This story is based from characters Rumiko Takahashi gave life a long time ago. I would like to thank her for creating two of the most compelling and controversial players in her series.
In addition, I would like to thank Richard Ryley for pointing out a more accurate definition on the relationship between Akane and Ryoga. I hope this chapter will reflect my understanding on his ideas.
Never say Never
Time was a term lost on this place. Darkness reined the vast land and the only spec of humanity moved among the restless sounds of pain and misery. "Can't we help them . . . They are lost and we could guide them to some place safe." The platinum girl shone sparks of life with her hair, those sparks attracted lost souls lingering in Limbo, but even when they had the chance to aid them, their stay had to be brief.
"I know what you want and believe me mom I wish I could too, but we've been on this place for a long time and we should be on our way to return home . . . Dad must be worried sick." The girl stopped and turned at her daughter. "Wait, I thought you said I was going to be your mom while Ranma would be Yoshiro's. . . .Why are you two calling me only mom . . . . Where's the "dad" on my side?"
The girl blushed at the question but the boy, while crossing his arms on his chest, gave her an uncaring glimpse and intervened in the chat. "Because in the future when we are born you go full time mom on us." The boy left from the spot they were and floated on the opposite direction.
The girl stared at the boy perturbed from his attitude. She had noted the different manners the boy established contact towards her. "Do I do something wrong in the future? . . . Maybe in the end I do something to Ranma that makes him mad at me." The silvered hair girl gathered with her daughter to find more details on the boy. "What's with him . . .? Does he hate me.?"
"No mom, he doesn't hate you, but is a bit resented by what happens between him and me." Ryoga tried to make sense of what the little girl said. "Ok this is a fight between brother and sister . . . Why do I feel like I have to fix this, I don't even know them!" Ryoga tried a tendered and soothing tone. "What did you do to him?" The girl kicked whatever kind of ground they were standing and scuffed at her brother. "I will be born first and in the "special" way." and he'll be born much later." Ryoga did not like the sound of that and the best bet was to go with Akira to clear any misconceptions
The platinum girl finally managed to slide across the area with more trust and freedom. Every strain of hair traveled on different directions making her look more impressive. Akira stared at the infinite darkness beyond her reach and every time the girl pointed with her open palm, a ring of purple clouds popped into view. Ryoga admired the teleporting talent and the more she saw it the more intrigued she became.
"Akira . . . . What's that Aiko is saying about her birth?" The redheaded girl scowled at the smaller platinum girl and grabbed the bridge of her nose as if she was tired. "Ryo-chan . . . Now is not the time for you to know this . . . . Believe me. It won't be easy."
The mother stared at her daughter and her sister annoyed at the answer. "Is that supposed to make me feel any better? . . . .Well no, it doesn't . . . now tell me all about Aiko's birth." Akira just stared back at Aiko while the girl giggled nervously. " . . . . . .Sorry."
How to explain to someone who has never been pregnant about a pregnancy based on time and space? The girl memorized extensive notes from Gaia, but to explain the sheer pain and suffering she was about to go through was a very different matter, still she had no other way now.
"Well then, this is going to be a stretch and is going to be very hard for me to explain fully. When you and Ranma get together and you will be the female of the two, the process is going to be the same, but if you get pregnant that's where hell breaks loose."
The silver haired girl did not like where this was going, she walked or floated from side to side, desperate at the account of the facts. "Why . . . Why do I have to pass through all this madness for him? . . .if I'm a guy he makes my life a living hell, and now that I can turn into a girl, he is going to bring more pain to my life . . ."
Ryoga sat and stood intently focused on the explanation. "When you get pregnant you'll have some unusual symptoms. Besides the regular ones from pregnancy the most characteristic for you is time . . ." The girl paused for effect and waited for her big sister to catch up. "Time is going to be your greatest challenge then. "Your pregnancy is going to take about six weeks instead of thirty-six."
"Yes! . . . .a month and a half, that doesn't sound so bad . . .I mean, if I get Ranma pregnant she'll be locked in a female body for nine months and her symptoms will last that long. . . . .I was worrying over nothing!."
Ryoga still did not get the big deal about the time, but when she saw the trepidation on the girls, she knew this was going to be a terrible explanation. "So . . . . A month and a half instead of nine months, which means it will be really fast . . . Right?"
Akira looked concerned with the lack of importance Ryoga had on the time. "Sis . . . . .when you multiply the times your pregnancy will last against the one of a normal person . . . . .do you have any idea the pace and symptoms before, during and at childbirth will be like.?"
This time Ryoga put her mind to work as best her knowledge of female anatomy existed. "Ok in nine months I'm going to throw up, cramp, have mood swings and other related types of pains. . . .All that through nine months. If I calculate all that pain reduced in six weeks it would give me . . ." This time the sum came down like giant rocks on her head. The girl gaped at the implication for her pregnancy.
"You mean I'm going to feel all the pregnancy symptoms during a normal nine month period over a month and a half . . .?" The girl turned white from the realization. "No . . . is going to be hell. Cramps, mood swings, tenderness in places I did not even have grown and a stomach that will grow at the speed of light stretching me every second! . . .?" The platinum mom covered her eyes and shook hear head negatively. "I think that is going to be too much . . . I can't . . . I . . . I can't let Ranma touch me . . . Ever."
The girl's understanding of her predicament made her sister wince for what was to come. She got close to the girl and patted her on her back for support. The desired effect did not reassure the girl all that much. Akira gazed at her daughter for help and Aiko walked at her side.
