Chapter 54: Crossed
Before she knew it, Ranma-chan had seemed to disappear off upstairs with Ranka. Nodoka sighed heavily, looking exhausted at how badly her and Ranma were butting heads. Ryoga bowed to the matriarch. " I'm sorry Mrs. Saotome about my intrusion and Ranma's attitude." Nodoka held up a hand. " You are always welcome Ryoga as long as you behave, accordingly. That's not your fault." Ryoga shook his head back and forth. " Still, I'd like to do what I can, to help Ranka, right now.." Nodoka bowed back. " Stay as long as you'd like or need to, regardless of my son's attitude."
While upstairs Ranma-chan tried to work on fixing their broken link, though they were suddenly interrupted as the window was opened, as Shampoo hopped through. " Nihao!" Ranma-chan gahed as she ran over and shut the window shut behind her. " What do you want, Shampoo? I was in the middle of something important." She had a frustrated look on her face.
Shampoo held out a bag to Ranka. " Shampoo come bring Ranka her things, she left and to see her airens." Ranka smiled as she took the bag from her. " Thanks Shampoo." Shampoo giggled as she glomped onto her. Ranma-chan got more annoyed. " Knock it off Shampoo." Shampoo gave her a look. " Why you mad at Shampoo?" Ranma-chan ughed. " Because.. you were the first one Ranka saw when she woke up.."
Shampoo hmmed. " Ranma is jealous?" Ranma-chan hahed. " No, that's just how the damned demon's made it work.." Shampoo smirked. " Aiya." Ranma-chan gahed. " Don't gloat about it!" Shampoo couldn't help but be happy about it, but also gave Ranma a stern look. " Not like Shampoo knew that dumbie, she was just mad at seeing Ranka with other girl, and let her know."
She glomped onto Ranma-chan. " So, no be mad at Shampoo." Ranma-chan sighed. " Then, help me out, okay, since.. she listens to you.." Shampoo's eyes sparkled as she nodded.
A few minutes later they were all downstairs, as Ranma-chan first asked Shampoo to help about the curse. Nodoka sweat dropped at seeing the amazon. " Hello Shampoo, I didn't see you come in." Ryoga sweat dropped as well, earning a glare from the amazon.
Ranma-chan went and put some hot water on in a kettle, on the stove top. She had stayed a girl, because with Ranka's current state of mind, having changed back into a guy, might've freaked her out. Since she had essentially imprinted on Shampoo, showing her and having her tell her, it'd probably go over better.
When the kettle was hot enough, they went off out to the porch, where Shampoo explained and showed her back and forth, how Ranma's curse worked, then also showing how her own worked. Ranka watched wide eyed and rubbed at her head, feeling like she knew about this, some how.
After that Nodoka and Ryoga, tried with her, with her mother trying to tell her about him. While they went about their tactic, Ranma looked upset out on the porch. " Since you and the old ghoul saved Ranka, you didn't see what happened, did you?" Shampoo shook her head back and forth, " Shampoo only see Ranka and girl go into tent."
Ranma groaned as he rubbed at his head. " Sayuri rambled about things, but she was blubbering and hysterical, so it was hard to understand much.." Shampoo hmmed. " Great grandmother say it was potion, that you usually put in drink." Ranma gave her an annoyed and tired look. " Yeah, like you'd know that." Shampoo just smiled sweetly. She then batted her eyes cutely at him. " Ranma hate girl too, so is okay Shampoo kill her, yes?" Ranma frowned. " No, Akane would kill me." Shampoo huffed. Ranma looked off in the distance. " You know Ranka wouldn't want that either."
Shampoo smirked. " If Shampoo want it, Ranka want it too." Ranma furrowed his brows at her. " Yeah well, you know normally, "she" wouldn't." He sighed as he dumped cold over himself, changing back into a girl. " Help me, try to explain more things, okay." While Ranma was frustrated, it wasn't with Ranka directly, it was with Sayuri and the devil.
Shortly after they were back upstairs as Ranma-chan had Shampoo explain things,and there was still no success. Ranma-chan thought on it and went with a different approach, having Shampoo be the test. Shampoo glomped onto Ranka. " You use gem, for Shampoo." Ranka smiled some, with the gem, lighting up.
Ranma-chan was getting excited at seeing the approach was working. Shampoo went further, as she told her to let Ranma link up. Ranma-chan was able to finally do so, though the static was still there, but she was able to see what had happened. As she did not want to talk to Sayuri about it. Having gotten the information she had been after, she was in a bit of a better mood, till she caught Shampoo going too far.
Shampoo giggled as she had told Ranka to hug her, to which she did. Ranma-chan gave the amazon a glare. Shampoo ahahed nervously. " Ranma, it work, yes?" Ranma-chan gave her a dull look. " You know, it does, obviously.." She sighed. " Briefly, but I was able to see what happened, it's like you said, Sayuri put the potion in a drink."
Shampoo furrowed her brows. " Still, no want Shampoo to kill her?" Ranma-chan sighed. " No." Shampoo huffed. " "We" go see great-grandmother tomorrow then." Ranma-chan, quirked an eyebrow at her. Shampoo giggled as she latched onto Ranka's arm. " Shampoo need to stay the night, to help with Ranka, yes?" Ranma-chan gave her a dull look. " Sure, it's not because Ryoga's here." Shampoo just smiled in reply.
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The night went by with Shampoo getting her way, as she constantly got in Ryoga's way of trying to talk to Ranka. Since Shampoo was there to stay for the night, Ranma stayed out of it, for the most part and had changed back into a guy. Tenka giggled and kicked her feet about on the couch, seeing how down the two boys looked, while the girls were off in the kitchen with Nodoka. " Oh this is too fun."
Ranma gave her a glare. " Knock it off, hell-brat." Tenka snickered. " It's just so satisfying, watching pig-boy over here pout and YOU." Ranma curled his lip at her. " I'm warning you.." Tenka giggled and kept running her mouth. " Poor widdle piggy, being ignored completely by the traitor. And both you sad sacks, wishing you had been the first one, instead."
She grinned evilly. " The lucky one was the mighty amazon, though it was meant for lord Satan." She had both the guys anger, set on her. Ryoga tightened his fist. " You're horrible, you know that! " She cackled at him, until Ranma slapped her in the face, with a pillow he had slung at her face.
Before they could bicker further, dinner was ready and they were too busy, with eating to fight. Shampoo was upsetting Ryoga as she was getting all of Ranka's attention. After, the girls were back in the kitchen again and after that, they were off in another room, while the boys were stuck with Tenka again.
With both down in different ways, it was just easier to tell with Ryoga. Ranma hated the whole situation, while he was glad the devil, hadn't gotten to take his sister away, things being the way they were, it was like she was and wasn't, there, at the same time.
Time went by and soon everyone had gone off to bed. Shampoo was all snuggled up in bed with Ranka, with mutual feelings. Ranma was still pretty annoyed in general and things between him and his mother, were still tense. Usually Ranka would've talked him down about it. Things in general were tense.
When morning came, Nodoka didn't get on her children to get up, knowing they'd be dealing with more important matters. She did still, make up breakfast around the same time, while she reflected back to when she had forgotten Ranka. She put her hand to her heart, as the anguish she was feeling at her daughter, not knowing her. "This" must've been how Ranka had felt, when no one remembered her.
Ranma and Ryoga were the first ones to come down and have breakfast, besides Nodoka and Tenka, who was humming and enjoying the whole situation.
Eventually Shampoo had joined them with Ranka, where she smirked evilly at Ryoga, enjoying his plight. She was of course courteous to Nodoka, as she thanked her for the meal. After clean up, the girls went off upstairs to get changed for the day, before coming back downstairs.
Shampoo smiled. " We go see great-grandmother, yes." Ranma groaned about it, but knew they had to go along with it. Ranka nodded with a smile. Nodoka stayed out of it, for the time being. She didn't get on them about school either, not under the circumstances. Once they had left, she prayed to the gods, that things would change, for the better.
It wasn't long before they got to the Nekohanten and were greeted by Cologne. Shampoo announced she was back. They all went to the living room to sit at the ground floor, table. Cologne quirked an eyebrow. " I suppose you've found out a bit more, have you, son in law?" She asked Ranma, questioningly. Ranma nodded. " Yeah, it's like you guessed, they used a memory erasing through a potion. That, and how the first one she'd see after waking up, she'd listen to.." He said begrudgingly."
Cologne nodded as she listened. " I see and Shampoo was that person. More importantly, do you know if Ranka drank a lot of the tampered drink?" Ranma hmmed with his arms crossed. " She didn't drink it all." Cologne smiled. " All is not lost then, if that is true." Ranma perked up some at hearing that. " You can do something then, old ghoul?"
Cologne hahed. "Perhaps so, though I can't say, that I'm not tempted otherwise." Ranma gave her an annoyed look. " Pull anything and you'll regret it." Cologne laughed in reply. "Come now son in law, it could work so well in your favor, or do you admit otherwise?" Ranma furrowed his brows at her. " Are ya gonna help or not?!"
Cologne chuckled as she left the room. Ranma was still on his guard, knowing between the two amazon's, they could not be trusted, completely. Within seconds Cologne had returned with an herb, which she crushed up into a cup of tea. " "This" amazon herb, may aid your sister." Ranma gave her a suspicious look. " It better not be something else.." Cologne laughed. " I've just told you, since she didn't drink that much of the tainted drink, there's hope."
