Son Turned Daughter, Chapter 03
An unusual disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 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., and his characters Megumi, Yasushi and Ayane have, likewise, been borrowed without permission. 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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Tangent wrote that he gave up on his story (in 20004) because of the angst that was developing around it. I am getting through that. Things take a brighter turn eventually. (Skip to the chapter, Courting Ranma and see,)
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Chapter 03
Ranma buried her red, wet face in the shoulder of the girls gym teacher, a Miss Niōriki, as the girls changed back into their uniforms. There was no more teasing, no comments like before when the little redhead 'raised as a boy' was embarrassed at seeing girls undressing in the locker room for the first time in 'her' life. There was very little talk at all. There was little but the whispered comforting words as the woman hugged the poor girl. Ranma heard the echo of her heartbeat behind another pair of breasts, albeit, ones in a bra.
When Yasushi returned with Ranma's Chinese clothes from the bushes they had been hidden under, those girls who hadn't left knew it was time to. Miss Niōriki gently pried the small girl from her. She gave her over to the waiting Akane Tendō and left as well.
Ranma couldn't look Akane in the face. "Some man among men I am. Pop was right. Girls are weak." Akane looked at the the twisted locker door and the cracked fist-sized holes in the floor and cinder-block walls her upset friend had made. "I never cry!"
"Men cry! My dad does, All the time!" Admittedly, it wasn't something she was proud of.
"And I've never done nothing like this!" Ranma said, sweeping a hand at the damage. "A martial artist has to stay in control or not just things, but people can be damaged – Killed!"
Akane nodded, embarrassed that she hadn't shown the restraint the Code demanded of her. "Here. Get dressed. We're going…" an inspiration struck, "to see a doctor!"
"I ain't hurt." Physically.
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It was a many blocks journey away from the school. Akane had to prompt her friend to move and half-support her. A few times the redhead tried to pull away from her and take her hand away from her hourglass waist. But in the end, she had to lean towards her again and accept a low hug,
It had been several minutes of this by the time they reached what the signs on building's kiosk column said was a clinic specializing in accupuncture/moxibustion/chiropractic care.
"Dr. Tōfū, it's me, Akane! Are you free? I have a patient for you. It's not me, this time!"
"Mrs. Otonashi, you don't have to leave!" a man's voice said.
"I won't feel comfortable with her here! You-know-who may visit!" and the old lady in a kimono came into and out of the waiting room.
Ranma saw a tall, fit-looking man in a brown martial arts gi and glasses come out greet them. "Akane! And who is this young woman with you?"
Ranma teared up and cried, "I ain't a woman!"
Akane gathered her up in her arms, and said, "Can we talk somewhere more private?"
"How private?" the man smiled as he showed them towards an examining room.
They ended up in the empty infirmary upstairs.
"I ain't a woman!" Ranma insisted again. But her energy left her as she mumbled, "I ain't a man, either."
"Prepare yourself, Dr. Tōfū," Akane told him. She had taken his teakettle, but, first, explained that there were these Cursed Springs of Jusenkyō that–"
"Oh, so, Ranma is cursed. And judging by the teakettle…" he took it from the long-haired girl, "this is not Ranma's true form."
A doctor of excellent bedside manner, he did not let any surprise show when the petite yet curvaceous redhead was instantly replaced a taller, lithe, young man with midnight hair. "Glad to meet you, Ranma-kun." His smile seemed genuine and welcoming.
"Man!" Ranma-kun growled, wiping the tears from his face. "As if i didn't hate bein' a girl before! Girls are too emotional! Forget their physical strength, that's their weak spot!"
Without looking at Akane, Dr. Tōfū held up his hand towards her. He was sure she was ready to violently disagree. "Women have to deal with surges of hormones, and none more when they are your age. And while both women and men have the same hormones, their brains can process them differently. And you, Ranma, have a female brain when you have a female body,"
The still red-eyed male could actually understand that. He could treat it as tactical information on his opponent, in this case, the girl he was forced to respond to. "That explains why I do some stuff I'd never do as a guy." Argh! Cutesy stuff! Cowering when Shampoo is near. And…" "They do come with the body. It ain't me." That's a relief.
