Chapter 13: Switch a roo, and how do you do.
Ukyou finished cleaning up and sat down on a stool with a glass of melon soda. She looked at Ryouga and studied him intently, wondering what the lost boy was thinking about. Ryouga sipped his own cup, deep in thought, as he rubbed his nose cautiously, grumbling about Ranma's rotten attitude. Ukyou smiled at that and took another sip from her soda, before pulling out a first aid kit from under the counter and set about caring for Ryouga's bruised face by slapping a large cross-shaped patch on his nose.
"There ya go sugar, that'll stop you from messing with it," she informed him before packing up the kit and sliding it back under the counter.
Ryouga looked up sheepishly at her and blushed, while he scratched his bandage.
"You didn't have to do that, you know," he said, feeling touched at the girl's kindness.
"Oh yes I did, sugar! Or else you'll never stop messing with it ... Jeez Ryouga where is your head at today?" She asked, as she wrinkled up her nose, a bit annoyed by his display towards her kindness.
Ryouga giggled a bit before he spoke.
"Thinking about Onna," he said with a lovestruck voice, while looking dreamily at Ukyou, overlaying the image of her with a ghostly one of Onna.
Ukyou frowned and grew furious upon hearing what he had to say. It was just like Ryouga to let her down when she really needed him. She needed him to have his sights set on Akane to increase her own chances of having Ranma all to herself. 'Stupid jerk,' she swore to herself, as she wanted to wrap her hands around his neck and shake some sense into him, before slapping him with the back and front of her hand repeatedly. Instead, she choose to slam her fist down on the counter top, starring angrily into his eyes, hoping that it would cause him to gulp and fidget, thus snapping the lost boy back into reality.
"I thought you said you loved Akane, you Jackass!" She screamed.
"Akane... Oh, I do love her. I'd walk to the ends of the earth for her... But but ... she doesn't seem to love me ... just thinks of me as a friend," he answered subconsciously, not even realizing what he was saying as his conscious side was too busy daydreaming about Onna being his girlfriend.
Ukyou sighed and calmed down a bit, knowing all too well that what Ryouga was saying was the truth. The thing that startled her was that the lost boy had finally realized this himself. For a moment, she felt reluctant to do anything, thinking that it was for the better that he would go on with his life, instead of being hung up on a girl that thought that he was too awkward to be anything other than a friend. No. She couldn't just give up so easily. Not on her lifelong dream of being with her Ranchan, the boy she had grown to love when she was still a child. It just wasn't like her and she had to think of something, quick.
"Look sugar, she's just in denial. I'm sure she loves you. You just have to be a man and go for it. In fact, remember how I helped you the last time? I can do it again, ya know," Ukyou suggested, hoping that the lost boy would grow a spine and do what needed to be done.
Ryouga drifted in and out of reality, just picking up bits and pieces of what Ukyou was saying. After all, Onna in that nightie was much more interesting than Ukyou in her work clothes. It was then that he realized something.
'I ... I've always found Ranma's girl side attractive,' he thought, feeling sick and wishing that he was back to being slammed into a huge boulder during training, instead of being here and thinking about this.
'Uhm ... I guess it's alright. After all, Ranma is an attractive girl ... and besides Onna isn't Ranma. So, it's not like I'm really attracted to Ranma. I mean how could she be? She dresses entirely different from that jerk and she acts like a real girl,' he rationalized, trying to make himself feel better, before recalling how Ranma used to tease him while in his girl form, making him believe that he finally found a girl that he could settle down with. It was Ranma's fault that he was attracted to his girl side.
'Damn you Ranma! Because of you, I'm attracted to you and am having unclean thoughts," he swore internally not realizing how bad it sounded, Oh Ranma was definitely going to pay for swinging that cute butt of his ... err hers.
Ukyou meanwhile, gave up trying to bring Ryouga back into reality, and tossed her gigantic spatula into the corner. It had too many dents from slamming it repeatedly onto that rock hard head of his.
At the Tendos, Akane sat on a floor cushion, munching away on some rice crackers, while watching TV. Kasumi poured some hot tea, and started to sit down next to her sister, when she heard someone at the door. Despite her blissful look, she groaned on the inside, wishing that someone else could answer the door for once, as she got back up and answered it.
Akane listened intently, hoping that it might be Ranma returning already, but became dismayed when she heard her older sister cry out in worry. Akane quickly jumped up from the cushion and walked at a fast pace towards the door. Her mouth still full of bits of crackers flew open in shock of what she saw. There in front of her door, stood a line of impatient delivery people with packages that stretched halfway across the neighborhood.
"Kasumi what's this all about?" Spat out Akane, as bits of crackers flew all over the place.
Kasumi wiped the crackers off her apron, before wringing her hands nervously and shaking her head in dismay.
"Oh my, It's seems like Nabiki has gone crazy and has gone on a spending spree, and soon we won't have enough money for groceries and be forced to live on the streets... Oh dear, I suppose I'll have to make you the proper outfit to be a filthy street urchin, Akane-chan," said Kasumi, filled with a new purpose in life, as she started designing Akane's outfit inside her head.
Nabiki heard her name being mentioned, and appeared walking at a fast pace, seemingly out of nowhere, and started lifting packages, and carrying them inside, while at the same time handling the delivery people. Kasumi shrugged at the sight of an energetic Nabiki and went back inside, figuring that Nabiki was handling the situation. Akane on the other hand knew something was amiss.
Uhm, Nabiki ... Did you actually order all of this stuff?" She Asked.
"Of course I didn't. But, it doesn't matter does it? It's free and that means I don't have to worry about a thing," she said, after setting down one of the packages, and giving her younger sister a curious look.
"Hey look lady, I don't know what you think this is, but I expect to get paid," said a delivery guy who overheard the Tendo and stepped forward, holding his hand out.
"Yeah," agreed another delivery person.
"This ain't no charity," commented another, as the area was soon filled with comments from angry delivery people.
"Listen, I didn't order any of this, so you can just take it all back," huffed Nabiki with her arms crossed, as she looked down at the delivery people, making them want to shrink and shrivel away.
"But you've already opened up several of the packages," complained one of the delivery people.
"But ..." started Nabiki.
"And, you've been munching on a slice of pizza I delivered," said an angry pizza girl, as she pulled up her sleeves and curled up her fingers into fists, ready to teach this stuck-up girl a lesson.
"Oh my, you really shouldn't steal from pizza girls, Nabiki," said Kasumi disappointedly, as she walked by the door, wearing the new oven mitts that Nabiki had ordered for her and pushing the new heavy duty vacuum cleaner around. It was so nice of her sister to think of her.
Akane grumbled and slid the front door shut, leaving her sister to deal with the mess she had gotten into. The last thing she heard before shutting the door was, "someone's gonna pay, one way or another."
Reluctantly, Akane went back into the other room and sat down on her comfy cushion. She sighed, hoping that her sister would be alright, even though she probably deserved it. Suddenly, she noticed grandfather Happosai had returned. He was sitting on his pile of cushions, smoking his pipe, looking content.
