Chapter Six
A few days later in the morning Akane headed downstairs to get breakfast but she passed Ranma on the way down. This was not unusual, but the fact he was carrying bathing supplies was. "Huh? Why are you taking a bath so early?"
Ranma blushed and looked away from her. "I got a bit sweaty last night."
"It wasn't that hot." Akane replied, then her eyes widened a bit. "Wait, did you have a nightmare?"
"...no." Ranma answered, dragging the word out.
"Then what got you so worked up?" Akane pressed, then silently gasped and smirked. "Hey, you weren't having a dirty dream were you?"
"What?" Ranma asked, now looking at her but his face got redder.
"Who was it about and what did you two do?" Akane asked, not the least bit accusing or jealous. Even she was a bit surprised. 'I hope it was me. Then I won't feel so bad about what I do with him in my dreams.'
"I'd rather not answer." He said.
"Alright then, just tell me you were a guy and with a girl."
"Of course I was! What do you take me for Akane?" He almost yelled.
Akane giggled and patted his shoulder. "It's okay Ranma, I was just joking. But if it was me in your dream, I'm not upset. Play your cards right and it might become real someday." She said as she headed away, leaving a still blushing Ranma on the stairs.
'I hope I never piss her off.' The pigtailed young man thought as he continued to the furo, trying not to remember the fantasy he indulged in last night where Akane and Shampoo were naked for him though he couldn't remember everything they did in his completely normal teenage dream.
When he got into the washroom he saw his father in human form washing what was left of his hair. 'Just what I needed to take my mind off of two sexy girls.' "You mind? I need the furo now." Genma paid him no mind, and Ranma grabbed a pail of water to make his father hear him. All he got was a mule ignoring him.
The Tendo's were eating their breakfast and Soun was reading the paper. "Where are Ranma and Mr. Saotome?" Kasumi asked as she finally sat down to eat herself.
"Genma's busy with his morning wash as far as I know." Soun answered.
"And Ranma needed to clean a little sweat off." Akane added, trying to keep the image of Genma in a washroom out of her mind. 'Think of Ranma washing himself instead.'
"Why would he be sweaty?" Nabiki asked, also aware that the previous night wasn't a hot one.
Akane shrugged. "Must be a boy thing."
After a bit they heard a conflict coming from the halls. "Oh my, something must have gone wrong." Kasumi noted.
"It'll be fine." Akane said, hoping no one would interfere and make the problem worse.
"It sounds like someone's throwing things." Nabiki stated.
Akane sighed. "Fine, I'll go stop it." She got up and headed to the furo room to see a mule and a red-haired girl duking it out in the small room. "Hey you two, cut it out." She told them as she interjected herself between them, hands spread to keep them apart.
Akane gave Genma a no-nonsense look then did the same to Ranma, but she quickly saw she inadvertently placed her hand on Ranma's right breast in her attempt to stop the fight. Ranma herself looked a bit uncomfortable being grabbed. Akane let go. "Sorry about that. Damn, I wish mine were that big." She then walked away before it got weirder.
After breakfast and the fight ended, Ranma and Akane were walking to Furinkan with Ranma atop the fence as usual.
"Hey Ranma, could you teach me how to walk like that?" Akane asked, as she did find that feat impressive.
"I suppose, but it's not going to be easy." He told her, again not able to look at her.
'It's amazing how much I called him perverted when he's so easily embarrassed. Let's see how much I can do before he stops getting so nervous.' Akane told herself, amused and strangely bold. "You still shy about earlier? Don't be, it was my fault. Would it make you feel better if you touched mine?"
Ranma lost his balance and fell into the canal, turning into a girl right away.
"Ranma!" Akane called out, looking thru the chain link fence. 'Oh Kami, how did he ever get out of the canal? My vision never showed me that part.'
"I'm okay Akane, just really wet." Ranma shouted then looked around. He saw a ledge on the side of the canal likely using for workers to have access. "I'll be up in a sec."
