Now
Things couldn't get any worse for the residents in the Tendo household. After so much mischief, Nabiki managed to slip away from the law thinking she was above it, but it finally caught up to her lies and it couldn't be in a more distressed time for the family. The big mistake?. . .Battling against a boy who was just as stingy but who in the end turned out to be smarter than the ice queen.
What was worse is how Ranma tried to ease the blow at the beginning of the fight by working as a bunny waitress in the first restaurant the spending couple used as a battlefield. When they moved to the next arena, Ranma thought it would be so easy to transform back from the redhead to his manly form, leaving the debt unpaid but it looks like that backfired as well.
"One hundred and fifty million yen!. . .How in the hell am I goin' ta get that kind of money. . .?" Ranma fumed because the one with the fault hid cowardly in her bedroom while he had one month to prove his innocence or be incarcerated for an amount of money he wouldn't even dream to ever get.
"Indeed this is a big pickle M'boy. . .I think we should make ourselves scarse. . .If you know what I mean. . ." Said his father with a few shoves of his elbow in his ribs. " An' leave Akane alone in this stage of the illness?. . .No way pops. I'm stuck an' if there's no other choice, I'll go happy to prison as long as I can stay at her side."
Ranma felt the weight of the family on his head now. Not only his fiancée was about to perish if there wasn't a possibility for a cure. . .Now, his sister-in-law was accused to owe one billion yen, sum that kept escaping his understanding about money.
There was no chance he could get what he owed either and to make matters worse, his manhood slowly slipped away and he could do nothing to stop it from happening. With so much pressure, the pigtailed teenager decided a walk could help him feel less stressed by all this.
"I'll be back. . ." Said before leaving the house and walking towards that old bridge he always used to ponder about his life. When he arrived, the serene current of the river underneath the bridge instantly calmed his desperate demeanor, letting him think on other matters he had forgotten.
"Damn it Ryoga. . .Where in the hell are you?. It's been more than a week an' you hanven' come back from wherever you are." Ranma had Akane's love constantly in his heart which comforted him in times like this. But the idea to loose her turned out to be a lot more damaging than he wanted to admit.
There was the idiotic idea Ryoga had about him, but he obviously would never think about the lost boy in any other way but as a friend, or so he kept telling himself that. . .Still, He noted his worry for the other boy capable to understand his troubles wasn't exactly friendly wise.
"Damn hormones!. . .Ever since I change into a girl, I get those cravings for parfaits and a stupid need to dress up. I swear. . .If Ryoga don' come back in time, either Akane won't make it or I'll fail as a man. . .Or both." His last sigh was startling interrupted when a wooden sword patted him on the shoulder.
"There. . .You are, Ranma Saotome." It was Tatewaki Kuno catching his breath tiredly from looking for the pigtailed boy all over town. "Kuno?. . .What are you doing here?" The older boy moved back into his prideful pose, brushed his hair to the back with his fingers and acted like he wasn't tired at all.
"I've been looking for you of course!. . .I, the blue thunder of Furinkan have a great surprise for the fair Akane Tendo." Ranma's eyes lit brightly when he remembered if any other person would be rich enough to help his fiancée, that would have to be him.
"As we speak, the fair Miss Tendo has received all manner of medical support from my personal caregivers who met Ono Tofu to help in her recuperation." The Saotome heir was tempted to jump and hug him, mostly by the sheer amount of hormones his body was so bombarded with.
He barely managed to run at him with his open arms before he moved back and simply patted him back on his shoulder. "Thanks man. . .That sure will help Akane with her treatment. . .I should go an' see how is she doin'. . ."
Before he could walk away though, the swordsman stopped him with his bokken, letting him see he wanted something in return besides the safe care of the sick girl. Ranma thought this was a meaningless point after knowing his fiancée had what she needed and so, he stopped, waiting patiently for his request.
"Ranma Saotome. . .A few days ago I told you about my understanding of this magical curse. Well, you must thank Nabiki for that, but besides all the past we have shared, I have a proposition you may be very interested to consider."
The blue-eyed teen tried to think of any type of favor Kuno might be interested to share with him, eluding the possibility of his curse as part of the deal. After a while he just shrugged his shoulders unknowingly and told him to go ahead with this so called proposition. "I want. . .You, Ranma Saotome."
"Give me the pigtailed girl as my unconditional love and I will fight for the charges impugning you as a thief." When Ranma heard the proposition, a dizzy fit flew into his eyes. He guessed Nabiki mentioned his involvement with the restaurant incident, but how pray tell, could his curse work in the deal?"
"Can you explain that ta me a bit slower Kuno-Senpai?" The Kendoist took a deep breath, focusing solely in his way of thinking and whispered in his ear the clause he had been working for so long. "Stay a girl forever Ranma Saotome. Give me the pleasure to date my tea kettle girl with no chance for your male side to ever exist in our lives."
Ranma understood his plan in more detail now. Kuno actually wanted to suppress the real Ranma, letting the curse act as the only body for him to ogle. He knew the changes in his male body worsened, but to leave another male use him was just too absurd to accept. "I don' think I'd like that Kuno-Senpai. . .After all, I am Ranma Saotome an' the curse is the third wheel in my life. . .Save yourself from trouble an' just leave me alone man. . ."
Kuno decided to leave him as he asked for now, but as he walked away from the double gendered teen, he mused a few words of consolation before leaving him with his thoughts. "Remember Ranma Saotome. . .The pigtailed girl could be the salvation for a life in prison. . .The sacrifice doesn't look that steep if you ask me. . ."
