Again, thank you all for the feedback and interest. I apologize for my delay, yet again, I inadvertently wrote material that ended up in a later chapter. Had I retained it here, I would have probably gone too far for a chapter's worth of material. As it is, I already feel like I run out of room too quickly.
In other news, chapter 2 of Horou Budouka is in the works as well, though Chapter 5 of Balance may be finished first.
Well then, thanks again
~裏には裏がある
Chapter 4: The Base
Ranma arrived home late that night, but she hadn't felt like sleeping. Instead, she spent time in the dim living room, doing some pushups to pass the time. The house was enveloped in silence save the shorts draws of breath emanating from Ranma herself. Ranma closed her eyes. Like this, all she needed to do was concentrate on on pushing up, keeping gravity and the other forces that threatened to push her down at bay. The motion was easy and, if she went slowly enough, didn't tire her in the slightest. It was only when she heard the light patter of footsteps did she open her eyes and sit down.
When the figure entered the room, Ranma's breath left her momentarily.
"Ma..."
"Oh, hello Ranma, I see you finally made it home." Ranma sat frozen. Even now, she still had an equal amount of reverence and fear when it came to her mother.
"I came earlier to be with you for a while, but you were out. What were you up to? Your father said you weren't yourself and then he stormed out with a pack not an hour ago."
"Good, it'd be nice to not have Pop breathin' down my neck for once."
"Son, what were you arguing about?"
"It's his fault!" Ranma's voice yelled as loudly as she could while still speaking in a whisper, "I told him I was still sick and was trying to take it easy and he attacked me. The bastard got a good hit and I fell in the pond. I was so angry that I just had to... go for a while. I guess I'm okay. I don't feel sick anymore."
"I see. Well you know your father means well, no matter how 'unique' his methods are. Where did you go? Why were you so late coming back?"
"Well, one thing kinda led to another and Mousse and I, you remember Mousse right? Glasses guy, loves Shampoo to a fault? Random knives? We ended up running into each other. We had dinner, we sparred in the park, and then a funny thing happened on the way back home. There was this kid. Like five or six or somethin'?"
Ranma and Mousse were walking down the sidewalk, the lights of the city beginning to shine fully around them. Mousse thought sullenly, that he would have loved to me doing this with Shampoo, as a date, instead of a post-'cheer up through sparring' stroll with Ranma.
"Jeez, who'd have thunk a knife wedged in a sidewalk would be so hard to pull out!" Ranma asked as they walked.
"Well, an increase in acceleration means a exponentially proportional increase in force."
"Ugh, don't show off! Man, that was a pain. I wonder if that guy walking his dog thought I was stabbing the sidewalk?"
"You know it probably would have been easier in your male body."
"Yeah, but I ain't getting soaked just so I can clean up your mess quicker," She stuck out her tongue. Mousse lifted his glasses, unsure if his eyes could trust what he just saw. Ranma rubbed her arms, "'sides, it's getting kinda cold out. I woulda been miserable wet, especially since I just got over bein' sick. I could use some tea or something when I get in. I don't care if it's spring, it needs to be warm-"
Ranma and Mousse stopped chatting when they saw a small child standing along at the intersection, across the street from the train station. He looked bewildered, sniffling ceaselessly. The two quickly walked over. Ranma looked at the child and said, "hey kid, you okay?"
Mousse sighed at Ranma's demeanor. He bent down to look at child's eye level and asked "Where are your parents?"
The child was quiet for a second, looking the two teenagers, his eyes moving slowly between the petite red-headed girl and the tall black-haired boy. Suddenly, the child grabbed Ranma's leg and started sobbing.
"I lost my mommy! Do you know where she went?"
Ranma looked down in embarrassment, spending most of her mental effort to not instinctively shake her leg violently.
Mousse touched the child's shoulder, and said, "Awww... don't worry little girl, we'll help you find your mommy."
"I'm a boy!" the young child protested. Ranma smacked Mousse on his head with a fist.
"Put your glasses on, dumbass!"
The young boy laughed and said, "You're pretty funny miss, are you an actress? You're very pretty."
Ranma blushed suddenly as Mousse smilled. Now it was his turn to get one up on Ranma. He smirked at Ranma and, in a theatrical tone of innocence, said, "Oh 'she' isn't an actress, per se. But she's very good at what she does, Isn't that right Ranma-chan?"
"Once we find this kid's mom, I'm so gonna kick your-"
"Now now Ranma-chan, watch your language. So unrefined for a lady. We should find this young boy's mother post haste." He looked down at the boy and said, "Where do you live, young man? What's your name?"
