Chapter 1: Momma's Girl
The sword had flown out of Nodoka's hands and lodged itself into the floor between Ranma's legs with a disturbing thunk. Nabiki couldn't help but think that if Ranma had been in boy mode Nodoka would have just, ironically, removed his 'manhood'. Maybe Ranma's curse had actually just saved the part time girl from having to fulfill this seppuku pledge regarding his masculinity.
As Ranma stared at it, eyes wide with fear, Nabiki swore she saw something snap in Ranma. It reminded her a little of when Ranma went cat in a moment of pure terror. However, this time, instead of a meow, Ranma... giggled?
That was interesting. It was a nervous giggle, but a very feminine giggle all the same.
"Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I'm not very good with swords," Nodoka explained, patting Ranma on the head.
"I-it is okay, auntie," Ranma said in a soft, yet frightened, tone. "It did not hit me."
"Still, you poor thing... what was your name, again?"
Nabiki swallowed nervously. Ranma was not exactly known for subtlety. She glanced at Akane and Kasumi as the redheaded dweeb seemed to think things over. Neither of them looked confident either.
"Ran-Ranko. I am Akane's cousin Ranko," Ranma said with a smile. "Funny coincidence, no?"
Nabiki grimaced. That was a terrible save. Still, it was less embarrassing than the name Akane had apparently tried to claim her made up Canadian boyfriend had, so... Nabiki would stick to judging Ranma for lying to his mother more than his bad alias creation skills. She accepted that it was a delicate subject, and needed to be handled with care, but... Ranma was just digging himself deeper with this girly act.
He was doing a surprisingly good job of hiding his reaction to Akane tripping up on Nodoka's questions about her 'manly son', though. Nabiki was distracted enough by wondering about his suddenly improved acting that she missed chances to needle him herself. Instead, Soun had decided to step in with news about Genma that Nodoka seemed utterly uninterested in.
As Nabiki had tried to get 'Ranko' 's attention to express her disdain for the charade, Nodoka began to negotiate staying for the night. It was a bit of a train ride from her home in Musashino, and rather late for a lone woman to ride it. Especially after she'd talked Kasumi into letting her help with dinner.
With the two women in the kitchen, Kasumi giving Nodoka a tour, Nabiki decided it was the right time to pull Ranma away. Akane followed the two of them up, closing the door to Nabiki's room as the trio slipped in.
As the door closed, Ranma looked strangely... frightened? That wasn't something Nabiki expected...
"D-don't hit me! Please!" Ranma said, raising his hands to defend his head, his small feminine form seeming to shrink even smaller as he did so.
"What?" Akane said, her tone as flatly confused as Nabiki felt.
"He will be back in a bit. I... I am not sure how, but... I know he is still here," Ranma replied, pointing to his head.
"Who'll be back?" Akane asked.
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. It couldn't be... her? That shy and excessively feminine body language. The use of feminine pronouns.
"I... him? I am sorry for what I said last time. I had never woken up before. I did not know he was still there. But, he came back last time, so I'm sure he will be back. I cannot tell you when or how, but I am sure he will be back," Ranma said, talking a blue streak that was almost difficult to follow.
Akane stared, her jaw hanging open. "Wha...?"
"So you're still in there, miss girly girl?" Nabiki asked, leaning in.
Ranma gave her a nervous nod.
"Who's... wait," Akane said, realisation dawning on her face before she went pale. "Y-you're... her?"
Ranma nodded again, slipping behind Nabiki. Why the girl would ever think that she was someone to hide behind for protection, Nabiki couldn't guess, but she supposed the redhead was mostly scared and panicking. Akane looked hurt.
"And, Ranma's still in there?" Akane asked, her eyes filled with concern.
"Mhm. I... I think so. As far as I understand it," Ranma replied. "It was just... it is like when there are cats. He gets scared, and he wants to run away, but he cannot. And so he runs inside."
"Very brave of him," Nabiki said, a smirk spreading across her face.
"Nabiki," Akane hissed. "Doctor Tofu says the issue with the cats is the result of severe trauma. Now he's found out his mother wants to murder him. I think it's perfectly fair for him to be scared."
