Disclaimer: I disclaimer ranma blah blah blah...

Chapter twenty : A dinner to remember...

The Saotomes were walking home. Tonight was an important night it seemed. None of them had ever even heard of their grandfather before. Chi even mentioned that he had known nothing about the man. Thinking of Genma having a father and being a kid brought a lot of questions to their minds.

Ryuu was quiet as the others and just wondered what kind of guy could allow himself to have childer with multiple people in this day and age. Surely it was illegal. To Ryuu it no longer mattered. He had confronted Natsume and Kurumi after dinner with Genma, his new father, to explain the rest of the story involving their mutual biological father.

He had sisters now, blood sisters. He wasn't an only child. He even had a couple of brothers through his new family. He also had soon found a best friend in Mousse recently. They had soon discovered that their skill levels were almost an exact match and had been having a friendly rivalry in the arts to best one another. Outside of the arts they had become good friends and along with Wing, when they could drag him from his training, they had spent a lot of good times together.

Chi was thinking. He had been so sure that he had gotten all of the information he needed before his trip here. He had finished his training and was helping others train, and he had even brought together allies turned family. He had actually brought together more peace already than he had ever known.

But then, who was Ukyo Kyounji. The more time he spent around the girl, the more he felt as if he was missing something important. He had learned the fate of many who were once known as the Nerima Wrecking Crew. How come Ukyo had disappeared off the face of Japan?

Natsume was smiling deeply. Their mother had insisted that their fiancees all be there tonight. Taro had tried to get out saying that they weren't engaged. He had backed down and decided that a hot meal was a wonderful thing. It was just as wonderful as Nodoka not slicing his throat as she pulled her sword back to return it to her scabard.

She had been a little afraid that Taro would hold it against her. He had instead actually laughed at what had happened. He claimed that he now knew where Ranma got his back bone from. They had spent the rest of the night sparring together before Natsume had to turn in for bed. Taro had left to crash at the Tendo's Dojo. It had been offered by Happosai.

Thinking about it, she realised that no one had seen Kasumi in several days. No one except her father. He had tried going by the doctors office once. He wouldn't talk about it, he only said that Kasumi would hopefully be back soon. Everyone pretended not to hear the part about nine months.

Kurumi was in heaven. She was slowly becoming one of the most popular girls in school. Being a part of the Saotome legend had a good deal to do with it. But she had actually impressed her teachers with how fast she was catching up in her studies. Living on the road with her older sister had left little time for proper schooling, for either of them.

She had been shocked and amazed at how easily it all came to her. The teachers were talking about how she might be some kind of genius. She had just laughed when she heard that and just sadi that of course she was, she was a Saotome after all. One teacher had taken offence to that and had tried to show her Ranma's school work and claiming him an idiot.

She had challenge the teacher to an IQ test of him versus her and Ranma. Both Saotome's would have to beat the teacher to be victorious. The teacher had agreed and Ranma needed little convincing seeing as it was a challenge to his family.

Her and Ranma's results were currently labeled as classified after they had beaten the teacher. They hadn't even been shown their results, only recieved a humble appology and were begged not to speak of the test to anyone.

Ranma was in a good mood. He could feel the last of his strength returning. He had been confused when he had been called out of class during the later half of the day, but had been angry to learn that he, and worse Kurumi, had been insulted. He still didn't understand what the big deal was with the test he had been given. It had actually rather easy compared to some of his schoolwork. It only required a little chi enhance speed for many of the exercises.

He still was amused at the thought of completeing one difficult puzzle in under a second with Kurumi finishing in two. He had laughed when the teacher they were against couldnt even finish after fifteen minutes and their finished puzzles before his eyes.

He had been a little annoyed when they asked to classify their results. The Principal, Ranma still couldn't get over the changes in the guy, had taken them aside and had explained that their results were very high, but since they had spent much of their life out of school it might give some kids the wrong impression. They might think that the didn't even need an education. He had apologized for asking, and promised to release their results when they chose to go to college and that he would personally get them into any University that they wished to attend.

