The Search for Manhood

By Andrea Hill

 

Comments and criticisms are very welcome!  Please respond to the 

following email address:  email_andreas_art@yahoo.com

 

 

Ranma 1 /2 and all of the associated characters thereof belong to 

Takahashi Rumiko.  The author of this fan-fiction is not attempting 

to infringe on any copyrights.  In other words, I�m writing this for 

fun, not for money.

 

Note:  To avoid confusion and hokey new names, Saotome Ranma 

will be referred to as follows.  Female form = Ranma-chan or 

Onna-Ranma.  Male form = Ranma-kun.  Remember �Ranko� is a 

GIRL�S name, and Ranma is anything but a girl, even when he 

does have breasts.

 

This story is rated PG15 for bad language and some sexual 

references � nothing worse than in the manga, folks!

 

 

SPOILER ALERT:  The author of this fan fiction assumes that the 

reader is familiar with the entire plot of canon Ranma.  This story 

takes place during the summer immediately following the end of 

graphic novel 38.  There are also some anime references in here.

 

 

----------

Chapter One

The Curse

 

It was one of those hot, humid nights that made everything he 

touched stick to his skin.  The sheets he slept on would adhere like 

Velcro, and the light cotton sheet he started out sleeping under 

grew to feel like a wool blanket heaped atop him.  It was the kind 

of night that made falling asleep hard to do, and invariably gave 

anyone a headache upon finally awakening.  The fact that the night 

was so uncomfortable was not helped at all by the large, densely 

furred panda snoring next to him.  Well, panting, anyway.  Ranma 

finally gave up trying to fall asleep in the close atmosphere of the 

guest bedroom that he and his father had been inhabiting, and left 

in disgust, escaping the confines of the house through the window.

 

 

Outside, it was not much better.  The slight breeze blew in just as 

hot as the rest of the air, giving no respite to feverish cheeks.  

Ranma settled himself down on top of the roof, peeled off his shirt 

and laid it out between the tiles and the bare skin of his back.  

Exposed thus to the stars he finally fell asleep.

 

 

>From the ground you could see the soles of his feet, toes pointing 

to the heavens.  The big toe on his right foot twitched once, scaring 

away a fat green fly that had landed there.

 

 

A small form pushed itself from the ground to the roof, but the 

grunt that issued forth upon landing was almost silent.  It carried 

with it an incense brazier and a small cone of black.  This it placed 

in the brass holder upwind from the sleeping boy, and lit the tip of 

it with a match.  The cone caught fire and blazed for a second, 

before being blown out by the hot breeze.  The tip continued to 

glow like the ember it was, and the figure sat on its haunches and 

waited for the wisp of smoke emitted by the cone of incense to 

take effect.

 

 

It was not disappointed.  In mere moments, a buxom red haired girl 

lay on the roof, and much to the small figure�s delight, she was 

naked.  The sight of so much bare flesh was too much for the 

diminutive figure, and it leapt at the girl with a shout of joy.

 

 

�SWEET-O!� the clarion call resounded through the night.  It was 

followed a short second later by a feminine scream of disgust and 

rage, and then the sound of something small flying through the air 

at high velocity.

 

 

And then. . .

 

�NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!�

 

----------

 

Akane sat up in bed the second she heard Happosai�s lusty cry.  

Her arms crossed over her chest and her knees drew up in an 

almost fetal position before she realized that the little pervert 

wasn�t in her room.  She listened intently as Ranma-chan screamed 

in revulsion and then kicked or punched Happosai into Low Earth 

Orbit.  She was about to lie down again when the third cry to split 

the night reached her ears.  This one held a tone of pure agony, and 

sent her flying out of bed, through the house, and outside.

 

 

She craned her neck to look up at the spot on the roof where 

Ranma usually tried to get some peaceful sleep.  Her family joined 

her in a moment, bleary-eyed, hair rumpled, yawning ferociously.  

Kasumi placed a soft hand on her youngest sister�s shoulder.  

