Ranma & Kaneda
By Ron Dow75
From an idea by James M. Zema,
Unauthorized, but allowed.
06: The Answer
The wind blew the black haired and the Furinkan girls'
uniform of the girl kneeling in the grassy field. A
paper-wrapped bouquet of long-stemmed red roses where
cradled in her arms. She was in a daze. Never before in
her life had she felt like such a girl.
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A large, handled pan dropped from a tree several
meters from the girl. A black-and-white panda climbed
down it. A water balloon was carefully held in its mouth.
When its hind legs touched the ground, it stood upright.
It then took the balloon with the hot water inside
between its front paws and easily popped it.
A wet Genma Saotome in his kempo-gi replaced the animal.
His gaze was fixed on the girl, 'Akane Saotome'. "It
appears Nabiki Tendou's plan has worked. I hope so. I'd
hate to think I had to rent my panda from out for
something that didn't."
He took one last good look at the girl, then turned to
loose himself among the other trees.
He returned to pick up the pan, "Kasumi will need this to
prepare her wonderful meals. And I may need it to hold
more hot water balloons."
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On his way back to the Tendou's, Genma thought of earlier
that day:
In the late afternoon, the panda was sitting halfway
outside the garden hall doorway. It was waiting for the
roto-rooterman to finish clearing the drains so it, at
last, could have a hot bath. That's where Soun's youngest
daughter had found him. Nabiki, still in her school
uniform, said, "Mr. Saotome, I have information that may
interest you greatly. It concerns your, uh, son: Ranma."
"Bran-ba?"
Nabiki, "But as the saying goes, "One does not really
know the value of something, until one has to pay for
it". I offer you this information to you for 1,000 yen.
If you don't have the money, I will take it in services."
The panda frowned at her. "Bbbraa," it grumbled.
Before the customer let itself off the hook, Nabiki
produced an envelope with [To Ranma Saotome] written on
it. She told the panda, "It's a challenge letter." The
saleswoman in her held up her hand to hold off any
comment, "I know Ranma has received letters before, but
THIS boy thinks Ranma is a girl."
The panda suddenly showed interest, "Berar!?!"
Nabiki kept it out of its reach, "That would mean Ranma
would have to answer the challenge as a girl, wouldn't
it?" Receiving no denial from the animal, she continued
on, "This boy ALSO believes that if he loses, Ranma will
have to go out on a date with him."
The panda's eyes widened.
She tempted the panda with the envelope, "The usual
information of when and where the challenge will be is
all in here. Now, do we have a bargain?"
A large sweatdrop formed on the panda's head. But it
nodded its agreement.
As she handed the envelope to the panda, she said, "By
the way, I couldn't find Ranma. Officially, he doesn't
know about the challenge."
The panda glared at the girl. It looked like it might
take a swipe at her.
Nabiki smiled, "But that doesn't mean 'she' might not
hear it from others. And it DEFINITELY doesn't mean the
boy in question won't challenge 'her' again. If anything,
Kuno-baby is persistent.
"Unless, that is, there's somebody ELSE to take Ranma's
place in his heart."
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In the florescent streetlight, Genma in the present shook
his head, "Imagine selling out one of your family like
that." He had a policy of forgetting about those times
he'd sold his son. "But I can't say I disapprove of it in
this instance. I have overlooked Ranma's current
challenge because I have faith that I have raised a true
man among men."
He frowned behind his glasses, "But I can't say same
about how Soun has raised HIS son. From everything I've
seen, Kaneda is just as undisciplined as any typical boy
you find these decadent days." His expression went from
disapproval to grim approval of what he'd done about it,
"And since she isn't a man, she might as well be a girl.
I've told Ranma that often enough."
He paused on the other side of the Tendou's fortress
gate. "But that's not the kind of 'girl' Ranma needs.
More than ever, his woman has to be like his mother, one
who won't blur the clear line between the sexes. Not some
cross-dressing...." Genma's adjustment to the curse had
been sidetracked during this early, fragile stage. While
he had held fast to Ranma's true gender, he couldn't look
beyond Kaneda-kun's normal outer appearance. And the boy
they had to live with couldn't look beyond Ranma's girl
form. Genma recognized a crush. But Ranma hadn't
responded by beating that crap out of the boy. It made
Genma start to question his faith in Ranma.
He paused. He took a deep breath, and released it.
"Remember, you're the guest in this house. Like it or
not, Kaneda is as yet still Soun's son and heir."
Genma smiled, "Meanwhile, there are two daughters who
know how to be female." (Though, he was having doubts
about Nabiki.) He strolled through the gate, his eyes
seeing a bright future, "And once Ranma is married to a
Tendou girl, then we can worry about WHO is to be the
heir to the dojo."
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The flowers left on the field, Kane-chan hurried through
the back gate of her family's compound? She closed it
with her back. She rested against it for a moment to
catch her breath.
As she did, she glared down at the thing she had on. It
was too dark to see clearly in the shadow of the
compound's wall, but she could certainly feel it. "Stupid
dress! Stupid wind-resistance! Flapping around like that!
If girls want to run around with naked legs, why can't
they just wear shorts!?" It was a complaint she'd had
before. The only thing that kept it from being worse was
that she wasn't wearing skimpy panties. She still had on
her usual boxers.
She stood up; she was getting back to a comfortable
breathing rate. She put her hand on her chest, "Ohr,
running without a bra is never a good idea." She had been
a girl often enough to know their practical uses. But a
guy can't wear one that'd do any good for a girl. Even if
I could, I'd never survive what it would do to my
reputation. I might as well BE a girl, then.
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Kane-chan was so mad, she slammed the kitchen door and
didn't even acknowledge Kasumi's greeting. (She had,
though, kicked the girls' sneakers off outside the door.)
As she was leaving, Kasumi told her, "Supper will be
ready soon! Will you tell Nabiki to clear the table?"
Kane-chan turned from her way to the bedrooms upstairs,
and went to the family room.
Kane-chan stood there for a moment, focusing her
animosity.
Nabiki was on the other side of the table. Her books were
spread out on it. One of them wasn't a schoolbook. It was
an accounting ledger. She looked up from the other side
of the table and offered, "A yen for your thoughts."
Kane-chan stormed across to where she'd been obviously
waiting for HER (female), "I THOUGHT you said Ranma was
going to be there!?!"
Nabiki sat back on a hip, tucking her pants-covered knees
under her. "Did you actually HEAR me say I got the
message to Ranma? I think not, though I tried." THAT,
after all, was what Kuno-baby contracted her to do (for a
nice fee of 1,000 yen). "I DID tell your classmates to
give her the message if they saw her." Of COURSE there
was nothing in the verbal contract that said she had to
make actually contact with Ranma.
Kane-chan bent over her and held up a small fist, "So you
decided you'd deliver the next-best-thing to Kuno!?"
AND informed Kuno ahead of time. Nabiki kept her poker
face, "I delivered the next-best-opponent. How was I to
know you were going to show up as a girl?" And the
loophole was she didn't KNOW. But because Akane did,
she'd get to keep the 10,000-yen finder's fee from Kuno-
baby.
Kane-chan drew back the fist she used to break cinder
blocks, "I ought to!"
Nabiki said calmly, "Uh, uh! Remember, "The strong should
not pick on the weak"."
Kane-chan said sourly, Nabiki weak!? "Only physically.
Only physically." She HAD been tempted to see how close
she could come to her sister's face. But, in the end,
Nabiki WAS her sister.
Kane-chan turned and stomped out of the room. Rrr! If I
did try it, I KNOW she wouldn't give me the satisfaction
of even pretending to flinch!
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Kasumi was in Kane-chan's way, wiping off her hands on a
dishtowel. Kasumi asked, "Your fight didn't go well,
Akane?"
A red-faced Kane-chan turned sideways to get by her older
sister, "There wasn't a fight."
