Jackpot
I do not own Ranma ½ or Tenchi Muyo.
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Chapter 1: In for the long haul
A short red-haired girl was walking down the street which was not odd. What was odd was the large panda that was walking beside her. The girl seemed to be depressed about something while the panda kept pushing her forward. "What are we doing here pop?
The panda pulled out a sign. 'I made a marriage proposal to one of my old drinking buddies and his wife from around here to marry our kids before you were born.' Flip. 'Honor demands that you fulfill the engagement.'
Ranma turned a hard glare to her father. She hefted up her chest towards him. "How do you propose to do that when I'm like this?"
Genma sighed. I should be marrying the boy to one of Tendo's daughters, but his current condition won't allow that. He, well she's only good for marrying off to their son now. What a waste! Years of effort down the tubes. No woman can carry on the Anything Goes Martial arts legacy. I just need to get her to marry their son. He may be a bit older but at least that will play into my plan. Plus, I'm sure that after she's married to someone and can give Nodoka those grandchildren she's so intent on then she'll forget about that blasted contract. Better prepare in case she decides to bolt.
'Well, you were born a boy and they only had a son so I never brought up the engagement again.' Flip. 'However, things have changed with you having that body now.' Flip 'It's family honor boy or should I say girl.' Flip. 'You can't back out of this.'
Ranma turned red with anger. "A guy! You want me to marry a guy! That's it I'm out of here."
A small crowd had gathered now and was gawking at the site of a panda in the middle of town. They watched as Ranma turned her back to the panda and started walking away. The panda then bent over and pulled a road sign out of the ground and beat Ranma over the head viciously knocking her out. The crowd started backing away and several cries for help were heard. Genma blinked several times as two armed officers approached with their weapons pointed at him. Another person approached with a hunting rifle. Genma really didn't want to use that here, but he didn't have a choice. People watched as the panda took an odd stance and simply vanished before their eyes.
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Katsuhito was enjoying his tea in the living room. It was nice to have the house to himself for once. Washu was in her lab. Tenchi and the others were off on some less dangerous adventure on one of the vacation planets. It was something about Ayeka trying to outdo Ryoko in a swimsuit contest. It would be funny when they came back and Mihoshi or Sasami won instead.
He was quietly laughing to himself when his tea cup cracked. He stopped laughing and examined the chip in the tea cup. It shouldn't have broken that easily. Hmm, bad luck. He was broken out of any other thoughts as the phone rang. He move over to the phone and picked it up.
"Oh, hello Mr. Tanaka! What can I do for you?"
The man on the other end seemed stressed as he spoke. "It was a demon. It beat up this girl with fiery red hair on the street and took her. It then just vanished with her into thin air before we could fire on it."
Katsuhito's eyebrows raised at this statement. What could it be? It could be a demon but it could also be an alien. I know some slave traders come here once in awhile for the 'easy-pickings' but to do it in front of a crowd in broad daylight... "What did this demon look like?"
"Well, I know this sounds strange but... It was a giant panda bear. It was bigger than any I've ever seen and it could communicate using signs. I would swear that I was hallucinating if other people didn't see it as well."
Katsuhito mouthed, 'Panda bear.' "Uhm, I'll look into it."
"Thank you."
Katsuhito put down the phone and walked over to Washu's lab to knock on the door when it opened. "Already on it Katsuhito. I was tracking some weird energy signatures that were headed toward the town and they just vanished a short time ago. I'm guessing that that's what you're here about."
Katsuhito nodded. "Yes, according to the local police, a young girl with red hair was beaten and captured by what they thought was a demon. He said that it looked like a giant panda bear."
Washu raised her eyebrow. "Well, even that's odd for me. I think it would make an interesting guinea pig but there's a problem. I lost them."
Katsuhito looked critically at her. "Lost them?"
Washu nodded her head in contemplation. "That's what was odd. They just vanished into the background layers of reality. It's like they completely melted into the landscape. No cloaking, inter-dim travel, teleport, or even self-destruction could do that. There's always some signature to follow but in this case they completely vanished. It's baffling."
A sinking feeling hit Katsuhito in the gut. Maybe it is good that Tenchi and the others aren't here. This sounds like an extremely dangerous foe.
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Genma was starting to wonder if he should have given that sedative to Ranma. He was getting winded carrying Ranma like this, especially with all of his fur. Why did his old friend have to relocate his house so far into the mountains? It was then that Genma crested the hill and came into view of the compound. A beautiful two story house sat next to a private lake. There were fields of some strange crop, a workshop, a grand tree, and a shrine that seemed to connect to the house from on top of a peak. His mind slowly came back into focus as dollar signs filled his eyes.
Genma smiled inwardly. Heh, it's a good thing that this engagement is a written agreement instead of a spoken pledge like the Tendo agreement. Those copies I made will work well too. If the boy marries into this family, then I'll be set for life.
He reached a wooden gate and stepped through it while ignoring the painted posts. He raced towards the house releasing the thief's cloak.
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Washu and Katsuhito were disturbed from their contemplations as several proximity alarms started going off. Washu pulled up her monitor and frowned at what it showed. "It's already at the front door. Damn, how did it get by all of my defenses?"
Katsuhito was worried now. An enemy that could breach Washu's defenses undetected would not be easy to defeat, especially if it had a hostage that it could use as a shield. He pulled out Tenchi-ken, thankful that Tenchi had left it with him. Both Washu and Katsuhito were surprised when they heard the doorbell ring.
Katsuhito cautiously approached the door. It was strange for a malevolent being to be courteous. He slowly opened the door to find a panda bear towering over him with a girl halfway slung over his shoulder. Instead of engaging it, Katsuhito backed up in surprise as the bear pushed his way inside. The panda proceeded to dump the girl in a boneless heap on the floor before pulling out a sign.
'Is this the Masaki residence?'
Katsuhito just stared at the bear for a second. He then registered Washu sneaking in from the side grabbing the girl and moving her out of harms way. "Yes it is."
The bear seemed pleased for some reason. 'Get me some hot water so' Flip ' I can explain.' Flip. 'I know it seems weird but I'm actually human.'
Katsuhito nodded. "Washu could you.."
Washu appeared before them with a steaming cup of water. "Will this do?"
She barely said those words as the panda grabbed the cup and poured it over himself.
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Three people were now sitting at a table in the Masaki living room. An old man, a seemingly young girl, and an middle-aged man in a dirty white gi. The man in the white gi pushed up his glasses and started the conversation. "I'm guessing that you want to know what happened to me and what's going on."
Katushito nodded. "That is quite an understatement."
Genma nodded and continued. "I've trained Ranma, my uh daughter, to be the best martial artist in the world for the past ten years on the road. Unfortunately, we ran afoul of some cursed springs. I fell into one and am now cursed to become a panda when hit with cold water and back into a man with hot water."
Katsuhito nodded once again but set to thinking. A curse, huh. I guess Washu's found a new guinea pig. I can see her eyes gleaming right now. Why is he here though? "Why are you here?"
Genma smirked in a way that made Katsuhito feel that he needed a good bath to wash the filth off. He then pulled a parchment out of his pack and handed it to Katsuhito. "It's an agreement between me, Noboyuki, and Achika. I'm here with my daughter to fulfill this agreement."
Katsuhito started to read the document and froze midway. He then speedily ran through the rest and confirmed the signatures. He was frowning when he dropped the parchment on the table. He spoke to himself for a second but still loud enough for the others to hear. "What have you done Achika and Noboyuki? How could you be so stupid?" He then turned to Genma. "I cannot deny this agreement; however, Tenchi and Noboyuki are not available at the moment. I'll get Noboyuki when he gets off work but Tenchi is on vacation and may not be back for another day or two."
Genma smiled inwardly. Hah, gives me time to prepare the boy. "That will be fine Masaki-san. Where is Ranma by the way?"
Suddenly, a beeping alarm drew Washu's attention away from the conversation. She tugged on Katsuhito's sleeve and nodded towards her lab. Katsuhito nodded back to her. " Washu took her to her room to rest for the moment. We'll get her down here when she wakes up. Why don't you relax in the living room? We have cable."
Genma nodded and headed for the couch while Washu and Katsuhito slipped away.
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Once inside Washu's lab, she quickly threw up in a bucket. Katsuhito became a little worried at this behavior. "Are you alright Washu?"
She held up a hand and wiped off her mouth. "Not really but thanks for asking. Do you plan to have Tenchi honor that arranged marriage?"
He raised his eyebrow at this statement. "I have to. Achika signed it. You know that any marriage contract signed by the parents of a noble Juraian must be honored. Why, is something wrong?"
Washu sighed before answering. "Yeah, something foul is definitely going on here. Actually, it's probably a good thing that she's going to marry Tenchi or I wouldn't expect her to live for much longer."
That statement really got Katsuhito's attention. "And why is that?"
Washu just shook her head in frustration. "I can't prove it right now but I'd guess that Genma is really abusive. I just got the analysis from the recovery chamber that I put Ranma in. She had numerous old and new breaks in her bones, scar tissue littering her body, bruised organs, and strange, almost pinpoint brain damage in certain developmental areas of her brain. The current crisis though is the amount of barbiturates in her system. She has double the dose that would be used to put down a horse in her system. I was surprised that she was only in an induced sleep when I brought her down here. I'm frankly surprised that she's still alive. She's lucky that I can fix this. Normally, she'd simply die in a hospital and even if she survived she'd need to take barbiturates just to stay alive afterward because the withdrawal effects would kill her. All in all, she's lucky to be alive."
Katsuhito now had a grim look on his face. "I'll kill that bastard for doing all of that to his child."
Washu grabbed onto his hand to stop him. "Aw-aw. Don't go losing it now. We still don't know enough. We don't know that he was the one who did all of that and I'm still worried about how I couldn't detect him earlier. Something just isn't right about that. If he can do all of that... We need to observe him for now. I won't let him harm anyone else, but we should keep a close eye on him. Besides, I've already added him to the top of my guinea pig list."
Katsuhito shuddered but got over it. Couldn't happen to a nicer man! "I can already guess that he was the cause of some of this. He seems like the type to me. I'll do as you say but I swear that if he causes too much trouble. I will take care of him. By the way how did you help the girl anyways?"
