Ranma 1/2

Disclaimer: I don’t own Ranma, Rumiko Takahashi does. I just borrowed some of the characters. Rated: NC-17

Shades of Home

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The road to the cottage was impossible. He had been driven up in a four-wheel drive and even then it had been a rough drive. He thought the driver would be very surprised when he found out that Ranma could make the two-hour drive in a 15 minute run. Straight down the side of the mountain.

Ranma looked around the cottage. It was built like any number of small primitive cottages; one room with a fire pit; outside jakes. But it had a beautiful view from the modern hot tub. And the tiny bathroom was well equipped. All in all, not bad.

He liked the garden. It was a nice place for meditation. He intended to do a lot of that. He had always liked to meditate. Pop, of course said that it was for sissies. Well, the next time he called Ranma a sissy would be the last.

Ranma sat seiza; hands lightly fisted on his thighs. It was late afternoon and he was still sitting. His body was still but his mind was busy. He listed every thing he needed to accomplish.

1) Figure out what is wrong with my control. I'm never out of control like this.
Think about what Steven said. Did the slavers screw up my head? {Oh! Yeah!}

2) Compare Ranma and Ranko. List strengths and weaknesses of each; Plan training
to eliminate weaknesses.

3) Catch up on school work. {I'm no dummy but I come off like one because I'm so
far behind.}

4) Rest! Take time out to do nothing.

5) Meditate. Find center. {There's something here trying to get out. New
technique? Maybe. }

"Young Sir! Where are you?" Ranma flinched slightly.

"Over here. Who is it?"

The man walked around the side of the cottage carrying a large bento box. "I'm just the delivery man. Here! It's your supper. We'll bring you three meals a day."

Ranma blinked bringing his attention back to the outside. "Nah! I don't wanna' be disturbed that often. If you bring me stuff, I can cook my own meals. I'd prefer it that way."

At the man's look Ranma snapped, "What?! Ya think I'm stupid. I'm not some helpless kid. I've been cookin' since I was 7. Besides if you really wanna get down t' basics. I'll just go catch my own."

"OK We'll bring you some groceries tomorrow. Is there anything you especially like or dislike?" The old man just set the bento on the ground by Ranma. He'd been warned that Ranma was touchy and rude so he didn't let on that he wanted to smack the arrogant little prick.

"If it's dead I can cook it. I'll eat anythin' that don't try t' eat me first and a few things that do. Just make sure there's plenty. I eat a lot."

Ranma shrugged. He'd probably made the old man mad, but he'd been making progress. The interruption was unwelcome; a reminder of all the times Genma had interrupted him. That pissed him off, so he got rude.

Ranma ate everything in the box and wished for more. He ate at least three times what any other person his size and age did. He'd wondered once if something was wrong with him, but a visit to Dr. Tofu had reassured him.

Tofu had just looked at him and said that he was surprised that he didn't eat more. His appetite was caused by intensive training and a high metabolism; which was one of that reason that he healed so quickly.

After wondering vaguely if he could trap or catch something else to eat, Ranma decided to go to bed. The futon he found in the storage closet was soft and comfortable, the quilt cozy. He spread them out near the fire pit; then busied himself with the fire. He was going to need a fire this high up a mountain.

Ranma slowly opened his eyes. After a moment of disorientation he remembered where he was. "I'd really like t' wake up this way more often. I hate bein' dragged outta bed. I just like a few private minutes t' get ready for the day. Why do they wake me up like they do? A pot a' cold water or a kick in the ribs just ain't a good way ta great the day."

Ranma yawned widely and threw the covers back. Life was beginning to look up. Breakfast would be cold water today but so what?

"Hello!? You up? I brought you some breakfast and groceries." Assorted thumps and bumps told their own stories.

Ranma ambled out onto the porch. "What'd ya bring me? I'm starvin'! Is it eggs?" Ranma latched onto the bento like it was his hope of heaven. His stomach was protesting the slimness of supper loudly. [Growwwww!] "Shut up!"

"Excuse me?" John eyed Ranma out of the corner of his eye."Was that your stomach or do you have a puppy in your pocket?"

Ranma grinned sheepishly. "I'm hungry. Supper wasn't enough. I hope ya brought plenty a' groceries." Ranma tugged his pigtail, he'd been rude last night and now he was embarrassed. "Look I'm sorry about last night. I was rude. I was meditatin' and I hate bein' interrupted."

"Oh, Well. We were all told that you are a mite touchy right now. So there're no hard feelings. Just kinda take it easy. We'll try not to interrupt your meditations, I know how important meditation can be." John accepted the apology without further comment. "Do you need anything else. I forgot to show you the Com unit. Here! Just press this button and it connects you with the command center. All you have to do is push this button to signal. Then you push this one to talk and let go of it to listen."

Ranma gave the man a sour look but decided not to say anything. "Ok, Ok. I got it." {Go away! I know how an intercom works. Sheesh! He must think I'm an idiot!}

John eyed the sullen kid and left before one of them said something rude, again.

Ranma knew he should wait until after he worked out to eat, but years of eating when he could had given him a cast iron stomach, so training on a full stomach rarely upset it. Besides, no enemy was going to politely ask if you had eaten recently.

