She comes to being carried in strong arms. Ear against a definitely male chest, she hears a heartbeat and deep breaths, and a muted conversation.

She can't move herself properly.

"…'o ma'am… 'nma s'tome…"

"…'on named… 'nma…."

"…'ursed springs…"

She groggily opens her eyes and sees a yellow fabric in her view, smells of wood, of earth, of travelling. The heartbeat is steady the fabric soft against her face. She's gently moving with his steps, but so lightly that she only knows she's moving and being carried, so gentle is her carrier. She feels secure for the first time in days.

"…'wake?"

She shakes her head and burrows into the clothes with a sigh, slipping her arms about the neck of whoever has her in a bridal carry. She sniffles and closes her eyes, shaking in his arms as the fear catches up with her again. The movement stops.

"…'nma?"

She drifts back off and the shoulders shrug, while nearby a feminine voice gasps. "…'h my."

She comes to again and this time to more or less full wakefulness. Her head is cushioned on something both soft and unyielding. From experiences in her fuzzy memories, she knows it is flesh with hard, corded muscle underneath. A cloth is on her forehead and light shines in her eyes from nearby, the bright noonday sun of summer. She can hear a muted conversation, though not the details.

She shuffles and realises a blanket is over her, so she must have been put down and whoever rescued her has her head on his lap. How unladylike of her to impose.

She shivers at a hand running over her hair. It's large, calloused and rough, but also smooth. Like the lap her head is cushioned on it makes her feel safe. The movements seem automatic, like their owner isn't even realising he's doing it.

She blinks and the voices grow more distinct. One voice she recognises, the other she does not. One a deeper voice, a boy's voice. She knows this voice and it calms her to know she has a friend nearby.

The other is a polite, older lady's voice that she doesn't know, but fills her with thoughts of Kasumi. The soft-spoken, calm tones. The clink of teacups. The gentle, tinkling laughter.

It won't be Kasumi. Kasumi hates her now.

Jibakurei.

She makes a groggy moaning noise as her head reminds her that she had probably hit something when falling and being caught. Her wrist is sore, and her side is too, possibly from hitting the railing.

She can't remember, it was all a blur. The run. The railing. The fall. The hand around her wrist. The comforting warmth of being carried.

The voices stop and a black-haired face with chocolate brown eyes peers over at her, hair held back with a black-spotted yellow bandanna. "Ranma?" She blinks and stars up, unfocused, lost in those eyes a moment, before shaking her head.

"Ryouga-kun?" She asks. "Oh, my head…"

He blinks and something in her heart fractures slightly. She knows that look that slides across his face.

Murderer.

"Oh, you're awake dear." Ranma shifts her head to look at the direction the new voice comes from, not wishing to sit up and move away from the comfort of where her head rests. An older woman sits nearby, wearing a formal kimono and her auburn hair in a plaited bun with two ornaments keeping it in place. She oozes ladylike manners, in perfect seiza, pouring a cup of tea for herself and her guests with perfect grace.

Ranma stares. This woman is everything she wants to be.

Perfect makeup, perfect grace, perfect manners. Perfect kindness.

"Here, dear, get yourself up from the floor and have some tea. You appear to have taken a tumble and young Hibiki-kun here has been almost beside himself with worry over you."

He has? Ranma looks up, sparkling blue seeking chocolate brown and she can see the telltale sign of a blush on the lost boy's face. She gives him a faint smile and tries to sit up, but her head spins and she falls back down the first time, eliciting a minor 'oof' from him as she slams against his legs.

"I apologise…" She says. "My head…"

He looks utterly confused at her attitude, her speech patterns, her dress, everything. She knows that look, the hopelessly lost look he has given her whenever her older self would tease or trick him.

"I'm sorry." She says softly. He misconstrues and shakes his head.

"Oh! Uh… no, it's quite alright…" He helps her to sit up this time and she takes a moment to lean against him while her head spins and the world rights itself. She sways for a second and almost falls before a strong hand catches her shoulder and keeps her steady again until the dizziness passes finally.

She reluctantly leans away and offers a short, polite bow to him, then a deeper one to the lady nearby.

