Ranma kept pacing from side to side, looking over her shoulder at her son who stared puzzled by his mom's sudden nervousness. "Mom. .If you want to talk with Akane alone I can leave." The redhead felt a pang of shame when he asked, but she was more afraid for his feelings to be hurt than Ranma's fears for obvious reasons.
"Just for a moment Ranran, Ok?" The boy bobbed his head respectfully, leaving the two girls on the room and going after more pressing matters. Akane scanned her trembling eyes dancing at the pace of her lower lip, giving her the idea of how difficult this was for the boy inside of her.
"Your not entirely sure about Ryoga aren't you?" Ranma gaped when her ex had nailed the problem right in the center, avoiding embarrassing moments trying to explain what she felt. "How can I!?. . .I am a boy 'Kane, an' that's not goin' ta change any time soon. I know, I know he saved me from those bastards, an' his money will keep me away from prison."
Her stare felt so empty, almost like the days he spent behind bars. . .Right before he would freeze and his eyes would go gray. "I like him alright?. . .I really like him, an' if I was a girl I would jump over him, but I ain't!. . .I can' act like everything is fine an' we'll be happily ever after."
"Fine!" Responded Akane with a smidge of poison on the word. "I'll tell Ranryu that you and I are getting back together and that he can look for someone else." As she aimed for the door, a hand grabbed her wrist, pulling a bit harshly away from the entrance.
"Are you crazy!?. . .I will not let my son die a horrible death. . .I mean, if your Ok with it, stay with him." Akane snarled at her words, twirling around and shoving the redhead against the wall. "And you prefer to see Ryoga consumed by who knows what!?. . .I never thought you were this cold."
But it wasn't it. The youngest Tendo knew what really happened here, but she made a promise during those chats she had with the time traveler to not interfere for more than Ranma could handle. "L-Look. . .I know there's something else bothering you, and I promise when the right time comes, I will explain everything, but Right now Ryoga needs you. . .Or."
The pigtailed girl had her eyes hidden with the fringe of hair dropping over her forehead, growing a slight swollen vein on the side when indeed, something else besides leaving Ryoga hanging was killing her inside. "I don' want him to die. . .I would never let him do that. . .I. . .I don' know what ta do." Akane could see the reluctance in her body when Ranma's closed fists gripped the sides of her pants and her open mouth showed how clenched her teeth were.
With some patience, the raven haired teen approached a tensely redhead, grabbing her shoulder as she whispered into her ear. "F-Fine. . .Let Akari stay at his side. . .Maybe she could. . ." Ranma peeked behind her bangs, showing this time her fangs with a clear fit of anger.
"An' let that moron treat Ryoga like a pig the rest of his life!?. . .Never!" Akane blinked at the sudden reaction, deciding to test the waters ahead from Ranma's little outburst. "Fine. . .I'm sure Anna Brown will be as faithful with him, not to mention how in love she looks."
The youngest Tendo started for the door again, and again, the redhead stopped her on her tracks. "Y-You can'!. . .W-What if they hit it off?. . .He could like her back an' who knows, maybe they would fall in love!" Ranma's hands were tightly gripped to the other girl, asking with timid looks what was going on in her mind.
"Gee Ranma. . .I think what you really are is jealous of Ryoga despite your fight over your manhood." The declaration again hit the mark, forcing the redhead to rest on the wall, sliding slowly to the floor and moving her bent knees toward her chest.
"W-What if I am?. . .This is a really hard choice ta take an' I don' want ta mess it up." Declared firmly the girl. "And have poor Ryoga die while you decide what to do!? No Ranma. . .Ryoga-kun needs to know what will it happen."
Ranma looked to the side this time, hugging her retracted legs and resting her head on top. "That ain't all. . .I still want ta know 'bout. . ." Her eyes said the rest, gaining a deep sigh of defeat from the other girl. "Fine. . .I will tell you why I chose Ranryu over you."
"Because that's the real problem is it?. . .You don't understand how would I accept him right away after all we've been through. I already explained the dreams and my feelings towards him, but I guess you want more" She moved from a standing position and at her side, starting to play with her thumbs when this confession wasn't supposed to be revealed.
"Ranma. Imagine if I could take the best parts from you. . .Your manliness and bravado for example, now think for moment if I could do the same from Ryoga-kun. . .His sweet demeanor and worry over others. Now think what would be the result if you combined both."
The redhead chuckled by the idea, arriving to the same point Akane tried to make. "It would be Ranran of course. . .After all, he is our son." The other teen smiled at the conclusion, admitting it sounded so true. "I know that makes me shallow and selfish, but that's not all."
Akane surrounded Ranma with her arm, closing her lips to the redhead's ear and whispered the most terrible of news she could have heard so far. "Ranma. . .I am not cured yet. The cancer is still in me but dormant. . .Ran-kun is still giving me his blood once a day, but it's random."
"So you see. . .I like him a lot, he is a combination of the best two males in this world and without him everyday, I surely get worse again and die." Said at the same time her head rested on Ranma's own. The pigtailed teen gaped at the idea, realizing Akane was, in a way, sacrificing just like everyone else.
"I-I see. . .I can' believe I got so jealous of you, Ryoga an' even my son. What the hell is wrong with me?" Akane laughed goodheartedly, agreeing that's why women are more feminine than men. "Welcome to womanhood Ranma-Chan"
The title made the redhead wince, but at this point she started to understand how a real girl felt with matters of the heart. "Well that sucks big time. . ." Both teens agreed, leaving the doubts behind and looking for a better way to solve Ranma's immediate problems
When the two girls talked about alternatives, a knock came from the door which the youngest Tendo answered promptly. "Akane. . .I tried not to eavesdrop but you know me. I may have a solution for all of Ranma's problems."
The teen let Nabiki enter, closing the door behind and securing it with the lock. Ranma had been waiting for an opportunity to deal with her, but at this point, the redhead was once again in a disadvantage. "What do you want Nabiki. . ."
"A way to give you time and fix those two from marrying Ryoga-kun." Replied the ice queen nonchalantly. Ranma and Akane raised a brow simultaneously, admitting the girl was good with plans, but at what price would she cooperate.
