Chapter 3: The Newlyweds Return
Tofu drove to the dojo with his new bride. The honeymoon had gone very well, but he was worried about how things had gone in his absence.
Kasumi gave him a knowing smile. "You are the ultimate control freak, you know that, don't you?" she teased her husband.
"Oh, and you're so relaxed," he shot back. "I know you've been fretting about your sisters – and brothers. If it wasn't for Lord Jakaro sabotaging the phone, you would have called every day."
"Ah, but I looked relaxed. You look harried," she teased again. Her voice sobered: "But Akane and Ranma have their college exams in three days. I just hope events let them study."
The car turned a corner and Tofu observed a very large man armed with a huge hammer standing outside Ucchan's. "I'm guessing not," Tofu groaned. He slowed down in front of the restaurant.
"Tofu! Kasumi!" The giant boomed out. "Welcome home!"
"Olaf? What's happening? Why are you standing guard outside Ukyo's place?" Tofu asked his Best Man.
Olaf made a dismissive gesture. "Nothing to worry about, lad." Olaf was old enough (despite appearances) to get away with addressing Tofu that way. "We've had a minor problem with gakis working the students up. They've been trying to push the kids over the edge so they can feed on them. Ranma and Lord Jakaro ordered us to go on the offensive. The mages have joined us as well." The large man shifted the sledge hammer in his hands and the weapon began to glow to Tofu's Other Sight.
"You've gathered the students together?" Tofu asked surprised.
"No, they did that themselves," Olaf answered. "The gatherings draw the gakis, and we deal with them. There a group of kids studying here at Ucchan's, a group at the Cat Café, a huge group at the Hilton downtown, several at different high schools, and several smaller groups at different residences. Oh, and there's about eighty students at the dojo."
"What?!" Kasumi exclaimed.
"Nodoka opened the dojo to the kids. Hideo's frying the gakis that get too close there. Ranma and Akane have been trying to chase away the hungry ghosts too, but Hideo and Hinako keep sending them back to the books," Olaf told her.
"Oh my. Sounds like we need to get there quickly," Kasumi said firmly.
"No," Olaf replied just as firmly. "Things are under control. You need to go home and say 'Hello' to everyone – may be even help out after a good night's sleep. But no one needs a rescue. We've got this."
"Who's calling the shots?" Tofu asked.
Olaf looked thoughtful for a moment. "I guess Nodoka is," he answered a little slowly.
"NODOKA?"
"Well, yes," Olaf said. "She's got Hinako, Ranma, Jakaro, Maomolin, and the mages all backing her. Even Kuno's helping out – he traded manpower for a date next weekend. Oh – did you know about that one by the way?" Both Kasumi and Tofu nodded their heads although they seemed a little stunned by all the other news.
"How about a warning then next time?" Olaf laughed. "It caught the rest of us by surprise."
"NODOKA?" the couple said again.
Olaf shrugged his shoulders. "Everyone knows what to do, so it's not like she has to be a field marshal. What coordination is necessary is handled by Othan and Ranma. Oh, and nice choice leaving the young lad as your Second. He's been doing very well. Ranma handled the cleanup after your wedding very neatly – we managed to find a few surviving assassins fleeing toward the US. The Japanese have them now. I understand they've been very talkative. Haven't added anything new, but not for lack of trying..."
The rest of the conversation was half lost on them – but only half. The couple drove the rest of the way back to the dojo in mild shock.
"O.K…" Tofu started. "I didn't expect Ranma to fail, but I thought he'd have to come up to speed at least – not launch a 'search and destroy'."
"It looks like Akane grew up too," Kasumi said quietly. "I knew she was becoming wise, but it sounds like she counseled half of Nerima. Oh my… my little sister grew up while my back was turned."
"I guess Ranma did too," Tofu added. "We've become redundant."
They drove up to the Tendo house. Before they reached the front door, the door flew open and Ranma was shouting in Tofu's face: "HOW ABOUT A FREAKING WARNING BEFORE YOU DUMP THE TEAM ON ME?"
Akane was there too. "WHAT? YOU COULDN'T CALL DURING THE ENTIRE TWO WEEKS? SURELY YOU COULD HAVE STOPPED TOURING LONG ENOUGH TO TOUCH BASE?!" she yelled at Kasumi.
