Ranma 1/2

Disclaimer: I don’t own Ranma, Rumiko Takahashi does. I just borrowed some of the characters. Rated: NC-17

Shades of Home

Chapter 14

The next days were full of activity. Ranma took all the tests he should have. And found out that he wasn't as far behind as everyone had assumed he was. He listened in class, but got into trouble too much and had no patience for note taking. But he remembered most of what was said in class. Steven decided that Ranma should have tutoring to get him caught up.

As for the physical tests. Ranma broke the punch pad, knocking it through the concrete wall and into the field beyond. Every other test was a variant on the first. He either broke the equipment, or was finally told to give it up because the examiners got tired of watching Ranma click off exercises like a machine, or the computers overloaded.

Ryouga watched for a while and then went to find Steven.

"I told you Ranma held back. He's not stupid, so I was sure he gave you enough to satisfy you, but not all. He could have walked out of here any time. He stayed because he doesn't have any place to go where he's understood. He's lucky; hell, we're all lucky, to find a place like this." Ryouga held up his hand shutting Steven up. "Yeah, I know. You're using us for your own purposes, but is it really using if we know what you're doing? We all have special talents and using them for nothing is gonna get boring real quick, then ya have problems. We're all better off here. Aren't you?"

Steven shrugged, he was just glad Ranma had finally gotten some kind of handle on his problems. Now they could help him work through them. Ranma was as proud as they came, but he wasn't so proud that he would endanger others, he'd already proven that.

Steven wondered what kind of disasters he'd have to deal with. He had three amazing martial artists on his hands, two extraordinary thieves and a powerful healer. All under twenty. {I'm way too old for this!}

After taking a shower, Ranma decided to go to the common room and see who was around. He nearly ran into the boy coming out of the room just down the hall from him.

"Hey! Sorry! They'll get me for running in the . . . Kuno! What the hell 're you doing here. I thought they locked you up." Ranma turned red, just because Kuno was a nut he didn't have to be cruel. "Uh damnit. Sorry I didn't mean that the way it came out."

Kuno just looked at Ranma, rather sadly.

"They did; lock me up, I mean. They ran tests on me till I didn't think I had any blood left. I've got a brain chemical imbalance. Has a fancy name but all it means is my insanity is genetic."

Kuno bowed deeply to Ranma, "Moshe Wake Arimasen."

Ranma jumped back a few feet. "Hey! What . . . Warui is good enough." Ranma hopped back to within two feet of Kuno. "Genetic brain chemical imbalance? I heard a' that in biology. So how come ya aren't spoutin' poetry an' tryin' t' kill me."

"Because now that we know what is wrong, I take medication that keeps me sane. I'm also in therapy three times a week. It helps." Kuno eyed Ranma speculatively. "So, do you want a rematch so you can flatten me again?"

Ranma shook his head, "Kuno, I'll tell ya this once. I don't bear grudges. If ya have mental problems, I'll cut ya slack. Come on, let's go t' the common room and I'll introduce ya around. No, you first. I'll take a rain check on having ya behind me."

"I heard something when I was here the last time. I didn't pay it too much attention, because I . . . well, never mind that. What is your story? If you don't mind me asking?" Kuno looked at Ranma sideways. Ranma had paled a little. "Don't talk if you don't want to."

"Na. It's all right, Ryu says I need t' talk and if you're interested, I'll tell ya. But you laugh and all bets are off. I'll pound ya inta the floor."

Ranma forced himself to relax. He needed Kuno to know. He needed all his friends to know everything so they would understand and help him.

Everybody was in the common room looking at Sunny's hair. This time it was yellow, not blond; yellow, like a canary.

Sunny saw Ranma first and let out a scream, "EEEEKkkk! Ranma! I'm so glad to see you they have been testing you all day and I wanted to see you I wanted you to see my hair do you like it I think I don't maybe I'll change it again I might go fusca what do you mmmpppppffff"

Ranma gently but firmly put his hand over Sunny's mouth.

"I don't like yellow either. I'm done testing. What the hell color is fush . . . what you said. Uhn, Everybody this is Tatiwaki Kuno. You might remember 'im."

"MMMMmmmmmmMMMMM" Ranma took his hand off Sunny's mouth with an apologetic expression. "Ranma, next time you do that I'm going to lick your hand see if I don't what is he doing here I thought he was sent away for fighting you I'm not healing you if you get into a fight with him and you if you pick on Ranma I'm going to . . . well I don't know what I'll do but you won't like it." Sunny stopped to take a breath, finally.

"I appologize for any grief I may have caused you. Please forgive me."

Kuno bowed to everyone in the room. Ranma sighed; Kuno really knew how to milk a bow for all it was worth.

Ryouga rushed into the room just then.

"I miss anything bloody. How is Kuno . . . Oh, you getting along all right? Ranma give Kuno a break and not . . . " at Ranma's look Ryouga ran down.

