[Episode 8917] [Episode 8917]Ranma sidled over to the Furries 4 U clerk, while watching Kodachi gleefully pile strange and ecchi devices onto the counter - huge amounts of expensive silken rope, nipple clamps, ball gags, gags shaped like... that, three leashes, two collars, plugs, panties with... things sticking out of them, the whip, a riding crop... The pile grew and grew.
"Psst," hissed Ranma. "What're you selling her all that stuff for?"
"For a rather hefty sum of money," said the clerk.
"You know what I mean!" said Ranma. "I don't want her hurtin' the girls... uh, pets. I thought ya said the owner mustn't hurt his- uh, her pets."
"The contract does put down a standard penalty for abuse of the pets, that's true. However, our pets are conditioned to require - even enjoy - a strict but loving discipline, which can include restraint or physical punishment, when required." The clerk looked at Kodachi's growing mound of purchases and continued in a low voice, "If Miss Kunou should get carried away, however, automatic penalties would apply. Her co-ownership would be revoked, and she would be... held personally responsible. In such an eventuality the ownership of the pets would revert to the contractually registered co-owner, i.e. you. And since they are already legally registered with Animal Control as your pets, that wouldn't be a problem."
"Oh," said Ranma, "I get it. I don't like it, but I get it." He didn't like the idea of letting Kodachi hurt the poor animal girls, just to get out of her financial bind.
Finally Kodachi finished her gleeful collection of bondage devices (she had practically bought three of everything) and had the clerk give her the total. She negligently paid with her platinum credit card and gave the bags of... accessories to Shampoo and Ukyou. She looked down at Akane, who was crouched dog-like on the floor, panting nervously. "Ranma-sama, you can take the bitch back to her home, for the time being. I shall have enough to do, teaching these two animals the joys of obedience."
"There is no need for that, Miss Kunou," said the clerk. "All our pets are housebroken and trained extensively in obedience."
Kodachi smiled condescendingly. "I am sure they are, but one can never have too much discipline. I shall make sure they get to know my personal touch."
"As you wish," the clerk averred.
Kodachi smiled seductively at Ranma. "Of course, you could also come with me. We have a very nice kennel for the guard dogs, and I'm sure the bitch would fit right in - and you could assist me in training our pets. I would love to teach you some advanced methods of discipline."
Ranma shivered at the hungry look in her eyes. "Err, no, I, err, should take Akane home to her father and sisters. They'll want to know about this. Here, girl!"
Akane scampered over to him and crouched down again at his feet, her leash held expectantly in her muzzle and her tail thumping the floor excitedly.
"Very well," said Kodachi. "Of course you will visit m- the pets often, from now on. I expect you will want to come by and see them, first thing in the morning?"
"Err, yes, right. I'll do that." As always, Ranma was ill-equipped to deal with Kodachi's wiles. He breathed a big sigh of relief when she swept out, followed by Shampoo-skunk and Ukyo-bunny, both of which shot him a pleading look. 'Please free us soon,' they seemed to say.
He took the leash from Akane's mouth and looked unsure what to do, but Akane presented her collar and looked at him with puppy-dog eyes (she was good at that, now), so he relented and clipped it on, leading her out of the store. He didn't see Mousse anywhere, so he guessed Duck-boy had recognized Shampoo and followed her. (In fact, Mousse had mistaken Kodachi for Shampoo and Shampoo for a french maid, due to her new coloration, but he had followed them anyway, so that was close enough.)
After a few meters, Ranma asked Akane to walk on two legs. He felt uncomfortable enough, leading her around with that damned leash, like she wanted. What had she been thinking, getting herself transfurred like that? He was sure to catch hell from their parents, now.
Akane complied happily and resumed trotting after the grumbling Ranma. Her tail wagged enthusiastically, and a big smile was creasing her muzzle. She was such a Good Girl! Going walkies with her owner, being led on her leash, clipped to her collar! All of it proudly proclaimed that she was Ranma's - no more insecurity, no more jealousy. She was the luckiest bitch in the world!
When they arrived at the Doujou, Ranma let them in quietly and went towards the living room, where he could hear the others. Before rounding the last corner, he unclipped Akane's leash and told her to stay. She yipped in acknowledgement and obediently stayed on the spot, while Ranma went on to the living room.