But all of these thoughts were just more destractions. Ranma had gone a long time thinking his own mother was dead, and know it turns out that he had another relative alive. Pop was hiding something, but recent events were causing him to bring many of his skeletons out of his closet.

The five Saotomes walked on through Nerima.

OOOOO

She was concentrating on her kata. Bladed weapons were not something that she had ever actively trained in. She moved from one form to another flawlessly and felt her confidence grow. She was a Tendo, and she would prove why her family had such a history of martial arts.

Her thoughts drifted back to the man she loved. It was so hard to believe that they were this happy together. Not two weeks ago they would have both denied any rumors that they would be this close. She could still feel the caress of his hands at her sides and the touch of his lips on hers.

She crouched low and jumped into an aireal kata, one disigned to keep an opponent off balence. She hadn't truely felt this alive in years.

She finished her katas and walked over the the dojo shrine. It had been years since she had given it honest thanks for her skills and her health. Finally she sheathed her blade and walked towards the house. SHe passed Akane who was on her way to the dojo to spar.

"Is the bath ready?"

"Yeah, but I won't be long Nabiki. I promised Ranma I'd be there for dinner tonight to meet his grandfather."

Nabiki nodded her head and went to soak her weary bones. She had not practiced in years, but lately she was begining to understand Akane's desire to fight at Ranma's side. Nabiki had been feeling the same way about Tatewaki. She wanted to surprise him with a challenge when things settled down. She had a long way to go and years to catch up on anyone like Ranma or Akane.

OOOOO

Goucho looked at himself in the mirror and waited patiently as Yumi fussed with his clothes. She smiled up at him with that all knowing look of hers. Goucho didn't want to admit any of his thoughts about tonight. They both heard the phone ring. Yumi's sone brought it in.

"Pop, it's Mr Sakuri."

"Alright. Hello? Saotome speaking.."

Goucho listened to the man on the other end for a few moments and spoke quickly. Finally he hung up and turned to his lady love.

"It seem that there's come kind of disturbance at the office. It'll require my personal attention. So... I..."

RING!

"Hello? WHAT DO YOU MEAN NEVERMIND! I TOLD YOU TO -"

Goucho shut up as he realised that Yumi's smile never wavered or changed. He had been busted.

"Never mind. I understand. Goodbye. "

click

"You know dear, I was a little annoyed when Mr Sakari told me that you ordered him to call tonight and fake an emergency. I thought you'd be so disapointed if you didn't put on your little show, so I told him to just call right back afterwards and tell you that it had been taken care of."

Her smile dropped.

"Goucho, you're going. Tira will be arriving with the girls soon. You haven't even seen little Yuka since Christmas. I mean the one three years ago."

Goucho tried to suddely look smaller. He had recently taken to spending all of his time at work. When Ranma, and Genma, had arrived in Nerima he had decided to wait and see what would happen. Some of the things surprised him. One or two would surely surprise Genma.

Goucho was taken out of his thoughts by a speeding ball of five year old energy called Usagi.

"Grandpa!"

Goucho loved Kanji's daughter dearly. It was the first time he had truely felt like a grandfather. He held the little girl dearly, and remembered that there were others waiting of him tonight. Others that he had never been given the chance to be apart of their lives before. And now Genma had done just that.

"Alright Usagi, Grampa's gotta get ready. You look beautiful tonight."

"Come here girl. You ready to see your uncle Genma?"

"Yeah Monster Slayer!"

Goucho just looked at his youngest son.

"I don't know why you keep telling her those stories."

Kanji never took his eyes off his daughter.

"Because unlike you, I knew that Genma would eventually come back to let our children meet."

He turned to his father.

"You will not make any of those claims about living the way of the Martial Artist, will you? If I had been a little older I would have followed Genma right out the door."

Goucho took a deep breath and sighed. He knew that his father was looking down on him with all of their ancestors. He had been a fool and had been blinded by a jelousy that he hadn't even realised he had. It had cost them so much.

Goucho walked over to a box that contained his final offer to Genma. One way or another, they would settle everything tonight.

