Cologne

The mummified amazon stood before the council of elders, the shadows perhaps concealed their face but it was obvious that something was plaguing them. Cologne felt the unease to a certain degree, but also pondered many things as well.

One of the members stood from her seat and took out what appeared to be a staff shaped shadow, "This Ranma character has proven to me that we should take her to the Jusenkyo-"

"I understand what you're saying," Cologne interrupted, clanking the bottom of the her cane to the ground thus gaining the attention of every respective member of the elder council. "but the child has shown such immense raw potential... and as you are aware, any male that has been entered into the kiss of death must marry into the tribe."

The council members whispered amongst themselves before the member at the center of the circular arch stood forth, concealed by the shadows. If anyone looked closely enough they could see that the head of the council were a rather large hairpiece, it could be said that she was the most traditional and most likely the eldest of the group.

"It seems your are wise for your years, Cologne... but perhaps my years had made me rash and forgetful," she then directed her attention to every member of the council and nodded her head once to each and everyone one of them.

"I take it you've realized what we must do..." Cologne stated. "we must allow my great grand daughter to marry this child."

"You are aware that it falls on your great grand daughter's shoulders to make this Ranma character fall for her? Least it brings great shame to our tribe..."

"Of course." Cologne nodded. "I have some business to attend to, such as... where my great grand daughter has gone."

"Then this meeting is dismissed..." the head council member announced.

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Saotome Home

A duty of a mother was to protect and teach their child to adapt to everything that was right in this world. Nodoka believed in no such thing and would have to set things straight with Ryoga since she saw him as like a second son to her, she had to make sure he didn't stray onto unnecessary paths.

Nodoka took a moment to compose herself, shaking her head. "Ryoga! Stop!" Nodoka shouted.

Ranma quickly noticed that their hands were still together and put some space between them. "I-it ain't what you think!" Ranma shouted, holding her hands out and waving them defensively.

Ryoga's eyes widened when he saw Nodoka, he really didn't understand what she was on about. "Stop what?" Ryoga asked, blinking. For all he knew he hadn't done anything wrong.

"T-this Ryoga dear!" she exclaimed before moving over to the fang toothed boy and placed her hand on her shoulder. "We need to come inside, there's something I need to explain to you..."

Ryoga noticed that there was some force in Nodoka's tugging, this couldn't be a good sign. "U-uh... okay, but what about Ranma?" he asked.

"Ranma has to come too..." Nodoka said.

The red headed girl knew that the following discussion wouldn't be pleasant. If only she knew that she was going to have to receive "The Talk," again. She only hoped that it was the talk about boys liking girls talk, not the sex talk.

Nodoka was seated across the table, a tea held by her hands as she saw the tea leaf floating from within the middle of the cup. She took that as a positive sign to set the calm and peaceful she wanted to set for this most sacred and important of discussions. "Ryoga..." Nodoka started, calmly addressing the boy.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Yes... mom..." Ryoga replied, nervously.

"Do you like girls?" Nodoka asked.

Ryoga quiet frankly hadn't seen that question coming. And although he never knew much people and the only girls he's ever really had contact with were, Ranma; as a girl, Nodoka, sells merchants and most recently; Shampoo. Though the only real positive male he's known would also be Ranma.

"I think so," Ryoga replied.

"Look mom you don't-" Ranma tried to get a word in edge-wise but was stopped when Nodoka gave her the hand.

Nodoka stared at Ryoga for a moment, trying to analyze his character. Was it even possible for Ryoga to understand the difference between male and female? It must have been, from what she's seen she could tell he knew the difference. Though was Ranma's curse pushing past Ryoga's level of understanding? Maybe she should test this theory out.

"And from what I saw... you like Ranma's girl side?" Nodoka asked.

Ryoga averted his eyes from the Saotome mother before looking back to her with a tinge of red on his cheeks. "Y-yes, mam."

Nodoka sighed and took another drink from her cup, preparing herself for her next words. "Ryoga, dear... Ranma's not for you, he's not a real girl... and I don't think Ranma wants you to come up to her and ask her to be yours."

It took Ryoga a few seconds to register what was being said, and that's when he found his eyes landing on the object of his affection. "R-really, Ranma?"

Ranma was hesitant to answer, it almost seemed as though she had to will herself into saying her next words. "Sorry, Ryo..."

Ryoga slumped his head forward and took a deep breath, "Oh... sorry..."

"Ryoga, do you know what love is?" Nodoka questioned.

Ryoga pondered the question before answering as honestly as he could. "I don't know what it is..."

"Well dear... there are some key differences, it's almost like are certain levels to liking someone or loving something, such as..." Nodoka paused, hoping to make some kind of comparison to simplify her explanation. "You know when you like certain foods over any others? And then there's some you still like and don't mind eating? And then there's those you don't like?" she asked.

Ryoga nodded his head, there was certain foods he didn't like eating. Even though he tried pork once already, he could still tell that something about it wasn't right, so he preferred to avoid pork. "I guess you can say that this explanation relates to that when it comes to certain people, there are those you like enough to say hello Ryoga dear, but then there are those that you really like. Those of course are women..." Nodoka clarified, fake coughing. "Anyways... Ranma isn't a woman so Ranma shouldn't even fall under this category."

Ryoga's understanding became more clear now, but the question that dwells within him most was... did he love, Ranma? All he knew right now was... maybe. The feeling in his chest was very unpleasant, what was it? The fang toothed boy ultimately accepted what Nodoka said and nodded his head in agreement. She was of course wiser than him and Ranma, so he accepted what was said to him as fact.

Ranma noticed that Nodoka's explanation was similar to the time she explained what love and like were to her. Food of course was used as the example. Though whilst thinking about the similarities of Nodoka's explanations, she noticed that Ryoga had gone timid, again. She sighed and placed her hand on Ryoga's shoulder, "Look... just cause I ain't a real, don't mean ya' ain't ever gonna' find that one special person."

A soft smile graced Nodoka's face, her Ranma certainly was a kind person, when the person was of course important to her. "Of course... perhaps when you're ready, we can take you out to search for a real woman."

Ryoga's voice got caught in his throat, "T-thanks..." he replied, forcing a smile.

Nodoka didn't catch the depressed aura Ryoga was giving off, but it didn't escape Ranma's senses.

"Okay, I'll make dinner... and then when Genma comes home, we'll all sit down and eat, then you both of you can get yourselves cleaned, there was so much commotion yesterday, I forgot to get any warm water ready." Nodoka stated, blushing in embarrassment.

The rest of the day proceeded as Nodoka said, they waited around for dinner to be ready and ate when Genma returned. They all barely spoke, since Genma had spent the day doing an odd job rather than serving as the mascot for the Nekohaten. From that point Ranma had to bathe Ryoga in his piglet form and then Ranma would go off and take his shower.

After everything that had happened, night slowly descended onto the land. The moon's light giving a gently glow.

From the Saotome home stood one lone figure, the figure stepped forth from the porch of the Saotome home and into the light of the moon. Ryoga's face was threatening to leak tears.

The lost boy closed his eyes and jolted from the Saotome home, running into the forest and trying to end this pain that came from inside his chest. The idea of Ranma not caring about him as deeply as he cared for her, any thoughts assiocated with that made Ryoga want to cry. Stopping when he could no longer run, he turned to the nearest tree and placed his forehead on it.

"...why does it hurt so much..."

The sounds of his whimpering caught the attention of a nearby construction worker. The odd fellow was rather short and somewhat cartoon like in appearance, one could say he was at about the same height as Cologne but from his looks, he was in his forties.

"Oh... I know a trick that will work really good with that sorrow, kid."