-AN-

I've been having a blast with this story, but perhaps a little to much fun that I've neglected some basic proof reading and the like. I'll be going back and editing some things in the previous chapters so new chapters might take a little longer.

We still have some fun to get to however, so let's see how Ranma is handling life.

-Story Start-

Ranma liked to think he was a adaptable individual. In fact that was what the core of his martial arts school was all about. Being able to adapt and use ones skills to any and all situations. As such when life threw him curve balls he should normally have no problems knocking them out of the park. However….

A whiny voice was calling out to him, "Ranma! My back is sore, can I get a massage later?" This was Usagi, on his couch, in a tank top and shorts. Why was she on his couch in a tank top and shorts while reading Manga? Because in her words school restarted soon and she wanted to enjoy what downtime she had left. so here she was on a Sunday, on his couch.

From the kitchen, a purple haired and red eyed beauty leaned into view while wielding a ladle, "Don't forget I'm making lunch so don't get to distracted!" While the lighter purple almost pink apron was a nice touch, her insistence on walking around the house in just her gym wear was new. She disappeared back into the kitchen before a nosebleed could hit the boy, but it was going to come anyway.

"Hey Ranma! Can you toss me my bag with my soaps? I forgot to bring it up!" Akane was at the top of the stairs clad in a towel and holding a hand out with an expecting look. She shifted her weight which, in his opinion, did something interesting to the muscles in her legs. He always liked her legs. It was part of why he called her thick as a brick so often.

Now why were these three girls in his home and doing their best to provoke him into a series of actions that would probably get him killed or married? Well that one was pretty easy as you see his mother had decided after beating the tar out of his father and forcing him to promise to reform himself, that they would be spending this Sunday searching for a job for the man. Usa had gone along as she had been convinced it would be more fun with grandparents that would spoil her and get her ice cream if she was good. That however meant Ranma was here at home, only with 3 very well formed women, and wondering just how this had happened. Someone was plotting against him he was sure.

Coming through the front door in a rush now, the last member of the house was tossing off her shoes, "Hey is the bath free? I had an emergency and need to get back to the shop!" Ukyo was already on her way up the stairs, a shirt hastily tossed off and landing on Ranma's face. Under the smell of cooking oil was something like lavender, or maybe peaches? Ranma couldn't tell at the moment, as the normal had crashed and needed to reboot. Which when it did, Ranma tossed up his hands.

"Okay, house meeting! Everyone to the living room!" Tossing Ukyo her enticingly scented shirt without looking at her he marched himself into the room before standing before the tv. He waited while all manner of shuffling, muted curses, and finally everyone settling down before he turned around to address them all together.

Pointing at a smirking Shampoo Ranma got started, "What's going on? I know you're up to something."

Looking around as if surprised, Shampoo made eye contact with each of the girls before landing back on her love, "What Ranma mean? Just making lunch."

It was Akane who shrugged next as the finger moved her way, "I mean I was just going to take a bath after my morning run, and m-mother did say I could visit whenever I wanted." Still getting used to calling Nodoka mother instead of aunty as per the older woman's request, but her argument seemed innocent enough.

Ukyo just shrugged, still in a bra and her skirt and tights, "I got splashed with some ingredients at work and decided I should clean up before heading back. And I actually live here too." Crossing her arms under her bust the young business owner was the picture of someone upset with being interrupted and in a hurry.

As Ranma's eyes turned to Usagi however the blonde only shrugged and held up her manga, "I'm lazy and I wanted a lazy day with someone I like who would actually pay attention to me." Hearing the other girls groan as she gave up the game she proceeded to whine and toss her hair back and forth, "I'm gonna be to busy soon to come by whenever and relax. Between school, magic training, and all my Queen duties, I won't get any rest! So I wanna be pampered and lazy as much as I can till then."

Rolling his eyes with a smile Ranma could at least understand where Usagi was coming from. It was a lot to deal with and was pretty scary if one thought about it. Which he wasn't going to. "So just to be clear, we're all being lazy and taking advantage of the fact that I said I would actually try to figure this out?" Seeing several nods Ranma himself sighed, "Why do I get the feeling you all had a talk without me?"

