Title: A Legend reborn

Author name: Trugeta

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ as well as Akira Toriyama and many others. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Note further that I don't own any of the trademarks mentioned in this story. So suing is senseless.

This story takes place after Movie 10 of Dragonball Z and at the beginning of the Ranma series. It's an AU, and reviews are welcome and appreciated.


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Chapter 8

Part 2


On the lookout Piccolo and Dende were discussing the fight they had just witnessed. Piccolo had been convinced that Ranma would be able to achieve victory over General Tao, but the fashion in which said victory had been achieved had been surprising.


"Your thoughts on the battle, Piccolo?" Dende asked.


"What we've witnessed initially has been confirmed. Ranma's power-level rises through battle, not only through training and injuries, like for the other Saiyans." Piccolo mused. "You saw how he augmented his power-level to that of Tao several times. In fact, he's already close to becoming a Super Saiyan, and that so soon. His potential is incredible."


Dende nodded. "He has also proven that he doesn't kill needlessly. Tao was at his mercy, and you saw how angry he was that Tao endangered 'those he protects'. He's firmly rooted in the good side, and seems to have a high moral integrity. In short, he's a fighter that would make an ideal addition to the Z-Fighters."


"Agreed. We should continue with our venture to sent challengers his way, one stronger than the next." Piccolo said.


"Do you think that's wise, Piccolo? We already know what we wanted to know, and what would happen should he find out that he was manipulated by us? Given what we observed of him it's safe to assume that he would be more than just a little cross with us."


"Kid, sometimes it's necessary to take risks for the greater good. Even Goku, soft fool that he is," this was said with a hint of affection for a friend, "took the risk to err when he made the decision that Gohan was to fight Cell. Sometimes the ends justify the means. Like Goku did with his son, we have to help Ranma to reach his full potential. It has been too quiet and peaceful for too long, and my warrior instincts tell me that this peace is going to shatter rather violently. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not in a year, but it will happen. I'm sure you of all people can understand that I want to be prepared for this."


Dende thought this through, and found that he could agree with this. "I respect your motives, Piccolo. But what happens if Ranma finds out? You know just as well as I do that things around him are very random. It took all of my powers and lots of mediation to get a firm lock on him; things are so much in flux around him, which makes it highly probable that he will find out. Your plans for that case?"


Piccolo growled. "I'll think of something. At the moment we assume that he won't find out; if he does, I'll have something up my sleeve from blowing up in our faces. But it might be safe to wait a few days before sending the next challenger his way. Not even his life is that random as to justify that."


That said the tall Namek returned to his meditations. He still had to find a way that would open a possibility so that Gohan and Ranma could clash; Ranma would be forced to fight a much stronger opponent, and he, Piccolo, might see how much of a warrior was left in Gohan. Now he only had to scheme how to accomplish that…


Dende on his part was not as convinced as he'd pretended to be. Too much was uncertain, and as they'd already gotten the results they needed without Ranma suspecting anything, why was there a need to push Ranma? Would it not be much better to just ask him if he wanted to join the Z-Fighters in their efforts to protect Earth?


Granted, Ranma needed to get stronger, but maybe the randomness that permeated his life (some would call it utter chaos) would be enough to serve this purpose. Yet Piccolo insisted they sent more challengers. He hadn't known Piccolo for long, but what he had come to know was that Piccolo, the son of the former bad half of the original kami, still used questionable methods to reach his goals, which might explain his actions. 'For Piccolo the ends justify the means, as the old saying goes. We shall see if the same ends can not be reached otherwise.' Dende thought.


It was good that Piccolo had decided to give Ranma a break, for he'd use this time to evaluate if it was really needful to send more challengers. He would watch the situation carefully and take the necessary steps, just like a responsible guardian of Earth should.


---


A hundred miles away, Nerima, Tendo Dojo


Ranma and the girls had retreated to the dojo to celebrate their success. Smiling at each other, the youths congratulated themselves to a plan well carried out. Afterwards Ranma gave a promise to teach the Umi-sen-ken to the girls, for considering the usefulness of the technique it would come in handy if yet another powerful weirdo challenged him. After all, Ranma had learned early on that power attracted a lot of weirdoes, who then wanted to match their powers to find out who the stronger one was. In such cases it could be a life-saver if the girls could protect themselves.


