(REMEMBER, ALL GLORY TO RUMIKO TAKAHASHI....THIS IS
AN ALTERNATE RANMAVERSE....AND IT DOES HAVE LEMON
RINDS IN IT, SO THE SQUEAMISH AMONG YE SHOULD NOT
READ FURTHER.)
-=- = -=-=-Part Three-=-=-==-=
(Morning breaks the hold of night on the world, and the first
heralds of the dawn awaken and start to sing their birdsong,
the melodies drifting on the morning air. The sun rises high
into the pale blue Saturday sky, casting its molten rays into the air and
warming the day. Breakfast is served in the Tendo household and
both families are about to eat. Nodoka is sitting next to Genma
on one end of the table, while Soun sits at the other end. Nabiki and
Kasumi sit together while Akane sits by herself, leaving a space for
Ranma. Ranma seats himself next to Akane and grabs a pair of
chopsticks. The table is now fully occupied by all seven people.
Ranma-chan is the only one left out and she stands silently behind
Ranma.)
Akane (noticing this) : Here, Ranko! You can sit next to me! (she
indicates a spot between her and Ranma)
Ranma-chan : Thanks! (she seats herself promptly, a little cramped but
grateful nonetheless)
(Breakfast is quickly devoured and everybody spends a
little of their time helping Kasumi and Nodoka with
the dishes. Genma and Soun sit down for their usual
game of shogi, while Nodoka and Kasumi compare notes.
Nabiki, ever the extortionist, is using the phone to blackmail
her potential victims.)
Akane : (nudges Ranma-chan) Hey, Ranma.
Ranma-chan : Yeah?
Akane : Are you...are you all right?
Ranma-chan : (shoulders slump at that) No. Not at all.
Akane : Ukyo didn't get you that okonomiyaki that she promised you,
right?
Ranma-chan : No. (takes a breath) Come on. Let's forget about it,
okay?
Akane : Why? I mean, you practically ran out of her restaurant....
Ranma-chan : Akane, please don't make me any more unhappy than I
already am.
Akane : (sees the seriousness on her face) Alright. But if you need to
talk to somebody, Ranma, come to me, okay?
Ranma-chan : Mmm.
(Ranma comes downstairs dressed in a sleeveless shirt and his
usual black pants and shoes. Ranma-chan and Akane break off
their conversation and look up at him.)
Ranma : Well, I'm gonna go hang out with the guys, so seeya all later!
(Ranma-chan sighed. She spent the most part of every Saturday
with her friends...the male ones, that is, when she was one person.
Ranma looks at her glum face, her dejected posture, and knows
the reason why. He cast a guilty look at Akane, who raises her
eyebrows in a "Why're you looking at me for?" way.)
Ranma-chan : I'd come along, Ranma, but...you know.
Ranma : I know. Sorry. Well, I'm gonna be going. See you later.
(Ranma leaps onto a fence, waves back once, and zips out of sight)
Akane : Well, I'm going to go shopping!
Ranma-chan : Shopping?
Akane : Wanna come along? I might need some help in carrying some
bags or parcels.
Ranma-chan : Sure. Why not? I've got nothing else better to do.
(The two of them get ready and leave the residence for the mall,
Akane in jeans and a shirt while Ranma-chan is dressed in her usual
red shirt and black pants.)
Akane : Ranma, don't you ever get tired of those clothes?
Ranma-chan : Nope. I love these duds because they fit me so well.
Akane : If you keep on wearing them, your mom will begin to suspect
something is up.
Ranma-chan : What do you mean?
Akane : She'll put one and one together, and she'll start to wonder
whether or not you and Ranma are the same....
Ranma-chan : (thinks for a while) You could be right. Okay, then.
Just a few feminine clothes, but only for the time being!
Akane : Umm...I also think you should let your hair down.
Ranma-chan : Let my hair down? (remembers last night) You really
think my mom would pick up on something like that?
Akane : Now that she's probably here to stay for a long time, you'd
better undo your pigtail.
(Ranma-chan looks at Akane for a long second, then she
reaches back and pulls her pigtail free. A cascade of shoulder
length, red hair unfurls behind her. She really did look more
like a true girl now, rather than a female version of Ranma.)
Ranma-chan : Err..how's this?
Akane : Wow, Ranma. You are really cute like this.
Ranma-chan : (jokingly) Akane, you pervert!
Akane : (wills a mallet into her hand, smiles unnervingly at
Ranma-chan) What was that, Ranma?
Ranma-chan : (panicked) Nothing, nothing! Just joking, that's all!
Akane : (the mallet disappears) Oh, really?
(The two round a corner and head to the huge mall just down the street.
