment Soun wondered what it would have been like had he been able to go on the voyage rather than Genma, but his three daughters needed him. That thought was quickly behind him as he could imagine in his mind one of his daughters marrying Genma’s son.

Already his mind was formulating who would best be suited to marry Genma’s son, Ranma. Kasumi would be perfect to help keep the house, and run it while Ranma concentrated on the Dojo, but however Soun had sensed for sometime that she was really in love with Doctor Tofu. With a deep sigh he moved on to his next daughter.

Nabiki could easily handle the business part should Ranma not be able to and she would certainly make the Dojo profitable enough so that they could hire a maid, and a cook. His days would be secure then, and perhaps Nabiki might even hire her own sister to help cook the meals. However Nabiki had showed no interest in going out with anyone, not in the same way that Kasumi used to date. Once more Soun reminded himself to ask if anything was going on with her.

Finally Soun came to his youngest daughter, Akane. “She’d probably kill him within a day.” Soun thought to himself as he made his way to the kitchen to begin telling his daughters the good news

******

All day long Kasumi’s mind had been wondering around to a certain Doctor’s office. Not that she was ill, of course. Other than a few cases of the flu she hadn’t been ill since the first time she meet Tofu. In her minds eye she could see herself that day waiting patiently in the doctors office leaning on her father completely exhausted.

“Kasumi” Her father’s voice drifted into the kitchen waking the eldest daughter from her daydream.

“Yes father?” when no reply came she gave a deep sigh and returned to her food to make sure it would be fine before making her way to the living room. Something important must have happened, she thought to herself as she entered the empty room.

******

In her room Nabiki lazily turned the page to the Manga she bought last week. She had already finished reading her last batch, but didn’t have the money to purchase anymore, yet. It was the type of manga that she had taken pains to hide from her father and her sisters. The manga, Amber Star, took place far into the future with the star, American named amber being a Mech pilot in a spaceship exploring the universe. A spaceship which just so happened to have no men on it. Nabiki gave a quick glace to her door, the same glace she had grown used to giving whenever she had a book from the series out.

Five seconds passed and nothing.

Nabiki turned her eyes back onto the book, the most tragic yet of the series to witness Alleia toss herself in front of Amber to protect her friend from a gunshot. Nabiki could feel teardrops roll down her cheeks as she read the touching moment of Amber giving her friend a last kiss before heading off for the final chapter of the book the showdown with Alleia’s murderer.

“Nabiki”

In a flurry of movement she quickly shoved her bookmark into the manga and hid it under her pillow pulling out another manga from hiding just in time to see her father open the door and leave it part way open. Something must have happened, she thought to herself as she sat up and made her way to the door and down it to the living room.

******

It been the perfect day for jogging Akane thought to herself as she made her way through the front gate of the Tendo residence. So far the jerk Kuno hadn’t shown up, so she actually had peace and quiet for once during her jog. The youngest Tendo daughter stopped by the gate to stretch out again before walking into the training hall’s changing room where she placed her practice outfit.

As She entered the changing room she glanced at the mirror set up on the back wall thinking to herself about her mother. Her father had told her time after time how much she had grown up looking like her. The long raven hair and her eyes the same shape, much like Kasumi. She wondered not for the last time how Nabiki felt that she took more after their father.

Grabbing the bottom of her shirt Nabiki quickly pulled it over her head tossing it into the changing room bench quickly followed by her shorts as she picked up her practice outfit. With a smile she quickly dressed in the white and light blue outfit passed on to her from her mother.

She could remember the day in which her father brought out the gifts to his daughter’s from their mother. Akane was happy to receive her mother’s training outfit while her older sister Kasumi received her cookbook.

Moments later her train of thought had quickly vanished as she began stacking cinder blocks just outside the Dojo’s front doors. Almost as fast as she had stacked the last cinder block she quickly pulled herself back into a stance her father constantly showed his students, and focused her energy into her fist.

“HYAAHHH!”

