Ranma the Amorous Over-Sexed Nympho
"Aiyah..." Shampoo breathed, holding the heart shaped pendant that was just given to her, "Shampoo like gift too, too much!"
"I.. I'm happy that you do," Akane replied, shyly, "Shampoo..."
"Wife want something?" the lavender haired girl returned, Akane opened her mouth, but found it dry as soon as she began staring into the violet depths of the girl's before her.
"It's... well," Akane stammered, finally managing to get her thoughts organized, "I know I wasn't part of the deal originally, and that you probably only just tolerate me because of Ranma..."
Shampoo blinked, and then smiled once she realized what her co-spouse was saying, "Akane think Shampoo only like Akane for Ranma?" Akane turned away, and meekly nodded. Since she wasn't paying attention, she was taken by total surprise, when Shampoo cupped her cheek and held her by the waist, "Akane too, too silly. Shampoo happy to see airen; Ranma or Akane!"
Akane baulked, as Shampoo pursed her lips, and began to move her head closer, "SHAMPOO! We're out in public!!!"
The Amazon paused, and looked at her mate with a wry expression, "Is problem? Ranma say is good, yes?"
"Hmph, Ranma-sama would do anything in public," Akane groused.
"So, what is problem?"
"I... well..." Akane stopped, and leaned up against the fence they were walking next to, "I love Ranma-Sama, and you," Akane started, fiddling with the second heart shaped pendant in her pocket, "but I'm still kind of uncomfortable with some things, like public affection."
"Airen put it mildly," Shampoo interjected.
"Yeah, you said it. And the way she, the way her attention..."
"Ah, Akane sad Ranma find other mates?"
Akane sighed, "I know I'm being selfish, but I would rather it just be me, Ranma, and you."
Shampoo herself sighed, and leaned up against the fence with her wife, "Shampoo understand, but know Ranma too, too much for just us."
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Akane asked, "I mean, we've never had a chance to prove it. I think we would be perfectly happy together."
"Shampoo know, but... Shampoo know."
Akane decided to switch subjects, as so that the mood would not be spoiled for later activities, "Uh, Shampoo, how come you're not working right now? It's still the lunch hour, and I know your Great-Grandmother would need a hand."
"Aiyah, Great-Grandmother tell Shampoo that Cat Cafe closed today, and under no circumstances Shampoo come back today," Shampoo paused in thought, "She also say, by revered ancestor's grace, no let Ranma out of Shampoo sight, and keep airen far, far away with any mean possible!"
"Uh, have you even seen Ranma today?" Akane asked, curiously.
Shampoo stared at Akane obliviously, and then pounded her fist into her other hand in realization, "Shampoo knew forget something..."
______________________
The redhead in question walked along the fence, back towards the Tendou household, before she caught a sense of something... not completely human, "Huh?"
Behind her, also standing on the fence, sat a young man who stared at her curiously. He wore the pelt of a wolf, with the ears on the top of his head, and wore a bondolier with several knives holstered, "Are you a woman?"
"Depends on the humidity," Ranma-chan replied, humorously, "Something I can do for you, cutie?"
The young boy seemed to consider the question, "I've never spoken with a woman before..."
"Really now?" Fresh meat!
"Well, I would, um, like to have your company, that is if you're willing, for a date?" The young man asked nervously, while closing the gab between him and the young woman, holding a mallet over his head that was strictly for persuasion purposes.
The pigtailed girl looked up at the mallet with a wry expression, "I'll tell you what, I'm not due anywhere in particular, and I can see you lack experience with women and all. So how about we skip the tea, and get straight to your education?"
"Uh, what do you mean?" the wolfboy asked, curiously. Ranma-chan smiled, and licked her lips in sensual hunger.
______________________
"I thought it was destroyed ages ago," Cologne replied, looking curiously at the cloaked figure across from her at the table, "I guess there were a few survivors after all."
The figure was quiet for a few moments, deciding how to take the comment. It was decided that it was just a statement, and not one of mockery, "We... prefer to keep a humbled existance of our people. It draws little attention to us, as there are only but a handful of my tribe left."
