Because you're so in love with this island of the mind

Know this here island is home.

You've got to get on your feet again (Genesis)

Get on your feet again!

But without your 'self,' what'll become of you?

(Take your leave now, shut up..shut up)

Please don't take me from our youth

(Take your leave now, shut up..shut up)

When we're apart, we fall,

Together we feed the world

- "Genesis" by Devin Townsend

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"So what did you two get up to while you were out?" Nabiki asked once they'd eaten their meal for the night and the two seemed more or less sober.

Ranko shrugged, grinning. "I told you, Martial Arts bullshit, what else?"

Nabiki sighed. "Even here?"

"Even here." Ranko kept grinning. "There was this dojo, see." Ryouga nodded along as he drank a glass of water. "Martial Arts… Er… Furamenuko."

"Flamenco."

Ranko rolled the word around and nodded. "Yeah, that. Anyway, it was a combination of music, fighting and dancing."

"Figures."

"Well, long story short me and Ryouga here got into a fight, but I had to change him into something appropriate. Now I had the mariachi outfit from that dojo back home that specialised in Martial Arts Mariachi Fighting, so I just had to tailor it real quick to his size. The trumpet I had too, never know when you need one. Good thing I kept them all in my chi space."

Nabiki groaned. "Your life is insane."

"Worked, didn't it? Anyway, we won. But then they asked if we'd have a few drinks. A few drinks down and then we stumbled off!"

"That's not very interesting." Nabiki sighed.

"Eh, you had to be there. Honestly, was way friendlier than most of the times I've been challenged."

Ryouga laughed as he finished his water. "Really, Nabiki-san, she's exaggerating how easy it was. I was playing that trumpet for at least an hour. She was fighting the whole time. Don't know where she learned it but she's good."

Nabiki hummed to herself, wondering if it'd be a good thing to market later, before shaking her head. "I can't leave you alone for five minutes, Ranchan."

Ranko stuck her tongue out at Nabiki. "Eh, not my fault that time. Least it was friendly."

It was later that evening, when Ryouga heard a sigh from a balcony that was off the side of the main room of their suite. He found Ranko leaning against the railing, looking out over the ocean.

Nabiki had wandered off to do more business deals in preparation for what he knew would possibly be a journey of him and Ranko and he still wasn't sure what to make of her request. He needed to think about it some.

She turned, framed by the moon and smiled at him, red curls blowing slightly in the faint breeze. "Hey." She said quietly. She'd changed from her cheongsam into a pair of white capris and a fitted version of one of her old silk tops. Stylish glasses with thin green rims sat on her nose and her smile was warm.

"Hey. Moon watching?"

"Yeah." She said, turning back around to look at it. His eyes were drawn to how the capris hugged her backside until he looked away, scolding himself. He joined her, looking up at the pale orb. "What's up?" He asked.

"Eh, just thinking." Ranko said, shrugging. She watched the moonlight play on the waves a while in silence. "Mostly about the past. I'd kinda buried a lot of things but they've all sorta come out while I've been talking to you. I mean it's good, I'm actually working through 'em, but yanno, it's still difficult."

"Which bit were you thinking about?" He asked, looking concerned. She smiled up at him. He'd grown even taller before meeting up with them on the Genesis.

Ranko shrugged again. "How much I'd missed you, actually, you big lug." She said, looking out on the water with a fond smile.

Ryouga pinked slightly. "You missed me?"

"We're friends, aren't we? I'm allowed to miss my friends. And I missed sparrin' ya." She rolled her neck. "Just felt good to be able to let go again, especially with my new path."

Ryouga smiled as he leaned on the railing himself. "Yeah, it was fun. I'll beat you next time though."

"Sure you will, Ryouga." Ranko grinned impudently at him. She suddenly put a slim arm about his waist, shocking him by laying her head on his arm. "S'been good to see you, even if you decide we won't travel together." She said.

Ryouga blushed but didn't object to the arm that barely reached the other side of him. She definitely hadn't grown any taller or larger in the time he'd been away. "Yeah, it's good to see you too. It's surprising how good."

Ranko squeezed him once and they stood there companionably for a while, Ranko humming a soft tune and occasionally mumbling lyrics under her breath in her soprano. Ryouga just enjoyed the peaceful moment for what it was. He'd never had that many in his own life and he knew neither had Ranko, often because of each other.

"Hey Ryouga?" Ranko asked suddenly, cutting into her humming.

"Yeah?"

