Chapter 2 – Why kick down the door, when it is unlocked?

Ranma was still distracted by his talk with Samus the next morning. Leaving half of his breakfast for his father, Ranma left for school early. Seeing doctor Tofu opening his clinic, Ranma changed course and hailed doctor Tofu.

"Hello Ranma, how are you today? Any problems I should know about?" Doctor Tofu chuckled as he checked Ranma for injuries.

"Well doc, I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment." Ranma fidgeted.

"Oh?" Doctor Tofu inquired.

"Yeah, I was thinking about that doctor patient trust thing, you mentioned that time. I got a few questions that I don't want anyone else to know about." Ranma replied.

"I have some time before my first patient is scheduled, so step into my office." Doctor Tofu said as he waved Ranma to follow.

"Thanks doc." Ranma responded as he followed doctor Tofu.


Doctor Tofu looked as Ranma hurried along to school. Frowning, he considered what he had heard from Ranma. Shaking his head, he started to regret getting involved as his ethics wouldn't allow him to stand at the side lines. His hands were effectively tied by his oath as a doctor in more then one way. The help he could offer was limited by the confidentiality in a doctor and patient relationship. Without permission from Ranma to talk to specific people, he could only be a listening ear and confidant for Ranma.

Signing, doctor Tofu turned and greeted his first patient for the day.

"Hello doctor Tofu. Were you able to cure what was wrong with Ranma?" Nabiki said as she stepped into view.

"That is between myself and Ranma." Doctor Tofu replied evenly.

"I'm practically family, doctor. I have a right to know if something is wrong with my future brother-in-law." Nabiki pressed.

"If Ranma were unable to explain himself, I just might agree. Since that is not the case, I won't talk if my patient doesn't want me to." Doctor Tofu answered evenly and bid Nabiki goodbye as he attended to his patient.

Sighing, Nabiki shrugged her shoulders and went on to school, confident in her abilities to uncover the truth.


School was a stressful affair. For the teachers and other students that is. Ranma, the eternal slacker, was behaving erratically in class. Most of the time he was either staring out the window or staring at his books. A few times, he even attempted to ask questions about the taught subject, especially in math class.

"So, this thing is used by many businesses?" Ranma pressed as he looked at the blackboard.

"Yes. Not that I'm complaining, but why the sudden interest?" The teacher asked curious.

"Well, ain't math needed for finances and such? Pops keeps telling me that I'll be taking over the dojo." Ranma replied, fidgeting.

"I see. I hope this interest in your future career will keep you awake in my classes from now on. Now where was I?" The teacher said, smiling.

Akane's only response to this was a narrowing of her eyes as she glared at Ranma mentioning her dojo.

As lunch started, Ranma slowly made his way outside. Several students started talking about the apocalypse as Ranma didn't show much excitement for his favourite period. Ignoring this Ranma headed to his usual lunch spot and eagerly dug in his lunch. Accepting some food from Ukyo, Ranma pulled out a book and started to study it. Despite concerned glances from several groups, most felt relieved to see Ranma stuffing his mouth full again.

The remainder of the day was a repeat of the morning as Ranma struggled to understand what the teachers were talking about. At the end of the school Ranma was rubbing his head as he had developed a headache. Grumbling a bit, Ranma joined his fellow students as they filed out of the school.

"Hello, young one. Did you have a productive day?" Samus said as she passed the gate with some groceries.

"Hi Samus. Kinda, got a headache from listening to the teachers." Ranma replied.

"Himura-san." Samus stated in an even tone.

"Fine, Himura-san." Ranma said, rolling his eyes.

"Ranma, who is this." Akane asked in a sweet voice that sounded alarms in Ranma's head.

"Yes, Ranma. Why don't you introduce us to the girl you had a date with yesterday." Nabiki smirked as Akane glared at Ranma.

"I am Aran-Himura Samus." Samus introduced herself with a short bow.

"Uh, yeah. These is Tendo Akane and Tendo Nabiki." Ranma finished the introduction in a nervous voice.

"Charmed I am sure. So you are Nabiki." Samus said as she turned her attention to Nabiki.

