Chapter 2: A Secret Revealed
OK, Ranma, recap time…you challenged the Tendos' youngest kid to a sparring match, it was fun for a little bit…and now she's a freakin' demon. A FREAKIN' DEMON!
These were the thoughts racing through Ranma's head as he scampered out of the dojo, then slid into the kitchen.
Alright, new plan…find Kenma, take off, wring the old man's neck for bringing us here…or maybe I oughta leave him to the demons as payback…
Eventually, he reached the living room, where Kenma and Nabiki still were, as of last chapter. "Kenma!" Ranma bellowed as he screeched to a halt, interrupting Nabiki.
"...R-Ranma?" Kenma asked, shaking his head a few times—as if emerging from a trance. "What's goin' on? What happened?"
"We gotta grab our stuff and get outta here, fast!" His older brother quickly explained.
"Why for? How come?" Kenma managed to respond as he got up, leaving Nabiki visibly frustrated.
"It's the Tendos! They're demons!" exclaimed Ranma. That set Nabiki's blood cold.
"Bro! Slow down, explain!" Kenma told him. "Also, deep breaths."
"Y-yeah…don't be ridiculous," smiled Nabiki, sweating bullets.
The older Saotome brother took a moment to catch his breath before speaking again. "Alright, so I was sparring with Akane—so far, so good," Ranma explained. "Then, I saw that she was wearing some kinda bracelet on her wrist."
"OK, yeah, bracelet," nodded Kenma.
"At first, I didn't think much of it because for all I knew it could've been a keepsake from a friend or a grandparent." Ranma continued. "But then it fell off her arm, and…boom! She's some kind of demon!"
Nabiki laughed, sheepish. "Oh, that's ridiculous!" she insisted. "Kenma, don't tell me you actually buy this!"
"Why wouldn't I?" Kenma asked. "Ranma's my best bro. He wouldn't make something like this up."
"I wish I was making this up!" exclaimed Ranma. "Now we gotta get our stuff and go!"
"Well…okay!" nodded Kenma. "Sorry we can't stay, but you can keep our dad's soul. He wasn't really using it, anyway."
"Oh, well. I guess the cat's out of the bag," the succubus said as she doffed her bracelet, revealing her true demon form.
Upon seeing it, Kenma found himself oddly enthralled by her. It was a bit like that feeling he'd experienced earlier, but not as foggy.
"Well, if I didn't know any better I'd say you like the way I look~" Nabiki teased.
"Er, you see—that is to say…" Kenma found himself practically stumbling over his words, as his face began turning red. "I mean, sure, you're a demon, but I mean, it's not like you're repulsive or something…"
Once more, the gears were turning in Nabiki's head.
"Oh, for the love of—SNAP OUT OF IT!" shouted Ranma, grabbing his brother by the lapels and shaking him. "USE YOUR BRAIN, MAN! SHE'S GONNA TAKE YOUR SOUL!"
Kenma blinked. "...I do like my soul…"
"Then let's get the hell outta here!" Ranma replied.
"So you're leaving already, then?" asked Soun as he re-entered the living room, clutching Genma by the shirt, still in oni form. "That'd be unfortunate, seeing as Kasumi would be going to so much trouble to make all that food for you."
"Well, I'm sure she'll be very disappointed, seeing as we aren't on the—" Ranma started before he turned around and saw the massive demon sitting before him.
Ranma then set Kenma down, and then began to make a bunch of bizarre facial expressions and noises, while holding up a sign that read, in tiny print, YIPE! [think Bugs Bunny in the short Hair-Raising Hare]
"Now, just calm down—" Soun attempted to smooth things over, but it was in vain as the ponytailed boy fainted.
WHUMPH!
"Care to explain, Dad?" Kenma asked, glancing at Genma.
"I explained plenty!" Genma snapped. "I told you explicitly they were demons!"
"And you expected us to believe you?" Kenma retorted. "Mister Lord-of-the-Liars?"
"Well, I'll admit that it was a little far-fetched..." Genma admitted, feeling very stupid.
"Noooo…REALLY?" Kenma asked, sarcastic beyond compare. "YA THINK SO?!"
"I suppose you'll be wanting an explanation," mused Soun. "Well, we'll need to wait for Akane to join us."
As if on cue, Akane ran into the room, still dressed in her Gi. "Dad, he saw me!" she exclaimed, panicked.
"Well, there she is," Kenma said casually. "Let's have that explanation."
Soun relented. "Alright…it started when your father and I were much younger," he began. "When he saw my true form…"
"I took action and engaged him in combat!" Genma declared.
