Sorry about the wait......
Epiphany chapter 15
Previous Chapters of this story and all my other works can be
located at my site(Which has changed slightly FYI) :
http://www.geocities.com/tripolareq/Fanfic/fanfic.htm
*****************************************************************
Akane was being lead out to the dojo by Ranko and Shampoo.
"What do you two want? I'm tired, and I want to get some sleep."
Akane was grumbling under her breath as well.
After they stepped inside, Shampoo stood at the door looking if
anyone was following them. She then shut it quietly behind her
before making her way across the floor to the center where Ranko
and Akane were sitting, facing each other. She sat down next to
Ranko.
Several long moments of silence passed before Ranko's lips
quivered and she finally found the urge to speak.
"Akane. Please don't hate me. I know something about Ranma that
you should know. I have been afraid to tell you."
Akane was shocked. The tears starting to form across Ranko's
face were evident that whatever secret she was carrying was
tearing at her.
"What... what is it.. Ranko? What's wrong with Ranma?"
Ranko sniffled. "It's nothing wrong with him. It's just
something about who he is... About who SHE is, and who she
loves."
Akane turned toward Shampoo, who was strangely calm and composed
despite the moment.
Shampoo looked directly into Akane's eyes. "Akane. Ranma has
feelings for someone else."
Akane felt like she was being hit with a bullet. A sharp pain
rippled across her body starting at her heart. She tried to
speak but her voice was caught in her throat. Her mind tried to
register what she had just heard, and began cycling through all
the girls and even some boys that Ranma knew.
Then it struck her. Her vision seemed to escape her body, and
fly through the house. Turning into the living room, her mind's
eye stopped on the image of Ranma-chan sleeping. Sleeping in
Kasumi's lap, relaxed and quiet.
the image faded and she was staring at Ranko, who was now nearly
crying. Akane could only mutter one word. "Kasumi?"
Both girls opposite her nodded.
Ranko spoke up. "It's my fault Akane. She likes you... but
more as a friend. It was me who was drawn to you. And it was me
who influenced Ranma's feelings toward you."
Shampoo added. "Now that Ranko is out, Ranma is finding her own
feelings and they are going toward Kasumi, who has tried to care
for her more than anyone else."
Akane started to stutter. "What about what she said to me that
day? What about...."
Ranko hung her head. "That was me. Ranma let me take control
for one day and I wanted you to love him. No, love me. I'm
sorry."
Akane was calm, almost too calm. Shampoo was worried because she
was not feeling any hostility or anger that Akane usually
exhibited.
Ranko watched as Akane stood up and walked out of the Dojo.
Shampoo helped Ranko up and they quickly followed her out and
into the house.
Akane walked into the living room slowly. There in front of her
was exactly as she had pictured it. Ranma-chan sitting in
Kasumi's lap, her head and shoulder leaning against the older
girl. Kasumi was holding her with one arm and while she slowly
ran her fingers through Ranma's unbound red hair.
She stood there looking at her sister and her fianc�e for several
seconds before turning and walking upstairs. She went to her
room and shut the door.
Ranko and Shampoo entered after witnessing the entire event.
They turned toward each other. Ranko commented. "That actually
went better than I thought."
Shampoo slapped her across the back of her head. Ranko flinched.
"Yeah I know, it ain't over yet."
She took off of up the stairs toward Akane's room.
Shampoo walked over and kneeled down in front of Ranma. She held
one hand out to wake her when Ranma's eyes came open.
"I wish you two could have waited for me."
Shampoo was taken back. She had no clue how Ranma knew, or was
awake in fact.
Ranma-chan stood up. Kasumi followed suit and Ranma gave her a
hug. "Thank you Kasumi-chan. I needed that."
Kasumi smiled "Go to her now. She needs to hear the truth."
*****************************************************************
Ranma-chan met Ranko still gathering enough nerve to knock on
Akane's door. Ranma took her hand and lowered Ranko's arm, then
opened the door, stepped inside and closed it behind her.
Inside she saw Akane, sitting on her bed. Akane wasn't crying
but she didn't show any sign that someone had walked in.
Ranma-chan sat down next her, and waited to see what would
happen.
Akane finally turned toward Ranma-chan. Her eyes were wide and
searching for something. She could see the concern and the pain
within the smaller girl's eyes.
"I'm not mad at you Ranma. I'm not upset at you either." She
paused while she turned away then down toward the floor. "I'm
upset and angry with myself. I hurt you so much. I found out
tonight how much pain you were in, and I had no idea at all. I
should have given you more support for your problems, but I only
made them worse. I ridiculed you the most and I always wondered
why you kept coming back."