Especially Kasumi, the physically least trained of the three could benefit greatly of the technique should she ever be in distress. Ranma outlined his plans for training to the girls, and soon satisfying schedules had been worked out. They'd train each day of the week from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., make a break for dinner, and continue from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. On weekends, they'd train from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., take a break for dinner, and continue from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.


Ranma warned the girls that the training would be very taxing, and especially Akane was warned that he'd have to teach her several meditation techniques before they could start with the real thing. To be fair to Akane Ranma had suggested that he'd teach the meditation techniques also to Nabiki and Kasumi. The two older sisters had agreed instantly, much to Akane's delight. Thus it was agreed upon that Ranma would start showing them some of the techniques right away, seeing as they weren't that hard to learn, according to their new sensei.


And seeing as the fathers were once more enjoying their sake the four teens had more than enough time at hand, and Ranma began instructing them in the meditation techniques he had learned on his travels, but especially in those he'd learned after his change into a Saiyan.


Nabiki and Kasumi took to these techniques like fishes to water, but Akane had severe problems; she had a lot of anger and rage bottled up in her, and it would be very hard to counter these strong emotions even through meditation. The Saotome youth had been hard pressed not to recommend visiting a shrink, but he had refrained from doing so in face of the yelling he'd likely receive. In the end, even despite Akane's nearly non-existent progress the pigtailed Saiyan admonished them to practise these techniques every evening before bedtime to further their effects, and his students promised to do just that.


Ranma hoped that these techniques would help the very short-tempered Akane at least somewhat, for if she got on his nerves it was very likely that he would lose his carefully acquired cool too; and that was something that could lead to disastrous consequences. He just hoped that removing the reason for her ill temper would be what was needed to eliminate the problem at the root.


---


After their impromptu training session the four teens left the dojo. Kasumi returned to the kitchen to clean it up, Akane returned to her room to listen to some music or the other, and Nabiki had opted to show Ranma the room he'd share with his father.


The guestroom turned out to be spacious enough, and Ranma was sure that it would be suffice for him. Ranma had brought his pack with him from downstairs, and reaching into it he produced a futon and rolled it out. Then he sat down on it and leant against the wall. With a content expression he smiled to himself, while Nabiki watched. "You look like the cat that ate the canary, Ranma." she said with a smile of her own.


Ranma smiled back. "I feel that way too. This one single day has been the best in long. I achieved so much today, and my life finally has a semblance of order. To be honest, I shudder to imagine what might have happened hadn't I beaten the information on the planned engagement out of pops; due to that I did I had time to make plans. The result being, that the old man can't determine the course of my life any more, and if he ever tries again I'll beat him up so bad that he won't know what's up and down. Then I'll turn him into a panda and sell him to a zoo. Don't get me wrong, I love the old fool, he's my father, but he used me for his own ends way too often."


Nabiki sat down on the single bed in the guestroom. It sounded as if Ranma wanted to talk, and she was more than willing to listen. He was rapidly becoming a love interest, but first she wanted to become a friend, and friends listened to each other. Had he become Akane's fiancé she might have stayed true to her old ways, and might even have sold the information she gathered about Ranma to the highest bidder.


But all that had changed. Ranma had ensured that none of them would be pushed into anything, and he had thusly given all of them the option of choice. Not only did he have remarkable physical attributes, but he also seemed to possess a good and quick mind, and she liked him.


His arrival and its consequences had changed their lives; to herself she had to admit that she trusted him, and if she, the so called Ice-queen of Furinkan High, trusted someone, one could rightfully say that he or she was on a good way to become a friend. Ranma was on a very good way to become her first friend she could remember in a long time.


She'd do everything to get his friendship, and, if Kami-sama wanted, make it into something more. She had an intimate knowledge and understanding on how relationships worked, and she knew that if one wanted to have a serious and well-working relationship, one had to have more in common than just the interest in sex. A good relationship needed trust, and who trusted each other more than friends?


"From what you told me I can only guess how hard your life must have been." she said finally. "And I admire your strength. Many people would have snapped under the strain your father dared to call training. I promise that I will dig up everything I can about your father, and if he ever tries to control you again, we will have something up the sleeve." she said with a smile.


