Tsundere46
Thunder in the Mountains
By
Jim R. Bader
DISCLAIMER: Ranma 1/2 cast members were created by Rumiko Takahashi and remain the sole property of both her and those to whom she leased out the creative rights. This fanfic is not intended for the purpose of monetary gain and so is purely the work of the author using characters from Takahashi-dono's series. I am not getting any compensation or royalties for this, so please do not sue me…
"Where are we now?"
Ranko was wondering that very same thing as she, Valka and Onama gazed around at their new surroundings, which were certainly a large step upward from the Realm of Death which they had just vacated.
The crow perched on Onama's shoulder cawed while Valka's falcon flapped its wings and Ranko's cat companion all made similar sounds that overall reflected the sentiment that their current environment seemed preferable to what had come before by a good long measure.
"This place smells nice," said Kataru the cat, "It's got a good feeling…and I really like the ambience."
"It's clean and fresh," said Skryai the Falcon, "A lot of energy in the air. And with all this greenery…it's hard to believe that humans live anywhere around this place."
"No death." Onama said, "I don't feel as though anyone around here is dying. But…how would I know about that?"
The crow made a sound and Onama turned to look at it, then said, "I am? But…I don't feel like I'm dead…"
"No death?" Ranko said, "Wait a minute. I know where we are…I've been here before!"
"Well, don't keep that knowledge all to yourself," said Valka, "By all means, tell us."
"This is Arael…the world of Light," Ranko spread her hands wide, "Home to my friend, Indra the Silver Moon."
"Indra the Silver Moon?" Onama asked.
"Yeah, her full name is a real mouthful," Ranko replied, "Indratelodojonar. The folks here study the power of Light and Life and describe everything in this wonderful all-encompassing philosophy of theirs that I really couldn't begin to describe, mainly because I don't have the lung capacity to explain it the way they do…"
There was a sudden sound like a high pitched whistle, and then a flare of light heralding the appearance of a woman who appeared from seeming no where, manifesting in the form of a buxom young-seeming girl with silver hair done up in a pigtail that flowed around one shoulder and down her ample cleavage.
And what she wore was hardly that much of an outfit, consisting as it did of a set of tiny beads woven into a fabric that was practically see-through and hardly covered much more than the basics.
"Ranko, my friend," the woman smiled, "I heard you calling out to me and I came. And who are your friends?"
"Ah…hi there," Ranko said, "Valka, Onama…this is my friend, Indra…"
"Indratelodojonar," the silver haired woman smiled, "How interesting this is. Your spirits are bifurcated externally. This is most unusual, a phenomenon that I have never previously encountered."
"Yeah…well…" Ranko glanced at the cat at her side and said, "That's a good point. What are you doing still outside of my body?"
"I don't really know," said Kataru with a shrug, "I don't suppose this condition can last much longer, but something is obviously keeping us apart."
"What do you mean by apart?" Valka asked, obviously puzzled.
"Souls do not usually stand apart from the body of the one to whom it is attached," Indra replied, "I sense that your soul and your body are well accustomed to this bi-locality, but it is not a condition that exists on worlds beyond your own."
"What…do you mean?" Valka looked horrified, "Skryai is an essential part of me. I could not function without her…I cannot…imagine what it would mean to be without her…"
"She wouldn't go away," Ranko hastily assured, "My soul's been inside my body for nearly all of my life. In fact she only just came out to play when I visited your world, and I expected her to come back inside me shortly after we left."
"Aw, but I'm just starting to get used to being independent," Kataru complained, "I don't wanna go away this early."
"Never the less all things should be done appropriately in accordance with the ways of nature," Indra said, looking at Ranko, "Have you come seeking my aid once again, my friend? Because if it exists within my power to offer my support…"
"That's swell," Ranko said, "I really hate imposing on you, Indra, but when this Pendant of mine starts acting up…"
"You need hardly explain for my benefit, my friend," Indra assured, "It is the call of destiny, and we must always go where we are called."
"So it doesn't bother you about abandoning everything to go on a quest?" Onama asked.
"I am not upset that the Powers that Govern should select me for such an honor," Indra replied, "And lo, the pendant is becoming active again, so the matter is decided and it but falls to me to accept its verdict and go with you for the duration."
"Where is that thing taking us now?" asked Valka with a more dubious expression.
"Won't know until we get there," Ranko said as the forested surroundings vanished, and then moments later was replaced by signs of a village taking shape all around them, one that had power lines and billboards and other modern looking innovations.
But the style of dress adopted by the people they saw going about their business all around them was a bit eye-opening as it consisted largely of what looked like athletic clothing and open-toed sandals, and Ranko hardly needed to be a skilled martial artist to recognize by their movements that every person that they beheld, young and old, was a highly skilled and disciplined martial artist.
"Where the heck are we now?" asked Kataru.
"In trouble, most likely," Skryai complained, "Your human has the most peculiar preference for wildly exotic places…"
"GANGWAY! A voice cried out, "COMING THROUGH!"
