Wild Horses and Noble Masters

By

Bryan Weber.

Disclaimer: I do not own either Ranma 1/2 or They are my Noble Masters. Both are being used without permission. Both series and all related characters are the respective properties of their owners and/or copyright holders. Please do not sue, as I am not making any money on this.

It was a bright and sunny day in the Nerima Ward. On the way to Furinkan High School, Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo took notice of a limousine entering the gates of the Kuno Estate.

"Wow, Kuno's receiving some high-class visitors," Ranma whistled.

"Well, they are still a well-to-do family," Akane said, "It's only natural. They might be there for Kodachi, too."

"Anyone who'd have anything to do with the Kunos is someone I want to avoid," Ranma said sourly, "Come on, Akane, we're going to be late."

Inside the Kuno Estate, Sasuke Sarugakure kept a close vigil as his mistress, the twisted Black Rose, Kodachi Kuno, entertained her visitors. He was not alone in his vigil. At his side were two young women and a stately gentleman.

"Colonel, Benisu-san, Natose-san, it's been a long time," Sasuke said.

"Indeed," The Colonel nodded, "But we will talk later."

"Shinra, Miyu, Yume, how wonderful that you could all accept my invitation to tea," Kodachi said, smiling sweetly, "I'm afraid Miss Kurusugawa and Miss Kousaka will not be joining us."

Shinra Kuonji shrugged faintly, "It's just as well. Tamaki Kousaka and I have never been particularly close."

"Probably because they're too much alike," Miyu said with a hint of a smile.

"By the by, Kodachi," Shinra's eyes narrowed, "This isn't one of your 'special' teas, is it? One with paralysis powder?"

"Good heavens, what ever do you mean?" Kodachi asked, looking dismayed.

"Sasuke!" Shinra barked the name of the Kuno servant, and he was at her side in an instant.

"Y-yes, Kuonji-san?"

"Would you be so kind as to taste my tea?" Shinra smiled sweetly, "I don't want to burn my tongue if it's too hot."

Sasuke sighed inwardly, but to his credit gave no outward sign of his dread at having to drink one of Kodachi's teas. He picked up the cup and raised it to his lips to take a sip.

"Sasuke, that will be all," Kodachi said sternly, "You are dismissed."

"Your tea seems to have soured on us, Kodachi," Shinra smirked.

"Probably the hand that made it," Miyu Kuonji said, "I don't even know why I bothered to come here."

"Well, after all," Kodachi smiled, "We ladies of noble standing should socialize more frequently."

"You'll pardon me if I don't relish the idea of being incapacitated with that lecherous brother of yours about," Miyu said.

"Oh, you needn't worry about my dear Tatewaki," Kodachi said, "Right now he's utterly infatuated by a couple of local girls. Besides, Miyu, for all his faults, my brother is interested in girls who have a more...mature...figure."

"Why you..." Miyu's eyes narrowed.

Shinra put her hand on Miyu's shoulder, a sign to her sister to hold her tongue for the time being.

"It must be hard on you," Shinra said with a deep understanding, "Having such a man as your brother in the family. His escapades must be a terrible burden for the family name. And no less so your Father. I read an article about some of the revisions he attempted to make at the high-school he runs."

"Yes, it can be very trying. After all, a family of breeding has only its reputation to back it up. And even worse so when you have a common name. Some miscreant could besmirch the family while having no blood ties, and all because of name association.

"Why, for example, right now we have a Kuonji right here in Nerima. A guttersnipe of a girl who runs an okonomiyaki restaurant. Imagine if she were associated with your family, what shame it might bring."

Shinra was suddenly very focused, "An okonomiyaki chef named Kuonji? She wouldn't happen to have the oddly masculine given name of Ukyo, would she?"

"Why, she does," Kodachi said, "Do you know her?"

Shinra stood, "Miyu, Yume, we're taking our leave. Pardon us, Kodachi. It seems the family has some business to attend to. We'll have to invite you to our house soon"

As they walked to their limousine, servants close behind, Miyu turned to Shinra, "You're not planning on bothering our cousin, are you?"

