Well well well, I think the original story was an immense success in original style Story-Weaving, and that my artful talents were not wasted on the tale. This one has some mild Lemon subject matter, so if you find this offensive, go ahead and leave.

        So, I've decided to write yet another tale based on the trepidous trio of Ranma/Hiroshi/Daisuke. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, so the last one had more of Hiroshi than Daisuke... but Daisuke had a lot more flavor and personality than ever before! Hrrnnnn... maybe I will make a side-story detailing Daisuke one of these days.

        AFTER I FINISH THIS!!! Ahh, Ce Sirrah Sirrah.

        Don't worry, I won't break out into singing<Emphatic snicker placed here>. Well, the next volume in the series is a three parter, so glue your eyelids open and read on! One note, however. This is an Alterna-verse fanfic which is VERY close to the original. The only major difference is that when the series ended (After Saffron was defeated), Nodoka never found out about the curse. 'Nuff said.

        Hope you enjoy immensely, and C&C is greatly appreciated. So are flames. Death threats are looked forward too, after all... I am the real Unibomber. Forget that Kasczinsky fella, I'm the real thing! Or maybe that was Kodachi...

        Ahh, heck! On with the story!

Fragile Clay: Volume 2

Episode two:

"Water Water, Where'd it go?!
The Vengeance of Aquarius!"

(Opening Scenes and music are "Little Date", with added scenes of Hiroshi in battle with his Genji garb and Bo.)

        A peaceful breeze rustled the leaves of the silent trees, as sunshine streamed down in a golden cascade, bathing a beautiful red-headed girl in shimmering rays of sunlight. She wore a red string bikini that emphasized her very feminine body.

        She read a book as she watched her friends playing in the sea. She grumbled at the black-haired boy who was talking to a rather cute-looking girl with short-cropped hair.

        "Ryouga, the idiot. What's he thinking, talking to Akane? It's not like he stands a chance," The red-headed girl sighed as she looked back at the book and turned the page.

        It was a borrowed book, the girl remembered. Hiroshi, her friend had lent it to her for the weekend. She flipped through the pages of, "Romeo and Juliet," a play they had done just months before , and sighed. Why couldn't Akane be like that with her? Each time she tried getting close to her fiancee she always beat her and said something like "Ranma you Idiot!".

        Ranma recalled the late night encounter. *Well... almost all the time.*

        Ranma turned the page and a piece of paper fell out. *Heh?* She looked down at it. Her delicate fingers picked it up and unfolded it.

"Another dream, Last night.  Weird.

Some girl came to me with her head

On fire wearing a prom dress and

began dancing some strange dance.

Then she split in two, one was me

and the other was her, only younger.

Then a mask fell and shattered the glass,

Only then did I realize I was looking

through a window. Children. Screams

Awoke me... the dream has left my mind."

        Ranma blinked as she looked down at the paper. She didn't much recognize the handwriting, but the dream sounded familiar. *I wonder why?*

        She shrugged and folded it up, sticking it in the back of the book. She stretched and stood up, placing the book beside the beach-towel she had been laying on.

        She walked over to Ryouga with a bottle in her hand. The lost boy was rubbing himself down with the curse-protecting soap Shampoo had let him borrow when Ranma tapped him on the shoulder.

        "What do _You_ want, Ranma?!" Ryouga almost yelled, but knew he shouldn't make a scene at the beach... with Akane. *I can't let myself ruin her day.*

        Ranma grinned an evil grin, remembering that her body was as much a weapon as her mind... while both in concert can make Ryouga squirm. This was going to be fun, especially since Ryouga had promised Akane there would be no fights.

        Ranma put a soft feminine lull into her voice, "Well, Ryouga, you've been so nice lately I thought I would ask you to do something for me. Just a _little_ thing," Ranma put her index and thumb close together in front of her face, emphasizing the word "Little".

        Ryouga's scowl disappeared in an instant, thinking that Ranma was actually trying to be nice for once.

        "Eh... what do you mean?" Ryouga seemed a bit confused, both at the silly grin and the almost unnoticeable womanly tone in Ranma's voice.

        "Well.... I was thinking that you being such a _nice_ guy and all, that you might want to help me out a little," Ranma took Ryouga's hand and pulled him back over to her beach blanket. Ryouga used his other hand to scratch his head, wondering both why Ranma was being nice, and what she meant by a favor.

        Ranma pressed something into his hands as she plopped down chest first on the towel.

        Ranma could almost feel the blood drain from Ryouga's face when he saw the sun-tan lotion.

        "Rub me down, Pig-boy!" Ranma said, trying not to chuckle at the angst his friend was feeling.

        "Ranma... Is this a joke?" Ryouga sounded nervous, which almost overpowered Ranma with laughter. She swallowed her mirth.

        "Of course not, P-chan! Ya'see, there's this little spot I can't exactly reach, and I was _hoping_ you'd be _man_ enough to help. But, what does a lost boy like you know about? Probably are too _scared_ to help out widdle ol' me!" Ranma stifled her giggle, but a small bit got through. She was having fun watching Ryouga squirm.

        Ryouga turned red, a bit from embarrassment, and a bit from anger. *Ranma's trying to make fun of me!*

        "Ranma... why should I help you?! YOU'VE made my life a LIVING HELL! If it WASN'T FOR YOU-" Ryouga was sharply cut off.

        "I'd be careful P-chan, Akane might get angry if we fight right now... I seem to remember something about a promise... besides... what could I do? If you're really not up to it, I guess I'll have to find someone with enough guts!" Ranma smiled softly as her words sunk in.

        Ryouga began to fume, but quickly dropped to his knees and began applying lotion. After several moments, Ryouga's anger turned into sheer nervousness and embarrassment as he felt Ranma's soft feminine flesh under his hands.

        *The worst part is... I'm just now REALIZING exactly what's happened to Ranma! And...* Ryouga felt the blood rushing to his head, and was afraid he was about to bleed. He could not help the fact of the matter.

        Ranma was turning him on.

        *OhnowhatwouldAkanethinkshe'llthinkI'munfaithfulbutRanmaissobeautifulandshe
feelssogoodandwhatamIsaying?*

        Ranma liked the torture she was putting Ryouga through, she could almost see his thoughts "What will Akane think?" so surely to be among them.

        Ranma had to admit, though, Ryouga was good at this. Strangely she wasn't afraid of the fact that hands which could shatter solid stone and most likely snap her in two were running up and down her spine. It was kind of comforting.

        Ryouga couldn't stand it any longer, thousands of images of Ranma's nude form seemed to leap to mind, images from all the times Ranma had ignored feminine modesty. His nose began gushing blood in torrents.

        Ranma yelped as warm liquid fell across her back and Ryouga toppled over.

        She quickly leapt up and ran into the water, washing off the blood she was sure would be there.

        Ryouga twitched on the ground, having lost a good amount of his body fluids. He could _now_ banish the images from his mind, bringing up moments where fists and feet had connected with his head.

        He felt better thinking about these. He would reprimand Ranma later when he regained his strength.

        Ranma floated in the water, for a moment forgetting her fear associated with being surrounded by the stuff. She was bothered by what her joke had elicited as a response. Ryouga only bled when he was attracted to a girl... and most often when he saw that girl in the buff. The huge amount he had bled meant either he was thinking of Akane in an improper way or...

        Ranma had actually turned him on. Very much. *Disturbing... maybe I took it kinda a bit too far... I mean, I sometimes forget what I look like as a... girl.* Ranma turned a bit red as she walked out of the water to see if Ryouga was all right.

        Fortunately, the black-haired boy had stopped bleeding. He saw Ranma looking down at him and his anger flared up, renewing him with a new energy. The feral growl began deep in his throat, too low for Ranma to hear.

        "Hey, Ryouga... Ah... Sorry 'bout that, I uh..."

        Ryouga leaped up and threw a punch at Ranma, who quickly leaped back a few feet, her breasts bouncing furiously in the red bikini. Ranma noted that _that_ had hurt a bit, and scolded herself for wearing the bikini. *Never Again, Nabiki!*

        "Ranmaaa!!! DIE!" Ryouga leaped at Ranma, who spun around to flee into the water. Ryouga mindlessly threw his arms around Ranma as he heard a familiar voice.

        "RYOUGA?!" Akane yelled, and Ryouga paused, his arms flung around Ranma's chest, his hands clenched suggestively around soft flesh.

        "A-A-Akane?" Ryouga said, still oblivious to the situation.

        "I've _tried_ talking to Ranma, _He_ doesn't _listen_! But I had _hoped_ for some more maturity from _you_! How could you be so... so... SICK?!" Akane stormed off furiously.

        Ryouga's mind lurched out of pause, to find his hands wrapped around Ranma's firm breasts.

        Ranma was seven shades of red with huge blue eyes as she recalled another embarrasing episode with Ryouga... and the Koi Fishing Rod.

        Suddenly, those magically induced feelings returned, and she could feel herself becoming aroused.

        Ryouga blushed furiously, but couldn't seem to remove his hands from Ranma's breasts. His mind wouldn't work that far. The thought would reach his head, but not his arms. Ryouga turned positively crimson when he felt Ranma's nipples become stiff.

        Ranma forced the feeling to the back of her mind and began shaking in fury. "Ryouga... NO BAKA!!!!" She twirled around and thrust her fist upward into the Lost-Boys jaw.

        Ryouga's head was ringing, but surprisingly he was still on the ground. Ranma blurred from three images and then settled into one. Ryouga saw a faint shimmer, and suddenly a huge metal sledge-hammer appeared in Ranma's hand.

        "BAKA! I tried apologizing... and you _GROPE_ ME!!!" Ranma began swinging at Ryouga's blue-maned head, connecting more often than not as she chased him down the beach.

        After she knocked him unconcious, she turned to walk back to her towel. She paused after a few steps and looked down at her hand, considering the sledge she held. Where had it come from? Just as mysteriously as it had appeared, the thing vanished.

        Ranma remembered the odd sexual impulse travel through her body, and then sheer rage unlike ever before. She just seemed to offer her hands out, as if her rage would take a solid form.

        Ranma shrugged, brushing the thought off until later. Yet, the thought had made her pause for a moment, and she looked back at Ryouga. She felt a bit guilty, having started it all, but she couldn't leave him out here in shorts alone... he could get lost. Then he would actually _have_ a good reason to blame Ranma.

        She groaned and began dragging him back by one of his legs.

        She thought while she trudged along, her breasts bouncing up and down... emphasizing her feminine state.

        The Koi Fishing Rod had had the unique ability of casting a love spell on whoever it caught so that the person caught would fall in love with the catcher.

        Ranma had been caught by Ryouga, and although it hadn't really been _Love_, she could not ignore the occasional surge of sexual passion she had when Ryouga got _too_ close.

        Afterwards, she had been able to control it and actually rid her mind of most of the influence.

        The one thing she couldn't forget, however, is _why_ Ryouga had seemed so attractive. He had been the only man, and would most likely be the only man, who could ever actually turn her on.

        *And damn him for using that magic. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have those occasional thoughts of him!* She grumbled. Another reason to despise Ryouga.

        What bothered her the most, however, is that instantaneous thought pattern imprinted in her from the Fishing Rod.

        As she walked she remembered the rage in Ryouga's voice, then Akane's shout, then the realization that Ryouga's hands were carressing her breasts.

