Author's Notes –
I knew I should have purchased a snow blower. Back in November I had thought that the then approaching winter would just miss us but that we'd still get a good share of show, then December hit and the few snowfalls we had were easily shoveled aside. Then January hits and we got some big snow storms. Granted, it's worse north of us and south of us and especially out east, but still, it took me 4 hours to shovel out of my driveway a few weeks ago, and then it snowed again a few days later and took me another hour to shovel. Plus the village/city that I'm in doesn't want us to use salt (but calcium chloride works even better).
I'm a winter guy, but even I have limits as to how much winter I want to deal with. It'd be better if I could just shove my wife into a snow bank without having to fear for my life or manhood.
Oh, and back to the fic. Just a reminder that anything in * * is spoken in English unless noted otherwise.
The last bit of the previous chapter was a dream sequence turned reality. No, Ranma's gender/sex changing curse didn't return. I'm just messing with you the reader.
# # # # #
Thick, musky air filled the office, hinting at the late night activities of the occupants as the raven haired man opened the triple paned windows.
"You sure have some strange dreams," Shinobu teased as she quickly donned a fresh sun dress.
"Yeah," her lover remarked as he felt the fresh early morning air flow into the office. "Not that I didn't look good as a woman, but it's kinda creepy."
"Well," the blunette purred as she sauntered over to him, "I for one am glad that you're all man."
A passionate kiss and a playful pat from her gentle hands on the growing bulge in his boxers sent a shiver of pleasure through his body.
Reluctantly Shinobu pulled away, breaking the kiss before darting back towards her duffle bag.
As much as he wanted to do something about her retreat, he couldn't help but enjoy the sight of the buxom blunette as she bent over at the waist before searching her bag for a pair of clean panties. The view itself was spectacular as her oh so short sun dress slowly hiked up the further she bent forward. Yet the dress was just long enough to preserve her modesty, not that she had any modesty with him considering some of the things that they'd done the previous night.
Ranma let out a sigh of contentment as he watched her slide her playful lacy blue panties up her shapely legs as she slowly stood tall.
"As beautiful as you might be as a woman," Shinobu said as she checked her reflection in the mirror, "I'm glad you're not. I might be jealous."
Idly nodding, the raven haired immortal kissed his former student lovingly on the nape of her neck. Though he'd spent much of the night grading the exam papers he'd managed to pull himself away for an hour or so when his lover had slipped into his room. Somehow she'd set up a transportation glyph that worked just for her, allowing her to enter his office through the door to the office closet. The only rest he'd managed had been a short hour or two of sleep after a quick but energetic session with his former student.
The cool night air caressed his sweat soaked skin as it blew through the open window. The brief gust toyed with the hem of Shinobu's dress, lifting it up to expose her light blue panties and the curve where her firm posterior intersected her leg. He couldn't help but watch the breathtaking beauty as she hastily fixed her hair and put on some lipstick.
"You're sure you don't want me to keep track of Tenma while you're gone?" she asked as she finally turned to look at him.
"Tenma's going to be visiting his uncle and aunt," Ranma replied as his feet found his pants. Expertly he managed to get a foot hold on the silky fabric before kicking the article of clothing into the air. Deftly he caught it before putting it back on.
Part of him wanted to tell her what he'd spoken to Takahata about, but he knew that he couldn't talk to her about it. It was a conversation between trusted friends and respected colleague and not something to be shared.
Just as in his dream, the scruffy blond had stopped by while Tenma was out with Luke. The reality of the situation was far different from that of his dream as the scruffy veteran teacher had come not to check up on his friend, but to consult with him about his own relationship. It had been a week or so since Takahata had admitted to Ranma that he was not in love with Naru but was in fact in love with Asuna.
Ranma shook his head, clearing it of those unwanted thoughts.
"I won't be by tonight," Shinobu declared as she grabbed her things and carefully placed them back in her duffle bag. "I've got a study group tonight."
The raven haired man nodded as the blunette walked over to him, lovingly kissing him on the lips before opening the door to the closet. "I've got exams to grade."
A mischievous gleam in her eyes accompanied her delightful smile as she glanced back at him. Wordlessly she vanished into the dark closet, closing the door behind her and teleporting away.
With a sigh he turned back to his task at hand. Though he'd finished grading all of the papers the immortal teacher had not pieced together his lesson plan for the coming week. Not that the boys would be focused on anything but the coming break of course, but he needed to be professional about it.
Glancing at the calendar, he wondered how he would broach the subject of Asuna to Tenma. As a father he was uncertain what limits to set on his cybernetic son, but considering how he'd been when he'd been that age he was fairly certain he could trust Tenma to be alone with the girls. Well, maybe not. He had hoped that the cyborg would follow his lead and not start a personal relationship with his student, but if he were any indication than the possibility remained that Asuna might leave after her duel with the older Saotome just to remove that conflict.
