Chapter 10

'Making up for lost time'

"I was very hurt that you did not come to the wedding daddy. " Said 
Ukyo.  She had changed from her robe and into, after a quick wash, her 
formal kimono. Nodoka had insisted and the rest of the Saotome changed 
into theirs. Dr. Epstein, after a short argument wore his as well. She 
bowed until her forehead touched the floor. "I apologize if my decision 
hurt you." She said when she sat back up. "It was not my intention."

"So I'm beginning to see." Replied the senior Kuonji. He too had changed 
into formal kimono. He turned to Ranma. "Do you truly consider Ukyo your 
wife?"

"I do sir." Ranma replied in a serious tone. "Ukyo is my wife regardless 
of what a piece of paper says."

"Mine too." Added Akane. 

The elder Kuonji chuckled. "Forgive me if I question that one." He said. 
"But you don't seem properly." He paused. "Equipped to be a husband." He 
turned to Ranma. "Or for you to be a wife for that matter."

"You'd be surprised daddy." Said Ukyo with a smile. "Ranma and Akane are 
both husband and wife to me."

"Maybe if I showed you." Said Ranma. 

"That wont be necessary." The elder Kuonji said with a touch of alarm in 
his voice. "Don't go to any trouble."

"Show him later, dear." Said Nodoka. "Now is not the time." Ranma nodded 
in agreement. Nodoka turned to the senior Kuonji. "I am so pleased that 
you are willing to come to an understanding."

The elder Kuonji tilted his head toward Ukyo. "He's earned it." 

"That's another thing we must discuss." Said Nodoka severely. "Ukyo is a 
woman and should be addressed accordingly." She shook her head. "I 
understand why you made Ukyo legally a boy, but I don't believe it 
should extend into your speech." 

The elder Kuonji looked down at his hands. "You don't understand." He 
said. "Ukyo is a boy. He must be a boy." He looked up. "As long as he is 
unmarried, he must be a boy." He chuckled sadly. "Once Ukyo was married, 
I could adopt his husband as my heir."

"The tax and inheritance laws are not as bad as they used to be." 
Replied Nodoka.
"No." Agreed the elder Kuonji. "But they're still pretty bad."

"Daddy, just make Junro your heir." Said Ukyo in irritation. "He has the 
right lineage." She shrugged. "It would solve a lot a problems."

"Lineage yes. But not the skills." Replied Mr. Kuonji. "You.  My son." 
He said. "You have the skills." He shook his head. "You know as well as 
I do that the head of the Kuonji must be a fighter as well as a chef." 
He sighed. "If only you really were a boy." He said. "Even for a day. I 
could transfer the estate over to you."

Akane started to giggle. A second later Ranma joined her.

"What?" Said Mr. Kuonji.

"No!" Said Ukyo in alarm. "You can't make me." 

"Aw come on Uk-chan." Pleaded Ranma. "It'll be fun." He grinned evilly. 
"I promise."

Akane started nodding her head up and down rapidly. "Ohboyohboyohboy." 
She said under her breath.

"We can't. You left it home." Protested Ukyo.

Akane shook her head rapidly. "Ohboyohboyohboy." 

"You're both bound and determined to make me try it aren't you?" Grumped 
Ukyo. 

"Please?" Chorused Ranma and Akane in pleading tones.

"Oh all right." She said. Ukyo looked at her father. "Daddy you're 
getting your wish."

"Me too." Ranma and Akane said in a quiet chorus.	

Nodoka and Dr. Epstein exchanged looks.  Nodoka covered her mouth to 
hide her giggle. "I think Robert and I will watch the children tonight." 
She said. "Robert needs the practice."

"Think you can watch them tomorrow night too?" Asked Akane. 

"We'll watch them as often as you'd like, Daughter." Replied Nodoka. 
"Robert needs a lot of practice." She smiled. "Speaking of the children, 
where are my grandchildren?"

"I assure you they're in good hands." Responded the elder Kuonji.

"Oh we know that." Replied Nodoka. "It's just that we should get them 
bathed and put to bed."

"My niece is taking care of all that." Said the elder Kuonji. "She's 
very good with children."

"Oh dear." Said Nodoka in concern.	

"I have it under control, my dear." Dr. Epstein said. 

Mr. Kuonji looked at Dr. Epstein in confusion. 

