...I have no idea from this point on...
[ IHNIFTPO ]
Ranma's Wish, Chapter 3
By Felix Webster ( Felix Warstar )
[felix_webster@telus.net]
All original Ranma ½ Characters Copyright Rumiko Takahashi (first
published by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by
Viz Communications), and are used without permission. Please don't
sue... cause I have no money.
" " - speech
* * - thoughts
( ) - other languages - Chinese mostly -
[ ] - Panda signs
- Pajama Party -
"Sorry it couldn't be longer..." Ranma-chan murmured as she turned
on her side away from Akane. Slowly opening her eyes she sat up
putting a hand on her forehead as she yawned, *Man, I'm having some
really weird dreams.*
Looking over at her sleeping friend made Ranma-chan smile to
herself, "But if I have something like that to wake up to I think I
can handle weird dreams."
Getting up she dressed quickly into her Gi and left as quietly as
she could. She headed towards the Dojo shaking her head, "I'm really
going to hate getting my own bed."
Thinking back to why she and her father were even really there made
the smile go away. She still wasn't sure that hiding from her mother
was a completely wise idea, but it would keep her father alive
longer. Sliding open the Dojo door she was surprised to find her
father sitting in the middle of the floor wearing his suit and
meditating.
"What's up Pop? You aren't warming up?"
"Ranma... We won't be sparring today," Genma opened his still red
and bleary eyes. It was obvious that he hadn't completely gotten over
the drinking from the night before.
Ranma-chan moved over and started to check her father's scalp, "Got
too strong of a hangover huh?"
Genma shook off his daughter's examination and winced from moving
too fast, "The hangover is besides the point girl!"
"Sure," Ranma-chan replied giving her father a small kiss on his
forehead, "So what's the problem then?"
"Soun has reminded me of my duty to my family," Genma stated
solemnly. He looked beaten mentally, "I will be going home to explain
our new problem to your mother today."
"I thought we both agreed that going home would be too dangerous
until we find cures!?!" Ranma-chan looked worried for her father's
safety.
"Yes we did, but it would be dishonourable of me to hide like that,"
Genma continued putting a hand up to stall his daughter's rebuke.
"Besides, my sabbatical time is up soon and I have a job to get back
to."
"You have never given more than lip service to honour, unless mother
says something about it," Ranma-chan replied through gritted teeth.
She had just gotten here, just made a real friend, how could he do
this to her!
"I've tried to be a good example for you, at least in the last few
years. . ." Genma looked wounded at Ranma-chan's stab at his honour.
"Pop, when we're on the road I know you do what you have to for us
to survive. And you've been very honourable in the last little while,
but. . . THIS COULD GET YOU KILLED!!!"
"She won't kill me... Both me and Soun hope the panda curse will be
considered penance by her for your curse," Genma said calmly as he
put an arm around his daughter who was hugging him in fear of losing
him.
Ranma-chan snapped her head up in shock, "But it wasn't your fault!
I knocked you into the springs first."
"And I should have noticed the change before letting you anywhere
near me to fall into another spring," Genma replied back sadly.
"I should have taken the warning in the guild book seriously!"
"We both should have, but we didn't believe in magical curses,"
Genma corrected her, "And after what my master put me through I
should have known better."
Ranma-chan snuggled into her father's embrace still very scared for
him, "We're doing it again. We keep trying to blame ourselves for
fate's actions."
"Fate only guides you to the moment of decision, from there what you
do is your own choice. Fate is not to blame for our decisions or
mistakes," Genma said softly," Our being cursed is our own fault for
disregarding all the warnings put before us."
"I guess... but I have a weird feeling that things like this has
happened to us before, and will again many times."
"Nothing like this has happened to me before," Genma replied giving
his daughter a confused look, "Were you changing into a boy before
this and didn't tell me?"
"Of course not!" Ranma-chan said with a giggle as she baby punched
her father's cheek, "That's why it's weird."
----------
Nabiki laid awake having heard their guest get up awhile ago. She
wasn't a morning person by any means but she had things on her mind
since last night. Also Ranma-chan's father was a very noisy person in
the morning and Nabiki didn't expect to get any more sleep if they
started sparring.
After a few minutes of quiet she got up in confusion, she padded her
way downstairs to see what was going on. In the livingroom she heard
loud talking coming from the Dojo so she moved quickly worried that
Ranma-chan and the girls's father were having an argument.
Nearing the Dojo she changed to a more sneaking movement as she
peeked in. All she saw was Ranma-chan and Genma sitting on the floor
hugging each other. Moving away from the door she could only envy the
girl, she couldn't remember the last time her father had done that
with her.
----------
Ranma-chan finally found her center again and pushed lightly away
from her father, "Okay I guess, I'll go get packed."
Genma chuckled softly as he looked at the depressed look on his
daughters face at doing that, "You're not coming."
"What?"
"You are already enrolled in the local school and have made friends
if I heard right about you and Akane having a sleep over tonight,"
Genma tried to look serious but ended up smiling. "Your mother and I
had planned to put you back into a regular school this year, and we
even considered this one. You are staying with the Tendo's."
"Wait a second! You two planned to send me to this school
anyways!?!" Ranma-chan said in shock as she bolted upright.
"It was one option..."
"YOU WERE NEVER PLANNING TO HIDE! You knew mother would come here
sooner or later just to check when we didn't come home!"
"It's not like that," Genma replied nervously waving his hands out
in front of himself. "I figured I would have several months to come
up with something or find a cure before she checked here."
"Idiot!" Ranma-chan bopped him on the head and stormed out of the
Dojo.
Genma gave a small smile to the leaving form of his daughter, "Just
like her mother."
---------
Ranma-chan wasn't really that angry at her father, but he could have
told her instead of letting her get scared for their lives. She may
not have gotten along with her mother very much in the past few
years, but not seeing her again for a long time was something she
didn't like about the plan to hide. Now she finds out that wasn't
going to be the situation and they really weren't hiding.
Walking into the livingroom Ranma-chan flopped herself onto the
Tendo's sofa near the TV. Looking over at Nabiki, who repositioned
herself after being rudely bounced. Ranma-chan smiled at the older
girl, "So you're a morning person too?"
"No," Nabiki replied annoyed.
"So why are you awake?"
"Because some son of a. . . panda is very loud when he gets up,"
Nabiki frowned as Ranma-chan continued to smile at her.
"Don't worry about that, Pop's going home today."
"What? Are you going too?" Nabiki asked seriously.
"Why, Don't want me here?" Ranma-chan countered lifting an eyebrow.
"It's not that," Nabiki replied quickly.
"Don't worry, I'm staying. I'm already enrolled here and I can't
really go back to my old school."
"Oh good. . . Akane will be happy about that," Nabiki leaned back
into the sofa. "Listen... I've got to talk to you about something,
but I really don't like giving away information for free."
"And if I refuse to pay?" Ranma-chan asked as she also leaned back
into the comfort of the sofa. The smells from the kitchen making her
hungry.
"It's important."
"Then I'll find out about it when it comes up. I don't listen to
rumours much anyways." Ranma-chan said seriously but smirked.
Nabiki shook her head, she was way too tired to put up a good
offensive and she wanted the girl to know, "Fine. I think... No, I
know Kuno has become fixated with you."
"Akane warned me that he got like that with her when she beat him,"
Ranma-chan replied shaking her head. "So is he giving up on Akane now?"
"I don't think so. His twisted little mind can't make those kind of
decisions very easily," Nabiki sounded very frosty.
"So he's going to continue chasing a girl who doesn't like him, and
start chasing a girl who can't like him that way," Ranma-chan frowned
not liking the idea. "And he doesn't seem to like me much as a guy
either."
"About that... How much do you plan to tell him?" Nabiki asked
trying not to look at the girl.
"How much have you already sold him?" Ranma-chan countered with a
smirk.
"Moi?" Nabiki asked in faux shock then narrowed her gaze at the red
head. "How'd you know?"
"Every school has a people like you, Nabiki. They'd probably fall
apart with out at least one," Ranma-chan chuckled as she explained.
"Some of them can be real scum."
"I haven't sold him any info yet," Nabiki crossed her arms looking
annoyed. " I didn't feel comfortable about doing that without talking
to you first for some reason... and that bothers me a lot."
"Huh, don't know why it should," Ranma-chan replied with a shrug.
"Tell him what you feel comfortable with, but if you make any money
off me I want a share."
Nabiki blinked at the girl in disbelief. Once again she was thrown
off guard by the red head.
"I'll let you know when you go too far," Ranma-chan gave Nabiki an
evil smile. "You don't want to go too far."
"I'm sure," Nabiki knew a threat when she heard one, but threats
made her go into ice queen mode not scare her.
"So... What are we going to do with Kuno and the 'Morning Maniacs'?"
Ranma-chan asked turning serious.
"Huh? What about them?" Nabiki replied trying to look innocent.
"I'm pretty sure you had a hand in encouraging Kuno so I want your
help getting him out of Akane's life," Ranma-chan stated firmly.
"I had nothing to do with that idiotic speech," Nabiki turned away
from the other girl's angry eyes. She was waking up more but not
enough the counter with her own nasty gaze. "I only suggested that if
he could beat her in 'honourable' combat she MIGHT agree to go out
with him."
"Knowing full well that he couldn't bring himself to go all out
against a girl," the smirk came back to Ranma-chan's face.
"Figured that out already, huh?"
"I'm only a little slower as a boy but I had a much harder time
against him yesterday after school," Ranma-chan turned serious again.
"I didn't count on how truly twisted Kuno's mind had become. He's
not always been so loopy... It must have been a really bad day for
his dementia," Nabiki replied sadly. "On his good days he can even be
charming."
"You liked him didn't you?"
Nabiki looked at the floor and sighed, it was way too early for this
kinda stuff... but she felt she needed to open up, at least once in
her life. "What's not to like, at least at a distance. He's handsome,
rich, and easy to manipulate. In our first year he wasn't so bad with
his dementia, but it's been going from bad to worse... And he won't
even get help."