"Sanada, sir. Yoshihiro Sanada."
"Okay Sanada-kun. Where do you live?"
"Oh, I just learned this for school! I live on 1-5-3 Tastumidainishi in Chiba" He said proudly.
"Chiba!" The two teenagers yelled simultaneously.
"That's all the way across the bay, right?" Mousse whispered tentatively to Ranma.
"Yeah... Like at least two hours away. How did this kid get all the way to Nerima!" Ranma similarly replied.
"Sanada-kun, where were you when you saw your mother last?"
"I don't know mister... we were gonna see granma, but I don't know where that is. I went on the train I thought was the right one and then my mommy was gone!" The kid started crying again.
Ranma looked at Mousse, "Oh jeez, what're we gonna do?"
"Well the typical thing would be to escort him to a police box and have them do all of the work."
"Yeah, but... I'd feel bad dumpin' the poor kid on some cop."
"Well unless you plan on spending the next few hours on a train to Chiba and back, what do you suggest we do?"
"How much money you have left? I got about 2000."
"Hmm... 2500. You cleaned me out for the week Saotome. I swear, do you have a black hole where your stomach should be?"
"Yeah yeah. I'll get you back on Monday, Mousse. That's enough to get the three of us there and some left over to get back."
"What do you mean 'the three of us'? I have work tomorrow morning!"
Ranma rolled her eyes. "If you haven't noticed, I have a kid attached to my leg. I could use the company. Besides," Ranma kneeled down to Yoshihiro's level and looked up at Mousse. She put on a face of sweetness and light and said,"You don't wanna leave me and Yoshi-kun here all awwone, do you Moussey-Woussey?"
"What."
She ignored his flat remark and continued talking to Yoshiro, "Don't you think big brother Mousse should stop being a cheapskate and help you get home to your family."
Yoshihiro took this as his cue, opened his eyes widely, and begged the young man, "Please big brother! I wanna go home! I miss my mommy."
Mousse lowered and shook his head, "I give up. I can't win against a lost little boy," He raised his head slightly to smirk, "and a poor damsel in distress. Of course I'll help you!"
Yoshihiro started smiling and jumping around, "Yay Thank you big brother! Thank you big sister!"
Ranma sighed, but firmly grabbed Yoshihiro's hand and they walked to the train station.
"Why do I feel like even though I won, I lost?"
"You lost the moment you called me 'Moussey-Woussey'. Even for you Saotome, that was a low blow. I simply responded in kind."
"You're such a nice boy, dear"
"Haah, I guess Ma, but it was a weird experience."
"What do you mean?"
"This little kid. He was so scared cause he couldn't find his mom, he kinda kept clinging to me, calling me 'big sis'. It was... cute I guess. The kid got hungry so he was like 'Big Sis, Buy me food!' Good thing takoyaki is cheap."
Ranma sighed and started laughing, "Yeah. Mousse and I kept looking at each other like 'is this seriously happening'? I mean we just had a fight where I was dodging supersonic knives while throwin' faster punches! But then, we find this kid and it's like, I dunno."
Nodoka smiled as she noted Ranma's expressiveness and the life in those blue eyes. She wasn't exactly thrilled to see it in a red haired female body, but it wasn't hard to see her son behind it.
"Anyway, we got on the train and I figured, 'We're in for a long night,' but at least after we changed trains in Akihabara, I could just sleep till we got to Chiba. So easy-peasy, right?"
"But..."
"Yep. Of course, you know it ain't ever that easy. Mousse and I apparently had company."
Late in the evening, the train was fairly crowded with young folk, heading into the central districts, Shibuya most likely, to party, go to a dance club, or otherwise waste the entire evening until day break when the trains would start again. Ranma, Mousse, and the small boy Yoshihiro however were not part of that collective, sticking out like sore thumbs in their normal garb. They sat in a set of seats at one end of the train, Yoshihiro balanced on their laps.
Since they boarded the train they were silent, Yoshihiro having nodded off against Ranma's shoulder.
Mousse whispered, "I bet this is awkward for you. Would you like me to hold onto him. I don't mind. I like kids, you know."
Ranma replied, also in a whisper, "Well, I don't mind either. He's ain't a brat or anything. Besides if we move him around, we'll probably wake the kid up. Rather have him quiet as long as possible, even if I gotta play "big sis" to do it."
Mousse's eyebrows raised up over his glasses as he nodded, "I see. You keep surprising me more and more Saotome. I take it this is due to your school's philosophy of adaptability?"
Ranma's brow furrowed in displeasure initially, but her expression softened as she hesitantly said, "kinda... I guess. I dunno. I guess whatever it takes to get the job done, ya know?"
