David Bateson The Magical Martial Artist. By "The Major" Lesson One: PRIDE AND POWER. ================================ Ranma gritted his teeth and braced himself as the ground got closer. Ranma: The crash of Ranma's landing shook the area, but the echoes soon died away and stillness came again. For a while silence held sway, then a groan rang out and Ranma dragged himself to his feet and looked around. Ranma: I think that tomboy's kicking harder these days. Now, where am I this time? Ranma took in the dingy alleyway he had landed in, while typically dirty, there were no piles of rubbish or collections of bins. One side of the alley was a featureless brick wall, the other side seemed equally blank until you neared the end of the alley. Set straight into the brick wall was a single window, with a solid wooden door beside it. The window was mostly opaque, but clearly printed on it was "The Answers Shop" with "Old Books" below that and through the window the outlines of what might have been bookshelves could be made out. Ranma: A Bookshop? Ranma shrugged and turned to leave the alley, then paused uncertainly and looked back at the bookshop. Ranma: Ranma walked hesitantly up to the door and tried it. It swung open smoothly and silently, Ranma stepped in and looked around. The shop was well lit, better lit than Ranma had thought from looking in the window, and seemed fairly clean. There was a counter set back opposite the entrance and shelves marched off on either side of the counter. The old man at the counter looked up with interest as Ranma entered. Old Man: A customer? Welcome, welcome. What can I do for you? Ranma: Ah... Do you have any Recipe Books or books on How to Cook? Old Man: How to Cook you say? The Old Man rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then pointed off to the right. Old Man: The culinary section is 3 Shelves that way. Ranma: Thank you. [Turns in the indicated direction] Old Man: But.. Ranma: Eh.. [Turns back to the Old Man] Old Man: I would never have guessed that you were a chef. Ranma: A Chef? Me? Old Man: Why else would you want a cook-book? Ranma: It's for my fian... for a friend. [Turns away] Old Man: Then you should leave. Ranma: What! [Stares at the Old Man] Old Man: This is a bad place to buy gifts. Try your local Newsagent instead. It's safer. Ranma: Safer? What's dangerous about a cookbook? Old Man: Why does your... friend need one? Ranma: She's a special case... her COOKING is dangerous. Old Man: Really? Send her here then, you won't be able to pick out the book she needs anyway. Ranma: Send her... What do you mean "The book she needs"? Old Man: Books hold answers my boy. Your friend has a problem with cooking you say, but, do you know WHY she has a problem? Ranma: Ah... Old Man: If you don't know the reason for the problem then how can YOU pick out a book that contains an answer? Ranma: An answer? Old Man: All problems in life have many answers. The books in this shop hold some of those answers, not all, and not always the best answers. But no matter what the problem, there is an answer somewhere in this shop. IF you know the reason for the problem. Ranma: Maybe I should be going now... Old Man: But you haven't picked out a book yet. I mean, do you have a problem you'd like an answer to? Ranma: Do I have problems? Hah! How do I pick the best girl from the mob chasing me! How do I get rid of the Jusenkyo Curse! Will they do for starters!? Old Man: Well now, Girl problems... to be honest with you kid, for this, no answer out of a book is going to be a GOOD answer. Just follow your heart. It's a hassle at times, but it works out better than any other method. But curses... that I can help you with. Ranma: You can? Old Man: Certainly. [Points to the left] Magic section, 4 shelves that way, then go through the door in the back wall. But one book only, so pick carefully. Ranma looks in the direction the old man pointed, hesitates, and looks back at the old man, who waves at him to get on with it. Moving slowly to the left Ranma counts off 4 sets of shelves, then spots a door that seems to lead further into the building. Going through it Ranma finds himself in a seven walled room, 6 walls are covered in bookshelves while the seventh holds the door he came through, in the center of the room is a reading table. Ranma hesitates then starts to examine the shelves. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some time later Ranma returns to the counter, carrying a book with him. The old man looks up as he approaches. Old Man: Found what you wanted? Ranma: None of the books in there open. But the title on this one makes me think of Martial Arts. Old Man: Open? Of course they don't. Opening books of magic is dangerous and I don't allow it in my shop. Give me a look at your choice. Ranma hands over the book. Ranma: Old Man: An interesting choice. Did you think about the mob of girls giving you problems while you were in there? Ranma: Eh.. Mind your own business! Old Man: Suit yourself. [Reads the Title of Ranma's book] "PHYSACALITY: Ye Arte of Powyr from Physicale". This book is intended to teach you how to do magic, if you manage to learn enough from it, you'll have the ability to get rid of that curse you mentioned. This a good enough answer for you? You up to learning magic? Ranma: You sure it'll work? I don't have money to waste. Old Man: Money you say. Tell you what, take the book. Study it. If you complete all 13 lessons and get your answer you can visit me and pay me what the books worth. No money needed at the moment. Ranma: Are you serious? Old Man: Sure. A word of warning though, this is a book of MAGIC, once you start studying, you won't be able to stop, you won't be able to unlearn what you know. If you aren't good enough to complete the 13 lessons, or are too weak to reach the final lesson, you'll be studying forever. Ranma: Good Enough! I, Saotome Ranma of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, am up to anything! Old Man: [Quietly] How about modesty? Ranma: What was that? Old Man: Never mind. [wraps up Ranma's book] Here you are sir. See you when your study is done. Ranma takes the book and heads for the door. He hesitates at the door and looks back at the old man. Ranma: You sure about this? Do you have enough custom to be able to afford it? Old Man: Sure. Business has been brisk lately... Ranma starts to open the door. Old Man: ...You're the third customer I've had this decade. Ranma: What? [Ranma twists to stare at the old man] Old Man: I'm fine lad. Be off with you, it's time you were home. Ranma tries to straighten himself up, but somehow loses his balance and finds himself falling through the half-opened door. Tumbling backwards Ranma hits the ground, for a second he lies there dazed, then he forces himself back to awareness and levers himself into a sitting position. Instead of the alleyway he expected to see, Ranma found himself staring into the eyes of the rest of the Tendo household as they sat at the dinner table, apparently half way through dinner. Soun: Ranma! How..? Genma-P: [sign] You're late. Nabiki: You doing Ninja training or something Ranma-kun? Kasumi: You should take your shoes off before coming inside, Ranma-kun. Akane: ... uncouth jerk. Jumping out of nowhere that way and startling everyone. Ranma stood up and looked wildly around himself. There was no sign of an alley, or of the bookshop. It was the Tendo living room, with five curious people looking at him and everything else exactly as it should be, except for the wrapped up book at his feet. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ranma found the dancing Panda to be very distracting. After a bit of trouble getting a word into the conversation, Ranma had managed to get out an explanation of how he had come to appear in the doorway. Ranma had serious doubts that anyone had caught the full story, but the Panda had gotten the key point. The book in Ranma's hand offered a cure. This was evidently worth a dance. Everyone else thought it good as well, in the Tendo's living room happiness and good cheer abounded. Soun: Ranma! My boy... soon you will be a man and can marry Akane with honor! Akane: Father! Genma-P: [Sign] I'm going to be cured! Kasumi: Aren't parties fun. Nabiki: I hate to be a spoilsport. [everyone looks at Nabiki] But you're all missing something. Soun: What is there to miss? Ranma reads the book, learns the magic and all is fixed? Nabiki: Learn, as in study hard and diligently. From a book no less. Akane: Hmmm.. I see what you mean Sis. This is Ranma we're talking about. Mr. Sleep-in-class himself. Ranma: Hey! I heard that! Akane: So? It's true isn't it? Nabiki: Lets face it Ranma. As a Martial Artist you're hot stuff, as a student you're awful. Kasumi: That's harsh Nabiki. Ranma does well when he has to. Akane: And ONLY when he has to. Ranma: Hey! Nabiki: This learning magic... it's not a bad idea, but I can't see Ranma sticking with it. He'll notice some new Martial Arts technique halfway through and drop everything to chase after that instead. Genma-P: [Sign] My son, the failure. Ranma: You... Soun: [Crying] My poor Akane, doomed to marry a cursed and uneducated failure. Akane: Who's doomed to marry!! [looms over Soun] Ranma: ENOUGH!! Everyone stops and looks at Ranma. Ranma strikes a dramatic pose. Ranma: I am going to study this book. I am going to learn how to deal with my curse. I am going to complete what this course and make certain people [looks at Akane and Nabiki] admit their mis- judgement. [Looks