OOOOO

Ukyo was cooking up a storm. This was strange because her resteraunt was closed. Instead she was having a victory party for her friend.

"I'm sorry that Ranma and the others couldn't make it Konatsu."

Ukyo was still a little distracted by Konatstu's new look. He had gone from girly to VERY manly and mature. She smirked as she caught Ryouga's slightly jelous face. He didn't like how Ukyo was flirting with Konatsu.

The only thing keeping him from starting a fight was the fact that Konatsu was obviouly oblivious. The whole of his attention was solely on Akari. He held her with a warmth and tenderness that could be felt outside the door.

"Huh? Oh, that's ok. I understand. But really, how many more relatives does Genma have that he never told anyone about?"

Ryouga sneezed.

"Bless you. You ok?"

"Yeah, it's just all the pepper I put on my food just now."

"Well good. We wouldn't want you thinking that you were a Saotome."

Everyone started laughing into the night.

OOOOO

Xien Mao didn't like where this was going. It seemed that the other elders were actually going to listen to this ridiculas idea about trying to talk to the enemy first. Why had they brought so many warriors then?

Thankfully Xien Mao had prepared a little surprise if she was forced to take matters into her own hands personally. There wouldn't be anything left of Nerima or Ranma Saotome when she was finished.

Xien Mao turned to her grand daughter and nodded her head. It was the signal for her to go on ahead and scout around. She would arrive four days before the rest of them, but it would still take her two days to arrive at her fastest speed.

OOOOO

Yumi and Tira walked behind Goucho, less in respect ad more so that they could stop him from running. Their children and grandchild were following along. One of them had been quite surprised when she had learned where she was eating tonight, and why.

"You know, I forgot to get a house gift. We could stop by- OUCH"

"Gou-chan, don't try it. I have Mina and Yuka on Poppa bashing duty."

"Ungrateful little girls. Why when I think of all that I have given you while- OUCH! Would you cut that out?"

"Sorry Daddy. I thought you moved the wrong way."

Goucho grumbled under his breath. He hadn't had trouble like this when he was actually married. Groucho's mind drifted to his late wife and a mournful sign passed his lips. It was not missed by anyone.

No one bothered to bring up the subjest of the departed women of Goucho's life, especially since they were arriving at the home of Goucho's wife's only son.

Before anyone realised, they had arrived.

Slowly Goucho raised his hand. This was it, the time to see if twenty years could be put behind him. This was it, a chance to get to know the family that he thought he would never be a part of. This was it, a chance to meet the girls that he had spent many long nights and vast amounts of resources trying to find. This was it, Now was the time to...

Yumi knocked on the door.

"Linger on the moment later, I'm hungry."

Goucho heard his granddaughter and daughters giggle behind him.

I wasn't even a moment when the door was answered by Nodoka.

"Hello Father, welcome to our home. Please come in everyone."

Nodoka looked around and counted seven guests. Noticing what their host was doing, Kanji spoke up.

"My wife's unfortunately got an important performance in Tokyo. This was a litle too sudden for her to cancel. She sends her apologies and hopes that you will forgive her big sister."

Nodoka looked over to the young man in his late twenties and saw a familiar looking smile on his face. It was the same one a ten year old ring bearer had worn at her wedding.

"Kanji. My how you've grown dear. And who's this?"

"Usagi, say hello to Auntie Nodoka."

"Hello Auntie.."

Usagi smiled as she turned her face into her father's shoulder being shy.

Nodoka lead everyone inside into the living room where everyone was waiting. Genma stood up and walked towards his father. He stopped short and gave a slight bow.

"Hello father."

He turned to Tira.

"Hello Auntie."

He turned to Yumi.

"Hello mother."

"I told you before dear, I never married your father. You really shouldn't call me that. it make me feel old."

"Mom, you are getting there in years, you know."

Yumi paused for a moment.

"Genma, please fold your brother in half."

Genma got an evil grin on his face and turned to the man in question.

"Remember Genma, you love me. Would you believe that I'm holding a secret weapon? Usagi! Hugg Attack!"

