More than meets the eye (4/1/2008)
Author's notesMy humble apologies for not updating at Christmas or New Year. It's very late, but I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a Blessed New Year. May the Lord bless you and your families be blessed with peace, prosperity, good health and good careers for the year 2008.
He he he he, I better give you all a fair warning…. Do not read this chapter on an empty stomach. I will not be responsible for you all having gastric when you discover there's nothing in your house for you to eat to satiate the reading fest I'm about to feed you.
Sigh, after writing and writing, it seems like I still have a lot of loose ends to tie up, mainly relating to the fathers, Nabiki and Nodoka. While I'm not fond of them, the more I tried to ignore them, the more I realized how incomplete this story will be if I end without addressing that part of Ranma's life. After all, they are part of the main cast and I have to provide some closure. So it is with great regret (or is it delight?) that I say that this is not the epilogue.
Chapter 35: Closure Location: Kujukuri Beach, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu Island, JapanKasumi jaw dropped as she saw what was in front of her. "Oh my," she whispered, putting her hand to her mouth as she stepped out of a yellow Chevrolet Camaro. Ranma, Akane, Ryoga and Ukyo were similarly wide eyed but also grinning in delight.
In front of them was a huge mansion located in Kujukuri Beach, Chiba Prefecture. The approach to the house was a hidden road through a Japanese mountain pass surrounded by thick forests. Eventually they saw walls surrounding some sort of area and finally came to a gate where they saw their holiday getaway: a sprawling mansion with a huge driveway at the front and from Cologne's description, a private beach at the back.
Cologne smiled as she saw the astonished look on Kasumi's face. "Before you ask Kasumi, yes, it's all yours, mostly courtesy of the Chinese Government and the Amazon Elder Council."
"But Elder Cologne, I couldn't possibly….. I mean…. I didn't really do that much……." Kasumi stammered.
She heard a large series of mechanical transformations from behind her and then turned around to see Optimus Prime pinch the bridge of his nose in mild exasperation at Kasumi's humility.
"Kasumi, you helped established diplomatic relations with the Amazons, which in turn led to relations with the PRC, fought against the Decepticons, saved the lives of six Autobots including myself from death, destroyed Megatron's power tool, called down Autobot reinforcements in our hour of dire need, endured sexual harassment from a demented pervert to protect our secret, made the world a better place by strengthening diplomatic relations between America, Japan, China, Taiwan and Russia…….. oh, and you made Prowl smiled. Kasumi, if the Cybertronian empire still existed, I would have given you an entire continent on a paradise planet guarded day and night by Megatron."
"But still, I don't want to receive such a gift. Thanks to Cologne, the Tendo family already has enough money to last several generations, which seems so sinfully extravagant. Besides, what need have I for such a huge house?" Kasumi protested.
"Even if you don't, we certainly do. Kasumi, I ask that you take this gift for our sakes, so that we can have a place to rest and not always stay hidden in disguise, drinking petroleum most of the time," Optimus Prime pleaded.
In the end, Kasumi accepted the mansion graciously and the Autobots now had a new place in Japan to call home. It also served as a means for Kasumi to deliver on her promise. The mansion was currently the source of a cooking storm as she prepared a celebration feast for her friends.
Kasumi tasted the miso soup and smiled beautifully. It was almost perfect considering she had been out of practice for more than three months. She lowered the fire to keep the bowl of miso soup warm then turned to tend to the kitchen, which looked as though it had been nuked by Akane using one too many ingredients to boil water. Except this time, the huge number of meat, spices, fish, vegetables and fruits lying around the kitchen were actually organized rather than lying all over the place as was Akane's usual style. Even now the youngest Tendo daughter was still having a hard time keeping the kitchen clean when using it even though she no longer destroyed meals.
The kitchen door slid open and Akane poked her head through it. "Onee-chan, we're back! We've got the extra wasabi and soy sauce."
"Thank you Akane. Please put some wasabi on the sashimi boards and store the rest for later? Then start cutting up the vegetables. Ranma, start chopping up the radish please for the tempura sauce," she said as she fussed over another wok where a fresh batch of shell crab, bell peppers, sweet potato, yam, large shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots and okra made up most of the deep fried golden brown pieces known as Tempura that Kasumi periodically fished out of the wok. She carefully made sure that most of the oil was absorbed into a napkin before putting them into a large container in order to minimize the amount of oil left in the tempura.
