A Ranma 1 / 2 Alternate Histories Company Presents:

Everyone grows up sometime if only a bit

By Felix Webster ( Felix Warstar )

All original Ranma 1/2 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 still 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 3

The Third Step -

Ranma looked the building that he dreaded coming back to, it held much of the worst memories from his one year he spent in this area.
The school looked as it did when he left, actually it looked to be in better shape then when he left, he couldn't find any scars from all the repairs that had to be done at the time. Squaring his shoulders he set himself for the confrontation he knew had to come if he wanted to be able to go to university the next year. Principal Kuno.

Walking through the building Ranma found several teachers setting up their rooms, or getting use to the layout as many faces looked new to him. In fact more then half the teachers looked new, freshly minted from the universities, it made him wonder what had happened. He would have to ask Akane about it. When she would talk to him.

The entire building had gone through a face lift so it seemed, the paint was almost fresh and the plaster seemed solid, and it added to an uneasy feeling Ranma was having about what was going on. Reaching the school office Ranma entered and walked up to the woman he didn't recognize behind the desk, "Excuse me."

"It's a little early for classes," The Secretary smiled a him meaning it in jest. "A little eager to get back?"

"Actually I've been out of the country for a year and I need to do a placement test to be able to get back into my classes," Ranma gave the woman a small smile. "Unfortunately that means I have to talk to Principal Kuno to get permission."

"That could be harder then you think," the woman said with a touch of concern. "As he was replaced mid way through last year's classes.
The school finally got a permanent replacement for this year,
Principal Igawa."

"Then I guess I need to talk to Principal Igawa then. Is he in, or do I have to make an appointment?" Ranma replied not actually sorry to hear the news.

"Is 'She' in, and yes she's right in front of you," Principal Igawa corrected and then straighten the papers on the desk. "Haven't gotten a new Secretary yet, probably have to assign students to the job during their free periods. For extra credit of course."

"Ah, yeah," Ranma said not really caring, then got back to his original purpose. "So as I was mentioning I need to set up the placement tests."

Principal Igawa turned on a computer sitting on the desk and looked up smiling again, "Name?"

"Ranma Saotome."

"Ranma Saotome?" Principal Igawa typed in the name and then laughed.
"I was wondering if I'd get to meet you this year. You're pretty much an urban legend among teachers here, the few old timers here either call you the biggest menace ever to cross a school gate or the greatest blessing for dealing with an insane Principal anyone could wish for."

"It wasn't my fault!" Ranma exclaimed out of reflex.

"I'm sure it wasn't," Principal Igawa replied giggling slightly showing her youth for the job. She looked up after a moment of reading the screen confused. "It says your male, which you obviously are, but in the notes it says your actual sex is in question?"

Ranma dropped his head shaking it slightly, "That would be because of my curse..."

"Curse? As in magical curse?" Principal Igawa cocked an eyebrow curiously. "Love to hear this one."

"Actually it's easier to see it then explain it," Ranma said sighing. "It requires a glass of hot and a glass of cold water."

"Well since I don't currently have either here at the moment I'll just have to have you explain it and sometime later see it"
Principal Igawa stated with interest. "If I find you are lying about any of this you will just be in deep deep trouble of course."

Ranma gave the woman a look then shrugged, "About two years ago me and Pop travelled into an odd area of China and I fell into a spring that makes me become a girl when I'm hit with cold water and turn back into a boy with hot water."

"I see," Principal Igawa replied evenly. "Hence the note on your record. So, how is this going to effect your year here? Do many of you fellow students know about this?"

"For the first little while I kept it quiet then most people thought I was a cross dresser," Ranma shrugged again. "It got a little tougher when they found out how the curse worked... the guys started trying to splash me in the change room."

"That could be a problem," Principal Igawa tried not to giggle again then seemed to get serious. "Well we'll have to come up with a solution after we find out where you place... would tomorrow be too soon for you?"

"Sounds fine," Ranma nodded then as he was about to leave he turned back. "Oh.. do you happen to know where the Elementary school is?"

"No, why?" Principal Igawa looked up from her work again.

"I have to get my daughters enrolled before school starts," Ranma replied smiling as he nodded and then walked out of the office.

"Daughters?" Principal Igawa cocked an eyebrow at the closing door.

- -

"See you tomorrow Akane."

"Okay, see you Miki," Akane waved back into the small clothing shop as she walked out. She was still dressed in her salesgirl clothes and wanted badly to just get home after such a hard day. She still wasn't feeling very sociable since the other night and dealing with people wasn't what she had needed today. And the store had a blasted sale.

Walking quickly toward home she stopped in her tracks as she noticed Ranma and his two little Amazons standing farther down the street.
Luckily none of them had spotted her as they were in the middle of a somewhat heated conversation. Unfortunately being a very curious person she couldn't resist wanting to know why, even though Ranma was one of the last people she wanted to see. Creeping up with all the skill she could she got close enough to listen in.

