Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Genmas Daughter ❯ 12 ( Chapter 11 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Imported From: RAAC
From: Deborah Goldsmith <dgoldsmith@mac.com>
Subject: [Ranma][FanFic] Genma's Daughter, Chapter 12: Adventures in Babysitting

As always, all rights to Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi and
Shougakukan

Genma's Daughter
Chapter 12: Adventures in Babysitting

By Deborah Goldsmith
Original concept and parts of Chapter 1 by Steve Pardue

Deborah Goldsmith <dgoldsmith@mac.com>
Steve Pardue <spardue@zebra.net>

http://www.zebra.net/~spardue/anime

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"Tadaima!"

Nodoka rushed to the door at the sound of her daughter's voice. She
found Ranko standing in the genkan, removing her coat with a happy smile
on her face. The smile broadened even further as she saw Nodoka.
"Mother!"

"O-kaeri nasai, dear. How was your lesson this week?"

Ranko giggled. "You mean my third lesson this week. It was wonderful!
Sensei says I'll be ready for the recital for sure. She asked
Murata-sensei to come to my lessons next week, and he said yes!"

Nodoka beamed. "You've been working harder on your violin piece?"

Ranko rolled her eyes and nodded as she stepped up into the house. "Have
I ever! As hard as I ever worked on my martial arts." She smiled. "But
it's worth it. I... it's just like the Art. As I get better, I find
whole new things to explore. And I'm playing on a whole new level." Her
eyes lost focus. "I love this so much... I can express myself in a way I
never could with the Art. I can put *all* of myself into it."

Nodoka hugged her daughter. "I'm so glad, sweetheart." She held her out
at arm's length. "A mother can't ask for more than to see her child so
happy." Ranko nodded, and arm in arm they proceeded down the hall.

The entire family was waiting for them in the living room, including
Ryouga. He grinned, stood, and gave her a quick kiss. He was starting to
say something when Nodoka interrupted. "Oh Ranko, I almost forgot. A
Kobuchizawa Noriko called, to ask if you would babysit tonight. She
sounded pretty desperate. I told her you would call when you got home."

Ranko nodded uncertainly. Akane grinned. "Miki is certainly having an
effect on your life, Sis!"

Nodoka smiled. "Is Miki who you would be babysitting?" Ranko nodded
again, and Nodoka's smile widened. "I didn't know you were babysitting."

Ranko blushed. "I didn't think I was either, but after I met Miki and
her mother, I started spending time with them. Miki is... a lot of fun.
I really like being with her."

"How old is she?"

"Oh, maybe five or six months." She smiled a huge smile. "Babies sure
are cute."

Nodoka and Genma looked at each other, and their differences vanished
for a moment as they shared the same thought: We're going to be
grandparents! They smiled.

As Ranko moved to the telephone, Ryouga spoke up, an uncertain tone in
his voice. "I... I was kind of hoping we could go out tonight..."

Ranko stopped. "Let me call her. If she's really desperate, I... I ought
to help out. She's been so nice to me."

Ryouga sighed. "How about tomorrow?"

Ranko sagged. "I'm sorry, it's Sayuri's birthday party. I can't skip
that." Ryouga nodded, disappointed. "I'll see if I can get out of this
babysitting job tonight." He smiled.

Ranko dialed the number Nodoka had written down, and the phone rang. On
the third ring, she got an answer: "Kobuchizawa residence." It was
Miki's mother's voice, and she sounded more than a little harried.

"Kobuchizawa-san? This is Saotome Ranko. My mother said you called
earlier?"

"Oh Ranko-chan, thank heavens! I was about to give up. Dear, my husband
and I had a night out scheduled for tonight -- our first in months --
and the babysitter is sick. I called everyone else I can think of, but
no one is available. My husband is leaving work early so we can go out,
and I don't know what to do! Is there any chance you can come over
tonight?"

"Could you hang on a moment, Kobuchizawa-san?" Ranko related the gist of
the conversation to Ryouga. "Please? She's been so nice to me, and it's
their first night out in months!"

Ryouga looked at Ranko's expressive eyes, which practically pleaded with
him, and sighed. He could never resist her, and her generosity was one
of the things he loved about her. "I... I was really hoping to spend
time with you tonight, but... sure." He smiled warmly.

What a sweet guy... "Kobuchizawa-san? I'd love to come watch Miki for
you." She looked up at Ryouga, who was looking at her wistfully, and had
an idea. "Would... would it be all right if I brought... a friend over?
We had plans for tonight, and..."

There was a long, long pause. "Oh, Ranko-chan... I... I really don't
want to say this, since you are rescuing me from a bad situation, but if
it's a boy... I feel terrible about this, but I've had a couple of
babysitters who brought their boyfriends, and... they got... ummm... a
little too... ummm, active, and the neighbors complained. We promised it
wouldn't happen again. I know you would never be that irresponsible, but
the neighbors... I feel terrible asking you this when you are doing me
such a favor..."

Ranko sighed and looked up at Ryouga, who read her expression and looked
back with mournful eyes. She was about to tell him he couldn't come,
when she had an idea.

"Ummm, my friend is a girl, Kobuchizawa-san. Is that OK?" Ryouga looked
confused.

"Of course, Ranko-chan!" Ranko could hear the relief in her voice. "Can
you be here at 6:30 PM?"

"I'll be there, Kobuchizawa-san. I'm looking forward to seeing Miki
again!"

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they hung up. Ranko turned to
Ryouga and eyed him speculatively. "She's had a few bad experiences with
babysitters bringing their boyfriends, so she said she'd rather I not
bring mine. I told her I was bringing a girlfriend."

"What's going on? I can't go, so you're going to take Akane-san?"

Ranko took Ryouga by the arm and grinned. "Nope. I'm taking my good
friend Ryouko-chan!" Nabiki started to snicker.

Ryouga frowned. "Ryouko-chan? Do I know her?"

Ranko's grin broadened. "Oh yes. You know *her* very well."

Suddenly his jaw dropped, and he turned crimson as the whole family
started laughing.

*****

Ranko sighed. "You know, you didn't have to come. I only thought this up
because you said you wanted to spend time with me. If you don't want to
be 'Ryouko-chan', I can go by myself."

Ryouga looked over at the petite redhead who was walking next to her.
"No, I guess I'd rather spend the evening with you this way than not at
all." She sighed. She'd wanted to hold Ranko's hand, but Ranko had made
it clear that there was to be nothing physical between them this evening.

They reached the Kobuchizawa's apartment building, and in short order
were ringing the doorbell. Ranko frowned; she could hear Miki from out
here, and the baby was not happy. She was wailing.

