All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published
by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz
Communications.
A Different Viewpoint: Curses and Demons:
Chapter 14
Happosai pondered his unconscious captive thoughtfully. He wasn't
really a vengeful man. In fact, he couldn't help but applaud the
cunning with which Gosenkugi had caught him with his own hypnosis
incense. Soun and Genma had done much worse by sealing him in that cave
for ten years, and Gosenkugi could still prove useful to him.
"Yes." He nodded to himself. "He'd have made a fine disciple... if
only Soun or Genma had shown half as much initiative." Happosai shook
his head sadly. "He made only one mistake though, trusting that
woman...." The youthful ancient pervert licked his lips. "She's a fine
one though... fur and all. A half-cat, like Kasumi's boy... not that
I'd have held it against her if she'd be willing to... hold me against
her, heh, heh, heh." Happosai chuckled for awhile, then shook his
head. "No, that one is dangerous. I don't know what exactly she has in
mind with this crazy plan of hers, but she's been far too successful
this far for it to all have been luck."
Happosai tapped his pipe against Gosenkugi's head as he thought.
"She managed to trick the boy here, and doused him with his own
incense... my incense that is, when he let his guard down. She has some
sort of grudge against Kasumi's new husband... and even more against
Kasumi herself." The master of Anything Goes Martial Arts shook his
head in puzzlement. "Now that I can't understand. Who would want to
hurt little Kasumi-chan?" He wrinkled his nose. "She made a deal with
the Ghost Cat, and captured little Pantyhose with my help... and the
incense. Then she somehow persuaded that idiot Kendoist to go on his
mad little jaunt to China for the twin's water, and got Kodachi-chan
released from the mental hospital, TWICE!"
Happosai frowned. "She knows an awful lot about Jusenkyo, and about
Ranma and his little crew... she even knows something about those Sailor
girls." He glanced down at Gosenkugi and tapped him hard behind his
left ear. "Well, what do you think?" Gosenkugi lay motionless and
Happosai rapped him again. "Don't play dumb with me youngster. You've
been playing possum for almost a minute now. What's her real plan?"
Gosenkugi gulped and looked up fearfully. "I can't tell you... you
know I can't! I'm just as much a slave to her as you were to me."
Happosai grimaced. "Don't remind me, if you prefer not eating out
of a tube for the rest of your life. Did she order you not to tell
anyone? Is that it?"
Gosenkugi nodded quickly. "She did! I can't betray her... I
wouldn't, even if I wasn't hypnotized, but I can't, even if I wanted
too!"
Happosai snorted dubiously. "Oh you wouldn't, would you? That's
just the hypnosis talking. You'd sing a different tune if you were
freed of it." He shrugged. "Not that that's likely to happen any time
soon."
Gosenkugi swallowed nervously. "What... what are you going to do
with me?"
Happosai shrugged again. "I haven't decided yet. If you do a few
things for me... well then, I might think about sparing your life."
Gosenkugi nodded immediately. "Whatever you say!"
Happosai smiled slightly. "Well, you can start by telling me where
to find your mistress. She hasn't told you not to do that, has she?"
***************************
Setsuna blinked suddenly as a strange feeling swept over her.
"What's going on?" She stood up from where she had been sitting and
looked around in confusion. "I sense something... something is wrong...
what is it?" Confusion was not something she was used to feeling, but
whatever it was that was wrong, she couldn't directly identify. "I'm
not sensing an immediate threat." She decided. "If there was some sort
of danger to the time stream, I'd know about it." Setsuna's eyes went
wide. "The time stream!" All the blood drained from her face. "I
can't sense the future anymore! Crystal Tokyo has vanished!!!"
*********************
The sun had set over an hour ago and everyone was huddled around the
small fire that Kasumi had cooked dinner on. The temperature was
dropping and Kasumi, Akane, and Ukyo were starting to shiver. Johnathon
pulled Kasumi into his lap and hugged her from behind, warming her up as
best as he could with his body, his fur doing an adequate job, up to
that point, of keeping his body temperature high.
Akane glared at Ranma and Ranko out of the corner of an eye. "Why
aren't you two cold? Can't you tell that it's freezing out here?"
Ranma shrugged. "It's not all that bad. We had to go through a lot
worse while camping out with Pop. You learn to ignore a little chill
after awhile."
