AN-Thank you for the positive responses! To Higurashi-Uchiha Kagome: Mainly Akane/Ranma but there will be some Shampoo/Mousse, Ryoga/Akari, Miroku/Sango and such. Also some Kagome/InuYasha but not really?? If that makes sense? ...and I have plans for Kuno...

Chapter 4 - Just Add Water

Kagome lay by the pond in the backyard, watching the clouds. She preferred it to being inside the house - after the way she'd acted last night they'd begun treating her like glass and trying to 'cheer her up'. All she wanted was to fade into the background quietly.

Hearing something sneak through the grass she turned to see P-Chan watching her. The piglet cocked its head to the side as if it were questioning her. Kagome frowned and turned her attention back to the clouds. Even the pig seemed concerned. "Morning Kagome!" Called Kasumi cheerfully, startling P-Chan. "Will you come help me hang the washing?" At least she could count on Kasumi. Kasumi was humming again as they worked through the pile of laundry, she seemed so happy and content that for a moment Kagome was jealous of her. Nothing ever seemed to faze Kasumi. Not even the unearthly shrieking that had Kagome reaching for an arrow in her quiver that wasn't there.

"Ranma!" Akane chased him into the backyard with a broom. "You idiot!" she yelled whacking him over the head with it."You always mess up everything! You're rude and arrogant and I can't stand to be around you!" Ranma laughed, "S'not my fault you can't cook to save your life!" Akane screamed and threw herself into the task of beating Ranma with her broom. He jumped around her, dodging her attacks easily and laughed at her all the while. Ranma's just the same as InuYasha, I'll have to find a rosary necklace for Akane. Suddenly realising what it was she was thinking, Kagome felt that same queasiness from last night come back. But seeing the way he acted with Akane, she couldn't stop thinking about how similar Ranma and InuYasha were; rude, seemingly indifferent, yet also boyish and energetic. Kagome wanted to go back inside but she couldn't after agreeing to help Kasumi (who incidentally was acting as if Akane and Ranma's fight was the most normal thing in the world). So Kagome forced herself to focus on the laundry and ignore the pair, as well as the sick feeling in her stomach.

However a loud splash and a strangled yelp from Ranma made Kagome start watching again. Ranma leapt back out of the pond and perched himself on one of the rocks encasing the pool. "Aw! Look at whatch'ya did!" he said only, it came out higher pitched than Kagome was used too. But it couldn't have been Ranma, this person had deep red hair, not black. P-Chan was squealing like mad - Kagome could've sworn P-Chan was laughing at ... whoever it was. She put the shirt she was holding back into the basket and moved to stand by Akane. She studied this new person's face, it looked just like Ranma, only softer somehow? She hadn't really been watching too closely - it was possible someone else came without Kagome seeing. "Where's Ranma?" She asked softly. They both looked at her in surprise, stopping mid-argument. "Uhhh, Ranma? He's umm," The red-head couldn't seem to tell her. Akane rolled her eyes. "Get a grip Ranma, she's living with us, we can''t keep it from her - besides, I don't want to."
"Oh! I have the problem but you're allowed to tell anyone as you please?"
"This isn't like that! She's my cousin, and plus, the whole school knows - so she'll find out eventually anyway!" The red-head sighed in apparent defeat. Akane turned to Kagome who was now very confused, "You see Kagome, Ranma has this thing- whenever he comes into contact with cold water he...well he changes, this is Ranma." Kagome looked up at Ranma, it was easily believable. She just wasn't sure why he was making a big deal out of this though - so his hair changed colour (and his voice went a little pre-pubescent), she'd seen worse transformations. "Okay then. Why cold water?" Akane and Ranma looked at her confused. "You're okay with this? You don't worry that this isn't... normal?" Ranma asked slowly. "I've seen things you can't imagine," she told him in a slightly haunted tone of voice. Ranma and Akane met eyes for a second, conveying their concern to each other. "So it's not that big 'a deal," she continued, "You don't have it so bad anyway, you're just like one of those dolls." Ranma quirked an eyebrow. "What?" he demanded. "You know those Barbies that change hair colour? Just add water?" Ranma stared at her as if she were crazy. "Umm Kagome? Haven't you noticed?" Akane asked gently. "Noticed what?"
"These." Ranma pointed to his chest. "Oh."
"Oh? Is that it? I'm a fricking girl when I'm supposed to be a boy! It's not fricking not that bad!"

Another reason Ranma is like InuYasha; they're both only half something. Kagome burst into hysterical laughter.

Akane was really worried about Kagome. First there was last night when she'd acted like Happosai was the most terrifying thing she'd ever seen, then she had completely blown off Ranma's change with an 'I've seen things you can't imagine' -what was that supposed to mean anyway?- next she was in hysterics. Doubled over with laughter and scaring P-Chan, who had jumped to the safety of her arms. Akane knelt down beside Kagome, placing P-Chan back on the ground. "Kagome?" Akane took hold of Kagome's shoulders gently, "Kagome, what's going on with you?"
"It's just so ridiculous," she choked out between bouts of laughter. "What is?"
"They're so alike, god I miss him so much." Kagome stopped laughing and burst into tears.
"Who? Kagome, is it Gramps?" Akane was feeling completely out of her depth, she wasn't used to dealing with these things and obviously neither was Ranma as he'd gone inside to give them some degree of privacy. "No, not Gramps," Akane slid closer to Kagome and wrapped her arms around her. "Who is it then?" Akane prodded -but Kagome wouldn't say anymore, just continued crying into her cousins shoulder.