Maturing

Ranma Saotome sat alone on the roof of the Tendo dojo his head aching badly. Unusually however his aching head was not due to any blunt force trauma but the day's events which all summed up by 3 words; his failed wedding. With a sigh, Ranma reviewed the events in detail and shook his head at the lack of respect everyone had shown him. Feeling honestly angry Ranma wondered why no one treated him as anything more than a prize or target. Ranma's anger however quickly faded into sadness when it started to rain. Looking up at the sky the now female Ranma shook her head and didn't even bother cursing the heavens before returning her gaze to Nerima's skyline. Looking over the darkened buildings and the few stars that were visible Ranma-chan silently started crying as exasperation overwhelmed the rest of her emotions.

Sometime later after most of the dojo had gone sleep Ranma-chan finally said, "No control over my life, no love, no friends," before trailing off only to add, "...but most of all no one gives me real respect."

"Real respect is earned," was what Ranma-chan remembered more then one of the martial arts Masters saying on the long training journey.

"...but how?" Ranma-chan wondered before she started to remember other things those martial arts Masters had said.

"Treat people fairly." "Give people a chance." "Forgive but not blindly." "Trust your heart."

Ranma-chan's only reply to the memories was to nod as she thought, 'Yeah trust my heart not all of Pops crap and from now on no more being a macho baka jerk.'

With that thought, Ranma-chan stood up and decided to get a hot bath before heading to bed.

********************

About 15 minutes later several blocks away from the dojo, we find Shampoo standing under a covered awning, which shielded her from the rain. In her pocket was a powerful blend of spices guaranteed to make even the most sedate individuals into violent angry maniacs for a day. Shampoo however planned to use the spice on Akane. 'Who knows maybe she'll get so angry she'll give herself a heart attack,' Shampoo thought with a smile before the rain stopped as quickly as it had came three hours earlier.

Smiling evilly Shampoo raced towards the dojo and her target.

********************

*ring**ring*

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," Ranma muttered darkly as he picked up the dojo's phone. "Hello Tendo dojo," Ranma said in reply.

~Ranma this is Cologne, Shampoo has gotten a hold of a forbidden anger spice you have to stop her before...~ was all a near frantic Cologne managed to get out before Ranma ran up the stairs with the intention of saving Akane. However before Ranma had even gotten halfway up the stairs a unnaturally angry scream pierced his ears as the sound of Shampoo screaming in agony was heard. Adrenaline and fear pushing his entire body into Amaguriken speed Ranma literally broke the sound barrier as he raced towards Akane's room where he restrained Akane who was beating Shampoo to death screaming in unnatural anger. Thinking quickly Ranma made the only decision he could and KO'd Akane with a karate chop to her neck. Breathing heavily Ranma surveyed the scene before him.

Shampoo was badly beaten with two broken arms and a broken leg. Shampoo's eyes were glazed over in complete terror and Ranma knew she was already in shock.

Hearing the Tendo's and his family behind him Ranma bellowed, "Get Cologne and Dr. Tofu here NOW!!!!!!" frightening even Nabiki who scurried away to make the necessary phone calls while Soun and Genma just ran to find someplace to hide.

Taking a few deep breaths Ranma put Akane on her bed where he noticed she was beginning to glow with a red aura of pure anger. Ranma also noticed that anger was bleeding away fast enough to raise the temperature in the room significantly and so ordered someone to get ice and water to cool Akane down. Kasumi and Nodoka immediately responded by running off to do just that.

Wiping his brow Ranma started using the soul of ice training to cool Akane as he picked her up and carried her off to the furo where she could be completely surrounded by ice and water.

********************

5 minutes later Cologne and Dr. Tofu arrived at the Tendo dojo. Dr. Tofu immediately was directed toward Shampoo who obviously needed immediate medical attention while Cologne ran into the bathroom where Ranma was using a combination of the soul of ice technique and a furo full of ice water to keep Akane cool. Cologne's immediate response was to run by Ranma and tap pressure points to make sure the heat Akane was generating from her anger bleed off wouldn't cook her from the inside out.

"Ok she's out of danger now Ranma," Cologne said as heat Akane was generating started to disperse.

Wiping his brow Ranma glared at Cologne.

"What Shampoo did to Akane tonight is considered a high crime by Amazon law. The kiss of death given to Akane is null as is the kiss of marriage given you. When we get back to the village, she will be tried, convicted and punished for what she did to Akane," Cologne explained with a venomous edge to her voice. "...and I will give her no sympathy or quarter."

With that said Cologne left saying that she would return to finish examining Akane after she had dealt with her great granddaughter.

'Looks like Shampoo finally crossed the line,' Ranma thought to himself before getting Akane out of the furo and wrapping her up in a large towel and carrying her off to the tearoom

********************

Walking into the tearoom Ranma sat Akane down on the couch and accepted a large glass of water from Kasumi as he sat down at the tea table. After drinking the water in one gulp, Ranma wiped his brow and took a deep breath. However before he could say anything Cologne started screaming at Shampoo in Chinese from upstairs. The yelling lasted only a few seconds before Cologne was heard walking back down the stairs. Ranma's response to this was to wonder what the hell Shampoo had done to Akane to warrant such treatment.

"Damn dumb purple haired airhead," Cologne mumbled under her breath before walking over to Akane who she began to examine.

"So what did she do to Akane?" Ranma asked with a cutting tone to his voice.

"She used anger spice on Akane. Its effects could put even Kasumi into a berserker range. However when used on someone like Akane who already reaches that level of anger naturally it causes an emotional blow out," Cologne said as she rubbed her temples. "Causing an emotional blow out is considered an attack against the soul by Amazons and any attack against the soul is a high crime no matter what motivated it."

"Is she going to be okay?" Kasumi asked nervously.

"Luckily the quick action of everyone here prevented her roasting herself alive with her own rage. However, there will still be some side effects. First emotional blow out paralyzes the body completely and when I say completely I mean she won't even be able to move her eyes. Fortunately, Akane is strong enough that most of that will be gone in around six hours at the most. Second for around a month -barring anything that could cause extreme rage in someone like Kasumi- Akane will not be able to get angry at all."

"Anything permanent?" Nabiki asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Akane's personality may change for the better or for the worse but I don't know how it will or if it will," Cologne responded before getting up and adding, "Now if you'll excuse me I have go deal with Shampoo," and leaving with Dr. Tofu who was carrying Shampoo.

Scratching the back of his head nervously Ranma muttered something under his breath before picking up Akane and carrying her off to her room.

"So sis what you think is going to happen?" Nabiki asked while stifling a yawn.

Kasumi's response to this was a rather crooked -perhaps even devious- little smirk. "She won't be able to fall back on her anger and that means she'll have to develop her other emotions."

Nabiki's only response to this was a wide and true smile as she walked off to her room as she muttered, "Bout time the chaos around here did something CONstructive."

********************

A few minutes later Ranma had tucked Akane into her bed and sat down on the floor in a location he could easily react to any intruder in the room.

********************

As Ranma awoke at around 2 AM next day, he looked around Akane's room for a moment before sitting up to find Akane sitting up against the headboard of her bed absently kneading the fabric of her pajamas.

"Akane, you okay?" Ranma asked worriedly.

Akane response to this was to look at Ranma. What Ranma saw in Akane's brown eyes was a mixture of being lost and curiosity.

"I would be angry at you right now wouldn't I?" Akane said in a curiously lost tone of voice before turning away and looking thoughtful. "...but why? You're just trying to protect me." Akane added before turning back to Ranma and blinking a few times, as she studied the pigtailed martial artist. "Why would I be angry it doesn't make any sense? None of it does. I get angry at you when Shampoo gloms on to you, blame you for it, call you pervert, and pound you into the pavement even though it's not your fault. While do you tease and insult Ryouga all the time that's no reason for him to attack you like he does and I get mad at that too but hitting you over the head for a friendly rivalry doesn't make any sense."

That said Akane began kneading the fabric of her pajamas again before looking at the ceiling intently for a few moments.

"Almost all of the anger I had doesn't make any sense. Nope none at all," Akane said absently before biting her lip for a moment and looking at Ranma. "I think my anger was lying you know that," Akane commented to a very confused looking Ranma before looking away and nodding. "Yep my own anger was lying to me," Akane said with a smile and a nod as the lost look in her eyes vanished "It told me I could win with anger and lots of other lies like I could cook with it. It told me not to do the things I wanted to and be what you're always pointing out," Akane added with a warm smile. "Yep I'm a tomboy no arguing about that but no more uncute tomboy; nope no more uncute tomboy."

"So what kind of tomboy are you going to be?" Ranma asked after a few moments.

"Hmm, just like my mom was," Akane said with a smile before tapping her chin thoughtfully and adding, "...well no not exactly like that after all no one was ever just like mom was but I can still borrow some stuff from her."

Ranma's only reply to this was to nod before turning back around and looking around the room as he started his vigil of watching out for anyone to get Akane only to be rudely interrupted when Akane tapped him on the head.

"Why don't you just go to bed Ranma I don't think anyone's going to be by tonight," Akane said from behind Ranma.

Ranma's only response to this was to shake his head.

"Stubborn," Akane chuckled before adding, "Well if you your not going to leave you're going to have sleep with me."

Hearing this Ranma nearly fell over in complete shock as he practically shouted "WHAT?"

"You heard me. Now get up here before you freeze," Akane replied stubbornly.

"No you know damn well what would happen if I did."

"Not if I get to Nabiki first," Akane said rather dangerously.

Raising an eyebrow Ranma as he turned around to face Akane commented, "Why am I getting the sudden feeling that you're more dangerous without your anger?"

Smiling in a Nabiki like manner Akane answered, "Because I can think straight," with a wink before she blinked at Ranma and added, "Why do you play dumb?"

Hearing this question Ranma jerked back as he wondered how in the hell Akane had figured him out. "How?"

"I don't know how I figured it out but you play dumb don't you? Yep you play the part of the baka macho jerk hmm but why?"

"To hide," Ranma answered sourly.

"Hide?" Akane pondered before shaking her head sadly. "I suppose you do have a lot to hide from but so did I."

"Huh?"

"My anger I hid behind it when I was younger and overtime it consumed me," Akane said sadly. Only to add, "How bout we both stop hiding."

"Truthfully I've already decided to do that myself," Ranma responded quietly.

"Good. Now get up here and let's get some sleep," Akane said rather cheerfully. Ranma's only replied to this was to grumble about stubborn tomboys as he reluctantly got into Akane's bed. Akane's reply was to chuckle and mumble baka in his ear as she wrapped her arms around Ranma as she snuggled up against him. Ranma's natural response was to blush quite brightly. "Mhh, your comfy," Akane mumbled lovingly before she drifted off to sleep with a contended smile on her face.

Ranma's only reply was to shake his head and wonder what kind of hell was going to break loose the next day.

********************

As the first rays of the sun shined through Akane's window the next morning Ranma awoke to find himself curled up with Akane.

Blushing a bit Ranma made the mental comment of, 'I could definitely learn to like waking up like this every morning,' as he brushed a stray of hair away from Akane's face.

"Mhh good morning," Akane mumbled softly before she lifted her head up so she could see Ranma eyes and before Ranma could even think about protesting Akane kissed him with a passionate heat.

Surprised by not only by Akane's actions but the red hot passion in them Ranma just stared wide-eyed at Akane for a moment before -and not even bothering to through caution to the winds- kissing Akane back with just as much passion.

When the two finally came up for air sometime later, they found the rest of the inhabitants of the Tendo dojo staring at them with wide eyes. The only reply the two gave to this was to look at each other for a moment before Akane looked at her father with a evil eye that seemed to communicate, "Don't even think about planning another wedding."

Soun's prompt response to the unspoken message was to grab Genma and run off with him. Seeing this Nabiki smirked before starting to walk off her self.

"...and Nabiki if I even suspect you of selling pictures, information, or anything else like that I'm going to drag your mercenary ass out to the training hall for a few sparing sessions with me and Ranma. Is that understood?" Akane said with a very even and pleasant tone to her voice.

Nabiki's reply to this was to turn around and look at her sister who was smiling along with Ranma who had just cracked his knuckles. Suddenly feeling very nervous Nabiki ran off leaving Ranma and Akane to laugh.

"Well I'm going to go make breakfast," Kasumi commented pleasantly before walking off.

"Mom you ok?" Ranma asked as he noticed his mother nervously staring at him and Akane.

"I want to talk to you both later," Nodoka said before walking off.

"I wonder what that was about," Akane commented.

Ranma's only reply to this was to shrug shoulders before turning to Akane and asking, "Can you walk yet?"

"No," Akane replied after a moment of trying to get her legs to work.

"Then I better go get you breakfast," Ranma said before leaving.

'Baka I was...' Akane thought before trailing off as her head started to hurt. 'No I'm in no condition to think about things like that considering how screwed up my emotions are right now. Even if having a bath with Ranma would be good,' Akane mentally added as she flopped down on her bed absently annoyed by the fact she still couldn't move her legs. 'Ahh well I do get breakfast in bed because of it,' Akane thought with a smirk before p-chan hopped up on her bed. "P-chan!" Akane said happily, as she cuddled her pet pig. "Where have..." Akane added before blinking as she stared at the bandanna p-chan wore. With her newfound insight, Akane replayed every encounter with the only other individual she knew that wore a yellow and black bandanna as well as the insults Ranma gave to that individual, and her pet pig. Then Akane's mind replayed every time Ranma had snuck into her room —male and with a kettle of hot water— after which Akane's mind came up with a small fact Ryouga always carried an umbrella and hated getting wet even more than Ranma. A few agonizing nanoseconds later Akane's mind put together a picture for her. Add cold water to Ryouga to get P-chan. Add hot water to p-chan to get Ryouga.

By this time, Akane felt slightly mad. Absently Akane realized that under normal circumstances, she would have torn p-chan limb from limb by now in blind rage —not that she wasn't still thinking about it. However a microseconds later Akane's blast furnace temper reawaken full force as her entire body tensed as the paralysis abruptly ended. Fighting back against the anger managed to subdue it after a full minute of shaking and after taking a deep breath and dispelling the last of her blind range Akane stood up just as Ranma reentered the room.

"Akane?" Ranma asked as he noticed a calculated, controlled and nuclear fury in Akane eyes.

"I just figured out something that would make even Kasumi go ballistic," Akane commented with an icy calm as she glared at p-chan —who was being held at eye level by his bandanna. "Now if you'll excuse me I have some business to take care of," Akane added before leaving with P-chan.

Sitting down Ranma placed the tray containing Akane's breakfast on her desk before sitting back and commenting, "Cold fusion fury."

A few seconds later that house started shaking as Ryouga was quietly beaten into a pulp and a few moments after the pounding stopped Akane reentered her bedroom holding her mallet, which was quite broken.

Looking at her choice instrument of inflicting blunt force trauma sadly, Akane made no commented before tossing it in the garbage can and sitting down on her bed.

"Why?"

Ranma's answer to Akane simple query was to tell how Ryouga had followed him to China, accidentally gotten cursed by him, and then how he had promised Ryouga not to tell anyone minutes before she had decided to adopt P-chan.

Akane's response to all of this was to sadly shake her head before Ranma asked, "So what did you do to him?"

"I gave him to Kasumi and your mom after I finished pounding him," Akane said with a disturbingly Kasumi like smile.

Seeing Akane's smile Ranma decided to drop the subject what was going to happen to Ryouga in favor of continuing on with the day.

*******************

"So what are you going to do about Kunou?" Akane asked sometime later as the two walked along to school.

"3 chances," was the reply Ranma gave just as Furinkan came into view.

Akane's only response to this was to shake her head as the two stepped through the gates of Furinkan high; where not surprisingly Tatewaki Kunou started shouting about vial sorcerers and such. Ranma however made no response to Kunou's bellowings except for taking up a stoic stance in front of the kendoist.

Seeing the look in Ranma's eyes and the way the pigtail martial artist held himself most of the student body decided to back off and find something extremely sturdy to hide behind. The reason for this was simple Ranma looked like an epic warrior and Master martial artist whose wisdom and intelligence could flatten a foe through words alone. Surprisingly even Kunou noticed the change in his adversary from a cocky upstart and whelp to someone the gods would respect.... Unfortunately, the part of Kunou's mind that made that observation wasn't able to communicate that to the delusional part of Kunou's mind and so took cover as well.

Nabiki who was watching the events form her usual place in her classroom just gaped at Ranma and mentally muttered, 'Fuck he's bean hiding who he really is for the past year and he's totally and completely fooled everyone.'

"Boss, Kunou's a dead man isn't he?" one of Nabiki's lackeys asked.

"As the Americans say 'he's dead as a door nail'," Nabiki responded.

Back down in the schoolyard the wind had just picked up.

"I'm giving you 3 chances to stop your belligerent, dishonorable behavior towards me and Akane, and unwarranted attack's Tatewaki. After which I will be forced by honor and my duty as martial artist to stop your actions by force —deadly force if necessary," Ranma explained calmly, and while his speech was still rough, his tone of voice communicated that he would do exactly as he said. "Do you understand?" Ranma asked simply a moment later.

Kunou's only response was to attack.

Ranma's counterattack was a simple palm strike that sent Kunou into the perimeter wall of the high school, which he hit with enough force to crack the wall slightly.

"I will..." was all Kunou managed to get out before he fell unconscious.

"Chance one gone," Ranma said calmly before he and Akane entered Furinkan and headed for their homeroom class.

Not surprisingly, Miss Hinako tried to drain Ranma. However before she could even udder a single sellable of her attack phrase Ranma had plastered her against the wall with an unannounced Moko Takabisha. The attack was also particularly vicious as it left small burns on both of Miss Hinako's hands.

Standing over Miss Hinako Ranma stated, "On my honor as a martial artist. If you try to rob another person of their life force you will receive the same treatment, vampire, and if you DO drain someone of their life force I will char your hands so badly you will never be able to use them again, vampire," with an icy tone to his voice.

"Vampire?!" a very frightened Miss Hinako squeaked out.

"You rob people of their life force," Akane stated coldly. "What better description could you give of someone who does that?"

Miss Hinako's reply to this was to run off looking as if she would throw up any second.

Shaking his head Ranma muttered, "I don't think she ever realized what she was till right now," before sitting down at his desk and ignoring the nervousness of the students around him.

********************

Later that day at lunchtime, we find Ranma sitting Akane under a tree both laughing at some unknown joke. Nearby Nabiki sat watching the two and mulling over the information her lackeys had gathered on Ranma since that morning. First, he had blasted Miss Hinako and threatened to burn her hands off if she drained one more person. Second, he had been awake the entire morning and had displayed a level of intelligence that was most definitely on the level of a genius. Third Ranma wasn't letting anyone get away with anything. All of this information left Nabiki with one thought, 'Why haven't I been vaporized yet?' after she had told all of her lackeys that anything relating to exploiting Ranma —other then the betting pools pertaining to his fights— were off until further notice.

None of Nabiki's lackeys bothered to question why Nabiki was calling these things off after all they didn't want to end up as a burnt cinder on the wall anymore then Nabiki did.

'Hmm, I wonder what Ranma will do to Kunou-baby this time,' Nabiki thought to herself as Kunou finally appeared and started striding over to Ranma with his usual intentions. After Kunou had made his speech and attacked Ranma, Nabiki's question was answered when Ranma grabbed Kunou said something with a deadly calm, and then threw him into the parameter wall which KO'd the kendoist, after which Ranma sat back down and continued eating his lunch and talking with Akane.

'I reiterate 'why haven't I been vaporized yet?',' Nabiki thought to herself before walking off to set the odds of Kunou being put in the hospital by the end of the day at one-to-one.

********************

That afternoon as Ranma and Akane stepped outside and headed towards the gates of Furinkan they found their exit barred by Kunou.

"HOLD SAOTOME!!!" Kunou bellowed.

Ranma's only response to this was to shake his head and say, "If you attack me Tatewaki your third chance will be gone and I will deal with you as honor dictates. Also if you do not yield I will use deadly force," as waves of force started pouring off of him.

The delusional kendoist's only response was to attack.

"Kami forgive me," Ranma muttered under his breath before dodging Kunou and palm striking him with enough force to send him flying into the school's perimeter wall.

Absently, everyone observing the fight noticed unmistakable sound of bones breaking and the fact Kunou was flying much slower than usual, and when Kunou hit the wall blood spewed out of his mouth. Kunou however did not fall despite the fact everyone knew several of his ribs had been broken.

Walking over to Kunou Ranma asked, "Do you yield?"

"Never foul sorcerer," Kunou screamed as he coughed up more blood and attacked.

Ranma's response to this was to shake his head, grab Kunou's right arm, and snap it like it was a dry twig causing Kunou to scream in agony as he backed off.

"Do you yield?" Ranma asked once again as Kunou cradled his broken arm and coughed up more blood.

"I ...." Kunou said as he walked towards Ranma only to pass out.

Shaking his head as tears started streaming down his face, Ranma herd Nabiki ordering someone to call the paramedics.

"Come on let's go Ranma," Akane said softly before she and Ranma left for home.

A few seconds later Nabiki walked over to Kunou and shook her head as she bent down to look at him closely. 'Your damn lucky Ranma was bluffing about killing you,' Nabiki thought to herself before cracking her knuckles and beginning to give Kunou first aid.

********************

"You ok?" Akane asked nervously as she and Ranma walked home.

"No," Ranma said rather frigidity as he dried his eyes.

"Look on the bright side Ranma the doctors at the hospital will certainly notice his delusions and get him help," Akane said in hopes of cheering Ranma up.

"I know Akane," Ranma said weekly as he shook his head. "... but I still had to break his arm and at least three of his ribs."

The response Ranma gained from this was a chuckle from last person he ever expected to be laughing— Nabiki.

"Only three?! Gods Ranma the last time I fought Kunou-baby I broke six of his ribs and his jaw."

"WHAT?!"

"Well let's say he hasn't always been obsessed over Akane and you and leave it at that shall we," Nabiki said with a chuckle as she started to walk along again.

Seconds later however, Nabiki was interrupted when she herd Ranma say, "You love him don't you?"

Nabiki's response to this was to go absolutely pale as she turned around to find Ranma looking at her thoughtfully.

"How in ... no one has even..." Nabiki stuttered out as she collapsed against a nearby concrete retaining wall.

"Well you 'pound' him all the time by taking all the money he has and the fact you really did pound him when you were younger is the dead giveaway," Ranma said with a smirk.

Nabiki's only response to this was to blink a few times before her face contorted and she screamed, "ARGH!!!!! KAMI-SAMA NO!" and slamming her head into the concrete retaining wall, which cracked the wall slightly.

"You ok?" Ranma asked.

"NO, it's been a very long time sense I've broken concrete with my head," Nabiki commented as she held her aching head while walking off teetering a little bit while also mumbling about a concussion.

Akane's only reply to this was to start laughing. "Oh gods that was great!"

"AKANE!" Ranma scolded.

Still chuckling Akane responded, "Don't worry, Ranma, despite what Nabiki wants everyone to think she is a martial artist."

"Oh," Ranma said rather dryly before he and Akane continued back to the dojo.

********************

As Ranma and Akane arrived at the dojo, they noticed that things were eerily quiet. Both naturally raised an eyebrow at this turn of events. Moments later as they entered the tearoom, they found Soun and Genma-panda playing shoji while Nabiki held an ice pack to her head as she laid on the couch reading one of her financial magazines.

"So where's pork for brains?" Ranma asked.

[In the training hall with Kasumi,] was the reading of the sign Genma-panda pulled out of nowhere.

Hearing this Akane and Ranma both decided to see what Kasumi was cooking and so ran off to the training hall. As they looked inside, they found Kasumi quietly lecturing Ryouga —who was dangling from the ceiling like a side of ham— with an icy anger and when Ryouga would object Kasumi would restate what she had just said while driving every point home with a flurry of blows.

Closing the door to the training hall Ranma muttered, "Remind me never to get on her bad side."

Akane's only reply was nod vehemently as the two walked back to the tearoom. However as they passed the stairs Nodoka was heard calling them from the top of the stairs. Shrugging the two walked up the stairs and into the Saotome's room where they sat down to find Nodoka nervously pacing around as she thought about something.

A few moments later Nodoka stopped pacing around, sat down next to window, and said, "Your father told me what you said after your battle with Saffron."

"About what?" Ranma asked curiously.

"About your curse," Nodoka responded.

Both Ranma and Akane's response to this was to remember exactly what Ranma said that day.

