Ranma 1/2: A New Awakening Alternate Continuation (minor crossovers) By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) Co-author & Concept by: "Jerry" starfire@brainerd.net Chapter One The soft sounds of early morning, stretched gently over Nerima, and to the ears of Nerima's premiere martial artist. Ranma woke earlier then usual. His internal clock seemed a bit off kilter. Most of the time, Ranma liked to sleep in when he could, but he would not let himself miss training. Early morning was the best time for it. Ranma laid in his futon, trying to remember the really strange dream he had last night. It fluttered in and out of his consciousness, but never long enough for him to remember anything, a flash of color, a quick sound, but nothing definite. Ranma shrugged his shoulders and was about to roll off his futon, when he noted that he was actually, a she. Waking in _his_ female body was annoying, but she was getting use to it. She checked the futon and the floor for water both were dry. [Nabiki must have been taking pictures again *sigh* well at least it helps pay my way, I just wish I didn't feel so used. Hmmm, it's dry?] At finding them dry she looked around for a glass or cup. There were none in the room. Getting up scratching the back of her head in thought [Must have gone to bed this way, funny I don't remember being female before bedtime? Oh, well who knows with a violent tomboy around it's possible.] Putting those thoughts aside, after all she _was_ getting used to her female body, but she would never admit it to anyone. Ranma put on his standard red Chinese satin shirt, black Kung Fu pants and slippers. Then turned around and kicked a lazy panda out of his futon, through the open second story window. This started their morning training ritual. It seemed Genma liked sleeping in panda form. It was warmer with all that fur. Her father still had not realized that she had been holding back for the last two years, especially after the Mt. Phoenix incident. The only challenge she had in fighting him was trying to make it appear that he was presenting her _with_ a challenge. Which hasn't been the case for the longest of time. "Come on old man, let's see what you got? It must be better then that?" Ranma shouted, following her father out the window. The panda held out a sign, as he tried to right himself /I am just warning.../ *SPLASH*! The panda emerged from the koi pond holding up a sopping wet sign /You can do better then that, _boy_!/ Ranma landed in the yard in a ready stance glaring at her father, waiting for him to make the first move. She didn't have long to wait, as Genma took to the sky from the pond, a spout of water some three feet in height trailing behind him. He did a flip in the air and headed toward his son with a foot..um paw extended. Ranma waited till the last possible moment before she ducked under his leg, came up behind her father and did a spin kick, knocked him face first into one of the walls surrounding the yard. Ranma's frustration grew as the battle progressed, simply because, in spite of her best efforts to tone down her fighting, she found herself repeatedly knocking the old man into the koi pond. She was going out of her way to leave what she thought were wide openings, for him to take advantage of, but the old man moved so slowly that if she didn't attack she would blow the charade entirely, waiting for him. Genma after having four consecutive splashdowns in the pond, without landing a single hit in return, called a halt to Ranma's exercise. /Hold, that is enough of a beating for today, boy, your getting sloppy, you need work on your technique some more if you want me to continue to workout with you!/ Genma tell her, with a sign as he hauls himself out of the pond. Ranma rolled her eyes and snorted her disgust. She turned and walked into the Dojo, to start doing some katas. Not long after the end of the battle, Kasumi brought the kettle of hot water. She first went over to the panda, pouring some of the water over him, she loved watching the change from panda too human it fascinated her. Than Kasumi headed over to Ranma, she waited till she was finished with her katas, then went to pour the rest of the water over her. As Kasumi started to pour she noticed that something was different about Ranma's female body, it looked different somehow, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. When Kasumi finished pouring the rest of the hot water over Ranma's head, she was stunned when nothing happened. Kasumi blinked "Oh my!" "OH NO! NOT AGAIN!" Ranma shouted as she stared down at herself. "_Boy_ how can you _let_ yourself get stuck as a girl again, oh the shame to have such a son, as..." Genma ranted until Ranma punted him into LEO (lower earth orbit, for you new fans). "Perhaps the water had cooled down? I will go heat-up another kettle" Kasumi said heading back into the house. Ranma followed Kasumi to the kitchen surprisingly not as upset as she thought she should be, and this bothered her a little, ok maybe a lot. After three kettles of hot water, still nothing happened. Ranma finally went to take a bath, she spent 10 minutes in a hot furo and there was still no change. Sulking only a little Ranma got out of the tub, and went to get dressed for school. When she entered her