Author's note: Hey there! I know it has been forever since I last updated this story, but I promise that this fanfic isn't dead yet. I have simply been very busy with my classes up until the past few weeks.

I read the comments and I want to thank everyone for the kind words.

I know that Ran and Ryo has been done about a bazillion times before (I have read most of them lol). I don't intend to rehash the same old story. I am hoping that the little twists I have planned are at least a tiny bit unexpected. Once again, I have very little experience as a writer and I am making this story because I genuinely enjoy doing it in my spare time.

In response to Ranma killing Akane / Akane killing Ranma: No one has killed anyone yet! We will just have to wait and see what happens :)

Okay then, here goes the next chapter!

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I step back to take a better look at the monstrous, bull-like creature that looms above me. It's head eclipses the sun and I stand in its shadow, the length of a full city block. I can feel the ki venting from its hairy bulk, mixing with the hot breath that leaves its nostrils.

I leap to a nearby rooftop and thrust myself into the air, twisting my torso into position as my momentum brings me nearer to the beast's jaw. Arriving at the gnarly, heaving mass, I propel my right foot forward to execute a perfect mid-air kick. My strength and the force behind my jump connect with the bone beneath the beast's fur. A shock of pain tears through my leg. I slip, colliding face-first with a wall of rock-hard muscle. I cling desperately to the thick fur. I hear a laugh— A deep, rumbling laugh.

"Oh yeah?" I yell in reply, finding a better grip and thrusting myself upwards. "Then try *this* on for size! Hissatsu Tenshin Amaguriken!"

I rise and find my balance on the beast's shoulder. My fists become a blur as I land punch after punch on the creature's neck until pain burns at my fingers. I start to slow down. The beast hasn't budged at all. Why aren't my attacks working? Why does everything hurt so much?

These questions demand my full attention, distracting me from the massive blur at the edge of my vision. For an instant I can still see the light, then I am crushed under the jarring, violent—

The redhead stares blearily at the window in front of her, lost in thought. Blinking a few times, she pulls a strainer full of noodles from the kitchen sink and turns towards the stove. She empties the strainer's contents into a large pot of boiling broth and hums a cheerful tune as she picks up a long, wooden spoon. She stirs the soup a few times, stopping briefly to taste her creation.

A young, dark-haired man approaches from behind to wrap his arms around the small woman. She jumps a little from surprise before looking up into his warm, smiling face. She returns the smile and places her free hand on top of his. She closes her eyes and leans into his embrace.

"What are you thinking about?" The man asks in a soothing voice.

"Just this dream I had..." The woman replies.

"What was it about?"

She sighs worriedly, "Well, I was… fighting… again..." Her eyes find their way back to the window. "I don't know what to think anymore, Ryo. Sometimes… sometimes it feels like I'm still living two different lives… And I can't…" she trails off quietly, "I can't even protect myself anymore."

Ryoga squeezes a bit, attempting to comfort the worried girl in his arms. "That's why you have me." He pecks the top of her head with a quick kiss.

Ranma woke with a start. Her bedroom was empty and still. Sunlight peeked through the blinds, tracing lines across the white carpet. A gentle knocking sound came from the closed door.

"Ranma!" A voice called out cheerfully, "Wake up, dear!"

The residual confusion and concern dissipated rapidly as relief swept in to take its place. It was nice having Nodoka around. Although Ranma's dreams had only grown weirder over the last week, Her mother's voice was always there to bring her back to reality.

Ranma rolled out of bed and into a cartwheel, launching into the first position of her daily kata. From motion to motion, her energy seemed to diminish until she came to a complete stop, staring off into the vacant corner of the small room.

The itch was absent. The ever present desire to practice her art… it simply wasn't there anymore. The usual sense of pride and satisfaction was missing as well. The kata wasn't so much a product of passion as it was the result of conditioning and discipline. It was as if all of her fight had escaped from her soul, leaving her hollow and uninspired. Unmotivated.

