by Spokavriel » Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:52 pm
Actually maybe I should post again sooner. Traveling along instead of saying all of this in exposition later after getting to Nerima is making it a long way until Furinkan. It may be early in the Manga but well it's more than a month of travel. I'll probably edit this post to add in my next scene after I'm done cursing people at this trip to Jusenkyo. Unless there is a reply that will be a delete and repost of this post with the story added.
This picks up just after the previous segment leaves off.
Daniel sits down outside the hut and waits. 'I could have probably tried the mirror but even though I don't know the language or anything like that at least I do know where I am now.' While sitting there listening to the breeze through the trees he slowly starts to notice the sound of people approaching from the far side of the shack. Although the conversation could be heard it was in Chinese.
A woman's voice *It's really no trouble she is more than welcome to stay at my house so she doesn't miss any days of the tournament. Don't forget our scouts have seen that pair of Martial artists apparently following the mapped trail to Jusenkyo.*
The Jusenkyo guide replies *Thank you so much I know Plumb will be on her best behavior. I would have loved to watch too if not for the impending Customers.*
*Daddy I'm not a new born!* Plumb chimed in indignant about her father admonishing her in front of an Amazon.
*Thank you again for helping us fetch fresh water back to the hut. Too bad we can't just heat Jusenkyo water.*
*It's no problem. You need to drink and customers need proof they can change back to avoid a rampage. Would it be ok if I help Plumb pack for her visit as soon as* The amazon gets cut off by Plumb interrupting.
*I'm already packed!* Clearly excited.
*Yes she's packed and wanted to go before I could get your help with this. As soon as the Cistern is filled she's free to go with you.*
Although he heard it all Daniel didn't even get the gist of any of it beyond the little girl sounding excited. Staying where he was sitting he waited for them to finish what they were doing before introducing himself. 'I hope the Jusenkyo guide knows English. I wish that one of my books could have gone through the mirror with me. Just sitting here doing nothing might look suspicious.'
Plumb is the first to notice the unexpected visitor. Since she's not strong enough to do more than supervise she ran around the house to get her pack so she could leave with Per Foom quicker. *Hello? Well you don't look wet.*
"Hi um I'm sorry I don't speak Chinese."
"Engrish?" Plumb asked the man. "Ret me get my Daddy." she runs off back the way she came. The voices end up too quiet for Daniel to hear clearly before all 3 return.
"Hello customer my Daughter Plumb says you speak English?"
"Hello my name's Daniel and if I remember what I read about this place I don't think I count as a customer and hopefully I won't be bathing here any time. Would you believe I ended up here because of a Mirror accident?"
The guide appears a little confused but can also see that the guest doesn't appear to be wet or even geared up for long traveling. "Would you like to come inside and we could talk."
*Daddy can I go now? The water's full and everything!*
"Don't let me interrupt anything I have plenty of time to wait."
*Per foom? Maybe it would be best to head out now. I can keep this guy from following and you can still take the short way home.* The guide doesn't get to wait for a reply as his daughter is already back next to the Amazon with her pack.
*Ok then, But if he understands us you know the Matriarchs will have to deal with him.* In a chilling tone. She then turns to Plumb and in a much more pleasant voice. *Come on if we don't hurry we might miss some of the first matches!* The Guide and Daniel both end up amused at the obvious delight Plumb exhibits as the ladies leave.
"I'm guessing you didn't have to send her away because a stranger was here."
"No Mr. Customer she just going to visit friends. Now you said you got here because of a mirror accident?"
"Yes oh and maybe I should fully introduce myself. My full name is Daniel Thomas Stack. And not too long ago I was asleep at my computer in Reno Nevada of the United States." While mentioning the locations he points to a circle and then a flag on his right sleeve. The Circle is the State Seal for Nevada and the flag is the Stars and Stripes of the US flag. "It seems a doll that I thought was only a character in Anime used my mirror looking for a friend of hers and it caused the big antique to fall over on me. Before she realized she got me stuck on her side of the mirror the thing clearly got broken. Your mirror in the back of the hut was the next closest in that space."
