All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published
by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North
America by Viz Communications.
The Vacation is over, and a new plotline begins.
A Different Viewpoint: Curses and Demons
Chapter 1
The Wedding
When Johnathon got off the plane from California and stepped into
the busy Tokyo International Airport terminal he had a strong sense of
Deja Vu. < I was here.> He recalled suddenly. < Right here, in the
same place, when I first go here almost one year ago. I had figured I
would only be staying for a year... but now....> Johnathon smiled as he
spotted the familiar faces in the small crowd waiting for the passengers
to get off the plane. Genma and Nodoka, Soun, Nabiki and even Ryoga was
there to welcome them all home. Kasumi came up behind him, followed by
Ranma and Akane, and they all started walking toward their family and
friends. Johnathon was smiling. < But now....> He took in his new
family. "Well... now we're home."
**************************
Everything in Nermia was as Johnathon remembered it, including the
occasional insanity. By the time they all got back to the Tendo house,
four different conversations had started up. Ranma and Akane had
announced their intention to get married at the airport, and Nodoka and
Kasumi were already busy making plans. Ranma and Akane simultaneously
were telling Genma Soun and Ryoga about their trip to California, while
Nabiki was questioning Johnathon about his brother.
"What do you think he was looking for?" Nabiki asked, looking
intently at her lanky brother in law. "He seemed to be trying to find
out something, that's for sure."
Johnathon shook his head. "I guess he figured out that I haven't
been telling him the whole truth while we were visiting him." He
shrugged. "Michael still doesn't know about the curses, or about any of
the more crazy stuff that's happened here."
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Why not? Don't you trust your own
brother?"
Johnathon shook his head again. "No! No, its not that I don't
trust him, it's just that I don't want to trouble him. He's got his own
life to deal with, I don't want him trying to help me with my problems
as well."
Nabiki looked unconvinced. "It looks like he's decided to trouble
himself anyway. If that's your reason for not telling him, maybe you
should think about your reasons some more."
Johnathon sighed. "Maybe I should. At the least I can try to get
him to go home. Does anyone know where he's gone?"
Nabiki nodded. "Last I heard he was staying at Mamoru Chiba's
place. You know, the tall guy in Ranma's class?" She smiled wryly.
"Why is it not surprising that almost everyone in that class is a girl?
One more guy did sign up, but he's dating one of the girls, anyway."
Nabiki glanced at Johnathon. "I've got to say it, those friends of
yours from Juuban have really been a lot of help. First they help cure
Ranma's cat phobia, then they send us all these students! Its the first
time the dojo has been in the black for years."
"Oh... well, I guess after training under Ranma they were hooked,
eh?" Johnathon looked at the Koi pond, not wanting to meet Nabiki's
eye.
Nabiki looked thoughtful. "That's a good point. Perhaps Ranma
should give out some more free lessons, if this is the kind of response
he gets."
Over on the other side of the room, Nodoka and Kasumi smiled at each
other, then turned to Ranma and Akane. "You two will have a lovely
wedding." Nodoka announced. "Would Sunday be too soon for you?"
Ranma hesitated, glancing at Akane, who shrugged noncommittally. "I
guess...." Genma and Soun leaned forward eagerly to hear. "I guess
that's all right." Ranma finished reluctantly.
Akane took his arm reassuringly. "There's no reason to wait
anymore, is there?"
Ranma sighed. "I guess not." The pig tailed martial artist
grinned. "We're practically married all ready, anyway."
Akane blushed and gave his arm a painful squeeze. "Ranma!"
Nabiki turned in their direction, always ready to tease her favorite
couple. "Oh? Ranma, don't tell me you're taking advantage of my little
sister before getting married?" < Heh, as if I didn't already know.>
Ranma blushed and stammered while Genma and Soun started in on him.
"That's the way my boy!" "Perfectly natural, yes, yes... I give you
permission, son...."
Johnathon grinned. < The more things change....>
**********************
Ranma nervously adjusted his tie for the fourth time.
His best man, Johnathon Tendo, Kasumi's gajin husband, Ranma's
English teacher and friend, clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Don't
worry, Ranma, you look fine."
Ryoga, clad as the other two were, in a tux, with the slight
addition of his ever present bandana, snorted. "Yep. just fine, if
you're going to your own execution. Cheer up, you moron! You're
getting married to Akane, not getting killed!"
