Genderfluid Mechanics
By: JaquiK

Chapter 10: A Total Eclipse of the Heart

Aki decided that the first part of having fun for Ran would be to do some activities the current redhead hadn't had a chance to try out yet. As they talked and the list kept growing longer and longer, Aki's desire for a panda skin rug grew just as quickly. She had to whittle down the options quite a lot for the day, and she also quietly determined that girls day (and probably boys day as well) would need to be a very regular occurrence.

First up for this day was a trip to karaoke. Things started out well enough as Aki rocked out to the opening song of Bubblegum Crisis in their private room while her audience of one watched on completely enthralled from her seat on the couch. Sure, she messed up the pitch a few times, flubbed some words, and even missed her cue coming back from the bridge, but she still gave it her all and had a great time trying to match Priss's dance moves. However, once the song was done and it was Ran's turn, a problem very quickly made itself clear.

"Oh, come on, you have to know at least a few of these," Aki said, exasperation in her voice as they went through the list of songs. "Something you heard on the radio while you were traveling."

"We didn't have a radio," Ran flatly answered. "Dad doesn't like music that much."

"Okay, but what about stuff from TV, like when you were in middle school and hung out with Ryoga."

"Oh, well…" Ran looked away slightly with a noticeable blush on her cheeks. "When we weren't in school and Dad wasn't bothering me, we mostly just sparred and…um…did other things."

Aki couldn't help but flush a little as well while continuing to go down the song list. "Right…um…but there still has to be something here that…oh, GASP!"

"Huh?" Ran turned back to Aki with a confused look. "Is that another girl thing, saying the word in English instead of actually gasping?"

"What? No that's…well, I'm pretty sure that's not an actual thing. No, I'm talking about the band GASP."

Ran's confusion only seemed to grow with this. "Really? Someone actually named a band that?"

Aki could feel her exasperation continue to grow as she looked at her girlfriend completely flabbergasted. "How do you not know who…Ran, they're the biggest punk band in Japan! I have a poster of To-y Fujii in my room. You've seen it!"

"Oh, that guy's a musician? I just thought he was a guy goal for you or something."

"Ugh, no way!" Aki said with a laugh. "The drummer fits way better for my goals. Well, if he had hair that is. Seriously though, you've had to have heard at least some of their music!"

Ran gave a sheepish shrug. "Yeah, sorry about that."

"Nah, it's my fault for not asking first, especially with that long list you gave." Aki sighed and shook her head. "Really starting out great, huh? Shoot, I don't want you to just sit there bored while I sing for the whole hour."

"Hey, I wouldn't mind hearing you do that," Ran admitted with a slight blush on her cheeks, "but I guess it wouldn't really be that much of a training session for me. I'm sure I can do fine. I mean, they give you the words on the screen after all."

"Yeah, but it still helps to know how the song goes. Maybe it's best if you sit this one out, at least for today," Aki offered, providing Ran an option to save face. Sure it was only the two of them in this room, but from the time they spent together, she could tell that giving a bad performance would very likely ruin the redhead's day before they even got a chance to really start. "What do you think?"

"Hmmm…" Ran seemed to be contemplating her options while looking all around the room. After about a minute, she turned back to Aki with a strange smile on her face. "Yeah, I think this will work."

"I'm really sorry, it's just…hey, what are you…" Aki blinked in confusion as she was led over to the couch and the microphone was taken by Ran, who quickly went over and punched something into the karaoke console. A familiar sound then came out of the speakers. Extremely familiar as it was the opening beats to the song Aki had just got done singing. Her concerns weren't entirely swayed though. "Wait, are you sure about this?"

Ran stood with her back to her girlfriend, turning her head just enough to give a wink. "Don't worry. I'll show you just how good a student I can be."

Before Aki had the chance to ask what that meant, the song proper started and Ran spun around and began to belt out the lyrics, managing to match the tune and cadence of Konya Wa Hurricane perfectly. Well, no, not exactly perfect. She did manage to mess up the pitch a few times and some of the lyrics were flubbed a bit. Still it was very good for a first try, about on par with Aki's attempt minutes prior. Actually, as the song went on, it almost felt to be exactly on par with her attempt. Eerily so in fact. And those dance moves…

Aki's breath caught in her throat as she realized what it was the redhead was doing. This wasn't just a performance of the song. It was a performance of Aki's performance of the song. Ran wasn't even looking at the words on the teleprompter, keeping her gaze on her girlfriend the entire time. Even the mess up after the bridge was done the same. The dance moves were also copied bit for bit, including the silly little improvs Aki did to fill in what wasn't shown in the episode.

Ran finished off the song with an identical flourish, then flashed a grin. "Well, how'd I do?"

"That…that was amazing," was all that Aki was able to get out at that moment.