Ranma smiled back. "Thank you. You are the first person to be so nice to me. In my experience anyone who was wanted something back in return. Why are you nice to me, Nabiki?"


Nabiki did not react surprised, for she had expected this question; apparently Ranma had not had one single healthy relationship in his life up till now, and thus he didn't trust easily. Well, time to change this. "Because I'd like to be your friend, potentially even more." she said with a smile.


A small smile appeared on Ranma's face as well. "Go on."


Nabiki's smile turned sad. "Do you know what they call me at highschool? The Ice-queen of Furinkan High. Because I am supposed to be an emotionless, uncaring money-grubber and extortionist. Do you know how much it hurts to hear these things being said about me? I pretend that nothing hurts me, but it does. I did what I did to keep my family from being thrown out onto the cold streets, but the price I pay is high. And it is true, when I make my business deals I bury my emotions. But that does not mean that I have none. I am a human being, with feelings and needs." she said quietly. "And I don't want to hide behind this icy mask any more."


Ranma was, despite his intelligence, still not the most experienced person in dealing with feelings. But even he noticed the need for comfort and companionship Nabiki was practically screaming for. He slowly got up from his futon, ensured that the door was shut so as to avoid surprises, walked to the bed and sat down beside Nabiki.


Said middle Tendo daughter slowly leant her head against his left shoulder, and Ranma stroked her hair softly. "I'd like to be your friend too, Nabiki." he said with a real smile and put his arm around her. "And we'll see if it evolves into something more."


"I'd like that very much, Ranma. Friends." Nabiki said with a content smile.


---


Ranma smiled too, having felt the honesty Nabiki was broadcasting. "I so know what you mean when you said you had to suppress your feelings, Nabiki. Pops taught me that feelings are for weaklings and girls, and that they should be suppressed ruthlessly. And know what? I actually believed it and practised what he preached, for he was my only teacher for a long time. But when we came to some shrine which's name I don't even remember, an old master taught me different. You know how that came about?"


Nabiki looked up and shook her head. "No. How?"


Ranma smiled. "Because pops was caught when he tried to screw someone over. He'd been arrested for deception, and the couple he'd tried to screw over took me in for the month they held pops in prison. The master of the shrine took his time, and in this one month he proved all the teachings of my dad as completely wrong. He was living together with his wife, and the two were teaching Kung Fu, as equals; he was teaching the hard style, Wing Chun, while she taught soft styles, Pa Kua and Tai Chi. They showed me that you don't need to insult someone during training and fights. That females are not weak and inferior. Can you imagine how much this shook up my world?"


Nabiki nodded from her position beside Ranma. It was incredible how good leaning into him felt, and she'd have given much if this single moment could have stretched into eternity. But being a pragmatist she knew that she'd have to enjoy it as long as it lasted. "Hardly." she gave her honest answer. "How old were you then? And what happened afterwards?" she wanted to know.


The Saotome youth had been impressed when Nabiki had admitted, that she could hardly imagine how much it had shaken his world-view instead of just saying that she could relate without really meaning it. She was really completely honest with him, and he felt that he could trust her. "I was eleven. We were travelling through China at the time, always on the lookout for some training ground or the other. After pops was released and we resumed our trip I viewed his teachings in a different light."


"How so?" Nabiki asked, feeling incredibly cosy.


Ranma stroked her hair, his face scrunching up despite the pleasant feelings Nabiki's body pressed against his was generating. "I was much more discerning and took nothing he said at face value. You know, he had never been what I'd consider a good role-model, but after what I had come to realise his worth as a teacher decreased even more. I hid my changed values from him as much as possible, and whenever we visited shrines or temples I would ask the sensei and masters to teach me some of their wisdom."


"So that's why you aren't the roughneck I was expecting." she said with a smile.


Ranma snorted, but smiled too. "No comment." he said with a twinkle in his eyes; then he got serious again. "I didn't only learn what there was to the Art, Nabiki, but tried to acquire knowledge pertaining everything. I had long since realised that the one who only concentrates on one thing is doomed to fail. What if suddenly, for some reason, I lost the ability to live for the Art? Before my accident at Jusenkyo I was a normal human being, even if already exceptionally tough. But I had been human, and sadly, humans are frail. And who can guarantee me, even now, that I'll always be able to live for the fight? No one. Sure, I still love the Art, but I want to have an alternative."