"I see, we all do what we can to not draw the attention of the central goverment," Cologne replied, offering her guest more tea. Her guest nodded; the elder was purposely lead to believe that they were much too small of quantity to pose a threat to the tribe of the Couragous Women. Though they posed little danger to the Musk tribe, it was best to err on the side of caution.
"JACKASS!!! PUT ME DOWN!!!" Ukyo shouted, while pounding the butt of her battle spatula into the back of her abducter's head.
"I shall now drink tea with a woman!" Exclaimed the large young man with the chef slung over his shoulder. He ignored the blows as if they were not there.
"Lime, it is time we departed, I have what we came for," the cloaked figure stated, standing up, "Where's Mint?"
"I am here, my esteemed leige," stated a rather smug looking young man, wearing a wolf pelt, and walking arm and arm with a grinning redhead girl, "I apologise for drawing your concern."
"..." the cloak figure said, accepting the apology.
Cologne bowed hear head and started rubbing her forehead. Of course this was going to happen, there should not have been a shadow of a doubt that Ranma-chan would be around, regardless of the command she gave Shampoo. It was karma for some utterly grievous wrong she had committed. It was the garlic incident in Spain, it had to be...
"Why is Mint speaking funny?" Lime enquired.
"Why, whatever is it that you mean, my dear compatriot?" Mint asked, honestly, "You note a deviance in my tone of voice? I do not believe that I am coming down with an ailment of sorts. Though I must say, the Japanese climate does take a deal of accustomization, I fear." The young man turned to the young pigtailed girl next to him, "Not that I find anything much unsatisfactory about this visit. In fact, I would say you have made it well worth the travel, many times over."
"Aren't you sweet?" Ranma-chan stated in a sugary-giddy tone.
"Whore," Ukyo commented with obvious distaste.
"Your voice is... deeper, I imagine," the cloaked figure stated cautiously, "Are you sure you're well?"
"Absolutely, I thank you for your concern, my leige."
"Nonetheless, we depart now."
"What's your hurry?" Ranma-chan enquired, eyeing up the cloaked figure. She had decided she liked the bishonen towards the feminine side, yet authoritative voice that the figure had, "I've only met your friend here, how about he help introduce me to you two?"
"Are you implying something?" the figure enquired, looking at the short redhead from the shadow cast by her hood.
"Nothing, *he* isn't implying anything!" Cologne stated, lowering her cup of tea, she decided that revealing the young man's curse was better than 'her' starting an incident with one of the most dangerous people in the world.
"You..." the figure growled at the incredulously staring pigtailed boy, "You would dare solicit me? A *BOY*?"
"Oh dear, I do seem to be having a sexual identity crisis," Mint stated,trying to figure his feelings on this revelation.
"Perhaps this will help you with your orientation crisis," stated a blond and handsome bystander, while handing the young boy a blue book, "Oh, and lunch was delicious, I'll have to patronize this establishment more often."
Cologne absently waved to the departing customer, while Mint started to flip through the book, curiously, and Ranma and the figure stared each other down.
"Now listen here! I ain't solicit'n no one! Especially some weirdo with funky shoulder pads who's afraid to show their face!"
Perhaps onna-Ranma would have been easier to manage in damage control, Cologne mused to herself, "Ranma, please, do not be angering this one..."
"Why, you impudent..." Ranma almost baulked, as the eyes under the cloak started to glow slightly pink, but held firm his ground.
"Great Grandmother! I no find Ranma today so... Akane go see movie with Shampoo? My treat!" Shampoo immidiately turned herself and Akane around at the site of Ranma, glaring openly hostile to who Shampoo presumed to be the guest that her Great Grandmother had warned her about.
"Shampoo..." The girl in question froze at the elder's call, "Don't go anywhere, you *will* answer for this..."
"Yes, Great Grandmother," Shampoo sulked, while Akane rubbed the girl's back in sympathy.
"Hmph, I do not have time to deal with a girlboy," the cloak figure stated, turning away from Ranma.
