Ranmazoku Chapter 2 - First Contact By PansutoTarou5925
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DISCLAIMER - I do not own the rights to Slayers nor do I own the rights
to Ranma «. Long live the rightful owners of these two fine anime. This work
is non-commercial and is done only in imitation of Rumiko Takahashi and
Hajime Kanzaka. Imitation is the sincerest flattery, no? US rights owned by
Viz and Software Sculptors.
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Author's note - This story originated from an idea on Nighthawk's page and is
some guy named NesTea's fault. So there. C&C, MSTs, random comments,
letters of praise, hate mail, and accidental clicks on the reply-send button all
welcome. If asked when the next chapter will be out, I will bob and weave, lie,
stall , and bend more truths than a drunken Senator. So there.
ALTAVERSE WARNING - This is an ALTAVERSE. Events, characters and
the like may not resemble canon. People who are rabid canon-thumpers
beware!
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
"Master!" the pitiful little reject of an apprentice says, groveling at my feet.
"Please, Master -" I glare at him. "Er, respected Master, when will you teach
me more magic? I offer only my humblest thanks and gratitude for teaching me
the mysteries of the Lighting spell, but I beg of you, teach me more!" he
whined, taking a posture remarkably similar to the "Crouch of the Wild Tiger"
my father employs on Happousai. Is this why Happousai took on such pathetic
fools as students? If so, I almost respect him.
"Get up, Gosunkugi." He rises, anger still smouldering deep in his eyes. If he
thinks he can really hide his anger from me he's a fool. Of course, if he weren't
a fool, he wouldn't be nearly as useful. " You realize, Gosunkugi, that for
black magic you must draw off of a mazoku. And, as the only mazoku around,
I am the only source to draw from." Smiling, I continued more harshly, "So if
you wish to be stronger, you've got to help me become stronger. I won't
bother teaching you otherwise. You need me far more than I need you." Again
the repressed hate in his sunken eyes. I lean back on the roof - the roof of the
kendo club's building, ironically, where that idiot Kuno can be heard below
ranting about the demon Saotome and not having any clue just how right he is.
"Well, I'll tell you what. Here," I tell him, producing a thick grimoire. It's a
book I lifted from Phibrizzo's study, just a basic text on black magic, without
anything really special. I doubt Phibrizzo will ever notice it's missing, and if he
does I'll just steal it back from Gos and claim I borrowed it. "You can study
this. But I need you to get more photos of the other girls, OK? Nabiki's quite
upset that she has a competitor in photo sales here." I smile inwardly. It's quite
fun being on the other end of the manipulations with the middle Tendo
daughter.
"Er.. if I may ask.. what is the purpose of pissing off Nabiki?" Gosunkugi
asked with a slightly frightened look. He still fears Nabiki... guess I haven't
done enough to him yet. I'm about to tell him it's just revenge when I have the
idea to try a different tactic.
"Well, since you ask Gosunkugi," I said, tilting my head back and putting a
finger on my chin. "That.. is a secret."
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
I arrive in the mountains to see both Phibrizzo and my father talking,
presumably about that Lina Inverse girl they seem obsessed about. "Hey, Pop,
you're right. They really do get all pissed off if you say that." I call out,
deciding to butt in.
"Say what?" my mentor asks.
I wag my finger at him. "Now that's a secret." The look on Phibrizzo's face is
priceless. It seemed that the thought of my father's signature line coming from
anyone else's lips was something he was totally unprepared for, because his
face went from annoyance to realization and back to annoyance.
"Very amusing." he says, turning pointedly away from me. "Now leave us
alone for awhile. We need to discuss our plans." Hmmph. Well, if they want to
ignore me...
The mountain village is so different from Nerima. No cursed martial artists, no
angry kawaiikune tomboys, no Amazons, and no hentai grandmasters on panty
raids. In other words, a thoroughly boring place. 'How can Phibrizzo stand
waiting here? I'd go mad...' The afternoon sky is overcast and gloomy; there is
the distinct scent of coming rains in the air. Which means staying a guy is out.
Giving in to the inevitable, I sit, eating a cone of ice cream. It's the one
pleasure I have in both bodies, though it's muted now, somewhat
disappointing, now that I've acquired more sophisticated tastes. The sweet
tang of fear from terrified students, the heady intoxication of Akane's
unsurpassed anger, the bottomless ecstacy of Ryouga's peerless depression,
the mild flavor of Gosunkugi's resentment... those were the real treats, because
they were a taste of power.
"Power." I state, clinically, as I pause from my destruction of the ice cream
cone. What is it about power - the ability to shape one's own destiny - that
made it so irresistible? Why couldn't I resist it?
Maybe it was the fact that I never had power over my life before. Genma had
made sure of it. He wished me to become the Master of Anything Goes and
carry on the school. To marry Akane, to be a great martial artist. But what did
I want to do? I held the power now. But I didn't know what I wanted to do
with it. Absently wiping the melted ice cream off the back of my hand, I drop
the cone and rest my chin on my hand. What could I do? There were only two
paths I could possibly take from here.
I could go back to just being Ranma Saotome, martial arts whiz. But that really
wasn't an option anymore. There was another Art here, a more powerful and
mysterious Art. Anyone could be a master of the martial arts. But this Art took
something more.. something unique.
Or I could more fully embrace my dark heritage, become a full member of the
Mazoku society. I could ask Phibrizzo to become his general soon - that would
grant me additional power, and Phibrizzo was sure to grant it, as he had lost
his general in the War so many years ago. I might even be able to eventually
move into the renegade Gaav's position, if father manages to defeat him. I
think he will... after all, Gaav the Chaos Dragon could fittingly be replaced by
Ranma the Chaos Demon. I stopped cold.
I had thought that my mother wasn't Nodoka. But my name.. it raised
suspicions. Ranma meant both Wild Horse and Chaos Demon. Could she truly
be my mother, and have snuck one by Genma? At least then she would have
taste... Or maybe it was just fate that I would have such a name? Perhaps it
was a sign telling me which way to go.
I dropped the crushed remains of my cone and walked back out of town.
Those two should be done by now.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Xellos was gone when I got back to Phibrizzo. "Hey," I yelled out, Phibrizzo
turning around.
"Hey yourself, Ranma. I'm still not going to teach you for that smartass remark
earlier." He drew himself up, tightening his belt and managing a stern face
totally at odds with his childish exterior. "You should learn to respect your
elders!" he said, imitating what the shopkeeper would tell Phibrizzo every time
we ate in town.
"Yeah, right." I said, laughing. "You really aren't going to teach me anything
today? Aww man, I don't wanna have to go back to Nerima yet." I said,
grumpily and pouting as only a cute redhead can.
"Well, you can help me then, I don't care." He paused and gave me an
appraising look. "You know, if you wore a cape and an orange shirt, you'd be
a dead ringer for Lina Inverse when you're a girl."
