A Ranma 1 / 2 Alternate Histories Company Presents:
Everyone grows up sometime [if only a bit]
By Felix Webster ( Felix Warstar )
[felix_webster@telus.net]
Disclaimer: All original Ranma ½ Characters and Back story Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi. This is written for fun and not for any profit so
please don't sue as I'm a poor writer who one day hopes to write
something original and become a so-called professional writer. . .
this is just practice.
Events as of vol 38 up to the end of the fight with Saffron but
before they left Mt.Houou and Jusendo.
Chapter One: - The First Step -
Akane woke up from her needed sleep and took a moment to remember
where she was. She looked the odd room over and sighed in resignation
not wanting to be there at all. "At least I'm not a prisoner," she
thought to herself in relief.
She sat up still feeling weak from the ordeal she had gone through,
it was the only reason she was still in China. Ranma wouldn't allow
her to travel far in her condition so he ordered the Phoenix warriors
to take them all to Mt.Houou so they could rest. That was another
thing she didn't like, it seemed that since Ranma had defeated their
'King' in battle he was now in charge. She knew he didn't want it or
like it, but as an honourable man he would have to live with it until
he can figure a way out of it. That was what he had been doing for
the past three days.
- - - -
"What do you mean you're staying!?!" Akane screamed in disbelief at
him. Ranma tried his best not to say something to really start an
argument and just stood there until she ran down. "You told me you
worked out a deal with them!"
"I did."
"Then why are you staying!?!" Akane asked loudly, her eyes betrayed
the fact she was more worried than angry.
"It's part of the deal," Ranma replied calmly. "Though they agreed
to allow me to go back to Nerima they insisted that I take some sort
of 'spoils' from this war. I tried to tell them that I didn't want
anything from them until they. . ."
". . . offered to train you in their style," Akane finished for him
just shaking her head in mild annoyance. She really couldn't blame
him for that, Martial arts was his life, and the chance to improve
that was something he wouldn't. . . no, couldn't refuse. "How long?"
she asked in a defeated sigh.
Ranma was shocked at how she asked, he expected to get screamed at
all the way down the mountain and back again. . . then again he still
might, "I estimate about a year."
"A year? I don't know if I can stay here a year," Akane stated
thinking about her life back in Nerima, she still had school for
Kami's sake.
"You're not staying. . ."
"WHAT!?!" she screamed moving her head up in shock only to end up
looking into his calm blue eyes.
"You're going home with the others," Ranma stated in a tone that
said it was final, something he had never truly done seriously until
this event. Now he had done it twice, once to tell her she wasn't
coming to China and now to tell her that she was going home with out
him. "You have school soon, and I would love to see you graduates,
but we both know what my grades are like so me missing out isn't much
of a loss."
"You, trying to use logic, I would be laughing if I didn't know you
were serious!" Akane replied in a cruel tone. "You just want to be
rid of me so you can. .can. . ."
"Ukyo's already in Nerima, and Shampoo is going back with you too,"
Ranma said cutting her off. "And Cologne's in for a bit of a shock
when she gets back," Ranma added with a smirk.
"Ah. . ah. . then it is for the training?" Akane asked stunned at
how quick he responded, actually it was the fact she let him and
listened to him that truly stunned her.
"Of course it is," Ranma stated in an annoyed tone at her distrust.
In a moment of emotion he cupped her face in his hand and looked into
her eyes, "I promise you, Akane, I'll come back to you as soon as I'm
done with the training I need here in China. And you know I never
break a promise."
Akane fought hard not to swoon at the feeling of tenderness, then
shook herself out of it annoyed that she was starting to act like the
silly headed girl everyone expected of her in her culture. "Don't do
me any favours," she huffed and spun away from him and stormed off.
"Why do I bother. . ." Ranma said to himself as he watched her walk
away, as she got to the archway he saw her glance back with a look of
true concern for him. "That's why."
- - - -
Kiima watched the boy as he came back into the court with confusion
written all over her face, "Why did you tell her a year? You
estimated it only take you a few months at most to learn our style."
Ranma walked up to her and baby Saffron, giving him a little scratch
under the chin and getting a giggle out of the child, "I know, but I
have a few things I need to do here in China. The Guide said the
springs might come back soon so I don't want to go far from them."
"I see, we will try to make your stay here to your liking, Lord
Ranma," Kiima replied with a kneeling bow, doing her best not to
disturb the child princeling in her arms.
Ranma put a hand under her chin and slowly lifted her to her feet,
"I asked you before not to do that, I don't feel comfortable with it
and I hope never to get accustomed to it either."
". . .Yes, Lord Ranma."
"And stop calling me Lord Ranma, it's just Ranma," he stated in
exasperation.
"By your command, just Ranma," Kiima replied with a smirk.
Ranma face faulted then picked himself up and looked to the heavens,
"I never win when it comes to women, do I."
- - - -
Hong Kong had seen a lot of travellers, some of them very strange,
so the sight of the young man walking through it's merchant district
wearing worn but durable travelling clothes didn't catch anyone's
attention. Neither did the two younger girls who were following right
behind him talking excitingly in a oddly accented Mandarin, only the
fact they kept calling the man in front of them Poppa raised the
eyebrows of the nosiest of people as he was much too young to have
daughters of their age.
The man kept silent for the entire trip until they reached what he
was heading for. It was a nice looking women's clothing store, and in
it's well appointed windows showed several expensive outfits.
[Oh, Poppa, is this where we are going to shop?] asked the girl to
his left in absolute excitement, she was currently wearing a sky blue
Chinese pantsuit with her blonde hair done up in a tight bun resting
on the back of her head making it look short.
"Yes it is, Blush. And please remember to practice your Japanese
while we are talking. You may use Mandarin or Cantonese when dealing
with the merchants here, but you are going to need to be versed in
Japanese very soon."
"Yes, Poppa," she replied slightly embarrassed.
"Can we buy a nice dress as well as travelling clothes, Poppa?"
asked the other girl to his right. She was dressed simular to her
sister, expect that her pantsuit was lavender and her long ponytailed
hair was a white blue colour with heavy blue highlights.
"We aren't here for travelling clothes, Perfume," he said as he
turned around with a smile. "You two are going to need some nice
clothes to meet your grandparents in, and I figured that doing it
here was easier than when we're more stressed for time in Japan. So
you each get three dresses and accessories."
"Yay," both girls said in excitement as they hugged the man then
almost ran into the store.
- - - -
Both girls had a field day in the store trying on everything they
could and getting their father's opinion on each. He had to warn then
several times about not picking such daring outfits as they were
meant to meet family in them not potential husbands, but mostly he
just sat sipping the glass of water he had asked for. About halfway
into the madness they called shopping Blush suddenly stopped and
turned to her Poppa with a perplexed look on her young face.
[Aren't you going to try anything on? You'll need to look your best
for Grandmother and Grandfather too won't you?]
The salesgirl who had been helping the twins turned at hearing this
and raised an eyebrow, she had already had problems with the girls
calling this young man 'Poppa' as he wasn't much younger than
herself, and great looking to boot, now she started to wonder as to
what they were suggesting.
[They know me, and how I dress, so how I show up won't matter. You
two on the other hand. . .] the man said with a nervous smile.
Both girls looked at each other and nodded then turned back to face
their Poppa, [But Poppa you'd look so cute in this blue sundress!]
The man cringed slightly as the salesgirl spun at the statement,
[Sir, we do not cater to that kind of client here! Would please
instruct you 'daughters' to refrain from such suggestions.]
The man stood up and bowed to the saleslady, [I apologize for my
daughters making a scene, but they are right I 'would' look beautiful
in that dress.] He then dumped the contents of his glass over his
head, causing the salesgirl to faint.
Several minutes later they revived the salesgirl who opened her eyes
greeted by three girls, a blonde, a good dye job, and a red head.
[Wha. . .What happened?] she asked confused.
[You fainted when you saw me change,] the red head explained with a
nervous smile.
The girl's eyes went wide, [You mean that really happened!?!]
Both young girls stuck themselves out from behind the red head and
nodded energetically, [It's the reason Poppa is a full Amazon warrior
of our tribe!]
[Sorry about this,] the red haired girl said the nervous smile
looked more strained.
- - - -
Several days later the three found themselves close to their final
destination, and the two young girls talked amongst themselves in
their usual excited tones as the red headed girl just grumbled to
herself about freak weather patterns in this particular ward.
"Aren't you glad we talked you into that sundress, Poppa?" Blush
asked with a sweet smile.
"Yeah, absolutely ecstatic," the older girl replied back through
grinding teeth. The dress didn't bother her anymore, in fact in the
last year she had gotten quite comfortable wearing girls clothes
while in that form. She also didn't have to worry about wearing
unisex styles or baggy fits now that she had the bracelet on her
wrist, although the magic had weakened over the centuries since it
was first made it still allowed for several changes of clothes to be
held in something she like to call 'Hammerspace', as it reminded her
of someone's sudden appearing Mallet, and could be changed instantly.
It was the most useful item she had found during her travels over the
past year. Of course she had hoped she could have showed up as a man
for the first time she was to see her family now she was back.
- - - -
Soun, Genma, and Nodoka look again at the postcard in her hands. It
read simply:
Coming home, bringing a surprise.
Ranma
Soun broke out in tears for the third time at the happy news, he
wouldn't stop talking about how they should hold the wedding the
moment Ranma came in the door. Nodoka almost hit him. She had had
just about enough of both men over the past year, but as a dutiful
wife to her husband she simply turned to Genma's friend and calmly
spoke, "I believe he will need time to settle in and get to know his
fiancé again before that should happen."
"I believe Nodoka is right, I'm sure he will honour the agreement,
he is coming home as he promised. He has likely become an even
stronger Martial artist for this training trip, and that serves this
Dojo greatly," Genma said in a calm but stern voice.
"I know the arguments about this, I'm still surprised at you for not
forcing him back with you a year ago," Soun complained again with the
same subject for the umpteenth time facing his old friend.
"Soun, old friend, Ranma had just killed someone a few days before,
a kami no less, I did not want to be on his bad side if he had found
a taste for it," Genma replied pushing his glasses up higher on the
bridge of his nose. "It was bad enough that I was forced to change
sides as it was."
"In other words you were scared," came a dry scratchy voice from by
the television.
"Damn straight! And I'd advise you be more careful around him while
he is here, master," Genma stated with iron in his voice for the
first time when dealing with Happosai.
"I'm not an idiot, Genma, if I was I wouldn't have lived this long,"
Happosai said with a touch of humour in his voice. "I plan to greet
him and then take my leave of this area for a time, it's getting too
hard to rescue my silky darling here anymore."
Soun and Genma looked at each other happily at the prospects of
being rid of the old freak and him being willing to go.
"I don't find his actions so intimidating as much as the fact he is
willing to kill to protect those he loves and I know how he feels
about me," the said old freak continued with a nasty smile on his
face which made the two men's fade quickly. "I'll be around to take
you two on training trips every month or so, and possibly teach the
boy some real moves from time to time."
"Now I think we should arrange the spare. . ." Nodoka was cut off
by the sound of the outer door being opened.
"Hello, I'm home," came a girl's voice from that area sounding
slightly nervous.
Nodoka was on her feet so fast that neither father had a chance to
respond before she was already rounding the corner, "Ranma! You're
home!"
Nodoka came to a sudden stop upon seeing her 'son' standing there in
a blue sundress, with her red hair nicely brushed and pulled back in
a long pony tail. . . she was even wearing low heels and clip-on
earrings. This alone could have made her faint but it was the two
young girls who were standing with 'him' which sent her over.
