We see a small Temple complex.

we see a Miko sweeping the tiled walkway. a bell rings, and she looks up.

we see that the Miko is no other then Kasumi...

!!back story!!

What is Kasumi doing as a Miko, you might ask? let me tell you, shortly after Ranma and Akane returned from China and the 'wedding-go-boom', Kimiko's Will unfolded; leaving a temple on the edge of the ward to her girls if they were to accept what the temple offered.

It needed Miko, someone to offer guests and travelers tea, to ease minor discomforts, and to listen to the troubles of those who just needed to complain.

But there was a dark secret of this Temple; at one time it offered services to those who could pay. Services that could, and did include at one time, assassination. it was not a well concealed secret, as Nabiki found it the first day of looking through the records. There were imperial writs that allowed those who served the temple in this fashion to shrug off certain laws.

At this same time there was a small Agency on the other side of Tokyo that was making a name for its self. DSA, they would do 'Anything' as long as it was dangerous and it paid.

Nabiki had a gleam in her eye when she called Ranma into the temple office. "How would you like to be able make a little money while helping those who need help?"

Ranma knowing the mousy haired Accountant before him, frowned. "What is the catch?"

"A bit of danger, An oath to this Temple, few minor details we can hammer out later."

Ranma thought about it. "Okay, but if I think or feel something is off, I walk away free and clear, honor bound to nothing connected. no stain to me or my honor."

"Deal."

Three weeks later an old Priest from another shrine had moved in, taken Ranma as his apprentice( of yeah Genma loved that one.). Akane and 'Ranko' had been listed as Miko as well. Nodoka had moved into the Dojo to take care of the 'Masters' and to get them teaching again.

The Amazons began to gear up for a heated campaign when Nabiki dropped by to explain about the imperial writs, "Given time, and the right 'carrot' Xian Pu will have her 'Wild Horse', but no more tricks, 'spiced' food, or poisons. Ranma is studying to be a Priest, once he has taken his Vows, he will be open to certain prospects."

that was two Months ago.

!!And on with the Story!!

121

'Red' and 'Kong' entered the Shrine through the concealed door in the sewers. They were met by 'Boss'.

A kiss to the check, as a welcome home safe, for and from both actives. The briefcases were placed before the 'Boss', who quickly popped the locks, inspected the 'goods', nodded, and closed them. "Hurry up, shower and Change. The family is going to be here soon, and the less they know about this, the better."

Fifteen minutes later we see the three Tendo girls in the red hakama, a kimono shirt, and tabi of the Miko, Ranma in the robes of a monk, waiting to greet their folks. Ranma and Akane looking a little rushed.

The 'Fathers' walked with the solemn pride of Masters of the Art, while Nodoka walked with the iron grace of the great Samurai. As they walked along the cobbled path, they saw the work done to the 'shrine'. Statutes cleared of weeds, Gardens, both herb and vegetable were neat and orderly. the walkways were neat, even, and swept. the thatch of the roofs were tight, the entire shrine spoke of detailed effort to restore and renew this holy ground.

Leaving their zori, at the door, Nodoka followed Nabiki and Akane into a small room looking out over a koi pond with a small waterfall feature. Ranma led the Fathers down a different hallway, to a room where the old priest was sitting, watching the city below, sipping saki. Seeing the two spots near by, with a shogi board and saki bottles waiting, the fathers joined the old man to watch the sunset, and to shed the burdens of the day. seeing that the 'men' were 'taken care of', Ranma bowed out, and left the them to their rest.

Quickly rejoining the ladies in the 'koi room', as they had taken to calling it, He arrived just as Akane was serving tea. She had developed a mastery at preparing beverages; Tea, Coffee, Mixed drinks, you name it, she could make it, but she was still not allowed into the kitchen itself.

He listened as Nabiki and Nodoka chatted about the weather, the local gossip, things that he could care less about...

