sterman@sprynet.com (Richard Lawson)

This is, I promise, the last story I will right in the "Thy Outward
Part" universe.  Mostly, I couldn't resist writing this last story.  :)

In order to follow this story, you'll need to have read the other
stories in this seris, beginning with "Thy Outward Part".  You'll find
them on my web page (URL below) or in the raac archives.

Let me say in concluding this series that I have never had such a strong
reaction to any of my stories.  People either liked these stories a lot
or hated the premise on which they were based; there seemed to be no
middle ground.  Let me just say that it's okay not to like these
stories.  One of the things fanfics allow us to do is to play 'what-if',
and that's all this series was.  Naturally, you may disagree with the
results; but I'm still convinced that I at least established a basis for
these stories going in the direction they went.  If you want to discuss
this, I'd be only too happy to do that; some of the most interesting
debates I've had are on this series.

Okay, enough.  On with the show.  Let me have it.  Trust me, no matter
how harsh you are, it can't be worse than some of the email I've
received already on previous stories in this series.  :)

--
-Richard
sterman@sprynet.com

--------------------------------------------------
All my fanfics can be found at:  
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/sterman/fanfic.htm
--------------------------------------------------

--

"I won't think about it and neither should you."
             -Takahashi Rumiko

Serendipity

by Richard Lawson

Comments and Criticism Welcome!
sterman@sprynet.com


Ranma stood on the balls of her feet, studying her opponent.  He was really
just a beginner, and posed no serious threat to her.  Sometimes, though, it
was fun to let an opponent think they stood a chance.  There was no thrill
in punching them once and ending the combat then and there.

Her opponent moved in towards her in what passed for a quick move.  He
launched a fist at her head.  Ranma felt she could have re-read "The Art of
War" in the time it took for his punch to reach her head.  She waited until
the last possible moment, then ducked underneath it.  She gave him a quick
jab in the ribs, not hard enough to seriously injure him but enough so that
he would feel it for hours.

To his credit, he merely grunted and tried to grapple her.  She smiled and
slid under his legs.  She sprang to her feet behind him, turned, and
slapped the back of his head.  She almost laughed; playing with him like
this was fun.  She restrained herself, however, knowing that it would
irritate him.  He really was trying his hardest; it wasn't his fault she'd
had twenty years' head start on him.

He locked his elbow and twisted, trying to smash it into her head.  Ranma
grinned, debating in the milliseconds before it connected whether to hook
her arm through it and throw him to the mat, or simply lean back, let it go
past her, and see what he would do next.

While she was trying to decide, a strange weakness came over her.  Before
she had time to analyze it, Kentaro's elbow connected.

Ranma went flying across the dojo.  She hit the mat covering one wall of
the dojo hard and landed in a heap on the ground.

Kentaro was at her side in a flash.  "Ranma! Are you okay?"

Ranma waited for her head to clear.  Usually, it only took a second or two. 
This time, the dizziness and nausea went on and on.  She reached up and
clutched Kentaro's shoulder, trying to steady herself.

After perhaps a minute, the nausea finally subsided and her head became
relatively clear.  She looked into Kentaro's scared face and tried to flash
him a reassuring smile.  "Good hit."

"Are you all right?" Kentaro seemed very worried.  "You looked pretty bad
there for a moment." He began gently probing her head with his fingers.

"I'm fine!" She growled and let him check her for a concussion.  She'd
received enough of them to know what they felt like, and this wasn't it.

It did scare her a bit, however.  She usually recovered from the hardest of
blows faster than she'd recovered from Kentaro's, and his hadn't been the
worst she'd ever received, not by a long shot. 

Ranma swore silently; she was getting soft.  Too much time spent teaching,
and not enough training.  She needed to get Pop or Ryoga or somebody in her
class to come by and work out with her regularly.  Otherwise, she was going
to lose her edge.

Kentaro finished his examination.  "You don't appear to have a bump. 
You've got the hardest head I've ever come across." He smiled and helped
her to stand up.

Ranma smiled at him.  "Gee, thanks.  I guess I'll take that as a
compliment."

Kentaro's smile faded.  "How was I able to hit you? I never should have
been able to, not in a million years."

Ranma tsked.  "You got lucky and I got sloppy.  It happens." She flashed
him a hard smile.  "Don't worry, it'll never happen again."

Kentaro smiled back, then looked up at the clock.  "I have to get to the
hospital."

Ranma nodded.  "Go ahead.  I think I'll stay here tonight.  I've got some
paperwork to catch up on."

Kentaro grinned.  "How come you always have paperwork to do whenever Kasumi
comes over to cook dinner?"

"A coincidence.  On your way, impudent jerk."

He laughed, then gathered his things.  They exchanged a kiss, and he left.

Ranma smiled after him, at the same time saddened by the amount of time
they still spent apart.  He had another year at med school before he
graduated.  Then they would move into the Tendo home while he looked for a
job in Nerima.  His grades were good enough, and his work at the hospital
was receiving enough notice, that he shouldn't have a lot of trouble. 
Hopefully.

Ranma sighed and worked out for a while by herself.  She felt better,
although not quite a hundred percent.  She was still a little... off.

After a while she decided not to push herself.  She went inside the house
and took a shower.  She briefly considered a hot bath - she hadn't had one
in such a long time - and decided against it.  She really needed to wean
herself of that habit.

Ranma frowned while drying herself off, trying to figure out *why* exactly
she needed to break the habit.  It certainly wouldn't hurt anyone.  She was
still a guy, after all.  She decided that the real reason was Kentaro.  He
accepted her male form, and treated her exactly the same the few times she
*was* male in his presence.  After the events of a few months ago, though,
she would see his face go quiet for a moment when he saw that she'd become
male.  She hated to see him look that way.  And, she admitted to herself,
taking on a male form felt a little like betrayal after what had happened. 
Best, for now, to remain female as much as possible until all the ghosts
had been laid to rest.

Ranma shook her head, put on her robe, and wandered back to her room.  She
opened her underwear drawer and paused.  She had boxers and panties mixed
together.  She wore boxers as much as possible, but sometimes the physical
necessities of staying female for more than a month meant that she had to
wear panties.

Ranma smiled, remembering how freaked out she had been by her first period. 
Before Herb, she'd never been in female form long enough to have one.  When
she'd first begun to menstruate, she'd still hadn't accepted the idea of
being female forever - there had been so many things to try before coming
to *that* conclusion.  Akane had helped her realize that she was at least
going to be female long enough to have to deal with the consequences. 

Ranma had been appalled by everything that went along with having a period. 
She'd had no idea how women put up with it.  The physical discomfort, the
mess, the contraptions - it was too much to deal with.  But she *had* to
deal with it, and Akane had been remarkably patient with Ranma, teaching
her how her body worked.

At the same time, Ranma could trace the roots of Akane's disaffection to
that time.  The realization that Ranma was female, with female problems,
had been unavoidable.  As hope for a cure had begun to die, so too had
Akane's nascent love for Ranma.

Ranma sighed and put the painful part of those memories behind her.  One
thing she had discovered after finally have her curse unlocked was that her
cycle began anew every time she turned male and then female again.  At
first, Ranma had dealt with her period by taking regular hot baths.  Still,
for Kentaro's sake she'd tried to stay female.  After all, six years had
taught her to accept her period.  Well, at least not become so repelled by
it.

What was making her pause now is that she wasn't sure if she should be
having her period now.  She thought she should be.  In fact, she thought
she should have started a while ago.  Ranma thought back, trying to
remember if she'd been splashed with hot water recently.  She couldn't
remember.  She frowned and concentrated even harder, trying to remember
everything that had happened to her in the past few weeks.  She just wasn't
certain if she'd been male recently.  She *was* somewhat certain that she
was about to throw up.

She thought about it for a few moments before deciding that she was *very*
certain.  She ran out of her room and back to the bathroom.  She barely
made it in time.

Ranma knelt for a few minutes over the toilet, trying to figure out where
this sickness was coming from.  She was experiencing sudden nausea and
dizziness, but other than that she felt fine.  Well, except for a vague
feeling of something being wrong.

She heard the front door opening and Kasumi calling out.  Soun responded
with a big shout, and soon giggling could be heard from downstairs.  Ranma
smiled; Soun would be fussing over Kikuko for the next several minutes at
least.  She had plenty of time to get dressed.

