Ranma ½ - The Martial Arts
Tickling Tournament: The
Tournament Begins!
As Akane went down giggling for the last time, Ranma
grinned and tossed her a quick wink before hopping out of the training
room to
go eat dinner. Akane growled at him as he left, still very irritated
about this
whole training thing…
Akane sighed and began to wipe her brow with a towel. Every
last time, Ranma got under her defenses and proceeded to tickle her
silly with
his incredible speed… in female form, his speed was even greater, and
strength
mattered less now, everything was falling to his advantage and it was
so
unfair! “The big jerk,” Akane muttered. “He could at least cut me a
little
break now and then.”
“C’mon Akane, aren’t you going to eat?” Nabiki said,
strolling by the training room nonchalantly as she, too, made her way
towards
the meal. “Don’t tell me you’re still sore over losing to Ranma, hm?”
“It’s not that,” Akane huffed, coming out of the room and
joining Nabiki.
“Ah, so you’re still upset because he knows you’re
ticklish, eh Akane?” Nabiki said, giving her a quick poke to the side
and
grinning as Akane flinched away, covering her side.
“Don’t DO that!” Akane yelled. “It’s bad enough that Ranma
tickles me silly every single day, I DON’T need you to start in!
Besides,”
Akane said, still not completely mollified, “you’re ticklish too, as I
remember.”
“Indeed,” Nabiki said with a wink. “The difference between
you and me, Akane, is that I don’t let it get to me. Remember?” Akane
thought
back to the time when she and Ranma had tickled Nabiki briefly to get
back the
videotape she’d shot of the two of them. Nabiki hadn’t even broken a
sweat…
“Maybe if you try not to let it bother you so much, it’ll be easier,
hm?”
Nabiki patted her on the shoulder and went to eat.
“If I don’t let it get to me…?” Akane mused, thinking back
over the past week. Thinking back to her incredibly concentrated
efforts to
ignore his fingers… only to have it shatter every time and turn her
into a
madly thrashing, laughing wreck, after which she usually went at Ranma
only to
have it happen again…
“So, Akane, Ranma, how has your training come along?” Soun
Tendo asked, eating Kasumi’s meal voraciously, as they always did.
“It’s coming along fine,” Ranma said, still in female form
and still wearing his skimpy, revealing outfit… “What the?!!” Reaching
under
the table, she pulled out Happosai. “And what were you doing down
there? Huh?
You dirty old goat!”
“Well… you see Ranma, I think I lost a hundred-yen piece…”
“Get real!” Ranma yelled, tossing him into the pond. “You
were trying to grab me!”
“Honestly, I wish the Master would learn to curb his
excesses…” Soun mused.
“Indeed, Tendo, indeed. The Master could use some behavior
modification…”
“WHAT did you say?” Happosai demanded, causing the usual
instant groveling response from the pair of them…
Akane sighed in vexation and continued eating. “The
tournament is tomorrow afternoon, Ranma,” she said. “We need to keep
training
as much as we can until then, all right?”
“Aw, c’mon Akane!” Ranma complained. “We’ve been at it
‘round the clock for the past week – ack!”
Akane elbowed Ranma in the back of the head and went on.
“We’ve got to win that prize to pay for all the damage you’ve done!”
“Yes, think of how much food 200,000 yen would buy,” Kasumi
said with a smile as she gathered the dishes.
“I might be able to stop mooching off of other people… for
a week,” Nabiki said sarcastically.
“Whatever!” Ranma cried, standing up. “Fine! If you want to
train more, Akane, bring it on!”
“We’ll see about that!” Akane yelled, and the pair of them
ran off to the dojo.
Nabiki raised an eyebrow as they left. “You know, it occurs
to me that both of them are so insanely ticklish that neither of them
will
win…”
“Well, they certainly seem spirited,” Kasumi said gently,
picking up the last plate. “Though I do recall that I myself am rather
ticklish
as well… it’s been so long since I’ve been tickled, though, I don’t
really
remember.”
Nabiki mused over that…
Elsewhere, others were also finishing up their training…
“Ranma dear, I’ll fight for you!” Kodachi cried in an
overly melodramatic way. “Don’t worry, sweetums, I’ll make sure those
horrible
harridans don’t sink their claws into you… aahahahahaha!”
“My twisted sister, I would appreciate it if you kept the
noise down,” Tatewaki Kuno said. “I am trying to meditate upon a
question of
great importance, woman, now keep the noise down!”
“Silence, brother dear!” Kodachi snarled. “Nothing is more
important than my dear Ranma…”
“Akane Tendo or the pigtailed girl… Akane Tendo or the
pigtailed girl…”
Shampoo was still in the basement of the Cat Café,
working
on her own conditioning… “Great-grandmother! Look! Shampoo has
completed
training exercise!”
