Lemonade Punch#5: My Bright-Eyed Girl
paladin@mars.superlink.net
Started: 7/4/96
Last Update: 3/1/97
Yasha descended into Ranma's mind without a hitch. She was
about to begin weaving when she realized that Ranma already had a
dream in progress. <Okay, fine, what better way to find out about
Ranma than to research and observe her own mind?> Yasha walked
through several veils of mist until she found the source of the
strange sounds she had been hearing.
*<grum, grum, grum>*
*<crunch, crunch, crunch>*
*<glug, glug, glug>*
*<munch, munch, munch>*
At center of the commotion sat a raven-haired boy with the
same hair-style, pig-tail and all, as Ranma. He was inhaling vast
amounts of dream food, stuffing his face with everything within
reach. In the short intervals between handfuls of grub he would be
grinning broadly with obvious happiness. <Who is *this*? ....Oh! I
remember, this is the one that was arguing with the Akane girl. Is
he Ranma's brother? Why would she dream about him scarfing food like
a pig?> As if to answer, a eight foot tall Akane appeared in front
of the boy and spoke in a booming voice.
"Pig!"
"Wha- me? No!-", he said, mouth still full.
"You eat *this* and not *MY* food?!?" A plate of writhing
organic stuff appeared in her hands. "Eat it, you pig!!", she boomed
as she stuffed it down his throat. Yasha could see that this dream
was quickly moving into nightmare land....
"NOOO!!!"
"PIG!", she mercilessly answered. Akane began to grow in
size. The boy freaked and fell backwards.
"Please, I'm not-"
"PIG!!!", she insisted as she continued to grow.
"Akane, forgive me! I-"
"*PIG*!!!"
*<BWEEEE!!!!>*, squealed a little black pig with a yellow
bandanna as the boy screamed madly. Then... silence.
<Ooookay! Now I know why Ranma cross-dresses... She utterly
insane!!! A loony! A wacko! This lunatic's not fit to walk the
street with the sane!!! ... I *like* her!>, thought Yasha as she
decided to stick around. The silence and darkness slowly gave way to
a new scene. A landscape of irregularly steep mountains, gray mists,
and a thousand little springs (with bamboo poles sticking out?!?)
unfolded before her eyes.
<I *know* this place! Dammit, what's it called?! I can't
remember! I knew I should have paid more attention in history!!!
All I can remember is that these are an example of pre-reformist-
constructionist-transendential-abstract-concret-curses... it's the
classic example of the artful combination of chaos and order... now
if I could just remember what it did!!!> She tore at her hair and
smacked her head in frustration trying to get the answer off the tip
of her brain. Yasha calmed down and opted to pay attention as the
raven-haired boy appeared again.
He was wearing a gi with a pack strapped to his back while
standing on one of the many cliffs overlooking the springs. He moved
to the edge and looked down. Suddenly the cliff gave way and he
tumbled down the mountain side, being bounced and bruised until he
reached the bottom his body landing next to one of the springs.
The boy shook his head and dusted himself off before getting
up and looking around. Just then, the water of the nearest spring
began to bubble and boil. The boy backed up a bit in fear then
totally freaked as a giant wet panda emerged and lunged at him. It
grabbed him before he could react and threw him into another spring.
All while this strange opera played itself out infront of
Yasha she continued to empathically sense Ranma's feeling of destiny
and impending doom. Out emerged the red-haired Ranma that Yasha
knew, but before she could even take one step, a kettle of boiling
hot water was poured upon her head.
Ranma screamed and transformed into the black-haired boy. A
bucket of cold water was splashed in his face. He yelped at the
instant chill then reverted back to Ranma-chan. This happened over
and over until Yasha decided to put a stop to it. She over-rode
Ranma's dream and summoned out Ranma... but instead she came up with
the boy. Finally, Yasha put two and two together.
"Ranma? Is that you?"
"What, who are you?! Where are you?" Oops. Yasha realized
that she had forgotten to assume a visible form, she took her "true"
form at which Ranma gawked at for several seconds. Oops, again. She
made modest by materializing some clothes.
"W-what are you?"
"I'm a succubus... are you Ranma or not?", she asked
impatiently.
"Y-y-yes, who else would I be?"
"Who is this, then?" Yasha pointed to a image of Ranma-chan
she created.
"That's me. Actually that's my cursed self-"
"Jusenkyo!!! That's it! I remember! When doused with cold
water the cursed one transforms into the being that drowned in the
spring in which he or she fell! It all makes sense now! So you
are really a boy!!"
"OF COURSE I'M A BOY!!!" <Seesh that touched a nerve!>
"Okay, okay, so you're a boy... that's not going to make my
job any easier.", mumbled Yasha.
"What job is that?"
"Err, I've got to get a pair of your panties."
"I don't wear panties!!!!"
"That's my problem, see?", said Yasha smiling. She began to
find the situation amusing. She could have some fun....