"Huh?" Ranko whirled around, just in time to see a fast-moving figure vaulting from building to building in great haste, at which point she said, "I don't bloody believe it…"
Other figures in dark clothing were giving chase to the one figure who had passed on high above them, prompting the quartet of oddly dressed travelers to ponder what looked to be a high speed chase taking place upon the rooftops.
To which Onama commented, "Looks like the people here have a very active type of police force."
"What manner of humans are they?" Valka asked as the figures vanished amid the numerous buildings..
"Warriors most likely," Indra replied, "Their auras were most distinctly battle oriented."
"Hooboy," Ranko said, "I know where we are, and I know who that was who…"
All at once that selfsame figure who had been fleeing from the others popped up unexpectedly within their midst.
"Ranko it is you!" said a young girl with short-cropped blonde hair who wore a headband with a peculiar symbol upon it, dressed in loose fitting clothing that allowed for a maximum freedom of movement as she gripped the redhead by the shoulders and said, "You've gotta help me! Use that Pendant thing and get me out of here! I don't care if it's to some other world, but you've gotta get me out of here!"
"But why?" Ranko asked, "What are you running away from, Shinobu? And what have you done this time to get the Anbu Black Ops on your case?"
"It's not what I've done that's the problem," the girl said, "It's what Grandpa and Grandma expect me to do that's the problem! Ever heard of an arranged marriage proposal?" Ranko's eyes went round, "You mean…right. We're out of here," she said, even as the pendant pulsed, heralding their rapid departure from yet another alternative dimension…
Ranma moved fluidly as his body turned and twisted high over the heads of his opponents. He flipped around at an almost impossible angle and landed on the head of one of his foes before vaulting back into the air and moving to evade another attack as a paw the size of a dinner plate raked the air and barely managed to miss him altogether.
Ranma landed in the middle of a circle of his opponents, forcing them all to turn and try and meet him as he ducked down low with one hand and both legs bracing in just inches above the ground, only to move sideways as he slipped under the lunge of one of the white furred bears, just managing to slip between its legs as he evaded the circle.
He righted himself and vaulted onto a rock before assuming a martial posture in readiness of the next attack. All five bears oriented upon him, looking flustered and breathing very hard, and each of them showing a grudging respect for this impossibly nimble human who had just spent the past five minutes running all of them ragged.
Off to the side Nodoka applauded while Kaori sat numb beside Ryoga, who was more calmly analytical in studying his half-brother's motions. Further off to the side Shampoo was watching from the side of Akane and murmuring a very faint, "Aiyaa…" of appreciation.
"Stop being such a show off and don't prolong this, Ranma," Comb said with a look that seemed to imply that she was less impressed than the others, "You've tired out your sparring partners, now go to work and finish them off so we can all get on to enjoying a proper breakfast."
"Oh, I don't know," Atsuko mused, "I don't hear Rasmusen and his cohorts voicing any complaints so far, do you? And it's nice to see them showing some appreciation of what mere lowly humans are capable of when rising to a challenge."
"Your point is well taken, Lady Hibiki," the polar bear so named called over his shoulder, then said, "Peace be with you, Warrior! My squad and I must thank you for the illuminating lesson that you have given us just now. And glad I am, for one, that you are an ally, not an enemy or I doubt not that we would have been in a great deal of difficulty just now."
Ranma straightened up and said, "Hey, you guys got some good moves of your own. Not your fault if Pop and me train like this every day, but I have to say I was enjoying the workout." As one, they faced each other and exchanged formal bows, ending the match.
"A workout he calls it," the polar bear named Stormeyes exclaimed, "I swear I have never encountered prey that was half so elusive as this human."
"Well, I certainly have worked up quite an appetite," said Samantha, the other female in their group besides Astrid, "Come, let's try more of that delicious Boar meat. I could have a whole haunch of the thing and not even make a dent in my tummy."
"Well now," said Kodachi, who came from the house bearing plates full of food balanced on her arms and head as she moved fluidly without spilling a drop, "Is this mornings light workout fairly concluded, Ranma-sama? If so then come and eat your breakfast before it cools. Your mother and I went to such great lengths to make enough for everybody."
"Thanks, 'Dachi-chan," Ranma turned around, then peered into the dojo and said, "Is Kasumi still talking with her sister?"
"Yes, and I thought it best to give them space so that they may resolve things to their mutual satisfaction," Kodachi turned her eyes towards their mutual beloved, "It must be difficult for the both of them discovering their relationship. I cannot pretend to imagine what it must be like for Kasuimi-chan by herself."
"Yeah, that's gotta be tough," Ranma said as he plucked the plate off of Kodachi's head, then leaned in close and kissed her on the lips, something she eagerly received while being unable to draw him into an embrace without dropping one of the other plates that she still carriied on her arms.
"Speaking of which," Atsuko glanced off at the house, "What about our other love birds? Any word from them?"
"Let them sleep it off," Comb said as she accepted a plate from Kodachi, passing along the other plate to her half-Oni companion, "I figure we owe them that much. Which is why I haven't bothered to go upstairs and wake up our other sleepy-headed couple."
"I must say," Kaori said as she and Ryoga accepted the other two plates from Kodachi, "I have had to adjust my views on a good many issues since coming to live among you people. I was raised in a very traditional setting, and even now I find myself having to cope with or without those traditions that I was taught are essential to a civilized existence."
