DISCLAIMER: Many of the characters and situations described in the following fic are owned entirely by Takahashi Rumiko, a woman I have the greatest respect and admiration for. (In fact if she were willing, I would have her love child. A neat trick since I am a male kinda guy and not built to bear children.) Her creativity has even inspired the creation of a whole new branch of the Trek Universe. Therefore, any mentions of historical moment from Trek, Trek-Tech and characters and ships, which I shall endeavor to keep at a minimum, is entirely intentional. Within this story are characters who are from the Trek Universe, but not of Trek. These are my creations. All other characters that are integral to this story are her property, apart from the characters from AMG. This is a work intended to share a concept, and perhaps my story telling abilities. There is no money to be earned by me or by anyone else from this work. I might also add, Paladin, Team Paladin, the Starship Percheron and her crew, and Miss Kitty as she is here, ARE my property, and not to be used with out express consent from myself. I have worked hard to develop these characters and hope to use them in published works eventually. I choose to share them and their attitudes with you here. The character from OH! My Goddess belong to who ever owns them… sorry but my copies of this series (as well as Ranma ½) mysteriously disappeared during a move

I would also like to add the following. NO the character of Jerrod Randolph Macon, A.K.A. Paladin is in no way related to T.N.G.'s Silver Paladin. That character was little more than a pirate, my character is intended to embody the true spirit of the word paladin.

Also, for the Trek nitpickers out there. I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but. There is no such thing as a society that doesn't use some form of currency. Roddenberry's vision of the future is a wonderful vision, but impractical as far as money is concerned. It is a socialist utopia, and it cannot work. Any historian or economist can tell you that. Even the most primitive cultures on the planet barter with each other for goods and services, and that is the earliest form of currency. Let's face it, even the People's Republics around the world, (Read as oppressive communist governments, where if you speak out against anything, you wind up run over by a tank.) Even they have currencies that the civilian public uses for internal trade. It has been postulated that the Federation has solved the issues of limited resources thereby removing the need for any form of currency. I disagree with this. Not that the resource problem has been addressed, but that currency will be done away with.

In the Federation future, most of the actual trade where currency is used to make a purchase will be of the 'intellectual properties exchange' forum. The reason why currency will always exist is because of the inherent need of humans for an incentive to improve. It wouldn't be worth your time to be a clothing designer or civilian engineer if you weren't given concrete evidence of your value. Payment of some form of currency will be much easier to keep track of fifteen hundred credits than twenty goats and fifteen sheep and three chickens from the buyer in China who really loved the new spaghetti strap, plunging to the ankles neckline evening gown.

Capitalism may not be perfect, but it's better than anything else around is right now.

Most likely the currency used in the world of Trek is closely related to various forms used in much of Sci-Fi, a credit system, there may be no hard currency, but there is a form of monetary exchange.

Internally to this story, there are some glaring examples, (to some) of extreme OOC, as well as outright character revision. As this is intended to be an original telling with some new characters with a minor twist here and there to aid in making the whole thing insensible… inchoate? …to the world of Rumiko's vision. There has been some comment that her characters aren't the way I have them here. And why would Ranma have a crush on Nabiki?

Okay, think about this. You live in a house with three very pretty girls. One of them you can't bring yourself to look at in any way other than as a big sister/mother figure. Then there are the other two, the youngest that you happen to be engaged to is violent, quick tempered, never lets you answer any question be fore she belts you and you are forcing yourself to love her.

And there is the third one, she isn't very nice to you, but you think you know why. She was also the only one that seemed excited when you arrived, and she doesn't hit you, ever.

I'd have a minor crush on her myself if I were Ranma.

Let's face it, Nabs, if she were a real person, would be a major babe.

The timeline for this story is just about there. Meaning there aren't going to be any of the big events that occurred in the manga and anime. The story makes an assumption that events alter somewhat with each restart by the Norn. So Herb and Saffron may exist but won't be part of the story.

And finally, for convenience sake. ( ) author's commentary.

Sound effect

Chinese

Japanese usually spoken planetside

English generally spoken aboard ship

And now for sumpin' gnu.

On with the tale

PALADIN ½ - SHE'S THE ONE

Chapter 9 – I NEED YOU!