“Very good, Shampoo,” Cologne said gravelly. “However, your
training still isn’t complete, but there’s no more time…”
“Not complete? What else Shampoo have to do?” she asked,
looking over from where she sat with the bowl balanced atop her head.
“Well, Shampoo, it works like this…” she began to poke
Shampoo with the end of her stick. “You see, so far all our training
has
concentrated on your upper body. But that’s not your weakness,
Shampoo…”
Cologne ran the stick along the end of Shampoo’s foot, causing her to
erupt
into a squeal and kick her feet around, toppling the bowl over and
sending it
crashing to the floor… “I hope it’ll be enough,” she muttered, ignoring
Shampoo’s squeals of laughter from the ghostly hands that now ran
across her
body…
“Shampoo’s worst weakness is her feet…” Mousse muttered to
himself, taking down a quick line in a notepad. “I’m sorry my dear
Shampoo, but
I cannot allow you on a date with Ranma Saotome… I shall prevent that
even if
it means I must sabotage you, Shampoo… eh heh heh heh heh…” His glasses
glinted.
Ranma, now in male form, ducked into Ucchan’s restaurant,
seeing Ukyo sitting behind the grill humming to herself as she made
more
okonomiyaki. “Ranma honey! Come in!” she giggled, waving to him with
spatula
still in hand. “Sit down! What would you like today?”
“Hey Ukyo!” Ranma said cheerfully. “Can I have one with
squid? I’m starved… I’ve been training with Akane all week! I had to
skip out
on her because she barely gave me any time for dinner!”
“Sure! One squid okonomiyaki coming right up!” she said
brightly. While she cooked, she asked, “Ranma, what have you been
training for
anyway?”
“Oh, Akane is making me enter some stupid martial arts
contest,” Ranma said with a slight blush, still not entirely happy with
the
getup he had to wear to compete…
“It wouldn’t happen to be the Martial Arts Tickling
Tournament, now would it?” Ukyo asked, showing him a flyer. “Because
I’m going
to be there too!”
“Y-you what?” Ranma said, nearly falling off his stool.
“Why? W-why are you entering?”
“Promotion, silly,” Ukyo giggled. “What better place to
promote my okonomiyaki business than at this tournament! There will be
tons of
people there!” She served Ranma his food. “And besides, if I win I’ll
get that
200,000 yen prize! That’s almost a whole month’s profit!”
“Good thing too, because Akane, Shampoo and Kodachi are all
entering because I got duped into being the prize for the winner – “
“WHAT?!” Ukyo yelled, slamming her spatula onto the grill.
“Since when are you the prize? Why didn’t you tell me, you jackass?”
“Whoa! Whoa! Take it easy!” Ranma yelled. “It’s not like I
want to be the prize – I didn’t ask for it!”
“If I had known you’d be the prize, I would have trained
harder!” Ukyo said, putting her spatula back. “Oh well. That’s okay,
because I
have a special plan to win anyway, and when I do you’ll go on a date
with me,
right?”
Ranma sighed. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. But if I win, I date
nobody, got that?”
“You got it, sugar,” Ukyo giggled. Then Ranma frowned.
“Say, Ukyo, are you ticklish even? I don’t remember that…”
Ranma gave her a quick poke under her arm.
“Stop that!” Ukyo cried with a giggle, hitting him across
the face and turning away, blushing.
“Aw, c’mon, you can tell me,” Ranma said, hopping around to
the other side of the grill and poking her again. Ukyo whapped him
across the
cheek several times, giggling and turning away, blushing more. “What’s
the
matter, Ukyo?” Ranma teased.
“Ranma!” Akane shrieked, running into the restaurant. “So
this is where you went! You ran out on me to go cavorting with her!”
“C-cavorting? Hey, it’s not what it looks like! I can
explain!” Ranma yelled, as Akane slammed his face into the grill.
“Oooh! Ooh!
Hot! Agh!”
“Hey! What’s the big deal?” Ukyo growled.
“Oh, I get it,” Akane said, turning away in a huff. “You
like it when a girl stands there and lets you tickle her? Do you find
it cute?”
“Well, so what if I do?” Ranma demanded. “At least she’s
not all uncute like you and trying to take my head off!”
“Fine! Be that way! I’m going home!” Akane yelled, running
out the door.
“Akane! Wait!” Ranma cried, leaping the counter again and
running out.
“Hehehee…” Ukyo giggled. “When I win that tournament, Ranma
honey will be all mine…”
Finally, the day of the tournament arrived…
Ranma and Akane both headed there bright and early, to see
how the matchups were going to work and who would be competing when. It
had
become a family event, with Genma, Soun, and Kasumi also coming along
with a
packed lunch.
“Ah, what a nice day, eh Tendo?” Genma asked, putting on a
forced happy face.
