All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published
by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz Communications.
Sailor Moon was created by Naoko
Taeuchi.
A Different Viewpoint pt 15
Johnathon Dwire caught the train that he would take to Juuban just as it was starting to get dark. He arrived just after the sun went down and hurried toward Usagi's house.
"I wish I hadn't lost their numbers while I was in China." Johnathon murmured quietly to himself as he walked.
He remembered his last visit here vividly. Fighting the Black Knight with Sailor Jupiter. Then getting knocked through the spray from a broken hydrant. Sailor Mercury had found him unconscious as a black cat. Eventually he had managed to get changed back, but not before learning of the Sailor Senshi's secret identities. In exchange they had learned of his curse. They had parted on friendly terms. Unfortunately Johnathon had lost their phone numbers while searching for a cure in China. He hadn't talked to them in almost eight months.
"Now where is Usagi's house?" Johnathon was trying to remember the way and failed to pay attention to the voices of children in the yard he was passing by.
A little boy had been hounding his sister with his brand new water pistol. She had had enough and had grabbed the hose.
She shouted victoriously at her brother. "Die brat!" She put her thumb against the flow of water, causing it to spurt out at high velocity, but also at an angle she didn't expect. It missed her brother and sprayed a tall man walking by in front of her house. The little girl dropped the hose and headed for the man, apologizing as she walked over. He turned, and she screamed at the sight of a monster. As the little girl gave a piercing scream, the "cat demon" hissed and ran off. She kept screaming and another tall man soon ran up.
"What's wrong little one?" A handsome man wearing a green sport coat over a black turtleneck asked gently.
"A-a cat demon!" The little girl cried.
Her little brother nodded affirmatively. "A big one! It went that way mister!"
Mamoru Chiba looked down the block and saw a strange running figure a hundred feet away. The dark humanoid shape was moving quickly, and as he watched it leapt from the sidewalk to a nearby rooftop. Mamoru took off after it, changing into Tuxedo Kamen as soon as he was out of sight of the kids. He followed the creature across the rooftops, slowly gaining ground. Tuxedo Kamen followed it straight to Usagi's house. The creature was very cat-like. complete with a furry black tail. It slowed down as it reached Usagi's house and headed for her window.
"I don't think so." Tuxedo Kamen growled as he threw a rose.
Johnathon found Usagi's house and headed for her window. < No way I can go to the front door as I am, I need to talk to her and Luna alone. I'm sure sure I can convince her of who I am.> He jumped for the window sill, intending to grab on and tap on the window pane. As he reached if a rose imbedded itself between his fingers. Johnathon dropped to the ground with an audible thump. He spun to find who had thrown the rose. A tall man wearing a tuxedo, a top hat, cape, and white mask, stood on the rooftop across from Usagi's house.
"Preying on teenage girls! Not while I'm around!" The masked man declared before launching another rose at him.
Johnathon spun out of the way. < Who is this guy?> "Wait!" He hissed, dodging as second rose. "It's not what you think!" He growled ducking a third. "We don't have to... Ouch!" The fourth rose nicked his shoulder, cutting his shirt and drawing blood. "Damn it!" He shouted, reverting to English for a second and popping his claws. "Back off, I don't want to have to hurt you." He hissed menacingly.
Tuxedo Kamen paused. "Its not you who has draw first blood demon. I will not leave you to your evil deeds." < It's fast, this is going to be difficult.> He drew another rose and started to throw.
"Oh no you don't!" Johnathon snarled and leaped over the rose, heading for the idiot in the tux.
Tuxedo Kamen drew his cane and jumped back. < Good, I've gotten it away from Usagi. Now to finish it.>
The creature landed on the roof ahead of him and went into a defensive stance, standing on the balls of it's feet six feet away. Tuxedo Kamen got a good look at the creature then. It was around six feet in height. It was dressed all in black wearing a black turtleneck and jeans. It had dropped a black backpack as it jumped up to attack him. He took all this in a glance, noting that the creature was too close for him to throw another rose without it pouncing. Tuxedo Kamen feinted with his cane, trying to judge it's speed. It made a barely adequate block with a forearm, almost too slow.
