Fred Herriot Ranma 1/2: "Ranko, Abandoned No More" Part 1 by Fred Herriot gorgo@timebomb.on.ca **** **** **** Based on "Ranma 1/2" created by Rumiko Takahashi **** **** **** WARNING: This story contains adult scenes. Standard warnings apply. **** **** **** INTRODUCTION I know, I know. You've seen your fill of fics where Ranma is split into Ranma and Ranko. There's also been several stories done in the main series concerning the cast dealing with a feminine Ranma created by various means (the Copy Ranma in manga Volume 35 for example). This story's been preying on my mind for some time, so, since I'm trying to get over a writer's block concerning my final two "Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year" stories, I decided to put this down. Having lived in Korea for seven months during 1996-7, I've come to appreciate the good and bad aspects of Confucian society. A terrible problem plaguing Korea right now is selective abortion. With the drive to bear healthy male children, mothers usually abort unborn daughters to prevent themselves from confronting the shame of not preserving the husband's family line. Technically, this is illegal, but the Confucian-inspired drive to have sons over daughters can be overpowering; I was reading about cases like this throughout my stay. In fact, this belief has actually led to suicide on several occasions! Thus, I asked myself this: what if there was a place where unwanted girls were "disposed" of, a place which turns out to be as magical as Jusenkyou? And what would happen if Ranma came to this place? Well, read on to learn the answer... WRITER'S NOTES: 1) This story occurs after the manga series ends. Further, this story leads in certain aspects to my planned sequel series "Ranma 1/2 Twenty Years Later" (which will undergo serious revision before being released at the same time as "Urusei Yatsura Twenty Years Later"). Relax, Sean; Ryouga WILL be married to Akari this time! 2) The Chinese and Korean names are given in family-name-first order. Japanese names are given in given-name-first order. 3) "Kimiko" was used as the name of Akane's deceased mother in another fanfic (I forget which one). It sounds nice. 4) Translations and explanations: An-nyong-ha-se-yo - Good Day (Korean) Hanbok - Traditional Korea dress. For women, a two-piece dress with a top similar to a gi's jersey over a skirt. Lee - Anglicization of the Korean "i" (EE) sound, which sounds the same as the Japanese. "I" is Korean for "two." Cholla-do - Cholla Province, located in south-west Korea. Pronounced CHAWL-LA. Divided today into Chollapuk-do (North Cholla) and Chollanam-do (South Cholla) Tonghak Peasant Army - A "righteous army," in actuality a people's militia, operating against the pro-Japanese elements in Korean government during 1894, protesting the movement which led to Korea's annexation by Japan in 1910. 5) An explanation of the doubles' names: Ranko - No explanation required. Asana - In the Korean "Ranma," Akane's name is Sa-na. Shang-feng - I took the phonetic reading of Shampoo's name (SHA-N-PU-U), then looked up my kanji dictionary to see the kanji that matched SHA and PU. I had to use FU (there is no PU), but in Chinese, they are almost always read "Shang-feng." Shashi - Ukyou means "right capital." Shashi means "left city." Kodayuu - Kodachi means "small long sword." Kodayuu means "small courtesan." The last kanji is changed (remember the joke about Kunou's name?). **** **** **** And as we always say...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!! **** **** **** "Here it is!" Genma nods. "Jookoji-shima." Ranma and Nodoka exchange concerned glances. The small volcanic rock, not even a kilometre wide, was located in the middle of the East China Sea. Over the sign displaying the island's kanji title, were four direction signs. West, Shanghai. North, Cheju-do. East, Makurazaki. South, Okinawa. Flapping from flagpoles were the national flags of the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and Japan. The visiting Japanese martial artists found this odd. "Hey, Pop, who owns this rock, anyway?" Ranma wonders. "I...I'm not sure," Genma muses, equally mystified. "Let's see if there's someone here to tell us what's going on." "Oh, honestly, Genma!" Nodoka's eyes roll. "When will you stop listening to that old fool Happousai?! All he ever does is get you and Souun-kun into more trouble!" "Yeah, he does, doesn't he?!" Ranma snorts. The three stop, tensing as their senses detect others. "Oh, we have visitors," a Korean-accented voice announces. "An-nyong-ha-se-yo!" "Ni-hao!" a voice not so different from Shampoo's salutes. "Ohayo gosaimasu," a Japanese voice adds. The Saotomes turn to see three young women standing there. One is dressed in a sleeveless long skirt with a Chinese dragon stitched on it. The second is in a hanbok. The third wears a sea-pattern kimono. "Ah...hi, there!" Ranma smiles. "Don't mind us; we're just coming by to visit." The three smile. "We rarely get visitors," the Chinese woman smiles. "I am Wei Yi-xin, First Guardian of this island." "I am We Lee-shin, Second Guardian of this island," the Korean woman lightly bows. "I am Mishin Ei, Third Guardian of this island," the Japanese woman bows. The Saotomes exchange confused looks. "Those aren't your real names, are they?!" Ranma wonders. "No, they are not," Mishin admits. "We use them as aliases during our tenure as Jookoji-shima's spiritual guardians. May we enquire as to what brings you here today?" "We came to relax and meditate," Genma explains. "My family has been separated for some time. My sensei recommended this place as a good one to seek inner harmony." "Then you have come to the right place," Lee-shin smiles. "Please, our humble abode is this way. Make yourselves comfortable." The Saotomes nod... * * * "My, what a lovely home," Nodoka sighs as she and Genma relax in the guest hut beside the island's main building, a pagoda-like temple located near the dormant volcano's mouth. Ranma was off to find the bathhouse. It was now well past sunset. The three guardians were now preparing a mixed feast. "Tell me, Ei-san, who governs this island?" she gazes at Mishin. "No nation claims Jookoji-shima, Saotome-san," Mishin smiles. "This is a religious preserve maintained by an alliance of sects in our homelands. I am a Shinto priestess, Lee-shin is a shaman and Yi-xin is a Taoist researcher. We wish to create no controversy over this island. Besides, it has no strategic or nationalist value, so why worry?" "I see," Nodoka muses. "Yet...I find it fascinating that you three live together without any sign of...antagonism." The guardians smile. "You are wise to question that," Lee-shin chuckles. "Before we took this assignment, we had to spend a year in the other's country, learn the other's language and culture to prevent... misunderstandings. We have been here for several years, so we have no reason to complain." "Yet," Yi-xin warns. "What are you guarding?" Genma wonders. "You don't know?!" the guardians wonder. The Saotomes shake their heads. Suddenly, angry curses echo from outside. "Damn, why'd it grow so dark out here all of a sudden?!" Ranma-chan demands as the door slides open. Everyone turns to see the transformed kempoist tromp in, training a line of mud outside. Seeing the mud drying on her body, atop several bleeding cuts in her arms, the guardians freeze, faces paling. "Ranma, what happened?!" Nodoka gasps. "Sorry, Mom...ah!!" Ranma-chan stares at her mess. "Oh, jeez! I'm sorry about that! I went to look for the bathhouse, fell into this pond, turned into a girl, got cut up by some sharp stones, then stumbled around and fell into this mud-spring somewhere!" "No!!!" Yi-xin gasps. "You didn't go all the way into the volcano, did you?!!" "I...I think I did!" Ranma-chan scratches her head. "It's so dark out there, I couldn't see more than three feet in front of me!!" "Mishin?" Yi-xin turns to her. Drawing her spirit-sensor, Mishin passes it over Ranma-chan. The vanes flap wildly. "This person has been cursed!" she exclaims. "Jusenkyou," Genma explains. "Ah, the valley with the cursed spring training ground!" Yi-xin nods understandingly. "Go on, Mishin. Is it...?" Mishin nods. "It is." The guardians exchange worried looks. "It's...what?" Ranma-chan shudders. The guardians stare at her. "You feel into what is known as Nini-Quan-Qi- Niang...the Mud Spring of Abandoned Daughters," Yi-xin sighs. "For hundreds of years, those who have birthed unwanted daughters have used this island...to dispose of them!" "What?!!" the Saotomes cry in disbelief. "I can attest to that," Lee-shin sighs. "In Korea, the urge is there among many families to adhere to the Confucian drive to bear sons to preserve the family line. I myself was nearly aborted before my father made my mother see reason. I am sure such is the same in China and Japan. In times past, this island was used by those mothers who, worried that they would be made outcast or killed by kin because they did not bear sons, sent their unwanted children to this place...to die." "Oh, man!" Ranma-chan sinks to her knees. "So...what's with this place? Is it...?" "As you learned to your cost in Jusenkyou, there are places where death ...is not the final act of creation," Yi-xin sighs. "Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang is a magical spring. The souls of those countless women denied a fruitful life lay within it...waiting for the day to come forth and gain a second chance at life. And you just gave one person that chance!" she points at Ranma-chan's bleeding arms. "What did I do?!!" Ranma-chan gasps. "By giving your blood to the spring, the DNA and proteins serving as the building blocks of life will self-replicate until a double of yourself in your female form, exact in every detail, is born," Lee-shin explains. "Then, one of the souls will inhabit it...and she will emerge from the spring, able to live the life snuffed from her ages ago." Ranma-chan and her parents exchange worried looks. "Is there some way to stop this?!" Genma demands, bolting to his feet. The guardians shake their heads... * * * "He-he-he!!" Happousai snickers, gazing at the bubbling mud spring before him. "They fell for it hook, line and sinker! Once this old spring gets into gear, I'll have my own Ranma-chan for keeps!!" Before him, Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang bubbles to life as a pillar of solidifiying mud surges forth. As steam billows from it, the mud transforms, morphing into a humanoid shape. Within it, DNA molecules shed by Ranma-chan combine with proteins and other elements to forge a skeletal structure. Internal organs, muscles and skin form next. In minutes, a whole person, complete with beautiful red hair, sheds her muddy cocoon for the world outside! "I did it!!!" Happousai cackles as he leaps to the living Galatea before him. "Come to my arms, sweetie!!" He winds up introduced to her fist! "Jiji!!!" the woman growls, grabbing the aged master by his shirt. "What's the freaking idea?!! Where am I?!!" "Hey!!" Happousai snaps. "You're supposed to be my love-slave!! Now let me go and introduce me to your lovely gams!!!" he zips out of her arms and implants himself into her cleavage... ...then winds up in orbit!! "Get outta here, you freak!!!" the woman snaps, then wades out of the mud spring. "Ugh!! Where am I?!!" Suddenly, a light shines on her. "It has happened!" Yi-xin sighs. The woman blinks as she stares at those gathered around the spring. "Mom! Pop!! What's going on here...eh?!" She stops on seeing Ranma-chan gazing at her, still as a girl, still caked in mud. "What the...?!" the woman gasps. "You're me!!!" "You're me!!!" Ranma-chan echoes, pointing at her. Lee-shin approaches, drawing her own mystical charms. "Be at peace, lost one!" she gently waves beads before the woman's eyes. "Cast your mind beyond what your template gave you. Remember who you are." The woman pales, tears flooding her eyes as she painfully shakes her head, the charms unlocking memories deep within her mind. "No...no, Guardian ...please...don't..." "You must accept it," Lee-shin intones. The woman quakes as anguished sobs consume her. She staggers into Ranma- chan's waiting arms, wails akin to a newborn child lost in a strange world flooding from within... * * * "Lucky thing we had extra clothes for her," Nodoka sighs, gazing at the weeping woman in her lap. "Honestly, Genma!! Won't you ever learn not to listen to that old fool?! You and Souun do the same thing all the time, accept his 'advice' as gospel, then make total morons of yourself!! Kimiko-san warned of the same thing! Won't you listen?!" Genma shudders. "Yes, dear," he bows. The door slides opens, revealing Ranma restored. "Ah, thanks for the hot water, Yi-xin," he wipes his hair, then gazes at his newborn twin. "How is she?" "The replication is not just physical," Lee-shin sighs, waving her beads over the dozing woman. "Since this was a newborn child when she first died, she has no knowledge or experience to call on to take control of her new life. When Ranma-san fell into the pond, his memories were magically copied into the new body." "So, she'll be me in all aspects," Ranma sits beside her. "Will she transform into a guy?" "No," Yi-xin shakes her head. "The power of the spring overwhelms other curses, including Jusenkyou's. Besides, those who died here were always girls, not boys. It...reinforces your curse, thus keeping her permanently in this form." "So...I get a daughter out of this trip," Nodoka sighs. "Poor child. Who would be so cruel as to allow her to die?" "I wish I could remember." The woman's eyes open, then she gazes at Nodoka. "Okaa-sama," she smiles, gently gripping Nodoka's hand. She then gazes at Genma. "Otoo-sama," she smiles, then stares at Ranma. "Onii-sama." The Saotomes exchange looks. "It is the only honourable thing to do," Genma nods. "Agreed," Nodoka sighs, warmly squeezing the woman's hand. "Now, since we already have a Ranma Saotome, what do we call you?" "I know," Ranma chuckles. "Ranko." Nodoka and Genma gaze at their son. "After all, every time you came by, Mom, I always played 'Ranko Tendou,'" Ranma smiles, then gazes at the newly-named Ranko. "I always wanted a kid sister." Ranko smiles... * * * A week later. Nerima. "Hey, Dad, are you sure the Saotomes'll be back today?" Nabiki wonders as she steps into the living room. Souun reads his paper. "That was their intention," he flips the page. "I hope they had a good time. They've been parted for too long. It's nice to see them getting along." "Yeah, after living for years under a death-threat from Saotome-oba-chan," Nabiki muses as Kasumi walks into the room, a tray of tea and snacks in hand. "Once they get back, all we have to do now is try to convince Ranma and Akane to get married finally." "Now, now, Nabiki," Souun smiles, taking tea cup in hand. "Ranma and Akane decided that they wanted to wait before marrying. After all the times we tried to force them together, I think they deserve the chance to decide what to do. Speaking of which, where is Akane?" Suddenly, a very loud "HIYAA!!!!" followed by the crunch of concrete being shattered echoes from the dojo. "Where else?" Nabiki picks up the business section of the paper. "Now, what's going on in the stock world