"You must really be desperate for male company if you consider a walk, a date." Samus noted with a faint smile as Nabiki stiffened a bit.

"Taking someone into a respected restaurant, known for its romantic setting, can hardly be described as a walk." Nabiki returned with a bit of frost.

"Strange how you neglect to mention the others at the table or the fact that Ranma departed after exchanging pleasantries and introductions." Samus stated with an eyebrow raised.

"Of course one can wonder if the information is faulty or deliberately incomplete." Samus added, tapping a finger on her chin.

"Are you saying I am lying?" Nabiki challenged as the students around them whispered.

"Neg. I am saying that either the situation was misunderstood or parts of the situation were withheld." Samus calmly responded with an even gaze.

"That still doesn't explain what you were doing with her, Ranma." Akane interjected as she growled at Ranma.

"How often do you walk with a friend for a while when you meet paths, little girl?" Samus questioned.

"That doesn't matter. I want to know what the pervert did." Akane sputtered.

"Not a good listener is she." Samus stated to Ranma.

"Hark, I have come." Tatewaki interjected, raising his boken into the sky.

"And whom may this lovely flower be?" Tatewaki questioned as he spied Samus.

"But wait should one not introduce themselves first? Indeed for I am the great Kuno Tatewaki, also known as the Blue Thunder of Furikan High, age nineteen." Tatewaki proclaimed dramatically.

"You are rude." Samus stated and pointedly ignored Tatewaki, leaving several students gaping.

"What sorcery is this?! No maiden can resist the great Kuno Tatewaki. Worry not, fair maiden. I will release you from this evil spell cast upon you with the sure and swift trusts of my boken." Tatewaki declared, drooling a bit.

"You actually have to audacity to think a little boy like you is man enough to handle a woman like me?" Samus replied and started laughing.

"Enough talk, I strike!" Tatewaki shouted in anger and made a swift slash with his boken.

Almost to fast to follow Samus used her cane to block the slash and smirked. Tatewaki tried a combination of slashes and thrusts to overcome the defense put up by Samus. Samus remained unmoving as she countered each move effortlessly. Irritated, Tatewaki called out his signature move of thrusts and attempted to drive Samus back. Samus only snorted at the display as she moved in precise moves defecting the thrusts away from her body. With a deft move, Samus ended the fight.

The crowd groined in sympathy as Tatewaki's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. With a stern and unyielding face, Samus twisted her cane before stepping back a few paces. Tatewaki squeaked undefined words as he dropped his boken and grabbed his groin, before collapsing into a small, whimpering ball.

"You have no right to call yourself a warrior." Samus sniffed as she picked up her groceries.

"Ouch." Ranma commented as he looked at the quivering ball that was known as Tatewaki.

"It was an interesting encounter. I have some appointments to keep, so I bid you a goodbye." Samus stated as she nodded goodbye to Ranma.

"Uh, yeah. Bye Sam…, uhm, Himura-san." Ranma replied nervously as Samus looked evenly at him.

The crowd parted as Samus moved off. Ranma and the Tendo sisters watched for a moment before turning their attention to other matters. Ranma softly chuckled as he looked at Tatewaki and failed to notice Akane glaring at him. Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Ranma looked at Nabiki with a questioning look. Nabiki pointed at Akane and her ready mallet.

"I'm waiting for an answer, Ranma." Akane ground out.

"For what?" Ranma asked, perplexed.

"RANMA NO BAKA." Akane shouted and flattened Ranma into the ground.

Huffing, Akane waited until Ranma got his bearings again and pulled himself out of the hole. Growling, Akane started asking questions about Samus as she and Ranma walked to the dojo. Ranma, still feeling the headache from the pounding, only gave vague answers to Akane's questions. Grumbling about irritating old ghouls, Ranma tried remove the excess water from her clothes. And again she failed to notice Akane winding up her mallet and was introduced to low level flight for the 3rd time that day.


Grumbling, Ranma noted her flight path was taking her to Himura-san's house. Adjusting her trajectory a little, she entered the house in the training court. Chuckling, Ranma enjoyed the cushioning effects of the springs and mats.