"Yet here you are," said Ryoga, "Engaged to a guy like me, and with my heritage being as confusing as it is…"
"Why do you think that I am finding it easier to adjust than might otherwise be the case," Kaori smiled at him, and they exchanged a kiss of tenderness, and with Ryoga neither passing out nor getting a nose bleed from the affections expressed to him by a beautiful lady.
Atsuko hid her own smile then said, "Onis, Gods, major Demons, talking Polar Bears, and girls up-chucking baby dragons…"
"That's a good girl, Kuryu-chan," Akane said as she bounced the little dark haired girl on her knee, "Such a good little girl. Now drink your milk…"
A loud burp emerged from the tiny little girl, and Shampoo said, "Is good let out. Better out than in, always what Great-Grandmother say…"
"And she would too," Comb remarked, looking at Atsuko, "Almost like being back home in our village. Only the thought that I'm suddenly a grandmother at my age…that's taking me a bit of effort to get used to."
"I'm with you there," Atsuko said, "At least I can try and be a better grandmother than the example I have to work with. Wonder what Silk is making of all of this, having to share a body with an actual goddess."
"Are you kidding me?" Comb replied, "I'm sure she's loving this. She always was one who thrived on weird excitement."
"Yeah, guess this really must be the most fun she's had in years," Atsuko said, then dropped her voice and added, "The one I feel the most sorry for is Umi-chan."
Comb looked sober, "Aiyaa…with you there. Umi-chan looked mad enough to spit nails when she found out that Soun and Peorth had locked themselves in the bedroom. That's got to hurt her pride, especially with the revelation about Ukyo putting everything out into the open…"
Off in the center of the dojo the pink haired Ambergris was eyeing the young man named Saotome Ranma. Then she glanced at the pair confronting each other in a direct eye-to-eye confrontation, making her think of nothing so much as a pair of Yin and Yang bookends.
Nominally she was there as both a peacekeeper and chaperone, though in actuality she was more like a witness overhearing a private discussion that was for their ears alone as Kasumi was looking into the eyes of her identical twin half-sister and saying, "So you intend to return to China, Kachu-chan?"
"I came here on false pretenses," Kachu replied, "Heeding the lure of a demon who sought to use me for her own foul ends. That is a shame I will have to live with, and it is obvious that I must renew my training so that I never again can be taken in by such an obvious deception."
"But you were only doing what you believed was the right thing," Kasumi replied, "And I wish you'd stay around for at least a little while so that I might get to know you better."
"I think that I have been enough in your life for one day," Kachu answered, "Though I thank you for having such an understanding nature…my sister."
"But I feel in knowing you I am learning so many things about myself," Kasumi replied "You're like a part of me that I've never known that I have been missing all of these years. And you say that you have been affected by me and by emotions that I have unwittingly been sharing with you."
"Yes, but I think I better know the reason," Kachu answered, deadpan, "You have been going through some difficult times, and it has been upsetting your emotional balance. I cannot pretend to fully understanding what that must have been like. I…have never had someone in my life that could affect me to the same extent as your fiancé…" she did not turn to look at Ranma but it was plain enough to whom she was referring.
Kasumi gave her sister an indulgent look and said, "But you have so much to offer, and I'm sure there must be some wonderful man…or woman…who could make your life as complete as mine has been from both my Kodachi and Ranma."
Kachu shuffled somewhere uncomfortably upon the floor. In truth she clearly did have some idea of what her it was her sister was implying with that statement. Had she but turned her head she would have been forced to admit that the young man was an impressive enough fellow, being a strong fighter with a gentle heart who clearly cared about the women in his life and who fought to do the right thing as best he understood the difference between honor and convenience.
Of Kodachi and the others she was less certain, but just looking into the face of her counterpart made her feel as though a part of her own nature had been revealed to her. And that had opened her mind to a lot of questions about herself that she had never answered before, including her discovery of the man who was her father.
Who presently was with a woman who was…and yet who was not his wife. That was the curious thing in her mind, the casual way in which people tended to accept things in this dojo that would have caused a riot back home.
But one thing could not be said about this place. It was never dull around here, and that, for a woman who based her life on fighting Demons, had an odd sort of appeal as excitement was in her very nature. A fact that made her wonder if their father was playing with fire of a different sort by giving into his own entirely masculine nature…
Peorth's eyelids fluttered open and she stared at a drab looking ceiling that seemed oddly familiar. There was indeed something quite familiar about the mix of sensations that she was feeling, even though she knew instantly that she was not in Heaven or even the Temple occupied by Keiichi and Belldandy.
In fact the smell of masculine aroma, a strongly powerful musk that was mixed with saltines and sex, caused her to consider her fragmentary memories of the night before. And then she felt her hand pressed against a manly chest that was firm, warm and muscular…and the beating of a strong heart, along with the sound of steady breathing and an arm wrapped around her as her head was resting on a shoulder and…
Her eyes went completely wide, and the shock of the moment was such that for a moment she stopped breathing and just held her breath, expecting at any moment to be struck by a bolt of lightning.
