V .01
Neo Genus Jusenkyo
By Kevin D. Hammel
My attempt at a Ranma/EVA blend. Shaken, not stirred.
Episode 07 Tatewaki Has Two? Kodachi Gets Three! Hot vs. Cold!
Ranma 1/2 is property of Rumiko Takahashi. Publishing Rights are held by
Viz in The US and Shogakukan in Japan. Neon Genesis Evangelion is
property of Hideaki Anno. Video rights held by GAINAX in Japan and ADV
Films in the US. My purpose is to honor these creators and their works.
No infringement intended.
***
Akane, Ranma and Nabiki stared at the girl they held in their collective
hands for a few moments, having not idea what to do other than flush
bright red.
Ranma spoke at last. "Let's put her down."
"That's a *very* good idea, Ranma!" Nabiki agreed.
The three boys gently set the girl down. In an incredibly athletic move
she arched her back and flipped into a vertical position. Noticing the
three red faced boys, the girl knew all three were in love with her.
She bowed before them; her face aglow with the love that filled her. "I
am touched by the feelings I read so plainly in your faces." With
incredible quickness, the girl seemed to pluck 3 black roses from thin
air, presenting each of the boys with one. "I am Kunou Kodachi, the
Black Rose... Who might you three be?"
Akane looked thoughtful for a moment, what name would he use? "I'm
Tendovski Ayumi!" He blurted out.
Somehow, the name 'Ayumi' triggered Nabiki's response. "Tendovski Naka,"
he responded.
Ranma noted the other two had invented names for themselves, but why did
they seem familiar? He noted the girl looked at him with expectation,
turning even redder. Honesty was the best policy; besides, Nabiki had
already spilled the beans about his name... "Uh, I'm Saotome Ranma!" He
elbowed Nabiki, whispering, "thanks for tellin her... Naka!"
The girl smiled at her three new loves. "Well, I must be off. Good day
to you, Ayumi, Naka, and Ranma!" Kodachi began to laugh again and seemed
to vanish in a flurry of black rose petals.
Ranma pulled out the thermos of cold water he kept for emergencies, and
assumed her natural form. Akane used hot water to assume her birth form.
She then offered her thermos to Nabiki, who used the remaining water to
become girl again.
The three girls just stood for a few moments, considering the bizarre
implications of their strange encounter with the Kunou girl.
"I think she has a hard time telling the difference between
embarrassment and love." Akane said at last.
"But, did you hear her name? Lack of observational skill must run in the
family." Nabiki added with a cocked eyebrow.
The three girls noticed three heavily bandaged figures limping toward
them. When the mummies reached the girls, one bowed. "Saotome Ranma,
will you carry our school's banner into combat?"
Ranma looked puzzled for a moment, then spoke. "Uh, what exactly do you
want me to do?" She flashed a cocky grin. "I *know* I'm the best Martial
Artist in school, where's this scrap gonna to be?"
"Always modest, aren't we, Ranma?" Nabiki threw in, but she realized the
justification for Ranma's pride when it came to the Art.
The leader spoke, head still bowed, expression hidden by the bandages
which covered her. "We're the LEAF Junior High Martial Arts Rhythmic
Gymnastics team, and this Saturday after school, we face Saint Stuckupus
Private School in a match. Their captain, Kunou Kodachi, likes to assure
victory by eliminating the competition *before* the competition."
"*Martial Arts* Gymnastics, huh?" Ranma asked, already warming to the
idea. Then when she thought how badly the girls at school treated Kasumi
and herself, her grin became a frown. "Why should I do *anything* for
you jerks? All you girls give me at school is grief!"
Akane backed her fiancee up, an almost angry look marring her face.
"Ranma's right, from what I've seen, you ignore her... except now, when
you need her..."
The lead girl bowed her head, a contrite expression visible beneath the
bandages. "I'm sorry Ranma. If you do this, our team will do all *we*
can to see that the two of you are treated better."
Ranma considered it for a moment, a neutral expression replacing her
frown. It *would* be fun to learn new techniques, and if she was
accepted at school, after two years of *hell*... "OK, I'll do it!" Ranma
said at last, suppressing a smile.
"Thank you!" The three bandaged girls said, bowing as one.