“Look at all the pretty ladies!” Happosai gushed. “Ahh…
I’ve gone to…heaven!” He cleared his throat. “I’ll be… gone for a
little while,
everyone. See you in a little while!” With that, he had hopped off.
“Stupid old freak,” Ranma sniffed. “I hope you keel over
and die!” he shouted after him.
“Come on, Ranma, let’s go get ready,” Akane said with a
sigh of exasperation. “Honestly, sometimes… hey, look!” she said
suddenly. “Is
that… Ryoga?”
Ryoga was indeed wandering about with a lost look on his
face. “This doesn’t look very much like Hokkaido…” He stopped a random
person.
“Excuse me, could you tell me where…”
“Lost again, Ryoga?” Ranma teased as he and Akane walked
by.
“A-Akane? That means… I’ve gone in another circle!!!!!!” He
fell to his knees for a moment. “Say, Akane, why are you here, and…
dressed
like that? Ranma! If you’ve done something to Akane, I’ll…”
“Put a sock in it, P-chan!” Ranma said, kicking Ryoga in
the face.
“P-chan? Is he here?” Akane asked, looking around.
“Nevermind,” Ranma sighed. “Come on.”
“Ni hao, Ranma!” Shampoo said, waving to him as he came
into the room. “How is you today? Ready for get beat by Shampoo?”
“Yeah, whatever,” Ranma said, pushing her off him and going
to sit down and change.
“You’re mistaken, it is I who shall claim Ranma darling,”
Kodachi said with her irritating laugh. “You, you miserable whelp, what
have
you done with Ranma?”
“Oh, keep quiet!” Akane growled.
“Save it for the ring, sugar,” Ukyo said with a wink,
changing as well. “I’ll have to put on a good show and raise lots of
money
today!”
“Huh?” Akane asked, changing.
“Didn’t I tell you? Your sister Nabiki is going to be out
there working the okonomiyaki stand. I had to give her a cut of the
profits,
but… I should do three days’ worth of business here!” She winked.
“All right, ladies,” the official said, coming into the
room with a clipboard.
“Wow. She’s pretty good-lookin’,” Ranma said, looking at
the young adult woman wearing a businesslike tan skirt and suit.
“Be quiet, you pervert,” Akane hissed.
“The first match will be…” She proceeded to read the names
off of the list. Ranma, Akane and Shampoo all had other opponents for
the first
round, but… “You, and you,” she said, pointing to Kodachi and Ukyo,
“will be in
the fifth match today.”
The crowd was abuzz as the first match was about to take
place. “Welcome everyone! To the annual Martial Arts Tickling
Tournament!” the
announcer proclaimed from the raised stage in the center of the park.
Temporary
bleachers had been set up and they were packed, with people standing
around the
ring as well. “We seem to have a full house here today, so let’s get
started!”
The crowd cheered as Shampoo and her opponent climbed into the ring.
Shampoo’s
opponent was a tall girl with long, light brown hair, wearing a bikini
patterned with lace and frills. Shampoo herself wore a pink tank top
and short
yellow shorts. Both contestants were of course barefoot.
“Now for the rules, everyone! This contest is anything
goes, there are no rules except for winner moves on to the next round!
Contestants may only fight by tickling each other, no physical harm is
to be
inflicted or you will be disqualified! The first to surrender or be
unable to
resist will lose! Remember, anything goes, so any tools or items that
you may
have brought are legal!” The crowd let out a cheer. “Are you ready?
Then let
the first round begin!”
“Shampoo win Ranma for sure!” she cried, charging her
opponent. A charge that was abruptly ended as she tripped and fell over
in the
center of the ring. “What…?” Shampoo looked back and saw that a chain
with a
weighted end was wrapped around her legs. The only person with chains
around
here… “Mousse! You big stupid, what you doing to Shampoo?”
“Shampoo, I’m sorry to do this, but it’s for your own
good!” Mousse let fly another barrage of weapons, but instead of the
usual
knives and so forth, a cascade of feathers, hairbrushes, etc. fell onto
the
ring. “Go for her feet! It’s Shampoo’s weakness!” Mousse cried out.
“How dare you!” Ryoga yelled from behind him. “To cheat
like that is dishonorable!” Ryoga began to throw punches at Mousse. “I
won’t
allow it!”
“Think about it!” Mousse cried, waving his hands. “If she
wins, she’ll date Ranma. If Akane wins, then she…”
“She dates Ranma…?” Ryoga blinked, halting his assault for
the time being.
“Look at that! Barely into the match and already outside
influences! What a fight!” the announcer cried as Shampoo’s opponent
picked up
a feather and sat on the backs of Shampoo’s legs.
“Tickle tickle!” she giggled, running the feather along
Shampoo’s soles quickly.
Shampoo exploded into a furious giggle attack.
