Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ranma was frustrated.

Looking from the window of the coffee shop, she took a sip and sighed a little.She didn't want to show it on her face, but still her furrowed brows refused to cooperate. It only indicates that her situation is serious and needs to be resolved as quickly as possible.

She looked at the still crowded streets of Nerima late at night, the few stores illuminated by the city lights were still operating, and people were still strolling around, completely immersed in their duties or spending their free time as they wished. Ranma spotted a pair - a man and a woman - walking by while holding hands and laughing together. The girl was wearing a frilly white dress exactly the same as Ranma. They were both girls with only distinction being the color of their hair.

Then why can't I be what I am back home? She thought tensing up.

Today should be one of the best days of her life. By luck she was finally able to wake up from this strange dream of being a boy all her life. She was really happy at that moment, finally able to breathe freely and not think about these brutish martial arts things but to take care of their home and think about her future. The only problem was that she seemed to be the only one that was happy.

Father, Uncle Tendo, Ms. Akane… they all looked worried and uncertain at Ranma, like she was strange or was doing something wrong, but she was fine, so why would they look like that? She didn’t know that until Uncle Tendo poured hot water on her head. She then realized that she didn’t really wake up and she still was very much living a nightmare.

She shuddered at the thought. She still remembered this overwhelming feeling of wrongness when she transformed. Her shoulders were too broad, chest too wide, arms too thick, hips too narrow. IIt was her other body that she felt revulsion for. It was her body and all of them preferred her that way. It was sickening.

There was something good in this, though. The exact moment she realized her other half wasn’t just her imagination she suddenly attained vast knowledge about it. She knew all she needed to know about the Jusenkyo curse and how to use it.

“I didn’t want to use it, but I guess I don’t have a choice now” she whispered to herself, looking at her reflection in the coffee surface. She really hopes that they will come around eventually but the desperation in their eyes and their frantic actions make things clear for Ranma, even though she really wanted to be nice to them. They still wanted him back.

There were a lot of ways to lock the curse. It didn’t really matter though since most of them require some sort of artifact or a certain celestial or natural phenomenon to occur and it was out of the question now. Her opinions at that moment were really limited and in truth she really didn’t want to use them. She knew she would hate herself if she would do that but looking back, she knew that she hated the idea of getting back to being him even more.

She sat there for a few more minutes thinking about her life and what it would bring if she did what she thought she should do. A different scenario was playing before her eyes, all of them different but one thing was constant. She would be free of him and she was sure it was worth it. And so she made the decision. She only hoped that it wouldn’t be as painful as she thought it would be.

Ranma felt pain. He was in pain and was underwater, that’s all he was aware of at that moment. It was only a moment, though.

“What would you do that for, you jerk?!” he yelled after getting out of the water.The last thing he remembered was Akane almost hitting him with a pan. He went down into the pond and after that… nothing. Did I pass out underwater? It’s dark… How long was I unconscious?

“Huh?” said Akane, holding a wooden sword. Wait, a wooden sword?

Suddenly his head was in pain once again and he felt shivers down his spine. He certainly didn’t wear enough clothes at that moment.

“Now, I’m gonna catch a cold,” he complained, massaging the back of his head.

“Ranma?” she asked again with a hint of surprise in her voice.

SLAP

What did I do?!

“That hurt! What’re you doin’?” Ranma asked Akane, who still looked at him with hope in her eyes.

“Ranma, you’re back!”

Back from where? he wanted to ask, still very much confused and in pain.

“Dad! Kasumi! Mister Saotome!” she yelled running in the direction of a Tendo Dojo, leaving Ranma with a headache and lots of questions

“Ranma! There you are, boy!” His pops yelled looking happier than this one time he found 1000 yen on the ground.

“Good work, Akane!” added Mister Tendo, also looking extremely happy.

Ranma was stunned and could only look and blink at them and their strangely happy faces of Akane, his dad, Mister Tendo and Kasumi who somehow also got here. Were they happy that he didn’t drown? Did something happen when he was out? He didn’t know but was more and more confused.

“What’re you all lookin’ at?” He asked after staring at them for a few seconds.

Finally his dad comes closer and suddenly grabs him by the shirt and slaps him hard in the face.

What’s with this slapping my face, you bastards?!

“What;s that for, you stupid old man?!” he said, punching him hard in the face. Why must his pops always be this stupid and irritating? Why can’t he just be normal and ask him is he alright? That’s what normal parents do, right?

“That’s our heir to Anything-Goes Martial Arts!” his pops cried with relief, tears running down his cheeks.

“Ranma seems to be back to normal,” said Mister Tendo with a smile.

“Isn’t this wonderful, Akane?” added Kasumi looking at her sister.

“Yes, I’m glad that Ranma got back to being… well, Ranma.” she replied with relief. Ranma didn’t know what’s happening. He knew he was in his usual clothes but now he was wearing white top and shorts, he felt strangely spent and in addition to a distinct headache, he felt a dull ache in his arms and legs, different from that caused by training, he was sure of that.

Just what the hell happened? he thought, looking wide eyed at all of them.

“Your father is overjoyed! It’s such a relief that you’re back to normal!” yelled his pops, slapping him once again. Ranma, still trying to piece together his situation, didn't react in time and was sent flying back to the pond once again feeling a flash of pain and seeing darkness.

Ranma woke up feeling sluggish and with a still present - but much lesser - headache. The memory of almost all people living in the Tendo Household was still fresh in his mind. He was really tired of getting hit from left and right without reason, his aching body a proof of that. Ranma finally decided to move, rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he forced himself upright, brushing aside a few curls of red hair. It looks like they didn’t turn him into a guy after he passed out again and he was grateful for that. He knew that Genma would yell at him for that but he felt much more comfortable waking up as a girl. His body was smaller and lighter, so he needed much less energy to get up.

Despite not really knowing what the time was, Ranma realized that awoken without his father in the room. He counted this as a blessing, he could stand up and go to the bathroom without someone constantly contesting his masculinity or fighting for priority to leave the room saying it's training or some other crap that didn’t make much sense.

When Ranma finally stood up, the door to the guest room suddenly opened showing Kasumi, a large basket with laundry in one of her hands.

“Good Morning, Ranma-kun,” she said, smiling with relief. “I see that you finally wake up, how do you feel?”

Looking at her, Ranma felt a strong sense of deja vu. Like he did something with Kasumi but he quickly dismissed the idea. Kasumi was doing most of the chores around the house and his pops wouldn’t be happy seeing his “men among men” son doing chores that “women should do”. Ranma suddenly felt a rush of irritation thinking about all these comments flying around whenever he would do something not involving Arts, smashing things or whatever.

Ranma actually felt a little bit jealous about the older girl. Sure he knew that he was one of the best martial artists in the world, he was fighting for honor and to protect the weakest but all of that almost always involved harm and destruction. Kasumi on the other hand was taking care of everyone living in the Tendo Household, always cleaning or doing something delicious in the kitchen making Ranma sometimes feel the itch to go and ask if he would be able to help with anything. He would really like to make something instead of always breaking stuff.

The look of worry on Kasumi’s face every time he and his father would break something around the house always makes Ranma feel bad. Of course it would be Nabiki who would take care of the repairs but she would do so with a tired sigh and a phone in her hands. It would be Kasumi who would take care of the rubbles and all that.

“Hi, Kasumi,” he said, walking towards the eldest from the Tendo Sisters. “Fine I guess. My head still hurts a bit though.”

“You need to be more careful, Ranma” she said, looking at him. “And try to protect your head a little more, ok? We're all worried.”

“It's not my fault that Akane’s thinkin’ that my head is a moving target.” he grumbled. Kasumi looked at him with a troubled expression, somehow making him guilty for talking back to her. He still does that though. Nothing good would happen if he suddenly started acting soft in this house.

Ranma brows frown a little bit, why would he feel guilty about talking like that about Akane. It’s her fault that she has anger issues, not him, right?

“You know how she is. Just be careful, ok?”

“Fine, Kasumi, I’ll try” he said, trying to not look her in the eyes. He hated to lie and he couldn’t really make that promise but he didn’t want to worry her even more.

“Thank you” she said with a gentle smile. “Breakfast will be ready soon, there is still hot water in the furo if you want.”

“Thank you, Kasumi!” he said with a smile and finally without interruption she could go into the bathroom. She took her bag of toiletries and a towel and was free to go.

After sliding the sign on the door to ‘Occupied’ Ranma undressed. When he was done something back inside his head urged him to get a careful look at himself in the mirror.

He actually knew he was cute. His female body with her fiery red hair, sweet face and great curves was to die for and he took advantage of that numerous times even if deep down he thought that it was a little shameful. He would continue to do so, but over the months it took him to deal with his curse, he began to take care of his female body and slowly began to take care of his appearance while being self conscious about it and how it must appear to other people.

Unbeknown to Ranma, his eyes were moving slowly appreciating his body with a smile, he felt really lucky that he was blessed with such a great body. It wasn’t anything wrong with his male body of course.

“What’s that?” he said to himself. He ran his hands over his breasts, high and firm and very large for his currently quite small stature, his whole body was really well toned, not as muscular as the male one but he really preferred it that way. He wouldn’t feel good as a mountain of muscles with tits.

Looking closely at himself, there were numerous deep red spots on his body. It looked like some small thing hit him real hard to the point of bruising but they all almost completely faded by now. He wouldn’t be able to notice it if he didn’t decide to take a bath, all of them were in places hidden under his clothes. It was really strange.

“Well, whatever it was it’s almost completely faded so I guess it doesn’t matter” he muttered. “But better keep this from pops, he would once again call me soft or whatnot…”

Ranma finally slid into the hot water with a relieved sigh, all of the numb pain washing away as he gradually submerge into the water. One thing he didn't talk about was how much colder his female form was compared to his male one, like most things he tried not to talk about was because of his father. Ranma could already see Genma deciding that if he can whine about being cold he could do some cold resistance training. He much prefers to keep quiet and just soak in the heat until it warms him all the way to his core, melting away most of his problems.

And sure, his pain and initial tension actually disappeared, but there was one thing that stuck, making Ranma really anxious. He wasn't changing back. He waited for a familiar tingle that would spread quickly all over his body but there were none. From his experience it usually took less than half a minute at the furo's to trigger the transformation but he was soaking here for a few minutes now and nothing.

Ranma felt a cold chill go up his spine, that kind of cold feeling that wouldn’t go away even in the furo. He got out and cranked the controls of the furo’s temperature as high as he could, praying that the change would come and just waited for a miracle.

By the time that furo goes up to its highest temperature, Ranma’s was used to high temperatures but even he was finally forced to go out, looking almost as red as his hair. When he finally cooled down a little bit he once again touched the hot water surface looking at his reflection in the tub.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. His hair was still red, his breasts were still there. Still as curvy as ever.

He was stuck.

A sudden feeling of powerlessness washed over Ranma, making his legs feel like jelly. He needed to hold the furo to keep himself standing. It happened again, but this time he had absolutely no idea how or how to fix it.

He wanted to recount all that could have happened the day before but then he remembered that there was only black. He didn't remember anything except for the fact that his pops and Tendo were really happy for some reason. The only clue he had was all of these strange bruises on his body but he was pretty sure they weren't in the location of any pressure points. His mind was racing trying to think about all the possibilities that would make him locked. Maybe Akane's cooking has finally reached the level of being magical poison? He shook his head, trying not to think bad about his fiancee. There must be something different.

The clouds of mist made from the hot water was slowly dissipating and Ranma wasn’t any closer to solving the mystery of his current predicament. Quite the contrary he felt that him, constantly thinking about new possible ways he was in this situation probably was getting him even further away from the real answer.

There was only one thing that he knew and it made him sick to his stomach. He knew that he was actually really fucked. Big time.

Without knowing what triggered this or how to activate his curse again he didn’t know which way to go and he was sure as hell his father would be insufferable about it. It would be just great.

He scoured his brain for possible ways out of this situation, something that maybe would delay the inevitable confrontation between him and the Tendo’s but all he would think of was destroying the furo or something. He didn’t want to do that, first because he would feel bad about it and second because he already was here for at least fifteen minutes or so. Nobody would believe him at this point.

It looked like the universe once again conspired against him, making him in the center of another shitshow.

A knock on the door to the outer room interrupted his sulking.

“What are you doing here for so long, Ranma?! Breakfast’s ready!" He heard Akane yelling from the other side of the door.

Cursing under his breath, Ranma sighs and grabs his towel. Just my luck, he thought.

Not really having any other choice, Ranma put on his usual male clothes, unusually irritated how ill fitted they were for him. After a little work to at least not need to worry that his pants would fall off he exited the bathroom, silently getting ready for everyone's reaction.

Trying to look as normal as ever he got down and greeted everyone before sitting at his normal place at the table. Just as he thought although they still were eating they also were keeping an eye on him. He doesn’t know if they were expecting something from him or was just curious why he was still a girl even after visiting the furo.

“Boy, didn’t you have enough after yesterday discace?!” said Genma looking angry but also caciouse for some reason. “How long are you gonna stay in that curse form of yours!?”

“The hell, are you talkin’ about, old man!?” replied Ranma looking with irritated glare. Only his father was able to make him lose his nerves this quickly, even Akane wouldn’t be able to achieve such a feat. “i ain’t disgrace and you for sure won’t be tellin’ me how should I look, you stupid panda!”

While we and his father were having a screaming match, Tendo’s were looking at them with suspicion. Or rather, they were looking at Ranma. He once again realized that they seemed to be waiting for something but he didn’t know why and it wasn’t good. He hated being left out of the secret and it was quite clear that something major happened the day before and all of them knew that but weren't going to tell him for some reason.

“Are we out of warm water, Ranma?” asked Kasumi, when Ranma started putting rice and some natto into his bowl, completely ignoring his fuming father. “Do you need some warm water to change back?”

Ranma sighs, realizing that he won’t be able to walk back from this one.

“No, thank you Kasumi it won’t work” he said between bites, somehow more hungry than usual. “My curse seems to be locked, I spend the last fifteen minutes in the furo tryin’ to change back and nothin’ works.”

He looked at them when he said that, trying to see what their reaction would be and just as he suspected. All of them were looking a little more nervous. Everyone besides Katsumi who still looked composed like always. Ranma was really impressed by that and wondered if she went through some strange mental training. He would need to ask her about that later.

“Do we have some more rice? I’m starving” he asked, making the best puppy eyes he was able to.

“I’m sorry Ranma, that's all I make today” said Kasumi looking apologetic.

“What are you doing, boy?! Aren’t you too calm?!” his father started yelling again, too angry to think about stealing his son's food for what Ranma was grateful for. He didn’t want to start a day with his curse locked and his stomach empty. At least he has a second thing going for him. “How can you once again do such a cruel thing to your father, making me look at this disgraceful form of yours and not even flinching not knowing when you can turn back?! I almost died from grief yesterday boy! You really want to send your father to his grave that badly?!”

“Pops, could you shut up?!” Ranma yelled back furious at his father stupid remarks, his chopsticks pointing at Genma. “My bein’ a girl isn’t a disgrace and you won’t die from me having tits for a little while. Also, can somebody finally say what the hell I was doing yesterday?! You all lookin’ at me like I was about to go on a murder spree or somethin’!”

Finally there was silence at the table. Even his father looked ready to go again with his insults. Ranma on the other hand realized that he was much more irritated than usual. His pops didn’t really do anything new or worse than any other day but Ranma was having none of it. It made him curious if his current mental state was somehow connected to his curse being locked and if that was the case then why.

“You were a woman yesterday, Ranma” Akane said with reluctance, looking at him with wary eyes.

“Huh?”

Chapter Text

While all eyes were riveted to him, Ranma was sitting at the table looking quite confused.

“What do you mean, Akane?” he asked. “I am a girl right now, right?”

What is her deal? he thought, wrinkling his forehead. I hope this isn’t something about me being a pervert again. I swear sometimes I think that I could sneeze somewhere and she will call me that for some reason.

“No, not like that” she said looking frustrated. She looked like she wanted to say a lot of things but didn’t exactly know where to start. “You were like…”

“You were really lady-like” finished Kasumi with a soft smile. “Your voice was really lovely, Ranma.”

“My voice? Do you mean like when I act all cutesy and stuff to scam guys to buy me stuff?” He asked even more confused than before. They all knew at this point that he was really good with acting all girly if he was scamming people.

“No, you idiot, it was completely different!” Akane hit the table while yelling at him. “You were all soft and feminine, and… and y-you… you were like Kasumi!”

Ranma blinked a few times, trying to process things that were thrown at him. The image of him with his red hair loose without a pigtail in Kasumi’s clothes flashed before his eyes. He looked at the oldest Tendo sisters who still were in her collectible and smiling housewife demeanor. Yup, it wouldn't happen, he thought, rejecting the insinuation as hard as he could. It wouldn't hurt to have some real skills around the house though… Wait, what am I thinking?

His eyes lost focus for a second, his thoughts were strange from the moment he woke up today. But also a little bit clearer somehow. He felt calmer, even looking at his current predicament.

“I actually really enjoy your help with the laundry,” she said, adding to his confusion. “And in the kitchen too. If you don’t mind, would you like to help me with dinner from time to time?”

“Um, s-sure? If you want then I don’t mind I guess…” replied Ranma, really pleased that she said that - even if he didn’t remember anything like that happening - she enjoyed his company and wanted him to do something together. He actually hung out with a lot of people but he couldn’t remember the last time someone said that they really enjoyed his company.

It is so rare to just have some peace and quiet lately, he thought. All the time his finances wanted something from him, wanted him, were mad at him and so on. Maybe I actually go through with Katsumi’s offer, it would be like a vacation or something. Of course I would need to suffer pops sitting in the house and watching me all day and he obviously…

“I forbid it! No son of mine will be wasting his time in the kitchen!” cried Genma mirroring Akane's strike at the table. “It’s a women’s job, boy! You would be wiser to spend your time perfecting the Art than acting like some housewife!”

“Knock it off, old man!” yelled Ranma, glaring at his father. “At least I would be doing somethin’ here. It’s not like you know anythin’ about that when you’re sitting here lazing around all day!

“Watch your tongue!” said Saotome patriarch, gritting his teeth. “I was there fearing for the future and well-being of my son when you were squealing like some pathetic damsel in distress and sniffing flowers! Do you know how close I was to dying when I heard that you told Akane you would reject the Arts!”

“What did I say?” asked Ranma, taken aback by this revelation. He couldn’t believe that he would say such a thing. Martial arts was his whole life as far as he remembered and he never really thought about doing anything else in his life. To throw it all away.. for what? What was this different Ranma thinking when she said such a thing?

“You said that you didn’t like martial arts and won’t be a successor to the Anything Goes” answered Mister Tendo, looking uncomfortable and apologetic. “You were… really shocked and uncomfortable when I poured hot water on you. I know that it wasn’t really you but I’m feeling guilty about that son, and I’m sorry.”

“I-I… d-don’t worry, Mister Tendo. It’s not like I remember that stuff or anythin’ so you don’t need to feel guilty about it” said Ranma, feeling really strange about the whole thing. It was weird being apologized for things that someone said that happened but have no recollection of such a thing.

“Did… did I do other strange things? Besides the Arts I mean.” he asked with an increasing sense of detachment. They were saying all kinds of strange things but it wasn’t like he specifically was doing them. The whole thing with him walking, talking and all that other stuff but actually being unconscious… it was really creeping him out but again, it wasn’t really him, right?

I don’t suddenly start to shift from one Ranma to another, right? God, please let it not be something like that, he thought with cold sweat on his back. All of that started from me being in a head, right? So I just need to protect my head and everything should mostly be fine right? It should be fine…

Ranma looks back at his life and realizes that it was exactly the place that he was most of the time and he pales a little bit realizing how screwed he was. The fact that it was Akane that was the one that mostly did that lately didn’t look too good for him.

“A bunch of things, really” said Akane, looking at the tea in her hands. “I was trying to cheer you up after you turned into a man, we went shopping and we were talking about a bunch of stuff…”

“What kind of stuff?” Ranma asked feeling both curious and in shock that somehow this different version of himself was able to talk about something with Akane and didn’t end up arguing or fighting.

“None of you business, you idiot!”

“How can’t it be my business?! I just want to know what I was supposedly doing when I was out cold yesterday!”

How could she be like that? He clenched his teeth. What if the things she's discussing with me… with her, would give us a clue or something! Besides, shouldn't I know what the other one was talking about? How selfish can this stupid tomboy be....

“Well, I don’t know!”

“What don't you know?”

“I don’t know what you were doing! You just dress up and leave in the evening without telling anyone!”

Everyone went silent after that.

Oh well, that’s… that’s the problem

“Y-you, you don’t know where I went?” He asked with a slim hope that she was joking or - more likely - teasing him because she was angry even if deep down he knew that the situation was too serious for her to do something like that.

“No” she said with a sigh and pinched her nose trying to calm herself down. “You left and came back after a few hours. When I saw you sneaking to your room I got angry and started to chase you down and… and then you hit your head in the pond and was yourself again.”

“So we don’t know what Ranma was doing,” said Nabiki, joining the conversation. “That’s not good.”

“Agreed,” said Mister Tendo, crossing his arms and looking troubled. “How do we find the way to undo the lock on Ranma’s curse without knowing what happened?”

“We have to find a solution to this! I can’t stand seeing my son stuck as a girl for months once again!” cried Ganma, the tears streaming from his eyes. “We need to do something or the school will never be joined!”

Ranma ignores the usual rambling of two fathers about this whole stupid arranged marriage and school merging. All of that was a disaster and he really started to feel anxious about the whole thing. It wasn’t anything like in case of Full Body Cats Tongue Technique when most of the things and solutions were more or less explained to him and he had some visible options to do something. He didn’t know that much about his curses and - even if he didn’t want to admit it - most of his problem solving methods rely on fighting or breaking things, stuff that won’t do much in this situation. Not the first time he cursed his father for only teaching him how to scam someone or beat them up. Some real life problem solving techniques would really be appreciated right now!

Normally when he has some affliction or problem with his body he would go to Dr. Tofu but he was out of town for some things related to his mother or something like that. He was out of reach for now, besides the fact that he also didn’t know that much about the curses himself.

Ranma cursed under his breath, he knew the most likely solution but he didn’t really like it. But he didn't have much choice. If he wanted to learn anything about this whole mess and find a way to undo it, he'd probably have to meet with the Old Ghoul again.

“As much as I don’t want to say it… I think I need to go to see Cologne.”

“Thank you for lending me some of your clothes, Akane”

“Why are you even borrowing something from me?” Akane asked with a grimace. “I thought that you bought some clothes on your own when you got locked last time?”

“I did, but stupid pops got rid of all of them after that, said that I shouldn’t be reminded of my shameful past or whatever,” Ranma replied with annoyance. He bought all of that clothes with his hard earned money and his father’s lack of boundaries of any kind was pissing him off. He even got rid of that yellow dress that I looked so good in my girl form, that idiot.

Ranma looked at himself for a second. He was wearing a pair of quite comfortable black flat soled shoes, a yellow blouse and knee length dark blue skirt. Even if a little tight around the breasts and hips it was better than his buggy men's clothes. Even in borrowed clothes I still look gorgeous, he thought pleased with himself.

Wait, shouldn’t I be nervous about my curse? He thought for a second. It isn't the time to think that I'm good looking or something…

“Whatever, you can borrow some of my clothes for now” Akane continued, still looking a little annoyed at the idea. “But I will not share any of my underwear with you! If you will stick like that for longer you will need to buy them for yourself, got it!?”

“W-who even asked you about that?!” He replied studded by her words, his previous train of thought completely forgotten. “And why are you even worried about what I’m wearing?!”

“Because you are still my stupid fiance and I don’t like to be associated with a pervert!” she yelled back, making him flinch a little.

Here’s the pervert again, he thought, turning his gaze with a pout. It’s not like he wanted to be splashed with water at every opportunity, it’s the world that was toying with him all this time. He really thought that was unfair, he was a girl half the time, he was able to see everything that a guy would dream of simply looking in the mirror. He wasn’t a peeping tom or a pervert, everyone else just assumed that about him and it was really frustrating.

“Hmm? Isn’t that Ryoga?” asked Akane suddenly after a few minutes of silent walking.

She was right, Ranma would never mistake that black hair guy with yellow bandana with anyone else. He never needed to anyway. Each time he and Ryoga would meet he would somehow let himself be known, whether it be through yelling “PREPARE TO DIE” shit or some snarky comments, he almost always was the one that announced himself to Ranma.

This time The Lost Boy was lost not in his tracts but in his mind by the looks of it. Ryoga was walking in a straight line scratching his chin thoughtfully with his eyes looking at the ground, his face going from red to pink like he was relieving some embarrassing memory over and over again.

“Hey, Ryoga!” yelled Ranma waving to the guy. “What happened? Did you wander into the women’s bathhouse or somethin’?”

Ryoga paused, suddenly coming back to reality. He looked around uncertainly not knowing where exactly he was but then he glanced at two girls near him and his eyes calmed down with recognition.

“Ranma, Akane” he said with a nod. “I’m sorry but I can’t talk right now. I try to remember something, but it escapes me like an eel.”

He looked into the sky, visibly angry and embarrassed.

“What kind of evil tricks does that vile woman do to me!?”

“A woman?” Ranma and Akane asked at the same time.

I thought that the only girl Ryoga would be interested in would be Akane. What kind of trouble has this guy gotten himself into this time.... and why do I even care? It’s that stupid Ryoga’s problem, not mine…

“I was charmed, bewitched by an evil woman that used me, and tossed me aside like some plaything” said Ryoga without even looking at them. “She toyed with my heart and shattered it into a million pieces and I didn’t even see her face!”

“Wait, some girl played with you and you didn’t even see her?” asked Ranma trying not to laugh. “Are you an idiot or something?”

“That does seem strange, Ryoga,” said Akane, for once agreeing with her fiance. “What exactly happened?”

Ryoga's face once again turns pink and he starts scratching the back of his head trying to evade eye contact.

“I-I m-mean, I-It’s nothing. You don’t need to concerns yourself about me at all, hahaha”

“By the way, Ranma, what are you wearing?” he asked, clearly trying to change the topic. “Is this again one of your scams or something? Did you have no shame at all as a man?”

“Shut up, Ryoga” said Ranma crossing his arms under his breasts with a frown. “My curse got locked again, that's why I’m dressed like that. Don't try to dodge the question!”

“You locked yourself again?” Ryoga chuckled. “Pathetic, Ranma. I would never let myself be disgraced like that.”

“Yeah, right,” said Ranma with a smug smile. “That’s not what you were trying to say a second earlier. Poor Ryoga, bewitched by a woman he couldn’t even remember.”

“T-that’s not.. fine! I’ll tell you!” He stammered angrily and sighed, defeated.

“Finally!” said Ranma, rolling his eyes.

“S-so, I got lost again” he started. “And then I realize I’m in some kind of dark place with thick strange smoke floating around, everything was blurry and smelled funny. There were some people there but everyone was busy with something else and no one was paying me any attention.”

“And you didn’t recognize anyone there?” asked Akane.

“No, it was too foggy there.” Ryoga replied and blushed really hard for some reason. “Suddenly someone reached out to me, it was a woman. She dragged me to some other place, gave me something to drink and… and started doing some… some stuff..”

“No way! You make out with a girl, Ryoga! Congrats, man!” said Ranma, patting him on the shoulder with a grin. “I thought that you’re shy around girls, but maybe it’s just that Akane is scary!”

“Hey, I’m not scary, you idiot!” Akane shouted angrily.

“See, what do I mean? Scary…”

“That’s not it!” cried Ryoga, pushing Ranma’s arm away. “I wouldn’t do anything with anyone else, Akane is the only girl for me…”

“In your dreams, Ryoga!”

“... but there must be something in all this smoke or the drinks… I don’t know what but I black out soon after. I only woke up when she was leaving.”

“And you didn’ see her face? Not even a glimpse?” asked Ranma, not entirely convinced by his story.

“No,” he replied, shaking his head looking ashamed. “I only saw her dress, she was wearing some white frilly dress, she was really girly…”

“White dress? Well, that’s really not much isn’t it?” Ranma said to himself and scratched his chin. “Well, I don’t think I’ll be of any use in this. And you, Akane?”

After a few seconds of silence Ranma turned back to Akane and looked at her with worry. He didn’t know why but she stood there, frozen in place, mortified for some reason. He was more used to cocky and angry Akane so Ranma immediately walked to her to see what’s going on.

“Akane, are you alright?”

“Huh? Oh, um… r-right right, I’m ok. Everything’s fine” she muttered after he shook her back to reality. “I don’t know anyone like that either, Ryoga I’m sorry… but anyway good luck with that, Ranma and I need to see Cologne, about that lock on Ranma’s curse.”

“Oh, right I’m sorry I stopped you” Ryoga answered a little embarrassed. “I shouldn’t bother you with my problems, sorry Akane.”

“Don’t sweat, Ryoga” Ranma objected. “We stopped you first so it’s on us. Don’t worry if you want I will help you with your search after I get back from that Old Granny.”

“Who said I need your help Ranma?”

“Alright, you will argue about this later.” Akane butt in between them and grabbed Ranma’s arm. “Now we really need to go, I don’t want to waste all weekend trying to solve Ranma’s problems. See you later, Ryoga.”

“Hey, Akane! What are you doing!?” Yelled Ranma being dragged away by his black haired fiance.

“Akane, what was that?” asked Ranma when they were almost at the Nekohanten. He didn’t understand her behavior back there. One second she was as curious as he was and another she furiously walked away taking Ranma with her like a ragdoll. Is she on her period, or something?

“It’s nothing Ranma, don’t worry about it” she just said, still walking.

“I mean, you always were nice to Ryoga so it was strange that we just walked away like that…”

Akane stopped for a second and looked at Ranma, her eyes were full of some kind of distress but Ranma didn’t have a clue why. She sighs and visibly her arms slumped when she tense down.

“Right now, I’m worried about you Ranma, ok?”

Ranma looked her in the eyes again and was sure that she still was anxious about something but he also knew that she wouldn't tell him anything. At least not now and prying into this would only give him a headache when she punched him for asking useless questions so he decided to drop it.

“Ok, Akane.” he finally said with a quick nod. “Let’s see if Cologne will be able to help me, or not.”

“I hope she will,” she replied.

When they finally arrived at the chinese restaurant they were relieved seeing that apparently the lunch rush was already over. There were still people eating, but there didn't appear to be anyone waiting to be served, rather they were on the way out or to engrouse in their meal to notice anyone else around them. Seeing all of these delicious foods Ranma immediately felt hungry.

Shampoo saw them from across the room and came to meet them. Her smile as wide as usual, she sprinted in front of them as quickly as possible. “Airen! Here to see me? I’m so happy!”

Here we go again, he suddenly grabbed a really strong hug. Ranma inhales deeply and wiggles himself out of the iron grip of the Chinese woman.

“I-I’m happy to see you too Sh-shampoo” he said trying to catch his breath. “But we are actually here to see Granny, is she here?”

“Hmm? Here to see the Great-grandmother? She’s in the back, you can find her there” she said looking curious and a little disappointed. “Want hot water before you go?”

Ranma thought for a second if he should tell Shampoo about his condition but decided it wasn’t doing him any favor to lie to her. She could be as crazy as any girl he was involved with but he didn’t know if he would be welcome here any more if he would outright lie to her about his current body.

“No, thank you, it won’t work for me,” he said with a sigh. “My curse is locked again, I need to see Granny so maybe she would know what’s wrong.”

“Huh? Airen boy-form locked? Not good!” said Shampoo, her face became serious. “Ranma, go see Great-grandmother now!”

At least she didn’t pry, he thought with relief. He nodded to Akane and the two of them went to the back of the Nekohanten into the private quarters of Cologne. Ranma didn’t really like to go to this place - memories of his days as a waitress and being ogled by male customers was still too fresh in his mind - but the back always fascinates him with all these strange artifacts and trinkets from China lying around.

When they finally arrived at the right door they suddenly opened. I never understand why she always likes to show off that much, he thought, knowing that the Old Ghul just sensed their presence and opened the door to them with her stuff or something to make an impression.

The office was a total opposite of exotic Chinese decor of the Nekohanten, a small room made more cramped by file cabinets and a desk. There was one chair behind the desk and two in front and a small kettle was releasing hot steam on the side. Ranma and Akane took the two chairs in front while Cologne hopped into the chair behind the desk. The wizened old woman was looking at them from behind the desk and hopped on it for a better view.

“Hello, Son in Law. What brings you here?”

“My curse is locked again, but I don’t know how or how to fix it.” He said casually. He didn’t want to show the old woman how anxious he felt about any of this. Cologne helps him a few times but he knows that at the end of the day she has an agenda of her own and was always waiting for him to show his opening.

"Hmmmm..."

Ranma and Akane walked in and sat in the chairs in front of them while Granny’s big eyes scrutinized him very closely like they could pierce his very being.

“Will you be able to help?” he asked clenching his fists under the table

"Not sure, did something happen when you splash yourself with hot water?" hopping over to the kettle and pouring some water into a mug standing nearby.

"Come on, you know I wouldn't be here if hot water worked on me the way it should!" Ranma complained, which earned him a bonk on the head from Cologne’s staff.

"Be quiet, Son in Law, the fastest way to study a Jusenkyo curse lock is to see what happens when you try to reverse the curse form!"

"Damn it, you Old Ghule, no nothin’ happened when I got splashed!," Ranma continued to protest, earning himself another bonk

"I never said that I needed to. I just wanted to hear a confirmation from you Son in Law" Cologne explained taking a sip from her mug.

“There is one thing I can do, I’ll perform a deep chi reading for you, Son in Law” she finally said putting her drink away. “No matter what happened or with what artifact or phenomenon it occurred it will always leave a mark in your chi, that’s the best way to find the answers you seek.”

“Sounds great! What do I do?” said Ranma, excited that someone finally presented him with even a little sliver of hope to uncover the truth

“Just give me your hand and we’ll begin” said Cologne sitting on the front edge of the table. Ranma leaned closer and Cologne placed her tiny hand onto his wrist.

There was no visible sign of anything happening, but Ranma could feel a sensation of gentle warmth. Ranma observes the old amazon’s face which rather quickly changes from a focus one to the frown one and finally to the look of complete disbelief. After a moment the warmth stopped and the amazon elder leaned back.

“Ranma, I would neve expect you to do such a thing” she said looking at him like he grew a second head or something of similar magnitude.

“What do you mean, Granny?” he asked suddenly, even more anxious than before. All the excitement he felt before completely vanished. “What happened to me?!”

Cologne just sighs, then stands up and puts her hand on Ranma’s shoulder.

“Ranma, my girl. You’re pregnant.”

Chapter Text

Akane was talking to Cologne about something, she looked really serious and worried, to the point that she got up from her chair at some point but Ranma wasn’t sure what they were saying. All he could hear was the sound of blood in his ears and the loud beating of his heart in his chest. The redhead put his hands involuntarily on his abdomen.

Pregnant, the word that before didn’t really mean much to Ranma now felt alien and scary. He was always expected to produce an heir there was no doubt about that but it was drilled into his brain that it would be someone else to carry it to term and now there he was, holding his belly and worried about the future.

The dread of the situation started settling in Ranma. What will his father say? Will he disown him? Will he still be able to live with the Tendous? How would he feed himself and the baby? He didn’t have a job, income or education. What should he do?

Anxiety was building up in Ranma, making him breathe a little faster and faster to the point that he thought that he would faint.

The first thought that came to his mind was to get rid of the baby but he struck it with disgust and horror. He felt overwhelmed but he was a martial artist and as one he was destined to protect the weak. There was no one more weak and vulnerable than an unborn baby and he knew that he would protect it. Even if it means going with this whole pregnancy thing. My baby, he thought, thinking how absurd it was.

“..anma?”

“Ranma?” asked Akane, waving in his face looking worried.

“Huh?” said Ranma, blinking back to the conversation. “W-what, Akane?”

“You spaced out, Ranma. Are you alright?” she asked again.

“I.. Yeah… yeah, I’m good” he lied trying to relax a little and give her a weak smile. It wasn’t his best performance but it was the best he got. “I just… I was tryin’ to process this. That’s all.”

“It’s understandable to have this kind of reaction, give her space Akane”, said Granny, making Ranma feel strangely self-conscious about the ‘her’ part. “What happened to you is really rare, Ranma. I never thought that this could actually happen to you.”

“So it happened before?” asked Akane in place of Ranma, who still struggled with what was happening. “And… What exactly was that? I thought that Ranma just had some strange head injury or really weird amnesia.”

Cologne once again sat at her chair on the other end of the table. She looked dim and tired, making Ranma feel kind of kinship with the old lady. It really looked like she genuinely was sorry for his predicament and it actually made him feel a little better. Like he wasn’t alone with all of that somehow. Someone was here to guide him even if only a little bit.

“It happened six times in the history of our village,” she said, sipping her tea. “Our tribe lives in close proximity to Jusenkyo thanks to that we learn to use the curse spring as a community. Thanks to that we have quite a deep understanding of the curse of the Spring of 'Drowned' Girl and its implication.”

“Wait, you use it frequently?” asked Akane with wide eyes. “You mean in your village people are going into the curse springs voluntarily? Why?”

Now when he knew what was there, Ranma also couldn’t really imagine anyone wanting to go there to curse themselves. Right now he couldn’t even understand wanting to train there, seeing what happened to him, his pops, Shampoo, Mousse and probably many others but it was still a little easier to understand than just going there to just jump in. They must be crazy or something.

“Yes, they are. There are cases of women that were born in the wrong body” she said. “You people called them transgenders I think. When such a woman is born within the tribe she - after stating the desire to do so - would go to the spring, get herself cursed and then lock herself permanently to embrace her true self. We call them Spring Girls and treat them with the same respect all Amazon Women deserve.”

She looked at the redhead with an expression that he didn’t know how to describe. Ranma wasn’t sure but thought that she probably wanted to look serious. He didn’t really know because of all the wrinkles but that was his best guess.

“Now, because you also became a Spring Girl the same respect will be granted to you, Ranma. I declare it as a Matriarch of our Tribe.”

Ranma was taken aback by the serious tone of the old lady. He was more used to her rather relaxed and tendency to make fun of him not really acting like a real elder with authority. But then he frowned a little bit and something wasn’t right about the thing she said. She called me a Spring Girl, but didn't she say that the Spring Girl is a person who got their curse…

“Wait!” said Akane, thinking exactly the same thing. “You mean that…”

“Ranma is a Spring Girl now” she nodded. “Never able to change back and destined to live her whole life as a woman. There is no cure for it, my child. I’m sorry.”

Ranma felt a cold dread go through him, freezing him whole. For a brief second he felt numb all over like he could crumble at any moment. That was it, something he was dreading from the very first moment he left Jusenkyo all those months ago. At first it was really confusing and embarrassing but now he was so used to switching forms so much that a mere thought of being stuck in just one without any possibility to switch to the other felt like his arm was missing. He felt miserable, robbed of something important.

“I..I’m so sorry, Ranma” said Akane with a painful look on her face. She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed tightly, trying to comfort him somehow. It didn't work, but he was grateful to her anyway.

“H-how’s that happened?” asked Ranma hiding his face in his hands. “I will never be a man again?”

“You were possessed by your pure cursed form” explains Cologne, sounding really apologetic and careful, like she was dealing with a very delicate egg that could crack at any moment. Exactly like Ranma was feeling at that moment. "We recorded every incident in all 1500 years since the curse started but we still don’t really know how and why she sometimes appears. All we know is that when she appears it always has a huge impact on a cursed person.“

Damn right it did, he thought, switching from sadness to anger within seconds and looked down. She left me fucking pregnant! And now I have to suffer because of that damn thing that will grow in me…

Just as fast as he thought that he stopped, shocked by his own actions. It wasn’t the baby’s fault that Ranma will be a woman forever, it never even asked to be here. He felt ashamed of his own actions and gently touched his stomach, wanting to somehow apologize for his actions. It isn’t your fault that we’re in this situation, he thought. It’s because that fucking jackass that decided to put a bun in my fucking oven.

“What exactly did she even want from me?” he finally asked, feeling angry and tired at the same time. “Mess in my life? If that’s what she wanted then she succeeded alright.”

“Why is it only me?” Ranma did not ask anyone in particular. “Why Ryoga, Shampoo or my pops don’t have to deal with that crap too? Shampoo doesn’t even seem to transform that much when I was always splashed a few times a day!”

“There are a lot of curses in Jusenkyo,” said Cologne. “All of them are different but the ones that are humanoid in nature are the most powerful among them. You could say that they have an agenda, something they strive to achieve through the cursed person.”

“Throughout our history whenever that ‘Woman’ appeared she always strived to highlight all the feminine qualities of the cursed person.” Cologne continues slowly, trying to choose her words very carefully. “I don’t believe that she would want to harm you, rather she believed that what she was doing was for your best interest.”

“I think getting me pregnant is anything but helpful!” He shouted angry at the insinuation that this other Ranma would want to do anything else that would make his life hell and wince from the strangeness of his own words. It was still wrong of him to say that out loud that he was now carrying a child, Unfortunately, this only brought another blow to his head with a stick and a pitiful glance from Akane.

“Calm down, Ranma, it’s not helping anybody” said the old woman with a sigh of exasperation. “It is the nature of the curse. The original girl who was the source of the curse suffered a miscarriage. That was the reason she ended up in the spring of Jusenkyo. Somehow her desire to have a baby incorporated itself into the curse making it very easy to get pregnant.

“You say that the curse wants people to… to have babies?” asked Akane looking quite uncomfortable and glancing at Ranma.

“Before you ask, no I didn’t want to be pregnant before” he grumbled, crossing his arms under his breasts.

“It isn’t something that affects the mind of the person but rather increasing the fertility of the body” Cologne points out, trying to correct this misunderstanding. “After quite a few Spring Girls given birth across the years we also know that their pregnancy was a little different than normal. The curse is tampering with it… to some extent.”

“Wait, what do you mean?” asked Ranma, suddenly terrified about the baby inside him. The more he heard about his curse the more he was anxious about the thing it could do to his child. The redhead unconsciously tightened his grip on his belly.

“Don’t worry Ranma, it’s nothing dangerous” said the Old Amazon, trying to calm him down. “It’s actually a good thing if you think about it. The baby in your womb will.. grow faster. In the first week the baby will grow to the stage comparable to a one month old infant . We believe that the purpose of this sudden growth is specifically designed to eliminate the risk of a miscarriage.”

“I don’t tell you all that to scare you," she said, seeing that Ranma still was anxious about this whole situation. “I just want you to know what to expect in the future. I never told you this since you were so adamant of your masculinity that I never thought you would lay with a man… looks like it backfires on you.”

“And that’s it, yes?” asked Ranma cautiously. “Nothing else that I should know?”

“Nothing else, at least to my knowledge” Cologne assured him and smiled at him with her eyes. “Everything else will be ok, Ranma I promise you you will be fine.”

“Furthermore since I didn’t fulfill my responsibilities and didn’t warn you” she continued. ‘I promised you that I and Shampoo will stay here at least until the time you’ll give birth. After that we’ll return to China to our village.“

Ranma’s throat tightens for a second on the thought of a moment he would be giving birth for real. Suddenly he wished to be pregnant as long as possible.

“Wait, you’ll leave?” asked Akane, visibly shocked by the news.

“Is that why you stopped calling me your ‘Son in Law’?” Guessed Ranma.

“Indeed,” she replied, looking quite sad. Ranma couldn’t blame her, she and Shampoo traveled all the way here for him but will leave with nothing. He never really wanted to leave with them but he actually felt guilty that they troubled themself so much and will need to go home empty handed. “Since you are a woman now and forever you cannot marry Shampoo. I deeply regret that but it can’t be helped. Life goes on and we must do the same.”

“You are also a pregnant woman now” she said, once again excluding the aura of a leader. “Our laws treat pregnant women as sacred and forbid any harm to a woman carrying a child. Thereby I declare a Kiss of Death that was put on you void and forgotten. You will no longer need to fear anything from the Amazon Tribe, and I will make sure to inform my people about it when we finally return to China.”

Ranma looked at the Old Matriarch and smiled a little. It was a sad smile but there was also a lot of relief in it. Cologne and Shampoo was at the same time a bunch of trouble and a lot of help depending on the time of day. He was so used to them being in Nerima that the thought of them leaving was strange and wrong to him. On the other hand, we would really prefer not to be forced to deal with whatever strange new thing Shampoo brings to mess his day.

But if she no longer can be my fiance then maybe we could be friends now, he thought. It would be interesting to get to know Shampoo and not worry about her dragging me with her to China…

“My Granddaughter will be sad but it cannot be helped, " Cologne said with regret putting down her empty mug. “Don’t worry I won’t tell her the exact reason. The decision to tell her about your condition is yours and yours alone, Ranma.”

The Old Ghul looked at him and Akane sighs deeply and smiles for a second.

“But I think you should go now. I’m sure that you two have much to think about and need to tell the news to the family”

Realization of that fact hit Ranma instantly. With all this flurry of information and the emotional rollercoaster that was his mind right now he completely forgot that they now will need to go and inform the rest of the Tendoes and his father. I wonder what they would say if I asked them if I could go to China with them after all. That would be much better than going back, he thought.

“Don’t worry child," said Cologne with a smile. Apparently Ranma wasn’t able to hide his emotions as well as he thought. “You're not the first woman to give birth. I did it, your mother did it and you will do that as well. Everything’s gonna be alright.”

Ranma wasn’t convinced in the slightest but nodded anyway. At this point, he would even be willing to help Ryoga find that woman he made out with the other day. It would be much less stressful than going home.

Every moment in furo was a blessing for Ranma. Not only was it warm and melted all the tension in his muscles, but the water muffled all the sounds that could be heard in the bathroom and made them unintelligible. Exactly as he wanted.

Ranma thought back at the event of the day and was really surprised how grateful he was to Akane for being with him. She didn’t ask him about anything the whole way back home. They were just walking in comfortable silence so Ranma would be able to just try to piece together what he would be when they finally arrived at Tendoes.

And when they finally came back and Ranma’s whole planned speech went to shit, she was the first one to speak - or maybe rather scream - on his behalf. She was a true friend, someone he grew to really trust. He was happy that Akane was in his life. The same goes for Kasumi and - what actually surprised him - Nabiki. All three sisters went to his defense together, which was so unexpected that even their fathers were taken aback by that.

He will need to thank them later. Especially Akane.

Ranma finally surfaced from the water and took a deep breath. Finally the whole house was quiet.

He did not want to think about his father. Nor about their fight, which this time went to a whole new level. Ranma didn’t even know that pops was capable of being this mean and angry. It’s better to stop thinking about this any more. He didn’t want to ruin this moment of quiet and much needed relaxation.

The redhead looked at his body, still sort of visible in the water while his breasts were standing a little bit above the surface. Or rather it was her body now, since it will be life until the day she dies. So I’ll be a woman forever, huh? Always a she, someone lesser than a man. In pops eyes anyway.

It was really depressing to Ranma. She spent most of her life trying to uphold some crazy ass standards of masculinity her father set for her. Every step outside of allowed behavior criticize, pops making fun of her, calling out her “girly” and “soft behavior” to the point that she herself started to see them as well as him and berating herself for them without end. She started hating herself just to gain her father's approval which lately she didn’t even want anymore. And at the end of the day she still ends up begging for something that she now knows she will never have.

Ranma looked at her abdomen submerged in the water. If there was one thing that was out of reach for men it would be childbirth. Getting pregnant was basically the most female thing anyone would be able to do and there she was, supposed to be “men among men” knocked up by someone she didn’t even know.

No wonder her pops was furious.

I don’t know why I even bother anymore, she thought with a sigh. He will calm down after a few hours and all will be the same as before. Nothing ever changes with this lazy Panda…

Her thought wandered to something more pressing and more important than Genma. She touched her belly - a motion she realized she repeated at least a few dozen times already - and instantly started to feel anxious about it.

What do I do about the child? I never even held one before not even mentioning taking care of one. What do you even need to do that? Money that’s obvious but what do you buy with it? No one ever talked to me about stuff like that before! It was always ‘It’s a woman's job to take care of a child, you should focus on the Arts’ shit. Well, I’m a woman now and I will give birth to a baby I don’t even know one thing about… I’m gonna be a terrible parent…

Ranma sulked a little bit, wrapping her hand around her knees. In a few months she would be… she would be a mother. But she didn’t remember her mother, didn’t even know if she had one. How could someone without one be a good mother to her own child? Not even mentioning the fact that if her child turns up to be a boy, her pops will start pressing her to take her son for the same training she was forced to endure for most of her life.

The thought of letting any child go through something similar to that felt revolting to Ranma. She didn’t know how she would take care of the child she was now carrying but one thing was crystal clear to her. There will be no “Anything Goes” kind of training with her father as long as she breathes. She would rather die than inflicting the same suffering her early life had put her through. Sure it made her capable, strong and versatile martial artist but robbed her from her entire childhood, her friends, education… and her mother.

At that moment, something in Ranma clicked. A few seconds of clarity helped her finally decide what to do, and it was so simple that she giggled quietly, embarrassed that it had taken her so long to realize.

“I just do things the other way around,” she thought, smiling gently. “I won't force them to learn arts they don't want to learn, I'll try to give them the education I wasn't able to get, I'll encourage them to make lots of friends and do what they want to do.... and I will be there for them. I'll try to be a good mom.”

Something that my own mom was never able to do.

After deciding what she will do, Ranma felt much lighter. Of course she still needed to figure out how she would be able to have enough resources to make her wish happen but she will do it somehow. After all she was Ranma Saotome and Ranma Saotome always wins.

Chapter Text

Ranma sighs and brace herself for anything. After the bath in the furo her mood was a little bit better. What’s better thing to do than spoil it once again by trying to talk to her father? She really didn’t want to do this but both of them were used to settling quarrels with a fight so they weren't people who keep things in them for long.

Well, no matter how much he will sulk after that we still need to talk, she thought but her resolve dimmed a little bit when she realized she still was wearing clothes she borrowed from Akane. Maybe I should change into my men's clothes? It wouldn’t hurt and I would give him one less insult to throw in my face…

After changing into more comfortable clothes, she opened the door and was about to go to the guest room to change when she stumbled upon a familiar face.

“Oh! Hi, Nabiki,” said Ranma, looking awkwardly at the middle tendo sister. She always was a little more aloof with Ranma - except the time she wanted to make fun or money off of her - but she was also the one that somehow was keeping the Tendo Household budget together and so the redhead never really knew how exactly to interact with her.

Yes, Nabiki was using her and Akane to make a quick buck off of their photos and that didn't always sit well with Ranma but she was vital to this dojo survival so no one really pressed the issue further.

“Hi, Ranma” she replied with her usual smile while looking at her all over. “I guess you're feeling better, by the looks of it.”

“Yeah, nothin’ like a good long deep in a furo” she said, her face fell down a little. The scene from not too long ago once again flashed before her eyes. “Back there it was… bad. Thank you again for standin’ up for me. I never thought that you'd do that if I’m being honest.”

“Ranma, how could you think that? I’m hurt!” she said, feigning a shock. “You know that I really care about you! If something ever happened to you I would lose…”

“A hot model you make money from” she finished for Nabiki while posing for additional effect. It still wasn’t entirely fine to her, but she couldn’t say she didn’t understand why someone would like to buy her photos. She was really cute in this form.

“Exactly!” said Nabiki with a chuckle

“I never really gave you permission though,” Ranma pointed out with a finger thinking for a second that maybe she actually would talk to her about that but at the end decided to drop the idea, it wasn’t like she could be her ‘model’ for much longer anyway.

“Forget it, since you were so understandin’ back there I won’t argue about it now. You won’t be able to do that for long anyway. Once I.. I start showing I don’t think anyone would like to buy my pics. It would be weird.”

“Yeah, you’re right, I would feel weird taking pictures like that without even talking about selling these.” She nodded and looked at her once again. “Ranma Saotome, ‘Men Among Men’... pregnant. Never thought I would say something like that out loud and it would actually be true, you know? It’s crazy.”

“Tell me about it, It still feels a little unreal to me” she said and touched her belly, the notion became a sort of reminder for her. That this is not a dream or hallucination but the real deal. “When I went to the furo I kind of expected that I’ll turn into a man again. Freaked me out a little bit before I remembered what Cologne told me.”

“Our father wasn’t happy about it either,” said Nabiki with a sigh of exasperation. “I don’t know how they still can go on and on about this whole unifying school and other crap like that. I know that I’m not the most empathetic person - don’t look at me like that - but even I knew that you were a mess down there but all they could talk about was themselves. How could someone be so bad at reading the room?”

Ranma nodded. She felt really let down because of that too. All of that gender changing shenanigans started because her pops was an idiot that couldn’t even read Chinese but still decided to drag her alone with him to Jusenkyo. Now when she was stuck like that and pregnant to boot all she really wanted was at least one word of support.

She winced remembering all the shouting and crying with shame. All of the ‘my son would this’ and ‘my son would that’ and all other crap about ruining their family honor and their future. Like it was Ranma’s fault that she was hit in the head and woke up pregnant the next day. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth thinking about how selfish and stupid her pops was at that moment. She really wishes she would pummel him to the floor at least one more time.

“Don’t get so worked up, Ranma. It’s not your fault,” said Nabiki, seeing the redhead suddenly tensing up. “If you want to know my opinion it’s their fault. They were so used to sending the younger generation to sort out all their problems that when they suddenly were put in the situation when they needed to do something themselves they just lost it. Useless old geezers, really…”

“Yes, they did that all the time, didn’t they?” said Ranma, thinking back to all the things their fathers would just dump everything on her and Akane so they could stay home and play shogi or drink or whatever they were doing when she was away.