Akane turned to Ranma. "I'm sure you father will be glad that you'll be
accepted at school now, Ranma."
Ranma looked a little concerned. "Actually, Akane, they haven't been
around for a few days, and I'm getting a bit worried."
Akane looked a little angry. "You're concerned about *them*?"
Ranma glared at her fiancee. "No, I'm concerned about... *us*."
Nabiki stood between the younger women, putting an arm around each.
"Don't worry... I promise I'll get to the bottom of it, Ranma."
Ranma looked at her fiancee with a smile of genuine gratitude. "Thanks,
Nabiki."
Nabiki let go of both girls then nodded at Ranma. "Let's concentrate on
that match, I'll look into our... loving... fathers' disappearance."
***
"Practice makes perfect!" Ranma said to Akane as she wiped sweat off her
brow. She shouldn't have stopped, as Akane took the opening to hit Ranma
hard with a club. After getting a manual and equipment from the wounded
team members; the three girls had immediately launched into a crash
course/workout in a new Art at the Saotome dojo.
"Keep you eyes on your opponent, Ranma!" Akane said as she swung with
the club again, Ranma easily dodging.
Ranma laughed at Akane. "You can get away with that once!"
*Bop* A ball impacting on the side of her face shut Ranma up. She turned
to see a smiling Nabiki. "Nabiki! What do ya think your 'doin?"
"Well, Ranma-chan, you always tell me to always be ready, why not you
too?" Nabiki offered with a smirk.
Ranma was about to reply when a hoop thrown by Akane hit her. She put on
her cocky grin again. "Okay, so that's how you wanna play..." Ranma
jumped back, and kept watch on both her opponents. Dodging attacks from
two directions at once was tough, but she appreciated the workout.
With Akane and Nabiki's help, Ranma was mastering the techniques of
Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics. Like in regular Rhythmic Gymnastics,
where all maneuvers had to be made using tools; all attacks had to be
made with a tool, no direct attacks were allowed. There were many
standard tools: clubs, balls, hoops, and ribbons; but the rules, as
commonly interpreted, allowed most any tool to be brought into play.
Winded after several hours of practice, all three girls were ready for a
break. "Thanks, that's " *bop* "it for today..." Ranma said as she sat
heavily on the mat, Akane and Nabiki on either side, all three sporting
tired smiles. "With your help, Kodachi's toast!"
Helping each other up, the three girls went up to the bathroom upstairs
to clean themselves, Ranma waiting for her two friends to finish.
***
That night, Nabiki had other chores to attend to. She was at LEAF
Headquarters in Joketsuzoku 3 to engage in a bit of research at the
library. One set of stacks was *particularly* interesting, it hid a
grating over an air conditioning duct from the omnipresent security
cameras. Nabiki found that an invaluable aid in her research...
After closing the grating behind her, Nabiki put on IR goggles that let
her see without using a cumbersome and easily spotted flashlight.
Tonight, she wanted to research just what exactly their fathers were up
to. Ranma said they hadn't come home for a few days, so Nabiki was
concerned about them. She quietly crawled through the duct when she
heard the sound of someone else up ahead...
Nabiki froze, concentrating on the junction ahead, looking down the
barrel of her plastic sidearm. A figure crawled into her field of view.
In an instant, Nabiki's guard relaxed. It was the new pilot, Gloss.
***
Gloss *sensed* the danger up ahead, cautiously crawling to the
intersection of the AC ducts. She turned to look down the small barrel
of Nabiki's gun. She breathed a silent sight of relief, then smiled,
nodding her recognition of the other girl.
Nabiki motioned for the new pilot to follow her, and the two girls
headed off through the duct toward Dr. Saotome's office.
As they approached the vent in Genma's office, words began to filter
out. Crawling just two meters farther allowed both girls to hear without
risk of detection.
***
Genma looked at Soun from behind his large desk. The ceiling of his
office was dominated large painting of the Biological Tree of Life with
branches for each Kingdom and Phylum. His hands formed a steeple before
his mouth, hiding expression. "So Tendovski, have you discovered
anything about the new pilot?"
Soun looked at Genma, a wry grin on his face. "Well, it was difficult,
but I know who she is."
Genma lowered his hands, revealing a look of expectation. "Who is she?