Ukyo shivered harder, holding her arms around herself. "Well,
that's all fine for you two, but Akane and I are going to catch a cold
if this keeps up." She glanced at Akane thoughtfully and the two girls
exchanged a meaningful look. Ukyo winked to Akane, then turned to
Ranko. "Since you're feeling nice and warm, why don't you share some of
that heat with us, Ranko-chan?" She glanced at Ranma. "You two,
Ranma. Akane and I are cold, wouldn't it make sense to share body
heat?"
Ranma and Ranko both blinked, looking incredulous. "What?" They
asked in unison. "Are you serious? Right here?"
Akane nodded to Ukyo, then turned to her husband. "Ukyo's got a
point. We're cold, and this fire isn't enough to keep us warm all
night." She motioned for Ranma to come over to her side. "Johnathon
and Kasumi already have the right idea, right Johnathon-san?"
Johnathon scooped Misty off the ground and placed her in Kasumi's
lap, then hugged both of his wives a bit closer. "It is getting
chilly. We're higher up in the mountains than yesterday, and we don't
have the tents anymore...."
Ukyo nodded. "I can't sleep very well if I'm shivering all night.
Come on, let's all get closer." She scooted over to Akane and sat with
her left hip pressed up against Akane's right, then put an arm around
Akane's shoulders. "There. Now Ranma, scoot up behind the both of us,
OK?" Ranma gulped, looking from one girl to the other uncertainly.
Akane waved him over. "Come on, Ranma, this is the only way we're
going to keep warm tonight."
Ranma swallowed and moved behind Akane and Ukyo so that he was
kneeling right behind them. "Um... now what?"
Akane reached back and pulled one of Ranma's arms around her waist.
"Now put your arms around us, silly." Ranma swallowed and slowly hugged
both girls from behind around their waists, still kneeling. Akane and
Ukyo exchanged a grin, and Akane nodded her head at Ranko.
Ukyo nodded back and waved Ranko over with her free hand. "We need
you two, Ranko, get over here."
Ranko got up and came around the fire, looking a bit confused.
"Um... what am I supposed to do?"
Ukyo patted her legs. "Sit down in my lap, OK?" Ranko swallowed
nervously, but did so, facing out toward the fire. Ukyo pushed the
petite red head's shoulder lightly. "Now swing your legs over top of
Akane's... that's right...." Ukyo helped Ranko into position and pulled
her back into the hollow between her and Akane's bodies. "Now just stay
there."
Ranko froze, her cheek up against Akane's right breast, while the
back of her head rested against Ukyo's chest as well. "Um... are you
sure this is OK?" Ukyo and Akane exchanged another glance and nodded.
"It's fine." Akane said soothingly. "Now, why don't we see if we
can get some sleep like this."
Ukyo looked back at Ranma. "Just lean back and take us with you,
Ranma. You lay in the middle and keep us warm, and Ranko can lay on
top, OK?"
Ranma didn't move. "Er... really?"
Akane craned her neck around to look at him. "Yes, really! Now go
ahead and lay back." Ranma swallowed and started backing up, pulling
Ukyo and Akane over on top of him as he did so. When he had finished,
Akane lay on his left, Ukyo on his right, both girls half on top of him,
and Ranko lay between them. Ranma's head stuck out of the top enough
for him to breathe, and while the weight on him wasn't inconsiderable,
it wasn't really all that uncomfortable either.
Ukyo and Akane had turned to lie on their sides so they could drape
themselves over Ranma, and hold Ranko in between them. Ranko tried not
to squirm, although it felt very strange laying on top of three other
people like that, it wasn't all that bad... especially not with both
Ukyo and Akane hugging her at the same time. She glanced over at
Johnathon and Kasumi guiltily, wondering what the two nominal adults
(Misty didn't really seem to count in her cat form) though of the
situation.
They seemed to think it was a good idea, as Johnathon had laid down
next to the fire himself, with Kasumi lying on top of him and Misty
curled up at their side. "Good night everyone." Johnathon said
quietly. "Try and get some sleep. I want to make up some time
tomorrow."
Ranko found herself blinking as the sun peeked over the horizon, not
quite sure when exactly she had fell asleep. She found herself laying
diagonally across Ranma, Akane, and Ukyo, who had collapsed into a
slightly more natural sleeping position. Akane and Ukyo's legs were
tangled up with Ranma's and her own, and they were both holding her twin
tightly. The red haired girl blushed brightly as she realized that
sometime during the night her one of her hands had somehow wandered
inside Ukyo's tee-shirt, and was currently trapped there by the weight
of her and Ranma's bodies.
