Torn Chapter 2 The party, a ranma fanfic

Notes: OKay so this is the second chapter I am in desperate need of sleep I will work on chapter:3 when I get up most everything is already ready for the launching, but due to original formatting its causing issues with Fan Fictions doc manager so I am having to wrestle the chapters into place which is not the easiest thing ever.

Ranma 1/2: Torn

Chapter 2: The Party

By Kit'ari

For what seemed to be the hundredth time, Ranma decided to ask of her fiancee "Tell me again why I'm coming?"

"Because your mother thought it would be a good idea," Akane answered, her annoyance plainly showing.

"So, that still doesn't explain why you're draggin' me here." Ranma glanced over at Akane. "I mean, it isn't like y- anyone is gonna want me there. I am not a real girl, ya know"

"Then don't come! You're right, forget about what you said to your mother!" Akane barked. "Look, all you have to do is not do anything to embarrass me. Got it?"

"Sheesh, got it!" Ranma-chan said, shaking her head. Why did her mother have to show up when Akane was going over to a friend's house for a stupid slumber party? Of course, she insisted Akane take her 'cousin,' Ranko. 'Good way to make friends,' she says. 'I'll be lucky if they don't wanna kill me on the spot.' Ranma-chan thought gloomily to herself. 'Curse no baka.'

"Here we are. Now promise me you will try to stay a girl all night, and that you won't do anything to embarrass me." Ranma-chan looked at Akane with a pleading expression. "Promise me, Ranma."

"Oh, all right!"

"All right, what?"

"I promise."

"Good." Akane reached up and knocked on the door.

XXXXXX

Yuka opened the door and smiled. 'Right on time,' she thought. Outside, Akane and Onna-Ranma stood waiting. Both girls were holding small overnight bags.

"Hey, Akane," Yuka exclaimed. She glanced down the hall, then added, "Ranko."

"Hey, why'd you call me Ranko?" Ranma-chan asked.

"My Mother doesn't know about your curse, but she does know Akane is engaged to a Ranma," Yuka explained.

"I'm not really a girl, ya know. I don't think I should try ta hide it," Ranma challenged.

"Ranma," Akane growled, "this is a girl's night. Get it? Girl's Night."

"Exactly!" Ranma countered. "

Your Mom wanted you here and if you change back, Yuka will probably get in trouble for having a boy here. You don't want Yuka to get into trouble do you?" Akane asked with a huff.

Ranma blinked twice then shook his head no. "I guess not," Ranma mumbled.

"It'll be all right, Ranko," Yuka replied. "You'll see. Just follow me, guys." Yuka leading the procession to where the other girls were waiting.

XXXXX

"What's taking that idiot so long?" Akane huffed, though, there was no real anger in her tone.

The girls had all used Yuka's room to change in while Ranma had claimed the bathroom. Akane had been nervous about with might happen if he had returned before they did. As it was, she had changed in record time. More than fifteen minutes had passed now, and they were all getting bored waiting for Ranma.

"I guess I'll go see what's taking hi- er, her so long," Akane announced a little too loudly.

Everyone glanced quickly toward the kitchen. Yuka had tried to tell her mother once when Ranma's secret first came out, but she never believed her. Yuka's mother was also a little more prudish than, oh say Kasumi, when it came to some things. Now that they were, in fact, smuggling a boy into their slumber party, they didn't think now would be a good time for her to learn the truth.

After the brief pause, Akane continued on her way to drag Ranma back to the party.

Akane banged twice on the bathroom door.

"W-who's there?" came Ranma's stuttered reply in response to the knocking.

Akane responded "It's me. The others are already dressed, you know. It's safe for you to come out now."

"Uh, I don't know about that. I really think I should just go home now." came her fiancee's words from the other side of the door.

Akane clenched her fist tight but managed to keep her temper in check unclenching her fist "Oh, no you don't. You promised me."

Slowly, the door opened revealing a very healthy red-head wearing her usual undershirt and a pair of boxers.

Akane groaned inwardly."That's what you brought to wear?" Ranma gained a puzzled look "Mom said take what I usually sleep in."

"Yes, but..." Akane trailed off. 'I suppose I should be glad he doesn't sleep topless, or nude,' she thought with a slight blush at the images that thought brought to mind. Fortunately, Ranma was gazing intently at the floor instead of watching her. "Let me go talk to Yuka and see if she has anything you can wear."

Ranma shaking her head negatively "Ah, I don't think that'd be a good idea."

"You can't wear that. Besides, you would feel a lot more comfortable wearing something like the rest of us are wearing."

"The last thing I need is ta feel more comfortable with this," Ranma mumbled with a sigh.