As much as he didn't want to, Ranma knew that he had to quickly stamp out any personal relationship between Asuna and Tenma. The question remained though – how to do it? It was a question that he pondered much of the day as he administered the English exam or allowed his students to have free study for their pending exam. It wasn't until the final bells chimed that he realized how quickly the day flew by.
With his primary duties finished he headed back home. Reacting and acting on impulse he went through the motions of preparing the dojo for his students. Slipping into something more comfortable he waited for his students to arrive. It wasn't until he glanced up at the clock that he realized it would be a long wait before they arrived as many had after school activities or club sports.
Heading into the kitchen he found himself cooking a light meal as he waited for his students. The gentle rapping at the front door startled him from his thoughts and cooking, "One minute."
Before he could even set the wok aside he hear the sound of a key unlocking the front door. A sense of dread filled him as he heard the door open and then close hastily. The ring of solid wood connecting with solid wood greeted his ears. "Naru?"
"Ranma." Her voice trembled as she called out to him.
The auburn beauty practically staggered into the kitchen as she followed his voice and the smell of his cooking. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her so disheveled.
Against her running mascara and the glistening tears in her eyes the immortal martial artist was powerless. All he could do was stand there as she ran to him, embracing him. He could feel her heart pounding, the moisture of her tears soaked through his immaculate shirt, as she clung to him.
"I broke up with Takahata."
He blinked. "What?"
"I broke up with Takahata," she repeated.
"O-kay," he muttered as he hesitantly put his arms around her.
"He's not in love with me," she sobbed. "He only thought he was."
For a moment they stood there, neither saying anything. For a moment the former lovers shared a moment of immense intimacy as one laid bare her soul to the other. Words simply weren't needed as their bond transcended anything that could be shared in any language.
"Thanks," the auburn haired beauty sighed as she pushed away from him. "I needed that."
"Anytime," he replied.
"I ruined your shirt," she stated as she dabbed at the remaining tears in her eyes.
The raven haired immortal simply shrugged. "I've got plenty, and it'll wash out."
Her vulnerability only made her all the more alluring as it reminded him of their rocky past as well as the promise he had made to her. "You know what'll make you feel better?"
"Kicking some ass," she smirked as she finished wiping away her tears. "Just let me change first."
Turning his attention back to the freshly made stir fry he glanced up at the clock. It wouldn't be long before the first of his students arrived. By the time Naru returned he'd finished half of the food, leaving her the other half.
"So," the auburn beauty asked as she took the plate, "what's the plan today?"
"Sparring," he grinned as he led her towards the dojo.
"But we always spar."
"Not like this," he replied, his wicked grin slowly moving to his eyes as an evil glimmer of light appeared. Casually he led her through the dojo and out the back door to the dojo.
"When did you do this?" she muttered as she took in the field.
The vast yard was now split in two by a tall, solid wood fence to her right. The shallow incline remained as the yard flowed away from the building, but nearly fifteen meters away stood several recently planted bamboo plants.
"Tenma's got some free time," the raven haired immortal stated. "But I made a few changes here and there. Beyond the bamboo forest there's a clearing with some pools and bamboo poles and another clearing filled with tree stumps. I used the wood from the trees to make a fence that separates the yard from the dojo."
Pleased with himself, Ranma looked down on the field with a growing sense of pride.
"Don't you think that they might not be ready for this?" his companion asked, slightly taken back by everything before her.
"That's why I insisted that Ako come here," he replied. "She's not an actual nurse, but she seems to know her stuff. Besides, I'm here, and Tenma's nearly as good as I was when I was his age."
"But you never"
"Actually, I did get this far with Shinobu," he interrupted. "A few weeks into her training I had her run across a field of stumps, going from stump to stump, cooking food on both ends of the field."
Naru scanned her memories, trying to recall anything that might give away when that had actually happened. "That's insane."
"It's not even half as bad as some of the stuff I had to do when I was training under my pops," Ranma shrugged.
X X X X X
A nervous excitement was in the air as a majority of the students prepared for their various national competitions. With the end of the spring term and the impending summer break in sight many students were justifiably unfocused for the final week of the term. Try as he might, Ranma just couldn't hold it against them for being so undisciplined. He'd been that way back then too, though for completely different reasons.
As busy as he was with his lessons, exams and summer homework to plan and assign as well as with the dojo Ranma couldn't help but feel a bit relieved when the final bell tolled, ending the spring term. For the next five weeks he'd be free from his responsibilities as a teacher.
Grabbing his pack, he immediately set off for the girls' junior high school. Warm July air greeted him as he exited the building as a playful breeze crossed the open grounds of the boys' junior high school. Waving at a handful of students as he blew by them, Ranma made good time, meeting up with his companions for his international trip.
"Ranma," the auburn haired beauty greeted as she exited the girls' junior high school.
"Uncle."
"Naru, Haruna," he greeted as he waved at them. "You two ready?"
"What's the rush?" Narusegawa teased as Ranma finally came to a stop.
