Disclaimer:
See chap 15
---
"My skin feels kinda tingly."
"It's just the potion working. It'll fade in a minute."
Ranma frowned. Potions, potions, potions. Potions got him into this mess, and now potions were supposed to get him out of it. "Those notes you showed me said there needed to be a third. Who'd you get?"
"Your mom," Akane replied.
"What?! My mother?!"
"Calm down, baka! It's not like she can see us, she'll just know when the potion is gone! That's all!"
Ranma sat back down from his immediate bolt to his feet. "How?"
"The same way you'll know. You'll both pass out. And so will I."
"Pass out?!" Ranma was on his feet again.
"Yes, pass out. Lack of energy, remember? She and I are going to be drawing it all off of you. As long as you can keep going, so can we. When you're exhausted, we'll be exhausted. And then pass out."
Akane had found that one under potions marked for 'Intensive training.' It occupied one of the bottles she had brought. Ranma and Akane shared it. It had been created for, as the section it was found under suggested, intense training. It forced three people to share energy, or ki. The Master and Student would train, fight, and train more, until they were both exhausted. Giving a student the temporary power of a Master usually made for (as it was marked in the book) powerful results that tended to be destructive to landscaping and nearby construction, so the two usually trained like that out in deserted battlegrounds or arenas. Since there had to be a way to determine they were finished (which could take a long time), a third was necessary, called the Observer. This person would also be tapped in, but the drain would be much lower. Usually the third didn't do much, just sat around and waited until they would all pass out, alerting others to the fact that the training was done. This potion, like the one Ranma was currently under, wore off when exhaustion set in. Here, Ranma was to take the place of the Master, Akane the Student, and Nodoka the Observer. Akane had told Nodoka not to hold still, but to do whatever she wished, as any drain on Ranma's power would only assist her plan. While Nodoka's pull on Ranma's ki would only sustain her own real power level, she could run like that until Ranma himself was out. It could not be used on the battlefield, since Master and Student were required to stay extremely close. Distances of farther than five feet, and the effect faded. Only the Observer could move away from them freely.
"It's fading. I guess its working now, right Akane?"
Silence.
"Akane?"
"Soooo muuuuuch…"
Ranma's head swiveled around, trying to locate his wayward fiancée. She was easy to locate.
She was pacing the length of the room at a low jog.
"How-can-you-stand-this?" she inquired in a rapid voice. "So-much-energy. So-much-ki. I-think-I-can-run-forever-and-ever-and-ever-and-ever. I-think-I-can-circle-the-world. I-think-I-can-train-for-eternity. I-think-I'm-gonna-explode. How-you-not-stand-to-be-up-and-running-every-second-every-day? How-can-you-feel-like-this-all-the-time-and-not-be-sprinting-down-the-hall-just-to-have-something-to-do? How-can-you-ever-sleep-when-you-feel-like-this?"
"Whoa, Akane, calm down!" Ranma grabbed her by her shoulders, making her incessant pacing stop. "It's normal for me. I need all of that just to power my body. It's too much for you because you're not as strong as me. If you train enough, you'll get this strong, and you won't notice it."
"You-swear? Cause-if-I-train-really-really-really-hard-and-I-get-close-to-your-level-and-I-feel-like-this-all-the-time, I'm-gonna-hit-you-really-really-really-hard-until-your-head-caves-in. Please-let-go-of-me-I-need-to-be-moving-I-can't-stop-or-I'm-gonna-explode-let-me-go-I-need-to-move-please-please-please-please-please-please-please…"
Ranma let go, and listened in amusement as Akane bounced back and forth around the room like a seven year old on a pound of sugar. This had not been in the book, but then, not many Masters had Ranma's level of power, and not many Students were as far behind on training as Akane when they had taken it.
"Jeez, tell me my mother's not like this," he groaned.
"Oh-no-Auntie-Saotome-looks-just-fine-she's-acting-normal-your-ki-is-just-going-to-power-her-if-she-gets-tired-but-it's-just-going-to-keep-her-at-her-own-level-she-just-won't-get-tired-until-you-do-until-we-do-why-can't-I-stop-I-think-I'm-gonna-go-run-around-the-block-a-few-times-do-you-think-that-will-help-I'm-really-thirsty-I'll-be-right-back-I'm-gonna-get-some-water."
