[Ranma][FanFic] When Bakas Learn - Prologue
Hefni
Disclaimer :
The cast of Ranma1/2 do not belong to me, and are used without
permission for non-profit purposes.
Comments, suggestions, or just plain that you like it (if you
don't, please tell me why) to bluefurball(at)yahoo.com Flames will
be used to heat up cold burgers.
When Bakas Learn
by bluefurball
Prologue
========
It was a quiet day at Furinkan High; Kuno got thrashed early in
the morning, with a mere "Sayonara, _Senpai_" from Ranma as he
punted the idiot into orbit. Akane had only shouted at Ranma once,
an obviously half-hearted effort on her part at lunch. Shampoo
hadn't turned up to glomp her Airen at lunch, and Ukyo was visiting
her father. Ryoga was in Indonesia. Mousse was playing fowl. No super-powered
martial artist had come to either prove his superiority over
Ranma (pissing match), or get revenge for a slight - real or
imaginary (grudge match), or even try to kidnap Akane
for a bride (match from hell).
For the seasoned students of the school, the majority of them
were shifting uneasily in their seats. It had been too quiet. Some
of them had actually begun to pray that Shampoo bash in a
wall and start the normal chain-of-events. Some of the more
prudent students (better safe than sorry) had approached
Gosunkugi to buy a good luck charm or a ward.
Excessive? Hardly. It's Friday, and it had been peaceful since Monday,
with only Happosai gracing the hallowed grounds of learning on
Tuesday, and even that was a brief run-through.
Disturbing?
For the resident Martial Artist God Under 20 of the district, it had
been 5 days of bliss. Peace and quiet. Oh, he did worry about it at first,
but decided that he would just deal with what may come. He had done
it before, after all. Confident? Well, having torn apart and
technically killed an immortal phoenix does wonders to one's
self-esteem. He felt that he could have done without the debacle after
that though. That was just plain stupid. The thought had reiterated
itself in Ranma's head time and again, and he was glad that he
kicked Genma's sorry behind into hospital.
That he was preoccupied helped him shrug off any uneasiness he
may have felt.
As it was, Ranma sat at his desk in class. Sat and stay awake at
his desk. Despite the fact that lunch had just finished. Not sleeping
at his desk. Poor Fujishima-sensei was sweating, unused to the problem
student paying even a semblance of attention to his class. One would
have said that sweating it was a bit much, but Ranma hadn't slept in class
since Tuesday. He hadn't napped in class at all. Not since Tuesday.
The faculty had collectively procured thirty three of Gosunkugi's wards.
Ranma's classmates had noticed it too. His desk was separated
by at least 3 feet from all adjacent desks, his classmates having
inched their own desks away from him every time he seemed to pay rapt
attention to class. All of them - except Akane and Ranma - sat upright
and were at full attention, eyes darting erratically from time to time,
senses on full alert, waiting for the other shoe to drop and all hell
to start breaking loose.
Survival instincts nearly worthy of Genma Saotome.
Our pigtailed martial artist, ignorant of ALL of this (were you
expecting otherwise?), was in deep thought. Hard to believe, but
there Ranma sat cross-legged on his chair, each hand on a knee,
looking *quite* contemplative. His brow furrowed, indicating just
how much effort he was putting into his thoughts. His body erect
at attention, and his fingers tapped slightly on his knees in an
erratic pattern. His eyes were slightly unfocused, since the mind was
elsewhere. A modern day Aristotle, one could say.
Said pigtailed martial artist was pondering a very intruiging
topic. Three and a half days ago, during Happosai's brief romp through the
school accompanied by his entourage (broom- & mop-wielding females
out for his blood, or any limb), he noticed that the founder of
Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu was heading straight for Nabiki, quite by
coincidence. Ranma was about to leap to Nabiki's rescue, but
held himself at the very last moment. He had never seen Happosai
'attach' himself to Nabiki, and he was curious how the smug, cold
Ice Queen of Furinkan High would handle such a handling of her
person.
Ranma was quite surprised to see the shrunken pervert veer away
from Nabiki, with only a glance from the girl to the pervert.
"That's it? A glance and Happosai the Pervert runs away from her??"
