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Chapter Six

"Indecision helps."

      "Kinda obvious in hindsight, isn't it?" Akane nodded as she set down a cup of tea, staring out over the cliff face and to the springs below. Behind them, sprigs and shoots of bamboo made a dense foyer for the forest, surrounding them in a semicircle. The overhang of the trees offered them shade as the hot sun began to rise, morning coming to pass with the squawk of birds.  Ryouga sat nearby, placing his mug down after hers.  "I dunno why I didn't see it." Ryouga laughed again. Akane was nearly thrilled to see him in such high spirits.  It had been hard to tell him that she loved Ranma and even harder to imagine how she'd deal with his reaction.  Seeing him anywhere near jovial made her feel better that her heart had always been with the redheaded girl staking out a guide back at the entrance to the Jusenkyou training grounds.  Genma had gone with her, not passing up his chance at a possible Spring of Drowning Man.

      "Well, I guess because you didn't have a reason to."

      "It was weird, Akane. . . he. . . she was able to say to me that she loved you.  She'd never been able to do that before." Akane blushed but bobbed her head along.

      "It's because she was a she."

      "That doesn't bother you?  That he was a girl when he finally told you?"

      "No," Akane mumbled, holding her hair back from a breeze.  "It doesn't really bother me -- girls are just more emotional and I kinda worry that if he hadn't had the chance to be a girl for so long, that he. . . she never would have said anything. . . " She huffed, punching the cliff face.  "I don't even know what pronoun to use!"

      Ryouga looked at her and bit his lip.  "That. . . uh. . . that reminds me." She nodded to him, holding up a finger.

      "Look, it's not I'm gay, I just--"

      "That wasn't it!" Ryouga cried, shaking his hands.  "Last night. . . Ranma. . . he turned into a boy."

      "What?!" Akane tried to hop up but Ryouga clamped down on her shoulder, holding her steady.  "How the hell did she go he?!"

      "Slow down!  We were. . . talking, and she just fell into some cold water.  Akane, since you caught her with. . . that thing, has she been splashed with anything but warm?" Thinking back to day one, Akane slowly shook her head, a dumb spark in her eye. How did they miss that? 

      "Just hot 'n' hotter still. In the panic of his not changing. . . well. . . we didn't know what to do.  Ryouga. . . are you serious?  Cold water turns her into a he?"

      Ranma crawled up the cliff face at just that moment, waving cheerfully.  "Hey guys!  I talked to a guide and he's on his way.  There is a Spring a' Drowned Boy!  I'm a man sure as. . . sure as I'm a man." She grinned, taking a seat next to Akane.  "What'chu guys talkin' ab-WWAAGH!!" Ryouga suddenly gave her a douse of water, causing her to fall back, covering her face with a mild shriek.

      "Damnit, Ryouga, what the hell is your problem?!" Akane watched Ranma-kun sat up, soused, wiping the water from his forehead.  Akane gazed in terror, stone-still and white-eyed.  "Akane?" he asked softly, poking her in the arm.  She didn't respond so Ranma turned to Ryouga, sighing.  "Like, what the hell d'ya do to her?" He put his fist to his hip, quirking his brow.  Akane squeaked and fainted back into Ryouga's lap.  Ranma blinked as Hibiki stood, hefting Akane onto his shoulder.

      Ryouga glared at him, reaching out for his collar.  "You're coming with me."

      Cologne 'hmm'ed and poked at the black-haired boy's arm.  He flinched, watching her as she walked around him.  The gang gathered around, Akane still feeling rather woozy.  Ryouga patted her hand, telling her that it would be okay.  He looked back up, seeing Cologne hop back with a sigh.

      "Well, son-in-law, from what Ryouga told me, I get the feeling that you've transgressed further than I'd hoped you would." Ranma lifted a finger, digging around in his ear.  Cologne cleared her throat, calling him back to attention.  "Cut that out!  Do you understand what this means?"

      Ranma shook his head, shrugging his shoulders.

      "It means you're more girl than man, boy."

      The trees above rustled with the sounds of birds as they fled their nests and watchful posts, small animals lining the outside of the camp at the foot the Jusenkyou springs shooting away and deeper into the forest when a resounding "WHAT?!" came from every boy-girl, boy-pig, girl-cat and every otherwise girl there (Genma had, of course, run off to play elsewhere).  Ranma hopped to his feet before Ryouga pounded him over the head with a steaming teapot, willingly knocking her out cold.  The redhead dropped to the ground, crumpling like a damp marionette.