"An' what's in it for you?" Asked the redhead distrusting her methods. "Nothing. . ." She had a big and almost genuine smile adorning her features, making her demeanor look a lot creepier than usual. Ranma raised her brow again, wondering what would really be the pay, but after a while Nabiki shrugged carelessly, offering her open hand to seal the deal.
"So?. . .Are you in or not?" Taking a deep breath, the pigtailed teen knew she would regret this one day, but time was of the essence, shaking her hand and forgetting the consequences for later. Nabiki waited no longer, leaving the puzzled pair as she made her way to a bag in her bedroom, retrieving its contents and then walking down the stairs.
Ranma and Akane followed from a distance, noting how the girl skipped happily on her way down. When they peeked towards the living room, their eyes almost fell from their sockets when Nabiki pulled from the bag several white cards. "Dear Akari and Anna, My name is Nabiki Tendo and I'm Akane's older sister."
"Now. . .On with my business. This are the invitations with your names and date for the nuptial union between Ranma Saotome and Ryoga Hibiki. They consider you a very important part in their lives and that's why they invited you personally here."
The redhead tried to run and stop the insane girl, but Akane stopped her before she even left her side. "What are you doin'. . .They'll think we are some kind of perverts" Reprimanded Ranma with clenched teeth at her ex.
"Precisely Ranma. . .What better plan to keep them away but to make them think Ryoga and you are perverts. If you decide to leave Ryoga-kun alone, I'll personally go and apologize to them but so far, Nee-chan's plan is foolproof. . .So far." Said sternly the blue haired teen. The redhead felt bad for pushing Akane in that manner, specially when something deep inside her mind kept telling the girl it wasn't as bad as her ego claimed it to be.
The first one in standing enraged was the cowgirl, realizing two boys loving each other was beyond perversion while Akari found the union Ok, but rejected the idea to leave. "I won't move from here until Ryoga-kun tells me straight what you say is true."
The middle Tendo smiled, agreeing with the girl and asking her to wait on the living room. After the pig trainer waited patiently, Nabiki rushed upstairs, pulling Ranma with her. "Do you want her to leave?. . .Go and dress with the white piece Akane bought you when you lost your memory.
Ranma tried to stall, wondering if she had a say in all this, but apparently not when Akane took her into the bathroom, helped her change and shoved the pretty redhead down the fly of stairs. "Oh!. . .Here comes the bride practicing for the wedding. . .Care to join us?. We are going shopping for the dress. . ."
Akari felt the pressure too strong, staring at the blushing redheaded girl trying to act naturally, but the pig trainer admitted with a blush on her face how Ranma really looked beautiful in white. Akari understood she didn't have a chance against someone that cute, finding no other option, but starting to leave them behind. As she did though, the girl pointed a finger at Ranma, warning the bride of a small detail she forgot about all this. "Tell me Ranma-kun. What makes you so special if I love him as a pig. . .Isn't the same way for a boy loving another boy?"
She didn't expect an answer, leaving after she closed the main door with force. "There. . .Your competitors are gone and you have long enough to decide about Ryoga-kun. My business here are concluded." Nabiki vanished from the house, rushing to town where her plans kept enrolling more unsuspecting innocents.
"I don' know why, but I have a feelin' in the back of my head that this is goin' ta backfire on us. . .You think it was Ok to trust in her?" Akane shrugged madly, turning around and starting to leave, faking anger and hoping Ranma would consider Ryoga's predicament. "What should I care. . .You prefer to let Ryoga sink than to think on all the sacrifices he is doing for the both of us." The girl left to her room, where she expected to see a confused redhead follow her behind.
And it did, Ranma felt strange when sudden outbursts of anger and mood swings were the order of the day for women all over the place. Still, a reflection of her body against a big mirror on the living room told her she was a pretty girl after all, admitting that maybe. . .Just maybe she could be a real girl. "This could work. . .I only need ta throw everythin' I know 'bout being male out of my life. . ."
The girl deflated afterward, slouching back to the bathroom to change back and hope her apology could tame Akane's rage. Ranma once again in male form . .Or whatever was left of it, knocked on Akane's door, receiving no answer from the other side though.
"C'mon 'kane. . .It ain't like I want Ryoga to suffer. Why can' you understand how I feel." He had never recurred to such girlish statement, figuring it was the hormones acting up again, but were they? Akane was never the first one in acting so prudent, and all the sacrifices Ryoga had done weren't supposed to be in vein.
But if that was the case, why did she find so hard to let go of who he was. "I am stuck alright?. . .I want ta be a man like pops trained me, but I want ta experience all the nice things Ranran told me 'bout my future self. . .I am so stuck an' I need someone else ta help me."
Finally the pigtailed boy dropped his head on the door, giving up with the solution. A few seconds later the door slid open, letting the sad stare of those brown eyes peek through. "C'mon Ranma. . .You need to see this." The door opened and closed, leaving the pair to resolve a new situation brewing outside.
Ranma tilted his head puzzled by the way his ex looked through the window though. "Look. . .What I want to know is. . ." He tried to keep going, but the raven haired teen hushed him up, asking him to join her by the window.
Outside was Ranryu talking with someone. The couple in the bedroom carefully opened the window, letting the conversation filter through. Ranryu was talking with no other than Genma who finally showed his true colors after he found out all the mess his son was in.
" Look son. . .I don' know if you're M'boy son or not, I don' care really, but he was born a man. .. I made sure to raise him a man, an' if that moron tries to change him, there will be blood you hear?" Ranryu wasn't impressed at all, walking in circles around the older man and studying his stance.
"I get it now. Since I can remember I always asked mom why I never get to be with you or grandma. . .And now I know why." The teen walked closer to the man, forcing his stance to go wild and defiant. "Back off kid. . .I don' want ta hurt you. . ."
Ranma tried to intercede, but Akane stopped him from jumping in. "Wait. . .First let him deal with this on his own Ranma." The boy felt the need to protect him, but he decided to wait until Ranran would really need his help. Down on the grass, both fighters measured each other, trying to find their hidden strengths, and openings.
