Chapter one: Ranko's secret
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The postcard said simply, "Bringing Ranma home soon."
Soun looked like he was about to cry but contained himself long enough to go looking for his family. He entered the kitchen, "Kasumi!" Upstairs, "Nabiki!" Akane's room was curiously empty, "Now where is that girl?"
Going out into the backyard he called out, "Kimiko! Have you seen Akane?"
Kimiko was working in a flower bed trying to get some bulbs planted before it started raining, "I believe she's training in the dojo dear." She said.
"Could you bring her in? There's an important announcement I need to make." Soun said.
Akane was in the dojo going through a complex kata with a practice polearm. She preferred bare hands tactics but her style was anything goes so she knew she had to learn weapon styles as well. Finishing her kata with a thrust that would have disemboweled a person she bowed to the miniature shrine on the far wall and went to grab a towel.
"You performed that well daughter. I'm glad you're showing an interest in your mother's styles." Kimiko said as she entered.
"Well, it is anything goes right?" Akane laughed.
Kimiko frowned, "True but I wish it had a different name. The anything goes school of martial arts sounds so dishonest. Enough about that, your father has something he wishes to announce to the family."
* * * * * * * * * *
The rain had come swiftly. It always seemed to these days. If not rain then water from some other source. It had been that way for over two weeks now and he was getting tired of it.
"Father? Please, we have to go back to China. I'm sure that guide knows how to cure this curse." The boy pleaded. He had a purple Chinese style shirt with wooden ties and a pair of blue silk pants. They looked a little worn from traveling.
"For the last time we are not going back to China! I don't want to hear another word on the subject. Now come along, the Tendos are expecting us. Remember what I told you." The man said. He was wearing a dirty white gi and had a handkerchief tied to his bald head.
The boy thought about making a run for it. He had tried before but his father always caught him. Sighing he hung his head and accepted his fate, for now.
* * * * * * * * * *
"My friend Genma Saotome and his son Ranma have been on a training trip for over ten years now. Recently they crossed over into China to study some of the more obscure martial arts." Soun began.
"Ooh, China." Nabiki remarked.
"I guess that would be kinda cool to train in China." Akane agreed.
"Anyway, they are on their way here and if one of you were to marry Ranma the future of the anything goes martial arts would be secure."
The reaction was less than positive.
"You want one of us to marry a boy?" Akane screamed.
"Would you rather it was a girl?" Nabiki replied. Akane hesitated then shut up with a cross looking expression on her face.
"I hope he's at least my age. Younger men are so immature." Kasumi said.
Nabiki shrugged. She had been halfway expecting something like this for some time now. None of the sisters really had any love interests unless you counted the boys that chased Akane around school and they weren't getting any younger.
"Who knows, maybe he's cute." She finally said.
"Soun, exactly when did you plan on discussing this with your wife?" Kimiko said with an edge to her voice.
Soun gulped nervously and began sweating as he tried to think of something to say that wouldn't get him killed when there was the sound of the front door opening.
"Ah that must be them now." Soun said getting up and being thankful for the save.
Nabiki followed close behind to get a good look at Ranma with the rest of the family following farther back. Genma came around the corner with Ranma.
"Tendo! It's good to see you after all these years. We have much to talk about but first, let me introduce my son Ranma." Genma said joyfully.
"Er, I'm.Ran...ma Saotome. Pleased to meet you." The boy bowed.
Nabiki leaned in, "Ooh, he is cute." Ranma blushed.
Genma put his hand on Ranma's shoulder causing Ranma to wince, "Why don't you show the girls here the fruits of your training while Soun and I talk."
Akane came forward being prodded from behind by her mother, "Hi, I'm Akane. You know kempo right?"
Ranma nodded.
"Good then we can spar together." She said.
* * * * * * * * * *
Akane faced off against Ranma. Nabiki and Kasumi sat at the side of the dojo to watch. Ranma and Akane bowed to each other. Akane dropped into a standard kempo stance until she realized Ranma was just standing there staring at her. She recognized the style immediately, it was the same as her own. She seemed to come out of the stance and smiled at the look of surprise on Ranma's face as she assumed a casual standing position. Suddenly, faster than the two girls on the sidelines could follow, the two combatants leapt at each other. They traded a flurry of blows that either missed each other or were blocked and landed opposite their starting positions. Circling each other as if they were just out for a walk in the park they sized each other up. Ranma's respect for the girl rose immensely, she obviously had a great sensei. Ranma went in for a low kick that Akane leapt over. While still down however, Ranma thrust a fist up to catch Akane in the stomach. Finishing her flip over Ranma, Akane kicked back to glance her foot off Ranma's shoulder blade as he rolled forward in anticipation of an attack.
This went on for another ten minutes, each fighter attacking or defending but neither landing any telling blows. They both seemed to reach a conclusion at the same time and stopped. Facing each other they bowed, then bowed to the small shrine.
"You're pretty good." Akane acknowledged grudgingly.
"You're not bad yourself. I know a few moves I learned in China that I could have used but it didn't seem fair." Ranma said.
Akane felt a little angry at his comment. Apparently he wouldn't go all out on a girl. At least he fought her with respect and didn't seem to want anything in return like the guys at school did. Akane decided to let it slide. Maybe he would show her some of his moves if he stayed a while.
"I'm going to see if my father is done talking to your dad." Ranma said and left the dojo.
Nabiki and Kasumi both got up and went to Akane.
"So what do you think?" Nabiki asked.
"He seems nice enough, but he's a little young for me." Kasumi admitted.
"I don't think he's my type." Akane said.
"What? How can you say that? He's an awesome martial artist, he knows the same style you do, and he has manners which is in short supply in men these days. You guys are perfect for each other." Nabiki exclaimed.
"I don't know. He's just.just.a boy! You know I hate boys!" Akane protested.
"I don't think he's anything like the boys who bother you at school. In fact if you were engaged to him they might just start leaving you alone. Besides, if you don't take him, I just might. He's pretty good looking." Nabiki smirked.
"Well, maybe. I want to think about it first. I barely know him. What if I find out I don't like him? It wouldn't look good to break off the engagement after a few months because I find out I can't stand him. Besides, anyone that perfect has to have some hidden flaws." Akane argued.