      "What did you do that for?" Akane cried, kneeling down to give Ranma a few shakes.

      "I. . . I couldn't stand to hear him say anything when he's like that. . ."

      "It's true," Ukyou agreed.  She looked away, mumbling, "He sounded kinda 'faggy.'"

      "Faggy?!  Where do you guys get this stuff?" Akane protectively hugged Ranma while she came to, blinking slowly. Frankly, Ryouga's ability to hit her in the same place twice with a teapot was turning into an art.  Cologne had to practically dance and yell to get their attention again.

      "I didn't want to mention this lest I dampen your hopes about getting cured," she rasped.  "However, the extension of the Jusenkyou curse into which you've entered was not without an. . . end point of sorts." Shampoo gasped.

      "Grandma lie and not tell truth?"

      Ukyou rolled her eyes.  "Yes, that would be lying. . ." Shampoo glared back at her but persisted.

      "What she not tell us 'bout curse?"

      "Simply that an extended stay such as Ranma's will eventually become irrevocable. . . on a mental aspect.  I never once said that a dip in the spring would fix him mentally.  You all know that he's always been. . . well, not the most feminine woman." She chuckled, her laugh digging into Ranma's skin like a dull razor.

      "You. . ." She shook, throwing Akane's arms from around her, stalking up to the woman with a twitching eye as she continued.

      "I'd give you a few more days before the mental turnover is complete, but I must warn you. . . a dip in the Spring of Drowned Boy will do nothing but rip your brain apart.  It's up to you, son-in-law.  Either you become a girl in a boy's body or you stay a girl who can turn into a boy." Ryouga watched, speechless, unable to think about his own situation for a moment.  Shuddering, he came up to Ranma and patted a hand on her shoulder as Cologne suddenly cackled. "Maybe a full time girl, you like?"

      "You. . ."

      "D-don't take it so badly, Ranma. . . it's better than a pig, isn't it?"

      Ranma cracked him across the face so fast that even she didn't see it.  Watching him fall to the ground, grabbing his jaw, she took a glance to her hand.  Everyone around took a step back, Akane watching her with large eyes.  Ran-chan mumbled something, looking back to Cologne before she pushed by Ukyou, ripping up dirt as she sped away.  "Excuse me. . ."

        "I figured I'd find you here." Ranma looked up, mocking whomever it was that stepped on the twig behind her.  "Akane, or Ryouga or whichever the hell one a ya's it is, I'm not in the mood.  I know what you're gonna say. . . 'Oh, Ranma, don't give up.  That isn't like you.  Oh, by the way, DIE!' So save it!" She kicked her legs as she sat on the cliff, watching the springs below. She squinted, trying to see what was moving around down there.  "Damn. . . why do you always think I'm givin' up?  That's never been like me 'n'it never will!" She snorted, gripping the earth with a shaky fist.  "I just wanna think." She turned back, pressing her shoulder to her eyes.  "O-"

      Cologne coughed, leaving on her staff.  "You done?"

      "Y-you!  What the hell are you doing up here?"

      "Ryouga was afraid you'd murder him and your woman. . . well, I was afraid her body would get the better of her." Ranma hopped to her feet, sniffing.

      "What's that supposed to mean?"

      Scoffing, Cologne bounced over, looking up to the redhead.  "Are you kidding?  A young girl is still a young girl.  I feared that she might foolishly convince you to become a man."

      "HEY!  I never stopped being a man, alright?!" Ranma lashed out, trying to kick at her, but quickly had a weight added to her head.  Cologne peeked down, grinning.

      "But you did start being a woman.  A real one.  At this point, you only have one option and if you're considering surviving, then you know the choice to be made." Ranma was silent, a boom of thunder hardly able to shake her from thought. The fronds above swayed with the definition of a brewing maelstrom.  "You know that, don't you?"

      "Yeah. . . So what if I do?" Cologne smiled grimly, tapping Ranma's knees with her staff.  ". . . You stupid little imp. . ."

      "Oh?  Some way to talk to your friend Shampoo's great-grandmother."

      Ranma reached up, swatting at the ghoul but she was far too quick, swiftly attaching herself to a nearby branch.  "YOU KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN!"

      "My, aren't you articulate."