"Wanna go on a date?"

Ryouga looked down at her. "What?"

"A date." Ranko said, shrugging. "Ain't been on a proper, yanno, 'have a dinner, catch a movie' date, before, least not a real one. Figured you go with someone you like and, well, we're friends right?"

Ryouga shook his head. "Are you joking with me?"

"Nope." Ranko grinned. "Absolutely serious, Ryouga."

Ryouga watched her face, which remained friendly and open, if a little nervous. He finally shrugged.

"Alright. Sure, why not?" He said, nodding. "When?"

"Couple days from now. We'll see where we stop on our next dock." Ranko clapped him on the arm. "Ah, don't look so morose and forced in. It's a date and if you don't want to, just let me know. S'posta be fun."

She returned to leaning against Ryouga while he thought, until they bid each other good night. This time she insisted he take the bed and she collapsed onto the sofa to snore.

In the middle of the night he was woken up by a warm body slipping on top of the covers and snuggling up next to him, mumbling sleepily and he saw she'd automatically gone to the bed after going to the bathroom.. He sighed and turned around but felt a small, warm arm drape onto his side.

"…Mmm. Comfy pillow." She mumbled.

He considered waking her up but finding himself too sleepy to care, he dropped back off.

When Ryouga had woken up in the morning, he'd found a curious ginger girl with copper curls and pale blue eyes waiting for him after he'd showered and dressed for the day in the slacks and shirt Ranko had given him. He figured since she'd gone to the trouble to make sure he wasn't getting lost; he'd at least not embarrass her and when he looked in the mirror it certainly felt nice to look good.

Himeko smiled at him gently. "Gokigenyou." She said by way of greeting, and the overly-formal nature of her tone made him a little uncomfortable. "I thought it might be prudent that I discuss this next part of the story with Nabiki-onee-san, rather than Ranko."

Ryouga nodded.

This time as they walked to breakfast, he noticed that no one paid them any more attention than a boy with a pretty girl holding his arm would attract. Himeko smiled gently. "It's part of the Path, fading into the background."

Ryouga nodded. "I guess."

"I make you uncomfortable, don't I?" Himeko said after a while's awkward silence. "I am somewhat more perceptive like this."

Ryouga swallowed and nodded. "Y-yeah. It's just a bit… weird."

Himeko nodded. "I can imagine. If it helps, I am still the same person, mostly, it's just… practice. And easier to keep up. At least I am demure, Kyouko is much less so."

"Kyouko?"

Himeko smiled. "I have a number of others to use. They've been handy at times, mostly to practice the Path. Kyouko likes to eat a lot."

The two made their way to where breakfast was being served and found Nabiki on the phone, talking rather quickly and animatedly.

Sitting down, Nabiki eyed Himeko a moment and nodded greetings, before returning to her conversation.

"So. It didn't take as long as we thought for me to perfect myself…"

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Himeko was getting tired of practicing being all demure and soft. It just wasn't her. Well, it was Himeko, but it wasn't Ranko, and that was the main rub.

She'd got the image transformation down after a week or two, and could now, with a deft manipulation of ki, change her appearance to that of a girl with ginger curls, paler skin and a smattering of freckles across the shoulders. Pale blue eyes and softer features adorned her face than usual.

Perhaps appearance wasn't quite the word. It was almost like a transformation except it wasn't permanent.

She'd wondered if it was the sort of magic that Jusenkyo curses were based off.

However, the personality was something she was having more difficulty doing. She'd been told off by Nodoka more times than she could count on how poorly she was hiding her chi, how poorly she was standing and frankly it was starting to drag.

Eventually she stomped upstairs and threw herself onto her bed, shoving her face in her pillow and running her hands through her hair. Even now she was still practicing the outward appearance, trying to make it completely natural so she didn't even think about it when it was on.

A knock on the side of her doorway surprised her and she looked up to see Nabiki there. "Hey, Himeko-chan."

Himeko grimaced but dipped her head. "Nabiki-san." She said, trying and failing to modulate her voice.

"Auntie says you're having trouble with the personalit- wow." The bob-haired girl sat next to Himeko on the bed and ran her hands through the tight ginger curls. "It looks… and feels real."

Himeko shrugged. "M- Auntie said it was probably because I've been subject to a lot of transformation magics before."