Ranma's mind was racing. He was the Kirin Kicker, the Trouncer of
Toma, Hurler of Herb, Saffron Slayer - he'd even beat Cologne once,
using the Neko-ken - and Happosai only needs to see him out of the
corner of his perverted eyes and he'd bounce over with a filled
bucket in one hand a brassiere in another. Without any hesitation.
And Ol' Hag Nabs sent him veering away with a cursory glance.
"People try very hard not to get Nabiki mad at them, but Happosai?"
his mind was trying its very best to process the unexpected input.
And thus, from that point on, Ranma devoted himself to trying to
understand what he had just seen.
Three days later (apparently a young, male Saotome mind does not
work too fast outside of battle; he should be thankful, since Genma's
hardly works at all), Ranma had gone through a number of thoughts:
People are afraid of Nabiki because she can dig their
dirtiest of dirts and blackmail them with it.
Nabiki WILL find any dirt on anyone, given enough time.
Since Nabiki takes quite some time to gather information,
it is safe to conclude that she cannot read minds. Therefore,
she must do it the old fashioned way.
Most of the time Nabiki always has dirt on someone
BEFORE she has decides to blackmail said person.
This means Nabiki is always on the lookout for any useful
information.
Nabiki must be very curious.
That must mean Nabiki is dangerous because she is a
curious money-grabbing bi- person.
Such is the power of the teenaged Saotome mind. Needing only three
and a half days of thought to arrive at such an astute observation.
Further credit should be given though, because with a gargantuan leap,
his mind was able to make the connection:
Knowledge is Power.
People are unwilling to share such knowledge or information
because it would expose their weakness.
Thus be very observant and curious, and you shall have
knowldege, and therefore Power whenever you need it.
True, anyone else at his age could have arrived at the same conclusion
a much shorter period, but the poor lad DID spend ten years with a
creature of doubtful intelligence outside of primal instincts, with
the name of Saotome Genma. Being dependent on Genma, including for thought
processes, would stunt the growth of anyone's mind.
So Ranma sat in his contemplative pose, and made a decision: he would
be very curious as well. He will not turn into another Nabiki: the
very thought of being like her was... repulsive. Even for naive Ranma.
No, he had decided that he would learn as many martial arts techniques
as possible. True, he had always been on the lookout for new techniques,
but this time, he was not going to wait until someone taught it to him.
He would be VOC (Very Observant & Curious), and learn what the old pervert
and ancient mummy had been keeping from him. Without their knowing.
"And I'll be the best martial artist ever for real! I'll beat even the
old ghoul!" he said to himself. Very pleased with himself and the
thought of being even better, he laughed out loud, full of glee
and anticipation.
only to realize he was laughing by himself. (Damn, I gotta stop hanging
around pig boy so much. He's actually rubbing onto me!). Having
vowed to do so, he focused his eyes and looked forward.
To find Fujishima-sensei pressing his back to the writing board,
and his classmates out of their seats and hugging the walls, each with
a very worried expression. Only Akane remained in her seat, with a
concerned look on her face.
"S-s-saotome. B-buckets. Hall. N-now," Fujishima-sensei managed,
finger pointing shakily towards the door.
The young Saotome heaved a sigh, and stood up with a tired "Hai,
sensei." At least he got more time to practice thinking.
==========
Tendo Akane walked out of the school building, school having
ended a few minutes ago.
"Hey Akane. What's wrong with Ranma?" quizzed Sayuri, walking alongside
the Tendo girl.
"Yeah, Akane! I never thought I'd say this, but Ranma spooks me
now -- well just a bit," Yuka eyed her short haired friend.
"You're not the only one Yuka. Did you see how pale Fujishima-sensei
was? I thought he was going to have a heart attack!"
"I don't know you guys. He's been keeping quiet at home too," the
Tendo heir finally said. "I haven't asked him about it yet. At first
I thought he wants to be nicer to me. You know, keeping quiet
rather than saying anything stupid. But now..." she sighed.
"Did it seem like he was doing that? Being nice I mean."
"Well, I don't know. But then when he looks at me, he'd smile at me,
and I think that was what he was really doing."
"Oooohh Sayuri! Have you EVER seen a girl so in love before? Did
you see the faraway look in her eyes when she said that?"
