Suki da
Chapter Three: Sometimes your family hurts you the most
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Disclaimer: Umm...dunno what to say really. Nothing's changed.
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They were released from the hospital the next morning. Eriol and Okashi were the ones to pick them up, and the moment Okashi saw her cousin and friend she ran to embrace them.
"I was so worried when I heard that your entire apartment had been blown up. What happened? The doctors won't say anything except that Ceres is pregnant but luckily the baby's just fine. Ceres, is that true? Are you really pregnant?"
"Iie...I'm not..." Okashi was confused. P-chan 'bwee'd' softly and tried to hide himself in the crook of Ceres's arm, "It's kind of a loooooong story. One that I'm sure I'll be telling, even though it really isn't my place to do so, and I prefer to only do it once..." she walked away, headed toward Tendo Dojo, Ranma just behind her. Okashi looked at Eriol who shook his head.
"She won't tell me anything, but it's gotta be bad if they're both so timid."
"Yeah really. And why is Ryouga still in pig form? Wouldn't he have gotten hot water as soon as possible? Hey!! Wait up for us!!" they ran to catch up.
"Minna-san, Ranma and..." she looked at P-chan, "Ranma, has something to say," they were near the koi pond at the Tendo Dojo. The entire Tendo family was there, plus Genma, Okashi, Kudou and Eriol. As an afterthought they had Shampoo, Mousse, Cologne and Ukyo there as well. It was an amazing sight, they had seen the looks on Ranma and Ceres's faces and the entire room was coexisting peacefully.
"A couple of weeks ago..." Ranma began, "Ceres, Akane, Okashi, Eriol and Ryouga took me to a nightclub for my birthday...Ryouga....Ryouga got extremely drunk and asked me to take him home. When we got there....I guess I was really drunk too...we sort of...You see I had gotten stuff spilt on me and was a girl...and we...well one thing lead to another...he was so drunk...and we wound up...sleeping together," a dead silence hit the room, save a soft 'b-ki' from P-chan, "And there's more...the next morning...when Ryouga found out...he got depressed and used the Lion's Heart Roar...that's what destroyed Ceres's apartment building and landed us in the hospital....when I woke up...the nurse told me..." her eyes welled with tears, "The nurse told me...told me..." she looked to Ceres, who had maintained her usual stoic calm.
"The nurse told Ranma that she's carrying a child," Ceres told them, "We figure it's Ryouga's," her eyes roved the room briefly. Everyone was still silent. Suddenly Genma let out a forced chuckle.
"Ceres ya never cease to amaze me. Here I thought ya didn't have a sense of humor!"
"I'm not joking Genma-sensei."
"She ain't kidding Pop," Ranma said at the same time.
"Demo...." Akane said, "Ranma's a boy. How can he be pregnant?"
"He had sex in his girl form," Ceres said simply. There was another pregnant silence, then, just like at the hospital, chaos erupted. Ranma was getting yelled at for obvious reasons by the two fathers present, Akane, Nabiki, Ukyo and Okashi. Ceres was getting questioned furiously by Shampoo, Kasumi, and Cologne. Kuduo, Eriol, Mousse sat and watched it all happen with extremely shocked looks. P-chan began crying again.
"I want him out," Soun eventually said when everything had quieted down. He was disgusted beyond normal words and for once hadn't burst into tears, "I don't care were he goes...doing this to my Akane-chan..." Ranma sighed, she had been expecting that.
"Daddy..." Kasumi implored, "Be reasonable. Where is Ranma to go?"
"I don't care. I don't want to see him near this house or anyone in it again," he turned cold eyes to Ranma, "If you do, mark my words boy, I will kill you," he turned to Genma, who was refusing to meet eyes with his son, "I am sorry that the union between your son and my daughter couldn't have worked out better. I of course won't turn you and Okashi away, but your son–"
"Son?" Genma laughed cruelly, "I have no son. Do you see one? All I see is a stupid little girl that couldn't keep her legs crossed," he got up and left the room.
"Airen..." Shampoo poked Ranma's stomach as if to make sure there really was a baby in there, "Is Airen going to keep baby?"
"Depends on what Ryouga and I decide on," Ranma replied, "If we decide to not keep it Ceres is going to take care of it for us."
"You are?" Kuduo asked.
"I refuse to allow him to abort. I know it isn't my place but..." she shrugged.
"I want you out by the time I wake up," Soun said as he stood up, "Or else," then, he too left.
"I don't know why you look so surprised," Ceres told him, "I told you to expect that."
"Doesn't make it easier."
"It is your own fault," Mousse pointed out. Ranma glared at him.
