(Three years ago)
"Look, you gonna talk to me or what?"
Ryouga pointedly didn't look at the pigtailed boy. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and his eyes were on the sidewalk ahead of them. Everything about his posture screamed that he wanted to be left alone.
Naturally, Ranma was completely oblivious. "I dunno why you put up with all that crap," Ranma said, his hands folded behind his head as he walked. "I mean… they're all weaklings. You'd think they'd show you a little respect or…"
"That'd be dishonorable," Ryouga said firmly, realizing Ranma wasn't going to let it go. "They're not martial artists."
The truth was the teasing at school had always been somewhat low-key. Ryouga's directional problems had long been a source of mirth for them, but now that his daily duels with Ranma over lunch bread were well known - and that Ryouga was regularly losing them - they had gotten bolder with their torment. Before Ryouga's martial arts prowess had always kept them at bay, but now they had taken to stuffing his locker with old maps, or making crude "Lost Boy" posters with his face on them and putting them up all over the school. A few people had even tried to claim the 'reward' they offered from him for 'finding' him.
"Yeah, but… they're the ones picking the fights. D'ya wanna look weak?" Ranma asked, glancing in his direction.
"I don't care," Ryouga growled. "Most of them can't even throw a punch. It'd just be bullying. They can't actually do anything to me."
"You bully the hell outta me," Ranma complained, rotating his shoulder. "Sure doesn't feel like you're pulling any punches there."
"Says the guy who wins every time," Ryouga groused.
"That's just 'cuz I'm faster. I can usually keep outta reach," Ranma asserted. "Trust me, when you do connect, I feel it."
"That's the point, though," Ryouga said, finally sparing the pigtailed boy a look. "You're strong enough to take a hit. You're actually worth beating into a pulp. It's a challenge. Someone I can learn something from. The only point of beating up those other guys would be to make 'em afraid of me. I'd rather be a joke than be a monster, y'know."
"Tch…" Ranma replied noncommittally. "Being strong doesn't make you a monster. But… you got a point I guess." He shot the Lost Boy a grin. "An' you're worth beating to a pulp too."
Ryouga folded his arms and smirked. "Oh really? There's a pretty big gap between playing 'keep away' with some melonpan and that. You think you're up for it?"
"Hell yeah!" Ranma replied, then his face fell. "Uhh… but… not today? Pops'll lose his mind if I get my school uniform all torn up. He's still bitching about how much it cost him. Most of my training duds are pretty ripe too, and Pops is lazy about doing laundry."
Ryouga glanced down at his own uniform and sighed. "Yeah… Weekend then, maybe?"
"Sure, assuming Pops doesn't hog all my time with some stupid new idea for training," Ranma replied.
Ryouga shuddered. Ranma had told him some stories. Even the ones Ranma seemed to think were fairly innocuous sounded pretty hellish. "He finally stop trying to teach you how to 'hand-broil' a hamburger over an open flame?"
"Yeah. He just gets weird ideas when he's hungry," Ranma replied, rubbing his hands self-consciously. "I just cooked up all the hamburger he bought for it the normal way and he forgot all about it after he ate it all."
"You get any?" Ryouga asked. He had discovered a lot of Genma's 'training' involved stealing Ranma's food.
"Nah, but… seemed a fair trade to keep from having to cook my own hands," Ranma replied. "I had some bread stashed so I was good."
Ryouga noticed them approaching his house. He didn't like the idea of Ranma going hungry, but Ranma's pride was something that needed to be worked around. "Hey, uhh… I've got some food in the fridge that's getting close to its expiry date… I was wondering…"
Ryouga could see Ranma's eyes light up. "Uhh… well, I dunno man…" The pigtailed boy feigned reluctance. It was all part of the dance to ensure the Saotome pride was properly mollified.
Which meant a little more stroking was needed. "Please? It's way too much for just me, and I'm gonna hafta toss it if no one eats it." Ryouga walked up to his front door and waited expectantly.
"Ah, well, if you're gonna twist my arm…" Ranma managed to maintain the facade for another few seconds, then his hunger overcame the need to keep up the charade and he practically bolted for the door as Ryouga opened it for him.
000
(Present Day)
Ukyou was used to waking up early, so it wasn't any surprise to her that she blinked awake while the light was still dim. She was warm and comfortable, wondering why her alarm hadn't gone off until she remembered she had stayed over at the Tendo Dojo for the night. She was spooned up against Akane's back, one arm draped over the youngest Tendo as Akane lay curled up with Ranma. For once Ukyou had managed to evade Akane and Ranma's tendency to tangle themselves up with their bedmates by turning them on each other.
She didn't have to get up. There was no morning prep to be done at the dojo but she felt a little guilty for imposing and had already resolved the night before to make breakfast for all of them - especially Kasumi, who had been weathering all this chaos with her usual calm steadfastness. She slipped her leg out from under the covers, biting her lip at the chill in the air, gingerly easing herself back away from her pair of lovers to avoid disturbing them.
Akane mumbled and stirred. "Nnnh… stay…" she mumbled, reaching back to clumsily grasp at Ukyou as she felt the warm body moving away.
"I gotta make breakfast, sweetie," Ukyou replied, leaning in to kiss the nape of Akane's neck gently.
"Mmmph… 'Sumi can do it…" Akane muttered, but she was already drifting back off to sleep.
Ukyou was again tempted to stay, but pushed herself to finish slipping out from under the covers while she had the opportunity. She retrieved her underthings from Akane's floor and slipped them on, as well as borrowing a fluffy terrycloth bathrobe that was hanging from a hook on Akane's door. Maybe I should stash a set of clothes here? She glanced back at Akane and Ranma and blushed. Hell… maybe I should be thinking about moving in at this point?
Of course, that would require the approval of the actual mistress of the house, and possibly Mr. Tendo as well. Either way, she was likely going to be spending a lot more time at the dojo so it was best if she got into the habit of treating the household as if it were her own. That meant ensuring she did her share to make sure it and those who were living there were properly taken care of.
She slipped out of Akane's room and carefully crept downstairs. A long time ago Shampoo had shown her where all the creaky floorboards in the dojo were, having carefully mapped them out during her many late night visits to creep on Ranma.
We really are weird, aren't we? Ukyou thought with a little bemusement. Here I am, a student of the 'School of Anything Goes Stalking Ranma Saotome'. And now I'm using what I learned to make everyone breakfast.
She made her way down the stairs, mindful that Soun's room was on the main floor, and crept into the kitchen. She had cooked meals in here before, like for the Christmas party, but it had always been with Kasumi's supervision. Here, more than anywhere else in the house, she felt like a trespasser.
Forgive me Kasumi. I'll take good care of it, Ukyou thought. As a chef, she was well aware of the sanctity of a cook's kitchen, and she took a moment familiarizing herself with where things were - not just so she could find them, but so she could return them to their proper places once she was done. Satisfying herself that she had mapped it all out sufficiently, she started gathering the utensil and ingredients she'd need.
Plenty of eggs… Ukyou thought, her head deep in the old fridge. There were several cartons that looked freshly bought, as well as a fully stocked crisper. Kasumi must have just done some grocery shopping. I think omelettes would go over well today.
Ukyou was just straightening with her arms laden with vegetables and a carton of eggs when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. She turned slightly and nearly fumbled her armload when she saw Kasumi was standing near the kitchen door in her nightgown, watching her.
"It's a bit late for a midnight snack," Kasumi said with a smile. "Or am I late getting breakfast started? I am sorry if you were left hungry at dinner last night, Ukyou."
"Oh! No, no, not at all!" Ukyou said quickly, sheepishly putting her armload down on the counter. "I… uhh… I was just trying to surprise you by making breakfast for everyone so you wouldn't have to."
"Oh my, that's very nice of you Ukyou, but hardly necessary," Kasumi said.
"I insist!" Ukyou beamed at her. "You just take it easy this morning and I'll tackle the job of feeding everyone."
"W-well…" Kasumi sounded uncertain. "I… that's a very generous offer, Ukyou. Thank you."
Ukyou frowned. "Is something wrong, Kasumi?"
Kasumi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Please don't make fun of me for this? I've had people try and do favors like this for me before, and it's such a sweet gesture but…" She wrung her hands, almost as if she were ashamed. "... It… it just makes such a mess of my schedule! If someone else is doing everything for breakfast, then there's just the laundry to start. But it's far too early to put it out to dry, so if I start the wash now it will just sit in a wet pile for hours and end up smelling musty. Sometimes I try and clean but I can't vacuum with everyone asleep so I can only do the dusting and usually I do that when everyone is out for the day. So I won't be able to do the whole house. I could do the furo but then it won't be filled and hot when people get up and want a bath so then everything ends up out of order and… and… and…" She seemed to be starting to hyperventilate so Ukyou quickly put a hand on her shoulder out of concern.
"Woah, woah, easy!" Ukyou did her best to steady the older girl. "I'm sorry, I didn't know it threw your routine so far out of whack." Ukyou knew a few things about the importance of routines as they were vital to running a business, but she had nothing so seemingly strict as the eldest Tendo girl. "Why don't you just watch TV or read a book or relax or something?"
"But… that's for after the chores are done…" Kasumi said uncertainly. She closed her eyes and sighed. "You're right. I just… When your whole world is your home, small things can throw you off sometimes."
"Really? I always thought you handled change pretty well, what with Ranma and her father showing up and then that old pervert Happosai, followed by the bunch of us freeloading from time to time," Ukyou replied. "I was actually feeling pretty guilty about how much we have been depending on you."
"No! Please don't!" Kasumi said quickly. "More work… more things to do… that's never a problem! It's…" She looked uncertain, her eyes darting away. "This… will probably seem strange to you but… this house… It's all I have ever felt certain of - the only place I feel at all in control. My routine… managing the chores around here…" she sighed, "... that must sound so silly to someone like you."
"No… no I can kind of understand…" Ukyou replied. "Now that I think about it, that one time I was really sick and Ranma, Akane and Konatsu tried to take over the restaurant for me was hell. Though… It probably didn't help they were grossly incompetent. At least Konatsu has gotten halfway decent at it now. I've… been a bit too distracted lately to run things like I should." Ukyou gave Kasumi a wan smile.
Kasumi shook her head. "That… is the difference, isn't it?" She stepped further into the kitchen, running a finger along the edge of the sink as if checking for dust. "As important as it is to your life, your restaurant is only part of it. That's my problem. This house is all I have. My whole world. Ever since mother died I've focused everything on the needs of this house and the people living in it. And… that was enough for me. I always felt needed. I always felt wanted and appreciated. I always felt like I had a place." She gently tweaked the tap. "But… more than that… I feel like I know this house… really know it. There are so many things people don't know or simply don't notice, so many stories… this place is old, and everywhere I look I can see the evidence of the families who lived here before us. I always felt like… I was doing something important taking care of this place. Even when a hole was put in the roof, or the water heater blew out… it was just another story for this place to tell. It was like I was the caretaker of that story."
Something jogged in the back of Ukyou's mind. "Wait… But… what was going to happen if Ranma and Akane inherited the dojo?"
Kasumi turned, giving her a weak smile, and shrugged. "It would be someone else's turn to take care of it."
"But what about you?" Ukyou pressed. "Where were you going to go? What were your plans?"
Kasumi looked down. "I… don't know." She chewed on her lower lip. "Sometimes… sometimes I wonder if that's why I never put my foot down… Why I always went along with father's meddling in Ranma and Akane's relationship. Why I always said they were too young. It let me put that question off for another day."
Ukyou felt crestfallen. Her grand idea to do something to repay Kasumi had backfired spectacularly because she hadn't fully understood the situation. "I-I'm sorry. Here… I can put all this back and let you get back to your routine, and…"
Kasumi held up a hand, eyes closed and brow furrowed. She finally opened her eyes, and there was a determined glint in them. "No… no, I have a better idea, if you still want to do something to help me, Ukyou."
"Uh… yes! Of course, anything, sugar. Just name it!" Ukyou said, eagerly latching onto the offered rope.
Kasumi smiled. "Go ahead with what you were planning for breakfast. I'll help you, but please make what you were planning to make. That will fill the time for me until it's time to start the laundry. And if it's alright… I would like to talk."
Ukyou blinked. "O-of course!" She turned back to her pile of ingredients, portioning out things into the various steps she had planned. She put aside the vegetables for washing, and Kasumi took them, interpreting that part easily enough and busied herself with the task.
"So… what did you want to talk about?" Ukyou asked uncertainly, worried that there was going to be some big concern raised about her unconventional relationship choices.
"Anything, really," Kasumi replied. "I… suppose I wanted to learn more about you."
"Oh! Sure, I guess that makes sense," Ukyou nodded. "I mean… seeing as I'm probably going to be around a lot…" Ukyou wasn't entirely comfortable with claiming status as a member of the family yet, especially as she and Akane had not yet discussed their plans with anyone, least of all Kasumi.
"That's not it," Kasumi said softly with a shake of her head. She took a breath as if gathering herself. "Ukyou… you and I come from similar backgrounds, yes? Martial arts families… a family legacy involving a lot of cooking… But… we've ended up in such different places." Kasumi looked up from her vegetable washing. "You've become an accomplished martial artist and a chef, without compromising one for the other. You've turned those skills into a successful business and you've done it all on your own. You can go anywhere and make your way with just a grill and a spatula. You had so little to start with and yet you've become someone who can hold her own in almost any situation. I admire you."
Ukyou froze mid-chop, staring slack-jawed at the eldest Tendo.
Kasumi turned her gaze back to her washing. "And yet here I am, three years your senior, with… with everything I've ever needed… with all the support I could have wished for to be or do whatever I wanted… and yet… I've done nothing with it. I'm a housewife who is not a wife and who will someday soon have no house. I feel like… I feel like I missed a step, an important step, and now… Now I don't know what to do."
It took Ukyou a second to reboot after that revelation. "Kasumi… are you seriously suggesting that you admire me because I have my life more together than you?!"
Kasumi paused again, blinking innocently. "Yes…?"
Ukyou had to catch herself on the counter as the laughing fit hit. The very concept was just too bizarre for her brain to process as she doubled over giggling.
Kasumi stared at her in confusion as she waited for the Okonomiyaki Chef to recover enough to explain.
"K-Kasumi… You can't… I mean…" Ukyou shook her head, taking a few deep breaths to get herself under control. "Sorry, it's just… you're the gold standard for someone who has it together!"
Kasumi frowned. "I-I'm sorry? I don't follow…"
"Kasumi, every day my life is in constant danger of flying apart at the seams." Ukyou said. "My business is always just this side of being in the red. Between the expenses, keeping Konatsu and myself fed and clothed and having to go to school, I don't even have enough left over to pay Konatsu a decent wage, much less have any savings. Every year I'm just waiting for the landlord to jack up the rent on that rathole and price me out of the market. It's pure luck I'm still in business, and I keep pushing that luck because I decided on who I was going to marry when I was six and I've been burning the candle at both ends to try and actually make that happen because I had zero plans outside that. My whole life has basically been prideful insanity - so much so that most of my family will barely have anything to do with me now." Ukyou resumed chopping. "Yet you manage to keep this place together despite having three or four of the craziest martial artists in town living here, plus having the rest of the crazies regularly crashing the place. In the face of all of that, you manage to make this oasis of normalcy that kinda forces everyone to stop and be normal for a while. And you do it with practically no budget. On top of that, you've got a handsome older doctor who's crazy about you… maybe a little more literally than is strictly healthy, but…"
"Yes, Doctor Tofu…" Kasumi replied, handing over the next batch of vegetables she had finished washing. "He's… he's very sweet, really… and… he's everything I always said I wanted, isn't he?"
Ukyou paused again, looking over at her. "Changed your mind, sugar?"
"Not so much. More… I never made it up. I've just been going on since mother died trying to be her so very hard that… that I forgot to have any dreams for myself. And Doctor Tofu is sweet and funny and… and entirely too much like Father!" She thumped the counter with her hand, an unexpected look of frustration crossing her face.
Ukyou's eyes widened. "Woah…"
"I've spent so many years putting off having a life of my own so that others could have theirs, always thinking that once my sisters were old enough to manage I could just pick it back up again, but now…" Kasumi stared down at her reflection in the water in the sink. "... Now I don't know how. I've spent so long safeguarding and tending an inheritance that isn't even mine!"
Ukyou swallowed. She had never, ever seen Kasumi like this. She put down her knife and stepped closer, but didn't touch her. "Kasumi… Do you want to inherit the dojo?"
Kasumi looked up, and Ukyou was astonished to see there were tears in her eyes. She sniffed, then laughed bitterly. "No… no… God no! This house should go to a family… to the ones who will carry on the school. That's always been how it should be. Being alone and left to tend this empty house…?" She shuddered. "No… I'm the problem. I want to be… someone who knows how to be more than just the caretaker of this house. I want to be someone who knows how to want to be more than that. I want to be able to remember whatever it was I dreamed of being when Mother was alive, or at least to come up with new dreams." She dabbed at her eyes. "That's why I've never pursued anything with Dr. Tofu. I am afraid… I would just be the same caretaker in a different house. But… at the same time, I'm so terrified of changing… of not being me anymore."
Ukyou pulled the older girl into a hug. Kasumi froze a moment, then returned it.
"Look… I don't know the right path for you, sugar," Ukyou said. "But I do know that what makes you special to me - and everyone I know who knows you - doesn't have anything to do with this house, or your being in it. You're the person that everyone relies on when they're hurting or scared or just need someone to make them feel like things are going to be all right - and that they can keep on going, even when everything else is telling them they're done. You're that 'safe place' - not just for your family, but for anyone you meet." She released Kasumi and smiled at her. "That's you. And if you change what you do or where you live or how you live, that isn't going to change. So… don't worry about it."
Kasumi smiled and wiped her eyes. "You're… you're right. I think… how can you be so fearless about it all, though? How do you keep going, taking such bold steps when the ground could crumble out from under you any moment?"
Ukyou shrugged. "I guess… because one day it did. And it sucked, and it hurt, and it felt like my life was over… and then it wasn't. Life went on, and I learned from that and drew purpose from it. All those things people are terrified are gonna be the end of the world… they aren't. You come out the other side of it. I guess… I just decided that since that was the worst feeling I could imagine having, and I could live through it, there really wasn't anything the world could throw at me that could really stop me, so long as I just kept going."