"Hello, young one. Join us in the kitchen." Samus called out.

"Hi all." Ranma said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Did I have the pleasure of meeting you before?" Samus questioned as she handed Ranma a cup of tea.

"Uhm, yeah. I'm Ranma." Ranma sheepishly said, noting her current form.

"Really." Samus deadpanned as she looked meaningful at Ranma's torso.

"Afraid, so." Ranma sighed as she dumped her tea over her head.

"Not something, you see everyday." Hans noted, taking out a notepad and pen.

Ranma explained and demonstrated the curse as Hans took notes and Samus shushed the excited children several times. After his explanation, Ranma waited resigned for the accusations and gleeful splashing of water.

"Mind giving me the name of your doctor? I want to compare theories, exchange information and such scientific stuff that would bore you." Hans politely asked.

"That is so cool." Kitsune exclaimed, Natasha nodding her consent.

"Lets take a walk, young one." Samus stated with gentle smile.

Blinking, Ranma followed Samus outside to the backyard.

"I will not pretend to know what it is like to change gender. I would expect that this is causing confusion, at several levels." Samus said as they looked at the pond in the backyard.

"I am referring to how others react to the change and how the self image you maintain is affected. So my question is simple. Would you like to talk about the change and its effects?" Samus continued in a gentle tone.

"Don't know nothing about self image, I'm a boy. I do hate how some people react to the curse." Ranma replied, kicking the grass a bit.

"How do people react?" Samus questioned.

"Calling me names, saying things about me that ain't true or using my curse for their amusement." Ranma answered.

"You know. Splashing me with cold and hot water to change me. Turning off the hot water as I shower to get a free show at school. Stuff like that" Ranma said in response to the questioning look of Samus.

"Have you talked to a teacher about the harassment at school? I would expect that with your condition, some adjustments have to be implemented." Samus pointed out.

"Other that making sure I don't sneak into the girls changing room or restroom, nadda." Ranma shrugged.

"Odd. What happened to make them consider you, for the lack of a better term, a pervert?" Samus asked.

"Don't know, they just do. They've been treating me like this practically since my curse became general knowledge." Ranma responded as he considered the question.

"Some friends of Akane were the first people I noticed treating me like that. As I started to pay attention to others, I noticed other people behaving like that towards me." Ranma added in a contemplating tone.

"Were these friends of Akane very vocal in their opinion?" Samus pressed.

"I guess. They didn't hide what they thought about me." Ranma shrugged.

"How did Akane come to consider you a pervert?" Samus asked.

"When she walked the bathroom as I got out of the furo. She freaked out and started calling me a pervert." Ranma answered, blushing.

"Would you say that the opinion of Akane is important to the population of your school?" Samus wondered.

"Maybe. She's got lot of friends." Ranma replied indecisive.

"How do people outside your school react to the change?" Samus said as she changed the focus of the subject.

"Usually the same as the people at school. They seem weary too." Ranma answered.

"I don't really like how they treat me. I'm not sure how to change so they will like me." Ranma added is a soft voice as Samus stayed silent.

"Change? You need not change yourself for other people, whom can not accept you for who you are. As you stated, even with the change you remain a boy. If in mind only as the body changes." Samus declared in a firm voice.

"A true friend accepts a person with the good parts and the bad parts. Judging someone on an event outside of their control shows their own inadequacies and fears. No, they judge you before they even know you." Samus continued.

"I must point out that most opinions about you seem to be based upon the words of Akane. I would expect that she told her friends about your perceived perverseness as soon as she could to 'warn' them and those friends spread these words, coloring the views of the others against you. Basically you were marked as a pervert without real proof or a chance to defend yourself." Samus concluded.

"You mean Akane turned everyone at school against me from day one?" Ranma asked perplexed.

"Not exactly turned. In their minds, they would risk themselves to the possible wondering hands of a pervert and that would make them reluctant to approach you." Samus answered.

"If you showed that you were a skilled martial artist, this image would be reinforced." Samus added.

