Alternatives - Chapter 6
Ranma 1/2 and all of its' characters are the property of Rumiko
Takahashi and all of the companies who have licensed it. I don't own any
of it. I do not have permission to use her characters or ideas. I am
writing solely for pleasure. Don't sue.
All comments, flames, MST's or other responses are welcome. Let me
know what you think.
When I started revising this chapter, I thought that it didn't need
much. That was 20K ago, Sheesh. I hope you like it.
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The morning after the party, an excited Nodoka woke Ranma up early.
She was smiling as she spoke, "Come on sleepyhead, we have a long and
busy day ahead of us!" As his mother left his room, he heard Akane as
she left the bathroom and plodded back to her own room. He quickly
readied himself for the day and caught up with Akane as she was heading
towards the dining room.
As they walked toward the breakfast area, Ranma whispered, "Hey,
Akane, do you have any idea what's up?"
"Yes," Akane giggled in the affirmative and smiled an "I know
something you don't know" kind of a smile.
While wondering what was planned, Ranma shook his head, knowing
better than to press Akane. He knew, though, that with his Mom happily
excited and Akane giggling, that whatever it was probably was something
really good. However, all of Ranma's thoughts were banished by the
sights and smells of the breakfast that Nodoka had made for them.
Pouncing towards the heavily laden table like a cat upon a mouse,
he immediately began devouring his mother's food. Akane and Nodoka both
managed to get a plate each. While Akane was inured to Ranma eating
habits, Nodoka sat, awestruck at how manly Ranma's gluttony made him.
After his fifth helping, Ranma ventured, "Mom, why did you wake us up so
early?"
Nodoka looked at Akane and they both started smiling. "Ranma,
Akane and I have planned a really fun day for you today!" she paused to
let Ranma's excitement build. After three or four seconds, she
continued excitedly, "We're going clothes shopping!" Seeing her son
look crestfallen at the news, she reached over and patted his hand as
she explained, "Your girl half will need a full wardrobe after your jump
into the Drowned Twin pool. When it comes to girl's clothes, I've
noticed that you don't have much of anything to wear." Ranma opened his
mouth to object, but his mother gave him a stern look and kept talking.
"Yes, I know you have a few items. Heavens, I've even bought you a
dress now and then, but you're going to need underclothes, school
uniforms, everyday outfits, shoes, accessories, everything! I am not
going to let my daughter be seen wearing improper clothing. It's
indecent for a girl to wear boxer shorts instead of panties, for
example."
Ranma gagged on his food as Nodoka finished her remarks. It was
true that he'd gotten used to his curse, but going on a shopping trip
with his mother and fiancee was way too much. Desperately, he looked at
the two women. His mother's face glowed with happy anticipation.
Akane's gleamed with mischievous glee. He realized that the trap had
already closed on him. "Mom, I'm still a guy and guys wear boxers.
Can't this wait until we get back?" He asked in a hopeful tone.
"No, dear," Nodoka gently chided, "it can't. Once you have jumped
into the springs, I absolutely refuse to have my daughter running around
the Chinese countryside in men's clothing." She shook her head, but
smiled in an attempt to make it more acceptable. "What if something
happened to you? How would I show my face in the hospital? I'd be so
embarrassed for you," Nodoka steam-rolled his objection. Seeing the
doubt written upon his face, she reached out and tugged at his lips,
"Smile! Shopping is fun and I'm sure you'll enjoy it."
Grinning despite himself, he pulled away from Nodoka's hands. He
asked her one more question, "Why now? I've done OK up till now."
"Ranma, I know that you are very manly and don't like doing things
that are girlish." Nodoka looked down and folded her hands demurely on
her lap. Straightening herself, she determinedly looked her son in the
eye. "However, in two weeks, you will be split into permanently male
and female versions of yourself. I think you need some training in
being a girl, before part of you is one full-time," Nodoka searched her
son's face trying to see if he understood.
Smiling at the scowling Ranma, she added, "And, yes, you have done
well up till now. You've been able to act girlishly when you needed
to." She paused to take a breathe, then continued on, "Think a moment,
could you talk and act like a woman all of the time?" She shook her
head negatively answering her own question, "Ranma, once I got to know
you better, I started seeing through your Ranko personae. You simply
acted too manlike."
Akane started snickering, "Yeah, YOU don't want to be a sexless
tomboy, do you?"
"Hey! That's not what she said!" Ranma protested, "Anyway, anyone
looking at me would never call ME sexless."
"So you agree that you're a tomboy?" Akane teased him.
Ranma started to answer but stopped with his mouth still open. He
knew when he was in a losing position. Sheepishly, he said to his
mother, "I guess you're right. A few girl lessons wouldn't hurt me.
It's not like I haven't ever done this stuff before." He stretched as
he stood up. "I'll take the dishes into the kitchen and then we can go."
"No, we can't." Nodoka said giving her son's clothing a critical
once over. He was wearing his favorite red silk shirt and black pants.
"While the clothes you're wearing are fine for a boy or a fight, they
are much too mannish for a woman. You aren't going out dressed like
that. You need to be wearing something that's easy to get in and out of
and is flattering to your figure," Nodoka turned to her future
daughter-in-law, "Akane, did Nabiki pack you a jumper that Ranma could
borrow?"
She thought for a second before answering. "Yes, she did," Akane
nodded as she spoke.
"What's a jumper?" Ranma asked, not really wanting to know.
"You'll know soon enough." Nodoka dismissed the question. "Go
change into your other form and let Akane help you get dressed. Once
she decides you're ready, I want both of you to come to my room. It's
time you learned how to apply makeup and how to undo that pigtail of
yours."
"Mom, please! Can't this wait until we come back?" Ranma began
pleading again.
Nodoka's look told Ranma that her answer was no.
"OK, I'm going. Akane, will you bring the jumper to my room?"
Ranma picked up the breakfast dishes, taking them to the kitchen, thus
admitting defeat.
Within a few minutes, Akane showed up at Ranma's room carrying a
blue jean jumper and a navy tee shirt. Ranma, now female, stood waiting
for her. She quickly slipped into the clothes expecting the top to be
too tight and the waist too large, as Akane's clothes usually were on
her. This time they fit.
"Hey, how come this fits?" Ranma asked her suspiciously.
Holding her hands behind her back, Akane swung back and forth
innocently, smiling. "Well, I talked to Nabiki earlier this week and
she asked Kasumi to tailor my jumper for you. We kind of thought you
might need it." Looking Ranma up and down, she cooed, "You look really
cute in it!"
"Oh great, I look cute." She rolled her eyes at Akane.
Disregarding his sarcasm, Akane pulled the other girl out of the
room towards Nodoka's room. "I can't wait to see how your mother will
make you up!"
"Argh!" Ranma grunted as she allowed herself to be pulled forward.
