Neko-phobia Part 3:  Unexpected Arrivals

by David Eddy <dje@progress.com>

Second Draft


A fan fiction based on Takahashi Rumiko's Manga series, Ranma 1/2.

The characters of Ranma 1/2 are the property of Takahashi Rumiko and
her licencees.

WARNING:  This fanfic contains a scene with Ranma and Nabiki in
the bathroom.  They aren't wearing any clothes.  The word
'throbbing' is used in this scene.  It not *all* that risque... 
but some people have strange ideas.
     

See the author's notes at the end for credits and rambling.

C&C is welcomed!  Please!


     =======================================================
     
     
     
     "AAAAAAAAAAA!"  *GASP*

     Ranma sat bolt upright in the dark, panting, sweat like ice on
his clammy skin.

     The echoes of nightmare faded slowly from his mind, the tatters
of his sleep going with them.  With a sigh Ranma got up and padded
silently to the bathroom.

     The person in the mirror was pale and sweaty.  He wiped himself
with a washcloth doused in warm water, and padded through to the
kitchen to get himself a glass of water.  Standing next to the
kitchen sink and drinking, he ran his eyes over Kasumi's book
collection in idle curiosity.

     They seemed to be mostly cookbooks and books on herbalism and
healing... although some of the titles Ranma couldn't understand
either because he didn't know the words -- what the hell is
ailurophobia anyway? -- or they were in English or Chinese.

     Ranma grunted to himself as he put the glass down.  'What was I
looking for, anyway?' he chided himself.

     He stepped out onto the verandah.  Nobody else was up and the
city was quiet, but the false dawn washed the sky in grey.  The air
was lukewarm and humid despite the time of day, and he was feeling
awake and alert, so Ranma decided to sit on the big rock by the side
of the pond and try to think through the dream that had woken him.

     'Greeting the dawn,' thought Ranma with a wry smile as he
settled himself on the rock.  'Next thing you know I'll be sitting
and watching some rock grow or learning the cha-no-yu.'

     He settled himself facing the point where the sun would rise
and got comfortable.  When he was ready, he tried to replay the
dream in his mind, but failed, finding instead only a vague
impression of surprise and fear to do with Kasumi.

     Kasumi?  Why would I...

     Then he remembered that incident in the living room the
previous day.  Kasumi had played peacemaker when both Akane and Soun
had jumped to conclusions about his planned trip to the Nekohanten.
Just for a moment her mask, her public face, had slipped, and he had
seen the iron determination living beneath it.  Ranma remembered the
unpleasant thrill it had given him.  Determination for what, though?

     The family, of course.  Ranma realised that he didn't know very
much about Kasumi at all.  Mostly she had just been *there*, a
constant, steady factor in the life of the family.  But... the books
in English and Chinese were revealing.  To be able to read those
books comfortably enough to keep them ready for reference meant that
she must have been quite a scholar in high school... and yet here
she was running the family.  Being the mother.  Sacrificing... what?
A chance at a career?  Maybe... but perhaps Kasumi found running a
family fulfilling.

     'Then why did I get a danger sense from Kasumi yesterday?'
Ranma asked himself.  He watched the sky darken as the false dawn
receded, the stars coming out again briefly before the first splash
of red and pink heralded the true dawn and the coming of the new
day.

     Finally it came.  Happiness, or harmony... and honour.

     With that realisation, the dream came back to him.
     

     

     Kasumi was cooking, humming a little ditty to herself as she
put the finishing touches to the evening meal.  Akane helped her
bring out the meal and set the table.  Kasumi settled herself by the
rice cooker and began serving bowls of rice.  The others waited in
anticipation.

     "Itadakimas'!"

     Ranma ate with his usual efficiency, fighting with his father
over choice morsels.  The meal was delicious, as usual, and he
wanted to tell Kasumi so, but he was feeling increasingly divorced
from his body.  'Why can't I move?'  He started to sweat as he tried
to move, but couldn't.

     Something jerked his arm, and he saw that a large, white rope
was tied about his wrist.  His head was yanked back, and he looked
up to see another rope disappearing into the darkness above.

     His viewpoint moved out of his body to see that he and his
father and the Tendou family were sitting on a lighted stage.  As
the Tendous got up from the table and wandered off, he and his
father moved jerkily in a parody of a fight, the strings attached to
their arms, legs, and body vibrating as somebody pulled on them.

     As he watched, the remaining two figures on the stage stopped
their play fight and bowed to each other.  They bowed to the unseen
audience.  The lights came up.

     Kasumi bowed to the audience, smiling, a puppeteer's cross in
each hand.
     

     

     Now he understood.  A shiver ran up his spine as Ranma admitted
to himself that Kasumi could do anything at all and nobody would
suspect her, or even realise that there was something coming.  Not
father, not himself, not even Happosai... because she was trusted,
the core of the family.

     Kasumi had sure had an awful lot of books on herbalism.  And
many of the books in Chinese had had the kanji for herbalism or
healing on the spine.

     So Kasumi could be a threat, and might be if he or the old man
threatened the family.

     But he was trapped.  He had no doubt as to what he *wanted* to
do... he had admitted *that* to himself the other day.  But he was
caught in a three-way web of obligations, although he had
impulsively rid himself of one of them yesterday, at what cost he
did not yet know.

     What to do?

     Watch the sun rise, feel the world awaken, enjoy the dawn, said
a voice in his head.  Something will come to you.

     
     *    *    *

     
     The sun was fully up.  The city was awakening to the new day.
Ideas were avoiding Ranma.  He felt vaguely cheated.

     His senses tingled a warning just as a kick smashed into his
shoulder and knocked him into the pond.  The change washed through
his body, and onna-Ranma surged out of the pond to land in combat
stance facing her father.

     "What'd you do that for, oyaji?!"

     Genma's solemn "trainer" expression was rendered sanctimonious
by a self-congratulatory smirk.  "Your back was wide open, son.
Attacks can come at any time from any direction.  Not every attacker
would be as merciful as I was."

     "Merciful?  I'd have felt you coming if you'd tried anything
worse."  With that she leaped towards Genma in one of the stock
opening moves.

