Ranma alternate fanfic
Started - 15 October 2003 Completed – pending
Last revised - 18 June 2004 Reason – new chapter added
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and all associated characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and are used without permission. This fan-fiction isn't intended for commercial use but is rather a tribute to the Ranma ½ universe.
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Lonely Match by Cloud Dreamer
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Chapter two – Financial planning
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A wash of chillingly cold water brought Ranma back to wakefulness the next morning. Akane smirked, "Ranma, it's late. Get moving or you'll miss breakfast." With that she turned and strode out of the guest room casually shoving the door broken yesterday further out of her way.
Ranma grimaced as she shivered. She picked up her wet futon and carried it outside to hopefully dry before evening. Seeing Akane's smirk, Ranma recalled Nabiki's request from yesterday. She walked over to Akane and casually upended a glass of cold juice over her head. Akane screeched and blindly swung but before she could connect, Ranma had her pinned on her belly, her flying fist painfully jammed behind her back.
Ranma hissed, "Next time you waken me like that, I'll put you back in your bed and toss you and your bed into the pond."
"Oh, my, Ranma, that's not a very nice thing to do," observed Kasumi blindly.
Ranma calmly replied as she released Akane, "Let's just say that I don't appreciate the way she treats a guest and call it even so far."
Tears streaming down her face, Akane screamed, "I'll never forgive you. I'll die before I marry you, you . . . you bastard!"
"So," drawled a sleepy Nabiki, "little sister can dish it out but not take it. Some honorable martial artist you are."
Akane was too shocked to glare but Kasumi did it for her, well, sort of. Surprisingly to all, Nabiki just ignored her elder sister and sat down next to Ranma. "I saw the mess that Akane made in your room. I'm guessing that she not only decided you deserved it but it was your fault somehow too?" She paused and added, "Just like her walking in on you in the bath yesterday was 'your' fault instead of hers."
Actually that was just what Akane was just about to scream, but the way Nabiki said it brought home the point that Ranma really hadn't done anything wrong at first. Akane glanced at the bedding hung up to dry and decided that maybe she didn't want to risk wet bedding for herself. Kami knows how long it would take for her mattress to dry. Ranma had certainly demonstrated that he (or she in this case) was more than willing to painfully show that she would not tolerate her tantrums.
Genma and Soun painfully roused themselves from enjoying their hangovers and groggily made their way to the table together. Genma muttered, "Boy, treat your fiancé better. You disgrace me with your behavior. Oh, yeah, you start school today too."
"Yeah, I figured that part out already. Got any supplies for me?" Ranma surly replied.
While smothering a yawn, Nabiki wordlessly pointed out the new satchel over by the outside shoes and Ranma nodded in understanding.
After a quick breakfast, each of the younger teens quickly bathed and dressed for school. Ranma, in his normal red and black garb, was walking to one side of his friend Nabiki while Akane glared at him from the other side of her sister.
"We are not getting married you know!" hissed the youngest Tendou.
Ranma shortly replied, "We've already been through this yesterday and this morning as well. I happen to completely agree with you. I'd rather be dead than married to you."
This short brutal response did not set well with the 'princess of Furinkan High School'. She was rejecting him, how dare he reject her! She was about to say something more when she snickered instead as Ranma suddenly became a she when an old woman tossing water on her sidewalk hit him instead.
"Great," sighed Ranma, "just great. Now what do I do?"
Nabiki grimaced as the reality of the 'water magnet' part of Ranma's curse was suddenly forced onto her. She paused, a hand on the shoulder of Akane and Ranma, bringing their attention to her as they also stopped.
She sighed, 'this was not going to be pleasant'. "You know, this curse is going to be a problem for all of us."
"What do you mean Nabiki?" With a grin Akane asked, "How is 'her' curse going to be a problem for me."
"And just what is everyone going to say about you when it's revealed to you are engaged to Ranma? Hummm," responded Nabiki. "Unless the curse can be hidden, those lesbian rumors about you are going to start up again."
"Nabiki," growled Ranma, "there is no way that my curse can be hidden. Trust me, the damn magic refuses to let me alone. I've seen water almost seem to flow up hill to get to me; I've seen new pipes break so that I can be sprayed. It ain't gonna be possible to hide the curse."
Ranma and Akane both stepped back as a wide Cheshire type grin spread across Nabiki's face, "If Ranma-chan goes to school, there will not be any need to explain the fiancé mess to anyone. Both of your secrets will be protected." Nabiki paused and added with a hungry smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "On the other hand, I could sell the information about both of you and really make a killing." Her eyes glazed over a bit as she thought of the potential monetary benefits.
Akane and Ranma stepped back further as their faces' blanched in tandem while they considered their options. Ranma was the first to speak, sort of. "NO! No, there is no way that I'm going to school as a girl. I'd, I'd, I'd rather marry the damn tomboy instead."
Hearing these words put a malevolent smile on Akane's lips. "Ahhh, poor little thing; can't handle being a girl. Goes to show that being a guy is easy, but being a girl is more than the 'great world class martial artist' can handle." She smirked, "That means you can never completely beat me because I'm already doing something that is beyond your ability everyday."
Ranma blushed with anger, little did she know it but Akane was pushing all the 'right' buttons on the feisty redhead. "All right; that's enough! If you can do it, then I can be a girl too." She paused as some of Nabiki's words began to catch up to her, "and besides, Nabiki is right. If I go to school as a girl, then I have a better chance of hiding my curse from everyone." Ranma was looking a little sick at the thought though at the moment.
