Conjunction
09
Commissioned by Kenainath.
Haruka came to slowly, her head feeling like it was filled with cotton and her body feeling strangely… disconnected. She felt tingly and pleasantly sore all over and her lips, crotch, breasts, and especially her nipples ached, burned, or throbbed with her heartbeat. Her mouth tasted like pussy and morning breath.
A pair of hands helped her sit up and a moment later, she had a straw popped in her mouth and was greedily sucking down a glass of water. Cracking open her eyes, she met the blue eyed gaze of the sexiest redhead to ever walk the Earth, in her opinion.
…Also, coincidentally, the one with the highest sexual appetite and stamina.
Haruka blushed and looked away, curling in on herself just a bit as she felt suddenly vulnerable—the events of the previous years playing back in her mind, culminating in last night. She had fucked up big. She thought a few memories from her past life made her hot shit, and Ranma… had not just knocked her down a few pegs, but knocked her completely off the ladder—thoroughly put her in her place.
The redhead in question wore an insufferably sexy smirk. "Mornin'."
"Morning," Haruka returned hesitantly.
"So, I've got to get back home, then head to school. You remember what you promised me, don't you?" she asked, arching one fine red eyebrow.
Haruka winced and nodded. "Michiru. Right."
"Good girl," Ranma grinned, and Haruka felt her heart thump and her pussy clench at the words. Moving over to her bedside table, Ranma picked up a pen and a notepad and scribbled something down, before tossing the notepad on the bed. "My number. Call me when you're ready. I live with my brother, so don't be surprised if he answers."
"Mm. I'll, I'll talk to her," Haruka murmured.
"Great. Anyway, catch you later."
Haruka watched as the redhead left the room, whistling a jaunty tune and rolling her ass and hips in a way that made Haruka's mouth water, even as she shied away from the thought of being so thoroughly dominated by someone else again. In that moment, she felt… used. And in a moment of rare self-reflection, she remembered every other girl she had treated exactly like this—pursuing them hard, taking what she wanted from them, blowing their minds even when they were a little hesitant about it, and then leaving without so much as a good morning kiss.
And I… dumped Michiru so I could chase after Ranma, and then she just goes and uses me up and tells me to bring a friend next time because, her mind hitched, but she forced herself to finish the thought. Because I couldn't sexually satisfy her. Which is the same thing I told Michiru. Is this how she felt?
No, Haruka realized. It had to be worse. After all, Ranma was… just a fling. Someone she fixated on and needed to fuck to get out of her system. Michiru had actually loved her, and Haruka tossed that away to go have a fling.
"I fucked up," she murmured, curling into herself and burying her face in her knees as clarity beat her over the head with the truth of things.
"Yo."
Ranma didn't stop what he was doing and, a moment later, his twin slipped seamlessly in, turning a kata into an impromptu sparring match. "How'd it go?"
The redhead grinned as she parried and dodges a series of punches and retaliated with her own. "Heh. Fucked her into the ground. She completely folded."
"Nice. You get evidence?"
"Pictures, video, and audio," she confirmed as male Ranma threw a kick at her midsection and she leapt over it. He joined her a moment later, turning it into an aerial battle. "I dropped all that stuff at the apartment before coming here. Gave her our number, but she seemed pretty out of it. I think the post-nut clarity is kicking her ass."
The original snorted quietly, rolling his eyes as they traded blows. "Yeah, well, sucks for her. I'll let Michiru know we're good for the second part of this plan."
The midair furball broke up and the redhead landed a short distance away, and by mutual agreement they came to a stop. "So, how was your date with Ami?"
"She's… kinky," Ranma chuckled, earning a grin from the twin. "She came wearing shibari and a vibrator."
"Nice."
"Alright, I need to get back home so I can clean up before school," Ranma said, and the twin sighed.
"Yeah, and I should disappear for a while. I hate this not remembering stuff."
Ranma shrugged. "You heard Usagi. Curse is gonna take a while to settle before she can fix it and make it permanent like the other one."
"Mm. Alright."
With that, the pair made their way back to the apartment. Ranma's twin stripped down out of her borrowed clothes and turned on the hot water in the shower. Turning to look at him, she reminded, "Bring me back in a minute so we can go to work."
"Will do," he agreed, and the twin stepped under the stream of hot water and disappeared. Stepping under stream himself, Ranma thought over what needed to happen next as he scrubbed himself down.
Stepping out of the shower, he quickly toweled off and created another twin before they got dressed, the new twin leaving out the front door to head to work at their second job—getting a head start on that construction company. Ranma took a moment to pick up the phone and call Michiru before he left himself. She picked up after a few rings, "Hello? Kaiou Michiru speaking."
"Hey, it's Ranma."
"Ranma! Good morning."
"Morning. So, good news. We got her."
There was an audible pause, and then he could almost hear the grin. "Oh? You'll have to come by and tell me after you get done with work today."
"Will do," he agreed. "Just wanted to let you know you can expect her to call or show up at some point, so be ready for that."
"Mm. Alright. I'll play hard to get and ignore her. It'll drive her nuts."
"Heh. Good. She deserves it. I'll see you this evening."
"Later."
Ranma put the phone down and grabbed his things for the day, before heading out to catch the train. As he did, he thought about what they were going to do to Haruka, and a smirk crept up onto his face. Still can't believe Michiru is willing to take her back after this, but… I'll give her a chance to not be a fuckup. One chance. If she apologizes and actually means it.
After we get Michiru a little payback.
He might have still been a little pissed about Akane and taking it out on Haruka, but… that didn't mean he was going to stop.
"…and so, that is why we will need all of your help for this year's cultural festival…"
"If he spoke any slower, I think I would fall asleep," a woman's voice murmured beside him.
Looking over, Ranma grinned and whispered, "No kidding."
She was about his own age, maybe a little older—it was kind of hard to tell. Dark green hair, wine red eyes, a beautiful figure under her rather plain brown and red dress, and a very pretty face. Ranma had seen her around the school before and occasionally spoken with her, at meetings just like this.
Her pink lips pulled up in an amused smile as she rolled her eyes. "And of course, all of it could have been communicated in an email."
"Eh, not much for the whole 'computer' thing myself. A printout woulda been fine," Ranma shrugged.
"We've worked together for some time now, but I don't believe we've ever been properly introduced. Meiou Setsuna."
"Saotome Ranma," the pigtailed martial artist turned teacher nodded.
Eventually, the meeting ended and the group broke up, beginning to gather their things in preparation to go home for the day. As it happened, as Ranma was leaving, Setsuna happened to be heading out at the same time. She sent him a brief smile before asking, "So, how are you adjusting to school life from the other side?"
Ranma chuckled as they made their way down the stairs to the first floor. "Having to juggle this with college, but… it's gotten easier recently."
And it really had. After Usagi cured his curse and given Ranma full control over it, they had got to talking about what other curses there were at Jusenkyo, and that had prompted Ranma to make a list of all the ones he knew. Interestingly, there were a few on that list that could be useful, if he had control over them as with his former sex-changing curse. The spring that came out right on top as far as useful possible curses had been the Spring of Drowned Twins. So, one weekend, Usagi had teleported them to China—not directly to Jusenkyo, but close enough.
Ranma and Usagi had visited the guide and spoken with him, and after learning that the springs had returned to normal after Ranma's last rearranging of the landscape, Ranma had explained what was going on and showed off his cured curse. After that, it was easy enough to pay the guide to take him out to the Spring of Drowned Twins, confirm it was the spring they thought it was by tossing in a fox Ranma caught at the guard's request, and then have Ranma take a dip himself.
After that, with a bit of cold water, Ranma could produce a twin of himself in whatever form he was currently in, which could then use the previous 'Drowned Girl' transformation or reverse it, changing back and forth at will. Strangely enough, there was a bit of an exploit to the new curse that he had found. If Ranma made a twin as a man, then changed into a woman, he could make another twin, for a total of three including himself—all of whom could change back and forth between Ranma-kun and Ranma-chan at will.
So, Ranma had been abusing that fact ever since he learned it. In the morning, he could make a twin and send it off to work at building houses using some contacts he had made in his time under his old boss and others he had gotten by using the Tendo family name and mentioning Soun. The other twin, he kept in reserve just in case he needed it for a distraction or diversion—instant plausible deniability, a quick way to escape a fight himself if one happened (it hadn't yet, but the longer it went without someone tracking him down for a challenge, the bigger he knew it would eventually be), or even just taking a break and swapping out for a few minutes.
