DISCLAIMER: I neither own nor make any claim to Ranma Nibunnoichi by Takahashi Rumiko. I just enjoy it. I also enjoy making up stories about the characters. I do not claim to be writing an official continuation of Ranma, if I did I'm sure the laughter alone would cause an earthquake. My characters will have a 'slight' tendency to be considered Out of Character and possibly a bit AU.
If I have spelt something terribly wrong please let me know. I hope you enjoy reading my attempt at writing. If you hate it then the correct option is to simply not read it. This story is fantasy and makes no attempt to be bound by the realities of life; if it did it would not be fantasy or at least not my fantasy.
I write for fun, I will update when I have the next chapter finished. I will do my best to make updates regularly but will only update when I am satisfied that it is ready. Namiko is a composite character of the big sisters of several of my friends and a second grade teacher I knew, most tend to be slightly controlling but in a supportive manner.
This chapter will be transitional. It uses a mix of pronouns for both Kasumi and Ranma, further chapters will hopefully be more ordered and consistent in pronoun use. Letters is a companion piece or is it the reverse, I have the letters and now I'm trying to write the fill in story. I am hopeless when it come to writing conversations but will hopefully become better at it. I do much prefer using a narrative but some readers have asked for more and I shall try to deliver. If I have made big errors please don't be shy about pointing them out, I'll correct them if I can. I use Microsoft Works with spelling and grammar: English (United Kingdom), I disagree with it at times so errors are likely.
Tattered Mist
Chapter 3
With a groan Ranma tried to sit up only to find Kasumi's arm lying across his, no, make that her chest. The movement was enough to wake Kasumi.
"Ranma, you are not getting up. You have too many bones fractured and broken to risk aggravating them. We have about thirty minutes before we get to the station so I'm going to help you get cleaned up and dressed." Kasumi put the inflection in her voice that told Ranma that he wasn't going to be able to argue with her and laid his head back down.
Kasumi quickly and efficiently helped Ranma with his toilet, something he would have objected strenuously to if anyone else than Kasumi had tried it. He did balk at being in a dress but conceded it was easier than trying to struggle into pants.
"Ranma! We must make a good impression on Maeda-san. We will be staying with him and his daughter, and while Namiko is my friend that does not mean her father will automatically accept us. I know this isn't how we intended to arrive but in the time I have known you any plan that has ever been made involving you has always had unexpected outcomes. We are not going to hide who and what we are from him." Kasumi looked at Ranma intently. "You agreed that you would learn how to act more appropriately in your female form and this is part of it. Are you going to back out now?"
Ranma looked at Kasumi's face and sighed. "You're right, Ka-chan. I'm just not sure I'm ready for this. But I will do my best; you just have to be ready to correct me when I'm doing something wrong." The smile on Ka-chan's face made Ranma more determined than ever to do his best to do what she wanted.
"I called Namiko and told her of what has happened, of my new form and that you are injured. She is going to meet us at the station, I know that you hate be fussed over but I need you to let me take care of you until you are healed. Will you let me?" Kasumi kept eye to eye contact with Ranma until he promised, then leaned in and gave Ranma a kiss. "Thank you."
As they pulled into the station Kasumi swung their packs over his shoulder, scooped Ranma up in his arms and made her way to the platform and out to the street. Looking around Kasumi quickly spotted Namiko and her father standing next to one of the parks vehicles and made her way over. Setting Ranma on a bench, Kasumi checked to see if anyone was looking and quickly poured hot water from a thermos over her hands. Picking Ranma up again, she approached her friend.
"Maeda-san, Namiko, this is Ranma." Kasumi said with a bow. "I apologize for the inconvenience our early arrival has caused."
"Nonsense, Kasumi, you're no inconvenience. From what you told me over the telephone your story should entertain us and more than make up for any trouble you imagine you're putting us through." Namiko grinned then gave her a quick hug and tried to pick up one of the packs and gave a startled exclamation as it barely moved.
Kasumi grinned and set Ranma in the vehicle before reaching over, lifting the packs and putting them in the back. "Ranma has been training me and included weight training in the regimen." She entered the vehicle and fastened their safety belts while talking. "When we get there we will need to talk, I would rather not do a show and tell in public. If afterward you would rather us not stay we will understand."
