Right Moments 6

Author:
Judah

“337 Split Ends”

The best action, since he wasn’t ready for magic, was progressing to that stage.  He couldn’t become physically better, and thought he had nearly perfect ki-control.  Aside from new, unknown techniques, his progress in the martial arts had dead-ended.

As always, when he had a problem, he went to the best thinker he understood the motivations of.

***

“The short numerical name for that variation on the sex act is sixty-eight dot two Nabiki.”  The middle Tendo nodded graciously, apparently Ranma shared her hidden perverted depths.  Maybe he’d been reading her manga?

“Now here’s a tough one.  Put yourself in my place; refusing to do so constitutes a default on our game.  Years after you’ve arrived in Nerima, you’ve mastered the repertoire of the Old Freak, can go to a standstill with the Old Ghoul, and are stuck at a plateau in your abilities.  You want to become better in the Martial Arts without messing with magic... how?  You may ask questions for clarification.”

Silently thinking for a time, Nabiki mused.  “Hmm... interesting Saotome. Knowing how spineless you are with women, I assume you haven’t married, possibly have another few fiancées, and are still a virgin?”

Looking ashamed, Ranma nodded.

“Have ‘I’ also mastered the lesser techniques of the local gang of home wreckers, like Ryouga’s way of turning cloth sharp, the Breaking Point, the Shark Fist, Mousse’s hidden weapons, and Shampoo’s memory altering techniques?”

Slowly nodding, Ranma realized much remained to learn.

Taking the nod for assent, Nabiki continued... “Ok then, obviously ‘I’ need to branch out into weapons and technology.  If a random gaijin with a gun could kill me, ‘I’m’ not much of an artist of war.  Which isn’t to say ‘I’ should neglect training with older, more traditional weapons.  Anything Goes, right?”

Smiling, Ranma beheld dozens of new horizons.

Like a rogue wolf detecting weakness, Nabiki went for the kill:  “My turn. Saotome, please explain to me how Martial Arts and Marital Arts are identical.  Diagrams and demonstrations are acceptable.”  The last statement was seductive and daring, and emphasized by Nabiki sliding off the sleeve of her shirt, exposing her naked shoulder.

With a strangled “Ok ‘biki you win gotta go!” Ranma was outta there.

Sighing, the mercenary Tendo switched off her tape recorder, wondered what Ranma would be like if he had balls.

****

“Baikusai Tenketsu!”  One week to learn, and painful.  Though he lacked Ryoga’s toughness from the boulder-build-up training, he found constructing a protective-ki shield against the debris came naturally.

****

“Yuck!”  Ranma wondered if his unconscious father ever washed that bandana. Cleansing it swiftly with a rapid application of hot and cold ki, Kasumi’s startled squeal shocked him.

Appearing beside him with bright starry eyes, the eldest Tendo invaded his personal space, placing her hands on his shoulders and gazing piercingly into his face.  “Ranma-san,” she said in a serious tone, “if you want me to continue cooking meals, you’re teaching me that!”

Not used the calm home-maker’s closeness, Ranma stuttered “Er, Um, Ok Kasumi, ask me tomorrow morning and we’ll start.”

Releasing him with a sincere “Thank you very much!”  Kasumi bowed deeply and returned to her kitchen, imagining chores ending almost instantly with a puff of energy.

Mastering the Iron-Cloth technique took two hours, compared to his greater ki-blasts, ‘twas child’s play.

****

“HA!”

A huge shark-like wave of water and koi knocked her father out in mid-leap.

“That was easy; just like the Buzzing Fist with air, or the Stationary Grapple with stone...”

Feeling a lightness on her head, Ranma noticed the koi she usually woke under had fainted and fallen off.

“Hmmm...” Mischievously, she snuck in the house, stopped Kasumi from her usual duty, and knocked loudly on Nabiki’s door.

“Mxlkjdsf!”  Stated a tired mumble from the other side.  Bedding rustled.

Knocking again, an annoyed voice accompanied by dressing sounds replied, “This better be good -- who is it and what do you want?”  Kasumi left after the first knock.

