Ranma of Grayskull

by Dani Yanega

Ranma breaks all engagements, at the announcement Happosai gets is final revenge and sends Ranma to Castle Grayskull using ancient magic. Ranma has a new destiny and a new love. This fic has some very Dark spots

1. Chapter 1

Ranma 1/2:

Ranma of Grayskull

Crossover: Masters of the Universe

By: Dani Yanega

(Dani: Legend is listed in Profile. My profile is also where I will address specific questions or issues that readers ask about.

I do not own many of the Characters in this story though some are mine all the KNOWN characters belong to those who originally created them. Thxs.

Please also NOTE I write Alternate Universe (AU) stories whether they are crossover or not. The AU applies to ALL characters. Thus this will make them OOC to the original Story and I like it that way. So if you plan to comment that Akane is not like that sorry I write her like I like to. This goes for all the characters it makes the story more fun for me to write that way. Got to have some antagonist and some friends! :D)

Chapter One

Ranma sat on the Tendo roof watching the sun as it slowly set. He liked when he had the house to himself; it gave him time to think. He stared at a sky on fire with reds and golden yellows, but not really seeing the beautiful colors as he contemplated on how his life had changed over the past year. He smiled, as he knew everyone would be surprised to know he already graduated early, so he could take his training trip. He was now looking forward to going to college. This only because it would get him out of Nerima and away from all the chaos that had been his life for the last three years, he hoped.

He stared blankly at the horizon his mind examining his life. He knew all his problems could be traced back to his father's stupidity. His fiancée problem was one of the biggest. Ranma shuddered involuntarily when he realized he had not known the full extent of that problem. He wondered if he would ever really know how many fiancées he truly had and all because of his father's greed. A curse he did not want, because Genma could not read the language and would not listen to the warnings or so he thought until a year ago. He now turned into a girl, which he felt might be better then what his father really wanted. What made his life even more chaotic was he was continually forced to prove his _manliness_ or commit seppuku. Ranma closed his eyes and shivered as his mind went back to the day he got his curse.

(o)(o) FLASHBACK (o)(o)

"It won't be long now boy just through those trees and we will arrive at the new training ground!" Genma chortled as he and a downcast Ranma moved quietly and quickly through the trees.

"I don't care you old fart! You ruined my honor and that of Ryoga by not letting me wait for our fight of honor!" Ranma snarled and punctuated his anger with a kick to the back of his father's head.

Genma flew through the last line of trees into the valley of Jusenkyo he however was stopped short of hitting the springs as he crashed face first into a boulder just inside the valley. Ranma stooped and picked up the book his father had been using as a guide to the different training grounds. He flipped through the book as he walked up to his semi-conscious father. He looked at the different maps of the training grounds he and his father had already been to. He looked at the scrawl of his father's in the margins as he tried to decipher his old man's writing. It was made worse by the small scribbles. He flipped the pages and scowled as he remembered each one of the torturous training grounds. His aura slowly grew around him. The heat from the black aura brought his father to full wakefulness as it was singeing his stomach, as that was where Ranma decided to sit until Genma woke. As his eyes opened, he saw Ranma leafing through the ancient tome he had 'found' in his master's belongings. He noticed that the boy had just gotten to the last page of the book and he reached up snatching the book from him. Genma then gave his son an upper cut which sent him flying over the springs and into the mountains on the other side.

"Wouldn't do for the boy to know what is in store for him. Now where is that 'Spring of Drowned Panther'?" Genma whispered he scowled as he looked at the map of the springs and the actual springs before him.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma flipped so when he hit the mountainside he hit feet first. He pushed off the unforgiving rock leaving an impression of his feet. He sprang off and up into the air as he flipped over several times before he lightly touched down on solid ground between five springs. He looked around for his old man and found him still by the boulder his back to his son. Ranma narrowed his eyes as a half grin half snarl formed on his face. He looked around quickly and found a baseball sized rock sticking out of one of the pools. He reached down and quickly grabbed the small projectile. His speed so quick his hand never got wet. He hoisted the rock and threw it at the back of his father's head. He waited until the stone was committed and when it was just seconds from striking, Ranma shouted.

"HEY! YOU OLD MORON YOU'RE AS WEAK AS A GIRL!" Just as his father knew, his son's buttons to push Ranma knew his father's as well.

Genma turned his face a mask of rage. It lasted all of half a second as his eyes widened as the baseball sized stone smashed into Genma's face with the strength of a semi-truck. This caused the master of the Saotome School of Anything Goes to fly back some thirty feet and in doing so throwing his precious tome toward the springs. It landed just about a yard from the springs. When the rock fell from his father's face Ranma smirked at the rage that showed there. Ranma took off his backpack and threw it to the edge of the springs it landed a foot or two from the tome. He then jumped to a pole in the middle of the nearest spring and motioned his father to join him. Genma ran toward his son and as he reached the edge of the first spring, he tossed his backpack to the ground covering his _borrowed_ tome. He then jumped and flipped so his foot was aimed at his son's face. Ranma moved imperceptibly to the normal eye, but a trained martial artist would have seen him as he prepared to take the attack. However, his father's rage was clouding his mind and he had not 0noticed as his son made his preparations.

As Genma just about reached his son, Ranma made his move, as he knew his father was committed to the attack and could not alter his trajectory at this late state. Ranma jumped up and flipped several times over his father. When he unfurled his body, he snapped out with both his feet tightly together and kicked his father in the back of his head in a downward motion toward the spring from which he just jumped. Ranma flipped backwards and landed on the bamboo pole in a spring about three away from the spring in which his father just took a bath. He smiled sardonically as he watched the bubbles escape his father and float to the top of the pool.

0

"OH NO! MR. CUSTOMER NO FIGHT HERE! SPRINGS CURSED!" Ranma turned at the voice he saw a man of fiftyish and paunchy as he ran toward him.

Ranma quickly turned when he saw the man's eyes as they opened wide with surprise. Ranma saw a giant panda jump from the spring his father had just entered. The bamboo pole bowed as the weight of the panda seemed too much for it. Ranma stared his eyes opened wide with shock. Especially since the panda wore his father's gi, glasses and the stupid handkerchief the old man wore that he used to hide his baldness. He turned at the next statement from the old man in a green Mao uniform.

"So sorry Mr. Customer fall 'Spring of Giant Drowned Panda', sad story of Giant Panda drown spring two thousand years ago. Now when Mr. Customer splashed with cold water take shape of panda." Ranma turned from his father his face a mask of confusion.

"HUH!?" Ranma turned back to the panda as a movement caught his eye.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Genma had not heard what the old man had told his son he was just glad for the distraction. He waited, biding his time until his son could not counter his attack, then he struck. He leapt from his perch and flipped at the last moment. His son's eyes wide with resignation or so Genma thought. He kicked his son from his perch and sent him flying over the springs. It was then that Genma noticed his foot was a paw and was black in color. He landed next to the guardian of Jusenkyo and stared dumbfounded at his paws. He looked up at the splash and slapped his head with frustration. The guide pulled a teapot from nowhere and poured it over the man turned panda.

"HOT HOT HOT TO HOT!" Genma danced around fanning himself in an effort to cool down.

The two men again heard splashing as someone in the other spring swam toward shore. As they reached the pool, a buxom redhead pulled herself from the water. She moved slowly onto the shore the water dripped from her body and pooled beneath her. She slowly got to her feet then stumbled slightly as she was not use to her new height of five feet five inches. She steadied herself and reached up as something candy-apple red caught her attention. She grabbed the red object and felt it as it tugged at the base of her scalp. As she released her grip of the hair in surprise her hand brushed something that did not belong to her she looked down and found a large obstruction blocking her view of the ground she reached up and pulled opened her gi. She stared at a pair of 36D breasts that heaved as she stared at them. The two men ogling her exposed breasts were lucky her attention was so focused on what she was doing. She slowly reached down; felt inside her pants, and found what she was born with was no longer there.

"POP YOU MORON I AM GONNA KILL YOU!" The little redhead glared at the men before her, her shout brought them out of their lustful stares at her bare breasts.

"Oh so sorry Mr. Customer fall 'Spring of Drowned Girl" tragic story of girl who drown spring one thousand five hundred years ago." The old man told her.

"QUIT WHINING BOY! A martial artist must make sacrifices for the art!" Genma struck a pose with his right hand over his heart and his left hand raised over his head his finger pointing toward the sky.

"NOT MY MANHOOD YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Ranma's anger grew at her father's pompous and callous disregard for her plight.

"You weren't supposed to fall in that spring, stupid boy!" Genma whispered though the guide heard him and so did Ranma but she was too angry to hear the words.

"I AM GONNA KILL YOU; YOU JACKASS!" Ranma screamed and lunged for her father.

Genma would normally stay and beat some respect into his son except the little redhead that was lunging for him was surrounded by a black aura. Genma was surprised his son could produce an aura at all but what frightened him was the fact that it was shaped like a large cat. Genma turned and ran from his son turned daughter the little redhead hot on his trail. The guide watched as the new neo-girl charged after her father. The guide headed back to his hut, he knew they would show up there eventually. As he moved toward his hut, he picked up the two Mr. Customers' backpacks. When he lifted Genma's lighter pack, he started to head for home when he kicked something. He looked down and noticed the tome under it. He picked it up and read the cover 'Forbidden Training Grounds and their Secrets'. He raised an eyebrow and headed back to his hut. The shouting of the young Mr. Customer echoed through the valley.

(o)(o) END FLASHBACK (o)(o)

Ranma shuddered as he tore his mind away from the memories; a final memory struck him one he had forgotten, he remembered the guide had given him his pop's tome of training grounds and gave him a cryptic message he never revisited. What was it the guide had told him? Oh yes; now he remembered.

"You had been betrayed, learn the truth young Customer!" The guide then slipped the ancient tome into his backpack.

Ranma never let his father know he had the tome but he never got the chance to look at it. He would think of the guide and what he said, from time to time but never really went any further as he always got interrupted. That was until about a year and a half ago, he finally was able to read and decipher his father's notes that was when he decided he would no longer _honor_ the promises of a dishonorable man and he started to take back his life. As the memory of the day he received the curse filtered back in, he felt the rage as it rose again in him. Ever since that day he realized he needed to keep his anger buried for fear the ca...cat would escape again. He paused as an idea came to him, he took the lotus position and begun to meditate on the two feelings he had found that would give him access to the Neko-ken as he touched his anger and fear the cat started to wake. Ranma's aura flared around him as he used his ki to ferret out the source of the Neko-ken. It had not taken him long to touch the edge of the power behind the cat fist. Ranma's aura suddenly blackened then winked out as Ranma snapped his eyes opened, and gasped for breath. His eyes brimmed over with feral rage and human fear. He took several calming breaths, but he smiled as he realized he was able to access the power of the cat and had not become a prisoner of its power.

[Whoa, I am gonna have to work on that!] Ranma thought to himself, when a familiar battle cry attracted his attention.

"WHERE THE HELL AM I NOW!?" Ranma looked down into the yard and saw Ryoga wondering around with a lost look on his face.

Ranma was happy to see the lost boy; especially since the failed wedding, the two of them had put aside _some_ of their differences. Ranma knew Akari had a lot to do with that, but Ryoga still tried to win Akane on occasion and showed up as P-Chan much to Ranma's displeasure. Ranma jumped down before Ryoga could disappear; he landed behind the lost boy and tapped him on the shoulder.

"AAARRRGGGG!" Ryoga jumped spinning to see his sometimes nemesis and sometimes friend standing there with a cocky grin.

"Hey P-Chan lost again?" Ranma asked with his usual tactlessness.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Ryoga yelled pulling free his umbrella and taking a swing at the Anything Goes Master, hitting nothing but air as Ranma jumped up and flipped backwards to land out of the lost boy's reach.