"I see," Kasumi chuckled. "You really can be an inspiration when you choose to be, Ukyou. I think I see why my little sister has grown so fond of you."
Ukyou blinked and swallowed. "Uhh… Well, you know we're both engaged to Ranma…"
Kasumi giggled and leaned in conspiratorially. "You've come home with Akane without Ranma, Ukyou. And the walls of this house are not very thick."
Ukyou felt a hot rush to her cheeks. She looked away and fidgeted. "Oh… U-uh… yeah… Sorry?"
Kasumi smiled and shook her head. "No apologies. Akane has been happier and more at peace than I've seen since… since Mother died. That is more than enough for me to approve." She took a deep breath and sighed. "It's just a shame there won't really be a wedding. Chances are Ranma will marry Nabiki for the legalities. I know you had planned a ceremony with the Amazons of some sort, but I had hoped one day I'd see my little sister making the walk down the aisle."
Ukyou swallowed hard. "Ummm… about that, Kasumi… actually… Akane and I have been talking… A-and it's just preliminary stuff right now… we haven't decided anything concrete but…" she leaned in and started whispering conspiratorially in Kasumi's ear.
Kasumi listened. Gradually her eyes widened, though she remained silent until Ukyou finished. It was a few moments after Ukyou stepped back nervously, waiting for her response, that Kasumi finally spoke.
"Oh my…"
000
Busying herself with breakfast was an excellent way for Akari to make herself feel useful. That it also helped soothe her nagging feelings of uncertainty also helped.
She glanced out the back door to see Katsunishiki snoozing in the backyard. She sighed, knowing the champion pig was going to start losing his tone if she let him slack off too much longer.
I don't suppose it'll matter if he's retiring early, Akari thought, then sighed. Katsunishiki was her first champion sumo pig and she always knew the day would come eventually. There would be his children to train, of course, but he was still in his prime and there was so much more she knew they could accomplish together.
Enough lamenting. She shook her head vigorously. This is for the sake of Ryouga and our future happiness together. She returned her attention to chopping vegetables.
"[Oh! Good mornin'...]"
Akari looked up to see Anna rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She was either wearing her clothes from the previous day, or an identical dress. Akari idly wondered if the girl might appreciate a shopping trip - it didn't seem she had brought much with her from America in the way of clothing. She smiled, trying to remember what little English she had learned in school. "Ummm… I'm sorry my English is terrible… umm… [Good aft…] no wait… [Good morning!]" She beamed for having remembered the right word.
Anna blushed sheepishly. "[Ah'm really sorry 'bout all this… ummm, hang on…] Am sorry," she managed, reaching for her book.
Akari shook her head, walked over and put a hand over the book. "You don't need that. Ummm… [Ryouga soon. Breakfast soon.]" She motioned for towards a chair.
Anna nodded and sat down. "[So… uh… Ah know you don't understand me at all, an' Ah reckon this is as big a shock to you as it is to me…]" She sighed, folding her hands on the table. "[But thank you for being so patient about all o' this. Ah knew Ah shoulda learned mah Japanese better before settin' out, but I'm a duff when it comes to languages…]"
Akari frowned and just nodded dumbly, not able to follow what the girl said at all. Her particular accent was so different than her English teacher's and she spoke so much faster that it made parsing what she said almost impossible, but Akari got the sense the other girl just needed someone to listen. She returned to making breakfast, but kept her attention on Anna. Poor girl. Ryouga met her first, but never found his way back to her? I wonder if things would have been different for him and me if he had? She set the miso soup to simmer and put on a kettle to boil, deciding the least she could offer was a cup of tea. She had so many questions she wanted to ask the girl, but the language barrier made things difficult. Maybe she could find a good translation guide to help her out?
She poured out a couple of cups and walked over, sitting down and offering one to Anna. "Here, this is tea. Uhh… " She held up hers and sipped it demonstratively.
Anna picked hers up and glanced at it. "[Oh, tea,]" she sighed heavily. "[Ah'd kill for a good strong cup o' coffee right about now.]"
"[Coffee?]" Akari perked up, recognizing the word. She held up a finger and quickly got up to check the cupboards, but quickly found there was none available. She sighed and sat back down, shrugging apologetically. "Sorry… ummm… [No have. Get soon.]"
"[Oh, no, no need for th' trouble!]" Anna seemed embarrassed that her complaint had been understood. "[Ah appreciate the thought tho… uhh…] Thank you."
Akari smiled and nodded. She heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs and stood just as Ryouga made his way in, looking worn out himself. "Ryouga!"
"[Joe!]" Anna stood, beaming, then glanced at Akari and blushed. "[Ummm… I guess I've made things awkward for you, haven't I?]"
Ryouga glanced at her, then Akari, then closed his eyes as if pained. "[Right, right… Anna I'm so sorry… about everything. I shouldn't have just walked away from you and your father like I did, I should have explained things better, I…]"
Anna stepped closer to him. "[It's okay! Ah just… Ah wanted to know you were okay. Ah ran after you when you left. Ah tried to catch up, but… but you vanished, and Ah guess… Ah just wanted to make sure you were okay an' all.]" She looked down, wringing her hands. "[Ah know you have someone else in yer life now…]"
Ryouga winced. "[I… for what it's worth, I didn't tell you everything.]" He looked over at Akari. "Akari, could I have a glass of water and a kettle ready? I'm going to show Anna the curse."
Akari nodded, filling a glass from the tap and handing it over to him, stepping closer to catch it when the inevitable happened.
"[Anna, there's a reason you didn't find me after I walked off. I was still there, I had just tripped over a bucket of water. You see, I have a curse and… well, when I get splashed with cold water this is what happens.]" Ryouga closed his eyes and dumped the glass of water over his head.
Akari reacted with practised ease, reaching out to catch the glass as the space Ryouga had filled was suddenly empty. She glanced at Anna, who's eyes had gone wide as she started to looking frantically about.
"[Ryouga? Joe!? Where did you go?!]" she called out, giving Akari a frightened look. "[What happened?!]"
Akari smiled at her gently, took her arm and guided her down to the pile of clothes on the floor. "Here," she said, reaching into the pile and extracting the small, damp black piglet, who shook himself off as soon as he was free.
"Ryouga! That's very rude you know! You shouldn't shake off on people like that!" Akari admonished him. After ensuring she saw a properly remorseful droop of his ears, she handed the piglet to Anna. "Ryouga," she said, motioning for her to take the piglet as she stood to fetch the kettle.
"[R-Ryouga?]" Anna gaped, holding the piglet at arm's length. "[H-how?!]"
The piglet made a nervous "Bweee."
Akari returned with the kettle and gently took Ryouga back from Anna's unresisting grasp, placing him back into his pile of clothes. With practised movements he burrowed back in and positioned himself. Having done this many times before, Akari waited for him to stop moving, then poured the hot water on him.
Ryouga exploded back into being, managing to get all his limbs in the right holes of his clothes, a trick he had told Akari he had learned after a number of embarrassing situations. Most Jusenkyo sufferers learned some form of 'quick-change' technique.
Anna yelped as she practically flung herself backwards, staring up at him with wide eyes.
Ryouga sighed heavily. "[It's a curse I picked up in an old Chinese spring. When I'm splashed with cold water, I take the form of a small black piglet. Hot water changes me back. So… when I 'vanished', I was just under the water bucket. You never noticed me.]" He crouched down in front of her. "[I… know that's a lot to take in. Back then I felt I needed to cure my curse before anyone would be able to accept me. I spent a year searching before I realized there probably isn't one.]"
She stared at him a moment. Akari crouched off to the side, watching. Anna's eyes were wide, and for a moment she was afraid the girl would run off screaming.
Slowly, Anna pushed herself up to her knees. She reached out and tentatively poked Ryouga's chest as if to reassure herself he was really there. She blinked when she actually met resistance, then looked up at him. "[Can… can I see that again?]"
000
Ranma blew her bangs up as she walked, hands clasped behind her head. She was coming to realize that getting ready for school on time… walking with a group… arriving with time to spare… and not getting attacked along the way… was actually starting to get boring. Especially since she wasn't the focus of attention today - Ukyou and Akane had earned that honor.
"So, explain to me again, 'Little Brother', exactly what it is you and Kasumi talked about that has her looking so smug and secretive and humming 'The Wedding March'?" Nabiki poked Ukyou's shoulder and gave the Okonomiyaki Chef a suspicious stare.
"Nothing! Just… we chatted while making breakfast!" Ukyou said defensively. Akane walked close next to her, head down and blushing.
"Uh huh, not buying it," Yuka flanked the couple on the other side, poking Akane's shoulder. "Come on Akane, spill! What are you two up to?"
"It's… it's… you'll make fun!" Akane huffed and clenched her fists, looked away and turned even redder.
"Oh come on, Akane… We've been okay with all the weirdness in your life so far," Sayuri said. "This can't be that bad if Kasumi is happily humming about it!"
"We could just play 20 questions," Riko suggested. "Does it involve a foreign Prince from a forgotten magical land? Again?"
"Ooooh, did one of you get engaged to a demon?" Yuka piped up.
"I-is it aliens?" Rin asked in a hushed voice. "It hasn't been aliens yet, has it? We're probably due for aliens..."
"Alright! Alright…" Ukyou said finally, holding up her hands in surrender. "Kasumi… was saying that she kind of regretted that she wasn't going to get to see Akane in a traditional wedding, since Ranma is probably going to marry Nabiki here in Japan, and the rest of us will be doing some sort of ceremony at Jusendo… and…" she ducked her head. "I… might have suggested… well… I'm listed as male on my family register, so legally… I mean… Akane and I talked about…"
"I asked Ukyou to marry me and she said yes, and so we're going to have an actual wedding!" Akane blurted out, her face cherry red now. "There! Happy?"
The group around her blinked at the two of them owlishly.
"Aaaaand suddenly we're walking over here," Hiroshi said as he and Daisuke moved up closer to Ranma, putting the redhead between them and any potential fallout.
"Gee, thanks guys," Ranma gave each of them a sour look as they not-so-subtly shielded themselves with her body. She glanced back at the Akane and Ukyou, pondering if she should get involved or not. The two of them had already talked to her about it and gotten her blessing, so this was no real shock for her, though the last she had heard the plan was to elope.
I can just see Mr. Tendo walking Akane down the aisle, bawling his eyes out, an' everyone just thinking it's the whole 'my baby girl has grown up' thing, Ranma chuckled mentally at the image. Poor guy… kinda? I mean… She glanced at Akane, who was blushing and fidgeting as Yuka, Sayuri and Riko started pestering her for details. I mean Akane is HAPPY, right? He ain't got no business being upset over THAT. She scowled, feeling her sympathy for the man bleed away as she remembered the sight of Akane in her wedding dress. Then she remembered that they had held the cure to her curse hostage just to force them into it - which had resulted in near total disaster. The 'cure' had gotten wasted, the other fiancees had been provoked, and the aftermath torn her and Akane apart for a while. Even if she didn't actually want the curse cured anymore, being blackmailed into things never sat well with her. Actually, he'll be lucky if we let him ATTEND.
She felt a pang of regret as she realized that the next time Akane walked down the aisle, it wouldn't be for her.
I mean… I know we're all going to be together… and Akane SAID she wants to marry me too, but… She glanced at the two of them and had to admit they looked good together. Ukyou too, I guess. If she marries Akane… Well, it's not like I'm legally a girl… and then there's Nabiki… Her eyes flicked to the Middle Tendo. She sighed. I'm greedy, aren't I?
"Airen got look on face again," A soft voice murmured in her ear, making her jump. She gasped and recoiled a bit, whirling to see Shampoo smirking at her.
"Shampoo, don't do that!" Ranma put a hand on her chest and took a few deep breaths to slow her heart-rate. "You're gonna give me a coronary!"
"Shampoo not even sneaking. Airen too-too distracted!" Shampoo huffed, crossing her arms haughtily. It only lasted a moment though before she glanced back at the couple. "Is strange, yes? Odd feeling… supposed to all be equal, all together, but even then…"
Ranma followed her gaze, noticing she was looking at Ukyou. She glanced back at Shampoo; In the past she had never been very good at reading emotions, but she had learned a great deal since then. "You and Ucchan… kinda had a thing, didn't cha?"
"Still have thing," Shampoo sighed. "Just… maybe not thing could have been." She moved closer and took Ranma's arm, hugging it. In the past Ranma would have panicked, but now she was able to recognize a request for comfort.
"You regretting things?" Ranma asked softly. She put her hand over Shampoo's on her arm.
Shampoo shook her head quickly, hugged Ranma's arm more snugly and rested her head on her shoulder. "No! No… This way so much better. Have Airen. Have Pintou. Able to go home to Joketsuzoku with head held high now. But…" She sighed and leaned more heavily against the redhead. "... There is always path not taken. Shampoo might have been one to marry Ukyou if Airen and Akane get together. Can be close with Ukyou now. Sisters. But… maybe never that close. Feel… like outsider."
"I know exactly what you mean," Ranma said. She closed her eyes and rested her head against Shampoo's. "I guess… that's why the sort of thing we're doing doesn't happen much… or even at all. Everything ebbs and flows, and sometimes a thing is only really shareable between two people, an' so the others get hurt 'cuz they get left out."
"Used to be way with you and Akane," Shampoo replied. "Lots between you two… Me and Ukyou miss out. Now… all have moments with each other. Like this…" She sighed happily. "Airen make Shampoo feel better. Thank you."
Ranma realized that she felt better too. Sharing her worry, and having Shampoo open up about having the same feelings had somehow bled away some of the melancholy. Mebbe that's how we make this work then? Can't always keep things equal, can't stop that feeling of missing out, but if we just share THAT with each other too… She sighed, feeling the weight ease. She took Shampoo's hand, weaving their fingers together as she continued on towards Ryouga's house. "Mebbe I'm finally learning this 'supportive' stuff. A real man is s'posed to be that for his wife… uh… wives in my case. Right?"
Shampoo smirked at her. "Is not just 'man' thing, Airen. But is strength thing. Bonds of support why Joketsuzoku encourage bonds of sisterhood. Make better warriors." Shampoo seemed content to cuddle Ranma's arm as they walked. "Japanese too-too enamoured with idea of 'lone wolf'. Think being strong alone naturally make one stronger than those who strong in group. Not realize ability to make bonds is strength by itself."
"I… kinda never thought about that…" Ranma mused. "Never did the Hentai Horde any good though."
Shampoo snorted. "They not have bond, is just have same goal. If ever actually beat Akane would turn on each other. Is lowest form of cooperation, kind that come from not having other choice."
Ranma had to admit she had a point. "I guess that means the next time some nutjob shows up to challenge us, it'll be an easy fight, since we've got the whole 'bonds' thing going now?"
Shampoo chuckled. "Maybe. Need time to actually learn to fight as team first. Probably first training Great-grandmother insist on after omiai decided."
Ranma sighed heavily. "Yeah… that. Gotten any more letters from Mom? I'm guessing she's not actually gonna tell me who I'm s'posed to marry until they got me standing at the altar in a tux waiting for her."
"Not yet," Shampoo replied. She kissed Ranma's cheek. "If that happen, will blow up wedding again. But only if Pintou not find other way."
Ranma winced. "Don't I get a say?"
"No. Ranma already married to Shampoo. Already choose us, yes? Shampoo not let anything pull apart this time, especially not stupid Panda skin rug-in-law or his wife!" She set her jaw, eyes flashing with determination, as if daring Ranma to challenge her on the point.
Ranma couldn't bring herself to be upset about it. Honestly, part of her was a little worried that her idiot father might just kidnap her, drug her and force the marriage to her mother's choice, whomever that ended up being. Knowing a rescue would be waiting was actually a little comforting. "Ummm… just… try not and blow up the Tendo Dojo or my house or anything?"
"Not blow up Dojo. Is property of Joketsuzoku sisters now, not want damage," Shampoo said solemnly, then smirked. "Promise will try not to blow up stupid Panda skin rug-in-law's house too," she added in a tone that suggested she wasn't planning to try very hard to avoid it.
Ranma sighed and looked up as they approached Ryouga's house. I wonder how Ryo is faring with HIS relationship problems. Can't be as bad as mine, right?
At that moment, the door of the Hibiki residence practically exploded open, and a small black piglet charged out, making a beeline for Ranma. Startled, Ranma caught the piglet as it leapt into her arms.
The American girl from before poked her head out the door. She had a kettle in one hand, and a bucket in the other, and spotting P-chan in Ranma's arms she got a scowl on her face and stomped over.
"[Who are you?]" she asked, looking Ranma over suspiciously and narrowing her eyes. Ranma felt an uncomfortable sense of being judged as Anna's eyes flicked from her red hair to the front of her uniform. She held out her hand. "Give."
"I'm… uhh… sorry?" Ranma said nervously, not quite parsing the request, but she could feel something very like abject terror from P-chan. Unconsciously she hugged him tighter to her chest.
Anna growled. "[Just give him back, you red-haired floozy! Honestly, dying your hair such a garish shade in high school,]" she huffed. She made a grab for P-chan, but Ranma stepped back out of reach, eyeing her suspiciously.
"What's your deal?! He doesn't wanna go with you!" Ranma protested.
Ryouga's mother and Akari emerged from the house behind Anna and Ranma felt a fresh surge of fear from the piglet as Mrs. Hibiki came into view.
"[Joe, come here… please?]" Anna implored. "[Look… ah'm sorry. I got carried away, but… Ah've never seen real magic before!]"
"[What's that about real magic, dear?]" Mrs. Hibiki walked over. "Hello Ranma. Oh, is that piglet yours? When I saw it run outside I assumed it belonged to Akari or Anna here."
Ranma's eyes widened. Ryouga's Mom doesn't know about the curse! She could feel him start to succumb to despair. Thankfully there was little danger of an explosive Ki release as a piglet, but it still hurt to feel. She added the bucket and kettle in, as well as Anna's suspicious looks, and remembered how Ukyou had reacted to finding out about her curse (Which had been nearly half an hour of changing her back and forth in fascination) and suddenly had a pretty good idea why Ryouga was panicking. Unfortunately, Ranma didn't speak a word of English to explain it to the girl.
She set her jaw and made a decision. She knew it was probably going to make things worse short-term but she and Ryo could deal with the fallout afterwards.