There are many other shoppers heading to and from the mall, an
indication of its popularity. The sides of the streets are packed with
parked cars and the noise from the vehicles and crowd are almost
deafening. Akane and Ranma-chan push their way through the crowd
and run into the mall, where they stand, panting in exhaustion.)
Akane : Must...be....a...big sale!
Ranma-chan : No...kidding..!
(Female voices) : Hey, Akane! Over here!
Akane : Hey, you guys! (She waves to two girls making their way
towards her and Ranma-chan)
Ranma-chan : Your friends are here, too!?
Akane : What? Something wrong? (Akane's friends reach her at that
moment)
Anemi : Akane! You've brought Ranko-chan!
Sayuri : Ranko, you have your hair down! You look so much better
that way, you know.
Ranma-chan : I..I do? (feels her hair) Thanks.
Sayuri : This shopping trip is gonna be fun! (She starts to look around
excitedly)
Anemi : Let's go, you guys! First stop, lingerie!
Ranma-chan : L..lingerie!?
Akane : ....I suppose it won't matter whether or not you come along.
You have a girl's body now.
Ranma-chan : I..I'll come along. (She gulps)
Akane : Okay, if you want to.
(All four girls bustle off to a store selling lingerie. Akane,
Sayuri and Anemi are talking animatedly among themselves
while Ranma-chan trails behind them. A group of boys from
Furinkan come from the opposite direction, none of them
from Ranma-chan's class. They gawk at the four girls, making
wolf whistles, especially at Ranma-chan. One boy stops and confronts
Ranma-chan. Akane motions for Anemi and Sayuri to stop, and watch)
Ranma-chan : (Hands on her hips) Yeah, buddy?
Shin : My name's Shin. I've never seen you around here before...are
you new? (his friends are nudging each other, in anticipation of their
friend's `conquest')
Ranma-chan : Uh..you might say so.
Shin : Good!! Can I, uh, show you around the mall? I mean, you
must be eager to find out more about this place! (as his friends snicker,
Anemi and Sayuri whisper among themselves. Akane waits expectantly
for Ranma-chan to plant a fist in the brazen lout's face)
Ranma-chan : Gee..I appreciate the offer but I musn't keep my friends
waiting! (She tries to push past Shin but he refuses to move.)
Shin (desperately) : W..why don't we go to the movies tonight? I'll
pay! It'll be fun!
Ranma-chan : No thanks. Sorry, gotta go! (She slips past Shin but she
accidently brushes her chest against Shin's body)
Shin : Wow.....!
Ranma-chan : C'mon Akane, you guys. Let's get outta here. (the four
girls make their exit)
Friend : You lucky guy!
Another friend : Did you see that? She rubbed her bod against yours,
Shin!
Shin : Am I lucky or what!? (he feels the spot where Ranma-chan
accidently touched him)
(The four girls finally reach a lingerie shop and immerse themselves in
the silky, frilly sea of panties and bras. Akane manages to lose Sayuri
and Anemi and gets Ranma-chan alone. Ranma-chan was holding one
hand to her chest and the other on her forehead.)
Akane : Are you all right, Ranma?
Ranma-chan : Is it like this all the time for you girls?! Jeez, makes me
glad I'm really a guy!
Akane : Well, not all the time. Don't worry about that. I mean, you
can always beat them up if they get too forward, right?
Ranma-chan : I was thinking of that, but I didn't want to make a bad
impression so `early' in Ranko's school career. It's something else,
though, that bothers me.
Akane : What is, then?
Ranma-chan : I hate to admit it....but the sensation of
my...chest..rubbing against that jerk's body...was...I dunno. I guess I
felt what a guy would feel when he sees a naked girl, to put it that way.
Akane : What? You...you (trembling finger pointed at Ranma-chan)
liked that?
Ranma-chan : LIKE IT?! Like hell! Well....my body liked it but _I_
didn't like it. When I was half-and-half....
Akane : Half-and-half? Oh, you mean when you were half-girl,
half-guy?
Ranma-chan : Yeah. Anyways, when I was half-and-half I
would.....(she blushes) I don't know if I should tell you this.....
Akane : Tell me, Ranma. Maybe it can help you know what's going on
with you.
Ranma-chan : Well, okay. But don't tell anybody AT ALL. In the
bath, before I got into the hot water, whenever I rubbed myself with
soap I'd never feel..um...stimulated.
Akane : Come on, out with it, Ranma. Don't beat around the bush.
Ranma-chan : Well...it's like this (blushes a deeper red) When I rub the
soap across my girl body's breasts, back when I was half-and-half, I
would never get any sensation whatsoever. But now....
Akane : I see. So you're saying that your body has changed, right?
Ranma-chan : That's what I'm afraid of. Now that my other is
separated from me, there is no balance. No Yin-Yang, if you will.
Now the balance is tipping in favor of the Yin...and this is the result.
