Ranma was sitting on the roof, feeling sorry for himself, when he saw Shampoo bouncing towards him.
"Not Shampoo too," mumbled Ranma softly.
It really hadn't been his day. Kasumi being sick, Akane had decided to make him lunch. And it wasn't curry. She could make normal tasting curry. Not good tasting curry. Normal tasting curry. If she took her time and concentrated. If nothing and nobody disturbed her. If she stayed calm. This morning she had been in a hurry. And, of course, since she was capable of making edible curry, she assumed that everything else should be edible as well. So when he threw it away and accepted some of Ukyo's lunch, she had hit him. And of course he would land in…
Well, actually he didn't know where he landed. When he tried to remember, he just got images of those things. Of, well, of cats. And a flash of Kodachi, strangely enough, but that didn't seem to match the… The other half memory. After that it was a blank until he woke this evening, female, and with a mouth that tasted of soap and dirt.
When he got home at last dinner was finished, nobody had saved him anything, Akane glared at him before announcing she was going to bed and Nabiki grinned at him before going back to her book. And then she looked up just long enough to tell him he'd been rubbing up against Shampoo and Kodachi when he was 'cat' when he'd finally gotten something in his mouth.
So Ranma figured Shampoo was here to add to either his embarrassment or discomfort.
"All right, what's it you want Shampoo," he said a bit louder.
"Arien, we have to get rid of neko ken. Is too big weakness. Is dangerous. Shampoo think we wait till Ranma marry her, but it taking too long. Must fix now."
Ranma shook his head tiredly. "Look Shampoo, I know being scared of cats is a weakness, I know I can be dangerous if I go cat and I know I'm not gonna marry you, so what do you want."
"Arien, you is going to marry me. Shampoo is best for you. And neko ken is dangerous for you."
Ranma basically ignored the first part of Shampoo's answer, but the next caught his complete attention.
"What do you mean? What's gonna happen, am I gonna get stuck as a cat?"
Ranma focused on her face as she answered him. Her concerned expression made him believe that she thought it was serious. Her expression, and the fact that she hadn't tried to hug, kiss or rub herself along the length of his body.
"No, you is not going to get stuck thinking you is cat…"
Ranma relaxed hearing her say that.
"… but is dangerous because anybody with bit of skill who think about technique can beat you when you think you is cat."
Implying that he could be beaten could always get Ranma going. As he once more proved by defending a technique of his that he hated. "Hey, that's wrong. I beat your granny with it. It's a hell of a technique. I ain't got much control about using it, but once I'm cat I'm very dangerous."
He watched Shampoo shake her head.
"Ranma wrong. Shampoo ask great grandmother why she no fight you after fight. She say she maybe need to cripple you to beat you, and she no want that."
"Uh, why? What do you mean?"
"Ranma no see it, so maybe Ranma no understand. Neko ken is, is… Shampoo know word, just not remember now. Neko ken is all attack. Is no defense. Is no holding back, no saving strength, is just attack. Ranma no think, only attack when see opponent. When Ranma no see opponent, Ranma forget about fight, just act like cat."
Ranma nodded when Shampoo looked at him, waiting to see if he understood before continuing.
"Shampoo remember word now. Neko ken is berserker style. Ranma hit hardest and fastest on all blows, so Ranma get tired sooner than enemy. And Ranma no think in neko ken. That is most dangerous. Ranma no think, just act like cat. If enemy maybe hide and throw rubber mouse, Ranma play with mouse and enemy can hit Ranma in the back. Ranma forget in middle of fight even if he no see opponent. Shampoo saw on beach.
Swallowing, Ranma asked, "What did you mean when you said your grandma would have to cripple me?"
"Grandmother say it make you ignore pain, make you harder to knock out. She say Ranma would have kept trying to attack, even if she broke legs, and knocking out would be difficult to judge. Maybe crack skull She say if she fight, she use hiru shoten ha, then chi blasts when Ranma busy falling. Maybe she use other things too. Ranma no get up. Hurt very bad. Maybe crippled or dead."
"So, the ghoul can bea…"
"Arien, anybody can beat you. If Mousse meet you today, and throw cat toy, what you do? Ranma chase cat toy and no see Mousse throw dagger in Ranma from behind."
To say that he was worried would be an understatement. Not about dying, thought. Ranma could already see the way Kuno, his father, the principal and Happosai would gloat about beating Ranma. That couldn't be allowed!
"So, Shampoo," Ranma smiled. "How're we gonna get rid of it?"
By the way, does that include Akane?
”Don’t worry about the chains Ranma. I’ll remove them after you’re finished in the pit.”
That so nice of her.
Isn’t it?
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(Posted Sun, 31 Aug 2003 20:38)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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