Akane blanched, and almost shrieked, "What? Ranma really go to school as a girl, maybe 'she' really is a pervert!" Akane fumed, "besides I don't want to have anything to do with him or her since he won't take me seriously as a martial artist either."
"I dare the both of you to do this," said Nabiki mischievously; profit momentarily taking a backseat to her secret vice, 'stirring up trouble'. Seeing the confusion on their faces, she explained, elaborating further as the ideas came to her on the fly, "I dare the two of you to train the other to become your peer. Akane, I dare you to train Ranma as a girl. Ranma, I dare you to train Akane as a martial artist. I dare the two of you to accept this challenge to learn from the other."
Akane smirked, 'oh, this was great! Thank you, thank you big sister, I knew you'd come through for me. We will humiliate this jerk and he'll be forced to take me seriously as a martial artist too' she thought to herself. Aloud she said "I'm in and I promise that I won't back out or back down from the challenge." She paused a moment, "Nabiki, what are YOU putting up since you are the one making this challenge."
Nabiki started, her sister wasn't supposed to be that sharp, at least not until much, much later. Seeing the two of them eye her, she wondered what incentive she could offer. What desire, need or wish did the two of them have in common? A whimsical idea came to her and she acted on it without giving it a second thought. "If the two of you manage to do this for the remainder of the school year, specifically, Ranma teaching you and Ranma going to school as a girl and that means Akane that you don't betray Ranma's curse as well; then I will not charge Ranma for help like I usually do others, I also agree to not sell the news of your betrothal and I will agree switch it to me at the end of the school year." Nabiki got an evil grin on her face, "And if either of you cheats, both suffer, one loses, both lose. The penalty is that you get married to each other within three days of losing that way."
Akane grabbed her sister's hand and quickly shook it to seal the deal, "DONE, as far as I can see, he, I mean she is all yours." She chortled, "Perfect, I get rid of him; I get training too and fem-boy suffers big time."
"Ah, eep, well, oh my;" stuttered Ranma. She was seriously wondering if Nabiki really was her friend at the moment. But at the same time a part of her was eager to respond to the challenge, after all, Ranma Saotome never loses! Ranma grinned, 'It was time to show them what he was made of.'
"Yer on. I'll show you that I can be the best damn . . . girl?" Foot in mouth just met brain and 'kick started' it. "Oh shit," he muttered. Ranma looked at the wide grins on the Tendou sisters' faces, and thought, 'I'm dead, there is no way they will let this go, unless.' Ranma sighed theatrically, "Ok, I'll do it. But I think we are all going to regret it. However, I have a specific condition that is not negotiable." He smirked at Nabiki, "Nabiki also gets training, if it's good for one Tendou sister then it's good enough for another." He glared at Akane, "You accepted my training as part of this challenge, which means 'I' am your sensei and you'll treat me that way or the whole challenge is off." Ranma added, "I also suggest that no one tell the old men or else they'll interfere." Ranma hoped that he read Akane right and she'd reject the whole thing because of this; or maybe Nabiki would seeing how busy she said she was.
'Yeah, right, I'll sensei him. First wrong move and it's 'Kapowie-to-the-moon' and that will end that part,' thought Akane. Aloud she said, "I agree."
Nabiki sighed, 'I really, really didn't want to do this. I already had enough to do, still.' She glared at Ranma and curtly nodded her head in agreement.
Akane was relishing the look of distress on Ranma's face. At least until Nabiki made an off-hand remark. "Well, that's settled then. So Akane, you'll show Ranma where the PE change room and all of the girl's bathroom's are?"
Akane and Ranma blanched and then blushed in tandem. Akane nodded and woodenly started off to school with Ranma and Nabiki following.
As they neared the school, Akane suddenly came alive, picked up speed and raced ahead of them into the school grounds. Shortly thereafter, sounds of conflict ensued.
Nabiki took Ranma-chan's hand and pulled her along so that she didn't have a chance to rubberneck or more importantly, get involved. She whispered to the other girl, "I'll fill you in on this later tonight."
Ranma was standing at the front of the room as Akane came rushing into the room just beating the tardy bell. Ranma had already 'straightened out' the paper work by simply claiming that her old man was so desperate for an heir that he kept trying to claim her as his 'son' when it wasn't so. The teacher really didn't care one way or the other and merely penciled in the correction.
Akane dejectedly volunteered to be Ranma's 'guide' for the day as she had already more or less agreed to do that earlier when Nabiki asked her.
At lunch that day, the three agreed to start the martial arts training on Saturday, which gave Nabiki a few days to help Ranma catch up in her classes.
Ranma and Akane were on opposite teams during softball that first day in PE; Ranma's team trounced the other team due to her blazing pitches and a perfect batting average. Even tossing the ball six feet above her head didn't help as the redhead simply jumped into the air and slammed it over the fence, again. After school, Akane got her revenge by personally stopping by the uniform store and picking up some girl's PE clothes for Ranma; a surprise gift for tomorrow.
Shortly after arriving home, Ranma was pulled into intense training by his father. Ranma was not in the mood for it and taking advantage of already being in girl form, she used her faster speed to hit specific nerve clusters in the old man's body that put him out for the evening. These attacks were mentioned in one of the scrolls that Ranma had scanned last night. After changing back, he then gleefully ate Genma's supper too.
After supper Nabiki pulled Ranma into her room and she started to teach him how to study.
It was hard going until Nabiki in frustration said "Ranma, how can you NOT learn this. I saw you learn most of one of those scrolls last night just by reading it over ONCE and then doing it. Learning is learning, you just use the same methods and techniques to learn martial arts as you do for school work."
Ranma looked puzzled, "Why didn't you say so before Nabs, or did you want me to teach you the art by boring you to death?"