"She's coming here with the children now." He said. He shook his head. 
"She had a bit of a shock but I was ready for it."

"Oh shit." Grumbled  Ranma, Akane and Ukyo in unison.

"Language." Admonished Nodoka. "There was no need to swear." Nodoka 
nodded. "But I agree with the sentiment." She turned to the doctor. 
"Does she know?"

"I'm afraid so." He said with a dry chuckle. "I could sense Hayaima 
changing sex." He shook his head. "And that particular sense of surprise 
when someone sees it for the first time is quite unique."  Dr. Epstein 
stood and walked over to the door and opened it. "Hello my dear." He 
said. "Thank you for bringing the children." 

A young woman, maybe sixteen years of age, entered the room. She was 
wearing a blue and white tunic and blue drawstring pants. The was a look 
of confusion on her face. "I didn't do anything." She said in shock. "It 
just happened." She held a sleepy and now redheaded Hayaima in the crook 
of one arm and a seemingly unchanged Akama in the other.

"We know dear." Said Nodoka. She got up and retrieved Hayaima and Akama 
from the young girl and passed them off the Ranma who had jumped to his 
feet. She turned her attention back to the young woman. "Have some tea, 
dear." Nodoka led the girl to the table and helped her get seated. 
Nodoka poured the girl some tea.

"Aoi." Said Mr. Kuonji. "What is wrong with you?"

"My fault, I'm afraid." Said Dr. Epstein apologetically. "I didn't want 
her dropping the children." He ran his hand through his thinning hair. 
"She'll be fine in a few minutes."

"I was washing the baby." Aoi said. Her voice almost dreamy in quality. 

"We know dear." Nodoka repeated soothingly. "Are the children okay." She 
asked Ranma.

"They're fine mom." Ranma said in relief. "Not a scratch on them." 

"What did you do to her?" Demanded the elder Kuonji. "More importantly 
how?"

"What I did was calm her so she wouldn't accidently hurt the children." 
The doctor said easily. He reached with his mind and Ukyo's father 
accepted the explanation without comment. "I may have overdone it a 
bit." The doctor said sheepishly. "But the change is startling if you're 
not expecting it and I couldn't take any chances." He smiled 
reassuringly. "Please don't concern yourself. Aoi will be just fine." 
The doctor reached out with his mind again.

"Daddy, I don't know how to tell you this." Said Ukyo. "Honestly I 
really don't know how to tell you this." She looked over at Ranma and 
Akane helplessly. 

"We'll tell you in the morning." Declared Akane. "Right now, let's put 
the babies to bed."

"Do you still want us to watch them tonight, Daughter?" Nodoka asked. 
"The offer is still open."

"Ukyo?" Asked Akane with a grin.

"Pervert." Said Ukyo.

"Yep." Agreed Akane. "You love it."

Ukyo chuckled. "You can watch the babies tonight Mother."

"Excellent." Responded Nodoka. "Robert, you take Akama." Nodoka picked 
up Hayaima. "You're staying with Grandma tonight." She said to the 
toddler. "Won't that be fun?"

"Gwamma." Lisped Hayaima.

"I'll take that as a yes." Nodoka said as her face broke out into a huge 
smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ukyo stared at the tub of cold water in trepidation. They had finally 
figured out why Akane would change back to female so quickly. You had to 
soak in the magic waters, not just splash yourself with it. The longer 
you soaked in the cold water, the longer the effect lasted. Though the 
longest it would last was three days. Ukyo took a deep breath and 
stepped into the tub. "Brrr." She said. Sat down in the cold waters and 
ducked her head under. 'Ten seconds.' She thought. Ukyo could feel her 
body numbing and there was a sensation like a wave that ran through it. 
Ukyo sat up. 

Ukyo looked into a mirror. He chuckled. "I don't look all that 
different."  Ukyo looked at his arms. 'Nice muscles though.' And then 
his legs. Ukyo's eyes avoiding a particular spot. He started drying 
himself off. He froze as the towel approached his waist. 'Well here 
goes.' Ukyo looked. 'Seems kind of small.' He thought in dismay. 'I hope 
they wont be disappointed.' 

Ukyo walked around carefully, getting used to his new body. 'Akane was 
right.' He thought. 'Damn thing does get in the way.' Still it didn't 
take long for Ukyo to get used to walking and moving around.  He wrapped 
a towel around his waist and ran out of the bath. Both arms crossed in 
front of his chest. 'I knew I should have brought a bath robe.' Ukyo 
reached the room he was sharing with Ranma and Akane and took a deep 
breath. 'Here goes.' Ukyo opened the door and walked in. 

