NOTES!
IMPORTANT NOTES READ THIS BEFORE PROCEEDING!
This story is not mine, I am NOT the author. You want the truth! You can't handle the truth! But I shall tell you anyway. I found this story on the fanfic(dot)net download archive, rotting, turning to digital dust, being forgotten and not enjoyed by the masses. As the story, is just so good. I have taken action to bring this story to you the people, where it may be enjoyed in its fullest. But nay, have no fear of reprisals of the great and powerful author, as a servant, I have dutifully gained his permission to post this work of fanfiction genius upon this humble medium of fanfiction(dot)net. As this is said, please, I beseech thee to give proper credit, where the credit is most certainly due, and that would be to the great and powerful fanfiction author known as "Disruptor!" his magnificence is to be contacted only by the bravest of souls lest you face his wrath vilanous cur!
--- Woah, did I become Kuno? Anywho, the author has concerns about spybots and such getting his email from this site. Frankly, I don't blame him. As that is, I'm to refrain from putting his email on fanfictionnet, and instead, any and all comments and worthy reviews I'll send along to him. Of course, you could still look up his email from either fanfic(dot)net or by going to this stories listing in the PRFI (Penultimate Ranma Fanfic Index) Wonderful site, truly wonderful.
I would furthermore wish to thank "evilKaishaku" and many more thanks to "Howard Russell" for all his hard work in reformating the story, and providing the long lost, 'final' chapters. Let's all give them a big ol' ffnet round of applause!
Now then, on to the GREAT AND POWERFUL DISCLAIMERS! Muwahahaha!
"Disruptor's" :
Disclaimer: All characters that are used belong to their respective creators. I do this for fun and do not make any money off of it. Please don't sue me. The stories are mine, so please don't use them without asking me.
"Tuisto's" : All characters in the story are subject to Rumiko Takahashi and all parties, that include, but may not be limited to. VIZ studios, corporate holders of the legal copyrights, proxy agents, and the guy that got Mrs. Takahashi's coffee this morning. That said, Since there's no profit in this and I'm only doing this for the kicks, so um, could ya, like you know not sue me? Thanks.
Ranma-chan: Genie of the Ring
by Disruptor
Chapter 1
Sitting cross-legged in his room at the Tendo home, Ranma held a gold ring with a ruby inset. Holding the ring between his thumb and forefinger, he carefully studied it, occasionally glancing at the letter addressed to him from the Jusenkyo guide that had accompanied it. Suddenly the door slammed open and Akane was standing there.
"RANMA!" Akane yelled, "What do you think you're doing? We're going to be late for class!"
Ranma looked up and a glazed look slowly cleared from his eyes.
Akane noticed the ring he was holding, and asked, "What is that ring, and why do you have it?"
Ranma twitched and started stammering.
"Err. Um. This ring just arrived from Jusenkyo. The letter that accompanied it said that it relates to my curse somehow. I've been trying to figure out how ever since it arrived"
"When did it arrive?"
"Yesterday afternoon."
Akane rolled her eyes and said, "Study it later; we've got to leave for school."
Slipping the ring onto his right hand, Ranma thought to himself, Maybe this will allow me to switch back just by thinking about it.
Ranma glanced at the ring, hoping that it would free him, at least partially, of his curse. For some reason, having the ring on made him feel a bit better. It felt like he was charged with energy. Akane impatiently stamped her foot, thinking that Ranma was going to be disappointed again.
Ranma looked at Akane and said, "I'm coming, Akane."
After a quick breakfast the two rushed off to school. They had just passed the length of the fence when, out of nowhere, Ranma was splashed- once again- by the old lady cleaning her sidewalk. She grabbed her head with both hands and groaned like she was in pain.
"Ranma," Akane asked worriedly, "are you all right?"
"Just a headache, Akane," Ranma said weakly, while waving her off in an attempt to show that she was all right. "I'll be fine,"
Looking closely at her face, Akane responded, "I don't think so. I think we'd better get you to Doctor Tofu's."
Ranma-chan looked up sharply, "I'm fine Akane. I'm-"
Ranma's words got cut off as the ruby in the ring flashed a bright red and Ranma vanished. The ring fell to the ground with a tink as it landed in a small puddle of water.
"Ranma?" Akane called while looking around nervously.
Akane first thought that Ranma might be playing a joke on her. That idea soon vanished, when she replayed in her mind how Ranma disappeared.
"Ranma, where did you go?" Akane said, nearly crying.
Akane spotted the ring that Ranma had been wearing. It was damp from lying in the puddle.
What happened? Akane thought miserably, while picking it up.
Maybe this had something to do with his vanishing.
Ranma where are you? Akane thought sadly while drying the ring, by rubbing it with the hem of her skirt.