"His getting worse is a very good reason to get him off his Akane
fixation. Before he loses it and decides to hurt Akane," Ranma-chan's
anger and concern were obvious even though her voice was as ice.
"I guess..."
"Don't guess! I know I can handle Kuno when he's full out, I might
get some bruises but he's no real threat to me. Akane isn't ready yet."
"Problem is he needs to fixate on someone or else the whole school
is in danger," Nabiki replied very seriously.
"Why don't you take him on? You seem to be able to deal with him
already."
"Won't work," Nabiki looked angry but the sadness was obvious in her
eyes. "He considers me a 'Fallen Woman'."
"What!? Why would that twisted little..." Ranma asked as a soft glow
surrounded her barely visible. After a few seconds it died down as
she calmed herself," Why would he think that?"
"Last year he tried coming on to me. He was very sweet about it too,
and unlike the other girls I responded in kind," Nabiki leaned back
again and stared at the ceiling taking careful measure to restrain
her emotions. "I should have known better... He had one of his worst
episodes while we were on a date. I suggested something and he
started accusing me of being a lot of very nasty things."
"That little bastard!" The glow was back and getting brighter.
"He snubbed me at school after that. He really doesn't remember what
truly happened so his mind filled in the blanks to fit what he
couldn't recall," Nabiki clenched her fist, then relaxed again. "He
only started to even talk to me again when I became his best avenue
to his new fixation. . . so I started gouging him in his pocket book."
"Well, we have to get him fixated on someone else."
"He already is. . . unfortunately it's you."
"And he still says he's in love with Akane. . ." Ranma-chan twisted
her lip in annoyance, ". . . Stupid little bastard."
----------
Kasumi moved away from the entrance of the kitchen with a smile on
her lips. There was hope for her middle sister after all.
----------
Breakfast was nothing like the morning before. Both Genma and his
daughter ate at a normal pace with no speed or fight. Nabiki sat
quietly and barely touched her food, she looked lost in thought.
Kasumi seemed happier than usual and that was hard to do. Akane
watched both guests and wondered if things would really be alright as
Uncle Saotome said they would be.
Finishing Akane looked at her friend and motioned Ranma-chan to
finish quickly. Ranma-chan put down her chopsticks and stood up. She
was dressed in another Chinese shirt and pants combo that Akane
couldn't help but wonder how the girl was going to get away with at
school again. "I'm done."
"Um okay, lets go. I don't want to be late today," Akane pulled
Ranma-chan out the door.
As soon as they came to the chain link fence Ranma-chan hopped up
and started her balance practice, her mind seemed elsewhere. Nabiki
took a few minutes to catch up with them which earned her a raised
eyebrow from Akane. The three continued on their way quietly.
As the school gates came into sight Akane sprinted forward not
noticing Ranma-chan leave the fence and follow right behind her. The
boys came into the open and both girls started attacking them.
Akane started to notice that the idiots weren't putting up the same
level of offensive that they normally did in the morning. Taking a
moment to look over the battlefield she saw a red blur knocking
several of the boys out of action causing Akane to get angry.
"RANMA!?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!" Akane screamed at the girl as she
slammed the back of her hand into one of the boy's face.
"I missed sparring with Pop this morning, I figured I could get a
workout here," Ranma-chan ducked a hockey stick as she smiled back at
Akane.
"This is MY FIGHT!"
"I know that. But you said you hated this so I'm cutting down the
problem," Ranma-chan moved her foot up quickly and slammed it into
another boy's jaw.
Akane stood in the center of the bodies laying everywhere and looked
at her friend in anger, "I can't believe that you don't think I can
handle them! I've been..."
Ranma-chan simply put two fingers over Akane's lips and talked as
calmly as she could, "I know you can handle them, I've watched you do
it, but you shouldn't have to do it alone. Friends help each other."
Akane's anger drained out as she looked into the serious blue eyes
of her friend. She was about to apologize when Ranma-chan blurred
again.
Standing two feet over and blocking Akane from the main stairs Ranma-
chan grabbed the projectile she had seen coming. Once again it was a
rose...
"What's with that stupid stick boy!?!" she asked the heavens and was
answered by a roll of thunder. "You don't know either huh?"
"As the sky will open up to cleanse this field of fools, who thought
to win either of the hearts of two beautiful flowers, so will the
heavens open up to shine on the goddesses before mine eyes."
"What are you going on about this time?" Ranma-chan asked as she put
the rose into her school bag carefully.
Nabiki had been whispering to her sister during this time causing
Akane's eyes to wide. Akane moved up beside Ranma-chan and tried to
explain, "Ranma... according to Nabiki's 'friends' Kuno has extended
his proclamation to include you in the morning battles."
Ranma-chan blinked at Akane, "You mean these idiots thought they
could date me if..."
"If they could best you in honourable combat my fiery tigress," Kuno
finished with an arrogant smile.
Ranma-chan spun on her heels to face the kendoist again, she
scrunched up her face and drew in a large breath, "You idiot! I'm a
LESBIAN!"
"I'd be more likely to date Mrs. Shouki in Home Ec. than some
idiotic testosterone driven boy!" Ranma-chan screamed directly into
Kuno's face. This of course caused several reactions including an
overweight middle-aged woman trying desperately to remind her co-
workers that she was a happily married heterosexual woman by showing
her wedding band and pictures of their two kids.
It also caused several people to think they had conformation about
Akane as the two seemed such good friends. These people showed their
thoughts in some very wicked smiles.
Nabiki and Akane simply slapped their foreheads.
"Nay, I say nay! It is but a ruse. One to make a suitor work all
that much harder to win the heart of such a dream!" Kuno said shaking
his head. He moved his bokken forward and stood in a ready position.
"Let it be known that Tatewaki Kuno accepts this challenge and any
others, whether they be man or woman; physical or spiritual to win
your love!"
Lightning flashed, thunder rolled and everyone moved for cover
including the two girls who were the center of attention. All but
Kuno, still in his grand pose of a true warrior, got inside before
the rain came.
-----------
The rest of the day was spent either fending off questions, hitting
people for making rude comments, or apologizing to Home Ec. teachers.
Lunch was quiet as Nabiki threatened to raise everyone's interest
rates if they bothered either girl.
Last period finished as Akane almost had to drag Ranma-chan out of
the school to meet up with Yuka and Sayuri at the front gates.
"So was that the big secret?" Yuka asked with a smile.
"Ah no, I don't bother to keep that a secret." Ranma-chan replied
waving off the question.
"Oh okay," Yuka said then turned to Akane, "We'll be at your place
by six, okay?"
"Sounds good," Akane waved as her friends walked off to their homes.
"See, you have a couple hours reprieve."
"And then freakdom," Ranma-chan replied as she leaned against the
school wall with a heavy thud. Two crows which were taking advantage
of a small pool burst into flight in fright and spread water
everywhere.
Ranma-kun looked down at his wet form then up at the retreating
crows and sighed in defeat as Akane giggled.
Akane grabbed his hand to pull him away from the wall and head home,
but she pulled to hard and Ranma-kun had to use her as a brace as he
came forward too fast.
"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Akane Tendo!"
Both Akane and Ranma-kun groaned loudly.
"I can not believe that you would try to push yourself on her two
days in a row! I thought I taught you the error of your ways
yesterday!" Kuno stood in a ready pose as he yelled at the other boy.
"Upperclassman Kuno, who I spent time with is my choice so please
mind your own business," Akane said as she moved slightly away from
Ranma-kun and blushed.
"I will not have this villain lay his filthy hands on such a pure
vision of beauty," Kuno cried out indigently ignoring Akane's
request. "I challenge you to fair combat!"
"Again?" Ranma-kun dusted himself off as he stood up from the
sitting position Akane's moving away from him had out him into.
"You'd think one beating would be enough?"
"Yes one would cur!" Kuno agreed obviously believing that he was the
one who gave the beating and the recipient of it.
"Ranma, we don't have the time. We have to get the house ready for
tonight," Akane said trying to pull Ranma-kun away from another fight.
"What's to get ready?" Ranma-kun asked then an evil smile came to
his mouth. "Oh yeah, my futon's going to be there today so I don't
have to sleep in your bed all the time."
Akane stopped moving out of shock then she spun around in anger, "I
thought you liked sleeping in my bed!?!"
It took less then a second to realize her mistake as everyone nearby
dropped from being earthshattering stunned, "I. . I. . I didn't mean
it that way!"
"YOU HAVE SULLIED THE BODY OF AKANE TENDO!" Kuno screamed as he
moved at almost blinding speed towards Ranma-kun with his bokken
swinging like a wild man.
Ranma-kun barely ducked the straight cut Kuno started with then had
to start dodging at full speed wishing he was a girl at the moment
for the extra speed, "She isn't Sullied! We haven't done anything!"
Kuno redoubled his attack as he swung at Ranma-kun time and time
again with out showing signs of tiring anytime soon. He hit once to
Ranma-kun's side while the boy dodging by turning around the pervious
attack and this caused the boy to double over for a moment giving
Kuno a good shot to Ranma-kun's neck. Ranma-kun caught the blade with
one hand as he twisted to face Kuno, both eyes blazed in fury and a
glow formed over him. Yanking the bokken out of Kuno's stunned hands
Ranma-kun broke the wooden blade by twisting his fingers and glared a
the kendoist with the power found there, "I would never hurt Akane.
And I will not see others try to either!"
Kuno stared into those eyes and stepped back slightly as fear came
to him for a brief moment. The voice was not the boy's. . . it was
too deep to be that of the boy coming into puberty as this boy,
muscular and handsome as he was already, was going through. The voice
held a boldness of power that he hadn't seen before in Ranma-kun.
Ranma-kun stood in a full stance as he glared at the taller boy and
then moved in a blur towards Kuno screaming, "Moko Takabisha!"
