Rejected Part 9 - Second Monday - Yang. By Lord Archive This is dark and sad. If you're looking for my usual comedy, you won't find much of it. This chapter also contains some lemon references. (Those under 18 should not read further.) Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, etc..., and are used without permission. I'm only borrowing them. I'll return them. I can't afford the overdue charge Nabiki insists on. -------------------------------- I slowly wake to the world. I don't want to. I'd rather be asleep. While I sleep I don't feel pain. I don't feel nothin'. Nothing is better than pain. That's about all I've felt in the past week, except love. Odd, ain't it? Here I want to curl up and die because I feel hurt, insecure, and unloved and yet I also feel so safe, secure, and loved at the same time too. I guess I can thank Akane for feeling that way. She somehow helps keep the pain away. She makes me feel safe and even needed. She gives me more love than I ever thought possible. Right now Akane makes me feel oddly comforted in a position that a mother holds her child. I'm in her arms and sucking on her breast. How's that for a pleasant thing to wake up to?! Over a week ago I questioned if I'd ever get to kiss her for real. If I accidentally walked into the bath while she was in there, hell if she walked in on me, she'd beat the crap out of me. Now here I lay in OUR bed, sucking on her tit. How can life be so good and so bad at the same time? On the day I married Akane, I got to see my mother for the first time since I was four. It should've been a REAL happy day, right? Wrong! It was one of the worst days of my life. My mother, my own mother had Pop and herself commit seppuku because of me. Because I'm not a man amongst men. My mother was so disgraced by the sight of me, she killed herself. Why? Why? Why? I start crying. Real damn manly of me, huh? Like I care anymore. Despite Akane's arguments that I'm a man, I don't think so. Who am I to disagree with my mother? I feel Akane's arms wrap around me tighter. I guess I woke her with my crying, since she's emitting those strangely soothing sounds a mother makes for her baby. I'd be insulted if I felt like a man. But seeing as I don't, I'm not. I want to believe Akane. I want to believe I'm a man. I want to prove I'm a man. I stop sucking on her breast and move to kiss her passionately. At the same time I place my hand at her other lips. I will prove I'm a man. I will make Akane scream with ecstasy. I'm startled when Akane breaks the kiss. "Ranma, I would like to continue this... but it's too early in the morning. We'd wake the others." "But... Akane..." I want to come up with a reason to continue. I almost don't even care to give one and continue anyway. If it was just Nabiki, I wouldn't give a damn. But Mr. Tendo is kinda all I have left of Pop besides martial arts. And, well, I'd sooner kiss Kuno than wake Kasumi. "Okay, later." I glance at the clock, 5:30. Damn. At least Kasumi should be up, but Mr. Tendo won't be up for an hour. I hope he gets up soon. Neither of us say anything. We just lay in bed gazing into each other's eyes. It's rather weird how I can sometimes tell what she's thinking. I know she can tell what I'm thinking at times too. Not too long ago I had no clue what went on behind her beautiful brown eyes. She smiles like she just heard me say that. I live for moments like this. Just me and her in our own little world. Nothing matters but us. I'd be dead now if I didn't have moments like this, if I didn't have Akane with me. As corny as it sounds, Akane is my life. The moment is shattered by our alarm clock. I kill it. Akane giggles a little at what I did. "Now we'll have to get another one," she says in mock anger. A lot better than the real thing. She now smiles seductively. "It's later..." She didn't need to say more. The alarm clock was set for 6:30. We start to make mad, passionate love. Being a super-powered martial artist and having a girl's body is REALLY good for this. I know how to pleasure her in soooo many ways. Making a girl scream in ecstasy is the sign of being great in bed, and I can make Akane scream in orgasmic fits several times in a row. I doubt many men could claim that. Then I'm not really a man, am I? I'm only that good because I turn into a girl. Don't think about that, think about how to pleasure her, how to make her cum. I smile at her after our passion climaxes. I'm so good at this, she needs to recover more than I do. I sigh. I'd like to continue to make love with her... but as stupid as it sounds, I want to go back to school. I'm not entirely sure why. Probably because it's not here. I won't be in this house and have to see things that remind me of Pop. Biggest problem is, this is my house now. Akane and I own it, so I'm never going to leave here and I'll always see things that remind me of him. "Hmm... that was great..." I kiss Akane on the forehead. "Time for us to get up now." I sigh. "We need to get ready for school." Akane stares at me in shock. "What?" I ask. "You want to get ready for school?" she asks, disbelievingly. "Akane, I don't want to be cooped up in here... so I might as well go to school." "Um, okay." We both get lightly dressed, go downstairs and take a quick bath. Once out of the bath, we sit down to breakfast. Nabiki is muttering something about not needing