Chapter 41 The Pressure Points are Where?
Akane woke up gradually, wondering where her husband was. It was rare that he woke up before she did, and it was even rarer that he wasn't still in bed watching over her as she slept. She stretched languorously, as she remembered the evening before with Ranma after he had regained his strength from Hinako's chi attack. Apparently, one of the side effects of having chi drained was to feel very amorous once the strength came back. Rising, she pulled on a robe and headed downstairs to the kitchen. There to her surprise, she found Ranma working on breakfast by himself. Pausing in what he was doing, he kissed Akane thoroughly.
"Where's Kasumi?" Akane asked, slightly perplexed, "She's usually up by now fixing breakfast."
Ranma smiled, and said, "Apparently, she and Doc pulled an all-nighter researching the pressure points. At least that's what I think she was trying to say when I came down here. Her stumbling around in the kitchen was loud enough that it woke me up. When I made it down here, she tried to tell me something, but she was so exhausted she wasn't make much sense, so I took her to her room and had Mom put her to bed. About the only thing that I understood is that they think they found the answer, but we'll have to wait until they wake back up. Man, I've never seen her like that. You know how much Nabiki looks like a zombie in the morning, normally. This morning she made Nabiki look wide-awake in comparison. Doc was smart enough that he had already crashed."
"I'm glad they found something out. That's good news. I just can't imagine Kasumi being so tired that she can't cook, though," Akane said, "Tell you what, I'll give you a hand. What can I do?"
Ranma pretended to blanch, earning a mock glare from Akane and a swat on his head. "Baka," she muttered as he laughed.
"Actually, I think everything is taken care of. The rice is about done, the soup is finished, and the tea and coffee are both ready. You could set out the pickles in a bowl, but other than that, I think all that needs to happen is to set the bowls and chopsticks out," Ranma replied.
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Ranma and Akane stopped by Hinako on the way into class long enough to tell her that Doc and Kasumi had found something during their research the night before, but that they didn't know what it was. Hinako tried very hard not to get her hopes up too high. After calling roll, she began teaching her English lesson, though she did have to drain two students for talking in class. Once she did that, the boys at least began paying attention, though she knew that most of the girls resented her appearance once she reverted into her adult form. 'Strangely enough, the only two girls who don't seem threatened are Akane and Ms. Kuonji. I wonder why that is,' she thought, 'Oh, of course, they already have someone that love's them.'
Ranma found his thoughts wandering as he listened to Ms. Hinako's lesson. He couldn't help wonder what Doc and Kasumi had discovered during their all-night research session. 'I certainly hope they really did find a way to reverse what ever that old pervert did to her," Ranma thought as Ms. Hinako showed the class how to conjugate the verb "to be".
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Ranma, Akane and Hinako rushed to the Tendo home immediately after school. When they arrived there, they found Tofu patiently waiting for them in the kitchen, drinking tea with his wife. Ranma smiled, and said, "You certainly look better this afternoon than when I saw you this morning, Kasumi. Did you two catch up on your sleep while we were at school?"
"Yes, Ranchan. I'm feeling much better now. You'd think I could still pull the occasional all-nighter without getting that wiped out. After all, I'm not that old," Kasumi said with a blush.
"Ranma said he thought you found something that might help," Hinako said.
Tofu replied, "Yes, we did. Kasumi found a chart that described the process, including the pressure points, which Happosai must have used to give you the ability to absorb chi.. The one on the next page described the process for reversing what he did. There are five pressure points that must be pressed simultaneously, Ja and Aku, which are on the back, and Byo, Tsu and Ma which are on the chest. Ranma, if you'll take your shirt off, I'll show you and Akane where they are. The technique is called Weakening of the Evil Spirits."
Ranma grumbled for a second, and then took off his shirt. "Undershirt, too," Tofu said. Ranma took that off as well.
Hinako got a hungry look on her face as she gazed at the well-defined muscular body of the young man standing in front of her. Akane glared at her and said, "Don't get any ideas, he's mine! Besides, you're a little girl right now!"
Hinako blushed crimson, and then said, quietly, "My body's a little girl. My mind still is an adult. Sorry Akane, I couldn't help it. He is good-looking."
Akane whispered back, "I don't mind you looking. I like to do that too. It's the touching that you can't do. I get a bit jealous about him. I still have a hard time believing he picked me."
Tofu pointed out the five different locations of the pressure points on Ranma. Then he poured cold water on Ranma, transforming him into a girl. "Sorry, Ranma. I needed to show where they are on a woman," Tofu said, as he proceeded to repeat the process. Once he was done, Ranma put her shirt back on. "Okay, there are three other things that you need to know. One, Ms. Ninomayi must be in her adult form before you do the pressure points, two, we will have to do this for thirty days for it to take affect, and three, you'll have to hold the pressure points for at least one minute," Tofu said.
"I don't have any choice in the matter, do I, Doctor? If I want to live, I have to have this done," Hinako asked in a soft, scared voice.