The memory of the nested dream returned to her mind momentarily. Weakness. Defeat. Ryoga? It reminded her of the time that Happosai had sapped her strength with his Moxibustion technique.

Back then, Ranma-kun had become so weak that even Kuno could defeat him. His enemies had either taken pity on him, or relished in the opportunity to destroy him. Stress and depression had piled up until he was utterly crushed by its weight. For an instant he had imagined quitting the Anything Goes school and hiding as a girl just to escape from the shame and danger of the whole situation.

From Ranma's perspective, becoming a girl did have the potential to make many embarrassing things less embarrassing, and weakness was at the top of that list. Although her macho pride demanded masculinity, she occasionally did allow herself to feel content doing things that she considered "girly" — like eating ice cream in public, or having a rare heart to heart talk with Akane. Only in female form, of course.

Now that her curse was locked, however, the thought experiment had become very real. She had lost control of her body, and despite having every reason to panic, her mind was completely relaxed. As a result, femininity was seeping into her dreams and into her waking life with an unsettling sense of belonging. There were little changes in her mood and behavior too, but she couldn't put a finger on what was causing them. It had been almost a week since she stopped taking the medication from the hospital.

Stupid curse. She thought as she stepped to open her closet.

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Ranma walked stiffly into the kitchen, arms swinging robotically around her wide skirt. The school dress fit tighter in the waist and chest than the clothes she usually wore and it was far from comfortable. She pulled at the fabric and blushed as she came face to face with a beaming Nodoka.

"Goodmorning, Ranko-chan!" The Saotome matriarch proclaimed. Noticing the hurt look on her daughter's face, she quickly appended. "I-I mean Ranma-chan!"

"M-mornin', mom." Ranma muttered, recovering with uncharacteristic brevity from the flowery nickname.

"I set out a bowl for you." Nodoka said, motioning for Ranma to follow her into the dining room. "There's something we need to discuss while you eat."

Cautiously, Ranma took a seat at the table next to a sleepy Akane. The dark-haired girl yawned and took a sip from her coffee mug. At the end of the table sat a smug Nabiki, smiling wryly at Ranma's outfit. The redhead stuck out her tongue in reply.

"Ranma, dear," Nodoka began as she sat down at the head of the table, "Tendo-San has been very kind to allow us to stay here these past few days… However… it is an arrangement that needn't continue. You see… I happen to own a house on the edge of Nerima Ward. It's a quiet, simple place with good neighbors and I… Well I wanted to ask if you would come and live with me." She paused, trying to make sense of the emotions showing on her daughter's face.

Memories flickered through Ranma's head. The smell of sweat and dirt and a hard-earned meal. The thick, murky orange of a fleeting Chinese sunset.

During his childhood along the road, Ranma had seen plenty of kids his age who were living 'normal' lives. They had houses, and friends, and parents who loved them. But he had the life of a martial artist— a life fraught with struggles and peril. And so, as he grew older, he had made a habit of escaping into daydreams— Dreams where he wasn't missing anything. In many of these dreams, he was living happily with his mother, while Genma was somewhere far, far away. It was purely a fantasy. And, of course, he hadn't imagined being a daughter. But now...

"Yeah..." the redhead said, teary-eyed and unable to contain her smile. "Yeah, I think I could get used to that."

"Then it's settled." Nodoka grinned radiantly as if she had expected this reply. "I'll go ahead and start packing your things." She paused. "Meanwhile, there is another question I'd like to ask..."

Ranma's smile lessened. There was always something more with her mother.

"You've had some time some time to rest… And I want to know how you are feeling about your curse. Have things improved? Are you ready to go back to school as Ranko?"

"I dunno..." Ranma started. A gleam of hope lit Nodoka eyes— A display that Ranma felt strangely guilty about. Some small part of her wanted to say yes, if only just to make Nodoka happy. It wouldn't technically be a lie. Ranma was more comfortable with her girl side than ever before. "I guess I'm ready as I'll ever be." She settled.