Mousse nodded, but he put two fingers on his chin, as though lost in thought as he stole a last glance at Ranma before turning to the rest of the car. It was pretty full, but mostly with seated passengers. There were only one or two people standing so they can talk to friends who were seated. The train slowed down as it approached the next station.
"Anyway," he muttered, "I'm just happy it's a quiet night."
Ranma nodded, "You got that right. And we're far enough away that none of the usual suspects are in the neighborhood so we can-" Ranma's musing was halted by a high-pitched, high volume laugh that was all to familiar to the two Nerima residents entered the train.
"Oh, ya gotta be kidding me!" Ranma pleaded to no one in particular as she leaned forward to look.
Sure enough, the owner of the laugh was none other than Kodachi Kunou, dressed to the nines in an elegant, revealing club-wear. She was flanked by three sycophantic girls: a short, silver haired girl wearing a sleek, shimmery minidress and impossibly tall stilletos, a Gothic Lolita girl with long curly black tresses and a poofy rococo-inspired dress, and a very darkly tanned, bleach blond and heavily madeup kogal wearing arm sleeves, knee socks, and a creatively revealing approximation of a high school uniform.
"And then I said, "Wouldn't it be simply grand to hobnob with the peasantry and take the train there!" Oh, my brother is so ridiculous in his ways! He's even still pining for his high-school sweethearts, you know!" The ear-piercing laugh filled the train yet again.
"Sister, must you always air out our dirty laundry to the open air?" Said a young man in a dark suit and tie.
"Oh, shit shit shit." Ranma repeated internally, slinking back into her chair, trying vainly to hide under the small Yoshihiro.
"Mousse! We got company!" Ranma whispered pointedly as she moved her head towards the other side of the train car.
Mousse nodded, "I see that, but why is Ukyo in such a fancy dress? Is that Konatsu in a suit?" Mousse asked before being knocked silly by an enraged Ranma.
"Stop screwing around, idiot! It's a wonder Cologne hasn't just given you a white cane and dark glasses and be done with it already!"
"Oh! That voice... It's so irritating in its tone!" Kodachi piercing voice almost echoed inside the train, "and yet, it's so familiar." She began walking towards Ranma.
"Shit, we're in trouble here. Enclosed moving space, no outside air, low ceiling, and we got a kid. Mousse! Watch Yoshi-kun!" Ranma whispered.
"Well Well, what have we here. If isn't that harlot Ranma Saotome. I didn't know such a low-class woman could even afford such a common means of conveyance!"
"What! You pickin' a fight Kodachi? Cause I'm only gonna say this once. I ain't in the mood for your bullshit. How about your and your brown-nosers just go do whatever the hell it is ya do and leave me alone?"
Kodachi looked next to Ranma and let out a haughty snort, "I never realized you had a thing for blind pretty boys! Is that your love child I spy? How did you ever managed to ensnare my Ranma-sama?"
"What! I-"
"Am I really a 'pretty boy'? I always thought of myself as proportional, if lean of build," Mousse mused.
"You stay out of this, you miserable waterfowl!"
"I agree!" Kunou's voice echoed "It is high time. Dearest sister, I can no longer stand how you disparage the name of my beloved pigtailed girl!"
Mousse's jaw dropped slightly, "He's stillon that?"
"Dude, he proclaimed his love for me on Graduation Day. While on stage. Nabiki sold the clip as part of her miscellaneous "Furinkan High Blooper Reel" tape."
"Brother, surely you cannot sit idly by while this...this... strumpet! parades herself unpunished! Girls! It's time for something I should have finished in high school. Onwards!" Kodachi proclaimed as the three hangers-on took battle stances.
"Eep." Was all Ranma can say before she ducked a bottle of clear liquid thrown by the kogal, which broke on impact, melting a sign that said "Please, no open liquids in the train car. Thank you."
"Mousse, get Yoshi-kun to safety!" Ranma yelled as she moved to intercept the three girls.
The Kogal snorted, "You may have missed my bleach-peroxide bomb, but how about a tan!" she produced something that looked like a supermarket scanner, but when she pulled the trigger a whirring noise and horizontal flash of light flared, which Ranma just barely missed as it burned a set of doors and the edge of Ranma's pigtail.
"Oh crap!" Ranma looked around and saw a panicked young woman with a purse
Ranma quickly ran up to her, pleading, "Contact!"
"Huh?"
"Crap what's the word, uh.. oh right, 'Compact'!"
"Oh!" She reached in and gave her the item. Ranma opened it hastily, dropping the powder inside.