Ranma suppressed laughter as Akane half ran, half bounced down the stairs for something to drink. He could hear her pacing the kitchen as she waited for a glass to fill, then the bounding sound of her coming back up the stairs, sounding like a small herd of elephants playing footsy.
"Hey-Ranma-I'm-back-and-I-brought-a-few-glasses-with-me (she had managed to carry eight, and set them on the floor) just-in-case-we-get-thirsty-later-is-that-a-good-idea?" Akane dropped onto the floor next to the glasses of water and started bouncing up and down on the backs of her heels. "So-do-you-think-this-will-really-work-I-hope-it-does-bouncy-bouncy-bouncy-bouncy-bouncy…"
Unable to help himself, Ranma burst out laughing the second Akane started chanting 'bouncy.'
"Hey-are-you-laughing-at-me-if-you-are-you-know-it's-all-you-fault-I'm-like-this-you-have-too-much-energy-baka-should-we-drink-the-other-potions-now?"
Akane's plan included two more potions. One for Ranma, one for Akane. Ranma's potion was supposed to be the strongest potion for calming a person in the entire history of the Amazons. It would only work for a minute, but that was more time than Akane really needed.
"Good idea," Ranma said, snickering. "Why don't you have a sip of mine while we're at it?"
Before Akane could say anything else, Ranma pushed the container at her face. Akane took a small drink of it, and then gave it back. Ranma downed the rest. He carefully pulled the blindfold off, and looked at Akane.
"Well?" she asked, for the moment not bursting to move.
"I really, really want to drag you to the futon, but I can resist. How long does this last again?"
"Just a minute. After that, it's back to being under the influence."
"Why didn't we just keep feeding me this before?"
"Because the other potion makes you immune to any other potions after one or two doses."
"Ah. Well, you're the one who wanted this, aren't you going to do it before I get all insane again?"
Akane rolled her eyes. She still felt like she had enough power to dig a mining shaft, but didn't feel the urge to do so. "Such a romantic." She leaned forward, and gently pressed her lips against Ranma's. A slight moan escaped both of them, as Ranma pulled Akane closer to him.
Ranma pulled back, feeling the tingle that meant it was wearing off. He rolled his head against his shoulder, pulling the blindfold back into place, but didn't let go of Akane.
"Sorry," he whispered. "Potion must have made it wear off fast."
"S'ok," Akane mumbled into his shirt. "At least I got to kiss you. It was worth it. But is that the work of the potion, too?"
Ranma blushed, knowing what reaction of his she was referring to. "No," he muttered, embarrassed. He tried to pull away, but Akane held onto him.
"I said it was alright, baka."
Instinct wanted Ranma to run, as years of 'treatment' at Akane's hands at this type of reaction told him that pain was on the way, while the rest of his brain kept trying to tell him to stay where he was, because Akane said he was allowed to have that reaction to her now. Instinct took a kick at the Intellect's knees, but Intellect giggled and stuck out his tongue.
A few seconds later, Ranma felt Akane's hands started to twitch, and her heartbeat sped back up. Ah, the calming stuff must have worn off of her, too.
"You should drink yours now," Ranma said.
"Yeah-good-idea-Ranma," Akane replied, letting go and picking up the last bottle. Instead of unscrewing the cap, it broke off in her hand. "Oops-I-guess-I'm-going-to-have-to-be-more-careful-until-this-is-over-I-broke-it."
Ranma laughed quietly. "Yeah, just drink it, tomboy."
Akane quickly poured it down her throat, and turned back to Ranma. He clamped a hand over her mouth before she could anything else.
"Are you sure about this, Akane? I mean, I love you, but I don't want you doing this just to help me…"
A muffled "I'm fure" came from underneath Ranma's gloved hand.
"Yeah, but…"
More muffled speech. "I'fe 'reamed uf ik fometimef, an if I 'idn't wan 'o, I 'ould fay 'no'."
Ranma took a moment to try and figure that thing out. I've dreamed of it sometimes, and if I didn't want it, I would say 'no.'
"I just don't want to force you…"
"'our ot forfing 'e, 'anma." You're not forcing me, Ranma.
"Well, yeah, but…"
"'o you 'ot 'ike 'e?" Ranma could hear sadness in Akane's voice. "'ere 'ou 'usk fayin' thak fuz 'ou 'on'k like hur'in girlf, an I weally am un'uke?"
