Baby and Lady

by TetsuoTsubushi

After an accident Ranma is in the mind set of a five year old as he's left to Akane to care for him, but his female form is affected in a different way. You can technically start from chapter 12. It is an updated version of the original 11 chapters in preparation for a continuation slash ending after 20 years.

12. Baby & Lady - Chapters 1 thru Epilogue2

Note: I'll finish this story after 22 years. This isn't the continuation itself.

Sorry.

This is just an updated version of everything so far.

Obviously I never had an ending. I rewrote the story in an attempt to familiarize myself with the story.

I feel like it worked.

I have a general idea now on how to end things. I'll work on it and start posting something very soon. Honest. Give me at least a week.

Additional note: I'm not sure if I should have just made this an announcement and then reposted it as a new story. It's weird to post the start of the story after the end?

Let's start.

—-Chapter One: The Accident—-

An average day in Nerima at the Tendo residence. All is quiet until once again that peace is broken by a loud yell of:

"RANMA!"

There are many who call this name in such an angry way. Rivals, family, and more. This time it was one of a few women who people call his fiancée.

A teenage girl with raven hair with the name of Akane Tendo.

"I didn't do it this time tomboy so keep back!" Ranma yells while running through the Tendo halls. His hair in a black pigtail.

"This time just an apology won't help you!" He slows down to turn at a corner. They have reached the exterior of the home.

With a grunt, she swings a mighty mallet at him. There is contact and he is sent into the yard. She made contact with his head so a bump has already started to form.

The boy's body gets up as he looks down. His hand on the bump to soothe the pain.

Sensing her chi, he looks up in time to see Akane has launched her body towards him. Unfortunately, he is not going to be in time to do much else.

"It was all Happo–"

Before the teen can finish, he is sent through the wall surrounding the dojo.

Because of how often the home was wrecked, Soun Tendo did not invest in the best quality materials when repairing that damage. Akane is strong, but usually not enough to send him through a structure like that.

Ranma starts to pick himself up, but he is not alert in time to avoid being hit by a box truck that mows him down.

"Ranma!"

Akane goes through several emotions ranging from fright, horror, and settles into shock.

Ranma does not get up, but she can see him breathing.

"I didn't mean for this," she says as guilt starts to take control.

Nabiki, her older sister, sits in the family room nearby. She decides to get closer to the damaged wall and peer over at her future brother-in-law.

"I'll call an ambulance and take it out of your allowance," she decides.

Thankfully, aside from some bruises, Ranma pulls through. His stay at the hospital is not very long. While he did not wake up, it was decided to move him to stay at Dr. Tofu's clinic so that he was closer to home.

Generally, the family felt he had worse injuries and just needed rest.

Akane was so full of guilt, she spent all possible time at the side of the man she refuses to say she loves.

On day three, the young man starts to stir. There is a grown as they sit up in bed.

"Wh-where am I?" His voice is pitched a little lower. It sounds like it comes from fright and confusion.

Akane, who sits nearby, is excited to see him move. She gets closer, but refuses to look him in the eye.

"You're up," she smiles. "Ranma. I'm so sorry about this."

"Who are you?" Ranma asks in confusion.

"Wh-what? D-don't joke with me."

She looks at his eyes. Akane always calls him a liar, and there is always a misunderstanding. She knows he prides himself on his manliness even though he is immature and egotistical.

So when she sees the eyes that are nearly in tears, she knows he is telling the truth. He really has no idea who she is.

"You have amnesia?" Akane is so surprised she stands up.

"Amnes–what? You use big words lady. Where's my mama?" The boy starts to cry.

Akane grows more confused. This wasn't just amnesia? Ranma would never openly cry like this.

"Are you okay?"

"I want my mama!" Ranma wails loudly.

From the hall comes an older woman in a kimono. Her dark hair flows as she moves hurriedly to his side.

He ignores that she looks older. It's still his mother, Nodoka Saotome.

"Mommy!"

He grabs his mother into a desperate hug.

Nodoka is a dutiful mother and returns the embrace as she sits on the bed.

She looks at Akane. "Why is he crying? He is usually manlier than this?"

Akane is a ghost of herself. Just watching with vacant eyes.

"There's something wrong with him," she reports with a blank tone. "He's not acting like Ranma."

Nodoka uses her handkerchief to dry her son's tears. The way he is now, reminded her of before he left with her husband so long ago.

"He seems just like the Ranma I remember. Before he went away."

Dr. Tofu enters to find the three. He is glad to see Ranma awake. Not a surprise since he hasn't been needed much of late, and Ranma has suffered worse.

His optimism fades when he notices the boy's odd behavior and the faces of the two women. He adjusts his glasses. "What is going on?"

"I think Ranma has some kind of amnesia, Dr. Tofu."

"Let me see."

Nodoka moves, but keeps her hand in Ranma's. Tofu starts by checking Ranma's reaction to light.

Ranma acts afraid of Tofu. He doesn't like doctors, but his mother is quietly assuring him he is okay.

"What is your name, son?"

"Me name id Saotome Ranma." He says a bit scared of the doctor. He didn't use the right words.

"Okay, how old are you?" Tofu asks.

Ranma begins counting his fingers.

"I'm this many." Ranma shows one hand with all five digits out.

"So you're five years old, huh? I see."

Tofu turns away and rubs the back of his head.

"What is it, doctor?" Nodoka inquires.

"Ranma appears to have forgotten all that has happened to him over the past twelve years. It may not be permanent so in time he'll remember hopefully."

Tofu is aware weird things happen to the Saotome and Tendos so this isn't startling news.

"Until then just go about things like normal, but make sure he doesn't get splashed by the cold water. Who knows what would happen if he were to turn into a girl in this state."

"So Ranma's a kid again?" Akane asks, trying to make sense of it all.

"I'll get a second chance to be with my son?"

Nodoka hugs her son. After a moment she lets him go but stays on the bed.

She missed out on a lot of years when he was on the road. As a coping mechanism, she is seeing this as a second chance. Even though his body is that of a teenager.

"Ranma as a five year old?" Akane says in a whisper. "This is all my fault."

The boy tugs on Akane's sleeve to get her attention.

"I'm Ranma," he tells Akane. "Who are you?"

"Huh?" She reaches deep into herself for an answer. Out of love and guilt, she directs a kind smile at him. "I'm Akane, you're new best friend."

"Yay! A new friend."

He laughs.

Tofu thinks maybe he needs to read up on this more.

—-Chapter Two: Watching Ranma—-

"My son's a child," Genma wonders. This isn't really true. Only his mind is that of a child. Still, it felt like his son was gone. So Genma turns and faces the wall in the corner of the room.

"The schools will never be joined," Soun Tendo moans. He begins to weep profusely.

Ranma thinks this is the funniest thing. Like watching two clowns. He kind of is.

So he laughs and claps in response.

"These men are funny."

Tofu saw no reason to keep Ranma any longer, so sent him home with Akane and Nodoka. They have just announced the current situation to the family. They are sitting at the table in the family room.

Ranma is next to Akane, Genma in the corner but next to Nodoka who sits across from the two, and Soun at the head like usual.

Akane realizes a problem. "Does Ranma know how to use the toilet?"

Nodoka nods. "Genma forced him to learn at age two."

"So what now?" Akane asks the obvious question.

"You, Akane, will watch over him." The two fathers simultaneously announce. It is very bold of them but not unusual.

"What?! Why?" Akane hits the table with her two fists.

"Akane doesn't like me?" Ranma asks. His feelings are hurt by his new friend saying they didn't want to be together.

His eyes begin to tear up.

She gives an awkward look that defuses her anger.

"Uh, of course not, Ranma. I like you very much. Please don't cry."

"Yay!" Ranma jumps into her arms with a hug.

She wants to push him away, but her common sense takes over and she does not. Akane blushes because his body is still that of a boy her age. It is hard for her to separate the two Ranmas. The mental and emotional five year old, and the strong and handsome seventeen year old.

"So you will play with me then?"

"Uh, yeah, yeah sure." Akane nods. She breaks free of the hug.

She looks away.

Ranma sees something and wanders away from the table and down the hall.

"Okay, so what did Dr. Tofu say?" Genma asks.

"He said not to force Ranma to remember his past. That, and to make sure he doesn't turn into a girl." Akane answers.

"He's a huge water magnet though. This'll be tough." Genma worries.

Ranma reenters the room. "There's nothing fun here," Ranma whines. "No toys or nothin'."

"Akane, take my son to the mall for some toys." Genma puts some yen on the table. No one is really sure where he got it from, since he is notorious for spending it all.

Most likely it was stolen.

"Me?" Akane asks. She picks up the money.

"You are his babysitter now. It's more agreeable than being his fiancée, correct?" Soun says with his arms crossed. This engagement may still work out, he thinks.

Akane hesitantly nods her head.

"Aka-Chan, take me to the mall." Ranma happily says with a light jump.

He playfully pulls on her hand, but not knowing his strength, actually lifts her to her feet.

"What did you call me? Aka-Chan?" Akane asks. "That means I'm a child?"

She thinks how he is the one that's a child. This deal is getting worse all the time.

"It's easier to say," he shrugs.

She did not find this funny. She decides to not sweat the small things. Not really something she is known for, but there's always a time and place.

"Now let's go get toys! I want a truck, a baseball, and a bat, too."

"Okay, okay. Slow down. We'll go Ranma." Akane takes his hand. She pauses. It is something she always wanted to try, but now she can. Not quite the way she always expected.

The two teens leave the room and then the house.

"Ranma as a kid again?" Genma shudders at the thought. "This will be a bit tough. He acted different back then."