     "You leave yourself open far too much, son."  Genma leaped off
the ground to meet Ranma.  They met in a clash of arms and legs
before dropping to the ground again.  "You continually underestimate
your opponents!  You fight no harder than you have to!"  They leaped
towards each other again, and this time Ranma knocked Genma to the
ground.  Genma jumped up and leaped forward in attack.  "You are
lazy, son!"

     "Is that so, oyaji?"  With the speed of a striking snake onna-
Ranma grabbed Genma and hurled him into the pond.  "What does that
make you, eh?!" she yelled at the panda which surfaced.  The panda
brought up a sign saying, 'A paragon of virtue.'  Ranma stared at it
in disbelief.

     Genma-panda struck at onna-Ranma with the sign.  Ranma blocked
it, and then they were battling again.

     "Breakfast!" called Kasumi.

     Ranma and Genma surged out of the pond and onto the verandah
only to be stopped by Kasumi, who was holding towels.  "Please do
not drip in the house," she said as she handed one to each of them.

     

     They settled down to breakfast.  Ranma watched Kasumi carefully
but she just served the meal as she always did.  He settled down to
eat.

     Nabiki leaned forward, rice bowl in one hand and chopsticks in
the other.  She was wearing her briefest shorts and a tank top.
"It's sure going to be hot today," she said.  "Already it's
uncomfortable."

     Ranma glanced at her then looked back to her breakfast.

     Akane said, "You should do some training, Nabiki-oneechan.
Then it wouldn't feel so hot."

     "Shall we go down to the beach?" asked Nabiki.

     There was an awkward silence.  "I-I don't think that'd be a
good idea," said Ranma nervously, looking at Akane.

     Nabiki looked mortified.  "Oh!  I'm sorry Akane, I forgot!"

     Akane smiled tentatively.  "That's okay, oneechan.  It *is*
cooler by the beach.  But if we go, shouldn't we go for a few days?"

     "I agree," said Soun.

     "But, the rainy season isn't really the best time," said
Kasumi.  "Perhaps we should wait until it gets really hot, since we
can't spend the whole summer at the beach."

     Nabiki nodded.  "You're right about that," she said.  "Maybe if
we had some students or if certain freeloaders contributed we could
do more.  But as it is..."

     There was an awkward silence, broken only by the noises of
Genma-panda gorging himself.  Nabiki shook her head.  "So, Ranma-
girl, what are you going to do today?"

     She shrugged.  "Gmn fngll ln."

     Nabiki leaned forward again, the loose top gaping a little.
"Eh?"

     Ranma swallowed.  "Not an awful lot.  I'm gonna work out for a
while and then after lunch I thought I'd..."  She sat back.  "Akane,
would you like to spar this afternoon?  Say about three or four
o'clock?"

     Akane smiled at Ranma.  "Thank you, I'd like that."

     

     "Ah, that was delicious, Kasumi," said Ranma as she put her
chopsticks down with finality.  Murmurs of agreement came from
around the table.

     Genma-panda held up a sign saying, 'More?'  He was ignored by
everyone.

     Akane felt butterflies start up in her stomach.  She had come
in to the kitchen this morning, asking Kasumi if she could cook
breakfast.  Kasumi had agreed, and had taught her how to prepare the
comparatively simple dishes the family normally had for breakfast,
carefully instructing her in the techniques involved.  Akane, with
her new appreciation of what was involved, had followed Kasumi's
instructions with micrometric precision.  Now came the hardest part:
The reaction of the others.  She steeled herself, looking at her
hands folded in her lap.

     Kasumi smiled.  "Thank you, Ranma."  She held out a hand
indicating Akane.  "But I didn't cook breakfast.  Akane did."

     "Oneechan!" said Nabiki.  "How could you?!"

     "Yes, Kasumi, you should not take such risks with the family,"
said Soun.

     The unthinking criticism of her own family stabbed Akane, but
the most important opinion had yet to be voiced.  She turned her
head to look at Ranma.

     Ranma looked into her rice bowl, emotions warring within her.
Her stomach churned, remembering past abuses, but... the meal *had*
been tasty.  Very much so.  Sneaking a peek, Ranma saw that Kasumi
was smiling calmly and Akane was looking at him, her expression
vulnerable, hanging on his words.

     Akane was surprised that Ranma hadn't been the first to speak.
Ranma looked up again, and for a moment seemed uncertain before her
expression settled into a smile.  Ranma's eyes caught hers.

     "Thank you, Akane, that was delicious."

     Akane's heart beat faster as she looked into her, no his, eyes.
Finally she broke eye contact.  "Thank you, Ranma," she said softly.
"Thank you very much."

     Nabiki put her hand to Ranma's brow, the loose tank-top gaping
as she leaned forward over the table.  "Are you feeling all right,
Ranma?"

     Ranma batted her hand away and stood up.  "I'm going to work
out."

     "That's a good idea," said Akane.

     

     To Nabiki's surprise, Ranma changed into her "boy" swimsuit
before starting to exercise in the shade of the big cherry tree by
the dojo.  She followed her out.  "Aren't you going to 'change'
first, Ranma?" she asked.

     Ranma shook her head.  "I'd better work on my girl half too."

     "Doesn't the training you do carry over?"

     "Dunno," said she with a shrug.  "Better not take a chance.
Besides, things feel different in this body.  Different balance,
different speed, different strength, different size, different
senses... different.  I've gotta make sure I can fight properly in
either form."  She went back to her stretches, the very first part
of her routine.  Nabiki watched, fascinated, as Ranma tried some
difficult balance exercises.  To her amazement she almost lost her
balance once and had to recover abruptly.  Ranma noticed Nabiki's
expression.

     "That's why I'm practicing.  Besides, these things throw me
off.  They move around."  She waved at her chest.

     "You should wear a sports bra then Ranma," said Akane as she
appeared in her own swimsuit carrying a large pitcher of iced water.

     "I won't wear-!"  Ranma caught herself, realising her current
attire.  She sighed.  "Sorry, I guess you're right.  But most of the
time I won't be wearing a bra if I'm in female form so I need to get
used to any problems."

