Ranma of St. Bacchus, Chapter 31
by Chaos Orchid
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Hiroshi and Daisuke were impatient to see the curvaceous and cute girl in less clothing. But they knew better to tell Nabiki that.
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City Without Vice
'Ran's smile turned questioning when (she) went to put the water bottle back in (her) new shoulder bag. It wouldn't go in. The metal rims of the opening were still apart; the mouth of the bag was still open; but there was an invisible barrier. (She) tried to force it in. Until the plastic was ready to burst.
Nabiki, "Woah, literal. You were sold something useful to you. But you have to use it."
'Ran' frowned at the traveling street vendor, "You said it was magic, didn't you?"
"Indeed! And you are very fortunate to have anything magic! We of the Magic Merchants Guild of the Silk Road are basically a non-profit organization as it is the magic items themselves that deem who should possess them. And one of my bags has chosen you!"
"And me, apparently," Nabiki said. "Your alleged dedication to the spread of magic doesn't pay a decent living expense. You are only allowed a limited number of customers and from them you only get around ¥2000. Suspicious."
The salesman looked like he was hiding a secret. But quickly fell into his spiel, "I receive a commission from the local merchants for hosting the Kintama Game! Spin the cage, Little Lady, and discover just how fortunate you truly are when you when a golden ball!
"Sorry!" he said to Nabiki, "Only one golden ball to a contestant."
There was something about magic that was deeply disturbing to the puny and squishy redhead. The name of the game, Golden Balls, Kintama, didn't help. In a kids song, it was a metaphor for "testicles".
Nabiki was amused, "You know "Ran" can be written as 'orchid'? In Greek, I think, "Orchid" originally meant 'testicles'."
Hiroshi, "Of course Nabiki would know that. She's always had balls."
Daisuke, "Don't put any more ideas in my head. The cute shortstack is more than enough for my own to handle."
Nabiki saw the unusually perfect girl was paying as little attention to them as she herself was. Why was Red hesitating? "Well, Ran Ran, Yasei Kōgan = Wild Testicle, do you answer the challenge or not?"
"I, I…do! Challenges are how you win!" 'Ran' spoke before (she) thought, and (she) thought how stupid that was as soon as (she) said it! But it was a deep conviction from (her) lost memories.
Nabiki congratulated herself. Raised among martial artists, she had a hunch this unlikely example was one. But, supposedly, the right technique at the right time and even this girl midget handicapped by outrageous curves could win against even Goku. Yeah, right. Better to use that scheming energy on making profits.
The girl in (shirtwaist) dress with an frilled apron, white and green, and white stockings over her shoulders, stepped up in her green pumps and spun the cage. Hard, almost breaking the handle, almost upsetting it off the unfolded table.
"Gold ball!" dropped into the catch after almost a minute of tumbling.
'Ran' still hesitated. Nabiki picked it up, "Mine!"
"What?" the other three and onlookers asked.
"I am accepting this as a down payment for the ¥2000 I loaned you for that bag."
When the girl Nabiki returned the ball to the salesman, 'Ran' had no problem with the deal. And it didn't seem worth remembering.
To Nabiki, only the magic of their bags argued that the golden ball might just grant wishes. Even if it didn't, it was only a 'down payment'. She lost little money. If, that is, the Guys' Wet Dream posed for her camera. And that was her wish.
The bob-haired girl in the tie, loose shirt, slacks and sneakers: red, yellow, blue, white, pulled out her camera from out of her invisible bag.
'Ran' blinked. "Can my bag be invisible?"
"Do you want it to be?"
(She) did. And it did. And (she) was hardly aware of it resting on (her) shoulder and going down between (her) boobs to rest on the opposite hip. Testing what had to be a martial arts move, (she) only slightly more aware of bag itself as her hand and arm went through it like it was a heavy fog.
The water bottle remained visible. Nabiki told her, "You have to use it."
'Ran' opened it up and drank it empty. To the disappointment of the two who wanted to see her in a "wet look": her clothes molding to her luscious bod. Even though the style of dress and apron would not have given them their not nearly as good a view as that of a t-shirt.
The bottle still remained visible. Nabiki told her, "Try reaching into the bag."
'Ran' could reach in where the mouth should be. (Her) hand remained visible. But (she) didn't pull any more water from it. Or anything else. There was nothing inside. "I wonder if it'll be good for holdin' money." For food.
Nabiki, "You can earn some money and find out."
Hiroshi and Daisuke grinned, knowing why she had brought them to Kabuki-chō, the "Sleepless City" of adult entertainment.
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Even before the sunset behind the tall buildings of Kabuki-chō, the street and neon lights had been turned on. They reflected off of tiny crystals over the cutie's lips, cheeks and eyelids. They changed by every movement of the head, every change in the angle they were seen in. They were both a challenge and an opportunity for the professional photog-in-training, Tendō Nabiki. The added challenge was how wrong the girl's makeup was for the bright lights and deep shades, but so was her own. Still, the girl's texture was good(?) "Is that dyed into your skin?"
'Ran' frowned. The crystals were a irritating background to (her) daily life, but (she) was able to forget about the dyed-in makeup. Until (she) was reminded of it. Then seeing other* girls at school with it on, too, weakened (her) control of the Reservoir tap, making (her) a little more likely to feel how they felt. "It wasn't my idea. I hadda do it 'cuz the school makes me."
