Sun in my eyes and the gold coast shining,
And the girl with the braids in her hair.
Steady breeze and oh I was falling,
I would follow her anywhere.
The sky turned grey in a flash flood warning,
She smiled and she took my hand.
She kissed my lips and the rain came pouring,
Swore I heard a marching band.
- WeMoveForward by The Midnight
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Ranma nuzzles in the oversized turtleneck jumper that Ukyou had given her earlier when she'd noticed her new sister shivering a little. It's far too big for the petite redhead, the arms go way over her hands and it's more like a dress on her than a jumper.
She loves it though; it's soft and warm and when she's embarrassed, she can hide her face. And she's been embarrassed a lot tonight by her evil, evil friends.
The atmosphere is almost festive, and Ranko wonders at that. After the events of the day culminating in a group of farewells and then the bath, she feels like this could almost be a wake of sorts for her old self.
Her friends tell stories of Ranma, not really noticing that she's there and squirming in embarrassment at half of them. They laugh at some of her reactions and at other times they shake their heads and ask what on earth had been going through his head.
It's strangely heartwarming for them to treat her like this – like someone else, someone new. As if Ranma was her older sibling or something rather than a version of her she can still remember how it felt to be him.
The others are currently arguing whether they should play an American game, something called 'spin the bottle' or the king game and as to which one would be more appropriate. Shampoo is arguing for the bottle, but Ukyou's trying to defend her homeland's honour by stating the king game is far superior to any dumb foreign version. Naturally this doesn't go down well with the Chinese girl, who challenges Ukyou to a spar.
Ranko scoots back away from them, sitting next to Akane who's looking the two combatants over with an entertained expression. She puts her arms around Ranko almost automatically when the redhead sits next to her. "Hey Ranko, you OK? I know we're maybe being a bit much."
Ranko shakes her head as Ukyou leg sweeps Shampoo, knocking her to the ground. "No, it's fine. It's nice, in a way, even if those stories still feel embarrassing. I suppose I'll never not feel strange about it all."
Akane nods and sighs, keeping a hold of Ranko as Shampoo vaults to her feet and delivers a kick to Ukyou's sternum that makes them both wince. Ukyou flies back to land on her feet and bounces in place, a little winded.
"That's alright then." She looks at Ranko as the two girls get into a grapple that turns into an impromptu tickle fight. Over the squealing and laughing, Akane sighs softly. "What did you do with the coins and the koban? I had an idea… if you'd like."
"Hmm?" Ranko murmurs sleepily. The warmth of the jumper along with the cuddling from Akane is lulling her to sleep. "Oh, I have them, and his letter in my bag."
Akane bites her lip. "We're going to put that last photo on the butsudan next to Mom." She says into Ranko's ear. "I thought maybe… we could get an… urn or something, put those last things in and put them next to Mom's ashes."
Ranko tenses up. She looks to Akane, whose eyes are filled with a deep pain and she turns, wrapping her own arms about the short-haired girl. Akane lets her, but she's not crying, she's just sitting there breathing softly. Ranko smiles at her. "I'd like that." She says.
The tickle fight is broken up by a shadow on the entrance to the dojo where the four girls are. It's Genma, and Ranko eyes him. He looks tired and sad. He'd stuck around to the edge after Ranma's goodbye, and they'd at least fed him some food. He'd even shed some tears more than once, though no one moved to comfort him besides Soun, and even then it was half-hearted at best. They'd had a single game of shougi but it hadn't seemed the same.
It was like someone had punctured a hole in Genma after Ranma had told him goodbye.
Ranko stands and walks to the entrance. "I'm going." Her father says without any preamble. "I just wanted to see if you'd mind… walking me to the gate." He seems nervous, which is extremely unusual for him. Ranko is about to say no, when she catches sight of the look in his eyes and she sighs inwardly.
"Certainly, father." She says. She steps out of the dojo with him and they cross the covered path and back into the house. She changes into her slip-on shoes as Genma changes into his own and, surprising herself, she takes his arm as they walk the path.
