Title: Saiyajinnyannichuan – Spring of drowned female Saiyan
Author name: Trugeta

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ as well as Akira Toriyama and Funimation. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Note further that I don't own any of the other trademarks mentioned in this story.

This story takes place at the beginning of the Ranma ½ series and several years after the Cell Games Saga. It's an AU, and reviews are welcome and appreciated.

Besides, please check out my other Ranma stories. I try to keep a constant level of attention to all of them.

This chapter is unbetaed as of now. Wanted to get it out anyway. Thanks to the ppl at Shinjis' board for helping me out with suggestions, ideas and comments. You rock, guys!


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Chapter 2: How to curb meddling fathers


Four Tendos were staring at one single person, a person who had just removed the cloak that had hidden this individuals face from view. This person was Ranma Saotome, martial artist extraordinaire, heir of the Saotome Ryu of the Musabetsu Kakuto, age sixteen. But instead of the boy the Tendos had expected this Ranma was… different.


For instead of being a tall, handsome boy, Ranma turned out to be a tall, extremely beautiful woman. Somewhat under six feet, with a superb muscle tone, but slender and perfectly proportioned at the same time. She was wearing Chinese style clothes which consisted of a red short-sleeved shirt and flowing black long pants. And somehow she was radiating power and strength. To sum it up, she was definitely a major looker.


What seemed to be a brown belt was slung around her waist, and her red hair stood mainly up in spikes that enhanced her natural beauty. The hair was done in a pigtail in the back, and large coal-black eyes with long red eyelashes never left the panda and glared daggers at him.


Soun Tendo was near to a nervous breakdown, while especially Akane felt relieved. "B… but… Genma assured me that he had a son!" he wailed, until his eyes fell on the sweating panda. "Genma! What is the meaning of this? I thought that Ranma was a boy!"


Nabiki, having been robbed off a chance to find love went over to Ranma and prodded her chest, feeling the round and firm bustline of Ranma in the process. "Father, if you honestly think that that is a boy then you need glasses. Fast." she said with amusement, which then turned into a calculating look.


Hmm, if she didn't get a rich prospective husband out of this, maybe she'd be able to make some real money off of Ranma. She was certainly beautiful enough, and if she played her cards right she and Ranma could make the big bucks with Ranma being a model and she her manager.


Yes, she'd have to suggest this to Ranma as soon as the situation had calmed down somewhat. Then there was still the option that Ranma might be cured; though she'd have to see her male form first to base her decision upon that. At the moment she had too little information, but she planned to change this state of affairs soon.


Her youngest sister was thinking along other lines. "A boy! Hah! If she'd go into the boys locker-room at my school she'd have to kill all the perverted boys!" she said with a scowl. Then she smiled friendly at Ranma. "Hello Ranma, I'm Akane."


Ranma smiled back. "Nice to meet you."


Meanwhile Soun was rounding in on Genma-panda, who was sweating more and more. # Soun, I can explain! # Flip. # Just let me change back! # he signed pleadingly.


Akane grinned. "Hot water changes you back, right?" she asked gloatingly.


Sweating, the panda nodded. But to Akane's dissatisfaction she noticed that the water had cooled down too much. "Aww damn, now we have to heat it again. And that when daddy wanted quick answers." she said with a pout.


A smirking Ranma came over to her. "Maybe I can be of help in that regard. Please hand me the kettle, Akane."


Shrugging, Akane complied. After all, this was not a perverted boy but a fellow girl. And apparently a girl who had suffered a lot under an idiotic father. She was really looking forward to hear what for experiences the girl had made in her life.


And besides, Ranma was so incredibly cute that she would have been hard pressed not to instantly fall in love with her if she had been a guy; she'd probably have to help her defend herself from the perverted boys in this district. Now she understood why Ranma had worn a cloak, for the girl was unearthly beautiful. No wonder that she wanted to protect herself from perverts who were only thinking with a certain part of their anatomy.


Ranma smiled cutely but evilly while those thoughts ran through Akanes' mind, and the redheads' eyes twinkled with mischief which served to enhance her beauty even more. But what happened next was completely unexpected. The pigtailed girl stepped back a few steps and seemed to concentrate. Suddenly the air seemed to be charged with power, and Akane could have sworn that Ranma's right hand with which she was holding the kettle seemed to glow.


Moments later the water was bubbling, an overly distinct proof that the water was indeed hot. "H… how did you…" Akane asked, trailing off.


The red-haired girls' smile deepened. "I used my ki to heat the water. No big deal."


Soun, who had been temporarily distracted by this display of power and control boggled. Damn, why could Ranma not have been a boy? With so much power he would surely have produced excellent heirs! But no, his old friend Genma had screwed up, how so often. It was indeed a day to weep.


But this time he did not give in to his emotions, as his anger was keeping the urge to flood the room at bay. "Your explanation better be good, Genma." he ground out.


Akane looked at Ranma with a smirk. "May I?" she asked.


The other girl understood instantly and nodded. Handing her the kettle she smirked too. "But of course, Akane."


Said Tendo girl took the kettle from Ranma and went over to where the panda was cowering. Her smirk betrayed her glee, and moments later a doused Genma Saotome was once more jumping through the living room while trying valiantly to fan himself with some cool air.


Soun was completely unamused and his look betrayed this. His chance to join the schools had gone up in smoke, and everything seemed to be Genma's fault! Once he'd uncovered the whole truth from Genma he'd retreat to his room to weep. Hopefully the insurance would cover the damage he expected. "So, Genma, I hope you have a really good explanation why the son you promised to bring is your daughter instead. And what is this 'Jusenkyo' place all about?"


Genma sat down and sighed heavily. "It all comes back to Jusenkyo, Soun, old friend. The horrors we encountered there are beyond your wildest nightmares…"


Flashback


"Err, ya sure that this is a famous trainings ground, Pop?" Ranma had asked as he had taken a doubtful look at the strange pools of water with long bamboo poles suspended over and between them. "Ain't lookin' like much."


His father had snorted. "Don't doubt your elders, boy, and especially not your father! This 'Jusenkyo' is listed in this guide book I 'found', so it must be. Why else did the locals want to keep us away from here if not because it is very special, eh, boy?"


Ranma had not been convinced, but as this had presented an opportunity to train his balance while dunking his stupid pop into one of the pools at the same time he had not complained any further. "Okay, pop," he had exclaimed as he had jumped onto one of the poles, displaying perfect balance, "lets train!" he had exclaimed as his heavy backpack had slid to the ground.


Genma had grinned while he had done the same. "That's the spirit, boy. Don't forget, you're no weak little girl who whines all the time, you're my manly son. Now prove to your father that you don't punch like a silly, weak girl." he had taunted.


This insult had worked as well as many times before, and soon the fight had been joined. And although it had been visible just how good Genma was, it had been equally visible that Ranma was better. A short exchange of blows later a strong uppercut had penetrated Genma's defences, and the bulky man had landed in one of the springs. "Har har, ya have to do better than that, pop!" Ranma had exclaimed in face of his fathers' bad luck.