"Now I remember." Now, because she had been scheming on the money she could make off of this bankable cutie as a model. "No wonder I thought you were a martial artist. St. Hebereke is famous for its Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics. They are also said to have bought the exclusive rights to a special makeup." She was able to swipe the girl's 'rouge' cheeks before the redhead grabbed her wrist and threw it away.
"I also hear they will apply their makeup to their opponents. On conditions, of course." Fūrinkan hadn't been their opponent ever since the old headmaster had left around the time Kasumi graduated. But now this Hebe girl was coming to battle there! Opportunity!
Meanwhile, Hibiki and Daisuke have been commenting to each other on every erotic detail of the shortstack and prompting their fantasies by imaging her in more revealing clothing. And no clothing.
The girl Nabiki's attention to the look of (her) face led (her) attention to also go to the lower parts of (her?) body that the guys were paying too much attention to. The two and passersby. (She) found (she) didn't like guys, boys and men, ogling (her).
(Her) curves became more pronounced. (Her) boobs were filling the, to (her), 'shirt part' of (her) dress, threatening to pop buttons; (her) buttcheeks were pushing (her) skirt out away from (her) legs; all while (her) waist were narrowing. When would they stop!? (She) was feeling even more (soft and womanly) by the moment. How could (she) reverse it, again!?
Oh, right: (Her) roommates thought it was because (she) had been cursed to be a guy. And when (she) wasn't one, the rebound also cursed (her) to be more womanly. The more (her) tomboy attitude resisted it, the more 'her' body told her (she) wasn't a guy.
(She) had to learn not to be stressed out about being a woman. Accept what 'she was one' and 'she' would have more control.
'Her' stomach growled.
Nabiki gestured, "You can put your stockings on over there."
They were draped off 'her' shoulders. "Why do I gotta…I mean, why do I have to wear them?" 'she' said in female Japanese.
"They're sexy!" the two boys told her.
Nabiki, "You wear them, because I'm the photographer and you're my model. Just follow my directions."
'She' really had no motivation for that…until 'her' weakened barriers to the Reservoir allowed the ki energy of the surrounding women to hijack her emotions. "You are going to pay me(!)"
Nabiki saw the change in the redhead's attitude. She now had a wiggle in her walk to the side street. It wasn't practiced, but it did try to be feminine.
And she tried, too, as she stretch out her supporting leg as she leaned against a wall of a shōpabu, show pub. She brought her closer foot out of her pump and lifted it to slip on the white stocking up and over her short but very shapely leg. Rather seductively, at that.
Camera in hand, Nabiki told her, "Press your arms against the skirt and keep the hem up your legs. Show the hip as you clip the stocking in the garter belt…"
Ran felt what so many girls in Kabuki-chō felt: Helping others feel happy was her job. It paid the bills. And it was a challenge as there were so many 'other' girls like her trying to attract customers. It required her to find her own selling point, her own form of femininity. Maintaining that femininity over hours, from one day to the next, week after week was a chore. It could wear on her, erode her. That one man was – hopefully! – replaced by yet another stranger separated her soul from her body. A regular could be sincerely welcomed as their relationship could be sort of, pretend, personal. Yet even then, the hard lessons taught her to turn off her judgments and enjoy what she could when she could…
Ran, of course, didn't know this about the girls of the Nightlife Capitol of Japan. But she, the Outsider, did seem to understand not having personal relationships with guys. But with girls? She did have her roommates. They have been helping her. Maybe she should show them her appreciation. It seemed a feminine thing to do.
Nabiki had cute-yet-voluptuous hike up her hem a little higher as she had her lean against the wall on the other side of the street so narrow it could be an ally. There were businesses all the way down it, each with a sign. She moved about as her model attached her stockings to her revealed garter belt. She wasn't really trying to get the best angle for highlighting the girl's gravure spiciness. No, she was thinking of how the signs in the background could be used to blackmail the sucker.
She was certain she could extort the girl who was required to live up to the elitist standards of St. Hebereke girls. The girl couldn't allow people to think she was like the two girls on their way to work in this red light district.
"Take my picture, Sugar!" the bleached blonde said, opening her wrap coat. Underneath she had on what Nabiki would characterize as slutwear: a backless, split thigh, halter jumpsuit. Red, of course.
"Save it for the customers, Masuyo," the green-haired girl in a yellow, knee-length sweater.
"Have some fun for once, Umeko. Hey, Camera girlie, you've got to see my friend in her Lum bikini!"
"It's too cold. Look, I'm going in the club. Strip out here if you want." And she did leave.
Masuyo went to stand by the red-headed star of the photoshoot. "You won't sell many pixxx if you dress like a retro sunakku bar mama. You need another gimmick.
"I know: Naked apron! Take off that dress and leave just that green apron on." And she lifted the skirt's hem. "A G-string or C-string will…."
She, Nabiki, the boys and passersby were surprised to see the ugly panties the delectable girl was wearing. Sportswear, probably. But tan?
Ran felt what they were feeling and felt they were right. She should be wearing something as good looking as she was.
Masuyo felt sorry for the girl. "Look! See that sign? Mentionables? You can get sexy stuff there."
Nabiki, "Do they have a dressing room?"
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NOTE:
It is fanon that the Wrecking Crew live in a society where magic is seldom used for evil purposes. The explanation is that the magic itself selects who or what will use them. Mischief, yes. Human stupidity, of course.