Disclaimer: Ranma1/2 is the product and property of Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video. This story is for free distribution.

By Michael Fetter

Chapter Four

(Mind and the Body)

They both returned in time for dinner. Kasumi had just finished setting down the sukiyaki as they entered the dining room to join everyone else. Nodoka was sitting down near her husband, next to Akane's seat.

Smirking at the two, Nabiki called Ranma's attention and waved him over to her side. "Won't you sit down next to me, Ranma-kun."

Ranma and Akane boggled at the sudden pleasant offer. Very strange coming from Nabiki. Soun started to cry in joy.

Akane did notice that Ranma wouldn't be able to sit next to her anyway, with Nodoka in the way. She sighed and sat down across from Nabiki. "What are you up to now, Nabiki?"

"What ever do you mean, sister dear?" Nabiki asked with a sly smirk. "He is mine and Kasumi's fiancé so he should at least sit between the two of us."

Nodoka looked between the girls, Akane glaring at the predatory grin of Nabiki's. "Isn't Akane also engaged to my son?"

"Not any more." Nabiki spoke up before Akane. "Akane decided to give up since she didn't get along so well with him. Too manly for her I think."

Understanding lit Nodoka's face and she patted Akane's arm. "It's okay, dear. You won't think men are so bad when you're older."

Akane sputtered as Nabiki chuckled.

"Mom." Ranma sat down beside Nabiki reluctantly. "Akane and I just want to be friends. 'Sides, she's got plenty of boys after her at school."

Nabiki admired the way Ranma twisted his words just enough so to not really lie to his mother. Through dinner Ranma was telling stories of his travels with Genma at his mother's behest. Nodoka was eager to know as much about her son as possible, which gave Nabiki a good opportunity to compile some more information on her new fiancé. There were a few perverted adventures that made Nodoka smile broadly, but Nabiki thought they were probably edited in for her benefit. Or, at least, Ranma didn't seem like the type to break into girls locker rooms to steal underwear from a bunch of half-naked girls and then call it speed training.

He was, Nabiki noted thoughtfully, taking his training in the martial arts with more dedication than anyone else she knew. Ranma and his father had gone to some real extremes in the name of the Art. Nabiki eyed the two Saotome males incredulously as stories of being tied to trains and swimming from China came up in conversation.

To the end, Kasumi began to clear the plates with help from Nodoka, who insisted. Nabiki noticed Ranma had not eaten much. In fact, his hands still held the chopsticks over a piece of food still on the plate. As his mother left, Ranma took a deep breath and set the sticks down.

An idea came to mind to help Ranma calm down and continue that talk from earlier. Rising, Nabiki took Ranma's hand. "C'mon Ranma. Wash my back and I'll wash yours." Everything was a deal.

Ranma tensed up again, his fingers going lifeless and his face flushing. "W-What?!"

"Such a manly son." Nodoka had that twinkle in her eye again. The one Ranma understood to mean she wanted him to prove her right, or else.

Cracking a nervous smile, Ranma tried to speak, croaked, and finally settled for nodding. He cast a glance over to Genma who blinked and indicated he should go. Kasumi looked blank again, maybe she was at a loss since Nabiki was the one to ask or maybe she really didn't know anything was wrong. Ranma didn't have to look at Akane to know she was angry; the danger sense of his was blaring loudly.

"Well, this ought to be fun." Nabiki smirked at the trembling boy as the furo door closed.

Ranma looked up, lost to figure out how he had gotten here already until he saw Nabiki disrobing. He backed away quickly as she started to walk towards him, completely nude. "W-Wait. I mean, uh, this ain't, uh, right. W-We're n-not even m-m-married yet!"

"Not yet?" Nabiki asked with an amused tone. She was not the same immature girl as those she went to school with. Nabiki liked her body and didn't mind showing off a bit, or using it to get what she wanted. "Well, we certainly do sound hopeful, don't we Ranma-kun?"

Ranma balked and Nabiki knocked him into the furo. Hot water enveloped his body, triggering the magic and revealing a cute brown-haired girl.

Nabiki laughed and threw a bucket of cold water over her head and started using the soap. "You don't think I'd lock poor defenseless me in here with a pervert boy, do you?" She tossed him the washcloth and turned her back. "Now, about that back wash..."