The drive was fairly long but not boring as Kasumi and Namiko caught up on old times and Ranma ask Maeda-san about the area they were driving through. Ranma had been through the area with his father and had done some endurance training on the slopes and knew at first hand some of the interesting areas of the park. Maeda-san was happy to talk about the area that he tended to and painted word pictures of the spots that could not be seen from the roadway. His love for the area showed in the way he described different spots and contrasted it with how it would look in the different seasons.
Once at the house Namiko made tea and Kasumi and Ranma told the story of the curses and Kasumi changed for them. Kasumi explained how she was cursed and the discovery of Ryouga's curse and how it had mixed.
"I have it far easier than Ranma did because I was familiar with it before it happened and Ranma has been helping me since. Cold water is more prevalent than hot and part of the curse appears to be a water magnet. Ranma was able to get by at first because a girl can be very tomboyish with out causing too much of a problem. A boy who is too feminine would attract much more undesirable attention and that is something that I do not want. While on the first part of the training trip we agreed to learn from each other so that we wouldn't draw attention through actions inappropriate to whatever gender we were at the time." Kasumi paused to take a sip of tea and Ranma gave her a hug.
"She is really great. She is adjusting to it much faster than I did but then she didn't have Pops to interfere either. She has taught me more than I have taught her and even pointed out a lot of things I did that caused me more trouble. I'm still not comfortable as a female, but the chance of being cured is now at best a dream and I have to accept that for the foreseeable future I will spend a large part of my life in this form." Ranma took a deep breath and blushed, "The first time I have really not minded being in this form has been since Kasumi and I have been on this trip. In Nerima I was always expected to be a man among men, no matter what form I was in, and I was always considered a pervert by my fiancée."
Maeda-san rubbed his chin and looked between them. "How complete is the change."
Ranma blushed brightly, "My current form as far as I know is fully female just as Kasumi is fully male."
Namiko took a swallow of her tea. "Have you had an examination by a gynaecologist Ranma? If you are fully female in that form then you should and Kasumi should as well. Kasumi said you had problems at school and that your education has suffered. Would you mind if I help you prepare for school here?"
Ranma studied her for a minute before answering. "I would be pleased if you could help me learn what I have missed. I was never I school much when I was on the road, Pops didn't think it was necessary for me to go to school. I only went when we were in an area long enough for someone to mention it and make a fuss and in Nerima I was always training or fighting." Ranma paused for a moment with a questioning look in his eye. "What is a gynaecologist?"
Maeda-san blushed and excused himself to go back to work. "Namiko will get you settled and I will see you later this evening. Do you have any special requirements due to your injuries?"
"No sir. Kasumi is used to taking care of me when I'm injured. It's just a few broken bones, I should be healed and up soon." Ranma replied automatically as Maeda-san beat a hasty retreat toward his office.
"Ranma, a gynaecologist is a regular doctor who specializes in treating women. They are trained to recognize problems that are specific to the female form and function. I take it that you have never been to one." Namiko looked at Kasumi. "You haven't seen a doctor since you acquired your curse either have you?"
Ranma was starting to bluster and Kasumi put her fingers over his lips. "No I haven't and in Nerima it wasn't really an option for Ranma."
"Then you both need to see one. I would suggest my doctor. I know and trust Dr. Akira and I believe she will come over to see you if I request it. I can have her over for dinner and you can meet her and see if you will be comfortable having her treat you. Ranma will need a doctor's exam to go to school anyway due to your particular problems. This is Monday and if want to meet her I'll try to have her over this weekend."
Kasumi gave Ranma's hand a small squeeze. "We really do need to be checked out Ranma. I'll show her both of my forms but you shouldn't change until we know that all your bones have healed correctly."
Ranma really was not happy with it but if Kasumi wanted it then he would go along with it. "Okay, if Kasumi says I need to then I'll do it. I don't want any problems with school, Mom and Kasumi both think I need to work harder and get a good education, but my curse is sure to mess things up." As he talked he became even more depressed thinking about all the trouble to stay male while in school.
Namiko watched the play of emotions that crossed Ranma's face and correctly interpreted them. "Ranma, you believe one of your biggest problems is your curse. Since there is so much more cold water around than hot you're worried about changing and having everyone call you a freak aren't you?" she gently probed.
"Well, yeah, sprinklers, mud puddles, old ladies wetting their sidewalks, water fountains that just have to splash. They all seem to find me no matter how hard I try to avoid them. Kasumi has already found that out. Even if I go outside as a girl already I get splashed." Ranma started to mutter about little old ladies with unerring accuracy.
