Do you really need me to say it again? Fine.
I don't own Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon, Henry Rollins' quotes or any other series that might appear herein.
Author's Advisory: It's been brought to my attention that some of the actions of the characters in this fic aren't supported by canon, specifically Akane and Kasumi. I appreciate the heads up, but it must be said that this is a fanfic. Departure from canon is rather implied, and considering all the myriad pairings and OOC action in the Ranma archives, I hardly think my portrayal of Akane and Kasumi is all that out there. Yes, I'm showing a rather cliché Akane, but that's what I'm using.
Again, I thank those reviewers for pointing out the points mentioned. All reviews are appreciated, honestly.
Yosh! On with the story!
Panda signs
Sound Effects
'Thinking'
--
Ranma drifted slowly back into consciousness as morning sunshine touched his face.
'Mmm. Warm. Comfy.'
Muttering in sleepy contentment he snuggled deeper into his pillow. Man, his futon had gotten really comfortable!
Into this contentment flowed a trickle of awareness.
'Huh? Sunlight? My room faces west'.
Reluctantly cracking an eyelid, Ranma noted he was in the living room.
'Musta fallen asleep here last night. Ah well, back to snoozin'.'
Turning onto his side he hugged his big pillow closer.
Which mumbled gently in its sleep.
Ranma felt a growing sense of unease as his awakening mind began to conclusions.
His pillow had mumbled.
Pillows do not, as a rule, mumble.
This was not, therefore, a pillow. It must be something else.
Something that was soft and warm and smelled great-
"Oh my!"
-and said "Oh my"…
Uh-Oh.
Connection made, Ranma's brain immediately went to battle stations and threat reduction mode.
'Run! Flee! Danger!
Wait, this is Kasumi. No battle aura, no sign of incipient violence, no…threat. Huh.
Ok, open eyes and talk to her. Do NOT say something stupid!'
Opening eyed that had clenched shut when the first wave of panic hit, Ranma took in the sight of a bright red (though smiling) Kasumi and his "good morning" died in his throat.
"Guh." 'How did I ever become worthy of her?'
Taking a deep breath, he prepared to try this 'talking' thing again when he was interrupted by the flash of a camera.
Kasumi felt wonderful. Her bed, soft and warm as it was, had reached new heights of niceness.
'I think I'll sleep in a little today' she thought, drawing the warm covers around her, luxuriating in the touch of the silk.
'Hmm. Silk. Like Ranma's shirt.' Shaking in a silent giggle Kasumi lost herself for a moment in a pleasant fantasy of snuggling with Ranma on silk sheets, of having Ranma as a big warm snuggle-toy.
'Wait a minute, I don't have silk sheets on my bed. And this blanket feels more like-'
Opening her eyes a fraction, the young woman knew both joy and embarrassment. The former due to the fact that she was, in fact, snuggling with Ranma (and having his arms around her was bliss! Squee!), the latter more to do with the location of said snuggling, vis, the living room floor.
Kasumi's blush was upgraded from 'red' to 'neon' when her blanket/snuggle partner drew her in closer, startling an "oh my!" from her.
Held in his arms as she was, she felt Ranma tense for a moment before relaxing, eyes opening to gaze at her with such a look of wondering happiness that it very nearly brought her to tears.
Just about to bid him a (very!) good morning, she was cut off by the camera's flash.
'Oh, this is perfect!' Nabiki thought to herself as she looked at the scene of pure cuteness before her.
Nabiki was typically the sort who would, if given the choice, arise at the crack of noon. Today, however, some instinct had prompted her to go in search of coffee at an hour far earlier than normal.
And here, lying on the tatami before her…
Sipping her second cup of the black blood of creativity, Nabiki considered her options.
It would probably be best to wake the two lovebirds soon, lest the fathers make an unwelcome appearance. On the other hand, Kasumi deserved a chance to snuggle if anyone did. Chasing after the first two thoughts was the desire to document the occasion.
'Well, two out of three isn't bad' she thought as a wide grin formed on her face.
Raising the camera, she took careful aim…
Click.
--
Blinking the spots out of his eyes Ranma struggled to focus his just-awakened attention on the source of the flash.