�Akane, what�s going on?�

 

 

There was no time for her to answer, however, as they all caught 

sight of a naked and female Ranma-chan standing his full height 

and looking down on something at his feet in absolute horror.  His 

hands were clapped tightly over his mouth and his eyes were as big 

as dinner plates.

 

Without realizing how she did it, Akane found herself on the roof 

beside the red haired martial artist.  �Ranma!� she cried in alarm.   

�Is it a ca-. . .�

 

Akane felt her question die in her throat and her eyes grew almost 

as wide as her companion�s when she saw what the other had been 

staring at.

 

At her feet lay Ranma!  MALE Ranma!

 

Ranma-kun finally levered himself off of his elbows, his 

expression completely different from that of the redhead standing 

next to him.  He stood to his full height and gazed down at her.  

There was nothing but joy on his face at the sight, and he grabbed 

Akane by the shoulders and spun her around in triumph.

 

�I�M CURED!�  He nearly screamed at her in ecstasy at the 

realization.  �I�M FINALLY CURED FOR GOOD!!!�

 

Akane could only watch helplessly, as at last the stress became too 

much, and Onna-Ranma fainted.

 

The only other sound in the neighborhood was a phrase of two 

words that pretty much summed it all up.

 

�Oh, my!�

 

----------

 

The first thing that you noticed about the restaurant upon walking 

in was the smell of exotic spices.  It swirled through the nose like 

heavy, dark orange koi slid through water.  The second thing you 

noticed, after your eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting, was the 

color red.  It dominated everywhere � in geometric designs woven 

into the carpeting, in large panels on the walls, and on the thick 

pillars that stood sentry in the corners.  After that, one usually 

noticed the lavender-haired waitress bouncing cheerily throughout 

the establishment, catching bowls full of soup or noodles and 

placing them before customers without spilling anything.  If one 

cared to pull one�s eyes from the ample bosom of the cheery 

waitress to find the source of the flying delicacies, one would then 

discover a wizened old woman perched like some sort of human 

cross between a vulture and a preying mantis over bubbling kettles 

of food.

 

It was directly to the wrinkled crone that Nabiki Tendo headed, her 

face and body language determined.  As she approached, Cologne 

let herself dwell on the pitiable fact that Nabiki Tendo had no 

warrior skills.  Those would, if combined with her razor-sharp 

intelligence and observant nature, be skills well worth considering 

recruiting into the Amazon tribe.  For a second, the elder weighed 

the possibility of making the offer anyway.  After all, a strong 

woman was a worthy one, and physical attributes aside Nabiki 

Tendo was as strong as they came.

 

The sharp-faced girl slapped something contained in a zip-locked 

plastic bag onto the counter.  �What can you tell me about this?�

 

There was an understanding between the two of them.  In return 

for tutoring in Chinese and information on any artifact, herb, or 

curse that Nabiki could bring before her, Cologne received 

accurate information on the state of Ranma Saotome�s relationship 

with Nabiki�s younger sister Akane.  This included any activities 

the two were participating in together, whether of their own 

making or those forced upon them by others.

 

Cologne peered intently at the black cone of incense contained in 

the bag.  It had crumbled just a little bit, but looked mainly like 

charcoal.

 

�It�s incense.�  She replied.

 

Nabiki just raised an eyebrow at her.  �I know that, elder.  But 

what I don�t know is how it does what it does, and what we can do 

to reverse the effects.�

 

Cologne picked up the bag, opened it, and whiffed the scent 

tentatively.  Her eyes widened momentarily, and then she began to 

grind her teeth.  �Where did you get this, child?!�  She was so livid 

that her face was actually pinking up from the ghastly pale color 

that it usually was.

 

�Happosai paid us a visit last night.�

 

�Oh, no. . .� Cologne breathed.

 

�What?!�  Nabiki�s grip on the edge of the counter tightened.  Her 

face became smooth and utterly unreadable.