When he got home, the twin he sent to work would update him on their progress and supplied snapshots of the work done from a good instant camera Ranma had invested in just for that purpose. Almost overnight, Ranma had begun raking in money hand over fist, and the only reason he kept the waitress job part time was because it was good for easy tip money—especially when he could just send a twin to do the work while he spent time with one of the girls.
"Have you decided whether you're going to stay or not?" Setsuna asked, drawing him from his thoughts.
"Yeah. I'm going to finish out my requirements for a teaching degree so I can get my license and open a dojo, but I'm not going to be teaching classes any more."
"Oh? That's a shame." Her lips pulled into an amused grin as they exited the building and she added, "There are going to be a bunch of disappointed girls, when they learn you won't be back next year."
Ranma sighed and rolled his eyes. "Tch. Yeah, that's more trouble than it's worth."
Setsuna giggled. "You don't have any favorite students that you would miss?"
"Mm. Well," Ranma drew the word out, before quietly admitting, "one or two."
"Fufufu. We're not supposed to, but we all have our favorites. So, who is it?"
Ranma considered his answer as they walked towards the train station. Mentally shrugging, he said, "Tomoe Hotaru is my favorite. She's… nice. She helps out where she can and always volunteers for more. She's just an all around good person. One of the best I've ever known."
"Hoh?" Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Hotaru's a good girl. She's one of my favorites too. You said there was another…?"
Nodding, Ranma added, "Tsukino Usagi. She's a brat, but… you can't help but like her, you know?"
"Pfft. Oh, I know," Setsuna shook her head. Under her breath, she added, "That entire bloodline is nothing but trouble."
The paid found a bench at the station and sat down to wait for a train. As they did, they made small talk about the school year so far and the upcoming event that the day's faculty meeting had been about. Until eventually, the train Ranma was waiting for arrived. He stood up and went to excuse himself, when Setsuna stood as well. The pair traded a look before he asked, "You too?"
"I'm heading home," Setsuna confirmed as they boarded.
"Going to visit a friend," Ranma explained as they took a couple of seats together again and, after a few moments the doors closed and the train began moving.
Their conversation was again interrupted a few minutes later when the train pulled into the next stop. Once more, both stood up. This time, Setsuna laughed. "Here too?"
"Yeah," Ranma chuckled, and they walked off the train together.
"I don't usually get home this early," Setsuna admitted. "I… volunteer for some stuff, so that usually eats up my afternoons. It's nice to be able to enjoy an afternoon away from it for a change."
"Know how that goes. Most days, I head out to my other job to make some extra cash."
The pair turned down a street together and Setsuna and Ranma once more eyed each other in amusement. "You ain't followin me, are you?"
"Fufu~. Perhaps I am?" she teased as they walked together through the neighborhood of homes, all with small, well-kept lawns. Eventually, they stopped in front of the same house. This time, it was Setsuna who asked, "Are you sure you're not following me?"
"Pretty sure," Ranma shook his head. "You uh, you live here?"
"I do," Setsuna nodded, pulling out her keys. "Who's the friend you're visiting?"
"Kaiou Michiru."
Setsuna blinked, before laughing. "Oh really? Well, this I have to hear. Come on."
With that, the woman led him up to the house and let them in. "I'm home," she called.
"Welcome home, Setsuna," Michiru called from the direction of the kitchen.
"I'm here too," Ranma called.
"Ranma?" Footsteps preceded Michiru leaving the kitchen, before finding the pigtailed boy at the entry pulling off his thin shoes. She looked between Ranma and Setsuna and raised an eyebrow. "You know each other?"
"We work together," Ranma supplied, and a look of understanding crossed her face.
"Oh, that's right! I had almost forgotten," she admitted. Moving closer, the aqua haired woman pulled the man into a hug and leaned up, giving him a peck on the lips as she wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Setsuna stared. Michiru's lips pulled into a smirk as she deepened the kiss and Ranma's hands trailed down, cupping her ass.
Setsuna blinked, before shaking her head. "Okay, I'm going to need some answers."
"Hehehe~!" Michiru giggled, letting go of Ranma and nodding towards the living room.
Ranma and Setsuna followed Michiru into the living room, where Michiru planted herself in Ranma's lap when he sat on her couch. Sitting across from them, Setsuna placed her bag on the floor and sat up straighter. "Well?"
"Ah, well, it's… complicated," Michiru began.
"Nah, it's easy," Ranma shook his head. "Short version is that Hotaru tracked me down after class one day, cause she had a crush. I caught her following me and invited her back to my place to talk. She introduced me to Usa and Usagi. I met Michiru when I came here for a mandatory home visit, since I guess they won't let you do a home visit for your own home."
"They won't," Setsuna confirmed with a nod.
"Michiru and Haruka had broken up at the time and we hit it off. Yesterday, Usagi introduced me to Ami."
Setsuna looked between Ranma and Michiru, raising an eyebrow. "Is he… aware?"
"Ranma knows," Michiru nodded. "Hotaru, Usa, and Usagi all vetted him."
Nodding, Setsuna hummed. "So, none of the usual tricks? Brainwashing, manipulation, and so on?"
"Nope!"
"You know he's cursed, right?"
Michiru snorted quietly, before covering her mouth. "Mhmm. We know."
Rolling her eyes, Setsuna said, "I think you're leaving some details out."
"Oh, we absolutely are," Michiru giggled.
"I had my first curse for a few years before I met Usagi," Ranma began, and Setsuna held up a hand to stop him.
"First curse?"
"I'm getting there," Ranma grumbled. "It's why Hotaru tracked me down, as Saturn. She saw me waitressing," Setsuna mouthed the word with a look of confusion and Ranma rolled his eyes, "yes, waitressing." Reaching for the magic that was now his to use, Ranma gave it a little twist and went from tall black haired pigtailed boy to short, curvy, redheaded pigtailed girl beneath Michiru. Lifting the other woman off her, Ranma stood up and turned around, showing herself off, before changing back—then doing it again twice more, before going back to short redhead.
Setsuna's eyes had gone wide, and by the end of Ranma's demonstration, she was sitting on the edge of her seat wearing a very interested look. Hungry, one could say. "You're a Starlight?"
"No," Michiru shook her head.
"Similar, based on what Ami said. She did some stuff with her Mercury computer thing. Ran some scans. I'm not some kinda senshi like you guys. Just a martial artist with some extra magic. Everything I do is all me," Ranma smirked. "Anyway, Hotaru kinda pulled one over on me cause I thought she was older when we, uh…"
"Had sex?" Michiru supplied, and Setsuna choked on her own spit.
"She seduced me!" Ranma defended herself.
"Hotaru—"
"Yes, Hotaru," the girl in question answered as she entered from the direction of her bedroom, Usa on her heels. Moving over to the couch, she took Michiru's place in Ranma's lap, while Usa dropped into the seat on Ranma's other side, opposite Michiru. "I did it myself and I don't regret it one bit. I've never been happier," the dark haired girl beamed a smile.
Setsuna's gaze softened and she sighed. "Is that so?"
"Mhmm!" Hotaru nodded, reaching out and taking Usa's hand. "We're all happy together!"
Usa blushed and looked away under Setsuna's scrutiny. "Not a word, Puu."
"Fufu~. I see," the princess of Pluto murmured. "So then, this is what Usagi's 'let's all share a guy together' plan looks like?"
Michiru giggled and nodded. "We're getting there."
"I'm surprised you actually went for a man."
Shrugging, Michiru murmured, "Me too, but… it's nice. Different, but nice. Fun, too. Especially since he can swap back and forth. Two for the price of one!"
"Uh huh. And what about Haruka?" Setsuna asked, going for the obvious sore point. She nearly winced at the way everyone else frowned and looked various shades of annoyed or angry.
"She doesn't know yet," Michiru mumbled.
Usa smirked. "Yet. Ah man, I want to be there to see it."
Instead of saying no, Michiru sat forward and looked at Hotaru and Usa. "You're sure?"
"Yeah," the pinkette nodded. "Besides, mom—Usagi's gonna be there anyway."
"Mm. I want to be there for you," Hotaru agreed.
Raising an eyebrow, Setsuna sensed there was a bit more happening here than simply talking to Haruka and telling her the facts. "What's going on?"
Blowing out a sigh, Michiru explained. "Haruka left me so she could go chase down a hot waitress."
Ranma grinned. "Yeah, sorry 'bout that."