I looked surprised, although I actually already knew that. "Really? What's with
all the interest in this Lina girl anyway? You and Pop are always going on
about her and her friends, the rocky guy and whats-her-face."
"And Gourry Gabriev. I think Gourry's the key to Lina, actually.. but anyway.
She's a powerful human sorceress, very skilled in black magic. She seems to
have the favor of the Lord of Nightmares. In any case, she's successfully used
the Giga Slave before." I whistled.
"Isn't that the spell that can destroy the world or something?" I asked.
"Yeah. She might be confident enough to cast it again. At least I hope so." he
added. " Anyhow, we're using her as a cat's paw against Gaav. We'll bring the
renegade back to justice." Among other things, I added silently. You're
certainly interested in seeing that Giga Slave used again. I've seen that look
before.. on the old lech whenever he had a bucket. Granny will definitely be
interested in hearing this.
"So, she's a danger to us?"
"A danger to you, maybe. I'm another matter." he said, puffing his chest out.
"No mere mortal can beat me. I'm the greatest of Shabranigdo's lieutenants,
the invincible Hellmaster who led the forces of darkness to victory over the
Water Dragon a thousand years ago." He pointed a finger at me, admonishing
me. "A little thing like a Dragon Slave or two will barely slow me down. You,
though, you're still young and relatively weak. You'd be toast if you went
against this Inverse."
"Whatever. " I looked around. "Hey, it must have been later than I thought. I'll
head back to Nerima. You won't see me 'til day after tomorrow, I have an
English test and Hinako will kill me if I don't pass it." I walked around the
mountain and back to the gate Phibrizzo had constructed and opened it.
Picking up a nearby boulder, I figured that it would do quite nicely, and threw
it in. "There ya go. You'll never suspect a thing." Grinning madly, I started to
fly off to my true destination.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
I entered quietly, noticing the smoke curling gently towards the roof. "Hiya,
Granny," I said, knowing how much she hated being called that, "I've got
some news for you."
"Oh, really? And what is our esteemed Hellmaster up to lately? He's been
keeping us in the dark." my grandmother replied, snubbing out her cigarette on
the arm of her chair. "He's been less careful around you, I think. We should
make him pay for that."
"Of course." Playing double agent is difficult. Of course, what in my life isn't?
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
I returned to Nerima later in the evening, really needing to get some studying
done. It was one thing if I was just going to be an amazing godlike martial
artist renowned throughout Asia, but if I planned to become an evil overlord I
needed to get better grades. No one would be able to take an evil overlord
who limped through high school seriously. Hmm, Akane's happy, damn. . .
what the heck happened to Happousai?
The old pervert looked as if he had been run over by a truck. It wasn't terribly
unusual to find him sporting a few lumps and lots of bruises, but someone had
landed a good one on him. "Hey, Akane, what happened to the Freak?"
"Oh, you wouldn't believe it. He was chasing the girl's tennis team when, all of
the sudden, this boulder suddenly appeared and fell on him." Oops. "Even the
kami hate this stupid old man." Akane said, slapping away Happousai's feeble
attempt to grope her.
"Something like that, anyway." If my boulder had to land on someone, at least
it was Happousai. Unfortunately, the 'divine retribution' against a known
pervert had put Akane in a good mood, thus destroying my hard work. I had to
do something to piss off Akane fast.. think, Ranma, what would Xellos do?
Well, he was with Lina, they'd probably eat. Which would work, I suppose.
"Oh, I wanted to tell Kasumi something. Hold on." I quickly dashed past her
and into the kitchen, Kasumi's little kingdom of peace and happiness. It was
nauseating. "Hey, Kasumi!" I greeted her, hiding my revulsion at the happy
little tune she was humming and her sweet smile.
"Oh, hello, Ranma-kun. Doctor Tofu let me borrow this new book on Thai
spices. Isn't life wonderful?" AAARGH! What have I done to deserve this?
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
It really wasn't that difficult to get Kasumi out of the kitchen and out of the
house after a rumor of live eels at half price. And as predictably as day
following night or Ryouga getting lost in a maze, Akane immediately jumped
into the void left by her sister's absence and promised to make a feast fit for a
dumpster. Not only would I get to break Akane's heart by retching at her
disgusting so called food, but, as an added bonus, I got to make the rest of the
family miserable as well. In fact, their palpable aura of fear was doing very well
in getting rid of the queasiness Kasumi's kitchen never failed to bring out in
me.
"Ranma, please tel me she's making curry." Nabiki asked me, taking fearful
glances into the kitchen.
"Nope. I told her I'd like to try something new today." Asking Akane to try
something new was like bringing Happousai to a swimsuit shop. It was just
begging for trouble. It was quite amusing to watch the blood drain from
Nabiki's face as she considered that, and my smile was genuine, instead of the
happy-idiot facade I normally kept on my face.
Nabiki walked slowly, zombielike, to the table and sat herself down. "My life is
over." She desperately turned to me. "Ranma, it isn't too late to order takeout!
We can save ourselves! Or at least," she said, watching my face, " I can save
ME." She got up and ran to the phone. Good. That will save me some work in
first annoying Akane.
"All right! Dinner is... Nabi-ki!" Akane yelled, slamming the tray of food on
the table. Genma and his gutless friend had already left, leaving only me,
Nabiki, and Happousai to face the terrors of Akane's cooking. Given Nabiki's
attempts to wriggle out of the meal and Akane's rapidly vanishing patience, I
might get to witness a rare Akane blowup at someone other than me. "Nabiki,
I worked really hard on this! The least you can do is eat it!"
"No, no, I can definitely do less. Besides, I already ordered pizza, and I don't
want to waste money." A knock at the door saved Nabiki, who hurried to
retrieve the pizza. It was a testament to the power of Akane's cooking that
Nabiki was willing to order pizza, because the pizza parlor hired trained ninjas
to deliver food even through the most vicious Nerima street battles and you
certainly paid for the service. I waited until everyone, including the still
recovering Happousai, sat at the table. Akane's cooking was apparently dead,
whatever it was, and not emitting toxic fumes. That was good enough for me.
It wasn't like I really needed to eat it. I had plenty of bad feelings about to
keep me healthy.
"OK, Ranma, try some!" Akane said, smiling. It was kinda funny, but ever
since the Picollet Chardin incident I haven't actually eaten a bite of Akane's
cooking. The Gourmet de Foie Gras comes in handy with her meals. No one
seems to question why the koi die a lot lately either. Not that I would waste
this meal on the fish when I could force-feed Happousai and Nabiki instead.
"I'm not ordering from them again. This is almost as bad as Akane's cooking."
Distracted, I forget to playact getting sick. Almost as bad? She's improved? I
take a cautious bite. Immediately the world begins to swim in and out of focus
as the poisonous food attacked my system, and I collapsed on the table,
coughing. Happousai also turned green and started to wretch.