"We're not gonna fight, at least outside the dojo. Kuno was just about t' explain what's going on with him, then it's your turn and then I get mine. After that it's up for grabs. Everyone needs t' know about everyone else and the grown-up's are stingy with information. They want us t' be a strike team and don't tell us shit. So, Kuno start talking."

So Kuno told his story, not leaving out much except some things that he said the other people involved wouldn't appreciate getting out. He ended up, "So, I'm much better now. I take a pill twice a day and I'm pretty much as normal as the rest of you. I'd appreciate you all watching me. If I forget my meds, it could be bad. I have a watch with an alarm and I'm good at remembering but we all make mistakes. Now you know all."

He looked at the faces around him. They all looked interested and friendly. {Maybe this will work out. I hope so, I can't go back to the way things were.}

"Good, Kuno. Very interesting. Can ya tell us anything about Kodachi?"

Ryouga took over the impromptu meeting easily.

"She's not responding to medication. Anything that works knocks her out. I'm afraid she will always need 'special servants' She's at home, and likely to stay there."

Kuno looked sad for a moment, but shook it off rapidly.

"Now. It's someone else's turn to tell all."

"Oh . . . oh . . . me . . . me . . . I'm Sun Yao but everyone calls me Sunny I'm a healer/princess I come from China my mother is a healer and my dad is a coordinator like Shuba but I never see him and I like chick flicks popcorn shopping I hate Royal Court Functions and I don't like mean people monsters and . . . " Sunny talked for ten minutes while everyone got glassy eyed. "And that's all now it's someone else's turn Shuba you're next"

"Whoof, Sunny take a breath. Ok. My name is Shuba. I come from England. I'm a coordinator. I'm the one who is supposed to figure out what's coming and where it's coming from. Then I'm supposed to be mission control, but I think it's all crap. We need to rely on each other, but that's neither here nor there. I've lead a pretty uneventful life, except for being a past grand master at chess. I've won so many titles and tournaments that I had to retire at 14. I'm also a computer hacker of some skill and; well, it's nothing worth talking about. I'm white bread compared to you all. Let's move on."

Shuba was practically squirming in his chair and looking very embarrassed. Ranma and Ryouga walked on each other trying to move the attention on.

"Ryouga. You run this. I'll just sit here till it's my turn."

Ranma leaned back in the chair and stretched his feet out in front of him; unintentionally kicking Sunny.

"Damn, Sunny I'm sorry. Are you all right? Why are you sitting on the floor? There're plenty of chairs. Here sit next to me on this couch."

Sunny scrambled up and plopped onto the couch next to Ranma. Tucking her feet to the side, she put her head on the arm of the couch and sighed.

"Next let's hear from Leela and Danny. What's up with you two?"

"We're twins; as if you couldn't tell. We broke the habit of switching in the middle of sentences a long time ago. Ram-Sham-Bo!" Leela and Danny played Rock-Paper-Scissors to see who would talk. "Yay for me." Danny smiled "Be glad I won. Leela talks almost as much as Sunny."

Everyone groaned.

Danny told the same sad tale as many other foster children told. Too many homes, too many failures; life on the streets and all the other clichés but ended up, "And then I tried to pick Steven's pocket. Never saw anyone laugh when they caught me . . . well, he's the only one who ever did. But he brought us here and we've been here ever since. It's fantastic. We get to steal stuff and don't get in trouble and the equipment we get to have is just the best. So now you know. Oh, and by the way we don't steal here. If we need something, we get it from supply, we don't steal from friends. Ok? Just so you know."

Ryouga cleared his throat, "I guess I'm next. I'm the Eternal Lost Boy. My sense of direction doesn't exist. I've spent most of my life wandering around trying to get where I want to be. I've lived hand to mouth, doing odd jobs for food and a bed; ya grow up real fast that way. My family is well off, but I can't access money if I can't find a bank or ATM.

"About a year ago, after one of my fights with Ranma; I realized that I wasn't going anywhere with my life. So I managed to get home. I stayed there, literally locking myself in until I completed my education online, home school in my case was the only way.

"Then with a little help from Tendo Nabiki, I fudged my records so I'm 21. I doubled and tripled up on classes and finished my degree in no time. I tested out of a lot of general education courses and just plain skipped some. You'd be amazed what you can get away with if you know a hacker like Nabiki. She's expensive but really good.

"I did a residency at Osaka National and got my papers. I'm really too young to be doing this, but kids younger than me don't trust old guys so . . . Well, I guess that's about it. Oh, and I'm still pretty much of a wild man when I fight, so don't get cocky Ranma."

"Ranma, when you're ready; you can start."

Ranma was sitting cross legged with his head in his hands; rocking slightly he moaned, "I don' wanna do this. You'll all think I'm some kinda' idiot. I shoulda' known Pop was up t' somethin' stupid. I just . . . "

Sunny switched her legs to the other side and tentatively took Ranmas hand in hers.

"If you really don't want to do this we can wait. You don't have to tell all now. We'll understand, won't we?"

Sunny gave the others a dirty look as if daring them to disagree.