Between Ranma and Akane, they had brought about 10 bottles of soy sauce and at least 1 kg of wasabi. They put the bags in a corner then proceeded to cut the vegetables. Most of them would be used as a western style salad but the Japanese Daikon Radish would be finely chopped then added. Already sliced and placed on at least fourteen huge wooden slabs, were mountains of sashimi. Each wooden slab had expertly arranged Sashimi, which consisted of a wide variety: Norwegian salmon, bluefin tuna, octopus tentacles, squid, prawns, shrimps, mackerel and yellow tail fish. Akane smiled as she put a tablespoon size serving of Wasabi on each slab: the orange and red colour of the salmon and tuna (maguro) had been arranged to recreate the Autobot symbol on top of the mountain of sashimi below it.
Kasumi finished taking out the batch of tempura she had cooked, which was the tenth batch so far. Nearby there was another nine containers filled with tempura. She then instructed Ranma and Akane to systematically split the tempura into fourteen enormous plates. Each plate was accompanied by a large salad bowl filled with tempura sauce, which Ranma had inserted grated White Daikon Radish at the end.
Kasumi, Ranma and Akane weren't the only ones busy in the large kitchen. Mousse and Shampoo, all of whom were quite adept cooks, had aided Kasumi in the majority of the sashimi preparations. In addition to the sashimi, there were an additional fourteen slabs of sushi of every kind. Each of them contained one variety of sushi that were the size of pillows; crab sticks, salmon, fish roe, mackerels, tamago (egg), soft-shell crab and others. One slab was special: on it was a pyramid of nine Inaris. The sushi on the last wooden slab was filled with much smaller human sized ones for its coming human guests.
Kasumi then quickly ran out of the kitchen into the backyard, were there were another fourteen portable stoves, each warming a huge pot of Oden, a Japanese winter dish consisting of several ingredients such as boiled eggs, daikon radish, konnyaku, and processed fish cakes stewed in a light, soy-flavoured dashi broth. Ukyo and Ryoga were minding the pots outside as there was simply not enough space in the kitchen to accommodate the additional stoves. Kasumi thanked God that she had enough kitchen hands to help her cook the feast. It wasn't easy to coordinate them together, the Nerima Wrecking Crew was still the Nerima Wrecking Crew but all in all, old hatreds and rivalries were conquered especially as they savoured the opportunity to taste Kasumi's cooking for the first time in months.
As she lifted the lid of one pot to take a taste of the soup, out of the corner of her eye she saw a dark shape reaching out for one of the pots. With unerring accuracy, she spun around and threw her ladle at the intruding thief.
Jazz yowled as the ladle which had just been used to stir piping hot Oden, hit his hand just as he was about to use the tip of his sword to spear a piece of tofu. He gulped as he saw Kasumi looking at him. At the moment, there was little that could differentiate the Japanese housewife from a mother tigress.
"Jaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……"
"Yeoh Kasumi, eeeeeehhhhh, ahhhhh, what's up doc?" Jazz said sheepishly as he slowly backed away from Kasumi who was walking towards him, hands on hips.
"OUT! OUT OF MY KITCHEN!"
He didn't need to be told a third time. He tore off as though a hundred Quintesson Sharkticons were after him, transforming into a Nissan Fairlady as soon as he reached the beach and promptly drove off.
Kasumi waited until she could no longer hear Jazz's engine then the angry look on her face melted away and she giggled. "Yep, I've still got my Prowl look," she said to herself. She then said apologetically to Jazz, "Sorry Jazz, but it really wouldn't do to spoil your appetite later." She turned around and returned to making sure the Oden was properly boiled and all the ingredients cooked.
Seeing that everything was in order, Kasumi wondered what else she had missed. Much of the food was already in the final stages of preparation. Then she smiled as from another part of the mansion, the sound of her favourite Autobot having a loud conversation with his mentor reached her ears. Smoothing out her apron (which despite all of her cooking, still remained relatively spotless), she left Ukyo and Ryoga to tend to the boiling Oden pots and went outside towards the beach.
The mansion was built facing inland and westward. The back of the mansion was facing the private beach, which looked towards the Pacific Ocean. The sea was calm and blue. A soothing sea wind blew from the east, which enveloped and cooled the entire area. Kasumi felt tempted to just take off her ribbon and clothes to go for a swim at the beach but knew there was no time. Besides, there would be plenty of time later and she was looking forward to see Kotaro in a swimming trunks….. she blushed and mentally slapped herself.
'Dear me, have I become like Happosai?' she thought to herself as she headed towards the dinner area.