        *_That_ was the moment, dammit. I should've run sooner when I saw that angry look in his eyes.*

        She recalled, then, the tingling sensation as her nipples hardened, and then a wet feeling where it shouldn't have been...

        In another moment, she could have been necking with Ryouga... and...

        *Don't think about that.* The thought sickened her, and scared her a bit more than usual. It also made her angry at the way she could be so easily manipulated by magic into having... SEX with a man.

        She stopped her trudging, almost gagging at the thought. She felt like she would throw up any second. *Damn you, Ryouga.* She'd get back at him for that... one day.

        She was still aroused, which annoyed her even more, her body felt hot and her cheeks were flushed. These feelings only returned when Ryouga groped... specific places on her _female_ body. She made a mental note that she should keep Ryouga from touching her in any other way other than battle.

        The thoughts of all the silly, spurious battles helped banish her thoughts from the incident, and got her temper up again.

        She left Ryouga in the sand as she picked up her towel and lunchbox. She began stuffing them back in the satchel she had brought when a familiar female voice summoned her attention. Needless to say, she jumped when the voice surprised her.

        "Yo! Ranma! Not leavin', are ya?" Ranma looked up at the speaker casting the shadow over her, and into the face of Amiko, Hiroshi's female Identity. Ranma forced a smile.

        His friend was wearing a tight one piece splashed with black and white, it didn't conceal much and made a the pointed description of Hiroshi's now female body.

        Ranma scowled, "Yeah, Ryouga ticked me and Akane off... groped my breasts..." Ranma blushed.

        Amiko grinned nervously. "Heh... um, the way you, uh, look... it's like you... kinda... liked it?" Amiko was unsure, and the last few words were almost intangible.

        Ranma glared at Amiko, "Yeah, but only because of some damn magic fishing rod! I don't like guys that way, 'Roshi... uh... Amiko,"

        Amiko smiled, "It's alright if you call me Hiroshi, Ranma. At least, while we're not at school," Ranma forced her own smile.

        "Hey, s'that your Suntan Lotion?" Amiko pointed to the bottle beside Ranma. Ranma looked at it for a moment, then said, "Yeah," Amiko stared at Ranma for a moment, a flash of uncertainty ran across her face.

        "Could'ja maybe stay? I mean, I already feel funny enough wearing this suit... It makes me look so, eh... y'know. It'd really be great if you could help me for today," Amiko began laying down her own things beside Ranma, and even pulled out a small umbrella which she stuck in the sand. It cast her towel into a cool shadow.

        Ranma sighed, and then began putting her own things back out.

        Akane walked up, pausing to take a look at the unconcious Ryouga, and then approaching Ranma.

        "Hey, sorry about Ryouga... I thought he would be better behaved," Akane felt embarrassed that her friend had been molesting her fiancee, and more embarrassed when she had looked back to see a flushed Ranma with Ryouga's arms wrapped around her.

        "Nah, 's my fault. I got him worked up... I started it Akane," Ranma said as she pulled a small radio and sun-glasses out of the satchel.

        Akane looked at her fiancee oddly, "Ranma? Are you all right?"

        Ranma smiled up at her, "'Course I am, Hehehehehe... Why? Is something wrong?" Ranma became serious for a moment after her nervous laughter, she slipped the shades on her cute face. She had lied... the feelings that the Koi Rod had instilled in her, although almost completely gone, bothered her much more than she     would have liked to admit.

        "No... it's just that you usually don't admit to being the one at fault, it's usually someone else who supposedly started it," Akane walked back over to her towel and plopped down.

        "What're you saying?! That all those other times were my fault?!" Ranma said half-jokingly, Akane laughed a bit.

        Ranma sighed and leaned back, her beautiful body basking in the midday sun. Ryouga stirred and began to stand, hammer prints all over his face. He crawled over to Ranma's towel.

        "Ga... Sorry... Ranma. But _you_ started it... I really am sorry though, about feeling your... ah... your...," Ryouga slumped back, unconcious again.

        "Hiya, Pig-Boy molest girl-type Ranma?" Shampoo stood over Ranma in a blue bikini, Mousse stood beside her in white shorts.

        "No, he didn't! He was _trying_ to attack me, and he fluked... tha's all. So, how's the married couple?" Ranma asked, relieved to get off the subject of Ryouga again.

        Mousse looked down at Ranma and Amiko, "Well, since Cologne disappeared we've both been somewhat busy with Nekohanten, as well as sorting out all those weird magical artifacts she kept stashed in that chest of hers, this is the first time since last week we've actually been able to relax,"

        "So I say to Mousse, why not we go to beach? Is sunny day, and good for swim. I fetch other bar of anti-curse soap for self, then Mousse get towel and such for sun-bathing. We not expect see you here, Ranma," Shampoo had put two towels down next to eachother while she spoke, after she was finished talking, she looked over at Ranma with a smile.

        Ranma still felt a bit jealous of Mousse, Shampoo's 'Affections' were missed a bit at the Dojo. Then again, if Ranma had mentioned something like that Akane would have beat him six-ways-till-sunday. Besides... over the last two weeks Mousse and Shampoo's relationship had changed drastically.

        "Is okay, Ranma. I happy, I Love Mousse. No have to worry about me," Shampoo stretched herself out on one of the towels as Mousse sat down on the other.

        Ranma wondered if she was really that easy to read, but shrugged it off as Shampoo's 'Intuition'.

        "Besides, I never know Mousse that flexible..." Ranma looked over at the two incredulously as Mousse blushed and Shampoo giggled.

        Ranma rubbed the back of her head, pretending not to notice as the two kissed. After they were finished, Amiko spoke.

        "So, ah... Mousse. Whatever happened to the old Ghoul anyways?" Mousse looked over at Amiko, remembering who she _really_ was after a moment.

        "Sorry, Hiroshi. I don't know. There was absolutely no sign of her at the Nekohanten... I have a feeling she'll be back, though," Mousse shook his head, thinking about Cologne always made him nervous. Especially after the Joketsuzoku staff had been broken.

        "Mousse, you go get me drink, Yes?" Shampoo seemed to order more than Ask the Amazon man.

        "Yes, Shampoo," Mousse stood and dashed off to get his wife a drink.

        "So, Ranma, you okay? Ryouga not hurt you, did he?" Shampoo sounded genuinely concerned as she sat up and looked at her ex-fiancee.

        "I'm fine, he probably just hurt my pride a little, tha's all. Hey, Shampoo? Could you and 'Roshi... heh... uh finish up what Ryouga started... hehehe... uhm," Ranma nervously held up the sun-tan lotion.

        Shampoo looked incredulously at Ranma, "Ranma? You... not a pervert... are you?" Shampoo looked at Ranma with a worried expression on her face.

        Ranma gritted her teeth, "_No_ I am _not_ a pervert. I was _trying_ to make Ryouga _Nervous_. It jus' worked a bit too well. Hey, all I'm askin is for you to rub my back down, if you don't want to I'll understand," Ranma sat the bottle down and sulked as she stared out to sea.

        "Is alright, Ranma. I believe you. Is no trouble," Shampoo grinned slyly. She looked over at Amiko.

        "Ah. We'll put the lotion on you... but..." Amiko trailed off as Shampoo grinned.

        "But what?" Ranma asked, a bit puzzled at the odd behaviour of his friends.

        "You must do same for us," Shampoo said. Amiko giggled, then placed her hand to her mouth, confused at the utterly female reaction.

        "You gotta be kiddin' me," Ranma shook her head, and they all started laughing.

        Ranma shrugged, figuring that as a girl it didn't make much of a difference if they rubbed eachother's backs.

        Akane, who had been silently reading Ranma's book looked up after she heard this. "What was that?! Hey, there's no way I'm letting you massage Shampoo's back, Ranma," Akane set the book down and glared at her fiancee. She turned a half-hearted smile toward Shampoo, "Shampoo, is it all right if I take Ranma's place? He can do Amiko," Shampoo looked over at Akane with a slightly disappointed frown, but her smile quickly returned after a moment. "Is all-right, Akane-Chan. I no mind, but first have to finish Ranma, Ne?"

        Ranma looked at the exchange with interest, and Akane stared at Shampoo in astonishment. Shampoo had never called Akane "Akane-Chan" before. After Akane regained her senses and nodded, Ranma sighed and layed down on her stomach.

        The two girls rubbed the cool lotion onto Ranma's back, and the red-head sighed in relaxation.

        Ranma noted that her skin seemed much softer than when she was a guy, a fact she had never taken note of until this moment. She ran her hand across her arm while lying there, noticing it almost felt like silk to her touch. *Sheesh, I never knew there was _That_ much of a difference.*

        "Okay, Ranma. Is our turn now. Akane-Chan! We done, here," Shampoo handed the bottle to her previous rival and layed down across her towel. Amiko mimicked Shampoo, a bit tensely at first.

        Ranma nervously began, and she began humming unconciously to herself while she rubbed down her friends back. *Hmm... 'Roshi's jus' as soft as I am...* Ranma paused for a moment, as she took note of what she was doing.

        The thought submerged in her mind floated to the fore-front, that her friend was _very_ attractive. That combined with the softness of Amiko's skin...

        Ranma felt the blush coming on as she felt a familiar tingling, most definitely the same feeling Ryouga had roused in her. She looked around to see if anyone noticed her currently aroused state, then smiled as she continued in her work. *Note to self: Another advantage to being a girl... nobody knows when you're hot or not.* Ranma giggled a bit at the thought.

        "What's funny?" Akane asked, as she rubbed Shampoo's back.

        "'S nothin'," Ranma frowned as she noticed Shampoo purring. *She's not a cat now, stupid!* Ranma told herself after a brief shudder coursed through her.

        The four girls were enjoying themselves immensely, Ryouga woke up and they talked a bit about some of his adventures, as well as some of their own. Ranma even turned on the radio and began to sing and dance to familiar songs, which soon had Amiko, Akane, and Shampoo doing the same.

        Ryouga stared bug eyed as the girls bounced and sang, unable to bleed... he was too shocked. Especially since Ranma didn't take much notice of how much her entire body bounced when she threw herself completely into a song.

        Ranma felt strangely happy listening to Akane sing. She was actually quite good. She made a personal note to tell her later.

        After the current song was finished they all fell into a pile of laughter. Ranma included.

        *Is this what it's like to be one of the "Girl's?"* Ranma asked herself, experiencing a new sensation.

        Mousse returned several times, and was constantly sent back by _someone_ to go get something or other. Ranma felt a bit ashamed, using her friend like that. It was also a bit amusing, Mousse seemed to be enjoying himself just making everyone happy, especially Shampoo.

        The girls eventually settled down after a swim, and just started talking while laying on their stomachs.

        It was a perfect day. Ranma sighed, a feeling of contentedness falling over her.

        The girls had switched places several times, and Ukyou had even come to join the party. Nabiki was off swimming or swindling, and Ryouga had gone swimming. Ranma kept an eye on him, to make sure he didn't get lost.

        After a while, Ranma found Akane and her alone, the other girls had gone to swim with Ryouga and Mousse.

        "Hey Akane?" Ranma said as they both stared up into the blue expanse above, lying flat on their backs.

        "Hm?" Akane looked away from her book with a smile.

