Ranma 1/2: The Dragon Comb Mystery Part2 [FanFic]

[Edward T. Hrzic III]

Previous parts may be found at ftp.std.com in
customers2/archives/anime-fan-works/Ranma. Direct any comments to
me at "bd...@yfn.ysu.edu".

And now...

<< Ranma 1/2: The Dragon Comb Mystery -- Part 2 >>

[Here we have a lovely Sunday morning. The sun is coming up and
the birds are singing. Everyone is asleep except for Kasumi, who
is bustling about the kitchen. Akane opens her eyes and looks at
the ceiling. She looks at the clock. It reads 7:00 am. She sits
up then leaves the room. She walks downstairs and passes Kasumi.]

AKANE. (yawning) 'Morning, Kasumi.
KASUMI. Good morning, Akane.
AKANE. (She walks into the laundry room.) <Ranma was thinking
pretty hard last night. He wouldn't tell me what it was. That's
unusual for him to be so quiet.> (She takes off her clothes and
drapes a towel in front of herself. She opens the door. She walks
into the bathroom and sees that water is already in the tub. She
sticks her hand in, and tests the temperature. She then steps in
and sinks back to her neck.)
TRALE. (From the other side of the tub) Nice legs.
[She looks disbelieving at him. She turns bright red. She then
jumps out of the tub and wraps the towel around her in one swift
motion. She opens, then closes the door. She walks back over to
Trale who looks up at her.]

[We cut to a picture of the Tendo Dojo exterior. We hear a VERY
loud "smack!" followed by a VERY loud "youch!" followed by
Akane's VERY loud, ear-piercing scream. We cut to scenes of
everyone else in the house waking up.]

AKANE. (scrambling out into the living kitchen wearing her gi,
which she pulled out of nowhere) He did it again! That pervert!
Ooooohhhhh!
KASUMI. Hmmm? Oh, that must be Trale. He was taking a bath.
TRALE. Who? What?
[Everyone runs downstairs into the kitchen, all still in their
evening wear.]
SOUN. What's wrong?
RANMA. What happened Akane?
AKANE. Ranma? If you're there... (she turns)
TRALE. (walking to the crowd. He's rubbing his cheek a bit from
his wound) What's the problem, aside from the uptight, hot-headed
girl out there?
AKANE. (angered) UPTIGHT?
SOUN. (waves) Oh, hello Trale.
(Ranma stares at Trale. Trale returns the glare.)
AKANE. (REALLY angry) HOT-HEADED?
TRALE. (folding his arms) Sorry everybody. (to Akane) You should
have knocked first.
AKANE. ME? JUST WHO ARE YOU?
[Trale puts on his glasses.]
SOUN. Akane, let me introduce you to our newest student, Trale.
He's joined the dojo.
AKANE. Joined the dojo? Trale? Looks like Ranma?
NABIKI. (looking closely at Trale.) He DOES look a bit like
Ranma, without the glasses that is.
TRALE. (ignoring her) I'm starving. Kasumi, are you making more
of that wonderful food of yours?
KASUMI. (laughs) Why, yes Trale.
TRALE. Great! Let's eat!
[He walks to the living room, followed by Soun and Genma, Kasumi
then follows with a tray of food.]
AKANE. (Akane falls to her knees) This isn't shaping up to be a
good life.
NABIKI. Ranma, who was that?
RANMA. Why me? I haven't the slightest clue. He appeared from
nowhere. Yesterday, he thrashed Kuno, Ryoga and Mousse. From what
I've seen though, he's a decent martial artist.
AKANE. (stands) Sorry. I thought it was you in there Ranma.
RANMA. You'd think I'd voluntarily look at a tom-boy like you
Akane?

[Cut to Tendo Dojo exterior. Ranma flies through the wall.]

NABIKI. <Wait. If HE looks like Ranma...> (Nabiki has a scheme.
Pictures of Kodachi, Ukkyo, Shampoo, Trale and Ranma fly through
her mind. We focus back to reality. Nabiki is grinning. Dollar
signs replace her eyes. We hear a cash register ring.) <I'll make
a fortune!>
AKANE. (looking back at Nabiki) What are you grinning about?
NABIKI. (regains her composure and giggles) Oh, nothing! Let's
eat or the food'll get cold. (she goes to the living room.)
AKANE. (following her) I've got a really bad-feeling about
this...

[A little later. The family is seated in their usual positions
around the table. Ranma has a bandage across his cheek.]

