Ranma the Amorous Over-Sexed Nympho
The red wave hit everyone present, and even a little ways beyond their vicinity, like an up close and personal solar flare. The effect wasn't so much physical, but it caused them to sheild themselves as if battling a sandstorm.
Herb was the first to succomb, and the most affected since she was the most ki sensitive, as she gasped, and dropped like a lead weight that had been suspended barely on a wet sheet of toilet paper, clutching her private areas and writhing in agony... for lack of a better word. Lime's eyes went wide, and developed an even wilder, more feral look to them, while Mint grimaced as if straining himself. Mousse began to shout out for Shampoo, while thrashing within his capter's grasp; yet Lime and Mint held firm, though they were suffering from the same plight. Ryoga had learned that for Ranma, he had to control his lusts, and when the erogenous shockwave hit him, he quickly rebelled against it, but barely managed to maintain his equalibrium.
"Now you've gone and made me angry," Ranma-chan stated, pulling her outstretched battle aura back within a mere 15 foot radius of herself. The congestion of her ki caused her hair to rise as in caught lightly in an updraft, also giving the sheet she wore loosely around herself an etheral writhing look. Her eyes took a crimson glow that bled her might brighter than even her aura had accomplished.
Ryoga was the first to fully gain back his facilities, "H-how?"
"Something I picked up, thanks to Cologne," the redhead cooed in a saccharine sweet, yet menacing voice, while remembering with some wry amusement when she was inflicted with the Venus's Bane pressure point.
"I doubt she would have taught such a thing to you," Ryoga challenged, while precariously scooting back to diminish the effects of Ranma's aura.
"Na, the old ghoul wouldn't have, not intentionally, anyways," Ranma turned back to the struggling Herb-chan, and folded her arms in somewhat mock ire, "Are you ready to apologise? You really hurt my feelings!"
"A-apologise... to you?" Herb growled, though it lost something as she began to half sob. As if struggling against immense forces weighting her down, Herb rolled onto her stomach, and started to glow faintly. With a Hurculean effort, she placed one hand flat upon the ground, and then another. She pulled her knees under her, and slowly began to rise defiantly. Once she fully stood up, she lifted her chin in pride, and glared at her seducer, "I am the Prince of the Musk, the latest in the line of the Dragon Clan. I do not know what you are, but I will not allow my defeat by the likes of you!" Herb was extremely shaken, and it was obvious it was taking some concentration to remain focused.
A flash of surprise crossed Ranma's face, before her eyes narrowed, "Fine, if that's the way you want it..."
Herb blinked, and immidiately found herself frantically guarding against a phalanx of attacks. The four bystanders finally regained their full capacities, though they were still suffering from Ranma's proximity, as the painful bulges lower than waist level had demonstrated.
"That... was most peculiar," Mint mumbled, letting go of Mousse's left arm.
"Lime feels funny," Lime growled, "like when we were cubs, and we-"
"That would be quite enough, and I would suggest you forget such things," Mint interrupted, blushing, and while holding one of his knives down on Lime's tongue.
Mousse stared long and hard at the two, finding himself very concerned about having his curse activated again, before Ryoga ran up to them, "Quick! We have to stop Ranma!" His plea was punctuated by Herb's flying body soaring backwards between them.
Herb skidded along the ground, and performed a back handspring back to her feet. She quickly took to the air to perform her Dragon Flight Spirit attack, but found herself face to face in mid-air with her opponent. Once again they were both trading attacks; Ranma's aerial battle skill versus Herb's ki powered flight. Eventually, Ranma stopped rising, while Herb continued to do so, but that didn't deterr the redhead any bit. The redhead latched onto the Dragon Princess's foot, and Ranma swung her right leg's knee into the back of Herb's knee. The momentum was enough to shake Herb's equalibrium, causing them both to plummet back to the ground, with Herb's own left knee the closest to impact.
The Dragon Princess managed to reinforce her limb before they hit the ground, causing a great sized crater upon impact. Both fighters split apart from the pit; Ranma grinning ferally, while Herb seemed to be nervously assessing the situation.
"This isn't begining to bode well for our leige." Lime nodded in affirmation.
"We can stop her," Ryoga interjected, "Ranma has a Jusenkyo curse, and I think that ladle thing locked it, is there a way to unlock it?"
"That was the very reason we are in Japan," Mint replied, "Prince Herb is under the same ailment you describe. What would unlocking Ranma's curse do to assisting us?"
"Just trust me on this," Ryoga pleaded, "What do we need to unlock the curse?"
"Well, the Kaisuifuu will unlock it, and it is within this vicinity, but we need the ladle to decipher its location."
"Here, just get rid of her," Mousse stated firmly, pulling the ladle and bucket from his sleeves.
"Let us hope we're close enough..." Mint prayed, and winced as a particularly telling blow was heard, followed by the sound of Herb's body hitting a tree.
