AKANE IS ENGAGED TO…
FEMALE RANMA!
CHAPTER 6
PREVIOUS CHAPTER REVIEWS/COMMENTS
AO3 NercloLC(CHAPTER 5): It's interesting to see how this Ranma Evolves, cause to me Ranma can't be read as Cis-Het because his curse literally makes her either trans [temporarily and water based on eithee direction] or gender fluid [the dream].
The roses make their debut, it always interests me how authors tackle this her "First" declaration, and the Kiss from the Icee, cause both make interesting readings for the ins of Ranma Saotome
Response: Yeah, like I responded to in a previous comment in the previous chapter, I believe Ranma is more genderfluid than the other usual options seen in fanfics. Part of the reasons I believe so is stated in my response to that comment.
As for the 'declaration' and 'kiss on ice' scens you mentioned. I also like seeing how those scenes are redone, as I believe those are the first two major development points in cannon for Ranma before his eventual reunion with Shampoo. So, I consider those important, whether or not the fic is reorganizing the events of cannon. So, keep your eyes out for the Shampoo reunion as that will be coming next. I am also assuming you posted this comment in the wrong chapter, and it was meant for this one. But if I'm wrong I apologize for assuming wrong, but the declaration scene happened at the end of the previous chapter, not the one you commented on.
AO3 Xadlly: Akane stepping up to help and Nabiki learning g she has a ki technique. One of these was on my bingo card the other was not.
With the support Ranma has they can be as genderfluid as they are comfortable with.
Also I like that Kasumi is taking charge and putting the fear into her dad and Genma. - Xadlly the imp girl
AO3 mikato1: Beware the nice ones. Here sleeping dragons lie.
Response: I assume the Nabiki Ki technique was not on your bingo card, as I hoped that caught everyone by surprise. But I always felt that since ki revolves around mental strength as much as physical, that Nabiki should be able to learn it a bit even without proper training. As for the support… Oh you sweet ignorant child, when you see the tag I will be adding this chapter you will be biting your nails for the next few chapters.
As for the Kasumi bit… yeah, I just love that trope as it is also accurate in real life to a scary degree. Outright hostility is something I never found threatening in real life or stories. Rather it is those who are normally kind and peaceful, getting pushed to their limit becoming upset that one should fear the most instead of someone quick to hostility.
In fact, I believe Kasumi is probably one of the stronger characters in Ranma 1/2. Not physically of course, but more so mentally and emotionally. Considering what she did to carry that damn family in her mother's place and Soun semi-absence as a father figure. I assume this since Akane seemed to not really understand before Ranma came what 'Anything Goes' meant.
If Akane did understand, then she would have tried to adapt to Ranma in their first spar instead of trying to brute force her way through it. Kasumi ironically seems more suited to it than her given their ability to adapt to the sudden changes and odd situations that get thrown their way. Which is why I can't fault stories that are basically, 'What If Kasumi Also Practiced Martial Arts' when they have a Kasumi in them that fights when they make Kasumi essentially an OC.
AUTHORS NOTES
I was quite happy with the reception that the previous chapter received. As for this chapter… well I hope Ranma fans who remember the old anime and the aftereffects of Kuno declaration to Ranma appreciate my twist on it. As for those who haven't seen the old anime, I suggest you look up the scene or the episode where it shows how Ranma mind processed the declaration. It will seriously make you die laughing and way better than the scene from the manga and remake. With that piece of advice given, enjoy the chapter and as always, let me know what you think in the comments and reviews.
JAPAN
FURINKAN HIGH
COURTYARD
THIRD PERSON POV
A bouquet of roses was now in the hands of a stunned Ranma, sitting on his ass with their legs in an almost kneeling position with them slightly on his sides. He tried to speak but was unable to find any words as to what was happening to him right now. Only managing to get out a stutter of gibberish as he tried to formulate any word with his currently overwhelmed mental capacity. Unable to even begin to understand what was happening to him right now.