Both girls, Blush wearing a nice powder blue sundress in a lighter
shade than Ranma's and Perfumes white with blue edging which matched
her hair, had decided to ask in unison, "Is this our Grandmother,
Poppa?"
- - - -
Nodoka slowly came into blurry awareness and lifted a hand to her
forehead, the strain of waiting for her son to return home must have
been more than she expected. Worst of all she had had the strangest
of dreams. . .
"Are you alright mother?" Ranma-chan asked in concern, watching
carefully for her to show signs of continued stress.
"Yes dear, I just must have over exerted myself," She replied
automatically, then bolted upright when if finally registered that it
was her *son's* voice she just heard. "Ranma, you are home!"
Ranma smiled at her mother pleasantly, nervous but pleasantly, "I
was worried that you had had an accident."
"Why. Are. You in. A. Dress?" Nodoka asked in an edged tone.
"That's what we asked him," Genma stated giving his *son* a gruff
glare, he wasn't happy at all.
"And I told you I'd explain when everyone got here," Ranma-chan
stated again obviously not going to move on his position. "By the
way, where are the sisters?"
Nodoka looked Ranma-chan over for a moment and had to honestly note
that the past year had done wonders for her body. Most of the baby
fat which helped make Ranma-chan look much too overdeveloped was gone
and her arms and legs showed a nice smooth muscle tone that looked
strong but not too masculine, and the sundress look very nice on her
too. Nodoka shook her head a bit trying to remember her *Manly* son
and his hatred of his girl form. She also knew from Ranma-chan's eyes
that no one in that room was going to get anything out of her until
she was ready. "Akane is at work and will be back shortly," she
answered trying to remain calm.
"Work? Wow, when did that happen?" Ranma-chan asked in pleasant shock.
"When the school year finished she got a job to help pay for her
living expenses when she finally goes to college," Nodoka answered
again since neither father was willing to speak at the moment.
"Ok, where's Nabiki and Kasumi?"
"Nabiki is at college setting up her new living arrangements for the
next semester," Nodoka replied frowning about something. "She should
be back in a week or so to move the rest of her stuff out."
"I see. I take it that there were words said?" Ranma-chan asked
giving her mother a narrow-eyed look.
Nodoka almost gulped at the fact that Ranma-chan knew her well
enough to make that kind of realization, she herself barely knew her
*son*. "I have since taken them back and apologized to her, but she
has yet to make any indication that I have been forgiven."
"I don't doubt it, she can hold a grudge. I'll talk to her when she
gets back and deal with it," Ranma-chan said in a way that said the
matter was over, and no more was to be said. "What about Kasumi? Is
she out shopping?"
"Um. . .No, she is with her husband right now. I could call her and
ask her to come over if you'd like."
"Wow, so Dr.Tofu came back finally? I'm so happy for her," Ranma-
chan said with a huge smile, but she quickly lost it as she saw her
mother shake her head slowly. "Not Dr.Tofu. . ."
"No dear, Dr.Tofu has not come back."
"Then who'd she marry?" Ranma-chan asked in total confusion. She
looked over at Mr.Tendo with narrowed eyes, "You didn't set up
another arranged marriage did you?"
"No dear, he didn't. I'll let her tell you about it herself. I'll go
make the phone calls," Nodoka said as she got up and moved quickly to
the phone stand.
- - - -
She didn't just call Kasumi though, she included calling Akane,
Ukyo, Shampoo and Cologne at their respective workplaces and informed
them that Ranma was indeed back.
A short time later several people were sitting around the table
talking, and waiting for Ranma to come in from the Dojo where she had
gone with the two girls she had brought with her. None of them wanted
to disturb her as they were told that it was private, Akane had tried
to leave the table three time already.
"I want to see him!" Akane stated in annoyance leading to anger.
"We all do Hon, but he told his mother that it was private," Ukyo
reminded her again. "I, for one, haven't seen him since a week before
you all went to China. You know I could have been useful there."
"We know child, but it was a matter for Jusenkyo victims to deal
with, Akane was only there by force," Cologne replied gently. "And we
all missed him."
"That's nice to know," said a male voice from the door leading to
the Dojo. Ranma looked over the combined assembly and smiled a very
happy smile as his eyes fell upon two of the people sitting there.
[Congratulations Mu-tsu, I'm happy for you]
Mousse's eyes went wide in pleasant shock as he heard the perfect
Amazon dialect spoken by Ranma, and he wasn't the only one. [Ah. . .
thank you, we are happy.]
[That's good, take care of her. . . or else,] Ranma said still
smiling.
Mousse tightened his grip on his wife's hand which caused Kasumi to
yip slightly in pain. Mousse quickly apologized then settled down,
and was given a kiss on the cheek for reacting to Ranma's challenge.
Akane had wanted to leap up and hug Ranma the moment she had heard
his voice, and even more when she saw him standing there in his
favourite Chinese clothes, which didn't look as road worn as she
would have expected, but she didn't as she couldn't move at all.
"Sorry child, we didn't need a fight until after he explained
himself," Cologne said quietly to the paralysed girl gaining her a
very nasty look back. "I see you have mastered our language, Son-in-
law," she directed towards the boy with a nod.
"It seemed like the thing to do while in China, and I am not your
Son-in-law anymore," Ranma replied still calm but just barely as he
figured out what was done to Akane.
"Oh really? And exactly how would that be? I'm upholding three
thousand. . ."
". . . years of Chinese Amazon tradition, if an outsider defeats a
Amazon Warrior, and he be a man he must marry the Amazon unless he is
already married or marries someone else before the joining ceremony
can be performed," Ranma finished giving her a hard stare.
"So you know the law, so what? You've had a book to explain this for
sometime, it makes no difference. . . unless. . ." Cologne stated and
her eyes widened at her own thoughts.
"I have already married," Ranma finished for her again with a smirk
with caused everyone to gasp at that table.
"One of those two girls you brought with you is your wife?" Nodoka
asked doing her best to restrain both fathers from making outbursts.
"No, they are my daughters from that marriage," he replied giving a
look over his shoulder at the two outside the door still doing katas.
"And before I go any farther you should know that my wife is an
Amazon warrior, Cologne, and you know the law involving that," Ranma
gave the old woman a bold smile.
"Shampoo would have to fight her to the death for your hand now,"
the old woman replied shaking her head sadly.
Shampoo stood in anger facing Ranma and stated in a loud voice, "It
no matter, Shampoo will fight for Airen!"
"Sit down child! You cannot challenge the dead," Cologne said
sternly to her great-granddaughter.
"What you mean?"
"Yes, I would like to know that as well," Nodoka asked almost
echoing the Amazon.
Cologne looked at the people around the table and sighed, "He would
not have been allowed to take two Amazon sisters, even young ones as
these two, away from the Village unless he was the only surviving
parent. And the fact that he did speaks volumes of their trust of him
as he is an outsider male."
"Actually I'm an Amazon sister," Ranma corrected with nasty smirk.
"And I'm currently listed as their mother now so I can take them
anywhere I want too."
Cologne and Shampoo both nearly face faulted at hearing this, but
both recovered quicky. "I don't see how the Elders in the Village
would even think of doing that without consulting me," Cologne
replied near anger.
"Who said I went to your Village? As far as I know I'm wanted dead
there, so I went to a neighbouring tribe to continue my training."
Ranma gave the woman a cocky look at her disbelief.
"And you figured this out on your own?" Cologne asked impressed.
"No, actually it was the Village Elders and Tonic's idea, I just had
to realize it wasn't a trick to get me to stay."
"They came up with this idea? I find it hard to believe that the
Village Elders of any Amazon Village would make a plan which would
weaken their tribe of two potential warriors," Cologne stated now not
trusting in what was being said, the boy was up to something.
"They didn't. Tonic, the girl's mother, did that thinking," Ranma
stated then his gaze seemed distant as he continued. "I'd been in the
Village about a week, waiting for the council to make a decision. . ."
- - - -
Ranma-chan stood in a clearing behind where her hosts had billeted
her, she was about to start her seventh kata for the day. She had
been doing this every day she'd been here, and she knew it was
starting to draw a crowd of the younger girls. This day was no
different as about twelve girls had tried to hide and watch her. It
didn't bother her since she hoped that they may learn something from
watching as she herself did watching others.
She continued through her seventh and decided to give the little
ones a bit of a show. Up to now she had held back her full skill
trying to mislead the Elders slightly, but today she had too much
tension to get out so she needed to go full out. She started one of
the most complex katas she knew by heart, one she had only mastered
while here in China away from her problems at home, and moved through
it as liquid smooth as she had ever done the moves. She had finished
that one before she noticed that two of the young girls had braved
coming forward to stand a discreet distance away.
[Can I help you?] Ranma-chan asked the two nervous girls tightening
her gi and not looking in their direction. This caused both girls to
eep but they stood their ground.
[Mother says you are an outsider,] started the blonde girl looking
confused.
[Grandmother says outsiders are weak,] continued the girl who's hair
looked like winter, white with highlights of blue. Ranma-chan still
found Amazon hair fascinating in it's colour array.
[Did she? Do I look weak to you?] Ranma-chan asked back shaking the
sweat out of her hair with her hands. They wanted something, she knew
that much and could guess most likely what that was.
[No,] both girls said in eerie unison causing Ranma-chan to finally
give them a good look. She stood there smiling and shaking her head,
*twins* she should have guessed. They may not be identical but their
features were very close as was their Ki.
[Did your mother also tell you I was a man?] Ranma-chan asked almost
giggling at the expressions on their faces.
[You aren't a man! One has only to look at your chest to tell that!]
the blonde said in an annoyed tone. It was obvious who was the more
adventurous one of the two now.
[And men are weak! You aren't weak!] the other girl exclaimed
looking proud of herself.
[Really? And who told you this? Was it your Grandmother?] Ranma-chan
asked leading the girl into a logic trap, one she had once held
herself till recently.
Both girls nodded in unison proudly and Ranma-chan just shook her
head again, [She was wrong about outsiders being weak, maybe she is
wrong about that too.]
Once again both girl's faces reacted in unison, confusion was
written all over them. [But Grandmother is an Elder, Elders are never
wrong!]
[It's impossible never to be wrong. Everyone makes mistakes,
especially when they are given misinformation,] Ranma-chan stated as
she picked up the thermos she had next to her practice circle. They
had only said that they would prefer her to stay a girl here, they
never said she couldn't change back once in awhile. [And I am a man,]
she added as she dumped the contents on her head.
All the girls who had been watching and listening gasped in shock as
the strong woman they had been watching turned into a stronger
looking man. [B. . . Bu. . . But how?] the blonde asked stuttering,
the other girl couldn't make her mouth move.
[A little place called Jusenkyo, you fall in a spring you get a new
cursed form,] Ranma replied with a shrug. He took a moment to do a
stretch that worked out the kinks caused by gaining or losing size
and mass, [Now, if you don't mind, I have to do a set of katas to
balance out my training]
Both girls backed off a small distance never taking their eyes off
him, giving him room but not much. Ranma shrugged again then prepared
himself to launch into a kata even more difficult than the last, he
hadn't perfected it yet but he doubted the girls would notice. He ran
through it and was very pleased at himself when he finished putting
one more kata into the perfected category. He turned back to the
girls, who hadn't moved from their spots on the grass, and gave them
a lopsided smile before going into a cool down routine.