today...?" A commotion then echoes from outside. "We're back!!" Nodoka's voice echoes. "Souun-kun?! Everyone?!" "Saotome!" Souun places the paper down. "There you are! Did you have a good time out there...URK!!!!" "Ranma, you're back!!" Akane bounds into the living room, then stops, eyes wide. "WHAT THE...?!?!" Movement freezes as four pairs of eyes fall on TWO Ranmas, one male, one female, dressed alike, standing embarrassingly before their parents. "Um... hi, guys," Ranko blushes, scratching the back of her head. "You can call me Ranko Saotome. Sorry about this..." * * * "She's a DOUBLE of Ranma?!!" Nabiki exclaims. The Saotomes nod. "No thanks to Happousai!" Nodoka sips her tea. "It turns out that little island had a mud spring where unwanted babies were sent to die." "That old freak must've splashed me to get me to fall into the spring," Ranma grits his teeth. "And I resulted from that," Ranko completes. The Tendous blink, shocked by the tale. "So...what do we do with her?!" Akane wonders. "I mean, I'm not interested in TWO iinazukes, especially if one's permanently stuck as a girl!!" "Hey, this wasn't my idea, you know!!" Ranko growls. "Relax, Ranko," Ranma sighs. "Look, after what she went through, we're not just going to turf her onto the streets. Until we can help her make a place for herself in society, she's staying with us!" "A wise decision," Souun nods. "Well, where do we put her?" "She could stay with Genma and me," Nodoka muses. "We're putting in that new bedroom in the corner of the grounds, anyway. Ranko-chan is unattached, so she should be with her parents." Ranko hugs her mother's arm. "Well, we've settled that," Souun smiles. "All we have to do is stop Happousai from making a mess of it." "Actually, Jiji fouled it up from the start," Ranma snorts. "You see, to make a love-slave from one of the lost souls of Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang, you have to give a tiny portion of your own blood once the spring is busy making the duplicate body. Jiji forgot to do that!" Everyone laughs. "All we have to do is wait for other perverts to make themselves known," Nabiki sighs. "Like it or not, Ranma, you did attract a lot of attention as a girl from all sorts of people!" "Kunou, Mikado Sanzenin, Densuke..." Ranma rattles off. "Don't remind me!" Ranko flushes. * * * In a day, work is finished on the Saotomes' guest bedroom. With Ranma now living full-time with Akane, Kasumi pursuing Ono Tofu, Nabiki floating between going after Tatewaki Kunou or Ken'nosuke Kashaoo, and Souun fighting off the advances of Hinako Ninomura, Ranko and her adopted parents spend much of their time to themselves. This time, not wanting to get into the trap they experienced with Ranma, Nodoka and Genma elect to work together on fine-tuning their daughter's many rough points. Ranko responds readily to their care, something she had yearned in her previous existence but tragically never received. "Is this okay, Mama?" Ranko stares at her mother. Nodoka looks at the cut vegetables on the chopping board. The two were working in the new wing's kitchenette. "Are they washed?" "Yes, Mama," Ranko readily nods. "Just like you said." "Good! Let's start cooking!" "Okay!" Ranko places them into the wok. Sometime later, the Saotomes enjoy a very scrumptious meal. "This is some of the best cooking I've ever seen!" Genma laughs. "Kasumi herself would be impressed! Ranko, did you do this all by yourself?!" "No, Papa, Mama helped," Ranko blushes. "She's so modest," Nodoka smiles. They dig in. Genma and Nodoka exchange a concerned look. Ranko seemed to shift between two people. One, a more effeminite Ranma-chan, happily accepting that she was girl although maintaining Ranma's well-bred pride and devotion to self-improvement. The other, a lonely child desperate to please those who had welcomed her to their hearth. The Guardians of Jookoji-shima warned them about this. She had been a newborn baby when she was put to death ages ago. Fully accepting her as one of the Saotome family was a must. Ranko was the classic case of an abandoned child: unwanted, unloved. Any perception of rejection from Ranma, Genma or Nodoka and the results could be catastrophic. Ranko's personas would shortly merge into one whole being...but she had to be given that chance. And given the problems plaguing the Saotome family at present, guaranteeing that would be difficult. The door slides open, revealing a pale Ranma. "Hi, everyone...!" he moans before falling on his face. "Onii-chan!" Ranko kneels before him. "Are you okay?!" "Not really!" Ranma grunts, pushing himself back up. "I just...had a little of Akane's curry..." "Onii-chan, you're awful!!" Ranko pouts. "Akane-onee-chan tries her best and you keep rejecting it!!" "Hey, I didn't say anything about rejecting it!!" Ranma snaps. "I didn't elect you to be a critic about my engagement! Lay off!!" Suddenly, Ranma finds himself facing the two biggest green eyes in animation about to perform a perfect Souun Tendou imitation. "Onii-chan...you don't like me...?" Ranko sniffs. "No, no, no, no, no!!!" Ranma waves his hands to avert the coming tidal waves. "It's not that, Ranko-chan!! I just don't want people crawling on my spine because of Akane's mistakes!!" Ranko then shudders, heat boiling from her body as she grabs her brother by the shirt, then starts pounding the daylights out of him. "You still despise Akane-onee-chan after all she's done and suffered because of you?!! Onii-chan no baka!! Baka!!! BAKA!!!! BAKA!!!!!!" A second later, Ranma flies into the koi pond thanks to Ranko's perfect uppercut! Akane emerges from the Tendou living room, gazing concernedly as Ranma-chan emerges. "You okay?" she wonders. "Pleahh!!" Ranma-chan spits up water as she staggers into the house. "Having a sister around's more trouble than I asked for!" Akane helps him inside... * * * The next day, Akane and Ranma head to school, he upon the fence and she on the sidewalk beside him. "Sorry about the curry, Ranma," the former sighs. "I guess I missed something in the mix." "It's okay," Ranma sighs, gazing at the beautiful day around them. "You keep trying, you'll get it right. But I gotta remind myself that Ranko's elected herself to be my special marriage councillor." "Eh?!" she gazes at him. "Ranko?!" "Yeah!" he nods. "The Guardians at Jookoji-shima warned us of that. Ranko may have my memories and attitudes towards everything, but deep down, she's an abandoned kid craving a family's love. That means she wants everyone to get along with everyone else; it's a way of guaranteeing her happy world. If we fight or if something happens to cause some friction between us, she'll move to stop it...and with my skills and training, that's going to guarantee trouble." "Uh-oh!" she smiles. "Looks like you have a guardian angel watching over you now, Ranma!" He considers the point, then nods. "Well, it's not too bad. She really can cook a storm. Why don't you spend time with her? Maybe she can teach you some things." "Maybe I should," she muses. "After all, she'll become my sister-in-law when we do marry, so we should get along." Suddenly, a bell rings. Ranma turns...and finds his face smashed in by Shampoo's front tire! "Nihao, Ranma!" the Chinese warrior-maiden beams as she bear-hugs her "fiance." "We go to date today, yes?!" "You go to date today, NO!!!!" Akane snarls. "Shampoo, lay off!!! Will you get this through your head: Ranma wants ME, not you!!!" Shampoo glares at her rival. "Shampoo no accept what happened on Hoo-oo- san!!" she snarls. "No change what happened before!! Ranma wants Shampoo, not stupid tomboy Akane!!!" Suddenly, the thunder of running feet echo. "You leave Onii-chan and Akane-onee-chan alone, you hussy!!!" Ranko snaps as her fist flies. Shampoo finds herself soaring into the morning sky! Ranma and Akane watch her disappear, then gaze in disbelief at Ranko. "Don't you think you overdid it, Ranko?" Ranma wonders. "If Shampoo learns you're a girl full-time, it could mean the Kiss of Death!" "It's okay, Onii-chan," Ranko sighs. "I died once, remember?" She heads off. Ranma and Akane exchange worried looks... * * * "Shampoo find whoever hit Shampoo and make stupid busy-body pay!!" the bruised warrior-maiden growls as Cologne works on her darkened cheek. "Ai-yah!!" she jolts, wincing at the application of the hydrogen peroxide. "Feel like ton of bricks hit Shampoo!!" "Whoever struck you possessed enormous passion matched to well-honed skills," the aged matriarch hums. "Further, I sense a strange power. Something tells me there's more to your attacker than meets the eye, Shampoo. You best be careful." "Shampoo no give up!" Shampoo growls. "Shampoo make stupid busy-body regret ever butting into Shampoo's business!!" "Be careful, child!" Cologne hisses, shaking her head. Sometimes, her great-granddaughter's pride blinded her to some basic facts. Her skills as a warrior had seen her through before, but there was always the first time... which could easily prove to be the last. "Something is not right. Now, tell me, what did this person say when she struck you?" "She say 'leave Onii-chan and Akane-onee-chan alone,'" Shampoo repeats. "But, it no make sense. Ranma no have baby sister." Cologne's eyes narrow. "I remember that son-in-law and his family went on a small vacation together," she hops onto her cane. "I think I better investigate this. You remain here, Shampoo." The aged matriarch leaves. Shampoo snorts as she gazes at the bar. "Heh! Shampoo beat interloper soon enough!" Suddenly, the door blasts open, revealing Mousse. "Shampoo, how could you?!" the weaponsmaster whines. "Why are you still chasing Ranma when he's made it clear he's going to marry Akane?!" "Mousse no speak stupid things!" Shampoo sends him on an impromptu flying lesson via her fist! "Get out!!" "Shampoo...!!" he wails as he soars away. Shampoo grumbles as she returns to her chair. Suddenly, the door slams open again. "Shampoo, you idiot!!!" a familiar voice thunders. "How can you keep throwing this nice boy away all the time?!!" Shampoo spins around to see Ranko standing there, a dazed Mousse hanging over her shoulder. "Ranma!!" Shampoo bounds to her. "Ranma come visit Shampoo today...!" She winds up flying into Ranko's foot! "Not me, stupid!" she growls, then thrusts Mousse into Shampoo's arms. "Him!!" Shampoo blinks surprisedly. "You no Ranma!" she growls, tossing the weaponsmaster aside. "Ranma no care what Mousse does! Who you?!" "I'm Ranko Saotome," the woman declares. "I'm Ranma's sister!" Shampoo stops. "Sister?! Ranma no have sister! You lie!!" "It's the truth!" Ranko smiles. "Further, Onii-chan wants Akane, not a hypertempered bimbo like you! Now, you either lay off my brother once and for all time or suffer the consequences!! Your stupid laws don't apply here, you know!" An ominous battle aura billows around Shampoo as she methodically advances on Ranko. "Shampoo no know where false Ranma come from! Now, Shampoo no care! False Ranma insult Ranma by living! Shampoo now erase false Ranma from life!!" She moves to deliver the Kiss of Death...and gets another foot in the face! "Forget it!" Ranko snarls, her own battle aura forming around her. "You want to do that, be ready to back it up! NO ONE tears apart MY family and gets away with it!!" Shampoo howls, lunging for Ranko...and winds up at the receiving end of the kachuu tenshin amarigurken!! "Your funeral!!!" Ranko snarls, the force of her blows wrecking half the Nekohanten. Shampoo screams as she finds herself flung into the kitchen. She had not expected something so...vicious! Trying to recover, she moves to defend herself...and gets pitched through a window by a wrist-toss. *Ai-yah!!* she gasps, trying to put some distance between her and the red-haired spitfire coming at her. *False Ranma fight like mad demon! Shampoo have to stop her before Shampoo dies!* The sounds of battle alert a small crowd, including Ukyou Kuonji, on her way to Ucchan's to start another day. "Hey, sounds like Ran-chan needs help!" the okonomiyaki cook muses as she turns the corner, then freezes on seeing what is happening. "No way...!" Shampoo finds herself flung against a fence as Ranko advances, the latter's green eyes never swerving from target. "Say it, Shampoo!!" she snarls. "Say you'll never bother Onii-chan again!" "Never!!" Shampoo spits at her. "Shampoo never forego Ranma!" "Fine, then!" Ranko snarls as the air around her boils. Ukyou trembles as Ranko begins to spin around Shampoo, the air around them heating up. She knew what was next: the hiryuu-shootenha. "Oh, man, what's got into Ran-chan?!" she gasps, moving to intercede. "Ran-chan, cut it out!! What are you doing?!" Before she could get close, Mousse appears between Ranko and Shampoo, hands out to protect the latter. "Wait!!!" he cries. "Please, lost spirit!!! Leave Shampoo alone!!!" "Mousse go away!!" Shampoo snarls. "This between Shampoo and false Ranma!!" "This is no ordinary girl, Shampoo!" Mousse faces her. "She's a spirit born of Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang!!" Shampoo moves to shove the weaponsmaster out of the way, then stops, gazing in disbelief at him. "What...what Mousse say...?" "Your great-grandmother just learned it from the Saotomes!!" Mousse gasps. "Ranko here is a double born when Ranma fell into Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang a week ago!! What are you trying to do?!!" Shampoo trembles, then gazes at Ranko, who has drawn back, fists ready to fly in case the warrior-maiden changes her mind. "She...she spirit of... abandoned girl...?!" "Yes!!" Mousse nods, gently gripping her shoulders. "Don't you remember your clan's promise?! Why your clan came into being?!" Shampoo shudders fearfully, then feeling her courage return, draws away from Mousse and prostrates herself before Ranko. "Shampoo beg Ranko-spirit's forgiveness! Shampoo shame herself and clan, dishonour pledge to lost girls of Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang! Shampoo...await judgement Ranko-spirit gives her." Ranko relaxes, her gaze unwavering. "I demand one thing, Shampoo! You know what that is!" Shampoo blinks. "No...not that," she shakes her head, staring pleadingly at Ranko. "Ranko-spirit...no ask that..." "Say it!" Ranko growls. "Say it so everyone can hear it!" Shampoo shudders, then bows, her voice sounding like she had drunk acid. "Shampoo...swear...never...to pursue Ranma...ever again." Gasps utter from the crowd around them, surprised that the warrior-maiden could be cornered into making THAT vow so easily. "Good!" Ranko lowers her fists. "Remember that!" She turns and walks back to the Tendou dojo. Shampoo remains in place, heart-wrenching sobs causing her strength to drain. Mousse kneels beside her, drawing her into a warm embrace. Nearby, Ukyou is ashen-faced. "What the heck's going on here...?!" she gasps... * * * To be continued... Ranma 1/2: "Ranko, Abandoned No More" Part 2 by Fred Herriot gorgo@timebomb.on.ca **** **** **** Based on "Ranma 1/2" created by Rumiko Takahashi **** **** **** WARNING: This story contains adult scenes. Standard warnings apply. IN THE FIRST PART OF "RANKO, ABANDONED NO MORE," the Saotomes travel to Jookoji- shima, an island in the East China Sea containing the magical Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang ("Mud Spring of Abandoned Daughters"). Falling into the spring, Ranma learns that anyone who encounters Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang creates a female replica of himself containing the soul one of the thousands of girls sacrificed there. The replica Ranma is adopted by the Saotomes and named Ranko. Ranko works hard at being accepted by her family, ensuring all around her is well. This forces a confrontation with Shampoo. The Chinese warrior-maiden is soundly thrashed by Ranko after she tried to force Ranma and Akane apart. Here, we learn that those born of Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang possess considerable influence over Shampoo's clan; Ranko forces Shampoo to publicly forswear Ranma forever. **** **** **** Moving along now...