"Let's see what daddy has to say later." Kasumi offered.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ranma entered the house to see Soun and Genma drinking sake and talking about old times. He wondered if it was worth interrupting when he saw Kimiko come out of the kitchen.
"Ranma, right?" she asked. Ranma nodded. "You look like you've been working out. You should probably take a bath and wash some of the dust of the road off as well. You will at least be staying the night so you should relax."
Ranma hesitated. Where water was concerned he never had good luck.
Kimiko wouldn't take no for an answer however and escorted him to the furo.
Sighing in defeat Ranma went in and changed out of his traveling clothes. He went in and sat on a small wooden stool. Filling a bucket with cold water he drenched himself. He was really starting to hate cold water. Looking at a mirror on the far wall he saw a stranger looking back. Shaking his head he grabbed the soap and began to lather up.
Downstairs Akane and her sisters were still discussing the possible benefits and deficits of being Mrs. Ranma Saotome. Akane happened to catch a whiff of herself and decided to excuse herself to go take a bath before dinner. After all she had two practice sessions in the space of a few hours.
Upstairs, a petite red head girl sat soaking in the furo.
"What to do, What to do? I hate this damn curse. Those three girls seem nice enough, maybe they could accept me as friends. But what would father say? I wish we'd never gone to China." She said to herself standing up to get out of the furo.
At that moment the door slid open revealing Akane, naked except for a towel held in front of her.
Akane looked up. There was someone in the tub. At first she thought maybe she'd walked in on Ranma. But it wasn't Ranma. It was a girl. A really good looking girl. A really good looking strange girl was in the bathroom.
It took a full fifteen seconds for Akane's brain to unfreeze, "Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my bathroom?" she finally said.
The redhead hung her head. The jig was up, "I'm Ranko Saotome. Sorry about this."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Are you Ranma's sister?" Akane asked. She wondered why no one had mentioned this before. Somebody surely would have mentioned something as important as having a sister visiting as well.
"No. I'm sorry. I'll try to explain. You won't believe me at first, I wouldn't if I hadn't lived it, but I can prove it as long as you promise not to freak out ok?"
The two girls were sitting on the edge of the furo. Akane had wrapped her towel around herself. She wasn't sure why but she felt self conscious around the girl.
Ranko took a deep breath, "First off, the boy you met earlier? Well, he's me. I'm really a girl but I was cursed while my father and I were training in China."
-------------------- Begin Flashback --------------------
Ranko and Genma enter the small valley. There are small pools of water all over the valley floor with bamboo sticking out at various heights. A short pudgy man in an old communist China uniform begins pointing around.
"Here sir is Jusenkyou cursed springs. Over one hundred springs each with it's own tragic curse." He says to Genma.
"So it's really true. I'm glad I paid to have this brochure translated after all. Finally my dreams will come true." Tears stream from Genma's eyes.
Genma comes to his senses a few minutes later and leans over and whispers to the guide, "Now show me where the spring of drowned man is." He hands over a few bills of the local currency.
The guide nods and beckons them to follow.
"Come on Ranko let's look around before we spar." Genma says.
The guide leads the two to a nondescript spring just like the multitude of other springs. Nodding again he steps back.
"Ranko come here and look at this." Genma waves her over.
Ranko looking depressed and uninterested walks over to the edge of the pool and looks in.
"Oops." Genma knocks against Ranko and she loses her balance and falls in.
"Oh dear, you fall in Nanichyian, spring of drowned man. Very tragic legend of man who drown in spring one thousand seven hundred year ago. Now whoever fall in spring take body of a young man. See, you are now a man." The guide said.
A very male Ranko looked down at her chest feeling through the cloth with her hands. With growing fear she pulled the front of her pants out and looked down. With a high pitched scream she passed out.
-------------------- End Flashback --------------------
Akane looked and Ranko with a skeptical expression, "I'm sorry, but that is just too far fetched. You expect me to believe there are magic springs that turn you into men? Ranma put you up to this didn't he? He's probably somewhere laughing at his joke right now."
"I said I could prove it so let me have that chance. Just promise me you won't freak out ok?" Ranko pleaded.
Shrugging her shoulders, Akane agreed.
Ranko went over to the wash station and turned the cold water on. Filling a bucket she sighed and committed herself to what she was about to do. She dunked the bucket over herself.
Akane's eyes bugged out as she saw Ranko grow at least six inches, her hair turned dark, and her breasts disappeared. Akane's eyes were then drawn to something else that appeared. Akane wasn't sure but she guessed that was a pretty good sized penis between Ranko's legs.
Akane stood quietly for a second, then screamed, her battle aura leapt up around her body as she moved to hit the pervert in front of her.
Ranko scrambled back against the wall hitting the hot water knob on the shower by accident.
A second later the door flew open and Kimiko flew in, katana in hand. She quickly surveyed the situation. Akane had stopped screaming and was now staring dumbly across the room. Curled up as tightly as she could in the corner was a small red headed girl shivering in fear.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry." she repeated over and over.
Kimiko took in the situation quickly and gasped when she noticed the bruises covering the red head's body.
* * * * * * * * * *
It took some doing to calm the girl down. After about fifteen minutes they finally managed to get the sobbing girl into a robe and into Akane's room. Soun and Genma tried to come upstairs to investigate but Kimiko, realizing they were drunk, forced them back down saying she'd tell them later.
Akane had calmed down enough to relay Ranko's story to her mother and sisters. Ranko was just staring ahead unaware of her surroundings.
"So Ranko is really a girl?" Nabiki said.
"Cursed to turn into a boy with cold water. That in itself must be traumatic for her but I think there's something deeper at work here." Kimiko wondered, "Why was she pleading for us not to hurt her? Why is she covered in bruises?"
"It's possible she's been in a fight recently. That's what I assumed when I noticed them." Akane offered.
"The patterns of bruising are inconsistent with the patterns a martial artist would leave. This girl has been beaten." Kimiko acknowledged.
"But who." Kasumi began.
"I think we need to have a talk with Genma about this." Kimiko said.