"Well Mr. Stack welcome to Jusenkyo. Most people can't speak my name so please call me just Jusenkyo Guide. That is most unusual way to get here. And you not fall in springs?" The guide moves to the door and clearly motions for Daniel to join him inside.
"I usually go by Daniel or Spokavriel online. And I didn't go near the springs. I read some stories that feature them also online. I'd rather not risk ending up another species."
"Oh you into computernet? Didn't know it have stories of Jusenkyo. Yes many tragic stories of things that die over many years. Not sure how you get here if springs not want you to be customer." The guide pulls out a chair at the table then sits at the other side.
"I spend so much time reading things online I rarely do things outside of my apartment. And there are many stories online mostly involving characters from all sorts of fictional stories and having them either fall in springs of another gender or animal. Have you ever had a guest named Ranma?" Joining the guide at the table and taking off his Pith Helmet.
"I no think so but we can check guest book." The guide just reaches behind him then sets it on the table flipping through the pages. "No, no, not seeing a Ranma."
"Maybe he is completely fictional. But after how I got here I wouldn't bet on it." If Daniel could read Japanese he would have been able to spot the signature of Happosai and had even more reasons to doubt it but single language learning can be quite limiting.
"Perhaps you come greet customers as they arrive at springs tomorrow. Try keep away from water?"
"Sounds like a way to get knocked in. I wish I had any of my stuff. Do you have a computer or know anyone near by that has one?"
"No computer, no phone. Nearest phone at Daughter's friend's place."
Daniel sighs. "Want any help making dinner?" The night ends up progressing with small talk about the areas that Daniel and the Guide live in. It's rare for any guest to stay more than an hour at Jusenkyo without getting cursed and even rarer for one with unusual circumstances to their arrival but the night passes without incident and the next day has the guide go out to attempt to divert the Saotome's from their training choice.
(_)-(_)-(_)
While the Guide is away from the hut Daniel does the Lunch dishes and sweeps up. 'After the fate of the two incoming customers is decided I have to get the guide to help me get to a computer.'
Out at the springs. ^Here, Sir is Legendary "Training Ground of Accursed Springs" Jusenkyo. More than 1000 springs each with it own tragic legend."
^Are you prepared Ranma?^ Said the older spectacled man.
^This place ain't so impressive.^ Ranma replied.
^Guest yesterday ask about a Ranma. You is Strange one, no, Sir? This place very dangerous nobody use now.^
^Follow me Ranma!^ The older one jumps right out to the bamboo poles.
^Wait Pops the guy said someone was ask...^ interrupted by Genma.
^Too afraid to fight me Ranma!^
^I ain't scared a nothin'!^ Ranma jumps out and takes a position on a pole not far from his father.
^I won't go easy on you.^
^That's just the way I like it.^
^Please Sir! Very bad if you fall in Spring!" The commotion is loud enough Daniel looks out from the hut and easily recognizing the pair he ends up sighing. If he could understand Japanese he would notice that this is allot, but not exactly, like what he read about the event.
As Genma gets knocked into a spring Daniel shouts. "Guess you couldn't keep them from the water!"
^Pop? What's up? We done already?^ Ranma gets surprised when a Panda leaps out of the spring. ^Yao! Wha--? Wha--? Wha--?^
^That is "Spring of Drowned Panda"! There is tragic legend very tragic of panda who drown there two thousand year ago!^ The guide ends up moving aside to avoid the water dripping from the Panda's Gi. ^Now whatever fall in that spring... Take body of Panda!^
^Oh no.^ Dodging swipes from Genma/Panda. ^You never said anything about^ A lucky strike cuts off Ranma's complaint as he flies through the air to his own wet appointment.
