The Journey is the Destination Chapter 25 By poetheather The return to Nerima where Ranma and company are faced with Elder Cologne of the Amazons. What can Nabiki do for them now?

The train ride back to Nerima was calm and uneventful, which made the four travelers happy. They had gotten enough excitement when Happosai had shown up at their campsite and had to be fought off. None of them really wanted anything like that to happen now that they were back. They all just wanted to return home without mishap. However, this being Nerima, things did not go according to the plan.

As the four of them were heading down the street that would take them to the Tendo Dojo, Ranma stopped and began to look around worriedly. Akane asked, “Ranma, what’s wrong?”

“Something’s coming.”

The four of them got back to back, watching in all directions, waiting for whatever had triggered Ranma’s danger sense. There was a blur of movement and then Elder Cologne was there, ten feet in front of Ranma, balanced on her staff. The redhead’s eyes narrowed as she glared at the old woman who stood there slightly smirking. “What do you want old ghoul?”

The wizened old woman chuckled as her eyes trailed over Ranma’s very female form. “So sonny boy, what exactly are you up to now. Shampoo has told me all about you claiming to be a girl and to have always been a girl? Is this true?”

Ranma was sweating slightly in nervousness, as she so totally did not want to fight the Amazon Elder right now but if things did not play out well it looked like it was going to happen. “Of course I am a girl. I was a girl when I came to your village. Don’t you remember?”

The Amazon Matriarch raised an eyebrow at the redhead, the look clearly saying that she was not buying whatever it was that Ranma was selling. “I see. So Son-in-Law, why this sissy plan of yours? It seems a bit out of character for you.”

The reaction the Amazonian Elder got was not the one she was expecting. She had been expecting the loud, brash defense of manhood, not Ranma blushing a little and saying, in a fairly embarrassed tone of voice, “I was tired of being a Tomboy all the time so I decided to have a change in things. Mom, Kasumi and Akane have all helped me try something different.”

Cologne cocked her head, curious as to this development. Son in Law’s Chi was still the same, still clearly that distinctive mix of Yin and Yang energy that she had come to know intimately, so she was at a loss as to why he was acting this way. What was also interesting was that he had not lied to her with his answer. This did not make any sense and it did not seem like he had gotten hit really hard on the head as of late. This had to be a trick; she just had to figure out why Ranma was doing this. His motivations would go a long way in determining how to respond to this. “So you are admitting to me that you are just playing at being a girl, that this is all an act?”

Ranma narrowed her eyes in anger, some of her usual fire coming back into her voice, her fists clenching. “I have always been a girl you old ghoul. I am not playing at anything.”

Cologne just stared at the redhead, her eyes impenetrable, weighing the young woman in front of her, trying to see past the girl’s thoughts and into her soul. Something had clearly changed in the boy but she was at a loss at to what it was exactly. Her gaze flickered over Akane and Ukyo as well, briefly sizing them up. Something had changed there as well and it looked as if the girls had been training hard with Ranma. Again something new. Things were not right in Nerima and she still had no idea why. This required more investigation. However, maybe she should first poke Ranma and see his response. That might tell her a few things. “I see. Well, if you have always been a girl then the Kiss of Marriage that my great granddaughter has given you is potentially invalid. All that just leaves is the Kiss of Death she gave to you when you visited us.”

Ranma only seemed to get angrier at that statement, taking a step forward, leaning forward in a threatening manner. The red head’s gaze did not waver as she growled out in her girly voice. “Fine. But if Shampoo tries to come and kill me I will send her back to you in pieces. Just leave me and mine alone!”

Cologne’s grin was cold and calculating. Now this was the Ranma she knew and loved. Perhaps this was not exactly a bad development after all. Maybe she could get some mileage out of this and turn this development into her favor. She did not get to be her age without learning a thing or two about such trickery. Something was wrong with the boy but in a way that she was familiar with. The Elder grinned, disturbing everyone and said, “Very well Ranma… I will leave you alone… for now.”

The old woman pogoed away on her staff, cackling maniacally as she went. Ranma stood there clenching and unclenching her fists, growling in the back of her throat, her battle aura crackling lightly around her. Akane rested a hand on Ranma’s arm and pulled her in the direction they had been heading in the first place, “Come on. Let’s go talk to everyone else and figure out what we can do.”

Ranma followed along, clearly annoyed with what had just happened. Amazon meddling was the last thing that she needed while she was trying to make this all work. Cologne was too skilled to fool for long, though even Ranma had to admit that her ruse was becoming less lie and more truth as things went along. Things were better for her and clearly several things had gone into making that possible. Actually talking to Akane, being open with her, asking for her help in this, which made the largest difference in this situation. Being able to fix things with Ukyo also was a bonus. Those changes were what she had needed and had not been able to get as a guy. She had been too proud; to stuck on being a manly man, like her father had made her and her mother had wanted. Now, as a girl, she had managed to fix some of the chaos in her life and it looked like the Amazons were going to try to screw things up for her.