Kasumi said, "I'm sorry to hear that. I know how
important fighting is to you."
Kane-chan walked backwards as she told her, "Fighting is
not important to me: It's important to the dojo! This is
kempo! What do you think we're selling!? Fighting is
advertising!" In kempo, technique came first, then the
applications.
Kasumi said, "It was because you were a girl, wasn't it,
Akane?"
Kane-chan said ironically, "Oh, you could say that." She
spun around and picked up her pace.
Kasumi followed, "If you'd like to talk about it..."
Kane-chan stayed long enough on the stairs to say, "Look,
Kasumi, I'm just not comfortable talking to you like
this. I have to get out of these clothes, and out of this
body. If you have anything to say, say it to your
brother."
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In her red-and-white striped shirt, Kane-chan pulled at
the Kaneda's jeans. "Hm-rr! They're a size
larger around, but they don't hit the hips and butt
right." But they were tight along what to her were thick
thighs. Below them, they became loose. "And look how long
they are. I'm nearly 18 cms/7 inches shorter. It's a
wonder I haven't trip over my pants every time I change!"
She looked for her belt. She found that the jeans wanted
to pinch in the wrong places. "What's wrong all of a
sudden!? Any other time I just have to cinch up my belt,
and...."
It hit her: "Kasumi!!!"
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"Kasumi!!" On the way downstairs, the jeans told Kane-
chan visiting the lav was her first priority.
While she waited for the hot water to come out of the
sink's tap, she also realized, "Why didn't I do this this
afternoon!? THEN I wouldn't have changed in front of
Kasumi and tore that uniform. And if I HADN'T done all
of that, I bet I wouldn't have ended up in a dress in front
of Kuno!!
"Rrrr! It IS a curse! If it can't get somebody else to
get you wet, it makes you stupid enough to do it to
yourself!!"
Out of sheer frustration, she grabbed the sides of the
sink and dunked her head in the steaming hot water. "Ow!
I've got to remember to remember! Ow! Remember,
Stupid! Ow! Don't forget!..."
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Kasumi was bringing a tray with platters of eel teriyaki
and vegetables from the kitchen into the family room when
Kaneda came bounding down the stairs. "Kasumi!! I bet you
know the reason I met Kuno in a dress today!"
Kasumi paused, "I don't know the reason." She smiled,
and headed into the family room, "I just know it works."
The redhaired Kaneda followed her, "Aha! You did do it!"
His dad said, "Now, Kaneda, that's no way to talk to your
older sister."
Kaneda stopped to frown at the man. "Welcome back to the
land of the conscious. It took you long enough to come
out of your 'trance'." Now that he knew part of the
truth, he wasn't convinced Dad's spells weren't just an
excuse not to face him with the rest of it.
Kasumi asked, "Please, Kaneda! That is no way to talk to
Father. And in front of company, too."
Kaneda looked. All he saw was Mr. Saotome. "Ranma's not
here."
Nabiki said, "That's obvious."
Kaneda told her, "Quiet! I'm not through with you,
Nabiki! But first," he strode to where his oneesan was
serving supper, "How did you get that dress on me?!"
His dad said, "Kaneda! Kasumi would never think to make
you wear a dress! She knows you're a man!"
Kaneda wanted to yell, "Only because I'm, I am...." He
couldn't yell. He knew he was cursed, but he was usually
a girl when he felt most cursed.
Soun Tendou started getting that far away look in his
eye. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about,
son."
Kaneda did yell, "Son!?!" He COULD be angry for a
lifetime of silence from a man who was supposed to be his
male role model.
Soun hid behind his forearm and cried, "He yelled at me!"
Kasumi stopped serving. (Unfortunately she'd set the tray
down in front Mr. Saotome.) "Kaneda! I will not answer
ANY questions until you apologize to Father."
Gritting his teeth in familiar frustration, Kaneda said,
"I, formally, apologize." But I'm not sorry.
Kasumi smiled for him, "That's better." She turned to
their houseguest, "Mr. Saotome? What happens to your
clothes when you turn into a panda?"
His mouth full, Genma Saotome looked up. He swallowed. He
then smiled, and orated, "Ah! That's an interesting
question. I've wondered that myself since I fell into
that spring. I DO know that they are the clothes I was
wearing before I changed. See this?" he asked, pushing
out his gi coat with a thumb under the opening, "This is
a stain that I got eating barbequed octopus balls."
Kasumi looked, "Oh, my. I'll have to clean that for you."
Still upset, Kaneda said, "What does he having barbequed
octopus balls have to do with ME wearing a dress!?!"
Dad said, "There he goes again! Where have I failed!
Genma, do not think my son is like this! It's just a
momentary aberration! You know about teenagers and their
fads!" Then he broke down and started weeping, "But
dresses!??"
Kaneda defended himself, "It wasn't MY idea to wear the
damned dress!!"
Nabiki played audience and impassive critic. "I hope this
is confusing enough. How many tangled conversations can
be followed at the same time?"
Kasumi said, "I will admit it was my idea. I replaced the
duplicate--"
Kaneda interrupted, " "Duplicate"!?!
Kaneda got a pleased smile, "Yes. I've made sure that
you've had two sets of just about all of your outfits.
One that will fit you, as you are now, and a second for
when you...." She looked at her still crying father, and
didn't finish the sentence. He decided to take it
outside.
Nabiki said, "And THAT'S why I don't have a bigger
clothing allowance."
Kasumi gently chided her younger sister, "Now, Nabiki,
you know I've been very frugal. Most of those outfits are
the same as he was wearing when he was younger. That way
I just had to take those Kaneda had outgrown and altered
them to fit, uh, Kaneda's alternative form." Though out
in the garden, her father could hear. That is, if he
cared to.
Nabiki accused, "But it wasn't that way for a couple of
years, there!"
Kasumi said, "Yes, there was a time when Kaneda was
shorter than, uh, er, boys of that age."
Nabiki smirked, "And more developed."
Kasumi said, "That was the time that Kaneda started to
need outfits of different sizes. That was the time I
started my duplication project. It was encouraging that
Kaneda appreciated my work."
Kaneda said, "Appreciated it?? I didn't even know you
were doing it!"
Kasumi smiled on him, "I just had to give you the idea
'if only'. You knew where to look for a change of outfits
when you needed one."
Kaneda thought about it. " "...know where to look for a
change of" --You mean in the--" Suddenly he stopped
himself, as he glared at Nabiki.
Nabiki said, "You don't think I haven't known about the
locked chest for years?"
Kasumi said, "But things are different, now, Nabiki. I
expect you to give me ALL of the keys you've made. You've
respected Father's and my wishes up to now, as far as I
know. But with the change of circumstances, I can't be
sure you'll continue doing so."
Nabiki was about to talk her way into keeping one key,
but decided not to. She hung her head, "Yes, Kasumi." If
she pushed it, the loopholes would be closed.
Genma said, after finishing off his, Ranma's and the
still crying Soun's meals, "But where do MY clothes go to
and from?"
Nabiki said, "Isn't it obvious? It has to be your
traveling pack. Isn't that where your clothes would be
when you're not using them?"
Kasumi told her sister, "And you are NOT to replace
Ranma's things with anything that doesn't belong there,
either."
Nabiki said, "It wouldn't do any good, anyway. Ranma
hasn't gotten the idea of 'if only'. Those Chinese
clothes allow for quite a bit of growth and shrinkage."
She got her smirk back, "Not to mention, development."
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Kaneda followed Kasumi into the kitchen, where they could
talk without interruption. "Okay, Kasumi, why don't I
remember you giving me this "if only", or whatever,
idea?"
Kasumi said, "We can talk later. I have to serve supper."
He planted himself in front of the doorway, "I've waited
five years. I'm not waiting any longer."