The pretty girl at his side nodded once again. "It is particularly good that you came to change your views of women, Ranma. You would have had really big problems to blend in with society otherwise, even considering the still patriarchal society of our country. But even that is loosening up nowadays, which makes a change in attitude necessary. Females are not weak, they're just different and have different strengths than men. But this is obviously something your father has yet to realise."


Ranma nodded in reply, while he continued to stroke Nabiki's hair. "That, and a lot more. I really hate the idea that he has sold and engaged me for something to eat more often than I can count. Sometimes I ask myself if I was worth anything to him. Am I his son for him, or some monument to the Art, a bargaining chip, or the key to his retirement? Regardless, I won't be used any more, not by him or anyone else. Not now or ever!" he exclaimed with fiery hot determination.


Nabiki turned her head towards him and smiled. "I assure you, that won't happen here, Ranma. Not after the great deal you pulled with dad. I meant what I said, I could not have done it better. And our plan could really not have gone better." Nabiki said. "Together we'll be able to earn the money we need. In fact, I have a plan for that."


Ranma nodded and cracked his knuckles. "I know. We'll found that demolition firm. Destruction unit Saotome reporting as ordered." he said with a smirk, making Nabiki laugh.


"I meant another plan, Ranma." she said, after she'd gotten her snickering under control. "But the earnings from the demolition projects should be good too. I already took care of the legal issues, the only thing that is needed is your signature. I've also tested the waters, and we could get at least five contracts in the two weeks after we've founded our firm."


Ranma whistled. "Wow. You work fast." he said in admiration.


The middle Tendo daughter smiled up at him. "Thank you, but it was easier than you may think. Just a few clicks on the net, and that was that." she said with a smile. "My other plan is more immediate. I plan on taking advantage of your defeat of Kuno. I had planned to create a flyer, which will advertise the dojo where you can be found."


Ranma had noticed the gleam that shone in her eyes when she'd outlined her plans. She was a right mastermind, a tactician, which was something the warrior in him greatly appreciated. "A sound strategy to attract students. Which means I should show off my skills a bit when I pound on this Kuno, huh?" he asked with a smirk while he continued to stroke her hair.


Nabiki looked up at him. "Yes, that would be helpful. Though I've to admit that little sis was right. You are awfully full of yourself." she said with a smile. 'And that's something I like, even though I've no idea why.' she added as a thought.


"I have to be. If I'd doubt my abilities for one second I could just about stop living the Art. A fighter who's not convinced of his own abilities, who doubts and second guesses himself, is doomed to fail in anything he does. There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and I admit that it's hard not to cross over ever since I became a Saiyan." Ranma admitted.


Nabiki sat upright and surveyed Ranma, contemplating what he'd said. "I see. Well, that makes sense, but it would be better if you'd tune your confident attitude down outside of a fight or training. Most people don't appreciate being treated condescendly, and little sis is one of them. Spare yourself a lot of headaches and follow my advice, Ranma." Nabiki said.


The Saotome youth contemplated this and nodded then. "Okay. I'll consider it." he said, which meant as much as 'no promises'.


Nabiki grinned inwardly. She had to admit that she liked Ranma better with that kind of attitude, for the easier it would be for her to get the upper hand in a potential relationship. Akane was an entirely different matter, however. "You should. I know from experience that little sis can be very annoying towards people she perceives as arrogant. But your behaviour up till now puzzled baby sis greatly. You didn't act like a pervert despite the fact that you are a boy. You even offered your help and treated her with respect. I'd say that is the exact way to get sis away from her boy-hating ways. That, and taking care of Kuno and his Hentai Horde."


Ranma nodded, then he smirked. "It will be my pleasure to take care of them. And of this Kuno. I have to admit, I like your plan for the dojo. Even if I have no license to teach yet, it should not be a problem with two licensed masters."


Nabiki smiled. "I should think so. I'll work on the flyers in a few, now I really want to relax for a bit. Mind if I lean into you again? It felt nice." she said in a nearly purring voice.