“Gahahahahaahaheheheheehheheeh no no tihihihihihihickle Shampoo’s
feeheheeet!”
She thrashed and wriggled like a worm, managing to turn onto her back,
and
using her free hands to dig into the girl’s sides.
“Yeeeek! Eheheheheheheeheheheh!!!” she cried, hopping to
the side, giggling as Shampoo tickled all up and down her sides to
chase her
off, then wiggling out of her chain and picking it up, whirling it.
“Stupid Mousse give Shampoo advantage!” she cried, sticking
out her tongue at him.
“Gah! Hey! That’s not fair, you can’t use it for yourself!
Stop that!” Mousse cried, doing a little dance of annoyance on the
sides. “Well
then, how about this?” He threw a pair of handcuffs at Shampoo, locking
her
wrists together and causing her to lose her rhythm with the chain she
was
whirling, making it wrap all around her, and she fell over again, feet
wiggling.
“Heehee, I gotcha!” the girl cried, brushing the feather on
Shampoo’s helpless soles and giggling at her.
“Gyahahahhheeheheheheh! AHahahahahheehhehe no! No
fehahhahahehehehehahaha feathers for Shampoo! Heheeheheheheheehahaa!!
HAAHahahahahah! GHAAAHAHAH!!!”
“It looks like Shampoo is caught in a deadly feather foot
tickle!” the announcer cried, as Shampoo wiggled helplessly. “Will she
give up?
If she doesn’t get up soon she’ll be out and disqualified!”
“I never expected that boy to be so bold,” Cologne said,
hopping up next to Ranma, who was watching from the sidelines. “He must
have
been spying on us while we trained…”
“Hey, I personally think it’s great!” Ranma cried. “If she
loses now, I won’t have to beat her later!” He cheered. “Go Mousse!!!”
“Ha ha ha ha!” Mousse cackled, megalomaniacal. “You may not
think me strong, Shampoo, but my tactics more than make up for that!”
“AHAHAHAHAHEHEHEHEH MOUSSE DEAD WHEN SHAMPOO ESCAPE!
AHAHAHEHEHEHEHEHEH!!! AHAHHE!!!!” Wriggling frantically, Shampoo
finally
managed to slip out of the chains and stood, but her hands were still
chained
together. Still, Shampoo resolved that there would be no more playing.
“You…hehehee… ready for Shampoo best technique?”
“Bring it on, giggly girl,” her opponent taunted, waving
the feather. “You haven’t laid a finger on – MEEHEHEHEHEHEHEH EHEH
EHAEHE HEHEHHAHAAHHEHEEHEH
AHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHHGYAHAHAHA HEHEHEH AAHAHAHA HAAHHA AHAHHAEHEHEHEHHEEH
AHAHAH
GYAAHAHAHHHA!!!!!!!”
“Wh-what did she do…?” the stunned announcer asked, seeing
the girl rolling about hysterically on the mat. “It appears that with a
single
poke, Shampoo has turned the tables on her opponent! If she doesn’t get
up
within fifteen seconds, she’s out of the match!”
“That one not get up for while,” Shampoo proclaimed
confidently, watching the girl wriggle around in laughter. “I use
secret
Chinese Amazon technique! Hi-ya!”
“Well then, Shampoo advances to the next round!” the
announcer proclaimed. “Congratulations! You can rest until the other
matches
are done.”
“Shampoo not rest, Shampoo beat up big stupid Mousse!”
Shampoo cried, leaping towards him. “Give Shampoo key!”
“Sh-Shampoo?! How did you – aaah!” Mousse cried as Shampoo
chased him.
“Shampoo have you now!” Shampoo yelled, taking a hold of
his shirt and pulling it off, along with a clatter of multiple chains
and other
many things he had hidden. “Now Mousse weapons gone and Mousse
helpless!
Shampoo find key now!” She began to search through the pile of metal.
“Shampoo, did you really think I would be so careless as to
keep the key in there?” Mousse chuckled dryly. “I knew this might
happen. The
key is hidden in a safe location.”
“Tell Shampoo where is key!” Shampoo said, turning from the
pile. “Mousse tell Shampoo or…” Shampoo wiggled her fingers. “Shampoo
tickle.”
“WHAT?” Mousse cried, as Shampoo tackled him to the ground.
“Hey! Heehehehe stoppit! Shampoo! Heheheeheh it tickles! No! Ahahhaha!!”
“Tell Shampoo where is key!” she repeated, not using her
technique at the moment, as she required him to talk. Instead she drew
little
circles under his arms while he flailed about and said, “Tell where is
or
Shampoo use secret technique!”
“Naahahahahaha ahahahhheheee! Never! Ahahahhehehehe I’ll
never let you date Ranma Saotome eheheeheeeheheeheeheheeee!!! You’ll
never
mahahahahahaahaaaaake me give up!!!”