"Welcome back, Ranma-kun," Kasumi greeted him. "Is Akane not with you?"
"Yes, Son, where is your fiancée? I thought you went out to find a cure for her curse."
"Uh, well. About that cure..." Ranma cautiously began.
Nabiki looked up from her manga, intrigued. This sounded like it was going to be a doozy, and she didn't want to miss the fireworks.
"Yes, Ranma-kun?" said Souun, his head swelling dangerously.
"It'slikethiswewenttothatstoreandAkanesaidshe'dgetacurethereandIwaitedandwaitedandtriedoneoftheothershopsandwhenIwentlookingforhershegotherselftransformedandit's not my fault!"
The others looked at him blankly, as they tried to puzzle out what he had just said.
"So what are you saying, son?" asked Genma. "Is Akane cured or not?"
"Well... kinda. She doesn't turn into a dog anymore, that's for sure. Only... ya gotta see for yourself. Akane, heel!"
There was a happy bark, and then something furry came bounding into the room towards Ranma, ending up standing beside him, panting.
Everybody blinked for a few seconds. It was obviously Akane. Naked but covered in fur from head to toe, her ears pointy and longer, one of them with a tag in it, sporting a wagging tail, a dog nose and a long tongue, hanging from her panting muzzle.
"Welcome home, Akane," said Kasumi. "It's almost time for dinner - shall I fill up your bowl again, so you can eat with us?"
Akane barked affirmatively. "Yes, Oneechan! Thank you, Oneechan!" She licked Kasumi's face, which made the older girl giggle and pat her head benevolently.
Everybody else just stared. Finally they re-adjusted their dropped jaws, and Nabiki began to laugh. "I have to admit, Saotome, that certainly tops anything else you've done until now."
"It's not my fault!"
"How could you do that to my baby?!" yelled Souun.
"I didn't do nothing to her! She did it all by herself, without asking me! She even got herself registered with Animal Control as my pet, just like the others. Nobody asked me about anything!"
In time-honoured fashion, Souun ignored everything that did not fit into his brain. "How could you do that to my baby?!" he wailed again.
Kasumi, who was still playing with the happily barking Akane, said, "But she seems so much happier like this, father." She threw a stick out into the garden for Akane to fetch.
"Wait a moment," interjected Nabiki. "What did you mean, when you said, 'just like the others'?"
Ranma gulped.
Several lengthy explanation later...
"Let me see if I understood this right," said Nabiki. "Akane, Ukyou and Shampoo voluntarily got themselves transformed into 'furries' and had themselves registered as your pets. You couldn't pay their bill, so Kodachi picked up the tab and co-ownership of these three, until you 'pay her back to her satisfaction'. True to your well-known business acumen you didn't have her sign any form of agreement as to the form, amount and terms of said repayment. Shampoo and Ukyou are now staying with her, but she generously allowed you to take Akane home - although nothing is keeping her from foreclosing and taking Akane away as well." She crossed her arms. "Is that about the shape of it?"
"Err, yes." said Ranma nervously. If she said it like that, it sounded even worse than he thought.
The family was seated around the table, eating Kasumi's dinner, except for Akane, who was once again eating doggie chow out of her bowl ("Otherwise it would just go to waste," Kasumi had said).
"I'll see what can be done about the financial aspects of this mess," Nabiki said. "As for the magical parts, I don't know. Go see a wizard or something."
"Yes, Nabiki," said Souun, crying. "It's so good of you to help your fiancé!"
Nabiki froze. "My... what...?"
"Since Akane is now Ranma's pet," - Akane lifted her head and interjected a bark - "that means you or Kasumi must be his new fiancée, and you are closer to him in age, so..."
Nabiki groaned and rubbed her temples. "I really don't need this, right now, Daddy."
"I knew you'd see it my way!" Souun exclaimed happily.
Nabiki just sighed and excused herself. "If anyone needs me, I'll be in my room, trying to figure a way out of this mess."
Nobody noticed that she nabbed a KitKat™ bar from Ranma's pocket in passing. She figured that Ranma owed her for dumping this mess on her shoulders.
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(Posted Thu, 31 Oct 2002 18:28)
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