During their spar a portly Chinese man in some kind of uniform had appeared and had begun shouting at them, but due to the heat of the battle both father and son had ignored the man. Now Ranma had waited for his old man to resurface from the spring with yet another taunt on his lips, but what had happened next had been completely unexpected. For instead of his father a huge panda had emerged from the spring with a growl.


"Oh no!" the guide had exclaimed. "Honoured customer fell into Shonmaoniichuan - Spring of Drowned Panda. Very tragic story of panda that drown in this spring 2000 year ago. Very very tragic. Now whoever falls into spring take body of panda."


Ranma had stared slack-jawed at the animal that had risen from the spring instead of his father. The words the guide had said barely registered. What had surprised the pigtailed youth even more had been the fact that the panda had assumed his fathers' trademark attack stance and had attacked him immediately. The pigtailed boy had been much too surprised by the strange turn of events and thus he had been totally unprepared for the hard uppercut that had sent him flying.


The trajectory of the punch had sent him straight towards a closed off area of the training grounds, and he had barely heard the worried shouts of the guide. Seconds later he had felt himself impact against something hard. 'Wood.' Ranma's still surprised mind had realised. 'Damn, that fence was thick.' he had added as an afterthought as he had broken through the wooden surface.


Only the toughness he had acquired over the years had saved him from being seriously injured or even killed. Then Ranma had felt yet another impact as he had crashed into yet another thick, wooden surface and had felt himself break through this one too. Finally he had come into contact with the spring itself, and a strange whole-body tingling had overcome him.


Outside the spring the guide had been running in circles while shouting to the heavens. "Oh no! Honoured customer fall into Sayaijinnyannichuan – Spring of drowned female Saiyan! Very tragic story of very beautiful Saiyan female who drown in this spring 200 years ago. Never had anyone fall into this pool. Very very tragic!" he exclaimed.


At just that moment Ranma had resurfaced, and spitting out some water he, or rather she had managed to catch what the guide had said. With trembling hands Ranma checked him, now herself, and truly, Ranma Saotome had sprouted breasts, among other things. Moments later a blood-curling scream had echoed through the area...


End flashback


Coming back to the present Ranma growled, her coal-black eyes flashing. "But that's not the whole story. I had fallen into a pool no one had fallen into before me and which had been sealed due to the power of the being that drowned there, and after the guide did some strange stunt so that we could understand him better he told me that I had apparently been destined for this spring, and that the magic of this particular spring was now gone. Said something that I had a destiny to fulfil and that it would be very hard for me to change back into my birthform until this destiny was fulfilled. But what this destiny could be is anybody's' guess."


Shrugging cutely she looked at the Tendos. "Then the guide led us into a village populated by a strange tribe of women warriors, at least I thought that they were strange when we first arrived in their village. And that's when pops nearly screwed up fatally. The stupid idiot ate the first prize of a tournament, and then this girl, the village champion by the name of Shampoo came over and boy was she annoyed. She wanted to kill stupid pops, but I challenged her for the food and she accepted. I had just gotten used to my new body, at least somewhat, and so the fight was joined. To make a long story short, I won, but that's when things got really weird. Suddenly the girl kissed me on the cheek, and that's when the guide told us what that meant."


"What?" asked Akane breathlessly for the others, and the youngest Tendo girl forgot for the moment that Ranma was supposedly a perverted boy underneath that beautiful girl.


Ranma grimaced. "Those Amazons have a set of very strange laws. When an outsider girl defeats an Amazon warrior, the Amazon has to hunt the outsider to the end of the world and must kill her. And that's what this Shampoo wanted to do. She drew her sword and attacked me but I managed to disarm her. That carried on until suddenly an old troll, or at least I thought that that was what it was, came over and ordered Shampoo to stop. The old woman told me that she had felt my ki, and asked me why it was so unusually strong."


"What happened then?" asked Soun, who was as spell-bound as his daughters.


Ranma shrugged. "Well, I told her what had happened to me, that I had been cursed, that stupid pops had screwed up once again, that I had challenged the girl over the food and so on. Boy did the old ghoul get angry at Shampoo when she heard that she had given the Kiss of Death because of a lost challenge over food! I can tell you, she was that small after Cologne was through with her." she said, and held her fingers a few inches apart.


Akane smiled. "Serves her right. She really sounds like a sore loser."


The redhead smiled back. "Yeah. Turns out that the Kiss of Death was not justified, and Elder Cologne revoked it. Then she brought me over to her hut so that she could see my normal form, so that the other women warriors would not notice that I was male. After a very painful demonstration Cologne nodded to herself, and agreed with the guide. She, too, said that I had a destiny to fulfil, but not even Elder Cologne had an idea what it could be. She said that Jusenkyo had apparently been waiting for the right person to fall into the pool, but what it intends with me even she couldn't say. The old ghoul promised to look into it, though." she explained with a shrug. "After the introductions one day of evaluation followed and she had deemed me worthy of training. And that she did over the next six months while stupid pops was treated as he deserved, the most idiotic male on this planet."


Genma started to protest at that, but a glare from his daughter silenced him. "The training ranged from martial arts to how to speak and write properly, and I mean Mandarin and Japanese. Can you imagine, a Chinese Amazon Elder taught me how to speak and write Japanese properly! She also taught me how to be a woman, for this is what I'll be for most of the time for the rest of my life, as it seems."


Her father wanted to interrupt, but the promise of intense pain in Ranma's eyes silenced him quickly. "At first I hated it and flat out rejected it, but after some time and especially after 'these times of the months' I began to accept it." she explained.


The Tendos had obviously difficulties to absorb all this, and who could have faulted them? It was a lot to take in. Chinese curses, cursed springs, Chinese Amazons, challenges and so on. Suffice to say, the Tendos were flattened like stamps. Genma wanted to shout something, but a death glare from Ranma shut him up. And in the meantime the Saotome patriarch had found out when to better not push Ranma.


After she had called her father to order again Ranma just shrugged once more. "The Elder also opened my eyes and taught me that women are not weak, inferior, stupid or something to despise. She taught me a lot, and I'm really thankful for it. She turned a situation which could have ended badly into something positive. One could say that I combined the teachings of my father with those of Elder Cologne, and thus I have gained a normal outlook on life and people. At least in my opinion." she added with a smile.


Three Tendo girls nodded, whereas one of them glowered. Akane slowly got to her feet. "Ranma, who told you that girls are weak and so on?" she asked, a red aura forming around her.


The pigtailed girl was quite impressed by that. Akane's anger was obviously a force to be reckoned with, but they'd have to do something about it. "Pops here. He taught me his 'values' ever since we were on the road. It took the Elder over a month and a lot of headaches until she had finally driven those ideas out of my head. Now I know better. Especially after what happened at the end of the first month and after the birth of a child I witnessed in the Amazon village." she said, and the other girls raised their brows.


Akane finally nodded absently at Ranma as she was obviously not to blame, and her anger focussed on Genma. "So…" she said dangerously, as she stalked towards Genma, "girls are weak and stupid in your opinion? Something inferior and despicable?"


Genma, being as thick-headed and arrogant as he is, nodded. "Yes, of course. Look at my son over there. I raised him to be a man among men, and what does the idiot boy do once he gets cursed? He wants to stay a weak girl! Oh the shame!"