Washu cackled for a bit. "Yeah, you can take care of him. Just leave me some samples. As for the girl, I put a couple of Masu in her. Before you start to berate me on that, there are often many beings that fuse with at least one or two Masu during there life with the only side effect being a slightly longer life span. There's no way one or two Masu could cause any harm."
Katsuhito bit back his retort and sighed. "Fine. Let's go see our other guest."
Washu would later eat those words.
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Katsuhito blushed as he saw the girl in the healing tank. "I think you forgot to mention that she did not have any clothes on Washu."
Washu raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Oh, you only think I forgot."
Katsuhito shook his head. "A little modesty goes a long way Washu. Although, I must say that Tenchi is going to marry quite a catch."
Washu nodded her head. "That's skin deep. Look a little deeper."
Katsuhito looked at Washu and then back at the girl. She looked normal but... "By Tsunami! It's not Juraian but... She has a huge amount of life energy. This is remarkable!"
"I know. I think she'd give Ayeka a run for her money in a fight. It will be interesting to see how much she progresses once she receives her own tree."
Katsuhito froze at those words and hung his head. "We have to contact my parents about this don't we?"
Washu frowned a little. "Misaki's going to be coming here again isn't she?"
Katsuhito shook his head. "Let's get her to Ayeka's bed before she wakes up."
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Ranma groggily woke up on something soft. She shook the cobwebs out of her head and looked around the room. A lot of the furniture looked like logs or some kind of strange, wavy wood. The clothes and jewelry laying around screamed out that it was a girl's room. "Great, I guess we already made it here. I wonder what lies pops is spewing out to butter them up."
When she stood up, something seemed odd. Her chest didn't sag down into her shirt and something was pressing... "I've got a bra on. When did that happen?"
"I figured that it would give you better support than nothing at all. You should really take care of yourself you know. I bet you no longer feel a strain on your back."
Ranma turned to see a red-haired girl at the door. She looked young but in a way she seemed older. Oh man, it does take the weight off my back. "I suppose. So uh, where is here?"
"You're in the Masaki household."
Ranma bit back a curse. Damn panda, I bet he's already talked them into going through with the marriage. "I don't want to marry anybody."
Washu quirked an eyebrow. "And why is that?"
Ranma was about to scream out that she was really a guy but held it in. She had been a female for a little over three months now.
Flashback...
"Pop why are we going to this training ground again?"
"It's one of the mystic training grounds. Jusenkyo! It's supposed to be extremely dangerous." He and his father walked out of the pass to see bamboo poles sticking out of the ground.
Genma jumped up to one followed by Ranma. A man came out of a nearby hut and started yelling. It was too late as both had started into combat. Genma was the first to fall and nearly gave Ranma a heart attack when a giant panda came out.
"What is that?"
"Oh, he fall in spring of drowned panda. Whoever fall in take body of panda."
Ranma would have gotten down at this point but he was in shock and his father hit him into a pool. A very irate girl popped out and looked down at her chest.
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Ranma was fuming as the guide boiled some water. He then took it and poured it over Ranma and a bruised panda. "See hot water turn you back."
Ranma nodded. At least I can change back.
It was then that Genma did something stupid. He grabbed a glass of water off the table and threw it on Ranma. "And cold water causes us to change. Hah, now you really are a weak girl Ranma."
Ranma's cool completely gave way at that insult. He had enough. Genma saw the murderous gaze of his son and for some reason it reminded him of his wife. Before another word was said, Genma was flying out the door running for the mountains with Ranma hot on his trail.
The guide raced out of his hut trying to stop the customers. "Ah, wait! No go that way! That Musk territory."
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Ranma had been chasing his father for two days now. He was currently in his female form after it rained and was hoping his father was slowed down by wet fur.
He then noticed his father and about twenty guards trying to wrestle him down. Ranma ran toward his father, ready to join in the melee beating him down, when a chop to the neck sent him into unconsciousness.
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When Ranma woke up, he was facing some kind of weird man with pink hair and his father was beside him. They were being restrained by two men. "Hey what's going on here!"
The pink haired man sneered at him. "You filthy scum. Your father ate and defiled half of our food stores before we stopped him. Normally we would kill you for this offense, but I've learned that you both have Jusenkyo curses so now I will give you a punishment worse than death. I will seal you in your cursed forms!"
The pink-haired man held up a bucket with a ladle full of water. He splashed Ranma with the water and she turned into a girl. Her mind caught up to what he had said and she promptly passed out. At this point, Genma's self-preservation instinct kicked in and he threw off his captor with a mighty roar and proceeded to grab Ranma. He then disappeared from sight.
The pink-haired man cackled after him. "You may have eluded me you fat bastard but there is no way to restore your son."
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A month later...
A pale Ranma was coming out of the restroom as Genma shook his head. "You are no longer my son."
End Flashback...
Ranma shuddered at that thought. She mumbled but Washu could hear it. "Damn pops. Almost disowning me just because I have a monthly visitor. Like to see how he handles it."
Washu frowned at that statement. So he thinks women are worthless huh? Boy is he in for a surprise when the rest of them show up. Should be interesting. "I'm sorry. I didn't catch that."
Ranma refocused and stared at Washu. "Because I don't want to get married right now. Who are you?"
Washu nodded her head. That's a honest answer. Plus, being drugged and brought here against her will probably has something to do with it. It's too bad that everyone's hands are tied in this case. Since Achika is dead and the signature is legitimate, they don't have a choice. "Sorry, my name is Washu Hakubi, but I prefer to be called Washu-chan or little Washu. So what's your name?"
Ranma sighed and relaxed some. "My name is Ranma Saotome, heir of the Saotome Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, well was."
Washu let the ending comment slide for the moment and continued. "So, would you like to be friends?"
Ranma watched as Washu extended her hand. She weighed her options. She didn't really have many friends and she never really saw the few friends she had. Ranma shook Washu's hand. "I'd like to be friends."
Washu inwardly chuckled. Encounters of the Fifth Kind eat your heart out. "So, want something to eat?"
Ranma's eyes glazed over, her stomach growled out and she started drooling. Washu raised an eyebrow. "I guess you are hungry."
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Twenty minutes later....
Washu was typing away on her computer and analyzing the anomaly. Katsuhito took a step back when a bone nearly hit him in the eye and looked a little green. "Amazing, simply amazing. I've never seen this type of mass to energy conversion before. It's like they're those Saiyajins from Dragonball Z. I've got to see that show more often. Maybe they can do their attacks too. This is awesome."
A very green Katsuhito turned to Washu. "I don't know about that. It's also just as sickening. How can they eat like that? Mother and father would not approve of this?"
Washu just waved her hand and barely missed some spittle that came flying her way. "Don't worry! Lots of cultures have different eating habits. It's also interesting that they're fighting over their food."
Katsuhito shook his head. "This will not do."
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Noboyuki walked in the front door tired from a long day at the office. He had been spending time with his father-in-law and Washu since Tenchi went on vacation. He was sure his new wife wouldn't mind tending their apartment for another day alone. He patted the large brown bad in his hand with a smile.
He barely set his foot in the door when Katsuhito dragged him into the kitchen. "Would you mind explaining this?"
Noboyuki had a piece of paper shoved in his face. He then started reading.
'I Saotome Genma, Masaki Noboyuki, and Masaki Achika do declare that should we have children of the opposite gender then they will marry when one has reached the age of 19 and the other is at least old enough for permission to marry. Dowry is dependent on what the party giving it has available.
We do hereby swear on our family's honor.
Saotome Genma
Masaki Noboyuki
Masaki Achika
Noboyuki scratched the back of his head. "Oh yeah, I haven't heard from Genma in the past sixteen years. The last I heard his wife was pregnant. If I remember correctly, we were having a drinking contest with Soun and Genma's master. He was always a hoot."
Katsuhito rolled his eyes. He remembered that old coot all too well. Wait, I remember, that old man had a similar bio-energy as the girl and her father. Interesting. "Do you know what you have done? Tenchi has to marry Genma's daughter now!"
Noboyuki's eyes lit up. "If you have the contract and you're talking about his daughter then..." Noboyuki stuck his head into the living room to see a fat man with a dirty white gi. "Genma, old buddy! Are you in luck! I just got some really good plum sake. Let's drink to the union of our families!"
Katsuhito could only slap a hand over his face as the two men began to guzzle liquor. He would get no more answers for the moment.
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The lights were out and Ranma and Genma were getting ready to sleep in the den. When the other residents left, Genma pulled Ranma to the side and slurred, "Don't wuin dis!"
Ranma looked angrily at her father while holding her nose. "Oh, and why shouldn't I?"
Genma pulled out a piece of paper and shoved it in her face. "Honor demands vat you marry Tenchi."
Ranma looked over the document. "You're kidding right!"
Genma held up his hand and handed Ranma another document he had been hiding. "Dook at dis one."
Ranma looked over the document and then paled. "You're shitting me right. Wait, didn't you tell me she was dead."
Genma shook his head and sobered up a bit. "She's not dead. I simply thought that if you knew she was alive you would go crying back to her and left our little journey prematurely. And yes, she would certainly make both you and me commit seppuku if you don't fulfill it. The only way for the both of us to stay alive is if she doesn't find out about us until you're far along enough with a child that she'll be mollified about having grandchildren that she can spoil. Heh, spoil them or kill them, she's such a pathetic woman."
Genma was surprised at the force with which Ranma shook him. "I can't believe you. First the training trip and now I find out that my mom is some psychopath out to kill me! What's wrong with you? What's wrong with her?"
Genma saw the same fiery red-head that had cowed him into her bed in the girl standing before him now so he did the only thing he could. He pulled out a glass of cold water and transformed into a panda. 'Don't hurt me.' flip 'Pandas are endangered.'
This did not mollify Ranma as she continued to beat down Genma.
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Katsuhito shook his head and turned toward Washu. "The girls won't like it when they find out, but there is no way I'm going to try and call it off now. Not that it would matter. I'll send mother a message tonight so they'll arrive around the same time or a little before Tenchi. Misaki and Funaho should keep them from tearing the poor girl apart."
