HOME | DD

Description
Chapter Four: Her eyes

“Oh, man.” Ranma groaned, laying his head dejectedly onto the living room table.

“Come on, Ranma. It can’t be that bad.” When the teacher asked to see him after class that day, Akane waited for him at the gates. Nearly an hour later, she saw him walk out of the school, eyes blank and face pale. He didn’t say a word on the way home. “What did the teacher say?”

She heard him mutter something, but couldn’t make it out. Slightly annoyed, she poked him sharply on the side. “Speak up!”

“I’m failing all my classes.” he said, miserably.

“Is that all?” Akane laughed, relieved. “It’s nothing to get so upset over, you still have time. You only need to study harder.”

“You don’t get it, Akane. I have three months to get my grades up to average or…”

She waited for him to finish. “Or what?”

“Or I’ll be expelled.”

She gasped. “Expelled?” He had told her his grades were slipping, but to be expelled? “Isn’t that a little harsh?”

He gave a short laugh. “Are you kidding? This is the least he can do to me. That stupid principle’s got the higher ups involved. He sold them some sob story about how my constant training is affecting me emotionally and academically.” He clenched his fist. “He went on about how martial arts have already made me overly aggressive, and it’s only a matter of time before I go berserk.”

“That’s what you get for breaking his poor daughter’s heart.” Nabiki drawled leaning against the door frame.

Akane’s eyes widened in realization. “Kodachi.”

“Yup,” Nabiki nodded resolutely. “You, my friend, are now facing the wrath of an angry daddy.”

“Fantastic.” He muttered, bitterly. “My only consolation is that he can’t ethically send me up the river without a paddle. I get a tutor. With my luck though, it’ll probably be some loser that’ll just go on and on–”

“No need to be negative, Saotome-chan.” A familiar voiced chirped.
They turned as Nami, made her way down the hall, hobbling slightly on her crutches.

Kasumi fell in slightly behind. “Is this a friend of yours, Ranma? She says she’s been sent to tutor someone here.”

“You’re the tutor?”

She sat down opposite of him and set her bag on the table. “If you want to call me that. I prefer the term academic advisor.”

“Will you be staying for dinner, Mitsukai-chan?” Kasumi asked.

“I wouldn’t want to put you through the trouble,” Nami began.

“Oh, it’s no trouble. I’ll set a second place for you.” Kasumi nodded courteously and made her way toward the kitchen.

“I still can’t believe they got you to be my tutor,” Ranma said, “I thought for sure the psycho of a principal would send me someone to just make things worse.”

Nabiki eyed suspiciously. “Mitsukai? I’ve read that name somewhere. Hey, aren’t you the so-called Master of Mind Manipulation?”

Nami shrugged. “You shouldn’t believe everything you read, Nabiki-senpai.”

If she was surprised at the honorific, she didn’t show it. Nabiki just continued to stare at the girl with thinly veiled mistrust. “What do you get out of this? You hardly know Ranma, so why would you help him?”

“Nabiki, do you have to talk to her like that?” Akane demanded. “She’s not a criminal you know.”

“It’s okay, Akane-chan. No harm done. Besides, she’s right. I didn’t want to tutor Saotome-chan at first.”

“How come?” Akane asked.

“Let’s just say, that I doubt the principal’s intentions in sending me here.” She took out her math book and looked up at him expectantly. “So, Saotome-chan, where are your books?”

Ranma’s eyes went wide, before he bolted out the room.

“He forgot them at school.” Nabiki shook her head. “That should take him about an hour. In the mean time…” She sat down next to Nami and stared intently at her. After awhile she frowned. “What are you?”

“Nabiki!” Akane scowled at her sister. “What’s with you? It’s not like you to be this rude to guests.”

Nabiki looked unapologetic. “I can usually read people pretty well, but I can’t read her. It makes me wonder what she’s hiding.”

Nami shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll find out my secrets, eventually. I hear that you’re quite good at that kind of thing.”

Lips pursed at the subtle jab, Nabiki took out a deck of cards. “Let’s play.”

Nami raised a brow. “I’m afraid I haven’t got much money on me, senpai.”

Nabiki was determined to get a handle on this girl. “We’ll barter something else in place of money as we play. Black Jack. You game?”

Akane sighed, Oh, Nabiki. What’re you doing?

“Fine, let’s play.”

(-)(-)(-)

“I’m back.” Ranma called, making his way back to the living room. “Where’s Nami?”

