By Elaine

I don't think I can explain
These changes coming over me
I don't know who I am anymore
Can you tell me who you see?
What do I do, how do I
Beat these feelings down
My heads a spinnin', my knees are weak
And my feet can't touch the ground.

So can you help me please
This is something I can't fight
And I don't really know
If I'm handling this right...

I don't think you understand
The urgency of this situation
And I don't think these subtle twists
Were part of the whole equation
Hold me closer, grasp my hand
And we've got it all made
But why the hell can't I do this alone?
Why am I so afraid?

So can you help me please
This is something I can't fight
And I don't really know
If I'm handling this right

Help me please...

Act 5: More than Fighting

[It's Friday Morning, the day after our street fighting heroes
have arrived at the Tendo Dojo. Chun Li and Akane wake up to
the sounds of fighting outside their window]

Voice: SHAAAAAA!!!!!!

[An audible splash is heard, followed by the sound of a female
swearing]

Chun-Li: (Muttering) What the hell was that? (Checks watch for time)

Akane: Ranma doing his morning exercises. Though I can't imagine who
he's fighting with.

Voice2: You must defeat Shen Long before you can defeat me!

Akane: (blinks) What?

Chun Li: (yawning and stretching) Just Ryu. I think it's a force of
habit for him to say that after every match. (stands up and does a
few limbering exercises, popping some stiff joints) Mmmmm... (goes to
window) Hey, Ryu! How ya feeling this morning?

Ryu: Young and healthy. I just had a match with Ranma-san. He's rather
good.

Chun Li: I'll bet. Won, eh?

Ryu: It was only a sparring practice. (goes over to lake to help
Ranma-onna out) Very good Ranma-san. Though you left yourself open
on the last jump.

Ranma-onna: (grumbles and exits)

Ryu: Well, then...that was fun.

Chun Li: Say, Ryu? Can I play with you a bit before breakfast?

Akane: (blinks) Nani? (coughs)

Ryu: Of course, it would be my honor, Li-chan. Do you want to do it
in the dojo or outside here?

Chun Li: In the dojo. I want to check it out.

Akane: (tugging on Chun Li's shirt) Are you sure you should be...doing
that?

Chun Li: (blinks) Of course not! Why would you say that? (thinks and
realization dawns) OH! Ranma's drilled the girl-boy issue into you,
hasn't he? Well, I think if Ryu can have his fun with Ken, I should
be allowed to join in. There's no reason why this should only be a
male thing.

Akane: Ryu-san and Ken-san are...?

Chun Li: (interrupts) They've been at it since they were little kids.
They're remarkably open about all this females-in-the-group thing, so
I suppose I'm a little lucky. Especially after Ryu's turned female. I
always wanted to try him as one, but I never thought it'd happen.

Akane: Y-you mean y-you...

Chun Li: Well, I think it's a new learning experience. And he can only
become more open. Doesn't Ranma act differently when he's female?

Akane: I-I wouldn't know...

Chun Li: Hmmm, you people are way to close-minded.(smiles) You know
what? You and Ranma should come and watch us, we'll give you a few lessons...

Akane: (blushes) I-i think it'll be okay. We'll do it when we're
ready...

Chun Li: I don't see how you both can not be ready for some healthy
exercise. Oh well, your loss. I'll be going now. (thinks) Weird people.
I can't believe they make such a big issue on sparring with each
other.

Akane: Yeah, see you at breakfast. (thinks) Th-they didn't look like
that type, (blushes harder as she thinks about it more)

***

[At breakfast. Chun Li and Ryu have returned from their morning
exercise and are both a healthy shade of pink. Ranma has changed
back to male form and is waiting eagerly to begin eating. Akane
is sitting next to him, looking at the two exerted warriors with
a slight sense of embarressment. Ken and Charlie are happily
chattering away about American football while Sakura and Cammy
look half dead and ready to kill someone.]

Akane: (looking anywhere but at the two still sort of panting
warriors) So where's Nabiki-chan?

