The usual disclaimer: Ranma ½ is a trademark of Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ Communications, and its characters have been borrowed without permission. This story was written for non-commercial purposes only.

This story is the third (and final) part of "The Destruction of Ranma Saotome". If you haven't read "Ignition" and "Combustion", I'm afraid "Detonation" will not make much sense. However, the tone of "Detonation" will be more like "Combustion" rather than "Ignition" (i.e. lighter and with more humor).

Fair warning: There are a lot of curved balls thrown in this story. Everyone gets surprised. Hopefully the readers will too.

Quick Summary: Genma has attempted to lock Ranma in her female ("Yin") form permanently using a potion that imprisons a dragon spirit. Ranma's spirit has beaten the dragon, but, through Otherworldly interference, the dragon was rescued and now infects Genma. There's a lot more to it, including a courtroom full of wannabe Ranma-in-laws, but that sets the stage. We pick up the story 30 seconds after Genma has foolishly called the dragon to him...

Chapter 1: Breaking the Pack

Sanu seemed to shake himself and then said: "All right. Let's recess for lunch. We will address Nodoka Saotome's divorce petition then and seek to resolve some remaining issues. Court is adjoured. Bailiffs, please stay in the courtroom and watch the panda. I need to see the Saotomes and the Tendos immediately." Ranma was impressed that the judge took his transformation and Genma's transformation in stride.

"Come here, young man, the judge ordered. "Let me get a good look at you."

"Yes, your Honor. One quick detour though," Ranma answered. He turned around and grabbed Akane lifting here over the half-wall of the audience seating. Ranma then gave her a hearty kiss, which she returned for a few moments before most of the audience began clapping and cheering.

Then Akane dope-slapped him and said: "We are in public, idiot!" She didn't fully release him though as he turned to face the judge with a slight smile on his face. The young lady walked with Ranma towards Judge Sanu. The couple had their arms about each other's waist.

The judge turned to the cheering audience and shooed them out by calling: "Out you lot! One hour!"

Most of them obeyed, although Doctor Ono called out: "Please, your Honor! Permission to stay with the families?" Sanu nodded and waved him to the floor. "We also need hot and cold water!" the doctor cried out over the din. One of the bailiffs left to get it.

Soon, the judge was left alone with the doctor, the two families, and a depressed panda. A handful of the bailiffs (and Ryuu) had also stayed. Ranma bowed politely to the judge while still holding Akane about the waist. "So, you're Ranma," the judge said.

"The Yin side is also me," Ranma shrugged. "This is the form I regard as my birth form, my Yang side." The pig-tailed young man gave a wry grin and said: "I'm getting use to who I am."

"A lesson many of us could take heed to," the judge answered. "Do you mind a little verification?" Ranma shook his head and let go of Akane as the judge accepted two cup of water. Two splashes later and Ranma's Yang side stood before the judge again. "Amazing," was all Sanu said as he handed the young man a towel.

Sanu turned to where Doctor Tofu was conducting an examination of the panda and walked over to him. The two families followed keeping slightly back. "Is he stuck now?" Sanu asked.

"I'm afraid so," Tofu answered. "I suspected that the dragon potion would backlash against the user, but I did not imagine it would be so complete." The doc sighed. "I thought Genma would be stuck for a month or two – give him a taste of his own medicine. But something interfered and boosted the backlash. It was like getting hit with the original potion and Genma doesn't have two magical curses like Ranma does to interfere with the application. He's taken a full dose of the magic. What's more, there's a Binding – a magical tie – between Genma and the dragon spirit. There's nothing I can do." The panda gave out a low moan at that.

"You just gave away a few secrets, Ono…" Nabiki said after observing Sanu's eyebrows shoot up.

"That's all right. He'd know something was up sooner or later – he's had dealings with my family before," Tofu shrugged.

"We'll discuss that later. So, that's it. Genma's cursed for the rest of his life to be a panda," Sanu concluded. He then asked: "How much of his intelligence is still with him?"