 

�This is. . . it�s a curse divider.�

 

�It�s not the same stuff he used on Ranma before, is it?  Last time 

that happened the female Ranma that came out was some kind of 

ghost or something.  This time -�

 

�This time she�s not evil.  She has all of the memories, personality 

traits and flaws, feelings and abilities that the male Ranma does.  

They are essentially the same person in two bodies � cursed, and 

not cursed.

 

�It is a tool we use only in time of great need.  In the past when 

warriors were needed for the tribe this incense was used.  Warrior 

trained men were sent to the Spring of Drowned Woman, and the 

curse would be divided.  This should never have gotten into the 

hands of that letch!  It was locked in a safe and hidden.  I am the 

only one that knows where it is and how to enter it.  I don�t know 

how Happosai found it.�  Her eyes narrowed.  �We will have 

words.�

 

Nabiki nearly shivered at the intensely cold gaze the old woman 

leveled at the incense in her weathered old palm.  She did not want 

to be Happosai when Cologne caught up to him.  �So how can we 

reverse this?  Ranma-kun couldn�t be happier about it, but Ranma-

chan is about to have a nervous breakdown.  She was so agitated 

we had to have Genma knock her out.�

 

A long moment of silence passed before Cologne looked up at the 

girl.  �I think I should break the news in person.�

 

----------

 

In the Tendo residence a small party of worried onlookers gazed at 

the nearly comatose form of Ranma-chan.  His pretty face was 

screwed up in agitation even while he was unconscious, and his 

small hands were balled into iron-hard fists.  On occasion a 

murmur passed his bee-stung lips.  Akane, Kasumi, Soun Tendo, 

and Ranma�s parents looked on in worry.  The sixth person there 

was Ranma-kun, who divided his time between casting worried 

looks at his now completely cursed counterpart, and wringing a 

washcloth drenched in cold water over his head.

 

�Never gonna be a girl again!� he sang softly to himself.

 

Akane crossed her arms, glaring at him over Ranma-chan�s body.  

�I can�t believe how insensitive you�re being.  How would you feel 

if this were you lying here?  You should have a little heart, 

Ranma.�

 

�Mmm,� she heard her father hum.  �She�s right.  As good a 

fortune as this may be for you, boy, Ran. . .ma. . .ko?  Er, Ranma-

chan, here, is probably in Hell.  It is our responsibility to find a 

way to make herrrrr, er, him?  Er, make. . . him. . . feel better about 

his situation.�  He sweated a little at the confusing gender crisis 

before him.  In the long run he decided that female body or no, 

Ranma Saotome was still himself, and thoroughly a young man.

 

 

�Indeed,� Akane watched as Genma nodded at his old friend.  

�What better way to do that than have a celebration?�  He smacked 

a fist into his palm.  �In fact, what better excuse for a celebration 

than for you and Akane to. . .�

 

Soun chimed in and the two finished the sentence in harmony.  

�GET MARRIED!�

 

Nodoka Saotome leveled a chilling glare at her husband while 

Kasumi frowned slightly at her father.  Akane rolled up one sleeve 

in preparation for an awesome punch, and Ranma-kun was already 

drawing back his fist.

 

Soun and Genma wisely decided to leave the room.

 

�Really,� Kasumi said to Nodoka of the departed fathers.  �You 

would think they�d have more sense after what happened last 

time.�

 

 <<Author's note:  Quite a few people have told me that the scene here
with the fathers is un-neccesary.  Email me if you think that I should cut it.>> 

 

Akane was looking at Ranma�s mother when a sudden horrifying 

thought occurred to her.  �Mrs. Saotome. . ." she began, but trailed 

off.  She wasn�t sure how to finish her thought, but her face had 

drained.

 

Nodoka leaned forward.  �What is it, dear?�

 

Akane swallowed, feeling as though a lead brick were in her 

stomach, looked over at Ranma-kun, and then down at Ranma-

chan.  �What. . . I mean, the contract!�  she blurted.

 

Kasumi and Ranma-kun fell silent at this and turned to look at 

Nodoka.  