"Now, you won't like my prescription, but as a fellow martial artist, I'm sure you'll understand. Akane and those who are born girls have had a far greater practice in the art of being a girl than you. You are far more vulnerable to your female impulses while a girl than they are. This puts you at a disadvantage."
The pigtailed boy nodded. "The weak points I have when girl leave me open to attacks by emotions." His mood became grave as he realized, "My ki techniques are powered by my emotions! My emotions ran wild today and I practically destroyed the girls locker room! I'm a danger to others when girl!"
Dr. Tōfū looked at Akane. She nodded. Then she wondered why he kept looking at her. She suddenly had an impulse to get angry. Only…she couldn't muster up enough when it was meant to be against her crush.
"I need to find a way to stop turnin' girl, or…or…."
The man nodded. "That is my prescription as a doctor and my advice to another martial artist."
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The girls in Furinkan uniforms left; the redhead was carrying a bag with the kung fu hanfu clothes in it. But her free hand was doing something else. "Man~n. I thought just wearin' a skirt would make me uncomfortable, but your dress is too tight against boobs!"
Akane was struggling with her anger, "I'm sorry I have a smaller bust than you! And stop pulling at it! Girls do not do that in public!"
They continued their walk towards her home and Ranma continued making faces.
It wasn't long before her hands slipped under the skirt.
"You do want guys to notice you!"
"No, of course I don't! But it fees like your panties wanna fall down. They're loose."
Akane was tempted to use the two bookbags she was carrying and….
She remembered what Dr. Tōfū had told her while Ranma was changing. She, Akane, was going to be very important in helping the boy in him get control of his girl-half.
It sounded almost sexist, but she understood where the wise doctor was coming from. She, too, was a martial artist, after all. A part of her was almost grateful that she hadn't been taught ki techniques.
The rest of her was definitely not grateful!
Akane yanked down on Ranma's skirt.
Ranma's hands were forced down. Feeling no panties around where they were meant to belong had her thinking about what had happened out on the school field less than an hour ago: She had gone outside with no panties or bloomers and everybody saw that, as that evil Megumi had put it, she was a natural redhead. And that included guys.
Ranma quickly yanked the panties up: Snugly!
Akane's hand was knocked free of the skirt. A different tactic: "Oh, look, is that Hiroshi and Daisuke?"
"Who?" Ranma looked at her.
"They're friends, somehow, of Sayuri and Yuka, and two of the biggest, immature perverts at school."
Ranma still hadn't gotten it.
She still hadn't acquired a girls perspective. "They'll love ogling, leering and making cheap come-ons to you. You're acting like the kind of girl they'd love to date."
"I don't date guys!" the redhead yelled, looking around for the creeps.
There was only a middle-aged woman returning from the market.
"Ranma! Don't ever say that! People will think you are – that I am – lez, les…" She couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.
"There's too many things i have to learn as a girl!" Ranma cried in frustration. Born girls have had plenty of time to learn everything!
Akane put both bookbags in one hand so she could hug the neo-girl's shoulder with the other. "Think of it as being part of the Martial Arts School of Womanhood."
"Half the time," Ranma mumbled, "I hope I don't get their techniques mixed up with the guy's version."
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Ranma's outward mood suddenly changed when she reached the Tendō 's. She was bound and determined to get her revenge on her idiot pop.
But the first one they encountered was Kasumi, who seemed ever alert as to who was in her house. "Oh, my! You really are registered as a girl at school."
"Yes, I am! And I'm gonna stay a girl at school!" And she twirled so her skirt billowed out , almost revealing she was wearing panties, and definitely showing she wasn't wearing boxers.
Her act was spoiled when she stopped but her boobs didn't want to. She brought her hands up to the distressed bust.
