Ranma ½ / BTVS
Ranma The Vampire Slayer
Book 1
Changes in the World
By Felix Webster (Felix Warstar)
Chapter 7
- - - -
Disclaimers
All original Ranma ½ Characters Copyright Rumiko Takahashi (first published by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz Communications), and are used without permission.
Buffy, Giles, and the other characters that have appeared on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy and what ever company they are working at, be it Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox, or any others that pick it up as it goes along. They are used with out permission and I'm making NO money off them and no one else except those listed above should either. Please don't sue me cause I have no money.
Any character I create are mine, ALL MINE! Wahahahahahahaha. . *Cough couch* oops sorry. They are always ready to jump into other people's stories just let me know.
- - - -
- Meetings -
Ranma started to wake form a sounder sleep then he'd had in a long time. It was a very odd surprise to him that he didn't dream at all during the night. Dreams were always a bad thing for him and was usually happy when he didn't. First it was remembering the Neko-ken training in all it's horror, then it was about killing Saffron and almost losing Akane even though Saffron was reborn and Akane was saved. The other night it was remembering the faces of the Vampires he. . no, she killed, he definitely remembered being her and not himself. Separating himself into the male and female entity was not a good thing and he knew it but it was how his mind was cooping with what the Slayer had to do. It made his head hurt.
He started to shift and sit up when he noticed a slight weight laying on his legs, his fears of what it could be were confirmed when it. . no also a she, started to purr out, "Oh, you arrre awake. Pet me, pleeeasse."
Ranma leapt out of the bed and onto the dresser before trying to reply in a shaky voice and tried to wave off the approaching little beast, "Plea.Please g.go away. Shu shu, go f.find someone e.else to terrify."
"Why do you find Xian Pu scary?" the cat asked in innocent confusion as it hopped off the bed and slowly walked towards the dresser.
"Go. go away! Don't come here please!" Ranma pleaded sounding more and more desperate. "I c.can't take much m.more, please go away!"
"But Xian Pu wants to be friends," the cat replied cocking it's head to one side before leaping into the frightened boy's arms.
- - - -
Cologne was standing on her staff cooking the morning breakfast whistling a very old tune while Miyabi sat at the table reading the local paper. Both stopped what they were doing when they heard the horrifying yawl that came from upstairs but only Cologne looked truly terrified at the noise.
Cologne spun on Miyabi before the woman could get out of the large kitchen area, "What have you done! I locked the boy's door before he after I removed that cat last night."
"I just figured that Ranma just needed to get to know Mr. Fluffy. ." Miyabi tried to explain as Cologne cut her off and a very loud sound came from up stairs.
"YOU FOOL!!! Ranma's fear of cats can't be cured by putting cats around him! He just turns into a cat mentally and then has access to the Neko- ken!" Cologne shouted as she dragged the woman to the staircase to wait for the boy to appear. "He'll wake up a very anger cat and the Neko-ken is nearly unstoppable! and the only person I know who can bring him out of it is back in Japan!"
"I take it this is a bad thing?" Miyabi looked worried.
"Ranma will attack anyone he doesn't trust or has a grudge against," Cologne replied in anger mixed with fear.
"Then we're fine, he knows us. . what?" Miyabi didn't like the look she was getting from the old woman.
"We are very close to being DEAD!" Cologne stated as she grabbed Miyabi's hand again and started for the door. "Ranma wasn't a killer the last time I encountered the Neko-ken but we've been pushing the boy to do something he is morally opposed to because he's honour bound to do it. To make it plain to you, you stupid little. . HE HAS A TRUE GRUDGE AGAINST BOTH OF US AND HIS CAT PERSONALITY WILL KNOW THIS!"
"Oh hell," Miyabi replied as they reached the front door hearing another door in the upper area of the house pretty much explode. Opening the door they were stopped by the presence of a girl standing there about to ring the doorbell.
"Um, hi. Is Ranma home?" Willow asked with a nervous smile. "Giles gave me the address and I figured I could walk him to school. ."
"Look if you valve your life RUN!" Miyabi shouted as she ran past the girl as fast as she could.
Cologne was about to grab the girl's hand but stopped herself as something came to her at the same time as Neko-Ranma landed in front of the door and meowed, "We are going to need your help. Try to calm the boy down."
Willow looked between the weird acting Ranma and the very old woman in wide- eyed confusion and back again, "What's wrong with him?"
"He has had a very bad encounter with a cat and needs someone to calm him and comfort him so we can help him come back to himself," Cologne explained as she watched carefully the angry eyes of the boy as he prepared himself to pounce on his prey. "Don't worry he won't hurt anyone he has no grudge against."
"Um. . okay," Willow replied still confused then turned to Neko-Ranma and tried to smile. "h.here kitty kitty. ."
Willow didn't have a chance to continue as Neko-Ranma suddenly turned away from Cologne and smiled before leaping at her. The next thing Willow knew was that she was on her ass with a very cute, but heavy, Japanese boy trying to curl up on her lap wearing only a pair of boxers, "Um, good cat?"
Cologne wasted no speed getting a glass of cold water and throwing it on Neko-Ranma causing the now girl to lift her head confused sputtering out some that got in her mouth, "Whatcha do that for!?!"
Turning her head Ranma-chan realized that she was in a very weird position with the red haired girl she met yesterday that wouldn't let go of her arm most of the day, "I didn't do anything. . um like kiss you did I?"
"I wish," Willow replied without thinking then blushed when she noticed both the slip and the fact she now had a very over developed red haired girl in her lap only wearing a pair of boxers. "Ah, no. no you didn't and that's okay. . yep that's just fine."
Ranma-chan looked nervous again as she carefully got off of Willow's lap and shook out her hair before replying back in relief, "Good, I seem to have a bad habit of doing that when I. . Ah, become like that. ."
"Darn my luck," Willow said under her breath before smiling at Ranma-chan. "Nope, you didn't do anything."
Ranma-chan nodded to the girl before turning to Cologne looking very angry, "WHO LET THAT. . THAT LITTLE BEAST INTO MY ROOM!?!"
"Miyabi," Cologne replied calmly as she turned to reenter the house. "She was warned but she does not seem to know when to heed the word of a very wise Elder."
"It's just my luck that I'd get a Watcher who believes everyone should love c.c.cats, and has one that seems to think it's Xian Pu," Ranma rolled her eyes at her own statement then turned to the visiting girl. "So, what brought you here?"
"To walk you to school," Willow smiled sweetly. "I figured you could use the company since you're new here and all."
"Um, thanks," Ranma-chan replied looking nervous finally noticing the fact her breasts were bare. "I better get changed first."
"Come in girl, we're about to have breakfast," Cologne offered Willow with an odd knowing smile as she watched Ranma-chan walk into the house.
"Just as long as it isn't bacon that sounds great," Willow replied walking into the house then had to explain because of the odd look from Cologne. "Jewish."
"Ah, I see. Well don't worry we were about to have rice and a ramien soup," Cologne said with a nod. "Ranma won't eat pork either."
"Why? Is it taboo to his religion. . or training?" Willow asked confused.
"Oh no, nothing like that. His best friend just happens to turn in to a pig from time to time," Cologne waved off the girls statement as she started to test the soup to be sure it hadn't been ruined during the last few minutes. "He also has a hard time eating duck too for similar reasons. . but not beef for some reason, he seems to love eating beef. And I bet if he could eat Pandas he would love that too."
"Um, okay. ." Willow replied nervously not knowing if the old woman was pulling her leg or not.
- - - -
Miyabi stood about two blocks away in her pajamas trying to brave the idea of going back to the house or not. She had ran as far as she could before collapsing and then realized that she wasn't dressed for being in public, thankfully she was in a residential area and it was very early. She decided to wait a little longer.
