Lovers' Quarrel, But More Wholesome [Erica, Ranma]

Okay… so while the test against Ranny fell a little bit flat, she still sent the recommendation to the 8th’s Captain, Rose. Mr. Ōtoribashi himself. That meant that there was still a chance! Ranma could climb a little higher up the Shinigami ladder and… uh, get busier? Shit, he hoped it wouldn’t affect the time he had hanging out with Erica-

Nah, he had to enjoy his time with her as much as possible! They were a couple, after all, and he would always be there for her.

Lately, he’d hung out with Erica at her place much more often, even sleeping there too. Ultimately, snuggling with your love just made sleep so much better, but it also made Ranma sleep so much deeper. It often required a little pinching of his cheek to wake him up or remove his face from her bosom.

Such as today.

“Hōka… maruuuuuuuu… Shak… kahō… *mumble*” Hōkamaru didn’t mean any ill towards Ranma. It was just that Hōkamaru was shy in his attempt to try and prevent Ranma from going too far. Excess would ultimately be his undoing, just like Noharu warned him. After all this time where he’d slown people down with his Shikai…

He had to slow down himself. Easier said than done, but it was like a race backwards. Still, learning how to ‘read’ Hōkamaru’s voiceless words and feelings had helped Ranma get over a years-long hurdle. It made him… satisfied. He thought he had to be hasty in unlocking Bankai, after all – but he could take his time. He relaxed, for Hōkamaru’s sake… for his own sake.

That was why, even in this morning, his face was buried in its now favorite pillows, mumbling his dreams away.

Her dreams had become a little odd lately, constantly finding herself inside a forest, wandering through the trees. It always seemed to go the same way and Erica had never found the centre of it all. All she had to go on was a voice, beckoning in her onwards, a teasing and playful voice that never stopped. The healer recognised it but she didn’t know the name of it, her sword refusing as of yet to give it to her. Did Erica know why? In her heart of hearts, yes. The woman was waiting to see her fire, her desire to protect those she loved, something that the Shinigami had always struggled with. Her confidence was in a better place now but would she ever be able to actually fight with someone without the fear of hurting them?

Opening her eyes, Erica would look down to see her lover resting against her, a smile crossing his features. To see him there helped ease her worries and the pink haired woman couldn’t have been happier about their relationship. They’d grown so close and she couldn’t even think of life without him now. The bond that had forged between them was as strong as iron and she’d do anything to protect him.

Anything.

That word caused her to blink. Did that mean she’d be willing to…? Harm others? Would she go so far? In that moment, the answer in her mind was a resounding yet, even though it clashed with the pacifist that she’d always been. Yet, her answer felt right and as she gently stroked his hair, she’d mutter to herself and him. “I’ll do whatever it takes to save you. No matter what happens.”

Even though Ranma had placed Hōkamaru away, resting on the wall next to the bed and next to Erica’s Zanpakutō, his sword still somehow felt content. Ranma had begun to relax again, not by drinking himself into a coma, but by opening his heart. This quiet morning was reminiscent of his Inner World. It made Hōkamaru… smile. Even if only for a brief moment.

Hōkamaru then turned his back to the scenery and sat within his Inner World, at the edge of a building deep within the sheathed Zanpakutō. Gazing beyond the horizon, left to his own devices…

...

“But who’s gonna save you... from me?” Ranma echoed from within her embrace, his hands immediately going to work on her hips and arms, strolling his fingers across her skin to rapidly wake her up with a strong, ticklish sensation. “What even is the time? Remember, you got time today... I got some really cool tricks to show you. N-Not bed tricks, though, that can wait for later. See? I’ve taught myself a bit of restraint, ain’t that so very mature of me?” Ranny’s expectations of him still echoed away, like jarring remarks of his childlike nature.

And yet, his attempts at being mature were immature at their core.

“Huh…” She started, before the hands of her boyfriend suddenly sprang to life and ran all over her body. It didn’t take long for her to start giggling and soon enough she was laughing rather loud, unable to fight him off as she was overcome with it all. The healer was ticklish beyond belief and her cheeks soon began to redden due to the stimulation and embarrassment of it all. It was only when he stopped that she was able to actually think about what he said, a puzzled look crossing her features.