"Certainly; if he can't bring himself to . . . " Kuno started.

"Naw! Ranma can't chicken out. Everyone has spilled their guts. Don't let him back out now or we'll never get him t' spill."

Ryouga wasn't about to let Ranma back out. Everyone knew some of what happened, but not all, and Ranma needed desperately to get it out.

"It's a challenge, Ranma. Ya never turn down a challenge. Do ya?"

"No I don't, and ya know how much trouble I get into 'cause a' that, but here goes. You're not gonna like most . . . no all a' this but . . . "

Ranma started talking. He gave a brief summary of his childhood and ended up with his fiancee troubles.

"It seems every time Pop wanted somethin' from someone he'd affiance me to their daughter. But I told Steven that Akane is my only real fiancee and I meant it. She's the only one I agreed to, so she's real and the others are just deluded.

"But I suppose the thing you're really interested in is how I got t' be a slave. Stupid panda father . . . "

Ranma started out at the Chain Child Agency and went through everything; holding Sunny's hand and talking to the floor. When he got to the part where the slavers started starving him, Kuno snarled "Foul villains!" then snapped his mouth shut. Telling about having to eat off the floor made Leela run for the bathroom, he waited patiently while Ryouga went to take care of her.

Ryouga came out and sat down with Leela in his lap. "Go on Ranma, you can't stop now. I hate cliff hangers." Leela hid her head in Ryouga's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Ranma; it just made me sick somehow. Go on. I'll try not to be stupid again."

By now Ranma was hunched up into a ball; sitting with his feet in the seat of the couch, arms hugging his shins, head on his knees. Sunny had a death grip on his left hand and was leaning against his right side, almost as if she was trying to give him her courage, as if he didn't have enough of his own.

When he finally finished, he raised his head looking around as if he had forgotten everyone was there.

"So now ya know the worst. I'm a murder and I didn't mean it. I just wanted t' stay alive. I feel horrible but it's done and I can't undo it. So now what?"

Ranma waited for them to turn away in disgust, but no one did. They all seemed to close up around him like a warm fuzzy blanket. Kuno slipped behind him, making sure he saw what he was doing. He began to rub Ranma's back. Leela got on the other side of him, making him scoot into Sunny, and Danny and Shuba both squatted in front of him. The looks of concern on their faces nearly undid Ranma.They didn't look as if they were mad or disgusted at all.

"I speak for all of us when I say, you only did what you had to to survive. I don't hold it against you. No one does. Those men would have killed you if they could have. I'd rather have you alive than some stranger. We need you Ranma. If you'll trust us like we trust you, we can all work it out."

Ryouga rubbed his eyes. He didn't want Ranma to think he was pitying him. That would rub Ranmas' pride the wrong way.

Sunny sniffled, Danny and Shuba both surreptitiously wiped their eyes. Leela unashamedly wiped her wet face on her sleeve.

"Damnit Leela, if you're gonna be a waterin' pot; use a tissue. That's just nasty." Ranma eyed her and made a face. "Yuck!"

"Hey Kuno, I'll give ya about a year t' quit that. My shoulders have been tight since I got started here." Ranma relaxed into Kuno's hands. "All those tests and then this. MMMMMmmm . . . hey! Don't think I'm a perv 're nothin'" Ranma pulled away.

A few minutes later a proctor stuck his head in the door and announced that lights out was only five minutes away.
.

"Ranma, you big dummy!"

Ranma ducked. "Huh? What'd I do now?" Ranma peeked around the door at Sunny, she was looking at his reflection in the mirror.

"You can't go out without a bra on. Damnit, you've got stuff showing through. It makes you look . . . loose. Or should I be calling you Ranko?"

Sunny crossed her arms and shook her head at Ranko. She was dressed in a pair of Chinese pants and a loose tee shirt.

"You have to have some better clothes than that. You look like a street walker in the bad part of town"

Ranko just shrugged, snarling, "Fuck, this's all I've got. I didn't get here with anythin' and the slop chest is pretty sparse with anythin' that fits me. I need t' get some clothes as Ranma too . . . so. Ack!"

Sunny had slipped into the bathroom and come out with a washcloth which she proceeded to stuff into Ranko's mouth. Ranko spat it out and sputtered as she realized the cloth was soapy.

"What'd ja do that for?"

Ranko took off her necklace and changed to Ranma. After adjusting the bracelet he glared at Sunny.

"Dirty mouths get washed. You can't go around talking like that, especially as a girl; it isn't lady like. I don't mind Damn and Shit but that word is just too much."

Sunny was in healer mode and that got Ranmas attention.

"I'm sorry. I'll try t' watch it; but if I get upset I'm makin' no promises. Don't be mad 'k?" Ranma felt bad, he really liked Sunny and didn't want her mad at him. "I'll make it up t' you. Tell me what I can do and I'll do it."

Sunny got a speculative look in her eye. Ranma had a sneaking suspicion he was going to regret his promise.

"Anything? You can't really back out, you know. You promised and Ryouga says you always keep your promises."