Her daughter sat and held her close. "Mom, I'm the first born and I will be in your world pretty soon according to heaven's ledger. I won't lie to you . . . It will be a very painful experience, but I love you and I want to meet you over there." Ryoga shook nervously and just kept fluttering her head hoping that would take the pain in her mind away.
Akira sat by the pair hoping she could add more support on the girl. "Sis I know since we met it's been nothing but loosing battles for you. I accept that I tried to mold you into a fine person and in the beginning I hoped I could save you from a worse ending than death . . ." The eyes on the smaller redhead reflected pain and the depression from her failure. "Look at where we are now. But there is a point on all this, believe me . . . I just tried to wait longer to tell you all this . . . I just . . . ."
"I wanted to save you from that moment for as long as I could, but if there is something in common between you and Ranma is your challenging attitude towards danger." Ryoga opened her eyes perplexed wondering at what Akira did on earth. She looked at the girl and asked directly. "Why . . . What did you tell her.?" Akira jerked in place but she new the future mom had to know. "I told her about your children ok? . . . .However, she does not know one is yours. She thinks the both of them were born from her and believe me, she looked worst than you."
Akira closed her eyes, asking for forgiveness in her mind. "Please Ryo, forgive me . . . She forced me to tell everything. . .Man I hate lying to my own sister." The boy floated back and saw his mother trembling in a heap; he launched at her side and grabbed her hand. "Mom . . . Please don't beat yourself up. I will take care of you and we can be a family once and for all!" Ryoga snapped into reality and tear-jerked from the solemn promise. They had not even met yet and the boy was swearing an oath before her.
There was a connection between them. Even when the boy was not born yet, she could feel Ranma's determination and her willingness to sacrifice all in him. "Yoshiro, I . . . I accept your offer and believe me, that has helped me a lot more in what I have to do." Aiko held her arms on her waist, satisfied with the results. "I'm sure Mom will be the best !"
Some time later her grandmother Kasune walked back from his meditative spot. "What I missed . . .?" Akira told her about what Ryoga was going to go through with Aiko and Yoshiro. The older woman scuffed mad at the talk. "For what is worth, I'll be at your side all the time. Dear, pregnancy is a blessing and yes I know You are going to feel it the worst, but when you see that little bundle of hope, all the pain and the suffering on the world will amount to nothing" Ryoga smiled at her grandmother and stood up, joining her.
"I might be in spirit, but I will never leave you alone my dear child." The eldest matriarch grabbed her long hair and ran her fingers gently making sure she made her point clear. "Do you really think these two left the gates of heaven without supervision? . . . .The guardian of the gates charged me with the safety of your boys and when the time comes I will take care of you even if I get stuck as a ghost at your side."
Ryoga felt sad at that but a small hand touched the edge of her shoulder. The boy tugged that small, that insignificant smile her mother used to wear when alone in the wilderness as a lost boy and she recognized it. She passed her arm around the neck of the boy in a friendly manner, but that was not enough for her son who hugged her tightly and did not let go. Ryoga froze at the "grab" for a second, but then she calmed down.
"Mom . . . I am not mad at you . . . I admire you. When everyone takes advantage of you and makes you miserable you turn into Ryoko." The girl frowned at the name and the boy chuckled. "Sorry mom that is going to be your female name when you get used to it. I want to see you every day, share my life with yours and learn your life story . . ." Yoshiro changed stances into a more solemn one. "What I mean to say is. . . .everyone expects me to be like dad 'cuse I will look like him, or a mix of him and his curse, but inside I'm more like you. . . . .and I want it to stay that way."
Ryoga looked at the boy with a new determination, decided to forget all other pain in her life she decided to reassure him would be OK. "Fine . . . So be it Yoshiro. I love you and your sister with all my heart, and I vow before the present company to take anything coming my way. I will fight back for my children and if a girl is what I need to be, then a mother's role is going to be my honor."
The boy and girl trembled in excitement and jumped at the brave girl with passion. "Thanks mom . . . We swear you won't be disappointed." The girl welcomed them in her arms. "No children . . . I can't ever be disappointed by you!"
Akira could not take such tender scene and a tear or two ran down her cheek and she did not care to show it, but Ryoga wondered about her sudden change and their grandmother intercede in her case. "Little Akira-chan . . . . This reminded you of something else didn't?" The girl nodded while brushing her tears away.
"The sister I left behind fought for her blood and for her right to be a woman. I don't know why or how, but some alternate Ryogas embrace womanhood a lot easier than others."
"Now you know my full story grandma. I am not a true girl and I have dealt with so many Ryoga's looking for the ones who would help me save my sister, but this girl reminds me so much to her. Maybe the hair is different, but she sacrificed everything like she is doing now . . . . I think you are the closest alternate to my sister."
Her grandmother hugged the girl and threw her the best advice a mother can give to a lost daughter. "Dear now I know your story and what you are going through for the sake of your brother . . . I couldn't be more proud in someone else." She looked at her "other" daughter and grand children. "Well . . . I can think of other three special people in my life. However, you are acting on your promise and you look out for your loved ones . . . . Your not a girl? . . . Well you may not be a lady like, but you are a true daughter for me and that makes you a real female in my eyes."
The girl accepted the encouragement speech and they all hugged in agreement. The older woman smiled at her family and left them so they could continue practicing. Akira moved back and kept dissecting the process of the teleportation tunnel in the hopes Ryoga can understand it easier.