Ranma once again felt like he was being scammed by her old man. All this talk about this whole ‘every minute that martial artist's awake he should spend on training’ felt like crap when she saw Gemma spending all his time with Mister Soun or eating something instead of putting in the actual work. Well, he put most of the actual work on me, so he has all the time in the world, did he…

“Speaking of which, do you know where they are?”, she asked with a grimace. “I need to speak with my pops again. Probably your dad, too, because I can't change back, and I don't think the whole fiancé thing will happen...”

Not being referred to as Akane’s fiance. It was the title that Ranma started to associate really much over the months to the extent that she got herself in with a lot of troublesome people to ‘secure’ her status as such. Losing it felt bad, not as bad as when Cologne told her that she would never be a man again but still.

I spend so much time complaining about this stupid engagement but now that it’s over… It’s like I lose something important. Some kind of link to Akane that was different than just knowing each other but Ranma felt that it was lost forever somehow.

Right now she is now no more than a friend to Akane. That certainty will take some time to get used to.

“Oh, yeah, you wont become my brother in law,” she said and looked at her with a smug smile. “I need to remember to start charging you for all that information since from now on you will be just a ‘friend’ of the family. 1000 yen and I’ll tell you where they went.”

“THAT how you charge a friend?” Ranma chuckled, hoping that she was teasing her, but knowing her she could actually be serious. “Remind me not to ask you about anythin’ or I’ll really need to find a job or somethin’.”

“I can always hire you ‘until you’ll start showing’ as you put it earlier,” Nabiki teased him again.

Ranma remembered vividly when she saw what kind of photos of her Nabiki was selling in school. It was bad enough to see the ‘sneaky’ pics of her but if she would actually start posing for some of them… she shudders thinking about the level of embarrassment she would feel knowing that she did this. She mentally shook her head trying not to think about it anymore.

“I think I’ll pass”, she struck down the offer and crossed her arms under her breasts. “Can we stop it now? I really need to speak with them about somethin’.”

Nabiki looked at her thoughtfully and finally nodded with a disappointed sigh.

“Alright, Ranma-chan” she said with a last half-smile, she obviously couldn’t help herself. “They both went to the dojo.”

“Dojo?” Ranma repeated with disbelief. “I think I never really saw your dad going there like… ever.”

“He stopped after our mom passed away,” she said, looking genuinely sad for a second. “I was shocked too since he really has been avoiding that place until now. He said that he needed to talk to your father about something important and then they left.”

Akane said to her once that her father stopped teaching martial arts stricken with grief after his wife passed away and still wasn’t able to go to the dojo. If he was there now there must be something pretty serious.

“Do you have any idea what they might have talked about?”

“Judging by how things went south I guess they’re talking about you”, she said and hesitated for a moment. Ranma wasn’t so sure since Nabiki always was toughest to figure out but she was sure that the middle sister wanted to say something more than that. “You just need to talk to them I guess.”

It’s not really reassuring, she thought, nodding to the middle Tendo with a crooked smile.

“I will. Thank you, Nabiki.”

She looked at him one more time for a few long seconds and after that she turned on her heel and walked away in the direction of her room.

“This one’s for free but don’t get used to it.”

Soun Tendo was doing kata in his dojo. Well, doing kata was a big word, he was checking if he still remembers what to do after so many years of stagnation in the arts. He was really scared that he would make a full of himself but fortunately years of gruelling training was still engraved deep within him. After a few uncertain moves his body starts to go more smoothly and with clear purpose. He didn’t even realize how much he missed it.

Each coin has two sides however and with the feeling of euphoria from picking the martial arts again there was also deep shame from the reason why he didn’t do anything for all those times. What he said to his daughters was true, he was grieving their mother for a very long time and wasn’t able to focus on anything but his own sadness.

It took some time but he was finally able to put himself together but when he finally thought that he would be able to be himself again he realized that something changed deep within him. He became lazy.

And as shameful as he felt all this time, he wasn’t able to overcome it for all these years. His only problem was the lack of a male heir to inherit the dojo after him but with Saotome's engagement proposal he didn’t even need to worry about securing his family legacy, there was nothing major that could happen to wake him up from his lethargic state. Until today.

Soun was able to feel the upcoming presence even before he heard the sound of foodsteps on the other side of the door. He finished his last kata and slowly exhaled the air.

He turned around and saw the source of noise. Ranma Saotome slowly walked into the dojo, with a curious but cautious look on his… her face. Tendo Patriarch had a hard time coping with the fact that this child was no longer the man he used to be. It saddened him greatly that the future he envisioned for him and his entire family would not come to fruition. At least not in the way he originally intended.

“Hello, Ranma” Soun said to his would-be-son-in-law. “How are you feeling?”

“Better… I think,” she said but Sound knew that she was uncomfortable. He couldn’t blame her, he wasn’t really on her side when Saotome lost his nerve on her. “I thought that you don’t train martial arts anymore,” she continued, trying to change the subject.

“That’s.. not entirely true,” he said, clearing his throat to hide his own embarrassment. “Originally I hoped that you and Akane would inherit his dojo and I would share my Anything Goes Tendo Style martial arts with you but now… now it seems that I need to step up again and make sure this dojo won’t fall any further than it already does.”

Sound saw that Ranma instantly looked guilty and at that moment he felt that way too. It wasn’t her fault that she wasn’t able to be a man again and he knew it. If only he would keep his mouth shut at that take the middle ground back there maybe it all would play out differently.

“You don’t need to feel guilty, Ranma” he said, smiling with reassurance. “It wasn’t your fault and I’m sorry that I didn’t defend you from Saotome’s outburst. It was ... out of place, and my daughters have already given me an earful over it.”

“You have very scary girls in your house, Mister Tendo,” she said with a little half-smile on her face. “I still feel bad though. I know that you let us stay here only because you hoped for me and Akane to get married but now it wont happen…”

“Yeah, that’s regrettable” Soun nodded, not trying to lie to the girl before him. “Don’t worry about it anymore. To tell you the truth I already suspected that this whole idea wouldn’t work anyway.”

“Y-you do?” she asked looking really confused.

“Come on, Ranma” he said with a playful smile. “With the amount of time you stayed as a girl in this house, anyone already suspected that you could consider other options. I of course knew that you're an honorable kid but one always needs to be suspicious of his guests intentions. Especially with all those new fiances suddenly showing up like mushrooms after rain.”

It was true, Soun really did find it troubling that his friend Saotome was so careless with offering his son to practically anyone if he could get something from them. If it felt like every few months a new girl would show up in his house demanding Ranma’s hand in marriage. At least they were all girls, Sound didn’t know what would happen if suddenly a man would show up demanding the same thing.

Looking at the girl now it was entirely possible. It was the other thing that was suspicious to the Old Tendo. He was quite good with people and he saw first hand how different Ranma’s male form and female form was acting. When Ranma was a girl she was well.. a real ‘girl’. A tomboy in movement and speech but a girl nonetheless. Sound wasn’t even sure if Ranma was aware of the little details of his changes in mannerism, tone of voice and overall feminine aura he was emanating in this form.

“I never intended to cheat on Akane!” she declared loudly to him. “Even if I wouldn’t be able to stay here any longer I want you to know that Mister Tendo. I was serious about Akane and still care about her even if we can’t be together anymore.”

Sound nodded, his arms crossed on his chest. He was pleased with Ranma’s honorable behavior. Saotome made many mistakes during his son's training but at least he engraved in him… in her some good qualities.

“I know, son... I mean Ranma” he said once again, correcting himself midway. “I never doubted your commitment to your arranged marriage. Also as I said earlier, you don’t need to worry. I’m not asking you to leave.”

“You don’t?” she asked, looking quite confused. “But… I thought that we were only able to stay here because of all this marriage thing…”

“That was true but circumstances had changed” he said, this time a little more serious. “I discussed this with your father and we came to a different agreement.”

“What arrangement?” she asked, instantly looking suspicious. Once again, Soun wasn’t surprised but disappointed. His friend was notorious with his schemes and had a tendency of scamming people, his kid included. Sound sighs, thinking how much his old friend reminded him of their old master.

“You don’t need to worry about it for now,” he said to the redhead. “The important thing is that following the agreement between your father and me, you’ll be living here at least until you’ll finish your education, Ranma.”

“Education?” She repeated uncertainty. “So… I can still live here and go to Furinkan High like before? You don’t pulling my leg, right Mister Tendo?”

“I’m serious, Ranma” Soun assured him with a nod. “Saotome and I came to the conclusion that.... given your situation, it would be unwise not to get the proper education and opportunities to take care of yourself… and your child.”

The thought that Ranma, who for most of his life was raised to be a ‘man among men’ is pregnant still felt so wrong to Soun that he has difficulties putting it into words. But it doesn’t matter. For the sake of the future and Unifying our Schools, just like he planned with Genma, he thought.

It was still regrettable that such a promising young man was now destined to abandon the sacred mission of perfecting his craft and will need to step down to performing a woman's duties. Soun was really sad seeing such a waste of potential.

“Umm, speaking of that…” said Ranma, embarrassed trying to not look him in the eyes. “Do you know where my pops is? I wanted to talk with him about all this… he and I aren’t good with holding grudges and so I want to somehow talk it through with him, you know?”

I knew it would finally come to this, Soun thought, feeling a little angry that he was left here to explain everything to this child. Damn you, Saotome, why are you always running away without taking care of your own mess?!

They were staying like that in complete silence. Ranma was looking expectantly at the older master while he was awkwardly trying to find a way out of this situation before it turns out to be even more uncomfortable than it already was.

“You… don’t know where he is?” asked the girl looking really fed up. “Damn it, why is my old man always not here when I need to talk to him…”

Uhh, damn it, there’s no sugarcoating this, he thought and grunted to clear his throat.

“Ranma, I want you to listen to me, very carefully, alright?” Sound said looking the redhead straight in the eyes and putting his hand on her shoulders. “Genma… leave for a journey again. He said that he needs to come to terms with your current situation and doesn't want to put pressure on you… He will return when he’ll be ready to face the fact that he now has a daughter. Remember that he doesn’t abandon you. You’re his flesh and blood and that is not something one can simply abandon and walk away.”

Soun was focused solely on the girl's face and he knew that whatever he wanted to say wasn't enough. He saw how her face was changing from surprise, shock, anger, disbelief and deep sadness. He knew what she was thinking, her dad abandoned her. It was the most logical conclusion for a child who grew up seeing her father doing exactly that. Walking away from his problems in hopes that they won’t come back to bite him later.

And now Ranma is thinking that he did the same to her. It was heart wrenching to Soun. He knew that Ranma was a boy for most of his life but right now all he saw was a girl with quivering lips who was shaking all over with a deep sense of grief and betrayal.

Seeing her like that, Tendo Patriarch wanted to do something to help, but there wasn’t anything that he could say to ease the pain and he knew it. His daughters always like to hug in a situation like this but he couldn’t do it. He felt guilty towards the redhead but the thought of hugging another man - even if now she wasn’t a man no longer - felt wrong to him.

They stayed like that for a few minutes awkwardly until Ranma finally stopped shaking and steadied his breath.

“He just left me behind,” she said with a monotone voice. “Don’t say that’s not the case, Mister Tendo. I saw that a hundred times already. Pops would try to scam someone and if it isn't workin’ he vanishes without a trace to try again somewhere else.”

Very similar to our master, he thought bitterly about all the things he experienced in the past. He didn’t understand how his old friend and comrade in training under their demon of a teacher would assimilate so many bad qualities of that terrible person.

And now he was left here, forced to try to justify someone who he knew cannot really be justified. It will leave a bad taste in my mouth.

“It’s hard, when what you hoped for disappears right before your eyes, right?” Soun asked without really expecting an answer but Ranma nodded anyway, her eyes still not meeting his. Tendo smiled sadly to the redhead, feeling a sense of kinship between them.

“When Nazomu became pregnant for the first time I got really excited,” he continued. His face softened a little bit when he was thinking back to the old days when his wife was still here. “I was really hoping for a boy, an heir I could train with and one day leave all of this dojo and the future of our family arts to him. I was so caught up with my fantasies that when Kasumi was born I didn't have the joy of finally becoming a parent. I felt deep disappointment that fate decided to crush my dreams.”

“That’s not fair,” said Ranma, interrupting him with accusatory glare. “It wasn’t Kasumi’s fault that she was born a girl!”

“Yeah it wasn’t.” Soun agreed, his face sunk remembering those painful times. “I know that now but then I was really angry… and couldn’t quite get over my disappointment. It's a shame I’ll carry with me until the day I die.”

“But the most important thing is that I finally was able to come to peace with it,” he added before the redhead would comment again. “I don’t say that I’m no longer sad that I didn’t get to have a male heir but I love my daughters very much. I’m sure that your father will show up again eventually. When he finally understands that you are all he has.”

He will need to come back again eventually whether he wants it or not, the deal is a deal.

“Can… can I be here alone for a moment” Ranma said after some time of silence. “I would like to train for some time… clear my head and all.”

“Of course,” Soun said with a smile and started to retreat from the dojo with barely contained relief. He was a man, no one ever taught him how to deal with that kind of thing; it was women’s domain! “There are still a few things that we’ll need to talk about regarding my agreement with Saotome but we can do that later. Take all the time you need.”

It went better than expected. Maybe my perspective about her shifted too much since Ranma is now a girl through and through… I was worried that she was so far gone that she’s gonna cry but I guess there is still a little bit of a man in there, deep inside.

Soun was so caught in his own thoughts that he didn’t realize the tears that were falling from his own eyes while he was going back.

“It's nighttime,” Ranma realized when she finally left the dojo.

The outside world was peaceful, the moon shines gently and a few visible stars in the sky were shining making the scenery even more serene. It was totally opposite to the rampaging chaos that became her life from the moment she woke up today’s morning.

So much has happened today and she really wanted to end it with at least one good thing. She hoped to bury the hatchet with her father and at least try to be civil with him in the future. Instead all her hopes were crushed and the only thing she accomplished was to find out that the only family she had left her and probably will never come back.

When Mister Soun told her that pops when to resume his ‘training’ without her, Ranma really thought she'd break down. She didn’t know if it was stress from the whole day of bad news or maybe this whole pregnancy was messing with her head with the hormone at least she thought that could be it but she didn’t really pay much attention to it in class. All she knew was that when she finally figured out that she was now alone she felt a sob building in her chest, but forced it down. She didn’t want to look too weak in front of Mister Soun, she needed to hold it in.

At the end she cried anyway but at least it was after the Old Tendo left the dojo so no one will ever know.

Ranma spent another few hours doing kata, trying to compose herself and not think about anything else. The beauty of martial arts was that when you are deeply committed you can lose yourself in practice and go away from all your problems. It was almost like meditation.

But of course after that she still ends up back to reality and the mess she was in. It wasn’t the first time today that she hoped that all that had happened to her was only a really realistic dream.

Ranma carefully stepped back into the main house, not really wanting to find out if her father’s things were really gone. It was foolish thought but as long as she didn’t know if his huge old backpack was still there, she could try to pretend that he was still somewhere in Nerima and would come back at any minute.

Even if he didn’t need her anymore, she still couldn’t imagine him really gone. The redhead gritted her teeth and decided that she would just power through it like every time her father would make them in trouble. It was the only way she knew how to cope with this. She couldn’t allow herself to break down.

When Ranma finally made it into the house she walked into the corridor and turned around into the kitchen. She was hoping that nobody was there so she could take some leftovers from the fridge before bed. Or at least trying to go to bed. She didn’t know if she would be able to go to sleep.

Her plans go out the window when she realizes that there’s a light coming from the kitchen.

“Hi, Kasumi”, said Ranma, seeing the older girl putting the last clean plate into the open cupboard. “I thought that you’ll be sleeping.”

“Hi, Ranma, I couldn’t sleep so I decided to get some tea for… oh, my..” she said while glancing at the redhead. “You don’t look really well.”

Ranma giggled, looking down at her feet, Ksumi was right.

“Yeah, it was a rough day” she nodded, her tone was tired. “In less than a day I found out I was pregnant, I would never be a man again, and now my pops ditched me.... I feel like my old life is practically over, you know.”

Ranma didn’t know why she even told Kasumi, that was her problem, she shouldn’t burden anyone else with them. But for some reason she spit it out and felt a little lighter, better somehow.

“Let me get you some tea, Ranma” Kasumi said, taking out one more mug. “I think you need some too.”

The redhead didn’t argue, she was actually glad for some company, even if Kasumi also seemed to look at her like she was a delicate egg. It was strange to be treated for the first time. Usually it was her job to be helpful, not the other way around and Ranma didn’t know how to feel about being on the other side.

She watched Kasumi pouring the hot tea into the fiery red mug and giving it to her with a soft smile. Ranma took it and both women went to sit at the dining table.

“You don’t need to worry too much, Kasumi,” she said when she finally sat comfortably. “I will be fine, really. I just need some time, that’s all.”

Kasumi just took a sip of her tea and kept smiling like always.

“Maybe that's true,” she said, looking back at her. “Ranma… what would you do if I wasn’t here?”

The younger girl looked at her own mug and shrugged.

“Propably try to make myself some snack and stay here some time sulking and overthinking everythin’ that happened to me.”

Kasumi nodded, her smile slightly dimmer.

“So I guess I’ll just sit here, drinking tea and make sure that you don’t be here alone overthinking everything over and over again. Instead, maybe we could think about something that would actually help?”

“Pops always said that the real man is always taking care of his own messes,” said Ranma, shaking her head with a grimace. “It’s all bullshit and he never did that himself but somehow it stuck with me. That’s how I live my whole life, you know?”

Didn't you say that your old life is over? Kasumi pointed out with a sly smile. It was so different from her usual gentle smile that Ranma shuddered. “Then maybe you could try something new?”

“Like what?” Asked Ranma, not really hoping for a real answer. It was actually nice talking to Kasumi and not just saying a monologue to herself on the roof or a tree.

“You said it yourself, men taking care of their own problems, right? But you're not a man anymore, right? Ranma-chan?

Ranma winces hearing the usual withdrawn girl talking to her so bluntly. Maybe that before her was the real Kasumi, this blunt and insightful girl was really different from the housewife-type girl they all kind of expected her to be.

This realization made her feel really ashamed. Was she really so self-absorbed that she didn't see Katsumi as anything more than a would-be house wife all this time? This was probably the first time the two of them had talked like this, just the two of them, and only now was she able to see it.

“Since you're a girl now, Ranma-chan you need to learn something about being one”, she continued ignoring the redhead who didn’t dare to look at her. “I think the first thing you should learn would be to ask for help. I think that would be a good start.

Two girls spend a little more time just sipping their tea in comfortable silence. Ranma needed some time to think about what Kasumi said to her and Kasumi herself looked just glad that she could be her silent companion, just sharing the space with a redhead.

After some time they go back to the kitchen. Ranma realized that going through the motions of just washing the dishes was actually kind of calming. The repetition of movements she engaged in was quite soothing.

“Say, Kasumi, about your offer from this mornin’…” said Ranma, breaking the silence. “Could I… help you with some chores from now on?”

Kasumi looked at the younger woman with genuine surprise. She probably said that out of politeness or didn’t think that Ranma would actually ask if she really would do that.

“You really want to help around the house?”

Ranma nodded.

“Well… I realize that… that I’ll be a mom soon,” she said quietly, still feeling too embarrassed to really talk about the whole thing. “But I also realize that I don’t know anythin’ about being a girl don’t even mentioning taking care of the baby. I don’t really know anything’ about taking care of the house and the only thing I can do in the kitchen is cutting vegetables…”

“So I thought…” she added, looking pleadingly at Kasumi. “Maybe you could teach me?”

Kasumi was a little stunned. A thought that Ranma a ‘men among men’, martial artist that previously would only think about fighting and new techniques just asked her for help to learn how to be a woman. It was understandable that she would be surprised since the younger girl in question felt exactly the same.

The look of shock on her face quickly disappears though, replaced with a good old gentle smile that she shows every time she goes down for breakfast. Kasumi nodded and after a moment of hesitation she hugged Ranma gently.

“I would love to, Ranma-chan,” she said, squeezing the smaller girl a little more. “I think we could start right away.”

“I really would prefer to start from tomorrow mornin’, Kasumi.”

“No, this can’t wait that long,” she refused, looking Ranma in the eyes with a sad determination. “Lesson number one of being a woman. It’s ok to cry sometimes. I know that you’ve been holding yourself back Ranma-chan. I saw that many times already.”

“We are here for you, Ranma. Akane, Nabiki and me” she said, stoking Ranma's red hair. “You’re not alone so you don’t need to be afraid anymore. We got your back no matter who you are.”

Ranma didn’t say anything but her arms slowly went up. Hesitantly at first, she returned the hug, feeling pleasant warmth and peace she hadn't felt for a long time. She didn’t even remember the last time someone hugged her like that.

She spent so much time trying to live up to this unrealistic ideal of a ‘real man’, to be the man among men. She was being yelled at and made fun of every time she didn’t do something in a ‘manly’ way, every soft gesture, every sign of weakness. Every time she wanted to just be… Ranma.

But she couldn’t do that anymore, she knew that deep in her heart.

Real men don’t look like women but she could feel her breasts being pressed by Kasumi’s hug.

Real men couldn’t get pregnant but there she was, expecting her first baby.

Real men don’t cry but she could feel tears falling down her face.

But she wasn't a real man. And for the first time in her life, she thought that might be okay.

Chapter Text

Ranma couldn’t sleep.

The red-haired girl tossed and turned on her futon, hoping for comfort that seemed out of reach.

The crushing lack of the other person in the guest room she was living in for months now was a heavy blow to her. She fooled herself that maybe all this talk from Mister Soun was all just one big misunderstanding but of course it wasn’t. An empty space when her father's backpack used to be hurt like a punch in the gut. The dead silence in place of her father's loud snoring didn’t make it any better.

Memories of all those times on the road when she was sleeping alone next to the campfire flashed in her head one by one. It wasn’t easy but no matter what caused this, she knew that her father would be back shortly, he always does.

Now she didn’t believe that would be the case and it made her feel incredibly lonely.

Ranma was laying on her back, her hand gently rubbing her belly while she was thinking about all the crazy things that happened since she woke up yesterday. She felt like someone just reshuffled most of the things that make her life as it was and decided to put some new things in there, creating a new unknown landscape that she was forced to navigate. She felt lost and - although she tried really hard to fool everyone, herself included - scared of this unknown thing that was her life now.

Being a good mother my ass, I don’t even know how to be a girl, she thought with a depressed sigh. She recalls all the times she wore her disguise and acted all cute and girly for some freebie stuff from a guy. Akane was always very disappointed in her and after some reflection Ranma needed to admit that she was right. All of her actions were this distorted and over the top mockery of what a normal girl would do. She was making a fool of herself for some free ice cream.

I can’t do that anymore.

She didn’t want to be that kind of woman. She never thought that she really would be a woman to begin with but now that the reality decided to crash her manhood into oblivion she needed to find a new goal for herself. It was the only way for Ranma to stay sane right now. She needed a goal to strive for and make herself occupied or she would lose it.

Fortunately I actually am making something I could care about, she thought but She squirmed when she realized what she thought. It is not the right way to think about it. It’s my… it’s my baby not a thing. Gosh, no matter how much I think about it the more impossible it gets…

Ranma couldn’t really imagine herself - a martial artist with multiple fiancées and enemies trying to annoy her almost every day - as a girl with a child. When she tried all she was able to come up with was an image of someone looking more like Kasumi than her. An image of a martial artist taking care of a child was something that didn't sit right with the redhead. It felt too much like her past with her father.

I can’t raise a kid as I am now, she thought anxiously while turning on the side of her futon. I don’t want them to grow up the same way I did. It’s not right.

Her mind starts to wonder, her hopes and worries intertwined as her consciousness finally faded into uneasy sleep filled with images of her uncertain future.

The neighbours of the Tendo Dojo were experiencing a really strange phenomenon. For the first time in months all of them were able to wake up in peace and quiet. Some of them were rubbing their eyes in astonishment seeing a serene view from their windows. There was no shouting, no objects flying from the sky, not even one cloud of dust was floating into the sky.

In short, it was a really strange morning in Nerima.

Unfortunately all this peace and quiet wasn’t at all what Ranma was feeling. The red-haired girl was sitting cross-legged on the ground, her arms crossed in similar fashion, her silhouette the very image of defiance.

This is stupid, she thought with a huff. In front of her on the futon lay a Furinkan High girl uniform, quickly modified to more or less fit her physique. Maybe agreeing to Kasumi’s suggestion was a mistake.

She moves uneasy at the memory of last night's conversation with the eldest Tendo.

“If you want to really learn how to be a girl, then you should do it step by step,” said Kasumi back then. “I think you could start from finally wearing a proper uniform, Ranma-chan. It would be a small step forward, don’t you think?”

Small step my ass, she thought with a grunt. Why do I even agree to this?!

It wasn’t even the fact that it was a dress. Ranma owns several of them - at least the ones that her pops didn’t find and get rid of - and wore them several times no problem. But this was different for the redhead. Everyone knows that she was able to wear feminine clothes and act cutesy and girly if she wanted to but it was always for some scam or distraction. It wasn't a long time thing and she always changed her clothes right away.

That uniform before her felt ominous in Ranma’s eyes. Like a herald of change that if allowed to it would change her life forever once more. She felt like if she put it on she wouldn’t shake her head. She decided to worry about it after a visit to the bathroom. Standing up and being able to go back. Like there was something to go back to, she thought for a second with a grimace.

Ranma looked at the dress for a few more moments with conflicting emotions and picking her toiletries she thought for a second that she recently was really looking forward to soaking in a furo for as much as possible which wasn’t ever the case for her. Maybe since there won’t be any magical transformation anymore she was finally able to properly relax?

She furrowed her brow while walking to the bathroom. Shouldn’t she be less eager to wash with the warm water? Don't I usually relieve stress by training in the dojo? She felt a little weird about that but shrugged it off. What happened happened and she needed to get used to it somehow. I’m probably just adapting, she thought while taking mental notes to go train her kata more often.

After some scrubbing and rinsing her body Ranma looked at the furo. Previously filled bathtubs released a warm mist into the air creating a feeling of isolation. It was really comforting to her now and before. When the curse wasn’t locked it allowed her to change her gender with some semblance of privacy, even if that was only an illusion. Back then it hid her shameful transformation into a woman, someone that her father tried to convince her was lesser to a man. That time is gone now but she still welcomes the same sense of isolation and privacy this place gave her but for a different reason.

Ranma slid into the furo, feeling the warmth of the water melting all the tension and gently enveloped her body. It felt really good.

The male and female body had their advantages and disadvantages and some of those were much more prominent than others. While the more sturdy Ranma male body felt much less of a difference whether it was warm or cold whereas her female body was more soft and sensitive to temperatures.

I love to soak here in this body, she thought playfully making waves on the surface of the tub. It was really not fair always feeling this bliss for a second and then turning into a guy.

Ranma stayed in the furo for a few more minutes and with great reluctance she got out and took her towel. Her borrowed Furinkan girl uniform was waiting for her, a silent reminder of the things that changed. She felt drained just thinking about it.

Before she once again put on her shirt and shorts glanced at her body in the mirror. Damn, I’m hot, she thought looking at her carefully sculpted body that fortunately didn’t look as big and muscled as her male one. Ranma never thought about herself as someone too confident about her looks, it was an objective fact that her body was really attractive. Maybe that was also why she could cope so well with this situation. At least she was pretty

She stood there looking at her body from every angle, the realization that it was her new and permanent default body sink even more than yesterday.

I wonder how I’ll change in a few months, she ponders, patting her abdomen that still didn’t look any different than before. Perspective of having difficulty with basic tasks along the pregnancy felt really suffocating for a redhead.

Speaking of pregnancy, are those this whole mood swings thing?, she thought, shaking her head wildly. She just goes from feeling really good about her body to feeling depressed about it in a matter of seconds. I need to stop thinking about it too much.

Ranma left the bathroom knowing what was waiting for her there. Sure enough, her blue and white dress uniform was still there, practically mocking her for her escape from this room. It wins, there is no escape from it. Ranma scowls and looks at the uniform with a profound feeling of defeat.

All of that was stupid, she thought with resignation. I agreed to it. I was the one that asked Kasumi for help. I promised that I’ll try to do it… I’m Ranma Saotome and I always keep my promises.

“And I’m no longer a man, so it doesn’t count”, she murmured to herself quietly.

She picked up the dress and put it on the chair next to her. Ranma didn’t like it but she always tries to do things the right way and she couldn’t just put the dress on herself like before when she just transformed with the cold water. It wasn’t the same anymore.

With reluctance the redhead turned to the side of the guest room, to her hidden stash of clothes she used to keep all of her dresses, skirts, blouses and other things she wore as a disguise over the months in Nerima. Fortunately for some reason her pops didn’t think that she was able to hide something from him, maybe his past as a dirty thief and scammer made him too full of himself, Ranma didn’t know. What’s important was that Genma never found that stash and no one - except maybe Nabiki, Ranma wasn’t sure - knew about it.

Ranma knew that she had some underwear in there as well, even if they would probably not fit her well, since she never goes to the store to get her measurements. She opened the loose part of the wall behind the closet wanting to go through her things when she realized that there were a few things she didn't remember owning.

She took the largest thing that she was sure she didn’t put in her stash. Holding this really cute white, frilly dress she was sure would look good on her even if she wasn’t sure she would ever wear such a thing in public, it was a little too girly for her taste. The material felt really nice though and for some reason she smelled like Ranma already wore it not too long ago.

I never wore that dress, she thought with a frown. But why does it feel so familiar… maybe that was… wait!

Ranma froze, a conversation with Ryoga the other day played out in her head with disturbing quality. Panic surged through her with each heartbeat while her entire body was shaking. The implication of the clothes she was holding and Ryoga’s words made her feel ice cold all over.

Ryoga makes out with a girl with a white dress like this one… But I never wore this dress, why would I panic about it?... even if it looked like I wore it but I didn’t remember it. Just like I don’t remember anything from the day before… no way…

No way no way no way no way no way…

“RYOGA!!!!! YOU FUCKIN’ BASTARD!!! IT’S BETTER NOT BE YOU!!!”

“IF I FOUND OUT THAT WAS YOU, YOUR’RE FUCKIN’ DEAD!!!”

Three girls were walking slowly along the river, their distinctive blue and white uniforms clearly indicating they were from Furinkan High. They weren’t in a hurry since they left home earlier than normal. In any other circumstances they would probably talk about something to kill time but instead, the trio in question was really silent.

Nabiki looked at Ranma with an unreadable expression. A former boy and - almost for sure - ex-fiancé was walking right next to her. The redhead usually was walking on the fence with a bored expression, often complaining about even going to school but not today. Maybe it’s better this way, she thought. It wouldn’t be a good idea to walk on the fence with the girl uniform.

It was still really funny to see Ranma wearing the dress to school, but Nabiki didn’t find it in her to make any snarky comments about it. It just wasn’t right at the moment.

Ranma on her end was switching between looking extremely anxious and depressed to extremely angry. Nabiki never really saw angry Ranma, frustrated yeah but never really angry. She was really sorry for Ryoga. If what they suspected is true then the poor Lost Boy will be in real trouble.

This whole situation with Ranma being a girl and pregnant to boot completely changed the whole family dynamic in their home. Right now the good-for-nothing Panda was gone, her father willingly stopped talking about the engagement, Kasumi somehow became much more interested in getting along with Ranma and Akane wasn’t angry about any of it. Better yet, her little sister looked dim and apologetic all morning.

And all of that happened seemingly overnight, which was driving her crazy. Nabiki didn’t like sudden changes in her day to day routine but life decided to stand on its head anyway.

Nabiki suppressed a sigh and kept walking. She looked at the other two girls walking beside her, this situation weighs down on everyone. Ranma was a given, her old life was literally over and Nabiki was really impressed that the redhead didn’t break down yet and still was trying to keep it all together. It was Akane that made her older sister anxious.

Akane apparently decided to put all the blame for this situation on herself and looked like a shadow of herself. Nabiki could admit that she may be right about her hitting Ranma with a pan at the beginning but everything else after that wasn’t really her fault at all.

“I’m sorry Ranma” said Akane, breaking the silence between them.

She didn’t look at the redhead at first, probably too ashamed to do so her eyes wandered around them but never landed at her ex-fiance.

For a moment there was no response but then Ranma finally glanced at Akane looking annoyed and betrayed. Nabiki has since seen that expression. It was really unlike the Ranma she knew.

“You knew!” he accused her loudly of stopping in front of her. “You knew and didn’t say anythin’!”

Nabiki decided to step back and observe them. Sooner or later they have to talk about it, she thought.

“I didn’t know!” Akane yelled back, once again she was looking at Ranma with her usual irritation. “There are thousands of women in white dresses, Ranma! How could I know that it would be you? We don’t even know if it was really you!”

“If you didn’t know why were you so ghastly pale back then?!”

“I was scared, ok?! I was scared that it could be the case!”

“And you still didn’t tell me anythin’!”

“I didn’t want to freak you out even more, baka!”

They really keep this going on and on, Nabiki thought, shaking her head. At least they don’t look so depressed anymore. But is getting angry at each other really the only way for them to communicate? These two are hopeless…

“Shut up, tomboy!”

“No, you shut up! Why are you always like this, even when I really wanted to just say sorry?! I have enough of you, you jerk!”

The yelling showdown ended abruptly by Akane who decided to turn around and run at the direction of Furinkan with teary eyes. Nabiki looked at Ranma who in turn looked after her little sister who was moving away, previous anger washed away. When Akane disappeared from view the redhead looked conflicted and apologetic. The middle tendo never really understood how their constant shouting at each other worked for them but she was glad that they didn’t fight near her. That and that seemed to clear the air between them somehow. Probably.

Nabiki walked towards Ranma and patted her on her shoulder.

“You should at least try to be nice to her, Saotome,” she said and started walking. “She really just wanted to apologize, you know?”

“I know,” she replied, catching up with her. “It’s just… it’s really hard you know?”

Nabiki pondered for a moment. It was the first time that she and Ranma were walking to school together without anyone else. It actually was a golden opportunity to ask her about this strange seemingly toxic relationship she has with Akane and she wouldn’t be a real information broker if she missed it.

“How so?”she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I guess… I guess that it’s because all of those times that she was blaming me for all the things that’s happening around me. It’s hard to believe she wants to apologize when she would blame me for bad weather or somethin’.”

The middle Tendo sighs, what Ranma said was true. Nabiki also wasn’t pleased with the anger issues her little sister apparently had but decided to do nothing with it since there was a silly fiance that could take all the heat head on. That was the idea at the time but it looks like she really would need to think about a solution to Akane’s problem for real.

Agreeing with Ranma on the issue of her sister still didn’t sit well with her though.

“You know that she didn’t mean that. She just has a problem communicating with… well, with you.”

“My point exactly.”

“Well, maybe look at it this way” she added, deciding to at least try to help the two of them be a little closer. “You are not engaged anymore and I know that this situation wasn’t really great to both of you. Now you can start fresh. Maybe try to get closer to my little sis not as a fiance but as a friend? Some food for a thought.”

They walk in silence for another moment or two. Nabiki looked at Ranma who appeared to be really deep in thought about something. She could only hope that the redhead took her advice to heart and was thinking about shortening this wide abyss between her and Akane.It would be really great in the long run since Ranma was supposed to stay in their home for at least a few more years.

“Also, she was right,” Nabiki said after a while trying to change the subject. “There are a lot of women with white dresses. I got one believe it or not. I just don’t wear it because I don’t think that it looks good on me.”

Ranma looked at She thought trying her in disbelief. What, is it really so strange for me to have something really nice? she thought trying not to show that the look the redhead gave her annoyed her a little bit. The other girl looked at her feet and shrugged her shoulders with resignation.

“I know that. It’s just the very idea of me and Ryoga doing somethin’ like that… it makes me sick.”

Nabiki wasn’t sure if she was really buying it. This strange friendship between Ryoga and Ranma was really suspicious in her opinion. And the idea that all of that was happening because of some bread? Ridiculous.

“Well, we still don’t know if it actually was him,” she pointed out. “Besides, do you even want to know who the father is?”

Ranma sighs and rubs her nose with frustration.

“I didn’t want to,” she said. “Why would I want to know who I… I mean her, the other Ranma took to bed to make it all happen.”

“But when it can be Ryoga it’s different,” she giggled, teasing her with a slight smile.

“Y-yeah it is” she nodded with a pink face. “He’s my… I mean I think we’re friends, right? And I guess that's really what happened he deserves to know too…”

“Saotome Ranma is worried that his rival didn’t know that she was carrying the baby he helped in making…” said Nabiki with a sly smile. Ranma was finally acting normal, sort of. There was at least one thing to worry about and it made her really relieved.

“D-don’t even say it like that, Nabiki!” the redhead shouted at her, looking extremely embarrassed.

“Say what?”

“You know what I mean, damn it!”

Ranma never was in the administration office. She knew where it was and was threatened multiple times to be sent here but she never actually was there. She always imagines it like a dreadful place, dead silent until one of the teachers would speak, sentencing her for detention or other stupid punishment for taking on a challenge. Instead, the atmosphere inside the office was one of organized chaos. Computer keys clicked, copiers hummed and people moved about. Ranma and Nabiki needed to be extra careful not to be trample by someone who was running somewhere else in a hurry.

It’s almost like this one time when me and pops were running away from some people in Hong Kong, she thought, reminiscing of the past. I’m still sorry about that cart with salad… I hope this guy is alright right now…

The receptionist that Ranma didn’t recognize looked up when two girls approached her desk.

“Miss Tendo and Miss…” She said when then stopped in the middle when she looked at the redhead, puzzled expression on her face. “Sorry, are you a new student? You look familiar somehow but I’m sure we don’t have any girls with red hair in our database…”

Suddenly something must have clicked, because the receptionist looked even more puzzled than before.

“Emm, are you… Ranma by any chance?”

“Yup, that’s me.”

“Is this one of your disguises?” she asked, squinting her eyes suspiciously. “Is this some kind of scam?”

Ranma was expecting something like that but she still felt a little hurt that the first thing that woman thought when she saw her was being a scammer. She was a martial artist, defender of the weak that valued honor not some fraudster.

“First of all, ouch” she said looking hurt. “Second, it’s not a disguise. I’m here because… umm… because I… I want to change my register here to a girl” she said, the last few words quieter as a whisper. She couldn’t say that out loud, she just wasn’t ready.

“Sorry, can you repeat that, Ranma?” said the receptionist.

“She said that she wants to be registered as a girl” said Nabiki loud and clear, totally unfazed. “Due to some private matters Ranma can no longer change into a man and will stay as a girl for good. We wanted to update the school database so she could go to school as she is now.”

The older woman frowned and looked at Ranma.

“So you really want to attend as a girl, Ranma? Well, I don’t want to pry into your private matters and it will be easier for us without constant confusion about your gender with new teachers… wait a second I’ll see what I can do.”

There were no words between them for a few minutes, the only sounds were the murmurs of other school personnel and keystrokes from the other side of the desk.

Finally after some time the older woman stopped focusing solely on the screen of her computer and relaxed her shoulders with short circling motion.

“Alright, I updated your file and sent mails to your teachers about it,” she said with an amused smile. “Congratulation, Miss Saotome, from now you’re officially a girl student of Furinkan High”

Ranma’s brow twitched slightly because of this joke. Old habits die hard and being called a girl to her face still felt a little bit more like an insult than anything else. It was a little surprising though, a student’s life could be changed in a moment and a few keystrokes. It was actually a little scary for Ranma, who never really needed to deal with bureaucracy.

“That’s all?” she asked, a little surprised but relieved that it looks to be over. “Can we go now?”

“I’m afraid no,” replied the woman behind the desk looking a little apologetic. “You see, we don’t really have the authority to change someone’s gender without a proper reason. So I will just update you, but I can do that for a month tops. After that the Ministry of Education will probably start asking questions about this change in your personal file.”

Yes, it can't be that simple, Ranma thought with a sigh. Nothing’s ever so simple in my life...

“To make it all nice and permanent,” the woman continued. “I need something reliable to send them back when they ask about you.”

“Like my request on paper or somethin’?”

“No” she shook her head. “We normally don’t do such a thing just because a student wants it; there needs to be a legal justification for that.”

“Like a paper from a doctor?” asked Nabiki with a gleam in her eye.

“Precisely. As long as it proves that you’re a girl biologically or you decided to transition would be enough as a justification for updating your file.”

Ranma started feeling a little anxious about the whole thing, it started to look like a problem but not the kind that she was good at. Normally she was dealing with stuff that she could almost always deal with by hand, mostly a fist. This time however it was the paperwork that needed to be done, a certain people to meet and talk to. The redhead felt really outside of her element and looked at Nabiki with a helpful expression. Hopefully the middle tendo would be able to deal with that somehow.

“Alright, we understand,” said Nabiki, smiling with satisfaction. “We will give you those documents really soon”

“Perfect” said the receptionist clapping her hands and after typing some more on her computer she goes to the printer in the back. She returned shortly with a piece of paper and handed it to Ranma.

“Here, Ranma your new curriculum” she said with a smile. “I’ll also inform Mrs. Hanagawa about your situation. I know that since we updated your file you SHOULD be able to change with another girl for PE but since we all know about your previous situation they could feel a little uncomfortable so I will ask Ms. Hanagawa to discuss it with them, and they will have the final say on the matter.”

Ranma nodded with grimace. PE was a real problem. She absolutely refused to change with the guy, especially Furinkan High guys since all of them were horny perverts to some extent, that was something she was able to agree with Akane. She shudders thinking about the stares she got that one time when she decided to change with the boys and one of them decided it could be fun to sprinkle a few of them with cold water, Ranma included.

She also wasn’t really looking forward to changing with the girls, especially after she and Ryoga went to the girl locker room like idiots searching for Japanese Nannīchuan a few months prior. The redhead was sure that some of the girls are still not happy with her and could be really vocal about it.

“Alright I think we can wrap this up for now“ said the older woman behind her desk. “Remember to bring me those documents and everything will be fine.”

“And also…” she added with a smile when two younger girls started leaving. “Good luck, Miss Saotome, I think you’ll need it.”

“Yeah,” Nabiki said with an amused smile. “Good luck with your new life, MISS Saotome.”

Ranma glared at her as they walked away.

“Could you knock it off already?”

Chapter Text

Akane was wandering around Furinkan High mumbling to herself quietly. Normally she would try to hide her inner worries and frustration as much as possible - or until Ranma wouldn’t trigger her - but since she came here really early there were scarcely any students anywhere so she didn’t care that much. She has more important things to think about.

Even Kuno wasn’t standing at the gate yet for some reason. She didn’t know why but she decided to be grateful for even the smallest of miracles today. She would actually welcome plenty more of them.

She couldn’t shake off the feeling that all that happened to Ranma and her family in the past few days was her fault. And no amount of assurance from her family would be enough to tell her otherwise. She knew better. If she only somehow dealt with her emotions better, if only she didn't always deal with her anger by hitting Ranma, if only…

Sighing she looked at her feet, if only I could stop spiraling, she thought stopping for a moment. It was always like that, she was angry at Ranma for something he would do or say, she would hit him in the head or some other part of his body and walk away without care what he would do about it, since it was his fault that she was angry.

She goes up the stairs, heading to the administration office, where Nabiki and Ranma were supposed to go.

Akane remembered how different her fiance behaved after she hit him with a pan that morning two days ago and how uncomfortable she felt. That Ranma was so feminine and delicate that the only thing even remotely resembling the old Ranma was her body. Other than that there wasn’t a sliver of her fiance in there at all.

Looking at the window, the middle tendo saw students slowly pouring in from the gate. She was able to spot a few of them holding hands, there were so many students here that were able to just be together. Some of them were smiling, content with each other's presence and some of them weren’t really looking at each other but it was clear as day that they were a couple.

She felt sad and regretful looking at her own hands. She and Ranma never really have that and now they won’t ever have a chance to do that even if Akane always hopes that they do. Their engagement was off and it was all her fault.

If only I hadn't said these things to the other Ranma, she might not have run away from home, she would be even more depressed than before. She never felt so bad about her actions in her entire life and now that things escalated even further she wasn’t really sure what she could do. She really hoped that all that thing with Ryoga was only a coincidence. Ranma already was overwhelmed before but now it was on another level, even if he didn’t say it.

Thinking back to their short shouting match on their way here Akane was worried. Normally they would go back and forth for a while but she was able to see that Ranma was too caught up with all of his current problems to care about that. He just called her a tomboy and that was it, he didn’t put anything in that conversation, not really anyway.

In the end I just pretended I had enough and left, she thought with a sigh. She didn’t even have an easy way to let out some of her frustration and worry now since Ranma was in this state not even mentioning that Kasumi even asked her to keep an eye on the former boy.

She growled and shook her head trying to end this self pity spiral. She shouldn't focus on her own misfortune, at the moment she has to take care of Ranma, who will undoubtedly need all the support he can get, no matter how exaggerated and confident he would try to pretend to be.

Akane frowned when she remembered the redhead going down the stairs in his hand-me-down dress back at home. She looked fine and even smiled a little bit but the youngest tendo knew him long enough to know that he was still really hesitant about the whole thing. She really wanted to go to him and say something but he put on his usual mask of confidence and didn’t really want to talk about it. She sighs with exasperation, thinking how hard it will be for them to get through. It will be a really long day.

Finally she was near the administration office on time to see two girls she was looking for. Ranma looked a little shy and hesitant for some reason while Nabiki had this specific kind of smile on her face, that one when she made a really great deal and was really smug about it. Akane speeds up a little bit to meet up with them.

“So, how did it go?” she asked, looking at them with reserve curiosity. She didn’t really know how she should act around her ex-fiance so she decided to play it safe and act as neutral as possible.

“Alright I guess, I got a new curriculum,” said Ranma trying not to look directly into her eyes. “It's a little pain but at least they change my school information. For now.”

“Yup, our Ranma-chan over here is officially a girl from now on”, said Nabiki looking at the redhead with a cheeky smile. “It’s only a temporary solution until we give them some official documentation stating that she is a girl and all. No big deal, really.”

“Yeah, yeah laugh all you want” grumble Ranma looking down at the piece of paper and ignoring their presence next to him. “How do you even want to get that whole documentation anyway?”

“It’s easy, Saotome,” said Nabiki, stroking his hair to his visible annoyance. “You’ll need to go to the gynecologist in a few days anyway, right? You’ll need to go there regularly for a health check of that thing you got there”, she continued while poking him slightly in the stomach.

Ranma moved away and looked at her sister really angry the second Nabiki used the word “thing”. Akane still couldn’t process the idea that Ranma was pregnant and how fierce he was reacting to anything regarding it. She made a mental note to better not mention that at all if possible. Her big sister probably thought the same because she put her hands in the air in defeat and stopped smiling so smugly. No one really sane wanted to deal with a seriously mad redhead.

“Sorry, my bad,” said Nabiki moments later. “But that’s true Ranma, since you’re in this situation you’ll need to start going on regular check ups to the gynecologist. We’ll just hand the papers stating that you’re pregnant and that should do the trick. Nerima may be full of some strange magic but in Japan no one would believe that a man can be pregnant. It’s simple and foolproof, you’ll see.”

Ranma still looks a little angry but his expression quickly changes to deep embarrassment when he realizes what kind of doctor the gynecologist was and what they were doing. Akane felt a little more sympathetic to the redhead since she also didn’t really like to go there. There was this strange feeling of kinship that was forming in her mind even if it was just a little.

The youngest sister wanted to talk about it more but then realized what time it was and decided that it could wait until lunchExistential crisis or not, Akane could not let Ranma's problems ruin her perfect attendance.

“We’ll talk about this later,” she said and took Ranma's hand and dragged him down the stairs with her. “Come one Ranma, we can’t be late for class!”

Akane realizes how much of a headache it will be to keep that guy from lashing out at their classmates today. Suddenly arriving at school in a girls uniform was a perfect recipe for gossip and the amount of questions she and Ranma would be getting made her a little mad at Ranma. She quickly shook her head realizing how stupid it was. It wasn’t his fault that all of that went that way but hers.

She quickened the pace in hopes that maybe they would make it to class before most of the other classmates. Or at least before Ukyo.

It was normal for students of Furinkan High to see Ranma being dragged through the school halls by Akane because of the redhead habit of sidetracking or getting into fights before classes. This day however a lot of heads were turning around to observe the pair going to their homeroom. It wasn’t just any day when Ranma Saotome, man among men, would let themselves be dragged by his fiance without complaining and wearing the girl uniform seemingly by their own will.

Most of the people that look at them actually were waiting for some usual fairy exchange between the two since it became one of the sources of entertainment for them.

Unfortunately for them the couple in question have too much on their plate to care about that stuff. Ranma on her part was still trying to process the fact that she was now considered a real girl by the school board and if she was reading new plan correctly she was now obligated to do some additional stuff at school, including Home Economics, a subject that was always seemed by her as a stuff for girl that she would never need to know or care about. It felt like just another point that reminded her that her days as a man were over and she should suck it up and accept that she was now a woman and was expected to do a woman’s job. The worst and strangest part was that she didn’t hate it as much as she thought she would.

Ranma realized that for some reason that she couldn’t grasp yet that all the things that were happening to her didn’t really bother her that much anymore. Or at least it isn’t as terrible as she thought it would be. Sure, going to the gynecologist was still humiliating and scary - she refused to think about this topic any longer than necessary - and being stuck as a girl was a little depressing but it all felt muted. Like she was taken for a ride and since she didn’t really have a way out of this situation she just decided to go with the flow. She even thought about congratulating herself for her adaptability skills but then she finally let herself look around the hallways.

She never really gets the feeling of being watched and judged by other people while in school, probably because most of the time she was arguing with Akane, running from Kuno or some other enemy so she was always distracted. This time however she realized that while she and her ex-fiance were walking by, all the eyes were on them, specifically on Ranma.

She lowered her gaze to the hem of her new dress feeling deeply wrong by the stares she was getting. She didn’t really do anything strange or behave any differently than normal. The only thing that was different today was her clothing and suddenly everyone started looking at her differently. Yes, she was wearing a dress, but so what? She was a girl now and girls needed to wear dresses to school, right?

The redhead immediately felt self conscious, her ears burned realizing what most of them must be thinking. There she was, Ranma Saotome, a guy who self proclaimed himself the manliest man was walking by in a dress like a girl. The only problem was that she really was a girl right now but they probably wouldn’t believe her. It doesn’t really matter that she changed from one form to another on a daily basis because it really was different now. They probably thought that she was some disgusting pervert, just like Akane always said.

Ranma looked at the slightly taller girl dragging her through the hallway. She and Akane practically didn’t talk since they came back from Nekohanten and it was starting to really bother the redhead. Sure, they couldn’t talk too long because they would be fighting each other soon after but still they were able to deal with that and move on eventually.

Now Akane seemed more distant to Ranma. She was here but there was this feeling in her chest that was convinced that if she could she wouldn’t be near the redhead more than necessary. How much of that was because the black haired girl felt guilty or annoyed with their current situation, Ranma didn’t know. What she does know however was that they couldn’t go on like that if they would still live together for some time and they needed to do something about it.

Talking this out was necessary but with such a big crowd of people they would be a prey for gossip so the redhead just kept walking, waiting for the opportunity.

When they went further in the hallway and the murmurs of other students died down a little bit Ranma stood firm and stopped her ex-fiance in her tracks. The other girl looked at her visibly annoyed and uncomfortable.

“What are you doing, Ranma? We’re going to be late!”

Ranma bit her lip, trying to think. She wasn’t sure how she should treat Akane right now with their new and strange kind of relationship that they have now but she really wanted to do this right. It would be too easy and completely pointless. She didn’t want to start another fight with the other girl but just talk to her, something that they rarely really do.

“Akane, we need to talk” she said trying to not sound too pushy or commanding.

“About what?” Akane asked, her eyes a mixture of guild and hurt that suddenly changed to anger. “You want to blame me for all of that again?! Because if you do then we can do it after school you know?!”

“No! It's not that!” Ranma shouted, waving her arms in protest. “I-It’s the opposite, actually”

“What do you mean?” Akane looked at her suspiciously but her anger subsided a little bit. The redhead wanted to exhale with relief, it was going well.

“I… actually I wanted to apologize,” she said scratching the back of her neck, eyes looking at the walls around them, especially the ones far away from the youngest tendo. “This whole thing it’s just so much and I… I don’t really know what I should do, you know? It’s stressful and overwhelmin’ for me but… well, I shouldn’t blame you for it, ok? Sorry for that, ‘Kane…”

They stood there in a hallway, two girl don’t looking at each other with no clue what to say to one another. Ranma was really worried that what she said right there was lame excuse for the apology. Especially since she wasn’t used to apologies and so she didn’t know how to do it properly.

“You don’t need to apologize,” said Akane, also avoiding looking at her ex-fiance.

“What? Why? I just said…”

“I still could do better,” Akane continued, cutting off Ranma. Her arms were tense and her tone was uneven like she was barely holding herself together. “I always get angry at you for everything and when something happens I can’t do anything right… just like when we met Ryoga the other day. I just froze and didn’t say anything. I could but I chose not to because I was scared. You were right, you should know about this whole mess right away… I’m sorry, Ranma. I really do.”

It was an unusual experience to see the youngest tendo looking sad and vulnerable. She always looked calm and collected - sometimes almost bored - or pissed off and ready to smite anyone who looked at her wrong. The girl that was standing now next to the redhead looked sad, fragile, lost and guilty.

Ranma really wanted to hug Akane right now. The atmosphere around them was also totally different than usual, it actually felt lighter than before. Who knew that if you just let go and say what you want to say you actually feel better? For Ranma it was actually really crazy.

The rift that was between them closed a little bit at that moment making the redhead feel warm inside. It almost felt like they could really rebuild their relationship, something that she really wanted.

“Say… what do you think will happened now,” said Ranma, glancing sheepishly
at the other girl. “Between us, I mean.”

Akane looked at her taken aback a little but the question.

“What do you mean?”