Slowly she tried to pull out the offending appendage without waking
anyone, but Ukyo stirred awake almost immediately. Feeling Ranko's hand
under her shirt, she glanced down wide eyed, then calmed down as she
remembered the events of the previous night. Putting a finger to her
lips, Ukyo slowly rolled away from Ranma so Ranko could get her hand
free. Ranko did so in relief, glancing worriedly at Akane to see if the
short haired girl had noticed.
Ukyo rolled her eyes and spoke quietly. "Don't worry about it,
Ranchan. It's not like you did it on purpose... and even if you had, I
wouldn't have complained... and neither would Akane."
Akane stirred at her name and looked up blearily. "I wouldn't
what?"
Ukyo glanced over at Akane calmly. "You wouldn't complain if Ranko
decided to put her hand in my shirt, would you?"
Akane blinked herself awake, her eyes going wide, and sat up, or
attempted to as she found out suddenly just how tangled up her legs and
arms were with the others. "She did what?!?" Ukyo frowned in annoyance
at Akane, who stopped herself in mid rant and forced herself to calm
down with a nod to Ukyo. "No... no of course not... I wouldn't have any
reason to complain." She gritted her teeth and forced a smile. "Don't
worry about it, Ranko. You can do anything you like with Ukyo, OK?"
Ranko shook her head from side to side. "I didn't do anything!
Really! It's a misunderstanding!"
Ukyo frowned slightly at that. "Not that Akane has any say about
what the two of us do... right Akane?"
Akane blinked again, trying to clear her head. "Oh... right. Of
course you're right, Ukyo." She patted Ranma on the chest. "I've got
Ranma, and you and Ukyo are going to get married soon." Akane nodded,
trying to make herself believe it. "I don't want to get in between you
two getting together... OK?"
Ranko looked into her ex-fiancee's eyes deeply. "Akane...."
Ukyo sighed, then started untangling herself from the pile.
"Good... I'm glad that's settled." She glanced over at Akane and the
shorter girl shrugged sheepishly. < Settled? Not by a long shot!>
A few hours later, as the group hiked further into the mountains,
Akane joined Ukyo at the rear of the group. The two girls slowed down a
bit so they could have some privacy.
"I know, I know...." Akane started. "I screwed up with Ranko...
you surprised me with that question of yours you know."
Ukyo sighed. "Akane... we're trying to get Ranko to feel less
guilty, aren't we? You've got to stop glaring at her whenever she's
with me."
Akane nodded quickly. "I know. I'm sorry... it's just... hard. I
can't help but feel jealous... I love her!"
Ukyo put her hand on Akane's shoulder. "We both do... which is why
we're doing this, so she doesn't feel bad every moment she's with me."
Akane nodded firmly. "For Ranko." The short haired girl frowned.
"So... do you think it's working? I mean, as long as I don't mess up
again."
Ukyo looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure... we may have to turn it up
a notch if we really want her to accept this." She looked seriously at
her nominal rival. "How far are you willing to go with this?"
Akane hesitated, then her gaze grew determined. "As far as it
takes. What's your plan?"
Ukyo swallowed. "Well... I have some sake in my pack I use for
cooking... I was thinking we could... you know... trade...."
Akane blinked, then started to get angry. "Are you kidding? Why
would I...?" She paused in mid word and glanced up the trail at Ranma,
then at Ranko. "Well... maybe...."
Ukyo followed Akane's gaze. "Don't you see? If Ranma was... er...
with me, and Ranko with you... then Ranko wouldn't have any reason to
feel guilty about not being with you.... Get it?"
Akane crossed her eyes, trying to think. "I think that makes
sense. You want to sleep with Ranma, so Ranko won't feel guilty about
betraying me?" She frowned. "I don't really like the sound of that.
Ranma's my husband, after all."
Ukyo nodded. "I know... and I'm not trying to steal him away from
you... just get Ranko to stop feeling so guilty. Besides, I know you
want Ranko to yourself again, if only for a night."
Akane swallowed. "Maybe I do... but will they forgive us if they
know that we did it on purpose?"
Ukyo wrinkled her nose. "Not if we make it look like an accident.
That's what the sake is for."
Akane shivered, hugging herself with her arms. "Somehow I know
something is going to go wrong with this... but OK... I accept. I hope
Ranma and Ranko can forgive us."