a snooze bar. Mr. Tendo is yammering about how Pop would be proud of me and how Akane's mother would be proud of her. Akane and I don't say anything. There isn't anything for us to say. We finish eating, and it's time to leave. Nabiki is already rushing off to school. This will be the first time I'll be at school since... I got married. The rumor horde will be trouble. I'd rather not deal with them. Then again, it's something I'm used to dealing with. "We don't have to go to school. Um, we could..." Akane says, concerned. She's trying to think of something to suggest. "Akane, I can't stay home, and I'll eventually have to go back to school. I might as well face it now." "You sure?" I nod, even though I'm not really sure. I have to face the world at some point. I can't just stay here and hide. I feel her take my hand. She gives me a quick kiss, and we walk off to school. It looks to be a great day. The sun is shining. I'm holding the hand of my wife and love. I want to remember this. *Splash* Great, a truck just had to hit the only puddle in Nerima, which of course was next to me. I didn't even make it to the old lady that waters the sidewalk. I try to pull my hand from Akane's. It wouldn't do to have her walk around holding a girl's hand like this. "Ranma, what's wrong?" she asks me, refusing to let go of my hand. "I'm a girl now. We shouldn't be holding hands if we're both girls." Akane shakes her head. "And just who in Nerima doesn't know you're really a guy? By now everyone probably knows we're married. So, there is no problem with me holding your hand even if you look like that. Besides, it isn't strange for two girls to hold hands." She gives my hand a loving squeeze. I try to come up with a reason, any reason, to retort Akane, and fail. We continue to walk towards school. I don't make a move to walk on the fence. Even if I tried, Akane would probably think of something to keep holding my hand. I think she needs to hold my hand, like if she lets go, she'll lose me. I wish her fears didn't have some basis. I know I tried to kill myself in various ways. I think I'm better now. I haven't really tried since Kuno apologized to us. Somehow him calling me a man meant something to me. I guess it's because he's been claiming that I wasn't one since I got here. That if he could see me as a man now, maybe I am a man. As we approach the school I see Nabiki and Kuno standing at the gate. Kuno bowed to us and said, "I, Kuno Tatewaki, the Silver Wolf of Furinkan High, welcome you." I hear several murmurs about his new name. "Silver wolf? Grayish brown is more like it," I quip. "Perhaps to your eyes, but to mine I am silver in color. Besides, grayish brown wolf doesn't have the same flare to it." "Whatever. If you don't mind, I'd like to get some hot water before class." "Of course, Tendo Ranma," Kuno said with a bow. I see most of the school that had listened in face-fault when they hear that. I smirk, walking past them into the school. A quick stop at the janitors' room and I'm a guy again. Akane and I go to our seats. I can tell she wants to sit by me. Even though the desk next to me is empty, you have to sit in your assigned seat. That is unless you want to stand outside of class holding water buckets. After the bell rings, the teacher reads off attendance. "Ryugen Hitomi." "Here." I prepare to respond to my name. "Takahashi Rumiko." "Here." Except my name isn't called. "Tendo Akane." "Here." There is no more Saotome Ranma. "Tendo Ranma." "Here," I reply, for now this is my name, since Saotome Ranma is, for all intents and purposes, dead. On the day I married Akane, I was reborn Tendo Ranma. I am no longer who I was, and I no longer know who I am. The teacher finishes attendance when someone knocks at the classroom door. I blink when Shampoo enters wearing a Furinkan school uniform. She hands the teacher a note. The teacher says, "It appears we have a new student. Some of you may already know Shan Pu. Why don't you tell the class a little about yourself?" Shampoo nods. "Nihao! My name is Shan Pu, but Shampoo is fine. Shampoo is from China and is now living here. Shampoo is skilled martial artist, and only ever lost to Ranma." I'm not sure I like this. I know Akane doesn't like this. The main problem is I'm sitting next to the only empty desk. Shampoo whispers something to the teacher, and he nods. "Akane, you are to sit next to Ranma now, and Shampoo, you can take Akane's seat," the teacher said. I can see Akane visibly relax. She quickly gets her stuff and moves to the seat next to me. She is quite happy with this. The teacher starts to drone on about whatever subject this class is about. From the corner of my eye, I see Akane search for something. Wordlessly, I hand her my pencil. She smiles her thanks, and starts taking notes. I quickly regret coming to school. There is as much to do here as there is at home. Nothing. I'm alone with thoughts I desperately want to avoid thinking about. Thoughts of who I was run through my mind. I was Saotome Ranma, and he was to be the greatest martial artist to ever live and a man amongst men. What I am now is Tendo Ranma. But am I a man, something less, or something more? I don't know, but I want to know. I need to know. I can't wait for gym class. At least then I'm doing something. -------------------------------- Damn, gym ended. I hear the