     Akane goggled at Ranma.  "Are you feeling okay?" she asked.

     Ranma nodded then grimaced.  "Cologne said the curses are
permanent.  I guess I finally admitted to myself that I might as
well get used to it."  She stopped exercising for the moment to
stand and look at Akane, frowning.  "Knowing my luck, even if I
manage to dunk myself in the spring-of-drowned-man I'll just change
the curse so I'll change between a girl and some different guy and
not be myself at all anymore.  Or maybe even like what happened to
Pantyhose Taro."  She shuddered.

     "So you're giving up on looking for the Nanniichuan?"

     "Not really, just not actively pursuing it.  I want to find the
Nyanniichuan again."

     "Spring-of-drowned-girl?" asked Nabiki.  "Isn't that the one
you fell into in the first place?"

     "Yup."

     "Why?" asked Akane.

     Ranma looked at her seriously.  "For you, of course.  Maybe
it'll work despite what the old ghoul says.  Even if it doesn't cure
you, if you change into a different-looking woman that's gotta be
better than changing into a cat any day!  For one thing, it means
you can cool off in summer!"

     Akane didn't hear the last half of Ranma's speech.  Her eyes
glazed and her heart thumped and she whispered to herself,
"Ranma..."  'Maybe he *does* care for me after all,' she mused.

     
     *    *    *

     
     Ranma tossed her sweaty swimsuit into the clothes hamper and
headed into the bathroom.  Squatting on a three-legged stool she
scrubbed herself down with the blissfully-cool water.  Fitness or no
fitness, it was still uncomfortably hot and humid and Ranma found
herself hoping that the cool change they were promised would come
early and wipe away the stifling heat.

     She looked over at the furo with some distaste while scrubbing
away at her shoulders.  'It'd be a waste to fire that thing up now,'
she thought to herself.  'I'll have a nice soak after training with
Akane, I'll probably need it by then...'

     The sound of the door opening caused Ranma to look over her
shoulder.  It was Nabiki, naked apart from her small towel which she
held in front of her hips.

     "N-Nabiki!" said Ranma intelligently.  "What are you doing
here?"

     Nabiki closed the door behind her, never facing away from
Ranma.  A small smile played about her mouth.  Ranma found her
direct stare disconcerting.

     "Can I wash your back, Ranma?" asked Nabiki, her voice low.

     "B-But I'm a guy!"

     Nabiki smiled.  "I know."  She stepped forward, moving
sinuously.  "That's the point."

     Ranma's eyes went wide as she finally got what Nabiki was
talking about.  "But I can't!  Aka... Um, I mean, err..."

     "Nabiki, I'm coming in!"  The door was flung open and Akane
stepped in, carrying her towel like Nabiki.  She spotted Ranma
sitting on the stool, soap suds still clinging to her body,
scrubbing brush in one hand.  "Ranma!  What are you doing in here?!
Pervert!!"  Her mallet appeared in her hands as Ranma held up her
hands uselessly.  The brush clattered to the floor.  "Ranma no
HENTAI!!"

     "Akan--"

     *SMACK!!*

     The little stool clattered across the bathroom floor as Ranma
collapsed bonelessly, a large throbbing lump already showing on her
head.

     The last thing Ranma heard as consciousness faded was Nabiki.
"Don't you think that was a *little* unfair, sis?  We walked in on
*him*, after all..."

     
     Akane spun to face her sister, releasing the mallet with a
tossing-away motion.

     "I don't care, oneechan; if he was in here he should have put
out the sign!  Pervert!"

     Guilt filled Nabiki.  "He did."

     Akane stared at her sister, shocked.  "What are you talking
about?"

     "The sign *was* out.  The truth is, I walked in on him."

     "Wh.. What?!!  Why?  Why didn't you say something!?"

     Nabiki shrugged, guilt making her words an accusation.  "I was
just having a little fun, but I didn't think that you'd.... I just
didn't think."  She felt herself frown and she turned back to look
at the still-unconscious Ranma.  "Poor Ranma.  I hope he's okay."
     

     *    *    *
     

     Ranma woke to the sensation of somebody sponging her forehead.
She opened her eyes.  It was Akane, and the weight on her chest told
her she was in girl form at the moment.

     "Ungh.  Akane."

     Akane looked down at her, her expression slightly worried.
"Are... are you all right, Ranma?" she asked softly.

     "I'm okay."  She sat up, and red stars of pain exploded inside
her skull forcing a groan from her lips.  She allowed herself to
fall untidily back to the futon.

     "Maybe I'd better call the doctor," Akane said, moving to get
up.

     Ranma grabbed her hand.  "Don't.  I'll be okay.  Really."  She
wriggled about a little on the futon, trying to find a position
which minimised the pounding in her head that pulsed in time with
her heartbeat.  She noted irrelevantly that she was wearing her
boxers.

     "Are you sure?"

     "Yes."

     Akane looked down at her hand, still held by Ranma, and brought
her other hand to grip hers.  His.  "I'm sorry, Ranma.  Nabiki
explained afterwards what had happened.  I just... I saw you in
there and didn't even think that Nabiki must have known you were in
there and just..."

     Ranma closed her eyes and squeezed the hand she was holding.
She opened her eyes again to gaze steadily at Akane, something
indefinable in her expression.  "That's okay, Akane.  Really.
Just... next time, will you take a moment to think first?  Please?"

     "I... If you say so, Ranma."

     "Thank you."  She closed her eyes again and settled back into
the futon.

     "Would you like some lunch?  Kasumi said she saved you some."

     Ranma's stomach rebelled at the thought of food.  She grimaced.
"Not right at the moment.  I'm not hungry."  She squirmed again.
"Akane, would you get me some hot water?"

     "Of course.  Why?"

     "I want to change back.  This body doesn't handle pain as well
as my boy form and my head hurts like you wouldn't believe."