"You're right Yuka! You can hear her voice heavy with worry and concern
and longing for her true love!" the other girl said, her somewhat
dramatic speech spurred by the thoughts of knights in shining armour.
"Can you blame her? Ranma's one big hunk!"
"It-it-it's not like that! I was just worried! And he's not a hunk!
He's -"
"Hiya AkanwhatdidIdooooooooooo........"
Saotome Ranma had earlier decided to approach his fiancee and
walk home with her. Unfortunately he had butted into the
conversation at a... sensitive moment for Akane.
Who, by reflex, sent him flying.
"Damnit! Arrgghh!! I wanted to walk home with him! Baka baka
baka!" One would have a hard time trying to tell if Akane was
talking about Ranma, or herself.
"Akane, why don't you rush home and wait for him. Then you
can tell him you're sorry or something."
"Sayuri's right. We'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"You're right! I'll see you guys tomorrow! Bye!" Without another
word, Akane rushed home.
Yuka blink-blinked with an audible piku-piku. "Sayuri."
"Yes Yuka?"
"She didn't even say her usual 'why should I apologize to
that baka?'".
Sayuri nodded, eyes still on her friend rushing home. "Yuka."
"Yes Sayuri?"
"Our friend is in love."
*sniff* "I know. Isn't it beautiful?"
And thus, they said their goodbyes for the day, and went on home.
Leaving one to wonder if smashing one's fiance into the sky
was a beautiful thing.
==========
"Uncute, uncute, uncute tomboy! What the hell was that for?"
Ranma was flying through Nerima airspace, courtesy of Akane.
He decided to enjoy the moment and take in the view, turning his
back to the ground and looked up a the blue, slightly clouded
sky. A beautiful afternoon. He should consider lucky, he guessed,
since not many people get this perspective. There's Kuno,
but... Ranma's mind prudently decided not to go there.
The pigtailed youth was taking in the view when he suddenly felt
the change of trajectory as he passed the apex of his parabolic
flight path. With a "What the? It's too soon!" he looked to the
ground for reference.
(What? Is she sick or something? This ain't even half the height
she normally kicks me to! Aww man, I hope she's alright. Have
to find out later back home.)
Ranma didn't realize that he did not even try to deny to himself
that he was somewhat worried about his short-haired fiancee. Nor
did he realize that he just called the Tendo dojo, his home. One
could argue that he's got it bad for the Tendo girl.
Another could argue it's the newspaper that somehow found its
way into his face.
Distracted, Ranma couldn't take the necessary measures for
a proper landing. And thus he fell into the ground.
Onto a mattress, conveniently placed to break the fall of super
martial artists who somehow ticked off their fiances. It is
Nerima after all.
"Huh? Mattress?" he looked around. (Oh right, Tofu-sensei's. The
tomboy even sent me to a friend's. Damn, I guess I should do
something nice for her later. Hmmm. Let's see if Tofu's around.)
==========
-A few hours later.-
Ranma pushed open the front gates of the Tendo dojo, in deep
thought, again, this time about what the good doctor had
told him. In such deep thought was he, that he had forgotten to
find Akane as he had orginally planned. By autopilot he walked
into the house, kicked off his shoes, and went into the kitchen.
To be broken out of his reverie when he felt himself hugged TIGHT.
"Gaah! Oh hiya mom. Sorry bout that. For a moment I thought you were an
Amazon," he said as he hugged his mother in return. (You sure
hug like one. I knew I couldn't have gotten my strength from Pop
alone).
"Oh I'm sorry dear, but your mother is so proud to have such a
manly son," Nodoka said, and started to fuss over Ranma like only
a mother seperated from her child for ten years could. Soon Ranma
was sitting at the kitchen table with tea and snacks, along with
Kasumi and his mother.
Normally someone his age -- a boy no less -- would prefer to sit
with someone his age and gender. To Ranma, anyone who isn't out to
marry him or kill him is good enough for him.
Especially if they had food.
They made small talk, not something Ranma knew much about. He
was learning from his mother, albeit slowly. Among other things that
other people take for granted. Table manners, for instance.
Common courtesy. Not to mention the common sense to shut up rather
than say the first thing that came to mind in delicate situations.
Honest to goodness skills that people should have, but quite a number
don't. Ranma gets used as an example just because he stands out from
the rest of the crowd.