"...is that how you remember it?" Soun smirked. "Because I recall it involved far more begging and pleading for your life, imploring me not to take your soul."
"Whatever do you mean, Tendo?" Genma asked while tugging at his shirt collar.
The Tendo patriarch simply rolled his eyes at his so-called "friend". "Anyways…we made a deal," he replied. "He said I could have the soul of his son in exchange for letting him keep his own. Of course, after I became a father, I realized that I needed someone to look out for at least one of my daughters…make sure they weren't slain by any demon hunters. That'd be either demons who hunt, or people who hunt demons. Either way, it would be a danger. So imagine my good fortune when I learned Saotome had two sons!"
In seconds, Nabiki had her arm around Kenma's shoulder. "In that case, I want this one," she purred as she traced her finger over Kenma's body. "I've already gotten to like him…and I get the feeling he likes me, too~"
Once more, Kenma began to sweat. "...are you sure this is okay?" he asked. "I can't give up my soul, I've really grown to like it!"
"Neither can I." Ranma chimed in. "I need what little I've got."
Soun laughed warmly. "Calm down, lads, I won't take your souls!" he said. "It's just…well, the thing is, like I said, I just need someone to look out for my daughters."
"I don't need to be babysat, Dad!" insisted Akane. "I just have to get stronger…even if I have to be a lame, stupid imp, instead of an oni like you, or a kitsune like Mom!"
"Well, sometimes it helps to have a few extra hands onboard, you know?" asked Soun. "After all, everyone needs help."
"I know that, I just don't wanna have to rely on others constantly," Akane replied.
"Nobody said anything about that," said Soun. "It's just, I want to ensure you won't be punching above your weight class…or at least not going in alone."
"Oh, alright!" Akane sighed. "I'll try to give Ranma a chance. Just as long as I don't have to make a contract with him."
"Not a problem," replied Ranma. "I'm not interested in signing myself away to anyone."
"Good, because I'm not interested in taking the soul of a showboat like you!" Akane retorted.
"Even better, because it's MY soul, and you can't have it!" Ranma shot back.
"Great!"
"Splendid!"
"Spec-friggin'-tacular!"
"Well, at least it's a start," Soun shrugged.
"I'm sure they'll grow to love each other, Tendo!" said Genma.
Soun raised a brow in disbelief. "...will they? Will they really?" he asked.
"Of course they will!" Genma declared. "...and when they finally accept each other's love, maybe there could be a little something in it for me, too."
"I'm not going to marry anyone," said Ranma. "Besides, I already have enough of a problem."
"Problem?" asked Soun. "Saotome, you never mentioned a problem."
Genma coughed. "W-well…I was getting to that!" he insisted.
"Care to elaborate, old friend?" inquired Soun.
In the blink of an eye, Genma had grabbed both boys by the scruff of their necks. "Why tell, when I could show?" he asked, as he twirled both boys and hurled them out the back door, into the koi pond in the yard.
SPLASH!
As the surface bubbled, two figures popped up from the water. One resembled a teenage girl with bright red hair, and another looked like a merger between a human and a monkey; he had noticeable sideburns and golden-colored irises.
"HEY, WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?!" they both screamed, fuming furiously.
"It's tragic, isn't it?" sobbed Genma. "I only did this so that I might be able to help my sons…but they have, instead, been cursed! Oh, boys…you break your old father's heart!"
"...anyone else getting the strangest sense of deja vu?" asked Kenma.
"Hmmm, I don't really see it," Ranko replied.
Akane and the recently-returned Kasumi were astonished, to say the least.
Soun let out an enormous gasp before fainting, causing a massive thud that shook the whole house.
WHOOM!
"...I think he took it rather well, don't you?" asked Kenma.
Meanwhile, Nabiki licked her lips in anticipation. "So Kenma's brother turns into a girl?" she purred. "That just gives me even more ideas~"
"...so, how exactly did you get like this?" asked Kasumi.
"I don't really feel like telling it," Kenma said.
By this point, Ranma had already climbed out of the pond and dried herself off.
"Where shall I begin?" Genma started. "Well, it all started when—"
Before he could continue however, the fat man was sent flying into the koi pond by a kick in the back, courtesy of Ranko.
"And that's for tossing me in!" she hissed.
Seconds later, a massive panda burst out of the water and leapt onto the patio.
The panda held up a handwritten wooden sign that read, You would dare to strike your own father with an underhanded sneak attack?