"HEY!" Ranma shouted, furiously, and reached out and grabbed the cloaked one by the shoulder, "NOW LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT..."
"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME!!!!" the figure swung out with lighting speed, forcing Ranma to duck back from the blow. Before the pigtailed martial artist could even get into stance, he was forced to guard against attacks that rivaled his chestnut fist speed training.
"You *WILL* know what it is to anger the prince of the MUSK!" the figure reeled back for a heavy blow that would cave in Ranma's guard, but found the pigtailed boy no longer there...
He didn't get a chance to be surprised at Ranma's speed, as they were both forced to evade a descending umbrella.
"How DARE you attack Ranma like that!" Ryoga growled, bringing his weapon to bear.
"Ryoga, butt out, this ain't your fight!" Ranma shouted, irritated. The fanged boy didn't notice Ranma's annoyance.
"Oh Ranma, how couragious you are to do battle with this monster," Ryoga thought blissfully to himself, and said out loud, "Don't worry, Ranma, he's beneith your notice! Let me handle him!"
"Hey, where did the old bat go?" Ukyo enquired, while looking around from Lime's shoulder.
"Dunno," Akane answered, "but I never knew she could run so fast."
"Are all people in Japan so cavalier about their upcoming demises?" Herb growled.
"Heh, I don't think I'm in any danger from a girly boy like you. Heh, 'prince of the Musk' indeed," Ryoga grinned ferally, "With a voice like yours, it should be 'princess of the Musk'!"
Nerve, meet livewire.
Herb didn't even say anything, as he kicked Ryoga into the air with an ax kick, and then leapt over him...
"RYUU SEI HISHOU!!!!"
Ryoga's eyes went wide, and his body jerked, as if he were being bounced around by invisible forces, while Herb *flew* by him. The bandanna clad boy landed hard on the floor, cradling his ribs.
"Ryoga!" Ranma ran over to his other young man, and checked him, "Speak to me, man, you okay?"
"Ra...nma..." Ryoga wheezed, touched by the concern of the pigtailed boy.
"Lime, ladle," Herb commanded, approaching Ranma, who stared defiantly at the still cloaked figure. Truthfully, Ranma was now extremely wearing of his advisary, with the sheer display of power he just committed.
"Be thankful I do not take you and your... friend's life," Herb threw water from the ladle at Ranma and Ryoga. Water was thrown in different directions, as Cologne's staff came spinning in front of spray from the ladle.
"If that's what I think it is, thank ancestors I returned in time." Cologne stated in great relief, "Prince Herb, you have what you came for, we don't want to waste any more of your precious time."
"Well, I will take my leave only by your respect, elder of the coouragious tribe of women." With that, Herb motioned Lime and Mint to follow.
Mint stopped looking through the book he was recently given, and tossed it over his shoulder before departing, "Feh, psychological babble."
"Thank goodness they're gone," Cologne said with expressive relief, "Son-in-law, that was a dangerous game you were playing."
"Feh, I coulda taken prissy-boy," Ranma replied, non-chilantly.
"Would it have been worth it, to be permentantly locked in your curse form?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"That ladle he had, it was the Chiisuiton I believe. It represents a great danger to all who are cursed. Cold water flung from it onto one of Jusenkyo's cursed would permenantly lock them in their form. Be fortunate I returned from my, um... errands in time to prevent that fate."
"You mean... that jerk was gonna make me be *her* for good?" Ranma paled, paled a bit more, and was still going strong to the point Cologne thought he was going to become translucent. "You can calm down now, son-in-law, the danger has passed."
"Don't think about it too hard, Ranchan," Ukyo said cheerfully, "If it came to that, I'd ensure you wouldn't have to suffer that fate for long."
"You'd look for a cure for me?" Ranma asked, incredulously, before an expression of gratitude graced his face, "Thanks Ucchan, I thought you kinda... didn't like me or something..."
Ukyo blushed at Ranma thanks. "Well, s-something like that," she replied nervously, while fiddling with one of her *sharper* throwing spatulas.
"As for you, Great Granddaughter," Cologne turned to her heir with a sour and stern expression, "I gave you one simple task, and you could not even follow that, what am I to do with you?"
