The Desire Doll – Chapter Three
A figure enters the darkened room, dimly lit by only a handful of emergency lights and the rectangle of light made by the open door. The figure closes the door behind itself plunging the room back into near total darkness once again. A loud click echoes through the room and a moment later rows of fluorescent lights spark to life casting their artificial light around the room. The figure is a woman and wearing a lab coat, a heavy rubber apron, gloves goggles and a face shield. The room looks like a scientist's laboratory gone horribly wrong. Electrodes arc electricity between each other, Bunsen burners heat vials and flasks of different coloured and bubbling liquids and equipment hums and whirrs and spins and generally looks busy.
The figure stops at a table and pulls a vial from over a burner and adds a few drops to a blue coloured liquid in a flask. The liquid immediately bubbles and forms immense amounts of gas which pours, nearly shoots, out of the top of the flask. The figure backs away as it does and then moves forwards when the reaction subsides. It lifts the flask up and swirls the settling liquid around as it peers intently into the flask. It turns and walks over to another table where a bowl of a silvery liquid rests. It carefully pours the bluish liquid into the bowl and watches as the blue liquid cuts into the silvery one and mixes around violently until it becomes a reflective blue liquid. The figure then takes a glass stirring rod and stirs it for a moment before lifting it out and examining the rod. The liquid coats the rod and seems to only slowly be sliding off the surface of it. The figure seems pleased and sets the rod down before moving away from the table and the bowl stripping off the protective clothing and the lab coat. Underneath all of that was Kodachi Kunou, dressed in her school uniform.
"Ohohohoho!!!! At last I've finally created it. The weapon with which I shall ensnare...err...save my Ranma-sama from those evil wenches who are keeping him from my loving grasp. Ohohohoho! Soon Ranma-sama you will be mine."
The Tendo's living room was crowded with everyone in it and yet most of them were standing around the doorway leading into the kitchen. Everyone was staring inside at the newest arrival from somewhere else. The young man in question stood staring at Kasumi as the eldest Tendo stared right back. He wore a simple purple shirt and black pants over which sat a pink frilly apron with flower designs upon it. In his hand he held a feather duster. Finally after a few moments of silence, Kasumi and the young man both smiled at each other.
"Another guest. My, it certainly is getting busy around here." Kasumi said with her usual calm.
"Is it? Oh dear, I can see Akane-san has been cooking again. Would you like some help in cleaning up Kasumi-sensei?" the young man asked in a pleasant and remarkably Kasumi-like tone of voice.
"Oh yes, that would be very nice of you…hm, I am sorry but I'm afraid I don't know your name. This is the first time I have ever met you." Kasumi replied to the young man.
"Oh I see. I understand Kasumi-sensei." The young man said and then bowed to Kasumi. "My name is Keiichi Hibiki; it is a pleasure to meet you."
"Great. Another one, just what we needed." Ranma muttered to no one in particular. This however got the attention of Keiichi who turned and blinked at the group of heads at the doorway peering in at himself and Kasumi.
"Oh my! How rude of me not to say hello to you all. Are you all having a party? Oh, hello Mother, Father, I was unaware you were here as well." Keiichi said looking to Ryouga and Ukyou in turn.
"Huh? Me?" Ryouga said his eyes widening. This person was his son…it couldn't be true.
"No way!" Ukyou exclaimed looking at Ryouga and suppressing a grimace.
"Hmm, it looks like what would never happen just has Ukyou." Nabiki said with a smirk.
"Wait wait, hold on. You're mom's son from some other future? What is wrong with you? Why are you wearing that apron?" Mabushu asked frowning at Keiichi.
"I'm wearing the apron to protect my clothing from dirt and grime while I help Kasumi-sensei cook and clean." Keiichi explained with a small smile.
"What are you some kinda wimp? Quit acting like a girl, man." Mabushu said with a snort.
"What's wrong with being a girl?" Akisu asked curiously.
"Yeah!?" Harumoni chimed in sounding angry.
"Mabushu, quit being rude to your…uh…brother." Ukyou said to Mabushu and as she hooked an arm around his neck. Mabushu tried to escape from her grip but was unsuccessful.
"I can't put my finger on it but there's something weird about that kid." Ranma said in a whisper to Ryouga.
"Yeah I know what y-...hey! Shut up Ranma! My son is NOT weird!" Ryouga said swinging an arm at Ranma, who easily ducked back out of the way. While this happened Nabiki moved over to Kasumi.
"Here, Sis. Let me hold on to that for you. For safe keeping." Nabiki said with a warm sisterly smile.
"Oh thank you Nabiki. I'm getting behind in the cleaning just standing here. At this rate dinner will never be ready in time." Kasumi said with almost a frown on her face. Nabiki, seeing this almost frown, had a sudden feeling, like the temperature in the kitchen just went down a few degrees.
"Please allow me to help Kasumi-sensei. It is the least I can do since I am intruding." Keiichi said with a warm smile, at which point Kasumi also smiled warmly in return.
"Oh thank you Keiichi-chan. That's very nice of you." Kasumi said and the two of them immediately began to work at cleaning up the kitchen. Nabiki shook her head a bit, glancing around. Everyone was back in the living room arguing about something. She must have imagined that drop in the temperature. She shook her head and quickly convinced herself that she had imagined the whole thing. She then quietly snuck outside with the doll to wait for Kunou. Out in the living room, Mabushu was once again teasing Harumoni.
"I'm not trying to be a jerk about this-" he began when Harumoni interrupted him with a snort.
"You could have fooled me! You were being a complete jerk!" Harumoni retorted with a scowl.
"Just listen will ya! I'm trying to be nice here. You've got some definite skill the only problem is, you have no control. You're all force, and no finesse." Mabushu said with a wry grin.
"What is that some kind of a crack about my muscles again?! That does it!" Harumoni suddenly once again had her mallet in hand and charged for Mabushu, swinging at him, while Mabushu once again began to dodge with a graceful ease that made Harumoni all the more angrier.
""We need to talk Akane, right now and in private." Ukyou said in a soft whisper to Akane.
"About what?" Akane replied curiously as a crunch of floor boards resounded throughout the room.
"Stand still and take your beating like a man!" Harumoni snarled, yanking her mallet free and dashing after Mabushu once more.
"A wise man gives no advantage to his enemy." Mabushu quipped and laughed as he leapt over the couch and landed next to Akisu who grabbed hold of him and proceeded to snuggle herself up to him.
"Hey there big boy, why don't you forget about her and come play with me instead?" Akisu said in a low voice of silk.
"Ah, hey leggo of me! I can't dodge her when you're holding me down like this!" Mabushu yelped, trying to keep from blushing.
"Oh my. They're so full of energy.", Keiichi said pausing in the doorway to look out at the fight, a stack of dishes in hand.
"They're such good friends. Keiichi-chan, can you bring those dishes please? We'll wash them together." Kasumi's voice called softly and Keiichi hurried on his way.
"I knew you were a pervert! And this is for insulting me!" With an almost warrior cry of vengeance Harumoni lifted her mallet and brought it screaming down upon Mabushu. But there is no satisfying crunch of flesh and bone and board...only the sudden jerking stop of the mallet. "Eh? What?" Harumoni blinked her eyes and focussed them upon the scene in front of her. Mabushu was wearing an almost identical expression of surprise as she herself was. Mabushu was still standing and Akisu was still snuggled up to him though she was facing Harumoni now with a frown. And one of Akisu's legs was bent and her foot placed against the flat head of the mallet, holding it in place against Harumoni's strength.
"Do you mind, little Miss Tomboy? I'm trying to get to know our dear brother." Akisu said and smiled slyly up at Harumoni. Then Harumoni and Mabushu began to talk at Akisu, the former calling them both down for such behaviour and the latter emphatically denying that he instigated this.
"What else? Them…and us as well." Ukyou whispered back to Akane with a sigh and a rueful little smile.
"Right. Come on we'll talk out back.", Akane said and turned to head for the back door.
"Ranchan, Ryouga, keep an eye on them for a little bit would you? Thanks!" Ukyou called over to the other two boys as she headed off with Akane. Ranma and Ryouga, at the same time, looked over to the two girls at they left out the back door and then they looked to each other. Finally they looked at three children, who were bickering and on their way to another fight it seemed.
"Keep an eye on them?" Ranma said, suddenly very afraid.
"How are we going to do that?" Ryouga asked, with equal fear in his voice.
"I have no idea. How about you Ryouga, you got anything?" Ranma said and winced at the sudden yelp from Mabushu. Ryouga blushed at the second one.
"Did she just...uhm...Ranma do something!" Ryouga half shouted.
"Alright alright! I'll just...hey...wait a minute. It's your daughter doing all the attacking here! Tell her calm down!" Ranma snapped at Ryouga.
"Hey! She's only attacking your son because of what he's saying! You tell your son to stop insulting my daughter!" Ryouga snapped back.