"D'oh," Nabiki couldn't help it, it just came out. She wasn't prepared for Ranma's response though.
He giggled a little bit before catching himself.
Nabiki glared at him; she kept her eyes fixed on him as she got off the bed and stalked to the desk. Placing her body between him and the desk, she fumbled behind her on the desk for a half glass of water she'd been sipping hours earlier. She put her nose to his face, "Ranma," she snarled to the now silent and confused boy sitting in the chair. "Guys, don't giggle." She poured the water over his head and giggled, "Girls giggle."
She dodged Ranma's lunge and grabbed a pillow off her bed. For no reason that she could fathom at the moment, she bounced on the bed before nailing the redhead with the pillow right between the eyes from the backside of her head. Since the blow was a full overhead swing delivered full force with her legs split while in midair, two things happened. She ended up doing a midair flip, her early martial arts training coming to the fore and enabling her to land on her feet. Ranma on the other hand was propelled into the wall above the bed face first and ended up half lying on the bed trying to figure out what had just happened.
Ranma rolled over on the bed and partially sat up just as Nabiki spun to face her. They looked at each other a half moment before both broke out into giggles. Nabiki sat down beside Ranma and said, "So this is what it's like to have a friend, a girlfriend," she added shyly.
Ranma just groaned; she couldn't contest the idea now that it had time to grow on her. There was no denying the facts, they were friends, and she was a girl just now, so they were girlfriends at the moment. "So, 'Lisa', what did I say that started all this?" she asked. Ranma had only seen a couple of episodes, but the similarity between Homer and Genma had burned it into her mind.
Nabiki thought for a moment, "Well, 'Bart', as near as I can tell; when I said I wanted you to learn school work like you did your art, you jumped to the conclusion that I wanted to learn martial arts in a boring manner."
"Red," she hesitated and then confessed, "I don't think I can spare the time to learn the art. It's really putting a strain on my time just to study with you. I use my extra time to earn money for the family. Red, I'm worried about finances. Our budget is very tight."
"Nabs? Red?" asked a slightly shocked Ranma.
"Red," Nabiki confirmed with a nod and then blushed for her family's foibles as she explained, "Dad hasn't taught much these past years since mother died. He's just too emotional to teach beginning students anymore. Every once in awhile, he takes on a few advanced students who are willing to deal with his emotional swings in order to learn from him but those are becoming rare now days, the last was almost a year ago. I've had to fill in the gap in the family income." She began to restlessly pace her room.
Seeing the questioning look in the redhead's eyes she clarified. "The school won't allow me to work, but I sell information, loan out 'emergency' money at high interest and I take bets on sporting events and . . ." she paused, this was not going to be fun to admit, but she'd long ago learned that honesty was necessary to trust; "I even do some blackmail. Nothing heartless or dangerous, just some sort of retribution for some of the more stupid things that happen at school."
Ranma was silent for a moment as she digested this confession. She nodded in understanding as some earlier comments now made more sense now that some of the context was defined. "Whatever it takes," Ranma repeated. She looked into her girlfriend's eyes and smiled reassuringly, "That's what you meant when you said 'whatever it takes' yesterday. You'll put your own needs and honor secondary to protecting your family."
A short curt nod was all that Nabiki could manage in the face of this complete acceptance. The glimmering of tears in her eyes spoke of another need though.
Ranma may have been ignorant and clueless but she was not unintelligent. Thrice Nabiki had initiated brief hugs yesterday to convey comfort and acceptance toward her. Ranma rose from the bed and slowly stepped toward the other girl, her arms half raised in uncertain invitation.
Nabiki gratefully fell into a hug and sighed deeply. "I didn't realize just how much I was missing before I had a girlfriend," she whispered.
"What do we do about Genma?" Ranma softly asked.
Nabiki thought a while as she slowly released the hug and began to pace. She finally said, "As far as I can see, we need to minimize his impact on this family. That means either convincing him to leave," she paused to glance over at Ranma only to see her reluctantly nodding. "Or we get him involved in earning his own keep so that he has less time to 'screw over' any body in this family." At this point she put an arm about the redhead's shoulder and said, "As far as I'm concerned that does include you." She grinned, "Honestly, I don't see any way to run him off other than some threat involving your mother and I'm not willing to risk your neck by doing that other than as a bluff."
Nabiki grimaced and added, "I don't know what we are going to do about this marriage idea though. On the other hand I know that there is no way it can happen until you are at least 20."
Ranma nodded, she'd come to the same conclusion, not that 'he' was ready to get married yet anyway and most definitely not to Akane.
The two of them spent the rest of their waking moments that evening talking and brainstorming about ideas on how to resolve the money problem. Sometime that evening they fell asleep leaning up against each other while sitting side by side on the bed, their backs to the wall.
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Of course the two of them were found that way the next morning. After the initial fuss, they were all gathered around the dining room table for breakfast.
"WAAAAAA" From the TPW, "My middle daughter is sleeping with another girl and stealing her sister's fiancé too. Now the schools will never be joined."
"It ain't like that," snarled Ranma.
"Oh, my, that doesn't seem very seemly," primly noted Kasumi.
'Chuckle, snicker,' "Nabiki, that sure was a short school year," observed Akane some what ambiguously; though she did pause to glare at Ranma and hiss "Pervert!"
Nabiki snarled, "We fell asleep trying to find a way to finance this family. I find it rather odd that Ranma is the only person willing to help me keep the rest of you fed."
The silence was almost total.