"Ah, that should teach the lass a lesson," he said sagely, before letting out a bra-shaped puff of smoke.
Akane grew angry, listening to what the little pervert had to say.
"Just what exactly do you mean, 'teach her a lesson!' This is all your fault isn't it grandfather," she accused him, causing the old man to chuckle and grin at her.
"Ah, it's quite simple my dear. Of course, this is my doing, but can you truthfully say that she hasn't had this coming? Just feel lucky that it isn't you, who is on my bad side, my dear," he threatened, feeling that it was high time that he got some respect around here.
Akane bit her tongue, not sure who to feel sorry for, nor wanting to be the next target of one of Happosai's little tantrums. She also thought about how this might work out for the better for Nabiki, making her think twice before messing with someone life in the future. Perhaps, this was all for the best, she sighed.
Nabiki meanwhile, outside, rubbed on her black eye, as she got out the checkbook to her college savings account. So much for going to school abroad, she sighed, wanting to slap herself on the forehead for not realizing that this was Happosai's doing before. She had seen him do this before to Ranma. She knew his immature style.
'I don't know what your problem is, old freak, but if you want a war, you got one,' she swore angrily to herself, as she started planning the destruction of Happosai.
Back at Nodoka's, Ranma tensed up as she realized how improper she must have sounded, and stayed silent for a moment, trying to figure out how to correct her sudden outburst. She giggled sweetly.
"Oh I'm sorry mother, I meant to say the flower china, because flowers are much more appropriate for a dinner party compared to pandas. Besides, I've grown up a bit and am too old to still be eating off of Panda dishes," she grinned nervously, talking as eloquently as she could since it was not like she didn't know how to but she just preferred talking the way that she did. She stood there smiling at her mother, hoping that she had managed to cover up her error, with that quick comeback.
Nodoka had noticed right away that Ranko had said something unladylike, but she was proud that her daughter had corrected herself and put an effort into speaking properly.
'We'll make a lady out of you yet, Ranko,' she thought while smiling at her daughter.
"You are quite right Ranko, my dear. What a wise decision it is too. I am quite proud of you, dear," she stated, before starting to set up the table with the flower china, as she watched Ranko perfectly mimic her movements fluently. The girl could do anything she observed, she noted proudly.
Onna finished up with her bath and pulled on a t-shirt and some shorts, yawning and stretching before she exited the furo. She went off to her room, unseen by either her mother or her sister, holding on tightly to that red gem of hers. She was happy that everything was turning out so well.
Nodoka meanwhile, finished setting up the table and started looking around to see if she had all the ingredients she needed to make dinner. Ranma sighed and finished setting up her side of the table, carefully scanning the room for an opening she could escape through. Nodoka looked at how pensive Ranko was acting around her, wondering what was wrong because this wasn't her usual way.
"Ranko dear, if it is not too much trouble, could you go outside and check the garden for some fresh tomatoes?" She asked, causing Ranma to look relieved as she nodded, walking out onto the porch and off to the garden.
Ranma looked relieved and nodded, going out onto the back porch to the backyard area. As Ranma disappeared from sight, Onna came walking downstairs wearing a pink kimono with light purple butterflies as opposed to the darker variety that Ranma wore. She had her hair tied up in a bun with some loose ends sticking out, as she happily walked down the stairs, looking gorgeous.
Nodoka looked up as she heard footsteps, and smiled at how much better her daughter looked. She was not a mess anymore, and had put on her kimono perfectly. Too perfectly, in fact, she thought, as she remembered how hard it had been for Ranko to put it on before. She decided not to worry about it, figuring that she wasn't one to complain.
"Ranko dear, it seems I've run out of curry powder. I am ashamed that I can be so forgetful at times. Would you be a dear and run to the store and get some for me?"
Onna smiled and nodded. "I'll be back in awhile then, mother," she said, before taking the money that her mother gave her. As she left the house, Nodoka set about on preparing the dinner, while sinking back into her thoughts.
Kuno walked along side his auntie, Kalu, carefully guarding her from the miscreants that befouled the area. Both Kunos were dressed in formal attire. As he walked, Kuno stared down a group of preadolescent boys, who he figured to be a gang of pickpockets ready to take advantage of his poor auntie. Kalu meanwhile, was walking gracefully in her kimono, intent on reaching her destination, while paying no heed to the antics of her nephew.
"Tatchi, be on your best behavior. I do not want you making a bad impression on my dear friend," Kalu informed her nephew.
Kuno grimaced as he heard his first name being used.
"Must you call me by that foul name," he complained as Kalu gave him a look.
"It's your given name, regardless of how you feel about it. Now I mean it Tatchi, no funny business, or I'll suggest to your father that it is high time for another haircut," she smiled, knowing that should do the trick.
Kuno sighed and gave his aunt a look.
"Fear not dear auntie, for I Tatewaki Kuno shall not bring disgrace and ruin to the name of Kuno," he proclaimed, holding out his Bokken, causing his aunt to smile proudly, before coming to a stop as they neared her friends house.
"We have arrived, my dear Tatchi. Now, remember what I have told you, and besides you never know, there could be some splendid young ladies attending the party," she smiled knowingly.
Kuno, grinned lewdly. He became lost in his own fantasies of the pig tailed girl, his fiery tigress Akane, and now some mystery girl, feeding him grapes and fanning him, as they walked to the door. Finally, his aunt knocked.
Nodoka stopped stirring and went off to greet the guest that she was sure had arrived. Ranma kept stirring her own pot, while slicing the rest of the vegetables, blankly starring off into space as she proceeded to cook flawlessly. No matter how she looked at it, she was stuck here being 'Ranko.' Every time she tried to find some way to sneak off, her mother suddenly appeared behind her with another chore to complete. Besides that, she had come to the conclusion that it would be kind of rude to just leave her mother in the lurch like that. She sighed, realizing how close she was to hot water as she stirred, not wanting to break her mother's heart and escape.
As Ranma was feeling sorry for herself, Onna came in through the back door, and set the curry down onto the counter, and skipped off to her room without noticing Ranma. Ranma didn't notice her sister either, as she continued looking off into space, wondering why her life was so unfair.In her current state, even her uncute fiancée could have snuck up on her, and placed a wooden spoon of toxic waste into her mouth. Too bad for Ranma she could only hope to be so lucky,as she was abruptly brought back into reality by something that sent shivers up her spine, as she heard Kuno's voice.
"Oh god, must've just been ah nightmare, or something," she said, after panting and nervously looking back and forth, before figuring that her mother's house should be the one safe haven from that perverted wannabe samurai.
"Ranko, say hello to our guests," said Nodoka, after having greeted her guests, pleased to see that Kuno was such a good looking boy and thinking that maybe if she was lucky, he would take a fancy for Ranko.
"Pigtailed girl!" Proclaimed Kuno, as he ran out to greet and glomp his goddess.
Ranma groaned and looked around for anyway to escape, she didn't want to know why kuno was here. Nodoka giggled at the boy's nickname for her daughter. "No this is Ranko, she's my daughter."
