I do not own Ranma or any of the characters, places, intellectual properties etc therein, they are in the sole ownership of one Rumiko Takahashi. Unless you believe that conspiracy about... no maybe I shouldn't say.
Ranma never thought waking up could be so peaceful. The usual bucket of cold water his father would deliver on him, even before he received the curse, had been his alarm clock for the past fourteen years. However this peculiarity at him waking of his own accord didn't register with his brain in the way it probably should have.
This early in the morning certain synapses just wouldn't fire and his mind made no connection with his observation and any memories he had. What it did notice was the warm comforting mass that was pressed up against his front, which he also had his arms loosely wrapped around. Not wanting to succumb to the waking world just yet, nor lose this strange new comfort he hugged the warm mass even tighter.
The response was a quiet, but still noticeable murmur that, oddly enough, didn't come from him. Finally deciding enough was enough with all these peculiarities with his deeply ingrained morning routine his brain forced his eyes to open a crack. Now he knew he must be losing it at the world had turned... purple? No that wasn't right, when his vision focused he realised he could pick out individual strands, that was good, it was just hair.
That was right about the time realisation hit him like a steamroller. Purple hair?! The power with which he launched himself back from Xian-Pu was enough to crack the wardrobe, splintering the doors like they were rice paper. Ranma barely noticed as he continued to backpedal away from the now roused girl who just stared at him strangely.
Xian-Pu considered the weird behaviour of her Airen and felt the gradually decreasing warmth on her back. Putting those two with the position she woke up in and the dots started connecting in her mind. For now however she decided to play it innocent so as to not upset Ranma any further.
"What Ranma do on floor looking like he see cat?" Ranma was still inching away from the seemingly confused girl unill he met resistance in the form of her wall. A part of him actually considered turning around, smashing through the wall and making a break for it. His common sense overrode that desire as he had no wish to damage the Amazons' property further, not to mention it would look extremely suspicious in front of Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung.
"Airen no sleep well?" As a matter of fact it had been one of the best sleeps Ranma could remember up there with the night before Genma and him had swam to China (his father had wanted him at full strength for the journey) and one night at the Tendo dojo when his father had forgot to set an alarm. Of course he wouldn't tell any of that to Xian-Pu but he realised he had to say something.
"It was... Okay." The nonchalant answer genuinely confused and irritated Xian-Pu, she imagined that after such a reaction this morning Ranma had to be feeling embarrassment, but perhaps she was wrong after all.
"That it? Just okay?" Ranma continued to stare at her, almost impassively.
"Well it was nice not to sleep on a futon I guess." Xian-Pu just through her hands up in the air and huffed.
"Sometimes Ranma, Xian-Pu just no understand you!" And with that she trudged out of the room, leaving Ranma to finally let out the long sigh he had been holding in. His stomach just happened to pick that moment to let out a loud groan. He too walked out of the small room, passed the bathroom where he heard the sound of a tap being turned on, followed by running water until he finally found his way downstairs.
"Why good morning future son-in-law." Oh great, the last person he really wanted to see right now, except maybe Akane. Just the thought of what might have happened to him if Akane found out about this was enough to send shivers down his spine.
As if her name was Beetlejuice The door of the Cat-cafe blew open, and in the now smoking frame stood one very angry Akane Tendo.
"RANMA!" There was no hiding from her here, she had him in her sights and he was no better than a deer caught in headlights as his resolve shattered and he awaited the inevitable punt, or mallet hit or maybe some new, inventive way for Akane to hurt him. He had closed his eyes so when the awaited blow never came he cracked one eye open to see what the holdup was.
Amazingly, blocking Akane's mallet just a few inches away from the underside of Ranma's chin was Ku-Lon's staff.
"Why hello Akane dear, what brings you here?"
"Out of the way Cologne, I'm going to give Ranma what he deserves!"
"Oh? And just what does he deserve this punishment for?" Ranma could barely believe what he was seeing; the old goat was actually defending him. Not that he needed protection his ego assured him but the gesture was just as powerful all the same. Akane even seemed to falter.
"Well, you know!"
"Why no dear, please enlighten me." It was that same condescending tone Ku-Lon always spoke with but for once Ranma wasn't on the receiving end and he was just now noticing the profound effect it really had on him. Unfortunately just when Akane seemed to be calming down in order to find an appropriate response the worst thing that could possibly happen, did.
"Great Grandmother, what all commotion about?" Xian-Pu had emerged from the stairs dressed in only a towel wrapped around her midsection, he Purple hair flowed wet and freely down her back as, even now, she continued to dry it with another towel.