She flushed the toilet and got uncertainly to her feet.  She felt better,
although not far from throwing up again.  Ranma quickly brushed her teeth
and walked to her room.  She decided to wear her panties and the attendant
hardware.  Better safe than sorry.

Ranma made her way downstairs to the family room.  Kasumi was smiling
indulgently at Soun while he continued to play with Kikuko.  Kikuko was
enjoying it as only a two-year-old could.

Kikuko finally saw her.  "Aunt Ranma!" She wiggled out of Soun's grasp and
ran over to her. 

Ranma smiled and scooped her up.  "Who's this? Do I know you?"

She giggled.  "I'm Ono Kikuko, Auntie!"

"Kikuko? Do I know a Kikuko?" She examined her niece's face closely. 
"Who's Kikuko?"

"I am! I am!" Kikuko loved this game.

Ranma screwed her face up thoughtfully.  "I don't know if I believe you. 
You're not lying to me, are you?"

Kikuko clapped her hands.  "Ask the fish! Ask the fish!"

Ranma beamed.  "That's a good idea.  The fish know everything, don't they?"

Kikuko giggled again.

Kasumi spoke up, the indulgent smile still on her face.  "I'll start dinner
while the three of you play.  Call me if you need me."

Ranma nodded, then put Kikuko under one arm and carried her out into the
yard.  Kikuko screamed and laughed at the same time.  Soun joined them and
they played with the koi in the pond for a while.

All too soon, Kasumi called them to dinner.  It took a while to get Kikuko
settled - she tended to become overly active when she played with Ranma for
some reason - but soon they all had Kasumi's food in front of them.

Ranma smiled, eagerly anticipating the meal.  Kasumi's cooking was a
delight, from look to taste to smell.  Ranma breathed in the fragrance,
paled, and ran from the table to the kitchen.

She didn't have a lot left in her stomach after the previous incident, but
it was no less unpleasant.  She ran the water in the sink and rinsed out
her mouth.  Damn, she hated being sick.

"Ranma-kun, what's wrong?" Kasumi had the mothering voice down perfectly. 
The right blend of sympathy, concern, and command.

Ranma grimaced.  "I'm sorry.  Nothing wrong with your cooking, Kasumi. 
I've just been sick."

"Really?" Kasumi came up and felt Ranma's forehead.  "What are the
symptoms?"

Ranma shook her head.  "I just get sick to my stomach and dizzy all of a
sudden.  I feel fine otherwise.  Well, mostly.  Just started today.  Don't
worry, Kasumi.  I'll be over this in a day.  Two days, tops.  There ain't a
virus in the world that...."

Ranma trailed off at Kasumi's expression.  She looked slightly pale
herself.  She slowly lowered her hand and studied Ranma with an expression
very similar to shock.

Ranma stared at her.  "What is it, Kasumi?"

Kasumi seemed to be struggling with something.  Almost like... she was
afraid.  This worried Ranma.  She'd seen Kasumi look concerned, but never
afraid.

Ranma blinked at her.  "Tell me! What, have I got six months to live? What
is it?"

"Ranma-kun...." Kasumi's voice was tentative, another first.  "Have... have
you... have you experienced your monthly cycle yet?"

It took Ranma a second to figure out Kasumi's euphemisms.  "You know, it's
funny you should mention that.  I was just trying to figure out the last
time I was a guy.  I can't have been too long ago, 'cuz it's been so long
since I had a... monthly cycle."

"But you can't remember."

Ranma shrugged.  "It'll come to me." She frowned.  "Why? What is it?"

Kasumi slowly turned walked over to the counter.  She picked up a towel and
began idly wiping the already-immaculate surface.  Ranma examined her face;
she was deep in thought, and didn't even seem aware of what she was doing.

Finally, Kasumi turned to face her, the towel still in her hand.  "Ranma-
kun, are you a woman?"

Ranma, despite herself, looked down and back up at Kasumi.  "Uh, yeah,
right at the moment, anyway."

"No I mean... are you... do you consider yourself primarily a man or a
woman?"

Ranma blinked.  "I, uh..." It was actually a question she'd been kind of
avoiding.  Despite her relationship with Kentaro, despite her plans to
marry him, despite the fact that she taught as a woman and spent almost all
of her time as a woman, there was still a large part of her that thought of
herself as a man.  That being a woman was a guise she assumed so that she
could be with the man she loved.  And since she had been a woman when she'd
first established a reputation for herself as a martial arts instructor, it
was logical to continue to teach in the dojo as a woman.  Once in a while,
she became a man to practice those martial arts skills she could best do
with the strength and reach of her male side.  'Once in a while' had been
happening with less frequency in the past few months.

She had to admit that she was beginning to treat her male side as the
curse, and her female side as the norm.  Still, she was a guy.  The image
she had of herself when she was with Kentaro was that of a woman.  The
image she had of herself teaching students in the dojo was that of a woman. 
The image she had of herself when she was alone was that of a man.

Ranma wasn't willing to give up that last image.  She *was* a man.  She
would *always* be a man, no matter what.

Kasumi evidently saw the struggle on Ranma's face.  She sighed gently. 
"You're still a man, aren't you?"

Ranma frowned slightly, not entirely comfortable with *that* statement,
either.  "I'm sort of half and half.  It's not like Kentaro doesn't know
this already." She smiled.  "You should have seen his face when I first
walked into his apartment as a man.  He...."

"Ranma-kun." Kasumi's voice cut smoothly into Ranma's attempt to deflect
the question.  "You have to decide, and soon.  Because you have a...
condition that's wholly female."

That caused Ranma a bit of alarm.  Something wrong with her female anatomy. 
Ugh.  "I can make an appointment with my gynecologist.  What should I tell
him the problem is?"

Kasumi looked at her slightly incredulously.  She shook her head and
mumbled something to herself.  It almost sounded like, "And they call *me*
dense," but that couldn't be right.  It was a most un-Kasumi sentiment;
she'd never let something like that slip unless she was really worked up.

Like she appeared to be now.

Kasumi took a deep breath, walked up to Ranma, gently grabbed her hands,
and looked into her eyes.  "Ranma-kun...." Kasumi trailed off again, her
nerve having apparently left her.

Ranma had *never* seen Kasumi act this way.  It scared the hell out of her. 
"What is it? I'm dying, aren't I? I can turn male if it helps."

Kasumi squeezed her hands.  "Ranma-chan." She moved Ranma's hands so that
they rested on her stomach.  "You're pregnant."

Ranma studied Kasumi curiously.  "Really, Kasumi, you can tell me.  What's
wrong with me?"

Kasumi blinked.  She lifted one of her hands and passed it back and forth
over Ranma's eyes.  Ranma drew her head back, puzzled; what a strange thing
for Kasumi to do.

Kasumi leaned forward so that her face was centimeters away from Ranma's. 
"You have to listen to me, Ranma-chan.  You have to hear me.  Are you
paying attention?"

Ranma furrowed her brow further.  "Of course."

"Good." Kasumi gently cupped Ranma's face in her hands.  "Ranma-chan, you
are pregnant.  You are going to have a baby.  Just like I had Kikuko.  Do
you follow that?"

Ranma nodded as much as she could.  "You had Kikuko.  I knew that."

Kasumi blew out what could only be a frustrated breath.  Ranma couldn't
figure out why.  "Ranma-chan, repeat after me.  'I, Ranma...'"

Ranma decided to humor her.  "I, Ranma..."

"...am..."

"...am..."

Kasumi's voice was full of hope.  "...pregnant."

Ranma waited a while.  "Go on, Kasumi, finish the sentence."

Kasumi dropped her head.  "Ranma-chan, you can't deny this.  You have to
deal with it.  It won't go away just because you try to ignore it."

Ranma was still puzzled by Kasumi's demeanor.  "Ignore what?"

Kasumi raised her head and shouted angrily into Ranma's face.  "Ranma,
you're pregnant!"

The force of Kasumi's anger, something Ranma had never, ever experienced
before, finally broke through the hastily-erected barriers in her mind. 
"I'm pregnant?"

Kasumi's anger vanished as quickly as it had appeared.  "Yes, Ranma-chan. 
Pregnant."

Ranma stared at Kasumi as her mind shut down.  She couldn't think, and the
world around her seemed to buzz slightly.  "Kasumi?"

Kasumi was now studying her closely.  "Yes, Ranma-chan?"

