Am I Pretty Again Ranma�s Declaration of Womanhood

Ranko went down to breakfast; she was looking forward to spending the entire day with Mousse. Not even her father’s look of disapproval could dampen her happy mood. She wanted to look her best, so she’d painstakingly curled her hair with a curling iron that she’d borrowed from Kasumi. This had transformed her natural waves into loose ringlets that she’s tied back with a ribbon that matched her eyes. She wore a blue smock top and knee socks that matched the ribbon and had on a loose, black skirt that ended just above her knees that had the barest whisper of lace at the hem. She hadn’t bothered with makeup, other girls in school were trying to talk her into trying it, but she felt she didn’t need any. She’d been blessed with a perfect complexion that a fake blush would look silly on and she needed no other colours other then her clear, blue eyes.

She sat down at the table and avoided looking at her father, hoping that he wasn’t in the mood to fight. He glared at the mockery of his son, hating this button and bowed version of him. Every feminine thing she did was an insult to Ranma. As far as he concerned, she was an unclean spirit possessing a body she had no right to. He was ready to wash his hands of her. Akane didn’t seem to care for her and Nabiki couldn’t stand her. She said that she couldn’t sell photos of Ranko to Kuno anymore, he refused to buy them. He watched while she retrieved her keys from her pocket to put them into her ribbon trimmed purse. He noticed a photo keychain had been added. “What’s that?” he demanded.

Ranko turned pale and said, “nothing father” and tried to hide it.

“Let me see that picture BOY” he barked at the trembling girl.

With her hands shaking, she handed him her keychain. Genma roughly turned the heart shaped frame over and flew into a rage at what he saw. The photo was of her and Mousse, Mousse cradled a fluffy grey kitten in his hands while she had her arm around him. Both were smiling and her free hand stroked the kitten’s fluffy head.

“What the hell is this?” Genma raged at her.

With a wooden tongue she answered “that’s us with Muko”

“Who’s Muko?” Genma asked in a deadly calm voice.

“He’s our kitten; Mousse’s friend’s cat had a litter of them about a month ago. He’s our favourite; we combined both of our names, to name him” she explained, then plunged forward with what she wanted “Father, Muko’s ready to go to a new home in two weeks. Mr. Tendo, Father, can he come live here?” she implored them.

She gasped when she was bodily lifted and thrown against the wall. Her father grabbed her by the throat and pinned her there.

“Mr. Saotome” Kasumi objected.

“Don’t interfere in family business” Soun Tendo chided and she reluctantly sat down.

Ranko gasped with pain as her father ripped the ribbon from her hair so hard that he took a chunk of hair with it. “You disgust me, you won’t use your martial arts, you won’t wear your old clothes, you talk in that pathetic voice, and you’re mooning over that boy. I hate all of your simpering ways. You’re not my son! My son is afraid of cats. I don’t know where the hell you came from, but I hope you go back there real soon. No one wants you here! You’re a disgrace to the Saotome name” he yelled and struck her head against the wall with every point. Ranko didn’t even try to resist him as her head crashed against the wall time and time again. She could only stare with horror into his angry face while the others looked on. Her eyes filled with tears at the pain and that no one tried to stop him.

Mousse had become accustomed to letting himself inside the Tendo residence when he came to pick up Ranko. He opened the door; he heard yelling and walked in the direction of it. Breakfast a was much calmer affair now that Ranko was in Ranma’s place. Mousse started in surprise to find Ranko’s own father beating her head against a wall. “Unhand her” Mousse cried in rage. Genma released her in shock. Ranko had tears leaking down her cheeks with bits of hair stuck to them, and her hair itself was in disarray.

Mousse scooped up her ribbon and handed it to her; he pulled her into an embrace and whispered for her to go fix herself up, after examining her head for lumps. “I need to speak to your father” he said, fixing hate filled eyes on him. Kasumi led her away, while talking to the frightened girl in a soothing voice.

After Kasumi helped her redo her hair, Ranko opened her journal and wrote “Ranma if this is your father and life, you can take them back any time. I don’t want them anymore”

Mousse strode towards Genma trembling with rage “I won’t give you the beating that you so richly deserve because she hates violence. You should be ashamed of yourself for treating your own flesh and blood like that. Now I can see where Ranma got his cloddish manners from, which would be your lousy parenting. I now feel sorry for him for having a father like you. It doesn’t matter what she was born as, you have a daughter now and should protect her. Her name is Ranko, her favourite colour is purple, she likes bright sunny day and butterflies. She wants to be a vet so that she can look after sick animal. She is bright, friendly and popular. She’s more a person to me than your cartoon character of a son ever was. Of course you’re to blame for him being one dimensional. You betroth your son many for person gains and leave him to clean up the mess. I guess that I should be glad that you never had a daughter, or you would be pimping her by now just so that you wouldn’t have to work. You’re fat, lazy and useless and you know. If you ever touch her like that again, you’ll be dodging knives and chains for the rest of your life, which I guarantee would be short” Mousse hissed, then turned his back on Genma and went to check on Ranko, leaving Genma frozen in shock.