"I probably cannot get him back until mother leaves," Ranma said, sitting down and hugging one of Nabiki's pillows close to her. Her eyes were distant. "I do not know how to get him back after that, but I can feel that he's not coming back up until mother is gone."
Akane nodded. "It's probably for the best. You make a much more convincing girl than he does, and that's what we need right now... also, I just want to say that I'm sorry for what I did last time, Ranko. It wasn't fair to you."
The redhead blinked, staring up at Akane. "P-pardon?"
"I... I was worried about Ranma," Akane said, fidgeting as she stood there. "I was scared, and I got angry, and I'm sorry."
"Oh, I... thank you, but... you called me Ranko?"
Akane stared across at the redhead. "You said that was your name?"
"To Mother. So she wouldn't know I was Ranma... it's... it is a cute name, though," the redhead said, growing lost in thought.
"It makes life easier for the rest of us if you and him have different names," Nabiki said.
"I... I suppose that is true," the redhead said. "I will... I will think about it."
"You're really sure he'll be back, though?" Akane asked, a bit more worry creeping into her voice.
"Should be? I... I think?" Ranko replied.
"The cat always leaves well enough. Maybe you girls just need to cuddle too," Nabiki said with a smirk.
Both girls flushed.
"Th-that's..." Akane began.
"I do not think I could initiate something so bold," Ranko added. "If Akane wishes to, though..."
"W-what? Aren't you a girl?" Akane blurted.
"Yes?" Ranko replied, tilting her head in confusion. "Does that mean I am not supposed to like the feeling of safety that would surely come from a strong taller girl holding me in her muscular arms?"
"Uh... uh... w-well..." Akane stammered. "Wait! Are you calling me overly muscular?"
Ranko began to shield herself with the pillow, looking spooked and bewildered by Akane's reaction.
"Let's worry about all that later," Nabiki said. "Right now we have a guest who no doubt wants to hear everything you girls can tell her about Ranma."
"R-right," Akane muttered, turning towards the door. "I guess we should get back to auntie."
As she followed Akane, Ranko gave Nabiki a silent 'thank you'. Nabiki was left wondering why, exactly, she felt so defensive of the redhead. Perhaps it was just her small size and nervous disposition. Or, maybe it was just the way Akane still seemed so on edge around someone defenseless. She didn't want to see her sister do anything that she'd regret. Akane's guilt could be worse than her temper sometimes.
The redhead smiled at the woman she couldn't call mother in her head as she helped get the bedding ready for them both. Nodoka kept complimenting her on being a proper young lady, which made her heart flutter. If only she could tell her mother who she was...
But, then again, did she even know who she was? While she'd only been 'awake' the once, she'd, well, she'd done the equivalent of talking in her sleep sometimes. Especially when he was trying to figure out disguises. Murmuring about which outfit she thought better. Enough that he had a vague idea she existed. He seemed convinced she was the spirit of the Nyannichuan.
So maybe she wasn't Nodoka's daughter. Maybe she was just a fragment of a spirit clinging to Nodoka's son.
A new name probably was best, then.
"Is everything alright, dear?" Nodoka asked, sitting down beside the redhead.
Her hair was down and wearing only her hadajuban under layer, Nodoka's presence seemed so very domestic now, compared to her formal look from earlier. It hammered home the redhead's current awkwardness about what she was to Nodoka.
"I... I'm not really sure if I..." she began, before realising she had no idea how to describe her current feelings.
"You're lonely, aren't you?" Nodoka asked, smiling gently at her.
The redhead nodded. "Yes. I... I don't know where I belong. If I belong anywhere..."
"Oh, you poor thing,"Nodoka said, pulling her into a hug. "I'm sure Soun and his girls care about you."
"I... maybe. But I don't have a place here," she muttered. "I'm easily forgotten."
Nodoka ruffled her hair. "Maybe that makes two of us then... what do you say we spend a little more time together, Ranko?"