Red smoke poured out of the ring and coalesced into the form of Ranma-chan. Ranma's clothes had undergone an alteration. Ranma was wearing a red harem girl's outfit. The silk pleated pants were slightly transparent. She was wearing a red silk halter that just had enough opaqueness to remain decent. A very abbreviated short sleeved vest that was more for decoration than covering, was also worn. Ranma-chan had her ears pierced with small ruby earrings. Each of her wrists had a gold metal bracer firmly clamped around it, and her slippers were made of red velvet. Around her neck was a pendant necklace.
"What is your wish, master?" Ranma-chan said involuntarily, a glazed look in her eyes.
"Ranma!"
Ranma looked down at herself and then at Akane. Ranma put her hands on her face and groaned.
"What happened to me?" Ranma said, disgustedly "Why am I in this outfit? Is this the lech's doing?"
Ranma looked around nervously, painfully aware that the clothes she was now wearing showed a lot more of her form than she was comfortable with.
Akane just stood there dazed for a second, before speaking.
"I wish I knew what had happened to you," Akane whispered, but loud enough for Ranma to hear.
Ranma's eyes glazed over as she felt power building inside her. Her eyes flashed red as she released the energy to grant Akane's wish.
Ranma-chan, robotically, said, "Granted."
Information came flooding into Akane's mind about what had happened to Ranma and what Ranma could do.
Ranma, I'm sorry for this, Akane thought and then said, "Ranma, I wish that you were back in your normal clothes, and I wish that we were in our classroom."
Ranma felt the power once again building within her. Her eyes turned the same color as the ruby as she released the magical energy.
As soon as she released the energy, Ranma said, "Granted."
After a flash of ruby light, Akane and Ranma found themselves in their classroom. Ranma shook her head to clear out the fuzziness she was feeling and looked down at herself. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw she was in her daily clothes and not that weird get-up. Akane thought about removing the ring and putting it in her desk for safekeeping, but decided against it.
Ranma went outside the classroom to find some hot water. Trying her best to put that incident out of her mind, she failed miserably. After Ranma changed, he was challenged by Kuno.
"Foul sorcerer, Saotome," Kuno spouted, while raising his bokken, "I know not what foul magic you used to get past my loyal servant, but know this: I shall smite thee none the less and free Akane and the pig-tailed girl."
Ranma, annoyed, said, "Kuno, I'm not in the mood for your hot air."
"You will address me with respect, knave," Kuno said while raising his bokken.
Ranma yelled, "Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken," while unleashing several dozen punches at Kuno, in under a second.
Kuno lowered his bokken and said, "That didn't hurt."
Kuno fell over unconscious as Ranma returned to class. The rest of the students either walked around or over Kuno. To them it was just a standard day. Ukyo, however felt differently. Ukyo's plan to get Akane mad at Ranma before school started had failed. She was still fuming over what happened last Saturday.
She wondered how Ranma and Akane had beat her to school. Ukyo entered the class and took her usual seat, while shooting a hostile look at Akane. Akane stared back while clenching her right fist. Both of them were still mad at each other, over what happened last Saturday. Soon the class started and the glaring contest between Ukyo and Akane was broken. For the entire class, Akane kept her right hand out of view as she pondered Ranma's situation. How had the ring turned Ranma into a genie? If that was what he was now. Oh, that jerk. What kind of mess had he gotten them into now? She would have to talk to him privately after school.
Ranma, himself, was thinking about the morning incident as well, Granted? Master? I must be really losing it if I'm saying those things to Akane. I'm glad Kuno didn't see that costume. Arrgh. I can just imagine what he would have thought about both my sides if he saw me this morning. Why did it feel like every one of Akane's words had some sort of force behind them? It stopped after I changed back into a guy, but still...
Once school let out, Akane tried to think of someplace private where Ranma and she could talk. She saw Ukyo following them and tried to think of some way to lose her without being too suspicious.
Ukyo followed the pair, unaware that Akane had spotted her. Ukyo's thoughts were whirling.
I don't know what you're up to Akane, but Ranma is MY fiancée, Ukyo thought.
Ranma, walking beside Akane, noticed that Akane was being very quiet.
"Yo, Akane. What's the matter? You sick or something?" Ranma asked.
"Why are you asking me that, Ranma?"
"I don't know. It's like you're out of it today."
"I am not out of it, Ranma," Akane said, a bit miffed.
Ranma and Akane continued on, with Ukyo following. Akane spotted a bucket of water near a corner that they would have to make a turn at, to get home. Seeing that, Akane decided to use her own nature to help her out.
"I think I'll see if Kasumi will allow me to help in the kitchen tonight," Akane said.
Ukyo, hearing that Akane was going to try and attempt to cook, quickly ran off to have a special meal ready for Ranma. Ukyo also needed time to figure out a plan to have Ranma come to her restaurant and not the Nekohaten.
