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 many others. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Note further that I don't own any of the trademarks mentioned in this story. So suing is senseless.

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.


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Chapter 3: Life with Genma


The first thing Ranma did after lunch was to pat his belly. It had been a long time since their leave-taking from the Amazon village that he had had the occasion to enjoy food this good, and a content sigh indicated how satisfied Ranma was.


Soun and Genma had long since retreated to the shogi board to play, and only the three Tendo sisters and the male Ranma were left at the table. Together the four began to clean said table, and the pigtailed youth placed the dishes in the sink. Just at the moment the moment he turned away from the sink the cold-water-pipe burst and showered the pigtailed youth, instantly changing him into a her. "Must the curse always go overboard?" grumbled the redhead.


Akane, who had been behind her hurried and turned the water off. "Now that's impressive proof of the coldwater magnet part you mentioned, Ranma."


"Not to mention a costly one. It seems we would do well on having you stay in female form only, Ranma. Do such accidents happen often?" Nabiki asked.


"Only about every five minutes when I'm in male form, why?" asked the redhead with a sigh while she used her ki to dry her clothes.


Nabiki shook her head. "Hadn't I seen it with my own two eyes I wouldn't have believed it. I had the cold-water-pipe repaired a month ago. Too bad for the firm that I negotiated unlimited guarantee." she said with a smirk and fetched her cell-phone from her jeans.


While Nabiki was busy calling the firm Ranma cracked her joints and sighed satisfied. Akane, who was standing at the counter with her arms crossed smiled. "Feeling better, Ranma?" she asked with humour in her voice.


Ranma smirked back. "You betcha, Akane. I can only describe the feeling as if I had gone blind when I was a boy, and as soon as I was a female again I could see once more. The difference is… peculiar."


The youngest Tendo daughter nodded. "I can hardly imagine it, but your analogy makes it understandable. What?" she asked at the surprised face Ranma was making, "You're not the only one who can use big words." she finished slightly annoyed.


At Akane's expression Ranma had begun to snort, but when the other girl had been finished that snort had turned into a giggle. Soon Ranma was red from laughter, a condition she shared with a now annoyed Akane.


As soon as Ranma saw this she presented warding signs. "Sorry, Akane, but that was just too funny. I had to think of how you would have reacted if I had appeared here as my father had raised me. Before Elder Cologne taught me what being a woman means and how one should view women appropriately I was of the opinion that girls were some delicate flowers who wanted and needed to be protected by big, strong me."


Akane growled. "You can be sure that I would have pounded you flat with that attitude."


Ranma grinned. "I can imagine. Pops had taught me that girls were weak and soft and not fit to learn or execute the art. But now, thanks to what happened at Jusenkyo and thanks to Cologne, I know differently. I'm now a woman myself, and I know that I'm not any of what pops accused girls of being. And I know that you or your sisters are neither. If he claims any such nonsense just clobber him until he's unconscious, I found out that shuts him up most efficiently."


Akane snorted. "Doesn't surprise me with that baka."


Ranma grinned and nodded. "As for using the big words, can you imagine how ironic it is that an Elder of the Chinese Amazons taught me how to speak and behave properly? Granted, it took her loads of persistence, patience and stubbornness to get it through my thick skull, but it was worth it. You know, sometimes I really have the feeling that my father wilfully raised me to be this ignorant."


Akane, who had calmed down enough to listen, raised a brow. Oh yeah, that was indeed ironic, but it was an irony that cost Genma, and that was good so. "What do you mean by this, Ranma?"


Ranma sighed. "Think about is this way. I was taken onto a ten year training trip when I was five. Taken away from my mother, as pops deemed her an unseemly influence on me. He wanted me to focus solely on the art, and nothing else. I think he wanted to create a child that was totally dependent on him, and once he was done he wanted to marry the child, me, off to one of the children of his best friend, your father. But pops had not expected what happened at Jusenkyo."


The other girl boggled. "You really mean to say that he did that voluntarily? I can hardly believe it. But from what you told me and from what I have seen of your father it must be the truth. What else did he do to you, Ranma? What has happened to you in those ten years?"


The red-haired girl sighed once more. "That is not told in haste, Akane. It would be best if we got your sisters with us, as it makes no sense to tell the same story three times. But I warn you, it is not pretty. Some things are downright nasty and will take a strong stomach."


Akane gulped, and a feeling of foreboding began to rise up inside of her. Before the morning fights she had always been a good judge of character, and somehow she had sensed that Ranma carried a tale with her. And apparently it was a bad tale, with her father as the villain. "Okay, Ranma. I can get Kasumi and Nabiki whenever you want to so that we can gather in my room. It is Saturday and that means that daddy won't disturb us, and if your father tries… well, I figure he does not like dangling from your grip much now, does he?" she asked with an evil smirk.


Ranma mirrored the smirk. "I'd say definitely not. If he tries anything, its kapowie into the pond I saw earlier. As a panda he ain't so darn annoying at least."


The youngest Tendo girl nodded. "Okay, I'll go get my sisters. You can go upstairs into my room already. It's the third room on the left side and has a sign on it that says, unsurprisingly, Akane." she said with a smile.


The pigtailed girl nodded and smiled back. "I'll do that. Thanks for trusting me to enter your room alone, Akane."


Akane smiled. "You're welcome. Friends trust each other, and I trust you as a friend and sensei."


That brought a big smile also to Ranma's face. "Thanks, Akane. Friends."


This simple statement showed Akane just how much Ranma must have missed out in her travels. Apparently she had not had many friends in those years, and from what she knew of Genma he had probably ensured that Ranma did not keep her few friends for long. After all, friends could be viewed as distractions to the Art. Phew, this man was pathetic!


If he should try anything like that with the friends Ranma would hopefully gain here she'd ensure that he'd regret it deeply. He might be the father of her friend and 'fiancé', but as he also seemed to be a major asshole he was fair game. 'Hmm, maybe I should ask Nabiki to dig around on info concerning that fat baka. Having some background info can not hurt…' she mused to herself.