"Sorry lady!" Ranma said as she heard a whirring noise. She turned around, shielding he face by placing the compact mirror in front of her. She closed her eyes until she felt a flash of light and a scream. The kogal, hair fried into an afro, lay unconscious.
"Okay One down two to... huh!"
Ranma realized why she had only one contender. Mousse had been tangling with the Goth Loli girl, who seemed to be fighting in a similar style as Mousse, producing black, ribbon-festooned items to parry Mousse's own arsenal of weapons.
And Kunou was tangling with his sister, the two making for an even match, though most of the passengers on that end of the train had either fled or been rendered unconscious.
Ranma scanned the train car "Where Yoshi? And for that matter, what happened to the oth-" her thoughts were stopped as the girl in clubwear dropped from the roof of the subway car. Ranma was barely able to contort herself as she fell to miss the girl's heels, which she realized were as sharp as icepicks.
"Crap, I can't anywhere with this low roof." Ranma thought as she curled herself into a ball and rolled away from the new opponent.
Even in plain sight Ranma noticed she was hard to make out. It was as if the sequins of her dress were somehow bending the light around her, making her torso practically invisible.
"Thank god it's such a short cut dress," Ranma muttered with a hint of interest until the girl quickly reached into her clutch purse, revealing an impossibly thin cloak made of the same material which she quickly donned in an obviously practiced motion.
"Oh, of course. What was I thinking? " Ranma said as an aside as she prepared herself for a fight.
Mousse, meanwhile, was grimacing, annoyed that he and this ridiculously dressed woman were mostly evenly matched. He knew the enclosed space put him at a disadvantage since his extra height and reach just made him clumsy rather than offer a wider range of motion. At times like this he almost envied Ranma's ability to adapt every aspect of his fighting style to the situation, even his own body. Being a duck was, in comparison, more annoying than handy, though Mousse had made the most of it. Here though he was stymied with how to proceed.
"I don't want to use the railguns here. To many innocents to have knives thrown around. And I don't have anything else ferro- That's it!"
"Come on, shy boy. Aren't you ready for beautiful destruction?" The goth loli asked with a voice dripping with both sweetness and malice.
"I don't think so. Black was never my color!" Mouse flexed his sleeved revealing the railguns of earlier.
"Mousse! You can't do that, you'll kill-" Ranma yelled but was struck in the face by a fist which appeared suddenly.
"I got it Ranma!"
The Goth Loli threw spiked crucifixes and miniature coffins attached to chains and ribbons. Mousse blocked it with his left arm, entagling him. The girl let out a soft laugh as she slowly pulled him towards her.
"So beautiful. So dead."
"Not at all, I'm just trading in for the special prize!"
With a flick of the wrists, Mousse's right arm began sending out a flurry of pachinko balls at the the Goth Loli, knocking off her hat, tearing holes in her dress, and slowly knocking down her chi until she could barely hold onto Mousse until, finally, she let go and slumped against the door.
Ranma Meanwhile, was being knocked up against figurative ropes. She could sense the invisible club girl, but she was almost as fast as Ranma and, with the enclosed car, she couldn't rely on her mid-air techniques or any ki moves. Ranma was also realizing she was backing intto the fracas between the Kunou siblings.
"Crap, If Tatewaki or Kodachi grab a hold of me, I'm dead to rights." That train of thought horrified her so much that she tripped over the unconscious kogal, falling unceremoniously on her behind, cursing her lack of focus. She then spied a strange, yet familiar bulge in the kogal's left armsleeve.
Upon inspection she found a glass bottle, filled with clear liquid. Instinctively she stood up, feinted a few kicks until she could toss the bottle, which broke against the girl's shoulder. The cloak began to warp and melt, becoming visible.
Ranma cracked her knuckles.
"I don't normally hit girls, but I've had just about enough of this," Ranma readied her fists and yelled, "Kachuu Tenshin Amaguri- wha?" Ranma stopped her windup since what was initially a small patch of shoulder the contents of the bottle revealed had become a significant part of a now half-naked club girl, desperately clinging to cover herself.
"AAAA! Kodachi-saaaama!" The girl said as she ran past Ranma, clumps of dress falling away from her.
Ranma was confused and grateful that her female form didn't distract him as much from the objectively beautiful, nearly naked woman's departure. Or, at the least, any distraction wasn't made immediately apparent. Mousse for his part was thankful for the cloak.