     
     *    *    *

     
     Some time later Ranma, now male, stood outside the dojo looking
up at the sky.  The clouds were late forming today, but now that
they had started, they were gathering with tropical speed.  He was
grateful for his gi.  Its heavy cotton fabric wicked sweat from his
body and kept him comparatively cool.  Exercising in that swimsuit
had been a mistake, he now knew.  Despite its briefness, it had been
hot.  He should have stuck with the lessons of hundreds of years
ago:  Silk and cotton were the only fabrics for the heat of summer.

     A breeze picked up a little, stirring the heavy air with a
breath of coolness, rustling the leaves of the trees.  At the same
time he saw Akane step down the stairs, also dressed in her gi.
Every shoji in the house was open to catch the slightest movement of
air, and the fan hummed away uselessly in the living room.  Now that
Akane was on her way, Ranma turned to make sure he hadn't missed any
of the dojo's doors or windows and went inside to wait.

     He found himself looking at the large inspirational word framed
on the wall.  Iroha.  The fundamentals.  Appropriate, really.  The
fundamentals indeed.

     He felt Akane step quietly into the dojo.  He turned to face
her, smiling at her.  Despite the fact that she had bashed him with
that mallet of hers, they had sorted it out after he had awoken to
find Akane tending him.  They had talked, and for the time being
Ranma felt... comfortable being with her.

     This was good, because this afternoon was not a time for
conflict.  He was going to start formally training Akane, teaching
what he knew, and it was critical that she not be distracted or
angry today.

     She stopped two metres away and bowed.  Ranma bowed back
automatically.  "Are you ready?" he asked.

     She nodded back with a smile.

     "Akane... Before we start, there's something I need to say."
Ranma bashed down that part of him that wanted to push Akane away
and started his prepared speech after only a slight hesitation.  "If
you will permit me, I'd like to start training you properly.  Ah,
no, that's wrong!  I mean, taking you further along the road.
There's a major step you haven't yet taken in Kempo and I'd like to
help you with that if you will let me."

     "What's that?"

     "Ki.  You need to learn how to control and use your ki."

     "Ki?  You mean like your Hiryuu Shouten Ha and the Mouko
Takabisha?  I don't want to learn those."  She frowned.

     Ranma sighed.  "Yes, like them... but also jumping, and also...
like your mallet."

     "My mallet?  What about my mallet?"

     "Have you ever thought about how you're able to hit me with
that mallet so easily all the time?"  She was about to protest but
he held up a hand imperiously and held her eyes with his gaze.  She
started to fume at his manner.  "Normally you can't lay a finger on
me but you get me almost every time with that mallet of yours.  Do
you know why?"

     Akane frowned, distracted from her indignation at his manner by
the question.  She admitted to herself that he was right, but...

     "You get distracted?" she asked.

     Ranma grimaced.  "You're right, I do get distracted.
Particularly by you.  But that's not really the answer.  You can hit
other people with that mallet that you normally can't touch."

     His answer caught Akane by surprise, her heart leaping.  'He
gets distracted by *me*?  How long--'  She stepped on the thought,
and concentrated on the problem that Ranma had set her.  But she
couldn't think of anything, and gradually started to get angry at
Ranma again.  "I don't know!" she said finally.  "But you obviously
think you do so why don't you tell me?!"

     Ranma sighed.  "I must admit I didn't really expect you to get
it... I only figured it out myself a couple of days ago, you know,
when you offered me some cookies just before you got... cursed."  He
shook his head.  "I'm sorry Akane, I didn't mean to bring that up.
But anyway, this is important.  You're using ki."

     Akane frowned.  "Ki?  But I don't know any ki attacks."

     Ranma shrugged.  "Just because you haven't been trained doesn't
mean you don't use them.  How do you break a block?"

     "Well you have to hit it just right..."

     "And why don't you hurt yourself when you break five blocks at
a time?  That needs quite a bit of power, as you know."

     "Well, if you do the blow just right, and focus the force of
the blow properly, then you can-"

     "-apply the blow without damaging yourself.  That's right.  But
what you don't know is that the process you described -- focusing
the force -- is impossible without using a little ki.  So breaking
blocks is a ki attack."

     Akane's stared at Ranma with wide eyes.  "Really?"

     "Yes.  Now listen.  Where does that mallet come from?"

     "I... I...  It's always there when I need it, right to hand..."
Akane's voice trailed off in shocked realisation.  "It's ki, isn't
it?"

     Ranma nodded.  "And I wish I knew how you did it.  But that's
not important right now!  What *is* important is that you've got to
learn to control it before you accidentally kill somebody... such as
me... with it."  Ruefully he rubbed his head.

     
     *    *    *

     
     Outside, Nabiki was eavesdropping on Ranma and Akane almost out
of habit.  She had been returning from a visit to some of her...
associates when she had seen the two of them in the dojo, both
dressed in gis.  For Ranma, that was an event rare enough to be
worth noting.

     She smiled wryly at Ranma's professorial manner as he explained
the theory of ki to Akane.  'I should have known you're not as dumb
as you seem, Ranma,' she mused to herself with slow headshake.
'Just naiive.'  She watched Ranma move about Akane, explaining
something that she admitted to herself went right over her head.
Akane didn't seem to be having any trouble with the explanation,
though.  His gestures were fluid and graceful, filled with
unconscious power.  She found herself being mesmerised and shook her
head sharply.  'I can't!  He's Akane's; it would just kill her if
she found out.'

     Akane followed Ranma in a flowing exercise, her movements
graceful as well but, to Nabiki, lacking the frisson, the perfect
fluency of Ranma's motions.

     In the house, Kasumi paused and watched Nabiki toy with her
shirt unconsciously as she spied on the pair in the dojo.  A slight
frown moved her eyebrows.  'Oh, Nabiki....  Two women under one
roof...'

     
     *    *    *

     
     Happousai bounced into the compound, a full sack several times
larger than himself balanced on his shoulder.  Grinning, he settled
to the ground outside the house.

     "Yatta!  What a haul!  Oh my cuties, just wait until I get you
inside!"

     Ranma's voice floated from the dojo.  "Faster!  Faster!  You've
got to be faster!"

     "Sweeto!  Ranma will let me touch her.  Where's a bucket?"