"Well..." they all looked at Akane, who had been very quiet, "You did something really stupid," she began, "But...for some reason I can't find it in my heart to turn my back on you like Daddy is..." she stood up, "This is too much for me to handle right now. I'm going to bed. Ranma...I'll try to talk Daddy around but don't hold your breath," she came over and reached for P-chan but the piglet hid further in the folds of Ceres's skirt, "What's wrong P-chan?"
"He's a little shaken from the blast," Ceres explained, "I'll bring him around when he feels better ok?" Akane looked sad for a moment then shrugged and left. Nabiki and Kasumi shared a look and followed their youngest sister. Leaving Kudou, Eriol, Ranma, Shampoo, Ukyo, Mousse and Cologne alone.
"You can turn back into your normal self Ryouga," Eriol said, "It's just us..." Ceres shook her head.
"He refuses. I've tried. And he won't leave my side. I think he's depressed to beyond the point of a Shi Shi Hokodan. And he's worried that everyone hates him," she looked at Okashi then at Kuduo, "Do you?"
"Just how drunk was he?" Kuduo asked, "I mean to sleep with Ranma."
"I can't believe you just asked that!" Eriol said. Kuduo shrugged.
"He was pretty drunk," Okashi admitted, "He kept telling everyone that he loved them, I think he would've thrown himself on anyone. No offense Ranma."
"At this point nothin' anyone says would hurt me. I'm numb."
"Oh...and I won't deny that I'm shocked...and angry I mean how could you two be so...so..."
"Stupid?" Cologne offered.
"Hai."
"They were pretty foolish," the old woman went on, "I would have thought that you had more common sense then that son-in..." she trailed off, "...Ranma."
"Great Grandmother? Airen not Airen anymore?" Shampoo sounded worried, Mousse looked hopeful.
"I don't love him," Ranma said quietly, "I was drunk and stupid but I don't love him. Not that way. I love him the same way a best friend loves...but no more," Ukyo and Shampoo looked relived, Mousse looked disappointed.
"Since you have no place to go you can stay with me Ranchan," Ukyo offered, then added, "And I won't make you work to pay off the room," Ranma looked up, suddenly very grateful for the girl.
"And you Hibiki blooded can stay at the Nekohanten with us," Cologne said, "Seeing as Ceres no longer has a place to keep you two in," Kuduo grinned.
"What about you Okashi? Are you going to stay here or stay with Ranchan?" Okashi looked up.
"If it's alright. I'd like to stay with Eriol," they all looked at her in shock, "I can't stay here, conditions being what they are but I can't quite bring myself to live under the same roof as Ranma-san or Ryouga-kun. I don't hate you," she added quickly at P-chan, "I just need time to digest this...that's all. Is that ok Ryouga?" P-chan gave a soft reply, "Ceres please keep an eye on him. You too Kuduo. I don't want anything to happen to him. Please?" Ceres put a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Of course."
"Arigato...Well...we have packing do to if we want to be out by the time Tendo-san wakes up..."
~*~*~*~*~
Kuduo slowly woke up and stretched his arms above his head. As he yawned he looked over to his cousin's bed. It was empty, it usually was when he got up. Ever industrious Ceres was up at the crack of dawn working double shifts at the Nekohaten. Kuduo also had been hired as a table buster but as he was still young and they had Mousse, he didn't have set hours. Then again he thought to himself, Ceres-san probably doesn't either. She needs to buy all new stuff and find a new place to live...it kills her imposing on Cologne-sama like this...Kuduo sighed. Cologne had even said that Kuduo didn't need to work but the boy had insisted. He began getting ready for work and that was when he heard the loud crash. Half-dressed the boy ran out of the room to see what was going on. He didn't have to wait long. Ceres, clad only in a large towel was chasing after a little black streak. P-chan paused briefly at his brother's feet before leaping into Kuduo's arms and cowering. Ceres skidded to a halt.
"Ryouga you can't hide in that form forever. You're beginning to smell and that's bad for business. You need to take a bath and that means hot water. Kuduo keep a good grip on him."
"If he's the one getting a bath then why are you in the towel?"
"I need to scrub him down with this," she held up a bar of waterproof soap, "So he's forced to stay human. I can't trust him to do it on his own so I need to be there," she looked a little distressed about the whole thing, Kuduo really didn't blame her, "Kuduo since you have him please bring him to the bath?" Kuduo looked down at his brother. P-chan was silently begging him not too. Kuduo sighed and dropped P-chan into Ceres's arms. The piglet squealed and tried to escape but Ceres had a firm grip.
"I don't want any part of this," Kuduo said, "I gotta get working before Cologne-sama tortures Mousse-san too much," Ceres smiled at him.
