------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Ranma 1/2 "The Nature of the Curse" Hard Battle Story by Douglas MacDougall ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted 25 Mar 1999, and last modified 26 Mar 1999. The latest parts and revisions of this story are available at: http://www.dougmacd.net/fanworks/ Ranma 1/2 (c) Rumiko Takahashi / Shogakukan * Kitty Film * Fuji TV. Exclusively licensed throughout the United States and Canada by Viz Communications, Inc. This fan fiction is for private home use only; it may be freely redistributed, but not altered or used for profit. Not Rated. Parental Guidance Suggested. ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Part 10 Behind the Invisible Barrier ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hiroshi tenderly felt his scalp. You couldn't see it under his dyed hair, but the top of his head was bright pink. The only evidence of his pain, other then his probing fingers, was the strange condition of his hair. It might be likened to 'bed-head', if he had been sleeping upside down balanced on his skull all night. In fact, it was 'spatula head.' He winced as his fingers touched tender flesh. "Man, she didn't have to hit me so hard." Daisuke grinned. "I thought your precious Ukyo wasn't violent like the other girls?" "She isn't violent! I'm sure she's just under some stress at the moment." He defended the object of his affections. "Well then, I'm sure she appreciates your giving her the opportunity to relieve her stress by braining you." "I'm only too happy to present my body for her needs. If that's what it takes to relax her--" "I'm sure you'd LOVE to present your body for her 'needs'." Daisuke grinned lecherously. "And this from the person that yells at me when I say the same thing about Kodachi!" Hiroshi barked, "It's completely different! Ukyo's not insane! She wouldn't tie me up, drug me, and do heaven knows what else to me." "She'd just beat you with that spatula. I must say, you're a brave man, Hiroshi. I can handle bondage, but it looks like you're into masochism! Geez, you'd do well with any of Ranma's fiancees. Why settle for Ukyo?" "It's not like that!" "Yeah? You just keep telling yourself that." "Hey, guys!" The two boys turned to face a speaker of medium height, with good looks and a slender build. The voice didn't quite match the student's boyish appearance, however. "Hiroshi!" Ukyo patted the fair-haired boy on the back "I'm really sorry about hitting you earlier, y'know? It was just a reflex. Nothing personal." She flashed a smile. Tears started silently and voluminously pouring out of Hiroshi's eyes. Ukyo recoiled slightly. "Are you okay? I didn't hit you too hard, did I?" Concern was evident on her face. Daisuke explained for his dazed friend. "They're tears of joy." Ukyo seemed doubtful, but seemed to accept the statement. "O-kay... I didn't realize you were so upset by me hitting you. Just don't joke around like that again, okay? Treat me like one of the guys!" Hiroshi numbly nodded. "Great. Don't forget to stop by Ucchan's! Later!" With that, she jogged away, her spatula swaying from side to side. Hiroshi continued to cry, but to Daisuke's practiced eye, he noticed a subtle change in the mood of his buddy. "Let me guess. Tears of the brokenhearted?" "She thought I was joking..." he sniffled. "So much for your declaration of love..." At the end of lunch, Hiroshi had blurted how he wanted Ukyo. She registered her disapproval of the idea with a swift blow to his head. "Treat her like one of the guys? I wonder what that means? Well, I've got no complaints if she continues to hang out with us. Right, 'Roshi?" His friend blubbered, "Just kill me now." "Hey, Ukyo!" yelled Daisuke. "Its wasn't a joke! Hiroshi's desperately in love with y--" The other boy grabbed Daisuke and pulled him to the ground. He swung his head wildly about in a frantic search for Ukyo, but didn't see her. Pinning him to the ground, he yelled at his so-called friend. "What're you, CRAZY!?! She'll kill me if she found out!" "Didn't you just say that you wanted to die?" Daisuke couldn't help grinning ear to ear. "And it would be at the hands of your precious non- violent Ukyo..." The light-haired boy's eyebrow twitched. "Let's see how easy it really is to rip off a person's ear..." "Hey, I was just kidding. Hiroshi? 'Roshi?" Daisuke struggled, just barely managing to free himself. "Joke? HIROSHI!" * * * * * * As the coach placed another hurdle on the track, he noticed two of his better rugby players sprinting around the edge of the field. Watching them, he felt a little pride. "Good hustle, Daisuke!" "Heeelp!" * * * * * * Ranma rocked back and forth on his feet while waiting for Akane. He shifted his weight between his heels and toes and back again. It was a simple little exercise that helped with balance, flexibility, and the strength in his ankles. Always a good thing when you leap from rooftop to rooftop. Twisting your ankle from a multiple-story landing is never a fun thing. Little exercises like this were second nature to him, and he found himself performing them whenever he was anxious or bored. They were ingrained in him by his father, who had turned his every waking moment into some form of training. Anything Goes Steal the Pickle. Anything Goes Sleep In Another Five Minutes. Anything Goes Standing Still... He glanced up at the clock on the face of the school. Akane was talking to her friends, who apparently had something to say about her being so scarce of late. While they talked in the foyer, Ranma had decided to wait outside. Hanging around girls always made him uncomfortable, and he was still a little antsy around Sayuri. He had never found out why she'd given him that nasty glare a few days back. Not to mention her behavior around Ukyo... "So, can I ask you a few more questions?" Moving smoothly out of his exercise, Ranma shifted his weight to the heel of his right foot, the toe of his left foot, and smoothly pivoted clockwise in a half revolution to face Akira. He had already guessed it was him, but wondered how he had snuck up like that. Did he know how to erase the signs of his presence? Ranma shrugged off the idea. Akira was no martial artist. He'd said so himself. Obviously he'd just left his mind wander too much. "You want to know more about my curse, right? For your book?" "Yes. I've got a question I wanted to ask you when you were alone." Ranma wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. "Why?" Akira seemed to choose his words carefully. "It's just that you might find the