Genma was a little surprised when the girl in Kanji's arm suddenly jumped at hell yelling.

"Unka Monsta Slayer!"

Genma held the girl in his arms and gave his brother a questioning look.

"Hey, when I was a kid I always knew you'd kill any monsters that would try and hurt me. When Usagi started seeing monsters in her closet I figured that since it worked for me..."

Genma chuckled as he gave the girl in his arms a big hug. He was a little distracted when Akane called out.

"Yuka! What are you doing here?"

"Hey Akane, Ranma. Um... I can explain? Daddy?"

Goucho looked between his youngest child and his grandson's fiancee.

"Genma, stop trying to crush your neice and make some proper introductions."

Genma looked at his father and sighed. He still held the little girl tightly as he spoke.

"Father, everyone, this is my wife Nodoka, you know. This is our first son, Ranma. His fiancee, and wife by Amazon customs, Akane Tendo. This is our first adopted son, Chi Tsu Saotome. This is Hikaru's son, snd now my own, Ryuu. And these are Ryuu's daughters, Natsume and Kurumi."

Taro was a little put off about not being introduced, but then forgot it when he saw Genma's father approach the sisters.

Goucho knew that he needed to be strong for this. He knew that this would happen. He also knew that there was no way to be prepared for this. He couldn't help himself or stop himself. To the amazement of everyone there who truely knew Goucho, Goucho fell to his knees and bowed to the young girls. Everyone heard the tears start.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I swear, I tried to find you when your mother died, but you had already left the orphanage. I looked for years. I dedicated fortunes to finding you. Please forgive this old man's failure. I should have done more. You should never have had to grow up alone. I'm sorry."

Natsume and Kurumi were stunned. They didn't know what to do. No one had expected this. Finally they approached their grandfahter and hugged him. They started whispering words of comfort. Looking around the room, you could see tears in everyone's eyes.

It was several minutes before Goucho could be brought back to his feet.

"I apologize everyone. I didn't think I'd handle that quite that badly. Allow me to introduce you to the rest of the family. This is Yumi Innou, my second mistress. This is our son, Kanji, and the new neck tie around Genma's neck is Kanji's daughter, Usagi. This lovely woman, whom the heavens weap at her not yet being an angel-OUCH!

"Was that a polite way of wishing me dead dear?"

"No dear, of course not. This is Tira Sanjo, my third mistress. These are our two girls, Mina"

"Hello"

"And Yuka. I believe some of you already know her."

Ranma turned on his father.

"I've been having a class with my own aunt and didn't know it? Pops..."

"I didn't know either boy. The only sibling I ever met besides Hikaru was Kanji, and he was twelve the last time I saw him."

"Now nefew..."

"Don't you start. This is weird enough as is."

Everyone started laughing at this.

"Isn't this wonderful Akane? We're going to be related."

Nodoka started motioning everyone outside. She had decided to have dinner outside so that there would be plenty of room. everyone moved outside and sat down to dinner. Stories were told and questions were asked.

It saw soon learned that Goucho had fallen in love with and married Genma's mother. Soon afterwards he had fallen in love with Hikaru's mother and had taken her as a mistress. Yumi followed about eight years later, and then Tira about ten years after that.

When asked about how it could even be legal, Goucho laughed and then asked why Genma or Nodoka never told Ranma the truth?

What truth? Well, it seems that the Saotomes were one of the oldest Martial Artist and Samuri bloodlines. They had even recieved privilages from a previous emperor that had been passed down threw the generations. One of these privilages was the right to take mistresses if they were loved. They would hold a rank in the family similar to the first wife.

Ranma fainted when his grandfather asked him if he just wanted to marry all the girls chasing him and be done with it. It was also why Genma could make such promises concerning who he would marry. Any of the girls seeking to honor their agreement need only show up and earn Ranma's heart and they could join his family.

Ranma didn't know what shocked him more, that fact that there had always been such a crazy way out of the fiancee war, or the fact that his father hadn't been dragging their honor threw the mud all these years. In fact, many of the agreements involved food when they were both starving and said food may well have saved their lives.