"Hey I was just trying to be polite, but I do have a new technique I wanna try." Ranma complained with a smile as he jumped and dodged Ryoga's attempt to flatten him.

The two boys sparred back and forth; as Ryoga tried to spear Ranma with his umbrella or cut, Ranma to ribbons with his chi filled bandanas. Ranma dodged, jumped, and flipped avoiding Ryoga's bone crushing attacks. As he moved gracefully around the yard avoiding the attacks, Ryoga snorted as he smiled evilly as he made another swipe at the _dancing_ martial artist.

"HUMPFT, some new attack Ranma looks no different, then your normal cowardly avoidance." Ryoga taunted as he in one fluid motion removed his backpack and tried to crush Ranma's face with it.

"I will as soon as you start using chi." Ranma told the lost boy from behind him after being completely missed by the backpack.

"Well then let me oblige you!" Ryoga snarled at the agile martial artist.

"SHI SHI HOKENDAN!" Ryoga shot off his chi blast, as he had been depressed for the past three days since he could not locate Akari's farm.

Ranma glowed, not his normal blue but a golden yellow. Ryoga watched with a smirk, as Ranma did nothing to stop the oncoming ball of depression. His eyes widened when the chi hit Ranma's new golden aura and was absorbed into it. He watched in amazement as Ranma took what he sent and what was surrounding him and begun to meld them together. Ryoga stared immobile as Ranma announced his new technique.

"PHOENIX SOUL ABSORB!" Ranma shouted while the chi Ryoga had sent was combined with his golden aura.

Ryoga's eyes widened even more as he recognized the shape Ranma's aura was taking. He watched while the golden aura flowed around the Anything Goes Master, and then took the shape of a golden Phoenix. His eyes grew even wider as he watched as Ranma coalesced both chi together and shouted out again.

"PHOENIX SOUL RETURN!" Ranma shouted the name of the second part of his attack.

Then he fired a chi ball twice as large as what Ryoga had sent him and straight at the pig-boy. Ryoga dodged out of the way of the Phoenix shaped blast, watched as it actually flew over his head, and exploded in the distance causing a bright flash enough to be seen for miles. Ryoga walked over to the huffing and puffing Ranma with a sly grin. Ranma was kneeling on one knee his left hand on the ground to steady himself while his right hand draped over his right knee.

"What's the matter too much for you?" Ryoga asked waving his umbrella menacingly at the still heaving fighter.

"No, it is just you're the only one I could practice with since you have a chi blast." Ranma told him with a shrug and nonchalantly waved his hand.

"Com'on we got more sparring to do, _P-Chan_!" Ranma told his sometime friend while he got to his feet and into a ready stance.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!" The battle was on again as the two young men fought.

Ryoga had not notice the slight golden glow as it again formed around Ranma. Ranma just smiled while he dodged the blows Ryoga tried to land on him. Slowly the golden aura built to the point Ryoga finally saw it, but too late when Ranma released another new attack.

"PHOENIX ENERGY GATHERED!" The smaller chi blast gathered from the energy that surrounded the two boys shot from Ranma's hand, this blast also reminded Ryoga of a Phoenix, but he was to late to avoid the attack.

The technique hit Ryoga squarely in the chest knocking him into the koi pond. Ranma sighed; he knew the sparring was over. He went to rescue his friend. He crossed to the pond and fished the little black pig out as he swam to the edge of the pond. Ranma held the little black piglet up at face level by his ever-present yellow and black bandana. P-Chan spit the water in his mouth into Ranma's face causing the change to his female side.

"Thanks a lot Ryoga, now we both need hot water. Com'on let's go get freshened up before everyone returns." Ranma-Chan told him still holding the pig by the bandana.

Ranma-Chan turned when the sound of another familiar battle cry was heard behind her. She cringed since she knew what was coming, Ryoga watched and could not help but give a little piggy grin. Ranma-Chan turned to face a mallet smashing into her face sending her sailing over Nerima. She dropped Ryoga who just watched as she flew away.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane and her sisters returned to the house after a day of shopping. The senior prom was in two months and today was the day they went shopping for Akane's prom dress. Nabiki was home for the weekend to help with the shopping. She was still amazed Ranma was able to go to college with his grades. The three sisters entered the house removing their shoes at the door. Kasumi headed to the kitchen to fetch some tea so they could finish their girls' day out with a nice cup of tea. They all stared out the back door when they heard Ranma call out a new attack. The three girls went to the back door; they saw Ranma as he fished something out of the koi pond. They watch while he held up a squirming P-Chan, Nabiki giggled when the little pig spat pond water at Ranma causing the change. They could see Ranma talking to the pig but could not hear what the martial artist said. Akane had begun to glow, knowing Ranma had been teasing her pet. He probably threw the poor little pig into the pond. Nabiki and Kasumi stepped away from Akane when she began to glow.

"RANMA, YOU JERK QUIT PICKING ON P-CHAN!" Ranma-Chan turned to see Akane storm toward her.

"I AIN'T PICKING ON YOUR DUMB OLE' PIG!" She got out before being smashed into orbit by Akane's mallet.

"STUPID TOMBOY!" Those present heard as Ranma-Chan sailed into the distance.

"Is momma's little baby ok? That stupid pervert didn't hurt you did he?" Akane asked the little pig as she picked him up and cuddled him close to her chest.

She carried the piglet into the house talking baby talk and hugging him close. Kasumi watched then looked to where Ranma had disappeared into the distance. Nabiki was not sure but she could have sworn she saw a frown cross her older sister's face. Then Kasumi turned and headed back into the house, Nabiki close behind.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma-Chan arced through the sky high over Nerima; her slow descent had her heading for the roof of a local business. She had not seen that the roof had an occupant. Since said visitor was just coming to that particular, roof carrying a bag ten times larger then him.

"OOH, what a haul! Don't worry my little darlings you'll be happy with me, now all I have to do is out run those lovely ladies behind me and you'll be all mine." Happosai told the underwear that was stuffed to overflowing in the bag he was carrying.

Happosai reached the building Ranma-Chan was heading straight for he had not seen her. Then she hit him hard when she landed. Underwear went everywhere. Ranma-Chan paused when she realized she had landed on something soft. A small hand twitched from underneath her as she groggily sat up.

[Ooh, man that stupid tomboy is getting worse with her temper. I wonder what broke my fall!?] Ranma-Chan opened her eyes to see she landed on the old pervert who seemed still to be dazed.

She looked around and saw the horde of women charging her position all were carrying some implement of pain. She decided she needed a good laugh at Happosai's expense. She looked under her and saw Happi getting ready to rise when she decided he needed to take his medicine like a good little pervert. She leaned down close to him her breasts just barely touching the old grandmasters back. It was enough to make the old man pause, his eyes glazed over as perverted thoughts ran through his mind (Dani: Standard CENSORED section).

"Hey jiji, I have a surprise for you!" She whispered into his ear her hot breath tickling it slightly. Ranma-Chan would have cringed; and ran screaming had she known what it was doing to the little gnome.

"Sweeto, does that mean you're going to wear one of my silky darlings for me." Happosai looked back over his shoulder at her with delight.

"No, I have been training with Doctor Tofu for the past year, and you are going to have lots of visitors and no way to get away." She told him while pressing points on his body.

Ranma-Chan backed away from the downed grandmaster of Anything Goes Martial Arts with a sardonic smile. She pulled the bag of underwear away from him and sat it a few feet away so the women could retrieve their belongings. Then she jumped to the next roof. She sat down her feet dangling over the side of the building and her hands clasped demurely in her lap. She would have panicked if she knew she was doing it. She waited for the women to show, it was not a long wait. A second later, a mob of twenty or so women entered the roof and proceeded to show Happosai what the definition of pain was. They then retrieved their clothing and left. Ranma-Chan stood and waved to the moaning and groaning old troll then she turned and headed back toward the dojo. Happosai watched her through narrowed puffy eyes. When he felt the paralysis had begun to wear off, he forced himself to his feet. He teetered slightly as he watched the red speck. He followed her movement toward the Tendo Dojo as she disappeared in the distance.

"I will have my revenge _BOY_ and you will rue the day you interfered with my pleasures!" Happosai growled shaking a small fist after the retreating figure of Ranma-Chan.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma-Chan sat under the bridge her knees under her chin with her arms wrapped tightly around them. She stared at the river watching as the sun caused sparkles on the water. She found the sight somewhat hypnotic, while she allowed her mind to wonder. She listened absent-mindedly to the noises around her as her mind filled with visions of a girl with short blue-black hair and a smile that made her stomach turned to jelly.

[*SIGH!* Why doesn't she trust me, I have never given her reason to think I care about the others. They grab me I don't return it. Is she ever going to stop being so violent? I can't live like that I won't live like that! Her temper is why I refuse to retry the wedding; I can't live the rest of my life wondering if today will be the day, she kills me.] Ranma-Chan's mind swirled with thoughts of what she should do, while she casually threw pebbles into the river.

With nothing really, resolved Ranma-Chan rose and headed for home. She walked slowly her head bowed her mind still lost in thought. She reached the Tendo home, before entering the compound she stopped and stared at the sign on the wall.

*-*-* SIGN *-*-*

'Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts'

*-*-* END SIGN *-*-*

Had she deserved to be the instructor here? Had she really wanted that kind of life? She had a talent for fighting for picking up techniques or teaching herself new ones. She would like to use that skill to make a difference; would training others do that. She could not grow and stay the best if she was tied down as a sensei. If she married Akane, she was giving up on her dreams, had she wanted to do that? Everyone expected her to be what they wanted; they did not care if her dreams were crushed as long as she did as they bade her. Her face turned into an angry scowl though it only served to make her even more beautiful. With a heavy sigh, she pushed opened the gate and entered the Tendo compound. She walked slowly to the front door her head bowed, so she had not seen Akane standing on the porch watching her. Akane watched with a worried frown while she waited for her fiancé as she came closer.

"Ranma are you all right? I...we were worried when you didn't come home right away." Akane asked a little nervously, Ranma-Chan stopped and looked up at her.

Akane saw a face that was as opened as a book, but she chose to ignore what was written there. Ranma-Chan just shook her head and shrugged slightly then started to enter the house. Ranma-Chan had not wanted another confrontation and she feared opening her mouth would do just that. Akane watched as Ranma-Chan refused to answer her question. Her anger rose as she felt Ranma-Chan was snubbing her. She reached out, grabbed the redhead's arm in a near bone-crushing grip, and turned her roughly to face her, an angry snarl on her face.

"I _SAID_ WHERE WERE YOU! YOU WERE MAKING OUT WITH YOUR OTHER TWO FIANCEES NO DOUBT!" Akane screamed into Ranma-Chan's face, Akane ignored the look of hurt, and betrayal that swam in Ranma-Chan's sapphire blue eyes.

"Why can't you trust me?" Was all Ranma-Chan could think to say to her.

Akane's anger fizzled as the question slowly worked its way through her enraged mind. She could not answer that question and this made her anger flare again. She could not believe how Ranma could put this back on her when it was clearly his fault. She fell back on the only thing she knew when it came to dealing with the sex changing martial artist. She allowed her anger to answer for her, as she always had done.

"BECAUSE YOU'RE A PERVERT! I DON'T KNOW WHY I EVEN STAY ENGAGED TO A SEX CHANGING, GIRL CHASING PERVERT SUCH AS YOU!" Ranma-Chan just stared at Akane with a blank look then turned and walked to the front door yanking her arm free of Akane's grasp.

She stopped and turned staring deeply into Akane's angry face. Akane's rage glowed brightly around her. Ranma-Chan's eyes filled with the glittering of unshed tears, while she looked deeply into the face of her angry fiancée. Her mind made up and her heart breaking.

"Is that how you really feel Akane?" Ranma-Chan asked her quietly just barely a whisper, fear floating at the edge of her mind at what she would answer but resignation, as she knew the answer before it was given.

