The Spring Of Drowned Thief

Ranma’s Past

“It’s hard to know where to begin. I guess most of it started when my pops and me went to Jesenkyo, the legendary training ground of cursed ponds. Pops and me weren’t scared, we didn’t believe in curses. Well, at the time we didn’t. As it turns out each pool there has a certain curse where a certain being drowned in each pond.” Ranma picked up a glass of water and dumped it on himself. He then became a she and her audience gave a gasp and Ranma continued.

“My curse is pretty obvious. I change into a girl when splashed with cold water.” Ranma then picked up a cup of tea and did the change again.

Kasumi them spoke up. “Oh my! When you get splashed with tea you become a boy again.”

Ranma was patient with her. “Actually it’s just hot water.”

Nabiki spoke up this time. “That was my tea Ranma...”

“Remarkable…” Soun rubbed his chin.

Ranma agreed, “Yeah, I know it’s not some thing you see every day.”

Soun grave the rest of his statment. “Yes, Nabiki usually charges people for taking her things…” This is where Ranma lost his patients…

“ANY WAYS, you where asking about my dad.” Soun nodded for Ranma to continue. “Well it was in the letter I sent you and can only assume some one else got, saying that there best friend died a month and a half ago.” Soun, let the water works flow and soon there was minor flooding in the back yard.

After gathering himself Soun asked the million-dollar question. “What happened to him?”

Ranma took a deep breath and started. “The old man got a curse too that day. He took the form of a panda. After many days of fighting each other for whom to blame for our curses, we eventually blamed each other for it. But after all our bickering we never even thought about supplies. We also became lost and soon very hungry. My pops had an idea of how to stay alive, but it didn’t involve me, he told me it was a special training on surviving on my own. I already knew what his plans were. He was just going to turn into a panda and eat bamboo.”

Soun spoke up again. “ Please don’t tell me you looked for revenge against your own father!?”

Ranma quickly shook his head. “No, no, no. Nothing like that. My father had been pulling stuff like this all my life, I’ve gotten used to it.”

Kasumi started showing much interest in the story. “So how did you survive?”

“Well, I had no money, and only a small town was close by. So I did what my father always did.”
Ranma bowed his head a little. “I started stealing from people, and did a few more things that I’m not entirely proud of.”

Nibiki raised a wondering eyebrow, “Like?”

Ranma shook his head again; “I’d rather not get into it right now. As I said, it wasn’t any thing that would have made my mom proud.” Akane stayed silent listening, as Ranma continued. “After a few days of stealing I found that my emotions were getting ahead of me and I needed a way of getting away from those feelings. One night on one of my many attempts to break into a house, I found myself back at the legendary training ground in our guides hut. He didn’t really have any thing of interest, and I did find his guidebook. I got bored, so I started flipping through it, until some thing caught my eye. It was the spring of drowned thief. It took me two days to reach a decision. I needed to kill my emotions for stealing, so it wouldn’t seem so bad. I hadn’t seen my pops for about a week at this point and I was getting desperate. I had also realized that I was bad at what I was doing. I was leaving evidence, and few people had caught me. The only other reason I jump into that pool though was because I thought I could cancel out my previous curse with it and be a man again. It didn’t work. In fact it became a second curse that affected both my forms, but some thing did happen the night I jumped into that pool. Not only did I start understanding the art of being a thief and a good one at that. I also started to understand people and how they worked things in there heads.” He then looked over at Akane. “That’s why I pulled that stunt in the dojo earlier today. I knew some thing was distracting you, but I couldn’t put my finger on it until you tried to miss me.”

Akane grave him a bit of an evil smirk, “Why don’t you try fighting me properly next time. Maybe you’ll think twice before pulling a stupid stunt like that again.”

To her surprise Ranma responded with what seemed to be a different voice. Much lower and a bit sinister. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“Any ways, on with my story. After trying out a few things, that I just seemed to know, I eventually found my father in an old village close to where we rattled up some Amazons a while back. As it turned out he had eaten a poison’s plant and didn’t even know it.” Ranma became quiet for a few seconds took another breath and then continued. “After we found out that he was going to die, he probably did the only thing I can call honorable. He got out of bed and taught me the last of the family secret techniques, as well as giving me a name and a city to go to, to help fulfill an old promise. He never got around to tell me what it was, but he said it was important. He died a day later and I was on my way to fulfill what ever honor I had left.”