Soun looked at a steaming Ranma. "Is this true, Ranma? Do you want to stay a girl?" he asked disbelievingly.


Ranma nodded, calming down somewhat. "There are reasons for this, Mr. Tendo. Reasons pops only knows too well." she said with a hard glare. "Pops can be changed back relatively easily, but that's not the case for me. But more to that later. Now I want to know what you mean with that 'joining of the schools' shit you're rambling on about." she stated and turned the heat of her glare up several notches.


Genma pretended that he hadn't seen the glare and snorted. "Boy, you will stop this nonsense instantly and turn back into my son! The joining of the schools is too important as that it could be risked by the selfish wishes of a stupid child." he exclaimed.


Now that he had Soun to back him up he might be able to get the boy to turn back into his son. The idiot boy had stayed a worthless girl for over six months! Now it was high time in his opinion that his son was made to see reason. Soun and he would make him see reason.


As Genma had hoped, Soun nodded. "I agree with you, Genma. The joining of the schools is more important than anything else. Kasumi, the water, please heat it up."


But Kasumi did not react. At least not as Soun would have expected. "Father, I am afraid that I can't comply with your selfish wishes. If Ranma wants to stay a girl, then who am I to help act against her wishes? She is an honoured guest, and it would not be proper."


The Tendo patriarch could not believe it. His sweet and innocent Kasumi was acting against him? Didn't they see how important this was? This was a matter of family honour! "So, if you don't want to help me I'll have to do it myself." he said as he went to fetch the kettle.


As his hands touched it he noticed that it was probably still hot enough, and with a triumphant grin he took the kettle and swung it around in a swift arc. The water flew through the air and cascaded over Ranma. The only thing that happened was that Ranma got wet, otherwise she stayed perfectly female. Moments later the water vaporised and her clothes were dry again.


Soun gaped. "What is this? I thought you said that warm water changed you back into your normal forms! Genma, what happened? Why did it not work on Ranma?"


Said Ranma smirked, while Genma groaned. "Oh, that's just something that baka oyaji learned the hard way. It is not easy to change me back. You wouldn't believe how often my oaf of a father tried to change me back despite of his knowledge that doing so is a lot harder than it's the case for him. I broke him off the habit, and even if you're our host, I will have to break you off the habit too if you continue to try it." she said, and shot an apologetic look towards the other girls.


The three Tendo daughters however understood her perfectly. Akane smiled to herself, as this day was turning out better than she would have expected. The perverted boy she had expected turned out to be a stunningly beautiful girl, and even if she seemed to have been a boy before she was someone she'd love to be friends with. She was polite but seemed to know what she wanted at the same time, and that was something Akane could relate to.


Let alone the way Ranma was carrying herself and how she had carried her pandafied father without any effort spoke volumes about her abilities, and maybe she could even help her with those annoying boys that were pestering her at her school. But first she'd learn more about the redhead.


Nabiki on her part was contemplating how she'd best approach Ranma to ask her about the modelling bit, and Kasumi, well, she was doing what she usually did; she observed the situation while leaving anyone in the belief that she was utterly oblivious.


Soun and Genma had congregated in a corner after Ranma's speech, and they were whispering furiously. But as silently as they whispered, due to her hearing Ranma heard every word.


… "you said that you had a boy, Genma! How shall we join the schools if your so called boy wants to remain a girl? Two girls can't produce an heir to our school!" Soun whispered fiercely.


Genma nodded solemnly. "Don't fear, Tendo, this is only a phase the boy is going through. He must have hit his head when he fell into the spring. But I swear that he'll get better, just give it time. I'm sure this whole nonsense is over soon." he said placatingly. "Maybe if we engage the boy to your youngest…"


Suddenly Ranma was in front of him. Fact, that made the Tendos blink. 'Damn,' were the thoughts of Genma, 'I forgot how good the boy can hear!'


Meanwhile a scowling Ranma had lifted her father bodily off the ground with a casual ease, and the Saotome patriarch could do nothing but sweat as he dangled from a one-handed steel grip. "Oyaji, if you think you can engage me to anyone you have another one coming! No offence, Akane, Nabiki, Kasumi. I just don't want to be engaged to anybody, I want to decide who I marry! Got that?" she asked in a steely voice.


The Saotome patriarch bigsweated. When his son-turned-daughter was like this she reminded him especially of the reason why he had left on the trainings trip in the first place. If Ranma would have had a katana she'd be the spitting image of her mother! And that was a very scary thought. "Boy, you will marry Akane! This is a matter of family honour, and because of giri the schools must be joined!" he exclaimed solemnly, trying to stand his ground although he was dangling several inches above it.


Soun nodded. "This agreement was made before the four of you were even born. It must be followed, and that is final!"


Ranma and Akane growled simultaneously and the redhead let her father drop with a look of contempt on her face while she cracked her knuckles. Genma sweated, and he knew that he would be in a world of pain soon if he and Tendo didn't manage to convince the girls and his wayward son of the necessity of their plan soon.


The youngest Tendo daughter was red-faced and expressed her feelings rather loudly. "If you think that I'm going to marry another girl then you have another thing coming, dad! I'm no dyke!" she exclaimed with conviction.


Before anyone could say anything Nabiki butted in. "Sis, Ranma, we have to talk. The dojo, now. Kasumi, it would be good if you'd keep an eye on the two fathers."


Kasumi nodded, and smiled at the two older men. "Should I serve some sake for the two of you, father?" she asked sweetly and apparently innocently.


Soun looked at Genma, who looked back. "Hmm, if you're asking me this way, daughter…"


"My thoughts exactly, Tendo. Soon Ranma will see clear, and then the schools will be joined. Lets celebrate!" Genma exclaimed.


Soon Kasumi had served the sake, and the two old men were out of the way, just as Kasumi had planned. Yes, sometimes it did pay off to be viewed as oblivious and innocent, as it served her goals so well. For years she had had to care for her family, and she had been the one to maintain the peace in the household.


Now it seemed as if endeavours had to be made on her part to keep the peace in the family from being disrupted, and it looked as if she'd have to stock up on the sake to keep this Genma and her father occupied. It was essential that the other girls found a solution to this mess, for father was right, this was a matter of giri and it could not be ignored. But maybe it could be solved.


Meanwhile in the Dojo


The three girls had seated themselves onto the ground of the dojo and had made themselves as comfortable as possible. Nabiki was as cool and collected as ever, while Akane and Ranma were still steaming because of the behaviour their respective fathers had displayed. "Why did you hold us back, Nabiki?" Akane asked heatedly. "They can't do this to us!"


Ranma nodded empathically. "Yeah, if they think they can spring that at us they really have another thing coming! Stupid idiots!" she added.


Akane agreed empathically. "If they engage us my reputation at school will be completely shot! Because I'm beating up those idiotic boys every morning the girls at school already think that I'm a dyke! But I only hate those perverts who only think with a certain part of their body, and not males in general. If dad pushes the engagement I'll have no other choice but to use him for malleting target practise."