other students cheer. Guess they didn't like playing dodge ball as much as I did. I walk into locker room, and start changing. "Hey, Ranma, are you and Akane REALLY married?" one guy asks. "Yes, we're REALLY married," I answer. "So you've had sex with Akane?" another guy asks. I nod. "Is Akane as violent in bed as she is in a fight?" "Not really," I reply. She's not violent while making love, just while she's asleep. "Is she any good?" "I guess so." "Well, is she better than any other girl you've done?" I glare at that guy. "I've only had sex with Akane." "You mean you haven't tried out your other fiancees first?" some guy asks. "That you haven't gone and done some chick on a training trip?" another guy questions. "Yes!" I snarl. The guys share confused looks. "With ALL those girls after you, you only made love to Akane?" "Yes. Is that so hard to believe that I wanted to save myself for marriage?!" Some of them answer me with, "Yes." "Well, believe it." "Have you done it girl to girl with Akane yet?" "What?!" I yell. "You know, have you had sex with Akane while you were a girl too?" "NO!" I don't know if they ask me anymore questions or not. I quickly finish getting dressed and leave the locker room. Those baka! Of course they expect the 'manly Saotome Ranma' to have had sex with several women, to go out and test the waters. That with someone like Shampoo chasing after me, I'd let her 'catch me.' It's not like I couldn't have done it with more girls, I just didn't want to. But they probably think I'm not much of a man because I haven't scored more women. I want to be a man. I have to be a man. It's a good thing lunch is after gym. I look over at the girl's locker room. I hope Akane gets out soon. Hmm... I rush off to our class, and grab our lunches. I'm back with plenty of time to spare. Hurry up, Akane. Finally! "Yo! Akane, got our lunches. Thought we could find someplace to eat that's quiet." "Sure." Akane smiles at me. Damn, I love that smile. I lead her off towards the sports locker outside of school. I take a quick look to make sure no one has seen us. I shut and lock the sports locker room door. Then I toss our lunches to the side. Akane is a little surprised by this. "Ranmmmmm..." She can't say anything more seeing as I'm kissing her. Akane relaxes. She wraps her arms around me and kisses me back. I raise my leg so it rubs against her sex. My wife breaks our kiss, moving her mouth to my ear. "Ranma, what are you doing?" "What does it look like I'm doing?" I ask. "It looks like you want to have sex with me." "You're right." I lick her ear lobe. "We can't do this here," she says, but I can tell she wants to do it too. "Why not?" "What if someone finds out?" "What are they going to do? Tell your father? Akane, we're married, so there's not a whole lot they could do to us, right?" "Well, they could give us detention, suspend us, or have us do menial work." "It'd be worth it." Akane shudders slightly as I continue to lick her ear, fondle her ass, and rub against her sex. After a second, Akane says, "I hope no one takes a picture of us." She pulls out the knot in my pant's draw string. I knew she wanted to do it. I push Akane against the wall, in the corner that's out of sight of the windows. I pull Akane's dress up and remove her panties. I play with her sex a little to make sure she's wet enough. Akane pulls my pants down enough that my manhood is free. She strokes it a couple times before helping to guide it into herself. I lift her up by my hips and hold her against the wall with my hands. I start thrusting in and out of her. She gasps and moans in appreciation. I can feel her coming close to orgasm. I kiss her, hoping to drown out the sounds she'll make. Akane orgasms. She shakes against me. I cum into her as well. That sent her farther into orgasming as her mouth rips from our kiss and screams out. I hope no one heard... but if they did they know I'm good. We hold onto to each other, panting. After we gain our breath, we put our clothes back where they belong. We then sit down to eat lunch. The door opens and one of the teachers glares at us. "Good, you're wearing clothes now." I gulp. Busted. "I know you two are married, but school is NOT the place to do that kind of stuff. I catch you again and I will drag your naked asses in front of Principal Kuno. He'll just LOVE to be able to inflict some sadistic punishment on you, and he'll have every right to do it too." The teacher turns and walks a way. Akane's face is REALLY red. There are several students gathered outside the door. "What are you looking at?" I shout at them. They move out of my sight, but I know they're still around. "Tendo, I wonder what you wished to accomplish by such an act as you've just committed," Kuno says as he appears at the door. "I wasn't really trying to accomplish anything." "Perhaps you were trying to prove to us what we already know, that you are truly a man. It saddens me to hear that your mother failed to see that because of the curse you bear. It is her error of judgment that is at fault, and not your manliness. If you aren't a man, then I shall never be one either." "Who says we're men?" I splash Kuno with my drink. Kuno transforms and growls at me. [Perhaps you should read of stories that tells of deeds...] He flips the sign. [of men amongst men that were not wholly men to begin with.] He