Chapter 2

'Hello Haya'

Twelve year old Hayaima nervously checked his appearance in the mirror. He cupped his hand over his mouth and breathed into his palm. "I hope they like me." He muttered.

"Why wouldn't they like you, Haya?" Akama, his ten year old half brother asked. "I like you."

"Yeah, but you also like broccoli." Hayaima replied. "So what would you know?" He said with a weak smile. "I hope they like me." He repeated.

"They will." Akama predicted confidently. "And even if they don't, and that's not gonna happen, but even if they don't, you're my brother and that's all that counts."

"Thanks Akama." Hayaima said in grateful tones. "You're right, you're my brother and that's all that counts." He said. "Even if you do like broccoli."

"Stop worrying." Akama said seriously. "Mom's...Momma A's family is pretty cool." He said. "Though Auntie Nabiki can be a little scary." He grinned. "You'll see what I mean when you meet her." Akama started counting on his fingers. "There's Auntie Nabiki, Auntie Kasumi and Uncle Tofu; they're really nice, their kids, Cousin Meg and Cousin Mitsi, Grand Pops, that's GrandPa Genma, and Grandma Nodoka, and of course Grandpa Soun."

"Wow, that's a lot of people." Hayaima said as he smoothed down his hair again. "It was usually just me and mom." He said. "Momma U."

Akama nodded in sympathy. He walked over and put a hand on his half brother's shoulder. "Not anymore." He said. "Okay?"

"Okay, Akama." Hayaima replied. "Nice having a kid brother, you know?"

"Nice having a big brother." Akama replied. "Ready?" He asked.

"As I'll ever be." Hayaima replied. He patted his hair down one last time. "Maybe I should grow a pigtail like Pops." He said as they exited their bedroom and headed to the stairs. "Hey maybe we both should." He said. "Then people will really know we're brothers." Akama laughed and nodded eagerly. They started walking down the stairs. As they descended they could hear a hub bub of sound. "Well...here goes."

They walked into the main room of the Saotome home. Hayaima saw his Momma A and Momma U talking to a woman who had her back to from behind he could tell there was something very ...controlled about this woman. She seemed to be all sharp angles. From the stiff shoulder pads of her suit to the angular cut of her skirt, everything seemed creased and pressed. Standing next to that woman was another woman with blond hair dressed in a similar manner. His father was standing off to one side talking to his Grandma Nodoka and a fat baldheaded man and his Grandpa Soun.

Akane and Ukyo looked up and saw that Hayaima and Akama had entered the room. She said something and the angular woman with her back to them turned around slowly. The woman had an angular face that matched her angular clothing but it was also obvious that she was related to Akane. Though her hair was cut to resemble a helmet with her bangs coming to a sharp point just abover her eyebrows.

"Hey kiddo." The woman said. "Come on over here and let me have a look at you." Hayaima walked over a little reluctantly and Akama had to push him to get him started. "Don't worry, I don't bite."

"She ate." The blond woman cracked.

The anguglar woman and the blond laughed. Hayaima walked over and stood in front of the angular woman. "So you're Hayaima." She said musingly. "Like sports huh?" She said. "Let me see...besides the martial arts, I'd say...football."

"How'd you know that?" Hayaima said in surprise. "Did Momma U tell you?"

"Momma U?" Nabiki said. She raised an eyebrow. "Interesting." She turned. "Does that make you Momma A?" She asked Akane. Nabiki smiled. "Of course it does." She turned back to Hayaima. "The way you walk I'd say you have developed some calluses on the inside of your right foot." She said. "Your kicks have a definite hook don't they?" She said. "You hold your arms slighty out from your sides and bent." She continued. "And you have a set of scrapes on your hand consistent with the seams of a football." Hayaima looked at his hands.

"Can't help but show off, huh Nabs?" The blond woman said. She turned to Hayaima and Akama. "I keep telling her she could make a ton of money doing a mentalist act but does she listen to me?' She shook her head in mock annoyance. "Hi I'm Kimi Ota." She said in introduction. "Hey Nabs, why didn't you tell me you that your nephew was cute?"

"He's too young for you Kimi." Nabiki replied. "You'll have to forgive Kimi, she was raised by wolves."

"Takes a wolf to catch a wolf, Nabs." Kimi replied. The two women grinned widely at each other.

"More like sharks." Akama whispered to Hayaima. "Mind reading sharks." Hayaima stifled a giggle.

