Ranma felt both anger and empathy at the same time... Anger that this poor Kit suffered so much and that he wanted to personal strangle the bastard(s)... And deep compassion and sympathy for the poor girl for being abused so. “...I’m sorry you can’t remember...” He gently strokes her back in a petting motion, taking extra care not to aggravate any healed injuries or seem sexual.
The little Panthress pokékit tensed in Ranma’s grasp as soon as he touched her back. But feeling no pain or having him pull her to him, she relaxed somewhat. She was looking all around, trying to avoid his eyes.
“So, um... Hotaru... Dumb question, but... You okay... In anyway?” He knew it was dumb... How could he expect anyone to give a positive answer in her shoes? But frankly, it was the only thing he could think to say and he figured talking would help her open up.
“...No...” Hotaru said simply, just really uncomfortable. “I... I don’t know where it is, but I wanna go home...” She sniffled. “I just can’t remember where home is... Or if I even have one to go to anymore...”
Uh-oh, there started the waterworks, tears starting to make treks through the flawless ebony facial fur of the petite Panthress pokékit. Oh damn did he hate tears...
“Uh, er... Uh... If ya want, my Mom and I’d gladly take ya in!” There, he said it... Call it reckless or foolish, but he had to hose the waterworks!
Hotaru still sniffled. “Y-you would?”
Unfortunately, the good, (perverted) professor ruined the WAFF by saying, “He has to. It’s the only way you're going to leave my lab NOT inside of a cardboard box.”
Her eyes widening, the dam broke and the Panthress began crying in earnest. Men in lab-coats were always SO mean!
“Master!” The Vaporita chided as she saw the pokékit enter a sobbing fit.
“...I was just being honest...” The Professor said weakly in his defense.
“Doc...” Ranma turned to the man with eyes promising death...and his voice got cold... Like subzero cold.
Chuckling a little more, Stroaks started edging towards the door. “Uh... Yes, Ranma, my boy, pal of mine, one who owes the fact he owns a Tigress, Panthress, and is starting his Taming career thanks to me?”
If he still could... He’d have Ki-balled the Doc lightly in the nuts... But... Well, he doubted he could even muster a flicker since he wasn’t a martial artist... If he ever was.
Although Ranma’s eyes lessened in intensity, he was still pretty ticked. “...Do me a favor and watch what’cha say around her? For chrissakes, she’s had God knows how many people being asses too her!”
“And taking my ass!” Hotaru wailed, more tears traveling down her face.
Ranma was a little thankful he no longer had a curse... Well, Jusenkyo, anyway. He was pretty sure Hotaru would’ve triggered it by now.
“Damn it... This ain’t right!” Ranma had to hold back from punching the wall or floor and startle the girl even more. “...She shouldn’t be sad like this... Nobody should...” Oh damn, now he was starting to cry... Men don’t cry! MEN DON’T CRY!!!
That caught Hotaru’s attention. She looked up at the man holding her, and saw tears starting to flow from her own eyes. It was enough to pique the young kit’s curiosity enough to make her forget her own suffering. “Y-you’re crying too?” She asked, holding her small hand up to his face.
“I... Am I?” He muttered ashamedly. “..I guess so... I hate seeing girls cry or see ’em hurtin’... S’not something I like...” While he was... Well yeah, he was a pervert because every girl he knew for the most part had taken a ride with him on the ‘wild horse express’, but he damn had respect for them and didn’t hurt them for kicks!
The little Panthress nodded her head, causing the dark violet highlights in her fur to shimmer from the florescent lights in the lab. “Yeah... You... Are you crying because of me?”
“...Yeah...” Ranma admitted after a long moment.
Sniffling, Hotaru gently leaned forward, doing something she didn't think she’d know how to. She tried to comfort the man who’s lap she was sitting on. “I... I’m sorry... Didn’t mean to make you cry...” She apologized in a soft whimper.
Ranma blinked his eyes at the actions and stammered as she started to whimper. “Oh geez... Don’t be sorry, it’s not yer fault. I’m just sad someone would be mean to ya!”
