Chapter 36 Ryoga's Choice

The next morning, Ranma knocked on Nabiki's door.  Grumbling to herself about people who get up entirely too early, Nabiki slowly opened her door enough to stick her head out to see who was there. She growled, "Ranma, this better be important.  It's entirely too early for me to be out of bed."

"Yeah, I think it is.  I forgot to talk to you last night about Pop.  I need you to keep track of her for us, just in case she tries to get back at Mom," Ranma said.

Nabiki's eyes opened wide as Ranma's choice of pronouns registered.  She opened the door, inviting Ranma in.  He shook his head, grinned and said, "Not on your life.  Put a robe on first, or something.  Akane would kill me if I went in there with you dressed like that."

Nabiki looked down, and blushed, after realizing all she was wearing were her panties.  She shut the door quickly, and then a few moments later, opened the door again wearing a robe, belted tightly around her.  Ranma walked in, smirking at her.  Nabiki glared at him for a second, and then asked, "What happened to Genma?"

Ranma gave a shark-like grin, and said, "Mom decided that enough was enough.  After I beat him for mastery of the Saotome School, Mom had him cursed with water from the Spring of Drowned Girl.  Pop won't be able to stand the touch of water warm enough to transform back to male, so she is stuck that way until Mom takes pity on her.  We gave her enough money and some clothing, but I got to thinking that we need some way to keep track of where she might be.  I tossed in a bankcard against a small account that I set up, so you should be able to track the usage of the card.  There's a maximum daily limit on the amount that can be withdrawn as well, so Pop can't get too much out at any one time."

Nabiki looked at Ranma with respect, and replied, "Not bad, Ranma, not bad at all.  Give me the details on the account, and I will keep up with your Pop.  Since nobody said anything about it at dinner last night, I assume what happened to Genma is supposed to remain secret."

Ranma handed her a card with the bank information on it, and replied, "Shampoo and Ukyo were in on it with Mom, and I told Akane about it last night in bed.  I don't want to start having secrets from her.  You're the only other one who needs to know about it.  As far as the rest of the family is concerned, Pop is off training to avenge being defeated.  I doubt that we will see her for a while.  I think Mom put the scare into her, but there's no telling what mischief might come from Pop once she gets over her fear."

"I'll get an early warning system in place then.  Once I know what she looks like, I'll have my network keep an eye out for her," she replied.

Ranma hugged her and said, "Thanks, Biki-chan.  I knew I could count on you.  Nice birthmark, by the way."

Nabiki blushed again, and said, "I forgot I was changing when you knocked.  Hearing your choice of pronouns got me too excited to think straight.  Now, get out, so I can get dressed," she said, as she began to reach for the belt on her robe.  Ranma blushed as he ran out the door, shutting it behind him.

Ranma and Akane walked into Ucchan's after school was over.  Ranma was carrying a large metal cask under one arm.  "Yo, Ryoga, ya got a minute?" Ranma asked.  Akane glared at him.  Ranma looked at her, grinned sheepishly and tried again.  "Hi, Ryoga.  Do you have a minute?  There's something we need to talk to you about."

"Uh, sure, Ranma.  Hi, Akane.  There's a booth over here," Ryoga replied.

Akane answered, "Maybe we ought to go upstairs for some privacy.  It's about Jusenkyo."

Ukyo walked out of the back.  "Hi, Ranma, Akane.  You're looking pretty serious today."

"Oh, hi, Ucchan.  Yeah, we need ta, I mean, to talk to Ryoga.  Is it okay if we go upstairs?" Ranma asked.

Ukyo nodded and led that way to her apartment.  Once he got inside, Ranma carefully set the cask down.  "Man, that's heavy," he said.

After they sat down, Ukyo asked, "What's up, guys?"