      "You slimy, wrinkled freak!  You knew we wouldn't make it!" She punched the tree, causing it to crack and tip, roots torn from the soil.  Cologne just laughed, hopping back down to the dirt.

      "Not quite, Ranma.  You were doomed from the start.  However, I figured that the longer you were a girl, the less vague your decision to change would be." Ranma blinked, Cologne nodding to her invisible question.  "Even after two days, you'd have been a fairly girly boy." Holding up her staff, she smacked Ranma on the head, forcing her to her butt.

      "Ouch!"

      "And can you imagine trying to change in the middle of your period?" The redhead went silent. "Ranma. . . I thought that your being a girl would give my great-granddaughter an edge. Frankly, she saw things in your female side that. . . less experimental girls wouldn't.  Of all people, I didn't think that Akane would be so well adjusted." She chuckled as Ranma watched her, perplexed.  "That was my error, however.  It never really occurred to me that Akane's seen plenty of your girl side and that she'd have had much more of a chance to love both Ranma-kun and Ranma-chan." She sighed, looking to the swirling clouds.

      "You concede. . . ?"

      "I concede.  A true martial artist knows what he or she wants. . . and as for Shampoo, she no longer intends to return to her tribe, so your engagement means little more than dust, now. . . Well done." Ranma nodded, smiling faintly as she climbed back to her feet.  "I'm still going to terrorize you, Ranma. If I can't goad you into marrying Shampoo, I will train the life out of you."

      Ranma grinned a bit, turning to walk back down to their camp. ". . . You're just lucky I got too mad for the Hiryu Shoten Ha."

      "Don't kid yourself, boy."

      As she and Cologne climbed down the rocks, a wild squeal went up into the air.  It had started to rain an unusually cold shower before they started their travel, Ranma trying to juggle the jobs of holding her jacket over her head, shivering, and nearly slipping on the rocks as she made her descent.  "That was Ryouga. . ." Cologne bounced down, landing on another stone when she suddenly pulled Ranma to the side.

      "DUCK!"

      "No, he's a pig—" Smack!

      P-Chan scrambled through the brush, tears spilling from his eyes, wild footfalls casing after him.  A sudden blue blur swept from the trees, white face pant dripping down from a particularly angry Amazon face.  Ranma gasped as P-chan neared, the huge girl raising her coral staff.

      "PIG DIE!!"

      "BWEE!!--" A strike of lightning suddenly flared in the sky, white incandescence pouring over the countryside.  As the thunder followed soon after, another crack resounded in the air.  The Amazon gave it no mind and brought her staff down to stop the piglet dead. She was arrested to a halt, however, as a streak of gray shot through the trees and smacked off the rod.  The rock fell dead to the ground, the Amazon's staff knocked two feet to the left.  The blue-haired girl looked around in a craze, her eyes burning red as another bolt of lighting seared the skies.  When she looked back to the path, the piglet was gone, the forest silent but for the sound of rain on the leaves.

      The Amazon howled into the downpour, smacking the ground with her rod.  "This not OVER pigtailed girl!  You friends, they mine!" She whipped around and stomped off, racing back for their camp.

      Ranma peeked out of the brush, glancing down to the little pig squirming in her grasp.  Her hand slipped from his snout as she held him up into the rain, glaring at him from beneath her coat.  "Explain, right now."

        For the third time as they watched their camp from the trees, Ryouga looked at Ranma and she returned the gaze with a slap across the face.  It was more than bad enough that she had to give up her clothes and share her jacket to keep him dry until they could get his umbrella, which, as they noted, was in a convenient pile with the rest of his clothes, without him having to see her chest.  Squeezing her legs together while she sat on her haunches, she crossed her arms over her bra.  "Listen, Ryouga, this is private property, now, you got me?"

      Hibiki snorted, holding her jacket sleeve over his head.  "Don't be a bitch."

      Growling, she grabbed him by the back of the neck.  "Don't call me a bitch."

      "Why?" he grunted, grinning.  "Don't girls like that kinda thing?"

      "Both of you shut up!" Cologne hissed, giving Ranma an extra hard wap.  She squeaked, rubbing her scalp with an ardor.  "All you need to do is get clothed, Ryouga.  Don't make it difficult."