Ranma swallowed heavily.  "I don't feel so good."

Kasumi helped Ranma as she leaned over the sink once again.

***

Pregnant pregnant pregnant pregnant...

"Aunt Ranma, let's talk to the fish again!"

Ranma looked at her niece and flinched.

"Kikuko, Aunt Ranma isn't feeling well.  Leave her alone and go play with
your grandfather."

...pregnant pregnant pregnant pregnant...

"Doesn't Aunt Ranma like me anymore?" This said in a fearful voice.

"Aunt Ranma loves you, Kikuko.  She just needs to be by herself right now."

"Come here, Kikuko.  Grandfather's got a present for you."

...pregnant pregnant pregnant pregnant...

"Yeah!"

"Father, you didn't.  Not again."

"I keep telling all of my daughters: if only one of them would give me
another grandchild, I wouldn't spoil Kikuko so."

"Pregnant!"

Everyone stared at Ranma.  She looked wildly around, trying to figure out
who had just shouted.

Seeing Kikuko stare at her wide-eyed was too much.  Ranma fled the room,
and the house, running out into slowly-darkening streets.

Pregnant.  She was pregnant.

She felt her stomach.  It seemed as flat as ever.  Yet there was something
inside of her, growing, getting ready to shove her internal organs around
as it ate her from the inside....

Ranma shuddered.  Pregnant.

Not if she could help it.

It wouldn't take much.  A hot bath.  Quick, painless.  No surgery, no
blood, nothing.  Just a dip, and the collection of cells that were nothing
more than amoebas with ambition would cease to exist.  Even if they somehow
survived the actual transformation, they wouldn't survive long without the
support machinery.

That was the right thing, wasn't it? They weren't even married.  Kentaro
was still in school.  Once he finished, they'd need Ranma's income from the
dojo to support them while Kentaro found a job.  Neither one of them had
the time or the money for a child right now.  Maybe later.

Maybe.

Ranma shuddered again.  Pregnant.  She was a man, she couldn't be pregnant. 
Having babies was something women did.  It wasn't something Ranma ever,
*ever* considered herself doing.  Having babies wasn't manly.

Pregnant.

Ranma slowed to a halt in front of a bathhouse.  She went inside and waited
impatiently in line.  Finally, she reached the counter.  "One, please."

The attendant looked at her with a bored expression.  "1500 yen."

Ranma fumbled the money out of her pocket and took the proffered marker
with her.  She turned and ran to the women's entrance.  She'd have to plan
it carefully.  Dive into the bath on the women's side, swim underneath the
divider to the men's side.  Surface, wait five minutes, then take a cold
shower.  Hop over the wall to the women's side again.  Dry, get dressed,
leave.  She'd probably cause a bit of a ruckus, but that was all right. 
She'd been a part of bathhouse disturbances before.

She stopped in front of the women's door, trembling.

Kentaro.

She had to tell him.  He'd want to know before she did anything.  Of course
he would agree and tell her to go ahead, but he'd get angry if she did this
without consulting him first.  He'd be right, too.

Ranma turned and tossed the marker back to the surprised attendant.  She
ran out into the street again and made her way to the train station.

***

Kentaro looked up from the collection of specimens he was cataloguing. 
Sometimes being an intern meant he got to do interesting things, deal with
patients and help them with their problems.  Mostly, though, it meant he
got to do the drudgework no respectable doctor or nurse would be caught
dead doing.  Still, it needed to be done; he was performing a useful task. 
That's what he kept telling himself, anyway.

He steeled and bent down again to his work.  He had several hours left on
his shift; it was too soon to be bored out of his skull.  He began humming
a song he'd heard Ranma and her adopted sisters singing once.

"Doctor Marumoto, dial 447.  Doctor Marumoto, 447."

It took Kentaro a few seconds to realize the page referred to him.  By
practice, even interns were called "Doctor" when paged over the intercom.
It didn't happen that often, so it still sent a thrill up his spine to
hear himself referred to that way.  It wouldn't be too much longer before
he was called that for real.

He knew that 447 was the extension of the front entrance receptionist. 
Rather than call, he decided to go there himself and see what was needed.

Kentaro smiled when he saw Ranma.  He'd been hoping it was her.  She rarely
visited him at the hospital since he usually was very busy and hospitals
were never a place a person wanted to visit unless they had to.  He guessed
that Ranma was feeling slightly guilty for contriving to stay at the Tendo
home when Kasumi was cooking, and had come here to make it up to him. 
"Ranma, you didn't have to come out here.  I understand that...."

His voice trailed off as Ranma looked up at him.  Her face was... strange. 
Quiet.  Fearful.  Nervous.  Something was bothering her, very much so.

Kentaro led her away from the front desk.  "What's wrong?"

Ranma looked around.  "I'm thirsty.  Is there a place where I can get some
tea?"

Kentaro frowned at how edgy her voice was, but simply said, "This way." He
led her to the cafeteria.

He got her a cup of tea of and a sandwich for himself, figuring he'd take
this as his lunch break.  He paid, since Ranma was low on money.

They sat at a table in the middle of the relatively crowded dining area. 
Ranma, despite her earlier statement of thirst, simply stared at her tea. 
She continued to look a little afraid, and was clearly working up the
courage to tell him something.  Kentaro knew from long experience that he
should just wait her out, give her time to build her courage and try not to
push.  He ate his sandwich in silence, waiting.

"Marumoto!" Kentaro turned to see one of his fellow interns walk up. 
"Whaddya need, Lee?"

Lee smiled ingratiatingly, which meant he was about to ask a favor.  "Say,
you don't want to hang around here tonight do you?"

Kentaro narrowed his eyes.  "And supposing I don't?"

"I'll work the rest of your shift, if you'll work for me this same time
tomorrow.  Made a date with this nice woman an hour ago." Lee clasped his
shoulder.  "Be a pal, eh?"

Kentaro frowned, then turned to Ranma.  "Is that all right with you? You,
uh, look like you need my company tonight."

Ranma nodded, still staring at her tea.

Kentaro looked back up at Lee.  "Okay.  I'm in the lab processing samples. 
See Nurse Nakimoto after that."

Lee gave him a slight shake.  "Thanks!" He turned quickly and slammed into
a doctor carrying a tray.  The soup and salad on the tray went flying, with
most of the latter landing on Kentaro.

Lee, meanwhile, was turning very white.  "Doctor, I'm s-sorry." The doctor
herself had escaped the collateral damage, but was still glaring at Lee. 
"I - I'll buy you another dinner."

"Yes, you will." Her tone managed to lower the temperature in the room to
just above freezing.  "Your name is?"

Lee was fumbling to answer as they walked away.

Kentaro chuckled as he brushed lettuce off his hospital garb.  "I almost
feel sorry for him.  Irritating doctors is not a good way for an intern to
get noticed." He turned to find that he was talking to an empty chair. 
Ranma's tea was still there.  So was what had once been the soup, covering
the table and chair where Ranma had been just a moment ago.

Kentaro frowned and looked around.  Ranma was nowhere in sight.  The exit
had been the way Kentaro had been looking a moment ago, so Ranma had to
still be in the cafeteria.  Yet the cafeteria didn't have a lot of hiding
places, just bare tables and chairs.

By process of elimination, Kentaro looked up.

Ranma was clinging to the ceiling.  How, Kentaro had no idea.  There
weren't any obvious handholds, yet she appeared to be attached to it.  She
had her face pressed against the ceiling, and she was trembling.

"Ranma," he called softly.  "Please come down."

Ranma turned her head and looked down at him.  If she had seemed frightened
before, she looked terrified now.  She dropped from the ceiling, somehow
twisting to land well away from the table.  She looked around fearfully.

He walked up to her, beginning to feel frightened himself.  "Ranma, what's
wrong?"

"There's so much hot water around.  Soup, tea.  We have to be careful." She
looked into his eyes and grabbed his shirt.  "Get me out of here."

"Yes, Ranma." He led her slowly out of the cafeteria.  Ranma continued to
look around, evidently trying to see in all directions at once.

She began talking quietly, rapidly, fearfully.  "The first couple of times
I was splashed, I thought it was just a coincidence.  It could happen to
anyone.  Then it kept happening.  Over and over.  The pond.  The woman with
the ladle.  The swimming pool.  The canal.  Kasumi with the hose.  *Any*
excuse.  Water showed up everywhere.  No matter how much I guarded against
it, water.  It was always cold water, which was at least plausible if not
probable.  Then my mother showed up, and suddenly hot water started finding
ways of getting to me.  Even hot water.  It splashed me all the time."