It took a few days for Nabiki to manage to get to talk to Paladin about the agreement he had handed to her his first day at the Dojo. She'd finally managed to get him alone and in her room. The only place where business could be discussed in private. She'd found some motion detectors she had purchased inexpensively and placed them near her door so that a silent alert would warn her when people were lurking outside her door. Once she had him inside she was having a hard time breathing, without consciously making herself.

Nabiki had Paladin take her seat at the desk while she sat on the end of her bed. The stray thoughts of naughtiness making her feel awkward and inexperienced. And it showed. 'Kami, he's so good looking! And I have him in MY ROOM!' A few months ago I would have been using this kind of situation to my advantage with Ranma. This guy I can't even get my mind straight and stay on business. Better start talking or he might think I'm just a kid that doesn't know what she's doing' Nabiki thought

"Mr. Macon, I really am glad you want to talk about the agreement you gave me copies of. I was just wondering 'Why?'" She asked.

Paladin with a very small smile playing around his lips asked "Why what, Miss Nabiki?"

"Why so much on the monthly payment Mr. Macon! I mean, you could be staying at the Tokyo Hyatt in the Imperial suite for that much and have around the clock servants." Nabiki explained with some confusion as to why he would choose to stay at a small Dojo owned by a man who hadn't taught in years.

"Oh, that! I was thinking it might have been about giving up the bathroom use to Ranma earlier. Tell me, does water just DO that when he's around?" Paladin asked, referring to the incident where Ranma had just walked past the koi pond and a random splash from the opposite side managed to get the boy wet. Ranma just sighed and trudged into the house.

Kitty had felt bad for him, because he hadn't done anything to have it happen.

Paladin left the obvious humor of the moment alone, knowing Ranma wasn't happy about the curse. He hadn't heard anything on the research he'd ordered yet.

"Yes, Mr. Macon, that.. So why?" Nabiki tried to get an answer from him again.

"Why moose-boots? Because they are very comfortable would you like a pair?" Paladin smiled. Referencing the odd house slippers he wore. He was playing with her to see how long it took for her to get frustrated. And the moose-boots really were comfy.

Nabiki sighed, keeping her composure. 'Surely the guy isn't this dense, not with the number of degrees he has. He's got to be up to something here.' "Ah, nooo Mr. Macon, not the moose-boots. The amount of money you are willing to pay for staying here. Why so much? I have to admit I can usually tell something about people and how they behave by just observing them for awhile. But you are hard to read, it seems you like to tease a great deal."

"Are you sure you don't want a pair? I can have them here for you in a couple of days." Paladin said, with a mock look of sadness about having a really comfy pair of slippers turned down. He intended to push her buttons for a bit longer, but Nabiki had caught on to what he was up to very quickly. 'Okay, time to really confuse her.'

"I can tell a lot about people too Miss Nabiki, just from observation." He began, Paladin had surveyed the room and everything it contained when he had first stepped in.

Nabiki, with a hint of mischief in her eyes said, "Really?" as she thought. 'Kasumi told me what he did in the kitchen that first morning. I wonder what he'll tell me about me!' She had a feeling he'd not be correct about any of his observations, but she'd be impressed to hear the impression she gave.

'How detailed should I make this for the girl? She obviously has a very keen mind and would be insulted if I give too accurate a description. But she might be annoyed if I don't get very much dead on. I'll just keep it to the generalities and not give any names when I get there. I don't think she'd be happy to know that her glances at a certain boy are a bit longing and lustful. More lustful than the looks she gives me. Best not to mention THAT at all.'

"Well, lets see here. Alright Miss Nabiki: First the obvious, you are a very attractive girl although you don't like to let it show outside of intimidating some boys. You have a very good taste in clothing, though most of what is in the closet is not yours. Most of what you have either a little too big for you or a little too small, but you are accomplished at mixing and matching for a very nice and professional look.

You have a fondness for plush toys, particularly bears. The largest is a proud possession and is in a place of honor. Your favorite color is rich brown, such as mahogany or walnut. You are very organized and particular about how things are arranged, you aren't obsessive about it though.

You're addicted to chocolate, and would like to be able to eat it more often, but are afraid it would go to your hips. Your desk is neat and well supplied with the tools of any good accountant. The computer though dated, is serviceable. There is the evidence of several ventures that are of a decent income potential but limited in scope.

