All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz Communications.
A Different Viewpoint: Curses and Demons:
Chapter 31
Ranko was the first to jump over the fence to the Tendo’s backyard and was forced to spin in midair to dodge an ornately warded arrow which shattered on the wall behind her.
"Hey!" She shouted indignantly at the fully armed and armored samurai crouching on the back porch. There was a great bow in one hand, the string still quivering from the shot. "What the heck do you think you're shooting at anyway?"
Soun Tendo blinked and stood, putting a hand behind his head sheepishly. "Sorry, Ranko-kun. I thought you were that demoness again." He frowned. "And that was my last Hamaya too…."
Ranko looked worried. "Again?!? She came here while we were gone?" <How could she have been attacking here at the same time as the Outers disappeared? Could there be someone else behind that?>
Soun nodded somberly. "A blond girl with strange tattoos attacked only half an hour ago. From her powers and her aversion to charms and wards I assume she was the demoness you encountered before."
"Damn it!" Ranko swore darkly. "If I had only stayed here... I really want another shot at her…." She looked worried again. "Was anyone hurt?"
Soun hesitated. "Well, I wouldn't say HURT, exactly. The demoness targeted Nodoka-san first for some reason... and..."
"WHAT!?!" Ranko cut him off, rushing into the house. "Mom? MOM!?!"
A small girl, perhaps ten years old, wearing a elegant kimono much too large for her and holding a sheathed katana on her lap, looked up at the red headed girl's approach. "I'm right here, Ranko-chan. Don't worry, I'm just fine." Nabiki came into the living room quietly, then hesitated, not wanting to interrupt.
Ranko glanced around quickly, ignoring the little girl for the moment as she looked for her mother. "Mom? Where…?" She finally glanced down at the girl, trying to smile nicely. "Hey, kiddo, have you seen an older woman around here? She carries a katana, just like you, and is wearing a kimono just like yours…." The girl waited, tapping her foot impatiently. Ranko took a good look at her, then laughed slightly nervously. "Um... Mom... why are you a kid?" Nabiki shook her head with a sigh and left the room again, heading for the backyard.
Nodoka sighed. "That demon did this to me." She shook her head. "I remember at the time I was wishing I was a bit younger so that I could help you and your friends, but I certainly didn't mean this young!" Nodoka sighed. "I suppose a second childhood isn't the worst thing that could have happened to me. "She looked curious. "Where is everyone else, Dear? Are you all alone?"
Ranko shook her head. "I just ran ahead. The others will be along in a minute. We were worried that Mara might try something so I decided to get here a little sooner and check...." She chewed on her lip. "We shouldn't have left you here alone Mom. I'm sorry."
The little girl stood up slightly unsteadily, putting her katana on the ground and holding up her kimono with one hand. "That's alright dear." She reached up and patted her daughter on the head, although she had to stand on her toes to do so. "You had to help your friends." Nodoka looked at her daughter in concern. "Did you find Kasumi alright?"
Ranko nodded quickly. "Sure, Mom, she's with the others right now. They'll all be here in another couple minutes or so." <At least Mara didn't get to Kasumi first, it seems like she's always two steps ahead of us.>
Nodoka smiled and nodded. "That's good. What about Sailor Mercury?"
Ranko shook her head. "We have some clues to where she might be... but we can't get there quick enough. Some of the other Senshi were going to go look for her, but...." She shook her head. "Never mind that for now.... We called some other friends to go look for her, but there's not much else we can do right now.... Everyone is coming here so we can try and work out a plan."
Nodoka took her daughter's hand in hers. "You're doing all you can, daughter. I know that."
Ranko shrugged. "Maybe... it just ain't enough."
"It ISN'T enough, daughter." Nodoka corrected. "And you're wrong. No one could do more." Her kimono started to slip, despite the hold she had on it with her left hand, and she freed her right hand from Ranko's to catch it and pull it back up. "Oh dear, this simply won't do. I think perhaps I should change clothing before your friends arrive. I'm sure Misty has found something by now...."
As if hearing her name (and with her enhanced hearing, that was likely) the half cat girl came into the living room carrying a bundle of clothing. "Here you go, Auntie. We still have some of Akane's old things. They should fit you alright." She put the bundle down on the table, and Nodoka started looking through the selection with interest. Misty looked slightly embarrassed. "It's not the best selection... it's all slightly childish."
Nodoka laughed lightly, picking out a blue and white summer dress and holding it up to herself. "They're fine, Misty! I can't possibly look more silly then I do right now, a child in an adult's kimono." She nodded to herself at the fit of the dress. "One should dress one's age, after all, and I am hardly suited to adult attire right now."
Misty smiled slightly, showing off her canines. "That dress should fit you nicely, Auntie." She quirked her head. "You're handling this change much better than when Ranma-chan was turned into a little boy."
Nodoka blinked. "When did that happen?" She shook her head, chuckling. "Never mind, you can tell me all about it later. As for me handling this well... when you get to my age... or at least the age I used to be, regaining one's youth is something you dream about...." She chuckled softly. "It is not all that horrible a fate, I assure you." She glanced up at the furred face of the older Tendo girl. "Compared to the problems you and my son... my daughter have had to face, this is nothing at all!" She held up the dress she had selected. "Now then, I had best go change."
As Nodoka started to leave, Misty turned to Ranko curiously. "Kasumi is OK?"
Ranko nodded. "You heard? Yeah, she's fine. A couple cuts and bruises, but nothing serious. The only real damage was to her pride."
Misty looked embarrassed again. "The whole zoo saw her... I just saw a news report about it."
Ranko looked startled. "You what?"
Misty nodded. "They even have some video of her. It's not very clear, and it's from a long way off, but it's unmistakable. Someone at the zoo must have had a camera. There have been several reports on it since then. Many of the reporters think it's the start of another series of monster attacks. I've had the TV and VCR on in my room so I wouldn't miss anything."
Ranko rolled her eyes. "Oh brother. What's next?"
Misty's ears perked up. "Oh my... that doesn't sound good."