"I just want to ensure that she's doing alright," Shinra said, "She hasn't had the easiest of lives. No sooner was she born than her father saddled her with a manly name. And you heard about her rather unfortunate betrothal from her childhood."

"It'll be nice to see Uc-chan," Yume said, "It's been ages."

"Why do I have the feeling that this is all going to go very badly," Miyu sighed to no one in particular.

It was several hours later that Ranma and Akane were walking home from school with Ukyo Kuonji at their side.

"So, you guys coming by today to get some okonomiyaki?" Ukyo asked them.

"I'd like to, Uc-chan," Ranma said, "But I'm flat broke today."

Akane blinked, "YOU'RE turning down food from Ukyo?"

"Do you have to tease me about that? You're so uncute. I can't afford to do it today."

Ranma looked dejected.

"Ranma, if you want, I'll treat," Akane said with a sigh.

Ranma perked up.

"One, Ranma. That's it. And not a deluxe."

"Akane, you're the best. Well, Ukyo, I guess we are stopping by your place today."

"Super," Ukyo said, "Then let's...urk."

As they rounded a corner, they saw a limousine parked in front of Uc-chan's Okonomiyaki, as well as a sign that read, "Closed for Business Today. We Apologize for the Inconvenience."

"Ranma, isn't that the same limo we saw at Kuno's this morning?"

"Whoever they are, they're not stopping me from getting my okonomiyaki," Ranma said.

"Ranma-honey, stay out of this one," Ukyo said.

"Ukyo?" Akane looked surprised.

"It's a family matter. There's nothing you can do about it."

Ranma shook his head, "I'm gonna have a chat with them."

Before anyone could say anything, Ranma had barged into the shop. Akane and Ukyo heard a startled outcry, and a crash, and then ran to the shop to see what had happened.

"Ranma!"

"Ranma-honey!"

They saw Ranma lying face down on the ground, a tall mustachioed man standing with one foot on Ranma's back. Seated at the counter was a girl in elaborate black clothes, a girl with long blonde hair tied in twintails beside her, and a pink-haired girl beside her. A young man and a young woman wearing matching clothes stood on either side of the seated girls.

"Hello, Ukyo-chan," The dark haired girl said with a smile.

"Sh-Shinra," Ukyo managed to whisper the name.

"Ranma, are you alright?" Akane asked.

"Get this stuffed shirt off of me," Ranma said, "I came into the shop, and he kicked me and threw me on the ground!"

"Well," Shinra Kuonji said, "You came into a shop that said it was closed. The Colonel had to assume you were a sneak-thief."

"What sort of thief uses the front door in broad daylight?" Ranma demanded.

"And why is my shop closed without my say so? " Ukyo found her voice.

"Well, I wanted to catch up with you," Shinra said, "You can tell your customers whatever you like. An unruly customer damaged some equipment, for example."

"I'm losing money as we speak!" Ukyo fumed.

"It's not a problem," the blonde girl said, "I've put in an order for enough okonomiyaki to cover your daily expenses. We'll distribute them as free samples, and it'll spread the word about your shop."

Ukyo breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Miyu-san."

"Ukyo, are these your friends? Introduce us."

Ukyo sighed, "Ranma Saotome, Akane Tendo, allow me to introduce my cousins. Shinra Kuonji, Miyu Kuonji, and Yume Kuonji.

"Shinra is a conductor for a symphony orchestra.

"Miyu is prodigy and holds several patents for her inventions.

"And Yume is about our age and still in high-school."

"She's out of school," Ranma said, pointing at Miyu.

"Don't be insulting," Miyu said, "I know how I look, but I'm actually in my twenties. And I won't be treated like a kid."

"Remember Miss Hinako," Akane whispered to Ranma, "Don't make assumptions."

"These are our servants," Shinra said, "You've met the Colonel."

The austere man bowed.

