I am not the author or copyright holder for Ranma 1/2 or New Cutey Honey. This is a work of fiction purely for enjoyment and no financial gain is earned or desired.
Author's Note: This is a mash-up of Ranma 1/2 and New Cutey Honey solely inspired by the resemblance of certain characters in both series. I am not trying to say one series infringed on the other but rather "what if" the two series were to have merged in some alternate anime universe.
Tanoshinde kudasai! (Please enjoy)
Ranma Flash!
"Whoa. Is this... me?" Ranma asked as she tentatively stroked her cheek.
Ranma peered that the blonde, teenage girl in the mirror. She twirled a lock of the golden tresses with her fingers and then dropped down to the necklace.
"Ranma...?" a voice asked meekly.
Ranma turned to see Akane looking at her with apprehension. Akane's eyes glistened and her hands wrung with nervousness.
"It's okay, Akane. It's me - just look a little different, that's all."
"But...but..."
"Hey, old man. I thought you said that your Cutey Honey was an older lady - like Kasumi?" Ranma inquired.
"She was. You can plainly see that in my photograph. But as I told you before, when Honey was taken, I spent years recovering and then tracking you down. What happened that night and to you since is, I am afraid, a bit of a mystery to me." Danbei replied.
"How do you feel, Ranma?" Kasumi asked.
"To be honest, it doesn't feel any different that when I am in my girl form."
"But do you feel like this is your true identity, Ranma?", Kasmui probed further.
"Uhhh. I... I'm not sure. I mean I don't feel any different - like I am a girl with a desire to bake a cake or go chasing after boys - but I... I guess I don't know.", Ranma answered.
"Do you still change with water?" Akane asked.
"Don't know. Let's find out." Ranma replied.
Ranma reached over to a small vase on Kasumi's dresser. She poured a little water over her hands and the familiar change to a red-head occurred.
"Well...you know, this is kinda the first time I am actually happy to see red." Ranma commented as she looked at herself in the mirror. "I guess this means I can change back, right?"
"I'll get some hot water." Akane announced as she left the room.
"Which change were you talking about, Ranma?" Kasumi asked quietly.
"Back to...umm... I don't know."
Akane returned with the hot water. Ranma poured it over her hand and returned to her blonde state. Everyone stood silently for a moment.
"What do you think will happen if I take the neckband off?" Ranma asked aloud.
"I don't know, Ranma. Cutey always wore her neckband. It was her connection to me and the others. She was never without it." Danbei answered.
"I want to see what will happen." Ranma said as she reached up to remove the band.
"Are you sure that is safe?" Akane asked.
Ranma unclasped the band and took it off. The silver heart briefly flashed and Ranma woozily collapsed against the bed. She became a he and his hair returned to deep black. He shook his head and slowly lifted his body up.
"That's a real kick in the gut." Ranma shot Akane a sidelong glance. "Kinda like those brownies you made last week."
"RaannMA!"
Out in the living room, Nabiki leveled her trademark "stare of scorn" on Genma and Nodoka. The conniving couple had not given up on making a clean escape but faced a formidable opponent.
"Genma, you never give straight or easy answers. Why now?" Nabiki asked.
Genma sat quiet.
"You. Nodoka. Why are you here? What made you come on this particular night?"
Nodoka bowed her head.
"Daughter, our 'guests' are obviously remorseful. Is the interrogation truly necessary?" Soun inquired.
"Daddy...These two, plus your so-called 'master', lied and misled you, yet you want to believe that they are 'remorseful'? Daddy, I wasn't born yesterday." Nabiki stated in a slightly cloying tone.
Soun blinked, opened his mouth, raised a hand and then... stopped. He turned his attention to his tea instead.
Nabiki stared at her father and then turned back to the captives.
"Okay. You have had a moment or two to consider my questions. I'm ready to hear your answers."
"Heya. What's going on out here?" Ranma asked as he entered the living room.
