Days later after Sachiko's eight birthday had become a success, the little girl would walk past her parents with a questionable highbrow doubting their confused response about that black piglet. She had found a piece of yellow cloth stuck in one of the ventilation shafts well hidden from view at the time, and a slew of long lost memories began to fill gaps she didn't know they existed.
When the little girl touched the bandanna for the first time, a surge of Chi coursed in her body, reminding the girl someone else was missing in her life, someone dear to her whether she could remember or not, but lost from her grasp for some unknown reason anyway. Oddly enough, the first impression came in a form of a tiny black animal instead of a human being. At first she believed to be a rat, but the size and the attraction towards the animal was much more closely than a store bought rodent, in fact. . .When she focused on the strange connection barely able to register between the two, the first word coming into her mind was "P-Chan"
"I swear Ranma!. . .From all the crazy ideas you have come up with, this has got to be the worse." Reproached Akane Tendo, proud woman and matriarch to the Saotome house as she paced from side to side in her spacious living room, raking her brain in search of a solution from the biggest blunder her husband has done so far.
"B-But 'kane!. . .She's just too little. I'm sure she'll forget 'bout "that" before you know it an' everything will be back to normal. . ." Defended the man of the house after lying to his first born a week earlier. It was Sachiko's happiest day. . .Her birthday, and from all the guests attending in the house and the giant cake adorned with pink frosting the way she loved, the birthday girl had walked down from the stairs holding what it looked like an old piece of cloth.
"M-Mom. . .Who's P-Chan?" She asked. Ranma and Akane went immediately into panic mode, staring at each other and hoping to come up with the perfect lie while Nodoka, the Robinsons and close friends wondered what was wrong with their faces.
"Sachi. . .C'mon!. . .The cake is ready an' is time ta blow the candles!" Invited distractedly the pigtailed father but to no avail when the girl ran at her mother's side instead. Her big blue eyes were the exact replica from her father and grandmother's, but those fangs. . .She always wondered who did they belong to, and although the answer never popped in her mind, her mother always had a way with words.
"Don't worry honey. . .P-Chan is a dear friend of mine. If you want, I'll show you a picture and we can talk about him after the party is over." As her mother calmed that strange link floating within her worried head, Sachiko found her words soothing. . .Just like every other time she resolved so many doubts in her little eight year old brain.
The party went ahead as scheduled, giving Sachiko the time to enjoy the fabulous cake Kasumi baked, and having a blast with the crazy games her father could come up with from such short notice. When most children began to leave with their parents, the house began to empty itself into that old home filled with memories and the cozy heat from a small family getting a second wind to the festivity. That's when the weird stumpy clown with red hair and a big chest jumped all over the place trying to keep the little birthday girl occupied.
"It's so nice to be eight. . .Ain't it little girl!?" Asked the tiny clown with a squeeze of her red nose and that squeak of a voice Carl and Miko found too hilarious to ignore. "I bet you would like another big, piece of cake an' who knows!. . .A parfait?. . .Yum!. . .How do I love parfaits!" Kept screeching the very feminine looking clown, forcing Sachiko's smile to widen even more.
"That's right!. . .It's so good ta be this happy!. Let's just forget 'bout that 'ole piglet an' let's have us some fun!" Repeated the funny looking jester. "P-Chan is nothin' more than a pork chop of a pig mommy got from the pet store a long, long time ago. . .Let's all go get us some cake an' have a blast!" Finished rather abruptly Ranma after watching the food being served and letting her stomach speak for herself.
In a matter of seconds the stumpy fake entertainer jumped from couch to frame, and to the table, setting herself on a chair and passing the different plates around while taking her ridiculous disguise off. Sachiko knew who she was. . .In fact, her father had used that redheaded form on the past unknowingly, specially when he would focus on his training and the curse would manifest itself. The little girl found the white painted face and big bulbous nose over the top though, which must be the real reason why she dressed like that in the first place, but looking every time at a female type his father transformed into caused the little girl to recall that old phobia she had over that image, forcing her steps to back off scared and search for the reassuring arms from her mother.
"M-Mom!. . ." Screamed fearfully the little girl after seeing not the clown, but the normal looking redhead by the table. Ranma managed to see this as well, and just like previous times, the pigtailed girl would leave everything she was doing aside with the goal to aid his daughter. "Oh Sachi. . .C'mon baby. . .it's really me!" Excused the still young girl to a fleeing kid.
"I see she doesn't trust you like other times Ranma. . .It may be caused by, um. . .You know." Attested Carl as he watched Ranma splashing herself with hot tea over her head in a rush. "You don' have ta tell me twice man. . .Ever since she turned five Sachiko can' see me as a girl. . .I don' know why though. . ." Replied the young father while dismissing that other person involved in the conversation.
The Robinson's and Nodoka herself tried to cheer the now male Ranma from his slumped demeanor, finding his depression an affront against the happy day and a step back from the close relationship they had four or five six years ago. "Maybe she's outgrowing you. . .Or." The last part forced Ranma to look in Carl's way, waiting to see what was the other side from that sentence going to be. "Or maybe. . .You are denying yourself. . ."
Ranma bared his teeth in anger, not against his friend, but to himself because Carl had a point. After Sachiko began to think more maturely despite her early years, the dreaded sensation the pigtailed fighter had to be seen as a girl greatly cramped his mind, wrapping the man into a bubble of misconception and distrust over his male gender role as a father.
"I know what you mean man, but it ain' like I'm betrayin' her. I love Sachiko. . .Hell, she "is" my daughter in more than one way. There's no way I would reject her by tryin' ta be the real me!?" His chest heaved up and down, demonstrating to his loved ones he really tried to understand the problem except, the problem itself started to evade him despite his efforts.
That's when it happened again. The family talked him out from his depressive state by the time Akane walked from the kitchen and into the living room carrying her first daughter on her arms. That's when Ranma would smile, tried to reach for the girl and receive the biggest rejection of the night. Her little girl turned around and away from him, hugging her mother by the neck and begging her to take her away.