Washu was pinching her nose. "That man has to be the biggest idiot in the universe. Though I've got to give the girl credit. I didn't think it would be possible to tie those short panda legs into a pretzel."
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Katsuhito and Washu were woken up by the sound of someone crashing through glass and a yell of "Dammit pops! You broke their door!"
"It looked clear to me. How was I supposed to know it was glass?"
Katsuhito popped some aspirin into his mouth and sighed. "I hope mother gets here soon. What am I saying?"
#Crash# "Pop! You broke a section of their dock!"
Several thuds were then heard followed by a splash. Heavy but wet footsteps were heard entering the house. "Sorry bout the mess. I guess I've got to start cleaning and rebuilding."
Katsuhito popped some more aspirin and started to pray that his mothers showed up soon.
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Washu was pouring herself some orange juice for breakfast. She was thinking over how to tell these earthlings that they weren't from earth. It had to come sooner or later. She just needed to... She was broken out of her thoughts as a wet panda pushed her to the side and started raiding the fridge.
The panda held up a sign. 'Elder men first. Little girls should know their place.'
Oh, what the hell. Washu whipped out her keyboard and hit a special key. Genma then shrank and became a cross between a panda and a kappa. Ranma walked in the kitchen just in time to see it happen. She was amazed at this and disgusted at the same time as he now looked like a hairy toad or salamander. "Uh, Washu-chan? What was that?"
Washu laughed maniacally. "Why its only my hyper-dimensional genetic realignment device! Am I a genius or what?"
Ranma actually looked intrigued. "Uh, can that hyper whatever change someone's form?"
Washu cocked her eyebrow. "Well, only for about ten minutes then they change back. It's hard to actually..."
Washu was interrupted as the panda suddenly exploded in size and sent off some arcs of electricity. "Whoa, it's never done that before! Why did he change back so fast?"
Ranma wanted to know too. If she could find a way to change back into a guy...
She was interrupted as Washu began to comment again. She was reading off of her... ultra thin board of light? "Wow! You have two locked forms of dimensional space." Both of them looked at her funny. "I can't change his form because he has two locked forms. The Jusenkyo curse limits you to only those two forms. I could lock him in one form or the other but if I did that then I might lose the other form. Interesting..."
Washu didn't notice as Ranma paled at her statement.
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The doorbell rang. Katsuhito popped some more aspirin and turned some beads over in his hand. He rarely liked dealing with his mothers but it would be a blessing this time. He took in a breath and opened the door. As soon as he did, Misaki tackled him to the ground.
"Oh Yosho, it's been too long. Why don't you call us more often? How is our favorite son?"
Funaho stood over him with a tilt of her head. "Yes son. How have you been? What trouble are you in now? You tell us it's an emergency, hint at our great-grandson getting married, and told us to leave your father on the ship for awhile? Now what, pray tell, is going on?"
Katsuhito motioned towards a couch. From there, they could see a spaced out red-haired girl, Washu ranting, and... a bear? Funaho pointed to the kitchen only to be stopped by Katsuhito. "That's what we're here to talk about."
Katsuhito pulled out a piece of paper and handed it over to Funaho and Misaki. Funaho's brow furrowed and Misaki started clapping. Funaho turned to her son. "Is this for real?"
Katsuhito nodded. "I'm afraid so. She's about 3 years younger than Tenchi, but her father has given his consent for them to marry and Tenchi just reached the agreed upon age."
Misaki started jumping up and down. "Yeah, Tenchi finally has a bride."
Katsuhito sighed. "Yes, I suppose so."
Funaho sat back in her seat. "Is it the spaced out girl in the kitchen?"
Katsuhito nodded his head. "Yes, her name is Ranma Saotome. She claims that she doesn't want this, but I think it's starting to sink in that her father simply won't break off the contract."
Funaho looked askance at Katsuhito. "She doesn't want to marry Tenchi? Surely she's seen what a good looking and good-natured boy he is. Why wouldn't she be interested?"
Katsuhito sighed again. "They haven't met yet."
Silence reigned for a second. Funaho slowly drawled out. "Haven't met yet?"
Katsuhito just kept on sighing. "She and her father just showed up yesterday. When I confronted Noboyuki about it he suddenly had to drink with his best friend to celebrate. He's still recovering from the hangover upstairs."
Funaho stood up. "Well, let's meet the girl then. By the way, why is there a panda in the kitchen stuffing its mouth with food?"
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Katsuhito moved the red-haired girl to a couch in the living room while trying to keep Misaki from crushing her to death. Genma continued to consume from the refrigerator while Washu kept analyzing him. Katsuhito wasn't sure what would be better: letting the panda continue to raid their food supplies or have the sleazy man meet his mothers. He left the panda in the kitchen.
After a moment of silence, Funaho spoke to the girl. "Hello, I am Funaho Masaki Jurai. It may seem odd but I'm Tenchi's grandmother. I hear that you are betrothed to my grandson."
Ranma continued to stare blankly forward. Funaho snapped her fingers in front of the girl's face. "Hey wake up! The building is on fire. There's a meteor headed towards the house. Dammit respond to me!"
Misaki then commented. "Oh the panda looks like it's going to eat all of the food."
Misaki's comment seemed to bring Ranma back as she sat straight up and yelled, "Like hell!"
Ranma picked up a glass on the table and beaned the panda in the back of the head knocking it out. She then heard some clapping behind her and saw two women behind her. One looked like a normal Japanese woman with long black hair and the other had blue hair. They both had strange clothing on. She turned her attention to the Japanese woman as she motioned to the girl to sit down.
Funaho reintroduced herself. "Let's try this again. I'm Funaho Masaki Jurai, Tenchi's great-grandmother."
Misaki joined in as well."And I'm Misaki Jurai. I'm also his great-grandma, but I prefer Misaki or Misaki-oneechan if you don't mind."
Ranma looked between the two women and noted their age. How are these two great-grandmothers? She then replied intelligently, "Huh?"
Funaho turned an eye to Katsuhito. "You haven't told her anything yet have you? Yosho my boy, you are a fool."
Katsuhito shook his head. "I had to make sure the contract was authentic first and then call you. Not to mention that the secrets..."
Funaho finished his statement for him. "...are part of the family that she is now bound to join. Seriously son, what were you thinking?"
Katsuhito scratched the back of his head. "Well, you see, I was afraid of how Ryoko and Ayeka might react so I figured..."
Funaho once again finished his statement for him. "...that we would intervene and save this poor girl from getting slaughtered while keeping the others under control. Well, we will save the girl from them, but you're going to have to explain it to them. You know that the royal court will not accept her even with the contract unless she can find a tree. Don't worry too much Yosho. We'll take good care of her. I think a solid month will give us enough time."
Ranma had been trying to follow the conversation but only picked up pieces of what they were discussing. "Uh? Who's Yosho? And what do trees have to do with royalty?"
Funaho looked over at Ranma. "Good questions my dear. And to start it off... Yosho! Lower your disguise field."
Katsuhito sighed and held his hand to his neck. The old man vanished to be replaced by a vibrant young man. "This is my true form Ranma."
Ranma looked at him and shrugged her shoulders. "Okay, so you're a ninja and not really some old man. What's the point?"
Misaki placed a finger to her lip. "Yosho is a ninja?"
Funaho shook her head. "No. My son is not a ninja. He really is Tenchi's grandfather. Considering that he's more than 700 years old, you would think that he would have had more than one heir."
Katsuhito sweated a little at that comment and coughed. "Well, how should we do this then?"
Funaho sighed. "I'll give her the pertinent details. We are not from Earth but a planet called Jurai. Misaki and myself are the current empresses of Jurai. Earth is a protectorate of our empire and has yet to develop enough to join our ranks. You are currently betrothed to my great-grandson who is the next in line to the throne. Therefore, you will be Tenchi's first wife and empress of Jurai."
Ranma's eyes widened at that proclamation. "I'm going to be empress? Like hel..."
Ranma was cut off as a panda paw covered her mouth. It then held out a sign. 'Don't mind Ranma.' flip 'She would love to be empress.' flip 'Besides, honor demands it.'
He then let go of Ranma while she darkly muttered to herself. Misaki clapped her hands and pointed at the panda. "It's so cute."
Funaho raised an eyebrow. "Yosho, I repeat. Why is there a panda in this house?"
Katsuhito pulled out the bottle of aspirin again and took a few pills. "He is her father."
Funaho began to laugh. She continued to laugh and almost rolled on the floor until she saw the serious look in her son's eye and sat back up. "Bullshit."
Washu appeared behind the panda and poured hot water over it. "It needn't be that hot little girl!"
Misaki frowned when she saw this. "He was cuter the other way."
Funaho just turned back to Katsuhito. "Explanation now!"
Katsuhito hunched back in his chair. "From what the man told us, he visited some cursed springs and became cursed. Whenever cold water hits him, he becomes a panda and with hot water becomes a man. Uh, mother why not take Ranma with you now. I'm sure that..."
Funaho turned to the man in the dirty gi. She found that the daughter had a naïve, arrogant, and annoyed disposition from talking to her and watching her body language. Her father, however, gave her the feeling of one of those underhanded spaceship salesmen. The type that would sell you a ship with potentially lethal pressurization problems and simply not care. "So Mr..."
"Genma Saotome." She could now smell the gi which smelled of wet fur.
Funaho held back from scrunching up her nose and focused on the man in front of her. "So, Mr. Saotome. I'm sure you already know who we are and what we were discussing so I'd like to ask some questions. What do you do for a living? Does your daughter actually want to go through with this?"
Genma puffed out his chest. "I'm a master of the Saotome branch of Anything Goes Martial Arts. I help the weak as it is the duty of a martial artist. It doesn't really matter what she thinks because she is honor bound to marry Tenchi."
Ranma had finished pulling the fur out of her mouth at this point and turned a heated glare at her father. "Like hell I wanna marry somebody. And what do you mean help the weak? You stole from every person you met on the road. I was only able to pay half of them back for what your fat hide..."