"There you are! I was starting to worry about you." Nodoka pulled
open her door at Akane's knock. She allowed the two girls into her room
and motioned to Ranma to sit at her vanity. As she sat down, Nodoka
said, "Ranma, please don't take this the wrong way, but today while we
are out, I want you to be a proper young lady. That means that you must
take special pains to keep yourself neat and also maintain your looks.
This morning, I'm going to apply your makeup and explain the process as
we go. Are you ready?"
"No, but go ahead." The pigtailed girl groused.
"Akane, why don't you let down her pigtail while I apply her
foundation. As you haven't had your colors done yet, I'm going to use
my foundation on you. I'm sorry if the color comes out too light or
dark, but I think we have the same skin. It should work." Nodoka began
concentrating on the job. "Close your eyes, dear, you're jumping too
much. Just relax and let mother take care of you."
Within a few minutes, Nodoka had her daughter's face ready to show
to the world. While she had been working, Akane followed her
instructions and let Ranma's hair down. She had also styled it so that
it framed her fiance's face. Nodoka frowned as she looked at Ranma's
fingernails, but decided that would be too much for today. Instead, she
picked a pair of clip-on earrings and placed them on the waiting girl.
"Open your eyes, Ranma, and look at yourself."
Ranma opened her eyes and took a critical look. She had been made
up once or twice before, but never just to go shopping. The girl
looking back at her had shoulder length hair the gently flowed around
her face accentuating her eyes and mouth. A flash of gold from her
right ear announced the earring placed upon it. The earring was a
simple golden clamshell. It was a very understated, barely noticeable
addition.
"Why the earrings?" She looked at her mother questioningly.
"Don't you like them? I've got some more that you could choose
from. Until you get your ears pierced though, I don't have all that
many to choose from." Seeing the look on her offspring's face, she
stopped. "Oh! Why wear any at all? That was the question. A proper
young lady never leaves her house without all of her accessories."
"They hurt!" Ranma made to take them off.
"Dear, you will leave them on." She sternly admonished Ranma, as
she gently grasped her daughter's arms. "Sometimes you must endure a
little discomfort to look good. If you take them off, you won't look as
good. Do you understand?"
"No," came the mumbled reply.
Nodoka sighed, "Just leave them on, dear." She quickly scanned
Akane and suggested, "It looks like we're all ready. Are you ready to
go shopping, girls?"
"Yes, Auntie." Akane bubbled.
"Yeah, Mom," Ranma sounded like he'd been asked if he was ready to
walk to his own execution. She wasn't going to admit it aloud, but the
little makeup that Nodoka put on her did make her look good, real good.
After a quick train ride and a short walk to the mall, the three
women were standing outside the first shop on Nodoka's itinerary. Ranma
had pouted the whole way there, but neither her mother nor Akane seemed
to notice. They both had begun discussing the shopping trip and other
boring stuff as soon as they left home. When she looked in the windows
of the shop they were steering her to and seeing nothing but lingerie,
Ranma Dug her heels in refusing to move further.
"NO WAY! Mom, I can't go in there! What if someone sees me in
there?" Ranma said in a panic. Already red from embarrassment, she
looked as petrified as when Happosai had first used his giant chi attack
against her.
"Ranma, really, what would be seen? They would see three women
shopping for clothes in a store. What's so bad about that?" Nodoka said
reasonably.
"Everybody knows that I turn into a guy when splashed with hot
water. They'll think I'm a pervert or something," Ranma said as she
tried to back away. Nodoka and Akane each grabbed an arm to keep her
from running. Once they had her in their grasp, the Ranma relented and
allowed them to escort her into the store.
"That would be big news at Furinkan, all right." Akane teased her.
Pretending to be Nabiki, she pulled out a microphone and said into it,
"Hey everyone, Ranma likes to wear lingerie when she's a girl! Want to
buy some pictures?"
"See, Mom? Akane's right! I'd become a laughingstock," Ranma
thinking Akane had been serious.
"Ranma, some of the things you need more than anything else are
undergarments." She motioned at the store. "This store sells them.
Goodness, why would anyone think a girl wearing women's clothing would
be a pervert?" She raised an eyebrow at her erstwhile daughter. "A
girl wearing boys under-shorts, jockeys or boxers, would be the one
considered perverted."
"No way! No matter what anyone says I'm not a pervert," Ranma
grimaced, facing the entrance.
"I know you're not a pervert. That's why this is necessary,
Ranma," Nodoka gently pushed the girl into the store.
Twenty minutes later, Ranma was huddled in a changing room in the
store. She never in her entire life had been so humiliated. Under
Nodoka's watchful eye, she had been forced tried on several styles of
lingerie. Every time she finished putting the clothing on, her mother
and Akane would barge in and begin checking the fit of the garments.
Having your mother check how well your breasts fit into a bra or whether
or not the panties fit was not something she had ever expected to
experience prior to Jusenkyo, or even after for that matter. The low
point had been when her mother snapped the back of the bra.
"Ow! That hurt Mom!" she rubbed her back.
Nodoka looked at her and giggled. "I'm sorry, but you were looking
so sorry for yourself that I couldn't resist."
Just then, Akane came into the room bringing yet another style to
try on. This time it was a support bra. Akane looked at Ranma and
started giggling. "I heard the snap. Auntie did you really?"
Nodoka managed to look a little ashamed as she nodded her head, but
continued giggling.
"I can't believe that I'm trying on panties, bras and this other
stuff." Looking at her mother, she continued, "And you're even checking
the fit! What are you laughing at now?" Ranma asked Akane angrily.
"I was just thinking about all of the times Happosai has tried to
get you into a bra. I was wondering how much he would be enjoying this,"
Akane started laughing out loud as she pictured it in her mind.
"Funny. Ha Ha," Ranma grumbled. "Why don't you take some pictures
and sell them to him?"
After sizing Ranma and finding her a relatively comfortably fitting
bra, Nodoka purchased several bras and panties. She also purchased
several other items of lingerie.
"Ranma, would you please put on this bra and panties?" Nodoka
asked Ranma handing her the items as they turned away from the register.
"We've already bought them, why should I try them on?" Ranma asked
her.
"Dear, when you are out in public, you must wear them," she
explained.
"Why?" Ranma asked.
"Well, dear," Nodoka paused to try and explain why. "Other women
will notice and think badly of you. Men will notice and think that you
are a loose woman." She frowned at the mere thought of her child being
thought of as "loose."
Akane overheard and nodded affirmatively and added, "Ranma, it's
especially important not to put off other women. They are going to be
your friends. You never want to disappoint your friends."
While the notion of "other" women thinking badly of her didn't
bother Ranma at all, the thought of men noticing and hitting on her
stopped Ranma's objections.
She wore them.