While Akane went to fetch her sisters Ranma was already on her way to Akane's room. To her bad luck she encountered her father in the hallway, and as usually, he began to harp at her. "Boy, what are you doing, running around as a weak and worthless girl? Have you no shame? I should… ERK!"


Sometimes Ranma asked herself when she'd finally lose her patience with the fat oaf that was her father. Considering her strength it should be easy to punt him to the next ward, which could serve to shut him up for a longer stretch of time. Hmm, maybe she should consider using some blunt weapon or something to raise her effectivity. "Oyaji, I say it for the last time: never call me a weak and worthless girl again if you value your life. I'm neither weak nor worthless, and if you don't change your attitude soon I'm gonna find out what mom did to keep you in line. Got me?"


As soon as Ranma had mentioned her mother Genma's face had become ashen-faced. If his son-turned-daughter found out about Nodoka and a certain pact she'd probably skin him alive! And as only his sense of self-preservation was stronger than his appetite Genma Saotome bopped his head up and down rapidly.


With a derisive snort his errant son, err, daughter dropped him onto the ground, and Genma rubbed his aching throat. Either it was his imagination or the steel grip of Ranma got stronger and stronger. Nah, that could not be possible. No one could improve that much in such a short amount of time, not even someone like his son.


But due to the Jusenkyo curse Ranma had now it was nearly impossible to harm him bodily or to command him around like in good old times. He'd have to do something about it. After all, if he could exert influence on Ranma or even Soun's youngest he could influence the engagement. And first of all he'd have to ensure that Ranma stayed male as much as possible. To be honest, he was downright frightened of Ranma-chan, as she reminded him way to much of Nodoka.


A somewhat grumpy Ranma was just about to enter Akane's room when she felt a slight cramp. Okay, no wonder she had been so annoyed with the baka panda as of late as it was apparently time for her monthlies. Hopefully this time would go by without property damage. Good that the panda was and always would be fair game, she thought with a smirk.


Deciding it would be better to get a pad in place just in case Ranma went downstairs once more and entered the bathroom. Making sure that the 'occupied' sign was out she entered the bathroom and prepared everything. She just got her panties down when the door opened all of a sudden.


Father and son-turned-daughter looked each other in the eyes, and lightning flashed in the eyes of Ranma. "Get the hell outta here pops, or I'll toast yer freakin' butt, damn it!" she yelled and only the soul of ice was keeping her from eviscerating him.


Genma could only nod dumbly, too speechless by what he had just seen. No, that was something he never wanted to see again. His son, his manly son, wearing panties and placing something in them. As he was nearly out of the door he gathered all his braveness and turned around, "Just what the hell do you think you're doing, boy? No son of mine is wearing panties! What are you, a sissy?"


Ranma scowled while she pulled her panties and pants back up again, as other footsteps could be heard. "Not that it ain't any of your damn business, but I'm gettin' my period. And if ya annoy me any further it will be kapowie to the next ward. Now bugger the hell off!"


The Saotome patriarch could only stare. Period? Again? Damn, if this would be like the last times he'd get the hell outta here. But wait. "I demand that you turn back into my manly son this instant to prevent this unnaturalness from occurring again, do you hear me? You will end this dishonourable travesty! I demand that you become my son and remain my son!"


Even braver men would have cowered before the glare that was sent Genma's way, and Akane, who entered just at this moment, was witness how Ranma was in the process of suitably cowing her idiot father. Flashing eyes and one deep intake of breathe later. "How DARE you harp at me about honour! You idiot! Who the heck shot our family so much that it is now beyond repair, huh?" she asked as she stalked forward. "Who sold me for food so often that I lost track? Who sold me and stole me back on more occasions than I can remember? Who engaged me so often that it isn't even remotely funny? Who was the idiot who taught me the Neko-ken? The answer is YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU!" she yelled, and each you was accompanied by a hard jab to the chest of her father.


Ranma then stalked towards her backpedalling father and cracked her knuckles, and Genma was soon cowering in the far corner. With flashing eyes the redhead took in another deep breathe. "If you ever again dare to demand anything of me, old man, then what I did to you after I got this body will look very tame in comparison. Got me?" she asked with an intimidating growl.


Genma bopped his head up and down rapidly; even Akane admired Ranma. The girl was really scary! Said pigtailed girl covered the distance that separated her from her father in what seemed to be one step for her. For Genma she just suddenly reappeared behind him, and he felt how he was lifted into the air, again. "And now, in the vain hope that you might learn I'll teach you a lesson."


Taking a glance at Akane she said "Excuse me for a moment, love, I'll just take the garbage out. Won't take long. But if you want to you can gladly accompany me." she said sweetly.


Akane boggled at first until she realised that Ranma had nothing perverted in mind. After all, this was an act, and she had to play her role. "I'd really like to accompany you, honey." she said, deciding to play the role down to the hilt. "Seeing my strong fiancé taking out the garbage can be really exciting." she said with all the talent she had acquired in her acting classes.


That Ranma was impressed by the performance could be seen by the glint in her eyes, but Genma noticed none of it due to the fact that he was currently carried out of the house by the scruff of the neck. Once Ranma was outside she readied herself to send her annoying father into the koi-pond, preferably after a severe beating.


However, a sudden inspiration struck her instead, and she wanted to involve Akane in this as she had a certain suspicion; besides, if what she suspected was true it would get much more painful for her idiot father. "Say, pop, do you still think that girls are weak and worthless, even my cute 'fiancée' here?" she asked in a sweet voice.


The panda, who would not have been able to grow a brain if his life depended on it nodded. "All girls are weak and worthless, and the only things they're good for are working in the kitchen and bearing and raising children." he exclaimed with conviction.


However, a sudden growl from a throat that was not that of his daughter made him question if he shouldn't have better kept his trapdoor shut. Would Genma Saotome have been able to see Akane he would have known that he should have kept it shut. For the youngest Tendo daughter had her battle-aura flared up around her, and then Akane did what she had always done when confronted with something that made her temper boil: she reached for her mallet.