The lights were off and before Ukyo's eyes could adjust she was picked 
up and thrown on the futon. The next thing he knew a busty redhead was 
pressing her ample assets against his chest. "Hi." Said Ranma 
cheerfully. "Good thing you showed up." She purred. "Akane was just 
about to start without you."

Ukyo smiled and looked around. "Where is Akane?" He said. Then gasped as 
he felt a warm mouth enveloping his flaccid member. "Whoa!" gasped Ukyo. 
"Oh wow. It's getting harder."

"And bigger too." Said Akane. "Ohboyohboyohboy." She chattered then 
recaptured Ukyo's hardening flesh in her mouth. She bobbed her head 
slowly up and down Ukyo's straining shaft.  Akane lowered her head until 
her mouth was flush with Ukyo's body then slowly pulled back up. "Mmm." 
She cooed. "I never could do that with Ranma." 

"Oh good." Said Ranma eagerly. "You're too big for me too." She slowly 
moved down Ukyo's body leaving a shiny trail of saliva as she went with 
her tongue. "Oh it's perfect." Said Ranma when she reached Ukyo's 
crotch. Akane held Ukyo's engorged member in her hand. She offered it to 
Ranma. Ranma licked her lips then opened her mouth and swallowed Ukyo's 
swollen staff.  She purred.

"Yeee!" Squealed Ukyo. "Good. Oh so good.." He gasped. The combination 
of Ranma's mouth and purring was too much for Ukyo. "Oh kami." Ukyo 
gasped. "Eeeeyahhh!" Ukyo groaned as the orgasm hit.  Ranma grabbed 
Ukyo's butt forcing the erupting organ deeper into her throat. 

"Hey greedy." Complained Akane. "I wanted some of that too." 

Ranma lifted her head. "Okay." She grinned and pulled Akane close and 
thrust her tongue into Akane's mouth. Akane could taste the residue on 
Ranma's tongue.  Akane sucked on Ranma's tongue hungrily.

"Yum." Purred Akane. She looked up at a glazed looking Ukyo. "Hey." She 
said. "You still with us?" 

"Oh lord, girl." Breathed Ukyo. "Is it always like that?"

"Heh." Chuckled Ranma. "Now you know why I like it so much." She curled 
up on Ukyo's left side. A second later Akane curled up on Ukyo's right. 
Ranma started tracing a random design on Ukyo's chest. "Thank you." She 
said smiling. 

"For what, hon?" Asked Ukyo languidly. 'What was I afraid of?' He 
thought in slight reproach. 

"This." Replied Ranma.  She propped her chin on one hand and looked 
fondly at Ukyo. "It's the one thing you never shared with Akane or me." 
She smiled wryly. "When Akane and I did it that first time." Ranma's 
eyes lost focus for a second. "I don't know how to explain it. But when 
Akane entered me." Ranma rubbed her neck. "It felt, I dunno, like I was 
giving part of myself.  Something special. Like a connection was made." 
She kissed Ukyo's chest. "It was nice."

"Yeah." Akane added. "That's exactly what it feels like." She looked at 
Ukyo. "Doesn't it?"

Ukyo nodded slowly. "Yeah." She said quietly. 

"I want that with you Uk-chan." Said Ranma. "We want that with you."

"The whole idea scared the crap out of me." Ukyo said. She grinned. 
"Well it did."

"That's cause you're not a pervert like Akane and me." Ranma said with a 
grin. She reached down and started fondling Ukyo. 

Ukyo grinned. "I dunno Ran-chan." He said. "You keep playing with me 
like that and I think I can be very perverted."

"Really?" Purred Akane. Her hand joined Ranma's in playing with Ukyo. 
"Hey look Ranma." She said. "It's getting bigger again."

"Very perverted" Breathed Ukyo.

Ranma and Akane looked at each other and grinned. 
"Ohboyohboyohboyohboy." They chorused.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ranma, Akane and Ukyo trooped into breakfast the next morning.

"Morning Daddy." Ukyo said. His tenor voice clear in the quiet morning.

"Who." Stammered the senior Kuonji. "Who are you?" He turned to Ranma. 
"And who are you?"

