by Nekomata-sensei » Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:27 pm
I guess it's a certain thing about Ranma's character, and more importantly, Ranma's history and fighting ability, that I want to retain.
I just read the Return for the first time, so I have a bit better idea of how to slowly transform a character. Although I can't use the protective mother shtick with this story.
Thinking back on things, I realize that part of my influences for this are reading a lot of stories with Ranma being OOC, alterverses where the only difference is Ranma is better behaved and more mature, which of course sparks a series of differences.
That being said, here is the begginings of my re-write, sorry about the abrupt cutoff, I was having trouble with this conversation.
Serenity was about to send the senshi forward, into the future, to bring hope to it, but she hesitated, 'How did Beyrl's forces cause such incredible destruction? Where did she get the information needed to coordinate her attacks so perfectly? Could I have a traitor? No... It can't be... but I must check...'
What Serenity found horrified and disgusted her, Pluto had orchestrated the whole thing! She was planning on using the time gates to engineer some distant, perfect future she'd come up with, killing trillions just to achieve her disgusting goal of a utopia without free will.
"I don't have enough power to defeat Pluto and send the senshi forward... but their powers will still be needed... I will just make sure my power discovers a new worthy wielder who can choose new senshi then, I suppose." Serenity decided with finality.
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"Wake up delinqient!"
"Huh?" Ranma's eyes blinked open as he caught the piece of chalk, 'That was a weird dream...'
Hinako glared, "It's only your first day back from summer vacation and you're already sleeping in class Saotome! I don't care if you just had a failed wedding with Miss Tendo, you _will_ stay awake and pay attention in my class, or else!" Hinako held up a coin threateningly
Not wanting to be drained Ranma sat up and chuckled nervously, "Sorry Hinako-sensei..."
"Good, now pay attention!" Hinako said, and she returned to lecturing on sentence structure.
Ranma began to tone out the lesson, it wasn't that interesting, and Ranma's English was already passable thanks to his travels. Instead, he focused on the strange dream he'd had, 'What a weird dream... It was like a memory... but of someone else... some queen lady whose magical kingdom was destroyed, when she was betrayed by some Pluto chick I think... I wonder if I ate something funny recently...'
"Saotome! Can you tell me what an adverb is?" Hinako demanded.
"Err..." Ranma panicked, "A type of sound effect?"
"That's a reverb!" Hiroshi said as most of the class sweat dropped.
"You weren't paying attention!" Hinako screeched, "Happo Fifty-Yen Satsu!"
Students nearby Ranma leapt out of the way as Ranma got drained and Hinako changed into her adult form. Ranma groaned, and then lost consciousness.
"Wake up!" Hinako yelled.
"Sensei, I think there is something wrong with him." Ukyo said, "He looks a bit off color."
Hinako frowned, Ranma _was_ looking a bit pale, "Hiroshi-san, take Saotome-san to the nurse's office."
"Um, he's a bit heavy for me..." Hiroshi said uncertainly.
"Fine then, have Daisuke-san help you." Hinako said, "But come right back once you drop Saotome-san off."
"Hai sensei!" the two boys saluted, one grabbing Ranma's feet and the other his arms, and carrying him out of the classroom.
"I could have done that on my own." Ukyo noted.
Akane growled, "I could have as well!"
"That's enough! This fiancée mess of Saotome-san's is exactly the reason I didn't have either of you carry him to the nurse's office! Now can anyone else tell me what an adverb is?"
***
Ranma was a bit confused at where he found himself, it appeared to be the palace where the 'dream' he'd had before had taken place, although it was no longer damaged as if it had been the sight of a great battle and strewn with bodies, instead, it was empty, except for the throne where sat the queen he'd been in the body of during the 'dream'.
Ranma checked himself and discovered he was himself, in his normal outfit of a red silk shirt and black kung fu pants.
"Hello Ranma."
Ranma looked up at the kindly voice, and realized it was the queen lady, "Um... hello..." he said, deciding to go along, unsure if he was dreaming.
"I'm afraid I don't have much time to explain, I'm not certain how long you'll be in this trance." the woman said, "My name is Serenity, I was once the queen of an ancient empire that ruled over most of the Solar System, even inhabiting planets that are no longer capable of supporting life today. It was a time known as the Silver Millennium, a time of peace and prosperity, where the ideals of the people and ruling class centered around love and justice. Unfortunately, one of my most trusted warriors, who possessed the ability to use an artifact that could see into the future, abused her powers and attempted to create a future Utopia at the cost of trillions of lives, inciting a terrible rebellion with a demonic army to destroy our civilization. By my best estimation, this was approximately 10,000 years ago, and earth is now the only inhabitable planet, and far behind the technology and magic levels present in the Silver Millennium.
"I can contact you again later if you take the Gekkaja and Kinjakan out of that primitive subspace pocket you have them stored in since you're battle with Saffron and bring them together. I will allow you to do this because I can sense from your aura that you are pure of heart. My remaining spirit is contained within this artifact."
"What? Are you, like, some kind of ghost? Are you the one that I was dreaming about?" Ranma asked.
