Son Turned Daughter, Chapter 40
An unusual disclaimer: Ranma1/2 is the trademark of Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ Communications, and its characters have been borrowed without permission. And Son Turned Daughter was originally written back in 2002 by fanfiction author Tangent. Please see the first two chapters of this series under his pen name. This series has been written for noncommercial use only.
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This story is not about sex but gender. It is set in a late 1980's that mixes with, from the perspective of our universe, the early 1990's: a time when binary gender identity was the unquestioned norm.
Note: In an effort to show the problem Ranma is having with gender identity, the different pronouns ('her', 'she', 'he', 'him', 'his') are used to indicate which is the more relevant at the time. 'S/he' indicates the increased ambiguity or conflict.
The ideas in here are, as far as I know, original with me. Credit any who may have had them before in the Reviews.
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Chapter 40
The still little practiced Shaped Aura technique Ranma was using to enhance her cursed body's natural cuteness and curves collapsed as she turned to the technique she had long mastered, the Reservoir. Master-level martial arts required a lot of energy, at times more than the body, hers or his, could have from simply overeating. She knew how to take it from the always free or loose ki energies available. The Code, though, was against taking ki directly from others like a "vampire". Not without Just Cause.
And to her, she did have one! All of Ranma's memories before Jusenkyo shouted at her that she was meant to be a guy! It was her–His– identity's baseline! That was reason enough to drain these guys of their excess lust energies! They didn't need them. (Yeah! Like she was really going to let them do anything with his accursed body!) He did need them! He had just over an hour ago awakened to and then had been immediately robbed of the manliness he had not known was missing from his puberty. Sexual interest in girls was what made a guy a real, true guy, right?! Right!?
He owed it to Akane.
She became a vacuum that pulled in all the lust she had aroused in Hiroshi, Daisuke, Itsuke and Botan! (And some little from the girls as well.) His focus was so fixed on gaining virility, s/he could almost–almost–ignore the eyes caressing and fondling her boobs and, to less often, on other parts of her female body. Botan, like most Asians, had a thing for cute faces, and few were as adorable as hers. Itsuke had the Japanese traditional interest in necks, moving around from ear to ear and down to were her throat met her yoke. Hiroshi had modern yen for butts, especially petite buns like hers. Daisuke–
Ranma stripped the masculine ki of their individual perspectives! It cost him energy, but in return only his vantage point would direct the added virility!
She could feel their lustful interest in her being lowered. Yearning became desiring became hoping became wishing. She did not stop there. She wanted to be as manly as possible! So, their thoughts about her body lost their focus and they, she was later told, saw her as a husband would see his wife after their newlywed days were over, when sex could be more of an obligation.
Arms on chest, s/he stood victorious. But not straight. Her back had a distinctive 'S', with a pronounced tail. Most of her light weight was below her very narrow waist. Above, s/he was thinner and puny. The only things big and fat were her arms were pressed into. Her too feminine yet child-like face twitched. S/he lowered her arms…and felt the tug to her shoulders as accursed boobs fell and temporarily settled into place.
Her hands came to rest on her hips. He had done that as a guy uncounted times before, but for the month s/he had spent as a girl, s/he had come to think of hands-on-hips as exceptionally womanly. And it wasn't natural for the arms to be straight down, like a guy, not with wide hips and narrow shoulders.
Feeling awkward, Ranma put her hands down, over her…sex. And took them away! "Ha, ha!" s/he tried to laugh as s/he placed her hands in one of his characteristic poses: on the back of her head. This only pushed her real chest outward, into her soft boobs.
"Ranma?! Is something the matter!?" Akane asked.
Akane! S/he now had the libido to show her love! S/he turned to see Akane's face, Akane's boobs, Akane's figure, Akane's–
Ranma received a rush of flush and a stiffening, both in her nipples and–
"NnnnNo!" s/he cried as s/he tore herself away from the sight! Her erotic zones hungered to get close to Akane (and the other girls looked good, too), but his sense of manliness fought against the weakness. And weakening he was; Memories of Akane and the others remained. How long could his/her internal wrestling match go on before one of them ceded?
Ranma fled the restaurant!
S/he ran blindly into a group of late-night, after-the-big-event, Golden Week partiers. She ricocheted off of them and continued her retreat from sex. The wrong-for-him sex?!