"Now THAT is a nice picture" said Nabiki, the grin still on her face. "I could probably make a pretty yen from this with the right EEP!"
Nabiki abruptly found herself cameraless, backed against a wall and staring into a pair of suddenly icy blue eyes. Eyes that held the promise of mayhem should she not reconsider her stated course of action.
"K-Kidding! Kidding!"
'How the hell did he do that?! I didn't even see him move!'
The Eyes thawed slightly at her panicked words and still further as Kasumi placed a soothing hand on Ranma's shoulder.
"Ara, please don't make jokes like that, Nabiki-chan", said Kasumi, a clear hint of steel in her words.
Nodding her head a trifle faster than strictly necessary, Nabiki silently placed 'Kasumi and Ranma's relationship' in the "Do Not Mess With, Danger!" file, alongside 'Bothering the Yakuza', 'BASE jumping without a parachute' and 'taunting a bear cub in front of its mother'. Angry Ranma plus Upset Kasumi was very clearly something to avoid.
"Gotcha Onee-chan. Sorry Ranma, I just couldn't resist. I'll ask permission next time, ok?" She grinned suddenly. "You have to admit though, it's a cute picture".
Blinking, Ranma cued up the picture in question ('When did he learn to use a digital camera?' Thought a startled Nabiki) and blushed, a glow matched by Kasumi as she looked over his shoulder.
"Could I get a copy of this picture, Nabiki-chan?" the eldest Tendo asked as she looked up from the camera.
"Sure thing Sis".
"Thank you. Now, I think I'll get started on breakfast".
"Lemme find some cold water and I'll help, Kasumi-chan" said Ranma, handing the camera back to its owner before following his new love into the kitchen.
Gazing after the two, Nabiki felt a momentary quiver.
'I have a feeling things are about to get a bit more interesting around here.'
--
Her name was Meoh Setsuna, at least in this life. Ruler of the domain of Pluto. Guardian of Time. Guiding influence of Crystal Tokyo. Last survivor of the Silver Millennium. Advisor to the Sailor Senshi-
"-And he was sooooooo hot! He had blue eyes and black hair-"
- and currently possessed of a migraine of Olympian proportions.
The Senshi meeting had started out as per the usual. Usagi arrived late and tripped over entering the room, Rei teased her, Usagi cried that Rei was picking on her and started attacking the snacks Makoto had brought and Ami had been typing away on the Mercury Computer while talking with Minako. Hotaru, Michiru and Haruka were out of town ("family Bonding" apparently), and no one had noticed Setsuna teleport in until she had spoken and scared Usagi across the room, whereupon the meeting officially started.
Everything pretty normal, in other words.
All had been going well until Makoto had given her report on a youma fought the day before. Apparently it had proven troublesome until a young man had fallen from the sky and knocked it out. Setsuna would have questioned the brunette's sanity were it not for corroboration supplied by Ami and Minako, both of whom enthusiastically confirmed the tale.
It was at that point that the report had shifted from an account of evil defeated to Makoto and Minako rhapsodizing about "The Hunk".
Setsuna tuned back into the conversation, hoping against hope that Minako had finished.
"- and he had such a nice butt! And the way he smiled, it was so manly!"
Nope, still going.
(In a house not far off an attractive redheaded woman nearly dropped her katana as she suddenly sneezed.)
'Right, enough is enough'.
"Minako!" she snapped, a vein bulging slightly in her forehead. "We get it, you like the boy! Can we get back to the meeting now?"
'Managing the Crusades didn't give me this much of a headache!'
Heaving a sigh of relief as the conversation shifted back to youma, tactics and which of the latter would best aid in the defeat of the former, Setsuna noted that Ami had been staring blankly at the mercury computer for some time.
Apparently Makoto had noticed as well, as she tapped the cobalt-haired genius on the shoulder.
'Ami-chan? You ok there?"
"Eep!" squeaked Ami, snapping back to reality with a blush forming on her face.
Noting the blush, Makoto came to a conclusion and grinned broadly.
"Hoho! Did our little Ami-chan get taken with Mina-chan's description? Our little bookworm's growing up!"
"I-it's nothing like that Mako-chan! It's just that Mina-chan's description sounds like a boy I taught to use computers a while ago".