"Um, Great Grand-mother..." Akane spoke up sheepishly, "It was, well, kind of my fault she got side-tracked."
Cologne pogoed on her staff over to the Tendou daughter, licked her finger, and used it to buff of some of Shampoo's lipstick from Akane's collar, neck, and corner of her mouth, "I can see, I assume you at least were considerate enough to find a secluded spot to show your appreciation for Shampoo."
Akane blushed even deeper than she was before, "Well, we ducked into an alley."
"Great Grandmother, why prince of Musk have Chiisuiton?" Shampoo asked, attempting to drive the embarrassed attention from her spouse.
"It is a treasure of the Musk that they use for... mating purposes."
"Huh? Why would they..." Ukyo suddenly turned a slight green, and ran for the bathroom.
"You mean, they change guys to girls, and then..." Akane began to enquire, finding the idea with some appeal.
"Not quite," Cologne replied, "Though, as during their youth, since they are seperated from any female contact until a relatively mature age, I wouldn't put it past them. The Musk is a tribe of men that saught to master the animal arts, and went so far in their extremes as to use Jusenkyo to their ends."
"I'm not following," replied Ranma, taking the information surprisingly calm.
"I think she's implying that they would dump animals into the spring of drowned girl, and then use the ladle to lock them in human form," Akane answered.
"Aiyah, is right. Shampoo think young boy remind Shampoo too, too much of wolf."
"You're right, and the big guy seemed a lot like a tiger," Akane supplied, "So they're an all-male bi-sexual race into bestiality? OW! It was just a question!" Akane rubbed the top of her head where Cologne's staff 'tapped' her.
Cologne was about to admonish Akane for her rather crass and simplistic surmission , and then stopped, and groaned; the girl was right, in a way, given the information Cologne supplied them, "Actually, they do have women in the tribe, they just don't meet them until a later age. They indeed dip animals into the Spring of Drowned Woman, then lock them in human form, then bewed them. I would not consider it too much as bestiality, although. You are correct in your descriptions of the ones called Lime and Mint, as their lineage indeed was developed from that of a tiger and wolf respectively. The prince of the Musk, Herb, is of much more powerful petigree, as the royal family of the Musk traces their line from that of a dragon."
"A... dragon?" Ranma almost whispered; the guy did have an insane amount of power, but a dragon...
"Is that harder to believe than a perverted tree that is on the highest potential sales list for this upcoming Christmas? Or a young man cursed to turn into an amorous, over-sexed nymphomaniac?" Cologne challenged. Ranma had to 'ceed to that.
Cologne turned a contemplative glance towards the exit of the restaurant, "Though, I do find it curious as to why they now are in search of the antidote to the Chiisuiton, the Kaisuifuu, after so many centuries of it trading hands... unless...
Cologne nearly fell off her staff, "Ryoga, if you ever see *him* again, do not, I repeat, do NOT call him a 'Girly-boy'!!!"
"Why not? The name kinda fits," Ranma stated with a smugly casual tone, "HEY! OW!"
"Shut up, you of all people should not be going around calling kettles black! And Ryoga, get up off my floor, this is a restaurant, not a hostle."
Ryoga did not hear any of the chiding, instead considering something mentioned previously. Something about the ladle filled with *cold* water locking a curse victim in their cursed form. "Oh Ranma," Ryoga thought to himself, "If I can get that ladle for you, I'd be able to cure you of the demon that threatens your manhood for good. Then, you would appreciate my feelings for you." Ryoga started to grin, as his mind slipped into fantasies, and didn't pay attention to the anxious gesture he had recently developed.
"OH! GROSS!!!!" Ukyo shouted, spying Ryoga on the ground. Ranma somehow subconciously decided to ignore his rival on the floor.
"REVERED ANCESTORS, GET HIM OUT OF THE DINING ROOM BEFORE A HEALTH INSPECTOR DROPS BY!" Cologne shouted in urgency.
Hidden in the shadows, another party had heard the conversation, and was considering the same notion of the ladle as Ryoga had.