Do you have any idea how she synchronized?"
Soun relished his chance to be on top for once, to *know* something
Genma didn't. He let his superior wait for a few moments, answering at
last... "As you know, we took blood and tissue samples when we gave her
a physical."
Genma nodded.
Soun smiled a bit, still enjoying the power he held over his superior.
"We ran a DNA analysis on each sample. The results were surprising...
and identical in each case, of course." He looked at Genma, waiting for
him to digest the information.
"Proceed." The head of LEAF said at last... a bit of impatience coloring
his voice.
"It looks like she is a very close relative of Ranma's, but she has none
of *your* genetic material, Saotome."
Genma looked a bit upset. "So, Nodoka *was* unfaithful to me?"
Soun continued... "I was thinking just that, so I went back to data we
collected in Tokyo 2... Remember when we ran a genetic profile on your
wife as part of my dissertation?"
Genma nodded assent.
Soun was really enjoying this. "That data cleared Nodoka of being Gloss'
mother."
Genma jumped in, his hands forming fists then pounding the desk. "What
are you saying Tendovski? Whose child can she be if she isn't mine or
Nodoka's?"
Soun chuckled. "Let me finish, Dr. Saotome... Except for the "J"
chromosome, Gloss *is* Nodoka."
Genma's face went blank for a few moments, as he assimilated the
information. The head of LEAF spoke, hiding behind an expressionless
mask. "So my wife returned to confront me, did she? I wonder what she
thinks of her little 'man among men'?" Slight bemusement burned away to
an ashen expression as he considered the faded memories that prompted
the last remark.
Soun gave Genma a weak smile in a vain attempt to cheer him up. "You did
what was required for Ranma to synchronize with JAVA Unit 01 in
Joketsuzoku 3, old friend. We both know how proud she is to be a pilot."
Genma gazed at his likeness reflected on the polished surface of the
desk. He looked beyond that reflection and considered another, his
instrument... and the pride he had in her.
But what did Nodoka see when she looked at the girl? A warrior's destiny
fulfilled, or a promise broken... with fatal consequences. And who would
she call to honor the pledge, if she did? Would it be Ranma and her
father, or Genma alone?
With growing concern etched on his face, he spoke. "Perhaps Tendovski,
but I made a pledge to Nodoka, on pain of Seppuku for Ranma and myself,
to assure that Ranma grew to be a 'man among men'. Though my daughter
has made me proud, how can I be sure my wife will look beyond her
gender?"
Genma and Soun rose as one, and moved to leave the room. As they
approached the door, Dr. Saotome turned to look in his friend's face.
"What should we do, Tendovski?"
Soun opened the door for Genma as he responded. "Well, I think we can be
confident that she will fight faithfully alongside the others. Besides,
she's imprinted on Unit 04, so she has much more value alive. And we've
both seen... Gloss and Ranma together, I think the mother has accepted
her daughter."
As they walked through the door, Genma turned to Soun again. "Yes,
Tendovski... She will be a valuable pilot. Nodoka is a superb warrior,
she perfected her Art long after we abandoned ours for greater
pursuits." He reached for the door and began to pull it closed "I was
thinking about..." Click. The door prevented the escape of any
additional sound.
***
The infiltrators had heard every word. Nabiki glanced at her
companion...
Gloss seemed to have taken her discovery well; she knew it would happen
fairly quickly. Besides, she had '04 to guarantee her life; she had
bonded with one of her husband's precious JAVA Units...
Nabiki motioned for her to follow, hoping Nodoka would tell Ranma and
Akane her secret... Maybe even Kasumi could handle it.
The girl seemed to read Nabiki's unspoken question, nodding once.
Finally, Gloss followed Nabiki from the facility.
***
The two girls stopped for a moment outside the entrance to Ukyou's
apartment complex. A determined Gloss turned to Nabiki. "I will tell
them tomorrow, when they meet at Shan Pu's before school. I hope my son
will forgive me."
Nabiki gave Gloss a quick hug, then let go to speak. "Don't worry, Ranma
loves you. She'll be proud of you... and maybe we can get some training
from a master. I'm sure even Ranma will appreciate that, Mrs. S."
Gloss smiled. "Well, I *do* have some interesting ideas on how JAVA
units can fight more effectively..."
