Precisely how Konatsu always managed to get to bed later than her, and then be up bright and early each morning apparently long before her was a trick that Ukyo resolved to drag out of him. He professed a lack of knowledge on the subject. He went to bed after compulsively scrubbing everything that could be scrubbed, then woke up the next morning to do it all again. The damning thing of it was that he smiled the entire time, especially when he noticed she'd entered the room. For a passing moment Ukyo wondered at what cruel god had decided that the only boys remotely interested in her romantically had - shall we say - gender identification issues? Look at him in that kimono! Look at the way he moves! Anyone that didn't know better would assume that was a girl. Anyone. The disguise was perfect, but could anyhting less be expected from such a genius kunoichi?
"Mistress Ukyo," Konatsu greeted. "I have already gone to the trouble of preparing breakfast."
Ukyo looked down at the plate and winced slightly. That was the main problem with Konatsu. Sure, loyal to a fault and dirt cheap help, but that second point was entirely because he thought so cheap in the first place. Barely enough rice to fill three thimbles and a sliver of nori.
"I'm sorry mistress," Konatsu replied, no doubt noticing how she had been eyeing the food. "Will that be too filling? I was afraid I'd made far too much today!"
Ukyo's stomach growled a little, as if asking how Konatsu was able so subsist on the implied diet. It defied everything she knew about nutrition, and dammit if those innocent eyes didn't always guilt her into not complaining about the paltry breakfast. She'd usually taken to the strategy of sending him off on some errand while she quickly whipped something up for herself, but running through the mental checklist in her head... everything was already taken care of! On a breakfast like this she might well collapse by lunchtime! She'd never have the strength to make it through the day! Come on now, quickly. Think of something. Anything at all. Whatever gets him out of the shop...
"Oh, well I'm sure I'll manage to eat that much," Ukyo replied, eyes darting around the room. "But, um... Once you're done with your own breakfast... I need you to... Um..."
"I would like to ask permission for the morning off," Konatsu said, with a deeply apologetic bow. "I must consult with Ranma Saotome regarding the scroll I received yesterday."
"Granted!" Ukyo blurted out, grateful for the repreive. Phew! While she had been hoping to see this technique for herself, survival was definitely something she had to consider long before then. Ukyo watched in rapt fascination as Konatsu ate his own meal at a speed that made it seem as though he was savouring every bite. Once he had finished, the kunoichi gave a polite bow and flat out vanished from the shop, leaving only a cute kimono wrapped around a log with a face drawn on it. She waited a few seconds, not moving just in case of a sudden return, and then Ukyo stood up to make her real breakfast.
On balance maybe she ought to teach him the way that money worked in the real world after all. It might well not be worth it anymore, even with that ridiculously low wage he was taking in.
The street was empty in front of the Tendo dojo. Completely empty of all signs of life. Okay that's not strictly true. There were certainly people passing by on occasion, here and there but by and large there didn't appear to be anyone there long term. Merely locals en route to some other location that did not involve paying the Tendos a visit. Hardly worth mentioning, save to satisfy the pedants out there. You know who you are.
And yet in spite of the limited presence of anyone at all on the small stretch of street in front of the dojo, there actually was one person pacing back and forth rather restlessly, and was in fact doing so while being completely unnoticable to our eyes. It was of course Konatsu, thinking rather heavily about the conversation he was about to have while hiding behind a rather convincing piece of camoflage. It wasn't as if he'd ever requested for assistance in this manner before. He had no concept of the societal requirements for such a conversation, and it was making him quite worried.
Should he have brought a gift? Or would it be seen as weird if he showed up with something like that? Would it be weird to say something like "I want to try out this untested technique upon you. Will you let me?" Would it potentially ruin his friendship with one of the three people he considered his closest friends in the entire world? The three people to whom he now owed his freedom? What was the procedure? How should he approach this subject? How should he -
"Hey there Konatsu," Akane said as she approached the front gate. What our eyes could not perceive a martial artist's sure as hell could. "Is there something wrong?"
"Miss Akane!" Konatsu jumped, dropping his "perfect" camoflage in surprise. "Um... I am terribly sorry about this, but... But I was wondering if mister Ranma could help me figure something out."
"I'm sure he'll be glad to help," Akane beamed. "Please, come inside. I'll find him for you."
Konatsu was led into the family room, as always vastly impressed by the amount of luxury the training hall afforded. How rich Mister Tendo must be! Given what miss Ukyo had said about "that fat stupid panda," it made all too much sense precisely why he was so eager to see mister Ranma wed one of mister Tendo's daughters!