As they began their journey, going from store to store, she
grumbled or groused every time Akane or Nodoka brought her something to
try on. The cuter or more feminine the outfit, the more she complained
about it.
Fed up with the incessant complaints, Akane finally told her,
"Ranma, this is just like at the carnival where you finally learned the
Chestnut Fist. Remember?"
"Yeah, so what?" Ranma answered.
"You had a good time despite yourself then, too. Just loosen up and
enjoy this," Akane said firmly. Continuing a little sadly, she said, "I
really envy you getting to know your mother like this. I wish my mother
could take me shopping."
Ranma was surprised. She hadn't considered how Akane might be
feeling. Akane's mother died when she had been six. Her fiancee had
obviously missed having the guidance a mother gives her child. Kasumi,
well, was Kasumi. You never knew what you were going to get from her
and being only three years older than Akane herself, would not have been
much help. As a father, Soun was over-protective and concerned for his
daughters, but quickly bowed out when it came to helping his girls with
their personal needs. The pig-tailed girl realized that truth to tell,
it wasn't so bad having two people picking clothes out for you. She
could stay in the changing room while they found outfits for her to try
on. Ranma thought about what it would have been like if she had tried
to shop on her own. It would have been a disaster! She would have had
to select clothes to try on and then go into a changing room. A lot
more people could spot you that way. Shopping for clothes was a lot
easier and less embarrassing this way. She could hide in the dressing
rooms and nobody would ever see her.
"Geez, you win. I'll try to have a good time," Ranma smiled at
Akane.
It's very hard to be grouchy when two people are busy pampering
you. Nodoka and Akane enjoyed themselves immensely. One always stayed
with Ranma as the other would go and find new clothes for her to try.
Their happiness was infectious. Slowly, as Ranma realized just how much
fun they were having, she began taking a more active interest. In
several different stores, Ranma noticed that they had her try on the
same outfits.
"Didn't I try this on earlier?" Ranma asked, as she looked at the
blue skirt she was trying on.
"No, dear, you tried on one that was very similar a little while
ago," Nodoka answered. "But cost fifty yen less."
"How come we didn't buy it there?" Ranma asked completely puzzled.
"Dear, you have a lot to learn about shopping. Shopping is like a
contest. You want to get the best items at the best prices. First, you
go through all of the stores and look at what they have and what their
prices are. You also look for any sales that might be going on. As you
shop, you must remember where all of the items are that you want and how
much they'll cost. After you've looked everywhere, you then know what
you want and where to buy it. Men just don't have a clue. They just go
to any store and buy what they think they need. How would they know
they got a good price?" Nodoka instructed Ranma.
Looking at Akane, Ranma said, "And this is supposed to be fun?"
"Yes, baka. It's even more fun when you're shopping for a friend,"
Akane said with a smile.
"Uh, if you say so," Ranma shrugged in disbelief. Her stomach
growled, reminding them all of the time. Red-faced, she asked, "Can we
have some lunch soon?"
Laughing, Nodoka sat down. "Yes, it has been four hours since we
ate breakfast."
As they left the shop, they found a ramen stand. At Ranma's
stomach's urging, the three of them ate there. While they were there,
Sayuri and Yuka came walking by.
"Hi, Akane! What are you doing?" Sayuri asked as soon as they were
close enough to talk.
Seeing her classmates, Ranma slowly began trying to hide beneath
the table.
"Hi, Guys! What are you doing here?" Akane turned to her friends
with a smile of greeting.
"It was boring at home and I asked Yuka if she wanted to go and do
some window shopping," Sayuri answered. Seeing a female Ranma, Nodoka
and shopping bags, she asked, "What are you guys doing?"
"Ranma, is it OK to tell?" Akane looked at Ranma. All that could
be seen of Ranma was her hair. "Ranma, sit up so they can see you."
Ranma quickly straightened up and resignedly said, "Go ahead and
tell them, Akane. Everyone at school will know soon enough."
With a sharp intake of breath, both girls took in the sight before
them. A Ranma Saotome sat before them they had never seen before. This
Ranma wore a jumper over a tee and even was wearing a brassiere. In
addition, she had her hair down, make-up on, and even more fantastically
earrings on.
"Ranma! You look great!" Sayuri gasped as she continued looking
the other over. "I didn't think you liked wearing girls clothes and
stuff. I really like what you've done with your hair. Is that blush on
your cheeks?"
Looking down at herself, the girl in question answered, "I don't
like wearing girls stuff." Her face now redder than a clown's nose, she
leaned towards her fiancee, "Akane!"
"Sit down, guys, this is a good story," Akane motioned them to sit
down, mercifully taking their attention away from Ranma.
She quickly told them about the previous night. As she spoke,
Nodoka beamed proudly at Ranma. Ranma tried to act nonchalant. Sayuri
and Yuka both said that Ranma's sacrifice was both very cool and
romantic.
When Akane started explaining that they were on a shopping trip for
Ranma's girl's side, both of her friends became very excited.
"Wow! That's so cool! You're getting a whole wardrobe in one day!"
Yuka enthused.
"Yeah! What have you gotten so far?" Sayuri asked.
"Not much," the shorthaired girl shrugged. "All we've bought is
some new underwear for Ranma." She started pulling out the different
items. "We've done a lot of shopping and will start buying stuff soon."
"Hey! That's my stuff Akane!" Ranma tried to take the bag out of
the other girl's grasp.
"Don't be so touchy, Ranma, it's not like they haven't seen this
stuff before," Akane dismissed her objections.
"That's OK, Akane. We've seen what we really wanted to see, right,
Yuka?" Sayuri said supportively as she noticed Ranma's discomfort.
"It sounds like your day is going to be a lot more fun than ours.
Can we join you?" Yuka asked the party of three women.
"It's really up to Ranma," Nodoka demurred. Akane, taking her lead
from the older woman, turned expectantly towards the other teenager.
"Well, can we help?" Seeing the hesitancy in Ranma's eyes, they
both begged, "Please, Ranma?"
Her gut turned over as she looked at the two pleading girls. She
wanted to say no, but she'd never been able to tell any girl no when
they begged. Ranma looked at them. She let out a breath, then said,
"Okay."
Sayuri and Yuka both jumped in excitement. "Where are we going
first?" Sayuri asked, eyes sparkling.
After a moment, Yuka reached out to Ranma and gave her a supportive
hug. "I guess it is tough on you, Ranma. You're still just a splash
away from being a boy."
"I'm still a guy," Ranma retorted, "I haven't been back to Jusenkyo
and been split yet."
After the two school friends called their mothers to let them know
what they were going to do, the enlarged party shopped until all of the
stores closed. Arriving home late that night, Ranma had a full wardrobe
of women's clothing. They had purchased almost everything Ranma would
need. Nodoka had agreed that they would not purchase any earrings for
Ranma until after the split and her ears could be properly pierced.
