Every step we take,

Echoes in our wake,

For tomorrow's our fate to,

Forge ahead!

Should we lose our way,

Tire of all of this pain,

We won't be afraid to,

Forge ahead!

-Endwalker by Masayoshi Soken

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Akane heads in before Ranma does at the end of the date. She's upset, but the long, passionate kiss he'd given her at the gate to the compound had left her weak-kneed, and she'd left lingering touches on his face, on his arms as she'd headed upstairs. He follows a short moment later, changing into his red silk clothes.

Akane heads to the family room when she's changed, tears running down her face. She tries to control it, to swallow the pain, but she can't. Not when he's still there.

Today was wonderful and terrible and frightening, yet it was reassuring and somehow, inside, she knows that this is exactly what she needed.

But it still hurts. It still burns inside, like churning, boiling anger, only this time it's sadness, not her usual anger.

She sits amongst her family, who seem to somehow understand what's happened. Nodoka simply passes her a handkerchief and Ukyou pats her on the shoulder.

Genma still sits on the engawa, far from everyone, not talking, wondering why the hell he's here with all these people who hate him.

Ranma walks to the shouji and opens it, affecting a cocky swagger as he strides into the room, grinning around with his hands on the back of his head.

"Hey guys, ya miss me?" he asks.

Jaws drop open as they all turn to look at him.

"Ranma?!" Kasumi drops the teapot she was carrying and lightning-fast Ranma's there, catching the teapot and setting it on the table.

"Watch it there, Kas, don't wanna spill it, hey?" He grins cockily and steps back. "Whatcha all starin' at?"

Ryouga stares at him, a worried, potentially heartbroken look in the lost boy's eyes and, Ranma's eyes flick to him the pigtailed boy nodding with a faint smile, mouthing 'she's here' tapping one finger gently on his heart in a gesture he makes sure only Ryouga can see. Ryouga seems to sag in relief.

"Boy." Genma says from the engawa. "That you?"

"Whaddya think, Pop?" Ranma drawls lazily. "Sure it's me. Just back one last time ta kick yer ass an' say goodbye ta everyone."

Nodoka stares at him, her face pale and he grins easily at her. "Hey, you must be my Ma. S'good ta meet ya. Ain't never met ya that I can 'member too good, so s'good ya here. Am I manly enough for ya?" His grin widens into a confident smirk as he shows himself off and then he cracks his knuckles. "If ya need it provin' I can kick the panda here's ass nine ways from Sunday."

Nodoka stares and then stands, moving forwards and embracing Ranma who flails a little. "My son." She says, choked up and holding him close. "Yes. You more than fulfilled your side of the contract. But it doesn't matter anyway, because I wouldn't have held you to it." She squeezes him and he swallows as she whispers a message meant for her not him. "Thank you for doing this for us."

"Aw jeez Ma." He steps back, embarrassedly rubbing the back of his head. "Ya gotta be like that? Ain't manly to be cuddled by ya mom."

Nodoka laughs and sits back down. "Thank you for letting me meet you."

Ranma grins and he turns to Nabiki. "Hey Nabs, get one last photo of me, will ya? No charge." His eyes twinkle as she shifts, then leaves the room, fetching her old polaroid camera and taking a photograph. He nods. "Cheers, Nabs. That's the last freebie – you treat her right an' only take photos she's awright with, else I'll come back somehow and kick your ass." He grins, "An' pay her modellin' fees fer heaven's sakes."

Nabiki nods, but seems oddly choked up as she shakes the photograph in her hand. "Alright."

Ranma turns to Kasumi. "Thanks for all the food and care, Kas. Your cookin's one of the few things I liked about my life. You've always been a big sis and I wanted ta thank ya one last time. Ya didn't need to treat me so well an' I sure as hell didn't deserve it, but thank ya." The eldest Tendou, tears in her eyes, grabs him in a hug and cries on his shoulder.

"Goodbye, Ranma." She sobs. "I'll… take care of my little sisters. All three of them. OK?"

"Thanks Kas." He says quietly. He steps away and looks to Soun, who is unsurprisingly crying his eyes out. "Hey old man Tendou. Thanks fer havin' me here. You're a good dad, but ya really gotta get back on with your life." Soun looks shocked, and Ranma smiles at him. "Don't gotta date anyone but maybe teach at the Dojo again, huh? Your youngest could really do with the help, more'n you're already doin' awright?" He holds a hand out and Soun takes it, the pigtailed boy shaking his hand firmly in the western style. "Trust me, I'm gone an' it's best not ta have regrets, hey?"