 

Ranma-kun had turned slightly green.  �You wouldn�t make him 

commit seppuku, would you, mother?� he asked, referring to 

Onna-Ranma.

 

Nodoka�s mouth turned down at the corners and her eyebrows 

drew up and together slightly.  �No, I would not.  Once I had 

established your manliness, even despite this curse, I burned the 

contract.  It no longer dictates our lives or your death.  You and 

Ranko needn�t worry over that.�

 

The lead brick dissolved away, and Akane could breath again.

 

It was then that Ranma-chan decided to wake up.  He bolted from 

his prone position into a sitting one; the thick, bright red rope of 

his pigtail whipping about to settle heavily over his shoulder.  The 

end of it made a small curl that lay just above the swell of his 

breast.  Akane squirmed uncomfortably at the realization, for the 

millionth time, of just how unconsciously female Ranma could be 

in this body.  She still thought of him as a man, and knew that 

whatever he looked like he could be nothing but.  Still, there were 

times when he would hold his head or his hands in a certain way, 

or shift the weight of his body that for a fleeting moment made it 

seem as if a whole and natural girl was there.

 

Akane met Ranma-chan�s eyes, and for a moment nothing but 

stark panic was evident in his expression.  Then his eyes caught 

sight of his mother and his face smoothed until he looked only 

minimally concerned.

 

For a moment, Akane felt shocked to see the transformation.  Was 

he so uncomfortable around his own mother that he was afraid to 

show his true emotions to her?  The image of a brightly polished 

and expertly sharpened katana flashed through her mind and she 

repressed a shudder.  Yes, he was.

 

Ranma-kun�s wet washcloth decided to take that moment to drip 

onto the polished wood floor.  Akane watched as Ranma-chan 

turned his head and looked squarely into the face of his rightful 

body.  His shoulders sagged, and he sighed.  �So, it�s true then.  I 

really am stuck like this.�

 

�Hey, buddy, it�s ok, I mean, the old ghoul is bound to know a way 

to fix this.  Right?�  Ranma-kun was obviously trying to sound 

upbeat, but couldn�t quite pull it off.

 

Ranma-chan just looked at the cold, sopping washcloth, struggling 

to hide his dismay.  �Sure,� he said softly.  �She�s bound to.�

 

It wasn�t long before Cologne and Nabiki showed up, their faces 

grim.  Both of the Ranmas stood up anxiously at the crone�s arrival 

and said in unison �So can you fix this?�

 

Cologne visibly digested the scene before her.  Ranma split into 

two beings � one cursed, the other not cursed.  She hopped down 

from her staff before motioning for everyone to sit.  �I am afraid I 

have some rather difficult news.�  She watched as Ranma-chan�s 

face filled with dread at her pronouncement, but continued before 

he could say anything.  �But first let me explain what happened to 

you.  This incense is a very ancient and � until tonight � well-

guarded secret of the Amazon Tribe.  It has never, to my 

knowledge, been used outside of China.  Its properties are such 

that once used there is only one way to reverse the effects, and that 

way is most difficult, and perilous.

 

�In the beginning of the Amazon tribal nation there was much war 

between our peoples and those of outlying villages.  Others sought 

to gain what we had through battle.  This is a large part of the 

reason we are who we are today.  But of course, war is a 

demanding mistress, and many of our warriors died.  It came to be 

so bad at one point that this incense was concocted to help our 

people recoup our numbers.  Oh, sure, there was always 

recruitment of poor women from patriarchal societies, but they 

could usually only be trusted to a certain extent.  We were 

desperate, and in that desperation we sent our battle-trained men to 

the Spring of Drowned Girl, and used this incense to separate the 

curse, thus doubling our numbers quickly and with absolutely loyal 

results.  These �Twin Warriors� were given much, and treated well, 

and they were the salvation of our people.  I sent for this single 

cone after Taro showed up.  I thought that it could be useful in the 

most extreme of circumstances.  One whiff of this and Taro would 

be split from his minotaur form.  In the ensuing confusion and 

distress it would be a simple matter to finish the monster off 

permanently, leaving only the boy.  Little did I know that Happosai 

would pervert its original use.  To think � that disgusting excuse of 

a human thought he could make a love-slave out of Ranma�s 

female side!�

 

Akane and the others, especially the two Ranma�s, blanched and 

looked ill for a moment.