Everyone watching the fight only saw a sudden blight flash and then
the sight of Kuno flying in a straight line until the school building
stopped his path and then he almost went through that. Akane turned
towards the standing form of Ranma-kun whose glow was dimming fast
and the energy in his eyes blinking away. She had to run up and catch
the falling boy who looked like he had wiped himself with that move.
- - - -
Holding Ranma-chan's head in her lap Akane and Nabiki looked worried
at the still unconscious girl as they sat on Akane's bed. It had been
almost an hour since the fight, it took almost that time to get Ranma-
kun home with the help of Nabiki. They tried Dr. Tofu first but he
was out somewhere and a plate of cookies sat on one of his tables so
they quickly headed for home. Once there Kasumi made them change him
back into a girl then started to get something started downstairs
that was supposed to help get the girl's energy back up to safe levels.
"Why hasn't she woken up yet?" Akane asked again for about the tenth
time as she gave Nabiki a worried look.
"I don't know," Nabiki replied in annoyance giving her sister a cold
look trying to hide her worry. "I didn't know the last time you
asked, or the times before that."
"She is drained of her energy," Kasumi said calmly as she came in
with a steaming cup. "Lift her head and I'll make her drink this."
Akane complied quicky moving Ranma-chan into more of a sitting
position and watched nervously as Kasumi put the cup to Ranma-chan's
lips. Ranma-chan drank at the liquid as a hunger cub would from a
mother wolf then seemed to relax more in a comfort way instead of an
unconscious state, "I don't understand. . ."
"What ever Ranma did she wasn't ready to do it. She could have
killed herself if she was even slightly more tired," Kasumi replied
as she moved a blanket over the lower half of the red headed girl.
"Father taught me a recipe to make a sort of energy drink if he ever
got into a simular way defending us. He seems to know a few
techniques that might put him like this."
Before Akane to ask more about what her Dad could possibly know that
would cause something like this when Ranma-chan slowly opened her
eyes and moaned. Turning her attention to the girl Akane gave her an
angry look, "What the hell was that move you used! It nearly killed
you!"
"W. . What are you talking about?" Ranma-chan asked weakly not
understanding what was going on. "How did Kuno beat me?"
"Kuno didn't beat you, you sent him across the school yard and into
the building hard enough that it shook the whole place," Nabiki
replied snidely. "Then you fell down and almost died according to
Kasumi."
"How'd I beat him?" Ranma-chan looked very confused and ready to
sleep again.
"You started to glow and then ran at him and then a bright blue
light exploded around you causing Kuno to fly," Akane said still
looking worried.
"Oh. . . okay," Ranma-chan replied as she slipped back into sleep.
"She'll sleep about an hour but she will be weak for awhile after,"
Kasumi stated as both younger sisters look at her in concern then she
walked out of the room.
- - - -
Ranma-chan lifted her head a time later and blinked the sleep out of
her eyes. She didn't have the feeling of waking from an important
dream this time. . . if fact she didn't think she dreamed at all. She
was more tired then she could remember being for a long long time but
it was only in her body and not her mind so more sleep was out of the
question.
The room was dark and quiet so she slowly moved herself off Akane's
bed and started to walk for the door only to bump into a large wooden
object near the door. Rubbing her knee slightly she almost cursed the
sight of her new Futon waiting to be used, she just wasn't mentally
tired and she wished she was, "Damn, I guess I'm at the Tendo's."
Slowly making her way down stairs she walked to the hallway opening
into the livingroom-diningroom area and had to use the frame to hold
herself up, "Um. . Kasumi, could I have something to eat?"
Kasumi looked up from her tea and nodded without her usual smile
before getting up and walking into the kitchen. Nabiki sat in her
spot at the table and eyed the red haired girl in concern, "Are you
feeling better?"
"Not really, but thanks for the concern," Ranma-chan sat into her
seat with a thud as she couldn't control her decent. Trying to ignore
her condition she looked around not seeing her friend, "Where's Akane?"
"She's meeting her friends halfway to tell them about what
happened," Kasumi replied as she came back into the room carrying a
small plate with a bowl on it. Placing it in front of Ranma-chan she
gave the girl a serious look, "Now eat this all. It'll taste horrible
but it's the next thing you need to rebuild your energy."
"Great. . ." Ranma-chan sighed as she started to sip the soup then
cringed before continuing. "Tastes familiar. . . only a little better
then what Pop makes."
"I guess Daddy learned it from the same person that Uncle Saotome
did," Nabiki replied sniffing the steam then recoiled as if
confronting a skunk. "Who ever it was cooks like Akane."
"We're home!" came from the outer door as the sound of several
people came into the house.
"Speak of an Oni and. . ." Nabiki started rolling her eyes slightly
at the laughter coming from the outer room.
". . . And, Poof, three shall appear," Ranma-chan finished with a
weak smile as she put done the bowl.
"Ranma, you're up finally!" Akane said as she lead Yuka and Sayuri
into the livingroom, the smile on her face was a little strained.
"Are you feeling better?"
"A little," Ranma-chan shrugged slightly then mentally cursed how
tired she was again.
"Good," Akane replied with a grin. "Don't worry about tonight. . .
we decided on videos for our fun."
"Yeah, Akane said that you weren't feeling very well," Sayuri said
as she kneeled down beside the red haired girl. "I hope tonight isn't
going to be a problem with you."
"Nah, I'm awake but my body is a little out of it right now," Ranma-
chan smiled weakly at Sayuri then turned to look at Akane. "So,
whatcha get? Hopefully it isn't those awful romance movies."
"See, I told you that she wouldn't like those," Yuka playfully
punched Akane in the shoulder.
"We have one romance movie," Akane replied giving Ranma-chan a
challenging look, "it's an english movie called 'Princess Bride', and
we have several action movies."
"Sounds good," Ranma-chan slowly got up then was helped by Sayuri to
the sofa. Turning her head towards Nabiki who was setting up to leave
she smiled, "You going to join us or not?"
"Moi? I don't think I'd be welcome," Nabiki replied without looking
at the group.
"I don't think anyone would really mind. . . unless they owe you
money?" Ranma-chan looked at both new girls raising her eyebrows
waiting for some support.
"I don't mind," Sayuri said with a shrug. "The more the merrier."
Yuka and Akane looked at each other and then both shrugged before
Akane looked at her older sister, "Want to join us Nabiki?"
"I'm not really into action films. . . but why not," Nabiki replied
a little surprised.
"Good, we'll get Kasumi out here too when we play that romance
movie. . . I'm sure she'll enjoy the break from making us snacks all
night long," Ranma-chan smiled as she patted the stop next to her for
Nabiki to sit so she couldn't choose a seat secluded from the others.
"I've got some snacks," Yuka offered up the bag she was carrying as
she chose a spot on the floor in front of the sofa. "Mom always says
to never visit empty handed."
"Great, so what's first?" Ranma-chan asked as Akane pulled out
several video tapes.
- - - -
Several hours later Kasumi had left a large tray of snacks and had
gone off to bed after thanking Ranma-chan for insisting she watch the
movie, she expected to dream of handsome men going to great lengths
for her love and she had to hide the blush until well out of sight.
Nabiki was discussing the way that her old, and the four younger
girl's new, history teacher like to throw trick questions into his
little pre-tests to prepare for the standard ones giving by the
system when Sayuri brought up the reason they were there.
"So, um, Akane? Ranma? What was the big secret you couldn't tell us
at school?" Sayuri asked a little worried she was about to break the
good mood everyone was in.
Akane gave Ranma-chan a look and received a depressed nod before
going off into the kitchen. Ranma-chan shifted so she could look at
both girls then started, "You remember when Akane told you that I had
gone to China to train? Well that's where the problem started."
"Me and Pop where going to an ancient training grounds deep in the
dark of that country. . . I wish we never did as it messed up both of
our lives," Ranma-chan closed her eyes sadly as Akane came back out
with the kettle they asked Kasumi to leave on and a glass of water.
"There is a place called Jusenkyo that has hundreds of little springs
all over it. . . it was a very beautiful place, if not for the
curses. Our travel brochure explained the problems with the place but
Pop tried to save money and bought the one in Chinese. . . then
didn't give it to me to translate. It's not his fault though, neither
one of us believed the Guide we picked up to help find the place when
he warned us. You see, um, every one of the springs holds a curse
that passes to the person who falls into the water. . ."
"A curse? Magic's scary," Yuka said with a shudder acting like she
was only listening to a ghost story.
"Yeah, Magic's very scary," Ranma-chan replied with a frown before
she continued. "Pop fell in one first from me hitting him, then I
tripped into one. We both didn't understand what had happened at
first. . . then we thought the changes were permanent until the Guide
told us the truth. . ."
"Oh come on! I thought you where going to tell us something serious
like. . like. . like anything other then some ghost story," Sayuri
crossed her arms in annoyance not happy at her friend Akane.
"Akane, do it," Ranma-chan looked up slightly at the strong girl
behind her then felt the cold water pour over his head as the change
happened causing a couple of loud gasps from the other girls. She
reset her clothes as they didn't fit again before looking at Yuka and
Sayuri. "I fell into the Nannichuan spring, Spring of Drowned Boy,
and I change into a boy every time cold water touches me."
"wow," Yuka said quietly as she took in the handsome features of the
now male Ranma.
"Magic exists!?!" Sayuri asked almost in a panic also taking in the
new Ranma-kun.
"Evidently," Nabiki replied from the chair she had moved into after
the first movie to get more comfortable. "Ranma actually lucked out
with this curse, Uncle Saotome turns into a Panda."
"Akane? Could you please?" Ranma-kun asked again and Akane poured
the water from the kettle on him changing him back to herself causing
Ranma-chan to reset her now very lose clothing.
"Hot water changes her back," Akane finished the explanation holding
up the kettle to press the point.
"wow," Yuka said again still in a quiet tone as both girls blinked
at the change.
"Yeah, big wow," Ranma-chan replied sadly.
"Is this why you're a lesbian? You don't think any guy would want
you 'cause you become a guy from time to time?" Sayuri asked knowing
it was impolite but she wanted to know.