Akane : ....If that is what's happening to you, then what about Ranma?
The other one, I mean.
Ranma-chan : Ummm....I'd guess that it would happen to him too. I
dunno.
Akane (thinking about Ukyo, Shampoo, and even Kodachi) : ARRRGH!!
If he even tries to make a move towards THEM, I'll kill him!
Sayuri : Hey, there they are! Ranko, come and try this bra! I'm sure
it'll look good on you!
Ranma-chan : (her heart seemed to stop for a second)......Akane?
Help?
Akane (whisper-like) : Just do it or they'll think you're strange!
Ranma-chan : O..okay. (she is led off by Sayuri to the dressing room)
Akane : Oh Ranma, Ranma. Why must all these things happen to you?
(Akane strolls about the aisles and looks at various negligee,
lingerie and anything that sounded French. There is a little
commotion in the change booth and Sayuri pops out of the
change room, waving to Akane and Anemi.)
Sayuri : Oh, Akane! Anemi! Come look! (tries to push Ranma-chan
out)
Ranma-chan : No! Don't look! (holds herself in the change room)
Anemi : Where, where?
Akane : ................!
(Ranma-chan is finally pushed out of the dressing room by Sayuri.
She is topless except for a frilly bra that barely covers her
bosom. She tries desperately to get back in the dressing room
but Sayuri blocks the way. Anemi examines the bra on Ranma-chan's
chest while Akane tries not to laugh.)
Sayuri : Why didn't you have a bra underneath? I mean, all girls are
supposed to wear bras, right?
Ranma-chan : Uh..yeah. Sure. I...must have forgot mine!
Sayuri : Buy it, Ranko. All girls need at least a backup pair. Guys
have eyes for that sort of thing, you know.
Ranma-chan : Huh? Buy it? (she shrinks back inside the change room,
hands over chest)
Sayuri : Surely you don't expect it to be free of charge!
Ranma-chan : But I don't have any money!
Sayuri : I'll lend you some! It's my payday today and I can afford to
be generous! Here!
Ranma-chan : Uhh...well, okay. Thanks, Sayuri.
Sayuri : Anytime, Ranko.
Akane : Wouldn't Happosai give anything to see YOU in a bra!
Ranma-chan : Shaddup. (pulls off the bra and puts her shirt back on,
then goes and pays for the bra).
(The four girls finish up and head from store to store,
where Ranma-chan is pressured by Sayuri to buy a pair
of panties, pink and frilled no less. After an hour, they
decide to visit the food court for a bite to eat. Ranma-chan
is carrying an armload of Akane's things, as well as her
purchases, and she sets everything on the floor under the table
they were sitting at.)
Ranma-chan : Akane, I'm gonna go and order something to eat now,
okay?
Akane : Sure, Ranko.
Ranma-chan : Be right back.
(Ranma-chan wanders from store to store, looking for a special
food item that would catch her fancy. Her stomach growls
angrily at her, berating her for taking so long to decide what to
eat. Surprised at this, Ranma-chan stops for a second. She had
been starting to feel more and more hungry each night, as if her
body had been burning the calories like crazy everytime she went
to sleep. And she felt a little bit more changed each morning she
wakes. <Strange, I've never eaten this much when I was a guy>,
she thought. Her stomach snarled and she clenched her stomach
muscles tightly, to stop the sound. She felt a tap on her shoulder
and she turned around. Ukyo stood there, dressed in a miniskirt,
a white sweater and tights , with a little white ribbon in her long,
brown hair. She looked stunningly cute, an improvement over her
usual appearance in her normal attire. Ranma-chan felt a twinge of....
jealousy? Impossible! Why would she feel jealous of Ucchan? She
tried to dismiss it as a figment of her imagination, but it wouldn't go
away no matter how much she tried. She found herself looking at
Ukyo's breasts and comparing them with her own. Unconsciously, she
started checking her figure against Ukyo's.)
Ukyo : Ranma, what are you looking at?
Ranma-chan : Huh? Oh! Nothing! Nothing!
Ukyo : O-okay. What are you doing here?
Ranma-chan : I'm here shopping with Akane. And now I'm looking for
something good to eat.
Ukyo : To....eat? Hey, why not drop over my restaurant at noon? I'll
treat you to a free okonomiyaki, to make up for the one you missed last
night.
Ranma-chan : Well...(looks at the yen in her hand)..I don't want to
sound rude, but you sure you can manage to prepare my okonomiyaki?
I mean, Saturday is such a busy day for you.
Ukyo : Sure I can. You just watch, Ranchan.
Ranma-chan : Well...alright. So what brings you here?
Ukyo : Well, it's eleven now and I open shop at noon. I'm just here to
shop and have fun. My work schedule is so busy that I try to relax
whenever I can, you know.