Nabiki gave Gloss a tiny smile. "Like mother, like daughter. With *both*
of you on our side, we're gonna win."
Gloss looked thoughtful for a moment, then brightened again. "I hope so,
Miss Tendovski... Nabiki... I hope so." Her expression darkened. "But
our greatest opponents may not be the zoomorphs... Perhaps only the
Angels themselves can save us from those two fools."
Nabiki nodded once. "Da!" then turned to head home.
Gloss turned and went up to the place she slept. She knew she would have
a home again, soon.
***
Ranma pushed the buzzer beside the door to Shan Pu's apartment, then
waited for a few moments.
Nabiki opened the door for Ranma. "Glad you finally put in an
appearance, Ranma... We've been waiting for you."
As she entered the room, Ranma noticed that Gloss had decided to visit
today... and that the bruise on the young Amazon's face hadn't healed
yet. Ranma looked from Gloss to a strangely quiet Akane. It seemed her
fiancee had noticed the injury, too.
Shampoo entered the room to join her entire pilot corps holding a kettle
of water. She looked at the pilots with a contrite expression, then
spoke. "As you know, we try not to keep secrets from each other... So
we've decided to let you know about Gloss and *her* curse." She set the
kettle before the young Amazon.
Gloss looked Ranma in the eye, her own eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"Ranma, there is something you must know. I hope you will still love
me."
Akane couldn't help but feel a new wave of anger wash across her. Ranma
was engaged to her! What did this Amazon bimbo think she was doing?
Gloss withdrew a small plastic container from a pocket of her pantsuit,
opened it, and then removed a dark contact lens from each eye. She re-
sealed the package and looked at Ranma with bright blue eyes. She then
reached up and pulled a dark wig from her head, allowing her short red
hair to tumble out.
In an instant Ranma knew who she was. "Why... why did you do this to
yourself?"
The girl raised the kettle above her head, and in an instant washed away
the curse she had accepted only days before. "Because I need access to
my... husband. Because there was need for a new pilot. Because I love...
my daughter." At last, Nodoka set the kettle down.
Ranma couldn't help herself. "I love you, mom... and I always will."
Akane's anger flashed to sorrow. What had she done? She struggled for
composure, tears streaming down her face. "Mrs. Saotome... I didn't
know... Can you forgive me..." and at last, "I'm sorry."
Nodoka looked at the person who she already had no doubt would be her
child's spouse one day. "Akane, you must learn to control you anger...
Though, because in this case it shows me just how much you love my
child... I will accept your apology." Her look became more serious.
"But, Akane, there will be many women in Ranma's life... The two of you
live in a village of women, after all. Promise you will never treat
another the way you treated me."
Akane tried to stop crying. "I... Promise." She said amidst the tears.
Ranma looked at Nabiki. "I hope mom's not trying to marry me off
already."
Nabiki smiled at Ranma, realizing with sadness that the girl really only
had one fiancee, no matter what she told herself. "Don't worry, Ranma.
I'm sure Akane and your mom will let you make up your own mind."
Kasumi watched the entire scene with a blank expression.
After composing themselves, the 4 girls left for school.
Shutting the door behind the children, Nodoka gave Shampoo a serious
look. "Shan Pu, have you considered arming your JAVA units with weapons
superior to those knives? As a Master of Kendo, it would be my honor to
train your pilots." She concluded with a bow.
Shampoo smiled at her. "Mrs. Saotome... are they *my* pilots or your
teammates?"
Nodoka looked up, returning the smile. "Both, Commander."
"Actually, we have, Nodoka. We will provide you and Ranma JAVA katanas.
Akane already has a... weapon she has used to great effect. Uk... Dr.
Kuonji thought of slightly different weapon Kasumi might favor; and has
offered to train her in its use. Nabiki will continue to provide support
with a JAVA rifle... She's quite a marks... person."
Nodoka looked thoughtful "Yes... she does seem handy with guns...
Excellent, Commander... Thank you."
The phone rang. "Excuse me, Mrs. Saotome..." Shampoo said as she hurried
to answer it.
"Hai." "I tell her." "Hai, Dr. Saotome" "Tomorrow, then." Shampoo put
the phone down, a strange grin on her face... She looked up at Nodoka.