"Yes! I've been looking all over for him!" Ranma said abruptly and hugged the little piglet tightly enough that he wheezed audibly as the breath was driven from his lungs. "He has a tendency to wander off and I get so worried! Thank you so much for finding him!" She held him up and made a big show of making a fuss over him. "Didja miss mommy, Mr. P?"
P-chan was staring at her as if she had lost her mind.
So was Shampoo. "Is… Ranma feeling okay?"
"[What,]" Anna said in a flat, menacing growl.
"Aheh…" Ranma's eyes flicked to Akari, but she could see the pig trainer had already gotten out her notebook and was furiously scribbling notes. Akari, don't write this down! I could use some help here! She swallowed and decided she needed to double down, then get out as quickly as possible. "Oh yes, he's mine! He's so cute that people keep trying to adopt him, but he'd know me anywhere. Right Mr. P?" She gave the piglet a warning glare.
P-chan bwee'd weakly in assent. He gave Ranma an uncertain look, glanced at Mrs. Hibiki, then timidly nuzzled Ranma's cheek.
Shampoo's eyes widened. "Hey…!" Slowly the confusion started to morph into outrage. "What pork lunch special think he doing!?"
"What's all the commotion over here?" Ukyou asked as she, Akane and Nabiki approached, fate having decided that things just weren't chaotic enough.
Okay, time to bail! Ranma noticed that Mrs. Hibiki had Ryouga's school bag and snatched it from her before she could protest or react. "ISeeYouHaveRyo'sBag! HeMustHaveGoneAhead! IBetterCatchUpBeforeHeGetsLost! BYE!" She turned and darted past Shampoo and Anna, hopped up onto the fence wall and winced as she realized she was about to start roof-hopping in a skirt. You freaking OWE me for this, Ryouga!
"Wha…? Where is Ranchan going?!" Ukyou asked.
"[Hey! You come back here with Joe!]" Anna cried and charged off down the street, doing her best to try and keep pace with the roof-hopping redhead.
"Airen and Shagua have some explaining to do!" Shampoo growled and joined the chase, leaping first to the wall then onto the rooftops to follow much more directly.
"Go after her," Nabiki said to Ukyou and Akane. "I'll stay here and try and sort out what just happened."
000
Rin sighed as she watched her Senpai leap off over the rooftops with the other girls in hot pursuit. Despite everything else she had learned about the lives of martial artists, part of her still wished she could join in on the adventure.
She slapped her cheeks to snap herself out of it. Come on, Rin! This isn't a manga! Senpai has terrible parents and Senpai's Mr. Boyfriend-san has tragic family illnesses, Ms. Manager Nabiki lost her mother… being them ISN'T fun!
She sighed. The logic was perfect and flawless and absolutely did not help one whit. She remembered the sensation of weightlessness when Mu Tsu had carried her up the radio tower to watch the sunset. She wanted to fly again - with him especially. But knowing what she did about his story, she had realised that could never happen.
"Mu Tsu…" she murmured sadly.
"Yes, Rin Ito?"
She whirled to see the bespectacled chinese martial artist standing behind her, his hands folded into the sleeves of his robe, his head cocked curiously as if awaiting her question.
"Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" She leapt back, eyes wide and face bright red. "M-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-mr Duck Delivery Person Mu Tsu-san!"
Mousse blinked and sighed. "... Could you maybe just refer to me as 'Mu Tsu'? Or even 'Mousse'?"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Rin started bowing frantically. "I sometimes append things to people's names and when I get nervous it gets really bad and I wasn't thinking and and and…"
She trailed off. Most times people would interrupt her, but Mu Tsu usually waited for her to wind down on her own. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths and forced herself to stop her racing thoughts and string them into coherent order. She opened her eyes again. "I'm sorry, Mu Tsu."
"No apologies needed, Rin Ito…" he began.
"Rin, please," she said firmly. She had Kasumi's worry stone clenched in her hand.
He raised an eyebrow. "Am I correct in guessing we're on better terms once more?"
Rin took a final deep, steadying breath. "You're trying, so yes. My father always said it's not fair to be mad at someone for not knowing something while they're trying to learn it. I'm sorry for being cross with you."
Mu Tsu actually smiled and she felt her heart skip a beat. "Again, no apologies needed, Rin It… Rin. I've noticed that you often quote your father's teachings. He sounds quite wise."
Rin nodded. "He says a lot of what he says is just other people's wisdom that he learned, but I think he's the best teacher ever!"
"Perhaps one day you can introduce me to him?" Mu Tsu said. "I fear you have proven to me that I am sorely in need of those."
"T-t-t-t-take you h-home t-to m-meet my parents?!" Rin stammered, eyes going wide and her blush returning. She closed her eyes quickly and slapped her cheeks again. Stop that! That's not what he meant. I'm sure that's not what he meant! It CAN'T be what he meant!
"Yes. What… what do you suppose he would have to say about my… my trespass against Young Mi?" Mu Tsu continued, oblivious. "Would… would he have some wisdom to help with that, you suppose? Or… perhaps that would be too much to ask."
"O-oh…" Rin deflated a little. Of course. He's asking for help with his fiancee. You KNEW this Rin. "I-I'm sure… I mean, if you explained it to him…"
He sighed. "I know it is too much to ask for your continued assistance, even. The more I consider the issue, the more I realize that I have not been allowing myself to consider the ramifications of my actions, and the more I consider those…" His gaze dropped. "... I fear my reluctance to make amends has simply been because of how impossible it is to make this right."
Rin swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat. When Mu Tsu had been no more than an object of admiration, someone who 'ticked all of her boxes' as Yuka would put it, that had been one thing. But somehow… now that she knew more about him and had seen the worst side of him… and was now seeing him struggle with trying to be better… she was actually finding him more compelling to her than the idealized fantasy. She had a sudden, insane and terrifying impulse to hug him. "I-I'm sure that if you talked to her…"
"That is what I was hoping for your help with," Mu Tsu replied, reaching into the sleeve of his robe and pulling out a large stack of paper. "I've been trying to write a letter to her for the past few days - to explain things - to apologize… but no matter what I have tried thus far, everything I have written seems hollow and insincere. I was hoping… well, you have a clarity about these things that I admire, and feel that I need for this. Would you help me?"
'You have a clarity I admire.' Rin felt a warm rush at those words that caused her to space out for a moment. She realized he had asked her a question and shook herself. "Umm… O-of course, Mu Tsu." She timidly reached for the first sheet of paper. "May I?"
She could see his eyes close behind his thick glasses. After a moment, he reluctantly nodded.
This must be terribly personal, she thought, taking the sheet and reading it.
Dear Young Mi,
There was nothing else. She blinked and took another page from the stack.
Dear Young Mi,
Nothing else once more, though she noticed the handwriting was slightly different. She pulled another sheet, then another and another.
"U-um… Mu Tsu?" she asked nervously. "Have… have you got any where you got past writing her name?"
"I… have one that I wrote 'To Whom It May Concern'..." Mu Tsu replied. "I saw it on a letter once… I don't think it would be a good idea. I also tried 'Dearest' a few times, but… that doesn't feel right either. I've also been practicing my calligraphy…"
Rin sighed and put the papers back on the stack. "I… think we should meet after school. This is probably going to take a while." She looked up to see the group had moved on, probably chasing Senpai towards school. Her shoulders slumped. "Oh drat… everyone went on without me!"
"Oh, have I made you late for school?" Mu Tsu tucked the stack of papers away hastily.
"No, I think I'll be okayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" Rin's reply trailed of in a squeak as Mu Tsu scooped her up in a bridal carry without another word and leapt for the wall, then to the nearest rooftop, bounding with the same superhuman lightness as before, but with more urgency as he made a beeline for the school.
000
Ranma landed inside the school courtyard and sighed in relief. She could see from the big clock that she still had time to get to class. It had taken longer than she had expected to shake the American girl.
"Bwee?" P-chan said inquisitively. He had been thankfully quiet and docile for the entire thing.
"Sorry buddy, hadda get away so you can explain to… what was her name… Anna? Yeah, Anna… Explain to her about your Mom not knowing about the curse." She perched the piglet on her shoulder to give him a bit more autonomy. She had his bag slung on her back like a backpack while she carried her own. "I don't suppose you have a spare uniform in your bag, do ya?"
P-chan made a mournful sound.
"Well, I guess 'P-chan' is just gonna hafta make another visit to the school," Ranma sighed. "Ms. Hinako is cool with it at least. Just don't suck up too much, okay? About half the class is in on the secret now, after all."
P-chan made an inquisitive grunt.
"I'll explain things to the 'll see if we can get you a uniform by lunch or something." She started walking towards the school. "I'd head back to the dojo so you could change and get a spare set of clothes but after that second win I bet my attendance is tracked real close now. I can't afford any more hiccups to give 'em a way to mess with me any more."
P-chan grunted and settled on his haunches.
"Uh… you're welcome," Ranma replied, a little put off by the easy gratitude. She felt a buzzing from her pocket and fished out her phone.
Nabs: So what was THAT all about?
Ranma ducked inside the school and into a doorway to quickly send a reply.
Ryo's Mom doesn't know about the curse. Avoiding meltdown. At school safe now.
There was a few seconds pause, then a reply. Ranma was impressed with how fast Nabiki could tap out messages on her phone, especially since it didn't even have a number pad.
Nabs: Understood. Briefing Akari, damage control. Will snag clothes for Ryo. Others there?
Ranma winced. She knew she was probably going to have to explain herself fast to avoid getting in trouble with the girls, but she'd had little choice but to ditch them as well in the effort to lose Anna.
Lost 'em ditching American girl. Probably pissed. Help?
She chewed on her lower lip, knowing it was a long shot, since as far as she could recall, none of them had cell phones.
Nabs: Tell 'em D'artagnan said to wait until I can get there to explain.
Ranma frowned. She had no idea who this 'D'artagnan' was… code word or something? Still, it meant Nabiki had a plan, and that was good enough for her.
Gottit. See you soon! First bell any minute.
She snapped her phone closed. "Well, that's something. So… d'ya think anyone else made it here before us, Mr. P?"
P-chan made a noncommittal grunt.
"Yeah, you're right… they're probably gonna blame us either way…" She started towards her homeroom class.
000
Bright green eyes watched as the red-haired girl landed in the courtyard, carrying something in her arms. A slight adjustment to the binoculars, and she could see it was a small black piglet. Her sharp eyes also picked out that she carried two school bags.
"Hmmm… They did say he had a Jusenkyo curse…" The binoculars dropped as she narrowed her eyes as she glanced at the large clock. Trying to get on school grounds now, just before the bell, would likely draw too much of the wrong sort of attention. Better to be patient and wait for them to come back out.
She was perched on a rooftop a few buildings away wearing dark clothes that made it easy for her to conceal herself. Keeping out of sight in a town was a skill she had been taught a long time ago, and getting onto the roof had been child's play. Had anyone seen her, they might have mistaken her for a burglar - but common thievery was the farthest thing from her mind.
"Unusual hair color, tremendous acrobatic skill, obviously a martial artist. Even the school uniform couldn't hide that figure, either. And she's got a 'pet' that could just be a Jusenkyo victim." She rocked back on her heels, playing thoughtfully with a curl of her pink hair. "That sort of subservience to her would suit him, too."
A smile spread across her lips. "It seems I've found you, Darling. Now I guess we see if this 'beloved' of yours is willing to fight for you?"
000
Home room was a little uncomfortable. The volleyball team had made it to class (Rin had come in last, just before the bell, looking a little dishevelled and out of it. Ranma guessed she had ended up running). They were all shooting glances at Ranma and the small black piglet on her desk, which they all knew was Ryouga.
Everyone else in the class was, of course, making a huge fuss over him - including Ms. Hinako.
"So he's yours now?" one girl asked. "I thought he was Akane's pet?"
"Yeah, he's mine now," Ranma said, deciding to keep her story consistent. P-chan shot her a look, but didn't protest otherwise.
"Is he hard to take care of?"
Ranma shrugged. "Not really. He's pretty good at looking out for himself. Gets lost if I don't watch him though."
"Does he sleep in your bed? Ooooh I bet he's a cuddly sleeper!"
Ranma winced."Uh… sometimes… He usually sticks to his side of the bed, though…"
"Awww! You should cuddle him more!"
Naturally Ranma's rebellious mind instantly conjured an image of that - except Ryouga wasn't a pig. It wasn't exactly a picture, either - more of imagining the sensation of being cuddled, with strong arms around her and the warmth of him through the link - a bit of an extrapolation from what was becoming an unnervingly comprehensive catalogue of experiences with him. She closed her eyes quickly and angrily tried to push the feeling away. Nope nope nope, not doing this today! "Look… I can't believe I'm saying this, but… shouldn't we be learning stuff?"
Ms. Hinako gave her a sour look, then sighed. "You're right Ms. Saotome." She turned and walked back up to the board. "Today we're going to cover 'conjunctions'..."
Ranma breathed a sigh of relief. She put a hand on P-chan's head under the cover of scratching behind his ears in order to link and make sure he wasn't upset. Thankfully all she sensed from him was relief.
"Sorry about that," she whispered.
"Bwee," the piglet replied, as if in acceptance. She got the sense Ryouga knew she was doing her best, which was reassuring.
At least with him as a pig, no one is gonna get any weird ideas about us even if they DO know about the curse, she thought as she tried to focus on the lesson. She did not want to give Ms. Hinako an excuse to draw any more attention her way. Nabiki will be here by noon, we can change Ryo back, then sort out his girl problems, an' NO ONE will have any reason to be mad at either of us because there's no way anything we do until then will raise any eyebrows. Just focus on classes until then an' we're good!
She smiled a bit, satisfied that her plan seemed foolproof.
Without being consciously aware of it, her feigned ear scratches became the real thing. She could sense his emotional churn smoothing out and settling into a pleasant lassitude - all but zoning out. Reassured, she attempted to apply herself to the lesson, drawing on Ryouga's almost-zen to help her focus.
000
"So… what was all of that about this morning?" Sayuri asked as class ended and Ranma was packing up her books.
"Old problem. Ryo never told his Mom about his curse," Ranma said. "The Jusenkyo curse I mean," she clarified after a moment's further thought.
"As opposed to the Casanova one?" Yuka asked dryly.
P-chan made a protesting 'Bwee!' over that.
"He's not a Casanova," Ranma stated firmly, giving Yuka a stern glare. "Trust me. As someone who gets accused of that crap every single day, it sucks. Ryouga's done some dumb stuff, yeah, but leading girls on ain't one of 'em. He's just not real good at talking to 'em."
Yuka gave her a skeptical look. She folded her arms and arched an eyebrow. "We're expected to believe that a girl came all the way from America without even knowing the language here and he didn't do anything to give her the wrong idea?"
Ranma scowled at her. "Yeah, I am. 'Cuz I've been in exactly the same boat. Unless you wanna go back to accusing me of the same thing?"
"Using yourself as an example doesn't really help his case, all things considered," Yuka pointed out.
"Yuka, back off," Sayuri gave her a warning look. "This isn't something to fight over when we've got a game tomorrow. It's none of our business."
"It kinda is," Yuka retorted. "I mean, our star player is all wrapped up in it." She looked past Sayuri and fixed Ranma with a look. "The point I'm getting at is… are you okay with all of this, Ranma?"
Ranma blinked in confusion. "Am I okay with all this?"
"Yeah," Yuka repeated.
"I mean… you and Ryouga are kinda…" Riko added timidly, her eyes flicking to the piglet.
Ranma glanced down at him and realized she was unconsciously scratching behind his ears. Her initial impulse was to jerk her hand away, but she could sense he was intensely uncomfortable with everything. It was also starting to irk her that they were talking like he was somehow not aware of what was being said.
She kept her hand where it was and glared at them. "Look. What Ryo and I are isn't any of your business. But, for the record, he has a girlfriend. Her name is Akari, an' he ain't done nothing to betray that. I'm trying to help him get through this because no one helped me, an' I don't want a friend to hafta go through that alone!" She stood, picking up P-chan and depositing him on her shoulder. "Think what you like, but I've got math class." She grabbed Ryouga's bag, slung it over her shoulder, grabbed her own bag, and stalked out of the class.
"Bwee?" P-chan grunted inquisitively in her ear.
Ranma sighed and slowed down as she walked down the hallway. "... Yeah, maybe that was kinda harsh." She felt a sudden pang of regret for going off on her friends. "I guess I'm just… what's the word? 'Projecting', is it? I've gone through this exact same crap so often that I'm still kinda sore about it."
P-chan grunted. She got a sense of gratitude from him through all of the embarrassment over the whole situation.
She smiled. "Yeah, you're welcome buddy."
Her smile faded as she reached the classroom. Math was not exactly a favored subject of hers, though for different reasons than English. She stepped inside the classroom and found her seat, setting P-chan down on her desk.
English was stupid. Even Shampoo, who had proven surprisingly adept scholastically, agreed on that. But math? Math was one of those things where Ranma felt almost like she did understand it, only to find out halfway through that she was totally off track. It seemed to hover in that frustrating, tantalizing region of something that should make sense, but didn't. Worse, spending so many years out of school left her ignorant of so many of the tricks and shortcuts the other students seemed to know - and that made it a constant struggle for her to keep up.
Today, the lesson was on quadratics.
No one had been able to adequately explain what quadratics were actually for - just that Ranma needed to learn them so she could move on to ever more complicated stuff for which they had even less explanation for the good it was supposed to do her.
She opened her book and sighed. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just straight out gibberish, she thought glumly. But… there was a kind of sense to it… like a puzzle she could almost work out. She looked over the questions they had been assigned the previous day and her half-completed attempts at solutions, and sighed. She hoped she wouldn't be called on to answer in class. The teacher was starting to write the questions on the board, so she tried one last time to wrestle with her current nemesis, question six.
P-chan looked at her sheet, then up at her inquisitively.
"Quadratics," Ranma murmured to him. "Fighting Herb was easier…"
P-chan grunted, then cocked his head at the question. He stood up and nudged Ranma's pencil, taking it in his mouth and gently guiding it to part of her scribbles.
"What are you…" she paused, realizing what he was pointing out. She had written down a number wrong! Her eyes widened, and she hastily corrected the number, then redid the steps afterwards.