room she found a girl's Furinkan School uniform and underclothing waiting for her, along with Kasumi. Kasumi greeted Ranma with her 'sternest' smile. It always amazed Ranma how gentle; soft-spoken Kasumi could wield so much power with just a simple smile. "Ranma, I really think that since you will be remaining a female, that you should dress appropriately. It is really the proper thing to do." Ranma was about to protest, until Kasumi gave her, the 'I know best smile and I won't take no for an answer'. Therefore, with a sinking heart, Ranma felt her doom approaching. While Kasumi helped her get dressed, Kasumi also redid her hair, and against the definite protests of the martial artist applied a light amount of makeup. While she worked on Ranma, Kasumi again noticed something not quite right about the cursed girl. It seemed her ears, were just slightly on the pointy side, and her eyes a wider almond shape. Kasumi just shook her head, that was not possible, and she happily went about helping Ranma dress. /*\*/*\ Although everyone knew about her curse Kasumi felt it would be better if she went with the name Ranko just to stem any confusion for those that didn't know since she couldn't change back. As Akane and Ranko were running to school, so they would not be late, Ranko decided to stay firmly on the ground and not walk on the fence. Ranko was deep in thought, her mind drifting back to this morning. She was still in shock, she still wanted to know how Kasumi could talk her into wearing girl clothing, wear her hair loose, and makeup just by smiling that blasted smile of hers. She was so deep in thought she never heard what Akane had said to her. All she heard as the hammer came down was Akane's usual battle cry. "_RANMA_ NO BAKA!" Standing over her fiancé with her fists clenched tight around her mallet. "_WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR_!" She yelled at the youngest Tendo. "Stupid violent tomboy!" She whispered under her breath. "I asked you a question and you were ignoring me!" She growled, at the cursed girl. "_WHAT!_ Because I _DON'T_ give you my undivided attention, because I might be having some emotional problems about being stuck, and trying to figure out what to do, you _HIT_ me? Oh, jeez Akane _GROW UP ALREADY_!" Akane got angrier, then stopped when she looked into the sad confused eyes of the young girl in front of her. She bowed her head and had enough decency to look guilty. "I'm sorry Ranma, is there something I can help you figure out?" She asked hopefully, Ranma nodded, and leaned in conspiratorially. "_How_ does she do it?" Akane looked at the redhead with a completely confused look, while Ranma continued. "All Kasumi had to do was _SMILE_ and it was as if I had no will to resist her suggestions at all!" Her head shaking, when she looked down at her clothing. Akane just laughed as they continued on to school, she was about to answer, when they noticed they were getting close to school. Ranko cringed and Akane began to glow when they heard the familiar sound of a bicycle bell, but watched as Shampoo rode by them on the fence. [Well, what do ya know?] Ranko thought, as she slowed and watched the Amazon ride off looking for her Airen. [I might actually have one day of peace for a change.] As she thought about a quiet relaxing day, Ranko started to laugh a little bit. Akane stopped and turned her head glaring at her baka fiancé. She still can't believe Ranma was wearing girls clothes. When she came down this morning Akane was to say the least stunned. ***Flashback*** "Come on Ranma we're going to be late!" Akane shouted up the stairs. Soon she hears Ranma coming, she goes to the stairs to wait for her, when she looks up and sees Ranma in a girls school uniform, and looking better in it then she did, she clenched her fists and saw red. Her aura exploded around her as she screamed at her jerk of a fiancé. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING DRESSED LIKE THAT! YOU PERVERT HOW DARE YOU EMBARRASS ME!" Akane pulled her biggest mallet from mallet space and was about to pound Ranma into goo, when Kasumi called to her from behind the redheaded girl. "_Akane!_ That is enough! You will leave Ranma alone, I made her dress this way and I _will_ not have you beating on her. Or did you _forget_ the promise of _Honor_ you made me?" She finished by giving Akane a look she very rarely saw on her sisters face until Ranma and his father showed up. Akane bowed her head in shame as she remembered her promise never to strike anyone in anger. She then looked up and turned from Ranma and headed out the door. Ranma followed after with both their lunches and books since Akane left without hers. ***End Flashback*** "What's so funny _Ranko_?" She jibed, still slightly annoyed. Surprisingly, Ranko's hot-tempered fiancée's teasing did not really seem to bother her today. She just continued to laugh as she walked to catch up to Akane. In between chuckles she explained why she was laughing. "I don't believe this. I change my clothing and hairstyle and Shampoo didn't even notice me. I just might have some peace for a change. If I had known that was all it would have taken I would have done it sooner." Ranko laughed even more. Akane looked at Ranko, it was then that she noticed that her body and