Miki's mother opened the door, and Ranko's frown disappeared. Noriko was
dressed to the nines and her face was made up; clearly, tonight was a
big night.

"Ranko-chan, thank you so much! You have saved my life." She smiled. "Is
this your friend?"

Ranko nodded, and Ryouga bowed -- boy style, hands at her sides. "I'm
Hibiki Ryou... Ryouko, Ma'am."

"Please come in." They followed her to the inside. Miki was sitting in a
high chair, and looked pitifully unhappy. Her eyes found Ranko, and for
a moment a tentative smile crept onto her face, but she soon resumed her
crying.

"I don't know what's wrong with her, Ranko-chan. She's been cranky for
an hour or so now." She pursed her lips. "My husband should be home any
minute, and we've got to go right away. I'll try to get her settled down
before then." She threw a cloth over her shoulder and hoisted the baby
out of the high chair, holding her and jostling her up and down. Miki's
wail reduced to a whimper, but she was still in tears.

As she was pacing back and forth, Noriko tried to make conversation.
"You said your name was Hibiki -- are you related to Ranko's boyfriend?
You look quite a bit like him."

Ranko had a blank look on her face, and turned to her companion, who
thought furiously. "Ummm, he's my brother, Ma'am."

Miki's mother smiled. "How nice that you two are friends, too!" She
noticed what Ranko was carrying. "Ranko-chan, is that a violin?"

Ranko nodded. "I was hoping I could practice a little tonight. I have a
recital in a week and a half."

Noriko beamed. "Why don't you play now, while we're waiting for my
husband? Maybe it will quiet Miki down a little bit."

Ranko smiled and nodded, and started to get out her violin. Noriko sat
down, holding Miki on her lap; the little girl was still whimpering.
Ryouga sat next to them.

Ranko finished tuning her violin and started to practice her Bach piece.
Miki and her mother watched, utterly fascinated. Miki still didn't look
happy, but she seemed distracted by Ranko's playing.

After a time, the little girl's attention started to wander, and she
started to cry again. Ranko stopped and put down her violin.

Noriko applauded as best she could with a handful of baby, and so did
Ryouga. "That was wonderful, Ranko-chan! Are you going to be a
violinist? You certainly play like one."

Ranko blushed. "I'm thinking about it, Kobuchizawa-san."

Miki's mother tsked. "Enough with the 'Kobuchizawa-san', Ranko-chan; I'm
only a few years older than you are, after all. Please call me Noriko."

Ranko smiled. "Thank you, Noriko-san."

Noriko smiled back, then looked at her watch. "Oh my goodness, look at
the time! It's been half an hour!" She frowned. "My husband was supposed
to be home by now." She continued to cuddle Miki as the little girl
cried, and she bit her lip. "If he's not home soon, then... then we
won't be able to go out tonight." Her sad expression was in stark
contrast to her usual cheerfulness.

Ryouga shifted uncomfortably. "Is there something wrong with the baby,
Kobuchizawa-san? She seems awfully unhappy."

Noriko sighed. "You know, I used to worry terribly about this kind of
thing, but my mother told me that sometimes babies just get like this.
It could be her tummy, it could be a headache, or any number of things.
She's not crying as if she's really in pain, and I've checked her
diaper, I've fed her, I've tried to put her to sleep, but she just won't
have it." She shook her head. "Sometimes you just have to wait it out."
Ryouga nodded, and swallowed at the thought of spending the evening with
a crying baby.

Another 15 minutes later, Noriko looked close to joining her daughter in
tears. "I... I guess something must have happened at work. It looks like
he's not going to make it." She bowed her head.

Ranko bit her lip. "I'm sorry, Noriko-san... it sounds like tonight was
going to be special."

She nodded. "We haven't been out, just the two of us, for a long
time..." she trailed off. Miki started to whimper a little more loudly.

"Would you like me to try holding her?"

Noriko looked at the sad little girl in her lap. "Why not? Nothing else
is working."

Ranko took Miki into her own lap. Miki brightened briefly, but returned
to whimpering in short order. Noriko laughed. "My goodness, we're all
striking out tonight, aren't we? Would you like to try, Ryouko-chan?"

Ryouga looked up, startled. "Me?"

Noriko frowned. She talks like a boy, and she dresses like one... I
guess it must be something girls are doing nowadays; Ranko-chan used to
do the same thing. "Don't you like babies, Ryouko-chan?"

"Ryouko-chan" winced. "Well, uhh... sure, but..."

"I guess you don't want to hold her when she's crying. I can understand
that."

Ryouga had the strange feeling she was being judged and found wanting.
"Ummm... I... uh, sure."

Ranko handed the baby over to Ryouga, who held her as if she were a sack
of potatoes. Miki wailed.

"No, no, Ryouko-chan. Put your hands over there, to support her. Cuddle
her a bit." What is it with girls these days? Haven't any of them held a
baby before?

Ryouga gingerly repositioned Miki, who quieted down to a whimper again.
The little girl looked up at her with wide eyes and blinked. Ryouga
smiled, and started making faces at the baby. Miki watched intently for
a while, then started to laugh; whatever had been bothering her seemed
forgotten for the moment.

"You have a knack, Ryouko-chan! I'm sure you'll make a fine mother some
day."

Ryouga turned beet red while Ranko clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Uhhh... Thanks."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Ryouga was starting to get really uncomfortable with the turn the
conversation was taking. "Ummm, n-no... not right now."

"I'm surprised, a girl as pretty as you are!"

"Yeah, well..."

Maybe it's because she's so butch... "How about you, Ranko-chan? How
long have you been seeing her brother?"

"We just started seeing each other last month."

"So what do you think of him?" She winked. "It's just us girls here. I'm
sure Ryouko-chan won't tell." "Ryouko-chan" turned red again.

Ranko blushed deeply. "Umm, he's... he's a nice guy. I... I like him..."

"How does he feel about you?"

Ryouga suddenly spoke up. "I... ummm... my brother... he... he l-loves
her a lot." Everyone was staring at her. "Ummm, he... he told me."

Noriko nodded. "I see." She looked at her watch, and her smile
disappeared.

"I... it's too late to go out now," she whispered. "I'm sorry I spoiled
your evening for nothing, Ranko-chan."

Ranko went over and embraced Noriko. "Please don't apologize. It's OK.
I'm just sorry your big evening was ruined." Noriko nodded.