Ranma's brain took about a minute to get through that one. Maybe he should let go… but then the hyperactive speech would start up again.
Do you not like me? Were you just saying that cause you don't like hurting girls, and I really am uncute?
"No!" Ranma objected. "You know you're not uncute! I didn't mean that! It's just…"
Akane's muffled voice took on a softer tone. "I gnow. I wuff 'ou, 'nma. I'm fure." I know. I love you, Ranma. I'm sure.
With a sigh, Ranma removed his hand from Akane's mouth. "Ok," he said.
"Ranma?" Akane said, pulling his hand away from her mouth, and straining to keep her voice at a normal speed.
"Yeah?"
"Say it. Please?"
What could be seen of Ranma's expression softened. "I love you."
Akane smiled, reassured, but… "I love you, too, but that's not what I meant. The other thing, Ranma. Tell me that."
Ranma looked confused. Akane decided it looked cute. "You know what I mean, baka."
Ranma's confused expression continued for a few seconds, before it cleared, and he leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Mine. You're all mine."
Akane felt the familiar thrill that came when he had first said it, and whispered the words back to him, demanding that he was also hers and hers alone. She kissed him lightly, pulling the makeshift blindfold away, feeling Ranma crush himself against her. She did her best to aim for the futon as they fell towards the ground, both of their clothes being torn off on the process.
Akane's potion was meant to prevent pregnancy.
---
Nodoka was feeling content, among other such emotions as happiness, and pride, and a kind of demented glee.
She was content, and happy for her son, who, at the moment, she knew was probably quite… occupied with the only fiancée she had really approved of, and not just because it was the first arrangement. She was also proud, yes, proud, of him being such a man as to drive a woman (namely, Akane) to such lengths of loyalty. She was also feeling proud of herself, for she was in the dojo, calmly working through a moderately complex kata, wielding the honor blade. It had been some time since she had run a serious workout; a few years, in fact, and was grateful to find that she was neither too far out of shape, and that her own practiced skill had not slipped more than expected. The abundance of energy she felt, doubtless from her son, enabled her to practice for a very long time, working out the kinks in both her form, and slightly unused muscles. Why, if she could keep this up for another hour or two, then her form, if not her strength and speed, would be back to where it was right before she had stopped working out about five years ago.
The demented glee came from three sources. The first was at lying to Cologne's face and getting away with it, both about Ranma's current whereabouts, and what he was, not to make a bad pun, but what (or who) he was currently doing. All that time lying to the still-living persons in her family line had finally found a practical use, aside from telling said persons that Ranma and Genma were doing fine and that their training was going well.
The second source was Nabiki, who seemed to be making a turn for the better, and had somehow managed to locate a large book on Amazon law, and was digging through it, page by page, muttering something about 'maniac laws' and 'crazy women who made them.'
The third, was the look on Cologne's face, right now. She had convinced Shampoo to turn into a cat (by throwing water at her when her back was turned), but had yet to convince her to come down from the rafters of the dojo, where she was probably going to stay until Ranma could be proven to not be a cat at the moment. While Nodoka had no doubt that it would take Ranma's arrival in the dojo to be sufficient evidence, it was not the reason Cologne wore the expression she had.
The reason he face looked utterly incredulous was because ten minutes after Nodoka had drank the potion-spiked tea, she had decided to work out, and had not stopped other than to take sips of water.
That was two hours ago, and she showed no signs of stopping anytime in the immediate future.
Nodoka knew that this was not of her own doing. If everything was normal, she had no doubts that she would have collapsed after maybe half an hour, maybe forty-five minutes if she was lucky. As it was, she felt like she could keep this up forever. She could feel the drain on Ranma's ki, and, while it had been somewhat diminished, it was obvious that it was not yet halfway drained. If it wasn't for Akane pulling on Ranma's ki just as hard as Ranma himself, Nodoka reasoned, then between his son's… exertions, and Nodoka's two-hour nonstop workout, Ranma would barely be a quarter drained, and be fit to continue for another ten hours. As it was, another four would probably be it for him. But how to continue stalling the Amazons… Nodoka's thoughts drifted as her body spun through the movements.
