Title: Ranma's… Husband? 34: Freedom.
Rating: Teen-ish.
Disclaimer: You'd have to be delusional to think that the characters from Ranma ½ belonged to me. Really, really delusional.
Official Pairings: Akane/Mousse, Kiyoshi/Ranma, Ryu/Kasumi, Nabiki/Hitomi.
Author's notes:
Sorry it took so long. This chapter was surprisingly hard to write and there was a very difficult week in the middle of it.
My cousin died of breast cancer.
Now, I didn't know her that well – she was much, much older that me – but it had a rather detrimental effect on our household.
My family, my mother's family to be exact, are… nuts is probably too nice of a way to put it and they are best avoided. So we had day after day of my aunt making her daughter's death about herself instead of about my cousin (as it should have been).
God I hate narcissists.
In some ways I am glad I inherited my father's tendency towards depression instead of the grand maternal problem of personality disorders. My mother is the sanest of the lot of them and even then she's pretty… traumatised.
Her family are not nice people…
Sorry. That was all probably TMI, but sometimes you have to rant to someone, even if it's to nearly complete strangers.
Anyway, a public service announcement that is probably unwanted:
Breast cancer is not your friend. Self examination and vigilance is. And remember it's not just women who get it, it does effect men as well.
Sorry.
On to chapter notes:
There's two… maybe three, but I'm pretty sure it's only two, chapters left until the fic is finished. It's a weird feeling, let me tell you now. Very weird.
I missed getting this done by the fic's first anniversary, but I'd still like to say that I really appreciate you, the readers, and that it's been an… interesting year.
Also, this is not going to be a happy chapter, I'm just warning you now.
Final Note:
Thank you for reading. Thank you again if you review. Thank you for putting up with me.
You are all fantastic.
000
000
(Cologne's POV)
Irritation twitched beneath her skin like it did all too often these days. She was sick of the girl and her stupid, foolish temper tantrums, her staying out all night, her thinking that she knew best (though that had always been a privilege of the young).
She had no idea what had set Xian Pu off this time, or even where the girl had been before she had come stomping through the Café and had gone upstairs, but she did not feel that anything justified the lack of simple courtesy that she'd been shown. No greeting, no acknowledgment, the girl had just gone stomping past, and in front of Ai Xia Do too.
She did not particularly want the other woman seeing her heir act like a spoiled child.
Moving with the quick efficiency of long practice she went about getting the Café ready for the day, ignoring the other Amazon elder sitting at a table with Akane Tendou and Mu Tsu. She let her thoughts wander, all too aware of the way things were shaping up.
It was becoming increasingly obvious that Xian Pu could not be trusted with even the simplest of tasks… something she should have realised a long time ago, but, as they say, ignorance is bliss. It was terribly… unseemly… to be forced to prepare her restaurant on her own, without the help of her grandchildren.
Mu Tsu could be forgiven of course, he was spending time with his mother and he did keep looking at her with a pathetic expression that seemed to imply that he'd rather be helping her instead of being blatantly interrogated by Ai Xia Do… but Xian Pu, Xian Pu should have been helping, and she should have been glad to do it.
Her eyes narrowed on the slumped and somewhat depressed figure of Akane Tendou… the girl had promise and it wouldn't be entirely without precedent…
"Where is Shampoo?!" Ranma shouted as he barged into the Café followed by a slightly more sedate Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
She blinked a couple of times, slightly put out by his demanding tone, before answering "She is upstairs."
He reflexively twitched towards the back of the shop before looking at her pleadingly, "Could you go and get her?"
She felt some of her irritation wane; Ranma was a good boy at heart and she found it refreshing that he hadn't barged into her home after Xian Pu and had instead asked her to go fetch the girl. She was getting well and truly sick of people stomping all over her wishes and just doing what they liked; she was an Amazon elder and she deserved far more respect than she was getting.
Shrugging, and in a way glad for an excuse to take herself away from Ai Xia Do's eyes, she said "Alright, I shall go and get her and then you can tell me what the stupid girl has done now."
As she walked deeper into the shop she kept an eye on her visitors. She noticed that Akane wouldn't look at Ranma and that Ranma in turn looked pained, a little frightened and somewhat guilty. The Kurosawa boy was standing in a strangely defensive way, keeping himself between Ranma and the others with his eyes fixed on… Mu Tsu? Yes, Mu Tsu, who was glaring slightly at Ranma.
Ai Xia Do was, of course, assessing the situation carefully. For all she didn't really like the other Amazon elder she had to admit that Ai Xia Do more than deserved her reputation as their village's greatest living warrior. The other woman didn't know Ranma or Akane the way she did, but she could still immediately sense the discord between them…
As she began to climb the stairs she wondered what had happened between them to cause the rift that she could sense, she had thought that they were over such things now.
A vague twinge of apprehension fluttered as she approached Xian Pu's door, she pushed the feeling down and reached out, opening the door and stepping inside.