Nodoka had overheard Akane earlier and had purchased her a new outfit.
Ranma enjoyed that part of the shopping trip the most. She got to pick
out what Akane would try on and didn't have to get stuck in a changing
booth. The best part of it was the revenge she got on Akane by picking
out some truly awful outfits for her to try on. Sayuri and Yuka even
helped her select atrocious clothes for Akane.
"I didn't know shopping could be so tiring," Ranma said surprised.
She couldn't wait to take a bath and be a guy again.
"That's one of the things you have to learn, dear," Nodoka
answered, "Now we get to have some more fun. It's show and tell time! We
get to look at everything we bought and try it all on again!"
"You mean I can't take this bra off yet?"
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Nabiki had not been idle this day, either. She had rung up the
Kuno residence.
"Hello, Kuno residence, you have the pleasure of addressing
Tatewaki Kuno, Blue Thunder of Furinkan High School," the voice over the
line said.
"Hello, Tate-chan," Nabiki said.
"Hello, Nabiki Tendou, what is it that you must disturb my morning
meditations with?" Tatewaki asked irritably.
"Why, Kuno, I'm calling to offer you my help in dating your
pig-tailed girl once Ranma has taken his little trip and dip. But,"
Nabiki paused "If I'm bothering you, I'll just say bye now and see you
tomorrow." She held the receiver against her ear and slowly counted to
three.
"Wait, Nabiki! I would hear the plan one such as thee have
devised," Kuno said, trying to conceal his eagerness.
With a predatory smile, Nabiki began explaining her plan. "The
first part of the plan is to pay me 100,000 Yen as a retainer fee. That
will cover my costs. The second thing is to..." Her voice lowered as
she began to talk in earnest to her client.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waking up the next morning, Ranma was almost happy it was Monday.
He wouldn't have to go shopping. Though, being honest with himself, it
was hard staying grumpy when four determined women are making a huge
fuss over you, even when it's only to play dress-up. Still, he would
have enjoyed it a lot more had they been shopping for guy clothes.
As he and Akane were leaving, Nodoka reminded him, "Ranma, we will
be continuing your lessons until we leave for China. Tonight, we will
work some more on makeup and on how to take care of your hair."
Akane couldn't help but tease him. "We'll play with your hair and
find a style that's just right for you." She looked at him for a second
head tilted, before brightening, "I know! How about letting it hang down
in a long ponytail? You could flip it over your shoulder like Kasumi
does." Ranma looked at her grin and shivered. "Don't you think that
would just be too cute?" She laughed. "Or, even better yet, we can let
your hair fall naturally, like we did yesterday and clip butterflies
into it!"
"Argh," Ranma moaned. Thinking of a way to gain some measure of
vengeance, he turned to Akane with an evil with a gleam in his eye and
slowly smiled. "We are going to spar on the way to school today."
Preening himself, he continued with a smirk, "Be careful, if I knock you
off, I won't catch you today. I don't want to mess up my clothes or
hair." He turned for her, showing off his backside.
Ranma quickly reached over and tagged her with a finger. He jumped
onto the fence and ran off, "One point for me, catch me slowpoke!"
"Ranma, that wasn't fair. I wasn't ready," Akane ran after him,
after getting on the fence herself. "You baka!"
Running backwards on the fence, he turned and said in his most
pompous manner, "To quote my Pop, A true martial artist is always
ready." He pulled his right eyelid down as he stuck his tongue out at
her. "Biidah!"
Waiting until Ranma faced forwards again, Akane threw her book bag
at his legs, knocking him off of the fence. As she passed by him, she
laughingly took score. "One point all!" She looked over her shoulder
and told him, "Oh, don't forget to bring my book bag with you!"
They continued trading places on the fence until they got to
school. The score was 21 - 20 in Ranma's favor.
As they jumped off the fence, Ranma laughed with enthusiasm, "You
did great this morning, Akane! Though, you know, if we're going to spar
like this every morning, you might want to wear your gym shorts to
school." He waited for her to start getting angry before adding, "Or at
least color coordinate them, the panties you're wearing just don't match
your uniform." He then ran away laughing before she could hit him.
"Ranma, you PERVERT!" Akane chased Ranma to the school gates.
Again taking a bead with her book bag, she let fly.
"OW!" Ranma's face hit the pavement from the impact.
Arriving at school together, Ranma rubbed a bump rising on his head
as he handed her back her book bag. They found Kuno awaiting them in
the courtyard as usual.
"I hope he hasn't forgotten about Saturday night," Ranma whispered
to Akane as they walked up to him.
"Ah, it is Ranma Saotome and his beauteous fiancee Akane Tendo.
Greetings! I wish to let you know that I am awaiting Cologne's
instructions. My sister and I have already packed for our upcoming
journey to China. I, myself, cannot wait for the pigtailed girl to be
freed from the curse that afflicts the both of you," Kuno said in his
usual overly dramatic fashion.
"Akane, I pray your forgiveness. In my love for you, I have caused
you embarrassments and pain. My zeal for you overwhelmed me," Kuno
handed her a bouquet of pink carnations with a small bow. "Roses of
love are what I wish to give you; carnations of friendship are what I
offer. Will you accept these as but an initial installment on the
apology I owe you?"
Akane stood stunned. Kuno apologize? Kuno offer friendship and not
an obsessive love? "S, Sure, Kuno, I accept them," she stammered out in
surprise.
Kuno deepened his bow as she accepted his flowers.
Straightening, he turned to Ranma. "A request for forgiveness from
you I also bear. In my transgressions against you, I have called you a
sorcerer and worse. In gravest error, I thought that you had enslaved
the pigtailed girl. I didn't know that you were blessed to be her.
Will you accept these roses as a token of my affection for her, your
soon to be sister?"
Ranma was caught in a dilemma. If he didn't accept the flowers,
he'd look like a real jerk. On the other hand, if he accepted the
flowers, Kuno would continue to chase his girl side. He looked at Akane.
She nodded that he should take the flowers. With a sigh, he did.
"Er, thanks, Kuno. I want you to know, this doesn't mean that
you'll get to date her or nothing," Ranma accepted the flowers with his
usual grace. The school chimes began tolling the tardy bell.
Realizing that classes were almost ready to start. Ranma grabbed
Akane's hand and said, "We've got to get to class. Come on, Akane!"
Nabiki walked up to Kuno as Ranma and Akane entered the school. "I
told you that they would accept your apologies. Now if you continue to
do what I tell you to, you'll get that date," Nabiki encouraged Kuno.
"Thank you, Nabiki Tendo. I would not have thought of offering
flowers to Saotome. He seemed quite," Tatewaki searched for the proper
word, "discomfited by it."
"He did, didn't he," Nabiki smiled.