"Ranma you and Kasumi were training in your cursed forms to learn to act in a more normal fashion weren't you?" Ranma and Kasumi both nodded. "Then I'm going to suggest you continue it. Father will help get your records changed over and get you new identification appropriate to your cursed forms. Ranma hiding your curse from the school officials would be counter productive, something is sure to happen to expose you if you try it, if the stories Kasumi has told me are true. If you try to hide it and change at school then you will lose their trust and make them hostile." Namiko walked over and gave Ranma a hug causing him to freeze before he realized it was just a hug and not the glomps he had grown to hate.
Namiko continued to sit by Ranma while they thought about what she had said. After a few minutes she continued, "Ranma, Kasumi says you have a saying, 'Saotome Ranma doesn't lose', going to school and learning what you missed is going to be a big challenge and is going to take some sacrifices and accommodations. Are you up to the challenge? If you are, we will help you get caught up to where you should be."
She hit the right buttons, Ranma's face took on determined look, "Kasumi and Mom both want me to do better in school, I will do what ever it takes." A pensive look appeared as she continued. "I missed so much, most of the time I have no idea what they are referring to in class and I don't know how to go about finding out what I need to know."
"Ranma as I said we will help you catch up, I know the teachers and the head of the school. Tomorrow I'll get them to bring some test over to find out what you need help with. This isn't a test you study for, we need to know what you know and don't know, no guessing, if you aren't sure let us know. Some of my fellow students will be more than happy to put some of their schooling to use, most of the teachers around here a disgustingly healthy so we don't get much chance to work as substitute teachers."
Namiko looked at Kasumi and continued. "Kasumi is going to be doing about the same thing you are. She has to find out where she is lacking and study too. I do think you should both go to school in your cursed forms." She put her hand over Ranma's mouth when he started to protest. "You said that avoiding cold water is almost impossible, the teachers and the office will know and you won't have to worry about it as much. You will also have a chance to learn how to act and talk properly as a girl. Just as Kasumi will learn to act and talk as a man. Think of it as training, you didn't learn martial arts in just a few weeks did you?"
Ranma wanted to protest, he wanted to say no way, he wanted to run, but he knew she was right and besides, if Kasumi was going to do it he couldn't let her do it alone. With a timid nod of the head he gave in to the inevitable. For some reason he trusted her as he trusted Kasumi, she had similar voice inflections as Kasumi but she reminded him of Nabiki too, but a nicer Nabiki.
He looked up as Namiko handed him a notebook. "Ranma, I'm going to show Kasumi your rooms, I want you to write everything you know about being female. What you know personally and what you have been told. If it is something you have been told then you need to note who told you to the side. Then I want you to write any disadvantages and any advantages you have as a female that you have experienced yourself. This will give me an idea of how to help you overcome the disadvantages." She bent over and kissed Ranma on the forehead. "Kasumi and I have some catching up to do, if you have a problem or need help for anything just call out."
Ranma sat and stared at the blank page. His mind was in turmoil. He had been forcibly kissed by his fiancées and the idiot Mikado from the golden pair, he had shared kisses with Kasumi but could not remember ever being kissed the way Namiko just had. He blushed, he had liked it, it wasn't possessive, it wasn't sexual, it was just nice. Changing the grip on the pen he began to write, with 'Pops' written to the side of most of the things he had been told.
"Kasumi, she's really troubled isn't she? I know you are problems too, but hers seem far more embedded." She gave Kasumi a hug that Kasumi returned and then the hug became a desperate clinging as Kasumi broke down. Namiko just held her friend until the sobbing stopped.
"Thank you, I've needed that. I do have it easier because of Ranma but it is such a big change and the hormones are almost too much at times. I couldn't give in front of Ranma, he's already upset as it is and as much as he wants to he isn't comfortable at comforting people. He's been such a strong support and I hate putting any more on him. His father crippled him badly emotionally and intellectually and the brief time he knew his mother didn't help. I have had better role models than he has and he is one of the best even with his foot in the mouth disease." Kasumi dried her eyes and looked a little less troubled.
"Crippled, how?" Namiko quizzed.
Kasumi sat back on the bed and proceeded to tell her of Ranma and the fiancée fiasco and the idiot panda. Namiko didn't know whether to laugh or cry at times, and some of the stories had her visibly enraged.