     Chortling to himself, Happousai scooped up a bucket and filled
it with water from the pond.  He ran towards the dojo.

     "How *can* I go faster?!"

     "This is the same as breaking blocks!  Faster!"

     Happousai skidded to a halt outside the dojo.  That had been
Akane's voice!  An element of danger was added... he needed to know
where they both were before launching his attack.  He put down the
bucket and poked his head around the door.

     Ranma and Akane were sparring in the middle of the dojo.  No,
not sparring; their movements were too static for that... they were
only using their arms.  It was a speed drill.  He was *training*
Akane.

     How *dare* Ranma do that?!  The choice of who was trained in
the secrets of Anything Goes Martial Arts was his and his alone...
the undisputed master of the school.  Happousai stepped from behind
the doorway and walked firmly into the dojo.  "Stop!"

     Ranma and Akane stopped their drill, surprised looks on their
faces.  No doubt they were awed by his aura of greatness.

     "What do *you* want, jiji?"

     Happousai smiled to himself.  Somebody was going to have to
tell Ranma one of these days that he was using the wrong word for
"master".

     "Are you training Akane, Ranma?"

     "Yeah.  What's it to you, jiji?"

     "Now Ranma, you know you have to get my approval before you
train somebody in this school."

     "Who elected *you*, you wrinkled old cretin?"

     "*I* am the undisputed master of this school!  *I* decide who
is to be trained and who is not!  And *I* say it's a waste of time
training a *girl*!!"  He turned away from Ranma and got out his
pipe, relying on his trained senses to tell him if Ranma did
something dangerous.

     Outrage washed through Ranma at the old man's statement, and
his ki sense pinged, telling him without looking that Akane was
generating an aura.  He began to speak, but before he could say
anything the old fossil continued.

     "Now it isn't really all that bad, Ranma.  I'm sure you meant
well.  I'll forgive you if you wear this bra for me."

     "What the hell are you talking about, you subhuman disgrace to
the art?  *You* are master only of underwear!  *I* am not your
student, and I'll do what I please!!  And it happens to please me to
train Akane, whom I do think is both deserving of the training *and*
talented enough to go far!  So stick *that* in your pipe and smoke
it, child of a drooling Ainu half-wit!!"

     Happousai spun, his battle aura flaring.  "You will learn
humility, son!  You will respect your betters!!"

     Ranma ignored the battle aura and kicked Happousai out the dojo
doors into the yard.  "That childish trick only works a few times,
jiji!  A *master* should know that!"  He jumped after the old man.

     Akane followed, mallet glowing in the ready position.  Out in
the yard, she sprinted after Happousai.  "Happosai no BAKA!!"

     Happousai evaded the blow, and the follow-up swing, but in
doing so dodged into Ranma's attack.

     Ranma's fist embedded itself into Happousai's face and sent him
flying back towards the dojo.  Happousai tossed a brace of bombs in
the direction of his two attackers and while they were distracted
grabbed the bucket and tossed the contents towards Ranma and Akane.

     They both managed to dodge the water and jumped into the
attack.

     
     *    *    *

     
     Ryouga trudged steadily along the road, his large pack perched
on his back.  'Where am I now?' he wondered.  'This street looks
kinda familiar.  Maybe it's Osaka again?'

     A well-known voice floated across the wall he was walking next
to, freezing him in his tracks.  "Happousai no BAKA!"  *THUD*

     Akane?  That was Akane's voice!  "Akane!  I'm coming!"  He
looked around and spotted the gate in the wall and ran to it.  He
burst through to see a man, a woman, and a little child playing in a
small plastic pool.

     "What do you want?" asked the man.

     "I'm sure the nice man will explain, Mr. Soup," said the lady.

     "I should hope so, Mrs. Noodle.  Well, stranger?"

     Ryouga put a hand behind his head and smiled sheepishly.
"Well, um, er..."

     "Happousai no BAKA!"  *THUD*

     "I need to go to the Tendou Dojo.  Is it near here?"

     "It's next door.  Such noisy neighbors, aren't they Mrs.
Noodle?"

     "Get back here, jiji!"

     "You are certainly right, Mr. Soup."

     "Please excuse me.  I'm sorry to have disturbed you."

     *BANGBANG* *BANGBANGCRACKLEBANG* *BANG*

     "That's quite all right."

     Ryouga closed the gate and headed towards the noise.  This time
he got the right gate and burst into a scene of mayhem.

     Ranma, Akane, and Happousai were fighting.  Ranma was in mid-
air on a neat trajectory towards the pond and was just starting to
realize it.  Akane was attacking Happousai with her mallet, which
was glowing for some reason, and chasing him towards the pond.

     Ranma hit the pond and water splashed everywhere, wetting both
Happousai and Akane.  Happousai got wet.  Akane disappeared before
Ryouga's horrified eyes and her empty clothes fell to the ground.
Something moved within them.  His stomach felt like lead as he
recognised the action of a Jusenkyo curse.

     "Noooooo!" he cried as Ranma, quite female, surfaced in the
pond.  "Noooooo!"

     Ranma stood up and yanked the gi jacket apart, baring her
breasts.  Happousai leaped towards her.  "Hotcha!"  Ranma wound up
and launched him into the sky.

     "Noooooo!  Akane!  Ranma, it's gotta be your fault!"

     Ranma jerked her head around in surprise to see Ryouga running
towards her.  A movement caught her eye nearby; it was Akane
struggling out of the wet gi.

     "Aarrrgh!"  Ranma backpedalled out of the pool, away from both
Ryouga and Akane-neko.

     Ryouga bounced over the pond, heading for Ranma.  "Ranmaaa!
How could you?!"

     Ranma dodged, and the fight was on.

     

     Akane-neko made her way inside to the kitchen.  Kasumi was
chopping vegetables for dinner.  "Mrwoowr?"

     Kasumi turned in surprise.  "Oh!  Akane.  Do you need hot
water?"

     Akane-neko nodded.

     Kasumi grabbed a glass tumbler.  "Please follow me."