"I'm not sure when, but somewhere along the line, I just stopped caring about it. .........I suppose in the end.... I understand that my girl side was always a part of me, anyway, maybe it was never a curse to begin with," Ranma repeated from memory while sounding as lost as he did that day.

"My mother has always told me that nothing happens without a reason," Nodoka added a moment later as she looked out the window. "Shampoo was obviously cursed in such a way that it was obvious she was not meant for you. Mousse was obviously cursed in the way that made it apparent he and Shampoo had no chance together. Ryouga was cursed twofold: once by a week form, second by being near Akane who he thinks he loves but never been able to have that love returned. Genma was cursed quite obviously into the one thing he absolutely hates — a cuddly panda bear."

"What about Ranma?" Akane asked curiously.

"I don't know despite Ranma's outer appearance," Nodoka commented while smirking at Ranma. "He seems to be a very well rounded —albeit a bit rough— young man," Nodoka continued before turning back to the window and biting her lip. "I honestly cannot think of a reason."

"Balance," Ranma mumbled so quietly both Nodoka and Akane thought they imagined Ranma saying it. "I don't think I would have ever realized that I didn't have to be what pop wanted me to be if I hadn't fallen in but because of it I know what it's like to be a girl and because of that I started to realize pop was completely full of it," Ranma whispered in a distant voice. "...but it goes beyond that I've never felt comfortable just being me. First because of all of pop's shit, then because of all of the chaos around me I had no control or say in," Ranma continued before looking up and taking a deep breath. "Looking back the curse has done more good then bad."

"Ranma?" Akane asked worriedly as she noticed the distant haunted look on Ranma's face.

"In the end being a girl helped me breakaway from pop, and gave me enough spiritual balance to start growing again," Ranma finally said while looking some how ashamed.

"You feel obligated to make up for all of the wrongs you've done towards it don't you?" Nodoka asked.

"Yeah but to 'go girl' because of that is just as wrong," Ranma replied flatly.

"That never stopped 'Ranko'," Akane joked.

"AKANE that was very rude," Nodoka scolded. "You know very well there was never really any Ranko."

Akane's reply to this was to nod somewhat sheepishly. Ranma however mumbled, "That's not entirely true. Ranko was my sort of an imaginary friend," absently.

Nodoka and Akane's response to this was to blink a few times before Nodoka stated, "Would you mind explaining that Ranma."

"For the longest time I had what I thought was a imaginary friend but that day when we all visited the graveyard —it was my first visit to one actually— I saw all kinds of people there that were like her and made us both realized she was a spirit. The next morning she was gone and I haven't seen her sense but there have been a lot of times when I thought she was nearby," Ranma explained before looking up to find Akane staring at him with wide eyes and Nodoka looking very pale. "Mom you okay," Ranma asked tentatively.

"You had a twin sister but she was stillborn," Nodoka said as she tried to cope with the facts Ranma had just told her.

"Can you really can see spirits?" Akane and while looking surprised.

"Yeah," Ranma responded sheepishly.

"Wow I never thought I would ever meet another person that could," Akane said happily surprising both Ranma and Nodoka. "Hey!! How bout we go look for her after all how many well built redheaded pigtailed teenage spirits can be around Nerima!" Akane exclaimed.

"Yes I would like that," Nodoka said happily before turning to Ranma.

"Well she's about my height right now and other than that she does look like my girl side," Ranma said sheepishly.

Akane's only reply to that was to run off pausing only briefly downstairs to tell everyone that she was going to go look for Ranma's dead Imouto.

Sweat dropping Ranma turned to his mother who only smiled at Akane's enthusiasm before she and Ranma followed.

A few moments later a well built redheaded pigtailed teenage spirit popped her head out of Ranma's closet and mumbled, "Oniichan no baka," before deciding she needed a very good place to hide. "I know Mrs. T will help!" Ranko exclaimed before running off to the Tendo family graves.

********************

"Why?" Ranma asked his mother a little while later as they watched Akane cheerfully running around looking for redheaded spirits as they walk towards the Nerima graveyard.

"Honor means a lot to me son but a loving with a relationship with you where you can trust me means more and that piece of paper was getting in the way," Nodoka answered as tears started rolling down her face. "I should have ripped that thing up years ago when my mother told me to," Nodoka added.

"Why didn't you?" Ranma asked with a slight edge to his voice.

Looking down at the ground shamefully Nodoka whispered, "It was the only thing I really had left of you and your father," so quietly only Ranma could hear.

Ranma's answer to this day was to quietly look at his mother for a moment before saying, "We're both back mom and you can spend all the time you want with either of us." Hearing this Nodoka smiled as she looked up at Ranma who smirked and added, "...and if you're planning on spending time with pop I'm sure Akane will let you borrow her mallet."

Smiling broadly Nodoka patted the hilt of her katana and said, "I don't need to worry about borrowing any weapons to deal with your father."

Ranma's only replied to this was to smirk rather evilly as images of a certain panda being chased around and given a 'haircut' flashed through his minds eye.

********************

While at the Tendo family graves, we find a beautiful Cyan haired female spirit wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans combo leaning against Mrs. Tendo's grave marker as she lazily stared at the sky.

'Even in death I can't remember who I was before I meant Soun,' Mrs. Tendo thought to herself as she studied the clouds above. 'I don't pass on eventually like all of the other spirits here or like Ranko who actually gets older as time goes on,' Mrs. Tendo added with a sigh before sitting up to find Ranko heading right for her. "Good afternoon Ranko how is your brother doing?"

"He blabbed about me and now Akane is trying to find me!" Ranko exclaimed.

Chuckling as she smiled Mrs. Tendo replied, "You knew this was going to happen eventually Ranko-kun."

Ranko's only reply to this was to fume indignantly as she muttered, "Yeah Oniichan and his big mouth strike again."

Chuckling Mrs. Tendo only nodded before looking back to the sky.

"Thinking about how different we are from other spirits again?" Ranko questioned as she sat down next to Mrs. Tendo.

Nodding Mrs. Tendo said nothing for a long time. "There is something about the both of us that is a far cry from other spirits."

"That's obvious," Ranko commented before turning her attention to the sky as well.

"Why don't you like her?" Mrs. Tendo finally asked.

"You know very well why Mrs. T she's a brat that's head everything always go her way," Ranko replied.

"Yes I will have to admit Soun-chan does spoil her quite a bit," Mrs. Tendo replied with a heavy sigh as she shook her head. "Although I doubt very seriously that's your real reason for not liking her."

Crossing her arms defiantly Ranko said, "I don't know what you're talking about!" while sounding suspiciously like her brother.

Chuckling Mrs. Tendo only nodded as she said, "Your as over protective of your brother as he is of Akane."

Ranko's response this was to snort and say, "Yeah right that baka doesn't need anyone to protect him!"

Shaking her head Mrs. Tendo looked back to the sky and thought, 'If by some crazy happenstance we ever get brought back from the dead I will truly pity the man that falls in love with Ranko-kun. Not only is she as wild as Ranma but she has Akane's temperament and that's saying nothing of how protective Ranma will be of her.'

"Anyhow can you help me hide?" Ranko asked hopefully.

"No you have to face Ranma and Akane sooner or later and it might as well be sooner," Mrs. Tendo answered sternly causing Ranko to pout as she ran off. Mrs. Tendo's only reply to this was to shake her head at Ranko's antics.

********************

"I'm going to stay here," Nodoka said as the three arrived at the graveyard.

"Why?" Ranma asked curiously.

"It's not my place to be there when you speak with the spirits," Nodoka said as she sat down on a nearby bench.

"Ok Aunty Nodoka," Akane said with a slight edge to her voice before dragging Ranma into the graveyard.

"What was that about?" Ranma practically demanded.

"Nothing that you need to worry about Ranma," Akane answered before taking a deep breath and looking around. "Come on let's go see my mom," Akane added a moment later before the two started walking towards the Tendo family graves where they found Mrs. Tendo.

"She's hiding from you both," Mrs. Tendo said before Akane could even ask.

"Why?" Akane asked.

Mrs. Tendo's response to this was to shrug.

"Well if you figure out where she's hiding drop by ok," Ranma said before he started to leave.

"Ranma!" Akane complained.

"We're not going to find her unless she wants to Akane and she's as stubborn as I am," Ranma said as he walked off.

Looking at her mother's spirit Akane waited for a reply.

Leaning back Mrs. Tendo replied, "Stubborn is a serious understatement."

"Oh," Akane mumbled before leaving with a stubborn look on her face.

Rolling her eyes Akane's mother made a mental comment about stubborn children before closing her eyes and enjoying the feeling of the sun as she tried to remember who she was. However as always the only thing that came to her was an image of someone surrounded by what she only describe as divine light channeling energy into her before every thing went black. 'An accident of some sort,' Mrs. Tendo thought to herself before yawning and making the comment, "That's another thing about me and Ranko-kun that's different we both need sleep," as she fell asleep.

********************

A little while later, back at dojo we find a blushing Nabiki grumpily sipping some tea as Kasumi prepared dinner for the entire family despite the fact Soun and Genma were once again making wedding plans.

"You do realize that when Ranma gets home he's going to hospitalize Daddy and Mr. Saotome," Nabiki said dryly as she looked over her shoulder at her older sister.

"I doubt the leftovers will go uneaten for long," Kasumi replied.

"True," Nabiki replied as she leaned back in her chair. "So what's left bacon butt?"

"A vegetable," Kasumi responded.

"You used some pressure point technique to make him go brain-dead!"

"No just the pressure points for extreme pain and when I finally got through to him and laid out all the facts he just went into catatonic shock. I doubt he'll come out of it soon neither," Kasumi explained.

"He's physically strong as titanium but has the emotional constitution of toilet paper in a typhoon," Nabiki commented.

"An interesting way of putting it," Kasumi responded before Ranma, Akane and Nodoka were heard returning home.

The only reply Nabiki gave to this was to count down from 5 after which the sounds of a panda and a crybaby being pounded into a pasty consistency were heard. After the pounding ceased Ranma gave his father and Soun three chances to straighten up their act and give him and Akane respect before he would be honor bound to take his life into his own hands instead of letting to honorless ronin try to marry him off.

Raising an eyebrow Nabiki commented, "Giving them three chances is even more useless than giving three chances to Kunou-baby."

"I think he's going to give everyone three chances to give him real respect before he does what he thinks is necessary," Kasumi responded.

"Yeah you're right sis. Not to mention the fact Ranma doesn't seem capable of really hating anything; at least for very long," Nabiki replied before mentally adding, 'He doesn't he hate those that really deserve to be hated,' as a certain panda walked by just outside the kitchen with her father who was suggesting they go out and have a drink. Leaning back, Nabiki mentally mulled over the days events and the emerging picture of the 'real' Ranma Saotome. 'Although I'm loath to admit it he is extremely intelligent and wise and probably knows everything that goes on around here and if he doesn't he chooses not to know. That in itself as well as the fact he's been hiding himself and has even fooled me has earned him my respect and curiosity,' were Nabiki's first thoughts as she closed her eyes and begin thinking about the mystery that was Ranma Saotome.

********************

A little while later, we find Akane sitting alone in the side yard next to the training hall looking the sky contemplating how her anger had completely control her actions and blinded her to nearly every thing around her.

'Never again,' Akane mentally swore as she stood up. "I'm a martial artist and there's no excuse for how I acted but how I make sure that I'm never consumed by my anger again?" Akane asked herself.

"Grow up," Akane heard someone mumble quietly and rather nastily from a nearby tree.

Raising an eyebrow slightly Akane walked over to the tree where she found a well-built redheaded pigtailed teenage spirit glaring at her angrily.

Akane while able to see spirits sense her mother died never did like dealing with angry spirits and to compound matters this spirit, which was obviously Ranko considering how similar she looked to Ranma-chan and Nodoka was obviously furious with her and Akane had a good reason why. "You don't like me at all do you Ranko?"

"That would be an understatement gaki no kyouzi," Ranko answered with an icy edge to her voice.

"What did you call me?" Akane said dangerously as her eyes narrowed at the spirit of Ranko Saotome.

"A spoiled little brat," Ranko responded causing Akane to start getting angry. Surprisingly however Akane managed to keep her anger in check.

"Why?" Akane managed to say while sounding reasonably 'calm'.

Hopping out of the tree and storming over to Akane where was Ranko began to give Akane a talking down on the subject of how she had treated her brother, how little she had trusted him, abused him and anything else she could think of.

By the time Ranko finally ran out of breath Akane was on the curled up in a tight ball crying on the ground.

Ranko's response to this was to sit down and mumble something rather nasty to herself as she waited for Akane to calm down.

Watching this scene from nearby was Ranma who was standing in front of Nabiki, Kasumi and Nodoka.

"What's going on over there," Nabiki demanded while looking at Ranma who obviously could see and hear the same thing Akane had.

"Imouto's pissed off at Akane," Ranma said rather sheepishly as he looked at his ghostly sister who looked rather uncomfortable sitting next to a still crying Akane.

"Why?" Nodoka asked.

"Imouto isn't very happy about how Akane has been treating me," Ranma said aloud while mentally muttering something about understatements.

"Oh my, an angry spirit maybe we should..." Kasumi mumbled before being caught off guard by a glare from Ranma.

"Maybe what?" Ranma said dangerously scaring Kasumi out of her wits.

"A priest," Kasumi squeaked out while blushing.

"Imouto's extremely pissed not a malevolent spirit," Ranma said icily.

"For some reason Ranma I doubt there's much difference at the moment," Nabiki commented sarcastically.

"... and what do you mean by that?"

"If my brother had been through what you have been put through by Akane I would personally pound her into the ground repeatedly and even taking into account how easily your sister probably forgives I would still want to ring Akane's neck," Nabiki replied causing Ranma to raise an eyebrow. "Despite what you and everyone else may think of me Ranma I do look out for my family," Nabiki responded with a noticeable fire in her eyes.

Ranma's only response to this was to turn back to Akane and the brooding Ranko for a moment before walking off. Moments later Nodoka, Kasumi and Nabiki left as well leaving Ranko alone with Akane.

"I'm sorry," Akane managed to squeak out sometime later.

"Well you should be," Ranko answered sharply before getting up and running off.

'That was odd,' Akane thought to herself before Kasumi was heard announcing dinner was ready.

********************

Later that night we find Ranma sitting alone by the koi pond thinking when Cologne walked up behind him.

"What do you want?" Ranma stated.

"To talk," Cologne stated simply as she sat down next to Ranma.

"About what?" Ranma asked without turning his attention away from the sky.

"A few things," Cologne responded before she looked towards the sky as well. "My purpose here was to help Shampoo capture you however after I learned of the Neko-ken I knew it was impossible."

"Then why didn't you go back home?"

Smiling Cologne replied, "I like you Ranma and you've given me a lot of joy and amusement. You're a worthy student, a great warrior, and a truly wonderful human being. It's been a long time since I met someone like you, and despite how much you 'really' know you still have a lot to learn and you're eager to so. You're also very fascinating. You're the only man I know that can put up with the amount crap you do and still get up in the morning without thinking about ending it all in one way or another."

"Death is a coward's way out," Ranma said simply.

"True," Cologne responded before looking down. "Shampoo is a warrior in name and training only. She has never had the heart of a warrior. Because of this, she can't see what battles are worth fighting and refuses to surrender or admit defeat. In an ironic way, she is more blind than Mousse is."

"So what's going to happen to them?"

"To Mousse nothing he hasn't really done anything wrong. To Shampoo if she hadn't used that anger spice her husband would have been chosen for her and she would have been stripped of her warrior title but since she did the sentence for a soul attack is mind wipe exile."

"That sounds nasty," Akane commented as she walked up surprising Cologne greatly. "I found out about p-chan," Akane answered before Cologne even opened her mouth.

"Ahh," Cologne said as she nodded her head. "...and yes it is nasty. Mind wipe exile is the most severe sentence Amazon law allows for next to death."

"Is it permanent?" Akane asked.

"No the mind wipe only lasts as long as sentenced," Cologne responded.

"So what do you want?" Ranma asked.

"To apologize for the bad, to say goodbye, to give you a gift ... and to record Akane's testimony against Shampoo," Cologne responded.

"I won't," Akane responded surprising Cologne immensely. "Because of what shampoo did I'm no longer controlled by my anger," Akane added.

Smiling halfheartedly Cologne replied, "I'm sorry Akane but no matter what the outcome of the attack was Shampoo still committed a high crime and Amazon law must be carried out; although the results of the crime will be weighed during the trial."

"A reduced sentence," Ranma commented.

"Yes most likely a short term mind wipe and she will be declared a wondering Amazon. It is still a heavy sentence but she will be able to return if she wishes to," Cologne responded.

"So what are you going to give me old ghoul?" Ranma queried.

"The Buku-Jutsu, a blank envelope addressed to the progenitor and guardian of the cursed springs, the means to mail it and if you'll accept I'm offering to me both of you Amazon Warriors," Cologne said without missing a beat.

Ranma and Akane's intelligent reply to this was to blink loudly as they said, "What?"

"You quite obviously heard me," Cologne replied.

"What's the catch?" Akane deadpanned.

"No one has ever figured out how to use the Buku-Jutsu despite the fact it's a simple technique, she is expecting your letter, none, and it'll make the council of elders absolutely furious," Cologne responded plainly.

"In other words your using us to stir the pot back home," Ranma stated flatly.

Cologne's only answer to this was a smirk as she pulled out a scroll, an envelope, and a seal that was glowing with a dim magical light and after she had given Ranma all 3 she hopped off into the night cackling saying that she would return tomorrow.

"She's a crazy old ghoul," Ranma said with a chuckle.

"That's an understatement baka," Akane quipped.

Smirking Ranma replied, "Yeah it is, isn't it tomboy."

"Come on lets go write a letter. I even have an old typewriter we can use," Akane said with a smile a moment or two later.

********************

"So what do you think I should write?" Ranma asked as he and Akane walked into her room with an old manual typewriter.

"I'd start with a basic introduction," Akane suggested as she looked at the address on the envelope.

"Good idea I don't want to tick off who ever made those springs," Ranma replied before he pulled out a piece of paper and started typing while Akane wrote the dojo's address on the envelope.

To the Progenitor and Guardian of the cursed springs of Jusenkyo,

Hello, my name is Ranma Saotome heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. I'm currently living in the Nerima ward of Tokyo in Japan. About a year ago, I fell into the Nyannichuan.

—Ranma Saotome

"So do you think this is enough?" Ranma asked.

"Should be after all this is just an introduction," Akane replied.

Nodding Ranma copied the address on the envelope to a blank piece of paper before putting his written letter and the envelope and sealing it. With that, done Ranma stamped the magic seal Cologne had given him onto the back of the letter. The result of this act was very apparent when the letter jumped into the air and vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Well I suppose we wait for a reply now," Ranma said as he shrugged his shoulders and got up only to notice Akane looking at him as she bit her lip. "Anything wrong?"

"No, see you tomorrow," Akane said with a smile.

"Ok," Ranma replied as he left.

'Coward,' Akane thought to herself before getting ready for bed.

********************

Shortly after Nabiki awoke the next day she herself looking up at the ceiling of her room she thought about Ranma and Akane.

'Sis's temper seems to have cooled overnight but something's wrong I'm not sure quite what but something's simmering just underneath the surface,' Nabiki thought to herself before looking out her window. 'Then there's Ranma, a mystery of a human being. For a year, he's acted like a complete jerk and baka and pulled it off so completely that not even Kasumi figured him out and that's saying a lot. People don't change overnight but he hasn't nor has Akane but something is up; something that is at the moment shrouded in darkness,' Nabiki thought as her gaze narrowed in deep thought. Moments later Nabiki turned her gaze away from the window to a convenient wall. 'Then there's Ranma's ability to see spirits and Ranko,' Nabiki mentally mused.

********************

Later that morning we find Ranma and Akane walking along to Furinkan as a leisurely pace enjoying the weather, each other's company and wondering why in the hell Nabiki was accompanying them.

Nabiki on the other hand was doing something she hadn't done in quite while —smiling genuinely.

Akane's reaction to this however was nervousness considering she knew when her sister was in a remarkably good mood that Nabiki was five times as dangerous when it came to plotting, extracting money from people, and the like.

A few minutes later, as the three walked through the gates of Furinkan they were greeted with mixed reactions from the gathered students. Ranma was greeted with respect born of fear, cheers for getting rid of Kunou, blank stares, as well as the usual reactions people gave to him. Akane was greeted by the usual reactions people gave to her and no more. The reactions the smiling Nabiki received however were of total fear as students that owed Nabiki money scampered away dragging their friends along with them.

Nabiki's only response to this was to continue smiling as one of her eyes developed a distinctly evil glint.

"Today will be a good day," Nabiki said as she cracked her knuckles and walked away from Ranma and Akane still smiling.

Ranma's answer to Nabiki's behavior was to mentally mutter, 'I really don't want to know what that smile means,' before continuing on to class with Akane.

********************

Meanwhile in another part of Nerima we find Ranko walking along absently staring at the goings on the Nerima and wishing she had a life —quite literally. Next to her Mrs. Tendo hummed as she thought about her children and the red head next to her.

"Kami-sama I wish there was more for a dead girl to do in this town!" Ranko exclaimed while sounding annoyed.

"So you say every day Ranko-kun," Mrs. Tendo replied while sounding a bit board.

"HEY I KNOW WHAT I CAN DO!!" Ranko screamed before running off leaving a rather bewildered Mrs. Tendo to stare at her ethereal dust trial before shaking her head and continuing on.

********************

Later at Furinkan, we find Ranko spying on Ranma and Akane were listening to their first period teacher.

'Gods, this guy is more boring then anyone I've ever heard before in my afterlife,' Ranko thought to herself before wishing she could possess the teacher and liven up the class. Unfortunately, Ranko's only ghostly powers that could affect physical objects were telekinetic. However, she had perfected her telekinetic abilities to such a point that she could wrap a telekinetic energy field around herself, which allowed her to take on a solid but still invisible and mostly soundless physical presence. 'Ahh well on to business,' Ranko chuckled to herself before looking around and levitating every pencil, pen and any other writing instrument into the air.

The teacher's rather dry response to this was to look at Ranma and Akane who were looking at something on the floor of the back of the classroom.

Clearing his throat the teacher —who had taught at Akane's junior high school— looked at Akane and said, "Tendo-san how many times have I told you not to bring poltergeists into my classroom unannounced?"

"About 100 or so," Akane replied while glaring at Ranko who was now laughing her head off the back of the classroom.

"137," the teacher replied before snatching a piece of chalk out of the air. "So Tendo-san who's spirit have you brought today?" the teacher added while the other students in the classroom either stared nervously at the floating writing utensils or chuckled at the fact Akane had, after a year of attracting superpowered martial artists and such, finally attracted another wayward spirit.

"My mischievous Imouto," Ranma answered while also glaring at his sister who had stopped laughing her head off.

Smirking teacher said, "So Ranko Saotome is real," before turning to the spot Ranma and Akane were glaring at and saying, "Saotome-san I don't care if your dead or not. No one interrupts my class understood."

Grumbling at the lack of sheer panic she was generating Ranko levitated floating writing utensils into the word, [Spoilsport,] before returning all the writing utensils their places.

Smirking the history teacher replied only by pulling out a small white board and dry erase marker. "You may take the seat behind your brother and use these to communicate," the history teacher said dryly causing Ranko to blink more then a few times.

[Hmm, ok,] Ranko replied after retrieving the two items and sitting down behind her brother.

"Good," the teacher continued on with his lesson.

'What have I gotten my self into?' Ranko thought to herself as the teacher continued on with his lesson.

15 or so minutes later, the bell rang and the teacher began to gather his books to leave the class. However just before he left he added, "...and Saotome-san I expect you to turn in that assignment on Monday like everyone else. Being dead is no excuse not to get an education."

Ranko's prompt reply to this was to fall off her chair. Akane's reply to this happenstance was to shake her head and look at the departing teacher who was smirking widely. Ranma however started belly laughing.

"ONI-CHAN stop your laughing right now this isn't funny," Ranko screamed.

"No it's absolutely hilarious Imouto!!" Ranma managed to get out between laughs.

"That's it!!!!!" Ranko screamed before kicking her brother into a nearby wall and sitting back down at her desk.

"Ranko must know martial arts to," Daisuke said.

Hiroshi's reply to this was to look at Daisuke as if he had gone crazy, "Of course she knows martial arts she's Ranma's sister."

"So what's the story on you Ranko?" Yuka asked as she stared at Ranko's desk.

Ranko's reply to this was to go beet red as she nervously looked around at everyone who was looking at her desk.

[I'll tell you later,] Ranko wrote rather hastily.

