Author's note: Well, this is a quick update, if a short one. I had the time, I was made happy by reviews, and I had to clear up a little misunderstanding - I can't leave y'all with unfounded hope, now can I?
Response to reviews:
Aondehafka: Your praise means a little extra to me, as Dream of the Earthbound is without a doubt my favourite Ranma fic.
eternalfox: In my universe, you are wrong.
Rewind: We are in agreement on Mousse and Amazon misandry (or lack thereof), but we'll get to that... Eventually.
People who thought Shampoo was back: Psh, you wish.
xxxxx
Having thoroughly beaten Mousse into a pulp for taking up Shampoo's biking habits, Ranma continued on his way to Ucchan's.
Well, this was just great, he thought. With his Amazon fiancee gone from Nerima and Ukyo so much less aggressive than she used to be, how did all that trouble still manage to pile up? Would he never be free of all this?
And what was with Kodach? Being run over by Mousse had jolted Ranma back to reality, but he still couldn't understand just what had happened there. Okay, so he had known that the Black Rose would need to be dealt with eventually, but he had always dismissed her as as much a whackjob as her brother. And now she'd... cried? Kodachi Kuno?
Gah! He hated it when girls cried! It wasn't manly, making a girl cry. It wasn't right.
And that look of hatred, when she met his eyes... that had been scary. Better than if she had continued crying, but still scarier than he had ever seen her. He would have to check to see she wasn't still sad in a couple of days, and then he could worry about any revenge she might be planning.
He reached Ucchan's, and the two of them talked a little while he be whittled down her supply of okonomiyaki ingredients. It really helped, just being able to talk things over with someone. He wasn't sure it was fair to Ukyo - he wasn't certain how she felt for him now - it had been over six weeks since the wedding, and she hadn't pushed herself on him since then, but still, that might just mean she was keeping it bottled up inside.
"I dunno... I just wish I had a clue what was going on..." He looked up at his oldest friend, who stood staring unseeingly at the food she was making. "But what about you?" he asked, trying to sound cheerful. "How are things?"
Ukyo blinked, and looked up to meet his gaze. "Just tired, Ranchan." She smiled, though she did look a little worn.
"The restaurant's going well, I suppose. Shampoo's gone, so they've had to hire a local to help cook at the Cat Cafe." Her smile turned malicious. "Lots of customers went there for the hussy waitress, I think. Now that she's gone, people choose their lunch place by the food they get."
Ranma didn't point out that, in fact, what he heard in school was that the new girl wasn't very good at Chinese food. But then, he was sure Ukyo knew that, too.
Deep down.
XXXXX
The sunrise the next day was beautiful. Ranma didn't notice, because he was asleep, but still, it had been utterly gorgeous.
To be fair, he probably wouldn't have noticed even if he was awake, because there were buildings in the way, and all that. But if he had been somewhere outside the city - though not too far, because clouds are important in making a beautiful sunrise - but if he had been outside the city, but not too far - Actually, it would probably be easier to just find a high building close by, but if he had found a suitable building before hand, and he had been awake, he would have seen it was an absolutely gorgeous sunrise.
As it was, he found himself half asleep, left behind by Akane and running to school with a large stack of sandwitches in his hands. He had just swallowed the last piece of bread when he reached the school gates.
"Sorceress!"
Ranma groaned. This was quickly getting to be more creepy than it had ever been annoying before Kuno learned of the curse.
"Oh, in my mind I know tis but a spell that ties me to you, but in my heart I forgive you!"
Ranma pushed Kuno away with a disgusted expression on his face. The man was now bringing him flowers and asking for dates no matter what gender he saw Ranma in.
"You must persist, my love! I shall find a way to rid you of this evil magic! A cure! Together we shall-!"
Ranma stopped. He held Kuno at arm's length. "What did you say?"
Kuno looked ecstatic. "My pig-tailed girl! Is that you? Has the vile magic receeded? Has our love overcome the foul-?"
Ranma shook his upperclassman to silence. "What was that you said?
"A- A cure?" Kuno asked, stunned from how quickly Ranma had shaken him.
"What about a cure?"
Kuno managed to focus his eyes on him. "Yes! Yes, a cure! The mercenary wench, she told me! Far away, in the mountains in China there is a place of many magical springs-"
"Yes?" Ranma demanded.
The captain of the kendo team looked somewhat intimidated at the eagerness in Ranma's voice.
He loosened the grip. He looked around him. There was a small audience, but this was too important an opportunity to care about who might overhear.
"Kuno senpai," he said, trying to emulate the voice he used in his female form when trying to flirt his way to free ice cream. "Is it really true? You have found the hidden valley of Jusenkyo?"
Kuno looked stunned for a second, but he quickly recovered. "Yes! Yes, my pig-tailed goddess! It is true, I have finally found a means of rescue for you! I- I shall send immediately for the magical water to be transported to Japan, and then you can be a true woman again!"
Tatewaki began mumbling to himself, and Ranma let go of him in sheer disgust at the scenarios he must be playing out in his head, eyes closed, lips moving as though to kiss someone who wasn't there.
Ranma shivered. But then he went right back in there.
"Oh, Kuno! Kuno my hero!" he whispered in a feminine voice. A shiver went up his spine.
"Goddess!" Kuno called out, moving in for a sloppy hug.
Ranma dodged. "But Kuno! It is important you listen to me, you hear! The magic - the evil curse that only our love can lift - to break it I need the water of the Nannichuan, you hear me?"
Kuno looked surprised. "But my love, I- The Tendo mercenary told me only the Nyannichuan has the power to save a girl who has been turned into a man by the power of the foul springs!"
Ranma's mouth hung open. Well, that was technically true, he thought. That was a technically true piece of information Nabiki had sold to Kuno, for who knew how many thousands of yen...
"Yes, my hero," he said, thinking quickly. "Yes, it is true. But I- I have been further cursed!The Nyannichuan on its own can no longer save me! I need some Nannichuan as well!"
Now it was Kuno who looked surprised. "I see! So it must be, then! So it shall be!" Kuno shook his fist at the sky in solemn oath.
"Kiss me, my pig tailed girl!"
Ranma leaped aside. "I- I can feel him take over again, Kuno! Oh, you must hurry! I must have that water!"
"I swear it!" Kuno cried, flinging himself yet again at his pig tailed sorceress. "And then we can be together! Yes, I shall allow you to date me! My sister - but I shall plead for you. She must see that you are the victim of that evil place!"
"Kodachi?" Ranma asked. "How is she?"
Kuno paused in his assaults. "She is distraught... But I will make her see - she will understand - you are the victim. I shall save you!"
Kuno leaped again, but Ranma was too distracted to pay attention, merely keeping the deluded fool at arm's length, while he thought of Kodachi. It wasn't unexpected that she would be upset, but for even Kuno to bring it up...
He could feel his enthusiasm at the promise of a cure wither. Not enough to let the opportunity pass by, but he would have to talk to the Mistress of Martial Arts Rythmic Gymnastics.
He would have to talk to her soon.
xxxxx
Author's note: No, no I do not intend for the Kunos to provide Ranma with a cure. There will be some plot significance to the attempt, but neither Ranma nor Tatewaki will have their wish. Nor will Ranma receive a new curse.
Also, I may as well have a vote. Ranma will not end up with Ukyo, but... When I began this fic I had intended to just let her slide silently into the 'friend' category without protest. But now me thinks that would be a little too out of character. So I guess a vote is in order. Shall we have the childhood friend walk silently into the night, or shall we have her make a heroic (doooomed!) last stand later in the fic?
Now I shall sleep. And then there will be a biology practical. Bleh.