DISCLAIMER: I deny that I denied the denials of my denying
the denials of my denial.
-----------------
Ranma 1/2: "A Matter of Romantic Chemistry - pt. 6
By Lady Tesser and Jack Staik
----------------
Ranko spread her hair out over the floor, resting her arms
outward, breathing in the meditative patterns of soul-
searching.
She had some time before she went into the clinic, and she
spent it in thought as she lay on the floor of the dojo.
Her father was Ichiro Hibiki. Her genetic make-up did not
include Genma Saotome in any way. She had inherited the
apparent Hibiki temper and stubbornness that both Ranma and
Ryoga commonly displayed, with disastrous results. Nabiki
just informing her that Pantyhose was Ryoga's legal half-
brother only confirmed it.
Her ... mother ... was Nodoka Saotome. A woman who had an
affair with a travelling salesman out of loneliness. The
woman who gave birth to her brother. The woman who ... gave
birth to *her* long enough to not even take her first
breath. She had died before she lived, and her soul wandered
the Earth for near sixteen years.
(Of course, she had no proof of this, but it *felt* right.)
Meanwhile, her brother that had survived was being tortured
and treated like property by a thing that was never a father
in the first place. The mother did nothing to stop it, and
had even condoned it.
Sixteen years she had no body. She could not summon a memory
of where she went or who she came across in those years.
Yet, she distinctly remembered being born in Ranma's
consciousness. She remembered when Ranma fell into the
cursed spring and she was thrust into his skull, feeling
their consciousnesses mingle and fight and panic in need for
survival. Then he broke the water and both took that gasp of
air. Both were in panic: Ranma for having her birthed inside
him, and her for being born. The scream of when he looked
down and saw her body made from his ... it was shared by
both. A scream of horror from him and a scream of panic from
her as she beheld the world for the first time in
overwhelming, vivid detail.
She clung desperately at the edges of his consciousness.
There was a deep, black hole in there, empty and bottomless.
They fought constantly, as she attempted to gain control
over the female form several times. He beat her, he abused
her ... he even tried to kill her to rid her from his mind
and soul.
Broken at last, she let go and fell into the darkness.
But the darkness was not lonely, nor was it empty. It became
her. Or rather, she became it. Her newborn soul filled the
dark parts as she realized it was the ying of his soul. All
beings were born with both anima and animus, characteristics
of both sexes to survive, to have strength and compassion.
The years had made Ranma's ying empty, being beaten out of
him by Genma. He was dying, and she had to save him. She had
died, he shouldn't have to.
She didn't recall the reason why she had to, just that she
knew. After the revelation that she was once from the same
womb as her brother, she understood the knowing she had of
their connection that had guided her actions.
Her soul grew larger, encompassing and developing Ranma's
compassion. He still had control, but she broke through and
helped when she could. She paid attention to his dreams, his
thoughts, studied all she could when he was in female state
when he allowed her to look out of his eyes.
The last few months they had talked. Ranma found the place
to escape from everyone and she discovered an opportunity to
talk to him at last, when he was truly alone.
Ranko wiped her eyes. The only man she ever knew, the only
person who truly mattered to her, the child she cared for
and the friend she needed. She knew him to be noble and good
and honorable in the best sense of the word. Knew that his
backward ways were not his fault ... and she desired him.
Oh, yes, she would have tripped him and beat him to the mat.
Would have caused him the most wonderful of pleasures if he
let her take over his hands. Would have appeared completely
nude at the mirror they shared, offering him a treat. His
shyness and embarrassment prevented her from doing so, and
she respected it.
Perhaps it was best, but it can leave an emotionally-charged
girl in a complete tizzy.
She sighed, opening her blue eyes to stare at the ceiling.
She searched through her fantasies again, finding the one
marked 'Ranma in Attic and First Time', running it through
her mind. Then lost interest. She can't even enjoy *that*
now.
They weren't as close or innocent anymore, and Akane was
living out every one of her fantasies concerning Ranma,
probably more than she knew of. Also knowing that he was
truly her brother and that one of her best friends having
him also killed her desire.
She was painfully aware her soul and mind were more mature
than the others around her. All the teenagers were still
interested in games and glomping. Ranko longed for something
... more stable. Someone older, someone she could connect
with on all levels.