"Come on, cinimmin tush!" Ranma pleaded without much empathy in her voice, "why don't we just skip the gratuitious fight scene, and get to kissing each other's boo boos?"
"I shall be your harlot no longer," Herb shot back, still circling Ranma, "I would best die, and see you finished along with me, than succomb to your perversities."
"Oh, don't act like you didn't enjoy it," Ranma replied wryly, before launching herself at her opponent.
Herb aimed a ki blast at her opponent's feet, slowing Ranma down a bit. The redhead guarded against the debris that was kicked up, before seeing a steady path of dirt being kicked up from a furrow heading towards her from where Herb had been previously. Ranma stood in stance to guard against whatever came out of the furrow, thus, distracted from Herb leaping into the air, and diving above her.
"RYUU SU SEI!"
The ki blast that was sent underground towards Ranma caused the dirt to envelope her, while two spheres of ki slammed into her sides. Herb landed, and turned around to face Ranma-chan, "Did, did I defeat her?"
"Far from it, sweet stuff!" The dust cloud diminished quickly, leaving an untouched Ranma-chan with her arms crossed, "alright, you're really starting to tick me off, now!"
herb gulped; she was *now* just starting to get angry? "Blast it all! My ki in this form is too weak!"
Mint gave a sigh of relief, as the the ladle slowly came to a stop in a direction. From the way it was slightly tilting, indicating that it was upon an altitude higher, they were close.
Ryoga understood what the ladle's stop implicated, "Right, let's go!" Mousse caught Ryoga's shirt, before the lost boy could head in the totally opposite direction, and dragged him the way they wanted to go.
Mint turned to his Prince, "HERB, WE'RE PURSUING THE KETTLE, RYOGA STATED THAT IT WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST US WITH SUBDUING RANMA!"
Both Ryoga and Mousse stopped, "YOU IDIOT!!!"
Suddenly, Ranma pumped the level up another notch, "LIKE HELL YOU WILL!!!" Herb was caught by surprise by the sudden ferocity Ranma-chan was giving off, and caught several... hundred blows, the final one sending her away.
The redhead dashed at the four boys, almost faster than they could see. Fortunately, she turned her back on Herb well too soon. Ranma skidded sideways, holding onto her pained left arm with her right hand, and turned to glare at Herb-chan, who was still braced in her ki enforced shotokan style shoulder check.
"We're not done yet, 'Lover'."
Ranma gave a gutteral growl, as her eyes pulsed an even brighter crimson. She once again launched at Herb, but found her opponent putting up a much more capable defense against her, and even managing to return some blows.
Herb was no longer having to fight off the lustful urges Ranma-chan seemed to be projecting into her by proximity alone, finding something else to focus on. Something borne from Ranma-chan's casual use of her, cavalier disgarding of the Princess, and flippant disregard for her feelings. All this was coupled with her current gender
Herb found one power that few ever dare to directly challenge, none of them be man. It was the force of sheer, unadulterated, righteous femenine anger.
Now the battle was on even ground.
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Lime, Mint, Ryoga, and Mousse quickly took off, as the battle began again. Without pause, they ran, until they came to a steep cliff face. Lime immidiately started climbing, as Mint precariously leapt from ledge to ledge. Mousse pulled out a grappling hook from his sleeve, attached to a rope, and hurled it upwards. When it snagged, he advanced up the cliff wall. Before he started up, himself, Ryoga glanced back to find the raging battle just on their tales.
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Ranma-chan's face was contorted in rage, as she furiously struck out in order to pummel her opponent into submission. The image of such a beautiful face being twisted so would have seriously upset the Heir of the Musk Dynasty, if not for the fact that she was in her own rage riot. Nonetheless, she was still able to follow through the course of action she had decided upon; to lead Ranma to the kettle. The princess knew the other girl feared it, and decided that it must be the key to her undoing.
The Dragon Princess felt herself starting to become overwhelmed, and leapt into a backflip to gain some ground. Ranma-chan would have none of that, as she cupped her hands together. Herb's eyes went wide, as she saw the rather large beam of crimson ki bearing down on her...
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Ryoga was the last to the top, and found the other three staring at several eyes hidden in the foliage. The monkeys that the eyes belonged to looked upon the intruders to their habitat, sensing the auras of a little piglet, in one of them, while another two had the more menacing auras of a tiger and wolf. The latter two auras would have caused the monkeys to run in terror of such fierce predators.
Unfortunately, they had felt Ranma-chan's aura flash...
...and they were all, terribly, terribly horny...
All four boys felt a shiver crawl up their spines as the stares turned into leers
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Herb picked herself up off the ground, and found Ranma readying another ki blast. herb thought fast, decided on a course of action, and quickly sucked the immidiate area dry of as much ki as possible.