"Ok," Yuka replied before walking off.

********************

Later that day at lunch, we find Ranma and Akane surrounded by Hiroshi, Daisuke, Sayuki and Yuka who were grilling Ranma about being able to see spirits and his sister. Ranma's reluctant response was to tell them about his sister.

"Wow that's so weird," Yuka said in response to Ranma's comment about the fact his sister had grown up with him.

"Yeah I've never heard of a spirit getting older," Daisuke said as he looked over at Akane who only shrugged her shoulders.

"So how long have you been able to see spooks Ranma?" Hiroshi asked.

"As long as I can remember but I didn't really know I was seeing them till a few months ago when me and Akane visited the graveyard," Ranma replied nervously.

"You really didn't know you had psychic powers till a few months ago?" Sayuki said with a raised eyebrow.

"No," Ranma answered with a shrug.

"Now that's spooky," Hiroshi commented before looking around for the floating white board that Ranko had been using all morning. "Hey where's Ranko anyhow?"

"Around," Ranma replied while remembering how utterly nervous Ranko had been through the morning. A moment later Ranma got up and walked off in search of Ranko leaving Akane alone with Hiroshi, Daisuke, Sayuki, and Yuka.

********************

A few minutes later Ranma found his sister sitting in a tree looking extremely nervous.

"You ok Imouto?" Ranma asked gently.

Ranko's reply to this was to shake her head rapidly.

"Why?" Ranko finally asked while looking extremely lost.

"It seems that Akane attracts spirits as much as I attract challengers," Ranma replied causing Ranko to smile a little bit.

"They didn't even bat an eye," Ranko said as she bit her lip.

"I know, I guess Nerima was crazy even before we got here," Ranma answered as he scratched the back his head.

Ranko's answer to her brother's comment was to nod her head and mumble, "I've never had to deal with other people."

"I know Imouto," Ranma said before his sister hopped out of the tree.

"I'm no coward so I'm going to go back," Ranko said as she walked off shaking badly.

Shaking his head Ranma started to follow Ranko after she had walked around a nearby corner. However, as he stepped around the corner he so Ukyou running off.

"She's avoiding you," Ranko stated.

"I know," Ranma, answered in a whisper

********************

Later that day, we find Ranma and Akane walking home.

"You ok?" Akane asked.

"No I'm worried about Ranko and Ucchan," Ranma said as he stopped and sat down on top of the fence he had been walking on.

"Ranko I can understand but why are you worried about Ukyou?" Akane asked with a slight edge to her voice.

"She is my friend," Ranma replied as he glared at Akane who had a good grace to looking embarrassed.

"So what are you going to do?" Akane asked a moment later while cursing her temper, which had momentarily gotten the better of her.

"No clue," Ranma replied with a deep sigh.

********************

In another part of Nerima, specifically the hospital, we find Nabiki counting a large pile of money as she sat next to Tatewaki's bedside.

"Yes a very good day indeed," Nabiki commented as she finished and put away her money. That done Nabiki looked at Kunou who was unconscious due to heavy sedation. 'So after a year of delusional behavior your finally getting help,' Nabiki thought to herself as she looked at the sleeping kendoist who had a cast on his arm and around his ribs.

"Good afternoon Tendo-san," the Kunou family doctor said sometime later as he entered with a chart and syringe of some sort.

"So what's the diagnosis?" Nabiki asked as she sat back.

"A rare inhaled fungal spore that causes a wide variety of intense delusions that are usually isolated to one part of the subject's life," the doctor replied, as he made sure the syringe needle was clear. "...and this should clear up his symptoms."

"How long?"

"About a day or so till then we'll need to keep him under sedation considering how violent his delusions are," the doctor replied as he interjected Kunou.

Scratching her chin for a moment Nabiki thought about where such a rare inhale fungal spore could come from and almost immediately came up with the answer, "Doctor I think I know the source of these fungal spores."

Raising an eyebrow the doctor motioned Nabiki to continue.

********************

Back at the dojo we find Ranma and Akane have arrived home.

"Tadaima!" Akane shouted cheerfully as she and Ranma entered the Tendo home.

"Ranma you received a letter today," Kasumi said as she walked out of the kitchen and into the entryway of the Tendo home.

"From who?" Ranma asked.

"A Madame RelOrt of the third royal house of Avalon," Kasumi said as she pulled out the wax-sealed letter and handed it to Ranma.

Ranma and Akane's only reply to this was to look at each other for a moment before running off to Akane's room where they opened the letter.

To Ranma Saotome,

Cologne has already told me much about you Ranma and I must say you live an interesting life.

I can send you a magic potion that will seal you're cursed form away forever.

I can give you a potion that will give you and you alone control over the transformation.

I urge you to take as much time as you need to make your decision.

Ranma's response to the letter was to quietly put it down.

"Ranma?" Akane asked while sounding extremely concerned.

Ranma's only response was to take a few deep breaths before saying, "Why am I not surprised," as a few silent tears streamed down his face.

Akane's response to this was to pull Ranma into a fierce hug and mumble words of encouragement. Ranma however pulled out of Akane's embrace and headed downstairs.

Akane's response to this was to run after Ranma. However when she finally found him moments later he was standing near the koi pond with green and red streamers of pure emotional ki arcing away from him.

"HIT THE DIRT!!!" Akane screamed.

A second later Ranma screamed, "SHI SHI HOKODAN TO MOKO GAKIDO!!!!!!!!!!"

'Kami-sama,' Akane thought to herself as duel release of emotional energy continued with Ranma's angry and anguish screaming, as the very ground underneath him was ripped asunder. A full 5 seconds later, the emotional release ceased leaving Ranma to collapse to the ground unconscious.

Akane's response to this was to run out to Ranma and try to wake him up. When she didn't succeed, she picked him up and carried him off to her room while glaring at her father and Genma. This left everyone else alone with their thoughts on what had just happened as they stared at the crater Ranma had created.

'Gods what kind of power does he have!' Nodoka mentally screamed.

'There must have been some very bad news that letter,' Kasumi thought to herself.

'Hmm, that crater would make a good addition to the koi pond,' Soun thought to himself.

'Where's my dinner?' Genma thought to himself.

********************

Back up in Akane's room however, Akane was worried about Ranma despite the fact he appeared to be sleeping peacefully on her bed. 'Oh Ranma I hope your ok,' Akane thought to herself as she held Ranma's hand.

********************

Moments earlier at the cat café, we find Cologne staring at the column of emotionally charged ki arcing towards the heavens from the direction of the Tendo dojo.

'He must have just found out the truth,' Cologne mentally commented before turning her attention back to the business at hand, which was a telephone call from the Amazon Village.

~So is that the entire story elder Cologne?~ an old voice asked.

"Yes," Cologne replied.

~The council will begin hearings immediately then,~ the voice replied.

"Good I will return with Shampoo and Mousse as soon as I wrap things up here," Cologne answered before hanging up the phone. "One of which is talking to Ranma. However I doubt he will be awake for some hours after that emotional release," Cologne added.

********************

Sometime later, we find Nabiki walking home from the Kunou manor where she had just witnessed Kodachi Kunou hauled away in a white van as all of her poisons, toxins, and rare funguses were disposed of by Nerima's hazardous materials disposal team when she felt someone who's emotions were extremely mumbled from under a nearby bridge over a drainage canal that was a good distance away. Raising her eyebrow Nabiki walked under the bridge to find no one there however, she could still sense a presence from directly in front of her.

"I wish Akane was here spirits are her cup of tea," Nabiki commented aloud.

The reply Nabiki received from this was all of the small rocks underneath the canal floating into the air and forming the words, [I don't want any help from your gaki no kyouzi sister!]

Raising an eyebrow Nabiki commented, "Ranko right?"

[Yeah, and I'm not to pleased with your treatment of my brother either so bug off bitch,] Ranko responded.

Nabiki's only replied to this was to raise an eyebrow as she sat down. "Now why would I do that?"

[I may be dead but I can still kill you,] Ranko responded.

Shaking her head Nabiki responded, "...but you won't kill me will you after all you are a martial artist."

The only reply Nabiki received from this was an angry wave of emotion from the direction Ranko was. Nabiki's only reply to this was to smile as she leaned back.

"So what's got your emotions in such a tangle I could sense you from half a mile away?" Nabiki queried.

[None of your business!] Ranko replied as Nabiki felt Ranko's presence rapidly moving away.

"That girl's got issues," Nabiki commented before feeling another presence beside her. "Hello mom," Nabiki said nervously.

[What happened to her today?] was the writing the rocks under the canal arranged themselves to read.

Nabiki's response to this was to tell her what her spies found out about Ranko. After she finished Nabiki felt her mother's frustration as her presence faded.

********************

A while later Mrs. Tendo found Ranko brooding alone in an isolated part of the Nerima graveyard.

"So do you want to talk about what happened?" Mrs. Tendo asked.

Ranko's only response to this was to nod her head.

********************

*groan* was the first sound that came out of Ranma's mouth as he awoke to find himself laying on Akane's bed Akane sitting at beside him. Shaking his head to clear it, Ranma stood up and walked over to Akane's desk where he began to write another letter.

To Madame RelOrt,

I thank you for giving me a straight answer right away. Too many of the people in my life manipulate me in some way or another.

As to the details please boor me about them and at the moment I'm still too confused about the curse think about whether or not I want to seal it forever or not. If you can, please make something that will make my girl side the right age sense having it younger than I am is probably messing with my head some way.

—Ranma Saotome

With the letter written, Ranma put it in an envelope, addressed it to Madame RelOrt, and stamped it with the magic seal before looking over at the digital clock on Akane's desk.

"12:05," Ranma commented before feeling Akane wrap her arms around him.

"Come to bed," Akane said softly before she dragged Ranma into bed with her.

"Akane?" Ranma asked questioningly as Akane snuggled up to him.

"I love you baka," Akane whispered lovingly before she kissed Ranma passionately.

Breaking the kiss Ranma said, "I love you to tomboy," before wrapping his arms around Akane and kissing her with as much passion as he could.

Moments after the two broke the kiss they were sound asleep.

The next morning Akane awoke to find Ranma curled up with her and smiled before saying, "Wake-up baka."

Ranma's reluctant response to this was to wake-up and look Akane in the eye. "Good morning tomboy," Ranma finally said before pulling Akane closer to him for a kiss. However, just as he did so something splashed him. Ranma-chan's reply to this was the curse the cup of water for ruining the moment. Akane however wasn't about to let any glass of water ruin the moment as was apparent when she kissed Ranma-chan much to her surprise.

"Like I told you last night I love you baka," Akane whispered in Ranma-chan's ear.

Ranma-chan's only reply to this was to pull Akane close to her and whisper her thanks before the two got up to get ready for school.

********************

Later that day in the Tendo training hall a certain bandanna-clad youth regained the capacity for conscious thought and sat up with a groan only to find he was bound head to foot by very strong looking chains and in such a manor that he couldn't exert any amount of significant force on the chains that bound him.

"Damn," Ryouga cursed as he looked around the training hall as the memories of what had happened to him flooded back into his mind. 'Kasumi got angry at me,' Ryouga thought numbly as he wondered where the nearest boulder he could crawl under and die was located. 'I really have done something wrong ...' Ryouga thought to himself before being interrupted by the training hall doors opening to reveal Kasumi.

"I see you're finally awake," Kasumi said with an icy edge to her voice.

Ryouga's only reply to this was to feel like he was worse than the worst the scum of the universe.

Sitting down in front of Ryouga, Kasumi smoothed out her dress and said, "When my sister and Ranma get home you are going to apologize to them both for what you have done, renounce your honorless blood feud with Ranma. Then you are going to leave this house and never return unless you are invited is that understood," with an edge to her voice that was as cutting as a katana.

Ryouga's only reply to this was to nod numbly.

"Good," Kasumi replied before getting up and leaving.

Watching Kasumi's departing form Ryouga began to glow with a sickly green aura.

'I don't deserve to live,' Ryouga thought before turning his emotional energy inward never noticing Kasumi reentering the training hall behind him.

'Baka,' Kasumi thought to herself as she pinched Ryouga's neck KOing him immediately. 'I better take him to Dr. Tofu he'll be able to make sure Ryouga can't Shishi Hokodan himself,' Kasumi added before picking up Ryouga and hauling him off.

********************

Meanwhile in another part of Nerima we find Ranma brooding about something as he walked along a fence on his way back from school. Akane who was watching him just rolled her eyes and feeling fed up with Ranma's brooding said, "Just go talk to Ukyou already, baka!"

Ranma's reply to this was to look at Akane for a moment before running off to find Ukyou.

Akane's response to this was to shake her head and mumble, "To kind for his own good," before continuing on her walk to the shopping district.

********************

A few minutes later Ranma encountered Konatsu who was carrying a suitcase. Blinking Ranma stopped and asked, "What's with the suitcase?"

"Ukyou-sama no longer needs my services and told me I am ready to go out on my own," Konatsu replied before biting his lip nervously. "Ukyou-sama has been feeling very guilty and frightened about what she did that day."

"How frightened?"

"Despite her reassurances she seems frightened enough I don't think it would be a good idea for you see her till she has calmed down," Konatsu replied as he walked off.

"Now what am I going to do?" Ranma muttered before walking off to find Akane.

********************

"Konatsu said she was frightened enough that he didn't think I see her," Ranma-chan explained to Akane.

"That sounds bad," Akane replied as she browsed the racks at her favored clothing store.

"I know but maybe I should still go over and see how she's doing," Ranma-chan replied as she started pacing around.

"No we need to do something that will calm her down enough for us to talk to her," Akane said thoughtfully before smiling and saying, "Kasumi."

"Yeah! Kasumi will be able to calm Ucchan down in no time," Ranma-chan exclaimed before running off leaving Akane to continue her shopping.

********************

Sipping her tea Kasumi nodded her head at Ranma-chan's request. "I'll go right away," Kasumi said before getting up and leaving which left Ranma-chan alone with her thoughts, which quickly drifted towards her sister.

********************

A little while later, we find Ukyou working the grill at her restaurant when Kasumi entered and sat down in front of her.

"I'll have one special," Kasumi said in her usual polite manor to which Ukyou replied by preparing one special okonomiyaki.

A few minutes later after Kasumi had finished she said, "Are you okay Ukyou-chan you seem a little nervous?"

Ukyou, who was shaking slightly, only replied by saying, "I'm fine," in a very clipped and almost rude tone of voice.

Shaking her head Kasumi said, "Do you want to talk about what happened that day?"

A shadow falling over her features as she realized lying to Kasumi was as useless as pounding sense into a panda Ukyou replied, "Yeah just let me close up shop."

********************

Meanwhile back at the Tendo dojo we find Ranma-chan thinking of her sister while Soun and Genma sat playing one of their usual games of shoji while Nodoka absently watched Ranma-chan thinking.

"What's wrong Ranma?" Nodoka asked.

"Just worried about what happened to Imouto yesterday," Ranma-chan replied absently.

"Boy you don't have a little sister!" Genma bellowed.

Ranma-chan's rather dry response to this was to look at her father. "Remember when I was little how I had an imaginary friend pop?"

Blinking at the fact Ranma-chan was perfectly calm Genma racked his brain for a few moments before remembering that Ranma did indeed have an imaginary friend when they have started out on their training mission and so nodded.

"Turns out she's actually my Imouto Ranko," Ranma-chan replied flatly.

Genma's reply to this was to wonder what the hell is going on however before he could do anything but look confused Nodoka said, "If you'll remember Genma Ranma had a stillborn twin sister who we where going to name Ranko."

Genma's response to this was to pale considerably as he got up and walked off.

Ranma-chan's only reply to this was to raise an eyebrow before a package and a letter appeared out of nowhere and landed on the tea table.

Blinking at the method of delivery Ranma-chan picked up the letter and the package and walked off to Akane's room where she opened the letter.

To Ranma Saotome,

I'm sorry to hear that most of the people in your life manipulate you Ranma.

Now as to the details of the curse I've sent you a small book that gives a description of what curse is and is not and as well as the magic behind it. As to your request about ageing your cursed form, I have enclosed a potion that will do so in a minute and if you're wondering, yes it will be painful.

Concerning your confusion over whether not to seal your curse or not I have enclosed a magic armlet that you can wear that will block the transformation unless you want it to happen. Hopefully, the freedom this gives you will let you sort through your confusion on what to do.

I also offer to listen to anything that you wish to discuss with me whether it concerns the magic of the springs or your life in general.

After putting down the letter, Ranma-chan opened the box to reveal a book, armlet, and a glowing potion.

"Well no time like the present," Ranma-chan commented before picking up the glowing potion and popping the cork. "Bottoms up," Ranma-chan mumbled before downing the potion in one gulp.

A second later agonizing pain ripped through Ranma-chan's body as it was forced through three years of growth in the span of a minute.

Once that that minute was up Ranma-chan picked herself up off of the floor and collapsed onto Akane's bed a few remnant growing pains still running over her body furthering the disorientation caused by the accelerated growth. Ranma-chan's only comment to all of this was to make a mental comment about how much she hurt as she rolled over on her back. Looking up at the ceiling, which was still spinning, Ranma-chan closed her eyes as she waited for the disorientation to fade. 'That was the point of it hurting so much,' Ranma-chan mused thoughtfully as she realized the pain had caused her mind to adjust to the changes in her female body. This process was of course the source of the disorientation and wouldn't fade until her mind had finished adjusting.

Ranma-chan however wasn't about to let a little disorientation stop her from getting up and so she did so. However, she only got as far as Akane's desk —which was less than a meter from Akane's bed— before she decided this was as good place as any to stop.

Annoyed beyond measure Ranma-chan shook her head in an attempt to clear it. However, the action of shaking her head only served to momentarily increase her disorientation.

"Great I'm now officially a dizzy redhead," Ranma-chan grumbled aloud which allowed her to notice that her voice had changed enough that it had lost its annoying high-pitched edge; an edge that always grated at her nerves. However, as insignificant this would seem to anyone else, it was something that made Ranma-chan very happy considering her voice now sounded as she thought it should —like her sister's voice yet a tad different.

Looking around Ranma-chan saw that the world around her had at least stopped spinning although she knew getting up again would likely cause it to start spinning full force once again. Her only reply to this was to pick up the package from Madame RelOrt and take out the armlet which she found had an engraving of a heard of wild horses being followed by a serpentine dragon.

"Nice," Ranma-chan commented before putting on the armlet and making a mental note to try it later as she pocketed the instructions included with the armlet before picking up the book inside the package and reading it using a speed reading method she had learned somewhere.

What Ranma learned was that there were three types of transformation magic. Type 1 only gives the appearance of changing into another creature and was more of an illusion than a real transformation magic. Type 2 was very common considering it was the old witch turns the Prince into a frog Magic. Type 3 on the other hand never actually affected the person's natural body. Instead, it used standard type two magic plus special magics known only to Madam RelOrt to create an alternate body, which becomes permanent and quite non-magical after a special ki binder spell is used. This along with a faze-shifting spell allowed a person to have two or more bodies.

The cursed springs however botched the job of creating the magical alternate body. In that, every time anyone with a Jusenkyo curse was forced into their alternate body the magical alternate body was completely recreated even after it became permanent, which only happened when the alternate body was closely related to the original as in the case of the nannichuan and nyannichuan.

On the subject of nannichuan and nyannichuan, Ranma-chan learned when they were used to counter each other's effects they only sealed the alternate body away and left it to rot away until it completely atrophied and died. Ranma-chan's reply to this was to feel more than a bit sick.

As to the origin of the cursed springs, Ranma learned they were an accident caused by a battle between Ashura and Madame RelOrt some 4000 years ago.

'That must have been some fight,' Ranma-chan mentally commented as she finished the book and put it next to the letter from Madame RelOrt. Leaning back in the chair she was sitting in Ranma-chan looked up and took a deep breath before standing up and finding that most of her disorientation was gone. "Well at least I'm not a dizzy redhead anymore," Ranma-chan commented before deciding to do a few basic balancing and self-awareness katas next to the koi pond.

********************

Moments earlier, we find Genma sitting alone in the room he shared with his son and wife looking rather pale when Soun entered.

"Why don't we go out for awhile Saotome it'll give you a chance to clear your head," Soun suggested.

"Yes that sounds like a good idea," Genma responded before he and Soun left

********************

As Ranma-chan walked into the tearoom, she was greeted by wide eyes from Nodoka.

"What happened?" Nodoka squeaked out.

"I'll tell you later," Ranma-chan replied before walking outside to practice.

********************

Meanwhile at Nerima general hospital we find that one Tatewaki Kunou has just woken up to find Nabiki Tendo watching him.

Blinking a few times Kuno tried move only to find such a motion was extremely painful.

"Biki, why do I have 4 broken ribs and a broken arm?" Tatewaki asked after surveying his condition.

Raising an eyebrow as she rubbed her temples Nabiki asked, "Tate tell me what's the date?"

Tatewaki's simple reply to this was, "A sennight till our second year of high school."

Shaking her head Nabiki muttered, "Why is it you always get amnesia when somebody breaks your ribs?" while sounding extremely frustrated.

"I do not know," Tatewaki replied as he shrugged his good arm.

"Where's a convenient concrete embankment when you really need one?" Nabiki muttered to herself.

Sweat dropping Tatewaki asked, "Tell me how much time has passed from the date I gave thee?"

"About a year," Nabiki replied causing Tatewaki to faint.

Nabiki's reply to this was to shake her head and walk off to find Tatewaki's doctor.

********************

Back at the dojo, we find Ranma-chan has just finished her basic balancing and self-awareness katas.

Seeing that Ranma was finished Nodoka walked up beside Ranma-chan and asked, "Are you okay?"

Ranma-chan's only reply to this was to close her eyes and say, "For the first time ever it doesn't feel uncomfortable," before she walked back into the house where she sat down at the tea table and pulled out the instructions for her armlet.

This armlet will block the water-based trigger of your transformation as long as you wear it. In place of the water-based transformation, you will be able to transform at will as long as you wear it.

Ranma-chan's only reply to this was to nod her head before pocketing the instructions and looking up at her mother. Absently stretching her neck Ranma-chan began explaining that she now had a correspondence with Madame RelOrt the creator of the cursed springs and as she finished with the explanation, Akane was heard announcing that she was home and that she was going to put away her new things.

Nodoka however didn't really register Akane's words as she thought about Ranma's correspondence with someone that obviously had a great deal of magical power. She was naturally wary of this mysterious woman however she also knew this woman was the only person Ranma could talk to about the curse and its true nature and receive any kind of real answers from. Looking up at Ranma, who had obviously decided to invoke the magic of armlet considering her son/daughter was flipping back and forth as if he had been given a new toy, Nodoka wondered what alternate agenda the mysterious creator of the springs had. However considering Ranma was looking happier then she had seen him in a long time Nodoka decided to keep her worries to herself.

********************

Meanwhile upstairs we find Akane had just read the latest letter from Madame RelOrt.

'Hmm, it looks like Ranma's already taken the potion,' Akane thought to herself and noticed the empty potion bottle next to the opened package. "Putting away my new clothes can wait I want to see what that potion did," Akane added aloud before throwing her shopping bags on her bed and heading downstairs where she found Ranma flipping back and forth between forms and Nodoka deep in thought.

"Ranma," Akane called grabbing Ranma's attention just as he flipped into his female form.

"Yeah, what?" Ranma-chan asked.

"Has Kasumi gotten back from talking with Ukyou?" Akane asked

"No," Ranma-chan answered with a sigh. "Do you think I should go see what's up?"

"No Kasumi can handle it," Akane replied before looking Ranma-chan over and saying, "So is it any different now?"

Ranma-chan's only reply to this was to nod as she started to look thoughtful a moment later Ranma-chan got up and walked off followed by shortly by Akane who found Ranma-chan back in her room looking at the typewriter apparently thinking about what to write.

Wrapping her arms around Ranma-chan Akane asked, "Are you okay?"

"I really don't know Akane," Ranma-chan answered as she leaned back in the chair she was sitting in. "It feels like ... like I don't know like I could forget about it," Ranma-chan said while sounding more confused than Akane had ever heard her fiancé.

"Maybe you should make sure something weird isn't happening with your curse just to be on the safe side," Akane stated.

"What if it's not the curse what if it's me?" Ranma-chan asked as she looked up at Akane.

"I don't know," Akane answered. "...but you can get through it what ever it is."

Ranma-chan's only reply to this was to nod her head quietly before she started to type.

To Madame RelOrt,

The potion worked as you told me it would but I'm worried about how my girl side feels now. It's always felt uncomfortable and small but now it feels like I could forget about being in it entirely. I'm wondering if this is how it's supposed to be or if there's something wrong with it or me.