She let a chuckle escape, recalling the lyrics to an
American musical.
"I need someone
older and wiser - "
Yes, that would help matters a little more ...
<No, Ko-Chan, there is more to life than doing the
horizontal lambada with someone,> she firmly told herself.
She got up, smoothing her skirt and checking her blouse as
she left the dojo.
<But I'd like to know what it is ... >
* * * * * * * * * *
Ichiro was laying in a comfortable hospital bed with his son
standing next to him. His other son was in the other bed,
recovering from minor surgery from when the sumo pig landed
on him.
"Son, I am not disappointed in you. I know brothers fight -
your uncle Hansuke used to fight with me constantly as we
were growing up. You and ... your brother ... just have the
disadvantage of having curses and more advanced martial arts
training."
"I really didn't mean to destroy the kitchen, Dad," Ryoga
mumbled. "If Pantyhose hadn't - "
"Stop calling me that," the bearer of the name mewed faintly
from the other side of the curtain.
"Shut up, you. Dad, I don't want to be a disappointment to
you. If it's going to be that thing over there and me as
your sons, then I'm going to be the better of us."
Ichiro smiled, a single tear rolling down his face. "I am
proud of you, and always have been. You *are* honorable when
you choose to be. I am happy that you choose to be honorable
from now on." <And I do want *all* of my sons to get along.>
A soft knock came from the doorway, and the Hibikis looked
up. Nodoka Saotome was framed in the door, worry written
across her pretty face.
"No - " Ichiro caught himself. "Saotome-san, welcome. What
brings you by here?"
She bowed her head politely, praying her trembling didn't
show.
"I have come to keep you company, Hibiki-san. I feel ... a
little responsible after what happened last night at the
Tendo house."
Ryoga blushed, looking down at his feet. Last night, why
always last night ...
Ranko flickered her tongue out before she entered the
clinic. Odd, familiar energies were present. Seems the night
is going to be interesting indeed.
Inside, she found Shampoo in the waiting room, reading a
Canton newspaper.
"Yikes!" she breathed, seeing the girl she unmercifully beat
only days ago.
Shampoo looked up - and *smiled*! She set the paper down and
approached Ranko, hugging her. All the redhead could do was
stand in paralyzed fear and confusion.
"Ranko, Shampoo thank you for forcing fate to pick Shampoo's
Airen!"
"Nani? Am I missing something here?" she gathered her
thoughts and began anew in Cantonese. "{Sorry about that,
warrior, but what are you talking about?}"
Shampoo sighed in relief, wondering why she couldn't have
just spoken a language she was more familiar with among the
usual group. "{Because of what happened with you and Ranma,
I was forced by great-grandmother to find myself a husband.
I did so in which I would not have to face Akane, and it
turned out, by Artemis, that Ryoga is my True Love!}"
<Shampoo as my ... sister-in-law???>
Ranko facefaulted right on the clinic's tile floor.
The Amazon sighed, picking her up. "{I don't understand why
people are always shocked about it. Once you really look
deep in him, he is honorable and noble.}"
"{Yes ... yes ... I just never expected this ... }"
"{Call me Sister, friend. I forgive you of our fight.}"
Ranko raised her eyebrow, her suspicion meter red-lining.
"{Shampoo, is there something you want?}"
Shampoo looked at her, then smiled. "{Actually, Hiba-chan
wants you, Ranma, and Akane to join the Amazon tribe. I
don't really care one way or another, although Akane scares
me. I really do want to put the fight behind us. I want to
go on. I have Chibi-Happi for my first child, and I want
Ryoga as my husband. Whatever you want to do is fine by me,
just explain it to the withered old bitch first.}"
Shampoo stuck her lips out, hunching herself over,
pretending to hold a staff. "Shampoo, you go marry Ranma
Saotome. He powerful warrior. Those mushrooms were a lousy
idea, child," she mimicked her great-grandmother.
Ranko chortled, which made Shampoo break her act and laugh,
until both their giggles echoed off the clinic walls and
reached the Hibiki room.
"Sounds like Ranko," Nodoka sighed.