Ranma turned and grabbed his shirt again.  Her eyes were wild, her voice
frantic.  "Do you understand? Even hot water! Even hot water found me!"

Kentaro grabbed her shoulders.  "Ranma, calm down! It's okay, there's no
hot water here."

Ranma looked up at the ceiling.  "What about pipes? They could burst.  Even
hot water found me.  What if the curse doesn't want me to be this way? What
if it's sending hot water my way to... to keep me from being the way I am?"

Kentaro shook his head, confused.  "Ranma, it's okay.  If you become a guy,
it doesn't matter.  I understand."

"No you don't! You don't understand." She shook him slightly.  "It isn't
just me! Not any more."

Kentaro stared at her, dumbfounded.

She turned and began pulling him down the hallway.  "We have to get away
from the pipes.  From the pipes everywhere.  There's hot water all around
us.  Even hot water found me."

He followed her out of the hospital.  His mind was spinning, his stomach
churning.  Ranma was... if he understood her correctly, she was.... 

Oh.  My.  God.

Even as something akin to horror washed over him, he discovered that he was
smiling.  He squelched it all, the horror and the smile.  Too many other
things to deal with right now.

When they reached the parking lot, he stopped Ranma.  "Are you saying...."

"Yes!" She looked down at the ground.  "Does hot water flow in underground
pipes? It might.  Maybe there's an undiscovered geyser right underneath our
feet.  Hot water is everywhere."

"Ranma." Once again, he tried to control his own racing emotions.  Dealing
with Ranma's phobia was more important.  "Where can we go where there's no
hot water?"

"I don't know! Hot water is everywhere." He saw her think about it, though. 
"Maybe the beach.  Lots of cold water there.  No hot water.  Just keep all
the tea kettles away.  That'll work."

Kentaro sighed and nodded.  That would do for a start.  He looked into her
eyes.  "Please, wait here and let me go inside and get my coat.  Okay?
Promise not to go anywhere?"

Ranma nodded, her eyes still wide.

Kentaro turned and hurried back into the hospital.  He looked once back
over his shoulder to see Ranma assume a ready position, turning herself in
a circle, waiting to be attacked by hot water.

Kentaro grimaced, and wondered briefly what the next few months were going
to be like before his mind balked at the thought and concentrated on
getting Ranma to the beach.

***

Ranma stood at the edge of the ocean, the water covering her ankles.  She
smelled the salt air, felt the cool mist that sprayed over her constantly,
and began to calm down.

She had never been so panicked in all her life.  Not in all the battles
she'd ever fought, not when battling Happosai or Cologne, never.  A little
afraid, maybe.  But never so caught up in the fear that it controlled her.

Why was she so afraid?

Ranma closed her eyes.  The hot soup, flying towards her.  The panic that
rose, the instinctive leap straight up, the overwhelming sense she got that
it was starting all over again, that suddenly the vague dread of water
she'd had when she'd first been cursed was going to turn into a full blown
phobia.

Why was she so afraid?

She'd been about to do this herself.  Had been about to enter the
bathhouse.  Something had stopped her, though.  The sense that she needed
to tell Kentaro. 

Ranma shuddered and forced herself to think it through more clearly.  It
had been more than that.  It had been the sense that what she was about to
do was wrong.  Not for any moral or ethical reasons.  But rather, because
maybe it was something she wanted to happen.

Ranma crouched suddenly and stared into the water.  Not much could be seen;
the night was dark, without a moon.  The soup flying towards her, the
sudden panic.  The panic... the fear that....

Why was she so afraid?

Ranma felt the tears running down her cheek.  She'd been afraid that her
child was about to die.  And she still feared for her child's life.

She wrapped her arms around herself and began to rock on her heels.

Kentaro crouched down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders.  "I
managed to find a couple of sleeping bags we can use.  We'll probably get
away with it tonight, but not for long.  Eventually someone will arrest us
for vagrancy.  We'll have to figure something better out."

Ranma nodded.

Kentaro's voice sounded sad and frightened.  "Ranma, tell me what you're
feeling."

"I am so scared."

"Scared of what?"

"Of...." Ranma swallowed.  "Of going through with this."

Kentaro's voice was soft and prodding.  "Why?"

"Because... I'm a guy.  Guys don't have babies."

Kentaro's voice sounded thoughtful.  "Guys don't have babies, but you want
to, which means you're not a guy, and that scares you.  Right?"

Ranma began shaking.  "It's slipping away.  The man I used to be.  I am my
father's son.  But I gave up the family name.  I fell in love with a man. 
And now... now..."

"Ranma." Kentaro's voice sounded a little more firm.  "How are you
different from the 'man you used to be'?"

"*He'd* never put up with this.  *He'd* have jumped into the bath without a
second's thought.  Hell, if a man put a hand on him while he had a female
form, he'd have knocked that man halfway across Japan."

"I think I knew him." Kentaro started trailing one hand in the water.  "I
think I met him, once.  *He* was a person unable to accept the realities of
the situation he was in.  *He* was stubbornly refusing to listen to the
advice of those who knew him and loved him.  *He* was miserable, and alone,
and quite likely to remain so for a long time.  I think all that happened
to him is that he grew up.  He stopped being stubborn, he stopped sulking. 
He finally learned what it meant to be the person he was.  He adapted
himself, faced the world head on instead of hiding from it.  He made quite
a remarkable place for himself, earning respect and accolades he'd never
dreamed of before.  *He* simply matured." Kentaro squeezed her tightly. 
"He's still here, Ranma.  He always will be.  He wants this to happen.  It
doesn't make him 'unmanly', whatever that means.  I've seen him with
children, and he likes them a lot, and I think he's ready to raise one of
his own, no matter what it takes to... produce one."

Ranma shook her head.  "I don't know.  I... I guess that's the best way to
think about it for now."

"Give it time.  You have at least a few weeks to change your mind.  No
matter what you decide, I'll support it."

Ranma turned her head, suddenly remembering why she had gone to the
hospital in the first place.  "What do you think about it, Kentaro?"

Kentaro stared beyond her for a minute, thinking.  "I don't know.  My first
reaction is that this is... inconvenient.  It ties my stomach in knots. 
Having a child terribly complicates our lives.  I'll be trying to find a
job at just about the same time the baby is due, which means I'll be very
busy trying to be a father and a new doctor at the same time."

Kentaro's face broke into a wide smile.  "My second and stronger reaction
is that this is wonderful.  I've always wanted children, and ever since we
fell in love, I've wanted you to be the one I have children with.  The
thought of our baby growing in you fills me with joy and anticipation."

Ranma looked into his eyes.  She saw love and happiness there, and it
sparked similar feelings in her.  She leaned forward and kissed him, and
this time the kiss was different, tender in a way she'd never experienced
before, and beautiful.

They broke off the kiss and looked at each other.  The emotions they felt
seemed to permeate the air, almost tangible.

After a couple of minutes, Kentaro broke the spell.  "My third reaction is
that this *has* to be something you want, Ranma.  If you're not ready to
have a child, then you shouldn't.  Don't feel obligated to have this baby
solely on my account.  That wouldn't be good for you *or* the baby.  I'm
willing to wait until you're ready, or adopt a child if you feel like this
is something you can't do.  All I ask is that you let me know before you
act on a decision."

Ranma nodded, more relieved by his words than she wanted to admit.  She
shook herself.  "I've been acting so stupidly today.  Let's go home.  I'm
probably going to be extra alert on the way, and I'll probably turn off the
hot water when we get there, but we don't have to live like this."

Kentaro sighed.  "Most couples only have to worry about what to name the
baby.  We have to worry about clumsy food servers and old water pipes."

Ranma smiled.  "My world and welcome to it." Her smile faltered.  "It's
never been so... life-threatening before."

Kentaro nodded grimly.  "I understand." He smiled confidently.  "We'll work
around it.  We'll figure it out.  There's nothing you and I can't do
together."

She laughed and took his hand.  "How arrogant you are.  I don't know where
you learned to be that way."

Kentaro grinned and looked at her significantly.  "You don't?"

Ranma smiled back.  She looked over towards the sleeping bags.  "Let's
return those."