His head kept zoning in and out from all the chaos falling in at once. He had Akane to think of. . .Ryoga with the cure in some improvable future and now, a boy who until recently thought his curse was a totally different person. "I swear. . .This keeps gettgin better an' better."
After he realized there was no peace or calm under the bridge, Ranma took off towards the Tendo Dojo with hopes to see a better looking Akane awake and ready to have some company. The way back was uneventful Ranma noted.
No sudden Shampoo or Mousse running across the street in search for dates or fights. It seemed as if the day cut him some slack and let the anguished boy enjoy a bit of freedom before dealing with the pain to see his girlfriend dying.
When he arrived, his mouth almost hit the floor when pretty much everyone was accounted for. Ukyo had taken the kitchen by storm, fighting with the Chinese girl for the title of best cook and preparing an endless supply of tasty dishes Genma and Soun promptly accepted happily.
Mousse stayed with his brooding mood, keeping his hands hidden on those big sleeves, and the girls from school cheering a shy Akane in the living room. "Son-in-law. . .Any word from Ryoga?" Asked Cologne who was right besides Ono discussing the girl's illness.
Ranma felt a bit too crowded, but with some trouble he slid right among the guests, walking near the Chinese elder and the medic. "No. . .It's been almost two weeks an' there is no news if he made it or if he's even alive. . ."
"Oh indeed Ranma. I told that boy to be careful on matters such as time, but it's like someone says something important and the young people now days do the exact same opposite." The tiny old woman clicked with her tongue demeaning Ryoga's luck away, and dismissing much success for something so unpredictable.
"I'm afraid the boy won't come back from this journey, but more importantly. . .I see the curse has made drastic changes in you." When the Amazon elder mentioned something the pigtailed boy didn't want to talk about, she prodded his chest with the staff, showing him how even with a tight set of bandages, his raising upper torso could be easily seen.
"Damn it old ghoul, I ain' got no time to deal with that, but if you have some kind of cure, you could tell me how to fix it." The elder shook negatively, giving no hopes to be cured by any means. "You still don't get it. It's called a curse for a reason."
"Although the effects you have are rare and sporadic, all the humans affected by Jusenkyo must undergo a transformation. My granddaughter has some instincts from her feline curse and so is Mousse from being a duck. . .You have a more sensitive effect, one I never thought the curse could ever do, but I can always be mistaken."
Ranma scoffed angrily at the explanation, knowing this would be more complicated than what he expected when foreign emotions played another big role in his transformation. When he let the adults talk, Cologne and dr. Tofu went back to their original conversation. "As much as I think about it young man, I believe this illness is something a lot stronger than any other ailment I have ever seen."
"I agree. . .I have researched all the books at my disposal and none describe a type of cancer so unpredictable and ferocious. Fortunately I did find a treatment capable to accelerate the healthy growth of cells in her body."
The old lady nodded by his findings, humming every now and then when Ono showed her a scroll with several ingredients. "I see. . .Acupuncture and ancient medical herbs combined could indeed help her prolong her life. In fact, I have some of these rare plants back home, let me hop right to it and I will be ready with all you may need."
Before she left though, the old woman turned one last time, stopping near the pigtailed boy before leaving and asking him about the lost boy. "You know son. . .I think your giving much credit to someone who might not even be back in months. . .Why don't you forget about him and support little Akane Tendo morally?"
This time something clicked deep inside, something compelling him to stand up and stare at the old woman with anger in his eyes. "That damn idiot has the cure you hear. . .He "must" come back. . .He "will" be back!" Cologne shrugged unimpressed, turning her back away from the euphoric teen and hopping out of the house.
"You sound so desperate son-in-law. . .Who are you trying to convince, me. . .Or you?" After she left, Ranma had no other choice but to deal with the others staring back at him puzzled. Akane looked tired but happy when she saw him after several days of sleep and weakness.
After asking Kasumi for help, the girl left the same couch she used to rest most days in the living room to walk outside the house after she thanked her friends for the visit. "R-Ranma? Can we talk for a moment alone?"
The pigtailed boy promptly walked at her side, grabbing the girl by the arm instead of the elder sister who acted as her sister's walker, and the two of them left the present company for a tiny stroll around the garden.
With some difficulty the youngest Tendo sat right outside the Dojo, and looked up, enjoying the nice afternoon light. "Ranma. . .What do you think of Ryoga-kun?" The question didn't register in the boy's mind, specially when he tried to find the courage to tell her those three words evading his speech.
"Who. . .Ryoga?. . .That damn idiot decides ta jump with an unfinished technique an' now we don' know if his dead or alive. What else can I think of, but 'bout the cure he's supposed ta bring" The girl giggled softly, blushing ever so slightly after her question wasn't really answered.
"But about him. . .Do you think he's. . .Cute?" Ranma blinked completely lost by the question this time, stuttering and looking everywhere except at her eyes. "I. . .I don' know. . .Maybe?. Why would you ask me that?"
"I don't know. . .Lately I've been thinking about all the boys here in Nerima. Kuno-Senpai is a pain, but if you see past his flaws, you can see he tries to be nice. . .Remember how he even treated you with respect in your date."
"There are others like Picolet Chardin, which if I remember right you lost to him, and owe a daughter's hand. Yohyo has feelings for you as well and even though you never saw each other again, his letters arrive from time to time."
Ranma's eyes darted towards the girl trying to understand what did all this had to do with their relationship. "You see Ranma. I have known you for the longest time and I know the small subtleties you have. There is one way to blame the curse and another to embrace it."
"That's why I'm asking you. . .Ryoga-kun is a dear friend of mine. He is kind, responsible and would give his life for either me. . .Or you." Again, the last paused comment made Ranma so uncomfortable, he felt the need to pull his shirt nervously.