“With Nabiki.” Akane answered. “Settling the paperwork of her winnings.”

“Huh? Winnings? You mean she made a bet with Nabiki and won?” He had never heard of such a thing.

Akane sighed, tiredly. “Just take out your Algebra book, Ranma. I’ll explain everything later. Nami left some problems for you to do.”

(-)(-)(-)

When Nami returned, she had the paperwork tucked under her arm. She looked over the problems Ranma had been working on. “Ah, you do remember some of the more essential formulas. That’s good.”

“Yeah, but I’m still having trouble remembering which functions to use, once I get past this chapter.”

As they worked, Akane also got the benefit of Nami’s tutoring. She finally understood the logarithms that tripped her up on the last quiz. “You’re really bright, Nami. But you never answered Nabiki’s question. Why are you doing this?”

Nami smiled. “The principal plays a game. I like games. He expects me to help Saotome-chan, so that is what I am doing.”

“You do know that he lives to cause trouble.” Ranma commented, not looking up from his paper.

Nami grinned, but said nothing.

“Well, do we have a guest?”

“Hi, Dad. This is Nami. She’s a friend from school.” Akane said.

“She’s my tutor.” Ranma murmured, frowning at one of the problems.

Nami bowed respectfully. “It is a pleasure to me you, Tendo-san.”

Soun smiled. What a nice girl. “The pleasure is all mine, my dear. How¬–” What he was going to say was cut off, when a giant panda stomped into the room.¬ Picking up Ranma’s math book, he looked questioningly at the symbols.

“Hey!” Ranma protested. “Give that back, Pop!”

Grinning mischievously, Genma held the book far above his son’s head.

“Pop? Saotome-chan, this panda…is your father?” Nami asked, in a small voice.

The growl died in his throat as he saw her eyes go wide with fear. “Uh…” For some reason, he was very reluctant to tell her of his secret. While he was frantically thinking up an acceptable lie, Genma grabbed him by his shirt and tossed him into the koi pond.

When Ranma surfaced, he yelled angrily. “What’d you do that for? Stupid old man, I oughtta sell you to the zoo!”

“W-Who are you?”

Ranma realized, belated that he had transformed in his girl half. “Nami—”

The startled girl scrambled unsteadily to her feet, using her crutches for support. “I have seen a lot of things in my lifetime, but never have I seen a boy change into a girl in the blink of an eye.” She eyed the water suspiciously. “Is this a side-effect of the water here? Will I turn into something as well?” Her eyes whipped back to Ranma, eyes widening in realization. “It’s you. You’re Kuno-senpai’s pigtailed girl.”

Ranma winced at that, and snapped, “I’m not that idiot’s anything!” But his heart sank a little as he saw her pack up her books. “Where’re you going, Nami?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can handle this right now. Not on top of everything else.” No one said anything as she gathered her things, and made a graceful, albeit stiff, exit.

All through dinner, Ranma simply ate his portion in silence, his eyes downcast. In the end it was Nabiki who tried to break the tension, “Hey, come on, Ranma. It’s not like it’s the end of the world. So the girl was a little spooked. You would be too, if you were in her position.”

Ranma said nothing.

“She’s right, Son. You’ve nothing to be ashamed, because you’ve done nothing wrong.” Soun nodded, firmly.

“She’ll come around, Ranma.” Kasumi said, kindly.

“Besides, are you a man or aren’t you? What do you care what she thinks?” Genma grunted, finishing his meal.

“There isn’t anything wrong with you. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.” Happosai said, matter-of-factly.

Ranma set his bowl down, wiped his mouth and excused himself.

Akane watched him go with a sigh. Though there was much she wanted to add to cheer him up, she knew that it wouldn’t have helped. Maybe I can’t help him, but I know someone who can.

(-)(-)(-)

They just didn’t get it! Ranma knew that they were only trying to make him feel better, but they had no idea how he felt. He could still see how shocked and scared Nami had looked. Her eyes had gone wide, her face had paled. Instead of giving him a chance to explain anything, she had walked out. Couldn’t wait to get away from the sex-changing freak, he though bitterly.

After dinner he headed for the dojo. Training usually helped him work off any frustrations or anger he couldn’t fight off right away. Picking up a training staff, he walked through the exercises.

Everyone seemed fine with it. He had transformed into a girl in public many times. Half the school already knew his secret. Changing positions, he quickened his rhythm. But no one ever reacted like she did.