SOUN. So, exactly where are you from?
GENMA. Yes, where?
SOUN. You're martial art style is unlike much that I've seen. And
using combs as weapon?
(Ranma, Akane and Nabiki gag on their drinks.)
NABIKI. Combs? Did I hear you right?
TRALE. (whips them out of his pocket and points it at Nabiki)
Yep, you heard right.
AKANE. (seeing the dragon over the handle of the comb) Oohh,
nice.
RANMA. Silver, too.
TRALE. (pulling the comb back and looking at it) Yeah, I got them
from (he thinks) a friend. (he thinks again) I think.
GENMA. You think?
TRALE. To tell you the truth, I'm not really sure. I just
appeared in Japan yesterday. I don't really know much else.
[The whole family, except Kasumi, looks at him intently.]
TRALE. (looking around nervously at them) What?
SOUN. Just what are you here for?
TRALE. All I know is, that I'm supposed to find someone who
taught me some of his martial arts back in China. That's all I
know.
[They all sit back.]
TRALE. Sorry. I know just as much as you do.
[The Twilight Zone music echoes in the background. Genma and Soun
are off stage. They are playing the music. Genma finishes the
drums. They sit back down.]
TRALE. When did you two become musicians?
SOUN & GENMA. Just a hobby.
TRALE. So, what shall we do today?
AKANE. Well, mostly anything. Hey, Trale?
TRALE. Yeah?
AKANE. You said you were a martial artist, right?
TRALE. Not really. (glancing at Genma and Soun) Just a hobby
though.
[Soun and Genma chuckle.]
AKANE. Why don't we have a little match?
[All groan. Nabiki, Soun and Genma leave.]
KASUMI. Now, wouldn't that be nice? (she picks up the tray and
leaves)
TRALE. Sorry. You'd beat me to a pulp. Had I continued fighting
your father, he would have done the same.
AKANE. Then...
TRALE. No. I think you'd be too good. (he winks. Akane giggles.
she blushes.) And Akane? Sorry about scaring you in the bathroom.
AKANE. That's alright. (Ranma turns his head)
TRALE. (Trale notices) Oh, sorry for getting into your territory
there Ranma. You have a wonderful fiance there.
RANMA. (turns back) Huh?
TRALE. I apologize.
RANMA. And just what ARE you here for? Don't give me any of your
crap!
TRALE. Huh?
AKANE. What are you talking about Ranma.
RANMA. Yesterday, after the fight...

[flashback]

TRALE. You realize why I'm here.
RANMA. What?
TRALE (his glasses flash with light) Don't tell me you've
forgotten already.
RANMA. Forgotten what?

[Ranma and Akane are staring at Trale as we return to the
present. Trale laughs.]

RANMA. What are you laughing about?
TRALE. I don't know.
RANMA. This is getting old. (grabbing Trale's shirt) Just who the
hell are you?
TRALE. I told you, I DON'T KNOW! (Ranma drops him) Something...
something's coming though, and I don't know what it is. I'm
scared.
AKANE. What IS going on Trale?
TRALE. (he looks outside) I don't know.
RANMA. Let's see if we can find out. Doctor Tofu knows a lot
about this meta-physical stuff. Maybe he can help.
AKANE. (slamming her hands on the table) Ranma, that's a great
idea! One of the best you've had!
TRALE. (genuiinely interested) Do you think it'll help?
RANMA. We can try.

[Somewhere else...]

[A young girl steps off of a ship. She is tall and has green hair
that reaches her waist. It shadows her face. She wears a
backpack, jeans, and a t-shirt that reads "ETH" on it. She stops
in front of a worker on the dock.]
GIRL. Excuse me.
WORKER. Yes?
GIRL. Can you tell me which way to the Tendo dojo?
WORKER. Tendo dojo? (thinks a moment) Never heard of it. It might
be somewhere in town though. (the lady looks toward town) Are you
lost? (she walks off) Weird girl.

[Somewhere along the street a street. The typical Ranma "Running"
music is heard. Ranma is running along one wall, Akane on the
ground, and Trale on another.]

TRALE. (huff) I'm hungry.
RANMA. What?
TRALE. I'm hungry. When we get back, I'll ask Kasumi to make
something. (silent for a moment) Sorry I've been so weird.
AKANE. Don't worry. Ranma was at first as well.
RANMA. Grrrr...

[Down the street, Ryoga is walking...]

RYOGA. <Who was that strange kid. He looked just like Ranma. Are
they brothers or something? And where is the dojo?>
AKANE. (looking up ahead) Hey Ryoga!
RYOGA. (running up to her) Hi Akane! (Everybody stops running. he
glances up to Trale) It's him!
AKANE. Huh?
RYOGA. Yesterday! He humiliated Kuno, Mousse and I!
RANMA. Well it's not really that hard...
RYOGA. (crushes the wall Ranma was standing on. Ranma lands on
the ground from his jump) Ranma!
RANMA. (bowing sarcastically) What can I do for you Ryoga?
RYOGA. (pulling out his umbrella, and charges for Ranma) Prepare
to die! (Trale jumps in front of them) What do you want?
TRALE. This isn't Ranma's battle. It's mine. Remember? Ranma
didn't destroy your cake. I did.
RYOGA. That's right! (swings his umbrella. Ranma scatters to an
undamaged wall. Trale jumps back. He pulls out his combs)
TRALE. Look. I don't really want to fight.
RYOGA. Oh no?
TRALE. Yes. Okay, here. How about if I give you this cake
instead. (he hands Ryoga a cake. Ryoga takes it in his free
hand.)
RYOGA. Uh...thanks. (Ranma and Akane are puzzled as well)
TRALE. We're going to the Doctor's office. Care to join us?