"Grandpa Ryota and Grandma Karen always were there when they could, but you. . .You were always humiliating mom and pops every single day. . .Even when pops defeated you and broke the seppuku pledge you were nothing but a coward and a thief."
"Hell, dad even made you into the greatest teacher to walk the world with the idea to promote the Anything goes style internationally. . .But in the end, he banished you from our home. I always wondered why. . .Demanding how harsh he was for kicking my grandfather out."
The boy stared at the old man who never let his guard down. Still, Ranryu got even closer, doing nothing but bow respectfully at him. "I loved you for the longest time grandpa. . .You were my hero and I worshiped you until the day you left." He then looked to the side, wondering how a little child thinks the world about a parent figure, but don't realize what prompted to that final decision, sending that love away with the man. "I hated pops for doing that, but as I grew up, I saw what you did to mom." At this point his enraged features were now at full display, walking back to his post before starting the fight.
"I will go easy on you grandpa, but since I'm a new man in this time. . ." He extended his arm, pointing his finger exactly at his face. "I. . .Ranryu Hibiki, challenge you for the title of master in the Anything goes style. . ."
Genma grinned doubtful by his stories, spitting to the side while his ego started to inflate. "I don' know what have I done to your mother son. . .But M'boy is a man, an' if you know better, I'd say you should stand down."
Ranma felt that strange vibe again, perceiving the faint voice of herself through time. "Don't let him hurt my baby Ranma. . .I may be stuck here, but no matter what, he will always be my son." The pigtailed teen recognized the tone, coming from herself about seventeen years into the future.
With some reservation, the teen stayed glued to the window, wondering why he felt the need to protect someone who in this time wasn't even a relative. "You know I will. I don' know if it's you or my hormones, but I love him like a son an' I would never let anyone hurt him."
"Thank you" Said the voice with a loving way all mothers talk about their children. "I know this confuses you, but I promise not ta interfere with your life. again . ." The boy heard nothing more, realizing this was a special case she managed to do by sheer need alone.
Ranma recalled Ranryu's words after the talk with his future self, opening a slew of thoughts he hadn't consider yet. "Pops disrespected me?. . .I totally forget what my parents would think if they see me as a girl in love with another man." The declaration felt like a way to escape Ranma's problems, but no. . .It actually enhanced his resolve.
"Mom still roams the lands thinkin' his son is so manly, an' the first moment I see her what do I do?. . Change into Ranko and hide my problems like a coward. I don' know how I turned the way I am in the future, but I ain' leavin' this for later. . .Soon, I will have ta deal with Ryoga as well, an' there's nothin' stopping that from happenin'. . ."
"Ta be a mother and a faithful wife are problems I'm goin' ta have ta fix on my own. . .For now, I got to work on that idiot savin' my hide an' my son, not ta mention Akane's own illness. . .Then everythin' else comes later" He bit his lower lip, recognizing this was becoming too much for a single human being to bear, regardless of gender.
By then, neither fighter backed away from the challenge, and after a few seconds studying each other, Genma and Ranryu took a step forward, vanishing into thin air. Ranma could feel both of them, which gave him the edge to know what was going on.
"What happened Ranma. . .Where are they?" Asked Akane confused. "They are usin' the Umisen-ken. . .I can' believe it, but Ranran is much more faster and stronger than pops." The pigtailed teen moved his eyes from side to side, lifting his head every now and then when their fight took off into the air.
His eyes bulged in awe when Ranryu managed to stay hidden not only from his father, but he allowed himself been attuned to Ranma's sight, like if he wanted the pigtailed boy to see him. "He is showin' me what he knows. . .Amazin'!. . ."
"How is he doin' it?" Kept wondering the pigtailed teen. "He is using the chestnut roasted on an open fire mixed with the Bakusai-Tenketsu. Imagine Akane. . .hundred of punches with the force Ryoga has to break rocks." As he said that, Genma's glasses and both pair of wooden shoes flew into pieces the raven haired girl managed to see drop on the grass.
"That has ta be the strongest of techniques ever. . .Imagine a warrior capable to disarm a sword into pieces by his mere touch. . .Or an armor. . .Or a weapon of any kind!" Akane could do nothing more than laugh, noting how Ranma acted so proud over a boy he had never trained in his whole life.
"Well. . .He is Ryoga and your son, did you expect anything less?" The question lit brightly in Ranma's mind, forcing to recognize the good things he would achieve in such union. "I-I never thought 'bout that. . .Ranran told us Ryoga trained him really hard in the future. Maybe he knew M'boy was going to challenge pops. . .Maybe he wants me ta see the fruit of our efforts. . ."
This was a surprise Ranma didn't expect at all. He was more than a man or a woman. . .His father raised him to be a martial artist, and that's what Ranryu had become. . .The greatest martial artist both him and Ryoga created from scratch.
"I think I get it Akane. . .All of this is a means ta an end, an' that end are my children. Ryoga from the future is showin' me I became what my pops wanted for me in this time an' failed, but we succeeded. . .I brought a little man into this world an' turned him into a master of the Anything goes martial style." His smile grew big and proud, watching how the boy evaded his father's every attempt to reach him.
Ranryu would peek every now and then towards the pigtailed boy, as if waiting for his blessing as master. That made the male Ranma swell in his heart, unknowingly letting the tears flow freely. Akane saw something she had never seen before. . .Ranma Saotome crying openly for the first time.
But the pigtailed teen didn't even registered the tears. He just smiled at his son and nodded proudly, watching Ranryu combine a lot more moves. . .The secret ninja moves Genma was so famous for, and speeding up his motions up to the point where the bald man misstep sent him sprawling out of his more outdated Umisen-ken.
To Akane, there were no sounds of punches or kicks, still, there wasn't complete silence when stepping on grass made the pair a lot louder. Suddenly both fighters appeared. Ranryu somewhat taken by the sheer amount of power the older man could dish out, but Genma was breathing harder than he expected, clearly demonstrating who would be the winner after he tumbled on the ground, standing up forcefully a few seconds later.
"You are good son . . .I'll give you that." He was out of breath, admitting the boy as a stronger opponent. Still, something else bother him the most, deciding to find out how he had done it. "But. . .Who taught you how to combine the Saotome Special ninja attacks with the Umisen-ken? Not even Ranma knows how to unlock such devastating combos yet. . .An' those other techniques. I have only seen them in. . ." The boy smirked at the man, clearing his lungs and starting to dance like a boxer.