As if on cue, the phone rang. Noriko got up and rushed over to pick it
up. "Hello, Kobuchizawa... Dear! What happened?" A pause. "I see. Yes.
Yes, of course." A sigh. "We have guests, by the way. That Saotome girl
I told you about; she agreed to babysit at the last minute. Yes, she is
a sweetheart. She brought a friend. Yes, I know, her evening too....I
love you too. I'll see you soon." She hung up, then wandered back to the
sofa.

She sighed. "Work again. They had an important business associate who
wanted to go for drinks. He couldn't say no, of course." She looked at
her watch. "The man got tired early, so my husband's on his way home
now. At least I'll get to see him tonight..." She shook her head. "I
wish he weren't a salaryman. It's like that company owns him."

She looked ready to cry. "He can't ever help with Miki. At this rate,
I'll never be able to go back to school, at least not until she's in
elementary school..."

"School for what?" asked Ryouga.

"Design. I want to be a designer. You know, furniture, living spaces,
things like that." She sighed. "It seems like a distant dream at the
moment."

Ranko paled. If she got married, if she had children, would this happen
to her? Trapped at home, waiting for her salaryman husband to show up?
And waiting, and waiting... What would happen to her violin? She
shivered; she couldn't imagine giving up school, giving up her violin.
But... but I *want* children... I want a family...

Ryouga noticed the fear and confusion on Ranko's face, and felt a
yawning pit in her stomach. Kobuchizawa-san... *please* shut up...

Noriko echoed Ranko's thoughts. "If you really love your violin,
Ranko-chan, don't marry a salaryman." She looked down. "I love my
husband dearly, but his job is the pits. I guess we don't get to choose
who we fall in love with..."

Ryouga looked back and forth between Ranko and Noriko, who both looked
terribly depressed, and felt an irresistible compulsion to say
something. Anything. "Ummm... I... my brother... he... he wouldn't do
that to his wife! He wants to, uhhh, to open a dojo or something so he
can be with his wife and children, and... and he would even do a lot of
the... the childcare and housework and stuff, so she could... could be a
violinist." Suddenly, she looked aghast. "Or, ummm, of course, whatever
other career the woman he *happens* to marry wanted to pursue! All
hypothetical, of course." She cringed.

Ranko stared at Ryouga, and swallowed.

Noriko laughed. "It sounds like you've let the cat out of the bag,
Ryouko-chan." Ranko winced at the "c" word. "It sounds like your brother
is pretty serious about Ranko-chan." She turned to the redhead. "You're
lucky, Ranko-chan. Not many men would do what Ryouko-chan says her
brother has talked about. I hope things work out between you and him."

Ranko nodded, a frozen, frightened smile plastered on her face.

"Ryouko-chan, my husband feels the same way -- that's one of the things
that made me fall in love with him -- but the company he works for
doesn't, of course. Your brother is lucky he can have a job that gives
him that option."

Noriko's gaze dropped from Ryouga's face. "Well, what do you know? Miss
Tiny Terror has fallen asleep!" Ryouga looked down, and sure enough the
little girl she was cuddling was sound asleep.

Noriko came over to pick up the baby, who sighed but remained asleep.
"Just a second while I put her down. Peace finally comes to apartment
3E!" She took Miki down the hall.

Ranko swiveled around to look at Ryouga. "Ryouga... what you said
earlier... you... you're really thinking about *marriage*?!"

Ryouga bit her lip and tried to think of a reply, when a key turned in
the front door, and a man's voice called out "Tadaima."

Ranko looked down the hall, but Noriko wasn't coming back yet. She got
up and went to the genkan, where a handsome young man, with tired eyes
that seemed far too old for him, was taking his coat off. She bowed in
greeting. "O-kaeri nasai, Kobuchizawa-san. I'm Saotome Ranko. Your wife
is busy putting Miki-chan to bed right now."

He looked her over briefly, then smiled. "My wife has told me a lot
about you, Ranko-chan. Come on, let's go sit down."

They reentered the living room, and Ryouga stood up. "Hi, I'm Hibiki
Ryou... umm, Ryouko."

"Ryouko-chan is my friend. She's my boyfriend's brother." She winced.
"Ummm, sister."

Kobuchizawa-san grinned, and his eyes grew a little less weary. "I was
gonna say, she doesn't look much like his brother."

At that moment, Noriko reappeared, and his expression softened. "Noriko,
I am so sorry. You know how it is." He looked her over. "You look
beautiful tonight. I'm really sorry."

She nodded. "Thank you, dear. We'll try again some other night." She
turned to Ranko and Ryouga. "Girls," -- Ryouga winced -- "thank you for
coming tonight. I'm sorry your evening was wasted, too."

Ranko and Ryouga regarded each other warily. Ranko spoke. "It wasn't a
waste, Noriko-san."

She laughed. "That's right, your boyfriend's sister spilled the beans on
him, didn't she!"

Both girls turned bright red. "Yeah."

Noriko turned to her husband. "I'm sorry dear, I didn't make anything
for dinner, and it's too late for a restaurant. I guess... I guess I'll
heat up some leftovers..."

Ranko looked back and forth between the two of them. "I know a Chinese
place that makes great ramen, and they deliver." She smiled.

Noriko's eyes lit up. "They do?"

*****

Keisuke blew into his hands to try to warm them up. Of all the nights to
get stuck running his pop's yatai, it had to be Friday night? Man, he
could be out with Rika-chan instead! It was two hours before he could go
home, and he hadn't had a customer in over an hour. He groaned for the
hundredth time.

Suddenly he heard voices. Two girls were walking down the street. "I
thought we were just dating! I thought we were going to see what it was
like! Now I find out you want to marry me!"

"Hey, I can't help how I feel! I didn't mean to tell you about it! It
just kinda came out!"

Keisuke rolled his eyes. What a waste of a couple of cute chicks...

"I'm not ready for this! You heard what Noriko-san said. If I get
married, what's going to happen to my studying the violin?"

Keisuke looked more closely, and sure enough the redhead was carrying a
violin case. He frowned. This was reminding him of some show his little
sister used to watch. A lesbian couple... the femme one played the
violin... the butch one dressed like a guy... He shook his head; he
couldn't quite remember...

"I told you, I'll take care of the kids!"

The redhead fumed. "How about pregnancy and childbirth? Maybe you'd like
to do that, too!"

"That isn't very funny, y'know!" The brunette scowled. "Maybe I should
just... get lost." She started to stalk off, and passed Keisuke's yatai.

The redhead stared after the other girl for several seconds as she
walked away, then suddenly started to run. She caught up with the
brunette and threw her arms around her from behind. Keisuke rolled his
eyes again. He knew some guys went for this kinda stuff, but it didn't
interest him at all. Why'd they have to do all this right in front of
him?