Ranma-chan : Yes. I can see that.
Ukyo : Well, I'll be seeing you at noon then, Ranchan! (she smiles at
Ranma-chan) Seeya!
(Ranma-chan waves goodbye to Ukyo and she heads back to
the table. Akane looks up from tapping the table impatiently
with her fingers. Sayuri and Anemi are still out ordering their
food.)
Akane : What took you so long, Ranko? And where's your food?
Ranma-chan : I was talking to Ukyo.
Akane : Ukyo? What did you and her talk about?
Ranma-chan : She wanted me to drop by and have some food on her.
I said yes. Besides, I don't have alot of money left from what Sayuri
lent me.
Akane : Okay. If you say so. I'm gonna go and get some food, so you
stay and watch the shopping bags, alright?
Ranma-chan : Okay. (Akane wanders off)
(Ranma-chan sits at the table for a while, then she starts to
twirl a chopstick on her fingertip. She started thinking of
how she had thought of Ukyo when she came up to her
not five minutes ago. What's wrong with her? Why was she
feeling a certain type of jealousy at that time? She had never
felt that way before, and it nagged at the corner of her mind.
Why in the world did she check to see if Ukyo had a better
figure than her? Her stomach growled a third time and she
stifled it. A visit to Ucchan's will fix _that_ problem in no time!
Sayuri and Anemi returned with their food at that moment.)
Sayuri : What did you get, Ranko? (she was holding a plate of fried
rice)
Ranma-chan : I'm going to go to a restaurant later.
Anemi : Which one? (she digs into her fried chicken with gusto)
Ranma-chan : Ucchan's Okonomiyaki.
Sayuri : You're going to Ukyo's restaurant? She can cook, that's for
sure.
Ranma-chan : I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. (her stomach
rumbles loudly)
Anemi : If you're hungry, just take a fry or two. (she offers a couple
french fries to Ranma-chan, who thanked her and made them disappear
in seconds.)
Akane : Hey, you guys! You don't mind if I bring a friend to sit with
us, do you?
Sayuri : Don't mind at all. Who is it?
Anemi : It's that Ryoga guy.
Ranma-chan : Ryoga? (she whips her head around and sees a red-faced
Ryoga being led by Akane to the table.)
Ryoga : R-ran...(Akane puts a hand on his, earning him a stare of
hostility from Ranma-chan.)..ko? What are you doing here? What
happened to your hair?
Sayuri : (to Anemi) Oooh, they _do_ know each other!
Anemi : (to Sayuri) Wonder how far they have gone?
Ranma-chan : (overhearing them) Not very far. (remembers all the
times Ryoga tried to beat the crap out of him/her.) Not at all.
Sayuri : Then you'll just have to try harder, Ranko.
Anemi : (to Ranma-chan) You see, some guys are just naturally hard to
get through to.....
Ranma-chan : Stop! Time out! It's not like that at all! (her outburst
startles Akane and Ryoga)
Sayuri : (to Ranma-chan) Then why is he blushing like that?
(Ranma-chan sighs. She knows that Ryoga would _kill_ her if
she so as much uttered a peep about his crush on Akane. She
looks at Ryoga, who is staring at the ceiling in an effort not to
look at Akane directly. <Time to act, again.>, she thought.)
Ranma-chan : Hmm...(she dons a fake smile) You know, you might be
right! (leans closer to Sayuri) And he _is_ sort of cute, now that I look
closer.
Sayuri : Why don't you go over and sit next to him? Real close, okay?
Anemi : It's obvious that he likes you....so you have the advantage. We
girls always do.
Ryoga : A-Akane?
Akane : Yes, Ryoga? (smiles at him)
Ryoga : Gaaaah. (his eyes roll up and he start to laugh to himself)
Ranma-chan : (thinking) What have I gotten myself into now? Oh,
well. Better sober him up before he embarasses us all.
(Ranma-chan relocates her seat so that she is sitting right next
to Ryoga. Ryoga's nose seemed to twitch and he started to gulp
in more air. He is still looking straight at the ceiling. Sayuri and
Anemi are whispering among themselves, looking to see what
Ranma-chan would do next. Akane's eyes widened and her pupils
contracted to little dots. Ryoga's right arm trembles and lifts itself,
as if on its own accord, and he drapes it over Ranma-chan's shoulders.
Ranma-chan lets out a whoosh of breath when his heavy arm hit her
shoulders. <God, his arm's like a block of cement! And as hard,
too!>, she thought. Somehow, she didn't really mind Ryoga's arm
over her shoulders. It made her....feel secure. And protected. Her
gaze travelled from his wide shoulders to his handsome <?>
face....then it caressed his chest and abs, finally ending in his legs. Her
breath caught in her throat as she sees the beginning of an erection
between his legs. Her face grew flushed but she made no move to
remove herself from Ryoga's embrace. Akane got up and tapped
Ryoga on the other arm.)