"You did grandpa. . .When I was eight years old I got into your special satchel. . .The one you had hidden deep in your backpack. I roamed around, found the scrolls and hid them from you as a souvenir." Genma gasped when no one knew about the satchel he so secretively hid long ago.
"About the other moves." He glanced up, towards the boy hanging from the window. "My mother and father trained me since I was five years old. They taught me everything a true master must obey. . .Justice, honor and protection of the weak."
"But my mom. . .She deserves my gratitude because she taught me to be me. . .Not the prideful grandson of a fool who wanted all in exchange of nothing, but a human being capable to love no matter what he looks like or how he feels."
Those words hit hard in Ranma's head, admitting the older Ryoga had more in mind than just show him his handy work. "That damn idiot thinks is so smart. . .I will get him sooner or later." Chewed Ranma with clenched teeth when Ranryu's words aimed at his own mental problems.
"S-So. . .You really are my grandson an' Ryoga's son?" Ranryu nodded, admitting this would be a nice re-encounter he hoped for the longest time. When the younger fighter walked closer to the man, dropping his guard and opening his arms to hold him, the bald master used the back of his hand to slap him so hard, the teen tumbled away from him.
"Don' think that means somethin' ta me. You are a child brought from perverted parents after all. I may have sold M'boy for all the "right" reasons, but I would never marry him to another man. . .That's just pathetic." As he said that, the older man walked away, ignoring the challenge or the boy who found hard to believe his grandfather was this ruthless.
The pigtailed boy seethed from the window, disobeying his ex and skipping from the sill to the ground. "Ranran!. . ." The boy rushed at his side, noticing how Ranryu looked to the side ashamed, showing him an enormous swollen cheek hiding his bruised feelings. "Sorry mom. . .I let my guard down and failed the fight."
"Damn it son. . .It ain't nothing like that. Pops will always be like this, an' I swear I'll deal with him soon enough. . .In the meantime we need ta be ready for Ryoga, there's still three weeks left but I'm thinking they will go faster once pop got the jest of what's going on."
The pigtailed teen lifted Ranryu almost carrying him like a little child. The traveler noted how careful and dedicated Ranma acted despite he being male at the time. "M-Mom?" Asked the smacked boy. "Yeah son?" Answered Ranma worried by his father's lack of understanding.
"Thanks for always taking care of me. . .No matter how you look or what you think of yourself. You are my mother and nothing can change that." It finally dawned on the pigtailed teen how close they were and how he started to believe being a mother goes beyond genders or prejudices.
"Good. . .Because once we fix all this mess, you an' I are goin' ta kick the old man's butt." Both laughed at the comment, walking into the house where Akane waited with alcohol and swabs. It stung a bit when Akane swapped the swabs with gausses and band aids, but to see her determination to care gave Ranryu the impulse to grab her hand, exchange looks with the girl and slowly close his lips with hers.
Ranma watched from afar two lovers kissing, forcing a tear back into his eye and tugging a smile up for the girl he always loved. When they separated, Akane blushed but her face lit with the pride to be at Ranryu's side. She knew Ranma stared from a distance, and hoped he would be Ok with the arrangement.
The pigtailed boy simply shrugged, walking back to the teens and acting smugly proud to have his son and his now best friend together as a couple. "I'm glad. . .I really am, but what 'bout Ryoga?. . .How can I convince him of my feelings even when I'm not sure I want ta be a woman for him?"
All three talked the rest of the week about alternatives, failing time after time until one afternoon Kasumi answered a desperate call. "Ranryu-kun!. . .Ono is on the phone!" The boy just bandaged his arm after the daily transfusion, leaving Akane fixing hers and Ranma keeping company, and running out of the bedroom in a hurry.
"Ono?. . .I thought Nabiki mentioned Tofu Sensei left with pops after he saved mom from prison?" Akane started to piece the parts omitted by Ranryu and her big sister, gathering that the call came from Ryoga's state of health.
The raven haired girl made sure there was no dizzy spells or fainting sensations before walking out of the room followed by a pensive Ranma. When they arrived down stairs, Kasumi had her hands together and in front of her lips. . .Not a very good sign in Akane's mind.
"Yes Sensei. . .How's pop?. No!. . .He already is at that stage?. . .But he still has two weeks, how can he vanish like that. I see. . .Yes. . .I promise mom won't know a thing about it. . .Ok. . .Keep me informed." The boy hanged the phone, turning around and meeting a pigtailed boy with his brows kneaded, arms closely tied on his chest and expecting an explanation from the call.
"Oh!. . .I thought you were upstairs mom. . .Um. . .See ya!" Said the teen rushing towards the back door when Ranma managed to grab him from the shirt, pinning him against the wall. Ranryu saw something he hadn't seen in a long time. . .His mother incredibly mad and expecting the truth no matter the consequences.
"I'm sure my stance means somethin' ta you son, 'cuse those eyes tell me you are afraid of me. Now. . .What's goin' on with your dad?" His blue eyes always disarmed his intentions, just in the same way Ranma always had an advantage with Ryoga.
"Mom. . .I don't want to worry you. Why don't we just. . ." But there were no more stalling lies when the Saotome heir reached for the vase with some flowers by the table, splashing himself and turning into a redheaed girl with fiery blue eyes melting her son into putty.
"Again. . .What's goin' on with your dad?" This time the figure of a tiny but very powerful redheaded woman made him look down nervously and blush by her penetrating eyes. "Ono Sensei reported me they are three-quarters from completing the debt. . ."
Ranma bent down, forcing his eyes up with her powerful blue orbs, and made him understand to him and the rest of the family whether she was in the future or in the present, Ranma would always be Ranma. "An'. . .?" The boy couldn't fight her now, releasing a sigh he didn't know it was stuck in his throat. "A-And that some parts of his body are vanishing. . .He said sometimes is his heart and others his hands, leaving pops into an agonizing mess."