"I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I'm just so... so scared.
Being a mother is such a big responsibility, and... and things have been
happening so fast... and I... Please... don't go..."

The brunette stood there for a few moments, then blew out a breath and
turned around to face her companion. "How do you feel about me?"

The redhead shrank a little. "I... I don't know anymore. I... to be
honest, at first, I... I didn't think I had any feelings for you, other
than as a good friend. But... but now I think, maybe... When you were
walking away just now, I felt... empty, somehow. Sad. Lonely. Like I was
losing something important." She shook her head. "I... I'm not sure how
I feel about you, but... but I want to find out, because... maybe..."
She blushed. "Noriko-san was right. I would be lucky to have a guy like
you for a husband."

Keisuke frowned. Guy? Husband? If she felt that way, why was she going
out with another girl? He shrugged. Women...

The brunette softened. "Really?"

The redhead nodded. "Y-yes. I just need time, I need to understand my
feelings better. You said if I didn't like dating we could give it up. I
don't know if I want to... to marry you, but I don't want to give up.
Not yet. I... I care for you... but... I'm so confused..."

Keisuke made a face. What a waste. Especially the redhead. Man, was she
hot... Actually, the brunette was pretty hot, too...

The brunette smiled, put her hands on the shorter girl's shoulders, then
cupped her cheek with one hand...

"Please, not like this... I... it doesn't feel comfortable to me... I'm
sorry..."

The brunette sighed, and nodded. Suddenly, she seemed to notice Keisuke.
"Hey! You got any hot water?"

Keisuke shrugged. "Sure. Here ya go." He poured her a cup from the
kettle.

The brunette took it, and to Keisuke's amazement, promptly emptied it on
her head. However, this didn't even come close to matching his amazement
when she grew half a head taller and far more muscular. Not to mention
changing sexes.

The brunette, now a guy, handed the cup back to Keisuke. "Thanks," he
said, in a much deeper voice. He turned back to the redhead. "Now, where
were we?" He embraced her gently, and she hugged him back, trembling
slightly.

"You know, it's really great to have hands to pour the hot water with.
Try dragging a kettle with your teeth some time." The redhead giggled
into his chest, and seemed to relax. She stopped trembling.

Keisuke swallowed. H-hands?

After a time, the guy said "Take all the time you need. I'll... I'll
wait." The girl nodded. He kissed her gently on the forehead, and they
slowly turned and walked off down the street, she on his arm. Neither of
them noticed the young man cowering and gibbering behind the yatai.

*****

"Oneechan?"

Nabiki looked up from the magazine she was reading at the kitchen table.
Ranko was standing in the doorway, fidgeting. She obviously wanted
something.

Resisting the temptation to roll her eyes, Nabiki folded her arms in
front of her. "What is it, kiddo?" Kasumi looked back over her shoulder
briefly, then turned her attention back to chopping vegetables.

"I... I need your advice. Again." She winced. "I'm sorry."

Nabiki smiled. "It's OK. What's up?"

"It's Ryouga. Right now is a really hard time in our relationship. I'm
trying to find out how I feel about him, whether I want to keep dating
him, or..." she trailed off.

"Go on."

"Well, the problem is, I need to spend time with him. And he keeps...
getting lost. It's really hard on me to have to wait for days or weeks
every time he leaves before I see him again." She bit her lip and looked
down. "I'll never get things figured out at this rate. I begged him to
stay here last night so he wouldn't disappear again." She looked up at
Nabiki. "I know his bad sense of direction is a really tough problem,
but is there anything you can think of?"

Nabiki snorted. "What makes you think I can solve a problem like that?"

Ranko blushed slightly in embarrassment. "Because I think my big sister
is the smartest person I know."

Nabiki stared at Ranko for a moment, then to her own consternation,
blushed herself. "Oh." She looked down for a moment, then back up, her
cheeks still tinged pink. "Give me some time to think about it, OK?" She
frowned for a second. "Tell him to not leave here until I think of
something."

Ranko nodded and brightened. "I knew if anyone could solve this problem
it would be you. Thanks, Oneechan!" She practically skipped out of the
kitchen.

Nabiki put her head in her hands and sighed. "Oneechan, when exactly did
I become an advice columnist?"

Kasumi turned around briefly to look at Nabiki, then turned back to the
cutting board. Over her shoulder, she said simply, "The life of a big
sister is fraught with peril."

Nabiki stared at Kasumi's back, her eyes bugged out, until Kasumi's hand
shot to her mouth, and they both broke out laughing.

*****

Late that afternoon, Ranko knocked on Akane's door. "Sis? It's me. Are
you almost ready?"

Akane's voice came from inside. "Just about. Come on in."

Ranko entered the room, and closed the door behind her. She found Akane
struggling with the zipper on the turtleneck dress she was wearing.

Akane grimaced. "The darned thing is stuck! Sis, could you zip me up?"

"Sure." Ranko stepped forward. She fiddled with the zipper for a moment,
and it finally gave in, meekly sliding the rest of the way up.

Akane turned around and smiled. "Thanks." She eyed the box Ranko had
under one arm. "You wrapped them already?"

Ranko nodded, smiling. "I'm looking forward to giving this to her."

Akane's eyes drifted up to Ranko's face. "You did a good job on your
makeup! You're learning."

Ranko beamed. "Thank you."

"Which reminds me..." Akane stepped over to her vanity and began to work
on her face.

Ranko went over to sit on the bed. "I feel bad for Ryouga... he wanted
to take me out tonight." She sighed. "But I couldn't skip Sayuri's
birthday."

Akane, with the speed born of long practice, was putting the finishing
touches on her makeup. At least there was *one* feminine art she wasn't
a klutz at... "There's always tomorrow night."

"I guess..."

Akane finished, stood, and went to the dresser to fetch her present. She
winced as she looked over the haphazard, sloppy wrapping; it was nowhere
near as neat and pretty as what Ranko had produced. Well, it's the
thought that counts...

"We'd better go, or we'll be late."

They stopped by the living room to bid the rest of the family farewell,
and were greeted by an appreciative chorus of compliments.

"My, don't you two look nice!" said Kasumi. Genma and Souun glanced at
each other, smiling with quiet pride.

Ryouga, housebound by Nabiki's decree, grinned and said, "You look like
you're going on a date... with each other!"

"Ryouga no baka!" said Ranko and Akane in unison; they blinked, looked
at each other, and started laughing, joined by the rest of the family.

Nodoka shook her head. "Sometimes I think Kirara and I were wrong when
we told you two you weren't twins." She smiled. "Why so dressy?"