        "This is fun. I mean, no fighting... jus' hangin' with you and the..." Ranma paused with a frown, she had been enjoying herself. She had been _enjoying_ being a girl! She sat bolt upright, "Ohmygosh,"

        Akane sat up beside her, seeing a _very_ worried expression on Ranma's face, "What's wrong?" Akane felt a bit worried herself... about Ranma.

        "It's jus' that... it's been so nice today. I mean, I've been enjoying myself, and it scares me like hell Akane... Right now I _like_ being a girl! I mean here, at the beach, with you and Shampoo and Ucchan and Amiko!" Ranma fidgeted in her seat, becoming more nervous as time passed.

        "Ranma, there's nothing wrong with having fun with your friends. I mean, come on, you've never complained about having fun as a girl before!" Akane smiled, hoping to cheer Ranma up.

        "No!" Ranma stood up quickly, "No, Akane! It _is_ wrong! I mean, in my _own_ head for the past four hours I've been thinkin' as if I was a girl! I I-I-," Ranma stuttered, she wasn't sure what to say.

        "Ranma, come on. We're you're _friends_, does it matter so much if you're a girl at the beach? Ranma, I like it when you laugh... you don't do it often!" Ranma looked over at Akane, her own worry fell away a bit.

        "You... what?" Ranma didn't know what she meant.

        "Ranma, if you have to be a girl to enjoy yourself today, then be a girl. I-" Akane cut herself off before she could say more, say those words she had whispered to herself in her room so many nights. Ranma thought she had been about to say something important, and was a bit disturbed that Akane could suggest such an idea.

        "Ranma, be happy, okay? Just for me, just for today...before you realized how you were acting, you were more happy than I'd ever seen you before, I like that. It makes _me_ feel good to see you having fun. Instead of being fiancee's for today, couldn't we just be friends? I mean, friends like how we could have been had you _really_ been a girl?" Akane paused, unsure if she should have said those last words.

        Ranma paused, her fear escaping her. She recalled a conversation in the middle of the night she had had with Akane, such an important conversation.

        That first day at the Tendo house, when the girl-Ranma had walked in... afraid that they would see the truth, afraid they would hate her forever, she had felt a strong warmth when the youngest Tendo girl asked to be friends.

        That warmth had grown for the hours following, until it was violently shattered by an open bathroom door. Ranma couldn't tell Akane, but she had felt just as hurt and betrayed when their friendship had been ripped from them. There had always been a sense of disconnection between Akane and him, no matter how much their love grew... there had just been something missing when it started.

        Friendship.

        Akane looked at Ranma's face as several strong emotions flashed over her features, Fear, joy, anger, confusion, revelation.

        Ranma looked down at her female body. It seemed like ages ago that she had fallen into the pool, and this body... what really scared her... was the fact that after six months...

        It no longer felt alien. It felt like he did. When he was a she, it made no difference anymore. Had he lost the fight?

        *No.* He chided himself. _She_ wondered if there had ever been a fight to begin with, then realized there had been. Ranma was still fighting the battle he had started that fateful day.

        She continued staring at her body, the curve of hips, breasts, legs. The soft feeling all over her body, the red hair bound behind her head.

        *Not so alien after all. Has she _always_ been a part of me? This red haired girl? Or maybe I've always been a part of her? Both?*

        Akane kept staring, becoming a bit impatient waiting for an answer. She saw Ranma reach back and tug at the pigtail, and watched as Ranma's fingers gently pulled at the Dragon's Whisker.

        Ranma's hair unravelled and fell to her mid-back. Akane had realized Ranma had let it grow longer when he had brushed it that morning, but didn't realize how long it had been. She gasped when all traces of the man disappeared.

        "Yeah, Akane. I'll be your friend for today. Thanks," Ranma smiled a bit, the sparkle returning to her eyes.

        She sat back down on the towel and stretched out. Akane looked at Ranma curiously, and Ranma noticed. Her purt lips turned up in a coy smile.

        Akane was flabbergasted, the only thing she could liken to Ranma about the girl in front of her was the eyes. The ever-constant soft blue eyes which denoted Ranma and Ranma-chan as the same.

        Akane sat up and looked Ranma over, starting with her delicately small feet, travelling up her long and slender legs, over her abdomen and breasts, back up to her face.

        There was no man anywhere but in those eyes. Yet, Akane also noticed that her eyes were different, not in color, but in the soul.

        Had Ranma somehow changed along the way? How? Why? When? Ever since the last time they had called off the engagement, he has steadily become... more comfortable?

        Akane recalls that more often than not Ranma had been falling asleep as a girl for the past two weeks. More and more often it seemed like he didn't care, couldn't care about his curse.

        He had started acting like everyone else. Shampoo, Genma, Mousse. They all acted like the curse wasn't a crucial flaw in their lives, just another problem they had to deal with.

        Maybe Ranma had finally... Accepted his fate? *No, Ranma wouldn't do something like that.* Yet, she looked at the beautiful girl beside her, basking in the sun. Those blue eyes stared back at her with a silent understanding. Akane felt a twinge of jealousy as she compared her athletic figure with Ranma's devilishly     feminine contours. *All right, _more_ than a twinge*... And the worst part of it was that Ranma wore no artificial enhancements... not a touch of makeup.

        Her face seemed to be the very model of feminine contour and beauty... without the 'applications' that most girls had to endure.

        "Ranma, with that bod of yours you can really make a girl jealous. Or swoon. Or both!" Akane laughed and Ranma joined in.

        Ranma sighed after they were done. She knew what Akane had been asking herself. The same question she had been asking since she had fought Mousse.

        Was this curse _really_ that bad? There was still a large part of her that argued yes, but that also spoke in volumes. Before two weeks ago, her _entire_ _being_ had thwarted any mental pictures of _being_ a girl. Now her mind sometimes became confused. When she thought of who Ranma was, it would be random. Either a male picture of Ranma fighting, or a female picture of Ranma fighting, or a picture of both side by side, the male half with an arm wrapped lovingly around the female.

        Who was Ranma? Even Ranma didn't know.

        She sighed again as they both relaxed in the sun.

        Suddenly something zoomed across her breasts, and she felt the cool air brushing across now naked flesh.

        "AAAAHHH!!" She threw an arm in front of her chest to hide her topless form. Akane shreaked a moment later.

        Several other shreaks followed, and a mental picture of a wrinkled old martial artist formed in everyones minds as they began chasing Happosai.

        "TEE-HEE! Oh, Ranma! What a wonderful day, to gift me with your Bikini top! HAHAHAHA!" Ranma began chasing the perverted old man, her breasts bobbing painfully as she ran.

        "Come back here with top or I kill, pervert!" Shampoo was chasing after Happosai along with all the rest of the women on the beach, arm flung across her naked heaving bosom.

        "HAHAHAHA! The superior skills of Happosai have struck again! What a haul!!!" Something silhouetted the sun and landed in front of the old man. Happosai looked up, astonished that he could be surprised. The girl had short-cropped brownish-red hair, and was wearing a tight one-piece bathing suit the color of winter snow and midnight.

        "You missed me, Happosai!" Amiko stood, unscathed by the lecherous hands of the aged martial artist. Happosai blinked as he looked at the furious red battle-aura the girl was emitting. He should have _felt_ that!

        "Eh? Who're you?" Happosai had almost ran into the girl, having no pre sense that she was even there.

        "A friend of Ranma's, KIYA!" A Bo appeared out of no-where and Amiko twirled it furiously before she brought it around to connect with Happosai, sending him flying back into the mob.

        The lech was beaten and bruised when he pulled himself out of the angry swarm of girls, and quickly hopped away in fear.

        "Pervert," Akane chimed

        "Lech," Shampoo mumbled

        "Dirty Old Man," Ukyou muttered.

        "Sicko," Ranma yelled.

        The girls were walking back to their towels. Ranma had a bit of trouble putting her top back on, but finally managed. She began following the rest back to her sunny resting place.

        "Ah, such a feminine blossom of womanhood I have ne'er seen. And yet, the soft rose has it's brute thorns, such is the strength wielded by the fire-haired venus before me!" Kuno recited.

        Ranma groaned as she turned to look at the Kendoist. He was _supposedly_ working at the nearby docks to repair Binsense to proper working order. Ranma didn't _know_ why he was at the beach, but she steeled herself to send him skyward as she turned around.

        A concerned expression was written on Kuno's face, "Yet, fair Tendo Akane hast told me of an unrelinquishable curse... that... that... that... Pardon, I stutter," Kuno looked around nervously, and Ranma felt a bit of fear rise in her stomach, as well as sadness.

        "What I... Am meaning.... Is that, Fair Akane hath told me... and I must know... Are you both one in the same?" Kuno's voice seemed meak in comparison to his usual loud tirading yells.

        "Uh... Kuno... Hehehe.... She... She... Told you... about...." Ranma paused, noticing Kuno hanging on her every word. She normally would have taken this opportunity to crush his aspirations, and insult him to boot.

        But Ranma felt... sorry for Kuno. She hated to admit it, but she had always felt a little sorry for the man. He had imposed obliviation upon himself unlike anyone she had ever seen before. Even Kasumi wasn't as dense as Kuno.

        "...yes...," Ranma's voice was hardly more than a whisper as she saw her friends features become distant, sullen, sad.

        "I have been a fool, to pardon my actions I beg forgiveness... You must realize that t'were it not... that you... I am ashamed I never once realized it was you, Ranma. Forgive my insolence," Kuno turned away, more ashamed than angry at being tricked. Ranma felt bad... she should have been the one to tell him the truth.

        But... he never _listened_ to her! That was the problem... she could stand just Kuno, his poetry wasn't _terrible_, it was just that he was so _dense_ sometimes.

        "Hey... Kuno!" Ranma yelled, as she ran up to the Kendoist.

        "Yes, my Pig-T-... Ranma?" Kuno scowled when he almost refferred to Ranma as a girl. *It's hard not to, Tachi... just look at him!* Kuno ignored the voice.

        "Look... ahh.... I'm sorry 'bout all this. I mean, you must be pretty grossed out and angry that you were chasin' after a guy... hehehehe!" Ranma laughed nervously.

        Kuno thought for a moment, then responded truthfullly. Whether it was truly what Kuno felt, the Kendoist didn't know... but it was a truth needed to be spoken.

        "No. I am not repulsed by your malicious deed in keeping me in the dark. Nor am I repulsed now... I still have trouble, Ranma... seeing you as a man. True, tis' not so hard when form fits shape, but when shape fits not form? You are still beautiful to me, Ranma Saotome. But I realize our relationship would go nowhere, as your form of shape truly is that of a man, and I am also that which you believe you are. If I were to pursue this venture ever further, you would liken to be repulsed yourself, so I twould end it in honesty. When I view you thusly, Ranma..." Kuno paused. Ranma had listened to his words, disturbed, disgusted, and sometimes regretfull when she saw that broken look from Kuno.

        Kuno took several steps away, then threw something back at Ranma. Ranma caught it effortlessly.

        "You are Beautiful, Ranma. You might not know it.... but you are. Gomen Nasai, Ranma-Sempai," Kuno trudged down the beach back to the docks.

        Ranma twirled the rose in her hand as she looked at it. What had he meant? Had he come over here purposely to talk to her? His last words echoed in her ears... he had even referred to Ranma as a better.

        She sniffed the rose unconciously, not realizing the odd action she was taking as she walked back to her towel.

        She had much to consider.