"Ms. Saotome?" the teacher said. He regarded her haughtily, having taken to emphasizing the 'Ms.' part ever since she had started showing up to his class as a girl. "The answer to question six? Assuming you did the homework this time?"
"Uhh… yes!" Ranma beamed. "X equals -4 or 1… right?"
The teacher paused, his eyebrows raising. "I… yes… yes that's absolutely correct, thank you, Ms. Saotome." He turned and wrote it on the board. "Let's hope the rest of you have been as diligent..."
The class continued, but Ranma was buoyed by the warm feeling of accomplishment, having managed to solve the problem herself this time. With a little help… When no one was looking, she quietly gave the piglet a fistbump in thanks (Well, hoofbump in his case.)
Most of the rest of the class was the usual slog, but P-chan continued to point out things she was missing and Ranma found things making much more sense without the errors that made her work devolve into nonsense. She recognized there was almost a kata of sorts to it all, though she had no idea how people memorized some of the more dizzying techniques.
Mebbe I'll actually get this stuff someday, she thought, looking over her notes as the class ended. They were still a mess that didn't make a lot of sense now that class was over, but there were fewer doodles in the margins at least. Glad to finally be free for lunch, she packed up her stuff and perched P-chan on her shoulder as she got up to leave.
"Ms. Saotome," the teacher said, stopping her dead.
Uh oh. She turned and smiled weakly. "Uh… yes sensei?"
"It was good to see you apply yourself in class," he said, folding his hands on his desk and smiling. "If this is the result of your… change, then perhaps I misjudged things and this is for the better. Well done."
"Aheh… thank you…" She rubbed the back of her head. Damnit… someone ELSE who thinks I'm better off as a girl now?
"Now… about the pig?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"Aheh… yeah… Ummm… he's… he's mine, but he gets lost sometimes, so by the time I found him I didn't have time to take him back home. Sorry. I promise it won't happen again!" Ranma laughed nervously. P-chan growled softly at her, objecting again to her 'cover story'.
The teacher sighed. "Try not to make a habit of it, please. Though heavens know around here that sort of thing is fairly tame compared to what typically goes on. As long as this doesn't result in some escapade that shuts down the school for days again, I'll overlook it."
She bowed. "Thank you, sensei!"
He waved her off, already engrossed in grading papers. Ranma gratefully took her escape, slipping out of the classroom with a sigh.
P-chan grunted once they were out of the classroom and relatively alone in the hall.
"Look, I know you don't like the cover story much, but if you wanna keep your curse quiet there's gotta be one!" She poked him gently. "Honestly, things would be a lot simpler if you'd just grow a pair and not be so afraid of people finding out!"
P-chan squealed in protest.
"No, it ain't that bad! You ain't even the only one with a 'small an' cute animal' curse!" Ranma argued. "Shampoo doesn't have the same problems you've got!"
There was a quarrelsome grunt.
"... okay, fair point, no one is gonna try and cook her," Ranma acknowledged. "But she's liable to get picked up and made somebody's pet. And nobody gives baths to a c-c-c-c…" She sighed in frustration as she felt the tremor of fear just from the word. "Nobody bathes felines. So no easy out for hot water."
P-chan grunted noncommittally.
"Look, I'm just saying you should consider it. I'll help explain it…"
P-chan gave a sharp negative huff.
"... okay, fine, point. After my performance this morning mebbe it's best if I play dumb about 'Mr. P' to avoid any awkward questions. We'll get Akari to explain it then?"
Reluctantly the pig snuffled assent.
"Cool. That's one less thing that can go horribly off the rails, at least." She reached the doors to the courtyard, then smirked at the piglet. "So… should I have a total meltdown when I find out my 'pet pig' who has been sleeping in my bed the whole time has been Ryo all along?"
P-chan squealed in alarm.
"Aww c'mon, it's your chance to work through all that anxiety you had about Akane finding out…" Ranma started to say, but suddenly she realized P-chan's alarm had nothing to do with her suggestion as a black whip snapped around the piglet and jerked him from her shoulder and out the partially open door.
"Ryo!" Ranma kicked the door the rest of the way open and charged outside, skidding to a stop after a few feet as her eyes adjusted and she could see who had snatched P-chan.
A girl about her age stood there, dressed in bright slacks and a tailored jacket that was so gaudy and glittery that it reminded Ranma of nothing so much as a Ringmaster's outfit for some renegade Circus. She was a bit taller than Ranma, and her tight outfit, while not technically revealing, hugged impressive curves. Her hair was cotton-candy pink, a mass of soft curls that fell about her shoulders and was topped with a magician's stove-pipe hat. Her eyes were a piecing green so intense they almost glowed. She held a wicked looking whip in one hand and in the other… she was holding the piglet by his bandanna.
"Well, hello, Darling," she said with a smirk, addressing the piglet. "It has been so very long, hasn't it?"
"Hey, that's mine, give him back!" Ranma protested, taking another step forward before hesitating. Crap! The Sports Team No Fighting rules! I can't touch her unless she attacks me first!"
The Ringmaster girl raised an eyebrow. "Ah, yes… you." She strode towards Ranma, the sway of her walk brimming with confidence. Ranma could sense real menace from her and knew she was likely going to be a formidable opponent.
She regarded Ranma cooly. "I thought you'd be taller, honestly. And I was expecting more chinese style attire." She tipped Ranma's chin up with the edge of her coiled whip. "I can certainly see why he'd develop an obsession over you…" Her eyes narrowed. "Though you're hardly a beauty worth all the strife Darling has caused."
Ranma jerked her head away. "You're no prize yourself, lady," she growled, feeling her pride prickled. To be fair, the comeback was weak - the Ringmaster girl was gorgeous and, from her demeanor, she was well aware of it.
"Ooooh, the redheaded beast from China speaks!" the Ringmaster girl seemed amused. "Let's not catfight, sweetling. Let me be plain; I know you are well versed in all manner of Joketsuzoku tricks - ways of bending the minds of men. I know you don't really want my Darling, yet for some reason you've used your tricks and traps to enslave his mind." Her face twisted into a disturbing mask of rage. "Know that he loves me, witch! And you will release him from whatever mystical leash you've fettered him with. The only question is if I get to take my pound of flesh from you first."
Ryouga, what did you DO!? Ranma shot an annoyed glare at the piglet, then turned her defiant glare on the taller girl. "Lady, I don't have a clue what you're talking-"
She never got to finish. She knew the Ringmaster girl moved, but it was almost too fast to follow. Something snapped around her ankles and pulled, yanking her off her feet and flinging her across the courtyard until she slammed into the nearest tree so hard that she actually cracked the trunk of it.
Ranma managed to drop into a three point crouch, wheezing a bit as she tried to convince her lungs to start drawing in air again and glared at her opponent.
The Ringmaster girl was twirling her whip casually, the long leather braid dancing and snapping like it was a living, agitated thing. She smirked nastily as she walked slowly towards the downed redhead. "Well well… so you still have some fight in you? Good… I was hoping that the 'best warrior of her generation' would give me a decent fight. I do have quite a bit of frustration to take out on you, after all." Her eyes widened with a mad gleam and she made an almost casual flick with her wrist.
Ranma dodged to the side as the tree trunk shattered, the whip impacting it with the force of a high-caliber bullet. She forced her legs to move and charged along a spiralling path towards the other girl. Well, that's the kid gloves off! Gotta get close and end this, before she uses her reach to…
The Ringmaster girl jerked her hand back. Ranma caught the motion out of the corner of her eye and very nearly didn't react fast enough. Her instincts screamed as she ducked, dropping flat to the asphalt as a large tree branch sailed over her head.
"Ah ah ah!" the Ringmaster girl said with a grin. "I'm afraid we can't be having you getting that close. I'm sure you know all sorts of pressure points and grappling tricks, don't you?" She snapped her whip, cracking the tarmac. "Such a shame you're not going to get close enough to use them."
"Oh please, you're hardly the first person I've fought who used weapons," Ranma said with a smirk of her own. "Not even the first with that style of weapon. 'Cept they were faster. And you're fighting one-handed. Unless you got some other tricks to show me, this is gonna be over real quick."
The Ringmaster girl smiled and nodded. "Of course. It would hardly be a decent fight if I beat you one-handed, would it?" She held up the struggling piglet, giving him a fond smile before she swept the hat off her head and popped him inside. She turned the hat to show Ranma that it was empty inside, then put it back on her head. "Isn't that better? I don't want my Darling to get hurt… before it's time."
"Hey, you give him back!" Ranma shouted, realizing she could no longer sense where Ryouga was.
"Oh my dear, that's not how this works," Ringmaster girl chided her. "You give him back first!" She drew back and made a slashing strike with her whip.
Ranma leapt upwards, feeling the breeze as the whip passed under her. There was cracking crumbling sound as it shattered and tore through asphalt and concrete like they were plaster.
The Ringmaster girl spun, using the momentum of her turn to magnify the speed and force of the whip so that it caused the air to sing with the force behind it. Ranma arched back, the coiled leather braid passing close enough to brush the tip of her nose.
Ranma finished the backflip and landed, her eyes widening as she caught a glimpse of the damage that one slashing whip strike had done to the courtyard and retaining wall. Holy…! She's slower than Kodachi, but she hits WAY harder!
"Oh do stop moving around, sweetling," the Ringmaster girl purred menacingly. "It will only make this hurt so much more when I finally catch you." She twirled the whip around her, cracking it like an angry viper.
Gotta get that thing away from her! Ranma thought. Her eyes followed it's movements for a moment, finding the pattern, then she darted forward again. Fighting Kodachi had taught her how to do this, and with the Ringmaster girl's slower weapon, the openings were larger, though maybe not so much as she might have hoped.
The Ringmaster started stepping back as she started making snapping strikes at Ranma. Ranma was wise to her technique now, though, dodging not only each strike, but also the chunks of concrete or wood that the whip brought back on the returns. She coiled to dart back further, but Ranma's raw speed was greater. The redhead feinted and let the Ringmaster girl make a last strike before she reached out to snatch the extended whip from her hand and dart back away with it.
"Let's see how good you are without this!" Ranma said, cracking the whip triumphantly.
The Ringmaster girl seemed unconcerned. "You probably should have gone for the killing strike, sweetling. A shame you aren't going to get the chance now." She pulled something from a pouch on the back of her belt - what appeared to be a wooden recorder. She began to play a haunting melody on it, seemingly unconcerned by Ranma's display.
Ranma felt the whip move in her hand. She tried to fling it away from her, but it was too late - the sturdy leather braid coiled itself around her body to bind her arms and legs and truss her up like a mummy. When she opened her mouth to shout in surprise, the handle even pushed into her mouth like a gag. Struggling mightily, she toppled over onto her side.
"I've traveled all over the world and learned skills you've likely never even heard of," the Ringmaster girl said, pausing in her playing. "This was called 'The Indian Rope Trick' and was widely considered to be a hoax. My father met a fakir who knew a somewhat more authentic version."
Ranma could feel the whip slacken slightly. It was tightly wrapped around her still, but it was no longer animated. She spit out the handle. "That's a cheap trick!"
"Funny how it's always the loser who says such things," the Ringleader girl said with a theatrical sigh. She glanced around to see that quite a crowd had gathered to watch the fight. "But I see your classmates have come to watch!" She smiled and held out her hands. "Good! I always did prefer to have an audience. Now…" She turned back to the bound redhead.
The whip lay in an empty pile on the ground.
"Wha…?" She spun just in time to get hit with a fierce right cross that snapped her head back and rocked her back on her heels. Ranma was nearly on top of her, winding up to deliver a flurry of blows that would put her down for good.
The Ringmaster girl snatched a colored kerchief from her belt, and with blinding speed began to flick and wave it in front of her, somehow managing to parry Ranma's Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken with the filmy cloth. She backpedalled frantically and finally got a bit of distance between herself and the enraged redhead. "You throw quite the punch. I wonder if you can take what you dish out?" She pulled something else from her belt and flung it at Ranma.
Slender wires wrapped themselves around Ranma's arms, legs, elbows and waist. "What the…?!"
"We have quite the puppet show at my Circus. Perhaps you should see it someday?" The Ringmaster girl held up her hands to show each wire tied to a finger. She began to wiggle her fingers and tug on the wires.
Ranma tried to run towards her, but the wires tugged and pulled with just the right force and in just the right directions to send her limbs askew. She stumbled but managed to get closer and reared back to throw a punch. But the wires tugged and redirected her fist, to send it crashing into her own cheek.
"Or perhaps you should be the puppet show?" the Ringmaster girl added with a giggle.
Ranma growled, but she had dealt with techniques like this before, too. She had even used a few herself. She snatched a handful of the wires and gave them a sharp twist and a yank, just so.
The Ringmaster girl was shocked to have her own hand close into a fist and smash into her own face.
"It works both ways, 'sweetling'!" Ranma said, grinning fiercely. "Whadaya say, wanna see who can knock themselves out first?"
"Gah…!" the Ringmaster girl flicked her fingers to cast off the wires and reached back for another trick. This time it was more straightforward - she pulled out a handful of throwing knives and flung them at Ranma.
Ranma dodged the first three, and simply caught the fourth as she got closer. She cast it aside and threw a few quick jabs at the Ringmaster girl with her right hand. They were blocked by the colored scarf again, but it left an opening that Ranma exploited, driving her left into the girl's ribs. When she stumbled, Ranma dropped for quick sweep, but the Ringmaster girl managed to flip back and away, tossing a handful of deflated balloons at Ranma.
Ranma felt strings wrap around her wrists as the balloons suddenly self-inflated, pulling her up rapidly and yanking her arms over her head. "Oh come on!"
The Ringmaster girl landed and charged forward. "You're wide open!" she cried as she aimed a side kick at Ranma's mid-section.
Ranma used the lift of the balloons to pull herself up and swung her legs to wrap around the Ringmaster girl's leg and pin it, twisting with her body to send the pink-haired circus girl tumbling. The balloons were actually lifting Ranma upwards now and she kept her legs firmly locked around the other girl's, pulling her up with her.
"Let go!" the Ringmaster girl snarled, rolling over to hurl another handful of knives at Ranma.
Ranma arched her back, leaning out of the path of the blades so they struck the large cluster of balloons tied to her wrists instead and popped the majority of them. The two girls fell back to the ground with a crash, breaking the leg lock.
Ranma scrambled back to her feet and ripped off the remaining strings, panting. "Out of tricks yet?" she asked, dropping into a ready stance. "Even Mousse runs out eventually!"
"How dare you speak that name to me!" the Ringmaster girl snarled. She flung a handful of what looked like pink sand at Ranma, but it quickly puffed out into fluffy, sticky mass of cotton candy that enveloped Ranma's arms and legs. The Ringmaster girl darted forward, aiming a series of side kicks at Ranma's torso.
The redhead wove and swayed, unable to step back with her legs stuck in the surprisingly sticky and strong cotton candy. Her arms were stuck uselessly out to the sides, trapped in giant clouds of soft pink. She dodged one kick when the ringmaster girl overextended, and then leaned in, taking advantage of the fact her feet were stuck to the ground to support her own overextension, and headbutted her savagely.
The pink haired girl stumbled back which gave Ranma a chance to grab the cotton candy stuck to her right arm with her teeth. With a grunt of effort she ripped her arm free and tore one leg free as well. She hit the girl with a fierce straight punch to the face that sent her reeling back even further. She then took her time ripping the rest of the cotton candy away.
"There, you get it yet? You done!?" Ranma snarled. "Now you gonna tell me what this is all about, or do I gotta get serious!?"
The ringmaster girl held a hand over her mouth. When she pulled it away, she was nursing a split lip. "How dare you…" she growled. She reached back and pulled out a whistle from her belt, blowing a single shrill blast on it.
"More tricks!?" Ranma was shouting now. "Why doncha fight me fair and square?!"
"That would be revealing my secrets, sweetling," the Ringmaster girl said with a smirk. "But this is no magic trick. This is more of a specialty of mine. The circus has many disciplines, after all."
With that, there was a loud roar - a sound which caused Ranma to freeze as her blood suddenly ran cold with fear.
A massive shape leapt up onto the courtyard wall from the far side and perched there for a moment, tail lashing. It had the body of a lion though the mane was somewhat understated and its fur was primarily white with faint striping. But by far the most striking aspect of the creature was its sheer size. It was massive - nearly the size of a horse.
It roared again, yellow eyes tracking to fix on Ranma.
Ranma found she couldn't move as something straight out of her nightmares hopped down from the wall. Its lips peeled back in a snarl to reveal gleaming white teeth as razor sharp as the huge claws that clicked on the pavement.
"My father had two prized cats. A White lion and a snow tigress. They had but one cub. Did you know it's a quirk of nature that the offspring of Lions and Tigers are always far larger than either?" The Ringmaster girl smiled. "This is Samson. I raised him from a cub. He's really just a big housecat."
Samson roared. It was the most horrifying sound Ranma had ever heard. Her breathing started to quicken, her legs trembling as she felt the urge to run warring with the paralyzing fear.
"... Well, he is for me," The Ringmaster girl shrugged. "He's… less friendly with strangers. Especially if they're people I don't like." She walked over to the big cat and hugged him. The creature nuzzled her, then growled at Ranma once more.
"Samson… be a dear and go play with our new friend," the Ringmaster girl said, stepping back and patting the liger on the flank. "Attack."
Ranma was shaking. Normally by now she'd have already slipped into the Neko-Ken, but this was too much even for her feline altered state. The unreality of the monster before her, coiling to pounce, kept her frozen, like she was back in that pit. Helpless. Even the Cat in her, normally fearless, was too scared to move.
Muscles rippled and bunched under the skin of the behemoth as it lowered its great bulk, like the slow motion of a smaller cat preparing to pounce. It's claws extended, cracking and piercing the pavement as though it were cardboard. Its pupils dilated and muscles suddenly uncoiled as they began to propel its near-ton of mass upward in a graceful arc that had its terminus in the space occupied by the the comparatively tiny red-haired girl before it.
"Katsunishiki! KACHI-AGE!"
There was a rumbling as an even larger black and white form slammed into the liger mid-leap. Samson was thrown violently across the courtyard, rolling onto the grass of the soccer pitch.
The massive cat snarled and got quickly to his feet, only to find his movements blocked by tremendous bulk of the champion sumo pig.