~

With the table cleared and the dishes washed, Nodoka and Kasumi entered the living room, each with their own contemplative expressions. Nodoka gestured to a place on the couch, and Kasumi nodded, following the older woman's lead.

"And how are you taking all of this, Kasumi-chan?" Nodoka asked. The TV was on with Akane lying on the ground before it, her legs kicking in the air occasionally. Nodoka noticed that Akane was only giving the program scant attention as her gaze went back towards the furo. There was a sound that could have been heard more clearly if Akane hadn't suddenly decided to up the volume a little.

Sitting properly, Kasumi just offered a smile. "All of what, Auntie?"

"Your engagement to my son."

Kasumi had gotten a vacant expression for a moment, then blinked, looking back at Nodoka. "Oh, I'm sure he doesn't want someone so much older than himself." She smoothed her dress and watched the television. "Besides, Ranma and Nabiki seem to be getting along."

Nodoka almost thought she heard Akane mutter 'getting it on', but dismissed it as being obvious for such a manly son. Too bad really. Akane would have made such a cute little bride, and her hips were perfect for bearing children. Lord knows Akane would have benefited from one of the side effects of pregnancy; but she still had time to develop, surely.

"Oh, don't say that, Kasumi." She patted the girl's hand. "I'm sure if you really loved my son so much he would let you be his mistress. You are a very good cook."

Kasumi almost stood up to check the thermostat. It felt very warm all of a sudden. "I... I'll keep that in mind, Auntie." A strained little smile on her face.

~

Ranma-chan tensed badly as she sat back down in the furo without her clothes this time. Nabiki had washed her back with warm water when Ranma had finished doing the same for the middle Tendou. Now it was time for a 'good long soak' as Nabiki said it. It didn't help that the girl had been licking her lips while she said it.

Back to Nabiki, Ranma heard the girl hiss with her body descending into the furo behind her. The water rippled and reached higher up the sides. Swallowing, Ranma began her mantra yet again.

Nabiki was very aware of the tension she'd been placing upon Ranma. It would make it easier to deal with him and she got a little thrill in return. Placing a leg on either side of the cursed boy, she pulled the brown-haired beauty in closer with her arms, stroking her hands over the hard, flat stomach. Yes, Ranma-chan would be a great and lucrative model.

"So?" She purred into Ranma's ears and watched them turn red up to the tips. "What was this idea of yours, Ranma-chan? We were so distracted" Her hands ran up Ranma's sides, nearly brushing the girl's breasts. "That you never got around to telling me."

Ranma could feel herself burning up with embarrassment at the awkward scene. She knew that being Ranma meant she would have to marry a girl, but she'd hoped for a little more time to adjust. She was uncertain if it was better that she remained a girl or not. At least if she were a guy right now it wouldn't seem so perverted.

Throat gone dry, Ranma could not swallow so cleared her throat instead. "Well." She squeaked badly, hitting notes she'd never had before.

"Just relax, Ranma-kun." Nabiki cooed, bringing her hands over Ranma's breasts and kneading them pleasurably. "I'm here for you."

Ranma coughed and resisted the urge to pull the hands away and run screaming out of the house, clothes or not. "Well, I-I was th-thinkin we could, uh, mmmm" She blinked and blushed further after realizing she'd moaned at Nabiki's ministrations. "thinkin with my, uh, sskillsss-"

Nabiki nearly laughed aloud as she tweaked the cursed boy's nipples and watched her shudder, unconsciously pressing up against Nabiki's hands. "Which skills, Ranma-chan?" A hand left Ranma's breasts and drifted below the girl's waist. "You seem to be multi-talented."

Ranma lurched forward with the new sensations. "Wecouldopena-restaurantwithmyokonomiyakiandmakeafortunewiththeteenagersandyour-money-handlingexpertise!"

"Enjoy that, did you?" Nabiki laughed and pulled the girl in closer. She hated to admit it, but she was having fun with Ranma in her arms. Her body had become very aroused with the cursed boy's plan out. It was a good idea since she'd sampled the food before. "But why not just do the modeling?"