–Stupid softness! Can't it ever stay still?!–
A similar number of partiers noticed what had happened in front of them and noticed how attractive the little but big titted young woman in (only?) a thin T-shirt was! They blocked her path. "Hey, hey! What's your hurry, babe! Join the party!"
"Don't touch me!" s/he yelled at the tall guys grabbing her thin wrists. In a second, they were both lying on the ground.
"They're jerks, but you didn't have to spoil the fun!" said one of the half-drunk girls with them.
"Chinami, that's the crossdresser, Ranma!" said the girl wearing the tightest, most outrageous outfit Ranma had ever(?) saw. Weirdly colored, two angular caricatures were rounded by being on the curves of her boobs; both had eyes looking at each other, with the ones over their nipples staring directly in front of them. They were holding onto each other around her waist, hands unseen except for a hand rising–suggestively–up from out of the girl's bikini bottom.
It was such an eye catch that Ranma didn't think to tell them s/he wasn't a crossdresser.
"Hey, you're right, Akari!" said the girl in a pain-splattered Japanese smock apron over a mini dress that could have an abstract print.
"This is the girl-boy!?" said the guy getting up from the ground. His friend tried to peak up under the hem of her T-shirt. Ranma was about to grind him down–until she realized lifting her leg would confirm s/he wasn't wearing underwear. She kicked him–hard: sending him rolling away, The other guy was able to hurry away.
"You're interfering with our dates!" And Akari pulled out some lit candles, holding one in each hand but having eight sticking up from between her fingers. Only then did Ranma remember there had been a candle martial artist in the tournament. And she had been wearing a bikini! She was still wearing the bikini. The bottom, at least. Her top was gone, her nudity only hidden by body paint. No wonder, her boobs moved this way and that so freely.
"We didn't get the chance to fight you, crossdresser!" From her weapons-space, Chinami pulled out a paint-dabbed palette in one hand, a spray can in the other. She belonged to the Neo-Picasso Style of Modern Art Martial Arts. She had to have been the one to have, literally, painted Akari. "Let's see if double team-up of the C-ranked artists can beat an A-rank!" To Ranma's surprise, she sprayed Akari, not her.
Even her friend was confused. Chinami had to tell her, "It's an anti-fixodent. Press against Ranma and the art will be transferred onto him! Then I'll hit him with my Mysterious Street Vendor Fixodent!"
Akari got the idea! "And we'll have marked him as defeated!
"Are you going to strip for your body painting or am I going to have burn that top off!?"
Those out in the evening stopped. Bystanders were on the verge of being voyeurs.
Ranma had no modesty, and s/he did very much like the idea of having a naked girl pressing her body against his own–
No! It would be her cursed naked body: Female!
And yet her martial artist's body awareness told her in graphic detail just how aroused she was and how unmanly it was! S/he knew she leaked before, but it had never been like this(!)
Akari started throwing punches at Ranma, meaning to intimidate first. With the hand near her face, though, she blew an accelerent that shot the flames from its five candles straight at her opponent.
With Ranma's blood flowing to her aroused parts, there was less nourishment for her brain. And that was conflicted with never-ever experienced before temptation and grossness! She gave ground, hoping to gain the time to get her body ready to smoothly and properly fight.
Chinami threw her palette. It boomeranged around to Ranma's back and smacked against her covered buttcheeks! "Marked!" she cried triumphantly.
"That is quite a colorful piece of work you got over your ass, Honey," said the girl coming from her backside.
"U, Ukyo?"
"Listen up, you two: You were in the tournament. You lost. I won. You're going to be my slaves for a day. If you don't want me to make it a living hell, leave Ranma alone!" She had her battle spatula in her hands, ready to reinforce her threat if needed.
Being between street lights, Akari put her candles out in front of her to get a better look at the speaker in a (okonomiyaki) uniform. "It's the crossdresser's crossdresser boyfriend."
"I'm not his boyfriend. But I am his friend. I guess. Friends are supposed to stand up for friends."
"Ucchan?" Ranma wondered if this meant Ukyo was preparing to forgive him at long last.
"Two A-ranked against two isn't fair," Chinami griped. "Come on, Akari, let's get back to getting wasted."
As she turned to walk away, Ukyo scooped up the palette with her giant spatula. "You forgot something!" And she toss it at the painter's own rear end.
