A GIRL OF CHARACTER
"That was really peculiar… Seeing them bicker…" a still perplexed Ryoga told the family, before clarifying : "I mean, I was used to Ranma arguing with you, Akane, but witnessing Ranma telling off Ranma, and vice versa, that was... quite strange, you know."
"I know what you mean, Ryoga-kun !" agreed Nabiki as she fished a pickle from the bowl and kept it hanging between her chopsticks. "After all, Soraya is a part of Ranma, since she's his female self. Which means that both parts of the same person were quarrelling with each other. So yeah, peculiar indeed… almost surrealistic, in fact."
She nibbled at her pickle, chuckling at Ryoga's clueless expression.
"Surre-… what ?" he asked, scratching his head.
"Surrealistic. Or strange, if you prefer…"
"I prefer, yeah !"
She chuckled, remembering that the Lost Boy could be pretty funny when he wanted to… although he actually didn't want to, and was in reality unwillingly funny.
"Yes, it's strange to see the two Ranma's arguing !" admitted Kasumi, not noticing that the redhead had just entered the living room. "And Soraya certainly has a strong personality, far from a submissive woman. I admire that about her…"
The eldest Tendo paused, noticing all heads turned towards a point on her left.
Glancing in that direction, she noticed the Red Pigtail, dressed in the same outfit as yesterday.
"Oh, uh, hello Soraya !" greeted a surprised Kasumi.
"Good morning, everyone !" replied the newcomer as she walked to her spot at the table. "And thank you Kasumi for the compliment !" she added as she sat.
"Oh, you're welcome ! It's nothing, really !" modestly replied the smiling ponytail girl.
"I just say what I think, and don't mince words. Just like Ranma, in fact, which is logical since I'm a part of him. And I also resemble you in this, Akane : you're also quite straightforward, which I really value. It's important to speak one's mind !"
"Thanks, Soraya ! So, did you sleep well in my room ? I hope I don't snore… or at least not too loud ?" replied the third Tendo.
"Nope. You have faint snoring, that's all. Nothing that would disturb one's sleep.
"It's funny though… the fact that you'd want to sleep in Akane's room and not with the boys. You mentioned your privacy, that you needed as a girl. But it's funny because Ranma-chan has always been pretty shameless, far from bashful, and she wouldn't have minded sleeping with males…" explained Nabiki.
Soraya smirked at that.
"Yes, but Ranma-chan was Ranma with a female body… so the same person, basically. While I'm an independent person now, still with several common points with Ranma, but also with differences. I do have a minimum of modesty and feel like a real girl. For instance, I wouldn't remain without top and carelessly expose my breasts, indifferent to people seeing me. Ranma would do that in his female form, but not me."
Speaking of the devil…
"What would I do in female form that you wouldn't ?" questioned the Black Pigtail as he walked in, his question implying that he had just overheard Soraya's last sentence as he was reaching the living room.
"Good morning to you too…" she replied ironically, pointing out his lack of manner, before eating some rice.
"Yeah, yeah, sorry : good morning everybody ! And so ? What was it ?" he insisted, sitting on the same side of the table as her, but keeping some distance nevertheless.
"I wouldn't keep my boobs out for all to see, like you did as a girl. I may be a part of you, but by gaining independence, I also gained… femininity, we could say. I really feel like a female person, and feel like acting like a girl. Which is why, as we were discussing, I no longer sleep with you and Pops, but with Akane."
Then her eyes lit up with realization.
"Oh, now that I think of it : I need to purchase some clothes ! I don't have any and don't want to borrow your stuff every day, girls !"
She was glancing at the three sisters as she finished.
"Don't tell me you're gonna buy dresses or skirts !" mocked Ranma.
"And what if I do ?" she retorted, starting to eat her fish.
He couldn't help huffing at that.
"You can't wear that !"
"A girl can't wear dresses and skirts ?"
"You're not a real girl !"
"Of course I am !" Soraya stated defiantly.
"But you're a part of me, dammit ! And I'm a boy !"