Kasumi stopped, "But you said you just found out." But
she sighed, "Oh, alright." Kaneda took the tray with its
bowls of anmitsu gelatin and held it for her. Kasumi
brought her mind around to the topic at hand; she then
said, "You were complaining that your clothes weren't
fitting you right. They were making you uncomfortable.
But you were my brother at the time, and as far as I
could see there was no problem there. You couldn't bring
yourself to admit that the clothes were only ill-fitting
when you were," she reflexively slowed down out of
concern other people would hear, "a girl." Kaneda had
been on of those people. She hadn't wanted to embarrass
him. It had to be his idea to let others know.
Kaneda's face reddened. He barely remembered it. But he
was familiar with why he didn't want to mention the girl.
When he was a kid, just about the only time he became a
girl was by accident. Then the most visible change was
the color of his hair. It went from a red that almost no
Japanese he knew had to the color most Japanese had. He
was no longer different from others, but he WAS different
from himself. He was no longer Kaneda Tendou. He was
somebody else, a stranger to everybody he knew. There
were times he liked that. There were other times when he
felt like just a nameless little kid lost in the "sea of
black hair". Invisible.
The easiest way to become a somebody again was to find
cold water and become the flame-haired Kaneda. The black-
haired girl, until Wednesday night, had remained nameless,
and lost. She was like a person who hadn't been properly
buried. A ghost. To mention her was to invite bad luck.
It was bad enough she could possess him. His ideas about
the girl had only become more sophisticated with age.
Kasumi continued with her account of how Kaneda got
clothes that fit no matter the body, "I said, "If only
you could get proper-fitting clothes from the same place
you got your hammers"."
Kaneda had a pang of guilt. Yes, of course he would have
preferred to forget Kasumi had said that. She didn't
approve of him using wooden mallets. But I only use them
when my martial arts skills aren't enough. I AM from the
school of Anything-Goes was his justification. Of course
the mallets had long since disappeared from the ancient
tool chest. Kaneda wasn't sure WHERE they were when he
wasn't using them.
Kasumi continued, "I placed a change of clothes that were
a size larger in the old tool chest. I then, uh,
'accidentally', I'm afraid, spilled some hot water on
you. You were so upset at the time you apparently didn't
notice the switch. But it did show you had gotten the
idea."
Kaneda said, "So you went ahead and started making
duplicate outfits for me." Suddenly he smiled. "And not
one of them were for a girl."
Kasumi retrieved the tray from Kaneda, "That's right. As
far as everybody knew, you were meant to be a guy."
She was out the kitchen door before Kaneda snapped back
to the present, "Oh-h, no!" And he went after her,
"Kasumi, just because you now know I was meant to be a
girl, doesn't mean you HAVE to treat me like a girl!"
Even before he got into the family room, Dad made it
known he'd heard, "Kaneda! If anybody knows how a how the
different genders should be, it's your sister Kasumi! How
can you suggest that she would treat you as anything but
what you were meant to be!" After 16 years of denial,
only a very quiet voice in him said, as *I* meant you to
be.
Kaneda knew that Dad could no longer tolerate anything
related to Akane Saotome. She would have to wait until
supper was over with.
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It was after supper, and Ranma STILL hadn't shown up.
Kaneda was beginning to be worried. That was on top of
all the other worries that were piling up on him.
Mr. Saotome would rather I was engaged to anybody else
but Ranma. Kuno says he's in love with me. Nabiki is on
any side with money. And Kasumi has decided I should be a
girl after all. He sulked. The only one who WANTS me to
be a guy is Dad. Out loud he said, "Gee, why doesn't
that make me feel better."
He found himself outside Nabiki's room. He was tempted to
go straight in; but he knocked. She answered, "Come in,
Kaneda."
When he opened the door he found her seated on her desk
chair. It was turned around, facing the bed. She
gestured, "Sit. We'll talk."
Kaneda said, "I won't be here that long!" He left the
door open as he strode over to her, "You sold me!"
Nabiki, in her faded cutoffs and green halter, casually
crossed her bare legs, "Are you still a free agent? Are
you still able to say "no"? You are not forced or
obligated. Therefore, I did not 'sell' you."
In a battle of words, Kaneda knew who had the technique.
"What about family feeling!?!"
Nabiki put a bent elbow over the chair's back, "I'm still
loyal to everybody who's a Tendou...Akane."
It took a couple of seconds for him to fit that last
piece of Nabiki's sentence, "Now wait a minute! Just
because you're calling the girl I change into "Akane
Saotome" DOESN'T mean I'm still not ME inside! I'm still
a Tendou!!"
Nabiki smiled, "Haven't you heard that "Form defines
destiny"? But ignoring anatomy and metabolism, let's talk
of social and legal norms. When a woman gets married, the
threads that tie her to her parental family become
reduced, at best. Her taking a new name indicates that
she now belongs to another family."
Kaneda said, "But I'm NOT married! I haven't even left
the house!"
Nabiki said, "That is because your fiance is living with
us. And by taking his name, you have shown that you
spiritually do not belong to the Tendou family."
Kaneda yelled, "Akane Saotome is just a name you made
up!!"
Nabiki said with pride, "Ah, but soon it will not be
fiction, but LEGAL. The money I got from Kuno-baby went
to a down payment." Her expression shifted to one of
'altruism', "I didn't even profit on the transaction."
That bit of strange news threw Kaneda for a temporary
loss for words.
Sounding rehearsed, Nabiki's smiled, "So you see, I have
been thinking of you the whole while. I am clearing the
way so you may be Mrs. Ranma Saotome."
Kaneda protested, "I don't want to be the wife! I want
HER to be the Mrs.!"
Nabiki uncrossed her legs, "Oh, well, that's something
Kaneda's going to help pay for." She rose up, smiling,
"But since you ARE a Tendou, I can give you a discount."
Either way, Kaneda felt slimed. It did not improve his
temper.
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But he could hardly direct his frustration at Oneesan.
"Kasumi, I've been a guy my whole life. I don't want to
be a girl."
Kasumi wiped dry one of the dishes she was washing, "And
Ranma feels the same way. And since our guest was born
that way, I would think he has a better right to be the
guy." She put the plate down and turned to Kaneda,
"Unless, of course, you are prepared to give up the idea
of being engaged."
Kaneda tried to say something, but couldn't. His mind was
in brain lock.
Kasumi wiped her hands on a dry dishtowel, "This has not
been an easy decision on my part, Kane-chan. It's taken
me until today to come to terms with the truth. As I said
this afternoon, everything was simpler before Ranma
came." She tried to give a reassuring grip on his arm, "I
recognize it will be difficult. But just as living in a
guy's body allowed you to be a think like a guy, living
in a girl's will allow you to think like a girl."
It was difficult for Kaneda to speak, "Ra, Ranma has a
girl's body. What if, if SHE wants to...be the girl?"
That was the closest his cursed mind could allow that
Ranma might not be a girl.
Kasumi's hand fell from his arm, "But Ranma's only been a
girl for...." She looked into Ototou's eyes. Among the
pain, she saw his desperate hope. She bowed her head, "If
it is Ranma's own decision."
Kaneda smiled a thank you, and hurried out of the kitchen
before she could qualify her consent.
He nearly bumped into Mr. Saotome. "Er, excuse me!"
Genma looked up at the boy with veiled disapproval.
Outside in the hall, Kaneda slowed down he heard:
"Kasumi, isn't it obvious that you are the only one
FEMALE enough for my son?..."
Kaneda thought, But Dr. Tofu loves her!
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A workout in the dojo didn't do much to release Kaneda's
frustrations. Or worries. Ranma still hadn't come home.
"But this isn't Ranma's home, is it?" The hot and sweaty
martial artist said to himself. "Ranma's never had a
home. How can you expect her to want to be a wife, then?
Doesn't one imply the other?"
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He went into the bathroom nude with thoughts like this.
"Am I willing to be the wife? Can I really overcome my
life as a guy for her?" It still seemed bizarre to him
that he'd have to be a girl to marry the girl he wanted.
