STATE OF OURS 12
another chapter for state of ours. As always I own nothing but the situations I place the characters in, all characters are the property of their legal owners.
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'Duck, dodge, dive, dip and drop' Ranma though to herself as she maneuvered through the field, avoiding the hard rubber balls thrown at her by her classmates. Her timing was off and she still got a little dizzy if she moved her head too quickly, so she was eventually tagged as all of the members of the other team targeted her.
Laughing and filled with a sense of rightness, Ranma moved over to the bench to watch the rest of the game. She had been nearly giddy since the girls had accepted her presence in the locker room. They had greeted her, exchanged a few looks and shrugs and proceeded to ignore her as they all dressed for gym. She was grateful for her girl training with Akane, otherwise the casual display of flesh would have rendered her comatose. As is, she had to avoid looking at her fiancee or risk loosing control. Akane might have trained her responses too well.
The teacher had expressed concern, but the girls had assured her they had no issues with Ranma, provided she could keep herself from being overly affectionate with Akane. The pair had blushed deeply,as thoughts of how affection they now were consumed them. The startled teacher had then firmly, if with a little bit of shock and embarrassment, stated that there would be no shows of affection accepted in the change rooms or Ranma would be exiled to the boys class.
Ranma cheered as Sauri's throw knocked Kumi out of the game and winced as Terra's hard throw hit Sauri in the face. The ball bounced up off her face and was caught by Rei, so Terra was out and Sauri stayed in the game, although she looked a little dazed. Kimiko took advantage and showing a little compassion lobbed the ball off Sauri's leg. Sauri then staggered over and sat heavily next to Ranma, poking her now tender nose to wage the damage.
The game progressed quickly and soon only Akane was left from her team. Facing her were 3 members of Ranma's team (the two had been placed on opposite teams to even the odds). Sooki, Sora, and Ayane. All were armed, Akane holding 2 of the 5 in play balls. Ranma and her teammates cheered on their trio, while Akane's showed their support for the girl left at 3-1 odds. Ranma, more sure of herself tried to distract Akane with her attempts at flirting which had improved greatly thanks to Kasumi and Nabiki's tutelage during their beach trip.
The trio exchanged looks and whispers as Akane taunted them with a juggling display. They raced as one toward the line and released, 2 of the balls speeding ahead with the 3rd following slightly behind and lower. A cocky Akane had to rush, using her balls to reflect the attack. The 3rd almost got her but at the last moment she spun, kicking it into the air while launching her 2 balls. Since they were right at the line, they had no chance. Luckily, Akane had pulled her throw and while they were still processing, Akane caught the ball she'd kicked into the air and threw, hitting the 3rd opponent and winning the game.
Despite loosing, Ranma cheered her fiancee as loudly as any of the girl's team mates. Thanks to the help her her doctors and the surgery, she was no longer as driven as she had been. She'd come to understand that it was okay not to be the best at everything she did or have to always win every event she took part in. If she won great, but loosing, especially at something as inconsequential as a gym class dodge ball game was not something to stress over.
Besides, the way she'd come to realize, if her team won, she could 'console' Akane with hugs and kisses. And if Akane won, she could congratulate Akane with hugs and kisses. Either way, the most important thing was getting to openly hug and kiss (and grope- must never forget the groping) her fiancee. This was much more important then the score in some random game.
'Akane has spoiled me.' she thought to herself as she wrapped her arms around the blue haired beauty and welded their lips together, ignoring the catcalls and laughter of their classmates as well as the sensei's frantic calls for them to behave.
Eventually they separated, teams were reformed and the games continued. The period ended and they hurried to the change room where they showered and re-dresssed in their uniforms. Ranma felt a surge of contentment as the girls in the class showed their acceptance of her presence by treating her like one of them. They all joked around about the games, gossiped about some of the boys. A few of the bolder girls even tried to get details from Ranma about the boys 'attributes'. Ranma shuddered and firmly advised that boys avoided even the appearance of checking since that could lead to various unwanted responses ranging from teasing to violence to - worst of all- returned interest.
After they had dressed, they made their way to their next class. The sensei expressed pleasure towards Ranma's return and the work that had been done during her absence. Ranma blushed at the teachers praise, unused even to the concept of positive reinforcement. Akane and her sisters were trying to change that but it was going slowly. Likely due to the vastly different styles of reinforcement employed by each of the three sisters mixed with how deeply her father's style of instruction had been beat into her. They were such total opposites in every way, yet still different enough from each other to have a strong delayed reaction in the red haired girl.