By lunch period, most of the school had heard about Kuno's
apologies and the mention of a trip to China. Nabiki made a killing
explaining what was going to happen. At the thought of a fully male and
unattached Ranma at school, most of the girls at Furinkan started making
secret plans to woo him. The boys were far less subtle. By the end of
the day, every boy in his class had asked Ranma out, or rather, Ranko
out when she came back from China. A few of the more persistent ones
ended the day at the nurse's station.
On the way home, Ranma grumbled, "I can't believe those idiots. I
haven't even split yet and they're asking me out on dates!"
Akane laughed as she replied, "At least you're not going to have to
fight all of the boys every morning."
Ranma responded with exasperation, " I'd prefer that! Don't you
think they should wait for me to be a girl before asking me out?"
"Face it, Ranma, you're just a popular girl!" Akane snickered.
"The thing is, Akane, I'm still a guy." Ranma shivered with
disgust. "I don't like guys that way and it makes me feel creepy them
asking me out. Kuno never bothered me because I knew he was an idiot.
Today, even Hiroshi and Daisuke asked me out."
"Would you rather the girls were asking your girl half out?" Akane
asked innocently.
"What?" Ranma stopped. He wasn't sure how to answer her. The
thought of doing it as a girl felt wrong to him.
"Just kidding!" Akane snickered. Seeing him stopped, she
nonchalantly passed him, taking off running after tagging him with a
call of, "Tag! You're it."
"Akane!" he took off after his fiancee with a laugh.
As they arrived at the Saotome home, they found Nodoka waiting for
them. She had a formal kimono laid out for Ranma to wear. "Good
evening children." She smiled at the words. "Ranma, tonight you will be
serving Akane and myself a formal dinner. Dinner is ready and I need
you to get dressed. Akane would you help him with his hair and makeup?"
She turned away, going into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Ranma was ready and nervously fiddling with
her kimono. Nodoka gave her a stern inspection, but Akane's help had
been excellent and no flaws were found.
Once the dress inspection was completed, Nodoka and Akane walked to
the dining room and sat down. Nodoka sat in the seat of honor. Akane
sat to her right, with P-Chan in her lap. It was left to Ranma to
figure out what to serve, both when and how.
"Presentation is everything, Ranma. Not only must the food be
delicious, the way you bring it in and the way it is placed in front of
the guests must serve to enhance its reception. A meal, properly served
and presented, can often make a guest overlook minor flaws in their
hostess or their dinner," Nodoka was sternly lecturing with Ranma as she
brought in the first course.
"Mother, how often will I ever have to do this?" Ranma whined.
"Akane, you should know the answer to this," Nodoka quizzed her
future daughter-in-law.
"It is the duty of the wife to always serve as hostess to anyone
your husband invites into your home," Akane answered.
"Quite correct," Nodoka smiled at her.
"Mom, I may end up with a me that's permanently a girl, but there's
NO WAY I'd ever marry a man," Ranma shuddered at the thought.
"You still will need to know how to be a proper woman," Nodoka
calmly answered. Raising an eyebrow, she added, "Proper women always
speak correctly. Who am I?"
"Oh, I meant, Mother!" Ranma nervously answered.
Her point made, Nodoka turned away, "More tea, Akane?"
"No, thank you." The shorthaired girl demurred.
"Can I eat now?" Ranma looked at the food hungrily.
"You may eat only after your guests have completely finished."
Nodoka smiled at her. "I'm ready for the next course, aren't you
Akane?"
Hanging her head, Ranma carefully rose, going to the kitchen and
bringing the next course out. As she served them, she asked, "Akane, may
I take P-Chan with me into the bath tonight? I'd like to give him a
bath."
P-Chan looked at her suspiciously. Akane glanced down at her pet,
"Ranma, he's never seemed to like you much in the past. Don't pick on
him, okay?"
"I promise that I won't pick on him, Akane," Ranma leant over and
put her hand on P-Chan's head. "P-Chan and I will have a nice time being
boys together, won't we P-Chan."
"Bwee?" P-Chan snorted in confusion.
Later in the bathroom, Ranma held P-Chan. She looked at him and
said, "Ryoga, I want to talk with you. I don't want to fight. You
heard what the Jusenkyo Guide wrote my mother. I am going to use the
Spring of Drowned Twins water. I'd like to know what you're planning.
Will you let me put you into the tub, after a good scrub?"
P-Chan looked up at the Ranma and shook his head yes.
Ranma quickly scrubbed and rinsed P-Chan down. She then set him
down next to her, but facing away. Disrobing, Ranma cleansed herself.
She then picked P-Chan up and moved to the tub. Settling into it, Ranma
placed P-Chan across from him.
"Hello, Ryoga," Ranma began warily.
"Hello, Ranma," Ryoga answered carefully. He was unsure just what
Ranma wanted and didn't want to give anything away.
"Uh, Ryoga, you've been with Akane as P-Chan for the last week.
You've heard all of our plans. I want to know what you're thinking,"
Ranma asked.
"I don't know, Ranma. I really don't. I can't believe that the
Spring of Drowned Boy won't cure us. You don't know how much I hate
being a pig. The Spring of Drowned Twins would split me so that one of
me would be human and the other a pig. That's not a solution I can use.
I'm not happy about the idea of having the curse for the length of an
average pig's life either." Ryoga thought out loud. "I was hurt when I
found out that you and Akane finally admitted your love for each other.
I still don't think you're good enough for her. But," he hung his head
sadly, "she loves you and not me. I've listened to enough to know this
now."
Ryoga paused and fire came back into his eyes, "Ranma, if you ever
do anything to hurt Akane, I swear that I will hunt you down and kill
you."
"You won't have to hunt me, Ryoga. If I do anything to hurt her,
I'll stand and take your punishment," Ranma then shifted the subject,
"What about Akari?"
"I love her. I was undecided between Akane and Akari. I wasn't
able to tell Akane my feelings." He shook his head with regret. "Akane
made her choice. It's you. I'll abide by it."
"I'm surprised, Ryoga." Ranma sat there looking at him. "I
thought you'd take it harder than this."
"Well, I've had a week as P-Chan to think it through," Ryoga began
smiling, "At least, I'm not having to take girl lessons. You look
pretty good in a kimono. Heh."
Ranma looked at Ryoga angrily. He didn't want to fight Ryoga,
especially in his mother's home. He tried to decide how to answer
Ryoga. With a start, he started smiling. He got up out of the tub and
walked to the shower. With an even bigger grin, he turned it on
becoming a girl. She kept her back to Ryoga while grabbing a towel and
wrapping it around herself. She turned toward Ryoga and said coyly,
"You know, Ryoga, you might want to consider splitting yourself. You're
pretty cute and I just might let you take me out."
