Woo! First chapter from the new laptop! I feel so fancy, and everything is so fast! I might even be able to actually stream myself at a rate worth a damn! The sky's the limit, and I feel great about life in general. Also, we finally are finishing the Nerima Retrieval Arc, so that's fun to.

Its best illustrated here, in the winning vote...

Spoiler: Here!

[X] Hello. Take My Money: You're paying for Konatsu, Get the HELL out of NERIMA

And now we begin the end.

You were staring at a person so pretty your brain refused to assign the male gender to them. Soft cheekbones, a barely there bob of the Adam's apple that looked more like a curve of the neck, and a waitress uniform that flared at the waist.

Yet, right there, on the nametag in Katakana, was Konatsu.

Okay, yeah. You were done here with questions to your worldview. That could come later.

"Konatsu, I'm here to hire you." You stated point blank to the Konatsu even as 'he' flinched and began to stutter.

"Wha-Who? What do you mean? Hire me for what?" 'He' asked back with a voice far too light.

You decided to not play around, as you stared straight forward and the Third-Arm Sash retrieved your checkbook from your pocket.

"I contacted you on Minions R Us a while ago. You seemed positive about what I wrote, so I decided to come to you first. Here's your first three months in advance. I'll give you three more as surplus f we leave within the next 20 minutes."

Konatsu began to say something, before actually looking at the piece of paper in 'his' hands, then doubletaking back and forth between you and said paper.

With a fluid motion, the check was carefully folded and placed into the 'cleavage', before stiltedly turning around. As soon as 'his' back was to the table, 'he' vanished in a poof of smoke, which would have done wonders with impressing you if you weren't at the end of your rope for this adventure.

God damn, was that becoming a worrying trend...

So, with nothing else to do, you looked back over at your lunch 'partner', surrounded by a platter of empty plates and licking a bit of sauce off his index finger, looking entertained.

"Gotta admit, I expected that to go a completely different way. Mostly with more unintentional innuendo and outbursts of violence, but maybe that's just me projecting. I'll be sure to remember gratuitous spending CAN be effective." Ranma snickered, even as he plopped down a small sack of what sounded like coins upon the newly arrived check, popping a small mint into his mouth with a crunch.

You just kept watching as he got up, started to stretch, and make his way to the door.

While he left however, Ranma stopped at the door, and, with a quick flick of his wrist, sent a business card flying directly at your head.

You didn't even realize he had thrown anything before you felt said card smack directly into your face.

With a mildly embarrassed blush, you peeled it off and looked at what you had just been pelted with.

RANMA SAOTOME

MARTIAL ARTS EXTRAORDINAIRE

COME TO THE SAOTOME-TENDO DOJO TODAY
AND BECOME GREAT!

OR, CHECK OUT OUR LIVESTREAMS, AT-

You broke off the rest as you heard a large thunk before you, looking up to see Konatsu wearing an almost comically large backpack, at least three times the size of 'him'.

"I'm ready to go, my New Master!" Konatsu greeted with extreme cheer, snapping a salute that made you question things previously solidly set.

With a full blush now, along with a quick retreat, you were luckily able to lead Konatsu and yourself back to the Jet with no issues, even if Wuya wouldn't stop grumbling from inside your coat.

Because nothing can always go perfectly well.

-SHIFT-

Ranma Saotome, Current Grandmaster of Anything Goes, Master of Jusendo, and current Heylin Grandmaster of Water, watched the sky as the plane holding Konatsu and the weird kid he'd been expositing at headed West. It was a strange decision in many ways, but Ranma was never one to play by set rules.

It was why he made Konatsu a profile without telling him, after all.

Konatsu, for all that he was the foremost Kunoichi of his generation, was far too content with his place in life. And by damn would Ranma let that kind of potential waste away. It also served as a wonderful way to see just who had the guts to take what they wanted.

Ranma wasn't kidding when he said he expected more violence or advances, but not just because of his experiences. Well...mostly, his experiences. The last five people who had come to Nerima looking to recruit either tried to come in as a hammer to nail down those stronger than normal, or an arrogant force they should be eager to join.

They all were beaten and thrown out in short order. One directly into Tokyo Bay, for the sheer amount of fury he managed to build up by targeting Kasumi.

Honestly, Ranma wasn't expecting this last kid to succeed either. He was too skinny to be any kind of Martial Artist, and didn't seem anywhere near miserable or scarred enough to be a Mage. But there he went, making his way through the city without landing in a bodycast, not exploding from Kasumi's presence, and even recruited a new person from an avenue Ranma hadn't expected. Money really could be its own superpower, outside of Currancmancy.

So he gave em a card. Who knows, maybe then he could actually become something more than just another cursed kid. Or donate some of that cash to a stream or two, he could do things for multiple reasons.

With the plane now firmly out of view, he shrugged once more, threw away the small seal he had prepared for the weird spirit he felt floating around before, and began his trek back to his loving wife and her incredible cooking.

END OF CHAPTER

GAINS!:

Konatsu: Premier Kunoichi hiding the Sinful Secret! Bond Rank: Money

Konatsu is a 'kunoichi' under your employ now, paid a budgeted amount per month, excluding costs of tools or travel. At the current rank, Konatsu can be sent off on Wu Hunts, Scout Locations, and Fortify bases 'he' resides at.

Business Card: Information for the Saotome-Tendo Dojo! Viewing Livestreams now available as options in weekly vote!

END OF GAINS!

BONUS INFORMATION!

This next bit I'm sharing because I really enjoy it, and it makes for great omake bait. It'll also show some of the behind the scenes work I put into this and other stories. At least, for some characters that don't spoil anything.

RANMA 1/2 EPILOGUES

Akane Tendo: Became an actress after her first year of college, specializes in Romantic Comedies and select Action Movies. Does her own stunts.

Nabiki Tendo: Married Ryoga Hibiki and set up a salvage shop collecting and selling all the treasures her husband finds for maximum profit.

Ryoga Hibiki-Tendo: Married to Nabiki, he found purpose to his wanderings, honing his crafts to the point there is no temple or weather he can't conquer. Is 'rewarded' for every 10 million yen he makes.

Soun Tendo: Passed away in his sleep 13 years ago, though not before leaving a passive aggressive will urging Ranma to marry one of his daughters.

Happosai: Murdered in the Grandmastery Exam against Ranma. Not by Ranma, but by a Pantyhose Taro, taking the opportunity and using his then severed hand to change his name to 'Hose'

Genma Saotome: 'Accidentally' stole from a Magic Shop, and is now Cursed to man said shop until he has earned back the worth of the item's, or he tricks some other sap into his place. This is made trickier by his simultaneous status as a Panda. 8.8 Billion remain of the debt.

END OF BONUS

Expect the next week of voting up soon. Until then, I can't wait to see everyone's reactions!