The training prolonged for another hour or so since time was lost there. When Akira explained the steps on how to create the D.T.S.C. tunnel or Dimensional Time Space Continuum, the girl left on her own, back to Ryoga's world.
"Now remember Ryo, the system is easy. When we got lost on the world there was a tingling sensation telling us where to go. That is our bloodline interacting with the lay lines. In here, there are not magnetic lines to guide us so we need to rely on our feelings. Focus on what you love and what you are willing to protect. When you visualize it in your mind, open your palm in front of you and gently let go of your Chi while mixing that tingling sensation."
The girl focused on her Ranma. In a long path full of darkness, a faint glow made the girl yearn for that special someone. When she make sure of her contact with the redhead's heart Ryoga opened her palm and gently let go of her emotion, let go of her Chi and when the tingling began to run through her body a small purple cloud manifested before her. She smiled at her accomplishment and everyone knew she had it in her.
"Now I know why I got lost so easily . . . . When you focus this talent with what you want you get there." Than that hit a nail in her mind. "Every time I got lost, for some reason I found the Tendo house . . . . Even before, I turned into a pansy . . . . Was I attracted to Ranma?" Goosebumps filled her skin and the portal vanished. "That was a perturbing thought." She ignored that and moved back to practice.
The Platinum mom stood by her sons and grandmother and prepared for the hard goodbyes. "Mom, remember. . . .My pregnancy will hurt but I'll be there every step of the way . . . I promise." Ryoga hugged the girl and felt the heavy pain of leaving her flesh and blood. "Dear . . . I don't care if I go through hell; it's an honor to get to know you and your brother. . . .I will be waiting patiently."
The boy ran at her and hugged her trying not to let go. "Mom. . . .I'm sorry . . . I love you so much and I didn't mean to act cruel." The mother hugged him back and whispered him in a consoling way. "Shush baby . . . I have never felt more proud for you. . . .You could never hurt me in a million years. . . ." After the hug, they separated, and Ryoga took him at arms length by his shoulders. "But just wondering Yoshi . . . Why were you angry when we met.?"
The boy teased a smile and rubbed the tears away. "Mom, Aiko is born and grows from birth to fifteen in a month after, than she will remain at fifteen for fifteen years." Ryoga did not know that and looked at Aiko. "Don't ask me why mom. All I know is that when time and space are involved with a curse like Jusenkyo it screws everything up." The mom turned to Akira and she shrugged as well about the reason, but had a theory.
"Sis . . . My realm's sister passed for the same. When you return to earth, something is going to change besides your physical body. Time in you is going to stop but I do not know how. . . .Aiko will turn fifteen, but when she gets there, her age will stop until time can catch up with her."
Aiko looked at her mother. "So, I'll be fifteen for another fifteen years after I grow, than my age will progress normally." Yoshiro talked next. "And I am born naturally, since I will be born from dad. So you see. . . .I felt jealous from sister . . . She gets to grow older and share everything with you guys and I'll be a baby while all this happens." Tears fell from his face this time.
Ryoga broke apart and hugged him again. "Don't beat yourself down my boy; I will be at your side all the time and you'll have a sister who will take care of you as well. . . .So do not worry. We will be together. . ." Aiko joined the hug and the three saw Akira walk backwards into the tunnel vanishing.
In the last goodbye, the picture Ryoga left in her mind were an Old transparent woman in the back of two young children, at her right Aiko waved with a bright face Ryoga saw before. "Yes . . . She is more like Ranko's untamable demeanor. Full of defiance and carelessness for the future."
Next, the boy looked worried and serious and "that" brought memories on the girl as well. "Look at him so worried and he hasn't even been born. . . .I wonder if I acted that serious before I was born. . . .Yoshiro hang in there. . . .I swear I'll find a way for us to be a family soon." The girl giggled and focused her bloodline. When she created the tunnel, she began to walk backwards thanking the heavens she could see her boys as she left that place. "Someday I got to ask Aki-chan why backwards . . ."
On the other side. The Saotome family waited for Ranma's husband when the little redhead popped from nowhere and hit the same set of pans outside on the backyard. "Mom! . . . .Why do you keep leaving that stuff out here?" demanded the girl while rubbing her head. Ranma giggled at her sister and crossed her arms smugly.
"I did that. . . .We've been waitin' for a week for you and Ryoga to come back . . . Where is he?" The older redhead tiptoed stretching her neck and looking around for her man. Akira walked at her and patted her on the back. "Sis, this is where you shine. Ryoga cannot crossover until you focus on "her" . . . . I mean "his" signature feelings."
The girl laughed at the change on gender but remembered no one was supposed to know that . . . It was her secret promise. She closed her eyes and tried to remember the strong feelings of desire and happiness she passed with the boy . . . The sensations of dependency and the openness she learned in his care. The more she felt him, the more the wind picked up on the backyard. Everyone waited desperately and when a loud thud alerted them someone fell or crash inside the house, they rushed inside.
In the living room, there were fallen dishes on the floor and the table was upside down. Suddenly Ranma turned when she saw a silhouette and the quick sounds of steps going up. The girl ran behind the intruder, but when she reached Ryoga's old room she found it locked.
"Ryoga . . . it's that you . . .?" Nothing but noises of struggle with clothes came from within. Akira ran into the house still dizzy from the jump but she ran upstairs and excused herself with Ranma, knocking the door. "Ryoga, it's me Akira . . . Open up." The lock jumped open and the little redhead went inside while whispering to Ranma. "Give me a second with him, and I'll be back to tell you what's going on."