"No! I've was a lesbian long before this, and I couldn't care less
what some boy thought about this!" Ranma-chan protested loudly trying
to stand up but her body didn't want to comply and she fell back into
the sofa halfway through the movement.
"I'm sorry. . I didn't mean to. ." Sayuri started looking concerned
for the red-head who was obviously not doing well.
"It's okay, a lot of people get on me about why I 'chose' to be a
lesbian. . . I know some girls choose it 'cause of things that happen
in their lives, or as something different and new, but it didn't work
like that with me. I think I've always been this way," Ranma-chan
replied with a sad smile. "It's not like I don't find a boy cute from
time to time but I just don't think of them like the way other girls
do around me. I can't see myself living a happy life with any guy. .
at least none I've ever met."
"And you can see yourself living a happy life with some girl you've
met?" Nabiki asked in curiosity causing the other girls to look her
for a moment before turning back to Ranma-chan.
"Several girls over the years actually," Ranma-chan blushed slightly.
"I don't think her sexual choice should be an issue here," Akane
stated looking hard at her friends. "Ranma-chan is worried that
you'll think her a freak because of the curse. I've told her that
she's being silly and I know you well enough to know that you'll
accept her."
Yuka and Sayuri looked at each other and shrugged before looking at
Ranma-chan. Sayuri was the first to speak again, "Is there a cure?"
"Not really, the Guide said that the other spring may cure me, or it
may make things worse by combining the two curses to make a third
form even more sexually confusing," Ranma-chan shook her head as she
thanked the two failed tries to get to the other spring on that first
day.
"I don't see what the problem is, she's a very cute boy," Yuka smiled.
"Yes she is," Nabiki agreed as Sayuri and Akane gave odd looks to
the two girls.
"Maybe we could date from time to time?" Sayuri asked giving Ranma-
chan a nervous smile.
"But I'm really a girl no matter what my form looks like," Ranma-
chan replied confused as Akane tried not to respond in either
jealousy or laughter.
"What?" Ranma-chan asked as she looked up into Akane's face.
"You can tell her Akane," Sayuri said with another nervous smile.
Akane gave Sayuri a questioning look to get confirmation to what she
just heard indicating Nabiki's presence before sitting on the edge of
the sofa and looking down at Ranma-chan, "Sayuri is a lesbian too."
"Really?" Ranma-chan looked shocked at the girl with the short
brunet hair who simply nodded. Nabiki simply kept her mouth shut for
the moment.
"My reasons aren't as lofty as yours, mine is more of a choice,"
Sayuri said quietly trying not to dwell on the past. "At least my
Mother accepts it, even understands it sort of."
"Lucky you, my Mother puts up with it but she obviously hates it,"
Ranma-chan smiled back weakly.
"So, would you mind a date from time to time? I don't advertise that
I'm a lesbian so I don't get out on many dates and I could really use
a night out like that," Sayuri asked again then noticed the looks
from her two other friends. "It's not the same as having a night out
with friends. . . it's the intimacy."
"You've had more dates then I've had I could bet," Ranma-chan
replied with a more real smile. "But I don't see why not. . . as long
as Akane, Nabiki, or Kasumi don't mind that is."
"Huh, why do we have a say in this?" Akane asked confused, happy
that Ranma-chan had added her to the list of people who made a
difference in this idea, but confused none the less.
"Ranma is engaged to one of us, Akane, so her dating another girl
could look wrong to those who know about that," Nabiki rolled her
eyes as if she couldn't believe her little sister forgot that, but
inside she was laughing at what Ranma-chan was getting at.
"You're engaged to them!?! But you're all girls!?!" Yuka exclaimed
in shock as Sayuri fell over laughing as it hit her how it could
happen.
"It's our Fathers idea!" both Ranma-chan and Akane protested then
they looked at each other and started laughing too.
"I don't understand. . ." Yuka said even more confused why almost
everyone was laughing.
"Uncle Saotome made a pledge with Daddy to combine the two schools
by marriage. . . since Ranma can become a boy they reasoned that he
could marry one of us and produce heirs," Nabiki explained trying not
to laugh too. "Since Ranma is a lesbian it works out even better. But
Ranma is promised to us first so she really shouldn't be dating
anyone but us."
"Oh," Yuka replied not looking completely sure she understood.
"I don't see any problems with Ranma and Sayuri going out once in
awhile," Nabiki said with a smile. "I doubt Kasumi wants you that way
Ranma so she isn't really a consideration in this as she's not happy
with your 'life choice'. But I think that if you take Sayuri out on a
date you have to take me and Akane on equal amount of nights out."
"Hey! I don't know if I want to. . ." Akane started to protest when
Nabiki put a hand up to stop her as Ranma-chan's features were
showing signs of becoming depress.
"Ranma can be a boy on our dates. . . if we want. Besides the whole
school thinks you are dating Ranma-kun as it is so why not have some
fun with it," Nabiki continued then gave an evil smirk. "It'll drive
Kuno nuts to know you are dating Ranma-kun."
"It'll drive Kuno nuts to know I'm dating anyone," Ranma-chan cringed.
"Then it's settled," Nabiki smirked. "Ranma you are in for a lot of
fun soon."
"Yeah, right, fun," Ranma-chan looked dubious about that.
"Come on we have some more movies to watch," Akane said quickly not
sure she liked the idea either.
- - - -
Ranma looked around at the mist and cursed Kuno for ever being born
in any reality. The mists where their standard thickness and the
scene on the screen was that of all the girls, except Nabiki sleeping
on the sofa having passed out.
He didn't understand how he pushed through the barriers of the mind
to take control, and the control was only momentary, but he had do so
and it nearly cost Ranma-chan her life. He couldn't even figure out
why he had pushed at that moment but the urge just happened.
"That wasn't very bright, child," a scratch old voice stated from
behind him causing him to spin to face the old woman.
"What are you doing here!?!" Ranma demanded even as it confused him.
Standing before him was what he thought was Cologne, but a much older
one then he remembered. . . if that was even possible.
"I'm your Guide tonight, child, and as such I'm to answer your
questions," the old woman replied as she hopped over to the screen
and smiled. "It looks like you have even better luck with girls in
this world then you normally do."
"I don't have luck with girls at all! They either try ta kill me or
marry me!" Ranma protested as he sat down with arms and legs crossed
in annoyance.
"Yes but they rarely ask you if want to date them as these girls
did," the old woman chucked. "Except for the youngest Tendo girl, but
I believe that she will enjoy that too."
"The old man from the shop said Akane ain't a lesbian. . . and
Akane's Mother sorta confirmed that too," Ranma stated narrowing his
eyes at the very old woman. "Were they lying ta me?"
"No child they were not," the old woman chuckled again. "Just not
telling you everything."
"And what is 'everything'?" Ranma asked his agitation growing.
"Akane Tendo has been fighting with her desires since she met you,
as she is attracted to you both as a boy and as a girl," the old
woman replied as she stepped off her cane in front of Ranma. "She has
been raised to believe that things like lesbianism is not right, so
how so you think she feels knowing that she is feeling those things
for you as a girl and as a boy. . . and worse she is expected to have
those feeling for you."
Turning to look at the screen again she sighed sightly, "If only
Kasumi could have been a bit more like us this problem wouldn't have
happened."
"Whatcha mean us?" Ranma asked narrowing his eyes, the more he
looked at the old woman the less she looked like the Cologne he knew.
"Nothing, nothing child, it's of no importance anymore," the old
woman waved of the question quickly then turned serious. "So ask your
questions."
Ranma continued to narrow his eyes at the old woman but knew if she
was anything like the Cologne he knew she wouldn't answer what he
just asked, "Fine, is Kuno alright?"
"Yes child, he will be in bad shape for awhile but he will live
without any more permanent damage then there already was," the old
woman said trying to comfort the boy as he showed that this bothered
him greatly.
"How did I do it?" Ranma asked after sighing in relief. "And can I
do it again?"
"It was the first step of you and this Ranma becoming one," the old
woman said as smiled sadly at the boy. "You won't be able to do
something of that level for some time but when you can then you will
have accepted this world as your own and this life will be such."
"You mean I won't get my Akane back?" Ranma looked worried and
almost panicked.
"Your Akane? She's right there," the old woman pointed to the screen
behind her with a smirk on her dry lips. "She is the same as the
Akane who you left so she is 'your' Akane as much as the other was."
"But. . but I need ta know if she's doing okay or not," Ranma
protested as he stood again and looked down at the old woman getting
a touch mad.
"She is currently doing fine child," the old woman gave Ranma a real
smile. "She'll be fine as you will come back to her in some way or
another."
"I thought you said this was gonna be permanent?" Ranma looked
confused again. "How can I go back ta her if I'm stuck here?"
"Time will show you how child," the old woman smirked again then
hopped back on her staff looking ready to leave. "I believe that is
all the time we have child, as someone is about to wake you."
Ranma quickly looked at the screen to see what the old woman was
talking about but before he could focus on anything the entire place
started to blur and he started to disappear.
The old woman watched him vanish sadly and blew the place he was
standing a small kiss, "Until I'm allowed back my love."
- - - -
Author's Notes: Over six months! Ouch! I'm sorry to the people who
have been waiting for this. . . but I had written more then seven
more chapters on paper months ago and then went and lost the lot.
I've finally given up hope of finding the pages and have started to
wrote from scratch the chapters I needed to get back to. I hope that
the delay for the next chapter won't be anywhere near as bad but
other fics have me tied up a bit so I'm not sure. All I can say is
that if I post the fic on FFN then I do plan to continue it at some
time and not leave it hanging for ever (I hate it when other writers
do that so I shouldn't be guilty of it myself) I just have to learn
to start writing one shot fics instead of long plotted out fics like
this one.
I will leave comments about this chapter to you as I'll leave it to
you to e-mail me with the questions and then I'll try to answer them
in either the next AN or on the review page. I like C+C but flames
will be ignored completely as they do nothing but discourage a writer
from getting better.
