Devils Child

by chikane-chan

The devil is sick of Ranma evading him, and he creates a clone of Ranma's girl side to frame him. But things don't go as he planned as the girl breaks away from his control. Ranma gains a sister from the after math, that sticks by his side and there for him and his mother. As well as the usual cast here and there and some other oc's and appearances from some lesser characters.

36. Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Settle down

Once they got off the bus, they made their way to the store, where Nodoka spotted her friend Kalu just leaving. Kalu smiled at seeing her. "Nodoka, are you following me?" She said with a playful tone. Nodoka looked flustered some what. " Of course not, but since we do so happen to be here at the same time, may I ask a small favor of you?" Kalu smirked as she nodded. " Of course." Nodoka put her hands together as she bowed her head some. " Could you watch my bags, I won't take too long, you see we just came back from a mainly, nice day at the beach." Kalu smiled as she waved her off. " Hurry up, I'll watch them."

Nodoka thanked her again as she got a cart, putting the smaller bag in it as she strode along inside the store, making sure her children followed along. She spotted Ranma looking at the dessert section with big eyes and smiled. " You two pick two desserts out." Ranma-chan pumped her fist. " Alright!" She dumped a few different puddings into the cart, while Ranka put a few parfaits in, before Nodoka started walking to her next destination, as she was browsing. Ranma-chan had a happy smile on her face as she was looking forward to a pudding later as she had snatched P-chan at some point and was tossing him up and down in the air, much to his annoyance in her gleeful state of mind.

Ranka wasn't too far off, looking at random things, when she heard a voice from behind her, then furrowed her brows at seeing the perverted "kisser" with his hand on her face, positioning to kiss her. " Well now, it must be fate to run into you again so soon." Ranma-chan grabbed a bag of flour off a shelf, throwing it into Mikado's face, making it get all over him Ranka had put up her defense barrier, keeping her from getting flour on her, but also wasn't at the same level. Ranma-chan then tossed P-chan so he smacked the pervert right in his face, giving him a double whammy. " Get your perverted lips away from my sister!" She said as she bristled in anger. Ranka pulled P-chan off from his face, before jumping away. Nodoka was further down the aisle but had seen what was going on as she had her hand to her mouth.

Mikado wiped his face off from the flour with his shirt sleeve as he smirked at Ranma-chan. " Why if it isn't my pigtailed pretty. Even so I cannot over look what you have done, so.. what a refreshing way to get a challenge." He fixed himself up really fast as he smoothed his hair back as he pointed his finger at both the red head twins. " I challenge you both to a match, with you BOTH as the prize, especially YOU Ranka Saotome, I WILL have that kiss." Ranma-chan growled as she smacked his hand away. " I'll make sure YOU don't! Mikado hahed. " Jealously is an ugly thing my dear, I look forward to our match, in a weeks time." He bowed as he handed a card to Ranma-chan before he took his leave gracefully. Ranma-chan gritted her teeth. " That.. bastard!" Nodoka reprimanded her. " Ranma.. language we're in a store.." She sighed with her hand to her face in disbelief at what just happened behind her back, for only a few minutes.

A few minutes later they came out from the store, Nodoka looked exhausted as she smiled a bit at Kalu. " Thank you for watching my bag Kalu, I'm sorry it took a little longer.. there was, well a problem.." Kalu was intrigued. "Oh you must tell me Nodoka." Nodoka sighed as they started walking back with Kalu walking back with them as she listened intently.

Ranma-chan grumbled as she carried the other bag from the beach. Ranka carried one of the shopping bags and had P-chan sitting on top of her head as she sighed. " Great.. guess we'd better practice for the new match.." Ranma-chan tightened her fist. " He's gonna regret it.."

Once they got back to the house and inside, after Ranma-chan put the beach bag down, she snatched P-chan away as she ran off upstairs to the bathroom with him. Nodoka saw Kalu off as she came back inside with a heavy sigh. " Can't we even go to the grocery store.." Ranka slumped her shoulders as she hung her head, feeling a little guilty as she also struggled with trying to defend what had happened. " Well it's more that perverted guys fault.." Nodoka had a hand to her face looking upset. "Well I cannot argue there, but I just wish it had been handled better. If I knew that boys mother.." Ranka had a frustrated look on her face. " If Ranma hadn't socked him, I would've and it would've been a lot worse.." Nodoka shook her head, putting her hand to her head.

Upstairs Ranma-chan put P-chan down in the sink, tossing a towel over him, as she tossed her clothes off and peeled out of her swimsuit, before showering off with some hot water, changing back into a guy. He then pulled the towel off from on top of P-chan, picking him up by his bandana and dropping him into the hot tub. " Hurry up I'm sure they want to take baths too." Ryouga surfaced from the water looking angry. " That was low Ranma, what you pulled at the beach!" Ranma gave him a smug smirk, before he left the bathroom and went off to his room to change. Ryouga didn't stay in long as he grumbled at being ignored by Ranma, as he wrapped a towel around himself as he went off to the room he was staying to get dressed.

Not much later Nodoka had talked Ranka into sharing the bathroom with her as they changed out of their swimsuits. Ranka was in a grumpy mood as she showered off. " Aren't you worried I might do something violent, to ruin bath time.." Nodoka didn't like the attitude she was getting as she threw it back at her daughter. " I would hope not, as I can clearly see there are no spiders around." That made Ranka get all flustered at being called out as she finished shampooing her hair as she muttered. " I think it's better if I go stay with the amazons.." A very distraught Nodoka grabbed her by her arm. " Ranka.. please don't say that, I told you, this is difficult for me, both you and Ranma being so violent.." Ranka tightened her fists as she teared up some. " I can't help it, I told you that and neither can Ranma, it's how the old man raised him.." Nodoka sighed as she let go of her and hung her head. " I'm sorry Ranka dear, please forgive me, I'm trying my best, let's just relax alright." Ranka sighed as she dropped her fists as she rinsed her hair off, before getting into the bath with her mother.

After awhile Ranka excused herself as she got out from the bath first, wrapping a towel around herself, before she left the bathroom and went off to her room, shutting her door behind her.

Downstairs, Ranma and Ryouga had been listening to the arguing and any time Ryouga tried to get up from the couch, Ranma pulled him back. Ryouga growled as he had enough. " What the big idea, Ranma!" Ranma gave him an angry look. " You're not going up there, got it! It's between Ranka and my mom right now.." Ryouga grumbled with his arms crossed as he tried after a few minutes to get up, only for Ranma to pull him back down again to his frustration. " What now?!" Ranma gave him a serious look. " I told you, you're not going up there."

Not too long after Ranka came downstairs with her hair down and just blow dried, wearing a long sleeved purple shirt with a cute character with a rainbow on it, and matching pants with rainbows all over it. Ryouga stared with a happy dumb look on his face, until he got a whack over his head from an annoyed Ranma. "Knock it off.." Ryouga smacked his hand away. " You first!" Ranka sighed as she took a seat on the couch. " Better not let "the violence police" see you guys fighting.." Ranma snorted at hearing that, knowing she was referring to their mother. " Yeah, I hear ya sis." Ryouga rubbed at his head feeling confused. " Doesn't your mother slay demons though." Ranka had an annoyed look on her face with her hand to it. " Yeah, that's completely different, apparently and perfectly fine. So I guess I should just go around and decapitate people's heads instead of beating them up.." Ryouga sweat dropped and waved his hands about. " Don't do that.." Ranma hahed at him, knowing that Ranka was being sarcastic.

When Nodoka came back downstairs, Ranka went off to the kitchen with her. Ranma and Ryouga were playing a video game, where he kept ending up getting Ryouga's player killed, by using him to jump on top of or push him out of his way. Ryouga growled at him. " What's the big idea, Ranma?! You keep getting me killed!" Ranma kept playing with a dull look on his face. " If you don't like it, you could leave. I mean you don't really have a reason to be here anymore, your match with the kissing pervert is over. Don't you gotta go on one of your journeys, huh man." Ryouga looked frustrated as he glared down Ranma. " Trying to get rid of me huh.." Ranma gave him a look that said so. "Just stating the obvious."

Ryouga had an angry vein on the side of his head. "You'd like that wouldn't you huh, but I doubt that Ranka feels the same way." Ranma tossed his game controller down. " You wanna fight, let's go man!" Ryouga tossed his down as well. " Fine by me!"

Nodoka sweat dropped from the kitchen. "My.. there they go again.." She stuck her head out from the kitchen. " No fighting in the house.." She said with a concerned look on her face. She thought for a minute, seeing that perhaps the boys had a lot of energy they needed to get out. "Why don't you two go exercise at the park near by, just be back before dinner time." She had never had to deal with two rowdy boys before, while she saw that her son was being very manly, she didn't want her house to suffer for it.