Your perfume is a floral scent with some hint of ginger to it; the bath soap you prefer is rose scented and the shampoo is spiced with herbs.

And there is a boy you are interested in but don't want to let it be known because of possible problems with the family.

The whole time Paladin spoke Nabiki's eyes got wider and wider. She hadn't expected all that, she'd been expecting the normal flattering statements guys make when they are trying to impress a girl. But he was dead accurate on everything. Right down to being interested in a boy that might cause problems if it came out.

"Mr. Macon. How did you get all that? Nabiki asked a little frightened of the observant nature of the man in her room. 'I hope he hasn't picked up that I'm interested in him too!'

"Well, it's just something I do Miss Nabiki. Putting the information I see into a package of reasonable explanation. It's really only a parlor trick." Paladin demurred. He could tell she had been made a little uncomfortable with a couple of his revelations in his observation.

"Really, Mr. Macon, it was amazing! Could you explain how you arrived at those determinations? And please, don't tell anyone about what you figured out! I have a reputation that would be hard to maintain with people knowing about my plush toys and clothing options." Nabiki urged.

Paladin just looked at her for a moment and appeared to be deciding whether he should or not. He was actually deciding on whether he should take a chance with her and hire her as an assistant. He could use the help of someone that knew everything concerning Ranma. He wouldn't pry into the boy's privacy though, saving it for when Ranma chose to tell him about his problems.

But having an accomplice would be handy when he started to actually work on the problems. He'll decide it later. But for now, there was mischief to perform. "It's very simple Miss Nabiki. Your attractiveness is evident for any to see. The clothing is visible in the closet, which you left open today. Most of the apparel is of a business-like cut. Even though some are of the more feminine and 'show off the legs' variety. You like to project the 'power broker' in your look with the choices you have made.

The plush toys are shown by the several you have around the room. You favorite one is a large lion given as a gift some time ago, it's placed at the head of your bed. Most girls when they have a favorite stuffed toy, that is where they put it. The others wind up on shelves that are visible but not near the place of honor.

Your favorite color is shown in the number of articles of clothing of that shade. The desk and chair you have share it. While not made of the materials discussed, they are less expensive replicas.

Chocolate addiction was easy as you have a small smear in the corner of your mouth and a freshly thrown away wrapper of a bar in the trash. Concerning the fear it would go to your hips, that's common to any girl who loves chocolate.

That you are well organized that is shown in how you keep your room, it also indicates your preference for the arrangement. But some of it does have a slightly haphazard look as to the placement. Meaning you either don't care much for the item, or aren't particular about where it winds up, as long as it stays in your possession.

Your desk is glaring about you, the organization continues to the shelving that borders it. There are several ledgers, some of which I would be upset to find my daughter with. Titles like 'Betting Pool' aren't the best things to have lying around. But the income potential is decent. The calculator and abacus show, along with the ledger skill at finances

You have several diaries, which indicates them being filled with all kinds of thoughts and regrets. Like most girls you want this kept private and I won't pry. These diaries show a possible liking for someone that might give you problems with the family."

He didn't bring up the surreptitious looks he'd noticed that she gave to Ranma when the boy wasn't looking. The quiet sighs she let out when she did this he had noticed as well. Paladin decided to not let her know he knew about her crush on Ranma. Unless it became necessary to do so, he'd hold his tongue.

Nabiki could only blink at his accuracy, and thought it good he didn't know the whole reason behind her being what she was. She was also glad that the diaries were up there. It would have been very embarrassing to have a person that she'd just met notice that she'd been dealing with Ranma a little differently lately. "I'm glad Ranma isn't as quick on the uptake as Mr. Macon is. I'd be in real trouble then! That's the last thing I need, Ranma knowing about it!' Nabiki felt that with time she'd be able to get over this little problem of having feelings for Ranma sooner or later.

Until then, she'd enjoy the warm feelings she had when she thought of him and when she imagined how it would feel in his arms. She'd had that experience once, and the sensations stayed with her even today. All that strength and power that could be so gentle amazed her. And here in her room was another one just like him, only much more mature, but with an impishly fun sense of humor that was irritatingly wonderful. 'Too bad Kasumi has her eyes on him.' Nabiki thought. 'But I do want to know when I get a prince like Ranma or Mr. Macon.'