"Not your fault," the aqua haired girl shook her head. "Basically, she wanted to pick up a cute redhead we met when we went out to eat one night and I didn't want to. I was tired of her just picking up random strangers to have fun with and using 'well, you get to have fun too!' as an excuse. I don't want to have a constant parade of strangers through my bed, thank you very much. She didn't like that and decided to pull the old 'break up, have her fun, and then come back and ask for forgivness later' routine."
"So she pulled a Mamoru," Setsuna snarked, and Michiru nodded. "And Ranma…?"
"Like Ranma said, we met on a home visit. But I got the truth of the whole thing out of him. These two," she shot a mild glare at Hotaru and Usa, who giggled, "tried to parent trap us, but Ranma spilled the beans. About everything. I was intrigued and, I'll admit, I kind of liked the idea of getting Haruka back a bit. We had fun and one thing led to another, and here we are. As for Haruka, we have a plan." Michiru's lips pulled into a cruel smirk. "I'm going to give her a taste of her own medicine and see how she likes it."
Looking between the four on the couch, Setsuna quickly put things together and sighed. "You're going to hurt her—"
"Good," Michiru nodded immediately. "If she ever wants me to forgive her, she needs to understand exactly how she makes me feel when she does this crap. And the only way to do that is to actually do it. And maybe, if we're lucky, something good will come of it eventually. We're going to be alive pretty much indefinitely. I can wait for her to get over it and dig her head out of her ass."
"That's another thing," Setsuna murmured, before looking at Ranma. "When were you planning to tell… her?" she asked, and the redhead nodded.
"About the immortality thing?" Ranma asked, and Setsuna nodded. "Already knew. I've been all over Asia and seen all kinds of stuff. Ki, magic, curses, gods, demons, ghosts, time travel, love potions—you name it, I've probably either fought it, learned it, or had it used on me. I can think of like… three forms of immortality in easy reach off the top of my head. Like, give me an hour and I can go get one. People with as much ki as I've got age slower anyway. And Usagi already said that if it came down to it, she could do something for me."
"I see. So, she's serious this time."
"Serious? Pretty sure. I mean, she's pregnant," Usa grinned.
Setsuna blinked, then shook her head. "Of course she is."
"Be right back," Michiru got up and made her way into the kitchen.
As she went, Setsuna eyed Ranma, before looking to Hotaru. "So… Usagi's plan?"
Hotaru smiled. "We weren't going to leave you out in the cold, Puu. You just haven't been around a lot lately, or you've been coming home late."
"And you're going along with it?" she asked, shifting her gaze to meet Ranma's blue eyes.
Ranma chuckled. "I was skeptical at first. Still kinda am. But they wanna try it, and so far aside from Haruka, there haven't been any problems. And we're going to fix that one soon."
Humming, Setsuna asked, "You've already started?"
The redhead leered. "Oh yeah. Last night. I gave her what she wanted."
"You had sex with Haruka? As a girl, I assume?" she asked, and Ranma nodded. "And you can still walk?" Ranma laughed out loud as Hotaru and Usa broke into giggles. "What's so funny?"
"Why was Mamoru the go-to choice for Usagi's plan? Aside from being 'cute' and rich?" Hotaru asked with a grin.
"Because he's the guardian of Earth. He's the only one…" Setsuna trailed off, before looking at Ranma with widening eyes.
"Go on. What were you saying?" the redhead smirked.
"The only one physically capable of keeping up with even one senshi, let alone more than one. You're telling me…?"
Usa and Hotaru nodded, the pinkette wearing an entirely too lewd smile. "Oh yeah. You have no idea Puu."
"To be fair, I've only ever handled two of you at a time," Ranma admitted. "But I don't think more will be an issue."
Setsuna shook her head, incredulous. "That's impossible."
Ranma simply shrugged. "I'm the best."
"Alright everyone, food's ready!" Michiru called from the kitchen.
The redhead lifted Hotaru off her lap and set her on the floor, before standing and shifting back to male Ranma as he helped Usa to her feet. "Smells great, Michiru," he called, offering Setsuna a hand up with a smile as the younger girls hurried into the kitchen.
Quietly, accepting the hand up and pressing herself into his side, Setsuna asked, "So, when do I get to find out firsthand…?"
Ranma considered for a moment as his hand arm settled around her back, his hand squeezing her hip. "Well… I suppose when Usagi decides she's had her fun tormenting you."
"Eh?" Setsuna blinked. "What?"
"She told me all about you and how you liked to mess with her, and she wanted to get you back a bit for it…"
Setsuna's wine red eyes widened. "No… that brat! She cut me off?!"
"Haha. Yeah, sorry."
"Oooh, I'm going to, nnng!" Setsuna's hands clenched in front of her, as though throttling a certain blonde.
"Let her have her fun for a bit. I'll make it up to you," Ranma promised, as his fingers danced up Setsuna's back. The woman nearly stumbled as she felt herself grow intensely aroused, her pussy clenching and her nipples getting painfully hard under her dress.
"Evil," Setsuna sighed. "Ugh. Fine. I've waited this long, I can wait a bit more." Turning a determined look on Ranma, she leered, "But when it's my turn… I want all of you."
"Heh. Sure thing."
"Stop flirting and come eat, you two," Michiru chastised as she took a seat at the table.
Setsuna and Ranma released each other and took a couple of empty seats. "So, tell me what you have planned for Haruka, exactly."
"Well…"
Ranma sighed quietly to himself as he walked back across campus, having just finished delivering another written report on his progress in his teaching job at the school, the following Saturday. It had said pretty much the same thing it had last time, with the addition of a sports festival coming up.
These things are getting really tedious to write, when nothing really changes. I'll be glad when the course is done. I still need to work on my thesis, but other than that, I should be mostly set aside from just putting in the time. I'll finish these last few months out, turn that in, then graduate. With a degree that's going to net me about a tenth of what I'll be making using twins to speed up my construction business. What a waste of time and money. Well, at least I've been able to start paying it off now that I'm letting a twin handle that, instead of just barely getting by.
He was so stuck in his own head as he made his way towards the food court to get lunch that he nearly jumped when someone latched onto his arm. Blinking, Ranma looked down, to find the blue haired form of Ami smiling up at him. "Hi!"
"Hey," he grinned down at her. "What's up?"
"I was just going to ask you that. You seemed out of it."
Ranma sighed and nodded. "Thinking about my thesis and everything I've got to do to graduate at the end of the year."
"Oof. Yeeeah, I know that feeling. Want to go get lunch and talk about it?"
"Sure," he nodded. Ami grinned and slipped under his arm, pulling it around her. Ranma gave the girl a squeeze and she sighed happily against his side. "So, how've you been?"
"Busy! Lots and lots of studying. I'm just thankful things after school seem to have died down, you know?"
"Definitely. It was hard enough to deal with the constant crap in high school. Don't know that I could manage now."
"Usagi told me a little about you, but I haven't heard that part," she said leadingly.
"Heh. I had a fight with someone basically every day. About once or twice a week, I'd get some challenger coming by to try to kick my ass, beat up pops, kidnap Akane, challenge Akane… You get the idea," he shrugged. "Then there were the daily interruptions by one fiancee or another. Constant fights with Akane or pops. Having to get out and take part time jobs just to pay off make believe debts Nabiki slapped me with—or worse, real stuff like damages to their house that I got stuck with the blame for and never the one actually causing the problems. About once a month, some new big bad would pop up with a challenge, kidnap Akane, steal something, convince my mom they were me…"
"Wow, that sounds…"
"Nuts."
"Awful!" Ami shook her head. "How did you get any peace?"
"Found it in the art," Ranma shrugged. "Other than that, I didn't. There was no such thing."
"I think I'd have gone crazy," Ami murmured, shaking her head as they pushed through the doors into the food court. "So, what do you want to eat?"
"Kinda in the mood for sushi."
"Sounds good," she smiled.
They quickly got their to-go boxes and moved outside, finding a quiet, isolated table away from everyone else. They sat down and got situated, and as they began eating, Ranma asked, "So, what was it like for you? Being a senshi and all that."
Ami blew out a sigh. "Crazy. Hectic. Monster of the day every day, villain of the week every week, some new threat every month. It seemed like every time we beat back the bad guys, they just came back stronger than ever. More than one of us died, more than once, and had to be brought back. But somehow," she giggled, "through the power of love and friendship we always triumphed in the end."