     They walked to the bathroom, where Kasumi filled the glass from
the hot water tap.  While she was waiting for the water to run hot,
she said, "Perhaps you might invite Ryouga inside for some tea,
Akane?"

     She filled the glass and tipped it over Akane.  Handing a robe
to the now naked Akane, Kasumi smiled at her sister and returned to
the kitchen.

     Akane ran up to her room, dressed, and returned the robe to the
bathroom.  "Thanks, Kasumi," she said as she ran back outside.

     

     Ryouga and onna-Ranma had still barely gotten started -- no
damage had yet been done to the yard.  Ryouga had his umbrella in
hand and was attacking Ranma with it.  Ranma dodged skillfully but
landed in the pond again.  Ryouga used the umbrella to deflect the
splash.

     "Ranma!  Ryouga!  Why do you two have to *fight* all the
time?!"

     At the sound of Akane's voice, Ryouga peeked around his
umbrella to see her standing by the other side of the pond.  Ranma
was standing calmly in the pond, looking at him.  He lowered the
umbrella.

     "A-Akane-san!" he said.

     With a quick glance at Akane, Ranma whipped her arm into the
pond's surface, sending a sheet of water in Ryouga's direction.
Ryouga quickly blocked it with his umbrella.

     "Ranma!" said Akane angrily.  "What did you do that for?!"

     She shrugged.  "I just wanted to see if pig-boy there was
paying attention."  She waded to the edge of the pool away from
Ryouga and stepped out.

     "Hello, Ran-chan!"

     Ukyou was walking in through the front gate.  "Ukyou!" said
Ranma, surprised.

     "Ranmaaa!  It's not over!"

     Dripping wet, Ranma turned from Ukyou to face Ryouga.  "What's
not over, pig-boy?"

     "Akane-san turns into a cat!  It must be your fault she's
cursed like the rest of us!  I'm going to make you pay!!"

     "What are you talking about, Ryouga-kun?" asked Ukyou.  "Akane
isn't cursed, is she?"

     "She is now, thanks to Ranma!!"

     "Since when are *you* cursed, Ryouga?" asked Ranma.

     Ryouga's mouth flopped open, eyes huge in disbelief.  "I...
you... What are you talking about, Ranma?!  I'm not cursed!  How
dare you?!"

     "'She's cursed like the rest of us,' you said.  When did this
happen?  What do you turn into?"

     "Rannnmaa!  You *swore*!"

     Ranma sighed theatrically.  "So I did."  She turned to go
inside but was pulled up short when her arm refused to move.  Akane
had it in a vice-like grip.

     "Ranma!  What's this about?!"

     She looked at Akane seriously.  "You heard Ryouga.  I can't
tell you."

     "Ranmaa!!"

     She pulled her arm out of Akane's grip with a quick yank, her
expression neutral.  "I swore an oath, Akane.  I can *never* tell
you unless Ryouga releases me from my oath."

     "What's this about Akane-chan becoming a cat?" asked Ukyou.
"How did that happen?"

     Kasumi stuck her head outside.  "Does anybody want some tea?
Can I get you a towel, Ranma-kun?"

     "Yes."

     "Here you are."

     Ranma flicked open the towel and...

     "Gyaaaa!"

     "What's wrong, Ranma-kun?" asked Kasumi innocently.

     "C-c-cat!" said Ranma, holding up the towel and looking away.
A large, cutesy cat was emblazoned on the towel.

     "Oh!  I'm sorry Ranma-kun, that was the only spare towel there
was.  I didn't realize it was that one.  Would you like a bath towel
instead?"

     Ranma looked at Kasumi levelly, the effect ruined by keeping
the eye closest to the towel closed.  Finally she shook her head.
"No, this'll be okay."  She closed both eyes and began to dry
herself with the towel, shuddering occasionally.


     
     
     Akane, a somewhat-damp onna-Ranma, Ukyou, Ryouga, Nabiki,
Kasumi, Soun, and Genma were all sitting around the dining table
drinking tea.

     Thunder rolled.  Heavy taps sounded, slowly at first then more
rapidly, finally becoming a roar as the heavens opened.

     "Let me see if I've got this right.  Shampoo and Cologne
kidnapped Akane and transferred Shampoo's curse to Akane so Ranma
wouldn't be scared away from Shampoo?" asked Ukyou disbelievingly.

     "That's right," said Ranma.

     "Actually, Shampoo said the plan was to have the curse push
Ranma away from Akane, too," said Nabiki.

     "But what about me?" asked Ukyou.  "I mean, if Ran-chan...
won't he... oops."  Her voice faded as she wilted slightly under
Akane's angry gaze.  "Anyway, how is this all Ran-chan's fault,
Ryouga?" she asked, recovering.

     "That's what I want to know too," said Akane challengingly.

     "Well, obviously it *must* have been Ranma's fault... he's been
the cause of everybody *else* getting cursed," said Ryouga weakly.

     "Like who?" asked Nabiki.  "Name three."

     "Well, he knocked Saotome Genma-san into the pool of the
drowned Panda...  in retaliation Saotome-san pushed Ranma into the
spring of the drowned girl... then Ranma shoved m-- um, er...
Shampoo was cursed because of him..."

     "Shampoo was cursed because she failed to carry out her
mission.  Cologne punished her.  Anyone else?"

     "Um... er... Mousse?"

     Ukyou, Akane, and Nabiki all laughed scornfully.

     "Pig-boy there has a point," said Ranma.

     "What, about you cursing everyone?" asked Ukyou.

     "No.  Akane's curse is at least partly my fault."

     Ryouga smiled vindictively as everyone else gaped at Ranma.
"What... what on earth are you talking about?!" yelled Akane.

     "And I'll make you pay for that, Ranma," said Ryouga.

     "Shut up!" chorused Ukyou and Akane.  They shared a surprised
look.

     There was a pregnant silence.

     "Well, Ranma?" asked Nabiki.  "You were going to tell us how
Akane's curse is your fault?"

     Ranma shrugged.  "It wouldn't have happened if I'd been
along... or if I'd been taking my responsibilities seriously and
started training Akane much earlier."

