Preparing for a more picnic style meal, Emi found the time alone gave her an opportunity to worry about something that was truly bothering her.
When she had first met Ranma, Miki had felt it best to tell a few particular half-truths and keep Ranma in the dark. Not wanting to lose the first person to ever make her feel safe and secure, Emi had readily agreed.
Now however, she found herself in a quandary as she came to realize how much she liked her rescuer.
It was sadly more complicated than her not being a girl, which put a solid stop to the type of relationship she found herself wanting to explore. Just the fact they were keeping secrets from Ranma spelled disaster for staying with him.
Miki had explained that while it might not disturb Ranma, it really wasn't something he should be involved in. Something about him rushing off and doing something stupidly heroic.
Emi knew the truth however, she was after all embarrassed to even exist, she wasn't ignorant of the 'normal' world.
She was only with Ranma as part of her protective custody. Once she was no longer useful to the investigation into "Auntie's" all-girls college, she wouldn't be staying with Ranma. Despite having little hope of surviving in the real world, she'd leave with no fuss, fully expecting her 'Auntie' to come through the investigation unscathed and 'reclaim' her.
The truth was, she didn't know who her parents were, or even who she really was, but she knew her 'Auntie' wasn't really her family. Somehow she had been 'adopted' into that family, where she was raised to be quite delicate.
She had even received special medical attention that she never understood until it was far too late.
Indeed, she never realized anything until she graduated from home-schooling to being able to 'attend' Auntie's college. There she had gradually become aware of the real world, and just what her fate was to be.
For lack of abetter term, the college was a front for training girls for the variety of sex trades. Sure some like herself were to be sex-slaves, but others like her 'sister' were dominatrixes, while yet others became escorts or other more 'trivial' sexual roles.
It turned out she was to be her Auntie's prized creation, a shemale sex-slave that despite being fully sexually functional as a male was completely and utterly otherwise a submissive girl. It was partially true to say she didn't have a sex drive. While she was experienced, well-trained and quite functional in sexual matters, she had no desire for them. This had of course been intended, as it made her appear virginal and incredibly shy despite the near constant sexual use she had lived with.
Her life had been so controlled, that Ranma had actually been the first man she had met. He had also been the first person ever for many things. The first person she ever trusted, who made her feel safe. He was gradually making her wish for a actual relationship of any sort.
She didn't have any experience with such feelings, but he might have been the first person she loved.
Oddly enough, she even wished he would use her sexually, despite knowing it could never happen. It was surprising he treated her as kindly as he did, but she still had dreams of him knowing everything and keeping her just the same. If he used her, then that would mean he would keep her.
Sure, she technically knew how to please a man, the dommes after all were never without their strap-ons around Emi. Such thoughts however only made her painfully aware of how wrong her existence was.
Just progressing to kissing was really more than Emi hoped for. She was content to merely please him in what little innocent ways she could, in the short time she would be free. In it's own sad little way, just cooking and cleaning like a housewife was more than she ever dreamed of, the innocent activities making her feel like a normal girl.
Nosing around his apartment, Ranma turned back to investigate a suspicious sound.
Hunched over her meal was Emi, crying as quietly as possible. Stopping near her and speaking gently so as not to startle her, he asked, "Emi-chan? Is everything okay?"
Startled all the same to realize he had found her crying, she hastily tried to rub her tears away. Composing herself a little, she turned away shyly, unfortunately finding her emotions as impossible to control as ever. "I'm sorry Ranma-kun. It's okay, really."
Of course, saying so while still crying and sniffling uncontrollably wasn't terribly convincing.
When Ranma pulled her into a simple comforting hug, one of the first 'Police' techniques Miki taught him, Emi found herself melting into it as her emotions swung around. The waterworks and sniffles trickled to a halt as the best feelings of her sheltered life once again suffused her being with warmth.
As Emi snuggled in closer and sighed contentedly, Ranma was left at a loss. Miki may have shown him the technique, but she'd never actually shown him how to end it. That wouldn't have been so bad, except girls seemed to be overly reluctant to signal the end of the technique.
Only the grumble of Ranma's stomach saved the food from getting cold and brought Emi out of her happy place.
Well, not really out of her happy place, she was still fairly glowing in content happiness. "Oh! Well Ranma-kun, you can help me bring out the food. I just realized you need an extra special dessert too!"
Ranma's stomach grumbled its thanks.
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(Posted Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:54)
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