"F-Fine!. . .I know how this looks but even if I feel somethin' for him, I can' act on it. I. . .I love. Well, you know. . ." Akane closed her eyes, donning a smile that could melt anyone. She wanted to make sure there would be a link with her dear friend before the imminent arrival of her death would make her fiancé a bitter man.
"Just think about it Ok?. . .I know Ryoga-kun has feelings for you as more than a friend, and when I leave this world, I don't want to leave two lonely boys. I know what I'm insinuating, but remember. . .You are more than just a man. . ."
The girl opted to rest her tired head on his shoulder, leaving the boy to think on the possibility. Ranma had a fleeting sensation he didn't want to delve for her sake. With the same devotion he had for the girl, the pigtailed boy kissed her head, demonstrating what he wasn't able to say.
"I'll think 'bout it. . .But don' count on it." After they took a few more minutes enjoying the breeze of a dying day, the girl asked to be moved back to her bedroom when her aching body began to feel a lot colder. Kasumi rushed in, helping him decidedly while the visits began to leave the house.
After Akane slept comfortably, Ranma left her once again, knocking on the room next door, and stepping into Nabiki's bedroom. When he entered, the first thing he saw were several stacks of papers the middle Tendo argued about.
"Ranma-kun. . .I know my fight took a turn for the worse, but he was supposed to pay all. That was the deal when I won the bet!" For the first time ever, the pigtailed teen noticed a trapped Nabiki looking for a solution no amount of blackmail would free her from.
"I have saved, worked and even bet for years and I can't even meet one percent of that debt, not to mention what you owe. . .H-How am I going to solve this?" Ranma was at a loss again. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled defeated when money was a thing he never thought at all during his life.
"I don' know Nabiki. . .What's worse. Akane is getting sicker, you an' I may end up in prison before she. . .Well, you know. An' the funny part is how you'll go to a female only facility. . .How do you think I'm goin' ta fare against a whole mass of killers and rapists when they know I turn into a girl."
The ice queen gaped fearful when she heard the point. She tried to rub his arm, trying to look understandable, but to be a woman among so many rough men was going to be suicide. "I. . .I don't know how, but I'll find a way to right this you hear me?. . .There has to be a way to, at least save you from my mistakes."
The Saotome heir accepted there was no other option but to go peacefully. He only asked for the girl to try and beg for more time. . .Until he could see his love before the inevitable would come. "Face it Nabiki. . .We're screwed. . .Unless. . ."
Both stared at each other, the girl asking with her trembling eyes while the boy shook his head vehemently. "No. . .No way in hell. I mean. . .Kuno wants me as his girl twenty four seven in exchange to save me from prison, but I ain' letting him use me that way. . .It's just not fair!"
The middle Tendo thought about it, finding her lessons paying off despite an outcome she didn't forsee right away. "Well, think about it Ranma-kun. What would you prefer. . .A boy you can easily manipulate as a woman, or hundred of tough guys ready to treat you in more ways than the ones allowed by the law?"
The proposition sounded a lot more understandable now that the girl exposed it like that. Ranma bit his lower lip, pondering about the chances he could use to keep the Kendoist at bay while still being able to see his real love.
"If you see it like that, I guess it looks a lot better. . .F-Fine, I'll talk ta him an' I'll ask if he can help us both. In the meantime find other solutions for the money we owe. . ." Nabiki assented with the boy, watching him leave the room pensive while her stack of business deals stared back at her.
"This is going to be impossible, but here goes nothing." Letters with blackmail information, calls to teens owing her money and even the occasional prize from tournaments won from other schools betting against Ranma made a nice incentive, but to cover the minimum amount asked by the bail? never.
The next day Ranma left the house without saying a word. The boy stepped lively towards the biggest house in Nerima. "Damn it. . .What in the hell I'm doin'. . ." Were his words when a future life as a forced lover, specially for another boy, would be the most shaming display he had to take upon himself.
"I swear. . .I would accept Ryoga as my boyfriend than Kuno, but the idiot is lost an' there's no much I can do else." His monologue took him ranting all the way to the dark home where passing a missing Kodiachi's pet was easy enough before threading lightly into the house.
The door seemed unlocked, so he walked without asking. He knew the interior from previous visits, but the thought to be alone with "him" made Ranma's skin crawl. "Kuno-Senpai?. . .Are you there?" Asked the boy a bit startled by the lack of sound.
When he realized no one was home, he turned around ready to leave when a splash of cold water transformed him into a beautiful redheaded teen. "My tea kettle girl, thy hath arrived to my humble abode!" Ranma tried to snap from the trance in time, but his arms were already groping her chest with such euphoria, her skin crawled even more while a tinge of purple ran across her face.
She bared her teeth angrily, but this was the reason of her visit in the first place, and without moving a finger, the reluctant redheaded teen simply let the boy grasp everywhere uninterrupted. Several seconds turned into ages for Ranma who felt those harsh fingers rub, scratch and prod her skin with no reservation.
When she was about to quit, that's when the older boy decided to take his leave. He let go of her, making the girl think that was the extent of his attack, but when he swirled around and stared at the blushing damsel, his arms stopped working and flailed towards an unsuspecting Ranma. He brought her closer to him as his lips mashed forcefully together. A feeling of repulsion made Ranma use her arms and push herself away from his clamping kiss unsuccessfully.