The rest of their talk that Sunday had been more business oriented. Paladin explained his reasoning for such a large amount for his room and board. This was simple he'd explained, Nabiki and her family were allowing a total stranger and his daughter into their home and sharing their meals with them. The length f the stay being unknown even by Paladin made it a matter of honor to him to make sure the people who were kind enough to allow them to remain to be well compensated for it.

And the fact that he liked them made it even easier to make the gift.

At the admission that he liked them all, put Nabiki back on her heels. She'd thought he was just another of those really good looking vacuous Americans with too much money, even after speaking with him on the phone the first time. And then his behavior, while pleasant, hadn't been of the serious businessman she'd like to have actually met.

And the way he seemed to get along with Ranma and Kasumi and Nabiki almost immediately was shocking too. Well, not so much with Kasumi, but with Ranma and Nabiki. Ranma had a way of making nearly every girl who met him fall for him, and nearly every guy want to kill him. Most of what was left didn't seem to care one way or another. But Paladin treated Ranma like an equal, and joked with him in ways that were clear to be just friendly and brotherly teasing. The kind an older brother would do to a favorite younger brother.

Then Nabiki Realized that Paladin even teased her and Akane that way, in a brotherly manner. Nothing rude or crude, but just gentle brotherly teasing.

Nabiki was sure that Akane would misinterpret it though.

He did treat Kasumi in a far different way, even though he didn't seem to notice how it affected the older Tendou girl. Nabiki had noticed it from the start. Very warm smiles that went all the way to his eyes. Very soft words when they spoke, even when he was making a joke to entertain her sister, Nabiki had seen it.

Nabiki felt it very likely that Mr. Macon might very well become her brother-in-law if he weren't careful. She wouldn't complain about that at all, even if he were poor! Kasumi needed to be happy too.

The following Monday Paladin had wanted to accompany the teens to school one morning with an eye to learning more about the neighborhood, along with taking the time to get to know the teens better. He was amused that Ranma couldn't walk on the ground with the rest of them, walking instead along the narrow fence top. This didn't bother Paladin, as he had similar training he did himself. He was equally amused by the vexation of Akane Tendo and her nearly two-mile rant about conceited arrogant BOYS that can't walk on the ground like normal people.

"Ranma! Aren't you embarrassed to be up there showing off in front of Mr. Macon?" she demanded.

Ranma looked down from his vantage from atop the fence as he continued to walk along and said. "Paladin don't look bugged by it Akane. He can prolly do it too, but just don' wanna make you feel bad." This was a very accurate assumption on the part of Ranma. To the pig-tailed youth, Paladin looked to be as skilled and well trained as himself. What Ranma didn't know is that Paladin, as light on his feet as he is, was close to fifty kilo's heavier than the fence would support.

Ranma had the advantage of controlling his mass in a better way than Paladin did.

They had made it to the point where Furinkan was in sight from where they were and from above and behind there came the warning signal. Most people wouldn't consider this a terrible knell of doom. But they aren't the target of the oncoming 'bicycle'o'death' ridden by the 'Ramen Delivery Girl from Hell'.

Paladin was amazed that the girl could get such distance in a bike jumped from a building nearly one hundred feet behind them, but she did. Ranma had only enough time to utter one short phrase. "Oh, crap!" before he was under the wheels of the bicycle and entangled with the purple haired girl that was riding it. Jerrod, being concerned for the welfare of his young friend, went to the rescue, pulling the girl up and finding that she had somehow attached herself to Ranma on a nearly molecular level.

For those outsiders that don't know about Amazon Glomping Techniques, this is a glomp that is almost a final attack. All Paladin could see was that Ranma was having a hard time breathing and couldn't move. That the boy was in pain too could be seen as well. The bicycle was trapped between Ranma and the big busted Chinese girl, with one of the pedals grinding into a very unpleasant location on his body.

Akane was getting angry at the sight of her fiancé once again flagrantly enjoying being hugged by his floozy, and was preparing the 'Mallet'o'Doom'. Paladin was having difficulty separating the girl from Ranma. The girl was happily chattering. "Airen, take Shampoo to date this morning, yes?"