"Look! Some pork buns!" Ranma looked around to where her father was pointing. She was about to respond that there was nothing there, but she didn't get the chance as a knife hand was brought down on the back of her neck. Genma scooped her up before she fell and turned toward the others. "Oh, she doesn't know what she's talking about. She likes to spin a lot of stories so just ignore her. I'll just take her out back and talk to her."
Genma turned to leave when a hand tightly grasped his shoulder. What he didn't expect was the blue-haired woman. Her smile actually seemed kind of scary. "Oh, I think that we'll be taking her from here. Isn't that right Funaho?"
Funaho nodded her head. "Yes. I would so like to get to know our new daughter-in-law. I'm sure she'll have many stories of you."
Genma was starting to break into a cold sweat. The stares from these women were kind of predatory and it scared the shit out of him. "Uh, here you go!"
Genma tossed his daughter at Misaki and disappeared. Misaki picked the girl up and walked over to Funaho. Both of them frowned while turning to Katsuhito. Funaho spoke to him. "I expect you to keep that mongrel of a man on a leash. We do not need more scandals in this family. Keep us informed of any new developments. Goodbye son."
As his mothers vanished with Ranma, Katsuhito released a breath that he didn't know he was holding. "Oh boy!"
XxxxxxxxxxX
Ranma woke up on a soft bed. What she didn't expect was to wake up wearing something similar to what those other women were wearing. Where theirs had been green or purple, hers was a light red color. She sprung out of bed and looked herself over. "What is it? Dress up Ranma day."
Ranma then noticed someone else in the room with her. It was young woman with a similar style of outfit, but the design was simpler and brown in color. The woman bowed slightly to her."Ah, Lady Ranma! Empress Funaho told me to bring you to her and Empress Misaki's chamber after you awoke."
Ranma was about to blow a gasket at being called a 'lady.' The entire day was starting to turn into one major migraine. "Uh, could ya just call me Ranma? Lady just doesn't suit me."
The servant bowed to her. "Yes. I would like it if you would call me Erica as well. It's not often that I run into nobles that are informal with their servants so I think I'll enjoy working with you. Just remember that I'll have to call you Lady Ranma when in public. I guess it's not everyday that one gets swept off their feet to find that they are about to become a princess."
"A prin.. princess?" Ranma was really starting to become confused with everything that was going on.
"Of course, you are betrothed to Prince Tenchi-sama so that would make you a princess. All that is left is for you to go through the tree selection ceremony. I hope you get a wonderful tree."
"Huh? Tree?"
Erica nodded to Ranma. "Yes, I think that Funaho wished to discuss that with you. It's not my place to tell you. Now come along Ranma."
Ranma looked down at her garb. "Can't I get some pants first?"
XxxxxxxxxxX
Ranma looked around the spacious room in awe as Erica closed the door as she left the room. The entire room was arched over by roots and there was an open back wall showing forest with a waterfall. She then saw two figures at a table sitting there sipping on tea. Funaho motioned for Ranma to sit down in a chair at the table.
Funaho turned to Ranma and began to speak. "I must apologize for that short and somewhat less than informative talk that we had at the Masaki household. If anything I think I said too much there. I did a little digging into you and your father's past. I found many confusing records and was hoping you could clear them up for me.
First, I found many confusing police reports of a man claiming to be Ranma causing many vandalisms, theft, injury, etc; however, this man was described as a fat, balding man. Was that your father?"
Ranma nodded her head. "Damn Oyaji, blaming things on me."
Funaho nodded her head. "As I suspected. Now the second part is more confusing. I found records stating that you were male until about three or four months ago. Now I know that you are that man's daughter. Genetic tests prove it so the contract that he wrote up with our granddaughter and grandson-in-law is valid. Are you his unrecorded love child or are you really Ranma or is it something else? It would be hard to believe that he faked you being a boy. Believe me, I saw everything when we dressed you after taking those filthy clothes off."
Ranma was halfway between being angry and scared. Damn it, they were the ones that dressed me up. Now the problem is they want to know what happened. How the hell do I tell them I'm really a boy? What the hell? "Uh, I'm actually male or I was."
Funaho took another sip of her tea while Misaki scanned over the girl. Misaki then leaned back in her chair. "No way are you a boy! Trust me, I know."
Funaho turned her tea cup. "It wouldn't have to do with those cursed springs would it."
Ranma sighed. Finally, I can tell someone the truth. "Yes."
Funaho nodded. "Do you change back with hot water?"
Ranma hung her head at that statement. "No, it's permanent. Someone sealed the curse on me to punish my father for stealing their food. I've been a girl for three months now."
Funaho nodded her head sagely. "And how have you been taking it?"
Ranma sighed once again. "Not too well. Pops keeps telling me that I'm a weak little girl. When I bled down there, well, he almost disowned me. He never told me what that meant and just kept saying that I could never be his heir."
Funaho put her cup down on the table with a little bit of force. "You're a complete woman then. That means the marriage contract is still on at least. So, has anyone given you the talk yet?"
Ranma looked confused at her for a moment. "What's the talk?"
Funaho and Misaki both looked at each other and sighed. "Come stand over beside me Misaki dear. I guess we need to start from scratch with her. It's time for biology 101 Ranma."
XxxxxxxxxxX
Erica led a very pale Ranma back to her room.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Funaho sat back down in her seat pinching her nose. "Well that could have gone better!"
Misaki put her cup down on the table and placed a hand over one of Funaho's hands. "Don't worry Funaho. We've already set aside a whole month to work with her. I'm sure things will work out."
Funaho shook her head. "That's not the problem. I'm sure we can prepare her for at least some of what she'll have to deal with, but I'm more worried about the long term. I can see that she's given up some hope of returning to her male form but will that be enough. She has to be willing to bear children and actually have a relationship with Tenchi. The real problem is that Achika isn't alive. Bless the poor child. If she were, then we could just have her break the contract and pay the fee for breaking the contract with that fat father of hers. Now the only one that can break the agreement is that fat fool. After hearing that we were empresses, I doubt he'll break it off and even then the price he and especially his daughter would have to pay would not be worth it. The sad thing is that the one being hurt by this the most is his own daughter."
A beeping caught their attention as a message pulled up on a light screen. It had little dancing crabs attached to it. Funaho pressed the open button. "Aw, the medical report from Washu. She said that she had needed a little extra time to extrapolate her medical history from her scans and memory dive."
Misaki clapped her hands. "Ooh, let's see what she's like."
Funaho sighed and shook her head. "You know this would be considered a breach of privacy, but my preliminary investigation demands a more thorough look at the girl."
Funaho pushed the open button for the attachments and sat back as a list of incidents and statistics displayed on the screen along with several video files. Both Funaho and Misaki started pouring through the data on separate screens. Funaho wasn't surprised when Misaki jumped up from her seat and started puking over the balcony. The enraged face that came back into view also was not surprising but it was very disturbing.
Misaki didn't even register Funaho as she started for the door. "We're turning the ship around! I'm going to kill that man!"
Funaho was out of her seat in a flash and had her arms securely around Misaki. "Calm down! We can't turn around now. Besides, she won't be near him while she's with us."
Misaki kept struggling against Funaho's hold. "Dammit let go! I'm going to make a panda skin rug for our room!"
Funaho strengthened her grip. "If we do that, then other people are liable to catch wind of this. It would do more to hurt the girl than help her. Washu also left a note saying that she would turn him into her newest guinea pig. I can assure you that that will be enough punishment until we return with her a month from now. We'll also have some time to think out a truly fitting punishment for him during that time. It's not like he's going anywhere."
Misaki's struggle ceased as she calmed down in Funaho's embrace. "Alright, but we better think up something fitting."
Funaho released her hold on Misaki and sat back down. "So, what set you off like that?"
Misaki turned a little green before responding. "Read text C1-5 but whatever you do don't play the video file that goes with it unless you want to be scarred for life. I made the mistake of playing the video file first."
Funaho nodded her head and then turned toward the screen selecting the file. As she read through the file, her face turned pale. "This really happened."
Misaki nodded her head. "It explains why files from later in her life reported that strange behavior and fear of cats. After watching that video of her or rather him in the pit, would you mind telling the palace guards to remove all felines from the palace."
Funaho nodded her head. "It would be best I suppose. We can't have the poor girl freaking out at the palace."
Misaki shook her head. "That's not why I asked. What I mean is that I'll probably start blowing them up with energy blasts and I wouldn't want to ruin the palace. Evil little vermin."
Funaho started to sweat. That must have been one hell of a video.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Ranma once again woke up on a soft bed and sighed to herself. This is getting to be annoying. She sat up to see Erica sitting in a chair next to the bed. "I see you're taking this rather badly Ranma."
Ranma lifted herself up from the bed and shook her head. "Yeah, things have been rather confusing."
Erica nodded her head and walked toward the door opening it. "Funaho-sama told me to bring you to the dining room when you awoke. They should be starting dinner soon."
Ranma once again walked down the corridors of the ship, admiring the wide halls and strange plant life that could be seen around the ship. Erica continued to lead her until they reached a large, open room with a wooden table at the center. She saw Funaho, Misaki, and a man with long hair and a long beard sitting at the table. Erica announced her arrival. "I present to you Lady Ranma Saotome."
Funaho nodded to the servant. "You may leave now."
Erica bowed and left the room as Ranma made her way to an open seat. She wasn't sure of what was going on as no food had been served yet and the three people at the table were looking at her intently.
The man sitting directly across from her coughed slightly and started to speak. "I am Azusa Masaki Jurai, Ruler of the Juraian empire. I take it that you're Tenchi's fiance. I hope you understand the importance and prestige of the position that you will take up as future empress of the Juraian empire. I expect many great things from you."
Funaho laughed and grinned slightly and looked over at her husband. "Don't worry dear. Both Misaki and I will take care of that."
Azusa frowned at that declaration. "I'm sure you will. I'm guessing you're going to impart you're infinite wisdom on her."
Funaho's grin grew. "Of course. She'll need to learn about space, our history, and many types of politics. I'm sure you know the type to which I refer dear. I'm sure you won't mind her learning directly from us dear unless you'd like to be sleeping on the couch for the next century."
Azusa started to sweat until he saw the food arrive. "Aw, why don't we partake in the feast dears."
