WARNING: While there will be no actual 'Lemon' content contained herein, adult situations, language, violence and acts of a sexual nature are strongly implied.
Disclaimer: The rights to 'Ranma 1/2' are owned by its creator, Rumiko Takahashi. The rights to 'Gold Digger' are owned by its creator, Fred Perry. The rights to characters from other sources, which are likely to make cameo appearances, are retained by their respective creators. This story is for entertainment purposes only and written without expectation of monetary or material profit.
Notes: While drawing primarily from the original 'Ranma 1/2' Manga series, some elements and characters from the 'Ranma 1/2' Anime series may also be utilized. This is BOTH a 'Continuation' and an 'Alternate Universe' fan-fiction in regards to the characters and events of 'Ranma 1/2' and 'Gold Digger', meaning: the characters WILL be 'Out-of-Character' to one extent or another and that canon events the reader is familiar with may or may not have been altered to a greater or lesser degree. This fan-fiction is also a 'Crossover', combining elements from the two aforementioned sources. For most of the story, we will attempt to adhere closely to canon, in regards to Fred Perry's 'Gold Digger' series, but at some point, events will diverge from canon and concessions will have to be made for the intermingling of the two base series.
Furthermore, it is 'presumed' that the events of the 'Ranma 1/2' Manga series take place over a span of less than one year, as there is little, if any, real indication of the passage of time in canon. Therefore, Ranma and Akane are still freshman at the time this story begins, while Nabiki and Kunou are juniors.
Timeframe: Immediately following the failed wedding attempt at the end of the 'Ranma 1/2' Manga series; there are several months remaining until the end of the current school year at Furinkan High... ('Gold Digger' timeframe will become apparent when introduced into the story.)
WARNING: This is self-beta'd if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes, please PM me with the paragraph and fix.
BATTLE MAGE
By
Ryan Slicer
(original story concept, writing and guidance)
Tai Khan
( general story expander, editor and sounding board)
Book One: Control
Part Two: Confrontations
Dawn broke though the clouds the next morning and awoke some of the family members in the Tendo-ke. While Kasumi was up half an hour earlier, her younger sister stretched out in her bed as she awoke. Nabiki yawned and greeted the day with her hair out of place and a dismal attitude about waking up early. She never was a morning person, and considering how late she was up the night before she started having a bit more trouble finding a good reason to get up, aside from her usual reason to start the bets. Her thoughts took her to the memories of last night and she allowed herself to smile for a brief moment. Last night was fun for her and she enjoyed her time with the Saotome heir and a few other dancers.
Still, she was never a morning person and she quietly grabbed her bathing supplies and exited her room. Knowing that there would be some bets that needed to take place for the aftermath of the wedding and she needed to cash in on those bets. She headed for the furo to get cleaned up for the day, when Ranma exited his room and nearly bumped into her.
"Sorry about that, Biki." Ranma gave her a quiet smile at the scowl that she shot his way before she smiled back at him, her hip bumping his as they walked down the stairs. The pig-tailed man responded in kind, noting that she wasn't as used to getting up in the morning with lack of sleep. There was a content smile on both of their faces before the reached the bottom of the steps, where a bright-eyed Kasumi met them as they entered the tea room
"Oh. Morning Nabiki-chan, Ranma-kun." Kasumi responded as she saw the two enter the tearoom. Kasumi's gaze drifted over the two, looking for any signs that could hint at both of them being married. She cursed herself for not finding anything that she could show, but did notice the closeness that they both shared was still there from the day before, 'Maybe they still want to have that threesome.' she thought as she set the last dish on the table, "Nabiki-chan, could I talk to you for a bit?" Knowing very well that Nodoka was up and fixing breakfast and that she should be back there helping Auntie Saotome, but this information was needed.
Both Ranma and Nabiki looked at each other for a moment before the middle sister decided to go talk to her older sister. Neither of them forgot that Kasumi found them in the furo and probably wanted to talk to them about it before she went to the fathers, "You owe me, Saotome." Nabiki explained to him, pushing a finger against his chest, before following her sister towards the furo where they could talk with some privacy.
As Nabiki entered the laundry room before the furo, Kasumi shut the door quietly and turned to her sister. Her eyes conveyed that she wanted some answers and needed them so she could tell their parents about her sister's hidden municipals with the Saotome heir, "Spill Nabiki."
Even if she had just gotten up, and didn't get quite enough sleep as she wanted, Nabiki knew that her sister wanted the sordid details of her experience with Ranma. Just to be on the safe side, however, she decided that her older sister would have to ask the question first before she would divulge any information, "About what, dear sister?"
"About when you were going to tell me you and Ranma-kun got married!" Though painful to her sister as she lost her balance from the fallout of the question. This caused the middle sister to glare at her peaceful older sister and the brunette wondered why Nabiki was giving her such a stare.
