Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to the wonderful
Romiko Takahashi and her licensees (Viz Communications in North America).
This work is strictly for the non-profit enjoyment of fans. No copyright
infringement is intended.
Thought of the Mongoose
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic by Tom Wrensch
Part 7: Cologne
Draft Nov 1, 1999
=================================
Mouse woke to the familiar tapping of a staff on his skull.
{So Mousse, is the restaurant ready to be opened?} Cologne asked in
Mandarin.
{Yes, Matriarch,} Mousse got up and donned his robe, putting his arms in
his sleeves and blinking owlishly.
"Put your glasses on boy, then we can begin getting ready for the day,"
Cologne said, switching to Japanese.
"Is Shampoo well?" Mousse asked.
"Yes, she enjoyed her visit home. She is in her room resting, do not
disturb her," Cologne said over her shoulder as she pogoed out the door.
"And hurry it up, I want to open on time," she called from the hall.
"Old troll." Mousse murmured after Cologne was out of earshot. He fumbled
around in his sleeve for a moment, finally bringing out the transmitter
Nabiki had given him. He pushed the button, holding it down for a full
second before releasing it.
He signed and placed the small device back in his sleeve. He hoped Nabiki
heard the alarm, there was no telling when Cologne would ask for a report
on Akane, and no telling what she would do once she knew. He wished he
could simply lie to her, but she somehow always knew when he was lying.
Mousse put on his glasses. Time to get ready for the breakfast crowd.
* * * *
Nabiki rubbed her eyes and looked around her darkened room. There was an
annoying beeping noise coming from her desk. She slapped the alarm clock
a few times without success before a vague memory intruded and she sat up.
She looked at her clock and groaned.
Nabiki dragged herself out of bed, stopping just long enough to put on a
robe before heading for Akane's room. She knocked lightly, then opened
the door. Akane wasn't in her bed. The window was open.
Nabiki thought. She looked out the window but didn't see
anything but the moonlit yard. She hurried out and stood outside Akane's
door thinking. Who to wake first? She quickly ran down a mental list of
the Dojo's occupants. Right. Ranma first.
She strode to the guest room and slid the door open. Genma and Nodoka
were asleep on one side of the room, but Ranma's futon was empty.
Deciding to check out the safer possibility before panicking she checked
the kitchen, living room, and dojo. Nothing. Where could they be...of
course, the roof. She headed to the porch and climbed up the ladder
they'd started leaving there.
Ranma and Akane were curled up together under a light blanket, obviously
asleep. If she could get a picture of this it would be worth a lot. Too
bad she had other problems to deal with.
"Hey you two - if daddy sees this you know he's going to demand you get
married right away," Nabiki said.
At her words Akane suddenly jerked, opened her eyes, and sat up.
"Oh, Nabiki, we were just..."
"Yeah, yeah you were looking at the stars and fell asleep." Nabiki said,
waving a hand dismissively. "We've got other things to worry about -
Cologne is back."
* * * *
A very early morning council of war was convened at the Dojo. Kasumi
began an early breakfast and got tea for everyone while Nabiki explained.
"I set this up so we would know when Cologne was back. I thought it might
be best if we had the choice of going to her and starting things before
she had a chance to find out what was going on."
Ranma rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, good idea. Now what do we do?"
"I guess I should go challenge her." Akane said.
Ranma scowled. "I was really hoping for another day or two. We just
barely got some ideas worked out yesterday. We need more time."
"I'm ready." Akane said.
Ranma slammed his hand against the table, making everyone but Kasumi jump.
"Damn it, Tomboy, you're not taking this seriously. *Maybe* you're good
enough, and maybe not."
"It'll have to be good enough, we're out of time," Akane said evenly.
"Are we?" Nodoka asked from the other side of the table. "What if we
simply waited until Cologne reacted? That would give Akane more time to
get ready."
"That would not be a good idea," Genma said. "She is crafty, she would
not react in a way that would allow Akane to use her new skills."
"Then what about some kind of delaying tactic. Ranma seems to think that
even a day or two would help considerably," Nodoka suggested.
"I thought of that, but couldn't come up with any way to reliably delay
her," Nabiki said. "Does someone else have an idea that would work?"
Ranma looked at Akane. "Last chance. We can still use my idea, even a few
weeks..."
Everyone looked over at the pair.
"No," Akane said. "Even if I was willing to do it, she might do something
to our families."
"I don't think she'd go that far. That would be the one thing that would
force us to really go all out against them. I don't care how good she is,
I don't think she wants a vendetta against her family, especially while
they're here in Japan." Ranma said, not taking his eyes off Akane.