"But I wanted you to think…" Tofu began only to be cut off.
"TO THINK ON MY FEET? WEREN'T YOU THE ONE TELLING ME NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE SHOULD BE A TEST?" Ranma hollered at Tofu. "I HAVE EXAMS YOU KNOW, AND YOU THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE ONE MORE THING TO WORRY ABOUT?!"
Kasumi wasn't faring much better. "Akane," she protested. "I was on my honeymoon!"
"WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AT THE WEDDING, I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU! DO YOU KNOW HOW HECTIC THINGS ARE HERE? DO YOU REMEMBER NABIKI'S EXAMS? NEXT TIME YOU GET MARRIED, CALL!" With that Akane stomped away and dragged Ranma with her. Tofu and Kasumi stood on the doorstep flabbergasted.
"Welcome home," Nodoka told the newlyweds. "They really are happy to see you – they're just a little stressed right now. If you wait half-an-hour, I'm sure you'll get an apology – or at least a peace-offering."
Tofu shook himself and winced. "A peace-offering maybe; he's right though: I owe him an apology. I never took into account the exams. I thought he'd sail right through them."
Kasumi looked distressed. "Oh my. Jakaro had us isolated, but I should have asked him to relay a message. Nabiki was a mess a month before her exams. Akane's college has lower requirements, but I should have realized she'd be affected too."
"Hush…" Nodoka shushed them. "Come in. Things aren't that bad. Like I said, they're stressed. Let them cool down a bit. Have a cup of tea and I'll fill you in.
An hour later, Tofu led Kasumi onto the house roof were Ranma and Akane were sulking. Even Miss Hinako knew to leave the young couple alone for now. It was obvious from the stiff backs that the young couple knew their elder siblings were present, even if they refused to turn around. "We're sorry," Tofu stated. "You're both right. We dropped a stitch and you two had to hobble the pieces together."
"Especially with everything that happened at the wedding. We should have checked in a little more," Kasumi added contritely.
Ranma and Akane looked at each other. Then they sighed and flopped back on the roof together. "Hey, it wasn't like you were on your honeymoon or anything like that," Ranma replied in low tones.
Akane sighed again and said: "We're sorry too; we're a bit frazzled."
"How about a peace offering?" Tofu asked. "Dessert and hot chocolate?"
"Sold," Ranma replied for them both, sitting up with a small smile. Akane followed. The elder couple came over and sat down.
"I know it was tough, but Olaf and Nodoka said you did real well," Kasumi started as she handed over the promised treats.
"Olaf?" Ranma quizzed.
"We came in by Ucchan's," Tofu explained. The two teenagers nodded in understanding.
"So how did eighty students end up studying here?" Kasumi asked.
"It's a long story..." Akane started.
When they were done, Tofu said: "Well, I'm glad we missed the primal screaming."
"Kids gave it up yesterday. They switched to prayers. That's when the gakis started showing up," Ranma told him.
Tofu blew out a big breath. "Then I know what happened. Someone blasphemed."
"Sorry?"
"Someone made fun of the others' praying. They offered an insincere prayer mocking the other students. And they did it in a public way," Tofu explained. "It attracted a gaki and Nerima being Nerima invited the other gakis.
"I don't think anyone here did that," Akane commented. "Everyone is too focused to take time out for that sort of teasing."
"It probably wasn't here – it could have been anywhere in the town," Tofu said.
"No offense, but how come the other mages didn't figure this out?" Ranma asked.
"Because, as a disciple of Jakaro, I've also had a certain amount of religious training," Tofu explained.
"So my husband is also a priest – I learn something new every day," Kasumi tossed out with a small smile.
"I wouldn't go that far," Tofu said in a pained tone. "But I do know how to ditch the gakis. I can ask Yul and Shiran to help me do a purification ritual for the dojo grounds."
"What about the other kids?" Akane asked.
"We put the word out that they need to go to a temple and buy an ema – the prayer plaques will drive the gakis away. That should take care of things," Tofu replied. "Let me get in touch with Mausu; if we are very lucky, he can convince a few of the temples to send acolytes to some of the larger study groups and get the emas hung in temples tonight…"
Kasumi was up before the crack of dawn as usual – after she dodged her husband's embrace with a laugh and a promise. She beat Nodoka downstairs by only five seconds though; the mother was anxious to take care of her charges. Nonetheless, Nodoka mock-scolded her: "Go back to your husband! I've been doing this for the last five days."
