A.N.: Hey readers! Here starts the drama…. Yay! Well, yay for me, uh oh for you… but no worries, it'll all work out in the end… haha I just counted the number of kisses between the two main characters in my favorite story… over 7 books, they shared 31 kisses total! Wow! But it's my favorite, because it's a rally really good love story! If you want to know what it is, email me, and I'll tell you… I don't want to say it on the chapter post, because it isn't a rumiko story… ok happy reading and don't forget to review! Thanx!
Disclaimer: This story is 100 mine, but the characters and curse belong to Rumiko T.!
Chapter 12: A Day With Mom And a Journey Home
The next morning they woke to the sweet smells of breakfast being served. Mrs. Saotome had cooked up a storm, and was smiling sweetly as Ranma and Akane stepped into the kitchen. "Good morning you two!" She smiled and handed them some orange juice. They were both so sleepy, and drank the juice down in an attempt to wake up. Ranma only hoped his mother wasn't going to do the thing she used to in order to wake him up in the mornings. She did. She used to take a kitchen towel and drench it with ice-cold water and hit him in the face with it. Smack! it swung around, and before he could dodge it, the cold, wet towel hit him in the face.
"Oh no!" Akane whispered as she saw her fiancé become her fiancée.
"Wake up Ranma dear!" Mrs. Saotome said as the towel hit his sleepy head. "Oh thanks mom, I'm awake now…" Ranma-Chan said, grabbing a dry towel and drying her face. "R-Ranma?" "Yeah-something that happened to dad and me when we were training before we showed up at Akane's house. We're cursed. When hit with cold water, we transform into whatever drowned in the cursed spring we fell into. I'm a girl and dad's a panda. It's the most annoying thing in the world! I wish I could go find a cure." She said, taking the pot for tea from the stove and pouring some of the contents on her head, thus becoming a man again. "What? I don't believe it!" She said amazed at the transformation. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to find out like this." Ranma said, fearing his mother would think less of him.
"Wait a second. So you turn into a girl when you're hit with cold water?" He nodded. "So your father turns into a panda?" She asked, taking it better than Ranma expected. "Yeah. Our friend Shampoo turns into a cat, and her fiancé turns into a duck. There's one more that I know of, but he's not worth talking about." Ranma said, keeping his promise to Ryoga, and not telling Akane about
Chan.
"I see. That's interesting." Mrs. Saotome said. "What? That's it? That's all you have to say?" Both Ranma and Akane's mouths were open in shock.
"Yeah, it's you who'd have a problem with it I'd think." She said. "Really? You don't think less of me?" He asked, still not sure. "Why would I think less of you? You're still you at heart, just in a different body." She said.
"Yeah. I'm just happy you're not mad or upset!" Ranma said. It was true. The only reason he didn't tell her was because he thought she'd think less of him as a man. But now it was okay.
Everyone went along and had a peaceful breakfast and then set about doing housework. There were many things that needed to be done before the house would be left for a couple of months without a caretaker.
Ranma did all of the heavy lifting, Akane worked on throwing out all of the perishable items, and Mrs. Saotome went about doing whatever else. She told Akane to save a few things in order to make meals with. Akane did so, and double-checked when she was done to make sure she didn't miss anything.
Ranma was working on some things outside, some things inside, just things that required his strength or athletic ability.
By the afternoon, everyone was done with their chores, and they were able to relax. Ranma and Akane fell asleep together on the big comfortable couch in the living room. Mrs. Saotome figured she'd let them rest after a hard day's work, and started dinner.
An hour later Ranma and Akane woke up feeling refreshed to the delicious smells of dinner. They ate and cleaned up the dishes afterwards. Mrs. Saotome packed some clothes and turned in early for an early morning and long day ahead. Ranma and Akane went to sleep not to long after packing their own things.
There was an early breakfast, and all three left before dawn. They journeyed until meal times, with the occasional rest for Mrs. Saotome. She might not have been as young as she used to be, but she was still in very good shape.
They had already figured out the dilemma of three people and only two sleeping bags. Ranma and Akane didn't mind sharing at all. Ranma feared it would be too cold for his mother, but she waved it off and didn't want her son to worry. The night wasn't too cold. In fact, it was just right. Ranma and Akane snuggled comfortably in their sleeping bag, and Mrs. Saotome wasn't cold at all.
The next day was a peaceful hike back to town, and they got there earlier than planned. It was lunchtime when they arrived at Soun Tendo's house, and Kasumi was clearing the plates from the table when they entered.
"Hello! We're back! We brought a guest!" Akane shouted to the house. Everyone and a panda peeked their heads out of the door. Mrs. Saotome was greeted with warm welcomes, and she took the panda into as much of a hug she could. Everyone except Ranma, Akane and Mrs. Saotome didn't know she knew about Genma being a panda so they were a bit shocked.
The whole family sat at the table talking while the new arrivals ate lunch. Ryoga was amazed at the ring Akane was wearing, and became incredibly jealous, but thought nothing more of it. He switched his thoughts to another girl he was growing to love and wondering if he'd ever put a ring like that on her finger.
Ryoga was the first to duck out of the room. Ranma and Akane followed not too long after. They were tired and dirty from their trip, and decided to take a long relaxing bath together. Sleeping together for the past few nights was good, but unfortunately, it couldn't last forever. They'd be forced back to their separate rooms, but perhaps things would change with the arrival of Ranma's mother. Perhaps Ranma would be moved out of his father's room, his mother taking his place there. Where would he go? Hopefully Soun and Genma would make the right choice and put Ranma and Akane together.
Of course this didn't happen. Soun and Genma were smart and put Akane with Kasumi and Ryoga and Ranma took over Akane's room. No one in their right mind would ever give Nabiki a victim, so Akane moved in with Kasumi. They didn't mind, but they both hoped Ranma and Ryoga would get along together. Perhaps there was hope for them after all because they hadn't fought in a while. Ranma even asked Ryoga to be his best man. Maybe they were getting over their boyish competition and growing up.
Ranma and Akane were sad that Soun and Genma split them up, but there was only a slight chance that they'd be allowed together, so it wasn't a problem. It was a given that Ranma would get Akane's bed, but Ryoga didn't have a problem with it. He wasn't jealous anymore either.
Dinner was wonderful. Mrs. Saotome insisted on helping Kasumi in the kitchen, and they cooked up quite a storm. She complimented Kasumi on her home making skills, and asked her if she would be getting married soon. Kasumi blushed enormously, and Mrs. Saotome took it as a maybe. Ryoga went "out," during dinner, but he wasn't missed. He got back in time for dessert, and everyone was shocked to see him back so soon. Somehow, there was one place that his feet brought him to and he didn't get lost. Everyone turned in for the night after the celebration of the new guest.
