Thank you for taking the time to read this fic.
Your review will be gladly appreciated and hoped for.
Well, I've never really written a story where a guy changes into a girl, though, I've read some. And I guess everyone needs to have written at least one of these kinds of story XP
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Nerima was a great and beautiful city to behold again. It seemed so many ages ago that he set foot from this second home of his with Ryoga. He certainly longed for his cherished Shampoo and new friends; and was especially excited to see Ranma.
God.
It was a miracle that he actually made it back at all. Ryoga certainly wasn't the most appropriate partner for the treacherous trip that they had taken through China in hopes to find the infamous Jusenkyo Springs. The trip in total lasted a little over five months, a little long for his tastes, but the time was well spent. He learned a great deal about the Springs that the knowledge he had about the place before seemed to be just a drop on the bucket.
See, they had learned a little secret; a secret that could change their lives forever. It was something so incredibly powerful that it was starting to drive them nuts, making them bite their lips to the point of blood shed in the attempt to keep their mouths shut. But gods! He could finally live happily with Shampoo now. Once Ranma was out of the picture, he could cry tears of joy, not bitter tears of anguish as each time Shampoo spurned him as a sign of rejection. Oh how he couldn't wait to see Ranma. It was becoming almost too much to bear; this anticipation.
As a matter of fact, he and Ryoga were walking down the streets of Nerima casually; on the way to see their dear friend Ranma. Ryoga was carrying a steaming kettle filled with hot water as they both decided that Mousse might bump into something and drop the kettle. So it was Mousse who led the way to Ranma's house. He smiled cheerfully as he viewed the oh-so familiar dojo come into view.
His smile quickly disappeared leaving a surprised one in its wake as he was knocked into the dirt ground face first when someone landed on his head.
"Why Mousse, Ryoga, long time no see." Ranma stated merrily as if he was seeing his two best friends for the first time in decades. He placed his hands on his waist and bent down looking over Mousses head. "Where've you guys been?"
"Ranma! This couldn't be better timing." Ryoga said as he patted Ranma on the back with his free hand.
"What's up with the kettle?" Ranma asked curiously, still standing on Mousse's head.
Mousse was filling with rage. How dare he dishonor him on his first day back? He clenched his teeth and without warning jumped up with a mighty cry, throwing Ranma into the air, throwing some chains out thought his long sleeves to bind the pigtailed boy. "You'll pay for that Ranma!"
Easily avoiding the projectiles, Ranma landed neatly into a stance. "Just got back and already picking a fight?"
"I'll catch him, Ryoga. When I do, you know what to do." He told his partner as he attacked with more chains in his almost never ending supply of weaponry.
Ranma was very swift and it seemed almost impossible to catch him. Mousse was growing more frustrated by the moment as each attack was failing to seize his opponent. He had plenty of weapons left, but if this kept up, he'd run out without even touching Ranma. Deciding to go against the use of the chains; trying to save them for later, Mousse threw a line of daggers which Ranma simply jumped over. He landed inside the dojo walls near the pond and the large tree of the Tendo's yard.
"Didn't you guys train at all during the time you left?" Ranma taunted. "I could beat you in my sleep bound to a chair!"
"Come on Mousse! Get him already; I don't know how much longer this water's going to stay hot!" Ryoga cried from behind making Mousse sigh with frustration.
"He's too slippery! Just try throwing it at him!" Mousse retorted.
"We only have one chance, so we have to make sure we get him. Just keep trying. I'd like to help, but I gotta keep this safe." Ryoga replied, waiting readily and patiently for his turn to strike.
"What are you guys talking about?" Ranma asked, landing near the tree from all his aerial movements. "You guys sure seem determined… to loose!" Ranma stuck out his tongue at Mousse and Ryoga called back names. "Duck boy and piggy!"
"Shut up! Don't call me a pig!"
Mousse became heated with rage, annoyed that he couldn't even strike him.
"RANMA! Don't be such a jerk!" A loud voice shrieked from the dojo. It was Akane who just opened the door from inside. And although it was a little chilly, she wore a cute skirt. "They just came back from a long trip. Couldn't you show some manners at least once!"
"Don't start that with me, macho-chick!" Ranma yelled back. "They started it! And I have enough manners to go along with it! Sexless tomboy!"
Akane puffed her cheeks indignantly and was about to throw something near by at him when they both noticed sharp objects coming Ranma's way. Akane was about to scream out of concern for Ranma to pay attention to his fight, but it was too late.