Ranma let unleash another potentially devistating blast, which directly impacted the its target, yet didn't even seem to effect the Dragon Princess. Herb held the gathered ki in front of her as a rounded shield, that caused Ranma's attack to round about it. As it flowed over Herb's barrier, it was absorbed into the area, replacing the ki of the depreciated area. Herb's attack had another advantage, as it started to suck Ranma's ki away from her.
Feeling more depleted than she had expected, Ranma stumbled forward, a bit light-headed. Herb took advantage of the opening, and shot forward, with her fist cocked back. Ranma was rocked with a haymaker of a straight cross, a follow up backfist with the other hand, and a spinning outside crescent kick from the same side as the backfist.
Herb stood breathing hard from the effort of having to have gathered the enviorment's ki so quickly, and used the moment to gather her breath. Ranma sat up from her side, and wailed like an irritated cat, while licking the top of her right hand where a scratch that drew blood was. She pulled herself to full standing, glaring balefully at the Dragon Princess.
On a silent command, both fighters rushed at each other...
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"This better wash out of wolf pelt," Mint grumbled, "Or else I'm going back, and we'll be having Quangxi Mountain oysters..."
Lime was picking leaves from low branches as they ran, and using them to wipe himself off, "We use oxen for that..."
Mint glared at his compatriot, "Monkeys will work just fine..." Mint turned his head back to Ryoga and Mousse, "How did you two get out unsatched?"
"Practice," both cursed individuals said, and then turned sideways glances towards each other. As they turned back, they came to a stop.
"Hey, how far are we from it, now?" Ryoga asked through his panting.
Mint quickly set the bucket down, and placed the ladle on it, spinning. It almost immidiately came to a stop, pointing to the peak just up ahead.
"Oh man," Mousse grumbled at the absurdity of their destination.
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Ranma and Herb continued their battle, as they leapt from ridge to ridge on the cliffside; trading blows on their ascent. Herb backflipped onto the top of the cliff, and jumped away, as Ranma landed with an ax kick that crumbled the top of the cliff. The redhead leapt off just before it fell, once again within fierce attack range of Herb.
The Dragon Princess was beginning to feel the battle's toll on her, as she had barely had enough time to gather her breath, while her opponent was relentless. They battled across the trail littered with saited monkeys, who started to scamper at the angry battle auras being manifested between the two combatants. Beyond their path, Ranma caught sight of the four boys she had been trying to chase, while beating the crap out of Herb. her aura became even more dense, as if it were bloody glowing soot in the air.
The punch Herb caught in the gut was retaliated with a snap kick to Ranma-chan's jaw. Snap kick was returned by Ranma to Herb's ribs, and Herb answered with a back fist to the side of the other girl's face. Ranma spun from the punch, and answered with an outside roundhouse that lifted Herb off the ground. Herb was sent spinning into the air, but not before giving a last blow with her retreating heel.
Ranma was only sent to kneeling, as Herb was felled to the ground. Before Herb could recover, Ranma leapt again at the unsuspecting boys...
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"Well, it's a kettle, alright," Mousse observed," but how do we get water from it?"
"I would suggest, my collegues, that perhaps destruction of the barrior over the snout would answor our inquerries?"
"RYUU SU SEI!!!!"
All three, turned to find Ranma-chan upon them, seeming to be sandwitched between two invisible forces that were so powerful, they even brought the ground below them to rumbling, before recovering. Herb landed in front of them, not even acknowleging them, as she stared down the redhead.
For the first time since their battle, the redhead spoke, "Get. Out. Of. My. Way."
Herb answered, by tapping into her last reseviors of vast ki, and using it to demonstrate her might through her visible aura. Ranma-chan seemed unimpressed, as her own aura grew.
"KAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!"
"HURRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ryoga spared a glance backwards towards the battle, as the ground began to quake, "Ranma..."
"We mustn't dally, make haste!" Mint commanded, racing up to the kettle. As he came within distance, he pulled out one of his throwing daggers, and deftly hurled it tthrough the snout of the stone kettle rock formation. From the newly created opening, steaming hot water poured from inside, and within the bubbling liquid, danced the cause of the heated water.
Herb was lobbing ki attacks at an alarming rate, while Ranma danced between them. Whenever she was close enough, she attacked hand to hand. Herb would counter best she could, and break away in order to once again begin her barrage.
She was beginning to feel faint and exhausted, but she wouldn't cease until she either dropped dead, or Ranma was stilled. Unfortunately, fate wasn't smiling in her direction, as Ranma once again managed to get in close, and drive her knee into the princess's sternum. Ranma's momentum carried both of them into a leap, which Ranma forced Herb under her, hitting the ground and pinned. Without pause, Ranma-chan leapt towards the large kettle shaped rock.
Just as Mint reached the snout, a large red blast knocked him for a loop. The remaining two boys turned in dismay, to find Ranma-chan descending upon them, "YOU WILL NOT PUT ME BACK IN THAT PRI-"
She was cut off, as a length of chain wrapped around her arms and waist. "GOTCHA!" Mousse exclaimed, as he put all his strength into torquing the chain, and slamming Ranma into the kettle.