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!! **** **** **** "So that is the whole story, eh?" Cologne sighs as she relaxes by the Saotome living room table with Genma, Nodoka, Ranma and Ranko. Shampoo sits by her great-grandmother, her damp cheeks speaking volumes. "Happousai tricked you into going to Jookoji-shima so that he could create a perfect love-slave...and Ranko is the result," she gazes at the newest member of the Saotome family. "That's right," Ranma nods. "Fortunately, Jiji fouled up the part about enslaving Ranko-chan to him." "Fortunately, indeed," Cologne nods. "If word of this ever got back to Juketsuzoku, Happousai's life would not be worth anything." "Why?" Genma blinks. "For that, I must go back four thousand years, to the time of Confucius," the elderly matriarch sighs. "When his teachings became accepted, the matriarchial-inclined clans in China were perceived as social abberations. When news of Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang's existence spread, daughters divined astrologically to be rebellious or too strong for their parents' liking...were drowned in the spring. "Expectantly, there were those who saw this trend as nothing short of state-sanctioned murder. Shortly after, the spring's special power was discovered. A small group of distraught mothers, determined to see their slain daughters avenged, created an army of female warriors to stop this. Those warriors were the progenitors of the Nyu-che-zuu. Since, we have fought to demonstrate to other Chinese that there is another way. Sadly, we have been unsuccessful; as Confucius' teachings spread to Korea and Japan, others saw the 'advantage' of Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang." "So your clan protects the spring, tries to prevent more daughters from being...disposed of," Ranma feels his stomach turn over. "Exactly," Cologne nods. "Eventually, those inclined to see the dark side of Confucius' teachings...Buddhists, Shintoists, shamanists and Taoists ...decided that a monitor team should be sent to Jookoji-shima to ensure that no one uses of the spring. Over the years...and as selective abortion became widespread," her mouth twists into a sneer, "...Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang lost its original purpose." The others nod. "Well, now we understand what's going on," Nodoka nods. "Thank you for telling us this, Cologne. At least in this way, Shampoo is free of any obligations she feels towards my son." Hearing that, Shampoo wails as she runs out of the home. "Aw, Mom, did you have to say that in front of her?!" Ranma sighs. "Shampoo sooner or later would have to accept what has happened between you and Akane, Ranma," Nodoka sighs, projecting an understanding look. "So will Ukyou and Kodachi. It's better if it happens sooner; who knows what could happen if they allowed their jealousy to build and build to the point where you'll never know a moment's peace. Besides, Shampoo and Ukyou have nice young men pursuing them in Mousse and Konatsu. Perhaps Kodachi does. We should do our best to facilitate those relationships, not impede them." "Here, I'll go talk to Shampoo," Ranko stands and heads out... * * * Sometime later, Ranko locates Shampoo under a tree, her head buried between her legs. Sobs burst from Shampoo as Ranko sits beside her, guilt flashing across her face on seeing how her actions have hurt the warrior-maiden. "Shampoo, don't be sad," Ranko sighs. "If anyone knows what's really going on in my brother's head, it's me. You have to accept that he wants Akane." "Why Ranma no love Shampoo?!" the Chinese woman demands. "Why he care for stupid tomboy Akane?! Shampoo love Ranma!" "I'm sure you do," Ranko sighs. "Look, Shampoo, for a very long time, Onii-chan was confused about his feelings for anyone. Papa and Tendou-oji-chan forced him into the engagement. Of course, there was Akane-onee-chan's many shortcomings. But as he came to understand his feelings better, he discovered that yes, he does love Akane-onee-chan. And...he does care a lot for you." Shampoo blinks. "Ranko..." "But, because Mousse is around, Onii-chan believes that if anyone deserves your hand, it's him," Ranko concludes. Contempt flashes in Shampoo's eyes. "Hmph!! Mousse no beat Shampoo in battle! Why Shampoo should care for stupid Mousse?!" "Because Mousse has always been there for you, idiot," Ranko sighs. "Because he does care for you! And maybe, he comes from a part of your clan which abhors that rule about defeating a woman to claim her as a fiancee. In all the time Onii-chan's known Mousse, he has NEVER once heard him speak about winning your love in that fashion. And if you can't see that, Shampoo, then you're a coward!" Shampoo's eyes flash as she bolts to her feet, grabbing Ranko by her shirt. "What Ranko say?!! Take that back!!! Shampoo no coward!!!" "Hey, you can deny it all you want, but believe me, I understand where you're coming from," Ranko gently guides the other's hands away. "Onii-chan couldn't face his feelings for Akane-onee-chan; that made him as much a coward as you! He's faced up to it. Why can't you?!" Shampoo jolts as the words hit home. Tears flowing down her cheeks, she sinks into Ranko's embrace. "Shampoo...Shampoo no know what to think anymore..." she sobs. "There, there, Shampoo," Ranko gently kisses her forehead. "It'll be okay. Let it out." Moments pass as the warrior-maiden vents herself, gently rocked by this woman who, while standing firm on who Ranma will marry, is willing to understand and help Shampoo accept the inevitable. Ranma was gone. A good friend and fighting partner. Nothing more. Finally, Shampoo wipes her eyes, smiling. "Shampoo...happy Ranko understand what Shampoo feels about Ranma. Still...is hard for Shampoo to accept what happened to Ranma and Akane." "Of course it is," Ranko nods. "Life's never easy, Shampoo." * * * Sometime later, Ukyou learns what happened. "So because Ranko comes from this Jookoji-shima place, everything she says, you have to accept?!" the okonomiyaki cook blinks, gazing at Shampoo in disbelief. The two now relax in Ucchan's. "I never thought I'd ever see you give up on anything, Shampoo, most of all Ran-chan!" "Shampoo love Ranma," Shampoo admits. "But...if Ranma love Akane, Shampoo's efforts do no good. Ranma's mother right; soon, we all have to face reality...and let Ranma go." Ukyou looks down. The idea of finally losing Ranma to Akane, even though his feelings for the younger Tendou were blatantly obvious now, still was too much to take. "I think our pride's getting in the way of what we see," she sighs. "Ukyou right," Shampoo nods, giving her friend's hand a squeeze. "Shampoo try to help?" Ukyou shudders as tears begin to flow. "Thanks, Shampoo." Suddenly, the door opens, followed by a storm of black rose pedals flying into Ucchan's! "IS THIS TRUE?!?!?!" an incensed voice barks. Shampoo and Ukyou turn to see a VERY mad Kodachi Kunou standing at the door, her combat ribbon twirling menacingly around her. "Hi, Kodachi," Ukyou sighs. "C'mon in. Want something to eat?" "Don't avoid the subject, Kuonji!!!" Kodachi races up to stare Ukyou right in the eyes. "What's this about Ranma-kun actually loving that tramp Akane, actually going along with that moron's agreement their idiot fathers forced them into?!! Well?!!" "It's true," Ukyou sighs, then gazes quizzically at the rhythmic gymnast. "Wait a sec!! Why are you so uppity about this now?! You were there when Ran- chan's and Akane's dads tried to get them hitched!" "Of course I was!" Kodachi snarls, then hopefully turns away. "But when my poor, precious Ranma-kun said he wanted to wait, I felt that a chance was still there to claim him for myself!!" Her body then quakes as heat boils from her skin. "Now, that red-haired she-demon Ranko has the audacity to state that poor, sweet Ranma-kun actually loves Tendou!! I will NEVER stand for this!! Never!!!" "Ranko told you, eh?" Ukyou sighs. "I guess she'll be coming here to give me an earfull soon enough!" Kodachi gazes at the others. "I don't believe this!! You're just standing there doing NOTHING?!?! You're actually going to allow that she-demon to dictate our love-lives?!!" "Ranko know better than anyone what Ranma feel," Shampoo sighs. "Ranma want Akane. No place for Shampoo, Ukyou or Kodachi." Kodachi snorts, looking away. "Then that means you don't love Ranma-kun at all!" The others glare at her, the air ablaze with their fury. "You got some nerve, Kunou!!!" Ukyou's eyes flash. "My love for Ran-chan is just as great as yours!!! I'm taking this as hard as you!!! We've lost; let's admit it and get on with our lives!!!" "I will NEVER admit that!" Kodachi vows. "Then Ranko beat Kodachi into pulp!" Shampoo sighs. "We'll see!!" Kodachi snorts, looking away. "I'll bet 'Ranko' is actually my poor Ranma-kun forced to speak such filthy thoughts when he becomes a girl! Turn him back to a boy and we'll see!" Ukyou and Shampoo gaze at her. "Kodachi know about Ranma curse?!" the latter blinks. "Well, admittedly, it took me some time to understand what was going on," Kodachi shudders. "After all, that red-haired demon and Ranma-kun were never in the same place at the same time. And...someone recently told me about Jusenkyou." "Who?!" both prod. "A friend of yours," Kodachi gazes at Ukyou. "Tsubasa Kurenai." "Tsubasa?!" Ukyou gasps, then looks down. "Um...how is he?" "He's all right," the former admits, fighting to keep her face from turning red. "I've had the chance to get to know him recently." "In a more than friendly fashion, I see," Ukyou muses. Kodachi flushes. "Certainly not!!" she angrily snaps, then looks embarrassed. "Well...I admit that he is...attractive...but he's nowhere near Ranma-kun!" "Hey, I thought the same thing when Tsubasa came after me," Ukyou places an okonomiyaki before Kodachi. "Relax and have something to eat. We're all moping our loss today." "Hmph!!" Kodachi looks away. "I still think someone's trying to force Ranma-kun into Tendou's clutches!! As a matter of fact, I'll go out and prove it tonight!" "Your funeral," Ukyou sighs... * * * "You're going to Jusenkyou?!" Ranko blinks. Ranma and Akane nod. They have tea in the Saotomes' apartment. "That's right," Akane sighs. "Ranma wants to find some way to rid himself of his curse. We just heard from the guide that after the fight on Hoo-oo-san, Jusenkyou's ponds magically reformed. Now's the best chance for Ranma to get rid of his...other half." Ranko looks down, feeling chilled. "Hey, we didn't mean that!" Ranma places his hands on her shoulders. "Look, we'll be gone a week and then we'll be right back. Don't be scared. Mom and Dad are going on their second honeymoon. Akane's dad and sisters'll still be around." "I...I hope so," Ranko sighs. "I...I know you have your lives ahead of you and I don't have any right to intrude...but it would be nice to have someone stay with me." "You'll find someone soon enough," Akane smiles. "If you want, go after Kunou. Nabiki might want to take Ken'nosuke-san." "Ugh! No thanks!!" Ranko shudders. "Well...have a nice trip. Please don't get into trouble." "We'll try not to," Ranma smiles... * * * That evening, Kodachi slips over the wall of the Tendou home, sneaking her way toward the front door. Her eyes inspect the new addition, remembering that Ranma's parents now wanted to live with their child. She icily smiles, then melts into shadow as Kasumi, Nabiki and Souun return from the bathhouse. "Hope Ranko-chan's not going too nuts being alone," Nabiki sighs. "I thought those Guardians said she wasn't supposed to be isolated." "Relax, Nabiki," Souun chuckles. "I'm sure Ranko-chan will be fine. Besides, she'll have to get used to being alone sooner or later. Best to do it now while she's still young." "Let's hope there's no trouble," Kasumi muses as they head inside. In shadows, Kodachi boils with rage. "How dare they?!" she hisses as her mind re-runs what she heard. It was bad enough that whenever her precious Ranma was made a girl, they referred to him as "Ranko," but to actually plot to abandon him? Is that all Ranma was to them: a toy to be used, then discarded?! Indignant rage boils from her heart as Kodachi slips toward the Saotomes' wing. *Hang on, my love!* she vows. *I'll save you from this madness!!