The pigtailed girl glued the side of her head to the door and she could hear the muffled noises of two persons. "I can't let him see me like this . . . . No, he will punish me in ways you do not understand. .I have to go . . . . I'll go somewhere else . . . ." After the conversation, ended Ranma tried to talk to her husband but a crash through the window told her he was long gone.
Back at the house, in the living room Akira walked from the bedroom and met Nodoka, Genma and Ranma's questioning looks. "Well, where is he . . .?" The girl sat on a chair and rested her elbows on the table. "He's gone for today, but he'll be back tomorrow, about six in the afternoon approximately."
"Why . . . Why did he leave . . .?" The girl rubbed her forehead; she knew Ranma was a "no-nonsense" woman when serious. "He feels self-conscious about the way he looks after the "transition" and prefers not to be seen right now, but he'll be better tomorrow I promise." If anything Ranma learned from her dad was suspicion and as soon as her mother and father walked into their bedroom, satisfied from the reason, the big redhead took the smaller one out into the backyard.
"Ok you ain't fooling me. . . .What is really going on?" Akira tried to slowly move away in enough space to start running into the house and in her mother's side, but Ranma knew that. Every move and step she did, Ranma matched it and when Akira stopped the dance, the pigtailed girl smiled devilishly.
"You know I can stay all night long here don' you . . . Now . . . . Spill." Akira kept quiet and staring at the girl. "I am not going to squeal on my brother . . . You can do anything you want but his secret is my secret." Ranma was never short on ideas for when things didn't go her way. "Is that so . . . ."
Akira had vast knowledge and possessed enough martial arts to take on a regular master efficiently, but Ranma was a formidable opponent and she feared the obvious defeat by her hands. The girl ran without loosing any time and lunged for the smaller redhead. Akira tried to avoid all damage but Ranma didn't give any signs of attacks. The big girl pounced and jumped at her and when a false move made the two of them match in places, Ranma pinned her by the arms.
Struggling to be free was useless. "Let me go . . . what's the big idea?" The pigtailed girl held her tight and when they were at even level, the girl spoke. "Aki-chan, you are not a match for me, and I know you were a guy and are trapped in there forever. . . .I love you like a sister, but my husband comes first. Now, what happened to her and where can I find her.?"
Akira just stared away, but when Ranma laid her bare chest on the girl's chest, Akira began to blush. "What do you think you're doing . . .?" Ranma smiled and forced the girl's sight down . . . To stare at their breasts rubbing together and making them pop even bigger. Akira felt the heat of the scene play in her mind and she began to sweat at the closeness between them. "Please Ranma. . .I may be a girl now, but I'm a fifteen year old boy inside and this is killing me . . . ." The girl closed to the smaller redhead's ear and whispered almost silently. "Don' worry . . . . I'm one too . . . ." When Akira got the meaning, Ranma neared her lips to the smaller girl. There was no way she could resist the temptation of kissing someone so beautiful and close to her, but her brother popped in her mind.
"Fine . . . . Her curse works in a different way. She is ashamed by it, but cannot change like you do. She will get wet and turn into a girl than she'll be stuck in that form for twenty-four hours, after that time, she can "then" splash with hot water and turn back to his guy side. So, right now is almost six in the afternoon . . . She will run away until tomorrow afternoon." Ranma let go of the confused girl convinced she said the truth. "Why would he leave me . . .? Bein' a woman ain't that bad . . . I turned into one full time for him . . .? The girl puzzled about that and then looked at her sister in law. "Does she think been a woman is bad . . . Or wrong."
Akira shook her head trying to leave the memories of a sensual Ranko away. The girl stood and walked into the living room. "Her curse has changed . . . . Evolved. Now she turns into a girl instead of a piglet, she became accustomed with the petting of the small animal and the dangers in the form. When she recognized how much you suffered by it, she thought of all the perverts and men trying to swoop you off your feet. She remembered what happened to you and Mikado . . . . She is scared out of her wits . . . Plus other stuff related to your children."
Ranma followed the instructions carefully. "So, she gets wet, she's stuck in female form a whole day, and than the hot water will work, but not before?" Akira nodded agreeing with her sister and repeated the last part to make sure she understood. "She is afraid of you, but I won't tell why . . . I will let you two solve your problems . . . Agreed?" Ranma agreed as well.
Ryoga ran past houses in the dark trying to device a plan to stall Ranma from finding out her new weakness. The girl hoped her wife could control herself, but how could she lie to her mind. "This is Ranma . . . I know she promised to love me, but if she gets the chance to become the male I know she'll take it in a heartbeat."
Finally, from all the strange places in her path a house turned into her salvation. The girl inspected careful for anyone outside and when seeing no one she went in. At the entrance, the only things at her reach were the Dojo and the front door. Ryoga walked carefully across the front yard and then she opened the door.
In the middle of the night, a young seventeen-year-old girl walked quietly into the Tendo house. When the doors that usually are unlocked slid open, Kasumi woke up afraid of thieves. The girl promptly ran into Akane's room and woke her sister up telling her of the noises. When Akane walked stairs down with her wooden kendo sword on hand, the noises stopped and the pair found a shadow weeping in their living room.
When the youngest Tendo turned the light on, they met a scared girl with shiny silver hair kneeling in a hiding position near the couch. "Who are you . . .?" The girl smiled when she saw the Tendos and rushed at their side. Akane swung her sword hitting the girl and knocking her out cold. "Oni-chan who do you think she might be?" Kasumi found a small detail on the girl very disconcerting. She fixed the girl's roughed hair and while doing so the same detail turned her into a familiar face. When they took her upstairs to the guest room Kasumi felt the same detail had finally told her whom she was, gasping in the process.