In between the mansion and the beach, was a large field at least sixty by sixty feet in width. At the centre of the field, a massive round wooden table had been placed. The table was typical of a Japanese family who ate kneeling using a low table, except the table's height was at least man high at six feet tall. One side of the table had a raised wooden platform, on top of which were placed eleven cushions for its human occupant. At the other three sides of the table, there were ten huge mats, which were actually king-sized bed quilts placed for the ten huge party attendees that would be coming.
Two of them were currently setting up the table. Kasumi quickly hid herself behind a tree as she heard a discussion between her beloved yellow Autobot and his mentor.
"Kup, I really hate you for making me say this, but MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!" Bumblebee said as exasperatedly as he laid down table mats that were at least six feet by seven feet..
"Oh come on now Bumblebee, you can told your old uncle Kup everything. Come on, don't make me go ask Kasumi the details of your kiss, I'm sure she won't spare the details," Kup pestered him, smirking as he in turn, placed five-foot long chopsticks on the mat.
Bumblebee snorted. "Old uncle indeed, more like old slave driver. I still haven't forgiven you for the boot camp you put me through. Or the late night shift you always made me go through before the war."
"Hey! The boot camp is the only reason why you're alive today after facing Megatron THREE TIMES and those late nights was how you met Ariel anyway!"
Kup suddenly realized what he had just said and became horrified when Bumblebee suddenly stopped doing his work. Kasumi was shocked as Bumblebee took on a melancholy expression but for some reason, didn't dare move from behind the tree.
Kup stopped what he was doing for a moment and walked towards Bumblebee. "Bumblebee, I am not going to doubt over your feelings for Kasumi. Every Autobot and I know how much you care about her. If getting yourself cursed to be one of her race isn't a sacrifice of love, I don't know what is. But I must be blunt about this: have you laid down Ariel's ghost to rest? Kasumi has already gone through enough without having the shadow of an ex-girlfriend hanging over your relationship."
Bumblebee didn't answer for a while. Then he said, "The truth is, yes. Five thousand years is a long time Kup, but I did manage let go of her. Hell, I even managed to forgive Prowl for what he did so. But Kup, I'll be damned if I forgot Ariel completely. She was my first love and I will forever honour the memory of it."
Kup nodded but continued, "That being said, don't you think Kasumi should know more of your life first? As far as I know, you haven't really told her anything of our old lives on Cybertron before the war, or even the years in between. This may be the most valuable advice I'm imparting to you lad: never keep secrets from your partner. All your lovey-dovey stuff that's going on now is fine but I suggest you start telling her seriously about yourself: she deserves to know EVERYTHING about you as much as you know about her. I have no doubt that no matter who you were, she would accept you and love you still."
The yellow Autobot sighed. "Although I haven't told her in person, she has already seen glimpses of my life, both before and during the war. She already knows about Ariel, Kup. Either the Matrix or her God revealed it to her. Fine, I haven't told her the details but she does know the overview of my life. And I've already made it clear to Kasumi: I love her as she is, not as a substitute for Ariel."
Kasumi's clutched her apron where her heart was as she remembered her time in the Matrix. Witnessing accounts of Bumblebee's life, hearing his declaration in a place where no untruths could be said. She had always known it wasn't a dream but somehow, to hear Bumblebee actually say it in the waking world magnified the love she felt for him, Autobot or human form. Despite all their differences, it never failed to surprise her that the Autobots, at least in terms of emotions, were more human than machine.
She heard Kup sigh. "Well if what you said is true, then I can't say much. Still, she will need to know more of your Autobot side just as you need to learn more of her human side. Transparency, confession and trust are absolutely necessary for any relationship to work out. Starting from now on, do not keep any secrets from her. There will be disagreements Bumblebee, but as long as both of you remember your first love of each other, then the disagreements will only make both of you stronger. That's the problem with many failed marriages: they think they will leave happily ever after only to discover that life isn't a bed of roses. For you and her, it will be the same. Especially when you are an alien from outer space, curse notwithstanding."
Bumblebee chuckled. "I don't know Kup, I always get the impression from Kasumi that I'm sexy even in Autobot form judging by the way she always caress me from before."
Kasumi blushed but couldn't deny it. She had always thought that Bumblebee had a classic human body builder muscle structure as opposed to Jazz's lean athletic form. If she let her imagination run wild, she could even describe him as a yellow strapping Viking.
"Primus has blessed you indeed since the day you were created. Now come, I don't want to delay dinner any longer than necessary. I just hope Prime, Elita and Cologne finished their business in Tokyo according to schedule and make it back in time."