And a satisfied Ranma watched as her 'fiancée' manipulated her own ki, probably without her conscious knowledge. Seconds later her ki formed into something that looked like a mallet, and Ranma was impressed that Akane actually managed to pull it off. So Akane could actually access something that she, Ranma, had seen performed in China by Elder Cologne; she had dubbed it stuffspace, but up till now she herself had been unable to reach it.


Though she'd have to work with Akane on her temper. If she became too dependent on her anger it would shortly become the only thing she could feel. The first thing she'd teach her 'iinazuke' was the soul of ice, but with the potential Akane was showing that should not be a problem. Smirking to herself Ranma walked over to the steaming Akane and whispered something into her ear.


An evil smirk entered Akane's face and she nodded. With a battlecry of "GENMA NO BAKA!" said Saotome patriarch was launched high into the air, and two smirking girls watched him sail over the horizon. Akane grinned at Ranma. "Good that you suggested that. I would just have launched him into the Koi-pond, but you're right, it would have disturbed the poor Koi. And I think I added enough of a wham so that he'll fly all the way to the Suginami ward and land in the Zenpukujigawa river. If not then I bet he'll give me loads of occasions to practise in the future." she said with an evil grin.


Ranma shared her grin and snickered as she sat down on one of the stones that surrounded the Koi-pond. "I bet the stupid old man will. He's hopeless. And I hope he'll get one hell of a headache too! Honestly, running in on me like that when I'm doing… doing something like that."


Akane looked puzzled while she sat down too. "Something like that?" she asked, suddenly suspicious if Ranma could mean something perverted.


Said Ranma blushed. "You know… female stuff. I'm getting my monthlies and prepared for them, and the stupid oaf walked in on me."


"What!" Akane exclaimed, any suspicions about Ranma banished in face of the proof that she hadn't had anything perverted in mind, "He did that? Wasn't the sign out?" she asked incensed.


The pigtailed girl nodded. "It was. I was extra careful to put it out to avoid any incident. After all, this is a very private thing. And then he had the gall to demand that I change back into a boy! As if. Hah!"


Akane was beginning to glow again. That… that pitiful excuse for a father wanted his child to be a perverted boy when he had a perfect daughter? A strong and admirable young woman who everyone would love to be friends with? That… pervert! "If you ever need any help dealing with your 'father' just say so, Ranma. I can't stand perverts, and your father fits the description of one." she said with conviction.


Ranma smiled. She really liked this Akane who was not like the person she had come to know when she'd still worn her cloak. Obviously she really hated boys her age with a vengeance, and because of what she'd heard of the boys at her school probably with just reason. However, it had to be made sure that Akane had not suffered from psychological damage.


Anyway, she'd stop those idiots from trying to hurt her new friend and she already had a strategy how to do so. Returning to the present she nodded and smiled. "Will do, Akane. Thank you. You know, I'm really looking forward to my monthlies this time. They give me the more justification to wreck chaos and havoc upon pops. And if I'm right then I will be able to figure out how you do that cool mallet attack."


That brought a gleam into Akane's eyes. "You mean how to do it consciously?" she asked, and at the red-haired girls nod she continued. "Now that would be great! But how…"


"How will I be able to figure it out, you mean?" Ranma asked, and Akane nodded. The pigtailed girl smiled. "I have the talent to copy anyone's moves that I see nearly instantly. It is something that even increased after I got this new body. I know it sounds strange, but I just have to watch someone do a technique once or twice, and I can copy it." she said in the breast note of confidence.


Akane looked disbelieving. "Come on, you're pulling my leg here." she said, thinking this was some joke. However, Ranma's expression remained unchanged. "You're… you're not? You're serious?"


Ranma nodded. "Yes, and once our favourite target is back I'll be able to show you. Once he returns and says only one annoying thing, mallet him into the Koi-pond but make it so that I can watch your mallet attack."


The other girl nodded. "Okay, Ranma. This I gotta see. But now let me fetch Nabiki and Kasumi, so that we can hear your complete life story; what you told us already, at least Nabiki and me was gruesome enough. But maybe we should fetch some popcorn and soda? It would probably go well with this horror story." she added with a smile.


"Eh?" Ranma asked, as she had never been in a cinema before.


"Oh," Akane exclaimed, "I forgot that you were on the road for ten years, and because you don't act like it I forgot that you probably never were to a cinema." At Ranma's confirming nod she continued. "When you go to a movie, you usually buy popcorn and soda, or tacos, cola, and so on. You know what popcorn is?"


Ranma shook her head, and Akane shook hers too. "Damn, your father really tried to keep you ignorant. You know, we really should continue that social training the Elder you mentioned put you through. Yeah, some girl training would definitely do you good. But now to the popcorn. You get popcorn when you heat small kernels of corn to make them explode. Then you eat them either with salt, sugar or butter. It tastes really good. So, if anyone has a good story to tell one says 'let's get the popcorn and the soda'."


The red-haired girl nodded. "Got it. Thanks for explaining that, Akane. And I guess you're right, some more girl training would surely do me good. After all, I've only been a girl for six months and I got a lot to catch up to."


Akane nodded while she shifted her position on her stone to be more comfortable. "Do you really want to stay a girl for the rest of your life? I mean, not that I'd mind, it is your life and your decision and I like you better as a girl, as far as I can tell, but why do you want to be a girl?"


Ranma sighed as she shifted her position too. She did not notice how her tail uncurled from her waist and began swishing around. Akane did notice, and she mused that this must be hard on Ranma if she was this agitated. "You know, I was always raised to be a 'man among men', whatever that may be. From early on, ever since when I was five years old pop always harped on me not to be a weak little girl, and that I had to uphold the family honour as a strong man. All the while pop dragged me into one idiocy after the next, but I'll come to that once we fetch your sisters. Then it all culminated in Jusenkyo where I got cursed. And suddenly I was a girl, and a darn powerful one. You know, before, as a boy, I had never felt this powerful. Sure, I was good and strong, but this was something else. That was the first time that I realised that pops had been wrong about girls."


"And what happened then?" asked a very curious Akane.