Ranma smirked at Ryouga as he stood up. " Let's take it outside." Ryouga stood up as well with a pumped fist. " Let's!" They both ran out the front door, running off down the street as fast as lightning. Ranma ran off to the near by park, leaving Ryouga in his dust, he waited a few minutes before he went off else where.

Not too much later Ranma came back inside as he shut the door behind him and took off his shoes. Nodoka stuck her head out from the kitchen. " Did you two get all that energy out of your.." She stopped at not seeing Ryouga with her son and blinked. " Where did Ryouga go off to?" Ranma shrugged his shoulders as he sat back down on the couch and went back to playing his game. It hadn't been his plan to loose Ryouga, he had planned to fight with him but he likely got himself lost anyways. Oh well, it worked out, he wasn't there anymore.

Dinner was ready and Nodoka felt bad about starting without him, but Ranma told her he'd be fine, so they had dinner. She made sure to save a plate for him. After and with more time going by she worried more and sent Ranka out to go look for him, to which Ranma tried to protest but lost. Nodoka gave him a stern look. " WE need to talk about you're behavior at the beach." Ranma groaned as he was stuck.

Ranka once outside, jumped up onto the roof top to get a good view of the area as she scanned the area with her eyes, looking for the lost boy, before she jumped off to a different roof top to look further, as she gained speed as she jumped from a bunch of them, till she was pretty faraway from the house, until she spotted him. She jumped down from her current roof top gracefully as she gave the angry dog a gentle but swift kick to it's face, knocking it out, making it let go of Ryouga's shirt, that he was trying to wrestle away from the dogs mouth. His eyes widened at seeing the beautiful red head that came to his rescue. "Ahhh.. Ranka.." She grabbed him by his hand and pulled him along with her, to get him out of the people's yard, so they were out on the street, before she let go of his hand.

Ranka sighed as she hung her head. "You got lost didn't you?" Ryouga looked embarrassed as he just rubbed at the back of his head sheepishly. Ranka gave him a dull look. " My mom was getting worried about you, so she asked me to go look for you're dumb butt." Ryouga laughed a bit nervously. "Ah.. sorry, but thanks for finding me.." Ranka hahed with a smug smile on her face. " You're lucky I did or you might've been dog food." Ryouga smiled with a dumb look on his face. "Haha yeah.. " She stood still as she noticed they were near where her old false house was, which made her grab her head as she started remembering un pleasant memories, with her eyes wide. Ryouga took notice of how upset she looked and her frozen stance, which made him a bit worried, he knew he probably shouldn't but did so anyways, as he gave her a light shake. " Hey Ranka, you okay?"

Ranka's red gem lit up brightly as she snapped out of it, grabbing him by his hand and running off from the area really fast, not slowing down until they were closer to the house, with her heart racing. Ryouga looked very concerned. " Hey, what was that all about?" Ranka let go of his hand annoyed with her head down. "Just.. somewhere I don't want to be.. and that's where I find you.." She tightened her fist as she tried not to tear up. Then it finally hit him. " Was, that?" Ranka looked away. "Where I lived a lie.. yeah.." Ryouga looked upset. " Are.. "they" still there?" Ranka still had her head down. "Doubt it, but I can't deal with it.." She said quietly as she took him by the hand and guided him back the rest of the way, until they were in the house, then she let go.

Nodoka smiled at seeing Ranka come back with Ryouga. "Oh good you found him." Ranka nodded with her head down. " I'm going to bed." She said in cranky tone as she ran off upstairs really fast. Nodoka blinked some before she looked over at Ryouga, who in turn looked nervous. Ranma gave him an annoyed look, which increased when he found he couldn't link up with Ranka. " What the hell did you do?!" Nodoka quirked an eyebrow at the lost boy. " I hope you didn't do anything, that you shouldn't be doing.." Ryouga waved his hands about nervously, his face bright red. " Well no, I.. of course not! It's just well I.. ended up getting lost by this house.." He stammered all nervous. Nodoka looked worried at hearing that. Ranma shot back angrily at him. " You dumb ass!" He grumbled as he told his mother he was going to bed early, as he went off upstairs to go get ready for bed.

Ryouga looked ashamed. "I didn't know, I'm sorry.." Nodoka smiled some at him. " I know, but I do believe it's best that you wait until tomorrow to try to talk to Ranka and let Ranma and me handle it, it is a family matter. While I'd like to think perhaps in the future you could be, at this point you're not." Ryouga bowed his head with respect, even though he really did want to talk to Ranka and try to help, he also knew his place. Nodoka handed him the remote to the tv with a smile. " Please watch whatever you'd like."

First Ranma had changed into a girl with some cold water, since she planned to stay with her sister tonight, then giving a knock on her door, at not getting an answer after a few minutes she let herself in and turned the light on. "Hey, why didn't you respond when I was trying to talk to you." She could see Ranka was all curled up under her blankets in bed. Ranka responded quietly. "Oh.." Ranma-chan looked annoyed some. "Oh", is that all you gotta say? " She scratched at her head, thinking about what do or say next, until it came to her. " So that dumb ass had to go and get lost over there huh.. pisses me off." She sighed annoyed. "And that brought on bad memories didn't it? Of course the crap Shampoo and the old ghoul just pulled, didn't help either.."

Ranka sighed from under her blankets. "Nope.. you're not going to stop are you.." Ranma-chan had a stern look on her face. " Nope, so cmon we got a lot to plan for that match." She pulled the blankets up and off from her twin. "Or would you prefer going to the spa?" Ranka shuddered at hearing about that damned place, with that evil machine, as she pushed herself up out from bed, where Ranma-chan gave her a hug and then ruffled up her hair. "Love you sis, now cmon we gotta come up with a really good battle plan."

Ranka looked a little flustered as they sat down at the ground table to discuss their upcoming match. " Love you too, even when you're annoying the heck out of me.." Ranma-chan grinned back at her. "I'm still not as annoying as Akane though and hey it's you're fault, for not talking to me." Ranka groaned in reply. "Nope.." Ranma-chan patted her hands together. "Okay so battle plan, because I don't want that pervert kissing my sister or me again.." She said with a disgusted look on her face.

After awhile Nodoka was ready for bed and interrupted as she took Ranka off to her room for a chat. She patted a spot on the bed next to her. "Come lay down with me for a bit, Ranka dear." Ranka rubbed nervously at her hand, before she did. Nodoka brushed some of her daughters hair aside as she talked to her. " I heard what happened sweetie and I know you have a lot of trauma from what you had to deal with there.. but you're never going back." She said as she embraced her in a loving hug. "You're with you're real family and we'll never let you go." Ranka hugged her mother back, hiding her face in her chest as she tried not to cry. After a few minutes they just laid next to each other after breaking off the embrace. Nodoka smiled at her daughter. " I hope you're in a better mood tomorrow, or we may need to visit the spa." That sent shivers up Ranka's spine as she smiled nervously. "No.. that won't be necessary.." She looked off the other way some. "I've learned I can't shut down, like I did.. and worry others.. but I can't help it sometimes.. Being a girl is really complex.." Nodoka smiled knowingly. " Well we are very complex." She pet her hand on Ranka's head. "Even more so for teenagers. You didn't do anything that you shouldn't be doing with Ryouga, did you? I asked him and he seemed very unsure, even though he said no." Ranka sat up quickly as her face turned red. "No! That's because he's a dumb butt.." Nodoka giggled. "I see, were you going to stay with me tonight?" Ranka gave her a hug before getting up out of bed. "No, I'm going to go back to my room." Nodoka smiled at her. " Alright dear but if you change you're mind, don't hesitate." Ranka nodded and bid her mother good night before going back to her room.

Ranma-chan looked up from a manga that she was reading in her bed. "Mom give you a pep talk?" Ranka sighed heavily. " Yep and a warning…" Ranma-chan hahed. " Yeah.. she wasn't happy about how I acted at the beach.. wouldn't let me go look for stupid Ryouga with you before…" Ranka looked off flustered some. " Well you know she wasn't happy about how I acted at the beach either…" Ranma-chan flipped through a page. " Less happy about how I did. So did you purposely cut our link or what?" She said in a bit of an annoyed tone. Ranka got into her own bed as she laid back. "No.." Ranma-chan shot back still annoyed. " You better not have." Ranka looked off the other way some as she fidgeted with her red gem on her necklace. "It's.. complex being a girl.."

