Imprints  

Chapter 1 - Transference

 

 

Disclaimer – I claim the city of Dis.   And yes I can claim it, but people can dispute that claim. I don’t claim to have a pre-reader.   If you have a problem with my grammar, be a pre-reader.  Reviews are fine, I claim to like them.  This was just an odd idea I had.  Not sure on the final ending, but I do know where this story is going.  I hope you like it.  This story has been revised to clean it up from the nightmare it was.  Technically it wasn’t that bad, and heck, it still probably has mistakes, but I corrected many of them.

 

 

 

Kuno laughed maniacally at his newest plan to thwart Ranma Saotome.  It wasn’t a new plan by any means, but was a revision of an old one.  His maniacal laughter filled the halls, only to be heard by his loyal ninja who waited in attendance.

 

“Cats Sasuke!  Lots and lots of cats will drive the demon sorcerer mad.  Then he will be contained by me so that he may once and for all be sealed for the demon he is.”  Kuno said with a maddening glee.   “I will challenge the knave to a final duel, and he shall finally be toppled. 

 

Pausing from his devious plotting, he turned to question the family’s ninja.

 

“One might feel sorry for the villain, for stooping to such a level.  Wouldn’t you think so good Sasuke?  Is it wrong to attack specifically at a man’s weakness?”

 

The diminutive ninja looked to his master like a student would a teacher, awaiting the answer that would be given anyway.  Long term service to the Kuno clan had shown that almost any question, given by the clan head, his son, or his daughter would always be answered by the very person who asked it.  The phrase, “When I want your opinion I’ll give it to you,” could easily be adopted as the family creed.

 

Kuno smirked as he gave his ninja a comforting glance before he continued on. 

 

“Nay Sasuke, while I may have once believed it to be an attack on his weakness, I know now it is divine prophesy informing me how to contain him.  These cats are surely the only means of sealing the demon.  Were he a true warrior, then he would fall by my hand, without such tricks.  But when dealing with the minions of hell, one must be just as crafty as those you wish to catch.  Tomorrow Saotome, you will finally be judged!”

 

Kuno’s laugh continued manically for some time within his estate, before he finally ordered his servant to gather the felines.

 

Ranma entered the gymnasium happy to be able to work off some steam.  It was only Kuno he was fighting, but he needed something to relieve his stress.  His fiancées were all trying to snuggle against him, or incapacitate their competition.  Akane had been determined to feed him the past week, resulting in Ranma starving as he avoided the toxic waste known as her cooking.  And he didn’t even get to fight anyone as Ryoga and Mousse both decided to go off and train in hopes of defeating their nemesis.  Meanwhile his father disappeared when he had managed to accidentally anger Happosai.

 

In short, Ranma was bored not being able to fight anyone.  When Kuno issued a formal challenge, Ranma was ecstatic.  So much so, as he bounded into the gym he didn’t notice all the bins suspended above the ceiling, or the fact that all exits save one were boarded up, or otherwise blocked off.

 

“Alright Kuno, come on and fight me!”  he yelled, wondering when his opponent would appear.

 

It didn’t take long as some smoke appeared near the bleachers.  Were one to look, one might notice Sasuke fanning dry ice as fast as possible to create the effect, but it still provided an appropriate atmosphere as Kuno stepped through the smoky haze and began his speech.

 

“Bells toll for thee on this day Ranma Saotome.  Were you not a demon, I would never have had to resort to such tactics.  But you are not defined by your honor.  Send my condolences to your fellow minions within the abyss.  For today you shall surely greet them.”

 

Kuno then drew forth his weapon.

 

“Even if you defeat me this day…  The gears are in motion for your downfall.  Never again shall you trouble such lilies as Akane Tendo or the Tree Born Kettle Girl.  Prepare thyself!” Kuno concluded as he moved into a ready stance.

 

As Ranma worked at putting Kuno’s speech into layman’s terms, he flinched slightly as light reflected off the bokken.  Taken a moment to recover, he realized the reflection was caused because, once again, Kuno was coming into this fight with a real katana.  Kuno with a real sword was dangerous.  Ranma was also dangerous of course, but even he knew one could get lucky.  Truth be told, he realized that’s exactly what he was when he had defeated Saffron.  He had won the fight out of desperation and luck; not by skill alone.

 

Dropping into his own stance, he only waited a moment before the battle began.

 

-Meanwhile across the high school campus-

 

“Sweeto!” a diminutive old man yelled, as he ran through a throng of women, every now and then pulling fabric off the women before continuing on.