“Well…” she started. “I’m a girl now, you know? Pregnant too. There’s no way that we could end up together, right? Engagement is off.”

“Oh, right…”

“Yeah…”

“I… I don’t really know” Akane admitted after a moment of hesitation. “I mean it still feels strange to me and I don’t know what to feel about that just yet.”

Ranma was looking at the hem of her dress and nodded. She actually also was conflicted about a lot of things and probably will be for some time. They have time to figure it out.

“What will you do about Ryoga?” Akane asked back, completely surprising the redhead, who flinched at the mention of the Lost Boy.

“I… also don’t know… yet,” she grumbled, crossing his arms with a grimace. “I really wanted to kill that guy this morning, you know? Now I’m not so sure… I guess it’s not his fault… not really. It still pisses me off that IF he really is… you know.” she couldn’t finish the sentence, it was too embarrassing.

“I guess you should at least talk to him,” said Akane, finally able to relax a bit. “I think it’s only fair. He looked really confused back then.”

“I’ll think about it when he finally shows up again” Ranma decided with a tired sigh. She didn’t really forgive Ryoga, her anger and disgust for the boy was still there but she really wanted to hear him out. I mean, our whole feud started because we didn’t talk at all about this damn bread thing, she thought a little embarrassed about this idiotic misunderstanding.

I’ll see what will happen when I find that pig, she decided with a nod to herself. Right now there is something different that I need to do.

“But first things first…”

Ranma giggled to herself. She thought about it from the moment she stopped Akane in the hallway. She wanted to do something that would signify that loud and clear signified that even if things are different now they don’t need to be strangers to each other and finally she knew what to do.

The redhead looked the other girl in the eyes and stretched her hand with a smile, trying to mirror Akane’s actions as best as she could.

“Hi, my name’s Saotome Ranma, do you want to be friends?”

The black haired girl stood there, looking at the redhead outstretched hand with a stunned expression. The lack of any response actually made Ranma regret everything she’d done until now and wishing that the floor would open up and make her disappear.

Suddenly Akane started laughing.

Couldn’t you react a little bit sooner?! Ranma screamed in her head. A little bit later and I would die from embarrassment or somethin’!

Ranma looked at her awkwardly, not really knowing what to do until the other girl took her hand, still laughing, finally looking light and relaxed.

“Sure, Ranma, let’s be friends,” she agreed, looking at the redhead with a slight smile. It was good to finally get rid of most of the tension between them. “We should go, I don't know how long we stood here, but I'm sure we'll be late if we don't run.”

Ranma's smile dimmed a little bit.

“Oh, right. It will be so much fun…” she sighs with resignation, already seeing the whole class reaction to her just like the rest of the people in the school hallways. Her skin was already itching from stares that she will be getting the whole day long.

Akane looked at her with pity and patted her on the arm trying to cheer her up as best as she could considering their circumstances.

“Don’t look like that. I’m sure it won’t be that bad.”

It was pretty bad.

Class 1-F was actually one of the classes most used to something strange happening around them. Whether it's a damaged wall, a natural or unnatural disaster or someone trying to attack one of the students they saw plenty of things that make them really understand about most things. There weren't many things that could really startle them.

At least that was the case until now, but when Ranma walked through the door in a dress all the eyes were instantly on her. She and Akane were walking to their desks in complete silence broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the rustle of chairs being pushed back.

It’s only a dress, ok?! She thought trying to keep her composure. Why is everyone acting like that?!

Ranma once again really self conscious about her situation was really pissed off about this. She couldn’t even count how many times she ended up going to class as a girl in the past few months and except for the first few times, nobody really bat an eye anymore. Except some guys looked at her in this really creepy way when they thought she wasn’t looking. She really couldn't fathom it, did the clothes make such a difference? It looked like this was the first time they were seeing her as a girl.

The only good thing there was right now was that Ukyo was absent for some reason. Ranma exhaled in relief, she wasn’t sure what she would do with her other fiance literally wanting to grill her for wearing a dress.

As they finally sat down, two girls that were friends with Akane: Yuka and Sayuri walked to them looking quite confused.

“Good Morning, you two,” said Akane like normal.

“Hello, Akane” replied Yuka and without missing a beat she turned to Ranma without hiding her curiosity. “Ranma? Why are you… why are you dressed like that?”

Ranma gulped, that was it. She was sure that everyone else in the classroom was listening to their conversation. The redhead was trying to look as calm as possible so no one would be able to realize the panic rising in her chest that very moment.

“What is wrong with my uniform?” she asked back. She was at her wits end about that topic and really wished that someone would explain this to her. “I’m a girl right now, so I should dress like that right?”

Yuki tilted her head and looked at Ranma strangely.

“Well, yeah but you’re also a guy, no? I mean you went to school plenty of times as a girl but you never wore a uniform before…”

“We don't mean that as a bad thing,” Sayuri cut in before Ranma could say anything. “You look really cute today Ranma. It’s just not every day that you go to school in something other than your red shirt, that’s all.”

Ranma looked down on her desk, feeling a strange fluttery feeling when she was called cute. It was an alien feeling for the redhead, not bad but different. She scratched the back of her neck realizing that her pigtail felt a little too tight for some reason. For a second the thought of untying her hair flashed through her mind but quickly disappeared.

“T-thanks” she said, trying really hard not to smile at the comment.

She realized that these two girls and the rest of her class were still waiting for some kind of explanation and she sighs, trying to come up with some believable excuse but wasn’t able to think of anything good or believable just like that.

“Teachers were bugging me about this for a while,” she muttered, looking out the window. “Also something happened and I’ll stay like that for a while so… I thought that I’ll change something, you know? Try to look the part…”

This explanation didn’t really help much. In reality it has the opposite effect, making the imagination of the students around Ranma to run wild. Most of them were thinking that she was now stuck as a girl for a long time - she didn’t specify - and until she could turn back she decided to act as a girl. That was the most basic summary of her short speech that most of them understood.

This revelation piqued the interest of the rest of the class. Some of them were looking at the redhead with wide eyes, unsure what to do. Ranma’s reputation and her previous aggressive statements when someone would refer to her as a girl were in stark contrast with this cute, shy girl who tried to make herself smaller.

Some of the students looked at the former boy suspiciously already trying to anticipate what this sudden change could mean. Murmurs and quiet bets were already starting to be exchanged between some of them.

Hiroshi and Daisuke were watching this whole conversation with utter astonishment and confusion. It became quite normal - and in case of Daisuke even preferable - for Ranma to show up to class as a girl but this time she appeared in the girl’s school uniform. Initially there both looked at each other like they needed to confirm that they both were seeing the same thing. Knowing Ranma and the constant scams she was putting up they thought that maybe it was the case this time too but they were mistaken. Something else was at play here and they were really eager to find out what that was.

“What happened?” asked Hiroshi walking towards them, his eyes begging for answers.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” said Ranma shutting down any hopes for any more gossip material. That was the redhead's intention, but her classmates were not at all discouraged by it. In fact they were even more curious.

“Oh come on, Ranma” added Daisuke, joining them near her desk. “I’m sure you can…”

He couldn’t finish his question, being stopped by a loudly opened classroom door. Their English teacher, a strict old man with glasses, walked in without even glancing at the teenagers in the room. Everyone instantly scattered to their desks to avoid his attention, something Ranma really appreciated even if she knew that it was all far from over.

The teacher finally checked his papers and was ready to address his class but before that he spotted Ranma’s unusual attire and looked perplexed at the redhead. The girl in question tensed up, this old geezer for sure didn’t get the message from the administration office yet. She sighs with resignation, realizing that she will need to give some sort of explanation AGAIN but this time before her whole class.

“Mister Saotome, what is the meaning of this?”

Ranma was thinking fast and about to respond when the door opened up once again and someone from the administration office walked in to hand the teacher some notes. He looked at it for a second and his eyes widened in surprise. He read it a few more times looking back at Ranma and then back to the notes he received in visible disbelief before he finally was able to speak again.

“I… I see. Alright then, Miss Saotome,” he said ignoring the gasps and whispers of the whole class and told the rest of the class to open their textbooks, dropping the subject entirely.

Ranma didn’t even hear him. She was too overwhelmed by the looks of her classmates, the only thing she could hear was the murmurs around her. She couldn’t wait for the class to finish. She would be even glad for a sudden exam or something, anything that would focus the attention from herself for a few moments.

As the class went on, the paper messages from their classmates started to pile up on Akane and Ranma desks. The youngest tendo didn’t even bother looking at them and Ranma usually would do the same but something was bothering her. She was a little curious about the things they were saying so when the teacher was busy scribbling some strange words on board she took some paper at random and decided to open it.

Hi, Ranma. So did you decide to go to school as a girl for real? Do you like guys now too? :>

Ranma instantly regretted looking at the message. Her whole face seemed to be on fire from embarrassment and anger. Who the fuck dares...? She regretted that she couldn’t identify the owner of that piece of paper. She really wanted to send whoever that was high into the sky.

Angrily she opened a few more messages and saw that most of them were written in similar manner, bluntly doubting her sexuality, calling her cute in her uniform and even congratulating her for finally coming out, whatever that means.

She felt really regretful that she promised Kasumi to not use violence against anyone at school today. The eldest tendo sister probably anticipated that she wouldn’t have a good time today but still convinced her to promise to try to ignore all of the snarky comments and weird stares from the rest of the students.

She never wanted to break the promise she gave more than at that moment. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to not throw her desk at some random guy who just looked at her funny.

It was only the first day and all she did was to wear a dress. She already felt anxious about what will happen when she actually starts acting differently, or finally she’ll start showing the signs of her pregnancy? She needed to talk to Kasumi and warn her that she couldn’t guarantee that she would punch one of those morons in the future.

Ranma stopped looking at the classroom. She was sure that everyone there was mocking her and she just hid her face in her arms, trying to hide how hot and red her face was at the moment and begged whatever god was out there to speed up time some more. Or make her disappear into the ground until the class was over.

Chapter Text

That wasn’t her day and Ranma was already tired of it. Constant glances and murmurs of other students were a constant reminder of her new life. She really needed a break from all of that crappy feelings she was getting while other people were commenting on something so simple as her clothing. She even left the classroom at lunch and decided to eat alone in one behind the shed that the kendo club were using as their club room.

While angrily eating bento that Kasumi made for her she was thinking about all sorts of stuff. She never would have guessed that the realization she had the other night would have such an effect on how she now views herself and her situation.

She needed to face the truth, she wasn’t a guy, not anymore. In the past she was doing things differently because she was raised to act more with her fists and kicks rather than with words. “Boys will be boys” and all that bullshit that doesn't really apply to her anymore. She now has a hard time to reconcile her current situation and the years of her pops teachings that were basically stuck in her head.

said that if I’m a girl now then I should act like it, Ranma thought a little annoyed at her situation. But I have no damn clue what exactly a girl would do in my situation. Maybe I shouldn’t just run away from class? I think that Akane wanted to tell me something before I ditched all of them and went here…

The redhead sighed, she really needed advice about this. She just recently decided to do things differently, her body still pretty much itching to just challenge and beat up everyone that has a problem with her but it looks like it is basically the whole school now and she doubts that this would solve anything at this point. That and the fact that she really needed to take care of her reputation from now on. Ranma didn’t want to have a reputation of someone excessively violent for no reason. She was now stuck as a girl and she would be a mom soon and she really wanted to be a good parent to her child.

She shook her head with resignation. All of that crap started just a day before and she already felt so tired of all these new worries and responsibilities. Everything was easier when her future was planned ahead for her. She was supposed to marry Akane, inherit a dojo and after that she could do whatever. Now it was all just shadows in the mist, she didn’t even know in which direction to go.

So that’s how it is to be responsible for your own future, she realizes looking at the clouds lazily moving around in the sky. It’s really a pain in the ass. I hate it.

Ranma glanced regretfully at her empty bento box wishing for some excuse to not move from her position but knew that it wouldn’t really do anything in the long run.

She wasn’t really enthusiastic about it but she decided to stand up and with another tired sigh dragged herself back to the main building. She never refused the challenge and so she couldn’t chicken out because of some nasty looks and comments from some people in school. Even if she really would prefer to just go home after what happened in class this morning.

The next class she was supposed to have was something she never thought she would take and was actually really anxious about. Who would have thought that Ranma Saotome, someone who was a self proclaimed man among men, would willingly go to such an unmanly class as Home Economics?

The redhead still remembers her pops rumbling about a man needing the resolute woman in their life to take care of the household while he would provide and - in their case - strive to always polish their martial arts to the new heights. She chuckled a little bit to herself thinking about the absurdity of her own reality. Her father was always talking about women with little to no hidden contempt and now Ranma was one of those women too. Does that mean that in her pops mind she should now change her focus to taking care of her child and a house instead of chasing the dream of becoming the greatest martial artist in the world?

She looked back at her promise to try to be the best mom to her child as she possibly could and realized that no matter what Genma would think, she already made the decision herself. She didn’t even think about any martial arts stuff lately, she didn’t care. There were so many crazy things going on around her that were more important than that.

But this is serious, she thought about going up the stairs while ignoring the occasional stares from some other students. If I really want to do this, will I be able to support my baby on my own? I mean, I’ll stay with Tendo’s for a while but I’m sure that they will want me out at some point, right? I’ll need to think about the solution. I mean is it difficult to be a single mother in the workforce? Fuck, I really don’t know anything about the real world, didn’t I?

Ranma sighs, growing frustrated at her idiotic father who didn’t think about ever teaching her anything about the world she would need to eventually live. How irresponsible can someone be? He probably thought that they would live from the dojo and Ranma as a husband would just teach some kids the Everything Goes and call it a day as stupid and idealistic that would be.

Maybe I will just get myself a husband and stay at home like Kasumi, that would solve most of my problems, she thought absentmindedly and immediately froze in the hallway. The realization of the thought that just flashed through her mind was so alien and horrifying to Ranma that she just walked to the nearest wall and without a warning started bashing her head against it with rapid successions.

WHAT.THE.HELL.IS.WRONG.WITH.YOU.RANMA.WHAT.FUCKING.HUSBAND.GET.A.GRIP.DAMMIT

Her sudden outburst scared a few other students that were nearby, which was fortunate for the girl since no one saw how red and embarrassed she was at that moment.

After some more hits, Ranma finally stopped and stayed still leaning her forehead against the wall, her head hurt a little bit but it didn’t really matter. What I did though was that she was confused and a little bit scared of what just happened and her mind couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

What the hell happened!? Did I somehow get a girl brain now? Is this some strange effect of the curse being locked? All of this hormones stuff? Shit, I think I’m really losing it…

Ramna stood there for a few more seconds still didn’t comprehend the idea of a marriage with her but not as a husband but a wife. The image of her in a white dress standing next to some guy in a tuxedo made her shiver. No way…

She moved away from the wall and scratched the bridge of her nose while continuing going to the classroom hoping that she would be able to figure something out while moving. It always hoped in the past, maybe it would work out this time as well.

Where the hell did even come from? I mean, I get that I’m a girl and all but I was a guy a few days ago and I wasn’t gay right? I don’t like guys that way, right? I had a girl fiance for damn sake… Even if Akane wasn’t really that attractive to me… huh?

Ranma stopped walking once again when it hit her. Did she ever find Akane attractive? Sure she could be cute if she wanted to and the redhead even said that to her a few times but she called her a flat chested tomboy. Ranma searched her memories to find even one instance when she felt really attracted to the youngest tendo but she couldn’t think of anything.

But we even kissed a few times! That was nice… right? she thought recalling the few times even if it wasn’t really romantic but a necessity.

But what about that time, when Mikado kissed you? A strange thought made its way into her mind making her relieved the humiliating moment when that pathetic guy basically forced himself on her. That wasn’t even the worst part. The worst thing about that was that she ran away from everyone not only because it was so shameful but because it also felt really nice. It was the ultimate humiliation for Ranma at that time.

And now remembering that moment was enough to shatter the core of Ranma as a person. The redhead was changing her gender frequently over the last few months but never ever questioned her sexuality. Until today.

She felt really shattered. Like the whole image of Ranma the man among men who was supposed to be the greatest martial artist in the world was not real at all and all the things that made Ranma who she was was just something scripted. She realized that maybe all this time she didn’t really know herself but the idea of herself that her pops was demanding of her. But if that was true then who she really was? She asked herself that question, her emotions shifting once again. She wasn’t panicking anymore, now she felt lost and confused, not really knowing what to do with her sudden discovery about herself.

Ranma was standing there trying to make some sense from all this. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn’t register someone walking towards her and putting a hand on her shoulder.

“Ranma, why are you standing here like that?” asked Akane, making the redhead jump in surprise at the sudden touch. “Did someone make fun of you or something?”

“Akane?! W-wha…. Oh, no no they didn’t…” She said trying to collect herself as best as she could. “I was just thinking that’s all.”

Akane looked at her with suspicion, they lived together for some time and she could probably tell more or less when Ranma wasn’t telling her everything. THe redhead held her breath waiting for her ex-fiance response and fortunately a god must have listened to her prayers. Akane shook her head after a moment and clearly decided not to pry any further for now.

“About what?” the other girl asked, still looking curious and worried. “Are you anxious about the next class?”

“Come on, Home Ec. is fun, you’ll see,” she said, probably deciding to force the redhead to think about something else. “We’re baking today! I'm gonna show you how much I improve in the kitchen!”

Ranma looked a little apprehensive at her friend but nodded. It wasn’t that she wasn’t a little curious about this new class. She didn’t even care about Akane’s ridiculous comment about her obviously horrible cooking. It was just that she was doubting practically everything about herself right now and she didn’t want to make it weird between them again.

The redhead shook her head and conjured the best neutral expression she could muster before continuing down the hallway after the black haired girl. She doesn't think that she will be able to focus on this new class but even so she was grateful that Akane cares so much.

“We made it!” said Akane, opening the door to the classroom with relief while Ranma walked in behind her. Despite the turmoil in her head, she looked curious around the room she had never set foot before. She realized that this classroom really was different from any other, instead of desks there were tables with cooking equipment scattered across the top of them. She realizes with satisfaction that she recognizes the names of most of the items. At the back of the room there were metal trays, pots, pans, woks and bowls of many different sizes laying separated neatly on the countertops.

There were already several girls standing at some of the tables talking to each other. Ranma thought that this time also all of the people in the room would stop all they were doing and look at her but to her surprise no one cared, none of her classmates anyway.

“You must be Miss Saotome, I was expecting you,” said an older woman walking towards them from across the room. She looked like a nice person with slight wrinkles and a few strands of gray hair between her raven-black hair. “I’m Maki Momoe and I’ll be teaching you Home Economics from now on. You are a little behind on the material but I’m sure that we’ll be able to figure out something about it later. For now, please take a seat at one of the stations, we’ll be starting soon.”

“Yes, Maki-sensei!” said Akane and dragged Ranma to one of the stations. Before they could go anywhere however, two other familiar faces showed up from behind.

“There you are Akane! Come on, we need to get ready for class!” said Sayuri, pushing the black haired girl to some other station.

“Wait, what? But who would help Ranma?!” she argued trying to escape but with little to no success.

“She’ll be fine,” replied Sayuri, dragging her friend away and ignoring further protests.

Ranma was watching this scene with confusion. This was the first time she witnessed Akane being kidnapped without much of a fight. She didn’t understand what was happening until the other one of Akane’s friends came along to her to explain the situation.

“Sorry Ranma, but we must borrow Akane for a bit” said Yuka looking really apologetic. “It’s just… her cooking is really bad and she won’t listen to any critique if it isn’t from any of us so… don’t be mad ok?”

Ranma blinked a few times, not really knowing why she would be angry or why they were asking her about her opinion on the matter. Then it clicked in her head, even if she said that she will be going to school as a girl no one in school knew that the engagement between her and Akane was nullified. She sighs realizing that this was also something that needed to be addressed in the future.

“No, it’s ok I got it,” she said and with a slight smile on her face she whispered. “She tried to force her cooking on me a lot of times so if you two will be able to somehow teach her how to make somethin; edible then please do.”

“We'll try,” Yuka said with a wink and left for the other girl, leaving Ranma alone to look for some empty station to choose from. She wasn’t proud of it but she was actually glad that Akane wasn’t with her at the moment. Even if all of this new classroom was strange and even a little exciting for the redhead in the back of her mind she was still anxious and lost about herself and how to deal with this whole mess that was in her head.

Suddenly she saw that some girl at the back of the class was waving shyly to her. A petite girl with brown hair in one big bride with cute round glasses was one of Ranma's classmates but she couldn’t remember her name. The redhead shrugged and walked towards the girl, not really having much of a choice since she didn’t really know anything about this class. She only hopes that this doesn't turn into some huge mistake.

“H-hi there Ranma” said the girl looking surprised that Ranma actually walked to her. She quickly recovered thought and smiled very happily at the redhead. “I noticed that you’re alone and since it’s your first time here I thought… I thought that maybe you would like some help?”

Ranma looked at the other girl once more and her previous apprehension eased out a little. That girl didn’t look like the type to scam her or have any ill intention. The redhead smiled at her a little, hoping that she wasn’t wrong.

“I would like that” she said walking closer realizing midway that she still didn’t remember her name. “Ummm…”

“Amari Hikari,” she said, somehow realizing what the other girl was thinking. Ranma felt a little guilty, they were going to the same class for months and she didn’t even know her name. Hikari looked at her and once again seemed to know exactly what the other was thinking. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t really talk much in class so it’s normal that you don’t know who I am. I’m just happy to finally talk to you, Ranma-chan.”

Ranma felt even more guilty but tried to not show it to the brunette. She nodded with an apologetic smile and walked to the station next to Hikari.

“So… what’s next?” she asked, trying to find something to talk about.

“We’re making cookies today so it won’t be anything difficult,” said Hikari calmly. “Let’s get an apron, bowls, trays and something to mix the dough and I think we’ll be good to go.”

Ranma nodded and followed the other girl, deciding that she will just do as she says. Kasumi promised her some help in the kitchen later but until then she couldn’t say she knew much about baking. Cooking she could do - sort of - but baking was unknown territory.

Hikari gave her a simple white apron and started gathering the rest of the needed utensils they would need later. Ranma put on the apron, thinking about the girl everyone else is probably seeing while looking at her. She didn’t want to admit that but maybe there was some reason for the other students to react strangely at her current look. She for sure didn’t look masculine at all, especially since she was shorter and more endowed than most of the other girls at school.

Man among men, she thought, recalling all the time she proudly said that about herself. It sounded incredibly funny right now, looking at her dress casually twirling with every move.

“Umm, Ranma,” said Hikari when they finally gathered everything. The brunette looked shy and uncertain but her eyes were warm and pleasant to look at for a redhead. “I just wanted to say… I think it’s really brave what you did today. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.”

Ranma looked at the other girl unsure what to say. What does she mean? Going to school in a dress? It wasn’t something she meant by that. Sure it wasn’t something that last week Ranma thought he would do but she was different now and didn’t really think much about it. There were more pressing matters that were on her mind right now than the clothes she was wearing.

She wanted to brush it off but then it hit her. Hikari didn’t say that she was brave because she was wearing a dress. She was brave because she decided to go to school as a girl and said that out loud in the classroom. She felt embarrassed thinking back to that moment. It wasn’t even her own choice; it was made without her consent and she just needed to roll with it. She didn’t deserve the praise the other girl was giving her but looking in her eyes she couldn’t really say the truth. For some reason Hikari looked at her like at some kind of hero.

“Thank, that… you’re right it was tough” she said finally trying to not look at her classmate too much. “Honestly it was really embarrassing.”

“Don’t worry too much,” she said, looking at the redhead compassionately. “People always talk, they love to gossip. Give it time and they will get bored and leave you alone. Or, well… since you’re Ranma you could always beat them up if you want to.”

Ranma looked at the other girl with a frown, the way she was saying that was strange, almost like she was reliving something from her own past. Ranma looked at Hikari, she looked really cute and smart, had a good figure and was really easy to talk to. There was nothing to pick on in her opinion.

I shouldn’t pry too much, she thought before she could say something. They didn’t know each other yet and she probably wouldn’t like to talk about it either. Ranma decided to drop it for now but also swore to herself that she will look up for the brunette. She was the first person except for Tendo’s that was actually nice to her and didn’t really know her before.

“Yeah, I hope so,” said Ranma with a sigh. “I figured that there would be some comments and all but it was more than I thought. I just hope that other girls will be understandin’ when it comes to locker room but I don’t know. I don’t have exactly the best reputation with them after this whole situation a few months back.”

Hikari looked at the redhead with sad understanding and nodded.

“Yeah, some of them weren’t happy about it” she agreed, but a moment later smiled slightly and averted her gaze to the bowls on their desk. “If that helps, in my opinion you’re one of the girls already, Ranma-chan. Others just need some more time to get it.”

Ranma froze for a moment hearing this. Earlier she would probably have objected loudly at the statement but now she actually felt happy. It’s the first time that someone said it out loud - she was one of the girls now - and for some reason it felt right. The redhead didn’t feel a need to object, to prove that she was manly or do some other emotionally driven thing to make a statement to prove that she was right and everyone else was wrong. She just felt warm and a little bit happy. It was great.

“Thank, Hikari” said Ranma with a full blown smile that for the first time today felt genuine. “It means a lot to me.”

“Oh, em, no problem,” replied the brunette, nervously twirling a strand of her hair. “I just thought that you should hear this and don’t regret your decision. I promise it will get better.”

Two girls smile at each other, comfortable with each other's presence. A few moments after that Maki-sensei announce their task for today - cookies - and then everyone starts to move. Ranma read the list of ingredients they got while Hikari was trying to gather all of them before other girls would snached them from her. At first Ranma wanted to go as well but she still wasn’t comfortable with pushing through the other girls so she let the brunette do it instead.

The redhead had a slight feeling of deja vu from the cafeteria in the all-boys school she was going to. It felt a little like that, seeing all the other girls trying to get the right amount of flour or eggs. The only difference was that none of the girls were actually hitting each other and there was enough supplies for everyone and so Ranma didn’t really understand why they were so competitive against each other. Maybe they want to get the freshest eggs or something? she pondered waiting for Hikari to get back from that chaos.

The most surprising of all was actually Akane who for some reason was taking ingredients that weren't even on the list and walking to her station with a confident look on her face until she was reprimanded by Yuki and forced to put back all the stuff she took earlier. The redhead really wasn’t sure if the youngest tendo was this clueless or maybe she also was cursed somehow.

The whole process of making cookies was fascinating to Ranma. It felt really relaxing and rewarding just following the recipe and seeing how everything just came together before her own eyes. She and Hikari talked while working which made it even more nice for the redhead. She never really talked to another girl who wasn’t her fiance or a Tendo and it was a really funny experience. The brunette was asking Ranma about her hobbies, what she likes and dislikes, her preferred clothes and goals and all the stuff that no one really asks of the redhead before. It felt like a normal conversation between two friends and Ranma was genuinely enjoying it. Even if it made her realize that she didn’t really know the answers to any of the questions.

She didn’t have any hobbies except for martial arts - although looking at that now she maybe will be interested in baking - her likes and dislikes were limited to foods she ate or situations she was in previously since she spent most of her life on the road and wasn’t able to enjoy the simple pleasures of life that most of her peers could enjoy on a daily basis.

“You don’t really know much about girls' clothes, Ranma?” Hikari asked with a knowing smile while rolling out the dough. “Well, if you like I could help you with that. I think that could be fun.”

When they were done with dough the girls used the cookie cutters to shape the final product. Hikari used the star-shaped one while Ranma chose the horse-shaped one. After some playful fight for the last intact space of their dough, all the cookies were put into the oven and pulled out some time later and rested to cool off.

Ranma was actually really proud of their cookies. It was her first time ever working with the oven and it was surprisingly a really fun and enjoyable experience. It was even nicer when Maki-sensei walked towards their station to inspect them.

She looked at their shape and color, then when she finally decided that they were good enough she smiled and grabbed the horse-shaped cookies and bite into it.

“It’s really good,” she said with a nod of approval. “Is that your first time baking, Miss Saotome?”

“Y-yeah” she replied sheepishly, not used to being praised for anything.

“It's very well done. We may just find your hidden talent Miss Saotome,” said Maki-sensei with a smile. “I’m sure that if you’ll keep it up like that you’ll make your future husband very happy one day.”

Ranma nodded and looked down to hide just how embarrassed that comment made her feel. She was already really confused about herself, why must Maki-sensei make it even harder for her with comments like this?!

The middle aged woman walked away from their station pleased and completely unaware of any of her new student troubles.

Time flew and it was time for PE that Ranma was anxious about since she left the Tendo Household this morning. She was kind of expecting some kind of stares and whispers after she decided to stick to going to school as a girl. It was unavoidable since she always projected this stupid hyper manly image of herself and now it was biting her in the ass. But this one was different. She has a different perspective now and felt really guilty about this whole barging into the locker room with Ryoga a few months back.

Since her sudden and embarrassing realization she was trying really hard to not look at guys at all so she couldn’t be sure if her suspicions were right, she knew she wasn’t ready to know. But just thinking about it makes her realize that she would rather quit than change with the boys with her current body. The thought of all the guys from her class just staring at her made her feel chills. The girls were probably thinking similarly when she went there in her male form while they were changing.

She was walking towards the locker rooms while the anxiety was gnawing on her, wishing that Hikari or Akane was with her but both of them weren't available at the moment. Akane needed to stay after Home Ec. to talk with Maki-sensei about her poor performance Hikari needed to do something with some other member of the art club - making Ranma realize that there are so many things in Furinkan that she didn't know until now - and she would join her later.

Finally after some more stares and turns in the hallway Ranma was finally near her destination. All she needed to do was find Hanagawa-sensei and talk to her about the redhead situation. She was sure that she wouldn't be allowed to go to the girls locker room today but she wasn’t going to change with the boys either so she just needed permission to change in the nurse office or something.

Just when she was about to pass the door to the girls locker room several girls just appeared from around the corner and immediately started glaring at Ranma. The redhead froze like deer in the headlights not really knowing what she should do.

The tall girl at the front of the group looked at her with contempt. “What are you doing here, you freak!?”

Another girl stepped forward with the same look. “Just because you look like a girl and put on a dress doesn’t mean you’re the same as us! Don’t even think we’ll let you go there and look at us changing you pervert!”

“B-but I-I…“ Ranma stammered, taking a step back scared by the sudden hostility.

“Going in there to see your stupid friend wasn’t enough for you?” another girl chimed in. “If you want to look at a girl's body you can just look at the mirror if you are a girl as you said. Don’t stand there and just leave!”

Ranma was looking at the girls ganging up on her with rage, contempt and disgust in their eyes and for the first time in years she actually wanted to cry. She never had to deal with such things in her life, Akane’s angry outburst wasn’t even close. The redhead was shaking slightly, frozen in place without the way to escape the situation. Her bullies were almost surrounding while Ranma wasn’t thinking about anything else but hot to get out of there.

It was so unfair. She wanted to say that she was sorry about that incident back there, that she didn’t come here to peep on the girls, that she wasn’t a pervert and she also didn’t want a guy to look at her but the words didn’t come. She was just standing there with panic in her eyes, her body refusing to punch the other girl making her situation completely hopeless.

“What is going on here?!” The teacher's voice rang out in the hallway just as Ranma felt the cold wall behind her back. Everyone looked at the direction of the noise and saw Hanagawa-sensei looking angry at them. The girls immediately backed off from the redhead but didn’t look guilty at all.

“That pervert is spinning the story that he’s a girl now and wants to go to our locker room” said the leader, the first girl that shouted to the redhead. “We’re just giving him the peace of our mind about it.”

The teacher looked at them with confusion but when she glanced at Ranma there was a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. She clears her throat before addressing the gang of girls before her.

“Alright that’s enough” she said, cutting out the rest of the girl. “I’ll handle this from here. Go change before the class, Ranma go with me.”

Ranma just nodded and quickly escaped her bullies, who didn’t stop her but sent her a few nasty looks before walking away to the girl’s locker room. The redhead was still shaking, slightly deeply hurt by the unfairness of it all. She didn’t ask for all of this but it was her life now and it sucked so much that she was yelled at just by trying to be who she now was supposed to be.

“Ranma,” said Hanagawa-sensei when they finally walked into the small room the gym teachers used as their office. “We’ll get to the thing that happened there in a minute. First of all, I wanted to talk to you about the thing that the administration office sent me this morning.”

Ranma nodded, slumping in a chair with relief that she was finally free from those girls' hateful presents. She knew that she could easily beat them up but she wasn’t a girl that would fight other girls just because she was mean to her. She wanted to be better than this but the comments and the looks they gave her allowed some part of the redhead mind to get a voice. It was tiny and quite whispering to her that she didn’t need to just take the heat from anyone no matter the gender. At that moment she was actually tempted to listen.

“So, you're actually going to school as a girl now” the teacher continued looking really curious. She stood leaning partially on the table behind her. “Care to tell me, why? There must be a reason that you finally decided who you want to be perceived as. I’m really curious if I’ve been honest.”

The redhead frowned at the question. She knew that she would be asked about it eventually but she wasn’t ready to give an answer to anyone who already wasn’t aware of her situation - excluding Ryoga but he was lost at the moment.

“It’s really personal. I don’t want to talk about it at the moment” she said, trying not to sound too arrogant or rude to the other woman. “I didn't make this decision for attention but I can’t change with the boys any longer, sensei just look at me. Then imagine me showering with the boys. I'm pretty sure that some boys don't understand the concept of personal space with a girl undressing for all of them to see. If that happens I won’t guarantee that they will be okay afterwards.”

Hanagawa-sensei looked at her for a moment and sighed. “If you really are a girl and you’re stuck like that, you shouldn't have to put up with ogling or any other inappropriate behavior either. Frankly I didn’t like the idea of you changing with the boys to begin with giving you previous affliction.”

“Look, Ranma” she continued looking apologetic. “If you ask me you would be able to go to that locker room today without any issue. You’re already attended PE with girls more times than with the boys so that wouldn’t be a big deal for me. The problem is your reputation with other girls, just like you experienced a few minutes ago.”

“Yeah,” said Ranma, her face sad and hopeless. “They hate me, don't they?”

“Not all of them,” said Hanagawa-sensei trying to cheer her up but when she realized that it wasn’t going to work she just shrugged and added. “There are a few of them that are angry at you, but most of the girls didn’t really care about the past that much. Even so I’ll need to talk to them about this. I may be a teacher but in this school students have much more to say about certain things that you think.”

“So… I need to convince them that I’m a girl and not a pervert who only wants to stare?” she asked rhetorically with a hollow chuckle. After that display of hostility in front of the locker room she felt like she already failed.

”Sort of. Knowing the girl they will vote on it. Of course since you were able to switch between male and female until now they will most likely want proof that you can’t change anymore. I don’t know what it will be but I advise you to get your swim suit when that happens.”

Ranma nodded, it was only fair that they were suspicious. She knew that it was a reasonable request but it still really hurt her feelings. The fact that she was questioned and whispered about the whole day just because she decided on something and wanted to stick to it was really not fair. It was demeaning that she needed to prove the fact she was a girl when her body should be definitive proof already.

Even so she already knew that some people wouldn’t listen or believe. Like this girl before, some people will just look at her with disgust and hatred for no reason and she wouldn’t be able to say anything that would change that. It was really depressing, like a foe that was unbeatable from the start and she didn’t have a clue about the way to do anything about it. She knew that she'd go through it somehow, but it felt so tiring and hopeless at the moment.

“When it comes to that I’ll be ready,” she said trying not to show the depressing thoughts that were swirling in her head that were affecting her too much but she still sounded pretty down. “Sensei… I need a favor.”

“What is it?” Hanagawa-sensei asked. She was aware of the confusion and doubts in the girl's head. Right now she was like an open book to the older woman and it made her sympathize with the redhead a little bit.

“Can I… Can I skip today’s PE?” Ranma asked not to look at the teacher and rubbed the seam of her uniform. “Today’s really tough for me and I don’t know if I’m ready to see those girls again.”

She felt pathetic asking for that but she couldn’t argue with the truth. She really felt so hollow and tired that she couldn’t imagine looking at those guys again this soon after they tried to bully her in the hallway. She just wanted to go home and recover from today's damage to her psyche and reputation.

Her teacher didn’t look happy at her request. She looked at her thoughtfully but after a minute or two she just sighs with exasperation. Finally she looked at the redhead with eyes pity and understanding and nodded.

It felt like a slap to Ranma. If she felt pathetic it was even worse now. Before any of this she was someone who never really asked for permission to do anything, she always did what she decided was the best and just acted on it. The people she knew or was around her could think a lot of things about her but no one ever pitied her. Until now.

She wanted to just go out of here.

Ranma quickly walked out into the hallway and when she finally was sure that no one was around to see her, she leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down until she was sitting on the ground. The redhead closed her eyes and hid her head between her legs, trying really hard to put herself together. It was just too much for her at that moment.

She looked back at all this unwanted attention she gets today. Suspicious looks of the receptionist in the administration office, snickering and murmuring of her classmates in the class, the sideline glances at the hallway and now this pity expression on Hanagawa-sensei face. All of that went crashing down on her at once making her shudder.

Why couldn’t I just be normal?

Chapter Text

Ranma glanced at Daisuke who was standing in front of his desk trying to read out loud a few lines in broken English and return to looking at the window. It was friday and the weather was excellent. Ranma sighs realizing how fast the time goes, it has already been a week since the day her whole life basically stands on its head. A whole week and the prime suspect wasn’t seen or heard since. There was no Ryoga or P-chan anywhere.

The redhead was a little annoyed that she wasn’t able to locate the Lost Boy but she knew that he would appear somewhere in Nerima eventually. For now she wanted to focus more on stabilizing her own position in the Furinkan High after her sudden proclamation of attending as a woman and the disaster after disaster that followed her after that.

The first day was so bad she almost cried herself to sleep after coming back home. It was bad enough that Kasumi went to her room to calm her down. It was one of the most humiliating days of her life. It was also a day that made her reevaluate a lot of things about her life and how she wanted to handle it in the future.

The school she was attending was a fertile ground for gossip of any kind, that’s what she was told by Akane and Nabiki on the first day all this months ago. It was simple enough at that time but only now she realizes what it meant and she actually was grateful for it.

The shock and novelty of Ranma's new appearance and self identification faded in the background after a third day when some new gossip or important event took place making her school life. Of course not in the redhead closest environment.

The fact that she hasn't been in the direct spotlight doesn't mean she wasn’t forced to listen to shit talks about her or seeing someone stealing glances at her every once in a while but it definitely improved over these few days. She was still the talk of her class and there was still the problem of the locker rooms that was dragging on. She was really tired of all the attention but thanks to her friends it seems to be getting a little better even if not as fast as she would like.

The first thing was that Akane started to invite her to eat lunch with her, Sayuri, Yuka and some other girls that also joined from time to time to talk to them. Ranma never really knew or realized that but the youngest tendo was sort of the big fish among the girls in Furinkan High and the fact that she was treating the redhead as a part of her girls circle made a lot of difference. Even if Ranma was having a hard time grasping the strange world of girls' gossip and topics they were talking about the most. It was strange slowly getting accepted as one of the girls but she discovers that she actually felt at peace just talking about random stuff.

Back when she was a guy she felt compelled to boast about her strength and abilities or constantly refuse to talk about her and Akane living in the same house. Now she was able to mostly listen to other girls talk and add some thought here and there and just be a part of the conversation. At least until someone suddenly asks her about her decision, why she did that and all of that stuff that she didn’t really want to talk about.

Ranma put an unruly strang of hair behind her ear. One of the decisions she made was to let her pigtail go. Looking at the mirror, it was basically the only thing that reminded her of her past male form, one that was forever lost to her now. It was spontaneous but the redhead remembered looking at the western hairstyle magazine Hikari showed her the other day and she decided to tie her hair in a loose braid slung over her right shoulder. The effect was great and Ranma really liked it but realized that if she wanted to make the most of it she would need to grow her hair even more. She sighs thinking about all the hassle it would be to just look like some girl in the magazine. Even so she still decided to do it, even if she wasn’t really sure why she was so adamant to do so.

Finally the bell rang and all the students began to gather thief stuff for the day. Ranma lingers a little bit at her desk, her mind went to think about the shopping list she made the other day. She began helping Kasumi in the kitchen and has since been given responsibility for grocery shopping.

“Miss Saotome, can I ask you for a moment?” asked the teacher just before Ranma was able to leave the classroom. Akane looked at her with a soundless question but the redhead waved her off.

“It probably won’t take long, I will catch up with you soon” she said to her black haired friend.

“What’s goin’ on, Teach?” asked Ranma, turning to face the older man, who was in the process of gathering some papers on his desk.

“Do you know what’s happening with Ukyo Kuonji?” He asked, looking curiously at the redhead. Just like everyone else he also still couldn’t get used to Ranma’s new look. “You’re friends, right? She hasn't gone to school in a week but she didn’t call or send a notice to explain her absence.”

“Umm, no I haven’t seen her in a while,” said the redhead frowning. It was true that she hadn't seen Ucchan in some time and it was starting to unnerve her a little bit. “I was thinking about visiting her though, to check on her and all that.”

“That’s great, Miss Saotome,” he said with an approving smile. “Tell her that we’re waiting for some form of explanation why she’s absent for so long. And while you’re at it, could you give her this?”

Ranma took a rather thick pile of papers into her hands and looked at it. Just as she thought it was all the materials from this week including all the homework Ranma was forced to do everyday for the past five days. The redhead felt a little sorry for Ukyo.

They were friends but since the okonomiyaki chief considers herself one of Ranma finances the redhead was always cautious around her and felt uneasy. The redhead wanted to talk to her childhood friend about all that happened to her with the pregnancy and the curse being locked. It was fortunate that she now had the perfect excuse to go and visit Ucchan.

“Yeah, I can do that,” Ranma said with a light smile and a nod. She didn’t wait for the reply but quickly turned on her heel and walked out of her class. She was supposed to meet with Akane and Hikari at the school entrance and didn’t want them to wait. Especially Hikari since her new friend didn’t really go the same way she and Akane did but always walks with them for a few minutes to chat which was really comforting to Ranma. She was really happy to get a new friend, especially one that wasn’t her fiance or a rival or some magical being that wanted something from her. She didn’t even remember the last time she hung out with someone normal without some strange connections to her or her father.

Ranma walked nervously through the hallway of the Furinkan High. Her fellow students whispers and glances even if scares now were still fresh in the redhead mind. She didn’t know if that was the effect of her curse, pregnancy or maybe being constantly surrounded and trying to integrate to the girl in her class but Ranma found herself much less unfazed by social stigma and much less confrontational than before.

She didn’t want to think that she suddenly became weak but she couldn’t ignore the fact that she definitely felt and reacted differently than before but she refused to think that it was a bad thing. She remembered each time Ryoga was depressed and the suffocating chi that was filling the space around him making him and everyone else around him pretty useless. She needed to stay positive if she wanted to survive in this new reality she was living.

It’s just like achieving an enlightenment, she thought trying really hard to convince herself that was true. She remembered stories that her pops sometimes shared with her when they sat around the fire throughout their journey. She much preferred to think that she was able to break the shackles of her past and could start over with the blank page, free from her father's influence and discover herself once more.

Ranma tried to walk past the crowd of students but miscalculated and was pushed back by some taller guy with black hair and old fashioned glasses. The redhead looked at her feet grumbling some halfhearted apology and walked past him as soon as possible. Usually she was quite excited and happy to discover something new about herself but there was this one aspect of her personality that she was really embarrassed about and swore to keep it a secret for as long as it was possible.

The redhead was actually terrified of the possibility that Ranma Saotome who was seen for a really long time as a paragon of masculinity would find herself in the situation that she couldn’t any longer deny the simple truth that she actually felt attracted to guys in the same way she was attracted to women. She could already imagine the commotion the whole Furinkan High would be swept by if the wrong people - like Nabiki - would get their hands on that embarrassing secret.

I almost hope that it’s all because of the curse, she thought manoeuvring between people down the hallway. The thought that I can also be attracted to boys and realize this only now feels so… I mean how dense I must have been all this time?

This realization was so shocking and embarrassing that at first Ranma totally dismissed the idea and was trying really hard to not think about it. It worked for a while but it wasn’t long before the redhead became a little curious. From then on, everything went downhill.

Ranma caught herself stealing glances at the boys from her class and other students at Furinkan and it was probably even more wrong than finding out that she was attracted to them. She didn't even know what exactly made them attractive to her, she was too embarrassed to look long enough to find out. All she knew was that some of them were attractive to her in some way.

It actually was kind of funny that some of the girls in her class were accusing Ranma of trying to get access to the locker room just to peep on them while here she was basically trying to peep at guys instead. She felt her face turning pink and just started walking a little faster. The girls were probably waiting for her already.

“Hi, Ranma! What took you so long?” asked Akane standing at the front gate of the Furinkan High with visible impatience while Hikari tilted her head while looking at the redhead with curiosity.

“Teacher asked me if I knew why Ucchan was skippin' school,” she explained with a shrug. “Gave me all this to deliver to her too,” she added, showing a rather thick envelope and a stack of papers within it.

Akane still looked a little impatient but there was also a hint of worry in her eyes. Ever since their relationship changed Ranma was able to see so many more different expressions and emotions coming from the youngest tendo sister that it was sometimes staggering to the redhead that something like engagement was able to change someone so much. Now thinking about Akane from a week ago was like thinking about a totally different person.

In the past even if she mentioned going to Ukyo she would get an earful about her going to her other fiance and some insults to boot. Now the redhead knows that Akane was also a little worried about Ukyo's week-long absence just like Ranma does.

“So, you’re going to the Ucchan's?” asked Hikari, looking kind of disappointed. “That’s in the totally opposite direction to my home, so I won’t be able to tag along.”

Ranma smiled at her apologetically. The brunette quickly became one of the redhead's important friends and sort of the second pillar that supported her in school but she was a little glad that she wasn’t coming with her and Akane. The less the girl is exposed to her problems the better. Especially when it comes to dealing with the scary martial artist woman when she finally hears what happened when she was gone for the past week. She wouldn’t like to see Hikari get hit by the spatula or something like that.

“It’s ok Hikari-chan,” said Ranma trying to cheer her up. “I’ll call you when I come back. You still didn’t tell me when you want us to come this weekend.”

“I know and I wanted to talk to you about that while walking back home,” she pouted looking a little depressed. “Talking on the phone won’t be the same, you know?”

“I guess so…” said Ranma, not entirely convinced by her friend’s logic. “I’m sorry Hikari, but can you decide when we’ll go and I won’t complain, ok? I promise.”

“Well, it would have to do,” Akane interrupted with a sigh of exasperation while grabbing her ex-fiance by the collar. “Come on Ranma, if we must also go to Ukyo then we better hurry. Remember that we still need to do the grocery shopping since you were so adamant that you’ll be doing it from now on.”

“Huh? Why do you mean?” asked the redhead, surprised by the mention of the subject and the force that Akane used to drag her towards the street. “I can handle the shopping just fine, you can just go home if you like!”

“You think I’ll trust you with that?” asked Akane with a huff. “You’ve practically never been in the kitchen ever since you started living with us. How am I supposed to believe that you even know what to buy?”

“What? Look who’s talking! If you doubt me so much, why were you so eager to eat all the rice that I made this morning?!”

“Shut up, Ranma!”

“Then stop draggin’ me after you!”

“I said shut up and keep walking!”

When the two girls were finally some distance away from the Furinkan High and there was no one nearby, Ranma finally looked at the black hair girl and spoke, visibly confused.

“So, what was Akane?” she asked, looking a little worried. Through this whole week - minus the first day of school - there were no real problems between them, they didn’t even fight, not really. Ranma was worried that maybe she did something that she didn’t know and pissed her black haired friend just like in the past. “It’s not like you.. I mean not like I did somethin’ strange' again, right? You know that I’m still clueless about some things so…”

“No, Ranma it’s not you” Akane cut her off loudly with an angry glare that quickly changed into an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I’m just fed up with all that. It’s not you, Ranma, it's all those guys at school. You may not see it much now but they are still talking and… glaring at you behind your back and… It just pisses me off. I wanted to leave as soon as possible, you know?”

Ranma was a little taken aback. Of course she knew about the starring and some of them were whispering behind her back. She may be a girl but she was still a fairly strong martial artist but it looks like Akane forgot about that for some reason. Maybe the curse being locked and her refusing to start any fights during her pregnancy change the way the youngest tendo were looking at the redhead? She wasn’t sure but still felt grateful to her friend for worrying about her. It’s been a while since anyone really does that.

“Yeah, I know that they are still going on and on about that,” she said with a sigh. “You think that they would be more ok about this since basically everyone knows that I switch between a man and a woman regularly in school but some people seem to be really pissed about me “choosing” to stay like that.”

“You don’t even choose that yourself. Not really…” said Akane once again looking guilty just like every time the topic of that day was mentioned.

Ranma felt quite sad for her. She only knew a little bit about that day from Tendo’s but it sounds like it was a really strange day and everyone was acting strange as well, not really knowing how to react and what to do about such drastically different redheads in the house.

Akane felt the worst about it because she was the one that hit her with the pan and she was the reason that this other Ranma ran away resulting in all of them ending up as they were today. The redhead was trying to somehow change her perspective but Akane was stubborn and wasn’t listening to her at all.

“It’s not your fault,” said Ranma smiling to her friend. “Actually it isn’t even that bad, you know? Sticking to one side and finally stopping trying to prove to anyone around me that I’m a man among men is really great. I can finally breathe a little.”

It was actually true and the redhead was still a little shocked about it. Granted there were still some things that were looming at the horizon but all in all she felt much more alive than before. She felt like she was on the training trip once again, constantly learning new things but this time it was at her own pace, without stupid pops constantly annoyed that she wasn’t learning fast enough or not acting manly enough. She felt really content and somewhat excited about the future.

“If you say so,” said Akane, looking not convinced at all. “It’s still really strange, to see you in the uniform with this loose braid and all. You even help Kasumi with chores! I wonder if you and that other Ranma somehow merge or something like that… I didn’t think that the Ranma I know would enjoy all the things you’re doing now.”

“Tell me about it, I wouldn't have thought that I would enjoy all of the household chores either,” she chuckled, agreeing with her friend as they walked between the streets of Nerima.

“I’m glad It’s fun though,” she continued, patting her flat stomach with a slight smile. “If I want to somehow support myself and the baby I will need to learn as much as possible about taking care of the house and all. I can’t leech out of your family forever.”

Akane looked at the belly of the redhead and shook her head.

“That’s another thing I can’t wrap my head around… you’re really going through with this and without any complaints… I really thought that you’ll want to abort it. I know that I would be terrified if that would happen to me.”

Ranma looked at Akane like she just hurt a puppy and put her hand firmly on her abdomen so the other girl would know what she was thinking about the idea of getting rid of the baby she was carrying.

It wasn’t that the redhead didn’t think about that at all. When she first became aware of the fact that she was pregnant it was too much of a shock to her to think about it but she was past that now and there were all sorts of thoughts that went in and out of her mind lately.

She just knew that she couldn’t do it. Disregarding the fact that somehow she instantly felt protective over this kid, as a martial artist she was supposed to protect the weak. At least that was the premise and Ranma had to admit to herself that instead of doing that she instead just fought for her and her family honor and to vent her frustration instead of protecting the weak but the point still stands. There was this tiny defenseless being that was growing inside her and she had a duty to protect it, not get rid of it.

“I won’t get rid of it,” she said firmly, her eyes glancing at Akane with calm determination. “I will keep it and protect it. So they would be able to grow up and know who their mother is. I want to give them all the things that I didn’t have.”

The youngest tendo was looking at Ranma with a surprised expression but in her eyes was also a tiny bit of approval. She nodded and walked beside the redhead for a few moments until she once again glanced at her friend.

“So you decided that “man among men” is not for you. Do you think about some other title for yourself?” She teased her ex-fiance with a grin. “What do you think about “Mama Ranma”? I think it would be great!”

Ranma almost tripped while Akane giggled looking at her face. The redhead wanted to say something to the still grinning girl but wasn’t able to think about any good response to her teasing. She was trying really hard to not call her a tomboy like she used to do in the past.

“Very funny,” she grumbled, regaining her balance while avoiding eye contact with the other girl. “I still can’t believe that I would be called like that one day. It’s crazy.”

“Well, that makes two of us,” said Akane with a chuckle. It sounded a little hollow, her previous grin faded making her face look much more serious. “It still feels unbelievable to me. Like it shouldn’t happen but it did and we need to live with it.”

“You’re going to tell Ukyo all of this?” she asked, looking a little anxious. “I don’t think she’ll be thrilled about it.”

Ranma felt anxious too. It was just her luck that her finances were in equal measure sweet and carrying but also crazy and short tempered. The redhead wasn’t too keen to figure out how the okonomiyaki chief would react when she told her that she is stuck as a girl and she was knocked up and Ryoga was probably the father. Maybe I’ll keep quiet about that part, she thought, deciding to have a little mercy for the Lost Boy. If there was someone who would beat him to death it should be Ranma not one of her fiances.

“Well, better to get this over with while I still can run as fast as possible,” she said trying to sound much more confident than she actually felt. “But just in case, if any spatulas would suddenly start flying around, stay close to me. I’m a pregnant woman so I need to be sure that nothing would hit me or the baby, so I will need some cover just in case, alright?”

“Well… that’s new,” said Ranma looking at Ucchan's new front. It looked like someone replaced the entire front of the restaurant. It was brand new and a little shiny, the complete opposite of the previous one, which was a bit shabby and worn.

“Did she win a lottery or somethin’?” she pondered while opening the door to the restaurant. The first thing she noticed was that the interior was the same as last time, it was simple and inviting but for sure was past its prime and could use some renovation.

Why did Ucchan spend money on the storefront instead of the interior? she wonders, suddenly realizing that there were no customers inside. It was quite strange considering that Ukyo’s Okonomiyaki was so good that there was always at least one regular after school sitting in the corner. At least all the time that Ranma would visit.

