Drowned Girl Part 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma or any of the character of Ranma ½ anime. I'm new to the wonderful world of Ranma1/2 if I get any detail of event wrong from the show forgive me.
The Tendo's household had not quite recovered from the shock of this latest development, in their never-ending struggle with the unusual. Akane watched the girl the sat next to Ranma. From the time she was forcefully engaged to Ranma she has almost gotten use to the ideal that he turned into a beautiful girl when dosed with cold water. But Ranma was Ranma regardless of his sex. He always had the air of cockiness, strength, stubbornness, with just the tiniest bit of compassion for others. Akane could see those characteristics in both his male for and female form. Akane Half listened to Ranma's story while she studied Xiao. When Ranma first told them that he has somehow split from his female half. And that the sprit of the Girl that first drowned in that Pool where Ranma was curse. now occupied his female form. Akane thought this was another one of Ranma stupid jokes. As Ranma told them of the events of the day, and Akane watched the young red haired girl, she came to believe him. Although Xiao looked like the "Female Ranma" she has grown accustomed to, she seemed totally different in nature. Xiao seemed more demure, soft spoken and at much as Akane hated thinking in terms of stereotypes, she was more female then Ranma acted when he was curse with her body.
As Ranma finished telling his tale, and what he learned of Xiao history from Cologne, Her father finally spoke up saying, "A most unusual care of reincarnation." He paused and rubbed his chin seeming to think of something. "Well Xiao if no one has done it yet. Please allow me to be the first to welcome you to not only our country but our century." Xiao looked at Ranma doubtfully, Akane didn't blame her for being uncertain. The Girl seemed to have been put through a lot, and she was sure there were parts of her story that Ranma was deleting. Akane watched as Ranma put a comforting hand on Xiao arm and nodded, seeming to assure her the her fathers words were to be trusted. Akane lips pursed a little, why was this girl so attached to Ranma? For as long at Akane had known Ranma he had never seemed this gentle with her or any other female he associated with. Why was Ranma being so uncharacteristically kind and gentle with Xiao? More importantly why was it bothering her so much? Its not like she really cared what Ranma did. Did she? Her father spoke up once more giving her the opportunity not to explore her feeling on the mater. Mr. Tendo said. "I think we should make a few Introductions." Smiling at Xiao he said, "This is my eldest Daughter Kasumi." Kasumi smile welcomingly at Xiao "My middle child Nabiki" Akane other sister smiled a bit, No doubt wondering if there was some money to be made off this situation." And my youngest daughter, and Ranma's Fiancé, Akane." Akane grumbled a bit. Why did her father have to add "Wife to be, or "Fiancé" when introducing her? Akane wanted to be define on her own merits, not on whom she might marry.
In back the large Panda bear held up a sign that read. DON'T FORGET ME.
Xiao's eyes and smiled met each, but seemed a bit confused when Akane was introduced. She looked blankly at Akane and asked, "? What….is Fiancé?"
Nabiki spoke up, answering her in Chinese, "He means Ranma and Akane are going to get married one day."
Xiao smiled and said, "Akane and Ranma fiancé…..Akane wife to Ranma." Akane eye twitched as she heard Xiao words. She wanted to explain to her that their engagement was all their fathers' ideal, and that the only thing Ranma and she did together was fight, and that Ranma seemed to have gotten him self engaged to two other women. And that Nether she or Ranma wanted to marry ether other.
"That's correct Xiao!" Ranma said. Akane was shocked. Why didn't the moron correct her like he normally did when people said they where engaged? "I'm amazed that you're picking up Japanese so well!" he said placing a friendly hand on her shoulder. UGH! What was with Ranma? Akane could understand why he was being so….. so unlike him self with this girl. Hell he wasn't this tender with Ukyo and they had been friends since childhood.
"Ranma honey!" Speak of the devil Akane thought Ukyo invited her self into their home. She immediately hugged Ranma saying," I heard about your curse being lifted Ranma honey! And I brought some celebratory Okonomiaki."
Ranma blushed a little, rubbing the back of his head."Thanks a lot Ukyo"
"Honey?" Xiao asked again a bit confused at the terminology.
"Oh that just a stupid name Ukyo calls Ranma Xiao. Don't worry about it." Akane answered her with a little more edge on her voice then normal. Xiao looked at Akane seeming to study her a little.
"Ukyo grinned wickedly at Akane and spoke to Xiao, "Well a Fiancé is allowed to call her future husband cute little pet names." Mentally counted to ten, trying not to lose her temper, Ranma just sigh, blushing a little.
Xiao frowned a little trying to follow the conversation, " Akane Ranma's Fiancé….Ukyo Fiancé also, … Ranma has two Fiancés." Akane would have normally blown her stack but she could tell Xiao meant no disrespect. The girl was simply trying to make sense of a strange language and an even stranger situation.
