All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published
by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz Communications.
Sailor Moon was created by Naoko Taeuchi.
A Different Viewpoint: Curses
and Demons
Chapter 1
The Wedding
When Johnathon got off the plane from California
and stepped into the busy Tokyo International Airport terminal he had a
strong sense of Deja Vu. < I was here.> He recalled suddenly.
< Right here, in the same place, when I first go here almost one year
ago. I had figured I would only be staying for a year... but now....>
Johnathon smiled as he spotted the familiar faces in the small crowd waiting
for the passengers to get off the plane. Genma and Nodoka, Soun,
Nabiki and even Ryoga was
there to welcome them all home. Kasumi came up behind him, followed
by Ranma and Akane, and they all started walking toward their family and
friends. Johnathon was smiling. < But now....> He
took in his new family. "Well... now we're home."
**************************
Everything in Nermia was as Johnathon remembered it, including the occasional insanity. By the time they all got back to the Tendo house, four different conversations had started up. Ranma and Akane had announced their intention to get married at the airport, and Nodoka and Kasumi were already busy making plans. Ranma and Akane simultaneously were telling Genma Soun and Ryoga about their trip to California, while Nabiki was questioning Johnathon about his brother.
"What do you think he was looking for?" Nabiki asked, looking intently at her lanky brother in law. "He seemed to be trying to find out something, that's for sure."
Johnathon shook his head. "I guess he figured out that I haven't been telling him the whole truth while we were visiting him." He shrugged. "Michael still doesn't know about the curses, or about any of the more crazy stuff that's happened here."
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Why not? Don't you trust your own brother?"
Johnathon shook his head again. "No! No, its not that I don't trust him, it's just that I don't want to trouble him. He's got his own life to deal with, I don't want him trying to help me with my problems as well."
Nabiki looked unconvinced. "It looks like he's decided to trouble himself anyway. If that's your reason for not telling him, maybe you should think about your reasons some more."
Johnathon sighed. "Maybe I should. At the least I can try to get him to go home. Does anyone know where he's gone?"
Nabiki nodded. "Last I heard he was staying at Mamoru Chiba's place. You know, the tall guy in Ranma's class?" She smiled wryly. "Why is it not surprising that almost everyone in that class is a girl? One more guy did sign up, but he's dating one of the girls, anyway." Nabiki glanced at Johnathon. "I've got to say it, those friends of yours from Juuban have really been a lot of help. First they help cure Ranma's cat phobia, then they send us all these students! Its the first time the dojo has been in the black for years."
"Oh... well, I guess after training under Ranma they were hooked, eh?" Johnathon looked at the Koi pond, not wanting to meet Nabiki's eye.
Nabiki looked thoughtful. "That's a good point. Perhaps Ranma should give out some more free lessons, if this is the kind of response he gets."
Over on the other side of the room, Nodoka and Kasumi smiled at each other, then turned to Ranma and Akane. "You two will have a lovely wedding." Nodoka announced. "Would Sunday be too soon for you?"
Ranma hesitated, glancing at Akane, who shrugged noncommittally. "I guess...." Genma and Soun leaned forward eagerly to hear. "I guess that's all right." Ranma finished reluctantly.
Akane took his arm reassuringly. "There's no reason to wait anymore, is there?"
Ranma sighed. "I guess not." The pig tailed martial artist grinned. "We're practically married all ready, anyway."
Akane blushed and gave his arm a painful squeeze. "Ranma!"
Nabiki turned in their direction, always ready to tease her favorite couple. "Oh? Ranma, don't tell me you're taking advantage of my little sister before getting married?" < Heh, as if I didn't already know.>
Ranma blushed and stammered while Genma and Soun started in on him.
"That's the way my boy!" "Perfectly natural, yes, yes... I give you permission, son...."
Johnathon grinned. < The more things change....>
**********************
Ranma nervously adjusted his tie for the fourth time.
His best man, Johnathon Tendo, Kasumi's gajin husband, Ranma's English teacher and friend, clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Ranma, you look fine."
Ryoga, clad as the other two were, in a tux, with
the slight addition of his ever present bandana, snorted. "Yep. just
fine, if
you're going to your own execution. Cheer up, you moron!
You're getting married to Akane, not getting killed!"