That got a sudden reaction from Ranko, "No! He'll just get mad at me. He'll think I told again. I don't want him mad. Especially when he's drunk." She trailed off, realizing she'd said more than she wanted.
Nabiki nodded her head as if she'd known as much from the discussion. Kasumi was aghast, 'who would beat their own child?' she thought. Akane however was beginning to see red. As if her opinion of men wasn't already low enough, to see this happen to a girl who even as a boy seemed nice enough to her was intolerable. Akane grabbed a boken off her wall and headed for her door. Kimiko stopped her.
"Akane, control yourself. I want you to stay here and watch after Ranko. I will go downstairs and deal with the men. Kasumi go and see what we have to treat some of those bruises. Nabiki, make a call to Dr. Tofu and make an appointment to have Ranko seen as soon as possible." Kimiko ordered with an edge in her voice.
Everyone left to do their assigned tasks leaving Akane and Ranko alone.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Akane probed.
Ranko shook her head, "Not really. I'm not supposed to anyway."
Akane sighed, "Well at least this means the engagement is off." She wondered if it was right to feel as disappointed as she was.
"What engagement?" Ranko's curiosity perked.
"Our engagement, or rather your engagement to one of us. Our fathers agreed to uniting the schools in marriage before you or I were even born." Akane explained. "Weren't you told."
A growing look of horror and sadness slowly crept up Ranko's face. Tears started to flow again, "T-that's why.that's why the bastard did it. I didn't think it was an accident. Damn it, what did I do to deserve this?"
"Did what Ranko? Come on talk to me. I'll listen, that's what friends are for right?"
"My father.he-he always wanted a son. I was always a disappointment to him. He didn't accidentally bump me into the spring. He pushed me. On purpose."
Akane reached out to hug Ranko and even though she flinched away, Akane was able to pull her into a comforting grip.
"It's ok Ranko. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Genma, Soun, I'd like to have a word with you two." Kimiko said as she stepped off the stairs.
The two men looked up from the shogi board. It was clear they were quite drunk and had no plans on stopping any time soon.
"What is it Kimiko?" Soun asked. He seemed a little more coherent than his friend and training partner.
"I have discovered Ranma's, or should I say Ranko's little secret." She said simply.
Genma's smile turned into a scowl that was quickly replaced by a neutral look. "Well, it had to happen eventually, so I might as well tell the truth. We were training in a place called Jusenkyou in China. We didn't know it at the time but there are all these springs where people or animals have drowned over the years. It turns out that if you fall in a pool you turn into whatever drowned there years ago. Luckily cold water changes you back. During our training, Ranma fell into the spring of drowned girl and was cursed. So you see that even though he is cursed, he is still eligible to fulfill his honor bound promise to unite the two families in marriage."
"Even if what you say is true, which I'm not inclined to believe, that doesn't explain the bruises covering her body." Kimiko said slowly and deliberately.
"Training in the art is often harsh." Genma explained hastily as if he had rehearsed it many times before.
Nabiki came into the room, "Dr. Tofu says he can see her in about an hour before he closes for the day."
"Fine, go help Akane to get her ready to go." Kimiko said.
"Kimiko, what is the meaning of this?" Soun almost demanded.
"Isn't it obvious? Ranma is really Ranko, a girl, and your 'friend' Mr. Saotome has been abusing her. Probably for years. The girl is covered in bruises."
"Tendo! Are you going to let your wife insult me in such a manner?" Genma said enraged.
Soun looked at his wife. Even drunk he knew his wife wasn't the type to make unfounded accusations.
"Perhaps I should reserve judgment until I have more evidence on either side." Soun tried to be diplomatic.
Genma started sweating, how could he keep it a secret much longer? Maybe it was time to go. He could come back later after his 'son' healed up and try again. Making a decision he nodded to himself.
"I can see we're not welcome here at the moment. Ranma and I will find a hotel to stay in and we'll return once things have calmed down. If you'll be so kind, I'll go fetch the boy." Genma started for the stairs.
He never even saw Kimiko move as he felt the cold steel of a katana against his throat. He gulped nervously and looked at Soun's wife.
"I believe we'll wait until after the good doctor has examined Ranko." Kimiko said evenly.
* * * * * * * * * *
After informing Akane and Ranko to get ready, Nabiki went into her room and turned on her computer. She was grateful her mother had talked her into one. As an information gathering and organizing tool it really helped with her side work at school. Namely loans and betting pools. The money she brought in helped supplement the income from the dojo. Her mother once asked where the money was coming from to which Nabiki told her the truth. Kimiko just asked that Nabiki use good judgment, not get involved with the Yakuza and not to get caught. Realizing how much trust her mother placed in her, Nabiki vowed to follow her advice to the letter. She was even contemplating applying for the police force after she graduated. She felt she would make a great detective and while not as good as her younger sister, Nabiki was a competent martial artist.
Smiling to herself, Nabiki accessed the internet and telneted to the local police database. Using a backdoor account she had paid a hefty sum for, she logged in. The information she was looking for was public domain but she didn't have the time to wait for it or the patience to fill out all the required forms. She found the online records she was looking for and started paging through the information. Her eyes grew wide and she gasped. She clicked on the print button and checked to make sure she had enough paper in the printer. "This could take a while." She mused to herself.
She got up to go to the doctor's office with Akane and Ranko.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ranko had returned to her normal cheerful arrogant self that she'd been during her sparring match with Akane. She was currently walking along the top of a chain link fence. Nabiki could tell it was all an act now that she was looking for the signs. She shook her head sadly. She couldn't begin to imagine the horrors the poor girl had gone through. She briefly wondered if Ranko had been sexually abused as well. She'd have to make sure Dr. Ono checked on that.
"Are you sure I have to do this?" Ranko asked uncertainly.
"At the very least you should probably get a check up. When was the last time you'd seen a doctor?" Akane replied.
Ranko thought for a second, "I don't think I ever have. I've never been sick enough to need to." She shrugged.
"Women should at the very least get a yearly check up once they've reached puberty. It sounds like you're overdue." Akane scolded.
They finally reached Dr. Tofu's office and went inside. After a few minutes of waiting the doctor came out of the back room with another patient.