"Well counting shampoo Ranma has three Fiancés" Kasumi said innocently.
"Can we please change the conversation!"? Akane yelled, as her fist pounded the tabletop. Again Xiao watched Akane. The girl seemed eerily knowing.
Mr. Tendo wiped a little sweat of his forehead, saying. " Yes let not make thinks any more confusing for Xiao here. It would be a massive understatement to say she's already been through a lot." They all nodded and agreed on that point. Her Father then turned to Ranma, " Of course you know you'll be responsible for her. When you took her body you took on a responsibility for it. And now that the former owner's back in it that responsibility is now transferred to Xiao her self.
"Ha!" Akane thought Ranma take responsibility for anything other then his own stomach? That just wasn't going to happen.
"No problem Mr. Tendo, I've already promised to look after Xiao and do what ever it takes to help her out." Akane was floored. Something just wasn't right, why was Ranma being so nice?
"Of course that goes for you to Akane" Her father told her. "As Ranma's wife to be Ranma burdens are your burdens too.
"Ugh! Don't be silly Dad. Ranma problems are his own. But I will help Xiao, but only because she's a nice girl all alone and with out family. Not Because of Ranma!" Xiao looked a little nervous at Akane's angry manor. Damn she thought, she didn't mean to scare the poor girl. She really needed to work on her temper.
. Ukyo lends over and told Xiao's " Don't mind Akane, she a little violent, brutal, and fierce but she a nice girl. If your confused about anything she'll set you straight." Akane was touched. That was the nicest thing Ukyo ever said to her. Then she whispered, " Just don't eat her cooking."
The rest of the night mostly consisted of the family helping Xiao adjust to modern times. Xiao seemed amazed at the simplest things, like light bulbs, indoor plumbing and television. Akane had to remind herself that she was used to living in ancient times. Two things about Xiao became very clear to Akane that night. One: that Xiao was very intelligent. Her mastery of the Japanese language seemed to improve in just the few hours they spent together. Possibly because of the weird almost magically way she could read people. No matter what they were discussing Xiao seemed to understand manly because she related to people emotions and mannerisms so easily. As a martial artist Akane had learn to read her opponents body language in a fight to help understand what they would throw at her next. Xiao seemed to be able to do that same thing only in a social setting. Xiao had a way about her that tended to make Akane feel at ease and comfortable around her. Soon they were relating like old friends. The second thing Akane noticed about their new houseguest was her attachment to Ranma. She seemed to be ill at ease when they weren't together. At first she never wanted to let go of Ranma's arm, but at the night progressed she became more comfortable. It seemed as long as she new Ranma was around she could calm her self. While Ranma and Akane practice their "Any thing goes" fighting style in the Dojo area, Xiao was happy to sit and watch. Akane knew something horrible must have happen to Xiao in her former life, but didn't want to pry at let not yet. As bed time neared it was obvious that Xiao would have slept next to Ranma if Akane her self hadn't stepped in
"Xiao can sleep in my room tonight. She can wear one of my spare night dresses." Xiao looked a little doubtful but Akane took her by the hand and told her," Don't worry Xiao, I know strange it is for you here but your safe here with us.
"Kasumi agreed," If you need anything My room is right next to Akane. No matter how late just knock on my door and I'll help."
"I will too" Added Nabiki, "And because I like you so much I won't even charge you. At lest not till you get some money." She added with a friendly wink.
Mr. Tendo placed place a hand on both Akane's and Xiao's shoulders, saying. As long as you are our guest feel at ease, and think of your self as part of our family."
That right Panda Saotome sign read.
Nabiki eyed the Panda, "You can think of your self as a freeloader"
Xiao thought back to the household ofr her former master, The few minutes a day they where together could be nice. But his wives and daughters hate for her, created a cold and loveless environment. Xiao had suffered the cruelty of those that hated her for no clear reason, and it was the hate that led to her death. Now she had been reborn into a strange time and place, but these people who didn't know her before this night welcome her with open arm. She could see hear and feel the warmth and love each member of this household had for the other She looked at Mr. Tendo smile, and it seemed genuine, although she as learn never trust a man other then her father, Mr. Tendo, Mr. Saotome, and most of all Ranma had done nothing but make her feel at ease. Mr. Tendo smile was not only genuine but also familiar, just like her father. Xiao had tried not to think about her father and mother because she would have to admit to her self that they were both thousands of years dead and gone. She was normally good at controlling her emotion but before she realized she was crying uncontrollable. Akane did her best to comfort Xiao , wiping the tears from her eyes. Xiao felt every ones eyes on her worried that they had said something to upset her. In her best Japanese she said. "You are so kind to me…… you remind me of my own family….. thank you very much." She then bowed.
