Ranma 1/2: NO FAIR! by Scott K. Jamison -=-=-=- Part 1 -=-=-=- Kasumi made one of the more ironic statements of her life. "Oh, I do hope he's older. Younger men bore me." Nabiki asked, "Is he handsome?" At least she had the good taste not to ask if he was rich. Akane turned sulkily. "What's so great about going to China anyways?" Their father replied, "I don't know. I've never met Ranma." That came as a bit of a shock to Kasumi. True, her father sometimes seemed a little odd, but surely he wouldn't engage his daughters to someone he'd never seen. Then she thought back on some of his other decisions. Yes he would. Well, there were three daughters, so she could probably dodge the bullet if this Ranma Saotome turned out to be a dud. She was kind of hoping that dreamy Dr. Tofu was interested in her. Akane was still grousing about "stupid customs" when they heard a high-pitched voice from the entry. "Put me down, dammit!" Soun and Nabiki ran into the hall, and they came running back, obviously panicked by the giant panda looming after them. Kasumi noted with surprise it was easily walking upright, and it had something in its forepaws. Something wiggling and shrieking. "Put me down! Cantcha see you're scaring them?" The panda gently put down its burden. It was a small child, a girl, with bright red hair in a long ponytail. She was wearing a sopping wet and vastly oversized outfit, and had an embarrassed expression on her face. "Dad, do you know who this is?" Soun shook his head. Nabiki snapped, "Oh sure, this panda kidnapped a little girl and just decided to wander in, huh?" Kasumi knelt next to their strange visitor. "What's your name, dear?" She looked down at the floor. "I'm Ranma Saotome. Sorry 'bout this." Mr. Tendou fainted dead away. * * * Soun lay under a blanket, a damp cloth on his head. "But Saotome said he had a son. He's been bragging about him in postcards for at least ten years." "You should have made sure, Dad! This girl can't be over five!" Nabiki rapped their visitor on the head for emphasis. "Hey! Whadja do that for?" "Some fiancee! I feel so cheated!" Kasumi noted that Ranma was close to tears. She took the little girl on her lap, wondering why she was wearing that outsized boy's outfit anyways. She was practically swimming in it. "Don't worry, Ranma. Big sister Kasumi will make everything all right." She hugged the girl and began rocking her. Since her own mother had died, Kasumi had taken much of that role in the family. She knew that she'd made some mistakes trying to raise her little sisters, but now it looked like she had another chance. This time she would get mothering right. Ranma looked a little embarrassed, and mumbled something about hot water. "Oh my, you could use a good bath, couldn't you? It looks like you've been on the road all day! And we'll need to get you in some decent clothes." "That's not really nec--" "You're our guest! We'll take good care of you." Then Kasumi thought of something. It was time to make supper, but she couldn't do that and bathe Ranma at the same time. Neither Akane nor Nabiki had any inclination for cooking, so she'd have to do it. So the decision was made. "Akane, you must be sweaty after your workout, so why don't you take Ranma with you to the bathroom?" "Okay. I could use a good warm soak." "No!" said Ranma, "I don't wanna--" "Believe me kid, you need a bath. I'm not going to hurt you," promised Akane. She dragged the girl off. * * * "NO! Please don't!" "Geez, Ranma, stop struggling! You're acting like a spoiled brat!" That got the girl to calm down a bit. Akane opened the door to the changing room and shoved her inside. "I'm sorry, but I really have--" "Let's get you out of those clothes then." Akane pulled the vastly oversized shirt off, then started untying the cord belt holding up Ranma's trousers. The girl turned beet red, but Akane didn't notice. She tossed the damp garments into the laundry bin. "Ranma, why are you covering yourself like that? Your mother must have brought you up to be very modest." "M-mommy..." Her face turned sad again. "What's wrong, Ranma? Come to think of it, where are your parents?" asked Akane as she stripped off her gi. Ranma didn't answer. She was staring at Akane, seemingly dumbstruck. "Ranma?" "I-I...you're pretty..." It was Akane's turn to redden. She was used to compliments from boys, though they didn't seem to be able to deliver them in a manner that pleased her. Hearing it from a little girl told her that maybe she really was pretty, after all. She grabbed the soap and cold water and scrubbed down first Ranma then herself. A nice cold rinse took away the sweat and dirt. "And now that nice hot soak." Ranma shook herself, as though awakening again. "NO! Not hot water, not now!!" "Oh come on, it's not that hot." Akane grabbed Ranma, who began squirming