"Make sure you take that tea twice a day for the next week. Oh, hello Akane, Nabiki. This must be Ranko, pleased to meet you." The doctor bowed slightly.
Ranko nodded back obviously nervous. The doctor gestured for her to back to one of the examination rooms. Ranko hesitated looking at Akane with a fearful expression.
"Would you like me to go with you Ranko?" Akane asked. Ranko nodded.
Ranko and Akane entered the room and Akane had Ranko sit up on the hospital bed. Dr. Tofu followed them in and put on a pair of rubber gloves. Seeing Ranko's obvious discomfort he tried to reassure her.
"Don't worry, this is just a routine examination. There won't be any shots or anything painful." He said.
"It's ok Ranko. You can trust him." Akane said.
Ranko nodded slowly but flinched back as Dr. Tofu reached to check her face and throat. He reassured her and she calmed down. Her eyes and ears checked out. He had her open her mouth and checked the back of her throat. Finally he checked her hands and arms. Now came the tricky part.
"Ranko, I'll need you to strip down to your underwear. So I can finish my examination."
Ranko gave a look of horror and backed away.
"Ranko, it's ok. I'm here. I won't let him do anything bad. Trust me." Akane grabbed Ranko's hand.
Very reluctantly Ranko took off her shirt then her pants. She wasn't wearing a bra but did have on a pair of plain white panties that seemed too large to fit properly. Dr. Tofu had to stifle a gasp she he saw the bruises. Ranko sat back on the bed and looked anywhere except at the doctor.
"Some of these bruises are weeks old and some seem like they were made today. Ranko, who did this to you?" the doctor asked.
"I got them fighting." Ranko said. To the doctor it was obvious this was something she told people often enough to become wrote.
"Ranko, these aren't the kind of bruises you get fighting. Does your father do this to you?"
Ranko looked at Akane who just smiled sadly. She nodded to the doctor, "Yes." It came out as a barely audible whisper.
Dr. Tofu shook his head. He'd seen abuse before, usually from husbands beating their wives. But Ranko showed all the signs of being abused for years. She had scars all over her body that resembled scratch marks from some animal. They appeared to be years old as they were very faded. He'd never seen anything this bad before.
"Ranko, I'd like to make you an appointment with Akane's gynecologist to have the rest of you checked out. Now what was this I hear about a curse?"
Ranko's face turned white but she steeled herself. She'd already come this far. Trusting them with the secret of her curse seemed mild compared to showing her body. She didn't really see her male side as her body anyway. She felt detached, almost as if she were operating it by remote control.
Ranko grabbed a pitcher of water off the bedside stand and poured it over herself. Dr. Tofu was stunned as Ranko shifted into her male body. Ranko shifted a little as her panties became very snug all of a sudden.
Dr. tofu noticed the bruises seemed less severe now and the scars virtually disappeared. "So how did this come about?" he asked.
Ranko told the story of Jusenkyou and her theory about being pushed in so he could marry one of the Tendo girls. Dr. Tofu swore softly as Ranko finished her tale.
"Well Ranko, you seem to be in good health with the exception of your bruises. Hold on a moment and I'll get you some ointment that will help heal them a little faster." He said.
Dr. Tofu left the examination room and went to the front desk. He reached for the phone when Nabiki interrupted him.
"That won't solve the problem. You know how abuse cases get handled in Japan. He'll get a slap on the wrist, maybe a year of jail time then he's back out and madder at Ranko for what happened. I've already got something in the works the will be a more permanent solution."
Dr. Tofu set the phone back on the receiver, "I don't condone murder, even if he deserves it." He said with a hint of a smile.
"Nothing so drastic I'm afraid. I just happened to dig up some dirt that will keep him away for a long time, if he values his freedom that is." Nabiki smiled evilly.
"It's a good thing we're on the same side. I'd hate to ever suffer your wrath." The doctor joked. "I need to get some ointment for Ranko's bruises before I send her home. I assume she'll be staying with your family for a while?"
Nabiki nodded, "Hopefully a loving family will bring her around. She's terrified, especially around men it seems."
The doctor nodded in agreement and went to his supply room.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Taidama!" Akane said closing the door behind her as the three girls entered the house.
As they entered the tea room three seated figures looked up. Soun and Kimiko sat on either side of Genma who looked very nervous indeed. Akane gave Genma a hateful glare and he shrank back as if he'd been hit. Ranko and Akane sat down on the opposite side of the table from the adults. Nabiki went over to her mother and together they went into the family room. Whispers could be heard for a couple of minutes before Kimiko came back in and sat down again katana in hand.
Nabiki ran upstairs and grabbed the thick sheaf of papers from the printer. Sitting down next to Kimiko she nodded for her mother to begin.
"Nabiki has informed me of Dr. Tofu's diagnosis. Based on his examination he has concluded that Ranko has suffered severe and prolonged physical and mental abuse and that Ranko herself has admitted that Mr. Saotome is the responsible party." Genma gave Ranko an angry look that made Ranko flinch. Kimiko continued, "He is fully prepared to testify in court if things take that route. However we all know how lenient the courts are to child and spousal abusers. The only option left is to remove the abuser from the abused. Genma Saotome, you are to leave this house and break off all contact with Ranko Saotome from this point on."
"LIKE HELL I WILL!" Genma exploded. "Come on Ranko. We're leaving. Now." He commanded.
Ranko moved to get up. However Kimiko's katana was once again at Genma's throat.
"I thought you might say something like that. However I have something that might change your mind. It appears that you have quite the history with the law. There seems to be at least twenty warrants out for your arrest across various districts of the country. It seems there are also a few bounties posted for skipping bail that add up to quite a sum of money, possibly enough for Ranko to go to college if we were to turn you in. Now I put this to you. You leave here and never return. If I catch you attempting to take Ranko away, I will either turn you in for the reward or I will kill you myself. It all depends on my mood at the time." Kimiko slowly removed the katana and re-sheathed it.
Genma hung his head in defeat, "Let me get my pack and I'll be gone."
A few minutes later Genma was walking down the street. It looked like it was going to rain again. "Damn them. This isn't over, not by a long shot." He muttered under his breath.
* * * * * * * * * *
End Chapter one.