"Your 'mother' and 'father' are considering the evils of their ways and how it is to beneficial to their health to be cooperative," Nabiki commented.
"Nah. Talking isn't gonna get anything out them, Nabiki. Let me pound it out of them," Ranma said as he cracked his knuckles in anticipation.
"Hey Ranma. When is that show over?" Akane inquired.
"What show?" Nabiki interjected.
"Oh, me and Akane came up with this great idea for defeating the old freak. We figured that if we could find his secret power source stash and destroy it, he would get weak and we could finish him off. Tonight was the perfect night 'cause there was this show of underwear and swimsuits at the Tokyo Big Sight."
"Kuso! That's what those two were up to," Nabiki hissed. She raced over to Nodoka.
"Speak. Now. Did Happosai send you?!"
Nodoka smiled with an evil glean in her eye. "Show ended half an hour ago."
Nabiki quickly glanced up at Ranma and Akane. The teens exchanged meaningful looks and broke to prepare for the coming battle. Danbei grabbed Ranma's arm as he passed.
"Where's the case?" Danbei asked.
"I left it on Kasumi's dresser."
"Get it now! If Happosai recovers it, who knows what might happened!"
Ranma raced to the bedroom as Akane and Nabiki trussed up the Saotomes and stuffed them into a closet.
Ranma burst through the door, followed by Danbei. The case was not on the dresser. Ranma frantically scoured the room, trying to find the silvery case.
"It's not here."
Ranma and Danbei stopped and turned at the sound of the three words they dreaded to hear.
"I took it... for safekeeping," Kasumi said as she offered the case to them.
Danbei accepted the case and turned to Ranma.
"I will keep the case for now. Is that okay with you?"
"Yeah. I wouldn't want to lose it while I'm pounding the freak."
The moonlight flickered on the side porch of the Tendo home as clouds passed overhead. The occasional bark or caterwaul broke the night's silence as Ranma and Akane sat on the edge of the porch, keeping watch, while Soun and Danbei waited at the table for Happosai's appearance. Nabiki and Kasumi stayed safely in Kasumi's bedroom.
"Do you think Happosai knows, Ranma?" Akane whispered.
"Don't know. Don't care."
"What if he doesn't show up?"
"Then we don't haveta fight him... tonight."
Akane fell silent and the wait continued.
"Ranma..." Akane asked quietly.
"Yeah?"
"What does all this mean?"
"Ummm... I guess we'll have to be on our guard for awhile. At least till we catch the freak."
"No. What does...you know...the stuff we learned about tonight mean?"
"I dunno. Guess my dad and mom ain't real, so...I dunno."
"But...but..."
"Look Akane, if ya got a question you want to ask, ask it. I'm not in the mood for a game of 21," Ranma said irritably.
"This affects more than just you, Ranma," Akane replied in a hurt tone.
The night sounds filled the silence between the two teenagers. A slight gust skittered a leaf across the porch and rippled the image of the moon on the koi pond's surface.
"Akane. I'm sorry. It's been so much to take in that I kinda forgot about you and the others."
"It's okay Ranma. I haven't been the most understanding but...Ranma, I'm scared."
"It's gonna be all right. We'll catch the freak and no one is gonna get hurt, except him."
"No, Ranma. I'm scared. Scared about...I'm scared...about...us."
"Huh?"
"It took me some time, when we first met, to accept that you were a boy that sometimes turned into a girl. And now...I...I don't know what to think," Akane said as tears began to trickle from her eyes.
"Akane. Nothing has changed. I am still me. Like I told you earlier, I might look a little different but I feel the same. Can you trust me on that?"
Akane looked into Ranma's eyes and saw the young man she knew and loved. She wiped her eyes.
"Yes," she said with a smile. She slipped a hand into Ranma's and gave it a squeeze.
As the night wore on, the warriors grew tired. Heads began to nod and eyes drooped. Ranma stirred as a breeze tickled his cheek. He briefly glanced about. Everything seem quiet and peaceful.
Too quiet.
