In 2 minds... Chapter 2: Explanations

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Author's Note: In this chapter the condition of Ranma will be explained. This chapter may be a little boring but stick with it `cos it's quite important. It won't be very long!

 

The residents of the Tendo dojo sat around the living room table. Ranma was sitting hunched, looking extremely embarrassed. Soun had poured a kettle of hot water over an unsuspecting Reena when she was trying on dresses. After a frantic scramble to change into more manly attire, the highly embarrassed Ranma had agreed to explain his plight to the others.

Akane, for once, was staring at Ranma with a softened, concerned expression. Nabiki sat opposite Ranma, hand on her cheek, an intrigued look on her face. A slight smile curled at the corner of her mouth. Genma was blubbing about honour and how his “son” was disgracing the family name. Soun looked confused but Kasumi merely sat quietly with her usual cheery expression. They had told Ranma about Reena's escapades and now he was sitting in silence, head bowed, ordering his thoughts in the hope of explaining the situation to them. They waited expectantly until, finally, he spoke:

“I can't say for sure, but I think that the cause of all this is that when Akane sent me into the stratosphere…” he gave Akane a slight scowl and she blushed, turning away “…I landed in the fountain in the park. There was this old man sitting nearby and he saw my transformation. He said that he could help me. He offered me a powder that he claimed to have received as a parting gift from Cologne many years ago, before she became the Matriarch. This powder was supposed to cure my curse. As I looked back when I was walking away, I noticed that the man had vanished.” Ranma paused to gather breath.

“Once back here I took a shower and washed myself with the powder while in girl form as he had instructed. Nothing happened so I took a bath to change back and then went to the dojo to train. At the dojo I met Akane and agreed to spar with her. As usual she couldn't touch me…” Akane scowled at him “…and forgetting about her temper…” Akane gave him a very angry look “…I taunted her. She sent me hurtling into the pond when my guard was down.” Ranma scowled at Akane but she stared defiantly back, though her cheeks reddened slightly. “I leaped up from the pond as a girl and began to yell at Akane when the world started spinning round my head. Everything went hazy and I blacked out.” Ranma paused, trying to think how to explain what happened next.

“I had a dream…I was an observer to exactly what you said happened, from her perspective, like I was her…but I was completely helpless. I couldn't do anything, just watch and listen. Even when I closed my eyes I could still see. Everything she said and heard seemed to vibrate through my head.” Ranma stopped again. He had flushed red, thinking about how Reena had behaved. Embarrassment and shame washed over him.

“I was totally helpless and it was like I was drugged. My will was subdued and all my limbs felt really heavy. While “she” was trying on dresses and Mr. Tendo poured the hot water on her and my body changed back into a guy's, it was like my will returned and her mind was suppressed, enough so that I could retake control of my body…” Ranma trailed off in thought.

“Yes” injected Soun. “When I poured the water on her the transformation was not instantaneous like it usually is. She turned her head to face me, with a confused, almost hurt expression then she turned into Ranma. He looked at me disorientated then panicked at the clothes he was wearing.”

“Oh my!” exclaimed Kasumi, in her usual clueless fashion. The others sat in stunned silence, gaping at Ranma. Ranma turned angrily to face Akane.

“This is all your fault Akane! If you hadn't lost your temper like you always do I would never have been in the park in the first place.”

“My fault?!” retorted an enraged Akane. “Why is it my fault?! You should have more sense than to take things that are offered to you by strangers! Why would someone who you've never even met before help you and ask for nothing in return?” Ranma's pride fought valiantly to defend itself.

“You started all this mess. YOU walked in on ME in the bathroom and you've got the nerve to call ME a pervert?!”

“Yeah? Well it's different when a boy looks at a girl!”

“You took a pretty good look at me while you were at it!” yelled Ranma.

“Shut up you jerk!” screamed Akane. Grabbing Ranma's shirt she hurled him head first into the garden. Guess where he landed…

SPLASH!

Ranma leaped out of the pond, furious.