Ranma hesitated for a while.  "Ryoga, while I wasn't directly responsible for what happened to you at Jusenkyo, I still feel like I owed you to try to come up with a cure.  I had a long talk with Cologne about the curses.  It's not real good news.  They lost the location of the spring of Drowned Man hundreds of years ago during one of their wars with a neighboring tribe.  Because of that, there is no cure that she knows of.  I'm sorry about that," he said.

Ryoga sighed and said, "Ranma, I didn't want to hear that.  You don't really know what it's like changing into something that most people think of as a dinner item."  He shuddered remembering far too many close calls.  Ukyo put her arms around him and hugged him in sympathy.

"You're right about that, Ryoga.  My curse allows me to at least stay human.  That's why I have a suggestion for you.  I can't give you a cure that will prevent you from changing when cold water hits you.  We did find out from Cologne that a different spring would cancel out the old curse and give you a new curse.  We've proven that works.  I have some water from the spring of Drowned Girl that I'll give you if you want," Ranma said.

Ryoga blanched.  "So instead of turning into a pig, I'd turn into a girl," he growled.

Akane said, heatedly, "Hey, what's wrong with being a girl?"

"She's got a point there, sugar," Ukyo growled as she hit Ryoga on the head.

Ranma chuckled, "That may not have been the best way to say that, Ryoga.  The way I look at it, you'd change into a human instead of a main course.  That's got to be better, any way you look at it.  Besides, it's not too bad being a girl," he teased, "At least most weeks, anyway."

"What do you think about it Ucchan?  This affects you as well," Ryoga said, "Would you be comfortable knowing I changed into a girl?"

Ukyo thought about it for a while and then replied, "I don't know, Ryoga.  It's funny, but I never put two and two together like that when I was after Ranma.  Ranma, what happens when you change?"

"Aside from the obvious physical change, you mean?" Ranma asked.  Ukyo nodded.  "There's not a lot of differences.  I mean, I still think of myself as a guy.  As far as I can tell, I'm pretty much the same person.  It's still easier for me to express emotions as a girl, but that may just be left over from the stuff Pop taught me about guys not showing emotion.  You, know that junk about real men don't cry, that sort of thing," he replied.

Ukyo mused, "So it would still be the same person I care for, just in a slightly different package.  What about you Akane?  How do you feel about Ranchan, when he's a girl?  Do you feel any different?"

Akane smiled and said, "As far as I'm concerned, Ranchan is still Ranchan.  I love the person inside, the rest doesn't matter.  He has been this way since I've known him anyway."

"You don't feel weird being in love with someone who's also a girl, do you?" Ukyo asked worriedly.

Akane smiled a wicked grin.  She came forward with passion burning in her eyes.  "But Ukyo, I've always found you attractive," she purred.  She tried to hug Ukyo, who looked appalled.

"Eek," Ukyo said, trying to fend off Akane.

Ranma said, sniffling, "But, but Acchan, I thought you said I was the only girl for you!"

Ryoga looked puzzled and then started laughing, as he caught the wink that Akane gave him.

Akane and Ranma both started laughing.  "Did you see the look on her face?  That really wasn't very nice, Acchan," Ranma howled.  Ukyo looked sheepish.

Akane smiled, and said, "Sorry, Ukyo.  I couldn't resist when you asked me that.  To answer your question, no, I haven't started liking girls that way.  I just decided that I wouldn't let the body Ranchan was wearing affect how I felt about him, that's all.  You'll have to decide for yourself if that works for you."

Ukyo took a deep breath.  "Ryo-chan, I know how much turning into a pig bothers you.  It was the one thing that I thought was weird about our relationship as well.  If this makes sense to you, I'd go for it.  It's not going to change my feelings for you," she said.  'Besides, I'd rather love a woman than a pig any day,' she thought to herself.

Ryoga looked at her and then took a couple of deep breaths.  He kissed Ukyo.  "Okay, let's do it Ranma.  You're right, I'd rather turn into a girl."  Then he smiled and added, "I bet I look cuter than you do, too."