 

“Get back here pervert!” screamed one as she realized the red silk panties in the small troll’s hand were none other than her own.

 

“Damn it Happosai!  Give back my bra!” shouted Akane as she charged across the school yard in an attempt to put the grandmaster into his place, if not an early grave.

 

“Sorry Akane.  But these darlings must be freed!”  Happosai retorted as he began to liberate more and more women’s undergarments, much to the protest of all said women.  Running out of targets he went on to another area of the school to seek more targets while each victim quickly joined the group pursuing the panty thief.

 

Within minutes a sizable mob was pursuing the Grandmaster of Anything Goes Martial Arts, including Ukyo, Shampoo, Kodachi, Akane, and a majority of the female population of Nerima between 13 and 25.

 

Despite the fun Happosai was enjoying from all the attention the young ladies were lavishing on him; he realized he needed to deposit his recently liberated wares.  Stretching out his senses, he noticed two battle auras emanating from the gym. 

 

“Where there’s a battle, there’s Ranma” he thought to himself.  He quickly altered course and prepared to once again “educate” his unwilling disciple.

 

We now return to our originally scheduled fight.

 

Within the Gymnasium

 

Kuno slashed repeatedly into the air trying to finish off Ranma.  If he could be defeated without tricks, it would of course mean greater praise would be heaped upon the kendoist.  At least, that was Kuno’s logic.  Regrettably, it took less than two minutes before the first of Ranma’s attacks breached his defense, a kick across his face sprawling him across the gym floor.

 

Kuno pressed the sword against the floor to prop himself up, before he used his sleeve to wipe away a small trickle of blood.

 

“I fight on Ranma” he angrily stated, raising his sword once again to join the battle.  Vertigo disagreed with the kendo master however, and he quickly realized his balance would not allow him to fight at his best.  When Ranma landed a series of punches, sending him once again across the gym, he realized “Plan B” would need to be implemented.

 

“Sasuke!  Release the secret weapons!”  He shouted to the rafters, while Ranma immediately paused to consider what the new threat could be.

 

“At once Master Kuno!” the ninja responded as he quickly pulled on a rope.  The rope was attached to a series of pulleys which were in turn connected to a number of bins near the ceiling.

 

Ranma immediately froze as he heard the feline calls.

 

Within seconds, hundreds of cats were lining the gym floor.  Ranma blanched as he realized there was little he could do at the moment.  Everywhere he looked, a pair of slanted eyes greeted him.

 

Freezing up, Ranma quickly tried to reign in the terror that was threatening to bring out the deadly technique known as the Neko-Ken.   While it was called a technique, it was more a madness, and despite his best efforts, the madness was slowly gaining a foothold.  Fighting the mental struggle, his guard dropped entirely as he all but forgot about the katana wielding kendoist

 

Kuno stood triumphantly.  Ranma was frozen in terror before him. “At last Ranma, the powers of these cats have sealed your fate, and made you unable to fight as you once could.  I shall slay thee so as to spare any priests from having to bloody their hands.”

 

Kuno advanced upon the pigtailed martial artist who was still struggling with an inner battle.  Ranma couldn’t move as he felt the fur balls purring as they brushed against his legs.  In his mind, he knew the cats were toying with him.  Trying to get close, so that they could dig into his flesh and satiate their hunger.  It was only at the last minute he saw Kuno getting ready to strike at him.

 

“Ranma prepare to -oof!” Kuno cried out only, to find Ranma had kicked him up and through the gymnasium roof.

 

Ranma was still struggling with his cat problem.  He didn’t even notice his body had reacted to his opponent.  He just knew in the back of his mind that Kuno was dealt with.

 

Sasuke looked at the scared martial artist.  The cats were doing their job, but it appeared Ranma still had some measure of control.  As his master was no longer able to battle this fiend, Sasuke decide it was up to him to make Ranma cross the threshold of madness.  Taking out of a small bag, he looked at the catnip and meow mix he had.  Not wanting to get close to his opponent, he threw the food at the frozen martial artist.

 

Ranma momentarily broke out of his terror induced stupor to look at the mess of debris covering him.

 

“What did you do that for?” he screamed looking directly at Sasuke who immediately fled.  Unfortunately, Ranma quickly discovered what the purpose of the attack was, as he heard the cats all meow, and attack the food now available to them.

 

Ranma barely let out a scream before he was buried under the felines.