The image alone made Ranma and Akane swallow by the effort the lost boy made for their sakes, forcing the girls to look ashamed to the floor. The redhead let the boy go, walking instead to the living room where she still needed to find a way to gain Ryoga's affection.
As Akane followed her, the redhead found no other choice but to force her decision regardless if it was the right thing to do. "I can' wait Akane. . .That idiot is vanishing away for my sake an' that should be enough for me to accept him. . ."
But there were still reserved thoughts in her mind, after all, a man among men would never give birth to a son. They decided to stop falling in the same hole and wait to see how Ryoga would react to all this first. "We should be able to clear things up once he's here Ranma." Finally replied Akane releasing a deep breath of relief.
Away from the house, Nabiki implemented the second part of her master plan. She elaborated this scheme almost since Ryoga jumped to the future, but as the girl's cogs kept moving in her mind, the reasons and results started to grow exponentially.
Ucchan's. . .
Knock, Knock. . .Came the sound on a door a few blocks away from the Tendo's. After a girl fixed some chairs and the sounds of shuffling stuff away died, Ukyo opened the door, admitting the girl who always brought her news for a price.
"Come in Nabiki. . .Would you like something or this is strictly business?" The ice queen as usual asked for the most expensive dish on the house, free of course, and proceeded to state her deals. "I know you and Shampoo have been. . .Um. . .How to say this delicately. . .Thrown aside like old rags?"
It stung really bad, but the middle of the Tendo sisters was right. Ukyo managed to visit Akane in what it looked like her last days on earth, but what she never considered was the blind obedience her Ran-Chan lived by in those days thus, rejecting any advance the chef could do for their relationship.
Same went for Shampoo who thanks to a mindless promise the pigtailed boy did with Mousse, the Saotome heir swore never to look for Shampoo or let her amorous intents close to him ever again. "Fine. . .You got your laughs. Tell me. . .What is so important for you to come here and offer me something I may not be able to claim?"
When the Okonomiyaki chef stopped talking Nabiki barely finished with her expensive food, moving back on the chair and restarting the trade. "I have a piece of information that will take you to heaven. Of course, I will offer the same thing to Shampoo, but for the first time in my life. . .I will give you this Intel absolutely free."
The chef crossed her arms at chest level, admitting the news could be worth it, but to be given freely, and by Nabiki no less, was something more than unbelievable. . .It was dangerous. "Really sugar. . .What's in it for you?"
"That's for me to know and for either you or Shampoo to never find out. Now. . .Do we have a deal or not." The cook retracted her hand a bit intimated by the offer, but in the last second she shook it, trusting the reward could be better than the risk.
Somewhere away from Japan. . .
Back on the mountains the things couldn't get any better. . .Or worst depending on the point of view. Ryoga was becoming more adapted to the use of his techniques, finding the diamonds more easily and separating other useless junk aside.
Darkness meant nothing for his senses, and his lungs began to get used to the depth he was working on. When he would go out of the holes, time seemed to hold still, giving him a great sight of the fauna out there and a nice afternoon where he and Ono enjoyed a nice meal and rest.
"According to my calculations and the report the bank in Nerima said last, we should be close now Ryoga-kun. . .Shouldn't we take it easy now that we are almost done?" The boy shook his head, admitting his fears to bad luck and sudden changes in his life governed most of his choices.
"I can't lose it now Sensei. . .I prefer to have extra than to run in the last moment trying to find the amount those bastards are impugning on Ranma." The doctor saw his point, but there was something else peeking in Ryoga's eyes. A feeling of loyalty. . .Maybe even affection for the pigtailed teen he didn't show before.
"You really love Akane and Ranma don't you?" The lost boy winced when the older boy added Ranma in the comment, but he let it pass, accepting their friendship was one of a kind. "I love Akane very much Sensei. . .Ranma?. . .Well, he is a stubborn idiot. But in the end he's always nicer and a good friend."
Yup, the young man could see something the younger teen denied firmly, but his demeanor couldn't. As they had a nice dinner composed of several ramen cups, a military looking truck approached their camp. When they arrived, the men looked somewhat friendly until their guns appeared from the back of the vehicle.
"Hey!. . .What are you doing here?" The rough guy in charge waited for Ono to respond, leaving Ryoga like the minor pest of the two. "We are studying the animal species and researching for special herbs." Ono trustingly walked towards the man, showing a permit from the government about his skills as a doctor.
"I see. . .Any luck finding anything. . .Say. . .Underground?" The accusation was daring, but after the man explained how a patrol he left for the surrounding areas saw Ryoga going into a hole, the look of they being naturalists didn't bode so well.
"Some are deep into the earth and others aren't. . .Why the sudden curiosity about two men packing only medical instruments and sleeping bags?" The man stared at the big pack, noting several smaller packs lying around on the floor which had that look of lab pouches.
"We are just protecting out investments. . .Carry on, but if we see any type of excavation equipment or machinery of any kind, we are coming back." The armed men went back to their truck, driving off unaware of the goodies Ryoga had unearthed recently.
"I should have just beat them up and get this over with." Admitted defiantly the lost boy. "And then what?. . .Start a war between mercenaries and possibly cause the death of their workers?. . .No Ryoga. . .Sometimes is better to lie than to cause more struggles."
The teen thought about it for a second, agreeing with the man as they made way to the nearest town. "I guess you're right Sensei. . .Sometimes is better to lie than to cause a lot more struggle. . ." Ono realized he used his words out of context, trying to solve his own doubts about a certain pigtailed boy and the strange feelings teenagers are so prone to experiment now days.
When they arrived to the town, another lesson ensued in Ryoga's path. He always acted like the homeless boy no one really gave a damn about, but the moment a ragged and dusty boy would walk into the Inn, people started to welcome him with all manner of treats and respect.
"Um. . .Why are they so nice Sensei?" The doctor smiled when he admitted how innocent Ryoga really were. "They are nice because this is a prospector's town Ryoga. They see you dirty, walking with a big pack and with hunger hanging from our necks, and they can only see easy money." And that was reality. Both Ono and the fanged boy sat on a table which was filled with a bottle and two glasses. .Complements of the house supposedly.
