Epiphany chapter 14

by Tripolar Disorder


As Ranma-chan stared at the rock where Shampoo had been only a
moment ago, she was stunned at what she had just seen.

As she continued to look at the rock, she felt a pair of arms
around her waist. She turned to see Shampoo's smiling face on
her left shoulder.

"C'mon inside Ranma. If you think about it too hard, you'll have
a brain freeze. Lets go get some sleep.

Shampoo could see the glimmer in the other girl's eyes.

"Wow, that was so cool. You are gunna hafta show me that."

Shampoo snickered. She picked up Ranma-chan and set the girl on
her feet. "Not tonight Ranma, I'm too tired now."

Ranma-chan seemed visibly upset and pouting, but only for a
second before giggling.

Shampoo asked. "What's so funny Ranma?"

Ranma smiled. She turned around and gave Shampoo a hug. "I hope
that we can finally be friends. Just like you wanted. No more
Amazon glomping."

Shampoo was giggling too. "Aww, but I thought you liked those."

Ranko interrupted from the doorway. "Don't let her fool you,
cause she did enjoy it, but not from the fact your breasts were
squished against him."

Shampoo started to laugh. "True, Ranma was enjoying the
emotions involved with the whole human contact."

Ranko nodded. "Ranma's too innocent and pure to be like that."

Ranma-chan turned toward Ranko. "What're you two talkin' about?"

Ranko and Shampoo sweat dropped. Shampoo added. "Or maybe it's
she really doesn't have a clue what were talking about."

"Yeah- HEY!!" Ranma-chan tried to defend herself.

Ranko ruffled her sister's hair. "Don't worry about it. We'll
explain it to you someday, but Shampoo and I have something to
do now. Excuse us."

Ranma watched as the two of them walked upstairs.


Akane was being lead out to the dojo by Ranko and Shampoo.

"What do you two want? I'm tired, and I want to get some sleep."
Akane was grumbling under her breath as well.

After they stepped inside, Shampoo stood at the door looking if
anyone was following them. She then shut it quietly behind her
before making her way across the floor to the center where Ranko
and Akane were sitting, facing each other. She sat down next to
Ranko.

Several long moments of silence passed before Ranko's lips
quivered and she finally found the urge to speak.

"Akane. Please don't hate me. I know something about Ranma that
you should know. I have been afraid to tell you."

Akane was shocked. The tears starting to form across Ranko's
face were evident that whatever secret she was carrying was
tearing at her.

"What... what is it.. Ranko? What's wrong with Ranma?"

Ranko sniffled. "It's nothing wrong with him. It's just
something about who he is... About who SHE is, and who she
loves."

Akane turned toward Shampoo, who was strangely calm and composed
despite the moment.

Shampoo looked directly into Akane's eyes. "Akane. Ranma has
feelings for someone else."

Akane felt like she was being hit with a bullet. A sharp pain
rippled across her body starting at her heart. She tried to
speak but her voice was caught in her throat. Her mind tried to
register what she had just heard, and began cycling through all
the girls and even some boys that Ranma knew.

Then it struck her. Her vision seemed to escape her body, and
fly through the house. Turning into the living room, her mind's
eye stopped on the image of Ranma-chan sleeping. Sleeping in
Kasumi's lap, relaxed and quiet.

the image faded and she was staring at Ranko, who was now nearly
crying. Akane could only mutter one word. "Kasumi?"

Both girls opposite her nodded.

Ranko spoke up. "It's my fault Akane. She likes you... but
more as a friend. It was me who was drawn to you. And it was me
who influenced Ranma's feelings toward you."

Shampoo added. "Now that Ranko is out, Ranma is finding her own
feelings and they are going toward Kasumi, who has tried to care
for her more than anyone else."

Akane started to stutter. "What about what she said to me the
other day? What about...."

Ranko hung her head. "That was me. Ranma let me take control
for one day and I wanted you to love him, love me. I'm sorry."