"I'm not exactly a ghost, more like a memory, but I doubt you'd really understand my explanation. Suffice to say that I'm dead, and lack the power to do what must be done, as I've sacrificed my own soul to prevent humanity from being enslaved by demons. You must combine the Gekkaja and Kinjakan to restore the Legendary Silver Crystal. It's power will be needed again soon, Beyrl's armies are already beginning to pierce the dimensional barriers and will soon return to enslave the Earth. I barely had the power to induce this trance on you. I can only contact you further if you restore the Legendary Silver Crystal. To do so, you must hold the Gekkaja and Kinjakan together and cry some tears on each, you must do so in your cursed form, because only the tears of a pure of heart girl can restore the Legendary Silver Crystal." Serenity said.
"How can I know I can trust you?" Ranma asked warily, having encountered a number of untrustworthy spirits in the past.
"I-"
***
Ranma suddenly was jerked awake and found himself in the nurse's office.
"I don't see you in here often Saotome-san." the nurse chuckled, "Normally it's you or Tendo-san sending Kuno-san in."
"Ehehehe..." Ranma laughed nervously.
"So what made you faint like that? Did Hinako-sensei go overboard with her draining?" the nurse asked seriously.
"Nah, I was just exhausted already." Ranma replied, "Haven't had much of a chance to recover my reserves after the big battle I had in China to save Akane."
"My, my, I didn't hear about this. Then again, I'm usually left out of the local gossip. I'll give you a snack before sending you back to class if you tell me what this is all about." the nurse said.
"You've got a deal." Ranma replied.
...
"I see... you certainly get into dangerous adventures Ranma-kun." the nurse said with a frown as Ranma finished up the tray of sandwiches and the glass of water she'd given him. Well, more accurately, her, since the first glass of water had spilled and Ranma was currently in cursed form.
"Yeah, just my luck I guess." Ranma replied with a shrug, "I guess I'm starting to get used to the craziness. Either that, or I'm going crazy myself. Everyone's fine, so that's all that really matters."
"Are you sure you're feeling all right Ranma-kun? You've been looking a bit uncomfortable." the nurse said.
Ranma flushed brightly, and looked around warily for eavesdroppers, "Eh... well, it's my period..."
"Oh..." the nurse replied with a sweat drop.
"You won't tell anyone, right?" Ranma demanded suddenly.
"Of course not, it would be unprofessional. I am bound by law and oath to keep my patients secrets. I do hope however, that you've had the talk, in a manner meant for young women. There are things about a girl's body that they don't usually tell young men that you'd probably need to know if the transformation is that complete." the nurse warned.
Ranma nodded, "An lady in China who spoke some Japanese who was running a clinic there gave me the talk. Kasumi figured out I have periods about a week after I moved in with the Tendos, and she made sure I knew everything I'd need to." she shuddered at the memories.
"If you don't mind my asking, what happens when-"
"-change back during them?" Ranma supplied, she sighed, "There is an uncomfortable pressure that builds up if I stay a guy for too long during the periods, and they tend to get longer if I stay a guy too much. I usually sleep in girl form during them to help get them over with." Ranma explained.
"How do you deal with the bleeding? You obviously don't use tampons, and I've heard you don't wear panties." the nurse pointed out.
"I wear guy's briefs, rather than boxers, during them. Briefs can hold a pad well enough. It's uncomfortable when I'm a guy, but it's better than people finding out." Ranma shuddered at the thought of Nabiki finding out and spreading the knowledge of just how complete Ranma's transformation was.
"Well, if you ever have feminine troubles during school, don't hesitate to come here for help. I usually keep a supply of pads and tampons for girls who forgot to bring them which I sell here, and of course I have aspirin for migraines as well." the nurse pulled out a notepad and began writing on it, "Here, I'll write you a note to get back to class. Sorry I don't have a way to heat up hot water in here for you. If I'm right about your class though, you have PE in just about 15 minutes, so you can change with the showers..." the nurse hesitated, "Actually, I'm not so sure that's a good idea."
"Huh?" Ranma blinked.
"Well, just that, with your transformation being that complete, I'm not sure if it's appropriate for you to be changing and showering in the boys' locker room." the nurse said.
"I'd certainly prefer not to." Ranma groused, "All those perverts keep trying to splash me with cold water and see my girl form when I'm changing, or shut off the hot water to do the same when I'm showering. It's damn annoying."
"Well, I can't send you to the girls' locker rooms for similar reasons. But the PE teacher has their own separate shower and locker room in their office. I'll write you a note requesting they allow you to use that to avoid continued harassment this year." the nurse said, "Don't worry, I won't mention your periods."
"Thanks!" Ranma replied.
...
"I suppose I can let you use my locker rooms." the PE teacher said with a frown, "But it's back to the boy's locker rooms for you if you abuse this privilege, don't leave a mess or let anyone else use this key I'm giving you."
"Thanks sensei!" Ranma replied happily.
"Wait a second-" the teacher said, "we're using the pool today, so you should stay a girl and change into your swimsuit. The freshmen classes use the field and the senior classes the gym during the first couple months of school, the junior classes use the pool during this time."
Ranma scowled, "Um, hold on, I need to go back to the nurse's office, I left something there I think."