"You know him?!" Ami abruptly found herself less than an inch from a very intense-looking Minako. "You know the Hottie who fell to earth? Out with it, tell tell tell!"
This was almost more pressure than poor Ami could take.
"I-I-I don't know! All you said was he's got black hair and blue eyes and a nice b-b-butt! It could be anyone! leave me alone!"
Sensing that Minako would not be so easily dissuaded, Setsuna was about to intervene when the appearance of a plate of Makoto's latest baking creation under the blonde's nose did her work for her.
Against the chorus of Rei and Usagi squabbling, Setsuna considered.
'This boy fell from the sky and rendered a youma unconscious without significant harm. If this boy and Ami's friend are one and the same…
It might be worthwhile to look into this'.
Without a sound, unnoticed, Setsuna teleported to her sanctum, the better to snoop.
--
It would be wrong to say that Ranma was nervous. Objectively there was little to be nervous about in the simple act of eating an early breakfast. Indeed, considering he was eating with a beautiful woman with whom he had just this morning been snuggling, quite the opposite attitude would be expected. No, Ranma's current mood was more…concerned anticipation, waiting for whatever deity or cosmic force he had ticked off to make its move
'No, wrong attitude pal. Enjoy the here and now' he thought to himself. 'Now is not the time to go pulling a Ryoga'.
"What are you thinking about Ranma-kun? You've been staring at your rice for a while now."
Twitching slightly, Ranma noted that yes, he had indeed been trying to 'Thousand-Yard Stare' his rice into submission.
'Beautiful woman right in front of you, Idiot! Stare at her!'
He sighed. "Just thinking about the reaction to you and me, Kasumi-chan".
Kasumi sighed as well. "Yes, I don't think many people are going to be pleased with me for this. At least Nabiki-chan is on our side".
"I don't wanna hide this, Kasumi" Ranma stated firmly. "Hiding's for when you're ashamed of somethin', an' I l-love you".
Kasumi's eyes widened in pleasant shock at the comment. She was happy at the confession (Happy? She wanted to squeal in glee!), but this was Ranma! Mr. Emotionally Mute!
'He must really be comfortable with me to be this open' she thought, her blush (seemingly a permanent fixture on her face these days) darkening a shade.
Noting that Ranma had continued speaking, Kasumi focused on him again.
"-gonna ask Mr. Tendo to switch the engagement to you. Er, would that be ok Kas-"
"YES! Oh my, I mean yes Ranma-kun, I'd like that."
There was quiet for a moment as the two busied themselves with their breakfast, momentarily unsure what to say. Ranma was the first to break the silence.
"I thought we could let everyone know about us tonight. Don't wanna have it hangin' over our heads, like that sword-onna-thread thingy from that old story" he explained to Kasumi's questioning look. "The sooner it gets out, the sooner everyone gets over it".
'I hope'.
"Who are you, we, going to tell? Just our families?"
"Our fathers, your sisters, Ukyo, the Amazons and Ryoga if he shows up."
"Not the Kunos?" Kasumi asked innocently, though the mischievous smirk detracted from it somewhat.
Ranma gave a melodramatic shudder before responding. "Hell no! They'd tear this place apart! Actually," he continued in a thoughtful tone, "I wonder if we could get Nabiki to help with them. Anyone can deal with those kooks, it's her".
"I think I could get her to help us if I asked nicely" Kasumi suggested with a small grin.
Ranma raised an eyebrow in response. "Kasumi-chan, you could get a cloud to stop raining if you asked it nicely. Nabiki doesn't stand a chance".
The young man abruptly became serious again.
"No, what worries me is how everyone's gonna react. I could take 'em if things get violent I think, but the house'd probably get trashed. Might be best to set up in the dojo".
"Ara, you didn't mention telling your Mother, Ranma-kun" said Kasumi as the thought occurred to her.
The pigtailed youth nodded, a slight grin creasing his face.
"Yeah, I was thinking I'd go and tell her today. Having her onside'll help keep Oyaji and your father under control".
"Could I come with you?" asked Kasumi hopefully. She liked Auntie Nodoka, and the chance to meet her as her future daughter-in-law…!