Ranko blinked. "What?"
Misty nodded toward the ceiling. "I have the sound on low, but I heard the announcer say something about a cat monster...."
"Whoa." The red head looked impressed, then listened very carefully. "I can barely even tell that it's on! Your ears are really sensitive!"
Misty put a hand to her face, looking embarrassed once again. "They're really not that good. Johnathon has much better hearing in his cat form." Ranko looked dubious, and as if to refute her own statement, Misty's ears perked up again. Ranko waited for her to say something, glancing pointedly at her ears, and Misty shrugged slightly, looking sheepish. "It's the others. They're almost here."
Ranko waited patiently, counting silently to herself until she finally heard the sound of her friends coming herself. "Fifteen seconds...." She turned to Misty smugly. "Not that good she says. Don't be so embarrassed when you're good at something, Misty. It's important that you believe in the gifts you have."
Misty smiled and nodded. "OK, Ranko. I'll try."
Only moments later the others came into the backyard, leaping over the fence in waves, first Ukyo and Akane, then Ryoga, followed by Ranma, still carrying Kasumi lightly in his arms and finally Johnathon, still in his cursed form.
Nabiki was the first to greet them, going over to her older sister first. "Hey, Kasumi. Glad to see that you're alright."
Ranma set Kasumi down lightly on her feet, and the older girl smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you for carrying me, Ranma. I hope I wasn't too heavy."
Ranma shrugged sheepishly. "Ah, you're not all that heavy, Kasumi. Not a problem."
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Isn't this interesting...."
Ranma and Kasumi both started blushing, and Johnathon strode up with a sad smile. "Now Nabiki, you know it isn't nice to tease people like that."
Nabiki shrugged, smiling slightly, then sobered. "You guys missed our latest visitor... a certain demoness we all know?"
What little remained of Johnathon's good humor vanished instantly. "Is anyone hurt? What happened?"
Nabiki shook her head. "No one was hurt... at least not physically." She held up her hands calmingly. "She hit Auntie with some sort of spell, turned her into a kid... but she's OK... somehow Genma and Daddy were able to drive her off after that. I missed most of the fight, but I think they hurt her pretty bad. Everyone else is fine."
Ranma's eyes went wide. "A kid? She turned my mom into a kid?"
Nabiki sighed. "Yes... she looks to be around 8 or so... maybe 10. Auntie says she's fine...." Ranma strode off into the house without listening further, looking worried.
Akane walked over to a pair of long grooves dug into the backyard, each perhaps two feet deep, and looking like they were carved into the ground by the diagonal slash of a giant sword. "So much power… did Mara do this?" <First the Outer Senshi and the Goddesses go missing, then Mara attacks here? It's just one thing after another....>
"You probably won't believe this...." Nabiki answered slowly. "It was Genma. I was in my room when I heard Auntie scream, and I ran to the window just in time to see him jumping over the fence behind the demoness. She turned around, and he did something with his hands that made these huge... blades of air shoot out and cut her in two...." The normally cold blooded Tendo shuddered. "I can still see it… I thought she was dead for sure… but she just… grew back together...." Nabiki shook her head. "It slowed her down a lot, though, and Daddy threatened her with one of those lucky arrows he had me borrow from everyone in the neighborhood, so she left."
Johnathon nodded. "Yes, the goddesses...." He flinched then continued. "The goddesses did say that she was vulnerable to good luck charms and such. I suppose we'll have to use different methods to defeat her than just attacking her body."
Ukyo was examining the grooves Genma had made in the ground, and was shaking her head in disbelief. "Genma made these? Fat, stupid, lazy, panda, Genma? I don't believe it."
"Believe it." Nabiki told her firmly. "I witnessed the whole thing. Genma Saotome may be fat, lazy and stupid, but he's still the man who trained Ranma, and he proved it today."
Akane nodded somberly. "He may not be the best man in the world, but he is still one of the best martial artists around. I think Auntie is having a good influence on him too. He at least tries to do the right thing most of the time now."
Ukyo sighed. "I'm never going to get used to having Genma as a father-in-law… but I suppose Ill just have to take the bad with the good."
Akane giggled. "But which is which?" She sobered up a moment later, unable to sustain her laughter.
Shampoo also examined the gashes in the ground, looking a bit worried. "I don't know what Ill be able to do to help against such powerful demon. We need great grandmother... or Senshi."
Akane and Ukyo both turned to their ex-rival in mild shock. "Shampoo!" Akane exclaimed brightly, doing her best to remain cheerful. "Your Japanese is getting a whole lot better!"
Shampoo shrugged modestly. "Is nothing special. Shampoo..." She winced and started over, just a bit hesitantly as she concentrated on getting the words correct. "I have been practicing... practicing a lot in the... in the past few days." Shampoo smiled in satisfaction at the nod of approval she got from her new fiancée.
Dr. Tofu smiled proudly at the Chinese girl. "She has been doing better. She's been helping me deal with customers, and she's constantly practicing her Japanese on them. I couldn't be happier."
Shampoo winked at Akane and Ukyo knowingly. "I think he could be… but he still wants to wait until we're married for that." Both girls blushed at the same time, then shared a giggle with the purple haired girl.
Dr. Tofu sighed and shook his head. "I think Ill go check on Nodoka-san."
Shampoo waved him off with a smile. "I will stay out here in case the demon attacks again. Please give Ranma's mother my regards." The doctor nodded and went into the house, and Shampoo turned to Johnathon Dwire. "Johnathon-san, I was wondering if you would help me with getting used to my new form. There are many differences, and I am having difficult... difficulty?"
"Difficulty adjusting?" Johnathon finished for her. "Sure, I had the same trouble for months after getting this form. My cat form seemed to come with its own set of instincts on how to move and such but my hybrid form didn't. On the plus side it's not all that different from being human, but the differences are enough to matter, especially in a fight."
Shampoo nodded. "That true... is true. I tried sparring with Ono-san, but was clumsy... I was clumsy. I nearly injured him with my claws, I wasn't expecting how fast I would be."