For that is how he honestly thought of Ranma.
When he finished his cold water washing, he got up from
the low plastic stool and was about to leave. He stopped
to look at the hot water in the furo.
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Outside in the laundry room, the naked blackhaired girl
threw her towel into the laundry basket. On the washer
she saw a pair of yellow pajamas with swirling suns and
black catheads. On them was pinned a note, [For Akane; I
bought this a month ago on a whim. Love, Kasumi.]
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Akane tested the pajamas again, tugging on the tops and
bottoms. "I wouldn't have picked this pattern, but it IS
almost something I could wear as a guy." It wasn't as
soft as she thought girls would wear. Or is it just that
this body is soft? She knew her awareness increased as a
girl.
Still, she knew they were meant for girls. That knowledge
made her feel a little uneasy when she went out of the
laundry room. At least I'm wearing pants.
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It was dark in the back hall. But this was the house she
grew up in. She knew how to find her way around even with
her eyes--
Suddenly the door of the room next to the bathroom
opened. It was the master bedroom: Oh, no! Dad's
going to see me as a girl!!
Ranma-chan's voice said, "What's the matter, Kane-chan?"
Akane was relieved. "Ranma!? You came back!!"
Ranma-chan said, " ' course I came back. This IS our
home, after all?"
Akane's heart beneath her breast felt like leaping. "OUR
home?"
The shadow reached out, and took his hand, "Come to bed.
We got the place all to ourselves."
Akane dared to hope, "We do?"
Pulling her inside, Ranma-chan said, "Mm-hm! It's a
present from the families."
Akane couldn't believe it, "You, you want to... in Dad's
room?"
Ranma-chan slid the door closed, "We ARE gonna inherit
everything. Livin' in the master bedroom is part of the
deal Pop worked out."
Akane wanted to protest. Dad hadn't even died yet. To do
anything in his room was like--
Ranma-chan giggled, "Nabiki even sold me her long purple
negligee and matchin', lacey lingerie."
Akane had never seen Nabiki actually wearing it, but she
HAD teased him enough with it to did know which one
Ranma was talking about: "Do, do you have a tissue? I
think I'm going to have a nose bleed."
Ranma laughed, "That's my line," and turned on the light.
Ranma-kun was wearing nothing but his undershirt and
boxers.
Akane cried, "But I thought!?!" She looked down and saw
SHE was the one wearing the purple negligee and
lingerie!!
Ranma-kun leered at her, "Now it's time for the
honeymoon." The blackhaired guy advanced on her.
The muscular teen exuded male hormones. Even on his best
days, Kaneda could not match this Ranma for sheer
virility. Akane for the first time in her life felt weak
and vulnerable, fragile, frail.
Ranma-kun lifted her up in his steely arms. "Now that
we've settled who's the man and who's the woman, we can
get down to the reason there is men and women."
Ranma-kun had no problem taking her over to the futon and
lowering down onto it. His face was close enough to kiss
her lips. "Nabiki sold me her copy of the "Kama Sutra".
Akane cried, "Try THIS position!!" And kicked him in his
nuts!
As Ranma-kun fell, Akane gripped him by his shoulders and
pushed him down as she rose up. She spun him until she
was on top. She then sprang off his gut and leaped for the
way out. "I've got to get wet!! That guy would never want
to do anything with a guy!!"
Out of Dad's room it was raining.
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter...
The redhead Kaneda-kun was wearing the purple negligee
and matching, lacey lingerie!!
In a field strewn with flowers, Kuno in his kendo-gi was
waiting holding a bouquet of red roses. "Saotome, I love
you. I would date with you!"
Kaneda-kun told him, "You've have to be kidding! I'm a
guy!"
Suddenly Kaneda-kun fell through the flowers, "YE-OWW!!"
He fell into the same outdoor pool that he fell in on
Ranma's first day of school.
Kaneda was in the uniform navy blue one-piece bathing
suit that Japanese schoolgirls were known for.
Water was everywhere! Kaneda-kun was drowning!! He
reached out with his arms and kicked out with his legs,
trying to scream for help under water!!
The only people in the pool were four naked Kunos. Rather
than save her they took each other's hands and circled
her on her way towards the bottom. All the while they
chanted, "I love you. I would date with you. I love you.
I would date with you..."
The panda was there, throwing streamers and confetti
while blowing a noisemaker.
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Finally Kane-chan's scream found air: "NNOO!!"
She was awake. She was sitting up in her bed in the
yellow pajamas, panting heavily. She stared blankly at
morning light coming through her bedroom window, t
rying to get rid of the feeling that nightmares left.
Her first waking thought was a memory. It was the memory
of yesterday's sunset. Walking away, Kuno paused long
enough to look over his shoulder. "I love you."
A cold quiver of revulsion shook her more than the
nightmare had.
In her mind she heard Ranma-chan call her a, "Pervert!"
Kaneda brought his hand from his fevered head. "Geez, I'm
soaked with sweat!"
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Going into the laundry room, Kane-chan heard Mr. Saotome
humming in the bathroom. She scowled. Disgusted, she was
tempted to leave.
Instead she went to the utility sink and turned on the
cold water. She splashed her face.
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After taking off his school boys' uniform, the nude
redhead entered the bathroom with a short towel in front
of him. Mr. Saotome was stripped and sitting on the pre-
bath stool. Look at him! Why does HE need so much
lather. He's bald! But he wasn't there to test his
martial arts skills against Ranma's sensei. "Mr. Saotome,
did Ranma come home?"
Mr. Saotome ignored him.
Coming up behind him, Kaneda spoke louder, "Mr. Saotome,
I asked if Ranma was back!?!"
Mr. Saotome finally said, "Oh, it's you. I have soap in
my ears. You'll have to speak louder."
Stifling his frustration, Kaneda repeated his question.
Mr. Saotome confidently said, "No, Ranma didn't come back
last night. But he will. I am the only constant in his
life. He always comes back to me."
Kaneda's anger increased. Poor Ranma. She's never had a
chance to know what having friends and family is like.
Mr. Saotome paused from his morning toilet to smile,
"Yes, that's why Ranma has no choice but to honor an
agreement made by his old man and sensei."
*P-thard*
Kaneda dropped the wooden mallet as he walked out. He
left Mr. Saotome on the tile floor.
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Kaneda didn't hurry to school. He thought about skipping.
"I already skipped two days in a row, now. And today is
Saturday. There's only a half-day of school."
Then he saw her!! Like a mirage, Ranma-chan was walking
the fence of the bridge over the canal. Kaneda ran to
meet her as she came in his direction. He was almost
afraid to find out it was an illusion, "Ranma?! Ranma,
you didn't leave!!"
Ranma pulled herself out of her thoughts; she looked up
at him. She was still frowning. "Oh, it's you."
Kaneda slowed down, "...And you're still a girl!"
Ranma-chan stopped on top of the rail to let him know,
"It ain't MY idea! Every time I found some hot water, I
got wet with cold again!!"
Kaneda was going to ask about the "Saotome Hot Water
Attack" but decided not to. Ranma probably couldn't make
it work on herself for the same reason that snow didn't
change him when he was a girl.
Kaneda grinned, "See? It's easier just to remain like we
are now. Let's go to school."
Ranma-chan strode past him; her body language made it
clear she wasn't to be stopped, "Look! I may not have
much of a choice about havin' a girl's body, but I do
have one about BEIN' a girl!"
She ignored Kaneda as he watched her walk away.
Kaneda was still smiling when he turned back for school.
"Yes, Ranma, you will at long last have a family and
home." And his leap matched the one his heart felt, "You
will have your new life...Mrs. Ranma TENDOU!"
The End of this chapter
[I've made minor changes in Chapter 05. The important one
is that Kaneda has decided the best way to keep Ranma off
balance is to say the same kind of things to her that
Ranma said to the original Akane.]