"Aiyah, what angry girl here for!" This was all the evidence Akane needed, Ranma looking guilty, Ku-Lon protecting him and Xian-Pu half naked. Once again her hammer came about in a swing that would have sent Ranma through the roof of the cafe an once again it was halted before it reached its target. Akane was about to round on Ku-Lon for interrupting her yet again but all that came out was a whisper when she realised just who had stopped her blow.
"Ranma?" he had never tried to stop her before. All this time a small part of her knew that him, the better martial artist should have no problem blocking such reckless and uncoordinated blows, yet he never had. Akane had always attributed this to Ranma acknowledging he was in the wrong and accepting punishment. Ranma on the other hand decided he wasn't going to get anywhere with this if he couldn't even talk to Akane, especially if he was sent a few hundred feet from her.
"Akane, can we talk outside?" For some reason this startling turn of events had drained Akane dry of her overwhelming rage, so she just meekly nodded and allowed Ranma to lead her out of the house.
Once they were a good distance from the cafe Ranma grabbed her hand. Unsure of what the gesture meant, Akane was wary for anything Ranma might try to pull but instead the young martial artist simply composed himself.
"Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung are here."
"What? Those little brats from China that nearly killed us with that stupid Dance of Fire Dragon technique?"
"Yeah, those ones. They found out somehow that I have other fiancées other than Shampoo and decided to see for themselves, and if necessary, eliminate them." Akane seemed angered at his insinuation.
"Oh so what? I couldn't handle two ten year old girls, is that what you're saying?" Ranma merely sweat dropped at the accusation.
"They learned some new, really powerful technique while they were away, even the old Ghoul says it's impressive."
"Huh? New technique?"
"Suposed to be used to wipe out Mongolian hordes attacking the great wall of something like that." Akne paled at the prospect of going up against something that powerful. "So I told them I didn't have any other fiancées so they would go back to China."
"Y-you were trying to protect m-me?" Ranma happily sighed when he realised she finally understood. "So why didn't you come back last night?" Ranma seemed to grow his own frustration as he thought.
"The old Ghoul invited them to stay awhile and I have to keep up the pretence that Shampoo's my only fiancée or they'll come after you or maybe Ukyo." Akane grew red over the mention of the girl she had thrown out of her house and caused Ranma to become disappointed in her.
"Oh, well, I guess I understand."
"Now Akane why you always got to be like... wait what?"
"I said I understand, you were just trying to protect your friends." With that final comment she turned and began walking back in the direction of her house, leaving a confused Ranma scratching his head. When he finally returned to the Cat-cafe he found the four Amazonz all sitting around the table enjoying their breakfast.
"Ah son-in-law I see from your lack of injuries your little talk went well?"
"Um yeah, it did I guess." Ranma said it in total disbelief, perhaps he was just dreaming and soon that bucket of cold water would come and wash way all this confusion. But as the morning turned into afternoon and afternoon turned into evening no such luck came for the aspiring martial artist. Ranma was eventually roused from the trance-like state he had adopted all day by Ukyo lightly shaking his shoulder.
"Umm Ranma-honey, I just finished working for the day."
"Uh huh" Ukyo wasn't sure if it was a statement or a question.
"So now we can get to work fixing that little problem..."
"Uh huh" Ukyo grew agitated.
"Ranma are you even listening to me!"
"Uh h-" before he could finish a large metal spatula replaced the space in front of his face as it sent him into the wall of the cafe, leaving a nice Ranma-shaped indent after he peeled himself off. At least now he was fully aware.
"Hey! Whadidyadothatfor!"
"We need to figure out a way to beat the gambling king and get my restaurant back!"
"Oh, Oh yeah." With all the recent excitement Ranma had almost forgotten the reason Ukyo was at the Nekohanten in the first place.
"Well then come on, somebody has to help me practice." And with that she produced a pack of playing cards out of seemingly nowhere and expertly dealt them out to herself and Ranma. Seeing the display of skill Ranma grew a questioning look.
"Ukyo, you seem pretty good at this, why do you need my help?"
"Because I haven't practised in a while so I'm probably rusty." Ukyo showed Ranma exactly how 'rusty' she was for the next twenty minutes as she beat him at old maid over and over again. By the end of it Ranma was just about clinging onto the last vestige of dignity he had left, in the form of his undershorts.
"One more game Ranma honey?" Ranma new that if he lost once more there would be nothing to stop Ukyo from taking his yellow and blue shorts away, completely stripping him of any pride he had left. But his personality of never backing down from a challenge won out. However just as he was about to accept Ukyo's 'last game' Xian-Pu cut in from the doorway.
"Xian-Pu like to play instead of Ranma" normally Ranma's ego would never allowed someone to take his stead in a challenge but for once the small, rational part of his mind screamed at him to let this one slide, at least she had clothes to lose. So that was that and Xian-Pu sat down across from Ukyo, who once again, expertly dealt out the cards.