"And sounds like Shampoo," Ryoga sighed.
Ichiro beamed. His undecided daughter and his future
daughter-in-law were *getting along*!
"Oh, by the way, Nodoka-san, my son has been accepted as a
husband by the Amazon tribe ... "
* * * * * * * * * *
Tofu looked up at the ceiling of his private office,
listening to his receptionist have a laugh with Shampoo out
in the lobby. He smiled to himself, delighting in the
warmness of her laugh, the sheer excitement in it. He never
thought a girl's giggle would be so ... beautiful ...
<Wake up, old man. Forget it.>
He gathered up the Hibiki paperwork, and paused, listening
to the heartbeats around him. One quite similar to Ranma and
Ranko's was present. He decided to investigate.
Upon entering the Hibiki room, he did a double-take. At
first, he thought Ranko had dressed in a kimono and chopped
off her longish hair, then recognized the familiar patterns
of motherhood and age in her aura. <Ah, must be Mrs.
Saotome.>
He chuckled at the irony, Ranko's mother in his clinic.
"Konban wa," he greeted patients and visitors. "Just
checking on the Hibiki clan."
"Arigato, Tofu-sensei," Ichiro nodded. "May I introduce you
to Nodoka Saotome, mother of Ranma and Ranko, wife of Genma
Saotome."
Tofu noted the pained flinch on her subconscious level. <Oh
my my my. Interesting development here ... Nodoka Saotome
and good old Ichiro - boy never could keep his pants up ...
Who can blame him, the Saotome women are quite interesting
specimens ... both mother and daughter ... >
He slapped the thought aside and continued, "Pleased to meet
you at last. Your daughter is a great help in my clinic."
"Is she here?" Nodoka asked expectantly.
"Yes, out in the lobby. If you wish to speak with her ... "
"Ich - Hibiki-san?"
Tofu shook his head. <More obvious than these teenagers.
Good thing Ryoga keeps himself ignorant enough of such
behavior to not recognize it. Mental note: he appears to be
calmer and a brightness of intelligence in the eyes. Have to
ask Ichiro about that.>
Nodoka bowed her head and stood, quietly leaving the room.
She found Ranko and the Chinese Amazon talking by the desk,
both acting like the teenagers they were, instead of the
frightful martial artists she understood them to be. Both
spoke rapidly in Cantonese, slight blushes across their
cheeks, large smiles.
She felt a pain deep inside her gut, almost at her womb. How
she always wanted a daughter, to love and care and teach and
share with. She felt tears well up, and she bit them back.
Her own daughter, who had been misplaced for years, hated
her, believing she abandoned her.
She tried to remember what Ranko really yelled at her about,
of allowing Ranma to be tortured at the hands of Genma,
doing nothing to stop them. But had the girl any idea how
much *pain* she herself was in for sacrificing him? How much
she wanted to beat Genma and take her little boy back and
love him? How she wanted to throttle the ancestors for
dictating permission to kill a woman's spirit by taking her
only child away?
Nodoka wiped her tears with the back of her hand, lifting
the katana in front of her. She forced herself to approach
Ranko.
The girls quieted, observing her.
Ranko stared the woman eye to eye, their dark blue eyes
meeting and exchanging memories of pain and hate toward the
society that forced one to sacrifice and the other to fight.
"R-ranko -" Nodoka began.
Ranko turned away. "No - not yet. I can't yet."
Nodoka nodded, turned, and walked away.
She said 'not yet'; before she had said 'never'. There was a
chance.
Shampoo looked back and forth between the Saotome women.
<Serious emotions here.> "{Should I leave?}"
"No, Shampoo-chan," Ranko said. "It's nothing."
"{Liar.}"
* * * * * * * * * *
Some time later, Nodoka had returned to the Hibiki room
after Ryoga had left to talk with Shampoo about the
afternoon's fight. Nabiki had stopped by to offer them a
neutral ground to chat, since the Tendo home appeared to be
sanctuary in these strange times and circumstances. Her
father and Genma were nursing their hangovers in the office,
and she wanted some company.
Ranko updated the Hibiki records, performed spot cleaning,
greeted the patients of the doctor's evening trade. Her
initial shock had been over, and she didn't even flinch when
a vegetarian vampire came waltzing in, nor gaped when an
Egyptian mummy stumbled in, demanding to be rebandaged.