Akane was stunned that the normally respectful Mousse would threaten Genma like that. The look in his eyes and tone of his voice she’d only ever heard when someone was threatening Shampoo.

He knocked on the door, “its open” she called.

Mousse was relieved to see Ranko was looking better, he sat down and took her hand “you okay?” he asked.

“Much better now” she said.

“Good, he’s never going to bother you again” Mousse said.

“Yes he will, he hates me” she said.

“If he does, then you will come live with us” Mousse said firmly. “You can have my room” he offered.

“I couldn’t throw you out of your room” she protested.

“Then we would have to think of something” he said and then blushed at what that implied.

“Do you still want to go out today?” he asked.

“More then anything” she said.

Mousse helped her gather a basket and blanket for their picnic and then exited the house with his arm wrapped protectively around her.

They sat in the park picnic-style after going to the market, Ranko had cheered up when she was surrounded by friendly people who kept on greeting her and in the glorious sunshine. Mousse liked how easily she could talk to people in her soft, cheerful voice. She sat beside him and watched the flight of a bumblebee drunk on pollen. “He reminds me of father drunk on sake” she commented and Mousse roared with laughter, her own sunny, bright laughter joined his.

“Another peach?” she asked and handed him the basket.

“Nah, I’m pretty stuffed” he replied.

“We still have lots of food left” Ranko observed.

Just then they heard a voice cry, “am I in Osaka? I need food and water!”

Ranko turned to see a muscular, young man wearing pale yellow clothing and a bandana crawling on the ground. “Oh that poor man, mister you can share our picnic” she called to him.

“No Ranko that’s.....” Mousse protested.

Ryoga turned his head in the direction of the angelic voice of his saviour, he was about to thank her when he realized who it was. Suddenly finding strength in his exhausted body, he flung himself towards the girl and cried “Ranma prepare to die!” he was surprised when she screamed and ran away. It was almost comical that Ranma was acting like a real frightened girl, until he was doused by a cold spray of water. P-Chan was surprised to see Mousse holding a dripping hose.

“I’m sorry Ryoga, but I couldn’t let you hurt Ranko” he explained and gestured for her to return. She did so warily, keeping a suspicious eye on the pig as if she didn’t know him.

“He’s Jusenkyo cursed?” she guest.

“Yes, this is Ryoga, he’s an old friend turned enemy of Ranma’s” Mousse explained. “Now Ryoga, this is Ranko, not Ranma” Mousse felt it kind of odd to see other animal cursed people, the human intelligence residing in them was unnerving. “Look at her closely; she’s the female personality that Ranma represses. He’s not here” Mousse said. Ryoga narrowed his eyes and examined the cutely dressed female. He could spot the differences immediately, this girl’s demeanor was shy and modest and Ranma wouldn’t be caught dead in her pretty outfit with its matching hair ribbon. “If you believe me, then nod and I’ll turn you back” Mousse said. Ryoga nodded. “You promise not to attack her? This is important; Ranko can’t use Ranma’s martial arts. You could hurt her” Mousse cautioned. If nothing else convinced Ryoga, that did it.

Mousse heated up some water on Ryoga’s camp stove while Ranko ducked around a tree to give them some privacy. When Ryoga was completely dressed, Mousse called her back.

“Hi you must be Ryoga, my name is Ranko. I hope you like chicken” she said as she loaded up a plate and handed him a bottled water. Ryoga tore into the first food he’d had in two days and then turned his attention to her. Ranma wouldn’t have shared his food like this. “Nice to meet you Ranko, sorry I scared you” Ryoga said.

“It’s okay, I’m getting used to people jumping on me thinking I’m Ranma, good thing that Moussie’s around to take care of me” she gushed affectionately.

Ryoga could only gap ‘Moussie?’ he thought as glanced from one to the other and wondered what the hell was going on, especially when Mousse blushed at this.

When Ranko became engrossed in helping some small children fly a kite, Mousse and Ryoga just watched her. “So it’s really true?” he asked in awe.