It disappeared into her weapons-space before it hit her. Only Ranma, who had no weapons-space, gave any thought to why so many s/he met had the ability. But it was magic and not really something worth dwelling on. Or that was how the spell was supposed to work. Ranma was beginning to suspect the curse was giving away abilities that rightfully belonged her–and his?–opponents. Jusenkyo was supposed to be for training.
The Master of Okonomiyaki Martial Arts took a few practice swings of her weapon at those who were still not passing by. And then they did.
Treating her spatula as a staff (handle down), Ukyo spoke to Ranma, "You going to return to my restaurant?"
"Is this my day to be your slave?"
"No, it's Akane's. And I'm getting every second out of my servant. She'll be staying at my place tonight. You can join us."
"You're keepin' the restaurant open all-night and tomorrow!?"
"No, you jackass! Don't look a gift horse in the mouth! I should be keeping you two apart, but what good is that really going to do me?! I'm having a sleepover so we can all get to know each other!"
"Who else?"
"No one else: Just me, you and the girl you're living with."
"Only girls!?" Ranma's body showed a interest. As a female's would. But it was the mind of a martial artist that was supposed to control their actions. Could he!? This feeling was new, strange, and worrying.
"You'll be a girl too, won't you?"
"Not by my choice, now," s/he frowned. "And I don't know how much of a choice I do got."
"It'd take a jackass not to see this is 'cause of what you pulled on the boys back there," she said, thumbing to Ucchan's over her shoulder. "There won't be any boys tonight."
"That's the problem!"
"What? You found out you get the hots for boys?"
"No…." Ranam paused. "Girls. I, I, …."
"You should be happy!" Ukyo slapped her on the back. "Boys can be such creeps! Believe me, I know. Been going to all-boys schools since I was seven."
"Do you want to, uh, well, …." Both the polite and slang terms for what s/he meant temporarily escaped her.
"Have my way with them? I'm a jackass. But that's the way sex works. Still, I wouldn't kick a girl out of bed." Then she paused. Then shook her head. "That's what I tell myself. I really don't know if I can honestly go ahead with it." She looked around at fresh passersby, assessing if any were listening. She glared at one who was too close and Ayane walked on.
She, then, faced Ranma. "The one time I tried, I thought I'd play it safe and try it with a girl. But…" her frown became angry, "the girl turned out to be a boy. It totally unnerved me!"
Ukyo suddenly swung her giant spatula off the ground and around to Ranma's backside: Svamp! It's face came back with a rainbow impression of the redhead's buttocks. "Look what you've made me do! Talking about things like this out in the street is what horndogs do! This is what slumber parties are for! Now, you get back inside, or I'll make you regret being my slave!"
Ranma saw her impression, and noted how very unmannish it was. It renewed her awareness of how wet s/he was. "Ukyo–"
"I said quiet! Now, get going!"
Ranma thought of leaping away. But what then!? The only way to keep away from girls was to go back to the way he lived before. Out in the wilds. A life without any real friends. It was only since he could become a girl that he had some. The best were all girls. Could s/he make guy friends?
With this body? What about when he had his real body back? Could the girls treat him like they had as a girl. Some, like Sayuri, were showing they might not. Those were the thoughts s/he was having as s/he was marched ahead of Ukyo.
Looking at her partying classmates, boys as well as girls, still inside "Ucchan's", Ranma hesitated at the door. Ukyo brought her spatula down to nudge her inside. S/he was about to push back, but looking back onto her face, s/he remembered. Ucchan had been (was?) his first friend. He had thought she was a boy. But she turned out to be a girl. Girl friends had always been his destiny?
Ranma didn't push back. He would do his best to keep the girls–and girls–his, and her, friends! It would be a challenge now that s/he knew about sex. But Ranma Saotome always won a challenge!
"Ranma!" Akane was quick to say. "Ukyo ordered me to remain here!" She, in her dress and Kasumi apron, hurried to her friend. And…possible lover? 'Don't think of that, Akane!' she told herself.
She grabbed her hands and held them between themselves. "Tell me how I can help."
Man, her touch felt tempting! Too tempting. S/he freed herself from the hold. "Be yourself, I guess. Keep on being a friend I can count on."
"Only a…." Akane nodded. "A friend. Your friend. Best friends."
Ukyo frowned, but said nothing.