Ranma dodged most all of the daggers that Mousse had thrown at him, but one caught the sleeve of his shirt and he was trapped for a mere second that Mousse took no time in wasting as his threw his chains around the tree trunk, binding Ranma to the rough bark.
"Ha, finally!" Ryoga cried joyfully as he leaped into the air and threw the golden teapot at Ranma's trapped body. He landed roughly a few meters in front of Mousse and waited for the impact.
Ranma glared at the oncoming kettle and knew that it probably wasn't some ordinary pot. Quickly, he reached as far as he could with his neck and smashed the side of the kettle with his forehead, sending it flying straight back at the person who threw it, Ryoga. There was a gasp and Ryoga suddenly dropped to the floor, surprising Mousse with his quick actions. Being behind Ryoga, he didn't see exactly what Ranma's actions were and had no time to react as the kettle exploded when it hit him and knocked him into the koi pond.
He was soaked. From head to toe, he was dripping wet, and the water wasn't even cold. It was hot and his clothes steamed as if he was being cooked. He was lying on the ground after he dragged himself from the shallow pool, so that it appeared that maybe he had been cooked after all. He fluttered his eyes gently, feeling the warm aura around him created by the water. The incident that just happened to him was vague in his mind.
"M… Mousse?" Ryoga stammered, anxiously waiting for a reply. He wasn't quite sure what the respond might sound like. He was disappointed that they didn't get Ranma, but also mentally kicking himself, harshly, in hopes that he didn't curse his friend.
"Wh… what's wrong?" Akane asked cautiously as she stepped down from the patio and slowly walked towards Ranma who was freeing himself from his bondage. Mousse was still human, but he was supposed to be a duck at the moment. Unless the koi pond was somehow warm, Akane couldn't see how Mousse was still… Mousse. "Ryoga, what's happened to Mousse, it's just a little hot water right?"
"Don't be so stupid Akane." Ranma mumbled. "You think they'd try to attack me with hot water? Don't be ridiculous." Ranma jumped over to Ryoga's slumped side. "This has gotta be some sort of trick." He stared at Ryoga who just watched the body of the Chinese Amazon.
Just as Ranma finished his speech, Mousse slowly stood up, wobbling a little, and feeling extremely… weird. What the hell are they staring at? Mousse thought strangely when he caught site of all their eyes watching him. Shit… please tell me they're not staring at me because… Mousse looked down to see his hands instead of wings. Well, the water was hot when it hit me… but… I hope that the guide was lying to us now!
Everyone stood up as Mousse rose to his full height. It was an odd feeling that stretched across his skin. Why did everyone seem so tall all of a sudden…? Shaking his head violently, he forced himself to think of something else. Shampoo. What will she think of me now? In the back of his mind, he knew what had happened, but he chose to ignore it and act ignorantly.
"Oh, my…" Akane whispered. She was speechless at what she was seeing with her eyes. You'd think that she'd be used to it already, with Ranma and all, but this was just so unimaginable!
"S… Sorry Mousse." Ryoga spluttered and bowed deeply. He then jumped up, face flustered. "It… It wasn't my fault!" He said rapidly and pointed a finger at Ranma. "It was all his fault! He did it!"
"Hey!" Ranma yelled back and smacked Ryoga in the head. "You cowardly pig!" He then turned back to face Mousse and grinned. Putting his hands behind his head, he looked at Mousse playfully and said "Well, at least you look pretty good as a girl."
-
Mousse sat off in the corner of the living room, drinking his green tea in silence. His wet robe clung to him where ever possible, and was overall too big for him now. I could hold an arsenal of weapons now. He joked to himself mockingly. He faced away from the people sitting around the table and his hair fell to cover his face from view. It was longer now; not exactly. He was just smaller now.
"So…" Said a bored Ranma.
"What happened on your trip Ryoga?" Akane asked softly, pouring tea for the now blushing Ryoga; happy that Akane was serving him. "How did you get Mousse to stay as a girl forever?"
At the sound of the word "forever", Mousse sighed deeply and took a sip of his tea. Akane turned from him sadly and encouraged Ryoga to tell the story, since obviously Mousse wouldn't say a word to them. He wouldn't even be inside the dojo if he hadn't tripped on his oversized robes trying to run away.