'And perhaps I can help with that silly manliness obsession as well'.
Ranma's smile broadened at the request, taking on a slight element of teasing.
"Sure, though you'll probably have to deal with a lotta hints about grandbabies. Think you can handle that, Kas-chan?"
The young woman's eyes sparkled for a moment.
'Two can play the teasing game!'
"Oh my, Ran-kun, I think I can deal with that. That reminds me though. I wonder if Auntie has any baby pictures I might look at. I'll bet you were just adorable!" The last was said with an exaggerated look of adoration that had Ranma sweatdropping slightly.
"…touché, Kasumi-chan. Touché."
Deciding to delay any further verbal sparring (fun though it was), Ranma stood and began collecting the breakfast dishes over Kasumi's quiet protests.
"Could you let Nabiki know what's going on while I wash these, Kasumi-chan? We should probably have a cover story, at least until tonight".
"Alright Ranma-kun. Um, ano…" suddenly shy, Kasumi gazed fixedly at her nervously-twiddling fingers.
"What's up Kasumi?"
"Ano," she repeated hesitantly. "Could you call me Kas-chan again? I liked the way you said it before".
Ranma gawked for a moment.
'Kami, she is just so CUTE!'
"Sure Kas-chan, but only if you call me Ran-kun".
"Hai!" chirped Kasumi, practically skipping up the stares to Nabiki's room.
--
A house in Juuban. Elegant. Moderate in size. The home of a certain katana-bearing matriarch.
Saotome Nodoka gazed thoughtfully at the telephone.
'So, my manly son wishes to tell me something important, something that cannot be told over the phone, eh?' This promised to be interesting. Perhaps her son had finally decided to be manly with his fiancée? Perhaps, having been manly, he was coming to inform his mother that grandbabies were on the way! At last, Grandbabies!
It should be said at this point that Nodoka genuinely loves and cares for her son and wants nothing more than for him to be blissfully happy.
She simply has a slightly skewed concept of what 'blissfully happy' entails.
The Saotome matriarch drifted off into a rosy fantasy of spoiling hoards of cute grandchildren.
'Calm down Nodoka, don't set yourself up for disappointment. You promised him you'd try to ease off about manliness after the wedding, after all.
No, wait until he arrives.'
Calming down (and consigning the 'Grandbaby Paradise' daydream for later consumption), Nodoka strode to the kitchen. Her manly son would require snacks, after all.
--
There were, Kasumi reflected, many advantages to being Ranma's beloved (beloved! Squee!). His kindness, for example. His faithful nature. The guilty pleasure of the envious looks of other women. However, none of these compared, in Kasumi's opinion, to being held in his strong arms as he bounded over the rooftops, the breeze of his passage fluttering her ponytail. It was like flying! It was all Kasumi could do not to give one long squeal of glee as she leaned into Ranma's chest.
All too soon, sadly, the trip was over. Gracefully landing outside the house Ranma set her down (prompting a small sigh of regret from them both) and rang the bell.
"My manly son, it's so good to see you again! Oh, and you as well, Kasumi-chan! Come in and have some tea."
'How strange' thought Nodoka as she ushered the pair inside. 'I was expecting him to have Akane with him. Oh well, I'm sure it will be revealed soon enough'.
'She seems to be in a good mood' Ranma mused as he knelt down at the table. 'She has that 'Yatta, Grandbabies!' look. Better be careful'.
Seated at the table, tea in hand, Nodoka noted certain facts.
'Hmm. My manly son is eating rather more politely than usual, he and Kasumi-chan are sitting very close to each other and are leaning slightly toward each other and, yes, both have a slight blush. Could it be-?'
Clearing her throat she decided to get the ball rolling.
"So, Ranma dear, what was this important news you wished to tell me?"
Ranma took a deep breath. 'Courage, Ranma. Courage!'
"I'm not engaged to Akane anymore".
That was quite definitely not what Nodoka had been expecting. Stifling an instinctive comment concerning manliness, she listened as Ranma continued.
"I got tired of her never trustin' me, insultin' me, hitting me. Last night she smacked me into the sky for absolutely nothin' an' I decided. I'm not gonna marry someone who treats me like a possession and a punching bag. No more".