Akane : Ryoga! Umm...what are you doing to my..uh...cousin?
Ryoga : (didn't hear her) Oh, Ak..gaaaaaaaaaaahhh. He he heh heh.
Ranma-chan : (seems to snap out a daze) Huh? Oh! (she lifts Ryoga's
arm off her shoulders, not without some effort, and she jabs Ryoga in
the ribs with a finger.) Yoo hoo!
Ryoga : Yoo...hoo? (looks down at Ranma-chan, who cuddles up next
to him, smiling cutely) YOU!! Why I....
Ranma-chan : (jabs him with her elbow so hard that he lost his breath)
You oughtta what?
Akane : Ranko! What were you doing to poor Ryoga?
Ranma-chan : I wasn't doing anything! He started it!
Sayuri : (to Anemi) I see. This isn't their first time fighting.
Anemi : (to Sayuri) And they made such a beautiful couple together.
But why did Ryoga get angry, though?
Sayuri : I have no idea.
Ranma-chan : Oh, come on you guys! It's not like that at all!
Ryoga : It's not like what?
Akane : Yeah, like what?
Ranma-chan : Just something. Don't worry about it. (she shifts her
chair back to her original spot.)
Sayuri : (to Ranma-chan) So, how does it feel to be held by a guy you
like?
Ranma-chan : It...it felt nice.
<What am I saying? Nice? For Ryoga to hold me?>, she thought.
Strangely enough, she truly didn't mind being so close to Ryoga,
who was getting up to leave.)
Ryoga : I'm going to have to go, Akane. Another training trip beckons
to me.
Akane : Thanks for stopping a moment, Ryoga. I'm lucky I managed
to get a hold of you, or you might have just walked by me.
Ryoga : N-no problem. Anytime. Well, I'll see you later. (He totters
off, still gingerly holding his side where Ranma-chan elbowed him)
Ranma-chan : Seeya, Ryoga! (Ryoga doesn't even look back.)
Akane : Ranko? Come with me here a sec, okay?
Ranma-chan : Where?
Akane : Just come with me.
Ranma-chan : O-okay.
(The two girls head to the washroom. Akane looks about inside
the washroom and made sure that they were alone. Then, after
Ranma-chan had entered the washroom, Akane locked the door,
rushed Ranma-chan and slammed her against the wall, pinning her
by her shirt.)
Akane : WHAT were you doing to poor Ryoga?!?
Ranma-chan : Hey, hey! Take it easy, Akane!!
Akane : Take it easy?! You torment my friend ceaselessly and you tell
me to take it easy??! I've had it up to here (puts a hand above her head)
with your vendetta against Ryoga! Why can't you just make up to him?
Ranma-chan : Make up to him? (remembers all the times Ryoga has
challenged him/her.) He's the one who...
Akane : No more excuses, RanKO!! (she puts an extra emphasis on
`ko' and Ranma-chan flinches.) And I bet you just _enjoyed_ being so
close to him, eh?!
Ranma-chan : (knows that Akane is being sarcastic) I couldn't help it,
Akane!
Akane : Couldn't help what?
Ranma-chan : I couldn't pull away from him!
Akane : Oh, sure. And next you're going to tell me that you actually
did like him hugging you!
Ranma-chan : Yes.
Akane : Come again?!
Ranma-chan : Yes. I felt kinda strange, in a good way, when he put his
arm around me.
(Akane drops Ranma-chan, who slumps against the wall. There
is a tentative rap-rap on the door right at that moment, and Akane
opens it up. Two girls of the same age as she stood there, puzzled
expressions on their face.)
Girl 1 : Are you two finished yet?
Girl 2 : I didn't know it was _that_ time again....
Akane : Eeeep. How long were you two out here?
Girl 1 : Ever since we heard a loud thump against the wall.
Girl 2 : Yeah, sounded like somebody hitting the wall, or something.
Girl 1 : (looks at Ranma-chan) You know, you should take her advice
and go make up to your boyfriend.
Girl 2 : (to Akane) But why were you mad because she (points at
Ranma-chan) hugged your friend? I thought he was her boyfriend...?
Akane : (her face darkens and the two girls took a step back) None of
your business. (she grabs Ranma-chan's hand) Come on. Let's go
before we attract more attention.
(The two make their way back to the table. Akane finishes her
food in big helpings, punctuated by a glance at Ranma-chan now
and then, who was carefully examining her hands. Ranma-chan
shrank under the scrutiny of Akane's eyes and she fidgeted, always
doing something, anything, to avoid looking at Akane. Gradually,
the tension eased between the two as Akane gets caught up in chatting
with her friends. Finally their food was finished and the four girls head
off for more shopping. Ranma-chan selects two pairs of jean shorts
and a T-shirt, with the words "Wet 'n Wild" printed on it's front.