"*Maybe*, or maybe not," Akane said, throwing his earlier argument back
at him.
"Akane, if you do this, there's no way I can protect you," Ranma said,
his voice quiet and full of strain.
Akane's features softened into a look of tenderness. "You can't always
protect me. You've already done your best to make sure I'm ready by
training me. No one could do more."
Ranma looked at the table. "Do what you have to," he whispered.
"Thank you," Akane whispered back.
"Well, it looks like you're challenging Cologne," Nabiki said in a
business like manner, incidentally distracting her father from saying
something really stupid (Nodoka's fingernails on Genma's arm had already
done the job for Ranma's father.) "The next thing to decide is the exact
timing. For that we need more information. Let me make a few calls."
Nabiki hurried off to the phone while Kasumi began serving breakfast. The
usual fighting and chatter were absent. It was possibly the quietest, if
not the most peaceful, meal in that house since the Saotomes had arrived.
Nabiki came back about halfway through.
"The Nekohanten is opening for business this morning. Shampoo will not be
serving, so Cologne should be tied up with the breakfast rush until eight
or so. I'm having some friends call as many of their regular customers as
possible to let them know they're reopening, that should keep Cologne
busy."
"Okay, so she's tied up until eight, then what?" Ranma asked.
Nabiki shrugged. "That's all I can do."
"Then I guess I challenge her at eight." Akane said.
"Not much we can do between now and then. I don't want you tired out from
practicing. We could work on your strategy some more." Ranma said.
Akane nodded. The rest of the group continued eating in silence.
* * * *
"You ready?" Ranma said.
"I think so," Akane answered.
They were standing outside the Nekohanten with Genma in human form and
Nabiki. It had been decided that it would be best if the others stayed at
the Dojo. Nabiki would be giving them live reports, and any necessary
warnings, via her cell phone.
Ranma had also noticed Dr. Tofu waiting nearby, though the doctor was in
'stealth mode' so he didn't think anyone else had noticed. Probably Dr.
Tofu had deliberately let himself be noticed by Ranma or he wouldn't have
been seen at all.
"Remember the plan: start out doing what you can at long range, try to
get her to use up any throwing weapons she might have. Then close in to
medium range and take out her staff. Do *not* get in close until her
staff is gone. Then move in and pound on her until she falls over," Ranma
said.
"Yeah, I'll remember. It's not that complicated a plan," Akane said.
"Umm...I just remembered, take these." Ranma said, pulling off his arm
bracers.
"Okay, thanks," Akane said looking oddly at the bracers.
"They're metal chain mesh under the cloth. You can use them to block
anything short of a sword or heavy spear," he said.
"Okay, here goes," Nabiki said, walking to the door of the Nekohanten.
She opened the door and went inside. A very tense minute later she walked
out with Cologne, Mousse, and a sleepy looking Shampoo behind her.
"What is this about?" Cologne demanded.
Akane cleared her throat. {Cologne, elder of the Amazons, I challenge the
law by which Ranma Saotome is betrothed to Shampoo,} she said in badly
accented Mandarin.
Cologne smiled slightly. "I think I got the gist of that. Go home child,
I don't wish to hurt you."
Ranma saw the muscles tense on Akane's back and laid a hand on her
shoulder. She got control of herself and looked back at him with a quick
smile. He dropped his hand and she stepped forward.
"The challenge has been given, by your laws you must accept or the law is
void," Akane said.
"Shampoo stepped to Cologne's side and spoke to her in rapid fire
Chinese, far to fast for Ranma to follow. Cologne shook her head and
gestured for Shampoo to move back.
"You know more of our laws than you should. Who taught you?" Cologne
asked.
"My sensei, Ayako Mokoyashi." Akane answered.
Cologne frowned. "I've known many people in my time, that name is known
to me, but the woman I knew was no sensei."
"You stole her fiancee many years ago. She spent her life hunting you.
She taught me much before she died. Oh, and she left a message for you."
Akane recited a string of Chinese that she had memorized. She had told
Ranma that Mokoyashi-sensee said it was best if she didn't understand it.
He only caught a few words, as it seemed to be a different dialect than
the one he'd been learning.
Cologne obviously understood it. She paled, and almost fell off her perch
on her stick. Shampoo seemed to be affected too, crying out once before
covering her mouth with the back of her hand. Mousse did not react to it
at all.
"Very well," Cologne grated out. "There is an empty lot near your dojo.
