Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and so do all the characters in it. I just wrote this for fun so don't sue me. Teenagers ain't got that much money, anyway.

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Coming of the Duck Chapter Two:

Friendly Hand

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Ranma sighed as she exited the furo. Baths just weren't the same anymore for the pig-tailed martial artist. She walked down the stair to see if Kasumi was finished.

"Oh Ranma there you are!" Kasumi spoke, walking into the living room. "And right on time, too. I was just about to serve dinner."

"Great!" she replied, happy for the first time today. "I've been so worried about my curse I haven't eaten anything all day."

Kasumi smiled and walked back into the kitchen, coming back out with a large bowl of stew. "Akane! Father! Nabiki! Mr. Saotome! Dinner is ready!" Piped Kasumi, setting the stew down on the table.

"It looks delicious, Kasumi." said Soun as he entered the room.

"Uh huh..." nodded Ranma in agreement as her mouth watered.

Nabiki and Akane walked down the stairs one behind the other. "Wow Kasumi, you really outdid yourself this time." Nabiki said, a little sarcastically.

"I'm sorry Nabiki. After Akane cooked the other night I was running low on supplies." she apologized.

"Leave it too Akane to use everything in the kitchen just for that slop she makes." Ranma added.

"Shut up Ranma!" Akane retaliated. "Nobody asked you anyway!"

"You know he's right Akane," said Nabiki. "If you're going to attack the kitchen again at least leave us enough food for the next few days."

"Oh come on my cooking isn't that bad... is it?"

"Enough you guys, we need to eat," said Kasumi; her smile seemed a little forced. The family settled down a bit and after a quick "Itadakimasu!" they ate. Several minutes later they managed to finish their meal.

"Kasumi," said Soun, "thank you for the meal. It was wonderful. I think..." he yawned, "It was just the thing to eat before going to sleep. Can't sleep on an empty stomach, you know." he laughed mostly to himself.

"Is everyone else going to bed too?" Kasumi asked.

"Yeah I guess so, Oneechan." Akane said as they got up and went upstairs to rest. Ranma stayed downstairs with Kasumi as the older woman cleaned up.

"Hey Kasumi I think I'm gonna go out." Ranma said after a few minutes.

"Ok Ranma-kun. Don't stay out too late." she replied as Ranma got up and walked out the door.

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Ranma walked down the street patting her stomach and thinking good thoughts about Kasumi's cooking. She frowned when she walked past the Nekohanten. 'I hope she figures out what's wrong with my curse...' She thought. 'I don't know if I can manage staying like this for very long. The longest was when Herb used that chiisuiton thing, and that was like hell.' She shuddered. 'What if he had beaten me? What would have happened to Ryoga and Mousse? My curse is at least human. They would have been animals for the rest of their lives.' She continued to think about this as she walked down the street.

Seeing her destination, she hopped down under the bridge spanning the Nerima canal. This place was always good for thinking. The dojo roof was pretty good, but when she really wanted to be alone, she came here. She sat under the bridge and started thinking about what Cologne had said. She frowned when she noticed it start raining. 'Kami it rains a lot in this city.' she thought.

"Excuse me, miss?" said a stranger somewhat nervously. "Can you tell me how to get to Tokyo?"

"Huh?" Ranma said, looking up. "Oh, hi Ryoga." Ryoga stood there for a few moments with his umbrella positioned just right to keep the rain off.

"Ranma?!" He looked puzzled. "What are you doing in Osaka?"

Ranma sweatdropped. "Ryoga, take a look around. This is the Nerima canal."

Ryoga looked around him a few times. "I thought this place looked familiar." He looked at Ranma for a moment. "You ok? You don't look so good."

Ranma hesitated for several moments, wondering if there was a catch to Ryoga's unusually nice behavior. "Uh... It's nothing. Hey! You wanted to get to the dojo right?"

"Yeah, can you take me there?" he replied.

She sighed, wondering what she was getting herself into. "Whatever, just don't try anything with Akane, all right?"

Ryoga nodded and Ranma started to the dojo. He began to follow Ranma when his foot caught on something.

"Bweeeeeeee!"

Ranma looked behind herself. She sighed and grabbed his clothes and pack. "C'mon. I'll find you some hot water when we get there." She started walking again, followed by Ryoga.