"You two need uniforms for school," Ranma said in a slightly angry tone. "It's school policy and you two are going to follow the rules."

"But Poppa..." both girls whined with their backs to the store showing the said uniform for the Elementary school.

"No 'But Poppa', I told you that while you are in Japan you will go to school like all the other girls your age," Ranma replied without flinching. "You'll be able to make friends in school.. and we all could use more friends."

"It unfair!" Blush complained still pouting.
"We Amazon warriors not little children!" Perfume continued mimicking she sister.

"Hey! If I have to go to school to graduate then you two are going to school too," Ranma stated sternly still unmoved by their pleas.
"And try to use better Japanese, even while whining."

"But it not same school.. we won't see Poppa for hours!" Blush replied looking so hurt causing Akane to wonder what was truly going on between the three of them.

"Oh don't try that one," Ranma rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't see me for hours while I was in my own classes anyways, and this will get you more accustomed to living here. So inside and we'll get you your uniforms."

"You are such a hypocrite Ranma!" Akane said in anger as she stepped out as Ranma was starting to lead the two girls into the store. "When have you ever followed school rules and worn a uniform?"

"Akane," Ranma said quietly in shock then he shook it off to stand his ground. "I wore school uniforms when I could! The curse made that impossible... until recently."

"But you enjoyed not wearing a school uniform, don't try to tell me you didn't," Akane narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

"Of course I did! It showed I didn't follow the crowd like some little sheep!" Ranma stepped closer looking smug then turned away and the expression faded. "But it caused it's own problems... I stood out too much. It made me a target."

"Yes it did... but I liked it," Akane replied quietly as the anger drained.

"We're back to where we started again aren't we?" Ranma turned around and looked at Akane sadly.

"No, we are far from where we started.. too far," Akane said softly not looking at Ranma. "I missed you.. a lot."

"You think I didn't miss you?" Ranma asked slightly shocked as he tried hugging Akane.

Akane allowed it for a few moments then broke out of his hold to look up into his face, "I'm.. I'm not ready yet. I.. I still haven't..."

"It's okay Akane, there's no rush," Ranma gave her a comforting smile. "We've got time."

Akane smiled weakly then looked at the concerned twins, "If you say so... but in the mean time I should at least get to know these two a little bit."

"Good, you can help us get them their school uniform," Ranma smiled as he opened the shop's door and winked at Akane. Both Chinese girls groaned and Akane actually giggled slightly as they entered the store.

About an hour later they all were having a small treat in Akane's favourite ice-cream parlour. The twins had two boxes each sitting next to them with Blush next to Ranma-chan and Perfume next to Akane so the older two could face each other to talk.

"So you're going to finish school?" Akane asked a little shocked. "I thought you hated school."

"I hated what was happening in school," Ranma-chan replied as she ate a large sundae, slower than normal. "And I was convinced by.
someone that an education was important."

"Someone..." Akane looked down depressed then squared her shoulders before trying to be pleasant again. "I bet Principal Kuno loved seeing you back."

"Actually we have a new Principal... and a lot of new teachers"
Ranma-chan smirked as Blush pointed at another ice cream treat off the desert card when the waitress came by. "She really seems young for the job... although not as young as some teachers that will remain nameless."

"Why nameless? We both know who you are talking about," Akane cocked an eyebrow at the red head.

"She's Blush and Perfume's new Principal at the Elementary," Ranma-
chan explained as she finished her sundae.

"So we don't have to worry about her, that's a relief," Akane sighed as she picked her own sundae. "She was a real pain last year when you weren't around... picked on even the slightest infractions."

"I'm surprised that you didn't know Principal Kuno was gone? The new Principal said he was taken out mid term last year," Ranma-chan looked confused as Akane turned her head away clenching her eyes.
"What happened?"

"The morning madness started again," Akane replied sounding pained.
"When the guys realized you weren't coming back they started up.
with extra effort."

"Extra effort?" Ranma-chan look became very concerned.

"Mikado transferred... as did a few others that seemed to have either developed a crush on me, or wanted to take me away from you out of spite," Akane explained as the anger built, then with a bit of effort it drained away. "That's where that pig Ryoga showed his true colours..."

"Look.. I'm sorry about that but I was..." Ranma-chan tried to apologize again but was cut off.

"I know, Nabiki and Ukyo both explained that you gave your word that you wouldn't tell any one about his curse," Akane waved it off noticing that the twins were trying to pretend that their ice creams was the whole of their world. "I was about the only one who didn't know... because I wouldn't allow myself to see it, out of spite and anger."

Shaking herself out of the past Akane looked up and put a strained smile on, "But I'm better now."

"I noticed you have a better grip on your anger," Ranma-chan said as she looked over Akane's shoulder then back to Akane. "I half expected to visit Leo about a dozen times the night I came back..."

"Medication," Akane looked down in depression and started rummaging in her small purse. Taking a small bottle out she put it on the table as gave a false smile, "I'm as bad as the Kunos it seems... only difference is I can actually function in society with my meds."