question... embar-- (um) Uncomfortable to answer with your... with Akane around." Embarrassing, eh? Probably something more to do with girl-stuff. Bad enough Akane found out about his monthly problem. He just hoped she wouldn't hide the tamp-- the box somewhere he couldn't check it. Hell, if she did hide it, then Nabiki would want to know why, and that wasn't a raod he wanted to go down. Well, Akane seemed to think this book thing was a good idea, so he'd finish answering Akira's questions. Better to get them over as soon as possible. Besides, there couldn't be anything more embarrassing than a guy having a period, right? "So what's the question?" "Earlier you said that your curse just gives you a girl's body, and that you're still yourself inside. Where you just saying that because Akane was around, or because you honestly don't know?" "Don't know what?" asked Ranma uneasily. "Well, that you DO turn into a girl. In mind as well as body." "I DON'T turn into a girl. Ask anyone." This guy would have to pick the worst topic of conversation. "Well, I wouldn't expect you to tell them. I imagine it's not something you'd want other people to know." "But there's nothing TO know. Besides, I don't have to tell them anything. They all see the way I act." Akira started looking around, which distracted Ranma. He followed Akira's gaze, but didn't see what he could be looking at. There was no one around for fifty meters. When Akira spoke to Ranma again, it was in a conspiratorial whisper. "You DO know, don't you? Or else how could you hide it? And you've managed to keep it a secret from everyone?" "I haven't kept anything a secret." He was starting to get irritated. "I'm one hundred percent guy. A girl's body doesn't make me any less of a man." Once he had been uncertain, but he had it on good authority from two women he cared about that it was true. Akira was having none of it. "Look, there's no one around to overhear. You've nothing to hide from me. I'll even put the information in another chapter, like how you check for missing tampons." Ranma's eyebrow twitched. "What good would that do? The tampon thing might have been any of the people in your book, but you're trying to say that EVERYBODY who turns into a girl changes all the way! How would putting it in a different chapter help?" For some reason, the answer seemed to encourage Akira. "Then I can give you a pseudonym! No one has to know the person in the book is you!" "What's your problem, anyway? Are you some sort of pervert or something? It's like you WANT me to be a girl!" Akira's enthusiasm immediately disappeared. When he spoke again, it was with a lecturing tone. "You physically turn into a girl. You have a girl's body, with a girl's reproductive system. You have a girl's hormones and a girl's brain. And you expect me to believe that all these elements don't affect the way you act in the slightest?" "They don't." Ranma was adamant. "You've never acted even a little bit feminine? You're always 100% man. A manly man, even when you're a cute little redhead?" The comment made Ranma bristle. He didn't like being referred to as cute, little, or a redhead. But he couldn't really deny it. There were times when he had acted -- ACTED, mind you -- like a girl. But that was always for a reason. Unable to deny it, he answered, "I'm a man." The two stood facing each other for a few moments in silence. Ranma was somewhat angry, while Akira was either emotionless or keeping his emotions tightly in check. Finally, in a resigned voice, Akira said, "Well, there's no way I can force you to tell me the truth..." "As if I wasn't telling you the truth already." A female voice joined the group. "Ranma?" He turned around to see Akane, apparently finished talking with her friends. He smiled as she walked up to him. She could prove to this idiot that he didn't turn into a girl. And maybe Akane would realize what a weirdo Akira really was. He hadn't missed the fact that the taller boy hadn't actually answered his question about being a pervert. "Hey, Akane, why don't you tell Akira how--" As he turned back to face him, he noticed that the boy in question was frozen in mid-windup with a sizeable bucket of water. He pointed at the bucket. "And what are you trying to do with that? You want to see your 'cute little redhead', again?" He spoke with unconcealed disgust. Bad enough dealing with Kuno. If this guy really WAS attracted to him, even though he knew about the curse... "Uh..." "Ranma! Don't be so mean!" He was a little disappointed to see her yell at him, but she quickly turned on Akira. "And you! What's the deal with that bucket? I would have thought you would've learned your lesson about playing with water." "I, uh..." "He's trying to get me to 'admit' to being a girl when I'm splashed with cold water." She tilted her head. "But you DO turn into--" Ranma interrupted her before she could make him look worse. "All the way. He thinks I turn into a girl, even in the head." He tapped his temple. Akane blinked at that. "But that's not true." "Tell HIM that." She did. "Akira, Ranma's the same person no matter what shape he's in." Akira finally found his tongue. "I don't believe that's true, Akane." "Well, I've had plenty of experience dealing with him in both forms..." "I believe he's trying to hide the true nature of his curse from you." Akane didn't believe that for a moment, and said as much. "I've known Ranma for over a year now, and I've seen him do just about everything, experience every emotion, in both of his forms. He's the same person, boy or girl." "Then if I turn him into a girl he should act the same way." "Yes." Akira handed the bucket to her. Akane was a little confused. "What, you want me to splash him?" "He seems to dislike that idea of me doing it." Indeed, her fiance appeared to be glaring bullets at Akira. "Ranma...?" "Just do it," he answered, not taking his eyes off of Akira. Akane took Ranma's book bag, so it wouldn't get wet, and splashed Ranma with about half the water in the bucket. Girl-type Ranma continued to glare at Akira, although she had to crane her neck up a bit to do so. "Hi, Ranchan!" Out of nowhere, Ukyo jogged up to the three students. "How's it going? What'cha talking about?" "Nothin' important, Ucchan." Akira glanced at the two of them. "Are you two... friends?" Ukyo beamed a smile at him. She leaned into Ranma's shoulder and put her arm around her back. "Ranma-honey's my fiance!" Akane frowned at the remark, and where Ukyo's hand was. Only she was holding two book bags and the bucket, and didn't want to appear rude to Ranma by shoving her