Late that afternoon, Ranma, in the lead, spotted what appeared to be
a cabin off the trail a few hundred feet. "Hey, look at that!" The pig
tailed youth exclaimed. "You think anyone lives there?"
Johnathon came up and took a look. "Could be. Maybe we can buy or
trade for some clothing... if anyone lives there."
Ranma nodded, grinning. "Sure! Maybe they'd even put us up for the
night!" He started in that direction, leading the rest of the group
towards the small building.
As they got closer Ranko sighed. "I looks like no one's lived here
for years." She gestured to the obviously poor condition of the roof
and walls. "This place is deserted." It was quickly evident that she
was right.
Ranma opened the front door to an empty room, dust and bare walls
greeting him coldly. "Ah man... Sis is right. This place is as empty
as Kuno's head.
Johnathon shrugged. "Well, at least it's shelter. We can get a
good night's sleep tonight, and get an early start in the morning. What
do you think?"
Akane glanced at Ukyo then nodded quickly. "That's a great idea,
Johnathon-san. Why don't we go in and see what it's like?"
The small group filed into the cabin and looked around. There was a
small kitchen with an ancient wood burning stove.
Ranma checked the cupboards and found them empty except for a small
animal's nest. "Ah man." He griped. "Couldn't they have left anything
behind?"
Johnathon chuckled. "Well, at least they left us a stove. That'll
keep this place warm tonight, eh?"
Ukyo nodded happily. "It's great! I'll get a fire started, OK?
Ranchan, could you cut me some firewood?"
Ranko nodded. "Sure Ucchan. I'm on it."
The petite red head ran outside, and Ranma after her. "I'll help
Ranko."
Kasumi came out of the back of the cabin. "There's two other rooms
back here. We can all have our own, isn't that nice?"
Ukyo and Akane exchanged a glance and a nod then Akane turned to
answer. "That'll be great, Kasumi."
Outside, Ranma and Ranko were walking side by side, looking for some
firewood. "Ukyo and Akane seem awful friendly lately." Ranma said with
deliberate casualness. "What do you think they're talking about?"
Ranko frowned. "I don't know... but I think it's about you and me."
Ranma nodded. "What do you think it's about?"
Ranko frowned. "I overheard Akane and Ucchan talking... about me.
I think Akane wants me back, and I'd bet they've got something sneaky
planned for tonight."
Ranma blinked. "You're kidding? What about Ukyo? There's no way
she'd let Akane just take you back like that, is there?"
Ranko stopped walking, causing Ranma to have to stop and face her.
"I... I'm not so sure anymore. I think Ucchan feels real guilty about
breaking us up. She really does love me, I know that now... but she
knows I can't forget Akane that easily... so she might think that
letting Akane have me back is for my own good or something."
Ranma looked seriously at his twin. "So what are you going to do?"
Ranko looked back, equally seriously. "What do you think I should
do?"
Ranma started to speak. "Well there's no way you should...." He
frowned and shook his head. "Nah... I know what I'd prefer you do,
but... no, I don't got the right to tell you what to do here."
Ranko sighed. "Forget it, I agree with you. I shouldn't let Ucchan
do this for me, and I'm not going to try and share Akane with you. We
gotta stop this."
Ranma swallowed, but nodded. "OK, we agree... but how? If we come
out and tell them we've figured out what they're planning, they're just
going to deny it"
Ranko wrinkled her nose. "Well... we just got to stay sharp. Now
that we know what's up, we should be able to avoid it."
Ranma nodded. "Sure, no problem." He frowned. "What do you want
to do if we catch them in the act?"
Ranko blinked. "Of getting me and Akane back together? Well...
they're just trying to do what they think will make me happy... if
anyone has reason to be mad it would be you."
Ranma shook his head. "No... I can't get mad at Akane for loving
you... or at you for loving her. I've been thinking, about if it had
happened to her... getting turned into two people and all. If there
were two of her and one of them had to marry someone else...."
Ranko nodded after a moment. "Yeah... I guess I see your point."
She held out her hand. "Listen, Ranma, I don't hold a grudge against
you for getting Akane. If only one of us can be with her, you're the
one. Just take care of her."
Ranma nodded firmly. "I will."
Back in the cabin, Akane took Ukyo into room farthest away from the
kitchen. "So... what's the plan?"