Meet me there in fifteen minutes."
Shampoo stepped forward again. "No, grandmother, allow Shampoo to fight
this challenge."
Cologne backhanded Shampoo, sending her flying into the front of the
Nekohanten.
"Mind your place, child," she said mildly, then turned back to Akane.
"Fifteen minutes," the old woman said, then turned and hopped into the
restaurant.
"Damn. I was hoping she'd give you a few more days," Ranma said under his
breath.
Akane obviously heard him and turned around. "This is better, I'm ready
now, and she might not be."
* * * *
{Mousse, tell me, how good is Akane Tendo now?} Cologne asked.
"She is much faster, but otherwise seems to use much the same style as
before," Mousse said, trying to answer Colognes question while giving as
little information as possible.
"You have seen her fight?" Cologne asked, switching to Japanese since
Mousse was using it.
"Yes, and I sparred with her as well."
"Excellent Mousse! Tell me what weak points you found." Cologne seemed
pleased with him. He hoped that would help him hide as much of his part
in this as possible.
"There is little I can tell you, Elder. She had some difficulty with long
range weapons at first - you know of her schools' preference for bare
handed fighting - but she learned to deal with them during our fight.
Well enough that she defeated me three times in three matches." Mousse
didn't mention that those were team attacks, he and Ukyou against Akane.
"I see, and were you holding back as you do against Shampoo?" Cologne
said. Shampoo started to protest, but was silenced by Colognes staff
tapping her mouth.
Mousse began to sweat a little at the look Shampoo was giving him.
"Ah...no elder, though it was sparing, not a death match, so I held back
my most dangerous moves."
"So you helped train her," Cologne said. It was not a question.
Mousse swallowed hard. "Yes, Elder."
"I see. Mousse, for your involvement I tell you this: should I lose this
match you are no longer of the Amazons, your name will be struck from our
rolls and the rolls of your family."
Mousse was stunned. He expected to be turned into a duck - perhaps
permanently - if Cologne realized how he had helped. But this...this was
his chance. If Cologne lost he would be an outsider. If he defeated
Shampoo she would have no choice but to give him the kiss of marriage!
He glanced at Shampoo. It didn't look like she wanted to kill him so she
probably hadn't seen the significance of Cologne's proclamation.
"Yes, Elder," he said meekly.
"Very well, let us go now." Cologne said. "Shampoo, bring the first aid
kit."
* * * *
"Got everything?" Ranma asked.
"Of course; hand axe, marbles, one of Ukyou's little spatulas, leather
gloves...and your bracers. Did I forget anything?" Akane asked, checking
that each item was in its place.
"Probably, but we don't have time to think of it," Ranma said sourly.
"Relax, I'll beat up the old troll and then we can forget about Shampoo."
"I hope so, I really do," Ranma said.
Ranma grabbed her chin and lifted her head up to look into her eyes. He
just looked at her for a moment, then let his hand run lightly up the
side of her face.
"I...," he began.
"It's okay Ranma, I know," Akane said.
He nodded and stepped back. "Good luck, and be careful."
She nodded back and turned to face the side of the field where the trio
of Amazons was approaching. Shampoo and Mousse were walking behind
Cologne with Shampoo carrying a box. None of the three showed any
particular emotion.
"Are you ready Akane Tendo?" Cologne called.
"I am."
"Then we begin."
Cologne reached into her robe pulled out a handful of shuriken and threw
them at her.
* * * *
Cologne began the fight suddenly, hoping to catch the girl off guard. It
seemed to work at first, but before the first shuriken reached the Tendo
girl she shifted to the side with incredible speed. It wasn't possible to
move that much mass that quickly without magical help or a ki boost, so
her speed was most likely a ki technique of some kind.
It took the girl only moments to retaliate, throwing small white objects
at her. They moved so fast she barely had time to block them. When the
first two hit her staff they shattered and she felt her hand being cut by
the fragments. She caught the next one in her hand and looked at it - a
glass marble, nothing but a child's toy.
Her momentary distraction was a mistake, enough for four of the marbles
to get through her defense and strike with painful force on her knee,
shoulder, torso, and cheek. Without the breaking point training she'd had
as a girl, those strikes could have broken bone. She was careful to block
each marble as it came after that, letting the Tendo girl slowly decrease
the distance between them.
The use of a missile weapon was smart, but the one she chose was little
more than an annoyance. The girl lacked the determination to use more
deadly weapons. Now she would have to move in to striking range, where
Cologne's knowledge of pressure points could be put to use.