It was everyone who looked at Shampoo first as she was the more, liberal, of them all. "I already explain amazon way. Strongest man to be cherished, shared with battle sisters." It was here that she pulled Ukyo and Akane into hugs, "Closest friends I have here. We fight against and for each other so many times. I trust with my life. Wouldn't give that up. Amazon allow for me to share my love, so if that means I don't lose you, I willing to share." Giving a look to Usagi however had her tone changing towards annoyance just a bit, "Never fight with the klutz however."

Usagi shrugged, "You're welcome to join us if you're anything like Ranma. Even though the youma attacks have been going away lately they are still around. Plus, technically I've saved the world, twice now I think. Kill an ancient dark god too."

Akane sighed as she pulled away from the handsy Shampoo, "This is still weird to think about. I mean…" Looking up to the boy who until recently she couldn't even think of admitting her feelings, she now had an easier time of it. "I do love you, Ranma. But the idea of sharing you is something to get used to. I mean, do we take days? Just take what we can get when you're available? How do we make this work?"

Ukyo was of a different mind. Being the sister wasn't so bad if she was being honest. While she did have feelings for Ranma she had never really had a chance to explore other options. She knew now that he would have never been happy running a restaurant with her, just like she wouldn't have wanted to run just a dojo with him. But could love still be there? That was an answer she was looking for, "For me as much fun as this is, it's kinda out of habit. I am a Saotome now, even if just adopted. And I honestly don't know if our lives mesh as well as I had dreamed of." Looking up to her now brother as she smiled weakly, she decided if everyone else was being honest then so too could she be, "I love you as well Ranma. But I'm trying to figure out if it's like a brother or as a lover. And for now I have the energy to figure out the brother part."

Ranma was of the same mind there. While he had gotten used to Ukyo being an actual girl instead of what he had grown up thinking. She was still more friend than lover at the moment and his life's oddities aside that wasn't likely to change short of something drastic happening. "You've been my best friend for a long time Ucchan, that's not going to change no matter what." Which was completely true for him.

Ukyo grinned, "Still doesn't mean I can't tease and mess with you from time to time. You deserve something after stringing us along all this time." Yes she knew that the biggest reason he hadn't chosen anyone was some failed attempt to try and protect everyone's honor. But honestly even she knew that one day some of them were going to have to be hurt. Of course she hadn't wanted it to be her, but with the way he had been looking at Akane sometimes, she kind of knew she was on the chopping block so to speak.

Shampoo nodded and stood with a bounce, hair and chest drawing the boy's attention, "Then everything is settled for now. No schemes like we promised. Just a lazy day with no fighting and spending time together as we can. We figure out how this all works as the days go by." Flipping over the couch to head back to the kitchen the bright girl produced her ladle from her stuff space, "I'm going to finish lunch, so everyone better be hungry." And with that she was gone.

Usagi rolled back onto her stomach and eyed Ranma, "I was serious about my back though, would you please?"

Accepting his fate and spotting the conveniently placed lotion, Ranma started to walk to the girl, "Hai hai, I'll help ya out, but just a back rub."

"O-o-of course just a backrub!" Though mentally she was somewhat fine with a little more. If she had been honest with him a while ago, him tapping into the moon's and therefore her magical lines like he had was much more intimate than merely touching skin. But that was a conversation for much later.

Akane was rising as well, finding and grabbing her toiletry bag. As she made eye contact with a curious Ranma, she seemed to shuffle one way and another before quickly approaching him. She caught him off guard, placing a chaste kiss on his check before bolting upstairs. She'd have to work up her nerve for the future, and she still had a lot of work to do, but she was willing to do it.

Pausing mid step where Akane had caught him, he was also unprepared for the hug that he received from Ukyo as she stood from the couch. After a short but peaceful moment of having her soft body pressed against his, Ukyo was giggling and walking away, "Guess I'll go see if Akane wouldn't mind sharin' the bath. See ya later sugar." And then she too was gone up the stairs.

Usagi however had already shimmied her shirt up to the shoulders to expose her bare back while she kicked her feet idly. A good manga and a back rub? All she needed now was a plate of cookies and this would be perfect. And as Ranma finally unfroze himself, she let out a soft moan as his warm hands started to work the lotion into her skin.