Ranma smiled wryly. "There's a difference?" Ryoga growled and reached for the pig tailed youth.
Johnathon stepped in the way. "Not today, guys,
OK?"
Ryoga snorted angrily. "I still don't understand
what Akane sees in you, Ranma. You'd better treat her right, or...."
Ranma waved off the implied threat. "Ah, forget
it, Ryoga. I didn't mean it. I really do want to get married
to Akane. I'm
just...." He shrugged.
Johnathon nodded. "Pre-wedding jitters. Everyone gets them. It'll pass."
Ranma looked over at the taller man curiously. "Oh? You seemed OK when you married Kasumi."
Johnathon blinked, then shrugged. "Well... there really wasn't time to be nervous. I was trying to marry her while she was still human you know."
Ryoga whistled, shaking his head. "I still can't believe you did that. What would you have done if Cologne hadn't given up the pill? You would have been married to a cat!"
Johnathon mused. "Well, at the time...."
******************
In Akane's room, Kasumi had just been asked a similar question by Akane.
The eldest of Soun Tendo's three daughters looked thoughtful. "Well, at the time, Johnathon admitted to me he believed that I would eventually be cured. Still, it was a sudden decision, made in haste. Johnathon does tend toward quick decisions, but I think he does consider all the options first. I've never known him to make a rash or poorly thought out decision, but that night, I wonder if he had truly thought out what he was doing." Akane's other brides maids, Shampoo, Ukyo and Nabiki, listened interestedly.
Ukyo spoke up. "If you had ended up stuck as a cat, what would you two have done?" The chef fingered her dress nervously while Kasumi gave the question thought. < A while back, I would have been more likely to wear a tux to a wedding, than a dress, unless it was my own.> She sighed slightly. < But when Ranma asked me to be his best man... I knew it was time to make a change. Ranma is my friend... but I don't want to be just "one of the guys" anymore.>
Kasumi interrupted Ukyo's thoughts. "We discussed the possibility of my not getting cured, while I was stuck as a cat. We had several conversations about it."
Ukyo blinked. "As a cat?"
Kasumi giggled. "We got very good at twenty questions. Anyway, while I was a cat, Johnathon treated me as his wife. He shared his life with me, and we slept on the same bed. Still, I felt he was getting worried about me being trapped as a cat forever. I even considered asking Johnathon if he wanted to get a mistress...." Nabiki looked interested, while Akane looked shocked. "Shampoo nodded in agreement, while Ukyo just blinked. Kasumi continued. "In the end, I never brought it up. Johnathon would have refused to consider it, I think, for quite a few years, at least."
Kasumi smiled softly. "Johnathon asked me if I would want to go to Jusenkyo and jump in the spring of drowned girl. He said he'd be happy to have me sharing his curse, if I wished it. He also said he would stay with me if I stayed a cat as well. I agreed, if there was no cure for the cat's tongue, I would prefer to be able to speak to him, and hold him in my arms. In the end it didn't come to that, although... perhaps I may decide to go that route still."
Akane looked interested. "Oh? Becoming a half-cat like Johnathon does? What does he think about that now?"
Kasumi smiled to herself. < Akane has forgotten she was nervous. I hope Johnathon is doing as well with Ranma.>
*********************
Back in Ranma's room, Johnathon had just told Ranma, Ryoga, and Dr. Tofu of Kasumi and his discussion of the possibility of going to Jusenkyo.
Ranma blinked. "Kasumi wants to become a half-cat?"
Johnathon shrugged. "She's been considering the idea. If something else caused her curse to get stuck again, we'd probably go right to China. But for now, we're leaving the option open. It's her decision, although if she does change her curse to become a half-cat, I'd want her to be better able to defend herself."
Ranma looked thoughtful. "Yeah, you got attacked quite a few times because of your curse, didn't you?"
Johnathon nodded. "It's not a very safe curse to have, but Kasumi is seriously considering it."
"Why?" Ryoga broke in, frowning. "You've said you don't mind her as a cat, so unless she gets stuck again, why would she get such a dangerous curse?" Dr. Tofu sighed slightly in response.
Johnathon glanced at the doctor. "I guess you'd have already figured it out, eh, Doctor? Shampoo has the same problem."