It started to slowly circle him. The creature had black fur and blended into the night sky. It's face, feet, and hands were definitely cat-like, and a three foot black furred tail lashed angrily behind it. Tuxedo Kamen feinted again then attacked with a thrust to the throat. The cat man ignored the feint and knocked the thrust aside with another forearm block.
The black furred felinoid stepped back as Tuxedo Kamen prepared to attack more seriously. "Last chance Tux-boy, we don't have to fight."
Tuxedo Kamen shook his head. "I think we do." He attacked then with his cane, striking again and again. Johnathon blocked, dodged and returned the attack, snapping kicks and punches at the masked man.
Earlier, Usagi had gone to her window upon hearing a thump outside. < Is it Tuxedo Kamen?> Usagi looked outside to see. She jumped back as she saw a dark figure leap upwards towards Tuxedo Kamen. They faced off on the roof across the street and Usagi gasped at the cat creature's appearance.
She quickly activated her communicator. "Everyone! There's a cat monster fighting Tuxedo Kamen by my house, come quick!" She ran to her dresser and quickly grabbed the Silver Crystal. She quickly ran downstairs and out the front door. "I'm going out for a minute!" She announced to her mother.
"Why didn't you go out the window?" Luna asked Usagi as they ran out under the house Tuxedo Kamen was fighting on. "I didn't want Mom to check my room and miss me."
Luna blinked. "This is a strange time to start acting responsibly, Usagi. You'd better transform and help Tuxedo Kamen."
Usagi nodded. "Right. Moon power, make up!"
Johnathon wiped blood from his chin. < This guy is pretty good. I had better get out of here before someone calls the cops.> He leaped away and started to run at full speed. Tuxedo Kamen chased after, preparing to throw a rose.
Sailor Moon jumped up unto the rooftops and spotted her love running off. "Hey! Wait for me!"
Johnathon felt a rose nick his upper arm and he started running in a broken field pattern to dodge further attacks. He started this none too soon as roses started spiking into the rooftops near him as he ran evasively.
< I can't outrun him if he keeps throwing those roses at me. I have to stand and fight.> Johnathon backflipped, spinning in mid air and landed facing his attacker. < There are definite advantages to this form. I could never have pulled that stunt off as a human.> He charged Tuxedo Kamen who once again brought his cane into play. Johnathon popped his claws again. < I won't win unless I go full out. He asked for it.>
Tuxedo Kamen parried a blindingly fast slash, then barely stopped a second. A third slash caught him on the inside of his right arm, ripping his sleeve and drawing blood. He leapt back to a nearby rooftop, followed closely by the cat demon. < It didn't use its claws before, why? Could it be?...>
A strong female voice rang out, interrupting his deliberations and also luckily causing the cat demon to stop pursuing him. "Attacking the defender of justice Tuxedo Kamen? I won't forgive such an act! I am Sailor Moon, and I will punish evil, and that means you!"
Johnathon paused, halting his pursuit of Tuxedo Kamen. "Sailor Moon! I need to talk to you, alone!"
Tuxedo Kamen coughed. "I think not creature, who she fights, so do I."
Johnathon snarled. "I'm trying to tell you. I don't want a fight!" Johnathon had turned to Tuxedo Kamen and didn't see Sailor Moon's face.
She had seen the cut in Tuxedo Kamen's sleeve and spotted the blood drip from his wrist. Enraged, she wound up with her most powerful attack. "Moon Healing Elimination!"
Johnathon noticed what she was doing just in time. "What the... Oh damn!" He dived of the roof as the swirling blast scoured the rooftop behind him. He rolled to his feet just in time to dodge a blast of fire from the side. "No! Stop! Yikes! Hey!" He leaped and dodged as Sailor Senshi Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury each threw their signature attacks. < I'm dead meat!> "I surrender! Stop that! Ach!" Johnathon staggered from a near miss by a ball of lightning. He spun desperately, just barely dodging a ball of fire. Off balance he leapt away from an ice blast from Mercury an instant too late.