Then his mother dropped the mother of all bombshells; "So, how is the secret Agency thing going?"

everyone choked on that one.

Nabiki recovered first. "Nani?"

"Who do you think I went to when Genma first disappeared?" Nodoka smirked, "Who do you think sent me to the Tendo Dojo in the First place? At that time this place was run by an old one eyed Miko, who was so tired of the job, that the grounds were overgrown. I was her last client, and I had to beg her, promise to look over the grounds until her replacements arrived. And just as I was about to take up my duties, you girls get called in. Even my son, is honoring the pledge I gave, without me telling him of it."

Ranma cleared his throat. "Mother, What if I said that was not what we are doing here." He looked her in the eye. "I am here to learn how to redirect my energies, to handle things that are handled by the Priesthood, not by the fighter."

"And what about the 'Dirty Pair'?" Nodoka sipped from her cup

Akane cracked hers.

"Where did you hear that name?' Nabiki asked, "I have been trying to track them down for weeks now."

"You mean you do not know?" Nodoka cocked an eyebrow at the known money-grubber. "Word about the City is that they are the muscel for a 'new' outfit that is trying to run a DSA type scam, but they are not into the explosions and mass collateral damage of the DSA."

Nabiki sat back on her heels, pouting, "Somebody knows something and they are not telling me."

"Of course, anything I know," Nodoka grinned, "is nothing more then common gossip, no matter how uncommon the subject."

Nabiki huffed, then rising quickly, strode from the room. Ranma, not watching her, held up his hand. after a few seconds, he nodded. "She is in her office, calling out her network." Turning his gentle blue eyes on his mother, "What is said in here, never leaves. Swear on the Sword."

"I so swear."

"Nabiki knows nothing." this came from, of all people, Kasumi. "After Nabiki swore Ranma in as the 'Head Priest', he came to me. There was Question as to what Limits he was being asked to do. Nabiki was looking into the history of this temple as to demon fighters, and the like. It was not until aftert world war II that this temple entered the 'spy' game and detective business. Like tracking down missing husbands, lost children, and retrieving stolen relics. My info comes from the dairy of the same Mako that helped you, Auntie. "

Ranma picked up the story, "When Brother Toiko arrived, I began my Training, and when he saw Akane in one of her Rages, She began learning the Bow to focus her control. Cleaning out a cellar, we found the Armory, and its logs. Shortly afterward a young woman came to the shrine, in need of a kind ear, gentle smile, and hot tea. Kasumi was listening to her when I happened by. Yakuza had harmed her family, Stolen Priceless Relics, entrusted by the Emperor and taken her younger sister for, and I quote, 'Hostage and sport.' "

Ranma bowed his head. "For once I knew the 'joy' of Rage. That night, dressed in black, I went looking for this group of scum. Muscle I just broke, but those who drew guns died. In the rage, I had access to skills and abilities that scared me when I came to my senses. I did not find the child, but the Police, having been called because of the noise and damage Found her. The whole was written up as a Yakuza clan war, but no one claimed credit for it." lifting his head, he smiled at Kasumi, "Kasumi found me trying to wash the blood from my black silks. She told me that the Police had found the girl, and the family had recovered their relics. "

"Akane found me holding a crying, blood caked Ranko." Kasumi reclaimed the story, "With her training on her control, she prevented herself from making it worse, but still there was something wrong about my holding a crying, bloody, female Ranma." Kasumi reached out and stroked Akane's hair. "Ranma not noticing her, started to tell me everything. Starting from when the young woman arrived to the fighting, to the brutal killing of the scum who were holding the child. The look of horror on Akane's face was too much, but was it from what those scumbags had done, what was done to them, or that it was Ranma that did it, I could not tell. I told them both, that the girl was safe, unharmed, and untouched. That she was telling those who would listen to her that the 'Family Guardian' had come and removed the bad-men, so that the police could find her."

"I think I remember hearing about a gang war shortly after i moved into the dojo. but Nothing on this scale."