"I love you, my crimson goddess." Kuno whispered as he stood up from his kneeling position he took when he gave Ranma the flowers.
"YOU LEAVE RANMA ALONE KUNO!" Akane yelled getting in between the two as Nabiki tried to gently shake Ranma out of his stupor. Albeit, with some internal confusion. 'Why am I so upset that Kuno gave Ranma those flowers?' She internally questioned as she could not understand why it was him giving Ranma flowers specifically that irritated her. With a chuckle as if Akane had told some sort of joke, Kuno shook his head resting his hand against his forehead.
"What's so funny Kuno baby?" Nabiki asked him, annoyed that her suspicions about Ranma future trouble will be proven right.
Raising his kendo sword up into the air with lightning randomly streaking through the sky out of nowhere, as per usual with his declarations. "FROM THIS DAY ONWARD. ANY MAN WHO THOU WISHES TO TRY AND TAKE THE GALLANT YET DELICATE RANMA SAOTOME FROM AKANE TENDO. MUST BEST THE NAMED FIANCE IN COMBAT TO PROVE THEIR WORTHINESS OF THE CRIMSON VALKYRIE HAND AS WELL AS DEFEATING THE WARRIOR MAIDEN HERSELF!" He declared giving Ranma an absurd feminine warrior nickname like he did with Akane.
This declaration resulted in him predictably being beaten into unconsciousness by a furious Akane. Who luckily got a good enough first hit in to succeed, all due to Kuno being distracted by trying to pose dramatically. As Kuno was now taking her seriously in fights from now on, and had already proven, she would not be able to easily defeat him anymore like she used to.
The other guys from the horde who were nearby and heard this gave a sort of battle cry as they charged at them with Akane and Nabiki now hurrying Ranma along.
JAPAN
TENDO HOUSEHOLD
THIRD PERSON POV
Ranma simply followed Akane and Nabiki home as Akane held his hand, only snapping out of it when they got to the living room where Akane sat him down. "... WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?" Ranma yelled, making his father and Akane's father spill their hot tea on themselves.
"AAAAHH WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU BOY/RANMA!?" The two men screamed at Ranma with Akane slapping them upside the head.
"Oh, is everyone o-AKANE!" Kasumi exclaimed, suddenly stopping her sentence as she was about to ask if everyone was ok due to the yelling, before yelling at the sight of Akane's uniform herself.
"That was Kuno being an obnoxious pervert, I would wish you luck but not even a miracle will get him to stop before we convince the school of your true gender." Akane told Ranma as she ignored their fathers and her sister, breaking the bad news to Ranma as she sat down to begin explaining what happened to their dads.
"Well, I hope you enjoy sneaking into school through the back? Otherwise, you will need to fight through them everyday like Akane did before you came along." Nabiki told him, not even trying to get his hopes up that things will get better for him going forward.
Akane looked at her sister like she just insulted her to her face. "You say that like I'm going to let him go through that by himself like I had to do." she told her sister, making it clear she wasn't going to accept essentially shoving her personal hell onto Ranma, though not through any fault of her own.
"I am no Shakespearean expert, nor an expert in martial arts. But based on what Kuno baby said, you will probably have to also fight them regardless of your decision. And if Ranma having to save you was any indication, then you are not ready yet to protect yourself, let alone protect Ranma." Nabiki told her younger sister, still thinking it was ridiculous how much Akane was overestimating herself.
"Ummm, Akane, Nabiki, can you two explain what happened while Ranma goes take a bath?" Kasumi asks them as the two younger sisters now realize they need to explain to the rest of the family what happened. Luckily for Ranma, Kasumi really did insist on him taking a bath, so he did not have to see the disturbed reactions of the two fathers who looked like they were about ready to have heart attacks.
Coming back from the bath in guy form, Ranma saw that the two older men had left, with Nabiki pointing upstairs before he could ask her where they went, as it dawned on him what happened. "Got it, so any ideas?" Ranma asked them all as the table was set for dinner with Kasumi sitting down, beginning to serve the rice.