But her cousin did. "Come with me to the backroom," Ikuko said, taking the small redhead's arm. "It's something that can't wait any longer." The rest of the Date Management Club brought up their rear.
"I'm not interested in goin' on a date!"
"Then had better come with us!" Emiko said.
Behind the closed door, Akiko asked, "Anybody have a spare pair?"
"I do," Umeko said. "But they might not fit her wide hips."
"Elastic stretches," Emiko said.
"And digs," Umeko said. But out of her purse she brought a pair of pink, bikini panties in a ziploc bag. She also had a sanitary pad packet. "I'm on my light days." But she was a little uneasy about giving up her insurance.
Ranma only needs light napkins." But Ikuko gave her a hard, assessing look. "Probably."
"I'm finished with my period!" But just.
It's not for that. It's for that!" Ikuko said, point at Ranma's crotch.
Only then did she see and feel that a patch of the T-shirt was damp. And now that his mind was on that, s/he realized s/he was leaking down her legs. Not much, but too much.
Man! S/he had thought s/he had escaped having to wear the 'diaper scraps' for almost a month.
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Ranma returned from Ukyo's apartment wearing her Chinese outfit. S/he was glad s/he had been left alone while s/he reluctantly cleaned (in very cold water) the terribly cute and sexy body with cold water and changed.
S/he saw the guys eyeing the girls, with Daisuke's (and Gosunkugi's) spending too much time on Akane. S/he felt the urge to take away their returning lusts. And s/he did.
All while reinforcing her dislike of the body s/he was trapped in, s/he kept an eye on the guys as the party wound down, always seeing that their energies for sex were drained. Their attentions turned away from girls and onto the other things boys were interested in. Sports, action shows and movies, shōnen mangas, and the latest toilet humor.
Meanwhile the girls had their own topics. Those the Club was helping, comparing magic girl shows, shōjo mangas and the latest "inspirations for young women". What threatened to make Ranma ill was the talk of shōnen-ai. Yet s/he wasn't thrilled when s/he brought up shōjo-ai in his mind, either.
It was getting late and even though there would be no school tomorrow, the party began to break up. The guys were the first to leave, with Botan remaining to walk his sister, Shikako, and her friend to their homes. The next were the Club, with Ikuko reminding them that this was Golden Week and they would be busy with other's romances. The members frowned when Emiko told them she wanted them to help her with the date she had already set. They felt better when they heard who the boy was: Not among the most sought after.
Makoto and Shikako said to Ranma, "Don't forget you promised us an up-all-night party where we teach you about boy bands, Ranma!"
Ranma tried not to grimace. The truth was s/he hadn't been really interested in whatever either the guys or the girls had talked about.
Sayuri said, "Do you want us to stay, Akane?"
Akane looked at the stern look of her 'master', hung her head and sighed, "I don't think she'll whip me."
"She could spank you with that big paddle!" Yuka giggled.
"I think I have more sympathy for Ukyo," Shikako said. "Ha, ha! Just kidding, Akane."
Let's go and all walk home together," Makoto said. "Bye! By the way, Ukyo, you're restaurant smells wonderful!"
And then there were only the three of them, Ukyo, Akane and…Ranma.
How Akane managed to mangle a metal mixing pitcher, even she could not tell them. Ranma ended up doing most of whatever clean-up Ukyo wasn't doing as they made things ready for the next business day. S/he hated that it made Akane feel defeated (again) at the marital arts, but Ranma welcomed it because it took his mind off thoughts s/he didn't like feeling.
Then there was nothing to do but go to bed. Or not. Ukyo wanted a slumber party.
The apartment had a traditional Western-style bed. Ukyo slid the top mattress off of the box spring one. "Me and Ranma will be on this 'futon' one. You get the springs," she told Akane.
"Hey! You're actually going to have Ranma sleep with you?! He's a boy, remember!?"
"Like I'm going to forget! My whole life's been about me knowing that! I was supposed to become his wife!"
"So am I!" Akane was stunned at what she had said!
"I'm not ready!" Ranma yelled. S/he looked between the two; then stepped away so both would be in her gaze. "And I can't even if I were! I'm not eighteen! Only girls can marry at sixteen."
S/he plopped down to the floor, her back to a wall, and crossed her legs and arms. And grimaced at how squishy s/he was. "And, and…I won't do sex until I AM married." Huh? Did s/he really just say that!? Mean it?
