As always, C&C is anticipated, accepted, and appreciated.

All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.

 

Junko's Legacy - Part 1
----------------------------------------------------------------


	Onikita Junko closed her textbook and sighed wistfully,
realizing she wasn't going to get any work done today, no matter
how hard she tried.  She had seen 'her' in the hallway outside
the classroom, and now she was all Junko could think about.
That strange, beautiful, red-haired girl she had first seen a
few months ago, when she was wiping the schoolgrounds with Kuno
Tatewaki.
	Ever since that day, the red-haired girl was all she
cared about, and all she could see any time she closed her eyes.
Her delicate face, sculptured body and explosive, powerful
personality had combined to endear her to Junko, to the point
where she would spend her evenings and weekends hoping for a
fleeting glance of her around town.
	She knew the redhead lived at the Tendou Dojo, and was
good friends with Tendou Akane.  Even so, she seemed to be a bit
reclusive... not showing herself very often in public.  Most
times, she would show up in ice cream shops or in the malls with
Akane, and always seemed to drop out of sight again right
afterwards.
	Other times, she would see her fighting with various
people, for reasons she wasn't always sure of, but two things
would stand out in Junko's mind.  She always won, and there was
always a flash in her deep blue eyes as she fought.  A flash of
excitement that sent a thrill down Junko's back every time she
saw it.
	Junko had long ago assumed that since she was always with
Akane, she was probably like herself, and if her preference were
to become public knowledge, she would be subject to the
inevitable ridicule and scorn.  Her desire to stay in was likely
a way of avoiding that scenario.  If that were true, and Junko
certainly hoped that it was, it served to earn the redhead even
more points of favor with her, since she lived the same life.
	Junko herself was a quiet, reserved girl, who didn't
generally socialize with the other students or engage in any of
the regular school activities.  The biggest reason was that it
was a terrible ordeal for her to use the changerooms, as her
cheeks would flush bright red as soon as the other girls
started to change.  It was a constant battle to keep from
staring at their adolescent nudity, and she was petrified of
getting caught doing so.  She had tried it only once, on the
hope that she would catch a glimpse of the red-haired girl,
but all she ended up with was a cold shower and several
restless nights.
	Today had caught her by surprise, as when she had rounded
the corner to go to her classroom, she ran almost face-to-face
into the red-haired girl, who had been talking to Akane outside
the room.  Immediately, she froze, her eyes locking into the
redhead's deep sapphire blues, and her face immediately flushing.
The redhead, upon recovering from the near collision, smiled the
most beautiful smile Junko had ever seen, and then politely
apologized for blocking the hall.
	Junko couldn't find the words to reply, too embarrassed
by the tightness in her chest and the heat in her face.  Then,
the redhead did something that Junko knew she would never forget.
She reached out and touched her shoulder, asking if she was okay.
The electricity in her touch, the gentleness in her voice and the
genuine concern in her deep blue eyes etched themselves into
Junko's memory, there to remain for the rest of her natural life.
	Sighing aloud once more as she replayed the pleasant memory,
she rested her chin in her hands and closed her eyes for a moment,
a small smile crossing her face.  It wasn't quite the kiss she had
long fantasized about, but it was almost as good.
	At long last, the bell signifying the end of another day
rang out, startling Junko out of her reverie.  Regaining her senses,
she sighed and gathered up her books, feeling a small amount of
disappointment at having her thoughts disturbed, even though the
reason meant it was time to go home.
	Wending her way through the crowd choking the halls and
grounds, Junko walked home on autopilot, her thoughts still of
the redhead, and how much she wished she had the nerve to tell her
how she felt.  For Junko, it was not simply a matter of teenage
shyness, for by revealing how she felt about the redhead, she
would also be revealing her best-kept secret, baring her soul
to the world.
	She shuddered to think what would happen if the redhead
were to reject her, or worse, not have the same preference.  She
could feel her chest tighten again at the thought, and shook her
head violently to change the subject.  She didn't even want to
entertain such a possibility, knowing how much it would hurt.
	After her evening meal and the completion of her cleanup
duties, Junko changed into her favorite skirt and blouse and
brushed her long, jet black hair till it shone, intending to
cruise the mall for a while.  She wasn't in the mood to study, and
thought that getting out might do her some good.  And it meant
another chance to catch a glimpse of the redhead.
	Walking slowly up the mall, Junko made a point of visiting
the clothing shops and food courts as per usual, and as the
evening progressed, began to feel slightly sad.  She had seen
several of her classmates, but no sign of the redhead.  With a
resigned sigh and a glance at her watch, she turned and headed
toward the exit, hoping to catch the bus right away.
	Just as she neared the doors, she caught a reflection in
the large glass panes enclosing the foyer, and turned instantly.
Behind her, and only a few yards away, the redhead was walking up
the mall, a pensive look on her soft face.  Junko desperately
wanted to call out to her, but her voice caught in her throat.  As
she stood wordlessly staring at the striding redhead, her heart
thumped against her chest, and she tried desperately to get
something; anything on her body to work, and catch the other
woman's attention.
	Suddenly, as if the Kamis heard her anguished prayer,
the redhead turned her head and saw her, then broke out in one of
her heart-stopping smiles.
	"Junko-san!" she called out, stopping and waving to her.
"Have you been here long?" she asked, turning and walking straight
toward the dumbstruck girl.
        "A... Ano... Ya.  I was just... leaving,"  Junko finally
stammered, lowering her face to hide her flush.
	"Kuso... I lost Akane and Nabiki.  I stopped to look at
some gi in a sport shop, and they disappeared," the redhead
fretted, pouting affectedly as she looked up the mall.
	Junko's heart pounded even harder.  This was a moment she
had laid awake many nights wishing for, and it was being presented
to her on a silver platter.  Her body began to tremble and she
could feel her forehead begin to perspire.  Her knees shuddered
as she fought to stay standing long enough to speak the words her
soul ached for her to say.
	"Ano... Junko-san?  What's wrong?  You look a little
pale..." the redhead noted, regarding her worriedly.
	"Daijobu, Daijobu... Ano... would... would you have a
sundae with me?" Junko finally managed, her voice only slightly
above a whisper.  As the words left her mouth, her heart seemed
to stop, and her breath again caught.
	The redhead looked back at her for what seemed like an
eternity, then broke into a wide, happy smile.  "Sure!  I love
sundaes!  Akane and Nabiki can find me if they want," the redhead
gushed, her eyes dancing.
	Junko nearly collapsed.  Her heart started again, her
chest filled with the sweetest air she had ever breathed, and her
face broke into a bright smile.  Her wish had been granted; the
beautiful red-haired girl had said yes!
        "Mind if we go there?  They have the best chocolate,"
the redhead winked, indicating a small shop behind them with her
thumb.
        "H... Hai," Junko nodded, sharply.  She didn't care if they
went to the moon... she was going with the red-haired girl, and
that was all that mattered.