"Yes, I'm pretty sure a certain bald man tainted his mind over the years." Nodoka suggests.

Soun scoots away from the table.

"Honey. Soun's not bald, nor did he raise Ranma." Genma says with arms crossed as the other two look at him strangely.

Akane and Ranma are in a large store in the toy section. Akane carries a toy truck, plane, a baseball, a bat, a glove, a Mobile Suit robot figure, and a kite.

"Are you sure you need all this Ranma?" Akane wonders if this is too much even for an injured person.

"A'kourse I do Aka-Chan. What kid doesn't? Oh, I'll need another Gandamn to fight with." Ranma runs back to that toy aisle to get one.

"I should find a basket." Akane walks over to get a hand basket from nearby and returns to find no Ranma. She realizes she treated him like a normal teen and not a child. She let him run off alone and it has now been five minutes. Worry starts to cross her heart and mind. "Ranma? This isn't funny, mister. Come on out right now!"

Across the store in the hardware section is Ranma. "Aka-Chan? Where are you? Wah! Aka-Chan!" Ranma sits on the floor crying. The adults think it is a prank from high schoolers so just pass him by.

"Are you okay?" A woman who works there comes to his side.

"I can-ca-can't f-fi-find Aka-Chan!" He cries some more.

"Uh, sir, are you okay?" This clerk is not able to understand.

"Ranma!" Akane comes with a smile as Ranma jumps up to his feet. He hugs her. The force at which he moves pushes them to the floor. "Ugh," she utters from his weight, "I found you."

"I was so scared." Ranma says while crying into her chest. He always calls her flat, but that is definitely not the case. It was becoming awkward so she stood them up. Akane glares at the people gawking at them.

"Haven't you ever seen an amnesiac? Pheh. Let's go, Ranma." Akane takes his hand and walks to the register with her basket.

She notices someone from their class. "It's amnesia. It's normal weird Ranma stuff. Don't make this a thing."

Akane realizes another problem. So when she gets home, she addresses the three adults in the family room again.

"So where is he gonna go during the day if I'm in school?"

"You can't take a five year old to high school," Genma asks in confusion. "Hmm." He rubs his chin in thought.

"Ranma never went to kindergarten. Sign him up for that for now." The older woman mentions.

"Won't it be weird? Him being seventeen and all?" The girl questions.

"Not at all. Send him to kindergarten starting tomorrow." The Tendo father decides.

"If you're his mother, Mrs. Saotome, why am I doing everything a mother would do? Taking him to the store, watching him, signing him up for school, taking him to school." Akane starts counting the tasks on her fingers.

"As his fiancée I believe you should do them and I won't. Besides, it makes me break down and cry." The older woman answers with a tear in eye. "The things he and I shared. The things we never shared since he was on the road." She starts to sob and is no longer available.

"Fine. I'll be his mother for the moment," Akane groans. "At least I don't have to breastfeed him," she jokes. "He could eat at age five right?" The two parents look at one another then nod to her.

A week has passed and it became easier as this became the new normal for the family.

The end of the week arrives.

Akane picks up Ranma from school. He wears a uniform and is carrying his bag.

"How was your day, Ranma?" Akane cheerfully asks.

"It was great! We had so much fun. I even got a problem right." Ranma enthusiastically answers.

"You did?"

"Yep. I got it done first, too. It was two plus two and I knew it was four. I figured out how to count to ten easy."

"Oh yeah?" Akane wonders.

"Yep. I used my fingers ca' each finger is a one and you put another to make two and another for three." Ranma says showing with his fingers.

"That's being smart, Ranma. I'm glad you're doing so well. Just for that we can have ice cream." Akane announces.

"Ice cream!" Ranma excitedly jumps up and down.

"Ranma, is that your mommy?" A little boy asks at the school gate. One of Ranma's new classmates.

"Nuh-uh. This is Aka-Chan, my very best friend." Ranma answers back to the boy.

"Oh okay. C'ya tomowow Ranma." The boy turns to join his mother.

"Let's get ice cweam now Aka-Chan." Ranma tugs on her arm.

She was thinking about how she is his best friend. Was that true before as well?

She wakes from her thoughts as he tugs her arm again.

"Oh. Right, Ranma. Let's go then." Akane starts walking away with Ranma in tow. 'Ranma is like my son now, but he's still Ranma. I'd rather have his son than have him as mine.'

That thought is one of the most dangerous she ever thought.

—-Chapter Three : Female Ranma—-

Kasumi walks into the yard of the Tendo home on a gray afternoon. She opens the door while two grocery bags hang on her shoulders. She places the bags on the dining table where Akane sits reading a book.

"So how did Ranma like the market Kasumi?" Akane asks. Her eyes never looking away from her book.

"Ranma?" She looks horrified at the memory she did not leave the house alone. "Oh dear. Uh, he, uh, loved it." Kasumi lies. Maybe he is here and she didn't notice. So she starts to look around the room and the hallways. This causes Akane to put the book down in suspicion.

"Ranma did come back with you right?" Akane grabs Kasumi's two shoulders to look her in the face. To stop her older sister. "Y-You lost him!"

"Maybe." Kasumi forgot he isn't the same Ranma. She is usually the calm one, but right now, her anxiety directs her into the kitchen. Not sure what to do. Her refuge from the crazy situations that happen here.

"Where's Ranma?!" Akane flips the dining room table. Her anxiety is maxed out.

On an empty street, in an alleyway, Ranma wanders, looking anywhere possible for someone he knows. He was with his big sister, and then got distracted by a cool looking dog.

"Kasumi? Where are you big sister Kasumi?!"

The boy was in tears.

"Ranma!" A young man with dark hair with a headband yells the boy's name. He stands at the end of the alley they were in. "I challenge you to a match, Ranma!" He grins showing his fangs.

"Wow. Hey mister, how'd you get your teeth like that?" Ranma says in awe, walking over to Ryoga. "Are they real?" Ranma inquires while opening Ryoga's mouth. Steam is almost visible. As if it were rising from Ryoga's ears.

"Ranma! What do you think you're doing? You know they are real damnit! Now do you accept my challenge or not?" Ryoga pushes Ranma back. The pigtailed boy falls on his butt.

"You're mean mister!" Ranma begins to cry.

This causes intense confusion for Ryoga.

"H-hey! Stop crying! Real men don't cry." Ryoga grabs Ranma by the collar and shakes him vigorously. Ryoga throws Ranma aside into a puddle.

"R-Ryoga?" The now female Ranma asks. Her eyes light up at the sight of the rival.

"So you're not crazy now? Can we fight?" Ryoga wonders. He had to take revenge for making a fool of him just now.

"Fight you Ryoga? I would never fight the man I'm in love with." Ranma snuggles up to Ryoga. It almost sounds like she purrs.

"Wh-What is your problem?!" Ryoga pushes Ranma away in disgust. His face is red. "You're messed up! I don't go that way!"

"What are you talking about? Ryoga, we've always been in love since school. Remember everyday I'd get you bread." Ranma glomps onto her childhood lover.

"You stole my bread everyday." Ryoga corrects the young man in the woman's body. He attempts to pry Ranma off of him.

"Don't be foolish, my love. You're being weird, but you always were a bit like that." Ranma kisses Ryoga's cheek. Ryoga collapses to the ground along with Ranma who holds on. Ryoga uses the Breaking Point to hit the ground, throwing Ranma off.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! Huh?" Ryoga stands ready to fight when a drop of water hits his hand. He looks up as it starts raining down on the two. "Bwee!" Ryoga now as a sable colored pig ran from the approaching Ranma.

"I got you my cute pig boyfriend!" Ranma scoops Ryoga up in his arms. "Let's go home now my love." Ranma says in joy. Ryoga, or P-Chan, struggles to get free.

Quickly sneaking into the Tendo home, Ranma enters the bathroom unnoticed. Everyone is too distracted looking for Ranma to hear the sounds of P-chan.

"It's nice and warm just the way you like it." Ranma says as he drops the swine into the tub.

"How dare you humiliate me like this, Ranma!" Ryoga shouts as he bursts from the water. He bops the girl on the head.

"Ew. You like it kinky? Ravish me, Ryoga!" Ranma pops open their shirt to expose their breasts.

"Wah! What are you doing?!" Ryoga nervously yells. He closes Ranma's shirt in desperation.

"I love you, Ryoga." Ranma announces. She kisses him on the lips as the door slides open.

"Ranma?! Ryoga?!" Akane is in shock by what she sees.

Ryoga uses this as a chance to throw Ranma across the room.

—-Chapter Four : Two Ranmas—-

"It's not what you think, Akane!" Ryoga, who is still nude, says while putting his arms up in defense. His lower half was hidden in the tub.

"Ow. Why'd you do that Ryoga? People don't throw the girl they love around." Ranma mutters. She stands up.

"Ryoga, what's going on?" Akane asks.

"Would you leave please, Akane? We were in the middle of something." Ranma pushes her out of television room and closes the door.

"He, you can't do that!" Akane yells as she bursts back into the bathroom.

"Grr! Will you stop this!" Ryoga grabs Ranma and puts him under the water. "There."

He stands for a few moments facing the blushing Akane. He realizes he exposed himself to his crush. "Oh snap." Ryoga sits back in the tub as boy Ranma comes up.

"Is it bath time Aka-Chan?" Ranma asks as they clear their eyes.

"You don't remember how you got here, Ranma?" Akane asks. The young man shakes his head.

"Did this man bring me home?" Ranma asks as they point to a very confused Ryoga.

"What's going on, Akane? What's up with Ranma?"

"Personally I don't know, Ryoga." Akane comes back in to hand him a towel.