"Here you go Akane, can you pass it to Ranma?" Kasumi asked Akane to hand it to her sister who passed it to Ranma without needing to say anything. After passing Nabiki and Akane their bowls of rice, she spoke up, deciding to answer Ranma's question. "How about you tell them clearly you don't want to date any of them and dislike the nickname." She told him, making the other two almost fall over, spilling their miso soup and Ranma himself almost falling back.
"What!" Akane clearly exclaimed, but did not yell at her elder sister as Kasumi was never the teasing kind of person.
"Tell me you are not serious big sister?" Nabiki told her elder sister, genuinely questioning if Kasumi finally decided to try cracking a joke.
Kasumi just blinked in confusion at them. "But I am serious, a girl should not play with boys' emotions like that. Even that girl in question is half boy." Kasumi told them, making Ranma question if she really didn't understand their curse.
Nabiki waved her hand in a manner indicating no. "Considering he started as a boy." She started, making the others raise an eyebrow clearly questioning what her opinion would be if Ranma was the reverse. "Except for some female modesty to avoid unsavoury rumors spreading about our family because of him accidentally flashing any guests, I don't think he has to go as far as behaving like a real girl." Nabiki finished, making it clear she had no problem with essentially a second tomboy around the house.
"I told you I refuse to wear girls' clothes." Ranma grits out painfully through his teeth as he recalls her trying to make him wear a dress instead of just heating up some hot water in a tea kettle for him.
"Then don't walk around shirtless, or without pants when you turn into a girl, and it'll be fine." Nabiki bit back, not liking how he showed off his jealousy-inducing figure that day.
"So, you're telling me you had zero ulterior motive for wanting me to wear a pink frilly dress and all those kinky clothes? You did have a captain's hat and a whip." He snapped back, making them all remember those embarrassing outfits she brought out of nowhere.
When the two sisters looked to Nabiki with curious gazes, the always proud and greedy sister did… nothing. Neither to deny or confirm it, all she did was refuse to look at them directly. Akane and Kasumi both knew now that Ranma was right about their sister intent to do perverted things to or with him at the center of it. With Akane knowing it was most likely to sell sexy and inappropriate pictures of Ranma to random strangers. "...You really are the worst, aren't you Nabiki?" Akane questioned as her sister finished her dinner quickly and went upstairs.
"Did I miss something?" Kasumi asked the remaining two, with Ranma beating Nabiki to the punch.
"Nabiki was selling photos of a sweaty Akane to the perverts who attack her every morning." He said getting up to go and get his homework done, knowing he likely had to ask Akane for help. This left a stunned Nabiki there just long enough that when he went to join Akane, she was trapped downstairs for the lecture of her life… so far.
Kasumi and their fathers who came back down after, had begun scolding her for it. With the fathers having come down only after eavesdropping from the top of the stairs like the cowards they were.
JAPAN
TENDO HOUSEHOLD
RANMA SAOTOME POV
Too exhausted, mentally not physically, I dragged myself to the futon beside dad who was already snoring away. Not bothering to punch him across the face to shut him up for a few minutes to go to sleep easier like I usually would. Once the darkness of unconsciousness took a hold of me however…
~RANMA DREAM~
Running in guy form to school as I was running late and didn't want to get detention again. I narrowly dodged getting splashed with water by an old lady, smiling smugly at her. "No way I am going to school as a girl, but nice try!" I called out to her from behind, not slowing down in the slightest. When I got to school though…
"WHO THE HELL IS GETTING MARRIED!?" I couldn't help but exclaim in a high-pitched voice as I saw wedding decorations lined down the courtyard and all over the building. That was when I noticed my voice and looked down to see I was wearing a western style white wedding dress. Before I could exclaim anything else, Nabiki and Kasumi ran up beside me in dark pink western styled dresses of their own, taking one arm each. With Akane's four friends behind me and wearing the same dresses pushing me forward towards the school doors.