"I think they'll expect a big tip after so much attention." Warned the practitioner. The younger teen shrugged carelessly, dropping three small diamonds on the table he had stuck in his pants. "Would this be enough?"
Ono immediately took the gems away, hiding them from prying eyes and shaking his head negatively. "Ryoga!" Demanded with clenched teeth. "You can't be this naïve. . .People have eyes everywhere and sooner or later we'll get more ruffians like the mercenaries from the mountains sniffing around and causing trouble. . .Please be more assertive and know how to deal with a situation like this one."
Ryoga didn't get it right away, until he turned to see several men gossiping and pointing at their table. He was no stranger to fights or bullies, but why make a big deal where the Inn's owner or other patrons could get hurt.
"I-I see Sensei. . .Sorry." Said the boy a bit flustered. "Tell you what Ryoga. Let me get us a room and we can relax while we stay here." Ono left him alone for just a moment, walking towards the reception and talking with the man in charge. That's when a rough looking stranger approached the boy who stared dumbly at the walls and nice decorations.
"Is what I saw, really what I saw?" Asked redundantly the bearded man. Ryoga blinked by the strange way he talked. . .Almost like a foreign cowboy like the ones he met in certain regions of America. "I reckon, those were pretty nice diamonds sparkling on the table, partner?"
"W-What if they were. . .?" Asked Ryoga still not understanding what was with all the fuss. "Care to tell little 'ol me where you get that son?" The fanged teen started to think like Ono, studying the lust for riches in the man's eyes and finding his insistence a bit asphyxiating.
"Look. . .Partner. . .We are just traveling in peace. So. . .Leave me alone or. . ." Still, as Ryoga tried to politely ask him to leave, the man chuckled at the idea, pulling a gun from his hidden holster and showing it right on Ryoga's face, trying to scare him.
Before he could do anything else, the boy grabbed him from his holding hand, leaving the man blinking by the speed, but more importantly disarmed from his weapon in a matter of seconds. "I don't like to be threatened, so. If you leave now, this won't get out of hand." Warned the teen with a serious look on his face.
The bearded man stayed in place, waiting for something to happen, but Ryoga had no idea what until another man showed between the two. "Alright Jimmy. . .I'll take it from here." The guard stared indignant at his boss, accepting his job to care for his safety was done for now.
"Young man. . .Could you please give the gun to my friend. . .I promise you, I have the best of intentions." Ryoga shrugged again, knowing they weren't really a threat, and giving the weapon back. As the man sat besides the lost boy, Ono arrived noticing the conversation.
"Ah!. . .We have an adult as your guardian son. Good. . .My name is John Parker, and I represent. . ." Said just before Ono stopped him from talking. "Please Sir. . .We have some unfinished business here and as you can see, my friend is getting tired by the journey. How about I meet you in our shared room upstairs in an hour?"
The man accepted the invitation, leaving them alone while Ryoga started to pull the neck of his shirt. "Sensei. . .I-I feel funny. . ." His sweating began to look over his shirt and the look on his pale face told the doctor one of those sudden attacks were bound to happen.
"You are about to get sick again Ryoga-kun. . .Let's get you to the room I rented and we can deal with each problem one at the time." As they raised to leave, a fainting spell weakened Ryoga's knees, forcing the doctor to use his arm around his neck and carry him upstairs.
After the doctor left Ryoga soundly asleep, Ono inspected every precious gem, sorting and cleaning them as they were neatly kept on smaller packs. They were ready to leave town in a few days and after Dr. Tofu reported their work back home, a loud thud made him turn to see Ryoga gasping for air.
"Hold on!. . ." Said as he made his way to the next room in the hotel. The place was decent enough, leaving luxuries and riches aside and keeping small details like air conditioner or hot water as the highest of priorities. When he arrived besides the lost boy, the first thing he did was check his pulse. . .Fine so far.
Then, he made sure the boy was breathing. . .Nothing. No breath or slight movement on his chest, and the blue face Ryoga had didn't help one bit. Fortunately Ono is the best doctor there is. With some acupuncture points and his hands, he mapped the problem, exactly in. . .
"R-Ryoga. . .Either your lungs collapsed, "or" you don't have lungs." For a regular patient, the second diagnostic was impossible, even laughable. . .For Ryoga. . .Well, that was the downside of his travels through time.
Ono managed to regularize his desperation when, from his own pack, a plastic tube made the boy wonder what was going to happen. "This isn't as bad as you think Ryoga-kun. . .Normally is called pneumothorax or collapsing lung. It's rather common and I think your lungs vanished for just a second, sending the air in them to the chest walls."
The man carefully inserted the tubing between the ribs, into the space around the lungs. As he did that, the pressure from his chest and the blue hued skin returned back to normal, giving a chance to recover from the incident.
"Here. . .Let me help you sit on the bed and while you wait, I'll be on the other side waiting for our guests." Ryoga recalled a week ago, when some of the groups abolishing and capturing innocent teenagers for the diamond mining business weren't all mercenaries or paramilitary.
In fact, one of those men managed to contact Dr. Tofu since he was the oldest of the two, and those men thought he was in charge. "Mr. Ono. . .We belong to one of the biggest industries in the excavation and treatment of diamonds, please give us a minute and I'm sure you won't regret it."
A week later, they arrived to the town, bringing their own guards and security when the fame of a wealthy investor was always at risk. It was late in the afternoon when they walked into Ono, and Ryoga's apartment. Some would pick a handkerchief, cleaning the place like it was dirty while others simply sat unceremoniously, ready to do business.
"Mr. Ono Tofu, first allow me to congratulate you with the method you found to search hidden deposits of raw diamond, that my friend, has been so rough during the years and the rather ruthless company we suffer now days has hindered our efforts."
Their eloquence and manners were like those millionaires loved to display openly, but their eyes were the same. Ryoga peeked through an almost closed door how they searched more power and money regardless of what they already had.
When the teen walked in, announcing himself respectfully, some just ignored his presence while the main man in charge saw something in the boy. "You must be Mr. Ono's younger brother?" Ryoga nodded, pretending to be a relative and partner in this endeavor.
