DISCLAIMER: I disavow any claim to creating these
characters (save the reworking of Ranko's personality,
which is up for debate). I also accept donations for the
great Takahashi-Megami. *holds out greedy hands*
-----------------
Ranma 1/2: A Matter of Romantic Chemistry - pt. 9
By Lady Tesser and Jack Staik
----------------
The man called Pantyhose strode the streets of Nerima, lost
in thought.
"So damn simple ..." he muttered to himself.
Kasumi was right - all he had to do was break tradition with
his home village. He had no problem with that. After all,
he'd been invited to leave when he was fifteen, and hadn't
been back since. Even those times he was nearby, he hadn't
gone by there.
But was this right? Did he want to embrace his father's
heritage? He wasn't terribly fond of his father; in fact, he
barely knew him.
Perhaps it was time he learned.
But still ...
"Jiro Hibiki ... not bad, really. It's got a good feel to
it." He sighed. "But it's a big step."
Pantyhose failed to notce that he was passing in front of
Jiro's Arcade.
He failed to notice the ladder he bumped.
He failed to notice the new sign being hung, from which
there was now a sign-hanger holding on for dear life.
Pantyhose also didn't notice one thing that the sign-hanger
did - that the hook holding his side of the sign up was
pulling out of the wall.
"AAAAAAA!!!"
Pantyhose turned around - just as a huge kanji for 'Jiro'
slammed him in the face.
"Ugh," he commented. <Well, I wanted a sign ...>
* * * * * * * * * *
Nabiki shamelessly listened at the door as Nodoka wept on
Ichiro's shoulder.
She was worried about Ko-Chan - the magically-birthed girl
was the best friend she ever had in her life. But she knew
that the things Ranko had to work out were too personal to
share.
Her pet project - saving Ranma's inheritance - was worked
out and just required a nudge to put into motion. That could
wait until her father returned.
(Soun had come to the conclusion that the sooner Ranma and
Akane were returned home, the sooner Nodoka could bully them
into marriage, and the sooner that Genma would be safe. So
he was scouring the district for a clue to their
whereabouts.)
Now she could unravel another little puzzle: the parents of
Ranma and Ranko.
Nabiki had always prided herself on her ability to read
people, but she had completely misjudged Nodoka Saotome. And
Ichiro Hibiki was an enigma.
Nabiki didn't like being wrong. And she *despised* being
ignorant.
"Feeling better, No-chan?" he asked.
"No," she replied. "But I won't do anything stupid, if
that's what you're worried about."
"That, too," he said, a smile in his voice.
Nodoka sighed. "Why couldn't I have just left Genma and run
off with you?"
"The same reason I couldn't leave Ichiko - duty, obligation
to family."
"Besides," Nodoka chuckled. "With your roving eye, you'd
have been spitted on my katana in a week."
Ichiro laughed. "A distinct possibility. Remember how
jealous you got of Teijo-chan?"
Nabiki tensed.
"Yes - and how cute you looked in the bandages." Nodoka
sighed. "Silly, wasn't it? A married woman getting jealous
of another married woman because I thought she was stealing
my married boyfriend."
"You should write soap operas, No-chan."
Nabiki went downstairs; Hibiki-san's travel kit and sample
case were in the foyer. Both were locked; both locks were
easily defeated by the Nabiki Tendo School of Martial Arts
Jiggling-The-Lock-With-A-Bobby-Pin-Until-It-Pops.
<I'm just curious about the father of my best friend and my
sister's future husband. That's all.>
His sample case held an impressive assortment of kitchen
appliances - it looked like he probably used a variant of
Mousse's tricks to pack it, because it was somewhat larger
inside than it was outside. His sales book showed him
earning a good living.
<A commission of one hundred ten thousand yen this month??
Damn, he's *really* good. I wonder how much of a cut he'd
want for hosting sales seminars?>
The travel kit held clothes, books, identification (his
passport was a thing to behold - an awe-inspiring number of
stamps), and what appeared to be a small journal.
The journal held photos of women, and small written notes.