"That's the spirit!" Nodoka encouraged. "Now, there will be changes to your schedule… The School will most likely want you to study 'home economics' and physical education with the other girls in your class. It's all just a part of the role, really. You see, society has certain expectations for wome-... Excuse me… female bodied people."

Ranma nodded slowly, unsure of how she felt about either label.

"Ranma-chan…" Nodoka paused and matched eyes with Ranma, lowering her brow somewhat sternly. "You might just learn a thing or two from this experience. Please promise me that you won't… well… fight it."

"S-sure, mom." Ranma complied.

"Baka! hurry up and eat, will you?" Akane interrupted suddenly, "We only have five minutes to be out the door."

"Oh crap."

Ranma immediately began to shovel cereal into her mouth with the speed of the chestnut fist. Her mother looked away, refraining from chiding the former boy about her manners. I suppose that some habits never change. Nodoka thought. But at least her mood does seem to be improving.

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Ranma stuffed a sandwich in her mouth on the way out the door and ran to catch up with Akane. The two walked in silence along the canal as Ranma finished chewing. She lingered behind for a moment to adjust the bra that her mother had insisted she wear beneath her school dress. Being a hand-me-down from Nabiki, it was a little on the small side. Nodoka said it would have to do until they had the chance to go shopping.

"Can't believe I hafta wear this stupid midevil torture thing." Ranma grumbled.

"Oh, come on. It's not *that* bad." Akane eye-rolled.

"Not that bad!? It makes me look like a girl!"

"Yeah? Well what's wrong with being a girl?"

"I… There's…" Ranma wracked her brain, looking desperately for a reason to cling to.

"Nothing, dummy!" Akane quipped. "Stop thinking like that!"

"Okay, okay… Whatever." Ranma settled as the two rounded a corner where the path left the canal and meandered nearer to the now-visible school building. "I'm just nervous, 'Kane. I don't want anyone seein' me like this. What if they think… What if they..."

"Hey… look at me..." Akane stopped and turned, placing her hands on the smaller girl's shoulders and locking eyes with her. "Who cares what they think? You're cute and cool and you already have friends!"

"You know…" Ranma looked away as Akane shook her lightly. "I'm really startin' to wonder who's side you're on here…"

"Yours, duh!"

"But I ain't…" Ranma course-corrected, "I mean… I don't wanna be 'cute'."

"So you'd rather me call you 'uncute'?"

"Hey… I didn't say th—"

Abruptly, the loud buzzing of a school bell filled the morning air, reminding the two girls that they were running late. They reacted immediately, breaking into a jog in the direction of the cold, concrete structure.

"My eyes deceive me! Is it truly thou?" A voice called out from the nearly empty courtyard. "Ah! Indeed! Beautiful pig tailed girl, you have returned at last to date with me!"

"Aw, come on… Didn't this guy graduate already?" Ranma grumbled between breaths.

"Where hast thou been, my love?" The voice proclaimed as its owner stepped out from beneath the old maple tree. "Your disappearance… Could it be the doing of the foul sorcerer Saotome?"

The two girls slowed to a walk as they approached the infamous Blue Thunder of Furinkan High. Ranma knew from experience that confronting the idiot would lead to a fight which would, in turn, lead to punishment for tardiness. Not wanting to stand in the hallway with buckets on her first day back at school, she decided instead to play along.

"Why yes… Yes it was, Kuno-senpai! The sorcerer Saotome… he put me under a…" She gasped dramatically. "A spell!"

Ranma glanced over at Akane, catching sight of her amused expression.

"Alas, then it is true!" Kuno bellowed. "Tell me… Where is the fiend? I must find him and bring him to justice!"

"In the forest behind the school! in his hideout… The biggest tree!" She looked up into Kuno's eyes with exaggerated cuteness. "Please save me!"

"Fear not, pigtailed girl! I shall depart at once to vanquish the cur!" Kuno shouted, dashing away at full speed with bokken in hand.