Ranma's breathing was slowly returning to normal, but never quite getting there with Nabiki's hands still roaming her body. "I c-couldn't do that, and b-besides... mom wouldn't think it was, mmm-manly."

"I suppose not." Nabiki admitted. Ranma's mother was a bit strange. Who knew how the woman would see Ranma doing half of things she had wanted the cursed boy to do. "Still..."

Ranma paused as Nabiki stopped moving her hands but left them in various locations.

"That sort of enterprise requires some starting money." Her hands returned to rubbing though she hadn't thought of it. "Where would we get that much capital?"

"I-I have some t-tucked away."

Smiling, Nabiki nuzzled the girl's neck and nipped at her earlobes. She could get used to this. Ranma was talking so sexy to her. Nabiki loved money. "But it will take more than just a few thousand yen, Ranma-chan."

Groaning, Ranma slid her hands over Nabiki's thighs where they came to clutch her around the waist. Her back pressed back into Nabiki's chest, rubbing the hard nipples with little movements. "I've got more than enough in the bank." She moaned.

"How much?" Nabiki insisted, increasing her pace.

"Half a million yen." Ranma groaned louder and arched her back towards Nabiki's hands. "Plenty for supplies and show faith with a bank to get a loan for the rest."

"Mmm." Nabiki purred, sliding her body around Ranma's until she had the girl sitting sidesaddle in her lap. "All this talk of money is making me hungry." She licked her lips and leaned.

Ranma stared at the girl nervously and the predatory look in her eyes. "W-What are ya gonna do?"

"Why, I'm going to milk you, Ranma-chan." Nabiki smiled and took a nipple into her mouth.

~

It was nearly an hour later when Ranma and Nabiki walked out of the furo. They both wore terry robes and a certain after glow. Nodoka looked up from her conversation with Kasumi as they stepped into the living room. Soun and Genma sat over beside the Shogi board, each with a mouth agape. Akane, at the TV, was burning red.

"Well, my son." Nodoka looked at Nabiki then back to Ranma. "You seem content."

"I'm a little tired, mom." Ranma mumbled, pulling the terry robe in tighter around her body. "I think I'll go to bed early."

"But is it manly to stay a girl like this, my son?" Nodoka asked, not at all pleased with Ranma's appearance. It did make it easier for her to see Nabiki follow in just a robe herself.

"Oh, s-sure it is mom." Ranma swallowed and tried to keep her eyes on Nodoka while she felt a pressure against her butt. "I m-mean, what if one a my fiancées get a little, uh, frisky at night? Can't have them lose their honor over me, right?"

Thinking, Nodoka looked at Kasumi who's face was turning red, as was Akane's she noted, and then Nabiki with a lecherous smile still on her face. "What about just now in the furo, son?"

"I was a girl for that too, mom." Ranma blushed.

Nodoka smiled. "Such a manly son to be so considerate over his fiancées' honor. We should set the wedding soon. I know how much you must be anticipating your wedding night!"

"Ha!" Nabiki threw an arm around Ranma-chan's neck and smiled. "Ranma keeps talking dirty to me the way he does and it won't be my honor you have to worry about!"

Groaning, Ranma shook her head and headed for the guestroom upstairs.

"You actually might want to stay in the dojo now, Ranma." Genma commented as he placed a stone on the board.

Ranma looked at the balding man. "My things?"

"Already out there."

Sighing, Ranma nodded and left for the dojo. Nabiki smacked her on the butt on the way out, laughing. "Later, partner."

~

As the last of the lights went out, Ryouga sat staring at the dojo for another half-hour to be certain. Nothing was going to stop him from getting his revenge.

The shoji opened quietly enough, only a little glimmer of moonlight creeping into the dojo's darkness with him. The heavy bamboo umbrella was waiting beside his pack outside of the compound; he wouldn't need it this time. Ranma was finally going to get what he deserved!

Standing over his enemy, Ryouga readied his fist over their head. A crackle of thunder crossed the room.

A loud thump hit the floor.

It was enough to startle Ranma awake. "What the hell?" She scanned the room quickly and found a boy on the dojo with a trickle of blood running from his nose. Startled, Ranma-chan put a hand to her chest and found her tank top out of place.

Red with rage, Ranma-chan jumped to her feet and swung her left leg back a little. "PERVERT!"