Ranma-chan picked up the bottle to read the name of the Medication and to read the 'twice a day' instructions then put it down, "I'm sure there is a better way than this. I'll look through the books I brought back from China and talk to Cologne about anything the Amazons might have to deal with this better."

"You have books on Chinese Medicines? Why?" Akane asked confused not accustomed to Ranma even being willing to read anything.

"Amazon and Chinese... and a few other cultures too. I sort of inherited the books from Tonic," Ranma-chan glanced at the twins for a moment then back at Akane. "She tried to research a possible cure at one point for her sickness... She couldn't find anything to help her. The books are pretty complete but Cologne might know a few things not in them since she is older than most of the tomes I have."

"But.. Ranma.. It's not necessary, I get by on the meds I have"
Akane replied still confused by Ranma-chan's new interest in medicine.

"No, it's not," Ranma-chan stated firmly picking up the bottle again. "You may not be as much of a zombie as most people are who use this stuff but aren't yourself either. I don't mean just the anger either, you don't have the fire in you spirit anymore. I already miss that fire."

"I've still got fire.. I got angry at you when you showed back up..." Akane stated weakly not looking directly at the red haired girl.

"No, you got depressed. The anger you showed was out of sorrow not out of the fire," Ranma-chan said sadly and glared at the meds again.
"I can't believe they still give this stuff to people... they normally balance it with a stim that cuts the depression or.. or the person gets so depressed that they harm themselves.."

"Do you.. do you have a stimulant too?" Ranma-chan looked up suddenly in great concern.

"Ah.. No, Ranma, I don't," Akane looked confused again. "The doctor said I should be fine on the small dosage I take... How do you know so much about these medicines? I can't believe a few books had all this information.. or you specifically looking this up as a coincidence... who told you?"

"No one," Ranma-chan looked away a tear starting to form in the corner of her eye. "I saw what this stuff does a couple of years ago during one of mine and Pop's stops so I could catch up on my education. One of the few times I wasn't in an all boy's school."

"A girl there was proscribed those same meds.. she killed herself a couple of weeks later out of depression," Ranma-chan started to explain and her voice cracked slightly. "She threw herself off the school roof... I noticed so I tried to save her but when we landed on the ground I found out she had slit her wrists before she moved to the edge and only fell as she lost conciseness."

"Where.. where you two close?" Akane asked worried for the red head.

"No," Ranma-chan turned back to her ice cream and started to force herself to eat some. "Same class, nothing more."

"So how do you know it was because of these meds?" Akane started to look unconvinced.

"She had the bottle in her hand when I caught her, and the doctors confirmed that it was from medically induced depression," Ranma-chan forced another mouthful of ice cream. "Don't want to see that happen again."

"Look.. I'll talk to the doctor about my pills, okay?" Akane sounded almost defensive about it all.

"And I'll find a better solution from my books," Ranma-chan nodded not giving up then changed the topic. "Kasumi won't tell about what happened with Ryoga and you... she said I'd have to ask you. You able to talk about it?"

Akane paused looking at the two younger girls beside her and Ranma-
chan, "I'm not sure these two should be present for that conversation, it's not a good story for kids."

Blush and Perfume looked at Akane with a slight pout but made not actual comment. Ranma-chan nodded at what was said and didn't doubt her daughters now really wanted to know, "How about we meet later after I get these two home and Kasumi starts their cooking lesson?"

"They're learning to cook?" Akane lifted an eyebrow looking at the pair. "From Kasumi no less." Shaking her head slightly she let it go,
"Sure, meeting up... I'll be at Ucchan's at eight, getting my own cooking lesson, come by there... I'll clear it with Ukyo."

"I'll be there." Ranma-chan stated firmly then attacked her ice cream.

"As a girl." Akane said looking Ranma-chan directly in the eye.

"As a girl." Ranma-chan nodded not asking why the request.

- -

Ranma-chan stood outside the small restaurant not sure this was a good idea. She definitely wanted to know what had happened between Akane and Ryoga, but Ukyo wasn't anymore happy with her than Akane was right now. And the though of Ukyo teaching Akane to cook... that was totally out of left field. What had started that?

She continued to stand, wearing a pair of black caprice slacks and sleeveless blue blouse, as the front door opened and Konatsu started to walk out. Ranma-chan almost didn't recognize the only male Kunoichi she had ever heard of as the boy had short styled hair now,
and his clothes didn't look feminine. Unisex but not feminine.
"Konatsu?"

"Ranma?" Konatsu looked up surprised. "You look nice in that outfit... you're wearing a bra?"

"And you look like a guy," Ranma-chan returned with a sarcastic smirk, "We're even with the gender bending tonight."

"Yes, I guess we are," Konatsu gave a small laugh. "Ukyo and Akane are upstairs waiting for you..."

"In a minute, first I love to here what started this," Ranma-chan indicated with her hands the boy's change in style.