"My sincerest apologies and gratitude." She says, trying to emulate the ladylike speech of her host.

"Oh, think nothing of it, dear." The woman says with a gentle smile.

Everything I want to be.

"Yeah, Ranma, you almost scared me. It was like you meant to fall off that bridge or something!" Ryouga says, opening mouth and inserting foot.

Instantly it all comes crashing back. The ongoing funeral her life had become, the grief of everyone while she sits there, the object of their grief, and no one cares what she thinks or feels.

Changeling left in the place of the one that was wanted.

She shivers and curls in on herself.

"Ranma?"

Tears spill from her eyes, cascading down her cheeks as she tries to hold herself together while everything falls apart insider her. It's all crumbling, she can't go back, she has no home, all she has is the dress she wears, the shoes she has on, mementoes from one moment where Akane seemed to understand, before they realised she was here to stay and their Ranma was… was…

Murderer.

"Ranma? C'mon, calm down… Anyone'd think you meant it…" Ryouga's voice carries over and she lets out a choked sob, trying to control her emotions, trying to present herself as a proper lady for her host but she just can't stop.

A comforting warmth envelopes her and she clutches onto the kimono that surrounds her while she bawls, shuddering with gasping breaths and drawn out sobs. "It's alright, dear, cry it out." The soft voice speaks into her ear. "You'll feel better." Hands run up and down her back, through her hair, gentle hands and a motherly touch she's never felt before.

So she does, like draining an infected wound, lancing a boil. The tears and the pain and the despair roll out of her as her breath comes in short gasps and choking sobs, crying like a wounded animal, keening her misery at being dead yet alive.

She comes to again, the light streaming in from the windows tinted a more golden colour, the heat of summer less oppressive. She can feel cloth around her, and she looks up from where she's nestled into to see light brown eyes framed by pretty lashes looking at her. A tugging at her hair and she can feel the braid loosening and then tightening again as it's re-plaited with soft, sure hands. Then those same hands reach up to one of the two ornaments holding her own auburn hair up.

Ranma feels the braid on her head being wound around into a bun like the woman's and then the ornament is put in to hold it in place.

"Much better, dear. A dress like that should have a hairstyle to go with it." She smiles at Ranma and the girl can only stare in wonder.

"You're everything I want to be."

She doesn't realise that she's spoken the words aloud until a soft tinkling giggle comes from the woman and a hand goes to her mouth.

"Oh my, how flattering!" She says. She straightens up and gently strokes a hand down Ranma's face. "Are you feeling better now, dear?"

Ranma nods, her tears spent for now. The cold despair and loneliness and hurt are still there, nestling inside her heart like a ball of ice, but she no longer feels like she's fracturing and falling to pieces. The lady helps her to sit up and returns to where she was before, pouring fresh tea from the pot as the other has grown cold.

She takes the tea and has a small sip. It's fragrant and warm and perfect.

"Are you alright, Ranma?" Ryouga asks, that look in his eyes again. Wary, like she's going to pull something, except that she can tell he knows that she's in real pain this time.

"Your friend here tells me your name is Ranma, is that right?" The lady asks and Ranma casts her glance back to her.

"Yes, ma'am." She says politely, bowing again. "Saotome Ranma. I'm very sorry about this."

A flicker, a flinch, a creasing of the brow. She'd not have noticed had she not gotten so good these last few days at seeing the tells. This lady must know of her, or at least her older self.

"He says you've been staying with the Tendou family, is that correct, Ranma-chan?"

She flushes and feels a warmth at the honorific. She nods again. "Yes, ma'am."

"Such a polite, well-mannered young lady." The woman says. Ryouga lets out a guffaw that he quickly stifles with a cough. Ranma eyes him but doesn't rise to the bait, which makes the poor lost boy even more confused.

"I try to be, ma'am." She says. "A lady should be well-mannered and polite."

"Just so." That polite titter again "But you see, dear, I do have some questions for you. If you do not mind answering them."

Ranma blinks. Here it comes.

"You see, I am a good friend to the Tendou family, though I have not seen them for some time. I was going to visit them before I came across Hibiki-kun carrying you. Since my house was close, I thought it best to bring you here to recover in comfort." She gave a strange look. "He said some very interesting things, and I wish to confirm them."

