By Tripolar Disorder
Will the insanity ever end?
Previous chapters of this story and all my stories can be accessed from my website at:
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Nodoka helped Ranma lay a sleeping Ranko onto the futon in his room. He brushed away her bangs from her eyes, captivated by how cute she looked when asleep. He shifted into his girl form just thinking about her.
The reflex action caused him to use the last little bit of energy she had and Ranma passed out and collapsed in a pile next to Ranko. Nodoka, with Akane's help, laid Ranma-chan down next to her twin.
All present waited until the girls would wake up. Cologne was especially curious about the sleeping redheads.
Ranko was first. Her eyes fluttered open after several hours.
Her mouth tried to form words, but no noise escaped.
Akane and Kasumi were there to keep her from sitting up.
Kasumi smiled. "You are alright Ranko. You are in Ranma's room."
A confused look crossed her face.
Cologne responded. "It seems Ranma has given your spirit it's own body, instead of letting you die like you wanted."
Ranko eyes went wide and Cologne smiled. "Ranma's thoughts were very clear the moment before you appeared."
Ranko then turned to her left and saw Ranma-chan. She was sleeping, but she noticed the slight curve to her mouth.
She lifted her hand to Ranma-chan's face and stroked the back of her fingers lightly across her cheek.
She giggled at the sensation. "I am really awake. This isn't a dream. He did it for me. I can't believe he actually did it."
She put her hand on Ranma-chan's head, but jumped back from the touch.
She put her hand back slowly. She closed her eyes. "Calm down Ranma. Please calm down."
Akane and Nodoka were at their sides in an instant. "What's wrong with Ranma?" Asked Nodoka, a trembling gaze in her eyes.
Ranko smiled. "He is all alone inside his mind for the first time since he was cursed. That and he used up so much of his energy, his body is forcing him to sleep and he can't wake up.
He was scared that he was dead."
Ranko closed her eyes again. "Ranma, you are probably going to be sleeping for the rest of the day. You knocked yourself out from Happosai, then you pulled this stupid stunt."
Ranko bobbed her head slightly back and forth, as she seemed to be listening to a voice only she could hear. "Yes, I think it was stupid. But thank you."
She was silent for a few moments more. Akane noticed a tear come from her eye. Ranko began blushing. "No, I can't... No,
please. I don't deserve it... Fine I'll ask her."
Ranko opened her eyes. Turning toward Nodoka, it was easy to tell she was beginning to cry. "Ranma wanted me to ask you. He wants to know if you want a daughter, because he is calling me ..
... his sister."
Nodoka began to cry as well. She put her arms around Ranko. "I would love to have a daughter, and Ranma wouldn't ask if he thought I could say no."
Akane and Kasumi joined the embrace. Akane chimed. "Welcome to the family Ranko."
Nabiki came in from running errands all morning. She found Kasumi, Akane and Nodoka in the sitting room.
Looking out into the yard, she gasped. "What happened?" She could plainly see the scratches across the outer wall, and the pond only half full of water. She could also see the numerous scorch marks and explosion craters.
Nodoka calmly sipped her tea. "Oh, nothing much. My husband's perverted master Happosai attacked Ranma, who blasted him into the atmosphere. Then Ranma gave his curse's personality her own body."
Nabiki stood there, unable to say anything. Akane grabbed her sister's arm. "Wanna meet her? Her name is Ranko."
They made their way upstairs. Nabiki peeked into Ranma's room as Akane opened the door.
Inside she could see two Onna-Ranma's on the floor next to each other. One lying flat and the other curled up on her side with a leg and an arm hugging the first.
Ranko looked up as the door opened. She waved to Nabiki and using her uber-cute voice. "Hiya Nabs. Howya doin?"
Nabiki passed out onto the floor.
Ranko was holding the still sleeping Ranma-chan, when Akane came in with dinner.
"So, you having fun keeping him company, Ranko?" Asked Akane as she set the tray down.
Ranko motioned her to come over. "Put your hand on Ranma's head and close your eyes.
Akane did so, and when she shut her eyes she could see another version of the room she was in. It was hazy, but now two familiar females, sitting in the center, turned toward her.
Ranma-chan hopped up from her sitting position and gave her an embrace. Akane could feel warmth but not a real physical contact.
"Where are we?" Asked Akane.
Ranko made a sweeping gesture. "This is where the conscience part of Ranma's mind dwells when he is asleep. We were in his sub-conscience level the last time."