 

�But it matters not,� the old woman resumed her soliloquy.  �The 

fact is that only once in the history of the Amazon people has there 

ever been a re-merge of a split curse.  That was a life or death 

situation, and cannot easily be duplicated.�

 

Ranma-kun clenched a fist.  �I don�t care how hard it is.  I�ve been 

thinkin�, and if it was me that was a girl permanently. . .�  He fell 

silent for a second, unsure if that wasn�t exactly the case.  

�Anyway, I wouldn�t want to be stuck as a girl forever.  I would do 

anything to get back to bein� a girl just half the time instead.�  He 

looked at his other self.  �Even if it means giving up my cure, I 

won�t let you. . . me. . . us stay this way forever.�

 

Relief washed over Ranma-chan�s face and he bowed to his male 

half gratefully.  �You all already know I�ll do whatever it takes to 

get back to normal.  Well, as normal as I was, at least.�

 

Cologne smiled bitterly at them.  �It is good that you both feel this 

way, as that is the one factor of the solution to this mess that must 

be absolute.  Neither one of you can be hesitant for a moment, or it 

simply will not work.�

 

All eyes turned to Ranma-kun, who was staring at his hands in his 

lap.  �Ranma-kun,� Akane began softly.  �Can you. . .?�

 

He looked up at her, his blue-gray eyes flashing, and then cut a 

quick glance at Ranma-chan.  �Yes, I can.  I know how I would 

feel if it were me.  It�s gotta happen.�  He looked at Cologne again, 

his gaze fierce.  �When can we do this?�

 

�As soon as you marry Shampoo,� she replied promptly.

 

There was dead silence in the room for a full minute.  Onna-

Ranma�s face drained of blood.  Ranma-kun simply gaped at her, 

and Akane and Nabiki gasped.

 

Nodoka sat up straighter and looked at Cologne.  She no longer 

carried the family katana, but the steel in her eyes was just as 

deadly.  �I do not take kindly to your attempts to force my son into 

something which he obviously has no desire to do, elder.�

 

Akane thought it ironic that Nodoka should say this when she and 

her husband were themselves attempting to do the very same thing.

 

Cologne assesed her for a moment more before grinning slightly.  

�Oh?  I am pleased to formally meet the mother of my son-in-law.  

I am Cologne, Elder of the Joketsuzoku.  Ranma defeated my 

great-grand-daughter in honorable combat, and as such the laws of 

our people demand that Shampoo take him as her husband.�

 

�I am Nodoka Saotome, mother of Ranma Saotome, and my 

husband has already pledged our son�s hand in marriage to Akane 

Tendo.  This agreement was made long before my husband and son 

visited your land, indeed, before my son was yet conceived, and 

therefore takes precedence.  Also, we are not in China, we are in 

Japan, and your laws do not apply here.�

 

Cologne waved her withered old hand.  �Amazon laws apply to 

wherever there are Amazons.  Would you give up your samurai 

code of honor if you were in China?  Besides, I have heard these 

arguments before.  Nothing you can say will make us change our 

minds.�

 

�Is there no way of working out a compromise, then?�

 

There was a lengthy pause while Akane watched Cologne consider 

this.  �Compromise is said by some to be for the weak.�  Nodoka 

raised an eyebrow and the elder continued.  �However, wise 

women such as myself see the merits of such arrangements.  What 

would you have in mind?�

 

Nodoka hesitated.  �As I am not familiar with the laws or needs of 

your people, I would not venture such a suggestion.  I am sure you 

can make one, and I will consider it in turn.�

 

Akane, Kasumi, the two Ranmas, and especially Nabiki, were 

watching this exchange raptly.  Nabiki was even leaning forward, 

eyes narrowed, as if to absorb everything.