Ranma, as usual just said "No, Shampoo! I don't wanna take ya onna date!" Of course that is what he would have exclaimed if he'd been able to breathe. Now you see the perfidiousness of the full body melding glomping strike. The recipient can't breathe to say anything in negation. Akane had walked up and was about to strike with her mallet when Paladin, giving up on removing 'Shampoo' from her death glomp on Ranma by normal means grasped her neck and shoulder in the appropriate location and applied the pressure required to cause her to pass into insensibility.

The actual name of the grip is known as the v'Shan taL shivak, but most humans don't speak Vulcan and call it the Vulcan neck pinch. Shampoo collapsed in a heap, her bike clattering to the ground along with the recent target of her glomp. Akane missed her mallet swing and struck the nearby wall with an explosive impact sending a spray of shards in the direction away from the strike. If the rock that had been pulverized could speak it would have been answering the question of whether or not inanimate objects can feel fear.

(That answer is most assuredly yes, especially in the environs of Nerima, where every other person is either an over powered martial artist, or a mallet wielding maniac. Stone has a sense of self preservation too you know.)

Missing her target with the mallet seemed to anger Akane even more. 'How dare he avoid his punishment!' she was thinking as she wound up and sent him flying in a very nice arc that was fortunately in the direction of the school. "RANMA! YOU JERK!" The angle of his flight was just a little low however as he impacted the wall that surrounded the school grounds. If Akane had a bit more control she could have gotten a Nerima hole in one with that shot.

She missed the gate by fifteen feet.

Paladin looked to Nabiki and asked. "Is this normal around here?" He was concerned for the safety of Ranma. Shampoo coming out of nowhere and Akane over reacting to the scene rattled him. He'd never seen anyone get struck as hard as Ranma and appear to be able to get up and still walk. Yet there he was, getting up from the rubble of the school wall he'd encountered with a speed just under eighty-kilometer's an hour.

Nabiki, for her part just looked to him with slight sadness in her eyes about the whole mess. Thinking 'Mr. Macon will probably leave now for certain. There go the plans for college again.' In her best aloof tone she said. "No. I'm not usually around when this happens. But it is a usual occurrence for Ranma to get glomped and then belted by Akane because 'He's enjoying it too much!' as my little sister has put it in the past."

"He is enjoying it! Can't you see how he wiggles around when he's hanging on Shampoo like that?" Akane excitedly tried to clear her own actions by putting the blame on Ranma. This is also normal.

Paladin looked from Nabiki to Akane, shook his head and asked. "Is there somewhere we can take her to sleep this off? It may not be safe to just leave her here.

Akane, ever helpful when it suits her said. "Sure! We can take her to Dr. Tofu's! She used to be his assistant until her great-grandmother came to Japan. Now she works at the Nekohanten as a waitress and delivery girl. I just wish she'd stay away from me and Ranma."

Paladin followed the two girls to the clinic carrying Shampoo over his shoulder and her bike in the grip of his free hand. The sight being ignored by most of the other denizens of the area as things like it are seen quite often. The few that did take note were not certain what to think, because they hadn't seen anything quite like it before themselves. And the ones who had ignored it hadn't either.

Well they had, but usually it was the girl Shampoo doing the carrying and an unconscious Ranma or Mousse being carried. Most often Mousse. Or Ranma doing the carrying of Ryoga, Mousse or Shampoo. This usually happened later in the day as well, not before the students had made it to the school to begin their day of drudgery at the hands of inept teachers and insane school principals.

The trip to the clinic was without further incident, Ranma would be on time to school because of the angry malleting the rest of the way to the school, he had been allowed to by-pass the bucket lady, so didn't need to go to Tofu's himself. Paladin was pleasantly surprised to meet someone approaching normal in the town of Nerima, even if his name was derived from a food product made from gelatinized bean curd.

Their exchange was brief, because the girls wanted to get to school before the bell and Paladin just wanted to make sure that Shampoo would be safe until she woke up. He promised to come back for tea later and meet Tofu's wife and talk about their mutual friend Ranma. Tofu had made an assumption about Paladin being in the company of the Tendou girls and was not disappointed when it was confirmed.

He'd noticed a marked change in the Tendou girls and Ranma and now placed the reason on the presence of the man that was with the girls today.

