Ranma 1/2: Separation anxiety part 11
What has gone on before....
It was a typical day at the Tendo dojo. Until a strange woman disguised as
Cologne showed up and gave Ranma a magical jewel that changed his life. Told
it was a cure with a 'price' he discovered that it separated both his male and
female side. Same mind different bodies. While half of him is cured the other
must live with the curse forever with no hope of a cure, ever. It turns out
that the woman Known as Natsumekun has an old grudge against Cologne and used
her trust as a way to get back at her through Ranma. Female Ranma was Adopted
into the amazon tribe because of Colognes role in the affair.
A few days later Ranma was forced by his alter ego to break the extra
engagements and admit his love for Akane. However he still denies the latter.
Three weeks have passed since Nodoka came to the Tendo home. She came to the
conclusion that Ranma and Ranchan [Now Ranko once again.] were brother and
sister. Genma is still in hiding and Ryoga is lost yet again leaving a
Defeated, angry and heavily training Ranma behind due to a magical amulet
given to him by what seemed to be the very same person that separated Ranma
and Ranko. The jewel gave him speed matching that of the male Ranma. Ranko
seems to have adjusted to her new life well and no one knows the truth behind
Ranma's new sister. Now its time to make an even bigger mess....
Ranma walked down the streets of Nerima beside himself. Well sort of beside
him was his new "Half sister" now dubbed Ranko. "Geez, and after you put up
such a big fuss over that name too." he grumbled.
Ranko snorted and kept walking beside Akane at a comfortable distance with
her new friends. Yuka and Sayuri, the two girls had usually met Akane at
school but had taken to walking with her and the two Ranma's since they
discovered that 'Ranchan' was staying at the Tendo dojo now as well. She lept
back up to her usual perch on the wall on the opposite side of the street.
"Quiet or I'll have Ryoga kick your ass again." said Ranko with a smirk.
Ranma growled and lept at her. "I'll show you who'll win that fight!" he
cried as he kicked and punched at the much faster girl without much success.
Ranko swung down and tapped Ranma on the head after he missed with a right
hook. He Tapped her stomach with his other hand at the same instant. "Got ya!"
they cried in unison and blushed as they realized that the match was a tie,
again.
Akane smirked and smiled as the pair followed the girls silently. "Don't
those two ever quit?" asked Sayuri.
"I think its sweet." said Yuka.
"Nihao Ranma." said a quiet voice as a bicycle went past them.
"H-hey Shampoo." said Ranma as he turned in suprise. He had never seen her so
subdued and quiet. It was obvious that she had not taken the break up well.
The girls kept walking leaving them behind oblivious to what had happened.
"I'm suprised she even spoke to you the way she's been talking about you
lately." said Ranko from beside him.
"What do you mean?! It's as much your fault as it is mine. How come they
still talk to you?" said Ranma quietly to her.
"Shampoo has to teach me to be an amazon for one. I think both her and Ukyo
see me as a different person not the guy who did this stuff to them. It
bothers me a little. Sometimes they start telling stories about me as if I
wasn't there, some times they catch themselves other times they don't. Mousse
still doesn't trust me with Shampoo alone. I just don't get it, I remind them
all the time that we were the same person when all this happened, but they
don't seem to understand or care. Honestly I'm kind of glad they feel that
way." said Ranko with a small sigh.
Ranma pat her on the shoulder. "I hope they forgive me soon. It worries me
that Cologne has been so quiet." said Ranma as he looked at Akane with out
even realizing it.
"Don't worry about her, I think she understands." said Ranko with out
thinking.
"What do you mean?" asked Ranma suspiciously.
"I mean I think she is relieved that you finally confronted Shampoo. She
likes you Ranma, but I think she knew she lost a long time ago." said Ranko.
A week before at the Cat Cafe...
"Well its nice to see you again dear." said Cologne with a withered smile.
"Cologne we need to talk." said Ranko as she walked through the door and into
the kitchen. "I need to tell you something about my mother."
"I know all about it dear. I had Mousse follow you, don't worry I'll make it
seem like we've had you since you were just a babe dearie." said Cologne. She
noted the expression on Ranko's face. "Don't look so suprised. Mousse may not
be the martial artist you are but he is very good at what he does." smirked
Cologne.
"Just don't over do it." said Ranma.
"Oh all right, how about seven years old then?" asked Cologne.
Ranma nodded and sat down at one of the tables. "You wanted to talk?" she
asked.
"Yes, it is about your actions concerning the son in law, I am disappointed
in you." she said with a sigh.
"Why, because I made him tell the truth?" said Ranma flatly.
"Respect your elders boy. You should have known better than to interfere with
this." snapped Cologne.
Ranma noted that she still thought of her as a boy and kept her tone
respectful. "I merely forced what he would have done anyway, eventually." she
replied.
Cologne frowned and sighed. "Before this there was some chance for my
Shampoo..." she started before she was interrupted by Ranma.
"Shampoo never had a chance." said Ranko.
"What?" said Cologne.
"How would she? If Akane broke up with him he would suspect you. If she ever
died, he would suspect you. He would never break up with her." Ranma spoke
evenly and calmly staring Cologne down, but not very hard.