Akane and Ranko looked at each other once more. "I guess... we're just
getting a little more grown-up, Auntie. Sayuri decided that this year,
instead of having friends over to her house, she wanted us to all go out
to a restaurant together. Partly, it's a dressy place, and partly... we
just felt like it." Akane smiled.

Souun started to weep. "Waaahh! My little girl is growing up!" Nabiki
rolled her eyes.

Nodoka tried to ignore the waterworks. "What are you giving her for her
birthday?"

Akane held up her package, a little embarrassed by its ugliness. "A
scarf."

Ranko smiled and held up hers. "Blue jade earrings. To match these." She
held her hair aside, revealing two beautiful green jade earrings.
"Sayuri gave me these, back when I got my ears pierced." She blushed,
and Nodoka smiled and nodded in understanding.

Akane noticed the clock. "We'd better get going, Sis."

Ranko's eyes found Ryouga. "I'm... I'm sorry. We'll do something
tomorrow night. I promise." She smiled shyly. "And don't forget,
Christmas Eve is this Friday." They turned and left.

Ryouga turned pale. He'd forgotten that the biggest date night of the
year was coming up. And he hadn't made any reservations anywhere! He
would have to scramble to find someplace to take her.

Akane and Ranko walked rapidly to make it to the restaurant on time.
Ranko was a little wobbly: she had recently bought some new boots, with
a rather higher heel than she was used to. They were a pain to walk in
and hurt her feet if she wore them for too long, but she didn't feel
*quite* so short when she was wearing them. It was nice to be *almost*
tall enough to look other women in the eye (as long as they were wearing
flats...). She had been average in height as Ranma. Now, she was the
shortest girl her age that she knew. She had to look up at Akane, and
Kasumi practically towered over her. Sometimes it made her feel like a
little kid.

"How are things between you and Ryouga, Sis? I got the feeling when you
came home from babysitting last night that something had happened."

Ranko blushed and nodded. "I... I couldn't really admit it to myself
before last night, but... I think I'm starting to develop feelings for
him..."

Akane smiled. "Really? How do you feel about that?"

Ranko bit her lip. "Frightened. He's... he's really serious. Last night,
he let slip that he's already thinking about marriage."

Akane's jaw dropped. "You're kidding!"

Ranko nodded. "He blurted out that he would take care of the kids so I
could pursue my violin." She looked around nervously. "Don't tell
anyone... I *really* don't want that getting around. I wasn't going to
talk about it tonight with the others." Akane nodded.

"Anyway, having him thinking about marriage makes it even harder for me
to figure out how I feel about him. On the one hand, I think, maybe I
should try dating other guys first... do I really want to marry the
first guy I date? Am I even ready to think about marriage at all? I
won't even be 17 until March! On the other hand, I... I really feel like
I'm starting to care about him... Part of me doesn't want to date other
guys..."

"Why do you think your feelings have changed?"

Ranko frowned. "I'm not sure. I think one part of it is that he's
changing, too, a lot. He's... he's not the same Ryouga he used to be.
When I started dating him, I was still thinking of him as my old school
friend, the guy who used to shout 'Ranma, prepare to die!' or 'Saotome,
you've made my life hell!'" They both giggled. "But he's changed. It's
like all that anger and depression he had bottled up is just gone. He's
a lot more mellow, a lot happier."

Akane smiled. "That's probably all thanks to you, Sis."

Ranko blushed deeply and nodded. "Anyway, without all that anger and
depression, he's... a really sweet, considerate, kind guy. He... he
dotes on me. And... I... after seeing him... her... ummm, whatever, with
Miki last night... I... I could really see him as a father." She blushed
again. "As the father of *my* children."

Ranko thought for a few seconds. "I mean, if I look at it in a
cold-blooded, calculating way, he's a good 'catch'." She said the word
with distaste. "The perfect husband for someone like me, who wants a
career. But... I can't marry someone just because they're useful to me.
I know some women do that, but I can't. I'll have to love the man I
marry; I want a partner, not a... fish. You... you have to give up
something to be married, to be parents; you have to make lots of
compromises. To me, it's not worth it if I'm not with someone I love
deeply. I'd rather not get married in that case." She shook her head.
"Maybe I'm a romantic, but it can't just be a business transaction. Not
for me."

Akane shook her head, smiling. "I wouldn't have believed that anyone
raised by your father could look at it that way."

Ranko laughed. "Well, I've been thinking about it a lot. And... I saw
some of the compromises Miki's parents have had to make." She sobered.
"It was very... educational."

The restaurant, an upscale Italian place on the main shopping street
near Fuurinkan, came into view. Ranko pursed her lips. "I hope I can get
this figured out soon. While I'm trying to figure out how I feel about
him, he's already planning our future. That makes me really nervous. If
we broke up even now, after only one real date, he'd be devastated. I
need time, but the longer I take, the more committed he gets." She
sighed. "I have the feeling he already has the names for our children
picked out."

Akane frowned. "Maybe it would be better if you guys took a little time
off from each other."

Ranko sighed. "Maybe it would. But... I don't know if we can..."

They walked the rest of the way in silence.

*****

"How about this one?"

Ranko looked over the movie ad. There were guns, missiles, explosions,
soldiers, helicopters... "Ummm... I don't think so."

"Hmmm." Ryouga flipped through the pages of Pia. "Hey! Have you ever
been to the Takarazuka Revue?"

Ranko made a face. "I think I've had enough of a woman pretending to be
a man to last me a lifetime, thank you."

"Ummm... good point." He continued scanning the ads.

Akane wandered up to Ryouga and Ranko, who were seated at the dining
table. "What are you guys doing? Looking for a movie?"

Ranko nodded. "We're going out tonight."

Ryouga shook his head. "There doesn't seem to be anything good playing
right now."

Akane sat down to look as well. "Hmmm..."

The three were engrossed when they heard Nabiki's voice call from the
genkan. "Tadaima!" She walked in, a package wrapped as a gift under one
arm.

"O-kaeri, Oneechan," said Ranko and Akane, in stereo. They looked at
each other and giggled.

Akane noticed the package. "Did you buy a gift for someone?"

Nabiki cocked her head. "Sort of. I just got back from Akihabara."

Akane and Ranko looked at each other in surprise; that was an unusual
destination for Nabiki.

Ryouga's interest was piqued. "What did you get?"

Nabiki grinned. "A prosthetic sense of direction."

She wished she had had her camera with her; the look on Ryouga's face
was priceless.

He finally found his voice. "Wh-what do you mean?"