That impact was the final straw, as the badly pummelled mountain finally started to give way. Mousse, Ryoga, Lime or Mint could react in time to save the distressed Princess, as the ground beneith them began to split.
"So this is how I meet my demise," Herb thought whistfully to herself, "At least... at least I won't die a virgin..." Her limp body fell into the fissure, that widened a bit more, before the other half of the crashing mountain began to crumble, and close the fissure up.
The newly formed chasm began to fill with near boiling water, as it was closing, that was ejected as the fissure closed finally.
Mint and Lime held morose expressions, matched by Mousse and Ryoga's. The ground trembled even heavier, bringing the four boys back to the situation at hand. They raced down the mountain, dodging and leaping the cracks forming in their way...
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The hot water spashed against the crumbling ground, followed by the two firm feet of martial artist extraordinare; Ranma Saotome. Herb-chan briefly opened her eyes, surprised to find she was not currently deceased. Her surprise was followed up by another one, to find herself within the arms of her apparent savior; a rather handsome young man looking down on her with obvious concern. Her female hormones instincts took over, as her heart fluttered, and she once again felt faint, so decided to do just that.
Ranma blinked at the reaction, but decided it was no time for that, as he started as fast as he could down the mountain.
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Mint, Lime, Ryoga, and Mousse all turned to see the mountain crumble into rubble, and began running again, as the rockslides began towards them. They didn't stop, until they heard a familiar voice to at least two of them.
"Hey guys! Wait up!"
"RANMA!" Both Mousse and Ryoga exclaimed in surprise. Both were even estatic to see him, though one would not admit it, and would condemn himself for not wishing his rival to have perished, later on.
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Ranma looked at the ladle and the Kettle he had saved on instinct after being changed back to a guy. He had used the latter to change the prince back to his true form, and wished to sit alone from the others for the time being. They all agreed to his privacy, and let him brood on events, as he had a lot to consider; all of it since he had first gotten cursed.
"Ranma Saotome, I would speak with you."
Ranma turned his gaze towards the prince, "if it's all the same, I kinda want to be alone now."
"i understand that, but we shall be departing in a few moments, and I would have some questions answered."
Ranma gave in, "I guess, but why you leaving so soon?"
Herb turned away, so that Ranma couldn't see his blush, "it is... uncomfortable here. I would like to be within my home grounds before the next week. but that is not what I wanted to discuss."
"So, shoot, what's on your mind?"
Herb stared at Ranma intensely, "You shall realize that... well..." Ranma blinked, as he saw the regal young man began to hem and haw.
"Problem?"
"Well, to bluntly, you were my first," Herb stated, looking down to the ground. Ranma presumed Herb was sitting too close to the fire, as red as he was becoming.
"What do you mean?"
Herb ignored the question, "I may have given myself to you freely," Herb wasn't even considering the actual course of events, "but I don't relenquish so easily. I must know, and know the truth."
"About what?" Ranma asked, feeling a growing trepidation.
"Did you have any feelings for me, what so ever?"
"WHAT? NO!" Ranma shouted, backing away.
Herb felt a sting in his chest he was not so privy to, that he had only felt in his female form. He steeled himself, and recalled the concern Ranma had shown him when the pigtailed boy saved him, "The TRUTH, Saotome..."
Ranma attempted to look away, but the direction he turned, a small beam of ki burrowed into the ground. Startled, Ranma turned back to Herb.
"Don't look away when I'm talking to you!"
"Hmph, just like a girl," Ranma thought wryly, "Well, I... well..."
"Go on."
"Well, I didsortakindafindyouinteresting..." Ranma rushed out, and quickly added adimantly, "AS A GIRL, I mean."
Herb stared at Ranma carefully, before a slight smile appeared on his face. The prince got up, and stepped back into the forest, puzzling Ranma at the reply. A splash and a few seconds later, a damp Herb-chan came back into the clearing that held Ranma and her alone in it, and kneeled before the pigtailed boy.
Ranma was even more confused as to why Herb changed back into a girl; wouldn't he want to stay out of that form as much as possible? The answer was given, as Herb grasped the sides of Ranma's face, and pulled him into a kiss.
"Thank you, for at least once being honest with me. Even if you had to be a male to do so." With that, Herb stood, and swung his cloak around his body, before shouting, "Mint, Lime, we must depart at once!"
Ranma watched Herb stride off, possibly with a little more in her step, while in a catatonic state.
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"My Leige" Mint enquired, as the boarded the boat back to their homeland, "Why such an abrupt departure? There are no duties that could not wait to allow you a brief sabbatical."
"i wish to understand Ranma Saotome," Herb replied, in his most regal tone to cover up the emotion he felt at the name, "And that would require investigation of his curse. I believe I know which spring he fell victim to."
Mint stared at Herb with an incredulous look, "I... if that is what you desire..."