By Ron Dow75
From an idea by James M. Zema,
Unauthorized, but allowed.
06: The Answer
The wind blew the black haired and the Furinkan girls'
uniform of the girl kneeling in the grassy field. A
paper-wrapped bouquet of long-stemmed red roses where
cradled in her arms. She was in a daze. Never before in
her life had she felt like such a girl.
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A large, handled pan dropped from a tree several
meters from the girl. A black-and-white panda climbed
down it. A water balloon was carefully held in its mouth.
When its hind legs touched the ground, it stood upright.
It then took the balloon with the hot water inside
between its front paws and easily popped it.
A wet Genma Saotome in his kempo-gi replaced the animal.
His gaze was fixed on the girl, 'Akane Saotome'. "It
appears Nabiki Tendou's plan has worked. I hope so. I'd
hate to think I had to rent my panda from out for
something that didn't."
He took one last good look at the girl, then turned to
loose himself among the other trees.
He returned to pick up the pan, "Kasumi will need this to
prepare her wonderful meals. And I may need it to hold
more hot water balloons."
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On his way back to the Tendou's, Genma thought of earlier
that day:
In the late afternoon, the panda was sitting halfway
outside the garden hall doorway. It was waiting for the
roto-rooterman to finish clearing the drains so it, at
last, could have a hot bath. That's where Soun's youngest
daughter had found him. Nabiki, still in her school
uniform, said, "Mr. Saotome, I have information that may
interest you greatly. It concerns your, uh, son: Ranma."
"Bran-ba?"
Nabiki, "But as the saying goes, "One does not really
know the value of something, until one has to pay for
it". I offer you this information to you for 1,000 yen.
If you don't have the money, I will take it in services."
The panda frowned at her. "Bbbraa," it grumbled.
Before the customer let itself off the hook, Nabiki
produced an envelope with [To Ranma Saotome] written on
it. She told the panda, "It's a challenge letter." The
saleswoman in her held up her hand to hold off any
comment, "I know Ranma has received letters before, but
THIS boy thinks Ranma is a girl."
The panda suddenly showed interest, "Berar!?!"
Nabiki kept it out of its reach, "That would mean Ranma
would have to answer the challenge as a girl, wouldn't
it?" Receiving no denial from the animal, she continued
on, "This boy ALSO believes that if he loses, Ranma will
have to go out on a date with him."
The panda's eyes widened.
She tempted the panda with the envelope, "The usual
information of when and where the challenge will be is
all in here. Now, do we have a bargain?"
A large sweatdrop formed on the panda's head. But it
nodded its agreement.
As she handed the envelope to the panda, she said, "By
the way, I couldn't find Ranma. Officially, he doesn't
know about the challenge."
The panda glared at the girl. It looked like it might
take a swipe at her.
Nabiki smiled, "But that doesn't mean 'she' might not
hear it from others. And it DEFINITELY doesn't mean the
boy in question won't challenge 'her' again. If anything,
Kuno-baby is persistent.
"Unless, that is, there's somebody ELSE to take Ranma's
place in his heart."
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In the florescent streetlight, Genma in the present shook
his head, "Imagine selling out one of your family like
that." He had a policy of forgetting about those times
he'd sold his son. "But I can't say I disapprove of it in
this instance. I have overlooked Ranma's current
challenge because I have faith that I have raised a true
man among men."
He frowned behind his glasses, "But I can't say same
about how Soun has raised HIS son. From everything I've
seen, Kaneda is just as undisciplined as any typical boy
you find these decadent days." His expression went from
disapproval to grim approval of what he'd done about it,
"And since she isn't a man, she might as well be a girl.
I've told Ranma that often enough."
He paused on the other side of the Tendou's fortress
gate. "But that's not the kind of 'girl' Ranma needs.
More than ever, his woman has to be like his mother, one
who won't blur the clear line between the sexes. Not some
cross-dressing...." Genma's adjustment to the curse had
been sidetracked during this early, fragile stage. While
he had held fast to Ranma's true gender, he couldn't look
beyond Kaneda-kun's normal outer appearance. And the boy
they had to live with couldn't look beyond Ranma's girl
form. Genma recognized a crush. But Ranma hadn't
responded by beating that crap out of the boy. It made
Genma start to question his faith in Ranma.
He paused. He took a deep breath, and released it.
"Remember, you're the guest in this house. Like it or
not, Kaneda is as yet still Soun's son and heir."
Genma smiled, "Meanwhile, there are two daughters who
know how to be female." (Though, he was having doubts
about Nabiki.) He strolled through the gate, his eyes
seeing a bright future, "And once Ranma is married to a
Tendou girl, then we can worry about WHO is to be the
heir to the dojo."
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The flowers left on the field, Kane-chan hurried through
the back gate of her family's compound? She closed it
with her back. She rested against it for a moment to
catch her breath.
As she did, she glared down at the thing she had on. It
was too dark to see clearly in the shadow of the
compound's wall, but she could certainly feel it. "Stupid
dress! Stupid wind-resistance! Flapping around like that!
If girls want to run around with naked legs, why can't
they just wear shorts!?" It was a complaint she'd had
before. The only thing that kept it from being worse was
that she wasn't wearing skimpy panties. She still had on
her usual boxers.
She stood up; she was getting back to a comfortable
breathing rate. She put her hand on her chest, "Ohr,
running without a bra is never a good idea." She had been
a girl often enough to know their practical uses. But a
guy can't wear one that'd do any good for a girl. Even if
I could, I'd never survive what it would do to my
reputation. I might as well BE a girl, then.
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Kane-chan was so mad, she slammed the kitchen door and
didn't even acknowledge Kasumi's greeting. (She had,
though, kicked the girls' sneakers off outside the door.)
As she was leaving, Kasumi told her, "Supper will be
ready soon! Will you tell Nabiki to clear the table?"
Kane-chan turned from her way to the bedrooms upstairs,
and went to the family room.
Kane-chan stood there for a moment, focusing her
animosity.
Nabiki was on the other side of the table. Her books were
spread out on it. One of them wasn't a schoolbook. It was
an accounting ledger. She looked up from the other side
of the table and offered, "A yen for your thoughts."
Kane-chan stormed across to where she'd been obviously
waiting for HER (female), "I THOUGHT you said Ranma was
going to be there!?!"
Nabiki sat back on a hip, tucking her pants-covered knees
under her. "Did you actually HEAR me say I got the
message to Ranma? I think not, though I tried." THAT,
after all, was what Kuno-baby contracted her to do (for a
nice fee of 1,000 yen). "I DID tell your classmates to
give her the message if they saw her." Of COURSE there
was nothing in the verbal contract that said she had to
make actually contact with Ranma.
Kane-chan bent over her and held up a small fist, "So you
decided you'd deliver the next-best-thing to Kuno!?"
AND informed Kuno ahead of time. Nabiki kept her poker
face, "I delivered the next-best-opponent. How was I to
know you were going to show up as a girl?" And the
loophole was she didn't KNOW. But because Akane did,
she'd get to keep the 10,000-yen finder's fee from Kuno-
baby.
Kane-chan drew back the fist she used to break cinder
blocks, "I ought to!"
Nabiki said calmly, "Uh, uh! Remember, "The strong should
not pick on the weak"."
Kane-chan said sourly, Nabiki weak!? "Only physically.
Only physically." She HAD been tempted to see how close
she could come to her sister's face. But, in the end,
Nabiki WAS her sister.
Kane-chan turned and stomped out of the room. Rrr! If I
did try it, I KNOW she wouldn't give me the satisfaction
of even pretending to flinch!
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Kasumi was in Kane-chan's way, wiping off her hands on a
dishtowel. Kasumi asked, "Your fight didn't go well,
Akane?"
A red-faced Kane-chan turned sideways to get by her older
sister, "There wasn't a fight."