Nabiki walked over to the table and placed the package on top of the
open issue of Pia they had been perusing. "Why don't you open it and
find out?"

Ranko didn't think that any child could possibly have torn open a
present more quickly than Ryouga opened the wrapping paper. He lifted
out the box inside.

He turned the box around, looking at it from all directions. "Model
GX-7400 Pocket GPS Receiver?" He looked up at Nabiki, confused.

She nodded. "It took me a while to find that model." Her eyes narrowed.
"It was quite expensive, by the way." The look in her eyes made the
other three shiver; it said, "You owe me, buster. Big time."

"It has an interesting feature: you put in an address anywhere in Japan,
and it gives you step-by-step directions on how to get there from
wherever you are now. It can speak them aloud, too, as an option. It can
even update its database wirelessly over the Internet. Plus, it's
water-resistant." Nabiki folded her arms.

Comprehension started to dawn in Ryouga's eyes. He regarded the box as
if it contained some magical artifact that defied the laws of nature.
Finally, he managed to express an opinion. "Wow..."

Twenty minutes later, they were standing in the park, bundled up against
the late December weather. "OK," said Nabiki, "You're going to lead us
all back home. Go for it."

Ryouga looked at the unit. "Ummm... I don't know your address. Addresses
were never much use to me..."

Nabiki rolled her eyes. "OK. The unit can store a directory of up to 50
locations you want to go to. You can scroll through it by name, and pick
one. Give it here."

Ryouga handed the GX-7400 over to Nabiki. She fiddled with its tiny
keypad for a while. "Let's see... Tendou Dojo... Fuurinkan High
School... there." She handed it back. "I've put the Dojo and the High
School in. Just rotate that thumbwheel, and when you see the place you
want to go, hit that red button."

Ryouga dialed the thumb wheel until the display said "Tendou Dojo." He
pushed the red button. After a short pause, the unit spoke up in a
polite, synthesized female voice. "Please proceed to the park exit
nearest the playground."

Ryouga looked around; sure enough, there was an exit visible near the
playground. He frowned. "This can't be right! Isn't your house that
way?" He pointed in the opposite direction.

Ranko, Akane, and Nabiki all looked at each other. Nabiki answered, "Why
don't you try going the way you think is right, Ryouga?"

Ryouga nodded, and proceeded in what he thought was the right direction.
The unit immediately spoke up. "I'm sorry, that is not the correct
direction. Please turn around." He stopped, and all three girls burst
out laughing.

Ryouga's face turned red. "Ummm, that's not the right way?"

Nabiki nodded. "This is very important. If this thing is going to work
for you, you have to completely ignore your own sense of direction. If
you start going the way you think you should, you're already lost. Got
it?"

Ryouga nodded uncertainly, and turned around. The three girls followed
behind him.

As he left the park through the exit near the playground, the unit spoke
again. "Please turn right, and continue." He did so.

As Ryouga walked along, making turns at the unit's command, his feeling
of discomfort grew. He looked behind him; the three sisters were still
following him, their expressions neutral. He looked forward again, and
frowned. He was sure this couldn't be right. The unit must be defective;
his instincts screamed at him that he was going further and further off
course, getting more and more lost.

He turned around again. "Are you *sure* this thing is taking us in the
right direction?"

All three girls looked elsewhere nonchalantly, their expressions
unreadable.

Ryouga sighed, and turned forward once more. He reached a corner.
"Please turn left, and continue." He did so. His sense of being lost was
overwhelming now. He hoped Ranko and her sisters could figure out where
they were and get them home.

Suddenly the unit spoke up. "You have reached your destination." He
looked up, and found himself face to face with the front gate of the
Tendou Dojo.

He stared at the gate, then at the small unit in his hand, then at the
gate again, then back to the girls, who were all grinning at him.
Slowly, an expression of joy crept onto his face, and grew and grew,
until he looked like a little boy who had opened a plain-looking package
and found the one present he had wanted more than anything else in the
whole world, the one he had thought he would never, ever receive.

Ranko clapped her hands together and laughed in delight at the pure,
childlike joy on Ryouga's face; she had never seen him look this happy
in the entire time she had known him. In fact, she didn't think she had
ever seen him actually joyful; it utterly transformed his face. She felt
a kind of joy herself, a warm feeling in her heart that seemed to echo
his. Curiously, a tear ran down her cheek; she wiped it away, and
wondered what it meant.

They never did actually go to the movies that night. Instead, for the
rest of the day, Ryouga led Ranko all over Fuurinkan-cho, quite
literally like a kid with a new toy. The shopping district, the high
school, the Tendou Dojo, the Saotome home: he fairly cackled with glee
as the little gadget led him unerringly to wherever he wanted to go.
Ranko found his delight in this to be more than entertainment enough.

After getting strange looks from passersby, Ryouga noticed the earphone
jack on the unit. Nabiki was happy to supply him with one ("I'm just
putting this all on your tab, you know"), and so he placed the unit in a
pocket, with the earphone in his ear. It looked rather like an
old-fashioned hearing aid, which seemed oddly appropriate.

They ended up on the roof of the Tendou Dojo.

"I'm sorry we never went on our date... and after I gave you a hard time
about wanting one."

"It's OK." She smiled. "Watching you with your new toy was the best date
I could have had. I'm so happy for you."

He put his arm around her, and she snuggled into his shoulder. "It's all
thanks to you asking Nabiki for me." She smiled. "Even if I *am* gonna
have to pay for it in convenient monthly installments." They both
laughed.

His face grew serious again. "Everything good that's happened to me
recently has been because of you." He brought his face a little closer,
and Ranko wondered as she looked up into his eyes. His soft, brown,
soulful eyes. They seemed almost to grow, until she couldn't see
anything else...

"You know, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You helped
me straighten my life out. You got me out of the rut I was in, the anger
and the hate and the depression. You made me *happy*. You've been like
an angel to me, turning my life in the right direction.

"You have a beautiful soul. I couldn't think of any better way to spend
my life than watching you play your violin, practice the Art, and mother
your children. And... and share all that with you, if... if you'll have
me. And to think I hated you... wanted to kill you... thought you were
the *worst* thing in my life..." He shook his head in wonder. "I could
have missed knowing you. The real you."

She shivered. "Ryouga... I... I..."

He drew her into a tight embrace. "Shhhh. I know. I'm sorry. I just
can't help telling you how I feel." He kissed the top of her head.
"Because I love you. So much that if you decide I'm not the one for you,
I'll still be glad I fell in love with you."