"Akihabara Station. Akihabara." The speaker announced
The train began slowing down to a stop as Tatewaki and Kodachi still traded blows, bokken against ribbon, hoop and club, though where they had acquired their weapons was something of an open question. As the train stopped, Ranma ignored the siblings and said, "Where's Yoshi-kun?"
"Right here, big sis" the boy sad as he appeared from under a seat.
"Awesome, let's get out of here while they're still occupied!"
Ranma and Mousse, both holding onto Yoshiro hands, quickly ran out of the train car as JR security moved in to intercept and, ultimately, discover their woeful unpreparedness in dealing with the Kunou siblings.
The trio found their train and jumped in. Unlike the last train, it was almost completely empty.
Ranma and Mousse found an L-shaped section of seating and slumped onto opposite ends, both of them sitting with legs and arms splayed and their heads leaning back. Yoshihiro sat between them, beaming a smile
"That was soo cool! You guys are like characters from a manga or something!"
The two teenagers let out a dry laugh.
Ranma sighed loudly, "Man, I'm beat. What a night."
"Indeed. Never a dull moment when you're with Saotome."
"Oh yeah, like I was supposed to know Kodachi was gonna have a night out on the town with her ninja fashion squad! At least Tatewaki's insanity actually helped me this time, instead of it being a pain in my ass, like before."
"I thought I'd never hear the day when you'd be thanking Kunou for something."
"Ha ha. At this point, I just wanna to get Yoshi-kun back to his mom."
There was a pause as the train finally neared Koto, the bay coming into full view. Mousse sat up straight and adjusted his glasses. He cleared his throat, "Um...Ranma?"
The girl raised her head, "What is it?"
"Um... I apologize if you take this the wrong way, but um, you should probably sit in a more... lady-like manner."
"Huh? What's the hell is that supposed'ta mean?"
"Um... people are staring at you."
Ranma looked up as the few people on the train, mostly older women, looked at her, bug-eyed and disapproving.
"But I'm just- ah, crap." Ranma sighed as she sat up, knees together and hands at her lap, leaned against the window and fell asleep.
Nodoka laughed gently, "Sounds like quite an experience. And you managed to not strike any of your attackers. Very gentlemanly of you."
"Well I wasn't exactly planning not to, but I guess it's good it worked out that way. Ya know, I never did ask how Mousse got a hold of so many pachinko balls. Ah, well. Anyway, we finally got to Chiba," Ranma continued.
As they exited Hachimanshuku Station, the trio found a map of the surrounding area just outside.
Mousse removed his glasses and stared closely at the sign. "Okay, it's about 4 and a half kilometers to Yoshihiro's house. Not too far."
"My mommy usually taxis when we come home cause she gets tired going uphill."
"Well, I think we can save our money. Get on my back Yoshi-kun. How about we fly there, Mousse?"
"I'm not dousing myself Ranma."
"I mean go by rooftop, idiot."
"Oh, of course. Very well then."
Ranma looked back at the curious boy, "Hang on extra tight Yoshi-kun. You're gonna enjoy this," and jumped as high as she could, landing on a nearby roof.
Ranma and Mousse steadily made their way to Yoshihiro's house. As they neared the neighborhood, the house had been easy to spot, since it was the only one with all the lights still on.
Ranma and Mousse jumped down to the street level a few blocks away. The red-haired girl put down Yoshihiro and held his hand. They walked up to the house and rang the doorbell.
A young woman, perhaps in her mid thirties, looking very haggard with puffy eyes, answered the door.
"Y-yes?" The woman initially croaked, but her expression changed when Yoshihiro exclaimed, "Mommy! Mommy!"
"Yo-Yoshihiro!" The woman's face instantly brightened and looked years younger as she kneeled down to hug the small boy.
Looking up at Ranma and Mousse she said, "You two... You found Yoshihiro?"
Ranma blushed slightly, "Well, yeah, um, Mrs. Sanada. We kinda were walking around the park and found the him looking miserable outside of Nerima Station."
"Nerima!" Mrs. Sanada exclaimed.
Mousse nodded. "Indeed. That's what we thought when the boy said he lived in Chiba. Still, Ranma here thought it best to bring him back ourselves,"
"Yeah, well, I felt bad for the little squirt, he should be with his mommy, not a bunch of cops."
"Thank you so much! I-I don't know how to repay you two!"
"Oh, um, it was nothing, really! I-I do this kinda thing all the time! We both do, right Mousse?"
Mousse nodded, then smirked and remarked casually, "Oh, I would say you do more of the rescuing than I do Saotome, what with rescuing your girlfriend how many times already? 3? 4?"
"Girl...friend?" The woman cocked her head, confused.