Sayuri and Anemi head off to a different section of the store, while
Akane pulls Ranma-chan into the swimsuit section.)
Akane : Ranma?
Ranma-chan : Y-Yeah?
Akane : Sayuri told me...that she and Anemi
kinda...umm..peer-pressured you into sitting next to Ryoga. I just want
to say that I'm sorry. I didn't know that you weren't intentionally trying
to make Ryoga angry. (bows to Ranma-chan)
Ranma-chan : Forget about it, Akane.
Akane : Thanks.
(Ranma-chan looks over the swimsuit section's selections,
and picks out a one piece swimsuit colored a dark blue with
the words "Body Glove" emblazoned on the bust. It is cut so
that the back, and some of the side, are exposed. It has a zipper
running from the navel to the middle of the bust. Ranma-chan goes
into the dressing room and comes out in a little while, wearing
the swimsuit. She strikes a pose, both hands with fingers entwining
above her head, bending backwards slightly and tilting her head.)
Ranma-chan : Well, how's it look? (The swimsuit lives up to its name
- it hugs her body like a glove and it shows off her curves while
revealing a good amount of skin.)
Akane : It looks good! You planning on going for a swim?
Ranma-chan : Sure, why not? It's time I had a swimsuit of my own
instead of borrowing one from you all the time. (She changes back to
her clothes and pays for it at the cashier's)
Akane : How many bags do you have, now?
Ranma-chan : Two. How about you, Akane?
Akane : Four.
(The four girls meet up and say their goodbyes. Ranma-chan and
Akane head back home in the sweltering heat.)
Ranma-chan : Akane, you go on ahead home. I'm gonna stop by
Ucchan's.
Akane : I'll come along too. I hope Ukyo will treat me to a free
okonomiyaki.
Ranma-chan : You're still hungry?
Akane : For Ukyo's okonomiyaki, I'll always be hungry!
Ranma-chan : Gee...what's with the nice attitude to Ucchan all of the
sudden?
Akane : It's Shampoo I don't like...Ukyo is a much nicer person than
that bimbo.
(Ranma-chan and Akane walk into the restaurant. It is, as always,
packed full and a long line of customers wait to be served. Ukyo's
helper, Konatsu, is busily filling orders and taking money while
Ukyo cooked the food. Ukyo looks up from her work and catches
sight of Ranma-chan and Akane. Her eyes open wide when she sees
Ranma-chan's new hairstyle. It disturbed her to see her friend, whom
she always thought of as a boy, looking like a `real' girl.)
Ukyo : What happened to your hair? Why'd you do it?
Ranma-chan : I let my pigtail down. Does it look good? (she twirls
around)
Ukyo : That's not what I want to know.
Ranma-chan : Oh, it's Akane's idea. She wanted me to let it down so
that my mom will find it harder to make a connection between me and
Ranma.
Ukyo : Oh. Okay. It just looks weird, that's all.
Ukyo quickly finishes off her current okonomiyaki. She pulls out a
bowl of special batter, and a plate full of toppings, and she begins to
cook her extra-special okonomiyaki. Then she pours the batter for
fifteen other okonomiyaki, for the paying customers.)
Ranma-chan : So, Konatsu. You're back from your trip....
Konatsu : .....and I'm very busy right now, so please excuse me. You
must be one of Ucchan's friends. Glad to meet you.
Ranma-chan : But I'm...ah, forget it.
(Ukyo puts all of her customers on hold, trying to fry the okonomiyaki
in record time. Her customers start to mumble and grumble, and a few
even walk out the door. Ukyo's face sagged when she saw her
customers walk out and she tripled her speed. She was a wonder to
behold, hands flying here and there, trying to fry sixteen separate
okonomiyaki at once. Konatsu played the part of the go-fer and was
kept busy on his feet running and fetching ingredients for Ukyo. The
okonomiyaki started to fly off the grill soon after; with deft flips of her
spatula, she spun the finished okonomiyaki to waiting customers. With
a grand flourish, she caught up Ranma-chan's okonomiyaki, put it on a
plate and tossed it underhand to her childhood friend. Ranma-chan
caught it with one hand and smiled her thanks. Ukyo, looking
exhausted, smiled back and went back to cooking.)
Ranma-chan : Wow, Ukyo is really something, right Akane?
Akane : Yeah, I say.
(Ranma-chan takes a huge bite of her okonomiyaki and her eyes
widen in pleasant surprise. It was at least ten times better than
her normal okonomiyaki in her opinion! She was very glad that
she passed up the food in the mall for this, savoring every bite
she took.)