"His normal mind is sub-human to begin with," Nabiki threw out. The panda snarled at her moodily.

"Ms. Tendo…" the judge said with a warning in his voice.

"His mind is intact. He normally writes signs to communicate when he is in this form. His martial artist skills are still there too," Ranma said. "But some moves he can't pull off in this form, especially some of the more exotic maneuvers. You'll still need somewhere high security to hold him." The panda threw a dark look at his former son.

"Actually, no I won't," the judge disagreed. "Giant Pandas are not native here and stick out like sore thumbs. If Genma runs, he'll be captured and 'returned' to China – if Fate is kind to him. There is a greater chance that some poachers will find him and shoot him to chop up for illegal medicines, then add what's left to a private collection as a taxidermy piece." Genma's eyes became wide at that. "If he is returned to China, they will run tests to see if they can breed him. When they find out he is sterile, he'll become a liability. They won't release him to the wild for fear of introducing foreign diseases. The best he can hope for then is a backwoods zoo. Euthanasia is a more likely scenario." Now the panda began to shake.

"His best hope for long term survival is for us to announce that he was found in a private collection, but was sterilized by his owner. The Nerima zoo will hold on to him. The Chinese embassy will be notified, but it will not bother to investigate especially when told that the panda is sterile – unless he draws attention to himself, of course. Escaping or showing other signs of intelligence will get him noticed by the embassy who will investigate and demand his return to China. Then we are on that path to the backwoods zoo or euthanasia. If he behaves himself, he can have a roomy pen, a warm room to sleep in, plenty of food, and I can probably convince them to put in a television arguing that his owner had one in his pen and he seemed fond of it. It's your call Genma – you can walk out the door right now as a panda to be hunted, or you can accept the Nerima Zoo as your new home – they'd love to have a panda and you'll probably be treated well."

The panda held up a sign – "Is there a cure at Jusenkyo?" it asked.

Tofu shook his head. "No Genma. That potion was a nasty piece of work. You are an incredible bastard to use it. Then there is the Binding to the dragon spirit – the dragon spirit was able to affect a Jusenkyo curse. It will be able to keep the original curse no matter what you do, especially since you called the spirit to you by its actual name."

"Say what?!" the panda wrote.

"The dragon's name is 'Justice'," Tofu told him. "It was very smug when it gave me its name – it knows I cannot touch it. You demanded Justice and you got it. Someone set up a very clever trap for you. Since you intended to lock Ranma away for life, now you're locked away for life instead. If someone ever manages to banish the dragon, you'll die."

Genma switched signs and sighed: "Bring on the zoo."

Sanu called out: "Someone call Animal Control and take the panda somewhere safe. Bailiffs, please notify the police that Genma Saotome has fled the courtroom and is a wanted fugitive." Another sigh escaped from the panda causing Sanu to turn back to Genma. "Remember Genma, if you want to escape – just do it. My people will not stop you, so don't hurt them. But you'll never be safe again if you leave my custody."

Outside the courtroom, Toshio Kuno pulled out his cell phone and called his office. "Ms. Nakagawa? I want the Bio-hazard team to move now. Hit the Tendo residence, Genma Saotome's apartment, Genma's place of work and Genma's favorite bar. Swap out toothbrushes, clean shower drains, do whatever can be done without drawing overt attention. I want any traceable DNA remains of Genma Saotome to be removed or compromised. Also, order a squad to hit the lab where the DNA tests were done. Erase the results and samples for the entire family. If they ever want to do a re-test, I want them to have to obtain fresh samples and not be able to get Genma's human DNA."

Toshio listened to the affirmative answer and then asked: "Have we gotten a copy of that journal yet? Good. Have someone contact everyone that Genma cheated and who hasn't filed a lawsuit yet. Offer to do it for them. Explain upfront that they will probably never see a yen from it, but we don't want Genma to be able to show his face again without a long prison term and hefty fines. Offer to reimburse them for their time."

