Ranma found himself, still as a girl, on a couch with Keitaro while the tenants looked ready to grill and prosecute them. Except for Motoko, who had disappeared into the kitchen. ‘Kettle is almost done,’ she told him.
‘It doesn’t have to be boiling,’ he reminded her.
“Alright, let’s get this straight,” the ash-blonde demanded. “You,” and here she pointed at Ranma, “claim to be Motoko’s boyfriend ... Frankly, I am not surprised she swings that way.”
“Hey!” Ranma scolded. “That’s my girl you’re insulting.”
“And you,” here she pointed at Keitaro, “are some pervert that was taking a bath in our hot springs ... If you promise to come back tomorrow, I’ll be sure to stay home this time and take a bath,” she shot the hapless ronin a saucy wink.
“Kitsune!” another girl, this one with brown hair, yelled as she slapped the first girl on the arm. “Don’t encourage his behavior.”
“Actually,” Keitaro croaked out in a panicky voice. Ranma rolled his eyes and nudged him in the ribs.
“He’s the owner’s grandson. We were looking for his Aunt, Haruka, but decided to soak first as it has been a long and exhausting train ride in. It is only polite to allow guests to soak, especially as this is an inn.”
“True, true,” the first girl said. Looking around, Ranma was pretty sure he knew who was who just by their reactions.
Naru stomped her foot. “Co-ed bathing? We’re not barbarians!”
Everyone did not know how to answer her. Luckily, Motoko took that time to appear, finally, carrying a water kettle.
“Au, thank you!” the one Ranma pegged for Shinobu said. “I had forgotten to offer tea to our guests.”
“Tea, now?” Naru almost frothed at the mouth. “We might as well let them move in with us.”
“Really,” Keitaro beamed. “Because that was why I came. To move in with Granny.”
The room went quiet. Ranma decided to save the little geek. “It’s convenient for when he applies to Tokyo University. When he starts college, he’ll be that much closer.”
“And I bet you want to move in too, you hussy,” Naru berated.
Ranma shrugged. “Sure, you betcha’. But I don’t mind finding a place nearby. As long as I get to see Motoko-chan.”
Motoko smiled at the boy. “And on that note.” She poured the hot water over Ranma’s head and he got to see the goggled eye expression on everyone’s face. “Wow, that was so quick.” It was Motoko’s first time seeing the curse in action, too.
“What just happened?” Naru and Kitsune both screeched.
Kaolla jumped in place. “Can I experiment on him?!”
Motoko shot a stern glare at the young inventor. “No, you’re not allowed to break my boyfriend.”
Ranma laughed. “She’s just as you described.”
“What the hell is going on here? Is this some kind of prank?” Naru rounded on the two males.
Kitsune, looking goggled eyes, poked Keitaro on the forehead. “Your secretly the host to a TV show, aren’t you? Who put you guys up to this? Granny Hina or Haruka?”
As if on Que, the aforementioned Haruka Urashima came strolling in. “What’s all the ... Keitaro, is that you?”
“Hey Aunt Haruka!” Keitaro was surprised when his relative whacked him on the head with her fan. “Ow, what was that for?”
“For making me sound so old. Now what brings you here and who’s your friend?”
“Hi, I’m Ranma. Pleased to meet ya.” Motoko nudged him with her elbow to his head. “I mean, pleased to meet you.”
“He’s my boyfriend, but we’ve been apart for a long time as he’s been on a grueling training journey. We’ve corresponded, though, and I asked if he could come visit me.” Motoko blushed and looked to the floor.
Haruka cleared her throat and appraised the two boys in front of her. “Why is he wet ... and what correspondence? I’ve dealt with all the mail and never seen a letter from him to you.”
Ranma sheepishly chuckled as he pulled on his braid. “Would you believe secret correspondence?”
Motoko face-palmed and slapped him upside his head.
“Ask them about the voodoo magic girl!” Kitsune raved as she gestured wildly at Ranma. “Who we caught with Keitaro in the baths.”
Haruka gave Kitsune a look that clearly said the younger girl was unhinged.