The postcard said simply, "Bringing Ranma home soon."
Soun looked like he was about to cry but contained himself long enough to go looking for his family. He entered the kitchen, "Kasumi!" Upstairs, "Nabiki!" Akane's room was curiously empty, "Now where is that girl?"
Going out into the backyard he called out, "Kimiko! Have you seen Akane?"
Kimiko was working in a flower bed trying to get some bulbs planted before it started raining, "I believe she's training in the dojo dear." She said.
"Could you bring her in? There's an important announcement I need to make." Soun said.
Akane was in the dojo going through a complex kata with a practice polearm. She preferred bare hands tactics but her style was anything goes so she knew she had to learn weapon styles as well. Finishing her kata with a thrust that would have disemboweled a person she bowed to the miniature shrine on the far wall and went to grab a towel.
"You performed that well daughter. I'm glad you're showing an interest in your mother's styles." Kimiko said as she entered.
"Well, it is anything goes right?" Akane laughed.
Kimiko frowned, "True but I wish it had a different name. The anything goes school of martial arts sounds so dishonest. Enough about that, your father has something he wishes to announce to the family."
* * * * * * * * * *
The rain had come swiftly. It always seemed to these days. If not rain then water from some other source. It had been that way for over two weeks now and he was getting tired of it.
"Father? Please, we have to go back to China. I'm sure that guide knows how to cure this curse." The boy pleaded. He had a purple Chinese style shirt with wooden ties and a pair of blue silk pants. They looked a little worn from traveling.
"For the last time we are not going back to China! I don't want to hear another word on the subject. Now come along, the Tendos are expecting us. Remember what I told you." The man said. He was wearing a dirty white gi and had a handkerchief tied to his bald head.
The boy thought about making a run for it. He had tried before but his father always caught him. Sighing he hung his head and accepted his fate, for now.
* * * * * * * * * *
"My friend Genma Saotome and his son Ranma have been on a training trip for over ten years now. Recently they crossed over into China to study some of the more obscure martial arts." Soun began.
"Ooh, China." Nabiki remarked.
"I guess that would be kinda cool to train in China." Akane agreed.
"Anyway, they are on their way here and if one of you were to marry Ranma the future of the anything goes martial arts would be secure."
The reaction was less than positive.
"You want one of us to marry a boy?" Akane screamed.
"Would you rather it was a girl?" Nabiki replied. Akane hesitated then shut up with a cross looking expression on her face.
"I hope he's at least my age. Younger men are so immature." Kasumi said.
Nabiki shrugged. She had been halfway expecting something like this for some time now. None of the sisters really had any love interests unless you counted the boys that chased Akane around school and they weren't getting any younger.
"Who knows, maybe he's cute." She finally said.
"Soun, exactly when did you plan on discussing this with your wife?" Kimiko said with an edge to her voice.
Soun gulped nervously and began sweating as he tried to think of something to say that wouldn't get him killed when there was the sound of the front door opening.
"Ah that must be them now." Soun said getting up and being thankful for the save.
Nabiki followed close behind to get a good look at Ranma with the rest of the family following farther back. Genma came around the corner with Ranma.
"Tendo! It's good to see you after all these years. We have much to talk about but first, let me introduce my son Ranma." Genma said joyfully.
"Er, I'm.Ran...ma Saotome. Pleased to meet you." The boy bowed.
Nabiki leaned in, "Ooh, he is cute." Ranma blushed.
Genma put his hand on Ranma's shoulder causing Ranma to wince, "Why don't you show the girls here the fruits of your training while Soun and I talk."
Akane came forward being prodded from behind by her mother, "Hi, I'm Akane. You know kempo right?"
Ranma nodded.
"Good then we can spar together." She said.
* * * * * * * * * *
Akane faced off against Ranma. Nabiki and Kasumi sat at the side of the dojo to watch. Ranma and Akane bowed to each other. Akane dropped into a standard kempo stance until she realized Ranma was just standing there staring at her. She recognized the style immediately, it was the same as her own. She seemed to come out of the stance and smiled at the look of surprise on Ranma's face as she assumed a casual standing position. Suddenly, faster than the two girls on the sidelines could follow, the two combatants leapt at each other. They traded a flurry of blows that either missed each other or were blocked and landed opposite their starting positions. Circling each other as if they were just out for a walk in the park they sized each other up. Ranma's respect for the girl rose immensely, she obviously had a great sensei. Ranma went in for a low kick that Akane leapt over. While still down however, Ranma thrust a fist up to catch Akane in the stomach. Finishing her flip over Ranma, Akane kicked back to glance her foot off Ranma's shoulder blade as he rolled forward in anticipation of an attack.
This went on for another ten minutes, each fighter attacking or defending but neither landing any telling blows. They both seemed to reach a conclusion at the same time and stopped. Facing each other they bowed, then bowed to the small shrine.
"You're pretty good." Akane acknowledged grudgingly.
"You're not bad yourself. I know a few moves I learned in China that I could have used but it didn't seem fair." Ranma said.
Akane felt a little angry at his comment. Apparently he wouldn't go all out on a girl. At least he fought her with respect and didn't seem to want anything in return like the guys at school did. Akane decided to let it slide. Maybe he would show her some of his moves if he stayed a while.
"I'm going to see if my father is done talking to your dad." Ranma said and left the dojo.
Nabiki and Kasumi both got up and went to Akane.
"So what do you think?" Nabiki asked.
"He seems nice enough, but he's a little young for me." Kasumi admitted.
"I don't think he's my type." Akane said.
"What? How can you say that? He's an awesome martial artist, he knows the same style you do, and he has manners which is in short supply in men these days. You guys are perfect for each other." Nabiki exclaimed.
"I don't know. He's just.just.a boy! You know I hate boys!" Akane protested.
"I don't think he's anything like the boys who bother you at school. In fact if you were engaged to him they might just start leaving you alone. Besides, if you don't take him, I just might. He's pretty good looking." Nabiki smirked.
"Well, maybe. I want to think about it first. I barely know him. What if I find out I don't like him? It wouldn't look good to break off the engagement after a few months because I find out I can't stand him. Besides, anyone that perfect has to have some hidden flaws." Akane argued.