"Akane-chan, look at that . . . doesn't that showing fang look like the one Ryoga has when smiling." The brown-haired girl saw the resemblance and poked at the canine just to be certain. When Kasumi asked her why she did that, Akane told her about the prank her fiancée played on the Ryoga before. "Well, Ranma was able to get fake ones once and they look just like them."
It was late and the girls decided to leave the platinum haired girl to rest. Morning came and before Ryoga woke up, she felt the looks of several people around her. She woke and stood, staring back at the family. "Guys . . . Why are you looking at me like that?"
Akane did not wait for a polite answer. "We are the ones with the questions. Who are you and why did you brake in last night?" Ryoga looked at herself and saw she still was a girl. "I'm sorry Akane-san . . . I still can't make sense of this sensation." When the family kept staring at her, she scratched her head.
"Akane-san, it's me Ryoga . . . Ryoga Hibiki." The girl opened her eyes and old memories flooded into her mind. "Ryoga, but . . . you're alive, how can that be . . . . I saw you . . . . What, almost five months ago. And why do you look like that?" The girl received the welcoming salutes and patting in the back. The girls acted happy at her appearance on the house but were concerned of the meaning.
All but one. Akane's attitude towards the girl changed from the relief of seeing her friend dead at one time to the living, breathing girl. The rest of the family decided to leave the two girls alone for the time being since they knew the little Tendo had matters to arrange with her.
Ryoga blinked twice when Kasumi and Nabiki left the guest room, she looked back at her "friend" and wondered about her inquiries. "Akane-san, I'd like to ask you a favor for now. You see . . ." Akane stopped her before she could continue.
"Ryoga . . . it's a lie . . . You know deep down that is a lie!" The fleeting girl moved to the back of the bed in fear. "Akane-san, what do you mean . . . what is a lie?"
"You told me before that I never cared for you, that I ignored your feelings and that killed any love you had for me, but you know that's a lie. I have always tried to protect you from Ranma and all his chaos. Maybe not in the way you want me to . . . . However, living with Ranma Saotome is like living inside a tornado, and what I needed was a friend. . . Someone who could understand what I go through and that was supposed to be you."
The silvery haired girl tried to talk and apologize for her past misjudgment but the blue haired girl had more to say. "I miss you for who you are and I miss your friendship who cheered me up from his moral attacks." Ryoga felt the grieving pain in her words.
"I'm sorry Akane-san, I screwed again. Thinking on my depression and the sadness a lonely life carries with it made me drive the wrong conclusions. Is there a way we could start over?" Her host had plenty of questions for her, but those could wait. There was only one thing left for the girls to fix their connection.
"Ryoga, I would love to start new . . . Can we begin our friendship again this time with no secrets?" This was the turning point for the new girl. With all the courage she could summon Ryoga looked at the girl decided to reveal all for both their sakes.
"Ok Akane-san . . . This is going to hurt me unlike anything I have done before, but you deserve to know the truth." The girl moved to the edge of the bed, stared at the other girl and in the last second she closed her eyes while praying in her mind.
"Akane-san. Before I turned into this female body. .I . . ." Akane moved a step closer to the girl knowing this was the kind of secrets that could enforce her connection . . . Or destroy it. " . . . .I used to turn into something else . . ." This time flashes of her ex-fiancée fighting with the boy turned girl for dominance changed from love quarrels to curses. "So . . . You were cursed as well? . . . .What did you turn into?"
Ryoga's heart palpitated fast from the fear to express the next sentence. " . . . . A piglet . . . . Akane . . ." The youngest Tendo felt the roof falling on her head. The times where her pet slept with her, when she carried him on her chest and more importantly, the desperate warnings Ranma begged on the girl trying to keep her away from her P-chan. They all hit her mind in an avalanche of pain and distrust.
Ryoga knew the face and the tears. She felt like dirt and even when she wanted to console her she knew deep down the punishment was on its way. The brown-haired girl frowned mad in rage, her left arm crossed in front of her and Up. With her hand open and extended, the girl on the bed saw the slap coming.
"I felt her hand across my face once and like than, I know is not going to hurt me, but . . . . Seeing her in pain is crushing my soul." Ryoga opened her eyes. Her light green pupils staring back at her executioner and tears of her own beginning to roll on her face. Akane suddenly stopped when seeing the girl crying, she began to tremble trying to hit her goal or hold back. "Akane-san . . . You slapped me once and like in that time I'm sure I won't feel a thing, but just like than, My heart breaks from the disgrace I have caused you . . . .I'm sorry." The girl closed her eyes again and waited for the strike.
The girl had every right to punish her with more than just a slap on the face, but those tears told her Ryoga meant her apology. She grabbed the sitting girl and brought her closer to her face. "Ryoga. This isn't over . . . What you did was despicable and cowardly, but I will find a way for you to pay. In the meantime we have worse problems to attend." The girl left the bedroom fuming, closing the door forcibly.
Hours later Kasumi entered with a plate of soup, a piece of bread and a cup of tea. "Ryoga-chan, I'm sure you must be famished . . . Here, let me serve you some food. The girl set the tray on the side of the bed and sat besides the sad stricken girl looking through the window.