“That’s right,” Naru began building steam, “You two timing pervert! How do you explain that!”
Keitaro cleared his throat. “I panicked when I heard the girls were going to walk in on us and tripped. We actually weren’t doing anything at all.”
Haruka shrugged. “See. And I know my cousin is straight, he’s always had an eye for the girls even when he was just five.”
“Yeah, but he’s really a she ... or she’s a he ... Motoko’s boyfriend is some creepy kind of he-she-he-it-something something ...” Kitsune trailed off into mumbling.
Haruka sighed in annoyance. “How much have you been drinking? If it’s starting to become a problem, I have no problem with locking you up for a month until you dry out.”
“Au,” Shinobu shyly waved her hand, “we all saw it.”
Motoko gave Ranma a questioning look. ‘You should probably explain the curse.’
Ranma returned a look of sufferance. ‘Yeah. Mind getting some more water?’ Motoko set down the still half full kettle and returned to the kitchen.
Kitsune seized upon the kettle immediately. “Here, watch.” And she dumped the rest of the kettle on Ranma. The still warm water did nothing, leaving a male Ranma, a bunch of curious girls, and a slightly amused Haruka.
“I am sorry about the girls. They are normally better mannered. I think raising the rent might snap them back in line.” Haruka shot Kitsune a glare.
“Ah, you don’t have to do that. You see, I was recently training in China. Deep into the interior, among a mountain range, there is this valley. In the valley are a number of small pools. The place is known as Jusenkyo. Ever hear of it?”
Everyone shook their head no. Though, Haruka had paused a moment to think first.
“The place is cursed, each pool may have had someone or something that has drowned in them.”
“Sounds dangerous. Why did you even go?” Haruka couldn’t be sure if she ever heard Seta mention anything like this place. But she was familiar with dangerous places. Meanwhile, Motoko returned with a glass of ice water.
Ranma shrugged. “Pops is an idiot. Oh, he has taught me much in the Art, but he’s an idiot. You see, once something or someone drowns in one of the pools, that pool curses you with the form of that which drowned there. So now, when splashed with cold water,” and on que Motoko tipped her glass over him, “I look like a young girl. I don’t know if I look like a young girl version of me or of the girl who drowned. But since I don’t look Chinese, I suspect the former.”
Motoko finished the explanation. “And hot water returns him to his birth form.”
Keitaro nodded. “We fell into the cold water tap when I tripped and knocked us both over. Which is why the girls thought they saw something, but it was nothing.”
“I don’t like it, it’s unnatural,” Naru fumed. “He should be barred from entering at all. Imagine all the perverted things he could do as a girl!”
“Probably all the same perverted things Kitsune gets up to,” Motoko grumbled. “Stop insulting my boyfriend. You know nothing.” This time she raised her voice.
“And you do? You never met him before. Just had secret correspondence.” Naru sneered on the word ‘secret’. “And he’s a martial artist. How would be able to defend ourselves against him?”
“Yeah, he could attack us and run away back to ... Wait a minute.” Kitsune then draped herself all over Ranma, who was trying to politely push her off without any real force. She purred. “You know, I’m free to go to China or anyplace else you want to go. Freelance writer. I can work from anywhere.”
Motoko politely rapped Kitsune on the head with the handle to her boken. “Mitts off, Mitsune.” She glared at the older girl. “He’s taken already.”
The foxy blonde rubbed her head as she winked at Motoko. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”
“Kitsune!” Naru growled. “With a girl? Have you no shame?”
Ranma growled, “I’m a guy, dammit. I just look like a girl. That’s not the same as being one.”
Meanwhile, Keitaro was quite content to be forgotten about.
“You still can’t stay here, it’s a girl’s dorm. Not a dorm for those who look like one.”
“There’s hundreds of places to rent from. I never said I was going to stay.”
Motoko placed her hands on Ranma’s shoulders, in support. “We could use a guy’s help around here. It’s not like any of us are handy with tools.”
Naru pointed at Keitaro. “In that case, let it be the wimp who can’t get into school. At least I know even Shinobu could knock him out.”
