Chapter 3: Everybody Wants to Love Someone
Akane had been surprised when she heard that Ranma had left for school before her. She was so used to having to drag him there it felt surreal. Then when she got to class she found him attempting to study. He had clearly gotten distracted at some point and was doodling in the margins... but he did actually have the right textbooks open.
Any chance for confrontation died as Ms. Hinako charged in. She was in adult form and seemed surprisingly filled with fury today. The fact the start of day bell hadn't technically rung yet did nothing to deter her launching into the material. Their lesson was erratic and fast paced. Only in the last few minutes did she shrink down to her more usual self and calm down (though grow no better at focusing).
The rest of the morning kept Akane plenty busy as well. It wasn't until lunch that she finally had a chance to talk to Ranma.
"What's going on?"
He just ignored her and munched on his lunch.
"You're giving me the silent treatment? Not usually the policy of the one who owes the apology."
That caused Ranma to shoot her a glare. He swallowed the food in his mouth with an almost aggressive force. The pigtailed boy then seemed to hover in indecision between continuing to eat and replying to Akane. The latter won out (and honestly had won from the start, but he felt like putting on a bit of a show).
"Why do you want me to talk to you? It's not like you need me around when you've got your boyfriend sleeping in your room," Ranma effectively hissed.
"Boyfriend? What are you... Don't tell me you're talking about Ryoga?"
Ranma stood up, wanting the power that height always seemed to hold. He was extra sensitive on that front with the curse... honestly the loss of height was probably the most annoying part. (Of course glaring at her meant looking at her, and that meant a reminder of how pretty she was. It wasn't fair.)
"Of course I'm talking about him. How many times has he shared your bed now?"
"You knew about that!" Akane countered. "So why is it suddenly an issue?"
More than a few heads turned to listen to this. Akane was sharing a bed with a boy? And a boy other than Ranma? Yuka and Sayuri meanwhile began to blush something fierce. They'd known what was going on, but they could also tell how bad it sounded.
"I hadn't known that you knew though! That changes everything."
"How does it change anything? Sure he's a guy... but we both know I'm not exactly his type. He's in love with you, not me."
Ranma broke out laughing in response. It took him quite a while to get back in control.
"He's not in love with me. He's been chasing after you basically since meeting you," he finally managed to reply. "How you can't see it is beyond me."
"Oh, then how do you explain that whole koi rod inci-"
"I wasn't the intended target!" Ranma snapped back.
"You can claim that all you want," Akane replied dismissively. "But look at how he acted."
"I-I don't really remember," Ranma admitted. "But he swore he never did anything."
"And that's true," Akane replied. (Ranma was so cute when he was flustered.) "I caught him about to give in at one point, but he resisted you the whole time."
Ranma blinked a few times in confusion. "Th-that proves he doesn't like me..."
"Don't play coy Ranma, it doesn't suit you. We both know your girl form is gorgeous. Any other boy you know would have given in. Only a guy who truly cared and could see you weren't yourself would resist."
"That's absurd," Ranma stated. He wanted to believe it was. "Hiroshi... Dai... you guys wouldn't do anything right?"
Both boys had been hovering very close, interested in the fight. Suddenly faced with a question like that the pair blushed. Eventually Daisuke managed to stammer out a reply.
"I... well, if I knew you weren't yourself... I suppose I'd try to resist. Though... well, you could snap me like a twig, so I might just surrender... I'd probably surrender..."
Hiroshi however just blushed ever deeper and had a slight trickle of blood slide down from his nostril. Ranma did not want to dwell on the joy in his eyes.
Akane then turned and gestured to the other boys in the class. There was a murmur of agreement. Along with more than a few bloody noses.
Ranma felt himself rapidly losing the argument. He was also losing faith in the other members of his gender. He scanned the room desperately. There had to be at least one boy in the class not agreeing. His eyes found one gakuran clad classmate buried in a textbook. Ranma felt hope rise in his heart and rushed over.
"Ucchan you-" Ranma stopped himself. Ucchan wasn't one of the guys... technically.
"Hm, what was that Ranchan?" Ukyo asked, pulling herself out of the homework.
"N-nothing," Ranma muttered.
Ranma wandered back to his desk and slumped in his chair. Akane was actually giggling a bit. He didn't like losing arguments. Well, he didn't like losing in general, but his track record with arguments remained spotty at best. So he knew he might not win round two either.
Ukyo watched him with some confusion, but then had to return her attention to history homework. Why those salarymen refused to leave after close last night... it really ate into her homework time.
"So, do you admit I'm right?" Akane asked.