Thanking his mother and Kasumi, he left for the dojo, hoping to
try and practice what Tofu had explained earlier. Closing the shoji
behind him, he sat down cross-legged on the floor and recalled
the kind doctor's words.
(To learn without being thought, you have to touch, see, hear,
smell and feel your intended sensei. Merely observing your target
will not work; you must do it at a level so high that
you _experience_ what they do. From there, all will be revealed.
Your quarry will not co-operate, so you have to observe from
afar. There lies your first goal: to hone your senses so that
you can experience what your target is experiencing from a distance.
Most preferably without them noticing you. Ki alone would not
suffice; adepts like Cologne and Happosai would sense you prodding
them in no time flat.
To enhance your senses, you must understand them. Know your
surroundings. Use your ki to feel your surroundings. Compare
them with what your senses tell you. From there you can
understand your senses. If you succeed, you will know them
for what they are, and can work to improve them. But only then.)
Ranma smiled at the thought of the friendly doctor's words. Tofu-sensei
had even shown him some text on the subject of senses. Unfortunately
the texts had hardly shed any light on the matter, and Ranma had to stick
to Tofu's words.
He had asked Tofu why the doctor couldn't do what Ranma wanted to do, since
he did know the general technique after all. Tofu had turned to Ranma,
smiled, and said "My old professor once said to me: 'Those who know, do.
Those who don't, teach.' I only know the theory Ranma-kun, but I don't really
know how to do it properly. So I teach. To you."
Ranma sighed just slightly, resigned to the fact that he had his work
cut out for him. With that, he closed his eyes, and hoped that it would
not take too long.
He might miss dinner.
==========
"Auntie, where's Ranma?"
"I'm not sure Akane-chan. He had tea with me when he came back home.
I thought you wanted to join us."
"I-" she paused. She was about to deny that she did want to have tea
Ranma, but couldn't bring herself to vocalize her denials for Nodoka's
piercing gaze dared her to be less than honest; gentle, but piercing
nonetheless.
"Hai. I wanted to, but he took so long, so I went up to my room. I- I
fell asleep. Sorry, auntie."
"Now Akane-chan, there's no need to apologize. Besides, you can feast your
eyes on my manly son soon enough," the Saotome matriach said, a mischievous
glint reaching her eyes.
"I- I-"
"Don't worry dear, you'll see him at dinner. You know how he is," Nodoka
decided it was quite endearing to see her future daughter-in-law get
flustered like that. Well, it was a bit fun, too.
"But- but-"
"You feel that that is too long? Oh how lucky my son is! To get a fiancee
who admit she misses him for every moment he's not with her! Oh Akane-chan, you
make me so happy!" she was quite relentless.
Akane's face has adopted a new shade: pale and red. There she was, being
embarrassed by her future mother-in-law (the red), and the older female
was practically _squealing_ with delight, for all to hear.
For ALL to hear (yes, the paleness).
"Oh my! Imouto-chan, you've admitted your feelings for Ranma?" Kasumi
appeared out of nowhere.
"Oh happy day! My baby girl has finally declared her love for Ranma!
She's going to get married! Bwaaahhhhhhhhhh!!" Fountain-san too.
"There, there father, don't cry like that."
"At last Tendo, our schools will be joined! Our dreams will come
true!" Guess who.
"Ahem."
A small sound, but it was enough. Nodoka had sent the two idiots
out of the room hastily.
Akane let out a small sigh of relief. At least Nabiki didn't
hear the commotion.
"Oh my, auntie. What do you think Nabiki will say when she hears
about this?"
The youngest Tendo felt like taking a long training trip. Alone.
(Well, not alone. I want Ranma to -... What am I saying??)
Nodoka and Kasumi watched with quiet smiles as Akane turned
red as a tomato and rushed to her room.
==========
Ranma was sweating. A normal enough occurrance for him. It was just
that normally, when Ranma was sweating, he would most likely
be bouncing off the walls or roofs or firing chi-blasts or running
from Akane (he'd sweat a lot more if Akane was carrying a plate
of HER food for him).
At the moment, he was sitting in a lotus position on the floor, and...
that was it. He was sweating by sitting down.