"YES! It is exactly how I feel I wish I was never engaged to a pervert like you!" Akane snarled at him waiting for his angry reply so she could smash him with her mallet again.

"Very well then good-bye Akane." Ranma-Chan told her just barely above a whisper then turned and entered the house.

Akane followed Ranma-Chan in; ready to continue the fight but froze in shock as she watched Ranma-Chan as the despondent fighter walked slowly as if it were her last mile, toward the stairs her body glowed with a thin line of greenish-yellow. Akane watched as she disappeared into the bathroom, she heard the water running then it was shut off. She then watched him as he entered his bedroom and quietly closed the door behind him. Akane was about to go into the dining room when she heard a scratching noise coming from the hall closet. She opened the door and found P-Chan rooting around in there.

[Now where was the front door again?] He thought, and then squealed slightly when he was roughly picked up.

"P-Chan baby, how on earth did you get in the closet?" Akane had not expected an answer she just closed the door and went on into the dining room.

She sat at the table and Kasumi poured her some tea, no one said anything, as they had not wanted the wrath of Akane on them. Akane had begun absently to scratch behind the ears of her pet pig. Akane sat at the table and wondered what Ranma meant by his last sentence. The little voice in her mind told her, she just made the biggest mistake of her life. She pushed the thought down knowing she and Ranma would work everything out soon. They always had before; this time would be no different. They had not had long to wait when Ranma reappeared with his backpack he headed for the front door. His face a mask of hard granite and emotionless ice, his mind racing over the betrayal he felt. He reached for the doorknob when he heard a voice behind him.

"Ranma where are you going!?" His father asked him with a slight angry tone to his voice.

"I am going on a training mission, when I come back I plan on straightening out my life, and taking control of it away from you!" Ranma snarled his eyes flashing with golden fire.

"Then you should take Akane she needs training and she could cook for you!" Soun smiled happily not noticing as the anger flared around Ranma.

"NO! I SHOULD NOT!" Ranma screamed at them, Soun stopped and looked at the young martial artist his eyes narrowing.

"_She_ is your fiancée boy and _will_ go with you!" He told Ranma with determination.

Ranma growled low in his throat sounding almost like a cat. This caused Soun and Genma to step away from him. The tone also caused the girls' to gasp quietly. Ranma took a single step forward narrowing his eyes as he growled out his reply.

"_Akane_ has broken the engagement for the last time! I will not marry her I am tired of being her punching bag, and the scapegoat for all her mistakes. When I return I will make my goodbyes to all who I care about then I am leaving Nerima!" Ranma told the group of stunned faced people.

"RANMA! YOU JERK!" Akane screamed and lunged at him with her mallet heading in a downward arc towards his head.

"PHOENIX SOUL DRAIN!" Ranma shouted.

"I will not allow you to hurt me anymore!" Ranma growled as his eyes flashed with red-black rage.

He then held his hands up close to his body with his palms facing out, his forefingers and thumbs forming a triangle. Then in reminiscence of Miss Hinako, Akane's chi flowed from her body and into Ranma's. The only difference was he had not change in anyway. Akane watched her chi and chi mallet fade into her fiancé then she collapsed to the floor. It was another difference that the victims collapsed and did not float around the room as thin sheets of paper.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY DAUGHTER!?" Soun yelled his demon headed forming about him.

Ranma just looked down at the weakened Akane while Nabiki and Kasumi tended to her. He then looked up into Soun's demon head, Ranma's eyes overflowed with golden light. Soun's demon head popped as he swallowed hard at the controlled rage on Ranma's face. Both men shuddered at the power there; it was almost matched by the anger.

"Just a little trick I picked up from Miss Hinako!" With that Ranma turned to leave, he went to the front door and picked up his backpack, then exited.

The whole family and Genma followed him to the door, with Nabiki and Kasumi helping Akane. They reached the front door, though Ranma could not be seen. They turned and headed back inside. They closed the door hoping Ranma would return soon.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma stood on the Tendo roof he watched as the Tendos and his father looked for him. He then watched while they all piled back into the house. His shoulders slumped and Ranma took off for his secret training ground. Ranma stayed to the roofs in an effort to avoid being seen. Then he heard the familiar sound of a bicycle bell.

He had not known where she was but he quickly jumped to the street and dashed into the nearest building. He looked around and saw he was in a computer store. He decided to look around for a few minutes to make sure Shampoo had not seen him and was gone before he continued on his way. Taking time to look at some of the laptops, he decided he would need one when he started college. It could help him with his schoolwork. Ranma went to the window and looked around he had not seen any sign of Shampoo, he checked with his senses they also told him the purple-hair Amazon was nowhere to be seen.

Before he left the store Ranma purchased a state of the art laptop with an extra battery and had the store charge it for him. Ranma then exited the building but decided to stay on the ground since he was passed all his usual haunts, he had not wanted to call attention to himself. He _jogged_ through the streets, a blur to the people he passed. When he stopped to get his bearings, he felt the cold wetness of water as it hit him. He turned but had not seen anyone, then heard the voice from above him.

"OH MY, I am sorry I didn't see you. Do you need a towel?" Ranma-Chan looked up at an apartment building and saw a young woman in her early twenties staring down at her.

"No thank you I will be alright." Ranma-Chan told her then headed off in a new direction.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma-Chan had reached the woods at the outskirts of the business district and ventured into them. She needed to hurry if she wanted to reach her destination before dark. Ranma-Chan jumped up into the trees and ran across the top of them in an effort to speed up her travel time. Ranma-Chan reached the base of a mountain an hour or so after the sun had set. She contemplated whether she should continue or wait until morning, but with her luck someone would find her and she did not need that aggravation right now. She decided to climb as far as she could before resting for the night. Ranma-Chan climbed slowly since she was climbing blind. She wanted to make it as far up the mountain as she could. When she finally stopped on a small plateau, it was nearly eleven o'clock. She pulled out her sleeping bag and crawled in. She was hungry and had not wanted to stay a girl. However, she had not wanted to light a fire this late at night and call attention to herself.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ryoga stumbled around the woods in the dark not knowing where he was or where he was going only that when he found Ranma he was going to make him pay for hurting Akane the way he did. He had no right to use that technique on her, and then call off their engagement leaving her alone. As usual, the lost boy had not paid attention to what had happened. It completely went over his head when Ranma stated Akane had called off their engagement for the last time. It as it always was in Nerima no one was responsible for their actions. All problems were Ranma's fault and Ranma had better watch out, if he defended himself.

[When I find you Saotome I will make you suffer as Akane has suffered!] Ryoga thought to himself.

He looked up to see where he was and noticed he was on a dock looking out on a bay at a statue of a lady with a spiked crown. She was holding a book in one hand and a lighted torch in the other. He vaguely remembered the statue but whether it was from the times, he did make it to school, or because he had been there before he had not known.

"WHERE THE HELL AM I NOW! RANMA THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Ryoga screamed shaking a fist at the sky, the people around him moved away from him with indignant stares.

Ryoga looked around himself sheepishly. He smiled an embarrassed smile at them then begun to start walking again. He tried to watch where he was going but soon his mind turned to two young women who he had feelings for, if only he could choose one and end his loneliness. Ryoga turned a corner as the police came up behind him. He disappeared from their view for only a second when they rounded the corner he was gone completely. The police searched the area but could not find a trace of the strange young man.

(l(l(l)l)l)

"It has to be here somewhere? I know I must still have it!" A shriveled up old man mumbled to himself while he tore through his belongings.

Happosai threw ladies' under garments from one end of the room to the other. He finally cleared away the clothing to reach an ancient strong box with sealing wards and locks on it. Happosai sat down on a pile of his little darlings and begun to break the wards; once that was completed, he brought out a key that he wore around his neck. He used this key to unlock the box. When it was unlocked, he sat the box on the floor in front of him and opened it. The contents were stuffed to overflowing in the small box, and Happi started pulling out items one at a time to determine if it would help him get the revenge, he sought.

The little troll pulled out each item and examined it closely then placed it in a pile next to him. He first pulled out a ruby ring, trying to remember what it did. When it came to him, he decided it was not what he wanted and placed it down next to him. The next item was an amulet he looked at it closely remembering that his little treasure gave the wearer flight, but since it would not help in his revenge, he sat it aside. He spent the rest of his day going through his box of magical treasures. Then he found what he wanted, an ancient scroll, which he was partially able to decipher. It would send Ranma to another dimension and away from him. He looked over the scroll and tried to figure out the parts he could not read when he first _found_ this scroll in the Shaman Temple over a hundred years ago. He studied it for another hour then decided he had time since the _boy_ was on a training trip. With a sardonic grin, he went to sleep dreaming of a life where _no one_ could stop him.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane sat on her desk chair her head rested on her crossed arms as she leaned on the window seal. She stared out at the night sky. Tomorrow was not going to be a good day she had to tell the others Ranma had left for training. She hated when he did this, Kuno would get stronger in his trying to date her, and Ukyo and Shampoo got angry with her because they would only believe that she was the reason he had left. She laid her head sideways on her arms and looked to her bed, she was not really sleepy and she wished P-Chan was not lost again she needed to talk to someone that would not sell her inner most secrets for profit. Akane sighed deeply. She then rose slowly and got into bed, playing over Ranma's exit from the Tendo home. She was sure he had not meant what he said, he would come back, and things would be as they were before. It always was.

He did something stupid and she pounded him, he said something stupid she pounded him. He was groped by his other fiancées and again she pounded him. Akane sat up quickly with a look of fear on her face, replaying the last three years over in her mind she realized that she actually looked for reasons to pound on Ranma and the main reason was that she could not pound on the ones she really wanted to. Akane lowered her head into her hands and begun to cry. She might have lost him for good this time, and because she could not stop beating on him. Akane's tears flowed while she, laid down in bed staring at the ceiling, eventually she fell into a fitful sleep. Her dreams were of all the times she tormented Ranma about his curse, or beat on him for someone else's mistake. Akane's night was not a restful one.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma-Chan woke before dawn; she ate some of the dried fruit out of her pack for breakfast. Then continued her climb, she was amazed she got as far as she had the night before, in the dark. She climbed more quickly since the sun was rising. By mid morning, she was where she wanted to be. Ranma-Chan climbed onto a large plateau a little bit smaller then the park in Nerima. She headed toward the center of the ledge through the grove of trees and bushes. She reached a small lakeside with a waterfall and set up camp. She smiled as she had claimed this as her private training ground. She found it one day after Akane was mad at her and knocked her onto a plateau higher up. She found this one when she was climbing down.

When her campsite was completed, she left the campgrounds. She decided she would stay female for the day and would change back when she made dinner that night. Ranma-Chan climbed up the mountain a little higher then took a narrow ledge around to the other side of the mountain. She knew her training ground thoroughly since she had been coming here for the past year and a half or more, to her though it was more of a haven away from all the pain and chaos of her life. While her mind wondered, she had not noticed the two-foot gap in the ledge and slipped. She lost her grip, fell backward off the ledge, and plummeted to the ground below.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Happosai woke when the sun shone in on his ancient face, he slowly opened his eyes, and sitting up he looked around his room in confusion. His eyes then alighted on the ancient chest and the artifacts lying around it. He scampered over to the chest; returned all his treasures to the box, and resealed it. Then he picked up the old yellow scroll; spread it out, and begun to read. He made notes on a small note pad. He laughed uproariously while he held up the scroll to the sky. Then he rolled it up and placed it along with the notepad in an inside pocket of his gi. Next, he had begun to pack his backpack for a long journey. Most of his backpack was full of his little darlings, when he finished he jumped out the window with a maniacal laugh.

"BWHAHAHAHAHA! When I return _boy_ my revenge will be complete! BWHAHAHAHAHA!" Happi took off for parts unknown in search of his revenge.