"I'll only admit that this means the guys in our class are mostly perverts."
"Ranma... they're boys. Of course they're perverts."
"I still know for a fact Ryoga is in love with you," Ranma countered.
*break*
"Akane, would you like to go out with me?" Ryoga asked.
Of course he was asking the bathroom mirror, not Akane. His own dumb grin was all he had to look at. He was doomed. Sure, Akane and Ranma had clearly fallen out. Sure, it was the best chance he'd had in months to ask her out. Sure, a small part of him wanted to ask Ranma out instead. He stomped that part down into the recesses of his mind. What was really an issue though was simple: he knew no matter how much he practiced he would freeze up when he actually came face to face with Akane. If only he could practice with Akane beforehand...
He let out an exasperated sigh as he tried to figure out what to do. It was then when he became aware of someone walking down the hall.
"Ryoga, I was wondering if you might like to help me get some groceries?" Kasumi asked from the behind the bathroom door.
Following her voice Ryoga was able to quickly reach the door.
"Sure. If I'll be staying here and eating your food... as a human guest then I really should help out," he replied with only a moderate amount of awkwardness. It was so weird realising that Kasumi had known he was human the whole time... probably?
"You don't have to. Besides, you're almost family now. I would like the company though," the cheerful eldest Tendo girl said. "Plus the rice can be heavy sometimes. Especially the amount it takes to keep Ranma-kun and uncle Genma fed. It's nice to have someone along to carry it."
Ryoga followed Kasumi to the front door and waited as she gathered her wallet and various cloth shopping bags (she was apparently not a fan of disposable plastic ones). As they headed off down the street Ryoga was struck by something he'd somehow not noticed.
"Where's Nodoka? I thought she was living at the dojo."
"Oh, she is. She has merely gone to visit her cousin for the week. I do wonder if... no, it is not my place to think such things. It is likely that she merely finds the dojo quite crowded."
Ryoga felt worried he'd make that worse. He didn't want to contribute to Ranma and his mother being apart so often. He knew all too well what it was like to struggle with absent parents.
Not knowing what else to say Ryoga just fell into pace silently following Kasumi. He really hoped he wouldn't make a wrong turn at some point. Especially since he hadn't brought his supplies. Luckily Kasumi hummed merrily as she walked and for Ryoga the addition of sound to sight meant he found her easy to follow. Plus just being in Kasumi's presence put anyone at ease.
Sadly the calming stroll came to an end faster than Ryoga expected. The first shop was quite cramped, so Kasumi asked him to wait outside. She insisted she wouldn't be long, so if he just stayed put he should be fine. Ryoga found a blank patch of wall to lean on and watched the people go by. People who knew where they were going. Or didn't care where they were going because they knew they'd find their way home at the end of the day. Couples holding hands. Young mothers with their children. Salarymen rushing somewhere. A would be samurai carrying his bokuto strolling over.
"Kuno? Shouldn't you be in class?" Ryoga asked as the tall kendo enthusiast approached.
"Ah, the ever nomadic Hibiki. Surely thou see-eth this lovely weather the heavens have provided us today? 'Tis clear that this today was not meant to be wasted on such peasant pursuits as the study of books. Nay, today is a day fit for the study of the blade!"
Kuno continued to ramble (barely paying attention to Ryoga) when something landed on Ryoga's head. Something that had been carrying cold water that now drenched him. Catching it as it fell Ryoga saw it was a watering can. Instinctively he looked up to see where it had come from and saw a woman leaning out a window with a hanging flower box.
"I'm sorry about that miss!" the woman called.
"I'll just leave it down here?" Ryoga called back.
Sudden silence from Kuno caused Ryoga to realise he'd made a major mistake by speaking.
"Akane? From whence did you appear? And thine pale skin... it has been licked by the warm embrace of the wonderous Amaterasu. That vestment as well... quite unusual and not at all befitting thine beauty. What strange events has the foul Saotome force you to endure?"
"I... listen... Kuno, I'm not-" Ryoga began.
The reply was cut off by Kuno wrapping him in a bear hug and lifting him off his feet. "Worry not, thine sun kissed skin still compliments thine beauteous face."
Ryoga generally handled hugs better than Ranma. As he didn't have the same history of sudden grapple attacks delivered by a bespectacled father they didn't cause him a brief twinge of fear when caught off guard. However... a hug from Kuno was a different matter. Ryoga found himself both angry for his own sake and Akane's.
As such Kuno received a knee to the groin for his trouble.
Sure, it wasn't honourable, but there weren't many other viable targets considering how Kuno was holding him. As the tall kendo captain stumbled Ryoga hit him with an uppercut that sent Kuno clear across the road. He landed unceremoniously in a garbage can across the street.
