Chapter Seven: Blessed With a Curse

Ranma

"There!" Ranma groaned as he collapsed onto his futon, pulled out of Genma's room and into Akane's. Why did nobody tell me shopping would be so exhausting? That, and running into Ryoga… What a weird day.

Crossing his arms behind his head, he sighed as he stared at the ceiling. He almost hadn't changed back into a boy in the furo – it was just so much more comfortable to sleep on a futon when he actually fit. Nothing against the Tendos, but the futon he was using was clearly supposed to be for a kid. He had slept on far worse, but he wasn't one to turn down other people's generosity.

Damn it, I'm doing it again!

Mentally, he slapped himself – what was wrong with him? All day, at the shopping mall, when they met Ryoga, there had been a little voice at the back of his head. Wouldn't the shopping be so much better as a girl? Wouldn't confronting Ryoga have been easier as a girl? Wouldn't talking to Akane go much smoother as a girl?

Ranma hated it. It was just another part of the curse, and he wouldn't let the magic win. He was stronger than that; he was the strongest martial artist of his generation! He was a man among men, and he would fight it tooth and nail until he found a cure. He would ignore the longing, the emptiness. It was all just a part of the curse.

Is it really a curse? What if I just want to be a girl, now that I can? What if it's a gift?

Shut up! Don't think like that!

Ranma wanted to jump off of the futon and run out to the dojo, but for some reason, he couldn't picture himself actually doing it unless he was in his girl form.

The chipped white paint on his fiancee's ceiling seemed bleaker and bleaker the longer he watched it. What the hell is wrong with me?

The door opened as Akane slipped into the room. Her hair hung loosely over her pajamas, freshly blow-dried. Setting her bow on the vanity and throwing her clothes into the laundry, she flopped onto her bed. "Never going shopping again," she mumbled to her stuffed animals.

"I kind of enjoyed it, actually."

"Oh, shut up!" A pink teddy bear hit Ranma in the face. He laughed, pulling it off and wrapping his arms around it.

"Y'know, I've never really done this before."

"Whad'ya mean?" Akane asked as she buried herself in her sheets.

Waving his hand, Ranma said, "Any of this, really. Guys in middle school used to talk about having sleepovers and stuff to play video games and pull all-nighters, but I never really was invited. Guess I'm just saying I'm glad you let me sleep in here, 'stead of the dojo."

"Course I let you sleep in here, you're my friend. Only downside is Nabs will make fun of us and Dad'll probably cry about joining the schools or something, but I don't care about them." Akane poked the chin off the edge of the mattress. "Plus, you're pretty much the only guy my age I've met who hasn't been a complete pervert, so I don't mind."

She turned the light out, and the quiet buzz of cicadas was all Ranma could hear. "Hey, Akane?"

"Yeah?"

"Yesterday, when I was being a jerk… I'm sorry, again. I was thinking about it-"

Akane cut him off with a snort. "You, thinking about things."

"No, really I-"

"Ranma, nobody's going to judge you for sitting with us. Seriously, that was my fault for getting mad," Akane said, laughing to herself. "I haven't had my therapist for very long, actually."

"Seems about right."

She chucked another stuffed animal at him, which he batted to the side. "Shut up! You had been here for a week, and I was still furious at Daddy for engaging us. Genma was being, well, Genma, loafing around and all that. So, one day, I was in the furo, and he walked in without knocking."

"You beat the shit out of him, didn't you."

Akane cracked her knuckles. "And now I have anger management therapy once a week."

Ranma sat up and stared at her. "What? He was being a pervert, how is that fair? 'Sides, Pops always deserves a good beat down."

"Well, I sorta used your ventilator to do it, and Nabiki said it was either that or she would make me pay for it..."

"Idiot."

The silence was comfortable as Ranma slowly drifted off to sleep, burying deeper into his covers. For a moment, he had been worried sleeping in Akane's room was going to be weird and awkward, but it wasn't. If anything, he felt way more comfortable knowing Genma wasn't breathing down his back. "Goodnight, 'Kane," he murmured, pulling the bear closer to his chest.

"'night, Ranma."

Akane

Akane pulled her cardigan tighter around her nightgown, the crisp morning air chilling out the last hints of warmth from her bed. Bare feet sinking into the dewy grass, she crossed the garden with quiet purpose. Stopping just short of the dojo door, she carefully slid it open and leaned against the wooden frame. Let's see… I'll bet he's in here.

Sure enough, Ranma was busy working his way through a kata, punching and kicking his way across the dojo. His new shirt fit him perfectly, hugging his frame and accenting his blue eyes. She smiled as he finished his routine and noticed her, waving her over. "Good morning, Ranma!" she called, walking up to him.

"Mornin'. I didn't wake ya up, did I?" he asked, letting his fists relax.

"It's okay, a bit of movement is better than you and Genma shouting," Akane said.

Ranma grinned sheepishly before settling down onto the dojo floor. "Guess so. Wonder whether Ryoga made it through the night or not."

"Why wouldn't he?" She settled down next to him, leaning back as they watched the peaceful garden.

"My curse might be bad, but I got nothin' on him," he said, staring warily at the koi pond. "Back in middle school, he would get lost on his way to the bathroom, so Teach made me lead him around all the time. I would walk him home and stuff."