and shrieking again. "In. We. Go!" and Akane jumped into the tub with Ranma firmly held in her arms. Ranma kept struggling, and somehow she seemed to be twisting as well, getting... bigger? And stronger, too. Akane couldn't hold on to her anymore. She grabbed hold again, but the soft flesh she'd felt before had turned to hard muscle, and the little girl had become... A handsome young man. A naked handsome young man, sitting entwined with her in the tub. "I tried to warn you." "EEEEEEKKK!!" * * * Ranma felt the strangest sense of deja vu. He knew he'd never been to this Jusenkyo place before, yet it all seemed so familiar. He looked at the pools with the bamboo poles sticking out of them, and could not shake a sense of dread. His father was leaping up on a pole and challenging him to follow. Something inside him was screaming not to go, to listen to the guide's warning, but his mouth said, "Yes sir!" and his body leapt up to join the battle. Their combat flowed like water, time seeming to slow down to a crawl. Ranma saw his leg kicking out, sending Genma lazily into a pool below. Then time sped up again as a panda sprung from the pool back on to the poles. The Guide was shouting something about a curse, and Ranma turned to listen, but he'd left himself vulnerable, and now he too was falling. Falling into the water and he screamed. Now the water was in his lungs, burning, changing him somehow. His clothes seemed to drag him down, wanting him to drown. At last he broke the surface. The guide was shouting again. "Oh, most unfortunate! Customer fall in Spring of Drowned Little Girl! There legend, most tragic, of girl who drown in spring 800 years ago, and now anyone who fall in pool take form of small child!" Ranma took a look down at himself and saw that the male pronoun no longer applied. A flood of emotion came over him. "MMOOOOOMMMIIIEEE!!" * * * Ranma sat up, and realized he'd been dreaming again of the day he'd been cursed. His head hurt; he suspected Akane had clobbered him for being a guy. Someone had gotten his trousers back on, for which he was deeply grateful. "Oh, you're awake." It was the older girl, um... Kasumi! "Sorry about this, Kasumi." "It's all right, Ranma. Your father explained about the curses. Supper's ready, so put a shirt on and join us, please." Her warm smile made him feel a little better. The others were gathered around the table, Genma back in human form. Ranma introduced himself again and apologized to Akane. "I should have said it right away, but when I'm... that way... the right words don't come so easy to me." "It's... all right, Ranma," replied Akane, gritting her teeth. "I should have tried harder to listen to what you were saying." After a healthy meal, Soun said, "Well, son, I think your problem can be overcome with a little work. Now, which of my daughters would you like to marry?" Ranma shuddered and looked at his father. Genma nodded. So they still wanted him to go through with this crazy engagement thing? As if he didn't have enough problems already. He looked at each daughter in turn. Kasumi looked friendly, but she was a bit older than him, and at their ages, three years was a lot of difference. Nabiki had been cool to him at best, and the little she'd said in the dinner conversation was a bit more intellectual than he wanted to deal with. Akane... she was still angry. But she was the closest to him in age and interests, and he knew she had a great bod. On the other hand, did he want to marry such a violent girl? "I'm sorry, Mr. Tendou, but I'll need more time. With this curse, I'm not sure I should marry anyone at all." "No kidding," said Nabiki. Akane seemed relieved too. Kasumi smiled at him. "Why don't you stay for a while, get to know us? You may find one of us is willing to be engaged after all." Did that mean what Ranma thought it meant? He just wasn't sure. But at least the decision could be put off for a while... -=-=-=- Part 2 -=-=-=- "School?" "Since you haven't made a choice yet, we'll be here for a while, won't we? Might as well get an education while you're here." Genma handed Ranma a school bag. "You'll be showing the ropes to Ranma at school, Akane," said Kasumi. "Why me!?" "Because you're in the same grade as Ranma, and because Nabiki left an hour ago. Here's lunches for you both." Ranma leapt up on the fence as he followed Akane. In addition to being great balance practice, it gave him a sense of height. Which was something he really apprecitated these days. "We're not getting married," said Akane by way of making conversation. "If you say so. I'm not too keen on marrying anyone right now. Stupid promise." Genma ran up out of seemingly nowhere and bopped Ranma on the head. "You will marry one of the Tendou sisters and you will like it! That's an order!" "Beat it, old man!" Ranma kicked