"Well I did beat up Kuno several times, but how would that effect them?" Ranma questioned.

"How would they be able to stop a skilled martial artist? To them it would matter not that you have a kind heart, all they see is someone capable of overpowering them. Regardless if you behaved like that or not." Samus replied with a soft sigh.

"So nothing I could do would help?" Ranma pressed dejected.

"I do not have enough information to give a proper answer. Tell me about your experiences at school." Samus replied.

Ranma recounted what he could about his experiences for school. Samus occasionally asked questions to gain more detail about several events at school. Some questions helped Ranma remember other events at school, which had escaped his active notice, but had been remembered subconsciously. As Ranma wound down in his tale, he started to get more depressed as he realized that most people at school had a bad impression of him. Samus remained silent for several minutes after Ranma had finished as she contemplated what she heard.

"The best advice I can give you is to ignore what people think and say about you at school. You should improve your social skills, so that when you meet new people in the future, you are able to show and convince people that your condition does not change who you are." Samus finally stated.

"There are some things that may or may not improve your situation at school. At the least, it would be come more bearable." Samus added as Ranma reluctantly nodded.

"Such as?" Ranma asked.

"First, you should remove yourself from the changing rooms completely. Do not shower or change there. Use the roof or restroom to change for P.E. class. Secondly, wear an undershirt with two strategically placed, black patches. Thirdly, when accused of being a pervert, simply ask them to prove it with facts. Do not deny it, only ask why they are calling you a pervert." Samus said, counting the points.

"What would the second and third thing do?" Ranma questioned.

"If you are splashed with water without this undershirt, you will give everyone a free show of your assets and will give the appearance of someone who enjoys teasing others or takes pleasure in showing her private parts. Which gives credit to the pervert label placed upon you. It is unintentional on your part, but that is how others would perceive it. The boys at your school are also tempted by your lack of modesty and ignorance of your female body. Just look at how they behave in the changing room at your school." Samus stated.

"As for the accusations. At this point, few would believe your denials of any accusation. By questioning the validity of the accusation, you place the burden of prove with the accusers. They would have to explain why they are calling you a pervert, which gives you a chance to counter or disprove their arguments. Should they refuse to provide evidence, then all you have to do is make a statement about being innocent until proven guilty. You also should ask for an apology for the unfounded insult against you. That would give a clear sign that you are actively opposed to being referred to as a pervert." Samus continued the lecture.

"I guess." Ranma mused, dubiously.

"Just remember this. It is your live and your choices. If your live is not to your liking, you must work to change it into a better live. Your choices determine what path you take and what consequences follow from that choice." Samus said with a smile, ending the lecture with a encouraging pat on Ranma's head.

Grumbling, Ranma followed Samus back into the house as he considered the conversation.


Ranma was still in a foul mood as she tried to entered the Tendo house after being ambushed by her father as she had entered the dojo. After a brief and violent struggle, which included a mutual trip to the pond, Ranma had knock her father unconsious.

"Hi, Kasumi. Got some hot water for me?" Ranma asked as Kasumi stepped in front of her.

"No, I'm afraid I forget to fill the kettle. Could you wait outside, until you have dried up? I just cleaned here and wouldn't want it to get dirty again so soon." Kasumi said in a slight disapproving voice.

"Sure, Kasumi." Ranma replied and moved into the yard to practice some kata's while waiting.

Ranma studiously ignored the rumblings of her father as she moved from position to position. Blinking, Ranma noticed Kasumi standing ready with a kettle and towel as her pandafied father approached the house. Genma accepted the kettle and returned to human form, thanking Kasumi for the water and towel.

"He, Kasumi. Could I get some water now?" Ranma asked.

"I'm sorry, Ranma. There isn't any water for you to use." Kasumi replied and carried the half full kettle back to the kitchen, leaving Ranma to stare at her back.

Perplexed, Ranma waited until she was dried before entering and heading for the furo. Swiftly cleaning up and changing into clean clothes, Ranma puzzled about the behaviour of Kasumi. Entering the living room to wait untill dinner, Ranma sat down at the table and opened his bookbag to get his math book. Sighing, Ranma resigned himself to struggling with his math homework.