At first, Nabiki thought she'd found the journal of a
playboy, but the notes also had travel schedules and sales
records. The notes about the women showed concern and
caring, and a genuine interest in them. Lonely women,
needing a shoulder to weep on, always found it in Ichiro
Hibiki.
<Poor guy - all a woman needs to do is cry out 'Oh I'm
lonely', and he's putty in their hands.> She smirked to
herself.
Nabiki flipped through it - and there it was.
The photograph.
'Teijo-chan was so understanding,' he had written, 'She
understood my grief at having to leave her so well. She
managed to sneak away from the New Year's Festival for a
final farewell - a memory that will linger.'
A New Year's Festival. She looked at the dates. And at the
photograph.
Nabiki dashed out toward the dojo, where the shrine of her
mother was kept. Desperately, she pulled an old photo album
off the shelf beneath it and flipped through it.
"No no no no no no no no no no no NO!"
She dropped the album and ran into the night.
* * * * * * * * * *
Shampoo and Ryoga laughed as they hurried home, trying to
beat the rain and the inevitable transformation.
In the shadows behind them, spurned lovers stalked.
"Y'know, this is fun!" Ryoga said. "I never had a time like
this before!"
"{That's true love, Ryoga,}" Shampoo giggled cutely.
"{That's another thing - why me?}"
Shampoo stopped and sighed. "{Is it important?}"
Ryoga looked at her intently. "{Yes. This is - sudden. A
week ago, you were just someone I knew - more than a casual
acquaintance, but not quite a friend. And you were trying to
get Ranma by any means available.}"
Shampoo nodded in agreement. "{Sit down, Ryoga.}"
The two went to a bus stop bench and made themselves
comfortable. Shampoo looked uncomfortable.
"{Ryoga, I want you to understand this - before anything
else. That I've come to - to love you. Your sweetness, your
strength, your gentleness.}"
Ryoga took her hand.
"{I - was trapped. Great-grandmother had resorted to her
last trick in an effort to get me to marry Ranma - a magic
ring that granted love wishes.}"
Ryoga just looked, no rage, no sadness, just - expectancy.
"{Cologne wanted me to use it to wish for Ranma, but - I no
longer felt what I had felt for him. Besides, Akane would
have torn out my liver.}"
Ryoga could only nod in agreement.
Akari sized up her target. <They're sitting still - now!>
<PHUT!!> went the blowdart.
Akari was an excellent sumo pig trainer, and an expert at
animal husbandry - but her skills at ranged weaponry were
sorely lacking.
The dart went wild, landing in the bushes.
The squirrel leapt, trying to escape the feral cat, a
millimeter ahead of the slashing claws.
His leap carried him directly into the path of Akari's dart.
Ryoga and Shampoo didn't pay attention to the inhuman cry
from the bush as the squirrel exacted vengeance upon the cat
for millions of squirrel-generations hunted by its species.
"{So,}" Shampoo continued, "{I thought of a way out. I used
the ring to wish for my ... my one true love.}"
"{And I fell out of the ceiling,}" Ryoga concluded.
Shampoo nodded. "{Please understand, Ryoga. At first, you
were just -}"
"{A way for you to escape your obligation to wed Ranma,}"
Ryoga finished for her.
Shampoo nodded.
Mousse listened intently. <A shot right now - and it'll be
logical. They'll never figure it out.>
<PHUT!!> went the blowdart.
Mousse never liked to admit it, but his glasses used the
same prescription as was used to fix the Hubble Space
Telescope.
The dart never went near them.
"OW!!" Akari cried as the needle pierced her flesh.
Akari stomped over to Mousse's hiding place and began
flailing at him, screaming the most vulgar words a prim and
proper Japanese girl could know.
"- dung-headed Less-Than-Pig fish-brained -"
"OW!! OW!! OW!! OW!!"
