State of Ours.
as always, I own nothing but the idea of how I put this together. all characters real and imagined are owned by the appropriate owners, of which I am not one.
here is a long awaited chapter for state of ours.
hope you all enjoy. character death warning.
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Ranma frowned as she looked at herself in the mirror. One hand tugged down on the skirt while the other tried bulling the blouse away from her chest. 'Damn perverts.' she thought to herself while considering the source of her outfit.
"Still don't like the uniform, Ranma? I don't either. But the doctors agreed and the school ordered that if you are going to be going as a girl, you need to either wear a uniform or at the very least a dress." Akane stated from were she was seated on her bed, watching her fiancée get dressed for their first day back to school. She ignored the now familiar fluttery feeling and growing hear in her core that was now a welcome reaction to watching Ranma slowly dress herself. It had taken a great deal of self control to keep from rushing over and taking advantage of Ranma's state of undress. She had to dig her fingers into the mattress to remain in place as the busty redhead adjusted the bra cups. They had returned only a few days before from a trip to the beach, and Akane fondly recalled watching Ranma doing the same adjustments with her bikini top. But not nearly as fondly as she recalled 'helping' Ranma adjust the cups. It had taken a while to find bras that would even come close to containing Ranma's assets, and every time she put them on, she had to manually adjust the placement for maximum comfort.
'Well there was that one bra.' Akane thought to herself. 'But Ranma is no where near ready to wear that kind of thing to school.' Luckily they had found some sports bras that Ranma was willing to tolerate, along with a few pantie/bra sets in colors that weren't too effeminate for the confirmed tomboy. 'How she can have so much trouble wearing plain bras while wearing practically nothing at the beach is beyond me. Not that I can complain about the view.'
"I guess I'm ready Akane. Still wish they'd at least let me wear a boys uniform. Stupid perverts are gonna be tying to look up my skirt or down my shirt."
Akane grinned and then sidled up to Ranma, using her newfound confidence in her own sexuality and attractiveness to entice her lover into visually caressing her as she approached. She reached the frozen for of her female fiancée and pulled her into a hug. The press of their bodies was both familiar and new, as they had most recently had contact in far less clothing then they were wearing now. Akane leaned in and kissed the redhead, allowing one hand to slide sensuously down her back until she was fondling her pert little bottom. The other hand slid up to brace her head while gently stroking the healing network of scars barely hidden by her slowly regrowing hair.
Akane broke the kiss and grasped Ranma's hand, cheering inside at the glazed, passion filled eyes and kiss swollen lips . "Come on baka, don't want to be late on your first day back." 'Damn I'm such a pervert. I want to skip school and take her upstairs and finish the rest of what we haven't had a chance to do. And when she's exhausted, grab some hot water and do the same to him.'
Ranma took control of her breath and her hormones. "Let's get this over with."
The duo left the home and started the walk to their school. Akane bravely continued to hold Ranma's hand as they walked. She moved closer, so that their hips and thighs would occasionally brush against each other. They had agreed that they would not hide the changes in their relationship, but had not decided if they would be openly affectionate. Ranma realized instinctively that Akane was making that leap and making it clear that the two were a couple. And she was also making it clear that their relationship was not diminished when Ranma was in female form. Male or female, Ranma was Akane's lover, and the blue haired girl was making it clear.
They chatted quietly as they walked, neither eager for the return to a place that had caused them so much pain. Akane hated that the idiots like Kuno had nearly destroyed her trust in men. This had lead to her always believing the worst of Ranma, no matter his obvious naive and decent nature. She had not been able to trust in him enough to believe his claims regarding the constant stream of unbelievable encounters.
"Have you decided what to do about gym?" Akane asked. It seemed odd to her that as little as 2 months ago, the though of Ranma joining and showering with the girls gym class would have sent her into a murderous rage. One that could have made the damage of Godzilla's attacks look like a child's tantrum. Now, she was eager to watch her fiancée bathing. It was confusing but thanks to doctor, they were both more comfortable with themselves and each other.