The next day Ranma-chan once again was in her usual place behind the
guest huts, this time both girls had already been standing there
waiting for her. She smiled to herself, but ignored the twins as she
went into a warm up routine. She turned back before she started and
noticed that both girls seem eggar to speak to her, [Can I help you
with something today?]
[Mother says you are really a man,] the blonde started looking
nervously at Ranma-chan.
[She also said that you have asked for sisterhood in our tribe, and
that you may get it because of your curse,] the other girl continued.
[Is this a problem?] Ranma-chan asked slightly concerned now as to
how the younger warriors would take her. She honestly hadn't thought
about it much and she should have as they would be the ones she dealt
with in the years to come.
[Grandmother doesn't like it, but mother says you'd be an asset to
the tribe,] the blonde answered looking confused. The other girl
elbowed her sister when she stopped talking trying to get her to
continue.
The blonde looked back at her sister with a glare but continued
anyhow, [Mother has been sick as of late and can't train us well. .
. ]
[And she doesn't want our Grandmother to teach us, something about
doing more harm than good,] the white haired girl added in confusion.
[Smart woman, your mother, but what does this have to do with me?]
[We came to ask you to train us,] both said in unison with pleading
eyes and pouting mouths, it was enough to make Ranma-chan laugh and
laugh loudly. [Please, pretty please. . .]
Ranma-chan took a moment to regain her composure before being able
to say anything, but she finally found her center and calmed herself,
[Are you sure you wish to be taught by a man?]
[You aren't a man!] the blonde stated loudly. [If you are going to
be an Amazon sister you have to be a woman!]
[You know there was a time where those would have been fighting
words, but fortunately for you I no longer care so much about my
curse anymore,] Ranma-chan said in a very serious tone which carried
a touch of anger and made both girls flinch slightly. [But for the
record, I am a man. I was born a man, I was raised to be a *man among
men*. So if you learn from me you are learning from a man no matter
what form I'm in, do you understand me?]
The blonde looked like she was going to say something she'd regret
but her sister stopped her with an another elbow to the stomach, [Yes
teacher, we understand.]
[Good. Now I should get your names so I don't have to call you 'Hey
You' and 'You too',] Ranma-chan said with a charming smile on her
face.
[I'm Blu shi, and she is Pu fum,] the blonde said carefully pointing
to her sister.
[Blush and Perfume? More cosmetic names,] Ranma-chan said looking to
the heavens. [You just love doing that to me, don't you?]
She looked back to the twin who just shrugged at her and then
smiled, [Okay, first I want to see what you already know. Then I'll
know what I need to teach you.]
- - - -
Two weeks had passed since her class had started with the two girls
but still nothing came out of the council and it worried Ranma-chan a
lot. She was heading for her temporary home when one of the younger
Elders, only in her early thirties, came up to her obviously wishing
to speak to her.
"Saotome of the Anything Goes School, I am Tonic and I was to speak
to you," the woman stated looking unhappy about something. Ranma-chan
just shrugged and motioned her into the guest house, inside she was
impressed that the Elder decided to speak her language, it was meant
as an honour and Ranma-chan knew it.
"I am sorry to say that the council has refused to make you sister
of our tribe," Tonic started sadly as she watched Ranma-chan start to
prepare tea and not react to her statement. "They are fools to let
someone like you slip through their fingers, even though you'd be
going back to Japan we'd have your promise to aid the Village when
the need occurred."
Ranma-chan poured the tea calmly, but Tonic was convinced that the
room had gotten colder, "Why did they refuse?"
"They were worried of starting a war with the Joketsuzoku tribe, as
they believe their Elder Khu lon would call upon us if we took you
in," Tonic answered calmly as she sipped her tea, the room was indeed
getting colder.
"I have trained under Cologne several times, mostly to save my skin
at some time when I needed to, and I have even defeated her a couple
of times. I just don't wish to marry her great-granddaughter, and
this was a chance to avoid doing so," Ranma-chan said sadly.
"I don't understand? You have no problem with becoming an Amazon
sister, but you don't wish to marry to do so?" Tonic asked confusion
plainly on her face. "With your curse you would automatically be made
a sister to that tribe."
"I figured as much, but I can't marry Shampoo. . . I have a fiance
back in Japan already who I've promised to come back to soon, and I
don't want Shampoo trying to hurt her anymore. . . she been through
too much recently," Ranma-chan explained with fire in her eyes, Tonic
was suddenly worried for this Shampoo girl.
"You love this girl that much?"
"It was an arranged engagement. . . but I think I do," Ranma-chan
answered sadly. "But either way I will not see her hurt!"
"You are an honourable man, as I expected you to be when you started
training my daughters."
"Those two hellions are yours?" Ranma-chan said spitting out her tea
in shock, then she smiled as she took in the resemblance. "They're
good students and have a lot of talent, they'll make great warriors
for your tribe."
"Thank you for your kindness," Tonic replied smiling. "You are
welcome to stay as long as you wish, and I will see what I can do
about your problems while I am capable."
"Thank you," Ranma-chan said with a small smile.
- - - -
Almost a week passed before Ranma-chan saw Tonic again, this time
the invitation came to visit her at her home from her twins. As a man.
Ranma stood in front of the hut, more of a large house but too
rustic looking to be called one, and felt nervous. The girls said
that their mother had thought of a solution for a problem of his, the
had giggled a lot about it and that was what made him nervous.
Giggling and Amazon Elder solutions usually both meant trouble for
him, together they meant big trouble. Ranma walked to the door and
rang the small bell next to the door, praying for the best.
[Welcome to my home Ranma Saotome,] Tonic greeted him just inside
the door.
[Ah. . . just Ranma will do,] Ranma replied back with a bow.
[As you wish, just Ranma,] Tonic said as she turned around to walk
into the larger room, she was trying to hide a large smile on her
face at her own joke.
Ranma stood there for a second trying to remember any simular
features between this Elder and Kiima, he then rolled his eyes and
muttered 'Women' under his breath.
Tonic waited for Ranma to get settled before starting into her idea,
she wasn't sure how he would take it but it was the last chance for
her daughters.
[I have found a way to make you a sister of this tribe and end some
of your problems with the Joketsuzoku,] she started nervously.
Ranma looked up with interest, this was why he was here after all,
he just didn't expect her to be direct. He was way too use to
Cologne, [How?]
[You will marry me,] she replied calmly as she sipped her tea.
[WHAT!?!] Ranma was on his feet in an instant and was about to say
more but paused as she put up a hand to stop him.
[Hear me out, please,] Tonic asked almost pleading. Ranma just sat
back down and crossed his arms so he didn't do something stupid with
them. [Did my daughters tell you that I have been sick as of late?]
[Yes, when they asked me to train them. I also noticed a weakening
of your Ki the last time we met,] Ranma replied sadly. [I didn't like
what I saw then and I don't like it anymore now.]
[I have six months to a year left,] Tonic stated as if it was the
time of day and not her pending death.
[I'm sorry to hear that,] Ranma replied with a bit of warmth in his
voice.
[Don't be, I've had fun in my life and soon I get to be with my
husband again,] Tonic said with a small smile. [I'm more worried
about my daughters. I do not wish them to be raised by their
Grandmother as she is a bigoted and sexist traditionalist who would
pervert all that I have tried to teach them.]
[What I am suggesting is a marriage in name only, you would become a
sister to this tribe and would become my daughters's father. . . or
mother as the tribe will have to accept. When I pass you will be free
to travel again, I just ask you take my daughters with you.]
- - - -
"It took me about a week before I agreed," Ranma sipped his tea as
he looked over at his two daughters. "I had to find out what those
two thought about the whole idea before I gave my answer."
"Poppa was surprised that we were the ones who came up with the
solution," Blush stated as both girls smiled boldly coming in from
outside and hugged Ranma warmly.
"I see. I'm saddened by this news, but at least you are part of one
of the tribes," Cologne said sadly. "But don't count Shampoo out just
yet."
"She can't challenge Tonic as she's dead, so what chance does she
have left," Ranma asked unsure of what the old ghoul getting at.
Cologne smirked. "Before it was just trying to get her husband back
to the tribe, accepting his position. Now she has to try to win your
heart like any other girl has to."
"That may be, but he's still engaged to Akane," Nodoka replied.
Akane looked at the two young girls hugging Ranma in ways she had
wanted too for almost as long as she knew him and it broke her heart.
He had married someone else. He wasn't hers anymore. He married
someone else!
Feeling the sensations coming back into her body she slammed her
hands on the table as she stood in anger, "I don't care anymore! I
want nothing to do with him anymore! THE ENGAGEMENT IS OVER!"
She ran from the room before anyone could see her crying.
Both Amazon girls looked at their father in confusion and asked in
unison, "Did we do something wrong?"
Ranma put his arms around the girls and gave them sad smile, "No,
she does this when she's mad at me."
"I'm sorry Ranma, we thought she was over these little tantrums,"
Kasumi replied shaking her head unhappy at her younger sister's
reaction. "She was doing so good when she got back from China. . .
and she was so happy to know you were coming back."
"I have break a promise," Ranma stated calmly as he released his
daughters and stood. "I guess I should go talk to her."
"Maybe I should go first, Sugar," Ukyo piped up as she put down her
cup. "She needs time to calm down before she'll be ready to listen to
anyone."
"Ukyo has been helping Akane out a lot since she got back, the two
have become very good friends," Nodoka explained as Ranma looked at
Ukyo's retreating form in confusion.
Getting up himself he quickly moved up to catch Ukyo before she got
too far and grabbed her arm to stop her. Giving her an even stare he
tried to ignore the look of betrayal she was giving her. "You didn't
comment on anything either. Before you go in to see to Akane I want
to be sure it isn't some. . ."
"Ran-chan. . . I gave up on you when Akane came back from China,"
Ukyo interrupted in a cold but even tone. "Shampoo, Mousse and Ryoga,
when he finally showed up, explained what happened there. I knew you
loved her, heck all of us knew what you two really felt about each
other. We tried to fool ourselves into believing that the arguments
meant you two could be broken apart. Both me and Shampoo realized
that although you would always defend us if needed, you would never
kill for us."
"Uc-chan. . ."
"I don't like hearing that you have married someone else but it has
been done, and nothing will change that. I will go and try to calm
her down, then you should go in and let her know you came back for
her and not just because you promised to return." Ukyo turned and
headed up the stairs hiding her own tears.
- - - -
Akane didn't respond to her door opening then closing again, she had
a good idea who it was. She just continued to lay on her bed curled
up and crying.
"Listen Hon, you know he did it to end the problems with Shampoo and
her great-grandmother," Ukyo stated as she grabbed the desk chair to
sit in by the bed.
Akane rolled over and looked at the girl she'd come so close to in
the last year. She tried several times before she could actually
speak, "But. . . he's not mine anymore!"
"I only know what he's told us down stairs, but by what he said it
was just a marriage of convenience and not out of love. He came back
to you. Remember that, he came back to you," Ukyo looked very sad but
she had come to realize in the last year that she wasn't anything but
Ran-chan's best friend.
"But. . . how can I really know that?" Akane pouted with a sniffle.
"And he's brought home two more Amazons!"
"Why don't you listen to him, I'm sure he'll explain."
"I guess. . ."
- - - -
Ranma sat in the chair looking uncomfortably at the floor. He had
headed up to Akane's room as soon as he saw Ukyo had come down and
nod to him. Now he was at a loss of words seeing Akane looking so
hurt.