He had forgotten that not everyone was as accepting. If I hadn’t let my guard down it wouldn’t have hurt this much, scowling now his movements became more aggressive.
And why did it hurt? He asked himself, because every time my secret gets out I’m terrified that people will look at me that way. For once, he got exactly what he’d expected he’d get. This only served as a reminder that he couldn’t live with the curse. As convenient as being a girl was sometimes, he wanted that part of him gone.

“I think that that staff is done for.” Akane said, pulling him from his thoughts.

Ranma blinked. He held half the training staff, while the other half lay on the floor a few feet away.

“Anyway, Ranma there’s a phone call for you.”

“I really don’t feel like talking to anyone right now, Akane. Could you tell them to call back tomorrow?”

She shook her head and nudged him to the wall phone. “This can’t wait.”

Picking up the receiver he said, “Hello?”

“Ranma?”

“M-Mom?”

(-)(-)(-)

It felt good. It felt unbelievably good to hear his mother’s voice. With a little coaxing he had
told her about what happened with Nami, and her reaction.

“It was a natural reaction, Sweetheart. It must have been quite a shock for the poor girl.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t see the way she looked at me, Mom.”

“And how was that, Dear?”

“Like I was a…freak. She was scared of me, Mom. No one’s ever been scared of me. She couldn’t even stay for dinner, she left right after. Didn’t even give me a chance to explain myself.” His fist clenched at the memory.

“Ranma, when Akane found out about your girl half, did she think less of you?”

She thinks I’m a pervert, he thought, but Akane had gotten over it. “Not really.”

“And the Tendos? Do they treat you differently? What about your friends at school?”

“Nami was the first.” He admitted. “But I know she won’t be the last.”

“People are different, Son. Try to see it from her point of view. I’m sure she doesn’t hate you. Your family and friends, those that love you, accept you for who you are. As do I. You aren’t a freak, Ranma. You are a man among men, and I am so proud of you.”

Ranma felt the tension leave him completely. “Thanks, Mom. I...I know I don’t say it enough, but I want you to know that I love you.”

“I know, I love you too, Ranma.” She cleared her throat and went on in a business-like-tone. “Now, why don’t you explain to me, why you are failing classes in the first place?”

(-)(-)(-)

Description
Chapter Four: Her eyes

“Oh, man.” Ranma groaned, laying his head dejectedly onto the living room table.

“Come on, Ranma. It can’t be that bad.” When the teacher asked to see him after class that day, Akane waited for him at the gates. Nearly an hour later, she saw him walk out of the school, eyes blank and face pale. He didn’t say a word on the way home. “What did the teacher say?”

She heard him mutter something, but couldn’t make it out. Slightly annoyed, she poked him sharply on the side. “Speak up!”

“I’m failing all my classes.” he said, miserably.

“Is that all?” Akane laughed, relieved. “It’s nothing to get so upset over, you still have time. You only need to study harder.”

“You don’t get it, Akane. I have three months to get my grades up to average or…”

She waited for him to finish. “Or what?”

“Or I’ll be expelled.”

She gasped. “Expelled?” He had told her his grades were slipping, but to be expelled? “Isn’t that a little harsh?”

He gave a short laugh. “Are you kidding? This is the least he can do to me. That stupid principle’s got the higher ups involved. He sold them some sob story about how my constant training is affecting me emotionally and academically.” He clenched his fist. “He went on about how martial arts have already made me overly aggressive, and it’s only a matter of time before I go berserk.”

“That’s what you get for breaking his poor daughter’s heart.” Nabiki drawled leaning against the door frame.

Akane’s eyes widened in realization. “Kodachi.”

“Yup,” Nabiki nodded resolutely. “You, my friend, are now facing the wrath of an angry daddy.”

“Fantastic.” He muttered, bitterly. “My only consolation is that he can’t ethically send me up the river without a paddle. I get a tutor. With my luck though, it’ll probably be some loser that’ll just go on and on–”

“No need to be negative, Saotome-chan.” A familiar voiced chirped.
They turned as Nami, made her way down the hall, hobbling slightly on her crutches.

Kasumi fell in slightly behind. “Is this a friend of yours, Ranma? She says she’s been sent to tutor someone here.”

“You’re the tutor?”

She sat down opposite of him and set her bag on the table. “If you want to call me that. I prefer the term academic advisor.”

“Will you be staying for dinner, Mitsukai-chan?” Kasumi asked.