"Sunny! My turn! I promised, anything. Just be realistic 'k? So, Ok do your worst."

Ranma spread his arms wide as if expecting a punch or something.

Sunny jumped up and down clapping her hands and squealing happily.

"Yay . . . Leela come on. Ranma be Ranko. We're going shopping with Ranko. She's coming too!"

Ranma let his head drop to his chest, his shoulders slumped over, he rolled his eyes and groaned exaggeratedly, "Oh, man! What've I got myself into? Someone just shoot me now. Put me outa' my misery . . . eeeppp!"

Sunny put her hand over Ranmas mouth.

"Be Ranko! Come on; Leela's waiting. The van won't wait forever and those stupid boys will be whining."

The van was waiting outside the door of the dormitory. It was only an hour drive to the nearest town. Ranko missed the name because she was arguing with Shuba about how a tactical strike should be organized.

.

"Look. I'll tell you again. It's easy t' get guys t' give you extra. All ya gotta do is what I call the Wiggle n' Giggle. ‘Course it helps if ya got somethin on top . . . eek. No hittin' . . . no hittin'!"

Ranko ducked as both girls mock threatened her. Ranko had been making her way through the food court like an army of ants. Every booth had to be examined, commented on and sampled. Sunny and Leela were amazed at the amount of food Ranko could put away. She was now working on her second ice cream.

"I didn't get nearly as much ice cream as you did. How did you get that guy to give you double scoops?"

Ranko took the waffle cone and went back to the ice cream cart. "Excuse me!" Ranko put one hand behind her back, which thrust her breasts practically into the face of the goggling vendor. Then she giggled. "I hate t' be a pest but ya forgot part a' my friend's ice cream." The vendor nearly tripped over his own feet as he scrambled to get Ranko what she wanted. Ranko giggled, fluttered her eyelashes and accepted the offered treat with a little bounce that got the attention of every man and boy within ten feet. "OOOOOooo. Thank you soo much."

Ranko brought the cone back to Leela, who accpted it with a disgruntled, "Why, Ranko, you slut. I've never seen so blatant a flirt fest in my life. How do you do that? How do you know what to do?"

Ranko sneered, "I'm a guy. I just do whatever I'd like a girl t'. It really works. And I'm not a slut. All they get is what they can see; no touching allowed."

Sunny and Leela both cracked up completely.

"Ranko, if you keep sticking those girls of yours in a guys' face, you'll get a bad reputation no matter what you really do. And if you don't hitch them up . . . well, all I'll say is it's gross. We've gotta get shopping if we're gonna get anything done. Oh. and as a guy . . . you're a complete perv."

They spent an hour walking around the mall looking in windows and trying to figure out what Ranko should shop for. Sunny was holding out for sundresses and sandals; Leela was determined to get Ranko into Victoria's Secret and get some decent underwear. Ranko wanted to go back to the food court.

Leela won out when Ranko got a good look at herself in a mirror.

"Yikes, I do look slutty. I wouldn't want my sister t' look like that. So V.S. it is." Ranko stopped dead in the middle of the mall. "I don't know what t' do. I've never even been in a bra store before."

Leela pushed Ranko in the door with help from Sunny.

"Don't do anything. Just let the clerk take over. Look at the stuff she shows' you and point to what you want. Don't worry about money. Steven gave me a debit card to use. I don't think we'll run out of money, but I'll keep an eye on the balance. Come on like a good girl!"

"How may I be of assistance?" The clerk stopped, blinked and smiled. "Let me get my tape."

"Tape? I don't want to be taped. Do I? That's gotta hurt."

Ranko was even more doubtful now than ever. When the clerk came up with a tape measure, Ranko visibly relaxed, her scowl fading.

Poking Sunny in the ribs with a finger Ranko whispered, "I'll get you later." Sunny just giggled.

The clerk lead all three girls to a back room with several cubicles behind curtains.

"Here we go, Miss. Just raise your arms and I'll take a quick measurement and we can get started."

After measuring Ranko, the clerk rechecked the figures.

"Well, I am glad you decided to . . . er . . . um. Here this should help relieve your backache. We've also got some nice lace numbers that I think you'll like. Why don't you take off your pretty necklace? It might get pulled off."

"Oh! No, thank you. It's pretty valuable and I don't wanna take a chance with it." Ranko smiled at the clerk and to distract her pointed to a bra. "I'll wear that one out if ya don't mind."

Leela and Sunny both groaned. Ranko had picked a blue lacy number, but she was wearing a white shirt. "Baka Ranko!" Ranko flinched. "Hey! Sorry! But you can't wear a dark bra under a white shirt. It'll show through. Here, we'll pick some bra and panty sets while you put this one on. The lady will help you."

Ranko started to pull her shirt off right in the open area.

"Miss, if you'll step behind a curtain."

"Why, it's just us girls and they've already seen me."

Ranko scowled again and continued pulling off the shirt.

The clerk just shrugged, helped Ranko adjust the bra and get it on, fingering the necklace gently.