"Akane suggested that Ukyo might respond to me better if I tried to be the man I was born," Konatsu shrugged casually. "She wasn't far off on that... but I have to get home so please excuse me."

"Home? You're not living here either? Wow, go a way for a year and the you step back into an alternate universe." Ranma-chan blinked at the shock then made the attempt at a joke.

"I have a room at a near by rooming house," Konatsu replied looking back over his shoulder as he headed off. "The woman who runs it has a curfew, sorry. Come by tomorrow during working hours and we'll talk."

"Totally weird," Ranma-chan shook her head then headed inside, "Not bad weird but totally weird."

"Ran-chan? Is that you?" Ukyo's voice called from up the stairs.
"We're up here, come on up."

Ranma-chan was surprised that Ukyo was still willing to call her Ran-
chan but it was a good sign, "Sorry to bother you two... whoa." Ranma-
chan made it up the stairs to find Ukyo in a short baseball jersey nightie coming to meet her at the top with Akane farther in the room wearing her favourite yellow pyjamas with fish cakes. "I'm a little over dressed..."

"When Akane informed me that she was going to tell you about the bastard tonight instead of cooking I suggested she stay over after since she won't want to be alone for a while," Ukyo explained as she led Ranma-chan into the single room. "So we're having a small pyjama party... didn't bring one did you?"

"No one informed me," Ranma-chan replied with a slight smile showing she wasn't offended by not being told. "Since you're both a little mad at me I doubt I'd be welcome longer that finding out what Ryoga did."

"Not at all Hon," Ukyo smiled all friendly like and found Ranma-chan a place to sit. "As long as you're a girl while you are here you always welcome. I never want 'Ranma' in my shop ever again but 'Ranko' is one of my best friends."

"Ah..." Ranma-chan caught the underlining edge to Ukyo's voice.

"Ranko is one of the best friends to both of us," Akane added giving Ranma-chan a small hug causing Ranma-chan wondering what was truly going on now. Ukyo she could understand, Ranma was a blight on her honour no matter how much they liked each other so Ukyo chose to shut 'him' out of her life. Thankfully Ranma wasn't just one person, by magic curse that changed his gender, so Ukyo could still befriends with the girl Ranko who had nothing to do with old pledges. Akane on the other hand...

"I am definitely over dressed," Ranma-chan, Ranko, stated accepting Akane's hug then Ukyo's so when they moved back she concentrated on her bracelet. The two girl gasped as the clothes around Ranko blurred then melted into a different blurred shape finally becoming clear to show a dark blue pyjama set with the painting of 'starry night' as it's print. "Now I'm dressed right."

"Finally found magic that works right while in China it seems"
Akane smiled trying not to laugh.

"And handy magic at that," Ukyo nodded in agreement looking very impressed.

"Just holds clothes I can shift into when I concentrate on the outfit I want." Ranko shrugged as if it wasn't that impressive. "I got it from the Phoenix... it use to be able to create new clothes out of nothing but the magic has worn down over the centuries.

"I'll ask about the choice of buying a set of pyjamas with a classic like that on sometime later," Akane chuckled not expecting to ever associate Ranko with an image like that.

"Later," Ranko nodded not smiling, "right now I'm here to find out what happened."

"Right," Akane sighed having actively tried to avoid the matter.
"First can I ask you what you talked to Ryoga about the day before he and I left China?"

"What I talked to him about?" Ranko raised an eyebrow at the question. She wasn't sure she like the idea that Ukyo and Akane wanted the separate her male and female sides to be able to deal with her but in this instances she was going to play along, "I didn't talk to him... but I think 'Ranma' asked him to look out for you until 'Ranma' got back from his training in China. Ranma knew Ryoga would probably do it even without being asked."

"You.. Ranma knew he had feelings, those kind of feelings, for me?
Was I really the only one who never realized it?" Akane looked hurt at the thought. "He..."

"Why don't you start at what led up to the problem," Ranko suggested seeing the pain in Akane's eyes and the self accusations.

"The start?" Akane looked up towards the ceiling thinking back. "The start was on the boat back..."

- - - - -

Akane stood at the railing of the boat hired to take the small group back to Japan looking back towards the Chinese shore. She was feeling hurt, betrayed by the person she had come to love. A love that she had only recently admitted to herself in last few weeks. She knew he cared for her, but real love... he killed for her. It didn't matter that the being he killed just became a little baby due to being virtually immortal, Ranma didn't know that when he acted.

"Yen for your thoughts." Ryoga came beside Akane wearing a shinny blue long shirt belted over black pants that the Phoenix gave him to replace his damaged clothes. His outfit almost matched Akane's yellow long shirt edged in forest green and green pants.

"He actually loves me." Akane replied without realizing who she was talking to.

"Loves you?" Ryoga stepped back slightly then looked angry. "Loves you? How ca you say that! He stayed in China! If he loved you he wouldn't have stayed!"

