Ranma 1/2: Black Waters
A fanfic by Sara T. fontanini
(I do not own Ranma 1/2 or it's vast cast of characters, that honour goes to Rumiko Takahashi. I DO own all the demon characters that will appear.)
Before we begin, I must warn you that the following Fanfic May contain content that some will find offensive. So, to ensure that I don't get in trouble, I will list the things this story contains. It contains the following: Original Characters, strong violence, adult themes, unusual character pairings and homosexuality. If any of this offends you, THIS IS NOT THE FANFIC FOR YOU. Also, there may be some slight OOCness; I'll do my best to avoid this, but i haven't seen a lot of either the manga or the anime, so bear with me. Any comments are appreciated, but try to be kind. Please and thank you! :D
Now on with the fic!
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It was a dark and stormy night, because it's more dramatic that way. In a little area of China, where only the ignorant, the foolhardy and just plain stupid would dare set foot upon, a somewhat chubby man in green clothing was having a stroll. He wasn't too concerned by the weather, even though the words "Unfortunate, most unfortunate weather" would be muttered. This man, known only as 'The Jusenkyo guide" to most people except his daughter, was the caretaker of a must unusual training ground. It is little more than a collection of small springs with little bamboo poles stiking out of them, but those familiar with it recall its name in dread. That name is: Jusenkyo.
When the Guide had returned to the Cursed Training Grounds, all was as it should be. For about two seconds. Then, all the water rose from their respective springs and gathered together in the air. They merged to form a faint figure, a picture in the sky one could barely make out. And the wind seemed to speak. And those words, whether just the wind or something more sinister, were:
"Raaaaaaanmaaaaaaa Saotomeeeeeeeee......."
The guide just calmly said "Tragic, very tragic...."
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Now, speaking of the heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, Ranma was having a bad night.
He was asleep, but his face clearly showed his dream was not a pleasant one.
And through the magic of the literary arts, we can view the events of the young man's nightmare.
Which is what we'll do right now.
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Ranma was trapped in a baren wasteland, a red sky above him. The only things filling the otherwise empty space was Ranma himself, as well as an army of shadowy figures. Vaguely familiar figures.
"Please, leave me alone. Not now..." the boy begged.
"But you're so fun to play with, freak!" The figures spoke all at once.
"Don't call me that!" Ranma covered his ears, a futile effort.
"But that's what you are isn't it? What else do you call a man who changes into a woman?" The figures inched closer.
"I didn't want this stupid curse!"
The figures laughed, a blood-chilling sound. "That's a good one! If you hate it so much, then why don't you cure it? You could have done so when you first got it."
"I- I was in a daze! And pops wouldn't let me!"
"LIAR!!!" The figures moved further a few metres. "You can't lie to me girl! I am a part of your very soul!"
"Don't call me that! I'm not - -" He heard his voice. He knew immediately he was in his cursed state. He fell to the ground, fighting against the tears.
The figures were upon him now. "That's ALL you are! A weak, helpless little girl! Scared to death of cats! Not only are you a freak, but you are crazy to boot! With oh so many fears and doubts I can manipulate. While we're here, I'll make you suffer, Ranma Saotome!"
The figures leapt upon him, and tore off his clothing. And Ranma did suffer, in this awful, empty hell. As he always did, every night. Alone.
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Ranma awoke. He sighed. The dreams were getting worse. It was getting so that he was too terrified to go to sleep.
But his pride wouldn't let him get beaten by his own mind. Ranma Saotome don't lose, not even against things that aren't real.
But, always, he would wake in the middle of the night, trying to get over it. Then he would lie back down, and pretend to sleep, until either Kasumi, Akane or occasionally his own father got him up. Then he could deal with reality, and pretend everything's okay.
But the dreams would haunt his waking life as well. That's why he enjoyed fighting. He could lose himself in a fight, and for awhile, forget the nightmares. And the helplessness. And the other terrible things it made him feel.
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A guy was playing pachinko. He was the only one in the building, which suited him just fine. He didn't much care for people anyway.