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Everyone sat and had some tea and once finished, Cologne massaged Ranka's head a certain way, hitting certain pressure points. A few minutes later, Ranka seemed to react as she put her hand to her head, looking a bit pained. Ranma gave Cologne an annoyed look. Cologne, held up her hand. " Regaining memories can be a bit painful and I assure you, son in law, I merely turned the faucet on, and aided in the flow of the water."
Ranma seemed a bit pensive at the situation. " You're not going to let us leave, easily are you." Cologne chuckled. " Of course I'd rather you both stay put, but stay for ramen and I'll look the other way." Ranma groaned at how ruthlessly, sly and cunning the amazons were. " You'd better.."
Once the ramen was made up, Cologne had made up another tea with the herb for Ranka. Shampoo enjoyed the time with both her airens, till it was time for them to go.
Ranma felt like, just to be safe, he wanted Doctor Tofu to see if he could help as well, as they headed over there. Doctor Tofu smiled at seeing the two siblings and had to poke fun at them. " My, your both skipping school." Ranma rubbed at the back of his head. " Hey, doctor Tofu, do you think you can help my sister? Her memories have been erased or blocked.." Doctor Tofu rubbed at his chin as he had been studying her, before Ranma had mentioned it. " Boy, this brings back memories of the time with Akane. I can tell, your sister doesn't seem all there."
He had them follow him into a room and had Ranka sit down, while he kept talking with Ranma. Ranma scratched at his head. " Yeah but it's not the shampoo technique, or just one person.." Doctor Tofu hmmed as he decided to test that theory, as he pointed at himself. " Hello Ranka, do you remember who I am?" Ranka shook her head, back and forth. Doctor Tofu nodded. " I see, it is indeed different. Have you tried triggers and had any reactions?"
Ranma mulled what he said over. " Yeah! I showed her pops and she reacted like she usually does to him." Doctor Tofu nodded. " That's a good sign." He went and grabbed a book from off the shelf, as he thumbed through it. " Similar to your past plight, where I used pressure points, it might help." Ranma nodded. "Whatever you gotta do, doc."
Doctor Tofu nodded back. " Alright Ranma, have a seat out in the waiting room." Ranma took his leave, as asked. Ranka looked a bit nervous. Doctor Tofu smiled. " Alright Ranka, I'm just going to apply some pressure and you might feel a bit of pain, here and there."
After he had hit certain spots, while gently massaging her head, he took notes as she could tell she was having some pain. He offered to send her home with pain medication, but she declined.
They soon met back up with Ranma as Doctor Tofu, explained things, before they took their leave.
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As they walked back, Ranma muttered about the amazons intently, not taking notice of the incoming attack, as Ivory jumped from out of no where, from very up high. So, her impact was heavy as she smashed her fist down in their way, with such a powerful force, that the pavement exploded and sent both siblings, flying a bit of a ways, onto the ground, in opposite directions.
Ranma recovered faster at getting back up, as he shook his head and back and forth and growled in anger. Ranka took a little longer to pull herself up from the ground. Ivory flexed, as she patted her arm. " You know it's all YOUR fault, Onna, that I had to use my monstrous strength." She cchted at her human disguise, having started to come un done, as one of her horns from her head was showing and part of her face, showing off her she-devil red skin.
Ranka's eyes widened at seeing that and hearing what she had said, as she had her one hand to her head. Ivory curled her lip. " I see, always defiant." Ranma threw a bunch of punches and kicks at her. " Go back to hell and stay there!" Ivory, narrowly dodged his furious attacks, as she glowered. " Alright then.. Ranka, just know, "this" will be YOUR fault, for your defiance."
She chuckled as she shed her human disguise, showing her she-devil form fully, as well as unleashing her demonic strength further, as she faced off with Ranma, plowing her fist into his gut, making him stagger back some. " With Ranma Saotome out of the way, maybe you'll want to listen!" She then lashed out as she grabbed him by his neck, hoisting him up. With her other hand, at seeing his green gem, lighting up, she took hold of it, by the gem, as she grasped it in fist with force, making it crack.
Ranka's shock turned to anger, as she lashed out at her, charging her and pummeling her furiously with her fists, before moving to pummel, each side of her side's, multiple times. It made her angry enough, she lost her grip on Ranma as she paid Ranka back, slam, kicking her in her gut, making her go tumbling a ways.
Ivory then charged over to where Ranka was trying to get up, grabbing her by her up by her arm, dangling her by it. "Repent for your sins to the master." She sneered as she started to bend back her arm, making her grit her teeth, as she tried to kick at her.
She was too busy with Ranka and under estimated Ranma, as he had used the time to bounce back, as he fired off the blast attack, right at the demon. " Shishi Hokodan!" He made sure it hit Ivory, so it didn't hit Ranka, and she was able to get out of the way, as the she-devil lost her grip on her. Ivory screamed as it plowed into her, blasting her off a ways.
Ranma grabbed Ranka by her hand and they made a mad dash, away from the area as they rushed back to the house. They stayed out on the back porch, as Ranka shut her eyes and had her gem, heal their wounds. Ranma cchted as he held what was left of his green gem. " That demon wench was trying to rip off your arm, wasn't she?" Ranka moved her arm about, showing it was okay. Ranma rubbed at his neck, looking angry. "I'm guessing you do remember her."
Ranka nodded sadly. " It came back to me.. and she knew it.." She hung her head and clenched her fists. Ranma gave her a stern look. " Ranka.." Ranka gritted her teeth. " Their serious Ranma.. Ivory's dead serious, now.." Ranma hahed. " I don't give a crap, I'm NOT letting them win!" He then rubbed at the back of his head. " So, do you remember things now?"
Ranka looked off the other way. " Some things." Ranma hmmed. " Well you fought her." Ranka tensed up some. " It just, came to me.." Ranma smiled some. " Hey, that means it's coming back to ya." Ranka rubbed at her arm, sheepishly. " Maybe.." Ranma scratched at his head. " Do you remember mom?" Ranka looked upset. " Not really.."
They eventually went inside, though they were reluctant to. Nodoka fussed over Ranka. She then left them in charge of watching Tenka, while she ran out on some errands.
Ryoga had his arms crossed as he encountered Ranma. " So tell me Ranma, where did you run off to with Ranka, without a word to your mother?" Ranma curled his lip at his rival, as he went off into the kitchen to get a drink.
Ryoga got all nervous at seeing Ranka. " Ahaha.. hello Ranka." Ranka sweat dropped at him. " Hey.. you.." She said with a nervous smile. Ryoga froze up like a statue, for various reasons. Tenka kicked her feet about, while sitting on the couch. " Hey, remember me?" Ranka shook her head, back and forth. Tenka snickered. " I'm your best friend and you killed my parents, so you owe me, big time." She said as she pointed her finger at her.
Ranka gave her a glare. " Am not." Tenka huhed. " Yeah but you don't remember me, right? So of course you wouldn't remember all of that." Ranka curled her lip at her. " Your attitude isn't very friendly, like or make any sense." Ranma came into the room with his drink, taking a seat on the couch, giving Tenka a whack, with the bottom of his cup. " Stop lying, hell-brat." Ranka gave her an annoyed look as she sat down on the couch, giving her a bonk to her head as well. " "That's" for lying." Tenka growled in frustration, taking it out on Ranma, by taking her cup of water and flinging the contents, at him. Ranma shielded himself by shoving Ryoga into the path, who was still frozen, who changed into P-chan. Ranka's attention was on him.
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It wasn't long after school was out, that two unexpected guests, showed up and pushed their way in. Akane had ended up telling Ukyo, as well as Sayuri, with the two fiancee's rushing over to the Saotomes as soon as possible. Ukyo pushed Akane aside. " Ranka, is it true, you don't remember anyone? You don't remember me?" She looked really upset. Ranka bit her lip, as she took from what she did recall. " Spatula girl." Ukyo looked a bit displeased, but also a bit happy about being acknowledged in some way. " Hah, yeah that's me."
Akane shoved her out of the way. " And me?" Ranka looked thoughtful with her arms crossed. "a very angry girl." Akane bristled. " YOU take that back!" Ranma intervened. " Cool it Akane, you wanna be mad, be mad at your friend Sayuri, this is "her" fault." Akane looked upset. Ukyo beamed. " Oh come on Akane, at least she remembers you in some way."
Akane growled about to start trouble, till she spotted P-chan, her anger dropping as she scooped him up into a tight embrace, to her chest. " Oh P-chan, there you are!" She swooned and bathed him in attention, earning some weird looks from Ranka. Ranma grumbled with his arms crossed.
Tenka rolled about on the floor, having been wrapped and rolled up like a caterpillar in sheets. "Let me out!" Ranma rolled her back and forth with his foot.
After awhile, Ukyo took her leave first, having to get back to her restaurant. Akane on the other hand was determined to get Ranka to remember her and pleaded that sentiment to Ranma. " I bet I can get her to remember me." She then grabbed Ranka by her hand and pulled her off upstairs. Ranma sweat dropped as he made sure to grab P-chan away from her. " Don't make me have to interfere." He said to Akane as a warning, about going too far, but she had already left the room.
Upstairs she had dragged Ranka off to the room, shutting the door behind them, deciding the more drastic the measures, the better the chance, like how Ranma had shocked her back, in the past. Akane went through Ranka's dresser, pulling out the chinese outfit. " Well go on, put it on."
Ranka scowled at it, finding it unpleasant, unlike the other ones, Shampoo had her wear. Akane furrowed her brows, as she rolled up her sleeves. " Your gonna wear it, Ranka."