But for some reason there was no one here.

Suddenly the all too familiar face appeared from the back looking relieved and excited.

“Welcome to Ucchan’s! What can I do for… huh?”

Ukyo was wearing her usual everyday clothes that looked a little dirty and torn in a few places. The redhead didn’t want to comment on it but it looked like the girl was really tired with slightly darker circles around her eyes and pale complexion, like she didn’t sleep enough or was working more than she should.

“Hi there, Ucchan, what’s up with the storefront?” asked Ranma waving casually to her childhood friend. “And why haven't you been at school lately?”

“Some idiots were fighting outside of my restaurant and destroying the storefront without paying for the damages, but most importantly…” She explained briefly while still looking at Ranma from head to toe with a bewildered expression. “What’s with the getup Ranchan? Some sort of disguise of yours? Did you plan on scamming someone again?”

“Why is everyone saying that?” asked Ranma, pouting at the suggestion. “It’s just a dress, ok? I wore dresses plenty of times already, why is everybody so shocked that I actually wore this one?”

“Well, because it’s a girls uniform and you specifically stated a few months back that you hate to wear any kind of uniform, so…”

“Wait, did you say that someone destroyed your restaurant?” asked Akane, averting the girl's attention from Ranma.

“Yeah, some jackasses just decided to challenge each other on the street,” said Ukyo looking frustrated to the point of exhaustion. “They just fough, destroyed a big part of the Ukyo’s and ran away still fighting each other like idiots. I didn’t have much savings for repairs so I needed to do some additional jobs here and there to afford it…”

“That’s why you weren’t at school for the whole week?” Ranma finally realized but also felt a little hurt that she didn’t ask for her help and decided to do it all alone instead. “You could say something, you know? I could help… somehow.”

“Thanks, but I have my pride,” said Ukyo once again looking at Ranma with a critical eye. “Something that you apparently don’t need anymore. Or maybe you decided to embrace your other side, Ranchan? I’m sure that boys at school are really happy for you.”

Ranma smiled sadly at her childhood friend's words thinking how close she was to the truth. In both aspects nonetheless.

“But why no one here?” asked Akane, shooting glances at Ranma, probably trying to convey something to the redhead but unfortunately the other girl was oblivious to what that thing was. “I thought that after you’ll open again there will be at least a few regulars.”

“Well, there aren’t,” replied Ukyo, once again distracted from the Ranma’s new look. “There are practically no customers here now. I think they are scared or think that I’m closed for good or something.”

Ranma looked at the okonomiyaki chef with interest. She was still a little upset about her teasing her about her uniform and not telling her about her troubles with the restaurant but they were still friends and the redhead still wanted to help her friend.

“Maybe I can help with that,” said Ranma with a confident smile.

“Oh? What do you have in mind, Ranchan?” asked Ukyo, looking kind of sceptical at the redhead.

“Well…,” she started, feeling a little flustered when the other two girls were looking at her expectantly without blinking. “I got kind of popular when I was working at Nekohanten. I thought that maybe if I start working here some of the guys that know me would also go here to… eat and stuff…”

Ranma stopped talking, immediately regretting even thinking about that idea. In her mind it sounded great and would be beneficial to her and Ucchan but when she voiced it out loud it sounded awfully like she wanted to basically attract guys to go to Ukyo’s so they could ogling the redhead. Some part of her knew that it was just a scam like any other but the other part wasn’t really thrilled by the idea of guys staring at her all the time while she would work.

And there was this other tiny part of her that was always there when she was about the scam other people were excited by the attention she would be getting but she was too embarrassed to admit to it. Instead she was trying really hard not to think about it too much.

Akane and Ukyo were looking at Ranma with quiet consternation, listening to her idea. When the redhead stopped talking, the brunette looked quite shocked at the proposal.

“Wait a second, you really want to work here, Ranchan?” she asked suddenly looking really happy. Her smile made Ranma feel really uncomfortable because she knew what her childhood friend was thinking and the redhead needed to somehow clear out the misunderstanding before it would be too late.

“Well, yeah. Actually I need to start to earn some money,” she said, trying to find some way to bring up the topic of her current predicament. “So until I can no longer work I thought that maybe I can help you at Ukyo’s, save up something, you know…”

“Until you can no longer work?” Ukyo cut her out looking at the redhead with worry and suspicion. She once again looked at Ranma and thought for a moment. Then something clicked in her mind, she was glancing at Ranma and Akane and she had this specific look that was telling the redhead that there would be no more stalling.

“Ok, what’s going on?” asked Ukyo with a serious face. “What’s with all this girly look, Ranma? Tell me and don’t try to distract me again.”

Ranma sighs while looking at the giant spatula that was leaning against the wall just a few inches from Ukyo and was calculating her chances of survival if her friend would lose it and try to hit her in the head.

“Well, you see…,” she started, unsure where to begin. There was something about Ukyo that made it difficult for Ranma to just say whatever she wanted to say and it was a little frustrating for her at that moment. “The reason that I’m looking like that, with the uniform and the hair and all that… that’s because my curse got locked. I’m basically stuck as a girl… forever.”

Ukyo’s eyes went wide for a second but she calmed down almost immediately after that. She saw Ranma locked like that before after the Full Body Cats Tongue Technique so the notion of her fiance being stuck as a girl wasn’t such a novelty to her. She still was looking at the redhead with suspicion, like she was suspecting Ranma of hiding something from her. She looked down at her dead in the eyes, making the redhead really anxious.

“But just being a girl doesn’t mean that you someday suddenly are “unable to work”, right?” she asked, crossing arms under her breast. “What’s going on, Ranma? What are you not telling me?”

Ranma felt like she was sweating profusely under Ukyo’s gaze. The brunette was able to be even more intimidating than Akane when she really wanted to. The redhead sent her a weak smile and slowly but surely started to distance herself from the okonomiyaki chief.

“Well… the reason why I’m stuck like that is because I… um… I am pregnant.”

For a moment there was silence. Ukyo was looking at Ranma with eyes twice the size of the dinner plates looking dumbfounded and shocked beyond measure. A few moments later her face contorted in anger, her whole body trembled and her hand automatically went for the giant spatula.

“Ranma, you…” she said, grinding her teeth while looking at the redhead.

“Wait, wait, Ucchan!” Ranma yelled, waving her hands and shaking her head at the same time. “It wasn’t like that! It wasn’t my fault I swear!”

“Did you seriously think I believed that?!” asked Ukyo, with her giant weapon in hand. She immediately started to swing it towards Ranma who jumped back at the last second while looking around the small restaurant for a way out.

“You just admit to sleeping with another man and you say that it wasn’t your fault?! Since when do you even like other men!? You pervert!” she yelled swinging her spatula but trying really hard not to damage anything inside which only made her more frustrated.

It was pretty difficult to move in the small restaurant, especially because just like Ukyo, Ranma didn’t want to cause unnecessary destruction of the place that meant so much to her childhood friend. The problem was that the redhead always lacked the ability to go through to people who were attacking her, it just never actually worked. The only thing that did work in that kind of situation was beating the opponent up or running away but she couldn’t really do any of that at the moment.

“Technically, I’m a girl right now, so it wouldn’t be perverted,” Ranma said, jumping onto the spatula and quickly retreating back to avoid another swing. “But I’m serious! I wasn’t technically me! I swear!”

“Ranma, why are you…” Ukyo wanted to argue more but then suddenly Akane who was ignored up to this point appeared before the brunette forcing her to stop mid swing.

“Stop! Ranma is telling the truth!” the youngest Tendo yelled, spreading her arms wide, shielding the redhead with a serious expression on her face. Ukyo looked like she wanted to just shove the other girl aside and attack Ranma again but fortunately stopped instead.

The redhead looked anxious at the brunette who still was fuming and gripping her spatula with clear intentions and was assessing if she would be able to somehow get to her target without destroying the place in the process. Ranma once again cursed her luck, there was not a single fiance she had that wasn’t a crazy person with violent tendencies.

“Alright, you have one last chance,” she said, still looking really pissed off, to the point that Ranma was able to sense a faint killing intent coming from the okonomiyaki chief. “Explain that to me.”

Chapter Text

Ranma’s body shifted uncomfortably while Ukyo was still shooting angry glances at her while furiously working on the grill she started at the beginning of their “conversation”. It was probably something like a deep breathing technique to calm herself, something that the redhead could relate to since she also liked to keep her hands busy when she was stressed or depressed. And the brunette was all of those things and more right now.

The atmosphere was still really heavy when the three girls were fast trying to resolve the misunderstanding caused by - as usual - Ranma's complete inability to explain herself. The redhead was standing near Akane who was recounting everything that happened to Ranma on that fateful day when she knocked her down into the koi pond.

The redhead was listening too, since she knew only the general version of the story while right now Akane was going into more detail about the small things that she did while unconscious, the reaction of other residents of Tendo Household and the circumstances of the other Ranma running away in the middle of the night.

Ukyo was listening intently while still working on her okonomiyaki. Occasionally she would glance at Akane to see if she didn’t just make up some parts of the story. Her mouth was slightly open in a gape when she heard how Ranma was behaving in the mall, while the redhead wanted to just crawl under a rock somewhere and disappear realizing how embarrassing it must have looked to the people there. She knew then that she didn’t really want to know anything more about the other Ranma personality or what she was doing when she was in charge.

When Akane finished recalling the part of the story Ranma didn’t know the redhead joined in talking about the day after and the whole bunch of revelations she discovered about her current situation. Ukyo put away finished okonomiyaki and her eyes were riveted into Ranma making her really uncomfortable. Her stern look started to shift however, especially when she heard about the moment when her childhood friend was informed that she was now carrying a baby and her decision to keep it. Something shifted in the eye of the brunette at that moment, but Ranma didn’t exactly know what.

After the both of them stopped talking, Akane and Ranma looked at Ukyo and waited for her response. Previous violent episode is still very much alive in the minds of two girls. Silence that fell on all of them felt almost oppressive. Ranma was hoping that it was all worth it and she wouldn’t lose one of her precious childhood friends or worse, somehow made an enemy out of her somehow. It would have been horrible for the redhead.

Finally the brunette eyes became softer, filled with apologetic sadness. The girl lowered her head in defeat and shook it without any energy.

“I’m sorry, Ranchan… I went into my own conclusions again and almost hurt you… both of you” she said with a sad smile and put two full plates towards the girls. “There, as an apology. I really need to work on my temper, huh? I mean, I almost act as…”

She trailed off quickly glancing at Akane, an action that fortunately slipped Akane perception but not the redhead. They both knew what wasn’t said and nodded to each other. Ranma quickly devoured her food as always trying to hide how relieved she was feeling right at that moment.

“So…”, Ucchan continued again when they both finished. “Who is that bastard who did that to my Ranchan? I really want to know who has enough balls to do something like that and just disappear… Something like that cannot go unpunished…”

Ranma smiled stiffly at her childhood friend. She and Akane deliberately didn’t say anything about Ryoga but it was necessary. Firstly because it was a chance that their suspicions weren't true and the second was that Ranma wanted to deal with the Lost Boy herself without any interference. And now after witnessing Ucchan’s sudden rage and remembering all the times that Akane would just flatly hit her without any apparent reason Ranma started to think that maybe just beating the crap out of Ryoga without talking to him first wasn’t such a good idea. She needed him alive and that could be difficult if someone would start to hunt him down with a giant spatula.

“W-we don’t know yet. But don’t worry, when I finally find out who that was I’ll let you know.”

I’m sorry Ucchan, but I have no choice, she said to her in thought with a crooked smile. Also Ryoga owes me for this. If only I knew where that guy is…

“I hope you do, Ranchan. You know that you should tell me right away, right? I am your… I mean, we’re friends right? You should let me know…”

Ranma thought that it was rich, coming from someone who didn’t tell her that her restaurant was damaged and she needed to spend all of her savings and some to fix it. To be fair the redhead actually started to avoid Ukyo’s lately because her friend was a little bit to pushy but It did not excuse the fact that she simply said nothing to her alleged fiancé

“Well, I was goin’ to but someone was missing the school lately!” She said teasingly to the brunette with a sad smile and whipping away the imaginary tears. “And of all times it was at the moment when I needed that person the most…”

“Ah, right, well… ok, that’s on me but you still should inform me somehow.” Ukyo admitted begrudgingly crossing her arms under her breasts. She looked at Ranma who still played the crying girl and smiled mockingly. “But, you know how shocking it was to see you all dolled up like some girly girl? Have some mercy on me next time and give me a heads up or something so I could prepare mentally for it.”

Akane giggled when Ranma’s new look was mentioned and redhead actually followed suit making Ukyo look at her strangely for some reason. Ranma already knew that her wearing a dress and a new hairstyle was something everyone who knew her before had difficulty adjusting to. She remembered the looks and whispers of other students from the past few days and her giggle dried out slowly and her humor dimmed a little bit.

“I wish you could have seen how our classmates reacted to my new look. It was… somethin’”
Ukyo looked at Ranma with something akin to sad understanding. The redhead didn’t realize this earlier because for her it didn’t really matter that much but Ucchan must have had similar experience with her gender presentation as well and probably could relate to her struggles the most out of all of her friends. Ranma was really glad that they weren’ fighting anymore, she actually was really desperate for some support and someone to talk to about this stuff.

“Oh right, I almost forgot.” Said Ranma hitting the palm of her hand in “I got it” motion. She grabbed a thick envelope that was discarded on the ground earlier and gave it to Ucchan. “There, a whole week's worth of paper with some homework from our teachers. They want you to call them and explain why you weren’t at school all that time”

Ukyo took the stack of papers into her hands and looked at it with a sour expression. They have only two days of a weekend and looking at it now, Ranma realizes that Ukyo will probably be stuck with all of that work until monday, if she will be lucky. The redhead recounted all the times she was away from school for a day or two and the amount of work she needed to put in to do the additional homework for skipping school was no joke.

“Oh joy, another pain in the ass.” Said Ukyo putting all of the papers on the side with an irritated, tired sigh. “Thanks Ranchan.”

Ranma looked at her friend and went back in time to all the instances that they would play together as kids and Ukyo’s father would suddenly appear to remind her that she has some work to do. She always made the same face she was doing now and the wave of nostalgia washed over the redhead making her miss those times. It was so much easier between them without that all fiance bullcrap and this stolen cart fiasco.

“No problem, Ucchan.” She said with a genuine smile.

“Sorry, Ukyo but we really need to go now.” Said Akane getting Ranma back to the present. “Ranma and I need to go grocery shopping for Kasumi, you know how it is.”

Ranma blinked a few times, realizing that maybe they were at Ukyo’s a little longer than they were supposed to be. It was only a few days since she started to help Kasumi around the house but she felt proud from the fact that she was mostly reliable and didn’t want to suddenly fail the eldest tendo sister, especially with something as important as dinner.

“Akane’s right, Ucchan, we need to go,” said Ranma smiling sadly at her friend. She really would like to stay a little bit more to talk some more. The atmosphere between them cleared out somehow and the redhead really wanted to jump into the opportunity to just hang out with the brunette but unfortunately there really was so much to do at home.

“Well, if you say so…” Said Ukyo looking as sad as Ranma, maybe even more. There was something strange in the look she gave the redhead, like some sort of sudden realization that made her even more sad than before. “By the way Ranchan, regarding your help with the restaurant… I’ll let you know at school, ok? I need to think about it.”

“Ah, R-right Ucchan, we can chat some more about it then.” Said Ranma a little startled by the look in her friend’s eyes. She wanted to ask Ucchan about it but Akane was once again dragging her out of the restaurant. The redhead started seriously considering talking to the black haired girl about respecting her personal space.

Some time later the girls were walking with full bags in both hands heading home. Just as Ranma was afraid, they stayed a little too much and needed to hurry if they wanted to be home more or less on time. Fortunately they didn’t end up butting in anything that would stall them much and since both of them were strong martial artists they were able to walk without rest and were actually really fast.

With previous anxiety about being late slowly dissipating, Ranma slowed down a little bit, a big smile appeared on her face. She felt a gentle breeze between her legs and finally felt the tension in her whole body slowly melting away.

“I’m really glad that Ucchan isn’t angry at me anymore,” she said with a sigh of relief. “I really thought she would hate me back there.”

Akane looked at the redhead with a scowl that quickly turned into a slight smile.

“That’s because of this damn foot in your mouth, Ranma” she said, shaking her head at her ex-fiance. “Why do you always have such problems with just… talking to people? Seriously if I wouldn’t stepped in Ukyo would probably didn’t stop and finally would splatter you on the ground. You need to learn to communicate with others more.”

Ranma dropped her head and nodded in agreement. She knew that Akane was telling the truth but just saying “you need to learn to do it” wasn’t that simple. She spent most of her life not really talking about her emotions or troubles. Her pop didn't even want to hear any explanation or “excuses” as he called them so she didn’t really learn how to do it.

It was a source of a whole bunch of problems in the redhead’s life and she knew it. Maybe I will talk about it with Kasumi, she thought to herself nodding to herself. The eldest sister quickly became something like a role model to Ranma which would be unexpected to anyone who knew her before. Ranma on her end didn’t care about that, Kasumi really helped her that first night after her curse was locked and in her mind if the older girl became someone really important to the redhead.

“I just hope that Ukyo won’t be angry at us - or more accurately - at you for not telling her about Ryoga”, Akane continued looking a little bit worried. “This is pretty serious, Ranma. We both know that Ukyo can be really stubborn and not sensible when it’s about you…”

“You weren’t really better, Akane,” said Ranma trying not to sound accusatory towards her friend. “And now we can actually talk to each other and not insult or hit one another.”

“Well…”Akane looked at the redhead like she wanted to say something but decided not to and just sighs looking tired. “That’s true, we are doing really ok right now. But please, be careful about Ukyo. I know that she’s your friend but still… ”

But you don’t trust her, Ranma finished for her in her mind. She cursed her luck and the fact that she forgot that - even if slightly better than others - Akane was really similar to all of her other fiances. They all didn’t trust each other and were adamant to see Ranma doing things their way instead of doing what the redhead thought was the right way of doing things. Right now was the same as always and Ranma felt a bad taste in her mouth thinking about once again doing something not her way. It was tiring.

Just as she wanted to talk back to Akane she stopped, frozen in place. All the irritation and exasperation she felt disappeared, replaced by the feeling of shock and anxiousness. She felt cheated by her terrible luck, she just wanted to have a relaxing weekend with Hikari, no drama or fighting. Instead it seems that the universe decided to just slap her in the face for even dreaming about a stress free time in the foreseeable future.

Just a few meters before the two girls Ranma spotted the person she was searching for for the last few days, the Lost Boy was leaning against the wall and banging his head against it with obvious fatigue and frustration. Akane, who was too focused on talking, realized that her friend stopped walking. She looked at Ranma and followed her gaze and gasped with surprise.

Ranma glanced at Akane who was just about to say something. The redhead remembered what she had been thinking about a moment ago and decided that she had enough of the way she - admittedly - allowed others to decide for her and wanted to take matters into her own hands.

“Akane, I got it,” she cut Akane off before the black haired girl was able to speak at all. “I need to do this on my own? Just… try to play along, alright?”

Akane still wanted to say something but after a moment of looking into Ranma’s eyes she finally deflated and just nodded.

“Alright, Ranma, if you say you got it…” The youngest Tendo still looked unconvinced but also somewhat exhausted. It wasn’t surprising to the redhead, today’s school day was rough and trying to explain everything to Ukyo wasn’t helping either. “Just remember to not drag this on… and no fighting. You should fight with anybody right now and if you do we’ll definitely be late.”

“Who said, I will fight with Ryoga?” the redhead asked with a huff.

“Someone who's been yelling “RYOGA, YOUR DEAD” a few days ago,” Akane replied with a grin. “You know, I actually see some similarities between you two if you think about it. Ryoga also almost alway yells “Saotome Ranma! Prepare to…”

Ah, right… I did say that, she thought, realizing how dangerous the woman’s temper could be in the heat of the moment. She didn’t know that then but staying in this body and being pregnant actually made her a little more rushed than she was in the past. But I really want to talk to Ryoga this time… it wasn't really his fault to begin with…

“I won’t fight with him,” said Ranma trying to stop her ex-fiance from embarrassing her even further. She and Ryoga were similar… ridiculous. “I was actually about to take Ryoga with us. I don’t really feel like having THIS conversation on the street.”

“Smart,” said Akane looking thoughtfully at the Lost Boy. “And when he passes out after hearing the news he at least won’t do that here.”

“Very funny,” Ranma snorted while walking to talk to Ryoga. She recounted all of the times that they met each other and all the times that they didn’t have the opportunity for proper conversation. It was really frustrating for the redhead, especially since she regarded that guy as a friend since middle school. She was practically walking him in and out of school for god’s sake.

Ranma was very determined to make it work this time. If she was right and she was… she was carrying Ryoga’s child then they would need to be able to talk properly at least. The thought of that possibility as always made a chill run down her spine but she couldn’t back down. Not right now anyway.

Two girls walked to the Lost Boy who was actually looking really depressed for some reason. He didn’t even notice them until they weren’t really close to him. Only then he finally looked at them.

“H-Hi, Ryoga,” said Ranma, suddenly not so sure what to say to the guy. “W-What happened to you, man? Why are you so depressed again?”

Ryoga looked at the girl and after a few seconds he finally was back in the present. His eyes regained focus and he looked at Ranma with a curious but cautious face.

“Ranma, is that you? What are you wearing again? Do you have no shame as a man?” He said all of that with a tired half hearted expression. Ranma actually felt a little worried for the Lost Boy, he rarely saw him so depressed and sluggish.

It felt like he was a shell of myself. One of the key points of Ryoga's personality was that he was incredibly shy and flustered every time he encountered a girl, especially a cute girl. Ranma knew for a fact that she was really cute and then more than once she fooled Ryoga to believe that she was someone else, and the reaction of the Lost Boy was always hilarious. But not this time. It gnaws on Ranma, making her curious about the course of this sudden change in her friend.

There was also the question that the redhead needed to answer. Normally it would probably be impossible for her to talk to him normally but this time Ryoga looked like he hadn't slept in days. Maybe that was the chance for Ranma to talk to him and risk making fun of her or fighting with him.

“It’s my curse. I got stuck as a girl again, this time for a very long time,” she said, trying to act casual, like it wasn’t a big deal or anything. “I just decided to go with a flow, you know?”

Ryoga looked at the redhead with a flash of surprise and sympathy, a far cry from the usual fiery reaction that Ryoga would usually give whenever she would use some of her disguises or do something girly.

“You’re stuck as a girl? How?” Ryoga asked, a little more animated than before. Ranma felt a little bit of gratitude for the gesture. Yes, they were rivals but there were these occasional moments when they actually tried to take care of one another, even if for selfish reasons.

“It doesn’t matter now,” she said, trying really hard to not look at her belly or do anything that would give him any clue about the “reason” she was like that. “But why are you here, Ryoga?”

“And why are you so… depressed? What happened?” asked Akane, joining the conversation, making Ryoga jump a little bit with surprise. The redhead was really confused about the state of the Lost Boy, normally Akane would be the first person he would see, but he clearly didn’t register it was her.

“O-Oh, Hi Akane, I… I’m sorry I didn’t realize it was you…” He stuttered a little bit with much more energy like he had some kind of energy drink or something.

“Well… I guess I’m stuck too,” Ryoga finally said with his head dropped in defeat. “It seems that I can’t leave Tokyo for some reason. I was trying to go on a training trip once again but no matter where I go I seem to constantly end up in different parts of the city, sometimes a few times in a row. I saw this street five times in the past two days! It’s so frustrating I can’t sleep!”

Ranma frowns at Ryoga’s explanation. She never really understood the ways that his other curse operates or is that even curse at all. It always looked like he wanted to go in one way but was going in the exact opposite direction and when no one was looking he would just disappear. She never understood how he still could be that cocky and to be fair, friendly and helpful to other people when he was always lost and didn’t know if he would ever end up in the place he wanted to be.

She came back to all the times when the situation would force her to be a guy or a girl. She always had an option to choose from and almost always could just switch if he was bored or needed to. Ryoga never had that option and was always hating it with passion, just like right now.

But now I can sort of understand him now. Sort of, she thought for a second looking at Ryoga face contorted in irritation and helplessness of his situation. Right now she also couldn’t do anything about her curse. Anything except accepting it and trying really hard to live with it. Is that how he did it? She thought with newfound respect for the guy.

Well, even if that was the case clearly Ryoga has a real problem with this curse right now. But why? Ranma blinked a few times realizing what she was doing and once again was shocked about her own new way of thinking. What the hell happened to my life that I’m now considering Ryoga’s feelings like… for real and all?

“Did you… em… find that girl from a week ago?” asked Akane, making Ryoga wince slightly.

“No,” he said ,shaking his head with defeat. “I gave up after a day or two. I mean… with my bad sense of direction I couldn’t really hope to find her…”

What are you talking about, you jerk? Thought Ranma, remembering all the time that Ryoga was blaming her for what happened in China.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, frowning with irritation at the guy. “Ryoga, you went after me to freaking CHINA but gave up on someone else who for sure is living in Tokyo after a few days?”

“This is different,” he just said, as stubborn as he usually was, with his arms crossed on his chest. It looked like as they talked the Ryoga they knew came back little by little which equally confused Ranma and made her more relaxed. Even if that idiot started to once again act like he always does.

“Well, that’s your lucky day,” said Ranma, gathering all of her mind to not blow up her act. “We believe that we found her. That girl from before.”

Ryoga perked up at that information. It was clear as day that he still wanted to find “that girl” even if he didn’t believe that was possible or still tried to find her but didn’t want to admit that to Ranma or Akane. Whatever the reason was, the most important thing was that they now have his full attention.

“At Tendo’s,” said Ranma trying to look as helpful and inviting as she could be but not enough so that he wouldn’t think that something wasn’t right. Ranma was putting all of her talent as a scammer into that act. “Come on, you look really exhausted. I think that you could use some rest from all that walking in circles, right?”

“Um… right. Maybe you’re right,” said Ryoga, still looking not convinced but the idea of a warm meal and a place to sit other than concrete or grass probably won him over. “That would be great, actually.”

Ranma really didn’t know what to do. Originally she really wanted to just beat the crap out of this guy, then she wanted to talk and then beat him up just for principals but now… he looked so out of everything that Ranma didn’t even want to beat him up. She really preferred the normal, idiotic but energetic Ryoga. She could actually tease and fight with him.

With this one? Not so much.

Ryoga was not feeling that great. Actually he felt like shit but for the first time in a few days he started feeling better so he couldn’t really complain about being dragged by a strangely feminine redhead. He actually felt grateful for a change.

It all happened that cursed day when he stumbled upon that… that girl. He felt so frustrated every time he tried to remember more than just a glimpse of that night and the only thing that he would accomplish would be a mild headache.

He was an honorable martial artist so he always wanted his first time to be with a special girl, the one that he would marry, have kids and grow old together. For some time now he was dreaming about it being Akane but that night ruined it all for the Lost Boy. He would never be able to feel faithful to his love now that he was tricked so cruelly. The worst part of that was that even if she tricked him we wanted to do the right thing and at least talk to her. He wanted to but she was gone.

Ryoga spent a lot of time trying to find the girl, even if the only thing he remembered about her was that really cute white dress she was wearing. That and the fact that he knew that with this cursed sense of direction of his would deem his effort almost impossible. But he needed to try nonetheless.

It didn’t work though. It actually was even worse than that, with each passing hour Ryoga was feeling more and more depressed and lonely. He never really mind being on his own so this feeling of loneliness that was slowly building inside of him was really puzzling to him. That and this strange feeling of longing after something that he couldn’t name. It was always there on the edge of his mind, constantly pulling him somewhere. It was definitely something new and it frightened Ryoga enough that he decided to leave Tokyo for some time to hopefully get rid of these strange feelings.

At least that was the plan but for some reason Ryoga found himself unable to leave. It was ridiculous from his point of view. There were times when he wanted to go to the convenience store and end up in a forest near Mount Fuji but now he was constantly ending up in some back alleys or children's playgrounds all around Tokyo. And each time he appeared somewhere else his sense of loneliness grew a little bit, his face was growing constantly with irritation and anger at his curse and everything around him that was stopping him from leaving.

But after that anger and frustration slowly turn dull and Ryoga finds himself just dragging his feet forward in a hopeless attempt to leave. Finally he stopped near some wall and leaned on it trying to get himself together. And then someone finally called his name.

It’s strange, he thought, walking between Ranma and Akane. Am I no longer able to be alone or something like that? Did staying with Tendo somehow made me soft? I really don’t get it…

Ryoga didn’t know what was happening but from the moment Ranma called out to him his oppressing sense of loneliness and depression started to alleviate as they spoke. They were walking towards the Tendo Dojo and while talking about all the things that Ryoga was up to prior to their encounter a week ago. The Lost Boy was feeling much more energetic and at peace in every passing minute and decided that all of that gloomy thought must haunt him because he missed Akane. He knew it was a stretch but how else to explain that he almost immediately got better after only a few minutes of conversation with her? Surely it wasn’t because he missed Ranma, he would actually live his whole life in peace without seeing his face again.

The Lost Boy looked at his rival with a feeling he didn’t quite know how to name yet. It was something between amusement, wonder and sadness. He remembered the time when the redhead was sealed by Cologne for a few months and it was brutal for Ranma, he certainly didn’t put up with it too well at that time but something was different this time around. Ryoga was always good at observation and he knew that every time that Ranma would turn into a girl he would move and do things in extremely animated fashion, walking with long strides and posture that he considers to be “manly” so he everyone would know that even in a female body his rival was still a man.

There was nothing of that sort in Ranma right now, she looked really natural and calm, when was walking she was doing small steps, her hips were swaying gently almost the same as Akane which in fact was making Ryoga feeling a little uncomfortable. Ranma, at least in appearance and moves, was like a normal girl, and she didn't notice it, or was ok with it.

Ranma said that she… he’s stuck as a girl for a very long time, he remembered while correcting himself. It was really strange seeing his rival not acting like himself in front of him, it was doing something with the boy's brain and it was unsettling. How long is he going to be this way?

“So… Ranma,” he finally spoke, trying not to sound like he was pleased from his rival’s misery, which to be fair he wasn’t. At least not right now. “What’s with getting up? I know that I asked before but I didn’t really pay attention to what you were saying…”

“What, this?” Ranma asked, looking at her… at himself and seemed quite pleased with himself. It almost looked like he wanted to twirl or something but her hands were full of groceries so she just kept walking with this stupid grin of his. “Do you like it? Come on P-chan I just told you. I’m going with the flow, trying to yell at everyone that I’m a man looking like that would be really tiring, you know?”

“Well… Ranma-CHAN I get that but…” he said looking at the short redhead and her really feminine knew hairdo and girl uniform that really transformed his rival into someone else entirely. “You really went all the way, huh? Did you get stuck forever or something? I bet a lot of people are thinking that you just decided to give up and let the curse win.”

He was just teasing Ranma, as a fellow guy with a curse he knew how scary that would be. The redhead has it easy anyway, he would just turn into a she while Ryoga would turn into this damn adorable but defenseless piglet that wasn’t even able to leave Akane’s room if she would close the door behind her.

Needless to say he wanted to tease Ranma a little bit, especially since he looked so cut… She looked really funny at the moment. But instead Ryoga saw Ranma’s smile dimmed away, his arms slumped down and his whole body seemed to close up. He even walked away from him a little bit, clearly sulking.

Ryoga was speechless for a moment, his mind was working in overdrive trying to think of the reason for such a reaction and when it finally did so, he glanced at his rival with shock. No, it’s impossible. Ranma Saotome, man among men just…

“Stupid Ryoga,” she said, avoiding eye contact with the Lost Boy.

“Ranma, wha…”

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” she cut him off, walking a little bit faster than before. Ryoga felt strangely guilty about making Ranma so upset and tried to think about some way to apologize but before he could say anything she added. “Don’t talk to me until we’re at the Dojo, Ryoga.”

Ryoga looked at Akane for help but she looked as surprised as him. It was so really strange seeing Ranma actually behaving like some girl on her period or something. He wished that his hands would be empty and he didn’t wear that dress of his, then they could fight like mens and clear the air between them just like before and it would be… maybe not good but better for sure. Now, looking at this feminine Ranm he couldn’t force himself to fight her. He actually felt like he was in the wrong and he should apologize even if he didn’t think that he did anything wrong. He just teased her… him a little bit.

They walked in silence for some time in a tense atmosphere, no one really knew what to say or do outside of a simple motion of walking forward. Ryoga has nothing else to do except for thinking at that point. His thoughts return to Ranma telling him that they have some clues about that woman who was the source of all his recent struggles.

I want to ask about it but I’m sure Ranma will just yell at me or something, he thought and continued walking quietly. Fortunately it wasn’t until they finally saw a familiar roof of Tendo Dojo. Suddenly the door to the house burst open and one really annoying person walked to greet them with broken japanese.

“Nihao, Ranma!” Said Shampoo looking really pleased. The Lost Boy was shocked once again by seeing her in person, especially since he and Ranma were always feeling similarly irritated at the Chinese amazon who for some reason casually walked from the Tendo Dojo. “You’re finally here, Shampoo's so happy!”

Ranma froze for a moment and glanced anxiously at Ryoga and Akane before he sent a crooked smile at the girl in front of them. Lost Boy was sure something was wrong, but he couldn't quite figure it out. There was definitely something going on with Ranma and Shampoo, he could almost see tension building up and crushing the redhead.

“Hi, Shampoo! Emm… what are you doing here?” The redhead asked carefully, Ryoga was almost certain that he wanted to communicate something to her but the amazon clearly didn’t get the message.

“Great-Grandmother sent Shampoo for Ranma,” said Shampoo looking quite pleased with herself for some reason. “We are here to see you. Ranma pregnant, great-grandmother said that baby needs a check up!”

Ranma dropped the bag with groceries on the sidewalk looking at Shampoo with, her rising panic in stark contrast with Shampoo oblivious happiness from seeing him. Everyone stood there in dead silence not really knowing what to do about the situation, Ryoga wasn’t different in that regard but inside of his head there was a chaos of different thoughts and emotions.

He looked at Ranma with pure shock and disbelief, what Shampoo said shouldn’t be impossible, right? Ranma was a man among men; he couldn't do something so… feminine like that, right? The idea of his rival with some men doing it was something his mind would dismiss without a second thought it was that absurd. Even if the Ranma he saw today didn't act as like a man at all, he was more a she than a he, to the point that Ryoga was constantly catching himself thinking about Ranma as a girl in his head.

As Ranma slowly turned to look at the Lost Boy, Ryoga slowly started to think that maybe just maybe what that irritating amazon just said was true. Ranma panicked, eyes locked with Ryoga who looked back, the doubt and shock clearly evident on his face. The redhead’s whole body shook uncontrollably while she grabbed his head in angry frustration.

“Shit, this wasn’t supposed to be… Shampoo! Why did you… why did you always have the worst timing with everything?!” Ranma roared at the amazon girl who looked at him confused and walked back a few steps from him.

“Huh? But… but Shampoo thought that the Lost Boy already knew!” Shampoo said, trying to explain herself to the still fuming redhead. “Ranma didn’t tell him yet? Shampoo thought that he’s the…”

“No, I didn’t tell him yet! I wanted to do this at home!” Ranma yelled again but this time she looked more scared than angry. Ryoga’s mind, although still trying to process the idea of his rival being pregnant, caught that moment. Some additional gears started to move inside his head and the idea that they planted turned his blood cold. His hands started to shake a little but he tightened his grip.

“Ranma… is that true?” Ryoga asked, much quieter than he wanted. “Are you really…”

“Pregnant?” Ranma finished his question with her fists clenched just like the Lost Boy, her head - that Ryoga was sure turned really red - dropped down, focused on her shoes. “Uhh, damn it, yes, Ryoga. The reason that I’m stuck like this is because I’m… I’m pregnant ok? Big deal…”

It is a big deal! Ryoga wanted to shout but the slowly rising panic prevented him from doing so. He swallowed loudly and dreading his next question he shuddered, he needed to know, even if he really wanted to just turn around and walk away, he needed to know.

“So… who’s the father?”

Ranma looked like she shrunk a little bit because of his question. For a few moments the redhead didn’t say a thing but then she sighs long and deeply and slowly but surely she turned and looked up at him, her face was bright red, deeply flustered and apologetic at the same time.

“I-I’m… not sure yet.. but…” she stuttered, breaking eye contact with him looking in the opposite direction. “But if I am… then it’s you.”

Akane makes a sigh of exasperation, looking at the Lost Boy who has a look of shell shock on his face, she knew that something like that would happen, from the first second that Ranma said that she would handle this herself.

Really, why is she so reluctant to do everything by herself, she thought looking at the still extremely embarrassed redhead. She just started finally using her mouth instead of her punches but she didn’t even know what she’s doing… uhh, it’s so frustrating to watch…

They would probably just be standing there without moving for some time, but Akane was having none of it. Today's day was already so draining for her mentally and physically, she couldn’t deal with more of the redhead drama world without at least something in her stomach. She picks up groceries that Ranma dropped earlier and clears her throat near the redhead to get her attention.

“W-what?” she said finally back into reality. Ranma saw the look on Akane's face and apparently got the message because she scratched the back of her neck and giggled nervously at her. “Ah, yeah, right right…”

She then turned to Ryoga who still had the same look on his face and was mumbling something to himself while looking at his hands, it was actually kind of funny to Akane in addition to being really sad. This guy will probably need a lot of time to adjust to this whole situation.

“C-Come on, Ryoga we have to go inside,” said Ranma trying to get his attention but clearly failing. She even waved into his face but he still was just mumbling something. “Come on, man. We can talk more about this at home, alright?”

“I don’t think he can hear you,” Akane said, looking amused at the redhead, who clearly started to worry about her rival state of mind. “You looked exactly the same when Cologne told you that you're pregnant.”

Ranma looked at her like she just insulted her entire family or something.

“No way, I did not look like that.”

“Yes you did. You looked identical,” said Akane, actually enjoying the look at her ex-fiance face. She really enjoyed the fact that she finally was able to tease Ranma without making her angry and it felt really great.

“No way…” said the redhead but didn’t argue any further.

“Well… Shampoo will go. Tell Grandmother Ranma’s home” said Shampoo finally realizing that she shouldn’t be here at the moment. She looked apologetically at Ranma and quickly left the scene leaving them to deal with the Lost Boy.

“I still don’t understand why you even told her in the first place…”

“I had too, Cologne insisted that she knew… but I know what you mean. I actually thought that she would be furious like Ukyo. I just don’t know what’s going on in her head, it’s frustratin’.”

Akane sighs again, what Ranma was saying was true. She was with the redhead when she broke the news to the amazon and also expected her to start smashing things with those ridiculous weapons. She indeed was shocked and angry for a moment but after chasing Ranma for half an hour or so she cooled dawn and talked to him instead. She was actually really attentive and strangely calm which was kind of suspicious.

After that, Shampoo was visiting them daily, delivering some strange soup from Cologne that was supposed to “help the baby” or something. It was actually really thoughtful but because of that they needed to deal with Shampoo every day and it was driving Akane a little crazy. She didn’t have any proof but she was suspecting that Shampoo had some plan in mind but wasn’t able to prove it yet.

“Come on, the sooner we go inside the better,” said Akane, shaking her head. “I really want to just lay on my bed right now…”

“Right, let's get it over with,” Ranma agreed and shook Ryoga a little bit to get his attention. “Come on, Ryoga, we need to go. Listen I know it’s a lot but you can’t just stand here like this, you look like an idiot.”

Ryoga once again didn’t respond, but Akane realized that he stopped mumbling to himself some time ago, he was just standing there with a blank expression like he wasn’t even there. Ranma clearly was fed up with the boy at this point, she clenched her fist and looked frustrated at the Lost Boy.

“Snap out of it, you moron!” she yelled and sucker punched him into the concrete.

“Ranma, you don’t make fun of me, right? T-that g-girl a week ago… it was y-you?” asked Ryoga, still in a bit of a shock but finally moving along after her. “If it’s some kind of a joke…”

“Shut up, P-chan!” she said, rolling her eyes standing at the door to the Tendo Household. There was pain and betrayal in the Lost Boy’s eyes but Ranma decided to ignore it at the moment. She will deal with it later… somehow. “I’m not joking about that! It’s just that I… I don’t know for sure that it’s yours…”

Ranma wanted to just hit a wall with her head at this point. Her plan goes out the window the moment Shampoo starts saying shit in the open and Ryoga’s reaction wasn’t helping at all. She was glad that the old-fashioned way of beating sense into him with her fists was still effective in some way but she really would prefer that he would just listen to her and didn’t start asking questions before they even have a time to just talk normally.

“What do you mean, you’re not sure?!” asked Ryoga, looking suspicious and disgusted at the same time. “You’re saying that you're doing it with other guys too? Did you really-”

“I don’t know!” she yelled, shutting him up with a glare. Ryoga took a step back but his face didn’t change at all and it irritates Ranma even more. “I’ll tell you everything after I deal with that Old Ghule, ok? You just shut up and-” she stopped, thinking about the old amazon. “I think that maybe there is a way...”

“What way?” the boy asked, still looking suspicious at Ranma. “What are you scheming again, Ranma?”

“Just stop talking and you’ll see,” she said with a sigh. She was really tired after dealing with Ukyo but now she was sure that she would be even more exhausted after this. If only everything would just go as she wanted. “I’ll explain everything later, I promise, ok?”

Ranma opened the door and finally the three of them walked into the house.

“Tadaima!” yelled Ranma and Akane

“Okaeri!” said Kasumi with a muffled voice, probably coming from the kitchen.

As they walked into the dining room the redhead saw that everyone was already waiting for them. Nabiki sat close to Soun while Kasumi just put a bunch of steaming cups of tea on the table and stood out to greet them with her usual smile.

“Thank you for doing the groceries,” she said, taking all the bags from Akane with ease and turning on her heel into the kitchen. “Come one, sit down while I start making dinner.”

“Once again, I’m terribly sorry that we came here unannounced,” said Cologne, who was sitting across the table from Mister Tendo and Nabiki, Shampoo were there too, still looking a little guilty at the redhead.

“It’s nothing, Elder Cologne,” said Kasumi with a wave of her hand. “Just do what you're gonna do, I don’t mind.”

When Kasumi disappeared into the kitchen all the attention once again was on Ranma, at least that’s what she felt but maybe some of it was on Ryoga too? She didn’t know, her eyes were reverted to the Old Ghule who was smiling to her warmly.

“Hello Ranma, Akane and you Ryoga-boy nice to see you too,” the old amazon said waving her cane around the table. “Come on, sit. I'm sure that my granddaughter already told you why I’m here.”

“Yeah, she did,” said Ranma, shooting the other amazon nasty look before she sat down. Akane joins her father on the other side of the table while Ryoga without any other option sad near the redhead, his anxious eyes scanning other people around him, probably to make sure that it was all for real and not some scam created to taunt him or something. Ranma really wanted but couldn’t blame him this time, Ranma did scam him a few times in his girl form and was really smug about it afterwards. The only problem was that this time it was all for real.

“I sense that there are some answers that you seek, Ranma,” said Cologne, looking at him and Ryoga with a hint of amusement in her eye. “I’ll try to give them to you but first let us see how’s your baby doing, ok? Give me your hand, this time I’ll show you how it’s done.”

Ranma was actually just asking her about something but she was quicker. The redhead closed her mouth and just nodded, coming closer to the Old Hag and waiting for the instruction of what to do.

“Now, give me your hand and close your eyes. Concentrate on the chi in you, I’ll guide you from there.” Cologne didn’t wait for her reaction, she just hopped on the table and took her hand gently while the redhead was trying to follow her instructions.

She was still not great at handling her chi, for sure not even close to the Old Ghule but she could manage that, no problem. There was no visible sign of anything happening, but Ranma could feel a sensation of gentle warmth coming from her fingers and going deeper. She could sense that this chi was different from her own, it felt ancient and powerful but comforting at the same time. It felt really strange.

“Now focus and follow my chi, Ranma.”

And Ranma did just that, she was completely concentrating on the sensation of the chi going through her body, there was nothing else but her, Cologne and the feeling of chi flowing between them. The old amazon was going slowly probably so Ranma wouldn’t lose her concentration and was able to slowly but steadily follow her. They went through her arm to the chest and finally the redhead was able to sense something strange in her own abdomen.

It was still small but for sure it was something small and familiar. A cluster of chi energy that was similar to her own but not entirely.

Ranma was mesmerised by the discovery of this small ball of chi, she already knew what it was and when she focused on it a little more, she felt another sensation of warmth, but different from Cologne. Ranma knew that if she would be able to, she would just stay like that forever. She never felt anything like this.

“Just as I thought, it already started to gather your chi,” said Cologne, her grip on Ranma’s hand tightened a little bit. “Congratulation’s Ranma. You’re carrying a girl child. It is a little early to tell, but I’m sure she’s healthy.”

A girl, she thought with wonder, her child finally felt real and tangible, no more just a concept that she didn’t know existed. She was there and she could feel her. Ranma felt like she was about to cry but was trying really hard to compose herself. She needed to confirm something before.

“Is there a way to… to know who the father is?” she asked carefully, she really didn’t want to but she opened her eyes and looked at Cologne. The Old Amazon smiled at her knowingly and nodded.

“Of course, children’s chi is a combination of the chi from its mother and father. You’re still green so you didn’t sense it but your daughter still didn’t combine it fully. Thanks to that I was able to sense it easily.”

Ranma followed Cologne's gaze and saw Ryoga who was anxiously looking at them like they were about to tell him the ultimate secret of the universe.

“Congratulations, Ryoga-boy.” She said with an amused smile, seeing all the color disappear from the boy's face.

Chapter Text

Ryoga thought that after living with not only his bad sense of direction and the curse from Jusenkyo he had already seen hell and nothing could make him feel as helpless as in the times he turned into a little pig. And yet now he felt even more helpless and panicked, like castaway on the high seas not really knowing where to go or what to do before drowning.

He was sitting in the Tendo Dojo, he knew that there were people all around him, but right now all he saw was the redhead girl sitting beside him. She wasn’t even looking at him right now, too occupied by touching her belly with a look of awe and wonder that made Ryoga feeling even more complicated.

The Lost Boy wanted to be furious, for the past week he was racking his brain trying to remember the girl that used him for her own enjoyment and left him, his pride of honor as a martial artist and a man in shambles. All this to finally realize that it was his biggest rival, Saotome Ranma. The same Ranma who now apparently was locked as a girl and pregnant with his child.

Ryoga felt like his complexion paled at the Old Amazon amused remark that he would be a father. He sometimes thought about having a real family, a place where it could put down roots instead of wandering endlessly. The problem was that for some time now when he would wonder about that future he always hoped that he would have that family with Akane even if deep down he knew that it would be impossible, especially with all the P-chan dilemma he put himself into.

Right now however when he thought about the future, instead of the life with Akane Tendo all he could see was the grinning redheaded girl holding a small child in her arms. As a martial artist he would be honor bound to take responsibility for his actions. He would need to take responsibility for Ranma…

He almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. His life now looked like a really unfunny joke, and he couldn't even be angry with the person who was responsible for all this. Not when she had such an expression on her face.

“Oh my, that’s a lot to take in. Are you ok, Ryoga-kun?” Asked Kasumi, bringing the Lost Boy back into reality. He blinked a few times trying to get back his bearings.

“I… I don’t know,” he said truthfully, not really knowing what to say or feel at the moment. He looked at Ranma, who also seems to also be back into the present. She looked at Ryoga, her face was guilty and apologetic but even so, Ryoga was really reluctant to say anything to her right now. She said that she will “explain everything” to him later. It required a lot of effort but he didn’t ask for the explanation here and now. He was trying to be patient. Ryoga knew that - knowing what he knew now - he wouldn’t be able to really harm Ranma anymore, but it didn’t mean that he wanted to have the answers he wanted. He has every right to know the truth.

“So… what now?” Akane asked, her face neutral, but Ryoga could swear that there was pain behind her eyes. Ryoga felt guilty, he tried to convince himself that it wasn’t really his fault but it wasn’t really working. He wanted to win Akane from Ranma so badly and now neither he or Ranma would have her.

“We need to think about a name for her,” said Ranma clearly still caught up with the fact that she could now feel their daughter’s chi. Ryoga felt a little pang of jealousy at the thought.

“Not about your child, Ranma. About you two!” Said Akane looking a little annoyed at the redhead who still didn’t seem to understand what she meant.

Don’t tell me that Ranma is that clueless? He thought looking at his rival… or rather now former rival’s face. Or maybe she’s still not thinking about herself as a girl in that aspect? But surely she’s aware that…

“What’s about me and Ryoga?” Ranma asked cautiously, looking around the room. “I mean, I know that we’re having a child together and it's technically not great but we’ll deal with that somehow, we always do.”

“I think that Akane ment that you’re a single woman now,” said Nabiki and right after that she shot an elbow into the Tendo Patriarch’s side and looked at him with a frown.

“Uff, uh, right,” said Mister Tendo, clearly in pain from the blow. “Since the Patriarch of the Saotome Clan is not present, Ranma I’ll say that to you. As a mother and a martial artist your honor will be tarnished beyond repair since your child will be born out of wedlock.”

“The only way to prevent that from happening,” he continued, glancing quickly at Nabiki for some reason. “Would be…”

“I will not get rid of my daughter.” Ranma stated, her whole body tense up like she wanted to defend herself from anyone around her. Ryoga felt a strange sensation looking at the redhead and almost moved closer to her if not for the fact that Mister Tendo quickly shook his head at her.

“No one is saying that,” he said, looking a little offended that the redhead even suggested that he could think of that kind of solution. “No, the only way for your honor to be salvaged is for the two of you to marry each other before the child is born.”

Ranma’s whole body froze for a moment, her eyes wide as a dinner plate locked into the face of the Tendo Patriarch.

“WHAT?!” she shouted with disbelief while looking at everyone in the room including Ryoga. Her panicked eyes meet his resigned ones. The Lost Boy already knew what he was required to do even if the thought of it made him shudder. Clearly Ranma didn’t think the same way and it irked him a little bit. He was - he hoped he was - ready to go through with this horrible idea of marriage but it looked like the redhead didn’t even think of that before. “I will not marry Ryoga, no way!”

No one else said anything, everybody already knew that as a martial artist Ranma and Ryoga needed to do this no matter if they wanted to or not. Ranma stood up, clearly shaking by the realization that everyone already knew what should have happened. Everyone but her.

“Are you ok with this?!” she shouted looking desperately at Ryoga. The idea of Ranma looking at Ryoga, a man who she used and toyed with for some sick entertainment and asking him for help to avoid the consequences made the Lost Boy really mad and strangely hurt and dejected for some reason.

“You tell me,” he said looking at her angrily, trying not to shout back at her. “You used me, Ranma. You toyed with my emotions, left me there to wander alone without explanation and now that you’re in trouble you want my help? You’re really pathetic Ranma… and I thought that maybe there was at least something of a man left inside of you…”

The redhead glared back at him, her eyes practically mirroring his previous emotions of hurt and dejection which once again made him feel really guilty. He couldn’t understand why he felt that way towards her. He was the one that was screwed over here but why was he the one that felt guilty? Something was seriously fucked up about this but Ryoga didn’t know what and it was really driving him crazy.

“Screw you, then, P-chan!” she shouted at him. Ranma turns off her heels and starts running really fast towards the stairs. “I’m not getting married to him, period!”

Everyone was staring at the redhead in silence, broken only by the quiet sound of a sliding door. Ranma probably wanted to get the message across with a loud bang but it wasn’t really effective without the normal door.

After that there was silence, no one really knew what to say or do for a few moments. Then the Old Amazon grabbed her staff and hopped onto it before starting to bounce on it.

“I think that we were here long enough,” she said, not mentioning the scene they all witnessed a second ago. “Come on, Shampoo, we’re leaving.”

“Wha… oh… as you say Great- Grandmother,” said Shampoo who looked like she wanted to protest but was quickly subdued by the stern look of the older amazon.

Walking after her grandmother, Shampoo looked at Ryoga with a strangely thoughtful expression that made him feel very uncomfortable. He knew that even if irritating most of the times she could be really hard to deal with and he felt strange anxiety when he looked at her right now. It just felt wrong that she was aware of her supposed fiance having a baby with a man and didn't freak out about it. It wasn’t like her at all and it bothers him.

“I’m going to talk to her,” said Nabiki, surprising practically everyone in the room. She didn’t care though, only sent her father one more strange look and started walking after the redhead. Ryoga was sure now, there was something going on between Mister Tendo and his daughter but what that was he didn’t and probably couldn’t hope to know.

“Maybe let me do it, Nabiki,” said Akane trying to stand up but was quickly stopped by her older sister.

“No need, Akane. I got this,” said Nabiki, putting her hand on Akane’s shoulder. “I know how to talk with her, it will be fine.”

“In the meantime you can talk to our dear Ryoga, over there,” she said pointing to the Lost Boy, who looked surprised at the middle tendo sister. “I’m sure that he also needs to figure out what to do from now on, don’t you think?”

Ranma was pacing around the guest room or “her room” as Mister Tendo called it the other day. There was so many emotions going through her at the moment that he couldn’t stay still, she felt thrilled and ecstatic that she was finally able to “feel” her daughter in side her and at the same time she felt immense panic and wrongness of the idea of marrying Ryoga, something that honesty never really crossed her mind. It was so obvious but for some reason she never seriously considered it. She couldn’t believe that she could be this dense… I’m a girl right now, of course Ryoga would need to take responsibility for all of this…

She groaned thinking about the fact that the situation she was in now was really bad and she didn’t really have any solid plan on what to do to prevent this from happening. Nothing besides just doing what she usually does so being stubborn and saying no or running away, although in her current state the former wasn’t really an option.