Ranma chuckled, reaching out and laying his hand not holding his chopsticks on top of Ami's, giving her a little squeeze. Ami's blue eyes met Ranma's own and the girl turned her hand up, holding onto his as she turned a fetching shade of pink. "You guys did good though. Thanks for everything you did."
"Ah, you don't have to—"
"No, but I am. Who else do you know who actually knows who you are and what you did? If people knew, pretty sure they'd feel the same."
Ami looked away, but refused to let go of Ranma's hand as they ate in silence for a while. Eventually, she asked, "How, uh, how is this supposed to work, anyway?"
"What d'ya mean?"
Ami squeezed his hand for emphasis. "This. I've never," she paused, before admitting, "never had a real boyfriend before. And we just skipped right to the bedroom…"
"Blame Usagi. I do," Ranma chuckled, earning a giggle and a nod from the girl.
"Yeah, she does tend to kind of push until she gets her way."
"And this stuff," he squeezed her hand. "I've been kinda figuring it out as I go, y'know? Spend time together, get to know each other better. With and without the others around."
Ami hummed quietly before nodding. "Alright. Are you doing anything right now?"
"Nope. Finished my teaching stuff for the day since it's a half day and just turned in my weekly report. No one had any definite plans, but I think everyone wanted to get together tonight or tomorrow. We're kind of waiting on Haruka here."
"Eh? What about Haruka?" Ami asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is this about her and Michiru breaking up again?"
"Yep. Basically, Michiru wants to get back at her pretty hard, to get the point across. Personally, I think Michiru should just be done with her, but… There's a lot of feelings and stuff tied up in there and she's not willing to let it go."
"Mm. Sounds about right," Ami nodded.
Finishing with his food, Ranma nodded towards Ami's. "If you're done, want to go somewhere?"
"Sure. What'd you have in mind?"
"Walk around the park. Not really feeling like seeing a movie or anything."
She nodded and stood, gathering her things and throwing her trash away as Ranma did the same. "Sounds good."
With that, Ami tucked herself into Ranma's side again as they left the campus. "So, what was it like growing up on the road?"
"Eh… Some days it was great. Others, not so much. I loved camping and at the time, I thought it was fun getting to be with pops always going places, learning new things, meeting new people. Then I realized pops was stealin' food to eat, stealin' secret scrolls to learn, beatin' up anyone who who tried to get their stuff back or fight back. Then there was the trainin'…" He shook his head. "It's done and over, and I ain't goin' back." After a moment, he grinned and admitted, "Wouldn't mind going on another training trip though. It'd be fun with better company."
"'Better company,' huh? I've never been camping. Actually, most of us haven't. Could be fun…"
As they entered the park, Ranma caught a flash of red out of the corner of his eye, but when he turned to look it was gone. "Huh."
"Something the matter?"
The boy shook his head. "Nothin.' Probably just my—"
Ranma turned and in the same motion, spun Ami behind him as he brought up his arms above his head. An invisible force impacted his crossed arms and shattered the cement of the sidewalk below his feet. He shoved back up and a black clad, dark red haired form shimmered into view as she pulled a lazy flip and landed in front of them. Those few people around them enjoying the park this afternoon reacted quickly as they turned and began running away, well used to the typical senshi-related antics by this point.
As the girl landed, Ranma looked her over and frowned. He had been a bit distracted the first time, what with mistaking her for Usa playing around with a new transformation and some kinky magic, but this time there was no mistaking her for the brat he knew and liked.
She looked very much like Usa, but there were differences. She was a few years older, for one—closer to Usagi's age. For another, her hair was dark red rather than pink. Then there was her muscle development. Usa couldn't be called anything but sporty, but this older version of her had the same sort of development he saw on Shampoo, or his own female form—that of a dedicated martial artist. For just a moment he felt her ki and the brush of magic, before she carefully hid it again—and he mentally ratcheted up her potential threat level to put her somewhere close to Herb on power alone.
"Gettin' slow, old man," she taunted. "As it stands now, I could beat you with one finger."
"Oh hey, if it isn't Darker and Edgier Moon. And in that getup? Nah. Not unless you like flashing your panties to everyone lookin' your way, any time you throw a kick."
"Bite me," the girl growled, settling into an entirely too familiar stance.
"You got a name? 'Darker and Edgier Moon' is kind of a mouthful. How about I call you 'Panty flasher-chan?' Shorten it to Morodashi?"
The girl's eye twitched, before her lips pulled up into a grin. "Well, if that's how you want to play…" Reaching under her dress, she pulled a set of black lace panties down her long legs, before tossing them at Ranma, who caught them by reflex. "There you go."
Ami peeked out from behind Ranma, glaring at the girl. "Usa? What are you even doing?!"
"That's a secret, auntie," the girl grinned. "Sorry to interrupt your date, but I've gotta make sure this guy's up to snuff or the future won't go how it's supposed to. Secret timey-wimey stuff. You understand," she waved dismissively.
Glaring, Ami put her hands on her hips. "No. Absolutely not. Young lady, you will come with me and explain yourself properly, or else."
"Yeah, and who's gonna make me? You? Uehehehe~! Auntie, I am so far out of your league…" Shaking her head, she looked at Ranma before jerking her thumb back to Ami. "Go ahead. Tell her."
"It's pretty bad," Ranma muttered. "If all she wants to do is spar…?" he asked, and she nodded, "I'd say let her. We cut loose, you can kiss this city goodbye."
"We've fought stronger enemies—"
"It ain't just about strength," Ranma shook his head. "So, who taught you?"
The redhead smirked. "The best."
"Alright. Keep the property damage to a minimum," he warned, and the girl nodded.
"Of course! Who do you think I am?! Only an absolute, incompetent, braindead moron can't or won't police their techniques," she rolled her eyes.
Ami's eyes narrowed. "Are you two just going to ignore me…?"
""Yes,"" they answered simultaneously, before disappearing as Ami blinked.
And then, the bluenette felt her jaw metaphorically hit the ground as she bore witness to something out of an anime, as the pair disappeared and reappeared around her, trading blows at a speed that boggled the mind. And then the light show started as Usa, or some alternate version of her, started throwing out rapid fire bright reddish-pink blasts and Ranma countered with bright blue. Ami winced and covered her ears as the shock waves from the sound reverberated through her body, rattling her teeth in her head.
And somehow, above the slapping of fists and feet impacting bodies and energy blasts hitting each other and detonating, they somehow found time to banter.
"You've lost a step, old man!"
"Are you throwing punches or playing patty-cake, little girl?"
"Wow, you suck! Ryoga could beat you at this rate!"
"If you flash every guy you fight, I can see why you'd think pig boy was easy!"
"Only the ones I like!"
"Your mom let you go out like that?"
"At least mine's around! When's the last time you even saw yours, huh?! Oh! That's right! When she told you to suck it up and take one for the family—!"
The fight came to a pause as abruptly, Ami watched the redhead get smacked down to the ground. "Yer gettin' personal, brat. Keep it up and I'll take you over my knee."
Standing up, Usa wiped her mouth, spitting out dirt but no blood. "Threaten me with a good time~," she leered. "Seriously though, you're weak and slow. What are you even doing with your life, huh?! Wasting your time with school crap. Coasting on past success and moping about how Akane cucked you for Kuno—" There was a smack and abruptly, Ranma was right there, in the shorter redhead's personal space, as Usa held his fist in her hand and shook her head. "Like I said. Weak. And. Slow."
"What do you want?" Ranma growled, pulling his fist back as his entire body went tight with anger. He knew what she was doing, but her attack was pretty much tailor made for him specifically, verbal jabs that slipped right past his defenses and hit where it hurt most.
"I want you to git gud. Cause if you don't, you're gonna lose everything. You're too afraid of another Saffron to pull out the good stuff and you've spent years not being truly challenged, so you haven't had a need to grow beyond what you were. You're plateaued, because you don't have anyone to push you anymore. Without it, you can't even scratch me and I'm not even transformed. Objectively, Mercury is the weakest senshi, and you couldn't beat her in a straight up fight. What would you do against, say, Kuno if he had Moon's insane power and every reason to kick your ass? As you are right now? You'd get your ass kicked, and then use the Saotome Ultimate Technique and run away. Problem is, for some things, there isn't a rematch. You win the first time, or you lose forever. Is that what you want?"
Crossing his arms over his chest, Ranma considered for a moment before asking, "So, you're from the future. You saying I've got some big fight coming up?"