Akane only turned and left. She didn't want this to turn into another of their arguments. This place wouldn't stand up to it and the last thing she wanted was to be no longer welcomed at her friends' houses.

XXXXX

"So, how can I... Oh, I see what Akane meant." Ranma jumped at Yuka's sudden appearance. "What were you looking for?" Yuka asked, noticing that the cabinet doors were all open, and it looked like someone was rummaging around. Not messy, just not as neat as her mom usually kept it.

"Ah..." Ranma began, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"Well, let me get you something first, then maybe I can help," Yuka said giving the red-head an assuring smile.

XXXXX

A short while later found a young buxom redhead staring into the mirror wearing a long white button-down shirt that was just long enough to cover the boxer shorts she was wearing. All of Yuka's nightgowns were far too girly for Ranma's tastes. Yuka had laughingly agreed about some of them. Then she brought out one of her father's shirts she had commandeered some months back.

Yuka smirked as she looked at the girl in front of her. If only she could look that good in it. Not that she was about to tell Ranma that. She shook her head ruefully.

Ranma took in a deep breath, holding back the slight wince the constricting device across her chest caused. "Do I have ta wear it?"

Yuka looked into the mirror. She knew the bra she loaned Ranma was a little small, and probably pinched some. "I know it's a little uncomfortable," she began. Ranma turned to give her a look. "Why's it so important?"

"Mom doesn't know about the curse. And, well, a girl flopping around like you do..." she trailed off, not really sure what she should say.

Feeling defeated "Okay," Ranma said, after letting out a long breath. Once again, Ranma looked forlornly into the sink, as if it held all the answers. "Ranma?" Yuka trailed off. "It's Ranko, remember?" Ranma attempted a smile, but it didn't come close.

"Is something wrong?" "Uh, this is dumb. I shouldn't be here," Ranma blurted out. "I really shouldn't be here, not tonight, 'specially not tonight," Ranma-chan mumbled almost to softly for Yuka to hear.

"What's wrong with tonight?" Yuka asked softly. Ranma's only response was to look shamefacedly at the ground. "Should I get Akane?"

"No," Ranma-chan almost blurted out. "Why?" Yuka looked into the reflection of Ranma's eyes. "I don't want Akane knowin'." Yuka stared at Ranma hard. "Please?" he finished. "What don't you want to tell Akane?" Yuka frowned, 'This could not be good.'

"It's... uh..." Ranma-chan floundered. "Forget it. Just forget it. It's my problem."

"So, are you going to stay in here all night, or are you coming out to join us?"

"I hav'ta go home. I can't stay here. Not when..." Yuka raised an eyebrow until she thought how Nabiki-ish that must look. "Look. If you're leaving, then you are going to have to go out there and explain why to Akane."

"N- n- n-" Ranma-chan muttered while going completely white. "I can't!" Yuka moved to close the seat on the western style toilet so she could sit when she noticed several tissues and spots of pink inside. Ranma moved to flush the toilet, but the damage was done. Yuka turned to Ranma, her eyes wide open, "You're not..."

Ranma-chan only nodded, too embarrassed to say anything. "B- but you're a boy!" Ranma-chan continued to nod. "But that would mean..." "Believe me, I know what it means," Ranma-chan whispered gruffly. "Give me a sec, I'll get what you need," she whispered. Actually, she just needed out of there. She knew she shouldn't have been surprised, but it still felt like some fundamental law of nature had just been shattered in her mind.

"Please don't tell Akane," Ranma begged as she got up. Yuka nodded as she stiffly walked out.

XXXXX

"What took you two so long?" Akane's voice demanded as Yuka and Ranma stepped into the living room. After a quick glance, Ranma spotted her her blue-haired fiancee leaning back in a reclining chair with Sayuri and another girl, Myako, poised over her.

"You look so cute," the other girl called with a smirk. "A real wolf in sheep's clothing," Sayuri poked.

"After we finish with Akane, You're next!" Myako informed Ranma.

"Next?" Ranma and Yuka said at once.

"Yeah, we're helping each other with our make-up. You know, sharing girl secrets and stuff." Sayuri continued.

"Uh, that's okay-really," Ranma-chan replied, her eyes wide with alarm.

"But I insist. It's the least I can do," Myako pushed.

"It'll be okay, Ranko," Yuka tried to help.

"Finished!" Myako exclaimed.

"Wow!" Ranma couldn't keep the word from his lips as Akane got up and turned around to show everyone. 'She looks...' his brain couldn't find the words. "Just wait until we're through with you!" Myako chimed. She did like teasing Ranma, but this was what she had been looking forward to. Myako loved make-up. Being in the drama club, she usually volunteered to do the make-up and costumes.