Nabiki nodded. "It makes sense, Himeko-chan. Well, I figured I'd perhaps help since I'm very good at dissembling. They didn't call me the Ice Queen for nothing." Himeko sat up, keeping her knees together. Nabiki noticed. "You're at least better at the mannerisms, but have you considered it this way…" She grinned. "You're trying to remain yourself while pretending but I mean, that won't work. Himeko and Ranko aren't the same person, really. One is a bright, burning star of martial arts lunacy, but the other is a polite and warm aristo girl."

Himeko nodded. "Y-yes. I'm havin'… Having trouble keeping it straight."

Nabiki nodded again. "Yeah, see that's your problem. You're trying to pretend to be someone you're not. You should be becoming them, like a mask. Try thinking like Himeko."

Himeko pondered this a moment. "But… I am trying that."

Nabiki gave a thoughtful look. "She did say you were having trouble with your ki as well, right?"

"Yes, I can't seem to hide it."

"That's because you're like fire."

"I am?"

"Oh yeah. Like… look at Akane. She's probably mainly earth, if you're looking classical elements. Grounded and strong, with a little fire on top. You, though, you're air and fire. You burn and burn hot. But you also flow like air." Nabiki smiled. "I'm not much on the whole ki thing, but I wonder if you're going about it wrong?"

"How so, Nabiki-san?"

"Well, I mean, you're pushing it down, but you know what happens when you compress things. They can explode. What if instead you pushed into the wind side of yourself and sort of… I don't know, wrap yourself in your own ki? Like don't hide it, just make it unnoticed."

Himeko sat up straighter. "I think…" She pondered. "That might… Hmm. I'll have to meditate on that. What about the personality?"

Nabiki smiled, "You like acting, right? You've done roles and stuff. How'd you manage to trick Ryouga into thinking you were his sister? How about on the train? Even I believed you were my darling little sister."

Himeko nodded and then perked up. "A role… Like…" She smiled softly. "Nabiki-san, I think you might have cracked it."

Nabiki smiled and patted her arm. "Nice, good to know I'm useful."

Himeko giggled and then motioned to the door. "I am going to meditate and try to work this. Can you tell Auntie I'll be down soon and wait with her? I shouldn't be more than an hour or two."

Nabiki stood up. "Sure."

It was about three hours later that footfalls on the stairs announced Himeko walking down. But there was something different about the noise to before. Nodoka looked up from where she was sipping a cup of tea to see a girl come down, tight copper curls bouncing in twintails that flowed down her back. She was wearing a green sundress with a ribbon tied about the waist, and in a bow on the back. Pale, almost colourless blue eyes regarded them all with a shy warmth. On her face was a half-smile. Freckles stood out on pale shoulders and she bowed as she reached the bottom step.

"Gokigenyou, Auntie, Nabiki-san." Himeko said in a soft, breathy voice. Every sound crystal clear and with none of Ranko's roughness. "I apologise for my outburst earlier. I believe I may have begun to master the technique now with some timely assistance from Nabiki-san."

"That's quite alright, Himeko-chan." Nodoka said warmly. "I will inspect your ki now, if you would like?"

Himeko nodded. Nodoka extended her senses and smiled at the girl. She could feel nothing but a cool pleasantness from her, wrapping around her. Unless she was looking specifically for it, she saw no burning ki signature, nor any suggestion that Himeko was particularly powerful. True, she could sense that Himeko had ki reserves greater than any normal person, but it was on par with the more average martial artists in the region and would be dismissed as she would not be hiding her training on the Path of the Silken Breeze.

"Satisfactory." Nodoka proclaimed. Himeko's smile dropped a moment but was quickly plastered back on. "I believe you will still need practice however, dear."

Himeko nodded. "As with any art, Sensei." She bowed and then sat at the table.

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Another week went by, and Himeko settled herself into her new role. The longer she ran with the techniques, the more second-nature they became until she could flip between her natural state and Himeko's appearance easily.

The personality took a lot more getting used to, but she managed it with some more help from Nabiki. It helped that she read a manga that Nabiki had lent her, some magical girl thing with cards and tried to think of it as one of those cards. For some reason that clicked in her mind until she could call up Himeko as a card, which led to the change into her. She'd found it easier to return to Ranko as that appeared a 'default' state, she simply stopped with the changes and settled back into her original self.

Interweaving the two was difficult but she wanted to go to extra credit because even with her realisations about herself, she wasn't about to let a martial arts technique beat her. She'd excel, because even as Ranko rather than Ranma, excelling in the art was what she did. Even if she wasn't driven the same way as Ranma had been, she still liked knowing she was the best. She still loved the Art.