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"Xian Pu!" An amazon guard said in Mandarin. "It's good to see you again! How are things with your fiancé?"

Mousse interjected before Shampoo could say anything. "Xian Pu! Why do you still care about him? You know I told you I defeated-.

"Silence male, you will speak when you are asked. Got that?" the guard said. "Xian Pu, continue please."

"Airen is stubborn as ever." she replied to the villager, also in Mandarin. "What is the situation with the Musk?"

"Nothing, at the moment. Though all the villagers are very tense about all this. When is your grandmother coming?"

"Great-grandmother should be here in just a few days." Shampoo replied.

"Excellent! Those Musk won't dare attack us with the elder around." said the Guard.

"I hope so," said Shampoo. "I can go back to Japan when all this is over. I miss Airen already!"

The guard smiled and led the two to the village.

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Ranma opened the door silently and took off her shoes, looking for Akane. "Ok Ryoga, it's clear. Come on in, but stay behind me."

The piglet nodded and walked in cautiously. He felt bad after the wedding and really didn't want to do anything to Ranma for a while. He wasn't going to tell Ranma this, of course. He followed Ranma up the stair and into the furo.

"All right Ryoga I'm gonna leave your clothes and pack in here so you can change back. Come downstairs whenever your ready." said Ranma, turning the handle for hot on the furo.

The pig nodded and watched Ranma leave. He thought about something, and walked over to the furo, jumping in. He instantly started to change. Thinking to himself- mostly about Akane, he took one of the few chances at a bath he got, and silently washed himself.

'What's with Ryoga?' thought Ranma as she walked down the stairs. 'How come he's being so nice all of a sudden?' she sighed. 'I guess it's better this way. I was gettin` kinda tired of that "Ranma prepare to die!" stuff.' She walked over to the couch and sat down to wait for Ryoga.

Ryoga dressed himself and stepped out of the furo. Walking down the stairs, he heard Ranma say something to him. Surprised, he looked up at her. He really didn't think she would have waited for him, but at least he might have someone to talk to for a while.

"Ok Ryoga, I do kinda like this better but I can't help but be suspicious. So... Why are you bein` so nice to me?" she eyed him warily. "What happened to that "Damn you Ranma!" crap?"

Ryoga blanched. 'What am I gonna tell her?' he thought. 'Oh Ranma I'm real sorry about the wedding and all so I decided to be nice to you... No, that won't work.' he hesitated a moment.

"Well? I don't wanna invite you to my home and have you try to kill me in the middle of the night."

"Ranma! How dare you think I am so honorless to kill you in your sleep!"

"Why not? You've tried everything else."

Ryoga looked to the ground in shame. Had he been so hateful toward Ranma that he can't even act nice without people worrying? Ryoga looked up, and bowed. "Ranma, forgive me. I was blinded by my rage. I promise not to blame my problems on you anymore." Ranma looked on, wide eyed. "Ranma? Are you ok?"

Ranma looked like she was about to faint. "Huh? Oh... Yeah, I guess so. Say... When did you take acting lessons? You almost fooled me there."

"Ranma! You honestly think I would lie about something like that?!"

"Well, if you relly wanna know, then yeah."

Ryoga shrugged, then waved Ranma off. "I'm gonna to set up a tent in the backyard. I'll see you in the morning. I hope."

"You can sleep in the dojo if you want. It should be dryer." Ranma pointed out.

Ryoga shrugged again, and walked into the kitchen. Ranma laughed to herself and walked up to her room to sleep. This had been a long day...

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Ranma blinked her eyes open and looked at the clock. Seeing it was only eight, she tried to go back to sleep, but found she couldn't for some reason. Yawning, she sat up, a little annoyed at waking so early. She stretched and stood up, looking around for her customary chinese garment. She got dressed and walked downstairs. "Ryoga? When did you get here? Wait..." She smacked her forehead. "Oh yeah, nevermind." She laughed. "I'm surprised you didn't get lost."

Ryoga was about to add something to this, but Kasumi stepped in first. "Oh Ranma your awake!" Kasumi said cheerfully. "After breakfast could you run to Dr. Yofu's and pick up a presciption? I've been meaning to get it but Dr. Tofu never seems to be able to get it for me."