"Why the Hell do you want something I don't have?!?"
"Hmm, we'll talk about this later... Do you want to fuck?"
"WHAT?!?!"
"Well, I am, after all, a succubus. And sex is what is
usually expected of my race from human males... that's not all we can
do but it has become somewhat of a tradition. Besides, I don't mind
at all. Come on now, don't be shy!" Yasha smiled seductively and
Ranma reflexively backed away.
"D-don't come any closer. I love- I've got a fiancee. Hey
you!-", Yasha already had her arms draped about his shoulders, "STOP!
Demoness! I can't handle *ANOTHER* ONE!!!" Ranma pushed her back
and congratulated himself for being able to resist temptation. Only,
he forgot that Yasha could more or less read his mind. And she was
slightly miffed at being rejected... something that had never ever
happened to her before.
"Ha! You only held out because I'm going easy on you! Take
*this*!" Yasha's eyes shone green again as she tapped Ranma's
hormones and opened the floodgates of his desire. Ranma's heart
skipped a beat then went double-time. Before him was the most
perfect specimen of female anatomy. The physical attraction he had
toward her at that moment was the strongest anyone could have.
Yasha brushed some curls behind her ears and smiled slightly
at Ranma. He melted and nearly fainted. Ranma knew that if she held
his hand he'd collapse and if she hugged him he have a heart attack.
She did one better.
Yasha locked her lips onto Ranma's and held them there with
enthusiasm [Adjusting her height to accommodate him]. <I've got him
now!>, thought Yasha. But she was wrong. This wasn't the first time
Ranma had be neuro-chemically pushed into passion, in fact it was
probably his fourth or fifth time, and each time he gained more
tolerance and resistance. <This is *MY* dream!>
Ranma broke her hold and held her back by holding her wrists.
At first Yasha was stunned by this resistance but she smirked and
countered. She fell back and changed the scene into a bedroom. This
left Ranma holding her down by her wrists on a bed. Yasha followed
up by wisking away her dress and replacing it with skimpy lingerie.
Ranma's eyes went wide... he had used up too much strength on
that last effort. <Oh why don't I do it... it's just a dream after
all! It'll be good for me. Help me be more faithful to Akane in the
real world if I release some tension here- WHA?! GET OUTTA MY HEAD
YOU DEMONESS!!!>
"Come now, Ranma, why do you have to be so difficult?"
"I ain't being nothing! Just leave me alone!!"
"Fine then..." She quickly slid her arms out so that Ranma
fell down on her. He frantically lifted his face to get it out from
in between her breasts and looked up until their faces were nearly
touching. "But before I go... one kiss."
Ranma wasn't an idiot. He knew that one kiss led to two then
to three then to all other sorts of wonderful things. But he couldn't
hold out any longer, and besides, she didn't seem to be the bad sort
of succubus... perhaps she'd keep her word and leave it at one kiss.
"All right... but only one."
Yasha nodded and closed her eyes. Ranma examined the face
before him. She was gorgeous. Mature and beautiful... yet natural
so that one didn't feel like they were looking at a super-model. Her
raven-black hair was shrewn about the pillow and shone slightly. He
moved to deliver the kiss...
Ranma immediately thanked Heaven he wasn't so stubborn as to
accept her kiss. The intensity was so high, Ranma knew he was going
to commit a lecherous act. Could it be? That being depraved of sex
for so long caused him to be so intensely turned on by a mere kiss?
The idea bothered him enough to get him to stop.
He pulled back almost reluctantly and opened his eyes.
<WHAT?!?>
Before him was his cursed, red-headed, girl-type persona
smiling up at him with contentment and cute green eyes. Then she
said in Ranma-chan's voice, "I'll be seeing you soon... forget all
this-", she said as she kissed him on the forehead, "but don't forget
me." She kissed Ranma on the lips lightly, sending a chill down his
spine... it was so eerie, like being kissed by a mirror. A flash of
green and it was all over.
In the morning, he wouldn't remember a thing about the dream
but he would recall a cousin. A certain cousin... Ranko.
-=-=-
"...and her scan shows that she burned them all."
"B-B-BURNED?! *ALL* of them?!?"
"I'm truly sorry..." The smile on her face show that she
was obviously not. Yasha was really enjoying herself as she watched
Hentosai swallow her bull.
"But *why*?!? What would drive her to-"
"The scan said she did it after that time you visited. She
may have survived your Passion Attack, but it looks like her mind has
suffered some as a result." Yasha paused to take in Hentosai's look
of grief when she told him he was the cause. "There is an up side to
all this... I've found that this cross-dressing is a defensive
mechanism. Inside, she's still a feminine flower begging to bloom
and slip on a pair of panties-" Hentosai was crying now, out of the
pure joy of hope.
"She'll need someone, of course, to guide her back onto the
path. Ranma is having trouble with her sexuality."