"Why it's your wedding silly? Now hurry before you miss it. I spent a lot of money on your wedding." Nabiki told me happily, making me immediately question what the hell kind of alternate universe I was fucking lost in right now.
"Nabiki is right, your husband to be is waiting for you." Kasumi told me as she adjusted a strand of hair that was out of place.
Still confused, I moved forward expecting to see Akane in a suit at the altar, Akane was nowhere to be seen. Instead… IT WAS FUCKING KUNO!? That was when music began to play, and I had lost control of my body as I began to walk forward again after stopping when I saw Kuno. It was only when I got closer to the altar, I saw Akane.
Within the shadows cast by the altar hiding them from me earlier, Akane was in a torn up gi. Holding up the altar with the words 'failure of a fiancé' written across their forehead in pressure points dots like I did with Kuno and other cocky opponents in the past.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO AKANE!" I could not stop myself from yelling at Kuno with a burning fury that made the kendo freak chuckle.
"Ranma, you were the one that did that to them when they failed to fend me off." Kuno told me calmly as though I just didn't scream at him.
"W-What?" I asked confused, now in a much more subdued, almost mouse-like tone when compared to my previous yelling.
"Ranma, I love you." Kuno said as he leaned in to kiss me, making me want to scream and run, but found my body leaning forward to return the kiss before everything went dark.
~RANMA DREAM~
Covering my mouth as I shot up from a laying down position to a sitting upright position, I just barely held back my scream in time. Running to the bathroom, I began washing the hell out of my face with cold water. Not realizing I had done so violently that I turned into a girl from how soaked I was until after the fact. "... What the fuck was that nightmare?" I asked myself as I tried to desperately steady my breathing before going back to bed in an attempt to get some sleep.
JAPAN
TENDO DOJO
THIRD PERSON POV
Meeting one another in the dojo as they agreed last night, they began training before school to get her prepped for today's clash. Though Akane noticed that Ranma looked tired but didn't say anything as Ranma seemed grumpy from whatever kept him from sleeping.
"I hate to break it to you, but it will take time for you to get physically strong enough to overwhelm them like you used to do. Which means you need to learn how to use a weapon and not waste a single movement in the fight." He told her, keeping his male form for the sake of proper training.
"Well, I do have some basic training with a sword because an old ancestor was a samurai. But what do you mean not wasting a single movement?" Akane asked him, confused as to that exact phrasing.
With a sigh, Ranma crossed his arms and shook his head. "When we fought, and every time I saw you fighting. You used nothing but raw power in a straightforward attack going all out in every attack. That wore you down and drained your stamina quickly." He pointed out to a frustrated Akane before he poked her forehead with a playful smile like last time they fought.
Letting out a tired sigh she accepted what he said. "Fine, but don't expect me to resort to any dirty tricks." Akane told him, still thinking their school of martial art should be conducted honorably despite the obvious name.
"If you want to fight your way through multiple opponents, then you need to do what I did and make sure to toss them aside. It also helps to mix in feints so their own momentum can allow you to get away with less full power attacks to take them down. Otherwise, you will drain your stamina and be left vulnerable before we get through them." Ranma finished, pointing out what he did when he saved her from the horde when she underestimated them.
Picking up her sword, they began with Ranma sticking to his high mobility, less sturdy defensive fighting style. Whenever she would slash downward, Ranma would go to the left or right before going around behind her to poke the back of her head whispering defeat to her. If she slashed sideways, he would duck under it to avoid the hit, once again getting behind her to poke and whisper. A diagonal slash got a jump over her head, landing behind repeating the process of poke and whisper.
As infuriating as it was for Akane, she saw that he had a point about her being defenseless in close combat. But at least with a sword, she would be able to keep them an arms length away from her. It also did not help her that Ranma playfully fighting with her like they were made her chest feel warm whenever they would throw in the occasional compliment.
"Good, good, now let's move onto where to strike them with your sword since you have a rough idea of how they can dodge your attack." Ranma told her, seeing how she aimed for the main body rather than the limbs that are more efficient to aim for when dealing with that horde. After all, a disabled opponent is better than an unconscious opponent.