"It's a twelve hour flight, plus there's an hour of waiting before we even board the plane," the raven haired man stated. "Even with the time difference we'll just make it to London for the midnight release."
"You know," the shortest of the three said as she looked up at her uncle, "if we waited at a book store here we'd only have to wait another eight hours."
The immortal scowled as he eyed his niece.
"They're even releasing the English version of the book," the mangaka pointed out.
"Yeah," Ranma muttered, "but since I was going to be in Europe anyways I figured I might as well get the books while I was out there."
"Books?" Naru remarked.
Beaming with pride, the immortal grinned. "I ordered three copies."
Though he put up a brave front, Ranma couldn't help but feel a bit nervous as the trio of travelers made their way to the airport. As excited as he was to read the newest Harry Potter book the immortal knew that the real reason for his trip was to bring his son back to Japan - a son that he hadn't seen in over four months.
The collection of Harry Potter books on CD by his side helped calm him, though it paled when compared to the effect that practicing the art had. Then again, he really couldn't leap around a flying airplane or even in the terminal as he waited to board the plane. This particular collection was in English, but he also had one in German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and French. He'd ordered three of each version to help improve his command of each language – one to use as a text book, one to read, and one on CD for the times when he traveled.
Still, the long flight would definitely try his patience. Never before had he remained seated for such a long time.
X X X X X
London. What was there to say about the historic city that hadn't already been said? Though it was his first time in London, he couldn't help but be awestruck by all the sights, even if it was hard for him to see past all the taller people around him. Gazing up at the multitude of tall but not towering buildings in the city he couldn't help but feel moved by the tradition and majesty of the city.
Unfortunately he wasn't in London to do any sightseeing. Not that the middle of the night was the best time to be touring the city. With a week left before they returned to Japan there was certainly time for them to explore London and England later. Right now he had to find the place he was supposed to meet his escort, a task made all the harder by the fact that he couldn't see past the throng of people around him.
It felt strange really. Back in Japan he'd never thought about his height outside of a spar or fight. Then again it didn't really matter when one ran across the roofs or on the fence, but lost in the midst of the sea of people the immortal master martial artist felt misplaced and isolated.
Even the train and subway system in England felt vastly different than they did back in Japan. Though many of the people he'd run across did seem to be very much the ideal of the English Gentleman and the English Lady as they helped direct the trio of Japanese travelers to the quiet suburb that they were to be staying in. It almost made up for the fact that he couldn't jump from roof to roof, though he had come to learn that such behavior was rude and disrespectful of the owners of the house/fence that he'd run/walked on.
*We're here,* he stated.
The two story red brick building appeared plain and ordinary next to the recently renovated or newly built buildings around the district. Faded bricks, lose shingles and a crumbling chimney made it appear unkempt and forgotten. Only the pale white lamp in the yard suggested that there was someone home waiting for the road wiry travelers.
"This is it?" Haruna asked.
"Why didn't we come here first?" the fiery auburn haired woman demanded as she leaned against the younger girl.
"I had to get the book," Ranma stated, the book in question currently in his left hand.
"What is it with you and Harry Potter?" Haruna muttered as she stifled a yawn.
The immortal simply shrugged. "We'll be staying here," he stated as he approached the door. Without even reaching for the knob the door opened, allowing the trio of wiry travelers into the overlooked building.
An empty room greeted them, though Ranma noted that the light in the yard faded away once they were all inside. Without any obvious reason the front door closed behind Naru, startling the two women.
*Ranma,* a familiar voice called out.
*Wilhelm,* the immortal greeted. *Naru, Haruna, this is our host, Count Wilhelm Herrman.*
*It's a pleasure to meet you,* the demon in human form smiled. "Your rooms are down the hall."
"Thank you," Naru said with a tired, grateful bow.
"Thank you," Haruna repeated.
The immortal and the demon locked eyes for a moment, an uneasy air between them. "Hiro's in the room at the end of the hallway. He's asleep right now, but I'm sure you'll be able to catch up with him in the morning."
X X X X X
The warm golden light of day filled the office, highlighting the dusty shelves that lined the spacious room for the three individuals gathered. For the first time in a long time the ancient magi sat back in his plush chair, a look of true concern on his weathered face as he eyed his second in command and his trusty right hand man.
"You're certain that it's her?" the scruffy blond asked as he scrutinized the packet of pictures in his hand.
"Yes," the old man replied as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on the oak desktop. "That's clearly Evangeline, but the other two…"
"Red heads, but no one I've run across," his second in command stated. As one of the proud Shinmeiryu swordswomen, Toko Kuzunoha was an expert at hunting the creatures of the night. "If they're using magic then it's nothing like anything I've ever seen before."
The scruffy blond glanced up at her, then back at the photos in his hands. "If only Ranma were here," he muttered. "He's the master of illusions."
"Saotome?" Toko scoffed.