A few seconds down stairs, Ranma and P-chan sweat dropped at hearing loud noises from upstairs. Ranma groaned, as he could tell, Akane was up to no good.
Back upstairs, Akane chased after Ranka around the room with the outfit, with Ranka dodging her attempts. Akane got more annoyed as she huffed and puffed, resorting to distracting her, as she pulled up the red gem necklace, she was wearing. " Look Ranka, you gave me "this." Ranka stood still as she looked at it and then down at her own. Akane then made her move as tackled her, managing to get the top on her.
With both girls huffing and panting, before Akane made her next move, working fast as she braided up Ranka's loose hair, into a braided pigtail. Ranka went wide eyed in shock, at seeing herself in the mirror, as she stumbled backwards, grabbing her head. Akane felt a bit guilty at seeing how pained she looked. " Ranka, it's for your own good."
Ranka growled as she un did the pigtail and yanked the top off, looking furious. " THAT WAS DIRTY, AKANE!" She shoved her away, so she stumbled back some, before she was shoved out of from the room, with Ranka slamming the door shut in her face. Akane got all angry at being shut out and banged on the door. " Hey! It worked didn't it?" Ranka yelled back at her. " Go away.."
Akane went to start banging on the door again, only to have Ranma appear and hold her arm back with a stern look. " That's enough already, Akane." Akane huffed as she pulled her arm away. " It worked though." Ranma hustled her off downstairs. " You went too far as usual, so you should go, Akane."
Akane looked upset. " Don't lecture me Ranma, wouldn't you do the same, if it meant she'd remember you?!" Ranma shook his head back and forth. " Not if it went too far. Sure you got your way, but not in a good way." He crossed his arms. " You never made up with Ranka before, so you've just made it even worse now." Akane bristled at him. " So what, if I had, then you wouldn't be mad about me going too far?!" Ranma sighed. " Not as mad, anyway's."
Akane clenched her fist, too angry to remember P-chan had been about, as she stormed out. P-chan had also made sure to hide, after Ranma went upstairs to deal with Akane. As he didn't want to end up getting taken away from where he was.
Ranma went back upstairs and let Ranka know that Akane had left, he didn't bother her further after that. Instead he took care of P-chan, getting him off to the bath tub. as he needed to talk with Ryoga.
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When Ryoga had turned back, he and Ranma had their talk. While Ranma understood to a point, why Akane had gone so far, it had still been way too far. He didn't exactly know the details, but knew it had gone too far. It had shown him that what he had in mind was also drastic, it still wasn't as bad as what Akane did.
Though he hated to have to once again turn to his rival for assistance. He sighed deeply as he groaned. " Ryoga, under the circumstances.." Ryoga was able to pick up on what his rival had in mind, as he got all flustered." You want me to shock Ranka, like before, with.. a kiss.." He fidgeted with his fingers all nervously. Ranma gave him a stern look. " Try a hug first.." Ryoga looked all stupid, happy as he ignored him.
Tenka tsk tsked from her cocoon. Ranma rolled her back and forth, with his foot again. "Just in case that's not enough, you'll help." Tenka hahed. " Why would I do that?" Ranma kept at it, rolling her with his foot. " I'll tell mom about your shape shifting powers, if you don't." Tenka shuddered at hearing that. " You suck.."
Ranma waited a while before he got Ranka to come downstairs, as he had Ryoga out on the porch. Then he set it up so, she went out there, thinking Nodoka had asked her to go water the garden. She gehed at seeing Ryoga was out there. " Hey.." Ryoga clenched his fists, a bit nervous. " Ranka, I love you." He figured that repeating a past action would be the most shocking, as he backed her into the wall and leaned in. Her eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed, as she stood there frozen.
Off in the living room, Ranma freed Tenka and shoved her off to the porch. While she wasn't thrilled about helping, she would at least enjoy having fun with it. As she used her shape-shifting ability to take on Ranka's form, stroding out there as she pulled Ryoga away from the real Ranka. " Oh Ryoga, I love you too!" She said in a super seductive voice, before grabbing him by his face and planting a sloppy kiss on his face, making him shudder.
Ranka clenched her fists in anger as she watched, but also her face was ten shades of red, as she lashed out and socked Ryoga in his face. " Pervert!" She ran off upstairs in a tizzy, shutting her door behind her.
Tenka snickered as she turned back into her current form, going back off to the living room, leaving a shocked Ryoga. After a few minutes he rubbed at his mouth with his hand, making spluttering noises, at having been mock, kissed by the demon. Though she had looked like Ranka, he could tell it wasn't her. He went back to the living room, rubbing his face. " "That" had better worked Ranma.."
Ranma hehed at him with a cheeky smile. " Sure it did, pervert." Ryoga bristled at him. " Stop, mocking me!" Tenka hahed. " Hey, boy-girl, since I did you a favor, now you gotta do one for me." Ranma hehed. " Oh, is that what you think?" Tenka gave him a look. " Yeah, see you made me do that and Ranka too, so it's only fair "you", do it too."
Ranma ughed. " And if I say no?" Tenka heh hehed. " I'll be sure to tell on you. If you take one for the team, you won't be in as much trouble with your sisters." Ranma clenched his fists as he went off and turned into a girl, before coming back, slapping a piece of tape over Ryoga's lips, before touching her lips to it. Ranma-chan blahed as she stuck her tongue out, then ripping the piece of tape off the lost boys lips. " Okay, we're all even now."
Tenka gave her a glare. " I could've used tape, that's not fair!" Ranma-chan shrugged her shoulders. " You didn't ask." Tenka glowered at her, before running off upstairs to her room. Ranka struggled in her own, as she held her head, curled up in her bed.
Down in the living room Ryoga griped with what had been done. "Are you really sure, you didn't just make it worse, Ranma." Ranma came back, having turned back into a guy. " Maybe for you." Ryoga growled as he clenched his fist. "Ranma.." Ranma sighed. "She reacted, so it still worked." Ryoga rubbed at his face, with an annoyed look at Ranma. "Yeah, by getting her angry with me.."
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It wasn't that much longer until Nodoka returned with groceries in tow, which Ryoga helped her with. Then shortly after dinner came and Nodoka tried to get Ranka to come down, but wasn't successful. Ranma when asked, told her how Akane and Ukyo had visited and Akane had meddled too far.
Ryoga started to feel guilty after dinner, seeing how Ranka wouldn't come downstairs. He growled at Ranma. " I should've said no, when you asked." Ranma waved him off, not wanting to deal with him. Nodoka had gone off upstairs, to try to talk to her daughter.
She gave a knock to her door, announcing it was her, before she entered. She set the plate of rice cakes down on the dresser. " Ranka dear, I brought you some food." Ranka was all curled up in her bed, under her blankets as she quietly replied. " I'm not hungry.." Nodoka frowned as she took her leave for the time being, not wanting to push it.
After putting Tenka to bed, she tried again, this time, having made up a soup. She made sure to turn on the light, which disturbed Ranka as she groaned. Nodoka smiled as she set the tray down on the desktop. " I made you some soup, Ranka dear, it's chock full of ingredients, that aid in memory." She then picked up a tonic, showing it off. " I also got you this drink, ginseng is very good for memory."
Ranka looked a bit distraught, as she could tell Nodoka meant well and it made her feel guilty, that she couldn't remember her, being her mother. Nodoka prattled on, till she got Ranka to have some of the soup. Ranka shuddered at how bad it tasted. Nodoka's eyes shimmered with hope, as she kept on her about it and about having some of the tonic.
She knew the woman's pestering wouldn't stop, so she subjected herself to the tonic, almost falling over, at how strong and bitter it had been. Nodoka smiled, as she took away the bowl and the tonic. " Alright Ranka dear, we'll have some more tonic tomorrow then." She said as she took her leave.
Nodoka came back downstairs with a smile on her face. Ryoga couldn't help but inquire. " Mrs. Saotome, were you able to get Ranka to eat something?" Nodoka smiled. " Yes, and plenty of memory aids." Ryoga took notice of the tonic bottle and she caught him looking at it. "Oh yes, this tonic is full of ginseng, which aids memory." Ryoga sweat dropped at hearing about the tonic, as they were usually pretty nasty tasting.
Ranma got up and excused himself, as he went off upstairs to take a bath, before bed, figuring he'd try to check in on his sister after. Having got into the bath tub with hot water as he laid back and relaxed. He didn't immediately hear the scratching at the window, as Shampoo kitty, stuck her paw through the opening, pushing the window open enough, that she could squeeze in.
She purred as she leapt down and into the tub, having caught Ranma's attention a bit too late as he ahhed. Shampoo surfaced from the water as she glomped onto Ranma as she giggled. Ranma un tangled her off from him. " Knock it off, Shampoo!" He was a bit flustered. Shampoo jumped up as she reached her hand out through the window, pulling a little satchel through, before she hopped out of the tub and draped a towel around herself. " Shampoo come see her airens. I bring special incense for Ranka."
Ranma had ducked down some, giving her an annoyed look. Shampoo smiled as she left the bathroom in the towel. Ranma grumbled as he finished his bath quickly, drying off and changing, before running off after Shampoo, as she was about to enter Ranka's room. He gave her a stern look as he held out his hand. " Hand it over." Shampoo gave him a look. " Why Ranma, try to stop Shampoo from helping Ranka?" Ranma hahed. " Oh yeah like that other incense, you and the old ghoul used on her before. No way, now hand it over."