On the roof, a shadow watched as the old pervert left, its eyes flashing red with fire, and then a twinkle could be seen as if the shadow was smiling. It turned to leave. Then a ray of sunlight struck its back and highlighted the visitor's long black hair. Then the visitor was gone.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane slowly walked to school Nabiki next to her, her head bowed her mind in turmoil. She wondered how Ranma could be so insensitive as to leave her to face the hordes of questions from the students. When she woke this morning, she decided it was not her fault. It was Ranma's and always would be Ranma's fault.

(o)(o) FLASHBACK (o)(o)

The continual, knocking on her door slowly brought Akane to a groggy, wakefulness. She sat up and stretched listening to her bones as they popped back into alignment. Then she turned to face the intruder into her peaceful sleep.

"Come in." She told the person on the other side of the door, the door opened slowly and Kasumi poked her head into the room, with a sad smile on her face.

"Akane breakfast is ready and you better hurry or you'll be late for school." She told her little sister.

"Ok, Kasumi I will be right down." She told her while getting up and getting ready for school.

Kasumi watched her, the small sad smile turning ever so slightly into a frown. Kasumi then entered the room completely and shut the door behind her. Akane turned at the sound of the closing door and saw her older sister looking at her with what looked like a frown.

"Is something wrong Kasumi?" She asked nervously at her older sister, Kasumi sat on Akane's desk chair and patted the bed that she wanted her to join her.

"Come I wish to ask you something, and I don't want you to answer right away. I want you to think about what your answer is before you say it, alright." Kasumi told a worried Akane, she nodded her consent and sat on the bed facing her older sister.

"Akane I heard that fight last night with Ranma-Chan, he never said a word to you that should had caused you to get angry. Yet you did, over the past year and a half, since the wedding attempt you have gotten increasingly angrier and always at Ranma. Akane do you truly love Ranma or was it the idea of having a fiancée that you loved!?" Kasumi asked her.

Akane opened her mouth her usual retort on her lips. She quickly closed her mouth at the look from Kasumi. Akane mulled over in her mind the things Kasumi had said to her, had her anger been more frequent. She thought back over the past year and had not seen anything different then from before, Ranma acted like a jerk and she smashed him. That was all there was to that. She had totally blocked out the revelations from the night before. Then she got to the question Kasumi had asked her. Was she in love with Ranma or was Kasumi correct and she was in love with the fact she had a fiancé. Kasumi watched her little sister ponder her question. When Akane finally looked up at Kasumi, her eyes flashed with her ever, present anger. Kasumi's heart fell when she realized that Akane was going to deny her own feelings.

"I _don't_ love that pervert, I only stay engaged to him because of father. If I could find a way to get out of it I would!" Akane snarled at her sister, a little voice in the back of her mind told her 'be careful what you wish for, it might come true!' She ignored that little voice as she had for most of her life.

"I see, then it doesn't bother you that when Ranma returns he will move out and _leave_ you, never to see you again?" Kasumi asked her with unshed tears shimmering in her soft brown eyes.

"NO IT WON'T!" Akane shouted, while standing to finish getting dressed for school.

Kasumi rose and slowly left the room, before closing the door; she turned to watch her sister. She shook her head slightly when she saw Akane's body trembling with silent sobs. She turned closing the door behind her, leaving Akane to deal with her own words.

(o)(o) END FLASHBALCK (o)(o)

When Furinkan High came into view, Akane stopped and turned to her older sister. She smiled slightly, and then taking a deep breath, looked at the school gate with dread.

"Thanks for walking with me Nabiki but you better get going or you will miss your bus." She hugged her sister then turned toward the school with slumped shoulders.

Nabiki watched her sister as she walked toward the school her eyes narrowed and flashed with anger. She watched with cold calculating eyes as Akane's friends met her at the gate. She then saw as Ukyo walked toward her sister and knew Akane was going to have a hard time today.

[Saotome I am going to get you for doing this to my sister!] Nabiki vowed, then turned, and left to catch her bus back to college, she never considered all her betrayals at her sister's expense as an issue.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Yuka and Sayuri watched as Akane entered the schoolyard. They could tell by her face that something was wrong. They could also tell as Ranma was not with her, they headed over to her. Before they could find out what was happening Ukyo showed up a false smile on her face.

"Mornin' sugar where is Ran-Chan I brought him his favorite okomiyaki." She told the younger Tendo with a bright smile.

"Ranma left on a training trip last night, I don't know where he is or when he will be back." With that, Akane pushed past the chef and headed into the school with her two friends behind her.

Akane went to her classroom and sat at her desk, a blank look covered her face. Her friends sat on either side of her. They dared anyone to try to bother their friend. The class went slowly for Akane; she went through it as if she was on autopilot. When the lunch bell rang, she rose and left the room Yuka and Sayuri close behind her. The three friends quietly walked toward a tree on campus. They sat down under the old tree and begun to eat lunch. They heard the ding, ding of a bicycle bell, and looked up. They saw Shampoo as she landed her bike in the school campus. Shampoo seductively walked toward Akane, hoping her husband was near by to see how sexy she was compared to violent-girl. She was carrying Ranma's favorite ramen dish with a special sauce that would make him love only her.

"Violent-girl tell Shampoo where husband?" Shampoo asked as she made it sound more like a demand Akane looked at her blankly.

"He left on a training trip; I don't know where or when he will be back." Akane told her then went back to eating her lunch.

"YOU LIE! VIOLENT-GIRL DO SOMETHING SHAMPOO'S AIREN!" Shampoo yelled pulling out her chúi ready to strike.

*CLANG* Shampoo looked to see the haft of Ukyo's fighting spatula keeping her from eliminating her obstacle.

The Amazon glared at the chef who returned an icy stare of her own. Then Ukyo lifted her spatula and with a jerk pulled the chúi from Shampoo's hands. Shampoo was caught off guard by the maneuver and lost the grip on her weapon, which ended up being embedded in the wall of the school.

"Akane told you Ran-Chan is on a training mission until we learn otherwise that is where he is!" She told the warrior with the sharp edge of her spatula pointing at Shampoo's throat.

"_IF_ she did do something to make him leave you will have to stand in line until I am through with her!" Ukyo snarled her eyes narrowing.

Akane was oblivious to all this as her mind kept going over the events of the previous night and this morning, her heart sank deeper into despair, each time she remembered what she told Kasumi. Akane rose ignoring the two fighting girls and walked away from the school compound leaving her friends and the fighting girls to watch in stunned silence. She headed for the park deep in thought.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma-Chan started falling from more then two-thirds the way up the mountain. She debated if she should just let herself fall and be done with it. She however could not she knew she was going to be needed, especially if she decided to follow her dreams instead of everyone else's. Ranma-Chan flipped righting herself then shouted.

"PHOENIX WINGS!" On Ranma's, back a golden pair of fiery bird wings appeared on her back and begun to flap.

Her descent begun to slow, and soon instead of falling she was flying up the side of the mountain. She returned to the ledge where she had fallen from and while suspended in mid air she examined it. She saw the gap that caused her to fall. She shrugged her shoulders and landed on the ledge just past the gap.

[Oh, well something new to remember next time.] She thought to herself as her wings vanished.

Ranma-Chan then continued her trek to her training ground. What the martial artists of Nerima had not known was that Ranma-Chan had been using this training ground to learn their techniques. She may not use them the way they did but they were techniques she wanted to learn. She had taught herself Cologne's 'Splitting Cat Hairs', which had been the cause of some trouble for her. In learning the technique, she also learned a way to counter it most of the time. She also taught herself Ryoga's 'Bakusai Teknetsu' and how he infused his chi into cloth, but she had taken it a step further to be able to infuse other organic materials. Finally, the last technique she taught herself was Mousse's hidden weapons; she trained herself in that first, as it was a good place to store her valuables away from greedy panda and mercenary fingers. She however had also modified it to be more efficient and organized for her needs.

She had been working on expanding these techniques and finding other uses and more advance applications for them, but today's training was going to be quiet compared to her other ones. Today she was going to work on gaining control of her ca...cat. She hoped if she could control the Neko-ken she would not be as frighten of the real ones, then she would not lose her mind to him.

She reached the training ground on the other side of the mountain about an hour later. The training ground was loaded with boulders, tree stumps, piles of pebbles and sand. It was slightly larger than where she camped but not by much. She went to a tree stump and sat down leaning against it. She got into the lotus position, and cleared her mind, then she begun to focus inward again for the illusive cat inside her. She had not understood the need but for the past year or so, since the failed wedding something had been driving her to learn all she could as to the others techniques. She was learning shiatsu points from Doctor Tofu along with herbal medicines. He had even given her copies of some of his older herbal books and training manuals for her to keep and study. She found she liked being able to heal as well as to fight. It also made it easier on her when she could heal herself after Akane bashed her.

Ranma-Chan shook her head to clear the past from it. She then traveled within herself looking for her alter ego. It had not taken her long, it seemed the cat wanted to find her as much as she wanted to find him. Ranma-Chan's aura flared around her it strobe between her new golden Phoenix aura and her blue confidence aura. In her mind, Ranma-Chan met the Neko-ken his form shifted between his male and female shapes. The Neko-ken faced him in the shape of a sleek black satiny panther with dark emerald green eyes. To Ranma-Chan's surprise, she was not as frightened of this visage of a cat before her. She still felt the fear trying to push forward though, but she was able to hold it down. Her shifting body slowly moved toward the panther as it moved toward her.

When Ranma and the panther touched a bright flash of golden, blue, and black surrounded them. This also displayed itself around her meditating body. As the light faded, Ranma-Chan's mental body now shifted between her male and female persona and that of the panther. She gasped when she felt the power of the Neko-ken, while it surged through her. The cat's dark feral power tried to overwhelm her and take control. Ranma-Chan was not going to give up control of her body to a power as malevolent as the Neko-ken. She had gone through too much to become something inhuman. She struggled with the fighting cat it, and the rising fear it generated. Ranma-Chan realized if she lost this battle, she would never become a human again. The struggle for supremacy was a lengthy one with each entity never getting full control. Finally, Ranma-Chan called upon the surge of power she got when she fought to save the life of those she loved. She tapped the hidden reserves that she used when the battle was going bad. The same reserves she used against Herb, Kirin, Toma, and Saffron. The golden blue aura flared even brighter and Ranma-Chan called upon her new techniques to bring her battle with the Neko-ken to a close.

"PHOENIX SOUL DRAIN!" The cat howled in anger, as it knew it had lost the battle.

It continued to struggle to control the body it now inhabited, but the power of the 'Phoenix Soul Drain' was too much and it could not stop its energy from being sucked into Ranma-Chan. Ranma's form had flared brightly with a bright golden-blue aura, and then begun to darken to a darker shade. The aura then took the shape of a cat fighting a Phoenix, with the cat losing, as the blue aura blended with the golden aura and helped the Phoenix subdue the cat. Ranma-Chan's aura settled around her and was no longer a bright golden blue but now a more dark and vibrant golden blue.

Then the aura faded completely leaving an unconscious Ranma-Chan next to the tree stump. She fell slowly over, and curled into a small tight ball. The battle for control had taken the whole day and well into the next. When she finally won, it was late afternoon, on the second day at her training ground. She however, had not woken until the third day and that was due to the sun shining brightly in her face.

Not caring how long she was asleep, Ranma-Chan pulled some dried fruit from her hidden weapons space and had a quick breakfast. She then got in her lotus position. She then reached deep inside her searching for the Neko-ken, she had not found it as she had before, but instead sensed it as a complete part of her. She opened her eyes and stood with the fluidic grace of a cat and begun to see if she now controlled the cat within.