"Oh my, but fifteen students arrived last night, all pleading for Sanctuary. Surely, you could use a hand?!" Kasumi said with her usual small smile.
"Maybe," Nodoka admitted as they walked into the kitchen. "I wasn't counting on this many refugees from their families." She sighed then. "Society places so much pressure on their young shoulders and their parents keep ratcheting it up. I was going to make this a one-time deal, but maybe I'll run it for a few days – just before the tests – next year."
"All right," Soun said from the doorway. "Just remember to add funds for me to stay elsewhere when you do the calculations," he added with a yawn.
"Father, you're up early," Kasumi noted with surprise.
"No, I'm up late," he replied. "I'm going through nicotine withdrawal again – courtesy of your husband."
"You seem in good spirits though," Nodoka commented.
Soun shrugged. "I'm saving my irritability for Tofu." Nodoka gave a small laugh and proceeded to start pulling breakfast together.
"So, how have you been doing this?" Kasumi asked as she put on her apron.
"I've been using the oven to make eggs sandwiches. I've been cooking the eggs in muffin tins, and toasting yesterday's bread. You can start by slicing the bread," Nodoka answered.
"Yesterday's?"
"She's been ordering fresh bread and produce for delivery," Soun replied for Nodoka as he pulled out a large pot. "The grocer's only been too happy to make deliveries."
"What are you doing, father?"
"Making miso soup. Nodoka showed me how," Soun answered Kasumi. "I can get fifteen servings out of this pot in ten minutes. Eight batches are enough for everyone and a head start on lunch."
"The kids eat in shifts so we can keep up," Nodoka added. "Hinako directs everything. Mousse often helps – depends how late he worked. Occasionally, we draft Akane and Ranma to help too, but we keep that to a minimum; after all, they have exams too. It's a lot of work, but it's been worth it. Besides, even after the food and utilities have been taken care of, we're ahead a few yen."
"But only a few yen," Soun noted.
"Perhaps," Nodoka agreed with a small smile. "But think of the 'good will' its generating for the dojo."
"Which is why I'm making miso soup at this ungodly hour of the morning," Soun replied evenly.
The three worked quietly in the kitchen until Tofu wandered in. "Good morning all," he said. Soun immediately snatched up the morning paper and smacked his son-in-law over the head with it. Soun then dropped the paper and went back to work. "And good morning to you too, Father," Tofu replied unruffled. Soun shuddered theatrically at the word "Father".
"Good morning, Tofu." Nodoka answered. "Please make the coffee while you're standing there."
Tofu looked at the industrial-size urn awaiting him. "How much did this set you back?" he asked.
"I rented it – much cheaper than buying one. Be a good lad and get it going," she responded. Kasumi smiled at the motherly tones from Nodoka, especially considering the ages of those involved.
"Where are Ranma and Mousse sleeping with all the added guests?" Tofu inquired.
Nodoka held up a butcher knife and spoke in warning tones: "Listen up, Kitsune, if you want to keep that pretty tail of yours: The rules have changed. I'm sure you noticed the ring on Akane's finger. Ranma belongs to Akane now and it's up to her to wake him up from here on in. She's been doing a fine job – he hasn't been late for anything recently."
Tofu held up his hands innocently. "I just asked out of curiosity," he protested.
"Not feeling well, are you?" Nodoka asked sarcastically. She put down the knife and turned to face Tofu. "I mean it, Tofu," she said seriously. "Private time will be a premium with all of us living together. They're formally engaged. You're going to have to give them space; we all are. This is important."
"It might be easier if they were actually married," Soun suggested, which earned him a hard look from Kasumi and Tofu.
"It takes time to pull together a proper wedding, Soun," Nodoka said a little whimsically. "And I want it done right. If you could persuade Akane and Ranma to go along with my ideas, I could try and talk them into it. The kids keep telling me my ideas are dreadfully expensive, and I can't get them to budge. I tell them you can take out a loan, but they're stubborn…"
Soun blanched. "Well, I suppose there's no real hurry," he said quickly.
"But the sooner they get married, the sooner the grandkids," Nodoka said persuasively.
"No, no, Nodoka. Let's let them take the lead."