his father off the fence and into the canal. "Growf! Snnarl!" the now-panda protested. "Is he always like that?" "Mostly. `Tough love', he calls it." "Bummer. Hey, could you come down from there for a while? I'm getting a crick in my neck." "Okay." Ranma made a running leap off the fence, intending to land next to Akane. But in mid-air he was caught in a spray of water (thrown by a little old lady cleaning her doorstep) and his transformation kicked in. He'd never had it happen in mid-motion before, and his balance was completely thrown off. He landed badly, and scraped his elbow on the pavement. The pain was overwhelming, and he screamed. Akane looked at him, shocked, and that made him embarrassed as well, and he began to cry. "Geez, Ranma, it's just a little scrape. What a crybaby." That just deepened his depression and he wailed louder. "Why me? Look, Ranma, the doctor's office is just down the street. He can fix you up, okay? Maybe you can even get a lollipop." Ranma didn't know which was scarier, that Akane thought the offer of candy would work, or that it actually seemed to. He was already a lot calmer. "Sorry, Akane. I didn't mean to--" "Oh, just come on." She grabbed his arm and started dragging him towards the clinic. * * * The kindly-looking young doctor bent down, picked Ranma up, and set him on the examining table. "Well, young lady, let's see what the problem is. Oh, that's a nasty scrape." Ranma wondered just why everyone he met in this form automatically pegged him as a girl. Okay, the pigtail probably influenced them, but at this age, there just wasn't that much difference between boys and girls. It was as if the spring had left the word "female" blazoned on his forehead or something. Doctor Tofu's calm manner put Ranma at ease, and he soon had the scrape cleaned and bandaged. "There you go, Miss...?" "Ranma, and I'm a guy!" "Sure you are. Oh, Akane! Find that hot water you needed?" "Um... yes, Doctor. Thanks for all your help." "Haha! You know you're always welcome here." * * * Ranma filled out his clothes as Akane poured the teakettle's contents over him. The lollipop tasted pretty good, actually. "Honestly, Ranma, you're such a wimp." "Hey! I just don't have much emotional control when I'm that way, okay? When I'm normal, I can beat anybody! Aren't we going to be late for school?" They started running. "Thanks to you, yes! How the heck did you and your father survive all the way back from China if that keeps happening to you?" "Well, I ran into an old friend..." * * * Quite literally, actually. It had only been a day since the curse was inflicted, and neither Ranma nor Genma had fully realized the limitations of their new forms. Thus it was that they'd both been in cursed form as Ranma chased his father, vowing to give him a severe beating. Ranma had jumped, meaning to use the man standing in front of him as a springboard, but instead had slammed into him. The man hadn't even been staggered. "Outta my way! I gotta catch that panda!" "Are you all right, little girl?" "I'm not a girl! I--" Ranma had suddenly recognized the muscular boy before him. "R-ryouga?" "You know my name? I don't remember knowing any little red-haired girls?" "Ryouga you idiot! It's me! Ranma!" "Ranma? But the only Ranma I know is the accursed Saotome!" "That's me! Ranma Saotome! Remember, I useta get you home alla time? You never showed up for our duel?" "You were the one who wasn't there! I-- gods, it is you, isn't it? What happened to you?" "A curse. Don't move, just turn your head to the left. The left, dummy!" Ryouga had finally got the direction straight. "You see those pools down in the valley? Anyone who falls in one of 'em gets a curse. I ended up like this and Pops turned into a panda." Ryouga had blanched. "Then I was just one step away from... that. I wanted vengeance...but such a horrible fate..." "It ain't quite as bad as it looks, but yeah." "uhm... Could you help me find a safe way out of here?" * * * Kasumi finished the vacuuming, humming a Bach cantata. There, the essential morning chores were done, and she could start on the optional items. She thought of Ranma. She really wasn't particularly interested in marrying him; he was everything she didn't like about younger men. Ranma was rude, self-centered, far too aggressive and had an extremely limited set of interests. Not at all like the considerate and well-informed Dr. Tofu. But his other form... If Kasumi understood correctly, Ranma-chan would age little if at all. She would always be a little girl, needing someone to watch out for her, to care for her. And with cold water so prevalent in the world, Ranma would be a girl much of the time. That fascinated Kasumi. Someone to mother forever... Kasumi decided to check in the attic. Surely they'd saved some appropriate clothing... * * * Ranma