Cologne meanwhile, had been grudgingly impressed an hour ago, when Nodoka Saotome had been working out at an outrageous pace, and had neither broken a sweat, nor showed signs of stopping. Now, two hours after the workout began, Nodoka had finally broken into that sweat, but she was also performing complex katas that would leave most people exhausted, Cologne herself included. Seven minutes ago, Nodoka had declared a need for a break from such draining styles, and Cologne had been thankful. Watching the Saotome Matriarch go like that as such speeds and such complexity for so long had been hard to believe. When it became apparent that her idea of a 'break' meant that she was going to stop the complex ones, and start on a medium-level kata, Cologne felt like bashing her head against the wall, then demanding to know where Nodoka Saotome was finding such fantastic ki reserves, or if she had some way of replenishing them as fast or almost as fast as she could drain them. And if she did, Cologne wanted to know about it! While Ranma was a very pressing issue, there had not been any news on the radio or television about a rampant cat-like man killing people, wounding people, mating people, or even having generally being seen at all. This alone proved that Nodoka Saotome was, indeed, correct about Ranma being asleep somewhere and not being a neko-fied menace to the world at large.
Unless some such news occurred, Cologne was going to stay put and watch Nodoka, and try to determine the technique by which she ran herself at such a pace until Nodoka either confessed it, or finally decided to stop. It was fascinating to see her move about like this… and studying the continuously improving form Nodoka was using was interesting as well. It reminded her of some old legend… her mind seemed to slip the details, but she knew it looked familiar. It seemed that pure speed was Nodoka's style… and while no, as they were called, special techniques were employed as of yet, it was still amazing to watch. Maybe she could talk Nodoka into showing her how some of it was accomplished…
Nodoka half-smiled to herself. So, the old ghoul (Ranma's nickname was amusing to her) was interested in her Art, was she? Well, then, if that was what it took to keep her attention, than perhaps it was time to start showing off. There were several moves that, while she knew how to perform them, and had even practiced, she could never finish, as they left her far too exhausted under her own power. But now… maybe she could get them right…
Somewhere on the edge of her awareness, Nodoka realized that Ranma's ki was draining even faster on his and Akane's end. Idly, she wondered what was doing that, then she upped her kata, and hit the high moves her grandfather had shown her before he died…
Cologne watched in wonder as Nodoka blurred upwards, heading for the ceiling. She flipped over, landing with her feet against the rafters, pushing off, and heading towards the east wall, moving faster than her trip up. Another flip, and rebound, her red hair flying, and she snapped towards the west wall. With a loud cry, her sword shot forward and around, moving too fast for Cologne to follow. So fast… such speed…
The practice dummy she had been aiming for seemed to explode forward, rocketing towards the wall, hitting hard enough to leave a loud crack on impact. Nodoka never stopped, and launched seamlessly into another complex kata, light flashing off of the blade. Heavy gouges and one deep stab in the center decorated the dummy
… and such power to go with it! But… the pattern of strikes is strange; she only had time for one blow, yet I myself can see the evidence of nine, eight from all directions, and the ninth stroke, delivered not as a slash, but a strike to the dead center? There's no defense against that! How is such raw speed attained?! It's faster than my kachü tenshin amaguriken, even if it can't be maintained like my technique.
Her attention fully captured, Cologne watched, as Nodoka pondered the additional energy drain on Ranma's ki, and feeling slightly winded from the move. I might be able to perform it with my son's constant feed, but my own muscles are barely up to the task. But what is making his power drain so much faster?
In another house, Ranma and Akane had been fighting, both as girls as they fell into the tub, changing Ranma into a man, for the position of 'on top while in the water.'
It was a fierce battle, and was only won when neither got it, but instead, they both fell on their sides, and continued, unabated.
Their 'fight' over, Nodoka felt the ki drain return to it's previous state, and tried to go faster, feeling her muscles complain about it. She pushed them harder, demanding higher performance out of them. I will become what I once was. The world championship holder and master swordswoman whose speed and power was what captivated Genma.
I will not allow myself to be simply a 'poor martial artist's wife' anymore. I will become more than that. I will become the mother of a martial artist who is a man among men, and I will be a mother that he can and will be proud of, or I will have Genma's head for allowing me to become so weak of body and mind.
---
Akane felt like she was dying. Well, not really dying, but now she understood why it was called the 'little death.'