Shampoo puffed her cheeks at him. " Ranma, no trust Shampoo, this special incense for memory." Ranma tried to swipe it from her, but she hopped away. "And I said, hand it over." Shampoo shoved the satchel down the towel, before sticking her tongue out at Ranma, letting herself into Ranka's room and shutting the door behind her.
Ranma growled as he thought about going and turning into a girl, to go in and go after Shampoo, but had a feeling she'd still make him look bad, like she had in the past. He grumbled as he gave up and went off to his own room, having to trust the amazon.
Off in the room, Shampoo turned the light on and glomped onto Ranka. " Shampoo bring her airen, special incense for memory." She yanked the satchel up from between her boobs. Ranka looked like she was going to get sick. " Ugh.. too tight.." Shampoo let go of her at seeing that. " Ranka, no feel good?" Ranka stuck her tongue out some. " Blargh.." She was going to say no about memory aids, especially if it had been by digestible means, but let it pass, since it wasn't.
She took notice she was wearing nothing but a towel. " Why don't you put on some clothes." Shampoo giggled as she switched the towel over for a long t-shirt, then taking the incense burner, setting it on the desk and using what she brought to start it up. Then she hopped into bed with Ranka.
While back downstairs, Nodoka had heard the familiar voice, and her son bickering. She sighed, having a feeling the amazon girl had let herself in again. Ryoga also knew that Shampoo was there, as he looked upset, as he excused himself, as he took off upstairs. He had moved too fast, as he smacked into the wall, face first.
Ranka had just finished up getting ready for bed as she opened the bathroom door at hearing the commotion, seeing him, like that. Ryoga pulled himself off from the wall, his face bright red at seeing Ranka, and she was looking at him. He got more flustered as he jumped back. " Ahaha Ranka.. I.. I'm sorry about before.." He ranted on. " I shouldn't have listened to Ranma.." Ranka looked pretty calm, as she walked by, though a bit flustered. " At least your sorry." She said before disappearing back into her room, with her hand to her mouth, still feeling queasy.
Soon everyone was in bed for the night and asleep. Shampoo was nestled in the blankets, cuddled up to Ranka, as the incense floated through the air. Through out the night, Ranka tossed and turned as all the memory aids, paired with the incense, brought back some memories, starting to fill the sink up.
8888
Unlike the other morning, Nodoka made sure to wake Ranka up, as she shook her head, back and forth in a disapproving way at seeing Shampoo. " Shampoo, I do wish you wouldn't let yourself in." She couldn't fuss much more as she was Ranma and Ranka's fiancee. She did nag Ranka to come downstairs and have breakfast, before taking her leave.
A few minutes later, her and Shampoo were at the table with everyone else. Even though she had no appetite. Nodoka frowned at seeing she wasn't eating anything, but had learned when in doubt, try rice balls. She nagged her daughter till she had some and chided her about taking some tonic, putting the bottle down in front of her.
Shampoo grabbed the bottle, peering at the contents, also taking a sample taste, before looking disgusted. "Mother, you try to kill Ranka with this?" Nodoka frowned. " It's a tonic, just for memory." Shampoo wrinkled up her nose. " No need, Shampoo have special incense for that. No will kill, Ranka."
Tenka found herself curious as she swiped the bottle of tonic, popping it open and taking a dab to her tongue, immediately regretting it, as she shoved more of her spiced food into her mouth, before she slid the bottle back.
Ranka groaned as she rubbed at her stomach, with a distressed look. " "It", really might, mom.." Nodoka perked up. " Ranka.." Her eyes shimmered. " The tonic worked." Shampoo shook her head. " No, Shampoo's incense, that no kill Ranka, did." Tenka decided to be a brat as usual. " Hey, you still owe me for killing my parents." Ranka shot her a death glare. " Shut up, hell-brat."
Nodoka clasped her hands together, too happy to let the rude attitude, bother her. Shampoo finished eating. " Shampoo come by soon, but right now she got to get back." She got up and went off upstairs. Nodoka decided to try something else, as she showcased Ryoga. " Ranka, do you know who he is?" Ranka looked off the other way. " Well, it's Ryoga.." Nodoka eyes sparkled, as did with Ryoga's, with tears streaming down his face happily.
Ranma pulled her off out to the porch with him, while his mother and rival were busy. " Hey, so I guess that incense Shampoo brought, was, what she said huh. You remember everything, now?" He asked excitedly. Ranka hmmed as she rubbed at her head. " I remember some things." Ranma huhed. " Well you know mom." Ranka played with her gem. " I know she's mom, yeah." Ranma looked a bit annoyed. " So things are still clouded." Ranka rubbed at the temple of her head. " Yeah.."
While he was annoyed, he was excited to see that she was better than she had been. " We'd better go see Doctor Tofu again. You know him, right?" He asked as he tried to test her. Ranka nodded. " He's the doctor, obviously." Ranma quirked an eyebrow at her. " And?" Ranka blinked. " He, likes tofu?" Ranma also fell over, but caught himself as he sighed and laughed a tad. It was clear his sister was doing a bit better with memories but they were still clouded, she knew the basics. That was better than nothing, but he hoped the doctor could further help, with that.
He took her by the hand. " Cmon, let's go see Doctor Tofu, for a follow up." Ranka looked back at the door to the house. " Shouldn't we tell mom, though?" Ranma grumbled as he slumped his shoulders, as they went off inside and he let her know, before they left.
It wasn't long before they were at the clinic, with how fast they had moved, and Doctor Tofu was already looking Ranka over. The other day he had pressed on a pressure point on her spine, that hadn't reacted, where today, when he pressed on that point she reacted a bit. Similar to how he had dealt with Ranma in the past. His glasses shined as he revealed his find, about the pressure point, regarding memory. " Well this is very good news, that she reacted, unlike the other day." He jotted down some notes, before moving on. " Alright, now to check a bit further." He explained what he was doing to her, as he massaged her head, hitting memory points and seeing reactions. " It seems like the gears are turning." As he referred to the memories coming back.
Ranma was all excited. " Alright, I knew you could figure it out, doc!" Doctor Tofu smiled back. " Come now, I'm sure I don't deserve all the credit. I imagine, others have also helped." Ranma huhed. " You helped first though. Well Shampoo and the ghoul did too I guess." Doctor Tofu nodded. " I think everything helped." Ranma hmmed. " My mom got a tonic for memory." Doctor Tofu adjusted his glasses. " Oh the ginseng one, that's some really strong stuff." Ranka groaned at hearing about it. Ranma sweat dropped. " Yeah, that's the one." Doctor Tofu smiled. " It's exceptional for memory and works wonders, but is extremely potent." He adjusted his glasses again. " You don't have much of an appetite today, do you Ranka?"
Ranka looked perplexed as she nodded. Ranma hmmed. " I think my mom also made a really potent soup for memory, too." Doctor Tofu laughed nervously. " Well.. it's only because she cares." He went over to his cabinet, pulling out some medicine. " Just in case though, here's something that will help soothe your stomach and I assure you, it's not bitter."
After they left, they made sure to move fast, to get back. Nodoka of course fussed over Ranka. " How did it go?" She looked to Ranma and didn't get a reply, then her gaze fell on the bag of medicine, seeing it was for stomach aches, making her put her hand to her face. " Oh.." It made her feel guilty, for the soup and tonic the other night.
She felt bad, but would still have to be strict with both of them. " Ranma, Ranka, make sure your homework is done, as you've already missed a day." Ranma grumbled as he went off upstairs with Ranka, to go do, just that.
Having made sure he turned into a girl, before he went into the room with Ranka, as they sat down at the ground table, with their book bags. Ranma-chan took out the materials and assignments. Nodoka slipped in, setting down a plate of some rice balls, before slipping back out.
Ranma-chan sighed as she took one and munched on it. Ranka looked over the stomach medicine's instructions, before taking one as well, having enough, so she was able to take some of the medicine. She was thankful, that as the doctor had said, it wasn't bitter. She just didn't feel well, as she waited for it to help, with her head down on the table.
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A few minutes later, she got poked at by Ranma, on her arm, which startled her as they linked. All the rush of images of memories, flooded her head, as she fell over backwards. Ranma-chan leaned over, with a concerned look, from where she was sitting. " You okay?" Ranka laid on the ground for a few seconds, blinking a few times, before getting herself back up. Within that time, Ranma figured the jest of what had happened, as she could tell their link was back to normal.
She had a big grin on her face. " So, do you remember everything now?" Ranka rubbed at her head. " Yeah, I think so." Ranma-chan sighed a huge breath of relief. " About time, I wasn't sure if you were gonna bounce back or not. I guess it would've been different if you had drank the whole drink.."
Ranka looked upset as she started to get her school work out from her back pack. " Yeah, pretty much." She sighed heavily as she started to get to work, with her stomach feeling better from the medicine. " That's just going to piss "them" off even more.."
It took some time before they finished and Ranka picked a bit more at the same rice cake. " You and mom have been on bad terms." Ranma-chan had her arms crossed, looking frustrated. " Pretty much.." Ranka sighed as she linked up with her twin, to see the events that had transpired between Ranma and their mother.
Ranma-chan gripped onto her pants with her hands. " She said you wouldn't want us treating Sayuri poorly.." Ranka rubbed at the temple of her head. " It's complicated, I understand both your side and moms. I get why you felt that way, but moms right.. It's not like Sayuri did it out of malice. "It" was still wrong though."
She looked distraught as she continued with her head down. " I can't say I'm not upset with her either, much less with myself.. I didn't think I had to worry about Sayuri, in that kinda way." She clenched one of her fists as she looked pained. " Even though she was used, even though.. she's Akane's friend and kinda mine too.."