She faced off against a tree stump some twenty feet away, she pause bringing forth the cat and swiped. She was disappointed when nothing happened. She decided to move closer; gradually moving in she found that her weakest strike was a distance of about fifteen feet, but even at her maximum distance, she could shred the tree stump to pulp.

For the next few weeks she learned on how to control her Neko-ken power, how to force weaker swipes and stronger ones. She also had to re-teach herself how to do many of her kata as the new level of power, agility, and speed needed to be re-learned. Each day she came to the training ground as female, but left as male, after learning that her male side had a reach of twenty feet with the Neko-ken. During her training, she began working with her Phoenix wings in using them in battle and being able to shoot chi blasts while using them.

The first few times weakened her considerably, but the more she practiced the stronger she became. One of her focuses other then building her wings strength was not to be catapulted backwards when she fired off her blasts. This took several weeks to learn how to use her wings as an anchor when she shot a blast. At the end of her first month of training Ranma headed back to camp, his body battered and bruised but with a happy grin on his face. He decided tomorrow that he would learn to use the weapons he chose to learn. The katana, Bo staff, and a bolo whip, deciding Kodachi had the right idea in the use of the whip. She knew Ryoga's technique of infusing things with chi it could be deadly and helpful.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane sat on the porch her graduation coming up soon and college starting soon after graduation. She was glad there was only a week of school left. She looked down at her hands and wondered when Ranma would return he had to start college as well, and he had been gone for almost three months now. She was angry with him for making her worry, and wondered if he would be back in time for the prom. If not she would go with Ryoga. Ryoga was a good friend but she wanted Ranma. Then her mind drifted back to the day after Ranma left and Kasumi's question to her. Her tears begun to fall again as she remembered the little warning her subconscious tried to give her. 'Be careful what you wish for, you might get it!' Well it seemed she had gotten it and many other headaches as well.

She now had to fight Kuno in an effort to stop his more ardent advances thanks to Nabiki. She would remember for a long time to come to keep her mouth shut. Since Akane showed her mercenary sister, just what and how she used her mallet. She felt guilty afterwards but it had not lasted long with half the senior class of Furinkan high starting their attacks again because she sold the information to them. Well at least she was almost off the crutches, another week, or so and she would be as good as new. She also had a newfound respect for other people's privacy. Then there were the attacks from Ukyo and Shampoo they still blamed her for Ranma leaving. They started attacking the second month of his absence. They would attack her at least once a day sometimes twice and when Kodachi found out, she began to attack her too. Akane shook her head as she begun to understand what Ranma went through.

The only difference was that Ranma probably deserved all those attacks, after all the stupid things he had done. She still never gave him an ounce of credit or the benefit of the doubt. Akane was sure those attacks were taking divine retribution. She sighed deeply when she heard the telephone begun to ring, she then heard as Kasumi picked it up. Kasumi then gathered everyone together in the dining room for an announcement; even Happosai was sitting at the table acting like the head of the family.

"That was Ranma on the phone he wants all of us to meet with him at the school's sports field tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. He has an announcement to make about all his engagements and his future." Kasumi told the family, she then pointedly looked at Nabiki with a nervous smile.

"He also said that if Nabiki tries to turn this meeting into a money building scheme he will deplete her Swiss bank account and release information of fraud against her, stopping any chance she has of getting into business. He also asks that she check her email for proof he can do it." Kasumi watched as Nabiki's face went pale then as denial settled in Kasumi handed her, her laptop.

Nabiki looked at Kasumi took the computer. She logged in and her eyes went wide, there in front of her was all the information on her Swiss bank account. Not to mention copies of all the proof needed to ruin her but good. She closed her laptop then nodded her agreement to everyone's surprise and Akane's inner happiness.

(l(l(l)l)l)

A similar call was made to Ukyo, the Nekohanten, Tofu, and the Kuno estate. Ranma could just hope Ryoga showed up on one of his visits at the appointed time. There was one final call to be made and that was to his mother, when he finished Ranma headed to a small campsite hidden on the small island in the center of the lake at the park. On his trip back to Nerima, he tested his control over the Neko-ken by searching out the triggers. He felt the fear build, but he was able to rein it in and kept the cat from overpowering him. He figured if he did this enough he should be able eventually not to worry about the cat at all.

He smiled as he crawled into his tent. He had some time before going to bed he decided to continue to work with the laptop he had bought before leaving on his training trip. He had learned; to use it during his training and was getting better every time he worked the computer. The laptop had wireless access, built in CD/DVD player/burner, not to mention the hand scanner. It was amazing how much money one could save when greedy people knew nothing about it.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Over the last two weeks or so, Happosai had been biding his time waiting for his wayward heir to return. Now the time was almost at hand he could hardly contain his glee. Happosai held a small pouch and ancient yellowed scroll close to him a smile of pure evil across his face. Images of his struggle to retrieve his revenge flashed across his mind.

(o)(o) FLASHBACK (o)(o)

Deep in the heart of Africa, Happosai jumped from tree to tree. He had always heard the myths that dinosaurs were alive in the African interior. He was surprised to find it was true. Several times, he had almost been an appetizer for a hungry T-Rex but a well-placed Happou Dai Karin bouquet bomb put a stop to that. Happi did not like the jungle it was to hot and humid, although the lovely native girls where wonderful, but they did not have any lovelies for him to rescue. Happi paused to check the scroll and his notepad; he looked around and spotted what he was looking for an old carved totem of a dragon, panther, and Phoenix. He turned left at the totem and continued down the path excitedly as he was now close to liberating his revenge. It was not far now according to the scroll; the temple was not far, not more than a mile from that marker. Happosai's warning sense went off and he jumped high in the trees as another Tyrannosaurus Rex tried to make him dinner. Happi had no fear of the overgrown lizard and laughing with glee landed in front of him. The T-Rex lunged for the diminutive martial artist only to have Happosai take his pipe and in a twisting motion sent the dinosaur up over the trees and several miles from his present location.

Laughing happily Happosai continued on his way. After about another hour of tree hopping and no further problems with hungry lizards Happi reached the outer parameter wall of what he thought was the temple he sought. He jumped down and inspected the wall, comparing its description with that in the scroll. He pulled away some of the growth to see beneath it. There before him were bricks of white, black, and rose quartz, engraved in each brick was a magic rune. This was the first time during the whole trip that Happosai begun to sweat. He hoped that the runes were to protect the temple compound from the dinosaurs and not sneaky thieving martial artists.

The old master reached out and touched one of the runes; it flared slightly but did nothing else. The old troll was satisfied that he could pass then jumped over the wall to land in the compound. It looked as if no one had been at this temple for centuries. The courtyard was overgrown and ill kept. The Anything Goes Grandmaster weaved through the underbrush toward a large building made of the same material as the wall. He stood at the bottom step and stared in awe at the sculptured building with its dragons, Phoenixes, and panthers, standing guard. Happosai begun to climb the hundred or so stairs to the door that looked like solid gold. In the center of the door was a large ruby bigger then Happosai. It was the center of a starburst engraving in the door.

The old master pulled out the scroll, then reached toward the door, and pushed first the ray pointing at west then he pressed the one pointing south. Next, he pushed the ray burst pointing north and finally east. The door begun to, slowly open the giant ruby having been cut down its middle. Happi looked into the dark interior he was barely able to make out a torch on the wall near the door he flared his aura then walked over to the torch and lit it. Taking it in his hand he let his aura fade then he pulled out the scroll and begun to follow the path to the main prayer chamber. Happi looked around the temple as he went and decided that in its hay day it must have been something. He could see remnants of tapestries that must have covered the walls. He occasionally found some rusted out armor, standing guard on doors that no longer led to anything important.

Several hours of following the maze like hallways, taking longer then it should have as he marveled at the temple's interior. Happosai finally reached the doors to the main prayer room. The doors of what Happi thought might have been mahogany had long since rotted away. He entered the chamber and magically the torches at the altar flare to life. On the wall behind the altar hung a faded painting of a castle built to resemble a skull that was partially buried in the ground. A deep trench surrounded it and at the front part of the trench were two pillars with a cornice above them. The pillars were acting as a gate. The old master stared at the painting, transfixed. It was almost as if he could see someone moving around inside the castle. The figure of a beautiful woman dressed like a falcon. He stepped slowly closer never taking his eyes from the painting. It drew him in; he could feel it pull at him wanting him to join it, to join the pretty lovely that lived there.

Since the old master was paying more attention to the painting and not where he was going, he had not noticed that one of the floor stones was dislodged and sticking up about an inch. He tripped dropping the torch he was carrying it skidded across the floor to land in a small puddle of stagnant water, putting out the light. Happosai did not move as he was lying on the floor. He was breathing heavily as he knew he was just saved by a piece of quartz from being swept away, thus preventing his revenge. He got up being sure not to look again at the painting and headed toward the altar. There in its center was what he was looking for a gold jewel encrusted scroll box with the spell to get his revenge. Happosai slowly reached out testing for magical protection that might still be in place. He found none, and if he was not so engrossed in, his revenge plans that would have made him leery. Happosai lifted the valuable box to find a small dug out hole under it; looking into the hole, he saw a pouch. He reached in and took it as well. He would examine it later. He tucked the pouch inside his gi and the scroll box under his arm. He then headed out the way he came.

As the diminutive grandmaster reached the threshold of the chamber, the building started to shake. In the dust where the door once was, lay several gemstones that suddenly burst forth with streams of light matching their colors. There was ruby, sapphire, emerald, topaz, amethyst, onyx, and opal. The lights burst through the ceiling causing a cave-in. Happi gleefully dodged the falling rocks then jumped through the pillars of light his small size allowed him through bars of burning beams with no problems. He raced back the way he came. When he turned down the first corridor, he flared his aura to light his way he stopped when he saw the rusted out armor was now blocking his path. There were twenty of the old suits of armor and more were joining them. When the hallway was filled with wall-to-wall walking, tin cans Happi did what he did best.

"HAPPOU DAI KARIN SCATTER!" He sent his bouquet bombs into the throng of armor, when they hit the floor in the middle of the armor he ducked back behind the wall.

[No, sense me being impaled by flying armor.] He chuckled to himself; the explosion rocked the already shaky building.

When the dust cleared, Happosai peeked around the corner of the wall and saw all the armor scattered about the floor the only problem was they were starting to get up. Therefore, the little gnome made a dash down the hall leaping over the armor that attempted to grab him. He kicked out at those armor monsters that attempted to slice him in half. When he had moved past the devastation, he caused and with most of the armor guards were in the hallway behind him, there was little resistance to his leaving. He was able to avoid the few stragglers, by either kicking them away from him, blasting them with a chi blast or using his ever favorite pipe to send them hurtling behind him into the ones following him.

He quickly reached the door he came in, as he was not sightseeing this time. He saw with horror that the doors were slowly closing on him trying to lock him in. The only problem was that the builders of this temple were not prepared for a thief of Happosai's skill. Happi put on his full speed and ran down the corridor to the exit. When he was but fifty feet away he did what an Anything Goes practitioner did best jump through the almost closed doors. He landed gracefully on the other side of the door, with a sigh of relief and a smile of triumph as he started down the stairs. Then he felt something very hot behind him. He turned to see the ruby in the door glowing brightly. He knew, when he was not wanted and took off into the underbrush and toward the wall.

The ruby shot a blast of pure red fire into the thick tangled plants hitting the wall that was opposite the door. Happosai watched in fascination when the wall begun to glow as the ruby activated the magic runes. As the ruby activated the runes, they in turn activated the runes on the part of the walls on either side of the ruby's beam. Happosai watched as like a line of dominos the wall's runes slowly became active. He broke through his entranced awe and headed for a section of wall not yet activated. With his chi-empowered speed, he just made it over a section of wall before the red fire turned the runes on. The little thief backed away from the wall, he watched the vines as they shriveled and turned to dust when the runes in that part of the wall became active.