'Oh crap,' thought Ranma nervously, as she instinctively held out the steaming hot lid to one of the pans, watching Kuno run into it head first, which was followed by a sizzling sound as his skin made contact.
"Oh clumsy me," laughed Ranma nervously, as she saw the look of death her mother was giving her, a look that promised a good old fashion spanking with the blunt side of her katana, later.
"Fear not my pigtailed goddess, for it is not but a scratch," bragged Kuno, trying to lessen the guilt of his reluctant girlfriend.
'Darn, gotta try harder next time,' Ranma thought to herself, as she frowned and turned the lid left and right a few times on his face, getting her into deeper boiling water with her mother.
Kuno loved these rough games that his pigtailed girl loved to play and to show his appreciation, as he decided to envelope her in another hug. A split second later, Kuno hugged the afterimage of Ranma out of existence as the girl reappeared in front of his Aunt.
"You must be a friend of my mother's, pleased to meet ya," she said curtsying to the lady, making Nodoka forget all about her recent transgressions.
"Oh, my daughter is so ladylike," beamed Nodoka proudly.
"Ah, as elusive as ever, pigtailed girl, but fear not for I, Tatewaki Kuno know that the prize that is hardest to catch is worth twice the effort. I vow to thee, pigtail girl that I shall not give up on my quest until I make thee mine," said Kuno, hoping that the pigtailed girl would be touched by his dedication.
Ranma groaned upon hearing that Kuno would never give up, as Nodoka giggled at the boy's nickname for her daughter.
She was truly touched by the boy speech. Such dedication to a girl, could only be described as manly, she thought. She smiled at Kuno.
"No this is Ranko, my daughter," she informed him, as her friend Kalu smiled and looked at her.
"My she looks just like you Nodoka," said Kalu, "are you sure she's adopted?" She whispered curiously into Nodoka ear.
"To be honest, I think the kamis made her for me to answer my prayers," Nodoka answered honestly for everyone to hear, causing Ranma to hope that some kami did not push her into the spring, just to answer some prayer of her mother's.
"Well then, shall we catch up on old times, and let the children get to know each other?" Asked Kalu, hoping that her Tatchi could get a girlfriend out of this. From what she heard from Kodachi, Kuno never even had a girlfriend in his life. It was high time for him to get one, and as his Auntie it was her sacred duty to help him, and what a looker Nodoka's daughter was too.
Nodoka bowed her head in approval.
"Yes we have much to talk about, Kalu. Ranko dear can you finish up things here? I will be back in a little," Nodoka said, before going off with Kalu to the porch, leaving an unhappy Ranma with a dreamy eyed Kuno.
'This is just great. Why do I gotta be the one to stay with him,' she thought, as she huffed and crossed her arms, as she preferred to be on the porch with the other two ladies, while Kuno remained in the kitchen.
"So your name is Ranko? I thought that you said your name was Ranma Saotome, pigtailed girl," Kuno said smirking at the redhead, before readying the ink, 'less he forget the name.
"Uhm, yeah ... I guess ... sorta," started Ranma, "I guess I just like going by Ranma's name at times," she continued to bluff. She then glared at him, realizing that she really didn't care what he thought.
"Look, just call me Ranko for now," she grumbled as she put some curry into the soup and stirred, trying to regain her composer with Kuno in the room.
Kuno smiled.
"So it is you pigtailed girl, it took me awhile to recognize you, since your usual attire is not so formal," he said looking her over.
' He just had to recognize me, didn't he?' Ranma thought, grimacing, as she kept watch over the pots of food, still slicing vegetables.
"So? My auntie is having a dinner party, and I can't wear my usual getup," spat Ranma, already getting tired of Kalu's idea of letting the children get to know each other better. Personally, she preferred getting run over by a steamroller a few times than getting to know Kuno. Life was just so unfair.
Kuno looked confused for a moment.
"No, your mother is having a dinner party," he corrected, as Ranma froze up at what he had just said, realizing her slip.
"That's right, my mother. Gotta problem with that buddy?" She asked, hoping that the quickest way out of the situation was to get confrontational.
Onna finished fixing her hair from the outing, and put on the rest of her makeup. She looked in the mirror one last time, before being satisfied with her appearance. She made her way downstairs, looking around as she descended, her eyes growing wide as she spotted Ranma dressed up in the same outfit, being bothered by an equally dressed up Tatewaki. Onna's heart sank, as she felt guilty for the current situation that she got her twin into.
Ranma looked up, to see who had come down the stairs and had her heart jumped, upon seeing her sister safe, looking back at her.
Ranma was relieved that her sister had been with their mother all this time. Things started making sense too now, as she thought back on her strange encounter with her mother. Ranma had noticed that her mother was keeping a closer eye on her halfway through their encounter, and realized that she must have noticed the different personalities the two sisters had. As she continued to look at her sister, Kuno looked to see what his pigtailed girl was looking at and was shocked to see another pigtailed girl.
"What manner of sorcery is this? Is it not enough for the vile sorcerer Saotome to ensnare my virtuous pigtailed goddess for his perversity? But must he also use his spells and witchcraft to make her two, thus corrupting both? Oh the outrage! Oh come pigtailed goddesses and reveal to me where I might find the coward to smite," he said emotionally, ready to free both goddesses from the clutches of the cowardly warlock who had enslaved them, and make them his.
Ranma acted fast and used a pressure point attack against Kuno.
"That oughta shut him up," she said, thinking, 'thank god for Tofu."
Kuno was rendered motionless. All he could do was watch and listen, completely unable to interfere. Ranma starred at Onna for a moment, feeling as if she was starring at herself in a mirror. The two blinked simultaneously, and opened up their mouths at the same time, only to close them a gain. It was a bit eerie they each thought.
As Ranma continued to look at Onna, she saw that her sister's red gem was glowing beneath her kimono. She also noticed that Onna's Kimono was minutely different from her own, by the color of the the butterflies. She smiled, when she saw that Onna's bun was slightly different from her own. The smile was short lived, as she turned her attention back to the red gem, remembering it's significance. She became upset, knowing that she had smashed it, but yet it had managed to reappear on her sister. She looked worried, wondering if Satan was controlling her sister, worried about the safety of both Onna and her mother.
"Onna?" Ranma asked, deciding to approach her sister cautiously.
Onna's red gem stopped glowing, sensing that this person wasn't a threat to it's master. In fact, it sensed that the person was part of Onna in some way, reassuring it further. Onna meanwhile, had her head down in shame, as she felt guilty for causing Ranma so much trouble.
Ranma concentrated on his sister's aura and relaxed once she sensed that Onna had no negative ki, besides a slight depression. She was relieved that Onna was back to normal, even if she could feel without scanning that she felt guilty.
"Look Sis, it ain't your fault. You were being controlled by him against your will. I'm not mad at you anymore, and neither are the others. But ... Uhm ... right now ... we have a problem," Ranma reassured Onna, which reassured Kuno that the foul sorcerer Saotome was behind it all.