Ranma gets out on their own, and is still dressed. She drapes the towel on him and quickly helps dry them off a bit.

"Uh, Ranma, why don't you go see Kasumi and tell her you're home okay. She'll get you dry clothes."

He nods and leaves the room. A little damp.

Akane leaves the room but stays on the other side of the door. For Ryoga to have privacy.

"Why was he crying like a little baby when I found him," he wonders.

"Ranma got in a bit of an accident last week. Ever since he has acted like a five-year-old. Until now that is. When he was in his cursed form he was acting…" She leans her back against the door.

"Like a girl. I got that much." Ryoga says through the door. "So in male form he's a kid, and in girl form he's, a Ranma that's always been a girl?"

"I, think, that's the case. I'm not too sure about all this. I mean what caused that? Shouldn't he just be a five year old girl when he changed? With the same mind?"

Hadn't Ranma been made to think he was a female before? This felt the same, but different.

"Probably." Ryoga sits by the door. "Akane? Uh, can someone get me some clothes?"

Akane leaves to have Kasumi find some for the boy. She decides instead to ask Nodoka to help. She is still upset with Kasumi.

Even with a week, she still hasn't come to terms with this new normal. She hopes she can have the Ranma she knew back.

For now, she picks up the dining table and puts it back correctly.

Ranma is drinking a juice box. He sits on the back porch, so she joins him. The rain ended a while ago and it was dry.

"Aka-Chan, can we play tag?"

She still did not like this nickname. She's not an infant. In her eyes, he is, at least mentally and emotionally.

"Uh, okay Ranma. Who's it first?" Akane asks while standing back up.

"You." Ranma sticks out his tongue and runs away. "Catch me if you can Aka-Chan!"

"I knew he'd do that." Akane runs after the boy, but he is much faster.

"You can't catch me Aka-Chan! Ha-ha!" Ranma says while looking back.

"Ranma look out!" Akane yells, but Ranma runs into a tree. He is now rolling in the ground, crying in pain.

"You're okay Ranma. It's just a scratch." She picks him up a little and hugs him. He continues to weep. "C'mon, you're a big boy, right?"

"B-but it hurts." Ranma says while trying to stifle his cry. "I won't cry anymore."

"It's okay to cry, Ranma. So don't worry." She says while wiping his tears away with her hand. "You should be strong, Ranma. That's how I know you." Ranma looks up to her with a smile. 'Strong, along with arrogance that is.'

"Was that boy your boyfriend, Aka-Chan?" Ranma asks. The two stand and are headed back for the house.

"Ryoga? Of course not. Why do you ask?" Akane leads him back to the porch.

"I just think you are. You act like you have a boyfriend, Aka-Chan. He looked like he had your cooties."

Ranma jumps onto the porch.

"Tell you what, Ranma. You're the only guy for me." She laughs because of the absurdity of their situation. She steps up onto the porch.

The wall suddenly comes down and Ryoga stands in Ranma's clothes with clenched fists. "That's it Ranma! You're mine!"

Ryoga quickly moves, punching Ranma off the porch to the lawn.

"Mean man! You're a big meanie!" Ranma yells. He gets into a defensive stance, but doesn't remember the proper form his dad taught him.

"Ryoga! What's your problem?!" Akane runs over to Ranma to see if he's okay. "I never knew you could be such a jerk, Ryoga." Akane can't even bear to look at him.

"Akane." Ryoga turns to the house in shame. "I'm sorry." Ryoga runs out of the yard.

He upset Akane. He forgot that Ranma is in an odd condition. He just got jealous.

"It's okay Ranma. Ryoga didn't mean anything by it." Akane helps Ranma up.

"I'm tired Aka-Chan." Ranma yawns.

"Okay, Ranma. Time for a nap then." Akane smiles at him. They move for the house. It had been a weird day, so if Ranma was willing to move on, or didn't have the attention span, it was better for Akane right now.

—-Chapter Five : Bound Together—-

"Booger." Ranma remarks. The rest of his kindergarten class join him in laughter.

"Mr. Saotome, the answer to what goes quack is not booger." The teacher sternly corrects.

"Ducks, go booger." Ranma replies. This causes another uproar in his class.

Suddenly, a juice box from a nearby classmate is squeezed too hard. Little hands out of control by laughter.

Unfortunately the juice hits Ranma.

His body turns to the girl form.

"What am I doing here, and why am I wet and sticky?"

The class finds this super confusing. The teacher was not informed that he can change gender. Only that he can't get wet. Like a gremlin.

Girl Ranma simply walks out of class without waiting for an answer.

"I can't believe what an ass I made of myself in front of Akane." Ryoga remarks. He punches a wall. It cracks and falls apart. He is on a street where construction is to begin, so the wall coming down is not an issue.

"And where the hell is my house?!" Ryoga screams. He bangs his head on a nearby pole in frustration.

"Ryoga darling!" Ranma glomps onto Ryoga's back as he begins to realize who it is.

"What are you doing?!" Ryoga throws Ranma to the ground.

"Ryoga, do you want to go on a date tonight? Maybe I'll let you get to third base, if you're lucky." Ranma gives him a playful smile. She stands up and dusts off her clothes.

"No." Ryoga sternly replies.

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"You're positive?"

"YES! I don't want to date you!" Ryoga argues.

He shudders at the thought. Ranma is still a man, even if he is on a woman's body. Even if, like Ryoga has learned, he thinks he is not a man.

"You can be such a jerk, Ryoga." Ranma sticks out his/her tongue. With tears, s/he runs away from Ryoga.

"Everyone thinks I'm a jerk?" Ryoga wonders.

He also questions if he should at least corral his rival.

Girl Ranma stops in a park and sits on a bench.

"I thought Ryoga loved me." Ranma sadly ruminates. "We've always been together for the longest time. He even became a pig for me."

Girl Ranma misremembers the events up until now, but is still a teenager. Just a girl who thought Ryoga is her boyfriend.

"Having love problem?" An old looking man who looks rather put together is before Ranma. They almost look like a rubber mask. Girl Ranma is currently blind to obvious traps, not that the usual Ranma is always smarter. "I have thing for you."

"You do?" Ranma asks.

"You bet. Here." The man hands Ranma a pair of bracelets.

"Bracelets?" Ranma looks at them and then at the man like he was insane.

"These handcuffs special. Put on the girl you love; you can't be separate."

"This will work." Ranma stands up. Then runs off down the street to find Ryoga.

"Fiancé be mine soon." The man says with a giggle. They remove their face to reveal that of a young girl with violet hair. Shampoo is trying something at the worst time as usual.

Not far away, Girl Ranma finds their quarry.

"My love!" Ranma jumps out at Ryoga. They knock him to the ground.

"Argh! Why are you back?!" Ryoga stands and throws Ranma aside again. He notices something around his arm. "What is this?" Ryoga pulls at it, but it didn't come off.

"Ha-ha! Now we will never be far apart." Ranma grins. She stands back up. "You can't get away from me, my love." Ranma shows a similar bracelet on his/her arm.

"We'll see about that!" Ryoga runs off. Normally they will fight, but Ryoga is going to wait until his rival makes sense. So he leaves Ranma in his dust.

"Oh, he'll be back." Ranma grins. She crosses her arms and sits down on the ground with folded legs.

Akane arrives at school to pick Ranma up. "Where is he?"

Ranma's teacher finds her. "Your son…or whatever, after disturbing my lesson, turned into a girl and ran off."

"He…turned into a girl you say?"

"Well, when a guy suddenly has melons like that they must be a girl. Did you know that he does that?"

"Er, he has a curse. Look, I don't have time to explain. I gotta find him."

"Damnit, Ranma!" Ryoga returns to Ranma who is sitting on the ground. The young man is out of breath. "I got like 100 meters from here and I couldn't go any further. What is this thing?!" Ryoga usually didn't feel so winded.

"Now we will never be apart, my love." Ranma explains.

Ryoga's eyebrow twitches.

"How do you get this blasted thing off?!" Ryoga grabs at it in anger.

"You can't get it off," Ranma laughs. "Now…about that date."

"Date, huh? I'll give you a date!" Ryoga grabs Ranma and runs until he finds a coffee stand. He grabs a cup that has been sitting on the counter so is only hit and not scalding. He removes the lid and throes the black liquid at Ranma.

"Mr. Meanie? What are you doing here?" Ranma shakes the coffee off. His body is a young man and his mind a five year old once again.

"Uh, I'm walking you home from school. Now how do you get there?" Ryoga asks. Quick on his feet. Remembering that Ranma is a kid.

"I don't know. You should know 'cuz you're an adult. You take me home." Ranma demands. He grabs the young man's hand.

Ryoga is uneasy taking it. Since he is not a girl, he is willing to let it happen.

"Man. I guess I can go with pure luck." Ryoga starts walking with Ranma.

"Ryoga! Ranma!" Akane waves to the boys. They were outside the Tendo home.

"Ah! Akane. Are you on your way home?" Ryoga wonders. Ranma steps on his feet, but Ryoga ignores it.

"Uh, Ryoga, this is my house. It's a good thing you found Ranma and brought him home. I guess you're not such a big jerk,so sorry." Akane says this, but refuses to look at the boy with the headband.

"Aka-Chan!" Ranma hugs her. "Mr. Meanie said he's gonna stay with us."

"He did?" Akane asks. She looks at the man with curiosity.

"A certain girl made it so I can't get too far from her." Ryoga glares at Ranma. He shows the bracelet.

"He, or should I say she, put a curse on you or something?" Akane wonders.