"Aiyah..." Shampoo breathed, holding the heart shaped pendant that was just given to her, "Shampoo like gift too, too much!"
"I.. I'm happy that you do," Akane replied, shyly, "Shampoo..."
"Wife want something?" the lavender haired girl returned, Akane opened her mouth, but found it dry as soon as she began staring into the violet depths of the girl's before her.
"It's... well," Akane stammered, finally managing to get her thoughts organized, "I know I wasn't part of the deal originally, and that you probably only just tolerate me because of Ranma..."
Shampoo blinked, and then smiled once she realized what her co-spouse was saying, "Akane think Shampoo only like Akane for Ranma?" Akane turned away, and meekly nodded. Since she wasn't paying attention, she was taken by total surprise, when Shampoo cupped her cheek and held her by the waist, "Akane too, too silly. Shampoo happy to see airen; Ranma or Akane!"
Akane baulked, as Shampoo pursed her lips, and began to move her head closer, "SHAMPOO! We're out in public!!!"
The Amazon paused, and looked at her mate with a wry expression, "Is problem? Ranma say is good, yes?"
"Hmph, Ranma-sama would do anything in public," Akane groused.
"So, what is problem?"
"I... well..." Akane stopped, and leaned up against the fence they were walking next to, "I love Ranma-Sama, and you," Akane started, fiddling with the second heart shaped pendant in her pocket, "but I'm still kind of uncomfortable with some things, like public affection."
"Airen put it mildly," Shampoo interjected.
"Yeah, you said it. And the way she, the way her attention..."
"Ah, Akane sad Ranma find other mates?"
Akane sighed, "I know I'm being selfish, but I would rather it just be me, Ranma, and you."
Shampoo herself sighed, and leaned up against the fence with her wife, "Shampoo understand, but know Ranma too, too much for just us."
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Akane asked, "I mean, we've never had a chance to prove it. I think we would be perfectly happy together."
"Shampoo know, but... Shampoo know."
Akane decided to switch subjects, as so that the mood would not be spoiled for later activities, "Uh, Shampoo, how come you're not working right now? It's still the lunch hour, and I know your Great-Grandmother would need a hand."
"Aiyah, Great-Grandmother tell Shampoo that Cat Cafe closed today, and under no circumstances Shampoo come back today," Shampoo paused in thought, "She also say, by revered ancestor's grace, no let Ranma out of Shampoo sight, and keep airen far, far away with any mean possible!"
"Uh, have you even seen Ranma today?" Akane asked, curiously.
Shampoo stared at Akane obliviously, and then pounded her fist into her other hand in realization, "Shampoo knew forget something..."
______________________
The redhead in question walked along the fence, back towards the Tendou household, before she caught a sense of something... not completely human, "Huh?"
Behind her, also standing on the fence, sat a young man who stared at her curiously. He wore the pelt of a wolf, with the ears on the top of his head, and wore a bondolier with several knives holstered, "Are you a woman?"
"Depends on the humidity," Ranma-chan replied, humorously, "Something I can do for you, cutie?"
The young boy seemed to consider the question, "I've never spoken with a woman before..."
"Really now?" Fresh meat!
"Well, I would, um, like to have your company, that is if you're willing, for a date?" The young man asked nervously, while closing the gab between him and the young woman, holding a mallet over his head that was strictly for persuasion purposes.
The pigtailed girl looked up at the mallet with a wry expression, "I'll tell you what, I'm not due anywhere in particular, and I can see you lack experience with women and all. So how about we skip the tea, and get straight to your education?"
"Uh, what do you mean?" the wolfboy asked, curiously. Ranma-chan smiled, and licked her lips in sensual hunger.
______________________
"I thought it was destroyed ages ago," Cologne replied, looking curiously at the cloaked figure across from her at the table, "I guess there were a few survivors after all."
The figure was quiet for a few moments, deciding how to take the comment. It was decided that it was just a statement, and not one of mockery, "We... prefer to keep a humbled existance of our people. It draws little attention to us, as there are only but a handful of my tribe left."