"I'm glad that you've taken to work so well."
"I have to pay them back y'know?" Ceres rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, a no-armed hug, then pulled back, "What was that for?"
"I'm just glad that I have at least one responsible cousin. You're right, you should get to work," Kuduo turned back to the room then turned back.
"Don't scrub to hard," he said, hoping Ceres caught the hidden meaning, "Aniki's really sensitive."
"Hai," the smile she gave him told him that she had understood, "I'll try," Kuduo grinned and went back into his room.
Ceres looked down at the bundle of pigskin she held. P-chan apparently had given into his fate and was now sighing desolately.
"It's not like I want to do this to you," Ceres told him as she walked into the bathroom, "If I knew that you'd do it on your own I'd just sent you in there."
"Bwee," was the reply.
"I hope that means that you understand," Ceres held the silent pig at eye level, then kissed his snout before dropping him in the hot tub water. There was a large amount of bubbles, then nothing. No Ryouga. Ceres sighed and climbed into the tub, then, making sure that her towel was secure, went under, and pulled Ryouga up by the armpits.
"You should've just let me drown," he said when he stopped coughing up bath water.
"I told Ranma that he wasn't allowed to kill himself. It wouldn't be fair to him if I let you kill yourself," Ryouga said nothing, he just clung weakly to the side of the tub. Ceres sighed again and reached over to her basket.
"You're really going to bathe me aren't you?"
"You won't bathe yourself with waterproof soap. So it was either me or Cologne," Ryouga's eyes went wide.
"You–you would let her–"
"Of course not. You're depressed enough," she began to lather, "Is it really the end of the world?"
"Hai."
"Honto ni?"
"Hai."
"Honto no honto ni?"
"HAI CERES, HAI!!!" Ceres smiled behind his back.
"Angry is better than sad I guess," Ryouga whirled around on her, his fingers were twitching.
"I hate you," Ceres hugged him, "How come you get to wear a towel?"
"I had a bath already," she let him go and handed him the soap, "Think you can take it from here? I'm going to be sitting right there," she pointed to the side of the tub, "So I know that you're actually using the soap but at least you'll be spared the indignanty of me washing you."
"You're really enjoying this aren't you?"
"Makes me feel kinda maternal. Maybe I'll just have to have a child of my own..." Ryouga's eyes went wide again.
"NANI?!? That's not funny!"
"Hm? I wasn't joking," she smiled softly, almost to herself, "Eriol asked me to marry him that night, at the club. I told him that he shouldn't say such things to a girl who's been drinking but he took out the ring and got on one knee and everything..." she looked up at her cousin and her smile widened, "I accepted. We're getting married in the spring. I didn't want to say anything because of this whole mess between you and Ranma-chan but I can't contain it any longer. Say something Ryo-kun. You're silence worries me," Ryouga swept her up in a giant hug and swung her around.
"My little cousin!" he kept repeating as he swung her, "My little cousin and my best friend!!"
"It's ok with you then?" Ryouga put her down with a splash.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Well you're protective of me and I'm protective of you..." Ryouga hugged her again.
"Yeah but if it's Eriol it's ok," they matched each other's grins.
"No more depression?" Ceres asked him. Ryouga nodded.
"Not even Ranma being pregnant could get my off this high I'm on," Ceres climbed out of the tub as Ryouga began scrubbing in earnest, "Kiss shining hitomi ni kuchizukete..." he sang cheerfully.
"I'm glad you're so happy," Ceres had to raise her voice over Ryouga's loud, slightly off key singing.
"Toke dasu hanabira mo jama ni naru..."
"Because someone is comming to see you."
"Make me shining irozuku shigeki not hate ni..."
"Two people actully."
"Kagayakihajimeta maboroshi..."
"It's Ranma-chan and Okashi-san," the song stopped for a moment then picked up again full swing, slightly louder then before. Ceres shrugged as she began to leave, "At least he's not depressed..." meanwhile, while her back was turned and Ryouga kept singing loudly, tears dripped down his cheeks.
~*~*~*~*~
"Konnichiwa! Welcome to the Nekoha–Oh it's you guys!" Ceres took a step back as Okashi and Ranma stepped into the café. Shampoo, seeing her airen, dropped the order she had been carrying and ran over to glomp.
"Arien still girl?" she asked upon noticing the lumps on Ranma's chest.
"Boys can't be pregnant, Shampoo," Okashi explained, "We don't want to take any chances with the baby so Ranma's been using the waterproof soap."
"And really cold baths," Ranma added, "Can't wait until this is over."
"Just think, only seven more months to go..."
"Yeah we've figured out the due date."