"If it wasn't for Kasumi, you might not be here. You could be
dead, or worse. She saved you from.... from all of us."
"You deserve to have someone like my sister, if she will have
you. Does she like you too?"
Ranma-chan rubbed her cheek. "I think so. I hope so."
Akane smiled slightly. "Well, I hope so too. You two looked so
calm and peaceful together. Maybe your fianc�e problems are
over."
Ranma-chan gave Akane a hug. "Can we still be friends?"
Akane tried to giggle between sniffles. "I would like that.
But, can you leave me now. I have some crying to do."
Ranma-chan nodded. As she stepped out the door. She whispered.
"I understand Akane."
Ranko pushed past her and into Akane's room. Ranko paused a
moment. "Maybe you do, but I don't." And the door shut behind
her.
Ranma-chan was left outside the door, wondering what Ranko was up
to.
*****************************************************************
Kasumi was sitting downstairs sipping tea with Nodoka.
"Auntie Saotome. I didn't mean to make everyone upset tonight.
It's just been so hard to stay quiet about Ranma. She won't
admit that she needs help sometimes. Now she doesn't have to
hide."
Nodoka nodded. "I just hope that she does come to one of us.
Especially now."
Kasumi gave Nodoka a confused look. "What do you mean?"
Nodoka put down her tea. "You have noticed that Ranma is
spending more and more time as a girl. In fact, I haven't seen
his male side in days. SHE's also starting to act more naturally
like a girl."
"I worry about how her schoolmates might treat her. I wonder if
Ranma might be better off starting in a new school."
Seconds passed as both pondered her words, but nothing was said.
Kasumi wondered if Nodoka was right.
*****************************************************************
Ranko was walking down the street toward the park. She was going
to get a little time to herself.
As she idly fingered the T-shirt she was wearing, she was knocked
to the ground by a basketball hitting her in the back.
"Heh, stupid Fem-boy must be getting soft. He can't even hear a
simple attack coming." Pantyhose Taro dropped onto the pavement
behind her prone form. He was surprised that Ranko hadn't yet
hopped up and started battling.
Ranko rolled over onto her side, several scrapes on her knees and
her arms were visible. She touched one with her finger and
winced then turned toward Taro. "Why did you hit me? What did I
do to you?"
Taro snorted. "Get off it Fem-boy. What? Have you gotten so
used to being a girl that it's fried your brain?"
At that moment Ranma-kun came flying in from out of nowhere
attacking hard and punched Taro in the cheek. He never saw it
coming and was knocked out cold.
*****************************************************************
As Taro opened his eyes, he swore he was looking at two Ranmas.
Ranma was cradling Ranko in his arms. "You idiot! You touch my
sister again and I'll..."
Pantyhose stared at the pair. "Your sister? She looks like your
girl half! I didn't even know you had a sister."
Ranko replied, "He didn't know until just a few days ago."
Taro continued to stare at the two of them. "Well, since you're
here Saotome, I gotta couple of words for you." He cracked his
knuckles to accent his meaning.
Ranko hopped down out of Ranma's arms. "No, you started a fight
with me, and now we are going to finish it. This afternoon at
four at the dojo. And you'd better show up, you don't want to
say you were afraid of some little girl!"
Ranma grabbed her from behind, "Ranko, please don't do this."
Ranko smiled. "Don't worry Big Bro. I may not be a martial
artist like you, but I can handle myself against this lug. He
needs to be a taught a lesson anyway."
Taro laughed. "You expect to beat me and you're not even a
martial artist? No wonder you didn't dodge that ball. I refuse
to fight a weakling." He started to walk away.
Ranko simply smiled. "If you don't show up, I'll tell the entire
world and the old pervert Happosai you were too afraid to face
me. Plus you'll never get the cure for Jusenkyo."
Taro stopped dead in his tracks. "A ... cure?" He spun around
and jumped at Ranma. "WHERE IS IT?" He nearly screamed as he
held Ranma by the collar.
Ranko cleared her throat. "He doesn't know. I never told him
and he doesn't have it either. If you want it, then you better
be there."
Ranko turned around and went back to the house leaving the two
boys to look at her while frozen in place.
*****************************************************************
Later on Akane, Shampoo and a male Ranma were still trying to
talk Ranko out of the fight she had started with Taro.