pulled himself into the tree, a bit harder at his current size. "Musta been Nabiki," he grumbled. *Someone* had certainly put a bug in that Kunou guy's ear about the engagement. Now everyone at school thought he was Akane's fiancee. If only he'd been a little more careful about where he was jumping... Whoops, here came the bokken-swinging upperclassman now. "Curse you, Saotome! Come out and fight like a man, not the lily-livered coward you are!" Cold fury exploded in Ranma's head, and he leapt down from hiding without thinking. "I am not a coward!" He took up an aggressive stance. Kunou blinked. "Who on God's green earth are you? But I forget my manners. I am--" "Can the intro, bokken-brain. Let's rumble." With that, Ranma leapt at Kunou, who dodged. "Excuse me, little red-headed girl, but why are you attacking me? Have you no care for your own safety?" "You call me a coward, and expect me not to attack?" "Come again?" as Kunou backed off some more. "I was referring to Ranma Saotome, not yourself." "I *AM* RANMA!!" He leapt up on Kunou's sword and kicked him in the face. While this was quite impressive, the kendoist was used to blows from Akane, and Ranma's current muscles just didn't have the oomph for the job. "Most impressive for one so young. Were you not a decade too young, I would date with thee. But I must ask you to desist in your assault upon my person. This takes time away from my search for--" "Ranma!" This was from Akane, who'd just arrived, teakettle in hand. "Where?" "Here, dummy!" Ranma kicked Kunou in the shin. "Ranma, what do you think you're doing?" "You mean, fair Akane Tendou, that this child is indeed named Ranma? But the foul trespasser by you this morning gave his name as Ranma." "We're the same, you idiot!" Kunou furrowed his brow. "Oh, at last it comes to me. Your parents named both their children Ranma! Odd, but not unheard of." Ranma fumed. Maybe he should just pour the water over himself right here... "Something like that," interrupted Akane. "Now, if you don't mind, Ranma and I need to get going." "Quite right. I will see thee on the morrow then, my sweet angel." Kunou strolled off, and Ranma felt a depression falling on him. "Akane, I wanna go home." * * * "I'm not your dolly! Leamme alone! I'm a man! WAAH!" In retrospect, perhaps home had been a bad idea. Kasumi had met them at the door, accidentally spilling lemonade on Ranma and reversing the effect of the hot water. She'd insisted on stripping off his now-badly soaked outfit, and told him all his others were in the laundry. But as long as he was small... The bunny panties had been bad enough, at least in theory no one would be seeing them, but then had come the white tights, and now Kasumi had him halfway into a pink little-girl dress with lace kitty patterns on it. Pink *and* cats!? "I don't wanna wear a dress! WAAAH!! I'm a man!" "Ranma-chan... look in the mirror." Kasumi gently turned his head. "Do you look like a man?" "No, but--" "Are you acting like a man?" "No..." "Well, then, why all the fuss? This is the only outfit I could find that fits you. Tell you what, if you let me finish dressing you, we'll go shopping for some other clothes, okay?" Embarrassment warred with a desire to please Kasumi. "Go out... like this?" "Don't worry, Ranma-chan. You look fine." He sullenly let her finish buttoning up the dress. Then she untied the bit of twine that held together his pigtail, and produced a pink ribbon she tied into a big bow. "There. Isn't that nice? Let's see a smile now." Ranma forced a small smile. He had to admit, the little girl in the mirror was attractive. He just wished she wasn't him. The black patent leather shoes Kasumi had found to complete the outfit were a little tight, and Ranma wobbled a little as Kasumi led him out the door by the hand. * * * Kasumi was gratified by the stares and exclamations of the neighborhood women as she led Ranma-chan along the sidewalk. "Oh, how cute!" "Kasumi, she's adorable!" "Such a sweet-looking thing!" Ranma-chan seemed to be less thrilled with the attention, but Kasumi was sure she'd get used to it. The part about it being the only outfit that would fit was true, actually. Akane had been quite an active child, and had worn out most of her clothing (and the hand-me-downs from her older sisters) well before she'd grown out of them. This dress had survived, ironically enough, because Akane had always hated it. Kasumi supposed, given her background, that Ranma-chan would be a tomboy too. The trick would be getting her clothes that would stand up to punishment, but look suitably feminine. Part of Kasumi's mind suggested that humiliating Ranma in this fashion would be destructive to his already battered psyche, but her maternal instincts told Kasumi that the sooner Ranma-chan learned to accept her new form and behave