Onna listened to what her twin had to say, and began to feel better as she realized that Ranma didn't hate her. She knew what she said was the truth, she could feel. Ranma smirked, when she felt that her sister was feeling better.
Both twins knew that there were two Ranko's now, and that they would have to tell Nodoka the truth sooner than planned. Ranma shuddered thinking that she would be found out, if she stuck around any longer. Onna realized the same thing, and grew worried about Ranma's safety, as she looked down at the ground, feeling helpless.
"You should go now Ranma ..." she said reluctantly, feeling as if she was stealing Ranma's mother away.
Ranma thought about this and hated herself for hiding from her mother, because of the curse. She knew the manly thing to do would be not to hide, and to tell her mother the truth, regardless of the consequences, even if it meant death. Ranma shook her head no, but appreciated her sister's concern for her welfare.
"No, I've been running away from my problems far too long. A real man would come forward, and that's what I'm gonna do," Ranma said, giving a weak smile to Onna, "besides, we'll both be telling the truth to her, it's better then running away all the time."
Kuno was very confused. There were two pigtailed goddesses in the room and one referred to the other as 'Ranma' while the other referred to her counterpart as 'Onna.' Whatever was going on, he was content on listening, trying to piece the situation together.
Onna looked down on the ground again, knowing what Ranma was thinking, and knowing that there was a possibility that she would receive the same fate, or perhaps something even worst, since she had deceived her mother the whole time. In a way, she felt she deserved it, but she could not stand for anything to happen to Ranma.
Ranma meanwhile, looked at Kuno. He whispered something into the Shakespearian Samurai's ear, before undoing the pressure points. Ranma then grabbed Onna's hand and walked slowly towards the porch not looking forward to what she was about to do.
"By the way, I love you Onna," she said.
"I love you too, Ranma," replied Onna, squeezing her sister's hand tightly.
Kalu rose from her seat, and apologized to Nodoka, after hearing her nephew yell for her and deciding to see what was wrong. Nodoka smiled and looked out at her garden, admiring the flowers she had planted. She realized she had never been happier in her life, and thank the kamis for this opportunity.
She then looked up in awe at the two redheaded twins that stood before her, looking sheepishly. Nodoka stood up from where she sat with a stern expression on her face. The suspicions she had, had at times seemed to have been correct. She wasn't seeing things before. There actually were two Ranko's.
"What is the meaning of this? Which one of you is Ranko?" She asked both angry and hurt, wondering why the girls would play with her feelings like that.
Ranma decided that she had better go first, since she was the one who had pretended to be Ranko beforehand. For once, she wanted to be a man in front of his mother.
"I am ..." she stated bravely, "sorta ..." she finished under her breath, too low for her mother to make out, as she looked down at the ground, unable to utter any more words.
"I'm not," said Onna with a hurt voice, as she looked down at the ground as well, the guilt of lying to Ranma's mother eating away at her. She just wanted to tell her new mother the truth, even if she wouldn't be accepted as her child anymore.
Nodoka looked perplexed and was also a bit annoyed that she had been jerked around by one of these girls. Outraged, she grabbed her katana before thinking and unsheathed it, showing it's sharp edges, while pointing it swiftly to Onna's neck.
"I want an explanation ... and I want it now," she said in such a way that made the girls think of her as a cobra about to strike.
Ranma was shocked, scared to test the reflexes of the cobra that could spell doom to her sister. So instead, she opted to not tempt fate and instead glared at her mother for threatening her sister. Onna gulped as she felt the tip of the blade press against her neck slightly. She had to stop the web of lies now, even if it meant that she would lose her head. She sighed, and looked Nodoka fearlessly into the eyes and began to explain.
"I'm not Ranko," began Onna, not sure where to go next with what she was saying.
Ranma was panicking. She saw what was happening and knew it was real. Her sister would be killed if she didn't do something. She couldn't tell the whole truth, because at the moment it seemed it could get them both killed. However, she would at least try to tell some of it, and besides Nabiki had always told her that the best lies were made up with partial truths.
Ranma collected herself and went into the Soul of Ice. At first, she felt guilty for trying to think of the best way to lie to her mother, but soon the guilt left her completely. Ranma wished that there was a way for Nodoka to recognize Onna as her biological daughter, but telling her the truth about Onna being Ranma's clone was out of the question, because the girl looked too much like herself, and revealing to her mother that she was really Ranma could get them both killed.
The yard grew cold as Ranma thought swiftly about what to do and lost all her emotions to her technique. Searching within herself, she felt Onna presence. Ranma was an expert at using her mind's eye to search deep within herself. It was how she learned to focus her ki into a weapon. How she felt the presence of others around her.
So, using her mind's eye, she found that she was able to somehow connect with Onna's thoughts. Not having time to speak to her sister, she decided to invade her mind instead, carefully going over recent events from Onna's perspective, to make sure that she wouldn't say anything that contradicted something that happened while Onna and Nodoka were alone. Then she came up with her lie.
"Auntie Saotome, she is my twin sister, that you recently met but mistook for myself," Ranma spoke without emotion, using the best grammar she knew since she was in a state of logic.
"You might not have realized it, but she is the girl we both rescued from my parents. The reason you don't remember me being there, is that you thought her and myself were the same person. But, from what I remember you may remember seeing us together, right before you passed out. My sister was afraid to tell you who she was, because she wanted to be accepted by you, so she pretended to be me," Ranma said unemotionally, using the bit she learned from reading Onna's mind about Nodoka thinking that Satan was Onna's real father.
"Your twin sister? Ranko why didn't you tell me that you had a twin sister?" Nodoka asked, guilt-ridden, as she pulled the katana away from Onna's neck, as her eyes tearing up, looking at Ranma.
Shivering from the cold, Onna took a chance to try to help her sister out, although she was impressed with how smoothly Ranma had lied to Nodoka.
"The truth is mother ... auntie ... I'm really a clone of Ranko, created from her DNA," she said, happy with herself because it was the truth, in a way.
Nodoka looked like she wasn't fully buying the clone thing, so Ranma decided to step back in and lie further, using the Soul of Ice technique.
"You see mother, a little after your husband and son left you for their training trip, Uncle Soun kidnapped me from my parents, in order to save me. As you have witnessed, my father has become a full fledge demon. It was decided that in order to hide me from my father, I was to accompany Uncle Genma and Ranma on their training trip. It is why I am the martial artist that I am. It is also why I dress and act like Ranma, and even wear my hair in a pigtail like his. In a way, you could say that I am his sister, and know him better than anyone else. Being raised by Genma is also why I have little to no social graces and act like a boy," Ranma lied using half-truths to convince her mother.
"When I returned to Nerima, my mastery in the art helped protect me from my father. However, he recently was able to obtain a sample of DNA, from myself and used it to create my twin. Unfortunately, he somehow was able to use demonic sorcery to find a way to control my dear sister. That is until both you and I rescued her from his clutches and I managed to destroy the demonic necklace used to control her. The necklace she has now, is to protect her from his control," explained Ranma using mostly the truth, as she came out of the Soul of Ice.