[Cut to entrance of Doctor Tofu's building. The quartet arrives.]

RYOGA. What do you mean that you don't know anything else?
RANMA. It's just that. Nothing else.
RYOGA. You're lying.
TRALE. Am I? Why don't you tell me if I am?
RYOGA. I just did!
AKANE. Shut up you three! (calming down) Now, let's ask Doctor
Tofu the questions.
RANMA. Trale, just where did you pull that cake from?

[Cut to lounge. Ranma, Ryoga, and Akane are sitting around. Akane
is eating the cake.]

AKANE. Thanks for the cake Ryoga.
RYOGA. (embarrassed) Your welcome. Anything for you Akane.
RANMA. Grrr...
(The door opens. Doctor Tofu steps out.)
RANMA. Well Tofu? Have you got some answers?
TOFU. Please step inside.

[Cut to office.]

TOFU. Your friend here isn't real.
RANMA. Okay, so you HAVE flipped. Trale, have you been getting to
the poor doctor?
TRALE. Don't look at me.
TOFU. (adjusts the glasses on his face) What we have is a
corporeal entity, but is comprised of nothing.
RANMA. (confused) Would you explain that in plain Japanese?
TOFU. (clears his throat, and points to Trale) Trale is for all
intents and purposes, real -- physically anyway. As for mentally,
he has no memories, and past events. Various shreds of knowledge
have been integrated in his brain for specific reasons. He seems
to have been created for a purpose.
RYOGA. So what do you mean he "isn't real"?
TOFU. Take a look. (he picks up an ultra-violet lamp and shines
it in Trale's direction. Trale's torso and head disappears)
RANMA,AKANE,RYOGA. (all stand, shocked) Eh?
TOFU. (turns off the light. Trale fully returns) See what I mean?
TRALE. I don't feel so well.

[Cut to outside.]

RANMA. This is all too weird for me.
TRALE. For you? For you?! What about me? I don't even exist! I
feel like a bloody cartoon character! Only made for people's
cheap laughs!
AKANE. Trale... (Trale leaps away and runs down a road)
RYOGA. I feel sorry for the poor kid.
RANMA. You and me both.

[Cut to walking...]

[Akane and Ryoga walk on the ground. Ranma also walks on the
ground for once.]
RANMA. I wonder what it all means?
AKANE. Ranma, you're not a philosopher.
RANMA. I'm serious. Look, he must be here for a reason. He said
so to me. He's here, and somewhere, buried in my skull, is the
reason.
AKANE. Then we'll never find it. You're head's thick enough.
RANMA. Akane, I'm serious about this.
RYOGA. Any possible clues?
AKANE. Revenge?
RYOGA. Money?

[Cut to top of school...]

TRALE. What am I here for? SOMEONE TELL ME! TELL ME MY LIFE'S NOT
A LIE! (he collapses on the roof and cries)

[Cut to walking again...]

AKANE. Food?
RYOGA. Help?
RANMA. I don't think it's any of them.
AKANE. (stops walking. they do as well) I DON'T SEE YOU HELPING
ANY! OKAY THEN WHAT DO *YOU* THINK HE'S HERE FOR?
MAN. (standing at the road juncture in front of them) Perhaps I
can be of some assistance to your problem, Akane. (they look. He
is dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that read "ETH". He wears a
backpack and glasses. he resembles Ranma slightly.)
AKANE. Trale?
MAN. Trale? Have you seen him?
RANMA. Uh yeah, he just ran off.
MAN. (bears his fangs and the screen around him burns with fire)
Damn! I've been looking for him forever!
RANMA. Wait, aren't you Trale?
MAN. (the screen returns to normal) Uh...no, Ranma. But...
RYOGA. Then who are you?
MAN. (points to himself) Oh? Me? My name's Ed, Ryoga.
AKANE. How do you know all of us?
ED. (his glasses flash) That's my secret.

<<< END OF PART 2 >>>

AKANE VOICE-OVER: Next on Ranma 1/2: The Dragon Comb Mystery...
RANMA VOICE-OVER: Who are is this new look-alike, Ed?
TRALE VOICE-OVER: What is my purpose?
NABIKI VOICE-OVER: Three Ranmas?! I'm make more money than I'd
ever think!
AKANE VOICE-OVER: Keep it down over there Nabiki.

--
---------------------------------------------------------------
ED HRZIC, author of the Macross and a RanmaMUCK(Ed) and
FanFic "Ecstatic Vision", the AnimeMUCK(Goku) user!
Crisis Hard Suit Rifts stats E-MAIL--bd981@ yfn.ysu.edu