"Well…" Ryoga began, taking a sip of the tea thoughtfully. "It all started about five months ago…"
…
"There's got to be a way to defeat Ranma! I'll never find true happiness if I don't defeat him!" Ryoga cried to the stars.
"Ryoga! Is that you up there?" Mousse cried from below. Ryoga was sitting on the top of someone's house and Mousse just happened to have strolled by. He jumped promptly on the roof next to Ryoga looked at the stars too. "I couldn't help but hear you yelling at the sky."
"Oh." Ryoga said flatly.
"I want to teach that Ranma a lesson too." Mousse added.
"Should we try teamwork again?" Ryoga asked as a joke.
"He'll just beat us again later. We have to take care of him for good." Mousse said seriously. "I think I know how, but I'll need help."
"What is it?" Ryoga said, mildly interested in what the Chinese man was planning.
"We have to go to Jusenkyo again." He stated.
"To that hell hole? No way. I don't think so. I don't think I want to risk turning into something worse… like a mouse or duck." He said as he stood from his sitting position.
Mousse ignored Ryoga's comment about his curse and stood up along with him. "I'm serious. I remembered something from when I went last time." Ryoga didn't seem to care and was about to walk off when Mousse said something to him. "This way will get rid of Ranma forever and you can get Akane." Mouse started. "It's a guaranteed way! Just hear me out."
Ryoga perked his ears and turned around. "Forever?"
"So Mousse and I journeyed to China again and in two months, we arrived at Jusenkyo." Ryoga explained, watching the deeply engrossed eyes of Akane, and the easy going ones of Ranma. "The guide met us there."
"Greeting good sirs." The Jusenkyo guide said. "Beware springs here. They carry powerful curses in each of them!"
"We know." Ryoga replied softly.
"That's why we're here." Mousse finished. "I remember coming here one day on a hot summer's day. You warned to especially not come near the springs on such a hot day as that one was."
"Yes yes." The guide nodded. "Warm spring waters extremely dangerous!"
"We want to know why." Ryoga asked, rather demanded.
"Good sirs, if splash with warm cursed water, you will stay that form forever, even when splashed with hot water." The guide said hauntingly.
"Good." Mousse said smiling. "Please bring us some water from any spring you choose."
"Why not get yourself?" The guide asked.
"Oh, well, we'd rather be surprised." Ryoga added with a twisted smile.
"Who knew it was water from the drowned girl spring." Ryoga laughed and faced Mousse. "You're quite lucky huh Mousse?"
Mousse glared at Ryoga and turned back to his now wet corner. What a stupid idea it was to go in the first place. He should have known that nothing good would have come from using the cursed water. He was a little grateful that he was still human though.
"So, does that mean Mousse can never turn back into a man?" Asked Akane.
Ryoga nodded slowly but opened his mouth. "But with the naniichuan, we can all be turned back to normal!"
"All? Are you cursed too, Ryoga?" Akane asked shocked.
Ryoga noticed his mistake and shook his head rapidly. "No no no…! I'm not cursed. I mean 'we all' as in a group. I just have team spirit and tend to forget that I'm not cursed! Ha ha ha. What I meant was Ranma and Mousse, and everyone else who's cursed as well!"
Ranma rolled his eyes and blew stray hair from him eyes. Akane only nodded understandingly. "You're such a good friend to them, Ryoga." Ranma almost fell from his already reclining position on the floor. He couldn't believe that Akane was so thick.
Suddenly, Mousse turned around and crawled to the other three. He couldn't stand it anymore. Placing the tea cup on the low table, he asked gently for more tea, making himself sound more delicate than what he was. When Akane nodded and reached for the tea pot to refresh his drink, Ranma sprang up to lift the pot into the air. It was hovering over Mousse's body for a second before Ranma poured it over him. Mousse winced and grimaced from the hot… really hot… water.
"So you really can't change back?" Ranma said while watching the tinted water run down the Amazon's now small body. Ryoga backed away and Akane frowned furiously at Ranma.
"Ranma, you jerk! Don't do that to him! Stop it!" Akane screamed as she wrestled the pot from his firmly gripped hands. "Can't you see that he's depressed? You are so insensitive you heartless jerk!" She huffed angrily and chucked the pot directly at Ranma's face, who fell backwards holding his nose painfully.
"God, you tomboy freak. I can't believe I'm engaged to a maniac like you." Ranma glared at Akane and she just returned the glare right back at him.