Ranma walks to Shampoo and Ukyou, who sit with tears tracking down their faces. "Hey, why the long faces girls?" He smiles gently at them. "Shamps, it's been fun. You hadta know I'd never've gone with you or married you but it was always fun ta fight ya. Ya never held back." He grins and nods. "'Sides I think ya lucked out with a Xiǎo mèi mèi ta call your own, huh?"

Shampoo nods, sniffs, then stands and puts her arms around him in a hug quite different from her old glomps. He pauses a moment, softens, and hugs her back. Akane nearby watches sadly, but the fire in her's gone out. Ranma pats Shampoo on the back and stands apart. "Say hi and thanks ta the Old Ghoul for me, huh? It was her spellbook that got me here, after all." She nods.

"Goodbye, airen." She sniffs and sits back down. Ukyou stands up and Ranma grins at her.

"Hey there onee-chan." He laughs. "I hope ya look after her well, Ucchan. I want ya to be happy, OK?"

Ukyou nods and grabs him in a hug. "Take care, sugar." She says softly into his chest. "You always did like to cause a lot of trouble, didn'tcha?"

Ranma laughs embarrassedly. "Yeah, well… Ya caused just as much. Take care a her for me, awright?"

Ukyou nods. "You bet, sugar. I'm gonna be the best big sis you ever saw." She says, then squeezes him one last time. "Goodbye, Ranchan." She sighs, then kisses his cheek and sits back down.

Ranma walks to the engawa. To Genma. "Hey Pop. You're a shitty father." Genma's face darkens but he finds himself unable to summon the anger to hit his son. Right at this moment, he realises why Ranko had brought him. "I mean jeez, the neko-ken is enough ta prove that. But somehow I still came out alright, I think."

"I… yeah." Genma says, his voice thick. "Sorry I wasn't so great."

Ranma nods. "Then I charge you to do better this time, Pop. Treat your daughter right and let her be her own woman. Else I'll have Ma gut ya, right? An' if they want you ta stay away, ya stay the fuck away, you hear?"

Genma swallows nervously. "Ah.. yeah." Ranma grins and suddenly Genma hugs him for the first time in years. He murmurs into his son's ear. "Ranma… I'm proud of you. I've always been proud of you. I just… I wanted you to know that, OK? Even when I couldn't say it, even when I wouldn't say it, I've always been proud to have you as my son."

"Aw jeez Pop, don't make me cry." Ranma sniffs a couple of times and pats his father roughly on the back. "See ya around, y'old fleabag." He moves apart and Genma's own eyes are shining as Ranma surreptitiously wipes his own eyes. He looks to his next person to speak to and finds the lost boy looking at him.

Ranma grins at Ryouga. "Hey pork breath." He laughs as Ryouga's face darkens. "I think a certain someone always knew ya secret and just used ya to mess with me to make me jealous, but ya really gotta come clean properly for both of their sakes, awright?"

Ryouga pauses in his anger and then breathes an explosive sigh. "I'll try," He laughs. "Asshole. As much as it pains me to admit, I'll miss you."

Ranma laughs. "Aw Ryouga, s'almost like ya care about me." He gives the lost boy a direct look and Ryouga for one dizzying moment realises that it's really not his Ranko talking but her old self. A message from him not her, that this whole scene probably was left there in her head, given so they could all have something resembling closure. One last gift to them all. It's so… so Ranma. His lip quirks. Asshole. "Ya take care of her, y'hear me Ryouga? Good care. She deserves ta be happy and so do you."

"I… I will, Ranma." Ryouga replies, throat suddenly thick.

"She's only now realisin' her feelin's, so ya gotta be gentle, alright? Not that you ain't been a perfect gent, but just… keep doin' whatcha doin' and I think stuff'll fall into place."

"I will." Ryouga repeats and then holds his own hand out. Ranma shakes it.

"S'been a privilege ta kick your ass from here to the other side'a Nerima all this time, Hibiki." Ranma says, grinning impudently.

"Likewise, Saotome. Are you prepared?" Ryouga asks. Ranma looks confused.

"Prepared for what, Pork Breath?"

"PREPARED TO DIE!" Ryouga roars and throws a bandanna that Ranma easily catches. The pigtailed boy laughs and hands it back.