“Gee, thanks,” Keitaro muttered. But he tried to do so to escape attention.
“How can you pass judgment so cavalierly.”
Haruka cleared her throat. “AHEM!” Once she saw she had everyone’s attention, she continued. “Naru has a point. We can’t lease out just to any guy, not even boyfriends. Kitsune already tried. Now, Keitaro, as family, can be hired on as handyman. I just need to call Granny. Which I will once we’re done up here. Which reminds me, Keitaro, why are you here to begin with?”
Keitaro rubbed his head. “Ah, Mom and Dad kicked me out for failing the entrance exam again. They thought a little tough love might make me wake up and give up on my dream. It’s just ... I get so close. I do so well at first, and then something happens during the last day of testing. I just gotta go to Tokyo University, I just gotta!”
Haruka sighed. “Well, we can use the help and it would make it easy on you to attend classes. I’ll call Granny. Try to stop daydreaming when you take exams, ok?”
Keitaro chuckled awkwardly. “Thanks. Think we could come down to the café and wait on Granny’s reply, Aunt Haruka?”
He was rewarded with another whack to his head. “Come on down, but leave your things up here. Except for you,” she pointed her fan at Ranma.
Ranma smiled. “No problem. I only came to visit. Was going to ask for a local paper to start apartment hunting right away.”
Motoko rubbed his back. “I’ll get one and meet you down at the tea shop.” She then turned to Keitaro. “Pleased to meet you. Though some one will have to explain why Haruka says cousin and you say aunt.”
Keitaro smiled at her pleasantly. “Auntie is being respectful to the elderly, of course.” Keitaro then leaned back and dodged Haruka’s swipe. “Hehe, just teasing, Haruka.”
She growled around her cigarette. “Don’t make a habit of it, or I will beat you.”
Keitaro stood up, with Ranma following. “Meet you down there then.” Then, as quick as he dared without looking like he was running away, Keitaro made his escape.
“See you soon. Pleasure meeting you ... well, most of you.” Ranma then followed with Motoko in tow.
Motoko looked over her shoulder. “I’m going to go buy a newspaper. Be back later.”
“Good riddance,” Naru grumbled and left.
Haruka surveyed the remaining girls. “All right now, what exactly just happened?” She could tell by the smile that blossomed on Kitsune’s face that it was going to be one hell of a story.
Motoko, Ranma, and Keitaro were heading down the steps towards the tea shop. “I hope you find a place,” Keitaro mentioned to Ranma, “You’re the first friend I have here.” A look of loneliness quickly passed onto and off of Keitaro’s face as he turned to watch his step.
And yet he still tripped on his own feet and began to tumble. Fortunate, Ranma grabbed his left elbow as Motoko gripped his right arm.
“Easy there. And hey, I’m going to find a place and a job and me and Motoko are going to go on dates and stuff like that.” Ranma exuded confidence.
Keitaro sighed. “Thanks,” he smiled at both. “I wish I had half your confidence. And people keep saying all you need is confidence. But how can you get it if you need it first?”
Motoko sighed. “So wishy washy. You have to want something hard enough. Then fake it and pretend until it’s true. We’re going to work you in martial arts so hard, you’ll make Naru eat her words. And then, you’ll feel like anything is possible.”
Keitaro blinked and leaned towards Ranma. “I think your girlfriend is still mad.”
Ranma nodded. “You betcha’ she is.”
Keitaro nodded. “I’m afraid.”
Ranma laughed a loud guffaw. “You have the least to fear, be afraid for her friends.”
“Maybe you should calm down,” Keitaro addressed the girl. “You don’t want bad blood with your friends. I am sure what’s her name will be more reasonable when she’s had time to think.”
Motoko snorted but said nothing.
“You know, I’m not sure I want to stick around anymore. Maybe I could just work here but room with you?” Keitaro asked Ranma.
Ranma shrugged. “Let’s see what our options are and figure out a plan.”
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(Posted Sat, 31 Oct 2015 20:28)
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