Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that I claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:
Ranma ½: When you are lost in a sea of grief, look for a light to guide you home.
Chapter 16: Any journey must start with a single step forward.
Xian Pu cast another worried look at the dark-haired Ranma that walked alongside her. Ranma had seemed lost in thought ever since they had left Hinata's office, and to be honest that was hardly surprising. Today had been a lot to process, and one thing that Xian Pu knew she would have to consider was how Hinata had ended up with those pictures. It was obvious to her that someone not only knew about Ranma, but had no problem with using that knowledge to hurt him.
And one other thing that Xian Pu knew was that obstacles needed to be dealt with. Just, not like she used to.
When they entered the apartment, Ranma had to be gently nudged to remember to take his shoes off entered the apartment proper. Even afterwards, Ranma stood there unsure of what to do for a minute before Xian Pu gently took his hand and led him silently towards the bathroom. Ranma followed behind her almost passively, obviously still lost in thought.
Xian Pu had to gently prod him twice as she pointed to the cup of cold water and smiled softly before he nodded and bowed his head slightly so she could pour the cold water carefully over his head. Afterwards, she carefully undressed the shorter redhead and guided Ranma-chan to sit on the stool while she quickly undressed as well and started to wash Ranma with as much gentle care as she could. She took her time as she gently lathered and rinsed Ranma's mass of red hair, and used just a bit of her training to give the distressed redhead a relaxing scalp massage.
Ranma-chan gently sighed and let herself relax at last before she spoke softly. "Is it bad that sometimes I wish you would just erase everything, so I could just start over?"
Xian Pu stopped her movements for a moment then gently wrapped her arms around the smaller woman. "You know I would never do that. For one, you proved it's not perfect. For another, and this is more important, I like you for who you are, Ranma."
"Who even am I, Shampoo? I've started to question everything, everything I've ever thought 'bout myself." Ranma-chan said as she pulled her knees up, but slowly settled against the comforting warmth of the former Amazon. "Have I… lost who I am? Why…. Why do I have to question everything?"
Xian Pu thought about that for a moment before she gave Ranma-chan another gentle squeeze before she started to work on the strong but supple back of the diminutive martial artist. "I think it's more of a chance to discover who you are now. Who you want to be. You no longer have to try to satisfy the expectations of all the people around you. Not even mine. All I want for you is for you to be happy, Ranma. And I wish I had figured that out years ago."
Ranma-chan nodded as she let Xian Pu work out the knots in her back. "Do ya think I should use those cards, Shampoo?"
Xian Pu hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "That is up to you, Ranma. I can't make that decision for you. What I can promise, though, is that I will support you as much as I can. And I will attend any and every appointment or meeting that I can." She impulsively leaned forward and hugged Ranma-chan tight from behind. "I will always be here for you."
Ranma-chan relaxed into Xian Pu's embrace for a minute before she chuckled a little awkwardly. "We should probably finish up, right? I'm sure the furo is filled up and ready by now?"
Xian Pu laughed awkwardly and nodded. "It should be, yes. Well, then I should let you get into the bath and I will just rinse off before I cook us something." She said and started to pull away before a dainty but surprisingly strong hand stopped her.
"You…. Could join me…." Ranma-chan said softly.
Xian Pu froze for a moment before she said slowly, softly. "It's definitely more than warm enough for you to change back."
Ranma-chan nodded quietly as she settled back against Xian Pu for a moment. "I know that… But… If it's okay, can ya… please?" She said, then looked over her shoulder at Xian Pu with pleading eyes.
Xian Pu found out in that instant that yes, she was still vulnerable to the infamous Puppy Eyes attack of Ranma-chan, and smiled softly. "Of course. Just, let me go get my swimsuit…" She said as she started to stand up, only to be stopped again.
"Ya… don't need to…" Ranma-chan said, as she slowly blushed as red as her hair. "Here… Switch with me, so I can wash your back, okay?" She said in an almost pleading tone of voice.
