[Episode 219507] [Episode 219507]Nabiki sighed in contentment as she sank into the warm water of the furo. Oh, that feels good! The only thing that would make this better is a certain redhead cutie joining me! Except with the warm water it wouldn’t be the cutie, it would be a certain black-haired, well-hung hunk. Remembering the trip the two shared down to the furo after their talk/cuddle, Nabiki sighed again, this time in mild exasperation. I really hope I was imagining Ranma’s body consciousness — it’s going to get inconvenient if Ranma starts trying to not see naked people, or let people see him — uh, her, as if they could. Damn, the pronouns are confusing. He certainly was a hunk in the dream last night, though. Nabiki’s expression turned dreamy for a moment as the memory of the dream played through her mind again, then she frowned. Still, as much fun as it was, leaving aside the way Ranma freaked afterward it was a bit … odd. Ranma said he was ‘out of control’, whatever that means, and what was up with that glowing — Nabiki stiffened as a thought struck her. That glow didn’t really hit until the tail end of the sex — this could be seriously bad. Looks like I got one more thing to research when I get back online.
Suddenly, that redhead Nabiki was finding such delight in watching (and daydreaming about) popped back into existence, floating beside the furo. Ranma looked around, saw Nabiki almost neck-deep in clear if steaming water, and blushed and twisted her hips a little so that Nabiki couldn’t see the small bush that proved her red hair was natural. Nabiki sighed to herself. Damn, his — her, damn it — body consciousness wasn’t my imagination. Well, I’ll just have to do something about it. Ignoring Ranma’s possibly unconscious attempt at modesty, Nabiki asked, “Ranma, I thought you insisted you needed to spend the day with your father to keep him from getting too suspicious, what’s up with the quick return?”
Ranma chuckled and tugged slightly on her pigtail. “Ah, it’s drizzling in China, no way I’m goin’ to be able to hang around there.”
Nabiki quirked an eyebrow and chuckled herself as she got out of the furo and grabbed a towel. “Okay, I guess we’re going with my plan after all. Let me get dressed and grab my laptop and we’ll head over to the park.”
Blushing deeply, Ranma gulped at the sight of the water running off of the body he'd enjoyed so much in last night's dream, beading on her pert breasts, on the trimmed bush just above her cleft — Ranma quickly turned away and flew toward the ceiling. “Sure, I’ll, uh, um, wait for ya in yer room.”
Sighing more deeply, Nabiki just shook her head as she finished drying off and started getting dressed. That is really going to be a hassle if she doesn’t get over it. Well, let’s see if time will take care of it.
Whatever it was like in China, it was a nice sunny afternoon in Nerima, where Nabiki was sitting on a shaded park bench with her laptop open on her lap while Ranma practiced on the nearby open lawn. Nabiki wasn’t enjoying the day much, though.
Nabiki growled with frustration as she shut down the website on Japanese nature spirits. Nothing! Nothing for China, Korea, Vietnam, nothing that really matches Ranma. Damn it, Ranma, where did your template come from? Ah, well, at least I’ve had better luck with your mother if not your ‘pop’.
Her frown disappeared to be replaced by a happy and more than somewhat lascivious smile as she turned slightly to watch Ranma running through katas. At least the scenery’s nice — that cute face, those firm breasts, succulent-looking areolae, cute little bush — She shook herself a little as she turned her gaze away. Down, girl! Ranma’s already body-conscious enough without you drooling over her — give it some time …
She turned her gaze back to Ranma and watched her friend flow through the latest kata, forcing herself to ignore all those tantalizing anatomical details … and frowned thoughtfully — something was nagging at her, something about the kata … Then she had it, Ranma’s kata didn’t seem to take into account the fact that she was floating in the air instead of planted on the ground. Nabiki closed down and set aside her laptop, then called out and waved to Ranma, motioning her over when she caught her attention.
“Hey Nabiki, what’s up?” the now perky redhead asked as she floated over on full display, her gaze only slightly averted and locked on Nabiki’s face.
Good, she’s — he’s — she’s, damn it. She’s starting to relax again, Nabiki though to herself. “Ranma, I think there might be a problem with your katas. These are katas you’re adapting to when you’re floating, right?”
“Yeah,” Ranma nodded agreement, “most a’ what I know doesn’t work without bein’ on the ground. I’ve been workin’ on adaptin’ the Art ta flyin’.”
“But you haven’t been actually sparring with anyone while in your spirit form, have you?”
Ranma frowned thoughtfully, then chuckled at a fond memory. “No, not really, outside of beatin’ on Pop when we first got cursed. Don’t really have anyone ta spar with, actually. The only one around is Pop and he can’t see me. And even if that wasn’t a problem I don’t want him ta know I turn into a girl and there’s no way to hide that in a good spar.”