"Okay, one rule at least. If I'm gonna give you a back rub, you can't moan like that." Hands already on autopilot he could tell that she had probably needed to stretch and massage out her back for a while but had neglected it. He wasn't going to mention anything at all about the no bra, or the heavy breathing she was now guilty of. Instead he would just focus on her back muscles and soft skin. Nothing else.

"I'll try but you're really good at this." Arcing her back just slightly, she enjoyed the sensation of a particularly hard knot being pressed just right, "OH I'll do anything to keep getting this in the future."

Why oh why were women's voices not considered a deadly weapon? If Ranma knew her voice could do that when experiencing pleasure, well…He wasn't sure, but he was beginning to see that he was at least learning something about himself today. Now trying to divide his focus from his hands to his own breathing and controlling his chi, he was going to do everything he could to drown his grown libido. Sure they had all agreed today was just a lazy day but he didn't want to temp anyone into trying to drag him away from the others in his moment of weakness. Even if Usagi was currently winning that race by doing absolutely nothing.

Sighing as strong hands trailed along her lower back Usagi was no longer paying attention to her book. Oddly her mind latched onto something that Minako had asked the other day. "Ranma?" Hearing the man hum in response let her continue, "Have you tried mingling your chi with other people? Besides the accident with me last week?" She was curious if the sensations were the same as what they felt together, or if it would even be the same if they did it now without her transformed.

He shook his head however, "Outside of a fight now. Happosai taught me how to absorb chi, but mingling it like then isn't something I've tried with someone else." balling up his first and using his knuckles on her, he grinned as the topic was something he could focus on. "Why're you askin?"

"Mmmm, I was curious if it would be different without me transformed. Wanna try it?" Her control over her magic was getting better, and Setsuna had promised to really work with her to improve it. But right now she had her own experiment to perform.

"Well uh…." He did have access to bare skin and she was asking. This shouldn't be anything like tapping into her with her full power active. "Sure, I can give it a shot." Letting his hands do their thing, Ranma closed his eyes while he began to circulate a small amount of chi in his hands. Then ever so slowly he began to exude that into the young woman under him.

While Ranma was doing this Usagi herself was searching for that familiar feeling inside her. The flow of energy that made her so much different from everyone else. She didn't want or need all of it right now so like Setsuna had told her to she only pulled on as small an amount as she could. She let it flow through her and then, let Ranma touch it.

Just as before Ranma was hit with a wall of emotions and feelings. He was somewhat correct in that it wasn't as powerful as on the moon, but this young woman was just a fountain of energy. And they connected and meshed together with almost no effort, being themselves, and yet coming together into someone more. There was no sense of losing himself here, or of losing track of time. Though after feeling the both of them dip into feelings best left for later, with almost a gentle caress did Ranma pull away from the intoxicating woman underneath him. No wonder girl's wanted to be magical princesses if they could feel like that all the time.

Only slightly put out that they were just getting to the good part, Usagi still laid in contentment as she was able to experience something so wonderful with someone who would normally be so far removed from what her normal life would allow. Turning on her side to look at him she had nothing but a smile for him, "You're amazing."

Nodding Ranma reached forward to gently pull her shirt down, "You're a magical Queen with literal god killing power. I think you have me beat."

Only now realizing the heady daze that surrounded her mind at the moment, she would have to be careful about these little sessions, "A few more of those and we'll probably be able to share actual deep memories and emotions, not just the surface stuff." She'd have to talk to Setsuna as well so she could be some improvement pointers.

Ranma tussled the girl's hair and stood, heading to the kitchen while moving the tv remote into easy reach of her. "Talking works too you know."

"I have magic, everything else in invalid."

Rolling his eyes as he walked away he finally had a second to adjust his pants, just a few moments more and they'd be finding out if Usa was their first or not. Shaking that thought free of his head, along with the memory of an older Usagi clad in a swim suit, Ranma came into the kitchen to spy a humming Shampoo working the stove top. "Need a hand?"

Shampoo with her hair tied back gave a shake, more than her hair jiggling and grabbing his attention, "Not right now, but maybe Ranma would like to talk?"

Ranma nodded as he leaned against the counter next to her but out of her way, "Sure, what's up?"

Shampoo was stirring something that looked a lot like ramen but her eyes were elsewhere, "I think I may have been a little harsh with Mousse. Duck boy like me for a long time. Maybe I could have been nicer about telling him to leave me along."