"What?! He's not saying anything that isn't true!" Ranma retorted and shrugged.
"How dare you talk about my daughter that way Ranma! You take that back!!" Ryouga shouted at Ranma and began to throw punches and lash out with kicks. Ranma was easily able to avoid them. As this fight began, the fight between Akisu, Harumoni and Mabushu ended as the three broke apart and stepped away from each other. Akisu retook her position on the couch and the three children began watching their fathers fight with all their skill.
"I'd like to see you make me take it back, P-chan! Boy are you slow!" Ranma said with a laugh as he jumped, pivoted over the railing of the stairs and landed on the second and third step.
"Who's slow?! And stop calling me P-chan!!!" Ryouga growled and lashed out with a kick that was frighteningly fast for him. The bottom four poles of the railing exploded into splinters from the force of his foot, but Ranma had already leapt to safety, landing on the table on one foot.
"Hey that was pretty good Ryouga, it only felt like you were moving in slow motion instead of standing still. You're improving!" Ranma taunted Ryouga and laughed.
"Wow...I knew Pop was good but not this good. And Ryouga is almost as good as Pop." Mabushu said to himself, though it was loud enough Harumoni heard and took a step closer to whisper to him.
"What are you talking about? They're just fighting. I've seen Dad do it a thousand times before...well back in my time. It looks the same just, not as large a move base. He'd be doing a lot more different attacks if it were the Dad I know." Harumoni said, her eyes watching the two fighters. Ranma now fended Ryouga off with mostly his feet, blocking or deflecting the attacks Ryouga sent his way.
"You have to look at them, really look at them to see it. With more than just your eyes I mean. Trust me I know about this sort of thing. They know." Mabushu said calmly, his arms folded and a curiously intent expression upon his face. Harumoni eyed him askance and frowned softly. Mabushu was suddenly acting like a totally different person. She had been ready to firmly put him into the place of insensitive perverted jerk, but now she had to stop and think again. Was that really what he was? She remembered he had said something after first appearing, right before he had attacked them all. She couldn't remember what the words were, but she remembered the tone and it was the same then as it was now.
"What do they know?" Harumoni asked after a long moment of silence and thought.
"They know how to breathe." Mabushu said, and she would have accused him of making fun of her, if not for how serious his voice was. She didn't get the chance to ask him what he meant because they was a crash as Ryouga landed in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. Ranma lowered his foot from the kick that had launched him there and thumbed his nose with a smirk.
"Argh!! Die Ranma!!!" Ryouga bellowed his war cry as he stood up. He yanked his umbrella free from his nearby backpack and leapt into the air as Ranma, umbrella leading the way before him like a sword.
"You want to play rough Ryouga, I'll play rough. Katsu tenshin amaguriken!!!" Ranma shouted as well as his fists blurred. Instead of the sound of splintering wood and flesh striking flesh, what was heard was the sound of the wind getting knocked out of Ryouga alongside the world's largest alarm clock going off. Keiichi stood in between the two opponents, with the one hand he had grabbed a hold of Ryouga's umbrella and stopped it and him in mid air. Ryouga's momentum had carried him completely into the handle of his umbrella which he still clung to even now.
With the other hand Keiichi had put in the path of Ranma's fists Kasumi's largest wok which was now dented from all the strikes but still in tact. Ranma was hopping from foot to foot staring in horror at both of his fists which was looking rather red and more than a little swollen. Keiichi lowered the umbrella and Ryouga to the ground and then let go of it. He shifted the wok around to almost drape over his back, holding it by the handle with two fingers. He looked at the both of them a small frown on his face.
"Father, Uncle Ranma, I'm sorry to have interrupted your sparring, but you were both about to destroy the table and we need that to serve dinner on once it is cooked. I applaud your efforts at distracting my brother and sisters from fighting, but please, be more careful in the future won't you?" Keiichi said and then smiled at the both of them. Ranma and Ryouga could only nod dumbly at what just happened. Keiichi then turned and walked back towards the kitchen, and as he went he began to bend the dents out of the wok with his bare hands, humming a soft little tune as he went.
"Did you just see that? I thought that guy was a total wimp. This is starting to get too weird for me." Mabushu said and shook his head lightly. He knew Ryouga was strong but that guy seemed to be even stronger. But, he knew he hadn't seen much of what Ryouga could do even back at his home. Who knew how strong Ryouga really was...beyond Ryouga.
"Wow. You see, Mabushu. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover." Harumoni said with a satisfied smirk on her lips. Mabushu was about to retort when Akisu spoke up thoughtfully.
"Hmm, in that case, if we want to really see the true us, we should all get rid of our covers. There's nothing like the naked truth to really understand a person huh?" She said and directed a sultry smile at Mabushu.
"Oh my god, what is wrong with you?! Haven't you any decency? Or at least modesty!?" Harumoni exclaimed glaring at Akisu.
"Why do I need any of that? I'm happy with my body and I'm happy with the bodies of everyone else in the world. Why be ashamed of what we are born in and what we'll one day die in? Besides, I said covers, not clothing. You should pay more attention to what people say before jumping off the handle at them dear." Akisu said with a soft smile while Mabushu snuck over to Ranma and whispered to him.
"What's with her Pop? She's...really out there you know?" Mabushu asked and Ranma winced and sighed.
"It was Happosai from what she told us. Apparently he taught her for a good number of years." Ranma replied and eyed Akisu who was deflecting every point of morality Harumoni was trying to enforce upon her.
"Happosai...the old freak eh? Yeah that figures." Mabushu said and frowned at a fly that was buzzing around his head. He swatted a hand at it to drive it away and walked over, to sit down at the table. He stretched a bit, leaned back against the wall, and laced his fingers behind his head.
"So now what do we do? We've uh...broken up the fight our kids were having." Ryouga muttered to himself as he replaced the umbrella beside his backpack. He looked over to Ranma for an answer to his question. Ranma waved a hand in irritation at a fly that was buzzing around him and looked to Ryouga with a frown.
"We wait until Akane and Ucchan get back and until Shampoo gets back with Cologne. Then the doll gets fixed properly and we send everyone back to their proper times and everything is fixed and better and back to normal around here. That's what we do Ryouga." Ranma nodded to himself as this plan and looked to the three children who were there.
"Hey, no need to rush on my account Daddy. I'm having an absolute blast here." Akisu said with a soft laugh. Harumoni folded her arms and frowned at Akisu's far too whimsical attitude at the whole situation.
Ranma sighed to himself and stepped over taking a seat at the table and was joined by Ryouga a few moments later. There were no sounds in the living room for several long minutes and almost no movement, but for Ranma waving a hand at the fly that was still pestering him. Finally Ryouga spoke up in a soft whisper to Ranma.
"What do you think they're talking about? Akane and Ukyou, I mean." Ryouga's voice held a small note of worry. Ranma said nothing for a moment and then looked over at Ryouga and whispered back.
"I don't know. I mean...I've never been able to understand either of them. They're girls, Ryouga. Practically a different species." Ranma shrugged and suddenly he flinched and clapped a hand to the back of his neck.
"What's wrong?" Ryouga asked him.
"Ow, that damn fly just bit me. Stupid thing." Ranma huffed and wiped his hand off on his pants. It never crossed the mind of either Ranma or Ryouga that normal everyday houseflies do not bite.
Far away from the scenes unfolding at the Tendo Dojo, nestled between two large modern skyscrapers, sat a small shop. It had a wooden fence around it and old fashioned architecture. Within the kitchen of this unusual shop a young man stood putting the finishing touches on the meal for his employer.
"There, all done. I swear she picks the most hard to make dish on purpose." The young man huffed to himself, even though he was proud of his ability and resourcefulness.
"Oiy! Watanuki! I'm starving!" A voice called from the other room, a woman's voice seductive and deep, or it would have been if it hadn't been whining pitifully just then.
"Stop whining Yuuko-san! It's ready now. Have a little patience!" The young man, Watanuki, growled as he picked up the tray. He paused suddenly however, because there were voices. Male and female voices all jumbled together and overlapping in the air all around them. They sounded like they were right there surrounding him but he could see nothing.
For a long moment the voices babbled overtop of each other until a chime sounded from the other room. At the sound of that chime the voices cut out sharply and Watanuki blinked and shook his head a bit. What was that about and why did Yuuko-san ring the chime? Oh, right, her meal; she must be getting impatient. This Watanuki thought to himself as he bustled out into the other room and placed the tray on the low table in front of Yuuko and proceeded to pour her drink, alcohol yet again of course.
"Sorry for the delay Yuuko-san, I thought I heard something in the kitchen. And try to cut down on the liquor tonight; we have no more hangover cure in the shop. Er...Yuuko-san?" Watanuki blinked as he looked up to Yuuko. She was sitting there not even looking at the meal and drink in front of her. She was staring off into space with a very serious look on her face.