Ranma smiled wryly. "There's a difference?" Ryoga growled and
reached for the pig tailed youth.
Johnathon stepped in the way. "Not today, guys, OK?"
Ryoga snorted angrily. "I still don't understand what Akane sees in
you, Ranma. You'd better treat her right, or...."
Ranma waved off the implied threat. "Ah, forget it, Ryoga. I
didn't mean it. I really do want to get married to Akane. I'm
just...." He shrugged.
Johnathon nodded. "Pre-wedding jitters. Everyone gets them. It'll
pass."
Ranma looked over at the taller man curiously. "Oh? You seemed OK
when you married Kasumi."
Johnathon blinked, then shrugged. "Well... there really wasn't time
to be nervous. I was trying to marry her while she was still human you
know."
Ryoga whistled, shaking his head. "I still can't believe you did
that. What would you have done if Cologne hadn't given up the pill?
You would have been married to a cat!"
Johnathon mused. "Well, at the time...."
******************
In Akane's room, Kasumi had just been asked a similar question by
Akane.
The eldest of Soun Tendo's three daughters looked thoughtful.
"Well, at the time, Johnathon admitted to me he believed that I would
eventually be cured. Still, it was a sudden decision, made in haste.
Johnathon does tend toward quick decisions, but I think he does consider
all the options first. I've never known him to make a rash or poorly
thought out decision, but that night, I wonder if he had truly thought
out what he was doing." Akane's other brides maids, Shampoo, Ukyo and
Nabiki, listened interestedly.
Ukyo spoke up. "If you had ended up stuck as a cat, what would you
two have done?" The chef fingered her dress nervously while Kasumi gave
the question thought. < A while back, I would have been more likely to
wear a tux to a wedding, than a dress, unless it was my own.> She
sighed slightly. < But when Ranma asked me to be his best man... I knew
it was time to make a change. Ranma is my friend... but I don't want to
be just "one of the guys" anymore.>
Kasumi interrupted Ukyo's thoughts. "We discussed the possibility
of my not getting cured, while I was stuck as a cat. We had several
conversations about it."
Ukyo blinked. "As a cat?"
Kasumi giggled. "We got very good at twenty questions. Anyway,
while I was a cat, Johnathon treated me as his wife. He shared his life
with me, and we slept on the same bed. Still, I felt he was getting
worried about me being trapped as a cat forever. I even considered
asking Johnathon if he wanted to get a mistress...." Nabiki looked
interested, while Akane looked shocked. "Shampoo nodded in agreement,
while Ukyo just blinked. Kasumi continued. "In the end, I never
brought it up. Johnathon would have refused to consider it, I think,
for quite a few years, at least."
Kasumi smiled softly. "Johnathon asked me if I would want to go to
Jusenkyo and jump in the spring of drowned girl. He said he'd be happy
to have me sharing his curse, if I wished it. He also said he would
stay with me if I stayed a cat as well. I agreed, if there was no cure
for the cat's tongue, I would prefer to be able to speak to him, and
hold him in my arms. In the end it didn't come to that, although...
perhaps I may decide to go that route still."
Akane looked interested. "Oh? Becoming a half-cat like Johnathon
does? What does he think about that now?"
Kasumi smiled to herself. < Akane has forgotten she was nervous. I
hope Johnathon is doing as well with Ranma.>
*********************
Back in Ranma's room, Johnathon had just told Ranma, Ryoga, and Dr.
Tofu of Kasumi and his discussion of the possibility of going to
Jusenkyo.
Ranma blinked. "Kasumi wants to become a half-cat?"
Johnathon shrugged. "She's been considering the idea. If something
else caused her curse to get stuck again, we'd probably go right to
China. But for now, we're leaving the option open. It's her decision,
although if she does change her curse to become a half-cat, I'd want her
to be better able to defend herself."
Ranma looked thoughtful. "Yeah, you got attacked quite a few times
because of your curse, didn't you?"
Johnathon nodded. "It's not a very safe curse to have, but Kasumi
is seriously considering it."
"Why?" Ryoga broke in, frowning. "You've said you don't mind her
as a cat, so unless she gets stuck again, why would she get such a
dangerous curse?" Dr. Tofu sighed slightly in response.
Johnathon glanced at the doctor. "I guess you'd have already
figured it out, eh, Doctor? Shampoo has the same problem."