Akane was calm, almost too calm. Shampoo was worried because she
was not feeling any hostility or anger that Akane usually
exhibited.

Ranko watched as Akane stood up and walked out of the Dojo.
Shampoo helped Ranko up and they quickly followed her out and
into the house.

Akane walked into the living room slowly. There in front of her
was exactly as she had pictured it. Ranma-chan sitting in
Kasumi's lap, her head and shoulder leaning against the older
girl. Kasumi was holding her with one arm and while she slowly
ran her fingers through Ranma's unbound red hair.

She stood there looking at her sister and her fiancée for several
seconds before turning and walking upstairs. She went into her
room and shut the door.

Ranko and Shampoo entered after witnessing the entire event.
They turned toward each other. Ranko commented. "That actually
went better than I thought."

Shampoo slapped her across the back of her head. Ranko flinched.
"Yeah I know, it ain't over yet."

She took off of up the stairs toward Akane's room.

Shampoo walked over and kneeled down in front of Ranma. She held
one hand out to wake her when Ranma's eyes came open.

"I wish you two could have waited for me."

Shampoo was taken back. She had no clue how Ranma knew, or was
awake in fact.

Ranma-chan stood up. Kasumi followed suit and Ranma gave her a
hug. "Thank you Kasumi-chan. I needed that."

Kasumi smiled "Go to her now. She needs to hear the truth."


Ranma-chan met Ranko still gathering enough nerve to knock on
Akane's door. Ranma took her hand and lowered Ranko's arm, then
opened the door, stepped inside and closed it behind her.

Inside she saw Akane, sitting on her bed. Akane wasn't crying
but she didn't show any sign that someone had walked in.

Ranma-chan sat down next her, and waited to see what would
happen.

Akane finally turned toward Ranma-chan. Her eyes were wide and
searching for something. She could see the concern and the pain
within the smaller girl's eyes.

"I'm not mad at you Ranma. I'm not upset at you either." She
paused while she turned away then down toward the floor. "I'm
upset and angry with myself. I've hurt you so much. Thanks to
that trip into your mind, I found out how much pain you were in,
and I had no idea at all. I should have given you more support
for your problems, but I only made them worse. I ridiculed you
the most and I always wondered why you kept coming back."

"If it wasn't for Kasumi, you might not be here. You could be
dead, or worse. She saved you from.... from all of us."

"You deserve to have someone like my sister, if she will have
you. Does she like you too?"

Ranma-chan rubbed her cheek. "I think so."

Akane smiled slightly. "Well, I think so too. You two looked so
calm and peaceful together. Maybe your fiancée problems are
over."

Ranma-chan gave Akane a hug. "Can we still be friends?"

Akane tried to giggle between sniffles. "I would like that.
But, can you leave me now. I have some crying to do."

Ranma-chan nodded. As she stepped out the door. She whispered.
"I understand Akane."

Ranko pushed past her and into Akane's room. Ranko paused a
moment. "Maybe you do, but I don't." And the door shut behind
her.

Ranma-chan was left outside the door, wondering what Ranko was up
to.


<The next morning>

Tatewaki Kuno stood atop the clock tower at Furikan. His gaze
was to the road in front of the school.

He felt deep within him that everything had changed. His Enemy,
his only worthy opponent... his friend, was gone.

Gone forever, and there was nothing he could do about it.

So he stood watch every morning. He began speaking aloud,
knowing only the wind could hear him.

"As the sun again rises, I find myself alone on the battlefield
once again. I should be joyous as I have prevailed, but yet I
weep."

"Indeed, my eyes could not have missed what my heart had
prevented me from seeing that which was the truth. A truth which
shows me for the fool that I am, yet mine is not the true
hardship."

"My heart will heal, I can only hope, that wherever you are, you
are finally able to heal as well. My only comfort is knowing you
are surrounded by those who care for you, and that the pain I
myself have brought upon you, is gone."

