The characters in this story belong to their respective creators and rights
holders. Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi. Sailor Moon is the
creation of Naoko Takeuchi. All original content is the creation of Samuel
Phoenix. Recognition is given to John Sanchez for a small kick of
inspiration that helped produce this story, and to Harold Ancell who has
been a near constant source of input, information, and ideas.

Awkward Consequences
Chapter 5: Settling In
PsyckoSama (syp104@psu.edu)


Hotaru blushed deeply and began daydreaming with a big joyful smile on her
face. Her mind filled with happy images of her and Ranma.

Ranma blinked, and waved his hand in front of her face. "Hotaru, you okay?"

Hotaru blushed, and put her hands behind her back. "You really want to stay
with me?"

Ranma nodded, and said, "Yeah, I don't got anywhere else to go."

Hotaru looked down and sighed. "Is that all? Are you just looking for a
place to stay and nothing more?"

Ranma began to get nervous. In a stuttering unsure voice he said, "Not like
I wouldn't like to stay here... The place is nice and I...."

He smacked his head trying to clear it. He was cold, he was wet, he was
female, and he had just been kicked out of the only home he could remember.
It was not the best time for him. "Hotaru, if I said something that upset
ya, I'm sorry. I think you're a really nice girl, and we might as well get
used to living together."

Hotaru looked up at him, slowly repeating, "we might as well get used to
living together." She sat down onto her bed, her face becoming totally red.
She slowly caught her breath and looked up towards him.

In a meek voice she said, "We might as well get used to living together?
Ranma, are you implying what I think you are?"

Ranma in return blushed and scratched the back of his head, "Well... I
really wanted to wait till I had a ring, and maybe go out to dinner or
somethin'. You know, make it romantic an' stuff?" Ranma looked Hotaru in the
eyes. "I want to talk to you a bit before I ask..."

Hotaru shallowly nodded and motioned Ranma to sit next to her. Once he was
seated she said, "I want to talk to you too. So, what do you want to say?"

"Hotaru, my life is pure hell. No matter what I do, bad things happen. My
friends and loved ones are always in danger or getting' hurt because of me.
I'd would be willing to risk it with the fianc�es cause they can defend
themselves, but you're just a normal girl and soon we're going to be having
a kid. I don't know if I'll be able to protect ya and the baby." He looked
down for a moment, then continued in a weary voice, "I just want you to
think hard about that before you say. I don't want ya or our baby to get
hurt."

Hotaru shook her head, chuckled, then kissed him on the cheek. "Ranma, that'
s sweet, but I really doubt there will be any problems."

Ranma scowled lightly. "I'm being serious, Hotaru."

Hotaru smiled in response. "So am I."

"Are absolutely you sure?"

She nodded.

Ranma smiled, then said, "So, what ya wanna ask me?"

Hotaru looked Ranma in the eyes. "Why are you asking me? I want you to be
honest with me, please. I will not hold anything you say against you."

Ranma blinked, and said. "I've gotta. I don't want to make you raise my kid
on your own. It would be wrong of me to do that to you."

She looked down, pulled her knees up to her chest, and covered her face.
Ranma could tell that tears beginning to fall. After a minute or two she
said, "Don't ask Ranma. I'll say no," in a very week voice."

"What? Why?"

Hotaru's tears began to flow in earnest. "I don't want to force you, Ranma.
This is forever! I... I don't want to marry a man who will resent me, or our
child, for the rest of his life."

Ranma was dumbfounded. He moved closer to her, held her for a moment, and
then wiped her eyes with his shirt sleeve in a futile attempt to dry them.
"Hotaru, thank you. Thank you very, very much"

She narrowed her eyes, and glared at him. "Thank you?"

Ranma smiled and hugged the smaller girl tightly. "Hotaru, all my fianc�es
care about is themselves, they don't really care about me. They're always
acting like they own me! They never ask, they just spew crap like 'Ranma
take Shampoo on date!' or 'I'm your cute fianc�e, right, Ran-chan' without
caring how I feel. You just did something they never did." He paused for a
moment then mumbled, "That no body ever did."

Hotaru blinked, and asked, "Are you serious?"

Ranma nodded and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, Hotaru, you're the
first person to ever really care about *my* happiness. Thanks a lot."

Hotaru blushed brightly and looked down.

"There is another reason too. I didn't want to say this but..." he sighed
then continued, "This could be my escape."

Hotaru cocked her head, and glared at him again. "Your what?"