Ranma-chan rubbed at the back of her head. " It's rough that's for sure. I'm just glad I don't have to do that. I get it's kinda harder for you to."
Ranka nodded. " Kinda like how, I wouldn't over step with Hiroshi and Daisuke, but yeah like you said, I don't have to be super friendly with them, like how it is for you and Sayuri." Ranma-chan waved her hand about. " Over step by all means, if they get out of hand, it ain't gonna upset me. It's definitely a different story with Akane and her friends."
Ranka ahemed as she steered the conversation back to the point. " Whether you agree or not with mom, she's in charge, so you gotta make nice." Ranma-chan groaned. " It's more annoying she was right.." Ranka gave her a dull look. " Get over it, so the airs not so tense between you and her." Ranma-chan hehed as she smiled. " Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. It's good to hear ya again, being your usual self." Ranka looked a bit flustered at hearing that. Ranma-chan exhaled deeply. " It's the push I needed to hear."
She couldn't help but inquire further about Sayuri. " So, you're not gonna accept lunch from her anymore, right?" Ranka looked a bit upset. " Isn't that obvious.. I know she didn't mean to, but she still.. crossed a very serious line and I can't let that go.."
Ranma-chan fidgeted with her pencil, showing her nerves, were at play. " How, do I.. do that though?" Ranka sighed as she helped her sibling, through it. " Just own up, say how you feel, but get that she was also right and say your sorry. If you really wanna make mom super happy, you could bake her an apology cake. She loves those damn things.."
Ranma-chan groaned about having to. Ranka hmmed. " Or you could go demon hunting with her, or something." Ranma-chan slumped her shoulders, looking frustrated. " Ugh, I guess I'll bake a damn cake then.."
Ranka pondered some more options. " Or get her a nice flower." Ranma-chan put her head down on the table. " You know how she is about leaving the house, that and those devil wenches, will try to start some crap again. I'd rather take the cake option, at this point.."
With that being said, once they finished with their homework, they went downstairs and off to the kitchen. Ranka made up her own cake as well, so it made Ranma feel better about it. Nodoka was busy outside with Tenka, tending to the laundry.
While they waited for the cakes to bake, they sat on the couch in the living room, where Ryoga was watching tv. He perked up at seeing Ranka as he smiled nervously. " How did the doctors go, Ranka?" Ranma-chan gave him an annoyed look as she jumped in to answer. " Great, now you can leave." Ryoga curled his lip at Ranma, before returning to smiling at Ranka. " Really? That's great to hear! I, shouldn't have listened to Ranma.."
Ranka looked off the other way. " Like I said, at least "your" sorry, about it." Ryoga laughed a bit nervously with a dumb smile on his face, which annoyed Ranma more. They went back and forth from the kitchen, until they had finished their cakes and put them away.
Once Nodoka had finished with laundry chores and went off to the kitchen, the two siblings had been conversing, silently, with Ranka guiding Ranma on showing the cake and then owning up. Which she did as she sheepishly, showed her mother the cake that had "sorry" written on it, as she shuffled her feet about. Nodoka clasped her hands together to her mouth, with big, bright eyes, seeing how much effort her son/daughter had gone through for her.
Ranma-chan tightened her fist some. " I.. still don't completely agree, but.. I know you're kinda right.." Nodoka smiled as she embraced her for a minute. They both sighed, happily at having their rift, resolved.
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After having accomplished that, Ranma-chan went off upstairs to the bathroom to go change back into a guy, with a quick, hot shower. Just as he had finished, was when Akane and Ukyo showed up again.
He got himself, back downstairs, just in time and also took notice that Ryoga had acted quickly, turning himself into P-chan and hiding, under the couch. They were fussing over Ranka, both excited at seeing that she knew who they were, though things were tense between her and Akane.
Ranma took notice of that as well, as he had Akane go out on the porch with him. Akane got frustrated about it. " What's your problem, Ranma?" Ranma gave her a dull look. " Your the one with the problem, Akane. Or did you forget?" Akane looked annoyed. " I "don't" have a problem, but YOU, sure do!" Ranma hehed as he shrugged his shoulders. " Yeah, sure Akane. You fought with Ranka and then you had another fight and never fixed anything."
Off inside, Ranka and Ukyo talked, while Nodoka had Tenka off in the kitchen with her. Ukyo smiled. " That's great, you remember everything. Sayuri's been miserable, she was torn about coming along." Ranka looked down. " It's probably better that she didn't." Ukyo frowned. " It's a tough situation and it could happen to anyone, just keep that in mind, okay sug?"
Ranka nodded in understanding. " I get that Ukyo, but she crossed a serious line.." Ukyo put hand on her shoulder. " Just remember Ranka, she's still our friend. Well of course she's Akane's friend first, but you get what I'm trying to say." Ranka sighed heavily. " Yeah, I do." Ukyo wrung her hands. " But I get the difficult position your in." Ranka smiled a tad. " Thanks Ukyo."
Ukyo gave her a look. " So, I guess you and Akane are fighting?" Ranka hahed. " You guess right." Ukyo smiled a bit. " Well, I'm glad it's not me. I'm gonna talk to Ranma huney a bit, and then head out."
A few seconds later, Akane stormed off inside, as she huffed, with her attention on Ranka. " "We", need to talk.." Ranka quirked an eyebrow at her with an annoyed look. " Do, we?" Akane fidgeted some. " Yes, we do.." Ukyo went off out to the porch, to go see Ranma.
Ranma greeted her as she did. Ukyo smiled at him. " You're in a much better mood, now that Ranka's memories are back." Ranma rubbed at the back of his head with a bit of smile. Ukyo frowned some. " Ranma huney, try not to be too hard on Sayuri." Ranma crossed his arms. " Too late.." Ukyo sighed. " I mean from now on." Ranma exhaled deeply. " "That's" asking a lot Ukyo.." Ukyo nodded. " I know, but try, okay?" She looked off the other way some. " Well I'm going to head back, see you later Ranma-huney."
When she went back in, she didn't see anyone in the living room and saw herself out. Akane and Ranka had gone off upstairs to her room, to try to talk.
Upstairs in Ranka's room, Akane and her, gave each other both annoyed looks, though it was Ranka who had more anger in her glare. Which in turn irked Akane more as she slapped her hands down on the ground floor table, they were sitting at. " Are you going to stop being mad or what?!" Ranka spat back at her. " I got a lot to be mad about!"
Akane threw it right back at her. " I see, you do remember me." Ranka pfted. " Wish I didn't."
Akane tightened her fists at her, it'd hit her harder, when Ranka was mad at her and she was acting more like Ranma. She also felt the guilt, hit her more. She arghhed in frustration. " It's YOUR fault, for getting too close to Sayuri!"
Ranka slammed her fist down on the table, showing her own frustration. " MY fault?! Hah, that's hilarious.. YOUR the one who told me to be closer to her! " "I" was against it, like the sleep over and you practically begged me.. But when I tried to help protect her, you had one of your bull tantrums!"
Akane aahed. " What did you say?!" Ranka hmfped. "There ya go, kicking your hooves about, ready to charge." Akane arghhed as she clenched her fists and hung her head. " I'm sorry okay.." She wrung her hands about sheepishly. " I..couldn't help it.."
Ranka put her hand to her face with a dull look on her face. " Oh that your a jealous green eyed monster?" Akane twitched a bit at having that thrown at her. " WHO told you, that?! IT better not have been Ranma!"
Ranka hahed. " Would you stop with that crap already, Akane. It wasn't Ranma." Akane huffed. " Of course you'd say that, YOU always protect him.. If not Ranma, it was Shampoo, wasn't it?!"
Ranka looked up at the ceiling for a second, not wanting to get the amazon in trouble, even though it was true. She thought of a better option. "It was Nabiki, but don't tell her I said that, or she'll take it out on me and Ranma."
Akane ughed. " Arghh Nabiki.." She muttered to herself. Ranka still gave her a cold look, which made Akane flinch some. Akane rubbed at her head nervously. " I uh.." She tightened her fists. " I went too far but.. I"
Ranka cut her off sharply. " Save it Akane.. All of you.. you say, oh you don't have to do that, but then, you keep changing your minds, now don't you.." Akane shifted about nervously. " I tried not to be, but okay.. it's a bad habit." She said with her face flushing. "And.. it worked.."
Ranka mimicked her back with an annoyed look. " Well ladeda, don't you always go overboard." Akane fidgeted. " I'm sorry, tell me what I need to do, so we're not fighting anymore.."
Ranka hmmed as she crossed her arms. "Let me think on it, for a bit." She sighed as she leaned back. " More importantly, what do you want me to do about Sayuri?"
Akane looked a bit distressed. " It's my fault, your so close now. I don't want you to ignore Sayuri, as we're all friends, now." Ranka had a concerned look on her face. " Okay, well here's what I was thinking, that we blame you Akane, for being too jealous and can't be too friendly anymore. I'll go out with her and then you'll come in."
She looked upset as she continued. " After what happened, I can't fully trust Sayuri, like I had, because that's what, did me in.."
She looked pained as she continued. " I didn't think to question her suspiciously, since she's always making me a lunch. I know it makes her happy, but it can't continue anymore." She gave Akane an annoyed look. " Since you're so jealous that I like her more than friends."
Akane's face flushed some as she admitted her faults. " I told you.. I couldn't help it.." She started to get annoyed as well again. " I know you don't, now.." Ranka wouldn't let her get away with it though. " That's right, because I unfournately can't help having feelings about you.."