 

In his mind, he could feel layer after layer of his sanity slip away.  It would only be 20 seconds or so before his sanity would be stripped away, and the neko ken would emerge.  He felt the claws dig into the skin.  He felt the teeth biting him.  It only took a moment before he stopped fighting physically and reverted to the battle within his mind.  He wasn’t actually aware of what was happening outside his inner psyche anymore. 

 

In the gymnasium, the doors suddenly burst open as Happosai charged in and immediate took aim with a water balloon at his apprentice.   The cats, fearful of the sudden water, as well as the strange vibe given off by Happosai immediately scattered.   Ranma didn’t even register as his body shifted to that of a female, the troll latching onto her chest.  Happosai only took a moment to recharge his energies against her chest, not noticing his pupil didn’t even react to him.  He then released a few of his stolen articles like he always did with his student to implicate Ranma as a fellow thief before he continued on with his lion’s share of stolen goods..

 

It was then the horde of girls, led by Akane Tendo arrived and that noticed Ranma with a bra against his face, and odd expression as if he were in a stupor.

 

“Ranma you pervert!” she screamed as she and most of the girls, in their mob mentality attacked the defenseless aqua-transsexual.

 

At the same time within the darkest recesses of Ranma’s mind, a new experience was occurring.  A child version of Ranma was in the pit of cats fighting for his life as his sanity was still trying to maintain its small hold.  But the claws were striking him, and the teeth were biting him.  Another layer of his mind peeled back as he slowly realized the helplessness of it.  The pain stopped for a moment. 

 

“Maybe…  Maybe Daddy will let me out now?” he thought as he hoped to see his father lower a rope, or anything to help his son escape. 

 

Instead the cats took a moment to morph into hideous beasts.  The cats weren’t there anymore.  They no longer purred.  They no longer mewed.  They didn’t even have fur on anymore.  Instead they grew in stature, and rose up on their hind quarters.  The glowed with a strange power, and suddenly were wearing dresses.

 

“You’re girls now?”  He questioned hopefully.  “Does that mean I won’t be hurt anymore?”

 

It was then the girls in his mind attacked.

 

Chibi-Ranma’s screams began again in earnest once more.

 

The girls were worse than the cats.  At least with the cats he knew eventually his father would pull him out.  Memories began to flood across his subconscious. 

 

“You will marry Akane!” as dozens of memories of his father surrounded him reminding him of engagement despite her multiple attempts to hurt him.

 

“Airen!” screamed images of Shampoo as she threw herself at him, again and again.

 

“Ranchan will marry me” screamed Ukyo as she hoisted a battle spatula.

 

The images continued, of all the girls who wouldn’t leave him alone and beat him if he did something wrong.

 

Crying as another layer of sanity peeled away, Ranma whimpered “They won’t leave me like the cats will.”

 

Terror welled up inside him.  He wouldn’t ever escape these women.  “Fight” and “Flight” were both impossible at the moment.  Waiting for death to claim him in the pit, he waited for the blows from the girls in his mind to land.  It was only at that point, another memory came back to him.  It was of his father when Ranma had first started the art.

 

“The secret of the Saotome School is that which we can’t defeat, we incorporate and adapt to.  If we can’t defeat a technique, we must learn it.    Adapt, and win!”  His father had lectured to him.

 

It was the same thing he had told himself when he learned adopted the neko ken.  It’s what let him take on the cat spirit into his body.

 

It was the same thing he realized, he would do now.

 

“Adapt ….” He whispered as he relented to the pummeling more.  In his mind’s eye he began glowing as a small cat mewed at him from the top of the pit, and almost seemed to wave, as if it were leaving.  Nodding to the feline, he felt the problems of the girls still punishing him, and continued his line of thinking.  Chibi-Ranma’s body continued glowing for a second, and when it finally dissipated, Ranma in cursed form stood alone   

 

“Adapt … and win.”  Ranma-chan said as she left the confines of her mind with a new mission.

 

Back outside in the real world, the ladies of Nerima were still bludgeoning and attacking Ranma-chan for her perversion when her body slowly began glowing.  Slowly, but surely, more and more girls halted what they were doing and began to creep away from the girl they had been attacking. 

 

Those that didn’t stop were suddenly blown backwards as Ranma expelled a ki attack from around herself and jumped straight up into the air, before landing back down in a combat stance with her eyes closed.

 

“I will adapt, and win” Ranma-chan said as she slowly opened her eyes and glanced around the room.  The final layer of Ranma’s sanity was gone, as she looked at the girls around her.  Her eyes immediately fell upon Akane Tendo.