The other girl smirked. "Pops did what he usually does; he insulted me and said I should stop being a silly and weak little girl. That I did, and I showed him that I'm a strong and big girl, and sure as hell not silly. After I had beaten him within an inch of his life I slung him across my shoulder and walked to the guide. The guy led me and the panda to the village of the Chinese Amazons, and you know the rest. There I learned the truth about women, and I found my personal truth in the middle between the views of my pops and Elder Cologne. Women are not weak, but they're usually strong in other ways than men. We are the exception, as we are physically strong too. And I think that is something pops fears. He's afraid of strong women, and he wanted to make me into someone who despises women and sees them as useless too. But fate interfered and now the idiot has a daughter, me."


Akane nodded. But she had not answered the question, at least not directly. "But why do you want to live as a girl? Only because of the power you have in this body? Couldn't you reach it with enough training as a boy if you ever found a cure? I mean not that I'd want you to, but you catch my drift."


Ranma shook her head. "No, Akane. That is something I'm sure of. I could train for decades as a boy and would not even reach the level I'm now at as a girl. Err, would anyone miss this stone over there, Akane?" she asked.


The youngest Tendo daughter followed the line Ranma was pointing at until she saw the stone. "No, I think not, Ranma. Why?"


The pigtailed girl got to her feet. "Because I want to show you something I could never do as a boy. It is not perfected yet, but it will do for demonstrational purposes." she said with a smile.


Akane got to her feet too to have a good view. Whatever Ranma had planned, it should be interesting. The Tendo daughter watched as her friend seemed to gather her energy once more and moments later she fired what looked like a yellow ball, estimately the size of a beach ball, at the rock. Without exclamation or further ado. And when the yellow ball impacted against the stone, the target was blasted to bits which were raining down into the koi-pond and onto the adjacent garden.


The youngest daughter of Soun Tendo was standing there with her mouth hanging open. "Did… did I just… no, I must be seeing things…" she trailed off, rubbing her eyes.


Ranma wore an amused smile on her face as she waved her hand in front of her friends' face. "Helloooo, earth to Akane… someone at home?" she asked with a giggle.


That seemed to do the trick, and Akane returned to reality. "Ranma, did you just fire a yellow ball of light at the stone and the thing exploded? Just like that?"


The Saotome girl nodded. "Yep. That was an energy blast I've been working on. It's not perfected as of now and has not reached full strength yet, but it does not need emotions as a base. Pretty cool, huh?"


Akane sweatdropped. "Err, yeah. Pretty damn cool." then she shook her head to clear it, but the destroyed bits of the former stone remained. "And you couldn't do that as a boy, eh?"


Ranma shook her head and sat down once more, as did Akane. "I'd be lucky if I could shoot an emotion-based ki-blast. But I try to avoid those, for the user gets addicted to them after a while. For example, if I based my ki-blast on, say, confidence, then I'd slowly get addicted to it, and after a while the usage of those blasts would lead to overconfidence. And what is one of the most important lessons in a fight?"


Akane answered promptly. "Overconfidence makes you act sloppy and it will get you killed." she said as she remembered this and more. "Only the one with control over his emotions is the one in control of the battle. Damn, I had nearly forgotten those. Seems as if I have a lot of work ahead of me, huh?"


The red-haired girl shook her head and smiled. "Not as much as you think. If the soul of ice got my temper under control, and especially that if I'm moody, then it should work just fine for you too." she said confidently. "Now, how about we fetch your sister and get us some popcorn and soda?" she asked with a smirk as she got up.


Her friend got up to and mirrored the smirk. "Sounds good to me. And you learn fast."


Together the two young women got up and went into the house. Akane had first thought her new friend had made a joke, but Ranma went straight to the kitchen where Kasumi was still working. Upon entering the older girl looked at the newcomers. "Hello, you two." she said with a serene smile.


Akane waved a 'Hi' at her sister, while Ranma smiled back. "Kasumi, do you have the ingredients so that we could make popcorn?" the pigtailed girl asked hopefully.


The oldest Tendo daughter looked a bit surprised at Ranma. "Why, yes. But aren't you still filled from lunch?"


Ranma shook her head with a sheepish smile. "Err, not really. I can eat quite a lot. And Akane here told me that one makes popcorn if one goes into the cinema or watches some interesting movie on TV. Or has something interesting to tell. Well, I'm gonna tell you my full and unedited life story, so Akane suggested, as a joke, to get some popcorn and soda. But I never tasted any popcorn before…" she said with big, hopeful eyes.


Akane who was standing a bit in the background nodded to herself. Ranma was playing it very well, and with a bit of polishing she would become a great girl. Already she was becoming a friend, and that was more than she would have expected after the news that their fiancé would come to pick one of them as his bride.


The youngest Tendo daughter watched with amusement as her older sister melted under the puppy-dog-eye-attack of Ranma, and finally she gave in. "Oh my, you're going to tell us your life-story? But of course I will prepare snacks for it." she said with a hint of eagerness.


Being the housewife she was always interested in what was going on in peoples lives, and especially if Ranma was to live with them for quite some time it would be good to have background information on her. "Are we going to meet in your room, sis?" she asked towards Akane.


Said Tendo girl nodded. "Yes, big sis. I'll fetch Nabiki and we'll wait for you upstairs in my room."


Kasumi nodded, and with that Akane departed, closely followed by Ranma. The two girls went in search for Nabiki, and Ranma took Akane by the arm and led her unerringly towards the bathroom. "Huh? Do you need to use the bathroom, Ranma?" Akane asked confused.


Ranma smiled amused. "No, Akane. Your sister is in here, and I figured if anyone can fetch her from here, then you."


Now Akane was even more confused. And her confusion rose a few levels when a voice from inside the bathroom rang out. "Can't a girl mind her business in some peace and quiet?" drawled Nabiki's voice.


Akane looked at Ranma as if she'd seen a ghost. "How did you know that, Ranma?"


The pigtailed girl smiled. "That is something I can teach you too once we have begun working on your temper. If you have mastered the soul of ice and can access a state of calmness you can sense other people's ki. Sure, we'll have to train your ki-senses first, but after you got the soul of ice down we'll start with it."


This prospect made Akane look like a five year old in a candy store, more specifically like a five year old who had been allowed to buy half of the store. "Really?" she asked happily. "Can you even teach me how to fire those blasts?" came the next excited questions.