"Ryoga!" Akane turned to face her rude friend in shock. "He had his reasons!"

"REASON! He had no reasons good enough... HEY! Let go of me"
Ryoga started yelling but before getting too far he was grabbed by a Panda and dragged away forcefully.

Akane actually was thankful that Genma was here for a change.
"What's gotten into him?"

- -

Two months had passed since getting back to Tokyo and Akane was depressed. School had started in a bad way as Kuno had gotten word that Ranma, and the pigtailed girl, had stayed in China and he didn't believe it so he was constantly on her case for the real reason his tree born kettle girl was missing. Kodachi had shown up demanding to know where Ranma was and to her own surprise Akane beat the heck out of the girl without breaking much of a sweat. It seemed that Ranma had actually helped improved her skills in the Art without her knowing it.

Her normal routine since coming home had been going out only for school and then living in her room trying not to cry. She knew Ranma wouldn't break his promise to her. He never broke promises, you just had to know how to get him to actually promise something. It was the waiting now that they knew they loved each other... okay she knew she loved him, and he did say he loved her, so they loved each other.
Kasumi had threatened to make her eat her own cooking if she didn't at least come down for dinner, and after doing that once she never missed a meal again. She have to learn to cook, not just throw whatever she could together like she use to.

Akane was walking home when she actually walked into someone.
Stepping back quickly she started to apologize, "Oh! Sorry! I.
Ryoga?"

"Huh? Akane?" Ryoga blinked in shock standing in his usual travelling outfit. "What are you doing in Moscow?"

"Moscow! You're in Tokyo," Akane widened her eyes at the boy since he usually thought he was somewhere else in Japan not some place that far away. "Why would you be in Moscow? Heck! What would I possibly be doing in a place like Moscow!"

"I had to return something I borrowed there when I went through during our fight with Saffron," Ryoga replied with a hand behind his head nervously. "So I'm near the Dojo... any chance of staying..."

"Well, I'm sure your parents are looking forward to seeing you. I gotta go," Akane cut Ryoga quickly then walked down the street away at a fast clip waving back at the lost boy.

"Damn it!" Ryoga cursed, his eyes narrowing as Akane was out of earshot range. "Ranma's gone and now I'm not important? What was I,
just a way to make that bastard jealous?"

"Of course you are." a scratchy voice laughed causing Ryoga to look up at the old freak, Happosai, sitting on the privacy wall. "But you don't have to be..."

"You are one of the few things I agree with Ranma about," Ryoga snarled at the little pervert, "You're more troublesome that helpful so I'm not listening to any of your crack pot ideas."

"Ungrateful pork chop!" Happosai hopped down then turned Ryoga into a heap of pain. Before leaving though he dropped a small round topped box in front of the bruised boy. "I was going to explain how to use it, but now you'll have to figure it out on your own."

Happosai hopped away with an evil smile as he was sure this would distract Soun enough that he would only have Genma to content with to get his silky darlings, both those two together were getting harder to fight. Besides little Akane was way too prudish for his tastes and this might finally loosen her up.

Ryoga sat under a tree looking confused at the contents of the box,
a simple plain but wide silver ring that looked like it could be worn by either men or women. The box had nothing else in it, no instructions, no name of the item, no designs to indicate where it came from. The old freak left it as a solution to Ryoga's problem but how? Was he to wear it? Was he suppose to give it to Akane? Gripping his head with both hands he screamed in frustration at not knowing.

After about a hour he finally decided that he would put it on first and see what happened, then if it wasn't meant for him, or wasn't dangerous he would give it to Akane. Taking out the ring he slipped it on and waited, when nothing happened he stood up and swore. The little bastard was just playing with him yet again, "When I get my hands on him!"

"Um.. excuse me..."

Ryoga looked at the person who interrupted him in annoyance, a boy about his age was standing there with a map looking confused. Ryoga calmed himself before saying, "Wha.. How can I help you?"

"I'm kinda lost..." the boy started nervously since Ryoga was bigger than him and seemed unhappy about being disturbed.

"Don't ask me for directions." Ryoga cut the boy coldly.

"But it can't be far from here," the boy pleaded missing the flash of something in Ryoga's eyes.

"I. Said. Don't. Ask. Me." Ryoga turned on the boy causing the boy to shrink slightly.

"But..."

Ryoga didn't even pause to think about what he was doing as he rammed the boy's head into the tree side him. He didn't look back at the body of the boy sliding down the from the cracked impact point or notice the blood on the bark. He didn't hear the moans, the pleas for help coming from the ruined face of the unfortunate boy as he started thinking about Akane. All he knew was he didn't use enough strength to kill the boy, and he didn't know why he held back.

Happosai hopped down from the tree watching the lost boy walk away,
he didn't care about the injured boy beside him either but what Ryoga had done with the ring made him frown. "Not what I expected. Thought he was smarter then to put on an unknown ring given by me. I might have to get it back if he doesn't give it to Akane-chan."