Kentaro nodded, and they moved towards them.  He frowned, thinking.  "How
did this happen? We were always so careful."

"Remember the hospital roof?"

"Oh yeah." Kentaro flushed.  "It's a good thing that security guard didn't
come five minutes earlier." He chuckled.  "I've never seen you move so
fast, Ranma.  What did you do to him? All I remember is you leaping at him,
some shouting, and then you grabbing me and our clothes and running like
hell for the stairs."

"Nothing too bad.  Just pulled his shirt over his head, dropped his pants,
and tied his shoelaces together."

"You did? In what... ten seconds?"

"Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken Revised - Clothing Rearrangement Whirlwind."

"I'm just glad it was dark and he couldn't see our faces.  That would have
been the end of my internship."

"You have to admit, it was... exciting." She smiled, remembering how the
risk of detection had added an edge.  She sobered quickly.  "When we do
things like that, I go and take a hot bath right afterwards, to prevent...
complications.  I forgot this time."

"Oh.  Well, I want to say that it's as much my fault as yours, but I don't
want us to think of this in terms of blame." Kentaro put his arm around
her.  "I want to think of this as... serendipitous."

Ranma frowned.  "Uh, well, I guess that's one way to look at it." They
reached the sleeping bags.  Ranma toed one of them.  "I'm glad to know what
you're feeling, Kentaro.  Would you mind, though, not mentioning it again
until I've decided?  I... need a little space."

Kentaro nodded and they each picked up a sleeping bag.  Ranma held hers in
the crook of her arm before she realized what she was doing.  She stared at
the bag, tried to put a baby's face on it, and shuddered.

And continued to watch carefully for hot water.

***

Ranma stood in the yard, punching a post over and over again.  She'd
canceled classes for the day, citing medical reasons.  That wasn't untrue,
either.  She'd gone to her gynecologist, and was waiting for an answer she
was pretty sure she knew already.

At one point, Akane came out onto the porch and waved merrily at her. 
Ranma slowed her punches to examine Akane.  Akane didn't seem to know. 
Apparently Kasumi had kept her observation to herself.  Ranma appreciated
her discretion.

Akane indicated that Ranma should continue.  Ranma picked up the pace again
as Akane went back inside.

The phone rang, and Ranma stopped punching, her heart beating.  Akane came
out onto the porch, a slightly puzzled expression on her face.  "There's a
man asking for 'Mister Ranma'."

Ranma nodded.  "My gynecologist."

Akane blinked.  "Really? Why does he call you 'Mister'?"

Ranma quirked a corner of her mouth.  "The first time he tried to give me
an examination, I freaked out a little bit.  I sent him flying across the
room and told him that I was a guy.  Fortunately, he took it in good humor,
and was actually very patient with me.  To this day, however, he calls me
'Mister Ranma'.  I let him because of what I did to him that first time."

Akane chuckled.  "Does he know your secret?"

Ranma panicked for a minute before realizing what Akane meant.  "Uh, no, I
haven't told him.  I probably should." She walked into the house to get the
phone before Akane could ask her what she meant.

The phone conversation was quick and to the point.  Ranma thanked the
doctor, made an appointment for another examination, and walked back out
into the yard.  She stood in front of the post again, trying to find the
motivation to strike it.  Unfortunately, her mind was still reeling.  Any
attempt to bring order to her thoughts died in the face of the reality of
her situation.

"Ranma, what's wrong?" Akane grabbed her shoulder and turned her so that
she could look into her eyes.  "You look so pale."

Ranma stared at Akane, the panic rising again and sweeping away the last of
her rationality.  She simply couldn't think or move.  She just stared at
Akane, her heart hammering in her chest.

Akane was looking more and more alarmed.  In a gesture very similar to
Kasumi's, Akane reached up and felt Ranma's forehead.  "Are you feeling
okay?"

Ranma began shaking slightly.  It was too much, it was all too much.  She
wanted to run and hide and hope the world would go away.  She might have, a
few years ago.  She was trying to react in a slightly more mature manner.

As she stared at Akane, trying to work up the courage to speak, she
realized that she wasn't succeeding terribly well.

Akane blew out a frustrated breath.  "I really hate it when you act this
way, Ranma.  Either tell me what's wrong or tell me to leave you alone.  If
you just stand there and stare at me, I'm gonna start beating on
*something*, and it's a toss-up right now between you and the post. 
Leaning a little bit towards you, I should add."

Ranma drew a deep breath.  "I'm pregnant."

Akane appeared to freeze in place.  Slowly, her face changed from the
slightly irritated expression she'd been using to a shocked, slack-jawed
look of disbelief.  "You're... pregnant?"

Ranma nodded miserably.

Akane looked down at Ranma's stomach, then back up at Ranma.  "How long?"

"Six weeks."

Akane still looked slightly dazed.  "You've been a woman for six weeks?"

Ranma nodded again.  "I... haven't had much reason to turn into a guy
recently."

"I suppose not." Akane shook herself, then leaned forward to peer down into
Ranma's eyes.  "How do you feel about it?"

"I don't know.  I don't know what to think or feel or do." Ranma clamped
down before she could start to babble.

"Are..." Akane seemed afraid to speak.  "Are you going to keep it?"

Ranma hung her head.  "I don't know."

Akane's eyes widened.  "What about hot water? What are you going to do
about hot water splashing you?"

Ranma sighed.  "I don't know."

"Wow." Akane put her hand under Ranma's chin and lifted her head.  "There's
a lot you need to think about, isn't there?"

Ranma nodded.

Akane smiled.  "Well, let's sit down to a cup of tea - " Akane broke off,
paused, then continued, "- to a glass of lemonade and talk about it, okay?"

Ranma smiled back, glad for Akane's understanding.  "Okay."

They went into the kitchen.  Akane quickly poured them each a glass, then
led Ranma to the dining room.  They sat, and Ranma stared into the depths
of the liquid in her glass, wondering when she would drink tea again.

"Does Kentaro know?" Akane's voice was gentle and probing.  Not quite up to
Kasumi's level of mastery, but certainly much improved from a few years
ago.

"Yes."

"What does he think?"

"Well, you know him." Ranma took a sip to organize her thoughts.  "He's
always thought of me as a woman.  To him, it seems natural that I should
have children.  He's very excited.  He wants me to have this baby.  He did
make it clear that it was my choice, and that he would support whatever
decision I made."

"And have you made a decision?"

Ranma grimly shook her head.  "No.  I don't know.  I was all set to jump
into a hot bath.  Then I went to go talk to Kentaro, and some hot soup got
sent flying in my direction, and I freaked.  I still don't know why,
exactly, except I was afraid.  Afraid for...." Ranma trailed off, for some
reason unable to finish speaking her thoughts out loud.

Akane sipped her lemonade and looked at Ranma speculatively.  "I think it's
time I told you the difference between men and women."

Ranma lifted a corner of her mouth.  "I think I know that already."

"No you don't.  There are things you don't quite understand." Akane set her
lemonade on the table.  "A woman... when she's growing up and she learns
about her body, about how she's able to give birth, it changes her.  The
prospect of making a baby and bringing it out into the world to raise -
that's what makes being a woman special, and exciting.  A lot of her
personal identity is shaped by that, by the knowledge that her body allows
her to create life." Akane tilted her head.  "I'm making some
generalizations here, but I think it's pretty true for most women.  I know
it's true for me.  Part of what I look for in a man is the potential to be
a good father." Akane smirked slightly.  "Good breeding stock."

Ranma laughed in spite of herself.  "Was I good stock?"

"The best." Akane stared at Ranma for a second, then shook her head and
continued.  "You've never had that.  I don't think you've ever seriously
considered the ultimate consequences of having a woman's body.  I think you
need to come to terms with that." Akane leaned forward to grab Ranma's
hand.  "To me, being pregnant is wonderful and exciting.  I want to someday
experience what you're feeling.  Truth be told, I'm a little envious."

Akane sighed and sat back.  "I'm not saying that you should keep the baby. 
That's your choice.  I'm only saying that having children is something many
women look forward to, and that if you are going to live as a woman you
need to decide if that's something you want to do." Akane smiled.  "If you
do decide to keep it, I'll be here to help.  In fact, I'd look forward to
helping you through it."

Ranma looked at Akane and smiled.  "Well, it's good to know that you'll be
there to help."

