A Very Short Trip
By Ozzallos
Ranma
Saotome, heir to the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts fingered the cracked
antique mirror with a certain amount of trepidation. He traced the fissure
across the face and wondered if it still had enough power to do what needed to
be done. It was, after all, The Last Resort. He handled it gently, as if it
were a time bomb or some other implement of mass destruction because in reality
it was. Or that was his intention at least—To totally
obliterate his current life in favor of one he could actually be happy in.
It just wasn’t happening with Akane. Period.
There was something to be said about opposites attracting, but then there was
something to be said about matter/anti-matter reactions as well. The concept of
common ground simply didn’t exist for the pair, no matter how hard they tried
to create some. Sure, they could lay the foundation and even pretend that is
was some chance at a life …Until reality came along and washed that settling
foundation away like a tidal wave pounding the beach. Then all that remained
was an arrogant, mouthy martial artist and his terminally angry, untrusting
fiancée. It was hard to build a relationship, let alone marriage when both
partners couldn’t give an inch to the other. Sprinkle in the regular chaos that
accompanied Ranma’s normal life and you have a recipe for disaster.
And now it was time to change all of that.
“Airen
date with Shampoo!”
“I
expunge thee, foul sorcerer!”
“Now where am I!”
”I won’t allow you to take Shampoo!”
“OH HOHOHOHOHOHO!”
“Sweeto!”
“Stay away from my Ran-chan!”
“What are you up to, Son in-law?”
“Baka Pervert!”
The sounds slapped against him like a shockwave and all of a
sudden the roof he had been sitting on became very crowded. A new brawl was
about to commence when they saw what exactly was in Ranma’s hands, giving pause
to fiancées and rivals alike. Nabiki took bets from the yard below while Kasumi
stopped her sweeping to view the spectacle. The mob was dead silent. What was
his heart’s desire? What would he wish for? A single tear hit the cracked
mirror and he voiced his desire in a hoarse whisper.
“I just want to go somewhere where I can find somebody who
loves me for who I am and be happy…”
Reality twisted around Ranma Saotome and he vanished from the
tiled roof. Half of those witnessing the event were crushed with sorrow. Ranma
had not wished for them specifically. In fact, it sounded very much like he
wanted out of their lives completely. The other half instantly cheered; the
troublemaking martial artist was now, ironically, out of their lives
completely.
Ranma could feel reality taking shape around him
and his hearts desire began to unfold from within the mirror. Even as he
drifted through time and space, Ranma wondered exactly what new reality he
would be deposited into. No doubt his heart’s desire would be fulfilled, but in
what manner? Where? A final wave of disorientation washed over him and his head
snapped up. He gasped. It was impossible. Around him stood Happosai,
Chaos resumed.
Ranma had just enough time to toss the mirror off the roof in
disgust before getting back down to the business of extricating himself from
yet another fine mess. The antique hit the ground and shattered, but Ranma
could care less. It didn’t have enough power, lost its magic or something.
Whatever it was, it hadn’t been enough. Could God really hate him that much?
What Ranma Saotome, heir to the Anything Goes School of Martial
Arts failed to realize was that the centuries old
mirror had worked exactly as advertised. It had transported him somewhere where
he could find that somebody. Somewhere he could be loved for who he was and
somewhere he could be happy.
It wasn’t the mirror’s fault that that place was closer than he
would have ever imagined.
End.
Author's Notes:
Is this story even big enough for an Author's notes
section? Just something was naggin at me after
browsing through the 500th "Let's use the Mirror!" plot. Certainly
don't expect any awards on this one and I'm not even sure I would call this a
story. More like a morsel, so I'll take some time to fill people in on the
status of my other works.
No Need For Goddess is 1/3rd complete and
coming along nicely.
Not A Clue is a new work that popped into my
head recently. It's a Kasumi+Ranma and that's as
detailed as I'm gonna get because it takes an
entirely different direction than most K+R fics out
there. You'll like it, trust me. I want to surprise you :D
Exact Change is getting another chapter! (damn
you all) This will take place in the future nabiki
saved where she finds out there is a few loose ends to be tied up... Namely a Ranma from a timeline that shouldn't exist.
Let's see, what else... No, I can't tell you about that one
yet, so until next time, ja ne!