Even as Himeko she had some pride in what she did and that same love. And really, that actually helped because she could mould Himeko's personality around that same love.

Deciding to go for even further extra credit because she was always an overachiever (and also still liked to be the best and then better) she tried something else.

Standing in front of the standing mirror in her natural state, she concentrated and felt out with her ki, channeling it through her body until it suffused her, and then pictured the new image she'd constructed.

Her features changed, switching so her hair was a light brown with some red tints and straight, her skin losing the few freckles and turning somewhat paler than she had been. Her eyes she made appear to be a pale green.

Staring at herself she wondered a moment at the limitations of this technique. She'd not managed any internal or mass transformations. Her height, weight and various other sizes remained the same throughout, and while she could change a lot of her face, it was still less than she'd like. Probably, she could use shapewear stored in a ki space to alter that sort of stuff. For certain disguises she could always use platform shoes to increase her height.

Inspecting the result, she nodded and grinned softly. This one would be a cute but kind of cold girl. Someone cool, she thought, idly adding the name and card into her mental library. Haibara Ai. She'd work on the personality later

Ai giggled to herself. She really needed to stop naming her alternate selves after anime characters.

"Knock knock." Nabiki walked in and then stopped. "…Right, another one? Of course, another one, there's no way you'd be happy with just the one, no, that wouldn't do for you." She sighed. "Just once can you not excel at some martial arts thing?"

Ai shrugged as she returned to Ranko and then into Himeko, mentally switching cards. Her demeanour changed along with her hair into the coppery curls, freckles and pale blue eyes.

"You know, that's creepy no matter the amount of times I watch it." Nabiki said, sighing. "But I suppose it's worth doing more than one if you can."

"Nabiki-san, you know I like to go for extra credit in such things as this."

Nabiki laughed. "Well, as long as you apply yourself in school the same way."

"I shall try." Himeko said, nodding and sitting on her bed. Currently clad in a ruffled camisole and pyjama bottoms, she smiled. "It's good to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Nabiki shrugged. "Your aunt wanted to see you. Something about a few tests."

Himeko nodded, following Nabiki down the stairs and to the family room.

"Auntie?" She asked.

Nodoka smiled at her. "I see you have it partly down."

Himeko nodded, shifting into Ai. Nodoka blinked.

"Of course." She sighed. "I should have expected you'd go for more than one."

Returning back, Himeko giggled. "I shall try for others. It can't hurt to have alternates."

"I suppose." Nodoka said, sitting down. "Well done."

"What did you need me for, Auntie?" Himeko sat next to her.

"A test, Himeko-chan." Nodoka said, smiling at her. "A series of tests and lessons to learn." She pushed a paper across. Himeko picked it up and scanned it, then sat back in shock, her illusion dissipating as Ranko reappeared.

"You ain't serious, Ma." She said. Then she clapped her hand over her mouth and focused again, switching back. "I'd fail instantly the moment I went to the place." She managed as Himeko.

Nodoka sighed. "For that lapse I need you to practice solid for the remainder of the night with myself and Nabiki-chan here trying to throw you off. After that you will follow this list."

Himeko sighed and nodded. That meant bruises and pain to soak in the furo tonight.

She looked down at the paper.

A shopping list. To pick something up for Nodoka from the Tendou house directly from Kasumi, interacting with Akane, Soun and Genma as well, especially by introducing herself as Ranma's cousin.

Then she was to head to town to do some shopping, making sure to come across several people who knew her. Then to go to Ucchan's to eat a snack, then to go to the Nekohanten to pick up dinner for the evening. Then to return to the house with said dinner.

All in disguise. All without anyone finding out who she was.

She'd have sworn quite loudly except that Himeko was too polite to swear.

So much for her newfound freedom (even if it was still in shackles). Cologne was going to find her and then there'd be a horrible amount of trouble.

"Auntie… you're throwing me back into the chaos…" Himeko whispered, looking down.

Nodoka shook her head. "Have faith in your own abilities. I wouldn't send you if I weren't confident you can do it."

Himeko picked up the list and sighed, standing up. "I'll go and change."

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A/N: My goodness it's been a hot minute. I'm so sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, I had a really bad block for it and other projects have eaten my writing up.

I won't say I'll be updating this a lot more though I'm going to try to focus on it so I can finish it and get to another one of the waiting-in-the-wings fics. However NaNoWriMo is coming up so likely I'll be focused on an original project rather than fanfic for November.