Taking a long sip of her tea, Nodoka considered. It was true that she had come to view the youngest Tendo in a rather dim light. While it was the duty of women to discipline their menfolk there were limits, limits often crossed by Akane.
Nevertheless, the Tendo engagement was a matter of family honour.
'Hmm. Let us see if my hunch is correct'.
"Are you saying you are withdrawing from the Tendo honour pledge, my son? Your engagement with Akane is a matter of honour".
Surprisingly, it was Kasumi who answered.
"Actually Auntie, the agreement spoke of an engagement between Tendo and Saotome rather than specific names. At the time of the announcement Nabiki and I pushed Akane onto Ranma without letting him announce his own selection, an action I've come to regret". She suddenly blushed. "Last night I asked Ranma to switch the engagement to me, and he agreed".
Both Ranma and Kasumi looked on with concern as Nodoka bowed her head, her hair hiding her face.
A small shudder ran through her frame.
Ranma cautiously leaned forward.
"Er, Mum?"
"SO MANLY!"
"Gah!"
The older woman was practically glowing with maternal pride as she stared at her son in joy.
"To take charge of your life! To turn the head of a girl like Kasumi so that she would confess to you! You make me so proud!"
The last was squealed as Nodoka danced around the table and trapped her slightly shell-shocked son in a hug even an Amazon would envy, after which she faded into happy mumbling in which the words "proud", "son" and "grandbabies" could occasionally be made out.
Kasumi and Ranma shared a helpless glance.
'This could take a while'.
--
"So, we'd like your help with keeping the fathers under control".
In the end it had taken Nodoka a full ten minutes to calm down and a further five to recount the events leading to the present to her satisfaction. Kasumi was relieved that Auntie had stopped yelling about manliness, but suspected from the glances the Saotome matriarch was casting her that there was an interrogation waiting.
"Of course I will son. It is clear to me that you and Kasumi-chan will be good for each other. Don't worry, I think I can deal with them. Now," she said, her manner suddenly brighter, "I think this requires a small celebration. It's nearly noon, so why don't we go out for lunch?"
Observing a slight apprehension cross their faces and correctly deducing the cause, she continued. "Now, now. No one knows you here in Juuban so you needn't worry about rivals. Here you're simply a lovely young couple on an outing."
Both of the couple in question held a thoughtful look then cast a glance at each other before nodding in agreement.
For a moment Nodoka felt a wistful nostalgia for the days when she and Genma could communicate through glances. Brushing it off after a moment, she rose and gathered her purse from the sideboard.
"Well my dears, shall we?"
--
"Man, that food was great! Not as good as yours of course Kasumi, but it was great!"
Nodoka and Kasumi shared a fond look. The world could topple on its axis, hell could freeze over, but Ranma would always be Ranma.
"…I mean, I never knew there was an Italian restaurant that good in Juuban. I think the lasagne was my favourite, but that ice-cream was-"
"Grawwr!"
The last was atypical. Atypical for Ranma, at least. While not the most eloquent youth at the best of times, nonverbal snarling was generally below his standards.
The unholy amalgamation of woman, stone and plastic that stood before them, on the other hand…
After a moment a second growl was heard, this one from Ranma.
"God DAMMIT! Could I just once have a quite afternoon? No rivals, no unwanted fiancées, no crazy challenges and no! Freaky! Monsters!"
The youma, accustomed as it was to screams, terror and running, had a look of confusion on its face (as much as could be made out around the rocky protrusions, at least). Falling back on its basic programming, it seized one of the females and began to drain her vital energy.
"Kasumi!"
It would ultimately prove to be the last mistake the youma ever made.
Smash the street? Fine, it can be repaired. Threaten Ranma himself? Ok, it might lead to an interesting fight. But threaten a non-combatant, much less family, and the kid gloves came off.
Threaten Kasumi? This bitch was going down!
As Nodoka backed to a safe distance, Katana drawn and ready, Ranma blurred forward in a leaping kick to the arm holding his fiancée, causing the grip to loosen but nearly breaking his leg in the process, to his surprise and dismay.
"The hell? How did that happen?"