“Shampoo no have time for Mousse games!” she cried. “Tell
Shampoo where is key!” She grinned and flipped each of his shoes off
with her
toes. “Tell Shampoo or Shampoo be mean.”
“What…? NO! HEY! Please Shampoo I’m sorry! Please
PLEHEHEHEEHEHEHEHEHEEEEZE!” Mousse burst out giggling. “NAHAHAHAHAHAH!!
AHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH NO NO MORE STAHHAHAAAPPITT!!!”
“Then Mousse tell where key is?” Shampoo turned around and
used the chain that still bound her wrists, looping it around his
ankles so
they were completely trapped and running her fingernails up and down
his soles.
“Shampoo remember that Mousse is very ticklish.”
“GYAHAHAHAHHAHAH!! AHAHEHEHEHEHEEHEEE HAHAA OK OK
STAHAHAHAHAHAP! STHAHAHAHAAAP PLEEHEHEHEHEHEHEZE!” Mousse managed to
catch a
breather and stop wiggling as Shampoo relented for a moment. A quick
moment, as
she took up a makeup brush from the pile of stuff nearby.
“Shampoo make sure Mousse no lie,” she said with an evil
grin.
“No wait Shampoo I’ll tell I’ll
TEHEHEHEHEHEHEEHEHEEEHEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHL! HHAHAAHAHAHEHEHEHEH
GHGYHHAAHAHAHHEHEHEHEH WHHWHAHAAHAHAHAHAHEHEHEHEH NOHOHOHOHOHO NO NO
PLEHEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHEHEHH STAHAHAHAHAHP STOPPIT!”
Shampoo was running the makeup brush along the bases of his
toes, using one hand to hold the toes in place while tickling with the
other.
Mousse was wriggling frantically and flailing his arms, but Shampoo had
crossed
her legs under Mousse’s and was holding him tightly, as well as binding
him
with the chain. “So will Mousse tell?”
“YEHEHEHEHEHE HEHEHEEHEHEEHEHEEH EEEHEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHEHEHE
EHEHEEH EEHEHE EHEEHEHEHEEH EHEHEHEE HEHEHEHEHEH EHEHE EHEHEES!!!!!”
Mousse
cried out in panic, and was relieved when Shampoo finally did stop and
let him
go, but brandished the brush at him.
“Shampoo be right behind,” she threatened. “If Mousse play
funny games Shampoo no be nice next time!”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh, yes of course!” Mousse cried quickly.
“This way.”
“Well!”
the announcer called as there was general laughter at the antics of
Mousse.
“Next up is…!”
“It’s Akane’s turn,” Ryoga breathed, standing at the edge
of the ring, breathing hard. “Should I really… “ he gulped. “Can I
really… make
her lose?” Ryoga hesitated. “Well… this is only the first round. I can…
wait to
see what happens. No need to do anything rash just yet.” Resolving
himself to
that, he took a breath and shouted, “Go Akane! I know you can win!”
“Thanks Ryoga!” Akane said with a giggle. “Let’s get
started!”
Akane, as opposed to Shampoo, had no trouble with her
match. Her martial arts training and superior speed easily led her to
outclass
her opponent, who never laid a finger on her. “Wow, Akane, you sure did
great
there,” Ryoga said, blushing a bit and trying not to drill holes in the
ring.
“I couldn’t have done as well as that… uh… um… heehee…”
“Well of course not, silly, you’d have to be ticklish,”
Akane giggled. “Are you ticklish, Ryoga?”
“Me? O-of course not. Heh… heh… “
“Whatever,” Akane said, turning back to watch the match.
“Next up are these two lovely young ladies!” the announcer
called out as Ranma and his opponent stepped up. Ranma was wearing a
cutoff
shirt and shorts, not much different than the undershirt and shorts he
wore all
the time. Ranma was waving to everyone and giggling, as usual being
shameless
when it suited him to be. His opponent, a girl with short black hair
and an
athletic build, seemed to be doing warmup exercises. Akane took Ryoga
over to
Nabiki, where she was tending the okonomiyaki grill and talking to Ukyo.
“Everything going well?” Ukyo asked. She still wore her
black leggings, though with no shoes, and what looked like a jogging
outfit.
“We’ve sold quite a few so far,” Nabiki reported, opening
the cash box and briefly showing it to her. “And this is just the
beginning of
the day. Is the next batch ready?”
“All ready, whenever you need them just slide them onto the
grill.”
“Great.” Nabiki sat on her chair and crossed her legs.
“Usually I don’t work like this, but since everyone else was coming and
I saw
an opportunity to make some quick cash, I decided to help you out just
this
once.”
“And since you’re doing such a good job with this, I’ve
decided to allow you an okonomiyaki on me!” Ukyo gushed, handing Nabiki
a
Japanese pizza.