Genma clears his throat. "I ah." He starts, then looks down. "I uh… wanted to apologise, Ranm-ko." She winces but lets him carry on. "I know… It's not forgivable, what I've done. And I know you won't want anything to do with me."
"Father…" She says softly. He shakes his head and carries on.
"But I do want you to know that if you ever need me. For anything at all, I'll be there when you do."
Ranko sighs and lets go of his arm at the gate. "Father, it will take a long time for me to forgive you. If I do at all. I can see you've tried but trying alone isn't good enough." He winces and she presses on. However, you are my father and there are certain bonds of blood that cannot be denied as much as perhaps I'd like." He winces again. "If you atone for all the wrongs you've comitted over the years, if you try to be better and I know you are… Perhaps we can meet again as father and daughter. And perhaps I will see you occasionally to… check in."
Genma lowers his head. "I suppose that's the best I can hope for, and more than I deserve. Thank you, daughter."
She leans up to peck him on the cheek. "You are still my father, even if you are ronin. Thank you for the idea you had earlier. If you do more things like that, well… Perhaps we can talk to one another faster than I think we will."
He nods, putting a hand to his cheek, then turns away. "Alright." He says. "Goodbye, Ranko."
"Goodbye, Father." Ranko says softly, watching him go. She feels complicated emotions churning through her on watching his shuffling gait. Annoyance, cold anger, some hate she feels a little ashamed at the intensity of.
Hate is always foolish.
Sighing, she bundles her hands deep into the sleeves of Ukyou's jumper (though she's definitely stealing it from her sister sometime) and makes her way along the path. She stops as something occurs to her.
Ranko looks onto the engawa first, hearing happy conversation from the family room, but her prey isn't there. Padding up the stairs, she turns to the balcony off Akane's room and spots Ryouga, looking up at the sky. Giggling voices come from the dojo and she smiles fondly at the happy noises of her friends.
"Here you are."
Ryouga turns around from his musing to see Ranko walking over to the balcony. She smiles at him, and he smiles back. The jumper she's wearing is like a dress draped on her form and he finds it suits her in a way he can't describe but which sends a flutter through his chest. "Hi, Ranko."
She joins him on leaning on the railing and looking at the sky. She sighs forlornly.
"Hundred yen for your thoughts." Ryouga says, leaning down next to her and looking at her with those lovely chocolate brown eyes.
"As if I'd sell for so little." Ranko smiles. "I have it on good authority from Nabiki-nee-chan that my thoughts are worth at least a thousand-yen per."
"Ha! More than that, I'd say. But perhaps I could have a friends and family discount?"
Ranko giggles, then her expression turns sad. "I was just thinking about Father."
"I heard you leading him out."
"Yes…" Her knuckles go white as she grips the railing. "I feel… all sorts of things. He's my father but… I hate him. But I don't. I shouldn't. Because hate is always…"
"'…foolish, and love is always wise'?" Ryouga asks. She stares.
"Y-yes… How did y-you…?"
He holds up an envelope. "He took the time apparently while waiting for Akane, to write me a letter. Everyone, a letter. But at the top of mine was that exact quote."
Ranko blushes. "He really l-liked it. S-so do I." She stammers. Ryouga turns to look at her, and she looks up into those eyes she's grown to like so much. "A-ah…" She says, eyes flicking back and forth nervously. He goes slightly red too, looking into her eyes.
"What's up?" He asks, trying to sound nonchalant and failing.
She smiles shyly at him while he tries to rebuild his composure, both of them are bright red, though she's managing somehow not to look away. "Um, I…" She says, breath catching. She remembers the words. "A-and… I r-really like you, R-Ryouga." She finishes, her hands wringing around one another. "I-I… Would you l-like to go on a d-d-d-date s-soon?" She manages to say it all in a rush.
Ryouga stares at her dumbly, a smile on his face that he's not sure when it appeared, but he can't get rid of it either. And it's kind of goofy. He manages to pull some of his mind together. "I uh… S-sure. W-when?"
"Um… I s-suppose n-next Saturday evening?"