Akane had to cross a bridge since Ranma was getting out on the other side of the canal, and by the time she got there Ranma was almost out herself. Akane extended her hand which Ranma took and she pulled her now female fiancee back onto the street. "Sorry about that. I didn't think you'd react like that."
"Uhh... I'm okay, I was just surprised." Ranma replied, trying to shake off most of the water on her.
Akane handed her a towel, glad she was getting into this habit. "Y'know, my offer still stands. If you want to touch mine, just ask." She blushed greatly and looked quite coy and innocent, but she meant what she said.
"Akane, you're not going to become... easy are you?" Ranma asked. "I've heard that only easy girls make offers like that."
"Ranma, the offer is for you and only you. No other boy will get his hands on me if I have anything to say about it. But you on the other hand are someone I don't mind being touched by. Be it a simple hug or hold, or even something perverted, if it's from you I will enjoy it. After all, I love you and want you to love me."
Ranma was about to say something but Akane placed her finger on the gender bender's lips. "However, there are two things I want you to know about this offer. When we're in public or around others, only touch me in socially acceptable ways, and if I ask you not to please respect my wishes. And while we're alone you have my permission to touch me however and wherever you want, BUT..." She paused to take a breath. 'C'mon Akane, you've gone this far, go for the finish.' "Touching is all you can do to my body for now. Touching is okay for my fiancee, but only my husband can have my virginity."
Ranma just stood there and dropped the towel. "You serious Akane?"
The youngest Tendo nodded, looking a bit embarrassed but not regretful. "Yes Ranma, I am. I know it sounds weird, but this is something I want to try. I don't want to act like touching you is going to give me some sort of disease, and I don't want you acting like I'm going to be mad if you desire me. I want to be desired by you, and if this helps you feel safe around me I'll do it."
Unsure what to say, Ranma just finished drying up. "We should get going or we're going to be late."
Akane quickly looked at her watch. "Oh wow you're right. We better hightail it right away." Then she got an idea. "Say Ranma..."
At Furinkans' gates, there were probably a dozen members of the Hentai Horde waiting. Thanks to Akane, most of the group lost their enthusiasm and decided to save what little dignity they had left. Only a few remained, too dedicated to obtaining their goal to give in this easily.
One of them wearing a standard gi looked down the street and saw something approaching. "There she is."
"Wait, something's not right." One other member dressed as a boxer said, squinting to see better. "Is she on a horse?"
Akane jumped off the horse which appeared to get smaller until a human shape could be seen even if no one could see who it was. When the change finished, Akane landed on her feet and ran right beside her former ride, which now could be seen clearly as Ranma Saotome.
"What was that? Some sort of magic trick?"
"Must have been a trick of the light. Doesn't matter, she's here and we must prove our strength to her." The gi-wearer told the small group.
Ranma and Akane came up closer, side by side running in unison. "You wanna help me on this one Ranma? They might stop altogether if you do?"
"If you say so Akane." He replied.
The crowd tried to swarm her as usual, but rather than stop to fight them all off, Akane chose to plow right thru them like a train, swinging her book bag to smack them away with Ranma right next to her providing some help by punching and sweep-kicking.
From her homeroom Nabiki watched the two with interest. Especially when Kuno decided to join in just when they got close to entering the building.
"Akane Tendo I challenge you!" He proclaimed.
'Guess Kuno-baby can't learn his lesson.' Nabiki mused.
"That jerk." Akane said. "What do I have to do to get the message thru his thick head?"
"How about the direct approach?" Ranma suggested before jumping forward.
Akane immediately got the hint and jumped too. Both performed a jump-kick right to Kuno's cranium, knocking him on his back allowing them to proceed inside and get to class.
Nabiki looked a bit disappointed. "Kuno falls again."
Later on Nabiki was the one who had to check on a downed Kuno on a bed in the nurse's office. "You're so pathetic. Did you hear anything she told you earlier this week?" The middle Tendo asked as she wrung out a damp rag. Just as she was about to place it on his head, Kuno sprung up, but he looked dazed.