 

Cologne pinched her chin thoughtfully.  �There are a couple of 

things I can think of.  One of them is if Ranma were to simply give 

Shampoo a child.  Even bringing one strong child into the tribe 

would be acceptable.�

 

Ranma-kun and Ranma-chan both chimed in at the same time �NO 

WAY!  I could never abandon my child!�  They looked at each 

other in surprise.

 

Nodoka raised her hand in a placating manner.  �Hush, children.  

Elder, I have suggested this to him before and he seems most 

disinclined to the idea.  Perhaps another suggestion?�

 

Cologne pursed her lips.  �If this merging of the curse does not 

work, I will accept Ranma-chan as a warrior into the tribe of the 

Amazons.  This way you get your son, we get our strong addition 

to the people, and Ranma-chan gets an assured position in life as a 

valuable member of society.  Shampoo will be a bit disappointed, 

but she�ll get over it.�

 

Nodoka considered this.  �You are asking me to give up my child.  

Honored elder, Ranma has been away from me for the last ten 

years.  In that time my husband did not deign it necessary to send 

me a photograph of him, or even detailed information on his well-

being.  At best I received infrequent post-cards.  Because of this 

curse he and his father have been hiding themselves from me until 

just a few months ago. . . It would seem that they endeavored to 

keep the burden of such a truth from my shoulders.  

 

�I am certain that having been a mother yourself you know how 

precious a woman�s children are.  Being a mother to Ranma, 

however distant, is what made me a complete woman. . . � she 

trailed off for a few seconds,  and Akane could tell that she was 

slightly embarrassed at having stated such a fact.  �I would not 

wish to part with him so soon after reuniting.  Even if he is cursed, 

he is still my son, and I love him.�  Nodoka let her hand rest on 

Ranma-chan�s shoulder.  �Imagine what it would be like for me, to 

have not had my child for ten years, and now to have two 

children.�  Her hand fell back into her lap.  �Do not ask me to give 

him up.  There must be some way of everyone walking away from 

this with honor, besides that of having Ranma leave me?�

 

An unfamiliar look that Akane finally placed as one of respect came 

over Cologne�s face.  �You are a brave woman, to barter so with the 

Amazons.  But our Laws cannot be dismissed.  The entire purpose 

of them is our survival, and we can only survive by remaining strong.  

If Ranma gave the Tribe a child we would gain that strength.  If the 

merge failed and Ranma-chan was adopted into our people we 

would gain that strength.  If Shampoo takes him as her husband we 

would gain the most.  It would seem that we are at an impasse.�

 

It was then that Nabiki spoke up.  �May I suggest something, 

Cologne?�

 

Cologne turned her narrowed eyes at the middle Tendo sister.  

�What do you have on your mind, little one?�

 

Nabiki leaned to one side and rested her weight on her hand.  �If 

the purpose of your laws is to make the Tribe stronger, then am I to 

assume that if circumstances are right you follow the spirit of the 

law rather than the letter?�  Cologne nodded and Nabiki continued.  

�Obviously Ranma doesn�t want to marry Shampoo.  Honor has 

placed obligations on him that require him to marry Akane, and 

even Ukyo has a better claim than your great-granddaughter.  

Besides, her bimbo-glomp thing scares him more than anything 

else.  I think we all know that she�s a bit too. . . enthusiastic for him 

to handle.�

 

�Hey!� Ranma-kun protested.  Every real female in the room shot 

him an exasperated look and he sank back onto his heels, face red.  

�I�ll just sit here and be quiet, now.�

 

�All this time,� Nabiki continued, �With everything she�s tried, 

Shampoo is no closer to being Ranma�s wife than you are.  But if 

the whole purpose of the law is to gain strength for the Amazons, 

why don�t you try to gain him - and all of the power he represents �as allies?�

 

Cologne let herself blink.  � �All of the power he represents�?� she 

asked.