"Um. A-alright. W-we could g-go for a w-walk or s-s-something after sch-school t-tomorrow as w-well to… t-talk?"
Ranko plays with her fingers a little. "A-alright." She says.
Ryouga leans forward and she closes her eyes expecting the kiss, but she feels his lips brush her cheek instead. "I-it's a d-d-date then." He says, trying to sound casual. Ranko goes bright red, a hand to her cheek. Heat fills her face, and she stares into his brown eyes with her blue.
Ryouga swallows as he looks down at her and smiles at her flustered state. She turns around, embarrassed and leans on the railing again. So does he, and his head's level with hers when lightning fast she turns around, puts her arms around the back of his neck and kisses him softly, shyly on the lips.
It's a chaste kiss, though a long one, and she's flushed and breathing heavily by the end of it, more out of embarrassment than passion, but she keeps her arms around the back of his neck as he opens his eyes and looks into her blue ones. "I… R-Ranko?" He squeaks. She smiles at him, leans forward and kisses him again.
She stays there, their faces inches apart, both of their minds a-whirl until a wolf whistle, some clapping and a few cheers from the dojo interrupt the two of them and they both go absolutely, one hundred percent as red as Ranko's hair.
"Woo! Go go my imouto!" Ukyou hollers and they look down to see the three other girls standing on the dojo steps cheering up at them. More wolf whistles come at them. "Do it again!"
The two beat a hasty retreat from the balcony, Ryouga following her down the stairs. She takes his hand shyly as they escape the evil laughter of their friends and squeezes. He squeezes back, and the two of them enter the family room. Ranko leaves Ryouga there and sighs, knowing she has to return to her friends.
Her evil, evil friends, who tease her mercilessly, but each one of them offers her a congratulatory hug on finally asking Ryouga out.
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The walk after school, it turns out, isn't anything overly romantic. But it's nice to just spend some time walking together. Towards the end she manages to take his hand and they stay that way all the way home.
When they get home, letting a chorus of "Tadaima!" To Nodoka, Ranko and Ryouga find that Ukyou's there, still in her gakuran and munching on a bowl of snacks.
"Hey there Ranchan, Ryouga." She grins knowingly. "Good walk, lovebirds? Get some good snogging in?"
Ranko goes red and stalks off, muttering about annoying older sisters to herself and Ryouga watches her. "So, you've got that down pat then." He says, nervously rubbing the back of his head. Ukyou grins.
"I broke her 'fancy lady' mode, I'd say I'm doing good as an annoying older sis." She laughs. "I think it was the blue lines to your room, sugar."
He nods. "Thanks."
Ukyou waves him off and he makes his way. Nodoka comes out of the kitchen, tutting at her daughter. "Ukyou, dear, please don't tease them too badly. You know how shy Ranko is and poor Ryouga-kun certainly seems bashful."
Ukyou grins at her new mother. "Aw, Mom, don't sweat it. I'm only teasin' light. She can take it."
Nodoka shakes her head as she sits down. "Well, at least they finally did something about it. I suppose I should speak to Xian Pu to give Ranko the run down."
"The run down of what, Mother?" Ranko asks as she emerges into the family room in some denim shorts and a ruffled blue sleeveless blouse.
"Oh, I wanted Xian Pu to talk to you about womanly things, dear. I know youngsters like yourself can be very funny about such things being taught by an adult."
Ranko goes red. "Mother!" she cries, aghast. "We have some education about those things at school!"
"Well, I'm sure she can give you at least better advice, dear."
Ranko sighs as she sits down next to Ukyou. "Alright Mother, fine. I'll talk to Jiějiě. B-but I do kn-know how it all… w-w-works, Mother. I'm n-not that young."
Nodoka nods. "Well, I suppose you are of an age when you at least have had your menarche." Ranko blinks. Ukyou looks sharply at her a moment.
"Ya have, right sugar?"
"What's that?" Ranko asks.
Nodoka looks at her daughter and shakes herself. "Your first period, dear." She says gently. Ranko blanches slightly, but then looks thoughtful.