"Ah my darling Akane, I will prove my worth to you." He said quietly, his arms outreaching, before falling back and closing his eyes again.
Nabiki curiously looked closer, seeing he was passed out again. "Still stuck on my sister."
Kuno sprang upwards again. "Accept my love for you Akane Tendo." Then he passed back out.
"I wonder what Dr. Seuss thinks of the world you live in Kuno-baby." The mercenary girl commented.
Kuno sprang upwards yet again but this time he faced Nabiki in a daze and grabbed her hands. "Please Akane go on a date with me."
Having quite enough of this, Nabiki grabbed the wash tub and hit him over the head with it. "Are you awake now?"
"That hurt Nabiki." Kuno told her, arms crossed but the tub still atop his scalp.
"Don't you remember what my sister told you just days ago Kuno? She said she doesn't want you." Nabiki reminded him.
"Only because I have not proved myself to her yet." The kendoist stated. "I was mistaken in my means but not my intentions. Tell me, what did Saotome do to impress her?"
"I wish I knew." Nabiki told him.
Back home Nabiki came and saw her father and a mule playing shogi, though how Genma could play with hooves was beyond her, and Kasumi was vacuuming the adjacent room. "I'm home. Where's Ranma?"
"He went straight to his room." Kasumi answered.
Akane came down dressed in her gi. "Hi Nabiki. You looking for Ranma?"
"Just want to ask him something."
Akane nodded. "Ok, but don't even think of taking pictures of his girl side to sell." Without waiting for a response, she went outside.
Confused, Nabiki followed her younger sister. "What made you think I'd do that?"
Akane picked up a barbell in each hand and did a small exercise of raising one over her head at a time. "Oh I don't know, how about the fact you've sold pictures of me before."
"Photography's my hobby Akane. Sometimes people like what I come up with and want a copy for themselves. What's the harm? It's just a picture."
"Tell me that after you sell some pictures of yourself." Akane added. "But tell ya what, I'll agree to ignore the next few times you sell pictures of me if you do me a favor."
"What kind of favor?" Nabiki asked. Before Akane could answer though, an arrow embedded itself in one of the wooden posts of the house close to Nabiki, surprising the girl.
"Who shot that? That could have hit you." Akane stated, aghast at this action enough to stop her exercise.
Nabiki noted the paper wrapped around the arrow. "It's a letter." She took it off, opened it, and started to read.
"Who's it from?" Akane asked, her dream unable to answer it for her.
"Here you go." Nabiki handed the letter to her sister after she finished.
"Dear Nabiki Tendo, lo, it is spring! What glories lie in store?" Akane paraphrased. "Oh this can't be anybody but Kuno." She complained, then went back to reading. "Anyway, please come to Cafe Toramaru tomorrow at noon. It's in the shopping center in front of the station. Signed, Tatewaki Kuno, age seventeen." Akane finished. "Now why would he mention his age? Or ask you to meet him somewhere away from school?"
"I have no idea." Nabiki answered.
Akane noticed her sister didn't look that bothered by this. "Are you actually going to go Nabiki?"
Nabiki nodded.
The next day at the appointed time and place, Nabiki entered a cafe and looked around. It was easy to find her classmate given the fact he was still wearing his blue and black haori and hakama, while she and everyone else was wearing normal clothes. To be precise she was wearing a red-and-white horizontally striped t-shirt and blue jeans, the sort of outfit she preferred.
Kuno took notice of her entry and invited her over to his table. She sat down and saw a plate with some tea on it, a red jar, some pickles and a set of chopsticks. She opened the red jar to see hot sweet bean soup. "So what's this all about? Why are you treating me to shiruko Kuno-baby?" She asked, trying to ignore the blonde doll in his arms while breaking apart her chopsticks.
"The truth is I have a boon to beg of you." He started as she sampled her treat. "Lest you think to mock me, kindly consider the cost to my pride." She looked at him for a moment before slurping some of the broth. "Do not take me lightly in this."
"Aren't we all high and mighty." Nabiki replied. "If you want something, hurry up and ask me. Time is money."