      He murmured, looking up at the coat he held while Ranma took a quick survey of the group.  The Amazon who had them captive was busy building up a pit-fire, grunting slightly and swatting at the rain droplets that fell.  Luckily, they'd camped under such a thick canopy that Ranma could go out without worry of turning into a boy – Ryouga was not so secure.  As she looked down, she noted that her two ex-fiancées were almost whistling guiltily, barely fighting their bonds, – which had them lashed against some posts – trying their best to not look at Akane.

      "Wait, Ryouga, why is Shampoo not a cat?"

      "Oh, uh, I smacked into a tree and it all came down on top'pa me."

      ". . . Moron. . ."  Ranma's eyebrows curved as she looked at her fiancée, confused by the pale features and stiff facade. "Alright, then, Ryouga, clue me in.  What's with Akane?"

      He was silent.  Ranma smacked him.

      "Answer up!"

      "Alright!  Lay off!" Ryouga dropped his hands, letting the jacket drape over his head.  "The rain started coming when the Amazon girl sneak attacked up.  I was running to get my stuff when she decided to get me first.  I fell into this trunk and. . .  seconds later I'm P-Chan.  Akane. . . she saw it happen and wasn't any trouble for that blue-haired babe. . . When I looked back, she was chasing me down." He glanced back over, eyes accidentally falling south of her face.  Ranma sighed, not able to hit the poor guy.

      "This ain't your week."

      "Thanks for the sympathy," he muttered grimly.  Cologne beat them again, nearly shouting.

      "Enough!  Ranma, you're a good distraction." She gave her a shove, knocking her off the branch and down to the camp with a scream.  As they watched her land, Ryouga and the old woman looked at each other.  "Let's get you some fitting clothes."

      Ranma tumbled in the mud, half naked and her pride slightly bruised.  A sudden gasp sounded when she looked up, Ukyou and Shampoo watching her with a slight blush, Akane not able to see without pupils.  The Amazon was quick to turn, grinning fiercely.

      "Know you come."

      "Well, duh, here I am," Ranma mumbled, climbing to her feet and whipping some of the hair from her face.  The Amazon's smile suddenly faded, the giantess tipping her head in wonder. Ranma laughed evasively, covering her chest.  "Well, uh. . ."

      "It done.  No weapon fight." Ranma gasped suddenly when the Amazon quickly stripped her top, her chest bouncing free.

      "Waugh!" Ranma cried, covering her eyes.  "I'm not looking, really!!"

      "Ranma!" Shampoo yelled, pulling against her ropes.  "Is challenge to Amazons!  Present skin and declare complete hand-to-hand combat!" Ranma peaked through her fingers, seeing the topless Amazon lift her hands as Ryouga pulled on his pants in the background.

      "Great timing. . ." She grunted, stretching her legs.  "Alright, I'll go with you.  But I gotta know, if you're going to hunt me down to the ends of the Earth. . . " Ranma snapped up, cracking her back forward, her bra doing nothing to stop the jiggling.  "What's your name?"

      "Am Kondishi Naru."

      ". . . Did you say Conditioner?" The Amazon nodded defiantly, pointing to her.  Ranma looked to Shampoo with no humor in her features.  "You people have problems."

      "Ranma, we fight now!" Saotome held up a hand.

      "How d'we know who loses?" The Amazon grinned.

      "Who die first is loser." Ranma looked to Shampoo once more.

      "You people have serious problems."

      "ENOUGH!" Before Ran-chan could turn back to her opponent, Naru shot forward, her heel cracking against Ranma's chin.  She yelped, skidding back through the mud, handfuls of dirt being shoved down the back of her boxers.  She hissed, climbing to her knees, seeing only a flash of white legs as Naru ran at her like a train.  Ranma screamed like a girl, diving into the air, narrowly escaping being bum-rushed.  That sucker-kick knocked off her concentration and it was hard to get back into the rhythm.  Of course, she had no trouble landing a punch to the Amazon's back.  Landing sprightly on her feet, Ranma turned, only to see a foot swinging back around to knock her head off.  Ranma gulped, dropping to the ground.

      As she fell back, she threw her hands up and cupped her palms around Naru's ankle.  The Amazon tried to pull her leg back but Ranma was already curling in the air, brought up by the force of the blue-haired girl's roundhouse.  She kicked her foot down, knocking off the Amazon's arm.  She grunting, swinging her other foot down and towards her face.  Grinning, the girl caught Ranma's ankle, allowing the redhead the foothold so that she may land her heel into the Amazon's back.  She cried out, crumbling to her knees.  Panting, Ranma hopped off her spine, landing on an umbrella.

