Marital Arts 7 - Part 4

Ranma and Ranko ran from booth to booth while the others trailed 
behind them. 
 
Ukyo:  [sighs]  "I never really went to these festivals before." 
Akane:  "Why not?" 
Ukyo:  "Well... I guess I was more concerned with finding my fiance.  
        I used to take training trips, every so often, to see if I could 
        find him.  But I never did." 
Akane:  "Kyoko... what are you going to do once you find him?" 
Ukyo:  "I don't know anymore.  I used to think that I'd beat him up, to 
        pay him back for the humiliation I endured, but what if all 
        my training hasn't been enough and he's still better than 
        me?" 
 
Ranma suddenly swung down from a overhanging tree branch. 
 
Ranma:  "Hey, what're you two talking about?" 
Ukyo:  "Umm... well..." 
Akane:  "We were talking about how Kyoko never used to go to the 
        festivals while she was growing up." 
Ranma:  "Yeah, well, neither did we.  Pops was always moving us 
        around.  We didn't really stay too long in one spot." 
Ukyo:  "You never made any friends on the road?" 
Ranma:  "No, not really.  I guess the only friends we really had were 
        Akane and Ucchan." 
Akane:  "Ucchan?  Who's that?" 
Ranma:  "This guy who's father owned an okonomiyaki cart.  Me and 
        Ranko used to fight him and if we won we'd get an 
        okonomiyaki.  We'd get an okonomiyaki practically every 
        day!" 
Akane:  "Isn't that called theft?" 
Ranma:  "Naw!  Ucchan used to draw pictures on the okonomiyaki 
        with the sauce.  He'd always have one hot and ready for me.  
        Then, one day, we had to go, and Ucchan came with us.  But 
        when we got home, Mom got mad at Pop and took Ucchan 
        back to his family.  I never saw him again." 
Ranko:  "Hey, you talking about Ucchan?" 
Ranma:  "Yeah.  I wonder what happened to him." 
 
Ranko threw a glass of water on Ranma, changing him to his cursed 
form. 
 
Ranko:  "Ucchan was a girl, you dope." 
Ranma:  [throwing some water on Ranko]  "Ucchan was a guy!" 
Ranko:  "Girl!" 
Ranma:  "Guy!" 
 
Ranma and Ranko started to fight. 
 
Ukyo:  "Are they always like this?" 
Akane:  "Pretty much." 
 
*************** 
 
Akemi sat on the cold earth, her breath labored from her lovemaking, 
her partner vanished into the darkness.  She was still a bit dazed from 
the strength of her orgasms.  She pulled her shirt, which had been 
pulled over her head to preserve the anonymity of the encounter, back 
down onto her body. 
 
She looked around.  There was a presence in the shadows, watching 
and protecting her, but still indistinguishable.  There was no way she 
could go back to the festival in this state.  Akemi took off her panties 
and quickly wiped herself of the evidence. 
 
Akemi pulled on her pants and slipped on her shoes, making her way 
back to the festival.  Her lover was long gone.  She found that she 
preferred it that way.  Just before she stepped back into the light, she 
slipped her soiled panties into a garbage can. 
 
She knew that something like that would probably never happen to 
her again.  She sighed to herself. 
 
*************** 
 
Kasumi watched as Kyoko Otonashi started to move the others 
toward the direction of Maison Ikkoku again, since she was 
somewhat responsible for Kentaro getting home safely.  Shun and 
Yusaku, of course, glared at each other over Kyoko, and Kozue didn't 
seem to notice. 
 
It was a little difficult to believe that she and Kozue were the same 
age.  Maybe that's why the triangle went on for so long; both Yusaku 
and Kozue were a little innocent and naive.  That made it a little 
easier for her; their naivites would ensure that things remained 
essentially the same until Kyoko was ready. 
 
The first step had to be the introduction of the idea that more than 
two people could take part in lovemaking.  The rest could happen at 
its own pace.  Kasumi figured she could probably use that redhead, 
Akemi, in this.  She looked the type that experimented once in a 
while. 
 
*************** 
 
Ukyo slipped into her pajamas, a little self-conscious since she was 
doing it in front of Ranma.  But Ranma didn't seem to notice.  At first 
she wasn't sure if she should be relieved or insulted; but the fact that 
he changed into a girl and his sexual activities with Akane probably 
accustomed him to the sight of female flesh. 
 
Both he and Ranko insisted on spending the night in boxers, while 
Kasumi and Akane wore gauzy nightgowns.  Nabiki wore a light 
sweatshirt and panties.  Kasumi turned out the lights and everyone 
slipped into their sleeping bags. 
 