"Please... kill me... now..." Happousai croaked as he crawled towards Akane
shakily. Akane lit up with a wonderful aura of pure anger, and I unwittingly lit
up with a huge grin as the wonderful taste of anger reached my tortured
mazoku senses. Damn food screwing up my head... hmm, she's really mad ...
you know.. that mallet might hurt.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
There are several benefits to being a mazoku. One is healing rapidly even from
physical and magical damage, with fairly high resistance to such attacks in the
first place - which definitely proves the tomboy has a lot of muscle. Another is
actually liking that pain in the first place. It had taken years before I noticed
that the other people around me didn't enjoy pain or suffering, mostly because
baka Genma had to keep me out in the blasted wilderness my entire life. It's
probably a good thing, or I probably would have developed Ryouga's new
Shishi Hokodan move independently and killed the fat fool at some point.
Probably the Cat-Fist. Heck, I probably would have killed him anyways with
just the Cat-Fist if it wasn't for that. I mean, I might enjoy a little pain, but you
can have too much of a good thing.
Akane's mallet strike, however, was already gone, and I was alone in my room.
I'd bet on Kasumi having brought me - I could still feel that horrible aura of
niceness over the room. Or maybe that was just from her neatening the futons
earlier. Whatever. I had things to practice.
My studies with Phibrizzo, and direct experience with my grandmother Zelas
told me that all mazoku can take several different forms, just like the dragons
can turn into people. Whereas Gaav was that ugly demon-dragon and the
others had even more hideous and warped shapes, my family had.. well, come
to think of it, our real bodies looked pretty hideous and warped too. But we
could also look like a wolf, and I figured I needed practice in wolf and demon
forms in a place where there wasn't a sorcerer on every corner. I might be able
to squash them like the insects they were, but it would get annoying fast. And I
needed to practice teleporting. Fortunately, hovering and flying came natural to
me. I can't decide if it's instinct or twelve years of intense training in Saotome-
ryuu. So first...
My body elongated, dropping to the ground as my hands became enormous
paws, thick fur extending in every direction. My face stretched out, a most
disturbing sensation, my nose melting and flowing into a canine snout, teeth
stretching into huge canine fangs. A tail stretched out, moving down my pants
leg, and then the clothes I had been wearing burst as I turned into my huge
wolf form, so similar to the ones on Wolf Pack Island. I then concentrated all
my energies on picturing the tree that Kuno chopped down on my first day of
school.
I popped back right next to the tree stump and, running flat out, sprang to the
top of the school with a bounce off the gym's roof. I opened my mouth at the
now full moon and let off a horrible howl, magically enhanced to carry through
the night. Then I ran quickly in the direction of the water canal, leaping and
crisscrossing it as I searched for what I was looking for. After all, I had more
to do than just terrorize people on a walk.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
It was five days later, with the "Wolf Demon of Tokyo" being sighted in
various wards of the city, that I undertook a more detailed survey of one of my
targets. It was one of the main pumping stations for the Azabu Juuban ward,
and I was on the roof of a nearby office building, observing the lame security
they had. You'd think after those fanatics released nerve gas in the subway a
few years back they'd guard the place a little better. If someone put something
in the water, it would be very bad for the city. And with a giant wolf, namely
me, terrorizing the places nightly, they should really beef up security. Shaking
my head, I sat down on the edge of the roof and thought about how to best put
my plan in motion if I ever needed to. The slight sound of a few loose pebbles
on the tar roof alert me to a presence - Nabiki's, she's always been sneaky -
before the person is even three steps from the roof door.
"Hey, Ranma, are you looking for that wolf demon?" she asked without
preamble.
"How'd you know where to look for me?" I asked, neatly evading the
question. I turned to look at her. Nabiki is smart, but her smugness gives her a
lot of holes in her mental defenses. She's much like her sister in that respect:
where her sister is good physically on offense but pitiful against any real
opponent on the defensive, so Nabiki was excellent on the mental warpath, but
was poor at dealing with other people who could manipulate. The difference
between the sister was that Nabiki would adapt pretty fast if she ever found out
how badly I can fool her. Or anyone else, for that matter, but Nabiki, Cologne
and I are really the only people in town who are smart enough for it to matter.
Cologne, now, she knew I was smarter than I let on. That's the reason she and
Shampoo have been bothering me so much. Strong, smart, and handsome -
they knew they'd never find another one like me. Of course, I can't let that
smirk reach the surface, else Nabiki will think something is up, but it's there, if
you're wondering.
Looks like Nabiki has finally decided what she's going to say. "It's simple,
Saotome, I had some people who owed me a favor track you the past few
nights. Two days ago they saw you arrive at the Tomobiki pumping station
after that huge wolf attacked it. And last night you were at our own Nerima
station. What gives, Saotome, are you playing hero?" Her people.. must be that
guy at the pizza place, he's the only person who owes Nabiki and could track
me. Or maybe Kuno lent her Sasuke for some photos. Whatever. I suppose it
really doesn't matter. I turn back to the building and ignore Nabiki, smiling
now that she can't see me.
"I don't need you getting torn up out here, Saotome. It's bad enough having
you and your friends destroy the house on a weekly basis, but I'm not paying
for your medical expenses too." I waved her off. "What, you see something?"
"No, just trying to shut you up." There, I could feel anger and frustration. It
was kind of funny, Nabiki might have a perfect poker face, but I could see her
cards. The two of us sat on the roof, me smiling at the station, Nabiki frowning
behind me, for another minute, before Nabiki turned around. That's when we
heard the abortive yell from the nearby alley. I jumped over to the ledge
overlooking the alley, where two thugs had jumped a tall girl in a green skirt.
"They're going to rape her!" Nabiki whispered panickily, as if her voice would
reach them if she yelled. I had better ears than most and I could just barely
make out what they were saying.
"No they aren't, jumpy, they're just mugging her." I said, leaning on the
railing.
"And you're just going to let them mug her? What happened to your honor as
a martial artist?" she fired back angrily.
"That one's got a gun." I said, pointing to the one deeper in the alley.
"So? Do something!"
"Why don't you?" I replied, and shoved her off the roof. Of course, Nabiki
started screaming the second she fell off, so I teleported to ground level and
took the crooks out by hitting their sleep spot as they gawked at the apparent
suicide. Then I walked under Nabiki and caught her. She immediately slapped
me across the face.
"You jerk! I can't believe you just did that!" she screamed, as the girl I just
rescued looked at me, the crooks, and then the top of the building.
"Whaaat?" I said, aping incomprehension. "I caught you. What's your
problem?"
"You just threw me off! I could have been killed!" she continued, as the tall
girl kept swiveling her head back and forth. She's going to get a crick in her
neck if she keeps it up.
"Bah, talk about ungrateful." I said, rolling my eyes and turning around,
accidentally running into the girl I had saved.