Akane had soon manifested a battle aura and politely asked them to change the suject before anyone at school thought that Ranma was taking aplications. The only woman sharing her bed was a redhead.

Dinner came and went, and so did dessert. Finally everyone broke up into smaller groups to talk.

Ranma was a little shocked to have his uncle ask him to walk with him. Ranma followed Kanji outside and to one of the cars that they had taken. He opened the trunk and got a box out of it. He closed the trunk and then set the box ot it.

Kanji then looked Ranma straight in the eyes.

"Cat"

"Where!"

Ranma had jumped and was looking for the source of the furballed terror.

"He actually did it."

Ranma turned to see his uncle shaking his head.

"Did what?"

"He actually taught you the Neko Ken when he refused to let me learn it."

"What! Why the heck would you wanna learn something as crazy as that?"

"Because, smart ass, It's one of the Saotome Style's most secret arts. Do you have any idea what the hell your father went threw for training before his training with Happosai? Do you even know why Genma and Dad stopped talking to one another?"

"Uh.. no..."

Ranma was confused and lost. But he had a feeling that he was about to learn something that he really didn't want to know.

"Ranma, what I'm about to tell you, you might not believe. But the only reason I believe it myself is because I was there to see it for myself. Dad briefly mentioned our family's history with the Martial arts. Ranma, you have a gift for the art. It's a gift that's passed down in our family. Many people would kill for our family's adaptive instinct, but it doen't appear in every generation. I'm telling you this for two reasons. One, it'll help you understand what happened between your father and mine. And two, there is a slim chance that it could mean some of your children might not share your ability in the art."

Ranma paled as the meaning fo Kanji's words became clear. There was a chance that some of his children would never know what it felt like to just give yourself over to the art.

"Hey, Ranma. Calm down. It's very rare that is skips a generation like that. Look at me and Yuka. We both were born with the gift, same as your father and Hikaru were. I wouldn't be surprised if Usagi fights for love and justice when she gets older. It also depends what you chose to do with you skills. What do you think I do for a living?"

"Teach Martial arts?"

"Hahaha. I thought you'd say that. No, actually I'm a surgen. I use my skill to try and help other people. The pay doesn't hurt either,"

Ranma looked at the smirk on Kaji's face and it took a moment to realise it was the same one that Ranma himself would occasionally sport.

"So, what does this have to do with our pops?"

"Dad was born without our gift for adaptation. He was a horrible student of the arts. He felt like he was a disapointment for his father, so he decided to prove himself in the bussiness world. And he did. By the time your father was born, he was a multi millionare."

"POPS RICH!"

"Nope, he walked away fromit all?"

"Why?"

"Because I was a damned fool."

Ranma and Kanji turned to see Goucho walking towards them.

"If you don't mind son. I think I'll tell the rest of this story. It was the worst mistake I could have ever made. I was trying yo control Genma's life and had even arranged a marriage to you mother. It's a habit I still have. Anyways, you father had been going to your grandfather for trainig in the art ever since he could walk. I guess that I felt a little jelous and abandond. One day your father comes home when he was about fifteen and was all cut up and injured."

"What happened?"

"Neko Ken. My father had tried to teach your father."

"What? But I thought that pops just got it out of some insturtion manual?"

"It was just a book writen by a guy studying different art a long time ago. It had actually become a family joke. You see, the guy couldn't understand the reasoning behind the training and our family had refused to explain it. We had only promised to allow him to watch. He thougth we were crazy. Now Ranma, when was the last time you ever read a marial arts instrution manual and it described a trainig method, only to call it stupid on the next page?"

This new information had Ranma's mind realing. Goucho had a point. Instruction manuals held only that, instuctions. It was up to teachers to give critisism.

"Well, after seeing the shape your father was in I forbid him to return. We were into it for weeks. After a few months, your grandfather passed away. I'm ashamed to admit that I was glad. I was glad because now I thought my sons would be safe and that Genma would join me in the corperate world. That he would someday take over for me. Imagine my surprise when he told me that he was leaving to find another master so that he could keep our familiy's legacy alive. That was when he met Soun and Happosai."