Nabiki turned her attention back to Hayaima. She crossed her arms but raised one arm and rubbed her chin with her thumb. "I see you and Akama are already buddies." Nabiki dropped her arms and gave Hayaima an approving nod. "You may call me Auntie Nabiki." She said.

"Thank you, Auntie Nabiki." Hayaima said happily.

"Call me Kimi." Kimi Ota said to both young boys. She winked at Hayaima. "You can just call me."

Hayaima blushed redly. "Okay...Kimi." He stammered.

"And you can call me...Grand Pops." Roared a voice. Hayaima felt himself raised into the air by a pair of powerful arms. Hayaima was spun around and found himself facing the bald headed fat man. The man was smiling proudly at Hayaima. "What a fine young boy." He said. "I think he looks just like me at the same age."

Akane leaned over to Ukyo. "The man is blind I tell you, blind." Akane cracked in a whisper. Ukyo giggled. The door bell rang. "That must be Kasumi." Akane said. She took Ukyo's hand and they walked to the door. Akane opened the door. In the doorway was a beautiful woman in her early thirties. "Sis." She exclaimed happily. "Hi Tofu." She greeted the tall, thin but handsome man standing next to her. Standing just in front of Kasumi Tofu Ono were two girls, one about eleven and the other about eight.

"Hi Auntie Akane." Chorused the two young girls.

"Hello Mitsi, Hello Meg." Akane said. "Come in, come in." She said. "Girls, this is your Auntie Ukyo." She said in introduction. "Uk-chan. Meg and Mitsi." She said. Akane led the foursome into the main room. "I can't wait to introduce you to Haya." Akane said. "Haya, Kama." She called.

Hayaima and Akama hurried over. Hayaima's face was split in a wide grin. So far he had been accepted by everyone. His smile fell slightly as he approached the four newcomers. He stood nervously in front of them. Then the beautiful woman smiled at him. "H-hi." stammered Hayaima.

"Haya, this is your Auntie Kasumi." Akane said. "Uncle Tofu." She waved a hand at the two young girls. "And your cousins Megumi and Mitsui."

"I'm Meg." The older of the two said. "That's Mitsi." Megumi smiled at Hayaima that made his knees inexplicably weak. She gave Hayaima an approving nod. "I think we're going to be friends."

"I hope so." Hayaima gasped out. Megumi and Mitsui giggled. "I mean..." He stopped when the two girls giggled again. "Call me Haya." He said.

"Hello Cousin Haya." Megumi said in a musical voice. "Mitsi and I are happy to meet you."

Akane turned her attention back to her sister. She found herself immediately wrapped in a hug.

Kasumi released Akane and smiled at her. "You look...centered." Kasumi said in satisfied tones. She turned to Ukyo. "Ukyo." She greeted the brown haired woman warmly. "You don't know how happy I am to see you again." She said. "It always seemed that Akane was happiest when you were around."

Ukyo laughed. "I don't know how you can say that, Kasumi." She replied. "We were rivals for Ranma, remember?"

"Were you?" Kasumi replied in doubtful tones. "I always thought the three of you were just good friends." Kasaumi looked into the main room and frowned slightly. "I want you to know I never approved of the...pact." She said to Ukyo. "Both Akane and Ranma were too young and...and I've said this to Akane before, Akane needed a friend...not a fiance." She said. "Much as I liked, and still like, Ranma, I never felt he was truly right for Akane."

"He's not that bad, Sis." Akane said in disagreement. She paused as she realized what she said. She sighed. "But yeah."

"That's why I'm so happy Ukyo is here." Kasumi continued. "The two of you were meant to be friends."

Akane and Ukyo looked at each other for a moment. "You don't know how true that is, Sis." Akane said. "I wish I had known it sooner."

"Well, you've found out now." Kasumi said. "You needed a friend." she said. "A girlfriend." She added pointedly. "So did Ranma." She smiled slightly. "Am I wrong?"

Akane sighed. " No."

"No." Agreed Kasumi. "Now remember, there are now two young children in the house." She said. "So be...discreet." She said. "And try not to ignore Ranma too much." She added with a knowing smile.

"Nothing gets by either of my sisters." Akane muttered in an aside to Ukyo.

"I noticed." Ukyo replied back.

"Actually sis." Akane said aloud. "I think Ranma is happier than he's been in a while too."