"Hey, you two," came Nabiki's voice from inside the bathroom, "I'm trying to analyse the stock markets for a trend here. So mind if you continue your talk elsewhere?"


Akane and Ranma looked at each other and giggled simultaneously. The mental image of Nabiki reading the stock market while doing her business was just too funny. "Sure, sis #snort#. We'll be upstairs, and it would be good if you'd join us in a few mins. Ranma wants to tell us her full life story with everything that Genma did to her. Should be interesting, ne?"


"Yes," Ranma added, "all the details, plus Kasumi makes us popcorn. We'll be waiting for you."


Rustling of paper could be heard, and moments later a toilet was flushed. Then the water from the sink could be heard and a few seconds later the door opened and a Nabiki with gleaming eyes exited. "All the details, you said? Ohh, a juicy story! What are you waiting for, then?" she said and went ahead.


Akane grinned. Her new friend had caught on quickly. If one thing worked to get Nabiki from the loo it was to make her curious. And if one thing served to make her curious it was the promise of juicy information. Without much further conversation but with amused looks Ranma and Akane shared the three girls went to Akane's room, where Kasumi was already waiting for them.


The oldest Tendo daughter was sitting on the bed in the right corner of the room, while a trayful of popcorn in a bowl and soda for all four of them was standing on the desktop that stood next to the bed. Soon sitting arrangements had been made, and while the three Tendo girls were sitting on the bed Ranma had grabbed herself an office chair on which she was sitting in reverse.


As soon as anyone was served with popcorn Ranma began to relate her story. The leave-taking onto the training trip her father had dragged her off onto at an abnormally early age served as a prelude. The Tendo girls gulped at the idea of being dragged away at age five, and the way Ranma told it she must have been carried out of the house slung over the shoulder of her father.


A father, who had feared that the influence of her mother would make her go soft and weak. How she had been beaten upon by her father in training until she had not been able to defend herself any more, and how her father had carried on to beat upon her despite that. How she had had to fight her father for food and often ended up hungry, while her stupid pops grew fatter and fatter by the day.


The Tendo girls saw that Ranma visibly repressed tears when she said how much she had missed her mother during that time, and that she did not know if her mother was still alive. According to her father she could as well have died in the meantime.


The three Tendo girls shared a look and asked themselves which mother would allow that her child was dragged away from her. All three, even Nabiki, agreed that anyone trying to pull a stunt like this would to have to drag their child out of their dead fingers.


Ranma went on with her tale and explained in detail what her father had done to her in the name of training and the Art. How he had increased her speed by binding her to the rear of a train and how she had had to run behind it as it sped off. How her father had set angry hornets on her so that her dodges became faster. That he had bound weights to her feet and dumped her into the ocean as a method to learn how to swim.


Then the thefts Genma had committed, the times when he had sold Ranma for food and stolen her, or rather him at the time, back. The engagements for food, so often that Ranma could not say with certainty how often Genma had done this, and especially the one time when her father had sold her for not more than two fish, rice and pickles.


How little friends she had had during her travels and that her father had always made sure that she lost them at the very next possibility. When she was asked if she could remember any friends from her youth she had just shrugged and had only been able to give vague descriptions that betrayed how lonely she had been.


Akane as the most emotional of the three girls was hard pressed to hold back her tears, but the moist in her eyes told the others just how much this 'story' was moving her. Nabiki, on the other hand, was outwardly completely controlled while she inwardly seethed. How could anyone allow such a man to harp on others about honour?


She herself might have a questionable honour because of what she did in the name of making money, and her honour was eclipsed from time to time by the need to help her family, but what that… man had done was indescribable. She'd have to dig up all that she could about Genma and his past. Considering Ranma's story up till now it should be easy to follow his trail. The fat fool probably hadn't bothered to cover it up at all.


The oldest Tendo daughter for her part tried to remain composed, at least on the outside. Inwardly she was in turmoil, as she could not understand how the best friend of their father could have done this to his only child. How could this man be the best friend of their father? She herself had practically raised her sisters ever since she had been nine years old, and she knew how one cared for a family. What Genma had done to Ranma could hardly be called an upbringing; it was more like sheer, constant abuse. Little did Kasumi know that it would get even worse.


For the next thing Ranma explained to the Tendo daughters was the Neko-ken. She explained it in full detail, and all Tendos including Nabiki had to suppress the urge to be violently sick.


Finally Akane looked at her new friend disbelieving. "Your own father actually did this to you? And he claimed this to be some training in a martial arts technique?" she asked incredulous. "That sounds more like a torture manual for child abusers!" she exclaimed.


Now Kasumi could not hold back her tears any longer and her heart went out to the young woman sitting before them. What she had had to endure… no one should have to live through something like this, and she'd do her utmost to ensure that Ranma would get a loving and caring home now that she lived here.


From Ranma's tale she could tell that she'd never come to know much love from her father, if any at all, and Kasumi knew that she probably missed her mother very much. But what for a kind of mother was Ranma's mother? How could she have allowed that Ranma was taken from her at such an early age, an age, where every child needed the guidance and love of his or her mother?


The oldest Tendo daughter had seen how strong Ranma was, well, physically at least. But how emotionally vulnerable she was inside no one could estimate. She had obviously suffered a lot of damage from her father, both physically and mentally.


She was raised from her musings when she sensed the mood of her middle sister. This one she knew all too well. Nabiki was in a cold rage. "He really did that to you?" she asked, still somewhat disbelieving.


Ranma nodded and slid up her tank-top to show the faint scars that traced along her body. "Yes, he did. And I am extremely lucky that those cats did not eat away on any important bits. I could have ended up blind or worse, and that is something I shudder to imagine. No offence against blind people, I admire how they're able to master their everyday life and there was also a nearly blind Amazon in the village of the Joketsuzoku, but I dunno if I'd be able to live like that."


Akane, Nabiki and Kasumi nodded. "How can anyone do that to his own child? What for a kind of person is your father?" asked the youngest Tendo girl.