Ranma couldn't speak on it with his own biased opinion. The guy had tried to literally kill him on multiple occasions. However something told the boy that this wasn't Shampoo needing answers, but more a young princess looking to vent for a moment. "Do you think you could have let him down gently?"

"Amazons no do gentle. He no get hint when asked. He no get hint when he lose. He know get hint when he pounded into dirt. No perhaps I did what I needed to short of asking the council too get involved. But that would have been a failing on my part as well and not what a new council member need." Shampoo was thinking about the village politics and the games they played. If only those games didn't affect the rest of the village sometimes.

"Well if you did what you needed to, that's that then isn't it?" Again, the new Ranma was willing to ask questions and listen. It wasn't the time to solve a problem.

Shampoo sighed and went to work for a moment, cutting vegetables and meat which were added to the pot along with several small dishes of spices. Then she was back to stirring and thinking, "You'd think so. But so many times before I thought I was rid of him, and then he'd find he was back. There are many many women in the village who would actually love him. I don't fully understand why he only set on me, besides that I'm being groomed to be a councilwoman in the future, and possibly the head of the tribe." Shampoo finally shook her head, "I just happy you listen to me. I meant what I say, I need someone who let me choose and be myself. You let me do that Airen. That's why you perfect."

"No one's perfect, especially me."

Sultry eyes turned to the boy, "You perfect to me as you are. Boy type or girl type." Shampoo understood that more than enough and was comfortable with herself. The shell was nothing important, only who was there inside.

Taken slightly aback as he usually was with her, Ranma could appreciate the honesty Shampoo lived her life with. Hopefully one day he could do the same. "Well thank you, for seeing the best in me, guess I gotta live up to it."

Shampoo nodded and turned back to the food, "I'm almost done, you let everyone know food ready and come to kitchen." Stretching out provocatively, bending over and pushing her back end out, she looked over her shoulder at the departing boy, "Unless you want a distraction?"

"Never change Shampoo." Deep breaths Ranma, deep breaths. She is only doing what she usually does. Throwing the mental image of Shampoo's pert backside into his mind's lock box and tossing the key away, Ranma retreated from the kitchen and saw Usagi napping and lightly snoring on the couch. Deciding he'd tell her last to let her nap a little bit, he was up the stairs. He admired the art work along the hallway as he went, a smile on his face as he noticed his mother's signature on the bottom corner of all of them. He felt guilty that she had spent so much time alone here in this house, though from now on he was resolving to make sure she wasn't left alone again. So while it was stressful to live with all of the girls now, at least he knew secretly that his mom was enjoying it.

Now if he could just get her to quit with the baby talk. They had time and he'd like to finish high school at least.

Coming to his destination and knocking on the door hard enough to be heard, Ranma took a breath, "Just lettin' ya know! Shampoo is gonna be ready with lunch in just a bit!"

"Okay!"

"Thank sugah!"

He was not going to think about Akane and Ukyo in the bath together. No he was not. Nope. The girls were giggling. Why would they be giggling?

A more red and out of it Ranma was back down the stairs. If the girls didn't kill him by accident it would probably be him continuing to use the soul of ice so he could calm down. Focus on lunch and food. Those things were safe and wouldn't induce a heart attack or a nosebleed.

-b-

It was a thoughtful Ranma and a quiet and shy Akane that walked along to the nearby train station later that evening. Clad in shorts and a tank top, the summer heat finally getting to him, he walked along with the shorter girl with his hands crossed behind his head. He was ready for this humid heat to be gone. Akane was much the same in her summer clothes, a thigh length skirt and flower pattern blouse. She clutched her small bag in her hands while she considered what to say to the boy. While she was adjusting to what their new normal was looking like it was still just that, an adjustment.

"You know, mom did say you could stay." Looking up and missing the stars in all the light pollution, Ranma resolved to take a training trip soon.

Akane giggled, "Should I have taken her advice and slept in your room then?" Hearing the boy choke on his spit the girl shook her head, "It's fine. I still have some school work to finish at the house and I want to meet up with some of my friends and catch up. I'll visit again sometime this week." That she wouldn't have as much time with Ranma did slightly bother her, but she didn't have to fear him forgetting her or tossing her aside. He wasn't built like that.