"MARRIED?! What ever gave you such an idea?" Nabiki whispered the quick response to Kasumi, 'This is what I get for trying to play around with Ranma, isn't it?' The darker haired woman thought as she saw Kasumi wringing her hands nervously as the brunette thought of how to word her next question.
"But.. You and Little Brother looked so close yesterday." Kasumi looked down at her hands before her thoughts turned a bit naughty at the proposal given to her by Ranma the day before, "Was it true that you wanted a threesome?"
"Kasumi!" Nabiki cried out before being silenced by the knock at the door.
"Is everything alright in there?" This of course happened to be the voice of the individual that both were discussing and Nabiki desperately needed to talk to her older sister about what happened, and why she was not married to the man standing outside the door.
"Everything is fine Ranma-kun. We'll be done talking in a moment." Kasumi's passive voice reached the Saotome heir's ears before there was a response from Ranma, stating that he needed to get ready as well, before he left the two to continue talking. Kasumi's eyes returned to her sister's, as she looked just as nervous as before when asking about her chance to be with Ranma, "So you don't want the threesome?"
'This girl needs to get laid... And soon.' Nabiki thought as she tried to come up with a dignified response to her sister's question, "Did you believe that I would marry Ranma-kun?" She responded, sliding the doors to the furo open to get started on her day. Might as well while she was there. She quietly disrobed from her pajamas as she looked at her sister, who watched her with an owlish look upon her face.
'How else am I supposed to take what I saw in the furo? Both were in the nude, in the furo and probably in the middle of their intercourse.' Kasumi wondered as her face blossomed into a light red before she responded to her sister's question, "You both looked so close, and unashamed of each other. Like you had been together before."
'If you only knew dear sister.' Nabiki thought to herself as she disrobed out of her clothing, "Still Ranma and I have not done anything like that. We weren't in the middle of it last night, and we haven't even been together at all before you walked in on us." She fished out her body soap and shampoo from the small pile of cleaning supplies she kept in the cupboard above the washing machine, "And I don't think that we will have anything like that in the near or distant future."
"But what about a real relationship with him? Do you think you two could become serious with each other?" Kasumi looked at her sister while she was getting her bathing supplies, "He's always sweet and does try to help out when he can, except when he has to keep his friends from damaging the house." Twisting her hair quietly in her fingers, her thoughts focused on the raven haired young man that occupied her thoughts the night before, "Though it would take some time to get some of his bad qualities out, train him up a little in his manners and teach him civility around others. Even a diamond is a rather unattractive rock until it is cleaned and polished up with a little work."
Nabiki turned and looked at her sister with a critical eye, certainly the stud of a martial artist was eye catching and deserved a bit of respect in regards to his physical features, especially what she felt last night before heading out to the club, "My dear, sweet sister. While he is handsome and good to a fault, he's just not the type of guy that I would marry, even with the polishing done to him. He's just a little too rugged for my tastes."
"What about having him as a friend? You don't seem to have many friends that come over do you?" Kasumi tilted her head to the side as she thought of all the times Nabiki had friends over, and couldn't remember a time in the last few years even before Ranma arrived that she even brought her friends around to the Dojo, "You could at least have a true friend with him, if nothing else."
Nabiki sat on the stool, letting the warm water fall over her body before she began washing herself up, "I don't know Kasumi. After everything that we've been through, will he want to be friends with me?" She rinsed herself off and looked at her sister, "Would he?"
Akane walked into her home early that morning after coming back from her friend Sayuri's. While she would have asked Sayuri if she could borrow some of her clothes, she remembered that there was an assignment that she needed to turn in that day. She left her friend's home and arrived with plenty of time to get cleaned up, and eat breakfast before she had to rush to school. As quickly as her feet could take her, she bounded up the stairs, ran down the hall to her room and picked up her bathing supplies and a clean uniform before rushing down the stairs and to the furo. As she opened the door to the changing room, she noticed Ranma putting his shirt over his head. Just like every girl in Furinkan, she knew that Ranma was handsome and very well sculpted. However her experience when he first arrived deterred her from even trying to pursue him, even after when she was told she was his fiancée. 'That is just NOT normal for anyone!' She told herself as she remembered how Ranma looked completely nude to her. Her friends continued to badger her, to this day, about what she saw, but she wouldn't budge on telling anyone of that little secret.
Once Ranma's shirt was over his body, her thoughts turned away from the young man before she slipped past him as he exited the room, commenting that the furo was free for her to use. A quick, unfeminine snort sent his way stopped any further comments to be made. The door shut behind the pig-tailed man before Akane stripped herself of her clothing to get ready for her own bath.