Ranma gritted her teeth feeling a little depressed. Turning into a 100% girl wasn’t really ideal for her and in some instances it was a real pain in the ass but the one thing that she welcomed with open arms was the opportunity to end all of this nightmarish fiance stuff once and for all and finally be free to do what she wants… or at least choose someone by herself once in her life.

She sighs and shakes her head thinking about how her life just refused to be normal or at least peaceful. It felt like from the moment she entered Nerima she was hit with some kind of strange curse that was preventing her from ever being single again. This or it was kami will but if that was true then kami was really a jerk.

But this time it has to be a man, just great… How am I even trying to hide the fact that I’m attracted to guys, now? Even if I don’t say anything, everyone will assume that and will mess up with me even more in school!

Ranma wanted to look at herself in her new vanity - the only new thing in her room that Kasumi insisted she really should have - but then suddenly there were a few knocks and her door partially slid to the side.

“Hello, Saotome, may I come in?” Said Nabiki not bothering to wait for an answer and casually walked into her bedroom. Ranma wonders if her message “don’t disturb me, I’m mad at you all” wasn’t clear enough and wanted to say something to the middle Tendo but she knew Nabiki and decided she shouldn’t even bother. It was the enemy who she couldn’t win against, at least not here.

“I can’t really stop you can I?” Ranma asked sitting on her vanity and crossed her arms under her breasts to at least visually show that she was displeased with all of this.

Why is she here, anyway? She thought looking at the girl walking towards the small chair and the table. She’s practically never going to meet me, it’s always the other way around with her. Well, after I got pregnant practically all of my dynamic with Tendo’s change somehow… Maybe that changed too?

“No. So, dare to tell me what’s not ok with your baby daddy?” Nabiki asked, looking at her with her usual smile that looked nice but you just know that she was mocking you. “It can’t be that he’s not attractive, right? You’re all over each other whenever you see each other.”

Yeah, screw that. I was right at the start, she’s just here to make fun of me, she thought while her cheeks were burning from the words of the middle Tendo while she was smiling, obviously aware that she hit the spot.

“It’s not that he’s not attractive…” Ranma started in a panic but shut up quickly realizing that she almost outed herself. “A-anyway it’s not that. It’s Ryoga! RYOGA, Nabiki!” She was trying to justify herself and distance the conversation away from her terrible blunder. “Sure he and I go way back but most of the time we see each other he’s tryin’ to fight me or blame me for somethin’! I know that he’s my daughter's father but…”

“But?” Nabiki looked smug at Ranma, clearly enjoying him squirming before her.

Ranma sighs quietly and scratches the back of her head. She never knew how to deal with Nabiki, she could be really helpful and loyal or screwed, mean and damn greedy whenever she wanted. But even so, the redhead knew that she was the smartest person she knew. Sure she probably would want to charge her some astronomical amount or some embarrassing favor later but maybe she could be the only one that would help her…

“Well… you’re smart.” Ranma started slowly and carefully. “Can you think of any way that would let me deal with all of that and NOT go on with that whole marriage idea? I already - hopefully - deal with all of my previous engagement, I really would like to be single for some time at least…”

The brunette girl didn’t say anything. She was just holding her chin with her eyes closed. Finally Nabiki opened her eyes and looked around her room with a frown. “We really need to get you at least a little more furniture here… oh well.” She looked directly at Ranma, looking serious, her previous smug smile and all other antics disappearing, she was now in her business mode.”Listen, Ranma. If I wanted to I would probably find a way for you to wriggle your way out of that marriage, just like you wanted… but I don’t want to.”

Ranma looked at Nabiki’s serious face and didn’t know if the middle Tendo was joking or really advising her to just go with this whole crazy idea. Part of the redhead started to feel angry but not at Nabiki but at herself. She was feeling so comfortable and safe at Tendo Dojo that she actually believed that everyone in there would have her best interest at heart and not toy with her life for shit and giggles. Apparently she was wrong.

“You don’t want to?” Ranma echoed Nabiki’s words without much emotion even if her eyes clearly conveyed that she was actually really angry and confused. “Why?”

Nabiki looked at the redhead and pinched the bridge of her nose, looking a little bit tired like every time she was trying to think of a way to get Ranma to understand what she was saying and the redhead was alway a little bit bitter about that fact. Sure, she wasn’t the smartest person in the house but she wasn’t really that dumb. It was Nabiki who always was thinking too much and in such a strange screwed way - probably because she was so paranoid or something - that it was really hard to follow her stream of thought.

“Alright, Ranma, I’ll tell you but you better sit down and really try to listen to me.” she finally said, really surprising the redhead. It wasn’t often to see Nabiki actually revealing something instead of just expecting you to do that.

Ranma makes herself a little more comfortable in her seat and glances at the brunette with a nod. She was ready.

“So, remember when you told me that our fathers came up with some kind of agreement regarding you staying here, even if you can no longer marry any of us?” She started, her face forming a grimace. “I finally know what that's all about. And no, I don’t tell how I get that information, don’t even ask.”

Ranma actually started to feel a little worried. She actually was pondering about that thing herself, why would her pops who seemingly abandoned her care about her wellbeing enough to get her place to stay, pursue education and all of that other stuff she could now do? He never does anything to anyone that doesn't benefit him in some way.

Did they plan something behind her back all along?

“So, they didn’t let me stay here for charity? Figures,”she said with a nod, while her whole body tense a little. For a moment she forgot about Ryoga and this whole marriage, her danger sense started tingling, looking at Nabiki's gloomy expression. “So, what did they want from me?”

The middle Tendo shook her head.

“They didn’t really want anything that much from you,” said Nabiki. “Nothing except actually getting your education and giving birth. The whole deal was about somebody else.”

Ranma frowned, she thought that they actually wanted once again to do something like sell her to someone rich, like Kuno or some other strange guy so his father would be able to get his precious retirement and be lazy around for the rest of his life. Well, probably he still would do it, no matter what that “somebody else” would be. The redhead was still waiting for Nabiki to continue but the other girl just facepalm herself slightly and pointed her finger on Ranma’s belly.

“No way…” Ranma said, quietly, all color vanished from her face, when she finally connected the dots - or rather being punched in the face - and she immediately started panicking. “Over my dead body!”

How could she not think that her pop would do something to her little girl. He was shameless enough to just rob Ukyo when she was just a little kid, why would he stop at that?

“Before you’ll jump to even more conclusions - yes I know that you did, you’re very easy to read, Ranma - let me finish.” Said Nabiki looking really hard at Ranma, the very essence of the Ice Queen of Furinkan at full display. “First of all, you don’t need to worry about our father. Ever since I got to know what they were planning I talked with him.”

“You just talked with him?” asked Ranma, fuming at the thought that Nabiki was aware that her daughter was in danger and all she did was just talk. If Ranma knew about it she would…

“Yeah, I TALKED with him,” Nabiki confirmed with a nod, her attitude not changing even when she looked at Ranma. “So you don’t need to worry, he won’t do anything. He knows that if he does something that we wouldn’t want to do, he's finished. I'm the one that really keeps us afloat. Kasumi is the one that keeps us all together and Akane is his precious successor. He knows that if he does something against you or your daughter we’ll leave him and he’ll have nothing left.”

As she talked, Nabiki’s face was slightly changing, a sly and a cruel grin rose onto her face making Ranma actually shiver and calming her down a little bit. She knew that the middle Tendo was ruthless but she didn’t think that she would do something like that to her own father. Much less that she would do that for the redhead.

But it still wasn’t enough to calm Ranma.

“And what about pops?” she asked, her anger dimmed a little bit, turning into worry. She knew that her father was resourceful and sly like no other. She was able to outmaneuver him from time to time but she was at the peak of her game then. Now she was pregnant and wouldn’t know what she would do if her father suddenly attacked her out of nowhere.

“That’s tricky,” Nabiki said, looking a little bit more troubled now. “We don’t know where he is. If we believe my dad, Genma was actually the one that came out with this whole plan. He wanted to take your daughter from you, train her and marry her for a child of Akane, mine or Kasumi in the future. And probably if that won't work out he would find someone but that's just me guessing.”

“He’ll be dead before he will be able to even see her,” said Ranma, her whole body tense from worry and once again burning fury. He would train her? Good one, he would torture her just like he did with me, she thought, her blood turn ice cold thinking about all the “training” she needed to endure. She’ll never allow something like that to happen even if it would cost her her own life, she wouldn’t allow that.

“He knows that, that’s why he vanished,” Nabiki sighed, stood up and began walking in circles around the room thoughtfully. “He left to find some way of making you listen to him. I guess maybe he wants to find some rare herb, artifact or technique that would brainwash you or something to that effect. Everyone knows that you would rather die than give him your kid.”

“You damn right, I do,” said Ranma thinking fast. Of course it would be like that, there for sure were a lot of things that could do something like that and some. She remembered the time when Shampoo basically brainwashed Akane to forget who the redhead was and what a headache it was to undo it all. Ranma shuddered thinking that something like that could happen to her if her father would sneak up on her and use it.

At least it isn’t easy to get one of those shampoos, she thought with a sigh of relief. If Nabiki’s telling the truth then Mister Tendo won’t do anything funny to me at least for now. Still it looks like staying with Tendo isn’t the best idea… not in the long run anyway…

“So… what do you suggest that I do?” Ranma finally asked, begrudgingly and silently agreeing to at least listen to Nabiki’s plan on how to deal with that sudden crisis.

“I advise you that first of all, stop denying that you’re at least a little bit attracted to Hibiki” Said Nabiki, a little amused smile creeped up on her previously serious face. “You don’t do a really good job, honestly - and go with this marriage.”

Ranma immediately wanted to object but in the end she could only look the other way, feeling her face warm up a little bit. She knew she couldn’t honestly object to that statement, especially with her new acquired awareness of her own preferences, as embarrassing as they were.

She was a little hesitant but as they were going to Tendo Dojo she would occasionally glance at Ryoga while he was busy talking with Akane. Yup, just like she thought there was this strange feeling deep inside her when she studied Ryoga’s features, his strong build, the way he moved, even that idiotic way that his face changed when he was flustered by something. She couldn’t say that he wasn’t attractive, but she for sure wouldn’t say out loud that she actually felt that attraction. She would die from shame if she did that.

“There are much more positives than negatives when it comes to this marriage,” Nabiki continued smiling while watching Ranma wriggling in place, still refusing to look at the middle Tendo. “If you’ll get married then there will be two legal guardians for your kid and - since our fathers are so frustratingly stuck in the past - as a married woman Genma will have no real power to decide things for you.”

Ranma grimace realizing that this whole traditional way of thinking about women really was affecting her as well. The fact that she would be seen as subservient to Ryoga of all people - especially since she was much better fighter than him - felt so degrading but for sure would make it harder for her pop to boss her around in the future.

There was also the fact that Ryoga has a real decent house that her father didn’t know of. If she would marry Ryoga they would just move there, that would be a little better than staying with her, especially since she will be paranoid of pop showing up from somewhere from now on.

The redhead looked at Nabiki’s who was standing there, waiting for her decision. Ranma swallowed loudly, not really knowing what to do.

They were all kind of holding their breaths until they heard a quiet click of the closing doors. Ryoga didn’t know what Nabiki would do or talk with Ranma but he didn’t really care about it. The redhead already messed up in his head enough as it is and he couldn’t really decide what to do at this point. He almost wished that he would be lost again. Almost.

Kasumi moved to the table to take away the cup and disappear into the kitchen, leaving only the Lost Boy, the Tendo Patriarch and Akane in the dining room tense and rather uncomfortable.

“Well then, Ryoga-kun,” said Soun, clearing his throat. “I know that this situation is quite sudden and you're probably a bit confused right now, which is understandable, but I have to ask you: What are you going to do now?”.

The Lost boy looked at the older man and pondered his question. Didn’t he do enough? He just stated that he was willing to take responsibility for Ranma and their child but if he really thought it through? What does “taking responsibility” actually mean in their situation? Ryoga spent so much time chasing the redhead that he didn’t really think about his future after he even the score with his rival. He didn’t have that much hope for the future and if he didn’t suddenly discover that he will have a child he would probably wander around the world some more. It was the only thing he actually knew right now, his knowledge didn’t go much further than martial arts and some surviving skills.

He didn’t think that’s what Mister Tendo had in mind but he didn’t really have a better answer for him and even if that was the case it was still much more than he would like to offer. Ranma was his rival and a cause of his greatest misfortune and yet Ryoga decided to be a bigger person.

Ryoga glanced at the stairs of the Tendo Dojo with a bad taste in his mouth, he wanted to be better but it seems like he was the only one that was doing so.

“I don’t really know what other thing I would do, Mister Tendo,” he said, still feeling displeased by the redhead. “I think the one that should answer your question should be Ranma but it looks like it will be difficult now.”

“Ranma is clearly upset and it’s understandable,” said the older man, frowning slightly. “But she is now with Nabiki and we are here now. You know that as a man you know that you need to take care of your child and a mother and I’m sure that Ranma, as angry as she is now, will understand that soon.”

Ryoga didn’t understand why everyone was so cautious and understanding towards Ranma. If she was really the one that slept with him a few days ago then she for sure knew what she was doing, right? No matter if this was some sort of sick prank, scam or something else she was the one that forced herself on him… sort of. He was the victim here and the redhead was a villain but for some reason everyone was persistent in him taking care of Ranma after she fucked up and end up pregnant.

“I don’t get it,” he said feeling fed up with all this situation. “Ranma did some sick prank on me, get him… herself in this whole situation and no one is even remotely angry at her for it? Even you Akane?! She is… was? your fiancée! Don’t you care that she cheated on you?!”

Akane flinched at Ryoga’s angry outburst but instead of shouting back she just hung her head with a sad, miserable expression on her face which made the Lost Boy take a step back. He didn’t want to see the youngest Tendo look sad, she meant very much to him. He immediately wanted to blame Ranma for all of that but he wasn’t fast enough.

“It wasn’t Ranma’s fault,” said Akane, looking guilty at her own hands. “It was all my fault.”

That… doesn’t sound like Akane, he thought, thinking back to all the instances that she would yell at Ranma for saying or doing something idiotic like he always does. She would get angry or concerned but never sad, at least not to this extent. He didn’t remember the single time that Akane would look this remorseful and apologetic as she was now. The alarm bells in his head started ringing, there was something really wrong in all of this.

“What do you mean, it’s your fault, Akane?” he asked, glancing between the youngest Tendo and her father cautiously. “You weren’t there with me and Ranma. It doesn't make sense.”

The black haired girl sighs and smiles sadly, her eyes unfocused, probably reliving some painful memory.

“It was exactly a week ago,” she started. “I wanted to try to finally make something edible in the kitchen, when Ranma started to spar with her father…”

Ryoga was a little stunned listening to Akane’s explanation. It was really strange, listening about his rival, a man among men who always was so adamant to act tough and masculine turn into a girly girl. At first he was even a little amused thinking about it but as the story goes on he really started to feel sorry for Ranma. It wasn’t even that he felt bad that the redhead was acting like a weak girl but that as it turns out - it wasn’t Ranma at all, at least not really.

The idea that there was this strange different cursed being inside of Ranma, with its own agenda actually made Ryoga a little terrified. He thought about his own curse, did he also start behaving like a real pig one day in the future? His body is moving but he wouldn’t be the one in control, not even aware of the things he would do.

His anger towards Ranma faded rather quickly, replaced by deep sadness. His greatest rival was gone, he wouldn’t be able to do anything to the mother of his daughter, even if she was a guy. It doesn’t matter that they had a rather rocky history together, he just couldn’t do it, especially since it turns out that all of this wasn't Ranma's fault either, they both were victims of someone else's devilish scheme.

Akane stopped talking and after that the heavy silence fell upon them once again. Mister Tendo has a complicated expression on his face, one of worry and troubled by something that he couldn’t control. On the other hand his youngest daughter looked empty, like she was too emotionally spent to care about anything.

“I see,” Ryoga said quietly, trying to break the uncomfortable silence even if he didn’t really know what to say. “I have no idea that something like that could have happened…”

Then he suddenly felt a click and a sliding sound from the stairs. Not long after the two walked into the room, Nabiki looked quite pleased with herself while Ranma was clearly embarrassed and irritated at the same time. The Lost Boy didn’t really want to say anything to her, so she won’t get even more upset, he felt that he needed to be more understanding to her, especially now since he was a little more aware of what happened to her and what she needed to go through.

Ranma stood before him, her whole body tense, her hands were strangely fidgeting on her sides and her whole body was practically screaming that she didn’t want to be there. She looked at him for a second and almost immediately she pouted while looking away.

“Listen Ryoga, I won’t marry you… not yet.”

The Lost Boy was just sitting there. Not even an hour ago he felt so angry and disgusted towards her. Now looking at the dangerously cute redhead feeling strange, a feeling that he didn’t really understand was his head, preventing him from doing anything else but just watching her.

“Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t marry Akane either,” Ranma continues, still looking at the koi pond in the distance. “And even if you’re a guy… I will give this whole thing a chance… for m-... for our daughter, alright? So… for now… I guess you can be my fiance…”

Chapter Text

Ranma reached blearily for her alarm clock and actually managed to turn it off at the first try even if she knocked it aside in the process. She wakes up with a grudge, the events of the previous day weighing heavy on her shoulders, enough to make sleep almost impossible and her dreams restless and confusing. In fact, she didn't want to wake up at all, but gathering all her willpower, she forced herself to stay awake. She refuses to go out of bed though.

Since the first day she and Genma arrived at Tendo Dojo, each morning before dawn Ranma would spar with her father, it became some sort of routine for the redhead and when he suddenly disappeared it completely disrupted her - even if it was quite irritating - morning schedule. Until now she was filling the morning hours with pointless thinking or longer stays in the furo but still she felt like it was a waste of time and she could do something more.

She smiled to herself, glad that she finally found the perfect thing to do. Ranma turned a lay on her back, her hands resting on her belly. She remembered the sensation that Cologne made her follow yesterday and she sent her senses into her own body, searching for the familiar sensation. She rarely thought about mastering any ki manipulation techniques but now, when she saw and felt it she was beginning to see the possibilities that it could bring her in coming months and even even long after that. She promised herself to ask Cologne for training or do it by herself later.

There you are, she thought lovingly when she finally felt her greatest prize. She felt a small bundle of ki inside of her, the sign that her little girl was there, warm and lively. Ranma could really just stay like this and watch this fascinating phenomenon endlessly, it was like nothing she had ever felt before and she was beginning to worry that it would become rather addictive for her. However, she stifled the thought, she was a mother here and had the right to remain in awe of something so magical.

I really hope that I’ll be able to see you really soon, she thought, focusing on her daughter's presence, like she would actually understand her. It’s actually quite funny. Not so long ago I was so scared of this I even hoped for a second that this whole pregnancy would just continue without end so I wouldn’t need to get birth… And now I just can’t wait to see you… Being a mother is really crazy…

Ranma decided to stay like that for some more time, discovering the way to at least sense her child made all the difference for her. She was thinking about the daughter she would one day hold in her arms and couldn’t help being curious. What will she look like? She was hoping that she would look like her, at least. She knew that she was really cute so if her little girl would look like her then it would be quite the site. She giggles imagining herself holding her own little clone on her hip, two redheads blinking together in sync.

That would be really funny, she thought, feeling genuinely happy. It was some time since she actually FELT happy. She didn’t really remember the last time she was happy to be honest, it was always this constant motion of training and fighting and trying and until recently dealing with the fiancee mess that her father created. Now she was finally beginning to feel at ease with her life and happy for the future. It was really nice of a change.

The redhead finally decided to go wash herself in a furo. Since it still was quite early she was able to stay there for some time without any distraction. She scrubbed herself really thoroughly and soaked in the bath for some time, enjoying her first weekend as a girl.

It was the first week, trying really hard to embrace her new life and she already made quite a few discoveries about herself. She would never know that she would be able to enjoy something and even be able to be good at something more than the martial arts. Probably she wouldn’t even think about the possibility looking back at her father's insistence that she would have only a single goal in mind - becoming the best martial artist there is. It felt so silly right now, stupid even. How did he think that she would be able to survive in the world with arts alone? She shudders thinking what she would do without really any real education and real life skills that she just recently realized was essential for her and her family's future.

“Ranma-chan, are you in there?” asked Kasumi on the other side of the door.

“Sure am, Kasumi-neechan,” said the redhead, finally back in the present. She shifted in the tub and slowly began to emerge from the lukewarm water. “Give me a sec and I’ll help with breakfast.”

“Could you check on Ryoga-kun, first?” Kasumi asked, this time sliding the door a little bit open so they could understand each other without raising their voices. “I will be more at ease if you bring him back to the dining room. I’m still not sure if he won’t get lost or not, his sense of direction is still really confusing to me. I don’t know if he is able to walk around the house or if he’ll get lost if he decides to leave the dojo by himself? But I don’t think that he should be guided everywhere in the house. It would be really inconvenient…”

“D-don’t worry, Kasumi-neechan, I got this,” she said a little bit startled that the oldest Tendo just peeked at her. She still couldn’t believe how wrong she was about Kasumi all that time. And how their relationship changed after just a week.

Ever since that first night after her curse was locked the older brunette became like a real sister to Ranma, maybe even a role model in some aspects. As someone who knew the redhead as long as the rest of the Tendo family she knew her good enough to see what troubled her but since they didn’t have as much history as with Akane or even Nabiki it felt a little easier to talk to her about some stuff that Ranma didn’t felt like discuss with the other sisters.

They for sure became really close to one another but Ranma didn’t know how she felt about Kasumi practically “adopting her” as her another sister - at least she thought Kasumi saw it that way - and sometimes disregarding her privacy and personal space because of it. At least she wasn’t as pushy as Akane with her habit of dragging the redhead along at every opportunity.

Ranma sighed and started to dress up for the day, she usually would go to the dojo to practise a few katas she decided would be ok for her to still do so her skill wouldn’t deteriorate too much but today she decided to skip it. She was ok with Akane joining her for her morning exercises but for some reason Ryoga looking at her when she would work out wasn't right.

She put on a rather plain baby blue t-shirt and a mid-length dark blue skirt she got from Kasumi. She would have preferred to wear pants or shorts because she didn't have school today, but Kasumi wanted her to wear more skirts at home to “get used to it”. The redhead frowned, realizing that basically all of her closet right now consisted of hand-me-downs which was a little bit irritating. She really couldn’t wait for today’s meeting with Hikar, maybe she would be able to help her buy some new clothes? When they do she certainly will buy herself more pants for sure.

When she started braiding her hair she looked at herself in the mirror and was quite amazed. So many things have changed in the past few days, she even started to enjoy the feeling of a skit on her bare legs. It was a little strange at first but now it felt rather freeing even if she would rather not fight in it. Not that she was planning to fight anyone for the foreseeable future but her mind seems to always compare everything to martial arts, even now. It was impossible to change a habit that was ingrained in her over the last twelve years or so.

When she finally felt that she looked presentable she nodded at the redhead in the mirror and headed to the dojo. Her feet practically acted on their own, she always would go there just after waking up. This time was different though, since she didn’t go there to train but so she could fetch her brand new fiance… a boy.

Ranma was still so anxious about the fact that she was so close to finally being free from this whole engagement hell but fate once again decided to screw her over. The only upside to this was that for the first time she was able to decide if she wanted it or not. Looking back it was only an illusion of a choice but for the redhead it was enough. It was much more than she ever had.

She thought of Ryoga, her sometimes rival, sometimes friend and now fiance have such a rocky relationship with the redhead that it felt surreal that if Kasumi didn’t ask her to bring him to the main building, Ranma would think that all of that was just her own imagination. I mean, who just jumps from “Prepare to die!” to “I’ll take responsibility!” just like that? It isn’t some kind of strange manga…

And yet it was all true. She was now engaged to a boy, who was also the father of their child… she would never guess that it would be a way her life would go. Not even in a million years. At least he is kind of handsome, she thought, trying to hide the fact that her face had gone a little pink. This whole attraction to guys, as embarrassing as it would be to her a few days ago, was really welcome in time like this. She felt anxious thinking what would happen if she would need to marry a guy while being attracted to other girls. It would be a nightmare.

Ranma took a deep breath and walked towards the solid wooden door. She quietly slid it open and entered the dojo, the same one that in a span of only a few short months filled her with so much nostalgia. There were so many things that happened here, her first “spar” with Akane, countless training sessions, challenges, things that would later blow out of proportion like most of the things in Ranma’s life. A lot of them happened or were planned to happen here, but well… not anymore. She rarely spends more than an hour a day here and the place started to feel a little abandoned now, not as well maintained as before with only an occasional sigh of usage after Akane would make some more training dummies for her own practice.

It didn’t seem to concern Ryoga, who was sitting in the center of the dojo, completely focused on the bandana in his hand. Ranma looked in silence as all the familiar material suddenly hardened in Hibiki’s hand. A second later Ryoga threw the bandana which started to spin like a boomerang and heading straight into the ceiling. The redhead eyes went wide looking at the bandana that suddenly went into a completely different direction. She glanced at the boy sitting right in front of her and saw that his hand became very animated with the dangerous piece of clothing in the air mimicking its every move.

Looking at him, Ranma realized that it’s the first time she was able to see Ryoga’s training in his own art. All the time when they saw each other he was back from training or planning to train some more, usually so he could surpass her and “make her life hell” or fight with her for Akane. She looked half fascinated and half sad at the boy in front of her that had his life basically put on his head, she really could relate.

It must be some really advanced form of ki manipulation, she thought, feeling really impressed by her fiance's performance. She started to walk towards him, the bandana still present in the corner of her eye. I must ask him to teach me that technique.

“Nice trick,” she said, trying to sound cheerful. Lost Boy's whole body tensed up, but after a quick glance at her, he calmed down and began to get up. “It’s really impressive, I didn’t know that you could do something like that with your bandanas.”

“Ranma… Well, that’s not that impressive, really,” he said, brushing off her comment. “I was kind of working on this in my spare time. I wanted to surprise you with this in our next fight but it seems that it won’t happen so… Well, I’m sure that it will come in handy one day, anyway. You’re not the only worthy opponent out there in the world.” Ryoga retrieved his bandana and the moment the material touched his hand it became a regular piece of clothing again. “It’s good that you’re here, Ranma. I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“What do you want to talk about?” She asked, still standing in the same spot as before. She actually also wanted to use this opportunity to talk to him without anyone else listening. What happened between them require some more explanation and as much as she like and trusted *most* of the Tendo family she didn’t feel comfortable talking about some things in their presence.

She waited for Ryoga to say something all the while he also was standing there, his form tense and awkward, she immediately noticed the looks he was giving her and the clothes she was wearing. He must feel quite strange seeing her like that, she suspected that from the side there wasn’t really that much masculinity to see in her. Well, she decided to commit to this whole “being a girl” thing. She was already quite used to the strange looks, she - somehow - didn’t let it break her spirit in school and it won’t do that now. Ryoga will just need to get used to it and that’s that.

“I just… I wanted to apologise… for blaming you for this whole situation,” he started, scratching the side of his chin, looking really awkward. It probably wasn’t easy to say something like that to his own greatest rival. “I… I blamed you for a lot of things since middle school, you know? It’s kinda become a habit of mine a little bit. It was actually really easy to pin the blame on you since somehow you’re in the middle of the most strange things that were happening around here… well… I shouldn’t do that and for that I’m sorry. I didn’t really think about you and the stuff you were going through.”

Ranma felt really strange. That was probably the first time when none of them have some ulterior motive and they were just talking with each other without fighting. Ryoga was even apologising to her! It was really different than she ever thought it was possible, she always imagined that they would be able to somehow reconcile when one finally completely defeated the other but it looks like she was wrong. She smiled with gratitude at the Lost Boy.

“Thanks Ryoga, It’s… mean a lot.” She replied trying to find the right words to say. Just don’t screw this up! She thought to herself. “I don’t blame you, really. How could you know, when even I didn’t know? You saw me, well my body doing things to you, that was real and you have every right to blame me for it. I think I would probably do the same.” She grimaced thinking about the things they do together when she was unconscious. As embarrassing as it was, she really was curious what they were doing and… and how that would feel. She averted her eyes for a second, she didn’t want Ryoga to see her expression or the fact that she was definitely blushing slightly.

“You didn’t really give me many reasons to think you’re innocent,” Ryoga said, shaking his head. “You were always so obnoxious and arrogant, never in the wrong…” Ranma winced a little bit, not ready to say it but actually agreeing with him, she really was like that. She was raised that way… it could actually be called the way of thinking of the Everything Goes, thinking that you’re superior in everything and taking everything you want. “But I… I wasn’t much better, right? I mean… I followed you all the way to China because of some stupid bread! It’s actually ridiculous now when I think about it.”

They actually smile at each other at that moment. Ranma felt something shifting inside of her, looking at Ryoga, something changed between them but she didn’t yet know what it was. She was only sure that it wasn’t a bad thing, bad things didn’t make you warm inside.

“Well, I’m really sorry about the bread,” she said with a grin and patted her belly. “I would share this bun with you, but you’ll have to wait a few more months.”

She was really proud of her own joke - she was finally able to joke about it - but it looks like Ryoga didn’t share her thoughts about this matter. He went pale a little bit looking at her abdomen.. She actually felt a little taken aback when she realized that she actually didn’t know how the guy would react to the news that he would soon be a father. She lived it through as a woman and so she has a woman's perspective. She started to lose her grip of the last remaining pieces of masculinity she still has.

“Sorry about that, I’ve been in a lot of stress lately and thought I’ll make a joke to lighten my mood somehow,” She said, trying to laugh it off. It was clear that maybe it wasn’t as much of a deal as it was before for the redhead but Ryoga didn’t know at all until yesterday and clearly was still in some sort of denial or something like that. She wasn’t really sure but she came here to make it all easier for him, she owed it to him.

Ryoga’s eyes linger a little bit more on her belly but eventually he shook his head and once again looked at the redhead, his eyes were strangely guilty and ashamed. He looked like he was lost, what would be hilarious in a different circumstances but right now it didn’t look good at all. Ranma was actually starting to feel concern.

“It’s just… sorry Ranma. It's just a lot to take in.” He finally said, slowly and deliberately like he was trying to not make her feel hurt, which was strange since he was the only fragile one there at the moment. “That’s not easy… seeing that suddenly your greatest rival becomes the mother of your kid and all of your plans and ambitions just sort of go out the window.” He continued looking even more depressed, he tensed up but Ranma knew that he wasn’t angry or anything. He really was just lost in all of this. “I lived so much time as a wanderer that I don’t even know if I can settle down right now.”

You don’t need to tell me that, she thought seeing just how similar they were at that moment. She also didn’t ask for this, her life literally turned upside down and she was now forced to completely change all of her plans and aspirations just like him. But I think I shouldn’t tell him that. I don't want to argue with him about it.... I really don't want another fiancé to be angry with me. I really have enough angry finances for a lifetime.

“No kidding, I know how you feelin’ Ryoga.” She said, deciding to play it as safe as possible. “Well, at least you don’t need to carry her for months and all. You can just stand there and enjoy the show I guess.” She makes a mischievous smile and points a finger at him. “But don’t even think about wandering anywhere, you have responsibilities now!”

Ryoga smiled slightly at the show the smaller redhead was playing before him. Ranma once again lamented a little bit that she was and forever will be much shorter than most people around her. How would anyone take her seriously when she was looking like a petite, cute girl? Even Ryoga didn’t seem that much impressed, she was almost certain that he was looking at her differently than before. She immediately felt like she made a fool of herself with this one.

“Can’t really promise anything, you know that I don’t really control that stuff.” He said, looking a little less tense than before. “But I gotta say that I’m impressed. I thought that Ranma, the man among men, would really freak out, suddenly becoming a girl permanently. I’m not even talking about p-pr-egnancy… All of this talk about not being a girl and now…” He looked at her face and stopped. “Sorry, it’s a sensible topic right? I guess I wouldn’t want to hear something like that if I was stuck as a pig so…”

Ranma felt a pang of anger, listening to the Lost Boy, he really could stop joking about that, it was really low hanging fruit. Yes she was a girl now, yes she freaked out at first, really badly even. It wasn’t really the reason to make fun of her right? Stupid P-chan, she thought but then sighs soon after. She was the same, she also would say stupid jokes when she was anxious about something and regret it afterwards. Maybe I should try to control myself more… I don’t want to behave like Akane…

“Don’t worry about it, I’m fine now…” Ranma said, trying to somehow make it sound genuine. They want it or not they will need to somehow make it work together and so the redhead wanted to be… mostly honest with Ryoga. She finally figured out the fact that most of her problems come from her damn habit of not talking too much about how she was feeling and what she actually meant. She needed to work on that… really badly. “Well, It wasn’t easy to get that right. But you know… I guess I… I always have been good at adaptin’ to all sorts of situation. Being stuck as a girl sucked at first but I got used to it now… mostly. And being… being a mother helps, actually. I never really got a mom of my own so I swear to be the best one to m-... to our girl and so to do that I gotta be a girl right? So I need ta learn and all… I don’t have time to mourn my manhood when I’ve got so much more on my plate right now.

Ranma stopped talking. It actually felt good to talk to Ryoga about all this, she felt a little bit lighter, knowing that he now knew what she was thinking about all this and what she wanted to do. Her fiance was looking at her and was clearly conflicted about something. She still wasn’t able to figure him out, is he conflicted about her or the fact that they would really have a kid together? Or maybe it was about something else entirely?

Ranma was still waiting for her fiance to speak up when suddenly she got an idea. She smiled, imagining the face that Ryoga would make after that was really funny.

“Actually… Do you wanna “see” her?” He asked quickly looking down then looking back at the guy. Ryoga looked at her, his confusion on full display. Ranma pondered if maybe she could have some more fun with teasing the Lost Boy but then his face went all red and he started looking at her strangely. What the hell is that guy thought I meant? Seriously I just wanted to… nevermind…

Ranma stopped smiling and looked deadpanned at Ryoga who was still looking at her like she proposed to do some Kami defying act of… something. She felt strangely embarrassed about it.

“I don’t think what you think right now, that's ain’t it! She said walking towards him, starting to get annoyed at the rollercoaster of emotions she was experiencing in his presence. “Uhh, just give me your hand. Alright, now listen carefully.”

Ryoga was still really anxious of her, to the point of almost bouncing away from her when she suddenly grabbed his arm but after a quick explanation he stopped resisting, even if his hands were still trembling slightly.. Ranma tries to explain and navigate her fiance the same way that Cologne does with her, but it turns out to be unnecessary. She was reluctant to admit it but Ryoga was much better than her when it comes to ki manipulation. He quickly and steadily followed the path the redhead was leading him on and just as quickly found their little girl bundle of ki energy… and stopped moving.

Ranma was almost sure that he not only stopped moving but also breathing, he was like a statue, to focus on the little thing he was sensing to care about anything else. Ranma could really relate, she also would just stay like that, admiring her little baby forever. She would but she knew that she had work to do.

She didn’t move though, she knew that Ryoga deserved this moment. He needed to see that it was all real, that she was real. They were in this together now and she for once wanted to deal with it as a team. She really considered doing it alone at first but after her talk with Nabiki she realized that it was pointless and kinda stupid this time. She needed someone to help her care for and raise her daughter. She needed Ryoga’s help.

But she also needed to help Kasumi with breakfast and with chores.

“Alright, Ryoga, you can let me go.” She said but he didn’t reply. Instead he actually started to hold her even stronger, like he was afraid that she would disappear. Ranma started to feel uneasy, she really wanted to break free. “Ryoga, listen to me…”

She looked at him but he was just standing next to her, his eyes closed, completely focused once more. This awful anxious feeling that she had for a few seconds disappeared in an instant, replaced by fierce annoyance. She couldn’t believe that she was stuck like this, practically chained to this musclehead idiot that seems to suffer from a short circuit in the brain. I get it, she’s really special and all and I know that you would probably like to stand like that the whole day, cause I would do that too, but we really need to go! Why does this guy always need to be this difficult…

“That’s it.” She finally said, feeling really angry at the helpless idiot that still didn’t seem to even breathe. She focuses a lot of ki in her free hand and looks furiously at her fiance. “Let go of me, Ryoga no baka!”

The sound of the cracking wooden floor was clearly heard in quite a distance.

Ryoga was still a little shell-shocked about everything that had happened, he massaged his head, after Ranma basically pounded him into the floor it still ached a little bit. He knew that he was at fault this time so he wasn’t angry, on the contrary he was actually a little ashamed of himself. He often would do something careless without realizing but he should know that it would be very rude to grab a woman like that.

And Ranma is a woman now… Somehow it didn’t fully register in my head that it was real but now… Shit that will be really awkward, isn’t it?

It was still surreal to him, in a few months he will have a daughter… well they will have a daughter. He never really thought about having a family, actually he still didn’t want to believe that all of that was real but he couldn’t do that anymore. He could feel his own ki inside of Ranma’s body and instinctively he knew that all of that was true. No matter how it happened it was real. They are going to be parents and he knew that he would be there for them. That was his duty as a martial artist and as a man, the fact that the mother of his child until recently also was a man…he didn’t want to think about it for now.

Ryoga was sitting at the table to minimize the possibility of him wandering off somewhere he shouldn’t have, he was already accustomed to occasional meal at the Tendous since he would stay with them from time to time - not even counting the time he would stuck here as P-chan - but he didn’t failed to noticed the changes that happened here when he wasn’t around. The first thing that was most noticeable to him was the fact that there was not a trace of Saotome Genma and the shogi board that was almost constantly occupied by two masters of the Everything Goes was also missing.

The Tendo Patriarch who was mostly in the background of the house activities was sitting across from the Lost Boy, reading some local newspaper and occasionally stealing glances at his second oldest daughter, Nabiki who was leaning against the wall, holding a steaming mug of coffee as if it was the only thing keeping her alive. She also was looking at her father from time to time, they probably were communicating somehow but Ryoga didn’t really know how or what they were thinking about. He actually didn’t even want to know, somehow the thought of dealing with Nabiki always makes him uncomfortable so he decided not to pry.

He actually wished that Akane would finish taking a bath after her morning run and was already there, he would be at least able to distract himself if he would have someone to talk to about something. Instead he had nothing else to do but observe the most bizarre and - at least until recently - unthinkable sight in his life. Ranma was bustling around in the kitchen with Kasumi, she still wore this extremely feminine looking t-shirt, skirt and a soft pink frilly apron. She basically looked like a model housewife right now and Ryoga didn’t know how to feel about that.

Ryoga always thought that Ranma was good at disguising himself as a woman, he was fooled by him a lot of times in the past so he knew just how good he was. He also knew how self-conscious he was about being perceived as one before, he was always very vocal about still being a manly man even if his petite, curvy figure and sweet voice would say otherwise. That was Ranma he knew, but the one that was currently putting rice into a bowl in the kitchen wasn’t that. She seems to actually really like cooking - a stereotypical women's thing - and feel so natural doing it that Ryoga started to wonder just how much his old rival could change in such a short time. It was actually really unsettling that someone could change so much that fast.

Or maybe she doesn’t change at all? He thought seeing the redhead asking Kasumi about something, her light smile clearly indicated that she was really enjoying what she was doing. Ranma was spending so much time as a girl… maybe it awakens something in her? Maybe it was really embarrassing for her and she was only such a jerk all the time so no one would notice that in truth she was enjoying herself? Well… she’s really cute that way, so I guess it'll turn out ok in the end…

Ryoga suddenly felt flustered realizing that he regarded Ranma as cute, even if he knew that it was true he couldn’t really help feeling really confused about all of this. For so many years he knew Ranma as a brutish, arrogant boy who always would make fun of him and humiliate him on numerous occasions. It was the image that was burned into Ryoga’s subconscious and he was so sure that it would never change, no matter what he would do or say… and now just like that his entire perception of Ranma was switched just by the short conversation and quiet observation of the redhead’s cooking. It’s like the Ranma he knew never actually was real and the true Ranma was hidden away from everyone’s view until just a few days ago. And that girl turned out to suddenly become his fiancee.

But I guess it’s a good thing… I mean since I have to m-marry her eventually it’s good that I find her attractive… right? Shit I knew that it would be awkward and embarrassing… Or… wait, am I really ok with this? I know I still like Akane, but am I… cheating on Ranma if I'm still into her? It’s all so confusing but… but I can’t be with Akane anymore, right? My honor as a martial artist won’t allow me to be with anyone else but Ranma right now… fuck I’m really screwed… Shit, what to do…

The Lost boy was suffering quietly still observing his fiance who at this point started serving food. He watched as she walked swaying her hips with every step and was amazed how different she felt from the musclehead jerk he remembered.

“Akane! Breakfast is ready!” Kasumi called. There wasn’t any response but after a brief moment the black haired girl descended from the stairs looking quite refreshed in casual shorts and yellow t-shirt. Looking at her, Ryoga always felt like gravitating towards the youngest Tendo but stopped himself. He knew that he shouldn’t do that anymore, even if that was much more difficult than he hoped it would.

Pretty soon all of them were sitting around the table in their usual spots with only one exception - Ranma sitting next to Ryoga. The Lost Boy still felt a little uncomfortable realizing that he was now sitting next to the redhead who was now his fiancee and decided to distract himself by looking at the food on the table.

It was a simple traditional meal, miso soup, some fish, rice and pickled vegetables, nothing fancy but it all looked really good and tasty. Certainly beat all the dry or canned food he was forced to eat while wandering around China and Japan. Ryoga was about to dig into his meal when he suddenly stopped. It was all Ranma’s cooking. Ryoga wasn’t observing it from start to finish but he was sure that Ranma was involved in making everything on the table. The Lost Boy wasn’t so sure about eating something that was made by someone who only a week ago was still a boy that detest any form of labor that wasn’t martial arts.

Granted that Akane was a girl that should know how to cook but - no matter how much he liked her - he couldn’t eat anything she would make, it was more like poison than real food. It could be even worse, if Ryoga needed to marry Ranma in the future he would be condemned to her cooking or forced to learn how to cook himself. Ryoga swallowed loudly and braced himself before he tasted the food. Please, be edible, he thought before he closed his eyes and took a bite.

Surprisingly it was actually quite good.

It wasn’t anything like pure Kasumi cooking - probably nothing would be able to beat that - but it was pleasant and really tasty. Ryoga was actually quite surprised by the redhead’s cooking and finally was able to relax a little. He was glad he was worried for nothing but also a little guilty that he was doubting her ability. His former rival looked so thrilled working on this meal and all he was doing was hoping it wouldn't turn out to be as terrible as Akane meals.

“I didn’t know that you can cook this good, Ranma,” he said, praising his fiance, trying to sound reassuring.

“Thanks, I was actually quite nervous about this,” she said, smiling back slightly, while picking vegetables on her plate. “I didn’t have many opportunities to learn how to cook on the road. I’m glad it turns out ok.”

“You don’t need to worry, it’s really good,” he assured her, taking another mouthful of his rice and starting chewing.

“L-let me know if there’s s-something you like, I’ll try to do it next time,” Ranma said sheepishly and avert her gaze from him. Ryoga almost choked on his food at that moment. What’s with that tsundere behavior! He thought about trying to compose himself. He didn’t know what happened to Ranma throughout this whole week and it started messing with his head more and more by the minute.

“A-anything will be fine,” he said, trying to hide how flustered he felt at that moment. “Anything other than pork, that is.”

“I figure that much,” she said with a nod. It must be the end of the conversation for her because just after that nod she started to devour her own food. Ryoga was initially taken aback by the ferocious way Ranma was eating. From yesterday it felt like this girl next to him was so different from the person he thought he knew, to the point that he started to wonder if there was something left from the original redhead to begin with. Now the evidence was just in front of him and it made him feel enormous relief. He smirked and returned to his own meal with much more peace of mind, Ranma was still Ranma after all.

“Ranma, remember that you have an appointment at the Sakuradai maternity clinic at 11 am today,” Nabiki said, catching the attention of everyone at the table.

“Wait, that’s today?” asked the redhead, immediately getting anxious. Ryoga didn’t blame her, no matter how girly she looks or acts now she was a man not too long ago. Going to a “Maternity Clinic” for sure is tough for her.

“Yup, I told you about that two days ago,” said Nabiki, shaking her head with resignation. “I guess that I should know that you’ll forget about this. Listen, you need to go there so we have documentation proving that you’re a girl so the school won’t bother you about it anymore, alright?”

“Speaking of,” said Mister Tendo, surprising everyone at the table. The Tendo Patriarch wasn’t talking much recently, probably because of that thing that was going on between him and Nabiki. “Ryoga-kun, as I understand you’re still sure of your decision about Ranma and your future together, am I not mistaken?”

The Lost Boy was surprised for a second time that Tendo Patriarch addressed him directly and really embarrassed because of the way he talked about this sudden engagement thing with Ranma. He quickly glanced to the side to make sure that the redhead in question didn't have anything to say, but she also looked deeply embarrassed about this whole thing, she didn't even look at anyone else at the table.

“Um, yes, Mister Tendo, I’ll do that. As a martial artist I can’t do anything else than that,” he somehow put together a more or less coherent sentence. There was no way that he said “Yeah, I’ll marry Ranma” out loud, especially so close to Akane.

A quick look of disappointment and reluctant acceptance flashed on Soun’s face but he quickly hid in by the mask of gentle, approving smile that was actually quite similar to Kasumi’s trademark smile.

“Very well, Ryoga-kun, if that’s the case then I’ll definitely support you,” he said, crossing arms on his chest. “As a so-daughter of my friend and a former fiance of Akane I care deeply for Ranma's wellbeing and so I’m very pleased that you’re serious about your responsibilities. But as a wandering martial artist you don’t really have any real or stable way of supporting your family, that’s the first problem that you’ll need to overcome.”

Ryoga drooped his head in shame, Mister Soun was right, his pursuit of Ranma clouded his judgment and made him ignorant of the future ahead. He didn’t have any real prospects, his martial arts were a patchwork of what he picked up on the road but you could hardly name it as something his own, he didn’t even have that much education, since he rushed after Ranma before he could go to High School. His future was actually looking really bleak now when he thought about it.

“That’s why I want to enroll you to Furinkan High,” Soun continued. Ryoga looked at the other men with disbelief not really knowing what to say. Fortunately it looked like he didn’t need to. “I still have some influence there and I want you to at least finish your basic education. I’ll try to get into the same class as Ranma and Akane, since it will be safer for you there with someone who you can trust. Especially since with your… peculiar sense of direction you’ll probably need help to go in and out of school.”

It was a little bit humiliating to be reminded that he wasn’t able to be anywhere on time without external help, Ryoga felt a little bit like he was handicapped at that moment and couldn’t really say anything to Tendo Patriarch even if he was really grateful for this opportunity.

“So, I’ll need to drag you in and out of school, again, Ryoga?” Said Ranma, sounding quite amused. Ryoga felt an all too familiar urge to snap at the redhead and he turned to the side to do so but then he realized that to his surprise she wasn’t being sarcastic. Ranma was looking at him with a smile on her face. He was so used to Ranma’s sarcastic jokes and condescending attitude that seeing her being so casual and kind of pretty was really hard to accept for the Lost Boy.

“I guess that’s not a big deal for me, but I can’t do it alone,” Ranma was still going, her eyes lost focus and she started to rub her chin thoughtfully. “We’ll need to get someone else to help you when I won’t be around. You can’t go with me to Home Ec. or PE… maybe I’ll ask Daisuke or Hiroshi…”

“You’ll figure it out later, Ranma,” Nabiki cut her off, the middle Tendo sighing and started to stand up with a little difficulty. “Now you better get ready for your appointment, unfortunately I won't be able to go with you, I have some of my own things to do.”

Ranma immediately stopped talking and her face looked anxious once again. Ryoga didn’t want to see her looking like that, he started to like seeing more cheerful redheads, especially when he realized that he couldn’t remember the single time he encountered Ranma in the last few months when he actually looked happy.

“I’ll go with you, Ranma. Don’t worry too much,” he said, trying to sound reassuring.

“Of course you’ll go with her, you’re baby’s daddy after all,” Nabiki said with an amused smile, causing him and Ranma to avoid eye contact with anyone and blush for a second, which must have been what she was going for, because she looked down on them, really pleased with herself. “But it’s not enough, you don’t even know why she must go there.”

“I can’t go either,” Akane announced before also standing up from the table. “I promised to go out with Yuka and Sayuri, it’s really important so I can’t let them down.”

It was strange, Ryoga thought, looking at Akane, who clearly didn’t want to look at him or Ranma. Her face was normal, there wasn’t anything that would indicate that something was wrong but she didn’t act like Akane he knew and loved. Ranma must also realize this since she was looking at the black haired girl with a sad expression, like she was defeated somehow. Something must have gone wrong between them too, he thought but decided that he would ask her about this later, preferably when they would be alone or at least without Akane.

“I’ll go with you, then,” said Kasumi, smiling gently at the redhead. “I know the receptionist there, we were friends when I was still attending Furinkan High that I wanted to visit for some time.”

“Are you sure, Kasumi-neechan? I don’t want to trouble you too much,” said Ranma but even someone blind would see that she was really hoping that the oldest Tendo would go, which was just another thing that was so different. Ranma always would prefer to do things solo if she could help, she would team up with him or Akane from time to time but he always prefers to do things alone. Ryoga wondered if the redhead suddenly started to prefer doing things as a team or maybe it was because the place they needed to go was a little too much for the former boy.

“Not at all, Ranma-chan, I’ll be glad to help you,” said Kasumi before she started gathering plates from the table. “Let’s clean this all up and we can go, it’s actually quite the distance from here, so the sooner we’ll go the better.”

“Great, then I’ll help you clean up,” said Nabiki, starting to gather the rest of the used cutlery and empty cups. “In the meantime I’ll tell you what needs to be done at the clinic. Ranma will be too stressed out so I need you to do a few things while she’ll be talking to a doctor.”

“You’re not helping, Nabiki,” Ranma reflected, displeased by the girl's comment. Ryoga didn’t say anything but after observing the redhead reaction on the single mention of the clinic he was quite sure that it was correct.

“Don’t be such a crybaby, Ranma,” Nabiki said, slowly retreating after Kasumi into the kitchen. “If what I’m saying isn’t true then I don’t need to treat you like some delicate porcelain. You can handle it just fine, right?”

The redhead murmured something in response and went in the direction of the dojo. Akane leaves the dining room soon after, leaving only Ryoga and Mister Tendo. The older man stood up and looked sadly at the direction of the shogi board that was just an empty space now.

Actually… where is Ranma’s father? Ryoga was wondering. I didn’t see him yesterday and… actually isn't Mister Tendo said something about that? I was so caught up in this marriage thing that I didn’t pay enough attention…

“Mister Tendo,” Ryoga began, even if, after seeing the expression on the older man's face, he wasn't sure if he should ask this. “Where’s Ranma’s father?”

Soun Tendo sighs deeply, his face contorted by a lot of different emotions playing one after the other on his face. After a few moments he seemed to collect himself and once again looked calm and collected, a sad smile appeared on his face when he once again looked at the place that he used to sit with another master of Anything Goes.

“He’s doing something really stupid,” he said, his voice was tired and full of resignation. “I don’t know when he’ll be back but I guess that it won’t be too long. But you shouldn’t worry yourself with that, Ryoga-kun. I'm sure you already have enough things on your plate.”

Ryoga nodded and stayed in place looking at Mister Tendo who also stood up and disappeared into the back of the dojo. When he was finally alone a strange sense of foreboding washed over him. He didn’t know exactly what happened with Saotome Genma - Akane and Ranma only told him that he didn’t take this whole situation very well - but it wasn’t the biggest problem. The whole Tendo Dojo felt strange to him now, like everything kind of shifted and in not the good way, the whole dynamic was a mess.

Kasumi seems now like an older sister to Ranma and the redhead also seems to have enormous respect for the older sister, which was actually surprising. Looking back, Kasumi never really stood out, like a background character in Tendo Dojo. It was strange seeing Ranma practically glue to her right now.

Well, maybe not that strange, he corrected himself after a little bit of thought. Ranma said that she wanted to be a good mother - as weird as it sounds - so maybe she decided to make Kasumi as her role model or something? Getting someone to teach you housework would be really beneficial for sure…

He could even understand if Ranma would like to keep herself busy and distracted so she wouldn’t need to deal with the rest of the family. He still didn’t know all the details but it was clear that the day when the other Ranma did all those things to them it left some really deep scars that were still haunting Akane and the redhead didn’t know how or if she even could do something about it. Mister Tendo looks hurt for some reason, and even if on the first glance they all seem more or less fine, the atmosphere around these two felt suffocating to The Lost Boy. The only person that seemed to not change at all was Nabiki, of all people.

Ryoga didn’t know if staying in Tendo Dojo when it was in a state like this was a good thing.. for him and for Ranma. He swore to take care of her - Even if it still seemed strange and really embarrassing to him - and something was telling him that if he really wanted to do that the first thing he should do was take them somewhere more peaceful, when the air wasn’t this heavy. Granted he still didn’t know how Ranma reacted to his proposal since she always was stupidly stubborn and she for sure was really attached to the living here… but Ryoga was convinced that if he would be able to convince her somehow, even if that would be only temporary, until whatever is going one with the Tendous resolve itself. He only needed to figure out how to do that.

Maybe there is a way to do this, he thought, not really liking the plan that had just appeared in his head. Well, only if I survive the scolding soon after… I guess it’s worth a shot. I would need to do that one day anyway…

With a face of someone who was just sentenced to his own execution, Ryoga began to walk slowly out of the dining room. He had to make a phone call.

“Don’t worry, Ranma-chan, it will be over before you know it,” said Kasumi with her usual gentle voice that surprisingly always was able to calm her down… at least a little bit.