* Deftly, the rhythmic gymnast slips to the bathroom window, boosting herself up to glance inside. The sounds of water splashing around confirm someone is home. Glancing through the window, Kodachi blinks on seeing Ranko soap herself down. "There you are, love," Kodachi sighs. Even now, it was hard to fully accept that this red-haired she-devil before her and her precious Ranma were one and the same person, alterable with a simple dousing of cold or hot water. However, Tsubasa had been thorough in explaining what Ranma lived through, a fact of life Shampoo herself experienced as she demonstrated in Ucchan's earlier. Cold water brought on the demon, hot water her darling Ranma. Kodachi smiles as Ranko finishes soaping down, then stands to immerse herself in the steaming hot tub awaiting her. Ranko sighs as she plunges in, allowing the soap to wash off her before surfacing. Laying back, she sighs. "I hate being alone," she blinks, gazing at the ceiling. Then, her sixth sense flashes a warning. Ranko looks at the window...to see Kodachi staring at her, hanging from the window-sill. "Kodachi?!!" she gasps, bolting to her feet. "What are you doing here?!!" Seeing that her precious had NOT transformed, the rhythmic gymnast vaults through the window, snap-drawing her whip as she takes a ready pose. "I don't know who and what you are, she-demon, but you'll not possess my precious Ranma- kun anymore!!" Kodachi snarls. "Prepare for the justice you've long deserved!!!" Ranko blinks, confused as to why Kodachi would barge in here and accuse her of possessing her own brother. "Um...what are you talking about, Kodachi?" she wonders. "Onii-chan isn't here! He's gone to China with Akane-onee-chan!" "What?!!" Kodachi screams. "How dare you address my dear Ranma-kun as your brother, you witch?! Prepare to receive divine punishment for your many sins against him!!!" Ranko shudders, then notices she is standing in hot water. Staring at Kodachi, Ranko realizes that somehow, the rhythmic gymnast knows of Jusenkyou. "Wait a moment, Kodachi," she steps out of the tub, reaching for a towel. "Before you fly off the handle, you know that if I was Onii-chan...Ranma...I'd turn into a guy when I stepped in there, right?" she points to the tub. "Of course I do!" Kodachi nods. "I finally understand the level of suffering you put my sweet Ranma-kun through, ever since his idiot father took him to that cursed spring place in China!! You've taken over him every time he's been doused in cold water! Now you're trying to take Ranma-kun away from me, force him into the clutches of that witch Akane!! And I will not tolerate it!!!" "Alright, then," Ranko takes off the towel. "Then if I am Ranma, I should turn back into a boy when I do this!" With that, she steps into the tub and submerges herself. A second later, she bursts free, gazing at Kodachi. "Well?!" Kodachi blinks. "You...you didn't...change...!" "That's right," Ranko nods. "I'm not Ranma Saotome. You can call me Ranko. I'm a double of Ranma's, created from a magical mud spring on Jookoji- shima sometime ago. In effect...I'm Ranma's sister." Silence falls over the bathroom as Kodachi absorbs what has been said. She then remembers Ukyou and Shampoo telling her about a female doppelganger of Ranma who had forced the latter to publicly renounce her engagement that morning. But by then, Kodachi had become so incensed over Ranko's interference, she had not clearly understood what others were trying to tell her. "Where is Ranma-kun?" she demands. "He left today with Akane-onee-chan," Ranko reports. "They're going to Jusenkyou to find a way to undo the curses. Now, if I was the she-demon you imagined me to be, would I allow Onii-chan to do that?" "Well...no, I guess not," Kodachi muses, scratching the back of her head embarrassingly. "So...I...oh, dear..." Ranko smiles. "Here, let me dry off and I'll be happy to tell you everything," she rises from the bath... * * * Sometime later, Ranko and Kodachi relax in the living room. The rhythmic gymnast stares forlornly at the koi pond in front of the apartment, still reeling from realizing that despite the recent failed wedding, Ranma, the first man she had truly come to care for, was indeed in love with Akane Tendou. Ranko relaxes beside her, allowing Kodachi the chance to think. "You okay?" the lost girl wonders. "I...not really," Kodachi sighs. "All this time, I've allowed my passions to blind me so much, that when this came, I was caught off guard. Now...now I feel as miserable as Ukyou and Shampoo." "Hey, think of how Onii-chan feels," Ranko muses. "I mean, he still likes you girls; it's just that he's finally decided to come to grips with his feelings. And they...are now guiding him to Akane-onee-chan. It doesn't mean he won't stop being your friend, Kodachi. He'll be there if you need help. So will I." "Thank you," Kodachi's mouth twitches. "So...how much of you is Ranma- kun?" "Everything up here," Ranko indicates her mind. "Plus, this body was constructed when Onii-chan was in his cursed body. Fortunately, I wasn't magically slaved to Jiji when he tricked my family into going to Jookoji-shima. Other than that, there's not much more to explain." Kodachi sighs. "Well, I've taken enough of your time, I guess," she rises. "Thank you for your...hospitality. I better go home." Ranko blinks. "Won't you stay a while? Mama and Papa are off by themselves, so I...I'm alone tonight." The rhythmic gymnast feels herself quake as Ranko projects a very friendly smile. "Well..." Suddenly, both tense as the faint whiff of alcohol assaults their noses. "So, there y'are, y'nosy tramp!" a drunken voice slurs. Ranko and Kodachi turn to see a flush-faced Ukyou and Shampoo standing by the door. "Ukyou!! Shampoo!!" the former rises. "What are you doing here?!" "Stupid Ranko-spirit no know when t'leave enough alone!" Shampoo snarls, staggering toward the lost girl. "Ranko-spirit team with Akane t'take Ranma away from Shampoo! Now Ranko-spirit team with Kodachi! Shampoo teach Ranko-spirit lesson she deserve!!" "Phoo!!" Ranko's nose wrinkles as she slowly backs away from the inebriated would-be fiancees. "You're drunk! Get out of here!! Mousse and Konatsu are probably worried sick about you two!" "Don' bring them in this, y'slut!" Ukyou snarls, drawing her combat spatula. "We'll teach ya ta stick y'nose inta our business!!" Kodachi sighs. "I think you two need to sleep this off," she reaches to her side, then fires two black roses at Ukyou and Shampoo. Thanks to their intoxication, both are unable to dodge the drug-laced flowers. A powder explodes from the pedals, sending both down like marionettes with their strings cut. As faint snores flutter from their mouths, Ranko and Kodachi relax. "I better call Mousse and Konatsu to get these lushes home," the former turns to the telephone. "Thanks, Kodachi. I appreciate it." "You don't realize how much I sympathize with them," Kodachi sighs, gazing concernedly at her once-rivals... * * * "We are so sorry this happened, Ranko-san," Konatsu repentantly bows, holding the sleeping Ukyou in his arms. "I lost track of Ukyou-san when she and Shampoo went out this evening. I...wish I could've done something to prevent this from happening." "Well, Kodachi-chan was here to keep things calm," Ranko smiles at Kodachi. "But...I suppose this was expected." "Forgive me for asking, Kodachi, but I'd expect you'd be joining Shampoo and Ukyou in mourning," Mousse gently cradles his drunken would-be wife. "Why aren't you?" "Admittedly, I would," Kodachi smiles. "But...I'm allergic to strong alcohol. I can barely tolerate wine, much less sake. I...guess I'll mourn in my own way." "Let's hope it's not violent," Ranko hums. "Given all our skills, we could wreck this place just as fast as aliens tear apart Tomobiki." Everyone laughs, then Konatsu and Mousse depart with their sleeping would- be wives. Ranko and Kodachi sigh, then face the other. "You sure I can't talk you into staying with me tonight?" the former projects a friendly smile. "I won't bite." Kodachi bites her lip, then warily smiles. "Well...I suppose I could stay...Ranko-chan." "Great!" Ranko gently guides her guest inside. "It's a relief, actually. I...I just don't like being alone." Kodachi breathes out. Coming from a same-sex high school, she knew a student's curiosity concerning her sexuality could provoke some very intimate situations. On several occasions, Kodachi had taken a classmate into a private corner to "alleviate one's headache." It was quite enjoyable if you maintained your perspective...and if you were not caught; the administration at St. Bacchus frowned harshly on these liaisons. She did not believe herself a lesbian; her attraction to Ranma and Tsubasa proved that. Given Ranko's origins...she was Ranma permanently trapped in a woman's body...Kodachi concluded that if the right set of circumstances presented themselves, she could obtain a version of her dream...if she was willing to take a great risk. But she did not consider herself THAT brave! "Um... Ranko?" Kodachi stares at her host. "Have you yet...given thought to... whether or not you'd want a...lover?" Ranko blinks, then puts the kettle on for tea. "Why would I care about that now?" she wonders. "Yeesh, Kodachi! Let me get my life together before worrying about a girlfriend!" Kodachi feels a light tremor shake her bones. Either Ranko had not yet fully accepted in her heart that she was a girl...or else Ranko had accepted it, but decided she did not want a man. If so, things around Ranko could become very, very interesting... * * * "Ranko..." a dreamy voice tickles the lost girl's ears. Ranko's eyes flutter open, then they go wide as she finds herself facing a nude Akane, drifting toward her, her hands out and reaching for Ranma's sister. "A-akane!!" Ranko gasps, trying to back away, sweating on seeing the inviting look on her future sister-in-law's face. "Akane-onee-chan, what are you doing?!" "I want you, Ranko, my love," Akane intones. Her hands fall on Ranko's shoulder as the youngest Tendou drifts into the latter's waiting embrace. Ranko then realizes she is as nude as Akane. Her assault on Ranko's senses paralyzes the lost child as Akane fixes her with a determined stare. "Akane, I can't..." Ranko feels tears sting her cheek. "I can't be the one for you. I...I can't be the man you want." "Silly girl," Akane breathes on Ranko's ear, her hands drifting to the latter's buttocks, forcing their hips together. Ranko nearly drowns in the resulting burst of pleasure. Without invitation, their lips lock, their tongues playfully duelling as their embrace tightens to the point where it seems they cannot breathe. "You see," Akane smiles. "It's you I love. The outside doesn't matter. It's what's on the inside that matters..." * * * "Ran-chan..." a dreamy voice tickles the lost girl's ears. Ranko's eyes flutter open, then they go wide as she finds herself facing a nude Ukyou, drifting toward her, her hands out and reaching for Ranma's sister. "U-u-chan!!" Ranko gasps, trying to back away, sweating on seeing the inviting look on the okonomiyaki cook's face. "U-chan, what are you doing?!" "I want you, Ranko-chan, my love," Ukyou intones. Her hands fall on Ranko's shoulder as Ukyou drifts into the latter's waiting embrace. Ranko then realizes she is as nude as Ukyou. Her assault on Ranko's senses paralyzes the lost child as Ukyou fixes her with a determined stare. "U-chan, I can't..." Ranko feels tears sting her cheek. "I can't be the one for you. I...I can't be the man you want." "Silly girl," Ukyou breathes on Ranko's ear, her hands drifting to the latter's buttocks, forcing their hips together. Ranko nearly drowns in the resulting burst of pleasure. Without invitation, their lips lock, their tongues playfully duelling as their embrace tightens to the point where it seems they cannot breathe. "You see," Ukyou smiles. "I love you, silly. The outside doesn't matter. It's what's on the inside that counts..." * * * "Ranko..." a dreamy voice tickles the lost girl's ears. Ranko's eyes flutter open, then they go wide as she finds herself facing a nude Shampoo, drifting toward her, her hands out and reaching for Ranma's sister. "Sh-shampoo!!" Ranko gasps, trying to back away, sweating on seeing the inviting look on the Chinese warrior-maiden's face. "Shampoo, what are you doing?!" "Shampoo want Ranko to love," Shampoo intones. Her hands fall on Ranko's shoulder as the warrior-maiden drifts into the latter's waiting embrace. Ranko then realizes she is as nude as Shampoo. Her assault on Ranko's senses paralyzes the lost child as Shampoo fixes her with a determined stare. "Shampoo, I can't..." Ranko feels tears sting her cheek. "I can't be the one for you. I...I can't be the man you want." "Silly girl," Shampoo breathes on Ranko's ear, her hands drifting to the latter's buttocks, forcing their hips together. Ranko nearly drowns in the resulting burst of pleasure. Without invitation, their lips lock, their tongues playfully duelling as their embrace tightens to the point where it seems they cannot breathe. "Ranko understand now," Shampoo smiles. "It's Ranko who Shampoo loves. Outside no matter. Inside matters more..." * * * "Ranko, darling..." a dreamy voice tickles the lost girl's ears. Ranko's eyes flutter open, then they go wide as she finds herself facing a nude Kodachi, drifting toward her, her hands out and reaching for Ranma's sister. "K-kodachi!!" Ranko gasps, trying to back away, sweating on seeing the inviting look on the rhythmic gymnast's face. "Kodachi-chan, what are you doing?!" "I want you, my lovely Ranko," Kodachi intones. Her hands fall on Ranko's shoulder as the youngest Kunou drifts into the latter's waiting embrace. Ranko then realizes she is as nude as Kodachi. Her assault on Ranko's senses paralyzes the lost child as Kodachi fixes her with a determined stare. "Kodachi, I can't..." Ranko feels tears sting her cheek. "I can't be the one for you. I...I can't be the man you want." "Silly girl," Kodachi breathes on Ranko's ear, her hands drifting to the latter's buttocks, forcing their hips together. Ranko nearly drowns in the resulting burst of pleasure. Without invitation, their lips lock, their tongues playfully duelling as their embrace tightens to the point where it seems they cannot breathe. "You see," Kodachi smiles. "It's you I love. The outside doesn't matter. It's what's on the inside that matters..." * * * "You can't love anyone else, Ranko," Akane smiles. "You can give us our hearts back, Ranko-chan," Ukyou coos. "Ranko no can love boy," Shampoo purrs. "Ranko only love girls." "Come to us, dearest Ranko," Kodachi huskily intones... * * * "YEAAAAAAH!!!!" Ranko exclaims, bursting out of bed. She pants as her eyes register the contours of her small bedroom. Her eyes then turn right to see Kodachi peacefully sleeping beside her, protectively curled on herself. Ranko feels her heart thunder as the rhythmic gymnast's unclothed body becomes visible. She then glances at herself, only sheathed in boxer shorts loaned from Ranma. A moan escapes Kodachi's lips as she uncurls, stretching herself, then she stares quizzically at Ranko. "Ranko, are you all right?" she wonders, slowly sitting up. Ranko shudders as Kodachi's well-exercised body comes into view. "I...I just had a dream, that's all." "It must've been some nightmare," Kodachi muses. "Are you sure you're all right?" "I...no," Ranko looks down shamefully. "Kodachi...I...I dreamt of making love...to you...to Ukyou...to Shampoo...even to Akane-onee-chan." Kodachi jolts, her arm reflexively moving to cover herself. "I...please don't think I'm a pervert or anything like that, but..." Ranko pauses, shaking her head, "...I really don't know where that came from." "Ranko-chan...you might be a girl twenty-four hours a day from now until the day you die," Kodachi lightly smiles, "but deep down, you're still Ranma. Ranma-kun has needs, just like you do. Because you were a boy in body and spirit until sometime ago, you're used to thinking about girls as potential lovers. Added onto that, Ukyou, Shampoo, Akane and I constantly threw ourselves at you, did everything we could to get your attention. That left a mark that'll be with you for a long time, Ranko-chan. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Given your situation, I could say that's quite normal." Ranko feels herself flush. "Thanks, Kodachi-chan," she reaches over to squeeze her guest's hand, "...for understanding." "You're welcome," Kodachi smiles. "Now, Ranko..." "What?" "Isn't it a little unfair that I'm nude and you're not?" Ranko blinks, then stares at herself. "I...guess so," she rises, then slips off her shorts, tossing them aside. Slipping back into bed, she relaxes...then stops. "Kodachi...?" The rhythmic gymnast is now facing her, a hauntingly familiar look on her face. "What is it, Ranko-chan?" "What are you doing?" "Well...you know about those needs I mentioned." "Yeah?" "I have them, too." Ranko blinks. "Are you a...?" "Truthfully, I don't know. But...does it matter?" Silence falls. Ranko gazes at Kodachi. A woman who, despite her maddeningly annoying way of showing friendship, her desire to dominate her situation, the frighteningly warped demeanor she normally presented to others, had given her heart to Ranma Saotome without coercion or some prior arrangement between their parents. A very desirable woman, when you ignored the superficial impressions. A woman Ranma himself could have desired if he was not then distracted by a million other problems. But Ranko had no distractions. "It doesn't matter," she reaches over to draw Kodachi into an embrace. "Not between us." Kodachi reaches up to undo her side ponytail, then they drift into a tender kiss. "Mmmmm..." the rhythmic gymnast purrs as their tongues trace the other's teeth. "I actually might come to like this." "So will I," Ranko meows... * * * To be continued... Ranma 1/2: "Ranko, Abandoned No More" Part 3 by Fred Herriot gorgo@timebomb.on.ca **** **** **** Based on "Ranma 1/2" created by Rumiko Takahashi **** **** **** WARNING: This story contains adult scenes. Standard warnings apply. IN THE SECOND PART OF "RANKO, ABANDONED NO MORE," the Saotomes learn that Cologne's clan is descent from the first babies reborn from Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang in Confucius' time. Ranko, feeling sad that she had to shatter Shampoo's dream, tries to convince the warrior-maiden to give Mousse another chance. Later at Ucchan's, after confronting Ranko in concern to Ranma and Akane, Kodachi reveals that she now knows of Jusenkyou and its effects from Tsubasa. Believing Ranko to be a spirit possessing Ranma when he becomes a girl, Kodachi confronts the newest member of the Saotome clan. By then, Ranma and Akane have left for China, determined to find a cure to Jusenkyou's curse. Kodachi realizes Ranko is not Ranma, then helps her suppress a drunken Ukyou and Shampoo. Later, Ranko has a dream of Akane, Ukyou, Shampoo and Kodachi desiring her...which leads to an interesting complication with Kodachi, who elected to remain with the lost child that evening. **** **** **** Thus saying that...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!! **** **** **** "Eh?!!" Ukyou gasps. "You're kidding me?!!" "Ai-yah!!!" Shampoo exclaims. "Ranko...seduce Kodachi?!" Both stare at Kodachi, who calmly sips her tea. "Well, we seduced each other, Shampoo," the rhythmic gymnast muses non-chalantly. "Shampoo no know Kodachi lesbian," the warrior-maiden muses. "Relax, I'm not," Kodachi laughs. "Come now, Shampoo. Surely in a matriarchial clan like yours, there are those women who prefer other women as potential mates over men." Shampoo nods in confirmation. "You mean that's tolerated?!" Ukyou blinks in disbelief. "Of course," Shampoo nods. "If person born bisexual, lesbian or gay, that is way gods want them to be. No teaching can change that. No need to force them to be heterosexual; all that cause is great pain. Shampoo know many people like that; many good friends with Shampoo." "Wow!" Ukyou whistles in awe. "That's incredible. You'd never hear things like that here in Japan." "Nor in the rest of China, I suspect," Kodachi sighs. "So how did this happen to you?" Ukyou gazes at the rhythmic gymnast. "You never struck me as a voyeur." "I'm not, admittedly...although I do admit to several times when I've shared intimate moments with several classmates," Kodachi hums. "Some could say that goes with the territory in a same-sex school; I can't be too sure. However, that did not prepare me for last night." "Ranko did seduce you!" Ukyou tenses. "No," Kodachi repeats. "You don't understand the temptation that girl could present. Where it counts the most, Ranko-chan is Ranma-kun...totally free of any ties to Akane Tendou." Hearing that, Shampoo and Ukyou tense, imagining what it would be like to have their dream lover free of Akane's grasp. "We're all used to Ran-chan being a girl whenever he gets splashed with cold water," Ukyou breathes in. "Oh, man." "Is temptation Shampoo no think she can resist," Shampoo admits. "Exactly," Kodachi nods. "Now, I suspect all three of us...while our curiosity could, and in my case has, lead us to a liaison with another woman ...would prefer to have a man as a future life-partner. With Ranma-kun now tied to Akane, that leaves me with Tsubasa-kun," she glances at Shampoo, "...you with Mousse-san," then glances at Ukyou, "...and you with Konatsu-san. Now...where does that leave Ranko-chan?" Shampoo and Ukyou exchange looks. "Alone," the latter concludes. "Ai-yah!" the former gasps. "That no good!" "Why do you say that?!" "Ukyou no understand," Shampoo looks down. "Ranko is spirit of unwanted daughter. Ranko dream of having family which no reject her. If Ranko feel rejection, Shampoo no want to think of result." "In essence, Ukyou, Ranko-chan could literally die of loneliness if she felt she was not loved by anyone," Kodachi augments. "Oh," Ukyou pales. "Kodachi, can you be sure Ranko's a lesbian?" "Not a hundred percent," the rhythmic gymnast admits. "But Ranko-chan had quite the dream about us last night. That confirms that whatever Ranma-kun felt about us, Ranko-chan now feels she is free to explore. She's done it with me; given the right circumstances, she can do the same with you two, even Akane. And if we reject her..." "Ranko could die," Shampoo shudders. "And if Shampoo, Ukyou and Kodachi let Ranko die..." "Ran-chan would kill us," Ukyou finishes. "Oh, shit!" Silence falls over Ucchan's as the three would-be fiancees consider their options. "Speaking of which, where is Ran-chan, now?" Ukyou wonders. "Ranko said he and Akane are going to Jusenkyou to find the cure to his curse...and yours, too," Kodachi stares at Shampoo. "Ai-yah!!" Shampoo gasps. "Ranma so kind! Shampoo hope Ranma succeed this time!" "I hope so, too," Ukyou sighs. "But we've got a bigger problem before us, girls. What do we do about Ranko?" Shampoo hums, then stares at Kodachi. "Shampoo have idea!" the warrior- maiden then smiles. "Shampoo think that Ranko must first learn if she is lesbian or not. Only way to prove that is to get Ranko to date man." "Your brother!!" Ukyou turns to Kodachi. "He's always had the hots for his 'pig-tailed goddess!' Ranko'd be a godsend to him!" "I don't know," Kodachi sighs. "Ranma-kun and my brother don't normally get along. I think Ranko-chan might not go along with it." "For her sake and ours, we have to try," Ukyou warns... * * * "A fair day, is it not, Sasuke?" Tatewaki Kunou sighs as he gazes at another peaceful day in Nerima, an event in itself given the chaos which made this district of Tokyo rival its neighbour Tomobiki for sheer weirdness. "Indeed, it moves me to contemplate seeking my Osagi-no-onna or Akane Tendou to see if they will finally turn away from that cur Saotome!" "It is a lovely day, Master Kunou," Sasuke admits. "But I have heard that Master Saotome and Mistress Akane have gone to China for some curious reason." Kunou tenses. "And they said nothing to anyone? This bears watching, Sasuke! Learn what you can." "Of course, Master," the ninja bows, then departs. The door slides open, revealing Kodachi. "Good morning, brother dear. How are you today?" "My sister," Kunou stares quizzically as the rhythmic gymnast sits beside him. "Where have you been? You did not come home last night." "I...was spending time with a friend," Kodachi admits, forcing herself to be calm. Her brother was capable of wild assumptions on the most minuscule of information. What was coming next would require a lot of steel nerves. Kunou was capable of much, especially if he felt his sense of reality was threatened. Kodachi could not conceive of no threat greater than what Ranko now had in mind. The doorbell rings. Sasuke then comes in. "Master Kunou, you won't believe who's here!" the ninja excitedly announces. "Who?!" Kunou turns...then jolts. "You!" "Hello, Tatewaki-kun," Ranko smiles. "Can I come in?" Frozen for just a second, Kunou bolts to his feet and nearly squashes her with a bear hug. "My pig-tailed goddess!!! You have come at last to express your love, free of all inhibitions that wretch Saotome has unleashed on you in the past!!! Now, now, we shall be as one!!!" He pauses, surprised to hear sniffs emenate from Ranko. Kunou backs away, gazing concernedly at her. "What has moved you to tears, my precious?!" he gently grasps her hand. "Are you so overwhelmed by my sincerity that you weep for joy?! Speak, my love!!" "No," Ranko looks down, privately surprised at her performance. Part of her wondered if it actually WAS a performance. "Tatewaki-kun, you better sit down. I've...come here today not to heal hearts...but to break them. Yours, to be precise." Kunou pales as he slowly sits. Ranko relaxes before him. "It has been a...hectic year since we met behind Furinkan High," she admits. "Strange. Even to this day, you still don't know my name...or the truth of my relationship to Ranma." "What?! What?!!" he gasps. "Tell me, my princess!! I wait with baited breath!!!" "My name is Ranko Saotome," Ranko announces. "Ranma is my older brother." If Kunou had been hit by an atomic bomb, he would not have sensed it, the shock Ranko's words produce is that great. "What...?" he gasps. "You... and Saotome...you're brother and sister?!" "Yes," Ranko nods. "Surely by now, you noticed the similarity in our fighting styles." Kunou considers the point. "I have." "Well," Ranko sighs, grateful that the kendoist was not as swift in analytical deduction as he was in martial arts, "...as I said before, it has been a very hectic year for me. Most of all, discovering who and what I am. Your...attraction to me has...admittedly not helped. What I'm about to tell you will come as a shock." "Tell me," he urges. Ranko takes in a deep breath. "Tatewaki-kun...I'm a lesbian." Silence. More silence. For two minutes, Kunou remains frozen, staring wide-eyed at Ranko. "Tatewaki-kun...?" the lost girl waves a hand across his face. "Are you okay?!" "Brother, dear, did you hear her?" Kodachi gently prods him. Finally, Kunou leans up to her. "You...lesbian?" he hoarsely gasps, then a volcano explodes behind him!! "WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?!?!?! What has that cur Saotome done to you...?!!" "Oh, Tatewaki-kun, stop, please!" Ranko sighs. "No sorcery is involved in making me this way! You don't decide one day that you're a lesbian! You're BORN a lesbian! I can't change the way I am just like you can't change the way you are!!" Kunou trembles, tears brimming his eyelids as he gazes intently on the woman he has lusted after for so long. "When did you learn this?!" "Some time ago," Ranko sighs. "For a while there, I admit I was interested in your attention. Then...recently, I began to discover that men ...didn't interest me as women did. I found myself attracted to the women Onii-chan cared for. Ukyou, Shampoo, your own sister, even Akane-onee-chan! When Onii-chan decided he wanted to love and eventually marry Akane-onee-chan, I actually believed I could move in and take his place with the others! Kodachi-chan stayed with me last night. It took almost all of my willpower just to prevent me from seducing her!" Kunou takes time to absorb that. "I see," he looks down. "Even more, given the closeness between her and Ranma-kun, I found myself tempted by Ranko-chan's advances," Kodachi admits. "Brother, dear, think!" she then places a hand on his shoulder. "It took Ranko-chan a lot to admit that to you. Admitting what she is isn't the healthiest thing to do these days. Don't hurt her by not..." "Peace, sweet sister," Kunou smiles, then gently grasps Ranko's hand. "Ranko-san, your words drive me to tears, concerned as I am for your good health and fortune. The fateful discovery you made about yourself could bring forth a tragedy which would make the gods howl with grief! Be assured, my love for you will not die, thought I know very well you do this to free me, allow me to seek another. But another will not be you, Ranko-san. You will forever haunt me." "I know," Ranko smiles. "I ask one thing." "Ask." "Please...let your thoughts be kind ones," Ranko kisses his cheek. "For I will have great need of them." "They shall," Kunou vows. "Oh, believe me, Ranko-san, they shall! With the gods as my witness, I will never think ill of you until the day I die...!!" His passion running out of control, his wooden sword then sweeps up to knock a ceiling panel fitted with an overhead light out of place. It comes down *hard* on his head, nearly driving him through the floorboards! "Tatewaki-kun, are you okay?!" Ranko wonders. "Until I die..." Kunou groans... * * * "Well, how was I?!" Ranko breathes out. She and Kodachi relax in the Saotomes' apartment with Ukyou and Shampoo having tea. "It was magnificent," Kodachi smiles. "I must confess, I've never seen such realism. It was almost as if...you were saying good-bye to my brother." "Given how confused I've been at times, maybe I was," Ranko sighs. "The others who've fallen into Jusenkyou're lucky, I think. Changing genders every time you get wet doesn't do one's sense of self any good." "I'll bet," Ukyou sighs. "So, you finally got Kunou to lay off. I guess Nabiki'll have to watch out from now on. With Ran-chan and Akane intent on tying the knot, it doesn't give your brother many options, Kodachi." "No, it doesn't," Kodachi sighs. "But the very thought of that money- stealing witch marrying my brother doesn't do wonders for my stomach." "Hey, give Nabiki a break, huh?" Ranko cuts in. "Finding ways of getting money is her way of expressing love. She's the one who pays for all the repairs this place needs every time someone goes ballistic." "I learned that recently, too," Kodachi giggles. "Well, if Nabiki does choose my brother, I hope she remembers that her first duty will be to the family she forms with him, not the family she leaves here." "Well, she's working on forming her own company," Ranko smiles. "Nabiki Tendou Enterprises. She's been bragging about it for some time, since she met that Kashaoo character, I think. Given the way she makes money, I'll bet she'll be a millionaire before she hits twenty." "Ranko more forgiving than Ranma," Shampoo muses. "Shampoo know of many times Nabiki bribe Ranma. Remember Christmas when Nabiki get us to pay money to spend time alone with Ranma on roof?" "Heavens, I remember!" Kodachi groans. "It's a wonder we didn't destroy the place after Ranma-kun bolted!" "It's a good thing we didn't," Ranko smiles. "Kasumi went to a lot of trouble setting that party up." "True," Ukyou sighs, leaning into Ranko's side. "I don't know about you two, but I'm going to miss all the fun we've had." Ranko blinks, then slips an arm around the okonomiyaki cook. "So will I," she gently whispers into Ukyou's ear. They stare at each other. To Ukyou, the person before her IS the man she had sought for so long. "Ran-chan..." she gasps, then plunges into a very passionate kiss. Kodachi remains silent as they allow their feelings to flow forth. Shampoo shudders. "Ai-yah! Ukyou no play fair! Shampoo want to kiss!" Ranko turns, draws the warrior-maiden in with her other arm, then takes a passionate taste of Shampoo's lips. "Hey, don't hog!" Ukyou wraps her arms around Ranko to draw her away from Shampoo. Ukyou's hands then land on Ranko's breasts, giving them a firm squeeze. The okonomiyaki cook freezes as Ranko gazes at her. Shampoo stops, staring at the two plump mounds barely contained by Ranko's red shirt. Silence falls as Ukyou and Shampoo wonder what exactly they were doing. Ranko then rises, placing herself in the triangle between her brother's would-be fiancees. She then slides her shirt off. Next come her pants and shorts, revealing all her assets for