Ranma went straight to bed after the exhausting ordeal with Shaanpuu's curse. Naruto followed her. Soon they were both at the seal-scape. For once, Ranma did not automatically change upon entering, instead she sat down and wrapped her arms around her knees. Her tails disappeared so that she could manage.
Naruto and his parents stood around her.
"I hate it," she said finally. "It's such a stupid weakness. Worse, I have the potential to really hurt someone without meaning to. I've only succumbed to the Cat Fist about a dozen times, but I usually end up mauling Pop pretty badly."
Naruto's mom snorted. "That monster deserved it."
Ranma chuckled. "I won't argue that he doesn't deserve it, but he's not a monster, he's just stupid, stubborn, and lazy."
"A dangerous combination," said Naruto's dad. "Always looking to take any short cut offered without looking at the consequences."
"That's Pop to a tee," Ranma said. She rested her head on her knees and said, "Every once and a while I've heard rumors about what used to happen before the technique got banned. Most people who didn't die went permanently berserk. They never came out of the madness. I know I'm incredibly lucky, but it doesn't feel like it. I'm scared that one of these times I won't come out of it."
Kushina grabbed Ranma's hand and pulled her up and into a hug. Naruto latched onto her from behind.
Ranma started to sniffle. "Men aren't supposed to cry!" she said.
"Who told you that?" Minato asked. "Your idiot father? When has he ever been right? Do you want to grow up to be like him?"
Ranma shook her head.
Minato put a hand on her shoulder. "Look at me, Ranma," he said and then waited until she did. "I've cried when I've been sad or even when I was really happy and I was one of the most respected men in our village."
"It's true," Kushina said.
"I get what you're saying and I should know better than to trust what the Panda says," Ranma said sniffling, "but I can't help feeling weak."
"Is that why you didn't change?" Kushina asked. "Because you feel girls are allowed to cry?"
Ranma nodded.
Kushina smiled at her. "While it's true that on average more women show more emotion than men, the men that are the happiest are the ones that are the most balanced emotionally. If you hold it all inside, you'll be emotionally constipated. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Ranma giggled and then covered her mouth.
Kushina reached up and removed Ranma's hand. "I wouldn't worry about giggling. Just do what comes naturally. Don't stifle yourself. You're young. Have fun. No one should expect you to be girly, but that doesn't mean you should act over-the-top macho. Being a tomboy is fun. I was one of the biggest when I was your age."
"It's true," Minato said with a smirk.
"Oh, behave," his wife replied with a light slap to his bottom. "You like tomboys."
"That's also true."
"But what if my body wants me to do something I'll regret later?" Ranma asked.
"That's something you'll have to keep in mind," Kushina said seriously, "but giggling shouldn't be one of those things you'll regret later. I wouldn't worry about it too much though. Everyone has to keep those kind of things in mind, not just people with a shape-changing curse."
The four of them stood quietly with Naruto and his mom hugging Ranma.
Their feel-good moment was interrupted by a bellow from the Kyuubi. "Red! Come here, Little Red Vixen. I have a bone to pick with you!"
Naruto and his mom disengaged themselves. The Kyuubi rarely interacted with them, preferring to keep to itself.
Ranma rolled her eyes and said, "Let's go see what the big grump wants."
As they came to the Kyuubi's gate, it roared. "Have you no pride, Red? It is unconscionable for a fox to cower in front of a housecat!"
"I have a name, you know!" Ranma snarled back.
"You haven't earned a name, Red," the Kyuubi sneered. "My avatar should not be scared of a domestic animal!"
"My father," she snarled, "dug a pit and filled it with starving cats and threw me in there covered in fish products. He repeated it until I went crazy. I was six!"
"And what have you done since to fix it?" the giant fox asked.
"Pop tried desensitization, but it only succeeded in triggering the Cat Fist," Ranma answered. "He stopped after a few tries."
The Kyuubi glared at Naruto. "Gold, fix Red, or I will torment you both."
The fox then withdrew from the gate, signaling an end to the discussion. They heard one last comment as it withdrew. "Feel free to slaughter the worthless man who did this to you."
"Well isn't it a bundle of joy," Ranma snarled.
The next day, Ranma was struggling to stay awake in English class. He was wondering if he should just give in. It seemed to irritate Akane when he did and he had few enough friends that he wasn't willing to ignore her wishes for something as stupid as school.
English was by far his easiest class. He had not been that good at it before, but it seemed to come easy now. Naruto had picked it up almost as fast, despite never having even heard of it before being enrolled at Furinkan.