The boy sailed into the backyard, towards the edge of the koi pond, but not before Ranma got an image of Ryouga's stupid bandanna. Muttering to herself, she stalked out of the dojo for a little more fight.

~

The steps squeaked as Akane slowly crept down the stairs. She'd heard a scream from the dojo. It sounded like Ranma-chan. Who would be stupid enough to try and break into a martial arts dojo?

"Oh, Akane."

The youngest Tendou jumped, startled by her sister's voice. So much for being ready for anything, Akane frowned. Her hands re-gripped the bokken in her hands. "What are you two doing up?"

"We heard Ranma scream." Nabiki answered, dressed in one of her sheer bits of negligee and wielding the steel baton usually left in her handbag.

"It might be a burglar." Akane whispered.

"Here." Kasumi handed Akane a twenty-pound dumbbell. "This is heavier."

Blinking, Akane accepted the weight. "Thanks."

~

Facing off against Ryouga, Ranma went into a loose fighting stance, hands hanging around her hips. "What's the idea of picking a fight in the middle of the night, jackass!" she growled.

Another round of lightning flashed in the sky.

Snorting, Ryouga widened his stance and tensed the muscles in his arms. "Duels of honor don't know time! Prepare to die, Ran-urk!"

Ranma blinked in surprise as her opponent was knocked out of the air by something heavy and fell to the ground with the rain that had been gathering.

The blow was hard, but nothing Ryouga couldn't shrug off in a moment. He gasped as he felt the first drops of rain, however. Without explanation, Ryouga jumped to his feet and headed for the perimeter wall.

"Ranma!" Akane ran out of the house, as Ranma-chan became Ranma-kun. "Are you all right?'

"Sure Akane." He smiled at her then at the wall Ryouga had gone over. The 'Lost Boy' had looked to be shrinking on his way out. "I'll be right back. That Ryouga jerk needs to be taught a lesson." He bound over the wall.

~

"Poor P-chan." Akane kissed the piglet in her arms and nestled it closer to her chest. It was such a sweet little thing to stay so quiet after she'd hit it.

That hadn't really been her fault. After seeing Ranma fight some burglar, Akane had been jumpy, and startled by the strange figure in her room. Lashing out, Akane connected with the little black piglet, surprised by its squeal. There didn't seem to be a bruise at least. It was, however, terribly wet and a little smelly.

The front door opened and shut with someone walking in, dripping wet.

"Ranma?" Akane called out.

"Huh?" Ranma appeared around the corner, his tank top and shorts plastered to his skin by the water. Akane blushed and turned away, holding out the pig. "You're going to the furo before bed, right? Can you take P-chan with you?"

"Uh, yeah, sure thing, Akane." Ranma snagged the pig by its bandanna collar that seemed a little familiar to him.

"Did you find Ryouga?"

Ranma shook his head. "Nah. Just yer neighbor's dog. It made a passable Ryouga though." He chuckled and walked off.

Akane shook her head and promptly forgot the strange comment.

~

Ranma-kun stripped out of his wet clothes and padded over to the furo, a bucket of soap ready to wash the piglet. The damned thing hadn't stopped glaring and biting him since Akane had handed it over. Bitten again on the finger, Ranma snorted and flipped it into the water. Stupid pig.

"Ranma!" A naked Ryouga resurfaced from the furo.

Ranma fell back in surprise as he realized another naked man was in the furo with him. The fact it was a very angry Ryouga made him confused on whether or not he should find the situation embarrassing to be seen naked. Ranma compromised by staring at . . . him.

"What are you looking at you pervert!" Ryouga demanded, jumping back into the water. He hadn't thought that Ranma was.... That way.

"Nothing!" Ranma squeaked and looked away. He needed to think of something else quick. "So you did follow us to Jusenkyou."

"Because of you Ranma, I have seen hell!" His face was turning red with anger as he stared at his fists. "Now I turn into a pig and it's all your fault!"

"Hey!" Ranma jabbed a finger into Ryouga's chest, finding it impressively solid. "It ain't my fault a jackass like you decided to follow pops an me 'round. If ya hadn't been late for that damned duel we mighta gotten over this feud thing you got goin on! Besides," he sat back on his legs, crossing her arms over his chest. "it's not like I pushed ya into those damned ponds or nothin'!"