	As they crossed the mall to the shop, Junko felt like she
was walking on air.  She was only a few inches from the redhead,
who was chatting away animatedly about their 'meeting' earlier.
Junko could feel the strength and confidence that she so admired
simply radiating from the woman, leaving her feeling completely awed.
	They sat at a back booth, facing one another over their
confections, and Junko was amazed at how fast the redhead could
devour one.  Instantly, she called the waiter over and told him to
bring her another, which delighted the redhead to no end.
        "You don't have to feed me, Junko-san... I have my own
money," the redhead indicated, happily plowing into the treat.
        "I consider it an honor,"  Junko replied, smiling and
bowing slightly.
	"Huh... some honor.  Getting to pay to watch me pig out.
And you haven't even touched yours," the redhead remarked,
pointing to Junko's sundae with her spoon.
	"It... doesn't matter.  Can... can I ask you your name?"
Junko responded, feeling somewhat embarrassed about the question.
	"Eto... you don't know my name?  You must be the only
person in Japan that doesn't," the redhead quipped, grinning
wryly.  "I am Saotome Ranma.  Interesting name, ne?"
	Junko's nose wrinkled despite herself.  "Hai... it doesn't
fit you," she remarked, before she realized how rude she was
being.  "Gomen... I didn't mean..." she flustered, covering her
mouth.
	"Ya... don't apologize.  I'm not too impressed with it
either,"  Ranma replied, waving her spoon again.
	"Still, it was not polite.  Here.  Take this, please."
Junko stated, shoving her sundae toward the surprised Ranma.  Ranma
looked back at the demure girl before her and smiled slightly,
understanding for the first time that she was dealing with a more
traditional girl than she was normally used to.  In a strange way,
she found it refreshing.
	"Arigato... are you sure you don't want it?"  she asked,
just to make sure.
        "Hai.  I would feel better," Junko stated, earnestly.
        "Okay," Ranma smiled, never one to look a gift sundae in
the whipped cream.
	At length, Junko found herself totally captivated by Ranma's
brash, unrestrained personality, which seemed to reach right to
her inner being, releasing the emotions that she had so long held
in check.  By the time an hour had passed, the two were giggling
and laughing so much that the owner of the shop was eyeing them
disapprovingly from the counter.
	"Ranma-san, I have to tell you that I have not had so much
fun in a very long time.  Thank you for such a wonderful evening,"
Junko smiled, looking across the table at Ranma happily, barely
able to conceal her growing affection.
	"Yeah... it was fun, wasn't it?"  Ranma noted, smiling
thoughtfully.  "Thanks for asking me here.  It wasn't what I was
planning to do tonight, but I'm glad I came," she added, leaning
back in her seat and stretching.  "I'm gonna have to work out hard
to burn it off, though." she continued, smirking and patting her
tummy.
	Junko's eyes almost fell out of her head as she watched
Ranma lean back during her stretch, the movement thrusting the
redhead's ample chest up and forward.  Junko's face flushed bright
red, and she gasped aloud before she could stop herself.
	Just at that moment, Ranma settled back into her seat and
looked at Junko, catching a glimpse of the flush before Junko
could cover it.  Her face darkened slightly, and she abruptly rose
from her seat.
        "C'mon, Junko... we need to talk, but not here," she
intoned, grabbing the startled girl's hand and almost dragging her
from the booth.
	A few minutes later, they arrived at the river side, Ranma
directing the bewildered Junko to sit on the aqueduct.  Ranma then
paced back and forth for a few seconds, appearing to be gathering
her thoughts.
	Junko watched her pacing, completely at a loss for an
explanation.  She had at first thought that Ranma was going to take
her outside and get upset with her, but this turn of events didn't
make any sense at all.  Adding to the mystery was why she stopped
at the counter as they left, and requested a flask of warm water.
	Finally, Ranma stopped her pacing, standing now before
Junko wearing a pained expression.  Junko's heart sank as the last
of her optimism fled her like a frightened puppy.
	"Junko-chan..." Ranma began, her voice gentle but firm.
"I gotta apologize to you.  I... gave you the wrong impression
tonight.  I  wasn't paying attention, and didn't notice that you
saw our little get together as... a date," she continued, having
a little difficulty with the last words.
	"Ranma-chan, I..." Junko protested urgently, wanting to
try to salvage at least a friendship, but was stopped by Ranma's
upraised hand.
        "No, Junko.... let me finish.  This is hard enough," Ranma
stated, and Junko could see in her eyes that she meant it.
Biting her lip, she meshed her fingers together in her lap and
listened attentively.  Ranma noticed her change in demeanor, and
sighed sadly.
        "I'm.... flattered that you like me so much, Junko-chan.
I think you're... really cute... but... it's just not possible
for us to ever have... a relationship,"  Ranma explained, her
voice wavering slightly and her body seeming to shudder
imperceptibly.  After a moment of hesitation, Junko could see
Ranma stiffen, set herself, and draw a breath, as if preparing
to go into battle.  Her stomach began to feel like it was full
of broken glass, and she tried desperately to keep back the tears
that she knew were coming.
	Abruptly, Ranma stepped back a pace and looked hard into
Junko's shimmering brown eyes.  Drawing another breath, she puffed
it out and began to speak.
	"There are things that not everyone knows about me, but
that I'm going to tell you so you'll understand why I can't be
with you.  It has nothing to do with you, or with anything about
you... in fact, it's all to do with me," she stated, choosing her
words carefully.   Sighing, she produced the flask from behind
her back.  "Prepare yourself, Junko-chan... this is going to come
as a shock," she indicated, opening the flask and dumping it on
her head.
	Junko gasped aloud, the sight rocking her to her very
core.  Her mind, unable to deal with what her eyes were telling
it, simply locked up.  The only functions it permitted were
shallow, ragged breaths, and the release of the tears it had
earlier tried to ward off.
	Outwardly, all Junko could do was stare wide-eyed and
wordless at Ranma, her entire body numb.
	Ranma shrank in the face of Junko's reaction.  He knew
then that he had grossly underestimated Junko's feelings for his
female half, and immediately felt horrible.
	"Gomen nasai, Junko-chan.  I didn't mean to scare you
like that..." he began, weakly.  "I just wanted to show you that
I'm really a guy... I even have a fiancee already.  I only change
into a girl because of a curse I picked up in China..." he added,
then realized she wasn't listening.
	Junko simply sat reactionless on the cold concrete, her
heart shattered into a million pieces.  Her eyes still stared
forward, her tears leaving silver trails over her cheeks that
seemed to spark angrily with reflections of the city lights
nearby.  She no longer heard the male Ranma speaking, and in fact
didn't even acknowledge his presence.  Her entire world had ended
a few moments before, and nothing else mattered.
	Ranma stood beside her for a few more minutes, hoping for
some kind of response.  All he got was the occasional tremble and
a few pitiful whimpers from the devastated girl, and finally
decided that she wanted to be left alone.
	"I have to go, Junko-chan... I really am sorry about
this..." he reiterated, gently.  When Junko didn't respond, he
sighed sadly and walked off, his own heart heavy with regret.
As he was about to crest the wall, he glanced back one more time,
and could still see the girl sitting just where he had left her,
silhouetted by the reflected light from the surface of the river.
Shaking his head sadly, he leapt over the wall and headed home.