"Ryo-chan, Sis can be a bit blunt sometimes, but she means well. Wait for some time and you'll see she will change her mind." The girl changed views from the outside world to the eldest daughter. "But she is right. I have abused of her trust and all because of my cowardice . . .I think I deserve what happens to me in the end."
Akane came into her bedroom and madly closed it behind her. "The nerve . . .He thinks because he is afraid of his curse is reason enough to save him? . . .He heard every personal secret . . .He saw me change and slept by my side . . .Ugh !" The girl plummeted on her desk. Books and notes filled her sight, all about the psychology of human beings.
In the middle of the pile a blue book seemed to glow, attracting the brunette's attention. The girl took it and without thinking opened it on a specific chapter.
"Dependent personality Disorder. Is a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to a submissive and clinging behavior." The girl kept reading about certain personalities traits are inflexible, maladaptive and cause significant functional impairment when a child is raised improperly.
Akane kept on reading until hitting the last part of the chapter. " The dependent and submissive behaviors are designed to elicit care giving and arise from a self-perception of being unable to function adequately without the help of others."
She became very knowledgeable about what she wanted in life and began to see what happens when little boys are taught "in the road" from ignorant fathers . . .or no parents at all. "I hate this, but now I know why these two behave like they do." The girl closed the book, took several deep breaths and prepared herself for her future career.
Akane walked by the guest room without announcing herself first. She stood by the entrance listening at her sister and the new girl. "Ryoga-chan. Akane has matured a lot lately, remember that if she had known before, you would be flying out of the house and into the air." She expected the comment as a joke but the platinum girl sighed and went back to stare at the window.
"And she deserves that and all the beatings I can take . . .Kasumi-san. I never meant to hurt her, but I felt protected with her, and I tried my best to keep her safe." That was the moment when the girl entered. "And I felt protected by my pet, but what you did hurt us both. Ryoga, I want you in my life again, but I want "you" and not a mute companion."
Ryoga felt like crying but the demeanor on the youngest Tendo told her to hold. "After saying that, I believe a punishment is in order and then we can start over, what do you think?" The girl smiled at her and nodded happily. Akane giggled at the girl and after bowing and offering her hand she told her the deal.
"Fine . . We are friends again and as my friend the first order of business is working on that hideous clothing." The girl on the bed revised her wardrobe and shrugged back. "But . . . I don't see anything wrong with what I'm wearing . . .I always wear this."
Kasumi shook her head and smiled when a devilish grin on Akane's face told her of the plan. Ryoga felt a creeping blush and a thought invaded her mind. "I don't like when women smile like that . . . . I always loose something when they do that . . ." After the girls changed, they left the house. On the way to the mall the conversation moved to the objective Ryoga didn't want to touch.
"Why are you here. . .shouldn't you be with . . .you know.?" Ryoga got serious when Akane mentioned "him". The Tendo girl and Ranma left on angry terms all thanks to him. "Akane . . .I'm sorry for what I did to you . . ." The girl smiled and opened to the other girl. "Don't worry Ryoga, I guess it was bound to happen. At first it felt right letting myself go with how our parents forced us, but if you think about it, we were never ready for something like that. . . .Still . . .I don't think I'm ready for a wedding."
"Why am I lying . . . I thought this was a start over relationship . . .I guess I don't want her to see me falling for him."
"Well Akane-san, being married to her is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me, although now I am not so sure." The brunette tilted her head trying to understand her. "You mean, there are troubles in paradise.?" Ryoga laughed at the sentence since it was going to be some of that coming her way. "You could say that. You see. When I am a boy I know I have my feelings out in the open. I don't care for problems as long as I'm with the one I love, and you know who I love."
"But now that I'm the girl of the relationship, I'm afraid Ranma's "machismo" is going to take me for surprise. You know how big his ego gets, and all that nonsense of "weak girls" are like dead weights in his mind. Now, can you imagine what's going to happen when he finds out I can turn into a girl myself.?"
Akane nodded slowly, clearly knowing where the girl was going. "Yes Ryo-san. I'm afraid he'll be a worst pain than with me. You see, my attitude and his are the same. . .we clash and that's why we fought all the time. . .I never gave up from his insults. Nevertheless, I'm afraid you are a bit too "mild" and easy to control and that is like honey for a bee named Ranma. I'm afraid he is going to make a living hell out of your life."
Ryoga walked beside the girls and her silent expression made Akane wonder about her thoughts. "Ryoga . . .Are you OK?" The girl hugged herself and found the valor to talk. "Akane-san, Why . . .Why am I so "mild"? . . . . I know I am shy when talking to women and I wear my feelings on my sleeve so to speak, but why do I do that?"
Akane reflected on the chapter she read on the book and the girl became her first patient. "Ryoga . . . When we are raised with no role models we tend to use the closest parental figures in our lives. I hate to remind you this but I'm afraid you never had a role model in your younger life."
"Surviving from childhood lost and with no one around made you tough I'll give you that, but your social skills and "dependency" towards the ones you consider friends turn you into a submissive person." The girl understood the word submissive as slavery and she believed to be like that up to some point . . .maybe Akane was onto something.
"Well. What can I do to change that . . .I don't want to depend on Ranma no matter how much I love him. I hate to admit it and please don't ever tell him this, but sometimes Ranma intimidates me. Even in her female form she is so commanding." The brunette knew that from the start. If you call someone rival and shout him expressions like to "prepare to die", it would be dumb to be his friend and even fall for "her" afterwards.