"Ucchan, he's gonna need your help.  There's a lot that he needs to learn, and it would be better if you taught him.  It worked best for me to stay female most of the time for several weeks, maybe two months.  You know your body will feel strange for a while; your sense of balance will be messed up.  Things won't work quite the same way, either.  Get used to how you feel before you go back to mostly being male," Ranma said.  He walked over and picked up the cask.

Ryoga asked, "That it?"

Ranma nodded.  Ryoga gulped and said, "Well, let's get it over with."  He went into the bathroom and lay down in the tub.  Ranma followed and poured the water from the cask over Ryoga.  He set the cask down and stared at Ryoga.

"You know Ryoga, I'm glad I didn't take that bet," Ranma said to the extremely attractive brown haired girl sitting up in the tub, "Those fangs are really cute".  Ranma poured some hot water from the sink to change her back, and then poured cold water back on Ryoga.  Ranma carefully helped Ryoga out and handed her a towel.

After a few minutes, Ryoga walked out.  Akane and Ukyo both pouted, Ukyo saying, "This isn't fair.  Both of you look prettier as girls than we do."

Ryoga smirked, and said, "We're better built, too."

Ranma just groaned and said, "Ryoga, that was so not smart."  He watched Ukyo and Akane pummel Ryoga.  "Ukyo, you need to tell her about what it's like to be a girl.  I think it's best if we got out of here while you do.  Ryoga, if you want to talk about it later, come on by the house.  Come on, Acchan, we need to leave these two lovebirds alone, so Ukyo can pound some sense into Ryoga."

Akane looked at him in some surprise, and then giggled.  She waved bye to Ukyo and Ryoga, and dashed off with Ranma.  Ukyo stopped beating on Ryoga, mainly because it wasn't doing anything other than make Ryoga laugh.  Then she got an evil grin on her face as she realized what Ranma had meant about telling Ryoga what it was like to be a girl.

As Ranma and Akane left the restaurant, they heard an alto voice scream, "Ranma Saotome, prepare to die!"

Ranma looked at Akane, smirked and said, "I guess Ukyo just told her about periods."  He started walking faster down the street, almost pulling Akane along, as she giggled.

Early one morning, while Akane was out for her morning jog and Ranma and Nabiki were still upstairs, Nodoka's routine was interrupted by a knock on the door to the Tendo home.  Grumbling she walked to the front entryway and opened the door.  There stood revealed a well-dressed, somewhat portly middle-aged man and an attractive young woman about eighteen or nineteen dressed in an expensive looking white wedding kimono.

"Hello, welcome to the Tendo home.  How may I help you?" Nodoka asked politely.

The man bowed to her and said, "My name is Hitome Daikoku, and this is my daughter Kaori.  We are looking for a man by the name of Genma Saotome and I was led to believe that we might find him here."

"That person did at one time live here.  He made himself unwelcome however, and no longer does." Nodoka replied evenly, "Can I ask why you are looking for that person whose name we no longer mention?"

The man hesitated and said, "I'm sorry.  It has to do with a matter of honor."

"I see," Nodoka replied, "So what has that fool of an ex-husband done now?"

"Ex-husband?  Then you were married to Saotome!" the man exclaimed, "Then possibly you can help us Mrs. Saotome."

Nodoka's eyes grew cold as she said, "I no longer use that name.  I am Nodoka Himura, now."  She took a deep breath and then asked, "How can I help you?"

"Your husband," Mr. Daikoku began, and then started over seeing her eyes get even colder and begin to glitter.  "Your pardon, of course I meant to say, Saotome sold his son to me many years ago for a fish and some pickles, to be the husband for my daughter.  He stole him back that morning and disappeared.  I have searched off and on since then, and up until recently, I have had no word of where he might be.  I finally was able to track him down to this house.  I have come to find his son so that he might marry my daughter and fulfill the promise that he made," he continued.