Ranma-chan hahed " Tell me about it." She said sarcastically before being more serious. "Well I'm only a girl here and there so.." She thought about it for a few minutes. "Oh! Is it like the stuff I've said to Akane? Like how she worries about what outfit to wear for a date and how she hopes she doesn't sweat too much? Oh! Or is it,being called ugly?" She got a serious look on her face. " Because you know you're not, that demon wench definitely is though." Ranka flopped down so she was laying down, before she pulled her blankets over herself. " I don't really know.." She looked off the other way. " No, I know that.." She wrinkled her nose up a bit frustrated. "It's not.. that Ivory is ugly, well.." Ranma-chan quirked an eyebrow at her. Ranka let out a sigh in defeat after a few minutes. " Well.. now she is.." Ranma-chan kept going. " Well I do know we gotta start practicing tomorrow." Ranka nodded before saying good night.

Sleep eventually found her, but so did a nightmare. She was stuck in front of her old place, frozen in place as the front door creaked open. Out stepped Satan with an Alley clone behind him. His footsteps were loud as he stalked towards her, splitting open the ground. No matter how far she tried to run, the same thing kept happening, until demon hands shot up from the cracked ground, one of the hands grabbing onto her foot. She finally woke up from it's hold as she sat up jolted from it, as she got up leaving the room as she went off to the bathroom.

After calming and cooling herself down by splashing her face with some water, she started back to the room, only to smack into Ryouga's chest, face first as he was just standing there looking confused. Ryouga woke up a bit more as he realized what had happened. Ranka backed up quickly, looking annoyed as she rubbed at her nose. Ryouga started to panic as his nerves hit. " Ah.. I'm sorry I was.." Ranka grumbled as she moved behind him, knowing he was trying to get to the bathroom, without getting lost, as she shoved him forward and off into the bathroom, where she turned the light on for him. "There." She then went back to her room.

Ranma-chan had woken up after she heard Ranka get up and more so at hearing Ryouga, looking annoyed when Ranka came back into the room. " What's the pig up to?" Ranka went and got back into bed. " Trying to find the bathroom without getting lost." Ranma-chan rolled her eyes at hearing that before she looked a bit more concerned. " You had a nightmare huh, all because that idiot was near there." Ranka pulled the blankets over herself. "Yeah, well it's not like he purposely did." Ranma-chan grumbled to herself as they both went back to sleep.

Everyone was up and eating their breakfast, is what Nodoka would've wanted to say, but Ranka wasn't present. Ranma-chan noted her mother's pensive expression on her face, but it was too late as she homed in on her. Nodoka gave Ranma a look. " Ranma, you stayed with your sister last night.." Before she could finish Ranma-chan cut in. " I tried to wake her up, she went back to sleep, but she did have a bad nightmare last night." Nodoka sighed as she got up from the table and marched upstairs. Ryouga mean while had eaten some of his breakfast but seemed to be in a dreamy daze, so Ranma took advantage of that and stole some of his food from off his plate. Ryouga didn't seem to care, he was too preoccupied with thinking about Ranka with her hair all wet from last night, when he saw her in the light. Ranma-chan got annoyed and stole more food from his plate and let him know. " Hey! I'm stealing you're food!"

Upstairs as she let herself into the room she went over and gave Ranka a firm shake. " Ranka dear, it is time to get up, everyone's had breakfast except for you." Ranka groaned at her mother's insistence. " But, it's Sunday.." Nodoka kept firm. " It is time to get up now, young lady and go eat." She sighed some. " I know you had a rough night but that is no excuse for missing breakfast." Ranka grumbled as she rolled herself out of bed. "Okay.. i'm up.." Nodoka shook her head at how disorientated her daughter was. " If you're not downstairs in 5 minutes, I will be back."

No less than 4 minutes and Ranka was downstairs, eating at the table. Nodoka nodded and was about to praise her daughter, until she saw she hadn't fixed her hair, and more troubling then the fact she was still in her pajama's, was she was "hanging out"and part of her bra could be seen from her shirt. Ryouga noticed right away as he covered his nose, as he fell back in his chair. Nodoka looked perplexed as she went over and quickly pulled Ranka's shirt up, so she was covered, putting a hand to her face. Ranma-chan gave her a mother a dull look. " That's why you should've let her sleep a little more." She looked off annoyed at the fact. Nodoka sighed as she decided it was best she be a little lentient on the matter. " Ranka dear, you can go back to bed for a little bit.." She nodded and went back upstairs, for a bit.

Ranma-chan sighed with her hand to her face. " I still wanna start practicing today." Nodoka noticed Ryouga had eaten all his breakfast. " My, you must've been hungry Ryouga." Ranma-chan looked off the other way. Nodoka turned her attention back to Ranma. " Alright, we'll go to the ice rink after your sister gets up and is hopefully.. more attentive.. she usually is very good about getting up and being ready." Ranma-chan had a dull look on her face. " I thought you said she wasn't proper enough." Nodoka looked off the other way, looking a bit ashamed, as it was true she complained about that, but Ranka was very proper and then when she wasn't, it really showed.

Nodoka went off outside off the porch to the back yard to tend to the flowers, while inside Ranma-chan was watching a show on tv, as well as Ryouga. She quirked an eyebrow at him with an annoyed look. " So I guess P-chan doesn't love Akane anymore huh." Ryouga got all frazzled looking at hearing that. " Who said that?!" Ranma-chan gave him a dull look. " Well I mean, you've been too busy staying here." Ryouga gave her an annoyed look back. " I plan on leaving, after I say good bye to.." Ranma-chan quirked an eyebrow knowingly at him as she cut in. " I'll let her know, so you can leave any time." Ryouga hehed with an annoyed look. " You'd like that wouldn't you Saotome, like you'd like to pretend you're Ranka again." Ranma-chan had an evil smirk on her face. " Hey it's not my fault you're so gullible." Ryouga tightened his fist as he gritted his teeth. " So, you admit it!" They glared daggers at each other, but were stopped at going further as Nodoka came back inside.

Not too much later Ranka came downstairs all ready, knowing Ranma was anxious to start practicing for the new challenge. Nodoka took notice of how she was all ready to go. Ryouga noted how cute she looked, well she always looked nice, close to how Akane dressed at times but a little better. She had a long sleeved purple top on and pink pants with her boots and her pink sweatshirt hoodie, with her hair up in her usual ponytail. After taking it all in, he let Nodoka know he was thankful for being in her care, but he was leaving. Ranma-chan looked more annoyed as he was taking his sweet time and she couldn't really tell him off in front of her mother.

Ryouga twiddled his fingers nervously in front of Ranka. " Well I'd better be going." Ranma-chan had her hand to her face looking more annoyed. " Yeah, so should we." Nodoka smiled and nodded as she got her bag. " We'll all see you off then Ryouga." Ryouga sweat dropped a bit nervously as he nodded and they all left the house together as they started walking off in opposite directions. Nodoka waved at him. " Don't be a stranger." Ranka gave him a little wave. " See ya." Ranma-chan had a dull look on her face. " Enjoy you're long journey."

Nodoka had been spotted by one of the neighbors and they were chatting some a bit further away. Ranma-chan whispered. "By which it means he'll likely end up at the Tendo's, to go see Akane.." Ranka sweat dropped and nodded.

Once they got to the ice rink and got into their skates, they got onto the ice, only for them to both fall. Nodoka sweat dropped from the side line, where she was sitting on a bench and watching them. Ranma-chan grumbled. " I hate the ice.." Ranka nodded as they both got back up. " Yes but you hate Mikado more." Ranma-chan tightened her fist. " Heck yeah!"

Nodoka watched them practice for about a little over an hour, before they called it quits for the day. Outside the rink they were sitting and working on getting their ice skates off, Ranka had her boots next to her as she worked through the laces of the skates. Azusa Shiratori happened to be near by as she spotted them and grabbed them up with big sparkling eyes as she giggled, hugging them. " Oh Anabelle!" Ranka almost face faulted at what had just happened. " Hey, you thief those are my boots!" Azusa was already about half out the door with them. " You can't have my Anabelle!" She stuck her tongue out at her as she ran off really fast. Ranma-chan had gotten her shoes back on, as she took off after Azusa. " Hey! You bring my sister's boots back right now, you little brat!"

Ranka pouted all upset, as well as angry. " My boots.." She would've chased after the thief if it weren't for the fact, she'd get in trouble for leaving with the ice skates. Nodoka blinked looking bewildered at what had just happened and so fast, as she put a hand to her face. " Oh dear.. you see, you should've worn different shoes with your outfit, I didn't want to say anything as I hoped you would figure it out, but still.. why on earth would that girl steal them like that.." She sighed as she patted Ranka on her shoulder. " I'll be right back, alright dear."

A shadow that had been watching, took their leave after they spotted Azusa running off, giving chase as they stayed out of sight.