Nabiki laughed at the thought of Genma getting a beating from someone he couldn’t see. “From what you’ve said, I can’t say I blame you for the beating. But you still need to find some way to practice that lets you know how hard you’re actually hitting. Maybe practicing on trees? Anyway, it’s time for me to head home and maybe you should see if it’s still raining in China.”
Ranma sighed and shrugged. “It’s been nice here, but I guess you’re right. Not like I can’t spend more time here tomorrow or the next day. Can’t say I’m lookin’ forward to Pop’s company after spending time with you, though.”
Nabiki lightly blushed and found herself choked up a bit. Keeping her face straight and forcing her throat clear, she managed to get out, “Thanks, Ranma, I appreciate it.” She quickly turned to pack up her laptop, and as they strolled/floated back toward the dojo she added nonchalantly, “Still, I bet you’re going to be looking forward to getting something to eat.”
“Naw,” Ranma replied, glancing at a passing teenaged schoolgirl then looking away with a faint blush. “I haven’t been hungry all day. Odd, really, now that ya mention it.”
Nabiki winced slightly but cover it up with a shrug. “Probably something to do with your spirit nature. We’ll figure it out.”
* * *
A very confused imp slipped through the trees and bushes lining the park sidewalk, shadowing the summoner and her bound spirit — at least, Gorash thought the naked redhead floating alongside Nabiki was her bound spirit. This is extremely strange. The succubus isn’t task-bound, unless she’s supposed to be a bodyguard, and her body language is all wrong for that. Besides, who’s going to bind a succubus as a bodyguard? Of course, this succubus is an obvious master of unarmed combat, and how did that happen? Too bad I couldn’t risk getting close enough to listen in. But if she isn’t task bound that leaves personal binding, and the body language is all wrong for that, too. Besides, the master/familiar link isn’t there, either. At least that isn’t a surprise — unlike the status-obsessed, hormone-driven moron that ‘assigned’ me to this job, Nabiki will want a better familiar than one of those sex-obsessed bimbos. Only this succubus isn’t acting like a sex-obsessed bimbo, just the opposite.
Gorash sighed as the two girls left the park and turned toward the dojo. Great, another long evening and night staring at a house. This is getting old fast, and I can’t return to my so-called master yet because I only have the succubus’s use name. Then the imp brightened at a sudden thought. I can’t return to Gosunkugi yet, but Mara will want to know about this. I’ll just wait until after Nabiki’s bedroom light goes out for the night, then drop in to headquarters and make a quick report.
Kasumi looked up with a bright, slightly oblivious smile as Nabiki walked into the kitchen, and Nabiki chuckled and shook her head at her older sister. “You can relax the act, sis, Dad and Akane aren’t around and I’m afraid with me your cover’s well and truly blown.”
Kasumi’s smile turned genuine if somewhat rueful and she echoed Nabiki’s chuckle. “You make a good point, Nabiki.” Turning serious, “Ranma’s back in China?”
Nabiki nodded, also turning serious. “Yeah, Ranma needs some face time with his father before he comes back here at nightfall, help keep his suspicions down.”
Kasumi sighed at that, and Nabiki frowned. “All right, Kasumi, out with it. What’s bothering you about Ranma?”
Kasumi stiffened for a moment, then relaxed and smiled ruefully. “With her personally, nothing — she seems like a sweet if not exactly, well, socially skilled girl. It’s just that …” Kasumi paused and stared at the wall for a moment, then screwed up her courage and put down the kitchen knife and turned to face her younger sister. “Nabiki, you’re bisexual, aren’t you? Your relationship with Ranma isn’t just friendship.”
Nabiki looked away for a moment, then turned back. “You’ve got it half-right. Yes, I’m bisexual, not that I’ve ever acted on it outside of dreams, and Ranma’s spirit form is cute as a button — I wouldn’t mind taking her to bed for more than sleep at all. But our relationship is just friendship, because Ranma really is a boy, whatever he — she — looks like when she’s here …” she grimaced, “… sooner or later I’ll figure out the pronouns. Anyway, however much I might like to drag Ranma off to bed, Ranma isn’t willing — too honorable, too ignorant, maybe too repressed, I’m seriously considering taking up the Art again just so I can lay a beatdown on Genma Saotome if I ever meet him.”
“Genma is Ranma’s father?”
“Yeah.” Nabiki waved a hand at Kasumi’s doubtful look. “I know, I know, there’s no way I could match his skill without years of study, maybe decades. But I can dream, right?”
Kasumi smiled wistfully, her eyes getting a distant look. “Yes, Nabiki, dreams are good.” Then her eyes sharpened and returned to Nabiki’s face. “In that case, what was this morning all about?”