"Hmmmmmm, better get Kasumi to call them up just in case. I'm sure she is quite anxious to hear how the negotiations are going on. Let's just get the table done then go to the kitchen," Bumblebee said.
Kasumi quickly walked back to the kitchen. She made a mental note to discuss her eavesdropping with Bumblebee later. After all, she would be a hypocrite if she didn't follow Kup's own advice of transparency.
If everybody in the kitchen were less busy than they already were, they would have noticed Kasumi not only smiling brighter than usual but also softly singing and almost dancing across the kitchen as she ran a final check on the Nerima Cooking Crew. After a while, she retreated to a large study room, which also doubled as a library to give a call to Optimus Prime.
Instead of telephoning the Autobot leader, she went to what looked like a wall mounted 42 inch LCD TV, punched in a series of codes at the side panel, which bore no resemblance to human letters or numbers but more like alien runes. A short time later, Optimus Prime face appeared on the TV screen.
"Hello Kasumi. Is everything alright?" Optimus asked solemnly. The Autobot leader still had his perpetual solemn look as though the fate of the galaxy rested on his shoulders. The times when he smiled and laughed were still rare and far in between but Kasumi wouldn't have it any other way.
"Hello Optimus. I just wanted to ask if you would be in time for dinner or not. We're almost done already, I plan to ask Hound to give all of you a lunch bell call in about fifteen minutes time," she said sweetly.
He smiled. "I wouldn't miss it for all the Energon in the galaxy. Yes we will be back on schedule Kasumi. And before you ask, all is well."
This made Kasumi excited. "Really Optimus? Does that mean…."
"Now now Kasumi, don't ruin my dinner speech or Cologne's."
Now it was the Tendo sister who was more excited to hear Prime's news than the Autobots were excited to eating Kasumi's feast. "Please hurry Optimus, I can hardly wait!"
Prime chuckled. "Soon Kasumi. As they say on your world, good things come to those who wait."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM! PPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
All of the Nerima Cooking Crew stopped what they were doing when they heard the familiar blare of a Peterbilt Carrier. Kasumi squealed in delight and quickly went to the study. Turning on the TV monitor and flipping a few buttons, the monitor connected to several CCTVs that were hidden along the road and showed all approaching traffic into the mansion. She smiled as she saw the large convoy of vehicles led by a Peterbilt Carrier truck. She then pressed another button on the screen, which opened the gates and quickly ran out of the mansion.
A Peterbilt Carrier, a premium SUV Volvo XC90, a van-like ambulance and a Mitsubishi Pajero 4X4 rolled into the driveway. As they rolled to a stop, Elder Cologne, her father Tendo Soun, Tendo Nabiki, Saotome Genma, and Saotome Nodoka stepped out of the Volvo XC90, the latter four gawking at the lavish mansion that had been gifted to Tendo Kasumi. From the Pajero 4X4, Peterbilt Carrier and ambulance, a small guard of ten Amazons and another Elder she only knew as Elder Lux Shold Der came out. All the Amazons save the Elders she noticed were armed to the teeth. As she saw the bruises on Saotome Genma, she could only imagine what the Saotome Patriarch had done to incur their wrath. And by Cologne's expression, she wasn't very happy either.
As soon as Saotome Genma saw Kasumi, he instantly went up to her and asked, "Hello Kasumi. Where is that blasted son of mine? His wedding is all prepared at home already and suddenly we find ourselves forced by Amazon bitches into coming to this remote location. Has that ungrateful and dishonourable son of mine finally chosen a fiancée that is not Akane? Oh how the gods must hate me for giving me a detestable son!"
"Oh please Kasumi, say it is not true? Say not that Ranma has chosen Shampoo over my sweet Akane?!" Soun wailed.
Kasumi's eyebrow twitched and she looked at Nabiki, who merely shrugged. "The day you and the rest went here without telling the parents, the fathers decided to ambush Ranma and Akane with a shotgun wedding. They went through the whole thing without informing me or asking for my help. By the time I found out and told them you and the rest had gone on a holiday trip, they all came to the conclusion that the Amazons had kidnapped you, Akane and Ranma again to force you into marriage. It didn't help when the Amazons came to fetch us here."
Just then, Ranma and Akane came out, eager to see Optimus Prime transformed. Their happy smiles were wiped off their faces when the two fathers immediately berated them for being ungrateful children and for being unfaithful to the family pledge and their own hearts. This enraged Ranma who began to fight with his dad while Akane silently shed tears of rage as she was too angry to even respond to their unwanted threats.