"You're an idiot Happi," Cologne replied as she hopped down next to him also ignoring the bleeding boy. "I gave you the ring for the Tendo girl, but had to come up with an over complex plan to get it to her."

"Akane-chan would never wear it if either of us gave it to her, she doesn't trust us," Happosai retorted and ducked a swipe of Cologne's staff.

"You better hope he gives it to her." Cologne narrowed her eyes at the old shrivelled man. "It'll end Shampoo's problem with her."

"Whatever," Happosai rolled his eyes then bounced away before Cologne could swing again.

"You come back here!" Cologne shouted as she bounced after him.

"H..help me." The broken boy barely whispered from the ground.

- -

Akane sat at the family table not happy about how she treated Ryoga earlier, but after the trip home she started to see that he was interested in her as more than a friend and that bothered her too much. She liked Ryoga, he had been there when she and Ranma fought and he listened to her. The gifts he constantly came with was nice but she tried to get him to give them to others after a while because she was worried he was trying to buy his friendship with her. Nabiki of course called her a fool about that.

She had lots of time to figure that out on her own since everyone else was at the ruins of the Saotome house getting estimates on repairs.

Hearing a scratching sound at the sliding door she opened it to find a wet and dejected black piglet standing there. She quickly picked the piglet up happy to see her wandering pet, "P-CHAN!" Hugging the small pig to her chest she tucked his head under her chin, "Where have you been baby?"

She pulled the piglet away from slightly surprised as P-chan had just licked her throat and chin, and action he had never done before,
"You must have really missed me... what is that?" She finally noticed an odd little silver band around P-chan's right front paw, "Has somebody tried to claim you again?"

P-chan shook away from Akane's grip and landed on the floor only to run into the hallway and up the stairs. Akane followed behind the odd acting pet just noticing that her clothes were muddy from P-chan, "I don't think I want you in my room while you're so dirty P-chan."

Akane stopped suddenly as P-chan spun and glared at her, she had seen that look on her pet before but only when he was going to attack Ranma. "Don.. Don't worry honey big bad Ranma isn't here to pick on you... what are you doing! Eeek!"

Akane fell backwards as P-chan sprung at her and got in under her skirt when she ended on her butt. Akane grabbed at her skirt trying to dislodge the wild piglet who had just bitten into her panties and started pulling, "P-chan! Stop that!" Finally getting a hold of the black pig she pulled him up and away from her she heard a loud rip and felt a slight breeze in an uncomfortable place.

Holding the angry pig by it's bandana collar she glared at the fact it had a large piece of her panties in his mouth, "What the heck as gotten into you! You ruined a pair of my panties! Bad pig!"

P-chan seemed to take offence at the scolding and threw his strength into getting out of Akane's grip until the bandana finally ripped and he flew to the floor. Taking another shot for under Akane's skirt he missed as Akane turned just enough to catch him by the scruff of his neck. She couldn't believe what her pet was trying to do but a thought came to her that it might be the mud, or something in the mud, that might be driving P-chan nuts. He might have gone near the Amazons again and gotten one of their horrible concoctions on him so she headed for the furo, "I think you need a bath."

Upon hearing that Akane was taking him to the bathroom P-chan stopped struggling as much, not completely stopping as he realized that Akane would change her mind if he did that, and this time he wanted hot water. Entering the anteroom of the Furo Akane put P-chan to sit in the nearby basket and started to lift her shirt out of reflex then stopped herself rethinking that choice, "I think I won't mind getting my clothes wet tonight."

P-chan growled slightly at her comment but didn't resist too much when Akane picked him up again and opened the privacy divider exposing the large tub of still hot water. He had dreaded this exact moment many times, the moment when Akane would find out about his curse in the most direct way, but right now at this time he was actually eager to get in that water and show her he was a better man than that bastard Ranma. He saw the water coming closer and he made his plans knowing how his change works so he had leverage. He felt the water touch him and the magic work it's way off him so his mass sort of sprung up suddenly.

Akane felt the shift in her hand immediately but when she tried to move back from it her wrist was caught by a rough strong hand that held her there, "Where you going Akane? I thought you were going to wash me?"

Akane's eyes had trouble focusing on the nude boy in front of her,
in the worst position in relation to her head, but the voice was unmistakable. She blinked in shock as she looked up, "Ryo.. Ryoga?"

"What? You hadn't figured it out by now? What are you as dumb as those barbells you throw around?" Ryoga said in the nastiest sarcastic voice she had ever heard him use for any reason as he pulled her back so he head bumped into his erection.

"Ryoga! Stop!" Akane yelled as she turned her head so her cheek hit his swollen manhood. "We're friends! Don't do this!"

"Friends? Friends? I'm not your friend! The most I've been is your pet 'P-chan'! Your bitching board for all your Ranma woes! Even when I used what I heard in private as the pig to get closer to you I always got pushed to the side for that bastard Ranma! If we had been friends you would have known I was in love with you!" Ryoga yelled at the scared girl as he put his other hand on top of Akane's head and started to use his strength to turn her head to face his need.