Shampoo looked down. "{Please don't hate me, Ryoga.}"
Ryoga put an arm around her. "{Shampoo - when you started
this, I was terrified. Not to mention I was convinced that I
loved Akane.}"
"{And now?}"
"{Now - I'm still terrified. But I'm thinking clearer. I
know I was just infatuated with Akane. I never really loved
her.}" He sighed. "{Then there's Akari.}"
"{The pig-girl? Were - are you in love with her?}"
"{No,}" he answered. "{I was in love with being loved. But I
didn't love her.}" He looked away in pain. "{I'm not really
sure I know what love is. Not really.}"
Shampoo snuggled close, resting her head on his shoulder.
"{I'm willing to wait until you find out.}"
Surprisingly, Shampoo found that she *was* willing to wait.
She'd had dozens of men, a number of relationships, but
there was something in Ryoga she couldn't define that ...
filled something in her that she never knew was empty.
<The magic of the ring was right,> she thought. <I'll wait
as long as necessary.>
Akari reached into the broken mass that was Mousse and
yanked out a large scimitar. She held it over her head and
advanced on the snuggling couple from behind.
"PREPARE TO DIE, GAIJIN WHORE!!"
By reflex, Shampoo twisted around, shoved her leg through
the bench back, and slammed the enraged girl into a tree,
knocking her dizzy.
"{What was that?}" Ryoga asked, looking in the direction
that Akari had gone.
Shampoo shrugged. "{Who knows? Some random loony. Ignore
it.}"
* * * * * * * * * *
Ranko wandered blindly through Nerima, her tears filling her
vision.
How could she be so angry with Nodoka? How could she raise
her hand to the woman? Of course Ranko was disturbed by her
reaction to Nodoka. She couldn't understand how any mother
could let their child go. Did the old woman ever feel any
regret and pain for doing so?
Of course she did, and deep down, Ranko knew it. *That* is
why she couldn't bring herself to strike her, no matter how
angry she was with her. She ran over and over in her mind
the last moment in the Tendo house, when her biological
father - her father! - called for her to stop. There was a
moment of reason born within her that she was horrified for
having raised her hand to ... her mother.
Ranko admitted it to herself - Nodoka *was* her mother. Why
else would she be around so often? Trying to correct the
past by repentance.
But does she know the *depth* of the wrong?
Ranko was confused, disoriented. She needed some place to
rest, to think things through.
Could she visit Niichan and Akane? No, Ranma would hate her
for threatening Nodoka.
Nabiki? Probably her best friend in the world. But ... she
wouldn't understand.
Shampoo? No, she's out on a date with Ryoga. No need to make
her miserable.
Cologne? Hell, no; the Old Ghoul would try to make her an
Amazon or marry her off to Mousse or something.
In these circumstances, Ranma usually went to Ukyo ... which
was not an option. Ucchan had enough hassles of her own,
anyhow.
Tofu-sensei?
No, the last person she need to see now. He didn't need to
see her hysterical and unlady-like ...
She swallowed a sob again, looking up at the rapidly moving
stormfront settling over Nerima. It was going to rain that
night, she could smell it. Best to work this off now before
going into work.
* * * * * * * * * *
Akane slipped a blue tanktop dress over her head, adjusting
the drape over her body as she studied her reflection in the
dresser mirror that occupied the small attic.
She saw a peaceful Akane in front of her. One who doesn't
knot her brows in suspicion or scream in anger at her
fiance. They had a few fights, but they were dealt with
calmly. She had grown these past few days. She was proud and
grateful.
Ranma appeared behind her, placing his hands on her
shoulders and kissing her neck. She chuckled.
"Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" he murmured
against her flesh.
"Often times ... " she turned in his arms, kissing his face.
"Well ... " he kissed her forehead. " ... I ... " he kissed
the tip of her nose. " ... love ..." he kissed her mouth
slowly, thoroughly, completely. " ... you."
"Mmmm ... " she purred. "If we don't get going now, we won't
leave for another two days."
"Of course you're right," he nodded, grazing his lips across
hers. "And I may be tempted to break my vow of celibacy for
my wedding night."
She giggled, wrapping her arms around him. "But I can see
why all those girls couldn't resist you, either, you feel so
wonderful."
He shrugged in her arms, grinning. "But you feel the best,
otoko-onna."