Her world sunk around her as she took in the devastated room. There was no Xian Pu. Instead there was… mess.
Xian Pu had obviously packed in a hurry and fled. What had she done? What could she possibly have done that would make her flee?
She had to hand it to her great-granddaughter, the girl had packed her possessions and escaped without any of them noticing, without making a sound, she was good…
Almost without being aware of what she was doing she began to move. Utilising speed that she rarely reached these days she flew downstairs and out onto the street, searching for Xian Pu. She found nothing, no trace of the girl… How long had she been gone for?
She walked back inside, feeling strangely dazed, and sat down at one of the tables. Pain lanced across her back and ribs, before settling into a dull throb somewhere deep inside her gut. It was an unpleasant reminder of why she no longer used her full potential as a warrior. She carefully controlled her expression so that none of her pain showed on her face, she'd suffered too many injuries during her life, too many devastating wounds, and Amazon medicine could only do so much. One day, and a day not that far away she suspected, her body would give out. She had already held off death for far longer than any had expected…
Ranma's inquiring face appeared in her field of vision. "She's not here… she's… she's left. Gone. I don't know where, but she's taken her things," she said, her voice sounding like it was coming from far away.
She could see Mu Tsu and Akane jump to their feet in the background but he remained focussed on Ranma.
"What happened?" she asked, her mind returning to her, "You will tell me now!"
Ranma ran a hand through his hair and sank into one of the seats across from her.
"I don't know, not really…" he replied, "… She sprayed me with this stuff that smelt like rotting meat and flowers and then…" he looked away, cringing, "And then everyone… no, not everyone, but everyone who was a guy started to try and…"
He didn't need to finish, she knew what he was trying to say.
"Ku Lon…" Ai Xia Do's voice sounded horrified "She cannot be saying what I think she's saying"
She ignored the other woman, though she was unable to ignore the twinge of irritation at Ai Xia Do's calling Ranma a 'she'. Ranma was Ranma, and though it may pain her what Ranma was was a boy. Life would be so much easier if Ranma had been born a girl… That boy was going to be something great one day.
"Are you alright?" she asked Ranma, not liking the worried quiver in her voice, "No one managed to… did they?"
He shook her head, looking more than a little uncomfortable.
She sighed with relief before asking another question that was eating at her. "Is it possible that it was an accident?" she asked, some small foolish part of her hoping that there was a way to free herself of the guilt of her heir doing such a thing.
"It doesn't matter Ku Lon!" snarled Ai Xia Do from her seat, "Xian Pu used the Lotus' Curse and you know full well what that means!"
"Lotus' Curse?" Mu Tsu muttered in Japanese, "Where have I heard that before?"
A brief glance at the people in her Café made it obvious that she was going to have to explain; speaking quickly and over whatever Ranma, who had just opened his mouth, was going to say she began, turning her mind's eye inwards.
"The Lotus' Curse is a potion that was developed by a member of our tribe over five hundred years ago. Her real name has long since been lost to time but she called herself The Lotus… though no one is exactly sure why."
"Our village had been raided by bandits, which is not an uncommon experience, and the… various versions tell it as the chief bandit, the chief bandit's son or the chief's second in command… well, whoever he was he had stolen The Lotus' younger sister."
"The sister (whose name is not recorded anywhere) and The Lotus were very close and when she was taken The Lotus was heartbroken. She insisted that they mount a rescue operation immediately, but too many of our people were injured and the village was almost destroyed so the elders (at that time it had been almost a hundred years since the rule of a warlord) decided to put it off for three days in order to regroup. Unfortunately the body of The Lotus' sister was found floating in the river before the three days were up."
"She had suffered terrible, debasing injuries, and it was the opinion of many at the time that death would have come as a merciful relief for the girl."
"The Lotus was furious and determined to get vengeance. Though not a great warrior she was very talented in the art of potion and medicine making so she turned her attentions to making a potion to punish the men who had stolen her sister and still had several members of our tribe as captives."
"The elders were not acting fast enough and our people were becoming restless. The bandits still had captives and everyone knew well enough what was happening to them, and yet the elders would not mount a rescue. They may have had good reason for it but… I can not help seeing it as unforgivable to leave members of our tribe in peril.
"Anyway, the stories say that it took The Lotus one week to produce the potion, during which many of the younger warriors flocked to her side. When it was ready she had a large band of followers ready to raid the bandit's camp, spreading her vengeance, and retrieving captives."
"They attacked, they got most of the captives back alive, and they spread the potion across almost every bandit. I don't need to tell you what happened to the bandits, I imagine that your experience earlier today Ranma will give you a fair idea. Even though the potion didn't work on close family members and was required the victim to be within smelling distance of their attackers it was a terrible vengeance."
A vengeance that she personally felt they had more than deserved and a brief glance at Ai Xia Do's face told her the other woman felt the same. They had both dealt with bandit attacks and the aftermath of bandit attacks… the broken bodies, the wounded souls… She had more medical training than the other woman and some of the things she'd seen… Anyway, she wouldn't let herself dwell.
