Watermelon Girl
by Chaos Orchid Ron Dow75
21.1 Battle Prep
The alchemy of Women Heroes. Moisturizer. Wait. Foundation. Wait. Concealer. Wait. Face primer. Wait. Setting powder. Wait. Rouge. (Eyeshadow tattoo.) Eyeliner. Mascara. Eyebrow pencil. Lipstick. Setting spray.
Wait.
It took over twenty minutes for the 'attached mask' to, layer by layer, be put on Ranma's face, neck and even upper chest. The upper chest to the cleavage was included because s/he was now wearing Western-style blouse that allowed the top buttons to be undone.
The whole elaborate process had been psychological torture to the male condemned to be a female against his* will.
But like a warrior, the martial artist endured it.
Like a woman hero.
Or that was the goal.
For the next nine months, he* had no choice but to be female. (The most female!) And s/he had the best reason to go full female, pushing beyond what s/he had seen among and around the Tendō girls.
Or was Cologne tricking him, humiliating him* for her tribe's own ends. "We Joketsuzoku have had three thousand years to prefect cosmetic formulas that allow us to battle in them without sweat causing them to run into our ears, eyes, noses, mouths and lungs!"
Her proud laugh was interrupted by her capturing Ranma's hand, "Don't smear! Keep hands away!"
S/he twitched her face under the makeup. "This is worse than what I hadda wear bein' engaged to Chardin whatever-his-number." It had to be an escalation of the curse that began when s/he gave into wearing a French-cut leotard in the Rhythmic Gymnastics match; a French-cut costume in the Pairs Ice Skating match; the French-cut 'magician's' costume in the ring battle against Mousse; the kimono in the Martial Arts Tea Ceremony challenge; the Juliet costume…
"I've worn some light makeup for fightin' reasons.
"This seems heavy."
"Women get used to it. Some even love it."
"Why don't you wear some?"
"I do," and she gave out a hearty laugh.
"What?"
"Mine makes me look even older than I am. Where I come from, the elderly are revered."
S/he was about ask how she got the effect…until s/he thought how s/he got perks just for being young and "cute". Ice cream was at the top of the list.
"Okay. You said this was the first part of the plan to get my idiot old man to tell me what I need to know. What comes next?"
Out from the beauty supplies, Cologne pulled–
"No!" Ranma's hand went back to her pigtail! The dragon's whisker was no longer needed to keep him* from going bald, but it had become something that set him* apart from everybody else, a part of his* trademark! Even her* trademark. Kunō called her The Pigtailed Girl. What would he then call her. Him*! He* really didn't want to know if the samurai idiot would treat her* if he called her by his* real name. He would probably think of the girl-half was the real Ranma and would want to date even his guy-self! He would treat him* as a her* in an obsessive challenge to bring out the girl he* 'really' was!
] ] ]
Genma hadn't gone into the Japanese pub, a izakaya, as a panda, but it wasn't long before he was. It and Soun had learned months ago, even before the town knew Ranma's secret, just how popular pandas were. There would usually be at least one, more often more, who would treat them to a drink and even snacks or grub. An organizer would even invite them to join their nomikai drinking party: Guests of honor! Or, rather, entertainment.
This had been going on for months and, still, their shtick hadn't become tired and stale. Their luck was holding. Or the magic was. That was the only explanation why nobody seemed to ask why the panda wasn't in a zoo; where had it suddenly come from; and where Genma had disappeared to. Not that people thought much of that irritating outsider. They most probably would if it weren't for the curse; people didn't have to hear his 'sage' opinions. The panda didn't talk. And signs from animals were amusements.
Coming out of the ally izakaya, Soun was pleading with Mr. Panda, "Come on back, my Friend! The party will be at a hotel! Takeuchi-san personally sought us out! The offering was only because his construction company completed a big project! Others will now want us, as well!"
It's sign read, [Scaffolding]. The next sign was more specific, [He wants to pay me in scaffolding!] Then he raised up a long bamboo stalk as an example of what the scaffolding was made from.
It bit into it…and ate it.
"There will be real food there, too! And all will be amused seeing a panda eat human food!"
"They'll be 'amused' by more 'n that!" Ranma's voice was heard before s/he was seen.
Obviously madeup, s/he was in black high heels, white tights, black mini, green blouse unbuttoned low enough to show the tops of her red, lacy bra and a leather shoulder bag. Barely noticed was her one piece of jewelry, a brooch. The shine of jewel of the pin gleamed like an angry frown. The Reversal Jewel.
Soun groaned. "What is the martial arts event you are dressed in a dress for this time?"
"Event? Event?! I'm battling for my mom! My MOM!
"–Genma: Kuso Yaro! This is the final battle of our war! Tell me the truth about my mom,
"Or I will destroy you in the worst, way, possible!"
[I've been protecting you! You can't know the truth! It will destroy you, too!]
"No more LIES!" And from behind her back, s/he brought into view her weapon!
Totally startled, the sign was dropped and it stepped back.
Soun, "Don't do this, Boy! (Girl?) You know this is your FATHER'S weak point!"
"Which is exactly why I am doin' it. I WILL do it! – Tell me the truth!"
[Soun!?]
"Yes. I understand. Speaking is more efficient than writing. Especially when the other does not wish to read.