Well, he seemed to be merely sitting down in the dojo. But for the
past 3 hours, he had been extending his chi, trying to corellate the
various stimuli surrounding him with his actual experiences. Even
with Tofu's earlier instructions, he found it to be very, very
hard.
The concept was easy enough. A certain stimulus, for example light,
would be interpreted in a certain way by the brain. By enveloping
oneself in a layer of chi, one could detect an incoming stimulus as
it passes through the field of chi. The stimulus, let's say green
light, would leave an imprint in the chi field that would be
exclusive to green light. The light would then reach the retina, and
be interpreted by the brain as being green. Thus, the practitioner
would know that what had passed through the chi field was green
light, and he would recognise green light in its raw form.
That would mean that his eyes would be wherever he extended his
chi to. However, the point was to avoid detection by ki-adepts, and
such a technique would be useless. Therefore, if one were to channel
and focus chi tightly into the cornea, one would be able to sense
every stimulus, including ambient energy that bombard the cornea;
even those that does not make it to the retina.
The perfect eye.
By adjusting the amount of chi focused, one would be able to
select what stimulus to highlight, and which to ignore. Which
sense should be hyper-sensitive, which one to dull. With enough
practice, the entire electromagnetic spectrum would be visible,
from radiofrequency on one end of the spectrum, to gamma rays
on the other. Wihout harming the precious retina.
Billions and billions of yen worth of equipment in one little
organic package.
This principle could be applied to all other senses. Should one
gain complete mastery the technique for all the senses, he (or she)
could hear light, feel sound, see the taste of food, touch
scents, and many, many more. Chi and ki would be seen, heard, smelt,
tasted and felt; from there all secrets would eventually become
unravelled. And all done internally, without screaming one's
intention to ki-adepts.
An awe-inspiring ability. Ranma would be able to become quite well
informed.
At the moment however, Ranma continued to sweat. It was turning
out to be harder than he had thought.
"This," he sighed "will take some time."
==========
(Just WHAT is that baka doing in there?) a certained short-haired
girl in the Tendo house fumed to herself.
(It's been seven days! Seven whole days!) she was currently sitting
at the porch overlooking the koi pond.
(Coming out only to eat, sleep, do Hinako-sensei's homework!) her
brow furrowed cutely as she focused her thoughts on a certain someone.
(He did come out three days ago, but that was just to flirt with that damn
bimbo and that- that- that crossdressing cook!) she started to clench
her small fists on her lap.
(And when Ryouga-kun came to visit yesterday, all he did was pick on
him! That jerk!) her knuckles popped as she clenched her fists tighter.
(He is SUCH a JERK! Keeping to himself like that! Like we're not good
enough for him to talk to!) a slightly visible aura lit up around her.
(He- he-) the aura flared up considerably. Had anyone seen it, they
would have taken a step or five backwards.
(He doesn't talk to me anymore,) thought Tendo Akane sadly, as her
shoulders drooped and her anger deflated.
(Oh Ranma you jerk. Please talk to me.)
"There Akane, don't look so sad," said Saotome Nodoka as she appeared
at the girl's side. Akane was a bit startled, but checked herself from
flinching visibly.
The older woman gathered her in a motherly embrace. "You know how he
is."
Akane nodded. A comfortable silence wafted through the air.
"But I must admit. I'm beginning to worry for my son as well. It _has_
been quite some time since he started... whatever it is he's doing."
"I wish I knew what he was doing. This is the first time that he's
kept quiet like this. Usually if he's learning a new technique, we
at least _knew_ what he's doing. The Kaatchu Tenshin Amaguriken,
the Hiryuu Shoten Ha -- even the Mouko Takabisha. At least we knew
what he was doing. That he was alright," said the girl, in a small
voice.
(Oh dear. Akane seems to be very upset.) Nodoka turned her gaze
towards the dojo. (Ranma my son, as much as I am proud of your pursuit
of the Art, I hope you come out of that dojo soon.)
She looked down at Akane, who was leaning into her chest, obviously
cherishing Nodoka's motherly embrace; it had been too long since
she had had the luxury. "Don't worry dear. Maybe it's something only
he can see," she said, not knowing how right she was. "We'll just
have to trust him," she said with a smile.