Ukyou and Shampoo. With that, Ranko gazes at them. "If you want to do this, I won't stop either of you," she smiles. "But now, I know I can face myself in the morning with little regret. Can you?" Shampoo and Ukyou exchange looks, then rise, determination shining in their eyes. "I've loved you for a long time," the latter sighs. "If this is the only chance I get, I won't waste it." "Shampoo no care if Ranko now girl," the former smiles. "Shampoo know in heart, Ranko is Ranma. What Shampoo gave to Ranma, Shampoo can also give to Ranko." Ranko smiles. "Let's get wet!" * * * "Ranko's doing WHAT with Ukyou and Shampoo?!" Nabiki exclaims. "You heard me," Kodachi sighs. They relax in the Tendou living room. The rhythmic gymnast made a discreet exit when matters between Ranko, Ukyou and Shampoo became embarrassingly intimate. "And me without my camera," Nabiki whistles. "Your brother would have a fit if he found out." "He already knows of Ranko's gender preference," Kodachi smiles. "Ranko- chan made a wonderful confession in our home prior earlier today. My brother took it in stride. I...apologize if we just took away one of your many places of income." Kodachi's chilling laughter causes Nabiki to scowl. Admittedly, selling pictures of Ranma's girl-form to Kunou had been lucrative for a long time. Ranko was probably getting her brother's revenge for those times. "Well, there are other ways of making money," Nabiki muses. "After all, pictures of Ranko being intimate with Ukyou or Shampoo would be a great bribing tool..." Nabiki jerks as Kodachi's spike-studded baton nearly slices her face to ribbons! "Don't you DARE, Nabiki Tendou!!" the younger Kunou scowls, the fire in her eyes causing the middle Tendou to quake. "If you continue to abuse Ranma- kun or Ranko-chan in this manner, I will do EVERYTHING in my power to ensure you NEVER know a happy life with my brother or anyone else!!" Nabiki falls back, surprised by Kodachi's act. "Whoa!" she steels herself. "Something tells me you also enjoyed some personal attention from Ranma's sister." "I won't dignify that with an answer," Kodachi muses. "Least of all to you. I'm quite aware of how you've kept my poor brother locked in your scams ever since Ranma-kun first came to live with you. I will not allow you to continue to do that to him. He may be a love-starved idiot, but he's still kin...and I will defend my kin." "Geez, chill out, huh!" Nabiki blinks. "It was just an idea." Kodachi hums. "Do us a favour. Don't act on it." At that moment, the door slides open, revealing Shampoo and Ukyou. Both look quite refreshed, although concern is clearly etched on their faces. "So, did you two have some fun with Ranko-chan?" Nabiki muses as they relax beside Kodachi. "Shampoo no give con girl answer," the warrior-maiden scowls. "What go on between Shampoo and Ranko only concern Shampoo and Ranko." "Yeah, Nabiki!" the okonomiyaki cook growls. "Not all of us want to be targets for you to scam money from!" Nabiki sweats on feeling their burning stares. "Gods, will you all chill out?! It's just a joke!" "Why don't you make love to Ranko-chan and see how much of a joke it is?!" Ukyou sneers, then buries her head. "Gods, I can't believe I actually allowed myself to do that?! She may be Ran-chan's double, but she's still a girl!" "Worse, you may have given Ranko the wrong impression," Nabiki cuts in. "You may not realize this, but your intimacy could convince Ranko that is the way you want her to treat you. What happens if you two decide to go after Konatsu and Mousse? What'll happen to Ranko?" Shampoo and Ukyou pale. "Ai-yah!!" the former covers her face. "Shampoo think we do really stupid thing!" "You got that right!!" the latter shudders, then stands. "C'mon!" "Where?" "We're going to talk to Ranko," Ukyou urges. "We're going to tell her what happened can't happen again!" "Right!" Shampoo stands. "You come, Kodachi?" "I might as well," Kodachi stands. "If you'll excuse us, Nabiki." Suddenly, the door flies open, revealing Ranko. "Guys, c'mon!!" "What is it, Ranko?" Nabiki stands. "Akane-onee-chan's on the phone from China!" Ranko waves them with her. "She's got news about Jusenkyou!!" * * * "Ai-yah!!!" Shampoo gasps. "No cure?!!" The majority of the cast gather around Ranko in the Saotomes' living room. "Are you sure he didn't fall into Nyannichuan, Akane-onee-chan?!" she calls into the phone. A pause, then, "Oh, it was Nannichuan, huh? Fell in and he still turned into a girl?" Another pause. "What did the guide say?!" Silence, then, "You can't curse yourself twice? What about some of the creeps we've run into who've got hybrid bodies?!" A pause. "Oh...mix the water before dousing someone, huh? Eh?!" she blinks. "Onii-chan heard something? Well, keep us up to date, huh! We've got our fingers crossed, Akane-onee-chan! 'Bye!" She hangs up. "Well?!" Mousse gasps. Ranko sighs. "The guide told Onii-chan that after you've become cursed by Jusenkyou, you can't immerse yourself again and expect the curse to go away. You've be cursing yourself twice in effect...and that doesn't happen, or so the guide said." "You mean after all the time Ranma spent looking for variations of Nannichuan, they wouldn't've worked?!" Nodoka blinks. "If they were deprived from the original Nannichuan in Jusenkyou, no," Ranko shakes her head. "If they were indigenous, like the spring on Toma's island, that's another story. But once Jusenkyou's got you, there's no way out through Jusenkyou. And things like the Instant Nannichuan are just temporary cures." Everyone sighs. Genma looks down, shuddering. Ranko stares at her father, realizing that after this revelation, he would conclude that the whole mess was his fault since he had dragged Ranma into Jusenkyou without considering the consequences. It was in part his fault, but now was certainly no time to make accusations. "How's Ran-chan taking it?" Ukyou wonders. "Hard," Ranko sighs. "But Akane-onee-chan said that Onii-chan heard some rumours about a possible regimen one could undergo to work the curse out of your system. He's going to investigate it, then get back to us." "I've heard of that," Cologne muses. "But they've never been done since there are those powers out there who desire to possess Jusenkyou's power for themselves. I don't know the details, but it is said to work if one's willing to take the risk." "Poor Ran-chan!" Ukyou sighs. "Losing that curse was the biggest dream he had. Now he may never get it." "All our dreams've been taking a beating over the last while," Kodachi muses. "Well, let's hope for the best." "Agreed," Mousse stands. "I'll call Akari and get her to pass it on to Ryouga," Ranko breathes out. "He'll want to know." With that, the crowd disperses. Kodachi, Ukyou and Shampoo remain close to Ranko as they head onto the front lawn. Once they are alone, the four exchange looks, then the would-be fiancees face Ranko. "Ranko-chan, we've got a confession to make," Ukyou begins. "I...speaking for myself, I enjoyed what we did. But...I don't think I can do that with you again." "Oh?" Ranko blinks. "I believe I'm speaking for all of us, Ranko-chan," Kodachi cuts it. "We enjoyed the experience you gave us. But...we want you to know that we're more inclined..." "To be with boys?" "Yes," Shampoo nods. "Ranko will always be Shampoo's friend. But Shampoo...no can be Ranko's lover." An embarrassing silence falls as Ranko takes that in. "Hey, it's okay," she shrugs, forcing a smile. "I enjoyed myself. I know you all have guys out there waiting for you. I guess I was acting on that dream I had. Must've been a reflection of what happened between Onii-chan and all of you. Don't worry yourself over it. Well...good night." She heads inside. Ukyou, Kodachi and Shampoo watch her go. All notice the small trail of tears streaming from Ranko's eyes... * * * "Shampoo do stupidest thing she ever done!" Shampoo sobs, leaning on the counter at Ucchan's next morning. "Why Shampoo no realize what Ranko might feel if Shampoo give herself to Ranko only once?!" Guilty looks are on Kodachi's and Ukyou's faces. Cologne sits beside Shampoo. "There, there, child," she pats Shampoo's shoulder. "You couldn't resist the temptation Ranko presented. Right now, you have to quickly discover how you can repair the damage you caused." "If Ranko kill herself, Shampoo beg Ranma to kill her!" Shampoo sniffs, then leans down to cry some more. "Cologne's right," Ukyou sighs, trying to concentrate on making an okonomiyaki. "Ranko-chan gave it to us straight and honest. We owe it to her to do the same." "How?" Kodachi wonders. "Perhaps you should analyze the problem from where it started," Cologne sighs. "That Ranko still possessed Ranma's feelings for you is self-evident. It speaks a lot about her. It's obvious to me that Ranko needs her own companion." "But Shampoo no can give herself to Ranko!" Shampoo cries. "I can't see myself doing that!" Ukyou nods. "What about you, Kodachi? You've got more experience at this than we do!" "I...with all honesty, I can't, either," Kodachi sighs. "Still, Ranko-chan needs a lover. Our...closeness to her just exacerbated the point!" "Shampoo wish stupid Happousai no trick Ranma into going to Nini-Quan-Qi- Niang!" Shampoo spits out. "We can't wish that, especially when it comes to people like Ranko!" Cologne whacks her great-granddaughter with her cane. "We can't change the past. We have to build on it." "Let's hope we're in time," Ukyou sighs. "You guys want to eat?" The others politely decline, moving to head home. Ukyou shuts off her grill, then relaxes. "Build on what's come before," she sighs. "Boy, this is gonna be tough...eh?!" An idea comes to her...an idea so ridiculously simple, it astounds her that she never considered it before. "Build!" she gasps. "Build...a lover Ranko-chan can have for her own!! Kuonji, you're a genius!!" With that, she moves to close the shop down... * * * "Build a future for Ranko-chan," Kodachi hums as she heads home. "A pity I'm not Victor von Frankenstein; I could actually build a lover Ranko-chan could have for herself..." She stops, eyes widening as it comes to her. "Of course!!" she exclaims, then shudders with delight. "Oh, I should've seen it sooner! Ranko-chan's gonna get a Christmas present she'll never forget!!" With a maniacal giggle, she races home... * * * "Build future for Ranko," Shampoo hums as she follows Cologne back to the Nekohanten. "What future Ranko could want if she no have lover she can share future with, Great-grandma?!" Cologne smiles. "Well, I was thinking of how Ranko herself came into being..." Shampoo's eyes widen understandingly. "Great-grandma!! Could that be permitted?!!" "I'm sure given the circumstances, it would be allowed!" "Ai-yah!!" Shampoo shudders. "If Shampoo no can be Ranko's lover, Ranko get Shampoo who can be Ranko's lover!!" The two race off to prepare... * * * "You want to go to Jookoji-shima?!" Ranma blinks. "Why?!" "Well, I was thinking about Ranko-chan," Akane shrugs. The two shared a tent near Jusenkyou Valley, relaxing after discovering the secret which would adversely affect their lives for years to come. "Don't you think it's unfair that Ranko-chan doesn't have a companion of her own? We can provide all the love we can, but sooner or later, your parents will pass on and we'll want to live our own lives. So I was thinking that if you can do it, so can I! What do you say?!" Ranma crosses his arms. "Well, if Ranko-chan is an exact double of me, she'll have my love for you. It would spare us a load of trouble in the future. I just hope Yi-xin, Lee-shin and Mishin don't get too peeved about it." "I think they'll approve!" Akane smiles. "After all, for who knows how long, Ranko-chan had all those other spirits with her in that spring. She must feel lost right now without all her friends to be with her. If one friend could come out of that place to be with her, all the better!" "Oh, okay!" Ranma nods. "We'll head there tomorrow. Let's hope things don't go wrong. G'night, Akane." "Good night, Ranma," Akane smiles as Ranma turns in. Laying back, her smile turns devilish. *Good thing Nabiki called and warned me about Kodachi, Ukyou and Shampoo putting the moves on Ranko-chan! There's no way in hell that I'll let ANY part of MY man fall into their hands!! And if another Akane Tendou's the only way to prevent that, so be it!!!* Shuddering with glee, Akane turns in... * * * To be concluded... Ranma 1/2: "Ranko, Abandoned No More" Part 4 by Fred Herriot gorgo@timebomb.on.ca **** **** **** Based on "Ranma 1/2" created by Rumiko Takahashi **** **** **** WARNING: This story contains adult scenes. I tried to keep it toned down; this is my first try at this. Standard warnings apply. IN THE THIRD PART OF "RANKO, ABANDONED NO MORE," Shampoo and Ukyou learn of Kodachi's tryst with Ranko. Given that Ranko is Ranma in a woman's body, the temptation she could present to Ranma's two other would-be fiancees is considerable. Ranko moves to eliminate another problem by confessing to Kunou that she is a lesbian. After, Ranko enjoys some intimate time with Shampoo and Ukyou. That makes everyone feel guilty since if Kodachi, Shampoo and Ukyou decide to pursue their own lovers, Ranko could be emotionally devastated. The next day, the three confer with Cologne about their problem. The aged matriarch proposes that they build on their relationship with Ranko ...in other words, give Ranma's sister her own companion. And there is only one place to do that, as Akane soon proposes to Ranma while they are at Jusenkyou... **** **** **** And finally...