"Son…. Ranma, Genma, your father, has only told me a portion of the situation between him, you and your mother–"
"Is my mom still alive! TELL me!"
Soun looked at Mr. Panda. [My last letter with her was received just before we went to China]
"BEFORE we went to China! Before Jūsenkyo?!"
"This is not helping, Genma."
21.2 Worse Than the Curse!
Ranma was livid, shaking, too enraged to move!
The panda saw – and fled!
Soun was a little slower on the uptake. He looked over his shoulder at his retreating drinking buddy, thinking of running, too! Too: He would seem to be siding with his old comrade. And he was, as well, trying to force her into an arranged marriage, had tricked her into a contest that resulted in him* – the BOY – becoming pregnant! He had no doubt at all this was about REVENGE: Ranma no longer held any deference to his* sensei or father! S/he was not about to withhold anything! Her only goal was a total victory.
His legs gave out; Soun dropped to his knees. His eyes were no longer locked onto hers. They were what she held in her red, manicured hand! If there were one weapon that could cripple him psychologically, it was this!
Tendō going down onto the pavement before her released her from her emotional paralysis. S/he stepped towards him, and stepped again, and again. Her fingers clutched and unclutched and clutched again her spring-powered weapon: a manual clipper.
Seeing it come at his long, lustrous hair, Soun panicked–He gathered up all of the available fear ki from both inside himself and outside, in the surrounding area, the Reservoir – infusing the collective into his aura!
Never had his Demon Head been more terrible! Ranma had always drawn back from it in horror!
The pregnant girl-boy grabbed its forked, snaky tongue and used it to yank the Head up – high over herself – slamming it onto the rough concrete behind her. And behind her it remained as s/he took after her true enemy!
Soun would soon heal himself. Except for one damaging injury. This proud descendent of samurai now had a sloppy chonmage. First reaction: He, an aging man with a full head of hair was now bald on top, fringed by long locks that looked ridiculous. It would take many months for his male pride would grow out. But, once damaged, would that pride ever fully come back.
] ] ]
The panda looked above and behind itself, scanning! Ranma, even when girl, was better at roofhopping!
It had to find a place to hide! This and the ally-like side streets had mostly houses and some apartment buildings. But scattered among them there were small businesses. The first one it came to was a grocery store.
It was chased out by a screaming grandma-type, hitting it repeatedly with her broom. Behind her, her husband told it, "We are not selling bamboo! It is out of season for takenoko, bamboo shoots!"
Fearing the noise would help located it, it ducked into another street and found a community realtor! It could find shelter in it by pretending to be looking at their listings!
Only it was closed! It was a small business and was open when the owner cared to keep it open!
"Got you, Old Man!"
Panda pressed itself against a storefront window. It was a showcase for paintings of dogs, cats and more.
The feminized son now had two clippers, one for each nail-polished hands!
Panda looked this way and that, looking for an escape route. Perhaps there(!)?
Too late. A woman in a smock came out, to gaze intensely at it, making quick first impressions in her sketchbook.
"Man! The pain of gettin' all dolled up and panda gets all the attention?! I should chase you out where there are more people!" Ranma's teenage impulse was to do just that!
But that had to battle with the Reversal Jewel. Anger was more important! Revenge for what his* FATHER had been done to him* for ten long years! Now to 'HER'! A (*Silent scream*) mother-to-be needed their mother!
Explosively, s/he launched her attack! "Tenshin Amaguriken REVISED!" Now not just her arms and hands moved at lightning speed, but her fingers: "Snip! Rankle! Pop!" Swaths after two clear-cuts at the same time removed white panda fur! Only stubble remained in the exposed pink skin!
Panda finally thought to defend itself, swiping and swiping again with its long, sharp claws! Its hyperactive student dodged them all with barely a strand of her red hair losing its coifed place.
Soon, too very soon, even the white of its head was gone and pink, too! The only white fur that remained was that below its belly: Censored!
But even that did not sate her craving for revenge! While panda was protecting its privates, black fur was shaved, yet stopping at the knees. The skin of its thighs was gray. And the skin under its upper legs was gray. Black fur remained only its calves and forelegs. Its paws were gray.
In shock, the artist stopped sketching the no longer magnificent beast.
Sweat threatening to ruin her makeup despite its alchemy, Ranma at last stood and collected her breath until s/he had enough to say, "Look in the window –See your reflection! You're no longer cute! Your mooching days are OVER!
"Unless you become like what I am, now: BEAUTIFUL!"
S/he dropped the clippers and opened the leather shoulderbag. "You're gonna wear makeup, too! Your macho, machismo, masculinity is over! You're becoming like ME!"
S/he approached the creature with a wicked smile. There would be one difference. A girled-up panda is gonna look silly.
NOTES to Section 18.1:
A reminder, "Watermelon Girl" happens after Chapters 191-193, S6E14
Chapters 154-157, S5E1 were about the Dragon's Whisker
Chapters 231-233, OVA 1 were about the Reversal Jewel. Even though the arc came later, it was clearly shown to have been in Cologne's jewelry box for a long time. And she knew exactly what its power was
NOTES to Section 18.2:
I'm having Ranma use manual hair clippers because they were shown to be favored by Headmaster Kunō whenever he gets the urge to cut students' hair. For example, in "Big Trouble in Nekonron, China"