Akane noticed the smile in Nodoka's voice and looked up into the
older woman's face, a small smile of her own forming. "I guess
you're r-"
Her speech was cut off by a jubilant "YATTA!"
==========
He'd done it! He'd finally done it! After days of gruelling
meditation, he'd finally done it!
It wasn't the gradual increase he expected. One moment, he sat in
the darkened dojo. Then suddenly, enlightenment came, and his world
exploded into colours and sounds and smells and sensations that he
felt and heard and saw and smelled and tasted from head to toe! His
mental preparation spared him from collapsing in agony from the
overwhelming experience, but nothing could contain his euphoria.
The feeling was indescribable! He saw more of everything in every
direction. He felt that he could hear the heart-beat of a mouse
ten miles away! He could-
"Yuck!"
He could smell himself.
"Bathroom here I come! Damn, that was hard work!" he said as he
cut off the excess chi to his senses -- except his cornea -- and
opened the dojo doors. He paused as he took in his surroundings.
Everything was different. Same, but different. He saw everything
differently. Deciding to test his new abilities, he jumped onto the
perimeter wall, and then onto the dojo roof. He let loose a bit of
chi.
He took a sharp breath. From the elevated vantage point, the experience
of early evening Nerima was even more breathtaking.
Colors everywhere, from walls, roofs, birds flying above. Sensations
from various distances; he lifted his hand, and reached out.
And gasped. He could _touch_ the neighbours roof. From where he stood.
By merely touching the light waves that bounced off it towards him!
The shingle felt slightly coarse, a toll it took from the weather. He
not only felt the texture, but also the colour. He could feel a residual
amount of chi on the shingle, probably where a bird had landed some time
ago.
He reached out again, this time at nothing in particular. He could feel
the differing temperatures of air at various levels; a minute variance
from each other, but he felt it all the same.
He heard the laughter of a girl, and he turned around, wondering what
a girl was doing on the roof with him. To find no one there. Again he
heard the girl, replying to her friend, who was also out of sight. From
his vantage point, he searched the roads around the dojo. Two boys,
and elderly man, a middle aged housewife with her son was all he saw.
No girls. He could hear people out of sight.
Deciding to test his new skills further, he focused more chi into his
cornea.
And immediately got a close up of a caterpillar munching on a leaf.
(Huh?) He cut off his chi, and looked for the tree on which the little
insect-to-be could possibly be on.
(Huh? Where's the tree? There's nothing but roofs and roofs. The park
ain't in that direction. That ain't the way to school either.)
Puzzled, he slowly channeled his chi, giving him the impression that
he's slowly zooming across the rooftops using an expensive camera.
(Whu..?) he managed, as his view passed a prominent sign in the
shopping district, a good fifteen blocks away from the dojo.
He continued for about twenty seconds, until his view came to a
tree. Very slowly he zoomed in just a bit more, until he came to spy
on a lone catterpillar, fat and green, munching away happily on a leaf.
Dampening the chi supply, he considered the tree. (That... that tree
is... more than three miles away! No way! This-)
"Son? Are you alright?"
"Huh?" An articulate response.
He looked down, and saw his mother and Akane standing on the stone path
towards, the dojo, looking up at him on the roof.
Again he gasped. He saw his mother as he had never seen her before.
Upon the regal image of Saotome Nodoka, he saw - he _felt_ a multitude
of colours, emotions. He felt concern. He felt relief. He felt the
untold love of a mother for her child.
Although he had never been cold at heart to his mother, Ranma's heart
melted, and jumped down right in front of her, giving her a tight
embrace. The contact made him feel his mother even more, but the dam
truly broke when he felt his mother return his embrace, flooding him
his senses; he knew there and then, that his mother was proud of him
no matter what others might say, and would have him no other way.
(I love you mother.)
(I love you my son.)
"Umm.."
A gesture was made to attract attention, and attract their attention it
did. Breaking the embrace, he looked at Akane, hyper senses still
active.
And got an eyeful of Akane's aura.
"Kami-sama..." the pigtailed boy whispered. THIS, he had not expected.
-End prologue-
Note : A HUGE thank you to my pre-readers
Nathan Shuker - who helped show me just how atrocious
my grammar and spelling really were
Ranma Saotome - who gave me suggestions on how to write the
fic better.