Chapter Seven: Ranma's Final Plan

Ranma exercised a little more that night as the last possible thing he could think of to do circled throughout his brain.

"Akane didn't like it very much when it happened a long time ago" he thought, "If I somehow convince her that I really am serious, as far as this goes she'll come back" he said trying to convince himself, "At least" he sighed in his head, "I hope so."

He wiped the towel across his brow and exhaled slightly. Then he placed the towel around his neck and walked back inside the house, where everyone had already gone to bed. He climbed the stairs wearily, opened the door to his bedroom, and noticed Genma in panda form snoring away, so he quietly tiptoed in and laid down on his mattress, still thinking and still very worried if he would succeed. Finally his brain settled down enough that he could close his eyes, and rest somewhat contently the remainder of the night.

(Next Scene)

The next morning Ranma awoke before anyone and grabbed his backpack. He ran out of the family gate and headed toward town as fast as could. Meanwhile back at the house, Kasumi was just getting up to make breakfast. She yawned and began cooking. A couple minutes later Akane came into the kitchen.

"Good morning Akane" Kasumi replied cheerfully.

"Good morning Kasumi" Akane said with a smile, "Have you seen Ranma this morning?"

"Ranma" Kasumi's eyes twinkled, "I thought he would still be in bed?"

"No I looked. He's not there" Akane shook her head.

"Is he in the dojo?"

"No I looked in there too."

"Maybe he went somewhere this morning?" Kasumi suggested.

"Maybe" Akane nodded sadly walking into the sitting room with her older sister, where Nabiki was waiting.

"If you ask me" Nabiki replied, "I think he's up to something."

"Don't be ridiculous Nabiki" Kasumi scolded as Akane sat down with a worried frown.

"Well I do. Akane you should really keep a closer eye on him."

"Oh Nabiki" Akane said, "I'm not worried. I trust Ranma."

"With all that he's been doing you still trust him?"

"Of course" she nodded, "Because I know why he's been doing it."

"Hmm?"

"Good morning girls" Soun Tendo replied as he entered the room.

"Good morning Dad! Father! Daddy!" they all exclaimed at the same time.

"Where's Ranma this morning?" he asked picking up his paper when Genma came into the room.

"We were discussing that very thing Daddy" Nabiki said with a smirk.

"Saotome" Soun replied, "Have you seen your son this morning?"

Genma shrugged his shoulders and grunted as he held up a sign that said:

"Got me?"

Soun returned back to his paper as Kasumi handed everyone their breakfast and they began. Akane ate her meal slowly and frowned slightly as she wondered what happened to her reluctant fiancé.

(Next Scene)

At that same moment Ranma was in the park staring at the fountain that sat in the middle. Ryoga was sitting on a bench nearby watching him with a frown on his face and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Are you really going to do this Ranma?" he asked irritably.

"Yea" Ranma nodded slowly, "Don't try to stop me Ryoga. I've made up my mind. Will you put the bag I brought by the fountain? And when I come out will you not look?"

"Like I want to look," Ryoga snorted as he did as Ranma asked.

Ranma nodded appreciatively and then took a deep breath before diving into the water. Some of the water splashed out as Ryoga turned his back. Ranma climbed out of the fountain and grabbed the bag quickly ducking behind the bushes to change.

"Okay" she replied coming out.

Ryoga turned around and frowned even more at the sight of Ranma in a girl's school uniform. Ranma frowned back at him as she walked over to the fountain to look at her reflection. Ryoga walked over and crossed his arms as Ranma sighed.

"Are you really sure about this Ranma?" he asked.

"Positive" she said, "If Akane doesn't change. I'm gonna stay like this forever."

"Why would you do that to yourself? You want to be a normal guy more than anything. Just a guy."

"I know" Ranma nodded, "But there are some things more important to me than that."

"What do you mean?"

"Forget it" Ranma said with a huff, "I'm going to school."

"Like that?" Ryoga shouted surprised with a look of horror on his face.

"I'm serious Ryoga" she nodded, "I'm going to school as a girl. I am going to act like a girl all day long. Even if it kills me. Then Akane will know that I am serious. That I really mean to stay a girl and if that doesn't snap her back into her senses then I give up."

"What about Shampoo and Ukyo Ranma?" Ryoga asked with a smug grin.

"I'm gonna tell them the same thing. They'll be suspicious why but I got to look the part right?" Ranma said shifting the bra she was wearing around.

"And Kuno?"

"Oh damn" Ranma thought miserably, "I didn't think of him. I guess I'll just have to be on my best behavior."

"What are you gonna tell the school? That you're an exchange student?"

"I've decided to tell them that I am Ranma Saotome's half sister."