He didn't have to wait particularly long before the pigtailed boy showed up, pouring the contents of a thermos over himself to deactivate his curse. It still unnerved Konatsu a little bit to see it triggered, though not because of the horror of such a curse. To think that such a thorough physical transformation could be so easily induced! In his time Konatsu had to deal with some potent adversaries, challenging him for his position as top kunoichi. But to face a foe that could so thoroughly alter their size, shape and overall appearance... it was a chilling idea, especially upon learning of the spring of drowned twins! To combine such a curse with the capabilities of even a lesser ninja would create a truly devastating combination, provided they show at least a little imagination.
"Hey, Konatsu!" Ranma said, shaking the droplets of hot water out of his hair. "Akane said there was something you need my help with?"
"Yes, thank you. That is why I have come here. Thank you again," Konatsu bowed slightly, feeling a small amount of reverance for one of those most instrumental in his escape and her freedom to his new life. He produced the scroll from a hidden compartment, and held it out towards Ranma atop both of his upturned palms. "I received this scroll recently, describing a powerful ninja technique. However, I am incapable of determining its function."
Ranma took the scroll and unfurled it. He stared for a moment, eyes lighting up in brief understanding. Then he turned it upside down, and continued to stare. After a moment, he read out loud the name of the technique: "The Caress of the Jade Butterfly?" he read, squinting at it slightly. "But this is..."
"Pardom me for interrupting," Konatsu said, "But I regret to inform you that we already did that joke."
"We did?" he replied, shoulders slumping in disappointment. "Oh. Well... I haven't a clue what it does either. I can't make heads nor tail of it."
"Nor me," Konatsu agreed. "It can only be performed by a top ranking kunoichi, meaning that someone has placed an incredible seal upon it. I have never encountered one so powerful before, but the conditions should apply to allow me to try it."
"What do seals have to do with anything?" Akane asked, strolling into the room and peering at the scroll over Ranma's shoulder. By the way she srewed up her nose while peering at it, she couldn't figure the technique out either. After a moment, she shrugged and sat down next to her fiance to take a better look at the scroll from a more comfortable position, to which Ranma responded by holding it at arms length, turning it away from her. Akane tugged on his pigtail, earning her a dirty look from Ranma. Konatsu decided to wait until they were finished flirting before answering her question. Ah! If only mistress Ukyo would lavish such attention on him!
"Certain ninjitsu are too dangerous to be used by merely anyone!" Konatsu whispered once they had finally settled down. He looked around the room as though about to impart a great secret, and the three of them all hunched that little bit closer together so they could all hear. "And so, those techniques were sealed away by powerful ninja or kunoichi, to ensure that not just anyone could teleport around at will, or split into multiple forms, or any of a dozen very nasty tricks. It is to my shame that I have never heard of this technique before yesterday, and have no idea what it does! All I know is that only an extremely high ranked kunoichi - such as myself - can use it!"
"This sounds kind of dangerous..." Akane whispered.
"The tomboy's right for once!" which earned him a whap on the back of the head. Such love, such devotion to one another! Konatsu detested succumbing to envy, but he surely felt it here. "Wouldn't it be better to destroy this thing?"
"No!" Konatsu yelled, causing the two to fall flat on their backs. "If the scroll is destroyed deliberately, then whoever did so would suffer a fate most terrible! They would... I cannot bring myself to say it... They would have to suffer the indignity of... of... Of!"
"What is it already?!" Akane demanded, inadvertantly punching Ranma in the face with her wild gesticulation. "Come on, tell us!"
"Their sweat would be replaced with soy sauce! Oh, the indignity of it all!" Konatsu wailed. Such a terrible fate to suffer! Such a cruel and unimaginable horror, crafted by the most powerful and sadistic ninja minds to ever walk the Earth. Did their cruelty know no bounds? Did their wicked imagination have no restraints? He could not answer, and feared what it might be if it was ever discovered.
"So, what do you want us to do with this scroll?" Ranma asked, rolling it shut with a flick of the wrist with one hand while rubbing his recently punched nose with the other. "It's way too dangerous for us to simply hide away, and... while I think I could live with sweating soy sauce for the rest of my days, I'd prefer not to if given the choice."
"From what I can tell, the effect is not remotely lethal," Konatsu replied. "In fact, that is what baffles me the most. The technique is utterly benign, save for one small effect that could serve as little more than an inconvenience. I was hoping that I could try the technique out on a willing test subject to see what happened. I will completely understand if you are too afraid to let me try it out, I will simply ask someone else."