Dean Konoe nodded, "He's more than just a simpleminded martial artist. Your own mistress attests that despite his rank he exceeds her own ability. Even Eishun and Tsuruko profess that he possesses a cunning mind that is well versed in more than just the physical arts."
Reprimanded, Toko bowed her head. Though she knew Ranma and often worked with him, she knew that she lacked a personal relationship with the immortal master martial artist. The fact that he'd been intimate with the current leader of the Shinmeiryu had meant that others from the Shinmeiryu would not involve themselves personally with him or his associates. Even the handful of males in the Shinmeiryu couldn't bring themselves to befriend him for fear of incurring the wrath of either the current leader or the two previous leaders.
"They always strike at the full moon," Dean Konoe stated. "But recently their number has increased to three. I want to find out who she is and why she's involved with Evangeline."
Both Toko and Takahata nodded.
"It's another three weeks until the next full moon," the Dean stated. "Ranma should be back by then, and so will Springfield's son. I think it's more important that Ranma protect Negi than get involved with the investigation."
"I thought we were going to have Negi keep the fact that he's a magi secret from anyone not in the Association," Toko interjected.
The blond shot the raven haired woman a curious look.
"Everyone knows that Saotome's a wild card," she explained. "He even sent his son to be taught by a demon for three years."
"Yes," Dean Konoe muttered, "he'll be busy keeping his son in line too."
Sighing, the old man closed his eyes for a moment as he contemplated his options. "Tell the Sisters to strengthen the barrier," he ordered. "When Negi arrives I'll put a charm on him personally, that should keep Eva from hurting him until he can defend himself from her."
"Why no ask that Ranma instruct him?" Takahata suggested. "He doesn't have to teach Negi magic, but if he can learn some of the art from Ranma he'll be better prepared for her when she comes after him. Besides, he'll have three students learning beside him."
Silence filled the room as the Dean considered Takahata's idea. "It has some merit to it… Fine, inform Saotome when he gets back."
"Will we tell him about Evangeline?" Toko asked.
"Not yet," the Dean muttered. "He's supposed to focus on his primary task of being a teacher first. Hopefully once he's proved that he's capable of dealing with that and being a mage he should be ready to deal with Evangeline. We just have to make sure she's not feeding on anyone with power.
"Tell Professor Akashi to update his list of all the students with magical ability. I want them all to be informed of the danger they're in without giving away the fact that we've got the a wanted criminal in their midst."
X X X X X
Pale golden light crept in through the window as the light of the coming dawn seeped through the cloudy sky, illuminating the young boy's light brown hair for the young man seated in the chair beside the bed.
'He looks nothing like me,' Ranma mused as he took in his son's visage. It wasn't the first time that he questioned the boy's looks if not his origin, nor would it be the last. 'I wonder who his mother is. Was she just some girl who wanted a child? Or was she a martial artist? Could he have sunk so low as to simply created a person with the cursed water?'
Watching as the blankets rose and fell with each breath Ranma couldn't help but smile at the ten year old boy as he slept. Despite his doubts he couldn't help but feel comforted by the fact that there would be someone to carry on the family name when he felt it was time to finally move on.
*You stayed up all night,* a deep yet smooth voice declared. *And don't tell me that it was because you were reading that book. Even you can't read in the dark.*
*Brail?* he teased.
The well groomed man stood silently. *Your boy is talented.*
*I'll have to break him out of his habit of just boxing,* Ranma corrected.
*It's a noble art,* Wilhelm countered.
*It's only one of the many that he'll learn.*
X X X X X
Though the sunlight warmed her skin, she felt unusually cold inside. For the past few months Mahora had been her home. But for the first time since she'd moved here the blunette felt lonely. Perhaps that was why her mistress insisted that she go somewhere with her fellow college students over the summer break. Yet the prospect of going off to enjoy the start of the summer with her peers and classmates just didn't seem to be as fun and enjoyable to her. Not as fun as a trip to Europe would have been.
With a heartfelt sigh the blunette glanced back at the world tree, the most visible landmark in Mahora, as she stepped onto the train.
Though she'd formed many bonds since leaving the Hinata Sou, she knew that the only way to deepen and strengthen those bonds was to put more effort into establishing them. This trip would just be one of the many that she'd probably take in her time as a college student.
X X X X X
'Bodies in motion tend to stay in motion, or something like that,' the raven haired immortal though with a satisfied smile as he deftly avoided a swift punch.
Few of those who claimed to know him truly understood the importance of the Art and its impact on Ranma Saotome's life. It was more than just a guideline for his personal code of honor or a formula for how to deal with or react in certain situations – the Art was his life.
While most practitioners would feel good after a good work out (because the endorphins released helped one feel better or happier) the Art did more than that. Though he was capable of clearing his mind of all his worldly concerns, it was through the Art that he was able to focus on any of his multitude of issues and concerns and thus find a reasonable solution to his problems. With his blood pumping and his body running on automatic he was capable of solving any problem that he was presented with be it a personal problem, a challenge brought on by an opponent, or even an advance physics equation. Unfortunately getting up and practicing the Art in the middle of an exam was strongly discouraged, and doing so in the middle of defending a thesis was frowned upon.