"The biggest you've ever been in. The highest stakes. Winner take all. And I do mean all. Luckily, you've got a bit of time before the deadline comes. About eight months and change. Stop slacking off and get to work."
"Wait, what do you mean, a fight?" Ami demanded. "We can handle whatever comes up!"
Usa turned and sent the bluenette a pitying look. "You really can't. And it's not something you can interfere in anyway." Shifting her red eyed gaze back to Ranma, she smiled. "So, every Saturday at six, I'm going to track you down and we're going to go somewhere to fight. I'll be more courteous about it than anyone else you've ever fought, but in exchange, it's not something you can back out of. Every time you haven't improved enough to actually hurt me… Uehehe~," she giggled. "Well, let's call it a punishment game, hm? And what's a game without stakes? Fight until I win, or you draw blood. Winner gets to do whatever they like with the loser for the night. Deal?"
Ranma eyed her skeptically. "No busting down my apartment door or walls?"
"I'll knock on the front door or use the balcony."
"No attackin' me in the middle of school?"
"I'll wait outside, unless it looks like you're stalling, then I'm coming to remind you."
"No kidnappings?"
Usa leered. "I'm not going to promise that. What I can promise is that any kidnappings will be in the spirit of fun and I'll only kidnap the other senshi."
"That isn't very reassuring," Ami muttered.
Eyeing the bluenette up and down, Usa reached out and cupped Ami's chin. "Don't worry, I'll hogtie you in bondage and leave you hanging somewhere interesting so you can watch us, then," her thumb dragged over Ami's lips, "I'll make you scream my name, auntie."
Ami blushed hard as she glared at the red haired girl. "You are getting a spanking later."
"Sounds fun," Usa nodded, before sending Ranma an expectant look. "So? In or out?"
"Fine. In."
"Great!" the redhead grinned. "Today doesn't count, so go enjoy the rest of your date." With that, the black-clad menace disappeared. "Be seeing you~."
Ami rounded on Ranma and he sighed. "What can you tell me about her?"
"Not much that you don't already know. She knows Anything Goes. Even picked up a few new moves," he admitted. "She's good, and she's got the power to back it up."
"And you're just going to go along with her demands?"
"She's not wrong. I haven't gotten much better since I left Nerima. No one around to challenge me, until recently. If there is some kinda fight coming, I'm gonna need to train. But without the ghoul or the lech…"
Ami sighed and moved closer, putting her arms around Ranma in a hug. "Want to go meet up with Usagi?"
"How about we go back to my place? You can call her and have her come over."
"Alright," she agreed.
Haruka slowly pulled the Ferrari into her customary parking space on the curb in front of her—in front of the house she had shared with Michiru and Setsuna. She didn't goose the engine like she normally would to announce her presence. Not after someone pointed out that it was childish and a turnoff—that people were sleeping, working, or going about their lives and didn't need some needy brat demanding attention disrupting their lives with an expensive toy.
Beside her, Ranma looked outside and lazily drawled. "This the place?"
"Y-yeah," Haruka confirmed as she shut off the car.
It had been a week since she had challenged the redhead and lost so thoroughly and she had yet to regain her confidence. Beside her, the redhead seemed coolly indifferent to everything in a way that, annoyingly, just left Haruka more aroused and made her want to do something, anything, to get the redhead to praise her, give her attention, or be impressed with her. She had never been the one seeking approval before, never cared enough to. Even with Michiru, it was plainly obvious that Michiru was way more invested in the relationship and she had all of the other woman's attention she could have ever wanted, so she never had to work to get it.
Come on! Get it together, Haruka! I'm Sailor Uranus! I could crush her like a bug! I'm the dominant one in any relationship, not the sub!
"Let's go," Ranma cut through her thoughts and exited the car, and Haruka found herself following quickly.
And yet, despite her mental pep talk, something about the shorter redhead just… flipped all the wrong switches in Haruka's head and sent her thoughts down avenues she'd never explored before.
For one thing, the happy, friendly, flirty waitress was an act. Oh, certainly, Ranma was a flirt and friendly enough, but there was an intensity to the redhead, a force of personality that Haruka couldn't match. Ranma knew exactly what she wanted and she went after it with no hesitation, and she didn't let anything stop her.
It was that very intensity that both drew Haruka in and frightened her. Because there was no 'give' with Ranma. She bent when she needed to, but it was only to move into a better position to get what she wanted, to take control of whatever situation she found herself in. Like that first little bedroom challenge, where Ranma had offered herself up on a silver platter… and Haruka had utterly failed to satisfy her, then had been left completely at the redhead's mercy in return. Haruka had tried again since then, to equal or worse results—usually ending up in some humiliating position or situation, forced to do things she had done to other girls for laughs, or just being completely run roughshod over as Ranma took control of the encounter.
And as much as Haruka wanted to believe she could kick the redhead's ass… she had seen the other woman work out, when she stayed over one morning. Haruka had seen the insane, inhuman speed the other woman moved at. The power behind her every movement, when her fists left holes in trees. The absolute control over her body and the precision of movement. Despite being shorter, the redhead could manhandle Haruka in ways that beggared belief. Realistically… it would take Haruka longer to transform than it would take Ranma to put her down, if it came down to it.
Why does that just turn me on more?!
Flipping through her keys as she approached the house, Haruka found her house key and tried it in the lock, only to frown when it refused to budge. Behind her, Ranma asked, "Problem?"
"Uh, my key doesn't work," Haruka muttered, pulling it out and making sure it was the house key.
Peeking over her shoulder, Ranma hummed. "Lock looks new."
Blinking, Haruka muttered, "She changed the locks?"
Michiru had never done that before. Then again, Michiru had typically come begging for Haruka to come back by now and it was only recently that Haruka even had to make some sort of halfhearted apology. Did she really just… give up on me? Cut me out of her life, over a little fooling around? If she would have just gone along with it in the first place—!
Ranma reached over her shoulder and hit the door bell, cutting through Haruka's train of thought. A few moments later, they heard footsteps coming from deeper in the house. The door opened and Haruka blinked as she took in Michiru.
Michiru, who looked flushed and glowing, her hair a bit mussed, and her nipples hard beneath her blouse. Haruka knew that look—she'd been the one making Michiru look like that, after all. But seeing her like this, while Haruka herself was standing on the other side of the door… Haruka felt her stomach clench and bitter jealousy rise up.
A pair of fingers poked her in the back and Ranma's chipper voice said, "Hey there! So, you're Michiru, huh? I'm Ranma. Heard a lot aboutcha. Can we come in? Haruka's got some things she wants to say."
Michiru's frown, which had taken over her face the moment she met eyes with Haruka, shifted into a smile as she looked at the redhead. "Of course. Come in."
"Thanks," the redhead nodded, pushing Haruka inside.
Michiru led them into the living room. Ranma pulled Haruka down onto one of the couches and Michiru sat down opposite her. Crossing her arms over her breasts, Haruka glared at Michiru from across the coffee table she had helped pick out, who glared right back. Beside her, Ranma cleared her throat. Then, when Haruka did nothing, the redhead said, "You had something to say?"
They had talked about this, during the previous week. Ranma had given her a simple ultimatum: Haruka simply couldn't satisfy her, so unless she wanted Ranma to leave, Haruka needed to introduce her to 'her cute friend.' Then, Ranma had spent every night that week proving just how far out of her league Haruka was, sexually speaking. Haruka had confessed that she had broken up with Michiru specifically to pursue Ranma, and the redhead's response had been straight to the point.
"Then I guess you'd better suck it up and apologize, and find some way to get back into her good graces. Otherwise, I'm gone."
But now, sitting here, seeing Michiru had obvious just been fooling around with someone who was probably still here… Seeing that Michiru had moved on without her, had used their breakup to, to cheat on Haruka by sleeping with someone else…
It was too much. A demand too far. Haruka refused. She wouldn't do it. All of what little humility had been imparted by Ranma utterly crushing her ego in the bedroom evaporated in her anger.
"Who is she?"
Michiru crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't have to explain myself to you—"
"You're fucking someone behind my back—"
"You broke up with me! What, did you expect me to just wait for you to come back after you got what you wanted?! Did you think that breaking up meant that you got to have sex with whoever you wanted then expect me to take you back, and that I wouldn't find someone else while you were gone?!" Michiru demanded, her voice rising to nearly a shout.
