A/N– Hullo folks! I'm sure that all of you are wondering where I've been for so long... Well, I'm not going to bore you with details, as I'm sure you don't really care, so on with the show!

Disclaimer- Meh, it's the same as it always is folks! Me no is owning Ranma!

-Chapter 14-

-TWO MOMMIES?-

Ranma sat in the waiting area of an emergency room, bouncing one leg nervously and looking up every time someone came out of the ER, only to sigh when they would call for someone else. "Dammit, what's takin' so long? Is Keiko ok?" he grumbled after fifteen minutes.

Akane put a reassuring hand on Ranma's jittering leg, stilling it with her touch. "I'm sure everything is fine Ranma. You saved her, and we got her here quickly. I'm sure that the doctors are just making sure that she's ok," she assured, rubbing his leg a few times.

Ranma looked over at Akane, his gaze softening. "Yeah. You're probably right Akane. I'm sorry, I'm just so worried about her."

Nodoka, who was sitting across from the young couple with her husband, perked at that. "Ranma dear, who is that little girl anyway? I know that it was important that you save her, because no child should ever be hurt, but why are you so anxious over her? And why did you call yourself her 'daddy'?" she asked, hoping to get Ranma's mind off of Keiko's current situation— though she was genuinely curious.

Akane and Genma looked towards Ranma as well, also curious about the answer to that question, which had been at the back of both of their minds.

"Well..." Ranma started, looking down at his hands, a faint smile playing across his face at the memory. "It was late at night, about four days after I ran from the dojo. I'd just set up camp, an' was about ta start my dinner, when she came crashin' into my campsite, with that bear that's been accompanyin' Akane hot on her heels. I managed ta drive it off, but she fainted, so I just set her up so she'd be more comfortable, and then I went ta sleep myself."

Ranma leaned back in his seat, getting more comfortable as he chuckled. "Anyway... When I woke up the next mornin', she was asleep on my chest! It freaked me out, an' I got away from her as fast as I could," he told them, causing Akane and Nodoka to laugh, "Anyway, I woke her up, an' asked her what she was doin' out there in the first place, an' she told me she was tryin' ta make her way ta Nerima!" He exclaimed.

Akane blinked in surprise. "She was heading for Nerima?" she asked, confused. 'Why would she be coming there?"

Ranma shook his head. "Apparently, those vampires had been around for a while, and had snatched a coupla' kids already, not ta mention other people from around here. Anyway, she saw a news report one night that talked about us and what we could do, so she thought she'd come and get us so that we could help. Of course, after hearin' her story, I had ta come help, my sense of duty wouldn't let me do anything else, and set out for Iwaki with her ta see what I could do ta help. While we traveled, I started teachin' her the basics of the Saotome Anything Goes school, an' we were havin' fun. I don't really know when it happened, but the squirt managed ta work her way into my heart. I started carin' about her, an' I eventually found myself thinkin' that I really was her dad, y'know? Heh... She even calls me Ranma-poppa when I'm a guy, and Ranma-momma when I'm in my cursed form!" he exclaimed with a laugh.

Akane started giggling at that, and Nodoka raised an eyebrow, though she was smiling at the story as well.

"Oho? And do you think that you can raise her as a father should? Or a mother?" she asked with a slight chuckle.

Ranma looked down at the floor, blushing a bit as he scratched the back of his head.

"Well... yeah," he replied, his voice firm with resolve, "I know I ain't the most mature of guys, an' I've got quite a bit of growin' up ta do, an' I didn't exactly have the best role model growin' up—" With that, he shot Genma a pointed stare, to which the middle-aged man harrumphed, crossing his arms as he turned his head. "—But I think... no, I know that I can do what I need ta in order ta be a good parent." He looked back at his mother. "She needs me, that's all there is to it," he finished.

Akane reached over, taking Ranma's hand in her own, giving it a squeeze. "Ranma, are you sure?" she asked.

Ranma turned his head, looking at his fiancée with a somewhat confused expression. "Yeah I'm sure. Why do ya ask Akane?" he questioned, tilting his head a little to the side.