"B-But why!. . .What have I done this time ta. . ." Ranma wanted to complain at the rejection, but the higher pitch of a voice told the confused male fighter and close relatives his alter ego was back on the wheel. Carl, Miko and Nodoka saw how the transformation happened like usual, needing no cold water to be activated and forcing Sachiko to stay away from her dad. Ranma seethed on her seat for just one second, damning all hells because of this curse and deciding to walk into the garden instead as a way to let his daughter calm down.
Once back from the bitter flashback, a sternly looking man paced from the living room towards the garden again, contemplating a giant man by the Dojo's door training the group of teens the Saotomes trained in the mornings. Carl had moved with Ranma after they made the house into a real school last year, and by living together, The Robinsons and the Saotomes were able to afford a better living altogether. The enormous redheaded man managed to learn the basics from the "Indiscriminate grappling" techniques Ranma turned the school into, and now the powerful loader taught the early morning classes while the pigtailed master would teach the late sessions.
At this point, Akane had followed him as well, forgetting her prior demanding question and hugging his arm tightly. "All I'm saying is that we should sit with her and explain Sachi who P-Chan really is. . .She might understand a little more about Ryoga and who knows. . .We could even. . ." She was suddenly cut off from finishing that sentence by Ranma's extended arm though.
"An' tell her what!?. . .That Ryoga is her real mother an' I betrayed her at birth?. Should we tell "my" daughter I am such a failure because I let my closest friend being caught and taken away from us?. . .No 'kane. . .I." He wanted to be strong for his family, but failure after failure were slowly taking down that pride he took so long to build on his own into the measly depressive state he had now. Not the arrogance his father inculcated him in, but the real pride to have a family of his own and the one helping see who were really his friends.
"No Akane. . .I need ta hide Ryoga from my daughter until I can find a way ta explain my shortcomings. . .Only then, I could feel whole an' hopefully by then Ryoga could be with us." It was wishful thinking alright, but both Akane and Ranma had friends and family capable to help achieve that unreachable goal. When he saw Carl teach in the distance, a memory from a certain green-eyed teen ruling their lives helped him understand he would need the courage only Ryoga Hibiki could hold true to grasp that goal.
"I'm sure she's fine Ranma. . .I only wish Sachiko could know who does that connection she feels belongs to. I'm not really sure why she doesn't remember Ryoga, but I have thought about it for some time and I think is time I do something about it." Being said that, the youngest Tendo unlatched her hands from Ranma's strong arm despite her husband's determined choice, walking away from the pigtailed man and into the kitchen where the phone line resided.
Curious by the sudden reaction, the pigtailed fighter followed her behind, staying by the frame between rooms while listening to the conversation. "Hello?. . .Yes, this is Akane Tendo. . .Yes. . .I'll wait. . ." The beautiful mature mother innocently playing with the telephone cord left Ranma wondering where was that stubborn tomboy striking him into space with a materialized mallet, but then again. . .Watching more closely into those beautiful eyes would remind him she was there. . .Hiding among years of motherly instincts and repressed femininity.
Her now more slender frame and bigger bust would make him sigh romantically at every turn, and she knew of this because she would blush by the simple gesture every single time the young fighter was caught making between glimpses. "Yes. . .Hi!. It's me Mi-chan. . .How are you!?" Midori Endo, thought the pigtailed master. . .An old friend of the family and the one woman turning the other love of his life into a real girl.
Her name alone brought so many memories Ranma thrust deep within his mind. . .Memories about a fanged boy he considered his only rival and best friend, that is until he became a she, and the other most important love he persecuted for a long time. It saddened him when things turned out badly after some idiots kidnapped Ryoga, but the fresh picture of her lips accompanied by Ryoga's medium skin tone would always keep the man missing her the most.
"Yes. . .Incredible!. . .I would be honored. Ok. . .We'll be waiting. . ." As she said this, the Saotome new matriarch hanged the phone on the table, watching her husband hold that old twinkle in the corner of his eyes by the mental picture of a certain someone looming again in his mind. "Stop thinking about Ryoga so much or I'll get jealous!" Chided with a pouting face his wife.
Ranma snapped immediately from his trance, shaking vigorously his head, coming back into reality and recalling a certain perverted look AKane had the last time they met. "Oh, don' give me that 'kane. . .I have seen you pinnin' over her sometimes when you stare into the window. . ." Claimed the fighter to a flustered looking mother.
"I-I was not. . ." Akane tried to defend herself like old times, but why hide from her feelings which weren't forbidden any longer. "Well. . .I might. But if I recall correctly, you were the one able to make out with her, and I. . ." Her blush increased even more now, specially when Ranma's vengeful smile made her words so daring to express openly, undermining her regular stoic demeanor.
"Yeah. . .You weren' able ta make out with her." Rebutted the man. "But I knew you wanted. I still remember that moment like if it was yesterday when she returned from Itabashi city and you lunged at her. It was so amazingly weird how close you got ta her face that I could swear you were 'bout ta kiss Ryoga in front of everyone. . ." By now Akane was blushing furiously by the memory, her ears bright red and hot while her nose displayed a pink blurry line across.
"I. . .I almost did ok!?. . .I let myself lose that time and was really close to do it Ranma, but you should see how incredible she is. . .The way she moves and. . .A-And the determination in her eyes. It's almost like. . ." She wanted to finish that sentence with her own feelings for the fanged girl she grew to love, but Ranma interfered with her declaration, admitting he had the same feeling in mind.
"Like she wanted you to kiss her. . ." Akane's eyes gaped at the mutual conclusion, accepting how Ranma saw that green-eyed girl long ago in the same light she did. "Yeah. . ." Assented the young mother with her husband. "I really miss her. . ." Added last with a sigh the young mother before going back to business. "Anyway. . ."