^Ohhh! Not "Spring of drowned Girl"!^ The guide moves closer to the spring but also keeps out of easy splashing distance with practiced ease. ^There is tragic legend, very tragic, of young girl who drown in spring... One Thousand Five Hundred year ago! Now whoever fall in that spring.^ He keeps talking even though Ranma is screaming at her changed status. ^Take body of Young Girl. See now you Young Girl.^
The enraged Ranma gets out of her spring quickly. A local hermit is dipping mice into a spring of drowned frog among the poles to increase his number of trained pets.
Seeing the cursed Saotome's start their dangerous chase. "Jusenkyo Guide! I don't think you'll be able to catch them! But what about that guy?" Pointing out the Toad Hermit. Looking where I gestured the Guide sees a semi frequent repeat customer and goes over to chastise him again.
*Sir it's very bad if you get wet. Why are you doing that to your animals again?* The guide tries to avert another disaster but the Saotome chase quickly breaks one of the Bamboo poles A chunk hits the guy in the head and he ends up in the water that he only intended to end up on the mice. *You never listen. I warned you time and again when you were making more frogs for performances. You lucky you curse yourself in drowned man spring so you still part human.* As the guide helps the now more fittingly named Toad Hermit away from the spring with all his pets the valley gets a bit quiet.
'Maybe it won't happen.' Daniel thinks to himself. 'It's not even the same year things happened in the Manga so maybe the Lost Boy won't be there.' Daniel watches the guide go into his hut with the Frog Man to change him back to human. Shortly after the door closes a clamor of snapping Bamboo comes from the bluff overhanging at least 30 of the springs. 'Then again they just might not have gotten to him yet.'
^Get back here Pop!^ Ranma rebounds off of the backpack of a guy who just jumped out of the Panda's way sending him over the edge of the Bluff.
"Ahhhhhh!" A male scream is shortly followed by a splash. Daniel knocks on the door to the hut opening it a crack so that the guide can see who it is.
"Daniel I helping a Customer right now."
"I'm sorry about the interruption but I think you have another customer. I just heard a young man scream followed by a splash from over by the bluff." While they were talking the hermit left. He already said his thanks before the interruption and was about to leave anyway.
"So many customer. Good thing Cistern filled yesterday." The Guide gets up and comes back out of the Hut again. Not too far away we see the Panda knock out Ranma. But before Genma goes into gloating mode his stomach rumbles. "If you not hear other customer I probably start cooking for Panda customer."
"The scream came from over that way."
"Please show. I know it risk but no want man drown twice same day." With a sigh Daniel leads the way. Genma starts foraging not even realizing he could eat the Bamboo yet and trying to find an animal or some berries like he would usually have the boy collect for him to eat.
"Hey look there's a pack floating at the edge of that one." They both move closer. A small creature is clinging to the pack. 'I guess it's before Ryouga started carrying that Umbrella his pack would never have floated with that thing attached.'
"Customer fall in "Spring of Drowned Black Piglet" very..." the tail gets interrupted by Daniel.
"I'm sorry but didn't you say you wanted me to show you to him to avoid his drowning twice in the same day? Could the tale wait until after you get him out?" The Guide nods then starts going the other way around one of the springs to get to the piglet. Daniel carefully starts making his way back out of the springs. Sadly the Hermit lost track of one of his recently made frogs and it hops onto his bare foot the moist feel of the amphibian skin startling him and making him jump taking him into his own spring.
The Guide is soon at the spring of his 5th customer of the day. He's carrying the pack and the Piglet "See you is Customer. You fall in not so tragic "Spring of Nearly drown wingless flying girl." Story of girl who fall in spring but get saved by man in white coat and taken away through a hole in the sky 15 year ago."
Getting out of the water Daniel has been changed to an approximately 13 year old girl with Strawberry blond hair. ^It wasn't on purpose something slimy was on my foot.^
^You Sir speak Japanese and English? But last night you say you only speak English?^ From this point on I'm going to switch the ^^ to English and "" to Japanese it will be easier since more characters know and speak Japanese now.
"Don't tell me. Let me guess Some of the springs have curses that effect knowledge or personality right?"