"The school," started Nabiki as she began her verbal offense, "won't allow Ranma, Akane or me to work. Ranma and Akane aren't licensed to teach the art so that is out. That means that either Kasumi has to get a job as a 'stripper' or the old men have to get off their arses and either get jobs or start teaching again." Nabiki deliberately made Kasumi's job as unpalatable as possible. It also emphasized the point that just 'any' job wouldn't do to bring in the necessary income. Not that she really wanted Kasumi to have to get a job in any case.
Nabiki sighed, "I'm doing all that I can at present unless I want to risk attracting 'official' attention." She glared at Genma, "Of course, putting 'you' on a diet will be the first cost savings measure we take."
Nabiki blinked, she wasn't sure she'd seen Genma move, but there was now a panda in the back yard playing with a tire and a sign in the ground that stated; 'Panda's DON'T work or diet.'
Nabiki grinned. The panda shivered at the sheer malevolence conveyed in the 'friendly' gesture. "That works for me." She brought out several sheets of paper; "In fact, there are several options regarding pandas. The first is to just rent you to the zoo." Her grin widened a bit as her eyes took an icy glitter, "It would be for the 'breeding' program but I'm sure that 'Auntie Nodoka' wouldn't mind since she hasn't seen you in 10 years anyway."
The panda froze in shock at both the idea and learning that Nabiki knew about Nodoka.
"On the other hand," she drawled, "how about a job that involves cake?"
Genma was suddenly there, his head steaming from the tea he'd just dumped on his head. It was bobbing rapidly up and down as he demonstrated the 'crouch of the wild tiger'.
"No, not the zoo or a diet; no, anything but that! I'll do whatever you want, I promise . . . the boy and . . . (and so it went on and on until Nabiki finally poured water over his head to shut him up.)
Nabiki shuffled through the pieces of paper she had brought down with her from her room until she found the drawing that Ranma had made for her. It was an unexpected skill that the young artist had reluctantly revealed. She glanced at it to make sure it was the one she wanted and then handed it to Kasumi.
Kasumi glanced at it. It seemed to be draft of a poster advertising a trained panda and clown for children's parties. She noticed that her own name was given on it as both the contact and coordinator. She took a second look at the clown and began to giggle despite the look of disapproval she somehow forced on her face.
Akane on the other hand had no such mixed feelings. She stared at the drawing and promptly collapsed in laughter. Soun was puzzled to hear her mumble "Weepy the clown, oh, it fits. Kami but my ribs hurt, AHHH, weepy the clown and his dancing panda. Kami, we're going to be rich or maybe have to move to hide our shame or maybe both. Ahh, oh, oh, ah my," she sighed finally.
The two master's looked confused, Genma poured Soun's hot tea over his own head as Soun finally asked, "Weepy the clown?"
Kasumi wordlessly handed her father the advertisement draft and both he and Genma silently studied the drawing and the offered entertainment. In one joint motion, they turned to Nabiki and said, "NO."
Nabiki grinned, and said, "Then here is what is going to happen instead." She pointed at Genma and hissed, "You are going on a diet."
"Kasumi," Nabiki said, "You owe me; and what I want in return is for you to enforce the diet on lardo here."
"Oh, my, I really shouldn't," She paused at the hard light in her younger sister's eyes; it was one that only appeared when both the situation and she were serious. She sighed and nodded as she said, "Alright I'll do my part."
Nabiki turned a fake smile toward her father, momentarily ignoring the stunned Genma. "Daddy, Akane really needs to practice her cooking if she is to marry Ranma and join the schools. We've got a great idea on how you can help her. Since you remember how momma cooked better than we do, we want Akane to be Genma's and your personal chef for every meal so that you can help her to become as good a cook as mother was." She clapped her hands together in a semblance of joy. "Isn't that great? She can even make a bento for your lunches!"
Soun was too terrified to break down in tears at the moment. With a shaking hand he picked up the paper again and showed it to Genma, "You know; this might work. We both would get out of the house."
"Get some good tasting treats," interjected Genma.
"And we could use the opportunity to show off our martial arts instead of just dancing," enthused Soun. He paused and added softly so only Genma could hear, "You know, we've done a lot worse than this in the past because of the master."
Genma shuddered at the reminder. "And perhaps we could even advertise the dojo," suggested Genma.
Kasumi smiled at her middle sister, she mouthed, 'well played.' Aloud she said, "I'll do my part, but I'll be a little short on time . . ."
Nabiki smiled, true compassion in her eyes for her older sister, "Got it covered, sis, come see me later this evening."
The younger teens then got ready for school and headed off. Nothing of any real significance happened at school that day other than Ranma immediately acquiring an instant hate for bloomers while also earning a reputation as a tomboy when her boxers were revealed while changing for PE. Ranma grimaced when she saw the panties that were with the bloomers and tee-shirt Akane handed her, but she reluctantly put them on since she saw no way to wear the boxers instead. The sports bra, well, that on the other hand, she tossed back on top of her street clothing instead of wearing it. Well, that lasted until the PE coach sent her back for it. No way was Ranma prepared to argue with her in front of the whole class.
On the positive side, at least from Akane's viewpoint; she was pleased to note that Ranma didn't stare at the other girls and genuinely seemed embarrassed to be in the same room with other girls as they changed. A 'win-win' from Akane's point of view even if she was careful to change so that Ranma couldn't see her.
On the way home, Akane was teasing Ranma about the whole incident when Nabiki asked, "How about the uniform issue? I expected to hear about that fairly soon. I mean we could probably have gotten the school to give Ranma an exemption based on the curse but that would mean revealing it."