appropriately, the better. Perhaps if she arranged for the water heater to be "broken" for a few days... "Oh my, Ranma-chan, we're going to have such fun!" -=-=-=- Part 3 -=-=-=- As they approached "Togs 4 Tots", Ranma noticed a banner reading "All Sanrio merchandise 25% off" and decided he'd better start trying to exert some control. "Kasumi?" She didn't appear to hear. Sigh. "Big Sister Kasumi?" Now she turned her head. "Yes, Ranma-chan?" "If you so much as suggest I even touch anything with `Hello Kitty' on it, I'll scream." * * * Two grueling hours later, Kasumi's attention was finally distracted from what seemed like a single-minded mission to have Ranma try on every girls' outfit in the store. For which Ranma was supremely grateful. Freed from the pressure, he had to admit it was nice wearing clothes that fit, instead of flopping all over. As long as he didn't think too hard about what he had on. Lemon-yellow overalls with a duckling on the bib and Sailor Moon sneakers were not high on his list of acceptable attire, but at least they were better than the pink dress. Unfortunately, one of the disadvantages of his current form was a small bladder. He quickly walked to the restroom--and was stopped. "No, no, little lady, you want the girls' room. See? The sign on the door has a skirt." Ranma considered pounding the man, but decided he meant well. After concluding his business with a maximum of embarrassment, (he really missed just being able to whip it out), Ranma considered his options. "Should have asked Kasumi for some money." He looked around, but couldn't find her through the crowd. Distracted, Ranma didn't notice his danger until he was suddenly tackled from behind. "Francine!" Ranma panicked and shrieked. He was spun about to see his attacker was a girl only half again as tall as himself, clad in a dress that made his earlier costume look masculine. She had a wealth of curly brown hair, and extremely cutesy features. "Francine! Don't be afraid of Azusa! I just want to take you home and hug and cuddle you and--" "Leggo! I don't wanna go with you!" Ranma struggled, but the girl was remarkably strong for her size. "Francine and Azusa will be so happy together!" She pulled Ranma into a tight hug, bringing his face right into her proportionately-impressive cleavage. Despite his current form, he still had male lust, and the flood of it froze his mind. Azusa started to drag him away, when a tall boy blocked their path. He was quite handsome, with a sparkling smile. He had a Buckstars Coffee megacup in one hand. "Azusa, what do you think you're doing?" "Francine is coming home with me!" "My dear partner, that is not acceptable. It's bad enough when you filch inanimate objects or small animals, I'm amazed they still let us into this mall. But kidnapping small children is something the police simply are not going to ignore." He reached out with his free hand. "But Mikado, she's so cuuute! Can't widdle Azusa keep her?" "Ranma-chan! Ranma-chan, where are you?" came Kasumi's voice. "Over here!" Ranma called. "You see, Azusa? Now let go of the child." He grabbed one of Ranma's arms and tugged him away from the ultra-cute girl. "There you are, Ranma-chan! I was so worried!" Kasumi was loaded down with shopping bags and boxes. "Ah, this sweet child belongs to you, then? But surely you are too young and beautiful to be a mother already. Say instead that you are perhaps an elder sister?" Kasumi blushed. "Flatterer! But no, I'm just taking care of Ranma-chan." "Give back my Francine!" demanded Azusa, jumping up to hit Mikado on the head. He ignored it. "Taking care of children is a task not often enough rewarded. Permit me to show you the appreciation of Mikado Sanzenin for your hard work." He leaned in for a kiss. Unfortunately for Mikado, simultaneously Azusa started using her shoe to make her opinion known, and Ranma tripped him for calling him a "child". Mikado overbalanced, and fell on top of Kasumi, while his steaming cappuchino went flying straight at Ranma, who shrieked in fright and jumped onto Azusa's head. The passersby were scandalized. "Did you see that? That man forcing himself on that poor girl in public! Say, isn't that Mikado Sanzenin, the skating star? I heard he was a fast worker, but that's ridiculous!" and comments of that ilk. Mikado picked himself up while Ranma backflipped off (and well away from) Azusa. "I do most heartily apologize, Miss..." "Tendou. Kasumi Tendou." "Here are two complimentary tickets to the Golden Pair's next performance. I insist you attend. Good day." He held out the slips as though they were manna from heaven. "Azusa, it's time to go." "But Francine--" "You can name something else Francine. We're going *now*." The tall boy dragged his reluctant partner off. I think it's time we went home too," said