Ranma didn’t want to argue with the eldest Tendo daughter but she didn’t really believe her. It wasn’t even the fact that she would need to talk to the doctor about some medical stuff, she frequently was doing that with Dr. Tofu. The problem was that it was her first time when she would need to talk about purely female medical stuff, that she never really wanted to discuss with anybody, not even mentioning any kind of examinations. She didn’t even know what to expect there, did they ask her to take off her clothes? Or want to look at her private area or some other embarrassing stuff? She felt really icky about the whole thing.

“I guess so, I just hope they won’t ask me to do anythin’ too embarrassing,” said Ranma with her eyes locked into her own shoes. “I know that we need to go there to check on the baby and so to get those papers for me but I really would rather not go there at all.”

“I don’t think they would ask you to do anything embarrassing, Ranma. You’re a girl now, right? I don’t think they would do something like that in a clinic specifically for women.” Ryoga said that probably trying to sound reassuring but The redhead's mind, so accustomed to constant insults being hurled at her, has difficulty grasping the idea that the Lost Boy really cares about her well-being. Ranma wanted to say something but decided not to engage with him for now, she didn’t want to create misunderstanding like during today’s breakfast.

Seriously, why did I even react like that?! This guy’s making me act all stupid for some reason. She thought back to him complementing her cooking and fell all to a familiar feeling of warmth on her cheeks. It was all his fault somehow.

I was just really happy that someone else beside Kasumi-neechan and Akane said that my cooking tastes good. It definitely wasn’t the fact that she felt strangely warm and fuzzy when he was trying to be nice to her for the first time in her life. Definitely.

“Well, Ranma-chan, you’ll need to get used to it,” said Kasumi, bringing the redhead back to reality. “Girls need to go here from time to time and so will you. It’s not that bad. you’ll see.”

The idea that she would need to start going to a gynecologist as well as for regular health check-ups wasn’t really thrilling for Ranma. She still didn’t know what it would look like but it didn't matter, she still didn’t feel comfortable with that and she seriously doubted that would change after today.

“I don’t think I like this idea, Kasumi-neechan,” she said looking anxiously at the brunette next to her. “I don’t really want to talk about this stuff with anybody.”

I hope that Ryoga won’t be able to go to the doctor with me, I would rather die than allow him to be there, she thought, the image of the Lost Boy just standing there was enough to make her skin crawl. She’ll definitely won’t allow him to go in there.

“Well, I’m sorry but you’ll need to visit this place regularly from now on. We need to monitor how your baby girl is doing and this is the only way we can do it.” Kasumi informed her, destroying Ranma’s hopes that it was only the one time thing.

“Can’t Cologne do it?” She asked, still trying to find some loophole into this whole “get used to this” thing. The Old Ghule was able to not only tell that she’s pregnant but also say that her child is a girl and all that took was just holding hands. She would really prefer that than frankly anything they could do to her in the doctor’s office.

“As I understand it, she can only read her ki, right? So she wouldn’t know if she’s developing correctly, if there are some other complications and all the different things that modern medicine allows us to check before it is too late to do something about it.” As Kasumi started listing all the things that they could check in the clinic, making the redhead more and more anxious. She didn’t even think that her daughter could have any complications. There was no doubt in her mind that she would be born strong and healthy, at least until Kasumi pointed out to her that it wasn't all that certain. “I think you don't want something to happen to your daughter without your knowledge.”

“N-no, I don’t want that.” Ranma shook her head suddenly worried. She was sure that it was too soon, the baby couldn’t really grow up too much in just a week but she needed to admit that Kasumi was right, she would really like to know that everything was ok with her baby girl. “Ok, let’s go.”

“You can do it, Ranma.” Said Ryoga, startling the redhead. With all this talk from the brunette and worry about their baby she completely forgot he was there with them. “Kasumi’s right, it will be ok.”

Finally they arrive at the Sakuradai maternity clinic, the place looks really neat even if it still looks really medical-like making Ranma instantly disliking it on some level. She didn’t have any real good memories associated with places like this, most of them were occasional instances when pops training was too severe and she needed to be hospitalized one or twice.

“Remember what you need to say, Ranma-chan.” Kasumi remembered the actual point of their visit. “Nabiki was very clear with her instructions.

Inside the clinic was actually really similar to the waiting room in Dr. Tofu office but much larger and - thankfully - there were no other patients. She really wasn’t comfortable talking about her being pregnant with someone else around. Ranma walked up to the reception desk and saw a rather young woman sitting behind it while looking at some papers.

“Oh, my. Chiharu I was hoping to see you there!” Said Kasumi beaming at the receptionist who then raised her eyes and looked at them and after a moment she also smiled with recognition.

“Kasumi-chan! It’s been ages since I last saw you!” she said, focusing on them. “So, why are you here? Finally found yourself a man? But I thought that you wanted to wait a little bit longer for that…”

“No, it’s not me,” Kasumi waves her off blushing slightly at the suggestion and pointed at the redhead. “This is my dear friend, Saotome Ranma. We have an appointment.”

Ranma for her part was really glad that Kasumi took the lead and was talking for her. Her friend seems really nice but somehow she felt really uncomfortable being here. She tried to calm herself as much as possible, knowing that she would need to join the conversation sooner or later even if she really would prefer not to.

“Oh, hello my dear,” said Chiharu with a welcoming voice and quickly started clicking on her computer. When she finally found what she was looking for her face changed, she frowned clearly not liking what she saw. “How old are you, Ranma-chan?”

“I’m Sixteen.” she said.

“I see… and you’re here because you think you’re-”

“Yes.” Ranma said quickly, suddenly finding the floor tiles really interesting.

“Is that so? And I guess that this boy next to you is-”

“Yes.” Ranma said quietly. The floor tiles started to look fascinating to her.

There was a long pause, Ranma didn’t really feel like looking at the receptionist but reluctantly looked up to see that the older girl was searching for something between her stack of papers.

“Alright, Miss Saotome, you can take those papers and fill them out there. Your appointment is at 11:00 so just relax and wait. If you finish before your name is called just hold onto those papers and give them to the nurse who calls you. Kasumi-chan, can I talk to you for a second?

“Oh my, I’m glad you ask,” said Kasumi with her usual gentle smile. “Actually I also wanted to talk with you about something. We didn’t see each other for so long… Ranma-chan if that’s ok if you and Ryoga-kun wait here while I’ll go with Chiharu-chan?”

“Huh? Oh, y-yeah. It’s ok Kasumi-neechan,” said Ranma not wanting to admit that she actually would like to sit there with another woman but also knowing that it had to be that way. Nabiki didn’t really tell her much but she knew that Kasumi needed to talk to her friend about something so there would be no problem with her papers at school and other stuff that the redhead didn’t pay that much attention to. She just nodded and saw two older girls disappearing in the room with the sign “stuff only” and that was it.

She and Ryoga were left alone in the waiting room and so they seated themselves on a couch. Ranma started filling out the forms she'd been given. It was after she finished with the standard name, address and other standard info that she came across the questions that she was really worried about: medical history. If not for some tips and instructions from Nabiki and Kasumi she would have been finished.

Ryoga was sitting next to her and fortunately it looked like he didn’t want to look too noisy so started to read one of the magazines from the table. Ranma already noticed that the topics were exclusively for women so he quickly put them away, probably deciding that he was better off bored than reading about the “easy ways to deal with menstrual pain”. Ranma sighs realizing that after she’ll give birth she probably would want to read this magazin herself, but didn’t want to think about it at that moment.

Ranma was concerned and felt uncomfortable answering questions from the clipboard uncertainty. She didn’t know if she was doing it correctly and if she didn't, this somehow would end badly for her in the long run. She was about to go to the better part of the questions with a lot of `Yes' or `No' boxes to choose from when she suddenly felt a gentle tap on her arm. “Are you having some trouble, Ranma? I know that I’m a guy but maybe I could help you with that somehow?.”

“Well, good for you, but I don’t think that I need to remind you: I was a guy just a few days ago too,” said Ranma, suddenly really irritated at his comment. “It’s just that all of those questions are for girls and I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

“Oh, right, sorry,” he replied, actually looking a little bit embarrassed. “It’s just that… you look and act so differently that I actually forget… sorry Ranma.”

Ranma didn’t answer right away, feeling strangely embarrassed herself. It wasn’t intentional but she actually felt really happy that her hard work and dedication finally bore fruit. It was really nice to be recognized as someone she actually decided she wanted to be and don’t need to try so hard to prove it.

The redhead then proceeded to answer all other questions on the clipboard, trying really hard to ignore the Lost Boy who apparently decided that he actually can be noisy and was glancing at her papers from time to time. Finally she finished and sighs after signing and dating the last form. Done, she thought, mentally exhausted.

Her timing was really good because just after she put down the pen a woman in a nurse's uniform called out “Saotome Ranma.” while standing in a doorway that led farther into the clinic.

Ranma braced herself and walked after the woman and handed her the clipboard. The nurse looked over it quickly before leading her into the hallway. She was taken to the rather ordinary office. Or rather almost ordinary, the only thing that was novelty and the thing that the redhead dreaded the most was the really strange looking chair with really high footrests. Ranma was greeted by the really nice older lady doctor who guided her through the whole standard procedure. She submitted to being weighed and having her height measured. Her temperature was taken as well as her blood pressure, all the things that she actually didn't care about that much and didn’t really pay any attention to the doctor's comment.
Finally she had to answer more questions while a woman was checking the papers given by the nurse. All this time Ranma was nervously glancing at the scary gynecological chair.
“Um… so, what does it actually look like?” she finally asked after the doctor finished with the files. “Proving that I’m p-pregnant, I mean.”
“Well, Miss Saotome, I’m actually surprised that you didn’t check it yourself,” said the older woman, a little puzzled. “You write that you didn’t have your period for a little over a month, so it would be logical to just go by a simple pregnancy test in any pharmacy near your home.. well, I don’t want to pry so let’s leave it at that. But that would be an answer to your question. Usually you check by the pregnancy tests or by blood test. I actually suggest we do both, since you’re so sure that you are then we’ll also check how your body is doing.”
She started searching for something inside one of her drawers and gave her a plastic cup with a red lid on it.
“I would like you to give me a urine sample, Miss Saotome,” she said. “After the test we can take a blood sample and I’ll prescribe you some medication.”

Ranma nodded and quickly left to search for the bathroom. She actually felt a little relieved. She was so scared that she would need to sit on that strange chair and let the doctor examine her down there but fortunately they only wanted some pee and blood from her and that wasn’t a big deal.

After she is done she returns to the office and gives back the plastic cup to the doctor. She already was prepared with some strange stick she saw a few times on TV. Ranma observed as the older woman went to the side, took some of her sample and put it on the stick. They both waited a few moments until the clear cross sign on it. There, that was it. Ranma was officially pregnant.

“I guess you were right, Miss Saotome,” the doctor said with a gentle smile although Ranma could see that she wasn’t really happy about it. I guess no one would be happy to see a pregnant teenage girl, huh? she thought. “As I said before I’ll prescribe you some vitamins, you should take them daily. And also-”

Ranma wasn’t really listening to any other thing the doctor said. She was too caught up in the fact that it was finally official. She was pregnant, her baby girl was real and no one would be able to deny that now. She also knew that it wasn’t all that great, there was also that thing with Ryoga, her pops and the future that seemed a little bit scary at the moment but it didn’t really matter now.

I’ll really be a mom, she thought; all her worries and previous embarrassment temporarily forgotten. She gently patted her belly with a delighted expression on her face. I can’t wait.

Tano Shizuka was looking at her computer and started massaging her temples feeling an approaching headache. After transferring to Nerima she thought that maybe the workload she used to do would at least stay the same or hopefully decrease but of course it wasn’t. She was sitting in her office, surrounded by stacks of papers and in a helpless sigh pondered why her life has turned out to this. Not only she needed to help kids and teenagers with her shitty parents or peers, now she also needs to help the bureaucratic system doing its job?

Middle age CPS worker dialed a number and put the phone to her ear while once again looking at the strange personal file before she was still dumbstruck thinking how such an error could occur so long ago and not only didn't get discovered but was ignored for a little over sixteen years. On the other hand it could not be an error but deliberate action of one of the parents or someone else, she didn’t know it yet but she was going to find out, one way or the other. She was tapping on her desk absentmindedly when finally there was an answer on the other end of the phone.

“Hello, Shizuka, what’s the occasion?” Asked the pleased, deep male voice of her college friend.

“Yuichi, good to hear your voice,” Shizuka smiled at the sound of his voice. Even after all these years it was still really comforting. “Listen, could you do me a favor? The usual.”

“Oh? I thought that you would transfer to Nerima so you could relax a little bit, not picking up other strange cases.” He responded, sounding rather amused. “It’s something like that, right? What else would you call me about…”

“Yeah, it’s really weird,” she agreed. “I got a report of a teenage pregnancy, the usual stuff. That girl, Saotome Ranma, was reported at the ob/gyn to check if she was pregnant. The report said that she was there with the child’s father and an adult woman who was housing her.”

“Well, at least the guy is decent enough not to disappear on the girl,” said Yuichi, sounding pleased. “But there’s nothing that strange about it. So, what’s going on?”

Shizuka sighs once again and shakes her head.

“Well, when I went to look over her documents in our database it stated that Saotome Ranma is not a she but a he. Not only that but all of her previous documented appointments to doctors and her preschool papers also stated the same. There is no preschool attendance but there is a diploma from middle school for some reason… and I know that girl is attending Furinkan High in Nerima, also as a boy… This is nuts.”

“Yeah, that’s definitely weird… I mean I know that trans people are there but I don’t think that trans girls can get pregnant, right? What the hell is going on with that girl,” Yuichi said, after she took a moment to drink another sip of her lukewarm coffee. “But why are there no middle school records? It sounds really shady to me.”

“Report stated child neglect and possible abduction was in play here,” she said, frowning when she once more read her notes. “That girl who reported this, Kasumi Tendo, said that Saotome Ranma doesn't know who her mom is and that she was with her father on some stupid journey around the world for over ten years, who even heard of such absurd things in this day and age…”

“So… basically her father kidnapped her from home and dragged her around the world, raising her like a boy or something?” Yuichi sounded really sceptical but there was a hint of anger there as well. “That sounds like some strange wannabe hero journey stuff from shounen manga. If it’s real then I don’t even want to imagine what that poor girl must have been through…”

“Yeah, I don’t want to even imagine what that must have been,” Shizuka agreed, opening another window on her computer screen. “I found her mother's number, I want to call her before I will try to fix this whole mess with those girl files. There’s no way that I’ll allow a sixteen year old mother to deal with the world with her official document stating that she’s a boy, that's just absurd.”

“So, I guess you want me to dig a little bit in the archive about that Saotome Ranma?”

“Yeah, look for some third party involvement in this blunder, or if for some reason her parents wanted a boy or some other bullshit like that,” she conferred, holding the bridge of her nose, thinking about all the files she’ll need to search and calls she’ll need to make.

“Alright, I’ll call you back when I learn something,” he said after a moment of silence. “This is actually quite an interesting case, I’m actually getting excited.”

“As long as you’ll produce some results, do what you want with it,” she said and ended the call. Tuichi was a really good friend and she knew that she could count on him but when some case piqued his interest he quickly became really unbearable. She just wished that he wouldn’t be so excited about something so serious as possible child abuse of a teenager, it always creeped her out a little bit. At least he’s quick and efficient…

Not missing a beat she dialed the next number from her computer screen and started thinking how to approach this as delicately as she could.

When the phone rang it was answered by a pleasant female voice, “Hello, this is Saotome residence, how can I help you?”
“Is this Saotome Nadoka? My name’s Tano Shizuka, I wanted to talk to you about something really important…”

Chapter Text

Akane didn’t hold up well, and she knew that. Ever since that day she just couldn’t shake the feeling that she was the one responsible for Ranma’s fate and every snicker and every side eye directed at the redhead was her fault. Ranma on his... or rather now her part was taking all of that really well but she never knew if she really was feeling ok or if she was just hiding all of her struggles just so no one could see what was really going on in her head. It wouldn’t be the first time.

She couldn’t believe that Ranma, a man among men and her fiance were pregnant. It was just so unbelievable and difficult to comprehend that initially she didn’t really know what to do. She was really worried about the redhead, that moment when she was informed that she would never be a man again and that she was now carrying a child was truly horrific, to the point that Akane was worried that Ranma would do something stupid because of it.

But she didn’t, far from it. Ranma decided to keep the baby and started to act more and more feminine by the day. Akane was used to the redhead behaving over the top and overly feminine as a part of her disguises and was preparing for the really miserable display of forced femininity from- in that point in time- her ex-fiance… but what she saw was real genuine femininity. It was worrying to the point that she thought that maybe that other Ranma somehow was still influencing her even now but she couldn’t really prove it. She just saw this person who was always so defensive over their undeniable masculinity starting wearing dresses, walking in braids and practically purging all the signs of the man she once was from herself. Ranma was now practically someone else and all of that was Akane’s fault. She knew that, no matter what the redhead or her family said. She knew better.

And now there was also Ryoga involved. Well, I got it and now I’m feeling even worse. I didn’t know that you can feel even worse than I already felt but here we are…

She really likes Ryoga, he was a good guy, even if somewhat too caught up with this whole revenge and honor stuff he has with Ranma. Akane really was hoping that he would be able to work past this whole strange thing these two have between each other but instead they were now stuck with each other, acting so stiff and awkward all the time. She felt so guilty seeing how hard they were trying to somehow tolerate each other.

I always make everything worse..., she thought, her lips turning into tight straight lines.

“-ane?”

“Akane?”

“Akane, are you listening?” said Yuki. Akane blinked a few times, not really knowing what was happening. She quickly realized that she was standing near the changing room, stared at by Yuki at Sayuri and they looked really worried.

Right, we were supposed to help Sayuri choose a new dress for her date…

“Y-yeah, yeah, I’m listening,” she said with a wry smile, she couldn't hear anything they were saying and looking at her friends, she clearly didn't manage to hide it well.

“I don’t think so,” said Sayuri, she wore a really sweet navy blue sundress with lace trim, she probably was asking for her opinion but Akane was to focus on Ranma to realize what was going on. “Listen, Akane. You clearly are worried about something. You’re really strange lately and we’re really worried about you. You sure, you don’t want to talk about it?”

“I…,” she wanted to refuse but the truth was that she was really desperate to talk about it, especially someone who wasn’t part of her family. She hesitates, realizing that if she wanted to talk with Yuka and Sauyri she would need to tell them a lot of things about Ranma and she wasn’t sure if she should do it. It felt a little bit like she was betraying her ex-fiance, but at the same time she really wanted to vent. It was getting harder and harder to keep her emotions under control and she finally found someone that could help her keep it all together... “Yeah, I’d really like that.”

Her two friends made a sync sigh of relief, visibly relieved hearing her answer. Akane was a little taken aback by this, she didn’t mean to worry them that much.

It’s really irritating, she thought. I always say that no one needs to worry about me and that I can take care of myself and instead of doing so I always make others worry about me…

“Glad to hear it,” Sayuri smiled at her and looked down at her outfit. “But before can you tell me, what do you think about this dress? I think I want to go with this one, but I still need a second opinion, you know? I mean, I haven't gone on a date in ages! I know that I can’t pull it off as well as Ranma does, but I want to at least make a good first impression.”

“Don’t say that, you look really pretty,” said Akane, wincing a little bit when Ranma was mentioned. Actually this started to be pretty common, since the first shock wore off some of the girls in school accepted Ranma’s “decision” pretty quickly and was actually jealous of her look and attention she was getting which the youngest Tendo still found strange. “I’m sure that you’ll blow him away, you just need to be confident.”

“Just as Akane said,” Yuka chimed in, supportive as always. It wasn’t long before the three of them were standing in line at the checkout. Akane was now more focused on her two friends but her mind was still restless. She tried to be more active in the conversation but ultimately realized that she was really too caught up in the mess at home and just nodded along until they didn’t arrive at their favourite little cafe that maybe didn’t have the best coffee but was reasonably cheap and mostly quiet.

Akane was relieved seeing that today there was practically no one there, so they could sit at their usual spot at the back and have mostly private conversation. She didn’t want to risk anyone they knew eavesdropping on them, especially since she knew that other students from Furinkan also like this shop as well.

“Alright, Akane,” Yuka said after they were all finally seated and were left alone. “So what’s really going on? Is this about Ranma again?”

“No kidding, since she started living with you, every time you have a problem it has something to do with her,” Sauyri nodded, blowing lightly on her coffee. “At least she's not your fiancée anymore, right? So you don't have to worry so much anymore about the mess she would or will make in the future.”

Akane frowned at their comments. After the redhead’s curse was locked and their dynamic changed, the youngest Tendo was thinking a lot about their relationship and even if she wasn’t so happy about it, she couldn’t say that Ranma was at fault every time there was a problem between them. A lot of time she was at fault too even if she didn’t want to admit that to anyone.

“It wasn’t really Ranma’s fault,” she started, thinking of every word very carefully. “The truth is, that Ranma didn’t really choose to stay as a girl. She is stuck like this, because of me.”

Sayuri and Yuka looked at each other, confused but Akane knew that they were also very curious. Deep down, her friends were really hungry for gossip and even if they only would do that among the three of them she was always a little apprehensive about sharing the craziest stories she would tell about her and Ranma.

“How is that your fault, exactly?” asked Yuki. “I didn’t even know that you could do that… Is that why you’re so depressed all the time?”

“So… Ranma didn’t really want to be a girl?” Sayuri joined. “But she looks so happy lately… . She’s so natural as a girl…”

“I… I don’t know if she wanted to be a girl, or not…” Akane answered, not really happy about that fact. She just couldn’t muster the courage to talk to Ranma. She was a jerk to her many times and it was because of her that she ended up the way she was. “I just know that she is one because of me.”

“But how?” Sayuri was pressing her, looking worried. They probably thought that I was exaggerating or blaming myself for no reason, just like Nabiki and Kasumi... she thought. She was grateful for friends like that, someone who was always ready to defend her, even from her own guilt and self pity.

Akane sighs and smiles sadly, looking at her own reflection in the cup of coffee before her. She also wondered… how does it all get so messed up so quickly? There were a lot of strange events in her and Ranma's lives that got out of hand fairly quickly but never as fast and as dire as this and she still couldn’t understand why?

She once again looked back at that scene: a quick moment of anger, a swift strike that sent Ranma into the pond, just like countless times before. She didn’t even think anything about it. It was almost a routine at this point, Ranma would just get out of the water, groaning and complaining but all and all they would all go on with their day as they didn't think much about it.

Then she remembered a shell shocked expression of the redhead, forever locked in her female body, just informed that no longer will she be able to see her male self but also that she was now with a child in her belly. This face would forever be engraved in Akane's memory because she was the one that ultimately caused all of that to happen and was helpless to do anything about it. She shudder and sighs with resignation

“It all started just before breakfast a week ago…”

“You don’t look so good,” said Hikari, looking concerned at her friend's beat up expression. Ranma couldn’t really blame her, she actually didn’t feel so good, after her visit at the clinic. Getting confirmation about her baby girl was great, but she still was a little sour about the fact that the doctor decided that she would like to do a more thorough check up. She hated the fact that ultimately she ended up sitting on this cursed chair and was humiliated beyond belief. The memory makes her shiver.

“Nah, It’s alright,” she said, brushing it all off. “I visited a doctor this morning… I really don’t like doing check-ups…”

“Is something going on?” asked the brunette, her eyes started scanning Ranma’s body from head to toe searching for some abnormality. The redhead was really glad that there would still be some time before she started showing anything.

“Nah, just a routine visit. Now that I’m a full time girl I need to do all kinds of things that I didn’t need or thought about before. It’s a pain in the ass if anythin’…” she started complaining a little bit, grateful that she was someone to actually talk to that wasn’t from Ryoga or anyone from Tendous.

“Oh… Oh, I get it,” said Hikari, looking at her with sympathy. “Your first gynecology visit? Yeah, that can be rough. I don’t really like it myself, but I guess we all need to get used to it, right? Well, at least it’s over now, right?” She started talking while patting the redhead head with her right hand which wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that although she was also quite petite, she was still a bit taller than Ranma, which made her feel a bit condescending.

“Alright, I think that’s enough,” said Ranma, daging her friend’s hand. The brunette with glasses smiled at her mischievously but thankfully put her hand away. The redhead was still amazed just how different Hikari was acting now that they were actual friends. The first time they walk in Home Ec. class she was shy and sympathetic, constantly keeping her distance from the other girl, while now she was almost as oblivious to Ranma’s personal space as Akane but much firstly protective and supportive of her. She really felt like Hikari would get her back no matter what.

“I just don’t really like anyone asking me all of those embarrassing questions and looking down there,” she said, venting a little bit while trying to make sure her friend didn’t ruin her hair by accident. “I never really cared about that but now it’s different. It actually matters to me now.”

“I know what you mean, it sucks sometimes,” Hikari nodded and corrected glasses on her nose. “You’ll get used to it.”

“That’s what Kasumi-neechan said too,” Ranma said while looking at the endless shelves full of books. “So, what are we doing here, exactly?”

Ranma felt a little nostalgic, looking at all of those books stretching seemingly endless in any direction. She was here once with Akane a few months ago, she didn’t even remember why, it was probably some book for a school project that her ex-fiance needed or something, It didn’t really matter now, what did matter was that it was one of the few times when they didn’t actually fight and where just casually talking about books and mangas they were currently reading or were interested in. She really missed talking to Akane without this tense atmosphere between them but she didn’t know if they could ever do that again.

“I wanted to see if there are some new martial arts mangas out here,” she said, trying to look at the genre signs all over the place.

“And why do you even want to read any martial arts manga in the first place?” Ranma asked dumbfounded. “We’re in Nerima, where even gymnastics and cooking have their own martial art competitions…”

She really found this really strange that this place has so many martial arts things going on around itself. She didn’t really have that much experience with normal everyday life since most of hers was on the road actually learning the arts but she was quite sure that it wasn’t normal.

“I don’t want to read them Ranma,” Hikari said, wagging her finger in front of the redhead while grinning. “I want to make one myself!”

The redhead was really surprised, she would never suspect that her friend had a goal like that. She and the vast majority of the people she knew were all about perfecting something that someone else had already done, like martial arts. She never met anyone who would want to create something entirely their own. She looked at her friend with honest respect, which made the brunette avert her eyes, probably a little embarrassed.

“That’s actually really impressive. I never really thought about creating somethin’ on my own,” she said, and for a second thought about her little girl and smiled lightly to herself. “Well, maybe except one thing…”

“So we’re here because you’re lookin’ for an inspiration or somethin’?” She asked to join in the search but still glanced at Hikari from time to time. It was actually kind of fun, she wasn’t really familiar with many mangas, even the popular ones, so she was already making a mental note of which manga she would buy or borrow next time she would visit.

“Yeah, something to just start the story. I don’t even really know what’s popular right now…”

Ranma shrugged, she would be the last person who knew something like that. Her life was sometimes too busy to get a break, not to mention a time for reading something, even if she actually wanted to from time to time. Even so, even since she got cursed in China her life was much more crazy and more unexpected than any manga she could think of. She returns to all the strange events that were practically haunting her for the past few months and chuckles, thinking how absurd it would be to any normal person to hear even half of the things she goes through… Yeah… that would be pretty funny, she thought.

“Hikari… why won’t you make a story about me?” Ranma asked, smiling. “You may not believe this but until a week ago my life was actually pretty crazy, you know?”

They both stopped browsing through the shelves and looked at each other. The redhead was still smiling, she actually thought about it as a joke but she quickly realized that her friend was really considering her idea. Ranma imagined herself one day walking into the store and grabbing a book with her own face on the cover, that would be crazy weird… but for sure it would be also quite funny.

“A story about a boy who turns into a girl when splashed by water? Yeah, that sounds like some really funny story,” Hikari said, smiling with amusement at which Ranma rolled her eyes. It wasn’t THAT funny, it was her life for a few months and it was more of a pain in the ass than anything else.

“If you actually want to do it, please don’t use my name for your main character,” she said feeling a little anxious that maybe she shouldn’t suggest that idea in the first place. “And maybe you could do a girl that turns into a boy instead?”

“Nah, this genre is mostly read by boys, they wouldn’t be interested,” Hikari shook her head, to Ranma rising anxiety clearly looking more and more into the idea. “Come to think of it, it's true, your life is really complicated… how do you even deal with so many fiancees?”

“Fortunately it’s over now. All of my previous engagements are over so I can finally breathe a little. But yeah it was really something else…” Ranma goes back to her first day in Nerima, when her pops finally spill the beans and tell her that she actually has a fiance. It was a really chaotic day.

Come to think of it, Akane was never as nice as back then… at least until she walked in on me in my male form.… man, she was really mad… Ranma thought about her ex-fiance and almost immediately felt sad and tired. They never have good chemistry, they barely tolerate each other most of the time. She remembered all of those times when the black haired girl hit her with anger even if it wasn’t her fault. It was really irritating and unfair but right now she would actually prefer if they would just go back to that time.

It would surely be much better than this heavy, guilty driven atmosphere that was constantly looming over them for the past week. Ranma was really grateful that Akane was helping her blend in with other girls in school but even if she was acting all friendly and nice in school, the redhead could just sense the distance between them that never was there before. Ranma knew that Akane was hurt and felt guilty for all that happened between them but she felt powerless to do anything about it. She couldn’t just go to her and tell her that it’s all ok and she actually was doing fine, great even. The youngest Tendo sister would simply not believe her, she was just too stubborn for her own good and it was frustrating.

Hikari looked at the redhead who suddenly felt silent and really gloomy. She didn’t know what happened but even if their time with each other was short Ranma knew that the other girl really cared about her and would be worried if she won’t put herself together. She didn’t really want to put her new friend into her all too messy life so she tried very hard to go back to normal.

“Hey, what happened?” she asked, looking exactly as worried predicted. Ranma cursed herself mentally for not acting fast enough but it was already too late. “I didn’t know that's such a touchy subject. If you don’t want to talk about it, then we don’t have to, Ranma. I’m sorry…”

Ranma sighs looking uncertain at her brunette friend. It wasn’t really a long time since they started hanging out but she knew that Hikari wouldn’t really drop the issue. It was like some strange urge that seemed to plague most of the girls in Furinkan High, they couldn’t stand to be in the dark when something interesting was happening near them and that was the reason why rumors in the school spread so fast. And that’s how she knew that sooner or later Hikari would ask again. Maybe it’s actually good to talk about it… at least I would have someone to talk to other than myself…

“Nah, it’s fine,” Ranma waved it off and smiled lightly. She didn’t like seeing her friends looking sad or anxious, especially because of her, that was one of the things that probably would never change no matter what or who she was. “It’s just that… since I’m like this”- she said pointing at herself. -”Akane is so distant towards me… we weren’t really friendly with each other - at least not as I would like - but we could actually talk to each other. Now she’s all sad and guilty, blaming herself for my sake… it sucks. I ain’t really good with all that stuff and I don’t know what to do about it…”

If only I could just talk like that to Akane…, she thought, scratching the back of her neck, while Hikari stopped looking worried and started looking at Ranma with a thoughtful expression on her face, making the redhead feel like she was in some kind of interrogation, awaiting the verdict.

“So you say that Akane’s blaming herself because you’re a girl now and you’re… happy?” Hikari asked, looking confused. “I don’t get it. You really look more happy now than when you were constantly switching between boy and girl. I’ve been watching you for some time so I know that much… why is she blaming herself for that?”

Ranma raised an eyebrow at her friend's comment. Am I really looking more happy than before? She wondered. I didn’t really think about it this way, I guess I just thought that it was a lot easier now that I don’t need to worry about suddenly being a different gender all of the sudden… and yeah, I always thought that I look much better as a girl than as a guy... maybe Hikari’s right? I do find being a girl kind of fun lately…

“No, it’s not about that…,” she shook her head, realizing that she was losing focus on the matter. “You see, I didn’t really choose to stay a girl… I got stuck that way, actually.”

Hikari blinked a few times, looking dumbfounded at the redhead.

“Wait… so you say that you didn’t really want to be a girl in the first place?” She asked, looking a little upset for some reason. “But you told everyone in school that you choose to stay as one!”

“Not from the start, no… I actually really like it now but then I wasn’t really sure of what else I could do.” Ranma looked at the other girl a little uncertain of what else to say. She didn’t know why her friend looked so upset and she didn’t want to make it worse.

“So what did Akane do then?” She asked. “She must have done something really bad to feel that way… and quite remorseful since from the first day she really is trying really hard to help you out.”

“Well… somewhat? But not really… she may have started it though… but she didn’t really mean it and she couldn’t really do anything to stop it either even if looking back I don’t think that it would do us any good…” Ranma stammered trying to somehow put her words together but was failing every time. When she was thinking about it it seemed really easy but when she wanted to tell what she thought it was all so complicated and a little frustrating.

“So why didn't you talk to her?” Hikari pressed further.

“It’s not that easy for me, ok?” Ranma was trying to defend herself. “We never really had this kind of talk before, ok? Pops always said that everyone should deal with their emotions by themselves so I never really thought about it… I don't even know how to do it, you know…”

Hikari was still looking at the redhead, clearly upset but she didn’t say anything for some time, but after a minute or so she finally sighs and deflates a little bit.

“Ranma, I think your dad is an idiot,” she said plainly. “But maybe it's just the way guys think or something like that. You’re a girl and we don’t do that this way, we actually talk about stuff like this you know? At least I think we suppose to; it’s much healthier than just staying quite like an idiot.”

Ranma opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed it, she didn’t really have anything to say to that. She was spot on on her pop so maybe she was right about the other thing too. But even if that was true, Ranma felt really uneasy about the idea of talking with Akane, all her attempts to explain herself in the past were mostly ignored or downplayed so why would this time be different? She wasn’t sure if that really was such a good idea after all.

“Just think about it, Ranma. It’s always better to talk things out,” Hikari shrugged at her friend's indecisiveness since it was clear that the redhead didn't make any decisions about it just yet. “But since you gave me such a great idea, I think we can get out of here and do something fun while you tell me more about some of your adventures…”

Ranma didn’t argue. She was really grateful that her friend was willing to talk with her about stuff like this and was kind enough to share her opinion with her even if it was hard to swallow. The redhead still didn’t feel ready to talk with Akane but at least now she was able to look at their situation from a different perspective and was a stop closer to figure out what to do and for her that was really huge.

Both girls leave the bookstore, busy discussing Hikari’s manga. They were walking slowly between a huge crowd of people while Ranma did most of the talking. The redhead didn’t mind, since she actually really enjoyed looking at the brunette tentatively listening to every word, even if - in Ranma's opinion - it wasn’t all that exciting. She was asked to tell her friend about all of the things that happened to her even before returning to Tokyo and was really getting into the story about her first encounter with Chinese Amazons when suddenly she sensed that something big appeared just next to her.

Ranma didn’t have enough time to react and in the next moment bumped into something firm but really warm at the same time. She needed a few more seconds to register that she was shoved into someone else, someone who smelled and felt really familiar.

“Ryoga?” She asked, looking up and seeing a boy who appeared before her and looked really confused and embarrassed at the same time. “What are you doing here?”

Akane was tagging along with her two best friends, actually feeling a little better than before. As she recounted the events of that day, all the previously accumulated tension slowly melted away, leaving her with a feeling of deep relief she so desperately needed.

“Still, I don’t think that it was all your fault, Akane,” said Sayuri, opening the door to her favourite bookstore. “Sure, you hit her with that pan, but what happened after that seems to be really everyone’s fault…”

Even if they too didn’t say this whole thing as she was. Akane sighs, realizing that she once again will need to hear that she was exaggerating and should let it go… even if she knew that would be impossible.

“But still… if you would tell me a week ago that Ranma could ask like such a girly girl I wouldn’t believe it,” Yuka added thoughtfully from the side. “But now I actually can imagine it, you know? She’s really changed now, more than I thought it was possible..”

“Yeah, but how much of this change is natural and how is the effect of the curse?” Akane asked, frowning. “Say, Sayuri, what are we going here?”

Akane was grateful for the distraction, ever since their first visit at Nekohanten she couldn’t stop thinking of Ranma, but now when she finally opened up to her friends it became somewhat easier to put her guilt away for a moment. She was walking deeper into the store and was glancing at the shelves when suddenly she spotted a fiery red hair in the edge of her vision. The black haired girl quickly turned in that direction and immediately tense up but there was nothing there.

“Oh, I just wanted to check if they maybe have a new volume of Naruto,” said Sayuri absentmindedly looking at the books.

“Huh? This strange manga about ninjas?” Akane remembered her friend reading something like that a few times at school, but couldn’t really remember what that story was about.

“I don’t want to hear that from you, your life is sometimes much stranger than any manga,” Sauyri interjected with a smile and Akane actually smiled back a little bit. She was glad to have friends like that.

“But it’s actually really peaceful now, right? Yuka pointed out looking thoughtful. “Since Ranma announced she’s staying as a girl there has been nothing major happening around here.”

“She doesn’t even fight with anyone and is really easy to talk to… face it Akane, I think Ranma is much more happy now than she was before,” Sayuri said, still not looking directly at any of her friends. “Did you see how happy she was at the last Home Ec.?”

“Yeah, she was so giddy when she got an A for her chocolate cake. It was really tasty too,” Yuka agreed, smiling at the memory. “Seriously, if I didn't know her, I wouldn't have known that she was such a brute before....”

Akane said nothing to that, of course she noticed Ranma’s looking much happier than before, she wasn’t blind. The thing that was bugging her was the fact that the redhead had the unpleasant habit of hiding things from other people and was really good at adapting to her current situation, just like that time with Full Body Cat's Tongue. She couldn’t really be sure that Ranma really is ok with what’s happening but at the same time she was too scared to ask - she would really lose it if Ranma secretly hated her for all of that and just hid it from her like so many things in the past. She knew she was just avoiding the problem but she wasn’t ready to face it.

“Akane, um… don’t you think that maybe… maybe you're really blowing this thing out of proportion? You should really talk to her…” Sayuri glanced at Akane while still rummaging through the books, her face was serious and somehow pleading which made the black haired girl look away.

The youngest Tendo looked back, she remembered that haunted face Ranma made when she found out what her fate will be, a blink and there it was again, happily following Kasumi’s instruction in the kitchen, for the first time, not caring that cooking is a “women’s job”. Akane remembered all of those times she beat Ranma too angry to think about the reason and the face that the redhead would make most of the time when that would've happened… that face that was very similar to the one that she was making that first day of school a week ago after being repeatedly stare at and mocked by other students. Akane felt really dirty after that for some reason.

“I really want to… but I’m scared, ok?” Akane admitted, still trying not to look at other girls. “I don’t know why but when I talk to Ranma I’m always… I always end up angry about something and I try to beat her up because of it… I don’t want to hurt her now…”

She thought about the redhead who in recent days would stay still just looking down at her abdomen when she thought nobody would see her. Ranma was so terrified of being pregnant but at the same time she was so protective of the baby… to the point she practically flipped a switch as a person.

Her former fiancé has changed to the point where Akane sometimes forgot that she wasn't always this clumsy, shy girl who needed help with other people and still couldn't read the room.... she used to be the annoying, arrogant jerk who constantly called her names and was generally a huge jackass.

“Oh, come on. Ranma could handle it just fine even as a girl…” Yuka laughed it off, helping Sayuri looking for her manga, not realizing how anxious Akane was at that moment. “I’m sure that she would gladly get pummeled by you once if that means you’ll reconcile…”

“No! I can’t do that, if I hurt her now, she’ll hate me for sure!” Akane cut her off, her eyes wide at her friend's suggestion. Because of the baby, Ranma stopped really training and - even if it was really hard to imagine - was more vulnerable than ever before. Forget talking, Ranma wouldn’t want to be in the same building as me if I suddenly get angry again and attack her!… I don’t even want to think about it…

“Um… ok, relax Akane, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Yuka finally looks at her and raises her hands high, giving up. It looked like she finally understood that it wasn’t the usual Ranma - Akane quarrel but something much more serious. “We’re just trying to help.”

Akane didn't even realize that but her whole body was tense, her fist clenched like she was about to fight or hit something. She really didn’t expect that and freaked out a little bit. It never happened with anyone else besides her ex-fiance.

“It’s fine…” She said trying to fight the creeping feeling of unease. She was afraid that maybe her anger issues were getting worse. “I guess I'm really overreacting a little bit when it comes to Ranma…”

“Yeah, no kidding.” Yuka said, looking closely at Akane, almost like she was a little hesitant about what else to do. “Maybe we should keep an eye on you when you finally decide to talk to her…”

“I don’t need a babysitter…”

Akane wasn’t really happy with the direction their conversation was going. Since Ranma showed up her life gradually started to become a greater and greater mess as the time went on. The black haired girl looked depressed at her own hands, knowing that somehow she had a problem and because of it she was partially if not mostly responsible for a lot of stuff that’s going on between her and the redhead but being reminded of that fact by comments like that really hurt.

“Found it!” Sayuri said triumphantly, holding her prize in both hands in an exaggerated fashion. She then glanced at Akane and Yuki and calmed down a little bit, her wide grin turned into a much smaller half-smile when she walked near them. “Ok, I think that's enough gloomy talk for now. What do you think, maybe we should finally do something fun instead? After I pay for that beauty of course?

Akane looked at Sayuri, she and Yuka were airheads sometimes but they weren’t stupid. It was clear that this conversation was only going to be more and more uncomfortable for them without any real payoff and so it wasn’t worth dragging it any longer. The black haired girl smiled sadly, knowing just how troublesome she must have been for her two friends. She was really grateful to have them.

“I think I’d like that…” She said walking after Sayuri who was already marching towards the cashier.

Ranma was a little stunned, her hand touching Ryoga’s torso trying to figure out if the boy was actually here or if he was under some sort of illusion. The latest option was unlikely true since she really could feel his warm, firm body under her fingers but that trick was so strange and fascinating that she was still compelled to check for herself. She knew about Ryoga’s talent for getting lost and sometimes even listened to him complaining about it but this was something else, this was a big deal. He literally appeared out of thin air just in front of her.

How is that working, exactly?

The redhead was lost in thought, absentmindedly looking at Ryoga for a few seconds, until she realized that something was wrong. Ranma shifted her position only to find out that the boy in front of her was holding her arms. A quick glance to the side was enough to confirm that they were almost hugging.

“R-ryoga, can you l-let me go?” She was suddenly really embarrassed about this situation. Ryoga blinked, looking like he also just now realized what they were doing and immediately jumped away. Ranma could almost swear that his face was a little pink at that moment but it didn’t matter to her.

Finally free, she thought with a sigh of relief but with sudden chill running through her whole body making her feel a little uncomfortable for a second. A little shame about his warmth, though, it was nice…

“S-sorry, Ranma. My bad,” Ryoga stuttered, still a little taken aback and a little confused. “By the way… where am I?”

Ranma didn’t react immediately, realizing just how strange thought appeared in her mind just a moment before but quickly pulled herself together, hoping that he didn’t see anything.

“We’re in the Hikarigaoka Ima Main not too far from Tendo Dojo.” She said trying to act casual. The redhead really wanted to get distracted from the situation at home for at least a few hours but it seems to be impossible now. “Why are you here anyway? I thought that we were with Kasumi-neechan.”

Ryoga sighs looking defeated. The slightly suffocating feeling she had just picked up was a clear sight of him feeling depressed about something.

“I was.” He said. “Kasumi wanted to know how far I can go without getting lost and asked me to go from her room to the dojo… well, I was almost there when you suddenly bumped into me…”

“I didn’t bump into you, you just appeared out of nowhere!” Ranma replied, pouting, the feeling and warmth of Ryoga's body still lingering, making her blush slightly.

“Um… Ranma-chan… who’s this boy?”

The redhead froze, crap, I completely forgot. Ranma thought glancing at her friend who was looking at them with visible interest, her eyes were a little anxious but curious at the same time. The redhead felt a little uneasy about this, especially since she was still not used to Hikari’s behavior and didn’t know what to expect from her in this situation.

Shit, what to do… I really didn’t want to involve her in my life… but if she really is my friend she would end up involved eventually, right? I guess it can’t be helped...? Probably…

“Oh.. um… ah right..”Ranma didn’t really know how to introduce people to each other. Should she say a few words about them, or just name them and that’s it? Once again she felt angry at her pops for not explaining this thing to her in the past. “Ryoga, this is Hikari-chan. Hikari-chan, this is Ryoga…”

Ranma wasn’t sure if she did a good job or not but for sure it wasn't enough. Hikari was still looking at her expectantly, like she was waiting for her to continue. The redhead didn’t really want to do that, though… What else would she say to her? She didn’t want to bring up the past fights between each other, not now when they would need to at least tolerate each other's presence for the foreseeable future. She really wanted for it to be over but the unflinching gaze of her friend was actually really effective, making Ranma more and more uncomfortable with each second.

“Ryoga is… my fiance…” She finally caved in under pressure. I got to learn how to do this, it’s almost more effective than the battle aura… she thought impressed and embarrassed at the same time.

Hikri immediately focused her attention on Ryoga, who clearly wasn’t comfortable with this sudden attention. It was a little weird since both during their duel at school and during the gymnastics tournament he didn’t care about other people. Maybe when he concentrated on his opponents he didn’t think about anything else? It would explain why he attacked me with his bandanas without caring for other people that time at Furinkan…

“No way… you really have a boyfriend?” Hikari was looking at Ranma with shock which quickly turned into amusement. She was smiling, glancing at them strangely, making the redhead blush even more than before.

“W-what is that even a question?! I-I’m a girl aren’t I?! Ranma replied agitated but quickly realized that she was actually making the situation even worse. Hikari’s words were really messing in her head, and really self-conscious about their current situation. “B-beside I said f-fiance! He’s not my b-b-boyfriend!”

Out of the corner of her eye, Ranma noticed that Ryoga shifted uneasily, followed by the shift in his expression that showed a myriad of emotions she could not pick up but made her feel guilty for some reason.

Why must everything once again be so complicated…, she thought with a sour expression on her face.

“Well, yeah but you were a boy before so I wasn’t sure…” Hikari continued her teasing, scratching her chin to look like she had just solved some great mystery. “I see so that was it…”

“Whatever you’re thinking right now it ain’t true! All of this is fairly recent, ok?!” Ranma cut her off, starting to feel a little anxious. She knew that Hikari was just teasing, she couldn’t sense any malice or any other form of hostility from the brunette, but she still didn’t feel comfortable touching this subject. The fact that she was actually not only attracted to women but also men was still a little too much to talk about with anyone, especially when someone she felt attracted to. She didn't want Ryoga to find out, there was no way he could feel the same way she did, it hadn't been long since they had been enemies.... Maybe he would never feel the same as her.

Even so they were not together in this and they needed to make this work. She didn’t want to upset him, making other people think that they were something more than they really were.

“Huh… is that so…?” Hikari was still going but her amused smile disappeared, maybe she was much more perceptive than Ranma thought but she really seems to stop her teasing. Now she just looked really curious which also was troublesome for the redhead but perhaps wouldn’t be as bad as before. She just needed to find some way to change the topic of this conversation.

“But you have so many fiances that were girls and you didn’t do anything with them but now this boy appeared out of nowhere…”

“Wha…” Ranma once again began to panic, her face was getting pale while she was trying to come up with any excuse to end this conversation here and now, just so she wouldn’t need to die from embarrassment a moment after her friend finally connected the dots.

“ANYWAY, nice to meet you, Ryoga-kun.” Hikari said, shifting her focus to Ryoga and seemingly forgetting about her anxious redhead friend next to him. “Take care of Ranma for me, ok? She never says what she wants to say and always gets in trouble because of it…”

“Wha-” Ranma was dumbfounded by this sudden shift, her mind still numb from panic and desperate attempts to find some excuse for her and Ryoga that now seems to be not needed. Ryoga, on the other hand, had been watching them closely the whole time and had looked serious and tense, but relaxed a bit when Hikari started teasing the redhead mercilessly, which was really unfair if someone asked Ranma about it.

“Don’t worry, I know.” Ryoga nodded, smiling at the smaller brunette. “Nice to meet you too, Hikari-san. I’m Ryoga Hibiki.”

“I’m right here, you know?” Ranma said, pouting. So that’s what I get for being considerate and worrying about him? That guy's a really jerk, she thought, feeling a little irritated just by looking at that sly smile on Ryoga’s face. She really wanted to erase it from existence but knew that she couldn’t do that, not in front of Hikari... It didn’t stop her from imagining what that would look like though.

“Of course I know!” Said the brunette looking at Ranma once again. “I just need to be sure that he’s good enough for you!” She added again, momentarily showing her an amused smile.

“I don’t think you need to do that. I can take care of it myself.” Ranma replied, angry and embarrassed that someone would even think that she could choose someone for herself. It didn’t matter that technically she didn’t really choose Ryoga and was just stuck with him by accident. She was perfectly capable of choosing her partner herself!

“We were supposed to go somewhere right?” Ranma had enough of this conversation, so she decided to just end it here and there. She really wanted to do this in some other, more gentle way like Kasumi, but she didn’t know how to do it in any other way.

She was about to storm from the mall and go somewhere with Hikari but when she was about to turn around she remembered that Ryoga couldn’t really be trusted to go back or even to follow her without a threat of being lost again. The redhead sighs feeling defeated once more, she walks to the Lost Boy and reluctantly takes his hand.

“I guess you’ll tag along, Ryoga…” She said sheepishly, suddenly having a bad feeling about this. “...but don’t get any weird ideas! You know why I don’t want you to get lost again!”

At least I hope you know…

Finally no one tried to argue with her, the three of them spent a little more time walking around the mall and checking the nearby stores, Hikari said it was called “Window Shopping” which was weird for the redhead. If you go shopping you should buy something, right? At least that’s what she was thinking but her friend said that it wasn’t always the case and she should try to enjoy the experience. Ranma didn’t really see much appeal in just looking at things but she wasn’t complaining.

Originally they wanted to buy some more clothes for Ranma, but since Ryoga was with them, that idea went out the window. They may be engaged but Ranma still didn’t really want Ryoga to see her doing something as girly as trying on a skirt, dresses or lingerie.

Fortunately it wasn’t really a problem, she and Hikari could always go there another time and that would be it. The real problem was that Ranma didn’t realize how people around them would look at her when she was draggin Ryoga behind her for everyone to see.

In the past it wasn’t a big deal, she was just dragging the Lost Boy after her to and from school and that was it, maybe except a few weird looks from other guys in school but since they were really strong nobody was brave enough to say anything so it was all good. Now however it was entirely different, and it was absolutely humiliating for Ranma.

Everyone must think we’re a couple! Ranma lamented, angry but hopeless to do anything about it. I just want to go home as soon as possible at this point but if I walk too fast I will look like some girlfriend dragging my boyfriend after me! It’s the worst!

Ranma was trying to not show how embarrassing and miserable she was feeling at that moment, while Ryoga was occupied, trying to reply to every question Hikari would throw at him. Her friend finally remembered that Ryoga had a duel with Ranma on the school grounds a few months ago and started to ask all sorts of questions about him, his past and his curse. Ranma didn’t even need to look to know that her fiance was really stressed out by Hikari’s attention. He was squeezing her hand really hard, to the point that Ranma was really close to just hitting him in the head and let him get lost for crashing her fingers.

Even so the redhead couldn’t say that she didn’t have fun. She never really walked on the streets of Nerima just for the sake of it and didn’t know just how many strange things she could find there. They were walking for a few hours “window shopping” visiting all kinds of places. She was really interested in one weird but fascinating rundown shop that - if Ranma was correct - could have some real magical items on display but she wasn’t really in the mood to ask about it. She didn’t want her first normal friend to get hit by her bad luck and be cursed or something. Even so, she now knows where this place was and promised herself to one day get back here and look around for real.

Maybe this whole window shopping wasn’t such a waste of time after all…

The sun was barely visible on the horizon when they finally parted ways and Hikari once again validated Ranma’s personal space by hugging her real tight as a goodbye, but at least this time, the redhead didn’t want to complain. It actually felt really good.

Then Ranma and Ryoga walked alone without saying a word. The redhead was too exhausted to talk to him, and somehow he was able to read the room this time and didn't say anything either, just held her hand and kept walking.

It wasn't long when they finally passed the door to the Tendo Dojo. Ranma was surprisingly exhausted by the event of the day and the only thing that she was thinking at that moment was to get to the furo and just lay there forever, she really needed some quality time just for herself. She reflexively answered Kasumi’s usual greetings and let go of Ryoga’s hand saying that she’s going to the bathroom and without paying any real attention to anything else she started walking up the stairs.

She was almost at the top of the stairs when suddenly a familiar girl appeared from the corridor, forcing Ranma to once again be back in the present. The redhead looked up at Akane's face, which was as usual - tense, as when she tried to look poised and calm and didn't want to show what was really going on. Ranma thought back to her talk with Hikari but was really too tired to try to talk to her ex-fiance. It would be pointless to think that this would be dealt with just here and now anyway, she thought nodding at another girl.

“Hi, Ranma, h-how was your day?” Akane asked, surprisingly her voice wasn’t the same as usual. She sounded tense and scared while looking at her with troubled eyes. She wanted something from Ranma but couldn’t bring herself to say it. Ranma waited for a few more seconds, hoping that whatever Akane wanted from her she would finally say it, but the youngest Tendo sister was all quiet, which made the redhead a little irritated.

“It was good, you?” She asked, sounding impatient and tired, too distracted to realize that her tone could easily be read as bland disinterest. Akane’s eyes flicker for a moment while all of the previous hesitation and nervousness disappeared, turning back into her neutral expression. Whatever the black haired girl wanted to say to her, she seemed to change her mind. The black-haired girl slightly deflated and looked away from the redhead.

“Same,” she just said while passing her going down the stairs. “Talk to you later,” she added while Ranma watched her go, feeling a little guilty. She didn’t want to sound that uninterested, she didn’t know what was that thing that Akane wanted to talk with her about but she knew it was something important. At least for Akane.