In the same sugary voice she used to con food vendors out of sweets, Ranma- chan giggled “Dojo Shark, Tee Hee!”

Perpetually undone by her own curiosity, the middle Tendo opened her bedroom door.

“HA!”

Smiling at how the Shark Fist was adaptable to any surface, Ranma enjoyed the sight of her friend laid out and surprised.

Rising from a tangle of boards and tatami, Nabiki looked out her new window where a wall used to be.  Cheerily, sunlight shone upon her brow.  So this was his revenge for the wedding?

Faint snoring sounded nearby.  How did Akane sleep with her window open like that?

“You realize you’re paying for this Saotome?”  The accusation was delivered in heated whisper.

Nodding happily Ranma beamed “Nabiki’s room... 100,000 yen... the look on her face... priceless!”

“Alright then.” Nabiki whispered back.  “Let’s hurry before Kasumi wakes Akane!”

Ranma wasn’t worried; the tomboy only woke up from Kasumi’s cheerful voice, or his name shouted with lust or extreme anger.  By now, he had a huge branching mental flow-chart, mapping events precisely.

Carefully opening the door, which still had a little yellow duck with her sister’s nameplate, Nabiki glanced inside her sibling’s room, checking her sister wasn’t naked or something.

Instead, Akane sprawled inelegantly across her bedding, like she had won a fight with her blanket.  Glancing in, Ranma thought she looked adorable.

“Oh little sister?”  Nabiki’s spot-on Kasumi imitation roused Akane from the depths of slumber, and she rubbed her eyes.  Quickly making eye contact with her partner in crime, Nabiki nodded.

“HA!”

Akane greeted the morning with a merry fanfare:

“IEeeeeeeEEEE!  Ranma... and NA-Biki!”

Crumbled flooring halted the youngest Tendo’s berserker’s lunge as she tripped into a botched forward roll.  When she recovered, the perpetrators had escaped.  ‘My own sister!  Just wait until I get to her room!’

Akane’s frustrated scream upon learning she’d been pre-empted in revenge shook the foundations of the Tendo House.

****

Having led him on a mad chase into a nearby empty lot, the red-head turned and waited for the idiot’s arrival.

To help them start, she added “Aiyah, stupid duck-boy never defeat Ranma!” Ranma-chan was wearing one of Shampoo’s dresses left behind after a quick dash of water, the reason Mousse followed blindly.

Enraged at his nemesis, the hidden weapons master yelled for the twenty- sixth day in row “Saotome!  Prepare to die for your crimes against Xian Pu!”

A barrage of chains and other weapons shot at Ranma, and Mousse didn’t seem to notice they vanished as fast as they appeared.

Around an hour later, an unconscious duck quack-groaned under fifty pounds of twisted metal and wood.  ‘This pile of broken garbage used to be fine Amazon weapons, but the duck was never really a man.’  Such thoughts cheered Ranma, as she walked away whistling.  Longer than expected; if the blind boy bothered using the ki required in a useful way, he’d be a decent sparring partner.

Hidden weapons handicapped a fighter by tying their ki up in rigid patterns.  Maybe that was why only male Amazons ‘mastered’ it.  However it didn’t take much to hide a small amount, like a change of clothes, or two maces and a sword.

****

“A-heh, heh!” Blushed Shampoo, “Why you want know that technique Ranma?”

He’d never gotten such a response from Shampoo before.  Normally she was too busy rubbing herself against him.  Why was she blushing? This was the Shampoo who enjoyed sneaking naked into his bath, and kept putting his hands on her chest.  What was she thinking?

**Flashback**

A nude Shampoo is bathing in a mountain stream in the wilds of China.  She hears a thud and a moan, and is startled, glancing around.

Quickly making a dagger appear in her hands, she slinks over to the sound’s source.

She sees the hated red-haired girl, passed out with a nosebleed and her left hand down her pants.  Announcing, “Ranma, you I kill!”  Shampoo drives the dagger right at the red head’s throat....

Only to have her oblivious enemy roll suddenly away.

Undeterred, the unclothed warrior maiden repeats similar attacks.  Around the tenth stabbing, the pleasantly unconscious redhead bumps her assailant after dodging, forcing a loss of balance.  Windmilling madly, the Amazon slides into a full split, and feels oddly uncomfortable.