Kasumi said, "I'm sorry to hear that. I know how
important fighting is to you."
Kane-chan walked backwards as she told her, "Fighting is
not important to me: It's important to the dojo! This is
kempo! What do you think we're selling!? Fighting is
advertising!" In kempo, technique came first, then the
applications.
Kasumi said, "It was because you were a girl, wasn't it,
Akane?"
Kane-chan said ironically, "Oh, you could say that." She
spun around and picked up her pace.
Kasumi followed, "If you'd like to talk about it..."
Kane-chan stayed long enough on the stairs to say, "Look,
Kasumi, I'm just not comfortable talking to you like
this. I have to get out of these clothes, and out of this
body. If you have anything to say, say it to your
brother."
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In her red-and-white striped shirt, Kane-chan pulled at
the Kaneda's jeans. "Hm-rr! They're a size
larger around, but they don't hit the hips and butt
right." But they were tight along what to her were thick
thighs. Below them, they became loose. "And look how long
they are. I'm nearly 18 cms/7 inches shorter. It's a
wonder I haven't trip over my pants every time I change!"
She looked for her belt. She found that the jeans wanted
to pinch in the wrong places. "What's wrong all of a
sudden!? Any other time I just have to cinch up my belt,
and...."
It hit her: "Kasumi!!!"
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"Kasumi!!" On the way downstairs, the jeans told Kane-
chan visiting the lav was her first priority.
While she waited for the hot water to come out of the
sink's tap, she also realized, "Why didn't I do this this
afternoon!? THEN I wouldn't have changed in front of
Kasumi and tore that uniform. And if I HADN'T done all
of that, I bet I wouldn't have ended up in a dress in front
of Kuno!!
"Rrrr! It IS a curse! If it can't get somebody else to
get you wet, it makes you stupid enough to do it to
yourself!!"
Out of sheer frustration, she grabbed the sides of the
sink and dunked her head in the steaming hot water. "Ow!
I've got to remember to remember! Ow! Remember,
Stupid! Ow! Don't forget!..."
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Kasumi was bringing a tray with platters of eel teriyaki
and vegetables from the kitchen into the family room when
Kaneda came bounding down the stairs. "Kasumi!! I bet you
know the reason I met Kuno in a dress today!"
Kasumi paused, "I don't know the reason." She smiled,
and headed into the family room, "I just know it works."
The redhaired Kaneda followed her, "Aha! You did do it!"
His dad said, "Now, Kaneda, that's no way to talk to your
older sister."
Kaneda stopped to frown at the man. "Welcome back to the
land of the conscious. It took you long enough to come
out of your 'trance'." Now that he knew part of the
truth, he wasn't convinced Dad's spells weren't just an
excuse not to face him with the rest of it.
Kasumi asked, "Please, Kaneda! That is no way to talk to
Father. And in front of company, too."
Kaneda looked. All he saw was Mr. Saotome. "Ranma's not
here."
Nabiki said, "That's obvious."
Kaneda told her, "Quiet! I'm not through with you,
Nabiki! But first," he strode to where his oneesan was
serving supper, "How did you get that dress on me?!"
His dad said, "Kaneda! Kasumi would never think to make
you wear a dress! She knows you're a man!"
Kaneda wanted to yell, "Only because I'm, I am...." He
couldn't yell. He knew he was cursed, but he was usually
a girl when he felt most cursed.
Soun Tendou started getting that far away look in his
eye. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about,
son."
Kaneda did yell, "Son!?!" He COULD be angry for a
lifetime of silence from a man who was supposed to be his
male role model.
Soun hid behind his forearm and cried, "He yelled at me!"
Kasumi stopped serving. (Unfortunately she'd set the tray
down in front Mr. Saotome.) "Kaneda! I will not answer
ANY questions until you apologize to Father."
Gritting his teeth in familiar frustration, Kaneda said,
"I, formally, apologize." But I'm not sorry.
Kasumi smiled for him, "That's better." She turned to
their houseguest, "Mr. Saotome? What happens to your
clothes when you turn into a panda?"
His mouth full, Genma Saotome looked up. He swallowed. He
then smiled, and orated, "Ah! That's an interesting
question. I've wondered that myself since I fell into
that spring. I DO know that they are the clothes I was
wearing before I changed. See this?" he asked, pushing
out his gi coat with a thumb under the opening, "This is
a stain that I got eating barbequed octopus balls."
Kasumi looked, "Oh, my. I'll have to clean that for you."
Still upset, Kaneda said, "What does he having barbequed
octopus balls have to do with ME wearing a dress!?!"
Dad said, "There he goes again! Where have I failed!
Genma, do not think my son is like this! It's just a
momentary aberration! You know about teenagers and their
fads!" Then he broke down and started weeping, "But
dresses!??"
Kaneda defended himself, "It wasn't MY idea to wear the
damned dress!!"
Nabiki played audience and impassive critic. "I hope this
is confusing enough. How many tangled conversations can
be followed at the same time?"
Kasumi said, "I will admit it was my idea. I replaced the
duplicate--"
Kaneda interrupted, " "Duplicate"!?!
Kaneda got a pleased smile, "Yes. I've made sure that
you've had two sets of just about all of your outfits.
One that will fit you, as you are now, and a second for
when you...." She looked at her still crying father, and
didn't finish the sentence. He decided to take it
outside.
Nabiki said, "And THAT'S why I don't have a bigger
clothing allowance."
Kasumi gently chided her younger sister, "Now, Nabiki,
you know I've been very frugal. Most of those outfits are
the same as he was wearing when he was younger. That way
I just had to take those Kaneda had outgrown and altered
them to fit, uh, Kaneda's alternative form." Though out
in the garden, her father could hear. That is, if he
cared to.
Nabiki accused, "But it wasn't that way for a couple of
years, there!"
Kasumi said, "Yes, there was a time when Kaneda was
shorter than, uh, er, boys of that age."
Nabiki smirked, "And more developed."
Kasumi said, "That was the time that Kaneda started to
need outfits of different sizes. That was the time I
started my duplication project. It was encouraging that
Kaneda appreciated my work."
Kaneda said, "Appreciated it?? I didn't even know you
were doing it!"
Kasumi smiled on him, "I just had to give you the idea
'if only'. You knew where to look for a change of outfits
when you needed one."
Kaneda thought about it. " "...know where to look for a
change of" --You mean in the--" Suddenly he stopped
himself, as he glared at Nabiki.
Nabiki said, "You don't think I haven't known about the
locked chest for years?"
Kasumi said, "But things are different, now, Nabiki. I
expect you to give me ALL of the keys you've made. You've
respected Father's and my wishes up to now, as far as I
know. But with the change of circumstances, I can't be
sure you'll continue doing so."
Nabiki was about to talk her way into keeping one key,
but decided not to. She hung her head, "Yes, Kasumi." If
she pushed it, the loopholes would be closed.
Genma said, after finishing off his, Ranma's and the
still crying Soun's meals, "But where do MY clothes go to
and from?"
Nabiki said, "Isn't it obvious? It has to be your
traveling pack. Isn't that where your clothes would be
when you're not using them?"
Kasumi told her sister, "And you are NOT to replace
Ranma's things with anything that doesn't belong there,
either."
Nabiki said, "It wouldn't do any good, anyway. Ranma
hasn't gotten the idea of 'if only'. Those Chinese
clothes allow for quite a bit of growth and shrinkage."
She got her smirk back, "Not to mention, development."
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Kaneda followed Kasumi into the kitchen, where they could
talk without interruption. "Okay, Kasumi, why don't I
remember you giving me this "if only", or whatever,
idea?"
Kasumi said, "We can talk later. I have to serve supper."
He planted himself in front of the doorway, "I've waited
five years. I'm not waiting any longer."