"It will take practice." Johnathon said with a knowing nod. "I should be able to help you adjust to the changes."
"Thank you, Johnathon-san." Shampoo said with a bright smile. "Is it alright if I change right now?"
Johnathon nodded. "Sure, no one will see you here in the Tendo’s back yard. I use my own half-cat form when I spar back here as well. I need the extra speed and strength to keep up with Ranma and Akane anyway."
Shampoo smirked slightly. "Johnathon-san, you need to build up your human side as well, yes? It weakness to rely too much on your curse."
"It IS a weakness, yes." Johnathon agreed, correcting Shampoo's grammar automatically at the same time. "I do practice in my normal form as well, of course. I try to practice equal amounts with both forms, so as to avoid trouble adjusting, say, in the middle of a fight."
"Oh!" Shampoo blinked several times, thinking about that. "If you were splashed in the middle of a fight it could be important."
Johnathon nodded in agreement. "It could be."
Shampoo went to the Tendo pond and cupped up a handful of water, splashing her face and changing herself into a white furred cat-girl. "Thhhattts betterrr." She said, speaking with a distinct purr to her voice. She giggled. "I ttalkk funnnyy, yes?"
"It's just something else you'll have to practice." Johnathon replied, conscious suddenly of the unconscious adjustment he was constantly making to keep his own voice recognizable. "It took me weeks of practice, and months before I got the change down to where it is now." He smiled proudly. "Misty is doing great already, although she does have plenty of time to practice."
Shampoo straightened up and kicked off her now poorly fitting slippers. "Misty is… both Kasumis are... much more than I first thought."
Johnathon nodded with soft smile that even showed through on his catlike face, although it vanished quickly. "You're not the first person to underestimate her... them. Kasumi and Misty are both... well, let's just say I'm far more lucky than I deserve to have them."
Shampoo grinned at him, showing her teeth. "You are right about that!" She and Johnathon both laughed out loud, sounding a lot like a pair of lions coughing, which just made them laugh harder. When they had finally managed to get a hold of themselves once more, Shampoo nodded to Johnathon. "I am ready. What should I do?"
Johnathon Dwire/Tendo made himself a little straighter as he thought. "Well, I didn't actually have any specific training method when I learned it... I just spent a lot of time in this form... not always by choice, and practiced. I’d think the best way to start would be to spar... that way we'll see if there is anything in particular that you need to work on."
Shampoo got into a high martial stance, balancing on the ball of her right foot, the other foot perched on top of her right knee. Her hands were high as well, one over behind her head, the other stretched out in front of her as if she was beckoning to Johnathon. A moment later she did exactly that, making a "come and get it" gesture that they were all used too. Johnathon didn't move an inch for several long moments, then burst into a run, somehow sensing a weakness in her stance.
Instead of heading straight toward her, Johnathon ran at a point slightly to her left, going down for a leg sweep at the last moment. The male half-cat's legs passed through the space where Shampoo's feet had been only an instant before, as the white furred female felinoid hit the sky, leaping upward at the last moment. Johnathon swept his legs the rest of the way around, then pushed up in a bicycle kick just in time to catch Shampoo coming back down to earth.
Shampoo cursed inwardly as she fell into his kick. She had, in fact, been more off balance than she liked in her normal opening stance, and had taken an instant too long preparing to leap, jumping at the last moment more in panic then by plan, and not having time to pick a landing spot. She had jumped too hard as well, getting too much air time and giving Johnathon Dwire far too much time to prepare for her landing. Shampoo landed stomach first on Johnathon's outstretched feet, and rolled off to one side with a choked cough, trying to get her breath back.
Johnathon kicked up to a standing position and waited for her to recover, then offered her a hand up. "So, can you figure out what went wrong?"
Shampoo let Johnathon pull her to her feet as she thought. "I tried to land on all fours… like a cat. It was in... instinct?"
Johnathon nodded. "I had similar problems when I first changed into this form. I was used to the reflexes of my cat body just taking over, so I had trouble adjusting." He smiled cheerfully. "Still, now that you know what the problem is, you should be able to compensate."
Shampoo nodded in agreement, getting back into her stance again. "We keep sparring?"
Johnathon got into his own, more casual stance as well. "Sure. Best way to learn."
The two half cat's went at it again and again. It was obvious before long that Shampoo had a slight advantage in speed and a larger one in strength, but Johnathon kept managing to take her down, although each time he did so it got more difficult for him to do so.
Everyone else had gone inside as they continued to train, but Shampoo and Johnathon kept at it doggedly. The Amazon girl understood what the older man was trying to do, and appreciated it, although at the same time her temper was starting to fray each time she had to pick herself up off the ground and start over.
A growing discomfort was starting to bother her at the same time, but she ignored it, pushing the strange sensation to one side as she forced herself to focus on the fight. It was becoming more and more like a real fight to her… and their "sparring" was starting to become more and more serious, but Shampoo couldn't seem to calm down enough to stop.
Shampoo was starting to actually growl low in her throat when she finally managed to pin Johnathon to the ground after knocking him over with an elbow to the side of his head. She snarled down at him triumphantly, only to feel five sharp points grate lightly along her throat.
"I win again." Johnathon gloated softly, his eyes glinting yellow in the fading sun. "I think it's time you learned how to use your claws."
Shampoo's eyes flashed and she sat up abruptly with a loud ripping sound, raking her own claws down his chest. "Shampoo already know how!" She told him pointedly, then glanced down at herself in dismay. "What you do?!?" Johnathon's own claws had gotten caught in the fabric of her short Chinese dress when she had sat up so abruptly, and the sudden movement had caused them to tear through the silk all the way down to her waist.
Johnathon pulled his claws free gingerly, careful not to rip her dress further. "I didn't mean… you sat up so quickly, I.…" He glanced down at his own shirt, which Shampoo had shredded with her own claws at the same time. " You seem to have gotten me as well, you know."