Righting himself and now watching the girl more closely Ranma couldn't help but tease her now, "That sounded hopeful on your part."

Oh ho? He wanted to play did he? Well Akane might not be a martial artist of his caliber, but she had a lot more experience in the game of life, "I was. I liked the idea of sleeping cuddled next to you." Akane tossed him a sly smile, "Maybe next time I'll stay."

Knowing it was a trap and falling for it anyway Ranma opened his mouth, "I've been wanting to get your thick thighs in bed with me. Bout time you figured that out."

Pushing past the embarrassment Akane latched onto something a little more important to her at the moment, "Oh? Is that why you tease my legs so much? You like thicker girls?" That would explain so much! Ah now she had something to work with.

"Guh…uh…wait."

"Nope, you said it, Ranma likes my thiiiiighhhs!" Akane was giggling and danced away from the boy with a smile on her face. Well from teasing to learning something about him, today wasn't so bad after all.

"I, uh. Okay fine, yeah, I like your thighs, ya happy?" Never having meant to come out with that, how did the teasing get turned back on him?

Akane nodded, "Yup! And I'm not gonna let you live it down for a long time." It made all of his comments over the last year and a half make more sense! He teased like a grade schooler who had a crush! That was adorable. Twirling and looking back at the boy, she was all smiles, "Anything else about me you wanna admit to liking huh? Huh?"

"Oh kill me now." Ranma just kept his mouth shut as they walked along, enduring Akane's teasing and wishing he knew better and had kept his mouth shut. Though maybe he could push through this once. Why should be give in when he was all about fighting to the end. What did the end look like in this situation? No clue, but maybe a blushing and quiet Akane wouldn't be so bad.

"Why, maybe we could induct you into the church of thighdeology huh? Or maybe eep-"

Ranma by then had had enough. So striding forward and gently taking hold of on of her outstretched hands, he pulled the surprised girl into his chest. He right hand came up to cup her cheek where he slowly inched closer to her, maintaining eye contact the whole way.

As Ranma was inching closer, Akane was in a panic. 'Is he? He is! He's gonna kiss me, he's gonna kiss me, HE'S GONNA KISS ME!' And as she leaned into him, tilting her head just so and closing her eyes, she mentally did a victory dance. One small step for Akane!

However the boy was nothing if not unpredictable, and had lowered his lips to her ear while resting his cheek against her own, "Keep it up, Ranma Saotome doesn't lose. Ever." Feeling her shiver against him in the warm night air, Ranma patted himself on the back and mentally scored one for himself. Pulling away and continuing their walk, Ranma dragged her along while she followed him with wide eyes.

Internally is was still panic for the in love girl, 'WHAT WAS THAT!? Who taught him how to do THAT! Just a few words and I'm all, all, that pervert!' Unsaid was her attraction to said pervert. Whatever had allowed him to growl like that in her ear was best to be locked away from the others. They really would be in some trouble. Akane wouldn't give up though without a fight and she had one last trump card tonight. As they came up to the station Akane pulled in front of the boy and turned to him, "Bastard."

Ranma huffed, "That all you got? And you were so ready to tease meuurph-" Soft lips were on his own. Fleeting, quick, warm like the sun. Then they were gone and a blushing Akane was skipping away,

"See you later!" Blush at full strength but happy she went through with it, she was around the corner and gone before the boy could say anything. Point to Akane.

Frozen on the spot and idly tracing his lips, Ranma eventually smiled and turned away to begin bounding across the rooftops. Akane really know how to get the drop on him though at least now it was less a giant mallet and something a lot more pleasant. Hopping and flipping through the night with joy in his heart Ranma didn't want to say or think of anything that might jinx it.