A few tears slid down his checks as well, as Soun’s. Kasumi soon said, “Oh, my…” But Nibiki had a question.

“I’m just curious, but why did you show up as a girl?”

Ranma tilted her head in annoyance a bit. “You know that old woman down that street that waters the damn side walk?”

At that moment the entire family nodded their heads in understanding. Ranma looked over towards Akane, “I’m sorry about lying to you about what I am, but when you asked me if I wanted to be friends with you, it was the first time any one had ever asked me that question. I just didn’t feel like ruining it.”

Akane gave him a cautious look and then said, “Well, I guess I can forgive you, but don’t be a stupid pervert!”

Ranma smiled a little, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Soun, once again flooded the backyard, and looked at Ranma, “Well, my boy, are you ready to fulfill your family honor?”

Ranma looked dumb for a second and said, “Uhh, I guess so.”

Soun quickly sat Ranma down in front of his three daughters and stated the family honor. “Ranma this is Kasumi, my eldest daughter she is 19, Nabiki is 18, and Akane my youngest daughter is 16.”
Ranma didn’t catch on and said, “Umm, ok… Hya.”

Soun smiled again and said, “You will marry on of my daughters to unite the schools.” Ranma then almost fell over.

“Wha-what the!? I’m only, 16, I can’t get married yet! DAMNIT! I knew pops was up to some thing he always was!” Ranma shook his fist to the sky and shouted, “ EVEN TRYING TO MAKE MY LIFE HARD AND ANNOYING IN DEATH TO HUH!? I BET YOU DIED ON PURPOSE YA FAT OLD FUCK!!!”

Ranma then sunk to the ground and started to strain a little. He looked over his shoulder back at the family and said, “Sorry about that… I need some time to think and vent or some thing. I’ll be back in a little while…” With that Ranma made a mad dash out into the back yard, into the koi pond, out, and over the wall.

Akane then yelled, “Ranma!” and soon shot after the redhead.

Nibiki and Kasumi then looked at each other, and then at their father, and almost in unison said, “Akane will make a perfect fiancé for Ranma.” Soun smiled, nodded his head, and looked on out into the night.

Akane had run out of wet footprints to follow, but they had ended some where in the local park. She looked around for about 15 mins, before she finally found a female Ranma sitting on a bench in front of a fountain crying. Akane made an observation on Ranma and saw that her red Chinese shirt was covered in tearstains and her arms where wrapped around legs, curled up in a bundle. She made her way over to Ranma slowly and quietly. Ranma noticed her but didn’t really acknowledge her. Akane sat down slowly next to Ranma, and they both sat in silence for a few mins. The occasional sniffling could be heard from Ranma, and she eventually broke the silence.

“Sorry Akane. I didn’t want any one to see me like this…”

Akane looked thoughtful for a second and said, “Like what Ranma?”

Ranma laughed a little in the middle of her sniffling, and continued. “You know. Crying like this. I was always told that boys don’t cry, and that I should never let my emotions get ahead of me, but it’s always been my problem.”

Akane let the silence fill the air for a few mins, and said, “The cursed spring didn’t cut your emotions. Did it?”

Ranma let the tears dry and let a smile on grow a little on her face under reddened eyes. “Nope. I was still a nervous wreck after that. The only difference was that I got better at it. But I always did look at it as a learning experience.”

Akane leaned back a little. “How so?”

Ranma put her knees down and sat properly, and leaned back with Akane. “Well, I’ve got to learn many things my father never taught me about while growing up. I never really knew how other people felt about mine and pops actions over all those years. I also learned the problems that women go through because of my curse. I also learned that no matter what I did in against my will, I’d always be the same person.” At that last point Ranma scrunched up into a ball again and let out a few more tears.

“Are we still friends Akane?” Akane was a little bit taken back by this, but it seemed like a fair question.

“I think we are. I guess you didn’t know how to handle the situation, but I’m still mad at you for sneaking a peak in the bathroom.” Ranma sunk a little deeper into her knees.

“Thanks Akane, and sorry about that. I was just wondering if I could tell you things and keep them a secret for me… I’ve got so many, but I’ve never had any one around to tell…” Akane started feeling a connection and with out thinking answered with a determined smile,

“Of coarse! That’s what friends do.”

Ranma took another deep breath and held back the tear that she knew were coming. “Sorry I’m such a nervous wreck… Guess I’m not the most eligible bachelor.”