Tofu nodded. "Children. Neither Kasumi or Shampoo can carry a child to term safely. Somehow, they'd end up getting wet and aborting."
The lanky American shrugged weakly. "Kasumi thinks that as a half-cat, she may be close enough to human to be able to complete a pregnancy. Dr. Tofu's examined me in both forms. It is possible...."
Dr. Tofu nodded again. "Johnathon's internal organs only change a small amount with his transformation. It stands to reason it would be the same with Kasumi. I believe it might very well be possible that she could have children with such a transformation, although there might be side effects."
Ranma looked concerned. "Side effects?
What kind of side effects?" Are... me and Akane likely to have any...
side effects from my curse?"
Dr. Tofu shook his head. "No, when you're male,
you're male, DNA and all. Shampoo says that Jusenkyo cursed males
have no such problems."
Ranma sighed in relief and turned to Johnathon.
"Man, I'm never going to complain about my problems again. You and
Kasumi have real problems."
Johnathon chucked, shaking his head. "Thanks, Ranma.
Coming from you that almost sounds like a complement." He grinned
to himself as Ranma laughed. < Looks like that did the trick.
Ranma's calmed down now. Just as long as nothing goes wrong, we'll
be OK.>
Genma stuck his head in the door. "It's time."
Ranma stiffened slightly, then visibly made himself relax again. "Alright, I'm ready."
A minute later, Ranma found himself walking up the aisle toward the priest. On his right were Johnathon, Ryoga, Dr. Tofu and his father. On his left was Kasumi, Nabiki, Ukyo, and Shampoo. Ranma reached the front of the dojo, where the wedding was being held, and turned around to look.. In the rows of chairs sat his mother, several of his teachers, and a large number of Furinkan high students. On one side were Ranma and Akane's students, including a particular group of girls from Juuban. Music began playing, and Akane came into the dojo on her father's arm.
She was a vision in white, wearing a beautiful wedding dress that Ranma remembered, faintly, from their last attempt at a wedding. Ranma and Akane looked at each other intently as she slowly was escorted to his side. They smiled at each other reassuringly, then fondly, as the distance decreased. As Akane reached his side they both turned to face the priest and the music stopped. The priest began to speak, pronouncing the words of the marriage ceremony with a great deal of emotion. Ranma and Akane listened intently, but they had eyes only for each other.
As the priest came to the words..., "and if there are any that oppose this marriage, speak now, or forever hold your peace!" a tall man in Kendo garb walked into the dojo.
"I, Tatewaki Kuno oppose this marriage! Before I allow it to be completed, I must speak!" The pompous swordsman raised his fist over his head in emphasis. Ranma turned around angrily, but Akane held him back. Ryoga, Soun, Genma, Johnathon, Dr. Tofu, Shampoo and Ukyo were not so restrained, and as one they headed for the kendoist. Even Kuno was not oblivious enough to miss the danger he was in. He stepped back, holding up his hands. "Hold! I am unarmed, and I must speak! I offer no less than the cure to Ranma Saotome's curse!" Everyone froze.
Ranma blinked in astonishment. "A cure? You're joking?" His voice echoed in the silent hall.
Kuno shook his head. "I am not." He brought out a barrel for everyone to see. "This holds the cure. Water from the magical valley of Jusenkyo."
Ranma glanced at Akane. "Hold on to the priest for a minute Akane. We'll finish this after I deal with Kuno." He turned back to the kendoist. "Jusenkyo water, Kuno? Don't you already know that the curses mix? The spring of Drowned Man is no cure." Ranma waved everyone away from Kuno. "That stuff is dangerous, Kuno. What if it splashes some girl?" Ukyo and Shampoo stepped back rapidly. Ranma went on. "Worse, if it splashes on someone with a curse, it'll make the curse worse!" Genma and Ryoga hastily stepped back as well.
Kuno laughed once. "Ha! Little you know,
Saotome, this is not water from the spring of Drowned Man, but rather water
from the spring of Drowned Twins!" He looked around at the other
curse victims he knew about. "There is enough for all, if used carefully.
Saotome, consider. You would no longer be cursed with a woman's form.
Your female side would be separated from you, and you would never change
again!" Kuno stepped away from the door. "I have said what
I came to
say. If you wish a cure, come to the Kuno manor." The deranged
young man nodded at the crowd and walked out of sight. Once again,
the room was silent. Ranma hesitated, about to pursue, but something
caused him to look at Akane.