"Don't you dare do that again!" Ryoga roared.
Ryoga was surprised when a few girls nearby broke into applause.
"You go girl!"
"Good way to deal with a pervert."
Flustered, Ryoga just gave a nervous bow. The girls went on their way, and Ryoga eyed the dazed Kuno suspiciously. Thankfully Kasumi emerged from the shop with a bag to hand Ryoga.
"That's the produce done. The next store is quite a bit larger so you won't have to stay outside," she informed Ryoga while going over her list. It was only after a moment of reading that she raised her eyes and saw his current cursed state. "Oh my. Do you need me to fetch you a kettle?"
"It would probably be best," Ryoga replied with a nasty glare towards Kuno.
"Well don't worry, our next stop should have one."
Kasumi set off once more and Ryoga followed. He had to admit that the bra Akane made him wear was quite comfortable in this form. Still felt very awkward to wear in male form though. It was clearly a little too tight on his proper ribs, but obviously had to be to fit his cursed form.
"It is interesting that your hair changes with your curse," Kasumi mentioned. "Your hair is growing a bit scruffy though. Did you want a haircut?"
"It would be nice. It's getting long enough to be annoying," Ryoga replied as he grabbed a few strands to hold forward and show off the length. "I just... feel funny cutting it myself."
"Mhm. Well, we're here. I shall check for a kettle."
Ryoga nodded and followed Kasumi in. He had been focused on her, and as such was a bit surprised when his eyes landed on the mostly butchered pig behind the counter. He realised very quickly this was a butcher's shop. The cuts of beef, lamb, and other meats didn't both him... but the pigs... his mind couldn't help but flash back to various encounters with kitchens and boiling pots.
Mousse had poked fun at Ryoga's strong reaction... but no one had ever actually tried to cook Mousse (despite Shampoo's threats). Having people actually plan to eat you led to a very different outlook. Add in the time he'd stumbled into a crowd a pigs headed to a slaughterhouse (thanks to that terrible sense of direction of his) and he couldn't handle it. The dead eyes of the pigs on display seemed to be watching him. As if they whispered his time would come.
A sudden maternal hug caught him off guard..
"It's okay," Kasumi whispered in his ear. "You don't need to fear that anymore."
Strain seemed to drain out of him as Kasumi held on.
"I'm so so sorry. I didn't think about how that might affect you," she said, her voice soothing with empathy.
"Oh, Akane," the man behind the counter said, "You look... did P-chan pass away? I know you mentioned he always wanders off."
"I... well, the little piglet isn't coming back. That much is true," Ryoga mumbled.
"Did you want to wait outside again?" Kasumi asked, still gently hugging Ryoga. Maybe he wasn't really her little sister, but he looked the part enough. And he'd just worn a face of pure terror Akane hadn't shown since the nightmares she had at the start of the whole 'Hentai Horde' fiasco.
"No, no. I need to work past it. This will help," Ryoga replied, placing a hand on Kasumi's.
The eldest Tendo girl reluctantly broke the hug. She began placing her order with the butcher, though made a number of glances back at the nervous face of her youngest sister. She decided then and there, Ryoga was a part of the family. Regardless of how anyone else might feel.
Luckily they finished up in the butcher's shop quickly and were on their way for rice. Only when they almost reached the final shop did either realise they'd forgotten to ask for hot water with the butcher.
"Compared to the old curse I can almost forget about this one," Ryoga admitted, more than a little embarrassed. There had been plenty of times where he wandered through the mountains and realised he'd changed, but had no idea how long it had been.
"I suppose a curse as dramatic as your previous one does lend to a flexible sense of self," Kasumi replied.
Ryoga shrugged awkwardly. What could he say? His usually approach was just to not think about it. It made life easier.
Kasumi decided not to press the matter as they went in for rice. As always she ordered an amount that baffled the shopkeeper. One of these days she would invite him to dinner while the Saotomes were present. It had worked with Ito-san at the produce store.
Ryoga was quickly ladened up with the large bags of rice. A process that involved comments of 'what a good little sister Akane is' and such. The tanned doppelganger just mumbled vaguely in response. Maybe he should have gotten that hot water from the butcher...
Ryoga quietly followed Kasumi out the store. She had begun explaining the recipe she was going to make, and for a moment Ryoga wondered why she was giving such thorough instructions on each step. He stopped wondering though as he realised there was quite a bit to learn. He'd never been much of a cook and had been left with the fruits of his ignorance most days. So lessons were appreciated.