Ranma blinked and stumbled backwards as the paralyzing fear abated somewhat. It was not gone, to be sure, but at least she could move again. She gaped as Katsunishiki stared down the huge cat. She looked the other way to see Akari and Nabiki.
"Katsunishiki! Hazuoshi!" Akari called out.
Katsunishiki charged forward as the liger pounced once more. The sumo pig reared up onto his hind legs, extended his forelegs and caught Samson over his ribcage, lifting the big cat up and driving him further back. The liger clawed at Katsunishiki's back, but with the sumo pig's hooves planted solidly under his armpits he was unable to get any purchase on the boar's thick hide.
"Now that's cheating!" the Ringmaster girl cried sourly. She glared at Ranma. She had recovered her whip and she slapped the handle into her palm in irritation. "Can't fight your own battles, Amazon?"
"This - after you call in a giant c-c-c… whatever the hell that is?!" Ranma shouted back. She clenched her fists, tears of frustration, rage and humiliation forming in the corners of her eyes. "You show up outta nowhere, steal Ryouga, attack me, then you sic your stupid fleabag monster on me when you're not winning, and you have the gall to say that I'm the one cheating!? I've had it!" Crackles of ki started to run along her arms.
"You'll wish you had let Samson get you…" the Ringleader girl shot back menacingly. "You need to pay for stealing Darling away from me." She drew her whip back, the length coiling around her. "Here's one from your homeland! LINGCHI!"
The whip snapped out and scored a cut across Ranma's cheek, then again, slicing the sleeve of her uniform and drawing blood. Once again it lashed across her leg, the tip cutting her like a razor as it blurred, moving too fast for the eye to see.
Ranma didn't even flinch. The yellowish aura around her was growing and the pavement was starting to crack under her feet.
"Give Ryouga back," she said. Her voice was barely audible over the sound of the snapping whip.
"What was that, Sweetling?" the Ringmaster girl called out. She recoiled her whip with a snap of her wrist, pausing to lick a droplet of Ranma's blood from the tip. "Are you done already?"
"Give Ryouga back," Ranma snarled more loudly and the sounds made by the cracking of the pavement grew from soft pops to reports like gunshots. A rising spiral of air sent debris skittering across the courtyard as the energy surged. All of the fear and the helplessness that normally fueled the Neko-ken was instead being channeled into Ranma's aura in a massive buildup of ki, mixing with her anger and her rage until the forces started to feed on one another, building into a devastating crescendo.
The Ringleader girl blinked. "... Who?"
"GIVE RYOUGA BACK!" Ranma roared. She raised her hands over her head, and all of that accumulated energy flooded into a ball between her palms, forcing them apart. She drew back, her eyes flashing as she fixed the ringleader girl with a murderous glare, then as the ball grew so bright that onlookers had to turn away, she hurled the entire mass of roiling pain and emotions with a savage cry. "SHI SHI HOKODAN!"
Unfamiliar with ki attacks, the Ringleader girl didn't think to dodge until it was too late. A concentrated ball of heavy ki slammed into her and flung her back like a straw doll to pin her against the concrete courtyard wall, then drove her body on through as the wall itself all but exploded under the force of it.
Silence descended on the scene as everyone froze - even the massive sumo pig and the giant liger.
Ranma stumbled forward, her footsteps shaky at first as the residual ki crackled around her. But with each step her motions became more sure, her pace increasing gradually as she stalked towards the rubble left in the wake of the blast.
The Ringmaster girl lay atop one of the large piles of rubble like a broken toy and coughed weakly as she struggled to get up. She opened her eyes to see Ranma looming over her.
The Ringleader girl smiled weakly, and coughed again, a little spray of blood flecking her lips. "H-heh… not a bad trick, sweetling…"
Ranma reached down, grabbed her by the throat and lifted her with one arm to hold her up in the air by her neck. Her blue eyes held a tinge of ice within them, as the temperature around her began to drop sharply.
"Give. Ryouga. Back," Ranma growled.
"Gckt… Y-you c-can't have my Darling…" the Ringmaster girl struggled weakly, clawing ineffectually at Ranma's hand.
"Ranma!" Nabiki ran towards the redhead but stopped suddenly as she reached the zone of cold that surrounded Ranma. Frost was already forming on the ground and was starting to creep up over the Ringmaster girl's neck. "Ranma, you're going to kill her!"
"She's got Ryouga somewhere! I can't tell where he is!" Ranma replied, not looking at her.
"Wh-who…?" The Ringmaster girl croaked.
"Where is he!?" Ranma snarled and shook her like a rag doll.
"Senpai, let her down!"
Ranma blinked and turned her head to see Rin standing off to the side. Ranma's eyes widened and she faltered, almost dropping Ringmaster girl. I don't want Rin to see me do this! Her breathing grew more ragged and she turned back to the girl she was throttling, her voice tight. "Just tell me what you did with him!"
The Ringmaster girl just smirked weakly at her, prompting another surge of rage. Ranma's grip started to tighten again.
"Young Mi, she isn't Shampoo," Rin said softly. "Mu Tsu isn't here. You've got the wrong people. Please… give Ryouga back to Senpai."
Young Mi's eyes widened. They flicked from Rin to Ranma, and she nodded slightly.
Ranma dropped her immediately. She glanced at her hand and brushed the frost off of it, shivering as the effects of the Soul of Ice slowly started to fade, leaving her feeling chilled and drained.
Young Mi took off her top hat, reached inside and pulled out the piglet. Weakly she lifted him to return him to Ranma. "I should… have known… the Amazon would never... would never have fought so hard for Darling…"
Ranma snatched P-chan away from her, but he wasn't moving or responding. She felt a horrified lurch in her chest. "What did you do to him?!"
"Just… a little chloroform in the hat… Didn't want Darling tearing free… He knows the trick to it…" Young Mi replied hoarsely, rubbing her throat. Her skin looked frostbitten where Ranma had been holding her. "Probably a little much for such a small animal though…"
"Nabiki…" Ranma gave Nabiki a pleading look. She could sense Ryouga now, but the feeling was faint… distant.
Nabiki nodded, her expression hardening as she went into crisis management mode. "Okay, let's get him some hot water… doesn't he carry a thermos in his bag?" She ran over and retrieved the discarded schoolbag, reached in and fished out an old, dented thermos then trotted back to Ranma. "I guess his secret is gonna be out with the whole school now. So much for that…" She reached into her own bag. "I've got his clothes here… just… set him down in his pants so he's at least got some decency."
Ranma did so, practically snatching the thermos out of Nabiki's hands and pouring it over the piglet. She nearly ended up with Ryouga's legs both going in the same leghole, but managed to adjust fast enough thanks to her own experience with the curse.
Ryouga coughed and groaned, his hand going to his head. "Owww… okay, what happened this time?"
"Oh, thank God…" Nabiki breathed in relief.
Ranma didn't say anything. She just glomped him - hard.
"Ack…" Ryouga wheezed. "Hard enough to breathe right now, Ranma…"
"Shut up…" she muttered. "J-just shut up! You did it to me again you jerk!" She released him when she noticed the crowd murmuring, and smacked him across the head.
"H-hey!" He yelped, ducking. "I didn't have a lot of choice! You were the one who dragged me to school as a piglet!"
"Hey, Hibiki has a Jusenkyo curse too!"
"Does he turn into a cute girl too?"
"Nah man. I think it's a little black piglet."
"... Is it a girl piglet?"
"The hell is wrong with you?!"
"I'm just askin'!"
"He looks just like the one Akane was keeping as a pet. You don't suppose…?"
"Yeah, well, you heard Ranma. Looks like he belongs to someone ELSE now!"
"Geez, and here I thought the whole 'fiance' thing was a cover! I guess she really HAS gone full girl!"
"That's not fair! We just find out she's actually attainable, and Hibiki's already snatched her up?"
"The dude blows up tanks with his finger. YOU wanna complain to him about it?"
Nabiki sighed and shot Ranma an apologetic look. "We… should probably get him to the Nurse's office." She stood up and dusted herself off. "What about our friend the circus freak?"
They all turned to look, but Young Mi had vanished. The Liger, too, had disappeared, leaving Katsunishiki alone on the soccer pitch.
"So much for getting answers…" Nabiki said glumly.
"I… know a little," Rin said quietly.
Nabiki nodded. "We'll talk once we get these two to the nurse."
000
Himura smiled as she tapped the windowpane thoughtfully with one fingernail. "Now that is something interesting! Hana, dear? Do you know anything about this one?"
"The uh… the 'Circus Girl'?" Hana asked nervously, pulling out a worn, dog-eared black book and flipping frantically through the pages. "I… I don't think she's ever shown up here before. There's no mention of her in Nabiki's notes."
"Even better," Himura murmured softly. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, tapping the speed dial. "Ms. Sasaki, I need you to put a tail on someone. Martial Artist type, garish circus uniform, pink hair, gigantic white liger. I suspect you won't have any difficulty picking up her trail… No, don't intervene or contact please, but open a dossier on her. I have some research to do on this end, and I'll almost certainly have some digging for you to do as well. Just keep tabs on her for now, and advise me immediately if she appears to either be set to leave the area or is about to confront one of the locals… Yes, that would be perfect, thank you." She thumbed the phone off and tucked it away, then turned and leaned against the windowsill with a sigh. "Well! That was certainly some excitement, wasn't it?"
"What are you plotting to do with that freak?" Sanae asked, sniffing haughtily. "We already have those boorish Chinese Amazons skulking about…"
"I don't know yet. That very much depends on what it is that she wants. Isn't that exciting though? You should get more into the spirit of the adventure, Sanae!" Himura said brightly. She turned to Hana. "I am afraid I am going to have to ask for a little more work from you though, Hana, dear? Be sure and find out whatever our fellow students might know about her, if you could? Particularly the ones on their way to the nurse's office right now. Thank you dear."
"Well, the pickups I placed around should…" Hana began, but trailed off as Himura pointedly ignored her.
"Now about more adventurous things, I believe we were discussing possible candidates?" Himura looked at Umeko.
Umeko raised an eyebrow, then turned her gaze to Hana and cleared her throat.
Himura blinked and looked at Hana as if only just noticing she was still there. "Yes, Hana, dear? Was there something else that you needed?"
"Uh, n-no, but…" Hana stammered.
"Well then!" Himura made a shooing motion. "Off with you! Don't let us keep you!"
"Y-yes…" Hana murmured and turned, making her way awkwardly out of the room while the rest of the group stared after her.
"Why do you keep that one around?" Sanae asked, examining her nails. "There's very little she can do for you now that others can't, and she's failed to deliver on her promises so many times…"
"My grandfather has often cautioned me against discarding assets too soon. Even… depreciated ones," Himura replied. "The faint hope of getting back into our good graces will be good motivation for her. Regardless I'm sure I'll find appropriate ways to use her talents - such as they are. Still, let's not get off track, shall we? Umeko?"
Umeko shook her head. "I don't think he's a good candidate. He uses a lot of makeup, yeah, but it seems that's not uncommon for a figure skater. It's just that he uses so much then obsessively cleans it off and starts over."
"So the womanizing wasn't vigorous denial like you thought it was?" Omi asked.
"Oh, I'm still pretty sure he's about as straight as a bent corkscrew, but he's way too into himself as he is for him to really welcome the potion or it's effects," Umeko snorted.
"Didja hafta let him steal a kiss to figure that out?" Omi prodded, grinning.
"I... don't wanna talk about it," Umeko scowled and folded her arms.
"I heard he's pretty much a dead fish in that regard," Sanae said off-handedly.
"Fish-lips! Fish-lips!" Omi giggled, bouncing a bit.
Umeko sighed in frustration and rolled her eyes.
"Omi? What about yours? Any luck?" Himura asked.
Omi paused her 'Fish-lips' dance. "No," she said. "I mailed and mailed and mailed, but I couldn't find the right mailbox! I even talked to them and everything!"
"You do that anyway, Omi," Mineko quipped.
"I do!" Omi said with a grin. "They look like they have faces! And then you stick your mail in them and it's like they have tongues, and are going 'blehhhhhhhh!'" Omi stuck out her tongue demonstratively.
"And you're sure none of them were the right one?" Umeko asked.
Omi considered. "Welllll… I set a few of 'em on fire, and poured some nasty stuff in some of the other ones… Ooooh! Ooooh! And I stuffed one fulla lit cherry bombs!"
"How have you not gone to prison for that stuff? It's a serious crime!" Mineko said sourly.
"I got good at it not getting caught in my old neighborhood," Omi said with an impish smile. "Used to prank the mailman all the time. We went through a lot of mailmen. Plus Daddy's on the Diet. The best one was when I managed to stuff a cat into one! It made noise for hours!"
"Psychopath…" Mineko muttered.
"Mineko, did you have any luck?" Himura asked.
Mineko chewed her lower lip. "I… don't know. I mean… I'm pretty sure he'd jump at it, but…"
"'But'?" Himura asked.
"I'm not sure I feel right about it," Mineko said. "He's not part of any of this. He's just a poor lovesick jerk who got left behind by the romance train. He doesn't really have a stake in this, because he knows he's lost no matter what happens to Ranma. Shouldn't we test this out on… I dunno… some jerk first?"
Himura sighed and walked over to the athletic girl. "Mineko… I understand your hesitation. I do!" She smiled and held up her hands at Mineko's skeptical look. "The point is… we only have a handful of doses and the important aspect isn't just the physical change. We need to ascertain how well this works on someone who…" she took a moment to find the right words. "…would welcome a chance to rewrite who and what they are."
"I know… I'm just…" Mineko sighed. "You know… how do we know this won't turn someone inside out or something?"
"It kinda does…" Umeko muttered.
"It does?! Oooooh I wanna watch!" Omi bounced.
"She means in a metaphorical sense, dear," Sanae said.
"Awwwww…"
"We're not that uncertain of it, Mineko," Himura replied. "I wouldn't be taking things to this stage if I wasn't certain of that, I promise you. Now… I know you have your doubts but… I think he might be our best option. Do you think you can convince him to come on his own?"
Mineko sighed. "I… probably not, given where his loyalties lie."
Himura nodded. "Then… we will arrange something."
000
Nabiki didn't like how things had played out at all.
The brief snatches she had gotten through the Link from Ranma as they helped Ryouga inside to the nurse were not reassuring - her emotions were a churning mess, shot through with what could only be intense fear. Some of it had to be from the near Neko-ken freak out, but a lot of it was going further, tying into deep insecurities that ran like fault lines through the whole of Ranma's mental landscape.
It's the whole fear of losing someone she cares about again, Nabiki thought, chewing on her thumb. She never got over Jusendo and Akane's close call. Hell she SHOULD be in therapy! For this and a dozen other things!
The nurse had shooed them outside, wanting to treat both Ranma's lacerations and Ryouga's breathing troubles. Thankfully she didn't seem overly shocked or concerned. To be fair, the injuries were all fairly minor compared to what Ryouga had walked in with the last time there had been a fight in the courtyard.
That had at least been related to Ranma and Ryouga in some way. This was completely out of left field. Her gaze moved to Rin. The petite girl was sitting in a chair just outside the nurse's office, her feet not quite reaching the floor, her head bowed. There's no WAY Rin would have kept a secret if there was any indication it would harm Ranma… right? She took a breath. Time to find out, I guess.
She walked over to the girl and took the seat next to her. "The nurse says they'll both be fine. Ryouga's just a little short of breath. So… you knew that girl who attacked them?"
Rin sighed. "I… knew of her. I knew who she was by what she was wearing and how she fought, but I've never met her before. Her name is Young Mi, and she's the daughter of the Ringmaster of the Circus that Mu Tsu used to travel with."
Nabiki's eyes widened. "Oh my… So… she was here for Mousse?"
Rin nodded. "She must have learned he had a Jusenkyo curse, but not which one. Mu Tsu said he told her where he was going, so… Maybe she followed the path he took when he didn't come back to her…"
Nabiki frowned. "Tell me the whole story, Rin. From the beginning."
Rin hunched down a bit more. "I… I really shouldn't… It's a lot of Mu Tsu's personal life… stuff he is ashamed of."
Nabiki put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I know… but after what just happened… This girl is dangerous, and she gave Ranma a good fight. She might be more than Mousse can handle if she's going after him."
Rin took a deep breath. "It's not Mu Tsu who's in danger… I don't think anyway. But Ms. Shampoo is." She pulled out a small, smooth purple stone and started rubbing it with her thumb as she talked. "After Mu Tsu left the amazon village he ended up joining a Circus run by a man named Byungchul. Young Mi is his daughter. She and Mu Tsu… were engaged. But when Mu Tsu heard Ms. Shampoo had been disgraced back home and by an Outsider…"
"... He demonstrated his poor decision-making skills," Nabiki finished for her with a sigh. "And started mooning over Shampoo all over again."
"I… don't think he ever really stopped," Rin said timidly. "But… maybe for a while he thought he could."
"And then she finally caught up to him, and of course she's just as rational as any other martial arts type around here," Nabiki muttered. "So why attack Ranma of all people?"
"I… think she thought Mr. Ryouga was Mu Tsu. A-and Senpai was Ms. Shampoo," Rin said. "Ms. Manager? I…" She clenched her fists and blurted out. "I think this is my fault!"
Nabiki blinked. "Your fault? How?"
"I-I went to the carnival looking for a way to contact Mu Tsu's circus family. I didn't know about any of this yet and… and I ran into a man who used to work with Mu Tsu's circus. He didn't seem to like Mu Tsu very much and… and I think he may have told Young Mi where to find him!" She looked up at Nabiki with teary eyes. "I-if I had just kept out of his business then… then…!"
Nabiki sighed. "She would have shown up eventually, Rin. This was all just a lot of bad luck all at once." She patted the girl on the shoulder reassuringly. "You were trying to help. And you did. This isn't on you."
"Y-you're going to warn Ms. Shampoo… right?" Rin asked quietly. "D-do you think you c-can keep them from fighting?"
Nabiki rubbed her temples. "She's still out with Ukyou and my sister, probably chasing their tails or that Anna girl. Which is another bit of backstory I need to get from Akari." She glanced at Rin. "Rin… you like Mousse, don't you? Like like I mean."
Rin blushed bright red and stared at the floor, squirming. "U-uhm… w-well… I-I…"
"That would be 'yes' then." Nabiki leaned towards her. "Rin… I need you to stick close to Ranma or one of the other Martial Artists until we sort this out, okay? If this Young Mi gets wind that you're a rival for her 'Darling'..."