- - - -
Cordelia Chase had a feeling that morning. That feeling was that she'd meet the man of her dreams that day, the boy she was meant to be with until the end of time. . or until she got tired of him, which ever came first. She had taken extra care with her clothes, hair, and makeup to be sure to look her very best so the man could not miss her from all the ordinary pleebs that went to that school.
She couldn't believe she had to missed school the day because according to her current best friend she also missed seeing a new transfer student that was supposed to be very buff and hot to the touch. Today she wasn't going let the opportunity to meet this honey pass her, and she would make sure he 'noticed' her too.
- - - -
"Hey!" Willow waved to both Buffy and Xander as they approached the school, she continued a steel grip on Ranma's arm all the time.
Xander gave Buffy a look before they both walked over to meet the other pair. Buffy looked a little concerned about her friend but the look on Ranma's face said Willow was in no danger from him, "Hey Wil, I see you already ran across Ranma."
"He ran across me earlier," Willow joked shrugged when she received blank looks from her friends. "I thought since Ranma's new here and all he might want some company walking to school."
"Doesn't Ms Gozumi drive to school in the morning?" Xander asked giving his long time friend a small smirk. "I'm sure Ranma got a ride yesterday with her, they do live together after all."
"Oh. . um. . yeah I forgot," Willow replied looking a little depressed then turned to Ranma. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you walk so far when you didn't have to."
Ranma put a hand behind his head and gave a over extended nervous smile, "It's okay, that wasn't much of a walk really so no big deal."
Buffy and Xander gave each other looks not knowing what to think about the other boy's reaction but chalked it up to being polite, something Buffy wasn't use to from Ranma.
Willow looked at her watch for a moment before dragging Ranma into the building, "Come on, we're supposed to talk to Giles before classes to prepare for the spell later."
Buffy tried her best not to start giggling as she and Xander watched Ranma silently mouth 'help me' to them as he was pulled along, both knew he was strong enough to get out of the light grip Willow's strength only could put on him but he seemed reluctant to do it so she figured that Ranma might actually be just trying for humour. Xander on the other hand wasn't so impressed, "What does he think he's doing? He strings her along and then pretends to be the helpless victim to us? You aren't going to let him to get away with games like that are you? Willow's our friend!"
"I don't know, it looks like Willow's doing all the playing here," Buffy finally giggled as she started into the school followed unhappily by Xander.
"I'll just be happy when that spell is cast and Willow comes to her senses," Xander added under his breath.
- - - -
"Okay, so were is this hunk?" Cordelia asked Harmony as she got to the main out stairs.
"You just missed him," Harmony replied still looking confused at what she had seen. "But I think it's too late for him, I just seen Rosenberg hanging all over him before dragging into the school."
"That little mouse!?! Are you sure?" Cordelia looked shocked at the thought of Willow even talking to a handsome guy let alone latching onto one. She smelled something wrong with that idea and wrongness in Sunnydale always led back to one person, Buffy Summers, and the best place to find her was the library.
Walking away from Harmony without another word she stormed towards the school library determined to save the new hun. . student from all the evil that Summers brought people.
- - - -
"So the spell's still set for second period?" Ranma asked Giles as he sat on the return counter. Buffy and Xander had taken chair around the main reading table but Willow was standing right beside the cursed boy smiling at no one in general just being happy.
Just being happy wasn't a common thing for Willow, not since she realized that she actually didn't have a chance with the boy she thought she really liked, well nothing more than being his friend. Her thoughts of Ranma were different though, she knew some of it had to be the magic around Ranma causing it but both Giles and the old woman said it just enhanced a person's attraction to Ranma. The thing that caught her by real surprise was that she was attracted to Ranma when both male and female, Buffy and Xander only felt attraction to Ranma when he was the opposite sex to them. . so what did that really mean?
"Yes, all the materials are ready and Ku Lon said she would be here to help supervise the casting so we seem to be set," Giles replied with a small controlled smile which changed as Cordelia walked into the room looking very unhappy about something. "Cordelia, what a surprise to see you here, or any library for that matter."
"Yeah, whatever. I came to save another student from the freaks in this school," Cordelia replied giving a sneer to Buffy before focusing on the Japanese boy sitting causally on the counter who looked slightly confused. Her heart nearly stopped at the image she saw there, he was definitely strong and handsome as Harmony had said but she didn't even come close to how much.
"Ranma, this is Cordelia Chase the school's head snob and general pain," Xander introduced as he got up and approached Cordelia with a look rivaling her original sneer. "Cordelia, Ranma Saotome."
Willow took one look on Cordelia's face and didn't like what she saw, grabbing onto Ranma's arm she gave the other girl a hard look saying 'mine' which was responded to buy a huff and a look of 'you think so huh?' from Cordelia. Ranma looked between the girls and looked to the heavens before stating under his breath, "You hate me don't you."
"You should know that being around these freaks is dangerous to both your health as well as your popularity," Cordelia stated in total arrogance giving Willow a disgusted look at the same time.
"Freaks? I don't see any freaks. Now the people I use to deal with in Japan those were real freaks," Ranma said with a smile trying desperately to ignore the interaction between Willow and this Cordelia girl. "And as for dangerous. . not even close."
"Well. . don't say I didn't warn you," Cordelia replied unsure of Ranma's reaction of not being bothered by Summer's and her little band, something had to be wrong with this somehow.
"Um, thanks for the warning I guess but I think you aren't giving them a chance," Ranma smiled again as he hopped down and walked towards the table and turned to Giles and Buffy. "So I be here right after first period for that spell but we'd better get ready to get to class before it's too late."
Giles coughed slightly nodding towards Cordelia at the mention of the spell as Buffy rolled her eyes at the boy's stupidity. Cordelia on the other hand walked out of the library stunned. Stopping out the door everything clicked for her, "They have him under a spell! Of course! How else would they keep someone like that around them.
"They have to be stopped!" She nearly yelled causing many students around her to turn and stare at her outburst. She realized the scrutiny from the lesser students and stormed off thing about how she could stop them from casting what she figured was another spell to enslave that poor beautiful boy.
- - - -
"*Cough* Well, that went well considering who we were dealing with," Giles said offhanded as he picked up a book to start reading.
"Is she always like that? What, never mind I already know the answer to that," Ranma started to ask but changed his mind. "I just hope she doesn't start acting like a Kuno."
"A Kuno?" Xander asked cocking and eyebrow at the pigtailed boy.
"Either a rich boken wielding nutcase or his also rich leotard ribbon wielding crazier sister," Ranma replied as his eye twitched slightly. "The both thought loved me when I was the opposite sex from them and hated me when I was the same sex. . they never figured out I was the same person no mater how often I changed in front of them."
"Ah, poor Ranma," Willow cooed as she petted his cheek softly causing Ranma to nearly jump.
"Would you please stop that!" both Ranma and Xander stated in annoyance. Ranma started to look around for a mallet out of reflex, realizing that one wasn't he looked at Giles almost pleading, "Are you sure we can't do that spell sooner?"
"It will take more than half of the period to complete, so no," Giles replied repressing a small laugh. Ranma's reaction to anyone giving him any affection was weird to him and he'd have to talk to Khu Lon about it later. "And it won't solve your real problems, it'll just make things easier with the students in this school."
"That will be an obvious improvement," Ranma said as he tried to move away from Willow giving her a sad but determined look. "I've been through enough 'love potions' to not want others to be forced to be attracted to someone by magic."