"And somedays I wonder if I could have been happy in a suit like you."

Goucho, Kanji and Ranma turned to see Genma arrive.

"I see you've been telling my son what happened?"

"Yes I have."

"Good. Tell him your offer."

Goucho stared at his son.

"You meant it?"

"Yes, I promised to let them have a choice. Let me guess, you made it sound like I went against your wishes right? Ranma, my fahter didn't completely forbid me. He made a an offer to join him, but he also allowed me to chose my own life. That's something I haven't really done much with you. I'm sorry. Dad?"

"Ranma, how would you like to be rich, to be able to give your family everything they could ever want?"

"Sounds nice but how?"

"Come with me son, and join me in my company."

"But what about the art?"

"You have to make a choice."

"Think about Akane and your family before you say anything first."

"Pops?"

"I only watnt you to think about this. Why is everyone out here anyways?"

"Me and Ranma came to get a gift dad brought you."

Kanji turned around and picked up the box. He then handed it to Genma. Genma was a little confused and set the box down gently. He then opened the top and his eyes slowly grew large and there were hints of tears in them.

"Father... These are..."

"I know Genma. They should have been yours years ago. I only kept them out of spite I guess."

For the first time in over twenty years, Genma hugged his father. What had once stood between them was now gone.

"Thank you son. Genma, you said something was coming. I figured that you could use these."

"Pops, what are these?"

Ranma pulled a scroll out of the box. He almost dropped it and froze in shock as he readt the title Neko Ken on the scroll.

"These, Ranma, are the Saotome family's secret scrolls. Ranma, they even include the final step in mastering the Neko Ken. Grandpa never taught it to me, and I had always hoped that I could figure it out for your sake. Lets take these inside and let everyone see them."

Ranma grabbed the box and ran. Kanji soon followed. Finally Genma started going inside.

"Well Genma, I think I got my answer. He still doesn't realise that I know all about his acomplishments. I'm proad... of the both of you. Your grandfather would be too."

Genma paused while walking so his father could catch up.

"Thanks Pops."

OOOOO

"Ranma, these are amazing. The skills, the styles, the moves, and my god, this true Neko Ken. If you can pull this off..."

Natsume, Ranma, Akane, and Ryuu were going threw the scrolls in the box. Natsume would acasionally pass one to Taro who had to admit the he was impressed.

Chi was astonded. He had never seen martial arts knowledge of this degree before. The wisdom here could easily rival the whole of the Amazon nation.

Kurumi was sitting in her grandfather's lap. She was telling him about her day at school and about the tests she had taken earlier.

Suddenly a thought struck Goucho.

"Kurumi, dear. Now that you and your sister finally have a family and a home, what do you wanna do when you grow up?"

"I don't know. I like the art, but I wanna do something to help the family. I also don't wanna be hungry again."

Goucho smiled.

"Would you like to work with your grandfather?"

At this question, several people turned to see what Kurumi's answer would be.

'Really! You mean it?"

"If you want. Tell you what, I'll even help you get into the right schools for it."

"I love you Grandpa!"

Goucho had a tear in his eye at the thought of his company finally having it's future assured. Oh yes, Mina or Yuka could have joined him, but they didn't seem to have much desire for bussiness.

But Kurumi seemed to have been hanging on every word tonight as he had explained what he did for a living. He finally had the heir that he had been praying for.

"Can Nabiki work for you too? She's really smart too and really good with bussiness."

Goucho thought for a minute and remembered what she had already learned about the Tendo finacial genius.

"Why Kurumi dear, I would love it if Nabiki wanted to work for me. Tell you what, you have her call me at my office, and I'll see what I can do to help her on her way."

OOOOO

Author's Notes.

I have opened the flood gates.

There are only six days remaining until the Amazons arrive in force.

Is everyone enjoying the ride?

I can't believe that I've been writing this story for almost nine months now...