Chapter Text
When Ryoga’s dog appeared on TV, Akane could hardly contain her excitement. She just had to see those cute widdle puppies. Only problem is, she didn’t know where Ryoga lived. And Ryoga was currently kami-knows-where.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Ranma’s obnoxiously loud eating. If there was one thing Ranma was good at, it was annoying Akane to no end. Couldn’t he just go fight Ryoga or someth— Akane perked at her idea.
“Hey Ranma,” she interrupted his horrendous eating habits, “do you know where Ryoga is?”
Ranma froze, food half way into his mouth. He stared at her, confused.
“No?” he said, mouth filled with half-chewed food. Silently, Akane fumed at Ranma’s lack of manners. Then he took another bite, chewing as he spoke, “What do you want with that dork anyways?”
“Well, his dog was on TV,” Akane said. Ranma perked up. “Apparently she got some puppies. I’d really like to see them.”
Tears started welling up in Ranma’s eyes. That… he never cried. Why now? He isn’t dying, is he?
“Shirokuro got puppies…?” Ranma sniffled. Wait, Ranma knows Ryoga’s dog?
“Uhm… yeah? I really would like to see them,” she said awkwardly, not entierly sure how to process Ranma’s… newfound display of feelings.
Ranma just kept on with his unintelligible babbling, so Akane quietly excused herself from the table, set on finding Ryoga so he could (hopefully) lead them both to his house.
—
Ryoga was having the best day of his life! Or, he would be, if only he could find Akane.
He’d been at the Tendou Dojo (as P-chan, but that’s not important) when Shirokuro had come on TV. His Shirokuro! On TV! And even better, she had just gotten puppies! Now, that alone would definitely warrant a pretty good day, and it did. Maybe not the best day, but definitely up there.
No, what was even better was that Akane had said they were cute! And she even wished to hold one! So, if only Ryoga could find his way to Akane, he could ask her to come home to him. It would be the perfect date. Shyness be damned, why can’t I just come right out and say it?!
“Oh, Akane,” he shouted out to nothing, “next Sunday, would you—“
“Would I what?” Akane asked, appearing out of nowhere. Ryoga stuttered.
“U-uh. W-w-would you come to my puppy to hold my house?” he asked. And… I just butchered it, didn’t I, he thought. The awkward silence that followed made him want to crawl into a hole and die. “Never mind,” he muttered, as he turned to leave.
“Ryoga, wait!” Akane called after him. “I heard about the puppies. Can I come over to your house next Sunday?”
Ryoga didn’t know which kami he’d earned the appraisal of to warrant this, but he swore he would cherish this for the rest of his life.
—
When Ranma was done freaking out over Shirokuro having puppies — she’d gotten so big — he went straight over to Ryoga’s house. He’d mumbled some excuse to Genma about mountain training or whatever, so he should be good to stay there a couple of days. At least until Sunday.
As soon as he got in the house, he was tackled by Shirokuro. Her tail was wagging back and forth, and she was licking Ranma’s face like she’d never thought she’d see Ranma again. He’d made a point to visit every other month or so — can’t have the others getting suspicious — so he could understand it has been a while, but it’s only been a bit over a month since his last visit.
When Shirokuro got off Ranma, he quickly ran up into his room to change. He splashed some cold water on himself so he could finally become a she again, and got into that cute overall skirt she’d gotten a couple months back, then put on those fake fangs and the headband that always made her feel just a little bit more like a Hibiki. It felt like a metric ton had been lifted off her shoulders, like she could finally breathe again. Finally, she was Yoiko.
She went downstairs, back to where she’d left Shirokuro, and finally got to see the little puppies Shirokuro had brought to the world. And they. Were. The cutest! The five of them made Yoiko’s heart melt. I can’t wait until Ryo-nii-chan comes home!
-
Sunday finally came. Yoiko had spent the days cuddling with the small puppies and Shirokuro, while waiting for Ryoga.
Maybe I should’ve brought Akane? she thought. She dismissed the idea immediately. No, Akane can’t know about Yoiko. It’s for the better. Still, Yoiko couldn’t entierly rid herself of the guilt of not bringing Akane. She had seemed so excited to meet the puppies.
But there was no way Akane could ever know about Yoiko. She would probably tell Kasumi and maybe even Nabiki, and then they’d tell Soun, and he’d tell Genma, and there was no world where Genma learning about Yoiko would end good.
Muffled chatter from outside pulled her from her thoughts. Was there anyone outside? She strained herself to listen. Those voices… they sounded familiar. That kinda sounded like… Ryoga!?
Yoiko sprinted to the door, just as she opened. Just as she had suspected, there was Ryoga, standing in the door frame, looking at someone around the door. Yoiko didn’t care, nii-chan was home!
“Nii-chan!” She jumped onto him, clinging around him. “Welcome home!” she said.
Ryoga looked at her, shocked, as if not expecting to see her. Did he seriously think she wouldn’t come? Shirokuro had just gotten babies, and he didn’t even consider that she’d wanna meet them? She was about to say something else, before—
“Ranma?” someone said. Yoiko jumped, having completely forgotten that she’d heard another voice earlier. W—wait, did they say Ranma? Slowly, she looked at the guest. As soon as she caught sight of who it was, all color drained from her face.
It was Akane.