"Very well. I know you two have exchanged and worked over lengthy periods of time finding the most amazing gems I have laid my eyes on. What I'm wondering is. . .How?" The man edged on his chair, waiting patiently as he described the perils of prospecting in forsaken lands.
"First, the mercenaries are very jealous of their territories, but you've managed to find these treasures in places they wouldn't dream of. And second, the paramilitary groups controlling the market are very detailed in the equipment and resources investors use in the land.
"But you have neither. . .No permits from them and not machinery capable to dig into those depths and extract those beautiful gems." The men kept adorning with flowers and neon lights about the hardship of the job until the lost boy reacted a bit tired with so many words he couldn't understand.
"What do you want. . ." Asked firmly the fanged teen. The man saw the eagerness in him, setting his cards over the table so to speak and told him the deal. "We want to own those mines you two found Mr. Ono. . .We are prepared to give you three hundred and fifty million yen for each of the four you have and, I promise to offer you a continuous payment after the gems are cut and shaped."
Dr. Tofu moved away from the men, agreeing with a degree of secrecy about the cheap price they set on the mines after he consulted its rightful price with the appraiser in Nerima. When Ryoga accepted his counsel, Ono turned back at them, saying "Five hundred million each and we have a deal. . ."
The battle began. Not a fierce battle over life or death mind you, but the stakes were just as high for some, and the men used their keen eyes to pressure or haggle their way out. Ono and Ryoga had absolutely no idea why they were staring so intently at them, finding comical the situation and paying the men with the same coin.
Ono tried to laugh when Ryoga furrowed his brows, beaming a powerful Chi around his body which was easily felt by the men. "I-I see you are hard men to read." Finally gave in the main investor. "Very well. . .Five hundred each of the four mines, plus a certain commission after the gems are ready."
Ryoga knew this was a handshake between the older boy and the investors, deciding to walk back into his bedroom and wait for the group to leave. A few minutes later Ono arrived with the news. "Ryoga-kun. . .We are officially over both, Ranma and Nabiki's debt. . .Not to mention a bit over half a billion on the banks."
Ryoga released a sigh he held for the longest time, admitting everything was looking up in his life. "Good Sensei. . .Let's make some arrangements. . .It's time to go back home and tell that idiot his life has been resolved." The pair made their few backpacks, went to the nearest airport and took a plane to Tokyo, Japan.
As they flew, the teen had never been on one of these machines, keeping his claws constantly shredding the back of the front seat. "Calm down Ryoga-kun. . .This are very safe and we should be home soon. Relax and think on what will you do with all that money."
The teen had trouble relaxing at all, but his plans and goals were clear for some time now. "I-I don't really care for money Sensei. . .I have been thinking and I want you to forget about the clinic. I am going to build an even bigger hospital right there in Nerima and you will be in charge."
The doctor too was of humble origins and money wasn't really his strong goal in life, but the quality in Ryoga's wishes sure would help a lot of people. "That is a very nice idea Ryoga. . .Say. . .Have you thought about what name would be Ok for such magnificent hospital?"
Ryoga beamed when the answer was so obvious. "I want it to be named Akane Tendo Medical Research center." Said the boy as his hands flew into the air, extending from center and outwards when he said the title of the place.
Ono smiled with a furrowed brow, noticing he knew about this all along for some time now. "What else do you have in mind?" The lost boy went at it again, describing enormous arenas were trained pigs would compete or a vast ranch old west style where he could raise cows and horses.
"I don't know yet about that though. . .I must find out who will be able to love me enough to save me from dying." When he mentioned the future demise in less than a week and half, the older boy brought up the catalog they had worked as a side project.
"Now that you mention it Ryoga-kun, All the ingredients are shipped towards the Tendo Dojo. By the time we arrive, they should be home so Ranryu and I can start working on the curse's cures and Ranma's other problem."
Yes!. . .Everything went according to plan, thought the boy with a big smile on his face. Soon, he would marry Ranma with Akane, see them as a happy couple and who know, maybe he would marry with Akari or Anna before all this would be over.
The fanged teen's eyes turned into big hearts, loosing control of his imagination and flying in his own airplane just as the real one tilted rudely to the right. Immediately the boy gripped the seat, almost tearing it apart by his strength.
"Calm down Ryoga. . .It's just turbulence. . .Wait a few minutes and it will go away. . ." Just as he said it, the plane started to align itself, making the boy laugh dumbly, but stay aware of his surroundings by grasping the sides of his own seat all the rest of the way.
Ono just saw him and chuckled internally, admitting it looked really funny seeing him so scared and nervous. A few hours later the plane began to land on the local airport, giving a sensation of relief Ryoga never had felt before.
Still, the tension kept building up to this moment when the lost boy and Dr. Tofu boarded a taxi and drove off to the Tendo residence. Ono saw the teen intertwining his thumbs, showing an increased amount of nervousness as the taxi reached home.
"Ryoga. . .Are you Ok on doing this?" The boy had no speech at all, swallowing harshly and sweating profusely by the tension. "I. . .I. . ." But nothing else came out. Dr. Tofu paid the cab, set the three packs on the sidewalk and knocked on the exterior door, hopefully waiting for Kasumi to answer first.
And she did. The eldest daughter opened the gate, staring at a blushing Ono and a frozen Ryoga. "Um. . .Ono-kun. . .You're back already?" The boy bowed respectfully and then asked for a way to snap Ryoga from his trance.
The woman grabbed Ryoga's hand, gently pulling him into the house and towards the Dojo where it was empty at the moment. "Wait here and I'll call Ranryu-kun to help us." When the girl left, Ono and Ryoga waited not too long when the other traveling boy rushed into the hall interested to see his father.
"Pops!. . .What's wrong?" Asked to the doctor with a tinge of worry. "He is too tense from the journey Ranryu. . .But more importantly. He is scared stiff by Akari Unryu and Anna Brown's presence in the house."
"P-Pops. . .About that. . ." The sudden hesitation made the lost boy snap back into reality, wondering if Nabiki went along with the plan. "D-Don't tell me. . .They refused to come. . ." His son looked to the ground, taking a deep breath and explaining the situation.
"N-No. . .They were here, but you see. . ." Ranryu told him in a very calmed way that they left because his mom was thinking over their relationship. "What!" came the loudest question Ryoga could muster at the time.
