by WG_Writer » Sat Sep 04, 2010 3:03 am
Ok here is the next part, Tell me if anything is an obvious cross over, there really shouldn't be also tell me if the plot has become obvious yet. while I know where its going I need feedback to ensure max confusion. I know some of it is more tell and not show but with the story going the way it is I need to keep certain details quiet until the end.
The next day was Sunday, however nothing seemed out of the ordinary for the entire day, until late afternoon that was. Ranma knowing some of what was to occur tried to be prepared, he had attempted to mitigate disaster, and yet for all he could do it was doomed to fail. Briefly he had considered paying Nabiki off to give her a way to make money, but even he could realize the problems in this. So he tried his plan anyway.
He started by calling Ukyo, “Listen Ukyo, I am going on a training trip so I need supplies. Can you whip me up some takeout and bring it to the school?”
He put up a half hearted attempt to prevent her from joining him, but listening to her he knew regardless what he said it would only end in failure on his part, he shrugged, he hated to do this to her but in order to protect her he decided he would risk the beat down he would get later.
Next was the hard part, he called the Cat Cafe and repeated the request only asking for Ramen, Shampoo was a solid warrior, but smart enough to see this was a setup she wasn’t. Hopefully his stunt by arranging for the two girls to be waiting for him at the same spot for the same reason should also tie up the others.
Timing was essential for this, it had to be done right, or he would miss the ‘bus.’ And that could not be allowed to happen.
There was simply no planning for the Kuno’s in any way so he let them alone, this left him with the remaining variables. Both families. Kasumi was easy as she was out shopping. But this lift his parents, and the three remaining Tendo family members.
He knew he had to get Akane out and time was running out. Looking at the clock he wracked his brain for ideas. There had to be something, anything that he could do. It was then that he had an idea, it was a risk, and it could hurt Akane, but it might solve most of the remaining trouble if not all of it. It took about ten minutes to walk to school and the others will be there in fifteen minutes. Time was short.
Slowly he started to pack his bag, he knew that the only one who would hear is Nabiki as the adults were in the sitting room and Akane was in the dojo. Nabiki however was reading Manga in her room. And at the sounds of him obviously shifting things in his travel pack she came to investigate. She smirked at the blackmail material in the making.
As she stalked towards her patsy she grinned, “So Saotome where are you going in such a rush?” Of course she had already made a guess.
Internally he smirked but showed no real sign of it, as he had intentionally kept his back turned, “Training trip.”
Clicking her tongue in her mouth she smiled wider, as she circled her prey, intentionally leaning down to look at him in his eyes, the fact it also made it easier for her to let him look down her shirt was a plus for coercion tactics, “Ohh really?” She tried to find a logical reason to connect his leaving suddenly to the other fiancées, and Ranma could see it, it was his plan, although if it were luck, design, or accident that he was right the effect was the same, she had spared a quick glance in the pack. “Really Ranma-kun you shouldn’t lie to me, I am almost your family, you are planning on running off with one of other fiancées or am I wrong?”
Ranma backed up a few steps, pack in hand sealing it, “Of course not!”
She wasn’t fooled, or so she thought, “Tisk tisk Ranma-kun you know you have no poker face. Now where are you going to meet them?”
He turned his back and went to a pile of scrolls that were set aside as if he were browsing them and shifted through them, He tried to ignore Nabiki and brush her off, “Look Nabiki I just don’t have time for this.” He casually left the room, ‘accidently’ leaving behind a note that was proof positive of his guilt, it simply had the place and time of the meeting, but not the attendees. After she took off to find Akane, Ranma returned to the room and hid in the closet, not creative, but he knew that everyone would rather dash out on a man hunt then to do something so basic.
It happened as he predicted, Akane charged into the room and confirmed he was gone, he also heard yelling from down stairs so he knew that the parents were now on the war path. Listening carefully he heard Akane leave the room in a huff and her heave angry steps as she took off to the lower level, more muffled yelling came then it faded away.
Mission accomplished, now he just had to wait. Ranma grinned as he came out of hiding and used the technique to hide things on him to hide his pack, it was small enough to not be an issue despite his still not being as good as Mousse was. All it really contained was a couple changes of clothes, some rations, and ‘light’ camping gear. ‘Light’ meaning a small tent barly big enough for him, a small bedroll and light blanket. And a few small cooking items, in truth the entire size of the pack was smaller than some what he saw some students use.
He spared a pitied glance at his old heavy pack but it was done, shrugging he knew realistically there was no saving it or taking it, so his options were limited. He left behind anything he did not think he would need, sure he knew something was going to happen but the ‘what’ was the question. This was why he tried so hard to get everyone away, disaster was coming and he had to get involved.
He knew his ally fairly well and she always delivered on what he needed to know when she did show. But she had her duties and he was at the moment a means to the end that those he believed were behind her needed. Even so the sword was important.
As Ranma moved down stairs to wait by the door to the yard and wait he thought back to his learning of the sword and what would lead up to now.
--
Ranma was ten and had in months past just left Ukyo and the Neko-ken in his wake, one he missed the other he wished to be rid of permanently. He was currently alone in a field that his father had decided to use. As was usually the case in the summer especially during school breaks, he was nowhere near a town, village, or any sign of civilization. All there was was him and a pole in the ground. His father had decided that it was time for some control exercises and endurance training. So he was to keep hitting the wooden pole in marked patterns without breaking it. He glanced to his side where stacks of both broken and unbroken poles piled showing that his father was right about him not knowing his strength anymore and needing to adjust.
Sighing he went to continue the practice when someone had made their presence known. Looking at the stranger with concern as there should be nobody near except his pop he listened as the stranger spoke, “You have determined eyes young one. Eyes that scream that you want to be the best.”
The young boy nodded unsure what to say, he wanted to shout out about becoming the number one martial artist in the world and yet this stranger who was standing in the dark shadow of an old tree made his young mind uneasy.
“I can see the future for some people.”
The child remained quiet hoping his Pop would return soon.
The stranger continued, “Your future is one with much suffering, but that is why I am here.” The man step forward slightly however anything that could easily identify him beyond him looking as old as his pop was hidden by his business attire. Somehow this made him seem even more dangerous. “I have not come to hurt you but I need to leave an impression, this way you will understand when you are older.”
The old man in a black business suit sighed at Ranma’s look of worry and confusion, “I will not hurt you and will leave in a moment, but I need to say this. You will face may trials in your life, Your first big one is learning to change, this will be a hard one, and you will be hurt by it. But remember change happens, and it can never be undone, but change can happen again if the time is right. Next comes humility, this will be hard but it something you need to do. Finally, Sacrifice, what are you willing to pay to win when all is on the line? Just remember dying is easy, living is hard.” As the stranger stepped back into the shadow and seemed to vanish into it a final parting phrase is heard, “Once you endure these challenges, these trials, seek your sword, it’s your birth right as the first born."
Ranma broke himself from the memory, he never told his father about the stranger, but that was only his first encounter with the mysterious group.
Storm trooper effect works against good guys as well.
No matter how strong you are, there is always a teenager able to beat you without breaking a sweat.
A blind Paladin can only hear half truths
A deaf Paladin can only see half truths
Either way the Paladin is a berserker