Kasumi stopped, "But you said you just found out." But
she sighed, "Oh, alright." Kaneda took the tray with its
bowls of anmitsu gelatin and held it for her. Kasumi
brought her mind around to the topic at hand; she then
said, "You were complaining that your clothes weren't
fitting you right. They were making you uncomfortable.
But you were my brother at the time, and as far as I
could see there was no problem there. You couldn't bring
yourself to admit that the clothes were only ill-fitting
when you were," she reflexively slowed down out of
concern other people would hear, "a girl." Kaneda had
been on of those people. She hadn't wanted to embarrass
him. It had to be his idea to let others know.
Kaneda's face reddened. He barely remembered it. But he
was familiar with why he didn't want to mention the girl.
When he was a kid, just about the only time he became a
girl was by accident. Then the most visible change was
the color of his hair. It went from a red that almost no
Japanese he knew had to the color most Japanese had. He
was no longer different from others, but he WAS different
from himself. He was no longer Kaneda Tendou. He was
somebody else, a stranger to everybody he knew. There
were times he liked that. There were other times when he
felt like just a nameless little kid lost in the "sea of
black hair". Invisible.
The easiest way to become a somebody again was to find
cold water and become the flame-haired Kaneda. The black-
haired girl, until Wednesday night, had remained nameless,
and lost. She was like a person who hadn't been properly
buried. A ghost. To mention her was to invite bad luck.
It was bad enough she could possess him. His ideas about
the girl had only become more sophisticated with age.
Kasumi continued with her account of how Kaneda got
clothes that fit no matter the body, "I said, "If only
you could get proper-fitting clothes from the same place
you got your hammers"."
Kaneda had a pang of guilt. Yes, of course he would have
preferred to forget Kasumi had said that. She didn't
approve of him using wooden mallets. But I only use them
when my martial arts skills aren't enough. I AM from the
school of Anything-Goes was his justification. Of course
the mallets had long since disappeared from the ancient
tool chest. Kaneda wasn't sure WHERE they were when he
wasn't using them.
Kasumi continued, "I placed a change of clothes that were
a size larger in the old tool chest. I then, uh,
'accidentally', I'm afraid, spilled some hot water on
you. You were so upset at the time you apparently didn't
notice the switch. But it did show you had gotten the
idea."
Kaneda said, "So you went ahead and started making
duplicate outfits for me." Suddenly he smiled. "And not
one of them were for a girl."
Kasumi retrieved the tray from Kaneda, "That's right. As
far as everybody knew, you were meant to be a guy."
She was out the kitchen door before Kaneda snapped back
to the present, "Oh-h, no!" And he went after her,
"Kasumi, just because you now know I was meant to be a
girl, doesn't mean you HAVE to treat me like a girl!"
Even before he got into the family room, Dad made it
known he'd heard, "Kaneda! If anybody knows how a how the
different genders should be, it's your sister Kasumi! How
can you suggest that she would treat you as anything but
what you were meant to be!" After 16 years of denial,
only a very quiet voice in him said, as *I* meant you to
be.
Kaneda knew that Dad could no longer tolerate anything
related to Akane Saotome. She would have to wait until
supper was over with.
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It was after supper, and Ranma STILL hadn't shown up.
Kaneda was beginning to be worried. That was on top of
all the other worries that were piling up on him.
Mr. Saotome would rather I was engaged to anybody else
but Ranma. Kuno says he's in love with me. Nabiki is on
any side with money. And Kasumi has decided I should be a
girl after all. He sulked. The only one who WANTS me to
be a guy is Dad. Out loud he said, "Gee, why doesn't
that make me feel better."
He found himself outside Nabiki's room. He was tempted to
go straight in; but he knocked. She answered, "Come in,
Kaneda."
When he opened the door he found her seated on her desk
chair. It was turned around, facing the bed. She
gestured, "Sit. We'll talk."
Kaneda said, "I won't be here that long!" He left the
door open as he strode over to her, "You sold me!"
Nabiki, in her faded cutoffs and green halter, casually
crossed her bare legs, "Are you still a free agent? Are
you still able to say "no"? You are not forced or
obligated. Therefore, I did not 'sell' you."
In a battle of words, Kaneda knew who had the technique.
"What about family feeling!?!"
Nabiki put a bent elbow over the chair's back, "I'm still
loyal to everybody who's a Tendou...Akane."
It took a couple of seconds for him to fit that last
piece of Nabiki's sentence, "Now wait a minute! Just
because you're calling the girl I change into "Akane
Saotome" DOESN'T mean I'm still not ME inside! I'm still
a Tendou!!"
Nabiki smiled, "Haven't you heard that "Form defines
destiny"? But ignoring anatomy and metabolism, let's talk
of social and legal norms. When a woman gets married, the
threads that tie her to her parental family become
reduced, at best. Her taking a new name indicates that
she now belongs to another family."
Kaneda said, "But I'm NOT married! I haven't even left
the house!"
Nabiki said, "That is because your fiance is living with
us. And by taking his name, you have shown that you
spiritually do not belong to the Tendou family."
Kaneda yelled, "Akane Saotome is just a name you made
up!!"
Nabiki said with pride, "Ah, but soon it will not be
fiction, but LEGAL. The money I got from Kuno-baby went
to a down payment." Her expression shifted to one of
'altruism', "I didn't even profit on the transaction."
That bit of strange news threw Kaneda for a temporary
loss for words.
Sounding rehearsed, Nabiki's smiled, "So you see, I have
been thinking of you the whole while. I am clearing the
way so you may be Mrs. Ranma Saotome."
Kaneda protested, "I don't want to be the wife! I want
HER to be the Mrs.!"
Nabiki uncrossed her legs, "Oh, well, that's something
Kaneda's going to help pay for." She rose up, smiling,
"But since you ARE a Tendou, I can give you a discount."
Either way, Kaneda felt slimed. It did not improve his
temper.
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But he could hardly direct his frustration at Oneesan.
"Kasumi, I've been a guy my whole life. I don't want to
be a girl."
Kasumi wiped dry one of the dishes she was washing, "And
Ranma feels the same way. And since our guest was born
that way, I would think he has a better right to be the
guy." She put the plate down and turned to Kaneda,
"Unless, of course, you are prepared to give up the idea
of being engaged."
Kaneda tried to say something, but couldn't. His mind was
in brain lock.
Kasumi wiped her hands on a dry dishtowel, "This has not
been an easy decision on my part, Kane-chan. It's taken
me until today to come to terms with the truth. As I said
this afternoon, everything was simpler before Ranma
came." She tried to give a reassuring grip on his arm, "I
recognize it will be difficult. But just as living in a
guy's body allowed you to be a think like a guy, living
in a girl's will allow you to think like a girl."
It was difficult for Kaneda to speak, "Ra, Ranma has a
girl's body. What if, if SHE wants to...be the girl?"
That was the closest his cursed mind could allow that
Ranma might not be a girl.
Kasumi's hand fell from his arm, "But Ranma's only been a
girl for...." She looked into Ototou's eyes. Among the
pain, she saw his desperate hope. She bowed her head, "If
it is Ranma's own decision."
Kaneda smiled a thank you, and hurried out of the kitchen
before she could qualify her consent.
He nearly bumped into Mr. Saotome. "Er, excuse me!"
Genma looked up at the boy with veiled disapproval.
Outside in the hall, Kaneda slowed down he heard:
"Kasumi, isn't it obvious that you are the only one
FEMALE enough for my son?..."
Kaneda thought, But Dr. Tofu loves her!
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A workout in the dojo didn't do much to release Kaneda's
frustrations. Or worries. Ranma still hadn't come home.
"But this isn't Ranma's home, is it?" The hot and sweaty
martial artist said to himself. "Ranma's never had a
home. How can you expect her to want to be a wife, then?
Doesn't one imply the other?"
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He went into the bathroom nude with thoughts like this.
"Am I willing to be the wife? Can I really overcome my
life as a guy for her?" It still seemed bizarre to him
that he'd have to be a girl to marry the girl he wanted.