"Let's see what daddy has to say later." Kasumi offered.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ranma entered the house to see Soun and Genma drinking sake and talking about old times. He wondered if it was worth interrupting when he saw Kimiko come out of the kitchen.
"Ranma, right?" she asked. Ranma nodded. "You look like you've been working out. You should probably take a bath and wash some of the dust of the road off as well. You will at least be staying the night so you should relax."
Ranma hesitated. Where water was concerned he never had good luck.
Kimiko wouldn't take no for an answer however and escorted him to the furo.
Sighing in defeat Ranma went in and changed out of his traveling clothes. He went in and sat on a small wooden stool. Filling a bucket with cold water he drenched himself. He was really starting to hate cold water. Looking at a mirror on the far wall he saw a stranger looking back. Shaking his head he grabbed the soap and began to lather up.
Downstairs Akane and her sisters were still discussing the possible benefits and deficits of being Mrs. Ranma Saotome. Akane happened to catch a whiff of herself and decided to excuse herself to go take a bath before dinner. After all she had two practice sessions in the space of a few hours.
Upstairs, a petite red head girl sat soaking in the furo.
"What to do, What to do? I hate this damn curse. Those three girls seem nice enough, maybe they could accept me as friends. But what would father say? I wish we'd never gone to China." She said to herself standing up to get out of the furo.
At that moment the door slid open revealing Akane, naked except for a towel held in front of her.
Akane looked up. There was someone in the tub. At first she thought maybe she'd walked in on Ranma. But it wasn't Ranma. It was a girl. A really good looking girl. A really good looking strange girl was in the bathroom.
It took a full fifteen seconds for Akane's brain to unfreeze, "Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my bathroom?" she finally said.
The redhead hung her head. The jig was up, "I'm Ranko Saotome. Sorry about this."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Are you Ranma's sister?" Akane asked. She wondered why no one had mentioned this before. Somebody surely would have mentioned something as important as having a sister visiting as well.
"No. I'm sorry. I'll try to explain. You won't believe me at first, I wouldn't if I hadn't lived it, but I can prove it as long as you promise not to freak out ok?"
The two girls were sitting on the edge of the furo. Akane had wrapped her towel around herself. She wasn't sure why but she felt self conscious around the girl.
Ranko took a deep breath, "First off, the boy you met earlier? Well, he's me. I'm really a girl but I was cursed while my father and I were training in China."
-------------------- Begin Flashback --------------------
Ranko and Genma enter the small valley. There are small pools of water all over the valley floor with bamboo sticking out at various heights. A short pudgy man in an old communist China uniform begins pointing around.
"Here sir is Jusenkyou cursed springs. Over one hundred springs each with it's own tragic curse." He says to Genma.
"So it's really true. I'm glad I paid to have this brochure translated after all. Finally my dreams will come true." Tears stream from Genma's eyes.
Genma comes to his senses a few minutes later and leans over and whispers to the guide, "Now show me where the spring of drowned man is." He hands over a few bills of the local currency.
The guide nods and beckons them to follow.
"Come on Ranko let's look around before we spar." Genma says.
The guide leads the two to a nondescript spring just like the multitude of other springs. Nodding again he steps back.
"Ranko come here and look at this." Genma waves her over.
Ranko looking depressed and uninterested walks over to the edge of the pool and looks in.
"Oops." Genma knocks against Ranko and she loses her balance and falls in.
"Oh dear, you fall in Nanichyian, spring of drowned man. Very tragic legend of man who drown in spring one thousand seven hundred year ago. Now whoever fall in spring take body of a young man. See, you are now a man." The guide said.
A very male Ranko looked down at her chest feeling through the cloth with her hands. With growing fear she pulled the front of her pants out and looked down. With a high pitched scream she passed out.
-------------------- End Flashback --------------------
Akane looked and Ranko with a skeptical expression, "I'm sorry, but that is just too far fetched. You expect me to believe there are magic springs that turn you into men? Ranma put you up to this didn't he? He's probably somewhere laughing at his joke right now."
"I said I could prove it so let me have that chance. Just promise me you won't freak out ok?" Ranko pleaded.
Shrugging her shoulders, Akane agreed.
Ranko went over to the wash station and turned the cold water on. Filling a bucket she sighed and committed herself to what she was about to do. She dunked the bucket over herself.
Akane's eyes bugged out as she saw Ranko grow at least six inches, her hair turned dark, and her breasts disappeared. Akane's eyes were then drawn to something else that appeared. Akane wasn't sure but she guessed that was a pretty good sized penis between Ranko's legs.
Akane stood quietly for a second, then screamed, her battle aura leapt up around her body as she moved to hit the pervert in front of her.
Ranko scrambled back against the wall hitting the hot water knob on the shower by accident.
A second later the door flew open and Kimiko flew in, katana in hand. She quickly surveyed the situation. Akane had stopped screaming and was now staring dumbly across the room. Curled up as tightly as she could in the corner was a small red headed girl shivering in fear.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry." she repeated over and over.
Kimiko took in the situation quickly and gasped when she noticed the bruises covering the red head's body.
* * * * * * * * * *
It took some doing to calm the girl down. After about fifteen minutes they finally managed to get the sobbing girl into a robe and into Akane's room. Soun and Genma tried to come upstairs to investigate but Kimiko, realizing they were drunk, forced them back down saying she'd tell them later.
Akane had calmed down enough to relay Ranko's story to her mother and sisters. Ranko was just staring ahead unaware of her surroundings.
"So Ranko is really a girl?" Nabiki said.
"Cursed to turn into a boy with cold water. That in itself must be traumatic for her but I think there's something deeper at work here." Kimiko wondered, "Why was she pleading for us not to hurt her? Why is she covered in bruises?"
"It's possible she's been in a fight recently. That's what I assumed when I noticed them." Akane offered.
"The patterns of bruising are inconsistent with the patterns a martial artist would leave. This girl has been beaten." Kimiko acknowledged.
"But who." Kasumi began.
"I think we need to have a talk with Genma about this." Kimiko said.