Now really upset, the purple haired majesty removes the sleeping girl’s sticky left-handed fingers from between her legs, and tosses the dagger away in disgust.

Pulling out a bottle labeled 862, she mutters in her native tongue “I might not be able to kill you now, but you won’t be getting any more satisfaction from me!”

As it is not a known attack, the sleeping girl doesn’t dodge.

Hearing the voice of the older man she’s seen in the company of the kissed- to-die girl, Shampoo quickly retreats to the stream where she washes herself vigorously and dresses.

Watching a panda run away with the slumbering enemy, she yells with renewed enthusiasm “Ranma, you I kill!” and gives chase.

**end FB**

“Airen, there is reason Shampoo tell you only she can make you truly happy!”

With an unusually perceptive deduction, catching the attention of Cologne, Ranma returned, “If this reason exists Shampoo, why haven’t you used it before?”

Sounding sad, Shampoo spoke: “Xi Fa Xiang Gao Shiatsu technique is not only useful as a weapon Ranma.  Shampoo use it on self when hunt for girl-type Ranma after first meeting.  Not want to remember or feel things in way of kiss of death.  After Phoenix Mountain, Shampoo not sure if she has any magic on her from bird peoples, so she use formula 337, Universal Nullifier.  Not realize 337 erase other formulas from Xi Fa Xiang Gao.” Making an effort, the young Amazon girl said slowly, “I remembered experiences I am not proud of, but to be with you, my love, I will do anything.”

Appearing beside them, Cologne asked gently, “Great-grand daughter, did you remember your mother’s death?”

Bowing her head, Shampoo answered in Mandarin.  “Yes, great-grandmother.  I also remember the Love Me Most technique, why girl-type Ranma doesn’t know the true joys of womanhood, and the elder’s council after I returned in disgrace from Japan.”

Completely aware of Ranma’s comprehension of the language, Cologne inquired, “Now that you know no punishment will come from failing in marrying Ranma, and remember that which destroyed poor Mu Tsu, what do you plan?”

Still in Mandarin, the girl sounded unhappy with her answer, “The Love Me Most technique is a terrible weapon, I will never use it frivolously, and will only unseal it to save the life of another.  This I swear a warrior’s oath upon.  I do not know what to do about Ranma.  I am in love, but I wish him his own happiness, perhaps that is what love really is?”

Returning to Japanese, the withered elder cackled “Wisdom never warms your bed child!  Did you realize 862 carries over between curses with Jusenkyo victims?”

No she hadn’t.

“Aiyah!” Exclaimed Shampoo happily, “Ranma, Shampoo teach you antidote for Xi Fa Xiang Gao Shiatsu technique, only if we bathe together, and you spend the entire day afterwards with Shampoo!  Will be lots of fun!”

Shuddering, Ranma slowly backed away from the young Amazon; her smile and aura looked remarkably like Happosai’s when he fondled lingerie.

This information – he needed to think about it.  The last words he heard upon escaping the Cat Café especially disturbed him:  “Not running after him great-grand-daughter?”  “No hiba-chan, if Ranma ever want to really be man, he come with Shampoo.”  Disturbing laughter followed him out into the street.

*******

The reactions of to his little problem amused, surprised, and angered him. He swore each to secrecy before giving them the droopy, dreary details. Thankfully, he received an answer quickly.



“Ranma no Hentai!”  Akane embedded him in the wall with a nearby barbell. Really, he should have known better.



“Your problem isn’t magical in nature.” Diagnosed Devil Hunter Kodachi. “I might be able to use magic to circumvent it; would you like me to try?” Wanting an absolute solution, Ranma declined.



“My son, the best way to solve this problem, is sleeping with lots of women.  Now go out and do your mother proud!”  Nodoka’s worldview puzzled him, but he loved his mother.  Eventually, Ranma resolved to drag the story of how his parents met out of the old panda.



“Well it certainly explains a lot.”  Ukyo sounded wise and vaguely vindicated.  “I really want to help Ranchan!”  Gently removing the chef’s exploring hands, Ranma decided to try someone without any agendas involving him.