Akane hadn't replied at first when he came to her door but after a
minute she finally asked him to come in, but in a very quiet voice.
Now it was just finding the right words.
"Why?" Akane asked in a quiet broken voice still turned away from
him in a curled up ball on her bed.
"I wanted to get that damn Amazon marriage thing dealt with without
actually marrying Shampoo," Ranma replied wringing his hands
uncomfortably.
"So instead you go and marry a different Amazon!?!" Akane rolled
over and screamed at him.
"It wasn't MY IDEA!" Ranma yelled back then caught himself before he
said something completely stupid. If there was one thing Tonic had
taught him it was to control him blasted mouth better.
"No, but you probably jumped at the chance to get another fiance!"
Akane sat up and scowled at him.
"You know that's not true. . ." Ranma replied looking very hurt. "I
was trying to get rid of my other fiance problems."
"Well getting married did that, now didn't it!"
"Tonic only married me to help me become an Amazon sister! It was
the only way to make both kisses void by Amazon Law!" Ranma tried to
reign in the anger by remembering he did it for the ungrateful girl
in front of him. "She knew she was dying!"
"Well. . . Ah. . . But. . . You came back with two more Amazon
fiances!" Akane shouted looking away trying not to cry.
"Akane! I'm their Father not their husband! They are only eleven
years old for Kami's sake!" Ranma shouted back in exasperation. "And
I'd like you to be their new mother!"
"What!?!" Akane whipped her head around in shock.
"They're good kids, Akane, I'm sure you'll like them," Ranma smiled
softly. "But they need both a Mother and a Father."
"Don't you fill both those rolls already?" Akane asked confused.
"As far a the village is concerned I became their Mother when Tonic
died, but I was born and raised a male. . . I really don't know a lot
about growing up a girl, even though I have been learning," Ranma
explained uncomfortably. "They need a real woman to learn that stuff
from."
Akane sat stunned she couldn't believe he had just call her a real
woman, then it hit her that he had been talking about her becoming
the girl's new mother and that meant. . . Marriage.
"You want to marry me?" She asked in a small voice with her eyes wide.
"That's why I came home Akane," Ranma replied with a smile. "I only
stayed in China to try to solve a few problems that could try to stop
us."
"But. . . You aren't mine anymore!" Akane shouted as she hugged her
knees and started to cry.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Ranma asked confused.
"You aren't just mine. . . You've never been just mine. First it was
Kodachi, I know you couldn't stand her but she was always there. Then
Shampoo and her silly Amazon laws saying you had already married her.
Then Ukyo, your best friend and 'cute' fiance with an engagement
almost as valid as mine. Then a true hoard of others who thankfully
didn't stick around for too long. . . I've always had to share you
with others!" Akane said between sobs. "Now even in marriage I have
to share you with you first wife, even though she's dead."
"Don't think I haven't had to share you too. Kuno, Ryoga, Shinsuke.
. ."
"Don't mention Ryoga!" Akane snapped her head up in anger. "I don't
want to hear that Baka's name again!"
"Um, okay. . . But I don't see how you think you'll be sharing me
with Tonic," Ranma continued as a sweat bead rolled down the back of
his head.
"Did you love her?" Akane asked ignoring his implied question.
"I. . ." Ranma started then dropped his head sadly. "I can't lie to
you, Akane. Not at first, but in the few months together I think I
did come to love her. . . But not like I love you."
Akane blinked in shock again. . . He said it! He said it again and
couldn't claim he didn't. But the moment was bad for it and she
quickly lost the happiness it had brought her. "Do you think anyone
who married my Father wouldn't have to share him with the memory of
my Mother?"
"It's not the same!" Ranma stood in anger then started to pace. "She
was ten years older than me and she was more a friend than a wife. .
. And she was looking forward to seeing her first husband that she
had lost nearly five years earlier. I'll miss her. . . but I came
back for you!"
"I'm real happy you came back, Ranma, but I don't know how to handle
the other things you came back with. I need time figure things out,"
Akane said quietly.
- - - -
Ranma came back downstairs to find Ukyo and the other Amazons had
left the house. Sitting down quietly he picked up the fresh tea that
was placed in front of him.
"Well?" Soun asked with a touch of impatience.
"She needs time," Ranma stated simply between sips. Both young girls
looked at him sadly knowing things weren't going as he had planned.
"We really wanted to get the wedding done quickly to avoid more
problems," Nodoka looked very unhappy about things.
"It'll have to wait until Akane is ready." Ranma replied firmly as
the room got colder. "And don't try to push her."
"Well, we'll just have to set up the guest room for your daughters.
. . But I don't know where to put you, Ranma, as your parents have
taken over my old room and Nabiki has firmly refused to give up her
room for the time being," Kasumi smiled her sweet smile.
"Poppa will stay with us," Blush replied firmly with a small smile.
"We've been sleeping near Poppa since we started travelling,"
Perfume continued without pause matching her sister's smile.
"They're probably a little uncomfortable being in a new country, and
it would be best if I stayed with them for a while to ease any fears
they might have," Ranma added calmly.
"Why don't the three of you stay with us?" Mousse asked sipping his
own tea. "It'll give Akane some space and we have more than enough
room."
"That's a wonderful idea, Mo-chan," Kasumi replied with a smile as
Ranma quirked an eyebrow at him. "It's such a large house and all."
"Where do you two live?" Ranma asked completely confused. He didn't
think Mousse had much money and a large house costed lots of the
stuff.
"Oh, we own the old Kuno estate," Kasumi smiled again.
"What? How?" Ranma was struck with surprise.
"After Akane came back without you both Kuno children became
increasingly agitated. About a month later the boy came here and
attacked your father demanding to know the whereabouts of his 'pig-
tailed girl' followed by his sister who attacked both Akane and
myself convinced we were hiding her sweet Ranma from her. The
resulting fight levelled the Dojo," Nodoka explained looking very
unhappy. "Nabiki had them charged with assault, having video taped
the entire thing as evidence, and sued them for damages. The Kuno
estate was part of the settlement."
"As was a good sum of cash, more than enough to support both
households and pay for College tuitions," Soun added proudly.
"And Nabiki gave me and Mousse the estate as a wedding gift," Kasumi
said as she hugged her husband causing him to blush.
"What about my parents? She helped send the 'fiance terror trio' to
Mom's house and they destroyed it, she owes her something for that,"
Ranma narrowed his eyes in anger.
"Oh, don't worry about us, Ranma, Nabiki has paid for construction
of a new house on our lot and even purchased the empty lot beside it
for a Dojo for your Father," Nodoka replied with a small smile.
"We're only staying here while the new house is being built."
"Good," Ranma said plainly. It made up for a lot of things Nabiki
had pulled on both him and Akane, and that was all Ranma was
concerned with.
"Staying with Kasumi and Mousse might be a very good idea right
now," Genma added calmly. "You can help us to finish removing the
last of the traps in the area."
"We believe we've found most of them, but there always seems to be
one more which shows up at a bad moment," Mousse added looking
unhappy then squeezed Kasumi's hand slightly. "At least Kasumi hasn't
been hurt by them."
"Sounds good," Ranma looked at the couple and smiled at the love he
saw in the two.
"Then after dinner we'll take your stuff over and set you up with a
couple of rooms," Kasumi smiled as she and Nodoka headed off into the
kitchen. Both girls followed them quietly to give their Poppa some
time with the other males.
Ranma gave his Father a smile, "So you're going to have your own
Dojo finally, must make you happy?"
"I don't know. A Dojo is a lot of work," Genma replied looking off
in the direction of the Tendo's Dojo.
"Well, Since I'm inheriting the Tendo Dojo when I marry Akane, once
she's calmed down, I guess you don't have an Heir for your Dojo,"
Ranma stated with a smile.
"Don't be too sure about that, b. . son," Genma replied with a big
smile.
"What have you done this time?" Ranma asked as he rolled his eyes.
"You're going to be a brother, Saotome," Mousse smiled as he
produced a cigar from his sleeve and gave it to Ranma.
"Huh?" Ranma looked at the cigar confused.
"Your Mother is pregnant, Ranma, about two months along," Genma
explained.
Ranma looked up shocked towards the kitchen then back to his Father,
"I'm going to be a brother. And I thought becoming a Father was
weird!"
"I wasn't expecting it either," Genma grinned taking the cigar from
his son's hand and made it disappear with a move simular to Mousse's.
"And now I'm also a Grandfather of two Amazon girls. So tell about
their progress in the Art."
- - - -
Nodoka noticed the two girls follow her and Kasumi into the kitchen
immediately and as soon as they were all completely in the room she
turned with a smile, "Do you wish to help us?"
Kasumi started gathering cooking material as Blush looked confused,
"Why you. .are you setting up the cooking? You have three men and
Poppa out there to do cooking."
"And one is even Amazon male," Perfume added also looking confused.
"Mousse may be able to cook well, but Father and your Grandfather
are not so good at cooking." Kasumi replied as she put the items on
the counter.
"Besides in Japan proper women are expected to cook for their
families," Nodoka added very sternly. Amazon's had some perplexing
ideas as far as she was concerned, but she was sure the two girls
would learn.
Kasumi rolled her eyes at Nodoka's statement but tried to ignore it,
"Personally I find it comforting to cook, and I get a good feeling
inside when people enjoy my food."
"Poppa cooks very good," Blush stated proudly.
"But she's usually a woman when she cooks," Perfume added causing
Nodoka's eye to start twitching.
"Yes, well he would have had to learn when he was training with his
Father if he wanted to eat well," Nodoka tried reasoning to herself
out loud to get her eye stop twitching.
"So you are unfamiliar with cooking?" Kasumi asked trying to ignore
her Aunt again, it was getting harder to do.
"Grandmother said that Amazon Warriors don't need to know how to
cook," Blush stared.
"That' why there is Amazon males for," Perfume finished.
"Oh my, then what do you do on the battlefield when you are hungry?
You don't allow untrained men in such a dangerous place?" Kasumi
asked looking shocked but gave Nodoka a wink.
"Weaker warriors learn to cook for the battlefield so that they can
help better during war times," Blush explained.
"I find hard to believe the Cologne is a weak warrior, and she cooks
all the time. She runs the Nekohanten nearby," Kasumi stated with a
smirk as both girls looked confused.
"Didn't my son talk about these things?"
"Poppa talked about a lot of things," Blush replied looking skittish.
"But we aren't suppose to talk about that," Perfume added just as
nervous.
"Really?" Nodoka decided she was going to have a long talk with her
son.
"Don't worry girls, we'll teach you the basics tonight and have you
cooking on your own before you know it," Kasumi smiled and turned
back to work.
- - - -
Author's Notes: This one another weird idea I had about six months
ago and kept coming back to adding bits here and there. This the
first fic I've posted that I don't know if I'll get back too but I
wanted input to see if I should continue it. I have a lot of Multi-
part stories on my plate already but I always write at least on
chapter of any idea that comes to me, just to see if I like what I
see (this has led to some very strange fics like a Ranma/Smallville
story that I'll probably never ever post), this is one of those.
Things about changes and pairings in this so far:
The biggest one I know I'll get is Kasumi and Mousse. If I continue
this I will explain how they got together as I have a grand plot for
the two.
This is set after Vol. 38 with the change being of course Ranma
staying in China for a year. I had the Phoenix people's end actions
being different then the books to give the story a reason for Ranma's
initial choice about staying. It's a divergence so take it as one.
The Kuno situation was a suggestion from friends (the same people
who are messing up my 'Helping Myself' storyline). The entire story
will be gone into later if I continue this.