"Some magic bracelets, more like handcuffs. Anyway, do you have a room?" Ryoga asks. He notices Ranma is trying to catch a bug. It was disturbing to watch.

"I'm afraid not." Akane answers.

"Oh, there you are Akane." Nodoka is walking up to the gate with Genma behind her. He was carrying several bags. "We're going away for a while, and we wanted to tell you that Ranma has a problem with sleeping alone. I think he should sleep in your room while we're gone."

This was confusing. Their son was mentally damaged and they were leaving? Maybe it was to find a cure. Were they just exhausted and being selfish? It didn't really matter. Genma running off somewhere when there's trouble is something Akane should have expected sooner.

"What? No, no, he can't sleep with me." Akane vehemently shakes her head. She did not focus on the larger issue.

"Too bad, because he is." Genma rules.

"Yeah, Aka-Chan, we'll have so much fun!" Ranma responds with a childish smile.

"I could take his room." Ryoga interjects.

"Grr! Fine! Ranma, can stay in my room, and Ryoga can take his." Akane clenched her fists. She looks at the house. Sometimes it's easier to let everything play out.

That night, Ranma jumps on Akane's bed. She never thought when he bounced on it, it would be like this.

"Yay, a sleepover!" Ranma exclaims.

"Quit that Ranma. I'm tired."

He stops. He pouts. She sits down on the bed as well.

"You old people are no fun." Ranma frowns.

"Why are you on the bed? You're sleeping on the floor." Akane informs him.

"You mean on THAT floor? It's dirty just like you."

Akane's eye twitches as she tries to maintain her composure. "F-fine. You can sleep with me in my bed."

"Aka-Chan was acting like Mr. Meanie for a minute." Ranma jokes.

He lays down on the side facing the wall.

"I'm not Mr. Meanie…"

She turns off her lamp and lays down.

"It's dark. Monsters are coming!" Ranma says in fright. He grabs Akane's arm.

"Fine." Akane turns the light back on. She lays back down.

"G'night Aka-Chan." Ranma yawns. He faces the wall again.

"Good night." Akane turns away from him. 'I can't wait for the *real* Ranma to come back. Ha! I never thought I'd ever say that.'

—-Chapter Six: Left to New Parents—-

"Look out for-Ow." Akane is too late and Ranma hits the doorframe. He rubs his head not to cry. "You okay, Ranma?"

"Uh-huh. How'd I reach the top anyway?" Ranma continues to rub his injured head. He moves and sits at the table.

"What do you mean?"

"I don member being that high up."

"Uh, well, everyone your age is that big Ranma. They just haven't grown yet like you did." Akane explains with a wavering voice. "Um, excuse me."

Akane can't stand lying to him. To herself anymore. She stands up and remove herself from the family room. She enters the kitchen where Kasumi is making something over the stove.

They had made up after a recent situation.

"What's the matter, Akane?" Kasumi asks out of concern. She stirs the food she is cooking.

"I don't know. I just, you know. I don't really know what my problem is." Akane stands next to her older sister.

"You miss Ranma don't you?" Kasumi replies. She understands.

"Yes. I really miss the old Ranma." She didn't want to be that honest. " I mean, I don't like him, but I liked having him around and not this Ranma." Akane explains. She stares at the flame under the pot on the stove.

"What can we do though? All we can do is wait it out and hope everything becomes right." That was what Tofu told her.

"I wish there was another way though." Akane decides to go to the fridge.

"Is this the dojo? No I guess not." Ryoga looks around the kitchen. "Uh, where is the dojo?" Ryoga wonders while scratching his head.

"Ryoga, I left you right outside the dojo five minutes ago." Akane answers. Her voice makes it obvious she is annoyed. His directional challenges were not cute.

"I know, but then I turned to get a towel, and I was suddenly at the Cat Café. Mousse had to bring me back here." Ryoga admits with a red face of embarrassment.

"Why don't you just stay with me here, Ryoga? I need some help." Kasumi requests.

"Uh, I really wanted to practice though."

"I need you to open this jar, and then get me that pot all the way at the top. Then I'll take you to the dojo." Kasumi responds.

"Uh, okay then." Ryoga comes over to the slightly older woman.

"Kasumi, Ryoga." The two turn to Akane. She suddenly came to a realization. With a face of determination, she swallows her spit, and looks at the two. "I have to get the old Ranma back. I want you two to look after him while I'm gone."

They are both a bit shocked by this request.

"Where will you go, Akane?" Ryoga asks.

"Somewhere. Anywhere, that may have the key to getting Ranma back."

"Oh dear. I should make you something then." Kasumi turns to look through a nearby cabinet.

"Forget it, Kasumi. Just look after Ranma. That's all I need from you."

Kasumi is worried. She lost him last time when she forgot he wasn't the same Ranma she knew.

Akane trusts her completely. This gives her the resolve to accept this request.

Akane does not wait. She leaves the two of them so that she can pack.

"Why do I have to watch that idiot?" Ryoga complains.

Kasumi just hands him a jar of sauce to open.

"Get opening." Kasumi demands. She closes the cabinet doors. "Oh, I hope she'll be okay."

"What are you doing?" Soun enters into the family room. Ranma is throwing a ball into the wall and leaving dents.

"Playing ball. Waiting for Aka-Chan." Ranma says with a bored tone. He throws the ball into the wall.

"How about I toss you the ball?" Soun requests. He is trying to not show how miffed he is with the boy.

"Well, okay." Ranma picks the ball up. "Here you go." Ranma tosses the man the ball.

"Okay, go get it." Soun flings the ball out of the room into the yard.

"Hey!" Ranma runs after it. It ends up I'm the pond. He jumps into the koi pond after it. Then he surfaces with it in his hand, but he is now a girl.

"Why am I out here? What's this ball for?" Ranma tosses it back inside. It hits Soun and knocks him unconscious. "I wonder if Ryoga is around."

In the kitchen, the young man in question stands with the older woman.

He hands a now open jar to Kasumi. "Ryoga, I'll take you to the dojo now." Kasumi puts her ingredients aside. The food could wait.

"Finally."

She frowns at his words and attitude. He seems nice, but rather rude.

She turns off the lights and leads him into the hall. He follows after.

Ranma walks into the kitchen moments later. She turns the lights back on. Her eyes scan the room. "I have a great idea." Ranma skips over to the fridge. "This will be perfect." Ranma takes out some poultry and some assorted vegetables. "I will make my Ryoga the best meal he ever had."

She takes a pan and puts the food on the counter, but notices Kasumi's noodle dish. "I can use this, too."

She takes her meat and puts it in the pan turning on the stove and pouring some oil in it. "Oh, and the vegetables." Ranma takes a pot filling it with water and places it on the back burner.

Ryoga enters the dojo with the woman. "Er, thanks Kasumi."

"Didn't I turn the light out in the kitchen?" Kasumi wonders. She is looking back at the house from the dojo.

"Uh, yeah you did." Ryoga confirms. He turns to have her.

"Then why are they back on?" Kasumi questions.

"It may be your father…or a robber." Ryoga answers. He does not seem involved so turns to the dojo floor.

"You better have a look then." Kasumi grabs his arm.

"But I just got here." Ryoga moans.

"You mean you'd let a poor defenseless girl such as myself go in there and find a crazy knife wielding maniac?"

Her eyes seemed evil. Like those of a demon. A sweet, kind, demanding devil.

He was defenseless. No amount of martial arts will save him from Kasumi Tendo's Anything Goes techniques.

"Uh, I think I should check it out." Ryoga replies. A sweat drop on his face.

"Good. Let me show you the way." Kasumi smiles. She drags him back towards the house.

He sighs in defeat.

Back in the kitchen, Ranma continues their work.

"The chicken looks good. Add it to the pasta I found, and voila. An instant meal." Ranma narrates with a smile. They place two plates down at the dining table. She throws old man Soun outside. "Candles. Check." She lights two candles and turns off the lights. "Oh. I forgot the vegetables." She goes into the kitchen and turns the stove off. They pick up the pot. "Ryoga will love my meal."

As Ranma walks into the next room, she slips on the ball she hit Soun with earlier. The water falls on her and instead of burning them, causes the young woman to turn back into a boy.

"Ow. That's hot." The now male Ranma sits up. He is on the floor and not sure how they got there. His hand hurt and saw it was pink. There is a hot pot of vegetables nearby. He realizes he is burned, so goes to the freezer in the kitchen and grabs an ice pack.

"Ranma?" Ryoga pops into the room and scans the room. Kasumi stands behind him. Using him as a shield in case it was a robber.

"Are you okay, Ranma?" Kasumi enters the room now that she saw it was safe.

"Yeah. Some hot water musta got me. Wat's this?" Ranma picks a green bean off his shirt. "Ew." Ranma flings it onto Ryoga's face.

He is not amused.

Ryoga looks down the hall. The lights are out.

"Hey, what's this, Kasumi?" Ryoga points down the hall. She grabs his shirt before he gets lost.

"I don't know." She leads him down the hall to see the candle lit dining room. A romantic ambience to the room. Food and plates ready to be served. "Did you do this Ranma?" She is a little surprised.

"Er, maybe." Ranma shrugs.

"That would explain him making vegetables." Ryoga interjects. He puts the pot of recovered vegetables on the table. "Who was this for Ranma?"

"Uh, you two I guess. You'll eat it right?" Ranma gives them a big smile. Even though it is the same stupid face of a teenager, it almost looks like a kid with doe eyes.

"I will. What about you, Ryoga?"

"Uh, well, I don't see why not."

"Go then." Ranma pushes the two into the room. He waves goodbye as he runs from the room with a snicker.