"I know this is all true, however I must still tell you I wish you had found
another way. Shampoo will be angry with him, possibly forever, I only thank
the gods that she does not blame you. Amazon death matches are not pleasant
and she would most assuredly lose." said Cologne with a sigh. “I ask that you
speak with her and keep her friendship, it may prevent her from doing
something rash." said Cologne with a sigh.
Ranko stood and walked out of the restaurant. "Of course I will." she
replied. Behind the door to the kitchen Shampoo stood against the wall with a
look of hopelessness and horror in her eyes. Even her great grandmother had
given in. At last she accepted her fate.
Present Day...
Ranko Walked into the gates of Furincan high with a frown on her face. There
was a large and familiar group of boys gathered at the gates with huge grins
on their faces. "Is it true Saotome?" said one of the soccer team boys.
"What?" said Ranma.
"Not you your sister." said a Karate club member.
"What?" repeated Ranko.
"Are you really an Amazon?" said one of the hockey kids.
"Yea, why?" said Ranko before a realization hit her.
"Nabiki." she thought as the grins on the boy's faces widened.
Ranma had a similar realization and stood in front of Ranko. "You'll have to
go through me." he said angrily. Some of the boys backed up and reconsidered.
"You can't protect her all the time Saotome! I'll defeat her and make her
marry me." said one of the boys from the back.
"I don't need your help." said Ranko from behind Ranma.
"Are you sure you want to risk one of these guys getting a lucky shot in?"
said Ranma from between his teeth.
"Are you implying that these guys could hurt me if they did?" growled Ranko.
"Your right." said Ranma as he walked away leaving a confused and angry Ranko
behind.
"You jerk." she muttered as the boys advanced on her.
Akane watched the whole exchange with mild interest. Her heart had nearly
stopped when she saw the crowd gathered at the gates. She had been only a
little relieved when she discovered that it was not for her. Ranko would not
take it well.
Actually she did considering. Very few of the boys had any thing broken and
Kuno had of course decided to intervene at the end of the mess. Akane felt
rather strange watching instead of participating in what used to be her
morning routine. The rest of the school day went on as usual minus a few
students due to injuries. Ranma had been a bit more stern with the boys that
Akane had been, mostly because the stakes were higher, also because of her
problem with men hitting on her. "I can't really blame her. Mabey they'll give
up since she is being so rough." though Akane with a small smile.
The girls had met at the gates and all went off to some ice cream store or
something leaving Ranma to walk home alone. For the first time in a very long
time. Actually it might have been the first time. He actually made it home
with out incident and enjoyed the quiet.
Meanwhile....
"So your Ranko's mother." said Cologne with a grin.
"Well not actually no. I'll never understand how anyone could abandon such a
wonderful child." said Nodoka with a flush in her cheeks as she entered the
Cat cafe.
"She has brought many happy memories to our little family since her arrival."
said Cologne with a small smile. "And she is a superb fighter as well." she
added with a moment of thought.
"Is that important to your people?" asked Nodoka with and odd look.
"Well, yes dear. In our village women are the masters of the home, much the
same way men are perceived to be here." said Cologne with a grin.
"It doesn't seem proper." said Nodoka to herself.
"I suppose it would seem so to someone who was brought up here. Ranko is a
bit of a tomboy even by our standards as well I assure you. No amount of
upbringing will fix that now I'm afraid." said Cologne.
"Oh so you noticed. She is a bit unusual." said Nodoka blushing, Cologne was
not supposed to hear what she had said.
"Shampoo come meet your sister's mother." said Cologne to the girl in the
kitchen.
"Nihaio." said Shampoo as she emerged from the kitchen. Nodoka smiled and
bowed politely.
"Hello, Ranko's told me allot about you, she thinks very highly of you." said
Nodoka in greeting.
"Thank you." said Shampoo blushing.
"Does Ranko speak Chinese?" said Nodoka suddenly.
"She speak good Shampoo speak Japanese." said Shampoo with a tinge of
jealousy in her voice. Ranma would be speaking fluently in a few moths in both
Cantonese and Mandarin. She had terrible English grades in school, Chinese
however she approached as if it were a new technique. He had learned very
quickly.
"Oh, thats very good. I suppose." said Nodoka whispering the last part to
herself.
After a few moments of idle chat Nodoka walked out of the restaurant and went
about her day.
"Is strange woman. Have to be to be Ranma mother." said Shampoo bitterly.
"Are you still on about that? Really Shampoo." said Cologne as she walked
upstairs.
"Shampoo no forgive you Ranma." said Shampoo angrily as she stormed into the
kitchen and sent Mousse flying out a few seconds later.
"I know I'll win you heart yet Shampoo! Ranma is no longer between us." he
muttered as he picked himself off the floor.
"Ah it tis the mother of the lovely Pig tailed goddess and the ruffian Ranma.
How good it is to see you." said a familiar cultured voice from behind Nodoka
as she walked towards the Tendo dojo.
"Perhaps I could escort you home good lady, I would have word with you..."
TbC....
Send C&C to Catbert25@aol.com