Nabiki sighed. It would apparently be a long day. "Listen up, you two, this is more complicated than it looks. Father said that the agreement between him and your father, Ranma, was made a long time ago. It is an honour pact that involves the honour of both families, which shows how important it is to them. And you can count on it that they'll do just about anything to join the schools. So, before you say anything, I need some information from you, Ranma."


The pigtailed girl, who had been silently steaming, switched into the soul of ice she had learned from Cologne. That particular technique came in very handy especially in face of the temper she had gained ever since her getting cursed at Jusenkyo. "Okay, ask away." she finally said in a calm voice.


As well Akane as Nabiki looked at her in wonderment. One second Ranma had been silently steaming, and the next she was calm and controlled. How? And where could she learn it too? "First of all, how did you do it? I mean, here you were ready to explode just a few seconds ago, and now you're as cool as a fridge."


Ranma smirked. "This is due to a handy little technique I learned from Elder Cologne. Ever since I got cursed I had a lot of problems with my temper, and baka oyaji ended up pounded flat more often than not; which is not a bad thing, mind you. In fact, right after I had been cursed I hunted him down and pounded him until he had spirals for eyes and could move no longer."


Nabiki nodded as she absorbed it, while Akane grinned at the prior predicament of the panda. "Okay, next question. Why do you want to stay a girl? You were a boy, weren't you? How complete is the change? And do you change in mind?"


The pigtailed girl thought for a moment. "Yes, I started out as a boy. Why do I want to stay a girl? Better ask why I can't stay a boy. That has to do with my curse. Pops can change back into a human with warm or hot water from 100 F upwards. Me, well that's a different story. For some reason I can only change back into my male form with really hot, scalding water. To change back I need water with a temperature above 200 F. Surely you can imagine how much that hurts. It's nearly impossible for me to change back, and each time I did I had to endure pain beyond imagination. And for the few minutes that I stay a boy before cold water finds me, that's just not worth enduring that much pain."


At seeing their incredulous stares Ranma elaborated. "That's the nastiest part of the curse. You're turned into a water magnet and will attract cold fluids everywhere. Literally. It's impossible to go in my birthform without getting splashed. I can't go five minutes in my boy-form without a water-based accident."


The Tendo sisters nodded, accepting her word for that. "And what happened after you got cursed?" asked Akane.


"Well, at first I tried to change back every day; I just could not stand the thought that I could not be male for 24/7. But regardless how much I tried, not even this body's endurance for pain could cope with the pain from water so hot; each time I tried I passed out from pain and shock." the redhead said with a grimace.


Both Tendo girls grimaced too, imagining the pain it would bring to douse oneself with water so hot. "You mentioned that you got tougher through training, Ranma. Why is it that you can't stand the hot water then?" asked Nabiki.


Ranma grimaced. "I don't really know, but I have a theory. The skin of a female is tenderer than that of a male. It reacts more sensitively to changes in temperature, for example. That's valid for humans, and it also seems to be valid for a Saiyan. My endurance for hot water in this form is higher than that of oyaji, but it seems that I have gotten to a point where it can't be raised any more; the natural resistance of this body only seems to go that far. Add to it that I'm already half-way transformed into my birthform when the boiling water hits. The pain is excruciating. If I were a male Saiyan in my other form things might be different, but I got turned into a female Saiyan. Not that I mind any more, though."


Akane and Nabiki accepted that. "It must have been hard on you, Ranma. Not that I mind that you're a girl now instead of a boy, for all boys are perverts, but it must have been difficult to get used to being a girl." the younger Tendo sister said.


The redhead nodded, letting Akane's comment about boys slide. She'd made her own experiences after all. "It was. At first I didn't want to accept it at all, and for a long time I still didn't give up and tried to get my body used to the pain; but it was to no avail. After some time I had to accept that I'd be a girl more often than a boy. Pops however was a different matter. For some reason he always tried to change me back into a boy regardless of the unbearable pain; he wanted and still wants me to stay male and manly as much as possible for some reason. But I have accepted that this isn't possible. And besides, there are compensations." the redhead said with a smile.


"Compensations, Ranma? Which?" asked Nabiki. "And how complete is the change?"


"The compensation is power, Nabiki. A lot of power. In this form I'm so much more powerful, and I can do a lot that I could never do in my boy form. I'm much stronger, tougher, I heal faster and even get stronger when I get injured and heal. And as it is the sworn duty of a martial artist to protect the weak to the best of ones abilities it's only logical. Hmm, as far as I know, the change is complete, plus an extra." she said chagrined.


That picked the other girls curiosity. "Extra?" they asked in unison.


Ranma nodded. "Remember, I fell into the spring of drowned female Saiyan. The guide said they're an extinct alien warrior race or something." she said with a shrug. "And although this form may look human, there is one major external difference."


"Really?" Akane asked. "Which?"


The red-haired girl looked somewhat chagrined. "Don't think me a pervert or anything now, but this is a part of my body as much as the rest. So please, don't freak out now, okay?"


Nabiki and Akane looked at each other, and both asked themselves what was to come now. But to reassure Ranma they both nodded. Slowly Ranma got up, and once she stood the brown belt, which actually had never been a belt, uncurled from around her waist and swished behind her.


Predictably Akane's and Nabiki's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. "Is this… for real?" Akane finally asked, and beat her sister to the punch.


Ranma nodded. "Yes. This is my tail. Whatever that Saiyan was that drowned in that spring 200 years ago, she had a tail. And so do I now." she said. "I hope you're not mad at me that I hid it until now, but it's rather… private."


The two younger Tendo daughters looked at each other and nodded. "Of course we understand, Ranma. It's just that we were a little… surprised." said Akane. "Say, Ranma, are there other physical differences beside that one? And do you change in mind too?" she asked curiously.


Ranma, who was relieved that they had not rejected her nodded. "The second question first, as Nabiki wanted to know too: Elder Cologne told me that one won't change unless one wants it, deep inside. I have gotten used to this body more and more, and most important, I have accepted it. Especially since it didn't give me an instant power-up. To tell you the truth, I wasn't that much stronger than I had been in my birthform when I got cursed. I had to train loads to improve, and that really hard. I would have hated to get an instant power-up without doing anything for it in return, but as that wasn't the case I'm quite happy with that form. I have to train as hard as ever, I only improve at a better rate than before. Through that I'm now a lot stronger than in my normal form, I'm also faster, tougher, my reactions and reflexes are better, and my senses are enhanced. In short, this is a warrior's body, and I like it. Akane, I have seen that you can raise a battle-aura. Want to see how we measure up?"


Akane nodded. "Okay. But I can only truly raise mine when I'm angry." she admitted a bit embarrassed.


The pigtailed girl smiled. "No problem, Akane. We'll work on this."


The youngest Tendo daughter stared at Ranma. "Really? Could you really help me? And how good are you?"


Ranma smiled. "I'm one of the best. Watch." she said, and raised her full battle-aura.


Seconds later a bluish-white glow encompassed Ranma's body and steadily increased in size and apparent power. The air fairly seemed to crackle with energy, and then Ranma let her aura diminish once again. Finally she looked at the awed girls. "And this is something I can only do when I'm a girl, and it makes being a girl a lot easier for me. Can you understand that this is something I don't want to give up?"