	Four days later, Furinkan High was abuzz with gossip.
Junko had not been seen since talking to a few of her friends in
the mall, and rumors were flying everywhere.  Ranma felt pangs of
guilt every time someone mentioned the situation, as he had a
pretty good idea why she was away.  Abruptly, the chattering in
the room was interrupted by an announcement call from the Sensei,
who had just walked in.
	As a hush fell over the class, the Sensei, who looked
white as a ghost. cleared his throat and unfolded a piece of paper.
He then announced, with great regret, the time, date and location
of funeral services for Onikita Junko, who had passed away the
night she was last seen.
	The entire class gasped in unison; Ranma shuddered as he
felt his heart stop.
	Akane, sitting a few rows over, glanced at him to see his
reaction to the announcement, and was startled to see him frozen
in shock, his face drained.  As she stared at him wondering what
to do, he abruptly stood up and walked out of the classroom,
totally unmindful of the Sensei yelling at him to return to his
seat.
	The Sensei, in no mood for games after the announcement,
raced after Ranma, only to find him in the hall, staring out one
of the large windows.  When he approached Ranma and tried to force
him back into the room, Ranma's eyes narrowed and he swung his
arm back, grabbing the Sensei by his shirt front and pulling him
close.
	"What did she die from?" he growled, his eyes burning into
the hapless Sensei's.
	"D... Drowning..." the petrified Sensei gasped, upon which
Ranma simply dropped him and leapt out the window.
	Akane, face pasted to the room's glass like everyone
else's, couldn't believe what she had just seen.  Pushing her way
out through the crowd, she beat a hasty retreat to the nearest exit,
determined to find Ranma and get him to explain himself... or else.



