School came and went. No one seemed to care that Ranma and Ranko were separate people now. Well, the boys in school cared. Now that Ranko was a real girl now, the boys trampled anything and everything in their stampede to ask Ranko out on a date.
Ranko respectfully declined all of them. And that is why nearly all of the school's male population showed up a nurse Sakura's office in varying degrees of injury and consciousness.
Ranma did step in to help out after awhile. After all, he'd never let another boy touch his sister.
A little while later, Akane and the twins were eating with Tendo's and Mr. Saotome. It was quiet around the table. Akane leaned over to whisper into Ranma's ear, "I think now would be the time to tell them."
Ranma gave Akane and Ranko a sorrowful nod that did not go unnoticed by Kasumi.
"Is something wrong Ranma", Kasumi asked.
"Uh, yeah" said Ranma. Then he and Ranko told the family about their problem.
Kasumi quickly ran to hug the both of them with tears in her eyes. While Nabiki, never one to show all of her emotion, turned her head away. If one were to look closely enough, they would have noticed a single tear running down Nabiki's face. It was small but it was there.
Ranko looked over to the left and saw her dad looking very nonchalant. She raised an eyebrow and looked over at him.
"You seem very relaxed about this old man," she said.
"I'm grieving in silence," said Genma as he calmly took another bite of his food.
"You know something don't you" yelled Ranma.
At this point, Genma splashed some water on himself and did his "cute panda" routine.
This fooled no one. The twins quickly pounced on the panda who held a sign reading, "I don't know anything".
Ranko and Ranma continued to beat up the panda for another half hour without getting anywhere.
"This isn't working. Maybe he really doesn't know anything," said Ranko.
"Only one more way to find out", said Ranma.
"What are you going to do?" signed Genma.
Ranma went inside the house and grabbed the phone. He came back out with it and started dialing a number.
"Hey mom. It's Ranma. Can you hold on a sec" said Ranma. He looked over at the panda and said, "If you don't start talking, I'll tell mom that you're pimping out Ranko."
The panda's eyes went wide at the thought of what his wife would do to him if she found out something like that.
He held a sign reading, "I'll talk"
"Start talking" said Ranko.
"Hey mom, Kasumi is calling me. Here talk to Akane" said Ranma as he handed the phone to Akane.
Akane took the phone and held it up to her ear, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Rated PG-13. Show times at 12:30 2:45 5:00 and 7:15….."
Akane continued to talk to "Mrs. Saotome" just so Genma wouldn't get suspicious.
Genma finally broke down infront of his son and daughter, "I didn't mean for this to happen. I was trying to find way to get rid of my cursed form. So I did some research. It later came to involve the incense that Happosai once used to split you and the incense Ranma bought so he could spar with himself. I also used various instant spring powders from jusenkyo. In the end, I developed a pill that could theoretically separate one from their jusenkyo curse. I didn't know if it would work. I needed a guinea pig so during one of our fights for food; I slipped it onto your plate when you were not looking. Had I known that it would shorten your lifespan, I would never have used it."
"I always knew the old man would be the death of us," muttered Ranma.
"Well, do you know the ingredients you used? If we can at least get a list of those, maybe Dr. Tofu can help us become one again," said Ranko.
"I forgot to record them down," said Genma feebly.
"Of course you did," said Ranma who rubbed his aching forehead.
"Hey bro, I feel kinda funny," said Ranko. She felt dizzy and moved lazily back and forth. Ranma moved to catch her before she fainted. However as soon as Ranma caught her, he fainted too.
Akane and Kasumi quickly took the pair up to their room and called Dr. Tofu.
Several minutes later, the doctor arrived.
"What happened?" asked the doctor.
"They were arguing with their dad and then Ranko said she wasn't feeling well. Then she and Ranma fainted" said Akane.
Dr. Tofu looked over the twins who were fast asleep. He took a measure of their auras and conclude, "They're auras are getting weaker. At this rate, I give them at the most 3 weeks. Were you able to find out the cause of the split?"
Akane then repeated Genma's confession to Dr. Tofu.
"Is there anything you can do doctor" asked Akane.
"I don't know. All I can do now is research the items Mr. Saotome used and go from there," said Dr. Tofu
"Please save them doctor," said Akane with fresh tears in her eyes.
"I'll do my best," said the doctor.
Akane decided to let the twins sleep and left the room.
As soon as she left, Ranma and Ranko woke up.
"So we only have 3 weeks," said Ranma.
"What are we gunna do" asked Ranko.
Ranma thought for a minute and said, "Were gunna do our best to make them the best 3 weeks of Akane's life".
"How?"
"I'm not sure. But I love Akane and I know you do too. That's why I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy."
"How about we take her out on a date," suggested Ranko.
"That could work"
The was a pause and Ranma continued, "I still think this is a very messed up relationship"
"Me too bro. Me too."
End of Chapter 5
I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. And I hope that the Genma's explanation made sense. I would also like to point out that Nadoka was one of the people who witnessed the split. The only reason I didn't include her reaction was because I couldn't figure out how to write it. That's the same reason Ukyo hasn't made an appearance. Well, till next time.
Oh, and I also hope everyone injoyed the cameo of Nurse Sakura from Urusei Yatsura