"That was AWESOME!" she gushed. "I can't believe it! You just jumped off
the roof and clobbered those guys and saved that girl and me and wow! It's
like a Jackie Chan movie!"
"Uh.. sure. Glad to be of help." I said, sweatdropping. I turned and left,
following the still-shaky Nabiki, but I heard one last remark from the tall girl.
"He looks just like my sempai!" Great. Another lovestruck admirer.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
It was a week after that, and having to deal with constant harassment from
Nabiki, that I discovered why Akane loves P-chan so much. Apparently, any
strange, ugly animal looks cute to her, because I had been trying to manipulate
my wolf form to look less huge and terrifying, and ended up looking like a
fantastically scruffy small, black-tipped fur wolf. I wasn't in the least bit cute,
had even sent Asuza screaming for the hills when she saw me (I chased her for
a while. Although she was so sickeningly sweet it was like eating a candy bar, I
had to pay her back for that whole Martial Arts Skating fiasco), yet Akane had
hugged me and basically dragged me back to the dojo.
"What's THAT?" Nabiki asked as Akane dragged my ugly, scraggly butt
through the door.
"This is a dog I found on the streets. I think it might be part wolf. He's cute,
isn't he?" she said, smiling. I rolled my eyes until I remembered wolves aren't
supposed to do that. Fortunately, Nabiki rolled her eyes, too, so she didn't
notice.
"That thing is the ugliest looking dog I've ever seen." she said. I winced,
getting a protective coo from Akane.
"Look, you're upsetting him." Akane said, frowning. "Besides, if I wash him
up, he won't look so scruffy." She tied me to the post I usually practiced
punching on and got a big tub of hot water ready. I whined loudly. Maybe
she'd let me go and I could hide somewhere. I didn't want to be her damn dog.
"You know, you won't be able to keep him here. He might eat P-chan." Nabiki
said. On the OTHER hand, I could grow to like this dog thing. I started
sniffing for the little porker, hoping for once he was here instead of Outer
Mongolia or wherever the hell he was when he wasn't here. Vengeance is
mine, Ryouga. You won't even know its me. I began to snicker. "And it
sounds like he's sick."
Akane dragged me into the tub. I made a big production out of dragging my
feet and making a huge mess when she wrestled me into the tub. After a long
and valiant battle, I managed to drag Akane in as well, earning laughter from
Nabiki. "This is priceless! I'm getting this on tape." She quickly hustled up to
her room. Meanwhile, Akane was getting more and more frustrated as she
wrestled with me in the soapy water. The best part was, she wasn't going to
mallet a dog, so I could annoy her as much as I wanted. Except.. well, then I
wouldn't be able to harass Ryouga too, because she'd kick me out. I settled
down in the tub. Then, after she finished, I shook myself off on her. Heh.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Damnit, she is sooo unoriginal in her names. D-chan. 'Dog-cute. See?' I
mimed. Akane had cooked up a plateful of glop, which I promptly buried in the
backyard. Wolves have it easy. Or dogs, depending on how blind to reality you
are. Though I felt sorry for whatever worms and bugs lived in the ground
behind the Tendo house. They would die a slow and painful death. I came back
in and decided to lay down near Akane and wait patiently for P-chan to show
up. Unfortunately, Akane knocked her glass of water off the table onto my
back. I noticed my paws get red-tipped fur and I panicked, bolting out of her
room before she could notice. Dammit, this curse even affects me in other
bodies? That bites!
I jumped in the dryer and stuck my head out. Kasumi would have wolf fur all
over the next load of laundry, but that was her problem, and I'd never gotten
to taste Kasumi's anger before, anyways. No one would ever look for a wolf in
the dryer. It was a pretty tight fit for me, after all. Hmm... my body was a bit
smaller, undeniably female, and now reddish instead of that cool dark-tipped
fur. I suppose I could change back into a human and grab some clean laundry
before anyone notices me. But just as I stick my head out the dryer door, of
course Nabiki walks in right then. Damn!
You could almost see the gears in Nabiki's head turning. It really wasn't that
hard to figure out, really, that I was the wolf. It was just what she would do
with the information... "Ah, Saotome, I see you're a werewolf." She walked
over, using the typical Nabiki smirk. "Is that why you've been visiting the
water pumps? Another werewolf challenging you?" Of course, she's totally
clueless. Good. Might as well let her think that's the truth or she'll just pester
me even more, and maybe then she might figure out the real truth. "So, what
are you going to OW!" she yelled as I nipped her hand. She then held her
hand up in terror and looked at the teeth marks. "I.. I've been bitten by a
werewolf..." she stammered, falling back into the corner, still staring at her
hand. I used the distraction to change back into a human and get into some
clean clothes. "Now.. now I'll turn into a werewolf."
A funny idea occurred to me. "Ah, I'm sorry about that. Look, Nabiki, I'll tell
you how to avoid becoming a werewolf. Just don't tell anyone about me being
a werewolf, OK?" Inside, it was all I could do to avoid bursting out in laughter
as I saw her nod. "All right, here's what you have to do..."
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
"Why is Nabiki rolling around naked in a patch of wolfsbane?" Gosunkugi
asked me. We were in the Tokyo Botanical Gardens tonight, not the usual
place for us to meet. Nabiki had no idea we were there.
"Never mind that. I just need to borrow your camera. You never know when
blackmail material might be needed on Nabiki." I took some shots of Nabiki
while she rolled around and redressed. After she left I pocketed the film. "And
now to business... uh..." Gos had developed a slight nosebleed.
"Does she do this every Wednesday?" Gos asked. Weird. I never figured Gos
for a pervert.. what am I THINKING? He only stalks Akane...
"Er.. no." I said, sweatdropping. "I'd like you to try to curse Kuno again. That
laryngitis was a godsend, and I don't want to have to listen to that egotistical
moron one second longer than I have to."
Gos gave me a puzzled look. "But why don't you just curse him?"
Because I can't be everywhere at once and I have to run all the way out to the
aqueducts tonight. "Now that... is a secret." I said, winking and teleporting to
the front of the gardens. I quickly jumped up and roofhopped away, leaving
Gos to fend to his own devices.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Wow.. that dragged on for a while. I didn't expect it to get THAT long 32 kb
of Ranmazoku. That's double the length of Monday's update. So I'll cut off
this section of Chapter 2 for your downloadable pleasure and continue
Ranma's exploits in Chapter 2B, which will be out approximately whenever.
Thanks to all the people who voted, had miscellaneous comments, and
suggestions. Your comments are all appreciated. More random comments,
C&C, they're always welcome. I'll try to pump out more before exams start
but I offer no promises.