Ranma nodded. "I wish I knew. I think he's the most careless and unthinking human being; add to it his knack for stupidity and you have the recipe for disaster. He did this to me in the name of the Art, and all this to learn the 'ultimate technique'. Some technique if the user has to be insane to use it."


Kasumi arched a brow. "Insane?" she asked with dread.


The cursed martial artist sighed. She always felt embarrassed when talking about it, although it was not his fault. "In order to learn the Neko-ken the user has to snap. Only in this state the technique is usable."


All of the three Tendo girls had their mouths hanging open, and they all were thinking what for a complete and utter fool would think this torture manual to be an actual training manual. Apparently Genma Saotome.


Nabiki, who had always been the boldest of the three, had finally gathered enough courage to ask. "For the record, how old were you when your father subjected you to this supposed training?"


Ranma's eyes looked haunted. "I was six years old, Nabiki."


The middle Tendo daughter nodded. "I see." she said in a tone of voice that clearly stated that she'd understood that Ranma did not want any pity.


Akane on her part was seething and had already picked the panda for malleting practise, extended version; Kasumi was shedding more tears while thanking Kami-sama that Ranma had escaped the torture trip with her health and sanity intact.


Nabiki didn't have much in the way of motherly instincts and always hid her feelings quite well; she always covered her inward softness with her brash behaviour, but she really felt for Ranma. What the young woman had gone through was beyond worse. It was a nightmare! And she was really tempted to make the life of the 'best friend' of her father a nightmare, too. Scratch that, she would make his life a living hell.


Meanwhile Ranma had nodded. "Yes. I was too young to understand what was going on. But after the first time I begged him not to throw me into the pit again. The cats were scratching me all over, and I could only protect my head. He yelled at me to stop acting like a weak, worthless girl and threw me into the pit again. He did that for over a month, until I finally snapped."


Kasumi, who was now not longer able to hold back her tears completely, stood up and urged Ranma to sit down with them on the bed. Shyly the young woman complied, and she was urged to sit down between Akane and Kasumi. Impulsively both Tendo sisters took each a hand of Ranma and showed her, that she was not alone in this.


Nabiki, not wanting to be left out of this, looked Ranma into the eyes. "Is there any more that we should know of, Ranma? I must know so that I can help you."


Ranma turned questioning eyes on Nabiki. "Why would you help me? You only know me for less than a day, yet you're all very friendly to me. Why?"


Akane squeezed her left hand she was currently holding, and Ranma looked at her. "I know now that you did not have many friends in your life, Ranma, but I, we, want to be your friends. I already am your friend and as your friend I will do everything so that your father can not do anything stupid to you any more."


Nabiki nodded. "Had I known of this I would have formulated the contract even harsher. Little sis is right, Ranma, we want to be your friends if you let us. No one should have to grow up the way you had to, Ranma, and I can understand that it will be hard for you to trust us after what you went through. But I want to be your friend, and I want to help you. You have helped me when you agreed to take up the modelling job, and you're one of the few who have not treated me as if I'm just some money grubber because of the actions I had to take."


While Kasumi nodded empathically Akane began to snicker, and Ranma looked at her once more. "You know, Ranma, if my big sis here says that she wants to help you without wanting any payment in return then she means it!"


Said big sis looked slightly insulted, but then she shrugged after a few moments for it was the truth. "Little sis is right, normally I would take payment for helping someone, but as your friend I'll do background research on your father to find out what for a mess he has created. And I'll find ways to divert these highly probable messes from you. Why? Because friends help each other, Ranma. And friends trust each other."


To say that Ranma was moved by this would have been an understatement. Finally it seemed as if she would be able to make real friends, friends who would not be scared away by her baka pops. The irony that it was something that had been caused by said baka pops, namely the Jusenkyo incident, was not lost on her.


With difficulty she repressed her tears and looked at each Tendo sister with a thankful expression. "Thank you, guys, you don't know what that means to me." she said with a cute smile.


Akane laughed and ruffled her hair, and soon Kasumi and even Nabiki joined in, which then led to a group-hug. In the end Ranma looked once more thankfully at the Tendo girls before she grew serious again. Her posture became more erect and the three sisters knew that the rest of the story would now come out.


Before she could do so, however, Kasumi, the motherly figure of the household butted in. "Ranma, where was your mother through all this? I can hardly believe that any mother would allow something like the training you described to happen to her child, especially her only child." she said worried.


With a sigh, the pigtailed youth said, "Mom was at home in Tokyo during the training, and I'm sure she had no idea what pops was pushing me through. And I have no idea if it plays a role any more as mom might already be dead. That's something that frustrates the hell outta me, I dunno if I still even have a mom or not, and if she'd want me or not!"


Akane looked puzzled at her friend. "Why should your mother not want you if she's still alive? I mean, look at you, you're a strong and beautiful woman! You know what you want and are probably one of the best fighters in the country!"


"Really?" asked Kasumi, before Ranma could answer, "She is that good?"


Both Nabiki and Akane nodded empathically. "Oh yes!" both said in unison, which made Ranma blush in embarrassment.


"Oh my!" Kasumi exclaimed, before her face acquired a thoughtful look. "I can guess why you're worried, Ranma-chan. If your mother is still alive she'd expect to have a son, but yet you have been turned into a girl. But don't worry, Ranma, any sane person would want to have you as their daughter in an instant. If she does not then she is not worthy of being your mother." she exclaimed with conviction.


Ranma looked thoughtful and introspective at this while Akane and Nabiki were quite surprised. Seldom had they heard their sister speak with so much force, and that meant that Ranma was really important to her, despite the fact that she had only been in this household for not more than a few hours.


Finally Ranma looked up again, and looked Kasumi in the eyes. "Thank you… Kasumi-oneechan." she said which made Kasumi smile. "I really do hope though that mother is still alive, and if she is, that she can accept me as I am. Would it be so bad that I'm now her daughter instead of her son?" the redhead mused to herself.


It was Nabiki who shook her head. "If your mother loves you or has ever loved you it should not matter what gender you are. What should matter the most to your mother is that you are alive, happy and healthy. And I admit, I have seldom seen a more alive and healthy young woman." she said with a smirk and a wink. "Though the happy part could need some work…" she added.