"Ranma's wearing the spare uniform I keep at the clinic for when the one I'm wearing gets damaged in my fights. Uh, could you alter it so it fits him better?"
"If that's what Ranma wants," Kasumi mildly showed she wasn't convinced that he did or should.
"Thank–" She was interrupted by Ranma's dad coming down the hall.
"Home early, are you, couldn't take it as–" His mouth had gotten ahead of his brain. What he finally did see did not meet his expectations. "What do you think you're doing!?"
"I'm fittin' in!" she did a decent giggle. "For once I'm gonna be stayin' in one place for at least a year!"
"Kasumi, the hot water! I'll not have a son of mine acting like a girl!"
"But it's okay to be a girl? You made me this way by takin' me to that cursed spring! So, suck on it!" She actually had the impulse to grab a boob and present it to him. It rapidly faded.
"Impudent whelp!" Genma said, coming for her.
"My dress!" Akane cried, putting herself between the two.
"Move aside, Akane. I don't fight girls."
"I'm a gir~l now!" And Ranma did another, more careful, twirl. She finished it up with a curtsy, knees bent and skirt out in her hands. Where did that come from?
Genma saw red. If looks could kill.
WHAM! Akane slammed a giat mallet down on the man, driving him into the floorboards. Where did that come from!?
"Aw, Akane, I coulda –" Then Ranma did warding signs with her fingers. What else was the violent girl capable of?!
Akane dropped the hammer in shock.
"Oh, my! I've never seen Akane do that before," Kasumi said.
"It is the stray magic from the curses. It has to be," Soun said, having witnessed everything from behind Genma. "The longer they stay with us, I dare say, the more we all will be affected."
Ranma felt the tears coming on. It wasn't fair! She had the chance for once in ten long years to stay in one place for a year or maybe more, and she had to leave after just two days!? It wasn't fair! She ran for the stairs to cry in the privacy of–
Akane ran up the stairs ahead of her. Crying.
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"Akane?" Ranma knocked on her door. She herself was still crying, but there weren't as many tears as there would have been if she were just focusing on her own misery. "Can I come in?" There was a muffled answer. Ranma took a chance and went in.
Akane was sitting up on her bed, curled around her pillow. One look at the weeping redhead and she turned her tearing eyes away. But she took her mouth away from the pillow. "Dr. Tōfū is right! I am a danger to others! That's why he hasn't trained me in any advanced techniques." Admitting that, she threw the pillow on the floor and herself on the bed, stomach down, hiding her face in her arms. Her misery was renewed.
It was Ranma's turn to try and comfort a friend. She knelt by the bed and placed her hand first on where she could feel Akane's bra band, then above it. "We, we both have stuff to learn. We won't if," and she tried to wipe her tears away, "all we do is cry about it."
Akane rolled her head. Then raised it. She saw her friend's tears being replaced by fire. "That's it! If the old fool thinks I'm old enough to marry, then I'm old enough to stay!"
The fire dwindled. "If you'll have me
"–No, I should go away. I don't want my magic hurtin' you, too."
All Akane did was reach out and take Ranma's hand. That was all she had to do.
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Kasumi with her stirring spoon was still standing guarding at the bottom of the stairs when Nabiki came home.
"You're early, Nabiki."
"I turned in the test I brought to school. Didn't even pretend to be taking it. I heard what happened at school."
"Oh, good! Maybe you could tell me. No one seems to tell me anything."
"I will…." She lost the thought.
"What happened here?" she asked, seeing broken floorboards and a large, wooden mallet in the main hall.
"Father says it was done with magic."
"Magic?!" Nabiki's mood turned like a wind vane.
"While both of our cursed houseguests were present, Akane hit Uncle Saotome with a hammer that came out of nowhere."
"Where is she now?"
"She's up in her room. Ranma's trying to comfort her."
Nabiki gasped and took a couple of steps backward as she watched the mallet disappear and the floorboards return to the way she remembered to them having been.