"Shaddup Mousse. Now ain't the time!" Ranma turned to the woman, "Really I was just happy to see him back home with his mom. Kinda a sore spot for me, I guess. I mean, some train fare back home would be great, but you don't gotta put yourself out on our account or nothin'!"
The woman looked at the tomboy somwhat skeptically, but replied, "Oh, heavens, that's no trouble at all. One second," the woman re-entered the house and came back a few minutes later with a purse.
"Here, for both of you," She said as she produced four 5,000 yen bills, "It's the least I can do to get my Yoshihiro back."
"Oh wow! That's too much! Are you sure? I feel bad and all, Mrs. Sanada."
Mousse lowered his glasses and looked at Ranma, "I don't, Saotome. Besides, you owe me for all that Chinese food you ate. I swear, I think you are even more of a glutton as a girl than as a boy."
"What?" The woman's expression of confusion returned.
"Mousse! Don't mind him, he's kind of a dope. Um, thank you very much Mrs. Sanada. This was really unexpected, but thank you," Ranma bowed deeply and accepted the money.
"It's more than okay. I really can't thank you enough," Mrs. Sanada said, tearing up slightly.
Ranma blushed, "Well, um... I'm happy we got your son back. Hey, Yoshi-kun, mind your Ma from now on, ya hear?"
"Yes, big sis! You and big brother are so cool!"
Ranma nervously laughed and smiled as Yoshihiro entered the house.
Mrs. Sanada looked at Ranma closely, "Thank you again Ranma and... Mousse, was it? I honestly don't know what I would've done. I'm in your debt." She bowed very deeply to the two teenagers. Afterwards, she smiled, "I must say, though, you two are the funniest couple I've ever met. You would be a hit on TV as a boyfriend/girlfriend comedy duo."
Mrs. Sanada then entered the house, locking the door behind her.
From outside the two could hear Yoshihiro exclaim, "I'm sorry I got lost, but It was so cool mommy! Big Sis did Kung-fu on the subway against a naked girl! And then she and big brother ran on the rooftops like ninjas and, and, and"
Mrs. Sanada's reply was a faint "Of course Yoshi-kun."
Ranma and Mousse looked at each other blankly for a moment until they both started snickering, before growing into deep laughs. After a minute of deep guffawing, Ranma pocketed one of the bills and gave the rest to Mousse.
"All right, I think we're square now."
"Indeed."
Ranma sighed as she started walking away from the Sanada residence.
"You just had to give me a hard time there, didn't ya?"
Mousse replied, "Somebody has to, 'Big Sis' ," and darted for the station.
"Why I oughtta pluck your feathers off you Chinese freak show!"
Mousse just started laughing loudly as Ranma chased him back to the train station.
Ranma smiled as she finished up her reverie, "I guess after we got him back to his mom, man, she was a wreck, but I guess that's normal n' stuff. I mean, afterwards we just stood there for a while and, I dunno why, but even on the train back, we were laughing our asses off." Ranma caught herself, "Oh, Sorry Ma."
"It's all right dear, I'm your mother, not the Emperor. You were probably relieved. But, I have to ask, why weren't you a boy from the start?"
"Huh? It just didn't seem important at the time. I just left the house after Pops knocked me in the water. I'm mean, not like it matters what I look like when I eat. Heck, I was happy I had the extra speed against those things Mousse built. It hadn't even entered my mind what body I was in till I the kid started called me 'big sis' and caught me by surprise. It was kinda funny, I guess. I don't exactly see myself as the doting type."
"My son," Nodoka paused, her brow furrowed, "you're a very protective person. With everyone around you. I remember the times you've saved me, even when you looked like... 'that'. It's natural I suppose, people are drawn to that quality. I mean, I'm sure it's a quality Akane likes about you."
"Ma, come on..." Ranma's face flushed in embarrassment, "This is gettin' weird."
"Why is that? I'm proud my son found himself a nice girl. And was manly enough to have other women wanting his affections as well."
"Yeah... real great," Ranma deadpan slipped past her mother unnoticed.
"Now, do me a favor before I go to bed. I want to see your face."
"Whaddaya mean? I'm right here."
"I want to see my son's true face."
Ranma blinked slowly, "Oh. Yeah, Ma. Of course. One sec." She stood and walked to the kitchen, the filled, but cold kettle on the stove, as always.
"Hey Ma, how's Akane, by the way? I haven't really seen her since last night."
"Oh, she's sleeping over at a friend's house."
"Oh, Yuka or Sayuri?"
"Oh no, that nice Osaka girl, Ukyo."
"Ukyo?" Ranma turned her head in puzzlement.