"Doc thinks I should take some more time and spend it as a girl. I know they wanted me to spend at least 2 weeks being a girl as much as possible, and we spent that time at the beach. Tofu wanted me to spend some time as a girl when we go back to school. I'm not going to force anything and pretty much let stay in whatever form I'm in when we get ready for school. Though I am bringing a change of clothing for both forms in case I get reversed during the day. I will not spent the day as a guy wearing this getup." Ranma let her eyes wander and she noted several neighborhood figures watching them intently. "He also asked me to take it easy to make sure that I heal fully, so I'm gonna spend at least gym as a girl everyday. There's less chance of contact, though I realize that girls are not automatically weaker then guys. Besides, there are more important things than being the best at everything or letting my pride interfere with being happy."
Akane's heart fluttered as she caught the emotion in Ranma's words and displaying plainly on her face. "I love you Ranma." she stated, for the first time feeling no twinge of shame or doubt.
Tears glimmered in Ranma's eyes. "I love you too Akane. I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you before. I think I always have, but I didn't really understand. Everything is much clearer now. Thank you Akane, for loving me enough to help me grow up. For teaching me what it means to be a person and not some prize or weapon. Thank you for helping me learn to be a woman and still be a man."
Akane pulled Ranma into a hug, not caring about the nasty looks old Mrs Nagoya (a.k.a Ladle Lady) threw at them. Releasing the hug, the pair wiped their eyes. "Enough mushy stuff. Race ya to school, tomboy?"
"Hey!1 You're the tomboy. I'm all woman." Ranma replied, striking a sensual pose. Akane leered at her defiance's bust as it strained the material of her blouse. "Believe me, I know." she giggled as Ranma blushed a shade as read as her hair.
Laughing and more at ease, the pair clasped hands again and began to lightly jog towards the school.
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Shampoo watched from the roof of someone's home as Ranma and Akane openly expressed their newly admitted love. Despite being 2 blocks away, she heard every word they spoke, and in her heart the last embers of hope died. For the first time, she could admit that she had lost the fight. That there had never been a fight as Ranma's heart was lost to Akane long before the girl even knew that there was a struggle taking place. There was nothing here for her now. And worse, there never was. All her scheming and plotting had done was ensure that her quarry would never trust or respect her. With tears draining silently from her eyes, she leapt from the roof and raced home to the Nekohanten. Once there she paused outside, steeling herself for what was to come.
She strode through the doors, ignoring the heads that turned to eye her well developed form. She reached up and released her hair from the ornate ties that held it in place. She shook her head to allow the purple tresses to cascade freely down her back. She walked determinately to the chopping block behind the counter, and moving swiftly so her Elder could not stop her, laid her head on the block. She reached out and grabbed the great butcher's blade and swung in one motion.
The dining room filled with screams of horror. A second scream followed as the hand and knife rose again, before slamming down a 2nd and then a third time.
Every one watched as Shampoo slammed the knife into the block and stood. Horrified gasps filled the air as Shampoo stood silently with her back to the crowd. She raised her other hand, then threw down the thick cluster of her former pride and joy.
"It is over. I have failed and am not worthy to wear the mark of a warrior. We must return to the village so I may face my punishment for the dishonor I have brought to myself, my family, and my tribe."
Khu Lon looked down at the thick pile of 4 foot long strands of hair. Her heart wept for her descendant, knowing the suffering she would have to endure to regain her place in the tribe. A woman's hair was a mark of her personal skill, social position and rank among the guard. By lopping off her long flowing locks, Shampoo had placed herself with the lowest rank in social and professional circles. She had basically declared herself a child with no standing to make decisions for herself. She would be at the mercy of any of the Council or members of the guard. And no doubt several of her rivals would make terrible use of her.
"Oh Shan Pu, what have you done?" she asked knowing in her heart the only possible reply.