Willow and Buffy looked at Ranma oddly for a moment, Buffy started wondering why the boy who turned girl would have encountered love potions before and what she started thinking very bad thoughts about who may have used them. Willow wasn't so effected that she couldn't think straight and she started to wonder about why she was being so open about the attraction, almost lust, she felt about Ranma. She was sure that the magic they were talking about had little to do with the base emotions towards Ranma, it just boosted her confidence allowing her to act on what she felt but why towards his female side too. . .
- - - -
"Ranma," Buffy called to get his attention after they had walked out of the Library and were headed for their lockers. "Can I talk to you for a moment. . privately?"
Ranma looked down at his attached new body and lifted his eyebrows to say 'Well?'. Willow shrugged sadly and let go of Ranma's arm, she waited a little distance away not wanting to be away from Ranma too long.
"What can I do for you?" Ranma asked as he and Buffy moved out of earshot of Willow.
"What are your intentions with Willow?" Buffy asked with no pleasantness in her tone.
"Hey! This wasn't my idea!" Ranma nearly shouted out of reflex then caught himself. "Maybe after the spell we should talk about this?"
"No, we talk about it now. Me and Xander don't want Willow hurt and I want to know what you feel about her," Buffy crossed her arms and gave him a hard stare, it wasn't easy as thoughts of ripping off his shirt kept coming but she pushed them back with thoughts of Angel.
"I. . I don't really know. It's not easy for me to know that kinda thing," Ranma said sadly looking away and catching a glimpse of the girl in question. "Before, in Japan, I was engaged to a girl. It was an arranged engagement and we both rebelled against it, so we were never honest about our feelings to each other. Then came the other problems, mostly other girls intent on making me their husband, and I spent so much time trying to avoid getting married that I didn't think about what I wanted. I've never had the sweet and kind type of girl trying, Akane would get hostile about the smallest things, Ukyo would act sweet but she was really my best friend to me and that bothered her a lot. Then there were Xain Pu and Kodachi, they both tried to drug me to love them or attacked Akane to take her out of the way."
"I don't know what I feel about Willow, I don't trust my feelings anymore, but I was told that my N.N.Neko side seems to like her," Ranma tried to weakly joke.
"Neko side?" Buffy asked confused but not dropping her hard look.
"I'll explain that another time," Ranma replied looking nervous about the subject. "I want to wait for the spell to be cast before I make any serious thoughts about Willow, it'll let me know if she's still interested or not, but I promise you I don't play games like that with girls. . I'm am one with a little added water after all."
"Fair enough," Buffy replied trying not to smile at the last part. "But I thought you didn't like becoming a girl?"
"I don't!" Ranma stated firmly then calmed down. "I. . I've been able to think about the curse lately and I realize I have to get use to it as I'm likely to have it for the rest of my life. And any relationship I get into will have to deal with it too."
"I guess it would be a hard thing to get use to, I don't know what I'd do if I became a guy with a little cold water," Buffy's hard look finally dropped and concern replaced it. "Just try not to hurt her."
- - - -
"So he was acting like a cat?" Buffy said with a confused smile. "That's what he called his Neko side?"
"Yep, Neko means Cat in Japanese. Ranma is scared to death of cats and if he can't get away from them his mind does what it can to help and that is to become catlike," Willow explained as she and Buffy walked out of the gym to head to the Library for the spell. "It was very freaky this morning when Ms Gozumi bolted past me in fear and I got a man sized cat suddenly in my lap. He was only in his boxers at the time."
Buffy had to shake off the image of Ranma only wearing boxers and tried to replace it with an image of Angel in only boxers, it was getting harder to do and that was starting to scare her.
"But he came right out of it when Cologne poured cold water over him, it seems that the change is enough to shock him out of it," Willow almost drooled at the double image of Ranma and Ranma-chan in only boxers and she had to shake off the image herself. "He's supposed to be incredibly powerful when like that for some reason."
The two continued to walk towards the Library as they talked, neither noticed that they had picked up a couple of stalkers. Cordelia had done what she could to save that poor boy, Ranma, from the evilness that was Willow Rosenberg and that was go to the Principal.
"I hope you aren't wasting my time Miss Chase," Principal Snyder stated as he and Cordelia's heads poked around a set of lockers watching the two girls walking away.
"Oh no Principal Snyder, I heard them talking about doing a ritual this morning. I think they're into devil worship or something. . and they are pulling that new student into their evil little group," Cordelia tried to completely ignorant of what the group was really like. "We can't let such a sweet bod. . boy be lured into a life like that."
"You haven't seen Mr. Saotome's transcripts Miss Chase, if you had you might not so eager to help him," Snyder replied with a sneer of disgust. "But we can't allow delinquents to cause problems in my school."
"Of course Principal Snyder," Cordelia said sounding happy to agree, inside she didn't even like being anywhere near this little weasel of a man.
Snyder gave Cordelia a slightly disgusted look before heading towards the Library, "I don't like little brown nosing trouble makers either."
Upon reaching the door both noticed a small sign on the door indicating the Library was closed for the period as a small rehearsal for scenes from 'The Witches of Eastwick' was being conducted and Mr. Giles apologized for the inconvenience and please don't disturb. Snyder opened the small book he was carrying and looked over the scheduled reservations for club use of school rooms and found that the Library was indeed listed to be in use. The listed club 'The Scooby Mystery Theatrics Club' he didn't remember but the listed use was for a volunteer community show.
"Miss Chase, I think you have been mislead," Snyder gave the girl a nasty look.
"But. . It's got to be a cover. . I mean 'Witches of Eastwick' come on, that's about a bunch of witches calling the devil," Cordelia gave a look as if that was obvious after the momentary shock of the posted sign.
"Fine, Miss Chase, we'll check this rehearsal out. . to be sure that it isn't a cover for more nefarious activities," Snyder sighed in defeat before pushing the door open. "But if you are wrong expect a full week of detentions."
- - - -
Ranma was sitting on the counter again as Willow and Buffy came into the Library and smiled weakly at the pair, "Hey, took you long enough."
"We choose to shower after gym, unlike others," Buffy countered smoothly.
"I would too if the class even made me sweat at all," Ranma shrugged. "Though I do like gymnastics, both men's and women's."
"Yeah, like wow. I've Buffy do some of that stuff when she's fighting but. . wow," Xander said from where he was putting down a candle. "I think the Coach is seeing medals and trophies in his visions after that display."
"I really don't care what he sees in his daydreams, I don't do the competition stuff," Ranma replied seriously then muttered, "Unless I really have to.."
"Yes, well that's good and all but that doesn't get the spell don. . oh hello Principal Snyder, Cordelia, " Giles quickly changed gears as he watched the big eared little man walk into the room.
"Mr. Giles. I just wanted to take a look at the little theater group you have here," Snyder stated unhappily as he looked at each one of the gathered students. "As I remember The Witches of Eastwick had three female witches and I only count two, plus Mr. Harris and Mr. Saotome. Now unless one of these two are planning to go in drag you seem to need another witch."
"Ranma is playing the Nicholson part," Willow quickly stated as she moved over and grabbed his hand giving a possessive smile to Cordelia which earned her a disturbed eye twitch for the rich girl.
"I'm. . Ah. . doing stage work. I'm not very good at acting," Xander added when Snyder turned to gaze at him.
"So you are a witch short," Snyder confirmed to himself and gave a sneaky smile to the group. "Well you're in luck as Miss Chase has just volunteered to join your little company of player."
"What!? I didn't. ." Cordelia started to complain under Snyder cut her off.
"It either you join these. . player or suffer through two weeks of detention, your choice," Snyder said firmly. "I don't like my time wasted by anyone."
"But. .but. . alright," Cordelia agreed with her head down depressed.
Snyder walked out not looking very happy at all. When finally out of the Library he headed for his office and the phone, "The Mayor will want to know about the addition in those misfits."