Everyone grows up sometime [if only a bit]
By Felix Webster ( Felix Warstar )
[felix_webster@telus.net]
Disclaimer: All original Ranma ½ Characters and Back story Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi. This is written for fun and not for any profit so
please don't sue as I'm a poor writer who one day hopes to write
something original and become a so-called professional writer. . .
this is just practice.
Events as of vol 38 up to the end of the fight with Saffron but
before they left Mt.Houou and Jusendo.
Chapter One: - The First Step -
Akane woke up from her needed sleep and took a moment to remember
where she was. She looked the odd room over and sighed in resignation
not wanting to be there at all. "At least I'm not a prisoner," she
thought to herself in relief.
She sat up still feeling weak from the ordeal she had gone through,
it was the only reason she was still in China. Ranma wouldn't allow
her to travel far in her condition so he ordered the Phoenix warriors
to take them all to Mt.Houou so they could rest. That was another
thing she didn't like, it seemed that since Ranma had defeated their
'King' in battle he was now in charge. She knew he didn't want it or
like it, but as an honourable man he would have to live with it until
he can figure a way out of it. That was what he had been doing for
the past three days.
- - - -
"What do you mean you're staying!?!" Akane screamed in disbelief at
him. Ranma tried his best not to say something to really start an
argument and just stood there until she ran down. "You told me you
worked out a deal with them!"
"I did."
"Then why are you staying!?!" Akane asked loudly, her eyes betrayed
the fact she was more worried than angry.
"It's part of the deal," Ranma replied calmly. "Though they agreed
to allow me to go back to Nerima they insisted that I take some sort
of 'spoils' from this war. I tried to tell them that I didn't want
anything from them until they. . ."
". . . offered to train you in their style," Akane finished for him
just shaking her head in mild annoyance. She really couldn't blame
him for that, Martial arts was his life, and the chance to improve
that was something he wouldn't. . . no, couldn't refuse. "How long?"
she asked in a defeated sigh.
Ranma was shocked at how she asked, he expected to get screamed at
all the way down the mountain and back again. . . then again he still
might, "I estimate about a year."
"A year? I don't know if I can stay here a year," Akane stated
thinking about her life back in Nerima, she still had school for
Kami's sake.
"You're not staying. . ."
"WHAT!?!" she screamed moving her head up in shock only to end up
looking into his calm blue eyes.
"You're going home with the others," Ranma stated in a tone that
said it was final, something he had never truly done seriously until
this event. Now he had done it twice, once to tell her she wasn't
coming to China and now to tell her that she was going home with out
him. "You have school soon, and I would love to see you graduates,
but we both know what my grades are like so me missing out isn't much
of a loss."
"You, trying to use logic, I would be laughing if I didn't know you
were serious!" Akane replied in a cruel tone. "You just want to be
rid of me so you can. .can. . ."
"Ukyo's already in Nerima, and Shampoo is going back with you too,"
Ranma said cutting her off. "And Cologne's in for a bit of a shock
when she gets back," Ranma added with a smirk.
"Ah. . ah. . then it is for the training?" Akane asked stunned at
how quick he responded, actually it was the fact she let him and
listened to him that truly stunned her.
"Of course it is," Ranma stated in an annoyed tone at her distrust.
In a moment of emotion he cupped her face in his hand and looked into
her eyes, "I promise you, Akane, I'll come back to you as soon as I'm
done with the training I need here in China. And you know I never
break a promise."
Akane fought hard not to swoon at the feeling of tenderness, then
shook herself out of it annoyed that she was starting to act like the
silly headed girl everyone expected of her in her culture. "Don't do
me any favours," she huffed and spun away from him and stormed off.
"Why do I bother. . ." Ranma said to himself as he watched her walk
away, as she got to the archway he saw her glance back with a look of
true concern for him. "That's why."
- - - -
Kiima watched the boy as he came back into the court with confusion
written all over her face, "Why did you tell her a year? You
estimated it only take you a few months at most to learn our style."
Ranma walked up to her and baby Saffron, giving him a little scratch
under the chin and getting a giggle out of the child, "I know, but I
have a few things I need to do here in China. The Guide said the
springs might come back soon so I don't want to go far from them."
"I see, we will try to make your stay here to your liking, Lord
Ranma," Kiima replied with a kneeling bow, doing her best not to
disturb the child princeling in her arms.
Ranma put a hand under her chin and slowly lifted her to her feet,
"I asked you before not to do that, I don't feel comfortable with it
and I hope never to get accustomed to it either."
". . .Yes, Lord Ranma."
"And stop calling me Lord Ranma, it's just Ranma," he stated in
exasperation.
"By your command, just Ranma," Kiima replied with a smirk.
Ranma face faulted then picked himself up and looked to the heavens,
"I never win when it comes to women, do I."
- - - -
Hong Kong had seen a lot of travellers, some of them very strange,
so the sight of the young man walking through it's merchant district
wearing worn but durable travelling clothes didn't catch anyone's
attention. Neither did the two younger girls who were following right
behind him talking excitingly in a oddly accented Mandarin, only the
fact they kept calling the man in front of them Poppa raised the
eyebrows of the nosiest of people as he was much too young to have
daughters of their age.
The man kept silent for the entire trip until they reached what he
was heading for. It was a nice looking women's clothing store, and in
it's well appointed windows showed several expensive outfits.
[Oh, Poppa, is this where we are going to shop?] asked the girl to
his left in absolute excitement, she was currently wearing a sky blue
Chinese pantsuit with her blonde hair done up in a tight bun resting
on the back of her head making it look short.
"Yes it is, Blush. And please remember to practice your Japanese
while we are talking. You may use Mandarin or Cantonese when dealing
with the merchants here, but you are going to need to be versed in
Japanese very soon."
"Yes, Poppa," she replied slightly embarrassed.
"Can we buy a nice dress as well as travelling clothes, Poppa?"
asked the other girl to his right. She was dressed simular to her
sister, expect that her pantsuit was lavender and her long ponytailed
hair was a white blue colour with heavy blue highlights.
"We aren't here for travelling clothes, Perfume," he said as he
turned around with a smile. "You two are going to need some nice
clothes to meet your grandparents in, and I figured that doing it
here was easier than when we're more stressed for time in Japan. So
you each get three dresses and accessories."
"Yay," both girls said in excitement as they hugged the man then
almost ran into the store.
- - - -
Both girls had a field day in the store trying on everything they
could and getting their father's opinion on each. He had to warn then
several times about not picking such daring outfits as they were
meant to meet family in them not potential husbands, but mostly he
just sat sipping the glass of water he had asked for. About halfway
into the madness they called shopping Blush suddenly stopped and
turned to her Poppa with a perplexed look on her young face.
[Aren't you going to try anything on? You'll need to look your best
for Grandmother and Grandfather too won't you?]
The salesgirl who had been helping the twins turned at hearing this
and raised an eyebrow, she had already had problems with the girls
calling this young man 'Poppa' as he wasn't much younger than
herself, and great looking to boot, now she started to wonder as to
what they were suggesting.
[They know me, and how I dress, so how I show up won't matter. You
two on the other hand. . .] the man said with a nervous smile.
Both girls looked at each other and nodded then turned back to face
their Poppa, [But Poppa you'd look so cute in this blue sundress!]
The man cringed slightly as the salesgirl spun at the statement,
[Sir, we do not cater to that kind of client here! Would please
instruct you 'daughters' to refrain from such suggestions.]
The man stood up and bowed to the saleslady, [I apologize for my
daughters making a scene, but they are right I 'would' look beautiful
in that dress.] He then dumped the contents of his glass over his
head, causing the salesgirl to faint.
Several minutes later they revived the salesgirl who opened her eyes
greeted by three girls, a blonde, a good dye job, and a red head.
[Wha. . .What happened?] she asked confused.
[You fainted when you saw me change,] the red head explained with a
nervous smile.
The girl's eyes went wide, [You mean that really happened!?!]
Both young girls stuck themselves out from behind the red head and
nodded energetically, [It's the reason Poppa is a full Amazon warrior
of our tribe!]
[Sorry about this,] the red haired girl said the nervous smile
looked more strained.
- - - -
Several days later the three found themselves close to their final
destination, and the two young girls talked amongst themselves in
their usual excited tones as the red headed girl just grumbled to
herself about freak weather patterns in this particular ward.
"Aren't you glad we talked you into that sundress, Poppa?" Blush
asked with a sweet smile.
"Yeah, absolutely ecstatic," the older girl replied back through
grinding teeth. The dress didn't bother her anymore, in fact in the
last year she had gotten quite comfortable wearing girls clothes
while in that form. She also didn't have to worry about wearing
unisex styles or baggy fits now that she had the bracelet on her
wrist, although the magic had weakened over the centuries since it
was first made it still allowed for several changes of clothes to be
held in something she like to call 'Hammerspace', as it reminded her
of someone's sudden appearing Mallet, and could be changed instantly.
It was the most useful item she had found during her travels over the
past year. Of course she had hoped she could have showed up as a man
for the first time she was to see her family now she was back.
- - - -
Soun, Genma, and Nodoka look again at the postcard in her hands. It
read simply:
Coming home, bringing a surprise.
Ranma
Soun broke out in tears for the third time at the happy news, he
wouldn't stop talking about how they should hold the wedding the
moment Ranma came in the door. Nodoka almost hit him. She had had
just about enough of both men over the past year, but as a dutiful
wife to her husband she simply turned to Genma's friend and calmly
spoke, "I believe he will need time to settle in and get to know his
fiancé again before that should happen."
"I believe Nodoka is right, I'm sure he will honour the agreement,
he is coming home as he promised. He has likely become an even
stronger Martial artist for this training trip, and that serves this
Dojo greatly," Genma said in a calm but stern voice.
"I know the arguments about this, I'm still surprised at you for not
forcing him back with you a year ago," Soun complained again with the
same subject for the umpteenth time facing his old friend.
"Soun, old friend, Ranma had just killed someone a few days before,
a kami no less, I did not want to be on his bad side if he had found
a taste for it," Genma replied pushing his glasses up higher on the
bridge of his nose. "It was bad enough that I was forced to change
sides as it was."
"In other words you were scared," came a dry scratchy voice from by
the television.
"Damn straight! And I'd advise you be more careful around him while
he is here, master," Genma stated with iron in his voice for the
first time when dealing with Happosai.
"I'm not an idiot, Genma, if I was I wouldn't have lived this long,"
Happosai said with a touch of humour in his voice. "I plan to greet
him and then take my leave of this area for a time, it's getting too
hard to rescue my silky darling here anymore."
Soun and Genma looked at each other happily at the prospects of
being rid of the old freak and him being willing to go.
"I don't find his actions so intimidating as much as the fact he is
willing to kill to protect those he loves and I know how he feels
about me," the said old freak continued with a nasty smile on his
face which made the two men's fade quickly. "I'll be around to take
you two on training trips every month or so, and possibly teach the
boy some real moves from time to time."
"Now I think we should arrange the spare. . ." Nodoka was cut off
by the sound of the outer door being opened.
"Hello, I'm home," came a girl's voice from that area sounding
slightly nervous.
Nodoka was on her feet so fast that neither father had a chance to
respond before she was already rounding the corner, "Ranma! You're
home!"
Nodoka came to a sudden stop upon seeing her 'son' standing there in
a blue sundress, with her red hair nicely brushed and pulled back in
a long pony tail. . . she was even wearing low heels and clip-on
earrings. This alone could have made her faint but it was the two
young girls who were standing with 'him' which sent her over.