"Few change personality like Spring of Drown Virtuous Man. But never hear of spring teach language before." The pig wakes up and gives a small squeal. "But we get you to Hut and change you and Mr Customer back and see about two other Mr Customers before Panda eat house."
"If I knew where the fresh water spring was I'd go fetch more. Last night you said you were planning for two customers and clearly made preparations in case of what just happened to me but now there have been Five." They get clear of the springs and continue on toward the house.
"No worry always expect few extra customer. We fill Cistern because there no rain last few weeks. But now is Customers rain be back soon." Opening the door to let them inside.
"It almost sounds like you let the Martial Artists get to the springs because without them it might have stayed dry longer." They both stop seeing Genma/Panda heating water in a giant Wok. "I'll get the rice don't let him cook the other customer." Daniel goes through the third of 3 doors off the main room of the hut. The first being a small bathroom of sorts the second being Plumb's room and the third being the store room or pantry.
"Growf?" The Panda spots the Pig and starts salivating.
"No Sir Customer is not for eating." ::The guide gets a tea pot that isn't steaming and pours a little on the back of his hand before using it to reverse the Pig's curse. "See is person not pork. Cold water activate curse. Warm water reverse until next time get wet by cold water." The guide then pours the rest of that kettle onto Genma.
"Um how come he has clothes on and I don't."
"Sorry Mr Customer. Bigger Animals end up keeping clothes sometime, little ones not so often. I have your pack." The guide gives the soaked pack back to it's owner. "Maybe need dry a little. I get robe."
Ryouga takes a close look at Genma. "Don't I know you from somewhere?" He pauses but only for a moment. "Aren't you Mr Saotome? Ranma's father?"
"And your the Hibiki boy. Worthless brat refused to continue our trip because of some fight you never showed up for."
"I got there on the 4th day and no one was there!"
Coming back out of the pantry. "Oh jeese can't you guys wait until he has some clothes on?" Not really aware of it Daniel ends up blushing nearly as much as Ryouga. The still wet white dress shirt doesn't leave much for the Hibiki boy's imagination.
"Sir here is robe to use 'til clothes dry. Sory if it a bit big no have many."
Ryouga dives for the robe getting covered quickly. "Um where's Ranma?"
"If I'm reading figures correctly."Daniel pointedly looks at Genma's waist. "I'd say he knocked Ranma out so that he wouldn't have to share whatever he could find to eat."
"What are you implying Girl." Genma replies with more than a hint of a growl.
"Only that you knocked out this Ranma person then looked for food without intending to share it with him. He's probably close by so I'll go out and look for him. Hopefully I won't have to go near the springs again. Maybe after I get back we can all have proper introductions and some food." She heads out quickly spotting Ranma before completing a circle of the Hut.
"What's her problem? She doesn't look Chinese is she adopted?"
"No He other customer that listen to warnings and try stay dry but fail." With a sigh the guide picks up the bowl of uncooked rice from the table. "At least he dry 'til try help."
"So he became a worthless girl too."
"What do you mean too?" Ryouga doesn't really believe the young girl that just left was ever a guy but can't avoid being curious about what the fat martial artist just said.
"Oh the shame to have such a worthless son that he would let himself get cursed to be..." The door slams open hitting Genma in the gut cutting off his rant.
"Just like I thought. Left her laid out on the ground right out in the open. It's a good thing those Musk you mentioned last night weren't around they probably would have locked her and carted her off by now."
"That's Ranma?" Ryouga's disbelief continues to grow. "Wait she's the girl who kicked me off the cliff!"
"She might not have even seen you if she was still after the panda." Nodding at Genma. "I saw him knock the guy into the spring of drowned girl even after he had been changed. It's not like a little listening couldn't have kept her high and dry."
"Turn about is fair play. He deserved what he got for making me a Panda." Genma puffs up crossing his arms.
The Jusenkyo Guide gets another tea kettle that has just started to lightly steam and pours it over the two girl curse forms turning them back to their Male forms. "You is no fighting in here. No space."