Akane nodded slowly, a pained smile on her face. "Go, Ranma. I'll wait."
Ranma paused in indecision for several long moments, then walked back to her. "Akane... Kuno can wait a couple minutes. Let's finish this."
Akane broke into a brilliant smile. "Yes, Ranma. Let's finish getting married." They turned back to the priest together and waited expectantly.
He blinked. "Ah, yes...." The ceremony continued, oaths were given and received, and Ranma and Akane said the words that would bind them together. "I do." The Priest smiled and nodded. "Now you may kiss the bride." Ranma and Akane kissed deeply, to the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd.
They broke apart after a good half a minute, and Akane nodded to Ranma. "OK, we're married. What are we going to do about Kuno?"
Ranma shrugged. "I don't have a clue." He looked around at their guests. "You know what? Kuno interrupted our wedding enough. For once, let's finish what we started." He turned back to Akane, and once again they kissed. The wedding party began.
As the reception started, Kasumi walked up to her
husband. "Johnathon, Tatewaki said there is enough water for more than
one person. I could use it... and we could have children. You
could have a complete woman for a wife, not a cursed one."
The tall English teacher shook his head. "Kasumi,
I would still have a cursed wife. A wife cursed to be stuck as a
cat forever. If you did use the twin water, there'd be two of you,
and both of you would be my wife. But you, a you, would be a cat.
I couldn't let you make that sacrifice for me. In fact, if you did,
I would take your cat half straight to Jusenkyo and dump her in the spring
of drowned girl."
Kasumi blinked. "Oh." She smiled softly. "I will obey your wishes, husband." She stepped up to him and kissed him gently on the lips. When she broke away she had a faint tear in one eye. Her smile was breathtaking. "I will obey, always, my love." She winked and turned away.
Johnathon stood there with a confused look on his
face and scratched his head. "She liked that?"
Preparing to slice the wedding cake, Akane looked Ranma
in the eyes. "Ranma, I've thought about it, and I don't want you
to use the water for me. I've accepted your curse."
Ranma hesitated, then helped Akane cut the cake. "You deserve a whole man, Akane, not half of one.
Akane picked up a piece of cake and shoved it in
Ranma's mouth, trying to stay calm. "Ranma, you are my husband, and
more than enough of a man for me. If you took Kuno's offer, you'd
be two people, one guy, one girl. They'd both be you, and the girl
you would be miserable. Don't do it."
Ranma finished off the cake with a gulp. "OK, Akane.
We'll tell Kuno no thanks together." He sniffed to himself.
"You're probably right. When has Jusenkyo ever done me any good?"
He smiled. "I want Kuno to know we're happy together. Maybe
then he'll finally give up on his pig tailed girl." Nabiki walked
up, snapping a photo as everyone clapped at Ranma putting a piece of cake
in Akane's mouth.
The middle Tendo sister nodded. "That's what Kuno's after, you know. He wants your girl side, Ranma."
Akane sniffed. "He can't have her. Ranma's mine, boy or girl."
Ranma blinked. "Eh?"
Nabiki chuckled. "Getting possessive, Sis?"
Akane stuck out her tongue. "We are married. I should be."
Ranma sighed, then slowly smiled. "And you're mine, OK? We're in this together."
Akane grinned back. "You bet!"
Before long, Akane was standing in front of a large
mass of single girls. Usagi, Rei and Minako josleted each other for
position. Makoto stood slightly back, counting on her superior height
to give her an edge. Shampoo stood in the center of the pack, coiled
and ready to jump for it. Nabiki stood near Ami, both girls looking
interested, but not overly concerned. Akane turned her back and launched
the bouquet over her shoulder. Shampoo jumped skyward, determined
to be the one to catch
the flowers. Just as she was about to catch them, a mini spatula
deflected their fall.
Ukyo, standing in the back of the crowd, waved her fingers. "Let chance have a chance." The bouquet fell toward the left side of the group of girls. It passed inches away from Makoto's outstretched fingers, and Usagi's panicked leap toppled practically everyone else nearby. The bouquet dropped neatly into Nabiki's suddenly nerveless hands.