Both Akane and Nabiki could only nod. This was by far the most impressive display of power they had seen as of yet. It was really no wonder that Ranma wanted to stay this way if she only had this amount of power when a girl. "Yes," Nabiki finally said, "I can understand that easily. But the two old men inside are a completely different matter and might even delude themselves into thinking your 'affliction' might be easy to overcome. They're hell-bent to join the schools, and frankly, I think they don't care if they rob you off that power and your happiness in the process. All daddy has been talking about since he received the card from your father is 'the joining of the schools'. And honestly, I hate that he never said a single word about the agreement between our families." she stated.


Akane nodded empathically. "No offence against you, Ranma, but if I have to marry someone I want to be able to choose. I want to get to know that person beforehand, and I sure as hell won't marry one of those perverted boys of my age. They're all perverts!"


Ranma nodded too. "I understand that. Pop never told me anything about the agreement and that I had to pick a fiancée. Like you two I want to pick out the one for me and don't want to have it decided for me, so I can relate. Aside from that, I'm far too young for marriage. But what is it with the boys here being perverts, Akane? I don't understand that bit." she said.


The youngest Tendo daughter growled. "It has everything to do with those stupid morning fights! Every single morning a mob of about thirty to forty boys attack me as they want to defeat me in order to get me to date them. And the idiot whose fault it is, the one who started the whole mess is an upperclassman named Tatewaki Kuno. The guy is as loony as they come, and when I declined his offer to date me he declared that whoever wanted to date me had to defeat me in combat. Oh how I hate those stupid, perverted boys!" she exclaimed, and a red aura swirled around her.


The red-haired girl whistled to herself. Akane had a lot of potential, if only she could get her anger under control. "I see. And no one has done anything against it? I mean, why doesn't the principal do something about it? Or the police? As you describe it this is nothing short of assault and attempted rape! This can not be allowed to go on!" she exclaimed with conviction, and Akane smiled thankfully at the other girl for her support.


Nabiki sighed. "Believe me, I have tried to shut them down. But no one is able to do a thing about it, and the principal is the root of the problem. He is Tatewaki's father, and the lunacy runs in the family. Sadly the man has also a lot of influence in the ward; and add to it that the Kuno family is one of the richest in Japan. The guy has contacts everywhere, so he's able to keep everything under wraps. The only thing I could do so far was make a bad situation a bit better for our finances. I'm even selling photos of Akane to Kuno, for the situation is as bad as it can get. But at least we're earning some money through it and manage to keep the dojo afloat."


Akane snorted. "Yeah, but at my expense. I really hate those stupid fights and wish those idiotic perverted boys would grow a brain more up here." she said and pointed to her head. "Especially Kuno. I'm glad that Nabiki could always prevent Kuno from buying any candid shots of me."


Nabiki nodded. "You know, Ranma, father does not work any more and has not for now over three years. After our mother died ten years ago he just stopped to be the father we knew, and in his place was what seems to be a bad copy of him. Ever since then we had to take care of matters ourselves. Kasumi takes care of the family, I earn the money, mostly through betting, which is also what I meant regarding the morning fights, and Akane concentrates on school and the Art, as far as she can." she explained.


Ranma absorbed this information. "Damn. Now that really takes the fruitcake. One loon who can do what he wants because the even greater loon runs the loony bin; and nobody can do anything because of his connections. Just great. Akane," she said, "would you mind if I took on those boys and showed them what it means to make the practitioners of the Musabetsu Kakuto angry? I know you are a fellow martial artist and I respect that you want to solve your own problems, but it would be my honour to help you."


Akane pondered this. "Just how strong are you, physically? I mean, your aura is really something else, but how good are you really?" she asked.


She had to know for herself if Ranma was maybe good enough to teach her, seeing as her father had stopped doing so long ago. She had seen how the redhead had handled her own father, and from that alone Akane could guess that she probably no longer held the title of being the best martial artist in Nerima. But instead of being jealous Akane told herself that she could learn from this Ranma, a Ranma, who had apparently decided to live as a girl. Which was a good thing in her book. For she doubted that she would have been able to accept a boy as her sensei.


The pigtailed girl got to her feet. "I have got an idea, Akane. I'll do one of the advanced kata of my branch, 150 moves, as fast and powerful as I can. Okay?"


This was good enough for the fellow student of the Musabetsu Kakuto. "Sure. Begin whenever you want."


Ranma smiled, and began to move. Or rather to blur from existence. The girl moved so fast that she left afterimages, and once more Nabiki and Akane sat there with their mouths hanging open. From time to time an especially powerful punch or kick would disrupt the air, and two minutes later the pigtailed girl had finished the kata, and that without being the least bit out of breath to boot.


Akane and Nabiki were still gaping like fish out of the water, while Ranma made some stretches to cool down, completely unaware of how sexy it looked. Akane was glad that she hadn't asked the other girl to spar, for she would have been creamed with embarrassing ease. "I'll be damned…" she said, and Nabiki nodded. "I second that notion, sis. That was… unbelievable!"


The Saotome girl blushed. "Gee, thanks, guys. But see what ya did? Ya made me blush!" she exclaimed with a giggle.


Nabiki and Akane looked at each other, snorted and giggled too. "Ranma, answer me this: what are you now? A girl with a boy's mind or a complete girl?" Nabiki asked, after she had calmed down.


The other girl sat down cross-legged on the ground. "To be honest, I have no idea. I was born male, but this body begins to feel like 'home' more and more. And the more powerful and better I get the more the feeling increases; that's something that also scares me, for it feels as if I'm losing a part of me. But I have stayed a girl for over six months now and I really start to feel comfortable as one. This feeling of strength and power feels so good, and because of the training I do I'm getting stronger still."


"What! You're getting even stronger?" Akane asked incredulous. "I'd have thought that what you showed us is as good as one can get…" she muttered.


Ranma looked sheepish. "Not by a long shot, Akane. And yes, I am getting stronger. It seems to be one of the extras of this body. I found out about it first when I got into real training with the Elder. When I get hurt and heal, I get stronger. One time the Elder beat me within an inch of my life in the beginnings of the training, and when I was healed my power had increased tremendously. I even had her repeat the procedure after I was healed to test my theory, but it held true. Every time I got beaten up really bad and healed I got loads stronger and faster. Now, after six months of training I can do things I never dreamed of, and at the moment I'm working on making ki-blasts which are not based on emotions."


Akane and Nabiki both boggled. "You mean, if someone beats you up and you manage to get away and heal, you'll get stronger and will be able to beat this person the next time around?" Nabiki asked disbelieving.


The Saotome girl nodded once more. "Yes. After two months of training with the Elder I was able to best her, and I made an agreement with her that I'd be exempt from the outsider rules; for once she had realised how powerful I was and that I was becoming even stronger she said that the tribe was no place for me. She feared that if I stayed with the tribe the other Elders could become fearful of my growing power, and she must have noticed fast that I don't like to be chained to a place. She knew that if they'd tried to force me I'd have rebelled. And with the training and power I have I might have brought their whole tribe down. Elder Cologne saw that I need my freedom, and she respected it."


