Legal Note: Once again I don't own the Ranma only this story. Technically I don't even own that.
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"Didja hear Akane?" Nabiki questioned her younger sister as they walked home from school that afternoon.
"About what?" Akane asked looking at her sister in confusion.
"Uncle Saotome took on a temporary student this morning." Nabiki said with a devious smile.
"Yeah. So what?" Akane asked looking at her sister intrigued, but restrained.
"Their name is Saomu Ran." Nabiki said hinting with her eyebrows.
"A girl's name? He took on a girl? That's good I guess." Akane said with a smile.
"Okay that's it! Just give me a measly 100 yen and I'll tell you what I know." Nabiki said stretching her arm out waiting to receive payment.
"Pheh. Why?" Akane said pushing Nabiki's hand away and continuing down the street.
"I think you want to know about this." Nabiki advised her sister who kept on walking. "Fine. This student is Ranma in disguise!" Nabiki's words halted her sister who turned slowly in shock to Nabiki.
"Wh-what?" Akane murmured.
"Right. Her name is Saomu Ran. Saotome Ranma sounds really similar to Saomu Ran to me. This girl looks like him in his cursed form. She had red hair in two pigtails, and wears glasses. Ranma always wears glasses when he disguises himself. The only thing not like Ranma was her clothes and skin." Nabiki clarified as Akane listened intently.
"What was different about his clothes and skin?" Akane questioned.
"His skin is pale. His clothes were actual women's clothing." Nabiki explained to her young sister.
"Well, he didn't have any clothes besides what he had. Listen are you sure Ran is Ranma?" Akane questioned looking to his sister.
"Yes. Let's go see him." Nabiki said with a smirk.
"You want me to tell you? You of all people?" Genma said defensively to Ranma in girl form looking exactly as Nabiki described.
"Yes po, er, Mr. Saotome. What does a gray Aphrodite's Kiss mean and do?" Ranma asked, as Genma became tense.
"Y-you got gray? Well I never heard of any such aura. Just the yellow, red, pink, and blackish purple." Genma explained fixing his glasses as sweat formed on his forehead.
"So, wouldn't gray be almost like the black one?" Ranma asked.
"Possibly. If so I'd suggest becoming cheerful."
"Cheerful? Cheerful?" After that Ranma burst into hysterical laughter." What do I have to be cheerful about?! I lost everyone, and my family. I live at my greatest rival's house, and I'm wearing girl's clothing! Plus ever since I got a gray Aphrodite's Kiss I've become paler, and paler in skin color." Ranma explained in an outburst of rage.
"Listen Ranm, er, Ran. That's all I can say. There's no other way to stop the dark version of the Aphrodite's Kiss beside being cheerful." Genma said as his forehead formed more sweat. "So don't hurt me!" Genma dropped to the floor begging to Ranma not to be hit.
"Grr. I won't hit you Mr. Saotome so get up." Ranma said with a groan picking Genma off his knees. "So that's it then? Well then farewell Mr. Saotome." Ranma said leaving the dojo when Akane and Nabiki come through the same entrance. "Uh, hi. You must be Akane." Ranma said nervously.
"Uh, yeah. You're Ran correct?" Akane said with a fake greeting.
"Yep. I'm Saomu Ran, but I was just leaving." Ranma said trying to get by the two girls who blocked his way.
"Why? Are you not trying to become a student of anything-goes martial arts?" Akane asked with fake concern.
"Uh, well. I decided not to just yet. I think Mr. Saotome has answered all my questions." Ranma said with a sour look aimed at his ex-father.
"Oh, that's too bad. We didn't get to talk much." Akane said with a fake sad face.
"Ran. Why don't you stay for dinner?" Nabiki asked with a smile.
"Uh, no I better go. Someone may expect me at home." Ranma said avoiding eye contact.
"No, stay Ran. My sister Kasumi and Mrs. Saotome make great meals." Akane said with a smile pulling Ranma toward the house.
"Mr. Saotome?!" Ranma said looking back to Genma as he was pulled away while looked confused.
"Do you like your meal Ran?" Nodoka asked pleasantly.
"Y-yes Mrs. Saotome." Ranma retorted nervously. "It was all good thank you, but I should go now." Ranma said standing, but is quickly pulled down by Akane to the floor. He sat in the same spot he used to sit at next to her.
"No you can't go yet. You were training right? You can take a bath and stay the night." Akane said with a wide smile.
"No need to. Just need to get home 'cause I'm expected back." Ranma said forcing himself up.
"Such rudeness is unbecoming of a young lady." Nodoka said in return to Ranma's forcefulness.
"Er, sorry it's just I may get in trouble if I'm gone too long. I forgot to clean the house." Ranma said partly lying. He did have to clean up because Ryoga would probably show up again since it's been a week from the time Ryoga left for milk.
"We can tell your parents or whatever that you were late because of us. Here why don't you write your phone number so we can call." Kasumi said handing Ranma a pen and paper.
"Uh, okay." Ranma shrugged and wrote down the Hibiki's number. "F-fine I guess I can stay a bit longer." Ranma said with a false smile, but was frowning inside.
"That's the spirit." Nabiki urged as dinner continued.