She finished her fish and, putting her chopsticks down, she crossed her arms with a smirk.
"You don't want others to see your female self acting feminine, do you, Brother ? Because you'd feel ashamed, maybe even insulted, notably because others might mistake me for you. That's it, right ?"
His jaw contracted.
"Whatever ! Just don't do it !"
She shrugged dismissively, snorting.
"Anyway, wanna come with me for some shopping, this afternoon, Akane ? I know it'll be crowded, like every Saturday afternoon, but… I must do it today, I can't wait until Monday to get new clothes. So, are you in ?"
The pigtailed female was smiling nicely at the fiancée of her "brother".
The latter smiled back.
"Yes, why not ? That would be nice !"
"Deal !" joyously exclaimed Soraya as she got up.
"No skirts or dresses !" warned Ranma.
Ryoga couldn't help laughing at that.
"Keep it shut, Pork Butt !" yelled his rival.
"YOU keep it shut, Dude ! Don't insult Ryoga, he's a good guy, no matter what you say ! And I'll buy whatever I want, just so you know !" Soraya tackled him.
"GO TO HELL !"
"Anything for you, dear Brother !"
"Well, you sure have the gift of the gab, Soraya ! I like that !" Nabiki told the redhead on an appreciative tone, with the petite girl comically bowing, a grumble from the pigtailed boy being heard in the background.
"Uh, oh and… thanks for the compliment !" Ryoga told her.
"With pleasure…" Soraya replied, smiling.
"Alright, it's time to go check the laundry !" announced Kasumi. "I must hang all those clothes quickly, because I think they announced a possible rain in late afternoon. If we want dry clothes, I have to hurry and hang them out right now !"
"Can I help you with that, Kasumi ?"
*That's of course a little wink of mine to the episode AM I… PRETTY ? RANMA'S DECLARATION OF WOMANHOOD, one of my fav' episodes. The scene where the "new" Ranma-chan ends up shocked by a boxer and Akane almost forces her to look at it, with Kasumi kinda calling Akane a "pervert", is really funny. ^_^
All eyes shifted to the new family member and he firstborn smiled at her.
"Why not ? Thanks for proposing, Soraya ! That's very kind of you !"
"Oh, it's normal, you know ! I think it's good to lend a hand regarding chores. Especially for people who are invited in a house, and who can show their gratitude for housing and feeding by helping out. All guests could and should do that."
Her head remained turned to Kasumi, but the blue iris of her left eye rolled to the corner of said eye, in direction of a certain boy, and the left corner of her mouth stretch up into a mischievous smirk.
"Whatever…" mumbled the targeted boy, chin resting in hand, his glare fixed on that truly embarrassing "sister".
She chuckled and followed Kasumi, while Akane threw a somewhat concerned look at her fiancé, Ryoga laughed up his sleeve, Nabiki smirked at Ranma, Genma sighed deeply (after all, he someday would have to intervene in the quarrels of his children…) and Soun gave him a pat in the back, kinda amused by the new distractions created by the "split" of Ranma…
(…)
They were on their way home, with one shopping bag per person.
"I don't want to make you feel uneasy or anything, Soraya, but I find it kinda strange to see you purchase panties and bras…" confessed Nabiki.
"Because Ranma-chan wore boxers and no bra, right ?" the pigtailed teen said on an amused tone.
"Pretty much !" confirmed the bobcut girl.
"The female Ranma did wear female underwear on one or two occasions, but only to serve her interests. So yes, it's a little… unsettling about you, to say the least !" admitted Akane.
"That's because female Ranma still felt like a boy on the inside, while I feel like a girl. Not only body-wise but also mind-wise. You'll get used to it." Soraya replied with a teasing wink.
They walked on in a happy mood, feeling pleased with their little purchase and totally relaxed overall… when they saw a commotion ahead.
Two girls bickering.
And as the trio closed in, they noticed that those two girls were all too familiar.
"Jeez… Shampoo and Kodachi…" sighed the bobcut girl. "I think we'd better – "
But too late : the purple-haired Chinese had already spotted a certain red-haired Japanese.