Kasumi smiled. "Oh, yes. I think Ranma has succeeded."
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"...Then I'm going on a training trip with Ranma!" Akane told the gathering of her family and the Saotomes.
"I do not allow females on our training trips!" Genma told her and them.
"I ain't goin' nowhere! I'm stayin'!" Then the changed and male Ranma became less adamant. "If Mr. Tendō 'll let me."
No, Daddy! Magic is illogical – There is no telling what will happen to us if they remain!" Nabiki argued.
"I will mean more work for me. But our lives have been getting a mite routine, Father," Kasumi told him.
Soun Tendō wept. "I rather liked our routine. I had more than enough adventures with Genma's and my martial arts master."
"May he rest forever in peace," Genma prayed.
"But while the Master's students, Genma and I made a solemn and sacred pledge that our two branches of the Anything-Goes School would be united by marriage and heir."
"It's been over ten years now," Genma quietly pondered out loud. "Maybe the memory of the Master has faded among his…. those that knew him." Maybe they did not have to repair the reputation of the school he founded.
"A vow is a vow and a pledge is a pledge. I have been maintaining this training hall for too long, waiting for you to return from your training trip, gathering new techniques. I will not see our plan fail!" Soun wept at the thought.
"What about the magic, Daddy!"
Soun's determination wavered. But he said, " 'What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger'. Is that not how the cliché goes? A martial artist improves his skills by being tested. –And magic will certainly put us to the test!"
"But what of us who don't want to be martial artists," Nabiki said, getting closer to Kasumi.
"You are the daughters of a dōjō master. You live with and from a dōjō."
"And we all practice or own form of martial arts," Kasumi smiled. Nabiki wondered just what the hell her older sister was thinking. But she did not argue with her. She knew she was defeated. Tactically. Nabiki prided herself at her ability to find a strategy to overcome or even find the opportunities in setbacks.
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Since everybody was at the table, Kasumi decided to serve a meal. It wouldn't be supper, but something light and delicious to make everybody feel better. And quick. She didn't know how long the truce would last.
They were all still pretty quiet and untalkative when she returned to set the table. "No water for my son!" Genma said, taking away the glass she had set down in front of the boy who couldn't be trusted with water.
"Hey! There's no food on the table and you're already swipin' my meal!" Ranma knew better, but fighting over food with his Old Man had become a habit. And he was in no mood to give the idiot the satisfaction of having won a battle!
The inevitable happened. To both of them. "Bwar!" complained the panda.
"Can't understand you!" the redhead told it, forcing a smile beneath her frown.
"Oh, my. I still have some bamboo left over. Maybe, as a panda, Unle Saotome would prefer that."
"That's right!" Ranma said, snatching its plate away. "People food is bad for animals like you!"
Of course the battle intensified. Soun, Kasumi, and Akane calmly ate from their plates. Nabiki, still spooked by magic, carefully but subtly studied the cursed pair's actions. She had to give them credit. They were skilled martial artists. What seemed an outright brawl wasn't allowed to involve others.
Then something happened that shouldn't have happened. A paw's claws ripped the front of Ranma's hanfu shirt. Her boobs fell out.
"Oh, my!" And Soun nearly choked on his food. "Oh, my," Kasumi sighed. And Akane brought out the mallet for second time.
And Nabiki snapped a picture of bared boobs.
Where did that come from? Making money selling candid photos had taught her how to hide her camera until the right moment. But she knew she hadn't brought her camera down.
WHAM! Click.
It had to have been magic!
It was an opportunity!
Maybe she had a reason to welcome magic into her life.
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While Ranma was in the furo, Kasumi was in the utility/laundry room. He discovered why she'd been there only after his soak in the hot furo tub.
"Your pants and spare shirt will be laundered in about 90 minutes, Ranma," Kasumi told him.
"Why'dyou hafta do all my clothes?(!)"
You were on the road a long time since you last laundered them. And whatever happened at school didn't help them. But you can change into your martial arts gi."