Hotaru sniffled again. “I know people were mean... But I can’t really remember how or why they did... All I really remember is lab-coats...”
“...What!?” Stroaks asked as everyone in the room looked towards him.
“Take it off!” Both Ranma and the Vaporita said in unison.
“And just the coat, not everything!” Ranma added quickly.
“Okay, okay!” Stroaks shouted fearfully as he took off his lab-coat quickly and opened the door, taking a moment to toss it out of the room. “Better?”
It was amazing how Hotaru visibly calmed down. It would seem that Stroak’s presence, or rather his lab-coat, was serving as a catalyst to make the little Panthress pokékit feel unease’
“Yes.” Ranma sighed, stroking Hotaru’s back.
Hotaru mewled quietly as she sat on Ranma’ lap, allowing him to stroked her. “I’m sorry...” She apologized. “I didn’t mean to hurt you earlier. I... I was so scared...”
“It’s okay... Really, I’ve had worse,” Ranma said in a light-hearted manner to hopefully ease her guilt.
Still, Hotaru winced. “And... I attacked you the other night, didn’t I?” She whimpered. “Sorry...”
“No Harm done,” Ranma said. “All you did was make Prof piss his pants.”
“RANMA!” Stroaks cried out in indignation.
Blinking her eyes once, twice, the Panthress was stock still for a moment as her mind registered that. Her body shook a little and... Was she... Giggling?
“What?” Ranma stopped whatever remark to the Doc he was about to say and just staeted stared at Hotaru.
Giggling?
Halleluiah! Something other than a frown!
It was so cute... Amazingly cute. The little girl was lifting her hand to her mouth to try and cover it, but her giggles wouldn't be stopped.
“Now that’s the most beautiful sight I’ve seen all day.” Ranma said with a smile.
Hotaru blushed a little, as Ranma’s comment took her out of her fit of giggles. “D-do you mean that?”
“Yeah, you got a great smile, goes well with the cute face.” It was then that Ranma could see a hint of red coming from underneath the Panthress’ dark fur. She was blushing!
Go Saotome Charm, GO!
Or was it Sextome Charm? Damn, he had to get his memories straight!
Ah well... Hotaru was looking happier now compared to when she first woke up. And that was the important thing.
“I’ve got to agree, her smile is a lot better than a frown,” The Vaproita agreed.
Hotaru blushed a little more. “You... Think so?” She asked, sounding hopeful.
“Oh totally,” The Vaporita nodded.
“What she said!” Ranma and Stroaks both said in unison. lest they screw things up again.
Hotaru smiled a little more at that. Not showing off her teeth, but just smiling.
It was then Ranma felt a vibration go through his body. Hotaru was PURRING!
Purring ever so lightly, barely audible, but PURRING!
Normally he went stiff when he heard that sound... But ever since he woke up that day, he didn’t flip out over cats. Which, in Ranma’s opinion was a DAMN GOOD thing! After all, while he never let on... He felt like the world’s biggest wuss whenever he went white because a little cat rubbed his leg.
At least now he could be around cats for as long as he wanted... Well, not cats... But cat-like girls!
“So, Ranma,” Stroaks spoke up after the long silence. “Do you mind taking Hotaru here as a member of your Harem?”
“Not at all,” He said honestly.
Hotaru stopped purring. Turning her head to look at Ranma questioningly, she asked, “You... You wanna be my master?”
“Sure... And I promise no Taming... Well, cuddle-taming yes, but not the other kind...not unless you ask.”
“MEW!” Hotaru mewled out happily and practically jumped up atop Ranma’s lap as she hugged him around the neck.
“Wagh!” Ranma yelped as he fell backwards laughing.
Purring up a storm, Hotaru was licking Ranma’s face in thanks.
“Um... You’re welcome?” Ranma asked with a small chuckle.
...Or maybe not...
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(Posted Fri, 08 Jul 2005 06:07)
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