It was clear to Xian Pu that Ranma-chan had probably hit her limit on how embarrassed she could allow herself to be seen by the former Amazon, at least for the moment.
Xian Pu stood up and stretched and waited for Ranma-can to move before she took her place on the stool and smiled over her shoulder at her red-headed companion. "I am in your care, Ranma."
Ranma-chan swallowed and nodded as she started to work on Shampoo's back, and did her best not to stare. It wasn't like they had seen each other in similar states of undress over the years, but it felt so much more intimate now. Choice was a powerful thing, because it meant that you were the one directing what happened, what was and was not allowed.
It meant that you were responsible for the actions you took.
Ranma-chan smiled as that thought rolled around in her head, until Shampoo softly cleared her throat. The redhead let her attention snap back to the present, as she realized just where her hands had settled while her mind had been distracted. The only reason that Ranma-chan didn't leap out of her skin, and the room, was the soft, amused voice of Shampoo.
"I appreciate that you want to be…. Thorough, Ranma, but I think that part of me is pretty thoroughly scrubbed." Shampoo said with a wink over her shoulder.
Ranma-chan knew that she had to be the same color as her hair, but she forced her nerves to quiet a little as she coughed and said. "Ummm, yeah…. Can you… look forward please? I want to do your hair as well…"
Shampoo obediently did as she was asked, and closed her eyes as she relaxed. She let out a contented sigh as Ranma-chan started to work on her hair, a happy smile on her face.
Ranma-chan smiled fondly down at Shampoo as she stood behind her and duplicated some of the technique that she had picked up from the former Amazon for scalp massage. Even with how overwhelming and chaotic today had been, there was no way that she would have made it through it without the support of her one-time fiancee and rival.
It was honestly kind how much Shampoo had changed in the last two years, heck, even since the two of them had reconnected on that rainy day. The old Shampoo would have taken advantage of her Airen without hesitation. And she had certainly had enough chances since then.
Maybe change wasn't a bad thing, after all. As long as you had a choice.
Ranma-chan smiled once more down at the relaxed form of the woman who had been slowly melting under the deft movements of her fingers in her long, thick hair. "We are going to start doing some serious training, Shampoo. I want to get you back to a level of mastery as soon as possible."
Xian Pu shivered in delight before she answered. "Yes, Sensei! But wasn't that what we had been doing? Or are you planning on adopting the Fat Panda's practices, and all of this has just been a warm up?"
Ranma-chan laughed and bopped the back of Shampoo's head affectionately. "Should we use the soap on you today?"
Xian Pu thought about it for a moment as she counted days. "I should be okay for today, but it might not be a bad idea…. Why don't you go ahead and get settled in the furo, and once I'm done…. I will join you…" Xian Pu said as she blushed a bit.
Ranma-chan nodded as she swallowed, then finished rinsing Shampoo's hair before she quickly rinsed herself off then slipped into the furo. As the change washed over him, Ranma found that he could not take his attention off of Shampoo as she pulled the special soap out, and quickly and efficiently washed herself with it. Their eyes met before Ranma blushed and looked away as Shampoo smiled and finished up.
Xian Pu looked at the towel that she had hung up, and shrugged before she stepped out from under the shower and walked over to the furo. It seemed really pointless to cover up even a little at this point. It wasn't like she had anything that he had not seen at some point, and, if she was going to be honest with herself, it felt good to have him look at her.
And it seemed to have helped Ranma distract themselves from the heavy weight that today had been.
Xian Pu thought about today as she settled into the furo in front of Ranma, and gently rested her body back against the currently male aquatransexual. Their talk with Hinata today had the very real potential to upend a lot of things, to make Ranma really look at who they were, and who they had become. And, just maybe… to find out why Ranma had seemed .so very much.
But from how Ranma had seemed to freeze up at the touch of her bare skin on his, well, maybe some things hadn't changed all that much.