A few minutes later Nodoka came back with some a nice pair of new slip on flat shoes. " Here we are dear." Ranka pouted as she put them on. Ranma-chan came back in looking annoyed, as she rubbed at the back of her head. " Sorry, she lost me.." Ranka smiled a tad really fast. " It's okay, thanks for trying." Nodoka smiled back. " Well perhaps another day we could go shopping for new shoes at a better store." Ranka had her head down as she shuffled her feet with the near standard girl shoes. "Yeah.." Nodoka shook her head. " That girl has some strange hobby.." Ranma-chan had a dull look on her face. " She fell in love with a rice ball, so.." Nodoka shook her head again at the absurbness of it all. " Well let's head back."

After getting back Nodoka had a snack prepared, she took notice that Ranka didn't eat much and was kinda in a daze. Ranma-chan grumbled as she knew her sister was really upset about loosing her favorite boots, thanks to that stupid Azusa as she went off upstairs to take a quick shower. Nodoka was busy off in the laundry room as there was a knock at the front door. It took a few knocks until Ranka snapped out of her daze as she jumped up and went and answered the front door.

Shampoo looked a little nervous as she smiled and held out the boots. "Shampoo was on way back from delivery and see what happen with skating girl, taking them from you. I get them back for you." Ranka's eyes lit up at seeing her boots as her eyes got all big and teary eyed as she embraced Shampoo really fast, giving her a kiss on the cheek as she took her boots back all excited, hugging them to her chest with a happy smile. " You're the best, thanks so much." Shampoo stood there blushing with a love struck smile for a second before she started to take her leave. Ranka grabbed her by her hand, after she had set her boots down inside, behind the door. " Why don't you stay and have dinner with us." Shampoo blinked looking confused. " Shampoo thought you mad at her and say not to bother you for a week, I just wanted to bring your boots back and go." Ranka smiled back at her. " I'm not mad anymore, how could I be when you got my boots back for me." Shampoo looked around a bit nervously. " What about your mother?" Ranka waved her hand about. " If i'm not mad she won't be either."

Nodoka having finished with dealing with the laundry and at hearing talking at the doorway, came over, seeing that Ranka had her boots back and was really happy, putting it together that the amazon had gotten them back. Ranka smiled at her mother. " Hey mom it's okay if Shampoo stays and has dinner with us, right? Since she got my boots back and went out of her way to do so." Nodoka nodded and smiled at Shampoo. " Please do, it's the least we can do to thank you and you've made my daughter extremely happy, so we're no longer mad, obviously." Ranka nodded as she pulled Shampoo off inside. Nodoka put a hand to her mouth as she watched her drag Shampoo off with her to the back porch, shutting the door behind her some.

Ranka took a seat as she patted a spot next to her, for Shampoo to sit down next to her. " Let's talk." Shampoo was a bit taken back at seeing this side of her other airen. Ranka got an excited look on her face. " So, how did you get them back from that little thief?" Shampoo smiled. " I follow her home and beat her up." Ranka nodded with big bright eyes. Shampoo looked a little uncertain. " You really no mad no more?" Ranka's cheery expression, changed some as it lessened some. "Currently no, but I'm not happy with what you pulled." Shampoo slumped her shoulders some. " You hate Shampoo now?" Ranka shook her head. " I never said I hated you, I think by now you know that I can't really hate you.." She said as she looked off the other way as her face turned a bit red. "But.. do you know how much that hurts me, being forced against my will.. What you and granny did by controlling me.. was just like what the devil was doing to me before.."

Shampoo's eyes widened at the realization and how Ranka had just said what Ranma had told her, was exactly why she was so upset with her and Cologne, as she hung her head. " Shampoo is stupid, you know that.." Ranka gave her a smug smile. " Yeah but not as dumb as Akane." She swung her feet about off the edge of the porch. "As long as you don't resort to anymore underhanded dirty tricks, I won't be mad okay. I also trust you and the old ghoul a lot less now though.." Shampoo bit her lip a bit. " What if Shampoo give none dirty ring?" Ranka hahed as she pulled her shirt sleeve up some, showing her wrist with the amber marking on it. " I think "this" is more than enough, don't you think?" Shampoo looked flustered. "It just how we amazon's are." Ranka hehed. " Yeah, sneaky and sly opportunists."

A little while more and they went back inside. Ranka grabbed her boots from the front. " I'll be right back." She disappeared upstairs to go put her boots back. Ranma came downstairs a few minutes later, only to get glomped by Shampoo as she fawned over him. "Aiya, airen." Ranma grumbled as he un tangled her from him. Nodoka stuck her head out from the kitchen. "Oh Ranma dear, Shampoo found Ranka's boots and brought them back, so she's staying for dinner."

Ranma scratched at his head as he figured out that's why he had sensed such happy aura from his sister. "I guess you two made up then." Shampoo smiled and nodded as she eyed Ranma, wondering if she could get him as excited as Ranka had gotten over something. " Ranma, you like boots?" Ranma gave her a dull look. " Yeah, no." Shampoo thought about it for a minute before smirking. " How about free ramen at Cat Cafe for a week?" Ranma's eyes lit up as he got a happy smile on his face as he took her by her hands all excited. " You're the best Shampoo!" Shampoo giggled as she had seemed to figure out what made each sibling very happy. She had at first thought since they were the same, how they'd both want the same thing, but kept finding out while they were similar they also had a lot of differences, with Ranka she adored her gothic style boots and with Ranma he was all about food.

Not too much later everyone was sitting at the table, having dinner. Shampoo was in such a good mood from the mutual affection she had gotten from Ranka, that she didn't bother the siblings about feeding them food or glomping on them. After she helped Nodoka and Ranka with clean up, before she took her leave. Nodoka tried to insist on having them walk Shampoo part way home, but she declined as she said good night to them, as she made her way back to the cafe in a blur.

Cologne looked up from the front counter as Shampoo came skipping in through the front door beaming. " My, don't you look happy." Shampoo giggled. " Ranka no hate us and not mad no more. All Shampoo had to do was beat up skater girl who took her boots." Cologne chuckled in response. " Well done my child, now don't you feel dumb that you hated Ranka at first?" Shampoo got all flustered as she hung her head knowing her great grandmother would never let that die. " Yes great grandmother.." Cologne had closed the restaurant for the night, as she tallied up the total they had made for the night as they chatted. "Do tell, what happened?"

Shampoo smiled brightly as she put a hand to her cheek. "Aiya, Ranka so happy she hug and kiss Shampoo." Cologned laughed some. " Seems she's more willing than son in law is." Shampoo giggled in response, before looking a bit serious. " We no can trick her no more, or she will get mad." Cologne nodded in agreement.

Back at the Saotomes, Nodoka noticed that Ranka was in much better spirits after getting her boots back, she had been concerned at how out of it, she had been acting after they had been stolen away. She at first found it silly, but also realized her daughter was a girl, who loved her shoes, just a bit differently from some other girls, as instead of fancy high heels, for her, it was her boots. She noticed how with her son, his attachment for his image was his chinese outfits, and for her daughter it was those boots, among other things. She also figured that was why she had gotten so upset when they were stolen. As she thought more on it, for her it'd be her katana or one of her favorite kimono's she'd regret not having.

Not that much later everyone had gone off to bed. Unlike the other night, Ranka didn't have a nightmare, she dreamed about Shampoo beating the crap out of Azusa for her and being the hero, bringing her back her beloved boots.

The same school morning routine went on as they went through the motions, until they were on their way to school. Ranka was still in a really good mood as they walked towards the school, until a seemingly familiar girl stood in their way. The long blonde haired girl with green eyes wore a leather jacket over her school uniform, as she smirked at seeing Ranka. "Congrats "red-hot." Ranka blinked at her and pointed at herself. Chriss smirked as she disappeared and reappeared behind her, where she tried to put a yakuza cap on her head, to which Ranka moved away from. Chriss kept trying to crown her with it. " Cmon, you won fair and square and that makes you the new boss, so accept your crown." Ranka wrinkled up her nose as she kept side stepping away from her trying to put the cap on her head. " Eww, no thanks I don't want it!" Ranma crossed his arms at the tall girl. " Yeah, you heard her, my sister doesn't want that." Chriss kept trying as she got more annoyed. "Why not, it's an honor! You beat up one boss after another, so you get their crown as the new boss, so take it dammit!" Ranka kept avoiding it. " No way! That nasty thing has been on a bunch of gangsters heads! I can't do that, my mom will kill me.. and I don't want to be the boss, okay! Why don't you just be the boss."

Chriss glared daggers at her. "You beat me, so it goes to you!" She kept trying to put it on Ranka's head. Ranma stepped in and grabbed the hat from her, putting it on his head. " Happy now, now knock it off, already!" Chriss huffed as she got an idea. " Okay how about the jacket, instead?" Ranka shouted back. " No way!" Chris hmpfed as she crossed her arms, seeing this was as far as she was going to get with her, it was enough that her sibling had accepted the crown. " Well too bad, you're the new boss, that's how the rules go, i'll be seeing you around "red-hot.-boss" She said as she dashed off really fast around the corner, down a different street. Ranka groaned as she hung her head, then giving Ranma a look. " Eww.. your wearing that?" Ranma shrugged his shoulders. "I kinda like it." Ranka put her hands up. " All yours."