Akane shook her head, a small smile spreading. "Oh, no reason is all. I'll... I'll stick with you in this Ranma, if you're really sure," she replied, seeming content. "Though... It's good to see you showing some maturity for once!" she exclaimed with a mirthful glint in her eye.

"Hey!" Ranma sputtered, looking indignant. Hearing both Akane and Nodoka burst into peals of laughter, he sighed, shaking his head ruefully. "Ok ok, I guess I deserved that one," he finally conceded.

"Mr. Saotome?"

The voice caught everyone by surprise, causing them to all whirl around to face the speaker- A pretty young nurse who looked to be in her late twenties. "Yes?" Ranma and Genma asked at the same time, then turned their heads to look at one another.

"I think she was talkin' ta me pop," Ranma said dryly.

The nurse looked down at the chart she held in her arms. "So you are Ranma Saotome? The one who brought the girl in, yes?" she asked, interrupting whatever Genma was going to say.

Ranma nodded, standing up, Akane by his side. "Yeah, that's me. How's Keiko doin'? Is she alright?" he asked worriedly.

The nurse flipped thoughtfully through a few more pages of the chart, studying them. "Yes, according to the report she's in perfectly good health— even better than what you'd normally expect for a seven year old girl, in fact. Aside from a few small things, such as her exhaustion, which will be gone after a good night's sleep, and a pair of small wounds on her neck.. All in all though, she can be released today," she went on, finally reaching the end of the chart. "Now then... may I ask who you really are? You've listed yourself as her father here, but given her age and your own age, which is listed as sixteen, I find that to be a pretty big improbability. As a nurse, it's my duty to look out for the well-being of those I'm taking care of, so would you mind explaining this quandary?" she asked, her tone cool as she looked up at Ranma.

Ranma nodded, "Yeah. Keiko ain't my daughter by blood, if that's what yer askin'. I'm a martial artist from Nerima, an' was travelin' on the road when she stumbled on my camp, and after savin' her from a wild bear, I escorted her back here to the city, and while we were travelin', we bonded, an' she kinda unofficially became my daughter. I'm plannin' on makin' it legal and adoptin' her just as soon as I get the chance," he explained.

The nurse twitched. "You found her on the road, and she was being chased by a bear?" She asked in a disbelieving tone.

Ranma nodded, missing the nurse's disbelief. "Yeah! As a matter of fact, the bear's right out there!" he replied, turning and pointing out of one of the doors to the emergency ward, where Kuma was sitting, waiting patiently. Looking up, he spotted Ranma pointing at him, as well as the others looking, and perked up, raising one paw to wave at them.

Akane smiled, returning Kuma's wave. "Hey Kuma-kun! Are you being a good boy out there?" she called out. Getting a nod from the bear, her smile grew. "That's good! I'll buy you a nice big salmon later if you continue to be good. How does that sound?"

Hearing that, Kuma perked up even more and began to pant happily, he loved salmon! Nodding in agreement Kuma lay down, resting his head on his paws, showing that he would comply with Akane's request.

The nurse dropped her chart, her eyes widening in shocked fright, "EEEYAA! It's a bear!" she screeched, pointing as she hid behind Ranma. "What is a bear doing here? We've got to call the police!"

Ranma looked curiously over his shoulder at the nurse along with the others. "What're ya talkin' about lady? The bear ain't gonna hurt nobody, not as long as he knows food is on the line, an' that we'll beat him up if he attacks anybody. So don't worry 'bout it, ok?" he asked.

The nurse blinked a few times, looking up at Ranma incredulously. "What are you talking about? That thing is easily four or five times your size and probably weighs over seven hundred pounds! It'd kill you in an instant!"

Ranma raised an eyebrow at that. "Huh? What're ya talkin' about? A bear ain't that hard ta beat. A punch here, a kick there, and he's down!"

The nurse reached up, grabbing Ranma by his ear. "Are you on crack or something? That thing is a bear! A BEAR! B. E. A. R.! No human alive could beat a bear bare-handed, it's impossible! I'd just as soon as believe in magic as I would anybody beating a bear— especially a young guy like you!" she practically yelled in his ear.