He listened again and then chuckled: "No, Ms. Nakagawa. That's not an easier answer. You never know what the future may bring and if I need someone, I don't want to have to dig them up. Oh! While I'm thinking about it, there's no need to tell Sasuke any of this. I know he has mixed loyalties regarding the Tendo family and Ranma. Let's not stress him out wondering what I am up to…"

Kuno left the alcove he had ducked into, never noticing a short Mediterranean man standing nearby. The little man made his way through the crowd to locate a blond European woman chatting with four young adults nearing their twenties. "Ciren!" he called out. "Could I have a word with you please?"

After the lunch recess, Judge Sanu called the courtroom back to order and then addressed the courtroom: "So, let's see if we can address a few other issues and then review Mrs. Saotome's petition for divorce since Mr. Saotome seems to have escaped." There was light laughter in the courtroom at the statement, requiring the judge to call for order once more. The judge turned to the gathering of prospective Saotome in-laws, noting that a few more were missing and a few more pieces of paper had been added to the list of complaints against Genma. He said: "The Court has limited ability to rule on marriage contracts, only to order the return of dowries and the like if the agreements are terminated. Mr. Saotome, would you like to address the court regarding these matters?"

Ranma stood up and said: "Yes, your Honor. All of these agreements were initiated without my knowledge by a man proven to not be my father."

"But he was your step-father!" one of the seekers called out. Sanu called for order again.

"He also made numerous agreements that cannot all be filled," Ranma stated. "However, those who wish to pursue an arrangement must observe a couple of facts. First and foremost, I am a male spirit. My Yang side is the dominate side. I will not couple with any man. I am attracted to women only." He glanced slyly at Akane, who blushed, and then continued: "Therefore I decree that any male pursuing my hand in marriage must be immediately castrated and prepare to undergo a sex change. I will also remind them that they will be probably rejected at a later time as I expect to father children. Nonetheless, is there anyone who wishes to take the first step?" Ranma pulled out a small knife.

One of the prospective grooms stood up angrily and smacked his father in the back of the head. "You are a fool, old man. You got cheated by a panda bear and now you seek to make the error worse? I'm done with this nonsense! There is no agreement between the families. That is that." He stormed out of the courtroom, followed by all the other bride-seekers. The appropriate fathers and mothers sighed and then rose and followed their sons.

Once they were gone, Sanu growled at the pig-tailed shape-shifter: "That better be a fake knife, Saotome." Ranma smirked and properly handed the knife to a bailiff who only nodded. "That's one, Saotome," Sanu said.

"Wait until you see number two," Ranma said under his breath. Ranma caught Kasumi's eyes and nodded, then grabbed a cup of water off the table in front of him. He stepped around the table. Out loud, he said: "Of course, you've got to wonder about the persistent fathers who think that their daughter's only hope for a marriage is with a proven hermaphrodite." With that Ranma dumped water on his head and Ranko smirked at the groom hunters with mischievous eyes. There was a collective intake of breath as Ranko stood there in a bikini. While it wasn't a string bikini, it left very little to the imagination. "After all," she continued while eyeing her prospective brides. "The documentation is pretty straight forward. I do have a GYN and have already had a mammogram – obviously many of you don't need one." Nodoka just held her head in one hand while shaking it. Kasumi and Nabiki had a good grip on Akane while whispering very quickly in her ears. Ryoga was prepared to grab Ukyo, but she just seemed to be looking at the ceiling, also shaking her head. Ryoga swore he heard her mutter something about dodging a bullet. Ranko continued: "Of course, it could be that they just want to have a *real* daughter and even a hermaphrodite is better than what they got. After all, I am far more beautiful than any of you."

Things immediately flew into an uproar. Several girls stormed out of the courtroom. A few burst into tears (while Ranko winced internally – but this was necessary she reminded herself). A few yelled "YOU BITCH!" and tried to escape their parents' grasp. The bailiffs had to deal with any who actually succeeded.

