Kasumi quickly heated up some water, so Ranma could turn back. She and her sisters haven't heard from Jusenkyo before, but they didn't look too surprised. It seemed to Ranma that unusual stuff like this happened in the wizarding world regularly.
Kimiko explained to them that their gamekeeper, or as they called him, the 'Keeper of Keys and Grounds', was a Chinese young man who had a Jusenkyo curse as well. That's how she knew about the cursed springs.
A long conversation about Furinkan and her role as the Deputy Headmistress followed, accompanied by how talented her three daughters were with magic, and what their favorite subjects were.
"While Akane and Nabiki are both skilled in magic duels and Defense against the Black Arts, Nabiki's specialty are clearly Charms. Kasumi, on the other hand, is an excellent potion brewer... must come from her fondness for cooking."
"And... you said Akane knows the basics of the arts, right?" Genma asked. "So, what did you teach her? Maybe Ranma might teach her a few things..."
"Leave it be, old friend," Soun sighed. "Akane's a skilled fighter, true, but she has clearly made up her mind: She wants to become an Auror, not a Martial Artist."
"An... Auror?"
"Yes," Kimiko nodded. "A wizard or witch who is trained to capture criminals... mostly other wizards or witches."
It was easy to see how disappointed Genma was. True, the families could still be joined, but...it wasn't just the same. How could they join the schools if the Tendo school practically doesn't exist?
Ranma was quickly growing tired of the conversation. Only being able to throw in one or two words, he quickly became bored.
"Yo! Sorry to interrupt, but can you show me where the bathroom is? The journey has been quite long and I'm kinda looking forward to a good soak."
"Yes, of course! Akane, would you please show him? And when you're at it, you can also show him where he and his father are going to sleep."
Akane nodded and stood up. "Okay, Mom! Here, it's this way."
While Akane led Ranma into the guest room, he tried not to look at her too much. After all, this was one of his potential future fiancees, a concept he still hasn't gotten used to in his brain.
Akane tried to start a conversation: "So... you can turn into a girl, huh?"
Ranma nodded. "Yup."
She smiled. "It must be nice, being able to do something like that, without being a Metamorphmagus."
Ranma didn't even ask what a Metamorphmagus was. "Um, not really. Actually, it freaks me out every time I got turned into this... this..."
Akane frowned. "This girl?"
Ranma nodded. "Yeah..."
"So... I take it you don't like being a girl very much, huh? Is it because... you don't like girls?"
"Huh? Oh no, that's not it. I mean, a girl is a girl, right? But I'm just not. I gotta be a man, ya know? I mean, girls are weak and can only become a housewife or sumthin' like that..."
It occurred to him that he made a mistake when he saw the flames of anger within Akanes eyes.
"So, you think a girl can't fight, huh? Then please explain to me what Nabiki and I were just doing when you arrived."
"Eh well, that's different, isn't it? I mean, you're both girls and..."
"Maybe you weren't listening," Akane grumbled and pulled out her wand. "I'm gonna be an Auror! A hunter of evil wizards and criminals! How am I supposed to do that if I can't fight properly? My grades in dueling and Defense against the Dark Arts are the best in my class. I might not be a martial artist, but I have this!"
And she held her wand right in front of Ranma's face. "Twelve inches. Maplewood. A core of Unicorn hair. That's all I need for battle! You don't think I will be able to fight with this? Fine. I challenge you to a battle! I'll fight using my wand, while you can use those 'Martial Arts' of yours. Then you'll see that I can fight!"
Ranma was hesitant. "I dunno..." he said. "I never fought somebody who's not a martial artist before... I don't wanna hurt you."
"You think I would make a good Auror if I wouldn't be able to stand even a bit of pain? I'll be fine, trust me! Now do you accept or do you admit that you are afraid?"
That did it.
"Why should I be afraid from a tomboy like you?" he grumbled. "Just because yer gonna wave around a small piece of wood? Ranma Saotome doesn't lose, you know?"
Akane smirked. "Fine. Then prove it! To the Duel Hall!"
Their parents, Nabiki and Kasumi were still talking when they walked over to the Duel Hall.
Akane put on her dueling robe and held her wand ready, while Ranma just relaxed his muscles.
"Yo, Akane! Last chance to reconsider... You really wanna fight me?"
Akane held out her wand in the classic entry stance of wizard duels. "Less talk, more action!"
Ranma shrugged. If she insisted...
"On the count of three?"
"Fine with me!"
"Okay, let's count together..."
They drew their breath and counted: "One... two... THREE!"
Ranma instantly dashed forward, trying to knock the wand out of her hand. 'If she needs that thing to fight, I'll have won when she doesn't have it anymore. One thing Pops taught me: Never depend on a weapon, 'cause when you're disarmed... you lose!'
But Akane was surprisingly agile for a girl her age, considering that she HAD some martial arts training in her life.
"Never underestimate a witch because she relies on magic," she smirked. "Now it's my turn... Rictusempra!"