Ranma showed no signs of being tired, and Akane didn't want him to. She wanted this to continue, on and on and on…
Her naked body arched upwards, trying to meet Ranma for each time he drove himself into her. Her voice was probably going to give out if she continued screaming, but Akane was well beyond caring. They had been off and on fighting to be on top since they had started, and Akane's mind decided it was her turn again. Commanding her body to obey, she trapped Ranma between her knees, and pushed to the left as hard as she could. She found herself above Ranma, straddling him, and their rhythm was never broken.
Before thought was driven from her mind again, Akane made a note to ask him later about some of the things he had so far done to her. Gods, his tongue alone…! Then any ability was gone as Ranma captured a nipple in his mouth, gently sucking.
It was an hour after Nodoka made her vow to herself to become what she used to be, and three hours after Akane had kissed Ranma after they told each other they belonged to each other.
---
Ryoga wandered through the streets, thinking to himself. I've tried to change back so many times now… and each time, it's so hot that I can't stand it. I have to run screaming for cold water to wash it away. Damn you Ranma, this is all your fault! If you hadn't called for that damned court, I could still be near Akane! You don't deserve her!
Point of fact, Ranma had the exact same thought. Akane thought that she wasn't good enough for Ranma, so it kind of balanced out.
I don't know how Akane figured it out, but it's all your fault she didn't accept it! It's your fault that I have this stupid curse! It's your fault that I can't change back! It's your fault Akane hates me! And I know that somehow it's your fault that the sounds of that happy couple being… together… in that house right there are tormenting me!! If it wasn't for you, someday Akane and I could be happy together, and that could be us!!
So declaring this to himself, Ryoga continued on past the Saotome house, trying his best to ignore the sounds of a girl's pleasured screaming, and didn't stop until he accidentally wandered into Ucchan's.
Hey, when did Ukyo-san move to Kagoshima?
It was two hours past the moment Nodoka had made her vow to herself.
---
Ukyo was sitting in her kitchen, having just wandered down the stairs from her room. She was crying, and had finally come to realize that for Ranma, she was just the friend that he remembered, at the most, the sister that everyone said she was.
And he loved her, but not the way he loved Akane.
Damn him for it.
She did wish Konatsu was here; he did sometimes have a way of cheering her up.
Nabiki's words still stung her ears, only because Ukyo had to accept them as being true. The yatta's cost was probably nothing compared to the damages done to the dojo during that disastrous wedding. And even Ukyo's own memory betrayed her, bringing to mind the time of the rampant destruction of the Saotome house trying to get to what they all had thought was an engagement ring from Ranma to Akane, even if it wasn't.
The femininity thing… well, Ukyo actually had to admit she liked dressing the way she did, even if people sometimes (almost all the time (all the time)) mistook her for a boy. At least she could say she understood how Ranma felt when he got splashed, though Ukyo's equipment always remained the same.
She might have lost one of the only friends she had around this damn district. Akane… well, maybe in the past, but with the revelation of her knowledge of 'P-chan,' any friendship on Akane's part was a complete write-off. Not that Ukyo could blame her; even she had told Ryoga that Akane was probably going to kill him. If it had been her… hell, she'd be serving pork okonomiyaki to her customers free of charge. As it was, her single-minded devotion to getting Ranma had blinded her to the enormous stupidity of not simply marching up to the blue-haired girl and throwing hot water at her when she was holding her precious pet.
Ranma had said that he had punished Ryoga… but she couldn't recall what it was. The whole story had been thrown at her at once, and she should have seen that he didn't love her like that in the instant she touched him, and he did nothing but pull her closer in a friendly hug. That alone was more than enough proof to show even a stubborn mind like hers that Ranma simply did not feel for her what she felt for him.
Dammit, she deserved him! Ten years! All the training! The…
Oh, hell, who was she kidding? It was all her choice anyway. And she had been making that stuff up about her father. He was probably the most kind-hearted loon on the planet, right after Ranma himself, who forgave people who tried to kill him on a regular basis. Her father could be talked into anything, especially for his 'little Ukyo.'
Even into pretending to be a complete maniac hard-ass just to help her get the man of her dreams, Ranma.