Both girls, Blush wearing a nice powder blue sundress in a lighter
shade than Ranma's and Perfumes white with blue edging which matched
her hair, had decided to ask in unison, "Is this our Grandmother,
Poppa?"
- - - -
Nodoka slowly came into blurry awareness and lifted a hand to her
forehead, the strain of waiting for her son to return home must have
been more than she expected. Worst of all she had had the strangest
of dreams. . .
"Are you alright mother?" Ranma-chan asked in concern, watching
carefully for her to show signs of continued stress.
"Yes dear, I just must have over exerted myself," She replied
automatically, then bolted upright when if finally registered that it
was her *son's* voice she just heard. "Ranma, you are home!"
Ranma smiled at her mother pleasantly, nervous but pleasantly, "I
was worried that you had had an accident."
"Why. Are. You in. A. Dress?" Nodoka asked in an edged tone.
"That's what we asked him," Genma stated giving his *son* a gruff
glare, he wasn't happy at all.
"And I told you I'd explain when everyone got here," Ranma-chan
stated again obviously not going to move on his position. "By the
way, where are the sisters?"
Nodoka looked Ranma-chan over for a moment and had to honestly note
that the past year had done wonders for her body. Most of the baby
fat which helped make Ranma-chan look much too overdeveloped was gone
and her arms and legs showed a nice smooth muscle tone that looked
strong but not too masculine, and the sundress look very nice on her
too. Nodoka shook her head a bit trying to remember her *Manly* son
and his hatred of his girl form. She also knew from Ranma-chan's eyes
that no one in that room was going to get anything out of her until
she was ready. "Akane is at work and will be back shortly," she
answered trying to remain calm.
"Work? Wow, when did that happen?" Ranma-chan asked in pleasant shock.
"When the school year finished she got a job to help pay for her
living expenses when she finally goes to college," Nodoka answered
again since neither father was willing to speak at the moment.
"Ok, where's Nabiki and Kasumi?"
"Nabiki is at college setting up her new living arrangements for the
next semester," Nodoka replied frowning about something. "She should
be back in a week or so to move the rest of her stuff out."
"I see. I take it that there were words said?" Ranma-chan asked
giving her mother a narrow-eyed look.
Nodoka almost gulped at the fact that Ranma-chan knew her well
enough to make that kind of realization, she herself barely knew her
*son*. "I have since taken them back and apologized to her, but she
has yet to make any indication that I have been forgiven."
"I don't doubt it, she can hold a grudge. I'll talk to her when she
gets back and deal with it," Ranma-chan said in a way that said the
matter was over, and no more was to be said. "What about Kasumi? Is
she out shopping?"
"Um. . .No, she is with her husband right now. I could call her and
ask her to come over if you'd like."
"Wow, so Dr.Tofu came back finally? I'm so happy for her," Ranma-
chan said with a huge smile, but she quickly lost it as she saw her
mother shake her head slowly. "Not Dr.Tofu. . ."
"No dear, Dr.Tofu has not come back."
"Then who'd she marry?" Ranma-chan asked in total confusion. She
looked over at Mr.Tendo with narrowed eyes, "You didn't set up
another arranged marriage did you?"
"No dear, he didn't. I'll let her tell you about it herself. I'll go
make the phone calls," Nodoka said as she got up and moved quickly to
the phone stand.
- - - -
She didn't just call Kasumi though, she included calling Akane,
Ukyo, Shampoo and Cologne at their respective workplaces and informed
them that Ranma was indeed back.
A short time later several people were sitting around the table
talking, and waiting for Ranma to come in from the Dojo where she had
gone with the two girls she had brought with her. None of them wanted
to disturb her as they were told that it was private, Akane had tried
to leave the table three time already.
"I want to see him!" Akane stated in annoyance leading to anger.
"We all do Hon, but he told his mother that it was private," Ukyo
reminded her again. "I, for one, haven't seen him since a week before
you all went to China. You know I could have been useful there."
"We know child, but it was a matter for Jusenkyo victims to deal
with, Akane was only there by force," Cologne replied gently. "And we
all missed him."
"That's nice to know," said a male voice from the door leading to
the Dojo. Ranma looked over the combined assembly and smiled a very
happy smile as his eyes fell upon two of the people sitting there.
[Congratulations Mu-tsu, I'm happy for you]
Mousse's eyes went wide in pleasant shock as he heard the perfect
Amazon dialect spoken by Ranma, and he wasn't the only one. [Ah. . .
thank you, we are happy.]
[That's good, take care of her. . . or else,] Ranma said still
smiling.
Mousse tightened his grip on his wife's hand which caused Kasumi to
yip slightly in pain. Mousse quickly apologized then settled down,
and was given a kiss on the cheek for reacting to Ranma's challenge.
Akane had wanted to leap up and hug Ranma the moment she had heard
his voice, and even more when she saw him standing there in his
favourite Chinese clothes, which didn't look as road worn as she
would have expected, but she didn't as she couldn't move at all.
"Sorry child, we didn't need a fight until after he explained
himself," Cologne said quietly to the paralysed girl gaining her a
very nasty look back. "I see you have mastered our language, Son-in-
law," she directed towards the boy with a nod.
"It seemed like the thing to do while in China, and I am not your
Son-in-law anymore," Ranma replied still calm but just barely as he
figured out what was done to Akane.
"Oh really? And exactly how would that be? I'm upholding three
thousand. . ."
". . . years of Chinese Amazon tradition, if an outsider defeats a
Amazon Warrior, and he be a man he must marry the Amazon unless he is
already married or marries someone else before the joining ceremony
can be performed," Ranma finished giving her a hard stare.
"So you know the law, so what? You've had a book to explain this for
sometime, it makes no difference. . . unless. . ." Cologne stated and
her eyes widened at her own thoughts.
"I have already married," Ranma finished for her again with a smirk
with caused everyone to gasp at that table.
"One of those two girls you brought with you is your wife?" Nodoka
asked doing her best to restrain both fathers from making outbursts.
"No, they are my daughters from that marriage," he replied giving a
look over his shoulder at the two outside the door still doing katas.
"And before I go any farther you should know that my wife is an
Amazon warrior, Cologne, and you know the law involving that," Ranma
gave the old woman a bold smile.
"Shampoo would have to fight her to the death for your hand now,"
the old woman replied shaking her head sadly.
Shampoo stood in anger facing Ranma and stated in a loud voice, "It
no matter, Shampoo will fight for Airen!"
"Sit down child! You cannot challenge the dead," Cologne said
sternly to her great-granddaughter.
"What you mean?"
"Yes, I would like to know that as well," Nodoka asked almost
echoing the Amazon.
Cologne looked at the people around the table and sighed, "He would
not have been allowed to take two Amazon sisters, even young ones as
these two, away from the Village unless he was the only surviving
parent. And the fact that he did speaks volumes of their trust of him
as he is an outsider male."
"Actually I'm an Amazon sister," Ranma corrected with nasty smirk.
"And I'm currently listed as their mother now so I can take them
anywhere I want too."
Cologne and Shampoo both nearly face faulted at hearing this, but
both recovered quicky. "I don't see how the Elders in the Village
would even think of doing that without consulting me," Cologne
replied near anger.
"Who said I went to your Village? As far as I know I'm wanted dead
there, so I went to a neighbouring tribe to continue my training."
Ranma gave the woman a cocky look at her disbelief.
"And you figured this out on your own?" Cologne asked impressed.
"No, actually it was the Village Elders and Tonic's idea, I just had
to realize it wasn't a trick to get me to stay."
"They came up with this idea? I find it hard to believe that the
Village Elders of any Amazon Village would make a plan which would
weaken their tribe of two potential warriors," Cologne stated now not
trusting in what was being said, the boy was up to something.
"They didn't. Tonic, the girl's mother, did that thinking," Ranma
stated then his gaze seemed distant as he continued. "I'd been in the
Village about a week, waiting for the council to make a decision. . ."
- - - -
Ranma-chan stood in a clearing behind where her hosts had billeted
her, she was about to start her seventh kata for the day. She had
been doing this every day she'd been here, and she knew it was
starting to draw a crowd of the younger girls. This day was no
different as about twelve girls had tried to hide and watch her. It
didn't bother her since she hoped that they may learn something from
watching as she herself did watching others.
She continued through her seventh and decided to give the little
ones a bit of a show. Up to now she had held back her full skill
trying to mislead the Elders slightly, but today she had too much
tension to get out so she needed to go full out. She started one of
the most complex katas she knew by heart, one she had only mastered
while here in China away from her problems at home, and moved through
it as liquid smooth as she had ever done the moves. She had finished
that one before she noticed that two of the young girls had braved
coming forward to stand a discreet distance away.
[Can I help you?] Ranma-chan asked the two nervous girls tightening
her gi and not looking in their direction. This caused both girls to
eep but they stood their ground.
[Mother says you are an outsider,] started the blonde girl looking
confused.
[Grandmother says outsiders are weak,] continued the girl who's hair
looked like winter, white with highlights of blue. Ranma-chan still
found Amazon hair fascinating in it's colour array.
[Did she? Do I look weak to you?] Ranma-chan asked back shaking the
sweat out of her hair with her hands. They wanted something, she knew
that much and could guess most likely what that was.
[No,] both girls said in eerie unison causing Ranma-chan to finally
give them a good look. She stood there smiling and shaking her head,
*twins* she should have guessed. They may not be identical but their
features were very close as was their Ki.
[Did your mother also tell you I was a man?] Ranma-chan asked almost
giggling at the expressions on their faces.
[You aren't a man! One has only to look at your chest to tell that!]
the blonde said in an annoyed tone. It was obvious who was the more
adventurous one of the two now.
[And men are weak! You aren't weak!] the other girl exclaimed
looking proud of herself.
[Really? And who told you this? Was it your Grandmother?] Ranma-chan
asked leading the girl into a logic trap, one she had once held
herself till recently.
Both girls nodded in unison proudly and Ranma-chan just shook her
head again, [She was wrong about outsiders being weak, maybe she is
wrong about that too.]
Once again both girl's faces reacted in unison, confusion was
written all over them. [But Grandmother is an Elder, Elders are never
wrong!]
[It's impossible never to be wrong. Everyone makes mistakes,
especially when they are given misinformation,] Ranma-chan stated as
she picked up the thermos she had next to her practice circle. They
had only said that they would prefer her to stay a girl here, they
never said she couldn't change back once in awhile. [And I am a man,]
she added as she dumped the contents on her head.
All the girls who had been watching and listening gasped in shock as
the strong woman they had been watching turned into a stronger
looking man. [B. . . Bu. . . But how?] the blonde asked stuttering,
the other girl couldn't make her mouth move.
[A little place called Jusenkyo, you fall in a spring you get a new
cursed form,] Ranma replied with a shrug. He took a moment to do a
stretch that worked out the kinks caused by gaining or losing size
and mass, [Now, if you don't mind, I have to do a set of katas to
balance out my training]
Both girls backed off a small distance never taking their eyes off
him, giving him room but not much. Ranma shrugged again then prepared
himself to launch into a kata even more difficult than the last, he
hadn't perfected it yet but he doubted the girls would notice. He ran
through it and was very pleased at himself when he finished putting
one more kata into the perfected category. He turned back to the
girls, who hadn't moved from their spots on the grass, and gave them
a lopsided smile before going into a cool down routine.