"DON'T GET ALL HIGH-AND-MIGHTY!" Ranko snapped. "AS IF YOU WOULDN'T DO THE SAME DAMN THING!"
Eventually, Soun reawakened, only to see that now the girl and monkey were arguing with a giant panda. "...am I still unconscious?" he had to ask himself.
"No, Father, you're wide awake," Kasumi replied, while imagining all the possible meals she could assemble that might involve using panda meat.
"So…how did this all happen…?" queried Nabiki.
Kenma crossed his arms. "I dunno if I should tell," he responded. "What'd be in it for me?"
"Well, I could take you up to my room and show you exactly what a Succubus like me is capable of~" the demoness suggested with a seductive smile.
Kenma's tail stood up straight, and his face went red. "...in that case…I guess one more retelling wouldn't be that bad…" he giggled sheepishly.
[AUTHOR'S NOTE: He might be willing to tell it again, but WE sure as shootin' are not! You guys know how it goes at this point, so fill in the blanks!]
"...and that's how it happened!" Kenma finished.
"Wow!" Nabiki exclaimed. "Your father is…not exactly the brightest."
Ranko scoffed. "Tch…tell us something we don't know," she replied.
"You boys should've known the risks of becoming martial artists." Genma said as he came back into the room with a towel around his shoulders.
"Even if it requires SACRIFICING MY MANHOOD?!" Ranko screamed.
"Do you EVER stop whining?" Genma snapped. "YOU SOUND LIKE A GIRL!"
"Well, whose fault is that, huh?" Kenma replied.
"Oh, shut up, you insufferable little whelp!" their father snapped. "That was all part of my plan. Part of the big picture!"
Kenma rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, I'm so sure," he said. "And what about that 'good fortune' you spoke so much of on the way here? Good fortune and great wealth, those were your EXACT words!"
"So I told a little white lie. Sue me, why don't ya?" Genma scoffed.
"As soon as I learn how to, I'll see your ass in court!" Kenma shot back.
"Ah, I understand now..." Soun said while holding a garden hose. "Cold water turns each of you into your cursed forms…" He continued as he sprayed Genma, turning him back into a panda.
"But hot water turns you back to normal." the Oni said as he poured hot water over Genma's head via a tea kettle.
The panda screamed out until he was back in his human form. "...y'know, it doesn't NEED to be that hot…" Genma said.
"Personally, I wish it'd been hotter for him," Kenma muttered. "Scalding, perhaps."
"Boiling would also be acceptable!" Ranko agreed.
"...well, if that's all, I'll get started on the food," said Kasumi. "And…if you get any new favorites, let me know so I can make them."
Before Kenma could speak up, Ranko covered his mouth. "How come you're so eager to make us food?" she asked.
"...well, I just want to see what I can accomplish on a culinary scale!" Kasumi replied, sweating a little.
The ponytailed girl looked at the spider demon with an observant eye. "Well…I guess that makes sense," she responded, while Kasumi let out a small sigh of relief.
"So, I guess we'll be staying here?" Kenma asked, uncovering his mouth.
"Well, it certainly seems like it." Ranko shrugged.
"...alright, but I'm not losing my soul for anything," said Kenma. "I've heard the horror stories of what happens…condemned to eternal torment, or drifting through the ether for the rest of eternity, untethered, soulless…turned into a demon as a punishment! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" [very Mel Blanc/Eric Bauza for the scream]
"No one ever said you had to, Son," said Soun as he rested his rather large hand on Kenma's shoulder. Naturally, he shuddered from being touched by an oni.
Ranko let out a rather loud yawn. "Just show me where we're sleeping, alright?" she asked. "I'm positively bushed."
"C'mon! We gotta at least eat first, y'know?" asked Kenma. "After all, I didn't eat, and I know YOU haven't!"
"Ah, you're right!" his sister said as she rubbed her empty stomach. "Food first, then sleep."
"Splendid!" beamed Kasumi as she pulled her head back into the kitchen.
"See? Now that wasn't so bad, now was it?" Genma asked as he placed both his hands on both boys' shoulders. "You two really ought to listen to me far more often!"
As he laughed, the two brothers traded a look. No words were needed to communicate how they felt.
WHOMPH!
Ranko delivered a haymaker to Genma's gut, making him double over…and Kenma clasped his hands together in a double-axe-handle, before slamming them down on his head.
"NOT ON YOUR LIFE!" they shouted.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER, AT THE TABLE…
The Saotomes and Tendos were eating, though Kasumi was making sure that each of the Saotomes got plenty to eat, and every time they cleaned their plates, Kasumi was there with another helping to pile on.