Ranma-chan walked back over to the middle of the floor and sat down. "C'mon, sit down and keep me company so Ranko can eat.
It's lonely here with no one to talk to."
Ranko laughed. "Only you would miss losing the voice in your head."
Ranma-chan shook her head. "I didn't lose it, I saved it, now it's just stored somewhere else."
I promise I will be right back." She started to fade out, and Ranma grinned. "Take your time."
Akane sat down across from Ranma-chan. "So what do you want to talk to about?" She asked.
Onna-Ranma giggled. "Do you really like your curse Akane? I mean, you don't hate it?"
Akane shook her head. "No Ranma. I don't mind it at all."
Ranma smiled. "That's good. I thought you looked so cute this morning."
Akane blushed. "Thanks."
"It's just too bad that you can't change in here. I'm not afraid of cats anymore. In fact I really want a chance to give your kitty fur a rub."
"I will hold you to that." Akane grinned.
"Akane, did you have a dream as to what you wanted to be growing up?"
Akane looked at Ranma-chan, puzzled. "Where did that come from?"
Said redhead was staring up at the ceiling. "Sometimes I feel like I could do something other than Martial arts. It's like a dream, but I can't remember what. It's got me curious."
Akane took Ranma-chan's hand. "I think that would a great idea.
I am actually glad you can think about something besides the art."
"You know... that reminds me. You wanna spar? Right here, right now?" Ranma-chan stood up.
Akane looked around. "But this isn't..."
As the words came out of her mouth the room morphed into an exact copy of the dojo."
"... The Dojo. How'd you do that?"
Ranma-chan smiled at her. "This is my mind. I can do whatever I want."
Akane laughed. "So what do we do now?"
Ranma-chan turned around, her back to Akane. "I don't think you are really trying hard enough Akane. You are capable of so much more."
As Ranma-chan turned back, she was wearing a pair of wrap-around sunglasses.
She spoke in a low tone, as low as her female voice would allow.
"You must give up your notions of speed and strength. C'mon try to hit me. I wanna see if your mind is faster than your body."
Akane had an upset smirk on her face. "Very funny Ranma. This isn't 'The Matrix'. This is just your mind."
Ranma-chan's neutral expression curved into a large smile.
"Wanna bet?"
Akane suddenly had to dodge as Ranma tried to attack. She threw a punch from too far away to hit and so ran forward on purpose,
correcting her obvious over-extension. Akane giggled as she began leaning over backward and falling to avoid it.
Ranma then jumped up and hung in the air almost too long for a normal jump. She landed on the other side of the floor. Turning to face Akane, who had hopped to her feet, she took a ready stance.
Ranko phased in at that moment, shaking her head. "So he got you in his little game too huh?"
Akane was laughing and Ranma-chan strolled over to join her.
"You know, we were just playing."
Ranko shook her head. "You two are so silly. Sometimes you're like little kids. I swear."
Akane stuck out her tongue. "Jealous?"
Ranko quickly sputtered. "O-O-Of course not."
Ranma shook her head back and forth a moment. "Hey, I think I can wake up."
Akane opened her eyes to find Ranko's hand on hers on Ranma's head. Ranko pulled her hand away as Ranma's eyes opened.
Akane didn't notice as she moved her own hand so Ranma-chan could sit up.
Ranma-chan stood up and then closed her eyes, trying to shift forms. After straining for almost a minute, she sighed, and her shoulders slumped. "I can't seem to change back. I feel really weak."
"Are you stuck as a girl forever now Ranma?" Akane asked, a worried look upon her face."
Then the trio heard the unmistakable rumbling of Ranma's stomach.
She blushed. "I guess I need to eat. I'm just drained."
Akane giggled and took Ranma-chan by the hand and helped her up.
"After you eat, come to my room. You promised to pet me."
Ranko laughed slightly while Ranma-chan blushed.
Akane was lying on her bed. Ranma-chan was lying next to her,
busy playing with her tail.
"So what is your plan to figure out your dream?"
Ranma took hold of Akane's tail again. She let it slide between her curled fingers. "I am going go to mom's house tomorrow.
Maybe I can look at the stuff in my room and figure it out."
This continued for a few minutes before Akane got up and laid out her pajamas.
"Ok Ranma, you'd better go. I am going to get some sleep now,
it's been an interesting and a very long day."
In her heart she suddenly felt sad, a brief pang of loneliness.
She wondered why she felt that way all of a sudden, then looked at Ranma-chan, who was standing up next to the bed looking at her. She actually read the look on Ranma-chan's face for an instant.
