Have You Hugged Your Disclaimer Lately? I own nothing in this fanfiction, unless I say otherwise. Got that? Good. You may proceed.
AN: Sorry, I won't be updating LI,FS and possibly more than one or two chapters of WKLY until I get the whole romance thing down. That's right people, this is my valiant and misguided attempt at romance writing! Practicing romance under strange conditions is a must, 'cause let's face it- Ranma isn't exactly "normal". I don't wanna completely #$ up my stories due to lack of experience...well, no more than they already are. Those of you who like the concept behind LI,FS might like this, I don't know. Please review, it will REALLY help me in this area, where I think I need it the most right now. Now, read on brave reviewers! Beware The Wrath of the WAFF!
Falling Once More
Chapter 1: Romance? Feh.
Oh yes. To say that he was going to hurt the old perv when he got back was an understatement. Splashing him with water and groping his female form was bad. Trying to get him to try on all those revealing outfits was worse. Hurling him through a cosmic rift in the Time Stream...that was pushing him too far!
Waiting for all the weird swirling multicolored lights and other special effects to end, and for his stomach to stop doing back flips, Ranma Saotome considered his perverted "master", and the events leading up to this impromptu little trip through time and space.
It had started out as a normal day, at least by his standards. Ever since the failed wedding last week, his rivals seemed to have been whipped into a frenzy. Now they attacked him at least three times a day, often coordinating their attacks. Too bad they still got thrashed with minimal effort.
His fiances also seemed to have gotten more desperate as of late. Shampoo constantly threw herself at him, glomping on with all her might. No real difference there. Except that now she did so while sobbing and apologizing profusely. He simply ignored her for several moments before plucking her off and gently setting her down, then walked off.
Ukyo couldn't even look him in the eyes. She knew what she would find there- betrayal and disappointment. Not anger and hate, which might have been more tolerable. Konatsu would promptly arrive at school just as lunch began, day after day. The gender confused kunoichi would always bring Ranma a deluxe okonomiyaki decorated with words asking for forgiveness. He threw them away without hesitation or a second glance.
Kodachi, believing that her "Ranma-sama" was now securely in her clutches, was constantly trying to take him away from all the "unworthy peasants". She didn't get very far. All the paralysis powders and other concoctions lovingly mixed together just for him were quickly and rather coldly redirected right back at her.
Akane was always staring at him when she thought he wasn't looking. These days, her eyes showed a confused mixture of anger and guilt. The later would quickly give way to the former, and she would attempt to punish Ranma for whatever perverted thing her deluded mind came up with. The pigtailed boy didn't bother speaking with her, even as he countered her clumsy attempts at offensive strikes and threw her into the nearest body of water to cool off, sneering slightly as he did so.
The two fathers, for once correctly observing that things were not going in favor of their plans, redoubled their efforts at bullying Ranma into marriage. Even when they were put into full body casts after the eighth or so attempt.
Nabiki was smart enough to stay out of his way as she tried again and again to convince herself that the failed wedding was not her fault. It wasn't working. Kasumi did her best to cheer Ranma up, and he appreciated her efforts, even though they had no effect. His mother did her best to help her son in any way she could, but the only thing she could do was nullify the engagements, and that would take time.
Ms. Hinako, sensing something was wrong with her favorite student, and then catching wind of the rumors concerning the reason, became more lenient on Ranma. Especially when she caught him sleeping in class one day, tears slowly trailing down his face, so restless even while dreaming. Silently, she vowed to do what she could to ease his suffering.
Cologne was, surprisingly, the only other person that genuinely cared about the pigtailed youth's welfare. In order to help him better protect himself from the constant attacks, she took it upon herself to train him in several more powerful techniques. She asked nothing in return, and even dropped the "son-in-law" when she addressed him. When confronted about the unusual behavior, she gave him an even look and explained simply, "You have a tendency of growing on people, child. Somewhere along the way, I began to think of you as one of my own, even if you aren't really a part of the Amazon tribe."