"Hey, hey! Easy there lady!" Ranma groused, pulling away from the nurse, accidentally bumping into Genma, who in turn fell into a delivery man who was just about to put a fresh tank of water on a cooler. The delivery man yelled in surprise, throwing his arms up to catch himself, causing the water jug to fly into the air, splashing water everywhere, though it only hit Ranma and Genma, instantly transforming them both into their cursed forms.

"Gah! What the hell?" Ranma screeched, her voice becoming several octaves higher, while Genma growfed in annoyance.

"Wh-wh-wh-" The nurse could only stutter, her eyes as wide as saucers as she sank to her knees in shock.

"Heh heh... sorry 'bout this..." Ranma said, sheepishly scratching the back of her head as she looked down at the nurse, who was still looking at her in wide-eyed shock. "Hey lady, you ok?" Ranma asked with concern, waving her hand in front of the nurse's face, not getting a response.

'I think seeing that magic is real temporarily broke her.' Said a sign that Genma held up.

"Nah, ya think?" Ranma asked sarcastically, then turned to Nodoka. "Hey mom, what're we supposed ta do about this?" She asked.

Nodoka smiled. "Don't worry sweetie, I'll take care of it," she replied, going over to the nurse's station, where an older woman sat behind the desk, smiling serenely. "Excuse me, but the nurse over there has seemed to become overwhelmed. Is there any chance we could go back anyway and visit little Keiko?" she asked sweetly.

"Sure!" The nurse replied, looking down at her chart. "Keiko Saotome is in room fifteen. However, I am afraid that your panda must wait outside with the bear unless he can find some way to change back. He would probably cause a scene otherwise," she explained.

Nodoka nodded. "Alright then. Thank you very much." She replied with a bow, then turned towards Genma. 'Well husband, you heard her. Don't worry, we won't be too long," she said

'Fine fine.' Genma quickly squiggled, seeming put out as he turned away and butted the door open with his muzzle, heading for Kuma.

"I've gotta say, you seem pretty calm about all this, considering what just happened." Akane said conversationally to the nurse behind the desk.

"Dear, after twenty years on the job, things just don't surprise me anymore." The nurse tittered, pressing a button on the desk. 'There you go, the door is unlocked now, you can go in whenever you want," she said, gesturing to the door that lead to the hospital rooms.

Ranma smiled happily. "Hey, thanks lady!" She exclaimed, grabbing Akane and Nodoka by the hand, quickly making her way through the door, pulling them along.

Outside, Genma lumbered over to Kuma, who sat up. "So, you're Kuma?" He asked, the sounds coming out as a series of growls and woofs.

Kuma cocked his head to the side, studying the strange new panda before him "I Kuma." He agreed. "Who you? Got salmon? Where my girl human?" he asked.

Genma lifted a paw, waving the questions off. "You hungry? I think I saw a sushi place not too far from here when we were bringing Keiko over," he replied.

Kuma tilted his head to the other side. "Got salmon?"

Genma sighed. "Is that all you think about?" Upon getting a nod of agreement from the bear, he sighed again. "Yes, they probably have salmon. You wanna go get some?"

"Salmon!" Kuma agreed happily, and the two set off from the hospital, heading for the sushi stand.

Akane and Nodoka made their way down the hospital corridor, following behind Ranma, who had quickly ducked into a bathroom to change back into a man a moment earlier, when he promptly slowed to a halt right in front of them, his shoulders heaving as his breathing became ragged. He stumbled to the side, steadying himself with one arm as he raised his other to his mouth, covering it when he coughed a few times. Alarmed, Akane rushed to his side.

"Ranma! Are you alright?" she asked with concern, placing a hand on his elbow.

Ranma lowered his hand and looked over at his fiancée, giving her a small, forced grin.

"Yeah 'Kane, ain't nothin' ta worry 'bout," he replied heavily, straightening himself up, letting his arms drop to his sides.

Nodoka, who was still behind the pair, looked down at the hand Ranma had used to cover his mouth. When he turned his wrist slightly, she saw a flash of red.