"That's only in Japan. I've traveled. There are places were people our age can get hitched, Ranma."
"And it'd be done in a language I don't understand! It wouldn't be honorable."
"And you'll wait until you're married because it wouldn't be honorable not to?" Akane asked. She was confused about how she felt about that. Wanting sex seemed perverted, something only guys should be after. But if it were Ranma–
Is time. Slam! "No honor when no help womans in need."
"Shampoo!" Akane cried as the Chinese girl entered through the open bedroom window. Talk of perverted. She seemed to be wearing only a floral print top, moving her long, bare legs in a way that hid whether she was wearing panties.
"Shampoo?" Ukyo barely remembered the foreigner. Her attention had been on the girls standing in her way in moving up the tournament so she could face Ranma and the other Quarter-final Four. After she had, her memories were vague, at best. She wasn't a fan of how the beauty was barely dressed, but she couldn't deny how sexy she looked.
And neither could Ranma. S/he squirmed some and pulled her own top away from her hard nipples. Maybe s/he should wear padded bras. "This is a private party, Shampoo."
"Shampoo know! Is for fiancees of husband of Shampoo."
"Husband!" Ukyo was on her feet, her battle spatula instantly in her hand.
"Ranma's your husband!?" Akane looked at Ranma. She had the urge to bring out her hammer and bash the baka. But, but…. She couldn't. The little redhead looked too MOE cute at the moment.
"Shampoo have Book of Law of Nǚjiézú - Joketsuzoku!" And she brought out a leather bound ream of papers from her weapons-space. "Is official: woman-hero defeated by man-hero is married!"
"That makes no sense!" Akane yelled.
"I agree!" Ukyo said. She turned to Ranma. "Would you marry anybody who beats you in a fight?"
"Why would I?(!)" The answer was in the Code and the one constant in his, now her, life: Always accept a challenge. And True Challenges always came with Wagers. If the Wager had been marriage, then…. Ranma paled and refused to think beyond that. "Ranma Saotome never loses," the sixteen-year old muttered.
"Baka," Akane muttered.
"Let me look at that book of yours!" Ukyo demanded.
"Order is from master of Shampoo?" she smirked.
"So your clock can start ticking? I'll choose when the stop watch begins.
"Without us seeing your proof, it's just your word, Sister. And we don't trust it!"
Shampoo shrugged and stepped forward to hand the book to her.
"Sit down," Ukyo told her. Shampoo was about to say something (probably about her not having to do what the girl who was not her master said), but casually sat down on the box spring mattress.
Akane got away from her and stood on the mattress on the floor with Ukyo.
Ukyo took the chance and laid aside her spatula and took the book. Akane guarded her with her mallet.
Ukyo discovered the Joketsuzoku must not have had many laws as under the Chinese text, in very small handwriting, they were translated into Tibetan, some Indian scripts, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, and, at the very bottom they even had added English. " 'In the event that a woman hero is defeated by an outsider, and if that outsider is a woman, the woman hero must give the kiss of death and kill without delay…' This is more about not being a good sport if a woman defeats you."
"Is true. Is Code of Womens Hero Warriors! Mean fiancees no can win," she said smugly, leaning back on her hands. "Would have kill wife of Ranma first."
Akane looked over Ukyo shoulder, and read, " 'However, if that outsider is a man, she must marry him'!"
"An afterthought," Ukyo told her and Ranma. "Being in business means I have to know something about laws. Notice it's less formal than the part about getting revenge. There's no 'woman hero'.
"Hmm." Ukyo gained a shrewd look. "It implies you'd no longer be a woman hero, Girl."
"Ha! That's right!" Akane rejoiced.
"Is insult!" And she was on her feet, her chuis in her hands. "Shampoo Woman Hero! And warrior of tribe!"
Ukyo's battle spatula was now back in her hands. Akane, too, was ready to use her mallet!
"Stop it!" Ranma cried, leaping between everybody. She was looking at Shampoo. "I'll defeat you as a girl and you'll have to give me a kiss of death again!"
"But you no real woman! Ranma defeat as man!"
"Which is NOT as important as revenge against his girl half," Ukyo told her.
"There is no honor in losing to a man," Akane told her.
"She's right. You just become a 'she'," Ukyo smiled grimly.
"Ayi…." Shampoo said, dropping down on the box spring as the fight came out of her. "Shampoo no longer want kill Ranma. Great grandmother agree. Children of Ranma make strong warriors for tribe."