at Genma-panda] And if any others expect to benefit from my efforts, they'd better not steal any more of my food! Genma-P: [Sign] But... Ranma: [Staring at Panda] But what? Genma-P: [Sign] My son, the successful magician. Ranma picked up the book and looked around the room. Ranma: I'm going to start now. Akane: [Quietly] No one doubts that you'll start. Ranma: [Looks at Akane, who blushes] I'll finish too. [Ranma's face shows some anger] I swear by my honor as a Martial Artist! [A blue Ki aura outlines Ranma] Silence grips the room as Ranma leaves and starts up the stairs. Ranma enters his room and closes the door behind him. He holds up the book and looks at it, then he sighs. Ranma: I wonder if I'll be able to open it now? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Half an hour later Ranma crept down the stairs, face red, book in hand. Ranma: Ranma reached the bottom of the stairs and looked around. Ranma: Ranma approached the door of the dojo, moving silently, but as he got there the door swung open, revealing Akane and Kasumi. Ranma: Kasumi: How nice. Ranma came to the door to meet us. Even though he looks terribly ill. Akane: Why have you gone white Ranma? Ranma: Ah... ah... Akane: [Looking at the book in Ranma's hands] Did something go wrong with your magic? [Sounds worried] This isn't dangerous for you is it? Ranma: Nabiki, Soun and Genma hear the conversation at the door and come out into the hall to see what's going on. Ranma: Nabiki: What are you doing there Ranma? I didn't hear you come down. Ranma: Ah... Nabiki: You're acting very, very suspiciously you know. Soun: Now, now Nabiki. I'm sure Ranma has a good reason for being here. [looks at Ranma] Right Ranma? Ranma: Yes. Good Reason. Akane: What is it then? Ranma: Ah... Nabiki: You're hiding something from us Ranma-kun. Ranma: Me? Akane: Yes you. [Akane's expression has hardened] You're acting like we caught you sneaking out or something. Ranma: Sneak? Me! Nabiki: But why would you want to sneak out? [looks at the book in Ranma's hands] Part of your "magic", perhaps? Ranma: Ah.. [Notices the shopping bag in Kasumi's hands] Yes. My magic. I need to get some things. I need... things for my magic study. Kasumi: Of course. Tell me what you need Ranma. I know most of the shops in the neighbourhood. I can tell you where to get the best bargains. Ranma: Um.. I need, that is.. well... Nabiki: I can give you the name of a good lawyer. Ranma: Lawyer? Very funny Nabiki. Akane: What do you need then? Or have you already decided to give up magic? Is that it? Ranma: Give up? I never give up! Genma: Of course Ranma isn't giving up. My... Our cure is too important. And he swore on his honor as a Martial Artist. I'm sure Ranma wouldn't let a trivial thing like learning magic put him in a position where he had to commit seppekku to regain his honor. [Stares at Ranma] Would you Ranma. Ranma: Soun: Oh so noble Ranma, to volunteer for seppekku when you're unable to fulfill your solemn word. We'll give you the finest of send-offs. Ranma: Akane: [Trying not to laugh at Ranma's expression] Well Ranma? Are you quitting? Ranma: Quitting? Don't be silly. [Opens book and flips to one of the early pages] I'll need... a room to myself for starters, I'll need somewhere private and undisturbed to lay out magical tools and carry out rituals. [Stares at Nabiki, Genma and Soun] And I'll want people to promise not to enter or spy on the room without my permission. I don't want people interfering with any magical stuff I have lying around. Understand? Genma: Your own room? Nabiki: Promise not to spy? Soun: There aren't any spare rooms Ranma-kun. Akane: We could put Mr Saotome in with father. Kasumi: Father does have plenty of space in his room. Nabiki: Promise not to spy? Soun: Share with Saotome-kun? But he snores! Genma: It's for a good cause. Ranma: What about the promise? I will need total privacy. [Looks at Kasumi] I won't even want you to clean up Kasumi, I'll need to do that myself. Akane: Fine by me. I promise. Nabiki: No spying.... Kasumi: I can promise Ranma-kun, but I'd like to look in occasionally to see that you keep the room sort of clean. Nabiki: [Pulls herself together and stares at Ranma] OK Ranma. I'll promise, but I expect to see proof that you're studying.... magic. Ranma: Genma: For my... ah.. our cure, I promise as well. [Genma gets nervous as Ranma stares at him] No Spying, I promise. [Ranma keeps staring] I won't touch any of your things. [Ranma stares] WILL YOU STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT! Ranma: Ah. OK. Akane: What about you father? Everyone else has promised. Soun: The snoring. [Everyone looks at Soun] Oh all right, I promise. [Soun looks pleadingly at Ranma] This won't take too long will it Ranma? It'll only be a few weeks won't it? Ranma: Eh... how long... the book says about a month or two per stage and there's 13 stages... Nabiki: So. No more than 2 years you say. Hmmm... actually sounds like a real course then. Will surprises never cease.... Soun: Two Years! The snoring, the snoring, I'll be back to the bad old days with the master... Ranma: Genma: I'll buy you a set of ear-muffs old friend. Ranma: Genma: [Turns to Ranma] I'll need to borrow some money off you. Ranma: But... I'll need the money to get... Swallowing his trepidation Ranma began to read off the items the book recommended he obtain for the study of magic, save for a few objects of a very personal nature. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ranma looked around his room and wondered what to do next. All the items the book recommended he get that could be bought openly were here - and everyone knew it. When he had been reading out the list of things the book recommended, Nabiki and Akane had soon pushed him to one side and looked at the book themselves, causing a momentary panic for Ranma - but they soon discovered that they could only read the book if Ranma was touching the line they were looking at. This both relieved and bothered Ranma, he was relieved that he could control what others got to see of the book, and the reminder that this was real magic, potent magic, was... disturbing. Ranma could handle his curse, though he didn't like to admit it, and the minor charms Shampoo and his other fiancee's liked to use on him were also easily faced and overcome. The Book was different. Ranma looked at it and wondered at his best course. He had tried finding an alternative book of magic and had a few reference works now sitting beside the Book to show for his efforts, but he had found nothing that he thought would serve as a replacement course of study, he had found no other magic that he belived in. And he was running out of time. He had compiled the list of items in front of everyone, the nature of the book doing much to convince them all that Ranma was being serious with his requests, and everything on that list was here. He had told everyone that there were a few more things that he had to make himself, which was true, but could not pretend to be making them for much longer. Ranma: Ranma stared at the pile of items, then slowly walked over to them and began to sort them and prepare them for use. Ranma: Ranma started moving various items into the configuration the book laid out for him and considering what would be necessary to deal with those that were too difficult to set up without preparation, such as the mirror that needed to be attached to the roof somehow. As he moved things around Ranma's mind also prepared a checklist of other things he needed to do, before... there were a few meditation techniques to study, a few exercises that should be mastered - nothing that a martial artist needed to worry about - and then there were the items Ranma had not wanted to admit to publically, he would need to get some of them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ranma moved through a series of kata's, reviewing his situation. In the past few days matters had gotten worse. Mousse, Ryouga and Shampoo had found out about the Book and his studies, they'd all said much the same thing - that they would try to avoid bothering him while he was studying magic, and that they looked forward to him becoming good enough to cure them. Ranma suppressed a shiver. Ranma: Ranma finished his exercises and stretched before heading for the bathroom, pondering his options as he walked. Ranma: Ranma thought back on what it had taken to accquire everything he needed for the first step. Given his usual luck it had gone remarkably well, as far as he knew no one had recognised him in his disguises and no one was too likely to follow up on the "incidents" he had caused. Things had been embarrassing while they were happening, but at least they didn't seem to have had any consequences that he needed to worry about. Ranma entered the bath and began to wash himself, trying to lose himself in the relaxation of bathing. It didn't completely work, but Ranma was feeling a little better when he finished. He got out of the bath and took a deep breath. Ranma: Ranma looked at himself in the mirror and shook his head. He turned away, then faced back to the mirror and slowly reached over to the cold water tap. Ranma: Why not? Ranma sprayed the cold water over his body, then dried herself off and pulled on some boxers before heading to her room. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ranma walked down the corridor to her room feeling totally embarassed, she'd done this plenty of times before in exactly the same state of dress without the slightest hesitation, but the knowledge of what she was going to do in her room ruined her self-control and amplified every little thing into a major nuisance. She gave a sigh of relief as she reached her room and almost jumped in, her sense of shame welcoming the privacy it offered. Her breathing was ragged as she stood in the center of the room and eyed the floor, avoiding looking at the mirrors she had so laboriously positioned in preparation for her... studies. Ranma found herself examining the mystic circle she had laid out earlier, almost unconsciously she went over the symbols and their positions, seeking a flaw, seeking an excuse to delay what she planned. There were none that she could find, a slight feeling of pride for a job well done swept over her, then vanished beneath her trepidation over what came next. Ranma looked up at the Book on it's shelf and cursed herself once more for being a headstrong idiot. The Book sat there, almost mocking her with it's apparent normality, it's appearence of being nothing special. Ranma swallowed and let her eyes be slowly dragged to one of the mirrors. She looked herself over, noting the blush on her face that came close to matching her hair, then her eyes wandered down to her breasts where her nipples jutted firmly out. As she watched one of her hands came up and gave a nipple a gentle tweak that caused her to shiver with shame, desire and anticipation. Ranma gazed at the mirror and wondered if she had done the right thing making herself female for this. She was beautiful and sexy, although she hated to admit it, even to herself, but her memories of the handful of other times she had pleasured herself as a girl came rushing in, arousing her further with remembered pleasure and reminding her of how different female ectasy was. Of how she was always scared of... something... when she recovered. Ranma shoved the memories aside. This time was different, had to be different. She focussed on the mirror once more and lowered her hands to the band of her boxers and began to remove them. Ranma watched the boxers slide slowly down the image in the mirror and tried to ignore the breeze that suddenly seemed to be carressing her pussy. The boxers in the mirror reached the floor and Ranma watched herself step out of them with a detached sensation, as if the Ranma in the mirror were the real Ranma, the Ranma burning with desire for more. Ranma took a deep breath to calm herself, to return control to the real her. It succeeded, sort of, the sense of detachment faded, but the sight of her thrust out breasts added to her arousal and ate further at her self-control. Ranma stepped quickly to the shelf holding the Book and opened it to the section on spells. The way the art of PHYSACALITY worked had initially puzzled Ranma a little, the spells and the power for the spells were seperate things, a concept she had found difficult to relate to. But with a little study a few things had become clear, to use the spells she had to have the power, with no power the words and gestures of the spells were meaningless - and to wield the power she needed to cast the first spell, the spell of Accessing, at the one time every person touched the fringes of the power of PHYSACALITY. She had to control herself well enough to cast a spell at the moment of orgasm. Ranma walked back to the circle she had readied with the Book balanced in one hand and a few cushions in the other. Her breathing came in short bursts, as she anticipated the pleasure that was to come, between her legs Ranma felt a faint dampness and a fire that was building towards an inferno of desire. She placed the Book towards the edge of the circle and knelt on a cushion, her eyes scanned over the Book then moved onto a mirror, where they watched as her hands went to her breasts. The touch of her own hands sent an electric thrill through her as she started to fondle herself. Her hands squeezed and kneaded her breasts, then moved to her nipples, pleasure warred with shame as she gasped and moaned, but her need drove her on. In the mirror Ranma noted that her hips had started to move, seemingly of their accord. She lowered one of her hands to her thigh and began to stroke her inner legs, strokes that started just above the knee and worked their way closer and closer to her wet and hungry pussy. Her other hand worked hard on her breasts, tickling, squeezing and exciting her in ways that threatened to overwhelm her with pleasure. Ranma watched herself in the mirrors, almost mesmerised by the lewd and wanton display she was putting on. Her body was moving to a rythm of arousal beyond conscious control, her breath came in short gasps or low, hungry, moans. Her hands wandered over her body following