      "You're gonna hurt someone, Connie-Connie Can-Can. I know we can talk about this." The Amazon chuckled back at her, climbing to her feet as she wiped the mud from her front.  Ranma's foothold shifted for a moment as Ryouga stared at the Amazon's chest.

      "Ranma, why is she topless?"

      She jumped off the perch, landing next to her pal.  "I think she's making fun of me."

      "No. . ." Ryouga looked back at hers to confirm.  "You're way bigger--"

      Smack!

      Ranma walked forward, rubbing her hand as Ryouga fell to the ground.  Sweeping her hand back through her hair, she gave Naru a hard stare.  "Look, I don't make it a habit to go 'round killin' people.  I ain't gonna back outta this, but I also ain't gonna kill ya."

      "Then you make error.  You hurt honor, pride and respect tribe have for Naru.  You die or I die -- escape defeat of you or by village."

      Shampoo nodded again.  "Aiya, Ranma, is big deal."

      "Shit. . . " She tapped her forehead, looking as the Amazon crossed her arms, waiting.  "Well. . . bye!" Before the Amazon could blink, Ranma was gone.  Ryouga looked after the trail in the mud, a small cloud of mist far away on an exiting path.  He spun his umbrella, sighing, watching as the Amazon stomped after her.

      "Ranma. . . "

      Ryouga stepped out of her way, following her with his eyes as she ran off with a scream. Ukyou and Shampoo exchanged a glance, then looking at their tie-up mate, quaking like mad.  Akane was the first to speak up, the snaps of ropes sounding as she brought her arms up.  "THAT COWARD!!"

      Ranma-kun looked around as he yanked his bra off.  He'd made it to the springs and as he pulled his pants on, those that he'd happily grabbed on his attempt to flee, he struggled to think.  He could hear that Amazon tearing after him.  Was it just him or did he detect about four other footfalls?  He rubbed his chin, feeling a shadow fall over him in the rain.

      "Hey boy, nice to finally see you."

      "Hey, pop, was gonna s-- what the hell?!" He whipped around, instantly grabbing his dad by his gi.  "Where the hell you been?" Genma chuckled, pointing to the sky.

      "Pretty cold huh?  And no pandas in sight!"

      "You cured yourself. . ."

      "And so have you, it seems!  Well done, my boy! Now your mother will have no reason to see us dead!  It's good to be back after all these years, isn't it?" Genma chuckled, slapping his son on the shoulder, opening his mouth to welcome the cool downpour.  Ranma wasn't in as high spirits, shaking his head.  Genma asked, so Ranma told.  After finishing his two-minute version, Saotome stumbled back, slightly, almost falling into the Spring of Drowned Tiger before Ranma dived at him, knocking him into the mud.  Ranma tried to rationalize for him but Genma just grabbed him by the arms.

      "So you. . . did pick Akane?"

      "I'm going to kill you, pop. . ."

      "It's alright, it's alright. You just have one last thing to do." Ranma blinked.

      "Yeah?"

      Fishing around behind him, Saotome pulled out his seppuku gear. "It's been nice knowing you—" Ranma kicked him in the head, growling.

      "Knock it off!"

      Genma suddenly grinned, his brow sloped in a sudden insight.  "Hold that though, my boy.  We do still have an Amazon to get off your tail."

      "You got an idea?"

      "We're at some cursed springs, aren't we?" As the father and son exchanged sly smirks, Ryouga was the first to run up, the rain having finally turning warm as the day approached noon.  Genma pointed to him as his son-turned-daughter climbed to her feet, beckoning him to approach.

      The Amazon finally broke into the clearing, pale streaks of paint still staining her face.  "You there!" she screamed, pointing to Ranma as she sat on one of the posts.  "Redhead girl!" Ranma pointed to herself, tossing her hand back out rather effeminately, letting it rest in the air.

      "Me?  Yeah, that'd be me."

      The Amazon laughed wildly, clapping her hands together.  "You give up?  No run?  Stay up there?"

      "Yeah.  Up here.  I have a proposition for you." Naru snorted, walking towards the battle posts.  "Death I thought was a little harsh but this is even harsher.  If you can knock me into that spring, you'll be the victor.  If I can do it to you, I get to leave." The Amazon looked over to where she pointed, seeing a sign mark the soft edge.  The pond rippled, the dirt around it unusually loose.