"That's right. How is she these days?"
"She's okay Ma, usually. I think she's gotten over me finally. I think, anyway. I told ya she was my best friend when I was little, right?"
"Is that so?" Nodoka asked with something of a sour note in her expression.
"Yeah. I thought she was a boy then. Guess maybe I thought that she was so similar to me, she must be a boy too. Wasn't till I cut open her jacket that first day at Furinkan High that I realized who she was. Kinda funny how things turn out," she giggled, despite herself until she noted a tinge of displeasure on her mother's face from the corner of one eye which made her go quiet.
A silence fell between the two, the gas burner's flames hissing otherwise filling the silence. After a few minutes, steam was emanating from the kettle. Ranma turned off the stove, grabbed the kettle, and proceeded to pour the water over her. Ranma hissed in pain as he put a hand through his now black hair, glistening with water.
"Jeez, I probably coulda pulled it sooner. Almost burned my face," Ranma said, putting down the kettle and grabbing a small towel Kasumi had on hand for the purpose of cleaning Jusenkyo-related spills. Ranma sighed and walked back to the living room and sat next to his mother.
"Ranma, I'm glad I can finally see you again. Ever since I agreed to that idiotic idea of your father's, all I've wanted was to see my son again. I know you still have your problems, but I hope I can at least provide you with some support."
"T-thanks Ma. I-I'm happy to hear it."
"It's such a shame about that wedding, though. Not that I'm rushing you two or anything, but it was a shame that old coot drank your wedding present. That would have been such a load off of your mind."
"Yeah, that was... something, alright."
She looked at Ranma. It was indeed quite late, but, compared to moments ago, the animated expressions and the energy seemed to have disappeared in a cloud of steam. His eyes, still deep blue and intense, yet somehow duller now, hazy with thought. His shoulders and back were slumped forwards, drooping slightly.
"Ranma?"
"Huh?" Ranma looked up, "Oh, sorry Ma, I guess I spaced out again. I must be more tired than I thought. I should hit the hay and call it a night."
"Oh," Nodoka replied, "all right dear. Good night, my son."
"Yeah," Ranma similarly responded, "thanks Ma. Good night." Ranma slowly trudged up the stares, his expression distant.
Nodoka looked at the boy as he disappeared from her sight. She thought upon what had occurred for a while, then silently walked upstairs to bed herself.
That night, Ranma slept fitfully, the covers crumpled against his ankles as he kept turning in bed. His head shaking quickly and his arms twitching.
Akane let out a long yawn and stretched her arms as Ukyou took tne casette tape out of the VCR and back into the rental case.
"I didn't get it. Was it supposed to be making fun of horror movies? Cause it was still pretty scary." Ukyou mused.
"I think it was more playing with the audience's expectations. That's why you had the guy who worked at the video store as a character. It ended up being more of a murder mystery than a horror movie. I guess it's a bit funny that the reveal was a murder mystery cliche."
"I guess that makes sense. Then it's a shame Konatsu ran to his room as soon as Ghostface showed up. I think he would have actually liked this one."
"Well he was probably just tired," Akane laughed it off, "Speaking of which, I guess we should go to bed too," Akane began laying out the futon Ukyou had lent her. Ukyo left the room to throw away the spent bag of popcorn. When she returned to the now darkened room, she crawled into bed and put the covers.
There was a stillness in the room as the two girls laid there, eyes closed. Akane breathed heavily, trying to force the yawn that would send her to sleep outwards. Finally, after giving that up, she turned to face Ukyo.
"Hey Ukyo?"
"Mmm? What's up?" she asked, sleepily.
"What are you going to do after high school?"
"I dunno, work at the restaurant? If I'm lucky, maybe I can franchise it..." she replied dreamily.
"You never thought about college?"
"College is expensive, Acchan. Maybe I can somehow try taking classes part-time. Not sure what I'd want to study though."
"Hmmm... maybe if you picked up another part-time worker and let Konatsu manage things, you can give yourself space to go to college full-time."
"I don't know... I have an okay cushion, but I'd be really scared that business would dry up and then I'd be in trouble. I don't have a family to rely on like you and Ranchan do."
"Your restaurant is s popular, though. I mean, it looks like you're doing well... I guess I've never had to run a restaurant before... it must be really hard, especially before and all. I'm sorry."
"No it's..." Ukyou let out a sigh, "It's not important. I'm actually happy you can believe in me. I'm having a hard time doing the same. What about you? From what I've heard at school, it sounds like you have a plan."
"Well, I've been looking at schools. I definitely want to go to college, but..."
"Hmm?"