The only one that hadn't really changed at all was...Happosai. The perverted gnome still went out on his nightly panty raids, or at least he tried to. Every time he tried to leave the house, he found Ranma's foot awaiting his face. Becoming desperate to collect his silky darlings, the ancient lecher had finally resorted to magic and trickery.
The old Grandmaster's plan was simple, but effective. He waited until everything came to a boil, and finally began to push the young Saotome heir over the edge.
Too distracted by his own growing anger, the pigtailed boy never noticed the diminutive shadow slinking up behind him. Squeezing his eyes shut, he lowered his head, casting a shadow over his face as he tried to calm his turbulent emotions. Before him, the Tendo and Saotome patriarchs were once again yelling at him to join the schools. To one side, Kuno was spouting more poetry and declaring his intent to rid the world of the foul sorcery. On the other side, Mousse was determinedly attacking a tree. From somewhere upstairs came the stomping of an angry tomboy's approach.
A single tear of frustration finally made its way down his left cheek, before splashing onto the ground below. Or at least thats where it would have landed, if it hadn't been intercepted by a certain mirror held in a gnarled old hand. 'Is this the way my life will always be! I can't take this anymore...someone please tell me, will my future be any better?'
That was all the prompting the Nanban mirror required as it swept away its unwitting user in a dazzling display of arcane power.
Sighing gently, Ranma once again cursed himself for not paying more attention to his surroundings. 'I wonder where the stupid mirror is sending me?'
Finally bringing his protesting stomach under control, he inhaled a deep, shuddering breath. "Does it matter? Anywhere has to be better than Nerima. But I wonder...the last thing I thought of before the freaky light show began was...the future! Oh sh-!"
He never got to finish his expletive, as darkness closed in around him.
The Time Stream was in an uproar. If that chaos magnet met his future self, there was no telling what destruction could result.
What few people know, is that Time itself has a form of sentience- a deity of sorts, if you will. And currently, that sentience was royally ticked at a certain Grandmaster of Anything Goes. 'Is that lecherous fool aware of the havoc he just unleashed upon all of creation! Probably not...but his punishment shall come later. For now, I must fix his mistake.'
Thinking quickly, the Time Stream (which shall from this point on be referred to as TS for short) came up with a solution. 'Sigh...no other choice. I cannot allow such a paradox to take place! He absolutely must not meet with his future self! Hmm...I hope he appreciates what I am doing for him. I've always wanted to help the poor boy in some way, but it is not my way to interfere...at least some good will come of this.'
With that, TS set about altering the flows of time, making slight adjustments here and there. 'There...my gift to you, Ranma Saotome. I truly hope you can find the happiness you have been seeking your whole life. Even if it is borrowed from...well...yourself.
Awakening to the mother of all headaches, Ranma blearily ran a hand through his hair. 'Man, what a screwy dream. Heh, Happi wouldn't REALLY be stupid enough to use the Nanban mirror again. I should've...eh? Oh no...'
Concentrating his senses and swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he belatedly noted that he was NOT in his own room, or even in his own bed. And apparently, the owner of the bed just woke up, judging by the cute yawn coming from somewhere behind him. 'What'd I do to make the Gods hate me so much? Might as well just sit here and prepare for the incoming beating. Not like I'm not used to-'
His thoughts choked and died as an obviously female body pressed itself into his back, arms snaking around his front and holding him in a gentle embrace. A soft voice purred into his left ear, "Morning, Ranma. How 'bout a kiss for your beautiful wife, hmm?"
That gave his brain the jump start it needed. His jaw practically hit the floor as he barely managed to choke out, "w-wife!"
AN: There we go...this is, basically, the prologue. I don't think you'll be too surprised at who Ranma's "wife" is. Sorry about the rush, but I needed to get this over with as quick as possible. Never mind why. Please review, and give me your honest opinions and as much advice as you can- especially in future chapters. It is very important!