"Hmm. No, no I don't think I have, Mother." She says. "I think the curse resets every t-time I transform. A-and I've never spent a f-f-full month… E-even with th-the c-c-c-c-… tongue thing Great Grandmother did I was still t-transforming with h-hot water, it w-w-was just v-very painful."
"…I see." Nodoka says. "So as long as you have your curse you won't have them…"
"Lucky gal." Ukyou mutters. "I wouldn't mind auntie flo skippin' out on visitin' me, that's for sure."
Ranko shakes her head. "I suppose… It's j-just another w-way I'm d-d-different I suppose." She says, a tinge of bitterness in her voice. Her head snaps up. "O-oh. Oh no…" She whispers, looking pale, a hand to her mouth.
"What is it, dear?" Nodoka asks.
"…I-if I r-reset a c-cycle when I ch-change back… I c-can't have any ch-children… w-what if I t-transform while c-c-carrying?" Ranko looks near tears and Ukyou puts an arm around her.
Nodoka smiles at her daughter sadly. "Dear, I think the best person to ask isn't here. Elder Kuh Lon should be able to assist and answer your questions."
"Yeah, sugar, I'd bet there's been plenty'a people like you who wanted kids." Ukyou says soothingly, rubbing her sister's back. "You'll be fine. Tell ya what. Let's go visit the Old Ghoul tomorrow night? You make your way after school or somethin'. Or give her a call right now, you know how she likes gossipin' to you."
Ranko nods, relief flooding through her. If anyone knew about how Jusenkyo curses worked with bearing children, it would be Great Grandmother. And she might know more methods of locking her curse so she didn't change.
She stands and goes over to the phone, picking it up and setting a call to the Nekohanten.
Ukyou looks over at her sister, then back at her mother. "She's awful set on havin' babies." Ukyou comments. Nodoka smiles at her.
"If you can believe, daughter, it's not my doing. I haven't even given her the 'I want grandchildren' speech yet." She titters. "By the way, daughter, I want grandbabies sometime."
Ukyou laughs. "Not a lotta chance'a that, Mom, I might end up with a gal instead of a guy."
"Adopt then." Nodoka says, tittering. "I care not whence the babies come, only that they do. I have duties to uphold." She beams. "I want grandkids so I can spoil them."
Ukyou stares at her mother and then bursts into a fit of giggles.
Ranko returns from her phone call, looking confused but relieved. She waits for the mirth to die down before speaking. "Great-Grandmother says that Jusenkyo victims can indeed carry to term." She says, smiling. "And that the curse locks during. She also mentioned she's already researching ways of locking, and has ordered some casks of the Nyannīchuan water as I'd asked her to for some… friends." She pinks. "Friends like me."
Ukyou smiles gently, she knows at least one person that Ranko's referring to.
"Anyway, she says that I'm right about it resetting the cycle when I transform, so if I can fully stop then I should be fine." She sighs in relief. "Thank goodness."
"So ya really wanna have babies sometime, imouto-chan?" Ukyou asks. "Ain't that a bit stereotypical?"
Ranko flushes but has a small smile on her face. "I just… I do. Not because it's expected, but I just… I don't know. I just do. The idea of carrying a life within me… I just. I like it." She shrugs.
Ukyou smiles. "Well, I'll support ya when you do, but maybe leave off until you're a full doc hey? Takes a while to get all the stuff done for that and getting' preggers'll probably put a crimp in that."
Ranko nods. "Oh, I know onee-chan. I just… Better to be prepared. Oh…" She looks confused. "Great-grandmother asked if the two of us could come along tomorrow evening anyway as she has some very high ranking guests we might be able to help. Something to do with both of our 'situations', she said."
Ukyou shrugs. "Alright." She says.
"She also said to dress nicely. So… Another night in furisode." Ranko makes a face. "I always wanted to and now I'm ending up in them constantly. I suppose I should be careful what I wish for."
Nodoka laughs. "I'm sure that will die down soon, daughter." She says. "And you can enjoy formal dress again soon."
Ranko nods. "I hope so."
