Chapter 22
Ranma was currently washing up some instruments in Dr. Tofu's office. While he did that, he was thinking about what Shampoo had told him. It wasn't that she didn't have a point in what she said; it was that he didn't know what he was supposed to do. Since getting out from under his father, he wasn't as naïve or as dumb. He began to notice things around him. He would have to be an idiot not to notice that Shampoo and Kodachi didn't have an attraction to him. What was he supposed to do about their feelings? His father never told him or taught him anything about girls.
He considered talking to Kasumi about this but he scratched that idea. It wasn't as if he didn't trust her, it was that he assumed that she wouldn't know anything about this, considering who she was. There was Nabiki but he quickly stopped that thought. He laughed when he thought of Akane, Genma, Soun, Cologne or his two friends, Daisuke & Hiroshi. Wondering who to talk to, he remembered that he worked for a guy who was a good friend. He turned to the guy who was his boss, Dr. Tofu Ono.
"Well, that's a unique problem you have Ranma." Tofu said.
"What do you suggest doc?" Ranma asked.
"I don't think that I can help you this. In all my life, I've never had two women who were interested in me. I don't know what I can tell you that would make any sense." Tofu answered.
"I don't know why I'm thinking about this. I would usually just ignore stuff like this but it's just got stuck in my mind." Ranma said.
"Well that I can answer. The reason that you're thinking about it is that you're considering it. Tell me honestly Ranma, are you attracted to Shampoo and Kodachi?" he asked the teen. Ranma looked at him and blushed a little.
"I won't lie; I do like the two of them. Shampoo is strong, powerful and she's dedicated to what she does. She does have a slamming body but I like the warrior spirit more. Kodachi isn't as crazy as people think. She's regal, proper and she had a humorous side to her. She's got a body on her too, nice legs, but I'm attracted to her coy, sarcastic ways. The thing is I don't know how to act or what I should do." Ranma explained.
"Well, I would talk to them Ranma. It might give you the answers that you seek." Tofu said. Ranma sighed at that. Despite his new attitude, he was still socially inept when it came to women. He decided to try it out. What was the worst that could happen?
XXX
A week and a half passed since Ranma's talk with Tofu. Lucky for him, the worst did not happen. The first person he spoke to was Kodachi. He explained how he felt to the girl and, surprisingly, she understood. She then proceeded to turn up the charm on him and managed to get a date out of him. She explained to him that it was a good way to get more into dating. Shampoo had said the same thing to him and managed to get a date out of Ranma the following week. Other than that, Ranma had to deal with a pervert named Sentaro Daimonji and his crazy art. He did have some fun with Shampoo in that Take-out race. He only wished that the finish line wasn't with Kuno, stupid pervert. Either way, he enjoyed his life as it was now.
Suddenly, he noticed a crowd of people. Curious, he made his way over to the crowd. Unsurprisingly, he saw that Akane was at the center of it. She was holding an old man in the air. Ranma got a good look at the man and saw that the man was tiny, about the same height as Cologne. He was completely bald except for some hair on the sides of his head and has a pencil-thin mustache. He wore a two piece medium colored outfit and what looked like ninja slippers. He could only speculate what this old man could have done to Akane to make her look like she was about to brain him. He decided to make his presence known.
"So, picking on someone your own size?" Ranma said humorously. Akane turned to the voice and glared. "What could this guy have done that you would have to hold him by the scruff of his clothes?"
"The boy knows what he's talking about. What I did was innocent." The man said with innocence in his voice.
"Innocent my butt!" one of the girls shouted. "You came into our looker room and stole our underwear!" That comment made something click inside his head.
"Wait a minute, he took your panties? You wouldn't happen to be the same guy who raided a Tokyo University dorm and stole their panties? I also heard that there was someone in Okinawa that was doing the same thing." Ranma commented. The old was now sweating bullets as the glares of the females intensified. They descended on the little man and proceeded to dish out justice. Ranma did not try to stop it. Akane and the females were kind of in the right about this.
XXX
Ranma watched with amusement as Soun and his father groveled and was acting like servants to the old man that he and Akane brought back to the compound. Apparently, this man Happosai was the grandmaster of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū (Anything Goes Martial Arts). From what he understood, the training methods that he used to teach his father and Akane's father included panty raids and thievery. It explained a lot of the training that Genma put him through. He was curious as to what he was doing back here. He briefly wondered how he was still alive but he had remembered Cologne's age and forgot about it.
"So master, what brings you to my home?" Soun asked in a submissive tone.
"Well, I'm getting old and I'm too old to be thinking about revenge. I came here to train the true heir of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū." Happosai said. Genma and Soun went white as a sheet. If Happosai chose one of them, then they would be put through the harsh training of their youth. Quickly thinking, both men grabbed Ranma and pushed him forward.
"This is my son master and the true heir of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū." Genma said quickly. Ranma glared at Genma and grabbed his wrist. He put the man in a painful wrist lock before flipping him to his back. He held on to the wrist and forced Genma to his knees.
"How many times must I tell you not to use me for your damn benefit?" Ranma growled. He made Genma stand before bringing him forward and slamming him down to the ground with clothesline. Happosai looked at the boy with a raised eye.
"That's a new one. Genma was more in favor to aerial combat. That was a very well placed katate-dori (Single-hand Grab) kokyūnage (Breath Throw). I especially liked when you brought him back up and hit him with a clothesline. You connected with enough force to keep him down. You are pretty skilled in the art of Aikido, my boy." Happosai said. Ranma looked very surprised that Happosai recognized that. The old man chuckled. "Don't be surprised. Despite my vices, I've been in enough fights to know a particular style. So, tell me your name."
"The name is Ranma Saotome and I'm sorry to say but I'm not ready to be heir of anything. I have my own plans for the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū." Ranma said.