"Gawd you're an asshole. I really don't know what she sees in you." He drawls. Ryouga grins and so does Ranma. "Well actually naw, I guess she's got good taste. Always did like bacon."

Ryouga thwaps him on the back of the head and Ranma grins as he moves away and approaches the final person there.

Akane looks at him, and he takes her hand, drawing her to her feet and embracing her. "Hey 'Kane. Thanks for today. It was probably the best few hours of my time as me." He leans to the side, and captures her lips again. She leans in, then against him.

"Ranma…" She breathes.

Both their eyes are filled with tears, but Ranma digs into his pocket and hands her a note he'd written before entering. "Give that to her 'Kane. She needs to read it. And be there for her. For me?"

Akane nods, choking out a sob and clutches onto his shirt like nothing else is holding her up. He keeps his arms around her. "I want you to move on, 'Kane." He says into her ear. "Don't sit and wait for me to come back. I won't. This is… momentary and I can feel it slippin' already. One last gift. I want you to look for love, find it, live and breathe it. Find a nice man or woman, settle down." He squeezes her tightly. "I don't wanna be an albatross about ya neck, OK? Don't stay stuck." His voice quietens. "Don't be like your dad." She nods into his chest and he smiles. "Good girl."

He gently sits the two of them down, Akane on his lap, arms about his neck his letter to Ranko clutched in her hand.

And he explains. He tells them of the chaos, and what he did. Why he did it. Why Ranko is not quite the same, but that same thought, that same promise they both made to protect the weak, to be kind. His feelings on being both male and female inside, never really fully one way, and how now he knows it's okay to feel like that, when before he thought he was broken somehow.

How proud he is everyone's move well enough to deal with Ranko.

When he's done, Ranma looks around at everyone and remembers something he'd heard on a TV show once while sitting with Nabiki on one of her western science fiction binges. The situation he'd seen on the screen strikes a chord with him now.

He'd be gone again soon, and someone else would walk away in his body. It'd still be him, but him viewed through a different lens, in a different mood. A different him. Well, a different her.

Ranma was never that good at words, so he figured why not use that man's words to try to get his thoughts across to his family before he left.

"It all just disappears don't it? Everythin' you are, gone in a moment like… breath on a mirror." He smiles cheekily. "Any moment now, she's a-comin'."

Nabiki snorts. "Alright, 'Doctor'."

Ranma laughs ruefully. "Nerd. But he was right. We really are all kinds of different people, all through our lives. And it's OK, it's good. Ya gotta keep movin' so long as you 'member everyone you were before."

He smiles softly at everyone, tears gathering in his eyes. "He had the right idea. I… She… We… won't forget one day of this. Not one moment. We'll always remember when Ranma was me."

Akane burrows her head into the crook of his neck and wails, and he shivers for a few moments, shuddering with sobs from his own throat. He tips Akane's face up and kisses her one last time, before he gently disengages her from his arms.

Remembering that show, he unbuttons his red silk shirt that he'd not worn since she'd turned up, and he puts it around Akane's shoulders, making to stand up. She grabs his hand. "P-please don't go." She says in a small voice. "P-please. I love you. Don't go."

He smiles at her, kisses her on the cheek and disengages her hand. "It's OK, 'Kane. You'll be OK. I know ya will. But I'm already slippin' away, and you don't wanna be holdin' me as I disappear." He takes her face in both his hands and kisses her one final time. "An' don't forget. Move on, 'Kane. Become everythin' I know ya can be."

Standing, he looks around at everyone, and gives one last confident smile at everyone. "Catch ya around, folks. Y'all take care of Ranko, awright?"

Nods, crying and other hurt movements answer him, and he reaches down for a glass of water. Sucking in a deep breath as the final dregs of the spell fade away, he pours it on herself.

And Saotome Ranma fades into light and memory.

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But not entirely. He's got one last thing to do for themself.

He walks about the pond in their dream world, smiling at the redheaded girl who's napping while waiting for him. He sits down next to her and puts an arm around her, waiting for her to wake up. He feels thin, stretched, like mozzarella on the verge of breaking from a pizza. He's bleeding light, and holding what's left of himself from the koban by a thread.

Ranko wakes inside her dreamspace and sees Ranma there. He grins easily at her and waggles his (partly see-through) fingers. "Hey kiddo. We gotta talk before I go."