The next day Ranma-chan once again was in her usual place behind the
guest huts, this time both girls had already been standing there
waiting for her. She smiled to herself, but ignored the twins as she
went into a warm up routine. She turned back before she started and
noticed that both girls seem eggar to speak to her, [Can I help you
with something today?]
[Mother says you are really a man,] the blonde started looking
nervously at Ranma-chan.
[She also said that you have asked for sisterhood in our tribe, and
that you may get it because of your curse,] the other girl continued.
[Is this a problem?] Ranma-chan asked slightly concerned now as to
how the younger warriors would take her. She honestly hadn't thought
about it much and she should have as they would be the ones she dealt
with in the years to come.
[Grandmother doesn't like it, but mother says you'd be an asset to
the tribe,] the blonde answered looking confused. The other girl
elbowed her sister when she stopped talking trying to get her to
continue.
The blonde looked back at her sister with a glare but continued
anyhow, [Mother has been sick as of late and can't train us well. .
. ]
[And she doesn't want our Grandmother to teach us, something about
doing more harm than good,] the white haired girl added in confusion.
[Smart woman, your mother, but what does this have to do with me?]
[We came to ask you to train us,] both said in unison with pleading
eyes and pouting mouths, it was enough to make Ranma-chan laugh and
laugh loudly. [Please, pretty please. . .]
Ranma-chan took a moment to regain her composure before being able
to say anything, but she finally found her center and calmed herself,
[Are you sure you wish to be taught by a man?]
[You aren't a man!] the blonde stated loudly. [If you are going to
be an Amazon sister you have to be a woman!]
[You know there was a time where those would have been fighting
words, but fortunately for you I no longer care so much about my
curse anymore,] Ranma-chan said in a very serious tone which carried
a touch of anger and made both girls flinch slightly. [But for the
record, I am a man. I was born a man, I was raised to be a *man among
men*. So if you learn from me you are learning from a man no matter
what form I'm in, do you understand me?]
The blonde looked like she was going to say something she'd regret
but her sister stopped her with an another elbow to the stomach, [Yes
teacher, we understand.]
[Good. Now I should get your names so I don't have to call you 'Hey
You' and 'You too',] Ranma-chan said with a charming smile on her
face.
[I'm Blu shi, and she is Pu fum,] the blonde said carefully pointing
to her sister.
[Blush and Perfume? More cosmetic names,] Ranma-chan said looking to
the heavens. [You just love doing that to me, don't you?]
She looked back to the twin who just shrugged at her and then
smiled, [Okay, first I want to see what you already know. Then I'll
know what I need to teach you.]
- - - -
Two weeks had passed since her class had started with the two girls
but still nothing came out of the council and it worried Ranma-chan a
lot. She was heading for her temporary home when one of the younger
Elders, only in her early thirties, came up to her obviously wishing
to speak to her.
"Saotome of the Anything Goes School, I am Tonic and I was to speak
to you," the woman stated looking unhappy about something. Ranma-chan
just shrugged and motioned her into the guest house, inside she was
impressed that the Elder decided to speak her language, it was meant
as an honour and Ranma-chan knew it.
"I am sorry to say that the council has refused to make you sister
of our tribe," Tonic started sadly as she watched Ranma-chan start to
prepare tea and not react to her statement. "They are fools to let
someone like you slip through their fingers, even though you'd be
going back to Japan we'd have your promise to aid the Village when
the need occurred."
Ranma-chan poured the tea calmly, but Tonic was convinced that the
room had gotten colder, "Why did they refuse?"
"They were worried of starting a war with the Joketsuzoku tribe, as
they believe their Elder Khu lon would call upon us if we took you
in," Tonic answered calmly as she sipped her tea, the room was indeed
getting colder.
"I have trained under Cologne several times, mostly to save my skin
at some time when I needed to, and I have even defeated her a couple
of times. I just don't wish to marry her great-granddaughter, and
this was a chance to avoid doing so," Ranma-chan said sadly.
"I don't understand? You have no problem with becoming an Amazon
sister, but you don't wish to marry to do so?" Tonic asked confusion
plainly on her face. "With your curse you would automatically be made
a sister to that tribe."
"I figured as much, but I can't marry Shampoo. . . I have a fiance
back in Japan already who I've promised to come back to soon, and I
don't want Shampoo trying to hurt her anymore. . . she been through
too much recently," Ranma-chan explained with fire in her eyes, Tonic
was suddenly worried for this Shampoo girl.
"You love this girl that much?"
"It was an arranged engagement. . . but I think I do," Ranma-chan
answered sadly. "But either way I will not see her hurt!"
"You are an honourable man, as I expected you to be when you started
training my daughters."
"Those two hellions are yours?" Ranma-chan said spitting out her tea
in shock, then she smiled as she took in the resemblance. "They're
good students and have a lot of talent, they'll make great warriors
for your tribe."
"Thank you for your kindness," Tonic replied smiling. "You are
welcome to stay as long as you wish, and I will see what I can do
about your problems while I am capable."
"Thank you," Ranma-chan said with a small smile.
- - - -
Almost a week passed before Ranma-chan saw Tonic again, this time
the invitation came to visit her at her home from her twins. As a man.
Ranma stood in front of the hut, more of a large house but too
rustic looking to be called one, and felt nervous. The girls said
that their mother had thought of a solution for a problem of his, the
had giggled a lot about it and that was what made him nervous.
Giggling and Amazon Elder solutions usually both meant trouble for
him, together they meant big trouble. Ranma walked to the door and
rang the small bell next to the door, praying for the best.
[Welcome to my home Ranma Saotome,] Tonic greeted him just inside
the door.
[Ah. . . just Ranma will do,] Ranma replied back with a bow.
[As you wish, just Ranma,] Tonic said as she turned around to walk
into the larger room, she was trying to hide a large smile on her
face at her own joke.
Ranma stood there for a second trying to remember any simular
features between this Elder and Kiima, he then rolled his eyes and
muttered 'Women' under his breath.
Tonic waited for Ranma to get settled before starting into her idea,
she wasn't sure how he would take it but it was the last chance for
her daughters.
[I have found a way to make you a sister of this tribe and end some
of your problems with the Joketsuzoku,] she started nervously.
Ranma looked up with interest, this was why he was here after all,
he just didn't expect her to be direct. He was way too use to
Cologne, [How?]
[You will marry me,] she replied calmly as she sipped her tea.
[WHAT!?!] Ranma was on his feet in an instant and was about to say
more but paused as she put up a hand to stop him.
[Hear me out, please,] Tonic asked almost pleading. Ranma just sat
back down and crossed his arms so he didn't do something stupid with
them. [Did my daughters tell you that I have been sick as of late?]
[Yes, when they asked me to train them. I also noticed a weakening
of your Ki the last time we met,] Ranma replied sadly. [I didn't like
what I saw then and I don't like it anymore now.]
[I have six months to a year left,] Tonic stated as if it was the
time of day and not her pending death.
[I'm sorry to hear that,] Ranma replied with a bit of warmth in his
voice.
[Don't be, I've had fun in my life and soon I get to be with my
husband again,] Tonic said with a small smile. [I'm more worried
about my daughters. I do not wish them to be raised by their
Grandmother as she is a bigoted and sexist traditionalist who would
pervert all that I have tried to teach them.]
[What I am suggesting is a marriage in name only, you would become a
sister to this tribe and would become my daughters's father. . . or
mother as the tribe will have to accept. When I pass you will be free
to travel again, I just ask you take my daughters with you.]
- - - -
"It took me about a week before I agreed," Ranma sipped his tea as
he looked over at his two daughters. "I had to find out what those
two thought about the whole idea before I gave my answer."
"Poppa was surprised that we were the ones who came up with the
solution," Blush stated as both girls smiled boldly coming in from
outside and hugged Ranma warmly.
"I see. I'm saddened by this news, but at least you are part of one
of the tribes," Cologne said sadly. "But don't count Shampoo out just
yet."
"She can't challenge Tonic as she's dead, so what chance does she
have left," Ranma asked unsure of what the old ghoul getting at.
Cologne smirked. "Before it was just trying to get her husband back
to the tribe, accepting his position. Now she has to try to win your
heart like any other girl has to."
"That may be, but he's still engaged to Akane," Nodoka replied.
Akane looked at the two young girls hugging Ranma in ways she had
wanted too for almost as long as she knew him and it broke her heart.
He had married someone else. He wasn't hers anymore. He married
someone else!
Feeling the sensations coming back into her body she slammed her
hands on the table as she stood in anger, "I don't care anymore! I
want nothing to do with him anymore! THE ENGAGEMENT IS OVER!"
She ran from the room before anyone could see her crying.
Both Amazon girls looked at their father in confusion and asked in
unison, "Did we do something wrong?"
Ranma put his arms around the girls and gave them sad smile, "No,
she does this when she's mad at me."
"I'm sorry Ranma, we thought she was over these little tantrums,"
Kasumi replied shaking her head unhappy at her younger sister's
reaction. "She was doing so good when she got back from China. . .
and she was so happy to know you were coming back."
"I have break a promise," Ranma stated calmly as he released his
daughters and stood. "I guess I should go talk to her."
"Maybe I should go first, Sugar," Ukyo piped up as she put down her
cup. "She needs time to calm down before she'll be ready to listen to
anyone."
"Ukyo has been helping Akane out a lot since she got back, the two
have become very good friends," Nodoka explained as Ranma looked at
Ukyo's retreating form in confusion.
Getting up himself he quickly moved up to catch Ukyo before she got
too far and grabbed her arm to stop her. Giving her an even stare he
tried to ignore the look of betrayal she was giving her. "You didn't
comment on anything either. Before you go in to see to Akane I want
to be sure it isn't some. . ."
"Ran-chan. . . I gave up on you when Akane came back from China,"
Ukyo interrupted in a cold but even tone. "Shampoo, Mousse and Ryoga,
when he finally showed up, explained what happened there. I knew you
loved her, heck all of us knew what you two really felt about each
other. We tried to fool ourselves into believing that the arguments
meant you two could be broken apart. Both me and Shampoo realized
that although you would always defend us if needed, you would never
kill for us."
"Uc-chan. . ."
"I don't like hearing that you have married someone else but it has
been done, and nothing will change that. I will go and try to calm
her down, then you should go in and let her know you came back for
her and not just because you promised to return." Ukyo turned and
headed up the stairs hiding her own tears.
- - - -
Akane didn't respond to her door opening then closing again, she had
a good idea who it was. She just continued to lay on her bed curled
up and crying.
"Listen Hon, you know he did it to end the problems with Shampoo and
her great-grandmother," Ukyo stated as she grabbed the desk chair to
sit in by the bed.
Akane rolled over and looked at the girl she'd come so close to in
the last year. She tried several times before she could actually
speak, "But. . . he's not mine anymore!"
"I only know what he's told us down stairs, but by what he said it
was just a marriage of convenience and not out of love. He came back
to you. Remember that, he came back to you," Ukyo looked very sad but
she had come to realize in the last year that she wasn't anything but
Ran-chan's best friend.
"But. . . how can I really know that?" Akane pouted with a sniffle.
"And he's brought home two more Amazons!"
"Why don't you listen to him, I'm sure he'll explain."
"I guess. . ."
- - - -
Ranma sat in the chair looking uncomfortably at the floor. He had
headed up to Akane's room as soon as he saw Ukyo had come down and
nod to him. Now he was at a loss of words seeing Akane looking so
hurt.
Akane hadn't replied at first when he came to her door but after a
minute she finally asked him to come in, but in a very quiet voice.