"The Lotus then went on to overthrow the council of elders with the help of her followers and became our next Warlord. However that story is only about the origins of the potion and not why Xian Pu is…Yes. Anyway, the potion fell into obscurity only to resurface again when I was a young woman…"
Her mind went from imagination to remembrance. This was her story, the story of an enemy who she could never forgive, even if she would tell the younger generation none of that.
"There was another young woman… Her name has been stricken from our records and I will not let those accursed syllables pass my lips… but she was a very good fighter if incomparably arrogant. She became obsessed with… with a young man."
He had been so beautiful back then and their happiness so assured before that woman had interfered.
"He was beautiful, kind, sweet, gentle, intelligent… all in all everything one could want in a husband, but he was in love with, promised to, another and even though she did her best to win him from her rival he remained unswayed."
She had been arrogant, proud and possessive, so certain of her claim on him that she had never even suspected that the woman he kept refusing would do what she had done.
"Eventually her anger at the rejection drove her mad and she turned to… less than savoury ways to punish him for not loving her. It was during this time that she came across the recipe for The Lotus' Curse and brewed up a batch."
The general consensus was that she'd raided The Lotus' tomb to find the recipe as there had been no surviving copies anywhere else in the village.
"It is the potion that she made that you encountered earlier, still working and still in the same glass bottle that she used to… to…"
Fury darted across her mind. What had happened was unforgivable, completely unforgivable.
"When she had completed the potion she tracked down the young man who had her affections and sprayed him with it. Chaos ensued, as you can imagine. Due to the very good fortune of the young man's intended being there and the fact that she was an exceedingly good fighter he wasn't harmed, but her anger was great and her vengeance swift and brutal. She… destroyed the woman who had put her beloved in such danger and the council, agreeing with her motives if not her method, struck that woman from our records."
She could still feel the satisfying crunch of bone under her fists as she'd… That woman had deserved it, more than deserved it, but the relish that she'd felt, that she still felt when she remembered that fight was a little unsettling.
She shook her mind out of the past before anyone noticed and focussed her attention firmly on Ranma's face. He was looking at her patiently, waiting for her to finish and she couldn't help but think how strange it was. How different he was becoming.
Once upon a time he would have demanded all his questions be answered at once but now he was content to wait… She wondered if it was simply him growing up, or if there was something more sinister behind his change in behaviour…
That was ridiculous. He had gone through a lot for someone his age, suffered a lot, and it was foolish to think that he could have made it through unscathed, especially after the most recent round of events.
She ignored the brief stab of guilt she felt deep inside her chest at her own responsibility for some of Ranma's suffering and turned her mind back to the business at hand. "The Lotus's Curse became one of the few potions that an Amazon is banned from using," she said, frowning sternly, "I know that you find some of our methods to be at times… questionable, but we do have rules…"
She paused for a moment to work out how she was going to say this, "The Lotus' Curse is forbidden, as I said, and because Xian Pu used it on you she now owes you a debt… a debt that she cannot repay."
She looked away from him, surprised at the sense of loss she felt, "I suppose I should congratulate you," he looked surprised at that, "Your… obligation to Xian Pu is dissolved. To expect you to remain the husband of a woman who has done such a thing to you would be… an abomination. So yes, congratulations, you are free of us now."
000
(Ranma's POV)
He left the Cat Café feeling dazed.
His mind was still going over everything Cologne had told him, still processing…
It was strange, so strange… the sense of lightness, as if a boulder had been lifted from his shoulders, but at the same time he felt the first small stirrings of fear. He was Ranma Saotome; there was no way the universe would let him be free of Shampoo without asking for something else in return.
It didn't matter for now though, he'd just enjoy the peace while it lasted. He just wished that Akane was talking to him, he really wanted to talk to her about what had happened, but still… he had Kiyoshi, he supposed, even if it wasn't exactly the same…
His eyes darted over to Kiyoshi, who was strolling next to him. Kiyoshi had kept him safe when he was unconscious, Kiyoshi had cleaned him and dressed him, Kiyoshi hadn't humiliated him or… done anything… to him whilst he was helpless. Kiyoshi was a good man, a good person…
Kiyoshi had such big hands. He could see them dangling at the other boy's side. Big, strong, wide palms… they may not be the most graceful hands he'd ever seen, but they seemed… reliable. The sort of hands you could depend on, the sort of hands that could keep you safe…
His fingers twitched, just a little, with the irritating, uncontrollable desire to reach out and take the big, big hand closest to him in his own. He couldn't understand it, didn't want to understand it, but still he felt it…
It was confusing.
So confusing… but he wanted to feel those large, strong fingers twined with his own.
Kiyoshi was something else, something he'd never encountered before, and the other boy had gotten far too far under his skin… far too quickly.
His fingers twitched, his hand moved just a little, his little finger just brushed against Kiyoshi's…
He almost screamed as hot, hot water rained down on him from above…
He did scream when he noticed that he was no longer actually a he.