"Children!" Akane cried.
"The loophole is 'outsider'," Ukyo said. "The problem is, we would have to no longer be Japanese and would have to obey the Chinese tribe."
"Why can't Shampoo become Japanese?" Ranma naively asked.
"Then it would be a defeat for the entire tribe!" Ukyo said.
"Is true."
Ranma shuddered. "One Amazon was bad enough."
"Why everybody call Womens Hero 'Amazon? I still have both boobies!" And she hefted them for all to see.
"Wait! I may actually be getting an idea!" Akane, surprised that she just may. "Shampoo, what were you going to have your slaves do?"
"Shampoo make slaves womens hero warrior!" She said it like she thought that answer should have been obvious even to the outsider.
"But the tournament was named 'Girls-Only Slave-for-a-Day'!" Ukyo told her.
"Once slave, always slave. Is Nǚjiézú law."
"Well, you're my slave! What do you think of that law, now!?"
"Master still outsider! No count."
"It should," Akane told her. "It should count a lot!" She turned to Ukyo and bowed low. "Master, I'm ready to be your slave for as long as Shampoo remains in Japan."
"WHAT!?" Ukyo and Ranma cried. Shampoo was just puzzled.
"I don't want any slaves! It was just a way to battle Ranma!"
"You challenged and won. And you must keep to the wager."
"I am: For ONE day!"
"Oh, I wish Nabiki were here!" Akane cried out in frustration. "She could explain the idea better!"
"If she's smart, she shouldn't even try!" Ukyo was feeling frustrated herself.
Ranma took pity on her friend. S/he had no idea what she was trying to do, but–She would stand by her! "If Akane is a slave, I'll be a slave, too." And s/he bowed as low as Akane had. S/he raised her eyes to say, "If you're my master, Ucchan."
"It's contagious!"
"Spatula Girl is right," Shampoo said. She stood up. "Shampoo no bow, but if great-grandmother say is okay, Shampoo also is slave with airen."
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It was late, but it was Golden vacation time of Japan, and there were a couple of couples in the Bathhouse Cafe. Cologne was so distracted with new ramen recipes and by learning how a propane kitchen worked her back was turned when the bell over door rang. ""Irasshaimase konnichiwa!" the old woman said before hopping about on her staff.
She was surprised to see the pancake vendor leading, (future great-grand)son-in-law, (future)bride and heir Shampoo, and the fiancee obstacle. The last had her trademark weapon out, ready to use it against the Woman Hero warrior. It would be yet another disappointment she had in her heir if this woman, too, had defeated this representative of the tribe.
As Ukyo stepped over the threshold, she almost stumble. "Don't push me," she harshly whispered.
"I was nudgin'," Ranma defended herself.
Cologne's eyebrow raised. Maybe their leader wasn't. "What can I serve for you?"
"Shampoo want ask grandmother if Shampoo can–"
Ukyo cut off her with a loud, "We want to negotiate!"
Cologne surveyed the scene before her and picked up on the telling clue: The young woman was holding the Book of Laws.
The remaining customers received free take-out and were shooed out of the closing restaurant.
The one young woman, two girls and one cursed boy were waiting at the best table in the place. The leader of the Nǚjiézú didn't sit down, but remained on her staff, giving her the tactical advantage of height. "Begin."
Ukyo had the book already open. "This law, here. It says that if Shampoo marries Ranma, she's a part of Ranma's tribe, doesn't it?"
Cologne's large, baggy eyes narrowed. "And what if I tell you that is not true?"
"I'd be saying you're playing lawyer games. Are you going to be straight with us?"
"I appear to be right in my judgment of your level of maturity, …"
"Ukyo Kuonji. And I've traveled extensively outside of Japan, picking up recipes and lessons for my business."
Cologne nodded. "A test, then. How would you interpret my previous question?"
"I'd say the law only says it's possible for Shampoo to marry an outsider and still be part of her tribe."
"You are correct. Kuonji-san."
"Ukyo. Cologne."
"It's a matter of jurisdiction, Ukyo." She looked at Ranma and sighed; this was something she had not wanted him to know.
"So, it is about being an 'outsider'. An Outsider is anybody outside of your jurisdiction, the domain of your tribe."