“Hey, thanks, Ukyo,” Nabiki said, chowing down. “That was
really good. Did you use some kind of new sauce or something on it?”
“A very special kind of new sauce,” Ukyo said, with a giggle.
The way she said it made Nabiki look up and take notice. “It’s a sauce
that
temporarily weakens you so you can’t move very much.”
“Wow!” Akane giggled. “Someone pulled one over on Nabiki.
You don’t see that happen every day.”
“So, what, was I a guinea pig so you could test this sauce
before you could use it on ‘darling’ Ranma?” The way she said it
indicated her
arms would have been crossed, but they were still in her lap, uselessly
holding
the chopsticks and okonomiyaki.
“Yep! There’s just one more thing to do.” Ukyo knelt and
picked up one of Nabiki’s legs.
“Hey! Don’t leave me out!” Akane said with a giggle,
kneeling beside Ukyo and picking up her other leg before easing the
sneaker off
and running her nails on Nabiki’s socked foot.
“Ahahahaahaahaahahaahah!” Nabiki giggled, though not
seeming overly bothered by her situation. “Ahahaheheheeheheheh!
Aahahahahheh
hey quit it! My feet are ticklish!!!” she said with a good-natured
giggle.
Don’t let it get to you… Akane remembered. Nabiki was
certainly handling this well… She slipped off Nabiki’s striped sock and
wiggled
her fingers against Nabiki’s toes. “Gahahahaheheehehehehe!
HEeheheheehehahahahaahah! Hey quit!! Ahahahahahahaah!!!
HEehehehehehe!!” Nabiki
was of course totally helpless to wiggle or squirm as Ukyo and Akane
ran their
nails along her feet.
“Kitchy-kitchy-koo!” Ukyo teased, running her nails from
heel to toes and back again, listening to Nabiki’s giggling rise and
fall.
Clearly her toes were her more ticklish point, so… Ukyo plucked a
feather from
the waist sash that usually held her spatulas and began to run it
through
Nabiki’s toes…
“Gyahahahahaahahahaahh!” Nabiki giggled. “All right hey
c’mon stoppit! Heheeheheheehehehehehehehhe!”
“Hey! That looks like fun! Can I try?” Akane asked with a
giggle, taking another feather and tracing the tip of hers along each
one of
Nabiki’s toes.
“GYAHAHAHAHAAHHH! OK! OK! HEEHEEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHEHEH! THAT’S
ENOUGH!!” Nabiki cried.
“Aww, what’s the matter? I thought it didn’t bother you!”
Akane said with a grin, spiderwalking her nails along Nabiki’s sole.
“It sure seems to!” Both girls laughed as Nabiki went into
frenzied giggles as the feathers and fingers danced along her soles.
Kodachi was watching from a distance away. “So that
horrible woman put a paralysis concoction in her okonomiyaki? No
matter… she
can’t trick me into eating it now that I’ve seen through her vile plan!”
“You should be the one to speak for vile plans, my twisted
sister,” Kuno declared, also eyeing the wiggling and twisting and
laughing
Nabiki Tendo. “Ah, there is Akane Tendo, engaged in playful sport with
her
siblings and friends… seeing that smile of joy on her face brings a
tear to my
eye… and look!” Kuno turned his attention to the stage. “The pigtailed
girl… so
bold, so quick, so lively… her prowess on the field of battle is
unsurpassed…
her beauty is more brilliant than the brightest star, her – OOF!”
“You’re making me sick, brother dear,” Kodachi said, having
hit him with her gymnastics club. “I wish you would make up your mind
and stop
swooning over two women at once!”
“But Akane Tendo… and the pigtailed girl… Akane Tendo…
and…”
“Never mind,” Kodachi sighed, looking back at Akane.
“Do you give up, Nabiki?” Akane asked with a playful smile.
“Yeheheheees… yes, I give up,” Nabiki said, the movement
coming back into her limbs. “Very funny. You owe me 5000 yen extra for
that
stunt.”
“Are you nuts?” Ukyo demanded. Nabiki tossed a thumb at the
crowd who had gathered around the grill, watching the stunt.
“It seems that our little antics attracted customers. I’m
sure the 5000 will be easily covered by this.” With that, Nabiki put
her shoes
and socks back on, stood and began to work the crowd, persuading the
young men
who’d come over to buy something a little extra… for her? Akane gave a
sideways
glance to that.
“Well, Ukyo, it seems your plan to get Ranma paralyzed
might not work right now…”
“Oh? Why… oh.”
“And the winner is, Ranma Saotome!” the announcer cheered,
holding up his hand. Ranma, like Akane, hadn’t even been touched.
“Heh heh! Piece of cake!” Ranma cried, jumping down and
standing next to Akane and Ukyo. Ukyo hid the remainder of the
okonomiyaki with
the paralysis sauce on it.