This wasn't happening, this wasn't happening… there was no way this could be happening. The water that had fallen on him was hot, he should have remained male, there was… there was something very wrong.
Belatedly his eyes flicked upwards, towards the roofline, to see if he could spot the origin of the water. He found nothing, not surprisingly as he hadn't checked immediately. When his eyes drifted down he saw Kiyoshi reaching out towards him with concern.
"Get back!" he shouted, slapping Kiyoshi's hand away. The other boy looked… almost… hurt and he found himself quickly blurting out "I don't know what I've been splashed with, it might affect you too" to reassure him.
Kiyoshi's hurt expression smoothed over and he nodded "We should probably get back to the Tendou Dojou," he said, looking worried now, "See if it's permanent."
He nodded with resignation; he already knew what the answer would be. It was inevitable what the answer would be… but he had been stuck before, and he had got out of it then so…
There was no point giving up hope before he had to.
He felt… wrong… somewhere inside his head. A strange uncertainty was eating away at him and he couldn't even work out where it was coming from.
As they walked back to the Tendou Dojou in worried silence his earlier compulsion to take Kiyoshi's hand was still there, but weakened, so he wrapped his arms around his middle, partly to comfort himself but also partly to make sure he kept his hands to himself.
Kasumi was waiting for them back at the Tendou Dojou, her face twisted into soft concern. "Ranma," she said "Did you find out anything?"
"Yeah," he nodded, speaking quickly as he headed back towards the bathroom "Shampoo sprayed me with some forbidden potion and now she's packed her bags and run off; I think she's going to be in serious trouble when the old ghoul catches her."
He could see Kasumi frowning out of the corner of her eye as she followed him. "Ranma, what's wrong?" she asked.
"I…" he mumbled, coming to a sudden stop and turning to face her, "I… Someone… someone dropped something on me… it felt like hot water, but I changed and now…" he took a deep breath and let the last out in a rush, "Now I think I'm stuck."
"Oh…" she whispered, looking shocked for a moment before she regained her composure, "Do you know for sure?" she asked, her face serious.
He shook his head, "No."
"Alright… alright…" she said, clearly thinking about something, "Ok, you go and find out," she waved vaguely towards the bathroom, "But be careful, your father's still unconscious in the antechamber."
He blinked, what? Oh… oh yeah. He'd only just been returning to consciousness when Kiyoshi had carried him out of the bathroom, but he had noticed his old man lying curled up on his side as Kiyoshi had stepped over him. His pop was in exactly the same position when he returned to the bathroom and he took a moment to stare down at his old man.
Genma looked like crap. He really, really did… When was the last time they'd even talked to each other? He wasn't sure… it had been at least a day or so hadn't it? Things were changing… things were… nothing was the same any more and he wasn't even sure if he felt sorry about that.
Shaking his head he stepped over his old man and back into the bathroom.
It was funny really… now that he was here he wasn't panicking, he wasn't freaking out, he wasn't even hurrying… maybe he was going into shock, he didn't know, but…
But…
It felt like… why was he so hesitant?
He must be going mad. This most recent incident must have stolen the last of his sanity. He shook himself out of his fugue and quickly stripped off his clothing and doused himself with hot water.
Nothing happened.
He didn't change back.
Well… that was no surprise.
000
(Kiyoshi's POV)
They were sitting in the dining room as Ranma was tried to work out what to do next. He was watching the other boy as Ranma muttered to himself, sitting hunched up next to the table.
For one strange moment it was almost as if Nodoka had never left, as if Ranma had never returned to his original form. He hadn't know Ranma long before his mother had shown up, but he more than suspected that the Ranma of old would have put up more of a protest about wearing women's clothing when Nodoka wasn't around to force him into his 'Ranko' role, but there he was, curled up in a pair of women's jeans and a flattering pale blue blouse.
He really was beautiful as a girl.
Ranma's voice sounded strained as he suddenly spoke, "Well, it can't have been Shampoo, Cologne or Mousse," he said, biting his lip, "Shampoo's disappeared, and I don't think it's likely she'd return just to get me stuck as a girl, Cologne seems to have more important things on her mind right now and she'd have nothing to gain now that Shampoo and I are no longer…" he paused and grimaced, "Whatever we were, and Mousse… I don't think Mousse would have a reason to do it anymore…" Ranma trailed off, looking thoughtful. "I suppose it could have been the old pervert… but I think I would have sensed him coming and he would have stayed around to brag so…" Ranma shook his head, "I have no idea who did it."
Ranma might not know but he did.
Ranma hadn't even considered his family as possible suspects, which said something for how well they'd infiltrated his life. It was sort of sad and stupid really, and he felt really bad about it. He wanted Ranma to trust him, wanted to keep Ranma safe and now Ranma had had his freedom, his ability to choose who he was, taken away from him and, underneath it all, it was all his fault.