Leaving, Paladin accompanied the girls the rest of the way to the school where Ranma was waiting for them patiently. They still had five minutes before the bell and wanted to arrive at the same time as his fiancée. Paladin was treated to one of the most bizarre things he'd ever seen in his life. And being a former citizen of the Federation did say a lot about strange things to be witnessed.

But never had he seen someone who was so full of self importance and terrible poetry with a clothes sense that would have been more at home with a Ferengi trying to dress to impress. Than on the kid that stood in the school yard awaiting the arrival of the fair Akane Tendou and the Vile Sorcerer Saotome.

At Nabiki's urging Paladin just stood and watched what was to happen.

"So, varlet! Thou hast decided to risk my wrath and come-hither this day? Know Ye not that thine end is at hand?" Thus spake Kuno Tatewaki, The Blue Thunder of Furinkan high.

"Whatever Kuno. C'mon, I ain't got all day. Schools about to start and I'd like ta be on time for once!" Ranma replied.

"Not this day wilt thee pass mine great prowess. Vengeance is slow but sure, but by the hand of the gods own chosen warrior you shall be defeated sorcerer!" Kuno proclaimed as he lunged forward with blinding speed.

Most of the eyes that watched the fight only saw that Kuno lunged and Ranma dodged and then Kuno went flying. Most of the eyes didn't belong to Paladin however. What he saw was appallingly humorous, in the time that Kuno had lunged and Ranma dodged. Ranma had reached behind Kuno gave him a wedgie and stomped on his bare toes. Then Ranma used an indelible marker he'd had in his hand to write 'I peek in the boy's shower' on Kuno's face.

Ranma then drew back and kicked Kuno in the same face sending the boy flying back into the school wall with force enough to render him unconscious.

Paladin noticed several of the younger girls in the yard were rushing here and there collecting money, or paying money out. He saw that Nabiki was fighting an urge to leave hurriedly when her face relaxed. 'I wonder what that was about?' He thought as he left the teens to their day with a farewell and went to make an office call to his new employee the architect.

He had a thought that the patches on the walls and ceiling at the Tendou home were of a common recurrence of the eruption of Volcano Akane. He'd noticed the signs of barely controlled anger for the few days he'd been a part of the home and couldn't place what could be causing it. He now had a good idea of what it was. Jealousy, The girl can't stand for Ranma to get attention from any of the other girls and when he does she places the blame of it on him. Paladin was sure the girl could see that Ranma didn't like the attention given him by Shampoo earlier. But for some reason Akane had the need to blame it on someone who wasn't at fault.

Paladin also wondered why she didn't give Ranma some of that kind of attention herself. 'It's almost like she doesn't want him herself but will be damned if anyone else has him.' He noted. 'That's a problem there. I wonder how many of these people actually look on Ranma as a possession other than a person that needs affection. No wonder he seems so lonely! I wouldn't be surprised if Kitty is the first friend he's ever had that doesn't want anything more than to play and chase. I'm probably the first one that doesn't want anything from him at all.'

Paladin had noticed how wary Ranma was around Nabiki, and how he tried not to say anything that would tick Akane off. The kid probably never learned how to relate to people on that training journey they mentioned. 'Ten years on the road would have an effect on anyone, especially if they weren't very old to begin with.' This thought brought Paladin to his own childhood.

He'd not had many friends his own age growing up. Most of the people he knew were easily twice his age until he'd entered Academy. And even then, most of his 'friends' were high achievers and Vulcan's. And most of the time, his friends were still a few years older than he was. Of all his friends the closest he had was Bill Conagher.

The oddball always friendly and joking and overeating Chief Engineer of the Percheron. When Bill had found out about Paladins decision to travel to a new universe and why, he was the first of many to volunteer to go along. Volunteering like that had made Jerrod sit back a little. He hadn't been looking for companions in his self-imposed exile, he only wanted man-power to construct the gate system to enable the trip. And in less than a month after he had spoken to Bill about it he had a fully staffed colony of volunteers to come along.

Paladin didn't lie to himself about why they were coming; he'd even made a full out attempt to dissuade them from their course. Bill, a bit older and more understanding than Paladin thought him capable even to this day said when he had tried to change the minds of all the volunteers. "Jerrod, shut-up about it! Le and I are coming along with you because we want to, we really have nothing to leave behind here and most of the others are doing the same. We all are part of your family whether you believe it or not! We're all employed by Macon Industries and know you are feeling that you aren't living up to your potential.