Yes! Haruka wanted to scream, but she knew that wasn't the 'acceptable' answer. Instead, she shook her head and made to stand. "We're done here—"
Ranma's hand landed on her thigh and squeezed—the simple force of the redhead's hand holding Haruka in place, unless she wanted to blow her cover and transform. "Haruka, remember what I said. You make it right or I walk."
"Nng," the blonde grunted, before gesturing at Michiru. "Clearly I can't—"
"You haven't tried."
Haruka ground her teeth. "I don't see why I have to! She's the one who cheated!"
Ranma stared at her. Michiru looked similarly dumbfounded. The redhead eyed her skeptically. "Just so I've got the series of events in order here, from what you've told me yourself… You two come by my restaurant. I flirted a bit and you got all hot and bothered. You decided you wanted a piece of my ass, but she decided she didn't. So you broke up with her, spent a couple of weeks trying to get in my pants, flashing your money around, then when I finally give you the time of day you fail to live up to your own bragging. In the meantime, your friend here might or might not have found someone else, but you aren't actually sure of that because you just jumped to conclusions and didn't even give her a chance to answer. And somehow, it's okay for you to break things off so you can go chase me down, but if she did find someone, that's cheating? You're telling me it's okay when you do it but not okay when she does it. That about sum it up?"
"I'm done here," Haruka growled, jerking her leg out from under Ranma's hand and standing, only to fall back onto the couch as Ranma poked her in the back. All the strength fled her body, leaving Haruka feeling extremely weak—too weak to stand on her own feet.
"Nah," the redhead shook her head. "You're done when we say you're done."
Haruka's eyes went wide and she reached for her power, only for a hand to rest itself on her shoulder. Haruka felt something click deep inside her and the power that had just been at her fingertips fled. Several sets of footsteps from behind her announced the presence of others and she watched, mostly helpless, as other senshi filed into the room.
Setsuna, of course, she expected. The eldest senshi lived here and while she tended to stay out of their romantic lives, she would absolutely take an interest and put her nose in if it affected the team. The senshi of Pluto looked irritated as she sat down next to Michiru, sending Haruka a look of disgust.
Next were Hotaru and Usa, who sat down on the other side of Michiru. Haruka winced. She really didn't like them seeing when she and Michiru fought. But they were getting old enough to be able to handle the reality of things—that sometimes, relationships just weren't perfect like they wanted them to be.
Finally, Ami and Usagi walked around the couch, Usagi letting go of Haruka's shoulder as she did. The pair dropped into a pair of chairs on either end of the coffee table. Haruka didn't know why Ami would be here, but given the fact that Usagi had cut her off from her powers, she had a pretty good idea what the princess was here for. To keep things from escalating and force Haruka to sit down and talk instead of just storming off like she wanted to.
It isn't fair! You don't have the right to fuck around in my personal business—!
"What is this?!" Haruka demanded, before turning a glare on Ranma. "And what'd you do to me?"
"Moxibustion, without the -bustion. Basically, used ki to scramble your nerves temporarily to leave you weak as a kitten," she shrugged. "Speaking from experience, I know it sucks."
"As for what this is, that should be obvious," Setsuna deadpanned. "You could call it an intervention."
"We talked it over," Usagi picked up from there, and Haruka flinched at the steel in the blonde's voice. For a change, their idiot goofball blonde leader… wasn't. "We decided that Michiru's chosen punishment for you was just too cruel without giving you a chance to make things right yourself. But…"
"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" Ami sighed, shaking her head. "Even now, you don't believe that what you did was wrong."
Haruka closed her mouth as she glared at the others. What she and Michiru did in their relationship was their business, and no one else's. They didn't have any right to stick their noses in. She just had to convince Michiru that everything was okay and things could go back to normal. But Michiru belonged to Haruka—she wasn't allowed to see other people when Haruka went off to have fun! They were supposed to have fun together, or Michiru was supposed to wait for her.
Usa considered Haruka for a moment before shaking her head. "You guys are talking to a brick wall. She's made up her mind."
Frowning, Hotaru scooted forward in her seat, closer to Haruka. "Haruka… we want everyone to be happy together. It's what we're doing now. Michiru is going along with the plan." The aqua-haired woman nodded in confirmation off to the side. "We can't do that if you think it's okay to just drop everything, break up, go cheat, and then come back like nothing happened and expect to be welcomed back. We won't let you hurt Michiru, or anyone else, like that again. We're going to give you one chance. One. But we need you to look inside yourself, right now, and decide if you really, truly love Michiru. If you really want to spend the rest of your life with all of us."
Haruka opened her mouth to tell Hotaru off, that Hotaru didn't get to decide things like that for her and Michiru, but Setsuna cut her off. "Or you can run your mouth. Be stubborn. Obstinate. Rebel just because you're being given an ultimatum we aren't going to back down on. In which case, you can leave. Permanently."
"Stripped of your powers," Usagi added firmly.
"What?!"
"I can find someone else to be Sailor Uranus. Or we can wait for you to reincarnate again."
"You can't—!"
"I can and I will," Usagi spoke over her firmly, and Haruka realized that she was entirely serious. "Setsuna says we should be in the clear."
"We don't want to do it this way, but if you're going to keep doing this… then we have to treat you like Mamoru, and cut you out entirely," Ami sighed.
"No more chances to fuck things up and hurt everyone," Usa glared. "In or out."
"You can't just spring this on me and expect me to make a decision right now," Haruka complained. "It's not fair."
"You mean like when you sprang this latest breakup on me, so you could go 'have fun' when I told you I wasn't comfortable with bringing more strangers into our bed?" Michiru demanded, gesturing towards Ranma. "I suppose that was perfectly fair, right?"
Haruka flinched at the acerbic tone, her frustration mounting because she knew Michiru was right, but… it had never been a problem before! Yes, she absolutely wanted to have her cake and eat it too, and before now, she had been able to. Now, the other senshi were butting into their relationship and trying to ruin everything.
Why is everyone taking such an interest in our love life now, huh?!
When she thought about it, they had already given her the answer. Mamoru. He had finally pushed Usagi too far and the person Haruka had dismissed as Usagi's fling, who she'd dump the moment Mamoru came back into the picture, had actually managed to keep and hold the princess and future queen's attention. She was serious about this one. And since they were all apparently on board with Usagi's 'let's all share a guy!' plan, they were cutting out Mamoru and anyone who might cause problems…
So why are they cutting me out?! It's not like me and Michiru are in on this stupid plan! I'm not sharing her with some guy. I don't care how 'cute' they think he is.
"Haruka, do you really want to throw away everything you have with Michiru, everything you could have with us in the future, just so you can go out and sleep with strangers whenever you want?" Hotaru asked quietly.
Closing her eyes, Haruka slumped in her seat as she considered it. She knew they were right. She didn't want to give up Michiru. She just… also really didn't want to be forced to commit, to stick with just Michiru or the other senshi, just because Michiru couldn't get with the program and see how much fun it could be to have a never ending line of new partners for them to play with together.
It was one of the few things she remembered fairly clearly from her old life. That the past her and Michiru had gotten around, a lot. She didn't really like the memories with men in them, but they were there. The two of them had basically fucked their way through a smorgasbord of every sentient species known to them at the time. And sure, they didn't have the same sheer selection they had in the past, but there were over five billion people on Earth. Even if she didn't want anything to do with half of them, that was still about two and a half billion women. Millions in Japan alone. More than they would get through in those women's lifetimes if they started now and never left the bed, swapping a new partner every half hour.
Haruka wanted that. She wanted the adventurous Michiru! Sure, the virgin violinist she had broken in had been fun at first, but there was only so much vanilla Haruka could take before she got bored and needed excitement! And she wanted Michiru to be there for that, to be her partner in experiencing all the best sapphic fun the world had to offer.
But Michiru doesn't want all of that. She just wants to stay home and be a stick in the mud, maybe having some fun with the other senshi from time to time, and that's it.
It was like she thought they were married monogamously or something. Or she thought there was some kind of value to sex beyond the physical fun. Which, while romantic, Haruka didn't believe at all. It didn't matter who else they were sleeping with, so long as they both loved each other. No one else would take the other's place.
This is all so stupid. Stupid Mamoru, ruining a good thing. Stupid Usagi, convincing Michiru it's okay to pull this crap on me. Stupid Ranma, wagging her ass in my face, then siding with everyone else just because she's a fucking needy, impossible to satisfy slut.
