Hinako sighed as she looked at the barely controlled circus she had to call a classroom. It had been a week since Ranma's breakup with Uyko and everyone was still buzzed about the collapse of the Saotome Love Polygon from Hell. That and the fact that Ranma was the only guy confirmed to have 'experience' in the school only made the rumor mills more active. The fact that Ranma had recently gotten a job somewhere only added fuel to the fire. If the rumors were to be believed than the young man had become a certified master at Martial Arts Pimping. Hinako knew that wasn't true because she had met a master of Martial Arts Pimping once at another school she had been sent to clean up. She could testify that Ranma was the opposite of those sleaze bags.
Like the other teachers, Hinako knew where Ranma worked as the young man had filed his paperwork correctly. It was a bit unusual for someone to work at a shrine in another city hundreds of miles away, but rather bland when one considered that this was Ranma Saotome they were talking about. Mr. Masaki had called and confirmed Ranma's employment at the shrine so there weren't any legal issues for the school. Hinako was grateful that Ranma had found such a useful part-time job which would hopefully help to shape up into the productive member of society she knew he could be.
The English teacher carefully wrote out a paragraph and walked her students through its grammar. Once that was done, Hinako gave out her homework. "Okay everyone. For homework I want you to read the first two sections of William Tell in your textbook and answer questions 1 through 8. Remember, the questions must be written in English or they will be marked wrong. Mr. Saotome, would you mind staying behind for a moment so I can talk with you?"
Several of the students snickered at Ranma being called out by the teacher. Hinako frowned slightly as she heard whispers that 'the jock' must be in trouble again. Ranma ignored his classmates and carefully put his books away in his book bag. He then remained in his seat until all the other students had left the classroom. Once they were gone, Ranma stood up and walked towards the currently child teacher. He spoke once he was in front of her desk. "You wanted to speak to me?"
Hinako nodded her head and replied, "Yes I did Ranma. I know that you have been going through a lot of troubling circumstances these past few months and only now have had the chance to step back and think. I just want you to know that you can talk to me or any of the other teachers if you wish to talk about anything that has happened to you. You don't have to talk about anything you wish to keep silent about for now. I just wanted to let you know that I am here for you if you need me."
Ranma blinked his eyes in confusion for a minute as he listened to Hinako's statement. He was unused to people trying to help him without another motive of some sort. Cologne helped first because she wanted him in her tribe and then because she wanted him as an ally. Katshuito helped him because it was the older man's job as a priest and as part of his agreement to work with the older man. Pops 'helped' him in the past because the old man wanted him as a meal ticket. When other people's goals weren't harmful to him or complemented his goals Ranma didn't mind. Cologne and now Katshuito fell in those categories. When other people's interests were against his like his father had been Ranma would resist.
With a hint of confusion in his voice Ranma asked, "Why would you help me? None of the other teachers mentioned anything like this before to me."
A small scowl appeared on Hinako's face. "I know Ranma and I'm honestly disappointed with my coworkers over this. Shortly after you helped me out I started asking around. You see, there are a few discrepancies in your file that needed to be sorted out. Some are simply because the bureaucracy doesn't know how to handle someone in your unique situations. Others are due to some poor decisions made by the school staff. Just in case you haven't noticed, many of my fellow teachers are not particularly adept at handling student problems." That got a snort from Ranma which caused Hinako to smirk. "There seems to be an implicit policy among the other teachers to not approach you about talking about your problems. Their attitude is that you must already be aware of these policies and have freely chosen to remain silent."
Hinako's smirk turned into a frown as she continued. "Their attitude is rather unprofessional. As teachers we are trained that every student having problems is to be treated as if they do not know they can come to us. Some of my fellow teachers my try to doge your questions if you try to talk to them about your problems given how unique your usual problems are. Most of the teachers should listen, but I feel you should be warned given how things were in the past. Nevertheless, I am always willing to listen to your problems and help you solve them to the best of my abilities. Even if the only help I can provide is being a sympathetic ear I would like to do that for you as a teacher and as a friend."