"Shampoo thought the slaves she won would automatically make them Amazon insiders!?" Akane said.
"Is true! Master own property!" Shampoo defended her logic.
"Wait! If I won Shampoo by defeatin' her, that means I can't be property!" Ranma finally got it.
"Ayah! Maybe grandmother right! Shampoo let heart blind vision, should have win, make airen slave-husband!"
"Mousse."
"No, Great-grandmother! No punish Shampoo more!"
"But he has to join you. Where you go, he has to, eventually. He is your property." It was clear from the old woman's tone that she was thinking of punishing her with mousse. A hair set?
"Shampoo already has a slave-husband, I take it," Ukyo picked up on what 'Mousse" meant.
"Why do you need Ranma if you already have a husband!?" Akane demanded to know.
"Shampoo no can honor slave! Property honor master."
"She is not being entirely…straight with you," the shrewd old woman told them, especially Ukyo. "Her interest in Ranma is not entirely based on her feelings for him. The truth is that ever since she's come to this town, she has taken a vacation from her responsibilities."
Ukyo Kuonji nodded at the silent agreement that now passed between them. They would be able to do business. The old lady had an agenda beyond just Shampoo. That was why she was coming clean about her. She wanted to build her trust.
Shampoo, for her part, didn't miss that a leader of the tribe was no longer referring to her by her name. She bowed her head in shame.
Cologne reached out and stroked her hair. "Youth should be given the chance to enjoy its limited time."
"G,Grandmother?" Shampoo shed a tear of hope. There would come chances to rejoin the tribe. But for now: she was young.
"So, uh, um, you're okay with her being my…slave?" Ukyo asked.
Cologne's questioning look settled on the Cuīhuàjì. And Ranma answered. "Me and Akane agreed to be Ucchan's slaves, too, but only for as long as Shampoo is in Japan."
"Who came up with that inane idea?"
"If inane mean stupid, stupid one is Loud Girl Akane," Shampoo snitched.
"It's not stupid!" Akane reacted. "If Shampoo is a slave with us, we all become like a family and are no longer outsiders to her tribe, but she's also outside of it because she's part of our group! It's a stalemate!"
"Inane," Shampoo said. Ranma and Ukyo looked embarrassed for Akane.
The Elder opted for tact. "You did try to be clever.
"...And came close to the solution you are after? Yes. I have decided.
"First, though: I, as Dìèr Zhǎnglǎo of the Nǚjiézú, hereby pardon those who defeated Shampoo that I deem honorable."
Ukyo had the greatest look of relief. Ranma had a flashback to how formidable her mad stalker had been to her. Akane stubbornly refused to be impressed.
"Shampoo no have prey to hunt?" But the young woman's eyes were upturned in a smile as she looked at her companions.
"But I am not the only Zhǎnglǎo of the Nǚjiézú. My decisions are always challenged for political reasons, You will all have to take the Tests to prove you are worthy to be Honorary Woman Heroes."
Ranma perked up! "If the tests have martial arts, then I…." Then she interrupted her standard line. "Women heroes? I have to be a…woman?"
The wizzen woman did a chuckled cackle. "I shall train you in that as well. That, I think, will be the hardest test for you."
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Unknown in this story's time–and to Dr. Tōfū–, orientation seems to be determined by certain parts of the brain (like the hypothalamus) being exposed to certain chemicals while in the womb. The cursed brain and body of all that are immersed at Jusenkyo, though, have never been in a womb. Those kind of chemicals are from the uncursed, original brains. In other words, Ranma has a masculine orientation; so much so, he can not be truly comfortable using his female body as a female is capable of. S/he has gender dysphoria.
Ranma absorbing a great amount of sexually-colored yang energy has completed his sexual awakening. The desire has intensified his wish to be male, while appreciating the cutie's attractiveness that rightly belonged on somebody else.
Note, though, as the clues show, Ranma's fiancees are bisexual, though with different preferences and degrees.
During her bout in the tournament, Akari was coated in oil. Thanks to one of the travelling street vendors that sell magic items that appear often in Nerima, the body paint used to cover her topless body was oil paint. Pun intended.
Embarrassed for Ranma in the T-shirt, Kasumi had gotten Holy Bell to produce a new Chinese outfit like his old one.
The reading from 'Amazon' law book is a direct quote from the anime S1E18: Enter Shampoo, the Gung-Ho Girl!