"Ooo!!" Shampoo squealed excitedly, "When?"
"May..." Ceres was silent for a moment, But that's when...no I'll ask him to change it. I don't want to stomp on Ranma's excitement. She smiled when she saw Okashi looking at her.
"Ryouga's excited to see you," she said, "Hear the signing?" she gestured upstairs where the sounds of Ryouga belting out 'Blind Game Again' could be heard, "He's been doing that since I told him...since I threw him in the tub and forced him to be clean," Okashi and Ranma were shocked.
"You–you took a bath with..."
"I had a towel on and kept my eyes rooted to his face. And he did most of the washing. I was just there to make sure he didn't drown himself. Which he tried," just then the subject of their conversation came bounding down the stairs. The group, plus everyone else in the restaurant looked at him. Unlike the Ryouga of a few days ago this one seemed filled with limitless energy and go. He bounded over like an untamed puppy and hugged the surprised Okashi, then to everyone's shock hugged Ranma.
"Woah...you–you seem better..." Ranma stammered when Ryouga put her down, "Feelin' better?"
"Great!" was the enthusiastic reply, "Nothing like a bath to raise the spirits!"
"Sure Ryouga...whatever you say..." the excited Hibiki grabbed Okashi's hands and began leading her away.
"Just gonna borrow her Ranma-chaaaaaan!!" he left the group blinking with confusion.
"He seems...."
"Crazy?" Shampoo offered.
"Hai," Ranma agreed, "Crazy. Ceres what was in that bath water?"
"Nothing!" she drew herself up straighter, the movement causing the bells holding her trademark buns in place to jingle angerly, "We was depressed until I told him...er..." she bit her lip, then without any warning began signing 'Blind Game Again' as she returned to her duties. A minute later they could hear Ryouga's voice joining hers.
"I think the insanity is catching," Ranma said, "It'll be the kid next. Watch."
"Hles si frightens Shampoo...but Shampoo is glad that Fang Boy is better. Is Airen going to stay for lunch? Hles si say she would pay."
"Who's Hles si?" Shampoo looked shocked that Ranma didn't know.
"Hles si is Hles si," she said pointing to Ceres who was entertaining guests with her singing and energetic dance. Ranma rolled her eyes back.
"Wandering Rabbit...shoulda known...Well if Ceres is paying then lay it on me Shampoo. I'm eatin' for two now!!"
~*~*~*~*~
"So what did you want to talk about?" Okashi asked. Ryouga stopped his singing and suddenly went very quiet, "Ryouga?"
"Do you think I'm a horrible person?" he asked quietly. Okashi was surprised at his sudden change in demeanor.
"For that night?"
"That and...when I destroyed Ceres's apartment building. So many people could've died...."
"Don't blame yourself so much. You were drunk that night at the club and you were depressed the day you blew up the building. I don't think you're a horrible person. Just one who's made a couple of mistakes."
"I don't see why you should forgive me..."
"Nani? Alright you screwed up. I admit it. You and Ranma screwed up really badly," she took Ryouga's hand, "But everyone's entitled to one gigantic mistake aren't they?"
"I made two within twenty four hours."
"Naw...the Lion's Heart Roar wasn't your fault. Ceres could've explained things better."
"She was just worried. She was trying to convince me that you and Kuduo wouldn't hate me. Maybe she even figured that if I was angry I wouldn't fire it."
"Well...does Kuduo hate you?"
"...Iie...."
"And I don't hate you so where's the problem?"
"I impregnated Ranma. That's the problem."
"Ranma's ok with it. She's going to keep it too and raise it. Don't you want to be a part of your child's life?"
"Hai...demo...."
"But nothing. This doesn't change anything between us just because you messed up. I'm sure there are times that I'll mess up really bad. Look at Ranma and Akane's relationship. That's one screw up after another. In fact I'm sure that there are bumps in Ceres and Eriol's perfect relationship," Ryouga laughed, Ceres and Eriol had anything but a perfect relationship. Okashi smiled at him, "I was hoping that this wouldn't ruin what we have and I don't think it will. Do you?"
"Iie."
"Well ok then!" she jumped up, pulling her koibito with her, "Go back to being bouncy! I like you better that wa–" Ryouga cut her off with a passionate kiss.
"Suki da Oka-chan..." Okashi pulled back a little, a flustered blush rising to her cheeks.
"S–s–suki da Ryo-kun..."
"Honto ni?"
"Hai."
"Honto no honto ni?"
"Hai."
"Really completely?"
"HAI!! STOP ASKING!!" Okashi noticed the Hibiki grin plastered on Ryouga's face and realized that he was teasing her. She began to laugh.