Ranma suddenly felt the uncontrollable urge to laugh. He couldn't say what was so funny, but he couldn't stop himself from suddenly bursting out loud with laughter.
"Who's a bad fighter now?" Akane giggled. "And now to finish you... Impedimenta!"
But before the spell hit him, Ranma was able to leap away, landing behind her. He was still laughing, though.
"Bwahahahahah! Shows what a girl knows about fighting. Hahahahah! A true martial artist must be able to hone his skills to the point where a distraction like this doesn't hinder his (giggle) fighting abilities that much."
Akane was angry. She should have anticipated this. She was that furious that she did the next thing that came to her mind, without thinking much about it:
"AGUAMENTI!"
Ranma's giggling was stopped abruptly when he was suddenly hit with a jet of cold water, spouting right out of the tip of Akane's wand.
The red-haired girl coughed and spit out some water. "Dang... who knew you magic people would be able to do something like that?"
"Well, you wanna go on? Do you still think girls can't fight? You are one right now, you know?"
Ranma frowned. "No way I'm gonna quit!" With those words, she started running.
Akane gasped in surprise when she realized Ranma was running in circles around her. Was she making fun of her?
"Try hitting a moving target for once!" the pig-tailed girl mocked.
Akane was getting angry again. "Stop fooling around and fight!" she shouted. "Impedimenta! Flipendo! Stupor!"
But none of her spells hit Ranma.
Akane gasped when suddenly, Ranma grabbed her from behind.
"Gotcha!" the redhead smirked.
The youngest Tendo girl turned red when she noticed where Ranma had put his hand.
The Saotome offspring may not have noticed it, but her right hand was resting directly on top of the witch's right breast.
"GET OFF ME YOU PERVERT!"
Wham! Akane's fist connected squarely with Ranma's jaw and sent the slightly smaller girl flying. She collided with the wall and collapsed with a grunt.
Akane grimaced. She didn't intend to hit Ranma that far, but it served that bastard right. He was just a boy after all, no matter what form he was taking...
"How did you like that? Now stand up and admit you've lost! Come on, I didn't hit you that hard! Get up already!"
When Ranma still didn't move, Akane began to worry. "Hey, what's wrong with you? I thought you were a skilled martial artist, that hit couldn't have hurt you that much..."
She went over to the other girl and shook her. Still no response. She was breathing, but unconscious.
'Oh no, what have I done?' Akane thought in shock.
"Mom! Dad! Mr. Saotome! Quick, something's wrong with Ranma!"
----
Later, Ranma was lying within a bed in the guest room, still out cold.
"I probably should have told you that earlier..." Genma sighed. "I didn't know you two would start a fight this evening... You see, while Ranma is an excellent martial artist in both forms, his girl form is considerably weaker than his boy form. The guide at Jusenkyo told us this would be because the girl that drowned in the spring was sickly, and physically not too fit. Her body was kinda fragile, too."
"So when I hit her with my fist..." Akane murmured. "That means Ranma would still be fine if I didn't turn him into a girl with my water spell?" She looked down at her wand, feeling guilty.
"He's not badly hurt, Akane," Kimiko assured her. "Just unconscious. But please try to restrain yourself in the future, okay?"
Akane nodded with a blush. She didn't want to admit to her mother why she reacted that way in the first place.
"But can't he just train his girl body until it's as fit as his male one?" Nabiki asked.
Genma shook his head. "No, it's part of the curse. The spring was that of a 'weak and sickly girl', so Ranma's girl form will always be weak whenever he gets splashed with cold water."
"That poor boy..." Kasumi muttered. "Let's give him some rest. I'll make sure to have some hot water ready when he wakes up."
The others nodded, and they all left the room, closing the door behind them.
Shortly after, Ranma opened her eyes. She had been awake for some time now, but she just didn't want to speak to the others just now.
Being forced to turn into a weak girl - LITERALLY - was degrading enough.
"I hate this..." she muttered. "I really envy Akane, though... she was able to fight even though she isn't a martial artist... and on top of that, she's not too weak either."
She rubbed her sore jaw. "I'll be feeling that in the morning..." she muttered. She could go down now and ask Kasumi for some hot water, but she felt to tired to leave her bed.
"I wish I had some alternative way to defend myself..." she sighed. "Just like Akane. She really knew how to use that wand of hers. What a shame that I'm just a 'Muggle' who can't use magic..."
Her gaze fell on the nightstand next to her bed. Akane's wand was lying there. She must have put it there after looking at it, and then forgot to take it with her.
Ranma took the wand into her hands and looked at it closely. She chuckled, as a silly thought came to her head.
She waved the wand around the air and said: "Aguamenti!"
A spurt of water came spewing out of the wand.
Ranma stared at the wand in disbelief. How did that just happen?
She was not a wizard - or witch - how could she be able to...
Wait a minute...
What if that girl that drowned in the spring was...
"Holy cow..." she murmured.
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(Posted Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:06)
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