But the Art allowed him to do much more than just think, it allowed him to communicate without having to carefully articulate an argument.
Few who had known him in Nerima would have thought that he possessed the mental aptitude to be proficient in another language, yet he'd mastered several different languages. Few thought he'd be just as capable of winning a debate as he was a physical fight, but he'd proven everyone wrong. Ranma Saotome hadn't chosen to teach another language because he loved learning or teaching those languages – no, he'd become a linguistics teacher so that he could better communicate with others.
Looking back at his time in Nerima, Ranma could honestly say that he had been at fault for many of the things that had happened. Had he simply stood his ground on various issues some of the incidents might not have happened. Had he been able to speak without putting his foot in his mouth he might have avoided some of the hits that Akane had walloped him with.
It was only against the likes of Ryoga, Kuno, and Mousse that he'd been able to convey his unspoken thoughts and emotions as he fought against them, though it only occurred a few times out of the seemingly hundreds of times that they'd fought. Still, as masters of their art they'd been able to bond with him. Sure, most of the time they were willing to throw him under the bus or stab him in the back just to win over the affections of whomever it was that they liked, but hey, all's fair in love and war.
The strange comrade that they shared as fellow masters of their style had bound them together none the less.
It was the same type of bond that Ranma was currently seeking to build with his youngest son as he sidestepped a punch from the brunette boy before him.
"You're throwing your entire body into the punch," he stated as he assessed his son's attack. "You're telegraphing it way too soon." Expertly he countered with a swift poke to the boy's ribs. "And you leave yourself vulnerable to a counter for far too long."
Hiro shrugged off the half-hearted attack, pulling his extended arm back before assuming his boxer's stance.
Swift jabs peppered the air, forcing the older and taller Saotome back.
The experienced immortal didn't doubt for one second that had his son been able to connect with any of the multitude of punches that Hiro would have been able to knock someone out, but Ranma wasn't like everyone else. Despite his son's surprisingly quick hand speed, it was clear that the gap between them was insurmountable. And yet Hiro was undeterred, relentlessly throwing swift punches at his father's retreating form.
As a father Ranma couldn't help but feel an immense sense of pride as he danced around his son's attacks. With each passing moment the boy was adapting and improving, forcing his father to adjust just to stay ahead of him.
'He's better than I was at his age,' the immortal master surmised as he dodged his son's attacks. 'Now if only he'd learn to use another style. Still, I managed to learn several styles in Japan when I was his age.'
With casual ease he floated around a right cross to left uppercut combo before lashing out with a swift sweep, knocking his son off his feet and sending him tumbling into the dirt.
"You're such a bully uncle," Haruna snipped.
Ranma watched as his niece approached the boy and attempted to help him to his feet. Stubbornly Hiro shook his head, refusing to accept any assistance before springing to his feet.
"Wanna try your hand at him?" Ranma asked, a knowing grin on his face.
Haruna quickly shook her head, answering him.
"At least show him some kicks," Ranma ordered.
"I think Narusegawa-sensei is better suited for that," she replied.
"She's not an instructor," he countered.
He could see the trepidation in his niece as she eyed the youngest Saotome.
"Why don't you have some breakfast first," another voice interjected.
The three Saotomes looked up at the auburn haired beauty standing in the doorway.
Grateful to not have to instruct, Haruna nodded, "Why don't we try the local cuisine for breakfast?"
X X X X X
Cool, dry, dusty air filled the cavernous room, a stark contrast to the hot, humid, fluid air on the other side of the insulated concrete wall. Though the building protected the books from the weather and the air, it failed to protect them from the misuse at the hands of the youthful students that frequented the building and the island.
Summer break left the island and the library virtually empty. Even the dedicated members of the Library Exploration Club were lured away from the countless volumes of books by the fair weather and merry atmosphere of the beaches and market places.
Despite the weather, or perhaps because of it, two figures stood alone in the spacious room.
"This is all the data they have in the library about Shinma?" the tiny vampire scoffed.
"Yes Mistress," the redheaded girl stated. "I did just as you instructed and took all the volumes with any mention of vampires and Shinma and replaced them with the false books."
The platinum blond smirked. "We'll keep playing it safe for now," Evangeline stated, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "She's proven to be a better catch than I expected and I won't let her get away just yet."
The redhead bowed her head. Despite her token display of obedience the gynoid turned human couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Loyalty to her mistress superceded any loyalty she had to the blunette, even if Shinobu happened to be her mistress' newest partner. Bound as she was to the tiny vampire she knew that she knew that she was supposed object to any of her mistress' wishes, yet doubt began to well inside of her.
Still, it wasn't as if her mistress was harming Shinobu, not yet at least.