Ranma stared into her lemonade again.  Silence descended as Ranma's mind
once again went around in circles.  The natural consequence of choosing to
live as a woman, Akane had said.  Creating life, something that made women
unique from men, a special gift.  Ranma tried to see it in those terms.  It
was quite difficult.  All she could think about was a parasite invading her
body, stealing her resources, getting ready to inflict pain and severely
damage her body.

Yet, it was *her* parasite.  For some reason, that made all the difference
in the world.

Ranma shuddered - she'd been shuddering a lot lately, she realized - and
looked up at Akane.  Akane was watching her steadily, quietly, a look of
complete understanding and acceptance on her face.  Akane had changed a
lot.  Ranma found herself liking this Akane a lot.  In many ways, Akane
reminded her of Kentaro.  And that was good.  Ranma smiled at her own bias.

Akane smiled back, misinterpreting Ranma's expression.  "Does this mean
you're going to keep it?"

The smile quickly fled Ranma's face.  "I... I still don't know." Ranma drew
a deep breath.  "There's one more person I have to tell.  Well, two people,
but one who's going to react more strongly than the other."

Akane turned grim.  "Your mother."

Ranma closed her eyes.  "God help me, yes.  My mother."

***

Kentaro was doing his best to keep his hand from being squeezed to a pulp. 
He wasn't much succeeding.

The dinner he and Ranma had planned with her parents was ostensibly to
discuss setting a wedding date.  Nodoka had agreed to allow the wedding,
with the proviso that Ranma keep her newly-adopted family name.  It had
been a major concession, one made only after several painful discussions
between Ranma and her mother.  Even now, her attitude towards Kentaro had
only softened slightly. 

The real reason for the dinner, of course, was to tell Nodoka and Genma
about Ranma's condition.  To say that Ranma was nervous was to say that a
few people lived in Tokyo.  The closer they approached the Saotome home,
the tighter Ranma's grip on Kentaro's hand became.  Kentaro's gentle
efforts to calm Ranma down weren't succeeding much.

The Saotome home was much smaller than the Tendo home.  The Saotomes were
actually quite poor, with little in the way of assets.  They had only
managed to hang on to the house because of Nodoka's sheer tenacity and
unwillingness to be driven from her home.

They reached the front door.  Ranma stood in front of it, staring at it. 
Kentaro would normally have given her time to work up her courage, but he
was in serious pain.  Besides, he had a feeling she needed a little push
right about now.  He reached over and opened the door.  Ranma shot him a
surprised look, then pulled him in.

She released his hand as her mother approached.  They both bowed as Ranma
mumbled a greeting.

Nodoka beamed and bowed back.  "Ah, Son, it is always a pleasure to see
you." She looked over at Kentaro.  Her smile didn't fade, to her credit,
although it seemed a little forced now.  It was still a major improvement
for her.  "Kentaro-kun, it's been a long time since we've seen you.  I'm
glad you found time to visit."

Kentaro smiled back, internally wincing at the implied criticism.  This was
not going to be fun.

Nodoka led them to the dining room.  Dinner was already on the table, and
they fell to it after greeting Genma.  Ranma and Genma dug into the food
with a will.  Nodoka was an excellent cook, and both Ranma and Genma had a
particular affinity towards eating.  Kentaro had never tried to teach Ranma
better eating manners, instead trying to set an example himself.  It worked
for the most part, and Ranma ate in a relatively civilized manner most of
the time.  However, when she was with her father, she reverted to her old
form.  Food was shoveled into their respective mouths at a rapid rate, and
more food was added to their plates as quickly as they could grab it off
the serving dishes.  Sometimes they fought brief but vicious battles with
their chopsticks over a particular morsel.

Kentaro nearly chuckled after one such battle nearly came to blows.  He
caught Nodoka's eye as she smiled at him, sharing his amusement, nothing
forced this time.

Finally Ranma sighed and sat back, covering her stomach with her hand. 
Genma soon did likewise, and he turned to Nodoka.  "An excellent meal as
always."

Nodoka nodded serenely.  Kentaro tried to examine her expression
surreptitiously, wondering if he could ascertain the state of their
relationship.  Ranma had told him that they lived in separate rooms in the
Saotome home, but that was the only clue she had to how well they were
getting along.  Kentaro decided that Nodoka was taking Genma's compliment
about her cooking at face value, and was even slightly pleased.  Other than
that, he couldn't read anything more into her reaction.

He helped as the family cleared off the table.  A few quiet moments were
spent in the Saotome kitchen cleaning up after dinner.  Ranma somehow
managed to stay away from the sink without being obvious about it.  Nodoka
finally indicated that they had done enough, and they retired to the back
porch, looking out into the small rock garden.

Kentaro spent a few moments examining it.  He'd never had a chance to
really look at it before, but as Ranma was building up her courage again,
he found that he had plenty of time.  "This is quite lovely.  You must be
an expert at this kind of gardening."

Nodoka smiled.  "I am no expert.  My husband, however, has many talents,
some of which surprise me.  This is his work, and it is indeed lovely."

Kentaro glanced at Nodoka and Genma out of the corner of his eye.  They
were both staring into the yard, but he could almost feel a current of
electricity flow between them at Nodoka's words.  Kentaro smiled
internally; perhaps there was hope for their relationship after all.

After a minute, Genma cleared his throat.  "What is it you wished to
discuss, Ranma? Have you and Kentaro set a date?"

Ranma sighed, audibly distressed.  Both of her parents picked up on it, and
turned to look at her with a bit of alarm.

Ranma looked back and forth between them before settling her gaze on
Nodoka.  "Mother."

Nodoka lifted her eyebrows.  "Yes, Son?"

Ranma flinched.  "Mother.  Father.  I have news."

Nodoka was looking more and more concerned.  "What is it, Ranma? Tell me,
please."

"Mother.  I apologize.  I've been careless.  I... we...." She clamped her
mouth shut, then blurted, "I'm pregnant."

Kentaro carefully examined Nodoka and Genma.  Genma's eyes grew wide, and
he looked at Nodoka.  Nodoka was staring at Ranma, her face a cold mask.

Kentaro watched the Saotome family tableau as it continued for several
minutes.  Ranma's face was full of fear, something she never showed in her
martial arts.  Genma looked wary and seemed poised for action, although
Kentaro couldn't guess what he might be preparing for.  Nodoka was still
staring coldly at Ranma.

Kentaro finally understood what deafening silence sounded like.  It was not
pleasant.

Nodoka abruptly stood up and walked out into the rock garden, her geta
disrupting the patterns in the sand.  She came to a halt in the center of
garden and appeared to be examining it closely.  Kentaro had no idea what
she was looking for.

Nodoka turned around and surveyed the people standing on the porch.  Her
expression was as coldly formal as her voice when she addressed Ranma. 
"You are no longer my son."

Ranma gasped.  Genma surged to his feet.  "Nodoka!"

The look Nodoka gave Genma was enough to cause him take a step back.  "This
is your fault, Genma.  You did this to my son.  I entrusted you with the
most precious thing our family had.  I should have known better.  Like
every Saotome before you, you mistreated what was valuable and thought
nothing of the consequences of your actions.  What we have left - the house,
the sword - we have only because *I* have held onto them.  I have no doubt
that if I had let you take the sword, all that would remain of it would be
a pawn ticket." Nodoka's voice was shaking.  "My greatest fear during the
sixteen years my son was gone from my life was that you had somehow lost
him.  Today, that fear has been realized."

"Dammit, Nodoka, that's not true.  He's here now.  Don't do this to him,
don't do this to us."

"Do what? You're the one who's done it.  Did you ever have any regrets,
feel any remorse for your actions? You gave him his fear of cats, and I
have never seen you apologize for that.  You took him to those... those
pools, and lost him there, and have shown no regrets at all.  What kind of
creature are you?"

Genma was breathing heavily.  He spoke in a husky voice.  "Do you truly
think that I am without all feeling? Do you think that a day goes by that I
do not wish I had never taken him to China? Do you know that, sometimes, I
lay awake at night and wish that I had never taken him away from you, that
I had been content with the life we led here?" Genma swung his fist and hit
one of the posts that supported the porch.  "Why do you think it is that I
did not cure myself of my curse when I had the chance? As long as Ranma
suffers from my carelessness, I will as well.  It is precious little
comfort, I know, but it is all I have to give."