Akane prepared that bed mat next to her own bed, If it had been Ranma in girl form sleeping next to her she wouldn't have been nearly at ease. Xiao then looked at her. And said "Ranma" Again Akane thought about how Ranma treated Xiao and felt a emotion. If she didn't know better she would have sworn that emotion was jealousy, but fortunately she did know better so it couldn't be that. "Ranma very lucky, to have Akane as Fiancé" she finally said.
Blushed uncontrollably. "WHY would you say something like that!" Xiao merely shrugged and laid down on her bed mat . "She must not know what she's saying. She can barely speak Japanese after all. So o wont hold that comment against her. But it was still hard for her to sleep. So much had happen that day and her mid was spinning. But she did manage to drift off hopefully things would be easier in the morning.
Xiao grunted in pain as their rough hands mauled her. She could taste their rotten breath has they kissed her. Their disgusting tongue invaded her mouth, and dirty fingernails bit into her skin as they held her down. Over and over their dirty members trust into her body, her soul dying a little bit each time, until they dumped their sewage into her. The evil Eyes of First while shown with pleasure has she sunk beneath the water, her lung burn trying to breath she was dying, again. Despite being drowned she found herself screaming.
Ranma Arms held her, his strong grip stopped her arms from flailing wildly as she suffered her night terrors. Finally she came back to the waking world and remembered where she was. Akane had been awakening during the night by Xiao. She was still sleep and suffering from some terrible memory. Akane did her best to wake and comfort her but the terror she seemed to be experiencing was just to much for her to handle, So she got to only person Xiao seemed most comfortable with Ranma. Normally Ranma was impossible to wake, but as soon at Akane said Xiao was in trouble. Ranma sprang from his bed to her side. Ranma's touch seemed magic as the girl calmed down and his vice soothed her. Xiao finally came to her senses. Akane looked on as her sad eyes locked into Ranma's then buried, her weeping face into his chest. From what Akane picked up from the mumbles of Xiao's nightmare she think she understood part of the terrible ordeal the girl had in her former life. Then she wondered if she had lost her innocent in such a manner would she show the same strength. Ranma held Xiao in his arm, and rocked her gently. Akane then realized that she wished she could have traded places with Xiao if only for a few moments. Not to fight, argue or exchange hurtful names with Ranma, but just to be held. Then thinking to what the girl had suffered Akane felt a wash of guilt. Her new friend was hurting, how could she think about such selfish things? Akane swallowed, ten said. "Ranma ..Er… maybe you should take her to your room. I think she'll sleep better if your next to her."
The shock Ranma had to this statement was shown on his face." You sure Akane? I mean…. Well… she's a girl."
"She a friend in a lot of pain right now. Try not to think about it. She just needs to be with somebody she feels comfortable with right now. We'll be at school tomorrow so let her get all she can now."
Ranma looked into Akane's eyes, he's never seen her like this before. Her face was soft and gentle and in this moonlight she was very cute looking.
"Baka….." She said with a smile. " You gonn'a look at me all night or get to bed and let a girl get her beauty sleep?" Ranma returned her smile saying. "And we both know how much beauty sleep you need."
Akane watch Ranma carry Xiao out of her room. She told her self she was glad to have her room to herself again, and was glad she could get some sleep. But as she drifted back to sleep she couldn't help thinking, why was she crying?
Author's note: Sigh once again I took too long to go through a part that should have been only one page at best. But I though this chapter should be from Akane's viewpoint. I really wanted to show her relationship with Xiao, Just as I wanted to show Ranma. Mostly I wanted to show the difference between the way Ranma and Akane treat Xiao in comparison to how they treat all of the other woman in his life. In trying to get into Akane's head while writing this badly written fic, I came to the conclusion that Akane would never see Ukyo or Shampoo at a threat to her relationship (if that what you call it) with Ranma. Mostly because, they try and force themselves onto him. Possible the only Girl Ranma could really like is the one that is not crawling all over him. So now in this Fic. What have Xiao, someone the likable that not trying to force Ranma into a marriage, also somebody that doesn't hit him with a Mallet every five seconds. (Not that Ranma doesn't deserve to get Malleted). And worst yet, Akane likes her! Any way, sorry for the rant. I'll try and get to the point of this fic quicker. And not spend so much time on little stuff. Also Sorry for my Bad writing. I'm NO WRITER I just get ideal stuck in my head sometimes like this Fic.
P.S. I will give a spoiler on this next part, or part depending on how mush I can cram into the next chapter. Ranma's Engagement to Shampoo will be finally resolved, and some blood will have to be spilled. * evil laugher*