"But Ranko, you don't know any Martial Arts. He'll tear you up."
"You can't do it. I won't let you."
"Ranko. You are not thinking clearly enough here. If he thinks
you have a cure, he will fight harder to get it. And you don't
have one to offer."
Ranko just smiled again. "I told Ranma that there was a cure,
didn't I?
Ranma nodded. "Yeah I remember, after you gave me the ability to
change."
Ranko nodded. "But I never told you what it was, did I?"
Ranma nodded again. "So? He's still going to cream you to find
it out."
Ranko giggled and gave Ranma a kiss on his cheek. "You worry
about me too much. Trust me, I can handle this and this cure may
not be what he wants after all."
*****************************************************************
Everyone was sitting on the edge of the house, looking over the
Koi pond. Ranko stood on the grass, impatiently tapping her
foot.
Sure enough, at the appointed hour, Pantyhose hopped over the
wall and landed in front of Ranko.
He smirked. "Alright, I'll take it easy on you since you ain't
a martial artist. But you better give up that cure."
Ranko smiled back. "First off, I planned to give you the cure
either way, but I'm pissed that you thought you could just go
around and hit Ranma for no reason. So I'm going to teach you to
leave my Niisan alone."
Pantyhose laughed. "Teach me? How do you think you're going to
beat me?" He pointed to Ranma, "He can't even beat me, how do
you think you've got a chance?"
Ranko grinned even wider. "Enough talk silly boy. You relied
too much on Ranma's temper and your curses to give you the
advantage. Well, now it's MY turn to use your curse to MY
benefit.
Ranko held her hands about six inches apart in front of her, and
closed her eyes. The wind picked up and began to blow her
unbound hair behind her. A flickering light formed between her
palms and her fingers closed in, looking like she was holding an
invisible ball.
The light grew brighter and the wind stronger, before she opened
her eyes. She held up a glowing blue ball of light in her left
hand. "Here it is Taro, the Cure. And here it COMES!!!"
With that she grabbed it with both hands and held it behind her.
It got brighter still and she smiled. "I've always wanted to do
this."
"Ka...."
Pantyhose felt like he wanted to run. But he couldn't get the
urge to move. He felt like a deer caught in headlights, as she
continued.
"Me....."
Ranma watched in surprise as Ranko was attempting an attack he
had seen in a television show. His mind was unconsciously but
carefully recording how she did everything so if it worked, he
could duplicate it.
"Ha....."
Akane stared at the scene before her. She looked at Ranko, who
had tried to capture her heart, and was the whole reason that
Ranma continued to take her abuse. She asked herself if she
could have feelings for her. Someone who tried to show herself
every time Ranma was a girl.
"Me....."
Nodoka also watched the events take place. She saw the strong
aura about Ranko and mused that her daughter would make an
excellent heir to her own family's school of swordsmanship.
"HAAAA!!!!!" Screamed Ranko, as she whipped forward, opening her
palms and letting a brilliant blast of light and energy shoot
forward and strike Taro, who never made a move to dodge it.
The sky seemed to darken, as the blast was so bright. It
launched Taro into the wall of the Dojo, pinning him there for a
few seconds, before Ranko stopped and he fell to the ground.
As the assembled party watched, a magical cloud seemed to rise
off of his prone body, and it formed into the familiar cursed
Yeti/yak abomination.
It roared upward, and then stood looking at Ranko. She waved it
off. "Be gone, I've unlocked this mortal from you. Return to our
sacred pools."
With that the spirit became like a cloud once again, before
rocketing skyward and westward, toward Jusenkyo.
Ranko turned toward the house brushing off her hands. "Well,
that was easier than I thought it was going to be."
At that point they all turned back toward a throat being cleared.
Everyone turned to see Taro had stood back up.
"So, you removed my curse eh? Thought that I wouldn't be able to
take it? Well, now I can keep up my end of the bargain and fight
you, and this time, you have no power over me!"
At that point he launched himself forward, intent on getting the
first strike. Ranko had a split second to react.
She smiled and flung her hands outward, launching chains, swords
and other weapons toward Taro.
He was surprised, not expecting to be put on the defensive. He
dodged, but the moment he blinked his eyes, she was gone. Ranma
was surprised that she knew a hidden weapon's technique.
Taro was struck as Ranko's foot came down from above and behind
him. He tucked and rolled so he was upright and facing his
opponent.