"Oh, you here, Ranma ! We talk about you !" she announced, and rushed to the pigtailed one.
Kodachi joined her and made a face.
"Mpfff… not exactly the people I appreciate…" she dropped, her contemptuous glance quickly "slipping" over the female trio before turning to her rival. "And what's that nonsense about Ranma ? He's not here !"
"She Ranma ! She change with water, boy to girl !" vehemently replied Shampoo, pointing at Soraya.
"That red pest, Ranma ?! And what's that silliness with water ?! You're losing your mind, my poor girl !"
"Actually…" started Nabiki, before realizing she'd probably waste her time trying to get the supernatural explanation about the Jusenkyo curse into the thick skull of that bitch of a gymnast. "Nah, forget it…"
"Ranma, I tell her that you come with me to fun park in town ! And she says she goes with you ! But you go with me, right ?" complained Shampoo.
"I'm not going with her, silly Chinese ! With RANMA ! And he won't go with you, but with ME !" retorted Kodachi.
"With me !"
"With me !"
"With me !"
"Wi- "
"ENOUGH !"
The two quarrelsome girls went quiet, their round eyes on the redhead, who was now clenching the handles of her shopping bag, her contracted jaw hinting well enough at her current emotion.
"Stop running after Ranma ! Stop trying to seduce him ! Stop fancying marrying him ! He's not in love with any of you ! He loves Akane and she loves him back ! And they're now officially engaged, so if you're really Ranma's friends, you ought to understand AND respect that ! And therefore keep Ranma as your friend, and no more than that !"
Akane could hardly believe what she had just heard : Soraya standing up for the couple of fiancés ! It almost sounded like the angry blue-eyed female was somewhat like their lawyer, defending them against the other suitors.
Past their surprise of the moment, the Amazon and the gymnast frowned at the redhead.
"And who are you to decide for Ranma ?!" demanded the Black Rose.
"I'm a part of Ranma somehow, so what involves him involves me as well !" retorted Soraya.
"You are a part of Ranma ?! Nonsense ! Anyway, I want to hear it from Ranm's mouth directly !" demanded Kodachi. "I want to hear him say that he's in love with Akane and that he doesn't want to marry me !"
"And if he does, will you then give up on him and leave him and Akane alone ?"
"Yes, maybe…"
"No maybe's ! Yes or no ?"
"Mmpff… yes."
The blue eyes turned to Shampoo.
"And you ? If Ranma confirms you that he loves only Akane, and want to marry her, will you let them be and no longer try to seduce Ranma ?"
"Uh… well… I no choice, I see. But why you say 'Ranma' and you not say 'me' ? Like he is other person than you ?" she asked, still confused about that fact that Soraya hadn't clarified yet.
"Ranma-boy and Ranma-girl are two different persons now. We don't live in the same body anymore. I'm here and he's at home. But the best is for you two to come at Furinkan high school on Monday at 4:15 p.m., so that Ranma can tell you both that it's Akane he loves and not any of you two. And if you tells you this, and proves you he doesn't love you two, then you must stop coming after Ranma, once and for all ! Alright ?"
The two suitors reluctantly agreed, but the redhead doubted they would keep their promises.
The two sisters had listened to all that without intervening (even if Akane felt like doing so at some point) and were awestruck, realizing that Soraya had a pretty firm will and was determined to defend the fiancés of the Tendo residence.
"Good. Then see you on Monday at 4:15 p.m. Bye for now." Soraya concluded in a slightly cold voice before walking away.
Akane and Nabiki briefly said goodbye to Shampoo and Kodachi and hurried after the fiery redhead.
"Soraya !" the youngest one called out, and once she had caught up with the female version of her fiancé : "I didn't expect you to take our defence and try to drive away Ranma's suitors. I… Well, that was kind of you, really. Thank you."
Soraya's seriousness, which hadn't left her features since the girl had started addressing the two quarrelling girls, switched to a smile.