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Things were broken up when Nodoka called them downstairs and tried to get Akane to stay, to which she declined and took her leave. Nodoka shook her head in dismay at Ranka. " Ranka dear.. have you and Akane made up, because it certainly did not sound like it." Ranka gave her mother an annoyed look. " Like I told Akane, I got A LOT to be mad about.." She crossed her arms. " We ironed it out. You know she's not the easiest person to talk to." Ranma nodded in agreement.
Nodoka put her hand to her head. " Well dear you should've tried to approach it in a different way." Ranka hahed. " Oh right, yeah.. the lady like way, right? Sorry to disappoint you, that ain't happening." She muttered under her breath. " I'm going for a walk."
Nodoka bellowed after her. " Ranka!" She didn't get to say more as she heard the front door shut sharply, as she had already left. Tenka giggled from the living room, at the turmoil. Ranma, let his mother know he was going after her, as he took off after his sister, leaving a shocked Nodoka.
Ranma caught up to his sister, and got some of her anger as she shot back at him. " What, you going to get on me too." Ranma gave her a look. " Hey now.. I didn't come cuz mom said to or nothing. You know I'm not." He rubbed at the back of his head. " Boy Akane put you in a really bad mood though, for ya to snap at mom like that."
Ranka kept walking as she huffed. " Yeah sorry, I'm just in a really bad mood and right now I don't care if I disobeyed mom.. I get sick and tired of her saying she tries to get it, only for her to moan on about how I will NEVER be her perfection of a lady.."
Ranma sighed. " You know as well as I do, that's just how mom is. She'll never be able to completely deal with how either of us are. So, you and Akane ironed things out? Sounds like she made it hard to though, as usual."
Ranka nodded in agreement. " She usually does, it didn't help, I'm also mad.." Ranma hahed nervously. " Yeah, but she was angrier, I bet. Anyways we should head back." Ranka kept walking. " Yep. I'm not done taking a walk, so "they" wanna start a fight, "they" can go right ahead." Ranma sweat dropped as he kept walking.
Of course the demon wenches showed up and tried to start crap and taunt Ranka. Ivory decided to be a real prick as she went straight after Ranma, intent on finishing what she had started before. There was no holding back from Ranka, as she took her anger out on Ivory, bull dozing herself off into her at a high speed, to intercept her lunge at Ranma. When Alley tried to move in, she after pummeling the hell out of Ivory with her fists, having knocked the wind out of her, used her anger to fuel her as she grabbed her up by her legs and swung her around like a rag doll, throwing her off, so she slammed into Alley.
Ranma stayed out of it, letting her go at them, since they had been particularly stupid enough to come at her, when she was in such a volatile mood. She huffed and puffed as she gave them both kicks to their sides, before walking away, grumbling to herself. Ranma hehed at the demon wenches. " Boy, did they ask for it."
Ranka huffed. " "They" sure did." She groaned as they started to head back towards the house. " I'd rather keep walking.." Ranma ahahed. " I get that, but you know it'll be worse the longer you stay out." Ranka sighed. " It's bad anyways, since I just left, even when she said not to.." Ranma nodded. " You less mad now, that you beat the crap out of the demon wenches?" Ranka rubbed at her wrist. " Pretty much."
Ranma had cheeky smile on his face. " Or we could go tag team pops." Ranka laughed a tad. " It's tempting but I don't think Mr. Tendo would like "that" happening again and that'd mean more punishment than I'm gonna get from mom." Ranma shrugged his shoulders. " Why should Mr. Tendo be mad? It's not him that's getting beat down."
They both sighed as they got back and entered the house, to be met by an angry mother. Though it was Ranka she was more mad with, as Ranma had told her, he was going after her. No, Ranka disregarded and ignored her. Ranka looked down. " I'm sorry, I just.. needed to take a walk.." Nodoka gave her daughter a stern look. " There will be repercussions for your actions." Ranka ughed as she nodded. Nodoka then went back off into the kitchen. Ranma sweat dropped as it was tense, similar to how when he and his mom had been fighting.
Tenka giggled from the couch. " Oooh, " someone's" in A LOT of trouble." Ranka gave her a glare. " I just beat the crap out of two demon wenches, you wanna be the third one?" She held up a tightened fist, that made Tenka eep. Tenka tried to play it off. " Hah, you, wouldn't dare." Ranka gave her another glare. " Wanna find out? I'm already in trouble, so what's a few more punishments." Ranma hahed. " She'll do it." Tenka sunk down into the couch cushion, shutting her mouth.
Both siblings went off upstairs, with Ranma going to take a bath and Ranka went off to her room, so she could go sneak out on the rooftop, since she couldn't go for a walk. While they had been gone, Ryoga had changed back and made his move, though it was more of a guess, which turned out correct for him.
Ranka had made sure she had a barrier up around the house, as added protection, on top of her mothers demon wards. She gave the lost boy an annoyed and frustrated look. "What? You gonna lay into me too?" Ryoga sat down quickly as he shook his head, back and forth, nervously. " No, why would I do that?" Ranka gave him an annoyed look. " Because I fought with Akane."
Ryoga scratched at his head. " Well that's just how girls seem to sort things out, right?" Ranka hahed. " My mom would disagree.." Ryoga fidgeted with his fingers as he tried to change the subject. " Well I'm sure Akane's sorry for what she did."
Ranka laughed a tad. " "She's" really not. It's the same old thing. Everyone wants me to dress and look exactly like Ranma. I bet that's what YOU want too, isn't it!" Ryoga shook his head, back and forth, furiously. " NO WAY! I like.. you.. just the way "you" are.." His face started to get more flushed as he rambled on. " I don't care if you do or don't dress like Ranma." He fussed a bit nervously. " Actually.. it's better that you don't, because your not."
Ranka looked off the other way, really fast to hide how badly she was blushing, and tried to say otherwise. Ryoga blocked her off from doing so, as he cut in. " I mean it, Ranka, you're "you." Ranka laughed a bit with a small smile. " Knock it off already, will you.. You know.."
Ryoga had a stern look on his face, that was red, as he put his hands on her shoulders. " You're Ranma's sister." Ranka furrowed her brows at him, as she gently, smacked his hands off her. He aahed all nervously at having been a bit too forward with her, as he fwailed his hands about. " I'm, sorry I wasn't thinking."
Ranka had a dull look on her face. " Clearly not." Ryoga tried to change the subject again, as he rubbed at the back of his head. " Uh so your mom's punishing you, by not wanting you to help cook dinner with her?" Ranka hahed. " Just showing she's disappointed in me. Yeah that's nothing."
Ryoga tightened his fist. " It's not nothing, you enjoy.. cooking with your mom. Your mother can be so nice but she can also be kind of cruel.. " Ranka laughed some again. " Neither one of us, would enjoy each others company, with how we're feeling." Ryoga gave her a concerned look. " Still though, I can tell, that hurts you." Ranka furrowed her brows at him. " Mind your business.."
Ryoga hung his head, as he fidgeted with his fingers. " I, really am sorry about going too far, with things, but I'm also glad you were able to remember everything." He fumbled about nervously. " Though.. I, wouldn't have given up, even if, you never remembered things again.."
Ranka looked off the other way, really fast again, to hide her red face, as she shook her head back and forth in dismay at how persistent he was. Though it touched her, she tried her best to push him away. " Enough already, go find yourself a real girl, already.." She got up and went off inside, shutting the window behind her.
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Once it was time for dinner, Ranka thought about skipping, but knew, going that route at this point and time, wouldn't end well for her. She was already in trouble, so she pushed herself to go downstairs. The meal went by silently, as did clean up, which Nodoka carried out on her own.
It was after that, that she addressed her daughter, as she set down a huge pile of tailsman's papers. " Ranka, I expect you to finish, before bed." Ranma sweat dropped at the huge pile. Tenka snickered, from her seat on the couch. Ryoga couldn't help but say something. " Mrs. Saotome.." Nodoka held up her hand. " Ryoga, do remember you are a guest." He shrunk back on his seat on the couch as he bowed his head, in apology.
Ranka huffed as she got to work on writing with the ink. Nodoka had her arms crossed. " And when you finish with those, I want you to polish all the katana's, till they shimmer with a reflection." Ryoga hung his head at having to endure, watching Nodoka's actions.
After a while, Nodoka took Tenka off upstairs, to get her ready for bed. Ryoga growled as he grabbed Ranma by his shirt collar. " Ranma, you have to do something!" Ranma smacked his hand off him. " What do ya want me to do about?" Ryoga gave him a stern look. " She's your mother.." Ranma furrowed his brows at him. " Yeah, that don't mean she's gonna listen to me." Ryoga agonized. " But, it's so cruel, don't you care?" Ranma gave him an annoyed look, before he whacked his rival over the head, with his fist. " Durr."
Ranka shot back at the lost boy. " Knock it off, your just gonna make it worse, if you keep yammering on about it." She kept to her task. Ryoga looked frustrated, before looking around for Nodoka. Ranka had caught on to what he was planning. " Don't, "she'll" know." Ranma nodded with his arms crossed as he sweat dropped. " "She" really will, man.."
As the night wore on, she kept at her task, after the guys had gone off upstairs to bed. Ryoga snuck back down, while Ranma was busy, as he approached Ranka. She was busy stretching her arms, here and there, as she had finally finished the huge stack of tailsman's.
Ryoga rubbed at the back of his head, feeling a bit nervous to approach her, but pushed through it, as he sat down, on the other side of the ground, floor table. " You should just call it a night, you've done more than enough."