[ IHNIFTPO ]
Ranma's Wish, Chapter 3
By Felix Webster ( Felix Warstar )
[felix_webster@telus.net]
All original Ranma ½ Characters Copyright Rumiko Takahashi (first
published by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by
Viz Communications), and are used without permission. Please don't
sue... cause I have no money.
" " - speech
* * - thoughts
( ) - other languages - Chinese mostly -
[ ] - Panda signs
- Pajama Party -
"Sorry it couldn't be longer..." Ranma-chan murmured as she turned
on her side away from Akane. Slowly opening her eyes she sat up
putting a hand on her forehead as she yawned, *Man, I'm having some
really weird dreams.*
Looking over at her sleeping friend made Ranma-chan smile to
herself, "But if I have something like that to wake up to I think I
can handle weird dreams."
Getting up she dressed quickly into her Gi and left as quietly as
she could. She headed towards the Dojo shaking her head, "I'm really
going to hate getting my own bed."
Thinking back to why she and her father were even really there made
the smile go away. She still wasn't sure that hiding from her mother
was a completely wise idea, but it would keep her father alive
longer. Sliding open the Dojo door she was surprised to find her
father sitting in the middle of the floor wearing his suit and
meditating.
"What's up Pop? You aren't warming up?"
"Ranma... We won't be sparring today," Genma opened his still red
and bleary eyes. It was obvious that he hadn't completely gotten over
the drinking from the night before.
Ranma-chan moved over and started to check her father's scalp, "Got
too strong of a hangover huh?"
Genma shook off his daughter's examination and winced from moving
too fast, "The hangover is besides the point girl!"
"Sure," Ranma-chan replied giving her father a small kiss on his
forehead, "So what's the problem then?"
"Soun has reminded me of my duty to my family," Genma stated
solemnly. He looked beaten mentally, "I will be going home to explain
our new problem to your mother today."
"I thought we both agreed that going home would be too dangerous
until we find cures!?!" Ranma-chan looked worried for her father's
safety.
"Yes we did, but it would be dishonourable of me to hide like that,"
Genma continued putting a hand up to stall his daughter's rebuke.
"Besides, my sabbatical time is up soon and I have a job to get back
to."
"You have never given more than lip service to honour, unless mother
says something about it," Ranma-chan replied through gritted teeth.
She had just gotten here, just made a real friend, how could he do
this to her!
"I've tried to be a good example for you, at least in the last few
years. . ." Genma looked wounded at Ranma-chan's stab at his honour.
"Pop, when we're on the road I know you do what you have to for us
to survive. And you've been very honourable in the last little while,
but. . . THIS COULD GET YOU KILLED!!!"
"She won't kill me... Both me and Soun hope the panda curse will be
considered penance by her for your curse," Genma said calmly as he
put an arm around his daughter who was hugging him in fear of losing
him.
Ranma-chan snapped her head up in shock, "But it wasn't your fault!
I knocked you into the springs first."
"And I should have noticed the change before letting you anywhere
near me to fall into another spring," Genma replied back sadly.
"I should have taken the warning in the guild book seriously!"
"We both should have, but we didn't believe in magical curses,"
Genma corrected her, "And after what my master put me through I
should have known better."
Ranma-chan snuggled into her father's embrace still very scared for
him, "We're doing it again. We keep trying to blame ourselves for
fate's actions."
"Fate only guides you to the moment of decision, from there what you
do is your own choice. Fate is not to blame for our decisions or
mistakes," Genma said softly," Our being cursed is our own fault for
disregarding all the warnings put before us."
"I guess... but I have a weird feeling that things like this has
happened to us before, and will again many times."
"Nothing like this has happened to me before," Genma replied giving
his daughter a confused look, "Were you changing into a boy before
this and didn't tell me?"
"Of course not!" Ranma-chan said with a giggle as she baby punched
her father's cheek, "That's why it's weird."
----------
Nabiki laid awake having heard their guest get up awhile ago. She
wasn't a morning person by any means but she had things on her mind
since last night. Also Ranma-chan's father was a very noisy person in
the morning and Nabiki didn't expect to get any more sleep if they
started sparring.
After a few minutes of quiet she got up in confusion, she padded her
way downstairs to see what was going on. In the livingroom she heard
loud talking coming from the Dojo so she moved quickly worried that
Ranma-chan and the girls's father were having an argument.
Nearing the Dojo she changed to a more sneaking movement as she
peeked in. All she saw was Ranma-chan and Genma sitting on the floor
hugging each other. Moving away from the door she could only envy the
girl, she couldn't remember the last time her father had done that
with her.
----------
Ranma-chan finally found her center again and pushed lightly away
from her father, "Okay I guess, I'll go get packed."
Genma chuckled softly as he looked at the depressed look on his
daughters face at doing that, "You're not coming."
"What?"
"You are already enrolled in the local school and have made friends
if I heard right about you and Akane having a sleep over tonight,"
Genma tried to look serious but ended up smiling. "Your mother and I
had planned to put you back into a regular school this year, and we
even considered this one. You are staying with the Tendo's."
"Wait a second! You two planned to send me to this school
anyways!?!" Ranma-chan said in shock as she bolted upright.
"It was one option..."
"YOU WERE NEVER PLANNING TO HIDE! You knew mother would come here
sooner or later just to check when we didn't come home!"
"It's not like that," Genma replied nervously waving his hands out
in front of himself. "I figured I would have several months to come
up with something or find a cure before she checked here."
"Idiot!" Ranma-chan bopped him on the head and stormed out of the
Dojo.
Genma gave a small smile to the leaving form of his daughter, "Just
like her mother."
---------
Ranma-chan wasn't really that angry at her father, but he could have
told her instead of letting her get scared for their lives. She may
not have gotten along with her mother very much in the past few
years, but not seeing her again for a long time was something she
didn't like about the plan to hide. Now she finds out that wasn't
going to be the situation and they really weren't hiding.
Walking into the livingroom Ranma-chan flopped herself onto the
Tendo's sofa near the TV. Looking over at Nabiki, who repositioned
herself after being rudely bounced. Ranma-chan smiled at the older
girl, "So you're a morning person too?"
"No," Nabiki replied annoyed.
"So why are you awake?"
"Because some son of a. . . panda is very loud when he gets up,"
Nabiki frowned as Ranma-chan continued to smile at her.
"Don't worry about that, Pop's going home today."
"What? Are you going too?" Nabiki asked seriously.
"Why, Don't want me here?" Ranma-chan countered lifting an eyebrow.
"It's not that," Nabiki replied quickly.
"Don't worry, I'm staying. I'm already enrolled here and I can't
really go back to my old school."
"Oh good. . . Akane will be happy about that," Nabiki leaned back
into the sofa. "Listen... I've got to talk to you about something,
but I really don't like giving away information for free."
"And if I refuse to pay?" Ranma-chan asked as she also leaned back
into the comfort of the sofa. The smells from the kitchen making her
hungry.
"It's important."
"Then I'll find out about it when it comes up. I don't listen to
rumours much anyways." Ranma-chan said seriously but smirked.
Nabiki shook her head, she was way too tired to put up a good
offensive and she wanted the girl to know, "Fine. I think... No, I
know Kuno has become fixated with you."
"Akane warned me that he got like that with her when she beat him,"
Ranma-chan replied shaking her head. "So is he giving up on Akane now?"
"I don't think so. His twisted little mind can't make those kind of
decisions very easily," Nabiki sounded very frosty.
"So he's going to continue chasing a girl who doesn't like him, and
start chasing a girl who can't like him that way," Ranma-chan frowned
not liking the idea. "And he doesn't seem to like me much as a guy
either."
"About that... How much do you plan to tell him?" Nabiki asked
trying not to look at the girl.
"How much have you already sold him?" Ranma-chan countered with a
smirk.
"Moi?" Nabiki asked in faux shock then narrowed her gaze at the red
head. "How'd you know?"
"Every school has a people like you, Nabiki. They'd probably fall
apart with out at least one," Ranma-chan chuckled as she explained.
"Some of them can be real scum."
"I haven't sold him any info yet," Nabiki crossed her arms looking
annoyed. " I didn't feel comfortable about doing that without talking
to you first for some reason... and that bothers me a lot."
"Huh, don't know why it should," Ranma-chan replied with a shrug.
"Tell him what you feel comfortable with, but if you make any money
off me I want a share."
Nabiki blinked at the girl in disbelief. Once again she was thrown
off guard by the red head.
"I'll let you know when you go too far," Ranma-chan gave Nabiki an
evil smile. "You don't want to go too far."
"I'm sure," Nabiki knew a threat when she heard one, but threats
made her go into ice queen mode not scare her.
"So... What are we going to do with Kuno and the 'Morning Maniacs'?"
Ranma-chan asked turning serious.
"Huh? What about them?" Nabiki replied trying to look innocent.
"I'm pretty sure you had a hand in encouraging Kuno so I want your
help getting him out of Akane's life," Ranma-chan stated firmly.
"I had nothing to do with that idiotic speech," Nabiki turned away
from the other girl's angry eyes. She was waking up more but not
enough the counter with her own nasty gaze. "I only suggested that if
he could beat her in 'honourable' combat she MIGHT agree to go out
with him."
"Knowing full well that he couldn't bring himself to go all out
against a girl," the smirk came back to Ranma-chan's face.
"Figured that out already, huh?"
"I'm only a little slower as a boy but I had a much harder time
against him yesterday after school," Ranma-chan turned serious again.
"I didn't count on how truly twisted Kuno's mind had become. He's
not always been so loopy... It must have been a really bad day for
his dementia," Nabiki replied sadly. "On his good days he can even be
charming."
"You liked him didn't you?"
Nabiki looked at the floor and sighed, it was way too early for this
kinda stuff... but she felt she needed to open up, at least once in
her life. "What's not to like, at least at a distance. He's handsome,
rich, and easy to manipulate. In our first year he wasn't so bad with
his dementia, but it's been going from bad to worse... And he won't
even get help."