"No problem. I know what Ranma feels for you, kinda obviously since I'm a part of him, and I know he sincerely feels very close to you… closer and closer as time passes by, and this despite your little arguments. And I'm certain that it's reciprocal : one's actions and reactions, contrary to one's words, cannot lie, and your actions or reactions tell me you feel the same for Ranma. I want to protect your couple, your common love… and no one will stand in your way. No one !"
"Thank you very much, dear Soraya !" Akane replied, emotion inducing a slight quavering of her voice.
The three of them harmoniously continued their walk home, but after a while, Nabiki remembered Soraya's "appointment" for the two suitors, on Monday at 4:15 p.m…. and she thought that while it was in Ranma's own interest to once and for all confess his love for Akane, in order to get rid of Shampoo and Kodachi, he still might be ticked off by Soraya's intervention in his business (although it was also her business !), and might even make difficulties for that Monday afternoon rendez-vous…
(…)
Soraya had asked the two sisters to leave it to her about informing Ranma of the little "appointment" on late Monday afternoon, but she didn't do on Saturday or Sunday, because she wanted to have a weekend as peaceful as possible, and thus postponed her informing him to Monday morning.
As they were walking to school, the "sister" told her "brother" about that encounter with two of his suitors at Furinkan high school at 4:15, and what was to be talked about on that occasion.
"WHAT ?!" he yelled. "HOW CAN YOU MEDDLE THAT WAY IN MY LIFE ?! MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, DAMMIT !"
"Woah, Dude, calm the hell down !" she scolded him.
"AND STOP CALLING ME THAT !"
She resisted the will to lash out at him and diplomatically replied calmly :
"Ok, ok, got it. But you know, your life is as much yours as mine, since we're both sides of the same person ! We're not two different persons, in reality, but the same one split in two bodies ! So this involves me as much as you, in fact !"
"Still !" he exclaimed, but less loudly this time.
Nabiki decided to intervene in favour of the Red Pigtail :
"Sorry to chime in, but I think that Soraya made a good decision : if –"
"No she didn't ! Or at least she should have asked me first !" he cut her.
"She could have asked you first, ok, but that doesn't mean it was a bad decision, even on the contrary, since it was meant to get rid of Shampoo and Kodachi once and for all !"
He grumbled and cast Soraya a sour look.
"I can take care of this myself !" he mumbled.
"Sure, sure…" she sneered "…but since they're still chasing you after all this time, you haven't made it clear enough that you and Akane love each other !"
They had arrived at the school gate and saw Kuno standing there.
As soon as they approached, the kendo sabre he was holding was brought up in attack position.
"Saotome Ranma ! All this is your fault ! I'm sure you set the pigtailed girl and Akane against me ! You'll pay for this !"
Ranma jumped to avoid the sabre movement, but as Kuno was turning to continue his onslaught, he was grabbed by his kendo outfit and wrathfully pushed backward, until his back collided with a nearby tree.
An irate Soraya was glaring hard at him, teeth bared, as she powerfully held the front of his outfit.
"Leave Ranma out of this ! He didn't do anything ! Simply, Akane and I have no feelings for you and are fed up with your constant pursuits !"
The usually self-confident boy was now panicked, goggling incredulously at her in shock.
"B-But… but…" he vaguely tried.
"NO BUT'S !" she yelled, before continuing on a threatening tone : "You'll drop out and leave us all alone and quiet, now and forever ! Understand ?"
Kuno was paralyzed by the contrast between both female Ranma's : the violent girl holding him right now and the one he was accustomed to (although the female version of Ranma had never been that nice with him either… but simply not that violent !)
"UNDERSTAND ?!" she bellowed.
"Y-Yes…" he hesitantly replied, cold sweat sticking his clothes to his skin.
"Good. And don't you forget it."
Soraya let go of him, her uninterested eyes neutrally watching him slide down the trunk of the tree in shock and end up in a confused mass on the grass.
The red-haired female, now void of any tension, turned to Akane, Nabiki and Ranma just as the bell rang.