"Hey, who said I'm afraid?!" Ranma yelled, every bit as easily manipulated as his mistress had advised. "I'm not afraid of some stupid technique. Bring it on! Let's see what it's capable of!"
"You only want to see what it does so you can work out a counter," Akane observed, idly checking her nails in feigned disinterest.
"So what? I bet you want to see this technique too!" Ranma harumphed, turning his back on Akane and folding his arms as though certain she'd been knocked off some high horse or other. She twitched in response and whirled him around so they could get into a good face to face polite discussion regarding the level of curiousity posessed by the other that eventually evolved into its ultimate form! A two word denial from one, and a two word affirmation from the other.
Oh, but look at them bickering once again! Just like the married couples Konatsu had seen on television. If only mistress Ukyo could see them like this, could understand the way the two of them felt about one another! Why, surely then she would forget about pursuing mister Ranma, and instead find someone else to be happy with. Obviously not Konatsu himself, for that would be beyond even the hopes of his own wildest dreams!
"Pardon my interruption, but mistress Ukyo is expecting me back at the restaurant once our business is concluded. May we please try this technique now?"
"Eh? Oh! Sorry Konatsu, forgot you were there," Ranma said, maintaining the presence of mind to at least look a little embarassed by his outburst. "I guess we ought to move out to the garden. I mean, we don't know what this technique will do, right?"
The three of them moved out to the garden, just as suggested. A sensible precautionary measure that Konatsu saw no reason to argue against. Besides which, it only involved moving about five feet. Ranma adopted his more easily noticable fighting stance - the one he used when facing a serious opponent. Konatsu faintly remembered their previous encounter through a mist of endless rage. Having seen him in action since then, Konatsu knew all too well that he had been holding back - trying not to hurt him because he believed that he was facing a girl.
"I'm not just going to let you hit me with the technique," he explained. "What good is any technique if you can't even hit it in battle, right?"
"I expected no less!" Konatsu declared. He had changed into his fighting gear for a reason, after all. Ranma was not an opponent to underestimate, and the first move could very well decide the entire battle. To that end...
Konatsu ran forward with silent footsteps - though they did not have to be - and brought his sword to bear. Or rather, the wooden stick he'd replaced his previous wooden stick for after it got broken in his last fight with Ranma. That broken stick had been a replacement for his sword, and - Never mind that! He swung it full force towards Ranma's torso, only for him to turn with the blow and seize Konatsu's arms for a picture perfect throw right into the ground. While he could easily land on his feet from such a throw, he also knew that Ranma was expecting that response and likely had a counter attack already planned. Normally, that was exactly what Konatsu would have done. Rolled over in mid air and been back on his feet for a quick snap kick, but this was not an ordinary fight by any means.
Instead, he made no effort whatsoever to brace for the fall. It would hurt, but he had been hurt worse. What mattered was the opportunity accidentally offered to him, even if only for the briefest of seconds. Konatsu dropped his sword and dug his fingers into Ranma's arms and then, at the very split second he was able to do so, he planted a kiss upon Ranma's forehead, charging into fingers and lips an abundance of energy in a modified version of the technique described in the scroll. All it took was the release of energy through an embrace (which even holding his arms in mid-air would meet, at a bare minimum) and then provide a simple kiss. Easily done. If the effect was truly of any note, then Konatsu could easily understand why it had been sealed - the technique was so easy to do that any neonate could perform it. The real trick was the energy manipulation.
Unfortunately his musings on what the effect might possibly be were cut rather short when Konatsu collided face first with the ground, and he learned to his dismay that activating the technique upon mister Ranma in this manner had the rather unfortunate side effect of making him lose control over the throw and slam down much, much harder than he had intended for the purposes of what was ostensibly a friendly spar. At that very moment Konatsu welcomed the respite that unconsciousness granted, because - as he had once overheard mistress Ukyo eloquently put it - this was going to sting like a complete bitch.
- Konatsu wakes up, and quickly realises what the technique has done to Ranma.
- While Konatsu is unconscious, Ranma discovers the effect the technique has on him.
- Alternatively, what is the history of the technique?
- The kunoichi that attacked Konatsu reports the loss of the scroll.
- Something else
Oh my, a harem of Ukyou and Ranma is simply too much for this poor Kunoichi. Surely he must be joking. M-Mister Ranma, w-why are you showing off your large breasts?
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