Ranma smiled when he heard Hinako call him a friend. In all honesty, he really didn't have many friends. The guys at school were more of acquaintances to Ranma and they were annoying acquaintances at the moment. Mousse was never a friend period and he was now gone with the rest of the Amazons back to China. Ryoga was more in the acquaintance category at the moment given that he only seemed to pop in once a month or so. When Ranma thought about it he realized that Hinako was his only friend at the moment besides Yashataisho. He gratefully bowed his head and replied, "Thank you. I consider you to be a friend as well and if I need to talk to you about anything I will."
Katshuito came out of the main shrine building having just finished making the daily offerings to the kami the shrine was dedicated. Living as a simple village priest was a lot more relaxing than dealing with the constant headache of the imperial court. It was annoying to not have Airi with him, but she had important work to do with the Galaxy Police. Hopefully, Tenchi would be mature enough to learn about the more unique aspects of the Masaki family. It would be nice to bring the boy in the loop.
The priest looked down at the stair pathway and nodded in approval of its cleanliness. Ranma could be seen at the very bottom of the pathway finishing up his sweeping. The young man was taking to his training and duties very well without complaining about any tasks. Personally, Katshuito wished that Tenchi would show such dedication and commitment during his times at the shrine. But then, Tenchi did have a much easier life than Ranma and wasn't as aware of all the burdens he would bare in the future like Ranma. The young men were only months apart in age, but years apart in experience.
In many respects it was a good thing that Ranma was so mature for his age given the power at his fingertips. Funaho had been able to pull some rather disturbing data from the young and slightly boastful Yashataisho about the Umbra Ship. Ranma's partner was extremely protective of the young man, but also extremely proud of itself and its partner. From what Funaho could hear from its conversations with the young ship and its sensors could detect the unique vessel was powerful. Yashataisho's power readings even at rest were higher than the Throne was in the heat of battle. Only Tsunami's ship self was more powerful. Furthermore, Yashataisho was far more offensive in his abilities than any other ship that was in the Galactic database. However, those facts weren't the most frightening about the Umbra Ship. What was truly frightening about Yashataisho lay in it and its future line's connection to the two goddesses. The adaptability in that line would allow Yashataisho's descendants to forge an independent connection to the two goddesses almost as strong as the connection Yashataisho held. Funaho calculated that it would take at least 14 generations before an umbra ship would emerged that was as weak as a first generation treeship. Furthermore, the umbra ship's structure indicated that Yashataisho and its descendants would be much more fertile than treeships.
For a man who lived through Ryo-Ohki's assault on Jurai, that information was the seed of the darkest nightmares. Ryo-Ohki's devastation had been on a scale that even put World War 2 to shame and she was the equivalent of a first generation treeship in power. Katshuito knew that Ranma needed to be kept in the dark about just how much power he truly had at his fingertips until he was completely ready to control it. Both Ranma and Yashataisho were powerhouses that would undoubtedly change the face of the galaxy no matter what they tried to do. Katshuito just prayed that he could guide Ranma into a force for justice and stability. His power would just cause too much suffering if Ranma decided to lash out at the universe.
Ranma finished sweeping the last part of the path and turned around to look at Katshuito. "Hey Boss, I'm done sweeping. What do you want me to work on now?"
Katshuito mentally went over the list of daily tasks needed to be done and realized that they were finished. "Everything is done for now Ranma. Would you like to join me for some tea and a game of Go?"
A smile appeared on Ranma's face when Katshuito mentioned the game and refreshments. The old priest usual way of teaching him was to do it in a relaxed manner over some type of strategy game. Katshuito quickly led Ranma into his study. Ranma quickly set up the go table while Katshuito got the water ready for tea. The duo sat down and as usual Katshuito started the game. For the first twenty minutes of the game the two silently sat placing their pieces and sipping tea.
While Katshuito was considering his next move he casually said, "I'd like to consider the following situation Ranma. Suppose a new disease emerged with a very high fatality rate that the Earth doctors couldn't cure. Your partner has analyzed the virus causing the disease and can create a cure. What should you do?"
Almost immediately Ranma blurted out, "I'd disperse the vaccine to stop the plague. It would be criminal to not help people if I have the power to ease their suffering."
"I suppose that is one way of looking at the problem Ranma. But consider this, Galactic law prohibits spacefaring people from curing diseases affecting low technology races unless said disease is threating the species with severe catastrophe. Have you stopped to consider why that law exists or even that it was on the books?" After saying that, Katshuito put his stone on the board.