Ryouga grumbled, not ready to concede the truth. "I went after you, tracking you through the jungles until I came to the cliff overlooking Jusenkyou and at that exact moment the cliff broke apart and I almost fell into one of those ponds, but someone grabbed me." Ryouga suddenly looked a bit guilty for some reason, but pushed it aside for the moment. "Anyway, I ended up tripping into another pool anyway and now my life is hell, and it is all your fault!"

Ranma gasped as Ryouga's arm shot out to grab him by the throat. He knew a hundred different ways to break the hold, but it was barely strong enough to hold him as it was. He blinked in surprise, Ryouga wasn't this weak.

Ryouga seemed to be pondering something as he looked at his dripping hand around Ranma's neck. After a moment he looked down to Ranma's chest and then back up to the dripping hand. "You changed." He noted.

Noticing the new gender, Ranma tensed as she realized what Ryouga was getting at. "I-It's not what you think!"

Unmindful, Ryouga continued to go over things in his mind. "But this isn't your normal male form."

"It's magic, who knows how it works, hehehe!"

He grabbed her with both hands and threw her into the furo.

"What the hell didja do that for?!" Ranma screamed, still female.

"Your... You're not . . ." Ryouga was just moments from an overload. "You're not really a man!" Blood squirted out of his nose as his gaze went back down to Ranma's body. He passed out a moment later.

"Shut up, you pig!" Ranma screamed and began to throttle the boy.

"Ranma! What's going on in here!" Akane and the others ran in just then to see... "RANMA, YOU HENTAI!"

Ranma-chan blinked and took a moment to look at the shocked faces of the Tendous and her father staring with wide-eyes. She swallowed as she realized she was straddling Ryouga's waist, her hands around his throat, as he was passed out along the side of the furo.

This really didn't look good.

The two fathers left for the dojo intent on beating the bad thoughts out of their heads before the altar.

Nodoka passed the two men on her way to the furo to see what the commotion was about. She passed the three Tendou daughters who seemed locked in place. "Is everything alright in here?"

Ranma started to hyperventilate. "M-M-M-M-M . . ."

A cold chill went through Nodoka's spine as she saw her 'son' sitting astride some young man's lap, both naked. The grip on her katana tightened and she pushed her mouth into a straight line. "Join me in the dojo with your father, Ranma."

All others swallowed.

~

Scowling, Nabiki clenched and unclenched her hands and walked over to the boy. With a grunt, she yanked him out of the furo and laid Ryouga out across the floor. "That woman is cutting into my profits." She growled and slapped Ryouga across the face.

Shocked and a little embarrassed at watching her sister manhandle the nude Ryouga, Akane averted her eyes after a moment of study. "W-What are you d-doing?"

"Humph." Nabiki snorted and smacked the boy again; her hand was starting to sting. "If we don't get psycho-boy here awake we may not be able to stop Saotome-san from fulfilling that stupid contract."

"Contract?" Akane asked. Her eyes shot open as she recalled the afternoon's reunion. "You don't think she would really..."

"Ranma's mother is oddly traditional. I would say the odds were not in his favor." She slapped again.

"Oh my." Kasumi walked over and sat opposite Nabiki and added her own slaps to knock Ryouga's head one way as Nabiki hit it another.

Still blushing, Akane walked over and pinched Ryouga's nose closed. They only had to wait a moment until he sputtered back to consciousness. "You better get Ranma out of the mess you put him in."

Ryouga blinked as he looked up at three girls staring back down with their own looks of annoyance and distaste. Swallowing, he slowly thought over how uninhibited he felt and turned a rosy shade of embarrassment. "Ack!"

Kasumi handed the cowering boy a towel, which he took from her quickly.

"W-What happened?" Ryouga swallowed and looked about the room. "Where is Ranma?"

Crossing her arms angrily and glaring, Nabiki couldn't help but think how pathetic this Ryouga seemed. All brawn and no brains, not like her Ranma. "He is in the dojo about to get his head cut off because of you."

More controlled, though not her usual sweetness, Kasumi added, "We need you to tell Ranma's mother that the two of you were fighting and not... doing what she thought you were doing." A blush crested her nose and cheeks as she thought about the last part.