He watched his curiosity peaked and once the wall runes had all begun to glow the ruby fire grew up. The wall created a dome of red that moved toward the sky some thirty yards high and curved toward the top of the temple. Happosai then noticed another starburst on top with a ruby on both sides of it. When the ruby fire reached the starburst, it activated the second ruby, which began to move down the temple and out into the compound. Happi begun to sweat while watching as the red fire disintegrated all in the temple compound except the temple and wall. Happosai turned and headed back out of the African jungle and back to Japan. He had what he wanted for his revenge. Ranma would rue the day he was born, for messing in his affairs. He laughed maniacally as he tree hopped back out of the African interior.

(o)(o) END FLASHBACK (o)(o)

Happosai took out the scroll and pouch. He had not translated it completely but that was ok since what he had deciphered, was going to make his revenge sweet. It turned out that if he had not taken the pouch of gemstones the scroll would not work. He now had to get Ranma to hold the bag of stones, to make the spell work and send the nuisance away from him and all the lovelies waiting for him to liberate them.

(l(l(l)l)l)

The different guests of Ranma Saotome prepared for the day's event differently. Akane acted as if nothing was wrong and this was just another grandstand measure by Ranma to get close to the other girls. She had been walking around all morning with a slight aura glowing about her. Everyone in the Tendo house stayed out of her way for fear she would explode at one of them!

(l(l(l)l)l)

Happosai reread the scroll to see if he could decipher any more of it to guarantee that it would work to his satisfaction. While examining the scroll, he tossed the bag of gems up and caught them absently. When he leaned in to look at some particularly small print, he dropped the bag. He turned and jumped into the pile of underwear where the bag landed.

"SWEETOES!" He forgot the pouch and buried himself in the women's under things holding them close to him.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Nabiki stood leaning on her cane as she had the doctor put on a walking cast. She stared at the rented recording equipment that was spread across her bed. Ranma had better hope what he had to say was worth all this effort or she would make his life miserable. Nabiki blindly forgot Ranma's threat when he called for the meeting. Nabiki strapped a tape recorder to her waist and hid it under her jacket. She then placed a brooch on her lapel that held the microphone. She then put on a very heavy necklace, which carried a small 35mm camera. She smiled when thinking of the money she planned on making when she sold the audio and visual mediums of this _important_ meeting. Whether Ranma liked it or not, after all he owed her for all the money, she lost while he was gone. Nabiki then finished getting dressed making sure everything lined up correctly. Finally, she examined her purse making sure the video camera had a clean shot out the special hole in the side.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Soun and Genma had been celebrating since the telephone call yesterday. They had gone through eight bottles of sake, leaving them unconscious on the dojo floor. They each had a goofy grin on their faces. During the night, Kasumi covered each of the men with a blanket.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Kasumi had left the house right after breakfast. She walked slowly with her head bowed. Nothing had changed with her family. The fathers still plan to force the union on Ranma and Akane. Nabiki was upstairs preparing to record the meeting with Ranma. The beating Akane had given her pushed down deep and buried. She was tired of being a sudo-housewife because her father was to _lazy_ to take responsibility for his children. Kasumi stopped and glared as she realized where her little sister got that nasty trait.

"Kas...Kasumi?" Kasumi looked up and spotted a nervous Doctor Tofu.

Kasumi stared at the good doctor his face a mask of worry. She finally could not hold the pain in any longer and jumped into his arms. She held on tight; her arms wrapped around his neck as she buried her face in the crook of his neck and had begun to cry out the last thirteen years of pain and betrayal at the hands of her family. Tofu's face was full of confusion as he slowly wrapped his arms around Kasumi's waist. He then lifted her and carried her into the clinic to help her calm down before they left for the meeting.

(l(l(l)l)l)

The Kuno mansion found Kodachi in her lab preparing a special bouquet of black roses for her Ranma-sama. The fumes from her concoction had killed a pair of mice in the corner of her lab as they tried to escape. Though on some level of her mind she worried about that but in her fantasy world her Ranma-sama would fall in love with her as much as she loved him at one whiff of her bouquet. Then they would live happily ever after and to complete the fantasy they together would eliminate her brother and the redheaded pigtailed harlot along with the other harridans that attempted to steal her Ranma-sama from her.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Kuno Tatewaki was preparing for battle in the family dojo. He practiced his plan of attack against the evil black-hearted sorcerer to free his beauteous pigtailed goddess, and the tigress Akane Tendo. Instead of his usual wooden bokken, Kuno practiced with his family's honor katana. During his kata, he sliced through five practice dummies that looked similar to Ranma. In his fantasy his beauteous tigress Akane and the pigtailed goddess would fly into his arms as the evil sorcerer, Saotome laid at his feet his head severed from his body (Dani: sorry after that it gets censored).

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ukyo left her shower; her hair still wrapped in a towel. She entered her bedroom and went to the closet. She had been waiting a long time for this Ranma was going to make a decision and she was going to be sure that he picked her. She also wanted to make a good impression on Ranma's mother. Ukyo pushed away a stray memory of her throwing okomiyaki bombs at the woman during the failed wedding attempt almost two years ago. Ukyo dug into the back of her closet were there hung a satin covered hanger with the scent of lilacs covered with a plastic clothes bag. A tear trickled down her cheek, as this garment was special. It was her mother's favorite formal kimono, when she left her father's house for good she took this with her for her wedding gown if she ever got married. It was funny then all she wanted was to kill Ranma and his father for what they had done, she had not expected to fall in love with Ranma.

Ukyo unwrapped, her hair from the towel. She next brushed it out, and then took ribbons of red, blue, and yellow. She loosely braided her hair, braiding the ribbons in it. She then opened the plastic bag and removed an indigo blue kimono with yellow and red roses embroidered down the right side. She slipped into the satin kimono and finished with a silver sash.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Shampoo was in the kitchen of the Nekohanten preparing a special meal for her Airen. She knew he would be hungry after living on fruits and nuts while on training. She even used some of her great grandmother's special spices. Smiling she looked into the pot to see it had started boiling.

"Shampoo, you must go get ready now! I will finish watching your gift for my wayward son-in-law." Cologne told her granddaughter.

"Aiya grandmother, Shampoo get ready." She ran off up the stairs to prepare herself for her husband.

Mousse was a duck in his cage waiting for when they would let him out, he knew they had to take him Ranma demanded it. The only thing that kept them from taking him there in his cage was that Ranma warned them that he was to be there and _human_. Mousse could not understand why Ranma cared so much for him and his dignity or pride after all he had taken all that mattered to him, his beloved Shampoo. A tear slipped from his unfocused eyes as Shampoo rushed past.

In Shampoo's bedroom, she put on her prettiest Chinese silk dress of lavender on lavender design. The dress went all the way up the neck leaving off at a small split collar. She had the seamstress cut an upside down heart shape out just above the chest to show off her cleavage. There were no sleeves as the dress slanted toward the neck it gave the appearance of a halter top though there was a back to the dress with the same angled design to the neck. The dress was long all the way to the floor where it ended just above the silk lavender slippers on her feet. On both sides of the dress was a slit all the way up to just below her hips. She wanted it higher but her great grandmother would not allow it. She did her hair in its usual style but put in dangling crystals at the top of the little ponytails. She stood back and admired herself in the mirror knowing her Airen could not resist her today. She left her bedroom and headed back down to her great grandmother.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Nodoka hurried quickly to get ready for the meeting today. She did not like the sound of her son's voice. She was sure the group today was not going to like what her son was going to tell them. After putting her hair up in its usual bun, Nodoka got out the kimono she was going to wear today. She pulled a silver kimono out that was embroidered with butterflies and tiger lilies. She then put on an orange obi that was a matched to the color of the lilies on her dress. She then headed for the front door stopping she turned to look at her family's honor blade. She did not want Ranma to think she planned to use it, but all his friends were violent and a woman had to protect herself. She went to the mantle over the fireplace and picked up her katana. Once she had it wrapped in rice paper, she headed for the school soccer field.

(l(l(l)l)l)

The participants were near the bleachers in divided groups. The Amazons with a drenched Mousse sat in the front set of the bleachers. Several rows up, sitting in the center of the bleachers was the Tendo group with Doctor Tofu who for some reason seemed very calm while sitting next to Kasumi. The fact Kasumi had his hand could be why he was in shocked silence. Ukyo sat near the Tendos but not to close, as she and Akane were rivals for Ranma. Mrs. Saotome for some reason had chosen to remain apart from all the groups especially the Kunos who sat like a king and queen waiting to judge a loathsome peasant. Happosai sat high in the bleachers over looking all the lovelies and trying to keep a rein on his wanting to strip them of their little darlings. The only missing party was probably lost in the Antarctic. They all watched the clock each with their own plan for Ranma Saotome. When the clock struck ten they all turned toward the gate to see if Ranma had arrived, the crowd grumbled, as he was not yet there.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Tofu sat next to Kasumi his eyes vacant a goofy grin plastered on his face. He shivered as Kasumi squeezed his hand and he felt her lean in and as she kissed him tenderly. She had come to him for help in getting into a college she was hoping to be able to get a scholarship so she would not have to be linked to her sister Nabiki. They had talked for hours that day. Then every day after that Kasumi would come to his office after closing and they continued to talk.

He soon felt his love for Kasumi fight its way free from the love sickness that had blocked it. As his love burst through it shattered the curse he had been under, to love Kasumi but never being able to tell her because of his behavior when she was around. After a week of conversation and the destruction of the curse, he asked Kasumi to marry him. It broke his heart when she refused. His broken heart however did not last long as Kasumi told him her feelings.

(o)(o) FLASHBACK (o)(o)

"Kas...Kasumi would you marry me?" Tofu asked as he opened the small jewelry box that he had been carrying in his pocket for years.

"Oh my! I...I can't Tofu I...!" Kasumi stopped as she watched as Tofu's heart shattered and the pain filled his face.

Kasumi reached out and took Tofu's hand, which held the ring she wrapped his larger hand into her two smaller ones. She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly. She then looked up at the broken doctor and smiled a smile that lit the room and made Tofu turn to jelly inside. She took one of her hands and placed it gently on his face as she stroked his cheek. Her eyes filled with tears and pain.

"I can't now Tofu! My family would find a way to tear us apart! I also want to come to you as an equal. I need to fulfill my dreams of being a doctor. Do you understand?" Tofu listened to the words Kasumi told him and watched as her emotions raged in her beautiful brown eyes.

"Yes Kasumi I do. I however will not let you go without me! Please accept my ring and when you have graduated we will be married." Tofu asked as Kasumi looked down at the shimmering diamond before her indecision written on her face.

"I will accept your proposal but you must hold onto the ring I can't take it home where others would find it and steal it!" Kasumi looked longingly at the ring and Tofu saw it.

"Alright Kasumi when you find your own place near college I will give you the ring and then when you graduate we will get married then." Tofu looked at the woman he adored.

"Thank you for understanding I will let you know the day I move out." She told him and he smiled as he knew once he knew where she would be he would move his practice nearby.

(o)(o) END FLASHBACK (o)(o)

(l(l(l)l)l)

"Well at least almost everyone showed up!" The group of Nerimans looked around at the sound of Ranma's voice but could not see him.

Then a strange glow from above caused them to look up. They all stared in awe as a male Ranma slowly descended with his golden wings blazing. All present had looked from awe to fascination on their faces save one. Happosai stared at his heir his eyes narrowing to tiny slits.

[Hhhmm, the boy is more powerful then I thought. I won't be able to attack him outright.] Happosai worked quickly to reformulate his attack, but Ranma did it for him.

"Nabiki I warned you about using this meeting to line your coffers!" Ranma snarled as he pulled out his laptop and quickly sent Nabiki's money out of her Swiss Bank account and into the coffers of charities all over the world.

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Nabiki shouted in anger.