"Won't she recover on her own?"
"I'm afraid not... guess this means I'll have to join their
household as a guest and get her to don a pair!"
"Oh! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou-"
"Let go of me you toad!!!", shouted Yasha as Hentosai grabbed
her chest and buried his face into it. Yasha turned herself into a
cactus forcing Hentosai to let go.
"There, that's better... just remember our deal Old Fart: I
deliver her panties... and you give me back my freedom."
"But of course-"
"Then I'll be going now. Don't want to spend another second
in your twisted mind if I can help it. Bye." Yasha transformed back
and set her eye aglow, teleporting her out. Hentosai waited until
she left to get up, dust himself off, and wipe away his crocodile
tears.
The Bitch had not told him... just as he expected.
Everything was continuing to go according to plan. But then... why
wouldn't it?
-=-=-
Everything was more or less as it should be at the Tendo
Training Hall. Genma, Soun, and the three Tendo sisters were all
happily eating their weekend breakfast together. They were all
munching along happily when everyone stopped, everyone except Genma.
"What? What is it? Tendo, is something the matter?"
"Hello everyone!", said a red-head cheerfully, "The doorbell
wasn't working and the door wasn't locked so I let myself in... I
hope you don't mind." Genma spun around to see his son (daughter?)
dressed in a pink frilly hoop dress, white gloves, parasol, and all.
"AURRGH!!! What are you doing, my Boy!!! Are you trying to
kill you Father with *SHAME*!!!" He stood up in fury. "What is the
matter?! What is *THIS*!!!?" Genma pointed at her apparel.
"Actually, Ranma, you look rather cute.", Nabiki added help-
fully. Genma glared at her.
"MY GOD!!! YOU'RE EVEN WEARING... *PANTIES*!!!!", shouted
Genma as he peeked under her skirt. She blushed violently and pushed
her skirt down, eyes downcast.
"Please, Uncle Genma!", she said in a small voice.
"RANMA!!! IF I WEREN'T YOUR FATHER I'D-"
"What the Hell's the matter with you, Pops?!? Can't a guy
sleep in late without you rais'n HELL?!?"
Everyone stopped and looked from Ranma, boy-type, to Ranma,
girl-type, back and forth... then most gave up and face-faulted.
Ranma looked at her a second and could have sworn she had smiled a
queer little smile at him before returning to her shy, embarrassed
look- somehow it clicked and he remembered her.
"Hey Ranko!"
"Cousin Ranma!" She ran forward and hugged him quickly.
"*Cousin*?!?", everyone, including Genma, said.
"She's my cousin Ranko Saotome."
"You mean you there really is a Ranko?!", Akane asked in
astonishment.
"Yeah, that's why I picked the name."
"She looks just like-", Kasumi started.
"I don't remember a cousin Ranko." Genma scratched his bald
head.
"Uncle, Father sends his best... I have a letter from him."
"But I don't have a brother...", said Genma puzzled.
*<BASH!!!>* Ranma hit Genma over the head.
"You sold *me* for a lousy *fish*!!! And MORE THAN ONCE!!!
You've given me away to *THREE*, probably more, different girls!! I
am your *SON*, for godsakes. Family doesn't mean anything to you!
How could you possibly remember Ranko with family values like that??"
"Come now... you don't think I could forget a thing like my
own brother, could you?" The looks coming from the people around the
room showed that they did.
"Err- I'll read this letter... let's see..."
"Dear Brother,
It has taken me many years to find you but, alas, I
still can not join you yet. Ever since that day you took me
off the streets, I have been proud to call myself a Saotome.
While we are not blood, we are still brothers for you saved
my life.
When you returned all those years later, I had gotten
married and you met my daughter Ranko. She still remembers
Ranma very fondly. So much has happened... so much time has
passed. Ami is now dead, she fell ill five years ago. Now,
because of circumstances I cannot discuss, it is not safe for
Ranko to be with me.
So I entrust my greatest treasure in the world under
your care and protection, Brother Genma. Please guide her
and teach her. Continue her schooling and training... until
I can, one day, return for her. Please pray for me.
Your Brother,
Kenji Saotome."
"Ah see! I told you I didn't have a brother!" Genma looked
around the room only to receive cold stares. "But he isn't! See,
he even said it himself, 'we are not blood'!"
"You don't remember any of this, do you, Pops?"
"Of course I do!", Genma said defensively, "Such a turning
point in another's life would never be forgotten by me! Senji-"
"Kenji."
"Right. Kenji, was like the little brother I never had! I
taught him all I knew!"
"Must've taken all of eight minutes...", Ranma mumbled.
"And I remember tracking him down so that we could visit him
down, South-"
"North, Uncle Genma.", Ranko added politely.
"Er, North! To your little cottage-"
"Um, mansion... Uncle Genma."