Ranko smiled. "I know your moves silly boy. Anyone touched by
Jusenkyo is linked to the pools. I can read the minds of anyone
cursed and using Ranma's speed at adopting moves, I can use
anything from anyone's mind against you." She giggled and
disappeared from sight, fading out like the Cheshire cat.
As Taro looked around, trying to hear, feel his opponent, he was
struck in the leg and again on his back as he fell. As his arms
flew up to block his fall, they were batted away and his face
plowed into the grass.
<She's using my own hold on me!> Taro's mind flashed, his arms
being held behind his back.
He looked up and saw Ranko still standing there, in the same
place and position as before, her hands behind her back.
"I'm holding you by sheer power of will. Physically, I didn't
touch you just now, but using my mind, I'm holding you to the
ground."
"You've been beaten Taro. And I'm going to make sure you leave
my Niisan alone."
She calmly strolled over and crouched in front of him, while his
struggled in vain.
"Since you like to torture Ranma by calling him weak and using
his curse, lets see how you like the same treatment."
She reached out and touched Taro on his head. He cried out, as
magic flowed out of her hand and through his body. He felt it
change and certain parts shrink and others grow.
Taro-chan found herself able to stand up. She looked over her
new, Female body. "ACK!!" Was the only thing she could say.
Ranko smiled. "The shoe is on the other foot, as it were.
You're just as strong as onna-Ranma is, and that is by no means
weak."
Taro-chan looked at her, gritting her teeth. "You shouldn't have
let me up. Now I'm gunna pummel you until you change me back."
Her hands balled into tight fists.
Ranko continued to smile. "Go ahead. C'mon and hit me." She
gestured to Ranma. "Hit Ranma then. C'mon, whaddya waitin'
for?" She taunted.
She turned toward Ranma. "You can't do it, can you? I didn't
just curse you. I dropped a suggestion into your brain, and now
you can't lay a hand to hurt me, Ranma, or any of my family. By
the way, you won't change back with hot water Taro-chan. You'll
have to sweet talk me to get un-cursed, but not today. Try again
in a month or so.
Taro-chan gritted her teeth again. "Very.... well." And she
jumped over the wall and disappeared.
Ranko sighed heavily, and slumped forward, at which point Akane
threw her arms around her. "You okay, Ko-chan?"
Ranko nodded. "I ws bluffing. I didn't have anything left, if
those suggestions didn't work, then I would have been in
trouble."
Nabiki noted, "What other suggestions did you give him? You
didn't do just one did you? I noticed you said 'those'."
Ranko giggled, "You think she would have just left otherwise?
After doing what I did?"
Nabiki nodded. "Nice touch. Ruthless, but with a smile, I'm
starting to like you more and more."
Ranma shifted into a girl. "All I have to say is Phew, glad I
never asked for the cure. That looked painful."
Ranko smiled at her twin. "From the inside, you wouldn't have
felt a thing, but now that I'm out here I had to put a little
muscle behind it. I would never have caused you that much pain."
"Besides I wanted to be flashy."
Kasumi looked around the yard. There were several lengths of
chain and various swords, morning stars and other objects that
Taro had dodged from the attack.
"Ko-chan? Where did you get all that stuff?"
Ranko looked back at the mess and laughed. "Won't Moose be
surprised?"
Shampoo, Ranma and Akane started to laugh and helped her into the
house.
*****************************************************************
(In an abandoned warehouse near the docks.)
Moose sneezed and pushed his glasses further on his head.
Cologne handed him a small bundle, and departed.
<Well, now I'm on my own here. Shampoo is happy being a cat for
Ranma, and Cologne has given up the kiss of Marriage.> He
thought to himself.
<Ranma isn't my target anymore. Shampoo doesn't want to even be
an Amazon.>
<So where does that leave me?>
Moose turned on his heel and noticed his robes were lighter
somehow.
He looked down at the wrapped bundle Cologne gave him. <This is
all I have left.>
*****************************************************************
There, for my fans I finally finished 15
It's been a busy summer, and the loss of my muse, so to speak.
I never gave up, just decided to wait out my writing dry spell.
Thanks to Dragon Dagger yet again for a late night brainstorming
session.
Tell me what you think please.
Thanks
Tripolar Disorder
"Don't you remember? The Care Bears were the Gestapo for the Smurf
Communism."
A quote from a friend of mine, who will remain nameless
"What did the Zen master say to the Hot dog vendor? 'One with Everything.'
"
Q, from the Star Trek Universe
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.381 / Virus Database: 214 - Release Date: 8/2/2002
.---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
| Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
| Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
| Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject |
`---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'