The girl was being careful, she moved to just outside of Colognes
striking range - or at least her striking range with hands and feet, her
staff was another story. Cologne tried to advance on the girl, but she
moved back instantly, keeping the distance between them constant. She was
just a little too far, but soon, as soon as she attacked with her hands...
There. The girls hand flashed forward so fast Cologne almost missed it,
but managed to block at the last instant. The girls speed was incredible,
but now that she knew how fast it was she could adapt and...Cologne
blocked another strike, this time she was ready and hit the pressure
point on the base of the palm. The girl's hand and lower arm should be
useless now. If Cologne was fortunate Akane would attack with the other
hand and have both disabled before she realized what had happened.
Akane struck again, but with the hand that Cologne had just disabled!
Unprepared for a strike from that side, the blow went through her
defenses, smashing into the left side of her chest. Cologne heard a rib
crack with the blow, but didn't feel it give way. She tried to backpedal
to get some distance, but Akane was too fast, she kept the distance
between them the same no matter what Cologne did. Very well then.
Cologne brought her staff around for a blow to the head. She didn't
expect it to hit, but the follow-up to the leg had a good chance of
connecting. The staff was blocked, hard. It almost felt like a block by a
weapon rather than a hand. She swung the staff into the second part of the
move, aiming for the upper leg with enough force to shatter bone, but it
was blocked hard again. Cologne managed to connect with the third part of
the blow, which was to the ribs, but the force wasn't enough to do more
than bruise. It was time to use the staff another way - to strike at
pressure points she couldn't reach. Very few were skilled enough to use
pressure points with anything other than a finger or a needle, but
Cologne had practiced this technique for many years. She'd seldom had to
call on that ability in a fight before this. The staff came up and back
so it was being held like a spear. With a smooth motion Cologne aimed for
a cluster of pressure points at the juncture of the breastbone just above
the stomach.
Then the end of the staff fell off.
Cologne threw the remaining half of the staff away in disgust and brought
her hands up in a guard posture. This was going to be even harder than she
thought.
* * * *
Akane was attacking all out now. She'd started a cycle of
strike-block-strike with very few hits getting through. Still, Akane
*was* getting hits in, while Cologne was completely on the defensive.
Still, Akane could keep this up only so long. She was beginning to tire
when Cologne suddenly changed the rhythm of her blocking and shifted her
stance. Akane took the opportunity to get a few good hits in, but only
managed a few before Cologne leapt, flipping backward so her feet were
between herself and Akane.
Akane didn't bother trying to punch Cologne's feet, she'd likely get a
kick in the face if she tried. Instead she did a roundhouse kick to
Colognes shin, connecting solidly before the old woman's jump carried her
too far away.
Despite the sideways spin added by Akane's kick, Cologne managed to land
safely. Akane studied her opponent before moving forward. Cologne was
standing on her left leg, the right seemed to be sitting at an odd angle.
Her left arm hung limply at her side.
Akane had a feeling of deja-vu as she saw Cologne raise her glowing hand.
She moved back, expecting a ki blast of some kind. What actually happened
was a fast wave of ki came from Cologne's hand, quickly spreading into a
curved, glowing wall five meters across and three high.
Even in her high speed mode Akane didn't have time to dodge the wall, it
was too big and moving too fast. She covered her face and hoped it
wouldn't be as bad as the blast Ranma had hit her with.
The wall hit like a fast, hot wind. Akane screamed as she felt all her
exposed skin burning. She leapt forward in the hope of being in the
burning wall for a shorter time. It worked, there was a moment of intense
heat and she was through.
Akane whimpered at the pain. The skin on her arms was blistered, though
not blackened.
she thought. As she stared at her arms the pain
seemed to move farther away, leaving her feeling like she was wrapped in
cotton.
she thought, desperately trying to concentrate and clear her
mind.
She looked up at Cologne, who was watching her intently, still balanced
on her good leg. Akane moved toward her, knowing she had to get in close
again. If she could just get a few good hits in the old woman would go
down. With that arm of hers out of commission her defenses would be
weak, all Akane needed was a few seconds.
Before Akane could get into striking range Cologne raised her hand again.
"No," Akane whispered.
Another wave came from the old woman's hand. It was smaller this time,
and seemed to glow less brightly. Akane just had the presence of mind to
leap forward through the wall again and she screamed at the burning pain.
Oddly, the pain seemed lessened this time. Maybe it was the walls smaller
size, maybe it was because she was already in shock. She stumbled forward
toward Cologne, feeling exhausted and weak, but determined to finish her
off.