Shampoo frowned down at him angrily, and seemed like she was about to retort when a shudder went through her and her mouth closed. "Shampoo... I am... sorry." She shuddered again slightly and shook her head. "What… what are you... what am I doing?" Her legs bunched as if to leave, but she remained where she was, straddling Johnathon's waist, the wild look in her eyes becoming even more feral as she seemed to fight some sort of internal battle.
Johnathon forced himself to calm down, purposely slowing his breathing and trying to focus his thoughts. "Calm down Shampoo. Let's call it a day. I think… I think we've sparred enough for now." He suddenly found himself acutely conscious that he was being straddled by an extremely attractive female in a very compromising position, and was finding it more and more difficult to keep from staring at the gap his claws had made down the front of her dress. He shivered once, uncontrollably, but otherwise remained frozen underneath the Amazon.
Shampoo stared at the half-cat below her as if she had never seen him before, not really able to put what she was feeling into words. A tiny voice was screaming warnings somewhere in the back of her mind, but she ignored it, trying to puzzle out what was happening to her. She slowly started to stand, the movement triggering an uncontrollable urge that caused the strength to leave her limbs, causing Shampoo to flop back down onto Johnathon a moment later. More sensations, powerful and deep, ran through her at the renewed contact and she gasped in reaction.
Johnathon lay underneath Shampoo getting more confused and more disturbed at the same time. "Shampoo... are you... are you alright?"
Shampoo had started, almost unconsciously, to slowly move forward and back, rubbing against Johnathon in a very sensual way when his words snapped her out of her daze. "What? Johnathon?" She froze, suddenly acutely aware herself of what she had been doing. For several long seconds Shampoo couldn't move, couldn't even breathe, unable to accept her own actions as real, but the sudden noise of several people leaping into the yard from outside broke her paralysis.
With a pained hiss Shampoo forced herself off of Johnathon, rolling to one side to lay next to him, panting. Sailor Mars, Jupiter and Venus stood staring at the two of them in shock, the three younger girls looking like they wanted to disbelieve what they saw before them.
Mars forced herself to speak. "What... what were you two doing?"
Johnathon glanced at her, a bit wild eyed from the experience himself. "We were... sparring." He stammered uncertainly. "Shampoo just... er... she just managed to pin me... that's all." Rei esitated, glancing questioningly from the rip in Shampoo's dress to Johnathon's torn shirt, and Johnathon held up his hand, popping the claws out automatically. "I was going to show Shampoo how to use her claws... it was an accident."
Sailor Mars still looked uncertain, but Venus was quick to help. "Sure! Just like all those times Usagi knocked you down in practice and you two kept on getting tangled up trying to get loose. Right Mars?"
Sailor Mars blushed at the reminder, trying not to look guilty, and Johnathon sat up with a laugh. "Just like that." He agreed, not really noticing Rei's flinch. "No real harm done." He glanced at the cuts in his shirt, pulling it aside a bit to check the fur and flesh underneath. "Looks like you managed not to draw blood at least, Shampoo. Did I hurt you at all?"
Shampoo didn't answer right away, sitting up shakily first, then slowly pulling the gap in her dress closed. "N-no..." She stammered. "You not... You did not cut me." She glanced over at Johnathon, then turned away with a shudder, closing her eyes and hunching over her knees defensively.
Johnathon slowly got to his feet, looking over at Shampoo in concern. "Shampoo? Are you sure you're not hurt?" The cat-girl didn't answer at first, her breathing quick and harsh as she sat there motionless save for the slight tremor running through her body. Finally she shook her head quickly and started slowly climbing to her feet.
Sailor Jupiter bent down to help her up and was surprised when Shampoo grabbed on to her like a life raft. "Whoa, Shampoo... what's wrong? What's going on?"
Shampoo just shook her head again, and slowly forced herself to release Jupiter and stand on her own. "I..." She nearly curled up on herself again as another shudder ran through her, and she cried out something nearly incoherent in Chinese.
"Sheesh, Shampoo!" Makoto exclaimed worriedly. "You are NOT alright. What's wrong with you?"
Johnathon hesitated, feeling powerfully drawn to go to her side, then forced himself away. "I... I'll go get Doctor Tofu. Something's wrong with her." He headed for the house, staggering a bit at first as he started to leave, then walking more steadily as his head seemed to clear. Behind him, Sailor Jupiter slowly sank to her knees, letting Shampoo crumple back onto the ground, still holding on to the half-cat girl carefully.
Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars gathered around worriedly, watching Shampoo in concern. "Shampoo? Shampoo what's wrong?" Rei asked quietly, bringing a hand up to check the furred girl's forehead. "I think she's a bit hot?" She said questioningly, not certain of her diagnosis. "Maybe a fever?"
Venus frowned and placed her own hand above Mars's. "Let me see. You don't even know what temperature she's supposed to be."
Mars frowned at the blond girl in annoyance. "And you do? I don't think you've even had to care for a half-cat half-human before, have you?"
Venus hesitated. "Well... close... I mean I've taken care of Artemis before... so I know a bit about cats AND humans."
"Please..." Shampoo looked up from where Jupiter was cradling her. "I... I... know what's wrong... just... just get some... some hot water... please." All three Senshi blinked in confusion.
"Hot water?" Jupiter started to ask. "Why...?"
Mars just turned to go. "I'll get some. Be right back."
Sailor Venus knelt down next to Jupiter and Shampoo with a thoughtful look. "It has something to do with your curse? What is it, Shampoo?"
Shampoo just shook her head. "I'll be alright. I just never expected... I never thought it'd be this strong...." She shivered again, bringing her clawed hands up and looking at them shake as if she was seeing them for the first time. "So strong...." She grunted again, curling up a bit further, holding her hands away from her body as if resisting an urge to scratch.
Venus scratched her head. "I don't get it. What's wrong? What's so strong?"
***********************************
Minutes earlier, Kasumi had gone directly up to her room to change clothes after assuring Nodoka and her father that she was, in fact, whole and unharmed after her flight from the city zoo. Soun in particular had been difficult to reassure, fretting like a mother hen over the scrape she had gotten on her arm. Misty followed her occasionally avian twin into their room, and Kasumi blinked to find their TV on, with the volume on low.