When nothing of the sort appeared to be about to happen she slowly moved her head and murmured, "Soun-chan…?"
"Mmmm?" he murmured softly, clearly not awake but responding nonetheless as though still in his dreams, "Yes, Dear?"
Peorth lay very still and let the memories come crashing down on her, reliving every instant that flowed down from her mind with a wave of sensuous emotion. From the moment she and Soun had brought their lips together to the moment when they collapsed in each others arms panting and breathing hard, as if making up for lost time or trying to cram nine years of lovemaking into a single session…
Her thighs wrapped around him, his manly rod going into her with steady, slow and easy thrusts, caressing her inner walls as her loins received him like an offering from a worshipful devotee. Moving her body up against his like two sticks rubbing together, generating sparks as legs twined with his manly calves. Her toes curling when an orgasm was impending. Crying out his name, feeling the soft caress of his mustache against her breasts as he suckled gently from her nipples…
She gasped just from the memory of it all. Who knew the guy could be that intense at his age? He really must have been hard up for a lay…or just waiting for the right moment to use techniques that had taken them years to learn after constant, steady practice…
She adjusted herself and lay within his arm, thinking to herself how nice it felt to be back in his embrace, as though she had only been away for a little time, just a blink of an eye in the lifetime of a Goddess…
"Kimiko…" he said, which startled her and reminded her of the name of the woman she knew that he was missing, which hurt a bit but nonetheless made sense as she had taken the place of the woman he had married without actually becoming her substitute.
But then he said something else, even more faintly, "Peorth…are you real…?"
That startled her even more, and she looked up and said, "You're awake?"
His eyelids fluttered, and then he seemed to be looking for focus, only to slowly turn his eyes and gaze down at her, and for a moment there was some confusion and disorientation. But then he said, "You are for real…"
She moved to adjust herself in his embrace and said, "Last time I checked."
"Peorth," Soun said her name, and she felt her heart quicken, "If you're real then I'm grateful. And if you're not real…then I don't want to awaken."
"Really?" her eyes fluttered as she looked at him, almost hopeful, "Um...if you're in no hurry to get up…" she moved her hand across his chest.
He smiled, "I would like nothing better. But…what time is it anyway?"
Peorth, of course, knew intuitively the hour of the morning but just smiled and said, "Does it matter? Time hardly exists for a Goddess. But time can feel like an eternity…if there is no one to share it with."
"Indeed?" he looked at her with definite interest.
"No one seems to have stopped by to try and wake us up," Peorth said, not bothering to add that she had cast spells on the walls the night before to sound-proof the entire chamber, "So I think they have decided that, for one morning, they can get along without us."
"Do you really think that it would be all right?" he asked, "I mean…I wouldn't want you to get into any more trouble than you already are."
"I…think we're already well past that Rubicon," Peorth replied, "And as for getting in deeper than I already am…I'm not sure what I could do at this point to get into the good graces of the All Mighty One. And besides…this is my family…my human, mortal family that I've neglected and abandoned for nine long years. Or rather…I was ordered to stay away. Compared with that agony there isn't really much he could do besides suspending my Goddess license that could be any worse."
"Can he do that?" Soun asked, "Suspend your right to be a Goddess?"
"They don't call him the All Mighty One for nothing," Peorth replied, pushing up and looking at the man with whom she had just shared her body…or rather the body of her host Template, "If he chooses to he can imprison me here indefinitely. But…right about now that hardly feels like a punishment. And I really have missed you, Soun-chan…more than you can know."
"You have?" Soun asked, staring up at the beautiful features gazing down at him, "But…you're a Goddess."
"There are lots of mortal women whom I'm sure would find that flattering, Soun-chan," Peorth replied "But there are times when being a Goddess isn't all it's cracked up to be. And being without the people you love…"
"You love our family?" Soun asked, "Or…?"
She chuckled softly, "Both, Silly. I love our children…both Kimiko's and my own. Kasumi has grown up to be an amazing young woman, more than I could ever hope for her to be. And her boyfriend is an extraordinary catch…good work in hooking them up like you did."
"Ah…well…thank you," Soun said, not bothering to add that he had originally considered setting Ranma up with their youngest child since they were closer in their age difference.
"Nabiki is someone I'd probably want to keep closer tabs on," Peorth said a bit more critically, "If I tried playing cards with her I'd probably wind up losing my shirt. I honestly believe that she might be able to sell Air Conditioning Units to the Hell planes. And now that she's set her mark upon that Ukyo…"
"Eh?" Soun blinked, "But…they're sisters…and women…"
"They're your daughters," Peorth said, "But they have minds of their own, and I could tell that sparks have been flying between them even before they were both aware of it."
Soun looked up at her, "And you don't mind?"
"I'm a Goddess," Peorth replied, "In case you may have forgotten about Mythology, there are plenty of instances where incest has occurred between Gods and Goddesses, and not always in a healthy sort of way. And as for the subject of two girls getting it on…well…I'm not one to point the finger in that department."
"Oh?" he arched an eyebrow, "Does that mean that you…?"