"You're sure?" she asked disappointedly.
"As you've said, they're only going to get married once," Soun went on hurriedly.
Nodoka gave a dramatic sigh and turned her attention back to Tofu who had a gleam in his eye at her handling of Soun. "Tofu?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow.
He held up his hands in a gesture of peaceful surrender. "I won't fight you on this one, Nodoka. I'll find a new game to teach Ranma my lessons. I may have to be more direct anyway," he answered.
"And Mousse needs no help either. He knows how to use an alarm clock," she pushed.
"His participation was due to necessity. He wasn't the target, and the lessons he needs are very different anyway. I think it's time to change tack with him as well. Nabiki has brought him as far as she can – he needs to learn how to use his Power to protect himself," Tofu said almost to himself.
"Why the round-about lessons?" Nodoka asked.
"Ranma learns best when there's an element of challenge to the lesson," Tofu answered seriously. "If I simply told him what he needs to know, he'd either not listen, or not believe me. Akane's very similar."
"If not exact," Kasumi cut in.
"Yes, but she'll also learn because of necessity – in her case, just to keep her teachers off her back. I had to break her of that with me," Tofu explained. "Otherwise, I got 'good enough' work, not her 'best' work."
"What about Mousse?" Soun asked.
"Mousse is a very different person," Tofu said, once again in a serious voice. "Had he been born here, he could have been a scholar. Unfortunately, the things he needs to learn are not necessarily what he wants to learn. I have to 'bleed' the lessons to get my point across. Right now, he needs to build up his armor. Fortunately, he's still interested in a good fight, so I have an angle to work with."
Nodoka considered all of that. "All right, I guess I can see what you're doing as their sensei, but I'm holding you to your word – leave their private time alone and leave Mousse some downtime."
Tofu nodded and turned back to the coffee urn. He asked: "Now will you tell me the sleeping arrangements? I can't sort out everyone – there're too many people here."
"Ranma and Akane are sleeping separately in their own rooms because their friends are with them," Nodoka started. "Ranma and Hiroshi are on futons on the floor and Daisuke is in the bed since he's the one with the highest stress. Likewise, Sayuri's in Akane's bed and Akane and Yuka are sleeping on futons. Mousse is alone in his room due to his work schedule. The other dojo bedrooms are all in use, but the house bedrooms are off-limits; Sasuke has the spare right now and Hinako is in Nabiki's." (A/N: Happosai is gone, so Soun is back in the master bedroom downstairs).
The four adults continued to work on breakfast until Nodoka decided things were ready. "All right, it's time to ring the alarm. Kasumi? Could you please wake Akane?"
"Akane has the alarm?" Kasumi asked.
"Yes. Wake her and you'll see. But stand back," Nodoka warned.
Dutifully, Kasumi went upstairs. "Akane?" she called through the door as she knocked. "Akane? Nodoka says…" That was as far as Kasumi got when she heard a battle cry reverberate throughout the house. Then she heard Akane's window crash open. Quickly, Kasumi threw open the door, only to see an empty futon and two young women scrambling to get to the open window. Outside, a different battle cry sounded (also in a female voice) and there was a "BOOM" that shattered the air.
Sayuri and Yuka looked out the window as Kasumi joined them. Both young women were smiling. "It's like some weird sort of mating ritual," Sayuri commented. Yuka just nodded.
"Oh my…" was all Kasumi could say as she looked out the window. Indeed, most people would be hard pressed to call it sparring. Ranma (in her female form) and Akane were, to all appearances, fighting tooth and nail. Kasumi could hear flesh impacting on flesh as if it was stone-on-stone – the retorts were that loud. "What's happened?" she asked.
"That's right, you haven't seen them since he gave her the ring," Yuka stated. "It's like all restraint is gone. They don't hold back anymore."
"It's more like a trust exercise taken to its absolute maximum," Sayuri added. "They believe in each other. It's very strange and at the same time very beautiful."
Kasumi saw people peeking out every windows of the dojo watching the show. Daisuke and Hiroshi were shaking their heads as they looked out Ranma's basement window. Behind her, Kasumi heard Hinako run out of Nabiki's room. "Crap! I'm running late!" the child teacher exclaimed as she flew down the stairs. Kasumi heard the door downstairs open as the other house residents hurried to watch.