"Watanuki. We're going out. There is work to do. Go to the storeroom and bring me the box with the green and black enamel." Yuuko said even as she rose from the table and walked over to the entrance to her room. As she entered it the two children, Mara and Maru came in from elsewhere and followed her in to help her change clothes.
Watanuki blinked a moment and then headed for the storeroom, returning in a few moments with the wooden box wrapped in a white silk cloth. He stood calmly waiting at he watched the silhouette of Yuuko getting changed.
"Where are we going Yuuko-san?" Watanuki asked curiously.
"The where is not important. It is the why. There is an item, a very special item Watanuki. And it has been unleashed upon this world. It's effects are varied and dangerous in the wrong hands. It is in the wrong hands even as we speak. We have to go and put an end to this mess once and for all." Yuuko-san said and slid the door open to reveal her standing dressed in a long skirt with a slit up one side and a fancy shirt with a bit of ruffle at the end of each sleeve.
"Before it's too late." Watanuki said, not really asking a question.
"It's already too late, Watanuki." Yuuko said with a grim and unpleasant looking smile.
At the Nekohanten, Shampoo stood in front of the door leading into the kitchen. She knew this wasn't going to go well for her but that it had to be done. Still she hesitated at the door, unwilling to make the move. She did not have to for the door opened of its own accord and she felt the cold sting of icy water bombard her. Water and sodden clothing hit the ground just outside the door with a wet slap and from within there was a pitiful mew.
A gnarled hand reached out and into the wet clothing and drew forth a cat by the scruff of its neck. The owner of that gnarled hand was none other than Cologne who deposited the cat-Shampoo onto the table. Water dripped from the sodden fur and the cat mewled again, sounding as pitiful as it looked. When the old woman spoke to her great-granddaughter it was in their native tongue.
"Shampoo, I am not happy with you. I have half a mind to lock you within that form for a number of years for this transgression. I would if I did not need to ask you several questions and needed your assistance to resolve the situation. For now you shall remain without punishment for this, but you will atone when all this is over. Do you understand?" Cologne's voice was old but harder than steel in Shampoo's ears. The cat simply nodded and was doused with hot water from the sink moments later.
"Where is the doll now? Why did you take it and what has all happened. Be quick!" Cologne ordered as she perched on her staff and frowned at her unclad relative.
"Great-Grandmother, I'm sorry. The doll is at the Tendo's. I took it so I could take Ranma to a time when we were married and show him how happy we could be together. I had trouble getting the doll to take me where I wanted to go though. It took a while and even when I did get there...it still wasn't right. Then Ranma took the doll and took us to our real future, I think. We found out something very bad for Ranma and were going to come back when Akane's daughter saw us and attacked us. We came back but we brought her back with us. And then Akane accidentally broke the doll, I put it all back together but something is wrong with it. It's working on its own now I think. And there's another daughter of Akane here now too. I'm sorry." Shampoo rattled off the whole story in Chinese and sighed at the end of it.
"Two daughters of Akane; who are their fathers then?" Cologne asked with a small frown.
"One is Ranma's and one is Ryouga's." Shampoo said, her gaze not leaving the floor.
"Hm, two different worlds then. That isn't as bad as I'd feared. There is still time to repair this and set things to rights. I must gather what I need to do this. I need you to get dressed and then go down into the cellar and fetch Mousse from his cage. We may need him as well. Do it." Cologne said and Shampoo nodded and then dashed out of the kitchen.
For several long moments Cologne stood and frowned at nothing in particular, her aged mind blurred with thoughts. This was going to be nothing but a disaster no matter how little things had been damaged. There was a good chance she didn't have the power within her to do this alone. It was a good thing she had sensed the old fool Happosai returning earlier. She was going to need his help for this. She had been hard on Shampoo but it was for her own good. Best she not know that they all may not survive this for her to be punished.
In the backyard of the Tendo's Akane and Ukyou sat facing each other on the grass and listened for a moment as the fighting within died off. Then they looked to each other and the silence stretched between them until finally Akane spoke.
"When I woke up today I never thought something like this would happen. I mean, it's usually crazy around here but this..." Akane shook her head as her voice trailed off.
"Yeah I know what you mean. It is kinda strange, having our children here." Ukyou said glancing back towards the house and then to Akane.
"You said it. You said you wanted to talk to me about them, right? And about us too?" Akane said with a curious from.
"Yes I did. Them, us, and Ranma and Ryouga too. You and I have been rivals for a long time for Ranchan's affections. No, don't deny it. Let me finish, please. I may have overreacted when Ranchan and his father ran off and left me alone. I know I haven't helped with the chaos around this place at times either. It's just because, to be perfectly honest with you Akane, I love Ranchan." Ukyou said and sighed as if she had just shrugged off a weight.
"Ukyou...I..." Akane began to say something but Ukyou shook her head slightly and continued to speak.
"Now I don't know if you love him or not. Sometimes it seems like you might actually care about him and other times it seems like you wish he doesn't exist. Now if you don't want him sugar I'm going to do everything in my power to make Ranchan mine. I guess what I'm trying to say is, one of these days Akane, make up your mind what you want and let him know. I know his and your father forced you into this but if you really have no intention of ever loving him, it's not fair to keep this going on. It's not fair to him." Ukyou said with a small sigh. Akane was silent for a long time, her head tilted downward to look at the grass.
"I'll be honest with you Ukyou, since you were honest with me. When it comes to Ranma...I don't know how I feel. I really don't! Sometimes he just makes me so mad! Well, a lot of the time really. But there are times when he can be sweet. Times when he's noble, like I remember dad being with Mom. There are times when he's a bit naive and it makes me laugh. Knowing now what I know about him I just don't know what's real with him and what is just this macho tough-guy act he puts on to fulfill his father's stupid ideals. I really don't know how I feel about him; he makes me feel so confused. But...I do...I do care for him...I just don't know if it's love or friendship." Akane looked up at Ukyou, who was looking thoughtfully at her.
"Yeah I know what you mean there. He did the same thing to me back when I showed up and tried to kill him. I think a lot of it is because Ranchan himself is confused about what to do about us. And I mean all of us. He hasn't exactly had an easy life." Ukyou said and shrugged slightly.
"That's true. I think I just have a lot of thinking to do about this. Let's talk about the children for now okay? I...I need some time on this Ukyou." Akane ran her hands back through her short hair.
"Sure thing, but first let's talk about Ryouga." Ukyou said with a grin.
"What about Ryouga?" Akane asked with a small frown on her face.
"What do you mean what about him? In case you hadn't noticed you happen to have a child by him in there, or had you forgotten Harumoni?" Ukyou said with an exasperated sigh.
"Of course I hadn't forgotten Harumoni but...I don't see what there is to talk about. I mean, Ryouga's never said anything..." Akane began and trailed off.
"Well no he wouldn't. The big dummy is terminally shy around you. He likes you Akane, a lot. He's just too scared and shy to say anything." Ukyou scoffed to herself and shook her head.
"And he told you huh? Ryouga doesn't have to be afraid of me. He's a very dear friend to me." Akane said calmly.
"That's what he's afraid of Akane, that it's all he'll ever be to you and that you'll reject him. And yes he told me, more or less. I've been trying to help him tell you." Ukyou said with a small shrug.
"For purely selfless reasons I'm sure too. What about you and Ryouga? Why don't you go after him, since you seem to be his official spokesperson?" Akane said a tad acerbically.
"Ryouga? Oh please, he's not my type at all. I'll admit he's not bad to look at. And those fangs of his are kinda adorable. I'm trying for my Ranchan. I've made no plans beyond that and so far it'll remain that way." Ukyou said with a nod. Again there came a long silence between the two and it was broken by an unspoken agreement between the two girls it was time to leave their discussion of the boys behind.
"Harumoni is a really sweet girl. I'm proud of her...she's strong and self-reliant." Akane said, a happy smile formed on her lips.
"She's also a tad on the violent side. And with a hair-trigger temper much like her father. And her mother too. She does seem very sweet though when she's not angry. You should be proud of her Akane. She looks like you a lot, but you can see Ryouga in her too. She also leaps to your and Ryouga's defence at the slightest hint of insult. She's a good daughter." Ukyou said with a smile as well.
"She does have a temper...and so do I. Akisu on the other hand...I don't know about her. She's a pervert and Happosai trained her and raised her, according to her at least. Not to mention the fact that Ranma cheated on me!" Akane said with a growl, her fists clenching.
"On us, Sugar, he cheated on us. I don't know about Akisu. She does seem to be a pervert but..." Ukyou trailed off with a small frown.
"You noticed it too huh? It's like she's trying too hard to be one. To make people think less of her. I don't know about her...but she is definitely Ranma's daughter. The resemblance to his female form is uncanny." Akane said with a huff.