—Ranma Saotome

After addressing the envelope, Ranma-chan stamped it with the magic seal it vanished in a puff of smoke.

"I need to get some air Akane," Ranma said after transforming.

"Ok," Akane replied as she watched Ranma leave.

********************

Later that night after dinner, Kasumi entered the tearoom and sat down ignoring Nabiki and Akane who were all looking at her with wide eyes considering how exhausted she looked so say nothing of the fact she had just poured herself a glass of saki.

"Ukyou has had a rough life, nothing compared to Ranma's but nonetheless rough," Kasumi said as she ran a hand through her disheveled hair before slugging back her saki as if it was nothing.

Wincing at how quickly Kasumi had downed her liquor Nabiki asked, "So how long is going to take for you to..."

"I can't Nabiki she overwhelmed what little empathic ability I have in a matter of moments," Kasumi interrupted.

"...but you handled?"

"Ranma has a godlike amount of mental fortitude and constitution Ukyou hardly has any," Kasumi replied as she stared at Nabiki.

Nabiki's only response to this was to clinch her fist tightly before cursing, "Dammit you know how I feel about using my powers!"

"I know but if Ukyou doesn't get help quickly she may become psychotic," Kasumi replied.

"Fine I'll go right now!" Nabiki muttered before leaving.

********************

Meanwhile at the park we find Ranma sitting alone next to a large pond idly playing with the water with one of his feet.

"You ok oniichan?" Ranko asked as she sat down next to Ranma.

Ranma's only reply to this was to shake his head before telling Ranko about Madame RelOrt and what she had done. Ranko's only response to this was to pat her brother on the back reassuringly.

"So how are you doing?"

"I don't really know oniichan this is the first time the chaos of Nerima and your life has decided to set its sights on me," Ranko answered nervously.

"You'll be okay Imouto after all you've always helped me get through everything," Ranma replied.

"This is different baka," Ranko said while rolling her eyes.

"I know and just like you're always there for me I'll be here for you," Ranma responded.

"Thanks Imouto," Ranko said with a smile before adding, "You better get back to the dojo before Akane starts blowing head gaskets."

Chuckling nervously Ranma only nodded before getting up and walking off.

"You can come out now Oyaji," Ranko said before Genma walked out of the bushes looking pale.

"Ranko?" Genma finally asked as he started to shake.

Ranko's only response to this was to nod to which Genma replied by shouting "RIN, PYOU, TOU, SHA, KAI, JIN, RETSU, SAI, ZEN. AKURYO TAISAN!" and throwing a spirit banishment ward at Ranko

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't rip your heart out for all of the evil things you've done to Ranma?" Ranko said with a dangerous calm as she snatched the ward out of the air and ripped it into shreds.

Genma's response to this was to snarl in anger Ranko head hardly ever seen her father display. "I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING EVIL IN MY LIFE TO RANMA!" Genma bellowed with in anger Ranko had never heard Genma display.

Ranko's reply to this was glare at Genma with a fury the rotund marshal artist had rarely seen in his life. "You have done more evil than you can comprehend."

"Your lying!" Genma screamed.

"Ranko-kun does not lie, Genma," Mrs. Tendo said as she walked up behind Genma and placed her spectral hand on Genma's head.

Genma by this point was absolutely terrified.

"I've gained quite a lot of control over my rogue psyche abilities during the past 10 years Genma and tonight you will see through your own memories the evil things you have done to your son," Mrs. Tendo said before jolting Genma with a psychic burst of energy which caused him to fall unconscious.

"Thanks Mrs. T I doubt anything else would have ever gotten through his thick skull," Ranko said before sitting down next to her father.

Laughing to herself Mrs. Tendo only nodded before walking off.

"Now to get him back to the dojo and tied up so he doesn't shish kebab himself when he wakes up," Ranko said before picking her father up and dragging him off to the dojo where she was greeted by Kasumi.

"Oh my!" Kasumi said as the still unconscious Genma was deposited on the ground unceremoniously before one of his signs floated out of his pocket.

[Kasumi would you please get me some rope Oyaji is likely to try to shish kebab himself when he wakes up.]

"Ranko?" Kasumi asked warily.

[Yep.]

Kasumi's only reply to this was to nod before running off and returning with a length of rope and her father.

"What's going on here?" Soun demanded.

[Oyaji got some sense kicked into him about all evil things he's done to Oniichan and I don't feel like having Oyaji join me anytime soon in the afterlife Tendo-san,] Ranko replied causing Soun to blanch visibly before he grabbed the rope from Kasumi and tied Genma up expertly in less than a minute while he kept his crying down to a minimum.

"Now where did Nodoka-san get off to?" Soun muttered to himself before walking off in search of his friend's wife.

[That was strange.]

Kasumi's only reply to this was to count to three after which Soun was heard whaling to Nodoka about how his best friend was going to kill himself because someone made him realize how stupid he was.

"On rare occasions father does actually take charge," Kasumi said sadly.

[Oh,] Ranko replied. *flip* [So where are Ranma and Akane?]

"Akane went out to look for him," Kasumi replied.

Ranko's reply to this was to start fuming just as Nodoka and a still wailing Soun entered the room followed shortly thereafter by Ranma and Akane.

"Imouto, what's going on here?"

"Suicide watch," Ranko replied as she glared at her unconscious father before explaining what had happened to Ranma and Akane.

"I'm going to go call Doc Tofu all of his pressure points will definitely make sure pop can't weasel his out of this one," Ranma said before running off at top speed only to return a few moments later. "Doc says he'll be right over after he grabs his some stuff."

********************

Much earlier at Ucchan's we find a heavily sweating Nabiki staring at Ukyou who was looking glass eyed.

"Just a little bit more," Nabiki muttered to herself as she used her psychic powers to break Ukyou's delusions about Ranma and her life.

A few tense seconds later Ukyou's eyes focused and she screamed as she collapsed to the floor of her restaurant.

Wiping her brow, as she made sure to keep Ukyou's emotions dampened enough so she wouldn't kill herself Nabiki let out a sigh of relief as she ran a hand through her hair while breathing heavily.

"What did you do to me!?" Ukyou demanded as she got up all off the floor looking between angry and scared.

"About 10 years worth of psychological rehabilitation," Nabiki deadpanned as she tried to regain her breath and composure. "Now if you don't mind I need to get back to the dojo before I faint."

"You actually helped me?" Ukyou stuttered out as she felt the last of Nabiki's psychic influence drop off.

"Yes but only because Kasumi asked me to," Nabiki said as she started to get up.

"Wait you should at least rest for awhile," Ukyou said quickly as she shoved some food in front of Nabiki who looked at it for a moment before slapping down some money and digging in with as much fervor as Ranma catching Ukyou completely off guard once again. "You okay?"

"What do you care?" Nabiki asked as she looked up at Ukyou.

"You just broke me out of a huge fantasy life why wouldn't I care for someone that did me that kind of help."

"I would send you a bill but I promised Kasumi I would never use my powers for money. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get back to the dojo," Nabiki said before getting up and trying to leave however Nabiki only got a few feet before Ukyou shoved her back into her chair.

"What is with you bitch!" Ukyou screamed.

"I am a business woman, Ukyou, and I do business," Nabiki replied coldly.

"...and I suppose you think business revolves entirely around money and has nothing to do with people, emotions, feelings, loyalty and friendship," Ukyou spat.

"Yes," Nabiki answered.

"Gods girl, you're living in an even bigger fantasy than I was if you believe that load of bullshit," Ukyou said as prepared another okonomiyaki, which she shoved in front of Nabiki who of course tried to pay her. "No you're a friend a very tired and worn out friend."

"Money buys people, friendship and loyalty and feelings and emotions have no place in business," Nabiki answered as she shoved the money even farther towards Ukyou.

"Bought loyalty is not loyalty at all, same with friendship, and as a business woman you should know that," Ukyou replied before sitting down. "Do you think Ranma, Ryouga or even that idiot Kunou could have their loyalty or friendship bought?"

Nabiki's reply to this was to reluctantly shake her head. "...but people like that are rare."

"Yeah and you always want to keep them as close is you can," Ukyou answered before sitting back and adding, "As for the people that can be bought they aren't worth your loyalty or friendship, believe me I know."

Nabiki's reply to this was to raise an eyebrow at Ukyou.

"Girl, you aren't the only business woman in this town. I've been running a restaurant sense ...well you know," Ukyou said in response to Nabiki's raised eyebrow. "As to emotions and feelings well you definitely can't let them control you but you sure as hell can't ignore them either."

Nabiki's only reply to this was to look up at Ukyou and mumble, "I came to help but I NEVER dreamed I would get help in return."

"Hey what are friends for," Ukyou said with a smile before she rubbed her temple and started thinking about Ranma.

"Don't even go there, Ukyou," Nabiki muttered darkly as she started to eat her second okonomiyaki.

Ukyou's response to this was to nervously look at Nabiki.

"It's not like I can turn my psychic abilities off, Ukyou," Nabiki replied without looking up. "No matter how hard I try."

"How bad is it?"

"Let me put it this way; I have to be as cold as I am to keep myself sane," Nabiki responded icily.

"Oh," was the only reply Ukyou could think of giving before Nabiki got up and left still looking a little bit tired. A moment later Ukyou grabbed her battle spatula and said, "Whether you like it or not Nabiki you're getting an escort home," as she headed out the door and after Nabiki who she found walking slowly towards the dojo. "You really wiped your self about didn't you?" Ukyou stated while looking annoyed.

"I just invaded your mind and rewrote, removed and bypassed 10 years worth of constant buildup of the fantasies about the world and Ranma you had!!!!! Of course I'm tired!!!!" Nabiki said icily as she tried desperately to re-establish all of her psychic barriers.

"You hate it don't you?"

"Invading someone's mind is worse then rape," Nabiki said in an acidic tone of voice as she sat down and pulled out a bottle of extra strength aspirin, which she took two pills from. "...and to make it that much more horrible people without mental training in martial arts or something similar don't even know their minds are being invaded."

Sitting down next to Nabiki, Ukyou wondered what she should say. However before she got very far in her thoughts, Nabiki screamed in pain.

"WHAT THE HELL THAT CAN'T BE GENMA!!!!!!" Nabiki screamed as she collapsed to the ground cradling her head. "HE'S NOT CAPABLE OF THAT MUCH GUILT AND ANGUISH! IT'S A 1000 WORSE THAN AKANE'S ANGER BLOW OUT!!" Nabiki screamed as Ukyou saw an unusual aura flared out from Nabiki an attempt to protect her.

By this time, Ukyou was in an absolute panic. However, a second later she felt a calming presence enter her mind briefly before Nabiki stopped screaming.

"What's happening?" Ukyou asked well sounding awestruck.

"My mother is here," Nabiki mumbled before fainting.

Ukyou reply to this was to nervously look around before noticing something was writing on a nearby dusty window.

[Take her back to the dojo.]

Gulping Ukyou only nodded before picking up Nabiki and running off. As she came within a few blocks of the dojo, she heard Genma screaming for someone to kill him in the most anguished voice she had ever heard in her life.

'Ok I'm no telepath or what ever Nabiki is but even I can tell something's seriously wrong with that damn panda,' Ukyou thought to herself as she upped her speed to reach the dojo even quicker.

Just as she arrived in the tearoom, she saw Dr. Tofu use a pressure point to knock Genma out.

Putting Nabiki down and letting Kasumi tend to her Ukyou demanded, "What the hell is going on here Nabiki collapsed screaming about the dumb panda all the way over at my store!?"

The reply Ukyou received was one of the panda's famous signs flipping around to reveal the writing, [Mrs. Tendo kicked some sense into him about all of the evil things he's done to Oniichan and he's now officially suicidal.]

"Wow Mrs. T sure must have some mega powerful psychic powers to get through that thick head," Ukyou commented with a smirk causing everyone in the room except for Soun to start laughing. "Well I better get going," Ukyou added before leaving as quickly as she came.

'She's still scared,' Ranma thought to himself before Nabiki groaned loudly as she woke up.

"Are you okay?" Kasumi asked.

"NO," Nabiki bellowed as she got up and stormed off.

"What's got her and such bad mood?" Ranma queried.

"I'll go find out," Kasumi answered as she walked off to do just that pausing only briefly to tell Nodoka to put her father to sleep. Nodoka's response to this was to nod her head before leading Soun away.

"So doc can you do anything?"

"No more than I could do for Ryouga," Dr. Tofu answered as he polished his glasses.

"Which was?"

"To take him back to my clinic and keep them under heavy sedation and use pressure points to stop himself from using his own ki to kill himself," Dr. Tofu answered as he stood up. "So who wants to help me carry him to my clinic?"

[I will doc,] Ranko replied as the sign she was using floated over to Genma who then was hoisted into the air.

"Very well," Dr. Tofu said to Ranko as he started to leave with Ranma's sister adding only, "I'll see you all later than."

"I say we go get some sleep," Akane suggested before dragging Ranma off.

********************

"Akane?" Ranma asked curiously, as Akane closed the door to her room, which he was inside of.

"Well you slept with me last night," Akane said before adding, "...and since we both seemed to like it so much I think you should make it a habit to sleep here," as she patted her bed.

"but..."

Looking down at the floor Akane said, "I'm sorry for a lot of things and I'd like to make them all up to you and I want to start by being close to you."

Running his hand through his hair Ranma sat down next to Akane. "Are you sure?"

"No I'm scared shitless but I well not let my fear rule me any more and change me back into a violent maniac," Akane replied as she started to shake and then cry.

"Do you really want this or are you just doing it to make up with me?"

"Both hentai," Akane answered as she looked up at Ranma.

"Hey I said 'make up' not 'make out'," Ranma complained indignantly.

Looking into Ranma eye's Akane asked, "If you want we can make it both."

"I thought you didn't want to do anything with a sex ch..." Ranma said before Akane interrupted with a few choked sobs.

"I'm sorry I really am," Akane sobbed out. "I took my confusion on you I'm so sorry!"

"What? What are you talking about?" Ranma asked while looking completely confused.

Taking a few breaths to calm herself Akane said, "I didn't know what my sexual orientation is. I was never attracted to guys that much. So I was labeled as a homosexual but I'm not interested in girls either. That was another reason why I was so angry and because I was so angry I suppressed and overreacted to everything remotely related to sex."

"I'm sorry I must've made the problem even worse," Ranma answered.

"Yes and no. Yes because of my blind rage, No because I love you Ranma male, female, it doesn't matter to me and it never will. I also know how you feel about it and I'll wait as long as you need."

Ranma's only response to this was to look at Akane mouth agape until she kissed him passionately. Ranma's answer to this was to return the kiss with just as much passion.

"So how long do you want to wait?" Akane asked mischievously as she broke the kiss.

********************

Earlier in the training hall, Kasumi found a very ticked off Nabiki breaking cinder blocks ... with her head.

Kasumi's response to this was to reach out with what little empathic ability she had in order to calm Nabiki down. However, the incredible amount of emotional energy coming off Nabiki prevented her from doing much more than frying a synapse or two. Because of this Kasumi decided to take a more traditional approach and said, "Sis please calm down," just as Nabiki destroyed another cinder block with her head.

"No," Nabiki said defiantly "I've had chop-suey made out of my emotions and my psychic defenses!" Nabiki screamed as she turned to Kasumi who winced at her sister's outburst. "First there was Akane's anger blow out. Then Ranma starts acting like completely different person and figures out how I feel about Tate. Then Ranko shows up totally out of the blue and it that wasn't enough I had to spelunking around Ukyou mind!" Nabiki ranted before continuing on with anything and everything she could think of. Running out of steam a few minutes later, Nabiki collapsed to the ground half-crying, half-screaming, "Is it too much to ask to be able to turn it off!"

Wrapping her arms around Nabiki, Kasumi said, "No it isn't Imouto," soothingly.

********************

Later back in the tearoom, we find Nodoka sitting alone sipping some tea when Genma's famous sign floated in. Nodoka's reply to this was to stiffen considerably. However before she could do anything else the sign flipped around to reveal the writing, [I want you to come with me.] *flip* [...and before you ask I'm not an evil vengeful spirit.] *flip* [I am however very protective of Oniichan.] *flip* [Now are you going to come with me?]

Feeling rather numb Nodoka nodded before following Ranko out of the dojo, through the streets of Nerima, and into the graveyard.

"What now?" Nodoka asked nervously before feeling a hand on her shoulder and a presence in her mind. Nodoka's response to this was to look over her shoulder.

Who she saw there was Mrs. Tendo who was smiling warmly. Nodoka's response to this was to go absolutely white as her body froze in shock.

Mrs. Tendo's reply to this was to run her other hand across Nodoka's face. Even through her paralysis, Nodoka noticed something she knew was extremely odd. Mrs. Tendo's touch was as warm as a living person's touch. This simple —but yet highly unusual— fact snapped Nodoka out of her paralysis and caused her to blink a few times before she looked around to find a beautiful red headed teenage girl that looked almost identical to Ranma-chan. Looking back to Mrs. Tendo, Nodoka managed to squeaked out, "What's happening and how?"

"As long as you stay in contact with me you'll be able to communicate me and Ranko," Mrs. Tendo answered. "As to how I have a great deal of psychic ability most of it is uncontrolled but I have managed to learn to control enough of it to a few tricks."

Nodoka's answer to Mrs. Tendo's explanation was to nod nervously before she walked over and sat down on a nearby bench Mrs. Tendo keeping her hand on Nodoka's shoulder the whole time.

"What do you want of me?" Nodoka stuttered out obviously still frightened out of her mind.

"To talk mom," Ranko replied as she sat down and leaned her head against her mother who was surprised yet again when she felt the warmth coming from Ranko. "...and the first thing you need to know is me and Mrs. T, aren't like normal spirits."

"How?" Nodoka asked.

"Well for starters we need *yawn* sleep," Ranko said before yawning once again and falling asleep.

The only reply Nodoka gave to this was to sweat drop before looking up at Mrs. Tendo who shrugged her shoulders before saying, "So what else would you like to know?"

"Why haven't you passed on?" Nodoka asked.

"I really don't know," Mrs. Tendo replied sadly. "The priestess here at the graveyard knows of me and has studied my predicament extensively but has only come up with the fact I am not like any other spirit even an ancestral spirit and the same goes for Ranko."

Blinking while starting to feel concerned Nodoka asked, "How different?"

"Well for starters no barriers designed to keep spirits away can affect me and Ranko and I have even learned that I can use the same methods the priestess does to drive away evil spirits from this place."

"...and what of Ranko?" Nodoka asked as she looked at the sleeping red head on her shoulder.

"She is capable but she doesn't have patience to learn how," Mrs. Tendo replied with a shrug.

Nodoka replied to this was to nod her head before mumbling, "I wish I could hold her in my arms just once."

"...and I wish every night that I could do the same with my children," Mrs. Tendo added sadly.

********************

The next morning Nabiki awoke in her bed to the sounds of Ranma and Akane thrashing around and screaming in pleasure.

"Keep it down!" Nabiki screamed while she smiled and shaking her head.

Not waiting for a response of any sort from Ranma and Akane, Nabiki took a deep breath and went through her morning ritual of establishing her psychic barriers after which she got up and headed downstairs where she found Kasumi and Nodoka preparing breakfast in the kitchen. As she stepped into the tearoom she found her father smiling as he wailed about how the houses were now joined. Nabiki's reply to this was to roll her eyes as she sat down at her normal spot at the tea table while also noticing the homework apparently doing itself in the corner of the room. Raising an eyebrow, as she sensed Ranko, Nabiki made no comment before pulling out a magazine and starting to read it. A few moments later, however Nabiki blinked as she realized one small fact about Ranko. She had never sensed Ranma sister until a few days ago.

"Ranko how come I haven't sensed you until recently?" Nabiki asked nonchalantly.

[I can completely hide my presence.] *flip* [Even from Ranma.]

"Oh," Nabiki replied rather dryly before returning to her magazine only to feel and wave of anger from her sister however, she also felt a wave of confusion at the same time. Seconds later Akane was heard screaming at Ranma then apologizing then yelling then apologizing. Raising an eyebrow Nabiki dropped a few of her defenses already suspecting what had happened to her little sister. Something that she had encountered long ago when she first gained her powers —a split personality. 'Crap I knew something was brewing just below the surface,' Nabiki thought to herself glumly as the magazine in her hands ripped in two as her psychic powers confirmed her suspensions. Taking a deep breath Nabiki got up and walked off to phone the one person that could possibly help— Cologne.

The old matriarch's response was to tell Nabiki she would be over as soon as possible.

Turning around as she hung up the phone, Nabiki looked up stairs and shook her head at the screaming upstairs which head change from Akane screaming at Ranma to Akane screaming at herself.

"What's happening?" Nodoka asked as she walked up beside Nabiki.

"A split personality," Nabiki responded flatly before walking off to the dojo where she began practicing a kata she had developed to focus her mind.

********************

'A split personality,' Cologne thought to herself as she roof-hopped towards the Tendo dojo. 'I wonder if it was caused by the anger spice or only catalyzed by it. It doesn't matter it will be difficult to repair,' Cologne mentally added before upping her speed and arriving at the Tendo dojo a minute or two later where she was greeted by a powerful ki that was unmistakable. 'Ahh they finally got around to doing it,' Cologne cackled to herself as she smiled and let the ki that had come from Ranma and Akane's activities soak into her like everything else in the environment. 'Mhh I haven't felt gold ki this strong in a very long time,' Cologne thought with a rare smile before walking into the Tendo home. Once inside she found Ranma and Akane alone in Akane's room —and surprisingly they were both fully clothed.

At the moment as Cologne observed Akane seemed to be having an argument with herself on the subject of Ranma raping her. Ranma for his part just sat nearby looking even more confused then usual.

Rubbing her temples Cologne walked over to Akane and tapped her on the neck causing her fall over unconscious.

"So what now?" Ranma asked.

"We wait," Cologne said as she hopped onto Akane's desk and sat down. "The technique I just used on her will allow her to face herself," Cologne added before looking around and raising her eyebrow for a moment. "So have you begun studying the Buku-Jutsu?"

"No, it's been a little hectic even for the dojo," Ranma admitted as he looked over at Akane.

"Why don't you do it now?" Cologne suggested as she stretched her old fingers.

Ranma's response to this was to glare at Cologne.

"Don't give me that look, you can't do anything for Akane right now and you know it as well as do," Cologne replied as she looked over at Akane. "She's not some fragile China doll. She's got as much spirit and stubbornness as you do and she won't lose even to herself. So you might as well make the most of your time," Cologne said roughly before turning back to Ranma who grumbled before pulling the scroll Cologne had given him out of nowhere raising one of her old eyebrow slightly.

Minutes later however Ranma mumbled, "I don't see any way you could use emotionally charged ki to do this thing."

Cologne's response to this was to look over at Ranma with a smirk. "You never cease to surprise me Ranma. You figured out in a minute what it took the entire council of elders 200 years to figure out."

"They must be a bunch of idiots then," Ranma commented causing Cologne to laugh and nod. Ranma's only reply to this was to look at Cologne with a raised eyebrow before returning to the scroll.

********************

Later downstairs we find Nodoka and Soun playing shoji, Ranko watching TV soap operas with Kasumi.

[Soap operas are so unrealistic.] Flip [After all that guy only has one fiancée and two rivals.]

Chuckling Kasumi nodded, "Yes and there's been no death threats, property damage or magic used on him either."

[The worst thing is they complain about it and ONLY have nervous breakdowns.] Flip [I mean come on how unrealistic can you get!]

Sipping her tea Kasumi responded by nodding and saying, "Very true, Ranko," before picking up remote and changing the channel.

[Ahh now this is more realistic,] Ranko signed as the two started watching Tenchi.

********************

Meanwhile in the training hall we find Nabiki still practicing.

********************

Later that day around noon we find Ranma sitting deep in thought thinking about how to focus ki without emotions while Cologne sat nearby playing solitaire while Akane slept. These silent moments were interrupted when a letter appeared out of nowhere and fell onto Ranma's lap. Ranma's response to this was to pick up the letter and open it.

To Ranma Saotome,

The only reason I can think of that would make your alternate form feel comfortable as you describe it would be if your soul was female or both male and female. To determine this you need only to hold the stone enclosed in this letter. If it shines blue, your soul is primarily masculine. Red means it is primarily female. However if both appear in equal quantity then your soul is both at the same time.