Nabiki nearly dropped the flowers in surprise. "Me?" She sounded incredulous. "No way. It's just superstition, anyway." She sniffed and stalked off, still carrying the flowers. "No way, there's just no way." She repeated as she left the dojo.
Before long, the reception neared its end and Nodoka approached the couple with a smile. "Nabiki and I arraigned a surprise for your honeymoon. We've gotten you two the honeymoon suite at the Ritz for the next two nights. Johnathon has borrowed a car from one of his fellow teachers, and he and Kasumi are going to drive you there tonight."
Akane smiled happily and hugged the older woman. "Thank you, Auntie Nodoka!"
Nodoka smiled. "You can call me mother now, dear, if you'd like."
Akane nodded nervously. "I... I think I would like that..., mother."
Ranma took her arm. "Let's go, Akane." Akane nodded to him and they walked out together. A hail of confetti and flashed from cameras went off, momentarily blinding them. A sudden splash caught Ranma off guard and the cameras all flashed again. Akane glanced over at her 'husband' in dismay. The short red head standing there looked very little like a husband, although Akane did think she looked cute in the tux.
Ranma sighed and rolled her eyes. "How did I know that was going to happen sometime today?" The red head grabbed Akane's hand and pulled her toward the car waiting for them. Akane followed along willingly enough, wanting to escape the sound of her father's sudden fit ofcrying.
Soun wailed. "Now all of my babies will be married!"
Nabiki whacked him in the back of the head with the bouquet. "They're only a bunch of flowers, father!"
Akane got into the car behind her... spouse (She couldn't somehow think of the petite red head in front of her as a husband) and shut the door behind her. Johnathon started the car and drove off.
Kasumi, sitting next to her husband in front, looked back and put her hand to her mouth in dismay. "Oh my."
Akane reached into her purse and pulled out some tissues. "I don't think the water did any damage to the tux, Kasumi. Don't worry."
Ranma chuckled. "I think Kasumi might have noticed that I'm not a guy."
Kasumi bit back a giggle and Akane shrugged matter of factly. "They'll have hot water in the honeymoon suite, don't you think?" Akane slid over next to Ranma. "You can wait that long, can't you, husband?" Ranma nodded and Akane kissed the smaller girl on the forehead. "Good. I promise it'll be worth the wait." The red head gulped nervously at the predatory gleam in her wife's eye. Akane giggled. "I swear Ranma, you look like I'm going to eat you. It's not like we haven't... you know."
Ranma blushed and nodded. "R-right."
Akane smiled reassuringly, then frowned. "What do you think we should do about Kuno, anyway?"
Ranma shrugged, looking serious. "We'll deal with that later. Right now I only have one thing I want to think about."
Akane looked dubious. "OK, Ranma, if you say so."
Sitting in the back of his limo, Kuno called up to Sasuke. "They did not head for the Kuno estate? Where did they go?"
Sasuke pressed the intercom button. "To the Ritz honeymoon suite, Master Kuno."
Kuno blinked incredulously. "They... they still got married? No! I was positive my plan would work! What could have gone wrong?" He jabbed the intercom button firmly. "To the Ritz, Sasuke, and swiftly!" Sasuke turned the limo around and burned rubber away from the Kuno estate. They reached the hotel in minutes, and rushed inside.
Kuno strode up to the clerk admitting guests. "I must have your honeymoon suite, immediately!"
The clerk pressed a few buttons, looking at his screen and shook his head. "I'm afraid that it's booked for today, sir... if I could interest you in one of our other rooms?"
Kuno glared at the man. "I am aware of this. I need to go ahead to... prepare a surprise for my loves. If I might have access for only a moment...."
The clerk hesitated. "I don't know...."
Kuno snapped his fingers at his personal ninja and held out his hand.
Sasuke put a large wad of bills into his hand, which Kuno promptly slapped
into the man's face. The clerk took a long, and very close look at a wad
of money that could choke a horse, and then glanced right and left.
With a quick motion, he grabbed the money and made it disappear.
He went behind the counter and grabbed a key. "Here's the spare...
leave it in the room, and we never
met, OK?"
Kuno grabbed the key and stalked off rapidly without answering. "Sasuke!" He bellowed.
"Yes Master Kuno?" The diminutive ninja answered nervously.