"So basically she has never had a real family or friends other than you. I think what she needs right now is a sister and you don't qualify. The way she looks at you and you at her shows that your feelings toward each other are not that of brother and sister." She gave Kasumi another hug and stood up. "You get cleaned up and I'm going to see what my new sister has written. I have an idea that you both are going to be embarrassed a lot in the next few days and I want to be able to provide the support you both need."
Namiko sat by Ranma looking over what he had written. "Little Sis, you are going to have to unlearn a lot. Almost every thing I see that has 'Pops' by is not only wrong but some of it is highly insulting and stupid."
"'Little Sis'! I'm a guy damn it!" Ranma sat up and glared at her.
"Not right now you're not. When you can change forms again you'll be my little brother as occasion demands but until then you're my little sister. We have a lot to do to get you ready for school and some of the things you believe about girls will get you in big trouble. Of course some of the things you don't know will get you in even bigger trouble." Taking the note book she began to point out the things that Genma had told him about girls and why each was wrong. When she saw the things he had experienced as a female she asked more questions making him give more detailed answers until Ranma became noticeably uncomfortable.
"Could you call Kasumi for me I have to get rid of some of the tea I've been drinking." Ranma blushed as Namiko scooped him up and carried him to the toilet. "Hey! What are you doing? Kasumi will help you don't have to do this."
"Kasumi is busy right now and she won't be around every time you need to do something. Right now you are a girl and I don't think you have anything I haven't seen before. Considering some of the things you wrote, we need to talk about a few things concerning your present body. When you see the doctor she is going to ask certain things and you need to know what she is talking about. I'll be by the door so call when you finish. Kasumi would not be happy if try to do something on your own and became further injured." Namiko stepped through the door and finished reading what Ranma had written.
When Ranma called her back in her started with a lesson on personal hygiene and built on that. Ranma became very vocal at first and used a few words that were not approved of at all. A few sharp words, a soapy rag and a presence more forceful than Nodoka's katana quieted Ranma if not calmed him. The Ranma she brought back out was a different Ranma than went in, a very quiet and a very red Ranma.
Kasumi was sitting on the sofa when they came out and she was stunned when Ranma hugged Namiko and thanked her quietly before sliding onto the sofa beside Kasumi.
"Little Sis and I had a talk," Namiko said, interpreting the look on Kasumi's face. "And she is going do her best to catch up academically and fit in with the others at school when she starts. This evening after we eat she is going to start taking a series of tests to see where her standing is and tomorrow we will be meeting with the principal and some of the teachers to arrange her attendance. Your arriving here early was fortuitous since she is going to need the extra time to learn proper language and manners to attend school."
Kasumi looked questioningly at Ranma who was blushing brightly. "I used a few words I shouldn't have and won't use again. Big Sister didn't approve of them." Ranma fidgeted a bit and continued. "Until I finish school I'm going to be in this form except at times when we are practicing martial arts. As she pointed out I did not learn my art in just a few weeks and can't expect to learn how to act properly in that length of time either. Now that we know there is no cure I have to learn this and I have to unlearn a lot that I thought I knew."
Kasumi was shocked. This was not Ranma, not the Ranma she knew at least. When Namiko went to start dinner Kasumi went with her. "Namiko what happened? Ranma is not acting the way he normally does. What did you say to him?"
"Kasumi, what we said is between us, if she wants to tell you she will, but I won't. Your choice of words was very appropriate, "acting" is just what she was doing and has been doing for a long time, if what I gathered from our talk was any indication." She turned around and faced Kasumi. "Think about it. If she didn't act the way Akane thought she should, what happened? If she didn't act the way your fathers or her mother wanted, what did they do? She has had to act because she hasn't been allowed to be either him or herself. From the stories you told me in the letters and our conversations; anytime she has tried to show emotions she has been slapped down. Your father and hers insulted her if she showed emotions and Akane would call her a pervert and hit her. It was and is a basic defence on her part to keep from being hurt emotionally to act as she perceives others want her to. She has been a caricature."
Kasumi looked at her in amazement. "But he has always acted that way." Then what she said caught her attention. "I guess your right he has always acted as everyone expected him to and if he didn't they 'corrected' him. Oh no, I have to include myself in expecting him to behave as expected. What can I do to make it up to him?"