"You were recording something?" She asked pointedly, noticing the VCR on as well.
Misty nodded somberly, going over to the VCR to rewind the tape. "The afternoon news. You were on TV, Kasumi, or at least several photos of you... and even some video of you leaving the zoo."
Kasumi sighed. "People do bring cameras to the zoo after all. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised." She started to remove the overalls she had been wearing and nearly jumped in fright as Nabiki barged into the bedroom with them.
"So, how good were the photos?" Nabiki asked worriedly. "Good enough for someone to recognize her face?" Not fazed in the slightest at having walked in on her older sister changing, Nabiki looked over to Misty, then the TV. "Is this the tape?"
Akane was only a step behind their middle sister, and she blushed bright enough for the both of them. "Nabiki!" She screeched quietly, quickly closing the door behind her. "You should knock before you enter a room!"
"Sorry, Kasumi." Nabiki said offhandedly over her shoulder, focused mainly on the TV screen.
"That's alright." Kasumi assured her, already going back to undressing unconcernedly. She hissed slightly as she eased the overalls past the bandage on her leg, catching Akane's immediate attention.
"You ARE hurt!" The younger sister exclaimed in concern, kneeling down to examine the bloody torn sock Kasumi had used to cover the scrape on her leg. "You should get this changed. Does it hurt much?"
Kasumi shook her head. "It stopped bleeding a while ago. It was pretty shallow, really. Not at all serious."
Akane frowned angrily, grinding her teeth. "Did those men at the zoo do this? I swear, if I ever lay my hands on them...."
Kasumi shook her head quickly. "Oh no. I just had a bit of trouble with my landing on that gravel rooftop. I'm sure I'll be able to master landing with a bit more practice."
Akane blinked, suddenly recalling the improbable fact that her older sister had spent part of the afternoon flying over downtown Tokyo and shook her head in amazement. "I still can't believe it that you really... you actually flew, Kasumi!"
"If you can't believe it, see for yourself!" Nabiki said, still staring at the TV screen.
"What?" Akane turned to see quickly, then frowned. "Hey! You passed it! Go back!"
Misty smiled and held up a finger. "One more minute, I'm rewinding to the beginning so we can see the whole report."
Before long Kasumi's bandage was changed and Kasumi herself was in a clean dress, while Misty finished rewinding the tape. The Tendo sisters all sat down to watch, Akane, Kasumi and Nabiki crowding together on the bed while Misty spread out on the floor in front of them. They watched the news program silently, each of them wanting to hear every detail. When Misty sat up to see better, Akane absently reached down and started scratching her furry older sister behind the ear, and didn't really notice what she was doing until the cat-girl started to softly purr, pushing her head lightly against Akane's hand. It was at that point that the anchorman changed the topic away from the mysterious angel spotted over the city, and began to move on to other news.
With the topic on the screen going to less interesting business, Akane finally noticed what she had been unconsciously doing. "Oh!" Akane blinked in surprise, taking her hand away guiltily. "I don't know what came over me."
Misty smiled up at her younger sister. "That felt SO good, Akane. Please don't stop."
Akane hesitated, then shrugged and went back to petting her furred sibling. "OK, Misty... I guess It just seems a little strange to er... be petting my older sister."
Misty laid her head down in Akane's lap with a giggle. "I don't mind, and it feels wonderful. It's one of the perks of being a cat you know. You wouldn't believe how sensitive my fur is...."
Kasumi nodded in confirmation. "It really is nice. When I was stuck as a cat, I loved to be petted.... Johnathon never seemed to mind indulging me, and sometimes he'd just stroke me for hours...."
Misty sighed. "It's nearly better than sex."
Nabiki chuckled. "Oh really!"
Kasumi blushed but Misty just nodded, moving her head against Akane's hand more firmly. "Oh yes. Actually, to tell the truth, as a cat I had very little sex drive, but I loved to be touched."
Nabiki raised an eyebrow at Misty's frankness. "Oh? How about now? Is it much different?"
Misty glanced up at Nabiki thoughtfully. "In some ways." She admitted. "Do you really want to know?" Akane was blushing again, but Kasumi just giggled.
"Actually, yes!" Nabiki said after only a moment's thought. "I've been dying to know what it's like... being half cat. It's got to be a unique experience."
Misty sighed. "One I hope you never have to share, dear sister. Still, it does have it's upside." She paused, then nodded. "It's a bit of what you'd expect, and a whole lot of surprises. I still don't know everything there is about what I am yet, but I can tell you some of it." She smiled softly. "My... fur, my skin is just as sensitive as when I was a full cat... and it's still wonderful to be petted." She shrugged slowly, smiling softly. "As for my... sex drive, it's not as strong, I'm pretty sure of that. I still feel much of what I felt as a human... I am attracted to Johnathon as much as I ever was. I was attracted to him while I was a cat, so I doubt that will ever change, no matter my form, but I don't feel as... excited, not in the same way at least."
Kasumi frowned. "I didn't realize that. You should have talked to me earlier, if you don't...." She blushed. "Well... if Johnathon is too demanding." She blinked. "It's strange that Johnathon never mentioned anything like this."
Misty quickly shook her head. "Oh no, Sister! Johnathon's attentions have never been unwelcome." She glanced at the floor and her voice lowered. If not for her fur there was no doubt she'd have been blushing. "As I said... it feels very good to be touched in this form... VERY good. What I may... lack in... some ways... is made up for and more, I assure you."
Nabiki spoke up, nodding in understanding. "So it's less intense at the good part... but better all the way along, is that it?"
Misty nodded quickly back, still looking embarrassed. "That's it exactly."
Kasumi smiled softly, her eyes getting a warm look in them. "Johnathon is very good with his hands, isn't he?" She shook her head. "Still, Misty, you should have told us, we could please you better if we had...." She blushed again, realizing how personal their conversation had gotten. "Er... I think we've really discussed this enough for now, don't you?"