But now… maybe she shouldn't have him. Being abandoned by the one person single-mindedly devoted to you hand and foot, being rejected utterly and betrayed by the fiancée you were supposed to have (Ranma had told Akane about Ukyo knowing about P-chan, thereby giving her the anger she needed to win), and having the main competition beat her senseless all in a one-hour period did tend to force a little insight onto you. She was just as bad as Shampoo. Well, not that bad… Shampoo was worse. Ukyo didn't bring her tradition-obsessed potion-magic-and-staff-wielding ancestor along to provide back-up. She had intended on winning Ranma on her own merits.
Ukyo sighed. That was probably why she 'lost' in the first place. She had tried to treat it like a contest.
" 'Win' Ranma indeed. Like he was a prize in a damn contest," she said under her breath. "And whoever bludgeons the opposing contestants the most wins. Hell, that'd still be Akane. Mallet-happy martial artist… and that damn jackass Ranma… you two deserve each other."
She could move on. Find someone else. Maybe she could be fucking happy with her life for once.
Damn it, this was Nerima, stranger things than people being happy occurred on a regular basis. Step one was apologizing to Ranma and Akane. Ukyo was not about to move, since she had a great deal invested in her shop, what with having the store all paid off, the regular customers, and the reputation she had built around the local area. And if one intended on staying in Nerima, then you sure as hell stayed on the good side of the Tendo's and the Saotome's, especially Ranma and Akane. And Nabiki.
Nabiki controlled the officer side of the damn police force through extortion and blackmail alone, and every cop in the entire city of Tokyo respected Ranma. His mere presence made street crime drop to nothing, and the fools who dared try a mugging or robbery around here didn't go to jail for their crimes. They were assigned to the dojo as 'voluntary martial art practice dummies' or to the Nekohanten for a few days as potion testers. Most of them never made it that far in the justice system. They were the lucky ones who made it to the cops; they others were spotted by the local martial artists and were savagely beaten, whipped, bashed, drugged, or, worst of all, were forced to listen to 30-minute lectures of the severity of their crimes in verses of bad Shakespearean poetry.
The last person who tried to snatch a purse had done so within eyeshot of Ranma himself, and was merrily pursued around the city for hours by the pig-tailed martial artist until he keeled over of dehydration. Ranma had forced him to drink some water, waited until he was rested, and chased him around some more. Stopping only earned him 'light' taps to his kidneys. Cops flagged down by the terrified criminal handed out snacks and sports drinks to Ranma, and egged him on.
At this point, being their friend was a very long term goal, if it was attainable at all. Getting on their good side was more immediate, as she did not want to be hassled by half the population for knowing about P-chan's secret, if the word spread. But how to make it up to them… there had to be something, and giving Ranma free food wasn't going to cut it this time. And it would definitely be taken the wrong way by Akane, who would then pass her suspicions on to Ranma, who would then get upset at her, which might provoke Nabiki into letting it slip to the people of Nerima that she was trying to break up Ranma and Akane, and the thing about P-chan… and so on and so forth. How to make it up to them…
Something nudged her foot. Eh? P-chan?! You… you… hey… now there's something…
She picked up Ryoga, and held him at eye level.
Tell me you want to help me get back at Ranma! he said.
All Ukyo heard, of course, was "Bweeee bweee bweeeeeee!"
Ukyo smiled gently. "Of course." She was talking to herself, but Ryoga's instant reaction was a thought of, Yes!! Ranma, you will pay for taking Akane from me!
"P-chan, I'm gonna have you neutered."
"BWEEEEEE!!!" Nooooooo!!
It was two and a half hours past the point of Nodoka's vow, four and a half hours into Ranma and Akane's 'alone time,' and an hour and a half until Nodoka's predicted time of Ranma's exhaustion.
---
The tub again. They had gotten to the tub again. Afterwards, they had somehow gotten into the kitchen, though Akane would never remember how, as she did not recall going down any stairs. Ranma was perched on the edge of the counter by the sink, as a girl, and Akane was proving to her that she was a fast learner in any technique. If he had done it to her half a dozen times by now, she could figure it out, and was returning the favor. If her mind had been capable of any real thought, Akane would have thought it amusing that, as a girl, Ranma was almost as loud a screamer as she was.
All Ranma cared about was that when she looked down, all she could manage to focus on was her lover's head of dark blue hair, firmly between her own legs. Then Akane's tongue did some sort of twist, and Ranma's head was thrown back in another scream.