"Ranma! Prepare to die!" Mousse cried out as he stood up, his robe hanging extremely loose around his small frame. He took a step forward, but slipped backward when he tripped over his long robes again, landing with a thud on his back. Ranma laughed at his poor excuse of an attempt at revenge.
Footsteps could be heard coming from outside the living room and Kasumi and Nabiki entered, concerned with what the entire racket was about. Kasumi brought her hands to her chest as she surveyed the room with a worried expression on her soft features. Nabiki looked like she was about to tell off who ever was creating the ruckus.
"What's wrong Akane? I heard you scream." Kasumi said with a concerned smile.
"You're not beating Ranma up again are you?" Nabiki said flatly, staring at the boy holding his face.
"Yeah she was!" Ranma yelled.
"Well maybe you wouldn't have gotten hurt if you didn't pick on poor Mousse!" Akane retaliated, smacking Ranma again across the back of his head. "He poured hot tea all over Mousse, Kasumi."
"That was a little mean and childish, dontcha think Ranma?" Nabiki said casually toward the fuming martial artist who just turned his head away.
"Oh, poor Mousse, but who's this young lady?" Kasumi asked as she kneeled by a dazed female Mousse, holding the dripping wet person in her lap.
"Um…" Nabiki uttered, recognizing the long shiny hair and Chinese robes, but it was a girl who was in those clothes. She stared at the three teens by the table and they nodded their head. Nabiki was shocked but relaxed when she found a chance for some blackmail money later. "Kasumi, I think that is Mousse you're holding."
"Oh." Kasumi said startled. "He's all wet. We should get him some change of clothes."
"We tried earlier to get him to change, but he won't do it." Akane explained.
"Why don't you just force him? Doesn't look like he can fight back in his condition right now anyways." Said Ranma. Akane looked at Mousse lying on the floor and nodded to Kasumi. Kasumi just smiled knowingly and asked if Mousse could borrow any of Ranma's clothing. "I barely have any clothing at all, and I don't think they'll fit him."
"They fit you don't they?" Nabiki quipped. "Or do you just don't want to share?"
Ranma frowned at her. "Why don't you make him wear some of your clothing then?"
"I don't think he'll want to dress as a girl. You sure didn't." She replied, but then added "You do it anyways," making Ranma blush angrily.
"Ranma, could you help me bring Mousse into my room?" Kasumi asked sweetly. "He looks my size, I don't mind lending him a pair of my clothes." Everyone turned to look at Kasumi who just smiled cheerfully. Mousse wearing Kasumi's clothes! It was such a crazy idea that they just had to see it through! Mousse would be even more girly looking than Ranma!
"I've gotta see this." Said Ranma. "So of course I'll help you, I'll even choose an outfit for him." He smiled evilly. Now he could get revenge for all those surprise attacks on him and he just wanted to see him in a girls' outfit. He rubbed his hands together and chuckled.
Nabiki recognized that laughter and went over to Ranma and whispered in his ears. "I'm sure you want to blackmail him, dontcha? I'll get pictures of him for ten thousand yen each!" Ranma looked at her bewildered. No way was he gonna pay ten thousand for each picture she'll take. "Fine fine… six thousand each then. Just come to my room when you want to buy them." She left to Mousse's side and smiled at Ranma. "Aren't you gonna help?"
Ranma huffed and lifted Mousse into his arms. Wow, he thought. Mousse was a lot lighter than he had imagined.
-
Mousse woke up leisurely, opening and closing his eye lids every so often, trying to remember what hell had just happened. He remembered he was happily drinking his tea, well sort of. Then he became really angry, probably at Ranma… most definitely. Then he was here, in someone's room watched the ceiling fan go round and round.
He brought an arm up to shield him from the light, expecting his large sleeve to do the job well, when he noticed his arm felt very light. It was as if some weight was magically transported elsewhere. "Ughh." Mousse then covered his eyes with his hand, and felt his skin touch skin. What!
Mousse bolted straight up into the unsuspecting face of Kasumi who didn't even flinch at Mousse's rapid movements. Mousse however jumped back, hitting the wall, and slid down toward the soft mattress on which he was lying on earlier. He looked up to find Ryoga, Ranma and his fiancé, and her two sisters staring at him. He glared at them all and stood up from the bed when he realized that he felt really light.