Dodging a concrete-crushing punch, he swept up the unconscious Kasumi and bolted to where Nodoka stood in a ready stance.
"Mum, get Kasumi out of here. I'm gonna deal with big and ugly back there".
A terse nod was all the response he needed. Turning, he leaped back at the youma, ducking under a windmilling arm and drawing it away from his most precious people.
By now, Ranma's tactical mindset was functioning at full speed.
'It was like it sucked the Ki from the kick, and it looks like the same thing happened to Kasumi. Physical blows will have less effect, and with that rock armour…
Wait. It absorbs Ki, so…'
Grinning as the idea occurred to him, Ranma mustered his concentration.
Or at least tried to, as an unexpected swing clipped him and sent him flying through a wall.
Shaking the ringing from his head, the pigtailed youth snorted.
'Phe, Ryoga hits harder than that. Right, back on the clock'.
Duck a straight right, leap over a kick, springboard off a light pole, flip, land behind the beastie, plant an open palm strike to the carapace, concentrate…
Gnosis.
"Shatter!"
Ki was sucked through the shell, taking the seed with it.
A spiderweb of cracks spread over the rocky shell a moment later, bursting into a spray of fragments as the youma screamed like a broken turbine.
'Well, that worked.'
Time for Saotome Battle Strategy One: Get 'Em Mad, Make 'Em Stupid.
"Feelin' a breeze there, ugly? Looks like ya lost some weight!"
The answering shriek of rage indicated the tactic had succeeded, at least with the former part.
'Ok, let's try that other idea.'
Centre. Thinking back to the sigil he'd made in the dojo, he called up his Ki. In spite of his anger at this nasty creature, he grinned. This should be interesting.
"Lightning!"
--
Whatever Sailor Jupiter expected to see when she arrived at the latest youma attack, the Hunk from the other day throwing a fair copy of her, Sailor Jupiter's, attack at a rather battered-looking youma was not it.
Not that she was complaining, oh no.
'He looks a bit like my old sempai'.
"Wow! Hunk got skills!" chirped Sailor Venus, watching as the young man followed his lightning bolt in and engaged the unfortunate youma at close range.
"But even if he is skilled, he can't…possibly…" Mercury's voice trailed off as the three Senshi watched the performance. How could the boy possibly move like that? Half the time he couldn't even be seen!
In an absent tone Mercury ventured a comment.
"You know, I've never seen a youma put in a Reverse Suplex before."
Venus nodded. "Ouch, I'm not sure even a youma's arm should bend like that, either."
"Sempai" breathed Jupiter, pink hearts and twinkles dancing around her head.
The other two sighed. The more things change…
--
Now that Mum and Kas-chan were safe, Ranma was having a blast. It's armour off and half-cooked, the youma seemed to be having trouble doing that Ki-draining trick, at least to a threatening level, leaving just its considerable strength and Ryoga-like toughness.
'Well, Amaguriken worked on Pig-boy. I wonder…'
Oh, this was going to be so cool!
"Katchu Tenshin Amaguriken revised: Ikazuchi sen Ken!"
'"Thousand Lightning Fists?" What kind of-'
Once again, the Senshi's thoughts trailed off into shock as the boy burst into movement. Each fist trailing a corona of sparking electricity, he wove a net of blinding light around the beast.
As the Senshi stared in stunned amazement the streams of lightning collected on the youma's chest and in a roar that shattered windows (a combination of hundreds of thunderclaps and the fists breaking the sound barrier), the youma exploded. As the charred dust settled the kneeling figure of the young man was revealed, panting in apparent exhaustion.
Clearing her throat, Venus made a valiant effort to pull herself together.
"C-Could you scan him please, Mercury?"
"I already have, Venus. No negative energy at all and massive life readings, but his magic readings don't make sense! He's either got no magic or he's more powerful than Jupiter! Something's interfering with the readings. How could Saotome-san be this powerful?"
The last was said in a near-whisper, but (alas) not quiet enough.
'She does know him!'
Sailor Venus was literally moments away from collaring her fellow Senshi and demanding answers when Jupiter's cry distracted her.
"hey, he's leaving!"
The rooftop was abruptly empty as the three Senshi leaped after the staggering figure, one thought shared by all three.