She was deep in thought as she deciphered Tofu's handwriting
for medical ordering, when a soft, low woman's voice
murmured, "Oh my my my ... "
"Nani?" Ranko looked up.
Sitting on the corner of her desk was a cherry-colored
skinned female. Small horns curved gently above her black
hairline, and a pair of tiny black bat wings stirred lazily
at her back. She was clad in a black leather bikini, showing
off a curvy and strong body.
<Great Gods! She actually has a better figure than I do!>
Ranko chuckled to herself.
"I'm here to see Doctor Tofu about ... some personal
concerns," she drawled, smiling to herself, almost giggling.
"Yes, the seven o'clock ... " Ranko handed her the clipboard
and added, "Tofu-sensei will be with you in a moment."
"I'm a regular," she replied, signing the sheet. "I'll be in
my usual room."
The woman slipped off the desk and ... she didn't just walk,
she bounced ... over the one of the examination rooms,
complete with swaying hips and jiggling assets.
Ranko scratched her head and looked down at the signature.
'Eryala, Succubus first class,' she read.
* * * * * * * * * *
Doctor Tofu looked at his personal schedule, and light
dawned on top of his head.
<Of course she would ... >
He entered the examination room and found the succubus
reclined on the table, her bikini laying on the counter.
Tofu nobly ignored the obscene posture she was in.
"Well, well, what the hells were you doing in my head last
night?" he asked.
She dropped the posture and giggled, leaping off the table
to throw her arms around him in an embrace.
"Come on, Ono-sweetie, you know I like to play with you ..."
she murmured, kissing his neck. "Although it surprised me
that the girl I portrayed is actually your receptionist.
Naughty, naughty doctor ... "
He cleared his throat, gently pushing her away. "Listen,
it's not what you think, and I'd appreciate it if you would
stop playing games with me before your appointments."
She let go of him, moving to the other side of the room.
"It was the most reaction I ever got out of you, sweetness.
Tell me it's not more than simple lust."
He giggled nervously, "She's my receptionist, nothing like
that."
"Oh, really?" She turned and brought her hands over her
head, down the front of her body. Her skin paled and her
hair lightened to red, shortening to half-way down her back.
Her eyes turned deep blue, and a trenchcoat grew over her
body.
"Look familiar, Tofu-sensei?" she asked, using Ranko's voice
that she heard moments ago.
Tofu felt his stomach clench, his battle aura snapping on.
"Don't ever desecrate her like that!"
At exactly the wrong moment, Ranko Saotome opened the door.
She took in the scene of the succubus that looked exactly
like her, the doctor with his battle aura flaring, and the
leather bikini strewn on the counter.
"I don't even *want* to know," she commented, closing the
door.
"Oops ... " the succubus squeaked.
"Now you've done it," he sighed, opening the door. "Wait!
Ranko!"
Ranko went back to her desk. "Don't worry, Tofu-sensei -
confidentiality rules, just like you told me."
"It isn't like that!" he protested. "She's just a patient."
"Of course."
"Dammit, stop that! I'm trying to explain!"
"And I believe you."
As he opened his mouth, Ranko placed her fingertips on his
lips. "Ono-san, please. Don't dig yourself in any deeper."
He was about to protest, but he noted the smile on her lips,
the chuckle in her voice ... and the tender skin of her
fingertips touching his lips ...
He pulled back. "Uh, right. I'll take care of Eryala - I
mean, I'll treat her - I- "
"Go back to your patient," she said, a huge, shining smile
on her face.
Tofu retreated, blushing.
<He *does* get embarassed easily,> Ranko thought to herself.
<It's a good thing she made herself look like *me* - if it
was Kasumi, he'd probably have given in.>
That thought depressed her, for reasons she didn't want to
think about.
* * * * * * * * * *
Shampoo took a quick trip home, to dress in a very naughty
dress (slightly too small, purple to compliment her hair,
with gold tracery designed to attract the watcher's
attention to certain places without being obvious about it),
while Nabiki escorted Ryoga to the Tendo Dojo.