Akane : I don't suppose I can ask Ukyo for an okonomiyaki, too?
Ranma-chan : Why not? Hey, Ucch...
(A plate with an okonomiyaki on it spun out from behind the
counter and landed in front of Akane. Ukyo smiled at Akane
from behind the counter, and Akane thanked her - then she
dug into the okonomiyaki with gusto. In short order, the two
girls leave the restaurant after waving goodbye to their friend.)
(Ukyo waved her hand another time, then she let it fall to her side.
Then another horde of customers rushed the restaurant and Ukyo
fell to cooking okonomiyaki left and right. Ranma and his two friends
walk into the restaurant twenty minutes later, and Ukyo fried him a
special, deluxe okonomiyaki. Then she gave his friends a free one
each, out of courtesy. And all the while, when she was taking the
extra time out to cook the special okonomiyakis, her customers
chafed at the delay. <I wonder how long I can keep this up,
feeding the bottomless pits that Ranma and Ranma have...?>,
she thought to herself dismally as she forced herself to confront
a question that had nagged her since she found out that her one,
true love was split into two...and one of the two was a girl, to
boot. She forced the thought from her head, unwilling to confront
the answer, for she felt it was the only one - and it didn't appeal to
her at all. She threw herself into her work and time lost its meaning
in the scrape and hiss of her spatula and the frying okonomiyaki.)
(It is now about three o'clock and sunset is still quite a while off. All
the members of both families are at home. Ranma-chan and Akane are
up in Akane's room and Ranma-chan puts on her bra, with the help of
Akane, and pulls on her panties. She wears a pair of jean shorts and a
T-shirt, then she heads on downstairs to join the families in the living
room for some iced desserts.)
Genma (spluttering and forgetting Ranma-chan's role as Ranko) :
Ranma! Is that you, boy?
Ranma-chan : Shhhhh!!!
Ranma : Ranm..ko?! You look so..so..you know..
(as his gaze travels from her feet up her legs and to her chest,
taking in the sight of the sexy female form before him, his face
starts to turn red when he sees Ranma-chan looking intently at him.
Akane merely purses her lips and does nothing - yet.)
Ranma-chan : Don't get any funny ideas, you.
Ranma : And your hair! Where's the pigtail?
Ranma-chan : (sotto voice) Akane suggested it so that Mom wouldn't
think I was you.
Ranma : But...you want...
Ranma-chan : Yeah, I do. But I don't want her going on a rampage.
Ranma : Put it back on, okay? It gives me the creeps to see you like
this.
Ranma-chan : But...
Ranma : No buts, Ranma. You're Ranma, not Ranko. (turns to Akane)
What were you thinking?
Ranma-chan : (seeing the seriousness on his face) O-okay. (she quickly
does her pigtail up again. Ranma heaves a sigh of relief.)
(Ranma-chan catches sight of Nabiki rummaging in her
school bag for something.)
Ranma-chan : And no photos, Nabiki. I don't need Kuno grabbing all
over me.
Nabiki (plaintively) : But think of all the money I could make! I'll cut
you into it too, Ran..ko!
Nodoka (just arriving on the scene) : What's this Nabiki? Oh,
Ranko-chan! You look so beautiful! Now you are dressing more
feminine!
Kasumi : How nice! Wherever did you get that pair of shorts?
(Soon Nodoka and Kasumi are fussing over Ranma-chan, who looks a
little flustered.)
Ranma (whisper-like) : Ranko, remember who you really are.
Ranma-chan : I'll try. But it's getting harder by the minute. I wanna
talk to you after this.
Ranma : Huh?
Ranma-chan : Just meet me on the roof after.
(After both families enjoy their iced desserts, both Ranmas
surreptiously slip out the back door and leap on the roof.
Ranma : What's this about `getting harder by the minute'? I thought
you were a guy!
Ranma-chan : It's getting harder to remember that I'm a guy, stupid.
This female body is MAKING me forget that I'm a guy.
Ranma : What are you talking about?
Ranma-chan : These female instincts are overpowering me! Ever since
you were separated from me, there is no balancing of the Yin-Yang in
me. That's the best that I can do.
Ranma (thinking for a moment) : So...your female side is, like, taking
over your maleness because your body is now female?
Ranma-chan : Pure genius! How about you?
Ranma : What?
Ranma-chan : Are you getting urges? Strange feelings whenever you're
near a girl? Hmmmm?
Ranma : N..No way! Do you think I'm some kinda pervert?
(He tries to blot out perverted daydreams concerning him
and Ranma-chan. At that moment he looks at Ranma-chan,
he wonders how having sex with her would be like. He
looks at the womanly figure before him, at her breasts
underneath a T-shirt that is almost sheer, but not quite.