“You mean you want to spar with me?” She asked, thinking that was probably what he was getting at. The idea of such a thing was a bit of a powderkeg for her and Ranma would know that too but when she thought back to her dreams and her previous thoughts, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt. Still, the thought of firing spells at him was rather unpleasant and soon enough she found herself asking another question. “Erm, are you sure? I don’t know about you but the idea of fighting you kind of rubs me wrong.”

”Mhm!” Ranma nodded, still sort of half-off half-in her bosom. She was so awesome… oh, but yeah, the spar, yes! Not gonna lie, it came as a completely random idea out of nowhere – y’know what, why not have a little one-on-one with your partner? Except not sex-related! Yeah, what an awesome idea, Ranma! Nobody saw that one coming, not even Erica!

Although… she wasn’t sure. She did state so, quite direc- directly? Yeah, she did! It rubbed her wrong, much unlike how he r- stop yourself, Ranma, now wasn’t the time… time and place for everything! “Ahhhhhhhh, it’ll be fiiiiiiiiiiiiine – I may not look like it, but I’ve sparred a lot in Squad 8. I know my ins and outs of friendly bouts, they’re not at all risky~!” Besides, I… I’ve had an obsession, lately.”

Taking a deep, deep breath… Ranma would confess: “I’ve been practicing a little bit of Kidō... I know, right? I got a little inspired, recently~ Chalk it up to your efforts, too! I haven’t ever seen you fight seriously before, either, and this really helps with boosting confidence in your own skills, too. Not that I’d ever actually harm an atom on you, but you’re not weak at all, either! I refuse such a statement! Refuse!”

As he started talking, Erica looked somewhat unsure but slowly her expression changed. He seemed invigorated by the idea and if exchanging spells would help both of them then perhaps it wasn’t such a bad idea. She wasn’t 100% comfortable with the idea still but perhaps that would always be the case. What kind of girlfriend would actually want to attack their partner? It sounded strange to her and she supposed that she’d just have to try and adapt. Ever since speaking with Hannah, she’d started to practise her Bakudo and Hadō more vigorously again.

When he discussed his motivation for Kido, a smile would grow upon her face. “It’s nice to hear that you’ve started to work on your spells and if that’s the case then I can’t really say no. I’m not going to lie, I’m still not fully into this idea but if it’ll help us both then I’ll have a try. Maybe if I can spar with you and get through it OK, I can finally get over my own…issues with fighting.” She didn’t need to go any further into it, he already knew that.

Woah, woah, woah… maybe this isn’t the best idea you got, Ranma. I mean, she really doesn’t enjoy getting on the offense – why make her practice against you? You know she wouldn’t wanna crook a hair on your head, boy! Stop worrying her! Just… but you wanna… urgghhh, fine. Good point, but maybe, like… 5 more minutes? It’s really comfy right now~

Something beckoned Ranma to backtrack, but Erica… had some real firepower in her. He could sort of tell. Not to mention, they weren’t just lovers – they were the dynamic duo! Ranma liked getting up close and hack n’ slash, while Erica found much more ease at a distance shooting down her foe while making sure Ranma stayed alive. A match made in… heaven?

So on one end, he didn’t want to leave her embrace right now. This was peak… but he wanted to make her feel more confident in her fighting skills. That was the other end, and that other end… was scary. Very scary. What if it just bugged her out, in the end? Then she’d get mad at him! Right? Like, even if she played it off as just a slight inconvenience, it’d still be a dick move of him! He didn’t… but she said it herself.

She had her own issues. That much, he knew. What sort of boyfriend would he be if he couldn’t at least help her out with them? Y’know, give her a push, a kickstart, a back to lean on when things got too rough?

“I got your back, Erica. No matter what,” Ranma assured her once and again, finally gathering the will to leave her bosom and actually get out of bed, “… Fuck, I wanna go back to be- no, Ranma, stop yourself. Stop yourself… focus… okay, good. Let’s get into it.”