Ukyo peeked out the door and noted that Johnathon and Kasumi were
well out of earshot, then closed it. "OK, here's my idea. We're all
going to have a room to ourselves tonight, right? One for you and
Ranma, one for Johnathon and the Kasumis, and one for me and Ranko,
right?"
Akane nodded. "Right, and?"
Ukyo winked. "So, you say you're taking this room, and I'll go for
the other one, and Johnathon-san, Kasumi and Misty can have the kitchen.
Then we get Ranma and Ranko to drink a little too much sake, and when
they're not looking, the two of us switch rooms. Get it?"
Akane blinked. "Oh yeah! If we keep the shutters closed, they
wouldn't be able to see to be able to tell us apart... unless one of
them notices your hair is longer than mine...."
Ukyo frowned. "Well... I'll pull it back... and lay down. If
they're good and drunk they won't notice anyway."
Akane wrinkled her nose. "I'm not sure... I mean... even if they
can't see us, won't they be able to tell we're different?"
Ukyo shrugged. "They say everyone's the same size laying down.
Anyway, I've heard about things just like this happening all the time.
A case of mistaken identity, that's all."
Akane sighed. "Well... I guess I'll go along with it. If they do
recognize us, we can just say it was an accident, right?"
Ukyo nodded. "That's the spirit. This is for Ranko's sake,
remember?"
Akane frowned. "I hope it works... this just feels... wrong. I
don't like going behind Ranma's back."
Ukyo sighed. "What would he say if you asked him?"
Akane's eyes went wide. "I couldn't ask him!"
Ukyo shrugged. "Well there you go. You're not really betraying
Ranma, anyway. They're both one person... sort of. You love them both,
right?"
Akane nodded. "I do... but I still feel bad about this."
Ukyo nodded. "I understand. If you don't want to do this, we
won't."
Akane hesitated. "No... I can't stand to see Ranko suffering like
this. Ranma will understand... and I'll tell him... afterward, I
promise."
At dinner that night, Ukyo proposed a toast to their getting to
Jusenkyo successfully, bringing out her stash of sake. Akane followed
that up with another toast, to Ranko and Ukyo, which Ukyo followed up
with a toast to Ranma and Akane. Johnathon and Kasumi only sipped at
their helpings of rice wine, while Ranma and Ranko drank with as much
gusto as they ate. Neither youth had much tolerance for alcohol, and
they quickly started to get groggy.
< They are up to something!> Ranko realized. < Now how am I going
to stop them?> She pondered for awhile, staring at Akane and Ukyo
foggily. < Ah hah! I have an idea!> She stood up shakily and gestured
to Akane. "Hey, Akane, come outside with me for a minute... I want to
talk to you."
Akane blinked and glanced over at Ukyo, who quickly nodded. "OK,
lets talk, Ranko." The two of them went outside, and Ukyo stood as
well. "Why don't we catch a little air too Ranma, alright?"
Ranma hesitated, then nodded. "Er... sure, Ukyo, I guess." < This
must be it. I wonder what Ranko is planning?>
Outside, Ranko had pulled Akane back behind some trees. "Hey...
Akane I was wondering...."
Akane was starting to blush. < I don't believe it! Is Ranko
actually going to try and seduce me herself?>
Off on the other side of the house, Ukyo and Ranma sat quietly,
pretending to watch the stars. Ranma nervously waited for whatever Ukyo
was going to do, and Ukyo kept a close eye on the front entrance to the
house. When she saw the girl wearing a Chinese shirt go into the cabin,
she slowly stood up. "OK... I'm going to get some sleep. See you in
the morning, Ranma."
Ranma nodded. "Sure Ucchan." < OK... she's definitely up to
something. I bet she's going to switch rooms with Akane or something.
Heh, I'm just too smart.>
He waited for Ukyo to enter the cabin, then got up and went after
her. < I'll just go in Ukyo and Ranko's room instead. If I'm right,
Akane will have "accidentally" gone in there. Ranma slipped inside the
room quietly, not wanting to let Akane know what he had suspected. He
could barely make out a body laying on it's side near the far wall, and
he went over and sat down behind it. Ranma ran a hand over the girl's
side, just in case, and noted the silk of a Chinese shirt. Reassured,
he lay down behind her and draped one arm over her, content to let her
sleep.