Nabiki laughed. "I'd say so, big sister, although it is fun!" She leaned over the bed, taking hold of Misty's upper shoulder. "Why don't you climb up in bed with us so we can give you a proper petting? I always wanted a pet...." She blushed bright red. "Not that you're a pet, Misty... sister."
She looked at her furred sibling worriedly. "You're my sister, OK? I love you. I just meant that...." Nabiki was at a loss for words for once, not sure how to explain herself.
Misty shook her head. "I know." She said quietly. "You don't have to explain." She climbed up onto the bed, laying across Nabiki's lap, putting her head on Akane's knees and draping her lower half over Kasumi's lap. "I know." She repeated softly. "And I don't mind being a pet as well." She giggled softly. "Especially if it means I get petted regularly."
Akane couldn't repress a giggle of her own, stroking her older sister's head softly at the same time. "I'll be glad to." She said sincerely. "You have wonderful fur..."
Kasumi smiled broadly as well, barely suppressing her own laughter. "She does, doesn't she?" Misty's human twin scooted down the bed a bit so she could work on Misty's legs and feet better, causing the cat-girl to purr appreciatively in pleasure.
Nabiki shrugged and went to work on Misty's back, running her fingers though the fur of Misty's arms and shoulders most, spending less time on the part of her back still covered by the halter top she was wearing.
Misty let herself relax as her sisters petted her, luxuriating in the sensations until her sharp ears told her that another important segment was about to come on on the news. "Listen to this part coming up." She warned her sisters quietly. "It's about Johnathon."
As the news reporter began a segment on the recent series of monster cat sightings, Misty's three sisters continued to pet her unconsciously, letting their fingers go where they willed without really thinking about it. As the news program went into more detail about the days events, Misty started to grow a bit discontent with the quality of her sisters' petting... not that she would ever complain, but when they weren't concentrating on the matter, they tended to simply stroked the parts of her body that weren't covered by her clothing, concentrating on the fur they could reach instead. After several minutes of growing frustration, Misty slowly reached down and started pulling up her halter top, trying not to get in the way of her sister's hands while she did so.
Nabiki didn't respond to her furred sister's actions consciously at first, simply running her hands over the exposed area as her hands found it, causing Misty to purr gratefully as she reached spots that had started aching for attention. Eager for the wonderful sensations to continue, Misty pulled her top completely off, distracting Akane slightly as she pulled her top over her head.
"Misty...?" Akane started questioningly, then stopped, shrugged, and went back to her petting, focusing back on the TV. <Who cares if Misty takes her top off?> She reasoned, not willing to bug her older sister about it. <It's not like there are any boys in the room... and she's covered with fur, anyway.>
Nabiki also glanced down, raised an eyebrow, then went back to petting. It was nicer, anyways, having that long expanse of luxurious black fur to run her hands though. It was very soothing, really, and Nabiki didn't blame her sister a bit for wanting to get a little more pleasure out of the experience. Not that she'd let her own guard down that far... probably... but she certainly could understand wanting to.
The news program switched to a long segment on the Sailor Senshi, which Misty tuned out, having heard before. Her sisters all watched raptly, however, wanting to know if there was anything new on Mara or Happosai. They continued to pet her, regardless, and Misty squirmed lightly under their hands, barely conscious of a growing need deep inside her that her sisters' attentions were only partially dealing with. With a soft whine that she wasn't even aware of making, Misty undid the buttons on her shorts and pushed them down, letting Nabiki have access to even more of her fur. Kasumi noticed her attempting to remove her shorts without moving too much, and helpfully slipped them the rest of the way off for her before going back to watching the news.
Misty luxuriated in the guilty pleasure of having six pairs of hands stroke her now naked, if still quite furry body, purring somewhere down deep in her belly in pleasure. At the same time, however, the need in her grew, filling her with a sensation that was starting to get more and more overwhelming.
As the news program finally switched to the local weather, Nabiki glanced down to find Misty now laying naked across her lap, and raised her eyebrow even higher than before. "No offense, Sis, but this is pretty strange...." She shook her head and shrugged. "Of course most other people's sisters aren't half feline...." She increased the vigor of her stroking slightly and smiled at the increased volume of her sister's purr in response. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Nabiki chuckled. "Well so long as you don't start masturbating I guess I don't...." Her voice trailed off.
"You're not...." For once in her life Nabiki actually sounded shocked. "Misty! I can't believe...!" Nabiki stopped petting her older sister in shock, almost throwing Misty off her as she stood up.
Akane and Kasumi both blushed crimson as they noticed Misty's hand firmly planted between her legs. Akane's eyes bulged and Kasumi looked like she had been the one caught in the act instead of her twin.
"Misty!" Kasumi said, sounding appalled . "I really don't think that's appropriate...."
The cat-girl gasped and rolled off the bed, her hands going wide to catch herself as she hit the floor. "Oh!" Misty landed on her back, her eyes wide and looking as horrified as Akane or Nabiki had ever seen her. "Oh! N-Nabiki... Akane... I... I don't know what... I'm sorry! I'm SOO sorry!"
Nabiki stood shakily and swallowed, not quite able to look her sister in the eyes, but not able to look away either. "No big deal." She said calmly, her voice only shaking slightly. "Forget about it."
Akane started to stand as well, then thought better of it, sitting back down and smoothing out the wrinkles in her pants slowly. "That's OK, Misty... we're sisters, right?" Her voice quavered, and her face was strained, and Misty winced away from her both of her younger sisters, staring at the ground in embarrassment.
"What was I...?" She murmured quietly to herself, trying desperately to ignore the fire now raging inside her. "How could I?"
She felt a hand take her by the shoulder gently, and Akane spoke to her softly. "Misty... forget about it, really. We all just got a bit carried away. I think anyone would... well, find it hard to resist...." She laughed softly, shaking her head. "I never thought I'd be telling my big sister that it's OK to... but... after everything I've done in the last month, I don't have any right to be taking the moral high ground with you."
Misty shook her head. "What you do with your husband...."