Oh, and wild guesses are always welcome if you feel like predicting Ranma's
actions. I always try to respond promptly - I'm on the computer most of the
day, so I generally respond fast and often.
it's on Nighthawk's page
www.geocities.com/NighthawkTM/index.html
and Crossover Corner
www.geocities.com/animecrossovers
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
DISCLAIMER - I do not own the rights to Slayers nor do I own the rights
to Ranma «. Long live the rightful owners of these two fine anime. This work
is non-commercial and is done only in imitation of Rumiko Takahashi and
Hajime Kanzaka. Imitation is the sincerest flattery, no? US rights owned by
Viz and Software Sculptors.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Author's note - This story originated from an idea on Nighthawk's page and is
some guy named NesTea's fault. So there. C&C, MSTs, random comments,
letters of praise, hate mail, and accidental clicks on the reply-send button all
welcome. If asked when the next chapter will be out, I will bob and weave, lie,
stall , and bend more truths than a drunken Senator. So there.
ALTAVERSE WARNING - This is an ALTAVERSE. Events, characters and
the like may not resemble canon. People who are rabid canon-thumpers
beware!
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
"Master!" the pitiful little reject of an apprentice says, groveling at my feet.
"Please, Master -" I glare at him. "Er, respected Master, when will you teach
me more magic? I offer only my humblest thanks and gratitude for teaching me
the mysteries of the Lighting spell, but I beg of you, teach me more!" he
whined, taking a posture remarkably similar to the "Crouch of the Wild Tiger"
my father employs on Happousai. Is this why Happousai took on such pathetic
fools as students? If so, I almost respect him.
"Get up, Gosunkugi." He rises, anger still smouldering deep in his eyes. If he
thinks he can really hide his anger from me he's a fool. Of course, if he weren't
a fool, he wouldn't be nearly as useful. " You realize, Gosunkugi, that for
black magic you must draw off of a mazoku. And, as the only mazoku around,
I am the only source to draw from." Smiling, I continued more harshly, "So if
you wish to be stronger, you've got to help me become stronger. I won't
bother teaching you otherwise. You need me far more than I need you." Again
the repressed hate in his sunken eyes. I lean back on the roof - the roof of the
kendo club's building, ironically, where that idiot Kuno can be heard below
ranting about the demon Saotome and not having any clue just how right he is.
"Well, I'll tell you what. Here," I tell him, producing a thick grimoire. It's a
book I lifted from Phibrizzo's study, just a basic text on black magic, without
anything really special. I doubt Phibrizzo will ever notice it's missing, and if he
does I'll just steal it back from Gos and claim I borrowed it. "You can study
this. But I need you to get more photos of the other girls, OK? Nabiki's quite
upset that she has a competitor in photo sales here." I smile inwardly. It's quite
fun being on the other end of the manipulations with the middle Tendo
daughter.
"Er.. if I may ask.. what is the purpose of pissing off Nabiki?" Gosunkugi
asked with a slightly frightened look. He still fears Nabiki... guess I haven't
done enough to him yet. I'm about to tell him it's just revenge when I have the
idea to try a different tactic.
"Well, since you ask Gosunkugi," I said, tilting my head back and putting a
finger on my chin. "That.. is a secret."
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
I arrive in the mountains to see both Phibrizzo and my father talking,
presumably about that Lina Inverse girl they seem obsessed about. "Hey, Pop,
you're right. They really do get all pissed off if you say that." I call out,
deciding to butt in.
"Say what?" my mentor asks.
I wag my finger at him. "Now that's a secret." The look on Phibrizzo's face is
priceless. It seemed that the thought of my father's signature line coming from
anyone else's lips was something he was totally unprepared for, because his
face went from annoyance to realization and back to annoyance.
"Very amusing." he says, turning pointedly away from me. "Now leave us
alone for awhile. We need to discuss our plans." Hmmph. Well, if they want to
ignore me...
The mountain village is so different from Nerima. No cursed martial artists, no
angry kawaiikune tomboys, no Amazons, and no hentai grandmasters on panty
raids. In other words, a thoroughly boring place. 'How can Phibrizzo stand
waiting here? I'd go mad...' The afternoon sky is overcast and gloomy; there is
the distinct scent of coming rains in the air. Which means staying a guy is out.
Giving in to the inevitable, I sit, eating a cone of ice cream. It's the one
pleasure I have in both bodies, though it's muted now, somewhat
disappointing, now that I've acquired more sophisticated tastes. The sweet
tang of fear from terrified students, the heady intoxication of Akane's
unsurpassed anger, the bottomless ecstacy of Ryouga's peerless depression,
the mild flavor of Gosunkugi's resentment... those were the real treats, because
they were a taste of power.
"Power." I state, clinically, as I pause from my destruction of the ice cream
cone. What is it about power - the ability to shape one's own destiny - that
made it so irresistible? Why couldn't I resist it?
Maybe it was the fact that I never had power over my life before. Genma had
made sure of it. He wished me to become the Master of Anything Goes and
carry on the school. To marry Akane, to be a great martial artist. But what did
I want to do? I held the power now. But I didn't know what I wanted to do
with it. Absently wiping the melted ice cream off the back of my hand, I drop
the cone and rest my chin on my hand. What could I do? There were only two
paths I could possibly take from here.
I could go back to just being Ranma Saotome, martial arts whiz. But that really
wasn't an option anymore. There was another Art here, a more powerful and
mysterious Art. Anyone could be a master of the martial arts. But this Art took
something more.. something unique.
Or I could more fully embrace my dark heritage, become a full member of the
Mazoku society. I could ask Phibrizzo to become his general soon - that would
grant me additional power, and Phibrizzo was sure to grant it, as he had lost
his general in the War so many years ago. I might even be able to eventually
move into the renegade Gaav's position, if father manages to defeat him. I
think he will... after all, Gaav the Chaos Dragon could fittingly be replaced by
Ranma the Chaos Demon. I stopped cold.
I had thought that my mother wasn't Nodoka. But my name.. it raised
suspicions. Ranma meant both Wild Horse and Chaos Demon. Could she truly
be my mother, and have snuck one by Genma? At least then she would have
taste... Or maybe it was just fate that I would have such a name? Perhaps it
was a sign telling me which way to go.
I dropped the crushed remains of my cone and walked back out of town.
Those two should be done by now.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Xellos was gone when I got back to Phibrizzo. "Hey," I yelled out, Phibrizzo
turning around.
"Hey yourself, Ranma. I'm still not going to teach you for that smartass remark
earlier." He drew himself up, tightening his belt and managing a stern face
totally at odds with his childish exterior. "You should learn to respect your
elders!" he said, imitating what the shopkeeper would tell Phibrizzo every time
we ate in town.
"Yeah, right." I said, laughing. "You really aren't going to teach me anything
today? Aww man, I don't wanna have to go back to Nerima yet." I said,
grumpily and pouting as only a cute redhead can.
"Well, you can help me then, I don't care." He paused and gave me an
appraising look. "You know, if you wore a cape and an orange shirt, you'd be
a dead ringer for Lina Inverse when you're a girl."