 

“Ranma!” she screamed as she brought forth her mallet to bear.  Closing her eyes and bring full force behind her swing she screamed a battle cry “Ranma no Hentai!”

 

Her mallet came through the air to finally subdue Ranma, only to have it suddenly blocked.  A gasp escaped the room, as Akane opened her eyes to see her mallet parried…. by another mallet.

 

“Akane no baka!” Ranma mumbled, as she pushed her own mallet forward and with more force then one would of though possible from such a simple gesture, Akane was sent across the gym, into Kodachi Kuno, and both subsequently were slammed into the opposing wall.  Akane immediately crashed into unconsciousness as did Kodachi.  Everyone around Ranma saw what happened, and did the only sensible thing.  They fled.  Even Ukyo and Shampoo took a tactical retreat, as they knew Ranma wouldn’t normally attack Akane, which meant they too were possible targets.

 

Ranma-chan suddenly closed her eyes.  She was tired. She curled up into a ball and slept on the gym floor.  A small cat scurried over to her and lounged next to her.  Even while asleep, Ranma picked up the kitty and hugged her against her chest.

 

In her mind for the moment, she realized she was safe.

 

A couple hours later Ranma-chan awoke as something began to lick his face.  Slowly but surely, she awoke to take in her surroundings.  Turning her head slightly she noticed what was licking her and immediately tensed up.

 

“It’s a cat” she thought to herself as she looked at it.   What troubled her though was why she wasn’t scared.  It didn’t seem like it would harm her.  In fact, as she considered it more, she would even say it looked cute.

 

She then noticed she still had some cat food on her and immediately jumped up so she could go to wash up.  Noticing other cats still in the area, she quickly checked her pulsed and forehead.

 

“Odd” she thought to herself.  “I’m alive still, but these cats aren’t scaring me anymore.  I thought I went neko?”

 

Shrugging, she picked up the cat that had been licking her.  A grey cat, which still seemed unimposing to Ranma despite the fact she knew she should be scared.

 

“Well little guy.  If I’m cured, I guess I can have a pet that won’t try and marry me.” She said with a wink as she as she took her newest pet, and began her search for hot water.

 

At the Tendo Dojo

 

Akane woke up with one of the largest headaches she had ever experienced.  Looking around, she noticed her father was crying uncontrollably as Nabiki and Kasumi merely looked at there sister with worried expressions.

 

“Anyone get the number of that truck?” she said as she grabbed her head.  It was Nabiki who answered her with a smirk.

 

“Yeah, its license was R-A-N-M-A” she said, trying to lighten the mood, but even her smile failed to hide the fact she was very concerned about the situation. 

 

Immediately the details flooded back to her.

 

“Ranma hit me?” she said as she remembered the details just before she had impacted the wall.

 

“Not only hit you, but hit you with a mallet, and Ranma I might add didn’t pull the blow,” Nabiki replied.

 

Soun was balling as he continually cried how the schools wouldn’t be joined. 

 

Kasumi brought up another line of thought though.   “When did Ranma get a mallet?  And did he say anything?”

 

Akane merely nodded, as she remembered the odd words Ranma had mumbled just before attacking.  She blushed from embarrassment as she answered. “Ranma said ‘Akane no baka’”

 

Everyone took a moment to ponder it.  It was something Akane would say they admitted, but even with Ranma’s ability to insult people, it didn’t fit him.  The Tendos talked for some time, wondering just what exactly got into Ranma.  However, no one could come up with a plausible explanation.  But, despite Soun’s demands to kick out the whelp, it was agreed an answer to the why had to be found.  Soun was protective of his daughters, and at the moment, the Saotome name was not in good standing.

 

A now male Ranma continued his walk home with his newest pet.  “I think I’ll call you Kit.  It’s a stupid name I know, but it seems appropriate.  It beats anything Akane would come up with.”

 

Ranma was till trying to figure out why he was no longer scared of cats.    Not that he was complaining, but it was one less worry he had.

 

Coming into the Tendo dojo he removed his shoes and called out that he was home.

 

“WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DAUGHTER!” a now demonic head of Soun Tendo screamed as the Tendo patriarch immediately reacted on instinct in protecting his daughters.

 

Ranma merely backpedaled in fear wondering what Mr. Tendo was talking about.