"Uh, is this your pasta?" Ryoga asks. He sits down across from Kasumi. She also sits down.

"It looks like he just added some chicken to it." Kasumi notices. "Did that little kid Ranma do this?"

"A kid his age couldn't. Unless he's playing with us all." Ryoga clenched his teeth. He is always calling Ranma a cheat, but this time he actually was buying the five year old thing. Only because of how disturbing the girl version is. Ranma would never fake that.

"No. He's definitely not joking with us."

Kasumi takes a bite. She chews and swallows it.

"How can you be so sure?" Ryoga questions. He tries some as well.

"I just can tell." Kasumi says with a smile.

"I don't see how you can be so trusting," Ryoga opines. "I respect that about you." Ryoga takes a sip of water.

"You never say much to me Ryoga." Kasumi comments. This may have been the most they've spoken. She usually saw him as a young man like Ranma, but she is noticing he looks a bit more mature than she thought.

"Uh." Ryoga utters as he puts his water glass down. "You tend to stay in the kitchen or something when I'm actually around." Ryoga explains.

"So, I should stand out more?" Kasumi wonders. Is she that plain?

"Uh, I guess it would help people to know you. You never really say much, and you're always making food."

"What's wrong with that?" Was that truly wrong?

"It's always for someone else." Ryoga finishes his plate.

"It is, isn't it? Are you saying that I'm wrong for cooking meals for people."

"Not at all, but it's wrong to forget about yourself." Ryoga explains. He sits back now that he finished.

"I'll have to work on that." She feels that is insightful. She needs to be more selfish. Her eyes catch movement in the hall. "Is that Ranma?"

"Ryoga! What are you doing with this girl?!" Ranma is in his girl form and jumps into the room. She stomps on the floor in anger. "I made that dinner just for us!"

"Uh, you did?"

"So you like this girl more than me?" Ranma begins to cry. "Why have you done this?"

"Uh, I, How about I take you for ice cream Ranma? Uh, Kasumi means nothing to me." Ryoga explains in order to defuse the situation. This is still confusing for him.

"You will really?" Ranma hugs Ryoga.

"Ye-yeah, sure." Ryoga Cringes. He can barely say this lie. Especially with a smile.

"Let's go!" Ranma runs out of the room excited by this opportunity.

"Uh, when I get back you better have some hot water ready okay Kasumi." Ryoga explains.

"I'll see what I can do."

Kasumi is a little doubtful he can make it back here.

"Thanks. I can tell you always come through." Ryoga turns and leaves the room. Ranma grabs him in the hall and they run out the front door.

"Poor Ryoga." Kasumi remarks. She gets up and starts to clean up their plates.

"Oh Kasumi, did I miss dinner?" Soun asks as he enters the room.

"You just ate dinner, father." Kasumi explains. She blows out the candles.

"I did?" Soun wonders. "I don't feel full."

—-Chapter Seven: Sleeping Arrangements—-

"No." Ryoga says firmly and clearly. He is staring at Ranma who is in their normal boy form.

They are both in Ranma's room. The pigtailed boy is wearing pajamas.

"If I sleep alone the monsters will get me." Ranma explains. He clutches his blankie in fear.

Ryoga sighs and palms his face. "You're not sleeping with me."

"You're mean."

Ryoga groans. "Kasumi!"

Ryoga stomps into the hall. Kasumi exits her own room nearby.

"What is it, Ryoga?"

She is also dressed for bed. Ryoga pauses for a moment at this pleasant sight. He pulls the pigtailed boy from the nearby room and into the hall.

"Ranma wants to sleep in my room, and I don't want him there. Especially if he goes G-U-R-R-L. Er, I spelt that wrong."

Ryoga stops himself. He is frustrated. He is starting to see his failures. He starts to feel embarrassed by his actions.

Kasumi laughs, but tries to hide it.

"Look, would you help me," he asks.

"Okay. Ranma, c'mon." Kasumi smiles at the young man with the mind of a boy.

"Nuh-uh. I want Mr. Meanie to stay with me." Ranma crosses his arms. He seems tough, but has a smile on his face.

"Well, too bad. Now get in her room." Ryoga argues.

"Nope. I want you in the room I sleep in, or I won't sleep and I make sure you don ether."

"What if you come to sleep in my room, Ranma, and Ryoga sleeps on the floor?" Kasumi questions the young man.

"M'kay. Let's go, mister."

Ranma agrees. He pulls Ryoga across the hall and into Kasumi's room. Ryoga attempts to resist, but he forgets Ranma is still as strong as usual. It will just injure them or the house.

"You're pretty weak," Ranma laughs.

"Maybe you're just strong, Ranma." Kasumi interjects. She giggles because she expects Ryoga can't react like usual.

"Since when am I so funny?" Ryoga asks. He holds back his frustration.

"Oh, don't be a poor sport, Ryoga." Kasumi suggests. The trio enters her room. "Are you two ready for bed?"

"Yep. I took a bath n' everything."

Ranma jumps onto her bed.

"Don't turn off the light, okay," Ranma requests. He sits on the bed against the wall.

"The great Ranma," Ryoga chuckles. "Afraid of the dark."

"I'm not afwaid of the dark! Just the monsters that come out in the dark." Ranma protests.

"Demons tend to attack during anytime of the day, Ranma."

Ryoga smirks and takes a seat on the floor.

"There's more in the dark!" Ranma sticks his tongue out at the bandana boy.

Ryoga returns the gesture.

"You two are both such babies." Kasumi smiles at how childish they are together.

Kasumi gathers some extra blankets and pillows from her closet.

"Here Ryoga." Kasumi gives him the pillow while laying out a futon for him. "This should do."

"Uh, yeah it looks fine." Ryoga comments. He looks away from the other boy. Ranma is making faces behind him. Kasumi giggles as she watches the man with a child's mind. "What?" Ryoga turns around to Ranma who is playing innocent. He turns back to Kasumi and Ranma begins again. "Why'd you laugh?"

"You make me laugh." Kasumi explains. She moves to the bed.

Ranma has quit making funny faces. He yawns.

"Let's get to sleep, Ranma." She suggests.

The two of them lay under the covers.

After about four minutes of silence, Ranma is already asleep.

Ryoga feels awkward just staring at the ceiling.

"So, do you think Akane will find a way to get him normal?"

"I don't know." She looks at Ranma who is fast asleep. "Wow, that was fast."

"It has been a very, very long day." Ryoga admits.

"It was so long? It was over pretty fast for me." Kasumi suggests. She turns to look at the boy on the floor.

"Well, you didn't have to deal with Ranma in both forms. The girl thought both of us were having a romantic dinner."

"Is that what it was? I guess it did look a bit like that. I mean we were enjoying the meal, and we were alone, plus there was only candles lighting the room." Kasumi feels a bit embarrassed; it looked like a date.

"It was the stereotypical date."

"It wasn't a date." Kasumi sternly says. He is too young. Maybe. Not really.

"Have you ever had a date?" Ryoga asks. He has one eye open, and it is looking towards her.

"You haven't." Kasumi suggests. A bit aggressive.

"At least I had something you could call a date."

"Who says I never had one?" Kasumi asks defensively.

"So you have?" Ryoga wonders. It was interesting enough for him to sit up and turn her way.

"Why should I tell you?" Kasumi argues. She closes her eyes as a defense.

"Then you clearly haven't." Ryoga moves towards her. Squatting at the edge of her bed. He sees a familiar beauty in her face. Like what he had seen with Akane. Compassion and kindness. Maybe it came from their mother?

"I never said that." Kasumi fights. Her eyes open again.

Ryoga's face grows pink. "Uh, then tell me."

"Why should I? There's no reason why I should tell you." Kasumi turns towards the ceiling.

"Just tell me okay. Then I'll stop mocking you."

"I've been on a few, but all those guys weren't right for me."

"So, what is the right guy?"

"Good night, Ryoga." She looks at him with a smile. Then turns away to force an end to the conversation.

"Fine, don't tell me." Ryoga growls. He moves back to his futon.

The trio spent the next week together. Taking Ranma to school and trying to outlast the dilemma. They have thankfully avoided several girl Ranma moments. It helps that they are in a drought.

Soun was no help, and just sat on the back porch. Nabiki was involved in some other situation. Apparently some debt she owed came due, so she has been keeping a low profile and out hustling. She is known for her incredible luck, so there was no concern at making it through the situation.

Kasumi was briefly worried she would use Ranma or Ryoga in some way. Because of this, Nabiki knew to not get involved. She is afraid of Kasumi. Not to mention, Nabiki did not find Ranma funny at the moment. Mostly because she saw him get hit by a truck.

She wasn't told about girl Ranma.

It has been some time since the Saotomes and Akane left. Kasumi is cooking a meal, and Ryoga stays close by to not get lost or be affected by the cursed bracelet.

He never found out where that came from. There are a lot of shrugs in Nerima, where so much weird stuff happens, they kind of brush it off until it makes sense. Like someone with a health problem avoiding going to the doctor because it costs money. Hoping it just goes away.

"Here." Ryoga hands Kasumi a spice.

She stands in front of the stove.

"Thanks." Kasumi adds it to her meal.

"When's Aka-Chan getting back? She's been gone so long, and she didn't say bye bye." Ranma whines. He is on the floor playing with a toy car.

"It's only been about two weeks. That's not long, Ranma." Ryoga looks at his rival. He is initially jealous. Ranma loves Akane. Even now. He lets it go. It's disgusting to feel such a way about someone with brain damage. Was it damage, or trauma?

Tofu never explains during the regular checkups.

He misses his rival.

"That's a loooong time." Ranma says while rolling his eyes.