There had been no sense of threat as the hot water had rained down, and that combined with the flash of magenta he'd seen on the roof just after and that the wind had been blowing in just the right direction to ensure he wasn't splashed…
The only thing he couldn't work out was why his mother had done the deed herself instead of getting Ryu to do it like she usually would. He'd just have to wait until Ryu showed up and then…
He couldn't go looking for his brother, he didn't want Ranma to become suspicious, and if he left to go and confront his mother Ranma might see it as abandonment in his time of need…
Although… Ranma seemed pretty distracted.
The other boy was now staring into space with a vacant expression and he didn't even twitch when Kasumi entered the room carrying a tea pot and two cups, which she placed on the table.
He could see that her attention was focussed on Ranma as she poured the tea, her eyes kept flicking over towards him and she kept biting her lip. He realised that this was the first time that he and Ranma had been, essentially (a couple of unconscious middle-aged men aside), alone in the house with her…
He didn't really know her, did he?
She seemed kind though, very kind, and it also seemed like she cared at least a little about Ranma which made him predisposed to like her.
As she handed him his cup of tea she whispered "Is he alright?" so that Ranma couldn't hear her asking about him.
He looked over at the other boy, who was still in la-la land, and shook his head, "No, I don't think so," he whispered back.
She nodded, looking even more conflicted, before her expression changed to one of determination. "I'm sorry but I have to go out, I have… responsibilities," she whispered, "Will you be alright looking after him?"
He didn't personally feel that Ranma needed looking after, but he would do his best to ensure that the other boy was safe so he nodded. She nodded back to him and left the room.
He found himself staring into his tea cup, watching the steam curl and waft into the air, unsure what to do now. What could he do? He wished that this had never happened…
The sound of the door opening and closing brought him out of his fugue. He could hear someone walking further into the house… Ryu, those were Ryu's footsteps. Moving almost without thought he got up and headed to the door, his hot tea still in hand.
"I need to go talk to my brother for a minute, ok?" he called over his shoulder to Ranma, who made a mumbling sound of affirmation and otherwise didn't even look at him.
Moving quickly he left the room and headed towards Ryu, who was peering into the kitchen… looking for Kasumi?...
His brother didn't react to his approach and he couldn't help thinking that Ryu could be a fool at times as he grabbed the older man and forced him into the kitchen. He slammed Ryu against the wall next to the door and threw the hot tea into his brother's face.
Ryu didn't change. He hadn't expected him to.
Ryu was spluttering and snarling at him but he payed no attention to his brother's words, instead he wrapped his fist in the fabric of Ryu's shirt and shook him.
"What the hell is going on?!" he snarled.
"Get off me!" Ryu shrieked in return, trying to pry his hand from the expensive fabric of his shirt.
"Shut up Ryuko!" he snarled back, deliberately using the name that Ryu hated so much; he was not in the mood to be nice to his family currently. "Now… tell me what's going on."
Ryu looked away, not making eye-contact, even as he continued to pry absently at the fist holding him in place.
"Look…" his brother said after a pause, "I wasn't… I mean… I… I wasn't really sure it was a good idea but she went ahead anyway and…" he trailed off.
Interesting. Ryu didn't usually doubt their mother or go against her plans, but it sounded as if he hadn't wanted her to curse Ranma… didn't matter though, he obviously knew it was happening and had reaped the benefits himself so he felt no guilt at giving his brother another shake and demanding "What the hell did she curse him with? Is there a cure?"
Ryu shook his head and shrugged, "I don't know, she didn't say she just..."
He tuned his brother out, his attention on the fact that he would have to go and deal with his mother if he wanted answers and, hopefully, a cure for Ranma. "Stay here with Ranma," he snapped at his brother, "Keep him safe."
He released Ryu and whirled around, marching towards the door. He could hear Ryu shouting after him but he ignored his brother, he had more important things to deal with.
People to deal with.
000
(Ryu's POV)
Well… that was like looking into a portal back in time. He'd almost forgotten what his brother used to be like before… what had happened to their father, to their mother, to them.
For all his quiet devotion to the martial arts Kiyoshi had once had a nearly demonically bad temper; he'd been a great deal like their father in fact, but after Renjirou had died… and then they'd been chucked out on the street… well Kiyoshi had gotten quieter, more contained… he'd looked after himself, become self-sufficient , been less of a bother to their mother. All in all Kiyoshi had become a good son, while he'd careened blissfully off the rails.
Oh well, such was life…
He'd never actually promised Kiyoshi to stay with Ranma, and it really was his duty to come between his brother and their mother if they were going to have the sort of fight he thought they were, so…
He pushed himself off the wall and made his way out of the kitchen and into the hallway. The house was so quiet so still… it was almost eerie. It didn't feel like anyone else was home, even though he knew that at least Ranma was.
He realised, with some shock, that he was standing directly opposite to the room belonging to Happosai, the man who had ruined his mother's life. Feeling almost like he was in a trance he walked across the hallway and opened the door, finding no one inside. He stepped forward and closed the door behind him…
Maybe he could gain some insight into the man who had started them all on this path, or, if not, he could at least leave some unpleasant surprises for the old man to come back to.