Tofu looked at the little girl, with a kindly eye, and said, "This is the only thing that we've found that seems to fix you up."
Hinako looked at Ranma and Akane and asked, "Will you do this for me? I know it is a lot to ask, not to mention very embarrassing for all of us."
Akane simply said, "Yes. I can't let you die. The two on your back aren't bad, but the three on your right breast will be embarrassing, you're right."
Ranma nodded, saying, "It figures that the old pervert would do something that allows him to feel up a woman to cure you. Akane and I will help you. Doc, does it matter which kind of chi she absorbs, or should it be female?"
"It would be best if it was female chi. If it's done right, she'll feel pretty weak after it's done," Tofu replied.
Akane suggested, "Why don't we go upstairs to our room and get this started?" Then she giggled, and said, "Of course, there's a side benefit to getting cured, Hinako."
The young girl looked puzzled and asked, "What would that be?"
"Shopping! I'm sure you'll want some new outfits since you'll be spending the rest of your life in your adult form," Akane said. The three of them walked upstairs, Akane and Hinako giggling as they went.
Once they reached their room, Akane shut the door behind them. She turned to Hinako and said, "Drain my chi, Hinako. You drained Ranma last night, so it's my turn. Then Ranma can hit the pressure points."
"Akane, you don't have to do that. I'm female right now, she can drain me," Ranma protested.
"No Ranma. Like I said, it's my turn," Akane said. While they were discussing the situation, Hinako took her sweater and blouse off.
Ranma said, "I don't think you really need to do that, Hinako."
She blushed and said, "I want you to find the points correctly, Ranma. You know where they are on a naked body. This way you can be sure to find them."
Ranma looked at Akane and said, "Okay, Acchan. You win. We'll alternate. Go ahead Hinako."
Hinako pulled out her fifty-yen piece and cried, "Happo Goju-en Satsu," draining just enough chi from Akane to transform to her adult form. Ranma caught Akane before she fell and hit the floor and laid her on the bed. Blushing, Hinako turned to face Ranma, showing her ample assets.
Ranma, blushing bright red, came up close to Hinako, and reached around with her right hand to press the two points on Hinako's back and with her left hand, pressed the three points on Hinako's right breast. Watching the second hand turn on the bedside clock, Ranma waited until just over a minute had elapsed, and then let go of Hinako, who promptly collapsed on the bed. Ranma helped her put her shirt back on and then laid her on the bed next to Akane. "Thank you, Ranma, for helping with this," Hinako said breathily.
"It was my pleasure, Hinako," Ranma said. Then her eyes widened as she realized what she had said, and she stammered, "Er, I meant that I was happy to help."
"I knew what you meant. You aren't a pervert," Hinako said.
Akane mumbled from the bed, "Yes she is. But she's my pervert, so it's okay."
"Very funny, Acchan," Ranma said, "Tomorrow we'll go to your apartment and perform the treatment there, Hinako. Tonight, why don't you sleep in the guestroom with Mom and Shampoo? They won't mind."
"I'll recover in a few minutes and then I can go home, Ranma," Hinako said, "I've imposed enough on your family as it is."
"Hinako, you're not an imposition," Akane said weakly, "You're a friend in need."
Hinako started weeping, scaring Ranma. "I've never had anyone call me friend in a long, long time. Thanks, Akane," Hinako said, tearfully.
"But you are a friend, Hinako," Ranma agreed, "and we'll do what it takes to help one of our friends. I'm gonna get Tofu and have him check you two out, and then tell Kasumi you'll be staying the night." With that, he leaned over and kissed his wife, and walked downstairs.
A few minutes later, Tofu came in and examined Hinako. He smiled in satisfaction and said, "Ranma did it exactly right, you two. Just twenty-nine more times. You look fine, Akane. I guess you just feel a little weak is all. Both of you get some rest, and Ranma will bring dinner up later."
The two girls promptly fell asleep, with Akane's last thought, 'I wonder how he did that?'
Tofu chuckled as he left the room, thinking, 'How about that for the power of suggestion.'
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About an hour later, Akane woke up when a now male Ranma walked into the room, carrying a tray of food for the three of them. Ranma set the tray down on the desk, and helped Akane out of the bed. Hinako woke up when Akane left the bed; sometime during her sleep, she had reverted back to her childlike form. "Kasumi sent me up here with orders to make sure you two ate," Ranma said with a smirk. Akane and Hinako stuck their tongues out at him, and began eating their food. Ranma's eyes grew wide in surprise at how fast the meal was disappearing. He quickly joined them, and the three of them polished off the food. Once they were done, Ranma asked, "When you are cured, what are your plans, Hinako?"
"What do you mean, Ranma?" she asked in response.
Ranma hesitated and said, "You made a career out of being a discipline teacher, cleaning up schools that had a reputation. Once you can no longer absorb chi, you won't be able to do that anymore."