"Ranma? You don't want to leave?"
The redhead nodded. "I was thinking about my room and sleeping alone. I was dreading leaving you for the night. You have been so comforting to me today."
"Ranma go change and bring your futon in here.
Ranma-chan smiled a little. "Are you sure Akane? You don't mind having me?"
"I don't mind. If it makes you feel better Ranma, you can sleep in here whenever you want."
Ranma-chan disappeared down the hall.
Akane sighed, and began putting on her sleepwear.
When the redhead entered the room again, Akane started giggling.
Said girl was wearing a pair of black leggings and an oversized white sweatshirt over it. "Akane, what's so funny?" She asked.
"You almost reminded me of a penguin Ranma. You're outdoing me in cuteness everyday. I wished I looked as good in tights as you sometimes." Akane was giving her another mock-frown.
Ranma-chan began to lay out her futon on the floor in the corner of the room, furthest from Akane's bed.
"Ranma, why are you setting up over there?" Questioned Akane.
She already knew the reason, however.
Akane slid off her bed, strolled over, and put her arms around Ranma-chan. She felt the girl relax immediately. Her tail curled around both their waist's. She then lifted her up and dropped her on the bed.
"What's up Akane?"
"If you're going to stay in my room, then you're going to follow my rules. And I say you'll not get off the bed unless I say so."
Akane then pushed Ranma-chan back onto the bed as she tried to roll off.
"But I ..."
"No buts, Ranma." Quipped Akane.
Akane slid Ranma-chan over and got under her covers. She pulled the blanket over both of them and suddenly Ranma-chan understood.
Her smile was evident. "I hope we can get some sleep tonight though."
Akane laughed. "I was never going to do anything to you Ranma.
It was just a joke. Just your average night of sleep."
Ranma-chan giggled. "Oh good. You had me worried."
Akane smiled back and ran her hand through Ranma-chan's hair.
Soon Akane found herself relaxed, lying on her side, cuddling the sleeping redhead. She fell asleep soon after.
Nodoka walked downstairs to find Ranko sitting on the couch. She was staring off into space and had her hands clasped in her lap.
"What is it dear?" asked Nodoka.
She seemed to break out of her trance. "Oh, I was just feeling how happy Ranma and Akane were just now."
Nodoka sat down next to her. "What about you? Don't you want to be happy too?"
Ranko went back to staring off into space before replying. "I don't really matter. I am not a real person. I only care about Ranma."
Nodoka sat with her eyes closed, her arms still wrapped around Ranko. Several minutes passed before Nodoka planted a kiss upon her daughter's forehead. "Well, now you have a new job in keeping Ranma happy."
Ranko turned and wiped her eyes. "What's that?"
Nodoka smiled as she gave her daughter a hug. "Be Ranma's sister. Be my daughter. He gave you your own life because he wanted to. Now you get to be with him, not within him."
Several minutes past as Ranko held her eyes shut and her hands on Nodoka's. Finally she spoke.
"Do you think I could go to school? Be just like other girls?"
"Of course dear. I think that would be a great idea. I will call the school about that tomorrow."
That was when Nabiki appeared around the corner. "I knew this would come in handy. Sounds like my timing is about right."
She handed Ranko a birth certificate. "I made this when I thought Ranma was going to 'Ranko' forever. It is completely legal and you'll need it if you want to attend school."
Nodoka was surprised. "How is that possible Nabiki?"
Nabiki smirked as she replied. "It is amazing what you can do,
if you know where the cracks in the system are. Welcome to the family Ranko. I am sorry I freaked out earlier."
Ranko smiled back. "We kinda did that to you purpose." She said with a grin.
Nabiki grinned back just as wide. "I know, and I deserved it. I had been really harsh to Ranma until recently. I hope you two can forgive me."
Ranko nodded then gave Nabiki a hug. Nabiki smiled and returned the embrace. Then Nabiki left to go to bed.
Nodoka and Ranko were still holding each other. "So, where are you going to sleep, Ranko dear?"
She replied. "I WAS going to sleep with Ranma in his room. He needs some company in case the nightmares aren't over. But you know he's in Akane's room right now."
Nodoka gave Ranko a squeeze. "I think that Ranma isn't the only one who needs company."
Ranko blushed, and Nodoka smiled. She fluffed up several pillows and leaned back on the sofa. Ranko leaned up against her,
closing her eyes. They were both sleeping soundly a few minutes later.
authors notes
By the way, in case you were wondering...
The answer is NO, it will never end.