Tofu nodded. "Children. Neither Kasumi or Shampoo can carry a
child to term safely. Somehow, they'd end up getting wet and aborting."
The lanky American shrugged weakly. "Kasumi thinks that as a
half-cat, she may be close enough to human to be able to complete a
pregnancy. Dr. Tofu's examined me in both forms. It is possible...."
Dr. Tofu nodded again. "Johnathon's internal organs only change a
small amount with his transformation. It stands to reason it would be
the same with Kasumi. I believe it might very well be possible that she
could have children with such a transformation, although there might be
side effects."
Ranma looked concerned. "Side effects? What kind of side
effects?" Are... me and Akane likely to have any... side effects from
my curse?"
Dr. Tofu shook his head. "No, when you're male, you're male, DNA
and all. Shampoo says that Jusenkyo cursed males have no such
problems."
Ranma sighed in relief and turned to Johnathon. "Man, I'm never
going to complain about my problems again. You and Kasumi have real
problems."
Johnathon chucked, shaking his head. "Thanks, Ranma. Coming from
you that almost sounds like a complement." He grinned to himself as
Ranma laughed. < Looks like that did the trick. Ranma's calmed down
now. Just as long as nothing goes wrong, we'll be OK.>
Genma stuck his head in the door. "It's time."
Ranma stiffened slightly, then visibly made himself relax again.
"Alright, I'm ready."
A minute later, Ranma found himself walking up the aisle toward the
priest. On his right were Johnathon, Ryoga, Dr. Tofu and his father.
On his left was Kasumi, Nabiki, Ukyo, and Shampoo. Ranma reached the
front of the dojo, where the wedding was being held, and turned around
to look.. In the rows of chairs sat his mother, several of his
teachers, and a large number of Furinkan high students. On one side
were Ranma and Akane's students, including a particular group of girls
from Juuban. Music began playing, and Akane came into the dojo on her
father's arm.
She was a vision in white, wearing a beautiful wedding dress that
Ranma remembered, faintly, from their last attempt at a wedding. Ranma
and Akane looked at each other intently as she slowly was escorted to
his side. They smiled at each other reassuringly, then fondly, as the
distance decreased. As Akane reached his side they both turned to face
the priest and the music stopped. The priest began to speak,
pronouncing the words of the marriage ceremony with a great deal of
emotion. Ranma and Akane listened intently, but they had eyes only for
each other.
As the priest came to the words..., "and if there are any that
oppose this marriage, speak now, or forever hold your peace!" a tall man
in Kendo garb walked into the dojo.
"I, Tatewaki Kuno oppose this marriage! Before I allow it to be
completed, I must speak!" The pompous swordsman raised his fist over
his head in emphasis. Ranma turned around angrily, but Akane held him
back. Ryoga, Soun, Genma, Johnathon, Dr. Tofu, Shampoo and Ukyo were
not so restrained, and as one they headed for the kendoist. Even Kuno
was not oblivious enough to miss the danger he was in. He stepped back,
holding up his hands. "Hold! I am unarmed, and I must speak! I offer
no less than the cure to Ranma Saotome's curse!" Everyone froze.
Ranma blinked in astonishment. "A cure? You're joking?" His voice
echoed in the silent hall.
Kuno shook his head. "I am not." He brought out a barrel for
everyone to see. "This holds the cure. Water from the magical valley
of Jusenkyo."
Ranma glanced at Akane. "Hold on to the priest for a minute Akane.
We'll finish this after I deal with Kuno." He turned back to the
kendoist. "Jusenkyo water, Kuno? Don't you already know that the
curses mix? The spring of Drowned Man is no cure." Ranma waved
everyone away from Kuno. "That stuff is dangerous, Kuno. What if it
splashes some girl?" Ukyo and Shampoo stepped back rapidly. Ranma went
on. "Worse, if it splashes on someone with a curse, it'll make the
curse worse!" Genma and Ryoga hastily stepped back as well.
Kuno laughed once. "Ha! Little you know, Saotome, this is not
water from the spring of Drowned Man, but rather water from the spring
of Drowned Twins!" He looked around at the other curse victims he knew
about. "There is enough for all, if used carefully. Saotome,
consider. You would no longer be cursed with a woman's form. Your
female side would be separated from you, and you would never change
again!" Kuno stepped away from the door. "I have said what I came to
say. If you wish a cure, come to the Kuno manor." The deranged young
man nodded at the crowd and walked out of sight. Once again, the room
was silent. Ranma hesitated, about to pursue, but something caused him
to look at Akane.