"His getting worse is a very good reason to get him off his Akane
fixation. Before he loses it and decides to hurt Akane," Ranma-chan's
anger and concern were obvious even though her voice was as ice.
"I guess..."
"Don't guess! I know I can handle Kuno when he's full out, I might
get some bruises but he's no real threat to me. Akane isn't ready yet."
"Problem is he needs to fixate on someone or else the whole school
is in danger," Nabiki replied very seriously.
"Why don't you take him on? You seem to be able to deal with him
already."
"Won't work," Nabiki looked angry but the sadness was obvious in her
eyes. "He considers me a 'Fallen Woman'."
"What!? Why would that twisted little..." Ranma asked as a soft glow
surrounded her barely visible. After a few seconds it died down as
she calmed herself," Why would he think that?"
"Last year he tried coming on to me. He was very sweet about it too,
and unlike the other girls I responded in kind," Nabiki leaned back
again and stared at the ceiling taking careful measure to restrain
her emotions. "I should have known better... He had one of his worst
episodes while we were on a date. I suggested something and he
started accusing me of being a lot of very nasty things."
"That little bastard!" The glow was back and getting brighter.
"He snubbed me at school after that. He really doesn't remember what
truly happened so his mind filled in the blanks to fit what he
couldn't recall," Nabiki clenched her fist, then relaxed again. "He
only started to even talk to me again when I became his best avenue
to his new fixation. . . so I started gouging him in his pocket book."
"Well, we have to get him fixated on someone else."
"He already is. . . unfortunately it's you."
"And he still says he's in love with Akane. . ." Ranma-chan twisted
her lip in annoyance, ". . . Stupid little bastard."
----------
Kasumi moved away from the entrance of the kitchen with a smile on
her lips. There was hope for her middle sister after all.
----------
Breakfast was nothing like the morning before. Both Genma and his
daughter ate at a normal pace with no speed or fight. Nabiki sat
quietly and barely touched her food, she looked lost in thought.
Kasumi seemed happier than usual and that was hard to do. Akane
watched both guests and wondered if things would really be alright as
Uncle Saotome said they would be.
Finishing Akane looked at her friend and motioned Ranma-chan to
finish quickly. Ranma-chan put down her chopsticks and stood up. She
was dressed in another Chinese shirt and pants combo that Akane
couldn't help but wonder how the girl was going to get away with at
school again. "I'm done."
"Um okay, lets go. I don't want to be late today," Akane pulled
Ranma-chan out the door.
As soon as they came to the chain link fence Ranma-chan hopped up
and started her balance practice, her mind seemed elsewhere. Nabiki
took a few minutes to catch up with them which earned her a raised
eyebrow from Akane. The three continued on their way quietly.
As the school gates came into sight Akane sprinted forward not
noticing Ranma-chan leave the fence and follow right behind her. The
boys came into the open and both girls started attacking them.
Akane started to notice that the idiots weren't putting up the same
level of offensive that they normally did in the morning. Taking a
moment to look over the battlefield she saw a red blur knocking
several of the boys out of action causing Akane to get angry.
"RANMA!?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!" Akane screamed at the girl as she
slammed the back of her hand into one of the boy's face.
"I missed sparring with Pop this morning, I figured I could get a
workout here," Ranma-chan ducked a hockey stick as she smiled back at
Akane.
"This is MY FIGHT!"
"I know that. But you said you hated this so I'm cutting down the
problem," Ranma-chan moved her foot up quickly and slammed it into
another boy's jaw.
Akane stood in the center of the bodies laying everywhere and looked
at her friend in anger, "I can't believe that you don't think I can
handle them! I've been..."
Ranma-chan simply put two fingers over Akane's lips and talked as
calmly as she could, "I know you can handle them, I've watched you do
it, but you shouldn't have to do it alone. Friends help each other."
Akane's anger drained out as she looked into the serious blue eyes
of her friend. She was about to apologize when Ranma-chan blurred
again.
Standing two feet over and blocking Akane from the main stairs Ranma-
chan grabbed the projectile she had seen coming. Once again it was a
rose...
"What's with that stupid stick boy!?!" she asked the heavens and was
answered by a roll of thunder. "You don't know either huh?"
"As the sky will open up to cleanse this field of fools, who thought
to win either of the hearts of two beautiful flowers, so will the
heavens open up to shine on the goddesses before mine eyes."
"What are you going on about this time?" Ranma-chan asked as she put
the rose into her school bag carefully.
Nabiki had been whispering to her sister during this time causing
Akane's eyes to wide. Akane moved up beside Ranma-chan and tried to
explain, "Ranma... according to Nabiki's 'friends' Kuno has extended
his proclamation to include you in the morning battles."
Ranma-chan blinked at Akane, "You mean these idiots thought they
could date me if..."
"If they could best you in honourable combat my fiery tigress," Kuno
finished with an arrogant smile.
Ranma-chan spun on her heels to face the kendoist again, she
scrunched up her face and drew in a large breath, "You idiot! I'm a
LESBIAN!"
"I'd be more likely to date Mrs. Shouki in Home Ec. than some
idiotic testosterone driven boy!" Ranma-chan screamed directly into
Kuno's face. This of course caused several reactions including an
overweight middle-aged woman trying desperately to remind her co-
workers that she was a happily married heterosexual woman by showing
her wedding band and pictures of their two kids.
It also caused several people to think they had conformation about
Akane as the two seemed such good friends. These people showed their
thoughts in some very wicked smiles.
Nabiki and Akane simply slapped their foreheads.
"Nay, I say nay! It is but a ruse. One to make a suitor work all
that much harder to win the heart of such a dream!" Kuno said shaking
his head. He moved his bokken forward and stood in a ready position.
"Let it be known that Tatewaki Kuno accepts this challenge and any
others, whether they be man or woman; physical or spiritual to win
your love!"
Lightning flashed, thunder rolled and everyone moved for cover
including the two girls who were the center of attention. All but
Kuno, still in his grand pose of a true warrior, got inside before
the rain came.
-----------
The rest of the day was spent either fending off questions, hitting
people for making rude comments, or apologizing to Home Ec. teachers.
Lunch was quiet as Nabiki threatened to raise everyone's interest
rates if they bothered either girl.
Last period finished as Akane almost had to drag Ranma-chan out of
the school to meet up with Yuka and Sayuri at the front gates.
"So was that the big secret?" Yuka asked with a smile.
"Ah no, I don't bother to keep that a secret." Ranma-chan replied
waving off the question.
"Oh okay," Yuka said then turned to Akane, "We'll be at your place
by six, okay?"
"Sounds good," Akane waved as her friends walked off to their homes.
"See, you have a couple hours reprieve."
"And then freakdom," Ranma-chan replied as she leaned against the
school wall with a heavy thud. Two crows which were taking advantage
of a small pool burst into flight in fright and spread water
everywhere.
Ranma-kun looked down at his wet form then up at the retreating
crows and sighed in defeat as Akane giggled.
Akane grabbed his hand to pull him away from the wall and head home,
but she pulled to hard and Ranma-kun had to use her as a brace as he
came forward too fast.
"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Akane Tendo!"
Both Akane and Ranma-kun groaned loudly.
"I can not believe that you would try to push yourself on her two
days in a row! I thought I taught you the error of your ways
yesterday!" Kuno stood in a ready pose as he yelled at the other boy.
"Upperclassman Kuno, who I spent time with is my choice so please
mind your own business," Akane said as she moved slightly away from
Ranma-kun and blushed.
"I will not have this villain lay his filthy hands on such a pure
vision of beauty," Kuno cried out indigently ignoring Akane's
request. "I challenge you to fair combat!"
"Again?" Ranma-kun dusted himself off as he stood up from the
sitting position Akane's moving away from him had out him into.
"You'd think one beating would be enough?"
"Yes one would cur!" Kuno agreed obviously believing that he was the
one who gave the beating and the recipient of it.
"Ranma, we don't have the time. We have to get the house ready for
tonight," Akane said trying to pull Ranma-kun away from another fight.
"What's to get ready?" Ranma-kun asked then an evil smile came to
his mouth. "Oh yeah, my futon's going to be there today so I don't
have to sleep in your bed all the time."
Akane stopped moving out of shock then she spun around in anger, "I
thought you liked sleeping in my bed!?!"
It took less then a second to realize her mistake as everyone nearby
dropped from being earthshattering stunned, "I. . I. . I didn't mean
it that way!"
"YOU HAVE SULLIED THE BODY OF AKANE TENDO!" Kuno screamed as he
moved at almost blinding speed towards Ranma-kun with his bokken
swinging like a wild man.
Ranma-kun barely ducked the straight cut Kuno started with then had
to start dodging at full speed wishing he was a girl at the moment
for the extra speed, "She isn't Sullied! We haven't done anything!"
Kuno redoubled his attack as he swung at Ranma-kun time and time
again with out showing signs of tiring anytime soon. He hit once to
Ranma-kun's side while the boy dodging by turning around the pervious
attack and this caused the boy to double over for a moment giving
Kuno a good shot to Ranma-kun's neck. Ranma-kun caught the blade with
one hand as he twisted to face Kuno, both eyes blazed in fury and a
glow formed over him. Yanking the bokken out of Kuno's stunned hands
Ranma-kun broke the wooden blade by twisting his fingers and glared a
the kendoist with the power found there, "I would never hurt Akane.
And I will not see others try to either!"
Kuno stared into those eyes and stepped back slightly as fear came
to him for a brief moment. The voice was not the boy's. . . it was
too deep to be that of the boy coming into puberty as this boy,
muscular and handsome as he was already, was going through. The voice
held a boldness of power that he hadn't seen before in Ranma-kun.
Ranma-kun stood in a full stance as he glared at the taller boy and
then moved in a blur towards Kuno screaming, "Moko Takabisha!"