Ranma sighed, "Yeah, you're right, I got called into the office at noon and was told I needed to be in uniform by next Monday or else." Ranma groused under her breathe but still audibly to the other two. "Ain't no way in hell I'm gonna wear a dress." She paused and then added softly, "Not that it matters as pop and me ain't got no money to get uniforms anyway."
Akane of course jumped right on it. "Oh, so you are conceding the challenge just because I can wear a dress and you can't?"
"Knock it off, Akane," ordered Nabiki. "This isn't a part of the challenge. Ranma has to consider the impact of 'him' appearing in a dress if hot water finds this cute redhead at the wrong time." She paused and added, "Or a bra for that matter." She snickered a little, "I'll bet she just loves the cold showers she has to take after PE."
Ranma sighed with relief that somebody else was sticking up for him. "Yeah! What Nabiki said, I mean . . . unh, nope."
Akane looked nonplussed for a moment before suggesting, "You know, maybe we could ask Dr. Tofu for help."
Nabiki nodded and led the way.
Ranma tugged at Nabiki's sleeve and whispered, "Nabs, how are we going to do this without telling him about the curse?"
"Simple," Nabiki replied, "we explain and demonstrate the curse and then ask for his help." Seeing the building defiance on the redhead's face, she explained, "Red, Tofu is a doctor. If he ends up treating you, then he's going to need this information and the sooner the better."
After a moment's thought, Ranma hesitantly nodded.
Tofu was very understanding of the situation even though he was surprised to encounter something that his training had suggested was only a myth. He agreed to FAX a medical exemption to the school to ensure that Ranma did not have to wear a uniform. They had discussed the idea of Ranma wearing a male uniform but discarded that idea since it would have to be oversize and hard to explain why she could wear one uniform but not the other.
After changing, Ranma mused as was walking home with the two sisters, "I wonder if the note covers 'bloomers', I mean they are technically a uniform."
Akane snickered as she enviously looked upward at Ranma on the fence, "Yeah, let's see you wing that logic past our PE teacher." She chuckled, "I noticed you lost your argument with her about wearing the sports bra."
Ranma shuddered. He hadn't mentioned it but the girl's PE teacher strongly reminded him of an Amazon he'd briefly seen . . . oh, yeah; Dowel was her name. Ranma remembered hearing it as Shampoo had knocked the larger woman off the challenge log before their own fight. Both Dowel and the PE coach were big husky mannish looking women that Ranma was half scared of. I mean, what was he to do if they ever 'liked' him?
Ranma hurriedly changed the subject, "Akane, why do ya face all those guys every morning?"
"Huh?" Responded Akane, "I told you what Kuno said and."
"Naw," Ranma cut her off as he started walking on the sidewalk between the sisters, "That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking why do ya let them dictate terms to ya. There is nothing honorable about any part of that whole 'fight'; not the terms somebody else dictated without your consent or the fact that it's ya against all of them at once and that ya have no say in it at all." The redhead paused and clarified, "I'm asking why do ya let them force you into a meaningless and dishonorable fight? Why not just avoid it?"
Akane frowned and said, "Because they ambush me by the gates. I can't get past them without fighting, even if I wanted too."
"So avoid the gates," was Ranma's terse reply.
"How?" asked both Tendou sisters in unison.
"Like this," Ranma said as she jumped over the tall stone fence next to them and then back again. "Ya already use your chi somewhat in your fighting, I'll teach yahow to focus it in your legs and ya should have no problem jumping over the school fence anywhere ya want in just a few days."
Akane smiled at the thought she might actually get to class without a fight, "Thanks, Ranma."
The next several days followed the same pattern. Genma would rouse Ranma at dawn for training and Ranma would ruthlessly pound him. The noise would wake the rest of the Tendou household while Kasumi ignored it and continued with breakfast preparations.
Soun would start his day, Nabiki would grumble about missing sleep and Akane just shrugged and went jogging. Once Genma was out, Ranma would quickly bathe and dress for the day.
Ranma always started the day as a guy; the little old lady never missed him on his way to school though. Between school and the mischievousness of the younger Tendou girls, Ranma spent a lot of time as a girl; neither he nor his father were particularly happy about that but Ranma dealt with it as best he or she could and tried not to let it get him down.
Akane and Ranma were at best marginally civil to each other unless her hair trigger temper was aroused though she was learning to control it now. She still considered him a jerk and suspected he was a pervert even though the mounting evidence to the contrary was forcing itself on her.
At Nabiki's request, Ranma didn't tease or taunt Akane unless it was during training. Nabiki figured that Akane needed a chance to be around Ranma without her emotions being pureed every ten minutes by the socially inept pseudo girl.
Breakfast on Friday was slightly different. "Daddy, Mr. Saotome;" announced Kasumi, "I have good news. This evening and twice on Saturday and Sunday, I have contracted for you two to appear at children's birthday parties." She clapped her hands together in excitement, "It sounds like we will have so much fun. It's been ages since I've been to a child's birthday party." She looked pensive and asked, "The two of you do have an act put together don't you?" She frowned slightly at their stunned expressions. At least until Ranma offered a suggestion.
"Why don't the pair of you do a paired kata from our school; one that shows both defense and offense?" suggested Ranma.
"That would work," chimed in Nabiki, "after all, it's something that both of you should already know and it would advertise the school too."
Genma sighed for the inevitability of it (he had been privileged to taste Akane's cooking yesterday) and said, "Old friend, I think we don't have much choice; but they do have a good idea."
Soun nodded and suggested, "Perhaps we should practice at bit this morning?"
Genma nodded while all the girls smiled slightly to themselves unseen by the others.