Too peaceful.
"He's here," Ranma whispered to Akane. He gestured to Danbei and Soun.
Akane opened her mouth to yelp. Ranma quickly covered it with a hand.
"Shhhh. We want the surprise."
"Mmh! Mmmh mmh mmmh!" Akane growled through Ranma's palm.
"Shhhh. Trust me. He is upstairs, in his room. You go check on Nabiki and Kasumi. Danbei, you check the closet. Mr. Tendo, you and I will take care of Happosai," Ranma instructed.
Everyone slipped away to carry out their assignment. Ranma and Mr. Tendo slowly crept up the staircase towards the 'master's' room. They could hear muffled sounds of voices and movement as they stealthily approached the door. Ranma gestured that he would enter first and slid into position.
Ranma reached forward and placed his hand on the knob. Ever so slowly, he turned it till he felt the latch slip free of the frame. With a nod, he thrust the door open and lept into the room.
Genma, Nodoka and Happosai were hoisting bags onto their shoulders. The "Saotomes" quickly scrambled to the window and made their escape. Happosai turned to face the challengers.
"This is just the beginning," he cackled. "Don't let your guard down for one minute. We will strike when you least expect it."
"How does now suit you?" Ranma shouted as he launched at Happosai. Ranma sprang across the room, moving with surprising speed.
Happosai leapt backward, tossing garments, boxes and other objects at the teen.
"Chestnuts on a Roasting Fire!" Ranma shouted as he used his high speed attack technique to deflect the missiles.
"See ya, sonny! Or should I say 'Cutie'?" Happosai sneered as he scrambled out the window with a sack. Ranma and Soun stood, breathing heavily, as two round objects thudded onto the floor.
"Run!"
They barely made it out of the room as the Happo FireBursts rocked the house.
"Ranma!"
"Daddy!"
"Father!"
The three Tendo girls came racing up the stairs, Nabiki and Kasumi still loosing ropes from their wrists. Akane carried a sharp kitchen knife, ready to slice more than rope.
Danbei joined the group and peered into the devastated room.
"FireBursts?" he asked.
"Yeah. He, mom and dad got away. They each took a bag of something." Ranma answered as Danbei probed the ruins with a pole. "It didn't look like it was all underwear."
Morning arrived in Tokyo. Early morning delivery men rushed to complete their rounds before the streets froze with gridlock. And at a certain house in the Nerima Ward, a mustached man wearily blinked.
"Good morning, Father," Kasumi said cheerfully as she passed him.
"Good morning, Kasumi. If you would not mind, could you bring me a cup of tea?"
"Certainly."
Soun rose and stretched, setting the sword he had been holding against the frame of shoji screen. As his back cracked, he heard footsteps approaching.
"Quiet night?" Ranma asked.
"Not a peep."
Ranma stepped out into the yard and began his morning ritual. He spun and lunged through series after series of complicated katas. Kasumi joined her father on the veranda and they sipped tea as they watched.
"If only I were young..." Soun commented between sips.
"Father, why don't you practice with Ranma? I am sure he would enjoy a partner."
"Mmmm. Maybe."
Kasumi left her father and headed back to the kitchen. It had been three days since the "Incident". Since then, Ranma, Akane, Danbei and father had been taking turns standing watch overnight. During the day, Nabiki, Akane and Ranma went to school while Danbei spent his time sifting through the ruins of Happosai's room, searching for clues. No one talked about the neckband.
"We're off!" Akane cried out as the threesome headed off to Furikan High.
"Take care!" Kasumi called in response. It had been a quiet meal and now she the day ahead. She finished cleaning the kitchen and headed upstairs to tend to the beds. As she passed Happosai's room, she paused.
"Have you found anything?"
Danbei looked up from the makeshift table he had assembled in the center of room.
"Possibly. Take a look at this and tell me what you see."
Kasumi approached the table. On it, there was a strange, multi-sided tube. It was broken in two. She reached down to pick it up but hesitated.