That got a sudden reaction from Ranko, "No! He'll just get mad at me. He'll think I told again. I don't want him mad. Especially when he's drunk." She trailed off, realizing she'd said more than she wanted.
Nabiki nodded her head as if she'd known as much from the discussion. Kasumi was aghast, 'who would beat their own child?' she thought. Akane however was beginning to see red. As if her opinion of men wasn't already low enough, to see this happen to a girl who even as a boy seemed nice enough to her was intolerable. Akane grabbed a boken off her wall and headed for her door. Kimiko stopped her.
"Akane, control yourself. I want you to stay here and watch after Ranko. I will go downstairs and deal with the men. Kasumi go and see what we have to treat some of those bruises. Nabiki, make a call to Dr. Tofu and make an appointment to have Ranko seen as soon as possible." Kimiko ordered with an edge in her voice.
Everyone left to do their assigned tasks leaving Akane and Ranko alone.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Akane probed.
Ranko shook her head, "Not really. I'm not supposed to anyway."
Akane sighed, "Well at least this means the engagement is off." She wondered if it was right to feel as disappointed as she was.
"What engagement?" Ranko's curiosity perked.
"Our engagement, or rather your engagement to one of us. Our fathers agreed to uniting the schools in marriage before you or I were even born." Akane explained. "Weren't you told."
A growing look of horror and sadness slowly crept up Ranko's face. Tears started to flow again, "T-that's why.that's why the bastard did it. I didn't think it was an accident. Damn it, what did I do to deserve this?"
"Did what Ranko? Come on talk to me. I'll listen, that's what friends are for right?"
"My father.he-he always wanted a son. I was always a disappointment to him. He didn't accidentally bump me into the spring. He pushed me. On purpose."
Akane reached out to hug Ranko and even though she flinched away, Akane was able to pull her into a comforting grip.
"It's ok Ranko. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Genma, Soun, I'd like to have a word with you two." Kimiko said as she stepped off the stairs.
The two men looked up from the shogi board. It was clear they were quite drunk and had no plans on stopping any time soon.
"What is it Kimiko?" Soun asked. He seemed a little more coherent than his friend and training partner.
"I have discovered Ranma's, or should I say Ranko's little secret." She said simply.
Genma's smile turned into a scowl that was quickly replaced by a neutral look. "Well, it had to happen eventually, so I might as well tell the truth. We were training in a place called Jusenkyou in China. We didn't know it at the time but there are all these springs where people or animals have drowned over the years. It turns out that if you fall in a pool you turn into whatever drowned there years ago. Luckily cold water changes you back. During our training, Ranma fell into the spring of drowned girl and was cursed. So you see that even though he is cursed, he is still eligible to fulfill his honor bound promise to unite the two families in marriage."
"Even if what you say is true, which I'm not inclined to believe, that doesn't explain the bruises covering her body." Kimiko said slowly and deliberately.
"Training in the art is often harsh." Genma explained hastily as if he had rehearsed it many times before.
Nabiki came into the room, "Dr. Tofu says he can see her in about an hour before he closes for the day."
"Fine, go help Akane to get her ready to go." Kimiko said.
"Kimiko, what is the meaning of this?" Soun almost demanded.
"Isn't it obvious? Ranma is really Ranko, a girl, and your 'friend' Mr. Saotome has been abusing her. Probably for years. The girl is covered in bruises."
"Tendo! Are you going to let your wife insult me in such a manner?" Genma said enraged.
Soun looked at his wife. Even drunk he knew his wife wasn't the type to make unfounded accusations.
"Perhaps I should reserve judgment until I have more evidence on either side." Soun tried to be diplomatic.
Genma started sweating, how could he keep it a secret much longer? Maybe it was time to go. He could come back later after his 'son' healed up and try again. Making a decision he nodded to himself.
"I can see we're not welcome here at the moment. Ranma and I will find a hotel to stay in and we'll return once things have calmed down. If you'll be so kind, I'll go fetch the boy." Genma started for the stairs.
He never even saw Kimiko move as he felt the cold steel of a katana against his throat. He gulped nervously and looked at Soun's wife.
"I believe we'll wait until after the good doctor has examined Ranko." Kimiko said evenly.
* * * * * * * * * *
After informing Akane and Ranko to get ready, Nabiki went into her room and turned on her computer. She was grateful her mother had talked her into one. As an information gathering and organizing tool it really helped with her side work at school. Namely loans and betting pools. The money she brought in helped supplement the income from the dojo. Her mother once asked where the money was coming from to which Nabiki told her the truth. Kimiko just asked that Nabiki use good judgment, not get involved with the Yakuza and not to get caught. Realizing how much trust her mother placed in her, Nabiki vowed to follow her advice to the letter. She was even contemplating applying for the police force after she graduated. She felt she would make a great detective and while not as good as her younger sister, Nabiki was a competent martial artist.
Smiling to herself, Nabiki accessed the internet and telneted to the local police database. Using a backdoor account she had paid a hefty sum for, she logged in. The information she was looking for was public domain but she didn't have the time to wait for it or the patience to fill out all the required forms. She found the online records she was looking for and started paging through the information. Her eyes grew wide and she gasped. She clicked on the print button and checked to make sure she had enough paper in the printer. "This could take a while." She mused to herself.
She got up to go to the doctor's office with Akane and Ranko.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ranko had returned to her normal cheerful arrogant self that she'd been during her sparring match with Akane. She was currently walking along the top of a chain link fence. Nabiki could tell it was all an act now that she was looking for the signs. She shook her head sadly. She couldn't begin to imagine the horrors the poor girl had gone through. She briefly wondered if Ranko had been sexually abused as well. She'd have to make sure Dr. Ono checked on that.
"Are you sure I have to do this?" Ranko asked uncertainly.
"At the very least you should probably get a check up. When was the last time you'd seen a doctor?" Akane replied.
Ranko thought for a second, "I don't think I ever have. I've never been sick enough to need to." She shrugged.
"Women should at the very least get a yearly check up once they've reached puberty. It sounds like you're overdue." Akane scolded.
They finally reached Dr. Tofu's office and went inside. After a few minutes of waiting the doctor came out of the back room with another patient.