Ranma winced and said, "I'll think I'll head over to U-Chan's or the Nekohaten tonight."
"What do you mean by that Ranma?" Akane said dangerously, while she picked up the bucket of water.
"I'm saying that your cooking is toxic and that you should stop trying to poison us with it," Ranma responded and then thought, When am I going to learn to keep my mouth shut?
Akane splashed Ranma with the water in the bucket and yelled, "RANMA, YOU JERK!"
She grabbed the front of Ranma's shirt with her left hand and delivered an uppercut with her right. Once Akane managed to tag Ranma with the ring, Ranma turned into soft red smoke and was pulled inside the ring. Akane suppressed her shudder of seeing Ranma vanish like that to keep up her act.
"Ranma, you jerk!" Akane said to the ring while continuing on her way. I'm not letting you out until I can find someplace secure. What a mess that jerk has gotten himself into now.
Akane arrived at home and stormed inside, pausing only long enough to remove her shoes. Her family and Genma saw her face, and figured that she had had another fight with Ranma.
Kasumi asked, "Where's Ranma?"
"After he insulted my cooking, I decked him. I haven't seen him since," Akane angrily stated.
"Oh my. I'd better save some food for Ranma then," Kasumi said, "He'll be hungry when he gets back."
Akane stormed up to her room and flopped down on her bed. She held up her hand and stared at the ruby. Akane went over what she would say to Ranma, after she released her from the ring again. A sad look swept over her face as she thought about Ranma's plight.
ARRGH. If anyone sees me wearing this, they'll think it's an engagement ring. But I can't take it off, because Genma and Happosai might steal it so they can have a bit more money, Akane thought to herself.
Akane pretended to take a nap while listening to the noise downstairs. She heard the phone ring and Kasumi answer it.
"I'm sorry, Ukyo. Ranma hasn't yet arrived," Akane heard Kasumi say.
A few minutes later, Akane heard the sounds of Shampoo's bike pull up. Shampoo received the same information that Ukyo had received. Akane took a peek to see Shampoo riding off, no doubt hunting for her 'airen'. A small flicker of a smile passed across her face.
Father and Genma will be heading to the park soon. Nabiki will be leaving to sell more pictures to Kuno and Kasumi will be heading to the market. I'd better do this in the attic, just to make sure. Kodachi and Sasuke might be around.
Akane waited until everyone had left before she headed up to the attic. Before she went, she filled a kettle with water, heated it, and took it with her. Akane closed the attic door once she was inside. Taking a deep breath, Akane rubbed the ring. Red smoke poured out of it once more and reformed into Ranma-chan wearing the red costume of that morning.
"What is your wish, master?" Ranma-chan asked
Exasperated, Akane said, "I wish you'd stop saying that every time you come out of the ring."
In a monotone, Ranma answered, "I can not fulfil that wish since my magic can not directly affect me. You can have me say 'yes, master' instead."
Akane thought, Great. I was going to wish Ranma free of both his curse and the ring. Now it looks like Ranma will have to live with this."
Ranma came out of the trance with a shudder. She looked down at herself and saw she was back in the weird costume.
My magic won't work on me? I'm back in this thing again and I'm calling Akane, master. What's going on? Ranma thought.
Akane bit the top of her lip before saying with a quivery voice, "Ranma? There's something you should know. I'm not sure about it, but what I remember from some old stories that I've read it seems true."
Of course there is that wish I made earlier, that gave me most of my information, Akane thought to herself
Ranma waved a hand in front of herself and said, "What? Can it explain this? Can it explain why I just called you 'master'?"
Akane held up her right hand, with palm turned towards her, and said, "This ring that was sent from Jusenkyo. It apparently turned you into a genie. You know, like the ones out of storybooks."
"Don't be stupid Akane. There are no such things as genies."
Bristling with anger, Akane stated, "Fine, you don't believe me. I'll prove it to you, and I'll go for 'yes, master'. It'll save time."
After making her statement, Akane touched Ranma with the ring and brought her back out several times. Every time Ranma came out she addressed Akane with a 'Yes, master'. Before Akane touched Ranma again, Ranma's shoulders slumped in defeat and she held her hand up.
"Enough, Akane," Ranma said with head bowed. "What is with that master stuff anyway?"
Pity flashed across Akane's eyes as she responded, "You are the slave of the person who wears this ring. Any wish, any command that does not go beyond your abilities you HAVE to carry out."
"No I don't. I can resist. I am a trained martial artist," Ranma said defiantly.
"Oh really?" Akane asked as a mischievous thought crossed her mind. "Ranma, I order you to dance."
"Akane, you're nuts if you..." Ranma's voice trailed off as she realized that she was dancing.