"Yeah, and swam in your indoor pool!" Genma wiped his brow.
"Almost, Pops... It was in a lake behind her home. Right,
Ranko?"
"Cousin Ranma, you have an excellent memory!"
"Hey, what did your father mean by 'training', Ranko?", Akane
asked, "Are you into martial arts too?"
"Only a little... Father always told me what a master Uncle
Genma was. So he aspired to be the same and took me along on many of
his training trips. I suppose I'm average."
"Really?", said Akane somewhat over eagerly, "I dabble in it
a bit myself. You want to, maybe, spar a bit... so we can gage you
and carry on your training?"
"Um, I don't know..."
"It's what your father wanted... com'on it'll be fun!"
"All right... if you insist."
-=-=-
The Tendo household all gathered in the training hall to
watch. Akane was wearing her typical gi and trying not to smile at
the prospect of finally proving her martial arts ability to someone.
Ranko wore a set of Akane's gym sweats.
"I'll start out slow, okay?"
"Thank you. Please be easy on me... I'm really not all that
good."
"I'll be gentle... okay... GO!"
Akane started out with a few warm-up swings which Ranko all
dodged. <Hmm, good... she's much too humble. I'll pick up the pace
a bit.> Even with the increased speed Ranko deftly dodged every blow
with grace. Akane started getting slightly frustrated. She could
feel her easy win slipping from her. Akane really put herself into
it. Still, Ranko remained untouched.
Seeing her face flash back and forth and getting increasingly
angry and frustrated, Akane forgot herself and swung angrily at Ranko
thinking that it was Ranma. As trained martial artists, everyone saw
the powerful, high-speed blow... and everyone knew it would connect.
Soun and Genma cringed at the thought of what it would do to Ranko.
Akane roared, everyone flinched, Ranko looked scared... but the hit
missed.
Where Ranko had been, now there was splintered wood. While
everyone had flinched... no one had blinked, and they had all seen
Ranko teleport behind Akane.
"If I didn't know better... not even a great martial artist-"
"Actually, Boy, there's many reports of masters being able to
teleport themselves from one point to another."
"No way! I've *GOT* to learn that technique!!!"
Akane hadn't quite figured out what had happened. She still
thought she was fighting Ranma and she was still very angry at him.
She spun with a powerful round house which could have leveled a wall.
Ranko moved her head back and blocked with two fingers, stopping the
kick. She back-flipped and assumed a lotus position.
Everyone was amazed at what they saw... nothing. Ranko had
turned invisible. They heard slight footfalls then Akane was knocked
off her feet by a powerful sweep kick. Ranko re-appeared and caught
her.
"I'm *sorry*! Did I hurt you? I didn't mean to! Please...
oh, I knew this was a bad idea!" Akane came to her senses and gave
Ranko a half-smile.
"I'm okay! I'm the one who should apologize... I'm sorry for
losing control. Thanks for the work-out!"
"I have *GOT* to learn that technique!!! Ranko! You were
amazing! Where did you learn that? Is it hard? Do you think you
could teach me? Man, with those moves, I bet I could beat Cologne!"
"Ranma, please... can't you see she's tired? Sparing after
your trip here must be exhausting.", Kasumi scolded mildly.
"Sorry, Ranma, she's right I am pooped... thank you- you know
I don't even know your names!"
"How impolite of us! I'm Soun Tendo, and these are my lovely
daughters, Kasumi, Nabiki, and Akane."
"Yes, the Tendo Dojo... why are you here Uncle Genma?"
"Because of Ranma... this is to be his one day-"
"Oh I just thought of something... where am I to sleep?"
"Hmm... Ranma you should go back to sleeping with your Father
and give your room up to Ranko."
"Please, no! I don't want to inconvenience Cousin Ranma!"
"Hey, it's no problem-"
"-And, well, I'm embarrassed to say... I think I might be a
little afraid to sleep alone, my first night here."
"We've got an extra futon... you can bunk with me, Ranko!",
Akane offered.
"Really?! I'd like that!"
"It's settled then." Akane smiled and laughed kindly.
-=-=-
Ranko came back from her bath wiping her hair with a towel.
Akane looked up from her book to see Ranko wrapped in a small yellow
towel, hair splayed out. Akane marveled at the sheer amount of hair
that somehow compressed itself into such a tiny pig-tail. Akane
thought back to the time she had seen Ranma's hair undone... it must
have been a Saotome family hair-style secret- yet, they were not
really family. Not family... but they looked nearly identical. The
only difference she could tell of was that Ranko had green eyes.
Even their voices were similar! It was bizarre...
Ranko began combing her damp hair, she sat cross-legged,
across from Akane. This gave Akane the chance to observe that even
Ranko's nether regions were identical to Ranma-chan's... Akane felt
herself getting warm. Ranko finished and got up. But her towel had
gone loose while she was sitting so it fell from her body while she
was half-way up. She let out a little gasp and quickly covered her
mound and breasts reflexively. Akane stared for a second then tore
her eyes away and read her book intently as if she had seen nothing.