That evening Kasumi walked into the house bubbling with excitement from the first 'party'. She paused when she noticed that the kitchen was clean. She remembered that she'd not had time that evening to clean up after supper. She noticed that the dining room was unexpectedly clean as well. She peered into the bathroom and was unnerved to notice nothing in arrears. She paused as she noticed the plate of brownies on the dining table.
Soun and Genma were so tired that both of them simply plopped into their bedding, not even bothering to change. Neither of them could tell you how many miles of 'piggy-back' rides the two of them had been forced into.
Kasumi uncertainty knocked on Nabiki's door; but was unprepared for Nabiki to suddenly pull her into the room.
"So," asked Nabiki, "how did it go?"
A broad smile graced Kasumi's face, "Oh it was wonderful! I had such a good time and the children just adored the whole show." She grinned and handed over a check to Nabiki, "Here, this should help the finances."
Nabiki took the check and sighed with relief, "Thanks sis, this does help a lot. I don't know how we'd get along without you."
Nabiki noticed that Kasumi's smile had faded a bit at her words. "Sis, did I say something wrong?"
Startled, Kasumi suddenly smiled disarmingly, "Oh my, no, nothing is wrong." She gradually wilted as Nabiki simply watched her with her un-winking glaze. Her smile faded, and she confessed, "Do you really need me anymore?" Seeing Nabiki's confusion, she clarified, "When I came home, I noticed that the kitchen, dining room and bathroom were all clean. Do any of you really need me anymore?"
Nabiki smiled and leaned in to embrace her older sister. "You were helping the family and this family returned the favor. Akane cleaned the bathroom, I did the dining room and Ranma took care of the kitchen." She chuckled as she added, "Ranma even decided to make brownies." Nabiki picked one from the plate on her desk and handed it to her sister.
Kasumi hesitantly took a bite and then smiled at the flavor. "It's good!"
Nabiki chuckled, "Just don't tease him about it. Mr. Saotome thinks cooking is unmanly even if he made Ranma do all the cooking on their trip so he's a bit reluctant to show his skill."
Kasumi chuckled as well and said, "Alright. Nabiki, when you first suggested this whole idea, I was a bit frightened of it; and when you told me that first evening that you'd see that I didn't get overloaded; well, I was still pretty apprehensive." She smiled as she hugged Nabiki, "Thank you, I had a good time and now that I know I don't have to worry about the chores it's even better. Thank you for this gift to me."
Nabiki hugged Kasumi back and teasingly said, "Who knows, maybe you'll even meet some cute guys."
"Riiigghhttt!" responded Kasumi. "And with daddy right there too, what do you think what might happen?"
Laughing, Nabiki replied, "Well, either a 'demon-head' or an engagement; perhaps both?"
"Oh, my!"
The half day of Saturday school was over and Nabiki was really not looking forward to the rest of the day. Well, until the three schoolgirls walked into the house together and saw their fathers in costume for the first time.
Ranma-chan was staring at her father; ok, she could understand the collar for his panda form, but a 'ruffled' collar and a pointed clown hat? Nabiki and Akane just stared for a few moments at the painted 'bags' under their father's eyes, they took in the faded and patched gi. In fact there seemed to be patches on top of patches in some places. Suddenly the two sisters fell into each others arms supporting the other as they helplessly giggled and tried to remain standing.
Kasumi grinned and ushered the two father's out of the house, "Come on, we don't want to be late and walking there will be good advertising."
As the two hesitated, Akane took a hand, 'a reluctant hand' since she had finally admitted to a certain problem. "Oh, no; please wait. I was going to cook for you two tonight."
"Yee Haw, Giddy up!" The clown 'cowboy' set spurs to his steed and lardo hauled ass.
Nabiki grinned slightly as she noticed that the back of her father's gi proudly advertised the Tendou dojo.
Kasumi looked down the street at the retreating dust cloud as Soun rode Genma out of sight; she grinned her thanks and said, "Thanks little sister. That sure got them moving." Kasumi hugged Akane and whispered, "You'll get better eventually, just have faith and keep practicing under supervision."
Akane painfully grinned back, "Thanks Kasumi. I don't know whether to be mad or glad that Ranma dared me to taste my own cooking, but it was an eye opener."
Kasumi just smiled over her shoulder as she hurriedly left.
= = = = =
That afternoon, Ranma was about to start his first martial arts class with Nabiki and Akane when he noticed the glass of water in Akane's hand. Before he could ask, Nabiki said, "Ranma, since there are no guys in this class and since you also need the practice, Akane and I think you should teach us in your girl form."
Ranma paused, his first thought was 'NO, hell no!' but he had to admit that Nabiki had made two valid points. He grimaced and nodded to Akane who gleefully dowsed him.
Ranma had thought about how to do this and finally decided that he'd treat both Nabiki and Akane as peers in the art who were coming to him for instruction instead of merely as students; after all, they were all of the same school and had all started learning it at an early age even if the two Tendou girls had not studied as seriously as he. In Nabiki's case, she had mostly stopped studying the art after her mother's death but she did have a lot of talent for it he could tell. Perhaps she even had more than Akane; he would see.
Ranma sat and pulled out the first scroll of the Saotome School that she'd taken earlier from her father's training case. She motioned to the other two girls to sit on either side of her as she began to unroll it. "Rather than teach you blindly, I've decided to have you read through what I expect you to learn. This is stuff that I learned by the time I was six so you might already know it, but it is a start and will help me gauge where you are in your skills."
Ranma glanced at Akane and cautioned her, "Akane, we can't let my old man know that I have the school's scrolls or he'll take them from me." He grimaced and added angrily, "He's trying to make sure that I'm dependant on him even for knowledge in our own school."