Ignoring the occastional glance from the others in the room, Ranma did his best working through his homework as Akana entered the room. Sitting down as she coddled her pet pig, Akane started glaring at Ranma. Noticing the glare, Ranma decided to ignore Akane in favour of his homework to avoid a argument and a headache.

"Boy, apologies to your fiancée this instant." Genma growled.

"What for?" Ranma asked with narrowed eyes.

"You know perfectly well, what for." Akane shouted.

"I wouldn't ask if I did." Ranma countered.

"For cheating on your fiancée with another woman. Akane is the one, you should take on a date." Genma proclaimed and continued to grumble about dishonourable sons.

"Quite so." Soun added his opinion as Nodoka nodded.

"I haven't been on any dates." Ranma stated firmly, glaring at Genma.

"Yes, you have pervert." Akane yelled, pointing accusingly at Ranma.

"Prove it." Ranma challenged after taking a deep breath.

"I don't need to prove anything. I know you cheated on me." Akane returned heatedly.

"Then I demand an apology from Akane for the slight against my honour." Ranma said, stunning the people in the room.

"You're the one, who has to apologies." Soun replied sternly, as he frowned.

"Not if Akane can't prove her accusations." Ranma denied as he crossed his arms.

"Akane doesn't have to prove anything, my son. Now apologies to Akane." Nodoka stated.

"Innocent untill proven guilty. Does that sound familiar? Unless Akane can prove I cheated on her, she owes me an apology." Ranma returned, frowning.

"I don't owe you anything, pervert." Akane shouted.

"We trust Akane's word, boy. If she says you are cheating on her, then you are." Genma said with narrowed eyes.

"Her word against mine." Ranma replied in a soft, dangerous voice.

"Your word has proven to be something to be left desired." Kasumi sniffed as she entered the discussion.

"Prove it." Ranma managed as he tied to recover from Kasumi's words.

"You're always lying and messing around with other girls behind my back. I haven't seen you perform any honourable things and frankly don't think you're capable of doing so." Akane stated with a sniff.

"I have never broken a promise." Ranma interjected softly.

"Are you saying I have?" Akane asked with a soft growl.

"I remember a promise you made to Kasumi about not hitting anyone in anger. You broke that promise the same day." Ranma pointed out.

"You caused me to break that promise." Akane yelled back.

"How did you punish Akane for breaking her promise to you?" Ranma questioned Kasumi.

"Oh my. As far as I'm concerned, Akane was justified to break her promise." Kasumi answered.

"See!" Akane exclaimed triumphant.

"So, you are saying Akane can break any promise she wants?" Ranma continued, ignoring Akane.

"My sister keeps her promises." Kasumi declared evenly.

"Yet she broke a promise to you." Ranma pressed.

"That doesn't have anything to do with the current subject." Soun interjected.

"It does if you say you trust Akane's word over mine. Keeping a promise shows how much you can trust someone's word." Ranma replied.

"Stop trying to muddle the subject and give my sister the apology she deserves." Kasumi said.

"Why would she deserve an apology if I am the one wronged?" Ranma questioned in a harsh tone.

"Until you apologies to my daughter, you are not welcome in this house." Soun declared.

"What?!" Ranma all but shouted.

"Good call, Tendo. You better apologies, boy." Genma said, supporting his friend.

"No." Ranma ground out as he struggle to control his anger.

"Honestly, my son. You aren't behaving very manly. Now apologies" Nodoka said.

"Not going to happen." Ranma stated through clenched teeth.

"Then begone from my house." Soun shouted.

"Leave." Kasumi stressed as Ranma remained motionless.

Slowly raising as he took deep breaths, Ranma glared at everyone in the room before turning on his heels as he stuffed his book in the book bag and marching out of the room to the front door. Closing the gate to the dojo, Ranma took a few moments to find his center and calm. Looking back, Ranma's shoulders slumped as he considered the scene he just left. A bitter laugh escaped his lips as rain softly fell and changed him into a girl in the growing dark.