Kasumi smiled. "Wonderful." She replied. "Then try not to wear Ukyo out." Kasumi laughed gently as both Akane and Ukyo blushed.

"I think I liked you better when you were all innocent and proper." Akane complained.

"I've been married fifteen years, Akane." Kasumi said. She took Ono's arm in hers. "To the man I love and who loves me." She said. "Trust me, my dear sister, it's a lot better when you do it with someone you care for."

Akane and Ukyo looked at each other again for a moment. This time they both blushed.

"Hello Ranma." A cool voice said. Ranma turned. "Hey Nabs." Ranma said. He nodded to the blond standing next to Nabiki. "Hello Ms. Ota."

"Kimi. Please." Protested the blond. "Only my clients call me Ms. Ota." She gave Ranma a smile. "I see where Haya gets his looks."

"Actually we get them from my Mom." Ranma replied with a smile. "Clients?"

"Kimi just joined the firm." Nabiki said. "In fact the Law firm of Tendo, Niamora and Kuno is now the firm of Tendo, Niamora, Kuno and Ota."

"You must be good." Ranma said in appreciation.

"Kimi graduated at the top of her class." Nabiki said. "We were lucky to get her." Nabiki said. "Even if I had to bend Tatewaki's arm a bit."

"Oh Tate's sweet." Kimi said. "In a thick as a brick kind of way."

"He may be thick." Nabiki said. "But we've won more than one case on his oratory skills." She said. "When that boy gets going he can make trees cry." Nabiki grinned. "As long as he sticks to the script." She and Kimi nodded at each other. "Actually Tatewaki and I have known Kimi since college." Nabiki continued.

"Tatewaki and I dated a few times." Kimi said. "I like my men a little...smarter."

Nabiki rolled her eyes. "I don't remember you ever talking about the size of his brain, Kimi." Nabiki shook her finger at Kimi. "Try to stay out of his pants at work."

"How about Hitoshi?" Kimi asked cheerfully.

"Definitely stay out his pants." Nabiki replied. "Kodachi would skin you alive."

"So, Hitoshi and Kodachi are definitely an item?" Ranma asked. "I thought she liked bad boys." He said. "Like that Korean guy she dated."

"Sometime Ranma you act more like a girl than Akane." Nabiki said.

"That's not too hard, Nabs." Ranma replied. "Why do you think we call her Tomboy?"

Nabiki tilted her head. "Ah." She said finally. "Ukyo is sleeping with both of you." Her mouth twisted in amusement.

"That's really none of your business, Nabs." Ranma said dangerously.

Nabiki waved a hand. "Relax, Ranma." She said. "I was just putting the pieces together." She said. "I always knew my sister was a Lesbian." Nabiki said. "You know it makes an odd kind of sense." Nabiki continued. "You're both attracted to the same kind of women."

"Submissive?" Guessed Kimi.

"With a side of Earth Mother." Nabiki replied. "Don't worry Ranma." Nabiki continued. "Your secret is safe with me." She said. "Though if I were you, I'd put my firm on retainer." She said. "If it ever gets out, you could lose both of the kids." She said. "And I wouldn't like that."

"I wouldn't like it either." Ranma said in an threatening voice. "I'll talk to AKane and Uk-chan about it."

"Somethings changed in you, Saotome." Nabiki said. "And it's more than Ukyo or Hayaima." She said. "You don't seem as wimpy as you used to."

Hayaima could not remember the last time he had this much fun. For most of his twelve years of life it had been just he and his mom. Now he had an entire family. His Auntie Nabiki was scary like Akama said but it was an odd kind of scary. A good kind of scary. His Auntie Kasumi and Uncle Tofu were warm. His Grand Pops was silly. "Like a big goofy bear." He thought. Grandpa Soun was quiet but friendly. Grandma Nodoka doting. "And Meg and Mitsi are...wonderful." He thought happily. "Especially Meg."

End Chapter 2

Author's Notes: Yep, there's a Meg and a Mitsi, a Kimi Ota, a Hitoshi Niamora and yes the Korea guy is Ky Young Ji. It may be an alternate reality but characters from other stories can and will appear. Sometimes they will be a little different, sometimes not.

I see the usual gang is reading and reviewing.. Kind of like Wharpt's label of the Vanilla Splits. Vanilla maybe but I'm hoping you'll like some of the 'toppings' that will get added as time goes on. And, yeah, that was a Niven reference.

Another shortish chapter but I'm building up.

Enjoy.