Ranma frowned from Katshuito's move on the board and the points he raised. "I didn't know about the law, but I would still help. Hiding behind a law is the act of someone trying to avoid responsibility for their actions or in this case inaction. What if the people of the galaxy were affected by a plague that they couldn't cure? Suppose that a species from another universe could cure that plague but refused because they had laws limiting their interference with 'low technology societies' which they classified us as? Wouldn't the galaxy clamor for their aid and curse them for withholding it?" Ranma then set his stone down capturing five of Katshuito's stones with a smirk.
Katshuito raised an eyebrow not expecting the move Ranma made or his point in their debate. "You have a very good point Ranma. From what I have read and what my father told me, such a point was never raised when that law was written. But consider this, curing said disease is only the first step. How would you provide the cure to everyone? Just releasing it into the atmosphere wouldn't insure that everyone was vaccinated. The best way to distribute the cure would be to give it to the various medical agencies which would necessitate revealing alien existence to mankind. Have you considered the kind of panic and disorder that would unleash? Galactic observers are extremely confident that humanity would experience a catastrophic social collapse if they had hard evidence that other intelligent life existed. Are the lives of the hundreds of thousands who might be cured by your cure in this scenario worth the lives of the millions who could die from the resulting collapse?" With that said, Katshuito placed his stone.
A frown appeared on Ranma's face as he tried to work his way out of that problem. "I hadn't thought about that. Perhaps I could pretend to be the representative of a small research firm. I could claim that my group was working on finding a cure and got lucky. Then I could show them the results and give them the cure formula." He placed a stone and more confidently stated, "It might be a bit slower, but I could still cure most people while preventing mass panic."
"Good move Ranma that is a good plan." Katshuito took a sip of tea and considered the issue in front of him. Ranma was defiantly a better thinker than most people he talked to about these issues. The most annoying was the conversation he had with Mr. Roddenberry back in the sixties. It was still embarrassing to the Juraian prince that the serious political and philosophical theories he talked with the writer about in disguised conversation were flanderized as that ridiculous Prime Directive on Star Trek. "But have you considered the problems with that possibility? Research labs do not exist in a vacuum. Like any other business they have a very large paper trail. People would ask who works at this lab of yours. Where did your researchers go to school? Where is the lab physically located? They will have whole host of other questions you wouldn't be able to answer." With that said, Katshuito placed his stone so as to capture most of Ranma's forces.
Ranma looked down at the board and realized he had lost the debate and the game. He then looked up at Katshuito who was giving Ranma one of his grandfatherly smiles. "You have a good heart Ranma and I'm happy to see you have it. However, you need to temper your compassion with intelligence. Those with power to stop a calamity must sometimes let a calamity happen in order to prevent a worse calamity from arising. That is partly why interstellar races let less developed races go through problems like plagues. It also is so that the younger races can grow and learn. However, that restraint must also be used with reason. No race should die off because they didn't have the technology to ask for aid. That is why there is an exemption written in the law for those circumstances. Now, why don't you head home and finish your homework."
Something was wrong. Ranma knew it immediately when he woke up and jumped out of his bed. The young hybrid landed on the grass three feet away in a crouch and hissed. All his instincts were screaming danger, but Ranma couldn't spot any danger on the ship. "Yashataisho, are we in any danger?"
The umbra ship calmly replied, "None at all partner."
"Bullshit!" Ranma practically roared out in rage. "My instincts are screaming that something is wrong. I'm certain that we are about to be attacked." Ranma's temper started to fare at his partner's callous attitude.
Yashataisho quickly scanned its partner and realized what was going on. "Partner you must calm down! Your body has begun its maturation stage."
In hostile tone Ranma replied, "What are you talking about!" It was only Ranma's trust in his partner that prevented him from trying to attack Yashataisho. Even so, Ranma's power level spiked as he instinctively prepared himself for a fight.
Yashataisho quickly answered its partner. "Your hormone levels are at 700 percent the level they were at yesterday and rising very rapidly. Furthermore, several special types of cells in your body have begun reproducing at a much higher rate than previously. What you are feeling is an effect of your body changing into its adult state."
Ranma was barely able to contain his temper as he interrogated the umbra ship. "Then why the hell am I so pissed off and every fiber of my body is telling me I'm about to be attacked?"