Cologne shifted her stance and brought her good arm up to a guard
position. Akane moved in, knowing this was her last chance to beat the
old woman.
She almost made it. Just before reaching Cologne her vision started to go
dark around the edges. She desperately lunged at Cologne, hoping get in
one good hit before she lost consciousness. Her vision went complete
dark, and she felt herself hit something, then everything went away.
* * * *
Akane came to laying on a futon in the guest room. The room was empty
except for Ranma sitting next to her carefully wringing out a damp cloth.
When he realized she was awake he gave her a smile put the rag back in the
bowl. Akane reached over and squeezed Ranma's hand, she felt the hot
pressure of tears when she realized that she had lost.
"I'm sorry Ranma. I should have listened to you. Now I've lost our chance
to get rid of Shampoo and Cologne," Akane said.
Ranma shushed her. "Hey, we'll think of something else. I'm just glad she
didn't get a chance to use any deadly moves. Actually you're in a lot
better shape that she is. Maybe you should try challenging her again when
you feel a little better."
"Sorry son-in-law. Only one challenge allowed."
Akane tensed and looked over to the door. In it stood Mousse with Cologne
perched on his shoulders. The casts on both of Colognes legs and the arm
in a sling suggest Cologne wouldn't be traveling under her own power soon.
"What do you want old ghoul?" Ranma asked sharply.
"Keep a civil tongue boy." Cologne said mildly. "I didn't come to talk to
you."
"What do you want Cologne?" Akane asked.
"To talk to you child. We have a problem and I want it solved. But this
is for women only."
"Umm..." Akane thought back to the talks she'd had with Mokoyashi-sensei
about Amazon law. "Very well, but I invoke the law of parlay."
"If you must, though I'm not here to fight, only to talk." Cologne said.
"I accept your offer for parlay."
"Elder?" Mousse said. "Akane cannot make that offer..."
Cologne bopped him on the head. "Don't be a fool Mousse, as the only
female fighter of her clan she is the de facto clan matriarch. Now put me
down and take son-in-law to get some tea for us."
Mousse signed, then mumbled something about wheelchairs and obnoxious old
women while putting Cologne down on a pillow next to Akane's futon.
"Come on, Saotome, you can show me where the tea is."
Ranma got up. Before leaving he gave Cologne a hard look. "If you try
anything..."
"Relax, boy. In the shape I'm in even that Kuno boy could defeat me."
Cologne cackled. "Maybe I should let him do so and give him the 'kiss of
marriage.'"
Despite herself Akane giggled and even Mousse cracked a smile. Ranma kept
a straight face, but relaxed and nodded at her before leaving with the
Chinese boy.
"What do you want to talk about elder?" Akane asked.
"Shampoo must marry Ranma or be punished, such is our law. With Shampoo's
earlier failure in not killing the female Ranma, I managed to avoid a
ruling by the Amazon council by having the family punish her. The curse
was sufficiently harsh that the council was satisfied." Cologne said,
sounding more like she was discussing the weather than her
great-granddaughters life.
"He won't marry her." Akane said flatly.
"Humph. He is a male, they are easily swayed...though I must admit that
Ranma is stubborn." Cologne shook her head.
"That does not matter, Ranma is not the problem," she continued. "You
are."
"Explain." Akane said curtly, not liking how this was going so far.
"If Shampoo convinced Ranma to come to the village, you would follow."
Akane nodded. she thought.
"You are a powerful fighter, and you have some knowledge of our laws, you
could cause considerable damage to the village and to my family before you
were stopped."
"Yes, I would," Akane said. "Assuming I *was* stopped."
Cologne waved her hand as if that was unimportant. "So you see, I'm at
something of an impasse. If Shampoo does not bring back her husband, her
punishment will be...rather sever. If she does bring him back the results
will be worse. Fortunately there is another choice."
"And that is?" Akane said, feeling rather uneasy. Cologne was too clever
for her taste, this could be part of some plan to trick her.
"She could complete her original mission of killing the 'pig-tailed
girl'. That, combined with the curse she already carries, should be
sufficient in the eyes of the council."
Akane's anger flared. This woman wanted to hurt Ranma! She struggled with
the feeling, with the need to strike out. In the last few months she'd
come to realize that anger made her weaker. She could not afford to be
weak right now.
"You don't think I'll cause trouble if you kill Ranma!" she finally got
out.
"Not Ranma, the 'pig tailed girl'," Cologne said in the same matter of
fact voice she'd been using.