He could almost feel the boredom radiating off his fellow students. Their English teacher was one of the more monotone teachers they had. He had noticed that he was also a lot better at reading people. He did not even have to be looking at them. The better he knew them the easier they were to read. He did not even have to try with Naruto. Pop and Akane were pretty easy as well, with the rest of the Tendous following them. This improved skill was one of the reasons he found Kunou so disgusting. He could feel the lust and possessiveness rolling off the creep.
Naruto interrupted his musings. Neechan, can you hear me?
He looked over to where his adopted sister was sitting. Imouto? he tried to speak to her mentally.
She smiled at him. You did hear me, didn't you? I haven't gotten a mental response back from you yet. Have you tried?
He nodded nearly imperceptibly.
Good. Yesterday, I could feel your fear and was able to trace it back and comfort you. I'm concentrating on that part of my mind. Can you feel the part of your mind that my mental voice is coming from?
He thought about it and concentrated. Can you hear me, Imouto?
I can, Naruto responded. Awesome!
Ranma grinned. At least school would not be so boring now.
When they got back from school, they found Shaanpuu waiting for them.
"Hello, Sisters! Hello, Tendou Akane!" the Chinese girl bubbled.
The three returned her greeting. Ranma was pleased to note that he was not feeling the vibe from her that he had yesterday.
Shaanpuu ran in and hugged Ranma and then Naruto. She bowed to Akane.
"Listen, Shaanpuu," he said. "I want to apologize about yesterday."
Shaanpuu smiled at him. "Is no need. Is not fault of sister. Is fault of Stupid Panda Man."
Ranma laughed. "True, true."
"Sisters plan to stay here, no?" Shaanpuu asked.
Ranma nodded. "Pop looks like he wants to settle down here."
"I'll be here for a few months, at least," Naruto said. "Eventually, I'll have to go back to my home village."
Ranma frowned. He did not like to be reminded that his 'sister' would be leaving eventually.
Naruto seemed to sense his mood, because she added, "But I'll be back for visits periodically. I wouldn't abandon my neechan."
"Great-grandmother and Mother thought so. Lease restaurant. Nekohanten. Ramen. Too, too tasty. Sisters come visit? Tendou Akane may come too."
Ranma nodded. "Sounds fine to me."
Naruto and Akane both agreed.
The Nekohanten was a moderate size. It had a residence on the second floor. Muusu were working on setting it up.
"Stupid Muusu follow this one to Jusenkyo," said Shaanpu. "Get goose curse."
Shaanpuu snickered. Naruto and Ranma followed suit.
"You don't like him?" Akane asked.
"Muusu friend when younger," Shaanpuu explained. "This one not hate, exactly, but is too, too annoying. Stupid Goose Boy want date this one. This one no want."
"Shaanpuu hits him and calls him names," Naruto said, "but he keeps chasing her. You can't help but admire his persistence." Naruto was a little uneasy about the whole thing. It reminded him of his relationship with Sakura. It was quite a bit different looking at it from the viewpoint of a friend of the girl being pursued.
Shaanpuu shook her head. "This one tell him never. This one mean never. Very annoying."
"He sounds no better than Kunou," Akane said.
"He's not that bad," Ranma said. "He doesn't physically bother Shaanpuu, other than trying to hug her, but he wears his glasses so rarely he usually 'misses.' The worst thing he does is try and chase away all of her suitors, but since she hasn't found one she likes, that's not too bad. For now, he's not more than an annoyance, but I can see it getting much worse."
"Like half annoying suitor and half annoying little brother?" Akane asked.
"Yes! Yes!" Shaanpuu said. "Exactly that! More the first now, but exactly that."
Ranma looked at Muusu slyly. The boy still had not noticed them. "Do you know what would really bother him? It might even get him to back off."
"What? What?" Shaanpuu asked excitedly.
"Call him 'Otouto' every chance you get," [little brother] Ranma said.
Ranma smiled while Akane giggled and Shaanpuu bounced and clapped animatedly. Naruto was pensive. He wanted to sympathize with Muusu. His own Ninja Creed was based around never giving up, but after seeing Kunou in action he decided that the blind Chinese boy should be more respectful of Shaanpuu's wishes.
You alright, Imouto? Ranma asked mentally.
Yeah, Naruto responded with a mental sigh. Just thinking about something. I'll tell you later.
"That's a very cruel plan, Daughter," Jeiru said from behind them with a smile. "It is not the Amazon way, but I like it anyway."
Ranma smirked. "Thanks, Jeiru."
"Call me Mom, Ran," Jeiru said. "You too, Naru."
"Okay, Ma," Naruto said. "This is our friend Tendou Akane. Her dad is an old friend of the Old Panda. We're staying with her family."
"Nice to meet you, Akane," Jeiru said with a brief bow.
Akane returned her bow and said, "Nice to meet you too."