The red wave hit everyone present, and even a little ways beyond their vicinity, like an up close and personal solar flare. The effect wasn't so much physical, but it caused them to sheild themselves as if battling a sandstorm.
Herb was the first to succomb, and the most affected since she was the most ki sensitive, as she gasped, and dropped like a lead weight that had been suspended barely on a wet sheet of toilet paper, clutching her private areas and writhing in agony... for lack of a better word. Lime's eyes went wide, and developed an even wilder, more feral look to them, while Mint grimaced as if straining himself. Mousse began to shout out for Shampoo, while thrashing within his capter's grasp; yet Lime and Mint held firm, though they were suffering from the same plight. Ryoga had learned that for Ranma, he had to control his lusts, and when the erogenous shockwave hit him, he quickly rebelled against it, but barely managed to maintain his equalibrium.
"Now you've gone and made me angry," Ranma-chan stated, pulling her outstretched battle aura back within a mere 15 foot radius of herself. The congestion of her ki caused her hair to rise as in caught lightly in an updraft, also giving the sheet she wore loosely around herself an etheral writhing look. Her eyes took a crimson glow that bled her might brighter than even her aura had accomplished.
Ryoga was the first to fully gain back his facilities, "H-how?"
"Something I picked up, thanks to Cologne," the redhead cooed in a saccharine sweet, yet menacing voice, while remembering with some wry amusement when she was inflicted with the Venus's Bane pressure point.
"I doubt she would have taught such a thing to you," Ryoga challenged, while precariously scooting back to diminish the effects of Ranma's aura.
"Na, the old ghoul wouldn't have, not intentionally, anyways," Ranma turned back to the struggling Herb-chan, and folded her arms in somewhat mock ire, "Are you ready to apologise? You really hurt my feelings!"
"A-apologise... to you?" Herb growled, though it lost something as she began to half sob. As if struggling against immense forces weighting her down, Herb rolled onto her stomach, and started to glow faintly. With a Hurculean effort, she placed one hand flat upon the ground, and then another. She pulled her knees under her, and slowly began to rise defiantly. Once she fully stood up, she lifted her chin in pride, and glared at her seducer, "I am the Prince of the Musk, the latest in the line of the Dragon Clan. I do not know what you are, but I will not allow my defeat by the likes of you!" Herb was extremely shaken, and it was obvious it was taking some concentration to remain focused.
A flash of surprise crossed Ranma's face, before her eyes narrowed, "Fine, if that's the way you want it..."
Herb blinked, and immidiately found herself frantically guarding against a phalanx of attacks. The four bystanders finally regained their full capacities, though they were still suffering from Ranma's proximity, as the painful bulges lower than waist level had demonstrated.
"That... was most peculiar," Mint mumbled, letting go of Mousse's left arm.
"Lime feels funny," Lime growled, "like when we were cubs, and we-"
"That would be quite enough, and I would suggest you forget such things," Mint interrupted, blushing, and while holding one of his knives down on Lime's tongue.
Mousse stared long and hard at the two, finding himself very concerned about having his curse activated again, before Ryoga ran up to them, "Quick! We have to stop Ranma!" His plea was punctuated by Herb's flying body soaring backwards between them.
Herb skidded along the ground, and performed a back handspring back to her feet. She quickly took to the air to perform her Dragon Flight Spirit attack, but found herself face to face in mid-air with her opponent. Once again they were both trading attacks; Ranma's aerial battle skill versus Herb's ki powered flight. Eventually, Ranma stopped rising, while Herb continued to do so, but that didn't deterr the redhead any bit. The redhead latched onto the Dragon Princess's foot, and Ranma swung her right leg's knee into the back of Herb's knee. The momentum was enough to shake Herb's equalibrium, causing them both to plummet back to the ground, with Herb's own left knee the closest to impact.
The Dragon Princess managed to reinforce her limb before they hit the ground, causing a great sized crater upon impact. Both fighters split apart from the pit; Ranma grinning ferally, while Herb seemed to be nervously assessing the situation.
"This isn't begining to bode well for our leige." Lime nodded in affirmation.
"We can stop her," Ryoga interjected, "Ranma has a Jusenkyo curse, and I think that ladle thing locked it, is there a way to unlock it?"
"That was the very reason we are in Japan," Mint replied, "Prince Herb is under the same ailment you describe. What would unlocking Ranma's curse do to assisting us?"
"Just trust me on this," Ryoga pleaded, "What do we need to unlock the curse?"
"Well, the Kaisuifuu will unlock it, and it is within this vicinity, but we need the ladle to decipher its location."
"Here, just get rid of her," Mousse stated firmly, pulling the ladle and bucket from his sleeves.
"Let us hope we're close enough..." Mint prayed, and winced as a particularly telling blow was heard, followed by the sound of Herb's body hitting a tree.