"It seems that Dr. Saotome is very concerned that one of his pilots is
not getting a proper education..."
Nodoka shook her head in the affirmative... though her face betrayed
disbelief. "So he wants me to go to school with the... children?"
Shampoo's expression became a little more serious. "Well, the welfare of
our young pilots is very important to the UN brass that pays our
bills..."
A bemused smile flickered across Nodoka's face. "Very well. If he wants
all five of his pilots to go to school together, I'll start..."
"Tomorrow." Shampoo finished. "Let's get you fitted for a... uniform...
Gloss."
"Hai." Nodoka went to the kitchen to adopt her alternate guise. What her
husband intended as humiliation would be a chance to get to know her
daughter better. She shook her head, never dreaming that she would ever
go to junior high again... let alone look forward to it.
***
The next morning Gloss tired to keep to herself, she wanted to surprise
the other pilots at school. As she neared the school building, she saw
Ranma and her friends entering the gate. What happened next shocked,
then angered her.
Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, and Kasumi entered the school grounds greeted, as
usual, by Kunou Tatewaki. The young Kendoist barred the path before the
four. "I greet thee this morning, fair Ranma and beauteous Akane. Again
I proclaim my love for both of thee. Fair Ranma, the most beautiful rose
is diminished..."
"What!" A voice rang out from behind. Ranma and her fiancees turned to
see *Gloss* armed with a bokken approaching with fury.
"Uh oh... *this* should be interesting... for a little while." Nabiki
said with an almost feline grin. She also had more that enough sense to
get out of the way, pulling Akane and Kasumi with her.
Ranma's face went from surprise to shock. What was her mother doing
here... and in a uniform no less!
"Ah, a new combatant doth enter love's arena. In you I see both the
beauty of fair Ranma and the fury of Akane. If, upon this day you defeat
me, know that I will date with thee!"
Gloss slowed down as Kunou's words sunk in. It seemed he was in love
with Ranma and Akane, but now wanted to date... her? Gloss gave him a
smile dripping with contempt. "Why do you profess love for Ranma and
Akane? Don't you know that they are..."
"Gloss!" Nabiki shouted.
Gloss swallowed her words at Nabiki's outburst, realizing there were
*some* things left better unsaid. "So, master Kunou... you think you
know Kendo?"
"My dear lady, I do not merely know the sport, I am its master... the
rising star of the junior high school Kendo world!"
His new opponent smiled as her battle aura grew. "Let's see... 'master'
Kunou."
Ranma smiled at her mother. Gloss had made master sound like an insult.
Gloss continued, showing Akane exactly where Ranma's confidence had come
from. "I, Gloss of Joketsuzoku shall emerge triumphant... but I will
never date with the likes of you."
Kunou bowed then looked up at Gloss' aura. He took a defensive position
as he swallowed.
The Kendoist advanced toward the martial artist-wannabe. His lesson
would be brief and painful... but would it be instructive?
Suddenly Nabiki saw a way all of them could profit from this combat,
well... at least she could! "Gloss, wait!"
All eyes turned to the middle Tendovski daughter. "I was thinking, maybe
the two of you could battle it out before the Martial Arts Gymnastics
match on Saturday."
Ranma's face brightened with a smile. "That's a great idea!" She turned
to Kunou. "Whatcha think, Kunou?"
Tatewaki relaxed his posture, even as he kept his bokken between himself
and Gloss. His brow was wrinkled in concentration, but only for a
moment. "If the lady would put aside our differences until that later
day..."
Gloss smiled. "Hai, Kunou-san." She bowed curtly, then returned her
bokken to its place on her back. "Will you leave us in peace until
then?"
"Hai... I look forward to crossing swords in the arena again... Gloss."
He bowed and walked smartly into the building. His mind began to wander;
would Gloss join Ranma and Akane or take their place? She would join
them; the other two were far too precious for him to renounce. His
expression brightened as he thought of ways to please his three loves.