"Kasumi dear, I know my manly son will not cheat on Akane so will you please tell me why you went away with my son and your sister without telling us? The Amazons refused to tell us," Nodoka asked quietly as she moved beside Kasumi, the ever-present cloth bound katana in her hand. Fortunately Nodoka bore no violent intentions carrying the katana, which was more out of habit then anything else since the day she decided that Ranma was manly regardless of his sex-changing curse.
The eldest Tendo daughter sighed. "Hello aunty. Actually we all came here in order to prepare a warm welcome for my best friend and my boy friend as they will be staying in Japan for awhile. I also thought it was time to introduce you to them which is why I asked Elder Cologne to invite you all up here. Obviously, somebody never listened to her," Kasumi said, throwing a most uncharacteristically dirty look at the fathers. She didn't feel like being angry though: she was still in high spirits after hearing Bumblebee's confession.
Nodoka nodded, then suddenly reflected on Kasumi's words. A broad smile split her face and she grabbed Kasumi's hands, dropping the katana in the process. "Kasumi, do my ears deceive me? Did you say you have a boyfriend? And you came all the way here to be with him? Oh my! This certainly calls for a celebration!" she squealed. Then she became serious. "I know it's not really my concern, but for my part I won't accept him unless he is 100 manly enough for you. You deserve that much Kasumi."
" 'Manly' is a relative term, Auntie Nodoka. But suffice to say, he is more than a man. In every single way and more," Kasumi said dreamily as she reflected on Bumblebee's physique, both Autobot and human. She had yet to see Kotaro naked but she had already seen him spar with Ranma wearing nothing but a tracksuit and he was just……. Nodoka noticed Kasumi eyes became starry eyed and non-focused and squealed even further.
Despite being preoccupied with scolding Akane, Soun managed to hear Nodoka squealing about Kasumi having a boyfriend. He stopped his rambling to stare in disbelief at Kasumi. At that moment, Kotaro stepped out of the house. He quietly assessed the situation then focused his attention on Saotome Genma.
"Kasumi, do you want that buffoon out of your house? He is behaving like a ruffian and it'll give me great pleasure to throw him out."
Soun's demon head suddenly appeared, a mild chi illusion that Kotaro penetrated quite easily. Even if he hadn't, Soun's image of a demon was grossly overrated to the Autobot warrior who had seen quite a few horrors on many worlds. "WHO ARE YOU YOUNG MAN?! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO YOUR ELDERS THAT WAY?!"
Kasumi snapped out of her daydreaming. "Father please, don't be rude…." she said in alarm as behind the fathers and Nodoka, four vehicles began to move aside, giving them a wide berth.
Kotaro sighed but knew he couldn't pummel Soun: unlike Saotome Genma, Soun was directly related to Kasumi. And that made him his future father in law. "Mr. Soun, may I invite you all to dinner where all will be explained. I've every intention of courting your daughter and hope to call you father-in-law one day."
Soun was startled at the man's quiet demeanor and for once, took a few seconds to assess the situation. He saw the house and then looked at Kotaro again, adding one with one and coming with a triple digit number. He wasn't money minded like Genma but it delighted him that Kasumi seem to have attracted a rich young man as a suitor.
"Ahem, I apologize about my behavior good sir. I am merely concerned for my daughter's well being. Are your parents home? I must discuss with them if you are interested in an engagement with Kasumi."
Now in addition to Kasumi's eye was twitching, Kotaro's was not only twitching but a vein threatened to burst in anger. The Autobot warrior kept a lid on his emotion however and sighed. "My parents have long passed away, and in any case, it is up to Kasumi to decide if she wants to marry me, not them and especially not you, Mr. Tendo," he said icily.
"OYAJI! YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE MY LIFE ANYMORE!" Ranma roared as he tripped his father causing Genma to fall face flat unto the road payment. Ranma was about to pummel his father further but just then, a police car drove into the driveway with its lights blinking. Genma was beginning to realize that Ranma was more powerful than he was now but still he would stop at nothing to get Ranma and Akane together so he could retire living off Ranma and Akane running the dojo. When he saw the police car enter the compound, he saw it as an opportunity to get Ranma arrested for fighting him, then bailing him out later (with Nodoka's money) so as to further indebt Ranma's honour to him. After all, his son was nothing if not honourable.