Ranma: I think she's helping Kasumi with the dishes. Said she
was experimenting with something. I hope they hurry up, I'm
starved.

Chun Li: Me too! That work-out with Ryu was tougher than I expected.

Ryu: It's just because you're not used to this body yet. Are you a
little sore?

Chun Li: Nah, not really. But you certainly gave me my run for the
money. Where did you learn that one thing with the thing?

Ryu: Actually Ranma gave me the idea for it.

Ranma: The idea for what?

Ryu: Well, remember what you told me about the hot and cold wind
pressures? I applied that to my work out with Chun-Li.

Chun Li: Blew me away. I hardly knew what hit me!

Ryu: But you got me back with the reformed version of your spinning
legs manuvure.

Chun Li: Yes, well. I was thinking it up last night. I woke up really
wanting to try it out. (smiles) This change of settings has really
sparked my innovation.

Akane: (blushing furiously) C-can we talk about something else?

Ranma: Why? You should've seen them Akane! It was awesome!

Akane: (eyes wide) Y-you WATCHED?!?

Ranma: Well, yeah. They told me to. I never knew females could do
that kind of stuff. It nearly changed my mind about the whole girl
thing in general, but I don't think you're good enough for me to go
all out on.

Akane: (starts to growl) NANI?

Ranma: (Starts to sweatdrop) W-well, I mean...I guess I'll teach ya
later. But I mean, f-for now...you just can't match up with even
Shampoo...Wh-what? Did I say something wrong?

Akane: BAKA HENTAI! I DIDN'T WANT TO SLEEP WITH YOU IN THE FIRST
PLACE! (whips out giant mallet and hammers Ranma through the roof)

Ryu: (blinks) Sleep with? Who said anything about sleeping with.

Chun Li: (shrugs and stares at the new light source) Wow, what was
that for?

Akane: (fuming) I can't believe the ass wanted to try sexual manuevers
on me...why couldn't he say it somewhere besides at the table?

Ryu: Sexual maneuvers?

Chun Li: You thought he was talking about... (pauses) Oh my god!
(starts laughing hysterically) Y-you thought I was having sex with
RYU? (laughs louder)

Ken: (looks up from his conversation with Charlie) Who's having sex
with Ryu?

Chun Li: (gasping through tears) No, no...we were...*gasp* talking
about...haha...new fighting moves and...sh-she thought I was talking
about sleeping with...(points to Ryu and doubles over)

Sakura: (grumbling) I don't see what's so funny.

Cammy: All this talking about sex is making me sleepi...er...

Ken: (joins in with Chun Li laughing) Ryu? That's a good one! I
would think he's gay except he doesn't like men either... (the two
laugh even louder)

Ryu: Hey!

Ken: What are you so upset about? I said you weren't gay...

Chun Li: Maybe just castrated. (they break out in laughter again. Ryu
grumbles and focuses on his food)

Akane: (blushing and looking down) Well, it's an honest mistake. I...

Chun Li: (sighs and smiles) I know. I suppose when we get into all this
fighter jargon, we forget that it might sound...strange.

Akane: (muttering) Strange doesn't begin to explain it.

*~*~*~

[Meanwhile, as Ranma-onna emerges from a ditch]

Ranma-onna: Stupid kawaii-kune tomboy. What's her problem anyways, I
thought she wanted me to help her train. But nooo, as soon as I try to
what does she do? Throw me in a ditch! What can possibly be worse?

Kuno: Ah, Fair Lady! Thou hast decided to visit me yet again!! Why,
thou art wet! Let me take thee to my place and clean thee up with
sweet words, soft caresses and white, fluffy tow-OOF!

Ranma-onna: Forget I even asked. (kicks Kuno away and starts walking
back to the dojo) Stupid Akane. Stupid Kuno. Stupid Life...Why do I
even bother? (sighs and walks in the other direction) I can't go back
there now...got to wait for her temper to cool off first...(sighs
again) Damn it Akane, why dyu have to take everything I say the wrong
way? (walks toward the dojo again...before stopping and walking the
other way. Looks frustrated) God, Ranma! Make up your mind!