"It's very pretty. Family heirloom?"

Ranko eyed the clerk oddly, pulling away she shrugged petulantly, "Yeah, quit touchin' me!"

Leela and Sunny each picked a set that they liked and some plain white stuff, also a slip and some stockings.

"We better see that he has everything he'll need because he won't know. We don't need to try to haul him in here again anytime soon."

Both girls giggled at the thought of Ranko in Victoria's Secret again.

"That poor clerk. I thought her eyes would bug out of her head. He's got a real pair and no mistake. Damnit, I'm getting confused again."

Ranko lead the way to the next store.

"I need some girl clothes. But not too many. I won't be using them too much so I just need like a pair of shorts, a pair of jeans and a few tops; maybe a dress or two. I don't want to waste too much money on girl clothes. They'll be out of style too soon."

Ranma showed that he had been listening to Akane and her sisters when they talked fashions. He'd listened to a lot of things that no one would have expected.

Leela poked Sunny, who was standing stock still with her mouth half open.

"You're gonna start drooling in a minute. He's smarter than you think."

"Huh! I'm not . . . Oh . . . Well Oh, Shit. Damnit! Here come the guys. We'll never get Ranko to that store now. He'll . . . I mean, She'll bull up" Sunny looked mad and her usual run on style dried up.

But Ranko surprised everyone. "Hey! Guys, I'm getting some clothes in this store. Want t' come in and help me pick?"

Ranma knew that if the other guys were in the store with them, he had a better chance of getting out without having to try on everything in the store. He planed exactly what he wanted and didn't want the girls to nag him into more. Strategy was one of his strong points after all.

In the store Ranko took over like a commander.

"I got this all planed. While I was in that other store, I asked the lady what size I am. So here's what I want ya t' do. Everyone; here are the sizes. Sunny, you and Leela find me some tops. Shuba find a dress. Danny; you, Ryouga, and I'll try t' find a pair a' jeans and a pair a' shorts that fit. Ok; everybody have their assignments? Go."

After everybody took off with a few odd looks aimed at Ranma, he turned to Ryouga.

"Where is Kuno-kun? I thought he was goin' shoppin' too."

"He's at his therapists right now. He'll join us at the food court for lunch. In about an hour and a half. You up to what I think you are?"

"Yeah. We need t' be a team and they need t' learn t' obey me without questionin'. I'll always tell 'em everythin' I know; not like some a' these other guys, but when I say jump, they may not have time t' question me; so they need t' learn t' jump now; ask later."

Ranma made a face. He didn't like being the one in charge of the others but he was the only one who would do it right.

Ranko led the way to a rack of jeans and shorts.

"Here! I like these. And these, here's a pair a' jeans and that's all I'm gettin'. I don't need much as a girl. Yeah; I know it should be the other way around but I intend t' spend as little time as possible as a girl. Oh! Wait I better get some sweats that'll fit both of us."

As all the teens gathered at the fitting rooms, Ranma sorted through the tops that Leela and Sunny had picked.

"Who picked pink? With this red hair . . . pink? . . . . I don't like this; it's too frilly . . . and this is just obscene. I'd be falling out top and bottom. It might fit you Sunny, but I'm too big . . . Hey!" Sunny just looked hurt and almost like she was going to cry. "What's the matter? I didn't mean t' hurt your feelin's. What'd I say?"

"You think I'm too small. I know I don't have much up top, but you don't have to rub it in." Sunny sniffled. "That's just mean and I don't like being a stick Mom says I'll get . . . "

Ranko put her hand over Sunny's mouth, again. It was the only way to get Miss Everready Bunny to slow down enough to get a word in.

"Don't cry. Please, don't. I'm just a klutz. I meant I'm too big. I got hooters the size of . . . I don't know what. You're just about right. Ya wanna hit me? Go ahead, gimme a good smack I c'n take it. I'd rather take a beatin' than make ya cry."

Ranko switched to Ranma and put his arms around Sunny, she let her head rest on his shoulder for a minute, then pulled back.

"You'd better change back. It looks weird for a guy to have on a bra."

Sunny giggled wetly as Ranma quickly changed back, his face was so red that you could light a candle off it.

"Damnit. I'd better try on some a' this stuff and get us out a' here. We need t' be at the food court in twenty minutes. On second thought . . . I'll just buy all this. Someone will wear it. That'll get us out of here in time." Ranma made up his mind. "I'll have time t' make up my mind later without holding up operations now."

Ranko slipped into the nearest changing room and took off the bra, changed into Ranma and rejoined the group. Leela had taken care of paying and getting everything bagged up.

~ * ~

Vignette

"You should have seen all the girls underwear that little weirdo bought." The van driver snickered to several of his buddies. "And I know it wasn't for the girls because there was too much and that Sunny fussed at him for not getting something. I still don't know where his sister went off to; one minute she's there and the next he's there. Really strange. But that whole bunch is."

"Yeah, I didn't sign up with this outfit to baby sit a bunch of snot nosed kids. I sighed up for some action."