Quick shower, get his gear on, no bandages today, aaaaaand Hōkamaru was picked up from next to Erica’s sheathed Zanpakutō. However, while Ranma was… notorious for talking to his sword without getting any answers back – very one-sided conversations, he’d had – now, he just kind of… glared at it. Intently. Hōkamaru was a quiet guy… maybe that was how he communicated. Be quiet, quiet… silent. No need to rush.

“…”

Ranma spent half a minute like this before finally being ready to go out. “The 2nd got some great grounds for casting Kidō. I remember when Morikawa-sensei showed me her new armor Bakudō there… oh, I should definitely show you- b-but… I, uh, it’s veeeeeeeeeeery incomplete in my regard. But who knows, maybe being cheered on by my love can push me to even greater heights~!”

The Healer took a little longer getting ready, making sure that she was fully prepared for what was going to happen. Erica knew that she’d be able to patch Ranma up if things went wrong but what if it was her who ended up getting struck? Self healing wasn’t something that she was familiar with and so with that in mind, she’d take a few potions from her mother’s collection, with permission of course. Her mother hadn’t been a hundred percent sure about their plan either but understood that it needed to be done and so had given her what was needed among other things.

When she was finally ready, she’d approach Ranma, a basket of items in her right hand. Taking her sword in her left, she’d turn to him. “Armour Bakudo is quite a difficult field and I confess that I’m only starting to get the hang of it myself. As far as I know, you need to be in the higher echelons of mastery in order to do it properly, a level that is higher than mine. I’m not surprised that the Lieutenant can do it though. She’s incredibly well skilled.”

Nodding her head towards the basket, she’d add. “Mum provided us with a few potions in case we need a little extra healing. Also made us some sandwiches too since somebody wanted to skip breakfast.”

Oh, that was a lot of things to bring along, she didn’t have to… oh, potions. Ranma could need some potions, he felt that life hadn’t seen him get injured lately. As for the sandwiches-

“A-“ He… did skip breakfast, didn’t he? A little too hasty there, Ranma, but Erica’s mum sure came in clutch with the sandwiches – he already considered eating them now as they were on the walk, but they had a sparring place to reach first. Don’t be too hasty now…

“Shit, no wonder I’m struggling so much with it… and here I thought I could just practice hard enough and get it under control if I tried enough,” he sighed sadly. Morikawa-sensei was right – patience really was the solution to many of his issues. “At least it’s really cool… definitely what I need. A helmet, too, if- *growl*”

Ay, they were here now! Erica’s ‘technically’ workplace, and a source of inspiration, freedom, motivation and battle spirit. Ranma was already a frequent visitor, so most of the other Squad 2 members didn’t bother his presence – if anything, they were relieved he wasn’t here to get patched up again.

“So how *growl* do you *growl* wanna begin? We can *growl* try Kidō-only spars *growl*, y’know, see who tags the other first *growl*” His belly finally caught his attention again, making Ranma wonder just how bloody hungry he actually was. Like, he ate well last night…

“… C-Can I… a sandwich, please?” It was a little embarrassing.

There was a slightly smug grin on Erica’s face as her boyfriend’s stomach started talking for him. Mother knew best and hers had certainly figured Ranma out alright. A chuckle escaped the Squad 2 member at that point and while a part of her wanted to tease him and say no, she’d relent and place her hand inside the basket, pulling out a couple of sandwiches, one which she offered to him. “Here. We’re going to need something anyway before we start, otherwise we might struggle during the fight. Next time we have to go out early, we eat first. Deal?”

Eating the other sandwich herself, Erica would turn her gaze towards the training area that they were in. Coming to her Division was the right move for what he was suggesting and at this time of day, there wasn’t a whole lot going on. “Kido only sounds good but I reckon that using Hoho is fine too. In order to fight with Kido, one has to be able to move swiftly in order to stay at optimal range, after all.”

She could feel a slight sensation from her Zanpakuto, as though it was waiting for the start of combat. That was rather odd and Erica couldn’t remember it happening before. What was she trying to say to her Master?