 

“I didn’t do nothing!  I swear!” Ranma retorted, placing his hands in front of him in hopes of warding the Tendo Demon Attack away

 

Nabiki walked down the stairs and looked at Ranma with a look of disdain. “So you didn’t hit Akane with a mallet like the entire school says?”

 

It took a moment to register, but Ranma caught the meaning

 

“I did what?  I hit Akane?  While Neko?”  He asked as the implications began to register.  He’d never hit Akane before in neko.  He had kissed her, which in many ways was worse.  But hit, it was impossible.

 

“Hit her?  Yes.  With a mallet?  Yes.  In neko?   No.  Apparently you called her an idiot before you cleaned her clock and sent her and Kodachi into the gymnasium wall.  She’s still upstairs in bed at the moment”

 

Ranma shook his head trying to remember, but he couldn’t.  “I can’t remember.  Last thing I remember is shutting out the world.  I assumed I just went neko.”

 

It was at that time Kit rubbed up against Ranma’s leg and let out a small meow to demand attention.  Without thinking, Ranma immediately picked up his newest pet and began petting it.  The Tendos' jaws all hit the floor as realization dawned on them.

 

Soun immediately went up and looked Ranma square in the eye.  “Son, you aren’t afraid of the animal you hold now?”

 

Ranma merely shrugged. “Of course not Mr. Tendo, it’s just a cat.” Ranma answered nonchalantly.  To anyone watching, it would have sounded like Ranma was never afraid of felines.

 

Akane chose at that moment to come down stairs.  Immediately her anger flared as she saw her fiancé.  “RANMA!” she shouted as she pulled out a mallet and stalked towards him.  Ranma noticed her battle aura and immediately flinched.  Looking around he began to look for places to hide.  Akane looked like she wanted to kill him.

 

“I can’t believe you called me an idiot!”  She yelled as she stalked towards him.

 

Ranma looked to be in a panic.  Both Nabiki and Kasumi noticed the fear Ranma showed was far more than usual.  Kit, sensing trouble jumped out of Ranma’s arms.

 

“He’s frozen in place” Nabiki commented at barely a whisper.

 

Kasumi heard her and nodded.  “Its like he’s terrified of her.”

 

Both would have continued if a battle cry hadn’t pierced the air.

 

“Ranma no baka!” Akane yelled as she swung at Ranma and connected with the mallet.  Ranma immediately sailed through the yard and landed in the koi pond with a splash.  Immediately Ranma stood up and look at the party who had attacked her.  It only took a moment to make eye contact with Akane, before she stood up and once again brandished a mallet.

 

“Akane no baka” she mumbled as she slowly walked out of the pond, while maintaining eye contact with the youngest Tendo.

 

“Akane no baka” she stated a little more audibly as a blue aura surrounded her.

 

“Akane no baka!” she stated clearly for everyone to hear as she hefted her mallet in a position to swing.  Everyone just stared as they looked at the uncanny resemblance in attitude.  Akane was fearful for a moment, but Ranma-chan’s gaze held her in place.

 

“AKANE NO BAKA” Ranma-chan screamed as she swung the mallet once again at Akane and knocked her out again.

 

The moment Akane was unconscious, Ranma-chan look at Akane, smirked, and seemed to look around for any more threats.  Her eyes made contact with Kasumi, and immediately her demeanor changed.  Ranma, where she had once been tense, now appeared to be far more relaxed.  She maintained eye contact with Kasumi, as her lips to match the pensive curiosity the eldest Tendo sister was now exhibiting.  Suddenly, as if she suddenly had it down pat, she looked around.

 

Looking once again at the prone body of Akane, Ranma immediately tossed away the mallet she had been holding, and put her hands to her face. “Oh My! Whatever happened here?”

 

 

Author’s Notes….

 

Yes, Ranma has successfully rid himself of the Cat Fist.

 

However, he now has the “Girl’s Fist” or something more catchy if I ever think of something more catchy.

 

Obviously, Ranma also acting like whomever he comes into contact with.  Why does he behave differently with each girl, rather than lapse into a generic “girl mode?”

 

Stay tuned, and find out, in the next episode of “Imprints”

 

 

Ok, so I cleaned this up a bunch.  And for those wondering, I’m going to be writing the 2^nd chapter soon also.  Yes, this story finally is getting the go ahead!  Have this huge writer’s block thing on Honor Duty Pain, and everyone does SM/Ranma Crossovers.  Until I sort out some of my major plot holes, I want to keep it on the back burner, despite the fact I’m revising it at the same time.