SEQUENCE
by Scott K. Jamison
(Note: Ranma 1/2 and the associated characters were created by Rumiko
Takahashi and NA rights are held by VIZ Communications. No infringement
intended.)
Part 4
(Morning. A light drizzle is falling.)
(The Tendou family has joined Ranma and Akane for the party.
Ranma looks uncomfortable in her party dress. Nabiki has already gotten
to the appetizers. Kasumi and Nodoka are trading recipes. Soun is
crying for no apparent reason, which Akane regards with disgust.)
RANMA: Akane?
AKANE: Yes, Ranma?
RANMA: I just wanted to say I like having you and me be friends, and...
AKANE: Why wouldn't we be friends? We're so much alike.
RANMA: Um, well, when my brother [still can't quite grasp that. I've
got a brother!] gets here, please don't get mad if he's weird or makes
mistakes. I mean, he's been away a long time, and he's...been through
some changes.
AKANE: What kind of changes?
RANMA: Well, growing up and all...
AKANE: Don't worry, Ranma! It isn't like this is some kind of o-miai,
right?
(Ranma grows a sweatdrop.)
AKANE: And speaking of odd, you've been acting pretty peculiar the last--
FEMALE VOICE (off): Put me down, dammit!
(Everyone rushes into the hall and is astounded to see a panda
carrying a red-headed girl in a Chinese martial arts costume. Everyone
except Ranma, who isn't surprised at all. The panda sets down the girl,
Hikaru-chan, who looks like the Hikaru from Rayearth.)
HIKARU-CHAN (voice of Ranma-chan): Can't you see you're scaring them?
RANMA (casually): Hi Pops. Welcome home, Hikaru. Hey, everyone, this
is my brother, Hikaru!
NABIKI (poking): Uh, Ranma, your brother's a girl?
HIKARU-CHAN: Do you mind?
PANDA-GENMA: Growf (sign: "Ranma recognized us? What a faithful daughter!")
RANMA: Hey, I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation. Right, bro?
HIKARU-CHAN: You're my sister? Boy, you've got an unfeminine voice.
RANMA: Akane, can I borrow your hammer for a moment?
(later that day, we see a figure vaguely through a fogged window.)
(Cut to Ranma waiting outside the bathroom door. It slides open,
and male Hikaru steps out. He looks like a younger version of male
Ranma, with a much longer braid. His voice is still female Ranma's though.)
HIKARU: You are one amazing big sister. You recognized me right away
despite--you know--helped explain what happened to us, kept me from
getting that Akane girl too angry...man, she's uncute.
RANMA: Just be grateful Mom put the kibosh on that arranged marriage
nonsense. One of those in a family is bad enough.
HIKARU: Yeah, I'm only thirteen, after all. I'm not even sure I like
girls yet, and sometimes I am one! It's really weird being stuck in a
girl's body.
RANMA: [I know how you feel, and apparently I will for the rest of my
life.] I'll do my best to help you through it. I feel kind of responsible.
HIKARU: Why?
RANMA: Um, never mind. Say, so what happened after you left the springs?
HIKARU: Well, we visited this village of Amazons, and ended up
accidentally eating first prize in some contest.
RANMA: And?
HIKARU: Well, Pops managed to con the guy whose prize it was into
letting us go. Said he'd engage his eldest daughter to him. Gave him
your picture, and all.
RANMA: What! This guy, what was he like?
HIKARU: Long hair, really bad eyesight, white robes. Had a really weird
name.
RANMA: Mousse?
HIKARU: That was it. How'd you know? But not to worry, we snuck out of
there before he could get our address.
RANMA: [I'm in Hell!] Aagh! Mousse speaks and reads Japanese fluently!
We're in the phone book!
HIKARU: So?
(The wall vibrates, then explodes. Mousse is revealed in the
settling dust. he isn't wearing his glasses. Shampoo appears behind him
and grabs his arm.)
SHAMPOO: Mousse stop now! Not need Ranma, when has Shampoo!
MOUSSE: Go away, you cretinous bimbo. (Walks over to Hikaru and hugs
him.) At last I have found the beauteous Ranma!
HIKARU: Ranma's over there. (Points to Ranma, who is shaking her head
and making warding motions.)
(Mousse puts on his glasses, sees the difference and shudders.)
MOUSSE: Nii hao, Ranma! (She holds him at arms' length.)
SHAMPOO: You Ranma for real? (Moves closer)
RANMA: Would it do any good to deny it?
(Shampoo kisses Ranma on the cheek.)
SHAMPOO: You I kill.
RANMA: No! (Sinks to her knees and covers her ears.) Make it stop!
Please make it stop!
(Fade to black. Fade back in on a futon, with a lump of dark
hair and a pigtail sticking out.)
RANMA: Aaaahh!! (sits up, pats himself down) Hey, I'm a guy again!
AKANE (off): Yeah, I thought some hot water would help wake you up.
(The camera pulls back, and we see it's the Tendou guest room.
In addition to Akane, Genma and the shopkeeper are there.)
RANMA: Hey, I thought you said this ring (tugs it off) didn't grant wishes!
SHOPKEEPER: It doesn't. It merely shows you the consequences of making
a given wish.
AKANE: You blacked out, and I brought you home. You've been out for hours.
RANMA: You mean this entire episode was a dream sequence? I hate dream
sequences! They're such a cheat!
(The shopkeeper beats a hasty retreat.)
RANMA: This ring was supposed to be your birthday present, Akane. But
now I suppose you're going to accuse me of trying to curse you or
something. (Tosses it away.)
AKANE: R-ranma--
(Kunou bursts in, trampling Genma.)
KUNOU: That crisis dealt with, I at last have time to deal properly with
you, Ranma Saotome. Ah, the lovely Akane Tendou, as sands through the
hourglass of time, these--
(Ranma boots him in the head.)
RANMA: Less talk. More fighting.
(They leap out the window together, and Akane leans out after them.)
AKANE: You idiots!
(off: *SPLOOSH!*)
(Akane rushes out the door, mayhem in mind. Genma walks over to
the ring, and puts it on his little finger.)
GENMA: I wonder...I wish...I wish...
(Curtains close.)
THE END
Well, that's my debut. The next story coming up, "Ranma 'n'
Roll", is a bit longer, so I'll be posting it in larger chunks. Any
questions, comments, etc., let me know.
SKJAM!
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