"And what would you know about using a sword?" Akane questioned him, not fully believing him given that she fought with Kuno on a regular basis.
"Nothing!" Ranma declared proudly making Akane almost keel over at this ridiculous display. "But I do know how to fight and have had others use weapons when fighting me before." He pointed out to her, knowing that he had far more experience than her due to constantly travelling with his dad unlike her who stayed rooted in one place growing up.
"... Fine, teach me what you know." Akane told him, both now making it definitive they were not going to try sneaking in as they needed to confront them as a duo at least once.
"We also need to make one small modification to that sword of yours." Ranma told her, knowing how to give her the decisive edge in her strikes. Though it would make any respectable kendo practitioner weep in both frustration and shame to see what he was about to do to her sword.
JAPAN
FURINKAN HIGH
COURTYARD
THIRD PERSON POV
With both fathers still bedridden from yesterday's shock, half due to the news as to what happened at school as well as the photo thing. Something that only got them momentarily upset enough to come to their senses before they remembered what they were like as teenagers. Knowing what those photos were likely used for, the two became shocked again, as a result, breakfast was quick yet quiet.
Though Kasumi was a bit sad when Ranma did not help her as he spent the morning with Akane in the dojo. Something the eldest was clearly disappointed by, at least until Akane offered to help, at which point Kasumi was okay with cooking by herself again. Nabiki Tendo who made sure she was changed for some reason, had gone ahead of them, way ahead of them, which worried them because of her grin.
When they got to the school gates, Ranma had Akane put both their school bags on her back, with one covering the back of her head. As uncomfortable as it was, Akane put up with it since it was either that or carry a helmet to school all the time.
"FAIREST RANMA, WE CHALLENGE YOU!" Kuno declared before noticing Akane wielding a sword. This was quite eye opening to Kuno… in his twisted mind anyway it opened his eyes. "I see now, despite still insisting on wearing feminine garb, you are truly ready to fight me for your finance hand Akane Tendo." He told himself as he stayed back this time, expecting them to fight their way through the horde together now that Akane got serious in his eyes.
Striking the back of the knee of the boxer after ducking his punch, he fell forward into the judo club member behind her causing both to punch each other out.
A soccer player tried to kick her with a downward to upward motion in a left to right diagonal angle. But she sidestepped her body while keeping her sword aimed straight at him, going for a thrust with her kendo sword. This sent him flying back as his kick left his midsection vulnerable, taking out the kendo club member behind him as they bashed head-to-head with the foot of the soccer player hitting the kendo club member in their family jewels. Knocking out both annoying young men.
Ranma for his part took out a rugby team member with a three-point strike to his midsection before winging him into a baseball team member coming from behind. All before slamming shoulder first into the two to make sure they fell into the crowd onto three more guys with a fourth tripping over the group as they tried to charge in.
"Is that all you bastards have!?" Ranma asked before jumping back to Akane getting back-to-back with her as the part of the horde in front of him tightened on him.
"Yeah, just give up so we can avoid being late for class." Akane told them, giving Ranma a once over with a sideways glance to see no serious injuries.
Up from above in her classroom, one Nabiki Tendo sighed in a mix of joy and happiness. "I told them to sneak in through the back. Well at least they made me a good profit with everyone betting against my little sister, hoping she would be taken down." She said to herself as she rubbed her stack of yen against her face as many had thought today would be the day to win against the ice queen. The fighting went on until they made it to only Kuno being left standing among the numbers of the horde.
"AKANE! RANMA! YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES LEFT TO GET IN HERE!" one of the girls called out to them, as despite her four friends distancing themselves recently, the girls in class still felt bad for them having to deal with this mess.
"ON MY BACK!" Ranma told Akane as she got on his back, with Ranma holding onto her legs so she could use her sword to deal with Kuno as they charged forward.