Ryoga couldn't believe his ears. Ranma started slinking towards
him, hips rolling. Ryoga crawled backwards away from her until his back
was against the wall. Ranma came all the way up to him stopping only
when they were close enough to touch. She looked at Ryoga through her
bangs with a sultry smile. Slowly, she brought up her right hand,
cradling his left cheek in it. As he felt Ranma's touch, the
bandanna-loving boy thought she was going to kiss him. His nose started
bleeding and he passed out.
With a laugh, Ranma stepped back and looked at him. She shook her
head, "I guess the lessons are paying off, huh?" With that, she stepped
back into the furo turning herself back male. He then helped his friend
out of the tub before drying and dressing himself.
The next morning, Ukyo approached Ranma before class started.
"Ranchan, could you come over to Ucchan's after school today? I'd
like a chance to talk with you," she hesitantly asked.
Hey, free food and no girlhood training! "Sure, Ukyo! I'll be
there," Ranma agreed quickly. "Akane, you'll tell my mother where I'll
be, won't you?"
Akane started to get angry. She stopped when she realized that
she'd won. She wasn't in competition with anyone anymore. Ranma had
picked her. If Ukyo wanted to talk to him, it was OK. Ukyo was going
to get a copy of Ranma, not the real one. "Sure, Ranma. I'll be happy
to tell her for you."
As the last bell rang, Ranma and Ukyo left school together.
Neither said much during the walk to Ucchan's. Ukyo wanted to ask Ranma
what his feelings were and why he had made the decisions he had. She
was afraid of the answers and didn't want to hear them in public, where
she might break down and cry.
Ranma tried to enjoy the walk. He didn't want to start talking to
Ukyo. He knew that once they started to talk, he would have to tell her
some things that would upset her. It was best to let her decide what
they would talk about.
Once inside Ucchan's, Ukyo moved behind the grill and Ranma sat in
his accustomed seat. They couldn't put it off any longer.
"So, you picked Akane. I'm happy for her," Ukyo said with a smile.
Inside, she was feeling hope, love, fear, jealousy, anger and pain. Her
stomach felt as if she had a dozen fully-grown phoenixes flying inside
it. Looking into Ranma's eyes, she asked with only a quiver in her
voice betraying her emotional fragility, "Why are you doing this for me,
Ranma? Is it just to fulfill the pledge made between our fathers?"
"Ucchan, I, Uh," Ranma couldn't get the words past the lump in his
throat. He knew he had to do this now. He swallowed the lump and
firmed his resolve. "Ucchan, Yes, I love Akane," he said just loud
enough for her to hear.
Ukyo began to cry as he said this. He doesn't love me. He's doing
this for honor's sake, not for us. She started to slowly fold into
herself. She wrapped her arms around herself, as she sat down on the
floor.
"Wait a minute, Ucchan, I love you, too. I just don't love you as
much or the same way as I do Akane," he paused. "Do you think I want to
hurt you? You were my first friend when I was on the road with Pop."
He jumped over the counter and kneeled beside her. With gentle fingers,
he reached out and took her chin in his hand. "Look at me, Ucchan," he
said.
She had no choice but to look at him. She saw tears in his eyes.
"Ucchan, I'm doing this because I want you to be happy. I want you
to have your family and your honor back. I don't want you to pretend to
be something you're not for the rest of your life, because of something
my father and I did," he said with some venom.
"Yes, it is true that I am going to make copies of myself for all
four of my fiancees," his anger started to dissipate and some sadness
started to show on his face, "Ucchan, there are going to be four or five
male Ranma Saotomes in two weeks. Akane will get one. You will get
one. So will Shampoo and Kodachi. I don't know what I'm going to get."
"Ranma, you really do love me?" She asked with some trepidation,
"This isn't to settle family honor?"
"Yes, Ucchan. I do love you. You were my first friend when Pops
and I were training. I am not doing this for you, just to settle
questions of family honor," Ranma said as gently as he could.
"But, you love Akane more," she persisted.
"Yes," Ranma said.
Ukyo's tears began to dry up, she reached out to him and grabbed
him in a light hug, "I just want you to know that I love you Ranchan. I
don't want you to be hurt or do something for me, that would end up
hurting you." Ukyo had never known that you could feel happy and sad at
the same time.
She pulled out of the hug and looked searchingly at Ranma.
"Ranchan, are you going to be OK?"
"Yeah, sure, what's there to worry about, Ucchan?" Ranma said with
a quick smile.
"Do you love either Shampoo or Kodachi? Do you really want to have
a part of you become a girl permanently?" she persisted.
Ranma's smile faltered. "I like Shampoo. I don't love her. She
and the old ghoul have helped me more than they have tried to hurt me.
Whenever I've needed help, they've been there. I guess I can be there
for Shampoo. She deserves to be able to go home," he then whispered
more to himself than to Ukyo, "I know what it's like not to be able to
go home."
"I don't love Kodachi. I don't know if I even like her yet. I
have only agreed to give her a chance," he said in a firmer voice.
Pasting his smile back on his face, Ranma continued with false
bravado, "I can handle being a girl full time. I know a lot of girls
and they don't seem to mind it. I'm looking at it as a challenge."
Ukyo sensed the front Ranma had just put on. <Oh gods, I can't
believe that I'm offering this,> Ukyo said to herself. "Ranma, would it
help you if I jumped into the Nannichuan? Then Ranko could marry me.
It, It's not like I don't know what it's like to live like a guy," she
offered, "I've lived as a guy"
Ranma angrily interrupted her. He was surprised that she would
make the offer. Knowing what it was she was offering, he was angry at
his father for the curse all over again. With tight control, he said,
"Ucchan, thank you, but I don't want to subject anyone to what I've been
living through, especially someone I care for."
Ukyo started crying again. "Thank you, Ranchan. I appreciate what
you are doing more than you will ever know."
"Just promise me one thing, Ucchan," Ranma looked at her seriously.
"Yes, of course, what is it, Ranchan?" she asked.
"When we get married, you won't wear a tuxedo!" Ranma cracked a
smile and laughed.
"That's not funny, Ranchan!" Ukyo laughed with him, drying her
tears with her hands, "I've already been sized and paid the deposit for
it!"
Having mysteriously heard about Ranma's time with Ukyo, Kodachi
showed up Friday afternoon wanting her time with her Ranma-sama. She
was waiting on top of the gates of Furinkan High School. Upon seeing
Ranma's exit from the front of the school, she jumped down and glomped
onto him.
"Ranma-sama, you've been spending all together too much time with
Akane Tendo and Ukyo Kuonji. You should be spending some time with me,"
Kodachi said as she rubbed her head on Ranma's shoulder.
"Erg," Ranma was surprised to say the least. "Kodachi, what are
you doing here?"
"Why to see you, my darling. Let me take you away from that drear
Akane tonight. I'll cook you a dinner you'll never forget," she cooed.
Akane came up and irritably said, "Ranma, your mother would be
upset if you skipped another training session. Let's get home."