Akane took Ranma's arm once again, leading him into the living room while she talked about a future arrangement the family was about to set up. "So. . .Mi-chan and Kenji are coming for a few weeks to Nerima. They will stay on the guest room and while Kenji-san get along with the school and you guys, I need to work with Midori and Sachiko."
Ranma blinked several times trying to understand the sudden visit from old acquaintances, not so much bothered from their actual presence though. . .What troubled him the most was the vast amount of knowledge Midori has over children's minds and the way she was about to mess with the past the pigtailed master worked so hard to hide from his daughter.
"Um. . .'kane. Don' tell me you want Midori ta try an' fish out whatever keeps Sachiko away from me when transformed, are you?" As he asked, the young mother bobbed worriedly over his simpler assumptions. It had been like this for almost three years, tearing apart the close relationship Ranma had with her biological daughter and turning their happy connection as blood related slowly down from each other.
"Ranma. . .D-Don't you miss being a mom?. I mean. . .I enjoy watching you play with Sachiko so much when together. Your laughter. . .That contagious look of happiness during her bathing time always kept me wondering how amazing you were as a girl, and after I saw Ryoga transform into a beautiful woman and a mother herself, it made me think that I could become just as motherly like. . ."
A sparkling tear swelled in the corner of her eye from that simple remark, telling Ranma what really changed Akane over the years wasn't so much her will, but something beyond her grasp. It may had been her desire to become a wife and a mother after they became close, but even when the honeymoon meant a full on fight over who should be on top, the young girl with raven hued hair began to mellow down when the wish for a better self image met a complete transformation to be a wife and adoring mother instead.
"I admit many flaws forced me to become a better person. I had to control my temper, understand your curse and how affected this family, but most of all. . ." Her face turned pale this time, thanks to the confession sculpting Akane into a real woman for her husband sake, and according to her focus on the matter. She had never been this open with him either, so, being honest up front for the first time made the young mother's union with her spouse a lot more meaningful, or so she wanted to believe.
"I wanted to learn to be a woman Ranma. . .I wanted to be beautifully sophisticated like Ryoga became over Sachiko's baby years, and yet I wanted to be spontaneously feminine like you." Akane moved closer to her man, resting her head over the shoulder while her confession lasted just a bit longer.
"I was so tired to be the tomboyish girl everyone feared. And when I saw how much you two changed from the pressures of life, I too accepted something had to be done for me to become a new woman." They reminisced about those times enjoying life at the side of a serious looking Ryoga-chan, understanding they were meant to be whole despite most people seeing a love relationship between three souls disgusting.
"That's why it upset me so much when you lied to your little girl. R-Ranma. . .What happened to that link?. . .I. . .I can still remember how excited you shouted that night in Tokyo. You grabbed me by the arm and declared triumphal to every stranger in that cafeteria how you were able to feel that connection with your daughter the moment you were at your lowest. . .Is perhaps your pride rebuilding itself again?"
Hearing that word so loudly for the first time helped him realize that question still lingered in his mind for some time. Maybe the joy to be a father and a renown martial arts master revived that old pitiful sensation back to life, severing the most powerful link he acknowledged over his need to be praised and respected as a hero, and as his thoughts betrayed the love for his daughter as a biologic mother, the pigtailed man could do nothing more but to accept her theory.
"I-I don' know 'kane. . .I may have. . ." It was painful to accept such terrible tragedy after the length it took for Ranma to identify himself as a girl. He let go of stupid prejudices the second Sachiko and her accepted themselves as mother and daughter. Ranma learned over the years to anticipate her times of need, when to use that canned breather during her asthma attacks and how to react when the poor little girl would be affected by allergies.
Ranma might had not suffered Sachiko's after birth months like Ryoga did, but to become a mother in a matter of days, he was forced to sacrifice everything. . .Even the very male pride he worked so hard to achieve all his life, emasculating the gender he was born with. "I tried ta keep up Akane. . .I tried ta practice every teaching Ryoga showed me, but I felt like my real self slowly degraded away. . .Like if I was loosin' who I really was in the process."
"So, yes. . .I guess my old pride raised from the ashes an' my fear ta be seen as a pampering girl made me shy away from everything I learned that day." When Ranma declared the rather embarrassing truth about his past, Akane realized that was the main reason Sachiko disconnected from everyone not living close to the girl. "That must be why she's scared of you then. . .Your daughter wants nothing with an illusion that treats her like a ghost. . ."
They knew the origin now, but how to fix it was an issue they were unable to solve on their own. "I hope Midori can find a solution to this Ranma. . .I want my family together and as soon as Ryoga gets released, I want to see how amazing you are with Sachiko not only as a father, but a mother she worked so hard to fight for. . .Just like I have." Akane pecked her husband on the cheek, leaving him alone for the time being and getting ready to wake little Ranma Jr. and Ryoga-chin from their mid-day nap.
"Mom. . .Have you seen Sachiko?" Asked the young mother to her mom-in-law, wondering if she could have that talk she promised a week ago with her daughter about P-chan. "Oh, well daughter. She is standing right in the same place she always does when worried. . .Staring at her little brothers every single day dear. . .The only place reminding her about that certain someone not in sync with those two. . ." Nodoka went on to the kitchen for the preparation of supper next, leaving a bewildered Akane walk upstairs and towards the children's room.
At the silent creak of a door barely opening, the young blue haired woman stared at a tiny shadow looming over the two child sized beds. It was her oldest daughter and the wisest of the three. It had been several weeks since she became like this, watching over her younger siblings and questioning why didn't they had fangs as big as hers.
Akane walked quietly into the darkened bedroom this time, grabbing tenderly at her daughter from the shoulder and, while asking to follow her outside, Akane led the little girl without causing the two boys to wake up. Once outside by the stairs, the little girl couldn't take it anymore, lunging at her mother's apron and grasping the white cloth for dear life, tears threatening to spill under pressure.
"M-Mom. . .Why am I different?. . .I-I have red hair and blue eyes like dad, but these fangs. . .No one in the family have these. . .Things. . ." Demanded to know Sachiko while showing her protruding canines with an ugly face. "Oh dear. . ." Exclaimed the much older woman, hugging her little girl and trying to come up with the truth without hurting her or Ranma in the process.