"True, but I can still teach. Maybe you two can teach me some martial arts as well, so I can defend myself," Hinako replied.
Akane smiled and said, "Sure, I'd like that, Hinako. It would be nice to have someone else to practice with. Ranma can still toss me around the dojo if he goes all out. It can get a bit depressing sometimes."
"Acchan, you're getting real good. Don't put yourself down. With everything you've learned, you'd win most of your fights," Ranma said with a smile, "I'm proud of how far you've come. And I'm not just saying that. I really mean it."
Akane blushed in embarrassment at the praise. "Thanks, Ranchan. That means a lot to me," she said.
"The guestroom is the room at the head of the stairs, isn't it?" Hinako asked.
"Yes, Hinako. Say, Acchan, don't you have some large t-shirts somewhere?" Ranma asked.
"Yes, there's a Hello, Kitty t-shirt in the middle drawer. Why?" Akane asked puzzled.
"I thought one of your t-shirts would be better for Hinako to sleep in is all," Ranma replied as he walked over to the dresser and found the t-shirt and handed it to Hinako. She smiled her thanks and left the room.
Akane smiled and said, "That's a good idea. I should have thought of that, myself."
"How are you feeling Acchan?" Ranma asked as he sat next to her in the bed.
Her response was to lean over and pull his head to where she could kiss him passionately.
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The next afternoon, after Akane helped Ranma back from Hinako's apartment, she went to visit her brother-in-law at his clinic. Finding him in his office, she shut the door and asked a question that had been puzzling her. Blushing in embarrassment, she asked, "Tofu, I've noticed something a little odd. When Hinako absorbed Ranma's chi the other day, when he recovered he was very amorous. The same thing happened last night once I regained my strength. Is this something you expected?"
"I didn't see that in anything that I had read about chi absorption. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised though. From what you and Ranma told me about Happosai, I should have expected that he had created some sort of perverted twist," Tofu replied, "You're not complaining are you?"
"No, I'm not complaining. Now, Nabiki might complain if we make too much noise. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't going to be a problem," Akane said with a grin.
"I'll need to check you and Ranma each time you get drained," Tofu replied, "Do you feel fine other than that?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," Akane replied, "I also think we need to keep track of how long Hinako stays in her adult form after each of the treatments. Today she lasted twenty minutes."
Tofu grimaced and said, "Thanks, Akane. I should have thought of that myself. How was she feeling when you left?"
"She said she felt fine," Akane replied. She looked at them time and then said, "I need to get back home. I promised Ranma that we'd work on our homework together. See you at dinner."
"Okay, tell Kasumi that I'll be home on time," Tofu replied. Akane hugged him and then left the office.
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That evening, Nabiki asked for everyone to join her in the living room after dinner. Once everyone had assembled, joining her and Mousse, she announced, "Mousse asked me to marry him today. I told him yes." She held out her hand and showed the engagement ring on her finger.
"That's wonderful, Sis," Akane said as she hugged her sister.
Soun cried, "All my daughters are married!" Then he started crying, "My babies don't need me anymore." The tears flowed from his eyes in torrents.
Kasumi smiled gently, and said, "I hope you two are as happy as Tofu and I are."
Ranma walked over to Mousse and extended his hand. "Mousse, you take good care of her. She's very special to all of us. Seriously, though, welcome to the family, brother," he said.
"Thanks, Ranma. I think she's special too," Mousse replied.
No one heard the soft gasp that came from Shampoo. She turned and fled upstairs, unnoticed by most of the happy crowd. After waiting a few minutes, Nodoka walked upstairs to the room she shared with the young Amazon. As she suspected, Shampoo was on her bed, silent tears rolling down her face.
"Child, do you want to talk about it?" Nodoka asked as she sat down next to her.
Shampoo threw herself into Nodoka's arms and continued crying. Finally, she looked up through teary eyes and said, "He was always there for me, proclaiming his love for me. I always hated him chasing me, so why am I so unhappy? I told him I didn't love him. Was I lying to him and to me?"
"I can't answer any of those questions, Shampoo. I think he was a part of your life for so long that you always expected him to be there. From what you said, I guess he finally gave up on you and moved on. I don't know whether you love him or not. Only you know that. All I can tell you is to let him go. If you don't, all you'll do is make three people miserable," Nodoka replied.
Shampoo sighed unhappily, and said, "I know that. I thought I'd be happy if he found someone else. I guess I should have been more careful for what I wished for."
"That's always a tough lesson to learn, Shampoo, no matter when you learn it," Nodoka said, "I'm here for you if you need to talk"
"Thanks, Nodoka. I need to face them now, I guess," Shampoo said. She stood up and started for the door.
"You might stop by the bathroom first and wash your face. I don't think anyone has noticed that you left but me," Nodoka said as she joined her.
Shampoo gave her a weak smile and headed downstairs to the bathroom. Nodoka stared after her and sighed. 'That poor girl!" she thought as she headed downstairs.