Funaho and Misaki chuckled at his expense as food was laid out on the table. Azusa was about to start in on the feast when a large portion of the food started disappearing. He looked up to see something that in his millenniums of rule he had never seen and never wished to see again. The little red-haired girl was literally inhaling food in front of him. He then looked over to his wives to see... expectant, if a little annoyed expressions on there faces.
"Oh dear, Washu's words doesn't do it justice." Misaki was actually frowning a little.
"This is a habit we will have to break." Funaho just shook her head at the red-head's actions.
XxxxxxxxxxX
After dinner was complete, Funaho and Misaki pulled Ranma into their chamber. They sat her down on the edge of their bed as each one took a position beside her. This made Ranma squirm as she had nowhere to go as these women stared intently at her.
"Now why did you eat so fast dear." Funaho had a good idea of why that might be but she had decided to post-pone reading more about Ranma's life for a later date after reading the description of the Neko-ken.
Ranma shrugged her shoulders. "It's always been that way with pops. If I wanted to eat, then I had to fight for my food and eat it quickly or pops would steal it from me. He said it was speed training. I really didn't get fast enough to beat him until I was about twelve. I'd go days without food because I either couldn't beat him or he had spent all of our money on sake when we needed food."
Misaki's hmmphed as she turned her gaze back to Funaho. "I told you we should have turned around. That panda skin rug is sounding better every minute."
Funaho faced Misaki and sighed as she spoke. "How about a compromise? We go back and see how Washu is punishing him. If you don't think it's enough, then we'll initiate the plan I came up with for him a little early. Agreed."
Misaki nodded her head. "Agreed."
Funaho turned back to Ranma. "We'll get you over that dear. No one will steal your food here. Now, let's start talking about your tree ceremony. It's probably going to be the first thing that we do when we get to Jurai."
Ranma quirked an eyebrow at that. "Yeah, everybody keeps talkin about that but I still don't know what that is."
Funaho nodded and folded her hands in front of her. "What I say now and every step of the process is highly classified so you can tell no one of this except those of the noble houses. Do you understand?"
Ranma nodded her head and Funaho continued. "The tree ceremony is where one finds a tree to bond to for life. This bond allows one to tap into the power of Jurai, specifically that of Tsunami. This link also occurs to a lesser extent for those that do not have a bond but only for the citizens of Jurai. In your case, you already have a ki supply that is far greater than most humans so I can only imagine how the bond will affect you."
Ranma raised her hands up and waved them in front of her. "Uh-uh. I don't want any other weird thing happening to me."
Funaho cracked a smile but it soon turned to a slight frown. "It won't hurt you dear. I went through it myself so I should know. It's a wonderful feeling. The tree is sentient and it is like a warm mother, child, or some other form of partner as you might imagine. Unfortunately, you don't have a choice like most do because of the marriage contract. You see only noble Juraians can marry into the royal family as the first and second wives of the emperor. Since you weren't born into a noble family, the only other way to reach noble status is to have your own tree."
"So I'm going to have some plant bonded to me? It isn't going to change me is it?" Ranma really didn't like where this was going. If changing genders hadn't been enough.
Misaki leaned a little against Ranma and started stroking her hair. "Don't be scared; it won't change you. It's a wonderful experience where you share a link with another living thing. It will always be present in your mind but it does not change you. Rather the tree selects you and you the tree based on similar personalities. The tree grows and is influenced by you rather than it influencing you as much."
Ranma seemed to relax some with that statement, but she was still on edge as the two women hung to her sides. "I guess it's okay then. Uh, what else did you want to talk about?"
Huge grins spread across both Funaho's and Misaki's faces as they turned around to face Ranma. "Oh, how about a grand introduction to what it means to be a woman."
XxxxxxxxxxX
Katsuhito was broken out of his peaceful tea sipping as the front door opened and he heard a number of people enter.
"Hah, told you I'd beat you!"
"That isn't fair you monster woman! You cut holes in our bathing suits before the competition!"
"Oh quit your whining miss prissy pants. You're just a sore loser!"
"You're one to talk. You only got second place!"
"Better than third."
"Look at how my first place medal shines!"
He saw the fuming figures of Ayeka and Ryoko enter with heated glares at Mihoshi. "Shut up!"
"Now girls, try to calm down some." Katsuhito turned his eyes to his grandson. Well, the choose has already been made for you boy. I'll hold off telling them for a little while to give mother some time with Ranma until she has the protection of her own tree.
He then heard another voice call him from the kitchen. "I'll start on supper grandpa!"
He smiled at Sasami's happy demeanor. He turned his attention back to Tenchi as he started to approach him. "Hey grandpa, where's Washu?"
Katsuhito snickered. After Washu had recovered and had some time to view some of Ranma's memories, she had simply brushed Katsuhito aside, grabbed the panda bear by the ear, and dragged it to her lab, slamming the door. He didn't know what set that off, but he could only imagine. "Oh she found a new guinea pig while all of you were out. I think she muttered something about a month long experiment with pandas, weasels, and circus clowns. She also said not to disturb her."
Everyone fell silent at that comment until Tenchi spoke up. "Uh, should we be worried about the person that..."
Katsuhito shook his head. "No, her new guinea pig is just getting his just desserts."
The normal muss and fuss of the house started up again.
Katsuhito sighed in relief. He had just avoided a major disaster or so he thought.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Soun Tendo was humming joyously as he walked up the mountain road outside Okoyama. He was trailed by his three daughters. Akane was in her yellow dress, Nabiki was wearing dark pants and a brown shirt, and Kasumi was wearing her usual blue dress and white apron.
"Daddy, why did we come all the way to Okoyama to climb a hill for a picnic. It doesn't make sense. For that matter, why did we walk instead of paying for the bus. I mean we spent a hell of a lot of money for the train just to get here." Nabiki was seriously starting to wonder what her father's real motives were.
Soun chuckled. "Oh, my old friend has a house in these mountains. Although, I wish I had known that he moved the house to the shrine. It is quite a walk."
They arrived at the edge of a bend in the road and were able to take in a spectacular sight. They saw a two story house below them that was sitting next to a sparkling lake. There were fields of carrots, a giant tree, a shrine, and a wonderful forest.
Nabiki whistled out loud. "Didn't know that your friend was loaded daddy."
"Oh my, it is such a beautiful home!" Kasumi was holding a hand to her mouth and smiling.
"It is rather nice looking. So what are we here for dad?" Akane scanned the place noticing the open fields around the house.
Soun sweated a little as he led his daughters down the steps to the house. "The thing is... I made a promise to my friend Genma Saotome to marry you to his son but I haven't heard from him in ten years so I gave up hope on that idea, but there was another marriage contract. Two years after Nabiki was born, I made a marriage contract with my friend Noboyuki and his wife Achika to marry our children. He told me that he already had a contract with Saotome to marry his son to any daughter he had, so we agreed that we would break off our agreement if it conflicted with Saotome's agreement with him. Since Genma had a son and no other children it then falls to you three girls. Tenchi is currently 19 and you girls are the right age so..."
Soun was cut off as Akane started blazing with fury. "Like hell I will. I'm not marrying some dumb boy. I'm going home."
Soun started to tear up. "My baby is abandoning me."
Akane stormed back up the steps as quick as she could. Nabiki rolled her eyes while Kasumi seemed torn between trying to get her father to stop crying or following Akane to make sure she was okay. Nabiki walked over to Kasumi and handed her some yen. "Take miss hot-head home. She'd only blow up at these people and we are guests here. Somehow I don't see you going through with this either."
Kasumi started to walk up the steps but turned back to Nabiki with a slightly worried look on her face. "Don't worry sis. Everything will be fine. Just move along now. Come on daddy let's go."
Nabiki waved goodbye to Kasumi and started to lead her weepy father along. Heh, works to my advantage. This guy must be loaded. I've hit the jackpot here. If he's ugly or strange, I'll just pass the buck to Akane. No sweat.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Katsuhito had finished his dinner a half hour ago and was peacefully reading the newspaper until he felt a terrible omen when the doorbell rang. He then felt a shiver when Noboyuki yelled out 'I'll get it.' He reached for his aspirin when he heard Noboyuki say, "Well if it isn't my drinking buddy Soun and is this your daughter? Come on in. Why don't we go to the living room."
Katsuhito looked over at his son-in-law as he led a long-haired, moustachioed man in a brown gi with his daughter. She had brown hair in a pageboy cut and was wearing earth-tone pants and white shirt. His foreboding feeling of doom only increased as the man pulled out a parchment and laid it on the table. Before a word came out of the man's mouth, Katsuhito grabbed the paper off of the table and scanned over it quickly. He then slapped his hand over his forehead before suddenly grabbing the girl and dragging her into the hall.
The girl tried to break his grip and yelled at him. "Hey, what's the big idea buddy."
Her father also ran after them but just barely missed them as Katsuhito disappeared into the doorway under the stairs.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Washu was having a fun time. Sure it wasn't really an experiment, but it was fun. "Hah, weasels win again. It's time for a clown penalty again Mr. Panda."
In the arena below her, a panda was running away from clowns with half full water balloons. One of the clowns almost got to him before an alarm went off which disturbed Washu's focus. "Dammit! Who is it?"
Katsuhito wiped some sweat off of his forehead. This may have been more dangerous than protecting the girl from the others. "We need to contact my mothers. We have another one."
"Hey, mind explaining what's going on and another thing... Is that a panda... How can someone shove a fish that large up there?" Nabiki's fury was sidetracked by the sight of a panda fighting and losing to rodeo clowns with fish sausage, tuna, and half-filled water balloons?
"Another?" Katsuhito held up the contract so that Washu could see it. "Oh well, daughter of mine won't be happy and neither will Ayeka, but those are the brakes. They can always jockey for third and fourth."
Katushito nodded. "Can you contact them and have them send a transport?"
Washu looked over her light panel screen. "I can do you one better. They came back. Initiating live com link."
A large screen appeared before them. Misaki showed up on the screen and shouted, "Where is that rat bastard Genma Saotome?"
Washu cleaned her ear out after that scream. "Oh, I have him dancing prettily. Here's some feed."