The day passed quickly and despite herself, Ranma felt a sense of pride as she caught more then one boy sneaking glances at her. Before the surgery and Akane's training, she would have attacked a boy who looked at her the way they were now. Instead she felt flattered and pleased by their attention, even as she felt no real attraction of her own towards the male gender. She was secure enough now to be able to admit that some of the boys were quite handsome but of no personal interest to her.
Occasionally she did wonder what it would be like if Akane were a boy. And though she would not want her fiancee to suffer as she had suffered, the thought did occur to her about Akane becoming cursed. And surprisingly, a growing part of her wanted that to take place, if for no other reason then to be able to let Akane feel the differences of boy vs girl. The same thoughts also reflected her desire to know why and what it felt for a girl with a boy. However, the boy in question was only ever Akane. She felt no such desire or curiosity to explore with anyone except her fiancee.
About halfway through the class, they were drawn out of the less interesting English novel by the intercom.
"Saotome Ranma, Tendo Akane, Tendo Nabiki. Please report to the main office. You are excused for the remainder of the day."
Sharing confused looks, Ranma and Akane gathered their belongings and homework assignments before making their way to the office, walking just slightly apart but close enough to bump shoulders or hips. They reached the office and sat next to Nabiki, who's usual mask of indifference was missing as she looked almost ready to bawl.
She spoke as they settled in. "Kasumi is in the office with Tofu." she told the younger pair. "They looked like a weak breeze would knock them over. I've never seen Kasumi look like that. Not even when. . . when mommy died." It was a testament to how shaken she was as Nabiki only ever referred to her mother in the most formal tones.
With nothing else to do, they sat quietly, all three holding hands in preemptive comfort. Ranma and Akane knew that anything that could shake Nabiki's control must surely be most terrible.
Eventually the office door opened and a blank faced Tofu and tear streaked Kasumi exited. Tofu motioned for the trio to follow and they left the school. No one spoke as they walked the paths to the Tendo-ke. Ranma noticed the sympathetic looks being given by various people and began to worry. Something had happened. Something so terrible it had shattered Kasumi's control.
Once they got home, Tofu told then to change and put their books away in their rooms, which the three did quietly. Once out of their uniforms into more casual outfits, they met up in the dining room. Kasumi was already there, her head bowed and tear tracks clearly showing on her cheeks. Tofu reentered from the kitchen carrying a tray of tea. He silently poured them each (including himself and Kasumi) a cup and motioned for them to drink.
"Okay what's going on?" Nabiki asked, her impatience and frustration boiling over. "Where's Daddy and the FatMan?"
Tofu remained silent for a moment. He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Something happened... it's not easy to explain. First, Soun and Genma are fine. They are at the Saotome home with the police." He turned to face Ranma, who was shifting nervously and gripping Akane's hand. "Your mother . . . your mother . . . she . . ." Taking a breath and drawing strength from Kasumi's hand on his shoulder, he continued. "Your mother is dead, Ranma. She . .. she committed seppuku. The full right of a shamed warrior. She left a note. It seems that . . . she did some things she was ashamed of and it shocked her out of her recent behavior She . . she wrote that the shame of her actions was too great a burden and her behavior towards you and Akane was unforgivable in this life."
Ranma sat back heavily, stunned beyond speech. Unnoticed, tears slipped from her eyes as the words started to process in her mind. Everything seemed to slow and fade as disbelief and sorrow began to rise within her. Only Akane's sudden embrace kept her grounded as she struggled against the swirling, twisting miasma of feelings that coursed through her. She let out an anguished cry before turning and burying her face in Akane's shoulder, clutching desperately at her fiancee. Dimly she could hear Nabiki talking to Tofu, but her mind was too clouded to understand or process anything else that was being said. 'You mother is dead,....is dead ..... dead.....'
So filled with misery and pain she barely noticed Akane speak to the others before gathering her completely in her arms and effortlessly lift her while rising to her feet. She held on, still keeping her face buried in Akane's shoulder as her fiancee carried her up the stairs and into her room. Mechanically, Ranma allowed Akane to first undress her and then redress her in a nightgown. The blue haired girl drew back the covers on her bed before slipping into her favorite PJ's. Re placed Ranma into the bed, but when she tried to let go and back away, the red head whimpered and clutched her tighter.
"Stay. Please." she whispered faintly, her voice marred by the sobs that racked her slim frame.