"Great, now I have to deal with you freaks until finish your evil little spell," Cordelia said in arrogant annoyance, crossing her arms and not looking like she was about to help at all.
"You could have kept your nose out of things and this wouldn't have happened," Ranma replied sounding on the verge of being very angry. "I really don't know you and you don't know me but this is to help me and you just about forced us to stop it."
"But I was trying to save you from the evil little spells these foul witches will cast," Cordelia pouted with big eyes to Ranma.
"Now you even sound like a Kuno, and that isn't a good thing!" Ranma rolled his eyes. "They aren't foul witches and this spell is my choice, so go sit down and don't interfere!"
Cordelia sniffed after what felt like a slap to her but when to a chair and sat down as the others got into their positions. Ranma was put in the center of a nicely drawn circle and Giles and Willow started to speak the words to the spell. It took a long time to complete but everyone in the room could feel the energy in the room start to build. At the final words a burst of magical energy spread from Ranma in a sphere quickly flowing out into the school as a double ghost like image of Ranma-chan seemed to stand just in front of Ranma until the energy dispersed completely and all involve were knocked down.
"Ow," Willow said as Ranma helped her up being the first person on their feet. "That was more than I was expecting."
"Yes, quite." Giles agreed as he was helped up by Buffy. "The spell was much more powerful than expected. I think the magic of the curse interacted in the magic of the spell."
"So did it work?" Ranma asked concern and not happy as he had being feeling very odd since the energy dispersed.
"Yeah I think so, I can look at you without picturing you naked now," Buffy replied with a small smile. "Though I realize you're still handsome and all but I don't have to same pull to you."
"Good," Ranma was satisfied then noticed to odd looks aimed at him. One was from Willow, which he expected. . dreaded but expected, and the other was from Cordelia. Deciding that Willow deserved dealing with first he turned and gave her a weak smile, "Are you okay?"
Willow blushed and looked shy for a moment then shook herself out of it before replying, "Ah. . just peachy."
"Are you. . ah. . still, um, still. ." Ranma had a hard time asking as he didn't know if he wanted the answer, in either way.
"Y.yes I think I am," Willow replied giving him a small smile with her head down and looking at him through her hair. "I hope that. . that's okay with you?"
"You know, I think it is," Ranma smiled back giving the girl's hand a small squeeze. "As long as you can give me a little more room then you have been."
"I'll try," Willow squeezed back.
"Great freaks in love," Cordelia stated from across the room then realized who she included in the statement. "I don't me you Ranma, I just. . just. . What was with the image of the girl in that spell?"
"Oh right, you don't know about the curse," Xander replied as he stated to right the chairs around the table.
"Curse?" Cordelia looked from Xander back to Ranma in confusion.
"Um, yeah. I turn into a girl from time to time," Ranma said unhappily then turned to Willow. "Could you get me a class of water?"
"Sure," Willow replied and moved to the little office quickly to return with both a glass of cold and a glass of hot water.
"Watch closely," Ranma prompted as he poured the cold water over now her head and the very strong male form turned into a smaller supermodel of a younger girl.
Cordelia gasped at the site putting both hands over her mouth in shock and Ranma seemingly became more depressed, "I know it's freaky. . probably why I hang out with the people you call freaks, but I'm trying to live with this and could use as little grief about it as possible."
Cordelia still just looked at him without saying anything even though her mouth was opening and closing. Ranma-chan cocked an eyebrow as Xander walked over and waved a hand in front of her face which earned him a nasty glare from the rich girl.
"What?" Ranma-chan asked.
"You're Ranko Tendo!" Cordelia finally stated with a confused smile.
"How. . how do you know that name!?!" Ranma-chan asked loudly in pure shock earning her confused looks from the others.
"I have all your competition tapes! The Martial Rhythmic Gymnastic fight with the Black Rose, the Martial Cheerleading competition, and all the others!" Cordelia replied with a huge smile. "I'm like your biggest fan! I even have the push dolls from Japan!"
Ranma-chan stood there unable to respond at what she had just heard, the others where in a similar state of shock and confusion. After a moment she snapped out of it and said one word to the heavens, "Nabiki!"
"Wait! If you are Ranko. . oh god I'm an idiot for not recognizing you before," Cordelia added as she looked annoyed with herself even though she was still smiling. "You're also Ryu Tendo. . I have all those tapes too."
Ranma-chan collapsed upon hearing the last and slowly started to get up, "Ryu Tendo?"
"I guess the fact you were using a name like 'Ranma Saotome' was why I didn't realize that you were him. . I me you," Cordelia smiled again. "Must be something like going incognito or something?"
"Or something," Ranma-chan made sure that her footing was secure before continuing. "You collected my tapes and. . plush dolls?"
"Oh yes, I have all of the dolls including the hard to get Azusa and Panda ones, and not the Hong Kong knock offs," Cordelia seemed very proud of that fact. "My cousin got me hooked on it after she got back from an exchange trip to Japan. It's some of the best martial cinematics that I've seen, even though it said to be done by a highschool cinema club. The special effects are better then some of the stuff that I've seen in the movies. . so realistic, if you can call huge energy balls being thrown around real."
Ranma-chan was twitching at Cordelia's continuing explanation, it started as just an eye twitch then progressed from there to where her whole body was giving a shake that looked almost epileptic, Willow grabbed on to the red haired Japanese girl to try to get her to stop but Ranma-chan moved out of her grip and walked to the other girl with a evil little smile, "I'd love to get a copy of the tapes, I don't mind they won't be the originals but I need to talk to someone about them and I'd like to have a fast set to show them at the time."
"Um, sure I'll make you a copy of them, I should have a set by tomorrow for you," Cordelia replied with a smile.
"Thank you," Ranma-chan smiled and turned back to face the doors as Cologne finally came through the doors. "Took you long enough. I thought you were supposed to be here to help us make sure we didn't screw up?"
"I would have, Child, but I had a small encounter on my way here," Cologne smiled.
"Oh wow! It's Obaba from the tapes too!" Cordelia exclaimed excitedly causing the old woman to give her a sharp glare.
"My name is Khu Lon, not 'Obaba' as that silly girl Nabiki chose for her little enterprise," Cologne stated sounding annoyed then noticed that Ranma- chan was starting to glow blue and hopped back slightly.
"You knew about the tapes?" Ranma-chan asked very quietly as the room suddenly got very very cold. "Why didn't you tell me about them?"
"I thought you and the Mercenary had come up with the idea, If I had known otherwise I would have told you," Cologne replied with a small shrug then smiled again. "Now before we get too far from things I should explain what delayed me."
Cologne opened the other door to show them. . nothing. Taking note of the blank looks she turned and cursed lightly then hopped out of the room. It took her a few moments to come back with the boy she was leading into the room. His clothes were a little worn and dirty and a bandana held back the long bangs of his hair, the traveling pack on his back had obviously seen a lot of use.
"Ryouga!?!" both Ranma-chan and Cordelia exclaimed in shock, although Cordelia's was in happier shock than Ranma-chan's
"Um, Hi," Ryouga replied nervously with a hand behind his head, smiling in confusion.
- - - -
Author's Notes: And then there was Ryouga. People asked and here he is for a chapter or two (not counting this one). I know Cordelia seems out of character after she recognizes Ranma-chan then Ranma (okay maybe a little sooner than that) but she has to have quirks and I figured a budding actress would find a series of movies done by people her own age with what looked like professional levels of work would hook her and inspire her, thus meeting Ranko in person would be like meeting a popular star you liked in person.