"I could if i had it anymore. It's a long story. I ended up wearin' chinese clothes because of it."
"You must tell us about it some time."
"I'd rather not. I'm not good at tellin' about…." His eyes fell on his friend, Akane. She was his friend, his first friend, only because he had told her the truth. And more than one truth. "Okay. I will."
Click.
"Nabiki!" Akane cried out and Ranma frowned.
"Beefcake!" she smiled, reminding them that a very athletic figure or a young man was standing before them in only his boxers.
And Akane did need reminding. She was getting so comfortable being around Ranma that she had failed to really notice how little he had on. Until now. "Cover up! Change into a girl!"
He looked down at himself. "Guys wear this much at the beach. And I'd have to cover up more if I'm a girl."
Click. Click. "I don't mind. Go right ahead, Ranma."
Ranma frowned at the middle sister again. Something was reinforcing his vow not to be like his old man and be a thief, too. Or borrow anything without asking. He couldn't bring himself to take her camera. Just like he couldn't take Akane's hammer away.
Click. "Too bad beefcake doesn't sell as well as cheesecake. Would you mind becoming a girl for me?"
"Yes, I'd mind! I have to be a girl at school. I don't hafta here! I can be myself!"
But he saw that Akane didn't want to look at him. She would try, but would then blush and turn away again.
With an aggravated sigh, he said, "Fine! Get me something that fits me and I'll change. –But no pictures of me without clothes on!"
Nabiki smirked at the latitude semantics gave her.
"I think my measurements come closest to yours as a girl, Ranma," Kasumi said. "Only…."
Only the eldest sister was nearly as tall as he was as a guy. Ranma was very much aware of how short she was when girl.
"I have some things in my room I will lend you. In the meantime," she said and, noting Akane's unease, took off her apron with the ruffles, "you can wear this."
And then Ranma saw other "only"s.
Only Kasumi was wearing a skirt that would come down to the (ac)cursed body's insoles. Only, Kasumi was wearing a skirt and a plain but elegant blouse. Did the woman own anything that wasn't feminine?
"You may be able to squeeze into one of my slacks," Nabiki offered.
"Really?"
"Sure! The tighter, the better," she smiled, holding up her camera.
"Why don't I just wait until the washin's done," he told them, refusing to put on the apron he held as long as he was a guy.
Then the front door slid open. "Ojama shimasu." It was that bitch Megumi from school! She got the ojama shimasu right; she would be a bother! And she'd brought her backup by the sound of them! Ranma splashed himself.
While the pigtailed girl was putting on the apron, Akane got ahead of her and blocked her way at the end of the main hall. "What do you want?! Another fight?! I beat you once! And I now know how you fight, so I can beat you easier this time!"
"I'll beat you without knowing your fightin' style!" the spitfire was so furious witht the bitch and her crew, she could burn most of the Code.
Megumi took her crude fighting stance, and Yasushi joined her.
"Uh, that's not the reason we came her after detention," Aane reminded them.
Megumi stood down. Then bowed down. The other two joined her. "You have every right to hate me. It was a mean, terrible thing I did. It was (because…)" Her voice faded.
"It's because she's jealous of you, Akane," Ayane said.
"And she now knows she can't beat you," Yasuchi said.
"Well, I was raised in a dōjō," Akane said, proud of her family's tradition in bujutsu not just budo martial arts.
"That's not it," Ayane said, looking at Yasushi, knowing as far as her companion was concerned that was it. "Megumi has the hots for Kunō-senpai."
"You mean the hots for his money," Nabiki said from behind Ranma. Before Megumi could get a strong glare at her, she added with a glint of greed, "I can't say I blame you. He's the richest eligible and ineligible guy around."
Megumi looked away. "It's more than that."
"Megumi has a thing for handsome guys," Yasushi smiled at her own memories of him.