Ranko looked up and smiled to herself.
She got changed, modestly, by pulling her panties on, under
the towel, and then slipping on an oversized t-shirt with her back to
Akane. Akane blushed when she found herself slightly damp. Ashamed,
she pulled the covers tighter and put down her book. At this rate
she'd never be able to go to the public baths or locker room again!
Akane tried to get her mind off the subject.
"I hope you don't mind sleeping on a futon... I understand
that you used to live in a mansion-"
"Oh, it's okay. Believe me, I'm used to it. I spent much of
my life on training missions with my Father. The only person who
lived in the mansion was my Mother...." Ranko paused and looked far
off as if she forgot what she was saying, then turned back to Akane
and continued, "I've been wondering... where's your mother Akane?"
"Oh. ... She died when I was younger."
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to pry-"
"No, it's okay. You mother died too, so I guess you know
what it's like...."
"It's- it's sad...."
"You know, even Ranma's mother is gone from him in a sense."
"But I thought she lived near-"
"Yes, well, but circumstances- I think it would be best for
Ranma to explain. Do you faint easily?", Akane asked oddly.
"Huh? I'm not really sure-"
"Just don't be too shocked by anything you hear or see, OK?"
"I'll be ready... I guess. You and I probably have a lot in
common... I'm so glad you offered to let me sleep in here."
"It's no problem! I kinda fun having you here!"
"Yeah, like we set up a little slumber party!"
The instant Ranko said that, Akane vaguely recollected Ranko
saying the exact same thing, before. It was a weird feeling that she
quickly shook off. Akane was about to say good night when she saw
that Ranko was already fast asleep. Akane smiled at the sweet girl
that looked so innocent in her sleep. Ranma could look just as cute
as her but it wouldn't come across the same because of the way he
acted... like an ass. Hopefully Ranko would get Ranma to behave
a little better. As Akane coloured at her last thought before she
drifted off to sleep: she wondered if Ranko tasted the same as Ranma.
-=-=-
Yasha waited until she was sure Akane had fell asleep before
sneaking out of bed and across the hall to Ranma's room. She felt a
slight gripping in her chest... it had came right after Akane opened
herself up about her mother- Yasha ignored it and knocked.
Ranma couldn't sleep. Something about Cousin Ranko just
didn't seem right. He had all the memories and vivid images of his
long summer spent with Ranko and her father... but he just couldn't
place it- it didn't fit. Ranma couldn't figure out what year it was
when he went there. This was what he was contemplating when Ranko
knocked on his door.
"Huh?" <Who could it be at *this* hour?>
"It's me."
"Oh, Ranko. Come in, it's open." Ranko slipped in timidly,
and closed the door very carefully behind her.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you..."
"Nah, I couldn't sleep, anyway."
"Neither could I! So I came here to talk."
"Sure."
Ranma watched her as she made her way to the foot of his bed
and sat down. Ranma noticed that she had nice legs and that he could
nearly see up her t-shirt from the way she was sitting.
"Those were some pretty awesome techniques you used today."
"That's nearly all I know-"
"Yeah, but that's all you'd ever need to know!"
"I guess they're useful, when used properly-"
"You GUESS? Man, where'd you learn techniques like that?!?"
"From my father... I think he said he had learned it from
your father... or at least your father inspired him to learn it. It
was something like that."
"Do you think you could teach it to me?", Ranma asked over
eagerly. Ranko looked doubtful. She leaned against the bedpost then
sat straight again when she found it hard and uncomfortable. Ranma,
seeing this, tossed her an extra pillow.
"I don't think so... I'm not really a good teacher. I know
how to do it but not how to explain it. Do you know what I mean?"
Ranko propped up the pillow behind her leaned back.
"Yeah, I know.", said Ranma, looking disappointed.
"I can try though!" Ranma immediately brightened up.
"Well if your as bad a teacher as you are a martial artist,
then I'm in luck!" Ranko smiled then shivered. She drew her knees
up to her chest an hugged them. Ranma swallowed. Now he *could* see
her panties... red was her color, it went well with her sparkling
green eyes.
Ranma reminded himself of his faithfulness and how disgusting
he was being. This brought him back to normal.
"You cold?"
"N-not r-r-really.", Ranko chattered.
"You're cold." Ranma flipped up a corner of his covers.
"Come on, hop in." Ranma half expected her to say something about
them in bed together- then he realized she wasn't on the Dust. And
besides that, his purposes were entirely innocent, weren't they?
"Okay." Ranko slipped in from her side. Ranma jumped
slightly when her cold feet touched his arm. He caught himself
regretting the loss view and tried to get his mind off it.
"So you couldn't sleep?"
"No... I'm tired but I wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
"I don't know... the past? I just wanted to talk."