"I can and did!" Ranma snarled back as he hovered over the ground.

Ranma landed some thirty yards from his _friends_ his eyes blazed with golden blue fire. They all started toward him in a rush when a powerful chi blast stopped them dead in their tracks.

"MOKO TAKABISHA WHIP!" A ribbon of chi landed in front of the on rushing group and exploded spewing up dirt and rubble.

When the dust cleared, there was a trench four feet deep, two feet wide, and twenty feet long. The group paused and stared at Ranma with confusion. He stared back his eyes still blazing, his arms crossed over his chest and his legs slightly apart. His wings blazing behind him gave him the appearance of an ancient fire deity.

"I am not here to fight, but I will if I have to and believe me _none_ of you will like the outcome!" Ranma told them with a low ominous voice.

[Here's my chance to start laying my plan!] Happosai gleefully thought to himself.

"EVERYONE BACK TO THE BLEACHERS! Or I will start the fight myself!" Happosai yelled as he pulled out a Happou Dai Karin, Ranma watched him suspiciously.

"Ok, my boy tell, us what it is you have to say." Happi said after everyone had taken a seat all watching the diminutive martial artist with suspicion as well.

"First I have decided to follow my dreams for a change. I am one of the greatest martial artists alive, and I want to be the best! I also want to do more with my skill then get fat and lazy in a dojo!" Ranma started as he stared directly at his father and Mr. Tendo.

"WHAT...but...you...!" The two men sputtered amidst the giggles around them Ranma ignored them.

"My life to this point has been all about fulfilling a stupid drunken promise that even my old man never honored. His training though I will admit made me the best he also trained me to have inherent weaknesses so he could control me." Ranma scowled at his sweating father as the young fighter held up the tome of training grounds.

[So, that is where that went. Looks like I will need to show Genma what happens when you steal from me.] Happosai scowled at the tome Ranma held his eyes narrowing when they alit on Genma's back.

"You stole this from jiji you old fool; well I figured out what you did and over the past two years untrained them in me. I am now and forever more my own person and no one will tell me what to do any longer." Genma squirmed as all eyes fell on him with anger to hatred.

"I want to follow my dreams and not those of others, which I can't do if I am married!" The crowd begun to murmur and for the most part it was not happy grumbles.

"As of this moment I am calling off ALL ENGAGEMENTS! I BELONG TO NO ONE BUT MYSELF!" Ranma waited for the explosion and it was not a long wait.

"WHAT!" The simultaneous shout came from everyone.

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT THE SCHOOLS MUST BE JOINED!"

"YOU WERE PROMISED TO MY DAUGHTER SINCE BIRTH YOU WILL MARRY HER!"

"YOU TOOK MY DOWERY YOU HAVE TO MARRY ME!"

"RANMA-SAMA YOU CANNOT MEAN YOU DO, NOT WANT ONE SUCH AS I? WE ARE DESTINED TO BE TOGETHER!"

"YOU JERK WHAT DO I CARE IF WE EVER GET MARRIED!"

"IT IS AMAZON LAW YOU WILL MARRY SHAMPOO!" They all begun to rush him again, and he just started to flap his wings rising above them, he hovered over the angry group his wings moving faster and faster, when he called out another new technique.

"PHOENIX FIRE STORM!" The speed of his wings caused a dust storm to rise around the group below him, but as the dirt moved faster, it begun to heat up causing all in the path of the storm to feel as though they were on fire.

Happosai and Nodoka were the only two not in the melee, they sat on the bleachers watching with awe and scrutinizing fascination. The group backed away from where Ranma was hovering and out of the firestorm, when they finally quieted down Ranma continued.

"My honor is intact, there were really _no_ engagements to break in the first place. _POPS_ voided all of them when he sold me the first time. I will honor nothing my father dumped on me." Ranma told the group his father's outburst stifled when the young fighter's outstretched hand held a beach ball sized orb of glowing gold and blue chi.

"Don't even try it old man! You lost all the rights to be my father! I no longer have the weaknesses you hoped to enslave me with." With that, Ranma's hand swiped out at tree some fifteen feet from him.

All the spectators gasped as the tree fell into four equal pieces. Genma and Happosai both paled but for different reasons. Genma for he never expected his son to figure out how to control the cat leaving him with a major weakness Genma could exploit. Happi because he now had to make sure the boy was sent away from Nerima and was never able to come back or his revenge would be turned back on him and in a more painful way.

"As for the Amazon laws, did you know your law book was on the Internet old ghoul? I read every one of your laws even the archaic ones, which are still valid by the way. According to them I am already an Amazon and I am allowed to refuse any marriage made by challenge or not, no matter what the outcome." The whole group looked at him with shock then at Cologne with narrowing eyes much to Genma's relief.

"What are you talking about boy? There is no such law!" Cologne snarled at the still hovering boy, Ranma turned to Mousse with a sly smirk.

"Hey, Mousse got your law book handy?" He asked the blind boy with a chuckle in his voice, Mousse pulled it out and showed it to everyone.

"Ok, look under law number 224 paragraph ten and I am paraphrasing here. 'When an outsider defeats a warrior more then ten times then the outsider gains the status of an Amazon Warrior. If however the outsider is a Jusenkyo victim and has beaten an Amazon warrior that female/male outsider gains immediate status as an Amazon warrior and is subject to all privileges of that station.'" Ranma finished with a wide grin at the look of shock on the face of the elder.

"He is correct elder here it is. You have wasted three years in Japan on someone who was already an Amazon." Mousse told her with an evil grin forming on his face.

"That is not possible! I won't allow it you _will_ marry Shampoo!" Cologne growled and hopped on her staff at break neck speed toward Ranma who just raised his hands to the center of his stomach and shouted.

"PHOENIX SOUL DRAIN!" A golden light with a tinge of blue wrapped around Cologne like a snake drawing from her, her life force, which then returned to Ranma leaving Cologne near unconsciousness on the ground by Mousse's feet.

"I have already contacted the council old ghoul they have acknowledged I am an Amazon and when I told them how Shampoo gave the Kiss of Death during a tournament and that I did not challenge her but interferred in a battle and she hit herself on the head. They made both the Kiss of Marriage and Death invalid and I fear you and Shampoo have a lot to answer for when you return." Ranma snarled as he through a copy of the scroll sent him by the council of elders as it landed at Mousse's feet.

Nodoka rose from where she sat and walked toward her son, Ranma watched her with some suspicion. Nodoka saw his wariness and it wrenched her heart to know she had not done anything but treat her son as everyone else. She and the others had done nothing but expect the boy to fulfill all of Genma's insane promises. When she was twenty feet away, she lowered herself to the ground placing the family honor blade on the ground in front of her. She then prostrated herself at her son's feet. Ranma watched this with horror, which turned to guilt when his mother looked up at him with tears streaming down her face.

"My son I am so sorry for the pain I have caused you, by allowing Genma to take you from me, by accepting that stupid promise, and by trying to force you to correct the dishonor _he_ had brought to the Saotome name. I am no longer worthy of this blade. This blade belongs with you; for you have returned much of the honor to our family that your father has destroyed." She told him holding out her sword to him.

Ranma disbursed his wings and landed gracefully in front of his mother; taking the sword in one hand, he helped her to her feet with the other. He looked into his mother's eyes and saw the one thing he had been craving for most of his life; unconditional love. He then pulled from weapon space, which caused a gasp from everyone around them another katana, and handed it to his mother.

"I can't let you be without a sword, how else will you keep oyaji in line." He told her with a smile, Nodoka took the sword and hugged her son tightly.

"Good luck my little one, please don't forget me!" She whispered to him her tears flowing even more.

"I won't, mom I promise, where ever I end up I will find a way to bring you there." He told her his tears now flowed as well.

The group of fighters watched the conversation between Ranma and his mother. Kodachi the most affected since she had never had a mother that loved her or was there for her, she decided marrying her Ranma-sama would give her that.

"Ranma-sama you can't leave me, these harlots are beneath you, but I am destined to be with you forever!" Kodachi threw her bouquet of black roses at Ranma.

Ranma quickly shoved his mother behind him and lashed out at the bouquet of black roses, the group was awed as a black cat shape with a golden blue ting aura form around Ranma. They watched as long claws formed at the end of his fingers. He used them, and sliced the booby-trapped roses to shreds. Kodachi screamed in anger and pulled out her ribbon only to meet one of Ranma's new skills.

Ranma pulled from weapon space a deep red mahogany Bo staff six feet long where the top was rounded the bottom tip tapered to a deadly point and was coated with steel that had a starburst effect going up the staff from the tip. In the middle of the staff just above Ranma's right hand was carved a dragon. In between his hands was carved a Phoenix. Then below his left hand was a panther. Each of them painted to a high gloss, the dragon was sapphire blue, the Phoenix golden yellow, and panther ebony black.

Ranma allowed the ribbon to wrap around his staff then pulled with all his might in a circular motion. The move stunned Kodachi into immobility as Ranma lifted her from her seat. He spun her once, then sliced her ribbon whip with one Neko-Claw. This released her to fly through the air back toward her brother. Kuno was busy daydreaming of a life without Ranma. A life where he had finally _rescued_ his pigtailed goddess and the tigress Akane and they finally would be his. His daydream was broken when Kodachi landed on him in a heap.

Happosai moved forward and Genma and Soun began to dance, as they believed he would prevent Ranma from leaving. They also believed he would make him marry Akane. Ranma took a defensive stance as the old pervert slowly walked toward him. He stopped as his mother had done some twenty feet away his pipe billowing blue gray smoke.

"Well my boy, I wish you luck." Everyone, Ranma included face faulted at Happosai's comment.

"I hope you can bring honor to the Anything Goes style that your father could not, and to help you, I give you these gems use them wisely as I know you will." Happosai tossed the bag of gems at Ranma who caught them with the end of his staff.

Ranma pulled them free and opened the bag slowly seeing that all the pouch carried was the gems he looked at the old master and for the first time showed him a small amount of respect, by bowing deeply to him. When he straightened he saw the old pervert, was reading an ancient scroll, Ranma looked at the old master with some confusion. Then he felt the tingling of magic forming around his body. His eyes narrowed with pure rage as he flared his golden aura.

"PHOENIX SOUL ABSORB!" He pulled the magic into himself and planned to shoot it back at the old fool, but something went wrong.

"NO! RANMA DON'T!" Tofu was brought out of his Kasumi induced stupor when Ranma called out his attack, but it was to late.

The group watched in horror except Happi who smiled with an evil gleam, as Ranma begun to change into his girl form. The transformation took only a matter of seconds. Ranma moved toward the old pervert but did not get far enough when a vortex opened above her. The vortex was four feet in diameter and swirled with glittery rainbow colors. Ranma begun to lift off the ground being sucked into the vortex, the girls in the group all screamed and tried to rush forward to help but was stopped when Happosai threw the a volley of Happou Dai Karin at them. He did not even bother to call out the attack. He just threw the attack. Then he turned back and watched as Ranma disappeared into the vortex.

Nodoka ran toward her son, she tried to reach him in an effort to pull him free, but Happosai stopped her by shooting a chi blast at her feet causing her to fall. She pushed herself up on her hands and knees while she watched. Her tears flowing as her child disappeared completely and the vortex closed, taking her son from her forever.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Happosai begun to laugh hysterically, and had not noticed the throng of people barreling down on him, until they started beating him. The only ones not participating were Mousse, Kuno, and Cologne. Cologne was out of it, only because she still felt the effects of the 'soul drain' technique.

Nodoka rose slowly to her feet. She was still clutching the katana her son had given her to her chest, her eyes red from tears. She drew the sword and headed for Happosai with rage and hate overflowing from her. Genma reached her before she could dissect the diminutive martial artist into many pieces.