"Mmff. . .Damn-mmff. . .Damn it. Kun-mmff. . .Kuno!. .. That's. . .Mmff. . .That's enough!" The older boy carefully let the girl go, smiling slyly when he felt in charge of the situation. "What is it my beloved pigtailed girl. . .Are my frantic ministrations too much for the woman of my dreams?"
Ranma was feeling the burning sensation of his rubbing lips. The swelling felt incredibly demeaning, but she had came for a reason, thought embarrassed Ranma. Using her better assets to her advantage, this time she was sure to conquer the poor sap just like she had done with others. With a sway of her hips and a smile asking for more, the pigtailed teen walked towards the boy at the same time she played hard to get.
"I thought 'bout your. . .Proposition Kuno-Senpai, an' I am really interested "if". . .You include Nabiki in the deal. . .What do you say?" Asked at the end as she blew a kiss with a sensuous wink. "I see. . .Well, my flower. I think that would be a good deal "if". . .You succumb to my wishes."
"Is the detestable male Ranma Saotome a thing of the past?. . .With my tea kettle girl at my side unconditionally, I will be in possession of the greatest gem in the world for as long as I hold your debt as mine. . .Is this thou wish then my darling?" Ranma felt dizzy and almost out of air when the salvation for the middle Tendo and her debt was at the hands of this new perverted boy. The redhead tried to see the deal as the best escape, but to be ogled and used by him sure made the deal a lot harder.
"I agree. . .But answer me this first Kuno. How come you acted so mature and nice on our date, an' now you get all touchy an' stuff?" The question made the blue thunder inflate with pride and stare at her silently. "Easy enough my beautiful goddess. . .When I dated you, I had the image of pure perfection. A girl worth of my stature and the only one capable to satiate my needs with all the respect a beautiful damsel deserves."
"But now I see you are really a man. . .A man playing with the feelings of others, and thanks to your misguided attempts to sway my innocence, I believe 'I' the blue thunder must bury away that monster while I take you, the girl as my prize." Ranma understood how he became a lot more dangerous once her secret was reveled, accepting that perhaps being a sorcerer was the better choice for this misguided guy turned enslaver.
Ranma hoped this would be the best way to solve her immediate problems, but it looked like things were about to get worse. "Fair enough. At least let me stay at Akane's side. . .Let me fight for her an' then, I will come to you."
The older boy agreed, letting the girl leave with no other interruption but a prompt kiss she detested above anything else and a slap on her butt. "That" made a tear of shame swell in the corner of her eye, admitting this was going to be a really bad move. Ranma of course seethed by the diminishing treatment, but there was no other choice, letting him act like that while she simply walked away silently, leaving the damn house in a hurry.
"Am I doin' right?. . .I'm a man after all!. I could beat the tart out of him an' make him see who I am, but what 'bout Akane, an' How else can I solve that stupid debt?. . .Damn it Ryoga, I hope your Ok, 'cuse things are getting' out of hand in here."
When she almost reached home, the revulsion set back in the base of her throat, forcing some of the stomach acids to try to erupt when she found the deal repulsive and unfair. "I got to think of somethin' before I end up a damn wife for that demented."
When he arrived, the change back to male was instant, but unfavorable when the few deformed parts of his new body screamed the feminine nature of his new form. With a blaring growl, the boy set aside all personal matters and put a fake smile before walking out of the bathroom ready to attend his real love.
The Future
Beep, Beep. . .Beep!
That damn alarm started to get in Ryoga's nerves by now. It was almost five in the afternoon and for some reason the clock would go off either during the day or early in the morning. That was annoying alright, but this time around, the sound was loud and clear across the dinner table where the Hibikis enjoyed supper.
Ranran and Kara ate comfortably just as their father enjoyed the always flavorful miso soup Ranma was so famous to cook. But across the table, the younger version of the same man couldn't keep his eyes away from the only mature woman in the house.
He used to know her as the devil itself, prancing proudly around town as either a chick magnet or a beautiful redheaded girl enticing men alike. This time though, time affected him in ways no one would see possible, and after seventeen years, Ryoga discovered a change he, of all people, didn't expect from such teen.
"I. . .Um. . .Y-You look. . .Different Ranma." His eyes kept branding the image of the person in front of him right in his mind. With timid eyes and tilting his head asking for permission to stare, the boy begged Ranma for a chance to study this transformation.
When the woman assented nervously, he slowly dropped his eyes towards her slender neck, than to those big breasts most men were attracted when they had no idea she was really a man. Ryoga swallowed visibly when her heaving chest made him blush profusely.
"S-Sorry. . .I don't mean to stare Ranma-san, but. . .I. . .I-I don't understand. . ." Ryoga decided to stop looking at her torso, jumping all the way up where her black hair screamed in his head she was actually transformed by the hot tea, but the results were just about the same.
"Alright you guys. . .Let's Ranma and my other self talk this out. Besides, you two have homework and we need to talk about the fight you had a few hours ago." Kara and Ranran skipped startled by his announcement, but knew someone was bound to call him about it, not to mention the exploding wall Ryoga used to scared them.
Both teens stood up with their empty plates which they took to the kitchen, wash them and walked upstairs towards their respective rooms. The older Ryoga stood as well, walking outside just after he asked. "Are you sure everything will be Ok?"
"Sure honey. . .We need ta talk an' then I'll call you back." The grown man bobbed slightly and walked to the Dojo where a nice Kata could relax him a bit more. Finally, the woman and the teenage traveler were alone on the table.
Ranma preferred to leave her half full plate aside, taking her still warm tea and wait for all his questions. Ryoga noted they were alone and that's when everything broke loose. "Ok Ranma. . .What the hell is going on!"