They started walking towards the school again, until Ranka's gem lit up bright red at sensing Ivory, she alerted Ranma with their telepathy link, as they both jumped away, feeling she'd attack from above, only for her to come charging straight at them, as she swung a car off into them both, using her monstrous she-devil strength, sending them flying off through the air as they both sailed through the air like a rocket as they plowed through the brick wall and then through the side of the school's wall straight into the boys locker room, smashing into the wall from the impact, smashing the cold water pipes. Luckily both of them had used their gems and were shielded from the impacts with their defense barriers, though Ranma lost his chi's hold on his after the impact, which ended up getting him wet and changing into a girl. Ranma-chan was furious as she shook her head about. " What the hell!? I didn't call her ugly this time!" Ranka shook her head as she recovered from the force of the impact. "No but she definitely was being ugly.." Ranma-chan groaned as she started to pull herself up. " Oh man.. I'm glad I didn't forget to wear it.." She said referring to her green gem necklace that Ranka had made for her, so she could use some magic. Ranka sighed heavily. " It was likely her retaliation for how.. mom keeps be-heading her.. Yeah well you are her favorite target now as well." Ranma-chan hehed. "Oh I can take it." She looked over at the other water pipe as she gave it a hard punch with a shrug, figuring "oh well", since one was busted already, as the other sprayed out a stream of hot water that changed him back into a guy, before they got caught.

A few seconds later they were sitting in the principals office, having been caught by a teacher. Principal Kuno shook his head at them. " Bad bad keke's.." He was hiding behind the vice principal as he said it, as he was scared of Ranka, but tried to keep some of his nerves about him in front of Ranma. Ranka gave him an annoyed look. " It's not like we purposely did that.." The vice principal sighed. " No huh? Do tell, when your mother gets here." Ranma and Ranka both cringed at hearing that. Principal Kuno then pulled up school records from Ranka's previous school. "Miss Saotome, you be a a bad trouble maker, according to your last school." Ranka sweat dropped looking sheepish. " It's more.. trouble finds me.." Nodoka came running in as she caught her breath, before letting the principal's know she was present as she took a seat in the office, next to her children.

The vice principal had his arms crossed in his chair. " Mrs. Saotome as Principal Kuno was just saying, it seems you're daughter and son are both trouble makers.." Nodoka gave her children both a stern look. " What happened?" Ranma grumbled " The demon wench." Ranka sighed. " Ivory, aka " demon wench. I was trying to tell them.. trouble finds me.." Nodoka sighed heavily as she bowed her head to the principals. " I'm very sorry for the trouble that children have caused today, but my daughter speaks the truth, and the form of trouble that is after my children is, in the form of a demon.." Both of the principals froze up at hearing that, especially Principal Kuno. He shook his head at the matter. " Still keke's damage the school, so bad keke's get suspended ya, for 3 days" Nodoka bowed her head and accepted the punishment as she took Ranka and Ranma out from the office and out from the school.

Nodoka was murmuring on about things as they walked back. Ranma spotted the hat, scooping it up and putting it on his head, having lost it during the fight, as well as his book bag that he snatched back up. Ranka spotted her own bag, as she picked it up and started dusting it off. Nodoka and Ranka made the same eww face at the same time. Nodoka had her her hand to her mouth. " Ranma dear, you shouldn't be putting things you don't know, where they've been on top of your head.." Ranma blinked. "Why not, it's a hat." Nodoka shook her head to herself as they made their way back to the house. Ranka bit her lip as she decided it was best to spit it out and not hide anymore, while they were already in trouble as they got back to the house.

Ranka fidgeted with her fingers nervously. "Ah, mom, I didn't know when I beat up all those gang guys before, apparently that makes you the new boss.." Nodoka had a frazzled look on her face as she stood there blinking. " Young lady.. are you telling me you're in a gang?" Ranka waved her hands about nervously. " No! Well I don't want to be the new boss…" Nodoka sighed heavily as she sat herself down on the couch, so she didn't fall over as she rubbed at the temple of her head, looking stressed out. " Is there anything else, either of you would like to tell me?" Ranma sweat dropped as he took the cap hat off from his head. "Nope.." Nodoka starred at the hat closer as it dawned on her, she just needed to confirm it. " Ranka, how did this happen?" Ranka sighed as she told her about Chriss trying to get her to take and wear the gross cap, which Ranma took. Nodoka sighed as she hung her head, having her suspicions come to light. "Ranma, you need to return that cap the next time you see that girl." Ranma grumbled as he spun it around on his finger tip. "Why, because you think it's gross?" Nodoka put a hand to her mouth. " Aside from that, you may have unknowingly accepted. Anyways.. what am I going to do with you two.."

Ranka looked down at the ground as she shuffled one of her feet some. "Actually it was retaliation for, how you keep be heading her.. and not like we wanted to get launched through things.." Ranma nodded in agreement. " Yeah, we were just on our way to school and "the demon wench" hit us with a car." Nodoka furrowed her brow as she listened. "How ridiculous of a demon to talk about retaliation, I will not apologize for doing my civic duty, nor should you Ranka. This has to stop." Ranka leaned back against the couch, where she was sitting, looking up at the ceiling. " I know, but the real one is hidden away down in the depths of hell." Nodoka looked thoughtful for a minute. " Do her parents know?" Ranka blinked. " I don't know.." Nodoka nodded her head. " Alright then, we'll start there then."

Ranma sweat dropped as he listened. " Hey so Ranka we should go to the ice rink and practice, since we don't have any school." Nodoka crossed her arms. " You shouldn't be going any where, you both just got suspended.." Ranma groaned. " Yeah because of "the demon wench." Ranka sighed with her arms back behind her head. " She's" the one who should be getting suspended.. and we really do need to practice, even for a little bit, then you can roll out the punishments.." Nodoka nodded in agreement to those terms, both of the siblings could tell she meant business.

A bit later they were at the ice rink and Ranma had changed into a girl before they had left, as their mother sat on the side line watching them and also timing them. They were trying to practice, putting a leg up, for better balance, working on it slowly. After awhile Ranma-chan started to get a little better with it, as they kept at it. Ranma-chan sighed as she worked on trying to hold it up a little longer each time. " What do you think she's gonna make us do?" Ranka looked off the other way some as worked on the same thing. " Something.. likely.. very, lady like.." Ranma-chan ughed at the thought, thinking how she definitely had to pay back that damn she-devil for it.

Nodoka took an orange out from her bag, setting it down next to her as she also took out a napkin. Azusa popped out from nowhere as her eyes sparkled at seeing the orange, as she snatched it up giggling. " Marmalade!" She then took off with the orange. Nodoka looked frazzled as she shook her head, the girl clearly had some un healthy habits and should in her opinion, see a doctor.

After awhile more Nodoka let them know time was up, as they got off the ice and went and started changing. Ranka made sure not to dare bring her boots with her, knowing the clepto might steal them away again, playing it safe with sneakers. Once they had changed back into their shoes, they all went over to the food area, to sit at a table. Nodoka pulled out the rest of the oranges from her bag, as well as some rice balls, glad that she had brought more than enough oranges, since one got snatched away. She also took some cups out, as well as thermos that she served up hot tea for them, to go with their snack. When everyone finished she clasped her hands together. " Now that you have practiced, I have some place I want us to go."

A few minutes later they were sitting in kimono's at a ground table at a young ladies, etiqute class that Nodoka signed them all up for, for the next hour. Nodoka beamed as they sat on their knee's and watched the instructor lady, mix up traditional tea, explaining things as she went along, before leaving the class to making their own tea. Nodoka went first as she flawlessly mixed up the tea leaves with the tea whisk, pouring the water into the cup with elegance as she served the instructor her example. Ranma-chan stuck her tongue out some as she briskly, whisked hers up and poured the water in, before shoving hers off to the instructor. Ranka followed the instructions as she whisked hers up as well, though not as fast as her sibling had done, but still pretty fast, pouring the water in and sliding it over the instructor. Of course Nodoka got the best mark.

After tea they moved on to flower arranging, which Nodoka also got the best mark. While she saw her children trying at it, they didn't quite understand it or seem too interested. Soon the hour was up and after getting changed back into their casual clothes and leaving, they headed back home. Nodoka was satisfied enough that they had gone through the class, seeing how they couldn't be held to her high standards.