"I'll be back. I'm going to close the door and be right back." Despite her own horror at the situation, a surge of affection and prided filled her. 'Ranma needs me. He wants me to stay and comfort him Not one of the Bimbos. Me.' She gave the red head a quick peck on the cheek then went over, closed the door and light then returned to the bed.
Ranma held the covers open, then as Akane settled into position, enveloped her in a hug, again resting herself comfortingly against Akane's shoulder. For her part, Akane wrapped Ranma in her arms, rubbing along her back in a soothing gesture while whispering comforting words into her soft hair. These were interspersed with gentle kisses into the still short mop and along her temple. Eventually, the pair drifted off to sleep, emotional exhausted.
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Nabiki rocked back on her heels, shock and disbelief filling her in equal measure. Nodoka had always seemed such a strong, independent woman and Nabiki had respected and admired her strength. Sure some of her ideas were old fashioned, but she also promoted more modern ideas for women. She had encouraged Nabiki to pursue her dreams just as much as she praised Kasumi's more traditional life choices. Her main conflict had seemed to be that she believed you had to choose between the traditional or modern lifestyle, and could not live a combination of the two. Which was oddly hypocritical of her given her own life choses.
Still, to commit seppuku in a male tradition was a final thumb in the eye to Ranma. Well, depending on what was in the note. Maybe it was a last ditch attempt to give her approval for the duality of Ranma's life. Or it might be a last blow to show her distaste for that duality.
"What was in the note Doc?" she asked as her mind filled with a multitude of possible after effects resulting from this act.
"She indicated a realization of the pain she was causing to both Ranma and Akane. She apologized for her behavior She also indicated that she had . . . made inappropriate plans with Xian Pu, Ukyo, and both younger Kuno's in an attempt to separate Ranma and Akane and to control Ranma's life. She also admitted to attempting to drug Ranma and basically let the 3 girls 'use' him, then transform him into Ranko and giver her to Tatewaki. She also wrote that the bowls were switched and she had an affair with the senior Kuno. The disgrace and shame she felt she inflicted on all by her actions shocked her into a brief well call it stability. She chose her next act as the only means she could find to find some type of atonement for her acts. She was seeking redemption."
Nabiki snorted. "More like she was too much of a coward to face everyone knowing she'd slept with Palmtree head." Nabiki paused, her face getting pal as she filtered Tofu's statements. "Oh Kami! It's my fault. I switched the bowls and called Kuno. I sent her off with him, knowing she was as horny as hell and there was no way they weren't going to screw each other blind. I wanted her to suffer that disgrace. Stupid bitch, even in death she fucks up my plans."
Kasumi gasped, looking up for the first time. "Nabiki! Watch your language." She took a breath before continuing. "I was as much at fault. I knew of her plans and of your actions and did nothing to stop either of you."
"No one is at fault, Nabiki. Nodoka chose her path and was aware of the consequences. What happened was horrible, but if her plan had succeeded, what would have happened to Ranma and to Akane would have been worse. While we might have played a minor role in her shame and actions, we did so to protect our family, something that she had lost sight of."
Nabiki put down her teach, her watery eyes looking in the distance. Despited Kasumi's words, she couldn't ignore the guilt of her own complicity. Nodoka might have chose the path, but it was she who had diverted that path into an avalanche.
Which was worse:
Ranma and Akane betrayed, their honor and love destroyed for Nodoka's perverse vision of manliness and childish devotion or Nodoka shamed and dishonored, her will to interfere in Ranma and Akane's lives broken? How could she have known that the woman would go to such extremes? Then again considering how much the spiteful bitch paid service to tradition, what better way to get back at her child in this situation? This could destroy Ranma's fragile emotional control and if Ranma cracked, how long would Akane last before following Ranma into madness. 'Damn that woman!Even with her death she tries to ruin her son and his chosen iinazuke.'
Kasumi rose. "I think this calls for something stronger then tea. Would you prefer sake or beer?" Kasumi wasn't a big drinker and neither was Nabiki, but a beer or a caffer of sake was definitely appropriate for their current situation.
"Bring anything we have. I want to get so shitfaced I don't remember this conversation." Nabiki stated. "If we're going to pull a daddy, might as well go all the way."
Kasumi nodded, leaving her sister and iinazuke to wait while she gathered several bottles of beer and a couple of smallish bottles of sake. She hoped that Ranma and Akane could rest tonight, tomorrow would be another day in hell.
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AN
Here ends another chapter of stat of ours. I hope you enjoyed