"I splash you with hot water and all I see is still you as a girl, just a bit taller and with dark hair. . .What gives?" The woman sighed defeated by his puzzled look, getting up and modeling her beautiful body around in such a way, Ryoga admitted there was no change except her height and hair color.
Finally she stopped, sat back by the table and began to painfully tell her story. "Remember that incident we had in the bathroom when we almost fight, but when we got up from the furo you saw me naked?" The boy recalled that specific moment, since that was the time forcing his escape into the future.
"Well. . .A few weeks before that incident, I began to see a pattern every time I changed with the curse. That pattern started ever since I became a girl, but when I understood the symptoms it was too late, and the only way to find the solution was through doctor Tofu's help."
"He gave me several tests, checked me in a rigorous schedule and reached the conclusion that every time cold water transformed me into a girl, an enormous amount of estrogen bombarded my male form. . .Imagine for a moment this Ryoga."
The girl took a sip of her tea, giving some time for the boy to be ready for her example before she could continue. "There are men who want to be women at some point and they undergo treatments with female hormones. At some point those treatments work and many physical changes turn a regular looking male into a more feminine version of himself."
"Now imagine a heavy dose of those same hormones every, single time I get splashed. Imagine being transformed on a daily basis and even twice or more times a day. Those doses of hormones affected and destroyed the reproduction of testosterone in me. . .By the time Dr. Tofu tried to find a solution it was already too late."
Ranma kept explaining how the illness attacking Akane buried any chance the boy had to search for help elsewhere. She was dying and the only chance to save her was him using the most absurd of plans. "I saw you leave, but you left me tendin' a dyin' Akane Ryoga. . .I had no chance ta fight for my problems because I gave everythin' ta save her in time."
"I won't tell you what happened next about her, but by the time you an' I got together my male body changed completely. My chest grew as big as my curse has hers. . .And, you know where, stopped working altogether, leavin' nothin' left of who I used ta be. A few years later we decided to undergo a special surgery and since then I am female whether I get splashed or not."
Ryoga followed every step of the explanation, understanding how things turned out back then. "That's what made us be together?. . .You stopped being a man and I accepted you right there and then?" The redhead shook her head disapprovingly, taking another deep breath before getting ready to leave the room.
"No Ryoga. . .We accepted each other for real, but I admitted loving you almost a month after you returned back from the future. . .A second time. I can' tell you why, but yourself is going ta talk long and hard 'bout what's ta come man. . .Be patient an' listen ta him carefully."
The woman walked at the door, letting the older man in as she left the house for the time being. The older Ryoga walked near the boy, sitting around the table and staring straight across of himself. "Alright Ryoga. . .From now on nothing but the truth. . ."
This was it. Finally the blindfold was about to fall and with it, all the secrecy everyone had over his past. The younger Ryoga sat eager to hear him, but before he could go with the story, he had a few questions of his own.
"Fine. I want to know about that thing I did to gain her love. I want to know why did I quit trying to save Akane-san and most importantly, why didn't I do something for Ranma's happiness?" The man studied the questions slowly, looking for better ways to explain everything without harming the future he was living in.
"First. . .You. . .I mean, we did nothing directly. Before I can explain about what happened to you, let me tell you my story. Time is like a river with a very strong current. . .You may stop its course at some point, but the strength of the current will reset and fix everything opposing it."
"When I jumped into the future, my older me told me I was the first to do it. He saw Akane die, leaving a very stressed Ranma alone and miserable. With time they got along and married despite the other fiancées. What I refused to believe is that I jumped too late to save her when he told me the technique takes almost thirty eight days to be active after a jump this powerful."
The man kept telling about all the searching he did about the youngest Tendo in the future, and indeed, he arrived at a date several weeks after the girl he loved most died and was buried. " When I was ready to leave, I learned something really bad. Once you stay a determined amount of time in a place, you become part of that timeline."
"When I returned, I started a loop that was supposed to be endless. I arrived and no one knew me since I became part of the future and my life in the past was erased. That special moment came when Ranma believed in me and saved me from ceasing to exist. After that, we hit it off when I knew it was too late for me to do something about Akane."
The younger Ryoga noticed something along the lines in his explanation. When his eyes flew open and his fang popped, the teenager stood up, slapping the older self straight across the face. The sound was so loud, Ranma rushed in, watching the turned face of her husband and a young teen angrily staring at him.
"You knew if I stay longer in this time that I will be erased once I get back home!. . .You knew and didn't tell me a thing!" Ranma didn't know what to do until the older man waved his hand at her, asking the woman to stay at his side.
The older Ryoga moved back in place and waited for his younger version to sit before he continued. "I didn't tell you for a reason Ryoga, but there is no other way around it. The only way for you to activate the technique again is waiting for thirty eight days from the time you arrive, and to become a permanent resident for this time you only need to live for thirty."
That made the boy understand he had a chance. His eyes grew again, thinking if he could power up before the thirty days, he would be able to jump before getting erased back home. "Forget it. . .You may be able to change certain aspects from time itself, but you and I are the same human being with the same level of Chi."
"The reason you jumped first than me was because I refused to be afraid when I saw Ranma naked. . .It seems you fixed the loophole I created when jumping for the first time." That made a lot more sense for the fanged teen who agreed there wasn't much change in power when they both were the same age all those years ago.
"Still, that alone is your greatest advantage though. . .You jumped in fear and landed here two months before Akane died. That means that if you practice with me, and reach the thirty eight days in time, you can jump back and save her."
That made a lot more sense for the fanged boy. He smiled by the opportunity and that smile saddened Ranma a lot. When he saw her, he felt her pain, admitting this could change dramatically the way she lived.