"Sure thing Kasumi." Said Ranma as she sat at the table. Looking around, she figured Nabiki and Akane were still asleep. Her mouth started to water as she helped herself to breakfast.

"Ryoga-kun would you like something to eat?" Kasumi asked.

"N-no I couldn't..." Said Ryoga.

"I'll go get you a plate!" Kasumi smiled at him and walked into the kitchen.

Ryoga started off. "She's..."

"Yeah I know." Interjected Ranma as she slopped down her meal Saotome style.

Kasumi returned to the room with a plate full of food and a cup of tea. "Here you are Ryoga-kun! I hope you like it, we have plenty." She placed the food on the counter in front of Ryoga and walked into the kitchen to clean up.

"Hmm..." Ryoga tasted the food. "What is this stuff anyway?"

Ranma replied. "Beats me it's some American junk... umm... Some kinda cake I think."

"Oh. Well it's pretty good I guess." Ryoga reached for his tea, but missed, splashing nearly all of the cup's contents onto Ranma. Ranma winced at the scalding liquid. "I'm sorr..." Ryoga began to apologize, but started to freak out when Ranma didn't change. "Ranma! You... You didn't...!"

Ranma sighed. Her mood just dropped enormously. "Yeah I know."

"How come?!" Ryoga said, about to pass out.

"Beats me." replied Ranma. "Mousse attacked me a couple nights ago and the next thing I know he knocks me out and I wake up like this." Ranma continued. "I went to Cologne but she had to go to China for a while cause of some thing with the Musk. All I can really do is wait. I mean all my leads are in China."

Ryoga smirked. "How are you gonna manage until she gets back? Without your body, I mean. You can't stand being a girl, remember?"

"It ain't like I got a choice!" Ranma sighed. She finished her food and got up from the table. She walked over to the couch and sat down in a heap, holding her head. She looked around. "Hey Kasumi! Me and Ryoga are gonna go do somethin'. I'm bored as a stick here."

"Okay Ranma-kun. Don't forget about Dr. Tofu!" Kasumi looked into the living room smiling.

"Sure thing Kasumi." Ranma replied. "C`mon Ryoga we can train after I go get this prescription she's talkin` about." Ranma headed out the door and hopped on the fence. She started off in the general direction of Dr. Tofu's. Ryoga silently followed. He would have said something, but the following part took all of his concentration.

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"Oh Ranma it's good to see you! I haven't seen you since I got back from my trip. What needs fixing this time?"

"Nothin` doc I just came to pick up a prescription for Kasumi." Ranma looked around and halfway expected Tofu to go crazy at that name.

Dr. Tofu seemed to sweat slightly when Ranma mentioned the name. "Oh right! Wait right here and I'll go get it." Ranma nodded and Ryoga looked on surprised he had made it this far with Ranma. He wasn't going to let his guard down, though. If Ranma walked off now he wouldn't see her again for a month. Dr. Tofu walked back in with a bottle.

"I've already been paid and I believe you are responsible enough to get this to Kasumi for me." He handed the medicine to Ranma. "Thanks for dropping by, it was good to see you! You too, Ryoga."

"Thanks!" Said Ranma and Ryoga simultaneously. They waved to the doctor and walked out of the building.

Ranma looked at the label on the bottle. "Zantax?!" Ranma laughed. "No wonder Kasumi is always so cheery. I knew no human could do what she does without goin` crazy."

"Zantax? What's that?" Ryoga asked.

"It's a medicine for people with bad nerves." She laughed. "You could probably use some, Ryoga." She glanced around. "Lets take this too Kasumi before we spar. I don't want it to get hurt."

"Okay."

"You know what Ryoga?" Ranma asked.

"What's that?" Ryoga asked nervously. He knew Ranma was about to insult him or something. He really didn't want to get mad right now. He was trying to make up for crashing Ranma's wedding.

Ranma continued. "When you ain't tryin` ta kill me, you can be a pretty good guy."

"Ranma.....?!" Ryoga passed out.

End Chapter Two

Sorry that was so short. I had a few computer problems and as soon as I got everything fixed I was too busy to fit writing in between sleep and video games. I wonder what I'm gonna do when school gets here...