"For now you can treat 'her' as if she was indeed my little sister. What she learns now should carry over to her male side. She will have to learn new parameters, what is acceptable and what is not, not all that different from the children just starting to go to school. As she learns she will become more comfortable in just being herself." Namiko had a determined look on her face. "It is not going to be easy. She has to unlearn false notions that she has had drilled into her from a very early age. She has a history of none to very little social training. What little social training she has had apparently has been at those places where she learned martial arts from others and saw how others were treated. We have to build on that. I would like later on to have the school psychologist work with her or to find someone else who she can open up to because I'm sure she has problems we haven't even touched on." She turned and continued her cooking. "Why don't you get her ready for dinner and I will finish up here and call father. There are things we have to talk about and father has the connections to get some of them done."
Kasumi left the kitchen and thoughtfully approached Ranma. "Are you comfortable with this Ranma?"
"No I'm not. But I have to become comfortable with being me. Namiko is going to help me discover who I am. She says she will not force me to do anything but will help me when I need it. I…I like her, she and I talked and she helped me set some guide lines for me to go by. I am going to finish school and learn what else is there for me. She says the direction of my life is my choice to make but to make that choice I need to have more information to make it successful. I have never had a choice before Kasumi; I have always had to do what I was told." Ranma had a determined look on her face and was obviously thinking before she said each word. "Until I finish school I'm Ranko, a girl. I don't know what I will be later on but I will become comfortable and acceptable in this form, I have no real choice in that, there is too much cold water out there.
Have you noticed, Kasumi, I don't get hit with hot water by accident."
Kasumi contemplated what Ranma said. "It's going to affect me the same way isn't it. I've skirted it, thinking it wouldn't be too bad but this is going to be a lifetime change. I'm going to have to do the same as you. From now on I think I had better stay in male form and learn to be comfortable with it too."
"A wise choice Kasumi-chan. That does not preclude you from hunting for a cure but will make it much easier to survive." Maeda-san said as he came into the room. "With your approval, I will have identification cards for both of you by tomorrow evening. It will take a little longer to get other paper work set up but that gives us time to decide what you want in your history." Sitting down he turned to Ranma. "Ranko you look to be around seventeen so that is the age I'm going to put on your identification, it will make it easier for you to receive the help you need. I must point out that that makes you still under age and that you will need a guardian to sign official forms."
Ranma looked over at Namiko. "Who do you think I should have for my guardian? Pops always took care of those things as for as I know . Could you be my guardian or do I need someone older?"
"I would honoured Ranko but I think Father would be the better choice. His word has weight to it that mine does not." she looked at her father.
I would be honoured also Ranko. I ask only that you bring no dishonour on my family and from listening to your story I know that you will not. For most things I shall leave you in my daughter's capable hands. Kasumi, my park employs many college students, some are financially disadvantaged and for some it is encouraged as part of their school curriculum. If you work with them I believe you will more quickly adjust. Several of my workers are medical students and you will find their help beneficial in your studies. I would however be cautious in whom I trusted to be told about your curse." He finished his tea and moved away from the table. "Namiko has some things for Ranko to do now. If you will come with me after you help her clear the table we can take care of the paper work and set up a schedule that will allow you to attend class and work."
Namiko sat watching Ranko study the test she had in front of her. "This test is an assessment of what you know. When you write your answers I want you to do it carefully. Those you are not sure of answer to the best of your ability and our purpose I want you to mark the answers that you are not sure of. Those will indicate areas we need to cover even if you answered them right. This isn't timed but don't spend to long on any part. If you have a problem with a question you don't understand then let me know." She smiled at Ranko. "Are you ready Little Sis?"
Ranko looked anxiously at the test one more time. "I'm ready; I want to know what I missed. This is almost like sparring in a new dojo so the Sensei can place your skill level isn't it?" she picked up the pencil and began to write.
Namiko watched her for a few minutes and then began to call the teachers she had studied under. Some would undoubtedly have Ranko in their class but some from a developmental school she had trained at her second year in college. She edited her list as she called, some were too hidebound to do things different and some to easy going. She had recognised that Ranko was very insecure and tended to bluster when she wasn't sure what to do using her knowledge of martial arts as her confidence crutch. Many of the teachers she called had family background in martial arts and would be able to help her expand her interest. She would have preferred more time but decided that keeping Ranko extra busy might be for the best.