X X X X X
The cavernous building felt cold and sterile to the young man as he scanned the empty interior. A scant few hours ago the empty seats had been filled with observers taking in the competition, their polite applause filling the stadium as they encouraged the young women gathered from throughout the country.
"I should have done better," the petite pinkette beside him exclaimed.
"You were an alternate for the Mahora squad," the raven haired boy stated. "You did better than anyone expected you to do. Besides, it's your first time on the national stage, everyone gets nervous."
"Saotome-sensei doesn't," the girl pouted.
Tenma could only scoff at her claim. "There's so much you don't know about my old man," he sighed. "Even when he was our age he wasn't perfect, and he's definitely not perfect now. Just as long as you did your best.
"Besides, you did the best of all the Mahora girls here – and you only earned your spot here as an alternate. Think of how much better you'll be next year."
Tentatively she nodded. Though disappointed at having been eliminated after the second round of cuts, it was clear that the Mahora squad had shown significant improvement when compared to how their representatives had faired the previous year. "Thank you."
An unexpected warmth radiated from her lips as she smiled, spreading to the cyborg's face and chest as he stood mere centimeters away from her. "Um," he stammered unexpectedly, "you're wel"
The feel of soft lips pressed against his abruptly silenced him as the petite gymnast stood on her tiptoes to make up for the difference in their height.
"come," he finished as she suddenly pulled away. Blinking, he watched as the strawberry blond Asuna retreated. Startled by the unexpected kiss, he barely processed the fact that it had been Makie who had initiated the kiss but it was Asuna who had broken it.
The warmth of her lips remained on his now hot lips as he found himself touching his own lips.
Cold water rained down on his head, drenching him.
"Sorry," the familiar voice of his primary student cried out.
The feel firm hands dabbing away the remnants of the spilt juice with a cloth quickly woke the slumbering cyborg.
"It's alright," Tenma muttered as he checked his internal clock and GPS. 'I've been asleep for 89 minutes,' he mused. 'We're almost in Tokyo.'
"Finally up dude," the scrawny blond boy said with a smirk.
"Long night," the cyborg stated. "I had to see the old man and Haruna to the airport."
"Why didn't he take you with him?" Asuna interjected as she finished wiping the juice off of his face.
Tenma shrugged. "I didn't want to go."
"But you brother"
"I've never met him," Tenma interjected, cutting off Konoka. "I figure dad needs some time with Hiro before he introduces us."
"What kind of father would do that to his sons?"
Tenma knew that Asuna had a grudge against his father. As an orphan she felt that family was important and the idea that the Saotome family was so distant was simply alien to her. Never mind that Tenma really wasn't Ranma's son and was more of a mechanical clone or the fact that Hiro, Ryoko, and Akira each had different mothers (and that Ranma had given his other children to his best friend to raise as his own). No, the Saotome family was far from typical, but Tenma had resolved to keep those secrets within the family.
"I know," Asuna sighed, "you hate talking about your family, but it's just…"
"Different," he finished. "We're not normal – individually or as a whole."
He didn't have to see the chocolate haired Konoka's hand on her fiery roommate's arm to know or understand why Asuna had gone silent and not pressed the issue. It really wasn't a conversation to have in the middle of a crowded train though, but the hotheaded girl didn't always understand that some conversations weren't meant to be discussed just anywhere. In a way it was endearing, yet completely frustrating at the same time as well as it reminded him a bit too much of his 'father' and of his father's first and second loves.
"Can't you two keep it in today?" Luke asked as he inserted himself in the conversation. "We're here to support Makie and the other members of the Rhythmic Gymnastics team from Mahora, not settle your lovers' quarrel."
The usually stubborn strawberry blond turned a shade of red as the other members of 2-A present moved to obstruct her should she decide to give in to her desire to pummel the lanky blond boy.
"It looks like you've managed to impress upon her Sensei's teachings," the werewolf said with a smirk as he retreated behind his girlfriend for good measure. "Or is it the way you're teaching her?"
Tenma lashed out with the wet cloth, planting it squarely on the taller boy's forehead with a casual flick of his wrist. "Like you said, we're here to support Makie and the others."
X X X X X
An all encompassing warmth flooded her entire body and being despite the hazy sky overhead. What she felt had nothing to do with the weather around her, no, it was something she felt as she watched Ranma and Hiro spar.
It was moments like these that she realized just how much the art mattered to her former lover. For all his preaching about how the art allowed him to transcend various barriers the former gravure model rarely believed him. Though she was an artist herself she but a novice singer compared to Ranma as her own songs did little more than sooth her handful of fans. Watching as Ranma and Hiro reconnected through their art she couldn't help but feel inadequate.
That was why she'd broken up with him in the first place, why she'd tried to force Motoko on him as a substitute for herself all those years ago after she'd discovered his curse. Ranma was more than just a master at his art, he was a master piece while she was just a broken, confused girl. Like a master piece he would withstand the test of time while her songs would be forgotten in a few more months at best.