"If that were a long time, Ranma, I'd be an old maid by your standards." Kasumi suggests. It was clear in her voice that to say otherwise is not smart.

Even mentally a child, Ranma picks up on that.

"You don't count." He picks up his truck and stands. "Can I play outside?"

"I don't see why you can't." Kasumi answers. The boy is already running out the door. "Don't go too far!" She shouts from the doorway to the hall.

"What trouble could he get in? You shouldn't worry about him." Ryoga advises. He smugly crosses his arms.

"What if he gets splashed with water, huh?" Kasumi quips. She returns to the stove.

With a quick glance, she notices his grin fade. It actually makes her smile in response.

"He does make a good point. Where is my sister?" Kasumi wonders. She is not able to hide her worry.

"She's fine. You think Akane will get in trouble?" Ryoga taps his foot. "Anyway, it hasn't even been too long." His trips from point A to B always took this long or longer.

He moves to the window and looks outside.

"But she's my sister and I miss her. I can't help it. If you had a sister or a brother you would feel the same way."

Kasumi turns off the stove. The work was done.

Ryoga turns back. He scoffs.

"Are you laughing at me, Ryoga?" Kasumi uses her spoon to fling sauce at him.

"Hey! I wasn't making fun of you. I just remembered the time Ranma dressed up like my sister." Ryoga argues. He wipes the sauce from his face with his sleeve.

"Then I'm sorry." She isn't completely. She grabs a towel. "You still got some there." Kasumi gently wipes his face. "That's better." She is smiling. She is still wiping even though she got it.

"Isn't it gone now?" Ryoga wonders.

"Oh. I guess it is." She stops. She wonders what came over her. "I, uh, thought I saw some more."

Kasumi turns back to finishing the meal. She can't get started. Her face is pink. She normally does not blush. The young lady thinks something is wrong with her.

Unable to think of something else to say, she repeats: "Akane should be back."

"She is." The two turn to Akane. She stands in the doorway. Dirty and tired from her journey.

"Thank goodness." Kasumi rushes to her baby sister. She hugs her tight. Kasumi did not care that she is a mess. "I was worried about you." Kasumi and Akane cry tears of joy at their reunion.

They end their hug.

"I did it, too. I found a way to bring Ranma back," the younger girl announces. "I found a way and I only need Ryoga's help." She looks at the boy. He is surprised at his inclusion. Also, a little eager to help his crush.

But he didn't feel quite as strongly at seeing her now. That seems weird to him.

Then he thinks about stupid Ranma, and helping that jerk, and helping him with their relationship.

"Me?" Ryoga looks away from her. "What makes you think I'd do anything to help," he asks with a sour tongue.

"You won't help me, Ryoga?" Akane is a bit shocked.

"Well, maybe." Ryoga admits. "If you can get this thing off." Ryoga shows her the bracelet from Girl Ranma from Shampoo.

"I can't get that off!" Akane contests.

"Then we don't have a deal." Ryoga lowers his arm. He starts to put away the ingredients and tools Kasumi doesn't need.

"Ryoga, just help her." Kasumi requests. He doesn't react so she lightly hits him with her spoon.

He stops.

"Only if she figures how to get this off."

"Kasumi, did you ask Ranma where he got this from?" Akane wonders. Her sister shakes her head. "Then can you ask Ranma?"

"Why me?"

"Because after you turn into a Ranma girl, he won't talk to me, and she'll flirt with Ryoga." Akane takes a glass of water and hands it to her older sister. She pushes her into the hall. "I'll get a kettle ready."

"I'll do this for you," Kasumi replies. It sounds like her sweet usual response, but it feels like she is also saying it's only to help her end this whole situation.

The bracelet was actually nice. She knows Ryoga is trapped here, but it was nice to have someone around the home that wasn't her father. His looks aren't bad either. Making him do chores and watching was becoming a welcome occurrence.

"So, I hope staying here wasn't so bad, Ryoga." Akane mentions. She is coming the kettle.

"Oh, no I guess it wasn't. Actually, I rather enjoyed my stay." Ryoga throws some dirty pots into the sink.

"You did? I didn't expect you to actually like staying here with Ranma and my family. I thought you would've tried to get as far from Ranma as you could."

"It's only the girl I'm worried about right now. The kid one is annoying, but not so bad. Except he wanted to sleep in my room." Ryoga shudders at the thought.

"I'm happy that you were such good help to my sister then."

"Uh, yeah, well, uh, it wasn't any problem, y'know." Ryoga blushes. He tries to look away.

"Okay, I'm back." Kasumi announces. They are tense as they watch for Girl Ranma. They aren't behind Kasumi. "Did you two make fun of me while I was gone?" Kasumi jokingly asks.

"I'd be too afraid to." Ryoga admits. A little playful.

"Did Ranma tell you anything?" Akane asks with a serious face.

"She said she got them from some old man who didn't talk in good Japanese. That and the man, sounded much like a girl." Kasumi informs them. The kettle whistles so she picks it up.

"Who could it be?" Ryoga wonders. The two women look at him like he is a fool. "What?"

"It's obvious isn't it? Shampoo." Akane explains.

"Oh." Ryoga shoots out. "It, uh, wasn't so obvious was it?"

"Uh, I had no idea it was Shampoo." Kasumi lies.

"See Akane it wasn't." Ryoga argues.

Ranma as a girl saunters in with a grin. She stops when she sees Akane.

"Er, hiya, Ranma." Ryoga already feels sweat on his back.

"Oh, you're back." Ranma seethes. She is giving death eyes.

"Uh, hey Ranma, me and Ryoga were going to Shampoo's and he said he wanted you to come along." Akane announces with a smile.

"I never sai-" Ryoga begins, but Kasumi hits him in the chest with her elbow.

"Really Ryoga? Then let's go!" Ranma grabs Ryoga and jets out of the room. Akane rushes after.

"Oh dear. I hope they're okay." Kasumi mutters.

"Oh, hey let me borrow this." Akane snatches the kettle from her sister's hands and runs back out.

Across town, the doors to the Cat Café burst open. It's off hours so there's no customers.

"Shampoo!" Akane shouts.

Shampoo ignores her and Ryoga and sees Ranma. He is now in his normal male form.

"Oh airen!" She smiles with joy to see her fiance. So she jumps at the young man and hugs him.

"This lady is nice." Ranma says.

On instinct alone, Akane hits the boy on the head.

"Ow! Aka-Chan. What you do that for?" Ranma rubs the injury.

"Why you hurt Ranma?" Shampoo asks with venom in her voice.

"Shampoo, give us the key to these special handcuffs." Ryoga interrupts. His voice is full of anger and frustration.

"Ranma give to pig boy? Why no Shampoo?" Shampoo asks. She steps back to look at the situation.

"Ranma isn't Ranma, if you noticed Shampoo. You gave it to a girl who is in love with Ryoga. Now give up the key to stop this." Akane demands.

"No give key. Ranma marry, then key give." Shampoo grins. She has the power here. She is the one who was willing to wait for her fiance all this time. Faith he would always choose her.

She is delusional.

"I'm not gonna marry this old lady." Ranma says. He notices a new bowl of ramen. He decides to ruin his dinner and eat some.

"O-old lady?" Shampoo questions. A vein showing on her head. "What wrong with Ranma?"

"There's nothing wrong with me crazy lady." Ranma says with anger. She is being a meanie. He slurps up some ramen.

"Grr! You call Shampoo crazy lady?! Stupid." Shampoo said splashes Ranma with water from a nearby cup.

"Why is it that I'm always wet?" Ranma says while shaking the water from her hair. "What do you think you're doing, bitch?" Ranma gives a dangerous look at Shampoo.

The Amazon looks shocked to hear this.

"What call Shampoo?!"

"You throw water at me?! I bet you are after my man. I'll have to show you your place." Ranma stands up. They get into a fighting stance.

"You fight Shampoo?" Shampoo asks. Ranma never fought her before. Not since their first meeting.

"Shampoo!" Mousse jumps from the back room where he was sweeping. He grabs the hands of Ryoga. "You will date me, yes shampoo?" Mousse asks Ryoga.

He moves from his crush is in danger to asking them out way too quickly.

"I can't say. Go ask her yourself!" Ryoga flings Mousse at Shampoo. "Oh, Shampoo, will you marry me instead of that fool Ranma?"

"Mousse defeat Ranma then talk." Shampoo answers. She knows the boy from China can't beat the one with a pigtail.

"Then I shall. Ranma, I will defeat you for my beloved Shampoo." Mousse announces. He is directing his attention at Akane.

"He's over there, Mousse." Akane sighs.

"Ah, yes now I see." Mousse fixes his glasses. "Ranma, prepare to die!" Mousse goes to hit Ranma, but Ryoga stops him. "What are you doing?"

"I won't allow you to hurt Ranma. There's no honor in this." Ryoga grins in a way that his canine teeth show.

Mousse sends a spear from his sleeves at Ryoga.

"Fool!" Ryoga snaps it in half and pushes Mousse across the restaurant.

"So I will just have to fight you first then." Mousse laughs. He finds balance as he gets new footing.

"Ryoga darling, be careful." Ranma requests. This fight excites her.

"Uh, yeah." Ryoga sighs. "Let's get this over then."

"Ryoga loves me so much." Ranma cheerfully admits to Akane.

"Uh, of course he does." Akane decides to ignore it.

—-Chapter Eight : Let Him Go—-

"Okay, let's go." Ryoga gets into a starting form.

"I will beat you easily. Next week be, Ranma." Mousse declares.

He starts with a quick move of his arms. Two chains extend at Ryoga who puts his arms up in defense.