Inpachi, A voice spoke into his mind.
The man, who was bald with a bland face, Jerked his upwards. "What is it, Lord Tsunami?"
The time has come. The voice was calm, with no hint of emotion. You know what to do.
Inpachi got up, and slowly walked towards the door that led outside the building. All the pachinko balls inside the building followed him.
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Ranma was in class. As usual, Akane was mad at him, Shampoo was drapped over him (Having just crashed through the ceiling) And Ukyo was trying to kill said purple-haired chinese girl. Their teacher, Hinako-sensei, was in her child form, preparing to punish those who didn't respect the rules (Ranma's small entourage).But before she could, all hell broke loose.
Something had smashed through the wall and grabbed Ranma. It had appeared to be made of metal. And then Ranma's three fiancees took chase.
Hinako-sensei was quite displeased.
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Ranma wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation. Usually Akane was the one who got kidnapped by the bad guys, and then Ranma would beat them up, rescue her, be called a pervert or a jerk and then malleted. It was tradition.
Ranma was not used to the bad guys attacking and kidnapping him, without Ranma putting up a fight. Not that he didn't try. But the thing's grip was firm, and Ranma was taken by surprise in the first place. I mean, the bad guys rarely attacked his school, and were even more rarely giant metal monsters.
At least he didn't get splashed.
The metal guy, who had brought Ranma to nearby forest, was talking to himself. At least, that's what it looked like to Ranma.
"Now what do you ask of me, my Lord?"
Ok, maybe not to himself. Then to who? And how?
"As you wish, Lord Tsunami. I shall do what you will."
The Metal guy looked downwards at Ranma, since he was still in the monsters grasp. Ranma could see that it wasn't solid metal, more a giant pile of smaller objects stuck together. This was mainly helped by the fact that it had shampoo's trademark bicycle stuck in its head.
"I'm afraid you won't like this."
"Huh?" Ranma simply said.
Ranma was splashed by a ladle. It was attached to the creature's free arm. It had gotten the water from a pail stuck to its left foot. Evidently it had visited that wretched old woman.
"So, why'd ya turn me into a girl? And why kidnap me?" She said, now very pissed off.
"I am merely doing as my master has decreed. I don't understand myself, but apparently this will help bring back Lord Makio."
Before Ranma could ask any more, something sliced through the arm, and Ranama was suddenly on the ground.
"Leave Ran-chan alone, you big creep!"
It was Ukyo. It would appear her spatulas were made of some pretty sturdy stuff. Either that, or the monster wasn't that strong.
"Lord Tsunami will not tolerate this!" The thing said, "And neither will I!"
Before he could make a move, a powerful force obliterated his leg. The beast fell on his face.
"Shampoo kill obstacle. You obstacle." Shampoo said simply. She was still in battle stance, bonbori at the ready.
Akane suddenly jumped in and crashed through the thing's head.
"This isn't over...!" The monster said, weakly.
Suddenly, Shampoo's bonbori and Ukyo's spatula flew from their hands and were absorbed into the monster's body.
"I am Inpachi, member of the demon tribe," the creature explained. "I have been sent by our lord, Tsunami, to capture the one known as Ranma Saotome, who is the key to our King's return. I have the power to absorb inorganic materials, as well as dead organic ones. I shall gladly kill anyone who gets in our way!"
He reshaped his body into a potato shaped, tentacled body. However, his human face was now visible. He sent one tentacle towards shampoo, who barely dodged it. The attack felled a tree, and cut Shampoo deeply in the abdomen.
Inpachi chuckled. "How fragile you humans are. We demons are not so easily harmed!" He was evidently proud of his race.
"Leave Shampoo alone!"
"Pig-tailed girl! I shall slay this vile beast!"
"Akane!"
Three tentacles were brought down. Two by blade, one by energy blast.
Akane, Ukyo, Ranma, Shampoo and the newcomers Tatewaki Kuno, Ryoga Hibiki and Mousse now outnumbered Inpachi.
"How annoying. More pests." Inpachi looked more irritated than anything else.