Ranma smiled satisfied; for him it had felt nice too. "No, I'd like that." he said, and when Nabiki leant into him he put his right arm around her shoulder, drawing her nearer. They continued to talk for a while in this enjoyable position, until the door was suddenly opened…


---


Without bothering to knock Akane entered the room of her sister; she wanted to know if she could place a bet on Kuno taking a beating by someone other than her, but what she saw upon entering Nabiki's room served to incense her greatly. "Sis, I… RANMA NO HENTAI!" she exclaimed as soon as she took in the picture of Ranma 'molesting' her sister.


Seconds later a mallet flew at the target of her ire. Ranma was quite surprised that Akane reacted so strongly to something so innocent, but his reflexes kicked in and he caught the mallet with his right hand while he had jumped to his feet in one swift motion.


The mallet impacted his hand with a meaty TWACK, but regardless how much Akane tried, she was neither able to push the mallet forward nor to yank it free. With a frustrated growl the girl ceased her efforts to free the mallet, and Ranma crushed the mallet-head with a growl and no apparent effort.


"Akane! Will you stop this nonsense!" Nabiki yelled.


Her younger sister was too far gone in her rage to even hear her, as her protector-instincts had kicked in and were practically running amok; here was a boy of whom she'd thought that he might not be a perverted jerk like all the other boys, and then he went and committed the ultimate betrayal, and with her sister to boot! That demanded very painful punishment!


In the millisecond she needed to drop the rests of her mallet she'd already pulled her fist back, intent on dealing out some severe pain. "RANMA NO HENTAI! TAKE YOUR PUNISHMENT LIKE THE PERVERT YOU ARE!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.


The pigtailed martial artist, who shielded Nabiki with his body, looked completely impassive. Ranma caught the fist as impassively and turned her arm behind her back; turning the surprised girl around he pressed a pressure point at the base of her neck, inducing instant unconsciousness.


"What did you do to her?" Nabiki asked, half-worried and half-angry as she saw her sister slump to the ground.


Ranma turned around and looked sheepish. "I just used a pressure point on her to knock her out. Learned it from a master in China; it's very useful and lasts for up to a minute. Could you drop her onto the bed? I better don't do it, else she'll want to have my head. Well, more than already." he added.


"I could. But why don't you do it, stud? What with you being the big, bad strong guy here." she teased with a grin.


The pigtailed martial artist grinned right back; in former times he'd probably have stuttered, but his new mentality was quite different. "So that's how you see me. Good to know that. In earnest, if I carried your sister over to the bed I'd have the guarantee that she'd wake up during that. That's the way my life works, I end up in the most stupid and ridiculous situations. Think I offended a Kami in a past life or something." he muttered.


Nabiki snorted. "If you say so, stud."


Then she knelt down and picked her sister up from the ground, at first straining a bit from the weight. "Damn, little sis could do with a few less pounds." she muttered.


Complaining and muttering Nabiki placed Akane onto the bed, while Ranma hid his grin; the comment that Akane had… impressive thighs had been on the tip of his tongue quite often. But he'd figured it would take too much time to get the youngest Tendo down from her temper-tantrum should he actually say so.


Once Nabiki had finished her task she looked at Ranma, who'd now a serious look on his face; with furrowed brows he pointed at her younger sister. "Whatever happened to her? I didn't do nuthin' to her and she attacked."


Nabiki grimaced. "Little sis thought that you were doing perverted things to me. But keep one thing in mind, don't ever let her beat on you. She needs to remember that beating on people is not the common way to deal with problems. It's bad enough that Kuno allows her to walk all over him, so there's no need to feed her idea of being the best martial artist in Nerima."


Ranma grinned. "Don't worry, Nabiki. She's no Amazon, so if she tries something stupid she's fair game."


Nabiki gulped at the expression on Ranma's face, and she hoped that her sister would not get hurt too much in the future. "Don't hurt her too badly, Ranma. She may have anger issues and she jumps to conclusions faster than a kangaroo, but she's still my sister, and I care for her."


Ranma nodded. "Understood. I'll wake her up now. I take it that you'll steal her thunder? I doubt she'd listen to me."