“Akane, you idiot!” was as far as he got before he suddenly turned into the red head. Reena screeched and sprinted upstairs.

“Oh boy!” muttered Nabiki from the table.

Some minutes later everyone had re-gathered around the table, except that Ranma was now Reena, wearing a pink, frilly dress, that flowed from her neck to her ankles. It suited her, although her flaming red hair kind of clashed with the pink colour. Akane was scowling at Reena and Genma was looking in disbelief at his “son”. Reena noticed Akane's look and squirmed slightly in her seat.

“Why are you looking at me like that Akane?” she asked in a small voice. “I haven't done anything.” Realising that Reena was not the one she was cross with, Akane relented. She was pleased to hear that this girl was politer than Ranma. At that moment Soun cleared his throat.

“So…does anyone have any suggestions about what we do about this incident?” Soun looked around at the others seated at the table. Genma coughed lightly but did not have anything to add. Everyone sat in silence for a while. Reena felt considerably uncomfortable as they all kept glancing furtively at her as though scared she might attack them if their gaze lingered. Then Nabiki voiced a thought.

“Why don't we take Reena to see Cologne. Maybe she can help. After all, she is supposed to have 3000 years of Amazon history, knowledge and experience. She must know something about this. Perhaps she can enlighten us about the old man who, according to him, “gave” him this powder.” The others looked up at her.

“That's my smart girl!” said Soun, almost in tears. “Your mother would be so proud…”

“Oh give it a rest father” interrupted Akane. “Great idea sis. Let's go now”. So the group stood from the table and turned to leave for Shampoo's restaurant. A whistling sounded from the kitchen. Nabiki paused.

“Reena!” she called.

“Yeah?” replied Reena.

“Could you help me with something in the kitchen?”

“Sure”. The two entered the kitchen, then there was a yell of:

“Now wait a minute…” then a splash. After a few seconds Nabiki walked back into the living room, followed somewhat reluctantly, with a soaking wet, embarrassed looking Ranma.

“I thought that he would be more likely to co-operate than Reena” stated Nabiki simply. The others looked at her, impressed. She shrugged. Ranma went upstairs to change then they all left the house for Shampoo's.

At Shampoo's restaurant they tied up Ranma so that Reena couldn't cause trouble when shown to Cologne. They were sure that she wouldn't like the idea of them trying to get rid of her. He protested but finally agreed when they explained their reasoning.

Cologne entered followed by Shampoo and Ranma proceeded to explain the situation to them. Then Nabiki upturned a glass of cold water over him so that they could see Reena. Reena put up quite a fight but to no avail. Cologne studied her then Nabiki turned her back into Ranma with a kettle of hot water and untied him. Shampoo looked worried but Cologne looked extremely grave.

“The old man you mentioned was an Amazon over 200 years ago. He deserted our ways and left our village to travel the world and seek out a new life. When he left he stole a number of things. We were never sure why. That powder was one of them. I never gave it to him! I'm afraid that, as far as I know, its effects are irreversible. You're stuck with it.”

Ranma heaved a loud sigh.

“It gets worse I'm afraid” the old woman continued sadly. “This new personality is now attached to your girl form. In other words it is her body, not yours. That means that neither form is the dominant one anymore. Any cure for your curse might eradicate your male side and your original self rather than your girl side and its mind. It'd be a 50-50 chance.” A glummer look replaced the already glum look on Ranma's face.

“So there's nothing I can do” he mumbled forlornly. “Thanks Cologne.” He turned and left the restaurant, staring at the ground.

“Ranma!” called Shampoo and ran after him. She caught up with him outside. “Shampoo still care for you!” she said encouragingly. “No matter what!” Ranma lifted his head for a moment and almost smiled. His lips twitched anyway. Then he trudged on homeward.

Author's Note: Well there it is. Ranma is stuck with this new personality. It looks like Cologne got an early look in after all! I still plan to leave out Mousse and Happosai but Cologne may pop up more often than I had originally planned. Sorry if you found this chapter dull. Please stick with it. The next chapter will contain a big lemon. It should be up fairly soon. I'll see you there!