"Grandmother," Jeiru called. "Ran and Naru are here!"
The old woman hopped out of the kitchen area on her cane. "Good afternoon, Great-Granddaughters," she said.
"Good afternoon, Elder," they replied.
"This is our friend, Tendou Akane," Ranma added.
"Shaanpuu, you're back!" Muusuu yelled. He ran up to Akane and tried to hug her.
"Pervert!" she shrieked and uppercut him in the chin, sending him back a couple of meters.
"Silly Otouto," Shaanpuu said. "Put on glasses. You no hug Friend Akane without introduction."
"Otouto?" Muusu asked, confused.
"Yes. You is otouto of this one. Nothing more."
"But I love you, Shaanpuu," Muusu proclaimed.
"This one like you, but only as Otouto," Shaanpuu said. "More is gross." She shuddered for effect.
"I'll get you to change your mind, Shaanpuu!" Muusu proclaimed.
"Incest is gross!" Shaanpuu said firmly.
Muusu frowned and then retreated upstairs.
As soon as he left, everyone broke into laughter.
"Who came up with that gem?" Koron asked.
"Sister Ran!" Shaanpuu exclaimed happily.
"You are a cruel and clever woman, Great-granddaughter," Koron said. "I like it."
Ranma looked confused, as if she were not sure whether to be complimented or insulted.
"When will your restaurant be ready, Baachan?" Naruto asked.
"Tomorrow evening," Koron said. "Would either of you be interested in helping out a little? I doubt that Ran's worthless father gives her any pocket change and if Son-in-law is gone for a bit, then you probably need some too, Naru."
You could use some if you were going to be taking the Tendou sisters out, couldn't you, Neechan? Naruto sent.
Yeah, Ranma replied. I have a little, but not very much.
"I could also throw in some training in some Amazon techniques," Koron added.
"Okay, you've sold me," Ranma said.
"Me too," Naruto added.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to work a whole lot," Ranma cautioned, "because of school and training Imouto and Akane, but I could work a couple of hours a day."
"Will you be available tomorrow evening?" the Elder asked.
"Not me," admitted Ranma. "Pop wants me to marry Akane or one of her sisters. I'm taking each of them out on dates this weekend."
"I can do it for a few hours, at least, Baachan," Naruto said.
"You can bring your date here, Daughter," Jeiru said. "We won't charge you since you're family."
"I'll keep that in mind. It sounds like a good idea, but I'm going to talk to Akane's oldest sister this evening about what to do, since I don't have any dating experience. I can definitely come help during lunch on Saturday and Sunday, though."
Naruto noticed that Akane had a flat look on her face, as if she was trying not to show her displeasure about something.
After dinner, Kasumi took Ranma up to her room to talk. Just as they were about to start, Nabiki knocked on the door.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked.
Ranma shrugged his shoulders. "I don't mind." He wondered if Akane would join them.
"Come in then, Imouto," Kasumi said.
Kasumi and Nabiki sat on the bed. Ranma knelt on the floor.
"Like I said before," Ranma said, "I don't know anything about dating."
"Nothing at all?" Nabiki said with a raised eyebrow.
Ranma snorted. "The Panda didn't want me to know anything. When I was little I may have seen a couple of things in manga, but the Panda stopped me from looking at anything that wasn't a fighting one like Dragonball. Might as well assume I'm a blank slate there."
"Dinner is a pretty traditional part of a date," Kasumi said.
He brightened. "Do you like Chinese? I know a new restaurant and the cooks are good." They had eaten well during their time at Koron's house in the Joketsuzoku village.
"That would be fine, Ranma," Kasumi said.
"The other part of the date is usually entertainment, like a movie or dancing," Nabiki said. "I know a club that caters to teenagers. That would be my preference."
"Akane would prefer something active that wasn't dancing," Kasumi said.
"Like what?" Ranma asked.
"Skating or maybe an arcade," Kasumi said.
"What about you, Kasumi?" Ranma asked.
"There's a concert in the park on Friday," she said. "I was wanting to go, but it's more fun to go with someone else."
"Those are all good ideas," Ranma said. He was not sure about some of them, but doing it once would not hurt, right? "I'd rather not make a fool of myself trying to skate for the first time on a date. Can you tell me how to get to the arcade?"
Kasumi wrote down the address and directions on how to get there.
Ranma thanked the two sisters and then went to go find Naruto.
Author's Note: Yes, understanding languages and basic empathy are skills Ranma and Naruto pick up by being fox youkai. The empathy works best in the two primary forms (foxgirl and giant fox) than it does in the secondary forms (girl and fox) which work better than in any other shape-shifted form. This works similar to the strength and speed bonus they get for being youkai.