Akane and Nabiki nodded in understanding. To be chained to one place really sucked; sure, to have a home one could return to was always a good thing, but it should not become the only place where a person stayed. The redhead grinned. "Normally the Amazons would either have tried to bring me into the tribe or to kill me, but as I was a special case, Elder Cologne put her foot down and said no in her function as the leader of the tribe. Now I'm an ally of the tribe, and I and all my descendents will be forever exempt from the outsider rules."


The youngest Tendo girl snorted. "Those are stupid rules anyway. I'm glad that they did not try to make you stay there."


Nabiki agreed. "Yes, it sounds… uncivilised."


Ranma smirked. "Oh, some of them did try alright, but between us, Elder Cologne and I were able to convince those who tried to lay off pretty quickly. And when I asked the Elder why she was teaching me all those Amazon techniques which are supposed to be a closely guarded secret she told me that she considered me as her heir concerning martial arts; said something to the effect that it was good that their treasure was safe in Japan should Beijing ever find out about their tribe. Her great-granddaughter Shampoo, the one who gave me the kiss of death, is to become her heir within the tribe, an heir to her political position. Cologne said that Shampoo would never become as good as me, so she made me her heir regarding fighting. Said something that she'd recognise a fellow warrior when she saw one, and that I was to become one of the greatest. Her words, not mine." she added with a smile.


After Nabiki and Akane had absorbed this, Nabiki threw her hands in the air. "Damn, you're a lot to take in, you know that?" she said with amusement.


Ranma smirked. "If you mean that I'm a major headache, then yes, I have been told before." she said with a straight face.


Akane was the first to snort, then Nabiki followed, and finally the three girls erupted into full-blown laughter. After they had recovered somewhat Akane slapped Ranma on the back. "I haven't laughed that good in a while, Ranma, and I'm glad that you did not turn out to be some perverted boy. I'd like to be your friend, and if you would teach me, I'd like to call you sensei." she said seriously.


The Saotome girl took on a serious look too. "Akane, I'd like to be your friend too. And I'd be honoured to be your sensei; however, there're some things that have to be cleared up before we can start the training. Don't take this the wrong way, Akane, but I noticed from your aura that you have quite a temper, and that it's easily triggered. I suspect that your temper is caused by those morning fights, and also by another factor, but I'm not so clear on that one in my reading. But before I can start to teach you in earnest you have to learn how to control your emotions, for in a fight you have already lost if you give in to your emotions. Anger is especially bad, as it leads the fighter to become careless. And getting careless will give your opponent the advantage he or she might need to kill you. I don't want my friends to get killed, do you understand?" she asked with big black eyes, not knowing how cute it made her look.


The youngest Tendo daughter had wanted to spring up to exclaim that she had no temper, but after listening to Ranma's logical and true explanation she knew in her heart that Ranma knew, and that she was right. After all, Ranma had admitted that she'd had temper problems herself, and she had dealt with them. She had admitted weakness and that made her the more symphatic.


With her as her sensei she might finally be able to deal with her own temper too. "I understand, Ranma. I am willing to learn, but be patient with me. Those boys at school really drive me over the edge, for I hate how they try to force themselves onto me. I'd be more than glad if you'd teach them a lesson they won't forget." she said with an evil smirk.


Nabiki as well as Ranma smirked too. Indeed, she, Nabiki would lose a source of income if the betting on the morning fights ceased, but that would be more than worth it. The stress from the fights was grating on the nerves of her sister at an increasing rate, and she'd tried everything to stop them, but without success. Maybe Ranma would succeed where she'd failed. If Kuno got hurt in the process, well, the better.


Meanwhile Ranma nodded towards Akane. "It will be my pleasure. The first thing I'm going to teach you is the 'soul of ice'. It's the technique I used to calm myself down some minutes ago, and it's very effective."


"How effective, Ranma?" Akane wanted to know.


Ranma blushed somewhat. "Let me say it this way: when I got my first period I was very moody and temperamental, which was also the reason why Elder Cologne taught me the soul of ice earlier than she wanted to. But after I had beaten up two male Amazons for looking at me the wrong way she deemed this necessary. And believe me, if it managed to calm me down, it will calm you down too."


"You... you already had your period?" Akane queried, somewhat embarrassed about asking such a perverted question; but she figured that it was alright with Ranma being a fellow girl.


The Saotome girl nodded. "Yes. Six times now. But when I got it the first time in the village I thought I'd die. I mean, I was suddenly bleeding… from down there! And baka pops had never given me the 'talk'! Had Elder Cologne not taken me aside and explained everything to me I would have died from embarrassment! Thus I only beat baka oyaji within an inch of his worthless life after I had received the necessary items. And ever since then I feel that I'm a woman in this body, for which guy can claim that he has had his period?"


The two Tendo sisters nodded. That made sense. "But how did you manage to prevent turning into a boy when our father splashed you with warm water? Oh, it was probably not hot enough, eh?" Nabiki inquired.


Ranma smirked. "No, it wasn't. Even if it had been, it wouldn't have worked anyway."


"Huh? What do you mean? I thought water hotter than 200 F would change you back." queried Akane.


The redhead nodded. "Normally it would. It just wouldn't work because of a revision of the soul of ice I invented. You know, I have a lot of ki at my disposal, and when I say a lot I mean a lot. When I combine this with the soul of ice I can instantly cool down any warm or scalding hot water that comes into contact with me. After one month of baka pops trying to change me back with scalding hot water that became instinct, and now I keep my soul of ice revised up like a shield. It's also an excellent ki-building technique. Meanwhile I just feel more comfortable in this body, and I would not want to miss the power I have in this form. It would be as if someone would cut your arm off." she explained.


Akane looked thoughtful. "I understand, Ranma. If I had acquired such power through training my body, even if it's a cursed form I would not want to lose it either. But what about your curse, even though you don't seem to see it as one. Are there any cures your father could try to use on you?"


The pigtailed girl shook her head. "Nope. Both the guide and the Elder were quite distinct on that one. There are no cures for Jusenkyo curses, and I have accepted that. Baka oyaji can wail all he wants about what an dishonour his son is, for from now on I'm his daughter more often than not, if he wants it or not. There is nothing he can do about it." she said with a smirk.


Akane grinned, while Nabiki put a hand to her chin, indicating that she was deep in thought. While Ranma and Akane held some small talk and became more acquainted with each other, Nabiki thought up a plan how to get the old men off their backs. It was clear that Akane wanted to learn from Ranma, and Ranma would also be good for her if she'd convince her to become a model. The only problem in that regard might be her tail, but considering Nerimas' usual weirdness maybe not. She'd find a solution for this potential problem, as always.


Finally a grin entered her face, and she nodded to herself. That could work. "Sorry to interrupt you two, but I just concocted something that might get the old farts off of our backs and be profitable for us, all of us."


Her younger sister looked at her suspiciously. "Come on Nabiki, I know you, what is in it for you?"


Nabiki put a hand over her heart and pretended to have been shot. "Ahh, that hurts! My own sister, my own flesh and blood, thinking something like that of me!" she exclaimed theatrically.


Ranma giggled, as she found that highly amusing, but Akane was not impressed. "Quit acting, sis. What is in for you?"