"In case you haven't noticed, they're the same person," Akane said
sarcastically.
"Ah, but if Ranma no longer turned into the 'pig tailed girl' when
splashed with cold water, she would be dead, would she not?"
Akane just stared at the old Amazon. Was it her imagination, or was there
a grin lurking behind Cologne's serious expression?
"You want to *cure* him?" Akane asked.
"Sadly, that is not an option. There are other curses though. I have
water from five different springs. Perhaps you have a preference?"
As Cologne explained the details of her plan Akane began to relax, then
nodded. Soon Cologne cackled and Akane joined her with a giggle.
Outside the room Mousse's exceptionally acute hearing caught the sounds
of mirth. He shuddered. Those two laughing together could not be good for
him.
* * * *
About fifteen minutes later Akane poked her head into the hallway where
Ranma and Mousse were sitting with their backs against the wall.
"Ranma? Would you bring us more tea please?" Akane asked.
"Ranma grumbled and got up. Fetching tea for Akane and the old ghoul was
*not* his idea of a good time. At least he didn't have to carry Cologne
around like Mousse was doing.
He came up a few minutes later with the tea things on a tray and opened
the door. He stepped in, then froze. Both Cologne and Akane were sitting
facing the door...facing *him*, rather than each other.
"Err...what's up," he asked, suddenly *very* nervous.
"Come in boy, we need to talk to you," Cologne said.
He looked at Akane. She seemed okay, if you ignored her injuries. She
certainly didn't look like she was drugged or anything.
"Sit, Ranma," Akane said.
He sat on the floor, setting the tray between himself and the two women.
Akane served the tea while Cologne looked him in the eye before speaking.
"Boy, we've worked out a compromise that will allow Shampoo to return to
the village without you. To make this work she must complete her original
intention of killing the 'pig-tailed girl' who defeated her. She will do
that by changing your curse so your girl form no longer exists. This will
allow the punishment she received for that failure to atone for returning
without her airen," Cologne explained gruffly.
"So I'm going to be cursed to turn into something else?" Ranma asked, not
entirely sure what this was all about.
"Yes, I have water from five springs available..."
"So I get to choose?" Ranma interrupted. If he could find something he
could live with, something that didn't make him feel less like a man...
"No, you don't," Cologne said.
Ranma thought of some of the springs he knew about. He hated his curse,
but he had to admit that there were worse ones. For all he knew she would
turn him into a, a... His mind conjured up images of fur, teeth, and
claws, the opening of a pit and his father's hands grabbing him and...
"No!" He shouted. "Do you think I'm stupid? I'm not letting you turn me
into anything you want!"
"Stop it Ranma!" Akane said. "Cologne isn't going to choose which spring.
I am."
Ranma sat back, still breathing hard from his outburst. He tried to calm
down, he didn't get angry often, but his curse was a sore spot that could
set him off.
he thought. Thoughts of being called
'R-chan' and carried around like Akane use to carry Ryoga ran though his
head. Of course, considering how Akane used to carry Ryoga close to her
chest, it might not be *that* bad.
When it came right down to it, what choice did he have? If he refused
there was no telling what Cologne would do. Refusing could put Akane or
their families in danger.
"Okay, I'll do it," he said quietly. He looked over into Akane's eyes. "I
trust *you* Akane."
"Excellent. Shampoo and I will return this evening with the water." Then
she shouted something in Chinese and Mousse dashed into the room, picked
her up, and put her carefully onto his shoulders.
"Back to the restaurant, Mousse. We have customers to feed," Cologne said
cheerfully.
Mousse groaned and trotted out of the room.
Ranma watched them go, then turned to Akane.
"You better know what you're doing."
* * * *
Ranma stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom gazing at his female
form. He had very mixed feelings about all this. He hated his curse,
hated the way he turned into a girl, but his feelings toward the form
itself were not as clear. It was strange how he'd come to be proud of the
looks and figure his girl side had, while at the same time knowing it
wasn't really him.
He signed. One thing he could say about his experiences as a girl -
they'd been educational. He knew more about how men treated women, what
girls *really* thought of guys, and how a woman's body worked than any
guy had a right to. All in all, if he had to be cursed, this one wasn't
too bad.
Well, staring in the mirror wasn't helping him. He'd promised Nabiki he'd
pose for a few last pictures of his girl form, might as well get it over
with. Besides, she'd promised to give him a cut of the profits this time.
* * * *
"Great grandmother ready with water yet?" Shampoo asked through the
closed door to Cologne's room.