"He isn't worth it No-Chan, we'll find Ranma and bring him home. Then he can fulfill the pledge and unite the schools of Anything Goes." He was doing pretty well until he mentioned making her son fulfill a broken promise.

She wrenched free from Genma's grasp and pushed him away from her, he fell onto the ground the air knocked from his lungs. He stared up at his wife and cringed as the tip of the sword was at his throat. His sweat poured from him as the sword was glowing a deep blood red. She then turned and glared at the assembled audience. Her anger flashed in her ice blue eyes.

"_When_ I retrieve my son, if I ever see any of you near him I will _kill_ you!" With that, she turned and stormed out of the schoolyard her new katana clutched tightly to her chest, while her tears streamed again, down her face.

The throng of martial artists stared in shock at her back as she left. Their faces registering shock and anger. Genma laid on the ground his eyes wide with fear. He then turned to the others and saw the myriad of emotions playing across their faces. His attention was drawn to the groan of his master under the pile of fighters a wicked smile crossing his face.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma-Chan floated freely in a small cylindrical tunnel of glittery rainbow light. She closed her eyes against a bright flash of color when it exploded like a flash bulb in front of her eyes. She tried to turn over to see where she was headed. However, she could not. Ranma looked around her and saw more flashes of light; she felt the hot thick liquid she was floating in cling to her body causing the little glittery things in the tunnel to attach to her. Then her eyes widen she was floating in hot wet liquid, she slowly reached down and felt she still had breasts, she reached lower looking for that which she was born with and found it gone. She screamed, only to take in a mouth full of the hot liquid, and glittery sparkles. She turned her head and begun to gag trying to spit it out some of which she swallowed. It was at this time she realized that not only was the liquid hot but she was immersed in it. Human nature took over and she begun to panic. She swallowed more of the glittery liquid but paid no attention as she tried to find a way to breathe.

She then felt the Neko inside her as it tried to push her panic farther trying to weave his spell to allow him to control their shared body. She closed her eyes forcing much of the gooey liquid from them. She begun to meditate calming herself as she found she was not going to drown, she begun to relax even more. The Neko slunk back into their merged souls to wait another turn at control.

Suddenly a silent scream tried to pass her lips, at the pain of a bolt of rainbow lightning as it struck her. The thick glittery liquid that filled her mouth silenced her screams. She tried to see where it was coming from but could not, when another bolt hit her. While she floated onward, the lightning picked up in duration and intensity, and the number of bolts striking her at once.

Ranma-Chan gritted her teeth to hold back the screams she was not going to let the old freak beat her when she got out of this torture chamber she would get her revenge then. Rainbow lightning arced all over Ranma-Chan's body as she floated down the cylinder shaped tunnel of rainbow light. When she reached the end of the tunnel, her body was completely hidden from view by the lightning. She burst through the end of the vortex tunnel and into a room where two men and three women stood around a table covered in maps.

They turned to see her land roughly on her side the sticky liquid making a puddle on the floor. Ranma-Chan slowly rolled over onto her hands and knees rainbow lightning still coursing around her body. She reached a hand to her head, while shaking it slowly. The others in the room watched her with suspicion and curiosity, for she should not had been able to enter here, when they heard her speak, they did not understand what it was she was saying.

"I am gonna kill that old freak for this!" Ranma-Chan growled through clenched teeth.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Nodoka entered her home her tears long since dried, she was cried out she had no more left, but she dearly wished she had. She took the katana Ranma had given her, it was all she had left and when she got her son back she would never let him out of her sight again, until he was old and gray and on his death bed. Nodoka sat on the sofa and finally her tears began to flow. She heard a knocking at the door and slowly got up to answer it.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Nabiki got home and went to her room to check her goods, as this was the last she would get from Ranma now that Happosai magically sent him away she could ask a much hirer price for it. She put the tape into her Walkman and the video into the VCR and started both. She then pulled out the photos she had developed at the one-hour photo shop. A Cheshire cat's grin crossed her face. Her scream could be heard for blocks around as she threw her tape recorder and the photos against the wall.

"RANMA I'M GOING TO GET YOU FOR THIS!" As she stormed, out of her room and then the front door a faint red aura glowed around her.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane was asleep in her room. Her dried tears had left tracks on her cheeks. She tossed fitfully as she replayed in her dreams what happen to Ranma. She saw him as he announced the end to all engagements then everything blurred and Ranma was female and pulled into a vortex. Happosai throwing his chi bombs and laughing like the lunatic he was. Her nightmare was cut short by the scream of Nabiki as she cursed Ranma.

Akane jolted awake, she looked around her room slightly confused. Then she realized she was only dreaming. Akane got out of her bed, and opened the door to her room. She watched as Nabiki stormed past. Akane gawked in disbelief when she saw Nabiki glowed red as she headed downstairs. Akane heard the front door slam then waited a few minutes before she went to Nabiki's room to see what Ranma had done now.

Akane poked her head into Nabiki's room and saw photos and a broken Walkman on the floor near a wall. She stepped into the room and went to pick up one of the pictures. She held the picture ready to look at it when a static noise caught her attention. She turned to see Nabiki's TV going she noticed that there was a video and it was playing but all she could see was a yellow light and only heard static for sound. She turned the photo over and saw the same yellow light and nothing else. A smile crossed her lips as she realized Ranma had finally found a way to keep Nabiki from making any money off him. Akane took the video and the photos back to her room. Although she could not see Ranma, she knew the golden yellow light was him and she found it gave her comfort to have them in her possession. She stopped and picked up the cassette as well before going back to her room. Her ill-gotten gain clutched tightly to her chest.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Happosai was not having as much fun as he thought he might. He lost all of Ranma's rivals and fiancées over an hour ago. It was too easy to lose them, they were not as challenging as Ranma was, but at least now, he could collect his little darlings without interference. He pulled out a huge sack and jumping from rooftop to rooftop, he headed off in search of his little darlings.

(l(l(l)l)l)

An hour later found Happosai sitting on the Tendo's dojo roof, where Ranma would always sit, his sack laid empty next to him. The smoke from his pipe surrounded him with gray blue tendrils. Happosai stared at the setting sun a sad smile on his face.

[I should be happy; with Ranma gone there is no one here to stop me! There is no one here to challenge me! There is no one to make my life interesting! With him went the chaos that followed him. I wonder if I could get him back.] Happosai stood ready to leap away then he stopped and sat back down.

This was what he wanted, revenge on Ranma. To get him out of his way, so he had uncontested access to all the lovely ladies in Nerima and their little darlings. Happosai's shoulders slump slightly; when he stood, he picked up his bag and disappeared into the night.

[Might as well enjoy myself while the boy's gone!] He thought while he faded into the early evening shadows.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Several hours later, a small figure entered the Tendo home carrying a bag overflowing with ladies' undergarments. Happosai took his new darlings to his room and dumped the bag. He had begun to sort the items into piles. His movements were automatic, and he gained no delight from the objects as he once had.

[What is wrong with me? Ranma is out of the way he can never interfere with my little darlings and me! I think I just need some time to get use to his being gone. Yeah that's what it is, once I have some time to get use to it and that I don't have to worry, things will be fine.] Happi tried to convince himself.

After he finished sorting his precious collection, he crawled into the middle of one of the larger piles, to be surrounded on all sides by his silky darlings. Happosai closed his eyes and drifted off to dreams of floating on a sea of women's underwear. He smiled in his sleep as a buxom redhead in a braid ran past him with nothing on but a silky black teddy. He began to drool as he took off after her.

"SWEETO!" He shouted as he ran behind her.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Nodoka woke early, her eyes still red and puffy from crying herself to sleep the previous night. Nodoka dressed in a red kimono, with white lotus blossom appliqués. She brushed out her long hair, but instead of putting it up, she braided it as her son had done with his hair. She slowly went downstairs, her tears still dried on her face. She went to the kitchen and made herself some tea and toast. Then she went to the living room. She stopped when she saw it was still on her coffee table. After she had gotten home yesterday after Happosai sent her son away. She received a special delivery package. When she opened the letter that came with it, all she could do was cry. She headed to her room and cried herself to sleep.

She sat on the sofa staring at the box and the letter that was lying on top of it she wanted to cry again but her tears had dried up for the moment. She reached out putting her tea and toast on the coffee table, and then she reverently picked up the letter that came with the package. She brought the letter closer with trembling fingers. She held it loosely not wanting to read it again, yet needing to see her son's words.

*-*-* NOTE *-*-*

Mom

When you get this, I will have left Nerima for good. I am sorry mom that I have disappointed you. I know a 'Man above Men' would have stayed and toughed it out, but mom I am so tired of all the crap that has been laid at my feet. If the trouble were something I caused I would happily fix it. My life was full of trouble mom all of it pop's doing. I have fiancées coming outta my ears, financial debts he racked up from his stealing, and who knows what else. I just can't take it any longer.

I am engaged to a girl who hates me and abuses me because I WON'T fight back, she knows this and takes advantage of it. Pop also engaged me to my best friend, but she wants more then I can give, mom. Finally, because of his gluttonous ways I am now a prize for the Amazons to try and claim. I don't want even to think about Kodachi Kuno, she is just crazy.

I am tired of always fighting for my life because others can't take responsibility for their own problems. I am tired of being treated like everyone's personal property. Look what happen to your home because Nabiki told my wanna be fiancées that you had an engagement ring there. Oh, before I forget you might want to have the house checked for listening devices I am sure Nabiki bugged the place during rebuilding. Trust me on this mom and have it done.

I love you mom and the hardest part of this is leaving you again, but I can't live under the threat of seppuku. I feel there is a purpose for me and running a dojo was not it. My skill and power was meant for something more. The one good thing I learned from pop was that a martial artist was to protect the innocent. I believe that, mom with all my heart and soul, and my destiny was not in Japan.

My life in Nerima has been constantly rescuing Akane from something crazy, but if I am not there then her life will be more normal. Mom enclosed in the box is a laptop; I bought on my last training trip. If you can love me as I am and except me no matter how I live, my life please let me know.

I don't want to be without you anymore mom and I want you as a part of my new life, BUT only if you can accept me on my terms. There is an email address listed for me and I set one up for you. It is your choice mom; I wait anxiously for your email.

Love your son

Ranma

*-*-* END NOTE *-*-*

Her tears flowing again Nodoka folded the letter and put it in the pocket of her kimono. She then opened the box and found a top of the line laptop. She took it to her desk and begun to set it up. Once she had it up and running, she checked for an email to tell her where her son was. She sighed heavily when there was none. She quickly wrote an email to the address for her son. She told him she was proud of him and his choice to find his destiny. She also told him that she would accept his choices. Just please not leave her out of his life. She sent the email then hoped that where ever her son was he would receive her message.

She went back to throw the box away, when she lifted it there was a *thunk* she looked in the box and saw a small jewelry box. With a shaky hand, Nodoka reached in and picked up the small box. All that was attached to it was a card with her name and a 'happy birthday'. Nodoka begun to cry even harder her son remembered her birthday was next week.

She sat back down on the sofa holding the box to her chest. When she got her tears under control so she could see she opened the box and gasped with shock. She reached in and took hold of a thirty-six inch gold braided chain of yellow, pink and white gold. She lifted the chain from the box pulling it completely out, hanging from the end of the chain was an antique locket. The locket's lid had a hand carved white lotus blossom made of a soft-yellowed ivory. She opened the locket and inside was a picture she remembered taking. It was of herself and Ranma the day of the failed wedding. In the lid of locket was a beautiful star sapphire. Nodoka marveled at how much the gem reminded her of her child's eyes.

She closed the locket with a soft snap then placed it round her neck. She held it cupped in her hands, staring at it as the tears fell. Nodoka sighed deeply, she then stood letting the pendant fall to just above her waist. She slowly headed for the telephone. She made a few inquiries, and then hung up the telephone. As she begun to straighten up her home while she waited for her visitors.