In addition, Cologne recently mailed me a letter that you were trying to learn the Buku-Jutsu and sense flying around a major city like Tokyo isn't a good idea. I took the liberty of creating a small plane of existence for you to use as a 'training hall'. All you need to do to access it is use the enclosed transfer gem after which the 'training hall' will become attuned to you and you alone, which will allow you and anyone else you please access to it. I have also included several features that you will find most beneficial for martial arts training as part of the nature of this plane of existence. The features of the 'training hall' are described in a book inside of the 'training hall'

Ranma's response to this was to nervously take a small stone out of envelope the letter had been enclosed in and look at it. The stone appeared to contain an entire world with a single solitary building sitting off to one side. Absently Ranma wondered how he would use it as he looked over at Cologne.

"You need only envision a gateway of some sort to activate its magic after which the gem will disappear forever making sure only you can open the gateway," Cologne explained.

Ranma's response to this was a nod before he imagined a doorway appearing next to Akane's bed. Less than a second later a doorway did indeed appear and the first gem vanished. Shrugging his shoulders Ranma willed the doorway to vanish before looking back into the envelope and taking out another stone.

Currently the stone was completely clear. However, seconds later its color changed to a swirling mass of red and blue, which resolved itself into yin-yang symbol a moment later.

Ranma's reply to this was to look up at Cologne who was staring at the stone with an unusual expression. "I'd always suspected as much considering the way you handled your time during the cat tongue," Cologne finally said before holding out her hand and motioning Ranma to hand her the stone, which took a another a few moments to change into a red yin symbol. "It's a great rarity to be both in soul, Ranma. You should ponder what it means you and Akane," Cologne said.

Toying with the stone Cologne turned to Akane and shrugged before placing in on Akane's forehead ... where it promptly changed into a red and blue yin-yang symbol.

Ranma's response to this was to go wide-eyed while Cologne just blinked a few times as she tried to get her mouth to work and when she finally did she muttered, "Oh my!" Ranma's prompt response to this Kasumi like statement was to facefault. "This explains quite a lot," Cologne added after Ranma had picked himself up off the floor.

"How!" Ranma demanded.

Raising an eyebrow Cologne said, "Let me put it this way she's a tomBOY," as she retrieved the stone room Akane's forehead before tossing it back to Ranma.

Ranma's response to this was to blink a few times before muttering something unintelligible and returning to his meditation. For all of three seconds. "So can anything be done?"

"Perhaps a bucket of instant nannichuan," Cologne said with a cackle angering Ranma's no end. "Don't look so grumpy Ranma back home instant spring is used for practical jokes. In fact, I remember a particularly good one. My granddaughter spiked the boys' bathhouse with nyannichuan," Cologne cackled. "...and not surprisingly a few days later the girls' bathhouse was spiked with nannichuan."

Ranma's only response to this was to raise an eyebrow and mutter something about how Cologne wouldn't do that to Shampoo.

"If your remember Ranma I was the one that kicked her into the spring of the drowned cat ... although looking back perhaps that particular spring wasn't the best choice," Cologne replied with a touch of mirth.

"You really are a crazy old ghoul," Ranma muttered.

Smiling Cologne only replied by saying, "Guilty as charged."

With that said, silence returned to the room until Akane groaned loudly upon her awakening.

"Anyone got any aspirin," Akane mumbled to herself more than to anyone else.

Cologne's reply to this was to hand Akane a flowering plant. "Aspirin straight from the source," Cologne said with a smirk.

Akane's immediate reply to this was to blink a few times before laughing.

"So you okay Akane?" Ranma asked after Akane had stopped laughing.

"For the first time in a long time, baka," Akane responded with a smirk.

"That's good, tomboy," Ranma answered with a smirk of his own.

Smiling Cologne cleared her throat attracting the focus of attention to her. "So have you two given any thought to what I asked about?"

"Not really," Ranma admitted.

"Well a bit of information Chinese Amazons are not like Greek Amazons," Cologne responded.

Raising an eyebrow both Ranma and Akane asked, "Then what are you like?"

"Our society is divided into four pieces: Female warriors, male warriors, female tenders and male tenders. Shampoo is a female warrior and Mousse is a male tender despite the fact he tries to be a warrior."

Ranma's reply to this bit of information was to state, "I was at the village a few times Cologne and I hardly saw any men."

The aged matriarch's reply to this was to look downcast, "There was an 'accident' at the male warriors' tournament two years ago. The village lost 500 male warriors that day and 1500 were maimed so severely that most will never be able to fight again. The remaining 2000 male warriors are nothing but children that won't be ready to fight for another 10 years. Most tragically however, is the fact all but 3 of the village's male senseis were among those that were killed that day."

"Gods," Akane muttered.

"Also most of the male elders in the village are incapable of teaching anymore which basically means half of our warrior society is without guidance."

"That's why you wanted me isn't it not as a husband for Shampoo but as a sensei," Ranma stated to which Cologne only nodded as a reply.

"How long will it be till you actually need to train people?" Akane asked curiously.

"10 years is when most of the children will come of age and be ready for training but there are a few, only 10 in fact, that will be ready in 6," Cologne started.

"Then in six years put those 10 on the boat and ship them to the dojo I'll make sure they're ready to train the remaining kids into four years," Ranma said as he crossed his arms.

"There's problem with that Ranma only an Amazon is allowed to teach an Amazon," Cologne replied while sounding a bit smug.

"What about an Amazon from another tribe?" Akane asked after a moment of thought still not liking the idea of being a Chinese Amazon.

Cologne's reply to this was to blink a few times before thinking and then saying, "What do you have in mind?"

"Japanese Amazon's. Me and pop will be the male warriors. Mr. Tendo will be the male tender. Akane will be the female warrior. While my mom and Kasumi will be the female tenders," Ranma explained as he sat back in his seat smirking along with Akane who was surprised at his quick thinking.

"An ingenious solution," Cologne said with a smile. "... and one that should thoroughly stir the pot back home," Cologne added before standing up and bowing Ranma and Akane. "Farewell until we meet next honorable Japanese Amazon Elders," Cologne said with a great deal of mirth before hopping out the window.

"She really is a crazy old ghoul," Ranma commented with a smile.

Akane's only response to this was to smile before getting out of bed. "Very true Ranma very true and Nerima won't be quite the same without her," Akane said she stretched before noticing the letter that was sitting on Ranma's lap along with the scroll he was reading. "So what did the latest letter from Madame RelOrt say?"

Ranma's response to this was to give Akane the letter, which she read before looking around for the stone the letter talked about. See what Akane was looking for Ranma held up the stone for her see.

Akane's reply to this was a nervous nod before she reached out to take the stone from Ranma. In response to this action, however Ranma's face became shadowed before he actually handed Akane the stone, which after a few moments didn't change.

"Is this thing broken?" Akane queried rather nervously.

Ranma's only reply was to shake his head.

"Oh," Akane said rather distantly before putting down the stone, which went clear after a moment.

"'Oh' what?" Ranma asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It explains why one of my split personalities was a guy and why I'm ..." Akane said before trailing off in a mumble, which Ranma understood considering his eyes bugged out.

"YOU WHAT!" Ranma bellowed after finding his voice.

"I'm jealous of your curse," Akane mumbled again while looking redder then a tomato. "It was one of the reasons I called you a pervert. I was taking out my frustration on you sense I didn't understand why I was but now it makes sense," Akane added while tapping her index fingers together while looking even more embarrassed then before.

"The old ghoul was right you do you need a bucket of instant nannichuan dumped over your head," Ranma muttered sourly.

"I rather not use that stuff. Considering I've been dunked in a spring myself and the chaos of Nerima even using the instant stuff would curse me permanently," Akane said with a lopsided and rather sharp chuckle.

Ranma's only answer to this was to nod before getting up and saying, "I'm going to go get something to eat."

"Ok I'll be down after I change," Akane said before Ranma nodded and left. Akane's reply to this was to take a deep breath before turning around and starting to type.

To Madame RelOrt,

Hello, my name is Akane Tendo. I'm Ranma's fiancée and I wish to start a correspondence with you. The first reason is simply because you are who you are. The second reason is when I held the stone you sent Ranma today it became both red and blue just as it did when Ranma held it.

—Akane Tendo

With the letter written, Akane addressed an envelope before stuffing the letter into it and sealing it. After the letter vanished, Akane changed her clothes and headed downstairs.

As Akane walked into the tea room she found Nodoka and her father playing shoji, Ranko and Kasumi watching a Tenchi marathon, and Ranma sitting at the tea table and eating food at near the velocity of sound. Shrugging her shoulders Akane sat down and began eating the plate of that was next to Ranma.

********************

Meanwhile back in the training hall we find Nabiki still practicing.

"You're not as bad for someone that doesn't practice very often," Nabiki heard Cologne say from behind her.

Nabiki's reply to this was to turn around and raise an eyebrow.

"However your real talents are here aren't they," Cologne said as she tapped her head while adding, "mind mage."

"It wasn't my choice to be one," Nabiki muttered as she returned to her focusing exercises determined to re-establish her absolute control over her powers.

"Such as the nature of the power," Cologne responded as she sat down on a nearby cinder block pile. "I assume you know your powers aren't evil."

Nabiki's only reply to this was an annoyed glare.

"Good," Cologne responded before continuing. "I know a bit of the training methods used in teaching one with your powers how to use them properly."

"What's the catch?" Nabiki asked testily.

"No catch, every Amazon tribe needs a mind mage to handle business," Cologne responded before hopping away leaving a small scroll in her place.

Raising an eyebrow Nabiki made a mental note to grill Ranma and Akane for information later before opening the scroll and reading it. When she was done Nabiki smiled a small bit. "At least when I use my powers now I know why won't be causing any damage," Nabiki said before biting her lip and walking off towards Dr. Tofu's clinic.

********************

A little while later Nabiki arrived at Dr. Tofu's clinic to find Dr. Tofu sitting in his office reading a book on suicidal depression.

"I assume your reading means they haven't gotten any better," Nabiki stated flatly, as Dr. Tofu put down the book.

"No if anything they've gotten worse," Dr. Tofu said as he rubbed his temples before looking up at Nabiki. "So why are you here it's not like your..." Dr. Tofu said before trailing off as Nabiki drew in a sharp breath.

"I want to talk about the morality of it then I'll ... well as tempting as it is to make Jell-O out of their brains it would probably only be an improvement from where they already are," Nabiki responded causing Dr. Tofu chuckle for a moment.

Smiling Dr. Tofu said, "It's about time you faced up to this," before mumbling something about Kasumi and walking off to get a book on morality.

********************

About a later we find Ryouga and Genma sitting alone both strapped to their individual beds, paralyzed by pressure points and drugs whaling about wanting to die when Nabiki walked in an unreadable expression on her face.

"Good afternoon gentlemen," Nabiki said as she started glowing with a powerful psychic aura as she released all of her psychic defenses and summoned all of her power. "I'm here to make Jell-O out of your brains," Nabiki added with something in between mirth and her usual deviousness as her eyes glowed blue before projecting her psychic powers at Genma and Ryouga.

********************

Meanwhile back at the dojo we find Ranma sitting by the koi pond staring at his reflection with a rather flat look as he toyed with the stone that Madame RelOrt head mailed him while remembering the second part of her latest letter, which was currently in his pocket.

"Ranma, what's wrong?" Nodoka asked worriedly as she walked up behind Ranma.

Ranma's only reply to this was to show Nodoka the stone he was holding which of course caused her to blink several times. Sensing his mother's confusion Ranma handed her the letter that came with the stone. A few moments later Ranma heard his mother snarl surprising him greatly. Ranma's surprise only increased when Nodoka started yelling about manipulative witches trying to brainwash him. He had to admit that the idea wasn't that far-fetched considering the way his life went. However considering his mother was ranting so badly she could barely string sentences together properly Ranma decided it was time to get tough with his own mother and so bellowed for her to shut up. This naturally had the effect of freezing everyone within earshot in shock.

Taking a deep breath Ranma's stood up and turned around glaring at his mother with an icy gaze. "You're hiding something aren't you," Ranma finally said with all the warmth of a blizzard.

Nodoka's reply to this was to back off as she dropped the letter she was holding.

"You have until 3 to tell me or else," Ranma said as he held up one finger.

Followed by two and then just before his third finger Nodoka screamed, "I'll tell you."

"Go on," Ranma said in a perfectly controlled flat tone of voice.

"We were worried about you from the beginning. When you were a little boy before you went off with your father you were very 'confused'."

"Huh," Ranma said intelligently.

"When you were a little boy you acted normally half the time and like a little girl the other half the time," Nodoka explained while Ranma's face went absolutely white. "We didn't want you to be confused. It drove your father to the breaking point and after he crossed that point, he took you on the training journey," Nodoka explained before looking up at Ranma.

"That explains a lot," Ranma mumbled while sounding haunted after which he walked off leaving Nodoka to collapse.

********************

Meanwhile in the tearoom Kasumi just stared at Ranma. "Oh my, that was quite the display."

Glaring at Kasumi Akane said, "...and what's that supposed to mean?"

"It's just that Ranma seems so different it's disconcerting," Kasumi replied while mentally deciding that she needed to visit Dr. Tofu for a check up.

"Oh," Akane replied before taking a deep breath and walking off after Ranma who she found in the training hall moments later.

"Why in the world are my parents such baka? I mean I can't be related to them can I?"

"Sometimes I do wonder other times I don't," Akane stated.

"Me to, I know I've done some stupid things but at least I knew I did them after words," Ranma muttered. "Ok most of the time," Ranma added a moment later after noticing Akane's glare. "Mom and pop have got lots of intelligence but not much sense," Ranma said as he sat down. "Mom probably has all the intelligence from books and stuff and believe it or not pop is smart when it comes to martial arts, surviving and stuff like that but none of the intelligence mom has with books and stuff. I got both of their intelligences but sense they don't have sense that leaves me with ... well as much sense as a horse."

"I don't have much sense either," Akane admitted.

"Yeah Kasumi got all of it," Ranma said sadly.

"From a lot of hard work, Ranma," Kasumi said as she walked in with a large tray of snacks. "Would you like me to teach you both what I learned about people and common sense?"

"Hmm, what's the catch?" Ranma asked warily.

Smiling Kasumi said, "You have to train Akane for real and that means you actually have to hit her."

Ranma's natural reply to this was to grind his teeth together. However, Kasumi shot him a glare that made his anger shrivel like a flower in the Sahara.

"Ranma do you know how many times Akane has cried herself asleep because of you not taking her seriously enough to spar with her and how much it hurt her?"

"Hey I ain't never laid..." Ranma managed to get out before Kasumi shot him in angry scowl.

"You hurt her emotionally, you hurt her pride, and even her love of the art by NOT laying I hand on her," Kasumi explained while each word she said hit Ranma with more force then Ryouga's best punches. "It's partially your fault her personality split," Kasumi added making Ranma feel like he had just been pounded into a bloody pulp. "Now tell me Ranma is what you're feeling now anything compared to even the pain of even multiple broken bones?"

"No not really," Ranma muttered weekly as he collapsed into a heap on the training hall floor as he looked at Akane who was looking at the floor. "Did I really hurt you that bad but being such an idiot?" Ranma asked to which Akane only replied by nodding. "Hmm, Kasumi do you know any way to. I don't know make things like this hurt less."

"The first things you need are a strong self-confidence and self-image; then after that balance, serenity and peace with one's self make one almost immune to emotional pain. All of these things are sorely lacking in both of you," Kasumi explained before looking over at Ranma. "I'll teach you both about having common sense and being emotionally strong if you teach Akane what you know about the art."

"Ok," Ranma said before taking a deep breath and straightening himself out. A moment later after he had regained his wits Ranma looked over at Kasumi quizzically.

"Everyone else has been revealing secrets and growing up so I thought I should do so as well," Kasumi said as she sipped her tea.

Ranma's only reply to this was a deep breath as he ran a hand through his hair obviously thinking about what Kasumi had said. However, Ranma was also thinking about all of the times Akane had almost died during the past year. However, what finally made up Ranma's mind you and were the painful memories of holding Akane in his arms after he had defeated Saffron.

"Ok, I'll do it" Ranma finally said a pained tone apparent in his voice.

Kasumi of course immediately noticed Ranma's tone of voice and began to ask him what was wrong. However before she could open her mouth even partially Akane had glommed Ranma with even more fervor then Shampoo usually did screaming that she would make Ranma proud. Smiling at her sister's enthusiasm Kasumi cleared her throat and said, "Akane I believe your new sensei needs to breathe."

"Eep!!" Akane squeaked out before releasing Ranma who was already turning blue.

"Now Ranma what's wrong?" Kasumi asked.

"I do not want to HURT Akane in anyway," Ranma muttered angrily causing Akane to flinch.

"Ranma-san," Kasumi said with a touch of steel to her voice. "Akane has had her more then her fair share of lumps, broken bones, black eyes, sprains and bruises.

"That's not what I mean," Ranma grumbled before muttering something under his breath that only Akane heard.

"NO! That's not true!" Akane bellowed.

Ranma's replied to this was look up at Akane confusion written on his face.

"I won't I really won't Ranma," Akane cried as she wrapped her arms around Ranma in a fierce hug.

Ranma's reply to this was to look up at Akane questioningly before saying, "You really won't?"

Akane's reply to this was to rapidly shake her head. "I promise I won't. In fact I'll..." Akane said before whispering something in Ranma ear which caused him to go beat red.

After Ranma managed to control his blush, he mumbled something in Akane's ear before starting to think. His thoughts were interrupted however when Kasumi said, "Ranma why don't you take a look at the 'training hall' that was mentioned in this letter," while handing Ranma the letter his mother had dropped a little earlier.

Taking the letter Ranma nodded before standing up and concentrating on a door to the 'training hall', he had been given. Once the door appeared, Ranma asked Kasumi and Akane, "Well anyone want to come with me?"

The response the two gave was a nod before they and Ranma stepped through the door.

A moment after the door closed Ranko appeared out of nowhere looking curious.

'They really do love each other,' Ranko thought with a mixture of surprise and nervousness. 'I've GOT to find some way to get a life. LITERALLY,' Ranko thought before looking at the spot the doorway to Ranma's new training hall was. "I wonder if this RelOrt character can create in entire world maybe she can bring back the dead ... or at least maybe she knows someone that can," Ranko muttered aloud before running off to write a letter. Never mind the fact that she had never written one before in her afterlife.

********************

"Whoa," was the only comment Ranma made as he surveyed the immense open area before him.

"This place has to be the size of a small city," Akane said rather numbly.

"Damn if this is Madame RelOrt's idea of a 'training hall' I wonder what the 'features' are like," Ranma commented roughly.

"The letter mentioned a book describing the features I suggest we find it," Kasumi said in her usual manner.

Ranma's only reply to this was a nod before he started scanning the horizon. "The binding stone thingy had an image of some kind of training hall on it. I figure the book is there."

"Why exactly do you think that?" Kasumi asked in a tone of voice Ranma usually expected from one of his teachers.

"Hmm, well people don't usually leave books lying around in the open," Ranma replied.

"Good reply Ranma, you applied what you know about what people do with books to form a conclusion about where one was," Kasumi said with a smile.

Ranma's reply to this was to blink a few times before realizing Kasumi had started training him in having common sense. Akane however didn't as was apparent when she uttered, "Huh??"

"What you know about what people do and do not do with things this part of having common sense Akane," Kasumi explained.

Akane's reply to this was to look thoughtful for a moment before saying, "It is isn't it but knowing that that's part of having common sense doesn't sound like its common sense," as she looked a little lost.

"It's like the art once you know it you make it look so easy no one would imagine what you have to do to get there," Ranma said thoughtfully as he looked at Kasumi who nodded as a reply.

"A friend of mine once said common sense isn't very common at all and understanding common sense is even less common," Kasumi commented before the three started to walk along in search of the house Ranma had seen.

They didn't have long to search that long either considering the training hall was just beyond a nearby hill.

After entering the house Ranma Akane and Kasumi found themselves in a huge open room similar in style to the training hall of the Tendo dojo albeit at least 5 times larger. Lining the shoji walls were weapons of all varieties some of which not even Ranma had ever seen.

At the center of the room however there stood ... or rather floated a book surrounded by a magical aura.

"This MUST be the book," Ranma commented sarcastically as he picked the book out of the air. The reply Akane and Kasumi gave to this was rolled their eyes and chuckle. Ranma however popped open the locking clasp on the book's cover causing it to explode in a flash of light, which faded to reveal a small orange creature that looked like a stuffed animal that was floating in mid air in front of Ranma.

"I am the guardian beast Gato and I serve Ranma Saotome and protect this training hall," the small creature said in a cheery voice.

Ranma, Akane and Kasumi's reply to this was to blink repeatedly.

"So what do you do?" Ranma finally asked.

"I am in full control of this training hall hall's capabilities which are summarized in the book you hold," Gato replied.

"Ok," Ranma said with a raised eyebrow before opening the book.

Permanent effect resurrection ward —

This magical ward resurrects anyone killed within the training hall after 1 minute to complete heath. This feature cannot be disabled.

Entry—

This feature allows the owner of the training hall to designate who else he wants to have free access to the training hall.

Isolation—

This feature allows the training hall to become temporally isolated from the users home plane. This isolation stops the user from aging for as long as it is in effect. When the feature is disabled and the user exits the training hall no time will have passed in the user's home plane no matter how much time was spent in the training hall.

Monster training—

This feature creates monsters for anyone to battle against. While the monsters are not real flesh and blood, creatures they are quite capable of doing real damage. This feature can be enabled and disabled on demand by shouting a command word, which is set by talking to the guardian beast of the training hall. This feature always produces monsters or groups of monsters the user can defeat by using a fourth of their total strength and power.

Environmental hazards—

This training hall has the capability of producing a wide variety of environmental hazards from absolute zero to the heat of a super nova, from a vacuum to the crushing pressures of the deep ocean, from no gravity to the light eating gravity of a black hole, and most anything else you one could think of. Note the training hall will not produce any environmental hazard the user can't handle without being killed in an hour or less.

Training method replication—

With the assistance of the guardian beast of the training hall, any training method magical or mundane can be set up in the training hall.

Healing billet—

Upon uttering a command word a healing billet will appear which will completely heal whoever activates it to full health and vigor.

Body double training—

This feature will create a magical copy of the user allowing them to test their skills to the fullest. In addition, while the body double is active a healing field will encompass the user, which prevents them losing any health or vigor.

"Wow these features are incredible," Akane said in awe.

"...and all quite useful for martial arts training," Kasumi added thoughtfully before she started rattling off ideas for training methods that even Genma wouldn't consider. However, after a few moments Kasumi noticed Ranma and Akane looking at her with laxed jaws. "What?" Kasumi queried after blinking a few times. "They're perfectly valid training methods and with the healing billet and the resurrection ward there is no chance of any lasting damage."

Ranma and Akane's only reply to this was to sweat drop for two reasons. First, that Kasumi had even thought of such training methods —such as endurance training while 'swimming' in the molten magma of a volcano— and second because she was absolutely right.

"Crazy," Ranma muttered before turning to Gato and telling it what he wanted done.

********************

"Hmm, this should do it," Ranko said before looking over the 5 page letter she had typed. A letter that explained who she was and what she wanted and how quickly she wanted it. Smiling Ranko stuffed her letter in an envelope and addressed it before stamping it with the magic seal. "Now I wait and hopefully by tomorrow afternoon I'll have a life," Ranko said before deciding to go downstairs to watch the rest of the Tenchi marathon. However as she stood up a letter appeared in mid air. Grabbing the envelope Ranko found it was addressed to her. Blinking a few times Ranko opened the envelope.

To Ranko Saotome,

I know of what kind of spirit you are, Ranko. I can resurrect you but it will take me a day to adapt the proper spell to your Life force. However, in the meantime the enclosed ring will allow you to take on a physical presence.

As to answering your question about what kind of spirit you are, the answer is a living spirit, which means you don't actually need a corporeal body to sustain your life force. This is a deep-rooted part of your soul as it is part of Ranma and Akane's souls.

"I'm alive?" Ranko questioned as she sat down holding the letter. "I'm not a stiff, spook, or specter, but alive without a body," Ranko added while feeling quite numb and scared out of her mind for a reason she couldn't quite phantom. A few moments later Ranko took a small blue and green ring out of the envelope and slipped it on her index finger. An instant later Ranko felt in her own blunt thoughts solid.

Moments later Ranko's emotional turmoil was interrupted by a voice behind her, "Ranko?"