"Come on, cinimmin tush!" Ranma pleaded without much empathy in her voice, "why don't we just skip the gratuitious fight scene, and get to kissing each other's boo boos?"
"I shall be your harlot no longer," Herb shot back, still circling Ranma, "I would best die, and see you finished along with me, than succomb to your perversities."
"Oh, don't act like you didn't enjoy it," Ranma replied wryly, before launching herself at her opponent.
Herb aimed a ki blast at her opponent's feet, slowing Ranma down a bit. The redhead guarded against the debris that was kicked up, before seeing a steady path of dirt being kicked up from a furrow heading towards her from where Herb had been previously. Ranma stood in stance to guard against whatever came out of the furrow, thus, distracted from Herb leaping into the air, and diving above her.
"RYUU SU SEI!"
The ki blast that was sent underground towards Ranma caused the dirt to envelope her, while two spheres of ki slammed into her sides. Herb landed, and turned around to face Ranma-chan, "Did, did I defeat her?"
"Far from it, sweet stuff!" The dust cloud diminished quickly, leaving an untouched Ranma-chan with her arms crossed, "alright, you're really starting to tick me off, now!"
herb gulped; she was *now* just starting to get angry? "Blast it all! My ki in this form is too weak!"
Mint gave a sigh of relief, as the the ladle slowly came to a stop in a direction. From the way it was slightly tilting, indicating that it was upon an altitude higher, they were close.
Ryoga understood what the ladle's stop implicated, "Right, let's go!" Mousse caught Ryoga's shirt, before the lost boy could head in the totally opposite direction, and dragged him the way they wanted to go.
Mint turned to his Prince, "HERB, WE'RE PURSUING THE KETTLE, RYOGA STATED THAT IT WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST US WITH SUBDUING RANMA!"
Both Ryoga and Mousse stopped, "YOU IDIOT!!!"
Suddenly, Ranma pumped the level up another notch, "LIKE HELL YOU WILL!!!" Herb was caught by surprise by the sudden ferocity Ranma-chan was giving off, and caught several... hundred blows, the final one sending her away.
The redhead dashed at the four boys, almost faster than they could see. Fortunately, she turned her back on Herb well too soon. Ranma skidded sideways, holding onto her pained left arm with her right hand, and turned to glare at Herb-chan, who was still braced in her ki enforced shotokan style shoulder check.
"We're not done yet, 'Lover'."
Ranma gave a gutteral growl, as her eyes pulsed an even brighter crimson. She once again launched at Herb, but found her opponent putting up a much more capable defense against her, and even managing to return some blows.
Herb was no longer having to fight off the lustful urges Ranma-chan seemed to be projecting into her by proximity alone, finding something else to focus on. Something borne from Ranma-chan's casual use of her, cavalier disgarding of the Princess, and flippant disregard for her feelings. All this was coupled with her current gender
Herb found one power that few ever dare to directly challenge, none of them be man. It was the force of sheer, unadulterated, righteous femenine anger.
Now the battle was on even ground.
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Lime, Mint, Ryoga, and Mousse quickly took off, as the battle began again. Without pause, they ran, until they came to a steep cliff face. Lime immidiately started climbing, as Mint precariously leapt from ledge to ledge. Mousse pulled out a grappling hook from his sleeve, attached to a rope, and hurled it upwards. When it snagged, he advanced up the cliff wall. Before he started up, himself, Ryoga glanced back to find the raging battle just on their tales.
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Ranma-chan's face was contorted in rage, as she furiously struck out in order to pummel her opponent into submission. The image of such a beautiful face being twisted so would have seriously upset the Heir of the Musk Dynasty, if not for the fact that she was in her own rage riot. Nonetheless, she was still able to follow through the course of action she had decided upon; to lead Ranma to the kettle. The princess knew the other girl feared it, and decided that it must be the key to her undoing.
The Dragon Princess felt herself starting to become overwhelmed, and leapt into a backflip to gain some ground. Ranma-chan would have none of that, as she cupped her hands together. Herb's eyes went wide, as she saw the rather large beam of crimson ki bearing down on her...
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Ryoga was the last to the top, and found the other three staring at several eyes hidden in the foliage. The monkeys that the eyes belonged to looked upon the intruders to their habitat, sensing the auras of a little piglet, in one of them, while another two had the more menacing auras of a tiger and wolf. The latter two auras would have caused the monkeys to run in terror of such fierce predators.
Unfortunately, they had felt Ranma-chan's aura flash...
...and they were all, terribly, terribly horny...
All four boys felt a shiver crawl up their spines as the stares turned into leers
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Herb picked herself up off the ground, and found Ranma readying another ki blast. herb thought fast, decided on a course of action, and quickly sucked the immidiate area dry of as much ki as possible.