     "That's right, you should have been protecting her!" gloated
Ryouga.

     "So, Ryouga, could *you* have stopped Shampoo?" asked Nabiki.

     "Of course!"

     "So why didn't you?"

     "I... but I... I wasn't here!  Akane needs protection!  How
many times has she been kidnapped since he came here?  Ranma should
have--"

     "You're saying I shouldn't go out alone?!  That I have to
depend on Ranma for protection?!  Is that it?!" yelled Akane.

     "I..."

     "Well that's fine by me!! At least he's reliable, unlike
*someone* who gets lost so often he's hardly ever here and even when
he is all he can do is sit there and gloat and accuse other
people!!"

     Ryouga stared at Akane in shock.  "But... Akane... I..."

     Kasumi lifted the tea pot.  "Would anybody like some more tea?"

     Outside, the rain got heavier.

     
     *    *    *

     
     Ryouga had wandered off and Ukyou gone home, and Kasumi had
retreated into the kitchen to start dinner.  Taking advantage of the
cool change that had finally come, Ranma was finishing his
interrupted bath, luxuriating at length in the steaming-hot water of
the furo.

     Glancing over at the towel rack by the shower, he reminded
himself to have a little... chat... with Kasumi about that towel she
had given him earlier.

     A knock sounded on the door.  "Is that you in there, Ranma?"
came Akane's voice.

     "Yes," he called.  "I'll be done shortly."

     Water sheeted from his body as he got out of the deep bath.  He
quickly ran his hands over his skin, stripping the clinging
moisture, before rapidly drying himself.

     Leaving the bathroom with his towel strategically positioned,
he returned Akane's quiet smile as she went in wearing her robe.

     
     *    *    *

     
     Dressed in his long black pants and red Chinese top, Ranma
steeled himself and walked into the kitchen.

     "Kasumi?"

     "Oh, hello, Ranma-kun.  Dinner will be about an hour."

     "We need to talk."

     She looked up from her chopping board.  "Oh?"

     "About that cat towel you gave me this afternoon."

     In the living room, Nabiki settled herself with one of her
manga, but the voices from the kitchen pulled her attention like a
moth to a flame.

     "I'm sorry, Ranma-kun, that was the only towel we had."

     "I'm sure it was.  Kasumi, I... is this some plot of yours to
get me used to cats?"

     Kasumi regarded Ranma levelly before moving to turn down the
heat under the pots on the stove.  Finally she said, "Do you plan to
marry Akane?"

     Ranma blushed.  "Y... Yes."

     "Then you're going to have to get used to cats, aren't you?  I
can't see you having a successful relationship if you're scared into
hysterics every time a little accident happens, can you?"

     "But, the nyannichuan..."  He stopped and sighed.  "I... I
guess you're right."  He shook his head, looking in the general
direction of Kasumi's feet.  "But what can I do about it?  I've been
able to pick up Akane in her cat form *once*, but the effort all but
put me into the neko-ken, and when I happened across a real cat..."
He turned away a little, holding his elbows.  "And to pick her up...
it was hard, *so* hard, you just can't imagine..."

     Kasumi looked at him sympathetically.  "I think I might be able
to help you, Ranma-kun.  I've been corresponding with Tofuu-sensei
and he's been very helpful."

     Ranma regarded Kasumi appraisingly, weighing up the pros and
cons.  As he thought, one hand automatically reached behind his head
to fondle the root of his braid.  The biggest advantage would be
that this would put Kasumi firmly on his side, if she had ever been
away from it.  The biggest disadvantage would be that she would feel
she had free reign to implement whatever bizarre schemes she dreamed
up.

     He decided that the plus side of the balance was heavier... but
decided to add a little insurance.  He faced her squarely.  "Okay.
I agree."  He looked her in the eye.  "I trust you."  With my sanity
and probably my life, he left unsaid.

     Kasumi looked back at him, a smile lighting her features.
"Thank you, Ranma-kun.  I hope I'm worthy of your trust."

     Ranma smiled back a little nervously.

     "Ranma-kun, I have a question I hope you don't mind me asking."

     "What is it?"

     "When did you decide you wanted to marry Akane?"

     "I... errr... Just before I found out she had been cursed, I
guess."

     "Why haven't you told her?"

     "I... the time just hasn't seemed right, I guess."  He sighed,
looking towards the floor again.  "Maybe I'm not really all that
sure."

     Kasumi smiled at Ranma again, this time gently, encouragingly.
"Perhaps you should."

     "... Maybe."  He turned to go.

     "Ranma-kun?"

     "Yes?"

     "Have you thought about your childhood friend?"

     Kasumi was surprised to see the sudden pain and negation in
Ranma's posture.  "Yes."  A long moment stretched, but she waited
for him to continue.  "I... I don't know what to do," he finished
quietly.

     
     *    *    *

     
     Sitting on the outer passageway, facing the pond and watching
the rain come down from a leaden sky, Ranma sat thinking about his
conversation with Kasumi.  Comforting kitchen sounds mixed with the
noise of the rain, the homey familiarity helping him think.

     At least he was now sure he could trust her.  He had to,
really.  She seemed to see a path out of the quagmire he found
himself in, whereas he did not.

     The problem of what to do about Ukyou gnawed at him.  Oh,
Ucchan!  What was he going to do?

     He loved her, yes, but as his best and longest friend.  He did
not want to lose her, but....

     A flame of anger burned away lingering sadness and frustration
as he thought of his father.  Fists clenched on his thighs, knuckles
shining white.  It was all *his* fault!  By betrothing him twice,
and then doing nothing for over a *decade* to correct the situation,
oyaji had placed him in an impossible situation.  Already, just
because he was his father's son, his honour was so stained he was
surprised the Tendos would be seen with him in public... but if he
unilaterally broke off one of his engagements, broke his father's
pledge, then that would be the end of his honour, the end of his
dream of carrying on the school.

     Kasumi had not said it directly, but her point had been crystal
clear... and he knew with utter certainty that she had been right:
Every day that passed without something being done to end his
engagement to Ukyou and to right the wrong that had been done only
added to the final price that would have to be paid... a price that
may already be impossibly heavy.