childhood friend away. So she just glared. Ranma didn't notice, as she was glaring at Akira herself. "So ask away. The answers won't be any different." Akira looked at her, scratched his chin, and then muttered to himself, "Yeah, that should do it." He took a step forward, right in front Ranma, towering over to her. Ranma didn't back up. She continued to make direct eye contact, tilting up her head to look straight into his eyes. The front of her slender neck was completely exposed. It was not an action a martial artist would normally take, leaving herself wide open in such a vulnerable place. Ranma was clearly daring Akira, expressing her disdain for the boy's ability to do anything to her, even with the opening. Akane wondered if Akira even knew the meaning of the posture. Akira took off his glasses for a moment, and wiped them clean. After putting them back on, he almost casually asked, "Are you a boy or a girl?" "I'm a MAN." "Right now?" "Wh--" "Right now, are you physically a boy or a girl?" He was now actually looming over Ranma, staring down at her. Ranma's face twitched. "A girl. But--" Akira smiled. The expression made Akane uneasy. "But you're still a man inside." "Yes," she replied warily. Ranma didn't seem to trust the expression, either. Akira backed away, giving Ranma some more room. Ukyo leaned closer to Ranma, with her arm still around the smaller girl's back. "How do you KNOW you're a man?" "Well, duh! I'm still me inside. I don't change. Not that way." "But you're not still you on the outside." Ranma grudgingly admitted the point. "So what?" "How do you know it's not you on the outside?" Ranma rolled her eyes, and poked her chest. "Do the math." "But when I asked you if you were a boy or a girl, you said you were a boy." "I thought you were talking about in the head," he explained, exasperated. Where was he going with these dumb questions? "But when I clarified it, did you know the answer?" "Well, of course!" "But not without looking down." Ranma blinked at that. "Huh?" "When I asked you if you were physically a girl, you looked down at yourself. I was standing over you. I saw your eyes dart down." Akira pointed accusingly at Ranma. "You had to check!" A strange expression came over Ranma's face. Her eyes squinted a bit, wrinkling her nose, and her lips were slightly pulled back. Akane couldn't tell if it was anger or disgust. Akira continued, "Do you EVER really notice when you change into a girl?" "Of course I do!" Akira's glasses glinted in the sunlight. Like a lawyer jumping on a defendant who had accidentally let something slip, Akira was all over Ranma. "Honestly? Or are you just noticing when you're splashed with water?" You feel the water, and associate that with the curse. But there isn't so much as a tingle when you shift forms, is there? Even though you become smaller and lighter. Body parts appear and disappear. "You're a martial artist. You should be attuned to gross anatomical changes like that in your own body. But DO you notice?" "Gross changes is right," Ranma muttered, but she couldn't quite bring herself to deny what Akira was saying. Or, for some reason, look at Akane. It was all true. When she was distracted, she didn't even notice the water. Or forgot. She'd be walking around as a girl and not even realize it. Akira gave her a moment to add something, but hearing her silence, continued. "It's the same 'blind spot' I mentioned before. Just as the curse makes your subconscious blind to water, it also makes you blind to the transformation. Unless it's pointed out to you, or made obvious in some way, you won't notice it. "You have that same blind spot to your own feminine behavior. You act like a girl, but you don't realize it," he concluded. "Only I DON'T act like a girl," she glared. "Maybe you do. Maybe you act like a girl... like a woman, but you don't act feminine." Ranma started gnashing her teeth. "The two don't mean the same thing. It could be that your cursed form is a tomboy." Akane involuntarily smiled to herself, but covered it up with her hands. Unfortunately, she was still carrying the bucket and some water sloshed onto her. Blushing, she put it and the book bags down. No one had noticed, though. Ranma and Akira were focussed on each other, and Ukyo was holding Ranma from the shoulder opposite to the one Akane was standing next to. Ranma took a moment to restrain her anger. She stilled her jaw and unclenched the muscles in her hands, arms, neck, and face. Couldn't this guy see the huge hole in his argument? "Look, you say I've got this blind spot, and act like a girl, right?" "Yes." "Then how come people who change into animals don't act like animals, huh?" Let's see your explanation for that one, smarty. Another grin. "Interestingly enough, people who change into animals have a LARGER blind spot. There are more subconscious changes when one turns into an animal. For example, the knowledge of how to gallop, how to swim with tentacles, or how to fly is ingrained into the victims' minds. The blind spot, as with all of the curses, obscures conscious awareness of these changes. "But because there are so many changes, the blind spot paradoxically becomes visible. It must be so large to obscure all the changes, that the edges, as it were, become apparent. "Remember, the blind spot is just an area of awareness that is automatically overlooked in your brain. You don't notice water. You don't notice getting distracted from a cure. You don't notice you've changed. You don't notice that you're acting differently. "But when one turns into an animal, the changes are so great, that even after one overlooks the transformation, the person's attention is drawn back to the differences. And once one becomes aware of the changes, a victim can override the instinctive behavior provided from the curse. Nevertheless, the changes to their subconscious behavior are still there." Okay, Ranma, grudgingly admitted. So he had an explanation. It wasn't very good, though. Akira continued. "The lesser the physical change, the less likely one will become aware of their blind spot. Gross physical changes, like to a cat, are pretty easily identified. The victim's hands and perception are greatly changed. These are such integral parts to how a person interacts with the world, that their alteration simply can't be overlooked. Lesser changes, to say, a monkey... are less easily recognised. The victims are much smaller, but still have the same general build. They have opposable thumbs, and are bipedal. Their vision is still color and binocular." Akane nodded. Mr. Saotome's