Charlie: Hey Ranma! Is that you?

: Whossat? (turns around to meet Charlie) Hello Charlie.

Charlie: Whatcha doing?

Ranma: Hmmm? Nothi...I was going to go for a walk but I didn't
know where to go...

Charlie: Well, I'm pretty much free for the afternoon. Ken and Ryu are
sparring, and your friend...Kasumi...took the girls out for shopping.

Ranma: Akane too?

Charlie: (thinks) Um...I don't think so. She was in her room the last
time I saw her.

Ranma: (edging closer) Did she look angry? Upset? Ready to use the
hammer again?

Charlie: (sweatdropping) N-nani? A little peeved I-I guess...

Ranma: Damn. (the two of them stand around in silence)

Charlie: (looking slightly restless) So...uh...what's a good place to
take a walk around here?

Ranma: (as if breaking out from a thought)Huh? Oh...the park isn't
too far ahead...let's go there.

Charlie: Great! Say, I saw your fight with Ryu this morning...(they
walk off)

*~*~*~

[It's a few hours later, a light shower has started, soaking
Ranma-onna and Charlie through. Charlie has begrudgingly turned into
his slimed tentacle form. Thankfully, the dojo is only a few
footsteps away now. They hurry and run to the door, only to
encounter an Akane with an umbrella.]

Akane: Ranma? (looks down) Please tell me that's Charlie-san...

Ranma-onna: (frowning) Whachu doing out here?

Akane: (stalls) I just...(thinking: missed you)...um...was
wondering what was taking you so long. (offers the umbrella to Ranma,
who steps under it with her) You usually don't stay out so long.
(screams suddenly as a tentacle pulls on her arm)...uh...

Ranma: I think he wants to know if he can go into the house...

Akane: (slightly unnerved) Y-yeah...it's that way (points and watches
as Charlie crawls away) Man, it must be horrible to be in that form...

Ranma: Well...I dunno...you can star in a lot of ecchi movies that
way...

Akane: (scandalized. whacks Ranma lightly on the shoulder) Ranma!

Ranma: Hey hey! Just joking! (grins mischievously. A silence falls
over the two as the start towards the house. Akane stops on the front
steps suddenly)

Akane: (looks uncertain) R-ranma?

Ranma: Yeah?

Akane: Um...I just wanted to say...

Ranma: Say...

Akane: (looks at her shoes) I'm...um...

Ranma: You're...

Akane: I'm...uh...sorry for overreacting this morning.

Ranma: (smirks) Heh, you should be.

Akane: (looks up and raises an eyebrow) What?

Ranma: I mean, geez! I didn't even do anything wrong! Why do you
always have to be so kawaii-kune?

Akane: (frowns) What are you trying to say?

Ranma: That you were acting really stu- (suddenly get's smacked by
a flying tentacle) HEY OW! (suddenly notices Akane's annoyed
expression) I mean...nothing...go on...(smiles weakly)

Akane: (still frowning) No really..what were you trying to say?

Ranma: Um...you were acting really...stupendous, yeah! And what I did
was completely uncalled for...even though I didn't do anything...

Akane: (softens) Yeah. Anyhow. Ryu-san and Chunli-san told me later
what you were trying to ask and...(smiles and gives him a hug) I'm
so glad you changed your mind! Thanks! I-I'll be ready tomorrow
morning! (giggles and rushes into the house, leaving Ranma-onna
standing there)

Ranma: (blushes deeply)...urk... (stands there, savoring the feeling
as it fades. Finally, he sighs and walks into the house)

[Looking through the window are Chun Li, Ryu and Charlie]

Charlie: Booya! Are we good or are we good?

Chun Li: We are awesome! Give it up for us!

Ryu: What? What did we do?

Chun Li: Didn't you just see? Are you blind? She gave him a hug!

Charlie: They're on their way to a truly romantic encounter!

Ryu: (thinks)...They are?

Chun Li: (sweatdrops) Geez, Ryu. Sometimes you are just too hopeless.