His voice and the effect on the word was heard all over the place, forcing a pigtailed boy and a raven haired girl to rush into the hall alarmed by the tone. "Ryoga-kun. . .You're back!" Welcomed Akane happily, but the boy was completely focused on someone else. Ryoga blindingly forgot everyone, concentrating solely on the pigtailed boy who started to feel a bit under pressure.
"Why in the hell would you scare them away!?" he was pissed alright, and Ranma wasn't ready to explain the sacrifice he wanted to do for his sake. "Look Ryoga. . .We can talk 'bout this, but just you an' me Ok?. . . Let's go to my room an' we can. . ."
When Ranma tried to grab his arm, the lost boy slapped his hand away, walking backwards until his back hit the wall. "I thought we had everything planned!. . .I did my best to prepare all for the wedding between you and Akane-san."
"Why would you screw with me like this?. . .What am I going to do!. . .I only got less than ten days, and what about you Ranran. . .?" He immediately turned to see his boy who could cease to exist just like him. "Did you look for Ukyo like I asked you?" That part no one knew so far. Ranma and Akane stared at Ryoga's son forcing his blushing eyes down, but aware that they wanted an explanation.
"Sorry mom. . .But pops wanted me to conquest Ukyo as a way to save me from dying, but I couldn't. . .I already love "her". . ." Said as his finger pointed at the youngest Tendo. Ryoga's eyes grew in size, realizing how stupid he had been when his son and the raven haired girl had something in common even when Ranryu existed in the future.
That was the photo the boy hid when Ryoga visited him on his room. The last boy's eyes disappeared from the bangs over his face, leaving behind his angry fang as a testament of his betrayal. "It was her wasn't?. . .The girl you tried to search in the future was Akane-san." Ranryu blushed furiously, admitting his father understood his secret.
Still, the fanged boy couldn't believe it, denying what was in front of him and instead, looking for irrational explanations. "N-No. . .I brought you back so you could cure her, but she belongs to Ranma!" His aura began to flare, getting angrier at the boy he consider more than son. "I trusted you to keep them together. . .To help Ranma work his kinks and finally propose to her. Why would you do this?"
"Because he loves me Ryoga-kun." Declared truthfully Akane. "He has showed me real compassion and loyalty, not to mention how much he cares for me." Ryoga didn't calculate her response. Turning even against her by his hurt feelings.
"I did my best to show compassion and loyalty. . .I do care for you so much I would give my life in a moment. What's different?. . .Am I that hard to love?" This time his aura turned dark just in the way he powers for the ShiShi-Hokodan.
His hands trembled with a mixture of anger and depression, forcing the boy to look for a fair response elsewhere. That's when his eyes darted back at the pigtailed boy. He fought countless monsters and kings for the safety of his fiancée. . .Where was he when Ranryu enamored the youngest of the Tendos?
"And you!. . .What the hell Ranma?. . .You're supposed to fight for her. What the hell went wrong?" The pigtailed boy thought about that as well, admitting his son happened. . .His son and. . ."Y-You Ryoga. . .Y-You happened an' don' tell me you have no feelings for me, 'cuse I know you do."
That was it. . .The truth he took so long to let go of, coming by itself without any effort. "I. . .I . . ." Ryoga tried to deny it, but he couldn't. . .Those feelings were there and he saw the beautiful history as a couple they had in the future.
"I can't deny that Ranma. . .But I swore to make you and Akane happy and that's what I will do." The teens were at a stalemate, trying to figure out a way to solve all this when from the patio, Ukyo and Shampoo arrived to the Dojo.
"Ran-Chan!. .. I heard your engagement with Akane has dissolved. . .As your cute fiancée, I demand for you to marry me as promised by our fathers." As she said that, the Chinese girl advanced as well, glomping the boy with her exuberant body.
"Spatula girl wrong. . .Airen is mine. . .Amazon law demand husband marry Shampoo." Both girls started to fight among themselves, leaving Ryoga so confused and Ranma searching in his eyes for the answer, but unable to do anything about it. The lost boy wanted to fight for him. . .To accept that maybe they can have a shot, and after some pressure from the others stares, the fanged teen furrowed his brows, ready to claim his love for Ranma.
"R-Ranma. . .I. . ." The pigtailed boy smiled, knowing this was it. The moment they would become something more than friends. . .That is until someone else arrived into the hall. "Ryoga-kun!. . .I must truly confess before you. . ."
This time everyone turned to see Nabiki walking towards the lost boy and planting her lips on his. Ryoga was ecstatic, and lost in the sensation while Ranma felt that old betraying pang of jealousy deep in his heart. When she pulled away, her arms flailed all over his body like a snake, leaving him even more nervous by her closeness.
"Akane-Chan has a lover and Ranma "must" follow the law his parents arranged for him, don't you think Ryoga-kun?. . .I want to be at your side and save you from that end everyone talks so much about." Ryoga heard her words loud in his mind, understanding how Ranma had other proposals before anything could happen between the two.
"Y-Your right. . .Ranma still has two fiancée he needs to be accounted for. . .Let's go Nabiki." The lost boy threw a last glance at the pigtailed boy who was blindsided by Ukyo and Shampoo. "I'll see you later Ranma." Said the teen dryly before walking out of the Dojo with his new girlfriend and possible lover.
As they made their way out, an almost broken voice shouted at him. "Ryoga. . .Wait!" Ranma managed to get loose thanks to Akane and Ranryu holding the girls momentarily. He rushed outside, stopping two steps away from the lost boy and forcing his mind to talk out loud again.
"Ryoga. . .I. . ." But the other boy stopped him, closing those two steps and staying face to face with his old friend. "Tell me Ranma. . .Tell me you are willing to become a woman and admit another man will kiss you. . .A man who will love you and sooner or later that man may invite you to their bed. . .Admit you would let me love you for real and I will drop everything and worship you for the strong love I feel for you."
That was too much to ask, thought Ranma. Specially when he asked him on his male form which was so unreal already. The embarrassment and humiliation made him blush away, admitting no such thing and leaving Ryoga behind. "That's what I thought. . ."