"You certainly aren't fine young man!" she exclaimed, reaching out and grabbing Ranma by the wrist, jerking his hand up to expose his palm, which was covered with flecks of blood. "Ranma! What is going on with you? Are you hurt?" she asked worriedly.

Ranma pulled his arm away. "Ya don't have ta worry about it," he said, turning away.

"But Ranma-!" Akane reached out, grabbing him by his arm before he could start away again.

"I said it ain't nothin' ta worry about!" Ranma snapped, probably more harshly than he intended as he tried to pull from her grasp.

Akane felt her anger rising. "You big jerk!" she yelled. "You aren't alright and you know it! Why are you bleeding like that?" she demanded, firming her grip.

Ranma looked away. "It's the price I gotta pay for usin' the Saotome Style, Iron Body technique," he replied. Seeing the looks of confusion on both Akane and his mother's faces, Ranma sighed, and began to explain. "The Iron Body is one of the principal techniques of the Saotome School of Iron Dragon Fist-" he started.

"What's that?" Akane asked with confusion. "I never heard you or your father talk about that style before. Is it part of Anything Goes?"

Ranma shook his head, but before he could speak up, Nodoka interrupted. "No," she replied, her eyes widening a bit, "the Iron Dragon Fist is an ancient style, passed down through the generations of the Saotome family, from one master to another. Ranma's grandfather and Genma's father, Genryu, was the last master of the style, but my husband forsook it for Happosai's Anything Goes style. Ranma, where did you learn it from?" she asked.

"Well-" Ranma started, pausing for a second to see if he would be interrupted again before he told them. "Back when I was in a coma after savin' Akane from a fall, I received a visit from the spirits of her mom, an' Grandpa. After they set me straight, Gramps taught me a bit of our family style, an' told me where I could find the scrolls ta continue on and gain my mastery of it," he replied.

"Oh my..." Nodoka gasped, covering her mouth. "So you actually saw your grandfather? I can still remember when he passed..."

Ranma looked at his mother when she said that. "How'd he pass anyway? There a story there?" he asked.

Nodoka nodded. "Yes, but it would be best to ask your father about it some other time. Now, as you were saying about the technique?" she asked, attempting to divert the conversation.

Ranma gave his mother a suspicious glance, but decided to humor her. "Well, The Iron Body is a strong technique, but it's a double-edged sword," he explained. "It grants it's user a huge increase in power, as well as a bit in speed, by usin' the fighter's ki ta super-charge their muscles. The drawback ta this technique is that it can't be held for very long, especially at full power, because the strain it puts on the user's body- It puts a lotta pressure on their muscles, an' they eventually start ta wear out an' tear. I used it at full power last night for the first time, an' pulled a lotta my muscles, even snapped a few. It really wore me out, an' I've got some internal bleedin', but it's really nothin' ta worry about," he explained.

"I don't understand!" Akane exclaimed, confused and upset. "When you woke up from your coma, you were healed in no time at all, and you'd been hurt a lot worse!"

Ranma shook his head. "Ya gotta remember Akane, I'd already been healin' for a week, an' when I woke up, I was able ta pour a lotta ki into healin' what was still hurt. Last night I had ta use a lotta ki ta kill Sergei, an' I haven't slept or eaten since then, so I ain't recovered hardly any ki ta use and heal myself," he explained.

"Ranma..." Nodoka said with concern, moving in closer to her son. "How are you feeling after that?"

Ranma looked at his mother stonily. 'You talkin' about me killin' Sergei? That bastard hurt Keiko, who ain't done nothin' bad ta nobody, not ta mention everyone else that he's hurt. I don't like what I did, but I ain't gonna regret it either, an' I'd do the same thing over again a hundred times ta save Keiko's life." he replied.

Nodoka nodded, a small, heavy smile playing. "Spoken like a true martial artist and man among men. I'm proud of you, my son," she said warmly.

Akane nodded, but still looked unsure. "Please Ranma, just take care of yourself, ok? I can't bear the thought of losing you again," she pleaded, taking his hands in her own as she looked up into his eyes.

Ranma blushed, feeling the intensity of Akane's gaze.