Ranma had just kind of gawked at Shampoo as she had walked over and had not even attempted to cover herself before she sank into the water and settled back. Ranma knew that he had frozen up, uncertain what to his hands or arms. Where could he put them? What did he do with them? And…. If the thoughts about her state of undress continued, there would be no doubt about what form he was currently in.
Xian Pu smiled as she felt Ranma stiffen against her body. If she had ever wanted to know if Ranma found her attractive, she now had all the proof she needed. She felt Ranma start to shy away, and placed her hands over theirs before she pulled their linked hands over her belly and under her breasts. Just to make it clear, she wriggled in a bit closer for good measure. Still, from how embarrassed she felt, she knew that Ranma was not the only one that had changed. The old Xian Pu would have taken…. A lot more direct action, and ruined everything.
She rather liked how things had turned out so far.
Maybe change was not a bad thing. It was possible she might have even said something to that effect under her breath.
Ranma had frozen when Shampoo had slid her hands into his and then guided their joined hands around her body and proceeded to get rather… comfortable. It had certainly not been his fault that he ended up with a rather good view of her body, or that he could clearly smell the scent of her freshly washed skin. The fact that Shampoo didn't take advantage of this situation almost left him more flustered and confused than the situation itself.
That is when he heard what she said quietly, softly. 'Maybe change was not a bad thing.'
They stayed in the furo together for a while, and basked in the combined warmth of the water and the other person. Shampoo reluctantly got out, then winked at Ranma over her shoulder. "I'm going to start supper. Why don't you… Finish up in here, hrm?" She said impishly as she practically strutted out of the bathroom, only stopping long enough to grab her towel, and sling it over one shoulder cheekily.
Xian Pu moved at a slow pace until she had moved out of sight of the bathroom before she sprinted for her room and hurriedly threw on literally the first thing she could find. As much as she preferred less clothing, there was no way she trusted herself enough right now to not… Take things into her own hands, as it were.
At least she had distracted Ranma for a time.
During dinner, and even during the nightly run afterwards, Ranma had seemed preoccupied to Xian Pu. Not in a depressed way, not like before. It just seemed that they were carefully working through something.
Afterwards, the pair cleaned up, separately this time, and made their ways to bed. Xian Pu was not surprised when her door quietly opened and the soft tread of small, bare feet made it to her ears. As had become usual, she quietly pulled back her covers and let the smaller redhead slip in and nestle back against her. That was when Ranma-chan spoke softly. "I'm gonna call those two numbers tomorrow." She said with resolve.
Xian Pu smiled as she gently wrapped Ranma-chan in her arms and impulsively kissed the top of her head proudly.
After that, the two slept until the morning.
The next day Ranma moved with an almost jittery energy throughout their morning routine. Ranma found it hard to calm down and truly focus, at least until Xian Pu sat the (currently) male Ranma down and handed him his phone. "I think that you just need to make the calls, Ranma. Preferably before you literally wear a hole in the floor. I will be right over here, finishing getting ready for work." She said and smiled at him before she did just that.
Ranma looked at the phone, and nodded as he looked at the first of the two cards. It was for the therapist, and they had talked it through, and decided that probably talking to the therapist in his birth-form was the better idea, at least until Ranma decided just how much of the truth they could be trusted with. Ranma listened to the phone ring, and had almost decided to just call back another time when it was answered by what sounded like an older woman.
"Hello, this is the office of Dr. Watanabe, how can I help you?" The receptionist asked politely.
"Ummm… My name is Ranma… And.. I was given the therapist's card? I was told that talkin' to them might help me out?" Ranma said with no small amount of uncertainty.
"Ms. Watanabe is not in her office today, is this an emergency? If so, I can get you in contact with another therapist right away." The receptionist asked in a very calm, soothing voice.
Ranma fidgeted a bit, as he messed with the end of his pigtail. "No, it's not an emergency…" He looked down at the notes that Shampoo had written for him, and shook his head. He had no idea why or how she had known the kind of questions to ask, but there they were. "I need to make an… Initial visit with the therapist? When does she have an opening?"