"Let's go, shall we ?" she told them on an almost carefree tone.
Then she turned the other way… and her blue eyes met the blue eyes of Ukyo, who had witnessed the whole outburst with an ajar mouth, and whose now agape mouth matched her goggling eyes, the latter looking back and forth between both Ranma's…
(…)
"Well, what a story !" said the okonomiyaki specialist once the whole explanation was over. "And how will we put you two back together, in the same body ?"
"I don't want to ! I'm fine living on my own." immediately replied the Red Pigtail, before looking at Ranma : "And so do you, right, Brother ? You've complained enough about your transforming into me, eh, so you must be the happiest of men now !"
Said "brother" couldn't miss the slight irony set in both the words and the tone of the last part, but he chose to ignore it.
"For once, I agree with you, "Sister" : I'm fine now, remaining in my real body at all times. I don't feel like being reunited with you whatsoever."
In his tone as well, there was indeed irony maybe even mischief or slight cruelty for the last sentence.
"Hum, anyway, that's odd seeing you two… at the same time. I'll have to get used to it. And to your family bond : brother and sister." Ukyo remarked.
"They're not really siblings, you know." Akane nuanced. "They're just pretending, to make things simpler. But since both come the same father, technically…"
"I don't" objected Soraya. "I know I'm Ranma's female side, but that female side wasn't actually born from Nodoka and Genma."
"Come on, don't be so fussy : we just agreed on this to make things simpler. And being the other half of Ranma, you're kind of Genma's child as well." Nabiki gently chided.
Soraya was opening her mouth to retort once more – what a strong personality she has ! thought the second Tendo – when Ukyo piped her at the post.
"And you also seem to have a pretty strong personality too, as I could tell from your putting Kuno back in his place.
Nabiki raised a brow, realizing that the chef had just voiced the exact two words she had in mind a few seconds before.
"I'm not a weak woman, eh !" Soraya confirmed, putting her arm up and folding it to show her biceps, and therefore her strength.
Ranma pffff'ed, rolling his eyes, but his female counterpart plainly ignored him, and instead turned to her long-haired, "ponytailed" friend… and suitor.
"By the way, Ukyo, could you meet us all in front of the school at 4:15 ? You need to hear something important."
"NO ! Don't you dare involve Ukyo as well !" indignantly protested Ranma.
"Involve in what ? And why 'as well' ? Who is also involved ?" Ucchan quickly asked, suddenly wary.
"Kodachi and Shampoo are" Soraya answered "And as for the reason –"
"STOP IT !"
All girls looked at the only boy of their group.
"You know, Ranma, it makes sense to also tell Ukyo abou-"
"Nobody asked your opinion !" the irate male hissed, glaring at her.
Nabiki's eyes narrowed at him under her frown, but she chose not to reply, to avoid "fuelling the fire". But the red-haired female wasn't that wise or cautious, because she had a very developed sense of justice :
"You have no right to talk down Nabiki like that, Dude ! Shame on you !"
And as he was about to yell once more, she immediately added :
"Ukyo, come at 4:15 in front of the school !"
"SORAYA…" warned Ranma.
"It's important !" the redhead concluded, all her focus on Ukyo and none on her male counterpart.
Then she turned on her heels and, after throwing a happy "Later, guys !", she just strolled back to Furinkan's main building, leaving behind two amused sisters, one seething "brother" and one perplexed friend/suitor…
(…)
Six pairs of eyes -1 blue, 1 purple, 1 greyish blue – were all set on the pigtailed boy.
The Chef, the Amazon and the Gymnast were in front of the group made up of both pigtailed teenagers, Akane and Nabiki.
This was one of those rare instances when all the girls who had feelings for the boy – his official fiancée and his three suitors – were all gathered at the same spot, in presence of the target of their affection.
Of these four girls, only one was really taken aback to see the two Ranma's together, at the very same time.
"How… how this possible ?! Ranma-boy and Ranma-girl separated ?! That magic ?!" an incredulous Shampoo voiced her utter astonishment.