Turning around Ranko found herself looking at her mother who had been crying sense Ranma had confronted her earlier. After a moment of silence, Ranko nodded before returning her attention to the letter in her hands. Nodoka's response to this was to sit down next to Ranko and nervously wrap her arms around the young red head as she read the letter over Ranko's shoulder. Nodoka's reply to the letter was unconditional shock. The words before her promised with an unbelievable casualness that Ranko was alive even without a body, which the mysterious Madame RelOrt was going to provide by some magical means in less than a week.

'What kind of power does this woman have?' Nodoka screamed to herself as she hugged Ranko close to her. A moment later, however she realized what she was doing. 'I'm actually holding her in my arms,' Nodoka thought as tears of joy started to stream down her face.

'I'm going to get a life I should be happy not scared out of my mind," Ranko thought to herself as she looked at the letter in her hands. '...but I am,' Ranko added before starting to relax in her mother's loving embrace.

A few moments later Ranko dropped the letter in her hands as she fell asleep. Seeing this Nodoka picked the letter up and pocketed it.

********************

Meanwhile back in the dimensional training hall we find Ranma dodging Akane like a grasshopper on super speed as he concentrated on every move Akane made occasionally telling her to control her anger.

Watching this Kasumi was silent as she observed Ranma teaching. Noting that Ranma was one being considerably more serious then she thought he was capable of and second that Ranma was being particularly brutal with his demands that Akane control her temper; demands that were necessary in both the severity and brutality in even Kasumi's viewpoint. After all one's enemies would make no bones about taking advantage of how anger interfered with concentration. Kasumi however worried that Ranma was going apply the same demanding level to all of his training as he was currently training Akane with. While the level of demand he was applying to Akane was perfectly suited to Akane it would most likely terrify any student Ranma would teach at the dojo in the future and made a note to tell Ranma about how to teach at different levels.

"Ok stop," Ranma said as he held up a hand while he pulled on his pigtail with his other hand.

"So?" Akane asked curiously.

"Your form is to perfect when you're not angry and absolute crap when you're angry," Ranma said with an analytical tone to his voice. "Your style is absolutely nonexistent. Most seriously however your speed is so low it makes you worse than a sitting duck," Ranma finished before turning to the Gato and saying, "I need a small wolf."

Gato's reply to this was a nod before a wolf appeared next to it.

"Hmm, what's up?" Akane asked nervously.

"Easy leg speed training," Ranma said before turning to the guardian beast and saying, "Have it chase her like she was its next meal," Ranma instructed the guardian beast who only nodded.

"Ranma you ca ... akkk!!" Akane screamed before running off being chased by the wolf, which was snapping at her heels.

"Out of curiosity did your father ever do that to you?" Kasumi asked.

"Yeah one of his more sane methods," Ranma answered. "Although pop started with a wolf that was a lot faster than that one," Ranma added as he sat down.

"Well at least you were faster at the time," Kasumi said before noticing the glare Ranma was giving her. Kasumi's response to the glare was to gulp. "Well anyhow I what to talk to you about your teaching style," Kasumi added after subduing a few images of how to cook a panda ... alive.

"Ok," Ranma said as Akane ran by outside. "Hmm, Gato make sure Akane has a few trees to hide in."

"Very well," Gato replied before floating off leaving Ranma and Kasumi alone.

********************

"Damn that took a lot out of me," Nabiki muttered as she withdrew her powers from Genma's mind. Sitting down on a nearby bed, Nabiki wiped her brow as Dr. Tofu walked into the room.

"Are you okay?" Nabiki heard Dr. Tofu say as he walked up beside her.

"Just drained, I'll be fine after I have something to eat," Nabiki muttered before looking over at Dr. Tofu. "Although I'm not as tired as I thought I would be."

"Psychic powers get easier to use with use and you become more powerful as you use them," Dr. Tofu explained.

Nabiki's only reply to this was to nod before getting up and leaving as she absently decided to go get something to eat.

********************

Meanwhile back in the dimensional training hall we find Ranma watching Akane run by outside as Kasumi sat behind him. At the moment, Ranma was thinking about what Kasumi had said about teaching when he was interrupted by Kasumi asking, "Ranma have you ever gone all-out against anyone?"

Spinning around while looking very surprise Ranma said, "Why do you want to know?"

"Curiosity and concern," Kasumi replied.

Ranma's response to this was to sit down in front of Kasumi.

"Why concern?"

"Because if you have never gone all-out against an opponent you don't know what your limits are and that's dangerous both to your self and any student you start to teach," Kasumi replied.

Ranma's reply to this was to nod before turning to Gato and saying, "Stop Akane's training and have her come back in here."

Gato's reply to this was to nod and fly off returning moments later with Akane who was looking very tired.

"I what both of you to leave I'm going to train at my full power and skill," Ranma said coolly before summoning the gateway to the dojo. Akane naturally started to object however, Kasumi silenced her by shaking her head and dragging her sister off. Once the portal closed Ranma turned to Gato and said, "Activate the isolation and body double training features."

Gato's reply to this was to nod before doing just that.

********************

"Why did he have us leave?" Akane asked, as she looked grumpy.

"It's something he has to do on his own," Kasumi's stated.

"What does he have to do on his own?"

"Mastery," Kasumi replied causing Akane to pale considerably.

"What!"

"He has to master everything he has learned he has to gain complete control over his ki and he has to ..." Kasumi said before trailing off. "He has to develop a killer instinct. In instinct that will tell him when killing is truly the only option but most of all he has to move beyond being just a student to a teacher."

"How long is going to take him."

"A year," Ranma-chan said as she stepped out of the portal to the dimensional training hall.

Spinning around Kasumi and Akane immediately noticed Ranma-chan's battle hardened look and tattered clothes. Needless to say, Kasumi and Akane took a step back as they sensed the raw power coming off of Ranma-chan—to say nothing of the smell coming off her. A moment later Ranma-chan took a deep breath, shook her head to clear it, and transformed.

"I'm going to go clean up," Ranma said flatly before looking at Akane. "You however are going to go continue your training," Ranma added with a definite sensei tone to his voice.

Akane's reply to this was gulp nervously before squeaking out, "Hai sensei," and running through the still open portal to the dimensional training hall.

Ranma's response to this was to walk off a leisurely pace.

Kasumi's response to this was to bite her lip nervously before walking off after Akane.

********************

"5 specials," Nabiki said flatly, as she sat down in front the grill at Ucchan's.

Ukyou's reply to this was to nod before dishing out the requested amount of food.

"So what did you do this time?" Ukyou asked as she sat down behind the grill.

"I'd rather not discuss it considering it was a BIT disgusting to go spelunking around the panda and pig's brains," Nabiki replied.

"Pig?" Ukyou questioned. Nabiki's replied to this was to protect a psychic image at Ukyou who blinked a few times before growling and mumbling, "I wonder if Akane would like lessons in making pork okonomiyaki."

"I'll ask her when I get back home," Nabiki replied with a one of her mercenary smiles before she start eating. A few minutes later when Nabiki finished her okonomiyaki, she started tapping her fingers on the counter as she thought.

Ukyou was of course curious as to what Nabiki was thinking of and so asked, "So what are you planning, sugar?"

"A practical joke; the biggest practical joke Furinkan has ever seen," Nabiki replied coolly.

"Why?" Ukyou asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm in an exceptionally good mood," Nabiki replied with a smirk. "Now are you in?"

"Yeah," Ukyou replied with a smirk her own.

********************

"Amazing," Soun muttered to himself as he watched Nodoka holding Ranko as they both slept peacefully. "Truly amazing," Soun added quietly before walking off crying silently as he thought of his wife. "Wound's heal given a chance but the wounds of her dying could never heal sense she never left us," Soun muttered as tears started streaming down his face.

********************

Genma Saotome absently looked up at the ceiling of the clinic he was in unable to move due to a combination of paralyzing pressure points, paralytic drugs and arm and leg restraints thinking about what he had done to his son. 'I'm a fool a damn fool. An overzealous father that never once considered he was doing more harm than good,' Genma thought to himself before focusing his ki inward and around his body and such a manner that it opened the ki pathways closed by the pressure points Dr. tofu had used on him. Once he had opened all of the pathways Genma sluggishly freed his arms and legs from the restraints he was tied to. 'Damn what ever drug Tofu slipped me is potent,' Genma thought to himself as he struggled to move his body against the effects of the drug. Picking up a bed sheet Genma used his forbidden invisibility technique to slip past Dr. Tofu unnoticed. Sometime later Genma arrived back at the dojo packed his things, wrote a letter, and left the dojo all without being noticed. 'Sayonara son,' Genma thought sadly as the dojo vanished from his site.

********************

A little later back at the dojo Ranma had finished his bath and as he walked into the tearoom, he found a pale faced Soun looking at a letter.

"You should read this, Ranma," Soun said as he handed Ranma the letter.

I'm sorry for everything I've done to you son. I was a fool and honestly had no idea what I was doing was evil. I know you must hate me what I've done. I'm not going to kill myself over this after all as I've always told you death is a coward's way out. So, I'm leaving. Maybe someday I can make something of myself that isn't an evil monster. However, for all the things I've done to you, all I can do is say sayonara and I will always love you my Son.

P.S. You have always been the pride of my life.

With his expression completely unreadable Ranma said, "Make sure my mom gets this," as he handed the letter back to Soun.

"Ranma are you ok?" Soun asked as he put a hand on Ranma's shoulder.

"Not really, pop's been the only real constant in my life but he meant what he said and I can tell its something he's got to do," Ranma answered.

"How do you know that?" Soun asked curiously.

Ranma's response to this was to point to a single word in the letter before walking off.

Soun's response to this was to look at the word Ranma had pointed to. A few moments later Soun bowed his head and carefully folded the letter before walking off, wishing he had something stronger than 200 proof saki. 'My friend gone again and just when things were looking up,' Soun thought to himself before deciding to visit his wife's grave. However before he had taken even a single step Soun realized that his old friend wouldn't leave town without a bottle of 200 proof saki and so ran off to drag his friend back.

********************

"You ok Ranko?" Nodoka asked as Ranko awoke.

"No I'm ... not scared but lost, confused, excited and something I can't quite figure out," Ranko said quietly.

Biting her lip Nodoka looked at Ranko concerned with her state of mind as she thought about how she could help Ranko. However, a few moments later Nodoka realized that the only person that could help Ranko was someone they had most certainly seen this kind of situation before and may have even been through it.

"Ranko I need to write a letter to Madame RelOrt," Nodoka said aloud.

"Why?"

"To extend an invitation," Nodoka said while mentally adding, ' and when she gets here I will figure out what other motives she has.'

"Ok," Ranko replied.

********************

"Everything ready Mousse?" Cologne asked as she walked into Shampoo's room where Shampoo was resting.

"Yes," mousse replied.

"Good," Cologne replied before walking off to retrieve a teleportation wand, which she used to start teleporting the contents of the cat cafe back to the Amazon Village. Looking out the window at Nerima forlornly as Soun chased Genma-panda Cologne muttered, "I will miss this place," as she continued to teleport things away.

********************

A little later Soun stood over the unconscious form of Genma-panda smirking as he held a large and almost completely broken wooden mallet. Pulling a kettle of hot water out of nowhere Soun poured its contents on the panda before tying his old friend up and dragging him back to his dojo. 'Saki was always your weakness Genma-kun,' Soun chuckled to himself as he reminisced about the good old days feeling better than he had in ages.

********************

As Ranma, Akane and Kasumi left the dimensional training hall a couple of hours before dinner was to be served they found Ranko sitting cross-legged near the entrance to the Tendo dojo's training hall.

"Ranko?" Ranma questioned as he noticed that his sister seemed solid.

Ranko's response to this was to tell her brother about the letter she had written to Madame RelOrt, the reply she had received, and the fact that their mother had extended an invitation to the mysterious creator of the Cursed Springs who had already accepted and would be arriving in about two hours.

Kasumi's reply to this was to blush and run off to start making dinner.

Ranma's response was to mutter something about old ghouls and his crazy life, which caused both Ranko and Akane to laugh before they all walked back into the house and into the tearoom where Nodoka was tapping her katana impatiently.

"Where's your father it's not like him to missing any time around dinner," Nodoka commented.

"He..." Ranma began to say only be interrupted by the arrival of a still smirking Soun dragging Genma in.

"...had bit too much to drink and made some rude comments and that earned him a mallet to the skull," Soun said as he dragged his friend off still smirking.

Shaking her head Nodoka walked off mumbling something about baka pandas.

The only reply Ranma, Akane, and Ranko gave to this was to chuckle before they sat down.

About an hour and 45 minutes later Nabiki walked in smiling like the cat that ate the canary. She was followed by Soun who was also smiling at Nodoka who was literally dragging Genma in by his ear. Behind them was Kasumi who was carrying dinner.

A few moments later the seen of the Tendos and Saotomes getting ready for dinner was interrupted when a huge flash of light occurred next to the koi pond as the very fabric of reality distorted.

After a fabric of reality snapped back into place and the light faded away, everyone found themselves looking at a woman. A woman that wore a bright red tube top, a pair of orange slacks, and a long light forest green cape that came over her shoulders. In addition, the cape was open enough to reveal that it had a royal purple lining. Her distinguishing features were her height which was six feet even, long sky blue hair, and a set of piercing Emerald green eyes which showed even to the most inexperienced that she was far far older than she looked. In addition, whoever the woman was she was quite muscular and had a build that was a combination of a classical Amazon warrior and a supermodel. Strangely, the fact the woman was muscular didn't seem to detract anything from her beauty considering her extremely large build enabled her to 'wear' that muscle as if it hardly was even present. Even stranger was the fact the woman had an elegance and force of will that surpassed that of anyone all gathered had ever felt in their lives.

Looking around for a brief moment the woman said, "I am Madame RelOrt of the third royal house Avalon, Master Magi, and progenitor and guardian of the cursed springs of Jusenkyo."

The only reply all gathered gave to the appearance of the woman was to nervously stare. The powerful Madame RelOrt noticed this immediately of course and demanded to know what was going on. Kasumi of course responded by walking off and returning a short time later with a photo of her mother. The only response Madame RelOrt gave to the photo was a raised eyebrow as she returned it to Kasumi.

"Most interesting," Madame RelOrt finally said before turning to Ranko who was looking quite nervous. Madame RelOrt's reply to this was to smile warmly. "Come here Ranko-kun."

Ranko's reply to this was to nervously walk over to Madame RelOrt who got down on one knee and looked into Ranko eyes as she ran a hand across Ranko's cheek.

"Life and everything that comes with it is nothing to be afraid of, Ranko-kun," Madame RelOrt said soothingly.

"I'm not afraid," Ranko snapped weekly.

"Fear takes many forms wild child," Madame RelOrt replied as she stood up and took a few steps away from Ranko. "Now are you ready?"

"...but I thought you needed a day," Ranko squeaked out.

"It would've taken me a day to adjust the spell to you by only reading the residual ki you left on the letter you mailed me. However by reading your ki directly adjusting the spell takes no more than a second or two," Madame RelOrt replied.

"Oh," Ranko answered before turning around and looking at Ranma who's only reply was one of his cocky smirks. Ranko's response to this was to develop a smirk on her own before turning back to Madame RelOrt and nodding once.

Madame RelOrt's reply to this was to smirk before she started to cast a spell, which she finished seconds later causing Ranko to be engulfed in a column of light that was accompanied by sound akin to thunder. As the column of light faded away, it revealed Ranko who was shaking badly. A few seconds later Ranko screamed causing every small object within 10 feet of Ranko to shoot off like shrapnel as larger rocks began to float into the air. Then as quickly as it started, it stopped leaving the rocks to fell to the ground as Ranko started to hyper-ventilate before she collapsed. Madame RelOrt replied to this by leaning down and placing her hand on Ranko's forehead.

"A Psi explosion nothing to worry about, but it will disable your telekinetic ability for a few days," Madame RelOrt said as she helped Ranko —who was mumbling something about headaches— to stand.

"Imouto you okay?" Ranma asked as he ran up and steadied Ranko.

"Yeah but I think I'm..." Ranko said before being interrupted by growling sound.

"Hungry," Ranma said with a chuckle.

"Yeah," Ranko said with a chuckle of her own as Ranma helped her to the tea table while Madame RelOrt followed her cape and heavy boots vanishing as she entered the tearoom.

Looking around the mysterious Magi noticed a place to sit down next to Soun and so did so. Much to Soun's discomfort who was sweating not only at the mysterious Madame RelOrt's resemblance to his departed wife but also the fact she even behaved like her. To say nothing of the look he was currently receiving from the mysterious Magi. Soun's nervous glances at the mysterious Magi however were interrupted when Kasumi started serving dinner.

********************

Later after dinner, we find Ranma, Akane, Ranko, Kasumi and Nabiki sitting in the training hall.

"The resemblance both physical and in the way she acts is uncanny," Nabiki said in her usual analytical tone of voice.

"Yeah spooky isn't it," Ranko commented as she absently tried to get comfortable with her new state of being.

"Spooky isn't the word," Ranma commented. "Her ki is almost exactly identical to Mrs. T's," Ranma added a moment later.

"So is her presence although she feels a lot older than mom does," Nabiki muttered causing Ranma to look at her with a blank look. "Akane isn't the only one around here with psychic powers Ranma," Nabiki said in reply to Ranma's look.

Ranma's reply to this was to nod before standing. "I'm going to go talk to your mom at the graveyard," Ranma said simply before leaving.

********************

"Mrs. Tendo!" Ranma yelled loud enough to wake the dead as he approached Mrs. Tendo's grave marker.

"Yes what is it Ranma," Mrs. Tendo said as she yawned and hoped down from a nearby tree.

Ranma's only response to this was to tell Mrs. Tendo what had happened earlier.

"I normally stay away from the dojo but this demands I go," Mrs. Tendo said with more than a bit of steel in her voice.

Ranma's only response to this was to nod his head before the two left.

********************

As Ranma and Mrs. Tendo arrived at the dojo they found Madame RelOrt singing as she floated above the koi pond while Soun sat on the porch just outside of the tea room nearby blushing and crying as he looked between the mysterious Madame RelOrt and a photograph. Seeing this Mrs. Tendo proved that Akane was her daughter as she attacked in a jealous rage. Seeing the enraged spirit out of corner of her eye Madame RelOrt merely dogged out of away, raised an eyebrow and fired off some kind of containment spell that bound Mrs. Tendo.

"Who are you?!" Mrs. Tendo demanded as she struggled against the energy rings around her.

The mysterious Magi's only reply to this was to drop the rings that were binding Mrs. Tendo and say something in a language that neither Soun —who was wanting to know what the hell is going on— or Ranma knew causing both to pause.

Mrs. Tendo's reply to this was to pale as she stuttered out, "YOU ... YOU were the one in my memory!!"

"Yes I was," Madame RelOrt said as she walked over to Mrs. Tendo.

"Who am I?" Mrs. Tendo demanded.

As she began to glow with a powerful yet gentle light that revealed Mrs. Tendo's presence to Soun the mysterious Magi said "You are an Avatar; a fragment of my soul given life by yourself. However because I wasn't able to complete the ritual of your creation you became completely lost to me, having only enough power to sustain a body for 10 years," as she reached out and stroked Mrs. Tendo's cheek as the rest of the inhabitants of the dojo gathered behind Soun

Hearing this Mrs. Tendo almost collapsed onto the ground.

"I'm no more..."

Interrupting as she shook her head the mysterious Magi said, "You are very much whole as are your memories, your feelings, and your family."

Looking up at Madame RelOrt, Mrs. Tendo asked, "What now?"

"A merger, a power transfer, a binding, or nothing at all; the choice is up to you," Madame RelOrt replied.

Turning to her family Mrs. Tendo asked, "Tell me of each of them."

"A merger is just that our consciousnesses will merge into one and you will become as much me as I will become you. A power transfer will enable you to draw enough power from me to sustain a body. A binding will allow you to draw power and pull knowledge and memory from me, which is what an Avatar is supposed to be able to do."

Not taking her eyes off her family Mrs. Tendo smiled sadly and said, "I have had my time to live and love. It was a wonderful time but I have to return."

The responses that were given to this statement were those of stunned silence.

Standing and turning to face Madame RelOrt Mrs. Tendo said, "Merger."

"Very well," Madame RelOrt said as the glow around her intensified to a blinding light that lasted for a full minute.

Once the light subsided, the figure of Madame RelOrt stood alone by the koi pond eyes closed.

Those watching nervously waited for what would happen next.

"Are you ok ... hmm," Ranko asked nervously.

"Hishizuka, you may call me Hishizuka, Ranko-kun," Hishizuka said before turning to the Tendos who were all looking at her with an undeniable expression of confusion. Hishizuka's only reply to this was to start singing. The response that was gained from this was that all of the Tendos started crying quietly.

"Are you our mother or not?" Nabiki asked.

"Yes and I am also Madame RelOrt," Hishizuka replied simply before looking at Soun and smiling. Soun's reply to this was to start sweating as he backed away.

'I wonder if she's more aggressive in bed now that she's part of an ancient Magi,' Soun thought to himself before realizing the small fact that's probably where his wife's aggression had come from. Soun response to this was to scurry off as quickly as he could.

This left Akane and Nabiki stare at Hishizuka until they her Kasumi giggling.

"Oneechan?" Akane questioned.

Kasumi's only reply was to smile and say, "Welcome home Okaasan," as she bowed to Hishizuka.

Akane's reply to this was to nervously stare at Hishizuka while Nabiki just raised an eyebrow.

Hishizuka's only reply to Nabiki's raised eyebrow was to smirk and pull out a large gemstone which she tossed to Nabiki who looked at the gemstone for a moment before almost falling over in shock.

"This weighs at least a kilo!" Nabiki screamed.

"1 and 1/2 actually," Hishizuka replied.

"How!"

"Now now Nabiki-chan you know that's not the way the game is played," Hishizuka smirked.

Looking up at Hishizuka Nabiki smirked in return before saying, "Ok, Okaachan," and walking off with Kasumi.

"What was that stone?" Genma asked curiously.

"A diamond," Hishizuka replied causing Genma to start salivating however before he got more then three inches he found a katana at his throat and under his wife's steel like glare. Genma's response to this was to nervously back away and sit down.

Nodoka's response to this was to drive her katana into the porch next to Genma before sitting down next to him.

Seeing this Ranko chuckled and said, "I wouldn't try to that much money away from Nabiki anyway, Oyaji.

"Why?" Genma asked as he nervously looked at his wife.

"She's likely to make sure you never get another drop of Saki in your life," Ranko replied with a smirk.

Genma's reply to this was to suddenly become paler then a ghost before he fainted in pure horror.

"Good one Imouto," Ranma said with a smile.

"Agreed and I'll have to remember that threat myself," Nodoka said as she looked at Genma whose face was contorted in total and utter fear. A moment later Nodoka picked up her katana followed by her husband and then left saying only that she wished to talk to Hishizuka later that evening.

"Akane a moment with you alone," Hishizuka said before walking off with Akane.

"You okay Imouto?" Ranma asked his sister.

"Yeah and I'm going to enjoy life," Ranko said with a smirk as she winked at her brother.

"Good," Ranma replied before walking off.

********************

As Akane walked into the training hall she was already feeling way beyond nervous and that nervousness only increased when she turned around to find Hishizuka who she still wasn't very sure about holding the letter she had mailed yesterday. Akane's response to this was to back away nervously. Hishizuka however just sat down and ran her hand through her long sky blue hair as she tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"If I'm guessing right you want a transformation to complement Ranma's," Hishizuka finally said. "However your overlooking 3 important facts. First, if you do this now it will cause Ranma to feel he has to develop femininely both quickly and in a certain way. Second, you still haven't recovered from your emotional blowout and split personality. Lastly you need to develop a strong sense of self before I will even consider casting the necessary spells."

Akane's reply to this was to bite her lip as she shamefully looked to the ground.

"I didn't think," Akane finally murmured.

"I know most that find out there both in spirit either try to deny it completely or immediately seek out a way to become both. All without thinking of the consequences to themselves or anyone around them," Hishizuka replied. "There both perfectly natural reactions albeit the latter is much rarer," Hishizuka continued as Akane looked up at her.

"Oh," Akane said rather distantly before walking off leaving Hishizuka alone until Ranma-chan nervously walked in.

"As I said before Ranma you need to define what being male and female means to you and you alone," Hishizuka said.

"How?" Ranma-chan asked timidly

Shaking her head and exasperation Hishizuka stood turned around to face Ranma-chan and said, "You can start by being your self," in a very stern and commanding voice. However, seconds later Hishizuka's features softened as she looked into Ranma-chan's eyes. "...but you don't know who you really are beyond martial arts do you."

"No," Ranma-chan replied.