She was very disappointed when she didn't get to work on Ranma during the Romeo and Juliet play, then again she was probably safer that way. But the chance to work on his girl form - that was far too much to pass up. He called it a curse. She wished she could be that beautiful without trying.

Ranma sat in the chair Akane had just vacated, still too stunned by Akane's appearance to realize just what she was doing or that she should be protesting. Myako's eyes already analyzing her face for the best colors to bring out her eyes while complementing her complexion and the shape of her face. The entire process turned into an incredible exercise in the 'soul of ice' technique.

'If Cologne had done this, learnin' the Hirou-Shoten-Ha would a' been nothin',' Ranma thought grumpily, as someone did something to her eyebrows. "Okay, guys!" Myako called out. "Get ready!" The other girls gathered around, waiting for the unveiling. As Ranma stood up to give everyone a better look, everyone's jaw hit the floor. Everyone was well aware of her unfair cuteness. No one in the room was ready for the pure glory of the beautiful woman now standing before them.

Ranma blushed self-consciously, under the sudden scrutiny, while tilting her head demurely toward the floor. This, of course, was like throwing gasoline on the fire of her radiant feminine appearance. Had they been able to see into the house every male within ten blocks suddenly would have found themselves struck speechless for no apparent reason other to gaze upon her person.

"Hey, someone grab a mirror. I want to know what Ranko thinks," Myako called after taking a few shots with her handy camera. She had her portfolio to think of. 'If I could convince Ranko to let me do this again later...' her thoughts drifted off, as she started to drool. Images of working with all the big teen-idols, all of them demanding that she be the only one to work on them, danced through her head.

"I- is th- I mean, is that really me?" the red-haired stuttered out.

Yuka, Akane, and Myako couldn't help but giggle at Ranma's reaction.

'Wow, I mean ...' Ranma thought to herself, her brain far too overloaded to even practice the Saotome foot-in-mouth attack. Myako continued to take pictures. Idly wondering what percentage she could get from Nabiki for the sales of these photos.

XXXXX

Ranma sat next to Yuka and Akane on the couch as Sayuri put the tape in the VCR. Turning back to the group, she scowled. She had hoped to be able to corner Ranma between her and Akane. 'Oh well, this little surprise should show Akane and Yuka.' Sayuri couldn't keep the smirk off her face as the story, They Were eleven, started to play. Ever now and then, she would shoot a quick glance over at Ranma.

Usually, he was yawning or doing some other thing to feign disinterest, but he was keeping an eye on it. With nervous anticipation she waited for the edit that she knew was in there. While she did own a copy, this was her brother's tape. He always copied scenes from the various hentai movies his friends owned. She had discovered this quite by accident, but never told him she knew.

A trump card she had held over her brother. She was not disappointed. Suddenly, right after a scene where everyone was panicking because the space station had altered its orbit, slimy tentacles started grabbing school girls that weren't in the show five seconds before. "Sayuri!" Yuka hissed. "What is that!" Everyone turned to face Sayuri, who shrugged her shoulders. "I own the laser disk, this is my brother's tape. How was I supposed to know he had something like this on it?" she replied coyly, looking over to see Ranma's reaction.

Yuka jumped up to turn the VCR off before her mother came in. "I- I- I'll go see if I can help in the kitchen," a very pale Ranma announced, jumping up from the couch as soon as Yuka moved. 'That was an odd reaction,' Sayuri thought. 'He was shaking. If I didn't know better...' she smirked at the joke to herself, then shrugged it off.

It wasn't quite exactly the reaction she had hoped for.

XXXXX

"Well, now what?" Yuka asked after Ranma and her mother brought snacks in from the kitchen. They were supposed to be watching the movie while munching, but she wasn't about to trust any of the tapes Sayuri brought.

"How about truth or dare?" Sayuri asked. "I don't think so," Yuka started to say, trying to stop this incident before it started, but her mother called her from the kitchen. "Coming," she replied after a sigh. "How do you play that?" Yuka heard Ranma ask as she entered the kitchen. "Simple." Sayuri started. "Someone asks you a question, then you either have to answer that question truthfully, or you have to take the dare. If you take the dare, you have to do whatever they dare you to do. Got it?"

Ranma nodded.

"Good. I'll go first." Sayuri decided. "Myako. Have you ever kissed a boy, and if so whom? Truth or dare?" She had a few ideas to liven things up but wanted to wait to see where Ranma would go with it. Besides, it would be easier to corner him after everyone else had a go. "Uh," Myako froze, her cheeks turning a definite shade of pink. She glanced over at Ranma before answering, "Yes," she nearly squeaked out. "Tahashi-kun," she finished. Akane looked over at her friend at this. She knew she liked male martial-gymnast, but she had never known he returned the feelings.

