Chapter Three: Am I a Boy or Girl?
Akane walked upstairs with Ranma's water and knocked on the door lightly. When she arrived she saw that Ranma was asleep so she knelt down and shook him gently.
"Ranma" she replied softly.
"Hmm?" Ranma turned to her and smiled, "Oh hi Akane."
"I brought you some water," she said.
"Thank you" she nodded taking the cup gratefully and sipping some carefully.
"Oh Ranma" Akane thought sadly, "You are nicer this way.But I really miss the old you. It's just not the same without us arguing. I can't believe I'm saying that."
"Thank you" Ranma repeated.
"Hmm?" Akane looked over and saw her holding up the cup, "Oh you're welcome."
"I think I'm gonna go back to sleep again Akane" Ranma yawned, "Tell father and the others I'll see them later" her voice drifted off and Akane stood up to leave with a nod.
She closed the door and the room became dark. The incense pot that stood near Ranma's futon suddenly came to life and a fragrant smell entered the room as Ranma slept.
(Next Scene)
Around dinnertime Genma and Soun were still at a loss about what to do now about their children's engagement and couldn't really concentrate on their game of shogi. As Akane, Nabiki, and Kasumi came in with the dinner they saw Ranma move past once more towards the bathroom.
"Ranma?" Akane said as Ryoga came into the room.
"Ranma" Genma repeated louder but she ignored him and entered the bathroom.
They heard the water run and then some splashing and surprisingly a few seconds later Ranma returned only this time he was back in his guy form. He sat down next to Akane as they watched him stunned and he picked up his chopsticks with a sigh.
"Man I'm starving" he replied and then noticed their stares, "What?" he asked.
"Ranma?" Genma said.
"Yea. That's my name. What's up pop?"
"Ranma it's" he didn't know what to say as Akane and Ryoga glanced at each other confused.
"What? Why are you all staring at me? It's annoying."
"Ranma" Akane began, "Are you feeling okay?"
"Actually I'm feeling a lot better" Ranma nodded, "I think that medicine did the trick. I see you're still here Ryoga" he replied looking at the other boy, "Did you get lost on your way out?" he teased.
"Ranma. Don't you remember what happened last night?" Ryoga asked.
"You came up because Akane asked you to. Of course I remember."
"And this morning?"
"This morning? Nothing happened this morning. I haven't left the bed since tonight. What?" he stared around him at all the confused expressions.
"You really don't remember?" Akane asked.
"Remember what?"
(Next Scene)
Ranma blinked fast as the information sunk in.
"I was a girl and I couldn't change back into a guy even with hot water? Are you sure you all weren't dreaming?"
"It happened this morning Ranma" Akane replied as everyone nodded, "You were a girl. And you were talking in that sweet voice of yours and acting really strange."
"I don't remember anything like that" he scratched his head, "I only remember falling asleep last night. Huh? Well whatever it was, maybe it was a fluke" he shrugged his shoulders and continued to eat as if nothing was wrong.
Genma and Soun seemed satisfied with this answer while Akane and Ryoga were more concerned then relieved.
That night Ranma had another dream and turned and tossed once more.
"No" he whispered as his father snored next to him, "No please" he begged, "Not that. No. Akane. Akane. NO! NOO!" he sat back up and breathed out heavily again, "What is the deal?" he thought, "What is going on with me?" he closed his eyes and then turned to the bucket of water next to him, "Cold water" he said in a trance like way and dumped it on himself splashing his father a little transforming him into a panda.
"What's the big idea?" the panda held up a sign but noticed that female Ranma had gone back to sleep.
(Next Scene)
When Akane entered the sitting room the next morning she was surprised to see female Ranma sitting at the table with a smile on her face.
"Ranma?" she replied surprised.
"Hello there Akane" Ranma said back with a smile, "Look who I found this morning" she replied as she held onto P-chan who was squealing confusingly in her grasp.
"What are you doing?" Akane asked worried at once.
"He was out in the cold the poor little guy," Ranma cooed as she held him closer to her, "So I brought him in. Poor little P-chan" she nuzzled him.
"Ranma" Akane said confused as she sat down.
"He is so cute" she kissed him on his head making the pig at once to squeal a little, "Here you go little guy. Back to your mommy" she handed him to Akane.
Akane held onto P-chan baffled and then sadly turned to Ranma once more.
"Ranma, why are you a girl?"
"What are you talking about Akane?" Ranma asked, "I've always been a girl. You know father and Mr. Tendo asked that question too. Hurry up Akane. We'll be late for school."
"Uh actually Ranma we don't have school today."
"Oh that's right. I forgot" Ranma giggled, "Well then let's go shopping then. Just the two of us. Maybe we can take P-chan with us" she added making him squeal a little again in surprise.
"I don't understand" Akane shook her head, "Don't you dislike having P-chan hang around?"
"Now what a silly question" Ranma smiled, "Who wouldn't want that cute little thing around?"
"Ranma" Akane said sadly P-chan falling from her arms, "I guess we could go shopping," she finally agreed.
"Great" Ranma nodded happily, "I'll just go get ready."
"Mhm" Akane agreed as she departed, "Oh P-chan" she whispered, "What is going on with Ranma?"