The speaker fondled his Glock idly.

~ * ~

After taking all the packages out to the van; Leela and Sunny had done their share of shopping too, all the teens met in the food court to look for Kuno, who was found sitting by a fountain, holding a table for them

"Hello. I held a table. I hope that was appropriate? Sit down. Ranma, My therapist has said I must ask you a question. This is very embarrassing, but I really need to know. How are you related to the pigtailed girl?"

Ranma choked on the soda he was drinking.

"Damnit Tatiwaki. I thought I explained that the other day, when we had that tell-all. Or did I just say I got cursed? I don't remember. I was concentratin' on more important things; like murder. So I forget."

Ranma eyed Tatiwaki, then pulled his pigtail.

"Tell me what ya need t' know so I'll know where t' start"

Kuno frowned, his eyebrows drawing together.

"Nabiki told me that you own the girl; body and soul. Sounds like white slavery to me. That's why I got it into my head that she needs rescuing. So start there."

"'K, I'm the girl. I got a Jusenkyo curse and I turn into a girl. Use t' be when I got splashed with cold water; I'd turn back with hot. But now it's controlled by this bracelet. Sunny can explain all the details but all I have t' do it this." Ranma took off the bracelet and touched it to his neck. "Now ya see. I tried t' explain it t' ya several times before but it never seemed t' take."

Kuno blinked, watched as Ranma made the change a few more times and gulped.

"If you ever tell that one thing; I'll never forgive you."

"What? . . . Oh . . . that . . . my lips are sealed." Ranma didn't want anyone to know that Kuno had kissed him either. It was just too embarrassing. "Tatiwaki . . . "

"Please don't call me that! I hate my name! It sounds like ducks quacking."

Sidetracked from asking about that 'one thing'; everybody started to laugh.

Kuno looked at Ranma, "Weren't you going to get some clothes for Ranma as well?"

"Yeah but I think we're just out a' time, the van is leaving in an hour and I want t' go back t' the food court again."

"Let me take care of this. I know a store that has catered to my family for years. They'll take care of us quickly. Leave it to me."

Kuno headed off into the mall with the group behind him.

"How may I help you Kuno-sama?" The clerk practically groveled.

"My friend needs some clothes. A complete wardrobe appropriate for a high school senior. A brown suit, I believe; or maybe dark charcoal grey." Kuno began to consult with the head clerk.

"Hey wha'ca think you're doin'? Watch your hands."

Ranma jumped as a junior clerk dropped to his knees and tried to measure his inseam.

"I'm sorry I startled you, young sir. I need to measure you. So your pants will be the right length?"

The clerk was used to the fact that some men were 'goosie'.

"Oh, sorry." Ranma looked at Ryouga, glad to see that he'd been ready to stop him if he over reacted.

The clerk plied his tape quickly and soon the clothes were piling up on the counter. Pants, jeans, shirts; tee shirts and polo; a casual suit jacket and a suit; all piled onto the counter.

Kuno looked everything over and added underwear and sox.

"You wear pajamas? No. Ok, that should be all he needs. Ring it up. We're in a hurry. Anything that doesn't suit will be returned within thirty days."

Ranma eyed the pile of clothes but decided not to start; he wanted Kuno to feel he was trusted. And Ranma decided that the ever growing wardrobe he had was a good thing. He'd never had so many clothes in his life.

"Ok. One more trip through the food court and we can go home."

"Ranma! No more snacks. You'll get sick."

"Who me? I never get sick. I've never had enough money t' get all I want before. I always leave wanting something else. Come on; just one more round.", Ranma wheedled, like a three-year-old.

Between one thing and another, Ranma forgot about two things; one easily taken care of and the other would turn out to cause trouble.

.

"Uuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmm! It hurts . . . damn. Ow! SSShhhiiiitttttt!" Ranma curled up into as small a ball as he could manage. His stomach ached, a lot. "I don't get sick. I don't have a bellyache. It'll go 'way." Ranma conveniently forgot the stomach aches Akane's cooking had given him. Ranma tried to curl tighter. "OOww! I've been poisoned. That's it. I ate something bad. uuunnn!"

Sunny popped her head in the door. "Ranma, what are you doing it's getting close to supper and . . . What's the matter? Ranma are you sick? " Sunny went from dither head to healer in two words.

Sunny shouted for the only other person in the dormitory.

"Kuno-kun, get in here. Now! Ranma's sick. Hurry!"

Kuno hurried into Ranma's room to see what Sunny was shouting about. He'd been wondering if he should check on Ranma for the last two or three minutes. The quiet whimpering noises had begun to worry him.

"What's wrong? What can I do?"

Kuno gapped, elegantly, at Ranma. He had never seen him act like this. He was really in pain. He was pale, sweating and curled in on himself like a sick pup.

"Go 'way. I'll be ok in a minute. If my belly would settle down, I'd be fine. UUUnnnn.Go 'way!"