"Is that so? May I ask what that is?" Happosai asked seriously. Ranma took a seat and faced the old man.
"It is my wish to separate from my father's school and create my own brand of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū. It will be a brand that everyone will come to know and will want to learn. No offense to your teachings Happosai but I don't wish to put any student through what I've been through. I, especially, wouldn't take any student to a cursed spring." Ranma snarled that part as he glared at Genma.
"It was for the art boy! Stop acting like a girl and just accept it!" Genma shouted.
"How about I skin your panda hind and sell it!" Ranma pointed out.
"Cursed spring? You two wouldn't be talking about Jusenkyo?" Happosai asked. Ranma just glared at Genma who returned the glare. "That explains the feeling I got off you. So what do you turn into boy?"
"I think that I'll keep that a secret thank you. Anyway, since this doesn't really involve me, I'm going to my room and study." Ranma said and stood up. He ignored Genma's and Soun's pleas and exited the dojo. Happosai was very interested in this boy.
XXX
Ranma was sleeping peacefully. He grunted and scratched his stomach. He was having a nice dream when he was suddenly awaken by some cold water. He, now she, sputtered and woke up with a start. She started to get very angry, thinking that Genma had waked her up. That was until she felt someone fondle her chest. She looked down to see that it was Happosai. He had a happy smile on his face and rubbed his face into her bosom.
"This is heaven. You've gotten the greatest curse of all." Happosai said happily. Ranma developed a tick mark on his forehead and started to growl. Kasumi, who was up making breakfast, was suddenly startled by a loud explosion. She was wondering what had happened and looked outside, just in time to see something flying in the distance. She was curious as to what that was. She ignored it for now and went back to making breakfast.
XXX
"It isn't funny Kodachi." Ranma said. The gymnast continued to giggle at him. Ranma sighed and pouted. "I knew that I shouldn't have told you."
"Oh come on, it isn't that bad. Think of it as understanding what most women go through when confronted by a pervert. Besides, you do have a nice pair there. I'm a little jealous at their size." Kodachi said.
"Explain to me again why I'm in my girl form and in a leotard?" Ranma asked. She was dressed in one of Kodachi's leotards which was a very tight around the chest area.
"You did say that you wanted to experience a real match and I'm giving you a chance to do so. Besides, we're on the same level in this form. I'm able to keep up with you." Kodachi said.
"You know that's a lie." Ranma boasted.
"Don't get cocky. Now, help me stretch." Kodachi said. Kodachi stood against the wall and put her leg on Ranma's shoulder. Ranma pushed forward and extended the leg. Ranma couldn't help but notice how smooth her legs were to the touch. However, Kodachi noticed this and smiled. "You might have the body of a girl but you definitely have the mind of man." Ranma blushed at that and looked away, much to Kodachi's amusement.
Unnoticed by the two, a pair of old eyes were watching with interest.
XXX
Ranma and his sparring partner were tossing jabs at each other. The partner stepped into and shoved Ranma into the corner. He closed the distance and attempted to knock his head off. Ranma bobbed and weaved through most of the assault. He finally fought out of the corner with a well place three hit combo. Both fighters returned to the center of the ring and continued to box. They would be at it for another thirty seconds before the bell rang. Ranma and the sparring partner touched gloves before going to their corners.
Watching from the benches, a disguised Happosai watched. His interest was ever growing.
XXX
Kasumi was just finishing cleaning up when Happosai entered the kitchen. She looked at the old man and smiled.
"Is there something you need grandfather Happosai?" Kasumi asked.
"You're such a sweet child Kasumi. I was wondering if we can talk over some tea." Happosai said.
"Oh, what do want to talk about?" Kasumi asked as she prepared some tea.
"It's about Ranma. I find the boy interesting and since you are one of the other people inside this house that he talks to, I was wondering if you can answer a question for me." Happosai explained.
"I don't think that he would enjoy me talking about him, especially about his girl form." Kasumi said as she put a cup of tea in front of him. Happosai took a sip and sighed.
"It's nothing like that my child, good tea by the way. I am merely interested in this meditation that he does." Happosai stated.
"Oh that. That's because he learning to master the Nekoken (Cat Fist)." Kasumi said. Happosai choked on the tea and Kasumi had to pat his back. After he regained his bearings, he looked at Kasumi and demanded an explanation. Kasumi did just that and Happosai couldn't believe it. While he wasn't a saint, he knew when things went too far. The Nekoken was that limit. He couldn't believe that Genma would do such a thing. Still, he admired the boy's resolve and from what Kasumi explained, he might actually succeed in mastering the deadly art. He now knew that he had found his heir. Still, there was the situation about how to reach him.
He snapped his fingers as a thought came to his head.
XXX
Ranma was curious about why Happosai wanted to speak with him about. The old man had been kind of a nuisance since his arrival. He had to stop him several times during his panty raids and had blasted him for groping him. Still, he was still curious about what the old man wanted from him. He entered the dojo and had to immediately dodge as some water balloons that came at him from all directions. He had a smirk on his face until he felt someone coming from behind he grabbed the wrist and attempted to throw the person but he was reversed and flipped onto the ground. He was then hit by a water balloon which changed him. A familiar feeling was attached to her chest.
"Mm, heaven." Happosai said. He was once again blasted off and sent into the wall. He hit the ground and sprang back up immediately. "Nice punch there boy." He threw a thermos at Ranma who was surprised at the gesture. Dousing himself and returning to his original form, Ranma stared at the old man.
"So what do you want old man?" Ranma asked.
"I understand that you wish to create your own branch of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū. How would you like that to be a reality?" Happosai asked. Ranma looked at Happosai with wide eyes.
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Authors' Notes: Happosai is here. The meeting will be much different for the cannon, so expect something else to happen. Enjoy the new chapter.