"I have failed. Untold times I have attempted to complete the tasks our laws and history have placed on me and untold times i have failed. But the worst failure was also the first. It was not caused by law but by my own selfishness and pride. I should have accepted the defeat by Ranma and offered her the Hand of Friendship. Instead in my own humiliation, I went back to the most archaic and mostly forgotten laws and invoked the Kiss of Death. Nothing else that followed would have had the same ... insanity if I had but swallowed my pride and become friends with a poor, wandering young girl. Our tribe could have risen to glory as great as any of our ancestors. Instead we are lucky that I have not caused a Blood Feud. We must go home."
Khu Lon bowed her head, proud of the child's strength. She raised her head and nodded, turning to face the silent observer's, only a few of whom had been able to follow the conversation. "I thank you all for your patronage, but I must ask that you leave. Due to family matters, we will be closing the restaurant and returning to our home in China. Please consider this last meal a gift for you valued business. MU TSU! Begin packing. We are going home."
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Nodoka stared down at the table, he mind a whirl of activity. Laid out before her were 3 pieces of fine stationary, already covered in her precise and ornate script. Just past the paper work was the Saotome family blade, unsheathed and resting on a rack. The blade was shining in the light of the candles at each corner of the low table. The edge was up, and the gentle curve of the blade carried it's weight on the wooden display rack. Below it on a small pillow, covered by a red silk sheet embroidered with the Saotome crest was a matching tanto blade in it's proper sheath.
She could no longer deny her actions. Written before her was the sum total of her recent experiences. Written thrice as a means of both self purging and atonement. One copy would go to her son, the child he had lost so long ago. The child that she had lost a second time due to her own inactions. Her brief moments of clarity since the events of that night had allowed her to see just how badly she had treated her son. She had been stuck in a fantasy world, as self deluded in her own way as any of the accursed Kuno family. Her upbringing had taken away all chance of her having a real relationship with her son and husband. And now she had committed the worst transgression. She had continued the torrid affair that had begun the night she had attempted to poison her own son into cheating on his chosen fiancée
Guilt filled her and disgust. She had been so starved for attention that she could not stop herself from seeking out the man who had used her. She could not live again without the attentions of a man. Yet she had destroyed her honor by bedding a man not her husband. This was something that could never be forgiven, no matter how poor a spouse Genma had been. Her family would be dishonored once her actions were know, but hopefully that dishonor would rest on her and not be taken against her son. That was what the third letter was for, a plea to her remaining clan to allow her attempt to appease her dishonor and not have it affect the offspring she herself had betrayed so horribly. No matter how badly they had treated her, she could not allow her son and his potential children to bear the burden of her dishonor.
Straightening herself, she loosened the knot on her obi, exposing her chest and stomach. Reverently she reached forward and carefully removed the silk sheet, exposing the hidden blade. Grasping it in both hands, she drew it to her forward and bowed low. She drew the blade, kissing the Saotome mark near the grip before placing the sheath back on the pillow. In a departure from the usual ceremony, she used her free hand to gather the hand written notes and will, and placed them in a pile on a shelf behind her. Turning back to the low table, she raised up as high as she could while remaining crouched on her knees. With both hands on the handle, she thrust the dagger home, gasping as the cool metal parted her flesh. She drew it sharply down and then across. With the last of her strength she placed the blooded weapon on the pillow next to the sheath and allowed herself to lean forward. As the life started to withdraw from her form, she fell forward onto the Saotome blade. Her head hit the table and bounced off onto the tatami floor.
Thus ended the life of Nodaka Saotome. In death, as in life, unable to overcome the outmoded traditions of her family.
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AN::
I know the end is a little morose and I don't want any one to feel that I disparaging tradition or the Japanese society, this is just my take on how those traditions could be perverted and taken too far by someone who was not quite well balanced in her life. Nodaka lived her life by a perversion of the old traditions that were instilled in her by her family. She could not overcome them and could not live with the fact that she had betrayed those traditions. In a moment of clarity she saw what she was doing to her son, and was too weak to come to terms with it all and took her own life. I could have had her step in front of a bus or shoot herself, but since this is a setting in the Japanese society, I thought it appropriate that if she was going to kill herself, she do it in a manner somewhat respectable in her mind.