"Very well, I shall show it to you." Kuno told her, then held out the child's doll. "This is it."
Nabiki just looked at it critically. "And what is this?"
"It's a cute doll." He answered.
"I can see that. I mean, what is it for?"
"It's a present."
Nabiki waved it off. "No thanks. Not my type."
"Who said it was a present for you?" Kuno asked. "This is for Akane."
"What makes you think this is going to make her want you?" Nabiki asked.
"Am I wrong in my understanding that women like it when men give them gifts?" Kuno asked back.
"No, but you're wrong in thinking you can buy a date out of my sister like that. And even if it worked, she wouldn't be impressed that you gave it to her thru me. Did you suddenly turn shy Kuno-baby?"
"No, but I'm trying alternative means to appeal to her."
Nabiki smirked, crossed her legs and rested her head on her right hand. "And I'm guessing you want me to tell you the best way to do so in case this way didn't work." She giggled a moment. "Y'know, for some reason my sister is quite enthralled by Ranma, and I'm still not sure why. But I can tell you that if you want her to like you, you're first going to have to undo all the damage you've already done."
Kuno thought this over. "So you're saying that in order to win Akane's affections, I must first find a way to make her not want to give them to Saotome instead?"
Nabiki looked irritated. "What part of what I said sounded like that?"
"In any case, could you please give this to her as a token of my affections?" Kuno asked, holding out the doll again.
Nabiki took it. "I suppose so, but don't expect her to run into your arms. By the way, I've got some pictures of her, want to see them?"
His interest peaked, Kuno couldn't resist. "I suppose."
"Buy me some spaghetti first then you'll get to see them." Nabiki added.
Not wanting to, but unable to resist the urge, Kuno had to take her to an Italian restaurant since the cafe didn't serve Nabiki's desired meal.
As she ate, she showed Kuno the photos of Akane working out. "Standard price, 1000 yen per picture."
"Hold on, I've already bought you lunch." Kuno objected.
"That was to see the pictures. This price is to keep them." Nabiki said, enjoying her game with him.
Kuno looked over five pictures of Akane showing off her martial arts skills. "She's so fierce, but 1000 yen per picture is a bit much Nabiki."
"Don't want them then?"
He handed her a 5000 yen bill. "No I'll take them all, but it's still expensive."
"Don't be so fickle. Maybe I won't show you the other girl I found. One you've never seen before or any girl like her, I guarantee."
"If I have to pay to see then no thanks." Kuno told the mercenary.
"I guess I'll be generous on that then." Nabiki told the kendoist before pulling out the few pics she got of female Ranma without Akane there to stop her. No centaur pics though, no need to get weird yet.
Kuno was speechless, after all red hair on a Japanese girl is quite exotic. "Who is she?"
"Just an acquaintance of the family who comes and goes all the time." Nabiki answered discreetly.
"How... defenseless she is." He stated, seeing the redhead sleep in two of them without care and in one in the process of removing her white tank top.
"Completely shameless, isn't she? You'd almost think she was really a boy." Nabiki asked, enjoying the hidden joke here.
"Can I see the real her?" Kuno asked.
Nabiki had to swallow her bite of spaghetti before answering. "Why? You're interested in Akane after all. You don't plan to woo this girl too are you?"
"Why not? Akane's a strong lovely maiden and if this girl is as grand as her then is it so wrong to desire them both?" Kuno asked in complete seriousness.
"Gee, let me think about it, yes!" Nabiki told him. "Kuno, I tolerate what you do to my sister because she can handle it on her own. And I can tolerate you fantasizing about this new girl since I know you've got no chance with her and I think it would be funny to see. However, thinking you can have both of them is wrong. Relationships are meant to be monogamous." 'Regardless of what that old woman said.' She added to herself.
"But both have so much appeal I cannot be expected to choose." Kuno justified.
"You haven't even met one of them and you're like this?" Nabiki asked, then she sighed. "Forget it, I can see nothing I say will stop you. So let me just tell you one thing Kuno-baby, the redhead isn't your type. Thanks for the food." She said before walking off, doll in hand.