"OFFICER! OFFICER! OH THANK GOODNESS YOU ARE HERE! INJUSTICE! INJUST…..!" as he ran towards the driver's side of the police cruiser, all of a sudden the door opened and slammed into Genma, felling him to the ground once again. Genma winced as he kissed the dirt road, wondering why the policeman had done so. Nevertheless, he would follow through his plan. He quickly got up again and looked at the officer from across the hood.
"Officer! Arrest my son! He has abused his father and denied his duties to the family! He abandoned his own parents to run of with some Chinese bimbo……," Shampoo came out as he said this and immediately produced a bright red aura of rage, "….. while we have been kidnapped by her family. Please, call for reinforcements, you're outnumbered and you need to help me…."
VRRRRRRROOOOOOOMM! The car's engine roared and shoved Genma backwards to the floor. If Genma had half a brain, he would have noticed that the symbol on the car's door bore no resemblance to that normally used by the Japanese police force. The car continued to jerk forward, pushing Genma further and further backward while the fat man cried. "Oh please, Officer, it's not me who is in the wrong! It's that ungrateful son of mine! Please, injustice! Don't let this poor old man die heartbroken! Injustice!"
His blood ran cold as he saw the headlight of the car suddenly elongated, becoming a long gun barrel that aimed at his head. The barrel actually glowed green and Genma could briefly feel a searing heat on his face before the gun barrel retracted and became a headlight again. Then the police car transformed.
Genma and Soun screamed while Nodoka gasped as they saw the Nissan Skyline GTR transform into an eighteen-feet tall robot monster. Soun tried to drag Kasumi away but the Tendo girl stood her ground and held her father in place instead. Nabiki, although she had not seen an Autobot transformed yet, was the only one who guessed that the vehicles they traveled in were the Autobots that Kasumi spoke off, so she bore the transformation more calmly. She helped hold Nodoka who nearly passed out at the awesome sight before her.
At the moment, the target of the Autobot's ire was Saotome Genma. The Autobot got to one knee and smashed his right fist into the ground next to Genma, crushing the road and nearly frightened Genma to death. He put his face was right in front of Genma's.
"YOU THINK YOU KNOW INJUSTICE! YOU THINK YOU KNOW HONOUR! YOU THINK YOU KNOW GRATITUDE! YOUR SON WENT UP SCORES OF ALIENS FROM OUTER SPACE TO PROTECT AKANE AND THE HUMAN RACE AND STILL YOU DENY HIM HIS FREEDOM?! STILL YOU CALL HIM DISHONOURABLE?!" Prowl roared, his right fist lifted off the ground and sprouted three vicious claws that were now millimeters from Genma's fat neck. "BY THE MATRIX, IF KASUMI WASN'T HERE RIGHT NOW, I WOULD MAKE MYSELF A NICE FAT PANDA STEAK!"
Kasumi sighed. Of all the Autobots Genma decided to provoke first, it was Prowl. "Hello Prowl, did you have a nice day?"
Prowl snorted. "Don't change the subject Kasumi, it's high time we discussed punishment for this pathetic excuse of a human."
"Uh. Prowl, I don't like my dad anymore than you do but he is still my dad. I don't want him to die you know," Ranma finally spoke. He had calmed a bit after seeing Prowl scare his father into a blubbering idiot and actually took pity on his father.
"Why not? I warned all of you that he is the biggest security risk to us, he would sell our existence out to the highest bidder if it meant filling his fat stomach. I say he has to go, I promise I'll make it quick and clean," Prowl said, still focusing his death glare at Genma.
"Nooooooooooooooo!" Genma screamed and scrambled from underneath Prowl and headed for the gate to make a break for it. The gate was still open but to his horror, the ambulance and Pajero blocked him from getting out. The Amazon guards then stationed themselves at the gate itself, closing it with a human wall. Genma looked wildly for another way but then a huge hand suddenly enveloped his body and lifted him clean off the ground. It turned him around and once again, Genma looked at the less than pleased look of Autobot Prowl.
"Where the hell do you think you are going?" Prowl snarled.
"Alright, that's enough. Father, Uncle Genma, stop behaving like children this instant! Nobody is getting married or engaged right now and that is FINAL!" Kasumi shouted. Genma and Soun stared in fear at the now scary Kasumi. Prowl and Kotaro were now angry with the two fathers for spoiling Kasumi's happy mood right after their arrival. Kotaro took out a bottle of water and was just about to splash himself when Kasumi suddenly stormed off into the house, tears flowing from her eyes. He became alarmed and quickly followed her inside.