Akane's laugh almost sounded like she was choking. "Not just him... Ranko too, and Ukyo... nearly. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
Nabiki's eyes were wide. "AND Ukyo nearly? What you you mean by NEARLY?"
Kasumi put a hand on Nabiki's shoulder. "Why don't we leave it at that... and let's go downstairs. We should tell the others about what we've seen...." Her younger sisters looked at her in astonishment and she rolled her eyes just slightly. "I mean on the television. They should know how much the press knows by now." Akane and Nabiki nodded quickly in understanding and didn't resist a bit as Kasumi herded them out of the room, leaving Misty alone inside.
Kasumi glanced back at her twin before closing the door, but Misty didn't meet her gaze, staring at the floor in shame, and Kasumi reluctantly left her there. There was something very strange going on, but Kasumi was at a loss to as what to do about it.
*********************************
Johnathon brought Dr. Tofu outside only a few steps ahead of Sailor Mars, who followed just behind them with a slightly steaming kettle. Johnathon stopped several steps away, obstinately fighting a suddenly returned urge to go to her himself. Inside the house his head had cleared and he could hardly credit his earlier behavior, but once outside and in Shampoo's presence once again he found the urge to go to her... and more, resurfacing as strong as before, if not stronger. He held himself back, however, refusing to let an impulse rule him, no matter how seductive.
Dr. Tofu's glasses fogged up as he knelt next to Shampoo and Sailor Jupiter, and he stopped dead in confusion. "Sha... Shampoo???" He stammered nervously. "What a strange coincidence... meeting you here... of all places...." He reached over Shampoo and grabbed hold of Sailor Jupiter's arm, automatically checking her pulse. "Let me see... your heart rate seems fine...."
Jupiter pulled her arm free with a grunt. "Er, doctor, Shampoo is down here. I'm Sailor Jupiter."
Dr. Tofu blinked, his glasses unfogging for just an instant. "Oh? Oh yes, I was wondering why you didn't have any fur on your arm...."
Sailor Mars came up behind the doctor, holding up the kettle questioningly. "Shampoo... did you still want this?" Shampoo nodded vigorously and Mars stepped around Doctor Tofu to pour a good dose on the cat-girl's head. Shampoo instantly reverted to her human form and in moments her breathing started to slow.
"That is better." She commented softly to Sailor Mars. "Thank you." Shampoo turned her attention to the befuddled doctor, eyebrows going up in interest as he babbled on incoherently for awhile. Jupiter helped the purple haired Amazon sit up straight, and couldn't help noticing that her breathing was still rather quick, and that her nipples were showing just a bit through the large gap in the front of her dress.
"Er... Shampoo...." Jupiter coughed twice and inclined her eyes toward the Amazon's chest area pointedly. Shampoo blinked and looked down, blushing only slightly before pulling her dress together with one hand. Dr. Tofu blinked several times and shook his head, his glasses starting to clear up, and Sailor Jupiter raised an eyebrow in sudden speculation.
Shampoo herself was looking speculatively at the good doctor as he came back to himself, although at the same time she was still visibly trying to calm herself down. "You would like to know what happened to me, yes?"
Dr. Tofu was still too out of it to correct her, and simply nodded. "What DID happen to you, Shampoo? Johnathon came in saying that you had collapsed?"
Shampoo nodded slowly, frowning. "It hasn't happened for awhile... but when Shampoo... when I spent a long time in my cat form... like right after I first got the curse, and had myself shipped to Ranma...." She shook her head wryly, remembering. "I learned a bit about really being a cat."
Dr. Tofu blinked. "Then your collapse had something to do with being a cat?"
Shampoo nodded, looking slightly reluctant to continue. "...yes." She sighed and shrugged. "It was a bit different... but there is no mistaking it...."
Sailor Venus broke in when Shampoo hesitated again. "You went into heat, didn't you!"
Shampoo blushed. "Shampoo... I prefer to say in season... but yes." She frowned again. "It was... stronger than before... I don't know why. It came on all of a sudden as well. It was never pleasant... but it was never like this before."
Johnathon shivered, then nodded. "Oh. That explains...." He coughed, then put a hand behind his head sheepishly. "I'm glad that going back to your human form stopped it."
Shampoo shrugged. "It is only temporary, unfortunately." She frowned. "It didn't happen often before, but whenever I... went into season, it didn't end until I spent enough time in my cat form to ride it out."
Johnathon blanched. "You mean it's not over?"
Shampoo sighed. "The last few times it lasted for at least two days... two days of being a cat, that is. Great grandmother made me stay a cat until I finished my cycle each time it happened, so that I wouldn't be distracted every time I was splashed with cold water." She chewed on her lip. "It's going to be bad this time." Shampoo smiled slightly, glancing at Dr. Tofu thoughtfully, causing the doctor to break out in a cold sweat.
Johnathon looked worried. "I'm sorry about that, Shampoo... do you think Misty will...." He shrugged, answering his own question. "Of course she will." The half-cat man raised an eyebrow curiously. "Do you think you could talk to her about it? If you might have any advice on how to handle it, I'm sure she'd appreciate it."
Shampoo nodded, standing up calmly, still holding her dress closed with one hand. "I believe Kasumi should still have a spare one of my dresses as well." She headed into the house. The Senshi, Johnathon and Dr. Tofu followed, but the moment they got inside Johnathon stopped dead, a tremor going through his entire body as a now familiar urge went though him, stronger than ever.
Almost against his will a foot moved toward the staircase, then another, slowly taking the half-cat closer. Akane and Nabiki came down the tairs, looking confused, and they were even more surprised to see Johnathon coming right for them, his shirt torn and a glassy eyed stare on his face.
Kasumi came down the stairs a bit behind her sisters, and was too preoccupied to realize how strangely he was acting. "Husband... I think you should go up and check on Misty...." She blinked as he accelerated past her without speaking, his tail lightly lashing her as he passed. "Oh my!" She gazed after him in confusion. "What do you think that is about?"