"NABIKI!" Kasumi exclaimed, "It was not proper to refer to Ranma-chans endowment." she stated.


Nabiki smirked. "Oh, did I now, oneechan? I only said that she was healthy. The rest is your personal interpretation, which I admit is quite interesting."


Now Kasumi blushed, while Akane wondered why the heck her big sis Nabiki was acting like a pervert. Boys were expected to act this way, but not Nabiki. Shaking her head she decided to bring this conversation back on track. "Anyway, my sisters are right, Ranma. If your mother is still alive and does not want you it will be her loss and it will show that she never loved you. Honestly, I ask myself how she could allow letting your 'father' leave with you onto this torture trip." she ranted.


Nabiki nodded. "Right, sis. Was there anything else that happened beside the cruelties and the curse you acquired, Ranma?" she asked in a curious but at the same time oddly (for her at least) caring tone of voice.


Ranma scowled. "Oh yes, there is. It has to do with the Neko-ken, but is of no real consequence any more thanks to this body. The Neko-ken training had the effect that it made me utterly afraid of cats. It was the worst case of Ailurophobia ever seen. When I remained in the presence of a cat for too long I'd enter the Neko-Ken; in essence I'd act like a big cat. But not any more. This is also a reason why I like this body so much. In this form I apparently have a different brain. Don't forget the alien part." she said with a grin as she waved her tail at them. "Apparently the alien brain of this body is different enough so that the Neko-ken does not affect me. Would I be in my birthform it would be an entirely different matter." she said with a shudder.


"What would be so dangerous about someone who acts like a cute kitty?" Akane asked.


Ranma grimaced in answer. "I dunno if a kitty with three feet long ki-claws which can cut through just about anything and would use them on everyone it perceives as a threat as cute." she said, and the three sisters gulped. "And do you have any idea how stupid it looked when I suddenly got a fit in my boy-form whenever I encountered a cat? It was such a relief when I encountered a cat in the Amazon village in this form without going into an anxiety fit. I was even able to pet the cat, but to be honest, I still don't like cats that much. But I made baka oyaji regret some of the training he did to me, especially the Neko-ken." she said with an evil grin.


Everyone nodded empathically. "Ranma, did your father really think that that was some kind of martial arts training? It sounds to me like a torture manual and its application would be highly punishable on several continents I could name, including Japan and China." said Nabiki.


Ranma snorted. "Training like that was baka oyajis' speciality. Call it School of Saotome Genma – advanced fool style. He did not think, he just did it, and usually to me. Whenever he got a new scroll he'd try it on me, regardless the warnings on it. After all, it was not his face his stupid stunts blew up inta. No, it was mine. And he pulled a lot of stupid stunts. One time he bound me to an airplane in the hopes that I'd learn how to fly. Once a fool, always a fool." she said flatly.


Everyone nodded in understanding, and Kasumi gave her a sad smile. "Ranma, I promise you that we will do everything in our powers to help you. We will help you undo the damage apparently thoughtless man has done to you. And aside from being your friend I'd like to be your big sister."


The light that shone in Ranma's black eyes was seemingly enough to light the room. With a happy smile she nodded. "I'd be honoured, Kasumi-oneechan." she said with a smile. "Thank you, all of you."


Ranma hugged Kasumi first, who smiled at the younger girl, then she hugged her 'fiancée' who also smiled at her, and finally she hugged Nabiki. "You're welcome, kiddo. I'd also like to be your big sis, if you don't mind." she said with a grin.


The pigtailed girl deepened the hug. "I'd like that, Nabiki-oneechan. Who'd have thought that? Before coming here I had no one, and now I have two big sisters and a cute 'fiancée'." she said giggling.


While still being hugged by Nabiki Akane ruffled the Saotome girls' hair because of the fiancée comment. "So I'm cute, huh? Well, you're not bad yourself." she said with a smirk.


Soon all four girls erupted into giggles and threw themselves backwards onto the bed. And for the first time in long Ranma felt content, for finally she did not only have friends but two big sisters and one sis of her age. It was everything that she could have asked for and if her other problems like a certain baka panda and what he had done to her in the past could be solved too she would be the luckiest person alive.


to be continued…


Thanks to the ppl at Shinjis' board for helping me out with suggestions, ideas and comments. You rock!


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


shi izen fumeiyo, Lord Oberon, angel61991, Rejhan, ss4-link, sadfru, Dragonmaster-zynk, smith119, Vixen2, Laniac67, Jetsmillion, demongurl, Dumbledork, Elijah Snow, Jerry Unipeg, Rodaiogin, MysticSuperSaiyanGohan, TheCentauress, AshK, Lisa Grey, Vampwriter, Draform, Eternal Dark Chaos, RubberNeck, Innortal, Dragon Man 180, Macross VF1, borg rabbit, Jim Ohki, trunks and goten, Ranchan17, slade13, JohnnyG, The DCG, Wonderbee31


Replies to those questions and comments that caught my eye:


I am worried about having challenges for Ranma; I know a fully evolved Saffron and Herb could do so but you are probably going to need to bring in enemies from DB, DBZ and DBGT.

Don't worry, Ranma will have enough challenges on her way.


Are you going to have Ranma use some of the same techniques as Goku and friends?

Yep. But only after she encounters the Z-Gang. Which will happen some time around.


What's up with the major Ranma ooc?

I know it seems a bit much, but an explanation for Ranma's increase in intelligence will be given.


You should have Ryoga be cursed as a male Saiyan instead of a female one.

That's something I'm seriously considering.


Why is Ranma's male form weaker than the female one?

Because the male form remained one-hundred percent human. And as some people with great knowledge pointed out to me, its very unlikely that the curse magic should seep through to the birthform. Thus there'll be no chance for a male half-Saiyan or part-Saiyan here. Only a female SSJ…


Ranma has a tail and the earth has a moon which has doubtless been full in the 6 months he spent in China so does he know about his monkey form or not?

The moon has been destroyed by Piccolo in the dbz series to prevent any unfortunate… incidents. A placeholder was placed in its place. But more to that on a later note.