Akane:  "Ranma!  Your breasts are cold!" 
 
Ukyo couldn't help herself and started giggling at the normal 
absurdity of the statement.  Soon everyone was laughing with her.  
Ukyo remained awake as the others started to fall asleep, thinking 
about what she learned at the fair.  Ranma thought she was a boy!  
Was that why he never thought about why she went with them when 
they left?  Did Ranma even know about their engagement? 
 
*************** 
 
Kasumi packed the lunch boxes while Nodoka prepared breakfast in 
the atrium.  The other residents started to stream out of their rooms 
as the odor of cooking food filled the building.  Nodoka finished 
cooking as the others commented on the absence of Mr. Yotsuya. 
 
Nodoka took the opportunity to reapply the Shiatsu Libido Point on 
the Ichinoses and managed to look surprised when they announced 
that they weren't going to the beach.  After breakfast everyone else 
got their beach clothes and left Maison Ikkoku behind them. 
 
Mr. Yotsuya, sleep-deprived and completely helpless above Room 1, 
watched in horror as the Ichinoses tore off each other's clothes.  He 
started to go insane. 
 
*************** 
 
The arrival at the beach was, not surprisingly, chaotic.  Genma's 
panda form attracted the attention of all the children at the beach; 
they tried to play with him no matter how much he tried to shoo them 
away.  Ranma and Ranko ran off in search of Cologne, while Nabiki 
got a small snack.  Nodoka set up a small area for the family's things 
and Akane and Ukyo started to apply sunscreen to each other.  
Yusaku got stuck watching over Kentaro while trying to sneak peeks 
at Kyoko. 
 
Kasumi, Kyoko, and Akemi made their way to the water, attracting 
attention in their swimsuits. 
 
*************** 
 
Kasumi slowly readjusted her swimsuit. 
 
Kyoko:  "Kasumi!  Aren't you ashamed, acting like that?" 
Kasumi:  "Like what?" 
Kyoko:  "Giving everyone a peep show of your bottom and breasts." 
Kasumi:  "Come on, Kyoko.  I'm doing a public service.  Isn't that 
        right, Akemi?" 
Akemi:  "That's right, Kyoko.  Its our duty to show ourselves off." 
Kyoko:  "What?" 
 
The three of them got out of the water and laid down on their towels, 
untying the back of their bikinis to avoid getting a tan line. 
 
Kasumi:  "All the guys who snuck peeks get aroused.  Their 
        girlfriends get the benefit of that tonight.  So everyone's 
        happy." 
Akemi:  [indicating Yusaku]  "What about the guys without 
        girlfriends?  Think they'll turn into sex fiends?" 
Kasumi:  "Is that necessarily a bad thing?"  [giggling]  "My Tofu 
        likes to surprise me sometimes.  After a patient leaves he'll 
        crawl underneath the nurse's desk to eat me out.  I don't even 
        wear panties at work anymore!" 
Kyoko:  "Kasumi!" 
Akemi:  "Yeah, Kyoko.  Its more exciting if there's a chance you 
        might get caught.  Last night..." 
Kyoko:  "Last night?" 
Akemi:  "Well, this guy I don't even know, just came up and told me 
        we were going to make love.  And we did - right outside the 
        fair!  I never found out who it was.  It was the best sex I ever 
        had!" 
 
Kyoko was in a daze at the frankness of Akemi and Kasumi.  She and 
Soichiro had made love, of course, and she had enjoyed it incredibly.  
But they had never done it with the wild abandonment of her friends. 
 
Kasumi:  "Say, Akemi.  What was the wildest thing you ever did?" 
Akemi:  "You mean beside last night?  Hmm... I guess it might have 
        been that threesome with my old boyfriend and his younger 
        brother." 
Kasumi:  "Gee, too bad Kyoko isn't like you, hmm?  Can you imagine 
        being between Shun and Yusaku?" 
Akemi:  "Well, Yusaku's kinda young..." 
 
Kyoko didn't hear the rest of the conversation.  A vision of her body 
being sandwiched between Shun and Yusaku had appeared in her 
head. 
 
*************** 
 
Kasumi pulled Nabiki aside at lunch. 
 
Kasumi:  "Nabiki, did you bring any of your 'magazines' with you?" 
Nabiki:  "A couple.  I sold most of them last night at the festival.  I 
        have only one copy of 'The Accident' left." 
Kasumi:  "Can I have it?" 
Nabiki:  "Well, I guess.  I was going to talk to our Kyoko about 
        taking some pictures with it.  But I guess it can wait until we 
        go home." 
Kasumi:  "Thanks, Nabiki." 
 