Rin shook her head. "Mu Tsu doesn't see me that way."
Nabiki rolled her eyes. "Firstly, I don't think that matters to our friend from the Circus. Secondly," she shrugged, "well, Mousse has never opened up to anyone before you. I wouldn't write yourself off."
Rin blinked at her. "I… r-really? B-but…"
"Rin, Martial Artists in Nerima all seem to have one thing in common - they have no idea what they really want. They get so caught up pursuing some idea that they end up oblivious to what's right in front of them. But… they seem to catch on eventually." Nabiki gave her a warm smile.
"W-what are you saying…?" Rin mumbled, blushing and looking nervous.
"I'm saying that if you actually want that hot mess that is Mousse… Give him some time to figure out what he wants for himself." She poked her chest. "In the meantime, though… welcome to the Nerima Targets Club, population you and me. Keep your head down and your phone handy, okay?"
Rin nodded, looking uncertain but a little more hopeful. "O-okay…"
000
The nurse finished bandaging Ranma's cuts, noting that she didn't think any would need stitches but she recommended Ranma stay on light duty for the day to avoid reopening any of them.
"I'll let your homeroom teachers know so they can adjust your attendance," she said. "I'm giving you both a pass to excuse you from the rest of your classes today. Stay until you feel well enough to head home and then check in with me tomorrow." With a reassuring smile she left Ranma and Ryouga alone in the small clinic as she was called away for the daily staff meeting.
Ranma watched her go. Ryouga sat up from the cot he had been lying on, snagged his shirt and pulled it on. He felt a bit self-conscious being shirtless around Ranma, even if he knew it was hypocritical of him. Ranma noticed and turned to look at him.
"You should rest," Ranma said, though without much conviction.
"I'm fine. I've breathed in worse things," Ryouga replied, coughing lightly and then thumping his chest with his fist. "Had worse congestion than this the last time I had a cold."
"That's not the point," Ranma replied. Her eyes were hidden by her bangs as she walked up to him, right up close. Her fists were clenched and he didn't need the Link to tell she was upset.
She's probably gonna hit me… He thought glumly. "Look, Ranma…"
She stepped forward, leading with her head as it thunked against his collarbone. He nearly stumbled back against the cot in surprise, his arms going around her out of reflex. He felt her arms go around his waist.
"Just… just shut up," Ranma said, her voice slightly muffled by his shirt.
Ryouga could feel the turmoil through the Link. Nabiki had already whispered the words 'Shi shi hokodan' to him before the nurse had shooed her out, and from the pile of rubble that was all that was left of the wall he could guess at what had happened. Ranma was rattled. Badly.
He closed his eyes and just hugged her back. Her head tucked in under his chin almost perfectly. She was tense for a bit, but gradually she relaxed and he could sense her mood stabilizing. Eventually she slackened her death grip on the handfuls of the back of his shirt she had grabbed. He heard a couple of muffled sniffles from her but kept his mouth shut as he waited for her to regain her composure.
Finally she released him and he let her go as she stepped back, trying to covertly swipe at her eyes to clear the dampness from them. "Thanks… for not making that weird."
"Yeah, well… I had a rough day. I kinda needed a hug," Ryouga said. He was starting to remember the old game he and Ranma played in middle school to mollify her ego so she'd let him help her when she obviously needed it, just as she did the same with his.
A flicker of her old smile crossed her face. "W-well… just don't go expecting it all the time, y'know. It's not manly…" She turned, making another furtive rub at her eyes. ""What a day, huh? And she wasn't even one of ours."
"Yeah…" Ryouga toyed with the idea of putting a hand on her shoulder, then thought better of it. "We oughta thump Mousse for this one."
Ranma laughed weakly, but it died fast, leaving only an awkward silence. Before Ryouga could try again, she spoke up.
"Do you think it'll always be like this?" she asked softly. "Even if I deal with all of my crap… is it just gonna be someone else's instead? Until… until someday…" She tensed up again then sighed, hugging herself. "I think… I get why you run away sometimes," she said - so softly he only barely heard it.
He was gripped with a sudden, insane urge to ask her to come with him this time. He choked it down savagely because he was honestly scared that she might say yes.
"It… doesn't ever get me anywhere," he said finally. "I always end up having to come back and deal with it eventually. Whatever it is."
"Yeah…" she replied, sounding almost sad. She looked over her shoulder at him, and gave him a wan smile. "Whatcha standing over there looking like a wallflower for, anyway? Let's find Nabiki and figure out what we gotta do to clean this mess up."
000
Sayuri elected to forgo the last pre-game practise in favor of giving Ranma and Rin some time to recover. She suggested they all stay over at the Tendo Dojo that night.
Nabiki went one further, suggesting Rin should probably stay over as a houseguest until Mousse at the very least could be tracked down so they could find a way to ensure Young Mi wasn't going to pose a threat to her. Rin gave a token protest, but it was fairly obvious she was unsettled by the idea that the sadistic woman might turn her sights on her.
Shampoo, Ukyou and Akane showed up by the end of day bell. They had spent most of it chasing Anna around, trying to keep an eye on the girl and keep her out of trouble. It had taken quite some time for her to tire herself out in her search for 'Joe' and head back to the Hibiki residence.
"I felt really bad for her…" Akane said. "But… I couldn't think of what to say to her to try and explain it."
"And I thought you were good at English?" Nabiki said, smirking slightly.
Akane scowled at her. "There's a big difference between memorizing how to say 'Do you know how to get to the rail station?' in English and stringing together 'Ranma stole the piglet that the boy you like turned into because Ryouga is terrified of his Mom finding out about his curse'!"
"Maybe we should ask Ms. Hinako for a curriculum more tailored to our needs?" Ukyou joked.
"Stupid Shagua have to make American girl fall in love with him," Shampoo muttered. "Should have found nice Greek girl."
"I didn't…" Ryouga protested, then sighed in frustration. "I really should go talk to her and make sure she's okay…"
Nabiki noticed a flicker of hurt across Ranma's face as the redhead walked quietly beside him and decided to step in. "And how are you going to explain running off without your uniform, Ryo? You're usually lost for at least a day or two, right? We can give her the cover story you got turned around getting the mail or something. Lay low at the dojo a couple of days, help us keep Rin protected and then when we've dealt with Mousse's psycho ex we can sort out your romantic problems."
Ryouga shook his head. "I appreciate the offer Nabiki, but I don't think I can leave Anna that long without explaining…"
Nabiki huffed in frustration and cut him off by pinching his earlobe with her finger and thumb. "'Scuse us a sec?" she said sweetly to the others and dragged Ryouga off to the side.
"Ow ow ow ow ow!" Ryouga protested, glaring at her as she released him. "Nabiki, what the…?!"
"Shush!" Nabiki hissed at him. "Just listen, okay? Right now Ranma needs you to be where she can see you. You don't understand what happened. When Young Mi stuffed you into that hat, the Link stopped working. Neither of us could tell where you were anymore. Ranma had a meltdown. She nearly had a Neko-ken fit, threw one living hell of a Shi Shi Hokodan, and then nearly throttled the girl to death while everything around her started to freeze. I need you to be right here until all those cracks that opened up in her psyche at least scab over a little, got it?"
Ryouga blinked.
"Ranma doesn't deal well with the concept of losing someone she cares about," Nabiki continued. "As in really really doesn't deal well."
"I… uhh…" Ryouga blushed and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I don't think… I mean I'm not… I mean Ranma's not…"
"I swear to god I will beat you over the head with Kasumi's best frying pan until it's ruined and make you explain it to her!" Nabiki growled at him. "I don't have time for your stupid denials right now, okay? You know damn well how she feels about you, even if she doesn't get it yet!"
"I'd think that would make you not want me around!" Ryouga hissed at her, stealing a glance at the redhead in question who was watching them from the far side of the street with a look of confusion on her face.
"Unlike some other notable individuals in Nerima, I can keep my insecurity in check long enough to think about what the person I care about might need," Nabiki replied. "Just don't kidnap her and run off to Egypt or something. Because I'm really scared she might actually go along with that."
Ryouga swallowed, remembering his earlier impulse to do just that.
"Just… stay near her and Rin for the next bit, okay?" Nabiki implored him. "Besides, we were going to talk with Tofu about adding Ukyou to the Link today, remember?"
"You think it's a good idea to go ahead with that after all of this?" Ryouga asked, sounding uncertain. "Besides, Mom speaks English! If nobody goes home and heads Anna off at the pass, she'll blab about the curse and then that's one more thing for Mom to stress about! Maybe we should wait until the crisis is over?"
"There's always going to be a crisis. That's how this place works, Ryouga," Nabiki replied. "And having Ukyou to be focused on will hopefully help keep Ranma glued together. Besides, I'm pretty sure you're necessary to make forming a Link work." She smirked and winked at him. "You get an excuse to cuddle a cute girl who's all cold from the herbs along with Ranma. I'd think you'd jump at the chance!"
Ryouga scowled. "Yeah… The whole 'Ranma' issue aside, you do know that Ukyou's like a sister to me, right? This is going to be super awkward…"
"Awww, poor baby…" Nabiki reached up and patted his cheek. "…I have absolutely no sympathy for you! Now suck it up and be a good teddy bear for a few days, okay? I'll head to your house with Akari to head off Anna. My English is pretty good."
Ryouga raised a skeptical eyebrow. "[How good?]" he asked in English.
"[English is the language of business, Ryouga Baby. I'm pretty sure I can get the gist of it across to her. Though I make no promises that I won't 'accidentally' sell her a timeshare in the process,]" she replied, winking at him.
Ryouga rolled his eyes. "[Please don't get her involved in any scams? Just… she's a nice girl.]"
Nabiki resisted the urge to make a crack about how it was suspicious how Ryouga kept running away from the 'nice girls' in his life. She had promised to be supportive, after all.
"How are you going to get there before her, anyway? You can't roof jump yet." Ryouga said after a moment, brow knitting as he thought through the logistics.
"I'll get Shampoo to carry me, and see if Akane will come along as well. That'll keep them from getting all worked up seeing Ukyou have her turn with the Link and wanting theirs early," Nabiki said. "Plus maybe I can straighten out your Mom about Shampoo and Akane so she's not so convinced you're a Casanova."
Ryouga sighed. "I'd appreciate it. I… uhh… better let you get going if that's the plan then." He glanced back at the others, who were waiting for them and watching curiously.
"[ Ryouga,]" Nabiki said, switching to English one last time. "[Just… stay close to Ranma, okay? Sleep on the floor next to the bed she's in.]"
Ryouga's eyes widened. "[What?!]"
"[She needs to see you're okay. She has a game tomorrow and she needs to sleep, so you need to be close enough that she can wake up in the middle of the night and see that you're okay. That, or change to a piglet and sleep in her bed.]"
"[I'm not going to do that!]"
"[Then don't change to a piglet and sleep in her bed anyway! I don't care! Just be in the room in case she has a nightmare or something!]" Nabiki growled at him. "[I'm not asking you to have sex with her, just be a compassionate human being for once and be there for a friend who's terrified and too stubborn to admit it!]"
Ryouga looked ashamed for a moment. "[All right… all right, I'll… I'll figure something out.]"
Nabiki nodded. "[Good. Thank you. Sincerely.]" She patted him on the shoulder. "[Believe it or not, you've been a big help to me. I'll do my best to try and be the same for you.]"
She turned and led him back to the group, getting suspicious glares from a few of them, Ranma among them.
"What are you plotting, Nabiki?" Ranma asked, folding her arms and eyeing her warily.
"Not plotting. Fixing," Nabiki said. "For instance? In a short while, Anna is going to get home and have a chat with Ryouga's Mom about his curse. Assuming we don't want your performance this morning to go to waste, I need to get there quickly and head her off. Shampoo, could you be a dear and get me there fast?"
Shampoo raised an eyebrow then glanced at Ryouga. "Sure, but why Pintou need talk with Shagua alone?"
"Because he's a doofus and needed extra convincing to trust me," Nabiki replied smoothly. She could feel Ryouga's glare after that one, but Shampoo seemed satisfied with the answer. "Akane, would you mind escorting Akari back as well? No need to roof hop, but after today… well, the non-martial artists should be escorted for the next while."
Akane glanced at Akari and nodded. "Sure! It's been a while. Akari and I can catch up."
Nabiki nodded. "Good. The rest of you are going to Doc Tofu's for the… uh… procedure, then head to the Dojo. I'll give you a call once things are settled at the Hibiki's and we'll figure things out from there."
"Are you sure it'll even work without you there, sugar?" Ukyou asked.
"It should. Ryouga's the one who started it all," Nabiki replied.
"Actually…" Ranma said, looking thoughtful. "…I wonder… if we add Ucchan to the link without Nabiki there, will she and Nabs be linked?"
"Probably not?" Ryouga said.
"No… I think they will be!" Ranma shot Ryouga a grin. "I think I'm starting to get a handle on how all of this works, an' if I'm right… Well, first off, it's all you, Ryouga. We're just… boosting it, I guess. An' second… well, maybe it's something the Docs can use."
Ryouga frowned and folded his arms. "No way."
"Betcha one of the Monster Fudge Mountain surprises at the Ice Cream shop!" Ranma shot back, smirking confidently. "Loser treats."
"Fine! But you're wrong, trust me, I should know!" Ryouga shot back. The two of them clasped their hands to seal the bet.
That'll keep them busy, Nabiki thought. She gave Shampoo a smile, offering to put her arm over her shoulder. "Shall we, kitten?"
Shampoo wasn't having any of it. She scooped Nabiki into a bridal carry, startling her enough to earn an undignified squawk. The Amazon grinned. "Pintou need to be carried like damsel in distress? Pintou going to get carried like damsel in distress!"
Nabiki scowled and crossed her arms to sulk. "It's not my fault I'm not that far in my training yet!"
"Is what you get for training part-time," Shampoo winked then coiled. Nabiki quickly decided to abandon her sulk in favor of wrapping her arms around Shampoo's neck, figuring wounded pride wasn't worth the possibility of tumbling several stories to the concrete as they suddenly accelerated up, onto the lamppost, then to a nearby roof.
"Ooof… Think Pintou heavier than last time…" Shampoo said playfully. She adjusted her hold on landing, then made another leap.
"I swear I'm going to make you pay for that one, kitten!" Nabiki growled warningly.
"Promise?" Shampoo asked, giving her a leer as she bounded skyward once more.
000
Once they reached the clinic, Dr. Tofu took his time examining all three of them before he was satisfied that it was safe to proceed.
"All right… Now, I had to increase the dosage for Ukyou, given her much higher levels of ki." He handed the Okonomiyaki chef the pills. "The side effects will tend to be more pronounced than what Nabiki experienced. The sensation of cold and the drowsiness in particular will be bad. I've added caffeine to the mix to try and counteract the worst of the drowsiness - it's important you try and remain conscious until the link forms. Afterward, it will be all right for you to go home and sleep, but I recommend Ranma and Ryouga remain in contact with you as long as possible to ensure the Link is fully established."
"Are you telling me that your prescription is to sleep with Ranma, Doc?" Ukyou asked with a smirk as she accepted the pills.
Dr. Tofu raised an eyebrow. "Contact with Ranma and Ryouga is required, since I believe Ranma's supposition that Ryouga is the key to the process is correct. I had thought the fiancee matter was…" he glanced at Ranma, "…are you and Ranma…?"
Ukyou blushed but nodded. "Ummm… yeah. It's complicated, but… yeah."
Ranma's eyes went wide and she started making shushing gestures from behind Dr. Tofu, trying to get Ukyou's attention.
He frowned and swiveled to Ryouga. "And… you're aware of this, Ryouga?"
"Yeah? I mean… it's not like it's a secret…" Ryouga muttered, hiving completely missed Ranma's frantic signals to him as well.
Dr. Tofu turned to look at Ranma just in time to see her facepalm. "Is… something wrong, Ranma? I… wasn't aware that your relationship issues were this… complex. I admit to being… a bit shocked, and more than that, dismayed that your commitment to the Tendos has been put aside… I do hope they are aware of it?" He sighed deeply. "I'm bound to confidentiality regardless, but…"
Ranma massaged her temples. "Doc… sit down… this is gonna take some explaining…"
000
Fortunately Anna had taken her time returning to the Hibiki residence. Nabiki couldn't see her face from their angle of approach, but her hunched shoulders and slow steps told her all she needed to know.
Okay, get buy-in on protecting Ryouga's secret FIRST. Straighten out relationship snarl AFTER, she decided, motioning for Shampoo to hop down in front of the girl.
"[Eeeep!]" Anna started as Shampoo landed in front of her.
Shampoo set Nabiki down smoothly and stepped back.
"[Anna? Hi, I'm Nabiki Tendo. I'm… kind of a friend of the Hibikis.]" She extended her hand, smiling in a way she hoped was reassuring.
"[...Do you Japanese people not use those trains o' yours?!]" Anna took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. "[Scared me half out of my wits!]"
"[I'm sorry,]" Nabiki said sincerely. "[I was trying to catch you before you got back to Ryouga's house. We need to chat.]"
"[About what?]" Anna asked suspiciously. "[Is this about that crazy redhead who stole him!? Do you know where they are!?]" She darted forward and grabbed a handful of Nabiki's blouse and shook her "[TELL ME!]"
Nabiki very quickly realized Anna was much stronger than she appeared. "[E-easy!]" she begged the distraught girl. "[Ryouga is fine, and there's a good reason Ranma grabbed him! You see… I know you just found out about his curse, right? He neglected to tell you his mother doesn't know yet.]"
Anna blinked at her, then sheepishly released her blouse. "[O-oh! So… Ah'm so dense!]" She smacked the side of her head.
"[You didn't know,]" Nabiki replied. "[But the reason he was running from you was…]"
"[... He didn't want her to see,]" Anna finished. "[Oh poor Joe… That must have been so humiliating for him. So… who is the redhead, then?]"
"[That's Ranma. She's…]" Nabiki considered how best to describe the situation, not knowing what the American girl's opinions might be. Best avoid talking about Ranma's own relationship knot. "[She's his friend, and she has a Jusenkyo curse too. Mrs. Hibiki doesn't know about hers, either.]"