The middle Tendo sister agreed, and Ranma pressed another pressure point at the base of Akane's throat. Afterwards it did not take long for her to come to, and she shot a deathglare at Ranma as soon as she sat up. However, the icy aura that emanated from a position to her immediate left made her look at her sister instead.


Said sister had her fists stemmed into her sides, a totally forbidding look on her face. "Have you now cooled down enough to listen? That is exactly what I always said! You just assume that every boy is a pervert, and when you see something that you perceive as perverted you act without looking into the situation first! Actually, we were doing nothing perverted! I had asked Ranma if I could lean into him. Does that make me a pervert?"


Akane was too stunned to answer at first. Her sis had done what? The youngest Tendo girl looked into the angry and icy-cold eyes of her sister, and her anger evaporated, was literally buried under an avalanche of ice. Akane looked progressively more chagrined as she realised that she had indeed jumped to conclusions once again. 'And to the wrong ones, it seems.' she thought with an internal sigh.


Finally Akane looked at Ranma with something akin to chagrin. "Sorry, Ranma. It's just… I'm so used to assume the worst of boys, and when I saw Nabiki leaning into you I thought that you were doing something perverted to her."


Ranma nodded, but a stern look remained on his face. "After we have dealt with the perverts and their leader that will have to change. How do you expect to have a relationship, if you'll never allow your partner to touch you? Or kiss you? That is normal behaviour for couples, and nothing perverted. What you saw Nabiki and me do was a friendly gesture. She was tired and asked if she could lean into me. You really have to set your priorities straight, Akane. Or you'll end up all alone."


Akane looked even more dejected at his words, as she could not deny the ring of truth in them. Nabiki on her part was actually impressed. Ranma had made up the tired-part to spare her embarrassment. Damn, he was really a treasure, and to have him as a friend was so much more than she would have hoped for at the start of the day.


"Ranma is right, Akane, and you know it." Nabiki added. "How would you deal with a fairly attractive, friendly guy who's not out to bash you over the head and date with you, or worse? What if he smiles at you, and asks you something or the other? What do you do then, sis? Bash him over the head with that mallet of yours, because you don't know how to react? That's only a fast way to have charges of assault pressed against you. You must stop with that nonsense. Really." she said in her most serious tone.


Her little sis looked even more down, and both Ranma and Nabiki felt pity for her. "I swear that I will punish those idiots for what they have done to you! And this Kuno fella calls himself a martial artist? Someone like that is the captain of the Kendo club? What a joke!" Ranma said, and the air suddenly crackled with power.


"Err, Ranma? Could you calm down somewhat? You're scaring us here…" Nabiki said, and as he looked at his reflection in the pier glass he could see that he had his battle aura fully extended. To his surprise it was even larger than ever before, and truly a terrible sight to behold.


With a sheepish grin he powered down. "Sorry, got carried away. It's just that I hate hypocrites like that Kuno guy. They claim to be so honourable and always boast, what great martial artists they are. But in reality they're just some bullies who like to toy around with others. Assholes like that disgust me! Especially because they manage to make their victims into something similar to them more often than not. And that is a fate that I want to spare you, Akane. In addition to our plan I will hurt the idiot so bad that he won't even be able to crawl to his daddy."


Akane had wanted to bristle at the make the 'victims into something like them' comment, but Ranma had said it with so much conviction that she dared not to oppose him. Especially that he wanted to do something for her, which she now remembered he had offered already before, moved her. Sure, she had always gotten everything out of daddy, but that was not comparable. Here, Ranma, a stranger, wanted to do something for her, and she hadn't even asked for it.


And hadn't Nabiki concocted a plan to make Kuno back off with Ranma's help, hopefully for ever? She swallowed hard, for her pride just downright refused to go down without a fight, but in the end she forced the words on her tongue. "I still say that I don't need your help, but seeing that this plan might just work I'll go along with this. I've had enough of Kuno and these stupid fights!"


Ranma nodded and cracked his knuckles with a grin, and now that he had calmed down himself he managed a smile. "I can understand that, Akane. We are going to stop Kuno and his horde, and the way we'll do it will make him the laughing stock he really deserves to be." he said with a very evil gleam in his eyes.