Ranma let unleash another potentially devistating blast, which directly impacted the its target, yet didn't even seem to effect the Dragon Princess. Herb held the gathered ki in front of her as a rounded shield, that caused Ranma's attack to round about it. As it flowed over Herb's barrier, it was absorbed into the area, replacing the ki of the depreciated area. Herb's attack had another advantage, as it started to suck Ranma's ki away from her.
Feeling more depleted than she had expected, Ranma stumbled forward, a bit light-headed. Herb took advantage of the opening, and shot forward, with her fist cocked back. Ranma was rocked with a haymaker of a straight cross, a follow up backfist with the other hand, and a spinning outside crescent kick from the same side as the backfist.
Herb stood breathing hard from the effort of having to have gathered the enviorment's ki so quickly, and used the moment to gather her breath. Ranma sat up from her side, and wailed like an irritated cat, while licking the top of her right hand where a scratch that drew blood was. She pulled herself to full standing, glaring balefully at the Dragon Princess.
On a silent command, both fighters rushed at each other...
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"This better wash out of wolf pelt," Mint grumbled, "Or else I'm going back, and we'll be having Quangxi Mountain oysters..."
Lime was picking leaves from low branches as they ran, and using them to wipe himself off, "We use oxen for that..."
Mint glared at his compatriot, "Monkeys will work just fine..." Mint turned his head back to Ryoga and Mousse, "How did you two get out unsatched?"
"Practice," both cursed individuals said, and then turned sideways glances towards each other. As they turned back, they came to a stop.
"Hey, how far are we from it, now?" Ryoga asked through his panting.
Mint quickly set the bucket down, and placed the ladle on it, spinning. It almost immidiately came to a stop, pointing to the peak just up ahead.
"Oh man," Mousse grumbled at the absurdity of their destination.
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Ranma and Herb continued their battle, as they leapt from ridge to ridge on the cliffside; trading blows on their ascent. Herb backflipped onto the top of the cliff, and jumped away, as Ranma landed with an ax kick that crumbled the top of the cliff. The redhead leapt off just before it fell, once again within fierce attack range of Herb.
The Dragon Princess was beginning to feel the battle's toll on her, as she had barely had enough time to gather her breath, while her opponent was relentless. They battled across the trail littered with saited monkeys, who started to scamper at the angry battle auras being manifested between the two combatants. Beyond their path, Ranma caught sight of the four boys she had been trying to chase, while beating the crap out of Herb. her aura became even more dense, as if it were bloody glowing soot in the air.
The punch Herb caught in the gut was retaliated with a snap kick to Ranma-chan's jaw. Snap kick was returned by Ranma to Herb's ribs, and Herb answered with a back fist to the side of the other girl's face. Ranma spun from the punch, and answered with an outside roundhouse that lifted Herb off the ground. Herb was sent spinning into the air, but not before giving a last blow with her retreating heel.
Ranma was only sent to kneeling, as Herb was felled to the ground. Before Herb could recover, Ranma leapt again at the unsuspecting boys...
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"Well, it's a kettle, alright," Mousse observed," but how do we get water from it?"
"I would suggest, my collegues, that perhaps destruction of the barrior over the snout would answor our inquerries?"
"RYUU SU SEI!!!!"
All three, turned to find Ranma-chan upon them, seeming to be sandwitched between two invisible forces that were so powerful, they even brought the ground below them to rumbling, before recovering. Herb landed in front of them, not even acknowleging them, as she stared down the redhead.
For the first time since their battle, the redhead spoke, "Get. Out. Of. My. Way."
Herb answered, by tapping into her last reseviors of vast ki, and using it to demonstrate her might through her visible aura. Ranma-chan seemed unimpressed, as her own aura grew.
"KAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!"
"HURRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ryoga spared a glance backwards towards the battle, as the ground began to quake, "Ranma..."
"We mustn't dally, make haste!" Mint commanded, racing up to the kettle. As he came within distance, he pulled out one of his throwing daggers, and deftly hurled it tthrough the snout of the stone kettle rock formation. From the newly created opening, steaming hot water poured from inside, and within the bubbling liquid, danced the cause of the heated water.
Herb was lobbing ki attacks at an alarming rate, while Ranma danced between them. Whenever she was close enough, she attacked hand to hand. Herb would counter best she could, and break away in order to once again begin her barrage.
She was beginning to feel faint and exhausted, but she wouldn't cease until she either dropped dead, or Ranma was stilled. Unfortunately, fate wasn't smiling in her direction, as Ranma once again managed to get in close, and drive her knee into the princess's sternum. Ranma's momentum carried both of them into a leap, which Ranma forced Herb under her, hitting the ground and pinned. Without pause, Ranma-chan leapt towards the large kettle shaped rock.
Just as Mint reached the snout, a large red blast knocked him for a loop. The remaining two boys turned in dismay, to find Ranma-chan descending upon them, "YOU WILL NOT PUT ME BACK IN THAT PRI-"
She was cut off, as a length of chain wrapped around her arms and waist. "GOTCHA!" Mousse exclaimed, as he put all his strength into torquing the chain, and slamming Ranma into the kettle.
