Untitled

By Bryan Neef
Version 1.2

						Chapter 4

Ranma sat quietly under the tree for lunch.  He had managed to avoid 
Kunou all morning.  He hadn't been as lucky with Ukyou or Shampoo, 
though.  Both confronted him before school.

"Thy power hast been exposed, Sorcerer!  Prepare to meet they doom!" 
bellowed Kunou as he attacked.

Ranma easily avoided the blow.  He stood up, ready to defend himself.  
"What are you babbling about now?"

"Thy sorcery has been revealed by the noble warrior, Hibiki Ryoga, to 
all who view Oracle's Gate!"

"Oracle's Gate?  What the Hell is that?"

Kunou's blade bit into the concrete where Ranma just stood.  "It is the 
wondrous devise that let's all scrye the world."

Ranma avoided another attack.  "Whatever.  Can't you just leave me alone?"

"Only when I send you back to Hell, Daemon.  Then, Tendou Akane and the 
beauteous Pig-Tailed Girl shall be mine!"

Ranma sighed as he dodged the next strike.  He backed away, giving him 
room to look Kunou over.  It was then he noticed the katana.  "What the 
Hell is that?"

"It is mine holy blade.  Thy foul ears shalt never hear its glorious name.  
For legends say cold steel will kill the foulest of daemons.  Prepare 
thyself, Daemon!"

"Isn't that supposed to be cold iron?" asked a spectator.

"I think so."

Not hearing the comments, Kunou launched himself at Ranma.  Kunou slashed 
at a downward angle, from right to left, hoping to cleave Ranma from 
shoulder to hip.

When Ranma cleanly stepped to the side, in the direction of the attack, 
Kunou inverted the attack, giving it a V formation.  Ranma again avoided 
the attack by bending backwards.

At the completion of the upward stroke, Ranma continued his movement, 
going smoothly into a backflip.  His feet connected with Kunou's chin and 
arms.  The blow to the chin caused the older by to stumble and drop the 
blade.

Seeing the kendoist dazed, Ranma struck with both palms to Kunou's chest.  
The kendoist flew into the tree, blood erupting from his mouth.

Ranma waited a moment before looking at his hands.  He clenched them shut 
as he heard Akane yelling at him.

"IDIOT!  What do you think you're doing?  You could have killed him!"

"And he could have killed me!  See this?" asked Ranma as he pointed to the 
discarded katana.  "That's a real katana.  It's sharp.  I could have lost..."

"A little cold water and you wouldn't have been bothered by it again!" 
screamed Akane as she stormed off.

Everyone glared at Akane's retreating form.  Even the women.  They turned 
to watch Ranma.  They shrugged, returning to school as he continued to 
stare at the blade.

***

Nabiki glared at her sister as the youngest Tendou stormed into the 
school.  "Brilliant move, Akane."

"What?" growled Akane.

"What you said to Ranma.  He was defending himself."

"He was trying to kill Kunou!"

Nabiki sighed.    "It's the other way around.  Kunou 
tried to kill Ranma, again.  He was even using a damned katana."

"The jerk still didn't have to hit so hard."

"Perhaps.  But you weren't the one who could have lost a limb."

Akane sighed.  "I suppose."

"Good.  I'm glad you see my point.  You should apologize to Ranma."

"Why?"

"Think real hard, Akane.  What did you tell him he said he could have 
lost a limb." 

Akane growled.  "He didn't say anything about limbs.  He mentioned 
'that.'"

"So someone should cut off your tits, splash you with the Nannichuan, 
just so no one will notice change, right?"

"Of course not!"

"Then what's your problem?  You've had a bone to pick with Ranma
since Happosai showed up."

Before Akane could respond, Nabiki left for her own class.  Akane 
hugged her chest tightly.  Looking at Ranma, still looking at the 
katana, she narrowed her eyes before returning to her own class.

***

Ranma walked home, alone.  She was tired, wet, and depressed.  "Why'd 
Shampoo have to come?" she muttered.

She continued down the street, not caring about the cold drizzle.  A 
car drove by, splashing her again.  Sighing, she continued home.  
"Kunou should have finished me off," she mumbled as she entered the 
gate.

She took off her shoes in the entryway.  Ignoring the arguing in the 
family room, she headed upstairs.  She was stopped by a fierce hug.

"Welcome home, Ranma."

Ranma removed herself from the hug.  Turning, she saw Rei smiling at 
her.  "Please, Rei, don't do that again."

Rei lost her smile as Ranma went upstairs.  Growling, she returned to 
the family room.  She missed Kasumi's sad gaze from the kitchen.  All 
eyes were on her.  Taking a deep, calming breath, she spoke, "Ranma 
will be down in a minute.  She needs to change."

"See what I mean, Old Man?  The boy is weak.  He's not going, and 
that's final!" bellowed Genma.

Hino Masamune frowned.  "So you would rather your son die of pneumonia 
than get warm?"

"Staying in wet clothes will toughen him up, so he won't get sick."

Soun nodded while everyone else shook their heads.  At that moment, 
Ranma entered the room, followed by Kasumi.  They watched Ranma as 
she quietly sat next to Akane.  "Why are you here?"