Distraught, Kasumi hugged Ranma.  They were alone together in her room, which had been quite difficult to arrange.  “Why, I don’t know what I’d do if I suddenly couldn’t!  Both your forms?”

Ranma nodded miserably.  She was a girl; it made Kasumi feel easier about their topic of conversation.

“Would you like my help?  I won’t actually touch you, but I think I might have a solution to your problem.”

“With anyone else, I’d refuse, but I trust you Kasumi.  Tell me what to do.”

“Okay, this might feel a bit odd at first, but please lie on my bed, take off your clothing, and close your eyes.”

Before following the older girl’s instructions, Ranma made sure the door was locked and the curtains closed.  She positioned herself with her legs apart, feeling very exposed.

“Don’t worry about hygiene, I wash this every morning before I bathe.” Kasumi’s reassurance wasn’t, as Ranma heard a loud vibrating noise.

^_-

Thirty minutes later:  “I’m sorry Ranma, your physical reactions are completely normal, are you sure you didn’t feel anything special?”

“No Kasumi, just a tingling sensation, sort of like a nerve lock wearing off, though this one never does.  Touching my chest feels better than that, but doesn’t let me, um, you know.”

“Well, I tried.  Please wipe with this towel, dress, and give me some privacy for a bit.  Helping you has been, um, frustrating for me.”

Doing as instructed, and noting the damp spot on the older Tendo’s dress, Ranma thanked Kasumi and left.  If marriage meant merely trust, he’d marry Kasumi in a heartbeat.  She was the understanding elder sister he’d always wished for.

His female side was out of bounds, but what about as a guy?

****

Wow, it made him somewhat sick his mother encouraged this plan.  But she was the same woman who advised girls to let their potential grooms see them naked as a way of getting dates.

Interrupting Kasumi’s dinner o’ beef bowl, Nodoka spoke haughtily:  “I have decided after the events following the wedding which wasn’t, Ranma isn’t manly.  This distressing matter came fully into my attention this afternoon.  Unless my son shows me the bloody sheets by midnight, I judge him unmanly and worthy only of swift end.”

Tearfully, Akane volunteered, right on cue.

His worries about rising to the occasion fled, when his hypocritical tomboy put on a strip act.  Sure, he promised marriage later, but tonight had no deeper meaning than an experiment.

He hit her sleep point three minutes in.  Akane took to the sex act with the same concentration she reserved for cooking.  She utterly ignored the world, and used what she though was the method exemplar.

Feeling bruised, contused (her bloody nail marks covered his back), and violated, Ranma left the room.  He limped the sheets over to his mother, and retired.  The only blood on them was his.

‘Intimacy’ with Akane felt like getting a knee to the balls. (She had managed that twice.)  Why had he promised himself she would be his first?

****

Well Ranma suspected his problem was a formula of Xi Fa Xiang Gao, and he speculated others suffered holes in their minds.

How to learn the technique without bedding an Amazon?

****

“But Airen, we both know you better than Shampoo... that is why Shampoo hunt you to ends of Earth!”

Challenging the Amazon for the technique had been a bust.

“What about if I fought your great-grandmother instead?”

Cackles answered his question:  “Sonny-boy this is too fun for me to be involved!  I decline.”  Perfectly balanced on her staff, the old matriarch watched his futile struggle with amusement.

“Aiyah Airen, Shampoo feel unloved right now!  Best way to learn technique is make Shampoo feel special.”  Stepping away, the bouncy girl wiggled suggestively, asking to be chased.

“Well what about if I gave ya a handicap?”  The stress of the situation brought out an older speech pattern.

“A fine idea son-in-law... in fact I have just the thing:  with your consent, Shampoo will use Xi Fa Xiang Gao Shiatsu on you, taking away your knowledge of martial arts, little by little.  Multiple exposures will teach *you *(an emphasis on the word, as if no else could learn it that way) Xi Fa Xiang Gao Shiatsu... after you no longer have Musubetsu Kakuto Ryuu, you’ll fight Shampoo.  If you win, she’ll give you the antidote and you’ll know the technique.  If she wins... well I think my heir gets a wonderful husband, and you will come willingly.”