"I'm not kissing and telling," Peorth informed him, "But there was a time in our youth when Belldandy and I…well…that was centuries ago, when we were both so young and ever so foolish…"
"Belldandy?" Soun repeated.
"Enough about that," Peorth moved her body to slide her breasts against his chest, knowing full well that would distract him against asking for any further details, "I'm not letting you go anywhere until you prove to me that you have missed me as much as I have been missing you, my Mortal lover."
"But…" Soun felt himself becoming aroused almost without his willing it so, though he most definitely was interested in her offer, "I should at least…ahm…take care of my…other needs…"
"Oh that?" Peorth smiled, and then stretched a finger down and touched him just above his belly…and suddenly the pressure down below was eased, leaving the way clear for the other pressure to cause his manhood to swell to full erection.
"What did you do?" he asked.
"Something that should give us more time to work out our business," Peorth smiled, "Being a Goddess has its advantages, after all, and what's the point of being an Immortal if you don't take advantage of the abilities that are at my disposal?"
"I see," Soun said, looking up at her with shining appreciation, "I guess it is an advantage to be in the arms of a literal Goddess."
"Not just in my arms, Honey-Pie," Peorth said as she maneuvered her body and positioned her loins above his stiffened manhood, then slowly eased herself down onto his head and settled in with a sigh as she fit him in with the perfect match of a notch to a groove.
Soun made a faint groan of pleasure as he felt the velvety embrace of gentle loins and marveled at the pleasure suffusing the face of his lady as his hands moved of their own to steady her, moving to support her about the base of her rib cage.
But as she began to straddle him she moved those hands with her own and brought them up to her chest, allowing him to feel the press of her bosom in his hands once again while she moved to straddle him, then paused before moving her hips and rising up a few inches, then sliding back down with a sigh, then repeating the maneuver with slowly growing, intensified up and down motions…
"So…" murmured Ukyo as she pressed her lips up to the ear of the girl whom she lay with in a position known as "spooning," "You want a ring, do you, Sugar?"
"That's right," Nabiki smiled, "And don't think I'm letting it go either."
"Nag, nag," Ukyo sniffed, then smiled, feeling oddly good about herself, which was strange considering how the two of them had spent most of the night, "I can tell you're going to be a real ball and chain."
"Only if I feel like getting kinky," Nabiki replied, then paused as she considered the picture that they must both have been objectively presenting, stretched out on her bed without a stitch of clothing on beneath one of her blankets, "Ukyo?"
"Yeah, Sugar?" Ukyo asked.
"You feeling any regrets?" Nabiki asked.
Ukyo moved her head, and tried to look at the face of the girl in her arms, "No. Why? You feeling guilty, Nab-chan?"
"Me?" Nabiki snorted, "Who do you think you're talking to? Guilty thoughts do not cross this flawless brow, Kuonji-san. I was just wondering…well…you know…"
"Not on your life," Ukyo leaned forward and kissed Nabiki on the earlobe, "And if you think I'm letting you out of our bargain that easy…you've got another think coming."
"Moi?" Nabiki feigned surprise, "Shows how much you know about me. I consider you an investment, Sugar. You're my business partner and cash cow…so naturally I decided to take you out for a trial spin…"
"Oh, is that what this is?" Ukyo moved her hands and started to tickle Nabiki, having discovered quite by accident the night before the Middle Tendo sister's hidden weakness.
"Hey, stop! What are you doing?" Nabiki found herself helplessly laughing, and she turned onto her back and faced Ukyo in an attempt to deny her an easy attack front.
Which brought the two girls into face-to-face contact, and with their faces only a foot apart as Ukyo paused in her tickle attack to take full stock of her iinazuke. And as they stared their bodies pressed together with breasts touching and nipples making full contact.
And Nabiki did wonder in that moment…just what the heck were they doing?
Ukyo stared down at the girl who was now her fiancée and thought, (God, she's hot,) but aloud only said, "Sugar…"
"No regrets?" Nabiki asked, a bit hopeful.
Ukyo smiled, "None on my part. You?"
"I just told you," Nabiki said, "Regret for me isn't an option."
"That's nice to hear," Ukyo replied, "So…you think we can pull this off?"
"Who are you talking to?" Nabiki asked, "This is what I do. I know we can do it…especially if your Uncle is set and determined to have you marry and inherit the family business."
"So it's all about business,:" Ukyo murmured.
"Of course," Nabiki replied, "What's more sexy than business?"
"You, for one thing," Ukyo replied.
Nabiki looked startled, and Ukyo looked right at her.
"God, you're hot," Ukyo allowed herself to say aloud at last, "The way you go on about spreadsheets and balance figures. The way you work an abacus to add and subtract proceeds. The way you do inventory, and work my books to find tax loopholes that I never even noticed were there…"
"Stop it," Nabiki blushed, "You're embarrassing me…"
"You've cut costs and driven up my profit margin while allowing me to focus more on cooking okonomiyaki and improving customer satisfaction," Ukyo replied, "And you've added to my college fund. I'd call that pretty damned sexy. And it doesn't hurt one bit that the rest of you is pretty well put together…" she moved her hands around to slide a finger along the rip of Nabiki's hip.