      "Fool, is Cursed Spring!  You dare play with Jusenkyou area?"

      Ranma grinned, scratching her head.  "Is worse than death, huh?  Going through life as a half-girl, half-whatever?" A bubble popped on the surface with an almost angry tone.  Naru growled, jumping up to join her bane on the posts.  "Good girl. . ."

      "Ranma, prepare be change. . ." She jumped up, Ran-chan following her, screaming into the rain.  "Kyaa!!" the two shouted, kicks and blocks flying back in forth in the air.  Ranma brought her knee up, pushing herself off the Amazon's thigh and landed on a post as Naru did the same with a hiss.  She rubbed her leg, grinning slightly.  "Ranma. . . "

      "That's my name. . ." They dove at each other again, Ranma carelessly flying overhead.  She swallowed, closing her eyes as she threw down a punch, wincing at how slow it had been, her wrist easily nabbed by her opponent.  She smiled up at her and whipped her around, tossing Ranma high into the air.

      "YOU LOSE!!"

      Ranma splashed into the spring, a balloon of water exploding upward.  The Amazon landed on a nearby post.  Akane suddenly rushed up, having seen the entire thirteen-second bout.  "RANMA!!" she screamed, racing for the pond as a small piglet crawled out of the water.  It coughed, collapsing on the bank, breathless.  Akane, speechless, scooped it up into her arms, crushing it to her chest.  "N-no. . . "

      The Amazon watched carefully, having been fully prepared to take the pig home as a feast.  The reaction of this girl, however, stunned the appetite right out of her.  Quietly, she hopped to another post, sighing.  "Ranma. . . good warrior." She clapped her hands together and suddenly, Akane was alone with the rain and with her fiancé-turned-meal.

      Genma walked from surrounding forest, patting her on the shoulder.  "N-no," she whispered again, hearing the little pig squeal a bit.  The water splashed again as Akane couldn't help but wail, her tears hidden by the falling rain.

      "Man, Akane, you need to get a grip."

      Since when could pigs talk?  She looked up, seeing Ran-chan wave to her from the pond, coughing slightly. She grinned as her fiancée stared in shock, holding the pig until it turned white.  "Hi!  This is just regular water.  I had to throw the fight but I at least won the battle." She laughed brightly as Genma sniffed, turning a fist to the air.

      "That's my boy. . ."

      Akane looked down, seeing the yellow bandana around the pig's neck.  "Ryouga?"

      Reluctantly, the piglet nodded.

      "EIII!!  I've never been happier to see you in my life!!" She clamped around P-Chan and pushed the air out of him, crying joyously.  Ranma watched, dripping and irritated, as the girl who practically stuck her tongue into her mouth manhandled her best friend.

      "Thanks for the welcome. . ."

--

      "Oh. . . G-god. . . R-ranma. . . stop. . ." Ryouga groaned once more, holding his arm to his eyes as he swallowed a lump out of his throat.

      "I must. . ." she whispered as the setting sun reddened her features. She glanced towards the hills with a blush, turning back to where Ryouga stood at the top of the slope a second later.  She got back to her knees, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.  "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you--"

      "Ranma, that's enough!  I would'a helped even if your dad hadn't made me.  Stop being a wuss." Ran-chan glanced back up, suddenly frowning.  She grunted, getting to her feet with a snort.

      "A wuss huh?" She looked around, picking up a bucket of water.  Ryouga sighed as she splashed him with it, wiping the cool droplets from his face with a sneer, colder water adhering him to his clothes.

      "You forget already, Ranma?" He grinned.  "One dip in the Spring of Drowned Boy and Ryouga is a man once more!" He pumped his fist, not even three hours into being complete again as Akane walked towards them.  "Shampoo and I are finally back to normal. . . kinda anti-climactic, huh?"

      Ranma sat down on a white-tipped rock, looking out to the pink and orange treetops.  "Doesn't matter to me." She looked down to where Genma and the other two were, watching the sun fall with their own interests occupying them. Namely, a picnic of ramen, okonomiyaki and sake. Go figure. Akane trudged up the grassy knoll, waving to her as the wind blew by.  She smiled and waved back down, nudging Ryouga with her other elbow.  "I got what I came for." She sneered playfully, poking him in the ribs.  "How's it feel to lose her to a girl? Or me for that matter?"