"This is Ren Uesugi, my personal butler, and this is Natose, my head of security."

"Forgive my act against you," The Colonel bowed, "If I had known that you were a friend of Lady Ukyo, I would have been more careful with you."

"Yeah, well, I'm fine, so no harm done I guess," Ranma said, "Don't think you can get me like that again, though."

"Don't talk so big," Shinra said, "I know all about you, Ranma Saotome. Your name is already a stain on the Kuonji line."

"Wh-What!?" Ranma turned to Ukyo, "What are they..."

"The engagement," Ukyo said.

"That?!" Ranma turned to face Shinra Kuonji, "I didn't make that arrangement, and I'm not the one who broke it either. That was all my old man's doing, and I'm getting a bit tired of being judged for his sins.

"Ukyo and I have reconciled our differences. We're friends. So where do you get off, telling me..."

"Watch how you speak to Shinra-sama!" Ren said hotly, "I won't allow you to..."

"Ren," Shinra spoke calmly, "it's quite alright. This uncouth barbarian simply doesn't have the knowledge about how to speak to his betters.

"For your information, Saotome, I have done a great deal of research about you, and what I've learned isn't very appealing at all. You are engaged to no fewer than ten women. And yes, I know that you're only aware of three outstanding engagements and one that you settled. Your father is a dishonorable man, and his blood runs in your veins."

"Shinra, you're being unfair!" Ukyo protested, "Ranma is nothing like his Dad."

"Isn't he? He's a brash loudmouth. An uncouth lout who acts first and thinks later, if at all. Did you think, that after spurning a Kuonji, even a member of a low branch, that you would be forgiven?"

"Why you..." Ranma's fists were clenched.

"Ukyo, I'm going to make this clear. Sever your ties to this cretin, or I will call in the favor that you owe me. I don't relish such tactics, but to preserve the family name..."

"How dare you," Ranma said, his tone stern, but his voice even, "You come in here, and you think that because you have money you can just tell people what to do, and they have to do it? You're the worst kind of scum. A bully who thinks that her title and privilege grant her some special power to walk all over anyone who you see fit. In short, a selfish, spoiled brat!

"Well, I got news for you. No one talks to one of my friends like that, not unless they want to deal with me. And if ya did half the research you claim you did, you'd know that people who intimidate my friends don't get away with it."

"Why you insolent..." Shinra rose, but stopped mid sentence. She began to sway to one side, and then she misstepped, and fell.

"Shinra-sama!" Ren dove to the ground and caught Shinra before she hit her head.

"Shinra!" the Colonel looked alarmed.

"Quick, "Akane said, "there's a doctor not far from here."

"The Kuonji family has their own physicians," The Colonel said.

"And they're probably much further away than the doctor this young lady knows," Miyu said reasonably, "Show us the way. Please."

A short time later, they were at Dr. Tofu's office.

"It's not often I see celebrities," Tofu said with his usual jovial demeanor, "In any event, rest assured that I'll keep everything confidential.

"In any case, it looks like a simple case of exhaustion brought on by overwork and the flu."

"Flu?" Yume looked puzzled, "I didn't even know she was sick."

"That's typical," Miyu said, "I'll wager that Shinra thought that if she refused to acknowledge her illness, it wouldn't be real.

"It's her own fault for not paying better attention to her health."

"No, Mistress Miyu, it is my fault. As her butler, it was my job to see to Mistress Shinra's health," The Colonel said

"The same goes for me," Ren said, "It's my fault that Shinra is sick."

Ranma made a noise of pure disgust, "Is she incapable of doing anything for herself?"

Shinra's voice came from the examining room, "Is that no account philanderer still here?"

Miyu sighed softly, then turned to Ukyo, "I'll talk to her, alright. Just wait here. And you, Saotome, is it? I'd like a word with you later, in private."

Doctor Tofu showed Miyu into the room, "I'll let you two talk, but she needs her rest, so try not to upset her."

With that, Tofu left the room.