Her fist quickly sliced through the stack of blocks as fast as it had sliced through the air itself almost causing the blocks to explode from the energy she focused into her fist. “Now that… was nice the youngest Tendo daughter whispered as she studied her handiwork.

“There you go again Akane.” Nabiki spoke out knowing that once more she’d been able to sneak up on Akane without her younger sister even realizing she was there. “No wonder the boys all think you’re so weird.” If you or Kasumi go along with what father has planned then I’m safe, Nabiki thought to herself at the same time she cursed herself for wishing something so bad on her sisters.

“Why should I Care?” they are just a waste of time anyway she doesn’t date anyway either, “Not EVERYONE thinks that the world revolves around boys, Nabiki.” I wonder what happened this time.

“No? well then I guess this wouldn’t interest you.” Nabiki gently rubbed the back of her neck as she turned back towards the house never noticing the odd look her sister turned on her, or the clouds above her threatening to rain upon them.

******

“Fiancé?” Akane could barely believe what she was hearing. A quick glance towards Nabiki, and Kasumi quickly told her that once more she was the last one to hear about this, like everything else that took place.

“Yes. The son of a very good friend of mine… The son’s name is Ranma Saotome.” He turned his eyes towards the door as the rain outside began coming down much harder almost at the same time he spoke the words. “If one of you three girls were to marry him and carry on this training center then the Tendo family legacy would be secure.”

“Wait a minute” Akane quickly went to her feet “Don’t we have some say in who we marry.”

“Akane’s Right, Daddy, we’ve never even met Ranma.” Kasumi quickly added.

“That’s easily fixed” Soun held up the postcard he had just received as he studied his daughters. Akane like always, wore her emotions on her sleeve, and was about to strangle him for not telling her about this engagement. He sighed silently as he thought about how much she reminded him of his late wife. Kasumi while not nearly as aggressive as her sister, reminded him of what his wife was trying to be like all during her short life.

Kasumi had basically taken over when his wife died. During the long time when Soun didn’t think the sun would ever rise again, Kasumi had made sure that all of the meals were cooked and the house was kept clean, until Soun finally came out of his depression. It was quite clear, looking back and forth between Akane and Kasumi that the youngest daughter was trying to copy her older sister. He wondered to himself what would happen when Akane realized that the object of her affection, Dr. Tofu, was equally in love with Kasumi as she was with him. He hopped her heart would not break when that happened.

He didn’t even notice her as he looked back and forth between the oldest and the youngest daughter, but the constant lack of sound coming from Nabiki finally brought his eyes on her. He could never tell what was really on her mind. She knows much more than she lets on, maybe she meet him before, Soun thought to himself as he glanced at the living room clock wondering when Ranma would arrive.

******

Rain, I hate rain. Ranma thought to himself as he dashed down the street wishing he had an umbrella, but knowing that it was too late anyway. The young red-haired boy never turned his head to look behind his at the large panda only a few steps behind. A quick movement to the left brought him inches from the claws of the panda as it made another grab for his. He’ll try again, as the thought formed in Ranma’s head he was already in the air the panda inches below him as it made yet another attempts to capture her.

“Cut that out!” the boy shouted at the panda as he let go of his bag letting it fly to the side of the road so he could fully concentrate on his opponent. I’m sick and tired of running. In a blur of movement he brought his left around catching the panda under the chin sending it wobbling unsteadily to the side crashing into a street sign a foot away.

“Say isn’t that a panda?

“That is a panda isn’t it?”

Ranma quickly glanced to the side surprised to see how much of a crowd they had drawn. The panda was already on his feet and taking an offensive stance ready to attack by the time Ranma’s eyes finally turned back towards him. “Your Move”

In a blur of movements shocking the spectators the panda did move swinging clawed paws at the boy almost faster than the spectators could see. Each attack, however, was simply meet by empty air as his target slide back and forth dodging each and every attack with ease.

“I still say this whole thing sucks picking my fiancée for me…” Ranma quickly ducked under one particularly slow attack reaching up to grab the furry arm. It was then an easy matter for him to pull the panda off balance and send his target once more crashing into the street sign it landed against earlier, this time breaking in half as the large mass collided with it. “…Without even asking!!!” He stood there for several moments watching the panda that remained still after the last landing. “I’m going back to China! Suck on that old man!”