      Ryouga was silent but then laughed, slapping her on the back extra hard.  The smell of rice wine was still on his breath, the group still enjoying their small party that they started after Ranma had returned from her battle with Naru.  "Actually, it's not that bad."

      "I can't believe she didn't kill you when she found out you were P-Chan. She apologized ten times to me for gettin' mad at me about you. I figured you were dead."

      "So did I, but if she does have some issues, I guess she'll take 'em out on somebody." He grinned. "Good luck."

      "Shaddup."

      There was a slight pause. "Ukyou made a move on me."

      "She was drunk."

      "So am I."

      Akane tripped on her way up the hill, causing Ranma to hop up and run down to her, Ryouga slowly walking down behind.  She skidded next to the black-haired girl as she turned over onto her back.  Groaning, Akane rubbed her back.

      ". . . So is she."

      "Huh?" Ranma grinned, offering her hand.

      "Forget it, klutz." The two of them watched as Ryouga walked by, winking back, going to join the others at the bottom of the hill.  They watched him settle down, shirking away as Ukyou suddenly pawed at him.

      "So you're not gonna do it, huh?"

      Ranma shook her head violently as she sat back on her elbows.  "No way.  Don't tell me you haven't seen it, Akane.  Cologne's totally right – I'm a girl now.  I don't wanna screw up my brain with some body that ain't mines no more. . .  Besides," she grinned, suddenly sliding over to bump shoulders with her – as only her mind called her – beloved, "I can be a guy if necessary.  And I really got used to this bein' a girl thing."

      Akane went 'pft', edging away.  "Just remember that 5 days outta the month I'll probably hate you even more. . . "

      Ranma shrugged.  "I kinda like the way you hate me, too." With a bit of a quiver, she put her hand down on the girl's.  "It won't bother you?" Akane swayed slightly, also hefting her shoulders.

      "What did Ryouga call you?  When. . . when my hair got cut?  Cute 'n' huggable?"

      "Well, yeah, but--"

      Akane suddenly wrapped her arms around her, resting her head on Ran-chan's chest.  Ranma jerked but quickly relaxed, placing a hand on Akane's head with a bit of a start.  "He was right. . ."

      "A-ahh. . ." Ranma sighed softly, closing her eyes with a smile.  When she opened them again, Akane was looking her in the eye.  Ran-chan tipped her head to the side when Akane pushed forward, giving her a soft little kiss.  She smiled at her afterward, poking Ranma in the forehead.

      "You little perv."

      Ranma grinned back at her.  "Well it would take some tomboy like you to kiss a cute, soft 'n' huggable girl like me." Akane fell silent, Ranma hearing Ryouga yell at him from down the slope.  The redhead looked up innocently, scratching her cheek.  "Nm. . . uh. . . really cute. . . tomboy. . ."

      Smiling, Akane hugged her again, Ranma's elbows collapsing so that they fell back onto the grass.  It was a little damp, but Akane nuzzling into her front made that all feel better.  As the two went quiet, Ranma looked up to where the stars began to peek from the purple sky, a dark blue beginning taking over a rubicund end. Mindlessly running her fingers through Akane's hair, she watched the pinpoints of light shine with the moon, the sun slipping out of sight and below the mountains.

      "Why do I think that we forgot something. . .?"

--

      Back in Nerima, Mousse climbed out of his hot bath, memories of being a duck for three days making him shiver.  "Where did everyone go, anyway?" He saw a broom in the corner and immediately ran to it, hugging it to him.  "SHAMPOO!!"

The end.

Oh, you all hate me, don't you?  Ukyou was too mean, Shampoo was too go-alongy, Ryouga was an ass. . . Pft!  That's the thing about OOC, kids, if it's justified, it can work.  Frankly, I think I gave some damn good reasons.  And actually, Ryouga can be a huge jerkface. Don't tell me I'm wrong – I read volume 22 in Barnes and Noble, today. [Huffs.] Canon isn't the only way to write, damnit. ^^ It's good for. . . Tenchi Muyo.

Beyond that, please tell me what you thought!  When I began, I had no idea as to how it would end and I kinda surprised myself.  If anything, I expected Ranma to at least be a boy when they first kissed.

AGH!  I ITCH LIKE CRAZY!

Now, I still owe you about two more lemony side stories.  Back to work!

--

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