I looked surprised, although I actually already knew that. "Really? What's with
all the interest in this Lina girl anyway? You and Pop are always going on
about her and her friends, the rocky guy and whats-her-face."
"And Gourry Gabriev. I think Gourry's the key to Lina, actually.. but anyway.
She's a powerful human sorceress, very skilled in black magic. She seems to
have the favor of the Lord of Nightmares. In any case, she's successfully used
the Giga Slave before." I whistled.
"Isn't that the spell that can destroy the world or something?" I asked.
"Yeah. She might be confident enough to cast it again. At least I hope so." he
added. " Anyhow, we're using her as a cat's paw against Gaav. We'll bring the
renegade back to justice." Among other things, I added silently. You're
certainly interested in seeing that Giga Slave used again. I've seen that look
before.. on the old lech whenever he had a bucket. Granny will definitely be
interested in hearing this.
"So, she's a danger to us?"
"A danger to you, maybe. I'm another matter." he said, puffing his chest out.
"No mere mortal can beat me. I'm the greatest of Shabranigdo's lieutenants,
the invincible Hellmaster who led the forces of darkness to victory over the
Water Dragon a thousand years ago." He pointed a finger at me, admonishing
me. "A little thing like a Dragon Slave or two will barely slow me down. You,
though, you're still young and relatively weak. You'd be toast if you went
against this Inverse."
"Whatever. " I looked around. "Hey, it must have been later than I thought. I'll
head back to Nerima. You won't see me 'til day after tomorrow, I have an
English test and Hinako will kill me if I don't pass it." I walked around the
mountain and back to the gate Phibrizzo had constructed and opened it.
Picking up a nearby boulder, I figured that it would do quite nicely, and threw
it in. "There ya go. You'll never suspect a thing." Grinning madly, I started to
fly off to my true destination.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
I entered quietly, noticing the smoke curling gently towards the roof. "Hiya,
Granny," I said, knowing how much she hated being called that, "I've got
some news for you."
"Oh, really? And what is our esteemed Hellmaster up to lately? He's been
keeping us in the dark." my grandmother replied, snubbing out her cigarette on
the arm of her chair. "He's been less careful around you, I think. We should
make him pay for that."
"Of course." Playing double agent is difficult. Of course, what in my life isn't?
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
I returned to Nerima later in the evening, really needing to get some studying
done. It was one thing if I was just going to be an amazing godlike martial
artist renowned throughout Asia, but if I planned to become an evil overlord I
needed to get better grades. No one would be able to take an evil overlord
who limped through high school seriously. Hmm, Akane's happy, damn. . .
what the heck happened to Happousai?
The old pervert looked as if he had been run over by a truck. It wasn't terribly
unusual to find him sporting a few lumps and lots of bruises, but someone had
landed a good one on him. "Hey, Akane, what happened to the Freak?"
"Oh, you wouldn't believe it. He was chasing the girl's tennis team when, all of
the sudden, this boulder suddenly appeared and fell on him." Oops. "Even the
kami hate this stupid old man." Akane said, slapping away Happousai's feeble
attempt to grope her.
"Something like that, anyway." If my boulder had to land on someone, at least
it was Happousai. Unfortunately, the 'divine retribution' against a known
pervert had put Akane in a good mood, thus destroying my hard work. I had to
do something to piss off Akane fast.. think, Ranma, what would Xellos do?
Well, he was with Lina, they'd probably eat. Which would work, I suppose.
"Oh, I wanted to tell Kasumi something. Hold on." I quickly dashed past her
and into the kitchen, Kasumi's little kingdom of peace and happiness. It was
nauseating. "Hey, Kasumi!" I greeted her, hiding my revulsion at the happy
little tune she was humming and her sweet smile.
"Oh, hello, Ranma-kun. Doctor Tofu let me borrow this new book on Thai
spices. Isn't life wonderful?" AAARGH! What have I done to deserve this?
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
It really wasn't that difficult to get Kasumi out of the kitchen and out of the
house after a rumor of live eels at half price. And as predictably as day
following night or Ryouga getting lost in a maze, Akane immediately jumped
into the void left by her sister's absence and promised to make a feast fit for a
dumpster. Not only would I get to break Akane's heart by retching at her
disgusting so called food, but, as an added bonus, I got to make the rest of the
family miserable as well. In fact, their palpable aura of fear was doing very well
in getting rid of the queasiness Kasumi's kitchen never failed to bring out in
me.
"Ranma, please tel me she's making curry." Nabiki asked me, taking fearful
glances into the kitchen.
"Nope. I told her I'd like to try something new today." Asking Akane to try
something new was like bringing Happousai to a swimsuit shop. It was just
begging for trouble. It was quite amusing to watch the blood drain from
Nabiki's face as she considered that, and my smile was genuine, instead of the
happy-idiot facade I normally kept on my face.
Nabiki walked slowly, zombielike, to the table and sat herself down. "My life is
over." She desperately turned to me. "Ranma, it isn't too late to order takeout!
We can save ourselves! Or at least," she said, watching my face, " I can save
ME." She got up and ran to the phone. Good. That will save me some work in
first annoying Akane.
"All right! Dinner is... Nabi-ki!" Akane yelled, slamming the tray of food on
the table. Genma and his gutless friend had already left, leaving only me,
Nabiki, and Happousai to face the terrors of Akane's cooking. Given Nabiki's
attempts to wriggle out of the meal and Akane's rapidly vanishing patience, I
might get to witness a rare Akane blowup at someone other than me. "Nabiki,
I worked really hard on this! The least you can do is eat it!"
"No, no, I can definitely do less. Besides, I already ordered pizza, and I don't
want to waste money." A knock at the door saved Nabiki, who hurried to
retrieve the pizza. It was a testament to the power of Akane's cooking that
Nabiki was willing to order pizza, because the pizza parlor hired trained ninjas
to deliver food even through the most vicious Nerima street battles and you
certainly paid for the service. I waited until everyone, including the still
recovering Happousai, sat at the table. Akane's cooking was apparently dead,
whatever it was, and not emitting toxic fumes. That was good enough for me.
It wasn't like I really needed to eat it. I had plenty of bad feelings about to
keep me healthy.
"OK, Ranma, try some!" Akane said, smiling. It was kinda funny, but ever
since the Picollet Chardin incident I haven't actually eaten a bite of Akane's
cooking. The Gourmet de Foie Gras comes in handy with her meals. No one
seems to question why the koi die a lot lately either. Not that I would waste
this meal on the fish when I could force-feed Happousai and Nabiki instead.
"I'm not ordering from them again. This is almost as bad as Akane's cooking."
Distracted, I forget to playact getting sick. Almost as bad? She's improved? I
take a cautious bite. Immediately the world begins to swim in and out of focus
as the poisonous food attacked my system, and I collapsed on the table,
coughing. Happousai also turned green and started to wretch.