So he didn't, just enjoyed some time to himself before making it back home, slipping into the backyard and then his home not even a full hour later. A clearly knocked out Usa was on the couch with an equally passed out Shampoo. Not even wanting to guess how this happened and knowing better than to leave Usa alone, Ranma grabbed his future daughter and carried her in his arms up to her temporary room. His mom had done it up in pink and unicorns that was bright enough even at night it felt blinding. Sighing and tucking the girl into her bed, Ranma was back out the door and down the stairs to retrieve Shampoo. As he stood over the carefree woman for a moment he debated just shaking her awake and sending her on her way. Sure they had one more guest room here, but would she need to be at the cat cafe before the morning? Deciding that it was getting late and jumping about might be a bad idea Ranma resolved to picking the girl up and trudging upstairs with her. Of course he missed the smirk of the amazon as she snuggled deeper into his chest. But the trip was just as short as on the other side of his own room past Usa's, the nudged open the quest room door and walked inside. Only the basics inside, a western style bed and an empty dresser and closet, if was meant to be slept in and not much well. Though as Ranma pulled the covers back and tried to set the woman in his arms down, lithe arms snaked around his neck.

"Shampoo have you now." Having woken up the moment Ranma had touched Usa, she had decided to play sleep once she had realized it was Ranma. Now she was in her usual playful mood.

Sighing and hovering over the girl Ranma had to admit that she had gotten him this time. And as he looked into her ruby red eyes, he decided that this woman in his arms had honestly been a good friend to him. She had listened and respected his choices once they had come to a resolution on things. He knew that he had feelings for her and had promised to try and work through them. With no one else around right now, he could at least try that.

Shampoo knew that she could only tease so much however and was already pulling away, "Shampoo think you-" She paused as a gentle hand wrapped around the back of her neck and pulled her closer. "Airen?"

Ranma's eyes were hazy and he didn't have anything to really say to the her besides the basic, "You've been patient with me, so how bout a goodnight kiss? Just this once."

Quietly as if the spell Ranma found himself in would be broken, Shampoo nodded and leaned up into him. Their lips met with a warmth that filled the young woman from head to toe, one of her hands having to come up and rest against his chest to prevent her from taking it to far. As she opened her mouth slightly and let her tongue seek entrance into his, he obliged her, and she really had to keep from pressing herself fully into him. As it was the hand fisting his shirt and the other now snaking it's way into his hair were clutching him tightly.

Ranma's earlier kiss with Akane was quick, earning to the tentative nature of their current relationship. It was sweet and more embodied what he saw within the girl herself. This kiss now with Shampoo did the same, it was heat and fire, a passion that if he wasn't careful would consume him wildly. With what he was feeling from the girl under him trying her best to hold herself back, she was feeling much the same. Pressing down on her and pushing her slightly into the bed he deepened the kiss a bit more, allowing their tongues to battle together in a dance that eventually neither teen was ready to end.

End it had to however and while they both broke for air, eyes shining in the moonlight, the was Shampoo who pushed him away slowly. She didn't want to and he could see as much, and raised an eyebrow in question. "You trying. I see that. But I want to respect you wanting to go slow. If you continue, I don't know if I can stop."

Ranma nodded at that. This woman who loved him had been holding back for a long time with her feelings concerning him. He caressed her cheek softly and watched as she leaned into it with a blush and a smile before he pulled away and headed for the door. "I'll, try to be more open in the future. I…I like this, what we have. You trust me. I need that more than I can really explain. So thank you, for giving me time."

Shampoo nodded as he opened the door to leave, adjusting herself and getting comfortable under the bed sheets, "Wo ai ni airen." Not long after the boy closed the door behind him she was once again dozing off. Tonight was a success in her book, and tomorrow would be another. She would not give up.

Ranma sighed, his racing heart still pounding in his chest. While he was trying his best to understand his emotions and be better for the women in his life. Still odd to say confidently that there were multiple women in his life now, he knew he still had some space to go. He didn't want to just give into the feelings and potentially ruin something good. Or more likely ruin someone else's life. But every day it was getting just that much harder. And between the three main combatants for his affection, well four because he was sure there was still some lingering feelings on Ukyo's part, he was sure that was going to continue to do so with each passing day. Eyes turning to his future daughters room, the girl who's chi felt like a mixture between his and Usagi's, the magic that matched Usagi's to a near tee, and he sighed. He could never question if a kid was his or not after this. This one giving him proof that he'd be able to sense them out in the future without a problem. Shaking his head and getting the idea of kids out of his mind, he took off for bed. Tomorrow was a new day. Anything could happen.

-AN-

And we're cutting here! More of a fluffy content chapter which I think was needed. Chapters might slow down from here on, as I'm finally figuring out a good update schedule for all my stories currently. Be good everyone, till the next time!