"I vow that I shall right my wrongs against you, and no longer
allow your name to be shamed as I have done so in the past."

As he continued to look forward his eyes glimpsed two walking
figures. He strained to see them and his eyes widened upon
recognition.

Anguish in his voice was evident. "No, please. Only suffering
lies here if you return. Please, I beg of you to leave this
place." 


Ranko and Akane were walking through the gates of Furikan High.
Ranma had taken to the rooftops earlier, saying something about
taking care of some business beforehand.

Several boys had seen the two walk up, and now they were starting
in on the insults. 

"Hey look guys, it's Ranma-chan!!"

"He finally decided to become a girl."

"Akane's probably been teaching him to be a perfect little
princess."

"He thinks they will let a pervert into the girl's locker room!" 

"I knew it! He'd rather be someone's wife"

Ranko started to cross the courtyard and pummel the loud boys
when Kuno dropped down in front of her, bokken at the ready. The
sound of the pavement buckling and snapping under his bare feet
as he landed.

Kuno stayed in a crouched position. A bright aura lit the Kendo
master as he seethed through gritted teeth. "Foul Knaves. How
dare you cause further trauma to the fair Ranko. I shall bring
upon you the worst pain you have ever imagined."

The boys were reeling back. Never had they seen Tatewaki in such
a state. His angry face easily readable. Several of the boys
swore they were seeing heat radiate from the bokken.

Kuno placed his free hand upon the wooden blade above the hilt.
"Allow me to show you the true extent of your transgression."

With this the onlookers heard a hard metallic click and Kuno
unsheathed a forged steel sword from its hiding place within the
bokken's blade.

"KREATANS, MEET THYNE END!!!" Kuno shouted as he sprang forward,
holding the sharp instrument over his head ready for a downward
strike.

Suddenly, Tatewaki was stopped mid-charge by a pair of hands on
his shoulders. He turned to see a very evil grin upon a very
male Ranma. "Calm down Kuno. That isn't needed, not now at
least. Maybe some other time."

Kuno slumped forward in shock.

Ranma turned toward the boys. He held out one hand in front of
him, toward the boys. Bits of blue light seemed to fly out of
the air and collect in front of his palm. "Now, who became a
pervert again? I didn't quite catch that." He asked, as his
eyes began to glow an unnatural color. He pointed his hand at a
tree and the ball of energy left his palm and struck it.

There was a flash and the tree was severed by the blast created.

Their faces paled, as their gaze flashed between the Saotome
twins. They were gone within moments.

Kuno gained his senses and stood up to face Ranma, sheathing his
sword within its confines once again. He had a strangely
surprised look upon his face. "It is good ... to see you again,
Saotome. Thank you for restraining my charge. I do not know
what came over me."

Ranko and Akane turned to look at each other. Ranko was the
first to speak. "Did he thank Ranma for stopping him?"

Akane nodded. "Crazy, isn't it."

Kuno bowed toward Ranko and Akane. "I finally have the honor to
address you properly, Ranko Saotome. I hope that we can be
friends instead of enemies. Your brother as well as yourself
have repeatedly impressed me with your skill in the Martial Arts.
Your father must have been proud."

Ranko giggled. "As much time as I spent around here, I guess it
was about time to start school."

Ranma looked down at Kuno's leg. "I hate to sound like a party
crasher, but your leg looks broken."

Kuno nodded. "That it is, but I wasn't concerned about the
pain." 

Ranma shouldered the Kendoist and began to walk him inside to the
nurse's station. "You two go on, I'll catch up. "

After laying Kuno on the cot the nurse pointed them to, Ranma bid
farewell and dashed off to make it to class.


As he lay upon the cot, Kuno commented to himself. "Indeed.
Welcome 'Ranko'."


Akane, and Ranko both sat down in class. Ranko sat in Ranma's
seat while Ranma himself was hanging outside the window, barely
visible.