"Okay." Ranma began to think of how bizarre it was to see
her opposite him. She was cute and looked nearly identical to his
girl-type form, yet he didn't see her like that at all. She was
Cousin Ranko. Ranko wasn't a mirror of himself, she was a totally
different person. It was like having a twin but not thinking of that
person as having your face but as a sister. When he came out of his
thought he realized that Ranko had crawled up next to him and lay
cuddled in his arms. Ranma knew in his head that he wasn't supposed
to hold her in that way, especially because of Akane, yet he didn't
feel any moral conflict doing it. Ranko looked up at him.
"Do you remember when we used to do this?"
"'This'? What do you mean?"
"This. Back home, we slept in my room, in separate beds, but
when we couldn't sleep we'd tuck in together and tell each other
stories." Ranma remembered yet the question of time still nagged him
in the back of his mind.
"We were... what? Six? Seven?"
"Something like that.", said Ranko quickly.
"What was it?"
"I don't really-"
"When?", Ranma persisted.
"Eight. I think we were eight."
"It couldn't have been! That summer-" Ranma drifted off as
he gazed into Ranko's green eyes.
"Are you sure?" She continued to hold his gaze.
"Huh? Yes, I'm posi- ....No, I'm not that sure anymore..."
"What does it matter anyway?"
"It doesn't. Just an idle thought."
"You know, I always saw myself this way..."
"Huh?"
"In you arms. In bed. Us. Together." Alarms went off that
Ranma knew meant that he was supposed to make loud objections right
now... but somehow they didn't formulate. The best he could do was
give a surprised silence.
"That summer... you said you'd marry me. We said that we'd
own a castle and have a friendly dragon in the moat. We said that
we'd have two kids and we'd name them Kenji and Nadoka."
"Heh! The fantasies of youth! Hah. Ha.", Ranma choked. He
became aware of how much heat the covers was trapping from their
bodies and of how close she was.
"And you were the first boy I ever kissed!", Ranko giggled.
This was going somewhere. This was wrong. He should do something to
stop it. Ranko pulled herself on top of him, mashing her ample chest
against his. Ranma dearly hoped his lovely cousin wouldn't notice
the hard object trapped below her belly.
"Do you remember it? Under that willow tree on the lakeside?
We were laying on moss, laying much like this?" Ranma remembered and
a clear image of him and Ranko under a willow tree came to mind. But
they weren't eight-years-old in the memory... he looked the way he
looked now- that wasn't right, was it?
"I kissed you like this..." Ranko kissed him on the forehead
then his cheeks. She moved to his ear and kissed that as well as the
nape of his neck. Eight-year-olds didn't kiss like that! Ranko then
kissed him lightly on the lips. Then again, longer. Then again,
longer still.
The next trial lasted the longest. Ranma ran his hands
along her body and writhed against her as they kissed passionately.
Half-way through, Ranma's brain suddenly broke through. A vague
memory of a demoness- no, it was a succubus, right? It- Ranma could
not hold onto the thought, but something else came back to him:
<AKANE!!> Ranma pushed Ranko back roughly and gasped for air.
"STOP!"
"Wha- What's wrong, Ranma?"
"Th-Th *<pant>* This."
"Am I doing it wrong? I'm sorry should I take off my-"
"*NO*!!! *<pant>* I mean *THIS*! *This* is wrong."
"Why? There's no blood between us, Ranma... we're not *real*
cousins-"
"No, I don't mean that."
"I don't understand! We care about each other. I care about
you deeply Ranma. Do you care about me?" Yasha wanted to use the
word "love" for more effect but she couldn't bring herself to use the
"L-word" towards another being without throwing up... or laughing.
"Ranko, you know I care about you-"
"Ranma... I want to be *your* first. I want you to be *my*
first...." Ranma couldn't help blushing.
"Ranko... -I don't know any other way to say it- I'm already
engaged!"
"Oh! Another woman!", Ranko said surprised.
"Actually seven, last time I counted", Ranma muttered. "-But
only one that counts."
"Who?"
"Akane's my fiancee."
"When did this happen?"
"I'm not really sure, our parents arranged it when we were
young... but I hadn't met her until two years ago."
"Arranged? .... Do you love her?" Ranma nodded. "I-I see...
Ha ha... you see... I thought... I thought... I-", Ranko began to cry
in choking sobs. Ranma winced. This was the kind of thing he always
dreaded. He let all those girls follow him because, besides feeding
his ego, he couldn't bear to hurt them. Hell, he even felt sorry for
Kodachi at times.
"Ranko? Ranko, don't cry. You know that I love you too...
just not the way I love Akane. Please. Shhhh... I know you miss
your father and mother... I'm here for you. Ranko?" He kissed the
top of her head a few times. Ranko stopped crying after a while and
looked up. Ranma held her face up and wiped her tears with his
thumbs. Ranko managed a smile.