"[Oh? What does she turn into?]" Anna asked.
"[A boy,]" Nabiki replied. It wasn't entirely accurate, and Ranma would probably be horrified at the implication that her male form was the curse, but it was simpler, and it wasn't technically a lie either, as Nabiki had never identified the male form as the cursed form, just the form that female Ranma changed into.
"[There are curses that do that?!]" Anna replied, aghast. "[That's… that's…!]"
"[Awkward?]" Nabiki asked.
"[Sinful!]" Anna replied. "[That's some terrible, terrible black magic! You should find yourself a priest, and… and… well, I saw a movie once about an exorcism, and so you might need two…]"
Nabiki sighed. "[We've… well, we've tried that, trust me. Ranma and Ryouga have spent a lot of time trying to find cures for their respective curses.]"
Anna's eyes narrowed. "[Hmph! Ah bet you she just wants to get cured so she can have him to herself!]"
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. I'm pretty sure at this point the 'cure' would cause more problems than the affliction… "[Actually… Akari is Ryouga's girlfriend.]"
Anna blinked at her. There was a terrible, ghastly silence.
Maybe I ripped the bandaid off too quickly on that one… Nabiki thought nervously.
Then Anna started giggling.
"[Heheheheheheh… Good one!]" Anna said, clapping her on the shoulder. "[You had me goin' for a minute there! Akari is a sweet girl an' all, but… She's always got her head in that notebook o' hers an' Ah don't see how if she were Joe's girlfriend she'd stand for that red haired succubus hangin' off him like she does! Ah've spent a couple o' days with 'em both, an' Ah've not seen a single lingerin' look or romantic moment. Ah honestly thought she was his sister!]"
"[I… uh…]" Nabiki blinked, taken aback.
Anna sighed. "[Ah guess Ah shouldn't be surprised Joe is so popular with the girls. Ah mean…]" she giggled, "[Well, Ah mean jus' look at him! An' he's so heroic too! But that just means he needs to be with the right girl! A sturdy girl who can take care of him proper like!]" She put her hands on her hips and nodded. "[An' unless Ah see someone like that in his life… well then Ah think Ah made the right decision comin' out here!]"
Nabiki pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a fresh migraine coming on.
"[Ah appreciate the heads up about Joe's curse, though. Ah'll keep that on the QT,]" Anna said, patting Nabiki's shoulder as she walked past. "[Until he gets back, Ah should write a letter back home! Papa will wanna know Ah'm gonna be here a mite longer.]"
Shampoo walked up to Nabiki as Anna walked past them in the direction of the Hibiki residence. "So… how go? Did Pintou tell her Shagua is taken?"
"Shampoo, we need to have a talk about your new tendency to give out pet names," Nabiki muttered. "And… yes, I told her Akari is his girlfriend."
"And she not believe you," Shampoo stated flatly, a small smirk appearing.
"Not a word," Nabiki replied with a heavy sigh. "But… she's on board about the curse, anyway. So at least Ryouga can avoid additional mild embarrassment while he's being utterly humiliated as this all goes horribly wrong."
000
"So… let me get this straight…" Doctor Tofu was striding back and forth, rubbing at his chin. "Ranma, you are currently pursuing a relationship with Akane, Nabiki, Shampoo and Ukyou at the same time." He paused in his pacing and gave Ranma a stern look.
Ranma shrank back in her chair a bit. "I… uh… yeah…"
"Hnh." Doc Tofu made a noncommittal sound and resumed pacing. "And… I am forced to take your word for this… for all but Ms. Kuonji of course… but I am to understand that all of the girls have accepted and agreed to this arrangement?"
"We have, Dr. Tofu," Ukyou said firmly. "We didn't decide this lightly. We spent a lot of time deliberating it between ourselves. The… uhh… the fiancees I mean," she clarified.
Doctor Tofu paused and glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. Ukyou's confident and defiant look wavered a bit under the cool examination. "I see," he said finally, and returned to his walking. "And are your parents aware of this arrangement?"
"Cologne knows, and has given her blessing. Joketsuzoku law is actually what allows all this to work," Ukyou said.
"Mr. Tendo knows about it, but… uhh… Mom and Pops don't. An'... if you could not tell them?" Ranma asked sheepishly.
Doctor Tofu sighed, stopped and took off his glasses to polish them. "I… don't see any reason to, Ranma. You are still minors…" He shot them all a stern look. "...but unless there is a medical concern that requires their intervention, this is all covered by doctor-patient privilege. But…" He put his glasses back on. "I expect each and every one of you to report to me for a full physical. That was already going to be a requirement because of all this business with the Link, but with this revelation…" He sighed. "...I presume it's safe to assume you are all now sexually active?"
"D-Doc!" Ranma blushed and shrank deeper into her chair.
"Yeah…" Ukyou said, fidgeting.
Doctor Tofu raised an eyebrow. "...Both forms, Ranma?"
Ranma flushed a brighter red and just huddled down further, nodding miserably.
Doctor Tofu then gave Ryouga a questioning glance.
Ryouga's eyes widened and he frantically waved his hands in denial. "H-hey! I'm not part of this! Honest!"
"Yet you're now deeply emotionally linked to Ranma, and proposing extending that link to the others," Doctor Tofu said. "Have you considered the possible repercussions to yourself, Ryouga?"
"I can handle it," Ryouga said, swallowing nervously and shooting a glance at Ranma and Ukyou. "It's what's necessary to cure the curse and save Mom, so…"
Doctor Tofu sighed. "You are all very young and I worry about the long-term effects this will have on you emotionally. You all still have a lot of growing up to do. There is… absolutely no precedent for any of this." He shrugged. "I will trust your judgement since… well, you are currently the subject matter experts, as scant as our knowledge is."
Ranma breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Doc."
"There is also the matter of the complication introduced by your 'cover story'," Doctor Tofu gave Ranma another stern glare. "You do realize that you and Ryouga have falsified legal documents with the Hospital? That there are legal repercussions to claiming relationship status on official forms?"
"Are… we gonna get in trouble?" Ranma asked, eyes going wide as a potential new wrinkle was added.
Doc Tofu sighed. "No, but… with the full physical done by your school recently, and the work with Dr. Hirano reinforcing it… as far as your medical records are concerned Ranma… you are female. And with the addition of listing yourself and Ryouga as being engaged… In order to be able to release Ryouga into Ranma's custody, the nurse listed you both as 'Common law' to satisfy the legalities of making Ryouga's personal medical information available to you. Dr. Hirano has been relying upon that assumption during this matter of the MRI scans and discussing Ryouga's private medical concerns with you."
Ranma blinked, confused, then heard a 'smack'. She turned to see Ukyou covering her face with her palm.
"Ucchan, what does all that mean?"
"It means you jackasses are married," Ukyou replied, dragging her hand down her face.
"What?!" Ranma and Ryouga both squeaked in unison.
"It's… not as legally binding as, say, a Civil Marriage," Doctor Tofu answered. "But it is a matter of record. You could always request it be scrubbed as a mistake… but then that opens legal issues with how much private information Dr. Hirano has shared with you both, and opens him up to legal repercussions due to violations of client-doctor privilege." Doctor Tofu scowled at them both. "I don't appreciate your misleading a colleague in this manner, even if your intentions were noble. This could still cause problems for us all down the road should the discrepancies in Ranma's records ever be investigated. At the very least, you will need to file the appropriate paperwork to dissolve the Common Law marriage on record before either of you can enter into a Civil Union with anyone. Both of you."
"We have to get divorced?!" Ryouga yelped. He rocked back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "Akari's grandfather is going to kill me…"
"You?!" Ranma said. "What about me?! You don't have a seppuku contract hanging over your head! If Mom finds out…!"
"It's not actually in your Family Register. Technically it would be an annulment if both parties agree," Doctor Tofu reassured them. "Just… I ask that you hold off until Dr. Hirano and I can finish our study…"
"Mrs. Saotome is supposed to decide on the omiai this weekend," Ukyou said. "She… uh… she seemed pretty intent on pushing the wedding forward as soon as possible."
Ranma groaned and slumped in her chair. "I'm doomed…"
"...Though if she accepts Nabiki's proposal, that might be delayed a bit until details are worked out," Ukyou added. "And… If not… well, at least you know you have a legal barrier to her forcing you to marry Kodachi."
"Wait… 'proposal'?" Ranma sat up. "What 'proposal'?"
Ukyou sighed. "To… marry all of us, under Joketsuzoku law."
Ranma groaned again and sank back into her chair. "Then she does know! Then… why is she busting my chops about being manly still!? She useta say 'being manly' was peeping on girls an' stuff an' she liked that I had all these girls chasing me!" She balled up her fists in frustration.
Ryouga noticed her reaction, reflexively reaching a hand towards her before apparently thinking better of it and withdrawing it.
"Because she wants grandkids as soon as possible," Ukyou replied. "I think her tune changed when She, Genma and Akane's Dad tried to push you two into marriage and it fell apart." She glanced at Ranma's posture, then turned her gaze to Doctor Tofu. "Doc… I think we should probably start now, if we're going to do this? If we're going to get my fiance all worked up over this, I'd like to be able to know what she's feeling."
Doctor Tofu raised an eyebrow, then nodded and handed her a glass of water. "You can use the couch in the waiting area. I've already closed the clinic for the day for this. You'll need to remain in close physical contact until the Link is established, and Ukyou is liable to be drowsy. It's important you stay awake until the Link is in place. Call me over once something happens, all right?"
Ukyou nodded, popped the pills into her mouth and took a swig of water. She smiled at Ranma and Ryouga. "Care to escort me to the couch, boys?"
"Out of context, that would probably sound really wrong…" Ryouga muttered, standing up.
"Let's be honest Ryo… In context it sounds kinda bad." Ranma stood as well, offering her hand to Ukyou to help her up, though she didn't really need it. "That's even without the usual misunderstanding that seems to be the standard around here."
"What's to misunderstand?" Ukyou asked, a playful grin on her face as the three of them walked out into the waiting room. "I'm just here to snuggle with my fiance and her husband until we're all telepathic. Seems pretty straightforward to me."
A pained expression crossed Ryouga's face.
"Could… could you not remind us of that little wrinkle, please?" Ranma asked. Truthfully, the concept of marriage was terrifying enough for Ranma without throwing in being the bride. Not that she hadn't narrowly avoided that a few times. The very idea that she had somehow already suffered that fate and just hadn't realized it was straight out of her nightmares.
"Yeah." Ryouga sat down on the couch first, then he shot Ranma a smirk. "Ranma already told me when we get fake-married she wants a big fake-wedding." He closed his eyes and held up a finger. "... But no more than three fake-kids. Right?"
Ranma blinked. "I can't believe you remembered that, you giant doofus…"
"Whaaaaaat is this?" Ukyou said suspiciously, sitting on Ryouga's left.
Ranma sat on Ukyou's left and sprawled, offering her hand to Ukyou. "It's just some nonsense we were joking about when I realized that I was totally doomed as far as convincing Ryo's Mom that there's no relationship between us. Since we were already faking the engagement and all."
"Oh, that," Ukyou took her hand, offering her right hand to Ryouga. "Yeah I've… I've had some experience with Mrs. Hibiki. She seems to think Ryouga is quite the ladykiller." She smirked at Ryouga. "I'm not so sure she's wrong anymore, either. I mean, here you are at seventeen... already married, girlfriend on the side, plus another foreign girl travelling all this way…"
Ryouga grumbled and took Ukyou's hand. "I'm not sure how, but I'm convinced this is your fault somehow, Ranma."
"What, my terrible romance problems are infectious?" Ranma shot back.
"Yeah! Maybe they are!" he replied. "For all we know, that's some kind of ki-based curse you've got, and… and…"
"It is a curse. But its name is Genma Saotome," Ukyou said, interrupting him. "I'm pretty sure everything can be traced back to him." She shivered and slumped back on the couch. "Ooof… dizzy… this stuff hits you kinda hard, huh?"
Ranma noticed her shiver and huddled in closer to Ukyou's side. "Yeah. Nabiki was pretty dopey."
"Didn't take too long after she started feeling cold, though," Ryouga replied.
"Good. 'Cuz I'm gonna need my hands back eventually," Ukyou mumbled sleepily. "My nose itches."
Ranma reached over and scratched Ukyou's nose, causing the Okonomiyaki Chef to start a bit in surprise.
"Better?" Ranma asked.
Ukyou smiled at her and waggled her eyebrows. "If I say 'no' can I convince you to kiss it better?" She shivered again.
Ranma snorted then kissed her nose. "How's that?"
Ukyou grinned. "What if I said it was my lip that was itchy instead?"
"Could… could you please not make out on the couch next to me while I'm holding your hand?" Ryouga muttered, scowling and keeping his eyes fixed on the far wall.
"I'll make out with your wife if I want to, Hibiki!" Ukyou shot back.
"She's not…!" Ryouga started, then slumped back on the couch. "...how does this keep getting worse?"
"Hey! You'd be lucky to land a hottie like me!" Ranma said, her pride prickled.
"He did land you, sugar," Ukyou reminded her, giggling a bit drunkenly. "Eloped via hospital release form. Woooo, romantic!"
"He…! I…!" Ranma sputtered, glanced at Ryouga, then slumped back to the couch in a sulk. "He did not!"
The sulk lasted for all of thirty seconds. Ranma felt Ukyou pull her hand back, but before she could protest she felt herself being tugged back into Ukyou's lap. "Ack?!"
"C'mere… I'll show you who landed you," Ukyou said, pulled the redhead in close and draped her free arm around her, then clasped her hand again which did a pretty good job of wrapping Ranma up.
"Better," Ukyou murmured in her ear. "Now be a good wife and keep me warm, 'kay?"
Ranma certainly felt a rush of heat to her face. But she could also feel how cold Ukyou's hand was, so she suppressed her initial urge to protest and curled up a bit more, leaning in against her and hugging that cold hand close. "Better?"
"Geez…" Ryouga muttered. Ranma glanced over Ukyou's shoulder and could see him blushing and looking away, still holding her hand, but having scooted over away from the two of them a bit. She sighed and felt bad. This really isn't fair to him.
"Mrrrrr…" Ukyou mumbled.
"Hey, no falling asleep," Ranma slapped her cheek lightly with her free hand. "You fall asleep and I'm gonna go sit in Ryo's lap instead."
"What?!" Ryouga squeaked, shooting her a disbelieving look.
"Nuh!" Ukyou hugged tighter. "I'm 'wake… Don't you dare."
"Then keep talking," Ranma prodded her. "Pretty sure you gotta be awake for this to work. Also, I'm not your wife!"
"Would you prefer 'Wode Airen'?" Ukyou replied, giggling softly.
"It's more accurate at least," Ranma muttered. "Akane is gonna be your wife, remember?"
"You're not sore about that, are you Ranchan?" Ukyou blinked, waking up a little more and giving Ranma a concerned look.
Ranma sighed and blew her bangs up. "I don't know, okay? I mean…" She closed her eyes and rested her head on Ukyou's shoulder. "This whole 'marriage' thing is weird for me. It's like… I understand being married, I guess. And I get the whole importance of asking someone to marry you, but… weddings?" She shuddered.
"Well, to be fair, your only experience with weddings has been with the shotgun variety," Ukyou admitted.
"I thought you wanted a big wedding?" Ryouga piped up unexpectedly.
"Huh?" Ranma peeked over Ukyou's shoulder at him. "Where did you get that…"
"We're eloping? I didn't expect that. I wanted a big wedding… But it doesn't matter. Ryouga and I will be together forever!"
Ranma's eyes widened as she remembered exactly when she had said that, "Really?! You're going by something I said when I was doped up on magic!?" She glared angrily at Ryouga.
Ryouga blinked. "I… oh! Right, I guess that's where I heard that…" He chuckled weakly then cringed. "...Sorry."
"What is it with magic love spells and weddings anyway?" Ranma continued, grousing. "I mean, I've been hopped up on love magic I dunno how many times, and it's always the same thing! 'I want a big wedding, tee hee!' Even when I'm a guy! It's humiliating! An' now everyone thinks that's what I actually want."
"I don't think you feel that way, Ranchan," Ukyou said, hugging a bit tighter. "I think… I think…"
Ranma sucked in a breath as she felt that same draining sensation as before, and it all came to her in a rush. She groaned as the world spun a bit, her perception suddenly full of colors that were not colors and shapes that were best described as temperatures.
"Ooooh, that's…!" Ukyou gasped, her eyes going wide.
"Doc!" Ryouga called as he noticed the sudden change.
It was different than before. There was some of Ryouga's ki mixing in, but the draw was much stronger on Ranma this time. Some small part of Ranma's mind pointed out that it was probably due to the fact she was cuddling with Ukyou rather than just holding hands, and Ukyou had a much deeper 'well' to fill than Nabiki. It still shouldn't have been a big problem for her.
But… ki was, effectively, emotion. And Ranma's usually boundless supply of confidence had taken a rather severe hit, leaving a lot of heavier, darker emotions much more poorly suppressed. A lot of fears and insecurities lay uncomfortably close to the surface and now it was like a sudden, roiling vortex was dragging them up and out.
Ranma whimpered. She dug her fingers into Ukyou's sleeves, her vision actually starting to go dark as her perception was filled with a rushing torrent of inky blackness. She felt Ukyou gasp and could hear Ryouga and the Doc talking. Their voices sounded distant - incomprehensible, though she could sense the urgency in them. She struggled weakly, knowing she needed to break the connection, but there was no strength left in her limbs. Her joints ached as the cold bubbled up from somewhere deep, deep inside of her and seeped into her bones.
She could hear them now. She could hear the cats.
They were always there, of course - somewhere deep down in the darkness. But the darkness was all around her now. She couldn't run, just as she hadn't been able to then.
She had learned how to hide - how to make herself one of them to keep herself safe, but for some reason that wasn't working now. She meowed weakly, but the tattered cloak she had woven of the mind of a cat for herself just fell apart when she tried. These were the cats from her nightmares - the ones who always knew where she was, with their teeth and their claws and their hungry, yellow eyes.
She squeezed her own eyes shut but that did nothing to make them go away. The tears started, though she knew that only ever made things worse. The fears that came with the cats whispered in her ears;
You're weak
I'm NOT weak! she protested, struggling a little more, but she was desperately denying the truth. She didn't have the strength to escape this time.