"Her being the tough-type girl can get her tongue-tied," Ayane told them. The only time Megumi could speak well was when she thought she could control a situation as a leader. That was why Ayane was doing most of the speaking now. "You know how important eloquence is to Kunō."
"Too well," Akane said with angry memories.
"You want Kunō, and Akane doesn't. Maybe we can work out a deal," Nabiki offered.
"What!? Why should we want to help her?!" Ranma cried.
"We're not helping her. We're helping Akane. You do want to help your…friend(?)"
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Ranma was about to turn around and lead the way to the tea/common room when Nabiki tugged at her boxers. The pigtail girl's hands flew around and pulled the back of the apron closer together. She was still sensitive about what had happened in the locker room, including being teased about not wearing panties.
So, Ranma brought up the rear of the line of girls.
Instead of the tea/common room, though, they entered the first room down the hall, the formal parlor. It was done in very Japanese-traditional style. There was no table but some cushions on the tatami mat floor and a few armrests.
"Have some seats, ladies," Nabiki gestured but made sure not to include Ranma in it. But she was looking directly at her, when she added, "And I use the term loosely.
"As you all know, well, almost all of you, I have business dealings with Kunō-baby. He is a great patron of the arts and considers photography an art form."
Megumi and Yasushi snorted.
"I do not take money from Akane for, one, she's my sister, and, two, she doesn't want Kunō's attention.
"You, on the other hand, Megumi Sato, I will accept money from. As payment for matchmaking services."
"Can you really deliver?" Megumi was not convinced.
"With Akane's assistance, yes. Money-back almost guaranteed. How, you may ask. I'll tell you, when I get my first installment."
There was grumbling.
Akane broke it with, "If it'll get Kunō and that horde of hentai away from me, I'll contribute money."
"Me, too!" Ranma said. Uh, except, she didn't have any money right then.
That was enough for Megumi and Yasushi to ante-up, promising more money when they had it.
"Akane meet you new best friend, Megumi."
"Hey, I'm – That, that is, I mean –" Ranma's protest sputtered out.
Akane reached out to touch the hand of her real–
"Here you are, Ranma…-chan," Kasumi said, seeing the new guests. "I brought you the clothes. I'm sorry I took so long, but Nabiki's slacks–"
"That's okay, Kasumi. Did you bring panties?"
"Why, yes, I did." And she handed them to the embarrassed girl reaching round her back for them.
"You are trying to be more like a girl," Megumi said.
"When a girl, be like a girl." If her friends were going to be girls more than guys, she wanted to fit in with the group as much as she could. As long as she didn't lose his manhood along the way. Dr. Tōfū's explanation that a girl's body always had a girl's brain also meant a guy's body always had to have a guy's brain. That was what Ranma was placing her hope on.
Seeing that the apron kept her covered, Ranma took her plump butt off the cushion to pull her boxers down her legs and off, and did the reverse when pulling Kasumi's panties on. They fit too well! She wasn't used to the all-around, abbreviated snugness, especially in the crotch. A crotch without any manhood. She almost felt like crying. So not manly. But she reminded herself, I am a girl, later, I'll be a guy, but right now, I'm a girl.
"The first step is I take photos of Megumi and Akane together in the arena and dōjō, practicing the art."
"I'm not teaching a bully how to fight better! A true martial artist shouldn't fight the weak!" Akane told her. (She did other martial arts faults.)
"Yeah!" Ranma agreed.
"Excuse me, dōjō daughters!" Ayane spoke up. "How do you know any one of your students aren't or will become what you call a "bully"?"
"Well, we try and screen applicants. And, uh, observe their traits as they train. And, uh, um…"
"And risk going out of business," Nabiki said, too aware of that being her own daddy's philosophy and low-profit business model.
"By the purity of the ki," Ranma said definitively.
"Whatever," Nabiki said. "You won't be actually teaching Megumi or her friends, Akane. It's just or show!" And she brought out her camera. "I take photos of you two together, doing different things. Then my classmates Kunō sees them and schemes to get to you through Megumi. The begins Step Two of the plan. Which will be revealed when the time and money are right."