When the teacher walked in, he stopped to observe Ranko.
"Saotome, you are dressed differently today. Is there a reason?"

Ranko looked at him with her best puppy-dog eyes. "I thought
this is the uniform all girls wear? Am I not correct?"

The teacher stopped in mid-thought. "Well, I suppose it is. But
why are you dressed like a girl today as opposed to other days?"

Ranko had a confused look. Not for being truly confused, but a
completely fake confused face. It should have been easy to spot.

"I don't know what you are talking about. I have never been here
before." She continued flatly. "I just transferred here."

At this point, Ranma stepped in through the open window. "Sorry
for bein' late teach. I had to help a few students remember
sumthin'." He cracked his knuckles loudly, to accent his point.

The entire class was reduced to gibberish. Several sets of
gaping jaws nearly impacted the floor, as everyone in the room
tried to figure out what was going on.

Ranma walked over to his desk, and Ranko stood up and vacated it.
Ranma then turned toward the young man sitting in the row across
from him. "I think that my sister should be near her big
brother, don't you agree?"

The boy seemed confused. Ranma grinned.

He placed his fingertips upon the boy's book, and the entire
class watched as long blue claws materialized from his knuckles.
They extended nearly a foot over the side of the desk. What most
didn't notice were the cat-like ears that protruded from the top
of his head. They were too busy watching electrical current
discharge from one claw to another like a Jacob's ladder.

"Let me put it another way. Move."

Understanding was reached immediately, and the boy found a seat
in the back, far away from Ranma. Ranma's claws disappeared and
he ran a hand through his hair, having felt something disturb it
a moment before, but did not know what.

Ranko thanked the young man for his seat and sat down. She was
in front of Akane and next to Ranma. Perfect in her opinion.

Ukyo was stupefied as to what she had just seen, and so mumbled
incoherently for nearly an hour. She wasn't the only one.


Lunchtime came and Ranko, Akane and Ranma were walking out to
their favorite tree. Suddenly Ranko and Ranma stopped and looked
toward the east. Ranko said. "That's Shampoo, I'll bet." Ranma
nodded. "Yup, and here she comes."

They were rewarded with said purple cat hopping over the wall and
bounding over toward them.

Ranko bent over and picked up Neko-Shampoo and cuddled the furry
form in her arms. Ranma laughed once and reached over to give
the cat a rub. Ranko handed him Shampoo and he laid her against
his chest while they sat down at Ranma's favorite tree.

Shampoo eyes were closed. Her body was limp and she was in
heaven. Ranma wasn't scared anymore, and he was even petting
her. She mewed softly to signal how happy she was.

Ranma spoke. "She must have been lonely, so she came here
knowing it was lunch break. We'll take her with us the rest of
the day. I don't think that anyone will have a problem with it.
If they do, they'll have a problem with me instead."

Ranma lifted Neko-Shampoo onto his shoulder and she just lay
there, hanging limp over either side of him.

Then they all started eating. Ranma took a tiny bit of fish from
his bento and held it up to Shampoo, who sniffed it and ate it
from his hand. 

This was when Ukyo showed up.

She was about to confront Ranma when he turned to her and smiled.
She stopped in her tracks. She quickly checked her heart rate.
She could plainly see a very docile Neko-Shampoo on his shoulder,
whom he was feeding.

"Uhm, did I miss something Ranchan? I see you must have split
somehow, but aren't you afraid of the cat?"

Ranma looked at her. "Oh hiya Ukyo. Haven't seen you in awhile,
and it's better than a split."

"Ranma, what about the CAT?" Ukyo nearly shouted as she pointed
to the furry feline on his shoulder.

"Cat? What cat? Oh, you mean this cat?" He took Shampoo off
his shoulder and stroked her once. Shampoo simply curled up in
his lap and began staring at Ukyo.