Akane looked at him, wondering about the distant look in his eyes. That was the same look he had last night too… "That was sweet of you."

"Nah, he was my friend. No big deal, really. Ya know, I can't wait 'till he cools down so we can talk again, or spar even. He's pretty good, but I'm still the best." He puffed his chest out in pride, watching Genma's window for signs of life.

"So coming from you, that means he's basically inhuman."

"Well, even I had trouble lifting that umbrella, so yeah." A light flickered on in Nabiki's room, bells from the nearby church ringing out seven tolls. "Hey, Akane?"

"Yeah?"

"You know, your hair looks nice down like that. Why don't you ever wear it down?"

A bird took flight from the fence, chirping lightly as it rejoined its flock hovering above. What? Her hand automatically went to her hair, which she hadn't bothered to brush and put in its bow before she had followed Ranma outside. Instead, it fell over both shoulders and down her back. "R-Ranma-" He watched her quizzically, and she stared back for a moment before she realized it was out of confusion.

Idiot! He has no idea what you're thinking, it was just a compliment. Of course it would be just a compliment, coming from him. As if to reinforce her thoughts, he asked, "Akane, are you okay? Your face got all weird and red."

Sighing, she shook her head and smiled at him. Even if he doesn't see it, he still meant it… "Thank you, your new shirt looks really nice too."

"Ya think? I really gotta thank Yuka somehow, wonder if I could do something for lunch today… C'mon, let's go get ready." He jumped to his feet and stretched. "I'll wake up Pig Boy, maybe he'll tag along. He is our age, after all."

She took the hand he offered to her, laughing as he pulled her up. "He'll probably pay even less attention in class than you do!"

"I still don't get why I need ta learn algebra to be a martial artist, though," he grumbled as they walked back across the lawn.

"Who knows..." Akane shivered as a cold gust blew through the air. Suddenly, Ranma wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"There, is that warmer?" he asked. "Why didn'tcha get dressed before you went outside?"

She flushed, looking away from her fiance. Begrudgingly, she knew he was right – blowing up at him would just push her back out into the cold air. Ranma was really warm, too, and his new shirt was soft as it pressed against her sleeveless arms. No, I'm supposed to hate him! Why does he have to be so damn nice to me? "You woke me up at six fifteen in the morning, I wanted to see what you were doing."

"And what exactly were you doing?"

Ranma and Akane jumped apart as Nabiki looked up from her magazine at them. "Nothing!" Akane exclaimed.

"Whaddya mean?" Ranma asked. "I was doin' my katas, real martial artists practice every day!" He winced as Akane slugged his arm. "Of course, that's just a suggestion, I mean-"

"He doesn't get it, does he?" Nabiki said to Akane as Ranma kept babbling excuses, and she shook her head and sighed.

"How are you, Nabs?"

"I'm… fine," she responded, pressing her face closer to the magazine. Ranma and Akane exchanged a skeptical glance, but said nothing about it. Knowing my sister, she probably has some crazy scheme cooked up.

Kasumi walked over to the table and set a tray filled with food down in the center of the table. "Breakfast, everyone!"

When Ryoga stumbled into the kitchen, he found Ranma and the Tendo girls happily chatting around the table. "Ryoga dear, how did you sleep?" Kasumi asked, getting up to allow him to sit.

"Um… I slept good, I guess." He wavered uncertainly in the doorway, looking around the full table.

Akane pushed her empty bowl out in front of her. "Alright, I'm gonna go get changed. Ryoga, you should sit down." She pushed herself to her feet and walked past him to her bedroom. Uncertainly, Ryoga settled down at the table and served himself, staring down at his food.

"So, Ryoga, what are you going to do now?" Kasumi asked as she sat back down in Akane's spot.

"Um..." He shrugged, then jolted with surprise as Ranma slung his arm around his shoulder.

"Why don'tcha come to school with me 'n Akane?" he said with a grin. "It'll be just like old times!"

Ryoga rolled his eyes and shoved him off. "You mean, you stealing my lunch bread?"

"I won that fair and square!"

He laughed, before shaking his head and sighing. "No, look… I- I was thinking about it last night, but I think I just need more time. To myself, you know?" They ate in silence for a bit, then he put his bowl down and got up. "Thank you for the meal and everything, but I think I'm going to go now."

"Ya sure?" Ryoga nodded, and Ranma grinned back. "Well, it's good to see ya, Ryoga. Good luck getting home."

The other boy cracked a small smile. "I'll need it, won't I?" Picking up his umbrella and his pack, he turned and headed for the door. He hesitated at the threshold, searching for words but not knowing what to say.

"Ryoga, you're welcome back here anytime sweetie. We would never turn away one of Ramna's friends," Kasumi said.

"Right, well… bye, I guess," Ryoga muttered, then slipped out the door. Ranma waved as the door closed, feeling slightly sorry for his friend. He was probably already lost; who knows how long it would take him to get back home?

I wonder whether we'll see him again?

[A/N] Happy 2018 everybody! I hope everyone had a great holidays and new year, and I'm excited to take this story into this year :)

Thank you to Hiroshi Coyote, guest, James Birdsong, Ergoemos, and Nayru-dom for reviewing! Your feedback means the world to me

Signing out, Allie

[Edit 2/11/18] Grammar