She pulled back a little and looked up at him again in wonder. Was this
Ryouga speaking so poetically? Why had she never seen this side of him
before? Maybe he had kept it hidden, just as she had hidden so many
parts of herself. "Ryouga..."

Her eyes were shimmering, and suddenly she felt drawn to him. She tilted
her head back and leaned forward ever so slightly, bringing her mouth a
little closer to his. Her eyes were half-closed. He smiled, lowering his
head, and they kissed, a gentle, tender kiss, that was somehow
passionate all the same, just from the connection it made between them.

Ranko felt something as she kissed him, a longing for something she
couldn't even identify, much less express, yet joyous at the same time.
Her mind seemed a maelstrom of swirling emotions. Something intangible
passed between them through their lips, something she couldn't put a
name to. The more she felt she got from him, the more she wanted to give
to him in return.

Finally, the kiss ended, and they once more looked into each other's
eyes. Ranko couldn't take her eyes off of his. Warm, gentle... loving.
She shook her head slightly; she felt as if her heart were being torn in
two, by a tug of war between fear of what this burgeoning relationship
meant, and... and something else. Something that made her want to hold
onto him and not let go. She snuggled into his shoulder again, and he
held her, still not saying anything.

After a time, she spoke, her voice almost a whisper. "Ryouga?"

"Mmmm?"

"You... you know how you told Noriko that you were my boyfriend?"

He grimaced. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I was your boyfriend.
We're just dating, right?"

She snorted. "N-no. We're... we're not just dating. Not any more. I...
I've been lying to myself. What happened just now couldn't have happened
if we were just dating. I... I wouldn't *feel* this way..." She shook
her head. "You... you were right. You *are* my boyfriend. Ryouga, I...
I... I..." she stopped speaking.

"Shhhh." He stroked her hair gently. "It's OK. It's OK." He held her
quietly for a few moments. "I know this has been going too fast for you.
I can wait -- years, if that's what it takes. I'll try my best to do
this the way you want. Because all I want is for you to be happy. I
don't want you to be frightened."

She shivered again. "It's... it's what I want that I'm afraid of..."

*****

The next morning, Ryouga insisted on walking Akane and Ranko to school.
No, on *leading* Akane and Ranko to school. They reached the gates, then
paused.

Ranko looked up at him, and blushed. She was still overwhelmed by what
had happened on the roof last night. "I'll... I'll see you tonight." A
grin split her face as her humor returned a little. "It's so weird to be
able to count on something like that!"

He smiled, and moved to kiss her. "No, not here in front of everyone!"
she protested, but it was too late.

"You there! Hibiki! How dare you attempt to kiss the beauteous Saotome
Ranko!"

All three sighed and turned around to face the Blue Thunder of Fuurinkan
High School. Meanwhile, heads popped out of windows like dandelions from
a lawn after a spring rain.

"Did he say 'kiss'?" "I thought she liked girls! Damn, I coulda asked
her out!" "Didn't they used to fight all the time?" "Whoa, way to go,
Ranko-chan!"

Ranko sighed and put her hand over her eyes.

Kunou didn't like being ignored. "Answer me, cur!"

Ryouga, *please* don't say it in front of the whole school...

"Hey! She's my girlfriend, OK?! I'll kiss her if I want to!"

He said it...

"Girlfriend?!" "Man, I missed my chance! Now it's too late!" "But he
wanted to kill her! I wonder when they made up?" "Wow... I guess she's a
girl after all..." "*Definitely* way to go, Ranko-chan!" "Think they've
done 'it' yet?"

Ranko turned bright red, and Akane's battle aura started to glow.

Kunou spluttered. "You dare pretend to the honor of companion to the
fire-haired maiden? It is an outrage! I will not permit it!" He charged
at Ryouga, his bokken raised.

Ryouga just stood there, watching Kunou, making no effort to move. The
bokken swung towards Ryouga's undefended side, and Ranko's heart leapt
into her throat. She wanted to leap and intercept the bokken herself,
but she had waited too long, certain that Ryouga could handle Kunou
easily. Why wasn't he *doing* anything? She watched in helpless agony.

At the last moment, Ryouga, who had been watching the bokken carefully,
reached out one finger and said quietly, "Bakusai Tenketsu." The bokken
touched his finger and promptly exploded, peppering Kunou with wood
fragments. The kendoist stopped, and slowly toppled over.

Ryouga grinned, and turned to Ranko. "Works every time. You know..." He
trailed off. Ranko was glaring at him, tears running down her face.
"R-Ranko?"

"Baka! Did you have to show off like that?! I... I thought he was going
to *hurt* you!" Akane drew a sharp breath. Several of the girls watching
from the windows sighed.

Ryouga's heart twisted a little, in a way both painful and exhilarating.
"I, uhhh... Even if he had, it wouldn't have hurt much. You know me." He
grinned sheepishly. "I'm... I'm sorry..."

Ranko stared at him for a long moment, then blushed deeply. His embrace
was so gentle, and it had been so long since they had fought, she had
forgotten he had the strength of a monster. This was a man who could
stop a charging boar with one hand. "Oh... right. Heh." Oh, Kami-sama,
did I ever just make a fool of myself, and in front of the whole school.
Ranko no baka...

She wiped her tears away. Still blushing, she nodded. "I'll... I'll see
you later, OK?"

He smiled. "OK."

Ranko and Akane -- who was trying desperately to keep a smile off her
face -- turned and walked into the school. Ranko continued to blush and
look at the ground as she walked, trying hard to ignore the fact that
the thought of Ryouga being hurt had frightened her terribly.

Ryouga watched them enter the school, and just stood there for a while.
He sighed, turned away, and started to walk back to the Tendou Dojo,
listening to the directions coming through his earphone. He hadn't been
to school in so long, and it embarrassed him. How could he hope to run
his own dojo, not even having attended high school? He shook his head.
What was the use? He couldn't very well attend school if he got lost all
the...

Suddenly, he stopped, his eyes wide. He slowly turned around and looked
back at the school.

*****

Ranko was headed from the restroom towards the cafeteria for lunch when
Sayuri walked up to her. The rest of her class had already gone on
ahead, and Ranko was surprised that Sayuri had not as well. "Ranko-chan?"

Ranko felt a little nervous; Sayuri looked quite serious. "Yes,
Sayuri-chan?"

"I just wanted to give you something. I think you'll find it really
useful considering what's going on in your life right now."

Ranko was nonplussed. "Really? Th-thank you. What... what is it?"

Sayuri pressed something into her hands; it felt like a... book? "This.
I really think it will come in handy."

Ranko nodded uncertainly, and Sayuri turned and started to walk away.