Johnathon landed on his side. His legs were trapped in an ice block from the ankles down. Sailor Moon arrived above him and wound up for her final attack. He ripped into the ice block with his claws and desperately tried to get his feet free in time to get away. He didn't make it and was driven to the ground by the force of the attack. Johnathon was surprised to be alive afterward. He had felt like he was being scoured throughout his entire body, but was unharmed. Not being actually a Youma or demon he was unaffected by the blast.
Johnathon lay still, hoping that they would take him for dead, or at least stop attacking him. They did stop attacking him, but instead started moving in, still surrounding him.
Sailor Moon looked down at the cat demon puzzled. "It's not disintegrating or changing."
Mars nodded. "Maybe we should fry it some more."
Mercury dropped her visor and peered at the creature. "I'm getting a peculiar reading. It doesn't seem to be a Youma or daemon."
Johnathon held his breath. < Please don't let them try to "fry" me.>
He heard footsteps approaching. "Stay back, Jupiter, it may be playing dead." The footsteps stopped.
"If it is, I'll blast it!" Jupiter announced grimly.
Johnathon decided to try one last thing. "Makoto." He spoke as he opened his eyes. "Please don't blast me."
Sailor Jupiter jumped back, ready to attack. "How do you know me?" She demanded angrily.
Johnathon spoke softly, but clearly. "The Black Knight, I told you to zap his sword."
Jupiter blinked. "Huh?"
Slowly Johnathon sat up. "I've changed since then." He looked around at the Sailor Senshi, they looked unconvinced. Johnathon looked for Ami, Sailor Mercury looked something like her. "Ami." He said to her. "You bandaged my arms. I was a little black cat."
Sailor Mercury frowned. "Johnathon?"
The black furred cat-man nodded. "Yup, I'm Johnathon Dwire. Get me some hot water and I'll prove it."
Mercury slowly nodded back. "That is consistent with your claim."
Sailor Moon yelled angrily. "No it's a trick! He hurt Tuxedo Kamen!"
Johnathon looked at Sailor Moon with an unreadable expression. "Usagi, he hurt me first." He looked at the masked man, finally putting two and two together. "You're Mamoru right?"
Tuxedo Kamen nodded curtly. "You seem to know us, although I've never seen you before."
Mercury spoke up. "If he is who he says he his, we met him eight months ago."
"I am." Johnathon spoke softly. "My curse has changed, but I am still Johnathon Dwire. If you would let me get some hot water..."
Mercury considered. "OK, Mars, heat this up." She concentrated and summoned an icy water spout in front of her. Mars tossed a ball of fire into the water spout, which steamed as it hit. Mercury then released the water spout which rushed over and drenched Johnathon. He changed and the Senshi gasped.
"It is him!" Jupiter cried and rushed over. Johnathon got to his feet slowly. She stopped a couple of feet away and examined him with a critical eye. "You're a mess Johnathon." She announced undiplomaticly.
Mercury walked over as well. "What happened to your curse Johnathon? When did you become a..." She paused, not sure what she could call his other form without being insulting.
"A half-cat?" Johnathon suggested. "Months ago. I will tell you the whole story, but perhaps we should talk somewhere more private?"
Mercury nodded. "That's a good idea. Mars, can we go to the shrine?"
Mars nodded. "Sure."
Makoto added. "We should take care of those cuts and bruises."
Johnathon grinned wryly. "I'd appreciate a chance to get my bag too. I dropped it and my shoes at Usagi's house."
Tuxedo Kamen still looked a bit suspicious. "Why were you going to her window anyway?"
Johnathon looked blithely at him. "I was picking up my torrid affair with Luna, right honey?"
There was a sound of a cat choking in astonishment.
Johnathon grinned. "I'm kidding! Seriously, I was hoping to get some hot water. The only place around here I know is Usagi's house. I guess it looked pretty bad for me to jump up to her window like that."