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As Akane, Megumi and the others headed for the dōjō, Kasumi said, "Ranma, you shouldn't go out like that. All that you have on is an apron and panties."
"Aw, I don't know why not. It's not like I'm gonna be out in the street. And there'll only be me and the girls. Like Akane said, I ain't got nothin; they ain't seen. As long as I'm a girl."
"You didn't make a good impression at school today, did you? Not with those three."
Kasumi had a point. And while she was offered lots of help with her schoolwork between classes – more in one day than she had gotten in all her years as a guy! – she noticed it was a different kind of treatment the other, born-girls, gave each other. Perhaps, she, for once in her life, should try to fit in. she had a whole year, maybe more, before she'd be yanked away! She just had to remind herself, I am a girl, I am a girl, later, I'll be a guy, but right now, I'm a girl.
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Ranma came out to the sandy area in front of the dōjō. She was wearing one of Kasumi's plain, white, short-sleeved blouses that still screamed, to her, femininity. And she was wearing one of Nabiki's slacks with the legs pinned up to keep her from stepping on the ends. Both were snug like the panties she wore. All too snug to do any of the punches and kicks Akane was doing to the practice dummy.
"Nice!" Nabiki smiled, turning her camera on the voluptuous cutie. Click. Click. "Turn around." Click. Click. Ranma actually followed her directing. Now for an opportunity to teach her about modeling.
But Ranma was only thinking about how Akane was moving and the force and angle of her delivery, and…
…And how much Megumi was trying to hide her fear. She really was a bully. But, Ranma hoped, not too deeply. She would know when she saw her use a ki technique. If she were even capable of doing any.
Yasushi nudged her companion. The more talkative did Ayane noticed and said blatantly, "How could anybody mistake you for a boy!(?) You're as short as a kid, but no boy has a figure like that. You're stacked!"
"Your nipples are showing," Yasushi said.
"I know," Ranma frowned. "This shirt's too snug."
"Like the pants," Ayane said.
"You have an ass like your tits," Yasushi said.
"I know," Ranma frowned more. "It, they come with the body. It's not like I had a choice."
"Why would you want to choose another body(!)? Most girls would kill for a cute yet sexy bod like yours!"
"A girl drowned…." Ranma stopped herself. She inhaled and then told another truth. "I was raised as a guy. I'd rather have a guy's body."
"You can have as many guys bodies as you like," Yasushi said. Ayane laughed, though her crewmate was serious. Ranma allowed herself to be confused.
"I only want one guy's body."
"Oo! A love interest! Does he know you're a girl? Are you keeping it secret from him? If yes, how?(?)
"Is he yaoi?" Yasushi asked.
"No, he's not gay!" Ranma vehemently answered. "It's because of my idiot pop I get separated from him!" Yes, she was telling the truth. Just not the whole truth.
"Don't forget I'm interested in him, too," Akane said and broke the wooden dummy in two.
"A love triangle!?(!)" Ayane's gossipy mind was delighted.
"A friendly, uh, relationship," the very sweaty girl said, coming over to them and Ranma. She took both hands in hers. "We'll know in one year."
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"No details! No details!" Akane said as they re-entered the house.
"Right. No details!" Ranma agreed. They had no details. None they wanted shared!
They both heard Nabiki whisper, "the details will cost you. And you've used all your ready cash in my matchmaking contract."
"Nabiki!"
"What?" She coolly turned to the couple. "Do you want details or not?" They knew she could provide a more believable story than the truth they wanted to dance around, one step in, one step out.
"Okay, then. Now, Megumi. You are to meet up with Akane before she reaches the school gate tomorrow. You two make it look like you've settled your differences and are trying to be friends. You, too, Ranma. It will help get your reputation back. The two toughest girls in school are ready to defend your honor."
"But I'm the toughest – Girl or Guy!"