Ranma used all her will and chi to try and stop dancing, but could not. after enjoying the spectacle of Ranma finally admitting her new condition, Akane called a halt to the session.
"Okay, Ranma. That's enough," Akane said, "Why don't you see if you can change your clothes back to normal. There's something I want to test."
Ranma stopped dancing and wondered what Akane was going to do. Remembering the feeling of power that she wielded that morning, Ranma called up the magic that was now part of her. The amount of energy she could pull up on her own was a lot lower than it had been when Akane made her wishes.
Guess that means, Akane has to make a wish before I can do anything spectacular, Ranma thought.
Ranma concentrated on her clothes. Ranma's eyes flashed red as she released the magic. A red flash of light and Ranma was back in her standard clothes of a red shirt and black pants. Ranma felt relieved to be out of that silly outfit.
This is just great, Ranma thought to herself, What else can go wrong, today?
As soon as Ranma's clothes had changed Akane poured some hot water on Ranma turning him back into a guy.
Ranma looked at Akane curiously, "Okay. Now what?"
Akane said nothing and touched Ranma with the ring. Ranma flinched when he felt the cold gem touch his skin. He shuddered with relief when he realized that he hadn't been pulled into the ring. A sudden thought came to him.
"Akane, why don't we just destroy the ring now?" Ranma asked. "That way I won't have to worry about it."
"Ranma, do have any idea what would happen if a genie's device is destroyed before the genie is free?"
"No. What?"
"I have no idea, but I don't think it would be very healthy for you," Akane responded.
"Well, we could hide the ring," Ranma supplied.
"What if Happosai got it and found what power it has over you?" Akane countered angrily.
That thought caused Ranma to go very pale. He decided to change the subject.
"So if my female form is a genie, I can grant wishes?"
"Only to the person who wields this ring, Ranma," Akane said, while showing the ring to Ranma.
Ranma sighed and looked at the ring with a mixture of disgust and resignation.
"Is there anything else I need to know about?" Ranma asked
"Not that I can think of," Akane said
Ranma headed for the door, but tripped over the kettle. The water in the kettle had cooled down enough so that it triggered Ranma's change into a girl.
Ranma looked back at Akane and said, "Well at least I'm still better looking than you."
Akane fumed for a few seconds, before speaking.
"Okay, Ranma," Akane ground out, "Just for that, I'm going to make a couple of wishes."
Ranma-chan tried to leave, but her body locked up. Since her master stated she was going to make wishes, she had to stay to hear them.
"I wish that when I try to swim, that I will not be in danger of drowning."
In her monotone voice, Ranma stated, "Granted."
"I wish that my cooking tasted as good as Kasumi's."
Ranma mentally shuddered as she heard the wording of that wish, but still had to grant it.
"Granted."
Akane said, "That's it. I'm done for now."
After hearing that, Ranma was able to move freely again. Ranma looked at the genie ring, and finally accepted in full what her new state was.
"Great. Just great. Here I am granting wishes to a tomboy," Ranma muttered dejectedly, not realizing Akane had heard her.
"OOOHHH!" Akane said while she slapped Ranma with her right hand.
Ranma turned back into smoke, and was promptly sucked back into the ring.
Akane glared at the ruby and said, "Fine stay in there. See if I care."
As Akane left the attic she thought to herself, Ranma, you jerk.
Akane brought her hand up so she could examine the ring. After a second she clenched her right hand into a fist and swung her arm down to her side. An itch had developed under the ring.
"Why did he have to say that?" Akane asked herself. "I know he's upset about the situation, but..."
Akane's words trailed off as she pondered what her reaction would be if she found herself in a similar situation. Her anger dissipated towards Ranma while she continued towards her room. She thought of the other problems that Ranma had and sighed deeply.
It would be so easy to just wish away all the fiancées and rivals, but it wouldn't be fair to Ranma, Akane thought to herself sadly. "Why am I so concerned about that jerk? I can't be..."
Akane's stopped just outside her room and a slow smile came across her face. She opened the door and quickly prepared herself for bed. She went to sleep with her left cheek resting on top of the ring.
Inside the ring, Ranma was thinking, Great. I'm the slave of that uncute tomboy. Well, let's see what other options are there. ARRGH! I have to wear this crazy costume while I'm in here. Now that I admitted that I am a genie at least I'm not going into a trance.
Ranma remained silent for a second, before she realized something, Well at least here's one good thing about this entire mess. It's peaceful in here. Maybe I can practice my martial arts in here without being interrupted by Shampoo's 'Wo de airen' and Ryoga attacking me for the slightest provocation.
Ranma-chan looked around her environment and decide to start with basic kata to get the feel of her new home. She looked up at the red sky, that was over the walled-in field that she was in, and hoped she would be up to the new challenges facing her.