Next on RTVS: Ranma, Buffy, Ryouga? go patrolling plus back to the Spike and Dru storyline. ( And I'll try to stick to this plan )
- - - -
Ranma The Vampire Slayer
Book 1
Changes in the World
By Felix Webster (Felix Warstar)
Chapter 7
- - - -
Disclaimers
All original Ranma ½ Characters Copyright Rumiko Takahashi (first published by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz Communications), and are used without permission.
Buffy, Giles, and the other characters that have appeared on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy and what ever company they are working at, be it Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox, or any others that pick it up as it goes along. They are used with out permission and I'm making NO money off them and no one else except those listed above should either. Please don't sue me cause I have no money.
Any character I create are mine, ALL MINE! Wahahahahahahaha. . *Cough couch* oops sorry. They are always ready to jump into other people's stories just let me know.
- - - -
- Meetings -
Ranma started to wake form a sounder sleep then he'd had in a long time. It was a very odd surprise to him that he didn't dream at all during the night. Dreams were always a bad thing for him and was usually happy when he didn't. First it was remembering the Neko-ken training in all it's horror, then it was about killing Saffron and almost losing Akane even though Saffron was reborn and Akane was saved. The other night it was remembering the faces of the Vampires he. . no, she killed, he definitely remembered being her and not himself. Separating himself into the male and female entity was not a good thing and he knew it but it was how his mind was cooping with what the Slayer had to do. It made his head hurt.
He started to shift and sit up when he noticed a slight weight laying on his legs, his fears of what it could be were confirmed when it. . no also a she, started to purr out, "Oh, you arrre awake. Pet me, pleeeasse."
Ranma leapt out of the bed and onto the dresser before trying to reply in a shaky voice and tried to wave off the approaching little beast, "Plea.Please g.go away. Shu shu, go f.find someone e.else to terrify."
"Why do you find Xian Pu scary?" the cat asked in innocent confusion as it hopped off the bed and slowly walked towards the dresser.
"Go. go away! Don't come here please!" Ranma pleaded sounding more and more desperate. "I c.can't take much m.more, please go away!"
"But Xian Pu wants to be friends," the cat replied cocking it's head to one side before leaping into the frightened boy's arms.
- - - -
Cologne was standing on her staff cooking the morning breakfast whistling a very old tune while Miyabi sat at the table reading the local paper. Both stopped what they were doing when they heard the horrifying yawl that came from upstairs but only Cologne looked truly terrified at the noise.
Cologne spun on Miyabi before the woman could get out of the large kitchen area, "What have you done! I locked the boy's door before he after I removed that cat last night."
"I just figured that Ranma just needed to get to know Mr. Fluffy. ." Miyabi tried to explain as Cologne cut her off and a very loud sound came from up stairs.
"YOU FOOL!!! Ranma's fear of cats can't be cured by putting cats around him! He just turns into a cat mentally and then has access to the Neko- ken!" Cologne shouted as she dragged the woman to the staircase to wait for the boy to appear. "He'll wake up a very anger cat and the Neko-ken is nearly unstoppable! and the only person I know who can bring him out of it is back in Japan!"
"I take it this is a bad thing?" Miyabi looked worried.
"Ranma will attack anyone he doesn't trust or has a grudge against," Cologne replied in anger mixed with fear.
"Then we're fine, he knows us. . what?" Miyabi didn't like the look she was getting from the old woman.
"We are very close to being DEAD!" Cologne stated as she grabbed Miyabi's hand again and started for the door. "Ranma wasn't a killer the last time I encountered the Neko-ken but we've been pushing the boy to do something he is morally opposed to because he's honour bound to do it. To make it plain to you, you stupid little. . HE HAS A TRUE GRUDGE AGAINST BOTH OF US AND HIS CAT PERSONALITY WILL KNOW THIS!"
"Oh hell," Miyabi replied as they reached the front door hearing another door in the upper area of the house pretty much explode. Opening the door they were stopped by the presence of a girl standing there about to ring the doorbell.
"Um, hi. Is Ranma home?" Willow asked with a nervous smile. "Giles gave me the address and I figured I could walk him to school. ."
"Look if you valve your life RUN!" Miyabi shouted as she ran past the girl as fast as she could.
Cologne was about to grab the girl's hand but stopped herself as something came to her at the same time as Neko-Ranma landed in front of the door and meowed, "We are going to need your help. Try to calm the boy down."
Willow looked between the weird acting Ranma and the very old woman in wide- eyed confusion and back again, "What's wrong with him?"
"He has had a very bad encounter with a cat and needs someone to calm him and comfort him so we can help him come back to himself," Cologne explained as she watched carefully the angry eyes of the boy as he prepared himself to pounce on his prey. "Don't worry he won't hurt anyone he has no grudge against."
"Um. . okay," Willow replied still confused then turned to Neko-Ranma and tried to smile. "h.here kitty kitty. ."
Willow didn't have a chance to continue as Neko-Ranma suddenly turned away from Cologne and smiled before leaping at her. The next thing Willow knew was that she was on her ass with a very cute, but heavy, Japanese boy trying to curl up on her lap wearing only a pair of boxers, "Um, good cat?"
Cologne wasted no speed getting a glass of cold water and throwing it on Neko-Ranma causing the now girl to lift her head confused sputtering out some that got in her mouth, "Whatcha do that for!?!"
Turning her head Ranma-chan realized that she was in a very weird position with the red haired girl she met yesterday that wouldn't let go of her arm most of the day, "I didn't do anything. . um like kiss you did I?"
"I wish," Willow replied without thinking then blushed when she noticed both the slip and the fact she now had a very over developed red haired girl in her lap only wearing a pair of boxers. "Ah, no. no you didn't and that's okay. . yep that's just fine."
Ranma-chan looked nervous again as she carefully got off of Willow's lap and shook out her hair before replying back in relief, "Good, I seem to have a bad habit of doing that when I. . Ah, become like that. ."
"Darn my luck," Willow said under her breath before smiling at Ranma-chan. "Nope, you didn't do anything."
Ranma-chan nodded to the girl before turning to Cologne looking very angry, "WHO LET THAT. . THAT LITTLE BEAST INTO MY ROOM!?!"
"Miyabi," Cologne replied calmly as she turned to reenter the house. "She was warned but she does not seem to know when to heed the word of a very wise Elder."
"It's just my luck that I'd get a Watcher who believes everyone should love c.c.cats, and has one that seems to think it's Xian Pu," Ranma rolled her eyes at her own statement then turned to the visiting girl. "So, what brought you here?"
"To walk you to school," Willow smiled sweetly. "I figured you could use the company since you're new here and all."
"Um, thanks," Ranma-chan replied looking nervous finally noticing the fact her breasts were bare. "I better get changed first."
"Come in girl, we're about to have breakfast," Cologne offered Willow with an odd knowing smile as she watched Ranma-chan walk into the house.
"Just as long as it isn't bacon that sounds great," Willow replied walking into the house then had to explain because of the odd look from Cologne. "Jewish."
"Ah, I see. Well don't worry we were about to have rice and a ramien soup," Cologne said with a nod. "Ranma won't eat pork either."
"Why? Is it taboo to his religion. . or training?" Willow asked confused.
"Oh no, nothing like that. His best friend just happens to turn in to a pig from time to time," Cologne waved off the girls statement as she started to test the soup to be sure it hadn't been ruined during the last few minutes. "He also has a hard time eating duck too for similar reasons. . but not beef for some reason, he seems to love eating beef. And I bet if he could eat Pandas he would love that too."
"Um, okay. ." Willow replied nervously not knowing if the old woman was pulling her leg or not.
- - - -
Miyabi stood about two blocks away in her pajamas trying to brave the idea of going back to the house or not. She had ran as far as she could before collapsing and then realized that she wasn't dressed for being in public, thankfully she was in a residential area and it was very early. She decided to wait a little longer.