Ranko back-flipped away from them and caught a package Kasumi threw at her. When she hit the ground, she was dressed in her gi. She then had to dodge as Judge Sanu literally threw a book at her while yelling: "SILENCE!" Everyone stopped what they were doing. "THAT'S TWO, SAOTOME! THE THIRD ONE IS THREE NIGHTS IN JAIL!"

Ranko bowed deeply. "My apologies to the Court and to your Honor," she said.

Sanu glared at her again and then addressed the upset women. "You may want to think about this carefully, ladies. Are you sure you want to marry that attitude?" The perspective brides glared at Ranko and dragged their parents from the courtroom. In the end, there were three parents left – the ones who hadn't brought their children.

The judge turned to Akane and asked: "Are you sure you don't want to bolt too?"

Ranko winced as Akane relaxed and said: "I'll get even later, your Honor."

Ranko picked up the thrown book and walked over to the judge's stand. As she handed it back, Sanu promptly hit her over the head with it. "Do you have anything else you want to say?" he asked the girl. "Keep in mind that it is three strikes and you are out!"

"Yes, Sir," Ranko acknowledged. She walked back over to the table to grab the hot water. Nodoka took this opportunity to snatch her lawyer's folders and hit her daughter over the head as well. Sanu made no comment to Nodoka.

Ranma then turned to face the three remaining parents. "As I mentioned, it is impossible for me to fulfill all of the agreements Genma Saotome made. Therefore, to respect all parties involved, I must declare *all* of them to be invalid, including the one with the Tendo family." There was a buzzing about the courtroom with that statement. Akane looked surprised, but not upset yet, so Ranma faced Akane and continued quickly: "I also declare that I have already told a young woman that I love her and wish to court her. While I acknowledge no formal agreement between us yet…" Everyone heard the last word quite clearly. "I wish to pursue one as soon as this mess is cleared." Akane's face softened and tears welled up in her eyes – this was the first time Ranma had ever declared his feelings so publicly. Ranma finished: "Those who wish to stand in the way of Love have no Honor I need to abide by."

One rejected father stood up and said: "Why then, I'll just declare that the Saotome's have defaulted on their honor and declare a Blood F…" The man cut off as a Battle Aura burst brightly into the visible spectrum from Ranma as he turned to face the father. The young warrior looked at him and the older man saw his death in Ranma's eyes.

"Blood Feuds are against the Law of the Land and therefore dishonorable," Ramna declared quietly. "The Saotomes will not initiate any actions, but we will defend ourselves to the limit of the Law." Judge Sanu found nothing to object to in that simple statement.

"Not alone," Soun Tendo called out. The sentiment was echoed in many places in the courtroom, including from Doctor Ono.

The man looked at Ranma and sighed. "All right, you called my bluff. I release the Saotome family from Genma's false promise."

One of the two remaining men also stood. "I'm done. I'll add my name to the list against Genma. Have a nice life, kid." With that, he left and the first man followed him.

The last remaining parent started to clap slowly, the noise loud in the otherwise silent courtroom. Then he spoke: "Normally, Ranma, I'd let you off the hook. But this isn't about you, or about Genma, or even about Nodoka. But is about Honor, no matter what you say. I'm not sure if it will make you commit seppuku, but I know this will eat at you your entire life, and that might be the only revenge I ever get."

Ranma shrugged his shoulders – people seeking revenge against him was nothing new. "What have I ever done to you?" the pig-tailed young man asked.

"You?" the lone man said back. "Nothing at all. It's the Saotome clan I want revenge on, and you and your mother are the only exposed ones. Genma played right into my hand."

"Who are you?" Ranma asked.

"His name is Hajime Tanaka, Ranma," an elderly man said from the back. The man began limping down the stairs to the main floor, with a middle-age man helping to guide him. "He is my nemesis."

"Father!" Nodoka shouted out.

"Two hour recess!" Sanu bellowed out. "Clear the courtroom!"

A/N: Next chapter: The Holdout