Akane blushed, then pinched him.
"Hey!"
"Later, lover. Let's drop off the mirror for Dr. Tofu to
look at - the sooner the better; the thing creeps me out."
"Okay. Guess I have to get dressed, eh?"
She chuckled deeply, slapping at his naked rear. "It would
help, you animal."
"Yes, dominatrix! Whatever you say, Mistress Akane!"
Both laughed, wasting a little time on touching before they
finished dressing.
* * * * * * * * * *
>From all outside appearances, Doctor Ono Tofu was staring
off into space (or meditating, take your pick).
>From inside knowledge, he was having a very serious talk
with a certain succubus concerning a dream from the night
before.
<You *weren't* playing around in my head again?>
<Not this time, Ono-sweetie. Those new wards you put up were
too damn good. You did that one on your own.>
<Did I?> he 'said' skeptically.
<Hey, I was visiting someone who shall remain nameless at
the time you and she were dreaming.>
<Nani?>
<Heh heh heh. You wondered why it felt so real? She was
dreamin' it, too. Damndest thing I ever saw, two people,
each dreaming of the other.>
<Oh, Great O-Kuni-Nushi! How on this Earth did this happen?>
<Ask Him yourself, Ono-sweetie. I give you my word -
whatever that really means to you, sweet, shy dear - that I
had absolutely no part in that little escapade you two
dreamed up between you. I didn't even hook you up - you two
did that yourselves!> She 'smiled'. <Speak of the devil.
Gotta go, babe. I've things to see, people to do! Ta-ta!>
* * * * * * * * * *
As Ranko entered the clinic, she looked down at herself and
noticed she was still in her school uniform, slightly mussed
from the fit she had been in. She shrugged, attempting to
straighten herself out as best as she possibly could,
running her fingers through her wavy red hair. She hoped her
eyes weren't red from all the crying, but wishful thinking
never changed anything.
She was Ranko Saotome - strong, feminine, secure.
She was Ko-chan - scared, alone, ashamed.
She found a fresh pot of tea on the warmer and poured
herself a cup. She sniffed it, sighing in relief; Tofu-
sensei believed that one of the best ways to calm nervous or
high-strung people down is by soothing and tranquilizing
herbal teas. She needed it right now as she drank the warm
fluid down, dampening her anger and confusion.
She glimpsed her reflection in one of the mirrors he hung
around the clinic to dispel evil. A little harried, but
nothing short of a good scuffle she may have had before
work. Blame it on a mugger or something ... that tried to
molest her. She quickly buttoned her blouse again.
In his office, Tofu was trying to gather his thoughts again.
He felt her enter the clinic, her emotions grabbing his
attention first and foremost. She was upset, and he
immediately felt the need to run out and comfort her.
Yet, he hung back, uncertain if she would accept his offer
of comfort. Oh, he knew she was a strong-willed woman.
Plenty of times, while she reached for things on a top
shelf, he came in to help her take them down. She told him
politely to go through the Seven Rings of Hell, she'll get
it herself.
He attributed it to her living inside Ranma all this time,
of always doing things her/himself. Still, Tofu wanted to
treat her like a woman, not as a pseudo-male.
<But she dreamed of you, too, you old fool,> the nasty voice
of his subconscious commented.
<Don't remind me,> he replied.
He waited for her to calm down before he left the office.
His eyes swept over her, noting the ravagement done by tears
and upset to her face. He ignored her uniform for the moment
- she probably had trouble between school and the clinic.
"Konnichi wa, Tofu-sensei," she greeted him, smiling wanly.
"Good ... " he looked at his watch. " ... evening, Ranko-
chan. Are you feeling well?"
<Actually, Ono, I feel like crap.> "I'm alright, arigato.
You?"
He smiled nervously. He briefly wondered where Betty-chan
was, she was so helpful when he felt nervous and he could
occupy his nervous hands. His replacement must have taken
the skeleton with him. Oh, well. "Doing well. I don't expect
much business tonight since the forecasters predicted rain."