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"Are you ready?" Ranko asks her sister as the two walk down the street. "I wonder why Great-Grandmother asked for you to bring sarashi and your boy's clothes. Very odd."
Ukyou nods. She, as well as Ranko, is in her formal furisode and the two of them have made an especial effort. Cologne had called again earlier that night as Ranko had arrived at Ucchan's and had stressed the need to be polite as it was visiting royalty she'd convinced to stay a night for help. "I'm good, sugar. Got all the stuff the Old Ghoul asked for."
Ranko nods and wonders what's going on. She reaches the dark restaurant and snickers. "It looks like neither you nor they will have business tonight. I hope Great-Grandmother knows what she's asking of you."
"Oh, Kona-chan knows her way around the place well enough for Ucchan's to still be open, and that friend of yours from school came by – Hibari was it? Yeah, Hibari, she's waitressin'."
"Oh dear." Ranko grimaces. "As long as Konatsu-chan can keep her from getting grabby I suppose Hibari-chan would be a cute waitress."
Ukyou laughs. "Ah, the two of them seem to be thick as thieves. Ever since you met up with me that time after school and I brought you and your friends okonomiyaki she's been poppin' up."
Ranko smiles softly. "That's nice." She says, reaching out to the door and knocking.
Cologne opens it and ushers the two inside, before locking the door again and motioning for the two to follow her.
"Are you alright, Great-Grandmother?" Ranko asks politely.
Cologne spares her a smile. "Yes, child, I'm fine. Though it has been trying this last night. My guest himself is somewhat on edge, but he at least is polite. His retainers on the other hand are something of a handful. I've had to subdue the two of them lest they assault people in broad daylight." She shakes her head. "What on earth are the youth of today up to?"
Ranko bites her lip, worried. "Are we meeting someone important?"
"Yes, child. It will be a prince. As I said, he's on edge but polite, so please try not to pick any fights. However, I know the two of you will empathise with his… issue, which is why I asked for you. But please, he is brusque and can be haughty. As all princes are, I suppose." She cackles to herself. "Stay strong but polite, I think is the best way. If nothing else, he reminds me of Ranma all ego and machismo."
Ranko blushes at her memories, but then smiles. "I think I can handle that. I'm not so hung up on things as he was."
"And thank the stars for that." Cologne says.
The elder leads them into the back rooms where they find a hooded figure in fine robes sitting at a table. Ranko and Ukyou pause at the entrance and Ranko gives the figure a formal saikeirei. "Greetings, your highness." She says politely. "I am Saotome Ranko."
"Saotome Ukyou." Ukyou says, giving a bow as well. The two of them make their way over and the figure regards them.
Cologne clears her throat. "Girls, this is Prince Herb of the Musk. We of the Joketsuzoku had thought that tribe extinct. However, he is proof that they are not. Prince Herb, these are the help I thought would be able to give you some perspective on your… predicament."
"These two women?" The figure asks incredulously. "Really?" His voice is harsh, condescending and somewhat higher pitched than the sisters expect. They look at each other a moment, before returning to look at the prince.
"Indeed, Prince Herb. I would ask you be more civil with them. Both have a good perspective and potential to help you in your predicament. Would you please remove your hood? Ranko. I'm afraid you will need to demonstrate."
Herb starts to protest but is shut up with a look, though he leans back and grumbles about nosey old women.
Ranko sighs. "Of course, Great Grandmother." She says. "Ucchan, can you loosen my obi?"
Ukyou does so and she watches as Herb looks on in interest as Cologne dumps some hot water over the girl.
Instantly she's in her male form, shivering and trying not to let the grey overwhelm her. Herb sits back with a curse, again in that almost-soprano voice so similar to Ranko's own. She nods. "I am cursed by Jusenkyo…" She says, somewhat pointlessly.
"I… can see that." Herb's tone is a mixture of horrified, interested and… somehow commiserating. He looks her over and then watches as she pours cold water on her head, instantly relaxing as her sister re-tightens her obi. The relief on her face is palpable, the pain that had been in her eyes so close to his own.
"Now, Prince Herb, do you see why I said they can understand?"