***
Gloss sat by herself at lunch, looking over her class schedule as she
picked at the bento she had packed. Though the Joketsuzoku history class
looked interesting, most of the other courses she had hated over two
decades before, and would still probably hate. Too bad there wasn't a
Bio class or a course in Martial Arts Theory... but this was only junior
high. Putting the booklet down, attention returned to her lunch. Two
shadows interrupted her munching; she looked up to see her daughter and
Akane smiling. Gloss couldn't help but return the smile. "Have a seat,
what are you two up to?"
Ranma spoke first, looking at her mother with a smile. "You really
surprised us this morning... and thanks for helping out with Kunou."
Gloss looked a bit concerned. "Why didn't you mention him before, Ranma?
Does he do this to you every day?"
Ranma's smile vanished behind a mask of pain. "Yeah, every school day
for two years, Gloss. Kasumi and I both transferred in the same day, ya
know. She was really bad back then, and Kunou 'fell' for both of us."
She looked away from her mother, lest she show her judge any
unmanliness.
Gloss touched her daughter's shoulder, offering comfort. "But you were
only twelve, Ranma..."
Ranma looked her mother in the eyes, her face dead serious. "Yeah, we
were. Kasumi couldn't take it, m... Gloss. Kunou nearly killed her. Poor
Kasumi, she was... new... then." She looked back to her mother, hatred
flaming on her face. "But I beat him, Gloss. I beat him good. And I told
that jerk never to lay a hand on her again..." A small smile drove the
look of hatred away. "For once, Kunou did the right thing. He agreed,
but he was still after me... every day." She looked somewhat sheepish as
she continued. "I hate to say it, but that was another reason I was
really glad Akane came into my life. Sharing the burden of Kunou with
another person... who knows *me* has been wonderful." She smiled at
Akane, who gave Ranma's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Akane reflected her fiancee's smile, then turned to Gloss. "Nabiki and I
went through two years of Hell once we got back to Saint Petersburg 8.
All the girls we thought were our friends... rejected us with the first
rain after our return. And none of the boys wanted us as friends either.
Then our father brought us here, and we both hated him for it, all the
way over from Russia. But, when we faced off with his partner's daughter
in the dojo..." A giggle from Ranma stopped Akane for a moment as she
joined in, then composed herself again. "The two of us found there was
someone else in the world who understood us. For the first time in two
years, I'm a girl again..."
Ranma picked up, "and I found that being a girl was a lot bet..." She
clamped her mouth shut.
Gloss smiled. "Don't worry, girls. I love both of you, just the way you
are." She turned to her daughter, giving her a big smile. "I'm proud of
you Ranma."
"Thanks" The other two chorused.
A chime announced the end of lunch.
***
Gloss glanced at the clock... one hour left. She smiled slightly.
That... cur, to use his own archaic words, would learn a lesson today.
In Kendo, and perhaps honor... but was he even capable of learning what
she planned to teach?
Her smile became something else as she looked at her practice-sword...
She recalled innocent times, a lifetime ago, sparring with Genma, Soun,
and Keiko. Before the Second Impact and Jusenkyo there had been the Art
which united them. But that was past, only memories remained of fleeting
happiness. Her smile returned as she considered her daughter/son, and
Ranma's love of the Art. The future beckoned with promise instead of
pain... satisfaction instead of sadness.
She was ready. "Ukyou, are you coming?"
***
The lights in the gymnasium dimmed...
A voice rang out from above the arena. "As a special preliminary to the
Gymnastics match; the Leaf Junior High Kendo Club and Tendovski Nabiki
Productions are pleased to present a Kendooooooo gruuuuuuudggggge
maaaaaaatch!"
A spotlight shone on Tatewaki, as the voice continued. "In this
cornerrrr... The undefeated rising star of the Junior High School Kendo
world... Kunooooooooo Tatewakiiiiiii!"
Tatewaki went to the center of the ring and bowed to the crowd. He was
resplendent in his Kendo garb, recalling a warrior of the bygone era in
which he lived.
Another spotlight shone on Gloss. "And in this corner, The
challengerrrrr... A new student at Leaf Junior High... Glosssssssss of
Joooooketsuzzzzzzzzokuuuuuuuu!"
Gloss strode to the center of the ring, garbed in an Amazon warrior's
green pantsuit.
The opponents bowed to each other and went to their respective corners.