"And then there's my two...Mabushu and Keiichi. Mabushu reminds me so much of Ranma. He seems to have such perfect control of himself. And he's afraid of his mother, which is a good thing, heheh." Ukyou said with a slightly wicked looking grin.
"He reminds me a little too much of Ranma if you ask me. Harumoni has a temper problem but Mabushu has a manner problem." Akane said with a decisive nod.
"I'll correct that, don't you worry. Keiichi is...well, I'm still not certain he's mine, let alone Ryouga's too. I mean...he really doesn't seem to be anything like either of us. He's like..." Ukyou began to say and paused to search for the word.
"...Kasumi?" Akane supplied with a small grin.
"Yeah. It's really kinda odd, you know? Creepy in a way." Ukyou said.
"He's ever so polite and nice however. I'm sure he'll make some girl very happy some day." Akane said with a little giggle.
"Yeah, probably a woman like Nabiki, or her daughter." Ukyou said and for a moment both Akane and Ukyou looked at each other before they both burst out laughing at the mental image that presented.
Back inside the house the living room had settled down. Akisu lay sprawled on the couch staring up at the ceiling and idly kicking her legs back and forth in the air. Mabushu sat at the table across from Ranma and Ryouga; Father and son looked bored while Ryouga seemed anxious, casting a glance or two in the direction of the back yard. Harumoni stood near the entrance to the kitchen watching as Kasumi and Keiichi cleaned like pros.
Footsteps became slowly evident from upstairs and soon Genma and Soun emerged at the top of the stairs. Soun paused looking down at the small disaster area. He slowly descended staring around in mild shock. He finally looked up at Ranma and Ryouga, a vein in his forehead beginning to twitch.
"What. Happened. To. My. House?!" Soun's voice was tight as a harp string.
"I didn't cause any of this damage Mr. Tendo. I promise. It was all dad and Ryouga and a little of Haru-kun over there." Mabushu said, waving his hands to forestall Soun's infamous demon head at him.
"Wha-? You traitor!" Ranma snapped at his son.
"Haru-kun!?! Oh that's precious!" Akisu piped up from the couch, laughing loudly. A sharp crack came from the door frame which Harumoni's hand had just crushed a part of.
"Haru-kun?!?! Mabushu!! I'm going to kill you!!" Harumoni's voice growled as she whirled about, ready to rush Mabushu. Even though she ran at him full tilt, she never moved from the spot. Keiichi had caught the back of her shirt and was holding her in place.
"Harumoni, please. There's no need to start fighting again. Mabushu was just being more familiar with you." Keiichi said with a pleasant smile.
"A little too familiar if you ask me!!" Harumoni snapped back, stopping her running.
"It just shows how much he wants to be friends with you." Keiichi said with a smile so bright it would put most halogen bulbs to shame.
"Uhm...it seems we have acquired a couple more guests Tendo. Boys, at that." Genma said, nudging his friend who was too busy staring at Mabushu and Keiichi.
"So...so it would seem Saotome." Tendo said after a moment. The two elder martial artists looked at each other and wordlessly they agreed the situation was becoming far too complex far too fast for their liking. There was only one thing to be done. A jointly developed technique of such subtle power that Soun and Genma had never allowed even their own children to know that it existed. It was one of those rare times when this technique must be used for the sake of all involved.
They nodded to each other with grave severity, in full agreement on what had to be done. Then in unison they turned and walked over to the shogi board. They sat down and began to play once again, the subtle technique they had devised now being used.
"Well then carry on boys. Ha ha!" Genma said as he placed a piece.
"Yes, and try not to damage the house too much won't you?" Soun said as he responded to Genma's move.
They were going to ignore the problem and hope it went away.
Nabiki stood on the sidewalk looking up and down the street, the Desire Doll carefully held in her hands. Every now and then she would check her watch and resume her waiting. She had already been out here for close to fifteen minutes. Pretty soon someone inside was going to notice the doll was missing and come looking for the last person who had it. Namely, her.
She looked down at the doll in her hands curiously. She could tell before it had been smashed and glued back together it had been a remarkable piece of work. Obviously magical and already it has caused quite a bit of trouble for those she knew. It was granting desires, as it had been apparently made to do, but it was no longer taking direction from anyone. It was like it was working all on its own.
She had a moment of doubt if this was the right thing to be doing with the doll, but it passed quickly. She had thought this through quite thoroughly and since Cologne was on her way to repair the doll and fix the mess it had started, what was the harm is getting a little...okay, a lot of profit from this while she had the chance? None at all, which is why when she heard the fast approaching staccato of footsteps she smirked like a pleased cat.
"Right on time Kunou-chan." She murmured to herself and turned to face the approaching self-proclaimed samurai. Her hands and thus the doll were placed behind her back as she smiled. Kunou slid to a halt a bare two paces from her and bent over slightly, gasping in breath. It seemed he had run all the way here from his estate once he woke up. After a few moments he stood up, ran a hand back through his bangs and straightened his back. It was like the brief moment of mortality had never happened for the scion of the House of Kunou.
"Nabiki Tendo. Where is the item you have in your possession that will give me the power to break that evil sorcerer Saotome's hold over the fair Pig-Tailed one?" Kunou's voice intoned with a solemnity that only made the excitement in his eyes all the more easy to see.
"It's right here Kunou-chan." Nabiki said with a grin as she brought the doll around for him to see. Kunou blinked several times as he took in the less than pristine appearance of the doll and then gave Nabiki a withering look that totally failed to do its job on her.
"What is this?" Kunou asked with derision.
"It's a cute little dolly." Nabiki said her grin widening at the twitch those words evoked from Kunou.
"I know it's a cute little dolly! How does this doll have the power to gain me the love of the Pig-Tailed Girl!? I refuse to deliver this through Saotome!!"
"You don't have to deliver it through Ranma, but the price is a might steep even for you Kunou-chan. Are you sure you can afford it?" Nabiki cast him a sceptical glance as if doubting not only him but the entirety of his House and his lineage. It had the desired effect on Kunou. Nabiki could almost see his ego visibly swelling as he began to speak.
"That is an absolutely groundless doubt Nabiki Tendo. I am Tatewaki Kunou, The Blue Thunder of Furinkin High, fighter of the evil hordes of Saotome and protector of the honour and virtue of Akane Tendo and the Pig-Tailed Girl. I am a man blessed by the gods themselves and bearing within my veins the righteous blood of the greatest of samurai. I have wealth such that would cause the Olden Emperors of Japan envy. I can, I shall, and I will purchase anything that will draw the Pig-Tailed Girl closer to me! State your price Nabiki Tendo!" Kunou ended his little speech with a finger pointed at Nabiki. The whole thing was terribly dramatic yet Nabiki was favouring him with a bored look for most of it.
"Oh I know that Kunou-chan but this doll is no ordinary doll. It's magical and very rare and powerful. It was created over 3000 years ago in China for a little girl that had no home. A powerful wizard took pity and gave her it so she would have what she always desired and it was granted. She had a home and a family that loved her." Nabiki paused then to turn her face away from Kunou, as she pretended to wipe away a few tears.
"So it can grant my desires?! Whatever they may be?" Kunou asked, looking to the doll with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
"It could, yes. But as I said it is a steep price-" Nabiki didn't get to finish what she was saying for Kunou spoke up suddenly.
"I shall pay any price to obtain such a doll! Any price!" Kunou exclaimed and Nabiki smiled. It would have given a demon pause to wonder if he truly had come out on top.
"Even...if the price is everything you're worth?" Nabiki asked slyly. Kunou blinked and froze for a long moment, staring victoriously at the heavens. Then he looked down to Nabiki and laughed.
"I must still have a faint ringing in my ears, Nabiki Tendo, for I could have sworn I just heard you ask me for everything I am worth in exchange for that well-abused doll of dubious power." Kunou said favouring Nabiki with a condescending expression.
"I did Kunou-chan." Nabiki murmured softly as a small smirk tugged one corner or her lips upwards. In her mind she counted backwards from five to zero.
"What?! You dare to charge such a prodigious sum to the great and noble Tatewaki Kunou who graces this yard with the presence of his utmost urgent mission of love?" Kunou's face was a deep shade of purple and his eyes bulged in their sockets as he stared at Nabiki is fiery wrath.
"Kunou-chan this doll has great power. It can grant your wish in an instant and ask nothing in return. It is only fair for me to ask a price that is equal to the doll's powers. But you are the great Tatewaki Kunou. I'm sure you can free your beloved Pig-Tailed Girl on your own without the help of this little doll. I'll just leave you to yourself." Nabiki's voice was calm and collected and slightly derisive as she turned to walk back to the
"Halt! Take not one more step towards your home. Perhaps…perhaps I was a bit hasty in choosing my words. Surely we can discuss a suitable payment for this rare and exquisite doll, so that I may free the Pig-Tailed Girl once and for all." Kunou spoke, his voice at once both calm and yet desperate. Nabiki smiled to herself and then wiped it from her face before she turned around. Sometimes with Kunou it was all just too easy.