"AKANE TENDO! TO USE YOUR FIANCE LIKE A STALLION OF WAR IS TRULY DISPICI-" Kuno yelled but was kicked in the chest bending him backward, exposing his face to Akane sword for a downward slash knocking him out. Not wasting a moment, Ranma used him as a springboard and threw Akane through the open window and climbed up after her just barely making the ring of the bell.
'If only I could have fought in my guy form, that would have been done in half the time.' Ranma thought in annoyance as it reminded them how much weaker their female form was.
JAPAN
FURINKAN HIGH
RANMA & AKANE HOMEROOM
THIRD PERSON POV
Once the first break came, Ranma went straight to Akane to check up on her despite not seeing any injuries on her or damage to her uniform.
"So how are you after using your sword?" Ranma asked her as he leaned in looking at her sideways.
Rolling her eyes, Akane turned sideways and straightened out Ranma before responding to them. "I'm fine Ranma. You should know how capable I was after our morning spar; I also had my sword you modified for me." Akane told them, with a playfully mocking tired sounding tone, indicating she wasn't tired while gently tapping her sword. She was surprised how quick yet effective his alterations were, as well as the fact he did manage such alterations so quickly.
As everyone was curious, Akane explained to them what Ranma did. Using pliers, Ranma had bent and tightened a piece of old sheet metal from the shed around the top third of the blade. This added metal allowed her to block quite a few soccer cleats easily without damaging her sword or self, and it also added a bit more damage to her attacks. He also bundled together and added some metal rods into her sword by opening the top before that. At first, she complained he was ruining her sword and making an unfair weapon, but after fighting with it… well she couldn't really complain about it now that she could knock those idiots out easier.
"RANMA DID THAT TO YOUR SWORD!?"
"WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO DO THAT!?"
Ranma was embarrassed by some of the guys who noticed her sword and the girls who a few recalled, Akane used to bring it to school before Kuno started bothering her.
Laughing lightly with a clear sound of pride in his voice as he rubbed the back of his with a tinge of red on his face. "Well, when you travelled and saw as much as I have, something like this is simple, ya know?" Ranma said happily, with Akane smiling at the sight of Ranma getting genuine praise after all that crap she saw him get, and could easily guess, he received from his dad till now.
But seeing everyone crowd around them made her… bothered, that was until Ranma clasped a hand on her shoulder. "Akane is the amazing one though, all I did was add a few things to her sword, she was the one that actually used it properly." He praised her, making a warm feeling swell up in her chest like when they were in the dojo earlier.
"You two really get along well, I figured you would be fighting and arguing because of the forced engagement. Especially if it was a boy." Asami told Akane, speaking to her for the first time since Kuno blurted out his nonsense claim of her being a boy. So Akane was caught off guard when they spoke to her for the first time since then, though it made her happy as it felt like things were beginning to go somewhat back to normal.
"Yeah, you would probably be right…" Akane said trailing off as she saw the hurt look on Ranma's face. Whether it was because he was reminded no one believed him when he said he was a guy. Despite them believing Akane was transgender and treating her as one of the girls still… well mostly treating her like one of the girls. Or if it was because he thought she only liked him because of his curse making him half girl, only Ranma would know. "... if it was anyone other than Ranma, I would be upset. But Ranma is a good person, so I say I got lucky in this situation." She finished with a smile as she chuckled at the now red-faced Ranma turning away.
The other girls noticed this and began surrounding them more, excited by the flirting taking place before them. If it was a different Ranma, one that lets say started off on the wrong foot with her without Dr. Tofu and Kasumi push the two to learn about each other properly. He probably would have just said something like 'whatever' or 'of course you got lucky with me' as he awkwardly and rudely tried to hide his embarrassment.
But since Akane understood Ranma better and showed empathy towards him about his situation. The gentler side of himself he would have otherwise been too embarrassed to show began to come out. Which in his female form was quite adorable for everyone to watch as the days went on, but for his male form at home… well let's say it was a good thing they weren't forced to share a room with what she thought of doing that night to herself.