"Okay, okay," the middle Tendo daughter said. "Ranma, as you heard before, our budget is very tight, and with you two essentially being freeloaders we'll hardly manage. But I have a plan to solve this, and here you come into play. First, please hear me out, as this might be somewhat unexpected from your sight, but it is the only way to earn enough money. Second, please think about it."


When Ranma had nodded Nabiki began her explanation. "Okay, here goes. Ranma, I have a lot of contacts, and for someone with your looks I could set up a modelling career in addition to your martial arts. We can time everything as we wish, and the payment will be good. It would only be one phone-call, and it would trigger and avalanche. I know you might be uncomfortable with the idea, but it is the only thing that came to mind. Even getting your father to work would not help much. But he will have to anyway." she said with an evil smirk.


The red-haired girl slowly nodded to herself as she absorbed this information. Had she been asked two months ago she'd have said "Hell, no!", but now that she was apparently going to live with the Tendos, a family who could hardly support themselves, concessions had to be made.


And besides, maybe her baka father would actually blow a fuse. "Okay, Nabiki. If you can set this up, and I mean professionally, then do it. From your portrayal I know how hard it is for you to earn the money, and I'll do all I can to help, as long as the photos are not humiliating or anything. If so, the photographer, and by proxy you, would see me angry. Okay?" she asked with a fake-pleasant smile.


Nabiki nodded. Ranma was apparently no one to fool around with, and she had more than enough power to back herself up. "Deal. Now to our mutual share. I was thinking about 50/50, as this would be fair for all parties concerned. I'd set up a bank-account for you and me, and only the two of us would be able to access our respective accounts. Am I right to assume that your father is not to be trusted?"


Ranma nodded empathically. "Definitely. He would spend any money he could get his hands on for food and sake, and you'd see the money we earned dwindling at a rate that wouldn't even be remotely funny. No, he must not have access. That is very important." she said with chagrin. Then she smiled at the older girl. "That aside, you just got yourself a deal. Now, what was the rest of your plan?"


The middle Tendo daughter rejoiced inwardly. That had gone better than expected, and it was a relief that she would not have to take candid shots of Ranma. For she was not sure if this would not have been detrimental to her health. And as soon as this worked out she'd also stop selling photos of her baby sis to Kuno. "Well, the foundation for our plan is a possibility for you to stay here, Ranma, ideally with the fathers off all our backs. At the same time it must seem as if the agreement is still accomplishable. Therefore we must present our father an incentive and make your father content with the situation. That's where you two come in. Ranma, for this to work out you'll have to be a boy for a short amount time. Only as long as it takes to say, that you two are taking up the engagement."


"WHAT!" both Akane and Ranma exclaimed.


Nabiki smirked. She had expected this reaction. "But only to fool the fathers. They shall think that their 'joining of the schools' is still possible, and once they do think that we'll make them sign our contract and turn the tables on them. We could make it seem as if the two of you are lesbians, and as I plan to set up a foolproof contract they won't be able to back out of when we turn the tables. Thus you two won't be forced into anything and can live your lives without any interference from the fathers. As soon as they sign the contract they won't be able to do a thing, trust me. We'll all be able to live in peace and in the end the agreement will go up in smoke. So what do you say?"


Akane and Ranma looked at each other. Ranma, for her part, had still no idea if she liked girls, boys or both, but she knew that she still liked girls, so she'd be able to act the part. Akane, for her part, was unsure, but as nobody had to know at school she mused it would be possible to act around the fathers as if they were lesbians. With one final look at each other they nodded. Alas, the sacrifices that had to be made in the name of the greater good. "Okay," they said in unison, "but we'll only act the part around the fathers. If it's necessary at all."


The youngest Tendo daughter glared at her sister. "To put one thing straight, there's no way in hell I'm acting like a dyke at school, Nabiki! I prefer men, as you well know. I just hate the perverted boys around my age!"


The middle Tendo daughter smirked. Now that had been funny, and those blushes were even funnier. "Sure. Now to the contract. Let me think a bit about the wording…"


And that she did. After ten minutes Nabiki had come up with a contract she considered as fool-proof, and if the Ice-queen of Furinkan considered something fool-proof then it usually was. Ranma went to the bathroom with Akane, seeing as she had asked her to wake her, or rather him up after she had changed into a boy.


The shock from the scalding hot water always led to her passing out from the pain for several minutes, another reason why she hated to do that; a warrior could not afford to be unprotected for such a long timespan. To change back she dropped her soul of ice revised and used her ki to warm the water to temperatures of above 200 F, and when she dumped the water over herself a loud yell of pain echoed through the house. It was symptomatic for the fathers that they didn't even come to investigate, and a worried Kasumi was informed by Nabiki about the going-ons.


Ten minutes later Akane had managed to wake the now male Ranma back up. Being changed into a boy for the first time in months disorientated Ranma and pain from the change plus the difference in power made him nearly stumble.


Akane surveyed the now male Ranma and she had to admit that he looked quite handsome. But in her mind she had already associated the tall good-looking girl with Ranma, so in her mind this boy before her was the cursed form.


Nabiki was waiting in the hallway, and once she laid eyes on Ranma she nearly wolf-whistled. He was certainly easy on the eyes, but it was undeniable that the certain aura of power that female-Ranma had was missing. Nevertheless, it would be a loss for the female part of the species that Ranma would be a girl more often than not.


Moments later the three entered the living room, and Soun Tendo actually erupted in tears upon seeing the male Ranma. "WAAAAAAAAAAH! Genma, you were right! It only took my wonderful daughters to convince the boy of his follies! WAAAAAAAAAAH!" he exclaimed.


Genma nodded sagely. "See, Tendo, I knew the boy would finally see reason."


Ranma suppressed a shudder while he outwardly tried to look at least neutral. They had decided to leave the talking to Nabiki, and thus she stepped forward. "Daddy, we have made a decision regarding the agreement, and Akane and Ranma will take it, at least for now. There are, however, certain conditions, which are not negotiable." she began, and the steel in her voice proved her point.


The fathers nodded, surprised, and waited for what was to come now. "Go on, daughter." Soun finally said.


Nabiki nodded. Things like these she loved, and with a neutral expression she pulled out a document and began to read.
"Paragraph One: Tendo Akane and Saotome Ranma as the engaged parties are to decide about the engagement as said individuals see fit. Decisions made by Tendo Akane and / or Saotome Ranma are to abide by and can not be changed by Tendo Soun and / or Saotome Genma."

"Paragraph Two: Living arrangements
(1) Saotome Ranma is to be provided with a room that is not to be shared by Saotome Genma.
(2) Neither Tendo Kasumi, Tendo Nabiki nor Tendo Akane will give up their rooms to make space for Saotome Genma. Any arrangements have to be made between Saotome Genma and Tendo Soun.
(3) Herewith the action labelled as wakening call, further specified as throwing buckets of water at Saotome Ranma or other actions to wake up specified individual are required to be refrained from."

"Paragraph Three: No one aside from Saotome Ranma and Tendo Akane has the final decision regarding if a marriage will ever take place or not."