flips it again. [It was not their bodies that made them men. It was their spirit!] "I doubt we can truly be men now. A man shouldn't know as much about women as I do, and a man shouldn't know what's it like to be a beast either." Kuno flinches at my words. "Ranma, will you please stop that!" Akane shouts at me. "Why can't you accept that you're a man? Kuno, Ryoga and Mousse believe that they're men and they're cursed. Shampoo is a woman and she's cursed." "Oh, and how much of a man do you think your precious P-Chan is?" "He's a man. A rather perverted, dishonorable one, but a man none-the- less." "How can I be a man if I have woman's body?" "Because you've got a spirit of a man. Your mother didn't bother to find out if you're a man, but we know you and think you are. Just because she was your mother doesn't make her right about judging you. _I_ should have more say if you're a man since we're married, and I say you are a man. Got it?" "Yeah, yeah." I wish I could believe that, but it's hard to believe that when it's MY time of the month. [I shall lend you books of heroic, manly tales of men who were not wholly human.] "Thanks, Kuno-sempai," Akane says. I shrug seeing as I probably won't read them. Kuno nods and then uses his sign to scoop up his clothes and walks off. -------------------------------- Oh, joy. Chinese history. At least Shampoo shouldn't be behind in this class. The teacher began. "Today's topic is Chinese religion, or more specifically the concepts of Taoist view of the cosmos. In their view, there are two main aspects: First is Yin and Yang. The second is the five elements. Can anyone tell me about the concepts of Yin and Yang." Shampoo gives the teacher a blank look? Shouldn't she know about this stuff? "Akemi," the teacher calls. "Yin and Yang is the representation of opposition in constant struggle and change. Whenever there is one thing, the opposite is also present. Yang represents things like light, hard, dry, or generally things man considers to be more preferable, and it also represents men. It is also considered to be usually the dominant of the two forces. Yin represents the dark, soft, wet, or things that can be less desirable than its opposite, and it also represents women. Shampoo raises her hand. "Why women associated with Yin? If Yang is considered more desirable, then women should be Yang." The teacher represses himself from laughing. "The concepts were made in a male-dominated society, so of course they considered being a man to be preferable to being a woman. They considered that a man is always in charge, even in marriage. I can tell you this, in most marriages, the wife is Yang. She controls her husband. I know it's that way for me." I shake my head, and hang it in defeat. He is right about that. While I have some control, Akane can easily take that from me. At least that is normal for men. This brings a giggling fit in all the girls save Akane. She's trying hard not to join them. Most of the guys moan in disgust or like they were in pain, especially the ones that look at me. "One of the points of Yin and Yang is that opposites do not contradict, but complete the picture." The teacher picks up a half empty glass of water. "Take this glass for example, it has two main yin and yang factors considering its contents. It is half full, yang, and half empty, yin. It also has water in it, which is wet, yin, and has air, which is dry, yang. This shows of opposition in current balance. Eventually, the glass will be full of dry air, a statement of yang. It can also be said to be empty of water, a statement of yin. Either way, the message is conveyed by showing the opposite we complete the picture, not contradict or detract from it." The teacher set down the glass. "The concepts also plays into the roles of men and women. This is obviously harder to define and approach. No matter how manly the man is or how womanly the woman is, there is always a bit of woman in the man and man in the woman. Cooking is seen as a womanly trait, but how many of you guys can cook? Fighting is considered manly, but how many of you girls have been in real fights?" "Fighting is fit for women not men," Shampoo interrupted. "Perhaps in your culture, but not in Japan. Anyway, in every one of us, there are definite parts of our personality that is considered to be more acceptable as to belonging to the opposite sex. Also, as standards of behavior change, the concepts as to what men and women are changes. A woman going out and getting a job was practically unheard of ten years ago, girls were to be demure, faithful housewives, but today I would not have a hard time believing that half of you girls have some type of career." Akane faithful, of course, but demure, not a chance... and I don't think I'd love her if she was. "Being a woman with a career, can be seen as a woman trying to be a man. That concept is being eroded to the point where it is considered neutral, belonging to either sex with out preference. There are other parts of a persons personality that can be considered neutral. "The fact that the concepts of what a man is and what a woman is change, also shows concepts of Yin and Yang. The forces change constantly, as well as being in opposition." What is considered manly changes? If I'm not considered manly now, maybe I would've been a hundred years ago or maybe sometime