* * * * * *

        A large glass bottle sat on a bookshelf in the Tendo's guest room. It was an old bottle, ancient even, with shades of every color dancing off it's surface as the sun shone through the window onto it. A label read "Property of Happosai!!! Don't-Touch!"

        It had sat there for countless months, even years... since Happosai left it there before he was imprisoned. The bottle jerked, and then jumped.

        The water inside had fermented for over three-thousand years, ever since the first Joketsuzoku princess had drawn the water out of the Chiisuiton and placed it in the flask.

        Over three-thousand years of passing hands from martial-artist to martial-artist and nothing had happened... till it arrived in Nerima.

        When Happosai had arrived, the bottle had _felt_ the innate magical Chaos that seemed to surround the Nerima ward of Tokyo... and with the amazing power wielded by Happosai, Cologne, Ranma, Tarou, Kuno, Ryouga, Herb, Toma, and various other's...

        It had summoned it's mother... the water had summoned the Mother of Oceans, of Water, Of Rain.

        It jerked violently and fell off the bookcase, shattering on the wooden floorboards. The water coalesced and seemed to form into a blob. It quickly slid down the stairs, lurching it's way along. It slithered into the kitchen and looked around. Kasumi hummed softly as she bustled around the kitchen, setting a kettle on the     stove to boil before Ranma got home.

        The water zoomed around the room, then finally lifted itself up onto the stove and crawled into the kettle. A moment later it poured out, larger than before. It quivered a bit as it looked around, and then dropped out of sight.

        Kasumi didn't notice till several moments later, when the kettle hadn't boiled yet.

        She lifted it up and looked inside.

        "Odd, I was sure I filled this up just a moment ago... oh well," She had to get ready for dinner before she could put another pot on to boil.

        The water, meanwhile, had crawled back up the stairs and found it's way to the bathroom. It looked around, knocking over a toothpaste tube and thoroughly soaking the towels in the room as it curiously prodded them.

        It made itself flat and went under the bath-tub door, and squeeled in delight when it saw a full bath of hot water.

        It plunged itself in wholeheartedly, and the water slowly began to sink in level. It grew cold as the lithe form of a naked woman formed out of the water.

        "Ahhhh... it's been so long, I had forgotten what warmth the mortals could emit in my water...," The blue haired, blue eyed girl considered a moment.

        She consumed the cold water in the tub, shivering as she did, and formed an ocean-blue dress in chinese style.

        She smiled as she sensed the water in this "Nerima", there was so much to be had... and she had been so long in that bottle... regaining her strength from the energy draining Chiisuiton.

        She slowly turned into a slender tendril of water and went into the bath-spout. From there she began to spread not only from the Tendo house, but into the neighborhoods water supplies... deftly seeping through the pipes, consuming all she could, she explored a bit.

* * * * * *

        Kasumi finished the dinner and smiled as she tasted it to make sure. She had done it right, just like Mother had told her.

        Kasumi sighed sadly. She missed her Mother terribly, but she could do little about it. She had to be strong for her Father, and her Sisters... and Ranma.

        Ranma had seemed a bit nervous when he had first arrived at the Tendo's doorstep, but that was to be expected. He had felt... different.

        Kasumi had noticed, however, that Ranma grew more and more melancholy as he stayed at the Tendo's house. Problems had started following him to Nerima, and he had been a bit bothered by that.

        But what really got the girl/boy was when his/her mother visited. Kasumi shook her head, recalling a unique experience not but a few days ago when she had been going to bed after helping Auntie Saotome with dinner.

        Mr. Panda was sleeping outside again, as per Nodoka's orders, and Ranma was quite alone in her room. Kasumi had passed by and heard an unfamiliar sound call to her heart.

        Something she hadn't heard in many years. Kasumi had taken a step back and looked through the cracked door. Muffled sobbing could be heard inside Ranma's room.

        *Was Akane in there?* Kasumi had wondered, and knocked lightly on the door.

        "Go 'Way... *SNIF*..." Ranma had called back, and another bout of crying was heard.

        Kasumi was about to leave, but something stopped her. A spur of the moment decision crossed her mind, and she opened the door gently, walked in and silently shut it behind her.

        Ranma was in the corner, crying her eyes out. The small girl looked so...

        *Fragile? As if the slightest touch of sympathy might break her...* Kasumi had thought, as Ranma looked up with red-swollen eyes.

        "Didn' I say go 'Way? *SNIF*... go on Kasumi... I- I- I don't wantcha ta s-s-see me cry...," Ranma turned her face away. Kasumi stared a moment, then approached.

        She sat quietly down by Ranma with her back to the wall.

        "Ranma-Chan... why?" Kasumi voiced quietly. Kasumi couldn't stand seeing people hurt, and she had noted more often than anyone else that Ranma hurt more than she could let herself show.

        Ranma felt the bitter bite of depression from Kasumi's words. How could she tell Kasumi? Nobody even bothers to understand... except Hiroshi... *He didn't have to do that... not for me... he shouldn't have to deal with being cursed... he doesn't deserve it.* Ranma absently questioned herself to the effect of *And you     do?*

        She felt Kasumi take her hand, and just... hold it.

        Ranma felt the immense love Kasumi had for everyone pour over her, and she almost began crying again.

        "'S jus' that... Mom... she was... she was talkin' bout me, ya'know... and having... having... oh god...," Ranma turned her face away as the familiar fear washed over her, the disgust, the hatred of herself, the frightening prospect that she could... if she tried.

        She wouldn't try, though. She was a man, and as a man she had to fight this Curse till the end of her days.

        "She said... I would make a wonderful Mother, Kasumi. She said... she said it would make her so _happy_ to see me with children of my own... _My_ _Own_! From... from in here, Kasumi!" Ranma placed both hands on her stomach in mock disgust, fear more than disgust written on her face.

        "Ranma, she doesn't know. She only sees Ranko... She was only telling the truth how she sees it," Kasumi looked at Ranma, noticing a flicker of... curiosity? And then utter disgust cross her face.

        "A good Mother Kasumi... I wanna have children but..." She paused. It was longer than it should have been, as Ranma seemed to consider something, and a sad look crossed her face.

        "But as a guy... I'm a g- I'm a g- I'm not a GIRL Kasumi... not a... not a w-w-woman especially...," Ranma wondered in fear what would happen if she never found a cure. She couldn't marry Akane, she couldn't condemn her Fiancee to such a relationship.

        Nodoka had called her that, Kasumi recalled. Had called Ranma the "Perfect Model of a Woman,".

        Ranma had acted as feminine as she possibly could during _this_ visit, which got her _that_ remark in response.

        Kasumi had seen the flinch. She had seen all of them, every time. Then the utterly confused look, as if Ranma was wondering if she should be embarrassed or prideful about her Mother's remarks. This time, however, Ranma had almost broke down.

        Nodoka was confused, what had she said? She had believed Ranko had made such progress.

        "An'... An' she's so proud of me as a girl... like she always wanted a girl... like I was her daughter, the one she always wanted. An' it makes me feel bad, y'know? I mean, I'm her son... an' she doesn't know... an' sometime's I'm wondering if she wanted me to be a girl," Ranma shuddered as she thought about it. She was a man.

        "I'm sorry, Ranma... Being so close to your Mother and lying every day, hurting her more and more as she comes to believe that she might never see her son or husband again... I'm so sorry," Kasumi almost started crying herself, as Ranma looked at her in wonder.

        "You... You... understand?" Ranma was thoroughly confused... nobody had ever truly understood how she felt. Had Kasumi always known?

        "Of course I do, Ranma. I understand many things more than people give me credit for," Kasumi looked down at the tight grip Ranma held her hand in... not painful, just enough that she couldn't escape the grasp. Kasumi didn't particularly want to try.

        "Kasumi... I never told nobody but Hiroshi... but it's like the more I try to escape this curse, the harder it gets... ya'know? I mean, here I am wearing a dress and...," Ranma blushed furiously, "And lingerie... what next? Happosai would be having a ball if he were here now," Ranma paused for a moment, looking down at  the floor.

        Kasumi wondered something, "Why Hiroshi? It seems since that... day... a few weeks ago, you've both gotten a lot closer," Ranma looked at Kasumi with worry.

        "He's probably the best friend I've got... I mean, don't get me wrong Kasumi, it'd be great if you and I could talk like this more often... 's jus' that you're more like my sister, and there's some things I jus' can't tell family...," Ranma beamed a bit and began staring into nothing.

        "Hiroshi... Amiko... they both listen to me. They both jus' listen to what I say, and Hiroshi is open with me. Honest, ya'know? When I'm around him he makes me feel... well, more alive. I dunno, 's weird but true. It's like things... all the things... don't seem to matter as much when he's around. They seem so much less... complicated," And Ranma stared at Kasumi with her blue eyes.

        A bit of Ranma's fear had ebbed when she spoke of her friend. Kasumi had been worried about... something about Hiroshi. She couldn't recall what... but she knew that Ranma told the truth. Nobody had tried to understand Ranma as much as Hiroshi did, why, the boy had even taken on the mantle of the Nyannichuan curse. Nobody had taken _that_ lightly.

        "I told Hiroshi the gods honest truth, Kasumi. All of it, and he's done the same. I don't think we _have_ any secrets between us anymore, or at least not enough to count on two hands. I told him about... how I'm so afraid...," Ranma paused, unable to form the words as she shifted her gaze everywhere but towards Kasumi, and her eyes fell on what she was wearing... and she shivered.

        "N-N-Never mind Kasumi... I can't tell you," Ranma thought of how every day she woke and delt with the curse, how every day she fought to keep herself from ebbing under the form of the red-headed female he saw in the mirror, kept herself from changing. She _was_ a _man_.

        *But... why doesn't it seem so important, anymore? Staying a man and all... it's as if I'm less worried about losing myself. Actually, I am less worried about changing... how long have I been a girl this visit? Six days, Seven? Why am I not fidgeting by now?* Ranma felt a sinking in her stomach as something else caught her attention.

        *And why haven't I had... an incident with hot water since then?* Ranma was confused, and more than a little frightened. Kasumi stood to leave, seeing no further tears from the diminutive girl and sensing deep thought from Ranma. Kasumi was a bit startled, usually Ranma never thought so avidly... the past two weeks it had been happening more and more often, usually after he spent much time with Hiroshi and Daisuke.

        "I truly _must_ be getting to sleep, Ranma...," Kasumi sounded slightly reluctant to leave Ranma alone. She was a bit shocked when the girls hands shot out and caught hers.

        "Do you... have to... go?" Ranma asked warily. Ranma considered Kasumi like a sister, she wasn't sure how or why, but it was how she felt.

        Kasumi looked down at the petite girl. The loneliness in Ranma's eyes flickered behind a mask of bravery, and Kasumi sighed with sadness. When Ranma was a man, he was brash, cocky, confident, arrogant, and soon-to-be brother-in-law.

        But... Ranko was entirely different. Kasumi wasn't sure if Ranma ever noticed how he changed so drastically mentally as well as physically when he was a girl. When he was Ranko he lost that confidence... he became fragile, unsure, caring, sensitive, slightly emotional, and though he wouldn't like it pointed out...

        His odd mannerisms had been taking a more... feminine turn as of late. *But* Thought Kasumi *That is to be expected... she's been spending so much more time as a girl recently... I'm sure she doesn't notice the sway, the lilt, the hand-motions... I won't tell her, though. It would make her angry, sullen, forlorn, and most of all... afraid.*

        Kasumi whispered for Ranma to wait a moment, and returned with her comforter, blanket, and pillows.

