Looking up at the Tendo girls, Ranma looked for what she most feared to find in their faces. Disgust, distrust, anger or fear...
None of those were present however. There was curiosity and what she would guess might be concern. Shy fidgeting from Akane but nothing to indicate she was angry or even upset in any way. Maybe things weren't as bad as she thought they would be. That had to be it, she was just getting really pessimistic and paranoid lately. Granted, it wasn't everyone who could have a girl going from wanting you dead to running away screaming at the sight of you when she ambushed you in the bath. Akane was the only one to know that secret and in her moment of fearing the worst Ranma had forgotten that the opposite had already happened. No, it looked like she didn't have to worry about being called a transgendered freak for now. Now that she had a few moments to think it all over, she relaxed a bit and looked for something to talk about that would be less awkward.
"So..." Ranma finally stumbled across something with a combination of mixed remembrances. "Whats this school I'll be going to like? Akane told me she was havin some trouble there?"
"Oh." Kasumi blinked at the change in topic. "Well Akane and Nabiki can tell you about Furinkan, they are the ones still in classes." Ranma noticed the very cheerful tone as Kasumi said that. "I'll see to the dishes then, let me know if you need anything." With that, Kasumi bustled off to the kitchen with a smile, giving Ranma a reassuring pat on the shoulder as she passed. She wanted to leave quickly thanks to memories that talk about the school brought up, memories involving tropical fruit, explosions and loose hair.
Akane was more than happy to jump on the subject change. "Yeah. The school itself is alright. It can be a bit rough at times though."
"Ugh," Ranma groaned, "Going to be another one of those schools?" She noticed Akane and Nabiki giving her questioning looks and clarified. "The old man didn't like that I had to 'waste time' away from the art so every time he had ta put me in school he would find the roughest ones around where I'd have to get in lots of fights while I was there. Said it was so I wouldn't get soft. That's why school and I don't get along so good."
"Well," Nabiki grinned, "I guess you'll fit in fine then Saotome. Furinkan only a few bad apples though so I'd bet you can avoid most of the trouble."
The three looked outside at the sudden ring of ominous thunder. "Odd, doesn't look like it should rain again." Muttered Ranma.
"Anyway, some of the newer teachers are alright, the ones that have been there longest are really spacy though. Something about the principle being weird before he went on vacation. Lots of after school clubs to pick from though if that interests you but you aren't required to join one. I'm looking forward to the Drama club's plays. I wanted to try Kendo but it didn't go well..." Akane started off cheerfully but her mood clouded over a bit at the end.
"That's how Akane picked up her morning admirers." Nabiki pointed out to explain Akane's soured mood. "Showed interest in learning Kendo and it got my classmate interested in her. Now he keeps trying to get the "Fierce Tigress" to date him."
"That would be the jerk who got the mob after you every day?" Ranma's question was more rhetorical, she could see from Akane's sour face it was true. "Isn't there a way to get them ta leave you alone?"
"I wish." Said Akane with a sigh. "It seems like every time I win it just makes them more eager to try and beat me. They think it's actually what I want. Can you believe how stupid that is?"
"They sound like a pretty thick bunch." Ranma nodded sympathetically.
Nabiki had an idea and decided to run with it, mostly to tease her sister. "Well Sis, maybe you can tell them you are dating Ranma now."
Ranma and Akane blushed as they looked at each other a long moment and Nabiki just smirked. Then Akane said something that wiped the smirk off her sister's face. "I'd be willing to give it a try if you were Ranma." I did think of it earlier myself. Even before I knew she wasn't just a girl. Maybe it would work.
Nabiki sat stunned. Ok, even if the rumors about Akane liking girls seemed to be true... Kind of... Maybe she is Bi? Either way I didn't think Akane had the guts to go public. And here is Akane looking to start dating the recently arrived hottie for all to see? Granted with a body like that, Ranma might be able to turn a lot of girls at school that way. There were some bets out there she could collect on now Nabiki was sure of that. But then Ranma was supposed to be a he and her father was going out to find a cure to make Ranma a boy again. Does it still count as lesbianism if one of them flips genders a few times and ends up male? Would Ranma's father actually find a cure? What if he didn't and Akane fell for this girl for real? What if I do? I already got aroused watching her... Nabiki was starting to get a headache considering the possibilities.
Ranma blinked at Akane's words. "I'd like that a lot. Can't say I've been on any dates before though so don't really know what all to do but I'd be up for tryin. Especially if it will help you out."
"Seriously?" Queried Nabiki.
"Why not? Like you said, Ranma beat me." Akane started smiling as she spoke. "By Kuno's own stupid rules that means they have to back off. Doesn't it? And I'd say after school would be a good time for a first date. We can take a walk around the area and I can show Ranma what there is to see around Furinkan. You do need to get to know the area if you'll be staying here right?"
Ranma nodded a bit. "I suppose."
The younger teens spent a bit more of the evening chatting quietly. Nabiki sat nearby pretending to listen but was trying to figure out why Akane seemed so into Ranma. Then she had to stop the image in her head of Akane and Ranma together from replacing her sister with herself. The fathers were close by, patting each other on the back verbally as they saw the bright future of the schools being joined as soon as Genma got back with a cure. Eventually the evening wound down and everyone went their own ways for bed.
Or at least they tried to. When Ranma tried to follow her father into the guest room Kasumi stopped her. "Ranma, it's not proper for a young woman your age to share a room with her father."
"Um..." Ranma just stared a bit at the elder Tendo daughter "Kasumi, I'm supposed to be a guy."
"But you are not at the moment. When Uncle leaves, the room will be yours but for now, we need to find somewhere else for you." Kasumi tapped her chin as she waited for the the obvious to happen thought it over.
Akane opened her door after overhearing what her sister had said. "Ranma can stay in my room until Mister Saotome is gone."
Kasumi smiled to her sister. "That's very helpful of you Akane."
It didn't take very long to move Ranma's futon and pack into Akane's room. Genma even helped carry the futon. "For the future of the schools!" At least that was what he would tell himself.
When the lights went out Akane bid her temporary roommate good night and the two blushing teens went to sleep.
The next day...
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(Posted Tue, 05 Nov 2013 06:01)
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