'We should get him to teach us those moves'.
Flap.
--
Author's Notes
sorry for the delay in getting the new chapter up, but i've been rather busy preparing for my first Anime convention.
ok, on to the reviews.
JhyarelleDrakon: Ok, Gnosis. a concept from the Chaos magic community (a real system, btw), it's basically a moment of mental emptyness, when the conscious mind is silenced. the theory is that we are conditioned through our daily lives to believe that magic is impossible, so to do magic one has to shut that part of the mind up. Some folks use pain, some pure will through meditation, some use really loud music. Ranma already knows magic is real (it gets proved to him every time he gets wet, after all), which explains why he has such an easy time with it. and no, i haven't played Xenosaga. never been one for video games, myself.
Dumbledork: Hey, thanks. Kasumi/Ranma is one of my favoured pairings too (obviously), with Ranma/Ukyo coming a distant second.
moritynz: Thanks very much. Yeah, i always thought Kasumi got a little short changed as a character, at least in the Anime (can't speak for the Manga, it's really hard to get where i live, so i've not read it). i intend to have the magic system explained in a little more depth in-text, though as it's based on a real system a websearch should give you the basics. just take the more out-there stuff with a grain of salt, ne? As for Nabiki, i have a lot of sympathy for her motivations, if not methods. thanks for the kind words.
beartooth: cheers! this is my first fanfic, so comments like yours let me know i'm doing something right. many thanks!
Kumori Shadow Kage: thank you. i will do my best.
ranko lina Inverse: Ah, good, i remembered the quote right. Glad you approve. thanks mate!
Campin' Carl: Wow, what do i say to this? Well, as i've said above, i haven't been able to get my hands on the manga (living in a backwoods desert town as i do), so i've been going on what i've seen in the anime. I'll grant you there have been more than a few occcasions where Akane was nice, and i'll grant that she is a fairly deep character, but simply put, i don't like her. yes, i'm taking some liberties with the characters, but that's the point of fanfics as i see it. true, Kasumi said at the atart that younger men bore her, but at the time this story is set (post saffron), i think she has had ample time for a change of heart to occur. Anyway, thanks for the comments and advice. if i seem a little defensive, please don't take it amiss. reviews and feedback are what makes for a better writer. glad it was a good read.
Hiryo: Thanks, glad you liked it. i'll try to keep the quality consistent.
Rose1948: Thank you.i really seem to be missing out in not having read the manga. it would have been good to have known about the hammer when i was writing this. oh well. Yeah, i think Ranma and Kasumi compliment each other pretty well. i mean to have each affect the other as the story progresses.
RanmaChaos: Thanks!
GeorgeTobor: Sorry mate, i'm still very new to FFnet, not sure how you go about messing with the review mechanism. i'll have a look. Glad you like the pairing. while i wouldn't go so far as to say ALL the other possibles are bad pairings, i do think Ran/Kas is the best. I like your suggestions about the price of the magic, by the way. i am aiming for Ranma to have situation appropriate power in this fic (can't stand the 'suddenly super' stories as a rule), but humourous backfirings could prove good for a laugh. thanks, that's got the imagination working!
dennisud: Aye, you're right about that. i don't want to give too much away, but if you're expecting a gand melee, you'll sadly be dissapointed. worry not, though, i have my reasons.
Six-string Samurai: Thanks, i'll do my best to not dissapoint.
Six-string Samurai (again!): Heh. My thinking was that, what with all the other wacky "Martial Arts (noun/verb)" stules that turn up in the anime and fanfics, this would be how Ranma would view Magic you could fight with. Yeah, i have exaggerated Akane a little, but as you say, it's for a reason.
Six-string Samurai (Episode 3): Yeah, i wasn't entirely satisfied with the final scene myself, but i couldn't work out how i could fix it. just gotta practice, i suppose.
well, thanks for the reviews, kind words and well-needed advice everyone. all goes well, i should have the next chapter up in a few days or so.
Up Next: How will Ranma respond to the Senshi? How will they deal with Ranma? how will the NWC react to the news? and how DID Genma get three flips onto one sign? Stay tuned to find the answers to three of these questions.
Smylingsnake out.