"I if you loved me you wouldn't do this!" Akane yelled back as she used her free hand to swing up into his exposed manhood causing to let go for a moment out of pain. As soon as he let go she sprung up and turned to run but Ryoga caught her blouse and it ripped right off of her body in a single tug before she could get two steps away.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Ryoga moved out of the furo and got to the main door of the bathroom before Akane could get there causing her to slide almost into him as she forgot that although he wasn't as fast as Ranma he could hold his own and was faster than she was.

"Ryoga.. you.. you really don't want to do this," Akane backed off nervously, one of her greatest fears coming true, a stronger Martial Artist boy using his skills against her to have his way with her. She eeped as Ryoga's hand flashed towards her and her skirt was torn off her leaving her in her bra and torn panties.

"You're wrong Akane, I really want to do this," Ryoga moved forward with a evil smile. "I lost to Ranma yet again. You love him, not me,
him! He has been the bane of my life since I met him! He cursed me!
He always proved himself to be the better Martial Artist by being the most dishonourable bastard in existence! He took the one person I loved away and by treating her like shit made her love him! I finally got tried of losing to him so I'm going to make him lose out on something very important! You!"

"Wha.. What do you mean?" Akane asked trying to cover her lower body, she had a good idea what he meant but she was keeping him talking as long as she could.

"He won't get you." Ryoga moved slowly forward throwing the skirt behind him so Akane couldn't pick it up. "He won't get you whole. He won't get you sane."

"Ryoga, please.. please don't" Akane started crying as she hit the back wall and slid down to hug her knees.

Ryoga simply grabbed an ankle and started to drag Akane out along the floor when the door opened causing him to turn and find the old freak standing there, "What do you want you old bastard? Wait your turn and you can have seconds!"

"Idiotic boy! You were suppose to give the ring to Akane so she'd get mad enough to challenge Shampoo for Ranma," Happosai stated as he moved in and hit Ryoga's wrist with his pipe causing the boy to release Akane's leg. Akane quickly moved into a corner and hugged herself since getting the door was still impossible. "Who'd think an over macho boy like you would try on a ring meant for a girl!"

"Get back old man." Ryoga snarled and actually hit Happosai sending him out the door proving that he had improved while fighting with Ranma. "I'm going to beet you head in then I'm going to rape the sanity out of little weak body!"

"That's not you talking, boy, it's the ring!" Happosai was back into the room in a blur and planted a foot in the back of the lost boy sending him through the wall and out into the yard. Before Ryoga could recover Happosai grabbed Ryoga's right hand and broke the finger that had the ring on it then took the ring off.

Ryoga slumped to the ground holding his hand, resetting his finger painfully. He looked up at the small wrinkled man, and the image of Akane standing nervously still in the bathroom trying to cover herself, he mind going in twists trying to work out what just happened. He remembered it all. Remembering wasn't the problem now,
not being sorry about what just happened was the problem. He didn't exactly want to rape Akane now but also didn't care that he almost did. "What did you do to me?"

"Not what you might think boy," Happosai replied still looking at Ryoga with narrowed eyes as he made the ring disappear. "The ring just increased your natural jealous tendencies, and your anger regarding that. It doesn't force you to act on them."

"Why don't I care about what I did?" Ryoga dropped his head worried about that fact more than anything else that happened.

"You burned it out of your system, that's the upside of the ring.
The ancient Amazons never made anything without two sided to it"
Happosai moved aside as Akane, clothed in her gi top which was in the changing area, walked up and slapped Ryoga. His head barely moved.

She went to slap him again but he caught her hand and glared up at her, "One I deserve but don't push your luck. Go inside and let the real Martial Artists talk before I change my mind and finish what I started."

Akane pulled her hand back scared and moved to the house quickly not doubting what Ryoga threatened. When she was inside she watched the pair finish their talk and Ryoga walk to the walk, destroying the section in front of him, then leave. Happosai stayed in place until he was gone then walked into the house.

"Akane-chan, he's gone and won't be back until Ranma gets back from China." Happosai said sounding in a comforting tone totally out of character as came in and found Akane in her room. "If he has lied I'll deal with him."

"What happened?" Akane's voice sounded weak thankful that Happosai stayed outside her door. "Why did he attack me?"

"That was sort of my fault... I gave him an Amazon item that he was supposed to give to you not wear himself." Happosai's voice actually apologetic. He stepped back when the door flew open.

"This was caused by magic? Ryoga didn't do this himself?" Akane's eyes were wide with hope.

"No. Ryoga did this." Happosai shook his head. "The ring enhances one's negative feelings to burn them off. I talked Cologne into giving it to me so you'd get angry enough to challenge Shampoo for Ranma, Shampoo of course would mop the floor with you..."

"You were trying to make me lose Ranma?" Akane lost her hope and looked ready to hyperventilate.