The woman on the large screen seemed to look over at something and giggle. "Ok, that will do. Just don't kill him. I want to have some fun too."
Washu nodded her head in satisfaction. "Wouldn't have it any other way. Oh, by the way, it seems that Tenchi has his second wife lined up. It appears little Achika was quite busy in her youth. I'm sending her to you now. I'll leave the explanations to you."
Nabiki had started to regain her wits after seeing all of these impossible sights and responded to Washu's comments. "Hey! What do you mean by sending me to them? I demand..."
Nabiki disappeared in a beam of light.
Katsuhito sighed and sat down beside Washu. "Got some popcorn."
Washu handed him a bag. "This kettle corn stuff is pretty good. Now that the previews are over let the play begin."
XxxxxxxxxxX
"...to know what's going on." Nabiki finished her sentence in a totally alien room. The previous space had been nothing but blackness as far as the eye can see while this room was highly decorated with a view of a waterfall and a ceiling made of roots?
"Where the hell am I now?" (Remind you of someone.)
"Don't worry dear. Come sit down and we'll explain." Nabiki turned around to see two regal women and a nervous teenager. The woman on the left had long-flowing black hair and wore some type of flowing pinkish-purple dress and the woman on the right had blue hair and a greenish-blue dress of the same style. The teenager sitting next to the woman with the black hair had red hair, blue eyes, and a red dress of a similar make. The girl didn't seem to be too comfortable at the moment.
Nabiki eyed them as she sat down next to the woman with blue hair. "Mind telling me what's going on. I remember being in a house in Okoyama and suddenly I'm whisked away to some lab and now this place. I want some answers or there will be hell to pay!"
Funaho chuckled and Misaki patted the irate girl on the head. Funaho turned to face the new teenager. "Now, now dear. I believe introductions are in order. I'm Funaho Masaki Jurai, First Empress of Jurai. And this," she pointed over to Misaki, "is Misaki Jurai, second Empress of Jurai and my co-wife. And the little redhead over there is Lady Ranma Saotome, first fiance of Prince Tenchi and soon to be First Princess of Jurai."
Nabiki looked dumbly at them. These people are nuts. I've got to get out of here. "Aw, I'm Nabiki Tendo. Wait, Saotome. As in daddy's other friend, the one who had a contract first. So, I'm guessing that makes you Tenchi's fiance."
Ranma nodded her head. She didn't want to admit it, but from what she could tell, it was a foregone conclusion. Nabiki nodded her head as well. "I guess that means I'm not needed. Uh, can you show me to the exit?"
Nabiki started to stand up but the blue-haired woman put her hand on Nabiki's shoulder. "Oh no dear. Both of you need to be here."
Funaho smirked as she sat back in her chair. "Think about what I said earlier for a second. You seem like a smart girl."
Nabiki looked over at Funaho and began to reason out what had happened. Okay Nabiki, time to think this out. First, daddy said something about the Saotomes and our clan having marriage contracts with the Masakis. We get to the Masaki household only to have that old man drag me off the minute he sees the contract. We end up in a dark lab with a panda and other stuff before I magically end up here. I then meet the two empresses here and Saotome's daughter. Empress Funaho tells me that Ranma is Prince Tenchi's first fiance and … Wait two empresses, but that would mean... "Hey, having two wives is illegal in Japan. What's going on here?"
A cheshire grin spread across Funaho's face. "Yes, it is, but then we aren't in Japan anymore."
Nabiki cocked her head to the side. "Okay, I'll bite. Where are we then?"
Funaho's grin spread even wider. "We are in outer space dear. Currently on route to the planet of Jurai."
Nabiki started chuckling and then laughing out loud. She then faced Funaho wiping away some tears. "Oh, you had me going there for a second. This must be some prank. This has to be the most elaborate set up ev..."
Nabiki's rave halted there as she noted the deadly serious expression on Funaho's face. "I am not joking dear. Does it look like I'm joking?"
A sinking feeling started to come over Nabiki as she realized that the woman in front of her was not joking. "So, everything you said is real? What am I really doing here?"
Misaki rubbed her hand through Nabiki's hair which annoyed her to no end. "It means that you're fiance number two for Tenchi-kun. Isn't that wonderful? You're going to be the second princess of Jurai!"
Nabiki numbly nodded her head. This was very surreal for her and she had no control of the situation. It was all very alien to her. "So why two wives?"
Funaho nodded her head and smiled. "That's a very good question. We were just about to discuss that with Ranma here. The Juraian empire is vast beyond imagination. Even though it is ruled by a monarch, it is in actuality run more so by his wives and the nobles, servants, and military under their direction. Think of us as the heads of the executive staff. While the monarch technically runs the empire, it is his two wives that direct military, domestic, diplomatic, and commercial affairs throughout the empire. This is also a reason why we want to start teaching you two starting now. Many events are being rushed and there is less time than we can hope for to prepare the two of you for your future duties."
Nabiki sat back and thought for a second on what she had just learned. Hmm, queen of an empire? Empress Nabiki has a nice ring to it. She then eyed the red-headed girl who still looked a little out of place. She's pretty easy on the eyes as well. I'll have to question her when we're alone but I'd have to guess she's pretty shaken up by this. I mean who would believe in an alien empire really existing. Now, if what these women are telling me is true, then I'm about to become one of the most powerful women in the universe. Boo-yah! "I think this will work out just fine. So where do we begin?"
XxxxxxxxxxX
Back at the Masaki household...
Katsuhito was leaving Washu's lab after her rendition of several King novels using Genma. He never knew that a panda could move like that.
He was blown off his feet as a giant demon head hovered above him. "What have you done with my daughter?"
Katsuhito was about to pull out the Tenchi-ken but he reevaluated the situation. The head was attached to a very familiar body. He then noticed a tall girl with long brown hair approach it with a pin. She stuck the pen into the head and it immediately deflated into the familiar face of Noboyuki's friend as he fell onto the floor. The girl then turned and slightly frowned at him. He didn't know why but he was certain that the slight frown was far worse than the demon head had been. "While father can get excited easily, I'm afraid I would also like to know what happened to my sister."
Katsuhito picked himself up and bowed slightly to the girl as she pulled her father to his feet. "I will explain in due time. Please follow me to the living room."
She followed as he rounded the bend in the hall and froze as soon as he entered the living room. Everyone was gathered there. He wished that he still had a bottle of aspirin or some really strong alcohol.
He turned his head as the complaints started rolling in. Ryoko was the first. "Hey old man! What gives? All of my sake is gone. Even the emergency stashes that I hid."
Ayeka was next. "All of my jewelry is missing and while loathe to admit, Ryoko had nothing to do with it. What is going on?"
Sasami piped up after her sister. "All of the food in the refrigerator is gone. I stocked it with enough food for a month thanks to Washu's stasis field and subspace fold."
Mihoshi followed with her usual whine. "Someone ate all of my snacks."
Tenchi was last. "Someone broke the dock and several of mother's heirlooms are missing."
The last comment really started to tick Katsuhito off. He would have to force that idiot Genma to give back those heirlooms and the other things that he stole. "Sit down everyone. I will explain."
Once everyone was seated, he took note of a dark blue-haired girl who was sitting next to Noboyuki's friend. Must be another daughter. "I bet you all are wondering what has caused all of this turmoil."
Nods were seen across the room. Katsuhito then continued. "It is all due to one man who is currently suffering at Washu's hands. She's given up slightly on the guinea pig aspect for the moment and decided entertainment value would be the best use for the man."
He could see the shivers run through the residents of the household. "Yes, I know it seems a little cruel at the moment, but there are other extenuating circumstances. The man's name is Genma Saotome and he..."
Katsuhito didn't finish as Soun butted into the conversation. "Genma? Genma is here?"
Katsuhito nodded and Soun began to dance again bringing out fans. "Oh happy days! Now the schools can be joined. Where are Genma and his son?"
Katsuhito responded a little heatedly. "That filth Genma is currently with Washu receiving his just desserts and as far as I know he doesn't have a son. His daughter, however, is currently with my mothers."
Soun stopped dancing around and turned back to the man. "What do you mean by daughter? I thought he had a son. I need to speak with my old friend."
Ayeka also noted something wrong with that statement. "Our mothers! What do you mean she's with our mothers?"
Katsuhito sighed. It was time to start revealing the truth. "First of all, it would be ill advised to disturb Washu and her new play toy. Secondly, he has tried to rob this house clean. Thirdly, I have never seen such stunted growth and clear signs of abuse as the ones that I saw on his daughter. I would not be surprised if his son died due to his negligence and abuse."
Soun was now teetering on being furious. "Genma would never do that. He was training his son to take over their branch of the Anything Goes school."
Katsuhito shook his head. "Regardless, he arrived without a son and a very put out daughter. He might even end up on charges considering that there are several standing warrants for his arrest."
Soun stood in shock for a second before sighing. "I guess he let the master's lessons get to him. What of my daughter?"
Katsuhito started to sweat as he knew the next words out of his mouth would start a rather nasty chain reaction. "She is also with my mothers."
Ayeka's interest skyrocketed with that statement. "Why are both of those girls with our mothers?"
Time to let the cat out of the bag, Katsuhito thought. "Well, Funaho and Misaki wanted to get to know their future daughter-in-laws. They're going to be gone for the next month."
Silence reigned for a moment before both Ayeka and Ryoko exploded. "WHAT?"
Katsuhito knew he was in for it now. "Now, now girls calm down. It just so happens that my dear Achika signed two marriage contracts. One was with the Saotomes and one was with the Tendos. You know that official marriage contracts must be carried out."
Ayeka spat as she angrily yelled. "They can be annulled!"
Ryoko snarled. "Then get them annulled!"
Katsuhito waved his hands in front of him. "Calm down and think about it. The only one who can officially annul them was Achika and she has passed on."
Ayeka fell back into her seat. "Dammit that's right, but what about having the other party pull out?"
Katsuhito shook his head. "You know that that cannot be done. They don't have the resources to pay the penalties and the annulment would only occur once all of those are paid off."
Ayeka slammed her hand into her palm. "I could pay off the penalties."
Ryoko nodded her head. "I can scrounge up some money as well."