"Not anymore. Not until Megiumi gets her hooks well into Kunō! Why do you think he's so obsessed with the best female fighter in school, if not Nerima? You beat him and you're just asking him to give you the same treatment as Akane – Maybe worse!"
"Worse?"
"That's for me to know and you to pay for."
"Wow!" Ayane said. "I knew Nabiki liked money, but I've never seen her this…"
"Greedy," Megumi agreed.
"Are you still boycrazy?" Yasushi asked.
Nabiki stopped to blink. "I don't know. My mind's alive with multiple schemes and the chances to make more money than I've ever seen!" Magic? But if this shift in her personality was because of a spell, let her drink of this potent potion, this elixir of life!
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After their guests had left, Ranma said, "I'm changin'!" And she headed for the kitchen. "Oh, my, please don't!"
"I agree," Nabiki said. "I don't want you to pop the seams of my pants when you when you size out."
"Not to mention what would happen to you in the panites." Aa! Akane couldn't believe she had actually said that while seeing him in just his boxers in her mind!
Ranma looked down at what she was wearing. "Aw, man! I can't wear clothes that fit right when girl. They won't when I'm my guy self!"
"The answer is simple. Just stay a girl when you're dressed as one," Nabiki said.
"That's too simple!" Yet too right.
Akane came to her friend's rescue. "You only have to be girl while in school."
Well, she tried. Ranma couldn't admit it, but she wanted to spend more time with her girl friends as one of them. She was sure he couldn't have an easy, no hint of anything but friendship if they knew he was a guy. She was tired of complications.
But complications wouldn't leave him alone. Or Akane. As Nabiki pointed out, "You know, Akane, by claiming to be in a love triangle with Ranma, you didn't really change the rumor that you're a lesbian. With the way you became so friendly with the new eye candy, the gossip now will have you being bisexual."
"What?! Oh, great! What have I done!?"
"5,000 yen."
"You know I don't have that kind of money, Nabiki"
"No, but being bisexual is now also Ranma's reputation as a girl. You share it because of your, quote, "friendly relationship", unquote. I can tell you how to fix both at the same time. 5,000 yen." She held up her camera.
"No! No, Nabiki, no!" Akane said. I can't believe you'd stoop so low! If Ranma marries one of us, she – He'll – be family!"
"A bisexual family, in truth as well as gossip."
"Is that bad?" Ranma asked.
"Don't listen to Nabiki, Ranma! Money has warped her sense of values."
Akane still hadn't told Ranma whether she considered bisexuality bad or not. Ranma saw something her friend was not ready to deal with. And, being brand new to friendship let alone to this particular friend, the redhead wasn't ready to press the issue.
"Ranma, your clothes should be dry enough to wear by now," Kasumi told him, leading the way.
"Good!" she said, heading for the laundry room, Nabik, and Akane after her, followed.
"Where are you going to get the money for a girls uniform?" Nabiki asked.
"I can alter a uniform I have kept for sentimental reasons," Kasumi volunteered. "I can have it ready before you go to school tomorrow."
Thanks, Big Sis, Nabiki thought.
"You'll need money to buy lingerie and other non-uniform clothes!"
"The lingerie will be much harder to alter. Perhaps something without elastic," Kasumi said, thinking about how it could possibly be done.
Again: Thanks, Big Sis, Nabiki thought.
"Kasumi! Ranma will only be a girl at school," Akane insisted.
Ranma stopped as she passed the open door to the garden. Outside, a panda was still struggling to be free of the tire that had been shoved down around it, trapping its forelegs. It did not help that it hung upside down from a tree by a chain around its ankles. A torn, red shirt was still shoved and taped into its muzzle. "Aw, I'm gonna have to let him down when night comes."
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In the original Ranma ½, Kunō, Ryōga, Mousse, Kodachi, Shampoo, et al. had a "friendly" relations ship with their enemies, people they wanted to maim, if not kill! Having frenemies is the standard practice of the series. At least Megumi, Ayane and Yasuchi are not trying to go that far. This is only a truce.