Ranma exhaled. "Well that oughta keep him occupied…"

"Come on, 'pigtailed girl,'" Akane giggled as she did her best Kuno impersonation. "Let's get to homeroom."

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"But… But… That's Saotome Ranma!" Hinako-sensei argued for the second time as she examined the red-headed girl who stood beside the large, Hawaiian-shirt-wearing principle.

"Me thinks you be confused, Hinako-san." The principle explained yet again. "This here be the keke Saotome Ranko. And this be the keke's first day at Furinkan High School."

Hinako-sensei threw her hands in the air in exasperation. "You know what? Fine. But you asked for this..." She glowered at the innocent-eyed redhead. "I'll re-introduce him… her… to the class." She bowed slightly to the tall man. "Thank you, Principal."

Ranma followed the teacher as she walked a short distance down the hall and into an open classroom. Without missing a beat, Hinako-sensei turned to face her students, gesturing towards the small ginger.

"Class, I would like you to meet our newest exchange student, Saotome Ranko."

Crickets chirped as Ranma studied the expressions of her slack-jawed peers. Her heart pounded away.

"Since we've clearly *never* met before, Ranko-san, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself."

"Uh… um…" Ranma stumbled.

"Come on now, doll... your brother Ranma was never the shy type, was he?"

Ranma steeled herself, remembering the promise that she had made to her mother. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled.

"I'm Ranko… Saotome Ranko. S-sorry… about this."

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"Ranchan, no!"

Ranma jumped reflexively at the hand on her shoulder, spinning around to meet a terrified Ukyo.

"You can't go in there!"

Ranma looked back at the door to the boy's locker room. "B-b-but..." She stuttered innocently.

"No buts." Ukyo said firmly. "You're coming with me." She grabbed Ranma's hand and turned, making her way towards the girl's locker room with the redhead in tow.

Ranma wanted to struggle at first. Some small part of her screamed that it wasn't right. There were only two options, and it was pretty clear that she would have to deal with bullying either way. In the girls room she would be called a pervert — an annoyance. But there was no telling what might happen in the boy's room.

She flashed back to the tears that had resulted from her last attempt to use the boy's room at Furinkan.

Maybe it's really better this way… Safer…

After all, she did have Ukyo with her. Ukyo had a way of commanding respect from people.

She gulped as they entered the wide open room. The chatter died down immediately. Girls around the room stopped to stare.

"What's your locker number?" Ukyo asked calmly.

"T-they told me it's fifty-two." Ranma said in a voice barely above a whisper. Ukyo led ranma down the wall with the lockers until they arrived at the right one.

"Well, this is the one. Did they give you a gym uniform?"

"Y-yeah."

"Okay, good. The changing rooms are over there." Ukyo pointed to the door at the far end of the room. She put a hand on her hip and eyed the trembling redhead. "Look, sugar… Are you gonna be okay… Or do you need me to come with you?"

"I'll be okay, Ucchan." Ranma said with a dry voice.

Slowly, she started walking towards the door. Around the room, girls resumed their conversations. About halfway to the door, Ranma noticed a group approaching her. She lowered her head and tried to silence the pounding of her heart.

These girls were bullies. They had to be. Either they were coming to taunt her, or to smash her into a pulp for being a pervert. She couldn't fight them— It would violate the "anything goes" code. She wondered momentarily whether or not she should run away, but then it was already too late. She looked up.

"H-hi." She said awkwardly.

The girl at the forefront smiled compassionately. "Hey." She said. "We all heard about what happened to you. I think… Well… We all think that you're really brave. I want you to know we've got your back." She turned to look at her friends who nodded in agreement.

"Oh..." Ranma said, stunned.

"So how long have you known?" The girl questioned.

"Known?"

"Yeah. Like... that you were one of us?"

"Wait… what do ya mean by that?" Ranma struggled to fit the pieces together.

"I'm scaring you… aren't I?" The girl realized abruptly. "I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me anything…" She side-stepped towards the exit. "Good luck in gym, Ranko-san!" Her entourage followed as she left.