"I-I'm so embarrassed-"
"Don't be-"
"No, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have come here like this-"
"Ranko. Please. Stop apologizing. I understand."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Then do you mind if I stay here the night? I don't mean
anything by it... I just-", she faltered.
"Sure." Ranma wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her
reassuringly. Ranko buried her face into Ranma's chest. He could
feel his chest get damper as she cried silently into it. This time
he let her cry. Eventually she whimpered no more and fell asleep.
And Ranma drifted to sleep remembering what had happened the last
time he held a crying girl in his arms.
-=-=-
Long after Ranma fell asleep, Yasha finally brought herself
to get up. She felt slightly puzzled. She had no need of sleep, yet
had stayed in his arms because... she wanted to? That was the point
of being a succubus, right? To do what you wanted to do!
But this mission scared her a bit. Back when she worked the
Human Front, she would take the guise of many women... pleasing many
different men from night to night. She had a human form but not
character... the love scenes dreamt up by horny men had no need for
that trait.
So now she was doing her best to emulate human behavior for
what could be a very-long period of time. Who knew what adverse
effects that could have on her character? Why was she doing this?
Yasha couldn't remember her reason behind not telling Hentosai about
Ranma's curse. Surely if he knew that Ranma was actually a guy, he'd
give up his perverted panty quest!
And even now, Yasha could force a pair of panties on Ranma
to bring back to Hentosai, ending her obligation... So why was she
prolonging it?
Yasha did it because she liked Ranma... and Akane. Maybe
because he was the first human male she had not made love to and
because Akane was the first human female she have ever talked to.
Her existence as Ranko was a lie, but she liked it... -<What am I
thinking?!? This is just a game! Something to do until either the
conventions change or I get back my Warrior status! This is a little
diversion to keep me out of Hentosai's grips for a while. Get it
straight, Yasha!!! Your act is getting to you! Damn! Now look at
the time... I wasted the whole night! Well, tomorrow's another
day....> Yasha caught herself contemplating staying with Ranma until
morning and cursed herself. She teleported back to Akane's room and
pretended to sleep.
-=-=-
<It *HAD* to be a dream!>, Ranma thought as he brushed his
teeth. He remembered the games they used to play... but that was a
long time ago. Besides, Ranko was too shy to be that forward! <It
had to be a dream.>, Ranma repeated to himself. Although... his tear
stained shirt said otherwise.
-=-=-
Ranma entered the dinning room somewhat cautiously. Everyone
was sitting down eating breakfast, Ranko included.
"We were wondering when you'd get down here- hurry up and eat
or we'll be late for school." Ranma examined Ranko, who looked
perfectly normal (which was odd, considering last night) and saw that
she was sitting in his spot so he took a place next to Kasumi.
"Yeah, sorry... rough night. I didn't get much sleep."
"How did you sleep, Ranko?", Akane asked. Ranma choked and
coughed, gagging up chewed food, before he could recover and
apologize.
"Heh. Excuse me.", Ranma said meekly.
"I slept just fine, thank you! I really felt safe, bunking
with you, Akane." Akane blushed at the compliment.
"Hey, it was nothing."
"Oh, by the way, Ranko's enrolled in your school so I expect
you and Ranma to show her around today.", said Kasumi.
"Hm, sure thing." Ranma felt contrary. He was unsure and
uneasy... it was too real to be a dream, wasn't it? But it was far
easier to dismiss it as a dream gone wacko.
"It'll be no problem."
-=-=-
Most of the walk to school was more or less uneventful.
Ranma took his usual pace along the top of the fence and Ranko
followed. She walked behind him for a while until she realized that
Akane could (and did) see up her skirt. Ranko blushed and jumped
back down to gibber back and forth with Akane about school
curriculum, teachers, students, and stories. Ranma remained mostly
silent, contemplating the universe. This was fine with him... no
mallets this way.
Unfortunately, a little before they got to school, Ranko took
Ranma's hand into her own rather affectionately. Ranma grimaced...
here come the mallets! None came. Akane just smiled and Ranko just
looked cute. But Ranma still felt uncomfortable holding Ranko's hand
so to prove his fidelity to Akane, he took her arm into his and
brought her closer.
Akane looked surprised and shot him a questioning look but
Ranma smiled nervously and Akane accepted it happily. Ranko frowned
slightly but simply responded by nuzzling closer, leaning her head on
his shoulder. Ranma swallowed.
Typically, most guys would love to have two beautiful women
draped on either side of himself... but Ranma knew it would bring him
nothing but trouble. Surprisingly, though, no one who saw them said
anything. Most of the students at Furinken High already assumed that
Ranma was dating both Akane and the Red-head... and seeing them
hanging off him was no more outrageous than any of the scandals they
had already conjured up in their minds.
This wasn't so bad then... he could make it through the day
if only-
"SAOTOME!!!! YOU DEVIL!!!!"