"It's a long story… My name is Soraya, I'm Ranma's female part, I somehow left Ranma's body and found myself living as an independent person. We're still both halves of the same guy, except that now, I don't live in Ranma's body anymore. And for the sake of simplicity, regarding school, we pretended that we were siblings, as it would be too complicated to explain the truth to everyone…"
There was an awkward silence, for the girls to take it all in.
"Me not understand…" confessed the Chinese teen.
"Pfff… as if she would anyway…" Nabiki said in a low voice to Akane, yet it still drew Shampoo's attention.
"Why you smiling like that ?! You problem ?!" the Nekohanten waitress asked, upset.
"Nah nah, nothing, just go ahead…" the second Tendo said in a calm voice, with a placating hand gesture.
The purple-haired girl frowned at Nabiki but soon turned her attention back to the main focus : her favourite martial artist.
"Anyway…" said Soraya, taking the lead "…we asked you to come here because Ranma has something to tell y–"
"It's not me who have something to tell them : YOU're forcing me to do it, and you convinced Akane and Nabiki that I should, so they insisted along with you !" the boy protested.
"Do it for us ! Please, Ranma ! Do it for our couple and settle this once and for all !" Akane almost begged him.
Her fiancé stared at her for long seconds, then glanced at Soraya, who merely shrugged in return, a smirk on her lips, before pointing at the three suitors still waiting.
"Okay, okay, let's get this over with !" he grumbled, and turning to the trio of females continuously chasing after him, he briefly closed his eyes, took a deep breath and…
"Ukyo… Shampoo… Kodachi…" he told them, looking at each one as he pronounced her name "… I'm sorry, but while I'm flattered about your interest for me, I have to tell you that the one I truly, sincerely love is Akane. I've been smitten with her for quite a while now, and even if we regularly argued, I still have feelings for her. And if you ask me today whom I want to marry… it's Akane, and no one else. I'm sorry I can't return your feelings, girls."
His look went from one to the other, waiting for their reactions.
"So… you just… consider us as your friends ?" risked Ukyo on an faltering tone.
He nodded.
"No more ? Only friends ? Not lovers ?" insisted Shampoo.
He nodded again.
"BUT WHY ?" screamed Kodachi. "Why DON'T YOU love any of us ? I mean : why don't you love ME ?"
The other two glared at her yet didn't protest.
"Because my feelings are that way." The Saotome martial artist replied. "I'm attracted to Akane only. She may be stubborn and tomboyish –"
"HEY !" yelled the Tendo martial artist.
"… yet I sincerely love her, and can't imagine my future with anyone else than her. Hoping she will have mellowed by then."
"Mmmmpf…" Akane let out in reaction, folding her arms energetically. But after a few seconds, she replayed all his words in her head and relaxed, happy that he had after all chosen her.
"And what if we don't agree ?" countered the Black Rose.
"Woah, wait there !" Soraya immediately intervened. "We told you yesterday that you should give up on Ranma in case he wasn't in love with you. And you did agree to that, you and Shampoo !" She turned to the cook. "And I ask the same from you now, Ukyo. You three can't continue chasing after him if he doesn't love you back ! That's basically not respecting Ranma's feelings and being plain selfish !"
"You have no say in it ! You're not Ranma !" Kodachi retorted.
"I'm a part of him, his female part, so I'm also involved in all this. Ranma and me form one person, even if we now have separate bodies, and we don't want you any of you as wife : we want Akane, only her, and Ranma told you so ! You have to respect that will and agree to be our friends… and no more than that !"
"I not understand why you say 'we want Akane' or 'Ranma and me'… it very confused…" Shampoo said on a clueless tone.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Soraya was now getting annoyed at all that and wanted it to end. They couldn't spend half an hour on this, for God's sake !
"Anyway…" Soraya started, now frowning "…you have the proof that they are officially fiancés because they do love each other, and you had agreed to let them be if Ranma confirmed you this. He just did. So, from now on, please stop trying to flirt with Ranma, seduce him, chase him, try to win back his heart and whatnot. But you can remain close friends of his, and I hope you will."