Ranma gasped quietly as the puzzle clicked into place. The entire school knew that she was Ranma, but she had introduced herself as Ranko. Oh no. She blinked. Do they think I...

Either they thought that she wanted to be a girl, or they felt bad that she was stuck as one. She couldn't decide which version of the truth was more embarrassing. However, try as she might, she didn't actually feel embarrassed. Instead, she felt relieved.

She really had been hiding— Trying to keep her curse a secret from as many as she could. But all of that was over now, and, as scary as it was, her classmates seemed to be supportive. Maybe it was a good thing.

Yeah. Her inner voice echoed. A good thing.

She bravely resumed her route to the dressing stalls. Reaching the doorway, she almost collided with Sayuri, who was on her way out.

"Oh, there you are! I've been looking all over for you!" Sayuri explained. "We only have five minutes to be outside. Hurry, hurry! Go get changed!"

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The day passed by in a blur. In almost every class, Ranma was met with sympathy and support from girls whom she had never noticed before. At first it was unbearably awkward, but by the end of the day it had become routine. She had learned to just say thank you and do her best to smile.

Girl's gym differed a bit from Boy's gym, but only due to the strong presence of teamwork. All her life, Ranma had been taught that women were weak and frail, and that men were tough and strong. Sports were for men. Sports, according to Genma, were nothing but competition— blood, sweat, and aggression. So, to Ranma, girl's gym was enlightening. Of course, the girls were every bit as athletic as boys, only, they worked together and encouraged each other instead of cutting each other down. It took Ranma a few minutes to adjust, but in the end, she found that she was having fun— something that had never occurred in all her years of gym classes.

At lunchtime, Ranma was sure she would be eating alone like she always had in the past. As she prepared to make her way to the roof, however, she was stopped by Akane, Sayuri, and Yuka who insisted that she come and sit with them. A few minutes later, Ukyo and Ami joined in as well. Ranma felt shyer than she had in a long time. She rarely spoke, but no one seemed to mind. Every once in a while she swore that she caught Ukyo staring at her with a sorrowful expression, but in the end she dismissed it as a trick of her imagination.

Home economics wasn't so bad once Ranma realized that it was a cooking class. She had quite a knack for cooking, having prepared countless meals for herself and her father over the years. And since Genma often stole her food while she wasn't looking, she had developed quite the appetite as well. She would eat almost anything, provided that it was edible. She silently thanked the Kami that Akane wasn't in this class as she went from table to table sampling everyone's food.

A few class periods later the end-of-the-day bell rang. Students piled out of the entrance. An ambulance speed by, making its way towards the back, right corner of the property where a cherry-red fire truck was extending a ladder high up into the branches of a towering sycamore. There, two stout firemen were pulling a struggling upperclassman down from the tree. "Nay, Saotome!" The young man shouted at the foliage. "This is not the end! I shall defeat you!"

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Ranma felt too tired to walk along the top of the fence, so she opted instead to walk on the ground next to Akane. Her eyes drifted to the trees and the water and the azure sky up above with its wispy clouds that scrolled along at a barely perceptible pace. She sighed unconsciously.

Akane smiled to herself. The day had gone well for her redheaded friend. Ranma seemed quiet, but not depressed. She seemed to be relaxing, albeit very slowly. A little over a week ago she had been ready to take her own life over her curse. But today she seemed more at ease than ever before. She had even smiled once or twice.

Oh, Ranma. Akane thought to herself. You're going to be alright after all.

Just after she cleared her throat to speak, a rustling in the bushes caught the girls' attention. They froze.

"Hello?" Akane called out.

"Akane?" A familiar voice answered. "Is that you?" It's owner, a young man wearing a yellow bandana, stumbled out of the foliage. "What are you doing in Paris…?" the boy trailed off as his eyes met with Ranma's and the color left his face.

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And that's all for now!

Music that goes with this chapter: "Chances" - The Strokes