Tuxedo Kamen nodded. "It did, I apologize for my attack on you. You tried to explain but I didn't listen."
Johnathon shook his head. "No hard feelings. You couldn't have known. You had better get that arm bandaged as well."
Tuxedo Kamen shrugged. "I'll be fine. You're pretty good. I'm lucky you were holding back."
Johnathon shrugged back. "I wasn't, at the end. You're not half bad yourself."
Sailor Venus broke in. "Enough of the mutual admiration society, macho branch OK! Let's get out of here before anyone else shows up."
"Oh right." Mamoru Chiba changed back into his normal clothing and handed Johnathon his jacket. "Here, put this on. You don't want to have to explain all those cuts in your shirt."
Johnathon took the coat. "Thanks."
Johnathon and Mamoru went to Usagi's house to get his stuff. The girls went straight to the shrine and waited for them, after changing back to normal clothing themselves.
Later, Johnathon was surrounded by the five girls, two cats, and Mamoru. They were at the shrine. Johnathon had his shirt off and Ami was putting bandages on his cuts.
"When I last contacted you I told you I was going into China to look for a cure to my curse." Johnathon was saying.
Mamoru shook his head in disbelief. "I still find it hard to believe. You turned into a little black cat whenever you were splashed with cold water? That's incredible!"
Ami nodded. "It's true. I did some research on the cursed springs of Jusenkyo after we met Johnathon. The legend was hard to find but it does exist."
"It's real alright." Johnathon shook his head sadly. "I'm living proof. I went to Jusenkyo and the guide there directed me to the spring of drowned man. I jumped in. When I climbed out I was no longer a black cat. I now turn into a half cat, half human whenever I'm splashed with cold water."
Ami finished applying the last bandage. "The curses mix?"
Johnathon nodded. "So it seems. I wasn't willing to experiment further. It's been pretty tough since." He pulled his shirt on, wincing a little. "I'm not here because of that. At least not directly."
Makoto looked at him quizzically. "Why did you come here then?"
Johnathon looked down at the two cats. "I came to ask a favor, of Luna and Artemis."
"Of us?" Luna looked incredulous. "How can we help you?"
Johnathon smiled. "You'd never guess. I'm not the one who needs help. I wanted to ask your help to help a friend of mine."
"Really, what can we do?" Artemis walked up to Johnathon and looked up at him.
Johnathon reached down and petted his head affectionately. "I'll tell you. My friend is a seventeen year old martial artist by the name of Ranma Saotome. He is the best martial artist I have ever seen in my life." Johnathon looked over at Mamoru. "You are very good, but Ranma can defeat me easily, even in half-cat form. He is incredibly fast and strong, and has a level of skill exceeding that of most if not all masters I've ever seen. His father took him on a ten year training trip when he was only six."
Luna looked interested but confused. "Why does he need our help?"
Johnathon looked serious. "When Ranma was seven his father decided to train him in a dangerous martial art technique known as the Cat-fist. The book describing the technique said to throw the trainee, covered with fish sausage, into a pit full of starving cats."
There was a general outcry at that. "Oh my." "That's horrible!" "What kind of idiot?..."
Johnathon shook his head. "Apparently Ranma didn't learn the technique the first time. His father threw him in a few more times strapped with fish cakes, fish this, fish that."
There was a shocked silence.
Johnathon continued. "This gave Ranma the worse case of cat-phobia I have ever seen. It also taught him the Cat-fist."
Mamoru looked interested. "Cat-fist, I've never heard of it."
Johnathon grimaced. "With good reason. In the book Ranma's father was using to teach him the Cat-fist it gives the instructions for the technique. Then on the next page there is a warning that the technique was banned for causing severe mental scarring. Ranma's father never turned to that page." Johnathon paused, gauging his audiences reactions. They were shocked, but believing so far. "Now, whenever Ranma can no longer handle his fear of cats, he escapes by becoming a cat himself in his mind. Then and only then can he use the Cat-fist."