"If that's what Ranma wants, he can tell us himself !" Kodachi hissed venomously.
"Tell us, Ranma, and if you only want friendship…"Ukyo started, then she let out a deep sigh "…then we'll have to accept it and be friends with you".
They all observed Ranma in silence, waiting for him to speak.
It was his turn to sigh.
"Soraya is right. I love Akane and she loves me back. You're great friends… but no more than that, sorry. I ask you to respect that and don't try to come after me any longer. But I'll be glad to remain good friends with you for an entire lifetime."
A long silence followed.
"Then… friendship it is…" reluctantly agreed Ukyo, her voice wavering as her eyes suddenly became shiny in the sunlight… and after whispering a brief 'bye', she turned around and ran away.
"Ucchan !" called Ranma, ready to run after her, but a hand on his shoulder held him back in place.
He turned around to meet the twin blue eyes of his female self.
"Don't worry, she'll be alright. She just-"
"I listened to you and told them, and see what happened !"
"They'll all be sad, it's unavoidable. Because they want more than friendship. But there was no other way. Setting the record straight is difficult, and yields hurts, yet it's something that must be done for the good balance of things. And in your case, for your happiness, yours and Akane's."
"If really you love Akane, then Shampoo no choice. Must accept it. But Shampoo sad…" the purple-haired beauty said, her lower lip trembling a bit, and just like her cooking rival, she turned away and ran as fast as she could.
"I guess I have no choice then. But you don't know what you're losing, Ranma-sama…" the Black Rose told him on a half-sad half-cold tone, before casting a disgusted glare at Akane and turning on her heels, walking away slowly, with dignity… or was it pride ? At least, in a completely different fashion than Ukyo and Shampoo.
Soon, only siblings were left standing there : two official ones (the Tendo's) and two officious ones (the Saotome's).
"Well, I'm sorry that two of them cried about it… but that excepted, it didn't go too bad !" Soraya uttered in a pleased voice. "And you see, it wasn't that difficult, Brother !"
She received a glare in return.
"Sometimes, I could almost slap you…"
"Just try and see what happens…"
(…)
Dinner was over and Soraya had decided to lie in the grass, by the koi pond.
She was staring up, marvelling at the myriad of tiny shiny dots scattered all across the black velvet of the evening sky.
When I think about all those petty arguments that us humans have, and put it in balance with this astonishing view, I really wonder why we're wasting so much time quarrelling while we should be making the most of Nature's beauty, such as this sea of stars above …
"Soraya…"
Her head slightly turned to the left.
"Hey Ryoga ! What can I do for you ?"
The boy standing a short distance from her made a slightly embarrassed expression with his mouth.
"Well, I… I just wanted to thank you for standing up for me when Ranma was pushing my buttons, yesterday and this evening during dinner. That was… very kind of you."
She leaned up on one elbow and smiled at him.
"Both Ranma's may have annoyed you, made fun of you a great many times, back then, but I can ensure you that, although I do come from him, I still have an independent nature and won't be rough at you. I know you're a good guy and will treat you as such. And that implies defending you whenever needed."
"That's strange you behave differently than the female Ranma from before… but that's cool, I think ! You're nicer than her… well, than Ranma when he turned into a girl, I mean !"
"I had understood, mind you !" she told him with a chuckle. "And thanks for the compliment !"
"Soraya…"
They both turned to the newcomer.
"What's up, Akane ?" asked the redhead, before seeing the Black Pigtail come out from behind his fancée and stand by her side. "And for you, Brother ?" she added.
"Look, I wanted to thank you, Soraya, for intervening in favour of Ranma and me, and also thank you, Ranma, for accepting to follow Soraya's plan and tell my rivals about… our mutual feelings…" the short-haired girl said, turning to each of them in turn as she named them… and slightly blushing as she finished.
"Bah, it was nothing, really. I'm happy for you, and they'd better all keep at large from now on !" replied the Red Pigtail.