Upon getting back to the house, Nodoka went off upstairs to go wash up. Ranma and Ranka were sitting on the couch, Ranma-chan looked more annoyed about what they had just had to go through. Ranka gave her twin a poke to her shoulder. "You should call Akane and let her know what's going on." Ranma-chan had an annoyed look on her face. " Why don't you do it then." Ranka gave her sibling a dull look. " I could do that I suppose, but then you'll look bad with Akane and she won't shut up about how YOU didn't tell her what was going on." Ranma-chan grumbled as she got up and went off to call Akane. While she was doing that, Ranka shut her eyes and communicated with her red gem as she made sure to put a barrier up around the house, getting the feeling from the recent events that it was safer to.

A few minutes later Nodoka came back downstairs as she took a seat on the couch next to Ranka with a stern look. "I was giving some thought about how.. you seem to be the reluctant boss of the area gangsters." Ranka looked a bit nervous as she played with her necklace. "Yeah?" Nodoka nodded. " Though I'm not happy about it, I have figured out how we can use it our advantage as well, having them go after demon targets if need be." Ranka had a dull look on her face. " You think I am? I just acted on instinct.. I don't want to be their boss.." Nodoka smiled a tad. " Well we will cross that road, if that time comes."

Ranma-chan finished her short phone call with Akane, just in time to be recruited to help out in the kitchen, as her mother handed her an apron. Ranma sighed as she put it on, knowing this was also part of the punishment. Nodoka had one on as well as Ranka, as she instructed them both on what she wanted them to help out with. Half way through Ranka went off to set up the table with silver ware, plates and cups and all that. Before they knew it everyone was sitting and enjoying their dinner at the table together, then it was clean up time.

Instead of being able to relax and play video games, Nodoka set everyone up with a sewing supplies as they sat on the couch together and practiced, following by her example. Also to the siblings dismay they had to miss their favorite anime show, which made Ranma-chan curse to herself more about getting back at the damned she-devil for the un fair punishments that her and Ranka were getting put through. Not to mention cursing under her breath at jabbing her fingers here and there with sewing, though she wasn't the only one as she caught Ranka jabbing herself at times as well. They spent the whole evening practicing sewing, up until Nodoka sent them upstairs to settle down and get ready for bed.

Upstairs after taking turns and getting ready for bed, they were sitting on the ground at the table, working on more battle plans. Ranka had her head down on the table, while she listened to her sibling a bit before speaking. "So I bet that call made Akane happy huh." Ranma-chan rubbed at the back of her head some, looking a bit flustered. " Ah yeah.. anyways I want to be able to conquer the ice." Ranka gave her attention to what she was saying. " I'm aware." Ranma-chan sighed with her hand to her face. " Do you think we're done with being punished?" Ranka sat up some as she fiddled with her gem necklace. " That" is hard to say." Ranma-chan huffed with her arms crossed. " Well it's bull, we didn't do nothing.." Ranka shrugged her shoulders. " It" happens." Ranma-chan tightened her fist. " Boy wouldn't I love to serve it right back" She then got an idea from what she said as she smirked as they went telepathic to talk more.

Ranma-chan hehed. (" That's exactly what we should do, go pay a visit to "the demon wench" and do her like she did US!") Ranka looked off the other way some. ( " I'm all for serving it up when we're attacked but..") Ranma-chan furrowed her brow at her. ( "Oh cmon you know she deserves it.") Ranka looked thoughtful for a second before she replied back ( " Oh I'm not disagreeing. It's just likely she won't get in trouble for it, not to mention if she did get suspended, she'd have all that time to come after us..") Ranma-chan looked annoyed. ( " I don't care I still want to knock her block off..") Ranka nodded in agreement as they got up from the floor, going off to their own beds for the night.

Ranka shut her eyes as she laid back all tucked in, as she put her hand to her red gem necklace as she communicated with it, with a sad tone. ( " So "this" is how it has to be..") Ranka's inner voice responded back as the gem lit up some. ( " It is, there's no turning back, and you know that, so don't you dare falter!") Ranka let out a deep sigh. ( "I just wish it didn't have to be..") The other voice replied back in a solemn but stern tone ( "It has to be, Ivory made her own grave, once she allowed herself to be corrupted and you know it. "We" tried to help her and it didn't work, being nice doesn't work, she is our enemy now, that's the way it is and it's going to be.")

Before the alarm had a chance to go off, Nodoka woke them both up and pretty abruptly. " You may not have school for a few days, but I still expect you two to get up at the same time for school and to get ready. If you're not downstairs and ready by the usual time, I will be back." She said before she took her leave. Ranka smacked her face flat down into her pillow as she ughed. Ranma-chan yawned as she scratched at her head half awake. Ranka grumbled as she rolled herself out of bed and went off to the bathroom to get ready first.

A few minutes later everyone was downstairs and eating breakfast at the dining table. Ranma-chan finished hers. " I know we're still being punished and all but we still really need to keep practicing for that match." Nodoka hmmed as she contemplated things. " Alright but I expect you two back after 3 hours, or I'll have to add on to your punishments." Ranka waved her hands about nervously. "Trust me, we don't.. want that either.. but we do want to be able to crush this match." Nodoka sighed in defeat, it was hard for her to fend off one child, but with both of them ganging up on her, well that made it much harder. Also with how well versed Ranka could be on things. Ranka put her hands together with big sparklie eyes. "Like how you like to be in top shape for demon hunting, how we trained daily for hours at times, practice pays off." Nodoka shook her head to herself as she was ko ed. " Yes dear, I get it." She took notice that Ranka was wearing sneakers and not her boots. "I'm surprised Ranka dear, that your not wearing your boots." Ranka finished with her drink as she set the glass down on the table, looking frustrated. " I.. don't want to draw, "unwanted" attention to them, they have been targeted after all.."

After cleaning up they took their leave from the house, but instead of going off to the ice rink, they headed off towards Asadaiba to pay back a certain she-devil. Ranka had, had some doubts but resolved them, with the fact that this was important to her sibling. As they neared the school, they split up as they went with the plan of attack, as Ranka made sure she was high up in a tree in wait, while Ranma-chan hid else where, until they both locked on their target.

Ivory eeped as she was caught off guard as Ranka leapt down from above as she launched a kick at her, which she avoided as she jumped away, only for Ranma-chan to charge out from hiding, as she launched a powerful round house kick into her, that sent her flying like a rocket through the side of the building. Ranka had also made sure she had a magical barrier up around the area, so the fight was between the three of them and un seen by the normal eye. Ranma-chan snickered at the damage. " Take that "demon wench! How does it feel?" Ranka had a dull look on her face. " Okay enough already, you knocked her block off, so let's go to ice rink, the clocks ticking.. and I for one do not want to get caught, being somewhere we're not supposed be.. say by chance if mom's taking a walk or going out.." Ranma-chan stopped gloating as she tensed up some. " Ugh.. yeah okay let's get the hell out of here then." They both ran off super fast in a blur, leaving a seething Ivory.

They didn't slow down till they made it to the ice rink. Ranma-chan was in a really good mood as they went off inside to get the borrowed skates to change into. Ranka worked on the laces as she pulled her skates on. " Don't be surprised if "she" retaliates." Ranma-chan worked on getting hers on as well. " Like I said before, "bring it on!" Then she got all excited about talking about plans for the match. " I wanna try to do like this death spin thing." Ranka looked around the ice rink. " I guess it's not such a bad thing that we got suspended then, timing wise, since everyone's in school, the rink's pretty empty."

After they finished with their 3 hour practice window and were walking back, Ranma-chan was pretty tired as well as hungry as she remembered Shampoo's promise. " Hey, let's go have some ramen at Shampoo's." Ranka quirked an eyebrow at her twin. " You're pushing it, you know." Ranma-chan pouted. " I'm fine with that." Ranka shrugged her shoulders as they walked off to the Nekohanten, where they were both greeted by an extra happy Shampoo as she glomped onto one from the other.

Shampoo giggled cutely. " Aiya, both airen's come to see Shampoo." Ranma-chan had a big smile on her face. " Remember you said free ramen for the whole week, right?" Shampoo smirked. " That right." She showed them to a table to have a seat at, before she disappeared really fast and was back as she poured a kettle of hot water over Ranma's head, turning him back into a guy, as she glomped back around him. " And you come to see Shampoo, Shampoo so happy." Ranka watched from across the other side of the table with a blank and un amused look on her face. Shampoo took took it as her being jealous, as she took turns as she glomped back onto Ranka giggling, then a thought occurred to her. " Why you two no in school?" Ranka still had the same look on her face. " We got suspended." Ranma put a hand to his face annoyed. " Yeah thanks to that "demon wench." Shampoo blinked, which Ranka caught onto, figuring out she didn't quite understand. " It means kicked out of school for a few days." Shampoo oohed in response before smiling. " Shampoo be right back with ramen, okay."