Akane was about to protest when Nabiki intervened, "Akane, he is NOT to be trusted!" She glanced at Ranma, "Ranma, tell my sister about the cat-fist . . ." seeing the redhead flinch, she changed her mind and told Akane about it herself.
"He did that to you?" Seeing Ranma nod, Akane glowered a bit and then said, "Alright, I'll help you keep it a secret." She paused and then wondered almost idly, "I wonder if daddy has a set of scrolls too?"
Nabiki thought about it before saying, "Don't know, but I'll see about finding out." She looked at the other two girls and added, "It would make joining the schools easier," she teased.
The other two girls glowered at each other and then simultaneously stated, "NO, I'm not marrying . . ." they both trailed off to stare at each other.
Nabiki reassured them both; "Don't worry about it. There are vital reasons why none of us are getting married while we're underage."
The other two sighed in relief and resumed the lesson.
Two hours later, Ranma was gently massaging the quivering muscles of an exhausted Nabiki while Akane was glowering and keeping an eye on her to make sure that Ranma didn't take advantage of her sister. Ranma began her critique of the lesson. "I'm glad that both of you know most of these techniques, but your mastery of them needs more work. Next time we will work on the next scroll in the series." He paused, "Nabiki, I think this is about the limit of your present training, am I right?"
Nabiki nodded and Ranma continued, "Akane, I can tell your skill level is higher than this, but your temper hampers your use of your skills even at this low level." He sighed, "Akane, martial arts is all about control of self. If you don't master this issue, all you will be is a trained bully instead of a martial artist."
Akane snarled and swung at Ranma. She, on the other hand once again caught the incoming fist and jerked it up behind the angry girl. Not saying a word, Ranma frog marched the fuming and yelling girl into the pond.
Akane glared up at Ranma who was standing at the edge of the pool studying her. Before she could say anything, Ranma sternly yet softly said, "Either lose the temper or I will refuse to teach you; I will not allow you to disgrace the school that way." Leaving the now stunned girl, Ranma turned about and went into the dojo to help Nabiki to the bathroom to soak.
Akane slipped a few times on the soft bottom of the pond as she got out of it. She was a bit surprised at Ranma's attitude; he really did seem like a sensei for a few moments there. She grimaced as she admitted that he certainly had the skill to back it up.
Ranma deposited Nabiki on one of the washing stools and was about to leave so she could disrobe and wash, when Nabiki grabbed her and said, "Where do you think you are going? You and I have a 'show & tell' about whether you are a real girl scheduled. Or did you forget?"
Ranma froze in place but managed to stutter, "I thought you were just teasing me Nabs."
Nabiki grinned, "I was." She waited for Ranma's sigh of relief and added, "Then." Seeing the confusion on her face, Nabiki explained, "Red, you shower with other girls every day at school, bathing with me shouldn't be that big a deal and since I'm responsible for that situation, it seems only fair that it also happen to me."
Ranma hesitantly edged toward the door, "But they don't know and anyway the furo is hot and . . ."
Nabiki cut her off with a wave of her hand and said, "Red, I've been thinking about this for another reason." She sighed, she really wished she could have talked Kasumi into this but the older girl was not the one who was Ranma's friend. "Red, you haven't been a girl that long, about three weeks I think?"
Seeing Ranma nod, Nabiki reluctantly continued, "Red, there are things about girls' bodies that you don't know; things that your mother or an older sister or an aunt or somebody would have taught you if you'd been born a girl." She looked Ranma in the eyes and emphasized, "Red, this is important, these are things you need to know."
About this time Akane barged in but before she could scream about perverts, Nabiki cut her off by asking, "Akane, thank you for barging in unannounced. Could you get me examples of feminine hygiene and sanitary supplies please? I need to teach Ranma and give her the 'talk'," she paused and asked, "That is unless you'd rather do it?"
Akane blanched, mumbled an apology and quickly left the room. She quickly returned with the requested teaching aids. As she started to sit down to enjoy the show, Nabiki told her, "Ranma deserves to have some privacy. If you want to stay, then you get to give the lesson and I'll leave."
As Nabiki started to rise, Akane put a hand on her shoulder and asked, "But why, 'Biki?"
Nabiki, grimaced at the childhood name, "Because this is a girl thing and 'she' deserves to have our respect in this matter just because of that fact."
Akane thought back to when Kasumi have given her the 'talk' and reluctantly began to see what Nabiki meant. She started to leave and said, "Well, ok, but I'll be waiting to help you if he, I mean she tries anything perverted."
Ranma, needless to say, was both confused and apprehensive by this point.
After Akane left the room, Nabiki rose and wedged the door closed with a short piece of broom handle she'd placed there for the purpose of providing a makeshift lock some years back. She then began to disrobe to Ranma's growing discomfort.
"Nabs," Ranma swallowed and continued, "what are ya doing?"
"Several things," Nabiki, smiled wanly and explained, "Red, first, I need a soak, two, we need to be sure you really are a girl. And last, if you really are a girl then there is some information that you will need for your health and future safety." She added, "Girlfriend, you need to be undressed for this as well."
Ranma dithered for a few moments, but then realized that Nabiki hadn't steered her wrong yet. With a reluctant sigh, she began to undress as well.
= = = = =
Ranma shuddered in his futon that evening. He was convinced that he was really a girl when he transformed and Nabiki had provided 'her' with a graphic 'hands-on' lesson on what being a girl meant. Nabiki had required that Ranma examine Nabiki's entire body just so that Ranma would know what her own looked like. Nabiki had asked if she could examine Ranma's sex and Ranma had reluctantly agreed. Ranma didn't expect Nabiki to gently push a finger up 'there'; it was all Ranma could do to not cling to the ceiling in response.