000
(Aiko's POV)
She wasn't feeling guilty. She wasn't. She had nothing to be guilty about, she had done nothing wrong…
So why did her heart hurt?
Why did she feel so dirty?
Why did she feel like she'd done something unforgivable?
She needed to be strong; she had no time for weak emotions, and what she was feeling currently was very, very weak indeed. She had her plans, she was even making progress (finally) so there was no time for fainthearted emotional incontinence.
She took another swig of expensive single malt scotch contained in expensive Italian glass.
Why did she bother? She couldn't change what she was, not deep down. Scum. Trash. Filthy. Contaminated. Defiled. Worthless…
She threw the glass hard against the wall and watched it shatter with detached satisfaction.
The front door slammed open and then even more brutally shut and she heard her younger son come stomping into the house.
Well… That wasn't expected.
She waited calmly for him to find her, her hand itching to reach for the glass of scotch that she had just destroyed. She sighed, life was like that sometimes.
Kiyoshi's footsteps were coming closer, and she couldn't help but notice how angry they sounded… But what right did he have to be angry? She just wanted what was best for him.
"What the hell did you do?!!" he snarled as soon as he entered the room.
She raised her brow at him and replied "What I had to," sounding cold and detached to her own ears.
He shook his head, looking at her as if he didn't even know her. That hurt. "You didn't have to do that," he cried, "Not that. You have no idea what it's done to him."
She felt a strange sort of warmth, comfort, he had finally found someone he cared about and that would keep him alive. "No, it's you who doesn't understand. You have let your heart blind you to reality; it will be easier this way."
"I don't care," he exclaimed, looking strangely devastated, "It's not like I ever had a chance anyway."
Never… what?... She studied him closer. Oh… He was in love with Ranma. She hadn't expected him to fall in love so soon…
"I didn't expect you to fall in love with Ranma so soon," in a moment of complete stupidity she voiced that last sentiment, "I mean… I expected affection to grow over time, but I thought it would take time."
He was glaring at her, but she could see vulnerability under his gaze. "If you knew him… if you spent any time with him then you'd understand," he said, pain in his voice, "He is… lovely. Beautiful, kind, intelligent, sweet and so, so vulnerable. His family may have hurt us, but they have hurt him as well. He is innocent, and he deserves better than your plans for him."
She scoffed, "It wouldn't matter if I got to know him, I'm doing the right thing."
"It would matter," he countered, looking as stubborn as his father had once been, "But you haven't even shown up once after that first time…"
Suddenly his eyes narrowed on her with laser like precision. "You couldn't could you?" he declared "Not if you saw him as a person instead of some pawn in your plans. That's why you've stayed away isn't it?"
She flinched back as if she'd been struck, how dare he… to suggest… "Don't you call me weak." She snarled, "I'm not… I'm not weak."
He looked taken aback "I wasn't…"
She ignored him, a mess of hurt and broken thought erupting from her mouth in a rush "You have no idea… no idea. I crawled my own way out of the gutter, I have sacrificed so much for you and your brother and that was ok because I never… I never, never wanted my children to hurt the way I had been hurt. I never wanted someone to hurt you the way… You're all I have left and I… I love you both so much so I will do what I have to to make sure you are happy." As she finished speaking she vaguely heard the front door open and close, much less violently this time.
Some time during her outburst he had gathered himself and snapped back with "But it's not about my happiness, if it was then you'd leave Ranma alone. No… it's your own pride that's driving you."
She felt like she had been slapped. Nothing mattered more to her than her children. Nothing. "My pride may be part of it… but…"
She was interrupted by Ryu walking into the room, a strange look on his face and his arms full of…
No…
It couldn't be…
It was…
He threw them on the ground in front of her feet and she watched in shock as they rolled across the floor, one of coming undone and unrolling, exposing words and diagrams as it bounced towards the bar before coming to a hesitant stop.
"H… How?" she murmured, feeling as though she was going into shock.
"I found them in Happosai's room," he said, sounding strangely serious, "Your father was wrong, they weren't destroyed. Not all of them."
She knelt down shakily, her hands reaching out to gather up the scrolls. She unrolled and rerolled them one by one, checking to make sure they were what they appeared to be.
They were.
Her family's scrolls…
Not all of them, but enough. Enough.
She no longer needed Ranma.
"Tell me how to reverse what you did to Ranma," Kiyoshi's voice sounded like it was coming from a long way away, but it was gentle. Unbearable gentle.
She nodded shakily, unable to take her eyes off the scrolls.
"It's water from Juusenkyo, from the Spring of Drowned Girl," she said "I got to thinking one day, wondering if the temperature of the water had any effect on the curse."
"I didn't think it would work, but it was worth a shot, so I called someone in China who owed me a favour and got him to collect some water from both the Spring of Drowned Man and the Spring of Drowned Girl, because I figured that if it worked I might as well lock Ryu at the same time."
