Ranma ducked and weaved around the duos attacks, keeping a small portion of her mind focused on that potion. Before today, her initial response (had she bothered to even notice the potion) would have been to break the damn thing as soon as possible. However, she realised that there was a chance that the potion might effect her by touching her skin.
Considering that it was Soun and Genma trying to get her to take that potion, it seemed likely that it was some sort of love/lust potion to get her with Akane. Yeeck, I definately don't swing that way, she thought to herself, before guessing what that meant. So I'm into guys now? she thought, although she didn't find it really distasteful. Probably an effect of her female body combined with the identidy of her Skylancer half-
The blow glanced along the side of her head, snapping her back to reality in an instant. Rolling to the side as she hit the ground, she flipped to her feet and laid into Genma with a few swift blows. Dammit girl, fight now, figure out your sexual identidy later! she thought to herself as Soun tried to get that rope around her again. Ducking to the side, she prepared to disarm him of that potion. Before she had the chance though, something hit her in the back, sending her into the ground.
The Vacuum blades! He went and unlocked his techniques again, she realised as Soun managed to tie her hands together. Genma was on top of her at the same time, forcing her mouth open while Soun poured the potion down her throat.
"What's going on out here?" a new voice demanded, one Ranma identified (through all her choking and spluttering) as Akane. Too busy trying to breathe again, Soun and Genma were easily able to lift up the redhead and face her in Akanes direction. By the time Ranma realised she should look away, it was too late.
The pair looked at each other for a few moments, then Ranma turned to the two men. "Looks like your latest attempt failed. What was that you force fed me, a love potion?" she asked calmly.
Caught off guard by how calm she seemed, Soun answered honestly. "A lust potion we brought at some magic shop. We know you love Akane, so that wasn't needed-"
"-So you decided to speed things along." Ranma's eyes widened as she processed the words 'magic shop.' "What was the name of that shop?"
"Secrets of Magic," Genma said. "The woman at the counter said it would work on anyone that drank it," he protested.
"You might want to consider asking for a refund," Ranma muttered. "Would you untie me already?" Soun nodded and undid the ropes.
"Wait, they gave you a lust potion?" Akane demanded, only just catching up with the situation.
"They thought they did," Ranma corrected, "but it seems it was a dud. Oh yeah, before I forget."
A few minutes later, Akane blinked as Ranma walked past her into the house, leaving the unconcious forms of Soun and Genma in the front yard. Considering the situation for a moment, she shrugged and headed inside.
***
A short while later, while everyone was sitting at the dinner table, Nabiki noticed that Ranma was still in female form. "Hey Saotome, you do realise that we do have hot water on tap, don't you?"
"True, but it wouldn't have any effect right now," Ranma replied. "Some man claiming vengence against the Saotome Clan locked me in this body today." As soon as she said that, mayhem errupted around the table, pretty much as expected
"Oh my! Are you all right Ranma?"
"WAAAGGH! My future son-in-law is stuck as a girl!"
"You're taking this a lot better then I expected you to."
"Boy, how could you let something like this happen?
"What'd you do this time Ranma? Another fiancee mess?"
"Hey, take it easy!" Ranma protested waving her hands for silence. "Don't worry Kasumi, I'm fine. Soun, this isn't the first time this has happened, it won't be the last. Nabiki, I've had most of the day to get used to the fact. Akane, this is Pops fault."
"What! How can you say that boy?" Genma demanded.
"Easy, the guy mentioned you by name. He said I'd spend a while like this, then he'd come and lock you, and let me go. Said it was something that happened 'fore I was born."
Mentally, Ranma smiled at the expected reactions, mostly involving Genma denying knowing anything about it (and for once, that was the truth). That should keep most of the locals in the dark about what really happened, for now at least.
She glanced over at Nabiki, who simply gave her an 'i-don't-believe-it-for-a-second' look. Well, that didn't surprise here. Ranma wasn't acting like her old self, and Nabiki and maybe Kasumi were the best at picking it up. She mouthed the word later, to which Nabiki nodded slowly, before returning her attention to the chaos at hand
***
Ranma sighed, trying to bury her attention in a manga she'd brought today. Ever since she'd told everyone she was locked, the mood of a good deal of the household had been sour. It didn't help that she still had no idea of how to explain all this with Nabiki.
Finally, there was the fact that she hadn't seemed to figure out just who she was yet. Some elements of both Ranma and Skylancer were still in conflict. Ranma was a fighter, Skylancer was more peaceful, focused on more intellectual pursuits. Ranma wouldn't know the first thing about romance. Skylancer was something of a flirt.
Still, they had their similarities, even before the fusion. Most importantly, both of them believed in standing up for what they believed in, no matter what the cost. Both had faced chaos and suffering in their lives, yet had managed to survive against all odds. And now, both halves of Ranma's soul and mind were slowly setting into one complete being.
The sound of a worried Kasumi attention pulled her back to the real world. All three of the Tendo Sisters were watching the news report on the television, more then a little fear evident on their faces. Ranma looked to see what had them so frightened, and froze as she saw the images
"-tempts by police to stop the robots path of destruction has failed," the news reader said as Thundercrackers sword sliced through a police barricade, leaving several cars in pieces. "Why these new robots, similar to those recently seen in the United States, have now appeared on Japanese soil remains a mystery..."
Ranma's attention was focused on the Decepticon symbol on Thundercrackers wing. They're here. They're in Tokyo. Are they after me? Can they even sense me as a human?
Ranma looked at the screen for a moment longer before:
See other episodes by Matrix Dragon
(Posted Mon, 10 Mar 2003 11:44)
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