"Or else what ? You'll beat the crap out of them ?" mocked Ranma.
"Precisely…" the fiery redhead replied with an ominous smirk.
"Yeah right…" he replied ironically with a shrug.
"You're really a girl of character. I wouldn't want to be your adversary…" the youngest Tendo said.
"Same here…" admitted Ryoga.
"Well, unless we are opposed in some fighting competition one day, none of you will be…" remarked Soraya, but then her eyes lit up and she smiled to herself about the thought she had just got.
"Oh, by the way…" Akane remembered "…I got an idea : in order to properly thank you two for helping out against Kodachi, Shampoo and Ukyo, I decided to prepare you a good lunch tomo-"
"NO !" yelled her fiancé, goggling at her.
"But Kasumi will help m-"
"NO, NO AND NO !"
"Ranma, please, give me a chance !"
"I'd rather not !"
Soraya jumped up on her feet and came between them.
"I'll help you as well. With Kasumi and I, and if you follow our instructions, I'm sure you can make it !"
"Don't encourage her !" scolded Ranma.
"Don't discourage her !" countered Soraya.
"Actually…" Ryoga chimed in "…I would love to taste something that Akane –"
"You have no taste !" indignantly yelled the pigtailed boy.
"Shut up, Kid ! Ryoga is kinder and more polite than you." Ranma huffed and was about to protest, yet she didn't let him the time to : "And anyway, it's decided : Kasumi and I will help Akane prepare tomorrow's lunch ! And you will taste it. You and our fathers. All of you will. And guess what ? You'll enjoy it." announced Soraya, before narrowing her mischievous eyes at her male counterpart.
"You can count on that, Miss Bossy !" he spat, before turning on his heels and leaving the scene.
"He's mean, calling you that and refusing to give Akane a chance…" said an upset Ryoga.
"But he sure found someone to talk to, since your appearance…" a smooth voice said behind them, and turning around, they discovered Nabiki standing there, unnoticed.
Soraya raised her arms and crossed her hands behind her head, smiling in a satisfied, self-confident way.
"And he hasn't even seen half of it…"
(…)
(…)
Jeez ! I had difficulties crafting this one, and even removed a few things, notably a short part showing Soraya's interest for female clothes, during their lil' shopping trip. It was a way to imply that while Ranma-chan had no interest in purchasing girl stuff, her "new version" did, therefore indicating another difference in that independent female half of Ranma.
I don't think I ever had a writer's block until now… but this time, I almost did, and it was embarrassing. I wasn't sure exactly how to continue, and to be honest, I'm still doubtful about the result. Not sure if I'm actually displeased but half in earnest half in jest, at least.
I do hope next chapters won't be that tricky to craft, but honestly… Well, we'll see, right ?
Ah, also, regarding Soraya helping Kasumi with the laundry or starring at the sky : these moments are here as a proof that the girl is nicer and can be more peaceful than Ranma-chan (which was also apparent in the shopping-trip part that I removed, in which Soraya is shown to get along just fine with Akane and Nabiki).
Oh, by the way : it was in May 2023 (if memory serves) that I suddenly "rediscovered" RANMA ½, or if you prefer, that I unexpectedly remembered about that anime I used to watch in 1992-1993, some good 30 years ago, when it was first broadcasted in France (I live in Switzerland, but watched most of the cartoons and anime on the French channels). So it's been a year that I "rebooted" (that correct ?) my internal computer to that beloved anime, and I was extremely pleased with all of it. Then came the FFic's here, reading the manga (I never had, would you believe that ?) and I'm currently watching the French-dubbed version of the anime (my bro offered me his R1/2 dvd collection ^^). So yeah, 1-year birthday for my Ranma reconnection ! **confetti shower**
Alright, time to thank any of those who care to read this fic and show their interest and support, one way or another. Thanks to all of you, and I hope that I won't have too many difficulties crafting this for you. But if I nevertheless do, then I humbly apologize to you all.
May happiness be on your side, and take care of you and your Dear Ones !
Toodaloo !
/ Léo /