As Kasumi looked on, her Sight kicked in and she saw something many others missed: this was still only sparring. It wasn't so much that Ranma and Akane were holding back, but that Power was flowing between the two of them as well, blocking and softening blows unseen. As Ranma threw a vicious punch that caught Akane in the jaw, she also threw a Shield on Akane's face that drained away the force of the blow. Only enough got through to let Akane know she had been tagged; something which annoyed the blue-black haired woman. What surprised Kasumi was the intimacy of the power source; the sparring was a blending of souls – a Dance that the couple could only share with each other. Below her, Kasumi heard her husband gasp.
The reactions of the onlookers varied. Some were caught in shock like Kasumi. Others were use to the spectacle and moved on with getting ready for the day. Still others cheered on the combatants, somehow knowing the savagery was a sham. Finally, after about twenty minutes, Nodoka threw a bucket of hot water at the couple. Both sensed the attack and reacted; Akane dodged it and Ranma moved to intercept the water. In a split second, Ranma stood in the yard with his upper torso soaked. He was wearing sweatpants and a sleeveless T-shirt that he had slept in; the gi he used for his female side stored away with his other shape. Akane was in her yellow gi. She ran in to put an arm around her fiancé and the couple walked into the downstairs.
"They're just too cute," Sayuri giggled.
"Oh my…" Kasumi agreed. Yuka gave a wistful sigh with a smile and turned to find her clothes for the day.
Kasumi went downstairs and saw Akane and Ranma kissing by the back door. Tofu came up next to Kasumi and murmured: "Now I understand why they don't feel a hurry to consummate their relationship – they're already more intimate that simply making love would allow. Soul-to-soul they are one."
Tofu help Hinako guide the students through the morning rituals. About halfway through, Daran Hawke joined them. "Welcome back," the dark-skinned man greeted the doctor. Daran was dressed in his usual leather jacket and denim jeans despite the cold weather. His shape-shifting wide-brimmed fedora was firmly in place. The tall man carried a backpack that "clacked" as he walked.
"Thank you," Tofu said as he shook the American's hand. "You've been busy; Mausu stopped by last night and gave me the run down."
"I still am. Your protégé runs a tight ship," Daran commented. "Ranma called me last night and asked me to stop at one of the local temples and pick up a bunch of blank emas for this morning."
"He did what?" Tofu asked surprised.
"He said that your purification ritual was all fine and good, but that the kids would benefit from the emas anyway," Daran clarified. Then the tall man leaned in and added in a conspiratorial whisper: "Actually, I think Akane put him up to it."
"Wait, he's been using the team to run errands?" Tofu demanded.
"No, he's been using us to battle gakis – and he was doing well before you showed up with all the answers," Daran replied firmly with a raised eyebrow. "You saddled him with us and he's been trying hard. He hasn't been a tyrant – he knows exactly who we are, and he's been trying to get appropriate buy-in. Akane's been coaching him on diplomacy and even Othan's impressed – he stopped using 'kid' and calls Ranma by his name."
"Hmmm…I suppose I should debrief him then. Sounds like he got what I wanted him to get," Tofu said slowly.
"No," Daran replied again, just as firmly. "We're still in the middle of a battle, and you don't switch commanders in the middle – you know that. The gakis are being repelled, but they're still about and will be until after the exams are done. You put Ranma in charge and he stays in charge until Monday, like it or not. You're an advisor. Period. End of statement. Don't like it – tough. Rules are rules."
Tofu look taken aback. "He does have exams in two days," he replied.
"And doing well is part of winning – not just for him, but for the rest of his class. We got him covered." Daran turned away and said: "Now excuse me, but I need to check in with the Boss."
Tofu stood there lost somewhere between amusement and bemusement for a while until a voice boomed across the dojo grounds at him. "Young one, get a move on!" Tofu turned to see Olaf walking toward him.
"I think I've just been rebuked," Tofu said to the polymorphed giant.
"Well lad, you're still standing, so it couldn't have been too bad. Next time, don't hire your friends to be your squad," Olaf half-laughed. The blond man with the short beard stood about two and a half meters tall.
Now Tofu gave a light chuckle. "No, at least I get honest answers this way," he replied.
"Let's see if you feel that way after Ciren gets a hold of you…" Olaf warned with more laughter.
A/N: Next up - Exam Day!