Ranko stares. "You're…"

"Yep. All done. You'll get the memories unspoolin', eh, give take a couple of hours, though most of it's snugglin' an' smoochin' so maybe you want to not quite think of 'em."

Ranko blushes. "Akane?"

"Akane." He grins. She blanches but says nothing else while he helps her up and the two of them look at the version of themselves floating above the rock at moment of impact.

"Hey Ranko?" He asks. "You're happy, right? We're happy?"

Ranko plays with her hands. "…I… suppose. Yes. I don't… like us very much, but that's… I'm trying."

"Good." Ranma puts his arms behind his head. "I don't think you'll be doin' any Hiryu Shoten Ha's anytime soon, but then again, I don't think you'll be doin' Shi Shi Hokodan either."

Ranko nods. "I'm trying to see the good, Ranma."

"Nice. I hope we do. See the good. And tell Ryouga how we feel, awright?"

"I will." Ranko promises. He ruffles her hair.

"Ya know what though, kiddo?" Ranma asks, looking up at the moon. "I'm proud'a us. Of you. I know our future's in good hands." He puts an arm over her shoulder and draws her close. "I'd love ta stay around and watch, whisperin' in your ear when ya feel shitty, but I know that ain't gonna happen. Still, whatever you do, Ranko; good luck."

Ranko sniffles and nods. "Thank you. Though… it sounds strange since it's coming from us. Me. You. Why is it so complicated?"

"I told ya, Saotome luck. Always bad."

"Mine isn't…"

"Well, yeah, that's 'cause you're channelin' the Himura blood."

Ranko giggles. "I suppose so. Goodbye Ranma. Thank you for being me."

Ranma grins as the area turns to day and the falling figure finally lands in the pond. "Back atcha, Ranko."

Ranma dissolves into light. She doesn't quite know why, but she still watches the motes fly into the sky as the version of herself in the pond mumbles about her head hurting.

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Ranko opens her eyes to find herself in her tank top and trousers, confused as she's now standing in the middle of the room. She can sort-of remember everything that had happened and knows she'll remember properly later but right now she's confused and worried as everyone is staring at her.

"Um…" She looks. Sees everyone in the room looks upset. Blanches. "I… I…"

"That was…" Kasumi sniffles. Ranko looks around in horror.

"I'm sorry!" She says, looking down. "I d-d-didn't think it w-would…"

Ryouga, of all of them, stands and pulls Ranko down to sit down, then puts an arm about her shoulders. He doesn't say anything, his eyes are wet too, but he looks at her with such relief that she wonders what was said.

Akane, eyes still pouring tears, clutching the red silk shit around her like a lifejacket, clears her throat. "Ranko, I don't think you know. It was… it was beautiful." She takes in a long, shuddering breath. "All of it, all day, all of the time I had. I don't… I don't think I've ever had such a wonderful parting gift from anyone."

Nodoka smiles at her daughter. "I think I understand now why they're all so upset at his passing." She says, simply. "I don't know him. I'll never know my son. And that's okay, that's fine for me, because I have you. But I can see that core, that kindness running through him that runs through you. He said you're the same person, and in some respects, I can see that's true. But you're still different. To me, at least, dear." She nods.

Akane nods too. "It was terrible as well as wonderful, though."

Ranko looks at the floor. "I'm sorry." She says softly. "I didn't want to… I don't want to hurt people."

Kasumi kneels by her and pulls Ranko into a huge, keeping her close. "Ranko-chan, it's fine. It's good." Tears are still pouring from her own eyes. "I don't think you get it – to help us heal, we had to be hurt. We had to face Ranma and be forced to say goodbye. Else we'd be in limbo forever. And now." She holds up the polaroid photograph. "We have something for the butsudan."

Ranko sniffles, but manages not to burst into tears. "I'm still sorry."

"Don't be, sugar." Ukyou says, smiling at her sister. "It was the right thing to do. Right, Shamps?"

"Shampoo not mad at Ranko. Not even mad at idiot airen. Shampoo think was beautiful moment, but horrible too, but needed. Like lancing boil. Sometimes hurt come before heal." She smiles at Ranko. "As someone wanting to be doctor, Ranko should know this."

Ranko squirms, but still looks away, shame on her face.