"Tell me Ranma. . .If I have the chance, shouldn't I take it?. . .If I can save her, you can marry her and I'm sure your life will be even happier?" The redhead started to blink profusely, showing a stream of tears she didn't want to show now.
"Why would you want that Ryoga?. . . I said I love you an' I mean it!. I wouldn't change this life for anything an' even if Akane were to live, I love my children. . .You can' make me lose what I've worked so hard to gain. . .That shouldn' be fair you know?"
Before the younger Ryoga could answer, the old man had to tell him something else. "Remember Ryoga. . .You will be ready to leave in time, but the moment you jump, when you arrive on the other side, you will be erased after a month."
"Thirty-eight days is all a human being can withstand unless there is a power supply strong enough to let you synchronize back on your time. In my case, Ranma accepted me just barely before the month expired and that saved me from ceasing to exist."
The redhead rushed at his side, hugging him when that old memory made her smile at their luck. "That's somethin' you need ta experience for yourself Ryoga. . .Until then, there's no way you can feel what we went through."
The older man went back to his explanation, letting the fanged teen pay attention to the details. "If you go back and save Akane, either find yourself someone who can love you beyond doubt or perish by the strong current of time."
"I swore to give you the antidote when the time comes, and I will abide to my word. . .Stay with us for the next three weeks and I promise, you will leave in time to save her. . .Just then, I will let you have the cure for Akane."
The younger Ryoga asked him about the motion of time and his older self told him no matter where he was, time ran fluidly in both sequences at the same time. "As of now, from day to night, the sequence will be the same motion seventeen years ago. Stay with my family and when the time comes in thirty eight days, you will go back with several weeks to spare before Akane succumb to the illness."
There was no other choice for the traveler. He decided to stop with the questions, accepting his deal for the cure and knowing he would travel back in time to fix everything straight. . .Despite the sadness in this time's Ranma.
He stood up, bowed respectfully and walked to the guest room where he rested from all the information cascading in his mind. "You think somethin' big will change here honey?" Asked the older Ranma at a smiling Ryoga.
"You know it won't honey, but he needs to know why some facts cannot be changed no matter how much we try." Both adults stayed the rest of the afternoon down on the living room, enjoying a good time together before dinner would call their sons back to the table.
The teen walked around the house with no specific destination. Many thoughts took him to the other two bedrooms where his future children passed the rest of the day secluded. Knock, knock. . ."Kara? . . .May I come in?"
There was no answer from inside the room, instead the door flew open and the younger girl pulled her traveling father impulsively in. "You don't have to ask dad. . .I have no secrets like Ranran." Said the teen with a hint of jealousy in her voice.
"What do you mean?" Wondered out loud Ryoga when his curiosity was always eager to find the answer to everything. The little teen took him to her bed, sitting him on one side while she jumped on the other. "Dad. . .Ranran has been in love for the longest time, but he won't let me see who she is."
"I have tried pointing at every girl at school, some of our neighbors and even the teachers, but he keeps denying it could be any of them." The older boy look to the side, humming pensive until he opted to ask for more information in the matter.
"Well. . .Maybe he is lying. You know. . .When we are shy, we tend to do the stupidest of things, not to mention our nerves freeze when the girl we love talk to us or treat us nice. I know a lot about that and I can assure you. . .If Ranran has a girl he loves from school, I don't think he'll tell you."
Kara kept thinking about that excuse, but it didn't fit the way her big brother always acted. "I don't know dad. . .He is not shy at all. He always has spoken his mind and when the carnivals come every year, I see him with girls all over the place. Besides, those photos he hides in his bedroom always vanish when I search. . .Um. . .Did I just said I go into his room without permission?"
Ryoga raised a brow from her blunder, but there was a way she smiled when talking too much. . .A way he always liked when Ranma would act like an interested fiancée ready to entice him in a scheme. "Nice try, but I know your mother and believe me. . .You are good, but not 'that' good."
Kara could do nothing when he caught her trickery, giggling uncontrollably as she lunged at his side. "I can't believe you got me!. . .I've been practicing like mom plays with daddy and I thought I had it perfectly imitated. . ."
Ryoga just shook his head, agreeing how the girl had a really good teacher to begin with, but all the times the redhead played a joke on the boy, was a time he used to learn of her techniques. "You did great Kara, but Ranma has pulled so many tricks on me, I know her. . ."
The last part made both go silent for a moment. Karen rested between his arm and torso while her fingers played with his sleeve. "Dad. . .Did you really hate mom that much back then?" The fanged boy tried not to think on that, but he needed to admit hate wasn't in his heart any longer. . .In fact, all the years they were rivals for the same love taught him the pigtailed boy was a good guy and a friend.
"No. . .I stopped hating him way before the first wedding. We grew together as comrades and friends even when we said nothing about it.
The little girl prodded again, this time in a more direct approach. "How about love dad. . .Would you have loved mom no matter she was a part guy?" Ryoga swallowed nervously now. That was a difficult question for him to explain.
With some trouble, the boy played with his wrinkled clothes as he tried to be honest. "Look Kara. I like Ranma like my very best friend, but when he transforms into a girl, he plays jokes where I see a beautiful girl interested in me."
"That makes my ego soar and my feelings. . .Well. . .get stronger towards such girl. When she bursts out of her disguise, I get angry and we fight but deep down. . .I like her. You could even say that I grew to. . .Well. . .You know. . ."
Karen started to smile, slowly nodding as she went back to play with his rippled muscles through the sleeve of his shirt. "I know you love her dad. . .Mom has always told me how you two were unstoppable and how you protected her against other threats. Thank you. . .I really love you."