"Almost child. It is difficult to work with one hand," Cologne answered
her voice muffled by the doors thickness.
"Great grandmother want help?"
"No! This is dangerous Shampoo, I will not have you taking such chances,"
Cologne answered sharply.
"Is dangerous for great-grandmother too," Shampoo said, concern in her
voice.
"I know what I'm about child, now hush, I must concentrate."
Shampoo was relieved when, a few minutes later, Cologne hobbled out
holding a thick glass bottle. She handed it to Shampoo who took it and
carefully examined it.
"What great-grandmother do? Water look same."
"Jusenkyo water loses strength when taken from its spring. I had to
strengthen the magic in this to make it powerful enough to overcome
son-in...Ranma's existing curse."
"Shampoo understand. Is time?"
"Yes, child. Are you ready?"
"Shampoo...," Shampoo began, then switched to her native language. {I am
not sure, elder. Is there another way? Ranma is a magnificent specimen
for a male.}
{I agree, we *will* have his blood to strengthen the tribe. He himself,
thought, he is dangerous, as is the Tendo girl. No, we will find another
way,} Cologne answered in the same language.
{Great-grandmother, do you think I will ever find a man strong enough to
be my husband?} Shampoo asked wistfully.
Cologne's eyes twinkled in amusement. {You may be a little much for any
one man to handle. Perhaps you should find two.}
Shampoo couldn't help herself, she giggled.
"Sound good, is law that let woman have two husbands?" Shampoo asked,
switching back to Japanese.
"Actually, there is. We can talk about it later. Now please get my
'mount'. It is time we left.
* * * *
"Are you sure about this boy?" Genma asked.
"Yeah Pop. As long as Akane gets to choose the spring." Ranma answered in
a bored voice. This was at least the tenth time his father had asked the
same question.
"What if Cologne gives Shampoo different water? How will you know before
it's too late?" His father asked, bringing up a new point.
"Umm...I don't think she'd do that. She's pretty badly injured, I think
Akane could easily take either her or Shampoo even with her injuries. You
and Mr. Tendo can take care of Mousse and whoever she leaves."
"She won't do anything like that. She gave her word," Akane said.
"Thank you girl," Cologne said.
Ranma spun around. Shampoo and Mousse, with Cologne perched on his
shoulders, were standing at the gate. Cologne was giving Genma a hard
look.
"Those who are dishonorable always doubt the honor of others," she said,
staring straight at the elder Saotome's eyes.
Ranma was a bit surprised when his father dropped his gaze. His father
never felt bad about *anything* he did.
"Let's do this," Ranma said, wanting to get it over with.
Cologne continued to stare at his father for a moment before turning to
look down at Shampoo.
"Shampoo, how do you want to do this? Even with three thousand years of
history to draw on, this is a unique event. Whatever you do will guide
such situations in the future."
Ranma looked at Shampoo. She was looking at him and biting her lower lip,
and...was that a tear on her cheek?
"Ranma come here." Shampoo said firmly, walking over to a grassy area in
front of the house.
He followed Shampoo, standing close enough to her for her to reach him.
Shampoo waited while everyone else formed a loose circle around the two
of them. Shampoo produced a bottle from wherever she kept things in that
skimpy dress she wore.
"Everyone to move back. Shampoo not want to curse someone by accident."
Everyone moved back quickly. Shampoo looked up at him.
"Ranma not need do this," She whispered. "Come back to village, Shampoo
make very happy."
Ranma shook his head.
Anger flashed across Shampoo's features. She brought the bottle up like a
club and broke it over his head, soaking his head and neck adding a few
small cuts and bruises to his injuries.
He felt the sensation of change, a feeling both familiar and strange. It
was a lot like the change to his girl form, but the shape was smaller,
the shifting more radical. After the change his first reaction was
confusion. He was on all fours, and that felt right, but he was tangled
in his cloths and couldn't seem to get loose. Then he felt hands helping
him, Akane's hands. He could smell her, that same sweat-spicy-sweet smell
she had right after a workout, but magnified.
The clothes came off and he could see, though things seemed a bit dim.
Akane was next to him, kneeling to his level. This form was definitely
smaller than a human, but larger than Ryoga's pig form.
"Oh, my. What a cute doggie," he heard Kasumi say.
He thought.
Someone poured warm water over his head and suddenly he as standing on
all fours, human, male, and completely naked. He 'eeped' and quickly put
on his boxers. He looked around, face red. It got even redder when he
realized everyone was staring at him, even Kasumi.
"R-Ranma, what happened to you?" his mother asked.
"Huh?"