Cologne came out from the kitchen as she chuckled and greeted them. " My such trouble makers you two are." Ranma gave her an annoyed look. " Aren't you talking about yourself, old ghoul.." Cologne just laughed in response as she disappeared back to the kitchen, with Shampoo coming out with two bowls of ramen that she sat down on the table. She smiled as she sat down next to Ranma in another chair as she tried to feed him, but was allowed to do that, then she moved on to Ranka as Ranma was busy enjoying the food.

Shampoo took notice that Ranka wasn't wearing her usual boots. " You loose boots again? Do I need to go beat up skater girl again?" Ranka smiled some and waved her hands about. " No their fine, and I get that, it is tempting.." Shampoo smirked as she giggled. " Ranka want to go beat her up, don't you." Ranka laughed a tad for a brief second. Shampoo's eyes sparkled as she took her by her hand. " We go beat up stupid girl together." Ranka looked off flustered. " Don't tempt me.." She sighed as she shuffled one of her feet about. " I might've if I wasn't already in a lot of trouble, well that and I kinda already did a little at the other match."

Ranma gave Shampoo a dull look. " Cmon don't tempt her." He finished off the rest of his ramen, looking happy. Shampoo smiled as she went and got another ramen for him, before sitting back down. Ranma smiled. " Alright!" As he dug into the new bowl. Ranka started in on her own ramen, now that it was cool enough and that she had, had her gem scan it to make sure it was safe.

Once they were done they said their good byes and really started heading back this time for real. Coming around the corner they were met by a blast of cold water that was coming from the hose, that Ivory was holding as she cackled. Ranka put up her defense barrier as soon as the water started to hit, so she didn't get too wet, where Ranma now back to a girl was soaked and furious. " Damn you, "demon wench!" Ivory went directed another full blast of water at the angry red head. "Aww does the " bath toy", not like being a bath toy?" Ranka blocked the path really fast as she stood in front of her sibling with a serious look on her face as the water bounced back off her barrier, blasting Ivory in her own face. She threw it down after that looking pissed. "Onna!" Ranka had a cold look on her face as she glared back at the she-devil. " Demon wench." This caused Ivory to scream and stomp her feet about in anger. While she was busy tantruming, Ranka un clasped her necklace, taking the gem piece off as she stuck it in her pocket. Ranma-chan launched a punch and kick at the distracted she-devil.

While Ivory was distracted with dealing with Ranma, Ranka reappeared behind her, using her necklace's chain as she wrapped it around her neck, clasping the lock as she yanked her by the back of it. As the holy imbued chain connected to her skin it started to burn her making her yell out, as she twisted her head about to see Ranka was holding her by it. "Why you.." With her other hand she grabbed the other necklace with the purple gem, as she channeled her chi and her red gem lit up brightly as her aura flared up, as she crushed the purple gem into her hand with a blank look on her face, as she only let go once the gem was shattered into pieces. Then she retrieved her necklace's chain from around her neck as Ivory fell to the ground, disappearing into thin air.

Ranka fixed her necklace back into the place. Ranma-chan blinked. "What" was that?" Ranka finished fussing with her necklace as she responded. " That" was payback. Why not, she used hers on me, so I just gave it back, though it obviously hurts her way more since it has holy properties. So "demon wench" should be out of action for a little bit, at least." Ranma- chan applauded her sister. "Well, you sure showed "her". Ranka had her arms crossed as they resumed walking back home. " Well she started it and asked for it."

Nodoka greeted them as they came back, with today punishments a bit more lax, as she made them deal with making dinner, with her supervising from the side line. They both came up with simple dishes as they all enjoyed the meal together, then dealing with the clean up. The rest of the evening was spent watching a romantic movie or two, before heading to bed.

The next day went by as they went and had their practice time at the rink, then coming back home to face what their mother had in store for them, for today. Nodoka smiled as she greeted them from coming back from their practice. "Welcome back you two. Tomorrow's a big day since you'll both be going back to school, so you have to make a good impression." Ranka groaned, as she had a feeling what she was going on about and she was right as she heard her mother say they needed to each bake an apology cake up, for the principal and the vice principal. Ranma-chan looked frustrated at hearing that. " Why do I gotta?" Nodoka gave her a stern look. " Because it's the right thing to do, now no more complaining and get started on them."

Ranma-chan looked annoyed as she scratched at her head. Ranka showed her what she needed to use and what to do. Ranma-chan followed directions as she was stirring the bowl of ingredients together. " That was pretty simple, boy Akane make's it seem like it's the end of world." Ranka had a blank look on her face as she worked on her mix. " That's because it is simple.. " She would've said something about that, but knew from her last slip up, it was best not to talk about how bad Akane was about cooking, at all, or she'd get an earful from her mother.

Then once the cakes were set up and baking in the oven, the siblings took a break with some video game time until they were all done and cooled enough to frost and put away. After doing all that Ranma-chan excused herself and went off upstairs to take a bath, as Ranka and Nodoka started working on dinner. Ranma came down in time for dinner as they had a peaceful dinner. After that Ranma played his game awhile, while his sister and mother were cleaning up. Then they watched some tv for a bit, before going off to bed.

Finally it was a school day again for them, although it was one where their mother occupied them to school, making sure they delivered the "apology cakes" to the principal and vice principal, before they parted ways and went off to their classroom. While they had escaped any dealings with Kuno, they couldn't escape the commotion that was going around the classroom. Hiroshi held up a poster, of the golden pair and of their new challengers, Ranka and Ranma-chan. " Hey Ranma, is this true?" Ranma grumbled as he grabbed it from him and crumpled it up. " Where'd you get that?!" Daisuke piped in. " Their all over the place."

The girls were fussing over Ranka. " Wow so you're going up against Mikado again?" Another girl had her hand to her face. " I don't know why you won't just let him kiss you." Ranka wrinkled her nose up at that girl. " Clearly.. YOU have.." A lot of the girl's giggled with their hands to there faces. Ukyou gagged from her seat. "Ugh.." Thrista sweat dropped at the number of girls that were all heart eyed. Sayuri sighed. " A lot of girls have been, or well they let themselves be.." Akane looked annoyed at the numbers. " He's definitely relentless.. so I don't blame you for fighting back,extra hard." Ranka sighed as she sat down at her desk. " Soon class started as the teacher calmed down the hyper girls in the class.

Soon it was time for gym class, as the girls entered the locker room. Ranka gave a smirk at Akane. " You must've had fun while I was gone." Akane looked down to the ground, looking a bit sheepish. " No, not really.. I mean, I like that we split up the task." Ranka titled her head at her. " Huh, and here I thought you wanted all the glory." Akane tensed up some. " Well I.. don't, okay." Ranka put her hands up in defense. " Okay, I get it." They then split off and checked everyone's lockers for any signs of foul play, before everyone started to get changed.

As they were working on lacing their gym shoes up on the bench, Akane couldn't help but address things. "I know that I've said some not so nice things about you.. in the past, before I really knew you. I mean.. I had no idea how horrible it was for you.." She started to get teary eyed, which caused Ranka to wave her hands about nervously. " Hey now, it's okay, don't get yourself all upset. It's like I told you before, it's in the past, don't let it bother you." She then blinked some. " Why are you acting like you know, what I went through anyways huh?"

She pulled out a hankie from her bag as she handed it over to Akane as she went back to finishing up with her shoe laces. Akane dabbed at her eyes some. " Well I.. I had this awful dream a few nights ago and I can't stop thinking about it.. I was you.." Ranka found it odd. " Well you should stop thinking about it." Akane dabbed a bit more at her eyes as she tried to calm herself down. " But it felt so real.." Ranka sighed as she left the locker room looking annoyed, before coming back in a few minutes later, having gone and told the teacher that Akane wasn't feeling well and she'd take her to the nurses office. " Cmon Akane, you should go lay down and calm yourself down, since you can't seem to easily do that." She took her by her hand as she led her off to the nurse's office and got her all set up on a bed.

Akane sighed as she sniffled while she was lying down. Ranka sat with her for a few minutes. " Take as much time as you need Akane, until you can calm down." She thought about it for a minute, as she remembered Satan had inflicted punishment upon Akane for not sticking to things. That might be why she was such a mess she thought to herself as she left the nurses office and went back to the locker room to finish up.

Thrista was finishing up with her shoe laces as well. " Is Akane alright?" Ranka finished up with her and gave her an annoyed look. " I dunno, is she?" She said as she quirked an eyebrow at her accusingly. Thrista blinked. " What are you saying, it's my fault?" Ranka annoyance turned into a more serious look. " Well.. you have let it slip that you are part demon and you just put yourself up as a suspect.." She got up in her face a bit. " So what kind of power or powers do you have? It's no use hiding it, I'm on to you." Thrista smiled a bit nervously as she made sure they were the only ones still in the locker room. "Seems like I've been caught.."