"Paragraph Four: No hypothetical marriage will take place until both Saotome Ranma and Tendo Akane have at least finished highschool, preferably college. The decision about this paragraph is solely up to the engaged parties and can neither be influenced nor changed by Tendo Soun and Saotome Genma."

"Paragraph Five: Duration of stay and possible extension; exceptions to
(1) Saotome Ranma is welcome to stay at the Tendo dojo for as long as highschool and college are attended, but at least for the next four years; this is valid even if Saotome Genma should not be welcome in this house any more at any given point in time. Any decision about Saotome Genmas' stay at the dojo is solely up to Tendo Kasumi, Tendo Nabiki and Tendo Akane.
(2) Depending on the period of time Saotome Ranma needs to finish the education of choice the timespan of the specified individuals stay might be exalted; the passing of a resolution in this regard is solely up to the above mentioned Tendo sisters."

"Paragraph Six: Saotome Ranma will be searching for a cure to said individuals affliction."

"Paragraph Seven: Any try to initiate the process of the 'joining of the schools' is required to be refrained from. Meddling or outside interference in regards of above listed paragraphs is prohibited and punishable."

"Paragraph Eight: Contractual penalty in case of offending behaviour, e.g. prohibited and punishable actions as listed above
In that case the offending party is sentenced to pay a sum of 25,000 Yen per punishable behaviour."


Soun and Genma looked at each other, and both groaned. "Damn, my head hurts. You sure that she's no lawyer, Tendo?"


Before Soun could answer a chuckle escaped Ranma, and the fathers looked at her. "No wonder that your head hurts, oyaji. That's your brain trying to comprehend its own stupidity."


"Very funny, boy." growled Genma while Akane and even Kasumi snickered, the latter behind her hand. Nabiki kept her countenance of course, but even she was amused. It would indeed be funny to make the pandas' life hell; especially after what Ranma had told them about her upbringing, if it could be called that.


Ranma and Akane looked at each other and grinned; to irritate Genma was fun. The reactions of their fathers to the contract Nabiki had drawn up were also much to their liking. The originator of the contract looked up from said piece of brilliance she had concocted and barely managed to keep in her smirk at seeing the fathers' faces. They were rather pale and whimpered, much to her amusement.


Nabiki looked coldly at the fathers. "These are the conditions, and if they're not accepted by you, each and every single one, then the engagement is off and the agreement will be dissolved. As it was only a vocal agreement with no witnesses dissolving it would be child's play. Try to go to court and you will be laughed out, that I guarantee. Especially considering some of the things Mr. Saotome has done in the past…" she said, and left untold volumes hanging in the air, which made Soun raise a brow and Genma sweat blood. "If you agree, you'll have a written agreement, which will be a lot better than the vocal, which is worth naught. So decide, and decide now, or the engagement goes up in smoke here and now."


Soun turned to Genma, and the two old men congregated in the corner, and soon furious whispers could be heard. Finally both fathers came up again. "We accept." they said together, as they had realised that they really had no choice but to agree. Everything Nabiki had said was true, and having a written pact was indeed way better.


The parties involved signed the contract, and two girls and one boy grinned at each other, and also Kasumi smiled her secret smile. They had done it, and the resistance they had had to overcome had been minimal, which had been surprising. But an easy victory was a victory after all.


After that the Tendos and Saotomes consumed the lunch Kasumi had prepared in the meantime, and especially Nabiki noticed that it had indeed been a good idea to convince Ranma to become a model. The way the two Saotomes ate, but especially Ranma, they'd probably have to buy an additional fridge. 'Probably about giant-sized.' Nabiki thought wryly. Oh yes, with the two Saotomes living here life was bound to get interesting. Little did the Tendos know just how interesting.


to be continued…


Many thanks to those of you who were kind enough to leave reviews for the last chapter:


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Replies to those questions and comments that caught my eye:


Is Ranma stuck as a girl now or can he change back and forth?

No, Ranma is not stuck; but due to the temperature needed to change back he'll live as a she more often than not.


The only serious issue I would have will probably be coming up at a later date. AKA UBER RANMA! I just don't think that an almighty Ranma helps the story develop and makes it pretty onesided read.

True. But that Ranma received a Saiyan body does not guarantee instant power. She'll have to train hard to improve, it's just that it's easier for Saiyans to improve in comparison to humans. But even not that much easier, as DBZ showed. It's just that the upper limits of the power-levels Saiyans can reach are much higher.


Are you going to continue Legend reborn?

Of course I am.


The entire idea of 'Spring of Drowned Saiyan' has been abused so many times it's not even clever, or new. I mean, the last fic you updated was the same base idea, only with male Saiyan.

As pointed out by some other reviewers, the idea of a Saiyan female Ranma has seldom been used. I, for my part didn't find any such fics here on f f . n e t and thought to try out this variant to look where it'll lead me.


Are u going to make Ranma so beautiful as in other stories like blonde 1/2 or dna 1/2 where when anyone sees her, they fall in love or something like that or is the cloak hiding the fact that there is something more sinister to the curse?

The female Saiyan Ranma is at least beautiful enough to be modelling, though the tail might pose a problem. But in other words, she's a major looker; I'm sure the unwanted male attention is going to annoy Ranma verily…


If he's stronger as a girl, will they keep splashing him all the time?

Genma and Soun will probably continue to do so, but as seen here Ranma has techniques to stop that…


If Ranma can change back will he be human, half human or Saiyan?

Ranma is a pureblooded Saiyan in female Saiyan form and a full human in birthform.


It'd be really funny when you bring Ryoga in to have him have the same curse as Ranma cause the P-chan thing is getting old and Ranma wont have to suffer alone.

That's an interesting thought. Ryoga with the same curse… that has possibilities. I might use that suggestion; for I agree, the P-chan thing is really getting old.


A full-blooded female Saiyan was never really touched upon in the Dragonball series and that gives you a lot of room to work with in appearance, nature, biology, standing in Saiyan society, ect.

I agree with you, there's a lot of room to work with in several regards; the few times one could see them (in DBZ movie 'Bardock', as some reviewers pointed out) left a lot open.


Can't see this story as smth really large though, but 4-7 chapters full of fun is almost a granted.

To be honest, I have no idea how many chapters this story is going to encompass; I never know with my stories.


Will the DBZ gang show up soon?

I haven't decided yet when they will; as Ranma is still relatively weak as of yet it might take some time. But I'll clarify that later.


Oh and one more thing...although Ranma/Akane isn't my fav pairing...you should be a little nicer about it...

I know, and I was, wasn't I:D Akane just had a bad day at school, that was all.


I wonder when she'll go super, and if the curse will be locked like that.

It will be some time until Ranma will go Super. She's still much too weak and has loads of training ahead of her before her power-level is high enough. Then there's still the fact that she has to find the driving needs that's required to transform.
As for the curse being locked like that, interesting idea, but probably not.


Wonder what Nodoka will say if she ever comes.

That will indeed be an interesting meeting. I'll try to bring her into this story a lot earlier than the canon did.


I think the Saiyan curse should be strong enough to lap over into his male half making him at least 1/2 Saiyan in both Forms.

That's something I'm considering.