"I promised you a real story about my little friend named P-Chan didn't I?" When the eight year old bobbed puzzled, her mother whispered in her ear the place and time would be this very day. "Let me wake your brothers up before they miss the day and get restless at bedtime. . .Afterwards, I will meet you there in an hour. . ." Said Akane while her pointing finger aimed for the pond. Sachiko always found peace in her words, negating those memories of a younger Akane fighting for no reason with her dad and learning to barely boil water before she could even cook simple ramen.
"Yes mom. . .I will be waiting. . ." Replied enthusiastically the little kid as she left across the rest of the stairs with care. Ranma did manage to see her daughter easily pace through the living room and the main door, walking all the way to the old pond and waiting patiently for someone to meet her there. "Don't worry Ranma. . .I will leave you out of this for now. But sooner or later she needs to know who Ranko really is and how important that so called illusion really is in her life." As she said this, Akane went back upstairs ready to wake the perfect storm her two little demons were when wide awake.
Still by the door, the young fighter stood quietly looking at the tiny girl dancing around the body of water. It could be so easy for the master of the school to go back and pretend to be a mother, taking such daunting chores as to breastfeed, change diapers and cook tender vegetables which never represented a problem to the girl in him, specially when thinking how in most families these days, unemployed fathers tend to do that as well without feeling demeaned. . .Hell! it shouldn't even be unmanly, thought Ranma.
"But I was a real girl in those situations. . ." Admitted bitterly the man. A father could instinctively act like a mother with the goal to raise his children, but thinking like a man and living inside a woman's body quickly brought so many emotions Ranma hated the first second they appeared. For starters, he loves his wife like there is no other woman in the world. . .Well, except for Ryoga whose feelings equals with his wife's.
But how about that strange attraction he feels as a she when a disrobed Carl would meet her on the garden to practice. Why does his redheaded side has to stare at his muscles, to tremble at how close the man acts around herself, and above all. . .Why does he make her squirm when Carl locks the girl in a move she herself came up with in the first place.
"Hey!. . .Ready for supper!?" Asked Carl with a surprising poke in Ranma's ribs, drying the sweat from his face and dismissing the young students from class. EEP!. . .Was all the reaction the pigtailed father could summon by surprise, releasing a rather feminine and wimpy tone during the sudden touch no less, and transforming him into that tiny girl without even touching cold water. "Oh. . .Damn. . ." Bit Ranma angrily.
The girl started to turn around slowly and shakily at first, throwing the biggest and dumbest of smiles at him while scratching the back of her neck and hoping her embarrassing face could hide the other signs pointing out of her chest. "Yeah!. . .Supper it's almost done!" Replied stupidly the redhead. Carl had noticed her behavior as a girl, and he meant to talk about it, but how. . .How to ask a prideful man if he was attracted to him, not too easy to ask, thought the ex-loader and much more difficult when her body spoke volumes with that excited display.
"Y-Yeah. . .Um. . .See you inside then man. . ." Carl sighed relieved when the redheaded woman laughed uncontrollably, giving them the chance to let that awkward moment pass, which in return let Ranma sigh as well when he left first, alleviated the peck glistened musclebound instructor was already too far away from her. "M-Man. . .I need ta know what ta do in these situations. . ."
Ranma found no other option but to follow him behind, at a certain distance of course. As she started for the door though, a tiny set of hands stopped her from advancing, keeping the girl in place and forcing her to see her first daughter staring at her puzzled. It was incredible. . .Sachiko stood there, in front of the redhead. . .Mother and daughter together for the first time in years, prompting the elder girl to talk directly at her.
"H-Hey S-Sachi. . .What's goin' on?" Inquired a bit dryly the woman with a shaken hand on the air, and afraid to scare her away but it didn't happen though. Sachiko faced that redheaded mirror image of herself long enough to bow respectfully at her, holding tightly that yellow bandanna in her grasping fist and using it like some sort of safety blanket.
"D-Dad. . .?" Stuttered the girl. When she did so, a surge of power ran through the elder's body, reinforcing she was a man, and whatever sensations the pigtailed mother had over that other man meant nothing more than a fluke of sorts. "Y-Yes honey. . .What's up!?"
Sachiko felt a bit of an awkward emotion when talking to her father like this, but Ranma saw how she would look between the bandanna and the red shirt grasping her tiny hand, as if she consulted with the inanimate object like if it was a human being. "I-I. . .I wanted to know if. . ." Her stuttering still getting the best of the little girl caused Ranma to crouch at her level, not that they were too far apart from each other to begin with, but a simple bending knee let both girls talk on the same height. "Yes kiddo. . .How can daddy help you?"
This time Sachiko frowned angrily at her own fear, turning her eyes towards the woman and asking her why she felt this way. "I-I wanted to call you mommy. . .B-But, you don't like to be called that, right dad?" Ranma wanted to fraternize with her. . .To tell her it was ok, but there was more Sachiko wanted to say so, she waited. "It feels weird to me too, but a thumping sound tells me to call you mom. . .Why dad?" As she said this, her little fingers released the Chinese silked shirt Sachiko grasped so tightly before, resting her pointing hand a second later over her own chest, clearly heaving nervously from the question.
Ranma herself had no idea how to address that question, compelling her mind to convince herself, this was a natural thing to do. "Why am I resisting. . .She came from within me. I should be embracin' my child an' explain her how lucky she is to be born from me an' Ryoga. . ." Her eyes answered that question in seconds, but her lips never opened to answer what Ranma's heart screamed to the four winds. She needed help to deal with this rather easy problem and yet, impossible to solve on her own. . .After a second too long, Ranma accepted she wasn't ready to attend such questions, leaving the redhead with the only option to flicker her eyes between the little girl and the kitchen window in hope to see his wife peek into the garden and solve this dilemma.