"I see, we all do what we can to not draw the attention of the central goverment," Cologne replied, offering her guest more tea. Her guest nodded; the elder was purposely lead to believe that they were much too small of quantity to pose a threat to the tribe of the Couragous Women. Though they posed little danger to the Musk tribe, it was best to err on the side of caution.
"JACKASS!!! PUT ME DOWN!!!" Ukyo shouted, while pounding the butt of her battle spatula into the back of her abducter's head.
"I shall now drink tea with a woman!" Exclaimed the large young man with the chef slung over his shoulder. He ignored the blows as if they were not there.
"Lime, it is time we departed, I have what we came for," the cloaked figure stated, standing up, "Where's Mint?"
"I am here, my esteemed leige," stated a rather smug looking young man, wearing a wolf pelt, and walking arm and arm with a grinning redhead girl, "I apologise for drawing your concern."
"..." the cloak figure said, accepting the apology.
Cologne bowed hear head and started rubbing her forehead. Of course this was going to happen, there should not have been a shadow of a doubt that Ranma-chan would be around, regardless of the command she gave Shampoo. It was karma for some utterly grievous wrong she had committed. It was the garlic incident in Spain, it had to be...
"Why is Mint speaking funny?" Lime enquired.
"Why, whatever is it that you mean, my dear compatriot?" Mint asked, honestly, "You note a deviance in my tone of voice? I do not believe that I am coming down with an ailment of sorts. Though I must say, the Japanese climate does take a deal of accustomization, I fear." The young man turned to the young pigtailed girl next to him, "Not that I find anything much unsatisfactory about this visit. In fact, I would say you have made it well worth the travel, many times over."
"Aren't you sweet?" Ranma-chan stated in a sugary-giddy tone.
"Whore," Ukyo commented with obvious distaste.
"Your voice is... deeper, I imagine," the cloaked figure stated cautiously, "Are you sure you're well?"
"Absolutely, I thank you for your concern, my leige."
"Nonetheless, we depart now."
"What's your hurry?" Ranma-chan enquired, eyeing up the cloaked figure. She had decided she liked the bishonen towards the feminine side, yet authoritative voice that the figure had, "I've only met your friend here, how about he help introduce me to you two?"
"Are you implying something?" the figure enquired, looking at the short redhead from the shadow cast by her hood.
"Nothing, *he* isn't implying anything!" Cologne stated, lowering her cup of tea, she decided that revealing the young man's curse was better than 'her' starting an incident with one of the most dangerous people in the world.
"You..." the figure growled at the incredulously staring pigtailed boy, "You would dare solicit me? A *BOY*?"
"Oh dear, I do seem to be having a sexual identity crisis," Mint stated,trying to figure his feelings on this revelation.
"Perhaps this will help you with your orientation crisis," stated a blond and handsome bystander, while handing the young boy a blue book, "Oh, and lunch was delicious, I'll have to patronize this establishment more often."
Cologne absently waved to the departing customer, while Mint started to flip through the book, curiously, and Ranma and the figure stared each other down.
"Now listen here! I ain't solicit'n no one! Especially some weirdo with funky shoulder pads who's afraid to show their face!"
Perhaps onna-Ranma would have been easier to manage in damage control, Cologne mused to herself, "Ranma, please, do not be angering this one..."
"Why, you impudent..." Ranma almost baulked, as the eyes under the cloak started to glow slightly pink, but held firm his ground.
"Great Grandmother! I no find Ranma today so... Akane go see movie with Shampoo? My treat!" Shampoo immidiately turned herself and Akane around at the site of Ranma, glaring openly hostile to who Shampoo presumed to be the guest that her Great Grandmother had warned her about.
"Shampoo..." The girl in question froze at the elder's call, "Don't go anywhere, you *will* answer for this..."
"Yes, Great Grandmother," Shampoo sulked, while Akane rubbed the girl's back in sympathy.
"Hmph, I do not have time to deal with a girlboy," the cloak figure stated, turning away from Ranma.
"HEY!" Ranma shouted, furiously, and reached out and grabbed the cloaked one by the shoulder, "NOW LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT..."