"This is what I meant when I said they were husband and wife to me 
daddy." He spun around. "Well." He said. "You have your wish. I'm a 
boy."

"Ukyo is that really you?"

Ukyo grinned. "Yep." He pulled Ranma over. "And this cute redhead is 
Ranma." 

Ranma waved. "Morning." Said Ranma cheerfully.

Mr. Kuonji turned his head toward Akane. "How about you?" He asked. "Do 
you turn into a boy too." His tone was both sour and disbelieving.

Akane nodded cheerfully. "Yep." She grinned. "But it's Ukyo's turn to be 
the husband."

Nodoka and Dr. Epstein entered the dining room. Dr. Epstein carefully 
holding Akama. There was a bemused smile on his face. Nodoka had Hayaima 
on her hip. "Good morning, everyone." She said. She put Hayima down. "Go 
to mommy."

'Oh crap.' Thought Ukyo in panic. 'Hayaima.' He got down on one knee. 
"Come to mommy baby." He said hopefully. 

Hayaima stared at Ukyo uncertainly. His little face twisted in 
puzzlement. "Momma?"

'Oh dear.' Thought Nodoka in dismay. 'I wasn't thinking.'

Ranma walked over to stand next to Ukyo. "Look baby, mommy is just like 
daddy."

Hayaima smiled happily. He waddled over to Ukyo. "Momma." He said. He 
raised his little arms to Ukyo. "Up." He commanded.

Ukyo breathed a sigh of relief. "Good thinking Ran-chan." He said. He 
picked Hayaima up and slung him on his hip. 'Note to self.' Thought 
Ukyo. 'Men don't have hips.' He shifted his hold on Hayaima to 
compensate.

"I wasn't too worried Uk-chan." Replied Ranma. "Haya is used to sex 
changing." He grinned. "Besides you don't look all that different as a 
boy."

"Forgive me Daughter." Said Nodoka contritely. "I did not realize."

"No harm done Mother." Said Ukyo. "We're all at fault." She exchanged 
looks with Ranma and Akane. Both of whom had the grace to look 
embarrassed. 

Nodoka bowed to Ukyo. "Thank you Daughter.

Ranma rubbed the back of his head. "Well it's not like Akane and I 
haven't changed sex in front of them before." Akane nodded. "It's so 
normal for us." Finished Ranma. "And since Haya does it too." He 
shrugged. 

"I have to agree with Ranma." Dr. Epstein said quietly. "You have two 
options." He said. "You could try to hide your sex changing from your 
children until they were older. Or you don't." He pulled on his ear. "I 
don't recommend hiding." He smiled at Ukyo. "And in case you're 
wondering. Haya does recognize you."

Ukyo smiled as she sat at the table with Hayaima in her lap.

Ranma and Akane with the efficiency of long practice, quickly made 
breakfast. Mr. Kuonji watched as a now female Ranma put some food in 
front of a now male Ukyo.  He looked at his two older guests for some 
indication that this was some form of joke. Dr. Epstein smiled at the 
elder Kuonji. "Fascinating. Isn't it?" Said the doctor. 

"Is anyone going to explain all this to me?" Asked Mr. Kuonji testily. 
"Now that I look at him, I can see it really is Ukyo." He snorted. "He 
looks just like me at the same age."

Akane pulled out a packet from her pants pocket. "This." She said. "We 
got this from some friends in China." 

The senior Kuonji took the packet and examined it. "Spring of Drowned 
Boy?" He asked as he made out the Chinese characters.  

Akane nodded. "It can temporarily change us into boys." She said. 
"Magic." She said with a shrug.

"Okay." Drawled Ukyo's father. "I guess that explains how." He said. 
"But why?" he looked at the now female Ranma accusingly. "What kind of 
perversion have you gotten Ukyo involved with?"

Ranma flushed.  "It's not like that." She said. She waved her hands 
frantically for a second then stopped. "Okay, it is kinda like that." 
She admitted. She sighed. "I don't need to use those." She indicated the 
packets. "Sorry about that."

"You have no need to apologize, Ranma." Said Dr. Epstein. "How the 
'family' lives their lives is no ones business but their own." He turned 
to the elder Kuonji. "Isn't that correct?" He asked. He stared directly 
into Ukyo's father's eyes. 