In Ranma and Akane's room, Ukyo had hesitated for several seconds
before slipping out of her clothing and putting it down on the floor to
lay on. < He may not be able to see me when he comes in... but there's
no way Ranma will mistake my clothes for Akane's if he... undresses
me.> She lay down and waited, shivering in anticipation until the door
cracked open. In the faint light, Ukyo could make out a feminine figure
in shorts and a halter-top before she closed the door behind her. <
Ranko? Darn it, I knew it! Akane must have chickened out on me and
sent her to the wrong room.> She sighed. < Oh well... it's probably
for the best anyway... I shouldn't have gone and betrayed Ranko like
that. I don't know what I what thinking!>
Ukyo shivered as she heard footsteps coming up to her. < How will
Ranko react to finding me like this? We've never... gone all the way
before.> She took a breath. < I'll let her decide tonight. It's time
that we did this. Maybe... maybe if we can just do this, Ranko will
stop feeling so guilty about how Akane feels.> The footsteps stopped,
and Ukyo felt the other girl sit down next to her. She closed her eyes,
and gasped silently as a hand touched her stomach, then slowly ran its
way up her chest. Ukyo reached up and grabbed hold of the hand, and
moved it over to her right breast. < Well, Ranko? Yes, or no?> The
hand squeezed her breast lightly, and another hand came over to run down
her chest and slip between her legs teasingly. Ukyo gasped again in
shock. < That's definitely a yes!>
Ranma felt Akane's head go back into his shoulder, and her feet
touch his ankles, as if she was measuring his height with her body.
They lay there for several minutes like that, neither one moving.
Slowly, Ranma reached over to the buttons holding her shirt closed, and
started to open them one by one.
"Ukyo?" The girl in his arms whispered questioningly as he started
pulling her shirt open in front. "We have to talk."
Ranma hesitated. "Akane?"
Ranko shivered in reaction as Ukyo's hand pulled her shirt open. <
Wait a second... that doesn't sound like Ukyo....> She froze, not
daring to breathe. "Ranma...?"
Ranma blinked. "Akane? You sound funny. You coming down with a
cold or something?"
Ranko's lip curled into a snarl and she pushed away from the body
behind her, sitting up, pulling her shirt closed. "Ranma you idiot!"
She whispered fiercely. "I'm Ranko! Can't you tell the difference
between me and Akane?"
Ranma gulped, sitting up as well. "Ranko? What were you doing in
here?"
Ranko sniffed at him. "This is my room, stupid. What did you
think?"
Ranma blinked. "Oh yeah... OK, what are you doing wearing that
shirt? Akane was wearing that!"
"Shh!" Ranko hushed him quickly. "I traded clothes with Akane. I
wanted to see what she and Ukyo were up to, so I figured Ukyo would
think I was her if all she could see was the shirt."
Ranma snorted. "Well I'm obviously not her!"
Ranko rolled her eyes in the blackness. "I noticed. Weren't you
supposed to sleep in the other room with Akane?"
Ranma nodded. "Sure, but I figured out that Ukyo and Akane probably
planned on switching rooms with each other, right?"
Ranko hit her self in the head. "Darn it. I didn't think of
that." She shook her head. "So Ukyo's in the other room... but if
that's right, where did Akane go?"
Ranma and Ranko stood up quickly, Ranko hurriedly buttoning up her
shirt. They ran out the door and opened the door to the next room
together. Inside, two naked girls halted their sweaty activity abruptly
at the intrusion.
"Ranma?" One asked, sounding extremely guilty. "I can explain."
"Ranma?" The other asked, sounding confused. "What are you doing
in here?" Ukyo glanced at the dark shape next to her. "Ranko, there's
no reason for you to explain yourself to Ranma or Akane, alright?"
Akane swallowed in shock. "Ukyo? Is that you?" She pushed herself
away, glancing at Ranma and Ranko in the doorway, then back at the girl
she had just been energetically seducing. "Oh my." Ranma and Ranko
looked at each other, then at Akane and Ukyo again, then back to each
other. Then they both started to laugh, snickering softly at first,
then louder and louder. As their laughter started to echo outside the
room, Akane shot to her feet in embarrassment and rushed forward.
"Quiet! Do you want Johnathon and Kasumi to find us like this?" Ranma
and Ranko blinked, glanced at each other, then started to chuckle even
louder.
Flushing bright red, Akane grabbed both of them and dragged them
into the room, closing the door behind them. "Ranma, Ranko, please!