Two Tendo sisters nearly felt sorry for what the future held in store for one Tatewaki Kuno, but only nearly…


---


After a relaxing soak in the furo for everyone, sadly for two of three Tendo girls without Ranma and for one Tendo girl to her relief, the four of them had retired to the porch. The girls, foremost Kasumi and Nabiki, had wanted to learn more about Ranma, and the pigtailed youth had described his travels in more detail. He also explained the multitude of techniques he'd learned, both martial arts, and things that were useful in every day life, in which he'd taken a vivid interest after he'd been helped to come to the realisation just how important these things were.


Seeing as the fathers had retired early after their drinking games, which had continued after the 'rules' had been set, the four teens could spent a peaceful evening. Ranma was just explaining how he'd learned to utilise his ki so many years ago, and that was something that interested all three sisters. It had been awe-inspiring to see what Ranma could do with his ki, and to use it as a weapon would be a great defence.


"Ranma," Nabiki asked, "how can we learn to access our ki? I mean, there have to be some beginners' lessons, right? Everything has beginners' lessons."


The Saotome youth smiled. "You're right, Nabiki. There are beginners' lessons, and I know them by heart. However, before I begin teaching you, you three must know some basics. That goes especially for you, Akane."


"Why do you pick on me?" Akane asked angrily.


"I didn't pick on you, and you just proved my point. Anger, Akane. Anger and rage are two emotions that are very problematic when dealing with ki. Of course, it'll raise your ki for a short moment, and using a ki-attack in an angry state is not that problematic. But if you can only use a ki-attack when angry, it is. Can you guess why?" he asked.


"Because you would grow dependent on your anger, making it your predominant emotion?" Nabiki mused.


"Ding. We have a winner." Ranma jested. "Yes, you'd grow dependent on just one emotion. When I discovered how much ki I have at my disposal I wanted to create a ki-blast based on confidence. But do you know what?" he asked, and the sisters shook their heads. "When I talked to a master about what I wanted to do he talked me out of it so fast that my head spun! He said it was a sure-fire way to get myself killed. For what happens, if you'd constantly use confidence-based blasts?"


Nabiki wanted to answer once more, but Akane had arrived at a conclusion too. "If what you say is true, then you would get so confident over time that your confidence would then turn into over-confidence. And a martial artist who is over-confident might act cocky and get himself killed." she said with a great deal of thoughtfulness.


Ranma smiled. "Excellent, Akane." he said in genuine praise, which caused Akane to smile satisfied. "And what I said is true. That's why I've been developing ki-attacks based on neutral ki ever since we headed off to Japan, and as you saw at the example of panda-no-baka, they work. As said, it's not hurtful if you use a ki-attack when angry, but if you need an emotion to fire a ki-attack it is."


"Can you teach us how to use neutral ki, Ranma-kun?" Kasumi asked.


Ranma nodded. "Once you have the meditation techniques down I can start to teach you how to access your own ki. But make no mistake, it is quite hard and might take a while to learn."


Nabiki nodded. The prospect to learn something this cool excited her quite a bit. Akane raised a brow, however. "But it looks so easy when you do it. Why should it be hard for us?" she asked with a hint of anger in her voice.


Ranma smiled. "This is because of this body. Ever since my transformation I seem to have a very high affinity to ki. It's much easier for me to access my ki and bring out. And that," he pointed to his palm where a large ball of ki was hovering, "is only a fraction of the ki I can access." he said without bragging.


Nabiki had hearts in her eyes. "How powerful are you, Ranma? Really?"


Ranma thought about it, and gave an honest answer. "I really dunno. My power seems to be growing for some reason. After each fight and even throughout fights, especially if I take hits, I seem to get stronger. Look at my battle-aura, for example. It has increased in power and size ever since Jusenkyo. As well as my strength, speed and toughness. Let me show you. Akane, you pack quite a punch. Give me your best shot."


Said youngest Tendo girl shook her head. "I would hurt you. Badly."


Ranma smiled. "Trust me as your future sensei, Akane. You won't." he assured her and got up from his position on the porch.


The sensei-comment served to incense Akane sufficiently. No boy would be her sensei. Ever! That he'd manage to survive the blow intact was so improbable that she made a confident vow. "If you can take a straight hit to the face without being knocked out I'll accept you as my sensei and treat you as such." she vowed. 'As there's no way in hell he can take my best shot this is as good as taken care of.' she added as a thought. 'Hah, a boy as my sensei! Never!'