Akane nodded slowly, a pained smile on her face. "Go, Ranma. I'll
wait."
Ranma paused in indecision for several long moments, then walked
back to her. "Akane... Kuno can wait a couple minutes. Let's finish
this."
Akane broke into a brilliant smile. "Yes, Ranma. Let's finish
getting married." They turned back to the priest together and waited
expectantly.
He blinked. "Ah, yes...." The ceremony continued, oaths were given
and received, and Ranma and Akane said the words that would bind them
together. "I do." The Priest smiled and nodded. "Now you may kiss the
bride." Ranma and Akane kissed deeply, to the enthusiastic cheers of
the crowd.
They broke apart after a good half a minute, and Akane nodded to
Ranma. "OK, we're married. What are we going to do about Kuno?"
Ranma shrugged. "I don't have a clue." He looked around at their
guests. "You know what? Kuno interrupted our wedding enough. For
once, let's finish what we started." He turned back to Akane, and once
again they kissed. The wedding party began.
As the reception started, Kasumi walked up to her husband.
"Johnathon, Tatewaki said there is enough water for more than one
person. I could use it... and we could have children. You could have a
complete woman for a wife, not a cursed one."
The tall English teacher shook his head. "Kasumi, I would still
have a cursed wife. A wife cursed to be stuck as a cat forever. If you
did use the twin water, there'd be two of you, and both of you would be
my wife. But you, a you, would be a cat. I couldn't let you make that
sacrifice for me. In fact, if you did, I would take your cat half
straight to Jusenkyo and dump her in the spring of drowned girl."
Kasumi blinked. "Oh." She smiled softly. "I will obey your
wishes, husband." She stepped up to him and kissed him gently on the
lips. When she broke away she had a faint tear in one eye. Her smile
was breathtaking. "I will obey, always, my love." She winked and
turned away.
Johnathon stood there with a confused look on his face and scratched
his head. "She liked that?"
Preparing to slice the wedding cake, Akane looked Ranma in the
eyes. "Ranma, I've thought about it, and I don't want you to use the
water for me. I've accepted your curse."
Ranma hesitated, then helped Akane cut the cake. "You deserve a
whole man, Akane, not half of one.
Akane picked up a piece of cake and shoved it in Ranma's mouth,
trying to stay calm. "Ranma, you are my husband, and more than enough
of a man for me. If you took Kuno's offer, you'd be two people, one
guy, one girl. They'd both be you, and the girl you would be
miserable. Don't do it."
Ranma finished off the cake with a gulp. "OK, Akane. We'll tell
Kuno no thanks together." He sniffed to himself. "You're probably
right. When has Jusenkyo ever done me any good?" He smiled. "I want
Kuno to know we're happy together. Maybe then he'll finally give up on
his pig tailed girl." Nabiki walked up, snapping a photo as everyone
clapped at Ranma putting a piece of cake in Akane's mouth.
The middle Tendo sister nodded. "That's what Kuno's after, you
know. He wants your girl side, Ranma."
Akane sniffed. "He can't have her. Ranma's mine, boy or girl."
Ranma blinked. "Eh?"
Nabiki chuckled. "Getting possessive, Sis?"
Akane stuck out her tongue. "We are married. I should be."
Ranma sighed, then slowly smiled. "And you're mine, OK? We're in
this together."
Akane grinned back. "You bet!"
Before long, Akane was standing in front of a large mass of single
girls. Usagi, Rei and Minako josleted each other for position. Makoto
stood slightly back, counting on her superior height to give her an
edge. Shampoo stood in the center of the pack, coiled and ready to jump
for it. Nabiki stood near Ami, both girls looking interested, but not
overly concerned. Akane turned her back and launched the bouquet over
her shoulder. Shampoo jumped skyward, determined to be the one to catch
the flowers. Just as she was about to catch them, a mini spatula
deflected their fall.
Ukyo, standing in the back of the crowd, waved her fingers. "Let
chance have a chance." The bouquet fell toward the left side of the
group of girls. It passed inches away from Makoto's outstretched
fingers, and Usagi's panicked leap toppled practically everyone else
nearby. The bouquet dropped neatly into Nabiki's suddenly nerveless
hands.