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!! **** **** **** "Under normal circumstances, I would forbid this," Yi-xin sighs as she, Ranma and Akane approach Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang. "These lost children deserve a peaceful existence here, not to be re-exposed to the chaos of the real world." "Well, it's a moot point now that Ranko-chan has her own life," Akane sighs. "Besides, no matter how much we try to make her feel welcome in our home, there'll always be a sense of dislocation in her. No one alive today's experienced what she's undergone." "True," the Chinese guardian stops before the bubbling mud spring. "Very well, then. Before you begin, I must warn you that when you immerse yourself into the spring, you'll have no control over which soul inhabits your replica's body. If she's anti-social, downright psychotic or possesses other ...undesirable qualities, don't blame me." "We've experienced worse," Ranma muses. Akane stares at the bubbling liquid soil, then undresses. Yi-xin draws a knife to make two shallow cuts on her lower arms. Once that is done, the youngest Tendou steps into the spring... * * * "Great-grandma, you sure this okay?" Shampoo wonders. It is twenty minutes later. Shampoo and Cologne approach the spring from a private landing used by the Nyu-che-zuu when they came to Jookoji-shima to celebrate their clan's origins. Save for a small trail of drying mud leading from Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang toward the distant temple, there is no sign that Ranma, Akane or Yi-xin have been present. "It's fine, Shampoo," the aged matriarch sighs. "I've already informed the clan elders in Juketsuzoku. As far as they're concerned, Ranko should not be living alone, even if Ranma's family have welcomed her with open arms. Prepare yourself, child." "Hai!" Shampoo nods as she undresses. Once she has drawn a ceremonial knife over her lower arms, she prays. "Honoured sister-to-be, stand in Shampoo's place and give Ranko all your love!" She slips into the spring... * * * "Well, seeing as you are Ranma's best friend, I suppose you could do this," Lee-shin nibbles on a freshly-cooked okonomiyaki sprinkled with pulogi as she escorts Ukyou to Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang. "By the way, nice okonomiyaki," she smacks her lips. Another twenty minutes have passed. Now, two trails of mud lead away from the sacrificial spring. "My pleasure," Ukyou nods as she places her portable stove down, then begins to undress. Once she is nude, she prays. "Ranko-chan, I was denied the chance to earn your brother's love and circumstances prevent me from filling the gaping hole in your heart. May the gift I create today express all the dreams, hopes and aspirations I held for Ran-chan." Lee-shin draws her knife over the okonomiyaki cook's arms, then Ukyou moves into the spring... * * * "I am truly happy you were willing to help me do this for poor Ranko-chan," Kodachi smiles as she and Mishin approach the spring. "After all, she does deserve the best. Don't you agree?" "Well, seeing as how you were Saotome-san's fiancee, it surprises me that you're willing to do this for his sister," Mishin muses. Another twenty minutes have passed. Three trails of mud now lead away from Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang. Kodachi stares at the bubbling spring, then stretches herself. "Oooh, this will be a mud bath to remember!" she smiles, then quickly disrobes. "Dearest Ranko-chan, let she who will be reborn this day stand in my place and give you the happiness you and your brother once sought from me," she prays, then holds out her arms. "I'm ready." Mishin draws her knife over the gymnast's arms. Kodachi then slips into the spring... * * * Sometime later, Mishin prays at the spring as Yi-xin approaches. "Nihao, Mishin," the Chinese guardian smiles. "Where've you been?" "Oh, konban wa, Yi-xin," the Japanese guardian beams. "I just escorted one of Saotome-san's friends to the spring so she could free another trapped soul to be Ranko-sama's companion." "Oh, that's nice...eh?!!" Yi-xin jolts. "Who?!!" "A martial arts rhythmic gymnast named Kodachi Kunou," Mishin smiles, then notices her friend shivering. "What's wrong?" "But...I just escorted Ranma's fiancee here so SHE could make a double to be Ranko's companion!!!" Yi-xin exclaims. Lee-shin walks up. "An nyong, Mishin, Yi-xin," she smiles, then notices the others' panicked looks. "What's wrong?! You two okay?!" "Lee-shin...you didn't escort someone here to make a companion for Ranko, did you?" Yi-xin turns to the Korean guardian. "I did!" Lee-shin smiles. "Ranma's best friend showed up to offer herself as a template so Ranko wouldn't be alone! Great cook, too; I got a free meal out of it. She even spoke perfect Korean...eh?!" she blinks on seeing the stunned looks on her friends' faces. "What is it?" The three look down, eyes widening on seeing the small trails of mud leading out of Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang. "This is where Akane Tendou came in," Yi-xin indicates one mud trail. "Here's where Kunou-san came in," Mishin points to another. "This is where Ukyou stepped in," Lee-shin indicates a third. "So who's the fourth?!" Mishin points to the fourth trail. "Ai-yah!!" Yi-xin looks. "These small indents in the ground must've come from Matriarch Cologne's walking cane! She lives in Tokyo now, near where Ranma lives!" The three guardians blink, gazing at the mud spring they have sworn to guard. "Four companions for Ranko...?!" they gasp. * * * "Ranma!!" Ryouga Hibiki slaps his rival/friend across the back. "You made it! How'd it go?! Where's Akane?!" Ranma places down his backpack. They stand on the front porch of the Tendou home. "It's great, especially if you're really serious about marrying Akari-san these days!" Ranma smiles. "Let's go inside. I'll tell you all about it." "What about Akane?" "She's got a present for Ranko-chan," Ranma smiles. "She'll be around in a bit...P-chan!" he projects an evil grin. Ryouga scowls as they step inside. "Lucky thing you discovered the cure or else I'd've killed you for that!!" The two head inside. Meanwhile, Ranko relaxes in the living room of the Saotomes' private wing. A knock is heard, followed by Akane's voice. "Ranko- chan?! You inside?!" "C'mon in, Akane-onee-chan!" Ranko smiles, standing to open the door, allowing her future sister in law into the living room. "What're you doing here?! Shouldn't you be with Onii-chan?!" "In a minute," Akane guides Ranko into her bedroom. "But first, I got something for you!" "You do?!!" Ranko's eyes widen. "What?! Tell me!!" "You sit here," Akane places her on her futon, then pulls out a red bandanna. "And I have to put this over your eyes." She quickly blindfolds the lost child. "Why?" Ranko blinks. "Because it's a surprise," Akane smiles, ensuring Ranko could not see over or under the bandanna. "Now, you just wait right here and it'll be here in a moment." With that, Akane places a warm kiss on Ranko's lips, then steps out of the bedroom. "I wonder what's going on?!" the lost girl crosses her arms, attuning her senses to detect when Akane's present will enter. The door gently slides open a moment later. Ranko lowers her arms as gentle footfalls move past her. Next comes the squeak of someone kneeling in front of her. "Hi," Ranko smiles. "Who are you?" The response nearly overwhelms Ranko as a wet kiss lands on her lips. Her guest's excited tongue lances into the lost girl's mouth as Ranko feels a young woman's body press into hers. Before she could reflexively pull the bandanna off to see who her companion is, two strong hands seize hers, firmly forcing them away from her head. Ranko is gently shoved onto her back as those arms wind around her shoulders. All logical thought flies from Ranko's mind as her arms pull her guest into her, detecting the wide bow of a kimono's obi. After a few minutes of passionate kissing, the stranger's lips move across Ranko's cheek to her right ear, then the tongue begins to flick at the lobe and the aural canal. Ranko feels her heart accelerate as the stranger's tongue and nose play havoc with her nerves. As Ranma's sister, she possessed all his intimate tastes; she LOVED it when someone played with her ears. A heat builds in her body as the stranger continues her passionate assault. Ranko tries desperately to determine who she is, but every time she tries to make her mind work, a flick of the stranger's tongue or nose sends her into a tizzy. "I'm warm..." Ranko softly pants. The stranger quickly obliges by unbuttoning Ranko's shirt. The warmth now stiffens her breasts. The stranger does not keep them waiting long. As one hand continues to gently trace Ranko's ear, the other moves to her left breast, gently massaging the nipple. Her lips administer to the other. Ranko feels her body heat as the stranger continues her attack. Attempts at trying to forge some defence against her seduction is lost. Ranko's hands move down to untie her pants. The stranger's hands then pull them past her hips, helping Ranko slip out of her pants. The hands then guide Ranko's to the obi. <> a strange voice echoes in Ranko's mind. Not needing an additional invitation, Ranko yanks off the obi, then guides the kimono off the stranger's shoulders. Her hands gently slide over the stranger's body, confirming that no other item of clothing restricted the lost girl from returning the stranger's assault. As the clothing is tossed aside, Ranko draws the stranger face-to-face for another lip-to-lip conversation. The stranger shifts slightly to one side, allowing Ranko's leg to rise between hers. Likewise, the stranger's leg is poised over Ranko's groin. As their kisses become intense, the intruding thigh then slams into Ranko's groin. Ranko gasps in stunned shock as the explosion from her groin floods her senses, wiping away all rational thought. Her own thigh reciprocates the stranger's action, eliciting a like cry of passion. With that, their legs feverishly stroke the other's body as their tongues lance into the other's mouth. Ranko's back arches as their arms mash their bodies together. Time is no longer relavant for the lovers...until their bodies finally, mercifully, explode in a rolling orgasm that sends the stranger sagging to Ranko's side, barely able to keep her arms around her. Ranko's strength disintegrates as she falls on her back, her hand blindly reaching for her seducer's body. "Who are you?" Ranma's sister pants. In response, a hand gently guides the bandanna away from Ranko's eyes, allowing her to see... "Hello, Ranko," Akane smiles. Ranko blinks, surprised that Akane was such a passionate, skilled lover...then it hits her. "OH, GODS...!!!!" she yelps, rolling away to stand up, gazing at her seducer. "Akane, what...?!!" Akane is quickly on her feet, her hands gently grasping her lover's. "I'm not Akane, Ranko-chan," she purrs, blowing on Ranko's other ear. "My little soul-sister..." Ranko's legs nearly melt from underneath her, then her eyes widen in disbelief. "'Soul-sister'...?!" she hoarsely repeats, then a shocked grin splits her face. "Sa-na...?!!" "It's Asana now," the woman before her smiles. "Asana Tendou. Onee-chan freed me from the spring so I could be with you. I missed you, Ranko-chan..." They tearfully embrace, the experience of a timeless eternity in the netherworld holding the souls of Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang uniting them in ways Ranma's and Akane's relationship could not. Oh Sa-na was a five year old from Cholla-do when, during the stormy years before the turn of the century, she joined her parents in the Tonghak Peasant Army fighting those trying to absorb Korea into the growing Japanese empire. Sa-na's father betrayed his battalion, leading them to a major defeat. Proud of her heritage, Sa-na turned her back on her parents. In vengeance over her lack of filial loyalty, they sacrificed her in Nini-Quan- Qi-Niang. Since that day in 1894, Sa-na was close to the nameless baby who would be reborn as Ranko Saotome. Now, like Ranko, Asana was the emotional and spiritual union of two people: Oh Sa-na and Akane Tendou. "I missed you too, Asana-chan," Ranko kisses her, then draws her down. "Now, I'll show you how much I missed you!" "I can't wait!" Asana growls. Just as their lips were about to reunite, a knock is heard at the front door. "Who could that be?" Ranko sits up. "Hurry back," Asana whispers, slipping under the covers. Ranko grins as she slips on a housecoat, then heads to the living room. Sliding the door open, she blinks surprisedly on seeing Shampoo standing there, now dressed in a thigh-length green sleeveless dress decorated with flowers and tigers. "Nihao, Ranko," she seductively smiles, her voice velvet-smooth. "May I come in?" Ranko shudders as the door closes behind the warrior-maiden... * * * ...but had she looked to the Tendous' front porch, she would have seen Shampoo standing there beside Mousse. "Ai-yah!!" Shampoo claps her hands delightfully. "It work! Now Ranko won't be alone anymore!" "Good thinking," the weaponsmaster adjusts his glasses. "C'mon. Let's hear the rest of Ranma's story." Shampoo nods as they head inside... * * * Ranko would not appreciate Shampoo's candor. "Who are you?!" she stammers, backing away from the advancing double. "You're not Shampoo!" "No, I'm not," the double admits. "But Shampoo freed me from the spring, just like you were freed. Stop that, Ranko! I want to get to know the woman you've become...very...intimately!" Ranko is suddenly backed into a wall. The woman places her hands on her shivering host, then leans up and delivers a very warm kiss... just as Asana's bokan stick smacks into her head! "Ah-hah!!!" Akane's sister snarls. "Onee-chan thought you'd try something, Shampoo!!! Lay off Ranko-chan...NOW!!!!" The woman sighs, then stares at her attacker. "Honestly, Sa-na. Is that the way to greet a friend?" Asana blinks, then leans close. "Shang-feng?!" "Shang-feng?!" Ranko echoes. "You both sound surprised," Shampoo's sister smiles. "It's a lucky thing I took the chance when Shampoo came along. Someone has to keep an eye on you two." Ranko and Asana exchange looks. "We're glad it's you," the former embraces Shang-feng. "C'mon. Let's relax." They proceed into Ranko's room. Once the door closes behind them, Ranko and Asana exchange devious looks, then tackle their friend to the futon, unleashing a tickle torture. Shang-feng gasps as the assault sends her onto her face, then retaliates. "You'll pay for that!!" Ranko is shoved down, then Shang-feng leaps atop her, drowning her with a kiss. Asana grabs the reborn warrior-maiden off Ranko, then begins to unfasten her dress. "C'mon, Ranko-chan," she purrs. "Let's play with our new toy!" "Aaah!!!" Shang-feng yowls as Asana and Ranko shove her onto the futon, yanking open her skirt. Soon, all three are without any clothing, frolicking under the sheets. Shang-feng's gasps turn into passionate moans as Ranko's lips and tongue begin to tackle Shampoo's favourite spots: her neck and collar bones. Asana keeps the new arrival's mouth busy with her own. Their hands free, both work on Shang- feng's breasts, relaxing their movements to elicit a prolonged amount of pleasure. However, Shang-feng is not a believer in taking one's time. Before Ranko or Asana could react, Shang-feng's hands dart between their legs, playing total havoc. Both cry out surprisedly as Shang-feng, using Shampoo's cat-like agility, wraps her legs around theirs, effectively pinning them. "Now, my pretties," she muses, overwhelming Ranko with a kiss, then Asana. "Let's have some real fun and games." Ranko and Asana exchange conspiring looks, then as their lips caress their companion's collar bones anew, their hands dive for Shang-feng's groin. She screeches surprisedly as Ranko's fingers flick her while Asana's dive for gold. "Aaah! Oh, yes!!" Shang-feng howls, their ministrations driving her own fingers into frenzied action. "Yes!! Keep going, keep going...oh...oh!!" Having arrived already aroused by Shampoo's desire to see Ranko with a version of herself, it does not take Ranko and Asana long to drive Shang-feng over the edge. As she spasms, her back arches back, reflexively drawing her fingers deep into her lovers' bodies. The sudden jolt drives both Ranko and Asana over the edge. The cries are soft as the three finally let up, allowing their passions to settle. Arms slip around each other as they bask in each other's presence. Finally, Asana fixes Shang-feng with a knowing glance. "I see you're as feisty as ever!" she kisses her. "Don't you know when to take it easy?!" "Never been in my language, Sa-na," Shang-feng fires a coy stare. "And with Shampoo as my older sister, it'll stay that way for a long time to come." Asana's and Ranko's eyes roll. In her first life, Nyu Shang-feng was a member of the Nyu-che-zuu, born in the late Mongol era to the ruling matriarch. An accomplished warrior by the time she was