Both Hino's looked at Ranma.  The elder Hino smiled.  "My grandchild 
hasn't visited in years.  I thought it was time to see how you were 
doing."

"I'm fine.  You didn't have to come."

"See?  The boy doesn't want you here," bellowed Genma.

Masamune never took his eyes off Ranma.  He noticed the girl's shoulders 
slump at Genam's outburst.  "Is that true, Ranma?  Do you want us to 
leave?"

Ranma shook her head slightly.  Before taking another sip, Akane spoke, 
"Answer him, Idiot!"

This was accompanied by a punch to the arm.  The splash of warm tea 
changed Ranma immediately into a boy.  Ranma looked at the shocked faces 
of his cousin and grandfather.  He sighed as he stood up.  "Sorry about 
this."

The families watched as Ranma left the room.  Coming out of her shock, 
Rei raced after Ranma.  She missed Kasumi's frown and Nabiki's comment, 
"Good job, Akane.  Why don't you hit Ranma next time he actually says a 
word."

Rei found Ranma in his room.  He had just taken his shirt off.  "Are 
you okay?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because you're my cousin, and friend."

Ranma glared at her.  "Then why the look?"

Rei sighed.  "In a way, I was hoping it wasn't rue.  The curse, that is."

"Why?  You knew me the other night.  Why didn't you say anything then?"

Rei sighed.  "Before I answer that, go ahead and change.  I won't look."

"Thank you," whispered Ranma.

Rei smiled as she looked at the wall.  "The last time I saw you was 
before you left Tokyo, for the third time.  We were about seven or 
eight.  As far as I had been told, you were a boy.  I never saw any 
proof of this, sine Uncle Genma tried to keep us apart as much as 
he could."

"True.  You can look now."

Rei smiled more as she looked at her cousin.  "At that age, you still 
can't tell boys from girls, unless you know what to look for and how 
they're dressed."

"I suppose that's true.  I always thought Ucchan was a boy, until she 
came here to kill me."

Rei frowned.  "You'll have to tell me about that later.  Anyway, when 
the Senshi dropped you off at Setsuna's, we were told your given name.  
We wanted to know who you were, since the Senshi thought you were 
suicidal."

"I ain't going to kill myself," protested Ranma.

"Maybe not, but you were looking for someone, or something, that would 
kill you in an 'honorable' way.  Either way, they were concerned.  So 
were my friends.

"Ami, Haruka's cousin, is good with computers.  She searched the 
country's database and found several Ranmas.  Only you were listed as 
both male and female.

"You also look a lot like Auntie Nodoka, when you're a girl.  So, we 
suspected, but didn't know how to approach you about it.  How do you 
ask someone 'are you a boy or a girl?'"

"Usually to the face, with pity or disgust on the face and in the voice."

Rei nodded.  "I suppose that's one way.  We opted to get to know you, 
as a person, and check the truth behind the records."

"Oh.  And if I told you I was a guy?"

Rei smiled.  "Then we'd have another male friend, who happened to be 
a female at times.  I'm sure Usagi would find something you'd enjoy 
in both forms.  She may be annoying at times, but she's a good friend.  
I don't know what I'd do without her friendship."

"It must be nice to have friends."

"Surly you have friends."

Ranma looked out the window.  "Only the stars and the moon."

Rei put her hand on Ranma's shoulder.  She noticed the same flinching 
from before.  "Then you have friends who will be with you forever.  
When you meet the people whose stars look over you, you'll have real 
friends."

Ranma smiled.  "Thanks, Rei."

Rei smiled.  "Before we go back, how do you change sex?"

"Why do you want to know?" asked Ranma testily.

"So when my friends and I are with you, we'll know how to cover for 
you, and help you stay in the form you choose.  You have admitted to 
being a boy, so it's fair to assume you'll want to stay a boy as much 
as possible."

"Yeah.  Cold water changes me into a girl.  Hot water turns me back."

"Good.  I'll tell the others, especially Makoto, about this."

"Won't they think I'm a freak, too?"

Rei smiled.  "The shock will be seeing the change, firsthand, the 
first time.  After that, you'll have to put up with Usagi's questions.  
Trust me, we've seen weirder stuff with the Senshi around."

***

The Hino's stood at the gate with the assembled Tendou and Saotome 
families.   Masamune smiled.  "Thank you for letting us stay the 
evening."

"Think nothing of it," offered Soun.

Masamune bowed before turning to Ranma.  "It has been far too long 
since you've visited, Ranma.  Please come by on your next break."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

"Take care, Ranma.  I promise to keep the water warm for you," spoke 
Rei as she hugged Ranma.

"I always take care of myself.  And thanks, for everything."

When the teens broke apart, Rei and her grandfather left the property.  
They were less than a meter away when the yelling began.

Rei started to return, but was stopped by Masamune.  "It will only make 
things worse.  Let him come to us, if he will."

"Why wait?"

"Because he'll be stronger for it."

Rei sighed.  Looking back at the Tendou compound, she spoke, "I hope 
so."

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