That Ranma would still help them was enough to make the girl's quite happy. The male present, simply groaned, regretted clinging to his snap judgement that Ranma wanted to try things from the other side of the penis and wished she was still one of the girls. It was what Ranma said next that surprised the rest of those gathered. "For Kami's sake, someone tell Akane about Ryoga!"
Akane turned around in Ranma's arms so they would be face to face. "Tell me what about Ryoga?"
"Something I promised him I wouldn't tell about. Not just to you but to anyone. But I know for sure I aint the only one that knows." Ranma pointedly looked up to Shampoo. "I know he couldn't have got trough the breaking point training without Shampoo and Cologne finding out and there has ta be more than them who know it."
Something Ranma promised not to tell? She may not have been as blind as she had pretended to be but if there was a secret being kept from her, if someone else was using Ranma's honor as a weapon at her expense. She let go of Ranma and looked around. First at Shampoo who looked away. Then to the recovering Ukyo who suddenly went back to rolling on the ground in pain so he wouldn't have to answer. "What's Ranma talking about?"
After a tense silence Shampoo decided to suck it up and answer. "Lost Boy. He cursed. Like Ranma, Mousse and Me."
Akane blinked. "Ryoga has a Jusenkyo curse? How long has he had it?"
"Since he showed up." Ranma said with a sigh. "It's why he's always so angry at me."
That had Akane genuinely puzzled. "If he's had his curse that long how has he kept it a secret?" She thought back to all the times Ryoga seemed skittish around cold water all the times he 'helped' Ranma look for cures in a new light.
"Hide in plain sight, is old trick. Lost boy fall in Heitowennichuan." Shampoo went on to make it clear. "Spring of drowned black piglet."
Akane blinked and ran that trough the search filters she had just set up in her mind. Black. Piglet. Pig boy, bacon breath, pork bun. Always calling P-chan... Ryoga. "All this time." She looked to Ranma with watery eyes. "All this time."
Ranma gulped but held her ground and waited. And things were just starting to go well. Now she's going to kill me for not telling her. Ranma closed her eyes as Akane lunged at her, she expected the worst to happen. She did not expect to open her eyes and see a sobbing Akane with her face between her breasts.
"Waaaahhhhhhh! I'm such an idiot!" Wailed Akane as she cried into Ranma's chest after glomping onto her. "You tried to tell me so many times and I just didn't see it! How could I be so stupid!" Luckily the blame everything on Ranma reflex that had been part of the act was abandoned as she clung tightly to the girl she cared for.
It was not the response Ranma had expected but it was one she was quite happy with. That Akane still thought of her as a source of comfort was good. So she wrapped her arms around Akane and held her tight. "I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner Akane. Part of me thought maybe you already knew and just used him as part of the whole act. I wasn't sure you didn't know until a bit ago and once I was, I couldn't let it keep goin on. But I swore I wouldn't tell. Honor can suck when it's nothing but a trap." Ranma ran a hand up and down Akane's back even as she felt her shirt get utterly soaked. Yup, Soun's little girl all right.
"I know why you couldn't tell me." Ranma and Honor. I've used it against her to. "Why didn't anyone else tell me?"
Kodachi was quick to call out with her answer. "I didn't know!" Honest truth from her, she didn't pay much attention to things that didn't directly effect her or risk her secret.
"Shampoo thought you knew already." The Amazon admitted with a shrug. "Is why Shampoo always thinking you not always serious about being only with girls. Thought you was just not ready to admit. Keeping ace in hole? Right saying?"
Akane frowned at Shampoo but accepted it. Shampoo thought more with her vagina (and occasionally present temporary dick) than with her brain some of the time. Something Akane often considered a shame seeing as Shampoo wasn't half the bimbo she got off pretending to be if she could keep her mind out of the gutter.
Ukyo gave up on the rolling around bit, a knee to the balls only hurts for so long. Getting to his knees, Ukyo sheepishly gave his answer. "When I saw him get turned into a pig, he got me to say I wouldn't tell anyone else his 'weakness'. Didn't know about P-chan at the time."
Akane slumped to the ground, arms still tight around Ranma. "Is there anyone who didn't know," Kodachi coughed into her fist, "Right, sorry."
"Don't worry Akane," Ranma cooed gently. "I won't let him take advantage any more. I don't care if that jerk is to stupid to see you don't love him. I won't let him hurt us again."
Pushing back a bit from Ranma, Akane asked the half question as she went a bit green. "He thinks I love him?" Ranma nodded. "Ugh, I thought he was just sticking to that ruin your happiness thing by trying to split us up. Oh Kami. I've let someone as crazy as a Kuno into my bed..."
"Not fair!" Protested the nearby Kuno.
"Male Kuno." Akane corrected.
"Better." Said a mollified Kodachi.
Akane sighed. "Well, now I can get rid of him at least now that I know."
"Yeah," Ranma agreed fully. Sooner I can get Ryoga's piggy butt away from you the better. Holding onto that thought for a long moment Ranma stood up and lifted Akane to her feet. "It's starting to get late though, so maybe we should break it up for now." Ranma looked to the others. "Ya know I'm here to help now at least." Then a look at Ukyo. "And who I wanna be with."
Ukyo winced. "Right. Dumb idea, I get it. Not what you were looking for. I'm sorry Ranma."
"Alright, just so we're clear," Ranma nodded then gave a small grin. "Ucchan."
"Thanks Ranchan." Ukyo let her shoulders slump, though it was in a sense of relief.
Shampoo sprung down from her branch and skipped over to Ranma and Akane, leering at them both. "You two has fun, yes." She gave them both a pat on the shoulder then jumped away to get to work.
Akane helped Ukyo to his feet and he started to walk off, though a bit stiffly. "See you two."
Kodachi took to her feet, plucked up her umbrella and walked over to Ranma and Akane as well. The wealthy girl bowed to them and then stood and smiled at the two. "I would like to thank you again Ranma but the words alone seem hollow after what I've put you trough and what you've helped me save." She presented a small box to Ranma who opened it and pulled out a key and a card. "It's to a small apartment my Asuka and I have leased on the edge of the ward. The key opens the balcony doors. Feel free to make use of it if you two like." Then she added after a small giggle, "Unless the lights are on then find somewhere else."
"Wow. Someplace private?" Ranma uttered as she and Akane looked at each other. Time alone was hard to get. "Thanks Kodachi!"
"Oh, no! Thank you." The wealthy girls smile slid into a grin. "Now I'm afraid I must be off." She pulled a bouquet of roses from nowhere and handed them off to Akane. "Farewell Harridans!" With that she bounded away, laughing her favorite manic laugh. That being Manic Laugh #56, the 'Got you!' laugh. As soon as she was out of range the flowers poofed a cloud of paralytic gas into Akane's face and the girl keeled over with a sour look.
"Well." Mused Ranma as she gently picked up Akane and headed towards home. "Should have seen it coming really." Akane might have been upset at Kodachi but getting to cuddle with her Ranma-chan was ruining the sour mood. So, she just enjoyed being carried for now.
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(Posted Wed, 21 Aug 2013 07:41)
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