Ranka pointed at her accusingly. " Ahah so it was YOU! What.. did you do to Akane.. something with her mind because she's a mess over some dream she had days ago." Thrista put her hands up in defense. " I didn't mean anything by it.. " Ranka had a dead serious look on her face. "Thrista.. you better start talking…" Her gem lit up bright red, showing how angry she was getting. Thrista eeped as she bowed her head. " I have powers that I can use with the mind and dreams.. so I just wanted Akane to understand your side a bit more and she does, since she had a walk in your shoes."

Ranka tightened her fist. " And HOW would you know about MY side?! I don't recall telling you everything.. or did you just help yourself.." Thrista looked more nervous as she sweated. " I'm what you would call a mind manipulator.. or mind melder.." Ranka angry aura flared around her. " So you DID help yourself to MY mind!" She growled at the pink and blue haired girl before her. Thrista shielded herself with her arms. "I did for a good cause!" Ranka gave her a pretty rough whack to her head. " Mind your own business and stay out of MY mind and my friends and families or else… you'll get more than a whack to your head." She then took her leave from the locker room as she hurried off to where the class was.

Ranma at seeing his sister over on the girls side felt relieved but also annoyed as he shot her a telepathic message. ( " Were you trying to skip again?") Ranka was busy doing a work out routine with the other girls as she replied back ( " Nope, apparently Thrista is a mind manipulator and I had to take Akane to the nurse, because she's stuck on this dream, that Thrista messed with..") Hearing that caused Ranma to loose his concentration on his task as he was doing push ups on the bar, making him let go and fall on his butt.

Akane showed up closer to the class ending, as the girls went off to the locker room, where they checked the lockers first again, so the other girls felt safe enough to change. Ranka quirked an eyebrow at Akane as they changed. " You sure you're feeling better?" Akane blushed some as she played with some of her hair. " I'm doing a lot better. Thanks.. for sticking up for me when I was sick.. you know.." Ranka gave her a dull look as she gave her a gentle jab to her arm. Akane owwed a bit as she rubbed at her arm. " What was that for?" She said questioningly. Ranka wrinkled up her nose at her. " You do remember I said when you weren't sick, you'd be hearing it." Akane pouted some as she rubbed more at her arm. " Hear it, not feel it!" She in a bit of an annoyed tone. Ranka rolled her eyes at her as she pulled her shoes on. " I barely touched you."

Akane pulled on her socks, followed by her shoes as she was starting to get annoyed with Ranka. "Here I was trying to say something nice, but you went and proved me wrong." She hmpfed as she grabbed her things and took her leave from the locker room in a huff.

Soon it was lunch time and they had opted to having lunch up on the roof top this time. Thrista laid down a large picnic blanket, for them all to sit on, as she opened up two of her large layered bento boxes. " Everyone help yourselves." Sayuri was happily watching Ranka eating the one she made for her, as well as Akane. Ranka went through her bag, pulling out the different rocks and sea shells as she handed them out to the girls. "Before I forget, souvenirs from the beach." Hiroshi was pouting to himself as he watched. " Maybe I wanted one too." He owwed as Ranma gave him a fast and quick jab with his elbow, to his arm, with an annoyed look.

Classes came and went by as the last bell for the day went off, with everyone getting ready to leave for the day. Ranka cleaned out inside her desk, as she crumpled up all the love letters into a giant paper ball. Thrista frowned at seeing that. " You know you could just go and tell them no and it's not just guy's sending them." Ranka had a stern look on her face. " That's way too dangerous." She went off with Ukyou, as she tossed the balled up paper ball into a trash can, as they went by. Once outside, Ranma went off with Akane aside the building, so that they were alone as he gave her the sea shell from the beach.

Ukyou could tell what was going on as she grumbled some, but couldn't be too jealous, since she had gotten one from Ranka. She leaned back against the tree. " So, why were you and Ranma huney not in school for a few days?" Ranka looked down at the ground as she kicked her foot at the dirt on the ground. " Ivory sent the both of us, flying through the school walls, literally.. and then the pipes got hit and yeah we got suspended for a few days." Ukyou wrinkled up her nose at hearing that. " Jeez that girl doesn't know when to quit."

Akane was all flustered but also smiling at the fact that Ranma had gotten her a shell from the beach. Of course she still slugged him on his arm. Ranma owwed as she rubbed at his arm. "What the hell? I just gave you a shell, what was it not good enough?" Akane hmpfed with her arms crossed. " That's right it's not, because maybe.. I wanted to go to the beach too.." Ranma sweat dropped, looking weirded out, it was like Ranka had said, how she'd be upset she wasn't invited. He rubbed at his head annoyed since he had giving her a souvenier and she still seemed mad. "It was my mom's idea okay and pretty last minute." Akane huffed as she stormed off. "Whatever Ranma." She said good bye to others as she left the school yard, after walking a ways away, she admired the two pretty shells in her hand, that she got from Ranka and Ranma with a smile.

After saying their goodbye's they took their own leave from the school yard. Ranma looked annoyed with his hands in his pockets as they walked. " Hey, I thought you said a souvenir make it so she wasn't mad." Ranka hmmed as they walked. "I didn't say she wouldn't get mad, it's Akane we're talking about after all, but I bet she didn't get really mad, since you thought of her." Ranma blinked as he realized what she said was true. " Huh.. I guess so. So, that girl has powers huh.." He said as he was referring to Thrista. Ranka nodded with her arms crossed. " Yep.." She jumped back at seeing a figure blocking their way.

Chriss smirked as she flicked her hair back. " Hey to you too." Ranka gave her a serious look. " What do YOU want?" Chriss pulled the yakuza jacket she had slung over her shoulder off and showed it off. " How's this, instead of the hat?" Ranka curled her lip. " I'm not taking any thing that you're offering, and that's another item from the former boss, isn't it?" Chriss nodded as she hehed. " Cmon it'll look nice on you." Ranka grumbled at her in annoyance. " I'm NOT wearing that either!" While the two were bickering back and forth, like the hat, Ranma grabbed the jacket from the blonde girl, putting it on. " There, problem solved, now stop bugging my sister.."

Ranka wrinkled up her nose. " I can't believe you just put that on.." Chriss laughed at him. " Well good enough, I'll see you around." She then took off in a flash. Ranma sweat dropped as he shrugged his shoulders.

No sooner had the blonde haired girl left, Genma was walking back from the cafe, as he spotting them. He charged over, before he bowed down with his head on the ground in front of Ranka. " Ranka, won't you please forgive you're father?" Ranka curled her lip at him in response. " What, you want another cake, is that it?" Genma lifted his head as he shook it back and forth, as he sprung up and took her hands into his hands with sparkling eyes. " I want to make up with you Ranka, I'll do anything you want my dear." Ranma rolled his eyes at his dad with his arms crossed. " You just want more cake, don't ya pops."

Ranka pulled her hands out from his hold as fast as he held them, with a cold expression on her face. " That's funny, that's not what you were saying before.." Genma went back to bowing and scraping. "I was wrong, can't you see that my dear?" He then addressed Ranma with an angry look. " That is not why!"

Ranka crossed her arms as she looked thoughtful for a minute. "So, you'll really do anything to be forgiven?" Genma nodded furiously. Ranma got a dead serious look on her face. " Alright old man, I'll forgive you IF you subject yourself to throwing yourself into a pitt full of starving cats, just like you did to Ranma, otherwise buzz off." Genma sweated nervously at having that be the ultimatum, trying to play on her empathy. " Maybe, something else? I'm no spring chicken anymore, I could hurt myself doing such a thing."

Ranka got up into his face with the same dead serious look and her arms crossed. "Nope, that's the ONLY way I'll accept you. Oh please, you're just trying to weasel out of it." Genma panicked as he kept trying. "I didn't know at the time that it was banned, how is that fair to make me do such a dangerous training technique.." Ranka laughed at him in an annoyed tone. " Yet.. you still made your son do it. You're just a big fat chicken, and if you're not going to do it, we're done here." She started walking off.

Genma tried to get some sympathy from Ranma before the tried to leave. " Please boy, I'm begging you, can't you get her to change her mind?" He was hanging off his son and blubbering. Ranma tried to pull him off looking annoyed. "You heard her, she's NOT going to change her mind and I can't make her, like you seem to think I can." Genma pouted. " You think the same, and she does seem to listen to you, so help your poor father out." Ranma yanked him off him. " I know she won't on "this", so it's all on you pops." He ran off, catching up with Ranka, who looked furious.

Author's notes: Another chapter finished, hope you all enjoy. Now time to work on the next chapter.

I do not own Ranma 1/2 or any of it's characters, Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video do.