“I wouldn’t want to put you through the trouble,” Nami began.

“Oh, it’s no trouble. I’ll set a second place for you.” Kasumi nodded courteously and made her way toward the kitchen.

“I still can’t believe they got you to be my tutor,” Ranma said, “I thought for sure the psycho of a principal would send me someone to just make things worse.”

Nabiki eyed suspiciously. “Mitsukai? I’ve read that name somewhere. Hey, aren’t you the so-called Master of Mind Manipulation?”

Nami shrugged. “You shouldn’t believe everything you read, Nabiki-senpai.”

If she was surprised at the honorific, she didn’t show it. Nabiki just continued to stare at the girl with thinly veiled mistrust. “What do you get out of this? You hardly know Ranma, so why would you help him?”

“Nabiki, do you have to talk to her like that?” Akane demanded. “She’s not a criminal you know.”

“It’s okay, Akane-chan. No harm done. Besides, she’s right. I didn’t want to tutor Saotome-chan at first.”

“How come?” Akane asked.

“Let’s just say, that I doubt the principal’s intentions in sending me here.” She took out her math book and looked up at him expectantly. “So, Saotome-chan, where are your books?”

Ranma’s eyes went wide, before he bolted out the room.

“He forgot them at school.” Nabiki shook her head. “That should take him about an hour. In the mean time…” She sat down next to Nami and stared intently at her. After awhile she frowned. “What are you?”

“Nabiki!” Akane scowled at her sister. “What’s with you? It’s not like you to be this rude to guests.”

Nabiki looked unapologetic. “I can usually read people pretty well, but I can’t read her. It makes me wonder what she’s hiding.”

Nami shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll find out my secrets, eventually. I hear that you’re quite good at that kind of thing.”

Lips pursed at the subtle jab, Nabiki took out a deck of cards. “Let’s play.”

Nami raised a brow. “I’m afraid I haven’t got much money on me, senpai.”

Nabiki was determined to get a handle on this girl. “We’ll barter something else in place of money as we play. Black Jack. You game?”

Akane sighed, Oh, Nabiki. What’re you doing?

“Fine, let’s play.”

(-)(-)(-)

“I’m back.” Ranma called, making his way back to the living room. “Where’s Nami?”

“With Nabiki.” Akane answered. “Settling the paperwork of her winnings.”

“Huh? Winnings? You mean she made a bet with Nabiki and won?” He had never heard of such a thing.

Akane sighed, tiredly. “Just take out your Algebra book, Ranma. I’ll explain everything later. Nami left some problems for you to do.”

(-)(-)(-)

When Nami returned, she had the paperwork tucked under her arm. She looked over the problems Ranma had been working on. “Ah, you do remember some of the more essential formulas. That’s good.”

“Yeah, but I’m still having trouble remembering which functions to use, once I get past this chapter.”

As they worked, Akane also got the benefit of Nami’s tutoring. She finally understood the logarithms that tripped her up on the last quiz. “You’re really bright, Nami. But you never answered Nabiki’s question. Why are you doing this?”

Nami smiled. “The principal plays a game. I like games. He expects me to help Saotome-chan, so that is what I am doing.”

“You do know that he lives to cause trouble.” Ranma commented, not looking up from his paper.

Nami grinned, but said nothing.

“Well, do we have a guest?”

“Hi, Dad. This is Nami. She’s a friend from school.” Akane said.

“She’s my tutor.” Ranma murmured, frowning at one of the problems.

Nami bowed respectfully. “It is a pleasure to me you, Tendo-san.”

Soun smiled. What a nice girl. “The pleasure is all mine, my dear. How¬–” What he was going to say was cut off, when a giant panda stomped into the room.¬ Picking up Ranma’s math book, he looked questioningly at the symbols.

“Hey!” Ranma protested. “Give that back, Pop!”

Grinning mischievously, Genma held the book far above his son’s head.

“Pop? Saotome-chan, this panda…is your father?” Nami asked, in a small voice.

The growl died in his throat as he saw her eyes go wide with fear. “Uh…” For some reason, he was very reluctant to tell her of his secret. While he was frantically thinking up an acceptable lie, Genma grabbed him by his shirt and tossed him into the koi pond.

When Ranma surfaced, he yelled angrily. “What’d you do that for? Stupid old man, I oughtta sell you to the zoo!”

“W-Who are you?”