Nabiki shivered a bit. That was what had started this whole business the night before…that hand feeling up her bottom. Something about the illicit nature of that hand caused her to find an excuse to lure Ukyo somewhere alone and…well…things just seemed to happen once they let their hair down, not to mention the rest of the silk bath robes that they had been wearing.
"It's nice thinking about doing business with you," Ukyo continued, "Making you my partner was the smartest thing I've done in years. And now I'm thinking that maybe the other thing with you won't be so bad. After all, we made a pretty good team out on the ice together."
"I remember," Nabiki shuddered, "You took that blow for me. You could have been killed for my sake…"
"Except that Ranchan saved us both," Ukyo reminded.
"Yeah…but…I don't like it that you could have been seriously injured," Nabiki scowled, "What kind of business could we do if you were stuck in a wheel chair?"
"Well, I'm sorry," Ukyo said, "Should I have let you hit the wall instead of me?"
"You could have let go," Nabiki said, "I could have landed without getting hurt."
"And I wasn't about to take a chance on that," Ukyo said, "You're my investment, Sugar. After all, I'm not going to be pulling any scams on Dad or his lawyers without you in the picture."
Nabiki felt that hand caressing her fanny, taking possessive hold of her, and in reply she reached out and placed a hand around one of Ukyo's breasts and fondled it a little.
"So, that's what I am to you?" Nabiki asked in amusement, "A partner…or an asset?"
"Both, Sugar," Ukyo mused, "And I'm taking an inventory right now of my possessions."
"So, what am I worth to you?" Nabiki asked coyly as she caressed the fanny of her newly declared "business partner."
"That's what I intend to find out, Sugar," Ukyo leered, rubbing her body against that of the other girl and savoring the sensations that this was producing.
They kissed lightly and Nabiki kept a firm grip of Ukyo's breast as she murmured when their lips parted, "Good luck assessing my books…but from where I sit I'm getting the better bargain."
"Care to make a counter-offer, Sugar?" Ukyo's hand squeezed Nabiki's ass, and Nabiki placed thumb and forefinger and ever-so-lightly tweaked Ukyo's bosom.
"You first," Nabiki said, and then she saw Ukyo's face moving in towards her and her eyes widened just before their mouths pressed up together. And then Nabiki closed her eyes and moved her hand from that breast to slide around the other girl's rib cage as she drew her in with their bodies pressing up tightly with their legs moving to twine as they rolled on the bed and started to get serious about consummating their partnership in the language of the flesh for which there was no need of a translation…
Saotome Ranma was not a man who flinched from danger. In battle against fearsome enemies he was fearless and unstoppable, quite literally a force of nature. Even when he did not initially win against a foe he never quit until he had mastered the enemy and then emerged inevitably triumphant. He had faced the worst scum that the Universe had to offer and triumphed time and again against all odds and all adversity thrown against him.
Even Cats these days held little terror for him, having long since outgrown the phobia that had marred his early life, and in time even his cursed form was looked upon as burden he would bear in atonement for the many sins that he had committed in his career. If anything turning into a girl now seemed to him more of a lark than a curse, especially when contrasted with things that weighed heavily on his conscience, and for which he wold more rightly had termed as "curses."
But the one foe he dreaded to face either in battle or in play was the wrath of his one true lady love, the woman who had consented to share his burden as her own. And who was now staring at the multi-dimensional screen layout depicting the Multiverse in all its splendid glory as though she were contemplating physically attacking it.
And when it came to her wrath even Lord Shiva took a powder and refused to come a-calling, giving the equivalent of a mental busy signal when Ranma tried accessing their personal connection.
"Well?" she asked of her nervous looking personal assistants.
"No luck so far, Boss," said Ryonami, "We had a lock on her…briefly…in Sector 87958714, but we lost her again and now we're searching for her pattern."
"Eight-seven-nine-five-eight-seven-fourteen?" Ranma frowned, "That sounds kind of familiar. Hey, isn't that the Ninja planet? The one where…?"
"Yes," Nabiki answered tersely, and from her tone Ranma knew that he had better not pursue that line of questioning, recalling as he did her reaction upon meeting the woman that his counterpart upon that world had married.
Sometimes having perfect memory and the power of total recall could be a burden by itself every bit as much as curses. It meant being able to recall the pain of every injury ever taken, of every wound ever inflicted, of the faces of the enemies and friends whom you had encountered over the years. Among the most valuable lessons that Ranma had learned from the otherwise regrettable man who had raised him was the ability to shut out memories that were awkward or too painful. Selective memory loss could come in handy right about now, such as when it came to mentioning a woman whom his current wife might find somewhat…intimidating.
Not that he had trouble at all understanding what his brother on that world had found so attractive about that particular lady…especially in the looks and bustline. To say nothing of a personality that could keep a guy like him on his toes and never get too dull to be around…
Privately, though, of all the numerous women in his life and the prospects whom he might have forged a marital partnership, in his heart of hearts he really and sincerely believed that his current wife was the one he should have been engaged to in the first place. Her wits played well off of his brawn, and she had good sense where he was often very foolish. She might not be an ideal person in all respects, and their personalities did clash in certain areas, but the contrast, by and large, was a healthy one, and with her around he tended to find himself becoming a better man than he was on his own inclinations.
