[FFML] [Ranma]Choose your own adventure 3

Hi everyone! Here we are with the next installment of my Ranma "Choose your own Adventure" story.

****** YOU CAN CHOOSE!!! YOU HAVE THE POWER!!! ****

Basically, you the reader, submit what YOU think should happen in the next
segment of the story. I'll either pick the one that is IMHO the best or
more likely combine several ideas into one.

Disclaimer: If you think I own Ranma, send me a cheque. I don't really,
but if you believe it please, please, please send me a cheque! Otherwise
send the cheque to Viz Video and/or Rumiko Takahashi, whom without which, we
would all be Ranma-less.

Chapter 3

"Well, Sasuke? What news have you of the goings on in the Tendo
household?" Sasuke, manservant to the Blue Thunder of Furinken High,
shivered under the aloof glare of his master. The bright morning sun
did little to warm him.
"Well...uhhh...you see..."
"Speak up man!"
With a pitiful sigh of resignation, Sasuke told him what he had
seen the night before. "Nabiki and Ranma, they...they...did it."
Kuno scowled. "'It?' What do you mean?"
Sasuke fidgeted uncomfortably. "You know. 'It.' They did the
deed."
"I don't understand what you are talking about. Speak clearly!"
A groan escaped from the miserable man. "They...they..."
Sasuke could feel the blood rising up his neck into his face.
"They...had..." His voice sank to a barely understandable whisper.
"...s-e-x...last night." Kuno continued to stare at his servant for
several long moments. Sasuke began to hope that Kuno had entered one of
his fugues, and that Sasuke would be able to slip out quietly.
Suddenly, Kuno's face twisted into an expression of towering rage and
indignation.
"HE DID WHAT?!"

Kasumi stuck her head out of the kitchen into the living room
where the others were cleaning up from breakfast.
"Did anyone hear a strange noise?"

Kuno raged up and down the corridors of his mansion. "That evil
sorcerer dares to add yet another woman to his harem?!" He flung his
arms up towards the heavens, as though in supplication to God. "Why?!
Why does such evil exist?! If he could coerce a woman of such control
as Nabiki Tendo, how much more so has he been using my two loves?"
Running to his room, Kuno grabbed his steel sword from its stand. "I
swear to you, Sasuke, this day will end in the defeat of that vile
sorcerer Saotome! This blade shall drink his blood and free both my
pig-tailed goddess and the fiery Akane Tendo from his evil grasp!"
Leaping out a window, Kuno raced towards the Tendo Dojo, with Sasuke on
his heels.
"Master! Please, don't do anything hasty...!"