"Oh, my precious Miyu-tan has come to comfort me," Shinra smiled, "Come on, climb in with me, and let me soak up some of the essence of a cute little sister."

"You're creepy when you talk that way," Miyu said with a sour expression, sitting in the chair next to Shinra's bed, making sure she was out of Shinra's eager reach first, "And, of course, you had to go there, throwing your weight and titles around, didn't you?"

Shinra blinked, "What are you saying?"

"You know, that Ranma guy really managed to get under your skin quickly, didn't he? Why is that, sis? Is it because he had the temerity to speak to you that way? Or is it that he pretty much hit the nail on the head?"

Now Shinra's eyes narrowed in clear anger, "What do you mean? Are you saying that low class..."

Miyu held up her hand, "You barged into Ukyo's shop, without any word that you were coming, and closed her business, which, for someone like her, can cost her countless yen. And in her position, she needs every bit of her money.

"You insult her fiance, despite the fact that she chose to pursue her relationship with him. Her father may have arranged the marriage, but he only did it because he saw how fond Ukyo was of Ranma when they were kids. And she's not a kid anymore, Sis. She's living on her own, running her own business, and she didn't come here to play house. She came here to teach the Saotome's a lesson in what it means to make fools of the Kuonji family.

"And yet she still chose to try and win Ranma back. There's something to the boy that she finds admirable. And to tell you the honest truth, I can see it.

"And he's right about you, too. You rely on others to do almost everything for you, sis. Ren. The Colonel. Benisu. I admit that you had to study hard to become a masterful conductor, and I can appreciate the hard work that took.

"But can you honestly say that you've accomplished anything more than that?

"I have my inventions and patents, and I'm still determined to open that family restaurant. And from time to time, I help the others out in the kitchen.

"Yume has a very...active...imagination, and she also took a part time job, recently. And she's good at it, too. None of the awkwardness or clumsiness that people have been led to expect from anime and light novels.

"But if you suddenly found yourself having to take care of your own needs, could you?"

Shinra fell silent and looked out the window.

"In any case," Miyu smiled and put her hand on her sister's shoulder, "Maybe a bit less high and mighty and a bit more understanding. After all, Ukyo is our cousin, and she doesn't need you trying to run her life."

Shinra sighed, "I'll think about it."

As Miyu left Shinra's room, she saw a heated exchange between Ranma and Akane Tendo.

"...had to go and get involved!" Akane was saying.

"What, I should just abandon Ukyo? She was being picked on for being my friend. That's not something I take kindly to, Akane!"

"Sometimes I wonder if you are still interested in being her fiance," Akane huffed, "Well, you can just move in with her, if that's what you want!"

"Why do you have to be so stupid?" Ranma growled, "No matter what I do to help someone, you always think the worst of me."

"What did you call me? Ranma you..."Akane's fist balled up to throw a punch, when Miyu threw herself between the two.

"Pardon me a moment, please, Tendo-san," Miyu said, "I need to have a word with Saotome. In private. Would you mind if I borrowed him for a moment?"

"Another suitor, Ranma? Are you planning to take him off Ukyo's hands in exchange for your sister's cooperation?"

Miyu looked surprised for a moment, then laughed, "I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you. But if Shinra wouldn't allow Ukyo to marry Ranma, then one of her own sisters trying to take the plunge with him would be cause for a swift execution.

"No, I'm not interested in taking your fiance. I just want to explain a few basic facts to him. Besides, Tendo-san, I'm not into high-school guys, despite my looks."

Akane relented, "Okay. Ranma, she seems trustworthy. Don't YOU do anything to give her a reputation."

As they walked along the road, the sun setting, Ranma looked over at Miyu, "What do you want to talk about? You gonna tell me that your sister is a dangerous person, that I shouldn't cross her, and that you want to avenge her little fainting spell 'cause you think I caused it?"

Miyu's smile was sharp, "I think you feel a bit guilty about it yourself, and you're trying to steal my thunder so that I can't use it against you.