Nodoka nodded thoughtfully, now that Ranko brought demons into the picture, it all made sense. After all, half the people in Tokyo were at least part demon she figured, with demon hunting being one of her favorite pastimes. The girl she had assaulted was indeed Ranko's sister then, regardless of the fact that she was cloned. This made Nodoka happy. If this girl could find it in her heart to forgive her, Nodoka could have two daughters. It was as if the kamis had answered her wish from earlier in the day. Now if only, Ranma were to return, she thought as she saddened slightly.
"Let's start over then dear, tell me your real name," she said, gently smiling at the girl that stood there.
"It's Onna ..." said the girl who was again touched by Nodoka's kindness towards her, but she felt now that she shouldn't stay.
Nodoka blinked upon hearing the girl say her name, which wasn't a proper name at all, since it merely meant woman. Nodoka shook her head, feeling sorry for the girl before her. It seemed like the girl who named herself Onna, had no real family to teach her to know better. Naming oneself Onna, just wasn't proper. There were a lot of men, who would use her name against her in a derogatory manner. Nodoka sighed.
"No dear, that simply won't do. Why don't you take a new name?" She encouraged the girl.
Onna looked confused. She had no idea that there was anything wrong with her name. Ranma also was confused by her mother's actions. She couldn't figure out what her mother had against her sister's name. So, she decided to speak up on the behalf of her sister.
"Mother what's wrong with Onna's name?"
Nodoka shook her head and gave Ranma a look of dismay, before speaking without thinking further.
"I guess your mother neglected to teach you many things Ranko. The word Onna merely means woman and nothing more. That is not a proper name for a young lady, and one which men could take advantage of," explained Nodoka.
"You're right, but then I didn't have a mother to teach me things. You forget I was raised by Uncle Genma," said Ranma, whose grammar was an aftereffect of the Soul of Ice, as she was still cool and collective.
Nodoka felt ashamed for criticizing the girl, her daughter, for her shortcomings, which her husband was responsible for. She swore to herself once more that Genma and her would have a long talk when this was over.
"I'm sorry dear, I wasn't thinking."
Onna meanwhile had been listening intently the whole time. The thing that Nodoka said had hit her like a ton of bricks. The name that she carried was meaningless. It wasn't a name at all. It was just a word that meant woman and nothing more. A fitting name for a meaningless clone such as herself.
"I'm not Ranko. I don't even have a real name. I just pretended to be Ranko, just like I pretended to exist," Onna said hurting, holding her head down low, wishing that she would just disappear into thin air, and to never appear again.
Nodoka grew angry at how Onna was acting, and what the girl had just said. She couldn't hold it back any longer, and slapped the girl across the face in hopes of snapping her out of her depression.
"You do not pretend to exist. You are here right now. You are my daughter, as you are Ranko's twin sister. True you are not Ranko and that is what makes you special. You are an entirely different person from her, just as beautiful as she is but in your own way. You are indeed your own person, and I will not have any daughter of mines, self-loathing herself," Nodoka said, hoping to get through to her daughter.
Ranma looked miffed, she partly blamed the current situation on her mother and was still mad about her putting her katana on Onna's neck. Ranma was also very worried about how her sister would react. She was currently too upset to feel her sister feelings. She hoped that Onna would listen to what their mother had to say, because it was the truth.
Onna held her hand to her face, feeling the spot where Nodoka had slapped her hard. She heard Nodoka's words repeat over and over again in her head. She knew what the woman before her said was true. She did exist, and she was quite different from Ranma. Slowly she let her hand drop down and off her face, as she looked up at Nodoka.
"You're right, and it's time I acted like it. From now on, I'll shall be known as Ranka," Onna told her mother.
Nodoka's eyes lit up and she smiled, happy that the girl decided to exist and start over, after having picked out a real name.
"That's the spirit, Ranka," she chirped cheerfully, finding herself crying out of happiness, joyful that her wish for having both Ranko's came true.
Ranma was happy to see her sister finally embrace her own existence, and hugged her happily.
"You know though, I still don't see what's wrong with Onna. I kinda liked it," she said, feeling more herself.
"Ranko," complained Nodoka, upset that Ranko was encouraging her sister.
Ranka laughed.
"Fine then, it can be my middle name, for friends and family only," said Ranka, happy with her sister. She still had some emotional attachments to her old name.
"Very well then," said Nodoka, upset but feeling that since she asked for so much, that she should be willing to compromise a little.
"Thanks mom," said both the girls as they rushed over to hug their mother, not noticing that Kuno had walked out and was observing them. His aunt on the other hand had taken over the dinner preparations. As he continued watching, Kuno froze up at the sight of the twin goddesses holding one another and the older version of themselves.
"Fair ones, no! I will save you from the bonds of spinsterhood," he swore as he leaped into the air and towards the girls.
Ranka gave Kuno a chilling expression. He was so loud and annoying that he had given her a headache, and now she just wanted to pound and strangle him. Ranma already was familiar with Kuno and was always ready to pound and strangulate the jerk, so she cracked her knuckle in anticipation. Nodoka meanwhile had mixed emotions. On one hand, she found that wanting to save two girls from the bonds of spinsterhood to be very manly. On the other hand, it was obvious that her girls didn't enjoy this guy's attentions, and it was very unmanly to force your unwanted attentions on a lady. So, she decided to stick to the side of her children as she gripped onto her katana and glared at Kuno.
Before anyone else had a chance to react, Ranma decided to shut Kuno up quickly by punching him hard in the face, the impact of which sent Kuno flying face first into the ground, unconscious.
"What a jerk," complained Ranma.
Ranka nodded her head in agreement.
"I think spinsterhood was invented 'cause of guy's like him," observed Ranma.
Ranka giggled, she thought that Ranma at times was more a girl than she knew. Ranka then turned around,just in time to be hugged by her Mother. Nodoka clung onto the girl tightly, never wanting to let go, for fear that she might suddenly disappear. But, she noticed her daughter's sudden discomfort and let go. She then gazed down at the unconscious form, knowing that something had to be done quickly.
"Now really Ranko, could you not have solved that problem with less violence? Now, what am I to tell poor Kalu?" she wondered, as she stuck a finger to her lips and thought.
"Hey, it's the only thing that works, besides that's what Uncle Genma said to do in these kinda situations," shrugged Ranma, not worried in the least.
"Ranko, have you ever considered that your Uncle Genma may not be the wisest of people?" Asked Nodoka, upset that Ranko was picking up so many bad habits from her husband.
"Ah don't worry, the jerk ah wake up soon enough," she said, looking over at her sister and seeing how happy she was. Ranma was glad for Ranka. At least one of them could be there for their mother. She didn't think it could be her, the water attracting part of her curse just made things too dangerous. She needed to be alone for awhile to think, so she thought of something quickly.
"Uhm Mom I'll be back, I need to use the bathroom. Think I smudged up my makeup and stuff," she said, and before Nodoka could react, Ranma took off to the bathroom to be alone.
"What a silly girl," Nodoka thought out loud.