Genma, sitting on the engawa, away from everyone and watching them all try to comfort Ranko who doesn't seem to be able to be comforted, sits up straighter suddenly. An idea occurs to him. He clears his throat and regrets it as several unfriendly pairs of eyes flick to him. He ploughs on. "I ah… Thank you, Ranko, for letting me be here. And say goodbye. But I think…" He frowns. "I think I've got an idea that might… I don't know, help. An ending to mark a new beginning is what tonight should be, right?" He sounds out. Ranko watches him think his idea to himself and sighs.

"Father, I think we both know how most of your ideas work out." She says, primly.

Genma shakes his head. "I know. I know that, and I can't… well. Anyway. We've had the ending. We've said goodbye, but we've not really said hello." He looks at Soun. "A new beginning. Like that first day…"

He looks around. No one's telling him to shut up and he senses he might have an opportunity to pay back some of what he owes his family. He starts to explain his plan to the incredulous stares of everyone around him.

Ranko watches and her eyebrows raise until he's finished and everyone else leans back. "Huh." Says Akane. "I wonder if it'll…"

Ranko shrugs. "I suppose we can try…" She says morosely.

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"Everybody ready?" Akane's voice carries through the hall of the Tendou house.

"Yes." Kasumi says, everyone else nodding along.

"Alright, Genma-san, go."

A panda runs down the hallway of the Tendou household, following a running Soun and Kasumi, a redhead in pink overalls over an orange blouse sitting on its forearm, hanging precariously.

"Father! You're scaring them!" She scolds the panda.

Akane, Nabiki, Shampoo, Ukyou, Ryouga and Nodoka watch as it stomps in and sets the redhead down gently, patting her on the head with a 'Growf' noise.

Soun stares as she clasps her hands in front of her, then bows low. "Wait… Are you…?"

She smiles embarrassedly. "Saotome Ranko. I'm very sorry about all of this trouble. My mother said I should be her, and Father here agreed."

Soun smiles and gives the girl a hug. "You're finally here!" He says, then with an arm on her shoulder her motions to his daughters. "These are my daughters, Kasumi." Kasumi gives a wave, "Nabiki," Nabiki just pops a bubble on her gum and grins. "And Akane." Akane gives a slight smile.

Ranko gives a polite bow. "I'm very pleased to meet you." She says, a shy smile on her face.

Soun beams at her. "You're welcome to call me Uncle Tendou, Ranko, as your father is practically my brother." She nods and he laughs loudly, "We even had this deal going on where when his son was born, he'd marry one of my daughters!" There's an intake of breath and someone shakes their head at him, but he just laughs. "However, you're a girl, Ranko and I wouldn't ask you to do that unless you were interested!" He claps her on the shoulder and everyone relaxes. "Make yourself at home, sweetheart. I want this to be as much your home as your mother's house."

Ranko sniffles and nods. "Thank you, Uncle Tendou."

Akane walks over and puts a hand on her arm. "Hey there! I understand you learned some self-defence against bullying, Ranko-chan. Can I see if I can give you some pointers in the dojo? I'm pretty good."

Ranko nods, and the two girls walk out over the engawa and to the dojo, where they both bow to the I Ro Ha sign.

Back in the house, the group relaxes and Nodoka chuckles. "I… think that actually worked." She says. Everyone else nods. "For once you had a good idea, Genma."

The panda is replaced by Genma and he coughs embarrassedly, not used to a crazy scheme actually working. "Well, we'll see. But sometimes a dumb plan can reset things." He moves back to his place from before, waiting on them to tell him to leave, or at least the best time to do so.

In the dojo the two girls bow to one another and Akane steps forward in a ready stance. "I'm not going to go easy on you, OK? I need to gauge your speed."

Ranko smiles. "Okay, but can it be to simple touches? I don't really like fighting."

Akane shrugs. "Sure, we can make a game of it! First to five pokes?"

Ranko nods and puts her hands behind her back, a small smile on her face. Akane charges her and strikes fast. Ranko just dodges to the side and pokes her arm.

It carries on for a few minutes, Akane occasionally getting Ranko on the arm or leg with a poke, Ranko mostly dodging. Eventually Akane calls it after Ranko pokes her in the back of the head a fifth time and mops her forehead with the sleeve of her gi.

"Whew!" She says to Ranko, who is also breathing a little hard as she sits on the ground. "You're really fast, Ranko-chan! I'd hate to be a guy picking on you!"

Ranko smiles back. "And you're very good, Akane-chan… I can call you that, right?"