“It's my fault.... again,” she muttered to herself as the other girl disappeared from sight. “I really wish everything would go back to the way it was before.... She would just beat me up and that would be the end of it...”.

If only it could be that simple…

Chapter Text

Ranma woke and felt her stomach give a lurch. She sat up and groaned, she couldn’t remember the last time she was feeling that sick just after waking up. What the hell… is that this morning sickness thing Kasumi warned me about? She thought still groggy and unfocused. The oldest Tendo recently told her about a bunch of things that could happen during her pregnancy and that thing was one of the first that was mentioned so it was probably it.

The redhead rolled out of bed with some difficulty and tried to leave her room despite the fact that her legs felt really wobbly and weak, almost as if they were still half asleep. When she finally was able to open the door, she was welcomed by the sight of Kasumi probably also wanting to do the same thing but Ranma didn’t care about it at that moment. Fortunately the older girl must have realized what was happening after seeing her pale skin and pained expression and just moved out of the way, letting her pass.

“You better hurry, Ranma-chan,” she said looking a little worried but didn’t say anything else and headed towards the stairs, leaving the redhead to her own devices. She didn’t even have time and energy to nod, instead decided to hurry up. When she got to her destination, Ranma leaned into the toilet. While she felt nauseous, she didn't feel the imminent danger of losing the remains of last evening's dinner but It didn’t last long. Just a moment later she felt her stomach suddenly felt really upset and felt acid going up into her mouth.

Ranma didn’t really know how long she was crouching with her head almost into the toilet seat, she just realized that her nausea was slowly calming down and stomach cramps became less and less until they completely stopped, leaving her spent and out of breath.

I really hope that I won't have to deal with that everyday… Ranma thought, trying to lift herself up, shaking a little bit. I would go nuts… and probably kill Ryoga since all of that is kind of his fault… I refuse to suffer alone…

Fortunately the redhead’s body was still that of the martial artist and so it didn’t long for her to pull herself together, even if she could yet shake the lingering feeling of fatigue. Because of that, it took her a little bit longer than usual to dress herself up and take care of her appearance. She knew that today she wouldn’t be able to help with anything before school. It wasn’t really her fault and she knew that she needed to take care of herself for her daughter's sake but even so she felt a little ashamed of her own weakness. Her pop wouldn’t care about her feeling ill and would still drag her for training no matter how much she would complain.

She was just finishing braiding her hair when Kasumi’s head suddenly popped out, her eyes looking at Ranma from head to toe looking worried.

“Are you feeling alright, Ranma-chan? I’m sorry that I didn’t help you earlier, I didn’t think that you would start having morning sickness so soon…” She said, sounding really regretful which in turn made the redhead feeling uneasy. It just didn't feel right to see and hear Kasumi so depressed over something like that.

“It’s ok, Kasumi-neechan, I’m fine now,” said Ranma trying to muster a confident, warm smile to ease the older girl’s continence. “Although I don’t think I’ll eat anythin’ for now. My stomach is still kinda upset.”

Kasumi didn’t really look entirely convinced, but fortunately didn’t press further and help her finish taking care of her hair and even put a little bit of makeup on her face to hide how tired she looked.

After that was dealt with they went down the stairs to the dining room, the redhead didn’t know how much time she spent on taking care of herself but it must have been some time, because all other members of the family were already there. Even Ryoga - who to the redhead's surprise was wearing a new Furinkan uniform - was sitting at the table, looking at her with a worried expression, really similar to Kasumi’s. She must have informed them what’s going on with Ranma this morning.

“How are you feeling, Ranma?” asked her fiancé.

Ranma felt strange, she still couldn’t get used to the fact that Ryoga was actively worried - or something of that sort - about her. Normally, no one worried about her, thinking that she would somehow get out of trouble. It was kind of nice to hear that someone was worried about her.

But even now, somewhere deep down her father's voice was berating her, calling her weak for allowing anyone to worry about her. Ranma was supposed to be a man among men, someone who was supposed to take care of others not being taken care of.

Only… I’m no longer a man,she thought, still feeling a little bitter about it.

“I’m fine, Ryoga,” she said, trying to hide the emotional conflict within her. She walked towards the table and sat next to the Lost Boy, feeling a little awkward about it but couldn’t find any good excuse to not sit next to her new fiancé. She refused to look at his face. She still didn’t feel good and she wouldn’t like to show just how strange his face was making her feel lately. She was confused enough and didn't want to deal with it first thing in the morning. “It’s just morning sickness, not a big deal… but I guess that I’ll skip today’s breakfast. I don’t think I will be able to eat anything at the moment.”

“Come on, Saotome, why does it have to happen today?” asked Nabiki, still a little groggy from sleep and holding her usual coffee mug like it was at least a national treasure. “You’ll miss Akane’s cooking, you know?”

“Akane’s making breakfast?” asked Ranma, suddenly glad for the morning sickness, completely forgetting about her fiancé. She was really wondering why the black haired girl was still trying, she clearly wasn’t cut to do this kind of work.

“Har Har, laugh as much as you want, Nabiki!” Akane yelled from the kitchen, clearly irritated. “I need to practice sometimes, but with Ranma and Kasumi always in the kitchen I never have a chance, you know?! I’ll never be good at it if I don’t do it, right?!”

Ranma grimaces, remembering all the time that Akane was trying to feed her with her “meals” that she was trying to make over and over again all these months. She never really improved, no matter how many times she tried. Actually it seems to get even worse each time she would fail and the redhead would throw up or faint trying to force herself to eat any of that.

She was lost in hell of the endless flashbacks of Akane showing off her monstrosities one after the other when finally she showed up for real. The youngest Tendo was walking in with an enormous plate of something that looked like a little burned scrambled eggs with a lot of spices, a lot of vegetables in all colors of the rainbow and all of that was half covered in sauce that probably was ketchup or something similar. In short, all the people in the room were trying not to show just how horrifying they were by the look of the thing they were supposed to eat.

Ranma was about to join in when the smell of this “dish” finally reached her. Normally most of the things Akane would make smelled terrible but this time it actually smelled somewhat good. Ranma looked at Akane, who by some miracle had produced food that still looked awful, but the redhead didn't find it disgusting and was even curious to taste it. She was wondering if maybe today was the day of miracles and maybe the black haired girl actually improved.

Strangely no one else seemed to notice that fact, their faces still looked grey and most of them were trying to keep a little distance from the table except for Ranma, who even if still not feeling well was drawn to the center of it by the smell of the food.

“Ok, everyone, what do you think?” Akane asked, looking quite nervous, trying to hide the fact that she for sure noticed that no one was really looking forward to eating her dish. “I made fried rice today.”

Normally at that moment Akane would try to force Ranma to try it first but since the atmosphere between them was still awkward and the redhead just announced that she wasn’t feeling well it was out of the question. They were all looking at each other, waiting for someone to fill her role but it was clear that no one wanted to do it.

“Well, I’m not eating that,” said Nabiki, breaking the silence and starting to get up from the table. “I'm sorry Akane, but I think I'll try my luck at the school cafeteria.”

It felt like the spell was broken. Suddenly everyone started to find excuses to end the breakfast early and leave the dining room altogether while trying really hard to avoid looking at Akane who was looking very tired and defeated. Ranma wanted to go to her and reassure her that she really noticed that she improved but she wasn’t sure if her ex-fiancé would believe her. Probably will say that she didn’t need my pity or something, she thought feeling lost and helpless… unable to reach the girl she really cares about.

“So… how do you get that uniform?” asked Ranma, trying to change the heavy atmosphere between them. She, Nabiki, Akane and Ryoga were walking together to school, but after they all refused to even taste Akane’s breakfast they were walking in complete and heavy silence. It has been a week already, but they were still not used to changing their morning routine. Without Ranma pursued by Akane every morning, everything was different, the air between them, though quiet and peaceful, was tense and uncomfortable.

Ranma was feeling really embarrassed about holding Ryoga’s hand but decided to cling to him like a castaway to a lone driftwood. It wasn’t only because she needed to make sure that he wouldn’t wander off but he was her hope to survive the mental anguish of this uncomfortable silence or at least be someone she could actually talk to.

“I got it for him,” said Nabiki, glancing back at them, looking totally unfazed by the morning fiasco. “It was one of the things I needed to do yesterday. Feel free to thank me, it was really painful to get it that fast.”

That explains a lot, Ranma thought feeling impressed and kind of grateful that the middle Tendo sister was actively trying to help. Ranma herself was still feeling bad about making Ryoga just going with all of this engagement and schooling. At least he would be spared from comments about disregarding the school dress code from all the teachers. She still remembered her first day and an earful she got for her own lack of said uniform.

“You didn’t need to do that, I could just go in my normal clothes.” Said Ryoga looking a little flustered, checking his new clothes like someone who just realized that they were just borrowed and wanted to be sure they’re in perfect condition before they will need to give them back. “Emm… thanks anyway.”

Ranma snickers a little bit seeing Ryoga suddenly walking a little bit stiffer and more careful, probably afraid that something will suddenly attack him and damage his clothes. Her amusement was short lived though, suddenly she realized that they weren’t that far away from the home of that cursed ladle lady. Fortunately it seems like she was ill or something, she wasn’t leaving her house for the last few days, hopefully she was still bedridden.

“Come to think of that, I always see you in the same shirt and pants.” Ranma pointed out, trying to keep the conversation going. “Don’t you have only one set of clothes, Ryoga?”

S-since when you care about what I wear, Ranma?” Ryoga stammered, looking hesitant and defensive. “Besides, a-aren’t you the one who until recently only wore that red shirt? You’re one to talk about dressing the same all the time…”

Ranma felt flustered, not expecting this kind of response. She didn’t understand why he acted so strangely lately, she was the one pregnant so if she were to believe Kasumi, she was supposed to act all strangely and irrational, not Ryoga.

And what’s that comment about her only wearing that one outfit!? She was wearing plenty of other clothes as well, how dare he forget all those times she fooled him with all of those disguises of hers…

“I-I don’t care! I’m just curious, ok?” She huffed, feeling a little offended. “Besides, I'm not really wearing that shirt anymore…”

“Yeah, I n-noticed.” Ryoga nodded suddenly turning red and quickly looked the other way. Ranma was actually glad because thanks to that he couldn’t see her and her bright pink face.” Look, I’m getting lost all the time and frankly I didn't need a bunch of new clothes in my backpack, it’s already quite full as it is. Besides, my normal clothes are really sturdy and survived all that time when I was after you…” He continues stuttering here and there while trying to compose himself once again.

“Anyway, I like them and that’s that,” he added quietly.

Ranma didn’t say anything, glancing nervously at the dreaded house she was walking by each day, hoping and praying that the only enemy she was never able to defeat was still somewhere else. This must have been her lucky day, since some kami must have listened, allowing them to leave safe and dry once again.

You should think about buying some new clothes, Ryoga.” Said Nabiki not carrying at all that they just safely avoid the redhead’s personal nemesis. “If you’re serious about sticking around here with Ranma you should stop thinking like a nomad. You can’t just have only one set of clothing.”

“I don’t think that's the problem, actually,” Ryoga shook his head, dismissively.

Ranma thought about her room and the steadily growing wardrobe she was now owning. As a guy Ryoga didn’t really need that much new clothes since all of the men’s clothes were kind of similar to each other. She was a little jealous of that, her own clothes were great and all but learning about all of these different choices and which blouse or dress should go with which accessory or shoes was a nightmare to learn. She kind of wished there were a little less to choose, not more.

“Really?” Nabiki looked at the boy with amusement and a mischievous smile. “So when you finally take Ranma on a date, you’ll just go with that patched up old shirt and pants? I’m sorry for her already…”

Ranma felt her heart speed up and her head redden as Ryoga tugged on her hand, almost tripping, safe only because of her fiancé's steady grip.

"W-Who s-said anything about a d-d-date?" Ryoga stummered, his free hand scratching his head while his eyes were everywhere but Nabiki or Ranma. “I-I d-don’t…"

The redhead was standing there, looking at her ex-rival, feeling strangely irritated and hurt for some reason. She didn’t really think about any of that and she never really considered going on a date with a guy before but looking at Ryoga fidgeting under Nabiki’s stare made her feel a little angry. She didn’t know how to think about this.

“But you’re Ranma's fiancé now, right?” Nabiki continued her relentless teasing, crossing her arms over her breasts making this ‘I wonder how many buttons I can push’ face that the redhead knew a little too well. It was her classic strategy, one that Ranma was able to figure out only recently after falling for it countless times before. “And it's rather close, looking at the state it's in.... you won't back down from your responsibilities right, Ryoga?

Ryoga glanced at Ranma suddenly looking like deer in the headlights, realizing that the redhead that was still holding his hand was joining in with the stars. Even Akane was now looking back at them, curious about what happened next, but not enough to intervene.

“I…I…” He was looking back and forth looking anxious and extremely uncomfortable. Normally Ranma would be delighted, seeing how Ryoga was making a fool of himself once again but it was in the past. Too much stuff has happened between them and even if she really felt pissed off at him a few seconds ago now she felt really guilty, seeing how lost and trapped he looked. It was especially not ok, knowing that Ryoga was perfectly capable of just letting go of her hand and running away but decided to stay with her.

“Alright Nabiki, stop teasing him…” Ranma sighs and decides to step in. She looked at Ryoga's anxious face and hoped that he was able to see that she was sorry for joining in with the teasing, even if only for a moment. It was all fun and games in the past but it didn't feel right any more. She didn’t know what kind of game the middle Tendo was playing right now but she didn’t like it.

“Aren’t you a protective girlfriend, Ranma-chan,” Nabiki smiled at her, changing the target without missing a beat. Ranma was expecting it but once again failed to grasp how cruel and sharp the brunette was.

“Wha.. I ain’t anyone’s girlfriend!” She yelled, feeling hot all over, too embarrassed to look at Ryoga but too proud to let Nabiki win. Unfortunately Ranma wasn’t as quick witted as the mercenary girl and couldn’t come up with any good come back on the spot, resorting to just sending dagger with her eyes at the older girl and clenching her fists in frustration.

“Yeah, yeah, I know…” Nabiki said, waving her hand and smiling gently, satisfied with the reaction she got out of them. Ranma never really knew when she would be helpful and when she would just want to have a laugh at their expense. “Still all of you should think about it. You’ll be parents soon, right?”

“It ain’t you freakin’ business!” Ranma yelled back, but Nabiki was already walking ahead, giggling to herself. Ranma stood there for a moment, glaring at the girl until a gentle tap on her shoulder brought her back to the present.

The redhead glanced to the side, seeing that Ryoga was looking at her clearly in pain with his right eye twitching slightly. Ranma realized that all that time she was just crushing his hand with her own and didn’t relax her grip even now, when Nabiki was so far ahead.

Ryoga and Ranma were walking together, left behind by both Tendo sisters. She always felt a little upset when Akane didn’t wait for her but this time she actually didn’t mind. Walking side by side with the Lost Boy was actually a breath of fresh air for the redhead, even if she still felt bad for hurting his hand, it was a little embarrassing.

“Maybe that’s because I rarely interact with anyone other than you and Akane but… I really don’t understand Nabiki,” said Ryoga with an anxious sigh.

“Don’t worry, I don’t get it either and I live with her,” Ranma reassured him. Sometimes she thought that maybe Nabiki was the most twisted person she knew. They all were screwed up in some way but Nabiki was also really smart, something that Ranma couldn’t really tell about herself, even if she won’t ever admit it to anyone.

“Even so, maybe she was onto somethin’. I…I guess we’ll need to talk about this whole being parents and engagement stuff,” Ranma said, feeling really weird and uncomfortable bringing this up. “I still can’t believe that I’ll need to m-marry you, Ryoga. I-I mean…”

“Tell me about it…” Ryoga sounded tense and a little amused. He tightened his grip on her hand, his palms were sweaty and rough but she didn’t mind it as much as she thought she would be. “I never thought that I would need to marry another guy…”

“I’m not a guy!” Ranma objected, surprising both of them. She frowned, feeling a little strange. It was true that she was getting really used to being a girl and it was beginning to be fun and enjoyable on a few occasions. Still she wasn’t sure why she reacted so strongly about it. Like she was insulted by that statement. “At least not anymore…”

Ryoga looked at her, probably even more unsure of what to do. She heard him insulting her by calling her a girl on so many occasions and each time she was feeling agitated, feeling like beating him up for insulting her like that. Hearing her not denying it but even so strongly must have been really out of character for Ranma.

Well, guys can’t get pregnant so…

“A-anyway it still feels really weird. Even thinking about you as a girl…” Ryoga was stuttering, not even looking at Ranma which was good because the redhead also didn’t look at him, too busy admiring her own shoes. “I still don’t know how it happened… I was supposed to be your nemesis, Ranma. Not some knight in shining armor or some other crap…”

“Screw you, I don’t need no knight in some crappy armor. Martial Artists don’t need anything like that anyway,” said Ranma, giggling at the thought of Ryoga in one of those European armors with helmets trying to jump and dodge her attacks. Who would need a steel can to protect them if they weren’t able to move properly in the air?

“Even so, I guess I want us to get along well in the future” She continued, smiling softly. “At least for Ryoko.”

“Ryoko?” Ryoga repeats the name, a little confused. It was understandable, no one they knew didn’t have that name. At least until now.

“Yeah, that’s her name,” Ranma nodded, despite the embarrassment her smile widened when she started imagining what it would be like to finally one day hold the little girl she was really dying to meet. “And no, you don’t have a say in that matter. Get pregnant, then you’ll be able to choose a name.”

Ryoga looked at her with wide eyes, his mouth was open like he was about to say something but he closed it soon after and became thoughtful, quietly walking, guided by the hand by Ranma.

Please drop it, please drop it, please… Ranma was prying, hoping that Ryoga would just stay silent about it. It was already embarrassing to talk about something so intimate like the name of her baby, even if he was her dad and supposedly should have a say about such things. Maybe that was a mistake? If I would take care of her alone I wouldn’t need to worry about him arguing with me about anything regarding Ryoko…

“Why, Ryoko?” Ranma felt a pang in her chest at Ryoga’s question. His voice didn’t really tell her anything and she didn’t want to look at him, suddenly feeling absolutely not ready for any confrontation with the Lost Boy.

Damn it…

“I-I-I don’t know, really… It was just the first name I thought of…” she quickly hid her feelings behind a façade of ignorance, laughing nervously and looking to the side so Ryoga wouldn’t see her. She hated that he made her act like this. It was so humiliating.

“That’s so you, Ranma…” Ryoga snickers at her, making her all awkward and flustered but also relieved at the same time. She felt herself deflate with each step they took.

“Alright, I guess we’ll need to make it happen somehow… for Ryoko,” he said sheepishly and quietly. Ranma realized that she didn’t look at him at all for the last few minutes, too awkward to stop looking at shoes.

After that they continued walking in silence which this time actually felt a lot more comfortable. It was so surreal that Ranma was able to walk beside Ryoga without fighting, shouting and name calling that was so common for the past few months. Now they were just walking, without unnecessary small talk, it felt wrong somehow for the redhead but strangely comforting nonetheless.

Now, how do we do this… I never had a fiancé that was a guy… Ranma ponders how to deal with this problem. She really wasn’t too pleased with the idea of one again being a center of attention as a former guy suddenly engaged to another guy, she still didn’t really deal with the fallout of her “coming out” as a girl, or whatever Hikari called that the other day. She knew that some of the students would once again snicker at her and look at her strangely.

The worst in all of this was that she probably didn’t really have a choice. She just had this clumsy and embarrassing talk with Ryoga about “doing it for Ryoko”, so she couldn’t really back down. Ranma saw no other solution but to simply take it in stride and somehow don’t die from another embarrassment. At least now she would have someone to join her in her misery.

Her musings were interrupted when she realized that their surroundings were no longer quiet. She blinked a few times looking at the building of Furinkan High which seemed to just appear in the air, filled with students who looked at them strangely.

“What’s this…?” Asked familiar voice standing out above the noise of the crowd and felt annoyed and tired. It seems that it will be a really long day.

“...after accidentally ingesting my wicked sister’s poisonous concoction I was bedridden for just a measly week. It was only a week and even so it was enough for something so preposterous like this to happen… I knew that my presence on this holy ground was of the most importance but I didn’t imagine it was to this extent…” cried an unmistakable voice of the guy standing before them, his face contorted in anger in disbelief.

“Who are you, to lay your hand upon this beautiful creature?” Kuno, wearing a keikogi and hakama, asked, tightening his grip on his bokken. “My beloved, Pigtail Girl, is that beast of a man holding you against your will?”

Ranma wanted to sigh in exasperation, Why was Kuno here? It was so hard without him pestering me everyday and now I need to deal with this crap one again? And how the hell Akane isn't here, did he avoid him somehow? Ranma was lamenting her monstrous bad luck being stared at by a crowd of students - and who knows how many of them were doing the same from the windows - while holding Ryoga’s hand. She was desperately trying to figure out how to run away from this situation without fighting Takewaki who was starting to lose patients, waiting for an answer.

Then the idea struck her, it was really risky and even more embarrassing but it could actually work in her favor if she will do this right. The only problem was that she would need The cooperation of Ryoga and the boy was now somewhat paralyzed by the gaze of so many other girls looking at them, which made the redhead feel the urge to punch him. He was engaged to her right? Why does he even bother with other girls, they have a bigger problem now!

Well, fuck it, I’m doing it, she thought, pressing herself to her fiancé.

Ranma wraps her arms around surprised Ryoga’s midsection in an affectionate embrace and turns her head to Kuno. “I’m sorry, Kuno-senpai but this is the man I love. It pains me to say it to you but we can’t be together since my heart belongs to another! So please, forget about me and find someone who will love you back!”

She was cringing inwardly throughout her declaration of “love”, trying not to break the character right in front of everybody even though she really wanted to puke right now. She was actually surprised that she didn’t just die from embarrassment here and there considering all the snickering and murmurs of the people around them. It was ok, all of the students at Furinkan were already used to Ranma’s antics, especially after she started going to school as a girl full time.

In a brief moment of pause, she felt guilty thinking about Ryoga that was just staying there petrified by her blatant show of affection. Poor guy was most likely petrified or something at it actually was because of her. Fuck, did I really not think this through? Shit I need to do something…

Ranma glanced at Ryoga’s full blown red face, his eyes were full of shock, embarrassment and something else she didn’t fully recognise but it made her back tingle which was really weird. Even so, he still didn’t say anything and Ranma didn’t want him to ruin this stunt so she released one hand and she pulled up toward his ear by the neck for sure looking really affectionate to the onlookers.

“Listen, this nut job has been trying to date me since day one of me being here but I’m not supposed to fight right now,” she whispered to him, desperately hoping he’ll understand. “It's a perfect opportunity to show ‘em you we are to each other and if not we can just say it was all a stunt to mess with Kuno. Please, play along!”

She pulled away slightly and saw Ryoga looking at her with annoyance and… was that disappointment? Why would he be disappointed? I just publicly humiliate myself saying that I’m in love with a guy! Ranma thought, wanting to be annoyed with him too but feeling cold and hesitant instead even though he just nodded slightly at her. At least he’d play along.

“W-what are you saying Pigtail Girl? What kind of sorcery you put on my beloved, you damn Beast!” Whatever spell you used to ensnare this fair maiden, be sure that I’ll break it and stop your vile reign over her! Kuna declared himself, burning with righteous anger.

“Put your arm around me, we need to sell it, together”, Ranma whispered to Ryoga through clenched teeth and when he hesitantly complied she turned back at Takewaki to continue the show.

“There is no magic here, Kuno! It’s the truth! I love this man and he loves me! It’s fate that we’re with each other and you can’t do anything about it, please give up! You deserve someone better!” She said dramatically, trying to put all of her acting skills into this stunt. She was still repulsed by this but she knew that this idiot was paying much more attention to theatrics than to actual logic so it must have been this way. She still felt like a clown though.

“You want me to ignore the obvious sign that this vile sorcerer’s powers have such a great hold on you, my beloved?” Asked Kuno clenching his bokken even harder. “Nei! I don’t believe it! But fear not, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High will defeat the villain and save you from this dreadful spell he cast on you!”

They were both surprised by the speed of Kuno's attack. The kendoist was almost instantly upon them, jumping into the air and swinging his bokken in an arc aiming at the Ryoga’s free site giving them little to no time to react. Ranma pushes herself from Ryoga, giving him an additional momentum he used to rotate slightly and punch Kuno in the face, sending him flying into the nearby tree splitting it in half. He probably used a little too much power for this hit, but Ranma wasn’t really concerned about it. Tatewaki could take it.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Ryoga shouted, apparently finally finding a way and opportunity to vent his frustration. “If you want to fight with me, do it with me, and leave her out of it, you idiot!”

Kuno struggled to put himself together and stood up, but was only able to do that leaning heavily on his bokken. He looked at Ryoga with defiance and anger.

“I will never concede!” he shouted angrily but soon after his eyes lost focus and the Blue Thunder of Furinkan slumped to the ground unconscious. Maybe Ryoga was more powerful than he seems to be? She thought, ignoring now even louder chatter and whisperings around them and walking towards her fiancé.

“I knew you could do it,” she said, beaming with staged pride and putting her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Thanks for the help, Ryoga, you saved me a lot of trouble.”

The Lost Boy looked at her with tired annoyance and opened his mouth like he wanted to say something but sigh and was about to shake his head but stopped abruptly and smiled wickedly at her.

“Sure thing, you know that I would do anything for my FIANCÉE” he said loudly so that everyone would hear them. The noise became even louder now, accompanied by a few gasps and giggles that made Ranma cringe. She blushed and was about to say something nasty to the guy when he suddenly took her into princess carry by surprise. She yelped but couldn’t do anything more than that, his hand was holding her tight in place, making her unable to move an inch. “Now let’s get out of here!”

Ranma’s face was burning crimson when Ryoga just jumped into the air with her in his arms for all the students to see. “Serves you right,” he muttered, not looking at her.

Ryoga landed on the roof of Furinkan High in a matter of seconds. When both of them looked around and made sure that there was no one else with them, Ranma finally was able to release herself and jump back a little bit from the boy who was holding her a few moments ago.

“What was that in the…” Ranma started, still terribly embarrassed to the point she felt that her eyes started to become a little moist. It was another level of humiliation she never really experienced before.

“That’s my line!” Ryoga snapped at her, clenching his teeth and looking angry at the smaller girl. “What was that in there, Ranma?!”

The redhead was startled, not really knowing what to say. She thought that she was really used to Ryoga getting angry and yelling at her but she always waved it off, knowing that most of the things that he was mad about were his own doing or were just plain fantasy of his. This time was different, now when they weren’t surrounded by the crowd of people she really felt that she overstepped down there and couldn’t really see how to explain herself in a way that would make it all ok.

“I-I told you! It was the best way to…” She tried to say something, but was once again cut off by Ryoga.

“It wasn’t the best way to do anything! It was fucking humiliating!” He yelled at her in really animated fashion, something that Ranma never really saw before and it made her really anxious. “Of course it doesn’t matter to you! You’re used to doing something like that with your disguises and all of that crap, but I’m not!”

That hurt. She didn’t enjoy making a fool of herself any more than Ryoga did. Even when she was in disguise she was ACTING, not fooling around, there was always a purpose to her actions, right?

Yeah, like getting fucking free ice cream, said a sudden voice in her head. She felt ashamed of herself, knowing that she was just trying to fool herself with her logic. She actually was fooling around really frequently in the past and was even proud of it. Proud of being able to fool people and get what she wanted when she wanted.

But Ryoga was different, even if he wasn’t a saint either, considering his P-chan scheme with Akane and this ridiculous lie he would tell anybody about her running away from his challenge. Even so the redhead felt that he didn’t deserve to be put on display as much as he was today. She really fucked up this time for sure.

“I… I’m sorry ok?” She said, dropping her head in defeat. She wasn’t this arrogant jerk she used to be anymore and she kind of started to realize that somehow she shouldn’t just butting heads with people when she was in the wrong. Especially when she felt so bad for the person she was supposed to be trying to build a good relationship with. “It really does seem like a good idea to me… I didn’t know that it would end up like this…” She trailed off, not really knowing what else to say.

“Listen, Ranma…” Ryoga sighs, his voice is tired and strained. Ranma glanced at him for a moment and realized that hasn’t looking at her. He was looking down at the school yard. It was clear that he was really uncomfortable. “As I said before, we… uhh, we s-slept together and now we need to do all this… for Ryoko. I agreed to that engagement and… and m-marriage, I know it must be this way.”

“But please, don’t say you’re in love with me publicly if you didn’t mean it, ok?” He added, turning around to look at Ranma, making her feel all sorts of emotions she neve thought she would feel. He looked confused, lost and really hurt for some reason. For a moment she felt her throat trembling, not really understanding what was happening. All she knew was that she wanted to make it go away. “This situation if fucked up enough as it is… don't mess with my head more than necessary.”

Two of them were standing like this for a few more seconds, looking at each other. Ranma felt like shit, and she probably looked like it too, her whole frame shrunk while she herself was actually fighting with her own body to hold it together. She hated herself today, from the moment she woke up her head was a mess, she was feeling strange, she was acting like an asshole and couldn’t even say sorry properly. She shivered fighting down with her feelings, she didn’t want to look as weak and confused as she was feeling.

Suddenly a familiar noise of the bell rang across the school, making both of them jump in surprise. They exchanged glances, it wasn’t over.

“I guess we better get going, we’ll be late for class.” Said Ranma once again taking his hand with her own and guiding him to their homeroom. She didn’t drag him anymore, feeling apologetic and kind of protective of the boy which she found weird but decided to blame it on her feeling guilty and wanting to somehow make it up to her fiancé.

They make their way to the classroom without stopping or talking to each other. When they finally arrived, both of them were trying really hard to seem completely unaffected by the stares they were getting from basically everyone. Or maybe it was only Ranma, Ryoga looked to cough up whatever was going on inside his head to notice anyone else and was just walking after the redhead.

The fact that they were walking through the classroom still holding hands suddenly started to feel really uncomfortable to Ranma. When she finally was able to sit and guide him to the empty desk near her she made a sigh of relief, the damage was done but at least she could try to minimize it as much as possible.

Ranma took her seat with Akane and Ryoga on both sides and still was painfully aware of the awkward glances she was getting from everyone else, even the youngest Tendo joined in, smiling strangely, probably because she saw the scene they caused from the window. All of that didn’t last long, because their math teacher came into the class almost a moment after the redhead took her seat. Thank Kami for small miracles, she thought, relaxing a little after the feeling of being watched subsided considerably.

Their math teacher was one of those older guy’s that hated wasting time so he promptly took out his clipboard and started calling the roll. When he checked everybody on his list he then looked up, finally acknowledging his students' existence. “...And I believe that we have a new student, starting today. Would you like to introduce yourself, Mister Hibiki? But please, make it quick so that we can start the lesson.”

Ranma observed as Ryoga nodded and got up from his desk, walking to the front of the classroom, trying to look calm but taking much longer and tense steps, clearly showing that he wasn’t calm at all.

Facing his peers, Ryoga introduced himself, “Hello, my name is Hibiki Ryoga, I’m a martial artist, currently living with the Tendoes, thanks for having me.” He was polite but stiff and wasn’t looking at his desk rather than anybody else. When he finished his quick introduction, Ryoga bowed and quickly headed back to his seat, or maybe he wanted to do it but instead turned around and walked towards the door. Ranma sighed and quickly ran towards, grabbing the boy's hand and once again guiding him towards his desk, once again aware of the students' gazes.

“Thanks… and sorry” Ryoga whispered to her when both of them were once again in their seats and the math class finally started. Ranma didn’t say anything else, only nodded. She was trying really hard to ignore everybody else and focus on the lecture. She actually started to be really good at ignoring the background noises of her classmates.

About halfway through the class, Ranma realized that someone passed her a note. It wasn’t something unusual to her as of late, so she was planning to ignore it but after a quick glance she noticed that she recognized the handwriting. It was from Hikari.

Ranma made sure that the teacher was too busy scribbling some strange glyphs or something on the blackboard and quickly read a note.

Ranma.
I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for how I acted with you and Ryoga. I don’t really get along well with some people in our class and I’m mostly quiet throughout the day but with you… I guess I just like to hang out with you and I was a little too much, at least I think I was. I think of you as my friend and I don’t want to see you dislike me for it so once again, I’m sorry. I’ll try to be a little less ‘enthusiastic’ from now on.
Also I don’t know how you want to deal with this but everyone saw you and Ryoga with Kuno-senpai, You wouldn’t want to hear some of the comments the girls were saying after that, maybe you should calm down a bit. But if you want it to be that way, then keep it that way, it works!

Ranma was feeling like burying her face into her hands and disappearing. Her plan was stupid and backfired, everyone else was staring and whispering about her and Ryoga and it was only the first period.

I just want to go home... she thought, looking at the clock, hating the fact that it moved so painfully slow.

Chapter Text

Going back from school often was tough, especially since she decided to finally focus on the actual material and study properly. Since then she would often walk back to the Tendo Dojo overwhelmed by the amount of homework and mentally exhausted by trying to stay focused the whole time during lectures. She even started to kind of get used to it bit by bit over the week. Unfortunately it seems to not be the case any longer.

Walking hand in hand with her fiancé, Ranma felt like she was back to square one, maybe even worse because now she needed to be mindful not only of herself but also Ryoga who turned out to be quite clueless about social interaction. It wasn’t like the redhead knew them much better though and that was the problem.

She was sure that the two of them were making a spectacle of themselves and it was really frustrating and humiliating at the same time.

“Really Ranma, you two should be a little more low key at school, you know?” said Nabiki, her tired and nagging voice mismatched with her mischievous smirk plastered on her face. “You wouldn’t believe how many people came to me today asking about you two… be grateful that I didn’t tell them anything even though they were really curious… and very generous.”

“Yeah, yeah thank you very much, Nabiki,” she murmured, frowning at the thought. Nabiki would be able to really screw them over if she just wanted to. They were really lucky that she was on their side on this. Or at least until someone offers something too good to pass up.... Heck, maybe that was her goal all along....

“I’d say that it was really refreshing, not being dragged into the mess around you, Ranma,” Akane chimed in, smiling lightly and for the first time in a few days it doesn’t seem like it was forced, she was genuinely amused. “You know, I think it was the first time I saw all of this from the side and I got to say… it really looked like you wanted this to happen. I know that you’d say it wasn’t true but I guess I can’t blame others for thinking that way…”

Great, now Akane’s on me too… the redhead thought trying not to let the Tendoes sisters teasing get to her. She was actually kind of glad that Akane was acting a little bit more relaxed next to her. If only she was a little kinder and not made fun of her this much.

“I guess it’s all because of me, right?” said Ryoga, walking obediently after the redhead. “I’m sorry Ranma, I guess I never really thought about the way everyone else is treating you in school. I kind of… I kind of thought that… nevermind, I didn’t really know how the other students treated you there...”

“Don’t be sorry, it’s not really your fault anyway,” Ranma sighed and shook her head. It wasn’t hard to guess what Ryoga was thinking, he was berating and cursing her so much over the last few months that it was actually kind of easy.

Playboy, some kind of perverted schemer who only wanted to peep on girls and all other ridiculous things Ryoga probably thought she was doing in the past. All of the whispers and looks that were directed our way… I guess he had a really hard reality check, she thought feeling a pang of satisfaction. She hoped it would teach him a lesson and he would never think of her that way again.

“You both better brace yourself for tomorrow,” Nabiki added. “Today everyone was really shocked and because I somehow was able to stop the news from spreading as fast as usual you were able to avoid the heat… mostly.”

No one said anything to that. It was a given that the news of Ranma, formerly a self proclaimed man among men who was now a woman walking hand in hand with a boy will be a talk of the whole school for a really long time. The redhead suppressed the groan, realizing that today's uneasy feeling and constant feeling of being judged was only a small portion of the things that will wait for them tomorrow. Suddenly she started to wonder if she could just fake being sick. It would for sure be better than once again having to deal with those idiots at school.

All four of them didn't talk much about it afterwards, the only one who started a conversation at all was Akane, who wanted to talk to Ryoga about his first day at Furinkan. Ranma was a little stunted by this, she didn’t even think about checking on the Lost Boy and felt kind of guilty because of that.

Ranma thought about Ryoko and automatically touched her belly. She was so self centered lately and it started to bother her. Forgetting about Ryoga’s feelings was one thing, even if it surely was bad her fiancé was a big man and ultimately could take care of himself. The thing that really scared the redhead was what if she would neglect her daughter that way too. She saw kids with their mothers from time to time, they were entirely dependent on them and the thought of her screwing something up with her daughter sent a sudden chill up her spine. She tightened her grip on Ryoga’s hand, involuntarily searching for comfort for the guy that promised to help take care of their daughter. You better don’t let me screw this up, Ryoga, she thought suddenly, realizing that she felt dependent on his help. It was so alien, strange for Ranma who until recently was proudly trying to deal with anything on her own. It almost felt wrong to even think about relying on anyone else but her own strength but she knew that it wasn’t the case anymore.

So many things started to be confusing for the redhead lately and it didn’t seem to stop anytime soon.

Ryoga realized that something was wrong with Ranma. The redhead saw his eyes and seemed to ask her if everything was ok. This upset her even more, being clear evidence that she had begun to rely more on other people than on her own hands. She felt an overwhelming urge to snap at the boy for looking down at her.

“Did you hear that?” Nabiki’s words interrupted her previous train of thoughts. Ranma realized that they were almost at the Tendo Dojo when all of them stopped to listen to what the redhead was certain was a very angry and very loud voice coming from the main building. All four teenagers looked at each other for a moment before moving faster into the house with Ranma still holding Ryoga’s hand and dragging him awkwardly after herself.

“... we have an agreement, Tendo! You were supposed to inform me, if Genma or Ranma ever showed up at your door! You swore to me!” yelled the woman’s voice, clearly audible through walls. She sounded angry, almost betrayed.

The redhead wanted to quickly barge in and confront the person inside, but froze the moment her and her father's names were called. She wasn’t the only one, Akane’s hand was about to open the door but she also stopped and exchanged glances with Ranma; What is going on?

They creeped into the house, trying to be as quiet as possible, following the noises coming from the dining room. Ranma thanked whatever Kami was watching them for the fact that no one did not trip or hit something accidentally, she wanted to know what’s happening.

Fortunately whatever was happening was heated enough to let them sneak in and observe the whole situation. The redhead saw Kasumi standing in the kitchen, her head turned to the side, intently watching the scene playing out near the dinner table.

Mr. Tendo was there, his face terrified, so much so that he was sweating profusely, cowering under the pressure that had apparently been ruled out by the mysterious woman who must have been the source of the noise they heard.

The woman stood with her back to them, making it impossible to see who she really was. The only thing that Ranma could see was that she had neatly styled dark red hair and dark blue kimono. She was focusing all her attention on the Tedno Patriarch clinging tightly to something that looked like a shedded blade of some kind.

“Do you know how desperate I was?” She was asking him, her voice was full of pain and betrayal. “I was waiting for so long, with nothing but a few pictures and this ridiculous piece of paper that Ganma left before disappearing… you knew and you did nothing. You broke your promise, Soun Tendo!”

As she spoke, the strange woman took a few steps to the side, forcing Soun Tendo to do the same in the opposite direction while glancing at the door on the courtyard, surely calculating the probability of a successful getaway. The redhead was aware of this fact but she was much more interested in the woman that finally, even if unknowingly showed them their face. For some reason that face felt strangely familiar to her even if she was almost sure that she never saw her before. She frowns, trying to dig deeper into her own memory but failing to find anything useful there.

“Hey Ranma, did you know her?” Nabiki whispered to her, startling her quite badly. It was fortunate that she was able to control herself and stopped a moment before bouncing off from her hiding place.

“No, why?” She whispered back angrily wanting to add that Nabiki should be more careful with her sneaking but didn’t say anything else. She didn’t want to end up in a useless discussion with the middle Tendo when there was something that was much more important.

She only hoped that this woman wasn’t just another fiancé her father sent her way or finally found her after years of waiting or some other crap that she didn’t want to deal with right now.

“Because she looks kind of like you,” Nabiki pointed out, looking thoughtfully at the redhead”. Actually a lot like you, just older.”

What is she talking about? Ranma thought, focusing on the woman’s face suddenly feeling really uncomfortable. She didn’t want to admit that but she actually could see it. The nose, the eyes, the jawline even the way she frowned… they were almost exactly the same.

Akane and Ryoga glanced at Ranma comparing two redheads, also noticing the similarities between them. Ranma was silent, taken aback by the comment which right off the bat seems to be ridiculous to her. Lots of people could look similar to each other, it probably didn’t mean anything much.

“Situation changed, Nadoka-san.” Mister Tendo said, almost pleading while looking like a coward. The first tears began to gather at the corners of his eyes when he was still talking. “You know that I would never lie to you! It’s just that Genma arrived with Ranma in a state that… well, I didn’t know how to break it to you so…”

“What changed? You mean that Ranma is now a girl? Don’t be ridiculous, Sound, Ranma is and always has been a boy. I should have known, I gave birth to him, you know?

Ranma froze, her eyes reverted on the woman in front of her, unblinking. For a moment all other noises felt muted and distant, leaving only a static hum or buzzing in the redhead ears. There has to be a mistake. That woman must be delusional somehow, right?

Her father always said that she didn’t have a mother, he never specified what that meant but she always thought that he was suggesting that she was dead or missing… or abandoned her in the worst case scenario. She was really upset about that, not having a mother in her life, the lack of maternal warmth that everybody else has even a slighter of in their life. She was upset but she thought that she was finally starting to get used to it and letting it go. Ranma was confident that she would be fine even without a mother.

And now there was someone who just came in and made her confidence shake to its foundation with the most dreadful and insidious of ways. She gave her hope.

Ranma swallowed, realizing that she was holding her breath and her hands were suddenly shaking, creating a really quiet tapping sound on the wall she was leaning against. She quickly pulls herself together, trying to not show just how much impact that woman - her mother? - words were having on her. Even so she could feel the eyes of the other three teens on her, it was clear that she couldn’t fake it, she must have been too obvious.

In the meantime the conversation of Mister Soun and Nadoka was still ongoing, with the red haired woman's tone shifted from desperate and betrayed to quiet and angry. Her face still looked hurt and made Ranma feel the hair on her back stand out for a moment and she could feel the tension rising in the air. Mister Tendo was clearly in danger.

“What even is this?” the redhead woman asked, quietly, her eyes firmly locked into the Tendo Patriarch who flinched under her gaze. “Do you know how awkward I felt when this strange woman called me to say that somehow my only Son - or rather my Daughter I guess? - is supposed to live in your house, and if that wasn't shocking enough, she is supposed to be pregnant? Care to explain what even is this? Because if I didn’t have a proper and believable explanation then I swear that you’ll regret this, Sound Tendo.”

With every word, the older woman was walking around the table, circling it with Mister Tendo desperately trying to maintain a safe distance from her, his eyes now similar to the corner animal. But why isn’t he attacking her? Ranma thought her instincts started to kick in while she shifted from the half-crouching position she was in. Truth be told, the redhead never actually saw Soun Tendo even taking the single action before the real enemy, she started to wonder if this man was even capable of fighting back, which made her both mock and help the supposed-to-be-master of her School.

Ranma didn’t even realize that she was halfway through the motion of standing up, when she felt the familiar now rough hand holding her firmly in place. Unfortunately it didn’t matter, her sudden shift in position didn’t go unnoticed. Suddenly the eyes of the two adults and Kasumi shifted towards them.

The eyes of a woman which a moment ago was filled with righteous anger faltered. The other redhead was looking startled and confused. They were both looking at each other, not really knowing what they should do. The woman named Nadoka’s eyes shifted slightly, recognizing something in the redhead before her. One of the hands that was holding her sword slowly started to rise up, like she was about to reach out to Ranma but the moment later it clenched into a fist and pressed into the woman's kimono, trembling slightly.

The tension around the woman vanished and her whole being shifted, suddenly feeling weak and fragile.

“W-who are you?” She asked, her voice was trembling slightly.

“S-saotome Ranma.” the redhead replied, feeling the panic rising inside her. The whole myriad of emotions suddenly start raging inside of her head. She was anxious, she was hopeful but mostly she was scared. The woman before her and this whole situation was overwhelming. “And… and you are…”

For a moment there was no answer. The woman that said that gave birth to her… her mother was just standing there, looking shell shocked, any color that was there before just drained from her face while her eyes were slowly moving up and down scanning Ranma once more. The redhead knew what happened. If that short moment of recognition she noticed earlier was only a glimpse of hope, now the older woman finally saw much more.

The same nose, the same big round eyes, the jawline… and the same face they make when they found out about something they didn’t want to believe were true.

Ranma didn’t even know if she wanted this to be true or not anymore.

“Saotome Nadoka.” she finally said, her voice haggard and weak. She was looking at Ranma with confusion, sadness and denial. Ranma never actually thought about the way she would like to meet her mother but that definitely wasn’t it. The younger redhead just stood there, desperately trying not to shake under the gaze of her mother but knew that her control was slipping. “B-but… but why are you… you look so… what happened?

“What happened to my little boy?” Nadoka asked her face unchanged while a single tear went down her cheek.

Ranma’s body shook, she felt terrified. It was a nightmare. She just found her mother, a woman that she was sure was dead and a part of her mind was overjoyed that she was given a chance to finally meet a person she was missing so desperately…

But her mother clearly didn’t want HER. She was the mother of a boy. A boy that left with his father for a training trip and never came back. She didn’t know anything, didn’t know what her pop did to her, didn’t know about his greed and cruelty, didn’t know about the curse.

She thought back to that moment when she realized that her father had disappeared after learning that she had been locked as a girl forever, when she realized that he really abandoned her. And now she’s going to abandon me too…

I don’t want that! She thought a sudden rush of panic washed over her when she looked pleading into her mother’s eyes.

“I… I can explain…”

“S-sorry I…” Nadoka cuts her off, breaking eye contact and walking as far away as she could from her daughter. “I need a minute…” She said and left through the door into the courtyard without looking back.

Ranma blinked a few times, fighting back her own tears and her trembling shoulders. Her mind felt numb and empty and the only sensation she was now able to register was the familiar now rough hand holding her firmly in place that suddenly felt like the only thing that would keep her together.

The redhead leaned against her fiancé feeling warm and safe. For the first time, she didn't even fight the feeling, but clung to it, afraid to let it go.

“Ryoga… what…what should I do?”

The inside of the Dojo didn’t change a bit, not that it could since there was barely nothing there but still it was nice that it was exactly the same as years before. Nadoka walked into the center of the room, remembering all the times when she came here with Sora so they both could watch their husbands sparring sessions. It felt really nostalgic.

It was a pity that it seemed that nothing in her life could stay the same, everything she once knew or remembered was changing or disappearing. Her longest girlfriend passed away, Soun Tendo turned into a pathetic mess of a man while her own husband vanished into thin air taking her sweet, innocent baby boy with him.

And now it seems that the person she longs for the most, her son, has finally come back to her. But he wasn’t her son anymore and it frightened her too much. She didn’t want to believe it, she wanted to deny it but it was impossible. The strange little girl who appeared in front of her was just a mirror image of Nadoka from years ago, to the point of being almost frightening. Even so, nothing was more frightening than the look on her son… her daughter… Ranma’s face the moment she ran away.

She blew it, she knew that no matter if she could make it up to Ranma, she would never forget it. Nadoka breathed deeply trying to calm herself down, remembering her training. Emotions are a scary thing but they can be controlled, she thought remembering her old teacher while unwrapping her katana and going through the familiar motions. I just need to take control again.

Nadoka unsheathed her sword and started doing her kata. At first she hated it, she never really wanted to pick up the sword in the first place. If only Genma didn’t have this brilliant idea of his then I wouldn’t have to, she thought bitterly, swinging her katana in a trained and graceful motion. She would never forget that day. That moment when she walked into her son's room the only thing she could find there would be this cursed Contract and even more cursed letters full of gibberish. She forced herself to stop thinking, so she decided to speed up.

The Saotome Matriarch has no talent in martial arts, her movement always been sloppy, she would often drop her sword mid swing or graze a thing or two while practicing. She knew that she would never really be a good martial artist but she didn’t care, she didn’t even want to be good at it. But the practice felt good and helped her stay calm and focus.

She didn’t know how long she was in the dojo, she doubted that it was very long though, she wasn’t even half through with her first kata when she heard it. Someone was coming, someone with slow and uncertain footsteps. Nadoka sighs, trying to keep her cool and shetted her katana. I need to stay calm.

Saotome Matriarch turned around just in time to see a small, petite girl with fiery red hair, who’s one foot was already inside the dojo. Her child was just about to end but now she froze, looking at Nadoka with anxiety. The older woman could almost see the whirlwind of thought and emotions that was swirling inside Ranma’s head.

Finally, the teenage girl sighs and takes another step. Her child was walking toward her, and the growing anxiety and uncertainty evident on the younger girl's face mirrored that of the one inside Nootka. After a few seconds that for her felt like forever they were standing barely a few feet from each other, both of them equally terrified of the other.

Here we go, Nadoka thought, steading herself and clearing her throat, hoping that she really could do this.

“Ranma.” She started, looking at the smaller girl in front of her. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted that way. It's just ... a lot to take in.” She trailed off, unsure what to say next.

“I… I understand,” Her eyes dropped to the ground almost immediately, but her voice did not waver. “It ain’t a way I thought that I would meet ya either”.

Ranma didn’t say anything else for a few moments, allowing Nadoka to observe the smaller girl much better up close. Saotome Matriarch once again was shocked by the resemblance she saw in this girl… in Ranma. Her resolve to stay calm and collected waver a little, when she once again reminded herself that if she wasn’t so stupid back then, she could see her child grown up. She felt overwhelming sadness from the single fact that Ranma was almost an adult and she didn’t see it happen. She simply wasn’t there.

“Sorry, it’s just…” Ranma picked up while her hand started scratching the back of her head awkwardly. “Pops never really talked about you so… I thought you were death or somethin’”

I might as well have been… She thought miserably. Her control collapsed and Nadoka quickly abandoned her katana and took her baby in a desperate hug, wishing that she could take away all this cursed guilt and awkwardness between them.

She knew that wouldn’t happen but she decided to hope.

“Don’t be sorry Ranma, it's not your fault.” Nadoka said, her arms embraced her child even stronger now. “If only I was stronger and wiser… none of this would happen.”

The older Saotome broke off from the hug and looked at her, still holding her at arm's length, her eyes riveted to Ranma’s face.

“My s-, my child…” She started, still having difficulty with actually saying what her son has become. “What… what exactly happened?”

“It’s… it’s a long story” Ranma replied evasively.

Nadoka nodded with understanding. Her child was out there for twelve years, the amount of stories he... she could tell must have been staggering. Even so, Nadoka still wanted to hear them. She desperately wanted to know how it all happened. She needed to know.

“M-mom… why… why did you allow Pop to take me on that trip? Ranma finally spoke up glancing at Nadoka with eyes full of questions and hurt. Nadoka tightened her grip on her child's arms but this time her control didn’t crack.

Saotome Matriarch forced herself to put a slight smile on her face.

“It’s a long story.” She said, copying Ranma.

Both of them looked at each other and giggled. A heavy tension hanging in the air finally felt less oppression and Nadoka could her child arms easing up under her hands. Feeling relieved and happy, the older woman also started to relax.

“Come on, sit with me.” She said, directing the younger girl to the corner near the old Dojo Sign. It was her favourite place where she and Sora Tendo used to sit together to gossip and comment on their husbands sparring sessions. “I guess we both have a story to tell.”

Nadoka and Ranma sat down on the floor, facing each other, even with tension eased between them both of them still weren't entirely comfortable with each other.

“So, maybe you should start, Ranma.” The older Saotome suggested, hoping to finally hear what Genma did and what her child was up to for all those years. “I gotta say that seeing you like this… I am so happy that you came back to me… I just didn’t expect that you would look… like this” The moment she said those words Nadoka knew that they were true. Even if she always wanted her manly son to come back, no matter how Ranma looked she was just glad he- she was here and was safe.

Even so, I hope that Ranma doesn't suddenly change even more. I don’t know if I could stand something like this once more.

“Oh, don’t worry, M-mom.” Ranma waves her off which made Nadoka confident that no matter what exactly happened was something she should worry about. “It ain’t that simple, see… When me and Pops were in China we went to Jusenkyo - it’s a place with a lot of cursed springs - and then we sorta… got cursed? That’s why I look like this.”

Magic... So there is real magic? Nadoka pondered while looking at her child. Normally she wouldn’t believe it, who would even believe in such a thing… but the proof was in front of her. The girl that was sitting next to her was Ranma, she was sure of that.

But why would they even go to such a dangerous place?

“Let me guess.” She sighs with barely contained exasperation. She was pretty sure she knew why they were there. “Your Father was responsible.”

Ranma didn’t even say anything. She just nodded.

Genma, my stupid, stupid husband… what did you do?

Nadoka was worried. Genma always was reckless, borderline stupid when martial arts was involved but she really thought that this would not affect their child. He promised to her that he wouldn’t involve their son in anything too dangerous.

Looking once again at her new daughter, Nadoka was really worried that maybe she underestimated just how wrong she was about her husband.

“Ranma, dear…” The older Saotome looked intensively at the younger girl. “please, tell me everything”

When she asked her for this, Nadoka knew that it would be a long story, but she didn’t expect it to be that long. She was sitting still, looking at her daughter recounting events of her training trip and the first thing that she realized was just how much patience it took for her to not stop the girl to correct the way she spoke. It was something that was bugging her ever since she heard her daughter speak - she has a terrible accent and a way of speaking of a country bumpkin. Nadoka made a mental note to teach the redheaded teen how to speak normally. Even if it was strange to think that way about her son-now-daughter it was unbecoming for a girl as cute as she was to talk like this.