"One second, dear. Hrm… Ms. Watanabe has an opening in the morning tomorrow, or an early evening on next Monday?" The receptionist answered as she tapped away on a keyboard.
Ranma looked at the calendar that Shampoo had set up for them both, and then nodded. "I can't do the one on Monday, I have a class that I teach. What time is it tomorrow?"
"Well, she is actually open all morning, until after her lunch break. We open up at six AM, so anytime between six and noon." The receptionist said with a smile.
Ranma looked at their calendar again, then at Shampoo as he mouthed the times. She thought about it for a moment before she held up one finger on one hand and all five on the other. Ranma nodded back to her and answered the receptionist who had waited patiently. "Can I come in at six? And… Is it okay if my roommate comes with me?"
"Of course, dear. Now, your roommate will probably have to wait in the lounge unless Ms. Watanabe approves for her to attend, is that okay?" The receptionist said as she typed away again.
"Yeah… That should be okay. Thank you…" Ranma said awkwardly.
The receptionist laughed softly, fondly. "It's not a problem, dear. Now, we will need you to fill out some paperwork when you get here, if that is okay? And if you have a family seal, please bring it as well." The receptionist said before they said their goodbyes.
Ranma sat back and let out a long, drawn breath before he accepted the glass of tea from Shampoo. "One down." Was all Ranma said before he took a drink and leaned forward to make the other call. Ranma hesitated for a bare moment, then reached for the cup of cold water and poured it over his, now her, head.
Xian Pu watched Ranma with barely concealed pride as she saw Ranma take another step forward. Now, they just had to connect with the person in charge of the group. Hopefully, Ranma's courage would last through all of this. Talking about the trauma's that had befallen the pigtailed martial artist might not be nearly as overwhelming as facing the questions of just who Ranma was now, and perhaps… Who they had always been.
The phone was picked up on the second ring by a younger man with a strange accent to his voice. "This is the office of Dr. Henry Jones, how may I help you?"
Ranma-chan fidgeted for a moment, then set her face in a determined look. "I wanted to join the… The support group? And I was told that I needed to talk to the doctor first?"
"Oh, yes. We just need to do an initial intake with you first, that is all. Let me see… Do you have any plans for today? I have several openings throughout the day available. Hrm… Including one slot before we close, actually. And if needed, I can contact the doctor and see if he is available outside of regular hours, as well?" The young man said as he tapped away.
"I… Would like it if my roommate could come with me, if possible…. But she works from nine to six today….." Ranma-chan said nervously.
"Certainly, one moment. Can you hold, please?" The receptionist asked politely.
"Ummm… Sure?" Ranma-chan answered as she fiddled with her pigtail.
A minute later the receptionist picked back up. "He said he would like to see you today, if possible. Just come over to our office when your roommate is ready, and buzz yourself in at the door. I might not be here, but someone else will be for sure. We look forward to seeing you. What name and pronouns should I put in my log book for you?"
"Name? Pronouns?" Ranma-chan said in an almost panic before Shampoo walked over and gently took the phone from the confused redhead's hand.
"Sorry about that. My name is Xian Pu, and I'm her roommate. Yes… Yes… Please just put the name down as Ranma, and… Can we just go with neutral pronouns for now? Yes, that sounds good. Thank you very much. We look forward to working with you, thank you." Xia Pu said and smiled down at the suddenly shy and awkward redhead. "I hope that you didn't mind? You seemed… A bit overwhelmed there."
Ranma-chan smiled nervously and nodded. "Thanks, Shampoo…"
Xian Pu leaned down and kissed the top of Ranma-chan's head before she handed the phone back to her roommate and cleared her throat before she hurried for the door. "I know you don't have classes today, but it might still be a good idea to hold off on your usual routine, at least until we know more about those pictures. I will call you on my lunch, okay?"
Ranma-chan nodded and smiled as she saw Shampoo out the door before she flopped onto the couch and covered her face with her hands.
It was going to be a very long day.