"Please... kill me... now..." Happousai croaked as he crawled towards Akane
shakily. Akane lit up with a wonderful aura of pure anger, and I unwittingly lit
up with a huge grin as the wonderful taste of anger reached my tortured
mazoku senses. Damn food screwing up my head... hmm, she's really mad ...
you know.. that mallet might hurt.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
There are several benefits to being a mazoku. One is healing rapidly even from
physical and magical damage, with fairly high resistance to such attacks in the
first place - which definitely proves the tomboy has a lot of muscle. Another is
actually liking that pain in the first place. It had taken years before I noticed
that the other people around me didn't enjoy pain or suffering, mostly because
baka Genma had to keep me out in the blasted wilderness my entire life. It's
probably a good thing, or I probably would have developed Ryouga's new
Shishi Hokodan move independently and killed the fat fool at some point.
Probably the Cat-Fist. Heck, I probably would have killed him anyways with
just the Cat-Fist if it wasn't for that. I mean, I might enjoy a little pain, but you
can have too much of a good thing.
Akane's mallet strike, however, was already gone, and I was alone in my room.
I'd bet on Kasumi having brought me - I could still feel that horrible aura of
niceness over the room. Or maybe that was just from her neatening the futons
earlier. Whatever. I had things to practice.
My studies with Phibrizzo, and direct experience with my grandmother Zelas
told me that all mazoku can take several different forms, just like the dragons
can turn into people. Whereas Gaav was that ugly demon-dragon and the
others had even more hideous and warped shapes, my family had.. well, come
to think of it, our real bodies looked pretty hideous and warped too. But we
could also look like a wolf, and I figured I needed practice in wolf and demon
forms in a place where there wasn't a sorcerer on every corner. I might be able
to squash them like the insects they were, but it would get annoying fast. And I
needed to practice teleporting. Fortunately, hovering and flying came natural to
me. I can't decide if it's instinct or twelve years of intense training in Saotome-
ryuu. So first...
My body elongated, dropping to the ground as my hands became enormous
paws, thick fur extending in every direction. My face stretched out, a most
disturbing sensation, my nose melting and flowing into a canine snout, teeth
stretching into huge canine fangs. A tail stretched out, moving down my pants
leg, and then the clothes I had been wearing burst as I turned into my huge
wolf form, so similar to the ones on Wolf Pack Island. I then concentrated all
my energies on picturing the tree that Kuno chopped down on my first day of
school.
I popped back right next to the tree stump and, running flat out, sprang to the
top of the school with a bounce off the gym's roof. I opened my mouth at the
now full moon and let off a horrible howl, magically enhanced to carry through
the night. Then I ran quickly in the direction of the water canal, leaping and
crisscrossing it as I searched for what I was looking for. After all, I had more
to do than just terrorize people on a walk.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
It was five days later, with the "Wolf Demon of Tokyo" being sighted in
various wards of the city, that I undertook a more detailed survey of one of my
targets. It was one of the main pumping stations for the Azabu Juuban ward,
and I was on the roof of a nearby office building, observing the lame security
they had. You'd think after those fanatics released nerve gas in the subway a
few years back they'd guard the place a little better. If someone put something
in the water, it would be very bad for the city. And with a giant wolf, namely
me, terrorizing the places nightly, they should really beef up security. Shaking
my head, I sat down on the edge of the roof and thought about how to best put
my plan in motion if I ever needed to. The slight sound of a few loose pebbles
on the tar roof alert me to a presence - Nabiki's, she's always been sneaky -
before the person is even three steps from the roof door.
"Hey, Ranma, are you looking for that wolf demon?" she asked without
preamble.
"How'd you know where to look for me?" I asked, neatly evading the
question. I turned to look at her. Nabiki is smart, but her smugness gives her a
lot of holes in her mental defenses. She's much like her sister in that respect:
where her sister is good physically on offense but pitiful against any real
opponent on the defensive, so Nabiki was excellent on the mental warpath, but
was poor at dealing with other people who could manipulate. The difference
between the sister was that Nabiki would adapt pretty fast if she ever found out
how badly I can fool her. Or anyone else, for that matter, but Nabiki, Cologne
and I are really the only people in town who are smart enough for it to matter.
Cologne, now, she knew I was smarter than I let on. That's the reason she and
Shampoo have been bothering me so much. Strong, smart, and handsome -
they knew they'd never find another one like me. Of course, I can't let that
smirk reach the surface, else Nabiki will think something is up, but it's there, if
you're wondering.
Looks like Nabiki has finally decided what she's going to say. "It's simple,
Saotome, I had some people who owed me a favor track you the past few
nights. Two days ago they saw you arrive at the Tomobiki pumping station
after that huge wolf attacked it. And last night you were at our own Nerima
station. What gives, Saotome, are you playing hero?" Her people.. must be that
guy at the pizza place, he's the only person who owes Nabiki and could track
me. Or maybe Kuno lent her Sasuke for some photos. Whatever. I suppose it
really doesn't matter. I turn back to the building and ignore Nabiki, smiling
now that she can't see me.
"I don't need you getting torn up out here, Saotome. It's bad enough having
you and your friends destroy the house on a weekly basis, but I'm not paying
for your medical expenses too." I waved her off. "What, you see something?"
"No, just trying to shut you up." There, I could feel anger and frustration. It
was kind of funny, Nabiki might have a perfect poker face, but I could see her
cards. The two of us sat on the roof, me smiling at the station, Nabiki frowning
behind me, for another minute, before Nabiki turned around. That's when we
heard the abortive yell from the nearby alley. I jumped over to the ledge
overlooking the alley, where two thugs had jumped a tall girl in a green skirt.
"They're going to rape her!" Nabiki whispered panickily, as if her voice would
reach them if she yelled. I had better ears than most and I could just barely
make out what they were saying.
"No they aren't, jumpy, they're just mugging her." I said, leaning on the
railing.
"And you're just going to let them mug her? What happened to your honor as
a martial artist?" she fired back angrily.
"That one's got a gun." I said, pointing to the one deeper in the alley.
"So? Do something!"
"Why don't you?" I replied, and shoved her off the roof. Of course, Nabiki
started screaming the second she fell off, so I teleported to ground level and
took the crooks out by hitting their sleep spot as they gawked at the apparent
suicide. Then I walked under Nabiki and caught her. She immediately slapped
me across the face.
"You jerk! I can't believe you just did that!" she screamed, as the girl I just
rescued looked at me, the crooks, and then the top of the building.
"Whaaat?" I said, aping incomprehension. "I caught you. What's your
problem?"
"You just threw me off! I could have been killed!" she continued, as the tall
girl kept swiveling her head back and forth. She's going to get a crick in her
neck if she keeps it up.
"Bah, talk about ungrateful." I said, rolling my eyes and turning around,
accidentally running into the girl I had saved.
"That was AWESOME!" she gushed. "I can't believe it! You just jumped off
the roof and clobbered those guys and saved that girl and me and wow! It's
like a Jackie Chan movie!"