The boy felt the heat rise when she pecked him on his cheek. After a moment he tucked her in, leaving the room with destination to the next one. "Have a good night Kara-Chan." The girl assented happily and turned the light on her desk off.
A few steps ahead, knocking slightly soft on the door, he asked if it was Ok to enter, but there was no sound from the other side. After a few seconds there was a labored shuffling and the sound of the door being unlocked. When Ranran opened the door, he was breathing heavily and looked somehow nervous by something.
"C-Come in pops. . .I mean, Ryoga." The boy went in, noticing how everything looked neat and ordered with the exception of a corner of the bedroom by the window. When Ryoga walked closer to the area, the tiny corner of a photo peeked from under the closet door, prompting him to raise a finger and ask.
"Look. . .I think you missed a picture." Said after he tried to pry the piece of paper off from under the door. "No!" Shouted Ranryu extremely tense. The fanged boy understood the point, raising his hands and walking back to the bed. "S-Sorry. . .I didn't mean to pry in your business."
Ranran felt the pang of guilt, knowing it was his fault for the incident. "Don't be dad. . .It's. . .It's just someone I really like but no one in the family would approve of her." That statement made Ryoga furrow his brows, asking him later to tell him since he would keep the secret from everyone else.
Ranran was a bit doubtful, but after some thought, the idea to share his most intimate secret with his father was something he wanted for the longest time. "She is. . .Amazing. Kind, funny and the most beautiful girl I have ever seen."
"I saw her since I was six years old and for some reason I found her so pretty and strong willed. With the years I tried to find a way to make contact with her, but no one would tell me anything about her except for what I found on my own."
The description kept eluding Ryoga for some time. Of course, he knew no other girl in this time except for Nabiki, Kasumi's daughter, Ranma and Kara. He went on to explain how dumb he was with girls and no help at all for things like advice or techniques on how to get a girl, but he told him the true way he felt was necessary to have a good woman.
"Just be honest. I tried to be honest myself with Akari, but we ended up with different opinions about love. I was never able to see Anna so I can't say if we could have something. . .Now, Akane-san. She is my friend and once I understood I was nothing but a friendly confidant, I accepted Ranma as the man for the task."
Ranran tilted his head, ready to ask him what his little daughter did as well, not ten minutes ago. "What about mom. . .Did you have any feelings for her even when she was a man?" Ryoga felt less threatened by now. The question wasn't really if he was a pervert attracted to another man with a girl's curse, but the understanding to become something more from their already strong link as friends.
"I liked him a lot back then. More like a brother if you ask me, but although I don't want to sound shallow, I started to separate Ranma the boy from Ranma the girl. Is strange, but when he was 'her', Ranma's mood was lighter and he even liked me back."
"When he was in male form, the love was more like a mutual respect as fighters and friends. . .I could feel that and I know he does as well. I'm not sure what I did to make that love of brothers grow into love between two people, but now that I think about it, he is amazing no matter what form he takes."
Ranryu didn't take that in consideration when thinking about perverts and boys liking boys. He thought there was only white or black, but not a feeling of brotherly love which could transform into real love by the circumstances.
"I see pops. . .Whatever happened back then, must've been so powerful you two passed that line." Ryoga accepted his understanding, leaving him alone as he walked at the door. "Get some rest man. . .Tomorrow is school day and we need to keep up with our studies."
He left his room, walking to the guest bedroom where he fell asleep for the first time in a long time. The dreams seemed to vanish, perhaps because he now lived in the future, but what made Ryoga feel safe here, was a family he missed in the past.
Before morning would show its face through the window and specially before the annoying beeping alarm would go off Ryoga was already out of bed and knocking on his son's door.
With some trouble the boy washed, got dressed and left the house when light wasn't even on the streets of Nerima. "Ok Ranran. . .There's no time like the present. . .Follow me and stay focused at all times." Ranma's look alike suddenly realized a totally changed fanged boy vanishing from the patio and appearing on the roof of the house without any effort.
After he followed him, both teens turned the new neighborhood into a racing track Ranryu had never tried before. Ryoga focused completely on his speed while throwing whatever he found along the way. Was it a sign dangling from an establishment or a chunk of a stoned fence, the projectiles kept his companion guessing where was he going or what would he do next.
"Yes!. . .Forget every pre-determined attack and concentrate in the now. . .Be ready by studying your enemy is a good tactic, but not the Hibiki way." Ryoga was two roofs ahead before the teen could catch up. This wasn't his father that was for sure and he understood that when the younger version of his parent turned around in mid air, and shouted 'ShiShi-Hokodan!'
The blast was impressive, but he was more worried about what would be destroyed if he didn't stop it. With his arms crossed on his chest, Ranryu received the full blast head on, vanishing the power behind on his body. When Ryoga stopped on a roof away from the other boy, steam emanated from his body, but he looked just fine by the attack.
"Good!. . .Your old man grew afraid for some reason Ranran. . .The Hibikis do not run straight into a fight because we are dumb. . .We evaluate during the brawl. Pre-emptive helps, but in a fight defending the weak or the vulnerable is better to move fast instead of running later to find a better strategy."
The last comment rang loud and clear when his mother used that technique all the time. Ranma taught him how to fight just as much as his father, and one of the things he hated the most was the way she would retreat with the excuse to re-think another strategy to defeat your enemy.
This time, an urge ran through his blood, pumping a controlled rage he managed to balance without letting him loose his patience. Ranryu smiled at his young father and lunged at him at the same time he shouted. "ShiShi-Hokodan blast!"