"My escape form the crap I have to live with in Nerima. I didn't want to
tell you that because I didn't want you to think I was using you. I like ya,
and really want to give this a shot, Hotaru."

Hotaru blinked, shook her head, then smiled brilliantly. "You really know
how to put you foot in your mouth, Ranma."

Ranma scratched the back of his head and said, "Yeah, I've been told..."


Hotaru giggled, then hop on Ranma's lap, much to his distress. Wrapping her
arms around him, and in a very cute voice she said, "So, are you going of
ask me?"

Ranma blushed, and squirmed out of Hotaru's embrace, much to the girl's
displeasure. "I really wanted to wait till I had a ring..." Looking down at
'herself', Ranma continued, "Or at least, was in the right body."

Hotaru giggled lightly, jumped off of Ranma, then said, "It's okay, Ranma. I
can wait."

Ranma smiled. "Thank you, Hotaru-chan. So...."

Hotaru chuckled. "Of course you can stay here, except for one little
problem...."

Ranma sighed. "Your family?"

She grinned and nodded.

"Do they know?"

She nodded again.

"You have any ideas?"

Once again, she nodded.

With a groan of frustration, Ranma said, "Could please you stop acting cute
and talk to me?"

Hotaru smiled brightly and giggled. "I have an idea, but are you willing to
stay a girl for a while?"

Ranma shrugged, and said, "Sure. I'm not exactly fond of the idea, but I can
manage."

Hotaru nodded. "Good! I'll tell them the truth."

Ranma gulped. The truth hurt and he had a feeling it would be painful. "You
sure that's a good idea?"


Hotaru nodded. "Sure it is! I'll say you're a 'friend' who has been kicked
out of her house! I'll just neglect to mention that you're actually a man,
or the details of our relationship!"

"So, you want me to pretend to be one of your girlfriends or somethin'?"

"We can say you're my girlfriend, if you want," said Hotaru with a
suggestive wink.

Ranma blushed. "But we're both girls!"

Hotaru shrugged. "So?"

Ranma blushed. "It just ain't natural!"

Hotaru shook her head. "Both Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa are women. I don't
think that's unnatural!"

Ranma blinked.

With a sigh, Hotaru said, "They're lesbians..." Glancing at Ranma's hair,
she added, with a smirk "... and I think you look good in red."

Ranma blushed even brighter. Trying to change the subject he said, "Okay...
so, what do ya want me to do?"

Hotaru pointed to the window. "Knock on the front door."

Ranma nodded. "I'll be going by the name 'Ranko'. I use that name a lot when
I'm in girl-form."

"Okay."

"See you in a couple, Hotaru-chan." Without another word, he was out the
window.

----------------------------------

"Michiru, what do you think we should do to this kid, Ranma?" growled
Haruka.

Michiru gave her lover a dirty look. "Haruka, we are going to do absolutely
nothing."

Haruka scowled. "He's blinding the Time Gates, he might be a threat to
Crystal Tokyo, and the rat bastard knocked up our little Hotaru-chan!"

Michiru shook her head. "She is not 'our little Hotaru-chan' anymore. She's
a young woman." Michiru sighed. "I'm disappointed in myself. It took
something like this to make me realize the truth."

Haruka nodded. She really didn't want to kill the little prick, but he was
not going to get away with this unharmed. "You're right, but that's still is
no excuse. If I see him, he will be in a world of pain."

Michiru sighed and shook her head, in a slightly annoyed voice she said,
"You better not kill him."

Haruka waved it off. "Don't worry, I'll leave enough to drag to the alter.
He's not getting out of this one that easy!"

Ding-Dong!

Michiru looked up at the clock. "Ten-Thirty? Who would visit at this time of
night?"

Haruka sighed, and with a grunt of displeasure, she stood up and walked to
the door. This better be important.

When she opened the door, she was pleasantly surprised. It was a hot
redhead, drenched to the bone. She mentally went over the girl's features.
She was tall, had wonderful figure, really great breasts, and a really wet
shirt. By all respects, a total fox.

She looked to the girl's side and saw two very large traveling packs by the
side of the door. What the hell was going on?

Not feeling the need to be terribly pleasant, she asked, "Who are you?"

The redhead looked at Haruka with puppy-dog eyes, and said, in a sugar sweet
voice, "Hi, my name is Ranko! Is Hotaru home? I really gotta talk to her."