"You love him," a gentle voice intruded.
"That's why I can't be with him," the auburn haired beauty said clearly and confidently as though she were trying to convince herself more than she was Haruna.
"I know about the curse," the mangaka stated, "and the illusions - everything."
"Then you know why I can't be with him."
The mischievous mangaka smirked, "If there's one thing I've learned about Uncle it's that anything is possible if you set your mind to it."
"But that's Ranma," Naru countered. "He's the one who can do anything while everyone else just tries their best not to be left too far behind."
"Then why did you come here?"
The math teacher smiled sadly, "Someday you'll understand."
"Why?" the younger girl demanded. "Because I'm just a girl?"
Naru shook her head, "Because you haven't been in love before."
X X X X X
Though they were only a few train stops away from the Tokyo the reality of the significance from life in the quant and peaceful Mahora and the bustling metropolis was evident in the constant hum of traffic and bustle of the hurried crowds. Awe-inspiring skyscrapers loomed overhead at every step cutting a distinct skyline for the young travelers.
Unfortunately for the group they had little time to enjoy the sights as they were intent on supporting their friends and classmates. Outside of the arena, the hotel, and the short walk that connected the two sites the gathered teens had yet to see anything of the city, something that was about to change today.
"Don't be so down," the lilac haired girl said as she tried to cheer her best friend and roommate up.
"Yeah," the chocolate haired girl chimed in, "you made it to the third round and managed to earn the highest score in the ribbon."
Their words of comfort echoed eerily in the cyborg's ears as he walked ahead of them.
"I'm no expert," the strawberry blond beside him muttered in a hushed tone, "but after the work Saotome-sensei put her through I expected her to win."
Tenma's blue eyes met Asuna's fake blue ones before he glanced at Makie. "She's good, but she's nowhere near in my old man's league. This is the first time Makie's made it to this level of competition; for her first time she did pretty well. She'll do better next time."
"Hey," Luke interjected, "why don't we enjoy the pool today? It's not like we have anything else to do today and leaving now would put our rooms to waste."
"Ooh," several girls exclaimed.
"That's a good idea," Asakura seconded, a suspicious grin on her face.
"But some of us didn't pack swimsuits," Makie protested.
"The hotel store sells some," Konoka suggested. "There are also a few stores around that sell them."
Asakura nodded. "Shopping and going to the pool with boys is the best way to leave your worries behind."
X X X X X
Despite his own apprehension, Ranma found the days in England quickly melting away as he became better acquainted with his son through the art. But it wasn't just the physical arts that he and the others used to help bridge the gap between the displaced boy and themselves.
Naru's love of music and singing combined with Hiro's quick aptitude and keen mind and ears brought the boy closer to the former idol as she played the piano or flute. It was her music and not the hours upon hours of intense sparring that would lull Hiro to sleep at night.
And it was Haruna's art that entertained him when he sought to engage his mind in matters not related to the martial arts. Her clever stories weren't limited to just manga, though they often resembled bits from her favorite stories. But her stories weren't just fictional. Though often unabashed and shameless, Haruna was able to tell little Hiro about his extended family as well as her stiff uncle in a way that his years of studying other languages couldn't begin to do. As articulate as he could be, he couldn't open up to the boy about everything without coming off as a bit too gruff or arrogant. Perhaps it was because of the example that Genma had set with him, something he'd failed to realized he'd done with Tenma until he'd finally seen how relaxed Hiro was with his cousin.
"I guess that's what it means to be a father," the gentle voice of his former lover exclaimed.
Ranma couldn't help but smile at her assessment. For the first time since he'd known that he was a father the immortal martial artist felt proud. He couldn't help but feel grateful to be sharing such an intimate moment with Naru. The feel of her soft yet firm hand in his own as she leaned against him sent a warmth through his arm that flooded his entire being. "I guess I really am taking after my old man. Just stop me if you see me rounding up some cats."
Naru smirked, "I'm sure Haruna's already told him about that particular incident. I know she's told him not to even bring any cat around as possible pets."
Despite himself Ranma smirked. Though it had been awhile since he'd gone Neko, he still flinched whenever a cat came too close to him. "Tomorrow's our last day here," he stated, shifting the subject.
The auburn haired beauty nodded. "Then we fly back to Japan. Too bad we didn't get to see too much of London."
Ranma shrugged. "We've got all of tomorrow before we meet up with Negi Springfield."
"Negi," she muttered. "It doesn't sound English."
He smirked. "Yeah, it sounds more Japanese."
They stood there for a few more minutes, enjoying the intimacy and closeness of the special moment, watching as Haruna showed Hiro her drawings.
"It looks like he's getting tired," she stated.
"Thank you," he muttered before releasing her hand.
He watched as the auburn beauty entered the room.
"We've got a long day tomorrow," she stated, reaching out her hand to take the young boy's.
