DISCLAIMER: Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

"Adventures in Womanhood"

by Ranchan2k3

Chapter 12

I'm an idiot.

No, relax, it's not for the reason you think. Entirely the opposite, in fact.

As you know, in my last entry, the truth of my gender situation came out to the Tendos. Akane told me she needed a little time, but she promised she'd speak to me at school the next day.

I met her at lunch...

"Ranma?"

The red-head in question looked up from the bento lunch she'd been morosely picking at for the last five minutes. "Hm?" She straightened up with a blink. "Akane?"

The youngest Tendo was standing next to Ranma, visibly nervous. After a moment, she knelt down and whispered to Ranma. "I've been thinking about yesterday ever since it happened. I've decided...it wasn't your fault. You didn't ask for this, and you didn't have any way to prove it if you told someone about it. So...I forgive you for not telling me, and I'd like to still be friends. Okay...Sensei?"

Ranma stared at Akane for a moment, then reached over and pulled her into a grateful hug. "Oh, Akane, of course we can! I was so worried you'd think I was a perverted freak and call off our friendship."

Akane smiled, returning the hug. "I'm sorry I made you worry, Ranma. Tell you what: Come over to our place for dinner tonight. Kasumi wanted me to invite you; she said she had something special she wanted to make for you. Will you come?"

A grin spread across Ranma's face. "Dinner from Kasumi? I'm so there."

Dinner wasn't the only bombshell I had waiting for me when I got there. This particular surprise would rock the Tendo family dynamic to its core, and the one to rock the boat was, of all people, Kasumi...

"Welcome, Ranma! Please, come in. Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes."

"Thanks, Kasumi," replied Ranma as she entered the house, leaving her slippers in the genkan. Kasumi escorted Ranma into the family room, where Akane was setting the table, then the eldest daughter departed for the kitchen. Soun was already sitting at the table, reading his newspaper and smoking a cigarette. A few minutes later, Ranma and the rest of the Tendo family were seated at the table. Kasumi brought out the food, serving the guest first.

Ranma blinked a bit at the special dish she was served, turning a questioning gaze towards Kasumi. "Red beans and rice?"

Kasumi nodded, smiling warmly at Ranma. "To welcome you into womanhood, Ranma-chan."

Ranma's cheeks reddened as she turned her gaze back to her food. "Um, thanks, Kasumi."

Kasumi then served her sisters, and finally herself. After the girls were served, Soun put aside his newspaper, then blinked as an object was tossed into his chest by Kasumi, hastily catching it on reflex. He looked at what was in his hands, then up at Kasumi in confusion. "Instant ramen?"

Kasumi nodded, perfectly calm. "Why, yes. Since my father has apparently been replaced by a strange man who has no problems with suggesting a permanent sex change simply to unite the two branches of the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts in marriage, I simply cannot bring myself to continue treating you as family."

"But Kasumi-!"

"Also, I have contacted a friend of mine and will be attending evening classes at college to pursue the nursing degree that I was forced to abandon when my father decided his grief mattered more than taking care of his children," the eldest Tendo daughter continued as if the man hadn't even spoken. "And I will not be doing your laundry anymore, either, or cleaning your room for you. You're a grown man, Father. It's long past time you started acting like it."

Kasumi's sisters were stunned. Ranma was surprised, too. 'I didn't know she had it in her!' After a minute, Soun finally responded...by turning on the waterworks. "WAAAAAAAAAAAAH! MY DAUGHTER HATES ME! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Kasumi sighed. "Oh, Father..."

Dinner after that was a little tense to say the least. I felt like I'd seen something I probably shouldn't have. Then again, she's the one who invited me, so maybe she wanted me to see that for some reason.

Probably just showing that she supports me, too.

Anyway, after dinner, I was called into the dojo by Happosai. Apparently he wanted to have a word with me about the future of the school...

Ranma sat on her knees across from Happosai, the two of them in the middle of the Tendo's training hall. "You wanted to see me?"

Happosai nodded. "Yes, my girl, I certainly did. First, I wanted to express my sympathies for the loss you experienced when you were changed into your current gender. Though I personally feel it's an improvement as there's no such thing as too many pretty ladies in this world, I understand that you yourself would much rather be a man, and it saddens me greatly that I can do nothing to help you with that."

Ranma swallowed audibly, but nodded. "Um, yeah. Thanks, that means a lot to me."

The old man continued. "Secondly, I wanted to speak with you about the future of the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts. Your father and Soun Tendo were two of my students, the ones I felt worthy of teaching my skills to. Now, unless I miss my guess, your father was also changed at Jusenkyo into something other than human..."

"A panda," Ranma supplied helpfully.

Happosai nodded, continuing. "...and Soun is a completely immature emotional wreck. I can no more trust them with the future of the school than I could a couple of cockroaches. However, in you, Ranma, I see something special. It isn't every day I find a mere teenager with the skill to catch me unawares when I'm in the mood for a good grope, and what I sense of your spirit seems honorable in the extreme. Therefore, I would like to teach to you the ultimate techniques of the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts. None of that 'get strong or die' approach that your father liked to use, but I won't be going soft on you like Soun, either."

Ranma blinked. "Um, how do you know what kind of approach my Pop used in training?"

Happosai snorted. "The evidence is as obvious as mud in a ballroom to anyone who can read auras, Ranma. In any case, the offer is there. Will you accept and become the true heir to the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts?"

Ranma took that in, then smiled and bowed. "I accept."

My training began then and there with a simple technique that's good for tossing away people who assault you. A kinetic redirection technique. With this technique, I only need one finger to redirect my opponent's own kinetic force and send them flying up into the air. A handy way to stop a fight before it even gets started, and great for casually impressing anyone who happens to be watching.

He's a surprisingly good teacher, even if I did have to stop him from groping me a couple of times. I'm really looking forward to learning more.

Anyway, that's why I'm an idiot. I'm an idiot because I didn't have faith that Akane would stay friends with me.

Nabiki approached me later and said Kasumi's dinner table announcement surprised her. She blamed me for it, but said it was a good thing, 'cause Kasumi was long overdue to start seeing to her own dreams and wishes.

Too bad old man Tendo is too busy being lost in his fantasies to see that. He was still sobbing about what happened at dinner by the time I left for home.

So. I'm the heir to the whole school now. Happosai says he wants to get me properly licensed and stuff as quickly as possible, mainly because he isn't sure how many more years he's got left. He's encouraged me to keep helping out Akane, because he senses a lot of potential in her, too, and can't believe her father completely stopped training her with any seriousness.

I won't let him down. Or Akane, either.

I wouldn't be Ranma Saotome if I did.

End Chapter 12.

Author's Notes: I wanted to get this one out fairly quickly to avoid the lynch mobs after I left off the last chapter with such a depressing cliffhanger. I hope this one lived up to expectations. As always, please review! They inspire me to write more. See you in Chapter 13! Bye! ^_^