"Well Ryoga-chan I can try to help you from what I know and maybe we can regain that self esteem and respect you so much need. . . . But before we can try it there's one more thing "I' deserve." The girl agreed with the young Tendo and when they bowed to their deal Kasumi alerted them about their destination.
"Akane . . .Ryo-chan, we are here." Both girls looked at the name of the store, but only one turned white and began to step away from her "friends". "Please Akane-san . . . . I apologize . . .isn't that enough?" The girl smiled at the silver haired girl and shook her index finger negatively. "Sorry Ryo-chan . . .a punishment is a punishment." The girl surrender was final. Ryoga walked into the female departmental store full of undergarments and frilly dresses. "I'm going to hate this . . . ."
Several hours later the three girls came out with new sets of casual dresses, shoes and purses. Akane was the first walking out of the store. The girl looked everywhere and then signaled the platinum haired girl to come out. The humiliation devastated every bit of self-respect on the girl. Fortunately the skimpy blouse was covered by a stylish jacket, but the red miniskirt made the long legs on the girl stand out the most.
Boys turned to look at her and lined up to see the tall silver-blonde girl in high heels and tiny outfit. Men tried to look away, failing miserably and to make things worse Akane arrived to an Ice cream parlor where her friends from school gathered.
"Akane . . .who is this?" The other girls surrounded the newcomer and bowed respectfully before her. "Hello, my name is Yuka . . .this is Sayuri." The other girl smiled and waved at her than she frowned at some resemblance she found with someone else. "Say . . .I think I have seen you somewhere else. Yes! I know, aren't you related to Ranma's friend . . . . You know, the one who fought him on school the first time they met?"
Akane laughed nervously and Ryoga had no idea if by talking she would let them know she was him. "I . . . ." Akane intervened in the last moment. "Yes, she is Ryoga's sister . . .Ryoko . . .Ryoko Hibiki . . ." The other girls giggled at that and they started to talk so fast, Ryoga could do nothing but to nod or shake her head rapidly.
"Would you like to join us? . . The guys should be here soon." The girl stared at each of Akane's friends and she fluttered from the fear. The only therapy strong enough to keep her sane was the tugging she did on her miniskirt, trying to set it under her knees. Akane felt embarrassed for what she forced on the girl and after apologizing for an early goodbye, she took the dizzy girl and her sister back to the house.
Back on the road, the stares kept making Ryoga blush and she looked to the ground while grabbing Akane's arm. After the ordeal, she heard the sweet words of forgiveness knocking on her door. "Fine Ryoga. I think this was punishment enough for you . . . . I am sorry I had to do it, but seeing you that vulnerable made me feel "avenged". Yet, I really like you and I want to keep our friendship.
Ryoga accepted her payment and told Akane there were no hard feelings. They came back home and the girls fixed the guest room with lots of female decorations, put the clothes away and Ryoga changed into a more modest outfit.
Both girls talked for sometime until the afternoon came. At six, the girl took some of the hot water Akane prepared before hand and doused herself with it. Everyone present saw the transformation back into the old Ryoga. In the excitement the boy didn't think on the gender change and from all the times he ended up naked, this was the worse one. The girls turned red from the embarrassment and the boy ran upstairs to change his modest "blue dress" into his old clothes.
After that, everyone laughed at the funny scene and Ryoga accompanied Kasumi into the kitchen. "Kasumi-san . . .Is there a way for me to learn from your cooking?" The older girl beamed from the question and the pair began the first lesson. Akane joined them later and the trio talked about cooking tips and tricks.
Tired of waiting, Ranma walked to the Tendos. Akira told her where the girl left to, but decided to give her space until the time expired. After six, a knock made Kasumi answer the door. "Why Hello Ranma-chan, what brings you here. . . .Would you like me to call Akane.?" The girl smiled at the always-cheerful demeanor of the oldest Tendo.
"No, thanks . . .I came to see Ryoga . . .is "she" here.?" Kasumi conceded her into the house and the two girls walked inside. "Ryoga-chan . . .you have visitors." This time Ranma was able to see only Akane and Nabiki standing in front of her, and on their back, sitting away from the redhead was someone else, but all she could see was a long silver colored hair, falling through the back of the chair and a girl trembling in anger.
As soon as the knock hit the door Ryoga knew who it was. The container with the hot water had residues of cold water on the side and when she jumped from the sound, she bathed herself again. The transformation was instant. "Damn it . . .why do I get skittish in a moment like this . . ."
Ranma could not believe the transformation. There were subtle similarities but the redhead wanted to be sure. "Ryoga . . .is that. . . you.?" The platinum girl stood up and slowly turned around. Her hair was a shiny gray and white, almost like bright silver, and her eyes turned from the clear brown to a light green. Her factions resembled a lot like the male Ryoga but in a very feminine way and her chest was ample but even to her height. "Ryoga . . .you look beautiful."
The girl blushed and tried to walk at Ranma, but Akane interfered in between. "Hey . .What's the big idea . .!" The brunette confronted the redhead and stood side by side with her famous angry look. "Ranma, if you try to hurt her I swear that's going to be the last thing you ever do . . ." Ranma kept blinking at the girl and frowned at the comment.
"What do you mean, "hurt her"? I would never hurt my hus . . .wife?" This time the pigtailed girl stopped and the devilish smile sneaked into her. The redhead took the now warm rest of water from the one Ryoga used to transform and doused it on her, changing her into the male Ranma. "Yes! . . .that was hot enough."