cursed form was a little bigger, but he could still walk on his feet, and hold a marker and sign. By Akira's argument, he should be more susceptible to acting like an animal. Maybe his panda act wasn't just a form of escapism... "Ranma, you only change sexes, so there's little to no evidence to make you aware of your blind spot. The only curses that have a lesser transformation are the personality pools. In fact, because they have no physical change, there's NO way to become aware of the blind spot. People so cursed are completely victim to the mental effects." Akira finished talking, and Ranma took a few moments to respond. "So you're saying that the people that turn into animals can still act like themselves, and the people that only change sex DO act differently?" She sounded rather bitter. "It's all a matter of degree, but yes. No physical change leaves no clues and thus no way to escape the mental changes. Large changes can be noticed by victim, and thus make the mental changes relatively easy to avoid. Slight changes, such as your case, make the mental changes avoidable, but not without constant vigilance." Ranma muttered to herself, "So I'm LUCKY to turn into a girl, am I? Ryoga, you stupid jerk..." Akane blinked. What did she mean by that? Ukyo spoke up, "Well, then, Ranma must be pretty vigilant, 'cause he doesn't act like a girl at all!" "I find it difficult to believe that he could keep up such vigilance around the clock..." "I've known him since we were kids, and he's always been a man, no matter what he looks like on the outside." Akane refrained from commenting that she had known the cursed (and adult) Ranma for longer, and that they saw each other more regularly. She did live in the same house with her, after all. She should be the one to say whether she acted like a man or not! "And you say he's never acted like a girl." "No!" she responded defiantly. At least not very well, added Akane mentally. "Never dressed up like a girl?" "N- Uh, well, he dressed up like a girl a couple times, but not because he wanted to or anything." Akane rolled her eyes. "He's never dated a guy?" "Uh." Ukyo's defiance was rapidly fading away. "Well, there was Kuno, but that's because he wanted to get this sword that granted wishes... Ranma likes girls!" Akane wondered if she had ignored or simply blocked out Ranma's abortive date with Tsubasa. "So he's never been attracted to a guy?" "No, of course not!" Akane and Ranma looked at each other just long enough to start blushing horribly. They stared at the ground in silence. "You're sure?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Yes!" "Maybe you don't know him very well then, after all." "What?" her defiant tone had completely returned. Akira's only answer was to point at the nervous, fidgeting couple. Ukyo's eyes widened in surprise at she looked first at Akane, and then Ranma. She gave Ranma's shoulder a little shake to snap him out of it, but it had little effect. After a few moments of silence, Akira said, "I'm sorry. I'd like to talk more, but I'm supposed to meet Mu-Tsu, Granny, and Xian-Pu at the Cat Cafe in a few minutes. However, I'd like to continue this conversation later. Ranma, I apologize for bringing this out into the open, but please remember that I did wish to speak to you about it privately. I hope you'll still be willing to talk more about it tomorrow." He waited for some sort of response, but didn't get one. "Goodbye." Akira walked away, but was unnoticed by anyone remaining. Ranma and Akane were still struggling to contain their embarrassment, and Ukyo was staring at Ranma oddly. Finally, Ranma spoke, "Uh, me 'n Akane should be headed back, too. Don't want Mr. Tendo worrying about his little girl. Heh." She laughed uneasily, and grabbed Akane's arm. "C'mon, let's go. See you tomorrow, Ucchan!" Ukyo watched the couple run off into the distance, out of sight. So the curses had a 'blind spot', eh? You didn't know your behavior changed? Ranma and Akane's reactions only reinforced what she had concluded herself. Something had happened between the two when they were cursed with the opposite genders. Ukyo had assumed that it was just some sort of confusion that had led to any physical attraction, but from what she had just heard, it could have been the curse itself affecting Ranma's mental state. Did Ranma really turn all the way into a girl, and had been hiding it all along? Ukyo smiled to herself. If so, then Ranma was hers for sure. Akane wasn't very feminine, but she'd neither could she be called masculine. She was just violent. Uncute. Ukyo, however, could be both. Feminine and masculine, that is. She wasn't violent or uncute! And she would be feminine, masculine, or whatever Ranma wanted. Anything for her Ranchan. She held her hand and sighed in anticipation. It tingled with a remembered touch. It had been on Ranma for so long. She had standing close to her, holding her, and she had let her. Let's see Akane try that! * * * * * * Ranma realized she was still holding Akane's wrist after they had walked several blocks. She hadn't complained or mentioned anything, so Ranma had forgotten what she was doing. Obviously Akane was distracted. That's the only reason she had been able to hold her so long. Only, if she didn't let go, Akane would eventually realize it, and call her a pervert or something. But if she let go now, it would immediately draw Akane's attention. Doomed either way, Ranma tried to enjoy her few remaining moments. If only something would draw Akane's attention away... A bouquet of flowers provided suitable distraction for them both. Kuno slipped a dozen red roses into both of their hands, and under their noses. Ranma sneezed. "My loves! Know now that I will save you from the accursed Akira Tsu. Akane, you will no longer need fear the fate that befell the fair Ranma Saotome." He was looking right at Ranma. Akane's eyes widened, as Ranma groaned. "And Ranma, I apologize for cursing your fair name. Had I but known that the pig-tailed demon was stealing both your body and name, I would have saved you all the sooner. But fear not! I shall bring Akira to justice this very day! And, freed from your maidenly concern for my well-being at the hands of your... other, you may finally demonstrate your true love, without fear of repercussion!" He wrapped his arm around Ranma's slim waist and drew her closer. Ranma uppercutted Kuno into the air and out of sight. "Would you please SHUT UP!" She caught her breath, and belatedly realizing that she still held the bouquet, threw it away. "Stupid Kuno..." Akane was almost afraid