Rei broke in. "You're kidding! He thinks he's a cat?"
Johnathon nodded. "That's correct. Ranma thinks and acts like a cat. The only things that have been able to bring him back to himself are his fiancee and getting splashed with cold water."
Makoto interrupted. "His fiancee? He's engaged, at seventeen?"
Johnathon nodded again. "Yes, an arraigned marriage. They do seem to care about each other though." < I'm glad they didn't ask me about why cold water works on him.>
Amy looked thoughtful. < Cold water. I wonder why that brings him out?>
Johnathon continued to explain. "I attempted to cure Ranma of his fear of cats, back when I was still cursed to become a black cat. A normal one that is. Ranma knows of my curse and we worked on desensitizing him to my presence for about a month. Ranma has a very strong will and seemed to make excellent progress. I thought we had conquered the cat fear but I was badly mistaken. Ranma told me that he had managed to get used to me as a cat by telling himself over and over the cat he saw was really me. He told himself that the cat was Johnathon, a human, and his friend. Ranma's not scared of my cat form anymore, because he convinced his subconscious that I wasn't really a cat. His fear is as strong as ever, he just bypassed it."
Luna spoke up. "I'm beginning to understand why you want our help."
Johnathon looked at her and smiled. "I thought you might. Ranma doesn't think of me as a cat. However, a "real" cat might be able to truly desensitize him, gradually, without giving his subconscious an out." Johnathon paused. "It's a tremendous favor to ask, please don't think I... I would be glad to repay you in any way I could..."
Luna looked at Artemis, who nodded briskly. She looked up at Johnathon. "We would be happy to help your friend, Johnathon, if we can."
Johnathon bowed low to both cats. "Thank you very much. I am in your debt. Anything you wish of me I will gladly do."
Luna shook her head. "No Johnathon. It's not necessary for you to do anything."
Johnathon looked at her seriously. "Yes it is. This is not a small thing I am asking of you. It is likely to take months, and has it's share of risks. It is not reasonable to ask this of you without giving you something back for your effort. I will assist you as I can. My cat form is pretty useful. If the Sailor Senshi ever need help I would be glad to fight at your side."
Everyone was silent, then Usagi finally spoke. "I don't know what to say, Johnathon."
Ami broke in. "It's our responsibility Johnathon. We have to do it. You might get hurt."
Johnathon shrugged and smiled. "Saving lives is everyone's responsibility. It is my choice. I want to help. Besides, what I'm asking has it's dangers as well."
Minako looked concerned and puzzled. "Dangers, what kind of danger could there be in helping someone overcome their fear of cats?"
Johnathon looked soberly at her. "I've told you how good a martial artist Ranma is. Well, when he's affected by his cat phobia, he can do the cat-fist. That makes Ranma almost unstoppable. He acts like a cat, thinks like a cat, and is incredibly powerful. Ranma doesn't remember what he does as a cat. It's a completely different personality and a dangerous one. If he takes you for a threat, look out! Only his fiancee, Akane Tendo, can control him, barely."
Rei shivered. "It sounds like he's been possessed like a demon or something."
Johnathon nodded. "Now you know why I felt it necessary to come to you. Just seeing a cat won't set him off. But a normal cat won't sit still and be passive enough for Ranma to stand. If it jumped on him or clawed him, Ranma could go into the Cat-fist. That's not safe at all. This has to be handled very carefully. When I first tried to cure him I believed I could help because I could be completely passive and non-threatening in my cat form. There was very little danger of setting off Ranma's cat phobia because Ranma could control his own exposure.
Johnathon looked at Artemis and Luna. "That would go for you two as well. Where a normal cat might set Ranma off, you two could act as I did and let Ranma get used to you a little at a time. As long as he thinks you are normal cats, he will be able to directly confront his fear. Ranma will be able to desensitize himself till he will no longer go into his cat personality when he's surprised by a stray cat."
Luna sat back on her haunches. "It sounds like a good plan. I'm willing to help."