"Uh.. sure. Glad to be of help." I said, sweatdropping. I turned and left,
following the still-shaky Nabiki, but I heard one last remark from the tall girl.
"He looks just like my sempai!" Great. Another lovestruck admirer.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
It was a week after that, and having to deal with constant harassment from
Nabiki, that I discovered why Akane loves P-chan so much. Apparently, any
strange, ugly animal looks cute to her, because I had been trying to manipulate
my wolf form to look less huge and terrifying, and ended up looking like a
fantastically scruffy small, black-tipped fur wolf. I wasn't in the least bit cute,
had even sent Asuza screaming for the hills when she saw me (I chased her for
a while. Although she was so sickeningly sweet it was like eating a candy bar, I
had to pay her back for that whole Martial Arts Skating fiasco), yet Akane had
hugged me and basically dragged me back to the dojo.
"What's THAT?" Nabiki asked as Akane dragged my ugly, scraggly butt
through the door.
"This is a dog I found on the streets. I think it might be part wolf. He's cute,
isn't he?" she said, smiling. I rolled my eyes until I remembered wolves aren't
supposed to do that. Fortunately, Nabiki rolled her eyes, too, so she didn't
notice.
"That thing is the ugliest looking dog I've ever seen." she said. I winced,
getting a protective coo from Akane.
"Look, you're upsetting him." Akane said, frowning. "Besides, if I wash him
up, he won't look so scruffy." She tied me to the post I usually practiced
punching on and got a big tub of hot water ready. I whined loudly. Maybe
she'd let me go and I could hide somewhere. I didn't want to be her damn dog.
"You know, you won't be able to keep him here. He might eat P-chan." Nabiki
said. On the OTHER hand, I could grow to like this dog thing. I started
sniffing for the little porker, hoping for once he was here instead of Outer
Mongolia or wherever the hell he was when he wasn't here. Vengeance is
mine, Ryouga. You won't even know its me. I began to snicker. "And it
sounds like he's sick."
Akane dragged me into the tub. I made a big production out of dragging my
feet and making a huge mess when she wrestled me into the tub. After a long
and valiant battle, I managed to drag Akane in as well, earning laughter from
Nabiki. "This is priceless! I'm getting this on tape." She quickly hustled up to
her room. Meanwhile, Akane was getting more and more frustrated as she
wrestled with me in the soapy water. The best part was, she wasn't going to
mallet a dog, so I could annoy her as much as I wanted. Except.. well, then I
wouldn't be able to harass Ryouga too, because she'd kick me out. I settled
down in the tub. Then, after she finished, I shook myself off on her. Heh.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Damnit, she is sooo unoriginal in her names. D-chan. 'Dog-cute. See?' I
mimed. Akane had cooked up a plateful of glop, which I promptly buried in the
backyard. Wolves have it easy. Or dogs, depending on how blind to reality you
are. Though I felt sorry for whatever worms and bugs lived in the ground
behind the Tendo house. They would die a slow and painful death. I came back
in and decided to lay down near Akane and wait patiently for P-chan to show
up. Unfortunately, Akane knocked her glass of water off the table onto my
back. I noticed my paws get red-tipped fur and I panicked, bolting out of her
room before she could notice. Dammit, this curse even affects me in other
bodies? That bites!
I jumped in the dryer and stuck my head out. Kasumi would have wolf fur all
over the next load of laundry, but that was her problem, and I'd never gotten
to taste Kasumi's anger before, anyways. No one would ever look for a wolf in
the dryer. It was a pretty tight fit for me, after all. Hmm... my body was a bit
smaller, undeniably female, and now reddish instead of that cool dark-tipped
fur. I suppose I could change back into a human and grab some clean laundry
before anyone notices me. But just as I stick my head out the dryer door, of
course Nabiki walks in right then. Damn!
You could almost see the gears in Nabiki's head turning. It really wasn't that
hard to figure out, really, that I was the wolf. It was just what she would do
with the information... "Ah, Saotome, I see you're a werewolf." She walked
over, using the typical Nabiki smirk. "Is that why you've been visiting the
water pumps? Another werewolf challenging you?" Of course, she's totally
clueless. Good. Might as well let her think that's the truth or she'll just pester
me even more, and maybe then she might figure out the real truth. "So, what
are you going to OW!" she yelled as I nipped her hand. She then held her
hand up in terror and looked at the teeth marks. "I.. I've been bitten by a
werewolf..." she stammered, falling back into the corner, still staring at her
hand. I used the distraction to change back into a human and get into some
clean clothes. "Now.. now I'll turn into a werewolf."
A funny idea occurred to me. "Ah, I'm sorry about that. Look, Nabiki, I'll tell
you how to avoid becoming a werewolf. Just don't tell anyone about me being
a werewolf, OK?" Inside, it was all I could do to avoid bursting out in laughter
as I saw her nod. "All right, here's what you have to do..."
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
"Why is Nabiki rolling around naked in a patch of wolfsbane?" Gosunkugi
asked me. We were in the Tokyo Botanical Gardens tonight, not the usual
place for us to meet. Nabiki had no idea we were there.
"Never mind that. I just need to borrow your camera. You never know when
blackmail material might be needed on Nabiki." I took some shots of Nabiki
while she rolled around and redressed. After she left I pocketed the film. "And
now to business... uh..." Gos had developed a slight nosebleed.
"Does she do this every Wednesday?" Gos asked. Weird. I never figured Gos
for a pervert.. what am I THINKING? He only stalks Akane...
"Er.. no." I said, sweatdropping. "I'd like you to try to curse Kuno again. That
laryngitis was a godsend, and I don't want to have to listen to that egotistical
moron one second longer than I have to."
Gos gave me a puzzled look. "But why don't you just curse him?"
Because I can't be everywhere at once and I have to run all the way out to the
aqueducts tonight. "Now that... is a secret." I said, winking and teleporting to
the front of the gardens. I quickly jumped up and roofhopped away, leaving
Gos to fend to his own devices.
** * * * * * * * * * * * * **
Wow.. that dragged on for a while. I didn't expect it to get THAT long 32 kb
of Ranmazoku. That's double the length of Monday's update. So I'll cut off
this section of Chapter 2 for your downloadable pleasure and continue
Ranma's exploits in Chapter 2B, which will be out approximately whenever.
Thanks to all the people who voted, had miscellaneous comments, and
suggestions. Your comments are all appreciated. More random comments,
C&C, they're always welcome. I'll try to pump out more before exams start
but I offer no promises.
Oh, and wild guesses are always welcome if you feel like predicting Ranma's
actions. I always try to respond promptly - I'm on the computer most of the
day, so I generally respond fast and often.
it's on Nighthawk's page
www.geocities.com/NighthawkTM/index.html
and Crossover Corner
www.geocities.com/animecrossovers