The ship was silent for a few seconds as it hurriedly analyzed the situation. Simulations on Ranma's genome were run and compared to the medical records of the Juraians and Yokai. Soon enough Yashataisho had an answer. "Your emotional state and your instincts reaction are a result of your hybrid nature. Yokai typically isolated themselves during their maturation so that they couldn't be attacked by rivals looking to remove future competition. Your hybrid nature is magnifying those instincts. What you are feeling now is simply your mind trying to interpret all of the new hormones you're producing."
Logically knowing that Yashataisho was right, Ranma tried to use the Soul of Ice to control himself. Gradually, ever so gradually the young man was able to reign in his emotions and instincts. It wasn't completely successful though because Ranma still felt the need to check his surroundings for a possible attack and was rather irritated. "How am I supposed to go to school or work at the shrine when I'm a hairsbreadth away from either bolting or ripping someone's head off?"
Yashataisho quickly said, "Why don't you meditate for more control while I contact Katshuito and your high school to sort things out? At the very least it will help you get better control of your emotions."
Ranma nodded his head seeing Yashataisho's point. He closed his eyes and tried to center himself. That was one of the hardest things for Ranma to do at the moment. He hadn't had this much trouble centering himself except for when he first started meditating. The difficulty only made Ranma more frustrated which in turn made it harder for him to center himself. This cycle didn't spiral out of control only because of Ranma's iron like will. He turned his frustration into a drive to overcome this new challenge. For the next hour Ranma silently sat on the grass trying to calm himself through meditation.
This meditation ended when Ranma's ears heard the faint hum of a teleporter activating. Ranma instantly opened his eyes and saw Hinako transporting onto the field in front of him. She was in her child form with a large stack of books in her arms. Ranma blinked his eyes to confirm that Hinako was there and then he smiled. "Hello Hinako, what are you doing here?"
Hinako smiled and replied, "I'm here for your education of course Ranma. Yashataisho had a rather interesting conversation with the principle. It was decided that until you could get over this latest challenge in your life that you will be tutored. I was chosen to be your tutor partly because the principal wanted me keeping an eye on a 'trouble maker' and partly because your starship figured I would be the least likely to provoke any dangerous reactions from you."
Ranma nodded his head and realized that his partner was correct. He didn't feel threatened around Hinako. Maybe a bit on edge like he needed to protect her, but not that he needed protection from her. "I have to agree with Yashataisho in that regard. I don't know why that is, but I think that my partner has guess on that subject."
"That is correct partner." Yashataisho said in its typical mechanical tone. "Hinako's current prepubescent physical state renders her nearly harmless for your instincts. As a female she is does not pose the same threat that a male would. Furthermore, her young physical state keeps you from instinctively desiring her as a sexual partner. While your unique status makes it impossible to completely predict your body's reactions, there is an 89 percent chance you would ignore Hinako completely, 10 percent chance of desiring to protect her, and 1 percent uncertainty."
Blushes appeared on both Hinako and Ranma's faces when Yashataisho told them those facts. Hinako quickly schooled her features and told Ranma, "Your partner doesn't have much tact does he?" Ranma shot her a glance that seemed to be asking what tact was. Hinako then sighed and asked, "Yashataisho, what could happen if were to transform into my adult state?" She had a good hunch what the answer was, but wanted her suspicions confirmed.
Yashataisho quickly answered that question. "My partner's likely reactions in that scenario cannot be computed with reasonable accuracy. Most likely he would react indifferent to you as Ranma's body does not yet possess a mature sexual drive. At the moment and for the next couple of weeks the only sexual response your adult body would trigger in Ranma is a desire to flirt. However, my partner's hybrid nature makes it impossible to say which traits will emerge, when they do, or how strong they will be. Even my constant monitoring of Ranma's biosigns does not allow me to make such predictions with reasonable accuracy. It is my opinion that you should remain in child form until Ranma has gain complete control over his instincts."
Ranma looked like he wanted to find a hole to crawl in and die from embarrassment. Hinako was a little embarrassed with Yashataisho's clinical talk on those matters. She knew that it was only talking about Ranma like a breeder might talk about horses or cats, but was rather embarrassing to be the subject of the conversation. Hinako shifted subjects by saying, "Okay, Biology isn't until Tuesday. Ranma, if you will please get over here we can begin with your Asian History class."