The redhead felt warmth shoot through her. A sensation of... of... she wasn't sure she remembered ever feeling this sensation. She was pretty sure he had felt it from time to time lately. It was nice, and she liked the idea of more.
"W-what about waiting for your son, though?" she asked.
"I can look after a lonely young girl and wait for my son. One does not preclude the other," Nodoka said, her smile soft and continuing to make the redhead feel so warm and calm. "So, what do you say, Ranko-chan?"
"It sounds lovely," Ranko replied, nodding furiously.
"Good, good," Nodoka said. "I think we'll take you out clothes shopping. Your outfits do not seem nearly as feminine as would suit you."
Ranko's heart fluttered. Clothes were good. She only had so much luck convincing Ranma to buy what she wanted.
The Tendos and Ranko waved Nodoka off, the older woman having decided not to overstay her welcome, but arranging to visit again the weekend after next. Once she was gone, Ranko, Akane, and Kasumi sat down in the kitchen. The three tried to work out how she could give control back to Ranma. None of them wanted to repeat the bonk on the head, Akane apologizing again for the way the girl's previous 'visit' had ended.
"Do you think you could hand over control through meditation?" Akane offered.
"I would not know where to begin," Ranko replied.
"So you're really her, again?" Kasumi asked.
Ranko nodded. "I did not think I would ever be back on top... but it is me again, big sis Kasumi."
Kasumi smiled. "It's good to see you again."
"Hmm... well, you and the cat both took over with fear, right?" Akane asked.
"I... yes? W-what are you planning, Akane-san?" Ranko asked.
"I was just thinking that, I remember you not liking Ranma's underwear. Maybe if you went and looked at his underwear drawer?" Akane offered.
Ranko stared at Akane with fear in her eyes. "P-please do not make me do that."
"Well, the cat leaves when Ranma is calmed down. Maybe Ranko-chan here needs the same?" Kasumi offered.
Akane blushed, in turn reminding Ranko of Nabiki's proposition and making her blush as well.
"If... if Akane would like to hold me... I wouldn't protest," Ranko mumbled.
Akane stammered something unintelligible, both girls a flustered mess. Kasumi smiled, wondering if Ranko waking up more might just be good for Ranma and Akane's relationship.
"BOY!" Genma's voice bellowed, the gi clad man human again for the first time since Nodoka had arrived. "What are you doing, still sitting about in that weak and delicate form?"
Ranko let out an 'eep', slipping behind Akane for safety.
"Uncle Genma," Kasumi began, "this is not, at the moment, Ranma. She's the girl from before, when Ranma hit his head."
"What?" Genma replied, staring at her as if she'd said the sky was green. After a moment some sort of realisation hit him. "Oh. The boy's on that nonsense again."
Genma marched around Akane, who was lost in indecision on how to respond, and grabbed Ranko by the pigtail. He then dragged the protesting redhead over to the sink, turning on the hot water and forcing her head under it.
"You snapped out of it, boy?" Genma asked.
Ranko, now in male form, replied with only pain in her eyes and a quivering lip. Genma stared at her with disgust in his eyes. Letting go of her ponytail, he lifted his hand, pulling it back ready to smack her.
"Please do not hit me," Ranko called out. "I am trying to bring him back!"
"Shut it and man up!" Genma roared, bringing his hand down.
Ranko let out a sharp cry as the hand moved down. Akane was on her feet, halfway to Ranko before Genma's hand reached Ranko's cheek. There was another party, though, who was closer and better able to react, the pigtailed teen grabbing Genma's hand and using the inertia to flip the bald man into a pin on the cold linoleum floor.
"A martial artist ain't supposed ta hit a girl who ain't a fighter, pops," the pigtailed boy hissed, kneed digging into Genma's back, just below the kidney.
"R-Ranma?" Akane asked, sliding to a stop on the smooth floor a short distance from the two combatants.
"Yeah?" Ranma asked. "What's up, Akane?"
"You're back?" she asked.
"Duh? I... wait, where am I? I... I remember hearin' a girl scream, and suddenly I was here, and... where's the girl?" Ranma said, looking around. "And, where's mum? Wasn't she here?"