"Here's your lemonade, Ranma" Kasumi walked outside to where
Ranma was sitting.
"Thanks, Kasumi." Ranma was amazed. Despite what had happened
last night, there was no sign that anything was amiss. No fianc�s had
attacked during the night, Nabiki was not acting any different, and if
he was giving any sign of his nervousness, no one was picking up on it.
He was actually going to get away with this.
Akane sat down beside him carrying another glass of lemonade.
"It's beginning to get hot," she remarked.
Ranma managed to squelch a surge of nervousness.
"Well, the heat wave the weatherman said was coming was supposed
to start yesterday," replied Nabiki. "I guess we should count ourselves
lucky that it held off until today." She sat down beside Ranma opposite
to Akane.
Ranma groaned. "Man I hate the heat!"
Akane glanced at him questioningly. "Really? I thought you
would have liked heat, what with your curse."
"That's exactly why I hate it. I end up dumping lots of cold
water on me to stay cool."
"Oh, that makes-" Akane was interrupted from a cry from above.
"RANMA SAOTOME, PREPARE TO DIE!" Kuno fell from the sky, sword
aloft, directly towards the seated trio.
"Yeow!" Ranma rolled backward, barely evading the wicked blade.
Earth and stone exploded up from the impact point, knocking both Akane
and Nabiki aside. Moving faster than Ranma had ever seen him move
before, Kuno attacked Ranma. Unable to block the sword, Ranma had to
resort to dodging the strikes leaping around the compound while everyone
else looked on in stunned amazement. They had not seen Kuno this angry
since the aborted wedding.
He's going nuts! thought Ranma frantically. What does he think
he's doing? I've gotta get some space between us.
Drawing on his ki, Ranma formed a ball of energy in his hands.
The ball became a blast that struck Kuno in the chest knocking over the
koi pond to the far side of the yard.
"What is it now, Kuno?" demanded Ranma.
"You dare feign ignorance?" spat Kuno. "First, you take from me
Akane, then ensnare the pig-tailed girl with your foul spells, and now,
Nabiki! You enemy of women! How many more will fall to your nefarious
charms before you are stopped?"
A stunned silence fell over the group. Ranma gaped at Kuno in
astonishment. Did he know? How did he know?
I am so dead, he thought.
Nabiki on the other hand, managed to overcome her amazement and
fear quickly, her mind kicking into overdrive. She needed to take
control of this situation. If they turned to Ranma for an explanation,
everything would collapse. Striding up to Kuno, she confronted him
directly. "What exactly are you saying, Kuno? What has Ranma
supposedly done now?"
"He took your womanhood on these very grounds!" Kuno declared
triumphantly. "Using his powers he subverted your sensibilities and
used you for his own pleasures!"
Everyone stared at Kuno, each with their own emotions written
plainly on their faces. Ranma was filled with chagrin and despair.
Genma and Soun were aghast. Kasumi was stunned. Akane stared at Kuno
with a dreadful fear and horror.
Soun rushed to Ranma, grabbing his shirt and pulling him close.
"Ranma, is this true?" demanded Soun.
Before Ranma could answer, the sound of laughter drifted through
the group. They turned and saw Nabiki clutching her sides, bent over
and laughing. Tears were streaming down her face, and she could barely
keep her balance.
"You...you..." Nabiki struggled to speak through her laughter.
"You...really had me...going! Ranma...and I..." Nabiki again collapsed
into breathless laughter. After several moments she managed to regain
her composure. "Okay, okay, I'll admit it, I've wonder a time or two
what he'd be like in bed, but I mean, really!"
"So you deny that Ranma has been with you-"
<SLAP!>
Nabiki's humor vanished in an instant. "How dare you!" she
growled in a murderous voice. "How dare you slander my honor? You! An
outsider, not even a member of my family! You come in here with a rumor
and treat it as fact, accusing me with out any proof! Do you have any
proof?"
Kuno's face darkened with anger. "My manservant saw it with his
own eyes."
"What, no pictures? How about a bloody bed sheet; or maybe a
used condom? We're supposed to believe you? We all know what you think
of Ranma. He'd never do something like that with me."
"Saotome is capable of anything!" retorted Kuno.
"If he had the guts to sleep with me, he'd have done it already
with one of his fianc�s. He's got four-" Nabiki glanced at Akane, who
was just beginning to get over the shock of Kuno's announcement. Anger
was quickly replacing the horror that had been there a moment before.
"Make that three girls who are falling over themselves to get into his
pants, and you accuse him of doing it with me?" Nabiki laughed, but
this time the laughter cut through Kuno's belief like a knife. "I'd
almost sooner have sex with you than him! And even if Ranma and I had
slept together, it's none of your business anyway!" Nabiki pushed Kuno
back a step. "Get out of her Kuno! I've got better things to do than
deal with your stupid suspicions."
Kuno, his efforts floundering, tried to rally himself. "Of
course you would deny my claim! You are under his spell! Ask Saotome
for the truth!" The entire group turned to stare at Ranma. He wanted
to run, but his feet felt rooted to the ground by the eyes on him.
There was a flicker of motion, and Ranma saw Nabiki making small silence
gestures in front of her mouth. Ranma, wisely, said nothing.
"Speak, Saotome!" thundered Kuno.
"I'm not saying anything," said Ranma in reply.
"What?!" This was not something Kuno had anticipated. He had
expected Ranma to hang himself with his own words, like he usually did.
"No one would believe me. You never do. So I'm not saying
anything." Seemingly to himself he muttered, "If I had, at least if I
had, I'd've had the fun of doing it." Soun and Genma were nodding
slowly, and Kasumi's expression slowly changed to one of relief.
"It makes sense," muttered Soun.
"Yes, Tendo. If Ranma wanted a girl, I'm sure Shampoo would
jump at the chance."
"Or Ukyo."
"And I don't know how many times Kodachi has tried to seduce
him." They seemed satisfied that the accusation was indeed worthless.
Even Akane was beginning to see the absurdity of Kuno's claim.
Seeing the situation turn against him, Kuno tightened his grip
on his sword. "No! I will not be denied my revenge! I shall smite
thee!" Leaping at Ranma, Kuno swung the sword with unparalleled speed.
Ready for the onslaught this time, Ranma ducked under the blow,
and lashed out with a kick to the gut. Kuno doubled over, and Ranma
followed up with a second kick to his chin.
They watched as Kuno faded into the sky.
Akane went to Nabiki. "Did you sleep with him?"
Nabiki glared frostily at her younger sister. "The only time
Ranma has touched my bed was when Happosai threw him through my window."
Akane took a deep breath and nodded.
"Excuse me." They all looked and saw Sasuke perched on the wall
to the Tendo compound. "Has Master Kuno been here?"
"Yeah," said Ranma. "He should have landed in your bathhouse
already."
An expression of horror flickered over Sasuke's face. He turned
and bolted back towards the Kuno mansion.
"The bathhouse?" asked Nabiki?
"I'm hoping he'll drown before Sasuke gets there."