"It's like I told you Kunou-chan, this doll is not something that should be tossed around loosely and without any thought to the consequences that would arise. I need to know my recompense for delivering this to your hands is well worth the trouble that might come because of it. You get what I'm saying right?" Nabiki raised an eyebrow archly as Kunou's face twisted once more into anger.
"I will never destitute the House of Kunou for such an action would bring upon my soul the wrath of all my Elders! You ask far too much Nabiki Tendo!" Kunou's voice rang out and if the weather mirrored his mood a storm would be breaking overhead. Nabiki merely shrugged and turned again for her home.
"Suit yourself, Kunou-chan. No doll for you. It'll be such a shame to see the Pig-Tailed Girl cry when I tell her you wouldn't do everything in your power to save her. She'll be so...devastated. And Akane, what will she think when she hears how selfish you were acting." Nabiki glanced over her shoulder then to see the entire wrath leak out of Kunou.
"The Pig-Tailed Girl...and Akane Tendo. I could save them…save them both with this doll." Kunou spoke calmly, the realization just now dawning on him.
"Yes Kunou-chan, you could save them both. What you have to ask yourself now is, what's more important to you? Money or the love of your Pig-Tailed Girl and Akane?" Nabiki grinned as she watched him think…and think…and think. Finally she turned around and folded her arms, scowling. "Anytime Kunou, I don't have all day you know!"
"I'm thinking I'm thinking!!" Kunou scowled right back and then closed his eyes tightly. As he stood there debating the issue a daydream formed in his mind. In it he was rich, surrounded by wealth and power and off in the distance, in a black and desolate land stood Ranma holding the Pig-Tailed Girl & Akane captive, taunting him. His dream changed to another where he sat as a bum on the street, his clothes in tatters. The Pig-Tailed Girl ran up happily and hopped into his lap, hugged him tightly and covered his face in kisses. Moments later Akane wrapped her arms around Kunou from behind and the two of them murmured their love for him, once in each of his ears. He snapped out of the daydreams and stared at Nabiki with a fire burning in his eyes.
"I will agree to your terms...for the Pig-Tailed Girl & Akane Tendo!!" Nabiki felt like jumping up and down, screaming yes over and over, but she restrained herself to only a small smile. From her back pocket she produced a folded piece of paper and a pen and held them out to Kunou.
"Sign on the dotted line Kunou-chan and the doll is all yours." Nabiki said and watched as Kunou unfolded the paper and read it over with a grim determination. Nabiki even offered her back for the contract to be signed on and when it was done, she took the paper and handed Kunou the doll. Kunou looked down at the doll in his hands and then threw back his head and laughed!
"Now I have you Saotome! The vengeance of heaven is slow but sure and today...today it shall seize itself upon you and deliver you unto eternal damnation! Hahahahahaha!!!" Kunou then paused in his laughter and looked down at the doll quizzically before turning his gaze to Nabiki. "How does it work?" He asked keeping the embarrassment from his cheeks through a force of his indomitable will alone.
"Since you just gave me oh…everything you own I suppose I can give you this as a freebie Kunou-chan. The doll grants desires, you understand. You have to desire something very strongly and it will grant it. Simple, isn't it? Now if you'll excuse me I have to get back inside before the children make a mess of the place." Nabiki says with a small smirk.
"Children? What children do you speak of, Nabiki Tendo? Have you taken a part-time job as a babysitter?" Kunou asked, one eyebrow climbing his forehead. No matter what light you may shine upon her, Kunou could not picture Nabiki having anything to do with children, especially not caring for them.
"Uhh, no Kunou-chan, they aren't mine to look after, thank the gods. I guess you could say they are Akane and Ukyou's problem. I suppose Ranma and Ryouga's as well. They're the ones doing the babysitting at the moment." Nabiki says, the amusement in her voice all but dripping from the words.
"Ah yes, that makes sense indeed. Noble Akane, such a fierce warrior, she would make a protective and demure mother to any son, a loving and loyal wife to any man. Such is the way it shall be when we have wed and she is at my side." Kunou looked to the sky as he spoke, his eyes filling with tears of joy.
"Uh huh, sure thing Kunou, whatever you say." Nabiki said, waving a hand at Kunou as she turned to head inside. She did not need to listen to the ramblings of a deluded, and now destitute, man.
"Were that I were a lesser man, my thought might turn to fouler deeds and methods of using this doll to gain mastery over Akane Tendo and the Pig-Tailed Girl. But I am the scion of the House of Kunou, and my soul is pure. Perhaps, small doll, you might grant me a vision of my future happiness, with Akane Tendo and the Pig-Tailed Girl at my side. Show me that I have no erred in my purchase of you. A glorious vision of wedded bliss and fruition of our coupling! A strong and manly son, following in his father's footsteps to become the greatest man Japan has known, a man befitting to be Emperor!" Kunou's voice rose in clarity and to Nabiki's ears in madness towards the end of his speech. She turned around then to stare at Kunou as he held the doll aloft and too late saw the eyes spark.
A flash of greenish-white light explodes from the doll and engulfs the area. It faded away and a young man of about 17 stood between Kunou and Nabiki. He was wearing an outfit very similar to Kunou's, and tailored to fit him perfectly. He was about halfway between Kunou's and Nabiki's height and had cool hazel eyes and dark brown hair which was styled remarkably like Nabiki's except for a small pouf of bangs at the front. He wore at his hip a wooden practice sword he looked about ready to draw. He blinked and looked back and forth between Nabiki and Kunou, confusion filling his eyes for several moments, only to be replaced by irritation.
"This will simply not do. A moment ago I stood ready to do battle against my most terrible nemesis and now I find I have been spirited away by some unknown magic. He will think me a coward, no doubt, and spread slander about my person. Therefore I have no other course but to demand an explanation for this occurrence. Father…Mother…I hope you have one prepared for me?" The young man spoke folding his arms and once again looked between the two of them.
"Did you just call her..." Kunou began to say, staring at the young man who…had to be his son. The bearing, the refined speech, the clothing it all pointed to it.
"I'm sorry, what? Did you call me your Mother? Me?" Nabiki asked as she stared, for once her icy composure beginning to show signs of strain.
"Yes, what else should I hope to call the one that bore me unto the earth, but my Mother. Is something amiss? I can not help but notice you both look rather…to put it bluntly, pole axed, as well as a good deal more youthful than I recall from this morning" the young man spoke again taking a couple of steps back so he could look at both of them at the same time.
"You could say that. Kunou-chan, I thought even you couldn't screw something like this up but you did. Well done, you've surpassed even my expectations of you. Alright kid, allow me to explain, I think I know what happened. You're in the past and accidentally got pulled here by your idiot of a father. What's your name?" Nabiki said restoring her natural calm, though the strain was still visible if one looked for it.
"You will not put the blame for this upon me, Nabiki Tendo. It is this doll. It is obviously defective! I demand my money back." Kunou intoned and tossed the doll to one side, right into the young man's arms.
"Er, I am Kotei Kunou, the Golden Thunder of Furinkin High School and undefeated kendo champion. I am also a paragon of virtue which all male students look up to for guidance and wisdom." Kotei spoke, looking proud and striking a pose, though the doll tucked under one arm detracted from it a little.
"The doll is not defective and no refunds Kunou-chan. What's defective is your brain. All you had to do was give it a clear desire. It's not my fault your brain can't focus long enough to do that." Nabiki smirked at Kunou who took a step closer to her, his face turning a shade of purple.
"You dare to insult the noble Tatewaki Kunou?! Despite the help you have given me in my quest in the past I shall not hesitate to strike you down should you step past your boundaries, Nabiki Tendo!" Kunou shouted at Nabiki, eyes burning with indignation.
"I am also a…proud member of the Furinkin Drama Society and leading man the past three years running. Mother, Father, are either of you listening to me at all?" Kotei asked, taking a couple more steps back.
"You're going to draw your sword against not only a woman but an unarmed one at that? I would very much like to see you try Kunou-chan! I can guarantee you my sister would lose what little respect she has for you in a heartbeat then!" Nabiki retorted with a vindictive little snarl to her voice.
"Oh how like you, to stoop to the level of blackmail instead of facing me like one of true warrior blood! You should have been born into the ninja instead of the samurai!" Kunou half yelled, half lamented at Nabiki.
"I guess not. They even act like they're married this far back. And this doll must have brought me back. Obviously Chinese and that means…the Nekohanten. I think I'm in the mood for some Chinese. How about you?" Kotei, no longer being paid any attention, shifted his method of speech and smirked at the doll before he turned and walked out of the Tendo's yard doll in his hands. Behind him Kunou and Nabiki continue to argue at each other, neither of them noticed his departure.