Ryoga saw how his boy simply raised one open hand, releasing an even bigger version of his attack. "Damn. . .He is my boy alright" Chimed proudly the fighter. Ryoga jumped forward, punched the blast right in the middle, pulverizing the attack and letting the cloud be his curtain when he kept flying against the teen.
His first swing was easily deflected by Ranryu, but the force behind his fist was almost as strong as his father's. "Damn. . .That's heavy. . ." After the initiation passed, both teens began to skip building after building while their arms vanished in a rain of devastating punches all over town.
There was sweat in his brows after a few hours, but Ryoga's son was smiling the whole time. Some of the punches would pass the fanged teen's defenses when he wasn't fast enough to cover them, sending the poor boy crashing against the ground.
What surprised him the most though, was how he never give up from any assault. The idea started to revolve around his head now. "Man. . .Mom and dad must fight so intently back then. I can hardly hit him, but when I do, I discharge all my might and he still get up after the beating. . .Is like he enjoys the punishment and doesn't want to give up."
A fourth array of punches faster than what Ranma was capable to administer rained on Ryoga's face, blinding his perception for a second and throwing him right into the fountain by the park. Ranryu felt this was the end of the training when a piglet would emerge tired, but to his dismay the tiny pig jumped from the water, attacking a lot more furiously than before.
"Damn it pops, you don't have a chance in that form!" Said the teen when the piglet passed from side to side rocketing from one place to the next and hitting the boy straight on the chest. "Fine. . .Want to be knock down?. . .Better get ready!"
Ranryu began to fly this time, vanishing ever so slightly by his dexterous ability while the porcine fighter tried to follow him this time around. Both began the assault again, but what the boy didn't count on was the insistence of his tiny foe to be on the same level.
A few dozen punches on his tiny body did nothing to phase his anger, which kept him awake and darting back against him. The fight kept going despite the severe disadvantage Ryoga had. When the light of the morning shone on the distance, a very tired Ranryu looked everywhere for the flashing pig who after all this time adapted to his attacks.
"M-Man. . .P-Pops!. . .I'm. . .I'm. . ." PoW!. . .Came the snout directed punch precisely on his face, making his nose creak and a few tears swell in his eyes. "Hey!. . .Not fair. . .You hit me on the nose!" When the kid turned around, an even more battered pig breathed a lot heavier on the pavement three feet away.
He looked incredibly exhausted but his open front hooves showed he was ready to keep going. "H-How?. . .How can you keep up after the beating we went through?" Asked the teen before plummeting on the ground to rest.
When Ryoga saw no threat from his new friend, the tiny piglet bent his hooves forward, letting his tiny body drop dead on the floor. The teenager grabbed an unconscious pet on his arms, walking back home while some of the early people ready for work wondered about the mess on the streets.
At home, a busy Ranma yelled for her sons to get ready when he noted Ranran's room was empty. "Oh man. . .Ryoga. . ." The woman ran out of the house where she confirmed her son was out practicing with an unpredictable fighter.
"How is he?" Asked the redhead when she noted her son out of air. "M-Mom. . .I punish him beyond what I could dish and he still came at me. . .I'm dead tired. . ." Ranma couldn't stop letting a good-hearted laugh out when she remembered the endurance her love had all those years ago. "Oh, Your father might be reckless back then Ranran, but believe me. . .If it wasn' cause I had ta re-group, I would've lost many fights against him."
"Take him to the furo and change, you're still going ta school so, get ready." The boy rolled his eyes by the order, but the time he passed with his younger father became an endearing memory he refused to let go. "Yes mom. . ."
The effect was pretty much the same in the tub when Ranryu threw him like old times, directly into the hot water and with no warning until he saw himself drowning at the bottom. When Ryoga splashed out, trying to gain gasping gulps of air, the teen realized his strength was back to normal and that a redhead was walking into the bath with towels and dry clothes.
"You know what my husband will do ta you when he knows 'bout these trainings?" The woman saw how the last boy stared at her just like before. . .Lost in the beauty he swore to protect and make happy by marrying her to Akane.
Again, the woman felt the intimidating eyes too deeply staring, forcing a blush as her eyes fell to the side. "I swear. . .You may be shy, but those looks are too strong man. . ." Ryoga snapped from his trance, offering an apologetic look before he twisted his neck for some creaking noises of relief.
"Sorry Ranma. . .I just keep seeing you so. . .Mature, and wise. . .It suits you. Anyway. Let me get ready for school and I'll be out of your sight in a minute." The woman accepted his apology and complement, leaving the bathroom for the boy to change.
When he walked down the stairs, a puffing Ranryu waited with two packs with lunch and Kara with her own. "C'mon dad!. . .Or we'll be late." Ryoga got the point, rushing to the door, but not before watching his older self on the table and bowing respectfully at him and his wife.
"I will see you later Hibiki-san. . ." The older man felt something strange about his tone, nodding in a prideful manner, but showing the same amount of respect back. When they left, the adult couple snuggled together while enjoying breakfast alone.
"I never thought you would be so polite after all this ordeal Ryoga." The man sighed puzzled by the fact as well, acting a bit nervous after his mind took him other places. "You and me both my goddess. . .He is not me. . .I'm afraid he belongs to this timeline now and his past life has ceased to exist."
Ranma understood the differences now. There wasn't a single boy traveling and meeting himself on the future, but his husband just created a twin brother a lot younger who shared this time and would be in a tremendous risk if he'd go back home.
"Oh no. . .He is goin' ta die as well isn' he?" Asked the redhead to a man who began to see the terrible decisions of his choices. "I believe so honey. From now on, either he survives during his way back or perishes when time resets itself."