Stop laughing already!" She hissed in her loudest whisper. "Please!"
She sniffed, sounding like she was ready to cry. "Just stop."
The pig tailed twins stopped instantly at the threat of tears.
"Don't cry, Akane." Ranko started uncomfortably. "We're not laughing
at you... exactly."
Ranma frowned. "Not that you deserve any better. You were planning
on sleeping with Ranko behind my back, weren't you, Akane?"
Akane swallowed hard, then hung her head, nodding slowly. "I... I'm
sorry, Ranma... I... I know I've betrayed you... and you don't have any
reason to forgive me."
Ranma wrinkled his nose. "I do understand, Akane... I think. I
mean... Ranko and me are the same person, so you loving her is part of
you being in love with me." He shook his head. "That don't mean that
it was OK to do this... just... I can understand why you did it."
Akane looked up slowly. "Ranma... I... I am sorry."
Ranma sighed. "I know."
Ukyo was staring at Akane in horror. "What happened? I thought...
I thought.... Akane! What were you doing in Ranko's clothes?"
Akane blinked. "What? Oh, Ranko wanted her shirt back, so I agreed
to trade clothes with her. I didn't realize that would make you think I
was her."
Ukyo groaned and flopped onto her back. "Kami! My first time and
it's with my fiancee's ex-wife! Why did I have to come up with this
stupid scheme?"
Ranko looked at Ukyo questioningly. "Ucchan? This was all your
idea? Why?"
Ukyo gulped, realizing that she had said too much. "Oops.....
Well, I guess there's no point lying about it now." She sat up, pulling
her clothing out from under her. "Ranchan... Ranma, sit down. I think
we're long past due a good talk." The twins sat down as Ukyo and Akane
started to get dressed again, and waited for her to speak.
Ukyo swallowed the last bit of her nervousness and cleared her
throat. "Actually, Ranko, this has been building up since the
wedding... longer really, but you know about everything before. You
still love Akane, and every moment you spend with me you've been acting
like she's looking over your shoulder. You're making yourself
miserable, and that doesn't make me feel too good either. Akane and I
have been talking, trying to figure out a way to get you to accept being
with me... and we ended up coming up with this crazy scheme."
Ranko blinked. "But how was me sleeping with Akane supposed to make
me feel less guilty about being with you?"
Ukyo looked uncomfortable. "Well... I was going to get Ranma at the
same time.... If you both got switched... accidentally, then we thought
you might relax about being with me."
Ranma scratched his head. "I don't get it."
Akane sighed. "It sounded good at the time.... Ranma, I think I
let myself agree to this because I missed Ranko. I love both of you, I
never wanted to have to choose one of you."
Ukyo was silent. "I just wanted you to be happy, Ranchan. You were
so miserable being with me, I was willing to try anything to get you to
accept things as they are."
Ranko was quiet for several long moments. "Are you sure it's not
just because you'd have gotten to be with Ranma if things had worked out
like you planned?"
Ukyo didn't answer right away. "Ranko... I owe you the truth... I
won't lie to you.... Yes... that did have something to do with it... I
love you both, Ranko, and Ranma... and I've always been attracted to
Ranma...." She lowered her head. "But... it's not that simple." She
looked up, staring at Ranko in the darkness. "I've always told myself
that I could be a normal girl for you, Ranchan, even though I've spent
most of my life pretending to be a boy. I thought that meant loving you
as a guy, so I never really thought about what it would be like with
your curse...."
Ranko looked away with a sigh. "I understand, Ucchan. Why should
you have to be stuck with a girl?"
Ukyo shook her head violently. "No! That's not how I feel! It's
true I never considered what it would be like with you as a girl... but
now that I have... it doesn't matter! I had to get past everything I
was taught as I was growing up to figure that out... but it's true. I
love you Ranchan, boy or girl." She looked away. "I was willing to...
be with you tonight. More than willing, eager. I wanted to make love
to your girl side tonight. When Akane came in, I thought she was you...
and trust me, I didn't hesitate."
Akane nodded wryly. "That's true enough. I was a bit surprised,
actually. I thought Ranko would have resisted a bit more."
Ranko snickered. "I did! Ranma tried to put the moves on me in the
other room. I thought he was Ukyo for a couple seconds, but I wanted to
talk first, so I stopped him." She shivered suddenly. "Boy am I glad I
did!" Ranma raised an eyebrow but decided not to comment. Ranko looked
intently at Ukyo, trying to make out her expression in the darkness.