to ask. "How long has he...? "He got those weird ideas two days ago. Apparently after he decided that Akira was the sorcerer and I was just some demon flunky. He must think that demons don't have names, or something, so he figured that Ranma is my girl- side's name. "Bad enough when he's spouting poetry about his 'Pig-Tailed Girl'. Now I have to hear him reciting stuff with my name! Geez, we're both guys!" She violently kicked a pebble, which skittered along the ground, hit a fence, and plummeted into the canal. The two resumed their walk home side by side. "Everyone knows he loves the 'pig-tailed girl' and hates me. If anyone hears him saying he loves me, they'll... I don't know. Think he's finally figured out the curse, or something, and loves me anyway..." Akane giggled. "So what? Everyone knows Kuno's an idiot." "Yeah, but it still makes me look like..." His words trailed off into unspoken frustration. "Ranma, even if they think Kuno's in love with you, they'll know that you're not in lo-- (uh) That you don't...return his feelings. Everyone knows you're a guy." "Not everyone knows..." The comment surprised Akane. "What, you aren't talking about Akira, are you?" "Maybe." Akane put her hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Don't worry about what he says. He might be able to temporarily confuse people with his weird arguments, but anyone who knows you will remember the truth. A conversation won't make them forget everything they've seen you do and how you act." "Yeah, but what about when he writes his book?" "Hmm?" "If Akira writes that book of his, he can say anything he wants. If he says that the curse affects my mind, who am I to say different?" "You're the one with first-hand knowledge. That's more important than any book." Akane was surprised to see that Ranma looked genuinely concerned. "Yeah, but if he publishes his book, it'll all be in writing." "Just because it's in writing doesn't make it true," she assured her. "Oh, yeah? Which would you believe more? If I told you that magical girls were real, or if you read it in the paper?" Akane smiled. "Well, that's not exactly a fair comparison. A newspaper has a reputation to uphold. It can't publish a story like that without lots of sources..." "But normally you'd believe what you read over what you're told!" Akane took a moment to consider her answer. "Which would you have more respect for? A scroll of ancient martial arts styles, or a sensei who could teach you those styles?" "Well, the sensei, but that's different. Sensei can teach you things that can't be put into words. They can give you feedback, and tell you what you're doing right and wrong. The words on a scroll can teach you a technique, but not help you perfect it. "But it's not the same thing! I'm not talking about respect, or which you'd rather learn from, but what a person would believe more." Ranma seemed to be growing agitated, so Akane slid her hand off Ranma's shoulder, and put her arm on her back. As soon as she did it, she temporarily froze. It was a natural movement for her. She rubbed the backs of her friends all the time to comfort them, but this was Ranma. Her heart fluttered for a second, thinking how Ranma would react. For a moment, she felt the Ranma's muscles tense, but she didn't comment on Akane's action or look at her. She just looked down the road they were walking. The confrontational part of Akane's personality made a mental sneer at Ukyo. She wasn't the only one who could hold Ranma! Forcing herself to forget her self-congratulatory mood, Akane tried once again to make Ranma stop worrying. "Ranma, it's just one book. Assuming he even publishes it, or that anyone reads it, it's your word against his. Don't you think people would believe the word of the person living the problem over someone who wrote about it? "And what about your friends? It's not just you, but Mr. Saotome, Shampoo, and Mousse. Even Taro and Rouge. And Herb certainly wouldn't let anyone call him a girl." Akane gave Ranma a reassuring squeeze. "I guess..." They walked a little while longer, and Ranma didn't say anything else. Akane wasn't sure whether she was still thinking about Akira and the book or not. The thought of Ranma being upset made her feel... bad somehow. After a moment, she placed the emotion. Guilt. "Ranma. I'm sorry I said that you should answer Akira's questions. I didn't know that you had... problems with your girl-type body that you didn't want anyone to know about. Or that Akira would try to imply that you're something you're not." "I know, Akane...." It sounded like she wanted to say more. Akane arm drifted lower, and she hugged Ranma closer. "You know I don't care what he says, right, Ranma? I know you're a man." She blinked at her words. She'd meant to say 'guy'. "Thanks, Akane." The smaller girl glanced up and smiled, and Akane smiled back. It looked like she had finally lightened Ranma's mood. She leaned her head on Akane's shoulder, and sighed. Akane readjusted her hand, sliding it over onto Ranma's other shoulder. Even if she hadn't been around to teach her the little things about being a woman, her mother had imparted the most important lessons of all. Care for others and be supportive. If she didn't know anything else about how to be feminine, at least she had that. And Ranma in her arms. * * * * * * Resting her head on Akane's shoulder felt good. It wasn't something she would ever be able to do as a guy without crouching or craning her neck. As they walked side by side, Ranma could feel them periodically bump into each other. Even matching Akane's steps pace for pace, her head slowly rocked on Akane's shoulder, lulling her. Absently, she put her arm around Akane's waist to help stop herself from falling forward or back. She didn't like what she had heard from Akira. She KNEW that she was a man, but Akira seemed so sure that the exact opposite was true. And shouldn't he know? He had lived next to Jusenkyo his whole life. He apparently knew the Jusenkyo Guide, and had an explanation for everything. And it made sense, too. Sure, a 'blind spot' sounded pretty dumb, but to hear Akira tell it, that one little thing could explain all the stupid problems of his curse. Only it added one tiny little extra problem. Supposedly it made her a girl, too. And what could she do to prove him wrong? He'd just claim that she was trying to hide the 'truth' from her friends. Or that she didn't know the truth herself because of the blind spot. It was all very convenient. She blinked her eyes open. Even though she was walking, it felt like she was about to fall asleep. Akane hadn't said anything, and was still holding her around the shoulders. They were walking home together, arm in arm. Ranma suppressed a goofy grin at the situation. She'd dreamed of being this close to Akane, and here it was really happening. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scents of Akane's hair, and the short strands tickled her ear and cheek. It smelled nice. She wondered what sort of shampoo she used. "It's ten blocks due South of here, boy!" "Really?!" A nearby conversation drew Ranma's attention. She turned her head to see, without taking it off of Akane's shoulder. "But you don't want to go there! It's filled with crazy martial artists. Get too close and one of them's likely to bash a concrete wall or telephone pole onto your head!" "That's alright. I need to get something from there." "Hey! I said SOUTH, you idiot. This way. THIS WAY!" "Ryoga!" Ranma called out and waved with her free arm, finally lifting her head off of Akane. There was a slight crick in her neck, and her ear hurt a bit, but she figured it was worth the cost. Akane turned around, too, and saw the lost boy. "Oh, Ryoga! It's good to see you again so soon!" Ryoga's grin split his face and he started running towards the couple. "Akane! Ran... ma?" His hand awkwardly stopped in mid-wave, and started to scratch the back of his head. He blushed. What was wrong with that idiot now? Ranma shook off the remaining effects of her drowsiness. She would have figured that he was blushing just because of Akane, but she had been sure that he had given up on her and had chosen Akari. Besides, he seemed to be blushing more at her than Akane. Was there something on her face? Ranma started to try to brush whatever it was off, when her arm encountered the resistance of Akane. Belatedly, she realized that she was still holding her, and vice versa. Oh! That's what he was blushing at. He must be as uncomfortable with public displays of affection. Thinking about it, Ranma wasn't so sure she was comfortable with them, either. Not even considering the possibility of another fiancee or rival seeing, she didn't want to seem too sappy or emotional. But she wasn't sure how to pull away from Akane without upsetting her. If she took her hand off her waist, maybe Akane would take the clue and remove her hand from her shoulder. "Isn't the GIRL supposed to hold the guy's waist?" asked her brain. "What?" she responded. "Isn't the GIRL supposed to rest her head on the GUY's shoulder?" it pressed. "I...?" she stammered inside her head. "You're acting like a GIRL!" her brain screamed, "And AKANE's the GUY!" Taking a moment to look at the girl next to her, Ranma's fears were confirmed. "Ah!" Ranma ripped herself out of Akane's grasp. How much had Ryoga seen? Here Akane had been walking them home, while she'd been clinging on, resting her head on her 'boyfriend's' shoulder. She'd probably been giggling like a stupid schoolgirl or somethin', too, when she was half-asleep. Damned curse! She put on a gruff voice, which failed rather badly in her current frame. "R- Ryoga! How's it goin', man?" What next? What do guys do? She walked up and patted Ryoga on the shoulder, earning him a half-hearted glare. She avoided it by looking at Akane, but the hurt and confused look on her face was much worse. Like receiving a blow to the stomach, she suddenly had problems breathing. "I was trying to find Akari..." Ranma forced herself to talk. To say anything, rather than look at Akane. "Let me guess. You got lost trying to get to her farm." "No I didn't!" "Then what?" "Well..." He started twiddling his fingers. "I was going to phone her, but I couldn't find her number, so I..." "Geez, you're hopeless. You know you get lost trying to meet your girlfriend, so instead you get lost trying to find the phone number so you WON'T get lost trying to meet her. "Well, I'm sure somebody's got it written down at the Tendo's. After all we've helped you find Akari plenty of times before. C'mon 'n follow us back. Think you can do that?" She smirked. "Ranma! Don't be so mean. Just because you're in a bad mood doesn't mean--" Ranma cut her off. Geez, she didn't have to tell Ryoga that! "C'mon, Akane. You know he'd get lost trying to find his way out of his own house!" "Ranma!" shouted Ryoga. "Ranma..." There was something about Akane's tone that she didn't want to hear. It wasn't her normal anger. It almost seemed like she was sad. Was it because she had pulled away from her so suddenly? Ranma didn't want to think about it. She had been in a bad mood after that conversation with Akira, and Akane had made her feel better. Now she had repaid her kindness by making Akane feel bad. She'd better just go before she made things worse. She'd apologize later. For now, she couldn't hang around Akane and feel those eyes watching her. "I bet I can lose Ryoga in the first five blocks!" She stuck her tongue out at him. "Rrranma! You'll pay for that!" An underlying growl made Ryoga's deep voice seem all the more imposing. Ranma ignored it and hopped onto the fence. "C'mon, piggy, lets' see if you can catch me." She wiggled her bottom and started prancing off. If THAT didn't get Ryoga to chase her... "DIE!!" Ranma grinned as Ryoga jumped onto the fence, and gave chase. The two ran off, quickly leaving Akane behind. The short-haired girl just stood there for a minute, wondering what had happened. Why had Ranma had just pulled away like that? She was all buddy- buddy with Ryoga for a moment, but then started insulting him? A wind picked up and blew at her hair and skirt. She started to walk back home, thinking about the events. What's wrong, Ranma? Why do you act like you do? Don't you want to be seen with me? * * * * * * Kuno's thoughts of his true loves was temporarily derailed by a severe concussion. Landing skull-first on the concrete had a tendency to do that. With practiced ease, he let himself fall to the side, and instantly righted himself into a cross-legged sitting position, from which he observed the world. Where had his fiery-tempered Ranma knocked him to, now? "Hey, mister, are you alri... Uh oh!" Kuno turned to face the well-intentioned passerby. Aha! Ranma had sent him right where he had wanted! If only it hadn't been to confront such a malignant creature. He would have smiled and frowned simultaneously, if it were possible. "Mommy! His face!" A little girl pointed. "Don't look at him!" The mother grabbed her child's hand and quickly led her away. Kuno began chuckling. "You sought to escape me, did you, Tsu? But your victim Ranma has thrown off the chains with which you sought to bind her, and has sent me right to you." Akira backed away. "Can we talk about this later?" "You shall evade your punishment no longer." "But I didn't do anything!" Kuno could sense his fear. It was the same fear that the pig-tailed demon held for him (although the demon hid it better). "From the lips of the Tendos Akane and Nabiki have I heard the same words. 