If it takes a trip like this to allow you to become what you are supposed to be. I'm all for it. Besides, if we don't get to come along, you won't get to go."

He finished ruminating on his past when he arrived at the offices of Shinoru Fugi, one of the most over looked architects in Japan, and walked in the door. The secretarial staff with friendly smiles and not a few hopeful looks greeted him. 'I wonder why I get that everywhere I go?'

"Mr. Macon! It's a pleasure to see you again so soon. I haven't completed the requested designs yet, but rest assured, they will be ready when you are." Fugi said

"Fine Mr. Fugi, just fine. I was wondering if I could have you do something extra for me? I have a slight fear that something might happen soon at the home I am staying at and was wondering about possibly having the entire place remodeled if what I expect happens." Paladin explained his visit.

Fugi looked to him with thoughts of Jamaica for vacation in his mind and asked, "What home is that Mr. Macon?"

"I don't know if you know of the place Mr. Fugi, but it's the Tendou home and Dojo. I understand there have been a number of incidents lately and repairs have been nearly nonstop at the place. What I was wondering was if you'd be able to get the plans for the structure from the city hall and do some upgrades to the design and possibly add some additional rooms, baths and the like. If what I expect doesn't happen I will likely offer to have the work done for them in any case. But I do like to be prepared for eventualities."

"Of course Mr. Macon! I can have those plans before lunch, if you would like to discuss the new layout today." Fugi replied. The fact that Macon controlled an enormous mount of money, and money can get things done that normally takes weeks, made it easy to agree to have the plans soonest.

Paladin took a sip of the tea brought to him by one of the staff and said, "Actually, I have something else I need to do before I talk to you about the layout. It isn't my house, I'll need the input of the owners. More specifically the one that controls the family finances. I may have to do something drastic in that regard though. Tell me Mr. Fugi, what is the general opinion of a nearly eighteen year old girl becoming an Executive Assistant going to be?"

Smiling at the thought of having a seventeen year old girl as his 'executive assistant' Fugi said, "Popular opinion would be varied. Most men in our position would be envious, while women would be upset for one reason or another."

"Oh. In that case I think Nabiki Tendou is going to be surprised at the end of the day." Jerrod said with an impish grin that made several of the girls in the office quiver when they saw it. One of them thinking 'Grins like that should be illegal, tingling where I am shouldn't be from a grin!'

Meanwhile, at Furinkan high School in the midst of listening to her second period English teacher, Nabiki lost the battle against an oncoming sneeze.

'I wonder what brought that on?' she thought as she returned to her schoolbook. She really didn't need to study very hard on the subject at hand, she had learned how useful English would be when she was still in primary school. Buying and selling manga to the various American service men that would sometimes venture into Nerima on shore leave. In exchange for the more esoteric copies of the Japanese artform they would give her American money or chocolate. Of the two, she preferred the chocolate, Nabiki would never admit that aloud though.

That little venture wasn't long lived however, as the American service men returned home and popularity rose there to the point that the publishing houses saw an opportunity to make a pile of cash. So Nabiki had found herself looking for other business opportunities to use the language. There weren't just a few. They were all over Japan she'd found.

Unfortunately these opportunities also would be highly illegal in the light of day. She had kept herself from getting involved too deeply with the people that ran the 'businesses' staying in the edge of just not quite respectable. Nabiki kept her activities to bookmaking and information gathering. Blackmailing of fellow students was the worst she had done to this point and was happy to keep it that way.

And then the Saotome's came and made her scramble to be creative in her ways of getting money for the house. While Nabiki couldn't blame Ranma for the damages directly, he was the magnet that brought the wall wreckers and late night attackers intent on kidnapping either him or Akane to the Dojo. They were the ones responsible for the damages, but he was what drew them.

The past Christmas was hard for Nabiki. She'd had to dip into her college fund to keep the family from sinking below the water line. And then she found that ad.