Soon the small group reached the Tendo Dojo and came inside. As the four of them were taking off their shoes, they called out, “Taidama!”

“Okeari!” called out Kasumi, coming out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She took one look at the redhead and her grin faded some as she asked, “Ranma, are you okay?”

Akane shook her head and said the one word that would explain everything as completely as possible. “Amazons.”

“Oh my.” Kasumi brought a hand to her mouth. She lowered it and continued, “Well, is everything okay?”

“Oh sure.” grumped Ranma. “Cologne just said that the Kiss of Death was back on.”

“Oh my! Well, perhaps we should talk to Nabiki and see if she has any ideas.” Turning to go she stopped at the next question.

“Kasumi, where are the Fathers?” asked Ukyo, clearly wanting to avoid seeing that fat panda.

“They are out drinking.” There was a tone of distaste in her words that spoke volumes, a tone that no sane person wanted directed their way.

“Pops is back? This can’t be good.” grumbled Ranma, mood dropping even more with that revelation. “Did he have anything with him when he returned?”

Kasumi looked thoughtful. “I believe so, but I can’t remember for sure.”

Ranma groaned, lowering her head into her hands, “Why me.”

Akane and Ukyo both hugged Ranma. Ukyo whispered reassuringly, “It’s okay Ran-chan, whatever he has in store we will deal with it.”

“He’s gonna want to turn me into a boy.” whined Ranma, clearly tired of all of her father’s antics.

“Don’t worry so much Ranma. You are my girl and that is that.” Akane sounded utterly sure of herself and Ranma had to admit that she liked that. Akane was really sexy when she was self-assured.

Akane kissed her on the cheek and they headed into the living room, where Nabiki was sitting at the table, drinking coffee, and reading some papers. She looked up when they all came in, eyes narrowing when they took in peoples expressions. Putting her cup down, she asked casually, “Amazons?”

Akane nodded.

Nabiki sighed and put down what she had been reading. This was clearly more important than the stock market reports. “So what seems to be going on?”

Akane and Ranma explained their encounter on the way home, each interrupting the other with some comment or other. Ukyo snickered a little at the interplay. Ever since this whole insane plan had started the two girls had gotten closer and closer and they began to really talk together or at least nearly at the same time. It had been one of the clues to show her that Akane had clearly won.

Nabiki sat back and looked thoughtful, taking all of that in. There was something she was sure she was missing in this situation but she was not sure what. “I am not sure that Cologne is going to enforce the Kiss of Death. No it sounds like she has something else in mind.”

“What do you mean?” asked Ranma worriedly.

“I am not sure but I think she has seen through your ruse. So something else has to be done about her. This plan could fool Shampoo and Mouse but not her. She is far too wise to fall for this. No, we have to expect her to try most anything. I’ll try and come up with something but in the meantime, stay on your guard.” advised Nabiki, taking a sip of coffee at the end.

The group of four martial artists nodded. They then headed upstairs, so Ranma and Akane could drop off their bags. The group of them sat on the floor and sighed, clearly bothered by the fact that they had not even been home an hour before crap started all over again. Kasumi brought them up some tea and cookies, which were greatly appreciated. They nibbled on them in silence before Ukyo asked, “So, what are we going to do about the Panda?”

Ranma sighed, “I don’t know. I bet he found some Pool of Drowned Boy water somewhere and plans on soaking me with it. I just don’t want anyone else to be caught in the splash. I kind of like everyone as you are.”

Ukyo nodded, agreeing with her sister. At one point that may have been an interesting option, given how the Kunoji family had registered her but now she was very happy at being the woman she had always wanted to be. Akane was having similar thoughts, with images of a pregnant Ranma carrying hr child dancing through her head while Konatsu was horrified at the mere idea of having to become just a man. The idea was very foreign to him despite his body thanks to his upbringing. He would not mind having some of the water Ranma had been hit with back in China but not any other.

“I guess this means we need to stay on our toes, just in case.” replied Ukyo.

“Absolutely.” joined in Akane. “I don’t want to be a guy even part time. I am happy with the way I am.”

Ranma nodded. “From what I understand, the water from the ladle should keep my form locked, not letting the water do anything to me. I kind of hope that works. I would ask the old ghoul, but that would mean I would have to tell her the truth.”

“Well, sugar, you are the target so hopefully you will be able to keep the damage to a minimum.”

Ranma nodded. “That’s what I am hoping.”