Nodoka put a lot of thought into her decision. In actuality, she didn’t really have much of a problem with intimate contact with another woman in and of itself. In fact, she’d partaken in such acts several times during her husband’s ten-year absence; it was a practical way to have some of her needs met without technically cheating on Genma or having to worry about the stigma of bearing an illegitimate child (besides, if she agreed to let Tissue go through with her plan— if, mind you— her husband would be stuck in a female form for a month, and there was no way she was going to let this gaijin get the upper hand by being the only one who could comfort him/her during that time).
But that was a purely physical activity with partners in similar situations as her who shared her very specific opinions concerning contact between women. (At least, that’s what they had claimed.) This was something else: this woman, whom she had known for less than thirty minutes, was, in effect, proposing to her. Even if no one outside of her enclave of tribeswomen would recognize it, and even if Tissue had no problem being so off-the-cuff about it, there was still at least one sense in which the two of them would be married— and that implied that any sexual encounters between the two would transcend the physical and represent an emotional bond that was just not proper for two women to have with regard for each other.
Still, she was too proud to allow her status to be lowered before anyone if she could help it, even if it was only in the eyes of an isolated tribe of warriors in the middle of China, and while she may have had a fascination with traditional Japanese weaponry (particularly the katana), her skill in using them was minimal at best; she wouldn’t stand a chance against a younger woman who’d likely received training in the martial arts for most of her life. She briefly considered waiting until she could talk to Genma, but who knew when that would be? In fact, this young woman would probably reach her husband first and would thus be the first to influence him in any choice he made— assuming he had any choices left, that is. Tissue’s complete lack of uncertainty with regard to her “marriage” with Genma suggested that any loopholes that might have existed in Amazon law had already been closed, with the exception of the formal challenge, which (as was already mentioned) wasn’t really an option for her.
She looked up. “I suppose… I shall have to accept your offer of marriage.”
Tissue smiled. “You make good choice. Tissue think Ranma’s birth mother should be full wife, not concubine.”
“Uh, thank you, I think.” Nodoka cleared the thought from her head. “Now, you said we need to perform some sort of kiss?”
“Yes, Kiss of Marriage.”
“And what does that entail? Some form of public ceremony?”
“If not following fight, usually, but not really necessary. Tissue think we do it here.”
“Ah, yes, about that… would it be alright if I closed the curtains? I wouldn’t want anyone looking through the windows and getting the wrong… impression.” Nodoka may not have had a problem with physical intimacy between two women, but she knew for a fact that several of her neighbors did— and after a bit of carelessness on her part when her most recent partner decided her needs could be better met elsewhere, they were rather suspicious of the Saotome Matriarch.
“It your house.” Tissue didn’t really think it was necessary, but she also knew that quite a few outsiders had a morbid fascination with people of the same gender showing any sort of affection for each other, so even something relatively innocent (like the Kiss of Marriage) could be misinterpreted. Once their privacy had been secured to Nodoka’s satisfaction, the Amazon continued explaining what they’d be doing. “Is very simple. Kiss of Marriage is kiss on mouth.”
“Is that it? Just a quick peck, then we’re done?”
“No, mouth must be open— and it last long enough that neither person can claim accident later. Supposed to be exact opposite of closed mouth on cheek— that Kiss of Death.”
Nodoka didn’t need that particular concept explained to her. “And you did this with Genma?”
“Yes. Though Tissue have to use ancient Amazon technique and force husband’s mouth open with own lips. Hope not have to do same for Nodoka.”
The Saotome matriarch swallowed hard. “I— I don’t think so…”
“Good.” Tissue got up and walked toward her hostess. “You want embrace? Is not so awkward that way.”
“I suppose…”
The hug was quite a bit more intimate than Nodoka expected— if she didn’t know better, she would have thought that Tissue was expressing genuine affection for her, instead of merely maneuvering her into a position where it would be physically easier for them to kiss— and that had to be all it was, right? That’s what she meant by “not so awkward,” right? Still, Nodoka assumed that the Amazon knew what she was doing, so she did her best to reciprocate— something that turned out to be disturbingly easy.
The two of them held each other for a few moments, and then Tissue looked at her sister-wife-to-be. “You ready for Kiss?”
Nodoka merely nodded in response. Tissue sensed her nervousness (even if she wasn’t sure where it came from— the curtains were drawn, after all), and decided she would have to be the one to take the initiative.
As their lips touched, Nodoka forced her mouth open, as Amazon law dictated (lest Tissue do it for her). She closed her eyes— purely to block out distractions, nothing else— and repeated to herself, It’s just a physical act. There’s nothing behind it. You’re only doing it because it’s a pragmatic way to handle a barbarian custom. It’s no different from your previous encounters with women. It’s just physical…
Then she felt their tongues touching, and she melted. For a few precious seconds, she was a woman in the embrace of another woman, sharing an intimate moment, and there was nothing wrong with that— after all, they were married.
It was Tissue who broke off the Kiss. “Welcome to tribe, sister-wife.” She then released Nodoka from her embrace, which finally brought the Japanese woman back to her senses.
“Um, yes, well, that was… interesting. But was it really necessary to use your tongue that way?”
Tissue broke out in a grin. “Why ask me? You one who do that.”
“What? No! You must be mistaken— this was just an isolated physical act, done for purely utilitarian purposes and nothing more. There’s no way I would ever go any farther than was absolutely necessary.”
The Amazon just kept grinning. “Suit yourself. But that not matter. Important thing, you Tissue’s wife now— so now we find husband and son, yes? Help them on journey to womanhood?”
“Um, yes. That sounds like a good idea.” Anything to get them off the subject of what they’d just been doing. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
“ACHOO!!”
“My goodness, Genma, that’s the tenth time in the last five minutes. Are you certain you’re not coming down with something?”
“Look, Soun, I’ve told you— sickness is for the weak, and I’m not weak, therefore I can’t be sick.”
“Will you two quit stalling and tell me if you agree with this idea?” asked a rather irritated Akane. It had been fifteen minutes since she outlined the proposal, and it was rather obvious that the two of them were trying to come up with an excuse that Nabiki wouldn’t be able to shoot down.
“Akane…”
“Really, Father,” interjected Kasumi, “I don’t see why you’re being so stubborn about this. It seems to me that you’ve been presented with a way to unite the schools like the two of you wanted without having to break up a happy marriage. I wouldn’t want to think that the masters of the Tendo and Saotome Schools of Anything Goes would insist on doing that simply because they weren’t the ones who came up with the alternate plan. That would be so… disappointing.”
There aren’t many sentient beings in the multiverse who had the nerve to face a “disappointed” Kasumi, and those that could were generally regarded as despicable cretins.
“You’re missing the point, girl,” replied Genma. “By not divorcing that green-haired woman and marrying Akane, Ranma is undermining my authority, and that is far more important than both his ‘being in love’ or your disappointment.”
“GENMA NO BAKA!!” The portly martial artist found himself face-to-face with the business end of an oversized mallet, sending him flying into the koi pond.
Akane looked at Nabiki, who was still heaving from exertion; it had been years since the middle Tendo daughter had pulled the mallet trick. “Nice form, but next time use a smaller one— you’ve been out of practice for too long to use the ones I do.”
Nabiki nodded at her younger sister’s advice, still breathing heavily.
For her part, Chibi-Usa (who had overheard and/or watched most of the conversation, looked at the dazed martial artist floating in the koi pond with fascination. “I don’t believe it— he’s even more of a jerk than the stories say.”
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(Posted Wed, 22 Mar 2006 16:59)
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