Ranma started talking in a strange voice. It sounded like a
German Kermit the Frog with a sore throat. "Don't worry about
Mister Biggles. We managed to find the local chapter to the hair
club for cats of evil geniuses." Ranma then placed his pinky
finger horizontally against the right side of his mouth.

Ranko was snickering. "Don't mind him Ukyo. He doesn't have
that little voice in his head anymore. The one that tells him
when not to put his foot in his mouth."

Akane tried to stop spraying rice out of her mouth while
giggling. "You should have spent less time sleeping on the job
then, Ranko. He eats those size nines of his at least once an
hour."

Ranma didn't seem phased at all by the wisecracks. "Ukyo, meet
Ranko. She was my curse."

Ukyo squealed. "So you ARE cured Ranchan? Congrats!!"

"Uhm, not exactly."

Ukyo was stunned. "What do you mean? You said she was your
curse. But you aren't cured?"

Ranma smiled. "I said she was my curse, the source of the magic
that made me into a girl. She is my sister now, but I still
become a girl."

Ranko tapped his shoulder and handed him a small cup of cold
water. Ranma thanked her and overturned it on his head. He then
shifted forms. Ranko nodded and winked at Akane.

Ranko and Ranma both giggled at Ukyo's reaction. Her eyes were
wide. Her lips tried to form words.

"What happened? She was your curse, but you're still cursed?
D-D-Do you WANT to be a girl forever Ranchan?"

Onna-Ranma stroked Neko-Shampoo a few more times before
continuing. Her smile suddenly gone. "Actually Ukyo." Ranma
paused for a few seconds. "That's not a bad idea. I'd rather be
a girl the rest of my life if it meant people would actually care
about me and not treat me like some kind of toy to win a carnival
fairway."

"Shampoo told me something that makes sense. She could get what
she really wanted, love, if she accepted her curse and gave up
everything. She'd be a cat, but at least she'd be loved."

There was a wavering in her voice as Ranma continued. "Momma
loves me as a girl and the Tendos care about me like family now.
I'm not asking for much." Her voice now became ragged, tears
mixed with pain threatened at any moment to destroy the words she
was trying to get out. 

Onno-Ranma took a moment to wipe a tear, and collect herself.
She looked over toward her sister and Akane, to see them showing
concern for her. And it only made her worse.

She suddenly blurted out, The words nearing running together.
"Being a girl gives me exactly what I've always wanted. I just
didn't see it until ...." Another pause while she choked up a few
more sobs, then her eyes widened and she slowly finished her
train of thought. " .... Until just now."

Akane and Ukyo were both stunned. Ranko grabbed Ranma-chan and
pulled her into her lap. Shampoo was licking Ranma-chan's open
palm while Ranko put her arms around her sister's waist. "Don't
cry neesan. No one is going to hurt you again. I promise."

Akane was pulled out of her shock. She couldn't see either
redhead's face, but she added her arms to the huddle. "Ranko is
right. We're here for you."

Ukyo was staring at Ranma-chan's face. The calm, yet unnerving
stare directed at her. Two eyes, which now had tears rolling
down her face, seemed to bore holes through her. She looked
toward Ranko, and though she could only see one eye behind
Onna-Ranma's hair, it held the exact same gaze.

Ranko finally spoke. "I'd leave now if I were you Ukyo. The
Ranma you remember, the one you think you love or whatever, is
gone. This Ranma, my sister, who has had a life that would make
psychologists scream, is what remains. She doesn't need you.
Akane and I give her what she needs, and it's not a bullying,
scheming, violent Fiancée. I'm not locked in her head anymore
and I will never let her be hurt again."

The Spatula-wearing chef broke out in tears and ran off, jumping
the wall and disappearing from view.

"Wow Ranma, that was the best performance you ever done." Said
Ranko, as she ruffled her twin's hair.

Akane was ready to grind her teeth. "You mean all that was a
lie?"

There was no response. 

Ranko gave her sister another squeeze. "Are you ok?"