in the future. Now what about this neutral part he talked about. "If what is manly changes and with that neutral stuff, could someone end up being more manly and more womanly... ah, you know, since they sorta overlap, being more than whole?" I ask. Akane fidgets in her seat. "You mean being more the sum of the parts, yes that is a possibility. Someone's personality could be considered better than half female and half male." "If that's the case could someone be a man amongst men and a damn fine woman?" "Um, I guess it might be possible. From what I know of Ukyou, it is hard to deny her femininity, but she can also be considered rather manly." The teacher moves to discussing the five elements, and I lose interest. Yin and Yang, opposition and change, part of the same picture that complete it, sum can be greater than the parts. Is it possible I am manly and womanly? -------------------------------- I walk around my house. I can't seem to get that Yin and Yang stuff out of my head. Is it possible I can be truly be a man amongst man and be part woman as well? "What are you straining your brain over, Ranma-chan?" the old fart asks. "Yin and Yang." "Oh, just thinking about yourself then." "What do you mean by that?" "You are Yin and Yang in many ways." "Why do you think that?" "Well, let's see, beyond the fact you're both male and female. Akane loves you more than life, but there were times she said I hate you and meant it. You're Ryoga's best friend despite the fact he hates your guts. Ukyou loves you dearly, but at times she'd like nothing better than serve okonamyaki where you were one of the ingredients. Odd that you can get people to love and hate you." The lech grins at me. "Do you think you're honorable?" "I am honorable!" The old freak starts laughing. "You may think so, some people may believe that you are, but there is no way that you ever could be. You have taken things which do not belong to you..." "Those underwear don't belong to you. I was only stopping you." The lech hits me on the head. "I was talking about the countless times you must have stolen food while on your training trip with your father. Stealing, no matter what the reason is, is stealing. What about Ukyou, weren't you honor bound to marry her? Didn't you also have some honorable obligation to marry Shampoo? I'm sure cheating to win a fight is oh so honorable as well. Honestly, Ranma, as a martial artist I have more honor than you. That doesn't mean I give a rats ass about it off the field of combat. There in lies the point for you, you are considered by many honorable, but in reality you have none. For me it's the opposite, I'm seen as honorless, but I'm more honorable than you." "There ain't no way you're more honorable than me!" "Believe what you wish, it doesn't change the truth. Now Ranma-chan, are you kind?" "Yep." I nod. "At times, especially to Akane, but you are also a first class jerk, thinking of himself first and others second. "When you're a guy, you a man amongst men, but when you're a girl you are beyond cute. It goes farther than just your personality. How much do you know about astrology?" "Not much." I shrug. "You were born just before sunrise, April 1st, 1976, right?" "Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?" "Well, the time someone is born can help determine their fate. At the time of birth, one of four elements should be dominant or they should be balanced. You, however, were born with both water and fire being dominant, opposing elements. I can go on about this for a long time, it is hard to find something about you that the opposite isn't also present in nearly the same amount." "I think I understand." A man amongst men and a woman both, and not neither. I didn't think that was possible, but others believe it can be. "Oh, Ranma-chan?" the freak calls. "What?" The old lech shoves an onion into my eye. I attack the freak. After a minute, he leaps away from me, shoving a stopper on a glass beaker. "Thanks for your tears! Don't worry. I need them for something. It won't hurt you or Akane-chan." "If you do anything to hurt her, and I'll kill you slowly and painfully." The freak just laughs as he runs away. I sit down on a rock by the pond. I am a man and a woman. But, can I still be a man amongst men though? Am I truly without honor, despite being seen as honorable by many? I know I'm a jerk at times and that I can be kind. I am loved and hated by the same people. ----------------------------- Author's Notes: Ranma's birthday was never stated in the series, but using reverse astronomy taking Ranma's personality as a reference I've plotted the date, April 1st 1976 just before sunrise, as good probability of when Ranma was born. (Akane almost a exactly a week later on April 8th). Ranma is a baka. People driving on the road are baka. There is no plural form for Japanese words. There is one otaku, there are hundreds of otaku - it doesn’t matter, it is spelled the same. Shima can translate as death horse or four horses. While doing research I found the Shampoo's Chinese name is probably Shan Pu and not Xian Pu. In a pseudo article on how Takahashi-sama named the cast of Lum Shampoo was referred to as Shan Pu. Also, I found a list of hundreds of Chinese names and Xian was nowhere to be found, but Shan was listed at least a half dozen times. Shan Pu translates as coral mountain.