"Mmmm! I gotta hand it to ya, Kasumi! You sure do make a great meal!" Genma said while stuffing his face.
"Well, I've had plenty of time to practice!" Kasumi replied as she plopped down a bowl of buns. "Feel free to help yourself, why don't you?"
Genma burped and wiped his mouth as he washed down his mouthful of food with a swig of beer. "This is much more like it…the way I deserve to be treated, no doubt about it!" he exclaimed giddily.
"He's not lyin', though. These are some good eats!" Ranko said while she ate.
"Mm-hmm!" Kenma nodded, since his mouth was full.
"Well, I'm glad we were finally able to sort everything out," Soun said with a smile as he gulped down a bowl of noodles.
"For now, at least," said Genma. "But the boys will need to be signed up for school if they're going to be living here."
"I'll take care of it," Soun replied as Kenma proceeded to fill his empty bowl with three big spoonfuls of noodles.
Meanwhile, Nabiki was eating her noodles in a very sensual manner—slurping them slowly, and smacking her lips every chance she got.
Of course, Kenma couldn't help but look and get extremely flustered at the sight. Oh, my god…
The succubus simply winked at him as she continued to eat. She had him wrapped around her finger already.
But on the other side of the table, Akane stared daggers at Ranko while she ate her fill. Sure, you beat me, but you got lucky, she thought furiously. Next time, I'll be the winner.
The ponytailed girl looked this way and that, trying not to make eye contact with the irate Imp.
All in all, it was a satisfying dinner.
"Man, am I ever stuffed!" Ranko announced as she rubbed her stomach. "Time to hit the sack!"
"Just a minute, Ranma," said Kasumi. "You still need to go wash up. After all, I don't doubt you worked up a sweat during your little sparring session earlier!"
"Yeah, that's true." Ranko admitted.
"I'll put out some fresh towels for you," the elder Tendo sister said as she picked up the dirty dishes, using two of her eight legs as an extra pair of hands.
"Thanks, Kasumi!" Ranko replied as she headed off to go shower.
Akane put her dishes in the sink, and after helping to clean them off, went off in order to get the drop on Ranko.
Meanwhile in the bathroom, Ranko stripped down to her bare body and undid her ponytail braid, revealing her very shapely figure and long, flowing locks. Supple D-Cup breasts with a pair of perky nipples, defined hips that swayed to and fro whenever she walked, long legs with two firm, squeezable thighs as well as a rear end that was quite peach-like in terms of appearance. All of those luscious curves were complemented greatly by Ranko's finely toned muscles which spoke to years of rigorous training.
Stepping into the shower, she turned the knob, and winced at the feeling of the icy water on her skin, before she turned a second knob, which gradually raised the water's temperature.
Today's been one hell of an emotional rollercoaster. First I get turned into a girl, then I find out that my own father sold me and my brother's souls to a demon. I guess at this point I should kiss the concept of ever having anything close to a normal life goodbye…but then again, normal's just a setting on a washing machine… Ranma pondered as he washed the sweat and grime of the day from his toned, muscular body.
At that time, Akane slipped into the bathroom with ease. He's so busy showering, he'll be totally caught off-guard…and then I'll be the victor, she thought to herself as she made her way towards the shower curtain.
The tomboy then pulled away the curtain with a triumphant shout. "OK, Ranma, time for the re—re—GYAAAAAGH!" she shrieked as her eyes went wide, and she stumbled backwards in shock.
Ranma's entire naked body was on display, including his six-inch, semi-erect cock. His whole body was adorned with lean, toned muscle that was complemented by his piercing blue eyes and long black hair.
"If you wanted to fight, you could've waited until tomorrow," he said, before taking a defensive stance. "But…I guess I can squeeze you in if you want it that badly!"
Akane was far too shocked to utter a response. For a good three seconds or so, she stood there, eyes wide open and mouth agape with a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Well, what are ya waitin' for?" the older Saotome brother asked while still in his fighting stance.
Akane then turned herself around and walked out of the restroom, closing the door behind her and blushing furiously all the while.
Ranma watched her go, and gave a shrug…though he couldn't help but smile.
Who needs normal, anyway?
And he pulled the curtain shut once more.
Rankane still ain't happening. At most, they'll try to be friends. But fret not...the sex will come later. When I sought help for this fic on the Ranma Discord server, the deluge of ideas that were offered to me made me realize I couldn't just confine this world to a one-shot!