P-chan squealed sadly as he looked up at Akane adoringly.
(Next Scene)
As they walked minus P-chan who had disappeared sometime before Akane watched Ranma's expression of gentleness and sighed heavily.
"Ranma" she began.
"Mhm" she nodded.
"Do you remember what happened last night?"
"Last night?" Ranma said thinking out loud, "Nothing really. You putmeto bed because I had a fever. I think I sleptthe whole night through."
"I see."
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason" Akane shook her head and turned her head from her once again, "Again. He doesn't remember anything. He doesn't seem to remember anything when he changes into the other form. And vice a versa. Oh great" she thought angrily as she saw Tatewaki Kuno coming their way, "Ranma" she replied, "Incoming."
"Hmm?" she looked in front of her as he stopped.
"What luck I have been granted to meet both of my loves on this glorious day" Kuno replied, "Akane Tendo. Pig-tailed girl. Shall we go on a date?"
"Get lost Kuno" Akane said angrily.
"Do we know this young man Akane?" Ranma asked puzzled.
"Why my love it's me" Kuno replied taking her hand, "Your one and only."
"I'm sorry but I don't think I've ever met you before" Ranma shook her head as Akane looked on stunned at her reaction, "And if you don't mind removing your hand from mine. It is very rude to hold a girl's hand without asking first."
"Uh. Of course" he agreed letting go at once.
"I don't believe this" Akane shook her head in disbelief, "Ranma come on" she took her arm, "Excuse us Kuno. But we were on our way" she pulled her close to her.
"Uh" he blinked his eyes not understanding the change in his pigtailed girl, "Of course my Chere" he added, "But it shall not be long till we see each other again" he clasped Ranma in his arms, "For we are bound by the destiny of love."
"Uh excuse me" Ranma blushed.
"How about a goodbye kiss at least?" he asked.
"Huh?" Ranma blinked.
"I don't think so!" Akane shouted kicking him into the sky.
"Perhaps another time!" he called as he flew.
Akane breathed heavily as Ranma stared at her confused.
"Akane what did you do that for?"
"What? Wasn't he bothering you?"
"Well he was a bit forward. In a weird sort of way. But I think I liked him."
"What?" Akane said stunned.
"Come on Akane. Let's go shopping" she took the stunned girl by the arm, "We'll lose the light" she began to hum as they walked.
"I can't believe this" Akane thought as they moved along the street, "I never thought I would see the day where Ranma would say that he liked Kuno" she shook her head.
(Next Scene)
When they returned Akane was surprised to see that Ryoga was waiting for them in the sitting room. Ranma at once greeted him cordially and invited him to stay for dinner. Nabiki observed that it seemed that female Ranma had a crush on Ryoga to which he instantly became red in the face. Akane could see that her sister was right because at dinner Ranma was very nervous around Ryoga and would often glance down at her plate if he looked her way, her face pink from blushing.
For several days the strange transformations continued. Every other day Ranma was a guy and insisted that everything that Akane had said happened didn't and then he would turn into a girl the day after oblivious to anything that had happened while he was a guy. The entire Tendo household was completely baffled by the changes and couldn't make heads or tails of it no matter how much they thought about it. Even Genma and Ryoga tried to test if their bodies would do the same, but to no avail, since it appeared that their bodies did the same as they always did.
On the fourth day that Ranma had changed back into his guy form he was sitting in the sitting room with Akane thinking really hard.
"I'm starting to believe that what you guys are saying is right?" he replied.
"Hmm?" she looked at him.
"I feel like I'm missing several days. I can't remember what happens when I go to sleep or when I wake up. I just remember bits and pieces. What's happening to me?"
"I don't know Ranma" Akane said, "But I'm really worried. Did anything strange happen?"
"Strange?"
"Before all this happened? Before you got sick and you couldn't sleep?"
"Hmm? I don't know. I can't really recall that week."
"Well I remember you started not getting any sleep in the middle of the week but you were fine earlier. Did anythinghappen then?"
"Hmm" he thought again his eyes closed, "Maybe. I remember going home."
"And?"
"I'd gone on home without you because you were going out that afternoon. I heard some noise from some nearby bushes but when I looked, I. I don't know" he suddenly squinted as he thought, "Somehow I ended up with my back against the fence. And" he felt the back of his head, "Wait a sec. There's a lump back here."
"Hmm?" Akane felt his head, "You're right. There is. Ranma did you get hit into the fence?"
"I don't know" he shook his head as he rubbed the spot.
"You should have Dr. Tofu look at that. Let's go right now. Oh is there anything else?"
"Not that I could think of" he shook his head again standing up, "Okay. Let's go."
"And if he doesn't know what to do, we should talk to Cologne."
"That's a good idea" he nodded, "That old Ghoul knows stuff that most people don't."
They ran to the front door, put their shoes on, and dashed out of the house to quickly get to Dr. Tofu's clinic.
Meanwhile up in Ranma's room the incense pot came to life once more, pouring it's flowery scent into the room, covering the entire area.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay that's it for now!
Next Chapter: A Matter of Will Power
Once visiting Dr. Tofu and Cologne Akane and Ranma return home with a bit of an idea to helping Ranma control the transformations. Will it be enough to stop the weird change in the boy's body? Find out next time!