"Huh?"

"I have been in town for awhile but I haven't had schooling. I'll think of something" she muttered when she saw his expression, "Oh right I almost forgot" she turned back around to pick up a bag, "Can't have a backpack anymore" she sighed pulling out all her books out of the backpack and placing them into the bag.

"Ranma" Ryoga replied sadly.

"Hmm?" Ranma looked up and Ryoga just shook his head.

"Never mind."

Ranma quietly picked up the bag and handed the backpack to her rival and then she dashed out of the park heading for the school. Ryoga watched as she departed and then left the park himself not sure what to make of Ranma's behavior. As far as he could tell Akane seemed like her normal self. Finally he decided to watch Ranma the rest of the day to make sure he didn't make a complete idiot of himself. Of course what he really thought to himself as he tried to find the school was that he hoped that he didn't act like a pervert or worse.

(Next Scene)

Ranma arrived at school early enough to talk to the teacher and then she walked into the classroom taking the seat of Ranma Saotome since she had explained that her half brother would be absent for awhile, while she took his place. She sat down with a heavy sigh and tried not to scuff her black mary janes as she moved them across the floor. The first person to enter the room was Hikaru Gosunkugi, who was quite surprised to see her there. He walked over.

"Excuse me miss" he replied, "Are you in the right classroom?"

"Oh uh yes" Ranma nodded nervously, "I'm Ranma Saotome's half sister. I'll be taking all of his classes while he is away on a training mission."

"I didn't know that Ranma had a sister."

"Most people don't" she giggled, "I have been in town for awhile though. My parents don't believe in girls going to school, so I haven't ever been. But Ranma asked if I could do this for him while he was away and I was more than happy to oblige."

"Well that's great" Gosunkugi smiled making Ranma even more nervous, "I didn't catch your name?"

"My name?" Ranma's eyes became wide as she thought, "Oh I guess I better go with the old traditional one. It's Ranko. Ranko Saotome."

"Ranko" he shook her hand, "Welcome" he replied as Ukyo came into the room and almost screamed out before Ranma ran over and clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Oh the poor dear" Ranma said trying to cover, "She must have seen something she didn't want to see. Come now Ukyo come with me I need to talk to you" she replied yanking her hand and dragging her quicklyout of the room.

When they got out in the hall away from everybody Ranma removed her hand from Ukyo's.

"Ranma honey" Ukyo gasped, "What are you doing wearing a girl's uniform and more importantly what are you doing in your girl form when you are at school."

"Ukyo" Ranma replied slowly, "I have something I have to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I decided that from now on, I am going to be a girl."

"What? You're joking right" Ukyo looked at her with a smile but then frowned when Ranma shook her head, "Why?"

"Well because I am tired of all the trouble my boy form causes me."

"Trouble?"

"Yea. I mean guys are always trying to pick fights with me. I've got three girls who chase after me endlessly. And plus Pop is forcing me to marry Akane. Well I have had it. I am going to stay like this from now on."

"Ranma honey you can't be serious" she said her mouth open and her eyes wide.

"But I am serious Ukyo" Ranma nodded, "I'mgoing to stay like this. Ranma Saotome no longer exists. Now I am Ranko Saotome. Ranma's half sister."

"Ranma honey" she protested as he walked away, "If it's me. Then I will."

"It's not just you Ukyo" she said with a shake of her head, "It's everything. Jusenkyo was the last straw. I don't want to do it anymore. This form is a lot less trouble. I'll still be my old sassy self, but I'm not gonna be a guy anymore. I thought you should at least know that. I'm gonna tell Shampoo later too. And Akane" she added, "I'm gonna have to explain it to her too" she replied walking away leaving Ukyo completely stunned and somewhat suspicious.

"That was not the Ranma I know," she thought.

The class began to fill up and Akane saw Ranma enter in, completely stunned herself as she sat down next to her.

"Ranma? What are you doing?"

"It's Ranko Akane" Ranma replied not even looking at her.

"What?"

Before she could answer the teacher came in and introduced the new student. Akane watched completely confused as she bowed and took her seat once more. As they started class Ranma completely ignored her and she frowned. She decided at lunchtime she would talk to her more seriously about the situation.

(Next Scene)

At lunchtime Akane found Ranma sitting under the big tree behind the school eating her lunch slowly. She approached slowly and looked down at her.

"Ranma?"

"Akane" she looked up with a smile.

"Ranma we have to talk."

"Yea. I know. Have a seat."

"Okay" Akane replied sitting down, "First of all what's going on? Why did you come to school as a girl?"

"Well I" Ranma began but was interrupted by the sound of a bike bell and then a Chinese Amazon jumping into her lap.