"Open a channel to Agent Hibiki," Nabiki directed.
"On line two, Ma'am," replied Gosunkugi.
"Report?" she demanded crisply.
"Ah…yeah…" Ryoga sounded somewhat nervous, "I've set up an observational post and have been monitoring activities taking place at the Tendo house and so far things…are developing along some rather surprising directions."
"Such as?" Nabiki asked with deceptive calm.
"Well, for one thing," Ranma's half-brother reported, "My counterpart has gotten engaged to Daikoku Kaori. And…they appear to be having regular sex togther. And…this isn't one hundred percent confirmed, mind you…but I think she might be pregnant."
Ranma arched his eyebrows and said, "Way to go, Pig."
"Congratulations," Nabiki said more diplomatically, "Boy or girl?"
"Can't really say just yet," Ryoga answered, "There's a weirdness distortion field surrounding the house due to Mom's Oni Magics inverting space around the back area of the yard. Seems like she's used the Spa Resort Mode with Two Level Apartment mode, creating adequate space to accommodate all the extra guests who might otherwise be scrunched up sharing crowded space within the dojo."
"Sounds like your Grandmother set you up for a great deal," Ranma observed, "Guess if I had the power to remake an entire Timeline in my own image I'd take care of my own in style. But Kaori? You lucky dog you…"
"Excuse me?" Nabiki glanced at him rather sharply.
"Ah…I meant Shirokuro, of course," Ranma hastily amended.
"I'm making out your counterpart in Kasumi's room, Ranma," Ryoga said, adding with just a twist of his own amusement, "Looks like your guy mode tired out so the two ladies currently sharing you gave you the cold water treatment, and now they're engaging in a three-way lesbian love-fest."
"Hey, when you got it flaunt it," Ranma shrugged, and when Nabiki glanced at him he said, "Well, aren't you always saying that girls have more stamina for this kind of thing? And don't give me that lock, 'Biki. I know you and Ryonami here like a good salad as much as the next tech support person."
"Why, I have no idea what you are inferring by that, Mister Saotome," Ryonami herself said primly.
"Watch it," Ranma said, "You're not too old to be spanked, especially in front of your husband. In fact I think Gos-kun here might even like to watch."
Gosunkugi opened his mouth, saw the look his wife gave him, and promptly closed it, turning back to study his instruments again.
"Who is Ranma with, Ryo-kun?" Nabiki asked, "My sister or…my other sister?"
"Kasumi and Kodachi," Ryoga answered, "I make out Ukyo in bed with your counterpart in the room directly above them."
"Ucchan and Nabiki?" Ranma repeated, then paused, saw the look she gave him and said, "I can see the attraction. Hey, you're both sharp businesswomen, so maybe she went up to your room to look at your spread sheets."
The look she gave him was as much as though to say aloud, "You're going to pay for that one, Mister." But what she said aloud was, "Anything else to report, Agent Hibiki?"
"Ah…yeah…quite a bit to report, really," Ryoga paused, "Your dad is with your Mom."
"What?" Nabiki turned around so fast she almost gave herself a case of whiplash.
"That's what the instruments here are saying," Ryoga said, then paused again before adding, "No…wait…genetic scans place the profile as a hybrid body. I think the Amazon named Silk and…someone else whose profile closely matches the late Tendo Kimiko. And there's definitely movement going on inside your Dad's bedroom…"
"Mister Tendo is getting some action?" Ranma blinked, "Hey, what about my Pop?"
"With your Mom, and…ah…" Ryoga paused, "My Mom…and Comb-san?"
Ranma paused then said, "I'm gonna need therapy if they're doing anything besides play a round of bridge together."
"Make it group therapy," Ryoga said, "Hmm…Sis isn't with anybody, at least that I can tell. Kachu and that other Amazon, Ambergris, are sleeping by themselves. And Akane is with Shampoo and a little girl…ah…wait a second. These readings can't be right…"
"A little girl?" Nabiki asked in some confusion.
"The Gene type classifies the kid as an Elemental," Ryoga said, "But the other half of her make up is identical to that of Akane."
"Oboy," Ranma said, "Bet there's a real weird story behind that one."
"Just as long as it isn't a 'very tragic' story," Nabiki noted, "So this is the reality that Ganglot and Kishijoten have crafted between themselves. That is an awful lot of variation from the baseline temporal matrix."
"Yeah, and that's not even including the polar bears…" Ryoga said.
Both Ranma and Nabiki had matching looks of astonishment and in chorus said, "Polar bears?"
"Yeah…residents of sub-variant Timeline Number 4325987-42B," Ryoga replied, "The world that corresponds to the Golden Compass, a book that I was reading to my kids just the other day…"
"The world that Ranko briefly visited," Nabiki frowned as she considered this, "Interesting. And she has involuntarily recruited one of the natives in her latest Quest."