"Ucchan... are you really satisfied with being with me?" Ukyo sat up
and reached across for Ranko suddenly, pulling her in and kissing her
fiercely on the lips. Half a minute later she let the smaller girl go
with a gasp.
Ukyo gave Ranko a final short kiss before releasing her fully.
"Does that answer your question?" Ranko nodded mutely.
Ranma looked thoughtful. "OK, now what are we supposed to do?
Akane loves both of us... Ukyo loves both of us... and you're both
willing to pull a stunt like this. Was this it, or is this going to
happen again?" Akane and Ukyo exchanged glances in the darkness.
Finally, Akane spoke. "I... I don't know. I want to tell you it
will never happen again but... I don't know. I... don't know if I can
give up on Ranko... if I can ever forget how I feel about her."
The room was silent for a long time before Ranma answered. "OK. If
that's how you feel, I won't get in your way. I can't stop you... and I
don't want you to do it behind my back, so...." He took a deep breath.
"You have my permission."
Akane blinked, trying to understand. "Your permission? To do
what?"
Ranma grit his teeth together. "To take Ranko as your mistress,
OK? Mom would probably think this is a great idea!"
Ranko spoke up. "Hey! What about my permission?"
Ranma snorted. "Oh? You got a problem with that?"
Ranko blinked. "Er...."
Ukyo spoke up. "Actually, I suppose I should have a problem with
it... as Ranko is supposed to be marrying me... but seeing as how this
whole thing was my idea in the first place... I'll give Ranko my
permission too."
Ranko blinked again. "What? Ukyo, why?"
Ukyo sighed. "I love you, Ranko, but I know you love Akane. Even
if... even when we get married to keep our families honor, you're still
going to be in love with Akane. If I really love you, I can't stand in
the way of your happiness. If you want to take Akane as your
mistress... I won't complain." She winced slightly in the darkness, and
hoped no one noticed. < What are you doing, girl? Shouldn't you at
least get Ranma in exchange?>
Akane was silent for a long time. < Ukyo... that must have been
incredibly hard. She... she really does love Ranma... Ranko... both of
them, I guess, just like me. It... it's not right for me to just accept
what she's offering... but how can I refuse?> She looked across at
Ranma, then came to a decision. "Ranma... if you want to sleep with
Ukyo... occasionally... I... I give you permission. You may... you may
take her as your mistress... if you'd like."
Ranma blinked incredulously. "You're kidding! Akane you've got to
be kidding...!" Ranko and Akane both jabbed him in the ribs at the same
time and Akane grabbed him by the ear.
"Just say yes!" Akane whispered angrily just loud enough for him to
hear. "It was hard enough offering it once. Don't make me do it
again."
Ranma swallowed. "Er... yes... I'll um... accept Ukyo as my
mistress." He scratched the back of his head. < How in the world did
that happen?>
Ukyo almost squealed in delight. "You will?!? Ranma... I can't
believe it!"
Akane wrinkled her nose. < Oh well... at least it's someone I can
get along with.> "Well... since we've all agreed... why don't you and
Ranma stay in here tonight, and...."
Ukyo glanced at Ranko, then interrupted. "Actually Akane... not
tonight. I... I think my first time... at least my first time on
purpose... should be with Ranko."
Ranko glanced at Ukyo in surprise. "Really?"
Ukyo nodded firmly. "Really... if you're willing, Ranko?"
Ranko hesitated only a moment before nodding. "OK. I'd... I'd like
that, Ucchan."
Akane smiled faintly. "Take care of her, Ukyo. Ranko... you'd
better make her happy. Ukyo deserves the best."
Ranko gave her ex-fiancee a cocky grin. "Well we all know who that
is!"
Akane choked off a strangled yell and ended up laughing instead.
"We do indeed." She got to her feet and pulled Ranma off the floor.
"Come on, Ranma, you can show me who the best really is." Ranma shot a
challenging look at Ranko before being dragged out of the room.
Ukyo slid over next to the short red head. "Well then.... care to
show me how the best does it?"
Ranko's eyes twinkled. "Was that a challenge?"
Ukyo's eyes widened. "And if it was?"
Ranko grinned. "Well you should know by know... Ranko Saotome never
turns down a challenge."
End Chapter 14
Please C&C, it's why I write!
You can find all the previous Chapters to this at:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/1449/fanfics.html