Artemis nodded. "Me too. Why don't you tell us more about it."
Johnathon smiled at them and started to go into greater detail about his plan to cure Ranma's cat-phobia. They talked until late that night, ironing out the details. The Sailor Senshi had recently defeated their last enemy, and expected everything to be quiet in Juuban for some time. Ami volunteered to escort the cats to the Tendo Dojo. She would borrow Usagi's disguise pen and turn herself into a psychologist and cat trainer to explain Luna and Artemis's actions. Ami commented that it would serve as an excellent term paper on phobias.
"As long as no names are mentioned." Johnathon warned.
"Of course not." Ami cheerfully answered.
Ami planed to come the very next day with Artemis and Luna, as it was a Sunday. Mamoru offered to put Johnathon up for the night, as it was very late. Johnathon thanked him and agreed. Soon everyone went to their homes.
"I will come to your house in the morning Ami." Johnathon suggested. "We can leave for Nerima from there. How about nine o'clock?"
"We'll be there." Luna promised.
"That sounds fine." Ami added. "I'll see you then."
Mamoru was a gracious host, but it was very late when they got to his apartment. Johnathon camped out on the sofa and went right to sleep as soon as they got there.
At eight thirty Mamoru woke him up. "Johnathon, you had better get going, you are going to be late."
Johnathon rose quickly. "Right, got to hurry." He rushed into the bathroom to wash his face and hands and rushed out the door. "See you around Mamoru, nice to meet you."
Mamoru watched him go bemused. "Usagi should learn how to hurry from that guy."
Johnathon met Ami, Luna and Artemis on time and they headed for the train station.
As they walked Ami asked questions. "Johnathon, I'm curious. You told us you were cursed my a girl who already had the curse to become a cat. Why not ask her to help?"
Johnathon shrugged. "Ranma already knows about her curse. He would just end up tricking his subconscious again..." He walked for awhile as an idea started to come to him. "That gives me an idea. It might not work, but..." He looked thoughtfully at Artemis. "Maybe, just maybe..."
When they reached the station Ami went to a bathroom to "change" and Johnathon went to the phone. He made two calls and was still talking when Ami came back out. "Alright Kasumi, I will meet you in the Cat Cafe in an hour." He hung up and turned around. A woman with short black hair in her early twenties was looking at him. She was professional looking in a suit jacket and conservative skirt. Then he saw Luna and Artemis at her feet. "Ami, is that you?"
The woman grinned. "Yup, but you can call me Dr. Mizumi."
Johnathon grinned. "Wow, that's amazing! I just made some calls. I talked to the girl who is cursed to become a cat and she's agreed to help. She trusts me not to reveal her secret, and now she has agreed to trust you too."
Ami looked seriously at him. "I won't betray your trust Johnathon."
Johnathon nodded. "I know. There's our train. Lets go."
An hour later at the Cat Cafe, Johnathon, Ami (Dr. Mizumi), Shampoo and Kasumi were seated around a table. The Cat Cafe was closed for business and they were the only ones there. Luna and Artemis sat on the table in front of Ami.
Shampoo looked at the professional looking doctor and asked. "You keep Shampoo secrets, right?"
Ami nodded. "Of course. The client, doctor relation is confidential. As well I swear not to tell your secret, on my own honor."
Shampoo nodded. "Alright. For Johnathon, Ranma, and Kasumi, Shampoo help."
Kasumi was looking at Luna interestedly. "If I understand your plan Johnathon, it would help if I was to share my secret as well."
Johnathon nodded. "It would help, but it is your choice."
Ami looked at Kasumi. "Then that means..."
Kasumi nodded. "I turn into a cat as well."
Ami sat back incredulous. "How many?"
Johnathon shrugged. "As far as I know, only Shampoo, Kasumi, and I were affected by the spring of drowned cat. There may be more in China." He looked at Artemis, and then at Shampoo. "OK, Shampoo, I need you to change into a cat for me, and you too Kasumi. I'll explain the rest of my plan."
end of Part 15
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