An hour until the predicted time of exhaustion.
---
Kasumi smiled at Mousse. They had still gone on that date, albeit they were doing it earlier than they had thought, making it a lunch date instead of a dinner date, and were enjoying themselves nicely. Mousse, for all his time on Nerima, spent almost all of his time fighting Ranma, running deliveries, working, or walking around blind, and did not get to see most of the sights the city had to offer. Kasumi herself spent almost all of her time at home, and the rest of the time running errands in support of that role of housekeeper. She knew almost as little of the city as Mousse himself. But it turned out that between them, they knew many wonderful restaurants (Cologne had thought of them as 'competition' and made sure that Shampoo and Mousse knew about them), were very well recognized (Mousse again. Being one of the local martial artists who deterred crime by existing had positive effects on one's popularity, despite ensuing property damage), were owed many favors that made shop-keepers lavish them with free things or, in one case, a free hand-painted portrait (Mousse and Kasumi. Mousse for the martial artist thing again, and Kasumi had been known to dispense shopping and housekeeping advice to any who asked her while she ran errands). Many, oddly enough, went so far out of the way to help them have a nice evening that Mousse thought it odd, and wondered if people were always so polite (Kasumi, strangely. Almost every person around knew her for her sheer kindness, and seemed to think she needed a nice man, and if this one was going to treat her with respect and make her happy, they were going to make sure that nothing bothered them. Everyone vowed that if Mousse made her frown, however, he was going to die. He had come close twice already without even knowing it. She had frowned in thought when he had asked where she wanted to go next after eating lunch, and two nearby waiters and three children had come within seconds of launching an attack. She had also frowned again in thought when he had been trying to teach her the proper pronunciation of his name, and a local policeman almost pulled his gun right then and there, and would have made it, too, if a fish merchant hadn't cut him off, while trying to determine how to brandish a trout as a weapon. Then Kasumi had smiled, and they had relaxed).
Mousse thought her smile was wonderful as she directed it at him. At her suggestion, they were walking through a park on their way home at the end of their lunch date, and were admiring the scenery, though Mousse was probably admiring it more, since he could actually see the scenery now. It was going fine, and perfect, up until the moment a fleeing mugger knocked Kasumi onto the ground, and into the mud.
Mousse had nearly taken his arms off.
A gun was pulled, and Kasumi nearly took the mugger's head off. Mallet.
"Where did you learn that, Kasumi-san?" Mousse asked, blinking at Akane's traditional weapon.
"Oh, it was something our mother insisted we all learn as self-defense. I've just never used it up until now. Even Nabiki can use one. I think I saw her pull it during Ranma-kun's Umisen-ken training after he took the house foundation…"
"We should get you home, or that mud will be very stubborn. I'm sorry to have to cut our date short."
"You can make it up to me on our next one then, Mu Tsu."
For a moment, Mousse's goofy smile showed, then he carefully picked Kasumi up in his arms, and proceeded to launch himself onto the Nerima rooftops, heading for the Tendo home.
Mere moments after their departure, two waiters, three children, one policeman, a fish merchant, nine small dogs, five street punks, three schoolboys, a computer nerd, and two emergency room nurses viciously savaged the mugger, for having the audacity to interrupt Kasumi's date.
It was thirty minutes to Nodoka's predicted deadline.
---
Starting to feel a little tired, was the first coherent thought in hours that Akane managed. It took her almost five minutes to complete. Her mind was, really, otherwise occupied with other things. Namely, Ranma. And things Ranma did to her.
There was a pole in Ranma's closet, meant to hang clothes up on hangers, and somehow it seemed it was capable of maintaining the weight of a girl, as was proven by the fact that Akane was hanging by her arms from it, with Ranma behind her. His hands were roaming the front of her body as he took her from behind and below. Akane's voice had given out after the kitchen when Ranma had fallen into the sink, and had turned back into a boy, and then taken her on the tile floor.
With a loud snap, the closet pole demonstrated that it was as sturdy as it seemed when a person tried to suspend themselves from it.
Akane barely noticed. Ranma didn't care. But the position they landed in was interesting, to say the least, even if they didn't slow down. Somehow, Akane found the last of her voice, and used it to scream Ranma's name again.
Fifteen minutes.