"Blast." Ryoga mutters. They wrap around his forearms. He realizes this will not be fun without more space. Ryoga also gets a feel for Mousse's strength. He feels confident he is stronger. "I think we should take this outside!" Ryoga pulls back to make the bindings taut. He swings the boy in glasses at the nearest wall. The force is studying enough to have him break through and out of the restaurant.

Is he that much more in control, or is this a challenge? Why is everyone so cheap with their building supplies in Nerima ward?

"Ha-ha! Stupid blind fool." Ryoga rags.

"I'm not that easily defeated!" Mousse yanks on the chains and pulls Ryoga out with him. The three girls remain in the restaurant.

Even with damage and the soup base having debris in it, people will likely still come in for a late night dinner rush.

"Shampoo hope Mousse win so Ranma can prove love for Shampoo."

"Why would I love you? I don't go that way," she explains. Ranma realizes they are not allies. "I'm not going to stand here and do nothing. I'm defending my boyfriend!" Ranma declares. Their aura builds as they announce their intention to fight Shampoo.

"You want fight Shampoo?" Shampoo is confused. Why are they fighting? Did get fiancé just say they have a boyfriend? Maybe she does not understand Japanese as well as she thinks.

"For wishing harm on the man I love, you bet! Now get ready!"

Ranma lunges at Shampoo. They were not as fast as usual, so the girl from China dodges. Ranma still has her skills and body, but none of the techniques and training to use them.

"You serious then? Shampoo no let you win easy."

"You guys stop it!" Akane yells. She is only ignored. This is so stupid. Like usual.

"You won't last long, ditz." Ranma suggests. She launches a kick into the other person's chest.

"Stupid Ranma!" Shampoo mutters as she stumbles back. Thankful for air. She grits and throws her fists at Ranma. The redhead catches them.

"I am not stupid you are!"

Ranma pushes her back. Then quickly strikes her with two punches of her own. Shampoo is sent backwards a few yards.

"No call Shampoo stupid!"

Shampoo runs at Ranma. The pigtailed girl kicks a nearby chair directly up into the air.

"Oh, shut up."

The timing on the chair is perfect and it falls onto Shampoo as she passes under it. It hits the girl with lavender hair into the floor.

The results of the fight is Ranma the winner by knockout.

Surveying her win, some classic cocky Ranma peeks through. "Good. Finally some peace and quiet."

Akane uses this opportunity to search Shampoo.

"Where's the key?"

"This key, Akane?" Ranma displays. Akane stops her search but does not look up. A bad feeling in her throat "You can't have it," Ranma declares.

"You gotta undo the bracelets, Ranma." Akane debates. She looks up to the sometimes girl.

Ranma must have stolen the key during the fight.

"Why should I? Ryoga is mine this way," Ranma plots. "Is it…that you love Ryoga, also?" Ranma thought of her as a danger. Only because of how Ryoga acted towards the short hair girl. Now she has acid in her glare and voice at the misinterpretation that the Tendo girl feels something back.

"Of course not," she firmly argues. "He's my friend. I have to back him up. He doesn't love you. He wants to get that thing off. It's not right to force him to love you."

"He loves me though. You just want him for your own."

Without thinking about her response, Akane honestly declares: "There is another guy I love!"

"Ryoga is the one I love."

Akane scoffs. "He doesn't love you though!"

"Y-you're right he doesn't." Ranma realizes. This may be the first time an argument is resolved by just saying the truth. Words usually have no power in this area of Tokyo. They are usually taken wrong or perceived as lies.

Tears begin to start for Ranma. She pushes them down. "I won't give up though." Ranma uses the key and takes her bracelet off. It falls to the floor.

"Now to bring you back to normal." Akane says with relief.

Ryoga flies back into the room. He came through another part of the same wall so now there are two holes. The tables break his fall– and just break into splinters–on the floor.

The fight was intense and a lot of cool moves were done outside. Ryoga and Mousse both hope they were seen.

Ryoga will want them to forget his defeat just now. It was mostly because of a piece of wood jabbing his side just now.

No one watched until now. Not even the writer.

"Ha-ha! With him defeated, it's time for you, Ranma." Mousse grins."I know you have a head injury, and I intend to take full advantage of it."

Mousse is full of contradictory morals. Honorable or shameless on a whim.

"You hurt, Ryoga! I will make you pay!" Ranma shouts. Even if she has to let Ryoga go, she can't forget her feelings. She will defend him.

"Ranma, wait!" Akane tries to intervene.

Ranma jumps outside to fight the boy from China.

"If you wish to hurt me, you'll have to catch me." Mousse laughs. He jumps away to a rooftop.

"Come back here!" Ranma runs after.

"You idiot, Ranma." Akane grumbles. Jumping over the rubble she chases after both.

"You wanted to fight, so do it!" Ranma yells.

Mousse runs into the bath house. The male side. Ranma follows.

"Now I'm ready." Mousse jumps into the water.

"So you're finally ready. Well, here I come!" Ranma launches blindly at the boy with glasses. Despite his glasses being foggy, he is able to evade.

"Fool!" Mousse kicks Ranma into the water and jumps to the perimeter

"What's going on?" Ranma asks. He is now back to being a boy.

"Ranma loses."

"Who are you?"

The men in the room escape. Akane runs in, having finally caught up.

"Ranma!" Akane shouts. Mousse throws a swan toilet to force her to stop to evade.

"You stay out of this woman. I will defeat Ranma in any way possible." Mousse declares. He looks back as Ranma is climbing out of the tub.

—-Chapter Nine: Final Battle—-

"Now you lose Ranma!" Mousse screams. He throws his chain weapons out at Ranma knocking him back into the water.

"Ow! That hurt!" Ranma exclaims. He is sobbing.

"Ha! This will be over quickly." Mousse realizes. He is a cheat. The ethics are to be considered later. "Stay down this time!" Mousse attacks with his duck potty hitting Ranma into the divider wall.

"Stop being mean! Why you hurting me?" Ranma asks. He is in tears.

"This will be easy." Mousse smiles wide. He attacks Ranma with a staff, but it breaks under Ranma's aura that was suddenly developing. "What the–?"

"Shishi Hokodan!" That's when Ranma unleashes the blast on Mousse. The Amazon is launched through the roof of the bathhouse and out of sight.

"Ranma?"

Akane watches with concern.

His position returns to his default stance. His eyes appear lifeless.

Akane realizes this is her chance.

"This is it. I can bring back the true Ranma if I can only get some more power behind my attack."

Akane runs back to the Cat Café. "Ryoga!" She yells as she jumps through a hole in the wall.

Ryoga is still passed out. This won't help her, so she curses.

Not sure what to do, she runs back to the bathhouse.

"Where are all the women?" Happi says from the women's side.

"He'll do." Akane runs into that side. "Old man!"

"Akane!" Happi exclaims. He happily jumps into her breasts.

"Not so fast." Akane hits Happi over the head and runs back to Ranma. She takes a wide stance, aims, and closes her eyes. "Now to use the technique taught to me! Awakening Memory Punch!"

Akane throws Happi at Ranma as Ranma's aura is broken by Akane and Happi's own.

'Ranma!' Akane calls out. She opens her eyes to find herself in a dark void with the unconscious Happosai. 'Where am I?'

'Akane.' Akane turns to the source of her name. Ranma.

'Is that the real you, Ranma? I guess the attack worked, but you'll have to do the rest. You need to get control over yourself while the other two of you are weak.' Akane informs him. She floats over to Ranma. His face is sullen.

'I have no reason to go back, Akane.' Ranma pushes her away.

'No you don't! I didn't go through all of this to get the Ranma I love just so you say no way!' Akane gets back to him. She punches his arm in anger.

'R-Ranma, you love?' Ranma is startled.

'Stupid girl, you won't stop me!' The girl Ranma announces. She approaches them from the darkness around them. 'I will use his body so I can try to get Ryoga to love me.'

'Aka-chan, you don't like me?' A second boy Ranma comes out. His face in tears.

'This is Ranma's body and mind! He gets to decide who uses it!' Akane argues. She points at the boy she just confessed to.

He is still hung up on her admitting she loves him.

Ranma strengthens his face and resolve.

'Damn right. Get out of my way!' Ranma shouts to the other personalities.

'How dare you use me this way!' Happi shouts. He just woke up and his aura was steadily growing. His threat is a ticking clock.

'Akane, stand back!'

Ranma launches forward at Happosai. The old man attacks, but Ranma is able to dodge.

The girl Ranma joins in.

'Fools! Hiryu Shoten Ha!' Ranma unleashes his attack on the two Ranmas' and Happi.

As the wind from the attack dies, Ranma and his fiancée are the only people remaining.

'Akane.'

They met each other in a hug.

Suddenly it felt more real and they were both standing in the bathhouse.

"I'm back." Ranma notices. He punches the air to test his body. The young man laughs in relief.

Akane finds some rope and ties up Happosai while he is vulnerable.

"I'm really back!" Ranma ecstatically repeats.

"I'm so happy for you, Ranma." Akane replies. She sounds a little sad. The young woman leaves the balled up Happosai and starts to exit the bathhouse.

"H-hey, where you going?" Ranma asks. He scoops her up into his arms.

"Hey! Put me down!" Akane demands.

Ranma ignores her and jumps onto a roof and then away from the bathhouse where a crowd was forming.

He sets her down in an empty park nearby.

"How dar-"

"I have you to thank, Akane." Ranma says with a smile. She doesn't get this type from him often.

"Huh? You want to thank me?"

"If you hadn't said you loved me, I would have never come out. You got me through this." He pauses. "Of course, it was you that got me into this. I remember that much." He tilts his head in thought. "I don't recall much of what happened after you hit me through that wall."