'Spring of Drowned Man'. Do you deny that you have this?" "I have some instant PACKETS that--" Kuno cut off his excuses. He continued with the list of crimes for which the boy had to answer. "And do you deny using it on the fair Akane Tendo?" "Well, that was a mistake. I--" "Or on the wild-spirited Ranma Saotome?" The wretch's eyes widened, and his lips curled into a false smile. Even so, Kuno could still see his desperation. "No. I didn't. He cursed himself when he was in China!" Kuno's eyes narrowed at the response. Or rather, evasion. "And are you yourself not from China?" He blinked, and started whimpering. Yes, Kuno had forced the truth even out of one such as he. "You can't be serious! You can't blame me just because we were in the same country...!" Akira had finally backed himself against a wall. Kuno rendered judgement. "Your punishment shall be death!" "B- But...!" "Once you are gone, Akane shall be safe, and Ranma shall be free." He noticed the boy trembling, and scowled. "In your final moments, try to be a man." The boy dropped to his knees. "Wait! If you kill me, Ranma will remain cursed!" "What?" "Y- You can't remove the curse without Spring of Drowned Ma-- (er) Spring of Drowned Woman water. I can get if for you just don't KILL ME!!" Yelling the last words, the boy looked around frantically, apparently for help, but all of the passersby carefully avoided looking at the two young men. No doubt they were aware of Kuno's right of samurai heritage to deal with the cur in any way he saw fit. "How do I know you're not lying? Perhaps these springs can't cure, but only curse? Mayhap you wish not to cure Ranma, but to curse ME!" He would not let such a thing happen. For above all else, Takewaki Kuno was a man. Although he no doubt would be the very image of feminine beauty... "Ask Ranma! He-- She'll agree!" Perhaps it was true. Could Kuno even take the chance, when his beloved's very body was at stake? He would not leave her cursed to turn into that loathsome creature. "Very well!" He pronounced judgement again. "Then you shall be held at the Kuno estate, until such time as you provide the cure. In the meantime, I shall beat you mercilessly." "WHAT!?" "No doubt you'll seek to escape your imprisonment. I must first... subdue you so you'll not unduly inconvenience my retainer." "Come ON!" he pleaded. "Can't we just talk this over?" Kuno noticed the fiend's eyes darting around. No doubt looking for an avenue of escape. He would have to make sure to ignore the sorcerer's words; he was only stalling for a distraction. "Let's talk about this. Over lunch? I'll buy you something at the Cat Cafe." "So you can slip some drug into my food? I think not." With his amazing perceptive abilities, Kuno noticed Akira reaching for something in his bag. He was going to try to use his magics! Even a warrior such as himself would be hard-pressed to fight them off. There was no time for a proper beating. He would simply have to knock Akira out. "Prepare yourself!" "But--!" Kuno silenced him with a blow to the head. His bokken made a crack as loud as any practice sword as it hit his target. However, he didn't need the clattering lathes of a shinai to tell him he had hit his mark; his solid wooden sword had cracked where it had hit Akira's head, the tip dangling uselessly from a few fibers of remaining wood. At last, the boy slumped over. "It looks like your magics are too slow, this day." He turned around and bellowed for his retainer. "SASUKE!!!" His fighting sense alerted him to the danger a fraction too slow. "An opening!" Kuno's eyes widened as the previously crumpled boy leapt up and went for his back. The coward's strike! He valiantly tried to turn and face his opponent, when he felt the blow against the back of his head. He would never knew what happened. * * * * * * Ranma sat cross-legged on the ground, pouting at Ryoga. He had only managed to catch her by knocking her off the fence with a punch to her head. Ryoga ignored the pout, just as he did Ranma's other attempts to get sympathy when he was in his girl-type body. He cracked his knuckles in what he hoped was an annoying manner. "When are you going to learn that you just get hurt when you mock me, Ranma?" She flicked her braid behind her back and cockily replied, "Feh. Like I have to worry about a lummox like you hurting me." "Really?" He poked the top of her head, getting a sharp intake of breath as a response. "You look pretty hurt to me." Shooting him a dirty look, she responded, "Well it doesn't take me a week just to go back home and pick up something I forgot." "It's only been four days! And I WOULD have been here two days ago if some psycho hadn't kicked me! I was right outside the Tendo gates!" If only he could find the jerk that did it. He'd learn never to pick on small animals again! "So what if someone kicked you?" Ryoga was indignant. "He knocked me away from my umbrella and backpack! I got lost and couldn't find my way back!" Ranma's eyes lit up. "Whoa, someone beat you up?" Geez, the jerk sounded HAPPY... "He didn't beat me up, he just knocked me--" "What's his name? I'd like to meet someone who could knock you out" She cracked her knuckles. "He didn't knock me out! And I was a pig at the time!" "Yeah yeah, don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. So what's this guy look like? It WAS a guy right? Or did you get beaten up by a girl?" Of all the... Ryoga fumed. "I TOLD you I wasn't beaten up! I was stuck outside the front gate in the rain when this tall guy wearing Chinese clothes comes out, steals my umbrella, and kicks me for no reason at all!" "Akira?" "You KNOW this jerk?" Ranma stood up, and raised her hand. "About this tall? Light brown hair and glasses? Kind of sissy-looking? Wearing white and red?" The description was right on the nose. "You do know him! Why the hell did you let a sadist like him into the Tendos'?" "It's not like I let him in... Anyway, he's this jerk at school who thinks he knows everything about Jusenkyo curses. I think he's got the hots for me, even though I'm really a guy." "That's sick! Who'd be interested in you?" "Hey! It's not THAT unbelievable that someone would like my girl-side." She poked