"Um, honey. . .It's not that I don' like it. . .Y-You see. . .I. . .I-I was the one who. . .Um, how to put this. . .I was the one who gave birth to. . ." Ranma couldn't take it any longer, closing her eyes and blurting the truth was the best way she could find to confess, that is until the mother in the house called everyone for supper. "Ranma!. . .Food is on the table. . .Hurry!" Screamed Akane from the door.
"Go dad. . .I can talk to mom about this later. . .Besides. . ." The elder redhead saw a more mature Sachiko than what she could ever been at the same age. She regained her composure, stared happily at the girl who let her go without making a bigger mess of the situation, and thanking the little girl internally for her unconditional love with silent words. What kept Ranma from moving a second later, was the reason why she let him go the precise moment she was about to give in.
"Honey. . .When you say "A thumping sound" tells you ta call me mom, you mean yer little heart. . .Don' you?" Asked the woman quizzically. The little girl smiled with her eyes closed, sign of a really happy kid who for some time found many questions unanswered up until now longer threatening for some strange reason. "No dad. . .Not here." Corrected the child with a finger pointing at her chest. "Here. . ." Said once again, pointing at the exact same spot.
Ranma's brows jumped this time a bit higher, trying to understand what was the difference between the two points. Sachiko sighed sternly this time, rolling her eyes in defeat and pointing at the two same spots, but with their precise description this time. "This is my heart, dad. . .And this is P-Chan. He tells me to try and call you mom, and that you should not forget him. . ."
This time a smile tugged in the redhead's face. She knew now who was helping her daughter become more acquainted with her as a biological mother, and that was something she could work with. "P-Chan, eh?. . .Please honey. . .Tell P-chan I'm doin' my best, but I promise ta do better. . ."
"He knows that dad" Responded this time the little girl as-a-matter-of-factly at the same time she slowly dragged her feet away from the redheaded mother in a backwards fashion. That sudden distance between the two grabbed Ranma's attention, dropping one furrowed brow this time and asking why was she sliding away. Funny thing is that Sachiko didn't need to answer that. Not two seconds passed after she moved into a safe spot when two unstoppable forces burst out of the house in direct approach to the redhead.
"Dad is a girl!. . .Yay!" Screamed in unison both Ranma Jr. and little Ryoga, taking anything in their path aside and shoving all three into the pond from the speed they had picked. Sachiko found the picture too amusing, laughing goodheartedly at the scene, specially when Jr. had a thing for Ranma's enormous breasts.
"Jr. . .Stop grabbing me there!" Shouted the desperate girl trying to unlatch her son from both her groped assets and running all over the garden at the same time. "When you think we get rid of a pervert after Happi left, another gets to arrive with the same taste. . ." Announced Akane with a pot on her hands and checking what was going on with all the ruckus outside.
Miko, Nodoka and youngest Tendo went back into the kitchen, forgetting the outburst by the pond and as they readied all the different platters for the family to enjoy, the young Robinson wife was the one peeking into the window this time.
"Ranma-san. . .Please bring my husband with you ok?" Asked nicely the girl. "W-Will do!. . .Right after I take these two into the bedroom an' dry them from my second bath of the day." Still, saying and doing were two completely different things Ranma found trouble doing though.
Little Ryoga usually wasn't this wild, but being riled up by his older brother always made the desired effect by turning the youngest Saotome into an unstoppable wrecking ball. "Ok you two. . .Let's go change an' have us some nice grub. . ." Ordered the girl while grabbing her youngest son under her armpit, but unable to unlatch the other pest from slapping her chest like a pair of bongos. "Stop it Jr. . .It hurts like hell!" Said last before rushing into the house.
A minute later, two dried out boys ran at the table while the pigtailed father jumped off the window upstairs and asked his wife where did Carl had been seen last. "He walked towards the shed between the Dojo and the house Ranma. . .He must be after our old things." Reported Akane after the interest the ex-loader had over ancient paraphernalia gathering dust in that tiny room.
Ranma sprinted towards that hidden place, wondering why would Carl be so interested in that stuff until he met him walking back with a box filled with shiny objects. "My trophies?. . .Why would you want those old things man?" Asked the confused father at his friend.
The redheaded instructor tilted his head sideways, wondering if the effect he confided in Ranma's other form transpired into his male side as well. His silent pause avoiding his question did grow in the pigtailed fighter's nerves, finding his intently stare too pressing and cmpelling him to turn his eyes towards the grass instead. "W-What are you doin'. . .?" Asked the Saotome patriarch once that attraction began to jump genders.
"Um, Ranma. . .Do you feel attracted to me even when you're a guy?" Asked innocently the man. "Wha!. . .I ain't attracted ta. . .Sheesh, you really think I would like another guy just like that!?" Replied questioningly the pigtailed master, stuttering nervously when a blush across his face called out his bluff and made him look so bad in front of another guy.
"Listen Ranma. . .I am flattered when you look at me this way, and believe me. . .I have no desire to make you uncomfortable in your own house, but I need you to know I respect you and you don't need to feel threatened when this happens." The man patted his Sensei on the back, leading him into the house when the food scent became unbearably enticing.
"I know this problem with the curse manifesting itself is something beyond your power to control it, and I'm sure all those hormones raging from gender to gender must leave you very confused, that's why I could never even think of you "that way". . ." Said the man with a convincing tone.
That was a very nice thing to say, relieving Ranma immensely from a probable misunderstanding between them and maybe even their wives. Still, that tiny sentiment slowly growing into his new self began to show itself, prompting the Saotome master to ask with hurting pride, why would he reject his uncontrolled attraction. It wasn't that he really felt attracted to him though, but pride was a powerful emotion the young master always found hard to keep down.
"Um. . .So." Broke the silence next Ranma, winning the estranged looks from his companion. "H-How come you feel ok to like Ryoga, but not me. . .We have the same curse, you know?" That compelling argument carved a smile into the taller man. He knew Ranma's weakness was his pride, but to put himself in harm's way like that was something too stupid to do, even for his misguided standards.