 

�Ranma stands to inherit this dojo.  A million yen says that he and 

Akane have at least three kids.�

 

At this the youngest Tendo blushed and tried to avoid her fiance�s 

gaze.

 

Nabiki continued.  �Ranma is related to or friends with, let�s see,� 

she began counting off on her fingers.  �Genma, Soun, Ryoga, 

Ukyo, Tofu, Kurumi and her sister . . . at least a dozen very 

powerful martial artists.  With all of this extended family hanging 

around no one in his or her right mind would want to seriously piss 

him off.�  She glibly ignored the fact that the dojo was attacked by 

this or that glory/revenge seeking martial artist on an almost weekly 

basis.  

 

�Cologne, we all read the papers.  China isn�t exactly a hot place to 

be, right now, what with this government overthrowing that one 

every five or ten years.  How long will it be until one of them 

decides to make patriots out of all of you mountain people?

 

�You have to realize that taking Ranma against his will � and it 

will never be any other way � will gain you nothing but very 

powerful enemies.  On the other hand, cutting your losses now just 

may gain you more strength in the long run.�  Nabiki smiled 

wickedly.  �You could even do some kind of child-exchange 

martial-arts program and trade your kids between here and there 

for training.�

 

Everyone in the room was staring open-mouthed at Nabiki (Except 

for Kasumi and Nodoka, who merely placed their finger-tips to 

their lips and widened their eyes in an expression of shock).  

Ranma-kun blinked rapidly and asked �How long have you been 

thinking about this?�

 

Nabiki shrugged.  �I just came up with it.  What can I say?  I�m 

brilliant.�

 

Akane observed as Cologne stared into space, her staff soaring 

high above her head.  The girl could practically see visions dancing 

through the Amazon�s mind of Ranma�s children arriving in the 

village to learn Amazon techniques, and the old woman�s own 

heirs gleaning martial knowledge from Ranma�s tutelage.  Akane 

thought that Nabiki was right.  The only real recourse Cologne and 

Shampoo had left to them was kidnapping Ranma, which would 

inevitably lead to a rescue squad of angry and very talented martial 

artists (Akane herself among them).  Not to mention that the prize 

would seek freedom often and very likely violently.  

 

In the war to win Ranma�s hand in marriage Shampoo came in 

third place, and Akane had practically already won.  After all, she 

reasoned, hadn�t Ranma killed a godling for her?  The memory of 

the battle on the mountain flashed through her mind, and 

afterwards his declaration of love. . .  Her heart skipped.

 

�Of course,� Akane was jolted out of her reverie as Cologne spoke.  

�Shampoo will be hard to convince.  She really thinks she loves 

the young fool.  But, Ranma would never make a proper 

husband. . . and he would make an excellent ally.  Do you agree to 

young Nabiki�s take on things?�

 

Nodoka was smiling in palpable relief.  �Oh, certainly!  She does 

credit to her father.�

 

�Then it is agreed.  You and I will meet tomorrow to discuss the 

arrangements of this alliance between the Saotomes and the 

Amazons.  Ah, do not bother to bring your husband.  He has made 

enough of a mess of his son�s life as it is.�

 

Nodoka bowed.  �I would be delighted to meet with you, elder.

The Nekohanten at around four?�

 

Cologne nodded.  �That would be fine.�  She perched her staff 

against her shoulder and rubbed her hands together.  �Now, on 

with the cure.  Kasumi, do you have any willow bark?�

 

     ---------------

 

In the Tendo family dojo all of the men � except for Ranma-kun � 

had been exiled to the house.  Three concentric circles made of 

cherry-sized stones rested in the center of the broad, well-kept 

floor.  Corresponding to the four directions were sprigs of different 

kinds of plants, each tied to a small piece of willow bark with dark 

yellow thread.  