        That night Kasumi slept beside Ranma, the girl wrapped in her arms like a china doll.

        Kasumi smiled. She hadn't spent much time with Ranma, but the time she did was usually when he was a she. Ranma didn't seem to mind the fact, however, especially as of late.

        Kasumi turned the faucet on to fill the kettle, and nothing came out. She tried the cold water, to the same effect.

        "Oh My, what will I tell Ranma?" Kasumi bristled.

        She went to the bathroom- No water.

        The garden Hose- No water.

        She asked neighbors, and all said their water was gone as well. Kasumi was worried... Ranma had gone as a girl, what would happen if the water didn't come back?

        *That's silly, Kasumi-Chan. Of course the water will come back!* Kasumi went back to her house, a forced smile on her face.

* * * * * *

        Akane glared at Ranma again for the fifth time as they walked back from the beach. Her fiancee... no, her _friend_ had been idly twirling a rose all the way back, and Akane couldn't help but suspect Kuno had been at the beach briefly.

        "-Anyways, when I got to the terminal it looked _completely_ different from the way the guide described, and everything was written in american, or some other language... I realized I must have gotten lost again, and that I would have to ask for _more_ directions. So I walked up to- Hey, Ranma, have you been listening to a word I said?" Ryouga stopped in his spiel and a relieved sigh escaped Ukyou's mouth, with an equally relieved chuckle from Shampoo.

        "Hmm? Oh, I was jus' thinking Ryouga. Sorry... something about a terminal being different than described?" Ryouga looked at Ranma oddly, and she returned the look with a smile. She loved confusing Ryouga... but she _had_ been thinking.

        "Where did you get that rose anyways, Ranma?" Ryouga grinned with his fanged teeth, "Have you taken to boys, and now you've got an admirer, huh?" Ryouga dodged the obvious attack and Ranma glared fire at the lost-boy.

        "I'm a G-G- I'm not a GIRL Ryouga. I DON'T like GUY's!" Ranma thought about attacking Ryouga, but didn't see the point of it, so she just continued walking and twirling her rose. After another fifteen minutes of silence, she realized what was making everyone nervous, and realized she really _was_ twirling the rose. She stopped.

        "Ranchan... are you okay?" Ukyou looked from the rose to Ranma.

        "Yeah, Saotome, you seem distant today for some reason," Mousse looked directly at Ranma, even without his glasses. His vision had improved, due to the aura-reading techniques he had learned on his _training_ trip.

        "Nothin' it's just that Kuno found out about the curse, via Akane, and he said some stuff... stuff I never thought about or considered," Ranma had gone to the womens restroom and looked in the mirror... she knew what Kuno had meant, but just _couldn't_ seem to see it herself. Her self image always seemed to reflect to a man's when she looked in the mirror. As if her mind was adamantly denying what it saw.

        "Akane-Chan! You actually got that lug-head to listen?!" Ukyou was surprised. From the previous encounters with the Kendoist, she had deduced that _nobody_ seemed to be able to make him face the reality of Ranma's situation. Everyone stopped in front of Nekohanten.

        "Don't sound so surprised, his mind was more open when liquored up than I've ever seen him before... He was a bit shocked, and he decided to ask himself if it were true. I didn't think he would remember to ask, however," Akane looked over at Hiroshi, the boy had been silent the entire way home as he listened to everything around him. He seemed to be considering the wind at the moment, and he looked at the sky as it softly blew his hair back and forth.

        He had been the only practical one in that he brought a thermos full of hot water for after the swim. Then again, Hiroshi _did_ usually plan ahead for these type of things.

        "Well, Mousse and I have great time, Akane-Chan and Ranma-Chan, we hope you stop by Nekohanten some time and we talk! Bye now!" Shampoo unlocked the doors and walked into the restaurant.

        "I must admit, Ranma, this was a great day. I actually enjoyed myself, hopefully we can get along as well in the future! Now, I must go help Shampoo do the daily cleaning," Mousse walked in after her, Akane smiled.

        She had actually had a great day... having fun with Ranma, Ukyou, and even Shampoo!

        Maybe Akane had been wrong about Shampoo, she _had_ been acting completely different for the past two weeks. Akane had enjoyed not fighting for an entire evening, and Ranma had acted out the part of friend very well.

        It made Akane wonder... what would it have been like to have Ranma-Chan as a friend? She knew it was an impossibility, Ranma was a man and would always be a man... but Akane had had such aspirations for her red-headed friend when the girl had appeared at her doorstep.

        Like she had said before, however, it was shattered from a single open door.

        Ranma seemed a bit disturbed this afternoon, but seemed to have lightened up as she saw Shampoo and Mousse leave. She had enjoyed herself too.

        They were walking again, now in complete silence, Ryouga seemed to have been miffed by the fact that Ranma hadn't taken his convenient insult and responded violently by attacking him.

        When they got to Ucchan's Ukyou said her goodbye, and gave Akane a kiss on the cheek. She did the same for Ranma, and hugged Hiroshi and Ryouga. She extended her usual invitation, that if any of them were hungry and in the area, they should stop by.

        Akane liked Ukyou. True, she was even more protective of Ranma since Shampoo had been thrown out of the picture, but Ukyou was such a sweetheart that Akane couldn't hate her for long.

        The rest of them went on ahead to the dojo, Hiroshi had called his sister and asked to spend the night at the Tendo's. She had agreed, but told him to study for his test tomorrow. He loathed the idea of more math.

        "Hey Ranma, would you like to spar?" Akane blurted out as they approached the front door.

        Ranma blinked, had Akane just asked to spar? She hadn't done that since the first day she had arrived... since that very first day.

        "Akane?" Ranma asked, Curiously. Ryouga looked at Akane with an odd mix of frustration and sadness.

        "Don't worry, I need the practice anyway. You can attack me, too, okay? I need to improve, Ranma. Just watching you and Mousse go at it in that battle reminded me again," Akane waited for Ranma to move, or speak. Ranma seemed stunned.

        "Sure... I mean, but I can't-"

        "Ranma, you're a girl for now. Treat me as an equal, I know you won't hurt me," Akane winked at the red-head, and headed into the Dojo.

        Ranma nervously rubbed her neck. She had promised to be Akane's friend for today, not her fiancee... but was this the only way she could fulfill that promise?

        "What was that about?" Hiroshi asked, as Ryouga fumed. The lost-boy stomped inside the house, angry as a storm from both the earlier events of the day, as well as the insults he had received in the past.

        "I dunno. Would you like to watch 'Roshi?" Ranma slapped her friend on the back, and Hiroshi nodded his head slightly. He hadn't seen martial arts since his sister was young. His father had sometimes practiced, but not with as much vigor as Soun and his family had.

        He walked in after Ranma, slipped off his shoes, and sat placidly as he watched the two girls go at it. Ranma was reluctant to attack for a while, but Akane landed two or three blows and Ranma was forced to begin blocking some of the attacks. After a while, she began light attacks as well, making sure to keep them soft.

        Hiroshi watched in fascination the intriguing dance.

* * * * * *

        Ranma and Akane walked in tired and sore, Akane thanked Ranma again for the third time and walked up to her room, collapsing on her bed as soon as she got to it.

        Ranma noticed Akane had forgotten to eat, and so had she. The table was empty except for her plate and some left overs. Genma sat cross-legged at the head of the table, his eyes closed. Everyone else seemed to have gone to bed, except for Hiroshi.

        Ranma realized that Akane and she had been practicing for over three hours, off and on. She hadn't realized how long until she had glanced at the clock in the dojo. She was disappointed that they had missed dinner, but was too tired to worry about it. *Akane has been practicing, she's faster than before!* Ranma had noted while they were fighting. She sat down and wolfed her food as Hiroshi scribbled on that notepad he always carries around.

        Ranma had figured out that Hiroshi wrote poetry and philosophical quotes on that pad, and most of the time they were quite good.

        Ranma noticed her Father seemed to be waiting for something. She ignored him and continued eating. After she had cleaned her plate, she looked around for the usual kettle that Kasumi brought to the table. "Hey Pop, where's the hot water?" Ranma had suspicions that her Father had done something with the kettle. No grounds for the accusation, but he was usually the one to do such a thing. Well, him and Nabiki.

        "Ranma, I have been told by Kasumi to inform you of a problem. I thought that you should hear it with a full stomach," Her Father stood and looked up. His tone was solemn and Ranma looked at him with a cautious, suspicious eye.

        "Earlier this evening, Kasumi had been preparing dinner. While doing so, she noticed that the water from the faucet was not working. Through quick exploration, she learned that there was no water in the house. I have an odd foreboding that something has stolen the water," Genma looked at Ranma. She sat there peacefully, looking up at him.

        "So why doesn't someone go and boil some from the Koi pond? I'm sure the fish wouldn't mind," Hiroshi slapped his head on the table as Genma shook his head back and forth. How could Ranma be so dense?

        "You don't understand, Boy. There _is_ no water. None, zero, zilch. Not even in the pond. The entire place is as dry as a bone," Hiroshi looked back up expectantly, seeing no connection in Ranma's eyes.

        "So... what are you saying?" Ranma seemed a bit confused. Had her Dad just said there was no water? That was silly, who would steal water?

        "THERE IS NO WATER!!!" Genma yelled, raising his hands above his head.

        "...what?" Ranma was stunned. She _hadn't_ misunderstood. There wasn't any water. Her mind began to panick.

        "No water, Ranma," Hiroshi offered. Ranma jumped to her feet and walked up to the old man.

        "You're saying there's no water in the faucets?"

        "That is correct," Genma nodded.

        "And none in the Pond?" Ranma knew she was grasping for straws, but had to ask anyways.

        "Very perceptive," Genma crossed his arms in front of his chest.

        "NO water in the ENTIRE house?" Ranma seemed flustered, and seemed to be turning red.

        Genma began to grow impatient. "Is that _not_ what I have just said? You will have to remain in your cursed state until we can figure out who's taken the water, and _try_ to be a little more responsive, Son," Genma looked over at Hiroshi, who was staring avidly at Ranma.

        The girl's face changed shades of red for several moments.

>>>>To Front door.

        Kasumi finished washing up the dishes and heard a knock at the door. She noticed Ranma and Genma seemed to be having an argument, so went and answered the door.

        "Oh, why hello Aunt Nodoka! What are you doing out so late?" Kasumi beamed despite her weariness. She had said her greeting loud enough, she hoped Genma would jump in the...

        *Oh My...* Kasumi realized... there was no water. She hastily thought of some explanation of why Genma, and not Ranma, was here. She quickly procured one, should Nodoka want to come inside.

        "Well, Kasumi-Chan, it may seem very silly. I was having trouble settling down back at the house, when I decided to go for a walk. I ended up here in Nerima and went to a movie, not a very good one mind you. By the time I was finished, I felt it was too late to go walking back to Tokyo... so I'm terribly sorry, the only place I could think to go was here. I hope you don't mind too terribly, but might I stay the night?" Nodoka smiled her warm, Motherly smile. It melted Kasumi's heart.

        "Ahh... might I come in, Kasumi-Chan?" Kasumi blushed terribly when she realized her Aunt was standing out in the cold. She motioned for her to come in. Kasumi listened carefully, and heard no noise coming from the other room. *Good, they must have gone to bed.*

        "I'll be right back, Aunt Nodoka. I just have to finish putting the dishes up. You may wait in the Dining room till I get the key for the guest room," Kasumi bustled off to the kitchen humming to herself.