Neko-Shampoo was watching the look in Ranma's eyes, The tears
had ceased to fall, but her eyes had never refocused from where
Ukyo had been standing.

Akane waved her hand in front of Ranma, but there was no
response. It was if she had just shut down.

Ranko tried tickling, but that did not work. Shampoo tried
batting at Ranma's hand, frozen in place just above her.

Suddenly Onno-Ranma stood up. She was now cradling Neko-Shampoo.
Her motions were almost robotic, like her brain was on autopilot.
She spoke once, in a flat tone, so emotionless that it worried
her companions.

"I need to go home now. Something has just made itself very
clear to me, and I am in the wrong place. Please tell the school
that I got attacked or something. They won't bother to check up
on the story, wait..."

She raised her hand, and fired a ball of light from her palm that
raced toward the school wall, exploding in a cloud of dust
obscuring most of the yard.

Until... just.... now...." Akane heard as Onno-Ranma calmly
strolled away, her voice trailing off into mumbles, as she walked
though a gate and down the street, disappearing behind a wall.
Shampoo was still in her arms though, and she was making sure she
was coming with.

Ranko and Akane were still sitting, stunned as the bell rang for
them to return to class.


Ranko and Akane rushed home after school, hoping that Ranma was
home. They were relieved to see that she was indeed.

Curled up in a fetal position, they found her on Kasumi's bed,
asleep. Neko Shampoo was curled up next to her and furry ears
turned as they entered.

Her boys' school uniform looked as though it had been hastily
torn off and thrown to the floor.

She was instead wearing a t-shirt and skirt that she had picked
out the previous day. Akane could see her bra's shoulder strap
peeking out just above the collar.

"What happened here? Why is she in Kasumi's room?" Asked Akane.

Nodoka responded from behind them, her voice making them jump as
neither had heard her walk up behind them.

"That is where she finally fell asleep."

Ranko was staring at the sleeping girl. "What happened Momma?"

"She came home with tears in her eyes, but it took me almost an
hour before she told me why. She spent that whole time in my
arms, never crying or saying a word."

"When she finally spoke, she informed me that you were right
Ranko. She said you would know what she meant and that it had
only made her hurt worse lying to herself."

"She then stood up and went to her room and came out only a
minute later wearing those. She was holding her uniform in her
hands."

"After walking into Kasumi's room, she suddenly got angry, and
tore her clothes up with her bare hands. She was crying out
something, but I didn't catch it."

Neko-Shampoo jumped off the bed and ran out the door, there was a
brief splash from downstairs and Shampoo returned, wearing only a
towel.

"She was saying that she wasn't going back anymore. That she
wasn't going to pretend anymore. The whole way home she kept
saying that to herself out loud." Blurted out Shampoo between
catching her breath.

"So..." Inquired Ranko. "... She just fell asleep after that?"

Nodoka shook her head. "She made me promise that I still loved
her. Her eyes were begging me and I of course said yes. Then
she just passed out and I caught her laid her on the bed."

Akane turned to Ranko. "What did she mean, that you were right?"

Ranko sighed. "Think back to what Ranma said back at school when
she snapped. She said that having the curse was the best thing
that could have happened to her and that she didn't realize
it..."

"Until just then." Interrupted Akane.

"I told Ranma when I gave her the ability to change that I did it
so she could decide for herself exactly what made her happy. "

"I think Ranma finally put all of the pieces together of her
puzzle and Ukyo is obviously not part of that equation, at least
not in the way that Ukyo wants to be."

"So, what do we do now?" Asked Akane.

Ranko shook her head. "I couldn't tell you. I will not be
entering her mind until she wakes up. I have no idea what's
happening in there and I don't know how safe it would be."

"So, for now.." Commented Nodoka. "..We wait."


<Author's Notes>

this is the beginning of the end..... Prepare, for the end is
already in sight, and now only the road remains to be paved.