Inside the Tendo's living room seated about are Ranma and Ryouga, near each other on the couch looking at their children with mixed expressions of happiness and concern at the situation. Opposite them sat Harumoni and Mabushu each in a chair. Keiichi was casually sweeping the floor while Kasumi finished up the dusting. Akisu lay on the floor bored as she watched the television. Soun and Genma sat playing shogi off near the corner. Outside could be heard the voices of Nabiki and Kunou just beginning to argue.
"It's a lovely day. Maybe you all should go and train or whatever you do in that 'martial arts stuff', you know?" Keiichi said with a bright smile.
"Man, still is hard to believe he's Ryouga's kid. Well at least he hasn't got his father's temper." Ranma murmured and shook his head.
"I do not have a temper, Ranma! I have about as much of a temper as you have brains!" Ryouga shouted and folded his arms.
"Heh, I rest my case." Ranma said with a smirk.
"Ha, so you do agree with me!" Ryouga retorted, looking as pleased as Ranma. Ranma just rolled his eyes as Mabushu smacked his forehead with his palm. Akisu snickered to herself and Harumoni cleared her throat a bit.
"Um, Dad? Stop talking, okay? You're making it worse." Harumoni said bluntly, but not unkindly to Ryouga. He paused and turned a bit red, murmuring something that could have been an affirmative.
"At least you got your Mom's intelligence." Ranma said looking at Harumoni.
"Ranma you…er, you actually complimented Akane….?" Ryouga blinked as his anger, ready to fly off at Ranma, got derailed when what was said actually sunk in.
"Well yeah, I might call her an idiot and a stupid tomboy but I don't mean any of that. I know she's smart, how else does she get such good marks in math class. I don't understand half that stuff. Ngh..?" Ranma paused a moment to dig his pinkie finger in his ear a bit. "Do you guys hear that? Kinda like a ringing noise?" He asked when he pulled his finger out and looked around at everyone, only to get a few head shakes and a couple of no's in response.
"If you don't mean any of that then why do you insult her all the time Ranma? Why don't you treat her better?" Ryouga asked, frowning at him.
"Why do you think I do it, moron? She insults me just as much if not more. She deserves what she gets if she's gonna go doing that. Ah hey! Quit it!!" Ranma snapped dodging with a flip over the back of the couch as Harumoni lashed out with a sudden kick at Ranma.
"Hmph! I would appreciate it if you would not insult my father! If it wasn't for Mayor Saotome you'd have been locked up long ago, you two-timing bastard!" Harumoni snapped out, her eyes glaring swords at Ranma. Ryouga, Mabushu and Genma all looked to Harumoni in shock at these words. Soun took advantage of the distraction to rearrange several pieces on the board. Akisu sat up and spun around to watch everyone else intently, her boredom no longer there. Ranma landed lightly on his feet and into a defensive stance, returned Harumoni's glare with one of his own.
"Ryouga, you really should teach your daughter better manners. Calling someone a two-timing bastard is rude." Keiichi said with a stern yet cute smile on his face.
"Keiichi-chan is right. Besides Ranma is not a two-timing bastard." Kasumi said with a small smile for Ranma's benefit.
"Thanks Kasumi!" Ranma said with a sigh of relief and a smile. At last, finally someone was coming to his defence.
"He's a four-timing bastard at last count, at least according to Akisu-chan. Oh my. Look at the time; I'd better go start dinner." Kasumi said with the same tone throughout it all and moved towards the kitchen.
"I'll help Kasumi-sensei!" Keiichi said and bustled after her. For several long moments everyone in the room couldn't help but stare towards the kitchen door in utter shock.
"Gah, damn it I am not a bastard!" Ranma recovered first and growled to the room in general, once more digging a finger into his ear to try and dispel the ringing noise.
"My son is correct, Nodoka and I were married." Genma spoke up calmly, placing a shogi piece on the board.
"Shut up old man, no one asked you! And as for you, I'm getting tired of your mouth!" Ranma growled and then pointed a finger at Harumoni.
"Grrr….Ranma…!" Ryouga stepped in front of Harumoni, his battle aura flaring to life around him.
"Dad don't bother, he knows what he is. Besides...he's just jealous of the fact that Mom loves you. The whole town knows it!" Harumoni stated calmly placing a hand on Ryouga's shoulder from behind.
"I am not jealous! Why would I care who that uncute tomboy likes?!" Ranma scoffed at the very idea of it.
"She is not a tomboy!" Ryouga shouted and immediately brought his hands up into a fighting stance, while Ranma did much the same a vicious little smirk playing across his lips.
"Ooooh this should be fun. A fight between two very well built men, throwing each other around the room. I hope one gets thrown my way!" Akisu said to herself, but made no effort to lower her voice at all, so everyone heard her.
"You do realize that one of those men is your father?" Mabushu said with a raised eyebrow.
"That never stopped me before." Akisu quipped with a wink at Mabushu.
"B...B...Before? Wait a minute, you mean…?" Mabushu stammered out his eyes widening. Ranma suddenly developed an interesting shade of green to his cheeks.
"Oh my God!" Ranma said his own eyes mirroring Mabushu.
"That's sick, how could you ever think of doing something like that?!" Harumoni exclaimed looking at Akisu with new levels of disgust.
"Ranma you pervert! Not only did you sleep with both my wives...you're sleeping with your daughter too!?" Ryouga shouted at Ranma lifting his fists once more.
"Ryouga will you just listen to yourself for just a minute, you aren't making any sense!? Both of your wives; none of this has happened yet if at all! I haven't slept with anyone at all!" Ranma shouted back at Ryouga.
"Ranma! You have dishonoured the Saotome name. If your mother knew of this...she would kill us both!!" Genma spoke sternly from his place at the shogi board, the game forgotten for the moment.
"Oh!! The sadness of it all!! My son-in-law!! A pervert!!! How could you?!" Soun wailed at Genma, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Oh Grandfathers, stop acting so silly. It's okay. I didn't mind at all. I enjoyed it!" Akisu said with a cheery smile directed at Soun and Genma. For a moment Soun and Genma stared in shock at the young girl and then Soun turned to Genma and pulled a sword out of nowhere.
"Saotome!! You have raised your son to be a pervert. In engaging him to my Akane you have also disgraced the Tendo name. I must have vengeance for this!" Soun bellowed and slashed the sword at Genma's head. Genma dodged the strike more nimbly than he looked capable of and ran for the door.
"Tendo!! It's the boy, I swear!! I did my best!!" Genma cried back at Soun as the two fled outdoors.
Ranma just shakes his head and groans as he hops onto the back of the couch and then down to stand in front of it a moment, before flopping back. The desire to fight fled from him for the moment.
"Ugh, why me? Why is it always me? Er…Akisu? You weren't serious, about all that, were you?" Ranma asked with a small nervous laugh.
"Well, I can prove it to you, if you'd like. I must say you do look better when you're my age. Though now you're hardly as experienced as you were then." Akisu murmured, emphasizing her words with a throaty rumble and a smouldering look. Ranma and Ryouga both looked about to develop nose bleeds and Mabushu looked about ready to pass out.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again. Like father like daughter! You're both perverts!" Harumoni said looking thoroughly disgusted as she sat back down in her chair.
"Well I am what I am; there's no sense in denying it really. And right now I am feeling very, very friendly." Akisu said and looked towards Mabushu as she began to cat crawl towards him across the floor.
"Uh…r-really? Friendly, huh?" Mabushu said and moved to back away only to be reminded he was sitting in a chair.
"Mmm hmmm. Very friendly." Akisu said and blew a kiss to Mabushu.
"Uhh oh look at the time I uhh I have a dentist's appointment to go to bye!" Mabushu said quickly and mimicking Ranma's move from earlier flipped over to behind the chair, turned and bolted from the house.
"Oh I like it when they play hard to get!" Akisu cried with a fierce grin and was on her feet and dashing after him in a flash!
Meanwhile, back outside Kunou and Nabiki stood nearly face to face, and glared at each other as they argued. Between them the air crackled with the tension. Kunou was angry enough he had manifested his battle aura. If he had been in a more attentive frame of mind he might have noticed that Nabiki had manifested a battle aura of her own. At this point the argument had lost the need for words and had progressed into the realm of looks. Every subtle inflection of the face, a change in the light which burned in their eyes, held their fury and contempt for the other. Each only waited for the moment of weakness in the other before the attack was to be pressed.
"Aaaahhhhh! No! Go away leave me alone!!" Mabushu shouted as he ran from the Tendo's towards Nabiki and Kunou. He leapt into the air, his foot landing squarely on Kunou's head, from which he pushed himself off of to reach the far wall and disappear over it. Nabiki stepped back and to one side. She blinked in shock at this intrusion into her argument with Kunou.