"Fine, be quick about it. I want to see you at the pool with everyone else right on time. If you're late, you'll get marked off." the teacher replied.
Ranma bolted out of the office and soon found herself at the nurses office.
"Back so soon?" the nurse asked.
"I need to buy a tampon." Ranma whispered.
The nurse raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure that's a good idea? Don't you only use pads?"
"They get shoved out if I change." Ranma replied awkwardly, "But we're going to the swimming pool today, and I can't wear a pad with a bathing suit."
"Oh." the nurse replied, "Just a minute, I'll get them out."
...
"Hey, Ranma, you okay?" Hiroshi asked as everyone was doing stretches by the side of the pool.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I was just really tired when Hinako-sensei drained me before, that's all." Ranma replied.
"Hey, where were you when we were dressing out?" one boy asked lecherously.
"I'm not dressing out with you guys anymore." Ranma replied with disgust.
"What?! They're letting you use the girls' locker rooms?!" another asked jealously, "Man, I gotta get a curse."
"No you idiot, the girls would never allow that. I'm using the PE teacher's office showers." Ranma snapped.
"What? Why?" another boy asked.
"Why do you _think_?" Akane snapped, "Even perverts like Ranma don't like other perverts being perverted at them."
"Who you callin' a pervert tomboy?" Ranma snapped.
"You!" Akane yelled back.
"Shut up!" the PE teacher snapped, "Everyone should be touching your toes, not teasing each other!"
...
"Haha, the tomboy still can't swim?" Ranma asked, while swimming circles around Akane who was floating in an inner tube.
Akane glared, "Shut up Ranma!"
"Really Saotome-kun, it doesn't matter if Akane-chan can swim so long as she looks good in a bathing suit." Yuka said.
Ukyo snorted, "Really? I suppose Akane's hopeless when it comes to the pool then. Ranchan looks much better in a bathing suit."
"Leave her alone Kounji-san!" Sayuri snapped, "You're always picking on Akane-chan, just because you're jealous Saotome-kun lives with her."
Ukyo fumed, Ranma started getting nervous and paddling away from the coming conflict, hoping she wouldn't get further involved.
"Ranma, you like my bathing suit, right?" Akane demanded.
"What?!" Ranma started.
"You like my bathing suit, right?" Akane hissed.
"It's just a plain school one." Ranma pointed out, "It makes you look kinda dorky." she mused.
Akane fumed, "Ranma you jerk!" she splashed at Ranma as she was unable to reach her.
"Hah! That all you got tomboy?" Ranma teased.
"I look better than Akane in a bathing suit, right Ranchan?" Ukyo asked.
"Huh?" Ranma blinked.
"I dunno, Ukyo-san certainly looks more elegant in a bathing suit, but Akane-san is a lot cuter in one." Daisuke said.
Ukyo glared at him.
"It's actually kind of pathetic, onna-Ranma looks better in a swimsuit than _any_ of the girls in our class." Hiroshi said.
All the girls glared at him.
"You guys are idiots." Ranma said, annoyed.
"Answer me Ranchan! I look better in a swimsuit than Akane right?" Ukyo demanded.
"I dunno..." Ranma said nervously, "it's um... really close."
"If only Saotome-kun's curse worked opposite or he was cured." one of the girls said, "Of the boys, he'd probably look the best in swim trunks, and then we wouldn't have the boys constantly comparing us to onna-Ranma."
"Come on Ranma, tell the truth! I'm cuter than Ukyo in a swimsuit, right?" Akane demanded, "Even you're friends think so!"
"Er... I'll figure it out later." Ranma replied awkwardly.
"Why later? We're both in swimsuits now!" Ukyo said, "You're just trying to get out of insulting Akane. She's a big girl, she can take it."
"Don't worry about insulting Ukyo, she deserves it for crashing our wedding and trying to attack with explosives!" Akane said.
"You both say that, but both of you would hit me if I said _you_ were the one who didn't look as good in the swimsuit." Ranma pointed out angrily.
"What abusive relationships."
"Yeah, Akane-san and Ukyo-san both get jealous way to easily."
"Not that Ranma-san really deserves better with all the trouble he causes."
Ukyo frowned in thought, then her eyes lit up, "Will you be able to tell us later after you've changed back?"
"Sure!" Ranma replied.
Ukyo gasped, causing everyone to turn to her.
"What did I say?" Ranma asked nervously.
Ukyo seemed dumbstruck, and was twitching oddly.
"Wait a sec, why would you be able to tell only once you've changed back to a guy?" Sayuri said, "Unless you only like girls in your male form."
"What?" Ranma demanded.
"You like boys in girl form? Why didn't you tell us?" one boy asked.
"What?! No!" Ranma screeched, "That's gross!"
"So you like girls when you're a girl?" Yuka asked.
"No way! That's wrong!" Ranma said, "I don't like anyone like this!" she insisted, starting to look panicky.
"There's noting wrong with you liking girls." Sayuri said, "After all, you're really a boy."
"Can't you all just leave me alone?" Ranma demanded.
"No," Akane said, "you're always being a jerk, so you deserve it!"
"Health, Learning & Virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem & public honor." Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)