Nabiki had only nodded and said, "Seems real enough." She had then sat leaning against the wall with her legs somewhat spread and motioned Ranma over. She had then proceeded to point out, name and give the function of each part of her own body and sex to Ranma. As part of the lesson Nabiki explained the use and the reason for the 'supplies' that Akane had brought in.
She ended the lesson with the admonition, "Ranma, be careful with your girl form. Just because you are really a guy and a martial artist doesn't mean that someone won't take advantage of you in a moment of weakness. You could end up raped and you could get pregnant too."
Ranma had sat back and shivered, Nabiki had hugged the quivering girl for a few moments before finishing her bath and leaving Ranma to bathe alone.
= = = = =
As Ranma had predicted, it only took the weekend for Akane to master jumping over walls, well if they weren't more than about three meters. Nabiki was also rapidly recovering her earlier training.
Akane, Nabiki and Ranma began to fall into a new routine; instead of walking to school together, Nabiki and Ranma would go early so that Nabiki could take care of business while Ranma scouted a bit.
Akane had purchased a pair of 'toy' walkie-talkie's and Ranma used one of them to report on the disposition of the 'enemy'. Based on Ranma's observations, Akane would pick a spot to jump over the school's outer wall and make her way unnoticed into her classroom. The first three days, the boys had been frustrated and Kuno incensed. Then it became a game with Ranma's part unknown to the boys. Nabiki, on the other hand, was making a killing on these new uncertainties of the morning fight. Seems nobody believed Akane would chose to or could successfully avoid fighting the morning mob.
Ranma kept to Nabiki's shadow after being warned that pounding on Kuno would only cause him to obsess over her. Not that Ranma was scared, but 'she' really hated the idea of any guy hitting on her. Better safe than really, really sorry was her motto in this case.
Ranma had initially had a difficult time with the boys in her class, but in less than an hour had adopted Akane's exchange rate of 'one-kapowie' per 'each-embarrassing-question' which rapidly established control over the problem. She still didn't know how to handle requests for dates very well though. She was tempted to pound the offenders but Nabiki had pointed out to her one evening that the boys were only acting normally toward a cute girl and unless Ranma wanted to either reveal his curse or be considered a lesbian, then 'she' needed to deal socially instead of physically with the situation.
Ranma's response had been unexpected, "Lesbian?"
Nabiki had sighed and explained, "Ranma, a lesbian is a girl who is into other girls like a boy would be."
Ranma had blushed thus confirming at least a modicum of sex-ed knowledge before he had confessed, "But Nabiki, I DO like girls when I'm a girl!"
Akane had ended up snorting half her soft drink and almost drowned in her giggles while watching Nabiki repeatedly pound her own head onto the dining room table while muttering 'd'oh' over and over.
After school they would go to the dojo and work on their homework together. Having taken the classes already, Nabiki helped them more than the reverse. On the other hand, Nabiki noticed that she was doing better in her own classes just from the extra background study that was involved.
Ranma's gradually evolving scholarship did have an unexpected affect on him; he now had so many options about what he could say, that he actually had to sort through them a bit before he spoke so he was making a lot fewer of the 'foot-in-mouth' mistakes than he used to do.
All three shared learning techniques with each other; interestingly enough, all three had developed their own mnemonic methods. As an occasional break from the school work, they would review the Saotome school scroll that they were presently studying. Nabiki kept it in her school satchel as there was less chance of Genma snooping there.
Before dinner, a now late dinner at Ranma's suggestion, the three would then change into workout clothes and begin to teach their bodies what the scroll described. Of course, in Ranma's case it was review as she taught the two Tendou girls. At this point of their studying, it was not uncommon for Soun and Genma to enter the dojo and critique them so they carefully kept the scroll hidden and relied on their memories to master the lesson instead. Akane spent more time in mediation than the other two but the results were starting to show as she began to master her temper and was developing some sense and understanding of her own ki. Besides, this allowed Nabiki additional time to try and catch up on that day's lesson.
Surprisingly, both Soun and Genma would occasionally actually teach them something; though they had to suffer through chauvinistic comments of both masters; Soun about how 'his babies were too precious' and Genma about how 'girls couldn't learn the art'. Both were not happy that Ranma was doing the teaching while in girl form either but did not dare challenge Nabiki once she said it was the way she wanted it and that Ranma's girl form needed the practice in any case.
The first time the fathers saw Ranma discipline Akane almost resulted in Ranma being assaulted by both of them. The verbal abuse had ended when Akane had nailed them both with a spinning sidekick; blasting both fathers through the open dojo doors and into the pond. "HE's my sensei!" she had almost screamed into her father's face. Tears running down her face she had softly added, "Unlike you, he does seem to care about my training."
Both fathers' were strangely quiet the next time it happened, though Nabiki thought she saw them nodding in reluctant acceptance.
On those evenings that Kasumi and the fathers had an entertainment appointment, the high school students also spent time after dinner helping with the house at first. Later on, they helped a little on the other nights as well. It seemed the right thing to do to them and it gave them each some time to talk to Kasumi as well. Oddly enough, an unexpected sense of camaraderie was developing between the four teens as a result.
The only unaddressed issue was Ranma's mother. Nabiki had tried contacting her but the phone was in 'vacation' mode and she couldn't even leave a message.
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Author's note: Additional Ranma fan-fiction can be found on my Web Pages.
C & C to clouddreamer2000yahoo.com
Main Web-page - www.geocities.com (slash) clouddreamer2000
And alternate - mysite.verizon.net (slash) cloud-dreamer/index.html
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