face look a little different, then usual but she couldn't place what it was, and her laugh sounded suspiciously like tiny bells. When they neared the school, they saw Kuno waiting at the gate. He was standing _guard_ the wind ruffling his hair. He wore his Kendo habbaka and had his bokken laying across his arm. At the same time they spotted the upper classman, Kuno saw them. "Oh my tigress Akane and my Pig Tail Goddess, how my heart soars at seeing the both of you. Come to me, my loves and show me of the love thee hath for my divine self!" He rushed forward with his arms out and hearts in his eyes. Akane was getting ready to take her anger out on Kuno, when she noticed Ranko was not getting ready to fight him. She saw a mischievous smile began to form on her lips. Ranko reached out and took hold of Akane's arm to stop her then in a hurried whisper said. "I have am idea, just play along, ok." She didn't even wait for a reply as she jumped into action. "Oh Kuno, we know that your love for us transcends all earthly bounds" Ranko spoke in a very sweet and bell like voice. "But I am afraid that for you, our love can never be." She hung her head the smile forming again. Akane watching confused. "Indeed! It is because of that black hearted Sorcerer Ranma Saotome. He has put his evil spell upon you both." Kuno shouted as he waved his bokken dramatically in the air. "Oh no great Kuno, Ranma did not put us under any spells." Ranko said with a wide-eyed look. "It is...who we are and what you are that keeps us apart." She finished with her hands clasped to her chest, and dawning begins to form on Akane's face. "Wha..what are you saying?" Kuno asked, with a surprised look. Placing the back of her hand to her forehead Ranko continues. "You are a proud warrior from a house of proud Samurai. You must marry someone from your own class." Turning her head, as if to hide her tears, when she was actually trying to hide a smile. Akane wanted her turn at the king moron of Furinkan High School, so she took up the _play_ giving Ranko time to calm down and get her laughter under control, even though to Kuno it looked as if she was sobbing. He started to reach for his pig-tailed goddess when Akane grabbed his arm to distract him, so as not to blow their fun. "Oh, great Kuno what she says is true, you must forget us for we are beneath your great presence." Akane turned to hide her smile, realizing how hard it is to keep a straight face. "For you see, great Samurai warrior, I am without a honorable Samurai name nor do I have a dowry to give your proud family." Akane then takes up the dialogue from Ranko, while she flanked Kuno on the other side. "And I am of a poor martial art family, the only thing we have is but, our small home and our Dojo." Akane used her innate acting talent to its fullest advantage. Covering her face and turning away dramatically from Kuno to hide her own smile. She was starting to laugh, and worked to make it sound like sobs as she continued to lay it thick for the moronic Kendoist. Once she was sure she wouldn't laugh she turned to face him, she even managed to force tears from her eyes. Ranko was surprised to see the tears. [_WOW_ I am gonna have to ask how she did that!] She listened as Akane laid it on like thick peanut butter. "You _must_ marry within your proud class. If you marry below your noble lineage, your clan will surely disown you, for you would have insulted your ancestry by marrying one of us." "But my loves!" Kuno cried as he backed away, unshed tears in his eyes. "How can I the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High give up my love for thee? But, alas, I must honor my ancestors and do so for the honor of the Kuno Clan!" Then he turned and ran for the school. As soon as Kuno was out of ear shot, Akane and Ranko broke down and released the laughter they knew they couldn't have held any longer. Thank Kami-sama, he had left when he did. They laughed until their sides ached. The other students were shocked, then slowly they began to applaud, it first started with Akane's friends, then Ranko's friends joined until finally the whole schoolyard was applauding the performance. Akane and Ranko bowed graciously to them. "You know that he'll be back after you two again." Nabiki said as she shook her head pityingly. "So true, but he _will_ leave us alone for a day or two." Ranko said with a sly smile on her lips. "Now you can sell more pictures to him and at a higher price too." She smiled impishly at the surprised look on Nabiki's face. "You knew I was getting pictures of you!" Nabiki asked with a shocked look on her face. "I had known for a while now, _oh come on Nabiki, did you really believe that _I_ with people attacking me in the middle of night or trying to sleep with me, _did not_ know you were taking pictures?" She rolled her eyes at the naiveté of the Tendo financier. "_However_, things are going to change, from now on Akane and me get 10% of all money you make on us!" Ranko stood looking at Nabiki and using Kasumi's smile. "_NOW_ wait just a damn minute here..ok Ranma, I will give you and Akane 10% of the take." Giving in as she saw both her sister and Ranko start to glow with looks of promised pain. [I don't believe I am agreeing to this!] Nabiki thought to herself as she walked away.