With one fluid motion Ranma quickly grabbed hold of his discarded backpack turning around to once more make his way back towards his destination, never once seeing the panda rise to his feet.

The panda having picked up the street sign that was torn loose quickly snuck up on the unsuspecting boy and knocked him on the back of the head with one of the broader signs on the post. Discarding the sign the panda quickly lifted the boy to his shoulder with one paw while the other lifted his backpack.

“Panda”

“Big one”

“Hmmm”

“Man”

“You think we should call the zoo?”

The panda just stood there for several moments listening to the crowd before he twisted his head left and right giving off a growl, which sent the spectators back to whatever they were doing before the fight, had caught their attention.

******

“Ranma and his father have been on a voyage of training. Recently it seems they crossed into China” Soun, continued to explain to his daughters watching as Nabiki became more excited while Akane became more annoyed.

“Wow China”

“What’s so great about walking to china?” Akane sighed not really paying any attention to what she really was saying, only thinking about the injustice of the whole situation.

“Is he cute?” not that I care of course, but I have to ask something.

“How old is he?” Kasumi began to grow more and more worried thinking about Dr. Tofu as she asked her question. “What kind of guy is this Ranma?”

“No Idea”

“’No Idea’?” Nabiki leaned forward.

“Leggo Y’ol’ fool!”

“Hm?” Nabiki turned thinking she heard Ranma’s voice, but something was different about it.

“We have Visitors” Kasumi quickly stood up to go greet them, but before she was even on her feet her sister, Nabiki, and her father were already on their way to the door.

“Oooo! It must be Ranma” Nabiki was already several steps ahead of her father. I need to see him first so I know my sisters will be safe with him, of course not that I’ve ever needed to worry about Akane, but she is my little sis.

Soun was on his feet in an instant but he found himself not being able to match his own daughter’s speed, “Saotome me friend! We’ve been waiting!”

By the time Kasumi was on her feet the other two most likely already meeting the visitors, Kasumi turned to look at her little sister who just sat there looking at the table still in shock.

How Depressing, Boys! Was all that went thought the youngest daughter’s mind as she continue to stare at the table, this can’t possibly get any worse, can it?

Before Kasumi could even speak to her little sister to ask if she was okay, her father and Nabiki were rushing back into the room at full speed, followed by a panda who carried someone about the age of Akane, or possibly the age of Nabiki on it’s shoulder.

“Stop it you are scaring them.” The guest shouted at the panda, as it continued to make it’s way into the living room.

“Daddy… This is your friend?” Kasumi edged herself behind her father as she watched the panda come to a stop in the living room.

Soun, however, was completely speechless as he simply shook his head back and forth.

“Oh, so this Panda just decided to visit! Happens all the time!”

The panda quickly ended their conversation as it placed the person he was carrying in front of the Tendo’s.

“You… wouldn’t be…”

“Ranma Saotome. Sorry about this.” The guest gave a small sigh as he looked at the floor, what will go wrong now.

“At last you’ve come” Soun still wondered where Genma was but soon forgot that as he wondered which daughter he would choose.

Nabiki was the first to step forward, “he is cute”, and the pope is a Muslim, but at least he does seem nice. but Soun who welcomed Ranma with a hug once more blocked her view.

“It was so good of you to come…” Soun hugged Ranma then he moved quickly out of the way to introduce Ranma to his three daughters. “This is Kasumi, 19, Nabiki, 17, and finally Akane, 16.”

“Nice to meet you” Ranma said with a soft voice that the girls could barely hear.

“I was thinking of letting you choose which one you like best, but you don’t know my daughters like I do, so I thought I’d choose for you Nabiki would make the perfect wife.”

Akane gave a sigh of relief, then looked towards Nabiki, who turned as pale as a sheet.

Kasumi didn’t seem to notice as she made her way to the kitchen to finish making dinner, offering congratulation to her sister on the way out.