Nodoka then turned her full attention to Ranka, admiring her new daughter.
"Now Ranka, while I go and try to explain things to my dear friend Kalu, I want you to get that boy up and back into the dining area. Do you mind doing that for me, dear?" She asked, hoping that it wasn't asking too much of her daughter.
Ranka thought for a second and then shook her head in agreement. She would do anything for Nodoka, no matter how much she disliked doing it.
"I can handle it mother, you just work on your friend till I can calm him down," she said smiling, as she gently pushed her mother off in the direction of the kitchen. After her mother disappeared, she sighed and ran her finger through her hair, as she was about to go through the unpleasant task of waking a Kuno. Before she could do anything, she noticed Kuno stir and come to.
Kuno opened his eyes slowly, his vision a bit blurred. He looked around and set his sight on the girl before him. His eyes shot open, remembering what had happened.
"Oh pigtailed girl, thou have come to comfort me in my greatest hour of need. I see that treacherous soul has forced me upon these very knees with a sleeping incantation. Quick now, tell me where the vile sorcerer Saotome is hiding, so I can smite the coward to the very ends of the earth and at last free my three loves from his foul and rotted clutches," Kuno said courageously.
Ranka smacked her hand to her face at how moronic this idiot was acting. She decided to try to reason with him, instead of pounding him, hoping that would make things easier in the long run for her so called vile and sorcerous brother.
"Listen to me carefully Kuno. Neither me nor Ranko is under any kind of spell, and I do not appreciate you calling my brother a vile sorcerer. Okay? Also, I wish you would refrain from calling me pigtailed girl," She said with her hands on her hips, looking quite irritated, wondering if she should go ahead and pound the jerk anyway.
"You do not like thy nickname, pigtailed girl? I think it suits you quite splendidly, pigtail girl," Kuno, said as he rubbed his chin, quite thoughtfully, considering what the pigtailed one had told him.
Ranka fumed at how he kept ignoring what she said, as ki sparked at her fingertips. No matter how hard she tried, she found herself getting angrier and angrier with him.
"Listen, the name is Ranka, not pigtailed girl," she yelled, daring him to challenge her.
Kuno's eyes lit up as he remembered the scene from earlier. He had seen two pigtailed girls, but couldn't quite remember the rest since one of them had put some sort of spell on him.
Ranka became worried upon noticing how quiet the lunatic had become. She knew that he had seen her with her sister, but she wasn't quite sure how much he had remembered, being constantly knocked out. She may have already said too much by mentioning Ranma's girl side name. She briefly considered letting Kuno think that he had imagined seen another pigtailed girl. From what she could recall from her sister's memories, the fool was delusional enough to make him think that he had confused things. again Telling him the truth about Ranma's curse wouldn't work either, she figured, basing the assumption on her brother's past tries.
"Listen Kuno, I'm not the pigtailed girl that you know. That's my sister Ranko," she said satisfied that this was the right path to take.
Kuno gave the girl his full attention. His eyes sparkled as he heard that they were twins, knowing what she told him inherently made sense. He still felt the need for the second pigtailed girl to put some of his suspicions to rest.
"So what relations does Ranma Saotome have with you and your sister?" He blurted out, fearing the answer.
"I already told you that Ranma is our brother," she yelled, glaring, annoyed for having to repeat herself and amazed at the thickness of the boy's head.
Kuno grumbled as he heard the truth.
"I see. I would like to discuss this further, but alas it appears that our presence is being sorely missed at the gathering. Please accept my most sincere apologies for holding you up, my dear Ranka," he said, bowing to her.
Ranka nodded, her arms folded across her chest.
"Perhaps later, but like you said, there is a dinner party that your holding up. So lets get going," she said, before walking off towards the kitchen area with Kuno following two steps behind her.
As they both made their way into the kitchen, Kuno walked over to his aunt and stood by her, as Ranka did the same with her mother. Nodoka was happy that Ranka had finished her task. She was quite pleased that the boy had been calmed and wasn't a problem anymore. She smiled at her more mature daughter.
"Oh Kalu, this here is my daughter Ranka. She is Ranko's twin sister," Nodoka said, using this opportunity to brag in her own way. Kalu meanwhile, smiled kindly at Ranka. She had already know about Ranma and Ranka from her chats with her best friend. She wondered why Nodoka had never mentioned Ranka to her before.
"Why hello dear, my aren't you the spitting image of both your mother and your sister," she said before falling into a mad high pitched laugh, that was similar to Kodachi's.
Kuno shuddered, as he thought about his mentally ill sister. Ranka froze upon hearing the most dreadful sound, bringing flashes back of her brother's unwanted memories. Nodoka cringed at hearing her friends familiar laugh. She frowned thinking that it was so inappropriate and unladylike, but she loved her friend all the same. The noise was so harsh that she felt the desperate urge to cover her ears. Too bad, she was too much of a lady to do so, and she just frowned waiting for the rude display to come to an end.
Ranma heard the infamous cackle as she was washing herself up in the bathroom, and jumped up in fright, whacking her head against the ceiling.
"Ouch," she complained as she fell back down, and slipping on a bar of soap that she had knocked down, before knocking the back of her head against the floor.
"Oh," she moaned, holding the back of her head, "what the heck is she doing here?" She asked herself, wondering if her day could get any worst. Rubbing her temples, she decided to get up, limping a bit. There was no way that she would leave her mother and sister alone with that crazy girl she swore, as she made her way to the door, fixing the sash on her kimono as she went. As she entered the kitchen limping, the cackling died down and she avoided the looks she was getting from the Kunos and her family.
"Oh dear, what happened to you Ranko?" Asked a concerned Nodoka, as she saw her daughter bruised up.
"I sorta had a little accident in the bathroom," admitted Ranma.
"Oh my, you're clumsy Ranko," commented Nodoka.
"Looks like there was nothing little about it," added Ranka.
"Alright, alright already, I thought I heard Kodachi and slipped," frowned Ranma.
"Oh so you know my dear Dachi," said Kalu, feeling guilty for the little mishap that she caused.
"Yeah sorta," admitted Ranma, reluctantly.
"My you wouldn't be that pigtailed hussy that she so goes on about, would you? The one who is always trying to steal her dear Ranma away from her?" Questioned Kalu, causing Nodoka to frown at Ranko being called a hussy, before beaming as she thought about the statement.
"In the flesh," admitted Ranma.
"Oh my, my son is so manly, seducing both Ranko and Kodachi when he's already engaged to Akane," said Nodoka, causing glares from Ranko, Ranka and Tatchi, while Kalu nodded in agreement.
"Hey! Yo! Now, cut that out," fussed Ranma, "I ain't interested in Ranma. I mean, I am his sister for heaven's sake."
"My you certainly aren't anything like Kodachi described you dear. I'm sure she'll be pleased to know that you aren't trying to steal her dear Ranma away and in fact are a very loving sister to him," said Kalu, hoping that Ranko and Ranka could be friends with Kodachi, like she was friends with Nodoka.
"Why thank you, Auntie Kalu," giggled Ranma-chan, hating the fact that Kalu would be encouraging Kodachi to go after her boy form now.
