Chapter 13

Ranma wasn't one to get irritated easily. His father irritated him, Mr. Tendo irritated him and Akane irritated but he wasn't so easily irritated. However, when someone attempted to waste his time by sending a fake rescue note, he tended to get irritated. He looked to his right and he saw that Akane was with him. She was angry because the note was addressed from her. He confronted her about it and she scoffed at him. Showing her the note, she went nuts that someone attempted to copy her handwriting. She decided to find out who did it and dragged him along with her.

They saw the gym and entered. What Ranma saw, almost made him bust out laughing. He didn't know who this guy was but if he mocking Akane, he was all for it. He was dressed in a girl uniform and tied by a rope wrapped around his waist. He was even wearing a wig. He saw that Akane was not amused by the display. She walked up to him, tore him down and held him by the front of his shirt.

"What do you think you're doing?" Akane ordered. Gosunkugi got a happy look on his face.

'She talked to me.' Ranma saw this and couldn't believe that this zombie looking guy like Akane. His danger sense kicked in and he quickly moved to the side. Using the momentum of his attacker, Ranma flipped the guy onto his back. Using his Akido skills, he twisted the arm and placed the guy in a painful wrist lock. He heard the sound of something wooden hit the ground. It didn't take Ranma long to figure things out. He applied a little more pressure making Kuno cry out.

"So, this is your doing. I thought that we had an understanding seeing that I'm a friend of your sister's?" Ranma asked.

"That does not dissolve you from your transgressions knave." Kuno said with pain.

"Oh, and what have I done that has angered you so?" Ranma asked mockingly. He released the kendoist and stood ready. Kuno grabbed his bokken and rubbed his very sore wrist. He glared at Ranma who didn't look scared.

"I have had enough of your ill words about me and my beauteous Akane. I will have satisfaction and will have you one your knees soon enough." Kuno declared. Ranma looked at him like he was stupid.

"Really? How are you about to accomplish that?" Ranma asked. He watched as Kuno smirked at him.

"There is no escape knave. I know your weakness and I will use it against you. Unleash the trap!" Kuno ordered. Gosunkugi nodded and pulled a rope. It opened a trap door that dropped Ranma, Akane and himself into a large pit. Ranma and Akane landed on their feet while Gosunkugi fell on his ass. Ranma looked at the zombie boy.

"Who makes a trap and gets himself caught in it?" Ranma asked mockingly. That's when he heard the sound of a cat. Ranma stiffen and saw a cat coming out of the shadows. He quickly attempted to use his meditation exercise when he heard another cat. That was soon followed by the sound of another cat and another. Ranma looked around and was getting paler. He was breathing hard and was franticly looking for an escape. The roar of a tiger was the straw that broke the camel's back and Ranma sank to his knees. Akane grabbed Gosunkugi again and glared at him.

"You stole a tiger?" Akane growled.

"I-I ran out of small cats." Was his lame excuse. That's when the both of them felt that cats stop. Akane could see that they looked scared about something. She turned toward Ranma who was giving off a very bad vibe. He looked at the cats and let out a small meow.

X-X-X

Kuno stood proudly at his accomplishment and waited for the foul Saotome to break because of his fear. That's when Nabiki entered the gym. She marched over to him and gave him a glare. Kuno flinched a bit and wondered what the mercenary was so angry about.

"Tell me that you didn't go through with this stupid plan of yours." Nabiki said.

"I have no stupid plans but if you are talking about that sorcerer that has insulted my love and holds the pig-tailed girl hostage, then it is done and soon he would be cowering in front of me." Kuno boasted.

"You idiot! Do you know how much danger that you have put people in?" Nabiki shouted. Suddenly, there was an explosion. There was a rain of cats that landed and were quick to get out of the area. Nabiki was wondering about the tiger but her attention was elsewhere. She saw that Ranma was on all fours and was poised like a cat. "Damn, I'm too late." Nabiki said. She turned to everyone in the gym. "Everybody, we need to get out of the area."

"The Blue Thunder does not run from danger. I will vanquish this evil the vile Saotome has performed." Kuno said. He made an aggressive move against Ranma. Ranma looked at him and snarled. As Nabiki and the others got out of the gym, there was a loud boom and something was sent flying out of the gym. She saw the thing hit the ground with thud. She looked to see that it was Kuno. He looked really bad from the wound on his chest. From out of the gym, Ranma was walking on all fours and making his way toward Kuno. Nabiki cursed and got in front of her classmate. She didn't know what she was doing but she knew that it was stupid. As Neko-Ranma neared, he caught sight of Nabiki. Nabiki watched as he seemed to calm down some. He was still making his way to her and suddenly sat in front of her. He gave her this confused look and tilted his head.

Nabiki looked at him and did something equally stupid. She held out her hand to Ranma. Ranma saw the hand and sniffed it for a while. He then proceeded to lick the hand and began to purr. Nabiki was a little disgusted by the lick but saw that Ranma wanted her to pet him. She did just that, scratching him behind the ears. This just seemed to make Ranma purr some more and he began to act playfully with the middle Tendo.

"I guess I'm one of the people you like huh? Man, I wish I had a camera. This would sell like hot-cakes." Nabiki joked.

"GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER, YOU PERVERT!" Akane roared. Nabiki looked up to see Akane coming at him with some bad intention. Ranma growled and looked ready to charge. Nabiki got to her feet and stood in between the two.

"Akane, you need to stop this. Ranma isn't himself and can seriously hurt you." Nabiki warned.