Kasumi gave Ranma a soft smile. "We need to explain some things to you..."
Ranma sat on Kasumi's bed. Kasumi was sat beside him, a gentle hand on his upper arm. Nabiki was sitting at the desk. Akane was leaning against a wall, looking rather nervous.
"S-so yer tellin' me that time I blacked out before I went all girly? An' it happened again yesterday with mum?" Ranma asked.
The girls nodded.
"We didn't know if you'd ever be you again the first time, so... we got kind of scared," Akane muttered.
"You got scared," Nabiki added.
"We were all a bit worried," Kasumi said, giving Nabiki a sharp glance. "This time, though, we thought it might just be like when you go cat, so we were less worried.
"Still a little worried..." Akane all but whispered, Ranma just barely hearing her.
"Huh. So she's enough of a thing ta actually take over," Ranma said, staring at his hands.
"W-wait, you... you knew she was in there?" Akane asked, walking over and leaning in as if she could see inside Ranma's skull by staring at his forehead.
"I... uh, well, I get whispers sometimes. After gettin' cursed. I'll look at a dress in a store or a stuffed animal fer sale somewhere or whatever, and I hear this girl's voice sayin' 'oh, that's cute', or 'I want that', or whatever," Ranma replied, fidgeting under the attention of all three Tendo girls. "I, uh... I always figured it was the spirit a' the girl that drowned in the Nyannichuan, y'know? And, so... well, if I have the money I try ta buy her the stuff she likes. I figure, if I'm runnin' around lookin' like her, it's only right? She... well, she seems happy when I dress how she asks and show her my reflection. Not usually in words, but... I feel her happiness? If... if that makes any sense."
He was surprised at how the looks the sisters were giving him softened.
"That is very sweet of you, Ranma," Kasumi said with a gentle smile.
"It does make me judge some of the more perverted things you get up to more, though," Akane replied sharply, storming off to the other side of the room again. "Running around topless, knowing she'll know you're showing off her body."
"I... I'm still a guy, y'know!" Ranma protested. "I can't spend half my life keepin' a ghost happy. I do what I can, but there's limits."
"It's her body, though!" Akane countered.
"I'm not so sure about that," Nabiki said, leaning back in the chair. "We all saw what Nodoka looked like. Ranma's cursed form is practically his mother's spitting image."
"Really?" Ranma asked, looking between Kasumi and Nabiki for confirmation.
Kasumi nodded.
"I... I guess that's true," Akane added, her cheeks a bit red.
"What about as a guy? I didn't really get ta see her much, before I blanked out, but... would ya say my guy side looks like her too?" Ranma asked, excited by the idea of having a connection to anyone other than his father. A connection that wasn't rendered ambiguous by ancient Chinese magic.
"Yes, definitely," Kasumi replied.
Ranma smiled for a moment, before shaking his head. "Still, the main thing is what I should do with the girl in my head. I mean, it ain't fair for her ta exist, but just be stuck in there all the time. It's like bein' cursed ta sleep or somethin'."
The sisters stared at him.
"W-what?" he asked.
"You're really ok with, just, blacking out from time to time and letting some ghost control your body?" Nabiki asked.
Ranma shrugged. "She seems harmless? I ain't plannin' ta give her full time control, but, I dunno, and hour or two a week seems fair? I, just... I can't imagine what bein' stuck in somebody's head like that, not able to do nothin' yourself, has ta feel like. It can't be fun."
The sisters nodded.
"Do you... do you remember what happened this time?" Akane asked.
Ranma shook his head. "No. I... it's like when the Cat is in control. Don't remember anythin'."
"And you're ok with that?" Nabiki asked.
"I'd prefer ta know what's goin' on, but... if she knows what I'm up to, maybe I'll be able to learn how ta know what she does by lettin' her take over more often?" Ranma offered. "I dunno... I just can't sit right on the idea there's a person stuck in my head not able ta get out. It ain't like the Cat. The Cat's just a cat. But... she's a person. Y'know?"
"I guess," Akane muttered, looking somewhat uncomfortable with the whole idea.