"What the hell?" Mousse yelled when he finally looked down at what he was wearing. His hands were no long covered with his oversized sleeves, but instead, sleeves from a light blouse ended at his wrists and a soft peach colored dress ended a little past his knees, different from his pants and robe that covered past his feet even.
"Why, Mousse, I didn't know you could look so cute." Ranma said cheerfully. "We do some really good work huh?"
"What do you mean? You didn't do anything at all? You kept trying to tie a bow in his hair." Akane said flatly.
Mousse brought his hands behind his back to feel his hair. As his hands ran down his long hair, he did notice a bow in it. His hair was tied at a low ponytail. The bow was lopsided as well, but that didn't matter because he pulled it off and threw it in Ranma's face.
"Where are my clothes?"
Kasumi put a hand to Mousse's shoulder and he sat down reluctantly under her gentle touch. "They're being washed and hung to dry."
Mousse sighed deeply and raised his head. "How long have I been out?"
"Oh, about a few hours." Ranma said. "We spent a long time figuring out what to make you wear. Ryoga stayed outside the whole time though. Heh."
"You should have stayed outside too Ranma. Not very gentleman-like you know." Ryoga scolded.
"Oh, What do you know about being a gentleman?" Ranma quipped back.
"More than you!"
"Will you two cut it out already!" Akane said getting in between the two boys. "Come on Mousse, you must be hungry. We all are. I'll make us all something delicious to eat that'll cheer you up in no time!"
"I don't think he'll be any happier after eating your cooking. If you wanna live, don't touch what ever Akane's making." Warned Ranma. He patted Mousse on the back and closed his eyes while Mousse watched the floor. "I understand how you feel, being cursed as a girl and all. But it's not all that bad." Mousse trembled angrily and stood up next to Ranma, looking at him straight in the eyes.
"How could you understand? This is permanent; I can't even turn back with hot water! You little…" He suddenly stopped dead in his verbal tracks. He was looking up at Ranma, even when he was at his full height at the moment. He couldn't very well say 'little' to him. He was always the taller one out of everyone, except when it came to Kuno. It felt strange looking up at Ranma, even at Ryoga who just stood there casually. He wasn't even standing up straight and still he was taller.
Mousse turned away and muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"I said go away, Ranma. I don't want to see your face!" Sobbed Mousse, who was trying hard to fight back those tears that just couldn't be held back and leaked out the corner of his eyes.
"What… I'm just trying to make you feel better. Don't be so ungrateful!" Ranma shouted before being hit on the head again by Akane and dragged outside of the room by his pigtail.
"Just come out when you're ready. Dinner should be ready soon and I hope you'll join us." Kasumi smiled sweetly and walked out the room with Nabiki.
Ryoga stood there silent but slowly walked towards the trembling body of Mousse. He seemed so small and fragile. Looking down at him, he remembered all the times they were together, all those battles they fought together in. He felt ashamed at himself for allowing the cursed water to hit the Chinese Amazon. Why didn't he just stand there and take the hit?
"Mousse… I'm… I'm really sorry." He said meekly. "Please forgive me."
"I know it's not your fault." Whispered Mousse. "It was my dumb idea to go back to Jusenkyo in the first place." He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. "Just leave me alone."
"Come on… Mousse… don't cry. You're making me feel bad." Ryoga laughed pleadingly.
"Yeah sure, you feel bad." Mousse turned around just as more tears spilled out. He looked up at his partner in crime. His eyes were watery and his face was flushed red.
Ryoga's heart almost skipped a beat. Whoa… he thought. Mousse was really cute as a girl; probably even cuter than Ranma's female form. He certainly acted cuter than Ranma as he was always being a huge pain in the ass. Mousse was acting like a girl as well, crying tears of sorrow with a sweet delicate face.
Something ticked inside him and he couldn't figure out what to say next. All of a sudden, he grew nervous and couldn't stand still.
"Well… um… i… if you're okay… I mean… when you feel a little better… go eat something. I'm going to join them… um… yeah… my, doesn't it smell good? Well… yeah… see you later." Ryoga spluttered and dashed out the door.
"Weirdo…" Mousse shrugged it off and dried the last bit of his tears. Ryoga's strange act of kindness actually made him feel a little better. "I better go back to the Cat Café soon. Cologne'll be angry at me for skipping work for so long and Shampoo…" He had trouble thinking about Shampoo. "I'll go tomorrow." He sighed and left the room, thinking of ways to hide his new found form.
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Thanks for reading. Please review. :)