“Uh, well, that is …” Nabiki paused and took a deep, steadying breath. “That was about sex, but not exactly voluntary — at least on Ranma’s part.” She leaned back against the counter, arms clasped across her stomach, and gazed thoughtfully at the floor. “Last night, Ranma and I shared a dream — a highly erotic one — and let me tell you, Ranma as a guy is as much a hunk as he is cute as a girl. This morning was Ranma’s reaction to that dream when we woke up.”
Kasumi frowned thoughtfully, then resumed cutting up the vegetables for the night’s dinner. “I see why you say Ranma isn’t likely to be willing to be part of a sexual relationship. But why would the two of you share a dream, and why was it erotic if Ranma isn’t willing?”
“Because of what kind of nature spirit Ranma is, sis. I wasted a lot of time this afternoon trying to figure out exactly what kind of spirit Ranma is, but the general type is obvious — a sex spirit of some kind. Last night was Ranma’s new instincts coming out.”
Kasumi froze for a moment, then resumed chopping. “A sex spirit? And you’re going to still be sharing a bed tonight?”
“Yeah, we need to see if Ranma can keep from joining my dreams now that we know what's going on, and if we can keep from having sex if he does. Ranma needs to learn to control her new instincts, and there’s only one way to do that — practice.”
“I suppose so … you are sure that Ranma’s a sex spirit, and not some other kind? What happened in the dream could simply have been repressed desire on his part and not-so-repressed desire on yours.”
Nabiki grinned, but shook her head. “I’m sure. It wasn’t just how erotic the dream was, sis, there were some other oddities as well — in the dream Ranma was literally glowing by the time it ended, and she didn’t get hungry at all today — he was feeding. Yes, even if I can’t find the specific type in any sources for China or Japan, or even Vietnam or Korea, Ranma’s a sex spirit. I just hope it doesn’t break him when he finds out.”
“So you haven’t told her yet?”
“Not a chance, not until I can give him some more details besides ‘you’re a female sex spirit, have fun’.”
“I suppose that is for the best. So the day’s study was a waste, outside of learning what Ranma isn’t?”
Nabiki brightened up and grinned. “Nope, I also did some research on Ranma’s parents. I wasn’t able to find anything on his father but I have an idea on how to change that, and his mother is another matter. Nodoka Saotome — she’s a major player at kendo tournaments, came out of nowhere about five years ago and leaped to the top ranks. When she’s not beating people up in tournaments, she does very well in antiquities — besides selling them she gets called in for appraisals and when people are worried about forgeries.”
“Oh, good, I’m sure Ranma was so happy to learn about that!”
Nabiki winced. “Uh, no, not exactly.”
Kasumi stared at her sister in shock. “Ranma wasn’t happy to learn about her mother?”
“No, I haven’t told her.” At Kasumi’s disapproving frown, Nabiki hastily added, “Look, his father is a complete waste of space. Before I get Ranma’s hopes up I want to learn if his mother is any better, and how good she is at appraising antiques or using a katana isn’t going to tell me that.”
Kasumi frowned, then nodded reluctant agreement. “I suppose so. How are you going to learn what she’s like?”
“I’m not really sure. I can’t just summon an imp and send it off to investigate, I’d need to actually use the information collected for blackmail or take on some karmic debt to a demon, no matter how weak, and neither are exactly good ideas. I suppose I could summon one of the nature spirits I used to use.” Nabiki grinned ruefully. “Could you use a new flower bed?”
Kasumi chuckled, but shook her head. “Not at the moment, no, but I have a better idea. Remember, I still have some friends among the nature spirits I used to play with, and a few still remind me on occasion that they owe me a favor. Why don’t we wait until one of them drops by and ask it to investigate ‘Auntie’ Saotome for us?”
Nabiki thought about it for a moment, then shrugged reluctant agreement. “Why not? I don’t really like waiting, but it isn’t as if we have some sort of deadline. Anyway, dinner smells really good and I’m a bit sweaty from being in the sun today, so I’ll go get cleaned up.”
Kasumi smiled as Nabiki left the kitchen for the furo, then frowned thoughtfully as her hands went onto autopilot, thinking over the just-ended conversation. I’m still not sure I like this, Nabiki sharing a bed with a sex spirit, even a sexually repressed one, but I suppose we have no real choice. I wonder what Ranma actually looks like? Too bad Nabiki isn’t an artist … ah, well, Ranma’s too young anyway. Maybe someday … And as happened so often, while her body went through the motions needed to prepare dinner her thoughts turned to a daydream of a new life outside of the dojo, with a handsome, gentle young doctor.
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(Posted Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:15)
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