Ranma was amazed as he watched the display the two put up for the next hour and a half, for every game Xian-Pu lost she would win two others and slowly but surely she began winning back every article of clothing Ranma had managed to lose to the Okonomiyaki chef. Finally, and reluctantly, Ukyo handed over Ranma's iconic red shirt over to the happy Amazon before standing up wearily.
"Great, I can't even beet Shampoo, however am I going to beat the Gambling king?" On any other night Xian-Pu would have been fairly apathetic to her love-rival's plight but she was in such a good mood from all the winning, she actually opted to help the dejected girl.
"Xian-Pu could come and help Ukyo beat crazy card man if she want?" Ukyo was taken aback by the kind gesture.
"Well um, I guess it couldn't hurt, thanks Shampoo."
"Is no problem." Ranma was glad to see Xian-Pu so happy but he knew it couldn't just be because she had beaten Ukyo, there had to be something else going on.
"Well then, I guess we'll head over to my restaurant then."
"Okay, Xian-Pu meet you in five minutes, have to get ready." Ukyo gave a cautious smile before leaving the room, unsure herself over possible motives Xian-Pu might have.
"Hey, that was nice of ya Shampoo"
"Airen think so?"
"Yeah, it's good to see you and Ucchan getting along, one less worry for me" he said it with a smile but the almost predatory gaze that Xian-Pu fixed him with made his grin falter.
"Um Xian-Pu, can I have my clothes back now?" Xian-Pu giggled, Ranma did not like that sound one bit.
"Hmm, what Airen willing to do for clothes."
"Hey Shampoo, don't kid around like that."
"Xian-Pu no kid, like Xian-Pu say, what Airen willing to do for clothes?"
"Aww come on Shampoo I'll do anything just give them back." He regretted the words immediately.
"Aiyah! Then Ranma go on date with Xian-Pu!" he should have seen that one coming but he figured that one small, little date with Xian-Pu was better than having to walk around for the rest of the time the other two Amazons were here, half –naked.
"Um, Yeah, sure. You want to go now?"
"No silly Ranma, Xian-Pu decide later, have to help Ukyo now, but remember you promise so you have to go whenever Xian-Pu says, Okay?" Ranma grumbled at the prospect but swallowed his pride for the moment.
"Okay, so can I have my clothes back now?" Xian-Pu giggled again.
"Hmmm, Xian-Pu no think so, Xian-Pu wait until after we beat crazy card man, so Ranma just wait here until Xian-Pu get back." She turned to leave but Ranma grabbed her arm.
"Hey, we had a deal."
"Ranma no say when he get clothes back." He admitted he had left that minute little detail out of their arrangement.
"Please Shampoo." Xian-Pu knew she couldn't resist Ranma for much longer, her resolve was already weakening.
"Fine Ranma have back one piece of clothing now, rest when Xian-Pu get back." Ranma quickly and thankfully grabbed his trousers, pulling them on as hurriedly as he could manage. Before he could attempt to get back any more Xian-Pu ran out of the room, calling for Ukyo to go. Ranma had been about to make an attempt for another article of his clothing but seeing the fleeing girl he knew he wasn't going to catch her before she was out the door, and there was no way he was going outside dressed in only his trousers.
Instead he turned out of the room and made his way over to Xian-Pu's room "So she wants to play that game huh?"
Xian-Pu came back from the restaurant elated, not only had she and Ukyo managed to beat the Gambling king, Ukyo had been graceful enough to allow her the honour of booting him out the door. It had actually been extremely simple to beat the Gambling king; Xian-Pu had no idea why Ranma had found it so difficult in the past. His tells were obvious and his weak attempt at manipulating the girls to choose a specific card were pitiful.
All of this contributed to Xian-Pu skipping gleefully home, expectantly wondering what Ranma was up to in his vulnerable state. She greeted her Great Grandmother and informed her of the situation, who in turn informed her Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung had gone to bed. She then quietly crept upstairs so she would not wake the pair, not to mention she also wanted to see if she could surprise Ranma, who would no doubt be happy to see the Amazon who still possessed the majority of his clothing.
Unfortunately when she did open the door with all the grace and stealth of a ninjitsu master, she found her Airen, draped over her bed, still in his trousers, sound asleep. There were small balls of paper in bowl on the other side of the room; apparently Ranma had tried to pass the time with a game. Xian-Pu admirably noted not a single ball of paper was anywhere but inside the bowl.
Finally focused on Ranma once again she silently removed her clothes and snuck into the bed next to him where, in his suggestive sleepy state he instinctively wrapped his arm around the new source of warmth. Certainly he would be even more surprised next morning that last but to Xian-Pu, curled up in Ranma's strong, almost protective embrace it was completely worth it.