Akane grins at her. "Sure you can. I'm glad you're a girl though. I'd hate to be beaten by a boy."

That small, fragile, shy smile is back on Ranko's face as Akane offers her a hand up. "Woof, I'm sweaty and tired after that, want to take a bath?"

Ranko falters a moment in her role. "I… can't take a bath with you, Akane-chan." She looks down. "…You know why."

Akane sighs and just pokes Ranko in the side. "We're not supposed to act like we know each other." She hisses. Then a little louder, "I don't actually. It can't be that bad right? Embarrassing birthmark maybe? It's not acne is it?"

Ranko twists her hands together. "I, um, I was cursed in China… hot water makes me turn into a boy. It's horrid until I can get cold water again!"

Akane pretends to be shocked, but then she shrugs as if it doesn't matter. "Well, you're still a girl inside, right?" Ranko nods. "Then it's OK. Besides, we'll just wash and not soak, or we'll just have a cooler bath. I'll scrub your back if you scrub mine!"

Akane takes Ranko's hand and leads her back to the house while they try to pretend no one else is watching.

Nabiki and Kasumi have bright smiles, and Nodoka looks relieved. Shampoo nods approvingly and makes for the furo herself, while Ukyou considers things until she as well heads to the bath. The four of them should talk together, clear the air, she thinks. If this is to be a day of new beginnings, then make it so.

"Well!" Kasumi says happily after the girls are all gone, her smile dazzlingly bright. "Who wants tea? I'm thirsty after all that performing!"

Ryouga looks up. "That was a really dumb idea." He says, but he laughs. "I'm glad it seemed to work."

Nodoka smiles at him. "Time will tell, Ryouga-kun."

In the bathroom the four girls share a cool bath by mutual assent. It's not the least cramped the furo has been but it's certainly a little closer than some of them might like. Ranko looks shyly down at the water. Akane had made it as warm as she dares but it's still not the most comfortable bath she's ever had.

Ranko wonders if she'll ever be free of that curse. She wants to enjoy hot baths again.

Shampoo is the first to speak up. "Ahh, should introduce ourselves since we pretending not know each other."

Akane's eyebrow raises as Ukyou nods. "Yeah, sugar, I've not seen Ranchan for more than ten years!"

Akane laughs softly, she knows what they're doing and she appreciates it.

"Well, as you guys heard out there; I'm Tendou Akane." She smiles. "I'm the heir to the Tendou school of Anything Goes Martial Arts."

Shampoo beams. "I am Xian Pu of the Joketsuzoku tribe. Strong fighter."

"Nice to meet you, Xian Pu." Akane smiles, "You sound like you're pretty good, we should spar sometime."

Shampoo grins. "Can call me Shampoo as sounds close enough. My Japanese not so good but getting better. Maybe Ranko-chan and Akane-chan teach me?"

Ranko smiles shyly. "I'd like that, Shampoo-chan. I'd love to learn about your people too, maybe you can teach me your language too?"

"It a deal!" Shampoo beams. Ukyou laughs and looks at the two.

"I'm Saotome Ukyou, and I run an Okonomiyaki restaurant. Me and Ranchan go way back, don't we sugar?"

Ranko nods happily. "We were best friends when we were little!" She says enthusiastically. "Ucchan makes the best okonomiyaki!"

"Well, sugar, now we're sisters. Your mother adopted me into the Saotome family to restore my honour. How's that for a slice of pancake?"

Ranko beams. "I never had a sister before…" She says warmly. Ukyou grins and splashes her.

"Oh, I'm sure I'll be an annoying older sister by a couple months for ya, sugar. You'll be complainin' like a proper little sis should be!" Ukyou laughs, "If you're not, I'm doin' the big sister thing wrong!"

Ranko giggles and Akane laughs too. She nudges Ranko. "I can teach you the proper way to be an annoying little sister, too." She says, "Trust me, I've got loads of practice. She'll hate your guts when I'm done with you!"

They all laugh and Ranko speaks up. "I'm… I'm Saotome Ranko. I've got a little experience in martial arts," There's general giggling, "But I'm not really interested in it. I just want to be able to live my life and fall in love, get married and have a family."

Akane smiles at her and Ranko carries on.

"I'm um, I have a curse. If I'm touched by hot water I turn into a boy. It's really embarrassing and happens at the worst possible times. It's my fault we're in a…cold… bath…"

She turns to look at Shampoo who is sat there nodding along. Everyone else does too. "What? Something on Shampoo's face?"