“Let me think.”  Ranma dropped lotus-style onto the floor.

Time passed.  Shampoo came over and sat upon his crossed legs, bringing their crotches into alignment; if not for clothing, they would be joined. She wrapped her arms around him, and squeezed.

Miraculously, they went undisturbed:  Akane was in school, Ukyo remained sequestered at the Ucchan’s, and Mousse lay unconscious under a broken pile of hidden weapons in an abandoned lot.

Snuggling closer, molding herself on him, Shampoo appeared content.

Distracted, Ranma rose to his feet, almost dislodging the grabby Amazon. Detachedly, he noticed his body’s reaction to Shampoo’s ministrations, and shoved her off.

“I accept, provided you swear on both your honors no tricks will be involved beyond the terms previously stated.”

Bowing solemnly, the Amazon contingent swore.

Shampoo could perform Xi Fa Xiang Gao successfully in about five seconds. It took over an hour before their fight began in back of the Cat Café, officiated by Cologne.

Seeking to end everything quickly, the Amazon struck with a blindly fast combo, only to have Ranma dodge.

He retaliated with three clumsy punches she easily sidestepped and turned into a throw, only to watch in amazement as he flipped onto his feet from mid-air.

Upon hearing Cologne’s laughter, Shampoo realized her Airen’s reflexes weren’t disabled, despite his mental handicap.  She had wanted to use other formulas too, but a promise was a promise.

Satisfied with her brilliant reasoning, Shampoo almost failed to dodge when Ranma clasped his hands together in a gun-like shape, and shot a murky brown ki-bullet at her.

The matriarch on the sidelines smiled; Ranma didn’t consider guns to be worthy of the moniker ‘martial arts,’ and had developed the trick with unusual foresight.  She could tell the emotion used was frustrated confusion.

As the best of her village’s age bracket, Shampoo felt respect and a little awe for her Airen.  But no amount of dodging or untrained skill could stop a highly competent martial artist of her caliber.  Right now, all Ranma knew was how to point and shoot.

Shampoo would never know how close she came to defeat:  Ranma had halfway finished the Chilling Lips of Death.  His brain labeled the technique under the headings of ‘sex’ and  ‘desperation defense:  female disablement.’  He jumped the foot sweep and flowed around a spinning crescent kick while airborne, but his position after the dodged bonbouri jab left him completely open.  Shampoo’s precision karate chop hit his carotid artery, ending the battle.

Dodging didn’t matter if your opponent thought five moves ahead, cutting off the avenues of escape.

The plane for China left that evening, with a quiet celebration.

****

Awakening with her koi, Ranma remembered, and blushed.  She swiftly exited the pond, switching gender.

Engaging his father in an exhaustive sparring session, Ranma dragged the panda back from the breakfast table twice.  His skills regained, he now understood Xi Fa Xiang Gao Shiatsu enough to selectively remove a person’s ability.

He didn’t know the antidote, he didn’t know which formula was used, and he clearly remembered Shampoo’s successful seduction.  Enjoying the experience in both forms, Ranma had felt what she had never dreamed possible.

Suspecting an antidote for bedroom inabilities was used during his unconsciousness, Ranma’s thoughts screamed his betrayal:  ‘Traitors!  I’ll never marry an Amazon now!’  Silently, despite his rage, Ranma acknowledged his bodies really wanted Shampoo again.  It had been glorious.

****

“Saotome, that’ll be 20,000 yen.”  The local expert on betrayal wasn’t cheap, especially when you bought her discretion.

Nabiki learned everything, and helped further his plans.  Her outraged sympathy comforted him; the mercenary girl honestly believed some areas were completely off limits.

****

“So the formula for memories is 110, for sexual response is 862, and the universal nullifier is 337?”  Ranma looked through Shampoo’s dresser with interest; dozens of formulas were jumbled together next to anti-pervert ofuda and her clean panties.  The garments had anti-demon charms sewn expertly on them in silver thread.

“Yes, my love.  Would you like me to demonstrate the antidote again, before we leave for China tomorrow?”  The naked Amazon spoke slowly, in perfect Japanese.