Ranma tried to pull Kodachi off of him. It was like trying to pull
molasses out of a jar. Whenever he would get one limb untangled, she
would just grab at whatever was near. Finally, Ranma grabbed both of
her arms and said, "Kodachi, get off of me."
"Dear, dear, Ranma, why?" Kodachi asked puzzled. She let go of him
and stood demurely in front of him and Akane.
Ranma, with a sigh, turned to Akane and said, "Akane, I think that
Kodachi and I need to have a little talk. I'll catch up with you at
Mom's. Let her know that I'll be a little late for her training
session. OK?"
"I'm not sure about this, Ranma," Akane said. She carefully looked
over the Kuno girl before relenting. "But, OK I will. Bye."
"Let's go sit in the grass overlooking the soccer field, Kodachi."
Ranma started walking there.
"You can call me Kochan, if you like, Ranma dearest," Kodachi
entreated as she followed him.
Ranma said nothing further until they were both seated. For a long
time, he sat looking at the field. Kodachi sat next to him and snuggled
up to him. He looked at her, but let her stay there. Finally, he said,
"Kodachi, why do you always try to either use paralysis powder on me or
incapacitate me?"
Of all the questions she expected, this was the one she hadn't
prepared for, "I, I don't know, Ranma-sama."
"Kodachi, I want you to give me a straight answer," he said not
looking at her.
"I, I didn't want to lose you," she finally managed to whisper.
"That's what I thought. Kodachi, after we visit Jusenkyo, there
will be a Ranma for you. I promise he'll give you a chance," he paused
and looked at her, "I'd like to get to know you. However, I want to
warn you, don't try any potions, powders or traps on me. Do you
understand?"
"Yes, my Ranma-sama, I do," Kodachi said.
"Wait a little longer, Kodachi," Ranma said, standing up. With a
grimace, he raced off saying, "I've got to get home."
Akane, instead of going straight to Nodoka's house, stopped by the
Nekohanten. She was curious as to why Shampoo hadn't tried to get time
with Ranma. Entering the cafe, she was greeted by Shampoo.
"Hello, Akane Tendo," Shampoo smiled and bobbed a bow in greeting.
<Huh? She didn't call me pervert girl or insult me.> "Hello,
Shampoo. I," she hesitated. "I was wondering if we could talk." Akane
returned the smile.
"Aiyah, Shampoo busy now, can talk later?" Shampoo motioned
towards the full restaurant. "OK?"
Before Akane could answer, Cologne's aged voice came from the
kitchen, "Shampoo, take a break. I can handle the crowd."
"Thank you, great grandmother," Shampoo led Akane to the living
quarters and sat her down in the living room. Before sitting herself,
Shampoo offered, "Would you like tea, Akane?"
"Ah, no." The shorthaired girl glanced at her hands folded
demurely in her lap. Biting her lip with nervousness, she found her
courage and looked at her host. "Shampoo, if it's all right, I'd like to
know something." She paused again, trying to gauge Shampoo's reaction
thus far. Seeing an encouraging smile, she rushed on, "Can I ask you a
personal question?"
"Ask, Shampoo answer," Shampoo looked the other girl in the eyes.
"Why haven't you glomped onto Ranma or asked him for a date this
week?" Akane blurted out.
"Shampoo know Ranma love Akane. Also know Ranma make double for
Shampoo to marry, saving Shampoo's honor. Shampoo love Ranma. Shampoo
want Ranma to be happy. Shampoo letting Ranma say goodbye," she said
with surprising candor and compassion.
Shampoo then reached out and held Akane's hand. "Akane not enemy
any more. Shampoo and Akane both get what want. Akane get more is
all," she smiled bittersweetly and asked, "Will Akane Tendo be Shampoo's
friend?"
Her heart going out to the other girl, Akane squeezed the Chinese
girl's hand. "Yes, Shampoo, I will." She had never suspected that
Shampoo could be this caring. The youngest Tendo had always assumed
that Shampoo wasn't very bright and emotionally stunted because she
couldn't speak Japanese very well.
After she left, Cologne spoke to Shampoo. "Shampoo, I'm very proud
of you. It takes a strong warrior to make a friend of an enemy."
"Thank you, Great Grandmother." Shampoo quietly answered. Her
heart still ached with loneliness, yet a glow of happiness had kindled
when Akane Tendo accepted her offer of friendship.
The days leading up to leaving for China went by in a blur. Nodoka
had taken her duties seriously. She and Ranma spent all of their free
time in girlhood training. By the end of the two weeks, Ranma couldn't
successfully apply makeup by herself, but usually picked outfits that
matched and explained why they matched. During these sessions, Akane
made herself scarce. She felt that Ranma would be embarrassed if she
kept showing him up. After all, she'd been blessed to be born a girl.
Nothing was heard from Shampoo, Ukyo or Kodachi. They had each
decided to leave Ranma and Akane alone. Ukyo greeted them and talked to
them at school, but no more or less than they initiated. Tatewaki Kuno
gave Ranma and Akane daily updates on the status of the upcoming trip.
Each morning during his status report, he would give Ranma a box of
chocolates as a token of his regret over his actions towards the boy in
the past. In the afternoon, he delivered Ranma a dozen red roses
showing his continued adoration of the "Blessed Pigtailed Girl." Too
uncomfortable with lugging around chocolates given him by another guy,
he began giving them out to all the girls in his class. This caused
quite a bit of snickering from the other guys, but the girls appreciated
his generosity. He carried the roses home each day. Nodoka required
him to take care of them and made several comments on how that nice
Tatewaki boy seemed so manly in his pursuit.
Finally the big day arrived, the entire group assembled in the
Narita Airport. Tatewaki, Kodachi, Nabiki, Cologne, Nodoka, Ranma and
Akane all had been given first class tickets. Everyone else had been
given tourist class tickets. P-Chan flew in a pet carrier, much to his
disgust and discomfort.
After landing in China, the travelers rode a bus for two days to
get to Cologne and Shampoo's village. Upon arriving at the Joketsuzuku
Village, everyone was housed in a different home. They were told that
it was Amazon law that outsiders must be separated at night. Ranma
found that he and his mother were staying in Cologne and Shampoo's home.
The word, pleased, did not describe Akane's mood when she found out.
"What do you mean that you've been assigned to sleep at Shampoo's
home?" Akane ranted, her face inches from Ranma's.
"Akane, if you're going to get mad at anyone, get mad at Cologne.
It's not like I said I wanted to sleep with Shampoo," Ranma inserted his
foot into his mouth.
"Ranma, you JERK. You are MY fiance and you will sleep with no one
but me got it?" Akane stated as she grabbed a nearby table and hit him
with it for emphasis. "Humph." She quickly turned away, and with a
quiet dignity, walked towards the house she was boarded in.