Akane put a hand on Ranma’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I guess you’ve had it kind of rough, so I can forgive you for now.”

Ranma let out a coughing laugh. “Thanks.”

Akane nudged Ranma’s leg a little. “So what\'s really the matter? I had no idea about the pre-arranged marriage thing myself, but I didn’t think it was THAT horrible. Sure it’s a questionable arrangement, but I don’t think it’ll follow through.”

Ranma shrugged her shoulders. “You’re right… That’s not it at all. I just got some personal demons in my closet that have a tendency to come up at the worst times.”

Akane smiled in her direction. “They can’t be that bad can they?”

Ranma shook her head and let out a few tears. “No, they’re pretty bad alright. I got over the physical pain a while ago, it’s the emotional pain that still strikes me hard…”

Akane put her hand one Ranma’s. “It’s ok to tell me you know? If I had a problem, would you listen?”

Ranma simply nodded in response. Akane smiled and gave Ranma another nudge. “So tell me then. If it makes you feel better…

Ranma took a bit of a deep breath and thought for a few seconds. “Remember those things I said I wasn’t really proud of?” Akane nodded. Another deep breathe. “Well, after pops died, I had no direction to go. He always led the way and I just followed. But all of the sudden I was lost with no direction. I didn’t even have a compass that could show me north. So I started back tracking through all the trails I went though, but always remained lost. I never knew how much I relied on my pops to know where to go in life. Once again I was lost, starving, cold, and this time no one was around to help me. It was truly the first time I thought I was going to die, with no one around to know. After a while I just accepted it and hit the ground in defeat. But as it turns out, who ever was trying to ruin my life wasn’t done just yet. They needed me to be completely destroyed before I could move forward again.”

Akane was paying close attention and wanted to hear more. “What happened?”

Ranma gave her a look. “Can I trust you to keep a secret? It’s my darkest one and nobody knows about it but me.”

Akane swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “You can tell me any thing.”

Ranma gave a pause and yet another deep breathe. “I was found by a traveler just as lost as me, and he carried me on his back until he found a town and a hospital. I never did get to know what his name was but he saved me. I thought things where looking up, but while I was asleep in the hospital, some one had claimed me as their child, and soon I was ‘home.’ What it turned out to be was hell. The one that had claimed me was the owner of an illegal brothel.”

Akane interrupted, “Wait! How could some one claim you, especially if it was some one like that!?”
Ranma bowed her head and shook it. “I don’t have citizenship any where and I’m not on any police systems. No one had any idea who I was, and I couldn’t talk or even function at the time. Besides, the police didn’t know the man that claimed me, and they just knew that he owned a small business. He was a professional that did this kind of work. He found missing girls and stole them.”

Akane started showing signs of worry and looked Ranma right in the eyes. “I know this is hard to answer, but did he make you, umm, ‘work.’” Ranma sunk even lower into her knees and the tears became apparent.

“Akane look at this body. It’s damn near perfect. I’m not saying that because I’ve got a big ego, I’m saying because when I first got it, I stood in front of a mirror for three hours, just staring at it. That’s why I hate it some times. I eventually became his prime worker. I was drugged most of the time, or under the influence of something, but one day, I started fighting it. I started thinking clearly again. I came to my senses in the middle of a ‘client.’ I was beyond horrified at what he was doing to me, and then I just sort of lost it. I lost so much when I woke up… My dignity… My pride… My manhood… My damn virginity… And basically every thing I still had morals set to… I shoved him off of me, and he tried to hit me…” Ranma went very silent for a few moments and before Akane could ask any thing Ranma spoke up again, yet very silently.

“He was the first person I ever killed...” Akane gasped at hearing this, but kept quiet. She knew Ranma had more to say.

“My entire world became nothing more then a white screen of rage and anger. I found some clothes, got some hot water, and started working my way through the entire building. Every thing that could be broken, I broke. Any pervert that I could kill, I killed. I eventually found the man who did this to me… He shot me too the bastard… But I made him suffer. I’m not psychotic or any thing, but I found out that day, that every one has a breaking point; something that can make them snap at any given moment, given the right circumstances. I was being raped… I guess most would turn and cry… I did too I guess, but not right away. Can you blame me for doing what I did?” Ranma’s words started coming through her teeth, raspy and horrid.

Akane didn’t know what to say any more. She was lost with thoughts of this newcomer to her life. What kind of person is Ranma really? Was he some psycho creep, or was he just some one with a shaky past? Akane then said the only thing she could say. “Ranma… I had no idea…” Ranma shook a little and gave her a response.