Genma straightened a little and glared at Nodoka.  "It is more than you
have ever given him, Nodoka.  You have barely tolerated his current form,
and you have treated his fiancee disgracefully.  Did you see the fear on
his face? How does it feel to know that your son is afraid of you?"

Nodoka stood upright, but Kentaro had the feeling that she would crumple at
a touch.  She closed her eyes, and spoke in almost a sob.  "It feels
horrible.  I want to give my son the love he needs and wants from me.  I
need to give him that love.  But I cannot.  Not like this.  It is too
much." She bowed her head.  "May my ancestors forgive me.  I cannot accept
Ranma as my son."

Genma took a step towards her.  "Nodoka...."

"Enough!" Nodoka brought her head up with a snap and glared at Genma.  "I
have spoken.  My decision is final." She walked out of the garden, across
the porch, and into the house.

Kentaro stood up and walked over to Ranma.  She was staring at the space
her mother had occupied in the garden only a moment ago.  Her face was
frozen in shock and horror.  Kentaro reached down and shook her shoulder a
little, but was unable to move her.  She seemed to be carved out of stone.

Kentaro looked at Genma in despair.  Genma looked back at him, the sorrow
etched deeply into his face.  He looked down at Ranma, and began to move
towards her.

He stopped as Nodoka came back out onto the porch.  She was holding a
sword, the blade catching the light from the setting sun and reflecting it
dangerously.  She walked towards Kentaro, the blade pointed at his neck. 
Kentaro blanched but stood his ground.  If it came down to it, he could
disarm her easily.  But he waited to see what she was going to do,
wondering how far gone she was in her anger.

Nodoka stopped in front of him, the tip of the sword a centimeter away from
his chin.  Her eyes bored into his with grim determination.  Kentaro felt
every bit of the iron will this woman had, and was daunted.

She spoke in a threatening voice.  "If you do not marry my daughter, I will
expect you to commit seppuku for the disgrace you have caused my family. 
Do you understand?"

Kentaro blinked once, deliberately.  He ran the words through his brain a
few more times to be sure that he did, indeed, understand them.  When he
was almost certain he had it right, he spoke in a cautious voice.  "It has
always been my intention to marry... your daughter.  We thought that
perhaps two months from tomorrow would be a good day.  With your
permission."

"That is acceptable." Nodoka lowered the blade and held it to the side. 
Genma reached over and took it from her.  Nodoka glanced at him, giving him
an appraising look that was not hostile, only thoughtful.  She turned away
and walked around Kentaro.  She reached down and took Ranma's hands. 
"Come, my daughter.  There is much we need to discuss.  While I do not
expect you to assume the role of wife the same way I did, there are perhaps
a few things I can tell you about being a mother that you may find
helpful."

Ranma gaped at her mother, at a loss for words as usual.  Nodoka smiled at
her and pulled on her hands.  Ranma rose to her feet, looked down at her
hands being held by Nodoka, and back up.  A smile began to form on Ranma's
face, growing wider and showing more relief and happiness as the seconds
went by.  Nodoka led her into the house, and Kentaro was almost certain
that both women had tears in their eyes.

Kentaro nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand clasp his
shoulder.  "Well, m'boy, it seems I get to call you 'Son'.  I don't know
how much Ranma has told you about our family, but there are a few things I
can tell you about that you may find useful.  Ranma and her mother are more
alike than either one of them realize." Kentaro heard Genma chuckle
ruefully.  "If you can avoid the same mistakes I made, you'll find that
life in the Saotome family can be pretty good."

Kentaro turned and looked into Genma's huge smile.  Genma was showing no
small measure of relief himself, and Kentaro finally decided he could relax
as well.  He grinned.  "I'd like to hear anything you have to say, Father-
in-law.  I have the feeling I'm going to need all the help I can get."

Genma snorted in amusement.  "You're a wise boy." Genma held up the sword. 
"First lesson: know where this is at all times.  It could save your life."

Kentaro laughed, and Genma joined him.  Kentaro felt something beginning,
and rejoiced.

***

Ranma stared at the ground as they left her parents' house.  She had never,
ever been on such an emotional roller-coaster ride as she had been tonight. 
Given her tumultuous life, that was saying something.

She felt Kentaro's eyes on her.  His voice was gentle and probing. 
Everyone had been gentle and probing.  "How are you feeling?"

She turned her head and looked up at him as they walked.  "Better.  Good,
in fact."

This clearly surprised Kentaro.  "Oh.  How did it go with your mother?"

"Strange." Her mother's attitude had changed completely.  It was hard to
pin down, exactly, but her mother had treated her like... an equal.  Ranma
smiled a bit about what that implied about her other gender.  "She told me
lots of stuff about being pregnant, and about giving birth, and about
caring for an infant.  She wants to come over to the Tendo home and help me
prepare a nursery.  And, I think, tell me more about being a mother."

"So... she's accepted your female form?"

"More than that.  I *am* a woman to her, now.  I think she'd feel
uncomfortable if I became a guy in her presence."

Kentaro was silent for a moment, considering.  "I guess that's the best we
can hope for.  It's quite nice of her, in a way.  She couldn't deal with
the fact that her son was about to give birth, so she changed him into her
daughter."

Ranma shook her head.  "Back when Herb locked me in my female form, I used
the phrase, 'I am my father's son' like a litany.  It was a reminder of who
I had been, and who I hoped to be someday.  Even if Pop and I had a bit of
a falling out for a while, the phrase was still important.  Now, I've got a
new litany.  I am my mother's daughter.  That's the part of me that's
pregnant, that's about to marry a man." Ranma shrugged.  "It's kinda
funny."

Kentaro tilted his head.  "So which litany is true?"

"Both.  Neither.  I don't know." Ranma smiled, the relief of realization
spreading through her.  "I'm not a man.  Not a woman.  I'm Ranma.  Akane
told me a little about what it's like to grow up as a woman.  I never had
that, and I lost a lot of the things that were instilled in me growing up
as a man.  I've had a lot of stuff ripped from my mind, and all that's left
is the core of who I am.  And that core doesn't have a gender, really. 
Just me.  Just Ranma.  At long last, I'm completely content with who and
what I am."

"Really?" Kentaro sounded relieved himself, with just a touch of wariness. 
"And... do I fit in there?"

"Of course." Ranma reached over to take his hand.  "The whole of who Ranma
is loves you, Kentaro." She chuckled.  "Damn, I've turned into a Zen
Buddhist.  Next thing you know I'm gonna start my own sect."

"Does this mean that you're keeping the baby?"

"Yes." Ranma smiled.  "You were right; I want children.  That means bearing
them myself.  It's part of who I am now, that ability to create life that
Akane was going on and on about."

Kentaro let out a sigh of relief.  "You've made me very happy, Ranma." He
stopped and gathered her in his arms, giving her a gentle hug.

Ranma chuckled even as she accepted the hug.  "I'm not made out of china,
Ken-chan.  I still plan to train until my doctor tells me to stop.  I'll
still be able to beat you to a bloody pulp any time I feel like it.  Don't
forget that."

Kentaro laughed and separated himself.  "Do you have your mother's sword
with you?"

Ranma blinked.  "Uh, no.  She still has it.  Why?"

"Just checking." He bent forward and kissed her.  "I love you, Ranma."

Ranma decided words were not enough.  She kept her demonstrations to a
minimum, since she and Kentaro were in the middle of the street, but they
were enough to leave him breathless.

***

"Ow!"  Each time, it got worse.  Ranma grabbed the dashboard and gripped
it tightly as the pain washed through her.  It subsided, but she knew it
would be back.  And soon.

"Remember to breathe, Ranma.  We're almost there."  Kentaro reached from
where he sat in the back seat and squeezed her shoulder gently.

Ranma turned to glare at him.  "Remember to duck, Kentaro.  I plan to
punish you for doing this to me."

"Relax, Ranma-chan."  Ranma sometimes thought that Kasumi's voice could
calm a nuclear reaction.  "My husband will be waiting for us at the
hospital, along with your doctor.  They will both tell you how important
it is to stay calm."

"Calm, hell.  I feel like I'm about to explode."  She paused and
realized that Kasumi probably knew a lot about what Ranma was going
through.  "How much is this going to hurt? I mean, it isn't any worse
than what I go through in the dojo, right?"

Kasumi's voice, while still soothing, contained a hint of warning.
"Remember when Ryoga-kun and Tatewaki-kun decided to chastise you for
the way you treated Akane during the incident with the reversal jewel?"