Ranma explored the area, spending the day learning the terrain and finding the best places to train. There was a valley about six miles up the mountain which looked like it had been bombed several times. It was perfect for practicing Mouko Takabisha.

He found a field of stakes set up near the cottage. They looked fairly new, like they had been put up within the last week or so.

Ranma smiled a little. Steven had said that they would get him anything he needed and he was keeping his word. Ranma felt a little bad now he hadn't trusted any of his rescuers. {Out of the pan, into the fire} So when they had tested him he'd held back. What if they couldn't be trusted? He hadn't wanted to give away how strong he really was because it had given him an advantage if he needed to escape. Well he'd make it right when he went back.

There was an outcropping on a cliff that was perfect for meditation. {Disturb me now, I dare you}It was 30 feet above the ground and 20 feet below the top of the cliff. He had watched mountain goat climb to it and followed him up. The foot holds were small but solid and he could jump from one to the other easily. The goat had more trouble than he did.

Ranma looked at the sun's shadow. {Almost noon. I'll head back to the house and see what that old man brought me to eat. I hope there is something I can stir fry.}

Ranma headed back to the cottage running lightly over the rocky ground. He was going to like the privacy and peace. He could already feel his body unwinding. He felt calm and light for the first time since Jusenkyo.

{Panda no Baka! Stupid Father! I don't know why I put up with him as long as I did. I guess I just didn't know any better. Living with the Tendos really opened my eyes. I spent so much time learning to be a man among men that I didn't learn how to be a person.}

Ranma rummaged through the boxes and bags. {I need more than this! There's barely enough for three days. I'll call the command center} "Excuse me! Hey! Anyone there?"

Ranma waited for someone to answer him.

"Yes! Ranma? What can we do for you?" Ranma didn't recognize the voice. "My name is Supply Sergeant Samuals. I'm your contact. Anything you want; just ask, I'll get it for you"

"Ummmm! I need more food. You sent me enough for about three days. I'd really like some beef. Oh, and tofu, eggs, more fruit and don't send any more broccoli. I don't like it. I also need a selection of weapons. A wakizashi, a tanto, chain dart, shurikin, throwing needles, a fan, short and long sticks and a naginata. I think that's all. Set up a place t' meet and I'll come an' get it. I don't want your driver havin' an accident on that goat path you call a road."

"We'll have everything you want ready in about an hour. I'll have the driver bring it up. You won't be able to get here . . . "

Ranma walked on the sergeant. "I said I'll come get it. I can be there in fifteen minutes. You tell me where t' meet ya!"

Sergeant Samuals was old school. If the little snot said he could do it, Samuals would let him try. Better to let an arrogant kid like that prove himself wrong than to try to convince him by talking him to death.

Twenty minutes later Samuals was watching Ranma as he sifted through the pack basket. "Who packed this thing? All th' heavy stuff is on top. Heavy stuff goes on the bottom. I'll have t' repack the whole thing before I leave." Ranma was disgusted. Whoever had packed the basket didn't know squat.

Samuals eyed a young private. "Private, come here. Didn't I tell you to put the weapons in first then the lighter groceries? Repack that basket now!"

The private came to attention and saluted "Sir, Yes Sir. I'm sorry, sir. We didn't expect . . . "

Samuals interrupted, "Pack! Don't talk! I don't want excuses."

Ranma dumped everything out of the basket while the Sergeant was talking {Kami save me! That jack-ass has no more business packing loads than a monkey} "I'll do it myself. I know exactly how I like it balanced. Look here! First th' small heavy stuff in th' bottom, then long stuff on one side so you don't hit your head on it. Then put in medium weight stuff an' so on."

"Look kid, I know how to pack a load. I just didn't think you would be here so soon, so I just dumped stuff in as I picked it up. I was going to repack but you got here before I could." The private gave Ranma a condescending look. "Its not as if you can really carry all that stuff up the side of a mountain anyway. I'll . . . "

"Fuck ya! I can carry twice the weight without even feelin' it. An' I couldn't care less if it's up the side of a mountain. You don't know dick. And my name is Ranma . . . RAN . . . MA . . . not kid, kiddo, or any other a' those nauseatin' names you come up with. All that is is a bunch a' old bastards trying ta put us in our place. Well, I know where my place is and I'll put myself there. Thank you very much." Ranma turned to the pack and shortened the straps.

Heaving the pack on his back, he took off at a dead run. Straight up the side of the mountain ignoring the road completely.

"Well! I guess he told us! Did you see that?! I mean I know you saw that but there had to be two hundred pounds of sundries there. And he picked it up like it was nothing and ran up that, I mean it's a forty-five-degree slope for gods sake." The private stopped gibbering and just stared as Ranma disappeared over the crest of the hill.

Sergeant Samuels shook his head. "My file says that he is egotistical and arrogant. I guess he had us fooled. He just knows what he can and can't do and hasn't learned how to explain himself without coming off like a braggart. I think we're going to have our hands full with him. He's about as social as a snake-eater." Samuels walked off mumbling.