- - - -
Cordelia Chase had a feeling that morning. That feeling was that she'd meet the man of her dreams that day, the boy she was meant to be with until the end of time. . or until she got tired of him, which ever came first. She had taken extra care with her clothes, hair, and makeup to be sure to look her very best so the man could not miss her from all the ordinary pleebs that went to that school.
She couldn't believe she had to missed school the day because according to her current best friend she also missed seeing a new transfer student that was supposed to be very buff and hot to the touch. Today she wasn't going let the opportunity to meet this honey pass her, and she would make sure he 'noticed' her too.
- - - -
"Hey!" Willow waved to both Buffy and Xander as they approached the school, she continued a steel grip on Ranma's arm all the time.
Xander gave Buffy a look before they both walked over to meet the other pair. Buffy looked a little concerned about her friend but the look on Ranma's face said Willow was in no danger from him, "Hey Wil, I see you already ran across Ranma."
"He ran across me earlier," Willow joked shrugged when she received blank looks from her friends. "I thought since Ranma's new here and all he might want some company walking to school."
"Doesn't Ms Gozumi drive to school in the morning?" Xander asked giving his long time friend a small smirk. "I'm sure Ranma got a ride yesterday with her, they do live together after all."
"Oh. . um. . yeah I forgot," Willow replied looking a little depressed then turned to Ranma. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you walk so far when you didn't have to."
Ranma put a hand behind his head and gave a over extended nervous smile, "It's okay, that wasn't much of a walk really so no big deal."
Buffy and Xander gave each other looks not knowing what to think about the other boy's reaction but chalked it up to being polite, something Buffy wasn't use to from Ranma.
Willow looked at her watch for a moment before dragging Ranma into the building, "Come on, we're supposed to talk to Giles before classes to prepare for the spell later."
Buffy tried her best not to start giggling as she and Xander watched Ranma silently mouth 'help me' to them as he was pulled along, both knew he was strong enough to get out of the light grip Willow's strength only could put on him but he seemed reluctant to do it so she figured that Ranma might actually be just trying for humour. Xander on the other hand wasn't so impressed, "What does he think he's doing? He strings her along and then pretends to be the helpless victim to us? You aren't going to let him to get away with games like that are you? Willow's our friend!"
"I don't know, it looks like Willow's doing all the playing here," Buffy finally giggled as she started into the school followed unhappily by Xander.
"I'll just be happy when that spell is cast and Willow comes to her senses," Xander added under his breath.
- - - -
"Okay, so were is this hunk?" Cordelia asked Harmony as she got to the main out stairs.
"You just missed him," Harmony replied still looking confused at what she had seen. "But I think it's too late for him, I just seen Rosenberg hanging all over him before dragging into the school."
"That little mouse!?! Are you sure?" Cordelia looked shocked at the thought of Willow even talking to a handsome guy let alone latching onto one. She smelled something wrong with that idea and wrongness in Sunnydale always led back to one person, Buffy Summers, and the best place to find her was the library.
Walking away from Harmony without another word she stormed towards the school library determined to save the new hun. . student from all the evil that Summers brought people.
- - - -
"So the spell's still set for second period?" Ranma asked Giles as he sat on the return counter. Buffy and Xander had taken chair around the main reading table but Willow was standing right beside the cursed boy smiling at no one in general just being happy.
Just being happy wasn't a common thing for Willow, not since she realized that she actually didn't have a chance with the boy she thought she really liked, well nothing more than being his friend. Her thoughts of Ranma were different though, she knew some of it had to be the magic around Ranma causing it but both Giles and the old woman said it just enhanced a person's attraction to Ranma. The thing that caught her by real surprise was that she was attracted to Ranma when both male and female, Buffy and Xander only felt attraction to Ranma when he was the opposite sex to them. . so what did that really mean?
"Yes, all the materials are ready and Ku Lon said she would be here to help supervise the casting so we seem to be set," Giles replied with a small controlled smile which changed as Cordelia walked into the room looking very unhappy about something. "Cordelia, what a surprise to see you here, or any library for that matter."
"Yeah, whatever. I came to save another student from the freaks in this school," Cordelia replied giving a sneer to Buffy before focusing on the Japanese boy sitting causally on the counter who looked slightly confused. Her heart nearly stopped at the image she saw there, he was definitely strong and handsome as Harmony had said but she didn't even come close to how much.
"Ranma, this is Cordelia Chase the school's head snob and general pain," Xander introduced as he got up and approached Cordelia with a look rivaling her original sneer. "Cordelia, Ranma Saotome."
Willow took one look on Cordelia's face and didn't like what she saw, grabbing onto Ranma's arm she gave the other girl a hard look saying 'mine' which was responded to buy a huff and a look of 'you think so huh?' from Cordelia. Ranma looked between the girls and looked to the heavens before stating under his breath, "You hate me don't you."
"You should know that being around these freaks is dangerous to both your health as well as your popularity," Cordelia stated in total arrogance giving Willow a disgusted look at the same time.
"Freaks? I don't see any freaks. Now the people I use to deal with in Japan those were real freaks," Ranma said with a smile trying desperately to ignore the interaction between Willow and this Cordelia girl. "And as for dangerous. . not even close."
"Well. . don't say I didn't warn you," Cordelia replied unsure of Ranma's reaction of not being bothered by Summer's and her little band, something had to be wrong with this somehow.
"Um, thanks for the warning I guess but I think you aren't giving them a chance," Ranma smiled again as he hopped down and walked towards the table and turned to Giles and Buffy. "So I be here right after first period for that spell but we'd better get ready to get to class before it's too late."
Giles coughed slightly nodding towards Cordelia at the mention of the spell as Buffy rolled her eyes at the boy's stupidity. Cordelia on the other hand walked out of the library stunned. Stopping out the door everything clicked for her, "They have him under a spell! Of course! How else would they keep someone like that around them.
"They have to be stopped!" She nearly yelled causing many students around her to turn and stare at her outburst. She realized the scrutiny from the lesser students and stormed off thing about how she could stop them from casting what she figured was another spell to enslave that poor beautiful boy.
- - - -
"*Cough* Well, that went well considering who we were dealing with," Giles said offhanded as he picked up a book to start reading.
"Is she always like that? What, never mind I already know the answer to that," Ranma started to ask but changed his mind. "I just hope she doesn't start acting like a Kuno."
"A Kuno?" Xander asked cocking and eyebrow at the pigtailed boy.
"Either a rich boken wielding nutcase or his also rich leotard ribbon wielding crazier sister," Ranma replied as his eye twitched slightly. "The both thought loved me when I was the opposite sex from them and hated me when I was the same sex. . they never figured out I was the same person no mater how often I changed in front of them."
"Ah, poor Ranma," Willow cooed as she petted his cheek softly causing Ranma to nearly jump.
"Would you please stop that!" both Ranma and Xander stated in annoyance. Ranma started to look around for a mallet out of reflex, realizing that one wasn't he looked at Giles almost pleading, "Are you sure we can't do that spell sooner?"
"It will take more than half of the period to complete, so no," Giles replied repressing a small laugh. Ranma's reaction to anyone giving him any affection was weird to him and he'd have to talk to Khu Lon about it later. "And it won't solve your real problems, it'll just make things easier with the students in this school."
"That will be an obvious improvement," Ranma said as he tried to move away from Willow giving her a sad but determined look. "I've been through enough 'love potions' to not want others to be forced to be attracted to someone by magic."