"Okay, my turn." She looked around the room; Yuka wasn't back yet. "Akane." The question 'Do you prefer Ranma's boy side or girl side?' was hard to push to the side. That would be a very bad question she concluded. "What is your favorite color?" she finished lamely, then shook her head. She couldn't think of anything else, but even that was lame.

Everyone knew her favorite color was... "Blue-gray," Akane said without hesitation, then blinked. She had meant to say yellow. 'Why did I say blue-gray? Yellow is my favorite, right?' Shaking that thought for another time, she looked around to choose her victim. She locked eyes with Ranma. "Ran- ko. Why do you always fight with Ryoga? Truth or dare?" Ranma eyes attempted to leap out of her skull at that question. Sayuri noticed and grinned. She knew there had to be something there. "D- dare," Ranma called. She hated to, but she had to keep her promise.

"Hmmm, a dare. Let me think for a moment." Akane smiled. 'This is going to be fun.' she started to speak when a shouting match had ensued...

"I DON'T CARE! I WANT HER OUT OF THIS HOUSE RIGHT NOW, YOUNG LADY!" came a distinctive voice from the kitchen. "SHE'S MY FRIEND, I AM NOT JUST Going..." Yuka's voice trailed down too far to make out. "I WILL NOT HAVE THAT TYPE OF GIRL IN MY HOUSE!"

"I think, maybe I should just go now," Ranma said meekly.

"THERE IS NOTHING WRONG..." "NOTHING WRONG? NOTHING WRONG? I TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG, DAUGHTER..." "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HER! HOW CAN YOU PASS JUDGEMENT LIKE THAT?" Silence filled the living room, only punctuated by an occasional banging and muffled shouts just low enough not to be understood. Everyone watched the kitchen door with wide eyes. They hadn't expected this. "I WILL NOT BEND ON THIS, DAUGHTER!" "I WON'T ABANDON MY FRIEND!" "THEN MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD TO ME. I DON'T KNOW YOU!"

All the girls gasped. Ranma turned pale. "What did..." Ranma was cut off as Yuka came storming into the room. "I am sorry guys, I guess the party's over." She looked like she was about to cry. Ranma was shaking, she wanted to rush in there and try to straighten things out, only she had no clue what was going on, other than the sinking feeling that it was her fault. "You shouldn't have done that. I'll just go," Ranma blurted out. Everyone looked at her. "Thanks Ranma." Yuka tried to smile. "But no, I stick by my friends, and I mean it." Ranma started to open her mouth to protest some more, but Yuka shook her head. "No Ranma. This is mine to deal with."

Ranma looked into Yuka's eyes and saw the same determination that always made her back down from Akane. She knew the girl would not be swayed in this. That was one of the things she respected most about Akane, even if it did always get her into trouble. "Just remember, you don't have to do this for me."

"I'm not. I am doing this for me." Yuka's expression tightened. Gathering her resolve, she saw her friends to the door, before locking herself in her room. It was a long quiet walk home for Akane and Ranma.

XXXXX

"Last night not go too well?" Nabiki observed the next morning. She wasn't really surprised that they had come back sometime last night. Actually, she was surprised that they had stayed as long as they apparently did. "I don't want to talk about it," Akane said gruffly.

Not even bothering to look up at Nabiki. She remembered when she first heard that some of Akane's friends were planning a slumber party for Ranma. Just thinking about it had brightened her entire week. When she had overheard Akane talking to Mrs. Saotome, she shook her head. Who knew that her little sister had learned something from her after all.

She had thought of a few ways she could make money off of that knowledge, but she couldn't do that to Yuka. Her and Sayuri were two of the few friends that had stuck by Akane during the early morning exercises that had so occupied Akane's time before Ranma had shown up. For that she was grateful. The damage that could be done to her home, Nabiki didn't even want to think about it.

So, as always, Nabiki paid her perceived debts behind the scenes, by keeping the knowledge out of certain ears as best she could. For his part, Ranma just sat there looking very guilty. Nabiki turned her attention back to breakfast. Her sister wasn't about to talk, and the little chance she had of getting anything out of Ranma would have to wait until she could get him alone.

"I need to go practice," Ranma announced. Nabiki raised an eyebrow. Kasumi looked slightly worried. Akane ignored him. The only contact he had made with his food was to protect it from the elder Saotome, and even that was half-hearted. After breakfast, Akane had rushed to get dressed and left to go meet with her friends. Nabiki looked for Ranma, but apparently, he had also taken off. And so the calm before the storm that was Sunday passed.