"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME!!!!" the figure swung out with lighting speed, forcing Ranma to duck back from the blow. Before the pigtailed martial artist could even get into stance, he was forced to guard against attacks that rivaled his chestnut fist speed training.
"You *WILL* know what it is to anger the prince of the MUSK!" the figure reeled back for a heavy blow that would cave in Ranma's guard, but found the pigtailed boy no longer there...
He didn't get a chance to be surprised at Ranma's speed, as they were both forced to evade a descending umbrella.
"How DARE you attack Ranma like that!" Ryoga growled, bringing his weapon to bear.
"Ryoga, butt out, this ain't your fight!" Ranma shouted, irritated. The fanged boy didn't notice Ranma's annoyance.
"Oh Ranma, how couragious you are to do battle with this monster," Ryoga thought blissfully to himself, and said out loud, "Don't worry, Ranma, he's beneith your notice! Let me handle him!"
"Hey, where did the old bat go?" Ukyo enquired, while looking around from Lime's shoulder.
"Dunno," Akane answered, "but I never knew she could run so fast."
"Are all people in Japan so cavalier about their upcoming demises?" Herb growled.
"Heh, I don't think I'm in any danger from a girly boy like you. Heh, 'prince of the Musk' indeed," Ryoga grinned ferally, "With a voice like yours, it should be 'princess of the Musk'!"
Nerve, meet livewire.
Herb didn't even say anything, as he kicked Ryoga into the air with an ax kick, and then leapt over him...
"RYUU SEI HISHOU!!!!"
Ryoga's eyes went wide, and his body jerked, as if he were being bounced around by invisible forces, while Herb *flew* by him. The bandanna clad boy landed hard on the floor, cradling his ribs.
"Ryoga!" Ranma ran over to his other young man, and checked him, "Speak to me, man, you okay?"
"Ra...nma..." Ryoga wheezed, touched by the concern of the pigtailed boy.
"Lime, ladle," Herb commanded, approaching Ranma, who stared defiantly at the still cloaked figure. Truthfully, Ranma was now extremely wearing of his advisary, with the sheer display of power he just committed.
"Be thankful I do not take you and your... friend's life," Herb threw water from the ladle at Ranma and Ryoga. Water was thrown in different directions, as Cologne's staff came spinning in front of spray from the ladle.
"If that's what I think it is, thank ancestors I returned in time." Cologne stated in great relief, "Prince Herb, you have what you came for, we don't want to waste any more of your precious time."
"Well, I will take my leave only by your respect, elder of the coouragious tribe of women." With that, Herb motioned Lime and Mint to follow.
Mint stopped looking through the book he was recently given, and tossed it over his shoulder before departing, "Feh, psychological babble."
"Thank goodness they're gone," Cologne said with expressive relief, "Son-in-law, that was a dangerous game you were playing."
"Feh, I coulda taken prissy-boy," Ranma replied, non-chilantly.
"Would it have been worth it, to be permentantly locked in your curse form?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"That ladle he had, it was the Chiisuiton I believe. It represents a great danger to all who are cursed. Cold water flung from it onto one of Jusenkyo's cursed would permenantly lock them in their form. Be fortunate I returned from my, um... errands in time to prevent that fate."
"You mean... that jerk was gonna make me be *her* for good?" Ranma paled, paled a bit more, and was still going strong to the point Cologne thought he was going to become translucent. "You can calm down now, son-in-law, the danger has passed."
"Don't think about it too hard, Ranchan," Ukyo said cheerfully, "If it came to that, I'd ensure you wouldn't have to suffer that fate for long."
"You'd look for a cure for me?" Ranma asked, incredulously, before an expression of gratitude graced his face, "Thanks Ucchan, I thought you kinda... didn't like me or something..."
Ukyo blushed at Ranma thanks. "Well, s-something like that," she replied nervously, while fiddling with one of her *sharper* throwing spatulas.
"As for you, Great Granddaughter," Cologne turned to her heir with a sour and stern expression, "I gave you one simple task, and you could not even follow that, what am I to do with you?"