Dr. Tofu himself seemed about to go into a daze, but he shook his head, controlling the impulse. "I think I might be able to guess...."
Shampoo nodded vigorously, cracking a sly smile. "Misty is in season as well, yes? I don't think Johnathon-san will be coming down any time soon."
Kasumi blinked, then snapped her fingers. "Of course!" She smiled, looking relieved. "That explains why Misty was acting so strangely!" Akane and Nabiki exchanged incredulous glances, then rounded on Shampoo together.
"What do you mean she's gone into season?!?" Akane loudly demanded to know.
"Are you you saying what I think you're saying?" Nabiki added a moment later.
Shampoo nodded confidently, drawing the Tendo sister's eyes to her torn dress. "Johnathon is acting just like he did outside with me... only this time I don't think he'll try and stop himself...."
Akane's eyes bulged. "Johnathon did that?" Her hands tightened into fists as a bright blue aura sprang up around her. "I'll kill him!"
In contrast, Nabiki's eyes narrowed and she peered closer at the Amazon girl. "Oh? What really happened out there, Shampoo?"
Kasumi raised her hand to her mouth in shock. "Oh my! You don't mean Johnathon...." She shook her head calmly. "I don't believe it. He would never...."
Sailor Venus jumped between Akane and Shampoo, putting her hands over Akane's fists. "It's not what you think!" She insisted. "Nothing happened! I mean something almost happened but they stopped!"
Shampoo glanced down at her torn dress again and blinked. "No! Shampoo... I didn't mean that Johnathon did this...." She frowned slightly. "Well he did do this... but when we were fighting, not when we were... when I...." She held up a hand. "Wait... this is hard to explain."
Nabiki pretended to look astonished. "You think?"
Jupiter jumped in helpfully. "You were sparring, and Johnathon was showing you how to use your claws, right?"
Shampoo nodded. "Only I got angry... because I wasn't feeling very good, and I tore his shirt... and when I pulled away from him I tore my dress too." She shrugged. "But it was an accident."
Sailor Venus nodded. "Because Shampoo went into heat too! But they didn't actually do anything! Shampoo just collapsed and Johnathon went into the house to get Dr. Tofu... although he was acting like he didn't really want to go... but that was just... pheromones or something, right Dr. Tofu?"
Dr. Tofu was doing his best to stay focused on the conversation without either loosing his temper or his increasingly precarious hold on his libido, but he nodded shakily. "I suspect so." He answered slowly. "All... indications are that...." He swallowed, doing his best not to glance at either Shampoo or Kasumi. "That they are... very powerful."
Shampoo moved slowly over to the doctor's side, glancing knowingly at him and nodding. "You did act... strange outside... like you couldn't think straight. You thought Sailor Jupiter was Shampoo... and even tried to take her pulse."
Akane and Nabiki both blinked, then moved over to the doctor as well, peering at him sideways. "You know Doc...." Nabiki began. "That sounds awfully familiar. Do you think you were affected by whatever pheromones Shampoo was giving off?"
Dr. Tofu hesitated, then nodded. "I think so. I believe that... Misty is probably also giving off... er... similar signals." He purposely took a step back, then another, finally ending up back outside in the yard. "I can't be sure without testing... but since Shampoo and Misty are both half human, they may give off pheromones that humans are susceptible to as well...." He scratched his head. "Although they almost certainly would be more effective on another half-cat."
Akane looked uncertain. "Do you really think Misty is... in heat?" She finished in a rush, blushing.
Nabiki glanced up the stairs thoughtfully, then nodded. "Oh yeah. Do you think our big sister could act like she was up there otherwise? I think Johnathon's going to be busy for quite a while." She glanced at Shampoo curiously. "How is it that you and Misty both went into mating season at the same time? Isn't that an awfully strange coincidence?"
Shampoo shrugged. "I have no idea. I've never been a half-cat, half girl before. Who knows what's normal?"
Kasumi looked thoughtful. "Well... perhaps its like... that time of the month? Akane, Nabiki and my cycles are all about the same, perhaps this is similar?"
Shampoo shook her head. "But Misty and I haven't really spent that much time together.... Could it just be a coincidence?"
Nabiki frowned. "I don't believe in coincidences... at least not in this neighborhood. Something triggered this, or you two wouldn't have started so close together."
Shampoo frowned as well. "You think there is another reason?"
Nabiki shrugged. "I haven't the foggiest... but I'll believe that over coincidence, any day."
Upstairs, Johnathon Dwire/Tendo pulled the bedroom door open slowly, forcing himself not to rip it from it's hinges. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with the same deliberate slowness, his whole body starting to shake. Misty lay on the floor, her legs spread, one hand gripping the corner of the bed covers tightly where they came to the floor, and the other between her spread legs. She had frozen stiff when the door had opened, and her eyes fixed on him steadily, her focus now completely on her husband.
"John...." Her voice was shaky and difficult to understand, and she swallowed twice before speaking again, her eyes full of pain. "I... I can't stop...." She choked and looked away, suddenly too ashamed to look him in the eye. "Please... please...."
The male half-cat took a halting step toward her, then another, finally falling to his knees only inches away from touching her. "Don't... don't cry, Misty." He started. "It... it'll be alright."
Misty shook her head. "How can it...? What's wrong with me?!?" She shook her head wildly in denial. "I can't control myself! What's happening?"
Johnathon Dwire/Tendo shook with the effort it took to keep himself at arms length. "You... you're in heat.... That's got to be it."
Misty shook her head in confusion, then blinked as understanding finally came. "Oh dear...." She suddenly looked up at her husband again, as if for the first time, and nodded in understanding. "It's... it's affecting you too, isn't it?" He nodded quickly, not speaking, just staring at her like a man dying of thirst would an oasis, and Misty felt an incredible surge of joy. "Then... this is right. What we're feeling... it's for each other...." She beamed at him, holding out her arms. "Come to me Johnathon. Don't fight it anymore. This is RIGHT." Like a switch being snapped, Johnathon fell upon her, and there was nothing more for either one of them to say.
End Chapter 31
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