"I tried it out on Ryu first, and much to my surprise, it did work. So I heated up all of the water from the Spring of Drowned Girl and went to find Ranma… You know what happened next."
"So there's no cure?" Kiyoshi interrupted her to ask.
She shook her head "No. No there is, potentially. I used all the water on Ranma, but just in case something went wrong and I accidentally turned Ryu back into a full-time girl I didn't use all the water from the Spring of Drowned Man. There's some still left, not much mind, barely half a cup full, but it should be enough to revert him to the way he was before. It's in the kitchen."
She barely registered it as Kiyoshi left the room and eventually the house, too distracted by the scrolls. It almost startled her as Ryu knelt down in front of her, taking the scrolls from her with gentle hands and helping her to her feet.
"It will be alright," he said, his eyes soft.
She wanted to believe him but she just couldn't. It didn't feel alright, it didn't feel like it could ever be alright again.
What had she done?
000
(Ranma's POV)
He felt… strange.
Wrong beyond measure.
All he knew was that he knew what he was supposed to do in this situation, but he just didn't have the motivation for once.
He should be trying to find a way out, trying to escape this most recent round of bad luck with his curse and instead he was just… waiting.
It wasn't that he wanted to stay female, because he didn't, it was just…
Kiyoshi.
It was Kiyoshi and his big hands and he wasn't sure, didn't know, if Kiyoshi would want to put those hands on him if he was a guy… Because Kiyoshi was straight, wasn't he? And he was… he was…
What had he just thought?!
He forced that thought out of his mind brutally. It didn't… He couldn't… A man amongst men would never… with another guy, and his mother had made it more than clear how she felt about… about… homosexuality… the last time he'd spoke to her, so there was no use even…
Not that he was. But still…
He had no idea how long he'd been here, curled up… Time felt almost meaningless and that's the way he wanted it. He just wanted to be empty, without thought, for just a little while…
After a few seconds, after an eternity… he wasn't sure which… he felt a presence behind himself and as he turned to see who it was hot, hot water rained down on him for the second time in one day.
He felt the change as it happened; for once not entirely welcome but at the same time a relief beyond measure. His hands did a brief check to make sure everything was there before he looked properly at his saviour.
Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi had fixed him.
He moved on instinct, flinging himself at the other boy and wrapping his arms around his neck. It took him a second to realise what he'd done and then another second to fight off the urge to hold Kiyoshi tighter.
They remained in their embrace for several long minutes, as he treasured the other's warmth leaching into his flesh, before Kiyoshi gently pushed him away.
He looked up into the other boy's face and found… devastation. Kiyoshi looked almost broken, so very sad, and he found that he wanted to make that pain go away.
Before he could do anything Kiyoshi opened his mouth to speak, cold words coming out in a dead voice…
000
(Kiyoshi's POV)
He let himself savour the press of Ranma's flesh for as long as his sense of honour would let him. It was, after all, the last chance he would ever have to touch the other boy.
Eventually his conscience's screaming got to be too much for him and he pushed Ranma away gently. He gazed down into Ranma's beautiful eyes for a second, his heart breaking, before opening his mouth to speak. Ranma deserved the truth.
"I… I'm sorry. It was my mother who…" he started, before swallowing his grief heavily, "Who did that to you earlier, but I've sorted it out. I've…"
"A long time ago your Master, Happosai, stole the scrolls containing the martial arts techniques of my mother's family. She believed them to be destroyed, so when she discovered who your father was she devised a plan to recover at least some of their techniques."
Ranma was frowning up at him, obviously at a loss.
Barely able to make himself keep speaking he forced the rest of the words out. Ranma was going to hate him after this. "She wanted me to marry you so our children would be able to produce a new school in honour of her, our, ancestors. That's why… not because of the debt your father got into, but… but…" he shut his eyes, unable to continue looking at Ranma, "Ryu went into Happosai's room today and he found some of the scrolls so…"
He took a deep, agonised breath, "So we no longer need you. So you're free of us. Free… No one expects us to get married any more." He wasn't going to cry, he wasn't, "So I'll leave now. Get out of your life. I'm so, so sorry…"
He opened his eyes; Ranma looked shocked and not in a good way.
There was just one more thing he had to say before he left, he didn't know if he was out of line but he couldn't leave with Ranma thinking he had just been using him.
"I just want you to know," he said, wincing internally at the choked up sound of his voice, "I want you to know that I really do like you. That I've enjoyed spending time with you… You're… you're… I…" he couldn't say it. He couldn't…
What did it matter? Knowing the truth, knowing how he felt would only hurt Ranma, so, making up his mind, he gave Ranma a pained smile – more of a grimace really – and said "Goodbye Ranma… Goodbye," before whirling around and walking away.
Away from the only pure, untainted happiness that he'd known since his father's death.
It felt like he was dying.