Everyone watching the fight only saw a sudden blight flash and then
the sight of Kuno flying in a straight line until the school building
stopped his path and then he almost went through that. Akane turned
towards the standing form of Ranma-kun whose glow was dimming fast
and the energy in his eyes blinking away. She had to run up and catch
the falling boy who looked like he had wiped himself with that move.
- - - -
Holding Ranma-chan's head in her lap Akane and Nabiki looked worried
at the still unconscious girl as they sat on Akane's bed. It had been
almost an hour since the fight, it took almost that time to get Ranma-
kun home with the help of Nabiki. They tried Dr. Tofu first but he
was out somewhere and a plate of cookies sat on one of his tables so
they quickly headed for home. Once there Kasumi made them change him
back into a girl then started to get something started downstairs
that was supposed to help get the girl's energy back up to safe levels.
"Why hasn't she woken up yet?" Akane asked again for about the tenth
time as she gave Nabiki a worried look.
"I don't know," Nabiki replied in annoyance giving her sister a cold
look trying to hide her worry. "I didn't know the last time you
asked, or the times before that."
"She is drained of her energy," Kasumi said calmly as she came in
with a steaming cup. "Lift her head and I'll make her drink this."
Akane complied quicky moving Ranma-chan into more of a sitting
position and watched nervously as Kasumi put the cup to Ranma-chan's
lips. Ranma-chan drank at the liquid as a hunger cub would from a
mother wolf then seemed to relax more in a comfort way instead of an
unconscious state, "I don't understand. . ."
"What ever Ranma did she wasn't ready to do it. She could have
killed herself if she was even slightly more tired," Kasumi replied
as she moved a blanket over the lower half of the red headed girl.
"Father taught me a recipe to make a sort of energy drink if he ever
got into a simular way defending us. He seems to know a few
techniques that might put him like this."
Before Akane to ask more about what her Dad could possibly know that
would cause something like this when Ranma-chan slowly opened her
eyes and moaned. Turning her attention to the girl Akane gave her an
angry look, "What the hell was that move you used! It nearly killed
you!"
"W. . What are you talking about?" Ranma-chan asked weakly not
understanding what was going on. "How did Kuno beat me?"
"Kuno didn't beat you, you sent him across the school yard and into
the building hard enough that it shook the whole place," Nabiki
replied snidely. "Then you fell down and almost died according to
Kasumi."
"How'd I beat him?" Ranma-chan looked very confused and ready to
sleep again.
"You started to glow and then ran at him and then a bright blue
light exploded around you causing Kuno to fly," Akane said still
looking worried.
"Oh. . . okay," Ranma-chan replied as she slipped back into sleep.
"She'll sleep about an hour but she will be weak for awhile after,"
Kasumi stated as both younger sisters look at her in concern then she
walked out of the room.
- - - -
Ranma-chan lifted her head a time later and blinked the sleep out of
her eyes. She didn't have the feeling of waking from an important
dream this time. . . if fact she didn't think she dreamed at all. She
was more tired then she could remember being for a long long time but
it was only in her body and not her mind so more sleep was out of the
question.
The room was dark and quiet so she slowly moved herself off Akane's
bed and started to walk for the door only to bump into a large wooden
object near the door. Rubbing her knee slightly she almost cursed the
sight of her new Futon waiting to be used, she just wasn't mentally
tired and she wished she was, "Damn, I guess I'm at the Tendo's."
Slowly making her way down stairs she walked to the hallway opening
into the livingroom-diningroom area and had to use the frame to hold
herself up, "Um. . Kasumi, could I have something to eat?"
Kasumi looked up from her tea and nodded without her usual smile
before getting up and walking into the kitchen. Nabiki sat in her
spot at the table and eyed the red haired girl in concern, "Are you
feeling better?"
"Not really, but thanks for the concern," Ranma-chan sat into her
seat with a thud as she couldn't control her decent. Trying to ignore
her condition she looked around not seeing her friend, "Where's Akane?"
"She's meeting her friends halfway to tell them about what
happened," Kasumi replied as she came back into the room carrying a
small plate with a bowl on it. Placing it in front of Ranma-chan she
gave the girl a serious look, "Now eat this all. It'll taste horrible
but it's the next thing you need to rebuild your energy."
"Great. . ." Ranma-chan sighed as she started to sip the soup then
cringed before continuing. "Tastes familiar. . . only a little better
then what Pop makes."
"I guess Daddy learned it from the same person that Uncle Saotome
did," Nabiki replied sniffing the steam then recoiled as if
confronting a skunk. "Who ever it was cooks like Akane."
"We're home!" came from the outer door as the sound of several
people came into the house.
"Speak of an Oni and. . ." Nabiki started rolling her eyes slightly
at the laughter coming from the outer room.
". . . And, Poof, three shall appear," Ranma-chan finished with a
weak smile as she put done the bowl.
"Ranma, you're up finally!" Akane said as she lead Yuka and Sayuri
into the livingroom, the smile on her face was a little strained.
"Are you feeling better?"
"A little," Ranma-chan shrugged slightly then mentally cursed how
tired she was again.
"Good," Akane replied with a grin. "Don't worry about tonight. . .
we decided on videos for our fun."
"Yeah, Akane said that you weren't feeling very well," Sayuri said
as she kneeled down beside the red haired girl. "I hope tonight isn't
going to be a problem with you."
"Nah, I'm awake but my body is a little out of it right now," Ranma-
chan smiled weakly at Sayuri then turned to look at Akane. "So,
whatcha get? Hopefully it isn't those awful romance movies."
"See, I told you that she wouldn't like those," Yuka playfully
punched Akane in the shoulder.
"We have one romance movie," Akane replied giving Ranma-chan a
challenging look, "it's an english movie called 'Princess Bride', and
we have several action movies."
"Sounds good," Ranma-chan slowly got up then was helped by Sayuri to
the sofa. Turning her head towards Nabiki who was setting up to leave
she smiled, "You going to join us or not?"
"Moi? I don't think I'd be welcome," Nabiki replied without looking
at the group.
"I don't think anyone would really mind. . . unless they owe you
money?" Ranma-chan looked at both new girls raising her eyebrows
waiting for some support.
"I don't mind," Sayuri said with a shrug. "The more the merrier."
Yuka and Akane looked at each other and then both shrugged before
Akane looked at her older sister, "Want to join us Nabiki?"
"I'm not really into action films. . . but why not," Nabiki replied
a little surprised.
"Good, we'll get Kasumi out here too when we play that romance
movie. . . I'm sure she'll enjoy the break from making us snacks all
night long," Ranma-chan smiled as she patted the stop next to her for
Nabiki to sit so she couldn't choose a seat secluded from the others.
"I've got some snacks," Yuka offered up the bag she was carrying as
she chose a spot on the floor in front of the sofa. "Mom always says
to never visit empty handed."
"Great, so what's first?" Ranma-chan asked as Akane pulled out
several video tapes.
- - - -
Several hours later Kasumi had left a large tray of snacks and had
gone off to bed after thanking Ranma-chan for insisting she watch the
movie, she expected to dream of handsome men going to great lengths
for her love and she had to hide the blush until well out of sight.
Nabiki was discussing the way that her old, and the four younger
girl's new, history teacher like to throw trick questions into his
little pre-tests to prepare for the standard ones giving by the
system when Sayuri brought up the reason they were there.
"So, um, Akane? Ranma? What was the big secret you couldn't tell us
at school?" Sayuri asked a little worried she was about to break the
good mood everyone was in.
Akane gave Ranma-chan a look and received a depressed nod before
going off into the kitchen. Ranma-chan shifted so she could look at
both girls then started, "You remember when Akane told you that I had
gone to China to train? Well that's where the problem started."
"Me and Pop where going to an ancient training grounds deep in the
dark of that country. . . I wish we never did as it messed up both of
our lives," Ranma-chan closed her eyes sadly as Akane came back out
with the kettle they asked Kasumi to leave on and a glass of water.
"There is a place called Jusenkyo that has hundreds of little springs
all over it. . . it was a very beautiful place, if not for the
curses. Our travel brochure explained the problems with the place but
Pop tried to save money and bought the one in Chinese. . . then
didn't give it to me to translate. It's not his fault though, neither
one of us believed the Guide we picked up to help find the place when
he warned us. You see, um, every one of the springs holds a curse
that passes to the person who falls into the water. . ."
"A curse? Magic's scary," Yuka said with a shudder acting like she
was only listening to a ghost story.
"Yeah, Magic's very scary," Ranma-chan replied with a frown before
she continued. "Pop fell in one first from me hitting him, then I
tripped into one. We both didn't understand what had happened at
first. . . then we thought the changes were permanent until the Guide
told us the truth. . ."
"Oh come on! I thought you where going to tell us something serious
like. . like. . like anything other then some ghost story," Sayuri
crossed her arms in annoyance not happy at her friend Akane.
"Akane, do it," Ranma-chan looked up slightly at the strong girl
behind her then felt the cold water pour over his head as the change
happened causing a couple of loud gasps from the other girls. She
reset her clothes as they didn't fit again before looking at Yuka and
Sayuri. "I fell into the Nannichuan spring, Spring of Drowned Boy,
and I change into a boy every time cold water touches me."
"wow," Yuka said quietly as she took in the handsome features of the
now male Ranma.
"Magic exists!?!" Sayuri asked almost in a panic also taking in the
new Ranma-kun.
"Evidently," Nabiki replied from the chair she had moved into after
the first movie to get more comfortable. "Ranma actually lucked out
with this curse, Uncle Saotome turns into a Panda."
"Akane? Could you please?" Ranma-kun asked again and Akane poured
the water from the kettle on him changing him back to herself causing
Ranma-chan to reset her now very lose clothing.
"Hot water changes her back," Akane finished the explanation holding
up the kettle to press the point.
"wow," Yuka said again still in a quiet tone as both girls blinked
at the change.
"Yeah, big wow," Ranma-chan replied sadly.
"Is this why you're a lesbian? You don't think any guy would want
you 'cause you become a guy from time to time?" Sayuri asked knowing
it was impolite but she wanted to know.