She thought and thought about it. She couldn't win Ryoga by
simply glomping onto him. He'd have a nosebleed and ruin her
dress.
She noticed that Ryoga was acting differently at the clinic.
Whatever had happened, he became calmer and more thoughtful,
and she delighted in it even more. Cute, honorable,
innocently sexy, properly meek, and *strong*. By sheer
strength he could beat her in martial arts and they could
officially be engaged!
She twirled in front of her mirror, giggling to herself, and
bounced out of the room. As she passed by the kitchen, she
caught bits of conversation from her grandmother and the
idiot Mousse.
"{ ... say he was Ryoga Hibiki's father who did this to
you?}"
"{The monster did a 'Box Blower Blow' on me!}"
"{Why?}"
" ... "
Shampoo grinned and yelled, "{Because he destroyed the
Hibiki house, and Airen's father did not like it!}"
She heard a skillet make contact with Mousse's thick head,
and she chuckled, calling out, "{I'll be back later on
tonight, Airen and I are going to have a talk.}"
"{I'll put the baby to bed, child. I wish you luck. May the
Goddess bless you to succeed.}"
* * * * * * * * * *
Nabiki stared her guest eye to eye across the table,
studying to see if he were on any hard drugs.
"Why do you want to apologize to Akane all a sudden?" she
asked.
Ryoga shrugged. "I have to. After all the crap I did to her
... I feel really bad about it."
"So, it's not all Ranma's fault?"
He ground his teeth. "Not all of it. That bastard's fault is
most of it, but I must apologize to her for tricking her ...
for betraying her trust ... " He inhaled deeply, swallowing
the tears back down.
He couldn't help it, he was still in love with her. Ranma
had taken her away from him, and he couldn't do a damn thing
about it now. Yet ... he didn't really care, he just wanted
to see her, apologize to her, touch her face and perhaps
even cry for lost love.
He shook his head of his thoughts. They were scary things
now. Thoughts floating around, a newly reworked conscience.
Scary indeed.
Kasumi appeared in the doorway, holding a basket.
"I'm going to visit your father at the clinic, Ryoga, and
bring him and Nodoka-obachan dinner. Is there anything you
want me to relay to him for you?"
"Yeah ... I'm sorry for everything ... "
Kasumi nodded, smiling, then disappeared.
Nabiki turned back to him, appraising him. This was a whole
new side to the Lost Boy. The mindlessly-angry jerk was
gone, replaced by this stranger. This rather nice stranger.
"Hey, Ryoga?"
"Yeah?"
"Anyone ever tell you you're kinda cute?"
He replied by blushing to his hair roots, looking down at
the cup of tea in front of him.
The doorbell rang and Nabiki got up to answer the door.
"Shampoo hope not keep you waiting," the Amazon remarked,
entering the house.
"Not long ... listen, Shampoo, if it doesn't work out
between you two ... "
Shampoo raised her eyebrow, flexing her fingers into claws.
"You saw what happen to sumo pig girl?"
"Eep! Sorry I asked, didn't mean to offend you!"
"Not offend, but Shampoo know this work. Goddess blessed."
"Just go easy on him, he's not used to being glomped."
Shampoo smiled in return. "Shampoo not glomp this time; not
work anyhow. Have better idea."
* * * * * * * * * *
Kasumi entered the clinic, softly humming an ancient ballad
to herself. She placed the basket on the desk and looked
around.
Ranko appeared from the back, carrying a stack of folders.
"Hey, Kasumi-chan! What brings you by?" she inhaled, leaning
over the basket. "Food! YUM!!! I'm starved!"
She reached her hand over to the flap and Kasumi slapped it
away, laughing. "You'll have dinner when you come home
tonight! This is for Hibiki-otosan." <And your mother.>
Ranko rubbed her hand. "Ow, you can break some bones,
oneechan. He's in room five-A. Pantyhose is right next to
him, drugged off his ass, so he should be tolerable."
"Poor boy," Kasumi cooed. "Now that Happosai is an infant,
he can't change his name now, can he?"
"Oh, he can," Ranko sighed. "He's just too stupid to do it
himself."
"Tradition is hard to get rid of, Ko-Chan."