The next match was over rather quickly, and then it was the
match everyone had been waiting for. “Next is Kodachi vs. Ukyo!” the
announcer
called out. “This is the last match of the first round, so, it’s gonna
be a
good one!”
Ukyo quickly grabbed the microphone. “Hi everyone! I’m the
proprietor of Ucchan’s Okonomiyaki restaurant! We’ve got a cart over
there by
the bleachers on the left side and the restaurant is open six days a
week,
from…”
“Ok, ok, that’s enough promotion,” the announcer said,
snatching the mike back. “This is a tournament, not a free
advertisement
agency. Get ready! Go!”
“Sasuke!” Kodachi cried.
“Yes mistress!” the squat little ninja replied, leaping
over the ring and showering smoke bombs around Ukyo.
“Hey! No fair!” Ukyo said, coughing and trying to wave the
smoke out of her eyes. “That’s cheating!”
“No rules, remember? Ah ha ha ha ha ha!” Kodachi lashed out
with her red ribbon and caught Ukyo’s right wrist. Ukyo let out a cry
as she
toppled over.
Quick as a flash Sasuke was back, tying Ukyo’s wrists
together before the stunned girl could react. About then the smoke
cleared,
leaving Ukyo bound and on the mat, stunned and not ready for Kodachi,
who leapt
atop her and straddled her waist.
The crowd gasped. “And within the space of a few quick
seconds Kodachi has gained a huge advantage over her opponent!” the
announcer cried.
“Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Never underestimate the Black Rose,
Kodachi!” Kodachi began to run her fingernails along Ukyo’s sides.
“Give up
Ranma and surrender this tournament, and you can go free.”
“Neheheheheehehehahah never you witch! Gyahahheheehehhe!!!”
Ukyo struggled to free her hands or try and buck Kodachi off of her,
but it was
no good, Kodachi had crossed her legs beneath Ukyo’s back.
“Never? Never can be a very long time,” Kodachi said
patronizingly as she tickled along Ukyo’s wiggling belly, quivering and
shaking
with laughter as Kodachi easily fended off Ukyo’s attempts to free
herself.
“Heeheheheehhaahaha! Ahahahahahahhe I’ll neheheheheh never
give up Ranma! Gyhahahahahaha! Heheheheeheheheh!!!”
“If Ukyo doesn’t get up within the next thirty seconds,
she’ll lose the match!” the announcer proclaimed.
I’ve got to do something! Ukyo thought urgently. Her upper
body was pinned and arms were tied pretty much uselessly. However, her
legs
were more or less free… “Gyahahahah! AHahhahahaheheehe! HEheehhh
stoppit!” Ukyo
cried, a false plea.
“Stop? So you surrender already? Wise choice, my dear… Ah
ha ha ha ha ha!”
“Surrender? Who said I surrendered!” Ukyo said with a
fierce grin. “You jackass! I’ll never surrender Ranma so easily!!!”
With a
mighty effort, Ukyo planted her legs and used the leverage to fling
Kodachi
from her, but the agile gymnast landed on her feet, ribbon twirling.
“Well! It seems you managed to get out of that one, but can
you survive another?”
“You bet I can!” Ukyo cried, getting her hands untangled
and tossing the rope aside. This time, she charged at Kodachi, hands at
the
ready, but Kodachi lashed out with her ribbon and snared Ukyo’s
stockinged
ankles this time.
“It looks like Kodachi has Ukyo again!” the announcer
yelled over the microphone. “If Ukyo hopes to win this match, she’ll
need to
come up with some offense!”
The mike was hit out of his grasp by a spatula. “Jackass!
Shut up!” Ukyo yelled.
“Now now my dear, such foul language isn’t becoming a young
lady! Ah ha ha ha ha!” This time Kodachi ran her nails down Ukyo’s
soles.
“GYAHAHAHAHAHHEHEHEEHAHAHAHAH!!!!
HAHAHAHAHHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!! GYAAHHEHEHEHEHEEHE NEVER!! I’LL
NEHEHEHEHEHEHHEHEVER
SURRENDER!!! GAHAHAHAHAH!!!!” Ukyo kicked her feet as much as she was
able,
which wasn’t much, and scrunched her toes. Kodachi merely tickled her
soles
until Ukyo’s toes pointed from reflex, then grabbed a hold of her toes
and
tickled her soles without mercy. “GAAHAHAHAHEHEHEHEHE EHHEEHEH
HEHHEHEHHAHAHA
BWAHHAAHHEHEEH WHWHHWHAAHAHAHAH!!!”
“Ukyo has only thirty seconds left!” the announcer shouted,
now using his own voice to try and speak over Ukyo’s frantic laughter.
