A Change In Plans [A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction]

A Change In Plans - Prologue

Here Comes The Side Characters

"The only way to return home, if you wish to by the end of your journey, is to create a better life for the ones you love."

          When those words were spoken, despite how simple they sounded, Chieko Ishioka knew that it was going to be a lot harder than they expected. Not only because of how broad the terminology was, but also due to how they arrived in the world of Ranma 1/2. Chieko and Maimi Kikumoto were dropped into an alleyway within Nerima during a horrible thunderstorm. She loved rain. Everything about rain. The whispering hum as sheets of precipitation plummeted to the water-forsaken ground, the often unanticipated flashes of lightning or the rolls of ominous thunder. She loved it all, at least, until that night. While Chieko did not entirely mind the fact that whatever mystical being forced her and her best friend into the world of anime cursed her new form to become a boy when doused in cold water, she did not like the feeling to transforming into said form. It was discomforting to feel her body transform into the opposite gender. However, she could not imagine how Maimi must have felt when she transformed into a snake.

           Now, with Maimi wrapped around Chieko's neck in a poor attempt to stay warm, the duo found themselves wandering the streets of Nerima, Tokyo, praying to find some form of shelter. Chieko found herself shivering every time Maimi's snake form shifted, the feeling of her scales sliding across her bare skin slightly discomforting, but cursed girl made no effort to let Maimi know. Chieko knew her best friend was trying to stay awake and aware of what was going on. She supposed Maimi's claims to being the 'Snake Whisperer' was turned into something literal. The girl-boy chuckled slightly at that thought. This caused Maimi to stir slightly, a long hiss sounding in the otherwise silent air. Chieko smiled at the girl, petting her head with a finger as she murmured, "Sorry, Mai. Just thought of something funny."

           The coral pink snake's head tilted to the side slightly before perking up. Her forest green hues stared off to the right and a long hiss sounded. Chieko found her periwinkle hues following the same direction. She was confused. What in the world caught Maimi's attention? The snake hissed, hesitantly slithering off of her friend. Her long body swayed across the concrete, though it could be seen that she would flinch every-so-often due sharp rocks scraping cross her scales, motioning to a large sign upon a wall surrounding the building. Chieko's periwinkle hues narrowed slightly. The sign was written in Japanese. How was she supposed to read Japanese!? Maimi gave Chieko a deadpan look, instead choosing to slither her way to the door. The confused girl ultimately decided to follow her best friend.

           "Okay, okay, Mai," Chieko murmured, picking up the small snake, forcing her to stop tapping her head against the door. She watched as Maimi curled her body around her arm, her head lying on the back of her hand. Chieko sighed before lifting her left hand and knocking on the door. Apart from the tapping of the freezing rain, there was silence. No one had come to the door. Chieko began, "I don't think anyone-"

          Chieko was cut off by the door to wherever they were opening. She stared, blinking for a moment. The man within the doorway was an incredibly plain man in terms of appearance, his only real defining features being his chestnut hair pulled back into a low ponytail and glasses. The girl-boy blinked. It was Doctor Tofu! Chieko cursed underneath her breath, "Damn it, Mai. You're a genius."

          "Can I...," Tofu paused for a moment and stared at the stranger before motioning them inside, "please come in. I'll draw a bath for you."

          "Oh, I-Thank you."

          The first order of business once the bath water was drawn was to place Maimi inside first. Chieko found it quite hilarious that from the moment she opened the door into the nice, warm, steaming bathroom, Maimi seemed to vibrate in excitement. It was even more hilarious when she uncurled herself from her best friend's arm, practically leaping into the warm bath water. The brunette soon emerged from the water, shaking her head violently and taking a deep breath. Chieko watched as her best friend sunk into the bath water, sighing as she did so before hissing.

          "Ow, ow, ow," Maimi grumbled, grasping her side. Chieko found herself frowning slightly in a poor attempt to hide the minor panic attack she experienced before realizing that her best friend had actually scrapped herself along the rocks upon the ground. She smiled, letting Maimi know that she will be right back. Maimi's forest green hues glanced back up, her eyes sparkling slightly before she stretched out into a grin.

          "Excuse me, mister?" Chieko questioned as she arrived back in the lobby of the clinic where Doctor Tofu was waiting, "May I please have another set of clothes?"

          Tofu tilted his head to the side as he held a kettle in his hand, asking, "Why do you need another set?"

          "I promise I'll explain after I'm done with my bath."

          Once the brunette left the bath and went to change, Chieko let the girl know to stay in the changing room until she was done, as Tofu did not know she was there...technically speaking. Maimi complied with a small smile on her face while in the middle of wrapping bandages around her waist. Chieko grabbed the clothing Tofu provided for her, ultimately bewildered to find it taking to the Chinese style of martial arts clothing colored in ivory along with a silk, pale yellow belt and arm warmers in the same color. Though thoroughly confused, the girl-boy ignored it for a moment, instead choosing to soak herself in the incredibly warm and comforting bath water. That was when she noted something odd. Her transformation into her original form was not as discomforting as when she transformed into a boy. In fact, her transforming felt more comforting than anything. It was as if she was sliding back into her own skin. The feeling of her hair growing out and returning to its silvery state was oddly comforting in its own right. The silver haired girl smiled as she sunk into the water, relishing in the warmth it provided. And after she was done basking herself in water, she cleaned herself up before exiting the tub and dressing in the Chinese garb.

Welp...it was time to go face Doctor Tofu.