>>>>To Dining Room.

        Ranma blew up, as Hiroshi had feared. He saw the girl pick her father up, just as someone entered the room.

        "WHATTA YA MEAN NO WATER?! I CAN'T STAY LIKE THIS, POP I'M NOT A GIRL, I'M A MAN! I'M A GUY!!! ARE YOU SAYING I HAVE TO STAY A GIRL FOR _ANOTHER_ DAY?! FOR ANOTHER DAY?!?! I SHOULD-I SHOULD-" Ranma paused in her screaming, sensing an odd presence. A familiar presence.

        The blood drained from the girl's face, leaving it ghostly white. She looked over at the dining room entrance, to see the pale face of her Mother.

        Her nerveless fingers dropped her Father, looking down at herself. She was a girl... her father was in human form... she had just yelled... yelled...

>>>>

        Nodoka walked into the dining room, and stood stock still as she saw her husband being lifted by Ranko.

        The girl began yelling, and each word penetrated Nodoka to the soul.

        The pieces fell together. So many slight hints she never had perceived before.

        Nodoka's world collapsed.

>>>>

        "Ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod...." Ranma took a step back, and Hiroshi jumped to his feet.

        Genma was blubbering on the floor about seppuku, and Hiroshi realized that this was Nodoka... Ranma's Mother.

        Tears were streaming from Nodoka's face as she drew a gleaming katana from a bundle on her back.

        "Ranma... why, by the Kami, why Ranma? You are... you are a girl?! WHY?!" Nodoka sliced the dining table cleanly in half in her rage.

        "Sorry... Ohgod, I'm sorry Mom.... I love you... I love you... please don't hurt me... I love you...," Ranma dropped to her knees sobbing on the ground. Hiroshi was torn when he heard that sound.

        "Ranma... You made a promise... I... but why?! WHY ARE YOU A GIRL!?!?!" Nodoka screamed.

        "Jusenkyou... is very tragic legend of Girl who drowned in pool 1500 year ago..." Ranma managed to get out before another wave of sobs escaped. She couldn't control it.

        Hiroshi couldn't stand to see Ranma hurt, it was too much... she had been through too much to be torn apart like this. He stepped between Mother and Daughter and finished for Ranma.

        "Now whoever fall in pool take body of drowned girl, but in Jusenkyou, curse reversed with hot-water until next time hit with cold," Hiroshi looked Nodoka in the eye as tears streamed down the woman's face.

        "My Son... I've made my son into a woman... forced him to be a woman... it is too much dishonor, I must end this, Step aside boy," Nodoka pointed her Katana at Hiroshi, who did not dare flinch.

        "I am Hiroshi, not boy. I will not let you hurt Ranma, not this way. You are his Mother! Have you waited so long to simply kill your only son?! Have you been so patient to destroy the only thing you love?! Whether he's Ranko or Ranma, he still loves you, and I am guessing that you feel the same," Hiroshi didn't move, and the katana didn't move from his throat.

        "I cannot... won't.... not... Ranm...Ranko... Ranma...," A flicker of confusion flashed back and forth across Nodoka's face, mixed with Anger and sorrow. Tears started flowing again, and Ranma looked up at her Mother.

        "It was a promise... A PROMISE!!! She... she was supposed to be a man," Nodoka sounded unsure, and very confused. Hiroshi did not flinch as he stared down the blade.

        "_He_ was supposed to come back... now I've lost them both... they both have left!" Nodoka's eyes were streaming with tears.

        "Do what you have chosen, and I promise you... your heart will die with them. Ranma loves you, listen to the words, see the _person_ not the body!" Hiroshi glanced down at the gleaming blade. *You're a fool, Hiroshi. First you curse yourself, then you jump into a fight between Ranma and Cologne, now you're willing to get your throat slit?! For a friend?!*

        *_YES_* Hiroshi stated. The second voice fell silent.

        Nodoka brought the Katana down a bit, her sobs wracking her at the same time Ranma wept. "How... How can I?! *SOB!* How can I see the boy who left... so long ago... I see a beautiful young woman, a woman like myself not twenty-five years ago!" Nodoka brought the sword to bear again.

        "Fine. Do what you must, but heed this word. The only way you will hurt Ranma is by planting ere' 30 inches of steel within this mortal breast. Nobody will hurt Ranma without going through me _FIRST_," Hiroshi nearly yelled the last word. Ranma flinched and looked up at Hiroshi, almost blinded by what she saw.

        His aura was glowing with the intensity of a fireball... if only his Mother could see. Hiroshi would not back down. "Why are you doing this, 'Roshi?! You're not involved! It's my fault... my fault I'm not a man...," Ranma looked at her Mother with a forlorn look, and Hiroshi's features softened a bit.

        "I am involved, Ranma. More than you would know, and if she truly believes killing her only child will help alleviate the pain, then she can kill me as well. You've been like a brother to me, and sometimes even closer than my Sister and I were when we were growing up. Save a life and save the world, Ranma. I think the world would grieve if I let you go...," Hiroshi paused as he looked at Nodoka. Her hand trembled and he felt...

        He felt it. Her sharp anger slowly ebbing away.

        She dropped the Katana to the floor and she soon followed it, sitting down rather roughly next to the now damaged dining table.

        "Gods... she looks just like me, like I did as a young girl... and I never noticed... just like... oh gods, Ranma, I'm sorry about mentioning it... mentioning children... so sorry," Nodoka looked broken, and Hiroshi stepped aside, casting a hateful glance at a startled Genma.

        "I never knew, you were acting like _such_ a young lady... and I never knew. All that to make me happy, and I mention having children... you must hate me, you must think I'm a monster with that sword," Nodoka looked at her Son turned Daughter.

        Ranma didn't know what to say. So she hugged her Mother fiercely.

        Hiroshi left the room for his futon, and was soon followed by a grim Genma. Ranma's Father had a feeling he would be sore tomorrow.

        "I _love_ you Mom... I've wanted to tell you... so many times... so many times when you were so close, you were so happy to see me becoming..." Ranma paused as she remembered all the times her Mother had complimented her on her feminine actions, and scolded her for her violent tendencies.

        "I never knew. I'm so sorry, If I had known, If... what am I to do now? I... that boy stopped me from making a terrible mistake... I've never liked violence, and I was about to kill you on the spot... out of blind, foolish rage," Nodoka caressed her Daughter's hair, feeling immense pangs of guilt, as well as sorrow. Guilt because she was treating Ranma like Ranko... and sorrow because she realized there would never be a Ranko again.

        "Love me Mom."

        "I don't _know_ you, Ranma... are you the girl before me? Or are you some young man I have never seen before? What am I to call you now? Ranma? Ranko? I don't know... I don't even know if I can treat you like a man. I've..." Nodoka stopped. She couldn't say that to Ranma, not especially if she understood this curse, and how it had effected her son.

        *A daughter. I have a daughter... and I don't. I so much wanted to see Ranko married... see her prosper and grow... but now I hate myself for thinking it. Those dreams of her have been torn asunder with the revelation that _she_ is _my_ son. Ranko... now I knew why she seemed so lonely when I was there, why I felt so hurt when I caught her crying once. I loved her... can I come to love Ranma?* Nodoka looked down at the girl.

        "I don't know, Mom... If you had asked two weeks ago, I would have said I was the black-haired boy you saw in the pictures Nabiki showed you."

        "But now? I don't know any more. I suppose I'm still figuring it out. I _love_ you, Mom... I don't want our relationship to die because of this... this Curse which has made my life so complicated," Ranma sat up and looked into her Mother's blue eyes.

        Nodoka traced Ranma's face, almost identical to hers. Her fiery hair was even brighter than Nodoka's had been at her age, but she looked so much like Nodoka's daughter, it was hard to picture a man in those eyes.

        "You look so much like me, it's hard to imagine you as a boy," Nodoka said sadly. "Do you want our relationship to change? If you become a boy again, it will. I promise you that. I... There is no way that I would not treat you differently as a son... and I don't want to lose..." She had said too much, she saw Ranma's smile vanish.

        "...Your Daughter. Mom... I'm not a girl, I'm a... I'm not a girl. I'm afraid, though... I don't want you to treat me differently," Ranma smiled and twirled her finger through her long hair. She hadn't bothered to tie it back when they had returned from the beach.

        "I liked cooking with you, and sometimes... even shopping. I guess you kinda hammered these feelings into me... I'm sorry, I really _have_ been trying to stay a guy. You should know... seeing 'Ranko' being tomboyish so often... but I guess that's me for ya," Ranma laughed nervously and stood up as Nodoka did.

        Nodoka felt a bit of worry twinge in her. What if she couldn't undo what she had done? She had used every trick in the family textbook to make 'Ranko' more feminine. What scared her now was... it had started to work. On her own son. Nodoka was sure Ranma hadn't begun to notice the soft swaying of her own hips, the easing tone she had begun speaking in, the odd hand-motions that seemed so... silly for a man to do.

        "Ranma... are you a woman or a man?" Nodoka asked, squeezing her daughter's hand tightly.

        Ranma's mind battled, images popping from left to right. "I... wanna say I'm a man. But recently...it's been confusing. Maybe I'm going through a phaze or somethin', but I just don't know," Ranma looked down in embarrasment.

        Nodoka thought, then let go of her daughter. She picked up the sword, and Ranma grew instantly pale.

        "No, this will not be used to kill. Not in this circumstance," Nodoka sheathed it, and Ranma let out the breath she had been holding.

        "Go wake your fiancee, and the rest of the house... I must call your other fiancee's..."

        "Uh... Fiancee, Shampoo got married while you were gone. Oh, and I _don't_ count Kodachi! So don't even think about calling her," Ranma clenched her fists when she thought of Kodachi. The woman didn't know when to stop. Ranma absently wondered what her Mother was thinking.

        "Fine then, I will call Ukyou, Sad what I must do... but it must be done for now," Nodoka walked toward the phone. Ranma wanted to say something, a feeling of panic settling over her as she thought her Mother would leave.

        "Mom?"

        "Yes?"

        "Call me whatever... it doesn't matter if it's Ranko or Ranma," Ranma found she didn't mind either. After five-months of listening to the name, she had gotten used to it. *Would be a shame if I stopped hearing it!* Ranma joked to herself.

        Nodoka looked at Ranma... just looked. Ranma became nervous after a moment and began fidgeting under that stare.

        *What else am I to do? This is such a mess... my Child needs to decide.* Nodoka waved Ranma away, and her son/daughter fled upstairs to wake the house.

        Nodoka picked up the phone and dialed. After eight rings, a sleepy voice answered.

        Ukyou: Hello?

        Nodoka: Yes, is this Kuonji Ukyou?

        Ukyou: Yes... who's this? And why call so late?

        Nodoka: This is Ran... this is Saotome Genma's wife. I have recently been enlightened to... certain things. I have something to announce to the family, and wanted Ranma's Fiancee's to attend. If it, of course, is no Trouble, Kuonji-San.

        There was a very long pause and Nodoka wondered if the girl had fallen back asleep.

        Ukyou: Yes, Saotome-San. I will be over very soon.

        Nodoka: Thank-you very much, Kuonji-San.