Kasumi. * * * "Ranma-chan, it was very naughty of you to run off like that." "Kasumi... Big Sister Kasumi, let's get something straight. Despite appearances, I'm a sixteen-year-old *boy*. I can take care of myself, thank you." "You didn't seem so confident against that coffee." "That's because I would've reverted to normal if it'd hit me! At best, I'd have shredded this outfit. At worst, well, I'd rather not think about it." "Oh my." Kasumi giggled inwardly at the picture of Ranma barely covered in the remains of the overalls. Now that she thought of it, it might be a good idea to have some outfits that would fit Ranma in both forms. Right now she could have used him to carry a lot more of the packages. It would make an interesting sewing project. Kasumi's thoughts drifted back to the encounter at the mall. The Sanzenin boy certainly was forward, but it had been a while since anyone had flirted with her, and it felt kind of nice. "Ranma-chan, would you like to see the Golden Pair skate?" The little girl seemed to think it over. "Um... okay, if I can go in normal form. I don't want that crazy chick mistaking me for `Francine' again. "Oh, and I hope you get one of my outfits clean by tomorrow, 'cause I have an appointment at school I really need to be myself for." * * * By suppertime, Ranma had almost forgotten what he had on, so his father's reaction came almost as a physical shock. "What's the matter with you, boy? You look like a sissy in that outfit!" "Kasumi was the one with the money, so we got what she wanted to buy. You want me to dress like a man, Pops, you're gonna have to come up with the cash for it!" "I think you look fine, Ranma-chan," Kasumi soothed. "Now, don't gobble your food." Akane looked mildly disgusted by the scene, while Nabiki seemed more interested than Ranma had seen her before. Soun pointedly ignored the whole exchange. After dinner, Ranma finally got to the bath. (After checking for occupants, of course.) He figured that Mr. Tendou's old bathrobe would do as sleepwear. He was a little disturbed to find that Kasumi had moved some dolls and other toys into his bedroom. Ranma had mixed feelings about the eldest Tendou sister. She seemed only to see him as a little girl, which was infuriating. But part of him really enjoyed how she fussed over him and treated him like someone special. Ranma hadn't had anyone do that since he was ten... he yanked his thoughts away from why he'd needed to be coddled... and before that, not since he'd left his mother. His memories of her were hazy at best, but when he was in cursed form, they came into sharper focus. Ranma remembered a scene from shortly before they'd left. Mom and Pops were arguing about something, and Pops made some kind of, boast, maybe? Then there was a piece of paper Ranma put his handprints on. What had that been about? Akane obviously thought of him as a weakling, an impression he'd fix tomorrow for sure. Kunou would rue the day he'd called a Saotome "coward." And Nabiki, who knew? He'd have to try talking to her eventually. Not that Ranma wanted to marry anyone, but he should give all three girls a fair chance. If he was going on a date with Kasumi (you could call that a date, right?) then he should find a way to date the other two. Purely out of fairness, of course. There was a presence outside his door. "C'mon in." Akane entered. "Oh, you're back to, um, normal." "As normal as I get." "Hey, that's my doll, Chiyoko! What's she doing in here?" "Your sister's idea, I think. You can have it back. Not like I want girly things cluttering up my room." "Would you still say that if you were little? Just how much *do* you change?" "I'm not totally sure. I know I have a lot less emotional control, it seems like even less than a real five-year-old's. Some of my feelings I know are mine, but others... Like when I was trying on shoes this afternoon, Kasumi praised me for being able to tie my own laces, and I actually felt *proud*. It worries me a little. "But don't get the wrong idea. When I'm the real me, like now, I'm all man!" "It's hard for you, isn't it, Ranma? Being small, I mean." "Yeah. Pops has been training me all this time to be strong, independent, able to take on anyone. But one splash and it all goes away." "Tell you what, why don't you keep Chiyoko?" "Huh?" "She might grow on you." Akane held up the doll as if it were a child itself. "Chiyoko, this is Ranma. He'll be living with us for a while. Will you be his friend, like you've been mine?" Her hand made the doll's head nod. "Uh... sheesh... Thank you, Chiyoko. I would like to be friends too." Akane left the doll sitting on the futon. "Goodnight, Ranma." "Goodnight, Akane... and thanks." As soon as the girl left, Ranma put the doll back on the shelf. But he smiled and patted it on the head. "Goodnight, Chiyoko." -=-=-=-