"Now Kalu, who is this fine young man that you have brought along with yourself? Everything has been so hectic that I never had a chance to ask," Nodoka bowed apologetically to her two guest.
Kalu waved her hand around, a gesture showing Nodoka that it was no big deal.
"This here is my nephew, Tatchi," she said ruffling up his hair playfully. Kuno immediately pulled out a hairbrush and brushed his hair back into place, as he posed for the girls, giving his aunt a slight glare, warning her not to do that again.
"I am Tatewaki Kuno, but please Misses Saotome, just call me Kuno," he bowed showing his future mother-in-law respect.
"My how courteous and manly," said Nodoka bowing back to Kuno, causing her to get glares from both her daughters.
"It is pleasure to meet you Kuno," she smiled at him
"Now Tatchi, what have we told you about calling yourself Tatewaki? You shouldn't be ashamed of your real name," fussed Kalu, causing both Ranka and Ranma to giggle at hearing that his name was really Tatchi.
"Now girls, we should finish preparing dinner," Nodoka said to get her girls to stop giggling at Kuno's name, "please Kalu, Kuno sit down while me and my girls prepare things."
As the Kuno's took their places on their cushions, Nodoka started to gather some of the dishes, before looking over at the twins.
"You two seem like you need to talk. So, I'll bring most of the things out, but do try to help your dear mother a little if you can," she told her mischievous girls, remembering how she was equally as mischievous at that age. She then walked off into the dining area with some prepared dishes. Ranma and Ranka both nodded in understanding.
"So what did you tell Kuno?" Ranma asked, curious as to why Kuno had mellowed out.
"Well I told him part of the truth, that you, I and 'Ranko' are siblings. Now I really didn't want to try to explain more to him, like your curse," Ranka said, feeling she had handled things perfectly.
"Ah Kuno's so dense that he'd probably never believe it anyway. But thanks anyway, maybe things will be a little easier with him," Ranma said doubtfully.
"Well there's a lot we should go over later, but right now mom is counting on us Ranma. We should go and help her," smiled Ranka as she grabbed her sister's hand. They each grabbed some dishes and rushed off into the dinning room. Ranma sighed as she served the dishes. She wanted to be able to sit down and really get to talk to her sister about things. But, they were always interrupted in some manner or another. Hopefully later they would have a chance.
After all the dishes were served, the girls and their mother decided to join the two Kunos at the table. Pretty soon everyone was enjoying a wonderfully prepared meal, since both Ranma and her mother were excellent cooks. As she savored the taste, Ranka wished that she would have had a chance to display her own culinary skills, but unfortunately her mother kept her busy the whole time with other chores. Kuno meanwhile, found himself in a trance as he starred back and forth between the two sisters, only stopping every once in awhile to take a bite in.
'So different, yet so alike,' he thought to himself, as he noted that Ranka was the more mature of the two.
Ranma grumbled under her breath as she caught Kuno starring at her sister and her the whole time. She didn't know what bothered her more, Kuno being interested in her, or Kuno being interested in her sister. She didn't want Kuno or any of the guys that she knew to be after her. In fact as she thought about it, most of the guys at her school were perverts, remembering how many used to be members of the Hentai Squad. No wonder that Akane hated boys, she huffed as she grew angry about it.
Nodoka looked unease as she noted the tension between Kuno and Ranko. It was all one sided as Ranko would glare at him, mumble something under her breath, and then huff out loud. Being the proper hostess that she was,she decided to try to put a stop to it. She got up and picking up empty dishes to carry them back to the kitchen.
"I'm glad that everybody seems to have enjoyed dinner so much and is almost done. I will be back with dessert momentarily," she walked off, hoping that Ranko and Kuno wouldn't start anything, until she had some treats to pacify them with. She really wished that Ranko could be more mature like her other sister, she sighed.
Ranka finished her dinner and sipped some of her tea from her cup, until she noticed Kuno hovering over her, which caused her to spit it out onto Kuno's face.
"Ugh!" She coughed a few times, "don't surprise me like that!" She said angrily, as Kuno's face dripped.
Ranma couldn't help but laugh at seeing his so called rival's face dripping, always happy to enjoy an embarrassing moment of Kuno's.
"Yeah stupid, don't sneak up on my sister like that," mocked Ranma, as she gave a stern look to Kuno. Kalu was also enjoying the situation. It reminded her of how much fun it was watching Tatchi's father embarrass himself, when they were younger.
Kuno saw the girls praising him, instead of mocking him and so was ready to glomp onto both of them, when Nodoka came back. Not seeing a stark raving mad Kuno, she set the cake gently down onto the table, admiring the job she had done decorating it. It was her best work ever, she thought proudly, as she let some air of contentment escape her lips.
Such feelings of contentment were soon lost, as she became startled, when Kuno made a mad dash across the table, to get to his pigtailed loves, sending the cake flying up into the air in the process. Nodoka just looked up with an open mouth, as she watched what felt like her life's work flying through the air. Kalu watched her friend in amusement, thinking that she really took such things too seriously.
Ranma and Ranko each grabbed plates, as they watched the cake fly through the air, while calculating various trajectories, before signaling each other to get ready. The three others, watched in amazement as Ranma and Ranka jumped through the air doing aero-acrobatics, slicing the cake midair, and landing with the pieces undamaged, and perfectly situated on the various of plates they balanced.
"Hey not bad," admired Ranma, watching his sister balance a plate on each hand and one on her head.
"Well, you're not so bad yourself," smiled Ranka, as she saw Ranma with a plate on each hand, and another twirling on top of the sneaker on her raised foot.
Nodoka sighed in relief, slowly calming herself now that the cake was out of danger. She had wanted to use the cake to celebrate Ranka finally realizing that she was more than just a clone and to cheer her new daughter up. She smiled at Ranka, who smiled back.
Kalu meanwhile, applauded out of sheer enjoyment over the entertainment that she was receiving. She could not remember the last time she had so much fun. Nodoka children were simply amazing, she thought while marveling at their reflexes. She would have to come over and visit her friend more often, now that those wonderful girls were back in her life. She did not buy that adoption bit, one bit.
"My Nodoka, what talented girl's you have. They must take after you," she said winking, wondering if Nodoka had told them of the secret. She stood there a bit wondering. That had to be it. Nodoka had sent the girl's away like Ranma to protect them. The adoption bit was just for their sake, since they did not know that Nodoka was their real mother. Kalu smiled some more, proud for finally figuring it out and being so smart.
"Oh, thank you Kalu. I suppose that you are right, all three of us are quite fluent in the art," Nodoka said flushing at the compliments that she and her daughters were receiving. Ranma smiled in pride, seeing that his sister was just as good as him and hearing that his mother practiced the art. Ranka on the other hand was embarrassed about how her mother started bragging about them to Kalu.