"Up until two weeks ago he did live here, but he left after he lost the mastery of the Saotome School of Martial Arts.  How exactly did you find out that he was here?" Nodoka asked calmly.  She thought to herself angrily, 'How could he sell my son so many times?  I may have let him get away too cheaply.'

"My daughter and I were eating in a small café on the other side of Tokyo.  A middle-age woman that I had never seen before overheard us talking about finding Mr. Saotome.  She kindly told us that he and his son lived at the Tendo home here in Nerima.  Does his son still live here?" Daikoku replied.

A strong male voice answered, "Yes, I do."  Ranma approached from the living room and said, "I'm Ranma Saotome.  How can I help you?"

Mr. Daikoku replied, "As I was telling your mother, your father pledged you to me so that you would marry my daughter Kaori.  He sold you for a fish and some rice and pickles.  Now that we have found you again, we would like to set a date for the wedding."

Ranma looked sympathetically at the young woman and sighed.  "That won't be possible I'm afraid.  I no longer recognize that person as my father for several reasons.  One of then is that there was no honorable way to fulfill all of the engagements he arranged.  I repudiated all of the arrangements that he made.  I'm afraid that dishonorable cur scammed you.  You aren't even the first ones to track him down," Ranma said sadly.

Mr. Daikoku bristled and said in outrage, "He engaged you to more than one woman!"

Ranma replied calmly, "Yes, quite a few of them as a matter of fact.  Obviously, I don't feel bound to any of his agreements.  Besides, I already have someone that I'm in love with.  I'm sorry you got caught up in the mess that he made, but there's nothing that I can do to help you."

"You could marry my daughter," said Daikoku angrily, "That would certainly help!"

Akane said coldly from behind them where she had been listening, "I'm afraid that I wouldn't agree with that.  I'm certainly not going to share my husband with anyone!"

"And who might you be?" Daikoku said heatedly, missing the danger signs that Akane was sending.

Akane breathed deeply for a moment, regaining her calm, and then replied, "I am Akane Tendo, Ranma's wife.  This is our home and dojo."

Kaori interrupted and said, quietly, "Father, it's time to go.  These people aren't to blame for what's happened.  It's time we got on with our lives.  Besides, you know there's a boy that I like back home anyway."  She bowed politely and said, "Thank you for your kindness and understanding."

"Very well, daughter," her father said, his shoulders slumping.  He bowed formally to all of them and said, "Please forgive my intemperate remarks.  You are not responsible for the actions of another.  I must seek out Saotome to exact my vengeance."

"You have my blessing when you find him.  Pound him good," Ranma replied.

Mr. Daikoku and his daughter walked away from the Tendo home, while Akane came in and held Ranma.

"Just a bit premature with that wife business, weren't you Acchan.  After all, it's not August yet," Ranma said fondly.

Akane gazed at him fiercely and said, "You belong to me and me alone, Ranchan.  We may not have had the ceremony yet, but that's only a minor technicality!"

Nodoka frowned as she thought back to what had happened.  She said finally, "That woman who sent them here must have been your father, Ranma.  I think that she's trying to cause as much trouble as she can."

Ranma looked worried as he thought about that.  Then he looked at Akane and said simply, "Do we really need to wait until August, Acchan?  We could get married down at the town hall and then have the formal ceremony later."

Akane just nodded happily and replied, "If you are going to start having fiancées pop up again, the sooner we get married the better, Ranchan.  That way, they can't cause us anymore problems."

Ranma looked at his mother and asked, "I know this was earlier than we had considered.  Is Friday after school okay with you, Mom?  That'll give us a couple of days to get ready."

Nodoka smiled at the two of them and said, "You just meet us there after school.  I'll have everything ready for you then."  She hugged the two of them and said, "You two have a busy day ahead of you.  You better get ready for school."  Ranma and Akane kissed her on each cheek and then the two of them headed in for breakfast.  Nodoka gazed at them fondly as they disappeared into the dining area.