"Is it safe to touch?"
"Yes. You can pick it up."
She lifted one shard in hand and examined it. The outside was a mixture of crystal and metal. Inside, it was empty. At the closed end, there was a circular disk. She fingered it.
"Is this a button?"
"That's my guess."
She put the shard back on the table and picked up the other piece. It too was empty but the closed end came to a point, like a pencil. She picked up the other piece and tried fitting them together.
"They don't match."
"Yes. You know what that means."
"There was more than one."
"Yes."
"But what is it?"
"That, my sweet Kasumi, is what I am trying to figure out."
Kasumi pondered the parts, turning them and holding them up to the light.
"Would you mine if a family friend examined them?"
"No. I do not see a problem with that."
"If you will excuse me, I will call them and let them know that we are coming," she said as returned the pieces to the table and left the room.
Life at Furikan was blissfully normal. Meaning that Kuno still spouted bad poetry and Ranma still struggled in class. But, at least for the moment, there had been no sign of Happosai or his flunkies.
"Awwwe man. Swimming! Why do they have to have swimming classes in school?" Ranma grumbled. "Stupid water curse."
Ranma splashed cold water on his hands and transformed. He picked up his suit and headed into the storage closet she used for changing.
Poolside, the boys mingled on one side, the girls on the other. Ranma and Akane entered last, Akane having waited for Ranma, who waited till everyone else had left.
"Boy's side or girl's, Ranma?" Akane asked.
"Boy's"
"Ranma, are you sure? It might..."
"Yeah. See ya at the bottom of the pool," Ranma said with smirk as "he" headed towards the line of boys.
"Ooooo, Ranma! Fine. Serves him right. And I'm not going to lift a finger to help him." Akane stalked off to the girl's side.
Ranma horseplayed with buddies (completely oblivious to the effect his female form had on his good friends) till the fun was interrupted by the voice of self-righteousness.
"My pigtailed goddess. That you would choose to cavort with us men only confirms that you are desperate for my attention. I accept your gesture of affection and hereby announce that the pigtail girl and I shall be partners forever more."
"Uh? Whatcha taking about, Kuno?"
"My pigtailed one, let us cavort joyously together in this crystal pool of love." Kuno ripped the robe of his body, revealing an impossibly small and tight Speedo swimsuit. He dramatically grabbed Ranma's arm with his right and raised his left arm in a psuedo-ballet position.
Ranma blinked.
He blinked again.
He blinked on last time and, with a fluid motion, sent Kuno spiraling away.
"Brrrrrrr," Ranma chattered as he picked up his towel and headed over to the girl's side. Not that he was saying that he was a girl, it just made more sense during this class to stand on the girl's side he justified to himself.
In the bushes by the tennis courts, a stunned Kuno staggered upright.
"Pigtailed one! Why have you struck me so? It must be your girlish nature, overwhelmed by my masculine physique, that caused your action! Forgive me!"
"Do you wish to posses your 'Pigtailed One'?" a voice whispered.
"Yes. Of course. Do not waste my time with such obvious questions," Kuno responded with contempt in his tone.
"Then take this. Press it against your body and push the button on the end when you are before your beloved and she will be yours for the taking."
Kuno looked down to see a cylinder lying on the ground before him.
"Why should I..." Kuno stopped as he found himself alone. He reached down and picked up the object. He shook it and rotated it in his hands. With a "whatever" gesture, he slipped it under the band of his swimsuit, pinning it to his right hip and headed back to the pool.
"Biiiiiiiii!" Ranma said as he pulled one lower eyelid down and stuck out his tongue.
"Ranmaaa," Akane muttered under her breath as she prepared to jump into the pool. "It's just water and I can make to the other end."
Akane closed her eyes and stepped off the diving board.
Ranma guffawed at the huge splash as Akane awkwardly tumbled into the pool. He continued snickering as she gamely dog paddled towards the other end. The spectacle was enough of a distraction that Ranma did not notice Kuno's return.