---
Five minutes later, and Nodoka and Cologne were dueling. That is to say, Cologne was on pure defense while Nodoka attacked. An hour after the off the ceiling, off the wall rebound attack, Cologne had accepted Nodoka's request for a training partner, leaving her great-granddaughter to sit by the phone, and listen to the radio and watch the TV for any reports of anything that sounded like Ranma. When she yelled out questions, all she got was that the most interesting news was noise complaints coming from other parts of the city. Since this was a district stuffed full of martial artists, this was normal.
Shampoo had simply failed to mention that the noise complaints were that of rather loud sounds of passion. Her only thought was At least someone has better luck with a man they want than I do.
Cologne had insisted that Nodoka not use the katana, just in case she tried that nine-point attack again. So Nodoka had taken up a training bokken, and since then, had used that technique a few times, though it left her muscles with a dull ache afterwards. Cologne's bruises ran in a repeated pattern of nine, and she had yet to find a way to block it. How the hell did one use two arms and two legs to stop nine blows all coming from different directions, when, if it was a real sword, would leave great nasty wounds all over that would make you bleed to death in moments if it didn't kill you or leave you in pieces outright?
Nodoka stopped moving.
Oh, dear Kami, what move is she going to do now? Cologne thought. Every time Nodoka paused in her workout, she attacked moments later with the ungodly speed that left bruises all over the place. Cologne could block many, but sometimes that speed was just too much. Her arms bore the brunt of it, and her staff had so many dents and chips in it that Cologne was going to throw it in the trash after this, and get one of the spares that Mousse had.
Nodoka still wasn't attacking.
What insanity maneuver is she plotting that's taking her this long to ready herself for? I hope she doesn't go for my head this time…
"Yare, yare…" Nodoka said weakly.
"Are alright, Nodoka?" The Amazon matriarch and the Saotome matriarch had rapidly progressed to an untitled first name basis after the sparring had begun.
Ten minutes earlier than I thought… I hope my passing out buys them the time they need to recover…
"Cologne?" she said, wavering a little.
"Yes?"
"I fear I may have overdone it a little," Nodoka said, and dropped bonelessly to the ground.
---
Many blocks away, Ranma and Akane slept, thoroughly drained. The very last vestiges of energy they possessed had been used to grab a couple cups of the water Akane had brought up so long ago, and drink them to prevent dehydration. It had taken everything Ranma had to stay awake long enough to drape an arm over Akane after they had pulled a blanket over themselves.
And Akane slept on, as Cologne panicked over the collapsed body of her newest ally and friend.
---
"Oh, thank goodness, she's just tired. She must have pushed herself extremely hard to do all that. Stressed like the rest of us over her son as well, I imagine." Cologne looked up in time to see Mousse arrive in the yard carrying Kasumi Tendo.
>Where have you been, you idiot?> she demanded in Mandarin. >Nodoka has collapsed from stress and exhaustion, help me carry her inside.>
>Sorry, Elder. I was helping Kasumi Tendo run a few errands, mostly bills, as repayment for having stayed here the past few nights.>
>Good,> Cologne said as they gently carried Nodoka into the house. >An Amazon never leaves people behind while in their debt if they have to, not even males. But why were you carrying her?>
>A mugger of some sort attempted to knock her into the ground while running. She was concerned about the mud soaking into her dress, so I offered to carry her back so she could wash her clothing.>
>What did you do with the mugger?> Maintaining a good standing in the community was important to Cologne, more so given her slight ambassador status.
>If he wakes up without someone taking him to the hospital, then he is going to need a few weeks to recover the full use of his arms, if his concussion does not inhibit him too much.>
Cologne cackled. Muggers, indeed.
"Shampoo, any news?"
"Shampoo no hear word anything sound like Ranma. No attacks, no cat yowling boy, no funny ecchi in public place. SHAMPOO NOT TRACK RANMA UNTIL SOMEONE PROVE RANMA NOT WAKE UP CAT, SO NO ASK!!"
Cologne sighed as she waited for Nodoka to wake up, and for the phone to ring. Just how long had they been sparring anyway? She had been having so much fun, she had lost track of time.
---
And together, Ranma and Akane slept on.
---
A/N
Yawn, stretch, pop.
A slightly longer chapter than usual. I just couldn't bring myself to find a place to cut it off. At least I didn't leave it in another evil cliffhanger this time.