You're helpless
No! I'll fight! I can always fight! She shuddered, remembering how that always went. The cats had nothing to lose, after all. Pain was nothing to them. Fatigue was nothing to them. They were never afraid for long - their hunger was everything. They would keep coming and keep coming and though Ranma could buck them off or toss them away, they kept coming back. She would get tired and slow, and the bites and scratches would burn and itch, and she would get sleepy, and perhaps the next time she blinked for too long it would cost her an eye...
No matter how strong you are. No matter how fast. It won't be enough.
Tremors shook her. Faces swam through the darkness now. Akane… Nabiki… Ryouga… Shampoo… Ukyou… Rin… all of the people who depended on her, but whom she had failed. Would fail. The meowing had turned into laughter.
"You are alone. You will always be alone."
The last… the last had been in her mother's voice. Said lovingly… gently… devastatingly.
Ranma could feel herself sinking into the blackness. Not like when she normally went into the Neko-ken - this time she had been stripped of the disguise that had protected her. This time, it was going to consume her. She could already feel the claws catching at her flesh, the teeth sinking into her legs.
Then… warmth. A voice that sounded like it was far away… two voices… A reddish gold warmth cut through the black murk, like someone had pulled aside the lid from over the pit. Ranma reached out, and felt it drawing her up. It was comforting, reassuring… it rinsed the darkness away, silenced the doubts and the fears and forced the claws digging into her to lose their grips and to fade…
"They're going to hate you, you know."
Ranma shuddered as the blackness spoke with her mother's voice again, even as Ranma was drawn away from it.
"They love you now because you've fooled them. When they find out what you really are. When they find out the things that you've decided to forget. Then they will abandon you and they will hate you."
Wait… what did I forget? She struggled a bit, feeling some of the fear that clung to her, a hook that would not let go and tore at her even as she was drawn out of the pit.
"You'll see. And then you'll be sorry."
000
"She's alright, she's just in a very deep sleep now," Tofu said, gently probing the pressure points around the redhead's face and neck. He was having to work around the other two teens on the couch who were currently holding Ranma between them; Ryouga was laying back with Ukyou between his side and the back of the couch with Ranma between and on top, trying to maintain as much contact as possible.
"What the hell was that?" Ukyou asked in a hushed tone. She gazed worriedly at the redhead, trailing fingers through her hair.
Something had happened when the Link opened up. Ranma had passed out and there had been a sudden, massive surge of heavy ki. Ryouga had given her a crash course in the basics of ki manipulation as they worked together to safely disperse it while circulating more positive-aspected ki into the redhead in an effort to stabilize her.
"That was the Neko-ken, I think," Ryouga replied. "Or… whatever it is the Neko-ken keeps bottled up."
"If I had known Ranma had been in such an unstable state prior to starting, I would have called this off. You should have told me she used the Shi shi hokodan. That is unusual for her, to say the least!" Tofu said, then sighed. "No… I apologize. I should have examined her more closely myself."
"So… what do we do?" Ukyou asked him. She could still feel a chill on Ranma's skin. She herself felt fine. Energized, even. It was like all of the effects of the pill had been drawn into Ranma, and after the purge, the redhead had been left with very little ki of her own.
"I was expecting something like this, but not to this degree, to be honest," Doctor Tofu said. "When Nabiki was added to the Link it caused a kind of 'trauma letdown' between her and Ryouga. Ranma didn't experience one that time, so it was reasonable to assume that… I simply wasn't expecting it to be of this magnitude. But after what you told me of today's events…" He rubbed his chin. "I want you two to remain in contact with her until she wakes up."
"Wait… all night?!" Ryouga yelped, his eyes widening with a panicked expression. He shot a look at Ukyou, then at Ranma, then the door.
"If need be. I'd offer you a cot, but I fear it wouldn't be any more comfortable that the couch for three people," Doctor Tofu replied, completely oblivious to Ryouga's distress.
Ukyou sighed and reached up, tweaking Ryouga's nose to get his attention. When he gave her a confused look, she shot him a warning glance to shut him up, then smiled wanly up at the doctor. "If we can just get a blanket, we'll be fine, Doc."
Doctor Tofu nodded. He retrieved a blanket from one of the storage closets and laid it over them. "I'll be upstairs if either of you need anything. Call me when Ranma wakes up, or if there is another ki buildup."
"We will," Ukyou replied, trying her best to be reassuring for the doctor. She didn't really feel it, but she wanted some privacy to grill Ryouga about what was going on. Right now she was getting all sorts of images and impressions from each of them, and she needed a translator be able to make sense of them.
Doctor Tofu checked a few more things then headed up the stairs, leaving them alone with the lights turned down.
"Okay, now spill it, Ryouga!" Ukyou turned to him and growled. "What do you know about what's going on in Ranchan's head?"
Ryouga glanced nervously at the door. "Uhh… maybe I should…" he swallowed hard and turned back face to her. "You know… get up first? I'm pretty sure Ranma will be okay with you, and..."
Ukyou rolled her eyes. "Oh please! You and I have been in much more compromising positions than this, Ryouga. And I know you've done even worse with Ranma!"
"Not for an extended period!" Ryouga protested.
Ukyou raised an eyebrow. "Not even with Akane?"
"That was different!" Ryouga shot back. "B-besides… I was a small black piglet! Look, maybe that would be best… you'd have more room and…"
"And you could escape answering my questions!" Ukyou replied sharply. "Just calm down, would you? You get used to this sort of thing if you hang out with this bunch. Whenever we were sleeping in the same place, Shampoo used to end up halfway on top of me even before… DON'T YOU DARE NOSEBLEED!"
Ryouga whimpered, having already snatched off a bandanna and held it to his nose. "You're not helping! And you're also cutting off circulation in my right arm!"
"Honestly, you're hopeless," Ukyou shifted a bit to unpin his arm. "Look, just move over a bit and put your arm around my shoulders… You're not going to catch fire if you touch me, y'know!" She settled into a more comfortable spot where she could rest her head against his shoulder, with Ranma's head tucked under her chin. "Geez, younger brothers cuddle with their big sisters all the time. You don't have to be weird about this."
"One. How would you know? You don't have any siblings, let alone younger ones," Ryouga said. "Two. You're not my sister, and Three. You're still two months younger than me!"
"Metaphorical big sister!" Ukyou insisted.
"Yeah, well, you're still metaphorically two months younger than me!" Ryouga shot back. He shifted, seemingly less concerned about disturbing her as he got more comfortable.
Ukyou could sense some of the odd dark emotions and spikeyness settling out of his mental 'landscape' and smiled. Best way to calm a Hibiki is give 'em something to gripe about. "So… what do you know about what just happened?"
Ryouga sighed, rubbing his forehead as he gathered his thoughts. "Well… Last time it affected me and Nabiki, not Ranma. We were talking, and somehow it got me and Nabiki thinking about… about the parents we've lost."
Ukyou felt a twinge, a burble from the dark sea that underlay all of Ryouga's emotions. She sent some reassurance to him without even realizing she was doing it until she perceived the change in him, the disturbance settling. Woah… I think I'm starting to see what Nabiki meant about this.
"Anyway… it started dredging up a lot of bad memories… bad feelings that I guess we hadn't dealt with, and… it was like the flow of ki between us kept churning it up, and…" he shrugged, "...I guess the three of us just… held each other up through it all. Dr. Hirano said something about people not processing some bad experiences fully until they were safe and secure enough to do it. I guess… when you've got a couple of other people there and none of you have any real secrets anymore… I suppose that was 'safe enough' for Nabiki and me."
"So you think having me here made Ranma feel safe enough to let all that loose?" Ukyou asked.
Ryouga shook his head. "No… she didn't feel like she felt safe. It was more like… it was too close to the surface, and the churn from the Link just brought it all up."
"Well… great, so much for that little ego boost…" Ukyou sighed and looked down at the redhead sleeping in her arms. She could see the dark circles under her eyes now, how her face seemed drawn and tired. She ran her fingers through Ranma's hair, frowning as she tried to make sense of what she was getting from the girl's sleeping mind. "It's… not like I thought it'd be."
"What isn't?"
"The Link. And… Ranma, I guess?" She frowned. "I… guess I just never saw the cracks before but they seem so painfully obvious right now." She curled her arms around the redhead, able to 'hear' her sleeping mind even with her eyes closed. "Ranchan was always indestructible. He was always the unbeatable hero to me. And now here she is… fragile and coming apart and it was all there but I just never saw it." She looked up at Ryouga, searching his eyes. "Was… was it always like this?"
"It's… gotten worse, but…" he sighed heavily. "It was a shock to me, too. For a bit, when I first woke up after the shi shi hokodan when the Link opened up like this, I actually thought she was a different person. I kinda still do, actually… She's not the person I thought she was."
Ukyou looked back down at the redhead, lost in thought as that concept rattled about in her head. Did I fall in love with Ranchan under false pretenses? She brushed a strand of red hair tenderly from the girl's face. Maybe…? Maybe it doesn't matter. I love her NOW after seeing more than maybe anyone else has of her. I guess that's what's important, right? But…
"Ryouga… Why doesn't she feel like… why…" Ukyou struggled for the words for things that didn't have words. "You've got more experience with this, seeing inside Nabiki's head too… Is… does Ranma…?"
"Why does Ranma not feel like a guy, right?" Ryouga asked.
"Yeah…" Ukyou said.
"It's there. But…" Ryouga used his free hand to touch Ranma's cheek, holding it there as he closed his eyes, 'listening'. "It's… I dunno. When all this started, Ranma was… well, almost in balance, I guess. For a day or two she swung hard to the male side, but after that…" He sighed and removed his hand. "I thought it was me at first, but… " He shook his head. "I don't know what's causing it."
"Rebellion, maybe?" Ukyou suggested. "If… if she's had these two sides to herself for so long, and had to repress one side for her whole life because of her father's demands to be a 'man amongst men', and now finally she's letting go of that… maybe…?"
Ryouga's expression darkened, his brow knit. She could feel a wave of something dark and cold from him… regret or guilt, maybe?
"Ryouga, I know… I mean… I get that part of you must be happy about that, deep down. That's the side you… well, I won't say the word if you're not ready to, but it's obvious to anyone but Ranma… and I know you're probably tearing yourself apart with guilt because that's the kind of guy you are, but…"
"That's not it," Ryouga said, cutting her off.
Ukyou blinked, but didn't protest. She had felt… sincerity in those words.
"I'm scared I'm going to lose my friend," Ryouga said. "Ranma was… You of all people should understand… he was my only friend. The only one who understood… the only one who cared if I showed up to school, or made it home afterwards. He…" His voice got thick with emotion. "... He waited three days for me… just because it was important to me, and… and I was so mad when I finally caught up with him I just blamed him for everything. And… he let me!"
Ukyou's eyes widened. She had not expected this.
"He trusted me. With his curse, with his back… with Akane… And I did nothing but throw it back in his face." He clenched his fist. "And… and then now that I've finally realized it… now that I've finally got all these things to say to him… he's not there. In his place is this… this fragile, terrified girl. And she's…" He trailed off, his expression softening as he looked down. "She's everything… Even if I can't tell her that." He sniffed, tears gathering in his eyes as his gaze rested on the sleeping redhead. "And I want her to stay. I want her to stay more than anything. But… I'm terrified that I'll be trading my friend for her. I'm terrified I might be okay with that, if it came down to it. Every time I Link with Ranma, there's less of him in there, and more of her. It's like he's… he's giving up."
"Ryouga… are you saying you think Ranma is… is going fully female?" Ukyou asked softly.
"I don't know," He shook his head. "Maybe it's just me, but… I haven't even seen Ranma as a guy since this all began. I thought… I thought maybe Nabiki would notice something, so I wouldn't have to…"
"Ryouga… listen to me." Ukyou reached up and touched his face with her hand and forced him to look at her. "As someone who knows a hell of a lot more about what Ranma is going through because she's gone through it herself, let me be clear, okay? Your friend? She's right there. As much as Ranma 'wobbles'? It's still Ranma. And… yeah, now that the pressure to always be fronting manliness is off, that's going to change that balance and yes, everything that's going on with her now is going to shift stuff the other way for a while. But eventually she will find the balance point that is hers, no matter what you or I or her parents or Himura or anyone else does. But wherever that point lands, she is still Ranma. She is still the guy who is your best friend… and she is still the girl that you love, and those things are one and the same. You need to figure out that it doesn't matter if Ranma shows up tomorrow as a guy, or if she never changes back again."
Ryouga closed his eyes and slumped back onto the couch. "Yeah… but…"
"But what?" Ukyou demanded. "You're not okay with being in love with a guy? You think it was any easier for any of us? The curse works both ways, Ryouga."
Ryouga cracked an eye open. "Hit me if you want, but I know it wasn't as hard for you."
Ukyou blushed then looked away. "Alright, fine. Maybe I was a little more open to the idea. But what about Akane? She was a bundle of issues around it all. She had to deal with being in denial about her own preferences, meeting a girl she fell for hard enough at first sight that it almost got past that denial, then finding out he was actually a guy."
"Yeah… thanks for reminding me… I kind of have my own issues around Akane…" Ryouga muttered.
"I know that more than anyone, sugar. I'm the one you told about all of them, remember?" Ukyou poked him in the chest. "And the same advice applies. You need to tell Ranma how you feel. And tell Akane how you still feel, even if you know she doesn't feel the same way."
"You can't be serious…" Ryouga gaped at her.
"You don't think she's going to find out sooner rather than later? We're going to be adding her to the Link too, you know!" She poked him again.
"It… it doesn't work that way! I mean… I mean…" His eyes flicked to Ranma.
"That's because you two idiots are in denial," Ukyou replied. "Look, I'm not saying you need to give either of them a declaration of undying love, but… Regardless of what you do… even if your future is with Akari… you need to get this out of your system before it drives you crazy. You need some closure on this, and I'm pretty sure they do too."
"But… but what if…" Ryouga stuttered, struggling for the words.
"What if they shoot you down?" Ukyou supplied helpfully. "Akane already knows you were in love with her. I don't think finding out you still have feelings will be a big shock to her. Just… keep in mind that things will never go anywhere with her. She's… just not wired that way. And Ranma… Ranma will probably be insensitive and say something she doesn't mean and stomp over your heart without really meaning to." She smiled a bit at him. "Then you come see me, we talk it out, and we figure out what to do next."
Ryouga was silent for a moment.
"What if Ranma doesn't shoot me down?" he asked, his voice low, almost timid.
"What if she doesn't?" Ukyou asked, quietly curious.
Ryouga gave her an incredulous look. "How can you be calm about… about…" He swiped his hand through his hair in frustration. "We're talking about your fiance!"
"Because freaking out doesn't fix anything and it doesn't make all of this go away? Plus, I really do wanna know - what would you do next if Ranma felt the same way about you?" Ukyou said evenly.
"That's the problem. There is no 'next' to that!" Ryouga insisted.
"Yes there is," Ukyou prodded him none too gently. "C'mon… hypothetical. Say me and the other fiancees weren't in the picture."
Ryouga sighed heavily. He closed his eyes and Ukyou could sense the emotional churn going on. He finally opened his eyes and reached out tentatively to mimic Ukyou as he ran his fingers through Ranma's hair.
"I don't know," he said at last. "I can't even picture it."
"Even if she was a regular girl?" Ukyou asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ryouga chuckled dryly. "Yeah... Even then." He was quiet a moment, his expression growing thoughtful. "I… keep having dreams about it, I think. I don't remember them very well, and I get the feeling they don't make a lot of sense. Like I'm trying to work that out. Like… I can't reconcile the idea of us… y'know… together."
Ukyou sighed sympathetically. You really are a mess over this, aren't you Ryouga? "All right… Then you tell her, and then maybe you, me'n Shampoo go out and get you good and drunk, and then figure things out after we sober up, huh?"
He covered his eyes with his hand. "Ukyou, that's an incredibly stupid idea… remember what happened the last time we got drunk?"
"Hey! I'm trying to help and be supportive here, jackass!" Ukyou shot back, her pride wounded. "Look, fair enough deciding to get drunk then walk you home was probably not the best plan, but… I dunno, this time we'll set you up a cot or something in the storeroom to crash on. You need a healthier outlet for when you get all emotional."
"Your 'healthier outlet' is alcohol."
"Yours is blowing yourself up!"
"It… I don't normally blow myself up when I do that!" Ryouga huffed.
"Yeah, just everything else around you!" Ukyou growled.
"It's a technique for mining! It's supposed to be good at making holes in things!"
"That's why it's bad for stress relief!"
They glared at each other over Ranma's head. There was a moment of deadly seriousness… then both of them broke down into fits of giggling.
"This is so stupid…" Ukyou finally managed to gasp, letting her head flop back down against his shoulder.
"It is stupid," Ryouga agreed.
"It's kind of hard to keep up a proper level of outrage for a fight when you're tired and cuddling with someone," Ukyou continued. She noticed him stiffen and sighed, giving him an exasperated look. "Oh stop. We've been over this. You're fine, Ryouga. I trust you to be a gentleman."
Ryouga tried to force himself to relax, finally releasing a frustrated sigh of his own. "This isn't easy, y'know… This is awkward as hell, actually. How am I supposed to get any sleep?"
"You've slept in more uncomfortable situations I'm sure," Ukyou yawned. "Tell you what. If it helps, you can be the older sibling tonight. Focus all that nervous energy on keeping your little sister and your wife warm an' safe, 'kay?" She hugged Ranma's sleeping form a little tighter to herself and let her eyes close.
"She's not my…! That's the mental image you want me to sleep on?!" Ryouga squawked in protest, but the sound of his voice was already fading from Ukyou's tired perceptions as she surrendered to sleep.
000 (Chapter 27 End)
(I apologize for how long it's taking to get chapters out. I've been hit with the winter blahs, which makes writing tough, and my editor is having to deal with a massive move and so doesn't have the time to keep the cattle prod properly charged.
I think I've fixed the issues with the brackets around English speech, and fixed it in Chapter 26. doesn't like arrow brackets apparently, but square brackets seem to be okay.
I've got Chapter 28 mostly ready to go, so I'll give that a once-over and post it, hopefully later in the week. Then... well, things will be slower because Christmas is poison for writing for me.
Thank you for sticking with me this long!)