Ranma grinned. "Then prepare yourself to call me sensei."


"We shall see about that." she said and got up too.


"Before you start…"


"Scared, Ranma?" Akane interjected with a smirk.


"… remember one thing," Ranma carried on, as if he hadn't been interrupted, "only the martial artist who is in control of him- or herself can do what the Art is meant for: helping and protecting people. And help them to protect themselves. So no using your mallet-attack. That thing is a blunt weapon, and blunt weapons can kill. Actually it's not the weapon that kills, but the human behind it. So remember your duty as a martial artist and don't use that thing. But now give me your hardest punch, Akane. I'd like to catch some sleep after this." he said with a smile; that said he got up and positioned him in front of the koi-pond, his fists stemmed into his sides. "You're up to it or not?"


Akane grinned, recovering from the thoughtfulness Ranma had induced in her with his speech. "Oh yeah. Team trauma is completely at your service. You'll sleep like a rock when I'm through." she smirked confidently, and the elder Tendo sisters and Ranma knew what she meant. The youngest Tendo daughter was apparently very confident that she could send Ranma to lala-land via a KO.


But Ranma only smiled and made a come hither gesture; and that Akane did. The youngest Tendo sister pulled her right fist back and let it fly at Ranmas face with full speed and strength, her aim directly under the right eye. To the immense surprise of Akane not even Ranmas face turned under the blow, and his facial expression remained impassive. He had taken the blow without even flinching!


Akane staggered back, grasping her hurting fist. "Damn! No one would have survived that one unscathed, and conscious to boot! What's your secret?" she asked incredulously.


"A bowl of cereals and milk for breakfast." Ranma answered with a smirk.


"No duh!" Akane exclaimed. "What the hell are you made of?" she demanded, still holding her fist.


Ranma smiled. "Of flesh and bones, just like you. Even if the manufacturer seems to differ. You see, not even your hardest punch can scratch me. My speed, stamina and strength have shot through the roof likewise. And it continues. I dunno how to describe it, but I can feel a barrier inside of myself, behind which even more power resides. But I can't reach it as of yet. Now to your training..."


Reality seemed to catch up with Akane at that point. "Oh no! I lost, and now a boy is my sensei! How could that happen?" she asked the heavens.


Ranma had an angry remark on his lips, but it died when Kasumi spoke up. "Akane, you made a promise. Do you want to tell me that a Tendo doesn't keep promises?"


"No, but..."


"No buts. Besides, Ranma is much more than a mere boy, Akane. Hasn't he already proven that in the one day he's been here?"


Akane grumbled, but couldn't really deny it. That, and she'd been beaten in her own game. "Yes, sis." she muttered without enthusiasm.


Ranma looked her dead in the eye. "Will you accept me as your sensei, Akane, with everything that entails?" he asked seriously.


He had sensed that Akane had great reservations about that, and that was one of the reasons why he had chosen the demonstration. He had proven that he was her superior in the Art, and the fact that he had not taken advantage of anyone despite his superiority should be reason enough for her to accept. And slowly, Akane nodded her head. Also, because she had vowed that she'd accept him as her sensei should he pull of the unexpected. "Yes, sensei, I do."


Nabiki smiled. For the first time since long she had actually reason to be happy. It looked, as if the untameable and costly temper of her sister could finally be curbed, and their new sensei was a hunk to boot! "I too, sensei." she said with a Cheshire type grin.


"Me three, Ranma-kun." Kasumi said with her most radiant smile; if she'd have to take up the Art again, something she had always immensely enjoyed before she'd been forced to take care of her family, so that she could claim Ranma, then by Kami-sama, so be it!


Ranma nodded, smiling right back. "Okay. Training will begin tomorrow after school, as scheduled. And now excuse me, I gotta catch some sleep. Was a hard day…"


The three sisters nodded and said their good nights to Ranma, Nabiki and Kasumi with soft smiles; the girls remained on the porch to talk about the events of the day, while Ranma went to the guestroom and made himself at home. After adjusting everything to his wishes he lay down and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.


to be continued…


Many thanks to those of you who were kind enough to leave reviews for the last chapter:


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