That impact was the final straw, as the badly pummelled mountain finally started to give way. Mousse, Ryoga, Lime or Mint could react in time to save the distressed Princess, as the ground beneith them began to split.
"So this is how I meet my demise," Herb thought whistfully to herself, "At least... at least I won't die a virgin..." Her limp body fell into the fissure, that widened a bit more, before the other half of the crashing mountain began to crumble, and close the fissure up.
The newly formed chasm began to fill with near boiling water, as it was closing, that was ejected as the fissure closed finally.
Mint and Lime held morose expressions, matched by Mousse and Ryoga's. The ground trembled even heavier, bringing the four boys back to the situation at hand. They raced down the mountain, dodging and leaping the cracks forming in their way...
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The hot water spashed against the crumbling ground, followed by the two firm feet of martial artist extraordinare; Ranma Saotome. Herb-chan briefly opened her eyes, surprised to find she was not currently deceased. Her surprise was followed up by another one, to find herself within the arms of her apparent savior; a rather handsome young man looking down on her with obvious concern. Her female hormones instincts took over, as her heart fluttered, and she once again felt faint, so decided to do just that.
Ranma blinked at the reaction, but decided it was no time for that, as he started as fast as he could down the mountain.
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Mint, Lime, Ryoga, and Mousse all turned to see the mountain crumble into rubble, and began running again, as the rockslides began towards them. They didn't stop, until they heard a familiar voice to at least two of them.
"Hey guys! Wait up!"
"RANMA!" Both Mousse and Ryoga exclaimed in surprise. Both were even estatic to see him, though one would not admit it, and would condemn himself for not wishing his rival to have perished, later on.
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Ranma looked at the ladle and the Kettle he had saved on instinct after being changed back to a guy. He had used the latter to change the prince back to his true form, and wished to sit alone from the others for the time being. They all agreed to his privacy, and let him brood on events, as he had a lot to consider; all of it since he had first gotten cursed.
"Ranma Saotome, I would speak with you."
Ranma turned his gaze towards the prince, "if it's all the same, I kinda want to be alone now."
"i understand that, but we shall be departing in a few moments, and I would have some questions answered."
Ranma gave in, "I guess, but why you leaving so soon?"
Herb turned away, so that Ranma couldn't see his blush, "it is... uncomfortable here. I would like to be within my home grounds before the next week. but that is not what I wanted to discuss."
"So, shoot, what's on your mind?"
Herb stared at Ranma intensely, "You shall realize that... well..." Ranma blinked, as he saw the regal young man began to hem and haw.
"Problem?"
"Well, to bluntly, you were my first," Herb stated, looking down to the ground. Ranma presumed Herb was sitting too close to the fire, as red as he was becoming.
"What do you mean?"
Herb ignored the question, "I may have given myself to you freely," Herb wasn't even considering the actual course of events, "but I don't relenquish so easily. I must know, and know the truth."
"About what?" Ranma asked, feeling a growing trepidation.
"Did you have any feelings for me, what so ever?"
"WHAT? NO!" Ranma shouted, backing away.
Herb felt a sting in his chest he was not so privy to, that he had only felt in his female form. He steeled himself, and recalled the concern Ranma had shown him when the pigtailed boy saved him, "The TRUTH, Saotome..."
Ranma attempted to look away, but the direction he turned, a small beam of ki burrowed into the ground. Startled, Ranma turned back to Herb.
"Don't look away when I'm talking to you!"
"Hmph, just like a girl," Ranma thought wryly, "Well, I... well..."
"Go on."
"Well, I didsortakindafindyouinteresting..." Ranma rushed out, and quickly added adimantly, "AS A GIRL, I mean."
Herb stared at Ranma carefully, before a slight smile appeared on his face. The prince got up, and stepped back into the forest, puzzling Ranma at the reply. A splash and a few seconds later, a damp Herb-chan came back into the clearing that held Ranma and her alone in it, and kneeled before the pigtailed boy.
Ranma was even more confused as to why Herb changed back into a girl; wouldn't he want to stay out of that form as much as possible? The answer was given, as Herb grasped the sides of Ranma's face, and pulled him into a kiss.
"Thank you, for at least once being honest with me. Even if you had to be a male to do so." With that, Herb stood, and swung his cloak around his body, before shouting, "Mint, Lime, we must depart at once!"
Ranma watched Herb stride off, possibly with a little more in her step, while in a catatonic state.
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"My Leige" Mint enquired, as the boarded the boat back to their homeland, "Why such an abrupt departure? There are no duties that could not wait to allow you a brief sabbatical."
"i wish to understand Ranma Saotome," Herb replied, in his most regal tone to cover up the emotion he felt at the name, "And that would require investigation of his curse. I believe I know which spring he fell victim to."
Mint stared at Herb with an incredulous look, "I... if that is what you desire..."