Ranko looked at what was in her hands; it was a large glossy magazine.
"Graceful Wedding..." Suddenly, she turned beet red. "Sayuri-channnn!!"
She heard laughter drifting from down the hall, and took off in pursuit.

She paused at the school entrance; had Sayuri gone outside? She thought
so. She decided to put on her outside shoes and go check.

After a couple of minutes, she took a last look around, and gave up;
Sayuri was nowhere to be seen. She must have been mistaken about the way
her friend had gone.

She allowed herself a laugh; Sayuri was too good a friend to have meant
it as anything other than good-natured teasing after her display in
front of the school that morning. She looked at the magazine she was
holding and laughed again. As if she would need to read something like
this!

Five minutes later, she was deep into the magazine, checking out the
photographs, and wandering back towards the school to eat. She was just
wondering how she would look in the wedding gown on page 110 when she
bumped into a tree. She looked up in confusion. Hadn't she been heading
towards the school? Where was she?

Suddenly, a hideous thought occurred to her: "Oh, Kami-sama, I kissed
him, and it's CONTAGIOUS!!" She looked around and caught sight of the
school, then realized where she was and let out a sigh of relief. She
snorted at herself for thinking of such an outlandish idea; she had
merely been distracted and not watching where she was going. It was a
good thing Sayuri hadn't been around to see her that engrossed in the
magazine. Feeling more than a little silly, she stuck it under her arm
and headed back; she would have to hurry to have time enough to eat
lunch.

She was about to enter the cafeteria when Yuka intercepted her, eyeing
the magazine. "Ranko-chan, I don't think it would be a good idea to take
that into the cafeteria right now." She looked worried.

Ranko smiled. "It's a very good idea! I need to give it back to its
rightful owner." She winked. "In full view of everyone else." She
offered an evil grin and marched in, the magazine still under her arm.
Yuka was left talking to empty air, and scrambled to follow her.

She spotted Sayuri and her other friends at their usual table, and
headed over. Time for a little payback teasing. There was a male student
sitting at the table as well, though she couldn't see his face. All the
better. Let's see, she thought, how about "Sayuri-chan, here's your
magazine back. I know you couldn't bear to part with it for long!"

As she marched up to the table, Sayuri spotted her and turned pale. She
tried to wave Ranko off, her eyes filled with panic. Her mouth was
saying "No... no... no..." silently. Ranko grinned. This was going to be
fun.

Akane spotted her and turned ashen, and started making warding motions
too. Ranko stopped behind the boy and said "Oh, not you too, Sis."

The boy turned around, and Ranko's heart stopped. It was Ryouga, in a
Fuurinkan uniform. And she had a thick bridal magazine under her arm.

"There you are! I was wondering what was keeping you." He stood up and
spread out his arms, showing off the uniform. "So, what do you think?"

"R... R... R..." was all she could manage.

"Surprised, huh? I figured that now that I can find my way around, I
could start going to school again, so I registered here this morning."
He smiled. "I want to run my own dojo, and I need an education for
that." He put his hand behind his head, a little embarrassed. "I've got
some catching up to do."

Abject terror and pride warred in Ranko's heart. Abject terror was
winning. "That's... that's really wonderful, Ryouga! W-w-what a
surprise!"

He laughed. "Yeah. All your friends just about turned white when I
showed up at the table here! Guess I surprised them, too." His eyes
spotted something. "What's that?"

Ranko swallowed. "What's what?"

"That thing under your arm. It looks like a thick magazine."

Yuka sidled up behind Ranko, and surreptitiously slid the magazine out
from under her arm as she went past. Ranko tried to persuade her heart
to stop pounding.

She lifted her arms. "I don't have anything under my arms. See?" She
shrugged cutely. Yuka walked casually around the table and sat down --
on top of something. Ranko glared at Sayuri, whose face showed miserable
embarrassment, and whose eyes spoke of profound, heartfelt apologies.

Ryouga frowned. "That's odd, I could've sworn..."

Ranko smiled shakily. "I'll... I'll be right back. I forgot my bento."

Akane spoke up. "I already brought yours, Sis." She pointed at the
cloth-wrapped box at the empty seat next to Ryouga's.

Ranko sat down next to Ryouga, and shivered. That had been close...

As she started to calm down, she finally was able to focus on Ryouga's
good news. She took his arm and smiled. "Ryouga, I'm so happy for you. I
know how much missing school has bothered you. Congratulations." Ryouga
was grinning from ear to ear, and they just looked at each other for a
long moment.

Ranko's friends smiled, the prank gone awry forgotten for the time
being. Yuka's thoughts went to the contents of the magazine she was
sitting on, and she sighed.

Later, when it was time for PE, Ranko and Ryouga walked towards the
locker rooms together. "Watch out in the locker room. When they find out
you turn into a girl, they'll try to splash you." Ranko blushed. "I
always just beat them up, and it seemed to hold them off for a few
months."

Ryouga snorted and cracked his knuckles. "Don't worry." They reached the
locker room doors and paused. "Thanks for the heads up."

She grinned impishly. "Hey, we girls have to stick together...
Ryouko-chan." She winked, and he gave her a sour look, but didn't say
anything; her teasing didn't really bother him any more. They parted.

In the locker room Ranko was startled to find herself mobbed by more of
her friends.

Megumi said "Ranko-chan, he is majorly cute! Way to go, girl!"

The other girls chimed in their agreement. "The whole school is talking
about you guys!" Ranko sighed; when was the whole school *not* talking
about her?

One of the other girls feigned a pout. "Why didn't I notice how cute he
was before? His first day at school and he's taken already! No fair!"
Everyone laughed.

As she changed her clothes for PE, she wondered what she would have
thought six months ago if someone had told her that by the end of the
year, she would be in the girl's locker room, being congratulated for
having a "majorly cute" boyfriend. She giggled. Or that she was Akane's
long lost "twin sister", or that she would be thinking very seriously of
becoming a violinist instead of a martial arts sensei. She shook her
head. Wow. Sometimes, just thinking about all this still overwhelmed her.

She finished changing, straightened up, and gently closed her locker.
"Ranma" would have run for the hills, terrified of what such a life
represented. But she wouldn't trade her life right now for anything; she
was too happy, even with all the pressures and uncertainties of her
relationship with Ryouga. She smiled slightly, her eyes unfocused, and
again silently thanked Kami-sama for what had happened last summer.
Thank you for letting me be me...

Akane walked up, and tilted her head, almost as if she knew what was
going through Ranko's mind. They smiled wordlessly at each other, then
headed off to the gym.

*****

End Chapter 12