"Oh come on you big baby! I won't bite, unless you want me to." Akisu called cheerfully after Mabushu as she ran after him, directly towards Kunou.
"Ah my Pig-Tailed Goddess you have finally come to me!!" Kunou exclaimed at the sight of Akisu running towards him with a smile on her face. Akisu jumped at the last moment, her foot snapped out as she passed by Kunou to kick him in the side of the head. Kunou stood for a long moment as Akisu continued after Mabushu, jumping over the wall herself, and then he simply collapsed to the ground. Nabiki frowned at Kunou and then checked her watch with a blink. Had she really wasted that long arguing with Kunou?
" I have to get away from the chaos of this place for a few minutes so I can think clearly. It's starting to affect me as badly as everyone else around here." Nabiki muttered to herself before she turned and walked back towards the house. Kunou continued to lay unconscious on the ground as several minutes pass. Akisu walked back into the ground through the gates, a pout on her lips.
"He's quick! I'll get him yet though. Now what have we here? He's handsome enough, well built enough too. He'll do...for now." Akisu murmured to herself as she crouched by Kunou and placed a hand to his chest and dragged her nails lightly down it for a moment. Her decision made she hefted him up over her shoulder and gave a look around before she took a few running steps. She then jumped to the tree and then to the roof and stepped over to part of the roof. She thumped it with the heel of her foot and a secret hatch sprang open. She dropped Kunou down it and slipped in after, closing the hatch behind her. A few moments after she closed it, Genma landed on the roof and scrambled away as Soun lands a moment later sword still in hand.
"Saotome! Stop running and face me! Face your dishonour!!" Soun shouted after Genma his sword cleaving the air in great arcs of fury.
"Tendo I swear! It's the boy! It's not my fault! He never listens to me!" Genma called back though he never stopped running. The two continue to chase and be chased further across the town.
As Ranma, Ryouga and Harumoni stared after Akisu and Mabushu; Nabiki returned and walked through the living room. She headed up the stairs a folded paper being tapped against her lips in thought as she went. Ranma sighed and shook his head.
"Man...I thought things were beginning to calm down around here." Ranma muttered to himself.
"This is all your fault you know!" Ryouga scowled at Ranma.
"What?! How is this my fault?!" Ranma asked as his ire began to rise again.
"If you hadn't gone along with Shampoo none of this would've even happened!" Ryouga said and stabbed a finger into Ranma's chest.
"Oh no, you're not blaming this on me! It was Shampoo and that doll of hers! I didn't have a choice!" Ranma said taking a step back and shaking his head.
"Father's right! You could have said no and told her not to bother!" Harumoni piped up.
"Why are you suddenly on my case?! Again! What did I ever do to you?!" Ranma asked, irritated at this girl who seemed to just have it out for him.
"Where do I start?" Harumoni retorted, sarcasm evident in her tone.
"Hey, you can't blame anything that hasn't happened to me yet on me! That's not fair!" Ranma replied with a glare.
"Ranma! Show some respect for my daughter!" Ryouga butted in, getting between Ranma and Harumoni.
"Respect?! Why should I?! Not only is she your daughter...she's the daughter of that-" Ranma began to say when Ryouga cut in with a growl.
"Don't finish that sentence Ranma! God you're such an idiot Ranma! Why don't you wake up for a change and see what you've got!?" Ryouga asked with a frown.
"What are you talking about? What do I have, besides more trouble than I want?" Ranma asked with a scoff. Out of sight of Ranma and Ryouga, Akane and Ukyou stop, just inside the doorway from the back yard to listen. Harumoni sees the both of them but says nothing.
"You're engaged to Akane you moron! All the boys at Furinkin used to fight her everyday because they thought if they won, they'd get to go out with her! Akane is not a tomboy Ranma! She a very cute, no she's a beautiful woman and you don't even appreciate her or show her any of the respect she deserves! If you had a brain in that head of yours you'd wake the hell up and start treating her right! Some of us aren't as lucky as you and get to be engaged to her." Ryouga said, his voice full of raw emotion.
"Lucky? Ha!" Ranma snorted and folded his arms.
"You're more of an idiot than I thought you were Ranma! Why can't you just admit it!? You have feelings for her too!" Ryouga stated, a great deal more calmly than he felt at the moment.
"You mean like you, Mister I-can't-say-five-words-to-Akane-without-going-all-gaga?" Ranma taunted and took a quick jump back when Ryouga swung a fist at him.
"You shut up!! I'll tell her one of these days! You just watch!!" Ryouga scowled at Ranma.
"Yeah right Ryouga! What's it been now?! A year? You've been trying to tell her for how long?! Face it, you'll never do it! You don't have the guts!" Ranma smirked then, his voice full of malice and spite at the moment. Again Ryouga tried to land a punch which Ranma easily dodged.
"You shut up! I'll tell her! When the time is right! One day...one day I'll finally come out and tell Akane I love her." Ryouga said, his voice losing its fury towards the end. Harumoni smiled widely seeing Akane's eyes widen at Ryouga's words. Standing just behind Akane, Ukyou was also smiling at the confession. At last Akane had finally heard the words from Ryouga's own mouth! Yes!
"Just you wait and see Ranma! I'll tell her...and win her heart from you! You aren't worthy of Akane! You never treat her like you should!" Ryouga snapped at Ranma, his anger beginning to rise once more.
"What do you mean I don't treat her like I should?! I save her and protect her and..." Ranma stated, confusion warring on his face.
"So have I Ranma! So has everyone else we know at one time or another! You don't get it do you!! You insult her Ranma! You insult her and that hurts her! She is not a tomboy! She is not weak! So...so her cooking isn't the best..." Ryouga's tirade began to falter as he got to that point.
"You got that right! I wouldn't even use it to kill weeds, it's too toxic!" Ranma interrupted Ryouga spurring his anger on even more.
"At least she tries Ranma! She tries and all you do is insult her! I'm surprised she even puts up with you anymore! I love her Ranma and if you do as well...start showing it! She deserves happiness not insults! She is the most kind and caring and loving person I've ever met and she deserves more than what you're giving her!" Ryouga said, his arms folding as he glares sternly at Ranma. Ranma stood and blinked, staring at Ryouga as if he had just met the man. His eyes caught movement over Ryouga's should and he looked and saw Akane standing there, eyes wide, Ukyou just behind her.
"A...A...Akane?" Ranma said…haltingly his own eyes widening.
"Yes Ranma, Akane! That who we've been talking about! The person you should treat better! The person..." Ryouga pauses then as he notes Ranma's look and where it is directed. Realization hit him then and his shoulder sag. He swallowed the lump that suddenly had formed in his throat. "She's...she's...right behind me...isn't she?" Ryouga asked quietly as he looked at Ranma. Ranma looked back and silently nodded.
"A...A...A...kane...san?" Ryouga stammered out as he turned to stare at Akane. Slowly and carefully Akane regained her composure and looked at Ryouga.
"Ryouga-kun? I...I...I never knew, that you felt like that. Is it true?" Akane asked, her voice quiet and shy.
"Well I...that is...Akane...I..." Ryouga began to speak, his cheeks flushed a bright red as he stared at the floor. He worried at the floor with the toe of his shoe even as he tried to form the words to say. Ranma sighed at this and opened his mouth to say something but Harumoni was quicker and was attached to Ranma, one hand covering his mouth as the two fell back onto a chair and struggled near silently.
"You see...I...I...I...I...urgh. Wait...Akane I...you see the thing is…what I mean to say is…that I…I do. I mean yes. I mean…yes, I do…I do lo…love…you." Ryouga finally managed to stammer out the words to her face and when he did, his shoulders slumped as if a great weight had been lifted off them. Akane swallowed and took a step forwards so she could be closer to Ryouga.
"Ryouga-kun...I...I… Thank you, Ryouga. I'm glad you told me. Thank you also for sticking up for me against Ranma. I can always count on you. You've always been a very, very close friend, Ryouga." Akane said with a small smile on her face as she reached up and took hold of Ryouga's hands in hers.
"Of...c...c...course Akane-san. I'll...I'll...always be here...for you. Friends...I...I was...
"Get off me!" Ranma snapped out as he finally rolled off the chair and disentangled himself from Harumoni. "Well congrats Ryouga! You finally managed to tell her...when you didn't even think she was here. And she only thinks you're a friend! Ha!" Ranma added with a bit of a sneer to his voice.
"A...Akane...is that...true?" Ryouga winced at Ranma's words and looked to Akane, fear and doubt in his eyes.
"Ryouga...I...I…" Akane began to speak but Ryouga turned away from her, in his mind her answer having already been made plain. He ran from the house, his eyes filled with tears that already were making tracks down his cheeks.
"Father!! Come back!!" Harumoni shouted and dashed past Ranma, giving him a dirty look as she went in chase of Ryouga.