the paths of pleasure that her nerves traced out and she could feel, and see, the glistening wetness that marked her pussy and mound. She moved her hand to her burning pussy and, as she watched in the mirror, sent a finger probing inside herself. She cried out... Ranma: Yesss! SO GOOD! SO Gooooddd..! She moved her finger around a little, then began to pump it in and out. In the mirrors she watched her hand and hips move in time, to the rythm of the waves of ectasy that washed through her. Almost absently she noted that her hand at her breasts was acting as a counter point to the fire in her loins, trying to stimulate her when her pussy was at it's lowest ebb. She moaned some more and slowly turned her eyes away from the mirrors, with their enticing and arousing displays, to the Book she had placed so carefully within the magic circle. Ranma licked her lips and focussed her remaining self-control. She began to chant the spell, making her gasps and moans of pleasure as much as part of the spell as she could. She speeded up the pumping action of her hand at her pussy and managed to slip a second finger inside her, the resultant wave of pleasure almost undid her, but she managed, somehow, to keep her cries within the bounds of the spell. She exerted herself, and changed the rythm of her thrusts into herself to match the cadence of the spell. Her eyes drifted back to the mirrors as she did this, the spell was safely memorised - Ranma had no doubts now that she would say it correctly, she just wasn't certain that she would have the timing spot on. The chant of the spell merged with the rythm of Ranma's pleasure, and Ranma felt the first stirrings of the ultimate pleasure within her. She pumped her hand furiously in an effort to quench the fire in her pussy while the tingling pleasure in her breasts danced on the edge of pain as a hand that could crush rock sought to excite her swollen and hardened nipples further. As she began the final verse of the spell she felt a strange current wash through and over her, adding to the fire that raged within her. She watched herself writhing in the mirrors and felt mildly proud of her ability to still speak the words of the spell so that they were recognizable. Ranma felt the explosion building within her, along with an almost electric current she had never felt before and forced herself to hold off on the final thrusts into her pussy as she gasped out the last few words of the spell. As the final word came to her lips Ranma jammed one hand hard into her pussy, finally letting her palm brush her swollen clit and with the other hand twisted an aching nipple as hard as she dared. Ranma screamed out the final word as her body writhed in ectasy, then she gladly let herself go and mindlessly pursued the pleasure that wracked her body, reveling in the wave after wave of orgiasmic release that tore through her, her cries becoming wordless indicators of ectasy, her pleasure fueled by the unknown current that she had called into herself. As the overwhelming need for pleasure faded and the ectasy slowly became a sensual lassitude, Ranma opened her eyes. She was lying on her back, looking up into the mirror she had had such difficulty attaching to the roof. The image in the mirror stared back and Ranma smiled at the wanton picture she made at the moment, her hand between her spread legs, her glistening juices plainly visible. As Ranma stared at the picture she made in the mirror, she noticed her eyes. Her blue eyes. Her glowing blue eyes. Ranma: Ranma sat up and turned to the Book. She carefully flipped the pages until she reached the simplest spell she had found, the spell of light. Ranma stared at the page for a second and then began to speak the words as her hand moved in the prescribed gesture. She felt the current she had noticed during her 'session' move within her, could feel it shaping itself to the pattern her words were setting, then she was staring at a small ball of bluish light that floated over the palm of her hand. Ranma: It worked... I've done it... I... Ranma climbed to her feet, still staring at the ball of light in her hand, a memory of one thing the old man in shop had said coming to her: Old Man: A word of warning. This is a book of MAGIC, once you start studying, you won't be able to stop, you won't be able to unlearn what you know. If you aren't good enough to complete the 13 lessons, or are too weak to reach the final lesson, you'll be studying forever. Ranma clenched her fist and shut off the ball of light and then stared into one of the mirrors. Ranma: ============================================================================ E N D - O F - L E S S O N - O N E ============================================================================