The brunette boy nodded once before standing up. With his hand still in hers, he followed her out of the room and towards his bedroom. As they passed, Ranma reached out, ruffling his son's spiky hair even as he flashed the boy a warm smile. "Nite."
Though Hiro could have shied away from the contact, he stood his ground unflinchingly, enduring the playful and affectionate display impassively. "Good night."
X X X X X
Prior to his current trip to London, Ranma had never traveled as far west as England. The handful of times he'd come to Europe had brought him to Germany, Austria, and Norway, each country with a culture all their own. London was majestic city with a history and tradition that was completely unique. Had the circumstances been different the immortal traveler was sure that he would have been more interested in seeing the sights and exploring the foreign capital. With all that was going on with his son though Ranma had long ago decided that sightseeing was secondary.
Though Hiro seemed to open up during their sparring matches outside of it he was emotionless. It was only when he was listening to Naru sing or play music, or when Haruna shared her stories with him that he showed any emotion. Had he not known that Hiro was that way with the Count, Ranma might have found it unusual.
For the entire day Ranma found himself in the role of spectator as he watched Haruna and Naru lead Hiro around London on a tour of the various sights and historical buildings. The more he observed Hiro the more he wondered if the boy wasn't actually a cyborg like Tenma. Taking every opportunity presented to him the master martial artist employed his extensive knowledge of the human anatomy to scan the boy.
He could find no reason for Hiro's thus far unusual behavior. No cybernetic implants, demonic or supernatural influence – nothing could explain why Hiro appeared to be as cold and calculating as Tenma.
So focused on discovering the truth behind Hiro's behavior was he that the master of many arts failed to notice that there were others who had picked up on his own erratic behavior.
Slender fingers interlocked with his own as he watched his son systematically attack his dinner (burger and chips). The intimate touch was a stark contrast to the methodical destruction of Hiro as he consumed his meal, showing no joy or pleasure from partaking in the meal. True, the meal itself was uninspiring, but if there was one thing Ranma knew it was that all Saotomes enjoyed their food (unless it was horribly charred or completely inedible).
"I wonder who his mother was," the auburn haired woman pondered aloud as she dipped a chip into the ketchup on her plate with her other hand.
"I never met her," stated the youngest Saotome as he paused, an unusual flicker of emotion on his face as he paused mid-meal. "The doctor only told me about father."
Ranma inhaled deeply, unsure what to say or do. He wasn't sure how much time had passed but he found himself taking a bite of his cheese burger. The fact that he'd released Naru's hand had completely slipped his mind until he realized that he was using both hands to hold his food.
Following his lead, the others slowly finished the rest of their meal in silence.
"So," said Haruna as someone finally broke the silence, "when do we meet the new English teacher?"
"He's supposed to meet us here," explained Naru. "We'll actually meet him right before we board the airplane."
"What's he look like?" asked the curious girl.
"No idea," shrugged Ranma. "All we got was his name and that the Dean wants him to live with me since there aren't any rooms available at the dorm and no apartments open."
*Um,* a soft voice interjected. *You're Japanese, are you not?*
The quartet of travelers turned to look at the new speaker only to find a young boy roughly as old as Hiro. His brunette hair was shorter and better kept than Hiro's wild hair, and the crisp English he spoke as well as the way he held himself suggested that he'd learned proper manners, something that most Saotomes lacked.
*Yes,* replied Ranma. A quick glance around the area told him that they weren't the only Japanese group at the terminal as there were many others who were waiting for the flight from London to Tokyo.
A warm smile formed on the boy's face, spreading to his hazel eyes, "I'm looking for Ranma Saotome."
The boy's crisp Japanese surprised the immortal, prompting him to reevaluate the boy. Though he appeared to be no older than Hiro he was considerably shorter. The well groomed boy wore what was for him a long khaki trench coat that matched his khaki shorts, and the white button up shirt. Despite his age he appeared to be very much the ideal English gentleman. Only long the long staff strapped to his large back pack suggested that there was something more to him.
"You're Negi Springfield," concluded Ranma.
The boy's smile broadened. "I'm pleased to meet you Saotome-sensei. I was told to look for a distinguished Japanese man and a beautiful auburn haired woman."
Naru couldn't help but blush at the boy's obvious flattery. Clearly Takahata had been the one to contact Negi.
*I'm pleased to meet you Negi Springfield,* the immortal replied. *I am Ranma Saotome, and this is Naru Narusegawa. This is my son Hiro Saotome and my niece Haruna Saotome.*
*It's a pleasure to meet you*
*Call me Ranma,* instructed the immortal.
*Ranma,* bowed the polite boy.
'This is going to be a long term,' Ranma thought as he watched Negi exchange greetings with the others. 'He's clearly a mage, but Takahata didn't say anything about him being a kid or a mage. Just what the hell did I sign up for?'
X X X X X
A/N
I'll leave things here for now. Enjoy.
Dreamingfox