Hishizuka's response to this was to shake her head and look at Ranma-chan as she pondered what to do and say.

"Is there any kind of magic you could do?" Ranma-chan asked.

"Magic that alters personality is very dangerous Ranma," Hishizuka said while being mildly surprise that Ranma would even suggest something like that.

"Can't be any more dangerous than the Neko-ken," Ranma-chan said flatly.

"Neko-ken?" Hishizuka said with a raised eyebrow. "Don't tell me your father actually used..." Hishizuka added before noticing Ranma-chan's raised eyebrow. Shaking her head Hishizuka muttered something rather unpleasant in a language Ranma guessed was probably what used in the farthest reaches of the of the Abyss considering how nasty it sounded. Turning around Hishizuka continued to shake her head before saying, "Compared to the Neko-ken; no personality altering spells aren't dangerous. Now I want you to tell me why you even thought something like that?"

"Well I'm no expert on this kind of stuff but seeing a shrink about it probably isn't a good idea," Ranma-chan said as she sat down.

Chuckling Hishizuka only nodded as she to sat down. "Ranma, magic isn't a cure all and I have never in all of my life seen a time that personality altering magic didn't do harm in the end."

Shrugging Ranma-chan replied, "Can't be any worse then pop's crap."

"It can but not by much," Hishizuka replied before looking at Ranma. "What do you want from a spell that would alter your personality?"

"I don't know and that's sort of the problem. I know what to do when it comes to the art but I just don't know anything else but it. I guess I want something to make things makes sense something."

"You want experience in a bottle," Hishizuka said with something between a smile and a frown.

"Yeah," Ranma-chan said with a very disdainful look. "I guess I do."

Smiling Hishizuka said, "You have a wisdom beyond your years for not wanting something like that handed to you on a platter."

"If there's one thing pop ever taught me that was true its that you earn power and experience," Ranma-chan said as she stood up straight.

"Well I guess the panda does have a redeeming feature," Hishizuka commented with a noticeable amount of mirth.

"Pop's just baka not evil," Ranma-chan said rather absently before turning to Hishizuka who was looking thoughtful.

"A remembrance spell, A truth spell, an anti self illusion spell, and about 50 or so mental stability spells," Hishizuka said after a moment.

"Huh?" Ranma-chan replied.

"A grouping of spells that will if you agree to will not only help you define your self but give you the experience you need. However during this time you will be emotionally broken and re-broken time and time again but mental stability spells will stop you going insane," Hishizuka explained.

"Sounds like one of Pop's more sane ideas," Ranma-chan commented with a half smirk before shrugging and nodding her head.

"Ok ...and I'll clean up the mess the Neko-ken made of your mind while I'm at it," Hishizuka said before starting to cast a spell.

"...and while you're at it you might as well rewire the transformation so I can change by myself."

********************

About 10 minutes later, Hishizuka left the training hall and sealed it using a spell that bared entry and silenced the horrible inhuman screaming coming from inside the training hall before turning around to find the inhabitants of the Tendo dojo staring at her with mixed expressions on their faces.

"It will be over by morning," Hishizuka said stoically before walking off followed closely by Nodoka who of course demanded know what she had done to her son this time. Hishizuka's only reply to this was to turn and face Nodoka with a look that could make gods tremble in fear. "I have done nothing but listen and help as requested. YOU on the other hand have done NOTHING but HURT your child. First, by letting him be taken away by Genma. Second by that contract you hold him to and lastly by your inability to care for him as a real mother does," Hishizuka said in a voice so frigid the air temperature dropped to subzero levels before projecting a few of Ranma's horrific memories into Nodoka's mind. Nodoka of course crumpled to the ground and screamed because of this. Hishizuka's only reply was to Teleport Nodoka upstairs as she muttered something rather unpleasant.

A moment or two later Hishizuka materialized a large bottle of 'something' and took a drink before saying, "No one that isn't at least 250 deserves to have been through so many horrific things."

********************

'250!!' Genma mentally muttered as he walked upstairs after spying on Hishizuka. "I'm a monster don't deserve to live," Genma said woodenly as he sat down next to his wife who was crying quietly.

"We're both monsters," Nodoka squeaked out.

"We should leave forever," Genma said to which Nodoka only nodded before hearing this sound of somebody's knuckles popping.

"Neither of you are going anywhere," Ranko said dangerously as she gave her parents a look that was dangerous to say the least.

"b..."

********************

Meanwhile in just outside the training hall we find Akane sitting alone contemplating what her mother had said, and her experiences within her own shattered mind. Shaking her head Akane muttered an apology to Ranma as tears started to stream down her face. About an hour, later sleep finally overcame Akane.

********************

As Ranma-chan opened her eyes next morning, she absently looked up before taking up a standard meditation pose. As Ranma-chan meditated on what had happened last night. The events of the previous night were best summarized by saying that she relived her own life with a forced clarity that tore her to shreds emotionally more than 250 times. In the end however Ranma-chan had gained the experience she desired and knew she could began to find out who she was an how to define what being a man and woman meant. Opening his eyes after transforming Ranma stood up and walked off to take a bath before getting ready for school.

However as Ranma stepped out side the training room, he found Akane sleeping.

Smiling Ranma shook Akane awake.

"Morning tomboy," Ranma said with a smile surprising Akane greatly.

"Ranma?" Akane questioned.

"Yeah," Ranma said with a smile before walking off Akane following as quickly as she could.

"Are you okay?" Akane asked as she finally caught up with Ranma

Ranma's reply to this was to stop before nodding, "For the first time perhaps in my life yes. I've mastered all that I know of the art. I've been through the hellish experience of having been forced to relive my life in every detail without being able to hide behind anything while having all of my mental barriers stripped away from me. I have control over my transformation. I'm no longer hiding behind a façade of manliness. I'm starting to learn who I AM and what I WANT," Ranma said in a voice that was as calm as an ocean breeze. This of course completely stunned Akane so much so, that when Ranma walked off Akane barely registered it.

********************

A little while later breakfast was served. Ranma and Ranko stole food from Genma. Kasumi smiled happily, as she politely ate her food. Nodoka as usual quietly ate her meal. Soun read his paper while munching on his meal at a leisurely pace while Hishizuka ate a meal that was large enough to satisfy even Ranma. Nabiki as usual was toying with her abacus as she wondered exactly how much she could get for the diamond her mother had given her. Akane as usual sat next to Ranma and ate at her usual pace while wondering why in the world Ranma had made her wear one at his standard outfits.

However Akane was keenly —unusually so actually— aware of certain facts: Genma didn't seem to be trying all that hard to defend his food from either of his children. Ranma was smiling and laughing as he expertly stole food from his father. Ranko seemed to be completely over her nervousness. Kasumi's smile was a lot brighter than usual. Her father was ...well actually he was acting normally. Nabiki however was smiling like an oni. Her mother was ... well according to Kasumi having a small breakfast. She herself wasn't angry at Ranma not that she was complaining about not being angry at Ranma but Ranma had been acting almost sickeningly cheerful ever since he woke up. Then there was Nodoka who looked even more subdued then Genma.

********************

A little while later after breakfast had been finished we find Ranma, Akane, and Ranko walking along to school. Ranma as usual was walking along the fence tops. However, he had been joined by Ranko who was balancing with moderate effort. Strangely, however Akane was also walking along the fence tops albeit with great effort and considerable help and coaching from Ranma who had shifted into a near classical sensei frame of mind.

'Well at least I know why he had me wear this outfit today,' Akane mused to herself as she concentrated on the fence below her.

"Hmm, guys I think we've got a problem," Ranko said causing both Akane and Ranma to look up and see disturbingly familiar site of the horde of hentai gathered just inside the gates of Furinkan.

"What in the name of the kami is going on," Akane cursed as she tensed up.

Steadying Akane, Ranma scowled as he said, "I'll bet a hundred yen they're going to go after Imouto," in a venomous tone of voice as he started to glow with rage. Seeing this Akane and Ranko hopped down off of the fence as the air around Ranma began to shimmer like heat rising from the surface of the desert on a hot day.

A moment later Ranma growled viscerally as he hopped off the fence and walked towards the gates of Furinkan.

"I think Oniichan's pissed," Ranko whispered to Akane as she pointed to the asphalt street Ranma was walking across.

Akane's only reply to this was to give Ranko a 'you have got to be kidding me' look before she and Ranko walked across the street avoiding where Ranma had walked. The reason for this was simple considering the asphalt in that particular part of the street had melted.

********************

As Ranma stepped through the gates of Furinkan still glowing with rage he said, "What is going on here?"

Hearing Ranma the hentai horde turned to Ranma and attacked shouting something along lines of beat Ranma to get a date with Ranko.

"Kogasu Kaza!!!" Ranma screamed as he projected his blistering hot aura at the hentai horde whose suddenly found the air around them scorchingly hot. The smarter students held their breath and ran off their skin singed enough to give them a heat rash. The dumber ones however, inhaled and immediately screamed in silent agony as their lungs were filled with air that was at least 500 degrees. Luckily, for the dumber ones the heat from Ranma's attack dissipated quickly enough that no damage would be done to anything but their skin, which would be tender for the next week or so. However, the dumber ones still crumbled to the ground coughing violently as they tried to breathe. Ranma's only response to this was to look up at Nabiki who only nodded before vanishing into her classroom. This left Ranma, Akane and Ranko to enter the school.

********************

As Ranma, Ranko, and Akane entered the classroom they where they meet with a myriad of looks.

"So it's true you really did get brought back from the dead," Yuka finally said as the three sat down.

"Yep," Ranko said with a smirk before looking at her brother who glaring at a convenient wall.

"Whose idea was it?" Ranma finally stated.

"I'm sure Nabiki will find out Oniichan," Ranko said with a nasty smirk.

"Good point, Imouto," Ranma said before several very red students entered followed by Mrs. Hinako who was in adult form and holding familiar goldfish bowl.

Putting down her goldfish on her desk Miss Hinako turned to the blackboard and started to write in preparation of beginning class.

********************

A little while later we find Nabiki sitting alone in an empty classroom tapping her fingers as she glowed with a dim aura.

Looking up as several lackeys entered Nabiki said, "Bring me Ken Ikari."

Nabiki's lackeys responded to this by nodding and running off to do just that.

A few moments later a student dressed in kendo grab was shoved into the room.

Leaning back in her chair Nabiki fixed her gaze on the student in front of her.

"You know I didn't believe the rumors you were stupid enough to try and organize everyone into a mob just so you could 'rescue' someone and then take advantage of them Ikari, but I do now, and unfortunately for you I don't much like your kind," Nabiki said with a frigid tone of voice.

Ken's reply to this was to lock the door, laugh and say, "I'll enjoy popping you bitch."

Nabiki's only reply to this was to raise an eyebrow before Ken charged her. Moving at least three times faster than her attacker Nabiki dodged easily landing some distance away from Ken in a casual stance as she leaned against a wall.

"Honestly Ikari you have less sense then Kunou if you think you can even touch me," Nabiki said with her usual poise.

Ikari's response to this was to charge angrily. Nabiki's only reply to this was to dodge leaving Ikari's kick to hit the wall. Unfortunately, for the foolish kendoist his kick was nowhere near as strong as the wall and so he bounced off of it crashing into a few desks in the process. Lying on the floor in a prone position Ikari looked up just in time to see Nabiki's foot come crashing down in a very well placed kick to a very vulnerable part of his anatomy.

********************

About a minute later Nabiki left the empty classroom to find her lackeys waiting.

"Dispose of the trash in an appropriate part of town," Nabiki said coolly as she walked by two very strong looking soccer players and towards her classroom pausing only to hand Taichi a small packet.

"Will do, boss," Nabiki heard Taichi say with a dark chuckle.

Nabiki's response to this was to pull a nail file out of nowhere and start to tend to her nails.

********************

Later at lunch we find Ranma, Ranko and Akane sitting alone eating lunch when Nabiki walked up to them.

Looking up from his bento Ranma waited for Nabiki to speak.

"The one responsible for this morning's hentai horde and the original hentai horde has been dealt with," Nabiki said before walking off.

Ranma's only response to this was to return to his lunch.

"Ranma?" Akane asked curiously.

"For some reason I really don't want to know what Nabiki meet by 'dealt with'," Ranma answered.

Biting her lip Akane looked at her sister who was conducting business as usual and nodded before returning to her lunch.

A few moments later, the bell signaling the end of lunch was heard.

********************

"We don't want HIS kind in here!!" A female student shouted at Ranko as Ranko and Akane tried to enter the girls' locker room.

Not surprisingly, Ranko's reply to this was to glare at the girl "You have me confused with Ranma," Ranko said icily before she shoved the offending student aside and walked into the locker room.

Akane's reply to this was to look down at the girl Ranko had pushed and say, "Just to let you know, Ranko is extremely protective of Ranma and has a temper almost as bad as mine."

The girl's response to this was to grown as she walked off muttering something about a concussion while she rubbed her head.

Shaking her head Akane walked into the locker room where she found several more girls muttering about concussions.

'Baka,' Akane thought to herself as she shook her head.

********************

Meanwhile in the boy's locker room we find the gym teacher looking at the students in the locker room most of whom were looking like they had severe sunburns considering how red they were.

The gym teacher's only reply to this was to smirk as he mentally commented, 'Saotome put them in their place but good,' as he screamed for his students to get ready quicker while mentally running through a list of exercises that would further the pain of the baka in front of him.

********************

"I swear the gym teacher must have put together that exercise routine just to put those baka through even more pain," Akane commented with a chuckle as she, Ranko and Ranma returned home that day.

Ranma's only reply to this was to laugh along with his sister as they both agreed.

Watching from nearby Nabiki smiled rather sadly as she thought, 'I'm sorry Akane I truly am sorry I tried to drive you and Ranma apart.'

A moment later Nabiki shook her head and headed off towards the hospital.

********************

"Good afternoon Biki how are thee doing?" Kunou queried as Nabiki walked into his hospital room and sat down.

"Quite well Tate, I had a wonderfully profitable day at school today, and my mother is back from the grave in an unusual manner," Nabiki replied calmly.

Kunou's natural response to this was to raise his eyebrow quite high.

Smiling with a surprising warmth Nabiki said, "I'm quite serious Tate and the something for you from my mother," before pulling out a small vile filled with a glowing liquid.

"By what... black arts was this crafted," Kunou said rather uncertainly as he looked at the liquid in the vile which was glowing with a blue white light.

"Not black arts Kunou white arts. It's a powerful healing potion," Nabiki explained.

Kunou's response to Nabiki's explanation was to take the potion with his good arm and start to examine. "Of all of the magic I have ever encountered this potion radiates the most powerful benevolent aura I have ever sensed," Kunou finally muttered.

Raising an eyebrow Nabiki stated, "You can sense magic."

"Yea," Kunou replied simply.

Hearing this Nabiki tapped her fingers and thought, 'So he can sense magic this explains more then a few things,' before Kunou's doctor entered looking at Kunou's medical record.

As soon as Kunou's doctor stopped looking at Kunou's medical record he noticed what Kunou was holding as well as Kunou's visitor.

"Ms. Tendo what is in that vile?" Kunou's doctor queried seriously.

Nabiki unfazed by the doctor's accusing tone replied, "A magical healing potion," with her usual poise.

The doctor's reply to this was to look at Nabiki incredulously.

"Tiss worth a try," Kunou said drawing the doctor's attention to him.

"...but," Kunou's doctor objected.

"Doctor I commend ye on your adherence to ye code but even ye must see that this potion is magical in its nature and if there are any adverse effects from it I am here," Kunou replied.

"Fine but I still object to this," Kunou's doctor answered while knowing he could do nothing to stop his patient from taking the potion he held.

Kunou's only reply to this was to pop cork on the vile and drink it as quickly as he could. Moments later, he felt a flood of almost indescribably wonderful energy; energy that Kunou could feel healing his broken bones and damaged tissues at near instantaneous speed. When the energy finally faded Kunou muttered, "Tiss the energy of life it self," as he found his breath was no longer shallow or painful. A moment later Kunou stood up much to his doctor's chagrin. Seeing this Kunou said, "If ye doubt the potion has done its work cometh here and examine my arm," as he flexed his arm breaking the cast it was in.

Seeing this Kunou's doctor immediately ran over and starting checking Kunou's arm, which to his amazement was completely healed.

"... but ... but... this is impossible," Kunou's doctor stuttered out.

"There are more things in heaven and earth that can be explained by your science good doctor," Nabiki said coyly as she stood up and walked over to Kunou elbowing him in the ribs both to keep him quiet and to shatter the cast around his ribs. "However you're welcome to try," Nabiki added as she pulled out another vile and handed it to the stunned doctor before leaving with Kunou.

********************

Meanwhile across town at Dr. Tofu's clinic we find Ryouga looking up at the ceiling blankly thinking of what he had done to Akane, Ranma and himself because of his obsessive behavior when Dr. Tofu entered.

"Good afternoon Ryouga," Dr. Tofu said as he sat down next to Ryouga.

Ryouga's response to this was to turn his head to face Dr. Tofu.

Shaking his head in response to how Ryouga looked Dr. Tofu said, "So are you doing better then you were yesterday?"

"Not really," Ryouga replied as he turned his attention back to the ceiling.

"Well why don't you go over to the dojo and apologize for what you have done," Dr. Tofu suggested.

"Doc I'm NOT suicidal anymore," Ryouga said as he sat up slowly.

"Good," Dr. Tofu replied as he stood up and added, "... but you're still going to the dojo. However I'll accompany you ... hum that is after I go take a few tranquilizers powerful enough to knock an elephant out."

With that said, Dr. Tofu walked off leaving Ryouga to sweat drop.

********************

Meanwhile at the Tendo dojo with find Hishizuka meditating in the training hall while Soun absently spied on her, wondering what was going on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile in the depths of the ancient Magi's mind we find Madame RelOrt sipping some tea with Mrs. Tendo.

"Why haven't we merged completely?" Mrs. Tendo asked.

"Merging takes time," RelOrt replied as she looked out at the window of minds eye copy of her home.

"How long?" Mrs. Tendo asked curiously.

"10 to 20 years," RelOrt after a few moments of thought before adding, "...and until then we'll behave as we have sense yesterday."

"With the most suited of us 'in the light' whenever a problem arises," Mrs. Tendo answered.

"Something like that," RelOrt replied rather cryptically before both of them looked up.

"Kunou and Ryouga," Mrs. Tendo muttered while wondering what chaos would ensue when they arrived at the dojo.

Chuckling RelOrt only nodded before the mental world they were in started to fade away as they stopped meditating.

********************

As Hishizuka opened her eyes and stood up, she said, "Kunou and Ryouga are coming over," as she walked off leaving Soun routed to the spot for a moment before he decided to grab the panda and head for their favorite bar.

********************

As Hishizuka walked into the tea room she found Ranko snoring lightly as Nodoka rambled on about how she was going to make a proper girl out of Ranko completely missing the fact Ranko had fallen asleep on Kasumi's shoulder.

Seeing this seen Hishizuka coughed rather suspiciously a few times before sitting down and turning her attention to Ranma and Akane who were outside by the koi pond where Ranma was teaching Akane to balance on a small pole that was suspended a few feet over the koi pond. Relaxing herself Hishizuka pulled out an old looking pocket watch and opened it checked the time and closed it and exactly 1 minute and 3 seconds later a scream of, "Vile monster I shall smite ye for such a dishonorable act!!" was heard from Kunou who sounded remarkably clearheaded despite his still archaic mode of speech. This was of course followed by Ryouga crashing through the dojo's perimeter wall quickly followed by Kunou who was using his strike technique as he dodged Ryouga with speed that while not anywhere near the level of Ranma was still to fast for Kunou to hit Ryouga. The reason for this was the combination of Kunou's limited speed, which was approximately equal to that of Ryouga and his constant strike attack, which left Ryouga unable to let down his defense's long enough to do anything. Ryouga's superhuman endurance however allowed him to absorb the blows with next to no damage even though he couldn't fight back.

"Stop right now, Tatewaki, and no buts!" Nabiki bellowed as she walked into view with Dr. Tofu —who was half asleep— causing Kunou to do just that.

"Na..." Kunou protested only to be silenced by a piercing gaze from Nabiki.

"While what you did may've be the honorable thing to do Kunou-baby it is up to my sister and her fiancé what happens to him not you," Nabiki said icily causing Kunou to wince.

"I apologize," Kunou said with a bow.

Shaking her head Nabiki muttered something under breath before turning to Ranma and Akane who were staring at Kunou with varying degrees of shock.

"Kunou unlike most everyone else gets amnesia when somebody breaks his ribs. Now if you'll excuse me I have to have a word with my baka," Nabiki said before glaring at Kunou and dragging him off with no more than that glare.

"Damn when did Kunou learn to dodge," Ryouga muttered to himself before turning around to find himself facing Akane who was smiling. Ryouga's response to this was to nervously chuckle a few times before looking at Ranma who just shook his head and turned around. "Now Akane will you at least lis..." Ryouga stuttered out as he backed away from Akane.

However, Ryouga was interrupted by Kasumi saying, "What are you doing here Dr. Tofu?"

This simple statement naturally caused everyone that knew about Dr. Tofu's reaction to Kasumi to take cover. From behind their cover —whatever it was— everyone waited for another classic Dr. Tofu seen to begin.

However, the second Dr. Tofu —who was still half-asleep— noticed Kasumi he started blushing feverishly which naturally caused Kasumi to become concerned for his health. This was naturally followed by Kasumi gently dragging the doctor away so she could tend to him. In addition, everyone noticed that Dr. Tofu was acting half way normally.

A few moments later everyone let out a deep sigh of relief and Akane turned back to Ryouga and said, "Now where were we ... oh right I was about beet the crap out of you again," before yelling and starting to do just that.

As Ranma walked back into the tearoom Ranko commented, "Anyone got some popcorn this going take a while?"

Hishizuka's reply to this was to snap her fingers, which materialized a bowl of popcorn for everyone present.

********************

"You are really a baka Tate. I told you not to do anything like that before we got here," Nabiki said with a glare.

"Thou toldest me not to do anything pertaining to Akane and her fiancé. I did not know that cur was speaking of her," Kunou replied after summoning as much of his courage as he could under Nabiki's glare.

Rubbing her left temple Nabiki muttered something under her breath before saying, "Stay here I'll be right back," after which she walked back to the tea room where she found everyone watching Akane practicing American football with the old pigskin, which happened to be P-chan. 'It serves the butterball right,' Nabiki mentally commented before turning to her mother and stating, "Okaachan I need your help with my baka."

Hishizuka replied to this was to nod before walking off with Nabiki.

Seeing this —and not wanting to see Ryouga mutilated— Ranma decided to follow Nabiki and her mother quietly. Once the two arrived in the training hall Hishizuka cast a small spell on Kunou after which he blinked a few times before he started looking very green and a moment later, he ran off presumably to find some place to lose his lunch.

Ranma's reply to this was to shrug his shoulders and walk into the training hall where Nabiki was smirking.

"Excuse me I have to deflate his ego even further," Nabiki said before walking off.

"Does she get that from you?" Ranma asked curiously.

"Not entirely," Hishizuka replied rather mysteriously before she walked off.

'I'm not going to ask,' Ranma thought to himself.

********************

As Ryouga awoke, he found a seemingly familiar redhead sitting next to him. However, Ryouga had serious doubts that the redhead that was glaring at him was Ranma-chan.

"So you finally woke up," the redhead said as she cracked her knuckles

"Ranma?" Ryouga asked uncertainly as he tried to back away.

"I'm Ranko, Ranma's sister and I'm not very happy with you," Ranko replied in an icy tone of voice that made Ryouga feel like someone had replaced his blood with ice water.

"How not happy," Ryouga asked nervously.

Ranko's only reply to this was to pull out what appeared to be a very dull and rusty tanto.

Ryouga, suddenly finding himself energized with great vigor ran off as fast as he could —and through an ill placed wall.

Smirking Ranko said, "It's going to be fun toying with that pig's mind," before walking off to find Ryouga who had been cornered by Akane. "I have a dull tanto do you want to borrow it?" Ranko asked as she walked up beside Akane.

"No I have my own," Akane said with a smirk as she produced said implement.

"Can't we talk this over?" Ryouga stuttered out.

"What's to talk about? You took advantage of me. You used Ranma's word of honor against him. You lied about him. You lived in a fantasy world were you could do no wrong but were in fact doing everything wrong," Akane said coolly before she and Ranko charged.