 

Onna-Ranma stood next to his counterpart in the very center of the 

circles, not touching, facing east.  They were nude and Ranma-

chan saw that Akane was blushing and trying not to peek when 

anyone noticed.  Ranma-kun�s face was bright red, his eyes 

squeezed shut.  His shoulders were tense and he kept trying to 

cover himself with his hands.

 

Onna-Ranma felt Cologne�s eyes on her just before she proceeded 

with her instructions.  �I will soon begin reading from the scroll.  

When I complete the scroll there will be a bright light.  When you 

can no longer stand to see it, the two of you must step into each 

other.  Your bodies will merge, and that will be that.  Once the 

light has died the two of you will be one.  You will feel greatly 

fatigued.  Sleep and lots of water are recommended.  Shall we 

begin?�

 

Everyone nodded, and Cologne unrolled the scroll and began to 

read.

 

The words issuing from her wrinkled lips were not Chinese, or 

Japanese, or any other language any of them recognized.  The 

syllables were spoken nasally and there was a twang to them.  

There was an oily quality about them that made it impossible to 

remember exactly what any one word sounded like, as if the words 

themselves chose to be spoken and then hide away from memory 

again.  It made Ranma-chan�s ears involuntarily pull back against 

her skull, and sent a shiver down his spine.  Cologne stopped and 

tiredly raised her small hand.

 

The two Ranma�s turned from Akane to face Cologne, who raised 

the scroll again and began chanting in that same slippery language.  

As Cologne chanted, Ranma-chan looked into the face of his male 

body, saw the determination there, and the selflessness.  

 

�I know what he�s  thinking�, Onna-Ranma thought.  �After all, it�s 

my own brain at work.  He�s thinkin� that it wasn�t fair for me 

getin� the short end of the stick like that.  He�s imagining himself 

in the same situation, and shuddering.  He�s feeling honor-bound to 

reassume the curse, to fix what happened the only way he can.  

He�s scared. . . Heck I�m scared!  But, nothin� in him thought twice 

about if he should do this or not.  He�ll go through with it.  He�ll 

sacrifice his cure � his happiness - to help me.

  

And then he saw Akane�s face, her large brown eyes staring at the 

two of them raptly.  Her face was full of hope, and fear, and 

wonder.  She was so achingly beautiful that it cut him to the quick.

 

Doubts stirred in Ranma-chan�s mind.  �Is this fair to her?  

Everything in Akane�s life changed so much ever since me an� Pop 

got here.  Nothing�s the same � her social life, her school life, and 

her home life.  How many times she's been attacked 'cause of me?

After Jusendo� I can�t lie any more.  I love Akane.  So much it almost 

hurts, an� I know she�s the one for me.  She knows too, she said it 

when they tried to make us get married.

 

�Is it fair to her to have a husband that�ll always be less then a full 

man?  How would our kids turn out, havin� a dad who was a GIRL 

half the time?  Who would they call mother?�  He curled his hands 

into fists, his mind swirling.  �Here�s my his best chance to make 

her happy, to help her be that much closer to a normal life.�

 

�A normal life. . . for Akane.�

 

In that instant Ranma-chan made up his mind.  When faced with 

the decision before, he had always chosen Akane�s well-being and 

happiness over his own, no matter how great the concession.  A 

flash of light surrounded the two figures.  Nodoka  had to shield 

her eyes.  Akane squinted, trying to see what was happening, until 

tears streamed down her cheeks from the stress of it, and she too 

had to look away.  Cologne merely closed her eyes until the 

unbearable shine dissipated.

 

Nothing had changed.  Akane gasped loudly at the sight of Ranma-

chan and Ranma-kun standing next to each other, still completely 

separate beings.

 

Onna-Ranma�s expression went through a range of emotions even 

through the tears that streaked his face and dripped from his chin to 

darken the polished wood floor.  He turned from his fully male 

counterpart and strode to Akane, looking up at the now-taller girl.  

Then he leaned forward and grasped her shoulders before pressing 

his cheek to hers.  He whispered something that only she could 

hear, and then before anyone could react or follow him, 

he was gone.



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