"Do you have my present ready?" Kuno asked imperiously.
Sasuke nodded. "Yes, Master Kuno. The cask is right here." He brought the large cask out from inside his ninja outfit. Kuno blinked and Sasuke chuckled nervously. "I've been talking to that nice Mousse fellow... he really isn't all that bad once you get to know him...." He blinked. "Although he has been acting strangely lately... keeps on mentioning how he has to do something about some tofu.... You know Master Kuno, I've never eaten any tofu... I wonder if its anything like dried bread?"
*********************
Kasumi walked Akane and Ranma into the hotel, while Johnathon waited in the car outside. When the three woman, one in a tux, one in a wedding dress, and the third in a normal dress walked up to the front desk and asked for the honeymoon suite, the man there blinked once, then recovered and quickly checked them in.
"Ranma and Akane Saotome... Yes, I have it right here." He handed Ranma the keys and smiled politely until the three women left. He smirked. "Whoa... three at once. No wonder that guy wanted in so badly."
The threesome reached the top floor and the honeymoon suite and looked at each other.
Ranma held out her arms. "Hey, Akane, let me carry you over the threshold."
Kasumi smiled. "How romantic. I'll get the door for you two, then I'll go." She took the key from Ranma and went to the door. Hiding in a doorway down the hall, Kuno drooled at the thought of his pig tailed goddess, freed to be his.
Sasuke looked concerned. "Master Kuno, if Saotome carries Mistress Akane over the threshold, when he opens the door, won't they both get hit with the water?"
Kuno looked surprised. "Why, I do believe you are correct." His eyes grew wide. "I free my pig tailed girl... and create a second Akane Tendo? One free to be mine?" He started to grin wider. "Can any man be as blessed as I?"
Sasuke sweated nervously. "Ah... no, Master Kuno."
Kasumi unlocked the door to the honeymoon suite and pushed it open. "Alright, here you go..." Ranma, about to pick Akane up, noticed something tipping over from inside the room toward Kasumi's head. She jumped forward, pushing Kasumi down and covering the older girl's body with her smaller form. The large, open cask sloshed it's contents over both women. There was an abrupt flash and a tearing sound. An instant later two Ranma's, wearing the scraps of a rented tuxedo were laying over Kasumi and a black cat, which was laying next to the elder Tendo girl, having produced a long tear in the front of her dress.
"Oh my... what happened?" Kasumi glanced down at the black cat sitting next to her, then down at the tear in her dress. Akane gasped in horror as Ranma, male and female, sat up and looked incredulously at each other. Kasumi (the human) crawled out from under the Ranmas. "Oh... oh my!"
Akane felt like fainting, but instead let anger focus her mind. "Kuno!" She screamed.
From down the corridor, the Kendoist appeared. "You called, Akane Tendo?"
Akane started toward him, glowing bright blue. "It's Akane Saotome, you idiot! And yes I called! I called you out so I can kill you!" She leapt into the air with a focused yell. Kuno flew back down the hall, a heel print in his face. Akane leapt after, intent on murder.
The two Ranma's heard Akane's battle cry and jumped up together. "Akane!" They shouted as one and ran down the hall to see Akane stomping over and over on an unconscious Kuno. The two Ranmas ran to her side, and Ranma-kun grabbed her by the arms. "Stop, Akane, he's unconscious."
The Ranma-chan paused a step behind him and was looking down at herself in horror. "No...." She said quietly. "No... no... no!" her voice got steadily louder. "NOOO!!!" Both Akane and Ranma-kun turned to her.
Akane hesitated at the sight of the practically naked red head, then rushed forward to envelop her in a hug. "Ranma...."
Kasumi came out of the room carrying her other form
in her arms. Sasuke snuck out while they were all distracted and grabbed
Kuno. The little ninja dragged him quickly away, practically unnoticed
by the stunned group. Kasumi slowly knelt, as if by reflex, and opened
one of Ranma and Akane's two small suitcases. She got out two of
Ranma's Chinese outfits.
"Ranma....." Kasumi spoke softly. "You had...
had better put some clothes on...." Kasumi sat back against the wall
and cuddled her cat form to herself. "Oh my... oh my... oh dear...."