'I bet that will drive Kuno mad with desire and he'll hit on girl-Ranma right away. Oh I hope I'm there to see it, that will be so fun to watch.' She told herself, then considered the doll. 'I doubt Akane would really want this. Might as well get rid of it.'
Luckily she found a charitable donation center to drop it off at so she didn't have to throw it away.
The next time they were at school Nabiki was looking out a window waiting for Ranma to come by. 'Great, he's alone.'
'What does the guy want now?' Ranma asked himself, remembering that Nabiki told him Kuno wanted to say something at this exact location. 'I don't see-' His thoughts stopped when some water spilled on him from above, turning him into a girl.
Nabiki chuckled and momentarily hid so Ranma wouldn't see her. 'If I remember correctly he can't change back until he dries off.'
"Just great." Ranma muttered as she tried to dry herself off.
At that moment, Kuno walked around a corner and gasped. "It is as Nabiki said, you've arrived to meet me."
"Huh?" Ranma asked.
"Fair youthful pigtailed girl, pray tell me thy name so I can properly woo thou?" Kuno pleaded.
Nabiki now looked outside, certain that Ranma was too occupied to look up now. 'This should be amusing.'
Ranma looked disgusted and a bit afraid. "Get away from me!"
"Don't be shy. I mean you only the best."
She hit him in the face. "That's what I'm afraid of."
"You must be like Akane and require a demonstration in order to accept my advances. Tell me what I can do."
Ranma got an idea, a crazy one but it just might work. "First, could you take a step back?"
Kuno did so even though he didn't understand why. "Like this?"
Ranma nodded. "Now, I heard you called Ranma Saotome a sorcerer. Ya wanna see something even more unusual?"
Kuno looked confused. "Such as?"
Ranma smirked and started to change. She couldn't become a male again while covered in cold water, but she could use her curse in the other direction. With no effort she turned into a female centaur and bucked up like a braying horse to prove the change was no illusion. Kuno was stunned in disbelief, and a tap from a hoof destroyed any skepticism he had about what he saw.
"What do you think of this? A shape-shifter?" Ranma asked.
'Ooh, how's Kuno-baby going to react to this?' Nabiki asked herself, leaning in closer but not enough to fall out the window. At the same time, Akane who just arrived was watching from behind a tree.
The captain of the kendo team was shuddering and backing away. "Thou are no damsel, thou are a demoness instead. Get away from me vile creature." He brought out his bokken but still looked afraid.
'It's working.' Ranma thought happily. "Leave Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo alone, and I'll leave you alone. Or else I'll come back and do much worse to you."
Rather than say more, Kuno carefully walked away, making sure never to drop his guard to the centaur.
"Good, he's gone." Ranma said, shifting back to his human female form.
"Ranma." Akane said as she walked up to her fiancee. "What were you thinking? What if he tells someone?"
"Who's going to believe him Akane? A girl he was hitting on suddenly turned into a half-horse? Is there anyone here who'd believe that?"
"Good point." Akane replied, and Nabiki nodded to herself. "Well, at least this time Kuno won't hound you like he did in my dream. There he pursued you as much as he did me if not more."
"And he never knew I am a boy?"
Akane shook her head. "Never. Even his lunatic father learned but Kuno and his sister remained clueless. It's crazy. Oh, his sister got fond of your male side so you better watch out for her too."
Ranma groaned. "That's just great."
Nabiki, still unnoticed by the two, was confused by what she heard from them. 'Wait, Akane's words make no sense. How could she know Kuno has a sister? I didn't even know that. And what does she mean his father learned about Ranma's curse or his sister likes Ranma? Nothing like that has happened.'
Nabiki asked herself that the rest of the day, and by the time she was ready for bed, she had had enough.
'Forget it, I'm not going to figure this out with what little I know. I've just got to keep an eye and ear on them until I learn more. Because right now, the only explanation I can draw is Akane knows the future and that's impossible... right?'