Nabiki, Genma, Soun and Nodoka then became witness to the awesome sight of the Peterbilt Carrier transforming into Optimus Prime. The Volvo XC90, ambulance and Pajero also transformed into towering robots but none were as huge or impressive as Prime's thirty-feet being. Once he finished transforming, he knelt on one knee so that he could bring his face to their level.
"Tendo Soun, Tendo Nabiki, Saotome Genma, Saotome Nodoka. I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots from the planet Cybertron. I also have the honour of being Kasumi's best friend. I suppose it is an honour to meet the parents and relative of the esteemed Tendo Kasumi, Tendo Akane and Saotome Ranma," Optimus quietly said, his stern eyes penetrating their fearful ones as though burrowing into the depths of their souls and finding it less than pleasant.
Soun and Genma could only gawk and say something that sounded like, "Mimmble wimble."
Nabiki found her voice first. "So it is true. Kasumi really did meet a group of alien robots. I suppose the story about her going to China and saving the world is true as well?"
"All of it and more. She befriended my fellow Autobot Bumblebee even before she knew he was an Autobot. He was the one who first saved her from Happosai. And although he didn't ask for it, she nevertheless kept the secret of his existence at all cost. It is for her sake, that Bumblebee returned to Earth to search for the Spring of Drowned Man and immersed himself in it. Now he is cursed or perhaps I should say blessed, to become the man you know as Minami Kotaro."
Nabiki's eyes widened. "So that's where he and she disappeared to after the prom. I was wondering where she went. She was smiling like ……. like she used to before everything happened to her after that night."
"You know most of the story. She took our departure especially Bumblebee's very hard. For her sake, we have returned as well. We all owe her our lives and will fulfil it to the rest of our lives. That does NOT mean we will work for you Tendo Nabiki," Optimus Prime said icily as he noticed Nabiki's eyes lit up the moment he said that the Autobots were indebted to Kasumi.
Nabiki was startled but continued, "Why not? After all, we are letting you stay here, plus Kasumi deserves to be rewarded for the rest of her life…."
"Foolish child, is money all that you think of?" the dark red Autobot that was unmistakably female shook her head at Nabiki. "If you only want to look at monetary compensation, Kasumi has already been rewarded generously by the People Republic of China. She will not be in want of money for the rest of her life."
The middle Tendo daughter was shocked. "Kasumi? Rich? But that's impossible! She hasn't bought anything for herself! We all had to work our fingers to the bone just to buy her the evening gown!"
"Money couldn't buy what she truly wanted, our love and friendship." Optimus Prime's expression then softened. "Nabiki, you don't have to pay a single yen for our friendship. We gave it freely to her and will give it freely to you as well, IF you promise to mend your money-grubbing ways. You don't have to scrap for money anymore to make ends meet. You too, are free to lead your own life."
Nabiki lowered her head. "I don't know what world you come from but nothing is free in this world. You pay for what you get. It's that simple."
Elita lowered herself to face Nabiki. "You have been wrapped up in bitterness for too long child. Kasumi showed kindness to Bumblebee even though Bumblebee offered her nothing but his empty gas tank and dirty hood. Your own sister is living proof that love and compassion is indeed free. Will you give us a chance to show you that our friendship is as well?
Nabiki looked up into Elita's eyes. Instead of anger and animosity, she instead found a strange kindness in the female Autobot's eyes. It was a look that she had missed for many years, a look of unconditional love that she last saw…… in her mother's eyes. No, she told herself, she saw it every day in Kasumi's eyes ever since Tendo Kimiko died. It was strange that the same loving expression on her mother's face was now mirrored into the metallic facial expression of the female Autobot. She was overwhelmed by it and suddenly found tears in her eyes. She furiously tried to keep them from coming out but only succeeded bursting into tears as for the first time, she let go of her stinginess and greed to openly welcome Optimus friendship. She found herself enveloped by the hand of Elita and was pleasantly surprised to find it warm like that of a human. She cried into the hand even as Elita stroked her back.
"You really mean it? Be my friend for free? I don't have to cheat and scheme to make ends meet?" she said tearfully.
"No Nabiki, you don't. Come here child, let's take a walk. No wait, let's go for a ride," Elita said. She then gently let go of Nabiki and transformed into the Volvo XC90. Nabiki was then startled when a lady driver suddenly materialized at the driver's seat. To her pleasant surprise, the driver resembled an old Julie Andrews like her role in the movie Princess Diaries. She climbed into the passenger seat and the Volvo XC90 rolled out of the mansion.