Both Ranma's had looked up at their name. The male half, concerned
with Kasumi's state of shock, moved over to her, quickly getting dressed.
"Kasumi? He asked as he finished pulling his shirt on. "Kasumi, are you alright?"
The female Ranma pushed Akane away. "OK? Alright? Do you seriously think she's going to be alright after what just happened?"
Akane put her hand on the red head's arm. "Ranma." The smaller girl bit her lip and looked at Akane wordlessly.
Kasumi took a deep breath and seemed to gather herself, and after a moment she nodded to the male Ranma. "I... I'm not hurt... Ranma." She looked down at her cat form again, who looked back helplessly. "Oh dear... this is quite...." Kasumi looked stricken. "Oh my... there isnothing adequate I can think of to say."
The Ranma-chan winced away from Akane's horrified gaze and quickly went over to get dressed. "God damn it... I'm in hell and Kasumi is here too?" She laughed bitterly. "Never thought I'd see Kasumi when I got to hell."
Akane shook her head, looking sick. "No.... Don't say that, Ranma! I love you! We'll work this out! I don't know how, but we'll deal with this!"
The red head finished dressing and stood. "Alright... Akane, I'm sorry... you too, Kasumi... it's just...." She waved her hands at herself. "This! I'm going to be stuck as a girl forever!"
The taller, black haired (and male) Ranma swallowed. "Well... Kuno might have been wrong... we should check." His female counterpart glanced at him, then rushed into the honeymoon suite.
Kasumi stood, still holding her cat half. "We should check... just in case." They followed the red head inside, and too the bathroom. They found the female Ranma over the tub, running the hot water at full blast, and holding her head under it.
Nothing was happening, and when the water started to steam, Ranma-kun grabbed his twin's shoulders and pulled her back. "That's enough. It's not working."
The girl struggled briefly, then sank to the floor.
"It's true. I'll never be a man again. I'll be a girl... for the
rest of my
life...."
Kasumi carefully filled the ice bucket with cold water from the sink, and poured it over her own head. "I don't change either." Kasumi put the bucket down and sighed. "We're stuck like this." She gathered herself again, and looked into her cat form's eyes. "I think we had better let Johnathon know." The cat nodded with a sigh.
Akane knelt behind Ranma-chan and hugged her from behind, then glanced over at Kasumi. "I think we'll stay here for now." Both Kasumi's nodded, and turned to go.
Ranma-kun tried both hot and cold water on himself experimentally. "I don't change! I'm a guy... permanently!" He looked elated and stunned at the same time.
The red haired half of Ranma pulled free of Akane. "That's great... Ranma. Congratulations... Akane. You've got a whole man for a husband. "I... I'll go. You two should be together on your honeymoon." She stood, turning away.
Akane stood up as well, staring at the red head. "No... Ranma... don't go." She looked at Ranma-kun for support. "You both are... Ranma, the Ranma I married."
Ranma-chan looked incredulous. "Do I look like a husband to you? I'm a girl. He's your husband. I'm... I'm nothing but the curse."
Ranma-kun stood there silently, unable to come up with a single thing to say. < I... always wanted to be free of the curse, but not like this. That's... that's me, just stuck in that girl's body.>
Akane looked from Ranma to Ranma, and faced the girl side again. "I married you, Ranma, "for better or worse." Don't you remember the words? I meant them when I said them, didn't you?"
Ranma-chan froze. "Of course I did! But... I'm a girl and he's not. You can be with him. I'm just... extra." She turned away, not wanting Akane to see her cry. "It's better if I go."
Ranma-kun heard the words, but knew the truth. < I'd say the same thing... but I... you... love Akane. You want Akane to be happy, but she's not. Akane will feel guilty if you leave. We've got to work this out somehow, resolve things... or non of us will be happy.> Ranma-chan started to walk off again when he spoke. "No, Akane's right. You've got to stay. If you leave now, Akane will be unhappy... and hell, I wouldn't be to pleased either. I know you want to do what you think is right, and leave the two of us to be together, but... not this way."
Akane nodded. "Please, Ranma... stay. I love you. I couldn't live with myself if you just left, alone. We've got to work this out."
Ranma-chan turned to face them, wiping away tears. "O-OK. I'll stay."
Akane rushed forward to hug her. "Thank you,
Ranma."
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