"Oh Ranma" she grinned happily hugging her tightly, "You have lunch now yes?"

"Shampoo get off of me!" Ranma shouted trying to gasp for air.

"Why you dress like that?" she asked pulling away, "Why you in girl form at school?"

"Well I'm glad you kind of asked me that" Ranma said pulling away from her grasp.

"Turn back into boy" she replied holding up a hot teakettle to pour on her.

"No no!" Ranma shouted seriously, "Keep that away from me!" she scrambled away holding up her hands.

"Ranma why you act so funny?" she asked as she moved the kettle down with a confused expression on her face.

"Shampoo I have something I have to tell you and Akane too. Please put the kettle down."

"Okay Ranma" Shampoo said slowly as she stared at him and placed the kettle on the ground, "What wrong?"

"Well here's the thing, from now on my name is not Ranma."

"What are you talking about Ranma?" Akane asked a little miffed.

"It's Ranko" Ranma replied happy a little at her angry reaction, "Not Ranma. From now on I am remaining a girl."

"Ranma?" Shampoo exclaimed unhappily, "What you mean?"

"As I told Ukyo this morning" Ranma said standing up, "Ranma Saotome no longer exists. I will remain a girl for the rest of mylife."

"But Ranma you marry Shampoo. Cannot be girl."

"I'm not marrying you Shampoo" Ranma shook her head fervently, "I'm not marrying anybody" she turned her back, "It's too much trouble being a guy. I can't take it anymore. So I've made up my mind."

"Ranma" Akane said slowly.

"I got to get back to class" Ranma replied walking away leaving the two stunned girls behind.

Shampoo stared at her as she walked and then turned angrily to Akane.

"What you do to Ranma?"

"I didn't do anything to him Shampoo" Akane retorted.

"You must have. Ranma look at Akane the whole time he speak. You did something."

"I didn't" Akane repeated, "But if I were you" she replied as she rose from the ground, "I would stay out of my way" she replied dangerously.

"What you say?" Shampoo's eyes became wide.

"Don't interfere with me," she said turning to look at her with a cold look in her eyes, "Or you'll be sorry" she added as she departed to go back to class.

Shampoo stood up and scratched the back of her head.

"What going on?" she wondered, "Everyone acting so strange. Ranma think he'd be happy if he girl. And Akane change from nice sweet girl to scary one in seconds. Shampoo must find out why" she thought determined.

As Akane walked down the hall to the last classes of the day she frowned as she thought.

"Ranma is up to something. And it is up to me to find out what's wrong with my sweet darling. Before I lose him forever. But before that" she thought, "I have to check up on someone this afternoon. Perhaps the dear girl can explain to me his change of behavior" she grinned evilly.

(Next Scene)

Later in the afternoon Ranma stood in front of the Tendo's pond in the backyard and sighed heavily.

"Well Saotome" she said to herself, "Take a good look. This is how you will look for the rest of your life if Akane doesn't stop you."

Akane arrived in the backyard and Ranma turned to her. She smiled and then walked over to her.

"Ranma" she replied slowly, "About what you said this afternoon, are you really sure this is the decision you want to make?"

"Yes Akane" she nodded, "I am going to remain a girl. And there is nothing that you or anybody can do to make me change my mind. Please change my mind," she thought as Akane stared at her.

"Well Ranma" she replied with a nod of her head, "If that is your decision than I will respect it."

Ranma stared at her and closed her eyes.

"Damn it!" she screamed inside her head, "Are you sure Akane?" she asked nervously, "That you're all right with this?"

"Yes Ranma" she nodded, "I will support you no matter what your decision" she turned around, "Ifit is what you really want, that is?" she added smiling to herself.

Ranma turned back to the pond and then sighed as she departed the area.

"Well Akane" she thought, "You've made your decision. So now I got to stand firm and keep my end. I have no choice now. I don't want to think about what my life will be like as a woman but I also don't want to have a relationship with you as a guy if you wont come back to me" she thought bitterly, "So" she sighed again before turning back to the house, "Goodbye Ranma Saotome. Forever."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! I know it's been awhile but I have had no Internet access for a whole week and it has been brutal. But I am finally back and here's the first chapter in awhile. The next one you will probably get tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed it!

Next Chapter: Ranko Saotome

Now that Ranma has made her decision a change has come over the entire household. Genma and Soun are crying, begging him to come back, while Kasumi and Nabiki are simply baffled by her sudden change. Akane meanwhile isn't budging and Ranma is more frustrated than ever. Will he truly stay a girl forever to win back his true Akane or will Ranma Saotome disappear completely? Find out what happens next time!