"Man, she is really cute," he thought to himself, scratching his nose with his free hand. "Uh, yeah Akane, whatever ya say..." he agreed meekly, his eyes drawing to her lips, which were pouted out slightly. "Aww man..." he thought, drawing closer to her without realizing it.

Akane smiled. "Thank you Ranma," she replied, noticing how he was looking at her.

"Wh-why is he looking at me like that?" She wondered, her heart beginning to beat a little faster. "He's leaning in! Does... Does he want to kiss me? The first time was in the heat of the moment, but this... I don't know... but... Ok!" Closing her eyes, Akane shyly tilted her face up, her lips beginning to pucker in anticipation.

"Ahem."

With a screech, the two teens sprang apart, Ranma pressing himself up against the wall as tightly as he could as he looked around wildly while Nodoka burst out laughing at what she'd done. "Aren't we forgetting something?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

Ranma nodded, scratching the back of his head while he blushed. "Yu-yeah!" he replied hastily, making his way towards the door that led to Keiko's room. "You guys coming?" he asked, looking back.

Akane stepped forward, and was about to agree, when suddenly Nodoka's hand snaked out, grabbing hold of her arm. "You go on ahead dear. I'm sure that Keiko would just want to see you for now, and besides, Akane and I have a few things to talk about." Seeing the pensive look on her son's face, she made a shooing gesture with her other hand. "Go, go! We'll be in there in just a moment."

"Oh, ok..." Ranma said, though still uncertain, and disappeared through the door.

Akane looked up at Nodoka confusedly. "Au-Auntie Nodoka?" she asked uncertainly.

Nodoka turned her gaze on Akane, her smile becoming predatory. "You and I have a few things to talk about, 'daughter'," she said, causing Akane to wince at her tone.

Genma and Kuma lumbered to the small sushi stand, stopping briefly to look up at the name of the joint.

"Hmmm... Tendou Gekiumi Sushi? Sounds interesting." Genma thought to himself before nuzzling the flap open and going in, followed by his ursine companion, scaring many of the patrons.

The man behind the counter, a small Chinese man, didn't seem so fazed however. "Yeah? What you want panda? I no got all day!" he snapped as Genma and Kuma lumbered up to the counter.

Pulling out a sign, Genma quickly wrote on it. 'Hey, you got any salmon?' the sign asked as he held it up.

"Yeah, we got salmon!" The chef agreed. "You want deluxe salmon sushi? Want wasabi to go with that?" he asked rapidly in broken Japanese.

'Yes please, along with a bottle of Sapporo for me' -flip- 'and a dish of water for my friend here.' Said a sign that Genma held up, flipping it a few times to make sure that the chef got it all.

"Yeah yeah, I got it! You go ovah there now and sit!" the chef groused, gesturing to the far end of the bar.

With a nod, Genma motioned to Kuma, and the two waddled over, knocking the seats aside so that they could plop down comfortably on the floor. "Salmon?" Kuma growfed hopefully, looking at Genma.

Genma nodded. "Yeah, he'll be bringing over the food in a minute," he told Kuma, who tilted his head to the side.

"Salmon!" Genma just hung his head and sighed.

Ranma crept quietly into the room, his gaze trained on Keiko, who looked so small as she lay in bed, the sheets covering her rising and falling with the rhythm of her breathing, her eyes closed in sleep as the monitor beside her beat a steady pulse. As quietly as he could, Ranma grabbed a chair and pulled it over beside the bed, sitting down in it.

"Keiko..." He thought, looking down at her face. "I'm so sorry... I'm sorry I wasn't there to stop that bastard from taking you..." Absently, he reached out to brush her bangs out of her eyes.

As soon as Ranma's fingers touched her forehead, Keiko let out a low moan, her eyes fluttering tiredly open. Glancing around, she saw Ranma, which caused her eyes to light up happily. "Ranma-poppa!" she exclaimed, then yawned, stretching. "What's goin' on Ranma-poppa? Where am I?" she asked, tired, but curious.

Ranma got up from his seat, opting to sit next to Keiko on the bed. "Well, you're in the hospital kiddo. We brought ya here ta make sure you were ok after what happened."