Nabiki nearly dropped the flowers in surprise. "Me?" She sounded
incredulous. "No way. It's just superstition, anyway." She sniffed
and stalked off, still carrying the flowers. "No way, there's just no
way." She repeated as she left the dojo.
Before long, the reception neared its end and Nodoka approached the
couple with a smile. "Nabiki and I arraigned a surprise for your
honeymoon. We've gotten you two the honeymoon suite at the Ritz for the
next two nights. Johnathon has borrowed a car from one of his fellow
teachers, and he and Kasumi are going to drive you there tonight."
Akane smiled happily and hugged the older woman. "Thank you, Auntie
Nodoka!"
Nodoka smiled. "You can call me mother now, dear, if you'd like."
Akane nodded nervously. "I... I think I would like that...,
mother."
Ranma took her arm. "Let's go, Akane." Akane nodded to him and
they walked out together. A hail of confetti and flashed from cameras
went off, momentarily blinding them. A sudden splash caught Ranma off
guard and the cameras all flashed again. Akane glanced over at her
'husband' in dismay. The short red head standing there looked very
little like a husband, although Akane did think she looked cute in the
tux.
Ranma sighed and rolled her eyes. "How did I know that was going to
happen sometime today?" The red head grabbed Akane's hand and pulled
her toward the car waiting for them. Akane followed along willingly
enough, wanting to escape the sound of her father's sudden fit of
crying.
Soun wailed. "Now all of my babies will be married!"
Nabiki whacked him in the back of the head with the bouquet.
"They're only a bunch of flowers, father!"
Akane got into the car behind her... spouse (She couldn't somehow
think of the petite red head in front of her as a husband) and shut the
door behind her. Johnathon started the car and drove off.
Kasumi, sitting next to her husband in front, looked back and put
her hand to her mouth in dismay. "Oh my."
Akane reached into her purse and pulled out some tissues. "I don't
think the water did any damage to the tux, Kasumi. Don't worry."
Ranma chuckled. "I think Kasumi might have noticed that I'm not a
guy."
Kasumi bit back a giggle and Akane shrugged matter of factly.
"They'll have hot water in the honeymoon suite, don't you think?" Akane
slid over next to Ranma. "You can wait that long, can't you, husband?"
Ranma nodded and Akane kissed the smaller girl on the forehead. "Good.
I promise it'll be worth the wait." The red head gulped nervously at
the predatory gleam in her wife's eye. Akane giggled. "I swear Ranma,
you look like I'm going to eat you. It's not like we haven't... you
know."
Ranma blushed and nodded. "R-right."
Akane smiled reassuringly, then frowned. "What do you think we
should do about Kuno, anyway?"
Ranma shrugged, looking serious. "We'll deal with that later.
Right now I only have one thing I want to think about."
Akane looked dubious. "OK, Ranma, if you say so."
Sitting in the back of his limo, Kuno called up to Sasuke. "They
did not head for the Kuno estate? Where did they go?"
Sasuke pressed the intercom button. "To the Ritz honeymoon suite,
Master Kuno."
Kuno blinked incredulously. "They... they still got married? No!
I was positive my plan would work! What could have gone wrong?" He
jabbed the intercom button firmly. "To the Ritz, Sasuke, and swiftly!"
Sasuke turned the limo around and burned rubber away from the Kuno
estate. They reached the hotel in minutes, and rushed inside.
Kuno strode up to the clerk admitting guests. "I must have your
honeymoon suite, immediately!"
The clerk pressed a few buttons, looking at his screen and shook his
head. "I'm afraid that it's booked for today, sir... if I could
interest you in one of our other rooms?"
Kuno glared at the man. "I am aware of this. I need to go ahead
to... prepare a surprise for my loves. If I might have access for only
a moment...."
The clerk hesitated. "I don't know...." Kuno snapped his fingers
at his personal ninja and held out his hand. Sasuke put a large wad of
bills into his hand, which Kuno promptly slapped into the man's face.
The clerk took a long, and very close look at a wad of money that could
choke a horse, and then glanced right and left. With a quick motion, he
grabbed the money and made it disappear. He went behind the counter and
grabbed a key. "Here's the spare... leave it in the room, and we never
met, OK?"
Kuno grabbed the key and stalked off rapidly without answering.
"Sasuke!" He bellowed.
"Yes Master Kuno?" The diminutive ninja answered nervously.
"Do you have my present ready?" Kuno asked imperiously.