Haruka never heard Hotaru mention any 'Ranko's. Of course she never had
mentioned any 'Ranma's, and look where that got her. With a scowl she said,
"Can this wait? Hotaru's sleeping."

Ranko shook her head violently. "It can't! I really have to speak to her!"

Haruka shook he head. Hotaru had a long day, and the last thing she needed
was some girl waking her up. "I'm afraid it'll have to wait."

"Haruka! Don't be rude!" said Michiru from behind her. Walking past, Michiru
pulled the girl inside. "I'm sorry about that, please, step out of the
 rain!"

Ranko nodded. "Thank you."

Hotaru walked into view from the hall. She looked like the doorbell had
awakened her. One thing that Haruka could not help but note, was the
presence of large wet spots on her clothing. "Ranko-chan?"

The redheaded girl sniffed and looked at Hotaru. "I've got a problem,
Hotaru-chan."

Hotaru blinked. "They didn't!"

Michiru blinked. "Who didn't what?"

"Who is this girl, Hotaru?" asked Haruka.

Hotaru smiled. "This is my friend Ranko."

Haruka sighed. "We know that much, but what is this about."

Ranko frowned and looked down. "I had a fight with my parents and was kicked
out of the house. My father and I never really got along and Hotaru said
that if something like this ever happened I could stay with her..."

She had never heard anything about this. It was too dangerous. If that girl
found out that they were Sailor Senshi... "I can not allow this."

Both Hotaru and Ranko blinked. There was a moment of silence then Ranma
began to whimper.

Ranko gasped, then cried out in desperation, "Oh no! This was my only hope!
Now all I have left is the street! I'll be a helpless beautiful young girl
struck out on the streets all alone with no one to protect me! What will
happen to me! There are bad men out there! I'll be force into prostitution
and raped and... and..." it was then the whimpering suddenly became a
full-fledged unintelligible wail.

Haruka stepped back as Hotaru rushed forward to comfort the girl. She could
not look into the girl's tear-filled, liquid-blue, puppy-dog eyes without
having all her will stripped away.

She shook her head, sighed, and then asked, "Isn't there anywhere else?"

The girl shook her head violently.

She looked to Michiru, who nodded. Then with a groan of resignation Haruka
said, "Fine, you can stay."

Suddenly the tears were gone, and the girl was smiling brightly. With a
cheerful cry of "Thanks," Ranko grabbed her bags from just outside the door,
then ran back past Haruka to get inside.

Haruka blinked. Had she just been played?

Ignoring Haruka's reaction, Michiru took the girl's hand and led her to the
living room. "I'm sorry to hear about your family, Ranko-chan. You can stay
with us as long as you need to."

Hotaru smiled and grabbed Ranko by the wrist, pulling her towards the
stairs. "She can sleep in my room tonight!"

"Sounds good!" said Michiru as the two girls went up the stairs.

Haruka though for a moment, she wondered how a girl that thin could carry
two packs that size, and why did Hotaru's smile seem... naughty?

----------------------------------

Hotaru smiled as she closed the door behind her. It had worked; now Ranma
could stay here with her.

"So, what now?" asked Ranma.

Hotaru smiled. "Time for you to take a bath. You'll get sick if you stay wet
like that."

Ranma shrugged. "I guess so... but what if they walk in on me?"

Hotaru shrugged Ranma's paranoia off with a wave of her hand. "Don't worry!"

"That nice and all, but I don't think your 'papa' would trust me alone in
the house."

Hotaru smiled at Ranma suggestively. "I'll just have to solve that problem."

Ranma blinked. "How?"

Hotaru shook her head. The boy was cute, but clueless. "I'm going to take a
bath too."

Ranma jumped back. "What? That's... err... inappropriate!"

Hotaru groaned and gave Ranma a look of exasperation. "We're soon to be wed,
we live together, and I'm carrying your child. Could you please explain to
me how it's not proper?"

Ranma blinked, and then lowered his head. "You're right."

Hotaru smiled. She knew that he would agree! She went through her closet,
grabbed two robes, then threw one to Ranma with a cry of, "Catch!"

Ranma caught the violet robe. He took a look at it then glanced around the
room. "You must really like purple."

Hotaru blushed, and then nodded. "How'd you guess?"

Ranma smiled. "Well, your sheets are purple, your robe is purple, your night
clothes are purple, even your panties are purple!"

Hotaru blushed bright red and looked down. "It's my favorite color, Ranma."

Ranma smiled. "I can see why. You have those big, pretty, purple eyes of
yours."