twelve, Shang-feng was captured by a local lord, held for ransom to enforce the loyalty of her clanswomen. Such could have spelt the end of her clan had not Shang-feng, attending the sacrifice of the lord's unwanted first-born twin daughters, threw herself on a retainer's sword and fell into Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang. In vengeance, the Nyu-che-zuu destroyed the lord's clan, then aided in driving the Monguls from China. Shang-feng lucked out when she chose Shampoo as the vessel by which to live her new life; to her, it was like coming home. "Well, we wouldn't want you to change," Ranko kisses Shang-feng, then blinks as another knock is heard at the door. "Who could that be?" "I'll go get it..." Asana offers. "No, you stay here," Ranko throws on her housecoat. "I'll handle it. I am the host, remember?" She slips out of the bedroom. "I see Ranko's got Ranma's desire for doing it all," Shang-feng muses. "Well, it's mollified this time...I hope," Asana's eyes roll. In the living room, Ranko straightens herself, then slides open the door. "U-chan!!" she smiles on seeing Ukyou, now dressed in jeans and shirt. "What brings you here?! Aren't you listening in on what Onii-chan learned about Jusenkyou?!" "Doesn't concern me, love," Ukyou slips in, then draws an arm around Ranko. "You do," she then huskily whispers. Ranko shudders, sweat pouring down her hair... * * * ...as Ukyou observes this from the Tendous' front porch. "Go for it, sis," the okonomiyaki cook beams. "Give her what she wants!" "Hey, U-chan, get in here!!" Ranma's voice echoes from inside. "You gotta here the good part!" "Ah, coming, Ran-chan!!" Ukyou smiles as she heads inside... * * * Her double is now in Ranko's warm embrace, rubbing her forehead against the latter's chin. After the initial shock, Ranko quickly relaxed, understanding that if Shampoo had hit on the idea of going to Jookoji-shima, Ukyou would have done the same. "Please tell me who you are," Ranko gently sighs. "We can't recognize each other in this life." "Don't you recognize me, Ranko-chan?" the girl cutely gazes at Ranko, then kisses her. "It's me, Shashi!" "SHASHI?!?!?!" Asana and Shang-feng appear behind Ukyou's sister. "Sa-na, Shang-feng!!" Shashi spins around, beaming at the others' presence. "I knew you two were here! I'm glad we're all together!!" "I'm NOT glad!!!" Shang-feng glares angrily at Shashi. "Who got you to leap into Ukyou's body when she dived into the spring?!" Shashi's eyes go REALLY wide, tears about to jet forth. "You don't like me being here?!" she sniffs. "No, not really!" Asana sighs. "Now, will you please leave us alone...?!" "Asana...!" Ranko winces. Suddenly, a giant shriek of pain emits from Shashi, her tears nearly drowning her three fellow lost girls all at once! * * * "What the heck's that?!!" Ranma bolts to his feet, staring in the direction of the Saotomes' hut. "Must be the neighbours, Ran-chan!" Ukyou embarrassingly smiles, then looks away, shuddering. *Damn!! Of all the girls in that stupid spring, I had to get a cry-baby?! Why me?!* * * * Presently, Asana and Shang-feng are swimming for their lives thanks to Shashi's shower of tears. Ranko quickly reacts by embracing the wailing teen from behind, placing a gentle kiss on Shashi's neck. "Are you hurting, Sha- chan?" she gently whispers. Shashi sniffs, allowing her tears to abate. "All over." Ranko glares at Asana and Shang-feng. "Now, since you insensitive lugs caused this, fix it...or else!!" she threateningly growls. Asana and Shang-feng exchange glances of resignation, then nod. Standing, they move to Shashi's sides, placing gentle kisses on her cheeks and neck. "There, there, Shashi-chan," the former sighs. "Don't cry. We'll make it all better." "Yeah, love, let's relax," the latter guides the new arrival into the bedroom. Once on Ranko's futon, Asana and Shang-feng lay Shashi down, then slowly undress her, kissing her every time more skin is exposed. This not only plays to Ukyou's private tastes...kisses all over the body...but to Shashi's history. In her first life, Shashi was an abused child, despised by her father for not being the son he so desperately wanted. Ryuunosuke Fujinami got off easy compared to Shashi; the latter was regularly beaten for not being strong enough. Worse, she did not have the benefit of martial arts training. Finally, the abuse became so bad that Shashi's mother tried to take the child and flee to Okinawa. Shashi's father caught up with them, beating his daughter to death and horribly mutilating her mother before a Nyu-che-zuu fishing boat caught them. Shashi's father was killed, her mother allowed to migrate to China and Shashi's tortured soul laid to rest in Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang. Laying back and watching Shashi being gently administered to, Ranko privately wonders what persuaded Shashi to take another chance at life after her experience. However, within the netherworld of the spring, the two had been very close, as close as Ranma and Ukyou. Shashi moans as her body, now electrified by Asana's and Shang-feng's many kisses, quivers, her eyes now locked on Ranko. "Ranko-chan, won't you kiss me?" Ukyou's sister sweetly smiles. Ranko slowly crawls up to Shashi. She draws Ukyou's sister into a warm embrace, rolling around until Shashi now lays atop. There, she begins. Kiss to the lips, then the cheek, back to the lips, then to other parts. Every time she explores another place, Ranko always returns to Shashi's lips. This forces a constant shifting of the body so Ranko could continue. By the time Ranko passes the breasts, she has to place Ukyou's sister on a raised knee, the kneecap rubbing against Shashi's groin. Shashi squeals with delight every time Ranko gently raises her to get at her chest, then lowers her for mouth-to-mouth. Shashi's passions build and build until she obtains release by the time Ranko hits her belly button. Her strength fading, Shashi slumps against Ranko, who rolls back to allow her to regain her strength. "Oh, that was so nice," she sighs. "Ranko-chan, you're the best." "What does that make us?" Shang-feng muses. "Chopped liver?" Shashi sticks her tongue at Shampoo's sister. "Nyaa!!" It turns into a duel of the tongues, which is quickly halted by knocking at the front door. "Who could that be?!" Ranko rises, heading out. Once in the living room, Ranko opens the door, revealing Kodachi. "Ranko- chan," the rhythmic gymnast, now dressed outlandishly in a tuxedo fitted with top hat and cane, slides in. "May I come in?" Ranko feels her body twitch fearfully... * * * Kodachi watches this from the living room. "Enjoy, Ranko-chan," she snickers, then returns her attention to Ranma... * * * "Kodayuu?!" Ranko mutters. "You had to come out, too!" "Is that a way to greet an old friend?!" Kodayuu doffs her top hat, then swings around to lean back into Ranko's chest. "We're all one big happy family now, Ranko-chan! Please try to enjoy it!!" The bedroom door opens, revealing Ranko's other visitors. "Oh, no, Kodachi, too?!!" Asana gapes. "Oh, it's Kodayuu-chan!!" Shashi gleefully claps her hands. "I'm so glad she's here!" "Speak for yourself, Shashi," Shang-feng mutters. "Ugh, who's idea was this, anyway?!" "Ah, do I hear the jealous ramblings of Nyu Shang-feng?" Kodayuu smiles, twirling around, making Ranko slip off her jacket. "Well, the idea of having Shashi here doesn't bother me too much. Even Sa-na is quite pleasant in her own way," she twirls around to come face-to-face with Shampoo's sister. "But if you think you're taking charge of this little troupe, Shang-feng, think again!" "That all depends on Ranko, doesn't it?!" Shang-feng muses. "This IS her house, remember?!" Ominous lightning flashes between them. "Why me...?" Ranko sinks to her knees. "Now, now, you two," Shashi tries to break Kodayuu and Shang-feng apart. "Stop fighting! We're all in this together!! Relax!" "Butt out of this, Shashi!!" Kodayuu snarls, glaring at her. Seeing her angry stare, Shashi's eyes instantly fill with tears. "You don't like me...?!" she sobs, then wails. Kodayuu and Shang-feng are instantly deluged by the water!! Both are dumped unceremoniously by the front door. As Asana tries to calm the wailing Shashi down, Kodayuu and Shang-feng face off, weapons ready. "Time for you to get a serious attitude adjustment, Kunou!" the latter snarls, brandishing her bonbons. "You always had it...in BOTH lives!" "Let's see you put your money where your mouth is!!" Kodayuu draws her whip, the other hand twirling a baton. Before they could launch an attack, Ranko appears between them. "Kodayuu, aren't your forgetting something?" she crosses her arms. "What?!" Kodayuu blinks confusedly. Ranko points to Shashi, on her knees, sprinkles of tears dousing Asana, failing to calm Ukyou's sister down. Staring at the weeping girl, Kodayuu shudders. Lowering her weapons, she walks over, gently guides Shashi to her feet, kisses her, then guides her into the bedroom. "What are you going to do, Kodayuu-chan?" Shashi wonders as Kodayuu guides her to the futon. "What do you think?" Kodayuu smiles as she begins to gently kiss her companion. "I don't like it when someone doesn't smile around me. Now, I have to make you smile." "Oooh, I like that!" Shashi giggles. Ranko, Asana and Shang-feng exchange knowing looks. As a rhythmic martial arts gymnast, Kodachi was at heart a showman, someone who loved performing in a crowd, always the centre of attention. That matched her perfectly to Kodayuu. In her first life, Kodayuu tried her best to please everyone around her. Her parents doted on her constantly. This, sadly, earned the ire of her brothers and sisters, who were jealous of Kodayuu's popularity. Nini-Quan-Qi-Niang became their final solution, the perfect way to dispose of an unwanted sibling. As Kodayuu administers to Shashi, her eyes fall on the three other resurrected lost girls. Stopping her ministrations, she guides the others into the bedroom, then closes the door... * * * Genma laughs. "Ah, Ranma, you finally succeeded in finding the cure for Jusenkyou!!" "What's even better, you'll have to start a family because of it!" Souun places a hand on his daughter's shoulder, then his future son-in-law's. "Like it or not, you can't escape it this time!" "Well, at least we'll take our time in deciding when to do it," Ranma sighs. Hearing that, Ukyou, Shampoo and Kodachi shudder. "Well, now that we've resolved that, where's Ranko-chan?" Nodoka looks around. "She should be here to celebrate her brother's triumph!" "Oh, I think Asana-chan's going to keep her too busy to worry about Ranma, Mrs. Saotome," Akane blushes. Everyone jolts. "Who's Asana?!" Souun demands. "Why, my new twin sister!" Akane beams. "After we were done with Jusenkyou, Ranma and I made a stop...at Jookoji-shima!" Cologne slaps her forehead. Hearing this, Ukyou, Shampoo and Kodachi bolt to their feet. "***YOU DID WHAT?!?!?!***" "That's right!" Akane's eyes narrow conspiratorally. "I thought it was unfair that the double to MY fiance was all alone! So it was only proper that I'd give Ranko-chan a double of MYSELF for her to love and cherish...and ensure Ranko-chan keeps away from you!!" she fires her rivals very angry stares. "Akane do what for Ranko?!!" Shampoo snaps. "Hah!! Akane double probably worse violent tomboy than Akane!! At least Shang-feng give Ranko PROPER companionship!!" "Who's Shang-feng?!!" Kodachi snaps. "Shampoo's sister!" Shampoo smiles. "She actually great warrior of Nyu- che-zuu who die to save clan from stupid Monguls! Now, Shang-feng save Ranko from Akane's stupid tomboy sister!!" "Not if MY sister has something to say about it!!" Kodachi sneers. "Not to mention MY sister!!!" Ukyou adds. Ukyou and Kodachi spin on each other. "YOU, TOO?!?!?!" both gasp. "***WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!?!?!***" Nodoka transforms into a very scary monster as she glares at the four panicking women. "***YOU MEAN TO SAY ALL FOUR OF YOU MADE DOUBLES OF YOURSELF FOR RANKO?!?!?!***" "How am I going to explain all THIS to the clan?!" Cologne moans. "Have you four lost your minds?!!" Nodoka returns to normal. "May I remind you that while Ranko-chan and those four you just released from Nini-Quan-Qi- Niang may be as physically mature as you, emotionally, they're still little children!!! You may have just committed five acts of child rape by sending them after Ranko-chan!!!" "That's not true, Nodoka," Cologne cuts it. "Those reborn of the mud spring automatically absorb the experiences and emotions of their templates. True, their original lives do factor into their emotional makeup, but not that much. They only serve to be a guidepost for the reborn lost girl to live her new life." "Well, no matter what, we better take a look," Ranma bolts to his feet. "Who knows what might've happened." The crowd streams out of the Tendous' home, gently entering the Saotomes' new wing. Ranma tip-toes to the door of Ranko's room, peeking in. "Ranko-chan? You okay...eh?" Akane, Shampoo, Ukyou and Kodachi look. In the bedroom, an extra futon has been laid out for Ranko's guests. All are now asleep. The hostess herself is in the middle of the crowd, Asana in the crook of one arm with Shashi hugging Akane's sister from behind. On the other side, Kodayuu lays back-first to Ranko, holding Shang-feng. "Oh, isn't that sweet!" Ukyou whispers. "Let's leave them alone now," Akane whispers. Before they could leave, the window to Ranko's room opens to reveal a diminutive ball of very aged, hormone-charged martial artist. "SWEETO!!!!" Happousai howls gleefully as his eyes dance over the five sleeping girls. "Hot- cha!!! All these lovely ladies and they're all for me!!!" Before he could launch himself against one, Ranko's hand rises, palm facing the charging Happousai. Asana's, Kodayuu's, Shashi's and Shang-feng's rise in turn. The five bark, "***PASSION-DEATH INNOCENCE SHIELD STRIKE!!!!!!***" as five bolts of energy merge into a giant ball of ki power, lashing forth to slam Happousai in the heart!! The old master, now fried black, flies into orbit! "That hurt!" The hands lower as the five women return to their slumber. Now possessing a healthy dose of respect for their sisters, their templates quickly withdraw. "I don't think that old lech's going to get away with anything concerning those five," Ranma muses. "I don't think so, either," Ukyou sighs. "Lucky Ranko-chan! By the looks of it, she got to do all our sisters!" "Which makes me wonder," Kodachi smiles, gazing at Ranma. "If Ranko-chan is so full of desire, where does it leave dear Ranma-kun?!" Ranma jolts as Ukyou, Shampoo and Kodachi longingly gaze on him. "H-hey, cut it out!!" he stammers, waving them away. "I mean it!! Lay off me, you three horny idiots!!!" Weapons appear as the three charge. Ranma howls as he takes off, his three would-be fiancees on his tail. Akane takes off after him, Mallet-sama out and ready. "Come back here, you pervert!! Stop trying to seduce those three!!!" "Saotome, you bastard, stop trying to entice Shampoo!!" Mousse howls as he lunges into pursuit. As another mad chase takes off through the streets of Nerima, Ranko and her companions observe from the window of her room. "Those idiots'll never get it...!" Ranma's sister muses... *** Never The End ***