The match began. Kunou rushed his opponent and swung with a power that
surprised Gloss. He was actually skilled, not at all what she had
expected! Each blow Kunou attempted hit only air as Gloss seemed to
sense where the next strike would be... seeing feints and attacks for
what they were, not what they seemed.
Gloss calmly watched her opponent as she dodged, noting that his anger
was steadily increasing. Anger would defeat him; she would merely pick
up the pieces. Finally Tatewaki overextended himself, only to be
disarmed and knocked to the ground in a fraction of a second.
The Kunou boy was not quick to get up. Gloss walked over and offered the
groggy youth a hand to help him stand. After he rose, applause greeted
the two combatants, quickly drowned out by a tide of girlish laughter.
Clearly written on Kunou's forehead was one word... "Hentai".
Gloss turned to her defeated opponent. "Will you renounce your love for
Ranma, Akane, and all other girls you currently force yourself upon?"
He bowed his head in defeat. "Hai, Gloss-chan. I renounce all the love I
feel for Ranma, Akane, and... You."
Gloss bowed. "Thank you for showing yourself to be an honorable warrior,
Kunou-san."
"Thank you, Gloss-chan." The once-defeated falling star of the Junior
High School Kendo World responded.
The two warriors left the arena as the lights came up and the ring was
prepared for the Main Event.
***
Ranma waited in her corner with Gloss, Akane, and Nabiki. She wore a
white leotard decorated a large, faint, LEAF logo slightly off the
garment's center. Nabiki and Akane had armed themselves with water
pistols.
Akane gave Ranma her water pistol with a sheepish smile. "Uh... Ranma,
could you fill this with cold water."
Ranma gave Akane a questioning look, then realized why her fiancee had
asked her to do it. "Scared of a little cold water..." She lowered her
voice to a whisper. "Ayumi?"
"Da!" Akane said with a sheepish grin.
Ranma filled the pistol, carefully drying it before handing back it to
Akane.
"Thanks, Ranma." Akane gave her fiancee a cute smile.
"No problem Akane-chan."
Gloss smiled at the interchange.
Meanwhile Nabiki poured hot water into another water pistol. "Why are
you doing that Nabiki?"
"Well, Ayumi, what if you spill some cold water on yourself, Gloss,
or... me?"
"I see!" Akane responded with a nod. A noise from a duffel bag near the
ring drew her attention. Akane turned to the bag and took put her little
piggy, which in a flash disappeared from her hands, as one of Kodachi's
hench-girls ran off. "Hey!" Akane shouted. "That's my piggy!" The girl
ran off.
It was only a few moments later that Piggy and Ranma were handcuffed
together as the latter went to shake Kodachi's hand before the match.
Ranma looked at the Kunou girl with pure contempt. "Care to place a
little wager on the match Kodachi-chan?"
"What could I possibly wager with you?"
"Well, if I win, you will renounce all the love you have for Ranma,
Ayumi, and Naka! If you win," she swallowed, hard. "They will accept
your love."
Kodachi grinned, confident of her impending triumph. "A little wager
will make my victory even sweeter. I accept!"
The two combatants bowed to each other, then retreated to their corners
until summoned by the bell.
It seemed that Kodachi used every dirty trick in the book. First it was
hoops edged with razor blades, then iron bars disguised as ribbons, iron
balls, clubs with retractable spikes... Then Kodachi got *really*
nasty... she brought out a kettle of hot water!
Ranma looked at the kettle in sheer terror.
"Oh, the little trollop is afraid of my kettle, is she?" Kodachi said
with an evil sneer.
"Lower forms of life often fear a little hot water..." She threw the
steaming kettle at Ranma, who blocked using the chain which bound her to
the piglet. Unfortunately, the kettle bounced into the air and, despite
Ranma's leap out of the way, drenched her and the piglet with hot water.
Through the steam, Akane could see a larger Ranma and the piglet. She
shot the water pistol into the steam, hitting both of them. There were
now *two* shadowy forms in the steam.
Ranma watched in amazement as the water hit the piglet, which became a
girl wearing every bit as much clothing as the piglet had been... none
at all. She could see fear and confusion in the girl's face, soon
reflected in her own...
What would they do now?
***
(END)
Next on Neo Genus Jusenkyo...
Episode 08 Hello, Ryomi: Ranma's Little Sister!
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