"Sorry Sensei, but there is a big difference between the two of you." As he said this, the pigtailed fighter stopped him from advancing any further, holding him back by grabbing his arm and looking into his blue eyes in confusion. Carl found his questioning looks in need to be addressed despite the harm his point of view could make to their own marriage.
"You are a man through and through Ranma. . .You feel the need to voice that no matter what gender you're on, but Ryoga. . .I'll always call her a girl because she opted to be a real feminine gendered woman during her life as a mother. When I met her, I never saw a boy struggling between identities like you do. I saw Sakura-chan, but no Ryoga in her eyes." At this point he restarted towards the house, continuing to describe how he saw the other girl of his dreams totally different from how Ranma acts as a female.
"She didn't act as a girl, but lived as a woman. . .That's why I liked her so much. . ." Ended the man right before entering the house and setting the box on the table by the living room. Ranma stood almost petrified by the entrance though. He felt so confused by this sentiment clashing against his pride as a man. "Ranma!. . .Your food is getting cold. . .Come to the table this instant Mr.!"
After a last call from his wife, Ranma snapped into reality, rushing into the table and eating while staring angrily at Carl. The other man laughed internally by his master's shenanigans, shrugging his shoulders after realizing his preference hurt his ego a ton, but never bothering him that much to feel bad for his misguided teacher.
"Carl-san. . .Why did you bring that trash from the shed?" Wondered Akane this time, hoping to know if they should be thrown away or if he wanted to admire old memories from the family. "Actually Akane-san, I have researched other Dojo halls around town, and it seems like they use these same trophies to boost trust into the students and foreign people investigating their disciplines."
"We won't lie to those interested in the Anything goes style if we use them, and by reinforcing their opinion over Ranma's real teachings, the trophies work as milestones on his trajectory over mastering the art." It sounded amazing for the Saotome couple, finding their misconception from such objects hard to explain why they were hidden all this time.
"That's incredible Carl-san. . .I always thought those pieces of metal and wood were going to corrupt my husband's ego, but if it works to empower the Dojo, then it was lucky for me to keep them." All the family began to dust those golden medals set on frames. . .Long statues erected with peace olive branches high into the sky and thick glass pyramids shaped to recognize his efforts.
"I can't believe it Ranma." Said Carl while holding five impressive golden medals on his hands. "You actually competed in the male "and" female side from the local Olympic games?. . .Man!. . .You should be getting ready for the next Olympic matches and being adored by millions. . ." The dreamy idea did set Ranma's ego high enough for all to see the second those shiny enormous coins reflected the light from the ceiling lamp. Akane rolled her eyes from the state her husband achieved in a matter of seconds, frowning at Carl for encouraging him into godhood all over again.
"See what I mean Carl-san?. . .Ranma still lives those days like if they were to comeback and the one who suffers the most is his bruised ego." Akane explained to the Robinsons the "over the top" records Ranma obtained during his brief time in college, breaking the slimmest of times and outreaching the longest of achievements harshly obtained from more humanly bound athletes.
"He reached new heights during those months and even I believed he would make a career out of those official practices. . .A sports sponsor saw his potential whether as a girl or a boy and I knew Ranma was on his way to become a star." Both the Saotomes then looked at the floor, feeling the heavy burden to have given up a dream come true after a certain someone was kidnapped and taken away from their mutual love.
"I could have done so much. . ." Remembered the pigtailed master, but at the same time his eyes gleamed with hope just like the ones his wife's had as well. "But you know who was taken away an' I just felt like comin' home. . ." That was the time when Ryoga was kidnapped, agreed Carl and Miko, admitting that would have to be a strong enough conviction pushing them away from that future.
"I-I see. . .I'm sorry for making you go through all that again. . ." Apologized Carl honestly. The moment stayed the rest of the day in their minds, but setting those old trophies strategically based in the centered wall, a few feet away from the main mat helped display some of the happiest times the Saotomes had over the years.
Same time, different location. . .
Far from happy families and birthday parties a shadow lurked across the farthest land north from China. It was a vast territory where the stronger survives while the weak is killed and eaten. In the center from such majestic territory, a kingdom composed mostly by ferocious warriors watched over their domain for an ill attempt to claim treasured possessions.
"Alarm!". . .Shouted one of the sentinels guarding the main vault when the lock from its gates had been breached. The place was used as part of an elite slew of weapons and magical items with specific properties, most of them could help bring down such powerful empire if given to the wrong hands.
"Patrol!. . .Can you identify the origin from the theft?" Asked one of the closest guards to the throne. "No Sir. . .There are no intruders registered by the patrolling units, but the vault's main doors, although sealed, they showed signs to be tempered with."
Upon closer inspection, the elite guard arrived to the same conclusion, finding the point of entrance the tiny sliver of a space between the door and the ground. "Impossible! There is no rodent in this land capable to pry between the doors and the floor. . ."
But the man with the golden armor cared nothing for excuses, but results. He immediately went after that old geezer working for the court and the one advisor so experienced in the occult, no magic could hide from him. As he reached the dark and damped cave, signs of struggle and the idiotic babble from the wizard laying on the floor told the warrior whoever stepped into their domain had begun from this place first.
Upon further inspection, the leftover materialized energy used as a way to neutralize the master of alchemy and spells still oozed on the ground. It was strange looking and it reeked from the negative feelings the old fool may have thought at the moment of the assault.
Besides the proof from the fight, the scent it left behind was a strong aroma coming from some sort of sweet fruit which he recognized almost instantly. It was something he had smelled before but why would that scent be here?. The tall gladiator searched everywhere in the hovel, finding only that slab of dark viscous matter and realizing whoever was here wanted something specific from the scattered scrolls.
"Sir!" Announced one of the patrolmen, bowing only his head as a sign of respect and reporting what had been missing. "We did a recount of all the pieces guarded there. . .Only the ladle we use to choose our wives has been taken.