Ranma was in no mood to be subtle. All he wanted was privacy so he could hole up until he felt better. But Sunny was having none of that foolishness. "Ranma, I'll be back in a minute. I've got something that will fix you up in no time." Sunny returned almost immediately with a brown bottle and a large spoon.

"NNNOOOOO! I won't take it. I know what that crap is, it tastes like mint and ginger and turpentine and it's disgustin' and I won't take it."

Sunny poured the spoon full and tried to get Ranma to swallow it. He closed his lips tightly shaking his head.

When Sunny took the spoon away he started complaining, "My belly hurts. Damnit I feel like I've been poisoned. What did I eat that was bad? Go 'way. It'll stop soon."

Kuno eyed Ranma in distaste. "Not a very good patient is he. But that's like many strong men. They don't get sick often enough to know how to act. Here, you hold him up and I'll get the medicine in him. How much should he take?"

Sunny grappled with Ranma, who wasn't about to cooperate.

"He has to take three spoons full. Ranma, stop that, you'll hurt me. Take the damn medicine will you."

Sunny finally got her arms around Ranma but that was it; she couldn't get any leverage on him. He was curled up tight.

"Kuno, if you think I'm going to take that stuff, you're really crazy. Sunny get offa' me." Ranma scooted into the corner of his bed. His bed was pushed into the corner of his room, so that protected two sides and with his legs pulled up, he was turtled up good. "Not a fucking chance in hell I'm gonna take that foul tastin' shit Hhhhuunn! If it'd stop for a minute."

Ryouga heard Ranma swearing, he'd been in the small arcade across the square from the Dormitory, all the others had stayed but he was bored and wanted to read. So here he was running toward the dorm with his heart in his throat.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Ryouga saw Sunny leaning across Ranma's bed, reaching for a curled up Ranma, with Kuno standing by, a bottle and large spoon in his hands.

"Ranma has a stomachache and won't take the medicine." Sunny finally got hold of Ranma. "Ranma if you don't take medicine you won't get better! Don't be such a baby."

Ranma was sick and getting sicker; he was finally nauseous, his stomach rolling and clenching.

"Sunny, move! Now!"

Ryouga grabbed Sunny and pulled her out of the way as Ranma heaved then ran for the bathroom. The sounds that came from the room told their own tale.

"Ranma, you still need to take this. Ryouga, Kuno; hold him. I intend for him to take this if I have to hold his nose."

Sunny, in full healer mode now; wasn't taking any foolishness from Ranma no matter what.

"I'm not taking that fucking shit no matter what you do. It smells like moldy hay and rotten turnips. It's the crap Pop used to feed me when Akane made me sick. I don' wanna! Can't make me!"

Kuno eyed Ranma askance. He'd never known Ranma to be so childish. Rude, arrogant and impatient, yes; but childish, no.

"Ranma! What's really wrong? Why are you so set against taking medicine that will help you? Talk to us."

"It smells like the stables. I can't take it! Please don't make me." Ranma capitulated breaking into a sweat. "NO! I just can't! I can't stand the smell. Please don't try t' make me."

Sunny looked blank, there weren't any stables any where around.

"Ranma, you've got to take it. You won't get better if you don't. You'll keep yourself and everyone else awake all night moaning like a ghost. There's no reason for you to suffer like this. Take the damn stuff. Come on.!"

Sunny poked the spoon at Ranma. Ranma slapped the spoon, liquid and all, out of Sunny's hand, spattering the brown fluid over her face and shirt. Then the smell really hit him. He turned completely white and slithered down the wall into a fetal position, shivering and moaning.

"NO. I can't stand the smell! Go away! Get away from me! It's too much."

Ranma gagged and choked.

Ryouga finally realized what Ranma meant by 'it smells like the stables'.

"Sunny get away from him. The medicine smells like the slave stables. He can't take it. Go wash and change your shirt. Find something else for him to take."

Kuno reached down and literally scooped Ranma off the floor, two steps put him back at Ranma's bed. He dumped Ranma on the bed with a bounce. Grabbing him before he could get away, Kuno pined Ranma to the bed, using his body weight and the leverage provided by his longer limbs to hold him down long enough to hiss, "Ranma stop making a scene. It's not gentlemanly. Sunny is trying to help you and you . . . you're acting like a child. Stop whining! I saw what you ate at the mall. No wonder you're sick. Shut up and behave."

Ranma gagged again, but managed to pull himself together some.

"I can't . . . I won't . . . you don't understand."

Ryouga helped Kuno hold Ranma; he was too strong for either of them to do it alone, so they ganged up on him shamelessly.

Ryouga tried his hand at getting through to him.

"Ranma, if you're sick you need to take something. We won't make you take that stuff if you really can't do it. But you've got to stop this. You're going to lose control in a minute and you know that's bad. Calm down! Sunny won't make you take it. I promise."

Ranma stiffened; he was losing control of his emotions. Quickly he calmed himself as best he could."Ryouga, maybe you better keep hold of me. I'm uuuuunnnnn ow that hurts" Ranma doubled over again.

