As the heated water spilled over her hair and down over her body, Ranma squeezed her eyes closed as she hoped with all her might that nothing might have happened. That she'd get to be just the same and only have to thrash Mousse for what he had done. Life would go on then, and he'd just be able to put the whole thing behind him like he had for much of what had happened in his life.
But as the water only soaked her borrowed shirt, and plastered the cloth to her body, she could tell the familiar tingle was not coming. Once again, she was stuck as a girl, and this time it sounded like it would come with an even higher price than she had paid before. All she could do was sit there and let the water mix with the saltiness of her tears.
"W...why?" she asked as Shampoo placed the kettle on the table.
Cologne sighed hard. "I was afraid of this."
"What happened?"
"It is a long story, but one you must hear."
The redhead's eyes snapped open and she stared at the Elder. "I don't need stories! I need answers!"
"The story is the answer, child. Now listen."
Very reluctantly, Ranma sat back and let her begin.
"A Long time ago, there was an herbalist and alchemist, someone who makes medicines, potions and such. He was a bizarre one, of strange concepts and such. One day, he saw the problems of arranged marriages, and decided to do something about it. The result of which we now know as Lust Dust."
"But what does that have to do with our current situation?" complained Kodachi.
"A lot, unfortunately. You see, he saw that there would be a problem getting the couples together, especially if they didn't want to be. And he figured that a lot of other, similar situations could be 'solved' through 'loving' instead of fighting. So he locked himself in his lab and began to work on various chemicals to try and make something that he thought would work. By combining several different types of drugs, he managed to create something to break down the conscious thought and make one act on basic carnal desires. In effect, making them think of nothing but bedding the first person they saw after being dosed with it."
"What sort of drugs?" the gymnast asked warily.
"The main one is an insanely powerful aphrodisiac. It was combined with hallucenigens, hypnotics and several other very special and very rare substances that all together create what you felt. Using their effects the drug overrides the self-control and conscience of an affected person and makes them ready for what they were to do."
"But such a concoction would be difficult to control!"
"Precisely. And while he was a master of his craft, he was a sort of... mystic. He believed in the idea that lovemaking and such should be... special events, and that colored what he made."
"Ya still haven't gotten to the side effects!" interrupted Ranma.
"I was just about to get to them. Now some of them he intended, but others were a result of the mixture, but what is known is that while the other reactions that the drug causes can vary, they are there for the most part.
"First off, they have a tendency to dull... negative thoughts towards one's partner. Which I do believe that you have... suffered through."
The redhead gulped as she thought about what she had done, or rather not done. Cologne had left her with the boy who had caused the mess, slept with her, and forced her curse to be stuck. Yet, she had not even tried to hit him. She would have happily beat him to a pulp at any other time.
"I see that you understand that. Now, realise that it varies from person to person, and people have been known to be able to get past that particular result. Now it also has the off and on ability to connect the two using it through a joining in the astral plane. Which usually results in the pair sharing traits and being connected through unseen means. That is more likely if the pair had both taken the drug, but there is no guarrantee that would happen. Usually it just works on male-female relationships, or on whatever the individuals have a... preference for, but it can override it. It does have the effect of releasing... restraints on... willingness to have initmate encounters."
Both Kodachi and Ranma looked a bit pale at that.
"But the one that I think would concern you the most at this moment is that one of the parts happens to be a... fertility drug."
"'Fertility'?" asked the redhead.
"It would mean that those using it would be more likely to... get pregnant," Cologne told her softly.
For a moment, the pigtailed girl was silent. Then her jaw worked and she placed a palm on her belly. "'Pregnant'..?"
"It is a possibility."
"No... NO! I can't be pregnant! I'm a GUY!" Ranma, her face streaked with the trail of tears, screamed as she leapt out of her chair. "GUYS DON'T GET PREGNANT! I can't be having that glasses wearing moron's kid! Ya have to be lying! It's a trick! It has ta be! Ya are just trying to fool me with another one your plans ta get me ta do what you want! I'll..."
Cologne's staff went out and struck the redhead in the neck, sending her into the realm of the unconscious. Before she fell to the floor, Shampoo caught her and held her limp body in her arms.
"Unfortunately, that is what I was afraid that Ranma would do," sighed the Matriarch.
"What are you talking about?" asked Kodachi incredulously, "That... harridan is not Ranma, but she is definately delusional if she thinks that she is a man."
"Is so Ranma," Shampoo replied.
"Do you think that I am enough of a fool to believe that?"
"Child, it is the truth. Hav you not seen the curse?" Cologne asked her.
"What curse?"
"The Jusenkyo curse."
"What is that? Some sort of barbarian spell?"
"Hardly. There is a place near my village where there are a group of springs. If something falls into the spring, and drowns, whatever falls into the spring afterwards will become something just like it when splashed by cold water, and return to their natural forms. For instance, Ranma here fell into the pool of the drowned young girl. My great-grandaughter here fell into the pool of the drowned cat. Others turn into pandas, ducks and other creatures."
"And I should just believe you?"
The Amazon girl smirked. "Shampoo prove when silly Lost Boy get up."
"I would be amazed if you do."
"In the mean time," interjected the Matriarch, "put Ranma in my room, and come back once she is made comfortable. We have much to do, and not much time to do it."
"Like what?"
"Ranma's parents and the Tendos must be informed, but we must make certain that we tell them this right, or it could be bad for all. The eldest Tendo daughter might be a good choice to approach, or perhaps Nabiki, especially since you say that she is involved already. And I didn't get to tell her all that she would need to know. Which is only part of what we have to deal with."
"And what of the fool that started this all?"
"You do remember what Ranma said?"
"Ranma is not... oh, her. She mentioned being... Glasses... You do not mean to tell me..."
"Yes, I do. And until they are taken care of, nothing can be done about him. For now at least."
"That is most unfortunate."
She just received a smirk back in reply while:
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(Posted Thu, 29 May 2003 08:45)
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