Haruka blinked, her eyes sliding over to Ranma. She turned the conversation over in her head and frowned. She knows. And she's a certified badass, even without powers. That's why the blonde idiot is so sure she's got me over a barrel with my powers. I'm looking at my fucking replacement if I say no. Damn!
Frustration mounting as she realized they really did have her by the short and curlies here, Haruka thought over her options.
Give in. Go along with it. Get bored. Sure, maybe red sticks around and keeps me entertained for a few months, but eventually I'm just going to get tired of it. Which meant she'd be out on her ass, because the others were apparently actually serious here.
Could say no and walk away. Lose my powers. I'd lose Michiru too, but I'd be able to have as much fun as I wanted, guilt free. Usagi and the others would absolutely let her do it, too.
Or I could just lie. Say I was fine with it. Keep things quiet when I do go out looking for fun. Michiru will get bored eventually and I can play the waiting game until then. Then she'll be the one to come begging me and I'll make a big deal out of how much she wanted this, and eventually give in…
Taking a breath, Haruka met Michiru's eyes and gave a small smile. She opened her mouth and said the words she knew Michiru wanted to hear, to put this situation to bed and get over being mad. "Okay. You're right. I uh, I wasn't thinking about your feelings. I'm sorry. Can we start over?"
From the corner of her eye, Haruka caught Usagi's lips pulling into a frown. Michiru cast a glance at the princess who shook her head, and her own expression hardened for just a moment, before she took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. Michiru smiled brightly and forgave her—
"Prove it."
"What?" Haruka blinked as Michiru went off script. "What do you mean?"
"You've said that before, then gone on to pull this crap again. So, how do I know you're being sincere?"
Shit! Haruka panicked internally as she realized that of course Mamoru would have pulled the same thing on Usagi, and the blonde signaled Michiru. "What do you want me to do here, Michiru?" she asked, putting the onus on the senshi of Neptune to figure that shit out, because as far as Haruka was concerned, she had said the words and that should be good enough.
Looking around at the others for a moment, Michiru eventually turned back to Haruka. "I want you to understand exactly how I feel, Haruka. We can start by going back to the bedroom. You, me, and Ranma. That seems fair, doesn't it?"
Haruka blinked, looking between Ranma and Michiru. "That's it?! All of that, and you just want to— Okay. Okay! Fine! Let's go."
"I'm coming too," Usagi grinned as she bounced to her feet.
Ranma had to help Haruka to her feet and let the blonde lean against her as she still felt incredibly weak, but not as much as she had right after Ranma did whatever she had done. Have to find a way to get her back for that shit. Well, if she knows, then once Usagi gives me my powers back, I'll transform and show her what a senshi can really do!
Michiru started pulling off her clothes as soon as they entered the bedroom and Haruka raised an eyebrow at just how eager she seemed. Ranma began helping Haruka get undressed, then deposited her in a chair facing the bed that had apparently been set up beforehand. Usagi chuckled as she dropped the last of her clothes and bounced up onto the bed, where she and Michiru began to kiss.
Haruka watched for just a moment, before starting to stand. Ranma negligently reached over and pressed her foot into Haruka's chest, pushing her back into her chair. "Stay."
Feeling herself suddenly grow incredibly wet, Haruka nodded as Ranma once again took charge. Swallowing on a suddenly dry throat, she watched the pair on the bed making out as Ranma made her way to the bedside table, where someone had sat a glass of water. Turning to shoot Haruka a grin, Ranma stuck her finger into the glass. Haruka blinked as she was suddenly seeing double.
"Uh, huh?" the blonde wondered aloud as one Ranma made her way back to Haruka while the other went to the bed.
"It's a curse," Ranma explained. I get splashed with cold water, I can make a twin.
Haruka eyed the sexy redhead up as Ranma moved behind her, draping herself over Haruka's shoulders and pressing her head against Haruka's. The thought of two Ranmas was… both intensely arousing and worrying. Especially if there were going to be two in the bedroom. She didn't think she would survive the night. Luckily for Haruka, it seemed the Ranma whose attention she had was content simply to fondle her, her hands running over Haruka's body, teasing her breasts, thighs, belly, and occasionally brushing over her nipples or teasing her slit. Getting her motor running, but not doing any of the crazy, mind-blowing stuff yet.
Michiru broke from her making out with the blonde princess to embrace the shorter redhead as Ranma—the original?—joined them in the bed. "I want my turn next," Usagi pouted, and Ranma nodded.
"Sure, sure," she agreed easily, her hands beginning to dance over Michiru in ways Haruka knew from experience with the redhead would set her off soon.
Michiru panted at the attention, half-lidded blue eyes staring into Haruka's own with lust as she blushed at the attention. The aqua haired girl's nipples stood out painfully erect and Haruka could make out a copious trail of her arousal running down Michiru's thighs, and Ranma hadn't really even gotten started yet.
This! This was exactly what Haruka wanted! And Michiru thought she was somehow 'getting even' by giving Haruka what she wanted? The blonde wanted to laugh. If she'd just get the stick out of her ass, we could be doing this kind of thing all the time!
Michiru moaned, flushing down to the tops of her breasts as she came in Ranma's arms, and Haruka squirmed in her chair as Ranma's incredibly skilled fingers brought her closer and closer to the edge… and then left her hanging there, not quite pushing her over. She felt Ranma's plush lips press into the side of her neck, sucking over her jugular, and Haruka whimpered. The redhead behind her let out a malicious chuckle. "She's ready."
Michiru nodded, turning her head and kissing the Ranma with her again. Sitting on the bed beside them as she played with herself and watched, Usagi quietly asked, "You're sure?"
"Certain," her lover murmured. Turning back to Haruka, Michiru got down on all fours and prowled across the bed, looking sexier than Haruka had ever seen her before. Stopping at the edge of the bed, Michiru waved her ass enticingly at Ranma and Usagi behind her as she sent Haruka a smile that made her heart do flips.
"Haruka… I love you."
"I love—"
"Shut up," Michiru cut her off. When she was sure Haruka wouldn't say anything else, she continued. "I love you and I want to be with you forever. But for that to happen, I need to get my feelings across to you. I need to make you understand how you make me feel."
"I know how you feel—"
"No, you don't," Michiru shook her head. "But you will. Ranma?"
"Alright." Haruka's eyes snapped up to the redhead behind Michiru. As she watched, in the blink of an eye, the short and curvy redhead became a tall, muscular -hunky- black haired boy. It was the same face, the same eyes, the same hair style—just a man where there should be a woman.
Behind her, Haruka felt Ranma's distinctly female lips press into her ear and whisper, "Surprise~."
"Wha-what the fuck?!" Haruka managed to get out—around a moan, as Ranma's fingers went back to work on her slit, pulling her nipples, her teeth nipping at Haruka's neck.
"It was a gender changing curse, until Usagi cured it and gave me control over it. The place we picked it up had some useful ones, so we went back for another," she could hear the smirk in the redhead's voice. "Hey look, she likes it~!"
Haruka's eyes went wide in horror and disgust -and arousal- as Ranma thumped a thick, meaty cock down on top of the curve of Michiru's ass. Michiru, who disregarded Haruka entirely to turn her head and look back at her male Ranma, wiggling her ass teasingly.
"Put it in already~!" the aqua-haired senshi moaned.
"So needy," the black haired Ranma chuckled. "Alright, fine."
"N-no! Don't!" Haruka whimpered, trying to jerk up from the chair only to find herself held firmly in place. "Stop!"
Now Michiru turned back to her as Ranma pulled his cock off of her ass and lined up behind her. Meeting Haruka's eyes, her lover smiled brilliantly, and then moaned as Ranma pushed forward—her eyes rolling in her head and her tongue lolling out as he split her open. "Ahn~!"
"Noo!" Haruka shook her head, thrashing in her seat as disgust filled her—at the same time Ranma stroked her clit just so and Haruka came like a fountain, seeing white as her body shook.
"Yeees~!" Michiru countered, and Haruka watched as she began fucking herself back into Ranma's cock. "Fuuuck me, Ranma! It feels so good!"
Ranma slapped Michiru's ass and the woman squealed. Reaching forward, he grabbed a handful of hair at the back of her head and started plowing her cunt loud enough to fill the room with the disgusting -erotic- sounds of their bodies coming together. Michiru let out a little cry every time Ranma bottomed out inside her, her titties bouncing on her chest as the man… fucked her. Rutted inside her like, like some kind of beast, an animal in heat.