“Sure, but on who?”

“Stick-boy, Crazy-girl, Violent-Girl, and Pig-boy all under Xi Fa Xiang Gao.  Try using on Chef too, but ki application no work right.  Chef just thank for refreshing beauty treatment, say it good for split ends.”

“On second thought, Shampoo stay with me for now.”  Obviously he needed to learn the effects of everything to master the technique... it could take weeks!

Upon seeing her husbands spaced out smile while he looked her over, the Amazon relaxed and closed her eyes.

Finding herself as cat in the mail to Murray’s Snack Shop, (c/o Taiwan Cuisine) thirty minutes later came as a complete surprise.

****

After using 337 on herself the next morning, Ranma spent five minutes preening in the mirror.  Formula three hundred thirty seven really did do wonders for split ends!

****

Two months later, when Ranma had completely mastered the formulas of Shampoo’s techniques, he felt saddened.  He had further improved upon Xi Fa Xiang Gao until he no longer needed the formulas themselves to use it. Merely massaging someone’s head allowed him to alter memories, skills, and physical responses.  It took between five seconds and twenty minutes, depending on the desired response.

Self-deception failed, since he practiced with complete acceptance as his primary ki-focus.  While embracing zazen, Ranma begrudgingly admitted he didn’t want to stop sleeping with Shampoo.  He felt infatuation without trust.  He felt betrayal and lust.  He felt himself falling in love.

Hiding in Ukyo’s embrace was futile.  His best friend didn’t feel dangerous or half-way forbidden, and wasn’t nearly that intense.  She felt safe and comforting.  Ucchan only awkwardly slept with Ranma as a girl right now, a pale substitute for Shampoo’s offered wildness.

With his perfection of the techniques, Ranma wanted to know what everyone didn’t remember.

****

“Kami-sama!” Screamed Akane in murderous rage.  “Ryouga is P-chan!”

Holding Akane while she broke down, Ranma could feel only contempt for Shampoo.

“Ranma this is all Shampoo’s fault!  I’m sorry!  All this time, when you and Ryouga were telling me the truth, I tuned it out completely...”

Those words, he never expected them out of Akane’s mouth...  ‘Good thing she doesn’t quite remember Ryouga’s real conversations with me.  The pig’d bacon for sure then!’

****

“Zounds!  It seems the might Blue Thunder did actually lose in battle...  how could this be?  Saotome isn’t really a sorcerer?“

“Does this mean you finally realize I have a curse, and there is no pig- tailed girl?”  Ranma-chan’s hope illuminated her face.

“Don’t be ridiculous my love.  Obviously that foul hypnotist Saotome sent whatever tampered with my memories.  He might not be a sorcerer, but the only way for me to lose is bewitchment!  I will not allow it!  Now, with my weakness acknowledged, I can learn from my mistakes and free you from his clutches at last!”

Sighing, Ranma left the ranting Kuno behind; Shampoo had obviously over- estimated his intelligence when she covered all the bases.

****

“I remember now... Ranma-sama get out of the way!”

A black mist rose from Kodachi’s body, primarily from her head, and coalesced into a cloud of mouths, teeth, and eyes.

“By the nine spokes of heaven, grant me skill to overcome the corruption of eternity!”

With a flash, the Devil Hunter stood triumphant, and summoned her weapon, prey in sight.

“Sharp Edge of Nirvana!”  Ranma threw hundreds of tendrils of ki at the demon, each different in emotion, intensity, power, and size.  The thing belched forth a black wall of infernal power, which absorbed most of the attack.  Those threads not affected, passed straight though the creature, destroying a wall of Kodachi’s bedroom.

“Brute force won’t banish a Sanity Drinker, please stay clear Ranma!” Kodachi’s clipped tone bespoke intense concentration.

As the demon turned its attention back onto the Devil Hunter, she struck. Her blade glowing sky blue, she slashed the air around the thing into a seal.  The constraint flew together with a thundering reverberation.  The cloud of fangs spat black darkness from twenty mouths in answer, but the counter merely sizzled against the spell structure before fading into a brimstone stench.