him in the thick mass of muscle tissue that made up Ryoga's left pectoral. It twitched powerfully, which seemed to take even Ranma aback. "I seem to recall giving YOU a few nose-bleeds." She smirked. "Ryoga!" The two turned around to see Akane. "H- Hello, Akane!" Ryoga smiled at the wonderful girl who was such a good friend to him. He noticed Ranma frowning out of the corner of his eye, but ignored her. "Hi, Ryoga. I hope Ranma hasn't been bothering you too much." He grinned, and leaned against Ranma's head. "Oh, he's been no bother at all." He started to rub his knuckles against the bump he had given the redhead. "Hey!" She batted him off and fixed the mess he had made of her hair. "If you want to come inside, I can get Akari's phone number for you." "Thank you, Akane!" "Yeah, you'll be back on her pig-farm in no time flat!" Ranma grinned. Ryoga glared at her. Why does every other word out of her mouth have to be 'pig'? He was a little upset to see the blank expression on Akane's face; normally she stood up for him. Still, the lack of expression seemed to make Ranma extremely nervous. Ryoga wondered what the reason was. Those two were supposed to have gotten married at the beginning of the week. Was Ranma still being a jerk to her, even after Jusendo? Even after she had accepted a hermaphrodite like him? Ryoga opened the door for Akane, who walked in. He followed, leaving Ranma behind. When she came in and slid the door shut, she muttered, "Jerk." As Akane walked into the kitchen, she told Ryoga, "Just wait here, and I'll go get it." "Thanks, Akane. I really appreciate it." Ranma walked by, and he found himself pushed out of the hall and into another room by Ranma. Unwilling to get lost again, he opted not to move, and mulled in place in the TV room. * * * * * * Akane started searching for Akari's phone number. What was her last name? Unryu? That sounded right. She went up to the cork board on the wall and started looking through the business cards and envelopes tacked on it. Kasumi had written names and phone numbers on all of them in her small, neat handwriting. Her older sister had a tendency to record the numbers of everyone she knew, and everyone she had ever known. All were given equal importance in the collage of scrap paper. The names did not appear to be alphabetized, or even written in order of date. As Akane flipped through the cards and sheets, she found the old numbers of childhood friends who had moved away a decade ago. This task might prove more difficult then she had first thought. "Uh, this might take a minute, Ryoga..." "O- Okay." "C'mon." Akane heard Ranma's boy-type voice. "Let's go out in to the dojo. We need to talk about your girlfriends." There was an odd emphasis on the last word. "Girlfriends?" Akane hadn't realized she had said the word out loud until she heard an eep from Ryoga. "R- Ranma!" In addition to the normal anger directed at the pig-tailed martial artist, Akane thought she heard a degree of fear. "C'mon, pig-boy. This'll just take a minute." After the two boys walked away, Akane heard the sounds of fighting outside from the dojo. Already distracted by Ranma's words, Akane lost track of the numbers she was looking up, and thought about her walk back home. She had taken her time, but hadn't come to any sort of conclusion as to why Ranma was so mean to Ryoga. It disappointed her, but didn't really surprise her. After all, she had known them both for over a year, and hadn't figured it out yet. Kasumi called them friends, and Akane thought that, on some level, they probably were, but Ranma acted like a different person when Ryoga was around. He always went out of his way to insult or goad him. And it always worked! The two were hiding something, Akane was sure. Ranma's insults weren't very good or clever, but they always got to poor Ryoga. He was normally such a nice boy, but Ranma knew some sort of secret or something that really got to him. Maybe it was something like that bread feud. She certainly couldn't think of any other reason why being called a 'pig' would upset Ryoga so much. She scratched her head as a tickle of a thought distracted her. And the things Ranma did! At least a half-dozen times he had dressed up like a girl to tease Ryoga. Ranma must have known how shy he was, but he had shown up as Ryoga's sister, a random schoolgirl 'in love' with him, as his 'fiancee' (twice!) and a bunch of other embarrassing things. It was one of the only times Ranma would willingly dress up like a girl. She thought about Ranma's last words. Did it have something to do with Ryoga's girlfriends? Aside from Akari, the only other girl she had seen Ryoga friendly with was Ukyo. She knew they were good friends. Had it turned into something more? He was definitely attracted to her. She remembered the first time they met. He had thought the okonomiyaki chef was a boy, until Ranma opened the top of her school uniform. Akane's eyebrow twitched for a moment in memory. Even at the sight of her fully bound breasts, Ryoga had still had one of his more spectacular nosebleeds. Akane smiled. Ryoga was so innocent. It was rare to find a guy like that. In a way, he reminded her of her pet P-Chan. The little piggy was so excitable that he'd gotten the occasional snoutbleeds of his own. Something about nosebleeds stuck in her mind. There was a connection there. She paused, hearing sounds from the dojo through the kitchen window. "C'mon, P-Chan!" "You shut up, Ranma!" Wait. It couldn't be that... That Ryoga...? No. No way! They couldn't of hidden something like THAT from her for so long, could they? If it were true... It couldn't be true! Ranma wouldn't have betrayed her like that! And how could she ever look at Ryoga the same way again? She had to know. She grabbed one of the many buckets in the kitchen and started filling it with water from the tap. As it filled, Akane let the thoughts from her own mind flow out. She wouldn't-- couldn't! -- think about the consequences if what she thought were true. She would leave her mind a blank. Don't anticipate. Only act, and respond. She had emptied the thoughts from her mind so well that she didn't recall turning off the tap, or walking with the bucket out to the dojo. When she reached the top of the steps, the two boys noticed her and quickly stopped fighting. "You find the number?" asked Ranma. "Is there anything you need help with?" added Ryoga. Akane smiled... ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- End Part 10 Next Time: "Don't You Know? It's Love!" ------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------