"Make sure you take that tea twice a day for the next week. Oh, hello Akane, Nabiki. This must be Ranko, pleased to meet you." The doctor bowed slightly.
Ranko nodded back obviously nervous. The doctor gestured for her to back to one of the examination rooms. Ranko hesitated looking at Akane with a fearful expression.
"Would you like me to go with you Ranko?" Akane asked. Ranko nodded.
Ranko and Akane entered the room and Akane had Ranko sit up on the hospital bed. Dr. Tofu followed them in and put on a pair of rubber gloves. Seeing Ranko's obvious discomfort he tried to reassure her.
"Don't worry, this is just a routine examination. There won't be any shots or anything painful." He said.
"It's ok Ranko. You can trust him." Akane said.
Ranko nodded slowly but flinched back as Dr. Tofu reached to check her face and throat. He reassured her and she calmed down. Her eyes and ears checked out. He had her open her mouth and checked the back of her throat. Finally he checked her hands and arms. Now came the tricky part.
"Ranko, I'll need you to strip down to your underwear. So I can finish my examination."
Ranko gave a look of horror and backed away.
"Ranko, it's ok. I'm here. I won't let him do anything bad. Trust me." Akane grabbed Ranko's hand.
Very reluctantly Ranko took off her shirt then her pants. She wasn't wearing a bra but did have on a pair of plain white panties that seemed too large to fit properly. Dr. Tofu had to stifle a gasp she he saw the bruises. Ranko sat back on the bed and looked anywhere except at the doctor.
"Some of these bruises are weeks old and some seem like they were made today. Ranko, who did this to you?" the doctor asked.
"I got them fighting." Ranko said. To the doctor it was obvious this was something she told people often enough to become wrote.
"Ranko, these aren't the kind of bruises you get fighting. Does your father do this to you?"
Ranko looked at Akane who just smiled sadly. She nodded to the doctor, "Yes." It came out as a barely audible whisper.
Dr. Tofu shook his head. He'd seen abuse before, usually from husbands beating their wives. But Ranko showed all the signs of being abused for years. She had scars all over her body that resembled scratch marks from some animal. They appeared to be years old as they were very faded. He'd never seen anything this bad before.
"Ranko, I'd like to make you an appointment with Akane's gynecologist to have the rest of you checked out. Now what was this I hear about a curse?"
Ranko's face turned white but she steeled herself. She'd already come this far. Trusting them with the secret of her curse seemed mild compared to showing her body. She didn't really see her male side as her body anyway. She felt detached, almost as if she were operating it by remote control.
Ranko grabbed a pitcher of water off the bedside stand and poured it over herself. Dr. Tofu was stunned as Ranko shifted into her male body. Ranko shifted a little as her panties became very snug all of a sudden.
Dr. tofu noticed the bruises seemed less severe now and the scars virtually disappeared. "So how did this come about?" he asked.
Ranko told the story of Jusenkyou and her theory about being pushed in so he could marry one of the Tendo girls. Dr. Tofu swore softly as Ranko finished her tale.
"Well Ranko, you seem to be in good health with the exception of your bruises. Hold on a moment and I'll get you some ointment that will help heal them a little faster." He said.
Dr. Tofu left the examination room and went to the front desk. He reached for the phone when Nabiki interrupted him.
"That won't solve the problem. You know how abuse cases get handled in Japan. He'll get a slap on the wrist, maybe a year of jail time then he's back out and madder at Ranko for what happened. I've already got something in the works the will be a more permanent solution."
Dr. Tofu set the phone back on the receiver, "I don't condone murder, even if he deserves it." He said with a hint of a smile.
"Nothing so drastic I'm afraid. I just happened to dig up some dirt that will keep him away for a long time, if he values his freedom that is." Nabiki smiled evilly.
"It's a good thing we're on the same side. I'd hate to ever suffer your wrath." The doctor joked. "I need to get some ointment for Ranko's bruises before I send her home. I assume she'll be staying with your family for a while?"
Nabiki nodded, "Hopefully a loving family will bring her around. She's terrified, especially around men it seems."
The doctor nodded in agreement and went to his supply room.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Taidama!" Akane said closing the door behind her as the three girls entered the house.
As they entered the tea room three seated figures looked up. Soun and Kimiko sat on either side of Genma who looked very nervous indeed. Akane gave Genma a hateful glare and he shrank back as if he'd been hit. Ranko and Akane sat down on the opposite side of the table from the adults. Nabiki went over to her mother and together they went into the family room. Whispers could be heard for a couple of minutes before Kimiko came back in and sat down again katana in hand.
Nabiki ran upstairs and grabbed the thick sheaf of papers from the printer. Sitting down next to Kimiko she nodded for her mother to begin.
"Nabiki has informed me of Dr. Tofu's diagnosis. Based on his examination he has concluded that Ranko has suffered severe and prolonged physical and mental abuse and that Ranko herself has admitted that Mr. Saotome is the responsible party." Genma gave Ranko an angry look that made Ranko flinch. Kimiko continued, "He is fully prepared to testify in court if things take that route. However we all know how lenient the courts are to child and spousal abusers. The only option left is to remove the abuser from the abused. Genma Saotome, you are to leave this house and break off all contact with Ranko Saotome from this point on."
"LIKE HELL I WILL!" Genma exploded. "Come on Ranko. We're leaving. Now." He commanded.
Ranko moved to get up. However Kimiko's katana was once again at Genma's throat.
"I thought you might say something like that. However I have something that might change your mind. It appears that you have quite the history with the law. There seems to be at least twenty warrants out for your arrest across various districts of the country. It seems there are also a few bounties posted for skipping bail that add up to quite a sum of money, possibly enough for Ranko to go to college if we were to turn you in. Now I put this to you. You leave here and never return. If I catch you attempting to take Ranko away, I will either turn you in for the reward or I will kill you myself. It all depends on my mood at the time." Kimiko slowly removed the katana and re-sheathed it.
Genma hung his head in defeat, "Let me get my pack and I'll be gone."
A few minutes later Genma was walking down the street. It looked like it was going to rain again. "Damn them. This isn't over, not by a long shot." He muttered under his breath.
* * * * * * * * * *
End Chapter one.