"Heh, can you believe that guy? Er…?" Ranma's grin slid off his face as he turned from the door to look at Akane, who was glaring at him with tears in her eyes. Why the hell was about to cry now of all times?
"You stupid idiot! I can't believe how insensitive you are! Ryouga might never come back here now! Ough you can be such a jerk sometimes Ranma!" She growled at him and brought down her mallet upon him. With that done she turned and stalked off upstairs to her room.
"Ugh, violent uncute tomboy…stupid ringing…geh" Ranma muttered to no one in particular as he pulled himself up into a sitting position.
"Are you okay Ran-chan? Did she hurt you much?" Ukyou asked as she knelt down beside Ranma.
"Nah. I'm fine. I'm used to it by now." Ranma murmured in reply. A few moments later Mabushu peered inside from the doorway and then snuck inside.
"Whew. Lost her! Thank god she didn't double back on me." Mabushu said a heave of breath, as Ranma and Ukyou took in his less than kempt appearance. It looked like he just ran through a wooded area; bits of twigs were stuck in his hair.
"Lost who sugar? And make sure you wash up before dinner." Ukyou asked her son.
"Akisu. She was hitting on me." Mabushu said with a little shudder.
"She was? But aren't you, technically, her half-brother?" Ukyou frowned. She knew Akisu was a bit of a pervert but…she wouldn't go that far would she?
"Yeah but, she doesn't care, isn't that right Pop? You won't believe this Mom it's so sick! According to her…" Mabushu begins to speak and Ranma's eyes go wide and he begins to make 'no-no' gestures with his hands behind Ukyou's back while mouthing those words. Mabushu doesn't notice Ranma's frantic signals, so caught up in telling Ukyou this bit of gossip. "...she's even slept with Dad here! Can you believe that? What a freak huh?" Mabushu finishes with a chuckle.
"You slept with your own daughter? Ran-chan? You slept with your own daughter?" Ukyou asked as she climbed to her feet, freed her mega spatula and gave Ranma a few good whacks. She then stalked off towards the Tendo's backyard.
"Ouch. That looks like it hurt, Pop. Sucks to be you." Mabushu said with a small grin. Suddenly from in the kitchen Kasumi and Keiichi's voice called out simultaneously.
"Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes!" The twin sing-song voices announced, which set Mabushu's stomach to growling.
"Mm food. See you at supper Pop!" Mabushu said and snuck off towards the kitchen to see if he couldn't steal a bite to eat beforehand.
"Why me?!" Ranma asked with a groan as he lay on the floor, unable to find the energy to pick himself up right then.
At a quiet park, the sandbox and playthings of children sat quietly waiting for children that were busy playing video games in stuffy arcades. From some bushes there came a rustle and then Ryouga burst forth. His flight was brought short by a root which tripped him to his knees. He landed and remained there, tears running from his eyes and the feeling of loneliness and despair, that familiar companion, welled up inside him.
"Akane, doesn't love me. She thinks of me as a friend. Just a friend, nothing more, never anything more. How could I even hope she would lo-love, someone like me? I'm so stupid and always getting lost. There's no way…she deserves anyone else. Even Ranma is better than me, he's at least always around. Oh god I'm so stupid I shouldn't have said anything!" Ryouga said and hunched over, his arms wrapped around himself as if to keep from falling to pieces on the spot. A few soft footsteps and then Harumoni knelt besides him, her arms wrapped around him as well.
"Daddy, don't say that. Mom loves you! I know it. That asshole Ranma is just jealous! Come on Dad stop crying. Listen to me. You have to go back and talk to Mom. You have to." Harumoni said with a small smile.
"I can't, I can't go back there. I can't look at her…hear her say she doesn't love me. My heart will break worse than it already has. Ryouga said his voice cracking and breaking as he spoke.
"Dad! You always told me when I was little that you never run away from your problems. Never! I always listened to you and I never have run away from my problems. Are you going to run away now and make a bad example for me?! Are you?" Harumoni took a stern tone of voice then and glared at Ryouga who blinked and looked to her. He blinked away the tears and saw the stern look on her cute face, the warmth in her eyes and somewhere within a part of him spoke up and said she was right. He clenched a fist, tighter and tighter until the pain in his hand lifted him up from the sadness and above it.
"You're right, Harumoni. You're right, I'm…not going to run away from this. I'm going to face it, whatever may come." Ryouga said and offered a timid and fragile smile to his daughter.
"Good! Now come on. Let's go back. I think Mom's waiting to talk to you." Harumoni said and she took Ryouga's hand and proceeded to lead him back to the Tendo's.
"Re-really? You really think so?" Ryouga asked, hopefully.
"Uh-huh. Let's hurry." Harumoni said with a broad smile.
Meanwhile up in her room, Akane stood and growled fists clenched as a need built in her to hit something very badly. She finally grabbed a barbell and hurled it out an open window satisfied at the crash it made in the far wall. She sighed and slumped onto her bed on her stomach.
"That idiot! How could he do that to Ryouga!? Ryouga...loves me? What do I feel for him though? He's a great friend. He's always been nice to me." She sighed and rolled off her bed to walk to the window and look out it at the sky and the clouds. "I just don't know. Things have gotten so confusing so quickly. I...I do like him...I...maybe even... I'm sorry for Ranma, Ryouga...wherever you are now. Please hurry back. I have to tell you...to tell you how I feel. Please hurry back. I can't let this end this way." Akane walked back to her bed and flopped down onto it on her back to stare at her ceiling.
Nabiki was giddy. Not just normal giddy either. Totally excited once-in-a-lifetime ultimate super giddy. She actually giggled loudly to herself as she looked once again to the piece of paper sitting at the center of her desk with Kunou's signature on it. It was perfect. Everything she always wanted! Right there! She couldn't help herself so she read the, now slightly modified contract between her and Kunou once again to herself out loud.
"I do hereby bequeath all of my physical and monetary possessions to one Nabiki Tendo in exchange for receiving the Desire Doll. I also hereby give myself to her as a personal servant as well as my personal servant, Sasuke, and any property, businesses, collectibles, etc. to her to do with as she pleases. Signed, Tatewaki Kunou." She burst out into giggles yet again and jumped up and down for a while before composing herself. She picked up the paper and walked over and moved a wall tile revealing a small safe. She carefully opened it and set the paper inside shutting it and locking it. She walked back over to her desk and took out the photocopy she had made and folded it. She put it in her pocket and smirked to herself as she thought of the fun she was going to have.
"Kunou-chan, despite your bungling with the doll and bringing your son here...you've just made me the happiest woman on earth." Nabiki then, in a moment quite unlike her, laughed to herself in pure joy.
Across town at the Nekohanten, said son of Kunou and Nabiki was just entering the restaurant despite the closed sign which hung on the door. He glanced around the room and raised an eyebrow curiously, if was different than he remembered, but that was only to be expected.
"Ahem. Shampoo!!" Kotei cleared his throat before he shouted into the empty building. There was a sudden sound from the kitche and a moment later Shampoo bounded out from the kitchen's swinging doors.
"Sword boy? What you do here?" Shampoo asked with a frown.
"Sword boy…ah no. I am afraid you have me mistaken. I am not Tatewaki Kunou. I am his son from the future, Kotei." Kotei said with an easy smile.
"Kunou son? Aiya, Doll used again." Shampoo said biting her lower lip for a moment in worry.
"Apparently so." Kotei said as he held up the doll with one hand
"Aiya! Give doll now! Quick!" Shampoo exclaimed and leapt towards Kotei to take the doll. With a movement exuding grace Kotei seemed to slide backwards to the front doors of the restaurant even as he drew his wooden practice sword. Though it was not wood but a length of polished steel which he presented, the rest of the practice sword remained at his hip like a sheath. Shampoo stopped and remained poised on the balls of her feet as he held the sword out, the tip very close to her throat.
"Ah ah ah, let's not be hasty now, shall we? Now that we have a better understanding of each other, Shampoo. Let's make a deal, shall we?" Kotei said and smiled, looking every bit like his mother right then and there.
End of Part 3
Author's Miscellany: This chapter took me forever to revise, mostly because of a massive case of writer's block around the part where Nabiki sells the doll to Kunou. I wanted to tackle that scene a bit differently yet every time I sat down to work on it I came up with nothing. A total blank. But luckily I eventually got past that and I hope the next few chapters will be quicker to revise.
Also of note is Keiichi, that darling and polite young fellow Kasumi accidentally inspired the doll to bring back. I know he seems just like a male Kasumi, that was intentional. What will be coming next with him will be different from the original version. I also did a lot of minor changed to the script in the conversations and arguments the characters are having and I think it really flows a lot better now.
And just to give you a sneak peak as to what's coming next in chapter 4…Kotei and Nabiki square off. More children from the future(s). And Ryouga's big secret gets outed. Oh yeah and Ranma loses his mind. Fun for all in the next chapter of The Desire Doll!