"Get to your point, Ranma." Akane begs. Her patience is growing thin.

"I, I love you, too." Ranma admits. He is not able to actually say it to her face, so looks away and says it low.

"You, you do?" Akane did not expect that even though it was obvious.

"Hey, let's go home." Ranma promptly runs away. That was all the bravery he had today.

"H-Hey wait up!" Akane shouts after him.

She chases him back to the Tendo home. She lost track of him on the way.

"Hey, I'm back!" Akane announces upon entering.

"We're in here, Akane!" Soun replies.

"I brought Ranma back." Akane explains.

She stops when she sees Ryoga sitting next to Kasumi at the table. Soun and Nabiki are at each end. Ryoga is beet red.

It looks very odd to her.

Nabiki must have resolved whether she spent time dealing with.

"What's going on?" Akane questions. It all looks suspicious.

"I've thought it over and I decided if you and Ranma aren't getting married anytime soon I should have a backup. So I just arranged a marriage between Kasumi and Ryoga." Soun explains.

Ryoga collapses.

Was this to have a successor? It can't unite schools.

"Father, I don't think-"

"Now, now Kasumi, don't thank me. I think Ryoga will make a great husband for you." Soun laughs with only love behind it.

"Uh, Mr. Tendo, I don't think-" Ryoga begins.

"You don't have to thank me either, Ryoga. Kasumi is perfect to be your wife." Soun laughs again.

This is a man who knows the boy is a pig via curse. That pretends he is a pet to his other daughter. That has given death threats to his other future son-in-law. He is a complicated person…or just a fool.

"Uh, well, welcome to the family then, Ryoga." Akane says with a restrained smile.

"Akane, not you too." Ryoga mumbles into his palm. His head in his hands.

He isn't sure how when he awoke, tried to find Akane, and got lost, he ended up here drinking sake with Soun.

"I guess it could be worse." Kasumi suggests. She never pushed her love life before. She is happy with how she is. If she did date, she always imagined it would be Dr. Tofu. Though that man had become increasingly busy over the last few months. Seeing him is beginning rarer. Maybe someone like Ryoga is a good option. "It's not…bad."

"I guess." Ryoga sighs.

Both accept this. No arguments.

"I have some news, too." Akane announces. "Ranma and I will get married."

On hearing his name, Ranma stumbles into the room. "Akane!"

He was trying to hide because everything looked awkward when he got back.

Soun grabs the boy and starts crying profusely into the young man's shirt.

"For real? A-Akane?" Ranma's voice cracks.

"Ranma, we can try to get married again. This time I really want to. No conditions." Akane's face is crimson.

"I guess we can, b-but after we graduate high school." Ranma adds.

"What a great day! Two of my daughters are getting married." Soun wipes his tears and snot from his face onto Ranma's shirt.

—-Epilogue 1: Why didn't I Just End There 22 Years Ago?-

"Are you sure about what you said, Akane?" Ranma lies on the floor under the kotatsu next to his fiancée. "About getting married?" Ranma nervously makes a gulping noise. This is still so odd to him. He didn't have much preparation.

"It was a spur of the moment thing, but I intend on following through with it." Akane decides.

"Oh. I ,er, see. I guess, I'm sure, too."

"If you don't want to, you can just tell me." Akane simmers. She ignores him and looks at the TV as a distraction.

"No, I do." Ranma argues.

"Okay then." Akane smiles. She continues to pretend it's no big thing. "I still don't believe my dad is trying to get Ryoga and Kasumi married." Akane laughs.

"He's very serious about it though, and I have a feeling Ryoga will actually go through with it. You know how he is under pressure." Ranma says. He shifts to watch the TV as well.

"Kasumi is still fighting it though. She never did like younger guys. Plus I always thought she'd be with Dr. Tofu." She takes a sip of water from a glass on the table.

"Well, she never did say she liked Tofu, y'know. Maybe she will accept the marriage to Ryoga?"

Akane laughs. She is still drinking so the water flies from her mouth and cup onto Ranma's face. Him changing forms causes her to keep laughing.

"Thanks." Ranma is not amused. "Imagine the chaos if Ryoga were not only my rival, but my brother-in-law." He rethinks this. "Actually, that would mean I'd always have a sparring partner. Which is a good thing." Ranma spiteful uses Akane's shirt to dry his face.

"What about me? I can be your sparring partner."

"Uh. I think doing that would be a wrong move." Ranma says with a fake smile.

"Why? Are you saying I'm weak? I'm just as good of a martial artist as you." Akane argues.

Alarms go off in his head. He sees a fight coming this time so decides to defuse the bomb for once.

"N-no. I just think it would be a dumb move. I mean if we're gonna be married and all." Ranma looks away to the TV to further deescalate the fight.

"Eh, whatever." Akane forfeits. She still has a sour look on her face. She silently agrees to avoid an argument.

"Hey guys, is your father around?" Ryoga whispers. He is low to the ground. Trying to stay out of sight as he crawls l into the room.

"Is that Ryoga I hear?" Soun calls from another room.

"Ayah! Hide me!" Ryoga ducks under the kotatsu in between the two teens.

"Was Ryoga just here?" Soun asks as he enters the room.

"Ryoga? Uh, haven't seen him." Ranma lies. He's not great at it, so has a nervous tic.

"Well, tell me if you see him." Soun advises. He departs from the room.

"Okay dad."

After a beat, Ranma pulls up the blanket to look at Ryoga under the table.

"Why are you here if you don't want to be seen?" Ranma smirks.

"I, uh, wanted to see Kasumi about this engagement thing." Ryoga crawls out from under the table.

"You probably'll get lost if you leave anyway. I saw you sleeping out in the dojo." Ranma grins even wider.

"Oh, shut it." Ryoga puts himself between the two. He looks at the girl Ranma and has a quick moment of unease after the recent events. He lets it go.

"You know if you happened to get lost and never come back, you wouldn't have to go through this." Ranma mentions.

"No, I can't do that. I would never be able to show my face. I won't run from this." Yet he doesn't mind hiding from it a little. "You wouldn't run away from a problem right, Ranma?" Ryoga asks.

The boy, currently a girl, averts his attention from his rival and fiancée. The TV certainly has an interesting program right now.

"The first thing Ranma did when he learned about our engagement was try to run back to China." Akane giggles. It was cute for an unsexy tomboy like her, Ranma thinks.

"So then I've decided to take action and not be a wimp like Ranma here. I'm either getting married to Kasumi, or going back to the way things used to be." Ryoga decides. He stands up determined to accomplish one or the other.

"Hey, take that back!" Ranma stands as well.

"I think Ryoga has the right idea. He's acting very mature." Akane mocks.

"Hey, you're my fiancée! If you feel that way, why don't you just marry him, Akane?" Ranma grunts and turns away.

"Ah, stop being a baby, Ranma." Akane smirks. "You're the only one for me." They make eye contact. Her voice and face seem designed to seduce him.

His face looks dopey, so she can't keep a straight face. She bursts into a poorly contained laugh.

"Okay, see you two later." Ryoga says as he tries to leave. His back is to the hall so he is not ready when he moves into Soun. "Oh crud."

"There you are my boy. I've been looking all over for you." Soun drags him by his bandana down the halll. "Kasumi, your fiancé is here!"

Ranma and Akane look at each other and laugh.

‐‐—-Epilogue Two—-

"So when should I make the wedding date?" Soun asks.

Kasumi and Ryoga awkwardly exchange glances.

"Father, I'm not sure I wish to marry." Kasumi protests.

"Nonsense, Kasumi." Soun chuckles.

"Mr. Tendo." Ryoga confidently begins. "Could you please leave? I want to talk to Kasumi alone." He nervously gets out the last part as his voice cracks.

"Sure. Go right ahead." Soun winks. He exits into the hall.

Kasumi and Ryoga sit in uncomfortable silence for five minutes. "Uh, Kasumi." Ryoga finally looks at her. "You don't want to be my fiancée, correct?" Ryoga had enough time to become serious.

Kasumi stares at him for a few seconds before nodding. "I don't think I want to get married."

"Then, what else is there to say?" Ryoga smiles sadly. "I don't care what happens. I'll go along with whatever you want Kasumi, and if that's your answer, then I'll agree. If both of us don't want to be engaged we can just call it off. Just go our separate ways."

"Right."

"So, let's just tell your father that."

Ryoga stands up.

"Y-yeah." Kasumi stands up beside him. She moves but trips and is caught by Ryoga's strong arms.

"You okay?" Ryoga questions. A blush as they face one another. Their faces close enough to feel the warmth of the other.

"Yeah. Thank you." Kasumi gets a confident balance and breaks free. "You're faster than I thought."

"That's something I don't want to hear from my current fiancée." Ryoga nervously jokes.

"Uh, that wasn't a good joke." Kasumi blushes. She is reminded how nice it was in his arms.

"Yeah, I know." Ryoga shrugs. "Let's go see your dad then." Ryoga grabs her hand and moves for the door. She did not, so he stops. "What's up?"

"Nothing. I just. Oh my." Kasumi slumps her shoulders. "I'll be right along, Ryoga. You go ahead and I'll be right behind."

"Uh, but, I'd probably get lost." Ryoga feels embarrassed by his directional challenges.

"Doesn't matter. Probably for the best." Kasumi sighs.

"Okay." Ryoga is slightly worried. "I'll see you when I do." Ryoga exits the room. After he leaves Kasumi plops down to the floor.

"Is it that I don't want to get married to Ryoga, or is it that I don't want to get married?" Kasumi debates