Willow and Buffy looked at Ranma oddly for a moment, Buffy started wondering why the boy who turned girl would have encountered love potions before and what she started thinking very bad thoughts about who may have used them. Willow wasn't so effected that she couldn't think straight and she started to wonder about why she was being so open about the attraction, almost lust, she felt about Ranma. She was sure that the magic they were talking about had little to do with the base emotions towards Ranma, it just boosted her confidence allowing her to act on what she felt but why towards his female side too. . .
- - - -
"Ranma," Buffy called to get his attention after they had walked out of the Library and were headed for their lockers. "Can I talk to you for a moment. . privately?"
Ranma looked down at his attached new body and lifted his eyebrows to say 'Well?'. Willow shrugged sadly and let go of Ranma's arm, she waited a little distance away not wanting to be away from Ranma too long.
"What can I do for you?" Ranma asked as he and Buffy moved out of earshot of Willow.
"What are your intentions with Willow?" Buffy asked with no pleasantness in her tone.
"Hey! This wasn't my idea!" Ranma nearly shouted out of reflex then caught himself. "Maybe after the spell we should talk about this?"
"No, we talk about it now. Me and Xander don't want Willow hurt and I want to know what you feel about her," Buffy crossed her arms and gave him a hard stare, it wasn't easy as thoughts of ripping off his shirt kept coming but she pushed them back with thoughts of Angel.
"I. . I don't really know. It's not easy for me to know that kinda thing," Ranma said sadly looking away and catching a glimpse of the girl in question. "Before, in Japan, I was engaged to a girl. It was an arranged engagement and we both rebelled against it, so we were never honest about our feelings to each other. Then came the other problems, mostly other girls intent on making me their husband, and I spent so much time trying to avoid getting married that I didn't think about what I wanted. I've never had the sweet and kind type of girl trying, Akane would get hostile about the smallest things, Ukyo would act sweet but she was really my best friend to me and that bothered her a lot. Then there were Xain Pu and Kodachi, they both tried to drug me to love them or attacked Akane to take her out of the way."
"I don't know what I feel about Willow, I don't trust my feelings anymore, but I was told that my N.N.Neko side seems to like her," Ranma tried to weakly joke.
"Neko side?" Buffy asked confused but not dropping her hard look.
"I'll explain that another time," Ranma replied looking nervous about the subject. "I want to wait for the spell to be cast before I make any serious thoughts about Willow, it'll let me know if she's still interested or not, but I promise you I don't play games like that with girls. . I'm am one with a little added water after all."
"Fair enough," Buffy replied trying not to smile at the last part. "But I thought you didn't like becoming a girl?"
"I don't!" Ranma stated firmly then calmed down. "I. . I've been able to think about the curse lately and I realize I have to get use to it as I'm likely to have it for the rest of my life. And any relationship I get into will have to deal with it too."
"I guess it would be a hard thing to get use to, I don't know what I'd do if I became a guy with a little cold water," Buffy's hard look finally dropped and concern replaced it. "Just try not to hurt her."
- - - -
"So he was acting like a cat?" Buffy said with a confused smile. "That's what he called his Neko side?"
"Yep, Neko means Cat in Japanese. Ranma is scared to death of cats and if he can't get away from them his mind does what it can to help and that is to become catlike," Willow explained as she and Buffy walked out of the gym to head to the Library for the spell. "It was very freaky this morning when Ms Gozumi bolted past me in fear and I got a man sized cat suddenly in my lap. He was only in his boxers at the time."
Buffy had to shake off the image of Ranma only wearing boxers and tried to replace it with an image of Angel in only boxers, it was getting harder to do and that was starting to scare her.
"But he came right out of it when Cologne poured cold water over him, it seems that the change is enough to shock him out of it," Willow almost drooled at the double image of Ranma and Ranma-chan in only boxers and she had to shake off the image herself. "He's supposed to be incredibly powerful when like that for some reason."
The two continued to walk towards the Library as they talked, neither noticed that they had picked up a couple of stalkers. Cordelia had done what she could to save that poor boy, Ranma, from the evilness that was Willow Rosenberg and that was go to the Principal.
"I hope you aren't wasting my time Miss Chase," Principal Snyder stated as he and Cordelia's heads poked around a set of lockers watching the two girls walking away.
"Oh no Principal Snyder, I heard them talking about doing a ritual this morning. I think they're into devil worship or something. . and they are pulling that new student into their evil little group," Cordelia tried to completely ignorant of what the group was really like. "We can't let such a sweet bod. . boy be lured into a life like that."
"You haven't seen Mr. Saotome's transcripts Miss Chase, if you had you might not so eager to help him," Snyder replied with a sneer of disgust. "But we can't allow delinquents to cause problems in my school."
"Of course Principal Snyder," Cordelia said sounding happy to agree, inside she didn't even like being anywhere near this little weasel of a man.
Snyder gave Cordelia a slightly disgusted look before heading towards the Library, "I don't like little brown nosing trouble makers either."
Upon reaching the door both noticed a small sign on the door indicating the Library was closed for the period as a small rehearsal for scenes from 'The Witches of Eastwick' was being conducted and Mr. Giles apologized for the inconvenience and please don't disturb. Snyder opened the small book he was carrying and looked over the scheduled reservations for club use of school rooms and found that the Library was indeed listed to be in use. The listed club 'The Scooby Mystery Theatrics Club' he didn't remember but the listed use was for a volunteer community show.
"Miss Chase, I think you have been mislead," Snyder gave the girl a nasty look.
"But. . It's got to be a cover. . I mean 'Witches of Eastwick' come on, that's about a bunch of witches calling the devil," Cordelia gave a look as if that was obvious after the momentary shock of the posted sign.
"Fine, Miss Chase, we'll check this rehearsal out. . to be sure that it isn't a cover for more nefarious activities," Snyder sighed in defeat before pushing the door open. "But if you are wrong expect a full week of detentions."
- - - -
Ranma was sitting on the counter again as Willow and Buffy came into the Library and smiled weakly at the pair, "Hey, took you long enough."
"We choose to shower after gym, unlike others," Buffy countered smoothly.
"I would too if the class even made me sweat at all," Ranma shrugged. "Though I do like gymnastics, both men's and women's."
"Yeah, like wow. I've Buffy do some of that stuff when she's fighting but. . wow," Xander said from where he was putting down a candle. "I think the Coach is seeing medals and trophies in his visions after that display."
"I really don't care what he sees in his daydreams, I don't do the competition stuff," Ranma replied seriously then muttered, "Unless I really have to.."
"Yes, well that's good and all but that doesn't get the spell don. . oh hello Principal Snyder, Cordelia, " Giles quickly changed gears as he watched the big eared little man walk into the room.
"Mr. Giles. I just wanted to take a look at the little theater group you have here," Snyder stated unhappily as he looked at each one of the gathered students. "As I remember The Witches of Eastwick had three female witches and I only count two, plus Mr. Harris and Mr. Saotome. Now unless one of these two are planning to go in drag you seem to need another witch."
"Ranma is playing the Nicholson part," Willow quickly stated as she moved over and grabbed his hand giving a possessive smile to Cordelia which earned her a disturbed eye twitch for the rich girl.
"I'm. . Ah. . doing stage work. I'm not very good at acting," Xander added when Snyder turned to gaze at him.
"So you are a witch short," Snyder confirmed to himself and gave a sneaky smile to the group. "Well you're in luck as Miss Chase has just volunteered to join your little company of player."
"What!? I didn't. ." Cordelia started to complain under Snyder cut her off.
"It either you join these. . player or suffer through two weeks of detention, your choice," Snyder said firmly. "I don't like my time wasted by anyone."
"But. .but. . alright," Cordelia agreed with her head down depressed.
Snyder walked out not looking very happy at all. When finally out of the Library he headed for his office and the phone, "The Mayor will want to know about the addition in those misfits."