Katsuhito shook his head once again. "I'm afraid Misaki has grown rather attached to them both and Funaho approves of them so far. They have personally taken them under their wing. I would suggest not going after them."
Both Ayeka and Ryoko flinched at that statement. Funaho and Misaki could be really scary.
Ryoko purred to herself. "Well, it doesn't mean that me and Tenchi can't get married right now and put an end to those silly contracts. It would be the Masaki family's fault then but I'm sure it would be covered up."
"He's my Tenchi!" Ayeka grasped onto that new idea as she firmly grasped Tenchi and held him to her chest.
"No, he's mine." Ryoko nearly smothered Tenchi with her boobs. His nose began to bleed as his head acted like a volleyball between their chests.
What no one expected was a battle cry of "PERVERT!" as a hammer slammed down on Tenchi's head, driving him through the floor.
All eyes slowly turned to the blue-haired girl who now had a hammer in her hand. "Hah, take that you dirty pervert!"
The remaining residents of the house slowly backed out of the room as Ayeka and Ryoko started crackling with energy. "WHAT are you doing to my Tenchi you bitch!"
Akane blinked at the threat directed towards her in stereo. She was just taking care of a pervert. There was no need for them to ruffle their feathers. "He was rubbing himself in your breasts! He's a pervert!"
Ryoko cocked her head to the side. "Huh?"
Ayeka also wavered at that statement. "We were the ones who grabbed onto him."
Akane let out another burst of rage. "All men are dirty perverts!"
Ryoko smiled and teleported behind Akane. She then rapped her arms around Akane and rubbed her chest. "Oh, so you play that field then?"
The words had barely left Ryoko's mouth when a mallet impacted her head. Ayeka chuckled as the short girl hit Ryoko with the mallet. "Now that she deserved!"
Her chuckle died when Akane kept beating Ryoko's head into the floor. Sure Ryoko would be fine, but the bloodshot eyes and splinters digging into Akane's skin from splintering the mallet were cause for alarm. Several residents rushed the girl and subdued her as Ayeka called out. "Someone get Washu!"
XxxxxxxxxxX
Nabiki was putting on her nightie for bed time. While she liked having the servants, she was still a little uncomfortable with the idea of them dressing and undressing her. She carefully turned her eye to catch Ranma fingering her nightie as she faced away from Nabiki. The girl had barely spoken as the two empresses went into detail about the Juraian empire's history, some recent political events, and something called a tree ceremony. She had to admit that that part had her a little on edge. Apparently, she was expected to share her life force with some kind of weird tree. She had thought about refusing, but the knowledge that she would help rule an empire helped her to bite it back. The trees were also supposed to 'not alter ones personality,' but she was hard pressed to believe that.
Nabiki stood up after she finished adjusting her nightie and walked over to Ranma. Ranma was obviously lost in thought as she ran her fingers over the string of the top because she was startled when Nabiki placed her hand on her shoulder. "No need to be jumpy. I'm already on edge."
Ranma put her hand to the back of her head and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry."
Nabiki waved her hand. "Don't worry about it. It sounds like we're in the same boat, which is why I think it would be a good idea to get to know each other. And would you stop fingering that nightie and put the blasted thing on already."
Ranma sighed as she slipped the garment on. She was acting like she had just been defeated. "Whaddya want to know?"
Nabiki shrugged. "Anything I suppose."
Ranma thought for a minute and shrugged her shoulders. The girl really should know. "I was originally a guy, but I got a curse, thanks to my pop, that has made me permanently female. I've only been a girl for the past three months."
Silence reigned for a moment followed by a whistle by Nabiki. Wow, I was not expecting that. Ok, given the situation, this isn't so far fetched. I'm betting that this whole deal is even more awkward for her. It would explain the brooding silence. "O-K, the really heavy shit first huh. So what was it like being a guy?"
Ranma shrugged her shoulders. "You're stronger, you've got something down there, and you can inherit the martial arts school that you've only worked your whole life to master. I lost everything three months ago."
Nabiki was a little heated after hearing that but she'd give diplomacy a try. "Oh, and why'd you lose everything when you became a girl huh?"
Ranma sagged a little in her seat. "Pops says women are weak. He always has. He used to taunt me all the time about how I was weak like a woman. I guess he got his wish. When I had my first period, I was scared out of my mind because I thought I was dying. Pop wouldn't tell me what was happening and tried to disown me after it happened. The funny thing is that I received this curse when he dragged me off to some cursed springs because he thought it would be good training and then the curse was made permanent by some people that my father stole from. What was really funny was that I was trying to help those people stop my father."
Nabiki cooled off at those words. Yeesh, and I thought daddy was bad. "Look at it this way Ranma. We've now gained a position where we'll be the most powerful people in the universe. Kick your pop to the curb cuz we've got it made sister."
Ranma looked a little thoughtful at that comment. "But he's still my pop. I haven't abandoned him yet."
Nabiki's eye twitched a little when she heard that comment. Really now. Let's find out a little more shall we. "Oh, what has he done to earn your respect?"
Ranma put her finger to her mouth in thought. "He's taught me our family's school of martial arts."
Nabiki nodded her head. "What else?"
Ranma started to look a little uncertain as she replied. "Uh, can't think of anything else."
Nabiki pushed onto her next question. "And what has he done that has hurt you or been dishonorable?"
Ranma didn't have to think long as she started to list off his misdeeds. "Well, he stole, drank, let me starve once in awhile, and constantly called me a weak little girl for the past ten years that we lived on the road together. There were times when he made these agreements with men about something saying that he would give me to them in exchange for food, money, or booze, but he'd always steal me back when they got drunk and would scam another person. He defiled several temples and dojos. The damn Neko-ken training. He also didn't tell me about this arrangement until we arrived in Okoyama and knocked me out so I wouldn't run away."
Nabiki started rubbing her nose hard at those statements. "Ranma, your father is a moron."
Ranma shrugged. "Can't argue with you there."
Nabiki giggled at the laissez-faire attitude of the girl, especially considering the little bit of her past she had learned about. She was brought out of her revelry when Ranma asked her a question. "So what are your parents like?"
Nabiki pulled up a seat next to Ranma. "Well, my mother died when I was young. I had some memories of her but not a lot. The problem was that my father completely stopped teaching martial arts and fell into a booze soaked depression. At the age of 8, I was hustling kids and blackmailing people just to get enough money to pay our bills, food, and clothing for my father, my two sisters, and myself. The sad thing is that I'm still supporting the household. It's been 9 years and my father still sulks around the house."
Ranma nodded her head. "Yeah, guess that's been tough. What was your martial arts school?"
Nabiki shrugged her shoulders. "Anything Goes Martial Arts."
Ranma shot up from her chair. "WHAT? That should be our family art, the Saotome Anything Goes Martial Arts School."
Nabiki let that sink in for a second and then started to laugh out loud as she remembered what had happened when she arrived. She also started rolling on the floor. Ranma looked rather cross at her. "Hey what's going on? What's so funny?"
Nabiki started to wipe some tears from her eyes and sit up. "Only the biggest joke in the galaxy! Apparently, my dad and yours studied under the same master and made branch schools. They wanted to rejoin there sections by marrying their children together. Even had a contract! Don't you get it, we're marrying each other and that Tenchi guy. We're fulfilling both contradictory contracts at the same time."
Ranma chuckled a little nervously at that comment. "Ah yeah, I suppose."
Nabiki sat back down in her chair. "Whew, that was a good laugh. Got any other good jokes."
Ranma shrugged. "Not ones that ain't dirty as hell."
Nabiki laughed. "The raunchier the better. Let's get something to eat before we start though. Maybe some ice cream."
Ranma's eyes lit up at hearing the girl say that. Maybe this girl ain't so bad. Still don't wanna marry that guy, but being with her ain't too bad.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Funaho stepped away from the monitor to fix herself some tea. "They are getting along quite amicably. I guess Yosho's idea was a good one. These young girls already seem to have some talents that will suit them well in their positions. I actually appreciate what Achika did for us by netting us these girls."
Misaki looked over at Funaho with a spoon hanging out of her mouth and chocolate ice cream dribbling down her cheek. "What's wrong with my little cutesy utsey Ayeka and little Ryoko."
Funaho took a deep inhale of breath and then spoke her mind. "Don't take this the wrong way but Ayeka can be an airhead and is quick to anger. She doesn't know how to budget at all and she's far too rigid in rules and regulations of the court. She really doesn't suit the positions of first or second wife because she would either screw up or end up being a political puppet. Ryoko... It was hard enough to pardon Ryoko. Sure, she did help to save Jurai and has been rather helpful lately, but many people are still wary of her given her background. She has an equally bad temper as Ayeka. Don't even get me started on Mihoshi. I may put my foot down on that one. That child is nothing but a walking disaster and our empire would crumble if she were ever to be made empress."
Misaki licked her spoon and eyed it speculatively. "Putting cuteness aside for the moment. These girls still have a ways to go. Even though Washu did some work with Ranma, she still has a number of mental scars and I imagine Nabiki has some as well. We still have our work cut out for us."
Funaho nodded her head. "I agree. Maybe some sleepovers are in order for these girls. It would give us more time to bond with them."
Misaki clapped her hands happily. "Yeah, sleepovers."
XxxxxxxxxxX
Washu was typing away on her computer while a blue-haired girl was strapped down to one of her tables unconscious. "Hmmm."
"What are you doing to my baby!" Soun's demon head disappeared as Washu stuck a needle in his arm.
She shook her head as she continued to type away on her computer. "Hmmm. That makes the third time I've had to use a sedative on him. Ryoko, put him in a stasis field until I'm done."
"Ummm, I have been trying to ask, but what are you doing to my sister again?" Washu turned to face the innocent looking girl.
"Well, Kasumi dear. I'm trying to find the root cause of this aggression. So far I've found one major trigger, but some of this other stuff has definitely led up to this. Has your father always molly-coddled her like this?"
Kasumi put a finger to her lip. "Ever since I can remember. It got worse after mother died. He always had a soft spot for Akane. He barely let's me go outside anymore for fear that something should happen to me. He does get a bit emotional."
Washu raised her eyebrow. "Right."