"No!" Happosai stated firmly. "That's simply what I agree to for Cologne to give me the ring, you know me better than to keep my word." he looked disappointed that Akane hadn't realized that by now.
"I got the ring so you could get angry at Ranma's remaining in China so to burn that out of you. You would have stopped being so depressed after and simply happy when he finally got home... I would have never pitted you against Shampoo."

"You tried to do a nice thing and I almost get raped, that sounds like the way things work with you," Akane said in a sadly sarcastic voice starting to shake again.

"He won't try it again. The need has been burned out of him... but he no longer cares about you either anymore as well." Happosai put down a small box in front of Akane with the ring obvious as it was open. "His own problems caused what he did, he always had the potential to snap like that, the ring just amplified it... it won't hurt you if you use it."

"You trying to help? That's rich!" Akane laughed as she kicked the box away.

"I do try from time to time, I hate seeing girls hurt like you do.
like Hinako," Happosai walked away looking depressed and Akane was left blinking in confusion.

- - - - -

Akane finished talking and had to rub her arms at the cold of the room. Ranko was sitting on a pillow looking ready to go find a small pig and have dinner. Ukyo turned on a space heater as Akane filled in the other part. "After I told Kasumi and Nabiki what happened, and Kasumi explained it to my Father, I asked about Ryoga's curse... I was the only one who didn't know. Even Dad knew, he thought I knew and wanted to use Ryoga to keep Ranma jealous and interested. I was the only one blind to the pig being a pig."

"I'm sorry I didn't outright tell you..." Ranko looked embarrassed.

"You gave your word you wouldn't," Akane smiled weakly as she put a hand on Ranko's shoulder. The room was warming up again. "And both my sisters pointed out that you tried to get me to see the truth all the time... I guess I could have use those clarity seeds Mousse had too."

"I can't believe he tried to r.. rape you. I'll kill him..."

"Don't!" Akane stopped Ranko before she finished. "Ryoga doesn't matter anymore. As long as he stays away I don't care... It wasn't completely him, just his rage and depression amplified by the ring.
He knew he lost to Ranma when it came to my feelings and the ring made him act out. Now he doesn't care either way so he isn't a problem anymore... he might not even care about his problem with Ranma either."

"I doubt that." Ranko muttered under her breath.

"And I don't want you hurting Happosai for this either," Akane stated firmly. "This action got our Fathers more active in stopping his activities and that was a good side effect as far as I'm concerned."

"Thought about it a lot haven't you?" Ranko asked seeing the answer in Akane's eyes. "Thought about how to tell me, and what you felt,
what you didn't want me to do."

"If you do fight Ryoga again I don't want what he tried to do to me to direct your actions... I don't want him dead, he's suffered a lot already." Akane hugged Ranko and kissed her cheek. "Just seeing the need to hurt him in your eyes is enough. Enough to know you care that much." Letting go Akane leaned back with a weak smile, "Now, we have a few movies to watch and Ukyo has snacks to get our minds off of things like this but I want to hear how Ryoga got cursed in the first place... I want to know why he was so angry with you since even Nabiki couldn't tell me that."

Ranko spent the next hour telling of her encounters with Ryoga in school, most of which Akane had already heard but Ukyo was new to the story. She talked about Jusenkyo and the confusion of just discovering she was a she and the anger she suffered towards her Father. The fact she didn't even realize that she had hit someone while chasing the old bastard on the upper ridge until she noticed later she had bruised her knee. She talked about her side of the first night of 'P-chan' and the troubles from there. Every time that she thought Akane had enough about the subject the girl would ask a question that prompted more, and it seemed to relax her for reasons Ranko couldn't fathom. Akane's explanation was that she was finally getting to know the truth and it was part of the recovery process.

After that they watched a movie before Ranko called Kasumi to let her know she would be staying the night and asked the older Tendo sister to look after the twins. Kasumi was more than happy to do that, pleased that Akane had opened up to Ranma. When Ranma explained that Akane and Ukyo were separating Ranma and Ranko Kasumi wasn't so happy but said she understood.

The trio ended up sleeping in a small group after the second movie,
each wrapped around each other. Ukyo was the first to sleep and just before Ranko and Akane drifted off Akane said quietly, "You aren't forgiven yet Ranma Saotome... but I do love you."

"I love you too Akane Tendo, and I'll wait." Ranma Saotome,
currently Ranko to her friends, whispered back.

- -

AN: Just for the record I do not dislike Ryoga. I decided to make the situation bad enough to make the reactions in the other chapters make sense since people in the Ranmaverse seem to be able to forgive a lot. I guess I need to raise the rating on this Fanfic now...

Oh, and if you haven't guessed the flashback isn't only from the point of view of the person telling it, it's what actually happened.
What Ranma (Ranko) got told was only what Akane knew, which was that Ryoga assualted her, due a ring he was wearing, and that Happosai had saved her, even if he did give Ryoga the ring in the first place.