Seeing this Ryouga snapped his eyes shut, and waited for the inevitable excruciating pain that was coming. However, a moment later he was yanked out of the way just before two tantos were to skewer him. Opening his eyes Ryouga found that his savior was Ranma who was laughing and demanding a fight. Ryouga's reply to this was to look at Ranma with a totally unbelieving look before looking over his shoulder.

What he found their was Akane and Ranko who's eyes he swore were glowing red —along with the rest of them. Deciding not to look a gift wild horse in the mouth Ryouga quickly agreed to fight Ranma. After all, it had to be less painful then facing Akane and Ranko.

********************

'Then again,' Ryouga thought to himself as he stood above what appeared to be a volcano that was about to erupt and if that wasn't enough Ranma was bouncing around as if nothing was wrong. "Where in hell are we supposed to be!!" Ryouga finally shouted.

"The first level of the abyss of molten rock," was reply the small stuffed animal that was perched on a nearby rock gave.

Ryouga's replied to this was to sweat drop. However, considering how hot it was that sweat drop evaporated almost instantly.

"Come on Ryouga I thought you had seen hell all ready," Ranma said with a smirk.

"Not this kind of hell!!" Ryouga bellowed.

"Oh so was it a frigid hell with raging winds and 40 degree below temperatures?" Ranma asked curiously causing Ryouga to blink rather owlishly as he shook his head. "Then what kind of hell have you seen?" Ranma asked curiously.

Hearing this question Ryouga started screaming about the hell Ranma had put him through: The long cold nights in the middle of some forest, the wild animals stalking him, having to hunt for food just to survive, never knowing where he was.

"Oh!! The hell of training!" Ranma said causing Ryouga to facefault exceptionally hard.

"YOU CALL THAT TRAINING," Ryouga bellowed his eyes easily showing his disbelief.

"Well light training anyhow," Ranma said absently. "...and I haven't done anything that light sense before the Neko-ken."

Hearing this statement Ryouga started looking a bit frayed.

"So what did you do after the Neko-ken?" Ryouga queried rather shakily.

Ranma's response to this was to tell Ryouga about the daily drudgery of training under his father. A minute into Ranma's recounting of his daily life Ryouga turned an interesting shade of green before throwing up and running as he thought, 'I said I would send him to hell because of what he did to me but he's already been through a far worse hell then I ever have.'

"What do you wish me to do?" Gato asked Ranma.

"Let him be for the moment," Ranma replied.

********************

"Well I'll be the doc is actually starting to act sane," Ranko muttered as she and Akane hid just outside the kitchen where Kasumi was taking care of Dr. Tofu.

"Will the miracles ever cease," Akane commented.

"Not around this ward," Ranko replied rather sarcastically.

Smiling Akane only nodded.

********************

Meanwhile up stairs we find Nabiki smirking at a rather deflated looking Tatewaki.

"Well if you can't come up with a way to make reparations by your self Kunou-baby I have a way for you to," Nabiki said as her smirk grew.

Tatewaki's reply to this was to gulp considering the look on Nabiki's face meant that his wallet getting lighter was the least of his worries.

********************

Meanwhile a fair distance away from the dojo we find Soun and Genma walking along the streets of Nerima.

"We've both made horrific mistakes in raising our children," Soun said sadly to which Genma nodded in silent agreement. "However for some unexplainable reason they all still care for us."

"How can you..." Genma bellowed only to be interrupted by Soun's glare.

"Ranma and your newly resurrected daughter could have let you shish kebab your self Genma but they didn't," Soun said in a dangerous tone of voice before looking away. A moment later Soun sighed deeply as he added, "Now is a time of second chances and life is moving on even for us and I for one have decided not to squander the second chance I've been given."

Genma's response to this was to sigh deeply as he said, "It's to late for me."

The response that was gained from this statement was a beautiful get hearty laugh from behind the 2. Spinning around they found they were being followed by Hishizuka.

"To late Genma? It is hardly to late when you have most of your life ahead you," Hishizuka said as she leaned against a nearby wall.

"That's easy for someone like you to say what are you 100, 200, 500, a 1000?!!" Genma demanded.

Looking up into the sky Hishizuka responded by saying, "A lot older than a 1000 and you're quite right it is quite easy for someone like me to say, but what I said still stands."

Hearing this Genma shook his head and walked off mumbling something about needing a drink.

"Follow him dear and make sure he gets home," Hishizuka said before walking off.

"I was planning on it," Soun said as he smiled and walked off.

********************

"Hell has nothing on his life," Ryouga said to himself as he looked out on an open field somewhere in Ranma's new training hall.

"Now I wouldn't say that the depths of the abyss are quite nasty," Ranma said as he walked up.

"Why don't you hate me?" Ryouga asked.

"Probably the same reason I don't hate Pop, Kunou, Kodachi, or anyone else," Ranma said with a shrug.

Hearing this Ryouga started to look very frayed.

"Besides hate and revenge never lead to anything but more hate and revenge," Ranma added as he sat down.

Ryouga's response to this was look off at the horizon and nod slowly.

"So up for a fight, p-chan?" Ranma asked with one of his trademark smirks.

"No," Ryouga replied causing Ranma to blink. "Not till I short my self out," Ryouga added before standing up.

Summoning the gateway to the dojo Ranma said, "Well drop by any time you want," as he stood up.

Ryouga's reply to this was to look at Ranma incredulously before shaking his head and running through portal while hoping that Ranko and Akane were doing something else.

Chuckling to himself Ranma stepped through the gateway and mentally closed it before walking off to talk to Ranko and Akane who he found spying on Dr. Tofu and Kasumi.

"I want to talk to the both of you right now," Ranma said in a rather stern tone of voice, which naturally surprised both Ranko and Akane.

********************

"So Oniichan what do you want?" Ranko asked curiously as she and Akane sat down in the middle of the training hall.

"I what both of you to stop chasing Ryouga around with dull tantos and give him a second chance," Ranma said simply.

"WHY!!" Ranko demanded.

"Because I'm asking you to," Ranma replied as if what he was asking was the most natural thing in the world.

Both Ranko and Akane's reply to this was to start looking frayed.

"You've got to be kidding," was Ranko's response to her brother's reason.

Ranma's response to this was to shake his head and say, "Hate only leads to more hate and hate only leads to destruction," before he left.

"Sometimes I wonder what kind of baka he is," Ranko said as she looked upward.

Akane's response to this was to nod before saying, "So do we forgive Ryouga?"

Ranko's response to this was to get up and start pacing around before shouting, "I've got it we give him a quest!!"

"How?"

"Easy we ask the insanely powerful magi that happens to be your mom," Ranko said with a smile that me Akane feel sorry Ryouga ... for all of 5 nanoseconds after which she smiled and ran off with Ranko.

********************

Ranma who had been watching Ranko and Akane from the shadows of the training hall wondered if he should follow for a moment before deciding Hishizuka would make sure things didn't get out of hand and so left his hiding place, and started to walk off. However, before he got very far Kunou was seen approaching with Nabiki who was wearing a very piercing look.

Ranma's response to this was to stop and wait for Kunou to make the first move.

The move Kunou made was to kneel in front of Ranma and say, "I owe ye an apology, Saotome-sama."

Shaking his head Ranma replied, "After all the times I used the 'pigtailed girl' routine on you I'd say were even," as he walked off.

"Such an odd warrior," Tatewaki said to himself before adding, "I will see thee later Biki," and leaving.

Nabiki's reply to this was to roll her eyes before thinking, 'I think I'll start preparing for the practical joke I have planed. I just hope Okaachan likes practical jokes as much as I do since I used the last of the instant spring I had to deal with Ikari.'

********************

"A quest eh," was Hishizuka's reply to Ranko and Akane's request. "It's classical and very appropriate. I'll begin working on it immediately," Hishizuka added a moment later.

"When your ready call us I want to watch every moment," Ranko said with a evil smirk before getting up and leaving.

"Why is he so forgiving?" Akane asked.

"There are people that just are and Ranma's one of them. However never assume he isn't capable of hate," Hishizuka replied.

Akane's reply to this was to bite her lip nervously before nodding and walking off leaving Hishizuka to close her eyes before Nabiki walked in and said, "Okaachan do you like practical jokes?"

Hishizuka's reply to this was to raise an eyebrow as she kept her eyes close. "What kind of practical joke?"

Nabiki's reply to this was to smirk before she started to explain what her practical joke was.

********************

"I say this is a bad idea," Sayuki said rather testily.

"Oh come on Ranko isn't that bad," Yuka replied as she and Sayuki walked towards the Tendo dojo. "...and neither is Ranma."

Sayuki's reply to this was to roll her eyes as the dojo came into view along with a very familiar red head who was sitting on the fence...with another identical redhead sneaking up on her.

Blinking Sayuki and Yuka just gaped before the two noticed them.

"What are you two doing here??" both redheads asked at the same time.

"We came over to visit," Yuka replied as she looked between the two.

"So who's who?" Sayuki asked.

"You mean you can't tell?" Akane asked as she walked out of the dojo having heard her friends talking to Ranma-chan and Ranko.

"...and you can?!" Yuka replied incredulously as she looked between the two redheads.

"Of course I can tell which of them is my fiancé but if you can't I'm not telling" Akane said mischievously.

"Well what we had planed will definitely pick out the real Ranko," Sayuki said boisterously.

"Oh and what would that be?" both redheads said at the same time as their eyes twinkled as they always did when they sensed a challenge — scaring Sayuki and Yuka who both knew how intense Ranma could be.

"Shopping for clothes!" Yuka said enthusiastically causing both redheads to go white at the same time and Sayuki to grumble about not being able to figure out who Ranma was.

Looking at the two redheads Akane chuckled before saying, "I'll be right back with these two," and dragging the two red heads off.

"Ok," Sayuki replied before looking over at Yuka and saying, "I told you so!"

Yuka's reply to this was to stick her tongue out at Sayuki.

********************

"No no no I don't wanta!!!"

"Why not Imouto you'll need the more than I will," Ranma-chan said with a smirk.

Ranko's reply to this was to glare at her currently female brother before sighing deeply and saying, "It doesn't mean I what to do it," as her voice dropped in pitch to match Ranma's male voice surprising both Akane and Ranma-chan.

"Why?" Akane asked curiously.

"I have my reasons," Ranko replied as she looked up at the room she's shared with her parents.

"It's Mom right?" Ranma-chan asked flatly to which Ranko nodded.

"You don't want to be the kind of girl she wants you to be right," Akane stated.

"Bingo, gaki," Ranko replied.

"Then be what you want to be," Akane answered with a challenging tone causing Ranko's challenge hungry ego to flare.

"As if you're anyone to talk, Gaki!" Ranko shouted before marching off.

Ranma-chan's replied to this was to wink and smile at Akane before running off after her sister. Leaving Akane alone until her mother walked up behind her and whispered something in her ear as she handed Akane a large amount of money.

Akane's reply to this was to smile suspiciously like Nabiki before running off shouting, "Thanks Okaasan!"

"So what did you whisper in her ear?" Nabiki asked as she stepped outside.

"An an outfit that will suit all three of them," Hishizuka responded before cracking her knuckles and conjuring a small magical item which she handed to Nabiki. "This will do as you requested."

Taking the object Nabiki smiled devilishly before walking off with the object.

********************

"Ok we're ready to go," Akane said as she exited the gates to the dojo.

Sayuki responded to this by raising an eyebrow while Yuka jumped up and down, grabbed Ranma-chan and Ranko, and ran off with them.

Akane's reply to this was to sweat drop and say, "I'm glad to see she's still a complete ditz when it comes to shopping."

Sayuki's reply to this was to chuckle before she and Akane started to follow Yuka.

********************

"So that little thing will let us pull this off," Ukyou said as she looked at a small device of some sort.

"Yes and as requested we can activate it from anywhere we please," Nabiki responded as she removed the devices trigger mechanism.

Ukyou's reply to this was to smirk in the same manner Nabiki usually did.

********************

"I can't believe she actually got both of them into that outfit," Yuka muttered as she looked at the outfits Ranma-chan and Ranko were wearing.

"I can't believe she's wearing the same kind of outfit," Sayuki replied as she looked over Akane who was smirking at the two redheads. "I say we leave right now," Sayuki added in a nervous tone of voice a moment later.

"Why?"

"First those three are going to attract even more attention then usual and second I have feeling that we're not going to get out of here without a copy of those outfits on," Sayuki replied.

Yuka's reply to this was to look at her friend with a distinctly disturbing twinkle in her eye and a moment later Sayuki could only squeak as she was dragged off by Yuka.

********************

'I can't believe these two,' Akane thought to herself as she watched Ranma-chan and Ranko shifting uncomfortably in their new and very feminine outfits. 'Although I shouldn't be surprised; Ranma is well Ranma and Ranko's been dead for the last 16 years of her life.'

"This outfit will bug the hell out of mom," Ranko said as her eyes twinkled mischievously.

"...and Oyaji will be bugged 10 times as much," Ranma-chan said as smirk.

"NO WAY YUKA!!" Sayuki screamed as she ran by being closely followed by Yuka.

Blinking Ranma-chan and Ranko looked over at Akane who said, "What did you expect that they would be normal?"

The two redheads replied to this by nodding their heads.

This of course caused Akane to sweat drop until Sayuki and Yuka ran by again causing the sweat drop to grow larger as she also let out a deep sigh.

"Come on we might as well go. Those two won't be done for at least an hour," Akane said with a deep sigh.

********************

"Don't look at me Ranma's had a problem with ice cream since he went through puberty," Ranko said as she and Akane watched a disturbingly cheerful Ranma-chan consuming a virtual mountain of ice cream.

"I truly pity the man that marries Ranko," Sayuki said as she walked up with Yuka.

"Yep the cravings she'll get will drive that man insane," Yuka added with a giggle.

Chuckling Ranko said, "I'm Ranko that's Ranma," as she pointed to her ice cream inhaling currently female brother.

Sayuki and Yuka's replied to this was to look back over at Ranma-chan before looking to Akane who had a slight blush on her face along with a slightly mortified look. Seeing Akane's expression Sayuki and Yuka immediately grabbed Akane and hauled her off leaving Ranko to blink and shrug her shoulders.

********************

"Ok what was all of that about?!" Yuka and Sayuki demanded.

Akane's only reply to this was to pull out a small stone, which displayed a red and blue yin-yang symbol.

Sayuki and Yuka's reply to this was to glare at their friend with a raised eyebrow. Akane's response to this was to hand Yuka the stone which promptly changed into a red yin symbol.

"What is this thing?" Sayuki asked curiously as she took the stone from Yuka.

Akane's reply to this was to tell her friends what had been happening in her life for the past few days, which took the better part of 15 minutes.

After she had finished Yuka shook her head and said, "Kami-sama, Akane all of that happening in a few days is intense, even for Nerima."

"Is it really true? I mean you've always been boyish but..." Sayuki stuttered out as she looked at Akane.

Akane's reply to this was to nod before sighing deeply and rubbing her temples.

"You ok?" Yuka asked worriedly.

"No worse than usual," Akane commented before Ranko ran by being chased by Ranma-chan who was shouting something about killing mischievous sisters that ruined her ice cream.

"Word of advice, never get in between Ranma and his ice cream," Sayuki commented as she noticed the fiery look in Ranma-chan's eyes.

Giggling Yuka nodded as she watched the two redheads run by again. "Ranko is definitely good for him."

"Huh, what's that supposed to mean?" Akane practically screamed.

"I'm saying Ranma definitely needed a real sibling," Yuka said with a smile as she watched Ranma-chan having honest fun. A moment later however, Yuka's mood darkened as she said, "He needs a real male friend."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Sayuki demanded of her friend.

"He doesn't have any male friends at all. I've never once seen Ranma just 'hanging out with the guys'," Yuka replied.

"What about Hiroshi and Daisuke?"

"Have you ever once seen Ranma with either of them out of school?" Yuka answered.

"No not once," Akane responded as a shadow fell over her face.

"That is nowhere near being right," Sayuki whispered sadly. 'Everyone should have friends they can count on and I never realized that he didn't have any friends besides Akane.'

"So who do you think should be Ranma's friend?" Yuka queried.

"No clue," Akane replied as she looked outside at the setting sun.

********************

The next morning as Ranko, Ranma, and Akane entered the tearoom for breakfast they found Tatewaki Kunou —who was visibly sweating— sitting at the tea table next to Nabiki who was smirking at him.

"So what are you doing here Kunou?" Ranma asked as he crossed his arms.

"I am here to offer ye the use of the Kunou family beach resort the week," Kunou replied.

"What about school?" Akane said with a raised eyebrow.

"I convinced my father to let ye go," Kunou said with a mischievous glint in his eye as he squeezed the grip of his bokutou.

"I hope you had a white van come and get him afterwards," Ranko mumbled.

Smirking Kunou replied, "I personally made sure his new white jacket fit very snugly."

Hearing this Nabiki rolled her eyes as she smirked.

"So what do you think of all of this Okaasan?" Akane asked her mother.

"A vacation would do you all quite well," Hishizuka replied.

"Agreed," Soun said as he nodded.

********************

Several hours later, we find Ranma, Akane and Ranko playing at the beach and generally having a great time. Watching them from afar was Tatewaki and Nabiki.

"Well?" Nabiki queried as she glanced over at Tatewaki.

"The time is not right, Biki," Tatewaki replied.

"You really have no idea how to have fun, Tate," Nabiki replied as she adjusted her sunglasses and went back to her sunning.

'What I have to do has nothing to do with fun and everything to do with repaying debts,' Tatewaki thought to himself as he sat down.

Seeing Tatewaki's posture and grim face Nabiki rolled her eyes and mentally mumbled, 'He really is a masochist,' just before she saw Ukyou walk up with a grin on her face as she set up her portable grill which of course attracted Ranma and Ranko.

Nabiki's reply to this was to smirk devilishly before pulling out the controller for the device her mother had given her and activating it after which she got up and walked over to Ukyou and her grill.

"I'll have chicken okonomiyaki, Ukyou," Nabiki said as she walked up along with a reluctant Akane.

"What about you Akane?" Ukyou asked.

Caught off guard by Ukyou's friendly question Akane didn't know how to respond. However, Nabiki immediately suggested pork okonomiyaki. Akane's replied to this was to smile rather like Nabiki and nod her head in agreement.

Ukyou's replied to this was to raise an eyebrow as she dished out the requested okonomiyakis.

"So what are you doing here Ukyou?" Ranko asked after she had finished her okonomiyaki.

"A vacation from Nerima or more specifically Furinkan," Ukyou replied as she prepared herself an okonomiyaki before looking over at Kunou who was doing a rather good imitation of a statue. "So why is he imitating a statue?"

Nabiki replied to this was to look over her shoulder and mutter something under her breath before walking over to Kunou and whacking him on the head which caused the kendoist to blink a few times. "What do thou need Biki?"

"It's lunchtime, baka," Nabiki said as she dragged Kunou over to Ukyou and everyone else while looking suspiciously like Akane.

"I will have beef, Ukyou-san," Kunou said a moment after Nabiki had let go him.

Ukyou's replied to this was to start pulling out the required ingredients. However before she got very far she felt Nabiki send her a mental image. Ukyou's response to this image was to raise a mental eyebrow as high as it would go before mentally nodding and saying, "Sorry Kunou but I just ran out of beef but I saw a nice looking market on my way here so after I get some I'll be right back."

"Well if you're planning on saying for any amount of time, Ukyou, why don't we all go get some supplies," Nabiki suggested.

Shrugging Ukyou nodded before standing up and saying, "Ranchan why don't you stay here with Kunou and watch my grill."

Shrugging Ranma nodded before Ukyou, Nabiki, Ranko and Akane walked off.

"So what's the real reason for all this?" Ranma asked as soon as the 4 girls were out of sight.

"Repaying debts," Kunou answered causing Ranma to shake his head.

"You have no debts to me Kunou," Ranma said in an ice-cold voice that Kunou was honestly frightened by. "I'm not one to hold a grunge," Ranma added, as he stood in looked off towards the ocean. "What's Nabiki having you do?"

"She wants me to be your friend," Tatewaki replied as he looked down at the ground.

"She does?"

"Yes Biki told me that I was to be a real friend to her ... Otouto."

"Otouto?! She really said that?"

Actually smirking Tatewaki replied, "No, of course not but I do not need the gifts she dost possess to know that she sees you as such."

"She's a weird one," Ranma mumbled.

"Such is the nature of the women of Nerima," Tatewaki commented with a noticeable amount of mirth in his voice.

Ranma's replied to this was to raise an eyebrow slightly before saying, "No wonder why Nabiki likes you you've got the same sense of humor as she does when you're not acting like a masochist."

"This from someone who lets his fiancée hit him with every kind of blunt object imaginable," Tatewaki replied with a smug look.

"It happens to be great toughness training," Ranma answered with one in his usual cocky grins.

Tatewaki's response to this statement was to go bit green. "You are joking Saotome-sama?"

"No," Ranma answered with a straight face before adding, "...and just call me Ranma."

"If you will call me Tatewaki," Tatewaki replied.

Ranma's answer to this was to nod.

********************

"What was all that about?" Akane queried.

"Geez sis you are as dense as most men," Nabiki commented infuriating her sister to new levels. "...but I suppose that's expected of someone that's half male," Nabiki added causing Akane to roar in anger before she started chasing Nabiki off.

"Did Nabiki actually just do that?" Ukyou queried rather shakily, to which Ranko only nodded.

********************

Sometime later, we find Nabiki sitting in a sakura tree with Akane sitting below.

~You really are dense you know sis,~ Nabiki communicated telepathically.

"You don't have to rub it in," Akane grumbled.

"Yes I do after all Kasumi already has the monopoly on being the nice sister," Nabiki replied with a teasing tone of voice that infuriated Akane so much that she started to attack Nabiki. However before she could even move more than a few inches she felt Nabiki psychic powers slam into her mind.

"Stop!" Akane pleaded as she choked violently.

"I'm not Kasumi, sis, and I won't go easy on you," Nabiki replied moments before Akane felt something in her mind snap and then Nabiki's presence in her mind shifted to support her.

"What?" Akane choked out.

"I just snapped your subconscious anger responses," Nabiki said coldly as she hopped down from the sakura tree. "I love you two much to let you keep hurting your self because of temper. It's worse then Ranma's foot in mouth disease and we both know how bad of a case Ranma has," Nabiki added as she smirked.

Despite her current state of mind, Akane laughed at Nabiki's comparison. Moments later, however she realized that moments before she wouldn't have laughed but attacked.

~It's okay sis,~ Nabiki said telepathically. ~oh and no one ever finds out about this mushy moment between us or the next set of photos I sell will be your baby pictures~

"NABIKI!" Akane shouted before chasing after her sister again. However, this time Akane was not angry but happy and was teasing Nabiki quite mercilessly.

Reaching out with her mind to Ranma, Nabiki communicated, ~A gift to you my Otouto and my price is that you make her happy.~

********************

'Ok that was weird,' Ranma thought to himself as he looked around for Nabiki.

Chuckling Tatewaki said, "I assume that is the first time Nabiki has ever spoken to you in that manner."

"Yeah but she seems different," Ranma said as he scratched his chin.

"She is a mystery and she very much enjoys being one," Tatewaki replied.

'She must get that from her mom,' Ranma thought to himself with a smirk.

********************

Ukyou truly pitied them she really did. After all groping Ranko was arguably even more suicidal then groping Akane. Partly because Ranko, unlike Akane, was not adverse to breaking a few bones —although she hadn't done so far— but mainly because Ranko actually seemed to be enjoying pounding hordes of perverted baka painfully into the pavement.

Looking at the clock on the wall Ukyou commented, "Ranko I we really should be getting back now."

Back fisting a sunglass wearing baka Ranko blinked before noticing the time. "Ahh and I was just getting warmed up."

This statement caused the remaining hordes of perverted baka to run screaming for the hills.

Seeing this Ukyou chuckled as she shook her head.

********************

A little while later Ukyou and Ranko encountered the two warring Tendo sisters once again.

"I'm not going to even pretend to understand them," Ukyou commented to which Ranko nodded in agreement.

********************

As Ranko, Ukyou, Nabiki and Akane returned to Tatewaki's beachfront resort home they were greeted by the site of Ranma and Tatewaki fighting each other. This usual occurrence however had been severely disrupted by the fact that Ranma was holding a bokutou and Kunou was unarmed.

"Come on I'm hardly even trying!" Ranma chuckled.

"I am starting to severely doubt that thee knowest nothing of swordplay," Tatewaki said as he nursed his ribs.

"Concentrate on what you know about hand to hand combat and not what I know about swordplay," Ranma responded with his trademark annoying smirk.