"The truth is, I'm not here to side with Shinra. Threatening Ukyo's restaurant was crossing a line she shouldn't have crossed, and honestly, I think I can see why Ukyo likes you. You're a bit rough around the edges, but you're fairly straightforward. You remind me a bit of Ren. He's the younger butler you met a moment ago.

"Anyway, no, I think you pretty much called Shinra out for her bad behavior. I think it's time she heard it from someone. So, thank you for telling it like it is.

"Still, I think that in many ways, Shinra has your number, too."

Ranma turned, "What?!"

"You are quite loud. Needlessly so. And you're brash. Impulsive. I bet right now, the slight criticism I'm giving you have you seething with rage inside. But you won't act on it because I'm a girl and you have a code that you follow diligently which forbids you to strike girls."

Ranma felt a stinging truth behind her words, and his body released it's tension, "Really?"

"You act without thinking, and there are times when that can save you. But there are other times where that only gets you in trouble. Like with your fiance, for example. Tendo-san, not Uc-chan."

"What makes you think..."

"The little spat I just interrupted?" Miyu offered, "You claim you can't hit girls, but I see you have no problems with the tongue lashings. The girl is supposedly your fiance since early childhood, right? From the way you were talking to her, I would have assumed that she was someone who might have stolen from you or slaughtered your family or something."

"I didn't ask to be engaged to her," Ranma said, bringing up his usual defense, "It was something our parents decided without ever asking us. Akane's not so fond of the idea, either, in case you hadn't noticed."

Miyu nodded, "Yes, I can see that. It's funny, though."

"What's funny?" Ranma asked.

"If the two of you were forced into this by your parents against your will, and neither of you want anything to do with it, I would think that she'd be your strongest ally, instead of you two at each other's throats.

"The truth, Saotome, is that you seem like a basically decent kind of guy, but you're also pretty thoughtless and insensitive until someone shoves your nose into the mess you've made.

"If you do end up with my cousin, I honestly hope that you treat her a hell of a lot better than you treat Tendo-san."

Miyu tuned to walk off, "I'm going back to check on my sister. Don't worry about her. I've already convinced her to lay off of Ukyo. But think about what I've said."

Ranma stood alone as night fell, looking down the road after Miyu as she walked away, and still looking, even after she'd gone from sight.

The next morning, Ranma was preparing for school silently.

"Cat got your tongue, Ranma?" Akane asked pointedly.

"I'm in a bad mood, okay," Ranma said, "Lay off me for awhile, will you?"

Akane looked perplexed, "What's with you? Did what that snooty girl said get to you?"

"No. Don't be ridiculous, Akane, But...I guess I feel a bit guilty. I mean, I never would have yelled at her like that if I'd known she was sick."

"And it's okay to talk to her that way when she's not sick?" Akane asked.

"I guess it probably isn't," Ranma said, "But sometimes things need to be said. I mean, if she'd shown up and insisted that I marry Ukyo to honor the agreement, and break it off with you, I would have reacted the exact same way."

Akane blushed, "Wha...what are you saying? That's embarrassing, Ranma."

"What Ranma-san is saying," A voice came from behind them, "is that he simply doesn't like to be told what to do."

They turned to see Shinra Kuonji standing in the living room, Kasumi right behind her.

"Ranma, Akane, we have guests."

"What are you doing here?" Ranma demanded.

"Firstly, to apologize for being so brusque yesterday. I judged you without getting to know you, Saotome-san, a mistake that I will not make again.

"Secondly, my sisters both suggested that I might understand you a bit better if I tried to do for myself for awhile. Seeing as how the orchestra is in the off season, I thought I might kill two birds with one stone by learning to do some of the basic domestic chores for myself while rubbing my newfound abilities in your face."

"And how do you plan to do that?" Ranma smirked.

"Ah, I see you've met Ranma and Akane," Soun Tendo entered the room, "Ranma, Akane, Ukyo's cousin has paid a generous sum to rent the dojo for her servants and herself for the next three months, as well as have Kasumi instruct her on basic household chores.