"Ow," a very soft mumble could be heard from underneath the table.
Several of the Amazons had watched the scene. They were impressed
with the spirit of the girl and how she had already put her husband into
his place. Several felt that she must have Amazon blood in her, for how
else would she have had the ability to train a man so easily?
That night in her home, Cologne approached Ranma and Nodoka.
"Ranma, have you considered all of the ramifications of being split and
having a permanently female version of you?"
"Yeah, I think so, Why?" Ranma asked.
"According to Amazon laws, when an outsider woman defeats an Amazon
girl. The outsider woman must be hunted down and killed. By law,
Shampoo could be required to hunt down the female Ranma," Cologne
stopped and watched Ranma.
As the import of her words sunk in, Ranma's eyes got bigger and
bigger, "What do you mean, you old hag? I'm going to marry Shampoo!
She's still going to try and kill me?"
"Son-in-law, I said could. This is a unique situation, one that
the council must decide upon. I will support releasing Shampoo and you
from her Kiss of Death. However, I am not the only one on the council
and I have enemies. Remember Shampoo has already been punished for her
failure once," she paused. Ranma shivered at the thought of
Shampoo-neko. Seeing his shudder, she knew that her pause had been
effective. "There is a way to bypass all of this. Would you allow your
female self to be adopted into the tribe? If I adopted you, the law
would be moot. You wouldn't have to run and Shampoo wouldn't have to
track you."
Nodoka coldly interjected, "Ranma has a mother. There is no need
for another."
"I'm not looking to replace you, Mrs. Saotome." Cologne gave a
small bow to her guest. "I'm trying to save lives."
"What's the catch?" Ranma asked suspiciously. "Would I have to
stay here forever?" Ranma stood next to his mother warily looking at
her.
"No catch. The only things required of you would be to continue
training wherever you are, learn Chinese, and to come to the yearly
tournament for testing," Cologne smiled at the two. "As an Amazon,
Ranma, you would be able to learn all of our techniques."
The temptation of learning all of the techniques of the Amazons
affected Ranma, he looked at his mother and a new resolve firmed him.
"What about Mom? I finally got her back. I don't want to lose her
again."
"Ranma, you wouldn't be losing your old family." Cologne assured
the young man. "Your mother would still be your mother. You would
gain a new family with a three thousand year old tradition of martial
arts."
"Why, Cologne?" he asked, his resistance worn down by the
attraction of her offer.
"I'm tired, Son-in-law." Cologne allowed herself to sag in her
seat. "I want to see Shampoo safe in her home. Whether that's a home
here or back in Nerima." She shook her head as she continued. "It
would be a waste to see both of you killed. The two of you have so much
potential. With her tribal membership at stake, Shampoo would
eventually kill the female you. Once that happened, one of the male
Ranma's would kill her." Cologne cracked a smile. "Lastly, your
children will be Amazon children. Your children, your daughters and
even your sons, I am sure, will greatly strengthen the tribe."
"Mom, what do you think?" Ranma asked his mother, a doubtful
expression on his face.
"Cologne, I agree with you when you say you don't want to see
Shampoo or Ranma murdered." Nodoka stood firmly looking at the Elder in
the eyes. "I've just been given back my son after ten torturous years.
I refuse to lose my children to anyone ever again." Searching for a
solution, the woman bowed to Cologne. "If I become your daughter, will
that fulfill the law's requirements?"
"Yes, it would Nodoka," Cologne smiled as her eyes widened in
surprise. "In fact, this is better than I hoped. By your becoming my
daughter, all of your children will become members of the tribe. You
and they will greatly strengthen the tribe. Thank You."
The next morning, they all trekked to Jusenkyo, as the day
blossomed into a beautiful morning. Cologne talked to the Guide and
asked him to show them the Spring of Drowned Twins. There were white
cumulous clouds floating lazily in the sky. There was no wind so the
water in the pools sat motionless and perfectly reflected the nearby
mountains.
Ranma stood, wearing his red silk shirt and black silk pants. He
looked at all of those around him.
His mother stood in her most formal kimono. Looking at her son
proudly, she had never seen anyone look so manly. To put honor and the
needs of others above his own, proved he was truly a man amongst men.
Standing tall in his gi, his father returned Ranma's gaze. Genma
knew that if he were in the same position as his son, he would never be
able to go through with it. He silently wished his son the best of
luck.
His glance then fell upon Soun, Kasumi and Nabiki. Suited in his
impressive samurai armor, Soun threatened to wash away Jusenkyo with his
tears. How Ranma could sacrifice so much of himself for the happiness
of Akane, the Tendo patriarch would never know. He would never be able
to repay him for this gitf of love.
Kasumi and Nabiki also stood wearing formal kimonos. Kasumi seemed
a little nervous, but she smiled at him encouragingly. Hoping with all
of her heart that this turned out okay, she knew being calm would help
Ranma. Nabiki wasn't smiling. She thought to herself, <Ranma, you have
no head for money, but you have the biggest heart I know of.>
Akane was standing just a little apart from her family. She wore
her formal attire, also. She looked at him with love in her eyes. She
mouthed at him, "It's still not too late, I can jump into the Spring of
Drowned Man!" He shook his head no and smiled at her before letting his
gaze wander on.
Ranma's gaze next fell upon Ukyo, Shampoo and Kodachi. They each
had chosen to wear their fighting outfits. Ukyo looked at Ranma with a
mixture of sadness and love. She knew that she wasn't his first choice,
yet she took comfort from the thought that he loved her enough to do
this for her.
Shampoo stood tall and proud, her eyes never wavering from Ranma's.
Her honor and place in the tribe were about to be restored. She would
have Ranma for a husband. She knew he didn't love her. She believed
with all her heart that she would win his love by being a better wife
than the others could hope to be.
As Kodachi's and Ranma's gaze crossed, the loneliness and longing
for love that were in her soul could be plainly seen. Ranma looked more
deeply into her eyes and saw a small spark of hope begin to come to
life.
Tatewaki Kuno stood stoically and watched Ranma. As Ranma looked
his way, he said, "Ranma Saotome, you do something today that I would
not be able to do. I salute you." With that, he pulled his bokken out
of its scabbard. Bowing forward, he held the bokken in both hands in
front of himself.
The last person there was Cologne. She stood there holding her
stick with an unreadable expression. She looked back wishing her
Son-in-law all the luck that he could possibly muster. He would need
every shred of it.
Ranma was surprised not to see P-Chan there. He shrugged it off
guessing that he must have wandered off again.
He turned and gazed at the pool. Its' surface was unruffled by any
motion. He saw his reflection looking back at him. Realizing that for a
part of him, this would be the last time he would ever see a male
reflection, he paused and said goodbye. Taking a big breath, Ranma
yelled, "Banzai!" and jumped in.