The elder Kuonji lowered his eyes under the force of the doctor's gaze. 
"Yes it is." He said finally. He bowed to Ranma. "I apologize." He 
sighed. "This is going to take some getting used to." He looked at 
Ranma. "How did this happen.?"

"Long story. I'll tell ya later." Replied Ranma. "In the meantime, don't 
you and Ukyo got something to do?"

"That's right daddy." Said Ukyo. "Let's take care of business so I can 
get back here." He grinned at Akane and Ranma. "I have a lot of things 
to catch up on" 

"Robert and I will watch the children." Said Nodoka. She tried not to 
sound too eager. "If you like."

"Oh like we're going to turn down that offer." Replied Akane. She 
grinned at Dr. Epstein. "Don't worry, we'll return the favor."

"Do you want to stay with Grandma?" Ukyo asked Hayaima. He grinned. 
"She's probably going to spoil you rotten." Ukyo put Hayaima down. "Go 
to Grandma baby." Hayaima waddled over to his grandmother. Ukyo picked 
up a rice ball that was on the table. "Come on Daddy." He said. "I'll 
buy you breakfast in town." Ukyo smiled. "I want to tell you all about 
the new restaurant we're building."

Ukyo's father picked up his coat. "You're on." He said. "New restaurant, 
eh?" He put his arm around his son's shoulders. "This I want to hear 
about." Father and son walked out of the house.

Junro Kuonji walked into the kitchen. "Who was that walking out with 
Uncle?" He asked. He looked around and blinked when he saw Ranma. 
"Hello." He said. His eyes roamed over Ranma's form "Who are you?"

Ranma rolled her eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nodoka turned to Dr. Epstein. "That was very well done Robert." She said 
quietly. "I don't think anyone realized what you were doing." They were 
sitting on the northern part of a porch that surrounded the manor house. 
From this vantage point they could see the low forest covered hills fade 
off into the distance. A manicured garden stretched out in front of 
them. Ranma and Akane were sparring on a low wooden deck in the center 
of the lawn. Nodoka could hear the sounds of flesh meeting flesh as 
neither combatant gave the other any quarter.

The doctor smiled. "Thank you, my dear." He looked down at the child he 
held in his arms. "You know. I think I'm starting to get the hang of 
this." He reached out and took Nodoka's hand, sharing his gift with her. 
"Soon we'll be able to do this with our own child."

Nodoka's heart sang as she felt the love and trust coming from Hayaima 
and Akama. And from Robert. Nodoka reached out with her fledgling 
abilities and opened herself to the emotions around her. She could feel 
Ranma and Akane as they sparred against each other on the lawn in the 
center of the garden.  Underneath the violence of their battle, she 
could feel the love between Ranma and Akane. She frowned as she felt a 
slight discordance between the two. It wasn't that the love was fading 
or. 'Something's missing.' She thought.

"They're not really complete unless all three of them are together." He 
said quietly.

"Reading minds now, Robert?" Nodoka inquired in surprise.

Dr. Epstein smiled. "I can feel what you feel my dear." He said. "I felt 
your puzzlement, your concern." He shrugged slightly. "And I've felt 
that particular flavor in their emotions many times." Dr. Epstein sighed 
slightly. "My fault I think." 

"Now Robert." She said firmly though not without a touch of sympathy. 
"They love each other. They're happy." She nodded toward the infant in 
Dr. Epstein's arms. "Look at what you helped bring about." 

Dr. Epstein nodded. "I know my dear." He shook his head. "The balance 
they maintain." He shrugged. "It's an all or nothing proposition with 
the three of them now."

"I know Robert." She replied. Nodoka looked down at Hayaima who was 
asleep in her lap. "Why do you think I insisted that Akane have a child 
so soon." She reached out and softly stroked the child's cheek. "To help 
maintain the balance."

Dr. Epstein snorted. "Not to mention ensuring more grandchildren." 

Nodoka smiled broadly. "Well that did have a little bit to do with it." 
She laughed quietly. "Okay. A lot."  She said. "I still think it was the 
right thing to do."

"Oh I agree with you my dear." He replied.  "I'm just a little worried 
that they depend on each other too much."  He turned toward Nodoka. "I 
just can't help feeling responsible."

Nodoka smiled. "They're your family Robert." She said. "You're supposed 
to feel responsible."  She squeezed the doctors' hand gently. "We will 
help them as best we can."

"Yes my dear." Replied Dr. Epstein.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~