000
(Ranma's POV)
He knew he should feel betrayed, but all he felt was emptiness, heartbreak. It felt like the universe was falling in on him. Like he was imploding. Breaking into a thousand pieces. He couldn't understand it. The sense of loss he felt, like his heart was being ripped out.
He didn't know how long he stood there, but at some point he heard the phone ring shortly followed by Kasumi calling out hesitantly "Ranma… that was Auntie Saotome. She's coming home; she should be back in an hour or so, so you might want to… you know."
He remained standing there for a while longer before he heard footsteps stomping into the room and his father bellowed, "What the hell is going on boy?! What were you doing in the bathroom with that Kiyoshi Kurosawa?!"
He ignored him. It felt like nothing mattered anymore.
000
(Ryu's POV)
He needed a break, needed air, so he'd left the house, his mother, and taken to the streets.
He'd stayed a while after Kiyoshi had stormed off to release Ranma from his curse-locked state. He'd examined the scrolls, studied the techniques, as his mother poured glass after glass of scotch which she'd downed with barely a flinch. He knew she felt bad, she was a kind person underneath it all, she didn't like hurting people, but his concern for her had been swept away under a new sense of purpose.
Over the years he'd spent far too much time bumming-around, doing what he liked, but now… He'd once been on the path to becoming a great martial artist, but it had all been too easy. Far too easy. And there were more interesting, challenging, things to occupy his time.
However… working out the scrolls, studying the techniques, learning them would be a challenge. A challenge that he felt should be his.
His father's martial arts style had never really suited him so he'd felt more than comfortable borrowing techniques where he found them, but after five minutes of looking at the scrolls he had seen that the Aoyama style was more suited to his talents than the Kurosawa.
It was…
He had never thought that he could have a role in resurrecting the Aoyama style of martial arts, never thought that it was any of his business really. He wasn't sure why.
But now… Now he had purpose. Responsibility. He was even finally a he. Properly a he. He would never be a girl again…
He felt good. Really good.
He knew that his brother was probably having his heart broken right this moment, but even that thought couldn't bring him down. He could be a bastard at times, he knew that.
He was a new man. A new man.
Finally realising where he was he looked around to find himself in the middle of Nerima's shopping district. A glint of gold out of the corner of his eye drew his attention to the jewellery shop across the road.
In a daze he walked over, hypnotised by the gleam and glitter of hundred of sparkling gems. He was a new man…
A new man…
He wasn't what he used to be, no, he was ready now.
Ready for responsibility.
He entered the shop.
000
(Ai Xia Do's POV)
Things had felt wrong all day. Badly wrong.
She had learned to trust her feelings over the years, learned to trust those bitter niggling worries in the back of her head. They were rarely wrong.
She had wanted to stay longer, pass some of her wisdom onto Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendou but…
It was a pity, but she could feel the end coming. Feel her death coming.
It was too soon, far too soon…
She needed to get back, needed to keep her family safe…
Akane Tendou and Mu Tsu had left shortly after breakfast, gone to school, and even though she'd promised to meet Ranma Saotome later, to teach him something, by the time lunch had rolled around her anxiety had almost been choking her.
She had to leave, she couldn't bear it if she was too late…
It didn't look like she'd be seeing Akane Tendou, Ranma Saotome or her precious son ever again.
She had left her goodbyes with Ku Lon as well as some presents for her baby boy and the woman who he would marry. She had also left a hastily written scroll containing a couple of simple techniques that would help his speed for Ranma Saotome and a letter for Akane Tendou that would, hopefully, force her to see sense and ensure that she did marry Mu Tsu.
If she was lucky, and hopefully she would be, she would have a chance to write down some more (if not all) of her techniques before the battle occurred. That way she could send them to Japan with her daughters and husband when they fled to the safety of Ku Lon's little empire.
She had a rag with a some of Ranma's blood on it from after their fight – she'd been very careful to collect some of it whilst he was out of it, just in case – and that way she could create a seal that would ensure that he was the only one that could view the scrolls, she wouldn't want them falling into the… wrong hands.
It saddened her that she would never be able to hold Mu Tsu again, that she would never be able to comfort him, but she trusted Akane Tendou (and Ranma, if she was honest) to take care of him, and it was better if he had no idea of what was about to happen.
It was better if they all had no idea of what was about to happen.
If there was any hope for a future for the Amazon's they needed Ku Lon; she was one of the few sane, rational voices left, and as much as it pained her to admit it the older woman was probably one of the few Amazon's able to adapt to the times in which they lived.
The Amazon's needed to survive, but the Amazon's as they would shortly be were not her people, so she felt absolutely no compunction at the lives she would have to take in order to see her family away safely.
She was a warrior, and it was a tragedy for a warrior not to die in battle. She had no intention of getting old and watching her body fail like Ku Lon. No. She would go out with a bang.
She let one solitary tear slip down her cheek for her people, for the son she would never see again, for Ranma Saotome – the daughter she had never had, before gathering herself and stepping forward through the glass doors of the airport.
She was ready now.
Ready for the freedom of battle, the embrace of death.
000