"No! I've was a lesbian long before this, and I couldn't care less
what some boy thought about this!" Ranma-chan protested loudly trying
to stand up but her body didn't want to comply and she fell back into
the sofa halfway through the movement.
"I'm sorry. . I didn't mean to. ." Sayuri started looking concerned
for the red-head who was obviously not doing well.
"It's okay, a lot of people get on me about why I 'chose' to be a
lesbian. . . I know some girls choose it 'cause of things that happen
in their lives, or as something different and new, but it didn't work
like that with me. I think I've always been this way," Ranma-chan
replied with a sad smile. "It's not like I don't find a boy cute from
time to time but I just don't think of them like the way other girls
do around me. I can't see myself living a happy life with any guy. .
at least none I've ever met."
"And you can see yourself living a happy life with some girl you've
met?" Nabiki asked in curiosity causing the other girls to look her
for a moment before turning back to Ranma-chan.
"Several girls over the years actually," Ranma-chan blushed slightly.
"I don't think her sexual choice should be an issue here," Akane
stated looking hard at her friends. "Ranma-chan is worried that
you'll think her a freak because of the curse. I've told her that
she's being silly and I know you well enough to know that you'll
accept her."
Yuka and Sayuri looked at each other and shrugged before looking at
Ranma-chan. Sayuri was the first to speak again, "Is there a cure?"
"Not really, the Guide said that the other spring may cure me, or it
may make things worse by combining the two curses to make a third
form even more sexually confusing," Ranma-chan shook her head as she
thanked the two failed tries to get to the other spring on that first
day.
"I don't see what the problem is, she's a very cute boy," Yuka smiled.
"Yes she is," Nabiki agreed as Sayuri and Akane gave odd looks to
the two girls.
"Maybe we could date from time to time?" Sayuri asked giving Ranma-
chan a nervous smile.
"But I'm really a girl no matter what my form looks like," Ranma-
chan replied confused as Akane tried not to respond in either
jealousy or laughter.
"What?" Ranma-chan asked as she looked up into Akane's face.
"You can tell her Akane," Sayuri said with another nervous smile.
Akane gave Sayuri a questioning look to get confirmation to what she
just heard indicating Nabiki's presence before sitting on the edge of
the sofa and looking down at Ranma-chan, "Sayuri is a lesbian too."
"Really?" Ranma-chan looked shocked at the girl with the short
brunet hair who simply nodded. Nabiki simply kept her mouth shut for
the moment.
"My reasons aren't as lofty as yours, mine is more of a choice,"
Sayuri said quietly trying not to dwell on the past. "At least my
Mother accepts it, even understands it sort of."
"Lucky you, my Mother puts up with it but she obviously hates it,"
Ranma-chan smiled back weakly.
"So, would you mind a date from time to time? I don't advertise that
I'm a lesbian so I don't get out on many dates and I could really use
a night out like that," Sayuri asked again then noticed the looks
from her two other friends. "It's not the same as having a night out
with friends. . . it's the intimacy."
"You've had more dates then I've had I could bet," Ranma-chan
replied with a more real smile. "But I don't see why not. . . as long
as Akane, Nabiki, or Kasumi don't mind that is."
"Huh, why do we have a say in this?" Akane asked confused, happy
that Ranma-chan had added her to the list of people who made a
difference in this idea, but confused none the less.
"Ranma is engaged to one of us, Akane, so her dating another girl
could look wrong to those who know about that," Nabiki rolled her
eyes as if she couldn't believe her little sister forgot that, but
inside she was laughing at what Ranma-chan was getting at.
"You're engaged to them!?! But you're all girls!?!" Yuka exclaimed
in shock as Sayuri fell over laughing as it hit her how it could
happen.
"It's our Fathers idea!" both Ranma-chan and Akane protested then
they looked at each other and started laughing too.
"I don't understand. . ." Yuka said even more confused why almost
everyone was laughing.
"Uncle Saotome made a pledge with Daddy to combine the two schools
by marriage. . . since Ranma can become a boy they reasoned that he
could marry one of us and produce heirs," Nabiki explained trying not
to laugh too. "Since Ranma is a lesbian it works out even better. But
Ranma is promised to us first so she really shouldn't be dating
anyone but us."
"Oh," Yuka replied not looking completely sure she understood.
"I don't see any problems with Ranma and Sayuri going out once in
awhile," Nabiki said with a smile. "I doubt Kasumi wants you that way
Ranma so she isn't really a consideration in this as she's not happy
with your 'life choice'. But I think that if you take Sayuri out on a
date you have to take me and Akane on equal amount of nights out."
"Hey! I don't know if I want to. . ." Akane started to protest when
Nabiki put a hand up to stop her as Ranma-chan's features were
showing signs of becoming depress.
"Ranma can be a boy on our dates. . . if we want. Besides the whole
school thinks you are dating Ranma-kun as it is so why not have some
fun with it," Nabiki continued then gave an evil smirk. "It'll drive
Kuno nuts to know you are dating Ranma-kun."
"It'll drive Kuno nuts to know I'm dating anyone," Ranma-chan cringed.
"Then it's settled," Nabiki smirked. "Ranma you are in for a lot of
fun soon."
"Yeah, right, fun," Ranma-chan looked dubious about that.
"Come on we have some more movies to watch," Akane said quickly not
sure she liked the idea either.
- - - -
Ranma looked around at the mist and cursed Kuno for ever being born
in any reality. The mists where their standard thickness and the
scene on the screen was that of all the girls, except Nabiki sleeping
on the sofa having passed out.
He didn't understand how he pushed through the barriers of the mind
to take control, and the control was only momentary, but he had do so
and it nearly cost Ranma-chan her life. He couldn't even figure out
why he had pushed at that moment but the urge just happened.
"That wasn't very bright, child," a scratch old voice stated from
behind him causing him to spin to face the old woman.
"What are you doing here!?!" Ranma demanded even as it confused him.
Standing before him was what he thought was Cologne, but a much older
one then he remembered. . . if that was even possible.
"I'm your Guide tonight, child, and as such I'm to answer your
questions," the old woman replied as she hopped over to the screen
and smiled. "It looks like you have even better luck with girls in
this world then you normally do."
"I don't have luck with girls at all! They either try ta kill me or
marry me!" Ranma protested as he sat down with arms and legs crossed
in annoyance.
"Yes but they rarely ask you if want to date them as these girls
did," the old woman chucked. "Except for the youngest Tendo girl, but
I believe that she will enjoy that too."
"The old man from the shop said Akane ain't a lesbian. . . and
Akane's Mother sorta confirmed that too," Ranma stated narrowing his
eyes at the very old woman. "Were they lying ta me?"
"No child they were not," the old woman chuckled again. "Just not
telling you everything."
"And what is 'everything'?" Ranma asked his agitation growing.
"Akane Tendo has been fighting with her desires since she met you,
as she is attracted to you both as a boy and as a girl," the old
woman replied as she stepped off her cane in front of Ranma. "She has
been raised to believe that things like lesbianism is not right, so
how so you think she feels knowing that she is feeling those things
for you as a girl and as a boy. . . and worse she is expected to have
those feeling for you."
Turning to look at the screen again she sighed sightly, "If only
Kasumi could have been a bit more like us this problem wouldn't have
happened."
"Whatcha mean us?" Ranma asked narrowing his eyes, the more he
looked at the old woman the less she looked like the Cologne he knew.
"Nothing, nothing child, it's of no importance anymore," the old
woman waved of the question quickly then turned serious. "So ask your
questions."
Ranma continued to narrow his eyes at the old woman but knew if she
was anything like the Cologne he knew she wouldn't answer what he
just asked, "Fine, is Kuno alright?"
"Yes child, he will be in bad shape for awhile but he will live
without any more permanent damage then there already was," the old
woman said trying to comfort the boy as he showed that this bothered
him greatly.
"How did I do it?" Ranma asked after sighing in relief. "And can I
do it again?"
"It was the first step of you and this Ranma becoming one," the old
woman said as smiled sadly at the boy. "You won't be able to do
something of that level for some time but when you can then you will
have accepted this world as your own and this life will be such."
"You mean I won't get my Akane back?" Ranma looked worried and
almost panicked.
"Your Akane? She's right there," the old woman pointed to the screen
behind her with a smirk on her dry lips. "She is the same as the
Akane who you left so she is 'your' Akane as much as the other was."
"But. . but I need ta know if she's doing okay or not," Ranma
protested as he stood again and looked down at the old woman getting
a touch mad.
"She is currently doing fine child," the old woman gave Ranma a real
smile. "She'll be fine as you will come back to her in some way or
another."
"I thought you said this was gonna be permanent?" Ranma looked
confused again. "How can I go back ta her if I'm stuck here?"
"Time will show you how child," the old woman smirked again then
hopped back on her staff looking ready to leave. "I believe that is
all the time we have child, as someone is about to wake you."
Ranma quickly looked at the screen to see what the old woman was
talking about but before he could focus on anything the entire place
started to blur and he started to disappear.
The old woman watched him vanish sadly and blew the place he was
standing a small kiss, "Until I'm allowed back my love."
- - - -
Author's Notes: Over six months! Ouch! I'm sorry to the people who
have been waiting for this. . . but I had written more then seven
more chapters on paper months ago and then went and lost the lot.
I've finally given up hope of finding the pages and have started to
wrote from scratch the chapters I needed to get back to. I hope that
the delay for the next chapter won't be anywhere near as bad but
other fics have me tied up a bit so I'm not sure. All I can say is
that if I post the fic on FFN then I do plan to continue it at some
time and not leave it hanging for ever (I hate it when other writers
do that so I shouldn't be guilty of it myself) I just have to learn
to start writing one shot fics instead of long plotted out fics like
this one.
I will leave comments about this chapter to you as I'll leave it to
you to e-mail me with the questions and then I'll try to answer them
in either the next AN or on the review page. I like C+C but flames
will be ignored completely as they do nothing but discourage a writer
from getting better.