"…Yes." The prince's words sound dragged out, as if he's unwilling to admit. He reaches up and pulls his hood down. A pretty face appears, framed by two-toned hair, and Ranko instantly recognises the way he's holding himself.
"…Oh." She says, putting a hand to her mouth. "I see, your Highness." She bows low. "I'm so sorry this happened to you."
Ukyou looks between them. "I'm a bit lost, sugar." She comments. Ranko motions.
"His Highness is suffering from a Jusenkyo curse." She says. Herb stiffens and is about to speak, no doubt something cutting, when Ranko interrupts. "I can see his dysphoria, how much it's paining him. How horrible."
Herb starts. "Dys…phoria?" He asks, the word seeming to make him, well, not relax, but certainly calm down a little. He's still obviously taut like a wire though.
"Yes." Ranko nods, "It's a term usually used by people who are transgender. However in our cases it's because of our curses. Myself when I am in my boy-form, and you when you are… so." She motions. "For me it's like… everything's grey, and wrong and sort of… shifted out of place."
Herb nods, his eyes coming alive. "Y-yes!" He says. "That's what it's like! I thought I was going mad…" He sighs. "I've been very rude at times because it's just… overwhelming me. It's all the time. Like ants all over my skin."
Ranko sighs. "I'm so sorry, Your Highness. But… why not use hot water?"
Herb's eyes flash and then he masters himself, sighing. He can't get angry at this girl who seems to have cut to the meat of the matter and given him a word for the horrible feelings he's had since Jusenkyo. Even for a haughty and arrogant prince (and he's at least self-aware enough to realise that's what he is) there are limits to being rude. "It began with the Locking Ladle." He says.
Herb explains his people's history, and his own recent one in bitter, angry tones. He tells the sisters and Cologne how he had gone to Jusenkyo to view a woman for the first time, as his people are removed from their mothers once weaned. He tells them of putting a monkey in the spring and then being distracted by its body, so much so the monkey pushed him in.
Emerging in his female form, jumping out and the monkey splashing him with the Locking Ladle. As he talks, Ranko's heart goes out to the prince. Whenever he talks, he's clearly haughty, arrogant, a lot like Ranma had been, but at the same time that wounded, hurt nature after being stuck in a body he hates resonates with her. His story of his upbringing makes Ranko sad for some reason and gives her a pang of sympathy that she can understand how he feels. Then she realises; she too had been without her mother most of her life.
She doesn't wish that on anyone, though it seems like half of her friends and family have the same issue.
Herb finds his hands being taken by the dainty girl in front of him with red hair. The hair, so similar to that damned monkey, almost causes him to yell at her, but the compassionate look in her sparkling blue eyes stills his rage. "I'm sorry, your Highness. I'm so sorry you're stuck in that body." She shakes her head. "If I were stuck as a boy I would… I'd be very unhappy too. I don't know how I'd deal with it for so long."
Herb looks away, ashamed of his weakness and she squeezes his hands. "Your Highness, I think I know why Great Grandmother summoned the two of us here." She casts a glance to Cologne. "I can give empathy, as well as some advice on possibly dealing with this in a healthier way than getting angry all of the time. It can't be good for your image as a prince to lash out."
"It isn't." Herb says softly. "Even for a dragon, there are limits to rudeness."
Ranko nods. "And my sister… well, she is well-versed in… Ucchan, can you show him? You brought all your things right?" Ukyou nods. Ranko turns back to Herb who looks confused. "You'll see." She smiles. "May I sit while she changes?"
Herb nods as the petite redhead lets his hands go and sits next to him. Cologne stays quiet nearby, though there's a pride in her eyes as she watches Ranko talk soothingly to the prince.
"So, the first thing you have to remember: in every form you are in, you are you. You are Prince Herb of the Musk, and there is no one that can take that away from you." She smiles. "I have to think the same when I am forced into my boy form." Herb nods. Ranko's smile widens. "My therapist has experience with other transgender individuals, so she's given me some methods to cope. They don't always work the best, but they at least calm me down and let me think."