Ranma blasted the demon with a Moko Takabisha. Now all there was left were a few pieces of debris and a bald guy half covered with crap (not actual crap; just random junk).
"Y-you think you've won!? This is merely the beginning! I am the weakest of all my kind! We shall keep coming until we've succeeded! WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
Then his head fell off, causing all to feel sick.
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Tsunami divined these events through his crystal ball.
He couldn't blame Inpachi for enjoying a fight. It's in his demonic blood after all. However, even a demon knows when to back down, particularly when there are more important things to worry about.
At least the ritual was done before the interruption. Now all they needed to do now was wait. And Tsunami had gotten very good at that.
Such a shame he had to kill Inpachi though. He could have been very useful later on. But, there were always others.
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Ranma dreamed again.
She was completely naked as she stood before a man she had grown to despise.
Himself, in his male form.
The male Ranma smirked. it was a very cold, cruel expression. "How was it? Being so helpless? Did you cry?"
"I never cry!" She said angrily.
"How typically mysoginystic. 'Real men don't cry!' 'Real men don't get captured!' Please! I've seen you cry hundreds of times! And half of those were because Akane showed you how she felt when she first found out about you!"
"SHUT UP!"
"Ooh, I'm so scared! What are ya gonna do, kill me? You couldn't even kill that demon! Or that pheonix guy! or anyone! You have the ability, I don't deny that, you just done have the guts!" he laughed at this.
"I'm not a murderer!"
"No, you're not! You're a pathetic, cowardly, spineless little girl! You can't even tell your fiancees you aren't interested!"
"I told you to shut up!"
She wanted to hit him, to cripple him, anything to make him stop. But she was restrained, bound hand and foot. She was helpless. Again.
"No! I am everything you hate about yourself, everything you deny about yourself! But, very soon, you won't have a say in the matter!"
"What?"
The male Ranma grinned, baring cruel, inhuman fangs. "That demon performed a ritual! Very shortly I will be free, to do with your body what I will!"
"No! that can't be! You aren't even real!"
"Oh, I'm real alright. And you know it. You just don't want to admit it!"
"But, this is a dream..." Ranma was getting scared, and tears were forming in her eyes.
"I merely communicate with you through your dreams. That's the only reason you're aware of the fact!"
"I - I won't let you hurt them.."
"There's nothing you can do! I'll be free, and you'll be trapped here, with all our playmates!"
At this, the shadowy figures appeared, surrounding the female Ranma. And now Ranma could see them clearly. They all looked like every person she knew!
The male Ranma laughed. His appearance had become more....nightmarish. "Have fun! I sure will!"
Ranma was crying now. She looked terrified. "Please.... No!"
And then the shadows leapt on her.
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Ranma awoke. He was in male form, having quickly gotten hold of some hot water earlier. It was now morning. He heard Kasumi call. He got up, and put on some clothes, since he currently wore only a t-shirt and boxers. When he was fully dressed, he smiled. This smile was not his normal one, however. This smile was crueler. His eyes glowed red briefly.
"I'll make the most of this, Ranma Saotome. I shall make your suffering worse than anything devised in Hell!" he said quietly. He then laughed, a cold, cruel laugh.
And as this was happening, Ranma suffered in the nightmare realm.
To be continued...
Man, I'm really liking this. I had created this for two reasons:
1) I wanted to introduce some true villains in the Ranmaverse. You know, some real bastards. Most villains in the series are easily forgiven, become good or too foolish to take seriously. I wanted a villain who is completely serious, totally unforgivable and who is completely unrepentant.
2) I wanted to put my own spin on the pairings.
This has changed a lot to how I originally pictured it. The only real changes are who Ranma's paired with, and the identity of the villain.
I think I really excelled at the nightmare stuff. Those scenes gave me the chills!
I hope you enjoyed it, and hope you look forward to future installments.
And remember, comment! :D
P.S. I mentioned Saffron in the story. According to wikipedia, Saffron is a pheonix, but he is not a god. And I tend to trust wikipedia's word. Just something for all those who think Saffron is a god to think about.