Haruka felt sick to her stomach, but she couldn't look away. Worse… she had never felt more turned on in her entire life. It disgusted her. It hurt, on a soul-deep level watching some disgusting male fuck her woman and make Michiru scream in ways that Haruka had never been able to. But something about seeing Michiru's face twisted in pleasure like that brought back those memories Haruka had tried to lock away in a box—of the days when she and Michiru had fucked their way across every planet in the solar system and then some, when they took men, women, and others to bed. When Haruka herself… When Haruka had been even better at deepthroating a cock than Michiru, and had done things that left the Haruka of today feeling degraded and filthy.
And of course, now Haruka knew. This was who Michiru had been fucking, while Haruka had been chasing after Ranma. Ranma, who apparently was like some kind of Starlight and could change back and forth between male and female at will. This was the man who Usagi had chosen over Mamoru. …And if he had even half of his female half's stamina and skill, Haruka could see why.
The redhead had played her like a fiddle, when this whole time he had been fucking Michiru behind Haruka's back—!
"Hnng!" Haruka grunted as another orgasm was forced out of her and the Ranma behind her laughed.
Haruka watched, feeling like a prisoner in her own body, as Ranma fucked Michiru through orgasm after orgasm. They changed positions occasionally—Michiru riding Ranma's cock, Ranma fucking her missionary, prone, sitting up and kissing as they petted each other. Haruka completely lost track of time as her own world narrowed down to the sight and sounds of Ranma fucking Michiru, her disgust and hurt, and Ranma's hands keeping Haruka in a near constant state of orgasm.
Eventually, they wound up with Michiru standing right in front of Haruka, their faces an inch apart as Ranma held the other senshi's upper body up by her hair and hammered her like a nail. "I love your cock Ranma~!" Michiru moaned out, but her eyes stayed fixed on Haruka. From the way her eyes were starting to roll again, Haruka could see she was getting close yet again. This time however…
"I want it! Ranma~! Give it to me~!"
"Yeah? Give you what? You're gonna have to be specific."
"Fill me up with your sperm and knock me up~!" Michiru wailed.
Haruka shook her head back and forth violently as what Michiru said registered, and struck her deeper and harder than anything else so far. No, no, no, no, no! Don't! Don't do it!
"That what you want, Michiru? You want me to knock you up while Haruka watches?" the male asked.
Michiru nodded, a lewd, needy expression on her face. "I need it~! Do it! Do it, do it, do it! Come inside meeee~!"
"Alright!" Ranma grunted, slamming into her extra hard. "Here! It! Comes!"
Michiru's eyes managed to meet Haruka's again and she smiled a wide, manic grin. "Watch me get knocked up Haruka~!"
Then, to Haruka's horror, disgust, and arousal, Michiru closed the inch between them and kissed her—her tongue invading Haruka's mouth as Michiru's arms wrapped around her neck. And then, she felt as Michiru came, the aqua-haired girl squeezing her tightly in a hug as Ranma groaned and Haruka watched as he pumped her Michiru full of his filthy seed. Haruka moaned for another reason entirely as she began to sob, even as the Ranma behind her forced one more orgasm out of her, making her enjoy it in a way that made her mind go blank for a few seconds, even as Haruka hated every second of it.
Finally, the male Ranma pulled Michiru off of Haruka and placed her gently on the bed, sitting down beside her and crossing his legs, leaving his still hard and throbbing cock on full view as he petted Michiru's belly. That was when Usagi moved up with a grin, laying her hand over Michiru's belly as well. There was a soft flash of white light and the blonde beamed. "Congratulations, Michiru. Do you want to know what it's going to be?"
"Mm, sure~," Michiru purred tiredly, her voice sounding… viscerally satisfied in a way Haruka had never heard it before as she lay there in a boneless, sweaty, flushed and panting heap.
"It's gonna be a girl!"
The male asked, "Did you do that, or…?"
"Random chance," Usagi shook her head. "I just made sure it happened."
"Awesome," Michiru sighed, before slapping Ranma lightly on the thigh. "Help me sit up?"
Ranma helped her up and Michiru leaned against him, the satisfied look on her face shifting to something more conflicted as she looked at Haruka, and the Ranma behind her let go of the blonde, moving around to sit beside Usagi. Shaking her head, Michiru sighed again.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, and Haruka nodded jerkily. "Do you feel sick to your stomach?" Another nod. "Like someone's crushing your heart?"
"Yeah."
Michiru nodded. "Good." Haruka flinched. "I really hope you understand my feelings now, Haruka. How you make me feel, every single time you 'break up' to go fuck around, and then just come back like nothing ever happened." Reaching up, she ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "I know you, Haruka. And now that I'm not ignoring it… Did you think I wouldn't figure out what you were planning? You were probably thinking you'd just wait me out, wait for me to get bored, then come begging to you to let you start a parade of new people through our bedroom again. Well, joke's on you. I don't need that when I have someone who can out perform you by himself. Who can satisfy me in ways you never could, and I didn't realize I was missing out on until I met him. And when all of our friends, the people we love, all want to share in the fun. If you can't be satisfied with that, then nothing will ever satisfy you.
"I love you, but I've realized that you don't need me the way I needed you. Our relationship was never on equal terms, because you were always willing to throw it away and I kept doing anything to fix it, when I should have realized that it was broken from the beginning. I want you in my life, but not… this," she gestured at Haruka. "Someone who can't just be happy with the person she's with. We are so very lucky that we all have each other." Reaching out, Michiru took Usagi's hand. "We have more than most people will ever get in their lives. If you can't find happiness in that, then…" Taking a breath, she steeled herself. "Then we don't need you."
"But we're supposed to be together," Haruka muttered.
Michiru glared, as did Usagi. It was the other blonde who fielded that one. "Yeah. Mamoru thought that too, and look where that got him. He took everything for granted. Me, us, the future. He thought he could just keep being the playboy until he was forced to commit. But as it turns out, Crystal Tokyo doesn't need him, and neither do I."
Michiru gave Usagi's hand another squeeze. "Alright. There's just one more thing left to say." Looking Haruka in the eye, she smiled and Haruka felt ice form in her gut. "Haruka, I think we should see other people for a while."
Haruka blinked, incredulous as the words registered. "You're dumping me?"
"Well, you're just not in a place where you're ready to commit to a relationship. You're unfaithful and too wishy-washy. When you're ready for a real relationship and not just an endless series of one night stands, let us know. Until then, I think it'd be best if you weren't around. You should leave."
Haruka flinched, reaching up and wiping tears from her eyes as everything suddenly became real. This was really happening. "Just, give me another chance—"
"Leave," Michiru shook her head.
"But—!"
"You can carry your ass or I'll carry it for you," the redheaded Ranma growled, pointing at the door. "Get your shit and get out, before I throw you out."
Haruka shakily got to her feet, still feeling weak as she gathered her things and hurried from the room. The others were still in the living room when she hurried through, and she felt their eyes on her—judging her—as she fled to the entryway and quickly pulled on her skirt, blouse, and shoes. Carrying the rest of her things, she hurried to her car and climbed in. Pulling away, she lasted until she turned out of the neighborhood before pulling over, slamming her hands on the steering wheel as she screamed, thrashing in her seat.
"Shh, it's okay, you're okay," Usagi murmured, holding Michiru tightly as she sobbed into the blonde's chest, Ranma holding her tightly from behind.
The redheaded twin sighed and pulled on the top her counterpart had doffed, making her way into the living room and dropping into a seat on the couch between Hotaru and Usa. Ami asked the question on all their minds. "How did it go?"
"About how you'd expect. Still not really sure this was the right choice."
It was Setsuna who scoffed quietly. "It was. She's had her head up her ass for some time and someone needed to remove it eventually. If it wasn't you, it would've been me. I've let too much slide, because I was busy—"
"We understand, Puu," Usa sent the Senshi of Time a smile. "It's not your fault."
"Maybe," the woman shrugged. "But no, Ranma. Sometimes, some people need to truly experience the thing they've subjected others to in order to understand why what they were doing was wrong. They can't understand because they've never felt that pain before. It's only once they do that they might actually come to see reason."
"Well, let's hope you're right," Ami sighed. "Otherwise, we really will have to replace her."
"Yeah, that sucks," Usa shrugged, before turning a grin on Ranma. "Sooo… About how long do we have to wait for it to be polite before we can start having fun?"
Ranma snorted, before pulling the girl into a headlock with one arm and tickling her mercilessly with the other. "When I say so, you horny little goblin!"