"Well yeah, of course it was," Ran said in that casual arrogant way which managed to snap Aki out of her wonder. However, before that spark of anger could build up again, Ran continued by just as enthusiastically adding, "It's always extra easy when I actually have a good teacher."

"R-really? You mean that?" A different kind of heat grew in Aki's chest as she gave a warm smile.

"Oh, absolutely." Ran started to blush and there was a few seconds of silence between the two before she shook her head and flashed a determined expression. "Okay, Sensei, what song are you going to teach me next? I hope it's something extra girly."

Aki's smile dropped just a bit as her girlfriend looked at her expectantly. "Oh, wait you want me to…"

"Hey, if you don't want to start with the girly stuff, we can save it for later," Ran conceded. "I mean, if you want to try one of those wheeze guys songs next, I guess that's cool, too."

"It's GASP, and yeah I suppose we can do that. I do really like a lot of their stuff." Aki got up and looked over the song list, feeling her nerves start to build. This wasn't just about singing anymore. No, if she wanted to make her girlfriend happy, she would need to give a true performance to provide a proper example.

She picked the simplest GASP song she could find. It definitely wasn't the best or her favorite. In fact, she was sort of meh on this one. However, it was also one that she was most confident at not screwing up on. She still concentrated through her performance as hard as she could, clutching the microphone with both hands while standing still and swaying slightly at the most. Once she completed the song, managing to not mess up a single note, only then did she look back at Ran to find the girl was looking up at her slightly confused. "Something wrong? Um, if you want I can do a different song for you."

Ran blinked a couple of times, then shook her head and jumped to her feet. "No, I definitely got this. Here, I'll show you."

Aki nodded and handed off the microphone once more before sitting down on the couch. As Ran proceeded to do her own performance of the song, though, Aki couldn't help but notice how nervous and stiff the other girl looked. It was such a change from the normal confidence leaning on annoying cockiness her girlfriend (and boyfriend too) would radiate when going through any challenge. While the song was still done perfectly, there was simply no passion, almost no emotion at all coming from it.

Okay, I know it's not the best song, but…does she hate it? Is it because a guy normally sings it? Should I have just chosen a fully girly one right away?

"Well? Pretty good right?"

Aki broke out of her musings to find that the song had ended and that Ran was looking at her expectantly. "Oh, um…well, I mean…"

Ran seemed to not notice her girlfriend's hesitation and flashed another one of her confident grins. "See, I told you I'd pass. I was able to follow along with you perfectly."

"Yeah, you definitely…did…" Aki felt a weight drop in her gut. Oh right. The reason she sounded so wooden was because she was copying me exactly. Crap, this is almost worse than being videotaped. No, I think it is worse cause I'm making her go through it. I should just stop this right now and-

"Alright, what's the next one?" Ran asked, a deep level of excitement in her voice, like a kid waiting to open their birthday present.

Aki forced a big grin on her face and got to her feet. Dammit, stop being selfish! You're meant to be her sensei right now. Just find a better song and do it right this time!

Find a better song she did, and she made sure to put as much emotion into it as she could while still concentrating on not messing any part up. It ended up being more effort than she expected as she practically collapsed onto the couch as Ran did her turn. True to form, the redhead pulled it off perfectly, ending with another expectant smile. Aki returned it with a smile of her own as she slowly got back up and went over the song list again, realizing she'd need to pace herself a bit more if she was going to make it through this strange test that Ran basically set for herself.

Fortunately, she was able to find a happy medium rather quickly and the two went back and forth for a few songs, Aki going first and Ran then matching it perfectly each time. Eventually, though, they managed to near the end of their scheduled time.

"Okay, I think we can squeeze in just one more. What do you think?" Aki asked.

Ran looked to be practically vibrating with excitement at this point. "One more? Okay, Sensei, I'm ready for the big challenge. Give me everything you got!"

"Right," Aki sighed out while scanning the list once more. Is there any kind of 'training' she's not excited about? I guess when it's not her dad… She quickly shook off those thoughts and went back to her search, her eyes stopping at a particular song. "Hey Ran, how good is your English?"

Ran took a moment to think about it. "Eh, I can speak it alright. Dad had us hang around an American military base for a few months. The guys there ended up being pretty nice. Reading English is…hey, I'm sure I'll be fine. Besides, I never back down from a challenge!"

Yeah, you don't, do you? Aki's thoughts immediately went to that morning and her boyfriend at the time's stupidity. So it wasn't just a man thing then. If one of those boys challenged you for a date, would you just as callously risk our relationship and agree to it?

Ran must have noticed the look on Aki's face, as she sunk back into her seat a bit, although she also gave a defiant expression. "No, I mean it! I got this, Sensei. Give me everything you got. I…I promise I won't disappoint you!"