Herb nods again, looking sullen. She shakes her head. "Your Highness, you could at least talk. Please?"
"Fine." Herb snaps, his tone cold and angry. Then he sighs and runs a hand down his face. "My apologies, Lady Ranko, that was unbecoming." At her titter he looks at her. "What?"
"Oh, just 'Lady Ranko'. I know my mother's family is high ranked, but I'd never expected to be called so. Thank you. It's very complimentary." Her smile is bright, and Herb looks away, blushing. He coughs nervously.
"Well, you at least deserve it for your kind treatment of this cursed personage." He mutters.
Ranko shakes her head. "You apologised, and that is enough. It isn't like you struck, insulted or assaulted me."
"Any of which would have been a poor decision." Cologne interjects, and Herb flushes in anger, before cooling off again. "You're about three hundred years too young, sonny-boy." She says, stressing the pronouns.
Herb actually manages a smile. "Thank you, Elder."
Ranko nods. "And that's another lesson. Take the validation where you can, and never, ever let go of who you are. Trust me on this."
Herb looks over at Ranko, about to ask when a boy walks into the room dressed in a formal shirt and black slacks. "Hey." He says in a low voice. Long hair is tied back, and he grins easily. Ranko blushes at the sight. She'd forgotten how handsome Ukyou could be.
Herb stares incredulously. He turns to Ranko, then back to Ukyou, then to Ranko again. "Lady Ranko, please don't tell me that's Lady Ukyou. It's certainly her chi."
Ranko giggles. "It is, Your Highness." She says. "That's why Great Grandmother called her in. I think she can teach you to hide this curse and bind everything away to give you some semblance of your normal life."
Herb looks enviously at the dashing, handsome Ukyou in front of him and nods as she winks. "Hell yeah, Prince." She says. "Always happy to help someone like my sis out, even if it's kinda in reverse."
Herb shakes his head, looking a little overwhelmed. The cold haughtiness seems to have blown out of him, leaving a tired boy in pain sitting there. Rank takes one of his hands. "Your Highness, I'm glad you decided to stay and accept help. But you mentioned… This Locking Ladle?"
Herb nods. "It's… a relic of my people. They used it to lock a Jusenkyo curse to the cursed form." Ukyou gasps and looks at her sister. "I seek another old artifact – the Kettle of Liberation. It can undo what the Locking Ladle has done."
"And I can guide you to it. I'm glad I didn't tell you before you met these two." Cologne smiles. "Once they're done with you, we'll wake your idiots and bundle you three out to go and fetch it."
Herb nods and actually smiles at the elder. Suddenly he bows low, though he grimaces the whole time. "Thank you, Elder, for teaching this idiot prince the lesson to possibly listen to his elders and others. Sometimes, at least, they are worth listening to."
Cologne waves him off. "Oh, be quiet, sonny-boy, I don't like seeing people suffer. I see it enough in the children here, never mind you."
Herb straightens and still has that odd smirking smile on his face. Ranko clears her throat. "So… Ah…"
"What is it, Lady Ranko?" Herb asks.
"The um… The Locking Ladle?" She asks. He nods.
"What of it?"
"H-have you… um… Got it… with you?" She asks, the last words coming out in a rush.
"Yes, it helps me locate the Kettle." Herb sounds confused. Ranko looks at the floor. Ukyou picks up on her sister's distress.
"Ah, Prince? I think she's asking, terribly, I might add, if you can use it on her."
Herb eyes the girl next to him. "But she hates being a boy?" He asks, confused. "Surely locking her in that form would be as bad as my situation now?" Ranko looks down, ashamed and he looks more confused. "Lady Ranko, what is going on?"
Ranko grips her furisode and sighs. "I hate that I have to tell this story again."
Herb's eyebrows raise as she takes in a breath and starts talking. She doesn't tell the whole truth, more a heavily-edited-yet-not-a-lie version of her life and recent events. She leaves out the regeneration spell, or the pond trauma, and a few other things, and Herb can tell she's leaving some things out but lets her get on. His face darkens the longer the tale goes on, and at the end he looks like a thundercloud.
