Chapter Text
Saotome Ranma never backs down from a challenge. Which was why the teen martial artist was standing in the middle of an empty field, in his cursed form, his arms crossed as he tapped his feet.
“So you have come, my tree-borne-kettle-girl!” That faux poetic, tone of voice, echoed throughout the field. Kuno Tatewaki stood in front of him sporting his kendo uniform.
“You just don’t learn, do ya pal? Well? Where's your sword? We’re gonna fight aren't we?”
Kunou scoffed at the remark, that high and mighty attitude was starting to grate on Ranma's nerves. “I have no need for a sword on such an occasion my pigtailed stranger, for all I need...IS THIS!” The kendoist reached for something in his robes, tossing it towards Ranma. From years of training and honed instinct the redhead easily caught the flying projectile. A sweet aroma began to flood Ranma's senses as soon as he gripped onto whatever it was he caught. Said object he finally realised being a bouquet of roses. “My pigtailed goddess, I love you.” Kunou said curtly before leaving the area immediately after.
Ranma stood there, as the sound of morning birds chirping began to fill the field as Kunou footsteps became ever fainter. “What?”
Ranma sank into the furo letting out a frustrated sigh. On his way back to the Tendou Dojo he had an unfortunate encounter with some stray felines and a puddle by the roadside.
He brought his legs together bringing them closer to his body as he thought over this morning's events. A guy confessed to him. A guy confessed to him like he was thinking he was some girl. He sank deeper into the furo, resisting the urge to punch the tiled walls of the bathroom.
To put salt on the wound, it just had to be that weirdo senior who creeps on Akane everyday. He grumbled in frustration, air bubbles floating onto the surface of the tub as he did so.
Another solid minute of sulking later, Ranma finally exited the furo, grabbing a towel to dry himself off. Walking out from the divider between the bath and the rest of the washroom. Ranma paused as he turned to face the mirror.
The boy stared at the image reflected back at him, having been on the road for most of his life, there were only short pockets of time where he really got to get a good look at himself. Bright blue eyes stared right back at him, with broad shoulders and a well defined frame honed from a lifetime of training.
The reflections expression went from neutral to one of frustration as the image mimicked its source. Ranma puffed up his chest, crossing his arms as he tried his best to do one of those scowls he’s seen his old man do.
After a moment he relented, turning on the faucet and splashing himself with cold water. The growing familiar tingle flooded his body, the black pigtail turning into a vibrant red, his broad shoulders receding.
The teenager opened his eyes staring at the image of his cursed form, his eyeline had shrank slightly with this form being a few centimetres shorter. His muscles remained of course, his arms and shoulders still showing definition. Of course the most noticeable change was the pair of breasts which now adorned his chest.
Ranma let out a resigned huff wrapping himself with his towel. “Who the hell cares what I look like, I’m still a guy dammit! Like some stupid curse is gonna change that.” he grumbled, exiting the bathroom
“Hyaah!” A crack followed by the crumbling of rocks echoed out from the Tendou residence garden. Akane let out a huff, wiping the sweat on her brow staring at the pile of rubble in front of her. Taking a large glug from her from her water bottle, reentering the house and heading towards the dojo.
Akane slid the shoji to the side to find the dojo already occupied. It was Ranma and just thinking about her fiance made her angry. The fact that she even has a fiance was enough to make her blood boil and that doesn’t even take into account that stupid curse of his.
Speaking of his curse, he was in his cursed form and seemed to be practising his katas. The sight left Akane standing still as she took in what she saw, her style of fighting and knowledge in the art consisted mostly of kenpo. But what Ranma was doing, it was Anything Goes Martial Arts proper. A flurry of blows living up to the name wild horse, each strike executed with a certain grace, strength and precision. The way his stance changes seamlessly from the kenpo katas she was familiar with, to what she could only make out as some sort of kungfu, was a sight to behold. The way the muscles on her arms tighten with each strike, the way the muscles in her thighs clench with each kick, the way her abs- NOPE! Nope nope nope nope!
Akane mentally slapped herself in the face, what was she thinking?! Staring at a girl like that, let alone Ranma, but Ranma’s a… Akane let out a frustrated groan, stomping further into the dojo.
Finally noticing her presence, Ranma turned to face her, shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants. “Oh hey, Akane. Pops went who knows where with ya dad, so I’m just practisin alone.” the redhead rambled on, his body language seeming to stiffen.
“Spar with me.” Akane said, fastening her yellow gi. “Um, ya sure?” Ranma muttered out, taking a step back, expecting the worst. “What? Not good enough to spar with you?” “What? No, is just, last time we sparred, you…didn't really take it well.” He scratched the back of his head, as he recalled the night he came to the Tendou residence. “Well that's-” she paused, letting out a dejected sigh.
She crossed her arms together, bringing it closer to herself. “I was frustrated, okay? I was mad at dad for dropping the news about the arranged marriage on us, and then the…accident in the bathroom.” Akane could feel embarrassment take over her as she instinctually looked away. “Um, yeah…” She could hear Ranma murmur. “But I…actually really enjoyed our spar.” “Ya did?” Ranma exclaimed, surprise and excitement in his tone.
Akane turned her head back to face Ranma. Only to be met with a pair of bright blue eyes staring back at her partnered with a cheeky grin. Akane let out a nervous cough averting her gaze once more, “It was fun, to hang out with someone my age who likes martial arts.” Ranma let out a rather girlish chuckle, which only made Akane even more flustered. “Yeah, was fun not needing to worry bout getting beat up like with pops. If ya want I guess we could spar, could even give you some pointers.” Akane’s eyes narrowed, fixing a glare towards the redhead. “You better not hold back on me.” she said “If you promised to not get mad when ya lose.”
Immediately as he finished that sentence he was forced to dodge a deadly right hook. “Wanna say that again pervert?” The aura which Akane exuded at that moment made Ranma yelp, but he was quick to recover. “Well make me change my mind ya tomboy.” Almost immediately Ranma was forced to dodge another flurry of shockingly powerful blows as the spar began in earnest.