Keiko's eyes widened. "The monster!" She gasped. "Ranma-poppa, did ya save me?" Upon getting a silent nod, she reached up, wrapping her small arms around his waist as far as she could reach, squeezing with all her might. "I knew ya'd come for me! I tol' that mean ol' monster that you'd beat him up for takin' me, but he didn't believe me! Thank you Ranma-poppa!"

Ranma chuckled easily, reaching down to rub Keiko's head. "Hey, hey, it's no problem, yeah? I told ya that no monster would be able ta stop the great Ranma Saotome! Especially when he takes my daughter!"

Hearing that, Keiko let go of Ranma, staring up at him with wide-eyed wonder. "Ranma-poppa..." she started, tears beginning to form at the corners of her eyes. "... Do ya really mean that?" she gasped, holding her hands up to her mouth.

Ranma chuckled again, ruffling Keiko's hair. "If ya want. I'm even plannin' on adoptin' ya and takin' ya home. You'll officially be Keiko Saotome, daughter of Ranma. But only if ya want to, of course," he informed her.

The tears began to spill freely down Keiko's cheeks as she began to sniffle. "Oh daddy, yes!" she cried out happily, latching onto Ranma again, rubbing her face against his chest as Ranma wrapped his arms around her small frame. And so, as the morning sunlight bathed the hospital room, the new father and daughter embraced one another.

After the door closed behind Ranma, Akane looked between the shut door and the predatory-looking Nodoka. "Au-auntie Nodoka? What's going on?" she asked uncertainly.

"I think that you and I have a LOT to talk about young lady," Nodoka replied, her tone sharp. "Just what are you doing here anyway? I am grateful that you helped my son, but as I last remember it, you had decided that you hated him, and had called off the engagement. So, just what are you playing at? I will not allow you to hurt my son again!" she went on, her eyes blazing fiercely.

Akane looked down at the floor. "Auntie Nodoka... Do you remember that brooch that I found at the bathhouse? On the night of my blow-up?" she asked, her voice subdued.

Nodoka blinked in surprise, caught off-guard by the seemingly random change of topic. "Yes, what of it?" she asked suspiciously.

"Well... I know this is going to sound hard to believe—" Akane started, looking up. "—But the truth is that the brooch I'd found was a cursed item, one that was in Happosai's possession, and he was planning on using it on someone, but apparently our arrival there messed up his plans and he had to run off. That brooch, as it turns out, reverses the romantic feelings that someone has, causing them to express the exact opposite of what they really feel." She looked away, her eyes watering. "The truth is, I'm deeply in love with Ranma, Auntie Nodoka, and I didn't mean what I said that night!" She whipped her head back, her eyes locking with Nodoka's as a stray tear tracked down her left cheek. "Please, you've gotta believe me!"

Nodoka blinked in surprise again, taken aback by the story. "Really?" she asked in disbelief. When Akane nodded vigorously, Nodoka couldn't help but chuckle a little. "You know, I think I actually believe you."

"Wha-" Akane started, only to be hushed when Nodoka put a silencing finger to her lips.

"If you'd told me such an outlandish story before I'd found out about Ranma and Genma's curses, I'd call you a fool, and recommend that you be admitted into an asylum, but after such blatant displays of magic that my husband and son keep displaying, I find that I'm more open to something like your explanation." Nodoka told Akane, a twinkle appearing in her eyes. "And besides, when that old pervert is involved, anything is possible!" she exclaimed with a giggle.

Akane, caught completely off guard by Nodoka's change of mood couldn't help but giggle as well. "That's true!" she gasped, using the wall to support herself as she attempted to get her laughter under control.

Finally, after a few minutes, the two managed to calm themselves down. "Well, shall we?" Nodoka asked, gesturing to Keiko's room.

"Yeah!" Akane agreed, reaching for the door-handle.

After finishing their meal, Genma and Kuma sighed contentedly, reclining back a bit. "Ok..." Genma woofed, glancing around sneakily as he climbed to his feet. "Now we make a break for it, ok Kuma?" he asked, tip-toeing towards the entrance.