Not this time, Ukyo thought. She grabbed one of the
spatulas that she had kept in her sash and tossed it, the sharp end
severing
the ribbon that bound her. Once she did that, it was a simple matter to
jump
away and land on her feet. “Now it’s my turn! Nabiki! The batter!”
Nabiki tossed a bowlful of okonomiyaki batter towards the
ring, shouting, “That’ll be 2000 yen!” Ukyo ignored her for the time
being and
caught the batter on the surface of her spatula.
“Ah ha ha ha ha! I won’t eat that, I know what you put into
it,” Kodachi taunted. “You can’t fool the Black Rose so easily!”
“I don’t need to, “Ukyo proclaimed with a grin. She flung
the batter at Kodachi, who dodged. “More batter! More!” Ukyo yelled.
Nabiki
kept up a rapid-fire stream of batter, which Ukyo caught and flung at
Kodachi.
“Really, dear, this quite pathetic! Ah ha ha ha ha!”
Kodachi flung up her hands to defend against an incoming shot of
batter. “Ah ha
– hey! What…? My hands… they’re stuck!!!”
“Exactly!” Ukyo said, replacing her large spatula and
advancing. “It’s a specially formulated batter that’s extra sticky!
Hi-ya!”
Ukyo tackled Kodachi to the ground and the sticky batter bonded to the
surface
of the mat.
“Noooooo!” Kodachi cried, knowing that it was over.
Ukyo grinned, cracked her knuckled and started in on
Kodachi, ferociously. She ran her nails all over Kodachi’s stomach and
ribs,
making the girl scream with laughter, a tone that was much different
from her
usual annoying laughter, and buck wildly.
“AHAHAHAHH! HEEHEHEHEHEHEHEH STOP! STOP I
SAHAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHHAHY!” Kodachi demanded, writhing and giggling
constantly.
“Stop? You wish! Here I come!” Ukyo turned so that she was
facing Kodachi’s feet. Then, she used her own bare feet to wiggle her
toes
under Kodachi’s arms, making her giggle even more, before catching the
girl’s
ankles in an armlock and raking her nails all over Kodachi’s soles.
“GYAHAHAHAHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHA!!
AHHAHEHEHEHEHHA!!! AAHHHEHEHEHEHE NO NO AHHAEHEHEHEHEHEHGYHAHAAHHA
EHHEHS
AHHAHAHAH STOP STAHHAHAHAHAHAHAPIT PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHEHEHEZE!!!”
Kodachi
screamed at the top of her lungs, making everyone cover their ears.
Ukyo just
ignored it and kept up her relentless assault, tickling with her toes
and
plucking a feather from her waist sash to use on Kodachi’s feet. The
feather
was what really did it, sending Kodachi over the edge in a wild spasm
of
laughter and thrashing.
“Only fifteen seconds!” The announcer shouted, trying to
make himself heard over the awful racket made by Kodachi’s laughter.
Ukyo was
determined to make the most of her last fifteen seconds, and tickled
all out on
the Black Rose.
“You’ll never chase Ranma again, while I’m around!” Ukyo
proclaimed with a grin. “Your days of hounding him are numbered!”
“NEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHEHEHVER! MY DARLING RANMA!
GYAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAEHAHEHEAHAHHAEHE HAHHAEHAHEHAHAHAHAHH AHAHAHAHAH
EHEHEHAHA AHAHAH HHAHHAHAHH!!!!!!!”
“Time!” the announcer called. “That’s it! Kodachi loses!
Ukyo is the winner and goes onto the next round!”
“Yay Ukyo!” Ranma cheered. “Now that weirdo Kodachi is out
of the picture! Whoo-hoo!”
“Why are you so happy, Ranma?” Akane asked with a grin.
“Well, I’m just glad that Kodachi is out of the picture,
because I know where Ukyo is ticklish.” Ranma giggled evilly. “I
remember it
from childhood…”
“Oh… “ Akane said, looking back to the ring. One more match
had to be concluded, and when it was done…
“That’s it for the first round!” the announcer cried, now
with a new microphone. He pointed to a chart. “In the semifinals, there
will be
3 matches! Here are the matchups…” The first match was between two
other
competitors, Akane thought. That meant… “In the second match, Akane vs.
Shampoo!”
Shampoo, having returned from her excursion with Mousse,
smirked at Akane. “Shampoo not lose to Akane. Akane be begging for
Shampoo
mercy before match done.”
“Oh yeah? Well we’ll see about that!” Akane yelled back.
“And the third match is Ranma vs. Ukyo!”
“This’ll be a cinch!” Ranma proclaimed, cracking his
knuckles. “I’m going to beat you good, Ucchan.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Ran-chan…”
“Will the contestants for the next match please step
forward?”
On to Ranma 1/2: The Martial Arts Tickling
Tournament part 3a
On to Ranma 1/2: The Martial Arts Tickling
Tournament part 3b