She couldn't believe her good fortune in that. She couldn't believe it to the point of verifying that the ad had actually been run. Imagine her dismay when she found that her feelings of dread were unfounded. The records at the paper did in fact show that the ad had been placed and then had been cancelled after running for five days. (Yeah, I know, but we are talking about Bell and her sister here, even if they did only have the ad in the one copy of the paper. They'd be monitoring Nabiki and keep it reasonably legitimate.)

So Nabiki still had doubts about the Dojo's boarder and his daughter. But she couldn't quite put a finger on it. 'They seem more than nice enough, and very patient with the rest of the family. Kasumi is all a flutter about the guy! And the way she carries on with Kitty-chan is almost like a mother!' In fact Nabiki couldn't remember a time where her sister seemed happier without the façade of house keeper and dutiful daughter. 'Akane even seems to be in awe of the guy. If the little maniac finally losing it in front of him today cost us the money he's paying us... Well, Akane won't like what happens.'

Akane was in her class with Ranma when she had an urge to sneeze. She wasn't paying very much attention to what the geography teacher was saying. What did she care what the names of the various mountains in Europe were! She had no intention of traveling there and if she did go there, well it would be as an actress on a tour or working on a movie.

With Mr. Macon's help she knew she could get the career she wanted. All she had to do was get him to fall in love with her! She felt it unfair that he wouldn't even look at her the same way he did Kasumi, when he looked at her older sister he had a twinkle in his eyes. He looked at Nabiki with respect, 'As if Nabiki had ever done anything respectable!' Akane thought.

'He just looks at me with an indulgent smile in his eyes, as if he's humoring me. It just isn't fair! He has more respect for Ranma, and that PERVERT doesn't deserve respect!'

Ranma, oblivious to the slow boil of his fiancée, and bored with the topic because he'd been there, was sound asleep and didn't fight the urge to sneeze. Then again he was so used to people thinking about him and talking about him that he seldom sneezed anymore. When he sneezed it was from a real cause or the danger of the people thinking about him was too great to ignore.

Kasumi and Kitty-chan were wandering around the stalls of the market when Kasumi stopped and sneezed lightly. 'Someone must be thinking about me.' She thought and continued with her browsing.

She and Kitty weren't there for groceries, although they would be buying that on the return trip home. Kasumi had decided to do something to make Mr. Macon feel more welcome at her home. He had been so nice to her in helping prepare breakfast since the arrival of himself and Kitty-chan that Kasumi felt the need to do something nice in return.

So today found her and Kitty in the woodworker's section of the market, in the part where she had found the sign boards for the bedrooms at the Dojo. She wanted to find a special one; one that just looking at the shape would tell you who slept in the room without having to be told with words. So she began asking around to the various stall keepers.

Kasumi finally found one of the men that knew what she was talking about when she asked. "Excuse me, sir? I have a new friend that I would like to get something for, and I was wondering if you might have what I am looking for?"

The man at the stall looked at her with his ancient eyes and said. "Dearie, if I don't have it I can make fer ye. And for such a pretty girl and cute little one I'll even do it for half price." This delighted Kitty-chan. The man looked really old and probably had lots of grand kids and kittens all over the place and knew just what to do or say to make them feel good!

"No sir! Please, regular price would be fine, just don't mark it with the amount. I wouldn't want to embarrass my friend." Kasumi said, really not wanting to embarrass herself. Not long before the arrival of the Macon's into her life she would have jumped at the chance to cut a cost on anything. But even then she never looked for a deal on gifts. Those are special and haggling on the price only cheapened the gift in her opinion.

"Alrighty dearie, and what would ye be lookin' for?" The old man asked, happiness on his face at the excited nature of the little one and the sweet disposition of the girl before him.

"Well, sir, it's just a door sign, but I'd like it to be something special! Do you know what an English Knight on horseback looks like?" Kasumi explained her idea to the man.

"Full armor or mail only? Would you like a lance or drawn sword on it? And for the horse ya want it rearing or in full charge?" the old man asked his questions in return to Kasumi who was joyful that the man knew what she wanted.

'Daddy is gonna be surprised!' Kitty thought happily as she held the hand of the girl she'd started thinking of as mommy.

Across town from where Kitty and Kasumi were.

eh-ooon…..AAChoooooooooooththth

Then Paladin though, 'What in the hell brought that on?' , as he tried to catch his breath after the tremendous sneeze.