Ranma and the Doll Chapter 12

Ranma and Amy worked to repair the roof of the Tendo house. Ranma was in his usual red Chinese shirt. Amy was wearing a pair of black overalls a white shirt and a black cap.

"You know Ranma," Amy said as she hammered a board into place. "You should really think about joining one of the martial arts clubs at school."

"What, I'm way better than any of them," Ranma answered as he put the next board into place. "There's nothing I can't learn from them, that I can't learn better on my own."

"The bad grammar of that sentence aside," Amy explained. "The attitude that you shouldn't get involved with the clubs because you don't think they'll help you improve is something your father taught you right?"

"Yeah," Ranma said putting down his work. "What are you getting at?"

"Your father is an unemployed bum living out of his friend's house getting money from his wife." Amy said. "He doesn't see martial arts as a way to self-improve; he sees it as an excuse to be selfish."

"Now wait a minute," Ranma said. "How did you know he gets money from mom? I didn't even know that?"

"I overheard them talking," Amy answered. "But my point is I want you to look at Soun and Genma. They don't teach any significant number of students, they don't compete in any regular tournaments or leagues and have both sold their children's hands in marriage to supports themselves. When the dojo was in dire straits you were the one that went out to get new students. If you ever have kids do you really want repeat the cycle and have to sell them repeatedly to pay for food." Ranma had a brief nightmare of selling a grade school son and daughter to be wed to a pair of kids that looked like a young Kuno and Kodachi.

"What does that have to do with joining a school club?" Ranma asked.

"It's the first step in getting into a professional league," Amy said. "First you join the high school team, then you join a college team from there you get into nationals or the UFC."

"Wow," Ranma said sounding upset. "And here I thought you were the only one not planning out my life for me."

"I'm sorry," Amy said. "But I don't want you to end up like Genma."

"I'm not gonna end up like Pops," Ranma said. "You stupid block of wood."

Amy slapped Ranma across the face and leapt off the roof, changing magically into her Victorian dress on the way down.

Wow Nabiki thought from the porch where she had been eavesdropping. Ranma can put his foot in his mouth even with a girl custom made to be perfect for him. If Ranma's planning to join a sports team that is an excellent opportunity.

I know he usually means well but I can't believe Ranma said that to me, Amy thought as she walked down the street. I need to go somewhere to clear my head, but where can I go? I guess there's always that old antique shop. It's where I always wake up there. Amy headed to the antique shop when she was just outside she was stopped by a woman in her mid-thirties with long black hair a three piece skirt suite and sun glasses. The woman was tall long legged with an hourglass figure that gave Miss Hinako a run for her money.

"Amy is that you?" The women said. Amy looked at her for a moment before recognizing her.

"Noriko," Amy said. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard from the old woman that runs the shop that you might need help," The women said.

"I guess that's accurate," Amy said.

"You're not a doll anymore," Noriko said," How's that possible?"

"That may take some time to explain," Amy said. She and Noriko went to a small café where Amy explained all that had transpired since she became Ranma's friend.

Ranma finished fixing the roof and went back into the dojo he saw his father and mother. Nodoka was giving Genma a handful of money. As Genma walked away Ranma approached his mother.

"Mom," Ranma said. "What was that money you just gave Pops?"

"I had some money leftover from when I used to sublet our old home." Nodoka explained. "Your father has been borrowing it for a while."

"Mom, has Pops ever really supported you?" Ranma asked.

"Of course he … um … he got money from somewhere onetime I think."

"I need to really think about my future," Ranma said.

"So magical cursed springs?" Noriko said. "I don't suppose there's one that can keep me looking young forever?"

"I think there's one that can make you perpetually a six year old," Amy answered.

"Not very appealing" Noriko said.

"How have you been?" Amy asked.

"Well," Noriko explained. "After you got me through exams and I stopped letting that girl pose take advantage of me I got into a good high school made friends and went to law school. But you know now that you're no longer a doll you might need some paper work and official documents. I think I can help you with that but I can't make promises."

"Thank you," Amy said.

"So do you really think you should get involved with a guy who keeps stringing along a bunch of girls?" Noriko said. "You claim he doesn't like them but he still has four fiancés."

"Ranma has dumped all of them except maybe Ukyo at least once," Amy said. "The problem isn't he won't resolve his relationships, the problem is none of them will acknowledge a resolution that ends with him choosing someone else."

"And you don't have a solution for him?" Noriko asked. "That's unlike you."

"I'm a magic doll brought to life and given humanity not God, I have my limits," Amy said with a hint of exasperation in her voice. "And he doesn't seem to want me helping him anymore."

"Having an argument doesn't mean he doesn't want your help," Noriko said. "From what you told me he has enough trouble with people controlling his life."

"You're right," Amy said. "But I'm worried about how his life will turn out."

"You can lead a horse to water," Noriko said. "But you can't make him drink. You've given him the idea hopefully he'll make the right choice."

"You're right," Amy said. "I guess I should apologize."

"I'll give you my card," Noriko said. "Tell Ranma if he ever needs legal help I'll represent him pro bono as a favor to a friend of a friend."

"Thank you very much," Amy said. "I can't keep stalling."

"See you around," Noriko said.

Amy met up with Ranma at the Tendo Dojo.

"Ranma," Amy said. "I'm sorry I was being so pushy."

"I'm sorry for what I said," Ranma answered. "I didn't think it would make you so mad."

"I forgive you," Amy said. The two of them stared at each other in awkward silence for a few minutes.

Sorry for the short chapter and late update I have been busy with work and had serious writers block.