     A rustling sound caught his attention, but he relaxed when he
saw it was only Nabiki going up to her room.  He recalled her face
when he had come out of the kitchen and politely asked her not to
repeat anything she had heard.  He found himself smiling as he
remembered his realisation that she was shocked *because* he had
been polite and reasonable.

     That, and her expression.  Oh, for one of Nabiki's cameras at
that moment!

     At least Nabiki wouldn't go and blab to Akane.  At least,
*probably* not.

     Akane.  Kasumi had said, 'Why haven't you told her?'  'Perhaps
you should.'  He knew he wanted to.  And yet something in him
resisted.

     Commitment.  He was afraid of being commited.  But would he be
any less committed if he didn't tell her?

     A cool breeze blew a few drops of rain in to land on the
polished wood at his feet.

     No.  All that would be different is that he might lose her.

     He remembered her smile as she had walked past him into the
bathroom.  So cute...

     He remembered Shinnosuke.

     A resolve formed in him, stiffening his spine and making him
breathe deeply.  Akane was worth any price.  He would not risk
losing her again, no matter what the cost.

     He would do it now, before his *commitment* deserted him.
     

     *    *    *
     

     Akane sat at her desk, brushing her damp hair.  She had taken
advantage of the still-hot furo and the sudden cool weather to enjoy
one of life's simple pleasures.  For some reason Nabiki hadn't
wanted to join her, though.  Her loss.

     A soft step sounded outside her door, followed after a longish
pause by a quiet knocking.  She smiled.

     "Come in, Ranma."

     The door opened, and Ranma stepped in.  He looked very nervous
yet determined.  He closed the door carefully behind him, and sat
down on the end of her bed and studied her face.

     "Akane..."

     Akane waited for a long moment for him to finish the sentence,
but he seemed stuck.  She decided to prompt him.

     "What is it, Ranma?"

     His eyes traced about her face, then steadied on her eyes.  She
was amazed to see a kind of lopsided smile on his face.  Her heart
began to beat faster.  He looked so cute like that.

     "Akane, I..."  He seemed to gather himself, and plunged ahead.
"I've made a decision and you have to know."  She gathered breath to
speak, but he beat her to it.  "Akane...  suki da."

     Akane's heart was definitely hammering now, her jaw gone slack
in disbelief.  Could it be that...

     "I realized a couple of days ago, Akane.  This time I'm not
being forced, not acting under some oath, so hopefully it means
something...."  He reached out and gently took the hand nearest him
in both of his.  "Akane, I'd like to spend my life with you.  Will
you marry me?"

     Ranma's face and body disappeared in a blur of colour as
Akane's eyes filled with tears.  The firm, warm pressure of his
callused hands allowed Akane to believe... to believe that the
impossible was happening.

     Ranma watched as Akane dissolved into silent tears, her eyes
big but her face expressionless.  Now that he had said it, had laid
his heart open to her, his resolve no longer supported him and
doubts began to creep in.  Why didn't she answer?  Could it be that
this is some horrible mistake?  As he still watched her immobile
face, his vulnerability asserted itself to his psyche.  A tightness
started in his chest and automatically he started to draw his hands
back.

     Akane couldn't make out Ranma's face but when she felt him
begin to draw away she grabbed his hands frantically.  Happiness
floated above her disbelief and she smiled as she moved quickly to
sit beside him on her bed.  "Yes.  Yes, you dummy, yes!"

     Happiness soared in Ranma's chest, burning away the tightness.
Impulsively he leaned forward and kissed her.  Her lips felt soft
but dry.  Nothing more happened for a long moment, and then her arms
went around his neck and her mouth opened beneath his.
     

     *    *    *

     
     Smiling gently but with a twinkle in her eyes, Kasumi crept
down the stairs.  She went to the phone and dialled.

     "Hello, it's Tendou Kasumi here...  I'm sorry it's such short
notice, but could you please come over tomorrow?...  Yes, please, if
you could stay for a while, I think that we might finally be able
to...  Thank you very much.  I'll see you tomorrow.  Good bye."
     
     

     ========================================
     

Author's Notes:

This is part three of "Nekophobia".

Spelling and grammar weenies, the spelling used is *Commonwealth*
English so please don't gig me for "colour", "honour", "centred", and
numerous "s" <--> "z" replacements.  I definitely want to know
about grammar and spelling errors, however.  Nobody is perfect.

I'd like to thank my pre-reader Chris Jones <hamster@arn.net> for
his invaluable input.  Thanks also to Bob Barnes for pre-reading
duties.  Finally, multiple thanks to all those who C&C'd to the
first draft.

I got the idea that Akane's mallet is a ki materialisation from
a 'fic by Henry J. Cobb that was published on the FFML in December '96.
Henry Cobb's web page is at http://www.io.com/~hcobb.

This 'fic uses a fair few Japanese words.  I've tried to use them
only where the meaning they express is more precise than the English
equivalent... or where there is no easy equivalent in English.  I've
attached an incomplete glossary.
     

Glossary:
========

Ara:  The expression usually translated as "Oh, my".

Cha-no-yu:  The formalised tea ceremony.

Furo:  A large, hot-water bath.  *Not* used for washing in!  Also
     called an "ofuro".

Gi:  A practice uniform used by many martial arts.  Consists of
     loose drawstring pants with a gusseted crutch to allow full leg
     motion, and a loosely-cut heavily-constructed jacket which is
     long-sleeved and belted closed with a cloth belt.  All parts of
     a gi are made of raw cotton.  Women usually wear a tee-shirt
     under the gi's jacket as it tends to gape once fighting has
     started.

Itadakimasu:  Said at the beginning of meals.  If translated at all,
     usually done as "thank you for the food".

Iroha:  Basics/fundamentals.

Neko:  Cat.

Neko-ken:  Lit. "cat fist" aka "cat-fu" thanks to Viz.

Onna:  Female.

Suki da:  "suki" means "fondness", but this usage is usually
     regarded as a pledge of love.

Yatta:  Lit. "I did it".  Used as a general affirmative exclamation.