For that is how he honestly thought of Ranma.
When he finished his cold water washing, he got up from
the low plastic stool and was about to leave. He stopped
to look at the hot water in the furo.
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Outside in the laundry room, the naked blackhaired girl
threw her towel into the laundry basket. On the washer
she saw a pair of yellow pajamas with swirling suns and
black catheads. On them was pinned a note, [For Akane; I
bought this a month ago on a whim. Love, Kasumi.]
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Akane tested the pajamas again, tugging on the tops and
bottoms. "I wouldn't have picked this pattern, but it IS
almost something I could wear as a guy." It wasn't as
soft as she thought girls would wear. Or is it just that
this body is soft? She knew her awareness increased as a
girl.
Still, she knew they were meant for girls. That knowledge
made her feel a little uneasy when she went out of the
laundry room. At least I'm wearing pants.
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It was dark in the back hall. But this was the house she
grew up in. She knew how to find her way around even with
her eyes--
Suddenly the door of the room next to the bathroom
opened. It was the master bedroom: Oh, no! Dad's
going to see me as a girl!!
Ranma-chan's voice said, "What's the matter, Kane-chan?"
Akane was relieved. "Ranma!? You came back!!"
Ranma-chan said, " ' course I came back. This IS our
home, after all?"
Akane's heart beneath her breast felt like leaping. "OUR
home?"
The shadow reached out, and took his hand, "Come to bed.
We got the place all to ourselves."
Akane dared to hope, "We do?"
Pulling her inside, Ranma-chan said, "Mm-hm! It's a
present from the families."
Akane couldn't believe it, "You, you want to... in Dad's
room?"
Ranma-chan slid the door closed, "We ARE gonna inherit
everything. Livin' in the master bedroom is part of the
deal Pop worked out."
Akane wanted to protest. Dad hadn't even died yet. To do
anything in his room was like--
Ranma-chan giggled, "Nabiki even sold me her long purple
negligee and matchin', lacey lingerie."
Akane had never seen Nabiki actually wearing it, but she
HAD teased him enough with it to did know which one
Ranma was talking about: "Do, do you have a tissue? I
think I'm going to have a nose bleed."
Ranma laughed, "That's my line," and turned on the light.
Ranma-kun was wearing nothing but his undershirt and
boxers.
Akane cried, "But I thought!?!" She looked down and saw
SHE was the one wearing the purple negligee and
lingerie!!
Ranma-kun leered at her, "Now it's time for the
honeymoon." The blackhaired guy advanced on her.
The muscular teen exuded male hormones. Even on his best
days, Kaneda could not match this Ranma for sheer
virility. Akane for the first time in her life felt weak
and vulnerable, fragile, frail.
Ranma-kun lifted her up in his steely arms. "Now that
we've settled who's the man and who's the woman, we can
get down to the reason there is men and women."
Ranma-kun had no problem taking her over to the futon and
lowering down onto it. His face was close enough to kiss
her lips. "Nabiki sold me her copy of the "Kama Sutra".
Akane cried, "Try THIS position!!" And kicked him in his
nuts!
As Ranma-kun fell, Akane gripped him by his shoulders and
pushed him down as she rose up. She spun him until she
was on top. She then sprang off his gut and leaped for the
way out. "I've got to get wet!! That guy would never want
to do anything with a guy!!"
Out of Dad's room it was raining.
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter...
The redhead Kaneda-kun was wearing the purple negligee
and matching, lacey lingerie!!
In a field strewn with flowers, Kuno in his kendo-gi was
waiting holding a bouquet of red roses. "Saotome, I love
you. I would date with you!"
Kaneda-kun told him, "You've have to be kidding! I'm a
guy!"
Suddenly Kaneda-kun fell through the flowers, "YE-OWW!!"
He fell into the same outdoor pool that he fell in on
Ranma's first day of school.
Kaneda was in the uniform navy blue one-piece bathing
suit that Japanese schoolgirls were known for.
Water was everywhere! Kaneda-kun was drowning!! He
reached out with his arms and kicked out with his legs,
trying to scream for help under water!!
The only people in the pool were four naked Kunos. Rather
than save her they took each other's hands and circled
her on her way towards the bottom. All the while they
chanted, "I love you. I would date with you. I love you.
I would date with you..."
The panda was there, throwing streamers and confetti
while blowing a noisemaker.
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Finally Kane-chan's scream found air: "NNOO!!"
She was awake. She was sitting up in her bed in the
yellow pajamas, panting heavily. She stared blankly at
morning light coming through her bedroom window, t
rying to get rid of the feeling that nightmares left.
Her first waking thought was a memory. It was the memory
of yesterday's sunset. Walking away, Kuno paused long
enough to look over his shoulder. "I love you."
A cold quiver of revulsion shook her more than the
nightmare had.
In her mind she heard Ranma-chan call her a, "Pervert!"
Kaneda brought his hand from his fevered head. "Geez, I'm
soaked with sweat!"
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Going into the laundry room, Kane-chan heard Mr. Saotome
humming in the bathroom. She scowled. Disgusted, she was
tempted to leave.
Instead she went to the utility sink and turned on the
cold water. She splashed her face.
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After taking off his school boys' uniform, the nude
redhead entered the bathroom with a short towel in front
of him. Mr. Saotome was stripped and sitting on the pre-
bath stool. Look at him! Why does HE need so much
lather. He's bald! But he wasn't there to test his
martial arts skills against Ranma's sensei. "Mr. Saotome,
did Ranma come home?"
Mr. Saotome ignored him.
Coming up behind him, Kaneda spoke louder, "Mr. Saotome,
I asked if Ranma was back!?!"
Mr. Saotome finally said, "Oh, it's you. I have soap in
my ears. You'll have to speak louder."
Stifling his frustration, Kaneda repeated his question.
Mr. Saotome confidently said, "No, Ranma didn't come back
last night. But he will. I am the only constant in his
life. He always comes back to me."
Kaneda's anger increased. Poor Ranma. She's never had a
chance to know what having friends and family is like.
Mr. Saotome paused from his morning toilet to smile,
"Yes, that's why Ranma has no choice but to honor an
agreement made by his old man and sensei."
*P-thard*
Kaneda dropped the wooden mallet as he walked out. He
left Mr. Saotome on the tile floor.
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Kaneda didn't hurry to school. He thought about skipping.
"I already skipped two days in a row, now. And today is
Saturday. There's only a half-day of school."
Then he saw her!! Like a mirage, Ranma-chan was walking
the fence of the bridge over the canal. Kaneda ran to
meet her as she came in his direction. He was almost
afraid to find out it was an illusion, "Ranma?! Ranma,
you didn't leave!!"
Ranma pulled herself out of her thoughts; she looked up
at him. She was still frowning. "Oh, it's you."
Kaneda slowed down, "...And you're still a girl!"
Ranma-chan stopped on top of the rail to let him know,
"It ain't MY idea! Every time I found some hot water, I
got wet with cold again!!"
Kaneda was going to ask about the "Saotome Hot Water
Attack" but decided not to. Ranma probably couldn't make
it work on herself for the same reason that snow didn't
change him when he was a girl.
Kaneda grinned, "See? It's easier just to remain like we
are now. Let's go to school."
Ranma-chan strode past him; her body language made it
clear she wasn't to be stopped, "Look! I may not have
much of a choice about havin' a girl's body, but I do
have one about BEIN' a girl!"
She ignored Kaneda as he watched her walk away.
Kaneda was still smiling when he turned back for school.
"Yes, Ranma, you will at long last have a family and
home." And his leap matched the one his heart felt, "You
will have your new life...Mrs. Ranma TENDOU!"
The End of this chapter
[I've made minor changes in Chapter 05. The important one
is that Kaneda has decided the best way to keep Ranma off
balance is to say the same kind of things to her that
Ranma said to the original Akane.]