"Pig Tailed One. I have returned and am ready to accept your affection. Do not be ashamed of the passion that is inspired by glancing upon my form and instead let it become the oil that fuels our torrid love!"
Ranma turned to face Kuno. Ranma grabbed his outstretched hand and tossed Kuno into the pool.
"Pig Tailed One!" Kuno cried as he sailed backwards into the pool.
"Kuso!" Ranma swore under his breath as Kuno soared towards the paddling Akane. Swiftly, Ranma leapt in after the wanna-be samurai.
Akane peered through the frothy water. "Just a little more to go!" she told herself as she focused her entire being on swimming. "I AM going to complete a lap!" She was oblivious to the shadow that had fallen over her.
Kuno splashed into the pool just in front of Akane, who was swamped by the resulting wave and tumbled under the surface. Ranma landed next to the two and raced to rescue Akane.
As Ranma dove down towards the struggling Akane, Kuno wrapped his arms around Ranma's body, inadvertently fondling Ranma's breasts. Infuriated by Kuno's interference and groping, Ranma spun and attempted to kick Kuno away. But being underwater gave the advantage to Kuno's larger mass.
As they wrestled, Ranma caught a glimpse of Akane sinking lower and lower, clawing for the surface. Desperate to break free, Ranma's hand fell upon the cylinder on Kuno's right hip. He yanked it free and jabbed into Kuno's leg. Kuno yelped, releasing Ranma. Ranma quickly dove down to the barely conscious Akane and dragged her to the surface.
At the pool's edge, classmates lifted Akane out of the water. Ranma remained in the pool, hanging exhaustedly from the edge; eyes closed and breathing heavily.
"She's going to be okay, Ranma," a classmate called out.
"Kami. Thank you," Ranma said in a soft voice as he prepared to hoist himself out of the pool.
As Ranma pushed against the pool's edge to raise himself up, a hand grabbed his right arm. Another grabbed his left leg. An arm wrapped around his waist while another encircled his chest.
Ranma tried to yell but yet another hand clamped itself across his mouth.
"Shhhhhh!" Ranma heard in his ear. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a maniacal Kuno holding a finger to his lips. The twosome slipped backwards into the pool, unnoticed by their classmates who were attending to Akane.
Ranma fought Kuno's grip and managed to break free. He swam back a few meters and gasped as he saw a Kuno with six arms racing towards him. Ranma quickly swam to the opposite end of the pool and scrambled out. He slipped out a side door, slamming it shut behind him.
"I.. did.. not... see.. that! Lack of oxygen... Chemicals in my eyes... THERE IS NO freakin' way Kuno has six arms!" Ranma wheezed as he doubled over next to the door.
"How many fingers do you see?"
Ranma opened his eyes to see six hands spread out before his face.
"Aggggghhhhh!" Ranma cried as he spun away from Kuno.
"With love, the pursuit makes it sweeter," Kuno said with a hint of menace. He took off after Ranma.
"Can't be! Can't be! Can't be!" Ranma repeated as he ran. "Wake up, Ranma! You're having a nightmare."
Ranma turned a corner and abruptly came to a stop as he became tangled in a sea of arms.
"Allow me to make your nightmare into a sweet dream," Kuno cooed as he drew Ranma closer.
"NO... FREAKIN'... WAY!!" Ranma shouted. "Amiguriken Revised! Thousand Hand Strike!"
Ranma's hands blurred as they struck every point on Kuno's body. The wannabe samurai twitched and collapsed in pile of arms and legs. Ranma's shoulders rose and fell heavily as he caught his breath.
"Okay, Kuno. Let's go find out what the heck is going on," said Ranma as he dragged the unconscious boy away.
Endnote:
Sorry for the slip in the schedule. I took a bad spill during a snow storm that took one arm out of service. I am also trying to make the chapters more "complete" but my conscience won't let me post a story without at least a quick grammar and spell checking. I am working on the next chapters! Thank you for all the encouragement and comments!