"What are you doing?"
It took Ryoga a moment to realise the question was directed at him. He'd been so engrossed in Kasumi's explanations on how to tell when cabbage was properly cooked. Only when his brain realised it was Ranma's voice did he clue in.
"Pardon?" Ryoga asked.
"Walking around like that," the pigtailed boy shot.
"I got splashed alright!?"
"I saw ya walk over here, go in that shop, an' now you're just headin' back to the dojo like everthin's normal."
Ryoga glared back. "Hey, at least I didn't throw on a dress to go confuse one my friends and declare my love for him!"
"Oh my," Kasumi sighed softly.
Ranma had marched into Ryoga's personal space and was glaring down at him. (While desperately trying to ignore how cute Ryoga was looking. Akane was always adorable when she was angry. Add in Ryoga's fangs though, and it was just too cute.)
"Hey! That was a valid distraction technique. I was protecting Akane," Ranma countered. (Man that felt weird to say to Ryoga right now.)
"Oh really? Even the time in the girl's locker room? Or how about the volleyball outfit?" Ryoga shot back. (While quietly telling himself 'don't kiss him... whatever you do'. The fact he was making himself remember past instances where Ranma had confused his feelings was not helping.)
The two just kept glaring until Kasumi cleared her throat.
"Perhaps we can bring the groceries home first... and you boys can spar afterwards?"
There were a couple of reluctant grumbles as the boys fell into following Kasumi. After only a minute or so Ranma grabbed one of the bags of rice off Ryoga.
"Hey!? What's that for?" Ryoga demanded.
"Wouldn't be gentlemanly for me to leave ya carryin' all that when you're all small and girly," Ranma replied, sticking his tongue out.
"I don't need any help," Ryoga fumed.
It took everything Kasumi had not to giggle. Nabiki may have noticed the shifting dynamic first, but Kasumi hadn't been far behind. She was certainly curious where the confused trio were headed... she knew Ryoga also liked Akane, and Ranma seemed just as flustered by Akane as before. So much was going to balance on how her little sister responded. It certainly wouldn't be traditional, but with Ranma 'traditional' was never going to be an option.
They walked in relative silence down the quieter side streets of Nerima on their way back to the dojo. The heat was really starting to get a bit much in Kasumi's opinion, but that was Tokyo. She had thought about purchasing a bicycle more than once. It would mean less time in the heat and have the bonus of cooling you down from the wind one felt while cycling.
*Ring Ring*
She shouldn't have thought of bicycles.
"Nihao Airen!" Shampoo declared as she launched off her bicycle (which somehow she was riding along a fence) and tackled into Ranma. She began rubbing her cheek on his chest while wearing a massive smile. "Shampoo hear you and violent girl have big fight. Airen leave her and move in with Shampoo now? Shampoo treat right."
"Gak," was Ranma's well thought out reply.
"Very manly response there Ranma," Ryoga grumbled. How did Ranma manage to win Akane's heart while acting like that? (Or Ryoga's heart...)
"Violent girl just envious. Afraid to show affection to Airen due to artificial social norms created by Japanese chauvinism. Shampoo not care about that. Shampoo just act."
"I'm not afraid to show my-" Ryoga began... halting himself when he realised what he was about to admit. "Er... I'm not Akane... I don't have any interest in him."
"Not Akane?" Shampoo asked. Instantly she released Ranma and slid over to examine the Akane look alike. Ryoga was too stunned to respond when she pulled his lips apart to look at his teeth. "Oh, fangs. Is lost-boy? But how-Aiyah! Akanenichuan! How Shampoo forget?"
"Yeah, the dolt managed to jump in the wrong spring when he stumbled back to Jusenkyo accidentally," Ranma replied.
Shampoo glanced back and forth between Ranma and Ryoga a few times. Then a smile grew on her face as she leaned towards Ranma again. "Airen look interested. Must think violent girl cute, but know anyone else have better personality... maybe if Shampoo get-"
"Don't you dare," Ranma butted in. His glare hit with a ferocity Ryoga hadn't seen since the fight with Saffron. "Don't even joke about it. The only reason I haven't beaten Ryoga to a pulp for it is because his was accidental."
Shampoo shrank back nervously. That was not a look she was used to from Ranma. Backed nervously against a fence she felt her flight instincts trying to take hold. "Sh-Shampoo remember. Have deliveries. Bye!"
With that she hopped on her bicycle and sped away. Ranma stormed off towards the dojo. Ryoga felt his heart doing something very strange. Had Ranma just revealed secretly being furious at him? Or... had he defended him? Ryoga couldn't tell.