        Nodoka hung up the phone with a slightly unnerved look to her. She had expected a peaceful night's rest, and maybe some soft talk with Ranko.

        *Well... you've gotten one out of two, Nodoka. Just not in the way you imagined.* Nodoka's nerves were on end as she went back and sat down at what was left of the table.

        Kasumi watched on, her hands clenched tightly. She had viewed the entire exchange with mixed fear and trepidation, and a healthy bit of guilt. She had not even warned Ranma of his Mother's arrival. She approached a stricken looking Nodoka with a grim mask of bravery.

        Nodoka looked up at Kasumi, a confused and broken look reflected in her eyes. "Kasumi-Chan, you never told me."

        "N-no, Aunt Nodoka," Kasumi looked at the ground, as her own self worth seemed to plummet.

        "It's all right, Kasumi-Chan. You may tell me everything now. And I _mean_ everything. I will not let this destroy my family, but there must be something done," Nodoka added a hint of determination and strength to her voice.

>>>>Upper level of Tendo's House.

        Ranma gently shook Akane, noticing her fiancee was very much asleep. "Akane? Hey, Akane! Get up, sleepyhead!" Ranma shook her harder. *She's awfully cute when she's sleeping...* Ranma noted as she looked down at the still sleeping Akane.

        Then again, Akane _had_ been sparring with her, and that could tire many people out. Ranma continued to shake his fiancee until she opened her eyes a bit.

        "Gah... go... what? ... Huh? R-Ranma?!" Akane sat upright, looking at the window.

        It was closed to her relief, and the door was propped open.

        Akane was confused... had Ranma actually used the door for once? Why was he still a girl? Why was she waking him up at...

        "Ranma... it's 10:30 P.M., whatever it is that's keeping you up, just ignore it. Go back to sleep," Akane rolled back over in her bed.

        Ranma stomped her foot unconciously, and pulled on Akane's arm.

        "Mom is here Akane! She wants to tell everyone somethin' important!"

        Akane actually stood up during those words. *Well, now I know why Ranma is a girl!* Akane yawned, and tried figuring out why she was so sleepy. *Oh wait... that's right, Ranma actually sparred with me!* Akane beamed the best she could as she remembered this silent admission of respect from Ranma. *Maybe he's not such a Baka... okay, well, maybe not ALL the time.*

        Akane was dragged out into the hall as Nabiki rubbed her eyes and yawned. "What is it with you, Ranma. Whenever anyone else tries getting sleep, you make them get up in the middle of the night for some cockamami fight or another stupid, useless reason,"

        "She knows," Ranma said.

        Akane froze, and Nabiki stood like a statue before fainting.

        Ranma looked at Nabiki on the ground, then laughed.

        "Well I'll be damned, now THAT'S a FIRST!" Akane had to laugh despite herself. It was forced however, as she wondered what would happen to Ranma.

        Seppuku?

>>>>To Dining Area.

        Ranma sat with a smile in her usual spot, and folded her hands in her lap. Soun was weeping for his 'lost cause'. Kasumi was silently looking at the Table, her face melancholy. Hiroshi was grumbling about losing sleep, but glanced at Ranma and Nodoka several times. Genma seemed to be staring at his wife, with little or no response coming any time soon. Akane was nervously looking around, to see if something terrible might happen. Nabiki was surveying the damage, and looking worriedly at Akane. Ukyou was trying to fix her disarrayed hair to some semblance of modesty, mumbling complaints about being awoken in the middle of the night. Several small conversations had started, most of them wondering what this was all about.

        Nodoka, however, was looking only at Ranma. The only proper way for her to repair some normality to her child's life was for her to do this. *Let the consequences be forever upon our family line, whether bad or good comes of it.*

        "Quiet, please," The Saotome matriarch calmly bellowed as she stood. Everyone looked on expectantly, and Ranma had curiosity written in her features.

        "Tonight I came to rest beneath the roof of Tendo's house. Tonight I became aware of a lie propigated by all within this house right now," Nodoka looked around at those seated as they exchanged glances. Ranma looked away, more ashamed that she couldn't have come out and told the truth by the second.

        "All has been explained," Nodoka looked at Kasumi with a thankful look. Kasumi looked to be on the verge of crying, "And I have come to the realization that Ranma must make his own decisions for the future," Akane's face paled, and Soun looked grim as Genma's eyes widened at his wife's intended plan. Ukyou gasped as she realized the inferred meaning a moment after everyone else.

        "To begin with, all rights and claims to my son's hand in marriage are completely annulled. If any have a claim for my _daughter's_ hand, those are also annulled," Nodoka looked around icily at the group, as the two ex fiancee's stared in shock at her. Soun began bawling, and Genma began speaking loudly of his shame for his son. Ukyou began telling her Yaitai story and Ranma and Akane were making like they could care even less.

        "QUIET!" Nodoka snapped. Genma cringed, and Soun was too shocked to do anything but listen. Silence fell over the dojo once more.

        Ranma looked at his Mother in a bit of fear. More awe than fear, though. *I can be strong when I need, Ranma.* Nodoka thought as her face softened back to her cold smile.

        Nodoka breathed a deep breath in, continuing in a more level tone, "As Mother to the intended, I have such right to void any promises and agreements made by my _Husband_ that I find refutable and largely distasteful. Under the current situations... I find all of this distasteful. The way my son has been raised, the way my daughter has been treated, and the undeniable irresponsibility that my Husband has shown in his dealings with both Ranma's social standings, as well as ignoring the basic lessons of womanhood Ranma should have learned by now," Nodoka found her speech became easier with every word, as she knew there was no other way to appease the promise she had made to herself.

        Everyone glanced at eachother very confused. Ranma blushed a deep crimson, and wondered why her Mother was saying those odd things about her _son_.

        "Pardon me, Nodoka-San, but why do you refer to Ranma as both son, and daughter?" Soun averted his eyes when he saw Nodoka's burning glare behind the soft fascade.

        "Let me continue, Tendo-San, and you will know. It has come to light that Ranma has not chosen, nor made any move toward chosing a fiancee. The only way I see that I can proceed through a promise made to _myself_ is to train my child as both girl, and boy. Sadly, Genma's influence has already shaped Ranma's crude egotistical male side... and if there were some other way, I would jump to it willingly," Nodoka stared around the room. Everyone's face went pale, particularly Ranma's.

        The visions flooded back, of nightmares involving water, and babies, and being stuck, and the chiisuiton, and all the other things Ranma had faced and confronted.

        "No... no! Mom, what if I found a cure?! What if I went back to China and found the Nannichuan?! It... it doesn't matter if Jusenkyo flooded! There's gotta be a cure! I can find it, Mom, I can-" Ranma was quietly cut off when Nodoka raised her hand for silence.

        Nodoka looked at her daughter with sad eyes, wishing there were another way around her Promise, "I am sorry, Ranma dear. Kasumi has told me of all the times you looked for a cure... The more I dwell on how many were fakes and phonies the more I realize you really _might_ be stuck with this-"

        "No! There's a way! I'll find it! I- I can't be stuck like this! I'm a M- I'm a M- a M- DAMMIT WHY CAN'T I SAY IT?!?!?!" Ranma fell back down in her seat, she had been standing while she yelled. A weak dizzy feeling came over Ranma, her stomach felt like it was cartwheeling and the blood kept rushing to her head. *I'm... not going to faint.* Ranma forced the feeling away.

        Nodoka looked at her daughter with a startled expression, *That fiery spirit reminds me so much of my youth...* Nodoka pushed the thought back.

        "Ranma-Chan," The girl and the group flinched at the words. Not so much their meaning, but the basic fact that they came from Nodoka.

        "Ranma-Chan, did you say that Jusenkyo was a training ground?" Nodoka recalled the brief tale the girl had skimmed over on their first meeting. The meaning of the guides words had never been apparent to anyone, until Nodoka had given it some thought.

        "Yes, that's what I said, Mom," Ranma looked up from her depression into her Mother's patient eyes.

        "Tell me, Ranma and Genma, did you think it was a Martial arts Training ground? Did it never occur to you that whoever fell into the pool fell in for a _REASON_?!" Nodoka calmed her voice, lest her anger take over.

        Ranma's mind clicked. Hiroshi had tried to tell her, and so had his Sister Memeko. None of it had made sense until the question of the training grounds _true_ nature of training had been brought out by Ranma's Mother.

        "You mean-" Started Genma.

        "Yes, Husband. You've already learned how to accept your curse, accept being a Panda. Even the _other's_ that Kasumi has told me about had no trouble dealing with their curses. Ranma, however, has the ultimate task. She has to learn _who_ she is, not _what_ she is. Fate must have been cruel or insightful to plague my child with such a curse. I believe it is our duty to train Ranma in the way's of the woman, and let him make a decision of his own volition. I will not force upon Ranma the sexual innuendo that most girls learn, nor will I force him into any abnormal preferences that make him uncomfortable. I believe this curse was intended to teach Ranma the inherant problems of being a woman, so I plan on doing just that," Nodoka felt queezy as she thought of all the things Ranma will hate, and all the things that Ranma didn't know.

        She wished with all her heart that there were some other way to avoid the Seppuku, but the only thing she could think of was to delay the promise till her first oath had been fulfilled.

        She hoped she could do it when the time came, she somehow feared she couldn't. A promise to herself... to her Mother...

        She had sworn to pass on her Mother's teachings to her first daughter... Sadly that was...

        Ranma.

        "You may all go and think about this. Ranma's training will begin tomorrow on Monday. On Monday's, Wednesday's, Friday's and Sunday's Ranma will be trained as a girl. Tuesday's, Thursday's, and Saturday's will be spent in the company of my husband and Soun, I am trusting you two not to screw up, or there will be dire consequences," Nodoka clenched her fists as everyone stayed silent.

        Ranma looked worriedly at Akane, and the girl noticed. Her face softened a bit, and Ranma panicked. What's worse is, she opened her mouth.

        "Well, at least I don't have to worry about that Kawaiikune Tomboy anymore!" She realized she may have said one word too many as a mallet was drawn out of thin air and connected solidly with her head.

        Nodoka sighed, this was going to be more trouble than she thought.

>>>>Nodoka&Genma

        Nodoka silently closed the door to the guest room. She sighed and threw herself on the bed with a muffled sob. It seems like her world was falling to pieces, that innocence from her teenage years seemed as if broken into a thousand stabbing shards of pain.

        Nodoka turned over on her back, looking up at the ceiling. Her mind drifted to long ago, to a small hospital room in the outskirts of Tokyo... to a modest little house owned by Tofu Agami, Tofu Ona's father.

        She recalled three words which changed her life forever...

        "You are pregnant, Nodoka-Chan. Ten weeks," Agami looked at the nervous girl with her hair tied back. The red mane had been darkening for three years now, but still held a very luxurious fiery hue. She was dressed in a spring-green Kimono, with her fiery hair tied back in a pony-tail. Nobody would believe Agami-sensei if he told them that behind this very model of a woman was a fiery spirit to match Oni.

        Nodoka placed her hand on her belly, aware of a strange shock coursing through her. Fear gripped her heart. At the age of twenty, she had never even thought about having children... and all it had taken was a single time with someone she didn't even think she liked. *Baka... Genma, I wonder if you'll even be a responsible enough father to stay in one place long enough to raise our baby...* Nodoka worried.