*************** 
 
Ranma:  "Now where'd that ghoul get to?" 
 
Ranma and Ranko hung off the supports of lifeguard stations on 
opposite ends of the beach.  They had spent the morning 
unsuccessfully searching for Cologne amidst the beach and the front 
level of shops and restaurants that lined it. 
 
Ranma saw Cologne hopping through the street, carrying a delivery.  
He jumped down and ran after her.  Ranko, noticing the sudden 
movement, jumped down to join her brother. 
 
Ranma:  "Hey ghoul!  Are you going to give me that pill or not?" 
Cologne:  "Oh, forget that.  Wouldn't you like to compete in that?" 
 
Cologne pointed at the banner with her staff.  On it were the words 
"Marital Arts Melon Splitting". 
 
Announcer:  "Its a race!  Its an art!  Its a war!  The rules are simple:  
        Contestants run while trying to split each other's 
        watermelon.  The first person to cross the finish line with his 
        melon intact wins!  And the prize for the winner is... Miss 
        Shampoo!" 
 
Shampoo posed in a one-piece swimsuit on a small pedestal.  A 
crowd suddenly formed to compete.  Ranma and Ranko saw the small 
locket that Shampoo held in her hand - the case for the phoenix pill! 
 
Cologne:  "If you want that pill, you have to win!" 
Ranma:  "Heh.  And I almost thought you were smart!" 
 
The announcer's microphone brought the beach's attention to the 
contest, except for the children who were trying to play with the 
panda.  The announcer fired his gun, signaling the start of the race.  
Ranma and Ranko quickly established their superiority over the other 
contestants by working together to smash the watermelons of half of 
the  competitors. 
 
Nodoka watched as her husband tried to comfort a crying Soun.  She 
pulled Akane aside. 
 
Nodoka:  "Akane, I want you to enter the contest." 
Akane:  "Auntie?  Why?" 
Nodoka:  "Your father believes that Ranma's doing it to win 
        Shampoo.  We can use this to draw suspicion away from 
        Ranko and Shampoo." 
Akane:  [reluctantly]  "Ok, auntie." 
 
A shadow flew above them, and the twins were barely able to dodge 
Cologne's attack.  They started to attack Cologne in tandem, realizing 
that she was the most dangerous opponent there.  Cologne easily 
parried their attacks with her staff. 
 
Ranma:  "So you're playing too, ghoul?" 
Cologne:  "Don't get the wrong idea.  I just got to thinking about the 
        days when I was a girl playing on the beach." 
Ranko:  "How many centuries ago was that?" 
 
The twins were almost surprised by Genma and Soun's attack on their 
watermelons. 
 
Soun:  "Ranma, how could you?  You're married to Akane!  How can 
        you be trying to win Shampoo?" 
Ranma:  "Wait a minute!" 
Akane:  "Never mind, father!  I couldn't care less if Ranma wants 
        Shampoo." 
Kasumi:  "Go, Akane, go!" 
 
Kasumi and the others cheered from the sidelines as Akane gradually 
took the lead in the race (the twins being caught by Genma and 
Soun). 
 
Announcer:  "Only five remain!  The pig-tailed girl, the pig-tailed 
        boy, the mustachioed man, the panda, and the living 
        mummy!" 
Cologne:  "Who's a mummy?" 
 
Cologne hit the announcer with her staff, knocking him out.  Akane 
ran for the finish line.  Shampoo jumped down to the beach in front 
of her. 
 
Shampoo:  "No one goes past me." 
Announcer:  [regaining consciousness]  "What's this?  The prize has 
        joined the fight!" 
Akane:  "Sorry, but... you're wrong!" 
 
Akane and Shampoo started their attack, each determined to show 
that they were more skilled than the other.  Ranma used the 
opportunity to destroy their watermelons as he jumped above them. 
 
Ranma:  "Girls shouldn't play with swords!" 
Genma:  [sign]  Don't be so cocky! 
Soun:  "Where do you stand, young man?  Akane or Shampoo!  
        Whichever you really want... kiss her!" 
Ranma:  "Huh?" 
 
Genma pushed the two girls in front of Ranma. 
 
Announcer:  "Now this race has taken... a truly unexpected turn!  
        Which of these girls will receive the kiss?" 
 
Ranma stood in front of the two girls, apparently unable to make a 
decision.  Akane started to get mad at Ranma, confused at his 
vacillation.  At the finish line, Cologne attacked Ranko, who had 
almost made it while all the attention was focused on Ranma. 
 
Cologne:  "You think I'd make it that easy?" 
Ranko:  "Yow!" 
 
Ranma ran to join his sister after destroying Soun and Genma's 
watermelons.