"Saotome's magic is more powerful than I realized," wheezed
Kuno.
"Yes, Master Kuno," replied Sasuke.
Kuno pulled off the cool cloth on his forehead. "What can I do,
my dear Sasuke? I am not strong enough to destroy this foul sorcerer,
yet with this awful knowledge that you brought to me, Saotome must be
brought to justice."
"Perhaps someone can help you?" Sasuke suggested.
"But who...wait a moment! Yes! I know exactly who!" Kuno sat
up, but this triggered a flood of coughing. Eventually, he collapsed
back on to his bed.
"Master, please! You must restrain yourself!"
"Yes," hissed Kuno weakly. "I will take his knowledge to that
old Chinese crone. She will force Ranma to marry her granddaughter.
She can even save my pig-tailed goddess! They will take Ranma to China,
and once he is gone, Akane and the pig-tailed girl will be mine!"
"Uhh...Master, there's a slight problem with your plan."
"What is it?"
"Shampoo and the others are in China. They won't be back for at
least three weeks." There was a moment of silence.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

Kasumi looked around. There was that strange noise again. She
listened for a few more moments, but hearing nothing, she continued on
with her chores.

Nabiki winced as she put the grocery bags on the park bench.
There were several items in glass containers, and she hoped she had not
broken anything. Sitting down on the bench, she wiped the sweat off her
forehead with her arm. She was glad she had volunteered to go shopping
for the groceries. It got her out of the house before anyone had a
chance to ask awkward questions, and gave her time to formulate replies.
Ranma had left shortly after the altercation with Kuno on some unknown
errand.
She glanced down at the grocery bags bulging with food. They
were heavier than they looked. She was going to be sore and tired by
the time she got home. How did Kasumi do this every week?
"Need some help, Nabiki?"
Managing to stop a shriek of alarm, Nabiki jumped up and spun
around towards the source of the voice. Ranma stood behind the bench a
few feet away.
"Ranma! What the hell are you doing? It's too dangerous for us
to be seen together right now!"
Ranma stepped closer, and gripped one of her arms tightly. "How
the hell did he know?" he demanded.
Nabiki glanced disdainfully at the hand on her arm and he
removed it. "I imagine it's like he said. Sasuke was watching us, the
pervert."
"So now what?"
"We go on with our lives, Ranma. Any change would be
suspicious." She gave him a sly look. "Why? Are you wondering when
you can get more of me?"
Ranma jumped back, alarmed. "No! I'm never going to do that
again!"
Nabiki frowned. "Aw, why not?" she asked with false petulance.
"Didn't you enjoy it?"
Ranma mouth worked for a moment before sound emerged. "Of
course I enjoyed it!" he hissed quietly, looking around furtively,
making sure no one was close enough to hear. "But that's not the
point."
"But it is the point Ranma."
He groaned. "Why does this happen to me?" he asked plaintively.
"You mean you haven't figured it out?"
"If I had, I'd've done something about it by now!"
Nabiki looked at him for a long moment. Coming to a decision,
she nodded. "Okay, Ranma, I give up. I'll tell you why girls fall all
over themselves to marry you."
Ranma's expression was eager, even desperate. "Why?"
"You, Ranma Saotome, are the perfect one night stand."
Blink. "Huh?"
"Okay, I'll try again. You're hot, Ranma. You've got the
perfect body. Your handsome, strong, well toned, and good with your
hands." Nabiki laughed at Ranma's blush.
"So that's why girls want to marry me?"
"Yep."
"So you want to marry me, right?"
"Are you kidding? I wouldn't come within a mile of you and a
wedding ring."
"Huh? But you just said-"
"Unlike the other girls, I can see what's on your inside, as
well as the outside."
"What's that?"
"You're an asshole."
Blink-blink. "Huh?"
"You're an-"
"I heard you the first time." Anger colored Ranma's tone. "So
you think I'm an asshole?"
"No, I said you are an asshole. But the others won't see it.
They take one look at you and fall head over heels with you. Except
maybe Akane, and even she likes your body. She might even like the
better parts of your personality. But let's face it, Ranma, you're a
user."
"That's almost funny coming from you," he growled.
"Yeah, but accept the fact that I'm a user. You seem to do it
by unconscious design. You treat all the girls around like crap,
leading them on, arguing, flirting and anything else you can get away
with. You could have ended any of the engagements at any time you
wanted to with enough protest, but that hasn't happened. You like the
attention. Your fianc�s don't understand that and let themselves be
used in the faint hope that one day, you'll choose one of them. I play
with people's pocketbooks, and maybe their emotions, if it helps me get
more money, but you manipulate people's lives, and quite frankly, it
makes me sick."
Ranma's eyes were glazed over with Nabiki's revelation. Am I
really that bad? he thought. "But you want to sleep with me, even
though I'm an asshole."
"Hell yes! You turn me on Ranma, and I'm not above using you
for my own ends. But I'll be dead before I marry you. And at least I'm
honest about what I want from you." She grinned slightly. "And who
knows, you just might enjoy it as much as I would. You certainly enjoyed
last night." Ranma blushed, but did not otherwise react to the barb.
"Remember the offer I made last night?" Ranma nodded. "It's still
open. Drop by any time." Nabiki picked up the grocery bags. "Hey
Ranma, some help-" She looked up but there was no one in sight.
But Ranma was gone.

End chapter