As her tale continued Saotome Matriarch stopped caring about Ranma’s speech, she was looking horrified at her child who was casually recounting countless crazy ‘ways of training’ her father used that any normal person would classify as nothing more than child abuse and the fact that her daughter didn’t really react to her own tale in a way that a normal person would, speaked volumes. Nadoka felt an unbearable pain in her chest realizing just how much Ranma must have gone through and it made her feel sick.

There was only one moment her child’s emotional mask cracked. The older Saotome looked at the stuttering teen when she started talking about some training that involved a pit full of cats but was unable, or unwilling to go into any details, shifting uncomfortably at the clearly haunting memory. It took the teen a few more minutes to shake it off and continue her story but Nadoka still couldn’t stop thinking about the whole thing. Just how bad her journey with Genma had been and how she was able to survive physically not even mention mentally was beyond the older woman's comprehension.

“ … And we are stayin’ here ever since.” Ranma said, smiling slightly, but after a moment her face drooped and her eyes fell to the ground, looking depressed. “At least I am. Pop ditched me a week ago after realizing that I’m stuck as a girl for good.

Nadoka was looking crestfallen at her daughter, feeling the need to kill something. Preferably some damn Panda. Ranma went from looking really happy and excited to talk to her about her life - as hellish and unbelievable as it was - to looking so alone and betrayed that the older Saotome’s heart was about to break. No child should go through something like that.

“I never wanted you to leave, Ranma. If it were up to me I would never let you go.” Nadoka looked at her only child with guilty eyes, fully aware that it was the truth. She was the one that gave her husband an opportunity and the means to do what he wanted. It was all her fault..

“When you were very young, your father often took you everywhere.” She continued, her voice was dripping with mockery towards herself and her husband. “My family… was very strict about gender roles, behaviors and a specific way we should raise our children.” Nadoka sighs, mentally beating herself for being so stupid as to even listen to her family. “Because of this I never questioned your Father's motives. I was even proud that Genma was so attentive and interested in your upbringing, deepening the bond between you and raising you as a manly man. That’s why I didn’t think much when he took you for that cursed training trip. I should have known that something was not right when I saw the letter that he left behind…”

“What letter?” Ranma asked, quietly completely engrossed in her story, almost like a child listening to a new fairy tale. Genma must have kept all of this away from her… my poor child…

“Doesn’t matter, dear. It was a lot of garbage and crazy talk anyway. It was so absurd that at first I thought that it was some kind of joke or another one of your Father's antics and Kami knew that he had a few…” She shook her head, now that her child was finally with her, she really started to understand just how much choice she made marrying Genma. She was so caught up with her grief and loneliness that she didn’t even ask herself if she even wanted him to be back. Now that Ranma was here, she wasn’t really sure if she wouldn’t be happier if he would disappear forever.

“I just waited patiently for your return.” She continued, looking back at her miserable past. “But a week has passed… then another… There was no news about you or Genma and… and then it occurred to me that maybe that crazy letter and Contract he left behind… that they were serious…”

“I visited all the friends and colleagues your father had at that time but no one knew anything either, even his best friend Soun Tendo,” she said that name with a little more aversion that she intended to. The way Sora’s husband changed after her friend’s death was shocking and disappointing but she didn’t want to talk with Ranma about that at the moment. She sighs and feels the weight of all the years of loneliness on her shoulders. “All I could do was wait, desperately searching for any news about you two, but I couldn’t find anything… until the woman from CPS called me… I didn’t have anything else to lose at that point…”

Nadoka’s whole body trembled slightly, remembering the desperate excitement she felt at the motion of her child’s name and the sudden confusion and hurt when listening more. At this point, she was really tempted to just end the conversation and break something to regain hope for some reason.... but she didn't, and now she was thanking whatever kami was there that she didn't.

“We've both been screwed, haven't we?” said Ranma after the Saotome Matriarch stopped talking. Both of them looked at each other with mutual understanding. It was a quiet and strangely comforting thing that wasn’t there before but the older woman really appreciated it. It really felt good to really talk to someone.

“That’s not the language I would use, dear.” Said Nadoka nodded before frowning slightly at the girl. “But… Yes, I guess we were.” She then realize reached out and squeezed her daughter’s hand. Ranma went through so much, suffered for so long.... she didn't want to add anything more to the suffering this child had gone through. “But that’s in the past now. We’re finally reunited and believe me that I won’t let anyone take my child away from me ever again.”

Saotome Matriarch smiled mischievously at her daughter, her heart, though still aching from the loss of her son, finally beginning to feel whole again. She felt the warmth that she thought that she would never feel again. Finally she can be a mother again.

“Now, Ranma… Could you tell me more about that boy whose hand you were holding back there?”

The atmosphere in the dining room was strange to say the least. Soun Tendo glanced at the place that not too long ago stayed his favourite old shogi board. Even if his friend was much different - in a troublesome way - than in the past he really missed Genma. At least with him around he could disassociate from most of the strange and complicated things that were happening around the Dojo. He realized that he had been doing this more and more lately and was no longer able to… and he missed it terribly.

He also felt really ashamed of himself. The memories of the first night after his best friend ‘disappeared’ played out in his mind once more. For the first time in a while, he felt as he had in the past, righteous and purposeful, ready to help Ranma, who was so frightened and vulnerable that he… she seemed to crumble under the slightest pressure.

It was a good feeling, but like all the other things in his present life it didn’t last. He once again fell off, swayed by his own weakness and the promise he made with Ranma’s father. Soun was a weak man and he knew it but couldn’t find the way to fight it and even now he was trying to salvage whatever he could from their original plan.

But he didn’t know if he actually could do anything this time around.

He never would have guessed that Nadoka would find out especially after Genma was taking so many precautions. His old friend told him all about the Seppuku pledge he signed with Ranma all those years ago. The honorable contract must always be fulfilled and so when Genma arrived at his Dojo with his son he knew that they needed his help.

It was one thing to lose his best friend and fellow practitioner but Ranma’s death was unacceptable. After all, he knew that their schools must be joined!

At least that was the idea at that time, but now everything was different and their long, cherished dream snuffed out by none other but their children. It was so depressing that he felt like crying every time he thought about it. Oh, where’s Saotome-kun when I need him the most, he thought once again looking at the empty space where his trusted shogi board should have been.

“They’re taking their sweet time in there,” said Nabiki, laying on the sofa absentmindedly looking at some magazine he didn’t recognize.

“Don’t be like that, Nabiki,” said Kasumi, gathering empty cups from the table. “Ranma-chan and her mother didn’t see each other in years. It’s not surprising that they need some time for themselves”

What’s surprising is that Nadoka didn’t even mention anything about the Contract, Soun thought actually pondering what that ment. He knew Genma’s wife and he knew that when she was still meeting… his wife and he were sure that if she and Genma made a Contract she would act on it without hesitation. Something was definitely wrong but he didn’t know what and he was sure that he would find out what that was. Not now anyway.

“Do we even know if she’s really her mom?” Asked Akane, looking at her middle sister from across the table where she sat with her father and Ryoga. She looked sceptical and distant, completely opposite to her previous energetic, loud demeanor Tendo Patriarch once again regretted the fact that his recent behavior deteriorated his closeness with his youngest daughter. She wouldn’t say anything to him, always finding some excuse to keep him in the dark. “She just appeared out of nowhere and…”

“Akane, do you need glasses?” Nabiki interrupted looking up from her magazine. “They are practically identical except for age… and size…”

“Well… that’s true but…” Acane tried to argue but everyone could see that she was getting nowhere. “How did she even know that Ranma’s here?” She asked, not backing down which Sound found admirable even if not necessary. Everyone in the family knew that there were practically no real arguments with Nabiki when she decided to have an opinion on something in this house, Unless you are a Patriarch, he thought feeling slightly better.

“Oh, I guess that would be because of me,” said Kasumi with her usual smile, completely out of the blue.

Soun looked at his oldest daughter dumbfounded for a moment before he realized what she just said to them.

“What?!” He and Akane asked at the same time, mouth agape at the usually serene and passive girl. Tendo Patriarch has a really hard time coming to terms with the fact that Kasumi could betray him like that, even without knowing. His mind just couldn't understand how something like that could happen.

Nabiki smiled at her older sister, looking really smug. “I’m really glad that everything went smoothly,” She said.

“Just like I told you. It worked perfectly.” Kasumi replied, sharing a strange look with her younger sister. They're conspiring with each other! He realized with wide eyes.

Soun felt a shiver going down his spine, there were many more shifts in his family dynamic than he thought and he suddenly felt really disoriented and scared. He didn’t know what’s going on and was desperate to get even a slightest hold on the situation he was in right now.

“Wait, hold on for a second… What are you talking about, Kasumi? He asked with a weak smile, trying to not look as lost and betrayed as he currently was.

“Exactly, sis. What do you mean?” Akane also asked to make the Tendo Patriarch feel a little better. He was not the only one out of the loop. It wasn’t much but it was something.

“Oh, nothing much.” Kasumi waved them off with the same serene smile she always has. “Nabiki just asked me to report the Ranma situation to the right people when she went for her appointment the other day.”

Soun was stunned. What did they do? They really reported all of this to the authorities? What were they thinking?!

It was bad, really bad. If there was one thing that the Tendo Patriarch didn’t want to deal with other than Nadoka it was the police, even if he himself didn’t really know anything. He was worried about Genma, who actually did some pretty dangerous and almost certainly illegal things during his stay in Soun’s Dojo. The last thing he wanted was to have his best friend to be searched for after police found out that Genma was staying in his house.

He was so caught up with his anxious visions of the future that he was completely missing the ongoing conversation.

“So that’s where you disappear!” Ryoga said, having this ‘I finally figured it out’ look on his face. “I thought that you were just catching up with that friend of yours”

“Exactly, Ryoga-kun but yes I also caught up with my friend after that” Kasumi replied and glanced at all the people in the room, with her back straightened a little more than usual, looking strangely proud of herself. “When Nabiki told me about her plan I couldn’t just say no. I had to help my new little sister.”

“You know, If I were in your shoes I would be on my best behavior Ryoga.” Nabiki snicker while looking at the Lost Boy with great amusement. “Remember that right now Ranma’s talking with your future mother-in-law.”

Ryoga for his part, suddenly looked pretty terrified, which made Soun break from his previous stupor. He smiled, recalling how he and Genma used to look this way when their wives were mad at them for some irrelevant reason. The boy didn’t even know what will happen to him in the near future, especially if Nadoka’s passed down her temper to Ranma.

His face quickly fell off when Tendo Patriarch recalled the thought he left off and once again felt icy panic crawling up his spine. It wasn’t the time to be amused, the situation he and Genma were in was dire.

“It isn't the time for being smug, didn’t you think what would happen if the authorities really took interest in all of this?!” Soun lashed out at Nabiki gathering all the attention on himself. He blinked a few times, shocked by his own actions and automatically started scratching the back of his head while smiling anxiously at the teens. “I mean… What if they actually would send the police? Do you want them to take Ranma with them for questioning?”

Soun realized his mistake a little too late, forgot that Nabiki had her eyes on him after she found out of his involvement with Saotome's latest plan for Ranma.He quickly remembered everything, when she sit down property and looked at him with with this terrifying face that, he know now ment business. Suddenly the fact that he was this family Patriarch didn't seem to be that big of a deal.

Soun’s eyes watered a little bit, he tried really hard to ignore it but the scenes like these clearly indicated the sad truth. His two younger daughters were really mad at him and he didn’t know why. All he ever did was to secure their both families future, no matter the cost. Unfortunately it looked like his children didn’t understand it and it was breaking his heart.

“Well, Dad… that was the idea.” Nabiki explained to him, tilting her head slightly to the side and smiling with satisfaction. “This or a social worker who would be able to correct Ranma’s documents… but I never thought that they would go to Ranma’s mother. Heck from the way I gathered I was sure that she was dead or something…”

Soun furrowed his brow, reluctant to see the logic behind his daughter's plan: - You should have warned me… us up in advance, Nabiki said. He sighed, returning his thoughts to the sight of Nadoka suddenly appearing before him with a katana in his hand. “I almost had a heart attack...”

“Father it was your own fault that you didn’t keep your promise to Miss Saotome, wasn't it?” Kasumi asked, her usual smile disappeared when she looked at him. Tendo Patriarch’s heart stopped for a second, his oldest daughter's expression almost never changed during this whole disaster. But if it changed only after she looked at me… Soun dropped her head in defeat and tears started streaming down his cheeks when he finally understood the full magnitude of the situation. It isn’t only Akane and Nabiki… all of my children hate me now… and Nabiki didn’t even do what he threatened him to do.

This cleare distrust and aversion they showed him was too much for the middle age man. These three girls were his only family, the only thing that his dear wife left for him to take care of clearly was shoving him away.

Soun didn’t lift his eyes too ashamed and sad to look at his children who he now knew he failed. Previously he did what Nabiki coerced him to do but now it was different. He actually started to think that maybe he and Saotome really did go too far with his lifelong dreams.

Ryoga finally seems to shake off whatever he was dealing with after Nabiki's smirky comment and looks curiously at the Tendo Patriarch. “How do you even know Ranma’s mother, Tendo-san?” He asked, “Even Ranma didn’t know that she still has a mother.”

“Exactly dad, I want to know too.” Akane added, looking at him expectantly. “You never mentioned her before, nor was Mister Saotome.”

Soun finally looked up and saw that everyone in the room once again was looking at him. He stopped crying and cleared his throat. He didn’t want them to know that he and Saotome deliberately avoided that woman. “Nadoka-san is Genma’s wife, of course I know her. We just haven't talked to each other in quite a while so…”

Nabiki squinted at him, making him sweat a little bit under her gaze “And why didn’t you, Dad?” She asked.

He started fiddling with his hands trying to come up with some clever explanation when suddenly they all heard footsteps coming from the dojo, making the middle aged man inwardly sigh with relief. It was short lived however since after gaze followed the sound he once again felt his whole body tensing up at the sight of two nearly identical women walking side by side toward them.

Soun mind was in a state of disarray, his initial fear of Nadoka was wrestling with his inability to comprehend that despite what the Contract clear terms the Saotome Matriarch clearly didn’t act on it in any way. He couldn’t understand what was happening and wondered if maybe his best friend was mistaken or there was some error in their plan that they didn’t see coming.

He was pondering all of this while two Saotomes came before them.

The younger redhead looked a little embarrassed clearly out of her element. Even so he couldn’t help but notice that for the first time in a few days her eyes looked genuinely happy. “Everyone, this is my mother, Nadoka Saotome”

They all looked at Ranma’s mother who after the formal introduction bowed deeply towards them, looking even more happy than her daughter to the point that she almost beamed in front of them.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for taking care of my child.” She said looking at his daughters while bluntly ignoring the Tendo Patriarch. It stung a little. “Without you I don’t know if we ever could find each other.”

“Ranma told me the gist of the current situation.” She continued looking at the only other man in the room. Ryoga-kun, I would like to have a talk with you and Ranma after this, so I don't go too far from here, please.”

Soun glance pitifully at the young man still sitting at the table. Ryoga was one of the strongest people he ever saw but right now he is frozen solid from fear of his future mother-in-law. Remembering the past the middle aged man felt kinship to the Lost Boy, like every man before him he also terribly dreaded his own mother-in-law… he genuinely wanted to wish him luck, he for sure will need it.

“But the most important issue is this. To protect Ranma’s honor and to handle this whole situation in the best possible way and without any distractions...” Nadoka momentarily glanced at the Tendo Patriarch, making him flinch uncontrollably. “I believe that you two need to get married as soon as possible.”

Soun complexion darkened. He once again looked at the empty space for his old shogi table. He knew that alone he wouldn’t be able to do anything. He sighs There was no one to play and even sake didn’t taste that good without the right company.

He felt like he was about to cry. The dream he and Genma have about joining schools, the primary drive they have for so many years, was collapsing before his very eyes. Sure, the original idea went out the window the moment Ranma permanently became a woman but I was so sure that Genma somehow figured out some backup plan… but now it's all over for sure. Genma’s not here and without him Nadoka will do so much damage and ruin everything we spend so many sleepless nights creating.

Where are you, Saotome?

Chapter Text

Genma Saotome walked into the small, obscured shop, wincing at the sound of the bell. Who in this day and age is still using door chimes? He thought once again irritated that everything was somehow conspiring against him.

His plan for retirement which he was working on for more than ten years was in ruin, he didn’t even know if there was any way to salvage it and his search for the answer how to do it turned out to be a frustrating goose chase.

I just wish that Tendo-kun will be able to handle things at the Dojo, he suddenly gets anxious about the thought. When he was leaving with Ranma all these years ago Soun was his best friend and companion. They were like two peas in a pod and when he proposed the idea of joining their two respecting schools he was on board in a heartbeat. Genma still remembered that time, right after they finally freed themselves from their perverted master and were excitedly planning their bright and safe future.

But now Soun was only a shell of his former self, mostly passive and doing everything Genma would suggest, without any real input. He was sad and disappointed at the state his friend ended up in. Mostly because now it felt like he needed to plan everything on his own with Sound being his well off side-kick yesmen. Seriously if Tendo-kun wouldn’t have this Dojo of his I don’t know if I would even bother… this whole engagement thing already started to be more of a hassle than it’s worth it…

Genma looked around the rundown shop and all the junk that was laying on the shelves anywhere, putting on his usual stoic expression. The first time he ended up in a magic shop he really was awestruck by the variety of items there… only to figure out that all of them were just this, pretty but useless junk. But true to the essence of the Anything Goes Martial Arts even that disappointment was turned into success, all because thanks to that Genma was able to figure out the way to discern which items are real and which were useless fakes. Truly Anything Goes was the best school there is.

The Saotome Partiach used his advanced skills of ki manipulation to sense the disturbance in the ki flow around him. Every magic item out there was this unique way of distorting and bending the ki around it and thus proving that it was a real deal.

Genma finally smiled to himself, there was quite a lot of stuff here that in fact was real. He finally hit the jackpot.

He walked towards the counter where the owner was waiting for him. The middle aged man looked at the older man, who from the first glance seemed to be approaching at least ninety. Genma looked him in the eyes, scammer to scammer and when the older man finally smiled at him, the old wanderer finally walked toward him.

This guy knows his craft, he thought feeling genuinely impressed by the owner bearing an overhaul assortment of his shop. He wasn’t afraid though, he was confident in his ability to judge people and right now he could say at the first glance: this man didn’t know any kind of martial or magical arts. It would be easy.

“Hello, dear customer. What brings you to this rundown little magic shop? Can’t say I have many clients coming in lately,” said the owner, sounding strong and lucid contrary to what Genma had hoped for considering his apparent age.

Saotome Patriarch steadied himself and put his best ‘I’m worried and in need of serious help’ face and slump his shoulders so he could sell his act better. Internally he felt really proud of himself and his mastery of the Art of the disguise and scamming he had perfected over the years on the road.

“I’m in search of a way to perish the sorrow that is plaguing my heart,” he started feeling like he wanted to sound a little more dramatic than usual. “My one and only s-... daughter rebels against her parents and in each passing minute she’s closer to tarnishing her family’s honor but we can’t convince her to listen to us. You probably know, good sir, that kids these days don’t listen or respect their elders.”

“Yes, I know exactly what you mean, dear customer,” The older man nodded thoughtfully at Genma’s performance and smiled knowingly at the ‘distressed father’ before him. “But how can I help you with your predicament? I don’t know your daughter, I’m just an owner of the small shop selling magic trinkets…”

“Well, I was hoping…” said Saotome, playing the embarrassed but desperate parent. “Did you have some way to make my foolish child listen to me? I don’t think I can convince her to listen to this old man’s wisdom other than by using a little more… unorthodox method.”

The old man before him smiled even more, to the point that Genma almost winced and blew out his disguise. Suddenly he felt really anxious and uncomfortable.

“I think I may have something you’re looking for. Let me check in on the back.”

Ranma’s walks to school weren't exactly peaceful, not in the slightest. Sure there were times when she arrived at Furinkan High with almost no distractions or detours but they were so few in numbers that she was tempted to just count them as exceptions to the rule and nothing more. But even after so many times she was doing this, she didn’t really know what to think of it this time.

She was walking hand in hand with Ryoga. It wasn’t that strange since it was a necessity for her fiance to not get lost along the way. What was strange however was the fact that Akane and Nabiki ditched them just after leaving the Dojo, telling some cheap excuses like ‘not wanting to deal with the crazies’ or something. That, and the fact that the Lost Boy was walking much closer to her than before. Much closer.

“Ryoga, knock it off, would ya’?” She said to the guy who was almost breathing on her neck. She was already more than slightly irritated because of the lack of sleep caused by her mother suddenly appearing out of the blue. She was really happy that she was finally able to meet her and all but right now, with all these pregnancy hormones, morning sickness and - she was almost certain - some kind of mood swings she felt really overwhelmed with that sudden situation. She didn’t need that suddenly clingy guy invading her personal space too.

Ryoga looked at her and smiled mischievously at her displeased expression, clearly having a blast doing it. It was a stark contrast to the ‘stomping on eggshells’ approach he was doing earlier which was good - it only made Ranma feel guilty about the whole thing - but at the same time it made her feel all these unfamiliar emotions she didn’t even know the names of.

She knew and saw Ryoga when he was happy, sad, angry or embarrassed. She knew why he would feel that way and what he would do if he would feel any of these emotions… but she was completely at loss when it comes to this guy. The Lost Boy never was… mischievous or clingy or whatever he was right now. The redhead didn’t know what to do around him at the moment and it made her feel funny.

He was like that ever since that ‘talk’ with her mother the other day and it was infuriating. That must be karma for this disaster with Kuno, it has to be, she lamented thinking back to her talk with the Lost Boy on the roof. She knew that she was a little too much but she didn;t think that there would be any retaliation. I guess I forgot how things were between us before Ryoko… I got careless.

“What do you mean, Ranma? I'm just doing what your mother asks me to do,” he said looking so smug that Ranma really was contemplating punching him in the face so that he could keep his distance. It wasn’t good for her to be this close to Ryoga, especially so close that she could feel his arm brushing against her, making her remember the feeling she got when she leaned against him right after her mom stormed out of the Tendo Household. That warm sensation, the strange but great feeling of being protected by his strong arms and…. she really needed to create some distance between each other. It was this or dying from embarrassment and she really could afford to die right now.

“Doesn’t mean that you need to stick to me like glue or somethin’” she said, sending him an angry stare that she started to use to scare a few male students from school. Unfortunately for some reason it didn’t work which made her a little bit more irritated than before. “What were you even talkin’ about there anyway? I didn’t wanna pry but you two talked for some time back there…”

For the first time since they left the Dojo, Ryoga nearly tripped and went out of character, his whole facade crumbling down instantly for some reason. It all makes Ranma even more curious about their private conversation. It must have shown on her face because her fiance seems to have got a foot in his mouth and decided to admire the fence she walked onto so often in the past.

“Alright then, keep ya secrets…” she said, pouting after a few moments of dead silence, suddenly completely uninterested by the whole thing. She didn’t need to press the issue, sooner or later he would spill something on his own as he always does.

Ryoga was holding Ranma’s hand as they walked. It was so strange to once again walk hand in hand with his high school friend like that… even if the circumstances were so fundamentally different right now. Back then he was just grateful for the help and companionship of the fellow outcast boy who didn’t turn on him like the rest of their class but now it was different. He didn’t know what the cause was, maybe this unexpected moment of closeness when Ranma almost fell into his arms from shock of confrontation with her mother or the look of gratitude in her eyes soon after but it fundamentally changed the way he felt about Ranma.

Right now, for the first time he doesn't even know when he feels needed. He felt this strange need to protect Ranma, to be near her, like it was a place he belonged now. He felt at ease when she was around. And it was good, he felt great about it, much to Ranma irritation which surprisingly for Ryoga looks more cute than intimidating. And he knew that his fiance was trying to be intimidating, he knew the look. She was doing the same pissed off expression Akane would make every time she was bad at Ranma for doing something that would displease her in any way.

I wonder if she knew just how cute and girly she looked, all pouty like that, he thought, trying no to smile too much. Nadoka asked him to not provoke or annoy her too much and it was clear that he knew a more carefree approach- which was an absolute hell to maintain- was doing too much already.

Being pregnant really seems like a nightmare, contrary to all the stuff they say on TV and such, he thought, feeling sorry for his redheaded fiancee. He saw her today stumbling from the bathroom after this whole ‘morning sickness’ thing… he never saw Ranma looking so exhausted…

Ryoga couldn’t help but be anxious about the future. He hoped that he would be able to help Ranma take care of Ryoko and be the h-husband that his family would be proud of. The Lost Boy thought back to the ‘talk’ he had with his future mother-in-law and felt a surge of so many different emotions… he also hoped that he’ll be able to uphold the promise that he gave to Nadoka Saotome. If not he already knew there would be hell to pay.

“Ranma dear, could you go out for a moment, I would like to talk to Ryoga,” said Nadoka Saotome, sitting on the only chair that was available in the redhead’s room. Ryoga was really impressed that somehow she still looked imposing and dignified even sitting on a miniature vanity chair. He shuddered at the prospect of having a one on one talk with that woman.

Ranma looked at her mother with an uncertain expression, “Umm, sure mom, if you really think it’s necessary,” she said with a shrug. Ryoga looked at his fiancee's face still pale from stress while her eyes were feverish. She doesn't want to leave, he thought with a pang of sympathy. I can’t really blame her, she just found out she still has a mother, gets scared that she abandoned her again, reconciles… and now she is asked to leave. Did Ranma think that if she won’t be able to see Nadoka, she could disappear? That’s ridiculous.

But Ranma never really was a very logical person and now she’s a pregnant woman so… maybe this really is what she was thinking? Ryoga shook his head and squeezed his fiance's hand. “I’ll be fine, Ranma. Maybe go hit a furo or something?”

Ranma looked at him with her ‘I know what you’re doing’ look thankfully but didn’t argue about it. “If you say so. I guess I’ll go help Kasumi with dinner. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me later.”

“Thank you, Ranma. I will, don’t you worry,” said Nadoka with a strange smile. It looked like she wanted it to be proud but something bothered her so much that it turned out kind of crooked, awkward. Ryoga wasn’t sure what to think about it.

They both observe the redhead’s leaving the room, until the door doesn't slide with a quiet click. At least normally it was quiet but for the Lost Boy it sounded like a loud announcement of his own execution. He swallowed heavily, suddenly feeling an immense amount of pressure. He was alone with a woman who will be his mother-in-law.

It should be a moment when I’m at my beast right? Shit, I couldn’t even change my clothes or anything and I’m sure I look miserable after all day at school… Why would she even want to talk to me anyway? Shouldn’t she want to spend all the time there is with Ranma?

“Ryoga-kun,” Nadoka addressed him formally, which made him flinch slightly at the sudden call from the older woman. He slowly turns to the side to see her looking at him with a neutral expression, studying his every move. “I’m sorry to take your time but I wanted to talk with you about some things and having my… daughter here would be difficult for all of us.” She started talking looking at Ryoga who tried very hard to look like he was paying attention and nodded for her to continue. He started to sweat a little bit, trying to figure out what could be so important to take him to the side to talk about. This… situation is frankly a mess and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I'm very grateful that I was finally able to find Ranma, even if my child is not what I hoped she would be after all these years....” She trailed off but her eyes once again regained focus when they looked at the Lost Boy. “Let me be frank, Ryoga. What do you think about my daughter?”

Ryoga stood there, frozen by the sudden question. Shouldn’t that be something you ask when proposing an engagement? Why ask about it now that we’re already engaged? Did Ranma forget to mention that part to her mother? And why is this making me all sweaty and shivery? What should I say to that one!?

“Umm… what do you mean, Miss Saotome?” He mustered, trying hard not to stutter.

Nadoka looked at him for a few more seconds before she sighed and stood up, making Ryoga flinch once again. She wasn’t really taller than him or anything but something about the way she carried herself made him feel small and flustered. He was really glad that she didn’t have her katana on her, that would be even more intimidating.

“Ranma told me the gist of the situation,” she told him with a sad smile, which took him completely off guard. He didn’t even know what he was expecting right now, but for sure he doesn’t expect to see her looking at him with this… apologetic look on her face. “I know that it wasn’t your fault, neither was it Ranma’s fault. But there you are, expecting a child when you’re not even finished with your schooling. Until now you didn’t even have any help from your parents, me included. I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been for both of you.”

Nadoka moved closer and put her hand on Ryoga’s arm and looked him in the eyes. Normally something like that would make him really. The only people that were able to touch him without making him uncomfortable lately were Akane and Ranma but for some reason he didn’t dislike this woman’s touch that much. The way she was talking to him was making him want to open up to her somehow. This and the fact that she was looking like a split image of Ranma, only a little bit older.

”Ryoga, I am really glad that you value your and Ranma's honor and decided to take responsibility for her and your daughter, it makes me feel at peace knowing that my daughter has found such an honorable and wonderful man like you” she continued, while looking at him intently. “But as I said before, this was not your intention, someone could say you were taken advantage of… you’re also very young and marriage is a lifelong decision which shouldn’t be taken lightly. That’s why I’m asking you, what are you thinking about Ranma? I don’t want you to end up in a loveless marriage, like I did. If you don’t really like Ranma or have any doubts tell me, we’ll find a way to make it work somehow. I don’t yet know how exactly but I’m sure there is a way out of this for you. If you don’t want to of course.”

Ryoga was stunned. He was looking at the Saotome Matriarch but was just too confused to say something. With a little bit of shame he realized a fact about his situation that he somehow missed in all of this. No one even asked him about what he was feeling in regard to this whole marriage. Sure, Ranma was looking at him with a mix of guilt and apprehension from time to time, for sure feeling responsible for what happened… but she also didn’t ask him about this. Do I even want to get married? To Ranma? He pondered a little embarrassed that he was thinking about it seriously for the first time.

Ranma he knew was a narcissistic, stupid, macho boy who was always first to make Ryoga’s life miserable. He never really thought about how he was feeling and was actually first in line to stand between him and the happiness he so desperately sought. He was his most hated enemy and the most powerful rival. His nemesis.

But that was in the past, and the Lost Boy realized that somehow in this really short time he lost the ability to think about Ranma that way. The redhead he now knew was this little shy but feisty girl that - even if not as often as he would like - she was listening to him and was really taking his feelings into consideration now. It was more than anyone really did to him, not counting his family. She was the complete opposite of the ‘man among men’ he knew… and he was sure that she really cared about him… Somehow.

Even Akane didn’t really think about me like that, he thought with a sad realization. She never really thought about me the same as I thought about her… and now with this whole situation between me and Ranma she is even more distant to us than ever before… I guess it’s a burned bridge right now… right?

There was still that thing with Ryoko. He knew that Ranma wanted him to be in her life but what she would do if he decided to just not go with the marriage. He considered the possibility of her lashing out at him about that but as soon as that thought crossed his mind he knew that it wasn’t true. Just like his perception of her, Ranma's perception of him shifted as well and that was clear even to him. Ever since that moment in the Dojo when Ryoga felt their daughter ki, something changed. They were now connected and even if at first he was angry… furious at Ranma for this strange, embarrassing and confusing night a few weeks ago he couldn’t muster the strength to be angry at her now. Not after seeing her face when she would pat her belly from time to time, or today when she emerged from the bathroom after throwing up for half an hour.

It wasn't a matter of honor, not anymore. That could be the case at the beginning but Ryoga knew that wasn’t the case anymore. He knew that from that moment in the Dojo he really started carrying. Not only for their daughter but for Ranma too.

He shook his head slightly to go back to the present. “I… ”, he started weakly and cleared his throat. “You don’t need to worry about me, Miss Saotome. I want to do this… I want to be there for Ryoko… and for Ranma.”

There, he said it. It felt different when he told it out loud than only in his head. More tangible, real. But it also was an obligation, something he just promised to do and he knew that he'd keep his promise. Ryoga Hibiki always keeps his promises.

Nadoka smiled at him once again. It wasn’t this apologetic, pity smile from earlier. It was filled with relief and joy, something he didn’t see often, especially directed at him.

“I’m so glad Ryoga-kun, you have no idea. I would have for Ranma to deal with all of this without your support… but about that,” she trailed off looking a little worried at him. “Ranma said that this whole situation is really recent but… did you think about your future from now on? Where will you live, how will you support each other? Now that I’m here I’ll help you as much as you can but you need to start thinking about things like that from now on, since your family will depend on you.”

Ryoga froze again for a moment realizing that his feelings for her aside he really do need to think about that. Ranma, no matter how feminine and shy she was now, was still fiercely independent from time to time but she won’t be able to do anything once Ryogo is born. It will be his responsibility to take care of them, just as Nadoka said.

The Lost Boy took a long breath, relaxing. He even managed to put a slight smile on his face. It was fortunate that he already made that call earlier.

“Don’t worry, Miss Saotome,” he said, finally feeling a little less stressed out, more in control. “I already called my mom about this. She said that we can move to my house whenever we want… but she also wants to meet Ranma when she gets back home in a few days… actually I think I should tell this to Ranma… oh man, she’ll get mad at me for not telling her earlier.”

His future mother-in-law smiled with amusement, looking just like Ranma, which made him even more nervous. Ryoga was sure that if his fiancee was here she would be just as amused as her mother. I wonder if this kind of thing is genetic with Saotome women, he thought briefly, wondering if Ryoko would also find his struggles entertaining in the future.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure she won’t be that mad,” she said, trying to calm him down. It didn’t really help, since he knew Ranma a little better than that.

“Well, I’m not sure about that, Miss Saotome,” he said, scratching the back of his head, finally feeling comfortable enough to not have his hands pressed to his sides all the time. “She can be pretty mad at me from time to time… especially when I’m surprising her with stuff.”

“Again, don’t worry about it,” she repeated, patting his shoulder gently a few times. “From what I could gather, my daughter really cares about you, and won’t be too hard on you… she needs and wants you near her no matter what she says.”

“... really?” Ryoga asked flatly, not really knowing what to do with this sudden confirmation. He was sure that was only his wishful thinking, but was it actually true?

“Call it, mothers intuition,” she said with a nod. “And please, call me Nadoka, dear. After all, I'll be your mother-in-law pretty soon.”

Nadoka’s face fell a little bit a moment later, for a second Ryoga was sure that he saw the Saotome Matriarch looking anxious and lost. It was only a moment's thought and after he blinked there was not a trace of the previous emotions visible on her once more confident, relaxed face. “Now, could you go and fetch Ranma-chan for me, please? I need to get my… daughter the same ‘talk’ I have with you.”

Ranma will have a talk like that? Oh, I would really like to see that, he thought amused by the thought of his fiance stuttering and panicking when talking about her responsibilities as his wife. Sucks to be you, but I won’t be the only one that goes through that, Ranma…

“Oh, and also…” Ryoga was about to leave, but stopped in his tracks at the sound of Nadoka’s voice. “Could you ask you for one more thing, Ryoga-kun?”

The Lost Boy turns around to face her once more. “What is it, Mi-... N-Nadoka-san?”

“I would like you to keep Ranma distracted, Ryoga-kun” she said, confusing him a little. “She’s a pregnant teenager, you wouldn’t know that since you’re young but we tend to be much more emotional when that happens. I’m sure my child didn’t tell me everything but from what she told me I can tell that she has much on her plate and is blaming herself for a lot of things. It’s not good for her or her baby. In fact you saw how she reacted when I ask her to just leave the room? It's only temporary but you know her much better than I do so I would like you to keep her distracted… at least until her mood swings calms down.”

Keep her distracted… how?

He didn’t really know why he would do this. Yes, Ranma sometimes acted strangely to him, but she was now a woman and pregnant too! It was a given that he as a boy wouldn’t understand why she was doing certain things, he already came to terms with it.

But Nadoka was her mother and a fellow woman, so maybe she was onto something. His mother always said that only a woman could really understand another woman so she was probably right. But even if that was true he still would need to figure out the way to this and he wasn’t really sure what could really do the trick.

Then the image of them talking on the roof of Furinkan High appeared before his eyes. They were arguing pretty hard, it was the first time in a long while when Ryoga told her what he was thinking and what he was feeling… he remembered just how sheepish and awkward she was acting the moment he started talking to her. He smiled a little bit remembering this overconfident, flirtatious and kind of manipulative girl suddenly crumbling before his eyes. Maybe that was the answer?

I don’t know if it works but it would be really interesting. But if it really will work… kami-sama it would be so funny…

“Alright… I’ll do it.” He said with a big smile.

Nadoka smiled back at him. “I’m glad to hear it. Thank you, Ryoga kun.”

Ryoga nodded and once again turned around to face the door. Now he only needed to go to find Ranma. He really hoped that he would find her quickly, it would be really embarrassing to get lost on the stairs when his future mother-in-law would be watching.

Ranma really wished that they could just rooftopping to school, it would be so much faster than this. But of course mom forbids it, saying that would be bad for Ryoko. She grumbled in her head, a little upset that she couldn’t really counter that argument. How is that possible? We know each other for not even one full day… how did she know just how to get me to do what she wants? Not even pops was able to do that!

Even so, she complied and because of that she was forced to this painfully slow walk hand in hand with Ryoga. It wouldn’t even be that bad if he started to respect her personal space like he used to in the past. His breathing on her neck was really getting ridiculous.

“Alright, that’s enough,” she said, feeling fed up with her fiance's presence. “Stop being clingy like that, Ryoga. I mean it, it’s starting to pissing me off.”

Ryoga looked down at her with an innocent expression and shrugged at her.

“Hey, it was your idea to not leave your side, Ranma” he reiterated, playing offended and moved even closer to the redhead. “I’m just doing what you ask for, right?”

Too close!

“Hold your horses, Romeo!” she yelled at him and tried to push him away but quickly realized that she couldn’t move the larger boy even an inch, which made her even more frustrated.

Ryoga blinked at her and smiled slightly at her looking really amused while putting his other hand on her shoulder. “Sure thing, Ran-ma”

Ranma blinked too, her mind working really hard to process what just happened. A few seconds later she looked down onto the sidewalk, trying to hide the fact that her face suddenly started to look similar to her hair color. How couldn’t she see that coming!

Her hands clenched her jaw, when she remembered what she vowed to do if something like that would ever happen, but somehow she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“I hate you,” she muttered under her breath, feeling humiliated beyond belief.

I would need to apologize for that to him later… she thought almost immediately after saying that, suddenly feeling really deflated altogether. She knew just how easy it was to really hurt Ryoga’s feelings and self esteem; the truth was that she didn't really mean it, but he really was an exceptional jerk today.

Wait… why should she apologize? It was all Ryogas fault, not mine…

But he already is under this pressure… I don’t want him to be depressed too…

Fuck, all of this hormones making me all weak and sappy, there no way that me talkin’....

Shit, what to do…

Her reaction must have finally done something, because Ryoga’s hand immediately disappeared from her shoulder and she could see him moving away slightly. She looked up at him, thinking of a way to get back at the jerk but when she finally looked at him the redhead saw his face full of awkwardness and guilt. That took her back a little bit, she was sure that he would just tease her even more but it doesn’t seem to be the case any more, with him looking so remorseful like that.

Ryoga looked at her, visibly flustered. “You’re right, that was a little bit too much.” He began anxiously scratching his face, “And… ahh, doesn’t matter. It was all a stupid idea so… sorry, Ranma. I was an idiot.”

The redhead folds her arms across her chest, looking at her fiance. At least he looks like he’s sorry… well, if he is then what can I do to get the most of it… She started to ponder but quickly stopped, suddenly feeling dirty for even thinking about it. Sure, making fun of Ryoga was always fun, but that was before there was something more between them. Now it felt strange and wrong, even if just a second ago she really wanted to pummel him into the ground for that ridiculous joke of his.

“A little bit” doesn’t cut it, Ryoga.” She said, deciding to just get down with it. She was already feeling kind of tired after that damn morning sickness and she really didn’t want to drag this issue any further than it needed to go. “Really can you knock it off, please? Just… be like you were before. It’s much better than this… this thing you are doing. It’s creepy.”

She pouted and looked at him with the best ‘I will murder you in your sleep if you annoy me once more’ stare before she opened her mouth once more.

“And for the record… I’m not yours. Are we clear?”

Ryoga looked at her for a second before clearing his throat. She was almost sure that she saw a trail of sweat going down his neck at that moment.

“Crystal…”

The redhead was still looking at him with her arm crossed on her chest, trying to guess if he really meant what he said. She wasn’t stupid, she knew she wasn’t emotionally stable at the moment and she refused to be around Ryoga who would just get advantage of that in that kind of way.

Ryoga seems to see that as a sign that she was still angry with him - which was true - and started hastily waving his hands like she’s about to hit him or something.

“Hey I didn’t do it because I wanted to!” He said with a hint of panic. “You mom wanted me to distract you… she’s worried about you for some reason…”

Ranma’s resolve faltered at that moment. Of course, it couldn’t be his idea, normally he would just shout and attack me. He’s not the guy who’s into doing this kind of stupid shit… especially when I’m like this…

But still, what was her mom thinking? She knew that Nadoka was worried about her but what made Ryoga annoyed like that? What would that even do? Distract her from what?

There was also that very real possibility that Ryoga just misunderstood what her mother asked him to do, but she didn’t have enough energy or desire to think about it now. She was already spent right now, and there was still school to worry about.

Let’s just roll with it and get going, she decided and sigh feeling really tired all of the sudden.

“Of course she did,” the redhead said, looking at her fiance with exasperation. “Ryoga just… don’t do that. I promise that I’m fine now, ok?”

She relaxed after he firmly nodded. Ranma walked up to him and grabbed his hand again, pulling him along a moment later. They were already losing time and she really wanted to be in class before most of their classmates arrived. The fewer people who stare at them going to their seats, the better.

Walking towards Furinkan High, she couldn’t help herself and glanced at the Lost Boy who was matching her pace perfectly and asked.

“Is this really what my mom asked you to do? Cause if yes then it was really dumb, you should know better than this.”

Ryoga’s face turned a little red for a second before he shook his head and collected himself and chuckled.

“Yeah, that was actually pretty dumb…” He admits meekly. “What can I say? Your mom is really persuasive”

Ranma grimaces at that statement, remembering her own ‘talk’ with her mother… ‘persuasive’ did not do her justice..

“You’re right about that…”

“Mom, you shouldn’t ask Ryoga to fetch me. I would be better if you just called me. It would be much faster," the redhead said while sliding the door behind her. She wondered why their talk was taking so long… Ryoga just wandered around the house for half an hour before finding her in the kitchen.

“I’m sorry Ranma, but I really thought that you exaggerated a little bit,” her mother said, looking like she was pondering something. “But how did Ryoga plan to get a hold on his life when he can’t even walk in a straight line for too long? It's a little concerning”

“Yeah, It’s a bummer.” Ranma agreed. “We’ll need to figure out something to deal with that eventually.”

She knew it before but only now it hit her that it actually was a real problem for the future. Well, it’s fine for now, but what will happen when I’ll need to stay home when Ryoko will be b-born? We can’t really hope that Ryoga will be able to walk to school by himself, don’t even mention work when we finally graduate… Well, it’s kind of good for me, I could use this as an excuse to not end up as some freaking stay-at-home housewife. Not like I was planning to end up like this anyway. But it still doesn't resolve Ryoga’s problem with directions…

Ranma stopped her musing when she heard her mother clearing her throat to get her daughter’s attention.

“Well, I’m sure we can think of some solution for that later” she said, straightening her back and looking seriously in the younger girl’s direction. “But now we need to focus on something different, Ranma. We need to talk about your future.”

The redhead looked anxiously at the Saotome Matriarch. After seeing Ryoga wishing her luck with THAT face before she really dreaded this conversation. She was really glad to have her mother back but she really would like to have a breather. There were just too many things happening to her seemingly at once these days.

“Umm… what do you mean, mom?” She asked, trying to look like she really wanted to know all the while resisting the urge to glance at the door behind her.

“I talked to Ryoga-kun about your situation,” Nadoka started, looking really pleased when she did so. “I’m really glad that he’s such a great man, very manly and honorable. Even after I offered to not hold him to his promise he didn’t shy away from anything. He said he wants to be with you and your daughter.”

Ranma was confused. Sure she was already used to her pops to talk or promise something important in her name without her knowledge, but her mother too? Not to mention that Ryoga said… wait, what did mom just say?

“W-wait, he did?” I thought that he just stays because of the martial artist honor. Did he… did he really want to stay… Stay with me? And why the hell does this make me feel this strange all of a sudden? It’s not like I really like him or anything. I don't, right?

The redhead felt flustered and embarrassed, realizing that she didn’t exactly know what to do with this whole mix of other emotions she was experiencing at the moment. She just stared at her mother who clearly didn’t realize her daughter's inner turmoil and was still talking.

“Yes, he was clearly adamant about it.” Nadoka nodded happily, looking really pleased about the whole thing. “He even contacted his family to get permission for you two to move out to their house after you two will get married to each other.” She stood up from her chair and walked to the younger girl, wrapping her into a warm, him hug. “Really dear, It’s good that your future husband is serious about taking care of his family. You should do the same for him.”

Ranma didn’t react to the hug. She didn’t react to anything that her mother said after that either. The redhead just stayed there, with her eyes wide like deer in the headlights not able to proceed with the information she was given.

“W-what, moving out?” She stuttered after a few moments of being crushed into the surprisingly strong arms of her mother. “When did he even… What do you mean I should do the same for him? You don’t know this mom, but I’m broke, I can’t give him anything right now…”

Then something else clicked in her mind and she stared at her mother, feeling like all the colors were just washing away from her face.

“Wait… who do you say he contacted, again?”

Nadoka looked at her daughter's panicked expression and let her go, giving her some space to breathe. “His mother.” She said, keeping her distance from Ranma, for what she was actually glad. Even if it didn’t really make her feel calmer at all. “It’s actually very proper dear, you two are teenagers so in order to get married you need to have permission from parents of both parties. Ryoga-kun said that she should be back home in a week or so and she’s dying to meet you.”

Ranma felt like her legs turned into jello for a second before she steadied herself once again.

“She WHAT?” The redhead yelled, feeling that she was about to start panicking for real. Why didn’t I think about this?! It’s obvious that I would need to deal with Ryoga’s parents but uhhhh… it totally slipped my mind to deal with that… Alright, don’t panic, you’re Ranma Saotome and you’re not afraid of nothing. You can do this, when you meet her you just need to somehow look good and confident while being a sappy, emotional mess of a pregnant teenager…

Nadoka nodded once again, but after seeing her daughter's anxious expression, started to observe her more closely. Apparently the redhead didn’t do a good job staying or even trying to look calm at all.

“Please, understand that she wants to meet her future daughter-in-law, Ranma.” She said, trying to reason with the younger girl. “That’s why you need to be on your best behavior then, act like a proper lady.” Her eyes lost focus for a second before she once again looked at Ranma. “That reminds me, sweetie since it wasn’t long since you decided to stay a girl. I assume you didn’t start your bridal training, am I correct?”

“B-bridal training?” The redhead asked, cocking her head just slightly to the side, taken by surprise by suddenly changing the subject. Even if she would really prefer to - even just for a minute - just stop talking altogether.

“Yes dear, bridal training.” Nadoka said, suddenly the air of confidence Ranma could sense around her was gone. She was looking a little bit lost and unsure of what she wanted to say, but quickly recovered. If Ranma wasn’t a trained martial artist she would probably have thought that what she was seeing was just a coincidence, but she knew what she saw. “I never thought that I would need to have this talk with you Ranma, but looking at your expression I can assume that you didn’t think about it either. Did you learn anything about housework, Ranma-chan?”

It wasn’t the conversation she was really comfortable with, never in her life she would have thought that anyone would be interested in her home making skills. What was more shocking was the fact that suddenly she felt really self conscious about it, practically sweating at the thought that someone - or even worse, her mom - would judge her and her still mediocre skills. Ranma started twiddling her hands trying not to look at her mother’s eyes, fearing what she would find in them if she glanced in them at that moment.

“Umm…” She started and immediately wanted to facepalm herself for such an opener. “Well, I’m helping Kasumi-neechan around the house and in the kitchen… I also have Home Ec. classes at school… I-I guess I’m kinda good at cooking…”

Nadoka smiled at her with relief.

“That’s great, Ranma. It means that we don’t need to start from square one.” She pondered for a moment before continuing. “But still, as I said earlier I think you and Ryoga should be married as soon as possible and this leaves little room for proper bridal training… we’ll need to speed it up so that you could at least adequately train with the housework before your wedding ceremony.”

The redhead grimace looking at her mother like she just decided to just send her for a training trip to China and back all over again but safer. Even so, Ranma didn’t like this idea one bit. The same with the sudden information of meeting Ryoga’s mother or - maybe the most of it all - she didn’t like the idea of the sudden wedding in the middle of the school year.

She could feel like she was becoming more and more pissed off by the minute.“Wait, you want me to learn how to be a damn housewife in a few months?”

“Actually in a few weeks, dear.” Her mother said, dropping a bombshell on Ranma’s head. “The longer we wait the more you’ll be showing and I don’t think you want to one day look at your wedding pictures with a prominent belly in every shot.”

Ranma didn’t care. She was too angry and terrified of this sudden revelation to care.

“What are you talkin’ about?! What pictures?!”

Nadoka frowned at the suddenly agitated redhead and raised her hands in an attempt to calm her daughter who clearly was in the middle of having a fit.

“There will be only a few and only when you’ll exchange your vows, don’t worry. We’ll make your wedding a proper wedding at a later date, this one will only be a formal one, so that your honor will stay intact.”

Ranma’s whole body started to shake violently, trying not to go off at her mother who clearly didn’t see that her daughter had enough. They were just reunited, it hasn’t even been twelve hours but she was already planning her future and it didn’t even look like the redhead had any choice in the matter. It actually WAS like her training trip with pops all over again even though her opinion didn’t really matter. She was so angry she felt like crying.

“Mom… but… but I… it’s just too much!” She tried to say something but couldn’t really muster any coherent response.

Her mother looked at her with great concern on her face and after a moment of hesitation, she once again embraced the younger redhead in a hug. At first Ranma wanted to yell at her to let go, that she wasn’t really better than her father and she didn’t really care about what she wanted or what she was feeling, but she didn’t say anything. She got lost in Nadoka’s hug, which this time wasn’t this strong overbearing and suffocating but gentle, warm and really calming. It actually felt really nice and safe to be hugged like this.

“It’s ok, Ranma-chan, there there.” Her mother was whispering some soothing words to her ears, while she was still trembling slightly under her touch. “I’m sorry to overwhelm you with this but trust me that’s the best way to do this. I won’t pressure you harder than necessary, especially since you’re with a child. I know how it’s like I was a mess too when I was with you.

Ranma didn’t know how long they were staying like this but the more they did the calmer her breathing became. After some time, she actually started to lean on her mother’s shoulder, feeling much better than before.

“Y-you were?” She muttered when she finally calmed down a bit.

Nadoka sighs and smiles sadly at the younger girl in front of her.

“Yeah, I think I was even a little more of a mess than you are now.” She said with a chuckle, and looked deeply into her daughter’s eyes. “I didn’t expect that to happen - with you becoming a woman and all - but I won’t complain about it. You are my very precious girl and I won’t let you down again. I promise. I will help you get through this. Now and after that too. I won’t let you disappear from me again.”

Two redheads were looking at each other for a few more seconds before Ranma finally broke the silence.

“I… thanks mom. It means a lot…”

The redhead didn’t know what to say to that. Her head was a mess and she knew that she was still angry. She was pissed off at her mother for this all decision making without thinking about her opinion, but her previous angry fit exhausted her to the point that there was not much anger left in her.

Besides it was true, she was also grateful for her mother's help. She was putting on a good face but with each passing day she started to realize something. Even the thought of attempting to be a mother without any real help was terrifying and she was really glad that her mother agreed to help her.

Saotome Matriarch smiled happily at her. Probably relieved that she wasn’t shaking or yelling anymore. “Don’t mention it, dear. I would need to come anyway. You don’t think that you would be able to complete your bridal training in just a few weeks, do you?”

Surprisingly, Ranma felt like giggling at that. Of course, it couldn't be that simple. She smiled back at her mother and shook her head.

“Now you’re just messin’ with me mom.”

Her mother's smile grew a little bit while she took a few steps back, letting Ranma have her personal space just for herself again.

“Maybe. Can’t blame a mom for wanting to catch up for the lost time with her child, do you? Even more so, since she will need to hand her over to a man very soon.”

The redhead stopped holding back, and giggled when she imagined what this would look like if they would really try to ‘hand her over’. It would have been a sight to behold…

“Don’t worry, mom. You don’t hand me over to anyone, mom.” She said after she stopped laughing. “I will beat up Ryoga if he ever tries to imply that he now owns me or anythin’. You’ll see.”

Her mom shook her head at that.

“Alright, if you say so.”

They were standing like that for a minute or so. Ranma didn’t really know what to do, since she didn’t want to be rude or disrespectful to her mother but she also felt really tired after all this emotional rollercoaster. The only thing on her mind right now was a quick nap or a short dip into the furo before dinner.

She was wondering how to bring up the fact that she wanted to leave when Nadoka finally spoke up again.

“I’m really sorry for dumping it all on you, Ranma.” She started, once again surprising the younger redhead who wanted nothing more than to forget that this talk ever happened. “I guess that I don’t control myself as well as I thought I could. First I found out that you are finally back, then you turn out to not only be expecting a child but also are in a relationship… I got a little too excited and crossed a line.”

Ranma was really astonished by the fact that her mother really was taking her time and energy to apologize to her so many times. After a moment of comparing she didn’t know what came over her to think that Nadoka was even remotely similar to Genma. Her pops would just try to beat her up if she threw a tantrum like that, there would be no calming words or apologising. Something like that was for women or weak men which she wasn’t supposed to be.

She knew which one she preferred.

But really, is that how it feels to be formally engaged to someone as a girl? I thought that since I knew beforehand it would be different now that I ain’t a guy but no, this shit still fucking sucks…