Now it was just finding the right words.
"Why?" Akane asked in a quiet broken voice still turned away from
him in a curled up ball on her bed.
"I wanted to get that damn Amazon marriage thing dealt with without
actually marrying Shampoo," Ranma replied wringing his hands
uncomfortably.
"So instead you go and marry a different Amazon!?!" Akane rolled
over and screamed at him.
"It wasn't MY IDEA!" Ranma yelled back then caught himself before he
said something completely stupid. If there was one thing Tonic had
taught him it was to control him blasted mouth better.
"No, but you probably jumped at the chance to get another fiance!"
Akane sat up and scowled at him.
"You know that's not true. . ." Ranma replied looking very hurt. "I
was trying to get rid of my other fiance problems."
"Well getting married did that, now didn't it!"
"Tonic only married me to help me become an Amazon sister! It was
the only way to make both kisses void by Amazon Law!" Ranma tried to
reign in the anger by remembering he did it for the ungrateful girl
in front of him. "She knew she was dying!"
"Well. . . Ah. . . But. . . You came back with two more Amazon
fiances!" Akane shouted looking away trying not to cry.
"Akane! I'm their Father not their husband! They are only eleven
years old for Kami's sake!" Ranma shouted back in exasperation. "And
I'd like you to be their new mother!"
"What!?!" Akane whipped her head around in shock.
"They're good kids, Akane, I'm sure you'll like them," Ranma smiled
softly. "But they need both a Mother and a Father."
"Don't you fill both those rolls already?" Akane asked confused.
"As far a the village is concerned I became their Mother when Tonic
died, but I was born and raised a male. . . I really don't know a lot
about growing up a girl, even though I have been learning," Ranma
explained uncomfortably. "They need a real woman to learn that stuff
from."
Akane sat stunned she couldn't believe he had just call her a real
woman, then it hit her that he had been talking about her becoming
the girl's new mother and that meant. . . Marriage.
"You want to marry me?" She asked in a small voice with her eyes wide.
"That's why I came home Akane," Ranma replied with a smile. "I only
stayed in China to try to solve a few problems that could try to stop
us."
"But. . . You aren't mine anymore!" Akane shouted as she hugged her
knees and started to cry.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Ranma asked confused.
"You aren't just mine. . . You've never been just mine. First it was
Kodachi, I know you couldn't stand her but she was always there. Then
Shampoo and her silly Amazon laws saying you had already married her.
Then Ukyo, your best friend and 'cute' fiance with an engagement
almost as valid as mine. Then a true hoard of others who thankfully
didn't stick around for too long. . . I've always had to share you
with others!" Akane said between sobs. "Now even in marriage I have
to share you with you first wife, even though she's dead."
"Don't think I haven't had to share you too. Kuno, Ryoga, Shinsuke.
. ."
"Don't mention Ryoga!" Akane snapped her head up in anger. "I don't
want to hear that Baka's name again!"
"Um, okay. . . But I don't see how you think you'll be sharing me
with Tonic," Ranma continued as a sweat bead rolled down the back of
his head.
"Did you love her?" Akane asked ignoring his implied question.
"I. . ." Ranma started then dropped his head sadly. "I can't lie to
you, Akane. Not at first, but in the few months together I think I
did come to love her. . . But not like I love you."
Akane blinked in shock again. . . He said it! He said it again and
couldn't claim he didn't. But the moment was bad for it and she
quickly lost the happiness it had brought her. "Do you think anyone
who married my Father wouldn't have to share him with the memory of
my Mother?"
"It's not the same!" Ranma stood in anger then started to pace. "She
was ten years older than me and she was more a friend than a wife. .
. And she was looking forward to seeing her first husband that she
had lost nearly five years earlier. I'll miss her. . . but I came
back for you!"
"I'm real happy you came back, Ranma, but I don't know how to handle
the other things you came back with. I need time figure things out,"
Akane said quietly.
- - - -
Ranma came back downstairs to find Ukyo and the other Amazons had
left the house. Sitting down quietly he picked up the fresh tea that
was placed in front of him.
"Well?" Soun asked with a touch of impatience.
"She needs time," Ranma stated simply between sips. Both young girls
looked at him sadly knowing things weren't going as he had planned.
"We really wanted to get the wedding done quickly to avoid more
problems," Nodoka looked very unhappy about things.
"It'll have to wait until Akane is ready." Ranma replied firmly as
the room got colder. "And don't try to push her."
"Well, we'll just have to set up the guest room for your daughters.
. . But I don't know where to put you, Ranma, as your parents have
taken over my old room and Nabiki has firmly refused to give up her
room for the time being," Kasumi smiled her sweet smile.
"Poppa will stay with us," Blush replied firmly with a small smile.
"We've been sleeping near Poppa since we started travelling,"
Perfume continued without pause matching her sister's smile.
"They're probably a little uncomfortable being in a new country, and
it would be best if I stayed with them for a while to ease any fears
they might have," Ranma added calmly.
"Why don't the three of you stay with us?" Mousse asked sipping his
own tea. "It'll give Akane some space and we have more than enough
room."
"That's a wonderful idea, Mo-chan," Kasumi replied with a smile as
Ranma quirked an eyebrow at him. "It's such a large house and all."
"Where do you two live?" Ranma asked completely confused. He didn't
think Mousse had much money and a large house costed lots of the
stuff.
"Oh, we own the old Kuno estate," Kasumi smiled again.
"What? How?" Ranma was struck with surprise.
"After Akane came back without you both Kuno children became
increasingly agitated. About a month later the boy came here and
attacked your father demanding to know the whereabouts of his 'pig-
tailed girl' followed by his sister who attacked both Akane and
myself convinced we were hiding her sweet Ranma from her. The
resulting fight levelled the Dojo," Nodoka explained looking very
unhappy. "Nabiki had them charged with assault, having video taped
the entire thing as evidence, and sued them for damages. The Kuno
estate was part of the settlement."
"As was a good sum of cash, more than enough to support both
households and pay for College tuitions," Soun added proudly.
"And Nabiki gave me and Mousse the estate as a wedding gift," Kasumi
said as she hugged her husband causing him to blush.
"What about my parents? She helped send the 'fiance terror trio' to
Mom's house and they destroyed it, she owes her something for that,"
Ranma narrowed his eyes in anger.
"Oh, don't worry about us, Ranma, Nabiki has paid for construction
of a new house on our lot and even purchased the empty lot beside it
for a Dojo for your Father," Nodoka replied with a small smile.
"We're only staying here while the new house is being built."
"Good," Ranma said plainly. It made up for a lot of things Nabiki
had pulled on both him and Akane, and that was all Ranma was
concerned with.
"Staying with Kasumi and Mousse might be a very good idea right
now," Genma added calmly. "You can help us to finish removing the
last of the traps in the area."
"We believe we've found most of them, but there always seems to be
one more which shows up at a bad moment," Mousse added looking
unhappy then squeezed Kasumi's hand slightly. "At least Kasumi hasn't
been hurt by them."
"Sounds good," Ranma looked at the couple and smiled at the love he
saw in the two.
"Then after dinner we'll take your stuff over and set you up with a
couple of rooms," Kasumi smiled as she and Nodoka headed off into the
kitchen. Both girls followed them quietly to give their Poppa some
time with the other males.
Ranma gave his Father a smile, "So you're going to have your own
Dojo finally, must make you happy?"
"I don't know. A Dojo is a lot of work," Genma replied looking off
in the direction of the Tendo's Dojo.
"Well, Since I'm inheriting the Tendo Dojo when I marry Akane, once
she's calmed down, I guess you don't have an Heir for your Dojo,"
Ranma stated with a smile.
"Don't be too sure about that, b. . son," Genma replied with a big
smile.
"What have you done this time?" Ranma asked as he rolled his eyes.
"You're going to be a brother, Saotome," Mousse smiled as he
produced a cigar from his sleeve and gave it to Ranma.
"Huh?" Ranma looked at the cigar confused.
"Your Mother is pregnant, Ranma, about two months along," Genma
explained.
Ranma looked up shocked towards the kitchen then back to his Father,
"I'm going to be a brother. And I thought becoming a Father was
weird!"
"I wasn't expecting it either," Genma grinned taking the cigar from
his son's hand and made it disappear with a move simular to Mousse's.
"And now I'm also a Grandfather of two Amazon girls. So tell about
their progress in the Art."
- - - -
Nodoka noticed the two girls follow her and Kasumi into the kitchen
immediately and as soon as they were all completely in the room she
turned with a smile, "Do you wish to help us?"
Kasumi started gathering cooking material as Blush looked confused,
"Why you. .are you setting up the cooking? You have three men and
Poppa out there to do cooking."
"And one is even Amazon male," Perfume added also looking confused.
"Mousse may be able to cook well, but Father and your Grandfather
are not so good at cooking." Kasumi replied as she put the items on
the counter.
"Besides in Japan proper women are expected to cook for their
families," Nodoka added very sternly. Amazon's had some perplexing
ideas as far as she was concerned, but she was sure the two girls
would learn.
Kasumi rolled her eyes at Nodoka's statement but tried to ignore it,
"Personally I find it comforting to cook, and I get a good feeling
inside when people enjoy my food."
"Poppa cooks very good," Blush stated proudly.
"But she's usually a woman when she cooks," Perfume added causing
Nodoka's eye to start twitching.
"Yes, well he would have had to learn when he was training with his
Father if he wanted to eat well," Nodoka tried reasoning to herself
out loud to get her eye stop twitching.
"So you are unfamiliar with cooking?" Kasumi asked trying to ignore
her Aunt again, it was getting harder to do.
"Grandmother said that Amazon Warriors don't need to know how to
cook," Blush stared.
"That' why there is Amazon males for," Perfume finished.
"Oh my, then what do you do on the battlefield when you are hungry?
You don't allow untrained men in such a dangerous place?" Kasumi
asked looking shocked but gave Nodoka a wink.
"Weaker warriors learn to cook for the battlefield so that they can
help better during war times," Blush explained.
"I find hard to believe the Cologne is a weak warrior, and she cooks
all the time. She runs the Nekohanten nearby," Kasumi stated with a
smirk as both girls looked confused.
"Didn't my son talk about these things?"
"Poppa talked about a lot of things," Blush replied looking skittish.
"But we aren't suppose to talk about that," Perfume added just as
nervous.
"Really?" Nodoka decided she was going to have a long talk with her
son.
"Don't worry girls, we'll teach you the basics tonight and have you
cooking on your own before you know it," Kasumi smiled and turned
back to work.
- - - -
Author's Notes: This one another weird idea I had about six months
ago and kept coming back to adding bits here and there. This the
first fic I've posted that I don't know if I'll get back too but I
wanted input to see if I should continue it. I have a lot of Multi-
part stories on my plate already but I always write at least on
chapter of any idea that comes to me, just to see if I like what I
see (this has led to some very strange fics like a Ranma/Smallville
story that I'll probably never ever post), this is one of those.
Things about changes and pairings in this so far:
The biggest one I know I'll get is Kasumi and Mousse. If I continue
this I will explain how they got together as I have a grand plot for
the two.
This is set after Vol. 38 with the change being of course Ranma
staying in China for a year. I had the Phoenix people's end actions
being different then the books to give the story a reason for Ranma's
initial choice about staying. It's a divergence so take it as one.
The Kuno situation was a suggestion from friends (the same people
who are messing up my 'Helping Myself' storyline). The entire story
will be gone into later if I continue this.