Nabiki barely nodded her head to her sister and she turned her eyes back to Ranma who looked equally pale, she was wondering what was going through his mind. Was there someone else he loved? But then again what about her, why should she have to be paired with him. True her sister disliked guys but that was simply because all the guys in her class were too immature for her to really like them.

“Why don’t you take a bath and relax you must have had a long trip” Akane spoke to Ranma as she began pulling him out the door of the living room and pushing him towards the bathroom.

“Will she be okay?” Ranma quietly asked as soon as the two were in the hall.

“just give her some time this is a shock for her.”

“She isn’t the only one shocked my father didn’t give me a choice in the matter either… like normal.”

Akane began to wonder just what he was talking about, how many choices had his father taken away by taking his son on a training voyage for so long. When the two finally arrived she handed him a towel and made her way to the training hall to work off her confusion about what exactly happened today.

******

Nabiki barely heard her father as he began giving a lecture on the importance of continuing the family line and making sure the Dojo would be secure as well. He had constantly told her that she was the genius when it came to business and financial decisions and how married to a martial arts expert as Ranma was sure to be, the Dojo would continue to be strong.

But what about love, Nabiki thought to herself as she stood up long after the lecture was over. What about having who I want hold me close and kiss me and tell me that she wants me because she loves me, deep down Nabiki knew she couldn’t say that to her father, she knew he wouldn’t understand.

With a sigh and a resigned spirit she began making her way into the hallway and to the stairs leading to her room. It was when she passed the bathroom that she heard a quiet sob. Did that jerk hurt Akane? Nabiki quickly opened the door to see a silhouette through the screen separating the bath from the rest of the room. The figure was defiantly female, that doesn’t sound like my sister. Nabiki cautiously made her way to the screen pulling it open coming face to face with the most beautiful girl she had ever seen.

The two girls stood there watching each other, their eyes locked into a gaze that neither could break for several moments. Nabiki’s eyes quickly moved up and down the girl’s body. Her long dark hair draped over her shoulder in such a way that Nabiki could feel herself burn hotter without even stepping into the warm water of the bath. She looked downward across the girls beautiful neck and down her arms. Nabiki could tell she was well trained and in perfect shape as she moved her eyes back to the girls eyes again. I’m looking at a regular Aphrodite.

Suddenly Nabiki was very glad she was still wearing her clothes as she could feel her nipples reacting to the moment.

“Sorry about this” the young girl quickly drew her hands across her breasts, Nabiki knew why she was moving.

She’s as turned on as I am, Nabiki watched as the girl turned a very bright shade of red and sink into the water a little more.

“I’m Ranma… I’m sorry about all of this”

Nabiki stood there blinking several moments, “but…” wasn’t Ranma male?

“My father an I can explain this he’s probably talking with your father at the movement.”

“The panda?”

“It’s a long story” The girl said with a sigh, as she stood up and made her way over to where her towel was resting.

Nabiki watched the girl move with a grace she found hypnotizing. She stood up and let the girl past her feeling her knees go week when the girl walked past. Nabiki resisted the urge to reach out and pull the girl close and deeply kiss her. Well if she’s the real Ranma then I would have every right wouldn’t I? She smiled to herself followed the girl to the living room.

******

Soun looked back and forth between his daughters both in deep shock as they looked at the bald man sitting across from their father. “This is my Best friend…”

“Genma Saotome and Father to Ranma.”

“Father I think you should explain how he was a panda earlier.” Kasumi quickly pressed the question as she looked back to her father.

“Does Ranma have a curse as well?” Akane watched as Genma moved nervously where he was sitting turning his attention to the pond just outside the house. “He does doesn’t he.”

“You may as well be honest with them pop.”

Soun, Akane and Kasumi turned to the door to see Nabiki following a very beautiful girl wearing the same clothing that Ranma had been wearing earlier.

“Who… who…”

“Who are you?” Akane finished for her sister Kasumi who looked back and forth between Nabiki and the girl.

“I’m Ranma Saotome… I’m very sorry about this.”