"Um…one more thing to report here, Nabiki," Ryoga sounded hesitant, "I'm making out readings indicating that the four girls whom Ranma has been with are all showing early signs of first-stage pregnancy. Of course that can't be confirmed until they are further along in development beyond the Zygote stage…"
Ranma suddenly found himself coming under the intense scrutiny of his wife, and he hastily raised both hands and rather lamely said, "Hey, I didn't do it! At least…not directly…"
"The Saotome luck with the ladies," Ryonami murmured softly from her station.
"Four for four," Nabiki turned her glare away from him, "At least we know that you're not firing blanks on that world…."
"Hey!" he immediately protested.
"Something is definitely a foot if Lady Ganglot engineered it so that there would be four potential Saotomes born at relatively the same time," Nabiki looked thoughtful, "And one of them destined to be a Nexus. I wonder…are the other three a distraction for Cybele, or are they supposed to serve as the protectors of their sister?"
"Safety in numbers, that sort of thing?" Ranma asked.
"Possibly," Nabiki replied, lifting her eyes and saying, "It is also possible that Ranko may be headed there at some point in time to have a rendezvous with her counterpart, in which case gathering a party for war may be the Pendant's means for protecting this new dimension. Ranko may be acquiring just enough of a diverse array of talent to meet whatever challenge Yggdrasil is anticipating in this timeline's future, and the pendant is obviously looking for very specific abilities that might compliment one another. Which means that we should also be making preparations for the convergence point where it all finally comes together."
"And when that happens?" Ranma asked.
She looked at him again, "Then you, dear husband, will escort me to that world and together we shall personally lay down the hammer on that perverted Witch who makes life so interesting for those of us who originate from Nerima."
"Outstanding," Ranma smacked fist to palm and savagely grinned, "I may even temporarily lift my ban on beating up girls just to show that lady my own special brand of Saotome appreciation."
"Get in line and take a number," Nabiki told him, "So…in the end it all comes down to Ranko."
"Hey, we can trust the Kid to do what's right," Ranma said, "We taught her well."
"I'd trust her more if it were not for that lamentable tendency she has of sleeping around with her counterparts from other worlds," Nabiki turned and glared at him, "I can't imagine where she picked that tendency up from…can you?"
"Ah…" he smiled back nervously, wondering if he could make it to the exit.
"Pot calls Kettle," Ryonami murmured, and that caused Nabiki to flinch and glance in her direction.
"Oh…yeah," Ranma said, sensing an opening that could turn the tide, just as he tended to do when in the middle of a losing battle, "And while we're on the subject of you and Ucchan…"
"Get me in touch with Agent Plum," Nabiki said, as if desperately hoping to change the subject.
"On line three," Ryonami said, adding without turning around, "One you owe me, Big Guy. Still thinking about that spanking?"
"Ah…" it was his turn to look away and hopefully change the subject.
"This Plum," a familiar female voice spoke up, "What do you wish of humble Guide of Jusenkyo?"
"Any word on the condition of the Dragon on your end?" Nabiki asked.
"All very quiet in Jusendo," the sing-song voice of the Chinese daughter of the Jusenkyo Guide whom Ranma remembered responded, "Dragon sleep beneath mountain. No sign of becoming wakeful."
"That may change if I know Cybele and her tendency for mischief," Nabiki scowled, "Let us know of there is any change of conditions. Any suspicious activities at all you sound the alarm, you hear?"
"Understood, Humble Supervisor," Plum replied, "And do stop by. We always use more business."
"Yeah, right," Ranma murmured faintly, "We'll just do that…"
"Is that Honorable Ranma-san?" Plum asked brightly, "Long time no see, Big Brother! How you doing with Airen?"
"Oh, fine, couldn't be better," Ranma replied, only to see the look his wife was giving him, "What?"
"Big Brother Ranma?" Nabiki repeated, then made a hand sign to close off the channel.
"Well, hey…she was a cute kid," Ranma said, "She grew up to inherit the family business. What about it?"
She looked away, "Never mind. Just keep up on the surveillance, Ryoga-kun, and report in if anything more significant should happen…as I'm sure it will, sooner or later. Saotome out."
"Nabiki?" Ranma asked, sensing an odd mood swing in the tone of his wife, who normally was very opaque in her reasoning, too guarded in her thoughts most times for even him to unravel.
"I'm worried, Ranma," she admitted, which also startled and alarmed him as it was rare for her to admit to a thing like that, "All this gathering of power in one spot, and things moving well ahead of the pace that we remember from our past…it suggests a heightening of tensions escalating into something almost…apocalyptic."
"Surely not that bad," he said a bit too hopefully, "Hey, cheer up, 'Biki. Ranko's a tough kid, and she's proven herself lots of times in the field. And besides…she's a Saotome…and a Tendo."
"I know that, Ranma-kun," his wife said ominously, "And that's what has me the most worried…"
Continued.
Comments/Criticisms/Carpet Diem Rug Emporium: shadowmane
Is there something to worry about? Hey, like her father said…she's a Saotome and a Tendo, right? And if that doesn't scare you then…tune in next time for, "Seize the Daze," or, "The Best of Both Worms."
Be there!
X
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