"Ok!" Kuma agreed, not understanding what Genma was talking about, but following him all the same, wondering if they were going somewhere else with salmon.

Just as the two were about to make their break, several knives and cleavers sailed through the air, stabbing into the wall all about them. "Hey! What'choo thinking panda? You gonna just eat and run? Nuh-uh! You pay big money for four of deluxe salmon sushi!" The owner exclaimed, leaping over the counter while waving around an especially-sharp looking meat cleaver in one hand and an iron frying pan in the other.

'But we don't have any money!' exclaimed a sign that Genma held up.

The chef crossed his arms, looking down at Genma crossly. "Then you work for food, yes? Carry round sandwich boards for few hours!" he ordered, gesturing to a pair of conveniently large enough sandwich boards advertising the restaurant sitting in one corner.

'Oh yeah? And who is gonna make us? You, shorty?' Asked a contemptuous sign that Genma held up as he and Kuma leered ominously over the small Chinese man, growling intimidatingly.

"WHOOCHA!" In a flurry of kicks, the chef sent both Kuma and Genma careening into the wall. "Who you callin' shorty you stupid throw-rug?" he yelled, looming over the pair. "You eat lot'sa delux salmon sushi, now you work to pay! Is no other choice!" He sneered, pulling the panda up as he hefted his cleaver up under Genma's neck. "We be understanding?"

'We be understanding! We be understanding!' exclaimed a hasty sign that Genma held up as he gulped, sweating nervously. Meanwhile, Kuma whimpered, wondering just how many humans there were that were stronger than him.

Ranma and Keiko looked up as the door opened up, revealing Akane and Nodoka, who walked into the room. "Ranma-poppa, who are they?" Keiko asked uncertainly, drawing closer to Ranma's side.

Ranma grinned. "Well, she-" he started, gesturing to Nodoka; "-is your grandmother, Nodoka."

Keiko looked up at Nodoka, blinking uncertainly. "My grandma?" she asked, poking her bottom lip with one finger.

Before anyone had a chance to react, Nodoka squealed happily, thrusting her sword into Ranma's arms as she gathered Keiko up into a tight hug, squashing the poor, shocked girl's face into her bosom. "Oh, she's just sooo cute! My grandbaby!" Nodoka cried out happily, raining kisses down on top of Keiko's head.

Ranma laughed. "Careful mom, ya don't wanna smother her!" he scolded, causing Nodoka to reluctantly let of Keiko, who looked around dazedly. "Hey, you ok kiddo?" he asked, amused.

Keiko blinked a few times, then looked up at Ranma. "What just happened, Ranma-poppa?"

Ranma laughed again. "You were just nearly hugged unconscious by your grandmother!"

Nodoka huffed, crossing her arms. "I didn't hug her THAT tightly." She groused good-naturedly.

Akane, looking between them, decided this was the perfect time to introduce herself. "Why hello there Keiko! I'm Akane, and it's very nice to meet you!" she chirped brightly, smiling down at the small girl as she held out her hand.

Keiko looked down at Akane's hand, then up to her face. "Oh? Are you my auntie then?" she asked innocently, blinking a few times.

At that, Ranma face-faulted and Akane sweat-dropped, taken aback by the question, while Nodoka burst into peals of laughter, covering her mouth with one hand as she turned away. "Nuh-no!" Akane exclaimed, finally finding her voice. "Actually, I'm..." She blushed a bit, her eyes glancing over towards Ranma, who was trying to stand back up. "I'm Ranma's fiancée... We're engaged to be married, so that would make me your-"

"NO!" The sudden and loud exclamation caught everyone off-guard, as Keiko stood up on her bed, her eyes blazing with anger as she clenched her fists at her sides. "Ranma-poppa is mine! You can't have him!" she yelled.

Ranma blinked in confusion, leaning towards Keiko. "Hey kiddo, what're ya talkin' abo-"

In a swift, surprising movement, Keiko suddenly pulled out a small mallet, bopping Ranma over the head with it, then wrapped him up in her bed sheet, securing it tightly and, in an astonishing show of strength, hefted her adoptive father over her head and sprung off the bed, catching Nodoka and Akane off guard as she darted between them, quickly running out the door.