Ranka flexed her fingers about. " I just finished so, I will be doing that." Ryoga couldn't help but wonder though. " Did you finish, doing everything then?" Ranka scratched at her head. " No.. I'll do the rest tomorrow." She fidgeted a bit from where she was sitting. " I'm sorry I got so mad before, I'm just.. really cranky."
Ryoga felt like he was on cloud nine, but grounded himself. " You went through a lot. Besides you can't really take it out on Akane's friend, right? I sort of know how she may be feeling, since I fell for the demon's, fortune telling disguise as well.."
Ranka gave him a look. " Hey now.. you didn't, willingly poison me though." She muttered to herself. " I started to realize it was the same thing, right before I blacked out.." Ryoga shook his head, back and forth. " No, but I fell for it, just the same." Ranka gave him a concerned look. " You can't really say it's the same. You're a martial artist and your strong, so it's a lot harder for "them" to sway you, compared to Sayuri, she's just a love sick, human girl, with no resistance."
Ryoga's heart was thumping away at hearing her praise him. Ranka gave him a small smirk. " Hey, maybe you and Sayuri should get together." Ryoga shook his head back and forth, furiously. " No, I could never do that." Ranka kept egging him on. " Sure you can, and even better she's a real girl and you both like Akane, it's perfect."
Ryoga looked frustrated. " I don't want her. "You" are a real girl, Ranka." Ranka shook her head, back and forth. " No, I'm not.." Ryoga took a deep breath. " Well I think you are, and.. perfect, just the way, you are.." Ranka furrowed her brows at him with a flushed face. " Do you even know, what a girl, is?" Ryoga tightened his fists. " I don't want that." Ranka kept trying to push him away. " Oh cmon, you should at least try to go on a date with Sayuri."
Ryoga hung his head. " I don't want that, besides.. would you be okay, with me hurting her? You said it yourself, that I'm strong and she's weak. I can't imagine, taking Akane's friend out. Even Akane.. is out of my reach." Ranka looked a bit flustered at having the facts, thrown out there. " No.. just, forget it, okay." She got up and said good night to him, before going off upstairs, a bit annoyed at having her plan thwarted. She didn't think about how, it was true, Sayuri was weak and Ryoga was scary, strong as well as clumsy and could accidental hurt a normal girl.
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Once she finished getting ready for bed, she went off to her room, where Ranma-chan was waiting. Ranma-chan gave her an annoyed look. " I was about to go look for ya, since there's a perverted pig, about." Ranka smiled a tad as she got into her own bed. " I just finished, with the tailsman's and the perverted pig, didn't do anything." She sighed as she pulled out a magazine to flip through. " I tried to set him up on going out on a date with Sayuri.."
Ranma-chan, almost fell out of her bed, but caught herself, in time. " I get it but, well.. that's a horrible idea.." Ranka groaned. " I know that.. well.. now I do.." She said sheepishly. "It's his damn fault and I didn't think about it.. so well." Ranma-chan nodded. " Ah, nope.. Ryoga's.. dangerous, in more ways than one." Ranka ughed as she sank back, into her pillow.
Ranma-chan tried to pry a bit more. " So, I guess you and Akane made up." Ranka hahed. " Basically.. and discussed, what to do about Sayuri.." Ranma-chan rubbed at the back of her head. " That was to not accept her lunches, right?" Ranka looked upset. " More than that. I mean there was a reason I was trying to set Ryoga up with her.." Ranma-chan snapped her fingers as she got the message. " Gotcha."
Ranka sighed as she shut the magazine shut and tossed it off the bed. "It's Akane's fault, so it's only fitting, she take the blame." Ranma-chan nodded in agreement. " Pretty much."
She crossed her arms. " So, you and Akane are gonna let her off easy, on a girly date tomorrow then." Ranka nodded with a guilty look. Ranma-chan gave her sister a concerned look. " But, you don't want to?" Ranka looked off the other way. " I guess, I'm just a bit torn about it.. having to hurt her feelings." She vented about it. " I guess I kinda.. got too used to it, which I blame Akane for.."
Ranma-chan nodded. " Hey, she got what she nagged, for." Ranka played with her necklace. " I know it's not like we won't be on friendly terms, but it'd be better if she can get a boyfriend." Ranma-chan hmmed, looking deep in thought for a moment, before an idea, hit her. " Oooh! Maybe I can try to get Hirosuke or Daisuke, to try to go out with her."
Ranka gave her siblings a perplexed look. " I dunno.. that's kinda.." Ranma-chan looked confused. " Kinda, what?" Ranka hmmed. " Well, think about it, your best friend and Akane's best friend. If everyone's getting along, it'd work, but what about when you and Akane are fighting?" Ranma-chan quirked an eyebrow at her sister. " What, about it?"
Ranka rubbed at her head. " Well.. each one might be mad about their friend, fighting with their friends, friend." Ranma-chan hmmed. " Yeah.. I didn't think about that, but we won't know that, till we try, right?" Ranka looked a bit uncertain. " I guess, so?"
Ranma-chan gave her a concerned look. " Hey, you feeling okay? Or do you need some more of that tonic?" Ranka looked all frazzled at hearing that. " I'm fine, but.. I won't be if I have anymore of that stuff.." Ranma-chan hmmed. " Yeah but it did help." Ranka shook her head back and forth, furiously. " No way, I refuse to accept that it did.. Shampoo's incense helped a lot."
Ranma-chan gave her a questioning look. " And so didn't Doctor Tofu, or don't you remember?" Ranka hmmed. " I remember, he likes tofu." Ranma-chan gave her an odd look. Ranka mused. " Especially if it's been made by Kasumi." Ranma-chan chuckled a bit at hearing that. " You had me sweating, for a sec there." Ranka tsked her sibling. " I told you, I'm fine, it just kinda stuck, it's catchy."
Ranma-chan felt uncertain and questioned her sibling further with a bit of stern look. "You don't seem "fine." Ranka looked a bit distressed. " Well gee, I mean.. I just keep digging a deeper hole for myself." She hehed some to herself.
Ranma-chan could tell what her sister was talking about as she frowned. " You ain't gotta answer to that red jerk, anymore." Ranka looked off the other way. " Yeah.." Though she said that, Ranma could tell, what else was bothering her and tried her best to comfort her sibling. " You know it wouldn't have worked out with Sayuri anyways. You may both be girls, but well, you know."
Ranka got flustered. " I don't like her that way! I know.." She rolled back over and disappeared under her blankets, saying goodnight to her sibling.
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As the first day of the weekend had begun, and everyone had breakfast, Ranka fussed over what to wear for the day, while Ranma kept trying to nag Ryoga enough to get him to leave. Where Nodoka would reel him back as she reminded him about getting his video game privilege back, by behaving.
After awhile Ranka settled on a casual outfit and a hoodie, jacket as she came downstairs. Nodoka's attention shifted from her son to her daughter as she frowned. Ryoga on the other hand, always loved, what ever she was wearing, it didn't have to be a dress. Ranka gave her mother a dull look as she carried on about her outfit choice, as she took out a purple bow from her pocket, which she tied up into her hair.
Nodoka was appeased enough by that act, that she stopped her chattering. Ranka looked irritated, but it was a small price to pay to satisfy her mother, enough to get her off her back. Though Nodoka carried on about a different matter instead, mainly about not staying out too late, as she sent her daughter off. She couldn't help but show her displeasure at seeing Ranka choose sneakers to wear, instead of a nicer pair of shoes, but those were better than boots.
A few minutes after she had left, the boys had followed. Ranma tried to get Ryoga to go away, but he was persistent, until Ranma fooled him, putting his attention awry, as well as his direction. While he knew Akane would be coming a bit later, he still felt un easy, leaving Ranka alone with Sayuri.
Un known to him, from the opposite direction, Ukyo was also following a ways, with her intention on spying, out of concern as well. Within a few minutes their path's crossed as they were on the same road. Ranma and her both pointed accusingly at each other, at the same time.
Ukyo asserted herself at seeing her and him, had the same thing in mind. " Why don't we go on date, Ranma-huney." She said with a smile. Ranma rubbed at the back of his head nervously, knowing he couldn't really say no, since he had done so with Shampoo. He'd just have to be extra careful when Akane showed up, or leave before then.
Ukyo squealed with joy at getting Ranma to agree and had made sure to dress casual, so she wouldn't stand out. Also having her hair done differently, with it up in a ponytail, with a sweater and pants on as her and Ranma snuck about.
Having gotten to the cafe, Ranka greeted Sayuri as she took a seat with her, at an outdoor table. Ranma and Ukyo, sat at an outdoor table at the cafe next door, where a wall separated them from view, yet were still close enough to spy.
Sayuri almost teared up at seeing how Ranka had came. She carried on about the menu and suggested something. Ranka looked off the other way. " Yeah, I'm gonna go with something different.." Once they had put in their orders and they had arrived, Ranka used her gem to make sure the food was safe.
Sayuri couldn't help but question her and got shot back, at. Ranka frowned. " Well, who knows if it's poisoned." Sayuri tensed up with a guilty look. " You hate me.. don't you?" Ranka stirred at her tea. " I just need to be even more careful now, now don't I."
Not too far off behind the wall, Ukyo frowned at what she was hearing. " Ranka's being a bit too harsh, don't you think Ran-chan?" Ranma gave her a dull look, as he stirred his tea as he hahed. " That's nothing." Ukyo looked annoyed as she stirred her own tea. Ranma finished one of the sandwiches. " It's not like she's yelling at her."