Hotaru blushed even brighter. She could get used to this. Smiling as she
stood up she grabbed Ranma's hand. "Let's take that bath, Ranma!"

----------------------------------

Ranma looked at Hotaru for a moment as she stripped off her clothing. She
was so beautiful. He could not help but think about how his life was
changing because of her. He had finally made a choice. It felt good to be
free from the weight on his soul. While he known and accepted the fact that
he would never have a chance at a normal courtship, he had lucked out.
Hotaru was a really nice girl! She actually cared about his feelings, and
she hadn't hit him once!

Hotaru blushed, then interrupted his train of thought. "Ranma? Aren't you
going to get undressed?"

Ranma jumped in surprise, and blushed as he realized that he had just been
just standing there staring at her the entire time.

With a quick, "Sorry!" he began to strip down as fast as he could. Both his
shirts quickly were tossed into the hamper, quickly followed by his pants.
As he threw the pants into the hamper something fell out of them.

"Ranma, what's this?" asked Hotaru as she walked over next to him. He felt a
pang of anxiety go up his back as Hotaru lifted the item. It was Akane's
ring.

Hotaru opened the box, and then glared at Ranma. She had an angry but sad
look on her face. "You said you didn't have a ring! If you wanted to wait,
fine, but there was no reason to lie!"

"Wait..."

Hotaru sat down on the tile floor and looked up at Ranma. "You never really
were going to ask, were you?"

Ranma sighed and kneeled down in front of her. "I never lied. It just would
not feel right giving you that ring."

Hotaru blinked. "Why?"

"Hold on a second..." Ranma quickly rushed into the other room to turn on
the water to cover their conversation. When he was back, he said, "Look at
the inscription inside."

Hotaru pulled the engagement ring out of the box and looked. "Ranma and
Akane Forever?"

"About the Christmas before last our dads tried to force the engagement by
making me give her a ring. I never gave it to her, and it would not feel
right giving you another girl's ring."

"Ranma, how do you feel about her?"

Ranma sighed. There was no reason to keep it hidden. "I loved her, once."

Hotaru nodded. "What happened?"

Ranma shrugged. "It started six months ago when I went to a different
college. She just did not trust me without her supervision and stated acting
more and more paranoid. She basically destroyed all the progress we had made
over the previous year and a half."

Hotaru nodded. "I see."

Ranma scowled. "After all I've done for her, she still couldn't trust me.
Hotaru, I didn't do nothin' wrong and she still didn't trust me."

Hotaru blinked. "All you've done for her? Like what?"

Ranma sighed, a slightly anxious look in his eyes. "I killed for her."

Hotaru gasped. "You did what?"

This would take a while. "I'll explain it to you in the bath."

Hotaru nodded. "Okay, Ranma. I can wait for a little while."

----------------------------------


Hotaru giggled as she saw Ranma enter the water, and transform from female
to male. Just seeing how the body changed was fascinating to her.

When he was seated in the waters, Hotaru slipped into the tub. She smiled at
her lover, and cuddled into him.

As Hotaru pressed her nude body into his, Ranma began to squirm. "Hotaru!
What are you doing?"

With a blissful moan, she rested her head on his chest. She then smiled and
looked him in the eyes. "I'm just getting comfy."

Ranma gulped, and started looking side to side, as if he was getting more
and more nervous. Hotaru wondered what would make him react this way to
intimate contact? "What's wrong, Ranma?" She asked.

He smiled stupidly and looked down at the purple-eyed girl. "I'm just not
good with this kinda stuff. It's always been nothing but trouble for me."

Hotaru snuggled in a bit then caressed his face. He seemed to be relaxing a
little. "How so?"

Ranma looked down for a moment, and then very hesitantly placed his arm
around Hotaru. "I'm just used to unwanted attention. All my fianc�es,
Shampoo especially, try and smother me in intimate contact. A couple of
times Shampoo even snuck in on me during a bath! It would always end with
Akane hitting me even if it wasn't my fault."

Hotaru scowled. Those girls sounded like real pieces of work. No wonder he
had intimacy problems. Oh well, she could fix that. "Don't worry, Ranma, I'
ll never do anything like that."

Ranma smiled. "Thanks, Hotaru-chan."

Hotaru giggled and kissed him on the cheek. After a moment, she sighed and
looked him in the eyes. "Ranma, tell me, who and why did you kill?"

Ranma sighed. "It's a long story. I killed the Phoenix-God Saffron."