"Keiko, wait!" Akane yelled, snapping out of her stupor a second later and turning to give chase.

"Yes, you don't have to do this child!" Yelled Nodoka from just behind Akane as they chased the small girl down the hospital corridor, surprising many people.

"No! She'll take him away from me!" Keiko yelled fiercely, turning her head just enough to blow a raspberry at Akane. However, a few seconds later, the small girl suddenly found her strength giving out. "Uh-oh!" she screeched, toppling over with Ranma, breathing heavily.

An instant later, Akane and Nodoka caught up. "Keiko! Are you ok?" Akane asked worriedly, approaching the small girl.

In response, Keiko jumped up, taking a basic anything goes stance. "You stay away!" she yelled, getting ready to lash out.

Before the small girl could do anything though, she was suddenly picked up by the back of her gown with a squawk of surprise, then turned until she was facing a bemused Ranma. "You've got some explaining to do young lady," he said calmly- a little too calmly.

Keiko could only gulp- She was in trouble, and she knew it.

Fifteen minutes later, and Ranma was scratching his head in confusion as he sat on a hospital couch, with Keiko on his knee, and Akane and Nodoka both sitting across from them in chairs. "So let me get this straight, you think that Akane's gonna take me away from you? That I won't love ya with her in our lives?" he asked in bewilderment.

Keiko nodded slightly, looking at the floor with tears in her eyes, holding a cup of water in her hands.

Ranma sighed, rubbing his temples as he tilted his head back... Then surprised everyone as he began to laugh. "Baka!" he exclaimed, lightly bopping Keiko on the back of her head. "You think you can get rid of me so easily? I'm here ta stay!"

"Ranma-poppa?" Keiko asked in confusion, holding her head where Ranma had tapped it.

"Ranma's right, Keiko-chan." Akane said, surprising the young girl, who didn't notice her approach. "I never meant to scare you, and I definitely don't plan on splitting you up," she went on with a gentle smile, reaching out to tousle Keiko's hair. "As a matter of fact, I definitely look forward to having you around!"

Keiko looked up, her eyes meeting Akane's. "So you ain't gonna steal him from me?" she asked quietly.

"Nope!" Akane grinned. "As a matter of fact, it might take us both to keep him in line! So what do you say?"

Keiko looked up uncertainly at Ranma, who smiled, then back to Akane, biting her bottom lip. "... Ok..." She started. "But... If you're gonna be marryin' him... Does that mean you'll be my mommy?"

Akane was taken aback by that, surprised, but let it slip away as she smiled again. "If you'll let me," she replied.

Unable to help it, Keiko grinned a little. "I guess this means I'll have two mommies then!" she suddenly exclaimed, pouring enough of her water over Ranma to trigger the transformation.

An elderly man, hearing the proclamation, turned in his seat to see what the little girl was going on about, and spotted her sitting on the lap of a beautiful young red-head who had a surprised look on her face and wearing a wet shirt, with a blushing dark-haired girl standing over them, smiling fondly. His eyes darting between the two stunning girls, the man put two and two together, and yelped in surprise as blood spurted from his nose, causing him to fall to the floor in a perversely grinning heap, even as a couple of nurses rushed over to see why he'd fainted.

"I... I guess so..." Akane managed to say, still blushing while Ranma sheepishly scratched her nose and Keiko laughed. "Hey!" She suddenly spoke up. "How would you like some ice cream?" she asked, her blush receding.

At once, both Ranma's and Keiko's eyes began to sparkle as they looked up at Akane. "Yeah! Ice-cream!" They exclaimed simultaneously.

In the background, Nodoka smiled fondly, watching the new family begin to bond.

Genma and Kuma stood on either side of the sushi bar, wearing sandwich boards advertising it as they sweat-dropped. 'How much longer do we have to do this?' Complained a sign that Genma held out.

"Until you earn meal! Now be quiet and work lazy throw rug!" Yelled the chef from inside.

-TBC-

A/N– Yeah! Another chapter finished!