"Ukyou, can you keep a secret?" Akane asked.
"Of course I can, Acchan. Well, unless I get brainwashed. Then all bets are off." Ukyo laughed a bit, but her joke seemed to have fallen flat.
"The truth is... I don't really know what I want to do with my life."
"Really? It always seem like you're so prepared though. Compared to the rest of us, you've been paying a lot of attention to college, you know, like exam dates and stuff."
"Yeah, but... it's just talk. Something to fill the space when I get asked. I mean, sometimes I feel like it doesn't even matter cause of... the other thing."
"You mean the engagement? Look Acchan, If I did something to discourage you, I'm sorry and I want to fix it now."
"No! I mean, yes it's kind of about the engagement, but it isn't what you think. I mean, assuming things end up like I think, they want me married as soon as possible. I'm worried because when you're married... it's as if you lose a part of yourself."
"But you get to be with someone..." Ukyou replied, the longing in her voice was immediately apparent. "You're in love with Ranchan right?" Ukyou hesitantly asked for confirmation's sake.
Akane paused forcing up as much energy as she could, "ugh! Yes! I.. do. I guess I really truly do, but... I mean, he's the martial artist, right? The heir to the Anything Goes School?"
"That's what his father and your father seem to drone on about whenever I see them talking to him."
"Then where does that leave me? I know I'm not the best so maybe... maybe I don't count."
"Acchan, you're still like in the top 5 percent! Ranchan is in the 99.99th percentile here."
"But that isn't good enough, is it? I'm always going to be in his shadow."
"Well, I know he can be kind of an ass about his skills, but if pushed, he'd say you were great in your own right. I think so. Really! And I mean it's not like you or Ryouga or any one of us weren't there when he needed help. He's proud, but not stupid... Well, I want to believe he isn't... " Ukyou sounded more usure as she spoke and deicded to just be quiet.
"I thought 'maybe I can just do something else' and be good at that. Then I can be Akane the actress or the teacher or the doctor or the policewoman or whatever else and I wouldn't have to feel like I've disappeared. I'd have my own little light that shone next to his huge spotlight."
"I'm telling you, Ranchan wouldn't overshadow you as a fighter. Not on purpose, anyway."
"He has a stupid way of showing it. He obviously doesn't care if I get better. I still don't think he even really takes me seriously. Sometimes I wish I could find a way to prove to him that I can fight."
"Hmmm. Maybe you have a point... I guess he never really spars with you?"
"He says he doesn't hit girls. I remember him mentioning it the few times I tried when he first came."
"Hah! I'm pretty sure at this point he's broken that rule dozens of times, though most of them were when he was a girl, too." Ukyou mused, but then noticed Akane sigh heavily in frustration.
"See? Look at this. I even start mentioning my interest in martial arts and somehow we've started talking about him again! It's so frustrating. Maybe I should just forget about the Anything Goes School, leave it to him. Maybe I can find something else that makes me happy. I'd have a nice hobby, at least."
Ukyo finally sighed and sat up in her bed. She quickly turned on a small lamp on her night stand.
"Akane," Ukyo looked at the girl lying next to her dead on. "Listen here. You are a good fighter. The best ever? No, not really, but you're good. In my mind, with some extra work, you'd be as good as the rest of us weirdos." Ukyo winked.
"Well, what am I going to do if I can't get Ranma to teach me? Or at least honestly spar with me?"
"Then..." Ukyo paused for a beat then nodded softly, "then I'll do it. I can't teach you much, but at least you got someone who will keep you on your toes. I guess I'd be like Ryouga, but less smelly." Ukyou wrinkled her nose as her sense memory triggered.
Akane giggled a bit, "Well he likes to help Akari out on the farm. He can't help it if he smells like pig now and again,"
Ukyou blanched slightly as she nodded, "Yeah, of course..." She continued, "anyways, I'm much better than RYouga. And, if I wanted to, I'd be totally better looking guy to boot." Ukyou put on her best "bishounen" expression and the two fell into a small giggling fit.
"Thank you, Ucchan. It means a lot to me." Ukyou was taken aback slightly, then smiled.
Suddenly, a light banging noise could be heard from the wall separating the room, a shaky tenor voice emanated from the other side.
"I'm really happy you're having a nice heart to heart Ukyou-sama, can you keep it down? I want to sleep!" Konatsu pleaded, his voice taking a distinctly feminine resonance the louder he got.
Ukyou spoke through the wall, "Sorry Kona-chan. Good night."
A staccato "Hmph" was the only response. The two girls laughed as Ukyou turned off the lamp and the two went back to sleep.