Kalu nodded happily, as Nodoka told her some of the feats that she had seen Ranko do, before talking about her own feats in the art. As she was listening, Kalu took a sip from her glass of tea. Kuno on the other hand was formulating a plan. He figured that since his aunt showed so much interest in the two girls, that it was the perfect timing to convince her that one or both, preferably both, were perfect candidates for joining the ranks of the Kuno family.
"And such is fate that Ranko's and Ranka's parents and my own engaged us long before any of us were even born," He smiled to himself, confidently looking at both Ranma and Ranka.
Kalu shook her head at her nephew, for making such a thing up, but she couldn't blame him for trying. After all, Ranko and Ranka were two amazing young girl. She would be proud to have them Kunos.
"Oh Tatchi, always joking like that," she said, causing both Ranma and Ranko to let out sighs of relief, "But you have to admit, it does sound like a good idea, doesn't it Nodoka," she finished to the fright of the two young girl's.
Nodoka rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She had Ranma engaged to that sweet girl Akane, so she would have to find someone suitable and manly for each of her two beautiful daughters. Although, she wasn't too sure that Kuno was it, not after what he did to that cake, and besides that her daughters seemed a little put off by him. Still she always loved Kalu and would love to join the families, so she would have to think further about this, and discuss it with the girls. She was about to answer, but was interrupted.
"Eew ah no! You can't!" Exclaimed Ranma.
"Yeah she's right," agreed Ranka.
"And why not my dears?" Inquired Kalu.
"Um ... I'm not Kuno's type?" Ranma said, trying to come up with a reason, any reason. She quickly came to see the error of her ways for answering first. She hated the fact that she was now receiving all of Kalu's attention as opposed to it being equally divided between the two.
"And how would you know that, my dear, without even going on a date with him?" Asked Kalu, carefully laying out her trap.
"Well ...", Ranma said trying to think quickly for a way out of the trap, "oh yeah! 'Cause I've been on ah date with that jerk," she countered as Ranka was laughing at her slip, "so I guess that just leave's Ranka then," Ranma finally finished.
"Hey!" Yelled Ranka feeling betrayed.
"Ranko!" Fussed Nodoka, thinking that a proper young lady shouldn't be going out on dates at that age unsupervised.
"Oh, so there is something you like about my Tatchi," beamed Kalu.
"Yeah, you must like him to date him," agreed Ranka, getting a little payback.
"No! I just went on the date because he had something that I needed," Ranma tried to explain, while Nodoka glared at her. It just wasn't right to go on a date with someone just because they had something that you wanted.
"That's right my pigtailed goddess had an affliction of the body that needed curing," Kuno said to the horror of Ranma, who was sure now that she would get engaged to Kuno for this.
"Ah," observed Kalu, not having realized just how heated things were between Tatchi and Ranko.
"Not, on a first date," fussed Nodoka, deeply disappointed in her daughter.
"Hey! It's not what it sounds like," Ranma tried to explain.
"That's right. That's the time Kuno had the wishing sword and Ranko wanted him to use a wish to cure her. You see, mother, Ranko has a bodily ailment that she rather embarrassed about. She went on the date out of desperation, hoping that Kuno sword could cure her. Unfortunately, he accidentally used the one remaining wish for something else," Ranka jumped in for the rescue, causing Nodoka to plan on taking her girls to a doctor to get checked out.
"Yeah, besides I'm already taken," declared Ranma, determined to end any further discussion of her being engaged to Kuno, or even dating him. Nodoka meanwhile was a bit taken back, she would have to find out who this young man was that her daughter was seeing.
"Well in any case, I'll will have to think about it and discuss it with my girl," Nodoka finally put in.
Kalu nodded, and decided not to press the matter any further as she noted how upset Ranko and Ranka looked, and that Nodoka looked abit miffed. Kuno on the other hand wasn't going to let this opportunity pass by just like that.
Kalu nodded and decided not to press the matter any further, seeing how upset Ranko and Ranka looked about the idea, and that her friend looked a bit miffed about the cake. Kuno on the other hand wasn't going to let this opportunity pass by. He knew that he loved the pigtailed girls. He knew that he would have to make them his.
"Oh I see what ails my pigtailed goddesses. For they are both in love with the dashing young noble that is myself. Yet one can't bare to hurt the other, knowing full well how the other would suffer, forever doomed to despair, for not having been choose by the one they love most. Fear not my loves, for while I do not like to brag, the heavens themselves have blessed me with intellect far outweighing that of any normal soul, and I have come up with a plan that shall make us all bask in the glory of the gods. For I shall date thee both!" Kuno said as he saw his loves become overcome with joy and love for him.
Overcome with rage, Ranka and Ranma slammed their fists simultaneously into his face, sending him flying out of his chair and through the wall, and finally seeing him hit the ground outside. Ranma wanted to yell at the fool. She wanted to go outside and beat him black and blue, but she knew that she had already gone too far with her violence at the table. Ranka on the other hand, just wanted to leave the scene for the safety of her room. She wanted to be alone, because she was utterly disgusted with Kuno's pathetic attempts to snag her.
Nodoka was speechless. She stood there with her hand over her mouth, shocked at the improper manner in which her daughter's behaved. She could expect this from Ranko, but she had thought that Ranka to be more mature. Still, in a way, she couldn't blame them. So, she decided to let the matter drop, thinking that while it may have been manly to go after two girls at once, the pompous way that Kuno went about wooing her two girls was very unmanly, indeed.
Still, she needed to apologized to her friend. She turned to her friend, while finding the courage within herself to apologize. She didn't want to lose someone she had been close to, since childhood. As she started to apologize, Kalu threw back her head and laughed out loud, having enjoyed every bit of the show before her.
"Please Nodoka it's quite alright, I'm quite sure my nephew deserved it. I suppose, I'll will need to teach him how to talk to young ladies, so he doesn't repeat his mistake in the future. Don't worry about the damage, I'll have someone over first thing tomorrow morning to repair it," smiled Kalu. She was not put off at all at how the Saotome twins had beat her Tatchi. In fact, she thought that they would make great Kunos, especially considering that it was quite common for a female Kuno to administer such punishment on a male Kuno. The males did tend to be quite block-headed at times. She just would need to teach Tai chi, the proper way to woo these two.
Nodoka was quite relieved that her friend was not angry, over the twins' misbehavior. She was so relieved in fact that it put her into a better mood.
"Shall we start on desert then? We will just have to save some for Kuno, for when he wakes up," she said, as they all started serving themselves desert.
As everyone else enjoyed their cake, Ranma nibbled on hers. She had a lot to think about. For one, she had started out the afternoon, wanting to tell her mother the truth. Now however, she was stuck in a bigger lie. Her mom would probably expect her to move in with her and Ranka. She would have to explain things to her father and the Tendos. Her father, was going to be mad but it was not like it was her fault that her mother had dragged her here. She sure hoped that her mother lived in the Furikan school zone, because that way she could change clothes and go to school as herself. She certainly didn't want to be enrolled in a new school as a girl. Things just got more complicated.
I do not own any of Ranma 1/2 or it's characters, the great and powerful Rumiko Takahashi does, and Viz Video, Kitty, Shogukan and any others that i forgot to mention.