“Of coarse you didn’t. We’ve only just met. How could you know?” Akane shook her head a little trying to find the right things to say.

“Why are you telling me these things? Why would you want me to know this?” Ranma looked over to her and gave her a small smile.

“You asked me… Besides, I’d rather you know who I am before you get to know me better. I’d hate for you to have found out that information on your own. Now comes the big question. Can you still call me your friend after knowing that I’ve stolen and murdered before? Will we be able to talk and laugh normally like my past doesn’t exist?” Ranma waited patiently while Akane thought this all through. After many moments of silence, Akane finally spoke her thoughts.

“I’m not really sure. I know you had to steal to survive, and what you did at that place was understandable, but…” Ranma continued for her as if on the same wavelength with her.

“But you know that it could have all been avoided. As much as it looks like I’m in the right of things, you also see that I had no right in stealing from people, and I also had no right in passing judgment upon those people I killed. I over stepped my bounds and took away some thing that I couldn’t give back later with an apology note. Believe me Akane, I’ve had lots of time to think this through.” Akane started going through her head a bit more rapidly now and she was trying to come to an understanding. She needed one more question answered.

“Ranma… Would you ever do some thing like that again…?” Ranma bowed her head a little and gave the best answer she could.

“I can’t say I’d never do it again. I can’t honestly look you in the eyes and say that. But what I can say, is that I’ve done it before and it has given me insight and from that point on and for the rest of my life, I’ll do every thing in my power to stop that from happening again. I promised myself that if I ever did what I did again, I’d find a cold and lonely place to kill myself in.” Ranma didn’t even bat an eyelid while saying that, which didn’t escape Akane’s view. Akane was in thought once more and found herself with a small but definite answer.

“I think I can trust you. We can be friends, but let me have some time. I don’t think I can accept every thing so easily, so please give it time.”

Ranma smiled a little at this and leaned in close to Akane and took her into a tight hug with a few tears on the shoulder.

“Thanks Akane… I really needed that.” Akane was bit shaken by Ranma coming close to her so suddenly, but eventually accepted it and returned the hug.

After Ranma and Akane let each other go, Ranma started laughing. Akane got a little irritated by missing a joke, so she asked.

“What’s so funny?” Ranma’s laughing started dying down a little until she was able to collect herself and finally said in between laughs.

“Sorry. I just remember when I was different and I’d never cry. I’m starting to think I’m becoming a girl more and more ever time I change into this body. Ever since I got this body, I started letting my emotions show. I never cried until I was stuck with this alternate form.” Akane gave her friend a thoughtful look.

“Ever thought of it as your outlet?” Ranma raised an eyebrow.

“How so?” Akane started looking wise and thoughtful again.

“Well, maybe you started crying because you didn’t know any other way to release your feelings. You said your father always told you not to cry and how boys where suppose to act, maybe in the back of your head you saw this as an opportunity, or an excuse to start doing what you always wanted to do when you where sad.” Ranma laughed again.

“Never thought of it that way.”

Ranma got up quite suddenly, with a large memorable smile. “Didn’t think I’d ever find some one like you in my life. C’mon, I want to treat you to some ice cream or some thing! I need to forget a few things.” Ranma then started to jog off, with a startled Akane trailing behind her.

“H-Hey! Wait! What do you mean some one like me!?” Ranma kept pace as she started running backwards in the streetlights and giving Akane a playful look as well as a loud giggle.

“You’re one of a kind Akane! Now for some ice cream!” Ranma turned and started jogging forwards again, tears could still be seen streaming down her face, while leading Akane to an ice cream parlor she saw earlier in her travels around Nemera.

Akane started shouting with a smile on her face. “Wait up you dummy! What do you mean some one like me!?”

“If you can keep up, I’ll tell you!”

Nabiki watched them run off into the night from up in her tree with a sly smile on her face. She hit the eject button on her device and looked at the tape she used to record the conversation. She looked back at the retreating couple and then down at the tape again. She laughed inwardly to her self and pulled out a lighter.

“Maybe just this once…” Nabiki flicked the lighter and the tape started burning. She dropped it and watched it burn. When she was satisfied with her work she turned around and started heading home.

“But just remember. You won’t escape me so easily next time…” Nabiki made her way home happily thinking up the many ways she could blackmail Ranma and squeeze ever last yen out of him.