The seal quickly encircled the mouths and teeth, holding them tightly, while dozens of mismatched eyes glared malevolently at the prison.  Dark cracks appeared in the bindings.

“By the silvery storms of righteous, I banish thee from this existence. Return to thy own aspect!”

As the constraining ward disintegrated, Kodachi cleaved the entity in two, and the smaller half vanished with a belch of smoke.

The larger remainder, now the size of a dog, staggered backwards under a beam of stark white serene ki.  Startled, Ranma noticed the edge of his attack had turned gray, and the corruption was spreading back up the beam. He jumped away, releasing the attack, and watched an ethereal mouth snap shut over where he had stood.

With another glowing slash, the Devil Hunter banished more of the creature. The remainder of the entity collapsed into a small smoky balloon, and shot through the roof into the sky.  It veered crazily, avoiding the yellow sacred lighting flying from Kodachi’s bracelet.  Then it disappeared from sight.

“Normally demons like that are no bigger than a mouse.”  The gymnast’s voice became conversational as she switched back.  “It held me for months, growing off my psyche.  It must be destroyed before it splits; the ripening could infect dozens, maybe even hundreds!”

“Does this mean you no longer want to marry me Kodachi?”  Not even he recognized the emotions in his voice... hope, relief, accomplishment, and respect.

“Ranma-sama, all I wanted was to have cheap, mindless sex with you after five romantic dates.”  Kodachi sighed.  “Devil hunters can’t marry or have steady boyfriends until their calling leaves them, lest their dear ones come in the crossfire.  I, for one, refuse to die a virgin, and I have your mother’s permission.”

“So what did you remember anyway?”

“Everything about magic transformations was hidden from me.  That my relic didn’t choose another is a small miracle.”

“If we had the chance to redo that battle, what would you have me do different?”

“I don’t suppose you know magic aside from changing gender?”

“No, it started as a curse, really.”

“Unless you can learn some minor spells of purification and holding, you aren’t useful except as a distraction.  Life energy can’t harm a Sanity Drinker; they can only be hurt by magi, weapons of power, or crushing will.”

“What now for you?”

“I must regain my life; these last months I haven’t been myself.  If it is not too much to ask, I would like to remain with you the rest of this day. You are a pleasant anchor.”

Nodding, Ranma took Kodachi’s hand, and they walked together, out of the devastation.

***

When confronted about ‘granting permission’ Nodoka smiled crookedly and laughed, holding the back of her head.

‘Wow, that stupid looking nervous gesture must be genetic!’  Kodachi’s thoughtful revelation passed by, completely unnoticed.

****

A swirling ball of purple and pink ki hovered in front of Happosai.  “Very well Master Ranma, we may continue this challenge if you like.”

****

“Yes son-in-law, if you can defeat me, you will be admitted as an honorary Amazon of my house.  Then if you so choose, Shampoo’s claim on you will be invalid, with no loss of face for either of you.”

****

The decision was impulsive, but it felt right.  The self-application of Xi Fa Xiang Gao Shiatsu, variation 337, was a blessing and a problem.  A must on his wedding night, but before then... forbidden!  ‘I must have a reason for sealing the technique, but I can’t remember.  Gotta trust myself.’  He felt a tingling sensation near his waist when thinking about Shampoo, but paid it no attention.

‘Uncured,’ Ranma Saotome began an intricate kata under zazen... the Old Ghoul’s artifact had easily won her the fight, and the perv could use telekinesis with ki.  Why at this rate, he’d never get around finishing his hardest training exercise: the single-handed hostile takeover of the American military base.  The Amaguriken could only block the bullets from two guns at once right now, and that was with intuitive ki-deflection....

--end “337 Split Ends”

Next:  “Battling and Becoming”





AN (Ignorable):

--Xi Fa Xiang Gao Shiatsu and Xia Fang Gao Shiatsu are the two spellings I have seen.  In the manga it is 114/411 with antidote 119/911 depending on how you read it.  The anime uses 110, which I adopted for simplicity.

--hiba-chan = grandmother (not sure if I used this before)

--Reviews are welcome, remember be harsh; I won’t break.

--Ch 7/8 might be a while...