Ranma nods. "I will explain anything I can, ma'am."

"He says you are cursed to become a woman when splashed with cold water, and a man with hot. Is this correct?"

Ranma goes bright red and looks down in shame. "Y-yes ma'am." She says, shivering. "I'm v-very sorry about it."

"It's quite alright, dear. I don't suppose you'd mind showing me so I can confirm?"

Ranma looks at her dress and then back up. "I don't want to damage my dress any more than it is, ma'am. Can I change out of it?"

The woman nods and Ranma is about to undress when she spots Ryouga. "Eek!" She says, looking to him. "P-please can you leave the r-room, Ryouga-kun?"

The boy, who hadn't been paying attention looks up and blinks, then nods.

"And please mind you do not get lost, Ryouga-kun, just close the door behind you and keep hold of the handle." He nods, seems about to say something cutting but catches the genuine concern on her face and just walks to the door, shutting it behind him. "He has a very poor sense of direction, ma'am. Supernaturally poor and I'd hate for him to get lost in here after he rescued me."

The woman nods approvingly at her worry for her friend.

Ranma slips out of her dress as the lady brings out two cups of water, one steaming and the other cold. Standing in her underwear, Ranma tries to cover herself, blushing, before finding the blanket she'd had over her and shrugging it over her shoulders.

The woman seems to approve of her modesty before Ranma picks the hot water up and closes her eyes, feeling sick. She pours the water over her head and feels everything change with a tingle. Her chest sucks in on itself and she gains in height and muscle mass. Her hair, her lovely red hair turns black and she stands in front of the lady as a boy, cringing and trying to cover herself in distress.

The nagging wrongness is back, the feeling of everything being subtly out of phase, out of line, and not quite right. The woman gasps and sways, looking faint, though she doesn't actually fall.

"So, it's true." She finally says. "I would not have believed it if you hadn't shown me."

"Please c-can I turn back?" Ranma asks, tears in her eyes. "I d-don't like this."

The woman nods and Ranma pours water on her head, regaining her true form. She slips back into her dress and sighs in relief. Ryouga enters the room and sits back down.

"May I tell you about myself?" The woman asks after a short, uncomfortable silence.

"Of course, ma'am." Ranma says. The woman smiles sadly at her.

"I had a son once, and a husband. They were both very precious to me. However, my husband is a martial artist. One of the best."

Ranma nods. "My father is a martial artist, too, Ma'am." She says softly.

"I see." The woman seems to ponder a moment, then takes a sip of tea and carries on. "He took my son on an extended training journey when my son was very small. I miss him, but my beloved did keep correspondence with me." Ranma catches the pain hiding behind the woman's gentle smile and makes a decision.

A lady should never feel embarrassed to console someone!

She stands, walks around the table and takes the lady's hands. "Ma'am, I am sure wherever your son is, he misses you as much as you miss him. And I am sure you will see him one day."

The lady squeezes her hands back. Ryouga nearby looks confused and on the verge of blurting something out, but a look from the lady silences him and Ranma watches, impressed, and desiring to try that out on someone else. Ryouga has been a gentleman today and it wouldn't do to push him away as she had so many times in her other self.

"Thank you, Ranma-chan, that is very kind of you to say." A tear lingers on her eyes before she lets go of one of Ranma's hands to wipe it away. "I too, hope to see them. My husband promised me to make my son a man amongst men, and I always worried for them both."

Ranma's mind snags on that and she frowns. Those were familiar words from her father. Martial artists, she supposes.

The woman takes her other hand again with a sigh, and Ranma blushes at the longing look cast her way. "Ma'am?"

"Oh, if I had a daughter as lovely as you, Ranma, I think I would be so proud." She says. Ranma's blush deepens.

"Th-thank you ma'am."

"So polite and refined." She murmurs. "Where was I? Ah. My husband's last message was a long time ago now, more than six months. I was led to believe he would be returning to Japan soon, but I have heard hide nor hair of him since then and I am very worried."

"I'll help you, ma'am!" Ranma says excitedly. "I'm sure I can find out where they are!"