"I…" Aki paused a moment, then flashed another smile while confirming her selection. "I know you won't. Awright, I promise to give my all for this one! Get ready, though. Bonnie Tyler can get a little intense."

The starting piano notes going a couple measures longer than she remembered the last time almost threw her off, but Aki very quickly got into the groove of the song, pouring her full emotions into each note. She barely even had to look at the words on the screen, instead allowing herself to revel in the music as she belted out the chorus.

She was really feeling a high at the point of the instrumental, looking over and giving a warm smile as her girlfriend watched on. The smile then dropped slightly as she glanced at the screen for the upcoming words, only finding something different than what she expected and her mind quickly raced in a panic.

Oh crap, it's this version of the song. Maybe I just skip that line and she won't notice? No, of course she will, and you promised to give your all. I'm sorry, Ran.

With her part starting again and no ideas, all she could do was give an apologetic look as she sang the next line.

(Turn around)

"Every now and then I know you'll never be the boy you always wanted to be."

(Turn around)

"But every now and then I know you'll always be the only boy who wanted me the way that I am."

Ran's expression was mostly unreadable, although perhaps there was a hint of surprise and betrayal underneath. Aki kept her smile up and pushed through, managing to keep her energy up all the way to the end, although it wasn't too hard with that particular song even with the guilt building up in her chest.

Finally, as the last notes faded away, Aki allowed her head to hang low while she fidgeted slightly in place. "I'm really sorry. I didn't realize it was this version, and…I mean, it's just a song, so…look, you don't have to-"

"Hey, it's okay," Ran stated, carefully taking the microphone from her girlfriend. "You really did give it your all there. Don't worry, like I said, I won't disappoint you."

Aki looked up, finding nothing but determination behind the other girl's bit her lip slightly as she hesitantly asked, "So then, that one line…"

Ran just tilted her head at that. "What line? Did you make a mistake somewhere? I couldn't really tell, to be honest."

There were a couple moments of silence between the two, then Aki slowly shook her head. "No, no, it's just…nevermind, it's not important. Go and show me what you got, girlfriend." She calmly went back to the couch and leaned back with her eyes closed and her hands held firmly together in her lap to keep them from shaking. Was Ran exaggerating about how much English she actually knew? Maybe she didn't notice and Aki was being all worked up over nothing. Still though…

As the familiar notes started up once again, Aki forced herself to relax and just bask in the glorious tones of her girlfriend's voice. Yes, she could simply focus on how Ran was able to perfectly perform a song she only heard once and not think at all about a certain line that would inevitably be repeated back verbatim. It was just a song, after all, and didn't have to actually mean anything specific to either of them. Still though…

The music interlude was almost over, meaning that line was next. Oh, why did this place have to have the extended version of this song. She normally loved it so much. Even through karaoke, it hurt her to sing those words in front of Ran. And to have them sung back to her? Keeping her calm exterior as much as possible, she internally braced herself as Ran's voice started once more.

(Turn around)

"Every now and then I know you're more than just the girl that they expect you to be."

(Turn around)

"And every now and then I know you'll always be the boy and girl who loves me for the way that I am."

Aki's eyes shot open to find Ran with the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. The very next thing she knew she was on her feet with her arms tightly wrapped around the girl while the later half of the song now continued on without a singer.

"What, Aki, why did you make me stop? Did I mess up because I changed some of the words? I just-"

"No, no, you passed. You most certainly passed," Aki quickly responded, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

"Heh, of course I did," Ran said with a slight hint of amusement in her soothing voice. "I had a really great teacher helping me."

"Thanks." Aki gave a small chuckle, but still held on tight to the redhead while the finished up unaccompanied and a deep silence now permeated the small room. Finally, she released her hold and pulled back slightly, a radiating warmth in her chest as she stared into those deep blue eyes. Yes, they promised to slow things down, and yes, today was a day to be girl friends more than girlfriends. Still though…

"Ran, can…can I…"

A sudden loud ring caused Aki to jump back, almost crashing into the couch. She went over and picked up the phone on the wall, steadying her breathing as she confirmed that they were done and weren't going to extend their session.

"Right," she said to Ran after hanging up, "looks like it's time to go."

"Yeah, I guess so," Ran agreed, anticipation now rising in her voice.

As they left the karaoke place with Aki leading the way to their next location, she looked over to find her girlfriend seemingly lost in thought. "So, did you have fun?"

"Huh?" The redhead snapped out of her trance and turned towards Aki, then gave a big smile. "Oh, yeah. That was an amazing challenge. I really loved it. So, what's next? Oh, are we doing the dress thing now? I promise, I'll pass this challenge too, no problem!"

Aki gave a matching grin to hide her nerves. "I know you will, but not quite yet. Don't worry," she quickly responded to stop Ran's pout. "We're just saving the best part for last. Before that, I want to show you something else on that list you've been missing out on."