"Great, now I have to deal with you freaks until finish your evil little spell," Cordelia said in arrogant annoyance, crossing her arms and not looking like she was about to help at all.
"You could have kept your nose out of things and this wouldn't have happened," Ranma replied sounding on the verge of being very angry. "I really don't know you and you don't know me but this is to help me and you just about forced us to stop it."
"But I was trying to save you from the evil little spells these foul witches will cast," Cordelia pouted with big eyes to Ranma.
"Now you even sound like a Kuno, and that isn't a good thing!" Ranma rolled his eyes. "They aren't foul witches and this spell is my choice, so go sit down and don't interfere!"
Cordelia sniffed after what felt like a slap to her but when to a chair and sat down as the others got into their positions. Ranma was put in the center of a nicely drawn circle and Giles and Willow started to speak the words to the spell. It took a long time to complete but everyone in the room could feel the energy in the room start to build. At the final words a burst of magical energy spread from Ranma in a sphere quickly flowing out into the school as a double ghost like image of Ranma-chan seemed to stand just in front of Ranma until the energy dispersed completely and all involve were knocked down.
"Ow," Willow said as Ranma helped her up being the first person on their feet. "That was more than I was expecting."
"Yes, quite." Giles agreed as he was helped up by Buffy. "The spell was much more powerful than expected. I think the magic of the curse interacted in the magic of the spell."
"So did it work?" Ranma asked concern and not happy as he had being feeling very odd since the energy dispersed.
"Yeah I think so, I can look at you without picturing you naked now," Buffy replied with a small smile. "Though I realize you're still handsome and all but I don't have to same pull to you."
"Good," Ranma was satisfied then noticed to odd looks aimed at him. One was from Willow, which he expected. . dreaded but expected, and the other was from Cordelia. Deciding that Willow deserved dealing with first he turned and gave her a weak smile, "Are you okay?"
Willow blushed and looked shy for a moment then shook herself out of it before replying, "Ah. . just peachy."
"Are you. . ah. . still, um, still. ." Ranma had a hard time asking as he didn't know if he wanted the answer, in either way.
"Y.yes I think I am," Willow replied giving him a small smile with her head down and looking at him through her hair. "I hope that. . that's okay with you?"
"You know, I think it is," Ranma smiled back giving the girl's hand a small squeeze. "As long as you can give me a little more room then you have been."
"I'll try," Willow squeezed back.
"Great freaks in love," Cordelia stated from across the room then realized who she included in the statement. "I don't me you Ranma, I just. . just. . What was with the image of the girl in that spell?"
"Oh right, you don't know about the curse," Xander replied as he stated to right the chairs around the table.
"Curse?" Cordelia looked from Xander back to Ranma in confusion.
"Um, yeah. I turn into a girl from time to time," Ranma said unhappily then turned to Willow. "Could you get me a class of water?"
"Sure," Willow replied and moved to the little office quickly to return with both a glass of cold and a glass of hot water.
"Watch closely," Ranma prompted as he poured the cold water over now her head and the very strong male form turned into a smaller supermodel of a younger girl.
Cordelia gasped at the site putting both hands over her mouth in shock and Ranma seemingly became more depressed, "I know it's freaky. . probably why I hang out with the people you call freaks, but I'm trying to live with this and could use as little grief about it as possible."
Cordelia still just looked at him without saying anything even though her mouth was opening and closing. Ranma-chan cocked an eyebrow as Xander walked over and waved a hand in front of her face which earned him a nasty glare from the rich girl.
"What?" Ranma-chan asked.
"You're Ranko Tendo!" Cordelia finally stated with a confused smile.
"How. . how do you know that name!?!" Ranma-chan asked loudly in pure shock earning her confused looks from the others.
"I have all your competition tapes! The Martial Rhythmic Gymnastic fight with the Black Rose, the Martial Cheerleading competition, and all the others!" Cordelia replied with a huge smile. "I'm like your biggest fan! I even have the push dolls from Japan!"
Ranma-chan stood there unable to respond at what she had just heard, the others where in a similar state of shock and confusion. After a moment she snapped out of it and said one word to the heavens, "Nabiki!"
"Wait! If you are Ranko. . oh god I'm an idiot for not recognizing you before," Cordelia added as she looked annoyed with herself even though she was still smiling. "You're also Ryu Tendo. . I have all those tapes too."
Ranma-chan collapsed upon hearing the last and slowly started to get up, "Ryu Tendo?"
"I guess the fact you were using a name like 'Ranma Saotome' was why I didn't realize that you were him. . I me you," Cordelia smiled again. "Must be something like going incognito or something?"
"Or something," Ranma-chan made sure that her footing was secure before continuing. "You collected my tapes and. . plush dolls?"
"Oh yes, I have all of the dolls including the hard to get Azusa and Panda ones, and not the Hong Kong knock offs," Cordelia seemed very proud of that fact. "My cousin got me hooked on it after she got back from an exchange trip to Japan. It's some of the best martial cinematics that I've seen, even though it said to be done by a highschool cinema club. The special effects are better then some of the stuff that I've seen in the movies. . so realistic, if you can call huge energy balls being thrown around real."
Ranma-chan was twitching at Cordelia's continuing explanation, it started as just an eye twitch then progressed from there to where her whole body was giving a shake that looked almost epileptic, Willow grabbed on to the red haired Japanese girl to try to get her to stop but Ranma-chan moved out of her grip and walked to the other girl with a evil little smile, "I'd love to get a copy of the tapes, I don't mind they won't be the originals but I need to talk to someone about them and I'd like to have a fast set to show them at the time."
"Um, sure I'll make you a copy of them, I should have a set by tomorrow for you," Cordelia replied with a smile.
"Thank you," Ranma-chan smiled and turned back to face the doors as Cologne finally came through the doors. "Took you long enough. I thought you were supposed to be here to help us make sure we didn't screw up?"
"I would have, Child, but I had a small encounter on my way here," Cologne smiled.
"Oh wow! It's Obaba from the tapes too!" Cordelia exclaimed excitedly causing the old woman to give her a sharp glare.
"My name is Khu Lon, not 'Obaba' as that silly girl Nabiki chose for her little enterprise," Cologne stated sounding annoyed then noticed that Ranma- chan was starting to glow blue and hopped back slightly.
"You knew about the tapes?" Ranma-chan asked very quietly as the room suddenly got very very cold. "Why didn't you tell me about them?"
"I thought you and the Mercenary had come up with the idea, If I had known otherwise I would have told you," Cologne replied with a small shrug then smiled again. "Now before we get too far from things I should explain what delayed me."
Cologne opened the other door to show them. . nothing. Taking note of the blank looks she turned and cursed lightly then hopped out of the room. It took her a few moments to come back with the boy she was leading into the room. His clothes were a little worn and dirty and a bandana held back the long bangs of his hair, the traveling pack on his back had obviously seen a lot of use.
"Ryouga!?!" both Ranma-chan and Cordelia exclaimed in shock, although Cordelia's was in happier shock than Ranma-chan's
"Um, Hi," Ryouga replied nervously with a hand behind his head, smiling in confusion.
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Author's Notes: And then there was Ryouga. People asked and here he is for a chapter or two (not counting this one). I know Cordelia seems out of character after she recognizes Ranma-chan then Ranma (okay maybe a little sooner than that) but she has to have quirks and I figured a budding actress would find a series of movies done by people her own age with what looked like professional levels of work would hook her and inspire her, thus meeting Ranko in person would be like meeting a popular star you liked in person.
Next on RTVS: Ranma, Buffy, Ryouga? go patrolling plus back to the Spike and Dru storyline. ( And I'll try to stick to this plan )
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