Sasuke nodded. "Yes, Master Kuno. The cask is right here." He
brought the large cask out from inside his ninja outfit. Kuno blinked
and Sasuke chuckled nervously. "I've been talking to that nice Mousse
fellow... he really isn't all that bad once you get to know him...." He
blinked. "Although he has been acting strangely lately... keeps on
mentioning how he has to do something about some tofu.... You know
Master Kuno, I've never eaten any tofu... I wonder if its anything like
dried bread?"
*********************
Kasumi walked Akane and Ranma into the hotel, while Johnathon waited
in the car outside. When the three woman, one in a tux, one in a
wedding dress, and the third in a normal dress walked up to the front
desk and asked for the honeymoon suite, the man there blinked once, then
recovered and quickly checked them in.
"Ranma and Akane Saotome... Yes, I have it right here." He handed
Ranma the keys and smiled politely until the three women left. He
smirked. "Whoa... three at once. No wonder that guy wanted in so
badly."
The threesome reached the top floor and the honeymoon suite and
looked at each other.
Ranma held out her arms. "Hey, Akane, let me carry you over the
threshold."
Kasumi smiled. "How romantic. I'll get the door for you two, then
I'll go." She took the keys from Ranma and went to the door. Hiding in
a doorway down the hall, Kuno drooled at the thought of his pig tailed
goddess, freed to be his.
Sasuke looked concerned. "Master Kuno, if Saotome carries Mistress
Akane over the threshold, when he opens the door, won't they both get
hit with the water?"
Kuno looked surprised. "Why, I do believe you are correct." His
eyes grew wide. "I free my pig tailed girl... and create a second Akane
Tendo? One free to be mine?" He started to grin wider. "Can any man
be as blessed as I?"
Sasuke sweated nervously. "Ah... no, Master Kuno."
Kasumi unlocked the door to the honeymoon suite and pushed it open.
"Alright, here you go..." Ranma, about to pick Akane up, noticed
something tipping over from inside the room toward Kasumi's head. She
jumped forward, pushing Kasumi down and covering the older girl's body
with her smaller form. The large, open cask sloshed it's contents over
both women. There was an abrupt flash and a tearing sound. An instant
later two Ranma's, wearing the scraps of a rented tuxedo were laying
over Kasumi and a black cat, which was laying next to the elder Tendo
girl, having produced a long tear in the front of her dress.
"Oh my... what happened?" Kasumi glanced down at the black cat
sitting next to her, then down at the tear in her dress. Akane gasped
in horror as Ranma, male and female, sat up and looked incredulously at
each other. Kasumi (the human) crawled out from under the Ranmas.
"Oh... oh my!"
Akane felt like fainting, but instead let anger focus her mind.
"Kuno!" She screamed.
From down the corridor, the Kendoist appeared. "You called, Akane
Tendo?"
Akane started toward him, glowing bright blue. "It's Akane Saotome,
you idiot! And yes I called! I called you out so I can kill you!" She
leapt into the air with a focused yell. Kuno flew back down the hall, a
heel print in his face. Akane leapt after, intent on murder.
The two Ranma's heard Akane's battle cry and jumped up together.
"Akane!" They shouted as one and ran down the hall to see Akane
stomping over and over on an unconscious Kuno. The two Ranmas ran to
her side, and Ranma-kun grabbed her by the arms. "Stop, Akane, he's
unconscious."
The Ranma-chan paused a step behind him and was looking down at
herself in horror. "No...." She said quietly. "No... no... no!" her
voice got steadily louder. "NOOO!!!" Both Akane and Ranma-kun turned
to her.
Akane hesitated at the sight of the practically naked red head, then
rushed forward to envelop her in a hug. "Ranma...."
Kasumi came out of the room carrying her other form in her arms.
Sasuke snuck out while they were all distracted and grabbed Kuno. The
little ninja dragged him quickly away, practically unnoticed by the
stunned group. Kasumi slowly knelt, as if by reflex, and opened one of
Ranma and Akane's two small suitcases. She got out two of Ranma's
Chinese outfits.
"Ranma....." Kasumi spoke softly. "You had... had better put some
clothes on...." Kasumi sat back against the wall and cuddled her cat
form to herself. "Oh my... oh my... oh dear...." Both Ranma's had
looked up at their name. The male half, concerned with Kasumi's state
of shock, moved over to her, quickly getting dressed.