On the subject of tails has he managed to overcome its sensitivity?

Won't give away too much, but she has managed to toughen it up; however, as a basic Saiyan the tail is still a great weakness…


You mentioned you were thinking of giving Ryoga the same curse if you do decide to take this route don't forget to edit the earlier comments about Ranma being the first to fall in that spring and its powers dispersing afterwards.

Yeah. I was playing around with that thought and could have justified it with the guide being wrong about it; after all, even he is not all-knowing. But as one can guess from the comment above, this option has fallen out of favour…


If you do decide to make others Saiyans please find some way to keep the others on par.

I will.


This is more of a technical thing and easily overruled by narrative authority but sexual attraction is more genetic than learned and Ranma's interest in another gender shouldn't change outside of his curse.

It is easily overruled. But to get technical, I believe that having a girls body, e.g. brain, hormones and so on could easily sway preferences, if not change them completely.


Saiyan/Human in his male form? That wouldn't be such a good idea if you want him to be happy with his girl-form.

True. As said above, I've pretty much decided that the curse will not bleed over into the birthform. On that note, there was never evidence in canon that such a thing did ever happen any way.


Does Ranma know all of the Chinese techniques he knew in the cannon?

Wait and see…


Is this gonna be a Ranma/Akane thing?

Nope.


I'm glad you like the thought of giving Ryoga the same curse cause he needs a break.

That he needs for sure. But he won't end up p-chan here. As said above, I'm toying with the male Saiyan idea.


Is Ranma already able to fly?

Not yet; she hasn't seen anyone do it yet. So as long as Herb or one of the Z-Gang doesn't stop by the answer is no.


Will he learn specific DB or DBZ moves like the Kamehameha?

Yeah, she will.


Will Pilaf make an appearance?

I might put a cameo of him into the story; hmm, maybe Pilaf will end up as an omake, though…


That does seem like a valid reason not to change into a guy, but somehow I feel this whole explaining session in the chapter two was way too rushed and felt like the author tried to get way too much context stuffed into the dialogues.

That might indeed be the case; I wanted to cover a lot with this chapter, and admit that I could've split it in two easily. But for the sake of progress I didn't. If it felt too rushed I apologise.


As for the possibility of having part of Ranma's female form's power getting transferred into his male form, I'm not sure if that would be such a good idea. As the way things are right now, it gives his character a sort of balanced feeling, a weakness if you will. All people have their weaknesses, and I think this would be perfect for him.

I agree with this assessment; the birthform will indeed be a weakness in this story.


I don't think that Nodoka should try and kill Ranma.

A bit of foreshadowing, Ranma's reaction to the contract will be seen next chapter. And will she ever be pleased.


I would really like to see Genma's reaction when and if Ranma-Saiyan-Chan brings home a guy that she fell in love with.

True. He'd probably have a coronary.


Your dialogue seems a bit stiff and formal. I have/had this problem before as well. What helped me was reading the dialogue out loud to see if it sounded like something someone would say naturally or not.

Believe it or not, but I followed your advise for this chapter. Hope it worked.


When you say Ranma has a long way to go before she goes Super, I think you should hold off on that at least until she fights Saffron. With a power level like his, you could compare him to Freeza.

I like the suggestion. Verily.


Why should Ranma's boy form be already significantly weaker than his female Saiyan one?

True, the Amaguriken training did carry over, but don't forget that a Saiyan improves at a much faster rate than a human. And Ranma has stayed a girl for over six months now and has only trained as one. Thus not much training could carry over due to the difference in physiology between the forms.


I can't wait to see the fathers humiliated more if they try to push the agreement.

Punished they will be; I still have hope for Soun, but Genma is a lost case imo. #L#


As for Nodoka, she should think of the fact that Ranma is willingly experiencing the monthly visitor, something no other man would be brave enough to do. Add in the power difference and temperature required to change Ranma, I think Nodoka will be pleased to get to know her daughter and make a panda skin rug.

True. But Nodoka being Nodoka, who knows what she's going to do?


When will Genma be used for Akane's mallet practice?

How about starting right here?


Sorry to burst you plot devices but there is one important thing to note about boiling water. It can't reach temperatures over 100 degrees Celsius under normal circumstances.

True. But the important thing you missed is that this is 200 degrees F, meaning Fahrenheit. And that equals around 90 degrees Celsius (to be exact: 93, 34 ° F). I had a vivid discussion with Innortal to get this right, so I'm quite certain that it is correct. But thanks for trying to help.


What about Ukyo and Xian? Will they make an appearance at all or are they just going to be background filler?

They'll definitely play a role.


I've never read/seen any dragon ball eps but I've read a lot of fanfiction crossovers and I think that both goku and Vegeta + maybe more people should be more powerful than Ranma, at least at first.

Don't worry, Vegeta, Goku, Gohan and several others are more powerful. Thus it won't get boring.


One small thing I found a bit odd was that Ranma was telling the Tendos about her earlier views of women. Since neither of them knew about them there was no reason to tell them.

What with Genma around it was bound to get out how Ranma use to view women; after all, Genma still does view women this way.


Mouse could show up trying to woo Ranma... after he could have been one of those she knocked senseless, and he seems to be into that sort of thing.

You're definitely onto something there.


One request: DON'T make her a Masaki, or a Shidou, or a were-creature or nothing like that. If you do something new to her bloodline.

Don't worry, Nodoka Saotome will be as human as you can get. No improvements to her.


I'm really going to be interested in the way Ranma handles the Horde and the attacks from Kuno.

To give a little preview, Ranma's initial meeting with Kuno won't go well, and she will go to lengths to stop him. This will include every trick in the book (just not seduction and such, of course; after all, Ranma-chan would sooner die than even pretend to seduce Kuno).


How does the neko-ken fit in?

Hope the chapter explained it sufficiently. In essence, the alien structure of the Saiyan brain rendered the neko-ken harmless.


Just thought I'd let you know that Saiyajin females don't have tails.

I know; however, I'll offer an explanation why Ranma has a tail in contrast to the females shown in the series in a later chapter. This was no mistake.