"That is… quite the tale." He says once she's done. Ranko looks into his angry face, and then looks away.
"Sorry." She says.
"What for?" The angry face changes to a confused one.
"You looked… angry." She says miserably. He softens.
"Lady Ranko, that was not at you, but at those who treated you poorly. It would be hypocritical of me to insult someone who has the same feelings I have, even if they are the opposite way around, and mine caused by magic. By merely giving this… dysphoria… a name, you've put to rest in my mind worries that the curse would take me over."
Ranko looks at him and smiles. "Th-thank you, Your Highness." She says. "I still have other things to give you for that, some ways to think, and perhaps just ways to make sure you stay calm and in control, and confident that you are you."
Herb laughs for the first time since they've met and shakes his head. "You certainly have bedside manner better than my own doctor already, Lady Ranko. I assume Lady Ukyou can teach me the art of appearing a boy on the outside as well as the inside while I am like this?"
Ranko nods. "I hope so."
Cologne watches the three and smiles. Thank the heavens she'd managed to subdue his idiots and make him wait for her wonderful sort-of-grandkids. At least there weren't any fights – gods, if Ranma had still been here…
She shakes her head. There'd be macho posturing, made worse by both their curses, then there'd be yelling and Ranma would probably get locked and go on a stupid adventure after the prince. With these two as they are, they might be able to teach this arrogant boy some humility as well as how to deal with his curse.
Ranko and Ukyou spend a few hours with Prince Herb. Ukyou shows him how to bind his breasts down with the sarashi and how to alter the cut of clothing to distract away from them. She give shim lessons on moving like a boy with his different hips and instructs him on lowering his voice.
Ranko's contribution isn't as physical but is no less potent. She gives him advice that her own therapist had given her on dealing with dysphoria when in the wrong form. On dealing with her own self-esteem issues (though admittedly for her it's a constant uphill struggle while Herb reminds her of Ranma with an easily bruised ego that can deflate), and she offers advice on how to maintain inside that He is Him, and He is Prince Herb of the Musk and no one else. Not 'Princess', Prince. She teaches him that if any of his subordinates or others he approaches misgender him, that the first recourse is to tell them he is not a woman. Only if they give grievous insult or consistently do so should the result be anger.
Herb snorts. Mint and Lime will probably end up getting beaten at some point anyway.
By the end of the impromptu 'how to be a guy' session run by two women, which he finds supremely ironic, Herb's confidence seems to be back, at least mostly and walking around the Nekohanten with a sure step and his face free of the cowl. Ranko and Ukyou, the latter back in her furisode, though sans makeup now, smile brightly as he comes to a stop in front of them. He doesn't look like a haughty prince right now, even with his cocky smirk, he looks like a young man happy to be somewhere. He bows low to the two of them.
"Lady Ranko, Lady Ukyou, thank you. I don't think I can repay what you have done for me tonight other than asking for one of your hands in marriage, I-"
"Pass." Ukyou says immediately. "I got my eye on this gal…"
"I already h-have someone…" Ranko says softly, bowing apologetically. "Though I am flattered, Your Highness."
Herb twitches a moment, then clears his throat, chuckling and trying not to let it get to him. "Very well. I will owe the two of you a favour, then. In addition to…" He looks Ranko over. "Lady Ranko, could you please stand here?"
Confused, she does so.
Herb walks to near Cologne, returning with a bucket and ladle. Without much flair, he scoops some of the water from the bucket, then gently pours it over her head.
"H-hey!" Ranko says.
Then she stops as he pours hot water on her.
And nothing happens.
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A/N: Because I am now in the unadulterated FLUFF times. And our girl deserved a break like this.
I hope I got Herb right - I reread the chapters before writing him, and wanted him to come across as the haughty and arrogant prince, but only really lashing out because of his curse.
I figured without Ranma being... well, Ranma, then it probably would go a lot smoother and whaddya know, it did.
Also, she really deserved that ladle water.
Next time! A date and Dinner with a prince in which Ryouga is threatened by several people to treat our girl right!
As always, comments are lovely!
Berry, out!