Ranma stared at Ryoga and waited for Akane and Nabiki to move but they didn't budge. Tired, the boy rested on the side of the wall. "Ryoga . . .why did ya run from me. . .you know we can fix this right?" The girl was afraid to answer. Good thing Akane was on the tag team position. "She can't go with you right now, but she will go in time. . . Give her that for now Ranma and later on I'll let her go." When the pigtailed boy outstretched for her, the girl stepped back and he understood her feelings.
"I know how you feel . . . hell I went through that, but I'll be waiting." The boy turned around and left. Akane took the girl to the kitchen where the other girls tried to use hot water to change her back with no successful results. "Ok Ryoga, what's going on . . .no matter how hot we try, you won't change."
"Akane-san, my curse is different. I get locked in this form for twenty-four hours and only until than I can be doused back to normal. . .that's why I ran from Ranma. I didn't want him to see me stuck like this." Ryoga felt the need to cry and cramps began to make her feel woozy. "What's wrong with me . . .I've been feeling like this since I came back from Limbo."
Suddenly the girl had to go and she ran to the bathroom, after sometime, an even more scared platinum blond girl walked slowly out of the door. "Kasumi . . .can you come please . . .Akane, I might need your expertise right about now too." The eldest girl walked with the blonde and she told her something in her ear. Usually the "Oh my . ." could've been heard now, but the girl just patted Ryoga on the back and told her something that made Akane very nervous. "Oh don't worry Ryo-chan that only means that you're fertile." The girl stared back at the other three young ladies. "Fertile for what.?"
Akane took her to the bedroom and they talked about that time of the month, but even when Ryoga knew that, all the information ran away from her mind. "You mean I'm getting ready for that kind of stuff? . . .but how . . .I'm not even a normal girl."
"Well apparently your body thinks so and in the next weeks you better not let your brand new husband touch you intimately, or you might end up pregnant." The girl turned white and she had to tell to the Tendos everything she was told by her sister. After the fast forward conversation, Akane looked at her quietly while Kasumi shook her head and patted the girl. Nabiki was busy writing something on a piece of paper.
"Nabiki . . . sis, what are you doing . . .?" The girl took away her writings and making sure no one was around she showed them her "project". "It's my new bet system. I am going to bet on how long Ranma stays put without knocking Ryoga up. . .what . . .hey it's a living! . . ." The other girls and Ryoga scoffed and went back to business.
Akane felt a smidge of jealousness from her newfound friend. To become a significant part of the Saotome heir's life and be in danger to be taken by the boy made her think about the chance she could have with him slipping away.
"We need to find a way to keep Ranma away from you. What if you come and live with us for a time?" The girl didn't know what to answer. . .after all Ranma was officially her husband now and she had to obey him. "But I opened myself to her when she needed me. Now that she is the man I think I must show him he can be a good husband too."
There she was again. Akane knew the insecurities on the girl played a strong role of submissive and dependant feelings towards Ranma just like she did as her pet, but this time the faithful role of a wife could cost her dearly. "Ryo-chan you need to snap out of it. Remember that's how all started with you and Me. You felt like a protecting pet and I didn't ask questions, I just accepted you."
"This time it could be dangerous, especially if Ranma is involved and he manages to become intimate with you. Tell me what will happen then?" The girl measured both decisions carefully. On one side she knew Ranma could "go all the way" blaming his "man among men" ideology. On the other, She let the pigtailed boy turn into a passionate wife and made her open at her feelings. . .she had to be loyal after going through something like that.
"Akane . . . I know what you're saying, but Ranko trusted me when everything was against her. . . .I must honor her effort." The brunette grabbed her hair desperately from the passive dependency on the girl, her nerves were about to explode. "Fine. You may go, but not until I talk to Ranma's mother. She must know all this before anything goes out of line."
Ryoga accepted Akane's condition and the girl went to the guestroom to wait patiently on the Tendo's Endeavour. "Wait for me Ranma . . .I'll be there soon."
The girl hurried to the Hibiki residence. As soon as she got there, her knocking displayed urgency. When the Saotome matriarch opened the door, she didn't expect to see Soun's little girl.
"Hi aunty. Listen, I know what's going on so far and I even know some other things you need to be aware of. . .is there a place where we can talk.?"
"Sure dear . . .I have a few things I need to pick up tomorrow morning. Meet me at the market and we can talk, let's say about nine in the morning.?" The girl nodded and bowed, waving good night to the matriarch.
"Yes. If Ryoga stays the night it should be easier for me to convince her of her misplaced devotion on Ranma." The girl arrived back home and relied the last request on the obedient girl.
Ryoga accepted and went back to her room. In the middle of the night Akane needed to go to the bathroom. When she passed by Ryoga's bedroom she noted the girl talking to someone else. At first she thought it would be Ranma and she readied to assault the room, but the conversation changed into a different type.
"Yes dear . . .I don't know how were you able to come all the way here from Limbo, but I want you to head back with your sister and grandma. . . No . . .I don't want you "floating" alone here . . .Yoshiro . . .Yoshi! . . .I'm giving you an or. . . ." Akane went in and the girl woke up sweating and with an accelerated palpitation.
"Ryoga . . .who is Yoshiro?" The girl gasped at the name and wondered about the way Akane knew about it. The platinum haired girl tried to place where she was and when everything made sense in her mind she asked the girl. "How did you know that name?" The girl told Ryo-chan what happened before she woke up and the girl shook afraid. "Yoshiro is my son . . . . I dreamt he followed me here and He wanted to stay at my side even when He wasn't born yet." That was too much for Akane and shushed her back to sleep assuring her they would talk later.