	Ranma stood silently, face frozen half-way between tears and
anger.  Below him, the spot where he had left the shattered Junko
alone that fateful night seemed to rivet his attention.
	He didn't even feel the cool breeze that tossed his hair and
ruffled his red satin shirt, his thoughts locked on the image of
Junko's horrified face staring back at him that night.
	Closing his eyes against his tears, he lowered his head and
clenched his jaw  and his fists, trying to force the images from his
thoughts.  It didn't work.
	A strangled sob escaped his guard, breaking a path for
others to follow.  Finally, his tortured soul overcame his defenses
and he collapsed to his knees, crying unashamedly for the young,
innocent life he was sure he had helped end.



	Akane didn't know whether to be angry or worried.  She still
couldn't believe that Ranma had actually attacked their Sensei,
especially over something so minor.  He had always held his temper
before, no matter what any of them did to provoke him.  As well,
she noticed that his reaction to the announcement had been a bit
excessive, especially coming form someone who knew Junko only as a
classmate.  Her brow furrowed over that last thought, and she
decided that he had better have a really good explanation for it all.
	An hour and a half and two sore feet later, she approached
the last of the places she would expect to find him, hoping that it
would prove to be the one that he was actually at.  Walking up to
the sidewall, she looked up and down the aqueduct, and gasped as
she saw him sitting on the slanted concrete duct, knees up and arms
wrapped around them.
	Leaping over the wall, she quickly walked toward him,
warming up to give him 'what for' over making her hunt him down.
As she drew nearer, she ignored the fact that he hadn't acknowledged
her presence yet, and let her anger boil over.
	"Ranma!  What do you think you're doing, ...?" she began,
only to have her voice break in mid-yell.  Ranma had turned his face
toward her, and the look in his eyes was unlike anything she had
ever seen from him before.  It penetrated her anger like a
razor-sharp katana, making her cringe with it's ferocity.
	As Akane stood humbled and frightened beside him, he rose
wordlessly and took a stance before her, fists clenched and face
unchanged.  The emotion in his eyes burned into hers, and she felt
herself shrink even more under their relentless onslaught.
	The world seemed to stop for Akane as he glared at her, and
she could hear her own heartbeat in the deafening silence.  Finally,
his face flashing what looked like utter disgust, Ranma simply
turned and walked away, his pace measured and deliberate.
        Akane, upon starting to breathe again, could only stand
in stunned silence and watch him go.
	


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END - Junko's Legacy Part 1             A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


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coutuva@vecdev.com
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