It was obvious now who had been the culprit all along. Bee Balm, one of the strongest allies Prince Herb has to assist him for the throne decided to leave the rest in the patrol's hands. The corpulent man took his trusty double knuckle gloves matching his ability to punch through walls like if they were made of paper, and paced away from the armory with one thought in mind.
"Clove. . .Go to king Parsley and report. Tell our future king as well that the ambassador "that brat" sent was really a spy studying our defenses and stealing the ladle when our emperor refused to share. . .As of now, I'm in pursuit of the thief. . ." The enormous fighter left the patrol behind, walking out of the city and following what he felt it was the right traces left by that same smeared matter on the ground.
Same place, a few hours later. . .
It had been so easy to act as an ambassador when both parts from his transformation were primate in origin. His eloquent use of words combined with his talent to adorn such fools with facts of grandeur inflated their egos so much, even the king smiled at his attempt to request such important artifact.
"Absolutely not!. . .The dragon's ladle is an important part of our heritage and it's not a toy for the benefit of others. . ." Mimicked tiredly the tiny shadow of a man displacing incredibly fast across the forest. He tried to be as humanly possible as his nature allowed him to be, but to convey with the whim of a foolish king was an endeavor he had no time to concede.
"The only reason the world knows of the ladle and the dragon's kettle is because of my stupid son wanted his self back, but thanks to that human humiliating him further, I decided to stop all ties with other nations. . .Go!. . .And tell your master there will be no leeway from me. . ." The increasingly offensive speech from Kings Parsley still vibrated in the thief's mind, forcing a snarling growl and pressing his advancing flight towards his own land, nauseous to be on this forsaken land any longer.
Although that shadowy stain moving across rocks and trees freely had a serious advantage from the theft, Bee is a tough warrior tempered with the fight against powerful beasts, not to mention the bloodline giving birth to one of the greatest protectors in the Musk dynasty.
His father, a strong man like himself had crossed his life with a female lion tamed and transformed into his mother, and by that definition, the most powerful creature in the feline kingdom became a proud fighter herself, teaching and donning her young human cub with all manner of tricks and techniques.
"That thing is close. . ." Assured the man who caught up to the thief in minutes. It didn't matter if the sinner could run or fly, his heightened sense of smell combined with an uncanny ability to visualize tracks on the surrounding area made him the perfect hunter, and by the time that small shadow reached the beach, Bee already pounced from a safe distance over his target.
"You are mine!" Shouted exactly at the same time his powerful golden fist made contact with the black stain. It did its work instantly, pushing the thief from his hiding shadow and expunging him into the land. "D-Damn it!. . ." Was all he could say when the primate fighter rolled several feet through the rocky surface by the punch, avoiding its full damaging effect but forcing him out of his technique.
"You damn animal!. . .I tried the nice way and you shot me down. . .Let me do as my master commands and I will personally give this to your king." Tried the much smaller humanoid to resolve this without a serious fight.
"I am sorry puny thief, but my kind has decreed an order for a reason. Flee if you like, but you will die today and your head will be delivered to my king along the ladle. . ." As Bee said this, his powerful fists did the talk next, pouncing once again against his common target while displacing all around the sandy beaches in that peculiar way feline hunters do when poaching for food.
The primate tried to go back into his safely dimensional pocket, but even when he summoned the dark hole able to hide him from him, a simple yet powerful swipe from Bee would slash the guy out of his trick and would send him tumbling again into the land. "Damn it. . .I don't have time for this!. . .My home is disembarking as we speak. . ." The somewhat agile man did his next best move, veering in mid air as he reached for the highest trees and launching his secret move while swinging skillfully from every separate tree branch.
"Shadow fall!" Shouted the jumping fighter, leaving behind a massive cloud of dark matter seeking the warrior left on the ground. Bee knew of this move as part of a good strategist's ability to protect his kingdom so, the moment Sarutoru stepped into the palace, Bee was able to sniff and dissect every attack the man had practiced recently.
It wasn't a sure shot either though. . .It was more like a preemptive sense to understand his opponent before actually fighting him. The cloud reached his target when Bee stayed in place. The best way for the corpulent man to counter an attack, was to receive its full effect first and so, he took that dark matter head on.
The numbing sensation alone obfuscated his finer smelling and hearing defenses to a halt, blinding the warrior from any other external attack and by the time Sarutoru's shadow fall enveloped Bee, the primate was again several miles away from his prey. "Fool!. . .To take my technique full on was a stupid move in his part. There's no one capable to release himself from it until the cloud has done its job. . ." As he said this, the monkey man was about to reach the shoreline again when a boy came rather abruptly into his mind.
"Well. . .Except for that brat. But I will find him and see how he did it one of these days. . ." Thought bitterly the swinging primate disappointed by his last loosing battle. He could remember the long days mastering such powerful technique, and although his other two brothers went for a faster or stronger approach according to their natural abilities, Sarutoru managed to work on the most powerful arts.
"I can't accept it!. . .That brat actually broke through as soon as the cloud overtook him, hell. . .Even this monster of a fighter has trouble untangling himself from it. . .Someday, I will find that idiot and I will brake him through. . ." He finally reached his goal, hopping into the black hole created on the surface of the ocean and displacing himself on direction from where the moving island had left hours ago.
Back on the land, a kneeling warrior struggled to let himself go from the viscous cage. There was so much blood and tears clouding his mind thanks to the effect from that attack. All the killing he did in behalf of his kingdom, plus those Amazons asking for mercy during the last rebellion trying to over throw King Parsley from the throne forced the righteous man to slaughter friends and ex-allies as well.
It was a very powerful technique that was for sure, and when the shadow finally dissipated from his laying body, only a smudge of a trace was left behind as a testament of his failure. "I-I. . .I lost, b-but I am not down. . .I will return to my king when the ladle is safe in my hands. . .until then. . .Prince Toma. Get ready to taste my wrath. . ."
Yet, a few hours later into a moving island. . .