The woman schools her surprised expression and smiles with warmth. "Perhaps you can, Ranma-chan." Something occurs to her. "But first… I would like some… perspective on something that has bothered me for a long time, though. Do you think you might be able to help?"

"I'll help however I can, ma'am!" Ranma smiles brightly at the lady.

"Well, dear, there is a little matter…" She reaches into her kimono and pulls out a piece of paper. On it is a seppuku pledge. She reads it and a cold chill runs through her.

"Ma'am? This is…"

"Quite. You see, as much as I love my husband, I know he can be… lax and fickle. So, I had him sign this on behalf of himself and my son as an… encouragement."

Ranma swallows, not sure why the document fills her with so much dread. The name is similar to hers, but written as a wild horse, not 'orchid' as she wrote her name. "Ma'am, this is written in finger paint…" A hollow pit fills her stomach. "…You made your son sign this?"

The woman nods. "Yes. Do you think I should have my son fulfil this?"

"Do I…?" Ranma swallows again, her throat thick, feeling like she is cradling someone's life in her hands as she holds the document. It's not a good feeling and her stomach is doing flips like Akane had been cooking. "Ma'am?"

"I mean, what is a man amongst men?" The woman asks, looking thoughtful. "It is very vague."

Ryouga, across the room, seems to have gone curiously blank. Ranma looks to him and then at the paper. She sees him tensing, as if for a fight.

She looks to the woman who is smiling serenely. "M-Ma'am?" She asks again. She doesn't know what to say.

"Such a contract could be abused, don't you think? Surely a mother should be proud of her child no matter what they become, as long as it is not evil?"

Ranma swallows a third time and nods. "Y-yes, ma'am. I d-d-don't see how you c-could enforce th-this."

"It has bothered me for some time." The woman admits. "And yet it is an honour pledge. And honour demands fulfilment."

"M-ma'am?" Ranma asks, voice shaking.

"Yes, Ranma-chan, did you have something to add?"

"Y-yes…" Ranma nods, heart hammering in her chest as she puts the paper on the table. She takes the woman's hands. "Y-your son was s-so small, and wrote it in f-f-finger paint… which means h-he didn't know what it e-e-entailed." She swallows again, "A-and he p-probably d-doesn't know it e-exists. And it's s-s-so vague, ma'am. You could say that a 'man amongst men' is s-someone who w-wears dresses, or someone who d-dates other m-men or who has a full beard…" She blushes brightly. "I d-don't think it can be b-b-binding."

The woman seems to slump a little, though Ranma cannot tell if it is in relief or in annoyance. A tanto appears, quick as lightning and stabs through the sheet of paper, then slices it in half. Ranma squeaks and tumbles back onto her backside, sprawling in a most undignified manner. Ryouga seems to have stopped, a thin trickle of blood falling from his nose and she lies dazed a moment. He wipes his nose and shakes himself, resuming his ready stance.

"You're right, of course, Ranma-chan. Thank you for your perspective." The lady says, taking her hands and pulling her back into a sitting position. "Though please do be careful next time. It doesn't do a lady to show her underwear when a boy is present unless she plans on marrying him."

Ranma goes beet red again and casts a shy glance at Ryouga, who looks like a trapped animal all of a sudden. "Y-yes ma'am." Is all she manages to say.

The woman takes the pledge and then tears it again and again, though she keeps the single handprint whole, tucking it back into her kimono.

"Thank you for your advice, Ranma-chan." The lady says. "You're a very thoughtful young lady, aren't you?"

Ranma looks down. "I… was not always, ma'am." She says softly. "It is a very recent thing."

The ball of ice in her heart starts growing again, but the soft, ladylike hands take hers as she does and a little warmth trickles into her.

"Well, it becomes you, dear." The lady says. A finger lifts her chin up so she's looking into the lady's eyes. "A recent thing, you say?"

"Y-yes ma'am, very recent."

"And that turned my son into my daughter?" The woman asks. Ryouga's head snaps up and he goes into a ready stance almost immediately, battle aura igniting.

Ranma looks to the contract, then to the woman, then Ryouga, noting his readiness to fight, then back to the woman. Her eyes widen, elation, shock, terror running through her.

"…Mother?"