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It wasn't too much longer that Akane showed up as she greeted them, before taking a seat at the table. They chattered about for a few minutes and after Akane ordered and got her food, they all enjoyed their food.
It was after they were done that Ranka folded her hands and looked more serious as she addressed Sayuri further about making her lunch at school. Sayuri looked hurt at hearing that. Ranka looked off the other way. " Just make them for Akane, if you want." She then gave Akane a nudge to her arm, with her elbow.
Sayuri questioned Ranka about her abrupt decision. Akane got a bit flustered at what she had to do, as she cleared her throat. " Sayuri, I.. I like Ranka.." Her cheeks flushed as she went on. " I thought I was okay with it.. but.." Ranka had a dull look on her face. " She's a green eyed monster." Akane shot her a glare and gave her soft kick, under the table to her leg with her own. " Watch it!" Ranka gave her a smug look. " Yeah, but that's not all, right Akane?"
Akane grumbled a she hung her head and took responsibility for her brash actions, having to further embarrass herself. " Well I.. Ranka and Ranma are so similar.." Sayuri's eyes widened as she nodded in agreement and smiled a bit. " You're so greedy Akane." Akane's face turned red with how frazzled she looked as she hung her head.
Off next door at the other cafe, Ranma and Ukyo had been listening intently and continued to, till the group had taken their leave. Ukyo seemed satisfied at how things had gone down, once Akane had admitted and owned up to things. Ranma sighed a breath of relief after Akane had left, until Nabiki of all people, popped up from no where. Nabiki shook her finger at him. " Shame on you Ranma, tossing my poor little sister a side."
Ukyo frowned at her. " Hey now, what are you up to?" Nabiki smirked back. " I can't help but document such things, you know." Ranma looked nervous, knowing she had taken pictures of him and Ukyo and would use them to black mail him. Nabiki also took the moment to further her profits as she pulled out a bunch of pictures of Ranma, to tempt Ukyo with.
She smirked as the spatula girl, fell and she profited further. Ranma groaned at the whole thing.
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A bit later, Ranma and Ranka met up as they headed back. He could tell she was upset. She knew he had been spying with Ukyo, but kept quiet a bout the matter, not really caring. He rubbed at the back of his head. " You didn't have a nice girls day out, did ya?"
Ranka cracked a small smile for a brief second, before frowning. " I, just couldn't act like it." She rubbed at her arm, sheepishly. " It didn't go according to the plan." Ranma hmmed as they kept walking. " You weren't mean to her though." Ranka shrugged. " I wasn't exactly nice, either." She looked distressed. " I probably upset Ukyo, didn't I?"
Ranma scratched at his head. " She got over it." Ranka smiled briefly, as she knew he had vouched for her.
When they got back to the house, Nodoka was a bit surprised to see them back. She couldn't help but question Ranka, about it. " Ranka, weren't you and Akane and Sayuri having a girls day?" Ranka got a bit annoyed at being reminded. " I couldn't fake it, okay!" Nodoka looked a bit alarmed at getting anger from her daughter. " Ranka.." Ranka took off upstairs, and retreated to her room.
Ranma could tell how shocked his mother was from it, but also explained to her, the best he could. "You know, Ranka went through a lot, so she's really upset." Tenka having over heard, couldn't help but throw her two cents in, as she swung her feet about, from where she was sitting on the couch. " Well, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows, coming back from something, you weren't supposed to come back from, like everything's okay." That earned glares from both Ranma and Nodoka.
Tenka shrank back some but was annoyed. " Well it's true, she wasn't supposed to regain her memories." Ranma gave her a deadly glare. " There ya go again, running your damn mouth like you know, exactly what's going on? Why.. is that?" Nodoka crossed her arms with a stern look. " Why, indeed? Tenka dear, is there something you'd like to say?"
Tenka had both of them on her back, making her sweat. " Well I.. I'm just stating the facts." Nodoka furrowed her brows more at her. " It doesn't help." Tenka hahed. " Well, why would I want to help? I am a demon after all." Ranma hahed back. " See mom, I kept telling ya, she's a hell-brat, through!" Nodoka rubbed at the temples of her head. " That's enough!"
She was feeling very stressed and usually Ranka would comfort her, but with her not in the right state of mind and things still rocky between them, she needed it elsewhere. She went over to the closet, getting on her coat and to the entrance as she put her shoes on, stating she would be going out for a bit and Ranma and Ranka were in charge and she expected them, to at least not kill Tenka.
As soon as she had left, closing the front door behind her, Ranma smirked evilly at Tenka, who gulped and tried to make a run for it.
Ranka came downstairs not too long after, to see Tenka all rolled up in a blanket. " Mom went out huh." Ranma was sitting and watching tv. " Yep, the hell-brat wouldn't shut up." He rolled her back and forth with his foot. " You feeling any better?" Ranka sat down on the couch, looking down. " Not, really.."
Tenka couldn't help but seize the moment. " Aww poor widdle traitor, another friend down the tube. You really have bad luck with keeping friends, don't you?" She laughed tauntingly at her. While she was upset she also stood her ground with the demon child, giving her a glare. " You know mommy dearest isn't here, to protect you right? Or cook for you."
Ranka hehed. " Keep talking smart ass and I'll make sure your food has NO spice, maybe even some holy water." Tenka looked all frazzled. " You wouldn't dare!" She tried to call her bluff. Ranka gave her a cold look. " You wanna find out?" Ranma hahed. " She'll do it, so you better shut up, besides it's fine as long as we don't kill ya." Ranka hehed. " Even then, I could just heal her up, good as new."
Tenka heh hehed as she had, had enough, using her shape-shifting ability as she shifted form into a snake, to escape her rolled up prison, before taking on Sayuri's form, to get back at Ranka. She made sad puppy dog eyes at her. " Are you, really going to hurt me?" Ranka curled her lip as she had her arms crossed. Ranma crossed his arms as well. " Cut the crap, or we'll tell mom about your shape shifting."
Tenka hissed as she turned back, with her arms crossed. " Go ahead, you probably already did anyways!" Ranma hahed. " Not yet, but keep it up and I will!" Ranka smiled. " Sure, we could've told her, but then we wouldn't be able to use you in a pinch." Tenka hahed as she felt she had the upper hand. " Maybe, I'll tell her myself and then both you dorks, will get in big trouble!"
Ranma hahed right back at her. " You'll get in trouble too though, hell-brat!" Ranka nodded. " Guilty by association." Ranma smirked. " That's right, if we go down, so do YOU!" Tenka gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as she arghhed in frustration.
While she was throwing a tantrum, the two siblings went off upstairs, to go search her room, while she was busy. Tenka's ear twitched as she heard the door to her room, making her stop her fit, as she zoomed upstairs after them, jumping about angrily. She hopped about. " Hey! YOU can't just invade my room, like that!"
Ranka gave her an annoyed look, while Ranma was busy, looking around through things in the hell-brats room. " Oh yeah? Like YOU, invaded and ransacked MY room." Tenka ranted back at her. " Your a traitor!" Ranka huffed. " And we're stuck with each other, family, whether we like it or not. Family doesn't pull that crap. Besides, fair is fair." She gave her a suspicious look. " Or? Are you trying to hide something?"
Tenka hahed. " It still doesn't give you the right to go in MY room!" She would've been more nervous if she hadn't had the ring on her, so she knew Ranma wouldn't find anything in her room.
Ranma came out a few minutes later, looking frustrated. " You must've used some kinda demon trickery to hide stuff." Tenka couldn't help but mess with him as she gave him a super cute look. " How could you say that to your little sister, we're family, aren't we?"
Ranma gave her a glare. " You know we're not, or only when it's convenient for you." Tenka acted all sweet. " How could you mess up my room, when I didn't do anything wrong. I wasn't the one who poisoned Ranka."
Ranma hahed at her. " I know, you're not completely innocent, you can't fool me, like ya do to mom." Tenka hehed as she shrugged. " What can I do? I can't even leave the house. I haven't seen any of my kin, since I last got caught."
Ranka had her arms crossed as she watched them banter, back and forth. " Well you can't blame Ranma for being suspicious. You say that, but.. you did have a magical item, that you used to keep in contact with your kin."
Tenka cchted in annoyance at her, for having to bring that up and infuriated her as she hopped about angrily. " And YOU broke it!" She hissed at Ranka. Ranka hahed as she shrugged her shoulders with a cheeky smile. " Yet, I gave you another one." Tenka bristled at having that thrown back at her. " A stupid toy! That's what YOU mocked me with!" Ranma gave her a glare. " Hey, your lucky you even, got "that."
Tenka growled as she held out her gem necklace. " I bet YOU mocked me with "this" as well!" Ranka blinked at her. " How so?" Tenka hahed. " YOU damn well know you could've gave me a better one!" Ranma gave her another glare. " Again, you're lucky you even got that one!" Ranka nodded in agreement. " I took pity on you, that's the only reason you have it."
She hahed. " You act like I can make all powerful gems." Tenka glared at her. " Well, can't you?!" Ranka shook her head back and forth. " I'm not as great as you think I am." She furrowed her brows at her. " Even if I could, I would never give you, the power to contact your kin." Tenka glared furiously at her. " That's why your a stinkin traitor! The greatest traitor, EVER to hell!" She screamed at her loudly, before running off to her room, slamming the door shut behind her, furiously.
Notes:
copyright- I do not own Ranma 1/2 or any of it's characters