Hours later on safer grounds, the agile half monkey half human arrived to the palace. It was as impressive as always to see the majestic castle in the center of a moving island, but going into the closest chambers to the kingdom, the humble servant could not understand why were there so many prisoners still chained and led around by the hands of lowly humans.
Years had passed since Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo defied this kingdom's ruler over his petty needs to have a harem. Prince Toma grew with the idea that his mother was the perfect woman capable to punish him every time he misbehaved, and when the youngest of the Tendo captives was taken into the tests, that slap across the boy's face made him see his mother reflected in that girl.
At the end of the fight and the destruction from the secret Togenkyo waters left the prince almost homeless, he let that boy and his friends leave the island free of charge. It was a move made by a child, Sarutoru understood, but changes began to reshape his leader into a different man. Prince Toma finally declared himself King when he reached the age of eighteen and as his first decree imposed by a somewhat tyrannical ruler, King Toma ordered his people to kidnap young, beautiful girls all over again.
It may had been a relapse from the sensation to own a life, but this boy turned man had fire in his veins, and ice on his eyes. . .The pure description of a madman set as a ruler. The monkey fighter tried to reason with him over the years, explaining him how important was for men to have a companion and form a family, but his king denied such perversity, appointing him to get that legendary ladle from the Musk instead and commanding his other henchmen the task to take virgins for his needs.
"I am going to get my wives just like a ruler should have, and if that boy who stopped me before pops again. . .I will make him my concubine by force. . ." Decided the taller king as he let Sarutoru leave a month ago.
Once back from his mission, the monkey fighter arrived before his master, kneeling respectfully and raising with both hands the prized magical instrument. "Here it is my lord. . .The Dragon's ladle. . ." King Toma had that look in his eyes again. . .A look of bitter revenge and a longing desire to lock a certain redhead acting like a submissive wife long ago for him to degrade and humiliate.
"Good Sarutoru. . .Prepare the special gourds for their transformation. It's time to pay a visit to the Saotomes and reclaim what was taken from me six years ago. . ." The new ruler had grown tired of being shone away from most other kingdoms, and this time his harem was about to become a sight to see.
That is, until the wise, yet respectful monkey stood in place, staring in puzzlement at his king and waiting his chance to speak before the young man. "Yes! Sarutoru. . .What is it!?" Demanded the ruler exasperated. Although he needed no court or embassy of any sort, the young king always relied on his first transformed subject when matters escaped his grasp.
"Master. . .We cannot get near Japan until the government appraises our intentions. Remember, we are a moving island, and they saw us as a threat last time we surfed in their territorial waters four years ago. . .Besides, we just left Japan shores a month ago, and according to the currents we should be back near its shores into another four years."
Sarutoru realized kidnapping women was the wrong thing to do, but otherwise, the land they called home never let a girl be born from its giant peach tree effects. Survival was the reason why they did this, and although it was a bad thing to do, women were always treated fairly around the palace. . .That is, until King Toma changed drastically over the years.
"I don't care for any of that Saru. I have decided this is the right time to own those two who fled from my grasp." As he demanded to be obeyed unconditionally, the Togenkyo ruler started to fantasize about that face. The only woman defiantly enough to bypass his security and lung at the boy so close, her lips almost touched his.
Of course, that beautiful goddess was nothing more than a boy affected by a strange curse, fact that traumatized the king with sleepless nights and confusing dreams about his sexual identity. Those were the powerful additives fueling King Toma's revenge. To lock Ranma into the minx she really is, and to keep Akane as his trophy concubine.
"You know the nights I have woke from sweaty and scared. . .That idiot might be the man who saved his girl in the end, but I will make him a woman and shove it aside like the trash he really is. . ." There was flame in his words, and he knew why. To be threatened over his sexual preferences after the object of his attraction was really a man played a significant part on his sudden behavior.
"I know how hard is to fight "those" feelings master, but Intel reports that boy is not a child anymore. Torristan has reported his last post two days ago and Ranma Saotome has married Akane Tendo. They have three children at the moment and their school of martial art seems to be progressing by the help of another unknown human."
The sole mention of a father and a husband sent chills to the young ruler who still had the impression of a redhead snuggling close to him for only a second. "I don't care!. . .That idiot has a side tormenting my nights. I want him stripped of all dignity, taken down from whatever cloud his is and thrown down at my feet as that seductress hunting my dreams, you hear!. . .I want that redhead to suffer just as much as I have!"
In the end, Sarutoru managed to calm his master from going berserk and that was a big deal around the palace, the primate led his king into a chamber filled with girls just like old times, but to the amazement of his people and the guards caring for his harem, the ruler's attraction reached levels unheard of in years.
"Bring them to me!" Announced loudly Toma while his protectors formed a line for the girls to follow. They were all beautiful and respectful nonetheless, with a few exceptions of course, but those were the ones exciting the king even more. What struck Sarutoru the most though were the fourteen and fifteen year old girls slowly pacing in the line and the ones way too young for a nineteen year old emperor.
"Master. . .These were taken too young from their town homes. . .Shouldn't we. . ." Defied once again the monkey man. King Toma hated such imprudent talk back, but he had a point. "Very well. . .Take them to the special chambers and leave them there until they come to age. . ." Ruled angrily their new master. Sarutoru found his laws harsh, specially when young girls like those had done nothing to deserve the evil eyes most other human guards branded them with.
As the doors were tightly closed from that chamber, his second in command watched sadly how the unfortunate girls rejected by King Toma were sadistically shared between the lowly guards. The monkey man could barely understand their low instincts though, coming himself from the night monkey line which happens to practice monogamy the most among the animal kingdom.
That thought alone brought the loyal subject back into that girl he fancied long ago. Her hair was auburn-brown, porting an impressive set of breasts hiding under a pink, almost transparent dress and donning the most defying set of eyes a girl could pose under such circumstances. Yes. . .That girl whose Ryoga Hibiki took from his hands was the object of his love and the only one he swore to claim back when the time would be ripe.