Ranma winced at the memory.  She'd been in the hospital for three days,
much of it in a body cast.  "Are you saying it's going to hurt that
much?"

"I think I'm saying that will seem like a memory of paradise."

Before Ranma could react to that, another wave of pain shot through her.
She gritted her teeth and tried not to make a sound, but a strained
groan managed to escape her.

Kentaro sounded anxious.  "They're coming pretty quickly now.  Look,
here's the hospital.  Just in time."

The cab stopped, and Ranma looked up as Kentaro sprang out from the cab,
pulled open the front door, and held out his hand.  "Let me help
you...."

Ranma wished she had a bonbori or a spatula or something; she wasn't up
to attacking him hand-to-hand just now.  "Touch me and die, Kentaro.
Akane, grab my hand."

Akane shoved the stricken Kentaro aside.  She clasped Ranma's hand and
lifted her out of the cab.  Ranma looked at the distance separating her
from the hospital doors and blanched at the thought of waddling there.
Fortunately, Kasumi had somehow conjured up a wheelchair.  With Akane's
help, Ranma lowered herself into it.  She didn't object as Kentaro
pushed her into the hospital.

Inside she was greeted by a short, pudgy man with a huge smile.  "Hello,
Mister Ranma.  How far apart are the contractions?"

Kentaro answered for her.  "About a minute and a half."

"No time to waste, then."  He took the wheelchair from Kentaro and moved
down the hall.  "Will your husband be accompanying you into the delivery
room?"

"Yes.  And my brother-in-law, as well."

"Ah, yes, Ono-san.  He has already spoken with me.  He tells me of your
peculiar aversion to warm water."

Ranma wondered about the wisdom of not telling her gynecologist about
her curse.  Still, it had seemed best not to have him questioning her
sanity while she was pregnant.  "You won't have any warm liquids at all
in the delivery room, will you?"

"Relax, Mister Ranma.  Ono-san has seen to that.  Your responsibility is
the child that is coming out of you at this moment."

As if on cue, the pain washed through her again.  She made a sound
halfway between a gasp and a scream before she clamped down on it and
tried to endure the pain as best she could.

"Ah yes, and it's making itself felt."  The gynecologist pushed her into
the delivery area, where two nurses took the wheelchair and began to
assist her onto the table.  Her doctor moved towards another door that
led to a sink.  "Kentaro-san, please join me over here so we can make
ourselves nice and sterile."

They left the room.  Ranma helped the nurses undress her and put on a
robe. As she lay back on the table, she noticed Tofu join Kentaro and
her doctor. They spoke for a few moments, then entered the room.

Kentaro was speaking as he came in.  "Tofu-san, thank you for being
here."

Tofu smiled widely.  "I wouldn't miss it.  Now, come over here and talk
to your wife."

Ranma grinned at Kentaro evilly.  "Just the guy I've been waiting for.
Here, step a little closer.  I want to demonstrate exactly what I'm - oh
God."  This time, the pain was different.  She felt as if something was
ripping.  Something probably *was* ripping.  She tried to clamp down on
the scream, but parts of it still forced its way through her teeth.

The gynecologist was looking at parts of her that were blocked from her
view by a sheet drapped over her legs as they rested in stirrups.  "This
baby is coming, and coming fast, Mister Ranma.  Soon I will ask you to
bear down.  Do you remember the lessons?"

"Yes, Doctor."

"I'm here, Ranma."  Kentaro was sitting on a stool next to her.  "I'll
be right beside you all the way."

"Next time, Kentaro, it really *is* Nyannichuan.  Then we'll see how
much *you* like this."

Kentaro managed a chuckle.  "I was ready to do it, if you recall."

She looked over at him anxiously.  "You've taken care of the hot water?"

"As much as I can.  We've survived nine months; we'll survive the next
few hours."

The pain arrived again.  The baby pressing against her, the pain as
muscles inside of her tried to force other parts of her body to give
way, no matter what the damage might be, no matter how much it hurt.

Choking off the scream, though tears came.

The nightmare continuing on and on, an hour, maybe more, maybe less,
time losing all meaning.  The pain subsiding to a dull, widespread ache
before sharpening into ever-greater levels of intensity.

The thought that it can't get worse.  Reality proving her wrong.

Incoherent babbling, vague threats to her husband about Jusenkyo pools
and unique dinner menu items.

Finally, her gynecologist speaks.  "This little one is anxious to join
its parents.  I can see the head.  Next time, push."

Tofu poking his head out from behind the sheet.  "Help her, Kentaro-san.
Take her hand."

Kentaro's hand in hers.  The pain coming again.  Pushing down with
muscles she hadn't realized she'd had.  Despite her best efforts, an
agonized cry ripped from her throat.

"Yeeaaahhh!"  This, not from her, but from Kentaro.  "Ranma...."
Trailng off, then, in a calmer if still somewhat strained, tone of
voice:  "Uh, you're doing good.  Almost there."

The pain, the uncontrollable urge to push, the desire to have the pain
end.  Screamng, trying to close her throat, pushing, screaming again.

"Almost, Mister Ranma.  Again."

More pushing.  More struggles to hold the screams in.  Failure.  The
pain, worse than ever.  And even more terrible; it *wouldn't stop*.  It
goes on and on. Gasping and crying and squeezing as if her life depended
on it.  Or someone else's life did.

Tofu, his tenor soft with reverence.  "I think you did it...."

Her gynecologist.  "The head is through.  One last push and we're done."

Another push, her loudest scream yet (mixed in with another cry of pain
from somewhere nearby), and the feeling of pressure being released.  The
pain receeding back to tolerable levels.

And a wail.  A tiny voice crying for all it was worth.

"That did it.  Congratulations, it's a girl."

Relief more than anything else.  It was over.  At long last.  Relaxing,
for the first time feeling the sweat on her face.

"One more push, if you can, Mister Ranma.  This won't be so bad."

Grimacing, pushing, feeling something more slide out, but not very
painful, and quickly done with.  Relaxing once again, everything perfect
now that the pain was less.  A little lightheaded, whether from relief
or blood loss she doesn't know.

Voices.  "Kentaro, would you like to cut the cord?"

"Uh, I can't use my hand very well right now."

"All right.  Your daughter has a healthy set of lungs, that's for
certain."

A wrapped bundle being placed in her arms.  A tiny, wrinkled, purple
face, barely recognizable as human, filling her with joy.

"Oh, Kentaro, look at her."

A voice husky with emotion.  "She's beautiful."

"She's perfect.  I can't believe it.  I can't believe we did this.  How
can we have created something so unbelievably wonderful?"

"I think it's because we love each other so much."

"Oh, Kentaro, that's so... so...."

"Poetic?"

"Sappy.  But hell, it works.  I love you, Kentaro."

"I love you, Ranma."  A kiss.

"What about Akane?"

"Uh, I like Akane just fine."

"No, I mean for our daughter."

"Oh.  Uh, well, nothing against Akane, but it's a little close in the
generation tree.  I was thinking about my grandmother's name."

"Usagi?"

"No, the other one.  Kyoko."

"Kyoko.  I like that.  Ranma and Kentaro and Kyoko."

He sighs, sounding content and slightly surprised.  "Our family."

"Yes.  Our family.  Well, it'll take me a couple of days to recover.  I
wonder if a hot bath would help me recover faster.  Either way, after
that it'll be time to resume our training."

"I don't remember that you ever stopped training."

"It was only conditioning exercises towards the end.  Now we get to
start all over again."  Pause, then again, teasing.  "Dawn, at the
track.  You're late once, I never teach you anything ever again."

Amused.  "Can I bring our daughter?"

"I was hoping you would.  It would get awfully boring standing on your
head by myself otherwise."

"I look forward to it.  Thank you for allowing me to train with you."

"Thank you for sticking with it."

"Have we come full circle, do you think?"

"We've merely brought an end to one phase of our lives.  Another one is
beginning, and it starts with Kyoko here."

"I'm a little sad, but unbelievably happy at the same time."

"I... know what you mean."

"Damn, I am *so* melancholy.  I've got to stop being so... what was the
word you used, Ranma?"

"Sappy?"

"That's it."

"Do you know what your problem is, Ken-chan?"

"I'll bet you're going to tell me.  But that's okay, as long as you keep
telling me for the rest of our lives."