Her petite face may resemble his but she still is very
cute. A fantasy flitted through his mind and he imagined
Ranma-chan without any clothing on, and in the bath with
him. With an effort he banished the fantasy before it could
develop any further. His gaze lingers on her for a moment longer
before he forces himself to look at her face. Ranma-chan
looks up at that moment, apparently also lost in thought over
something.)
(Ranma-chan snapped her gaze up the moment Ranma looked
up, her face flushing red in embarassment. How is it that she
feels so...hot near Ranma? A flicker of a daydream enters her
mind, a little thingy concerning herself and Ranma. The both
of them were naked and on a bed. She was lying on her back
and Ranma was rubbing warm warm oil all over her while straddling
her with both legs on either side of her, his hands lingering on her
breasts and tickling the tips of her nipples. She had gasped in pleasure
as he moved down her belly and to her crotch, where his hands stayed
for the longest time. Then he lowered himself onto her and started
to tongue her, starting from her navel and travelling all the way up
to her neck. She felt him put his penis into her and he pumped his
hips against her, their bare flesh slapping together and sliding away
slickly due to the oil, and she cried out in a mixture of pain and
pleasure. He had entered her over and over again and.....her thoughts
snapped back to reality. Her crotch was hot and she felt wet between
her legs. She enjoyed the sensation and she rubbed her legs in an effort
to stop the itch.)
Ranma-chan : (red faced) Are you sure?
Ranma : P..Positively sure! One hundred percent! (He is visible
fidgeting)
Ranma-chan : Oh? Then how about if I do...this?! (She grabs Ranma
and hugs him tightly, and provocatively. She makes sure that her breasts
are really close to Ranma's body.)
Ranma : Uh..Ranma! (the small, red-haired feminine form gives no
indication of letting go) Okay, okay! I lied! Lemme go!
(Ranma can feel acutely the firm breasts of his female counterpart on his
flesh. In an irrational outburst of deluded thought, he wonders if he
really wants Ranma-chan to let go of him....)
Ranma-chan : What if I don't want to?
Ranma : Whaddaya mean!?
Ranma-chan : I never truly realized how...handsome I was as a guy.
(Ranma-chan takes control of herself with a visible effort and releases
Ranma, albeit reluctantly.)
Ranma : Handsome?
Ranma-chan (small voice) : Forgive me. My instincts overran me back
there.
Ranma : Don't be sorry. I didn't know if I wanted you to let go....or
to go further.
(The two of them stand there, unable to speak a word.
Both are sorely tempted to `hold' each other some more.)
(Akane's voice from below) : Ranmaaa!! Um..Ranko! Where are you
guys?
Ranma and Ranma-chan : Uh oh.
Ranma : Time to go. See ya later.
Ranma-chan : Yeah. See ya.
(Ranma-chan takes a running leap off the edge of the building
and proceeds to leap from building to building. Ranma drops silently
behind Akane as she searches for both Ranmas.)
Ranma : Akane.
Akane : Eeeee! (she jumps and turns around) I hate it when you do
that!
Ranma : Do what?
Akane : When you sneak up behind me and....
Ranma : Yeah, yeah. Okay, what was it you wanted me for?
Akane : (glares at Ranma for a second, then she's all business) I'm
worried, Ranma...
Ranma : (holds a hand up)......Let me guess, it's about female Ranma?
Akane : How'd you....
Ranma : Is it about the way she is acting so differently? Like the time
you KO'ed me and I forgot that I ever was a guy?
Akane : How'd you know that?
Ranma : Did you see the way she's dressed today?
Akane : Yeah?
Ranma : When she and I were one person, I never had any desire to
wear girls' clothes.
Akane : Oh? (flashbacks of Ranma trying to disrupt Akane's date with
Ryoga by pretending to be Ryoga's fiancee pop into her mind)
Ranma : (knowing exactly what she was thinking about) Never mind
THAT!! That didn't count!
Akane : She said something of her Yin-Yang balance being put out of
whack because the male side isn't there to balance it out.
Ranma : Yeah, that's what she said to me too. (looks in the direction
Ranma-chan went)
Akane : Ranma?
Ranma : (turns back) Yeah?
Akane : Can you keep an eye on her? I'm concerned about her attitude
toward being a girl. Just today, in the mall, she....oh never mind. Who
knows? Maybe she might try to explore her girl side a little too much
for her own good....
Ranma : Uh..yeah! (sweats a little at the memory of Ranma-chan
rubbing against him)
Akane : So, please keep an eye on her, okay?
Ranma : I see what I can do, okay?
Akane : One more thing. Even though she is YOU in that body, try not
to hurt her feelings. You were thick-skinned when you and her were one
person but now that she's a girl.....her emotional makeup could be
different than a guy's.
Ranma : Sure thing.