“She’s been like this for almost two weeks. I’ve been taking care of her” Mousse explained.

“Are you a couple?” Ryoga asked.

Mousse blushed and rubbed the back of his head “no we’re just friends. I like her and she seems amused by me” he explained. “Besides Shampoo’s the only girl for me”

She turned and waved at Mousse, Ryoga noticed his eyes soften and his expression get noticeably sappy and said in an ironic voice “Shampoo’s definitely the one for you” this was lost on Mousse.

They all skipped rock and both boys taught Ranko how to, until she managed to skip one three times in a row, and then both boys were treated to a squeal and a flurry of hugs.

“Well Ranko, I have a surprise for you. My old circus is into town, would you like to get a look behind the scenes?” Mousse asked.

“I’d love to” she said and then she realized that Ryoga probably didn’t have a place to go. “Can Ryoga come too?” she asked and noticed how the lost boy lit up.

“Of course” Mousse said.

Mousse loved how Ranko was brimming with excitement and kept on casting him worshipful looks when his old friend, Xien Chung recognized Mousse and let them for free. His eyes lighted on Ranko “is this your girlfriend?” he asked Mousse.

Ryoga watched the awkward pair blush and spoke up, “they’re just friends” before they could say something stupid.

They hit the midway first “which one?” Mousse asked when he had worked up to the premium prize level on a dart game. “The elephant” she said and it was in her hands a second later. Ryoga took the huge thing and attached it to the back of his pack.

Ranko and Ryoga were delighted to watch the performances under the big top and then go backstage to meet everyone.

A smiling Mousse and Ryoga watched Ranko antics as she ran from one place to the other with a heart shaped balloon tied to one wrist. This fluttered as she moved and made her seem younger than her sixteen years, which Mousse realized she actually was. She was enjoying herself and that was what he wanted. He didn’t know how much longer she would have her own body, knowing Ranma, not that much longer. She was like a kid in a candy store and he made it so that she could sample everything. Her face shone with happiness and that made him glad. He took her to the petting zoo and watched her coo over the miniature horses and donkeys.

Then they turned to the rides, she was fairly green in the face when Ryoga took her onto the roller coaster. She swore never again.

“So what ride do you want to go on then?” Mousse asked her.

“The fairest wheel” she said.

“But that’s for couples” Ryoga protested, then said “perhaps you should go with her Mousse?”

Mousse got into the basket with her and watched her blissful expression as they went high enough to see her dojo. The dying sunlight shone in her hair and made it into red fire that blew to caress his cheeks; this made him shiver and she snuggled closer. When they got stuck at the top during unloading, she said with glowing cheeks “I’ve heard that you’re supposed to kiss if you get stuck at the top”

Mousse blushed too “do you want to?” he asked.

“Yes” she responded and sighed when he pressed his lips softly against her own. She looped her hands around his neck while his arms snaked around her tiny waist. This time their kiss was soft, gentle and sweet. She tasted of cotton candy, peaches and promises. His tongue slipped inside her mouth to caress her own. He moaned into her mouth as her body settled against his, this startled them both and they drew apart. He opened his mouth to speak, but they both jumped as their basket was opened and they exited blushing, and then laughed at their mutual embarrassment. Ryoga just smirked at them.

They dropped Ryoga off at his friend’s house and then Mousse walked Ranko home. “I had a great time today” she said.

“Glad you did. You ready for the big dance tomorrow?” he asked.

“Yes I’m already packed to go to the hotel” she said enthusiastically.

“Perfect, I’ll pick you up tomorrow. We can make our way there during the day, then we can take our time getting ready in the room” he suggested.

“Sounds perfect” she said and beamed at him. Impulsively he bent forward to kiss her again, knowing that no one could see them from this angle. It was just as gentle as before, yet it electrified him and both were breathing heavy when they pulled away.

“I’d better go” she said somewhat breathlessly.

“Goodnight Ranko Darling” he said.

She glowed at the pet name and quickly went in before he could see her blush. She managed to sneak into her room without anyone seeing her. She threw herself down on the futon and fished out her diary. She wrote in it ‘Ranma, I’ve heard that you don’t care for Mousse, but I would like you to be the first to know that I’m wildly, butt crazy in love with him’ then she added some sketches of hearts and signed it ‘Mrs. Mu.’ There were no stars to be found in the sky that night; they were all in her eyes.

Mousse was in a similarly good mood when he thought about their perfect day, but something troubled him and he just couldn’t seem to put his finger on it. Then he remembered, darling was his pet name for Shampoo. It was an honour he bestowed upon her because he loved her.