"Cologne!" Akane said angrily. "What did you do!"
"Mousse, go stand by son...Ranma," Cologne said from her perch on the
Chinese boy's back.
Mousse stepped up to Ranma, and Ranma began to realize that *something*
was wrong. For one thing he was looking slightly *down* at Mousse rather
than up. His center of balance felt different too.
"Hmm...interesting," Cologne murmured.
"What's going on Cologne!" Akane said, still sounding angry.
"Your fiancee seems to have gotten taller and more mature," Cologne
answered, ignoring the glares she was getting. "I would surmise that his
female form was somehow retarding his normal physical development. Still,
I'm surprised the effect was reversed so suddenly."
"Maybe you'd better finish getting dressed now." Kasumi said, holding out
his clothes. For some reason she wasn't looking directly at him.
Ranma dressed quickly. His shirt was a bit tight across the shoulders
now, and the pants were too short. He'd have to go shopping for new
clothes soon. He hated shopping.
"Well ex-son-in-law, I will see if any of my books have additional
information on this effect. I also suggest you see if young Tofu will
check you out."
"Umm...yeah. Good idea," Ranma mumbled.
The three Chinese headed out the gate. Before they turned the corner,
Shampoo looked back at him. This time there was no question about it, she
was crying. She mouthed 'good-bye arien' with quivering lips and
disappeared around the corner.
'Good-bye Shampoo,' Ranma mouthed back. He wouldn't miss her attempts to
trap him, but something had just changed between them, and he felt a
little empty.
"Would anyone like some tea?" Kasumi asked.
"That sounds wonderful Kasumi," Mr. Tendo answered.
"I think I'll go to the dojo and see how much my balance is off," Ranma
said. He felt a need to be alone to deal with everything that had just
happened.
"Just be careful of your injuries, dear," his mother called.
Ranma waved in reply and headed for the dojo while everyone else headed
for the house. He left the lights off, relying on the light from the
house and the nearly full moon, he knew this room to well to need light,
and the darkness somehow suited his mood. He started a slow kata to get a
feel for his changed form. After a few minutes of that he felt a familiar
presence watching him. He stopped the kata and turned, unsurprised to see
Akane standing at the door.
"Ranma, you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
"Sure, why shouldn't I be?" he answered. He couldn't make himself look at
her when he said it.
Akane walked up to stand just a hands breath away. "You're no longer
cursed to turn into a girl, you've got a dog form now, your normal form
is suddenly five centimeters taller, a lot more muscular, and..." Akane
reached up to run her hand along his face.
"...and for the first time since I met you, you need a shave. Is that
enough reason?"
Well...I...," Ranma began, not sure what to say.
"Want to talk about it?" Akane asked.
Ranma hesitated. He wasn't good at expressing his feelings, though he'd
been getting better over the last month or so. He looked down into his
fiancee's eyes, seeing only concern and caring there.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
* * * *
Nodoka was beginning to worry about her husband. He'd been sitting at the
table fingering something in his lap. His preoccupation was such that he'd
hardly touched the snacks Kasumi had brought out with the tea.
"Husband? Is something bothering you?" she asked after he refused to
accept a cookie for the second time.
He looked up from contemplating his teacup. "Yes, Nodoka," he said
hesitantly. "I am worried about our son. He does not yet know the true
horrors of having an animal form, much less how to deal with them."
Nodoka straightened in alarm. "True horrors? You have not spoken of this
before husband!"
"I did not wish to worry you," Genma said.
"Is there anything you can do?" Nodoka asked in a worried tone.
"Yes, I will speak with him at once. It is better to know ahead of time
so he can be prepared," Genma said, and Nodoka could see him clench the
object in his lap tightly.
"What is that dear?"
"This is what may save Ranma from the horrors I had to endure." Genma
held up a white loop of plastic.
Nodoka looked at it, her confusion - and worry - changing to amusement as
she realized what it was.
A flea collar.
* * * *
A raft - or to be more accurate, a lose pile of things that float lashed
together by a collection of rope, string, and rubber bands - landed on a
rocky beach. A thing that looked almost human dragged itself off the raft
and collapsed onto a small patch of sand. The...animate object crawled
slowly up the rocks making moaning and hissing noises that formed
something close to words.
"Pretties..."
=== END PART 7 ===
C&C *very* welcome, flames ignored. Please send comments to
twrensch@geocities.com. My completed stories and relatively complete
drafts are posted at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/5201/.
(
geocities.com/tokyo/dojo) (
geocities.com/tokyo)