Ranma realized, belated that he had transformed in his girl half. “Nami—”

The startled girl scrambled unsteadily to her feet, using her crutches for support. “I have seen a lot of things in my lifetime, but never have I seen a boy change into a girl in the blink of an eye.” She eyed the water suspiciously. “Is this a side-effect of the water here? Will I turn into something as well?” Her eyes whipped back to Ranma, eyes widening in realization. “It’s you. You’re Kuno-senpai’s pigtailed girl.”

Ranma winced at that, and snapped, “I’m not that idiot’s anything!” But his heart sank a little as he saw her pack up her books. “Where’re you going, Nami?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can handle this right now. Not on top of everything else.” No one said anything as she gathered her things, and made a graceful, albeit stiff, exit.

All through dinner, Ranma simply ate his portion in silence, his eyes downcast. In the end it was Nabiki who tried to break the tension, “Hey, come on, Ranma. It’s not like it’s the end of the world. So the girl was a little spooked. You would be too, if you were in her position.”

Ranma said nothing.

“She’s right, Son. You’ve nothing to be ashamed, because you’ve done nothing wrong.” Soun nodded, firmly.

“She’ll come around, Ranma.” Kasumi said, kindly.

“Besides, are you a man or aren’t you? What do you care what she thinks?” Genma grunted, finishing his meal.

“There isn’t anything wrong with you. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.” Happosai said, matter-of-factly.

Ranma set his bowl down, wiped his mouth and excused himself.

Akane watched him go with a sigh. Though there was much she wanted to add to cheer him up, she knew that it wouldn’t have helped. Maybe I can’t help him, but I know someone who can.

(-)(-)(-)

They just didn’t get it! Ranma knew that they were only trying to make him feel better, but they had no idea how he felt. He could still see how shocked and scared Nami had looked. Her eyes had gone wide, her face had paled. Instead of giving him a chance to explain anything, she had walked out. Couldn’t wait to get away from the sex-changing freak, he though bitterly.

After dinner he headed for the dojo. Training usually helped him work off any frustrations or anger he couldn’t fight off right away. Picking up a training staff, he walked through the exercises.

Everyone seemed fine with it. He had transformed into a girl in public many times. Half the school already knew his secret. Changing positions, he quickened his rhythm. But no one ever reacted like she did.

He had forgotten that not everyone was as accepting. If I hadn’t let my guard down it wouldn’t have hurt this much, scowling now his movements became more aggressive.
And why did it hurt? He asked himself, because every time my secret gets out I’m terrified that people will look at me that way. For once, he got exactly what he’d expected he’d get. This only served as a reminder that he couldn’t live with the curse. As convenient as being a girl was sometimes, he wanted that part of him gone.

“I think that that staff is done for.” Akane said, pulling him from his thoughts.

Ranma blinked. He held half the training staff, while the other half lay on the floor a few feet away.

“Anyway, Ranma there’s a phone call for you.”

“I really don’t feel like talking to anyone right now, Akane. Could you tell them to call back tomorrow?”

She shook her head and nudged him to the wall phone. “This can’t wait.”

Picking up the receiver he said, “Hello?”

“Ranma?”

“M-Mom?”

(-)(-)(-)

It felt good. It felt unbelievably good to hear his mother’s voice. With a little coaxing he had
told her about what happened with Nami, and her reaction.

“It was a natural reaction, Sweetheart. It must have been quite a shock for the poor girl.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t see the way she looked at me, Mom.”

“And how was that, Dear?”

“Like I was a…freak. She was scared of me, Mom. No one’s ever been scared of me. She couldn’t even stay for dinner, she left right after. Didn’t even give me a chance to explain myself.” His fist clenched at the memory.

“Ranma, when Akane found out about your girl half, did she think less of you?”

She thinks I’m a pervert, he thought, but Akane had gotten over it. “Not really.”

“And the Tendos? Do they treat you differently? What about your friends at school?”

“Nami was the first.” He admitted. “But I know she won’t be the last.”

“People are different, Son. Try to see it from her point of view. I’m sure she doesn’t hate you. Your family and friends, those that love you, accept you for who you are. As do I. You aren’t a freak, Ranma. You are a man among men, and I am so proud of you.”

Ranma felt the tension leave him completely. “Thanks, Mom. I...I know I don’t say it enough, but I want you to know that I love you.”

“I know, I love you too, Ranma.” She cleared her throat and went on in a business-like-tone. “Now, why don’t you explain to me, why you are failing classes in the first place?”

(-)(-)(-)