        She recalled, a few months ago, when her fiancee had let down his guard at a dance. She recalled all the times they had fought over the arrangement between their parents, but neither had had the guts to face them... least of all Genma.

        *And now, Genma-kun... this new life will force us into a difficult decision...*

        "Have you told Genma? I'm sure he would like to know that his fiancee is with child. This might change things...," Agami laughed at the thought that Genma would have to settle down, just like his friend Soun. Nodoka shook her head, and breathed in quickly as she ran her hands over her belly. She couldn't feel anything... it scared her and caused her amazement that she was actually pregnant.

        Agami-sensei smiled and spoke, "I think you should talk to Soun's wife. She's already been through two pregnancies, and she is actually expecting another. She might be able to help you through this first time," Agami sensei looked at Nodoka with compassion... he had a feeling that her child would be very special.

        "Thank you, Agami-sensei," Nodoka stood, and began to walk to the door. Agami watched her stop and turn around.

        "Agami... I might not be back here for a while, so I want you to come by every now and then," Nodoka felt very nervous about all of this, Agami-sensei could tell. She was likely wondering what to tell her parents, as well as her soon-to-be-husband. He nodded to her request.

        "And... Agami-sensei, what do you think would be a good name?" Nodoka looked at him dead serious. He was a bit startled, usually the name was consulted upon, and usually not so soon. He quickly regained his composure and thought for a moment.

        "Truthfully, Nodoka-Chan? With your fiery spirit and Genma's fierce male bravado, not to mention skill in the martial arts... I would most likely say..." Agami-Sensei paused for a moment in thought, before he came up with two _different_ names.

        "... I would say Ranma 'Wild Horse" or Ranko, the gender opposite,"

        Nodoka liked both names. Maybe if she had a girl...

        Nodoka laughed for a good ten minutes as she found a clue to Ranko's identity sixteen years in the past. *And to think, I never figured it out!*

        A knock at the door caused her to pause in her merriment.

        "Nodoka-Chan? May I come in?" Genma's voice echoed from outside the door.

        Nodoka sat up, straightening her appearance for several moments as her husband waited on the other side of the door.

        "Come," Nodoka voiced, just loud enough for Genma to hear.

        Her husband opened the door and shuffled in nervously. "I am sorry, Nodoka-Chan... for not telling you, but coming home meant fulfilling the promise. You understand my predicament, don't you?" Genma sat down on the bed beside his wife, and she edged away a bit.

        "_No_, I don't understand. I only understand that my husband is a coward, and that he had been keeping my son... my daughter... my CHILD away from me! Ten years, Genma Saotome, ten years of unrelinquished anguish because of your foolish pride! When the letters stopped, I feared that you had both been killed... or worse," Nodoka looked at her husband, finding a familiar stirring deep in her heart.

        Genma looked down at the ground, inwardly flinching from his wife's comments. *She is right... I am a coward. I'm not even brave enough to face the responsibility of my son. I should have tried harder to teach him... not to be like me.*

        Nodoka almost started crying again as she spoke, "I would have done it, Genma. You know me... I would never have hesitated in killing you both. I felt so utterly betrayed and duped. You would both be lying on the ground bleeding to death if it wasn't for this Hiroshi... who is he?" Nodoka recalled the fierce gleam in the boy's eyes, the very real threat of violent reaction to her deeds.

        "He is just a friend of Ranma's from school, I didn't realize any of them had guts except for Ryouga," Genma scoffed at the thought of the Lost boy, who hadn't been seen since earlier that night.

        "You are such a terrible judge of character, Genma-kun. That's always been your major flaw... that and the, what was it again? Oh yes, the so called 'Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts Final Attack!'. Running away is a much more widely accepted term," Nodoka smirked at her comment, then realized where the conversation was heading.

        "If you intend that as an insult, I am not obliged to agree. It is a very famous technique among our line, but I wouldn't expect _you_ to know anything about that, being a misinformed traditionalist!" Genma crossed his arms, as he told his version of the truth. Nodoka realized there was no going back, as her own anger consumed her will of control.

        "How would you know what I know, you sanctemonious Baka?! You've been gone for ten years! Oh, so sorry, let me rephrase that, you've been a 'Panda' for the last several months!" Nodoka and Genma jumped up and faced eachother, fists drawn at sides. Nabiki and Kasumi were standing at the door by now, and Akane had just joined them.

        "That has nothing to do with this! Why should I care what you think?! You're always insulting my talents, and throwing my superior abilities into question, you Flame-Headed Oni!" Genma threw the insult with familiarity. Ranma and Soun were watching by now, with Hiroshi jumping up over peoples heads to try and see what was going on in the room.

        Nodoka's face turned red and a blue aura shot up around the woman. "What was that?" She said in a surprisingly calm voice.

        "Oni-Woman! Red-Headed She Devil! Violent Demon of a girl!" Genma got louder and louder with his insults.

        Nodoka seemed to pause for a moment, then her voice rang out, "GENMA NO BAKA!" And Genma Saotome was beaten half-to-death then sent somewhere into the constellation of Casseiopeia.

        Nodoka stormed to the door slamming it in everyone's faces, then threw herself on the bed and cried.

>>>>The Others.

        Akane and Ranma looked at eachother, completely confused why either of Ranma's parents would act so immature. They were like bickering children.

        Soun just shook his head and went to bed. Murmuring, "Some things just never change, Saotome," and he smiled as he left.

        Kasumi was startled, but whispered a good night to everyone before retiring to her own room.

        Ranma and Akane asked simultaneously, "What was that all about?"

        Nabiki and Hiroshi burst into raucous laughter.

        "Oh, geeze. This is too much. Maybe it's some kind of Saotome marriage-curse or something!" Nabiki walked back to her room laughing all the way as Hiroshi spoke.

        "Did we miss something?" Akane asked, looking at Hiroshi. Everyone had seemed slightly amused at the incident. Ranma and Akane didn't know why.

        "Nothing, Akane-Chan. Nothing you would not get angry at, at least," Hiroshi moved to go back to his room when Akane's anger flared and she attempted to grab Hiroshi's hand.

        Someone tapped her on the shoulder and both Ranma and Akane blinked. She had missed his wrist, and he had even startled her from behind.

        "Gomen Nasai, Akane-Chan. I really need to get some sleep, though," Hiroshi yawned and walked into Ranma & Genma's room.

        "How the hell-" Akane started.

        "Did he do that?" Ranma finished. Ever since Ranma had begun spending more and more time around Hiroshi, he had realized that Hiroshi _could not_ be sensed. It caused much disturbance by the simple fact that Hiroshi was constantly scaring Ranma from behind.

        "Hey, Akane"

        "Ranma," They both said simultaneously.

        The red-head giggled and Akane smiled. Her smile was quickly washed away when the reality of their situation hit them.

        "Ranma... I guess this means we don't have to worry about that... engagement anymore," Akane sounded sad that Ranma's Mother had negated all of Genma's promised iinazukes.

        "Yeah... I mean, it _is_ kinda weird... not being engaged to such a... I mean, not being engaged to you, Akane," Ranma looked up at Akane with her blue eyes, recalling several weeks ago when they had returned from China... Saffron defeated.

        The most vivid and color-filled memory in all of Ranma's life was seeing Akane in that wedding-kimono. Till the day Ranma died, she would never forget the surge of unadulterated love in her heart that had threatened to overwhelm her.

        "I know what you mean..." Akane paused, and then yawned as the familiar ache of a three-hour workout caught up with her mentally shocked mind.

        "Well, I guess we should be getting to bed... good-night Akane," Ranma leaned up and kissed her on the cheek, then looked at her in confusion.

        Akane's hand stole to her cheek, similarly in confusion. After a moment she smiled and did the same for Ranma.

        Ranma froze when Akane kissed her on her cheek, and a warm feeling spread over the petite red-head. She turned and walked back to her room.

        Akane was still smiling about the kiss. It might not be very romantic... but with Ranma, it was a start. Akane paused and watched Ranma walk to her room, shared with the now absent Genma and the sleeping Hiroshi. After a moment, Akane turned and walked back to her own room, her smile forgotten. Something had disturbed Akane about the _way_ Ranma was walking... it seemed familiar somehow, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

        She had the energy to change into her pajamas before she curled up on her bed and quickly escaped to a peaceful sleep filled with colorful dreams of the fair.

>>>>Ukyou

        Ukyou walked down the shadowed street, thinking about the dire fate Saotome Nodoka had just announced for Ranma.

        *How _could_ she?! I love Ranchan! How _could_ she do that to me? How could she do that to _him_?! He's not a girl! He's my Ranchan!* Ukyou punched a lampost, creating a crack that spidered out. Ukyou's fist hurt, but her heart hurt more.

        She knew that with her out of the picture, and with Ranma living with Akane that she hardly had a chance at all. What could she do? She didn't have a claim on her Love anymore, ripped away by the woman who gave birth to Ranma... who, it seemed, would be leading Ranma's life for a while yet to come.

        Ukyou couldn't hold a grudge, though... not against Saotome Nodoka. She had heard about how Ranma felt when she visited, she had even seen it once or twice when 'Ranko' stopped by Ucchan's.

        Who was meant for her? If Ranma chose Akane, what would she do? She had never given the thought much consideration. She had always thought that she held a place in Ranma's heart. Maybe she did, just not in the way she wanted.

        *Friends, how could he?! Friends... I want... I _need_ so much more from him! How can we be just friends?! Who is left for me when he is gone?* Ukyou looked up at the sky, considering the stars.

        "Uh, excuse me ma'am... which way is the Tendo Dojo? I seem to be a bit out of place...," Ukyou looked down and into the face of Hibiki Ryouga. She shook her head, and Ryouga blushed when he realized who he was talking to.

        "Ah... sorry, Ukyou... it's just that... well... you know how I am... if it _WASN'T_ for Ranma... Grrrrr," Ryouga started glowing faintly with an aura of anger, and Ukyou took a step back in alarm.

        Ryouga's aura blinked out a moment later when he saw her step away, a bit of fear in her movements. "Ah... sorry again, Ukyou. I guess I'm not just twice cursed... I'm thrice cursed with this uncontrollable anger..." Ryouga's demeanor shifted as his shoulders slumped, his eyes losing all reflection of light, and even the moon's glow was darkened around the Lost boy's dismal mood as a cloud passed over it.

        Ukyou had to do something, just _being_ near Ryouga when he was like this was almost as bad as being Ryouga himself!

        "Ah, C'mon, Ryouga-kun. Don't feel so bad, here, How's about I take you back to my place and you can sleep there," Ukyou forced a smile through the wave of depression washing over her from Ryouga.

        "Gee, I don't know, I think I'd just be trouble to you... maybe you shouldn't bother...," Ryouga's depression seemed to double, a seemingly impossible feat. Ukyou felt like she would start crying if she didn't get him happy _soon_.

        "No, you're no trouble, sugar. I mean, a cute guy like you? I'm sure you're pretty hungry, sweety, I'll cook something if you come back to the restaurant with me! Besides, Ranma has enough trouble for one night... his Mother's visiting," Ukyou was startled when Ryouga flashed her a fanged smile.

        Ukyou's words had made Ryouga feel slightly better, and with Ranma's Mother there he would be living through hell for the next few days. *Why not grab something to eat? You haven't eaten since this morning...* In response, Ryouga's stomach grumbled.

        Ukyou laughed, and that raised