Damn. Kuno.
"It is bad enough that your rapacious lust penetrates the
pure souls of the fair Akane Tendo and the passionate Pig-tailed
Goddess... but to display this vile deed outright!!! It besmirches
their honor!! Fear not, my Loves! I will rescue you from the dark
clutches of this evil warlock and deliver you unto my shining and
glorious presence! I WILL DATE WITH YOU!!!!" Ranko clutched Ranma
a little tighter.
"Cousin Ranma, I don't know what he just said... but he
really scares me!"
"You and me, both..."
"Saotome... *DIE*!!!! HYAAAHHHH!!!!" Kuno leapt forward
with a powerful overhead swing of his bokken that would slice stone
in two.
"LOOK OUT!", shouted Ranma. He grabbed Akane's and Ranko's
waists and leapt back taking them to the top of a wall. "Stay here."
Ranma flipped over Kuno and assumed a defensive posture. "Okay, Kuno
let's get this over with."
"You- HYAH!- wretched- KAH!- and vile- Oof!- *SEDUCER*! Have
at thee- OUCH!!!", Kuno kept up his verbal and physical assault as
Ranma deftly dodged and counter attacked.
"Look out!", Ranko cried.
"Wha-?" Ranma turned his head leaving himself open to Kuno's
wrath for a split second too long.
*<BASH!!!>* Akane winced as Ranko turned away. Kuno laughed
in triumph as he surveyed the affect of his victory blow: Ranma lay
bashed into the concert, middle and ring fingers pressed firmly to
palms, eyes whirling & dazed, and head appropriately lumped. Kuno
turned and faced Ranko and Akane, bowing slightly.
"And now my fair ones... YOU WILL DATE WITH ME!!!" He dove
lust-crazed at the girls sitting on the wall.
"*NO*!!! Don't. You. Dare. Touch...", Ranma growled
ferally as he gathered his wits and rose. Ranma caught air and
dropped from above onto the back of Kuno's head to intercept his
rendezvous with Akane and Ranko. Kuno shook with fury as he spoke
into the pavement.
"SAO... TO... ME.... When we fight, you jump on my head. I
see you, you jump on my head. You see me, you jump on my head. You
flee, you jump on my head. I give chase, you jump on my head. I
speak, you jump on my head. You speak, and jump on my head. When
you fall, you land on my head. On. My. *HEAD*!!!!", Kuno said with
a hint of lunacy in his voice, "T-t-there are limits- I will not
stand for anymore- YOU WILL AFFLICT MY PATE NO MORE!!!!!"
Kuno began to attack with a fury driven by madness and one
too many footprints to the face... and he was winning. In fact it
was fair to say that Kuno was kicking the tar out of the stunned
Ranma. Kuno sent Ranma's broken body into the top of a nearby tree
with an uppercut slash.
"STOP IT!", Ranko cried. She hopped off the wall to confront
Kuno, avoiding Akane's attempts to hold her.
"What's this? My Goddess descends to felicitate her champion
and love! Surely my victory is a result of her favor toward me. Oh
come to me, Pig-tailed One!!!", spoke Kuno as he ran towards Ranko
with outstretched arms and strange, heart-shaped eyes.
"EEEK!!" Ranko screamed and teleported away just before the
madman was able to embrace her. This was followed by several more
failed attempts to hold her in his arms. "Why- *<Zing!>*- don't
*<Zing!>*- you *<Zing!>*- just *<Zing!>*- back *<Zing!>*- off!!!",
Ranko protested between teleports. Finally she saw no other means
but to punch him right in the face. Kuno, took it well.
"Ah, my Love... your touch of affection does my heart a turn
of joy! It flutters still at the warmth felt by your slightest-"
"TIIIIMMMMMBBBBERRRRR!!!!!"
*<CRRRASSSHHH!!!>*
<Pain.>, thought Kuno, as a tree, cut by one swift kick from
Ranma, fell directly on top of him.
"Just one of the many joys of attending Furinken High School,
Ranko, is listening to the delightful, poetic spasms of the Senior
Kuno Tatewaki as he attempts to behead you... or be-wed you."
"SATOME!!!"
"YAHH!!!"
"EEEK!!!"
"AHHH!!!", Ranma, Ranko, and Akane shouted as Kuno rose like
some unstoppable freak from the fallen foliage. All three
reflexively unleashed an uppercut to Upperclassman Kuno's lower jaw,
sending him into orbit... again.
Ranma wiped his brow and let out a sigh of relief. He looked
himself over- twigs in hair, acorns in underpants, and leaves all
over- and shook his head.
"Akane, I gotta go get cleaned up... take Ranko to class,
will you?" Akane nodded and left with Ranko. Ranma dusted off his
shoulder before sighing again. School hadn't even begun yet....
He still had the rest of the day to go.
-=-=-
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