"Get out of the way Nabiki!" Akane ordered and summoned a mallet from out of nowhere. She reared it back to lay a beating on Ranma. Ranma quickly dashed forward and took a swipe at her. Akane's mallet and clothes were suddenly torn into ribbons. A mortified Akane quickly covered herself and let out a loud scream. Neko-Ranma smirked before taking off, off school grounds. Nabiki sighed and went to deal with her sister. She only hoped that Ranma didn't run into someone he didn't like.

X-X-X

Kasumi had just finished cleaning the home and was taking a small break. Her father was reading the paper and Mr. Saotome was somewhere. She just loved this time where she could relax and enjoy the breeze. Her quiet time suddenly came to an end when someone dropped down in front of her. Kasumi was a little spooked but she took a good look at the person in front of her.

"Ranma?" Kasumi asked. Ranma turned to look at her. Kasumi was a little confused by how he was acting. It was like he was a cat. That's when she remembered the journal that Genma had. She knew about Ranma's phobia of cats. Somehow, he must have been trapped by a whole lot of cats. Kasumi also read that the last time this happened; a kindly old woman brought him out of it. Kasumi could not leave him like this so she decided to help him. "Come here kitty, come on. I'm not going to hurt you." Neko-Ranma looked at her and made his way over to her. He sniffed her hand and instantly jumped onto her lap. Kasumi was a little startled but she quickly got over it. She petted Neko-Ranma who purred happily.

"That's a good kitty." Kasumi cooed. Neko-Ranma looked up to the elder Tendo. He then proceeded to kiss her on the lips. It was a quick kiss but it a kiss that Kasumi hadn't received in a long time. He went back to lying in Kasumi's lap unaware of the huge blush on her face. The frozen Kasumi continued to pet Ranma, her face red as a tomato.

X-X-X

"Again, I apologize for lying in your lap Kasumi. I didn't mean for that to happen. Thank you for getting me out of that state." Ranma said.

"It was no problem at all." Kasumi said with a smile. She fiddled with her cup of tea before speaking again. "So, you don't remember anything from when you are a cat?"

"No, no I don't. Did I do something to you Kasumi?" Ranma asked.

"N-No, nothing but lay in my lap. That was a surprising day we just had, huh?" Kasumi said with a laugh. Ranma joined her in laughter. That's when Nabiki and Akane entered the home. Ranma noticed that she was wearing a pair of sweats. Nabiki huffed and put her hands on her hips.

"Well now, it looks like that you're back to normal." Nabiki said.

"I'm really sorry that I gave you so much trouble Nabiki. I hope I didn't do anything to embarrass you." Ranma said.

"Not I but you gave those boys quite a show after you shredded Akane's uniform." Nabiki said with a grin.

"It isn't funny! I knew that he was a pervert and that just proves it!" Akane said.

"I've told you for tenth time today, he wasn't in control. He could have easily put you in the nurse's office like he did Kuno. If you had listened to me and chilled out, maybe he would have been nice to you like he was to me." Nabiki explained.

"What are you talking about?" Ranma asked.

"Well, when you're in the Nekoken, anyone who is aggressive toward you, you'll destroy them in no time flat. If you're okay with the person, then you're pretty playful with them." Nabiki explained.

"So because you and I are cool with one another, I didn't attack you?" Nabiki nodded at the question. "Well, that makes you and Kasumi that can bring me out of my Nekoken state. Again, I'm really sorry about laying in your lip like that Kasumi." Ranma said.

"You don't need to apologize. You're weren't yourself." Kasumi said.

"Lying on your lap? What else happened this afternoon?" Nabiki asked.

"Nothing, nothing at all!" Kasumi exclaimed. Everyone looked at Kasumi who just stared at her tea cup. Her cheeks were red but did not raise her head to look at anyone of them. Nabiki could only smirk and wonder what happened between her and Ranma.

X-X-X

Ranma who was wearing some causal clothes had Kodachi hanging off his arm. She led him to the boxing studio that she told him about. They entered and they saw that the place was pretty well equipped. Ranma was looking around while Kodachi asked one of the boxers's to meet the owner. Kodachi led Ranma to the office where they met with the owner, Tamakuma Leopard. The man allowed the two to sit before taking one himself.

"So, how can I help you two?" he asked.

"It's me who needs the help Leopard-san. My name is Saotome Ranma and I am a student of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū. Recently, I am at odds with my father who trained me and I am looking to separate from his school. I am starting to create my own school and I'm learning several styles to create it. I have learned akido and my lovely friend here have suggested boxing." Ranma said.

"I am impressed that someone as young as you is doing such a thing. What do you hope to achieve in learning boxing Ranma?" Leopard asked.

"Well, what can boxing do for me?" Ranma asked.

"That is a very good question. A boxer can attack from almost every angle. They are swift and agile. If you decided to learn, your footwork will become better, your power will improve and we can improve your ability to dodge. Boxers are very good at defense and offense. Are you interested?" Leopard asked.

"You've got my interest sir. Can you tell me more?" Ranma asked.

X-X-X

Ranma and Kodachi exited the studio after an hour. Ranma had a smile on his face. This trip was very worth it and he couldn't wait to get started in learning this sport. Kodachi could see that Ranma was very happy.

"I take it that you are pleased Ranma-sama?" Kodachi asked.

"Yeah and I have you to thank for it. If I remember correctly, I owe you lunch." Ranma said and stuck out his elbow. Kodachi took it and the two made their way to the nearest restaurant.

X-X-X-X-X

Authors' Notes: Leopard Tamakuma is a real person. He is a former WBA World Flyweight Champion who won twenty-seven matches. He currently lives in Arakawa so I figured that I would use this to create a boxing studio for Ranma to learn at. Most former champions open gyms in real life, so I went with that. So, Leopard Tamakuma does not belong to me or anyone else but Leopard Tamakuma.