Hotaru gasped. Ranma killed a god?! She could not believe that, or could
she? He looked like he was being serious... how could a normal human being
kill a god? She gulped and continued, "Go on, Ranma."

Ranma nodded. "It all goes back to Jusenkyo..."

----------------------------------


"... and that's what happened," finished Ranma. He really did not like
talking about Saffron, but she had asked and he saw no good reason to
refuse.

He looked down at Hotaru's small form and smiled. Boy was she cute. He
slowly placed his arms around her. For some reason he felt at ease. He sat
in place, holding her for a few moments. He was surprised that she had not
said anything about the story. It was pretty incredible, and sometimes he
even had trouble believing it. "Hotaru-chan, what do ya think?"

Nothing.

He blinked. "Hotaru-chan?"

Still nothing.

He nudged her gently, and she shifted slightly. It was then that he realized
that she had fallen asleep. He sighed, the started to shake her.
"Hotaru-chan, wake up."

The girl turned and yawned. After a moment, she blinked and looked him in
the eye. "Ranma?"

He smiled. "You fell asleep."

She moved away from him and stretched. Ranma could not help but note the way
the movement of her lithe body helped accent her breasts. "I'm sorry, Ranma.
I wanted to hear the story, but I was so tired and you're so comfortable."

Ranma smiled the shook his head. "It's ok." He looked side-to-side for a
moment, and continued. "Come on, let's get to bed before someone walks in on
us."

Hotaru nodded and they both stood up. Ranma went over to the faucet and
placed his hand under some cold water to trigger his curse.

As Hotaru slipped on her robe, she said, "Ranma, can you tell me about
Jusendo again tomorrow?"

Ranma nodded as he covered himself. "Ok, just don't fall asleep this time."

Hotaru giggled. "Don't worry!"

Ranma smiled and left the bathroom, pocketing Akane's ring box.

It was only a moment until they were back in Hotaru's room. Both of them
quickly finished drying off. Hotaru slipped back into her nightclothes,
while Ranma dug around in one of his backpacks until he found a dry pair of
boxers and a tank top. Ranma also took this as a chance to put the ring back
into his pack. He then pulled out his bedroll and prepared for bed.

"Ranma, what are you doing?" asked Hotaru, and she sat down onto her bed.

"I'm getting ready to go to sleep."

Hotaru sighed in exasperation. "Not on that you aren't!"

Ranma blinked. "Then where do you expect me..." he paused after a moment of
realization, then continued, "You want me to sleep in your bed don't you."

Hotaru nodded. "It has to be more comfortable than that thing, and we might
as well get used to it!"

Ranma blushed, then looked at Hotaru. She was right. He was going to marry
this girl. He had all but asked, and she had all but said yes. In not much
more than half a year, they were going to be parents. There really was no
reason to resist.

"Ok, Hotaru-chan," said Ranma, as he sat on the bed next to her. He looked
at her, then the mattress for a moment and said, "I don't think there is
room for both of us."

Hotaru smiled coyly. "Then I guess we'll have to snuggle."

Ranma gulped, but said nothing. While he though that she was a little
over-anxious he could understand why. She was a lonely person, and was
hungry for the affection and kindness of another. He could sympathize.

As the two laid down on the bed, Hotaru snuggled into Ranma and turned off
the lamp.

----------------------------------


Ranma held Hotaru's sleeping figure tightly. He glanced at the alarm clock
on her nightstand. 1:30. He had been laying here for two hours. He could not
rest. His mind was too busy, and sleeping next to a girl felt strange. The
crazed events of the day running through his head.

He gazed at the shadowed walls of Hotaru's room. What would the future hold
for him now? He had made a choice. The damnable choice that had been hanging
over his head for two years was finally dealt with. There was no turning
back, and no regrets.

His fianc�es would be outraged. He had just put himself and Hotaru in
danger. They would not react well, and if the failed wedding were any sign,
they would be violent.

He looked down at Hotaru, the beautiful, innocent girl who would soon be
mother of his child. He silently swore to himself that no harm would ever
come to her or their baby. Not Akane, not Shampoo, not Ukyou, and not any
gods or demons would ever harm his family. They would have to kill him
first, and Saotome Ranma never loses.

He smiled down at her. "Good night, Hotaru-chan."

Hotaru lightly shifted in Ranma's arms, resting her head between his chin
and breasts. In a light, unconscious whisper she replied, "Good night...
Anata."



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