Washu finally finished going through the personal data she had accumulated on the girls and their father. Good grief. Soun Tendo is an idiot. He stopped working after his wife died, let his children fend for themselves, and coddled this one girl so much that she has a horrible neurotic complex. Akane has absolutely no idea of how to carry herself in the real world and that lunatic going after her has only added to her problems. Kasumi... well, I'm going to have to have Ryoko or myself show her the ropes on getting out of her shell. And Nabiki. She turned into some kind of hustler to earn the bread for the family. I guess some families can screw up worse than I have. What I don't understand is who this MASTER is. They completely shut down when I try to access memories of him but he seems to have pushed the two men over the edge.
Washu turned back to Kasumi. "I'll give it to you straight. I'm going to set up some time with a psychologist for Akane. She will attend the appointments if she doesn't want to end up in jail. Blowing up the way she did at my daughter was justified in some way, but she will end up killing someone one day with a temper like that. I'll be hanging onto your father for awhile as he, Genma, and I need to have some discussions. Both you and Akane are welcome to stay here as we work on certain issues."
Kasumi nodded her head nervously. "I suppose. Akane has been a tad bit out of line on some occasions. Will father be alright?"
Washu smiled as she took Kasumi by the hand and started leading her out of her lab. "Don't worry, he'll even get better accommodations than his friend. Now I'd like you meet my daughter..."
XxxxxxxxxxX
"Again!" Nabiki was starting to hate those two. This was her first time handling a sword but those two simply wouldn't let her quit. Her instructor seemed a little nervous as he was instructed to pick up the pace.
"I thought you were from a martial arts family. Pick up the pace!" Nabiki turned a icy glare to Funaho. Oh is she going to get it later!
Funaho chuckled at that look. The girl was about on par for a normal Earthling physically. Mentally though she seemed to be a powerhouse. Even though Nabiki was losing horribly in her first practice spar against the Juraian sword instructor, Funaho could see Nabiki leading the instructor into areas of the field that were more suited to her smaller body. She was surprised to see a few clumsy and powerless swings get to the instructor.
As Nabiki started propping herself up by her sword, Funaho decided to end the test spar. After all, she only wanted to see what the girls abilities were, not kill them. "Take a break Nabiki! Ranma you're up."
Ranma nodded and jumped down to the field below them. Nabiki dragged herself to the sideline and held up the wooden sword for Ranma to take. Ranma shook her head and smirked at Nabiki. "Don't need it. Why dontcha take a break."
Nabiki nodded her head, walked to a nearby bench, and collapsed on it. Ranma walked out to the middle of the field cracking her neck on the way. The instructor looked her over and noticed the lack of a weapon. He frowned a bit until Ranma spoke. "Alright gramps! Let's get this going. I've already seen you're moves so this shouldn't be more than a warm up."
The instructor looked her over and quirked an eyebrow. "Where is your weapon child? How do you expect to fight without one?"
Ranma only smirked as she dug her hands into her practice pants. She had been lucky enough to convince those old women to at least let her wear some slacks to practice. "Heh, weapons are a crutch! As soon as your weapon is gone, you'll be defenseless if ya haven't practiced without one."
The instructor's eye twitched at that. "Oh, I suppose that may be the case for Earth, but weapons of Jurai are not so easily taken."
Ranma snorted and spat into her left. "Ha, I'd like ta see that gramps."
"I'm only 42 young lady." He was starting to get mad at the girl.
"Yer still older than me. That and yer slow to boot. I mean we've been sittin here talkin fer about five minutes and ya ain't done nothin. Ya going to use that wooden stick as a cane. If ya are, it might be a good idea ta put it on the ground, don't ya think so Grandpa. Or maybe you're compensating for some..."
Ranma ducked to the side as the man thrust his wooden sword at her. He then repositioned himself before using an upward thrust in a half moon arc only to have her disappear on him. "Where are you?"
He heard a giggle and then looked up to the end of his sword. She was standing there on the end of his sword, smirking at him. "Could you go faster gramps? I'm still waiting for you to start."
He tossed her and his sword away only to have her somersault off of it and land neatly in front of him. He then pulled out a laser sword and charged at with eyes glazed over in rage. "I'll f***ing kill you! You stinking bitch!"
Funaho was about to jump in to stop the man when an arm gently held her back. "Let's see what she can do Funaho. They'll both have to deal with assassins sooner or later. If she can't even stop that instructor, then there's no way they would even survive a night at the palace."
Funaho sighed. "I suppose Misaki. Is that why we're taking a week to get back to the capital?"
Misaki only pointed out to the field. Both watched as Ranma dodged each blow.
The instructor was starting to tire and he was getting nowhere. Dammit! This bitch is fast. I need something to slow her down. He looked around the field until he spotted Nabiki.
In a last ditch effort, the instructor kicked up a cloud of dirt with his sword to hide his presence. He then made a bee line for Nabiki. Both Funaho and Misaki jumped down to the field, but were too far away to do anything and they knew it. Nabiki's eyes widened. She had been surprised when the instructor had pulled out a light saber, but now she was scared out of her mind as the tip of that sword was about to be driven into her... She closed her eyes and expected a sharp pain but nothing happened.
Nabiki slowly opened her eyes to see Ranma standing in front of her. She then saw the blood that was trickling down her body and starting to pool on the floor. As the implications of what was going on hit her, she shakily called out to Ranma. "R..Ranma?! Ranma are you okay?!"
Ranma turned her head to the side and smiled. "Never better. I'm just gonna take care of this guy and then maybe we can have some ice cream."
What Nabiki didn't see was the tip of the sword embedded in Ranma's left shoulder. She had her bloody left hand wrapped around the laser sword. A light blue aura surrounded her left hand as she crushed the sword in her grip. When the sword simply vanished into the ether, Ranma's left hand fell limp to her side.
The instructor's mind was reeling as the implications of what she had just done sank in. He didn't have much time to think as a nasty right hook connected with his head, sending him to a blissful unconsciousness.
The next thing Ranma knew. Misaki had her in a fireman's carry while trying to apply pressure to the wound. Medics were rushing in and Funaho was binding the instructor.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Misaki was sitting outside of the medical wing with furrows forming in her brow until Funaho appeared. She turned her head to her co-wife. "Was it an assassination or something else?"
Funaho sighed and sat down next to Misaki. "It wasn't an assassination attempt, I think. He just completely lost it, but that still does not make what he did acceptable. He's going to be scrubbing toilets at the men's prison facility for those mud people for the next 200 years."
Misaki smirked at that. "You always seem to come up with appropriate punishments."
Funaho nodded her head. "So what did you think of their performance today?"
Misaki put her finger to her lip. "Not bad but we had better get them a tree the minute we land. I think they'll both have the skills they need to survive after we give them some personal attention this week, but they lack power."
Funaho chuckled. "I don't know. Ranma did shatter a light sword with only one hand. Even I can't do that."
Misaki sat back in her seat and pondered it for a second. "I see your point. She will be a formidable force physically, but her intelligence is pretty low."
Funaho looked thoughtfully at the hospital room door. "I think Nabiki will fill that gap. Together they will be quite formidable."
XxxxxxxxxxX
In the hospital room another conversation was starting...
"Huh? Wazza going on?" Ranma woke up groggily as she tried to adjust her eyes to the bright light. She then noted her state of dress. She frowned at the paper gown and the sling she was wearing. "The hell? A hospital. I'm so out of here."
Before she got up, she felt a hand rest on her right hand. "You shouldn't move around yet. You don't want to reopen the wound do you?"
Ranma turned her head to see Nabiki beside her. Her eyes seemed a little red but she otherwise seemed okay. "I guess I'll sit here for a bit then. Anything else?"
Nabiki nodded. "The empresses said something about taking us on as personal students and expanding our training."
"So, I won right."
Nabiki just couldn't keep her cool around this girl as she started to heat up. "Yeah, you knocked him out good. Only, YOU ALMOST DIED! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?"
Ranma flinched back a little at her words, but she set herself back up straight. "Well, it looked like he was going to kill you and I wasn't in a good position to just pull him back. I was actually trying to catch the damn thing using the sword capture technique that pop taught me but it kind of slipped through my grip and got me in the shoulder. Thankfully the sword breaker technique worked better than expected."
Nabiki looked a little cowed. "Thanks for saving me, but why did you do it?"
Ranma smirked at her. "It's a martial artist's duty to protect the weak and you were tired and couldn't move out of the way. And maybe... well... you're my friend."
The words sank into Nabiki and she bent over to hug the red-head who flinched a little at her contact. "I owe you one. It's good to know how much you care."
Ranma beamed at her new friend. Her stomach then grumbled. "Uh, I'm a bit hungry."
Nabiki smirked. "I got one of the servants to go get some chocolate ice cream awhile ago. He should be back in a minute."
Ranma's eyes sparkled at that comment. She would have put Nabiki in a bear hug if it weren't for her arm sling.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Several men sat in a dark room looking at a screen as a wiry man appeared. "The rumors are true sir. The two fiances hale from Earth. I sent them an unstable instructor to get a gauge for how vulnerable they are. He knows nothing of us and was rather useful. Reports state that he severely injured one of the girls and almost killed the other. It should be rather easy to either kill or use them."
One of the men waved his arm. "Heh, why should we deal with Earth scum. I say assassinate them and put some of our puppets up as brides."
Another shook his head. "Easier said than done. Funaho, Misaki, and definitely that damnable Seto would figure it out. Remember what happened to that GP army unit that was in cahoots with Shanks. No, either make them have an 'accident' or use them while they are ignorant. A straight assassination attempt would only lead back to us."
"Even doing that would not be foolproof, too many complications would arise from the more complex plans."
"Then what would you suggest?"
"Poison?"
Groaning could be heard across the darkened room. "And how well has that worked in the past? They will be heavily guarded before the tree ceremony so any attempt before is fruitless."
"What about after? What if we move the unstable wormhole from sector eight to ship training ground 1?"
"That could work."
"They would need to be completely isolated from their guard detail."
"That can be arranged."
"Good."
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This is one of my earlier works. I've cleaned it up some and put it out as a possible teaser.