"Um, Great Grand-mother..." Akane spoke up sheepishly, "It was, well, kind of my fault she got side-tracked."
Cologne pogoed on her staff over to the Tendou daughter, licked her finger, and used it to buff of some of Shampoo's lipstick from Akane's collar, neck, and corner of her mouth, "I can see, I assume you at least were considerate enough to find a secluded spot to show your appreciation for Shampoo."
Akane blushed even deeper than she was before, "Well, we ducked into an alley."
"Great Grandmother, why prince of Musk have Chiisuiton?" Shampoo asked, attempting to drive the embarrassed attention from her spouse.
"It is a treasure of the Musk that they use for... mating purposes."
"Huh? Why would they..." Ukyo suddenly turned a slight green, and ran for the bathroom.
"You mean, they change guys to girls, and then..." Akane began to enquire, finding the idea with some appeal.
"Not quite," Cologne replied, "Though, as during their youth, since they are seperated from any female contact until a relatively mature age, I wouldn't put it past them. The Musk is a tribe of men that saught to master the animal arts, and went so far in their extremes as to use Jusenkyo to their ends."
"I'm not following," replied Ranma, taking the information surprisingly calm.
"I think she's implying that they would dump animals into the spring of drowned girl, and then use the ladle to lock them in human form," Akane answered.
"Aiyah, is right. Shampoo think young boy remind Shampoo too, too much of wolf."
"You're right, and the big guy seemed a lot like a tiger," Akane supplied, "So they're an all-male bi-sexual race into bestiality? OW! It was just a question!" Akane rubbed the top of her head where Cologne's staff 'tapped' her.
Cologne was about to admonish Akane for her rather crass and simplistic surmission , and then stopped, and groaned; the girl was right, in a way, given the information Cologne supplied them, "Actually, they do have women in the tribe, they just don't meet them until a later age. They indeed dip animals into the Spring of Drowned Woman, then lock them in human form, then bewed them. I would not consider it too much as bestiality, although. You are correct in your descriptions of the ones called Lime and Mint, as their lineage indeed was developed from that of a tiger and wolf respectively. The prince of the Musk, Herb, is of much more powerful petigree, as the royal family of the Musk traces their line from that of a dragon."
"A... dragon?" Ranma almost whispered; the guy did have an insane amount of power, but a dragon...
"Is that harder to believe than a perverted tree that is on the highest potential sales list for this upcoming Christmas? Or a young man cursed to turn into an amorous, over-sexed nymphomaniac?" Cologne challenged. Ranma had to 'ceed to that.
Cologne turned a contemplative glance towards the exit of the restaurant, "Though, I do find it curious as to why they now are in search of the antidote to the Chiisuiton, the Kaisuifuu, after so many centuries of it trading hands... unless...
Cologne nearly fell off her staff, "Ryoga, if you ever see *him* again, do not, I repeat, do NOT call him a 'Girly-boy'!!!"
"Why not? The name kinda fits," Ranma stated with a smugly casual tone, "HEY! OW!"
"Shut up, you of all people should not be going around calling kettles black! And Ryoga, get up off my floor, this is a restaurant, not a hostle."
Ryoga did not hear any of the chiding, instead considering something mentioned previously. Something about the ladle filled with *cold* water locking a curse victim in their cursed form. "Oh Ranma," Ryoga thought to himself, "If I can get that ladle for you, I'd be able to cure you of the demon that threatens your manhood for good. Then, you would appreciate my feelings for you." Ryoga started to grin, as his mind slipped into fantasies, and didn't pay attention to the anxious gesture he had recently developed.
"OH! GROSS!!!!" Ukyo shouted, spying Ryoga on the ground. Ranma somehow subconciously decided to ignore his rival on the floor.
"REVERED ANCESTORS, GET HIM OUT OF THE DINING ROOM BEFORE A HEALTH INSPECTOR DROPS BY!" Cologne shouted in urgency.
Hidden in the shadows, another party had heard the conversation, and was considering the same notion of the ladle as Ryoga had.