"How are you in the bath without transforming into a c-c-c…" Akane puts her hand on Ranko's shoulder. Shampoo shrugs.

"Is just waterproof soap." She says. Then her eyes grow round and she grabs Ranko's arm, splashing out of the bath and taking her to the washing area excitedly, the redhead yelling in surprise as she's practically horizontal with the speed Shampoo moves at. "Akane put hot water into furo!" The amazon calls back, "Ranko and Shampoo be right back!"

Akane does so as Shampoo and Ranko disappear through the shouji to the laundry area where Shampoo had left her things, Shampoo chattering happily.

Ukyou laughs. "I'd forgotten that was a thing." She says, then looks around as the tub warms up. "Ahhh, that's so much better." She smiles at Akane. "Ain't this been nice? None of us are fightin' and we all have our own piece of the new Ranchan without hurtin' anyone. And we got to say goodbye too."

Akane nods. "I'm glad this weird… dumb and downright bizarre idea of her dad's seems to have worked. It really feels like, you know, an actual new beginning." She sighs sadly. "I still miss him, but Shampoo was right."

"Wasn't she just? That gal's way cleverer than she lets on." Ukyou shrugs. "I'm glad. I was getting' sick of the fighting."

"Me too." Admits Akane, "I still feel bad for how I treated her. No one deserves that."

"You were grievin'." Ukyou says gently. "We all grieve in our own way, and you've always expressed yourself in anger."

"I'm glad I'm getting help with that. I shouldn't let my temper rule me."

"Hey, good for you!" Ukyou says. "…You know; I miss him too. But I'm just glad she's here. And… It didn't end up how I'd imagine it, but I've got my honour back and my old man can go suck it. I'm Saotome Ukyou now and if being adopted as Ranchan's sister ain't good enough for him? I don't care. I'm happy. I got a family, I got a sister, I got good friends and I got my restaurant. Fuck that guy."

"Yeah…" Akane nods and the two spend a moment in companionable silence before the other two girls reappear, Ranko looking extremely nervous. Shampoo speaks to her softly the whole time while they walk, leading her by the hand until the two of them stand before the steaming furo.

"Will be okay, Ranko." Shampoo encourages. "Even if not work, we know you girl inside. We just put cold water on you to turn to true form again."

"Yeah, sugar! Go for it!" Ukyou cheers. Akane just smiles at Ranko as the nervous girl looks right into her eyes and she just gives a nod.

Ranko dips her toe, then her leg and finally steps in, shaking the whole time, her eyes closed and expecting the tingle and whoosh of the transformation. But nothing happens and she opens her eyes to see her petite hands and her true form sitting in the bath. She smiles broadly as Shampoo climbs in next to her and then the other three girls give her a hug.

"See sugar, that wasn't so bad." Ukyou says. "And if you'd transformed, we'd just put cold water on you. It ain't like you're really a boy."

Ranko looks down and nods, that same fragile smile on her face as the four of them relax and start chatting about more inane things like school.

Akane sits back and relaxes happily. Next to her, Ranko dozes quietly, not quite asleep but definitely not really awake. The day must have tired her out. It's tired Akane out, all that emotion, that pain, that healing.

It's a pity it can't go on all night – just… hanging out with everyone here has been the most relaxing thing she's had in… She can't remember the last time.

Wait… it can go on all night!

She sits up and Ranko lets out a surprised 'mou' as her pillow, namely Akane's shoulder, is moved quickly. She rubs her cheek and eyes and Shampoo and Ukyou both laugh at her sleepiness before Akane beams and points at the other two. "I have a great idea!" She enthuses.

Ranko keeps rubbing her eyes sleepily while the other two look to Akane. "Whatcha got brewin' in ya head, sugar?" Ukyou asks. Akane grins and motions at the once-again dozing Ranko and mouths the words 'slumber party in the dojo' at them.

Both girls brighten up. "Heck yeah!" Ukyou says and Shampoo nods.

"Shampoo go home, get night clothes, tell Great-Grandmother." The purple-haired girl jumps out of the bath and Akane snickers as she calls after.

"Don't forget to get dressed before you leave, Shampoo!"

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A/N: Whew, two chapters in one night!

And so an ending to mark a new beginning. Now we're on the far edge of fate and finally, finally I'm going to take my reward and write some FLUFF.