"Kasumi? He asked as he finished pulling his shirt on. "Kasumi,
are you alright?"
The female Ranma pushed Akane away. "OK? Alright? Do you
seriously think she's going to be alright after what just happened?"
Akane put her hand on the red head's arm. "Ranma." The smaller
girl bit her lip and looked at Akane wordlessly.
Kasumi took a deep breath and seemed to gather herself, and after a
moment she nodded to the male Ranma. "I... I'm not hurt... Ranma." She
looked down at her cat form again, who looked back helplessly. "Oh
dear... this is quite...." Kasumi looked stricken. "Oh my... there is
nothing adequate I can think of to say."
The Ranma-chan winced away from Akane's horrified gaze and quickly
went over to get dressed. "God damn it... I'm in hell and Kasumi is
here too?" She laughed bitterly. "Never thought I'd see Kasumi when I
got to hell."
Akane shook her head, looking sick. "No.... Don't say that,
Ranma! I love you! We'll work this out! I don't know how, but we'll
deal with this!"
The red head finished dressing and stood. "Alright... Akane, I'm
sorry... you too, Kasumi... it's just...." She waved her hands at
herself. "This! I'm going to be stuck as a girl forever!"
The taller, black haired (and male) Ranma swallowed. "Well... Kuno
might have been wrong... we should check." His female counterpart
glanced at him, then rushed into the honeymoon suite.
Kasumi stood, still holding her cat half. "We should check... just
in case." They followed the red head inside, and too the bathroom.
They found the female Ranma over the tub, running the hot water at full
blast, and holding her head under it.
Nothing was happening, and when the water started to steam,
Ranma-kun grabbed his twin's shoulders and pulled her back. "That's
enough. It's not working."
The girl struggled briefly, then sank to the floor. "It's true.
I'll never be a man again. I'll be a girl... for the rest of my
life...."
Kasumi carefully filled the ice bucket with cold water from the
sink, and poured it over her own head. "I don't change either." Kasumi
put the bucket down and sighed. "We're stuck like this." She gathered
herself again, and looked into her cat form's eyes. "I think we had
better let Johnathon know." The cat nodded with a sigh.
Akane knelt behind Ranma-chan and hugged her from behind, then
glanced over at Kasumi. "I think we'll stay here for now." Both
Kasumi's nodded, and turned to go.
Ranma-kun tried both hot and cold water on himself experimentally.
"I don't change! I'm a guy... permanently!" He looked elated and
stunned at the same time.
The red haired half of Ranma pulled free of Akane. "That's great...
Ranma. Congratulations... Akane. You've got a whole man for a
husband. "I... I'll go. You two should be together on your
honeymoon." She stood, turning away.
Akane stood up as well, staring at the red head. "No... Ranma...
don't go." She looked at Ranma-kun for support. "You both are...
Ranma, the Ranma I married."
Ranma-chan looked incredulous. "Do I look like a husband to you?
I'm a girl. He's your husband. I'm... I'm nothing but the curse."
Ranma-kun stood there silently, unable to come up with a single
thing to say. < I... always wanted to be free of the curse, but not
like this. That's... that's me, just stuck in that girl's body.>
Akane looked from Ranma to Ranma, and faced the girl side again. "I
married you, Ranma, "for better or worse." Don't you remember the
words? I meant them when I said them, didn't you?"
Ranma-chan froze. "Of course I did! But... I'm a girl and he's
not. You can be with him. I'm just... extra." She turned away, not
wanting Akane to see her cry. "It's better if I go."
Ranma-kun heard the words, but knew the truth. < I'd say the same
thing... but I... you... love Akane. You want Akane to be happy, but
she's not. Akane will feel guilty if you leave. We've got to work this
out somehow, resolve things... or non of us will be happy.> Ranma-chan
started to walk off again when he spoke. "No, Akane's right. You've
got to stay. If you leave now, Akane will be unhappy... and hell, I
wouldn't be to pleased either. I know you want to do what you think is
right, and leave the two of us to be together, but... not this way."
Akane nodded. "Please, Ranma... stay. I love you. I couldn't live
with myself if you just left, alone. We've got to work this out."
Ranma-chan turned to face them, wiping away tears. "O-OK. I'll
stay."
Akane rushed forward to hug her. "Thank you, Ranma."
End Chapter 1
You can find all the previous Chapters to this at:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/1449/fanfics.html