Sunny came back in with a different bottle. "Here, Ranma, smell this."

Ranma sniffed suspiciously at the bottle. Then grumbled, "That shit's no better than the other, at least it doesn't smell like . . . You know. But I ain't takin it either. Ya can't make me. I ain't gonna do it."

Ranma clenched his teeth, he was out of control of the situation, but he was going to control what went into his body. Or so he thought.

"Ryouga, what the hell is going on in here. You can hear Sunny and Ranma yelling clear in my office." Steven looked like an oni. He had a bruise on his cheek and a cut on his forehead. He looked tired and limped slightly as he crossed the room to Ranma's bed side. "I am defiantly not in the mood for a couple of brats yelling down the school building at this time of day."

The quick babble of explanation was interrupted by Ranma moaning again.

"Damnit what's wrong with Ranma? Why is he acting like a poisoned dog? Give him some medicine." Steven looked at Sunny with a sour expression. "Some Doctor you are, can't even get a guy to take his medicine like a man." Steven winked at Sunny with his off eye. (the one Ranma couldn't see)

"I'm sorry Steven. He won't take it. He's just got a belly ache from too many sweets but you'd think he had a deadly disease the way he's acting."

Sunny looked like she was going to cry, "I'm not a very good Doctor I guess; he won't even take one spoon full and he needs three. He's not very disciplined."

Ryouga's eyes met Kuno's; neither one could contain some sort of smile behind Ranma's back. They had him now.

Ranma straightened up from his half doubled over position; he pulled his arms out of their grip and flopped onto his back.

"Ok! I'll take the damn medicine even if it kills me."

Sunny poured the first spoon full. Holding it out she snapped, "Sit up, baby; you'll choke on it in that position."

Ranma sat up and opened his mouth slightly. Sunny stuck the spoon between his lips and dumped the liquid in his mouth. Ranma's expression never changed, his eyes just widened a little. Sunny emboldened by this poured the second spoon and stuck the spoon into Ranma's mouth farther. He swallowed the medicine, but he bit the bowl of the spoon in half. Spitting out the half of the spoon he growled, "Now make me take any more of that crap. I dare you."

Now Sunny was a good girl; kind, patient and everything else a healer should be, including manipulative, sneaky, sly and determined to see to it that her patients got better even if they decided to be stubborn. She took totally unfair advantage.

"Ok Ranma, that's all right, don't take your medicine like you should. I guess I'm just not good enough a healer to get you to do what's good for you. I'll tell Mom you want her to be your healer tomorrow." Sunny hid her face in her hands and stifled a small sob. She followed that with a wet little sniffle. "I'll just go away and get Mom to come . . . " She turned and started for the door.

"No, Sunny don't . . . I'm sorry. I'll take the shit. Here, see?"

Ranma took a gulp from the bottle. Shuddering he lay back on his bed.

"Shit! Get off a' the bed. What is this gang up on Ranma day?"

Ryouga and Kuno vacated Ranmas' personal space quickly.

Steven grimaced. "I don't expect any more noise from this dorm tonight. Do I make myself clear? {Damnit I'm way too tired for this shit} Ranma, I want to know what you ate that made you sick. We'll see to it that the vendor cleans up his . . . What?"

Steve looked at the amused expressions on three of the four teens.

"Go outside and tell Steven what this is all about. I'll stay here with Baby Ranma. Git!" Sunny shooed them out.

"Ok what's going on." Steven was really wanting to sit down.

"Here' sit down before you fall down."

Kuno turned an easy chair around for Steven. After positioning chairs around a table, Kuno got some bottled juices and handed then around.

"All I know is Ranma has a stomachache and won't take medicine for it."

Ryouga was stifling laughter, "Ranma ate himself sick at the mall. He ate . . . let's see . . . Four double dip ice cream cones with whipped cream and extra sprinkles, two suckers (big ones), cotton candy, hot dogs with chili, bean cakes, sweet rice cakes, sponge cake with caramel sauce, pocky, curry bread, shrimp paste dumplings, and I forget what else."

Both Steven and Kuno were staring at him with wide eyes.

"What? I ate almost as much, but I have always had pocket money; when I could find a bank; so I'm use to it. Ranma isn't. He's always only been able to have two or three things; so he went overboard. It's partially my fault. If I'd realized, I wouldn't have let him eat so much.

"As for refusing medicine. It's Ranma; stubborn, won't admit any weakness. If he'd gone to Sunny sooner, it wouldn't have happened at all. Well, better check on the big baby. You go on home Steven, you look ready to drop. I hope you're going to tell us what whipped your ass soon."

Ryouga gave Steven a look that said plainly 'don't think Ranma is going to let this slide'.

Ryouga went to check on Ranma and Sunny. Peeking in the door, he saw Sunny kneeling by the bed. Ranma was flat on his back with his shirt off; Sunny had her hand on Ranmas stomach. She was rubbing it in small soothing circles. Ranma was half asleep, eye lids fluttering. Ryouga slipped away with a small, sly smile on his lips.