Optimus then returned his attention to Nodoka. "Do you have any questions madam? Otherwise I would ask you to see Kasumi. I must spend some time with your husband and his friend."
Nodoka finally found her voice. "Earlier the other robot said that my son defeated many others like you. Is it true? And what is the status of my son's relationship with Akane? It seems like they went back to square one after they came back from China."
"A ruse to make sure the two men behind you didn't do what they tried to do a few hour earlier: force Ranma and Akane into marriage. Ranma confessed his love to Akane months ago…."
"Did you hear that Tendo? It's true, the schools will be united! Praise to the gods!" Genma sang as the words he had long wished to hear were finally said, albeit heard thirdhand.
"Oh gods, my daughter Akane is getting married!" Soun cried fountains of tears.
Optimus and Nodoka frowned but the Autobot leader ignored the other two. "……….. and Akane reciprocated. They kissed each other in China. This was after Akane lost her leg in battle. Your daughter-in-law is a remarkable woman to have vowed to continue her life without it. Your son loves her doubly for that. The Amazons and Ukyo have already recognized their love and relinquished their claim on Ranma. Your son is free to choose his own life Madam Nodoka. Please don't ruin his life and force him into something he doesn't want to do yet."
"But why not? You said it yourself, he has already chosen. Why wait tomorrow? Best get it over and done with, get some final closure to this whirlwind romance," Genma whined.
"Quite right Saotome-san. Procrastination will only damage future chances. We can still get the priest over here and….."
"No you will not." The two men were shocked to see the words coming out of Nodoka's mouth. To Genma's horror, she picked up the cloth covered katana and unfurled it to reveal the elegant sheathed katana. She then looked at Optimus Prime and bowed deeply.
"Thank you Optimus Prime. It appears that we are in your debts as much as you are in ours. I pray that our future dealings will be more frequent and pleasant. Please accept my humble apologies for the ………. improper behaviour of my husband and his friend. If I have offended you in any way I apologise as well. Rest assured, I will take steps to make sure that they will no longer make themselves a nuisance to everyone else again," Nodoka said.
Prime's solemn face finally broke into a smile. "Apart from your strange definition of manliness, Saotome Ndodoka, I do not find you a disruptive presence. Just don't encourage Ranma to peek at girls naked anymore. That is not a manly act, that is a pervert's act of someone who does not know how to respect women."
Nodoka wanted to contest this point but decided that the day was already spoilt because of the fathers and she didn't want to offend the Autobot leader anymore. "Very well Optimus Prime. Is there anything I can help right now?"
"Perhaps you can go and help in the kitchen. I smell a storm cooking up there."
"Yes, Nodoka, I think we will help too!" Soun said, trying to find an excuse to get out of the Autobot's sight. A fist slammed right next to Soun, making him freeze in fear.
"Who gave you permission to go?" Prowl growled.
"Indeed who did Mr Tendo Soun? Saotome Nodoka, you are excused. I must finish our talk with your husband and friend," Optimus said grimly.
Nodoka sighed. "Just don't damage them permanently," she said then hurriedly walked into the house.
Genma and Soun gulped as Optimus, Prowl and now Trailbreaker and Ratchet, surrounded them in a circle. To their horror, Prowl's claws came out of his hand, Ratchet's left arm became a vicious buzzsaw, and Trailbreaker's hand transformed into a mallet. "OK OK! We repent! We repent! Can we go home now?" they wailed.
"No you can't, not until we're certain you won't pull a stunt like a forced marriage again. Thanks to the both of you, our first meal with Kasumi's cooking has been delayed. We may as well use that time to teach you some lessons," Ratchet growled as his buzzsaw started spinning. "I didn't wait fifty year on your planet to taste Japanese cuisine only to be delayed by a couple of selfish buffoons.
Their cries only increased when Optimus' right arm transformed into a huge power axe. "Lesson one: Freedom is the right of all sentient beings………."
To be continued…..
Author's notes
A bit rushed and Nabiki was certainly out of character in my opinion. I just wanted to fix her attitude in a few paragraphs, then leave the rest off screen when Elita has a talk with Nabiki. Nodoka I'm assuming she isn't so psychotic and also at this point of story, she has already decided that Ranma is manly regardless of sex.
I got a feeling that I missed out something even though I proof read this chapter at least once. As always, I ask for your reviews and feedback. It's near the end of the story but I still want to hear your feedback on this chapter. Thanks all.