"Yeah, I smelled it on the way here. Should I go home early,
then?" she rounded the desk and sat in her chair, pulling
out record books.
"Probably," he fiddled with the clipboard in his hands. "If
we don't have any emergencies. Doubtful, though."
"Agreed. The Wrecking Crew has been too quiet, save for
Pantyhose Taro ... " Ranko played with the pen between her
fingers, flipping it like a baton from one digit to the
next. "By the way, Tofu-sensei - "
Tofu let the clip go and all the papers fell to the floor.
"Oops," he murmured, leaning down to pick them up. "Clumsy
of me ... "
Ranko admired the view, then blushed, returning back to the
subject. "Some news concerning Kasumi: she's in love with
someone else."
"Oh?" his head popped up over the edge of her desk. "That's
good. Whom?"
"Taro."
He chuckled, gathering the papers back together. "Doesn't
really surprise me. She *does* have a healer's gift for some
people ... "
"Tofu-sensei?" Ranko gazed back at him. "Could you let me
figure out why she affects you?"
"Well," he stammered. "By all means. I mean, there's really
no use. It just happens, and all I can do is ride it out,
and - " He dropped the papers again, the last image of the
dream flashing through his mind.
Ranko dropped her pen, unnerved by his behavior. "Sensei,
what's bothering you?"
"I should be asking you that, Ranko-chan," he mumbled. "I've
never seen such a mess in your aura."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He slapped his hand over his face and muttered, "Excuse me,
I need to screw my head on straight." Then went back to his
office.
Ranko sat at her desk, hearing thunder rumbling outside.
"Please, don't leave me ... " she whispered. "Please don't
leave me!"
She leapt up over the desk and followed him into his office.
He immediately turned and folded her in his arms, letting
her sob against his gi. "Talk to me, Ko-chan. Please talk to
me."
"Oh, Gods, Ono, I'm so alone!" she cried, holding him
tighter.
He held her closer, stroking her hair, her scent filling his
senses. <Damnit, she came to you for comfort, don't screw
this up!>
Between sobs she poured out everything to him: her love for
Ranma, her loneliness, her hatred of Nodoka, her prayers for
her brother and Akane, her fear of the world, her heartache.
And she felt the tears subside, giving vent to all that had
been bottled up in her soul. Her fear, pain, and anger
mingled with the rain pounding on the roof, drawing out the
emotions and battering them wildly in the storm outside.
All the while, the doctor held her, talking quietly and
calmly, offering a stable thread for her to hang onto in her
emotional exorcism.
Eventually, exhausted and weak, she lay her head against his
shoulder, still holding him tightly. "I don't know how you
can put up with it, Ono."
"Don't worry about it, Ko-chan," he replied, squeezing her.
"I live to serve, in all ways. It hurts me to have you
hurting."
She picked her head up, looking back into his concerned
brown eyes, highly aware of how close he was, how he held
her. "I don't want to be weak before you. I don't want you
hurting because of me."
"I can't help it," he gazed back into her eyes, feeling his
heart beating faster. "I care for you. Deeply."
"I care for you. Much more than I should," she whispered,
feeling her breath tighten.
Both breathed deeply, feeling their bodies pressed close,
warm and soft and strong. Their scents blending between them
in passionate need.
Their lips met instantaneously, driven by forces that they
knew nothing of. Their mouths made love, massaging moist
warmness between their soft lips, needy and wild in long-
suppressed longing.
They released the other's lips, staring at the other in
shock. Ranko pressed her thighs together to quiet the
throbbing that began between them, feeling everything in her
body beg for more of him.
"No!" she cried, pushing him away. "Oh, Gods, I shouldn't
have - "
Tofu shook his head of the euphoria, finding her scrambling
to the other side of the couch. "Ko-chan, come back here."
"No!" she replied, tumbling over the end of the couch and
stumbling up. Fear filled her veins with ice water, making
her race out of his office and through the main door of the
clinic, causing shards of glass to spray out into the
street.
Ranko kept running, charging off into the night in blind
panic.
Tofu stood at the door, calling for Ko-chan to return. He
was answered only by the howling wind.