"I'm not a fighter. I know better than to fight a Martial artist with fists. If I even tried it might as well be marked up as suicide." Sitting down at the table and putting his Pith Helmet back on. "I'm kinda surprised that Genma appears to be carrying more weight than me. I mean I spent years doing nothing but using my computer but this guy is skilled enough to do those leaps. I have to wonder just how much do you eat to keep that flab?"
"It's all Muscle and I don't have to stand here and be insulted by a weak Gaijin."
"No you don't. And may I suggest the Hut would feel a little less crowded if you sat down." I gesture to an empty chair next to him. "As far as the insult goes you don't exactly gain muscle mass like that unless you spend allot of your time doing little more than sitting and balancing your Torso."
"I have a question. Just how old are you?" Ryouga is trying hard to keep up with all the changes to his world view and is now more than a little mentally lost instead of physically for once.
"Well unless I ended up in another time or my curse ends up messing with my real age some time down the line last I checked I was 30." A Groan follows his statement coming from Ranma laying on the only bed in this room.
"Baka Oyaji"
"It's your own fault for slacking off in your training." Genma takes an imperious tone.
"I say it's more like the Father's fault for starving his kid. Ribs aren't that apparent on accident."
"Mr Customers, now that we all awake we have introduction." The guide tries to stave off another argument.
"Well since I'm the guest who's been here longer I guess I'll go first. My name is Daniel Thomas Stack a resident of Reno, Nevada in the United States. I wonder if I set any records for staying dry as a guest before falling into the spring of, what did you call it, Wingless flying girl?"
"Maybe should change to Almost Drown Young Japanese Wingless Flying Girl." The guide tries to help out.
"I'm Genma Saotome, Grandmaster of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. And my" Interrupted by Ranma.
"I can speak for myself Pops. I'm Ranma Saotome of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts." He finishes with a slight glare to his father.
"I'm Ryouga Hibiki and I was chasing Ranma for running out on our Man to Man Fight."
"Ryouga when did you get here? And I waited 3 days in that field behind your house before Pops here hit me over the head with somethin' and dragged me off."
"And Customers all call me Jusenkyo Guide." Checking the Wok. "I think Rice ready now."
"I think it might be better if I get some water and switch form. I don't want to be the target of too many cool water accidents." Daniel gets up and goes to the bathroom for more discrete access to a sink. 'I doubt any of them will care just wanting to stay in birth form.'
"What did he mean cool water accidents?" Ryouga and Ranma say almost simultaneously.
"Mr. Customer meant he want be girl to avoid being splashed by cool water. Is part of curse to make you get splashed so you not spend all time as if you not cursed." The guide starts setting out some plates and dishing up rice with pickled vegetables.
Daniel returns with her clothes adjusted to look better while in cursed form. The pants have been cuffed up and are still insanely over sized but the way the green cloth belt is cinched up they aren't falling off and the shirt looks almost like a tent on her. "That and with most of the cold water close to us carrying other curses why take the risk? It's not the end of the world to spend some time as a girl."
"Speak for yourself." Ranma grumbles.
"Well you spent a little time as a girl earlier and the world does still appear to be here. So in the most literal way can't ya just go with it?" Sitting back down and starting on the rice. "It's not like you won't ever be a girl again Ranma. I mean it's just a bit of cold water away."
Genma storms out of the Hut after having stolen most of Ranma's meal. 'There's no way that girl was ever a man. What does the honor less twit think she's doing to my boy. I'll show her later. There was a spring that made this mess so there has to be one to fix it.'
Back inside Daniel continues. "What's so different or bad about girls anyway?"
"Their a distraction from the art, their weak and stupid." Ranma stops talking seeing that no one appears to believe the facts. 'I'm not gonna be a weak silly little girl!'
"The way you were chasing down the panda earlier didn't look weak to me."
"You wouldn't understand. You ain't a Martial artist."
I know exactly what Genma is going to do and people in Spamville can make educated guesses but I wanted to get some input before going much further. So how is it going for a Self insert so far?
Last edited by
Spokavriel on Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:24 am, edited 1 time in total.