It took Ranma a month before he got enough control over the changes his maturation was bringing that Yashataisho would let him go back to Earth. Naturally, the rumor mill at school had gotten even crazier over his absence. By the time class ended for the day Ranma was ready to go postal on the next student who asked him if he really was captured by a Scottish succubus to be her prince of the netherworld. Just because Ranma could control his instincts to be around people did not mean he could also put up with their bullshit. Besides, where the hell were people getting these ideas in the first place?
Ranma quickly raced out of Furinkan just enjoying the chance to run. Katshuito told him that he could resume his normal duties at the shrine in a week. The old priest wanted Ranma to have the chance to just be a teenager with his current situation before added more duties. Ranma smiled as he thought about Katshuito. The old priest had called him every day while he was regaining control of himself. Sometimes Katshuito would give Ranma useful advice for meditating and controlling himself. Other times their conversations were lessons on ethics. Still other times the old priest just chatted for a friendly conversation.
In all honesty, Ranma was slowly starting to think of Katshuito as the father he wished Genma had been. The old priest was willing to accept him mix heritage and curse included. Katshuito was willing to listen to Ranma's problems and treated him as an adult. All and all Katshuito was better than-
An angry voice that Ranma hadn't heard since that night nearly two months ago bellowed out, "Boy! Where the hell have you been?" Ranma whipped his head around to see his father standing across the street from him. The old man had his traveling backpack on and looked mad as anything. Genma charged across the street and started berating Ranma. "Do you realized what your dishonorable actions have caused? Your fiancée has run away and is staying at guy's house! I've been trying to find you so that we can get this whole mess sorted out. Now you will be coming with me so that you can beg Soun for the right to be with you fiancée again!"
Obviously, Mr. Tendo had kicked the old man out of his house without Ranma there to 'fulfill the Pledge'. However, Ranma had no intension of going back under his father's leash and his temper was simmering to a boil. Ranma put himself into the Soul of Ice and coldly replied, "No Mr. Saotome."
Genma blinked his eyes in shock at Ranma's defiance. Apparently, the lack of contact with his son had caused the older martial artist to suppress or forget Ranma's changes before that night. Genma's face and ears became red with rage and he bellowed out, "Don't talk to your betters like that boy! Do you not realize what you dishonorable actions have cause?"
The older Saotome was prevented from saying more by his son grabbing his gi and lifting the pudgy martial artist over his head. A glow of purple energy surrounded Ranma and miniature lightning bolts shot out between him and the ground. Suddenly, Ranma and Genma were alone in the seemingly deserted streets. The locals hadn't had to do a martial arts smack down evacuation in a few months, but that skill is something that never leaves a person. Visitors to the district had been pulled into hiding by the locals.
Ranma turned his neck so that he could look up at his father and grinded his teeth together. Genma's eyes started to bulge in fear as he watched Ranma's canines enlarge and his other teeth start to shift a bit into tiny daggers. The young hybrid's eyes gained a bestial quality and started to glow red with power. "Don't you dare talk to me that way ever again Genma Saotome. You are not my better and you're not my equal. Hell, you're not even in the first several tiers of my inferiors. All you are is a miserable excuse for a man trying to avoid your responsibilities and the consequences of your actions."
Then without warning Ranma threw Genma onto the ground causing his father to break an arm from the sidewalk shattering impact. Genma let out a cry of pain which caused several dozen people to look up from their hiding spots. All of the locals were confused. Why the hell was the fat martial artist crying? They had all seen Ranma and Ryoga take dozens of blows like that with barely a wince.
Part of Ranma was utterly disgusted by Genma's whining and screaming in pain. He knew that the old man used to be able to take blows like that. Obviously, all that time playing shogi with Soun had softened the old martial artist. Rather ironic given all the times Genma had harped on him about getting soft. It just fueled Ranma's instinctive disgust for his father which was burning like an oil rig fire just beneath his control. This worm thought he could control him?
However, a small sliver of Ranma still felt some love for his father and was saddened by the sight before him. Ranma's canines shrunk a bit and his eyes soften some. "Go to a doctor Mr. Saotome. Get that broken arm taken care of and then leave. There is nothing for you in this city." With that said, Ranma ordered Yashataisho to beam him up. Genma last image of Ranma was the boy looking down on him like he was some sort of trash.