The redhead nodded soberly. A voice from the back called
out, "Ranko-chan, I need those files on the Isuke triplets."
"Aren't they at your end of the clinic?"
"No, they - why, Kasumi!" Doctor Tofu appeared behind Ranko.
"What a ... pleasant surprise! To meet you here ... of all
places!"
Ranko caught Kasumi rolling her eyes as she turned to see
the doctor morph into a complete doofus. The glasses fogging
up, his skin breaking out in a cold sweat, his hands
trembling and dropping folders ... Ranko dived down and
caught them before they hit the floor, then straightened
herself up away from him, since his hands were moving like
break-dancing pigeons.
Ranko looked at Tofu and looked at his aura, curious about
how his aura appeared in this condition ... and got a shock.
There was no trace of the gold of love, or the brighter
colors of infatuation. Instead, there was fear and anger and
helplessness. And that wasn't the least of it.
Every part of his aura was ... convulsing.
"Konban wa, Tofu-sensei," Kasumi smiled. "I have come to
keep Nodoka-obachan and Hibiki-san company."
"Yes, yes ... " the once competent doctor shuffled back,
running into the file cabinet and started it to tip over.
Ranko leapt over him and the files to push it back up before
it fell.
"Tofu-sensei, why don't we go back into your office?"
"Oh, yes ... arigato ... uh, Ranko ... um, bye ... "
Tofu turned and rammed face first into a door frame, then
stumbled through it and around the corner.
Kasumi watched him, then turned to Ranko. "Do you now
understand why I feel sorry for him? He can't behave himself
around me. I've no idea why he reacts that way." She picked
up the basket. "I had better take this in before it gets
cold."
"All right," Ranko answered in a distracted manner, "see you
in a little bit." She dashed to the doctor's office, worry
on her face.
He was hyperventillating in his desk chair, his aura just
twitching. But the fear and anger and helplessness was still
there, now mixed with shame.
"Ono?" she asked, alarm in her voice.
"I'm ... recovering, Ko-Chan," he said.
"What happened?"
"I - don't know. It happens whenever Kasumi comes around.
I've never been able to figure it out."
Ranko got a damp washcloth from his washroom and patted off
his forehead. "Everyone thinks you're so in love with her
that you go nuts when she's around."
"I used to think that, too," he replied. "But I have no
problem with avoiding her. And I do believe that if I were
in love with her, I'd try to keep her around. Instead, I'm
beginning to ... resent her."
Ranko narrowed her eyes, staring into his eyes. "Interesting
- needs to be looked into ... "
* * * * * * * * * *
Kasumi excused herself and wandered around, finding the
Hibiki room. She knocked softly at the door frame and Ichiro
brightened.
"Come in Tendo-chan, come in!" he called. "Nodoka and I were
just talking about trying to find some dinner. Want to
order?"
"Well, here I am, delivering some wholesome, home-cooked
food."
"A Gods'-send, Kasumi," Nodoka replied, accepting the basket
from her.
"No problem at all. Friends must be taken care of."
"Indeed," Ichiro agreed, smiling. A thought occurred to him.
"Kasumi, could you look in on my son and see if he's well
enough to eat?"
"Hai." Kasumi bowed and turned to brush the curtain lightly
aside.
Pantyhose's side of the room was dark, the sound of a few
medical monitors next to him beeped softly. She approached
the figure in the bed, debating within herself of what to
do.
"Come to see the freak?" he asked weakly.
"No, only to see you are all right." She settled in the
chair next to him, finding a cool cloth on his table. She
dipped it in the pan of ice water, wringing it out, then
applied it to his forehead.
"I'm not all right. Nothing has ever been right ... " he
paused, feeling the coolness against his skin. "Why are you
here?"
"Shh," she whispered. "Let me take care of you, dear."
"I don't need to be taken care of."
"Of course not," she humored him.
"I'm strong."
"Of course you are."
"I'm tired."
"I know, my dear. Rest, all will be better from now on."
She felt his fingers fold over her wrist in the dark,
squeezing it gently. "I hope so ..."
Kasumi leaned over and softly kissed his forehead. "Trust
me."
He smiled weakly. "All right," he whispered, then slipped
into unconsciousness.