"And you had better not have been doing what she thought you were doing." Akane growled, concerned for Ranma's life, angry at the position she found them in, and hurt that she could only call herself a friend.

"We weren't doing anything I sw-... he?" Ryouga looked passed his waving hands at the three girls. Coming to a realization, he went silent and nodded. It was obvious these girls didn't know that Ranma was just a poor cute girl cursed to be a boy. What a cruel twist of fate!

"No time for this." Nabiki snapped and grabbed Ryouga's elbow to drag him towards the dojo. "You have to tell Saotome-san it was a misunderstanding before it's too late."

Inside the furo, Kasumi and Akane blinked at their sister's hasty rush out the door. Ryouga only kept up, most of his attention on the towel that almost slipped his grasp. Thinking, Kasumi cocked her head one way and spoke aloud. "Do you think Nabiki likes Ranma?"

Akane chose not to think about it and ran out the door, followed by Kasumi a moment later. They actually caught up with Nabiki dragging Ryouga towards the dojo who had been heading in the wrong direction. Readying themselves for the confrontation, Nabiki placed her hand on the shoji.

A slicing sound broke the silence.

Nabiki swallowed, frozen in place. She wanted to save her investment, but if they were too late, walking into a pile of dispatched bodies, Nabiki didn't want to see it.

Arguing voices shrilled through the thin material. Nabiki sighed as she heard both Ranma and his father's voices.

~

"I'm tellin ya it ain't what it looked like!" Ranma-chan pleaded again. Her mother had ordered her to remain in her 'cursed' form during the ceremony.

Nodoka gave Ranma-chan a harsh glare as she tapped the blade of her katana with a white powder. "Do not attempt to deceive me. This is your only way to redeem your honor."

"But Ryouga an me ain't like that!" Ranma argued back. "He came over tonight to beat me up! It was a fight! That's it!" If this didn't work, she was taking serious thought to abandoning this 'life'. She wasn't really Ranma Saotome so she didn't need to die!

"Yes, it's true, Nodoka!" Genma joined in. he was scrambling for ideas as badly as Ranma was. They need the right sort of argument to prove Ranma's manliness to his wife. "Why, Ranma is so manly that even his cursed form draws in a lot of girls! And talk about opportunity to peep on girls!"

This actually got Nodoka to pause in her preparations. "Is this true?"

Jumping onto the wagon and latching herself to it with bolt and chain, Ranma nodded eagerly and stood up. "Oh, you bet! Watch!"

She crossed the dojo floor to the door and pulled it hard enough to rip it from its slide bar. Three girls suddenly stumbled into the room with the absence of the shoji to lean against.

Without a thought, Ranma dove onto the pile of girls and started rubbing her face in all the cleavage she could, eventually entangling her head inside of Akane's top, ripping the flimsy negligee off of Nabiki and groping furiously while pressing her thigh between Kasumi's legs.

Ryouga had passed out long ago, blood draining from his nose like a geyser. It would be weeks before he could get by without thinking of the four half naked girls messing around on the floor without fainting.

Genma stared wide-eyed then looked away quickly before he too passed out. Hopefully this worked because he had a sudden urge to prove his own manliness to his wife over and over again.

The click of a sword returning to the scabbard broke the cacophony. Ranma looked up to see the proud smile and slight tear on his mother's face.

"Oh, I'm so proud of you, my son." Nodoka could barely contain herself and ran out of the room crying with joy. Genma followed a moment later

Soun stumbled in, a half-empty sake bottle in his hand. He was crying like an unrestrained dam. "Oh, poor Genma! How terrible to die like...Hey, where did they go?" Turning a little he found his girls and Ranma. "And poor Ranma!" Soun cried, patting where Ranma's head should be.

It was there, but with half a bottle of sake down, Soun thought the third lump in Akane's shirt was an over-developed breast. He continued to cry and stumble out of the dojo, over Ryouga, and into the koi pond.

Sighing, Ranma disengaged herself from the Tendou girls and flopped onto her back. "I'm alive."

Akane and her sisters stood up, glaring at the cursed 'boy'. "We'll see about that."

To be continued.

* * *

Ja ne.