Story: Pride and Joy

 

We now return our attention to Nodoka Saotome, who had just managed to get fucked for the first time in a long, long time. Oh, she needed it. She needed it badly. Ten years. Ten years without the touch of a man. Now that she'd had her bell well and truly rung, she could get back to business.

She was here for a reason, after all. She was here to make sure Genma hadn't messed it all up. She was here to make sure her son (sometimes daughter) was a real man among men, and - Oh boy, had he succeeded. Beyond her wildest dreams.

The curse was a bit of a downer, but only a little. Ranma's girl form is such a precious thing! Thinking about it now, one thing she absolutely had to do was take that 'girl' off to the mirror mansion at some point - and then she'd have herself a lovely daughter full time. A proper boy crazy girl that she could mould into her successor!

Getting away from the point a little. Ranma had six girls, at last count. Six whole girls who were aware of each other and happy to share. Granted, that was at least partly because of the dragon's whisker making him <i>enormous</i> beyond belief, but she wasn't going to complain about a detail like that.

Take a look at Kasumi over there. Happily doing housework, humming to herself. She's a perfect example of a modern day housewife in Japan. Not quite the ideal Nodoka had strived towards, as she was always something of a traditionalist, but all the same, she was going to make Ranma very, very happy. She's talented, she's pretty, she's pleasant, and if Nodoka was any judge she probably fucked like a tiger.

That was something she'd have to ask her son about, if she could work out a way to get him to give her a coherent answer. It would be quite the awkward topic to discuss, as he wasn't clearly and fully on their side. At least not yet.

Looking out around the home, she saw Genma in his panda form playing shogi with Soun. Very well then. A truly picturesque scene. Two men having a dishonourable battle of wits, where they both knew the other was cheating, but it would be bad sport to point it out. Half the game is getting away with it. How amusingly masculine. Best to let them be for the time being.

Especially since she had other matters to contend with. To start with, she made sure she was presentable, took several deep breaths and tried to stop herself from smiling like the cat that caught the canary - and made her way through Furinkan towards a particular cafe.

She paused for a moment before opening the door. This could go any number of ways. All the same, it was a necessary conversation to have. She could not, must not put it off any longer, and so... she pushed the door open and was greeted by a big, friendly, cheerful -

"Nihao!"

The girl in front of her was as cute as Ranma's girl form, but also much more overtly girly. A purple haired vixen from head to toe, clad in a uniform that was as much catgirl as it was maid. She purred, she mewled, and upon seeing Nodoka it felt like the girl wanted to rub up against her all of a sudden.

"Airen?" she asked.

"Ah, no," Nodoka smiled at her. "I am not Ranma. I'm his mother."

"Interesting," a creaky voice called from the kitchen. Looking over, Nodoka saw her. A hunched over crone with huge eyes, tiny pupils, and silver hair, completely and totally focused on Nodoka. "You knew who her airen was already, without hearing his name said. Come in, come in, Mrs Saotome. I must admit, I'd often wondered about the woman who decided to marry Genma Saotome."

"I get that a lot," Nodoka said. Shampoo led her to a table, and pulled out the chair for her. "Thank you my dear. I believe we have quite a lot to discuss."

"About my great granddaughter marrying your son?" Cologne asked, hopping over to her table. "Yes, I believe that is quite a matter to speak of. Tell me - which of your son's fiances are you aware of?"

"Well, let me see," Nodoka said. "There is Akane Tendo, though technically her sisters Nabiki and Kasumi are both eligible as well. Ukyo Kuonji is another. Then there is Kaori Daikoku as well, but her family has not been able to track Ranma down - The last I heard they were searching for him in the Tomobiki district."

"You're frighteningly well informed," Cologne cackled. "No doubt you have a prefer-"

"Akane," Nodoka said. "If the circumstances were different, Akane would be my preference. There are numerous reasons for this, but the most important is that it is quite clearly my son's preference."

Shampoo didn't like that. Cologne seemed more amused than anything else. The other patrons were all obviously nervous, and trying to pretend they weren't listening. Let them. In the mood Nodoka was in, she didn't much care.

"Of course, the situation is what it is," Nodoka continued in a lower tone. "I would find it hard to believe you don't know what I mean. Very, very hard. And long. And girthy. And - "

"Yes, you've quite made your point," Cologne interrupted. Her voice was also quite low. "If the situation was different, I would prefer Shampoo. The two of them would produce very strong warriors for the tribe. Smart, quick on the uptake, natural born fighters who would ensure our village's strength and position was secure."

"In other words," Nodoka said. "Your position is not secure."

Cologne's back straightened very slightly. She nodded, as if confirming that Nodoka was exactly what she was expecting.

"The Musk and Phoenix tribes have been on the move lately," Cologne whispered. And her voice was low. So low, that even Shampoo, standing right next to them, seemed to be barely able to make out the words. "Neither of them is a force to be underestimated. I doubt, very much, that our village could truly oppose either of them if they decided to become hostile."

"And how do they fare against each other?" Nodoka whispered back.

"Hah!" Cologne snorted out a laugh. "Yes, I see he didn't just get it from his father, did he? Of course, we had considered such a thing, but the truth of the matter is - the two of them have historically shown very little interest in one another. Persuading them to see the other as a threat would inevitably result in the two recognising they've been manipulated - and turning their attention fully onto the one that had been manipulating them. They're not led by fools either - though it might be even worse if they were, for fools often act irrationally."

As if to prove that point, a certain boy wearing baggy robes managed to trip over his own mop, got himself drenched and was now a duck.

"Stupid Mousse," Shampoo grunted, and kicked the duck into the bucket. "Try to listen to conversation, has nothing to do with you! Nya!"

"Which leads me to another point," Cologne said. "No surprise from you, there, about my useless busboy turning into a useless busduck? The other patrons - those that are not regulars - jumped from their seats in surprise. So you are also aware of Jusenkyo?"

"I am a poor martial artist's wife," Nodoka said. "I have seen stranger than this. Now, I wanted to make sure that we are on the same page on one matter in particular - Do you oppose the current situation involving my son, in any way?"

"... No. No, I do not," Cologne said. "However! I expect any offspring born from this... situation to become part of the village one day. When the time comes, I want them to be introduced to suitable youngsters from my tribe." A wry grin crossed her features. "Of course, we wouldn't dream of forcing the matter. Simply... introduce those who have a strong personality match, that's all. They need not move to our humble little village - but we can certainly help things along. Do you agree?"

"Very well," Nodoka said. "I find this arrangement beneficial. As for you, young lady, I look forward to getting to know you better in the future."

With that, she departed. Perhaps she should pay a visit to Ucchan's as well? So far, it seemed, her son was running this harem by ear - But now, with her back in his life, she could make sure that things were running like a well oiled machine.