Her thoughts continued to plague her about the wedding and what she talked about with her friends the night before, 'I can't believe that they thought Ranma wasn't at fault. Of course he is.' Yet maybe she was being a little rough on him. He didn't even know about the wedding or the cask, 'Still that shouldn't excuse him from letting his other fiancées from ruining a special day for me. If he had told them to leave well enough alone the wedding would have gone off without any issues.' She scrubbed herself down and rinsed off the soap from her body. She would have to talk to him about the wedding when she wasn't as upset as she currently was. Her friends did tell her, last night, to lay off of him for a day and think about what he might have been going through.
While she truly didn't want to marry Ranma when her father asked her to go through with the wedding that both Soun and Genma had setup after they arrived back from China, she thought it might have been because they heard Ranma profess his love to her after the battle of Mount Phoenix and decided that it was his way of asking her to marry him. 'It would have been perfect if that had happened. Professing his love to me and then marrying me once we got back.' She shook her head for a moment before closing her eyes. She realized that since the wedding didn't actually happen that Ranma probably didn't tell her that he loved her. 'Still, it's not like I'm in love with the jerk anyway.'
Turning her head up to look at the ceiling, she thought of all the times Ranma might have said that he loved her or showed any inclination towards any of his other Fiancées that proved to her Ranma only loved her and would want to marry her in the first place. Though the year she could only count a few things that would even come close to an acknowledgement of that. The time when he publicly declared her as his Fiancée during the Ice Skating match between the Golden Pair. The Love Pill Incident that didn't have any affect on him as he looked at her only. And the time when they were stranded on Prince Toma's island and she was, in effect, Toma's bride to be. She knew Ranma cared about her in some form or another, but was it true love? Was it something that they could grow in to and learn to live with?
'He's my Fiancé and I won't let him go. He was given to me by Daddy, and he will be mine.' She clenched her fist and relaxed it. 'And no bimbo from China, no best friend from the Kansai district and no crazy gymnast is going to take him away from me.'
Akane stood out of the furo and grabbed the towel that was hanging off the rack next to the entrance. Just as she was about to wrap the towel about her body, the door slid open and a large black and white panda bear filled her view. It took both of them a few minutes to look at each other before Akane looked down at herself to believe that she hoped she was covered enough to warrant not screaming. Alas she wasn't and she calmly wrapped herself up in the towel before looking up at the panda bear's face. It wasn't a calming look that adorn her face, but one full of rage that would have scared any lesser man who knew of her fierce temper that was boasted by the male Kuno heir. Pulling her arm back, she clenched her fist as she ignored the signs that Genma was waving before she yelled out her famous battle cry.
"PERVERT!"
Outside the furo the occupants in the tearoom looked up from their early morning reprise to look towards the raven-haired young man sitting next to the middle sister this morning. With chopsticks hanging from his mouth as each individual gave him a questioning look that begged for a response from said pig-tailed boy, "It wasn't me." Ranma remarked before family returned back to their meal.
Breakfast continued with a bruised and battered panda quietly eating his food and not looking at the fuming youngster that he was unfortunately sitting next to, while everyone else began to quietly reflect at how calm this breakfast was. No one brought up anything that happened the day before, nor did anyone make any remarks about what just happened a few minutes either. Still there were looks passed between the adults at the table and some between the younger generations, except Akane who glared at anyone who looked towards her. Nodoka, having finished her meal a bit faster than Nabiki normally would have, looked at both Ranma and Akane so she could address them about what bothered her.
"Ranma, Akane, I believe we need to discuss your actions at the wedding yesterday." stated as brought herself up a bit more of the authoritative figure she was portraying herself to be, "While I'm at a loss that the wedding didn't occur the way it should have been, you two should have been at least able to continue with the wedding, even after everything that had happened."
'What are they trying to pull? I did not do anything to cause this issue and they know it!' Ranma thought as he wracked his brain for all the actions he did during the wedding and couldn't come up with anything that he didn't try to do or not do to keep himself from going insane with the disaster that happened, "And what actions would that be, Kaa-san?"
Genma rounded and smacked Ranma in the back of the head for the question he asked, pouring a hot cup of tea over his head and changing himself back into the stout man that he naturally became, "Boy! It's because of those other girls that your wedding to Akane didn't go through." He gave a grumble as he thought about how disgraceful his son was before continuing his triad, "You need to take care of those fiancées of yours, and you need to take care of them now!" Both Ranma and Akane looked at Genma with questioning glares, while Nabiki and Kasumi glanced at each other before Kasumi stood and cleaned the dishes off the table that the others were not using.
"And how do you expect me to do this, Old man?" growled the youngest Saotome, what were his parents were talking about. They should have known that he had no control over his other fiancées and he couldn't fix any issues with them without dire consequences to both his personal and family honor, what little was left of said family honor, "I don't see you going to Ucchan's or Shampoo's and fixing the mistake you made for their honor." This left a quiet gasp from Akane and Nodoka and a growl from Genma as close as he could get it without being in his panda form. A quiet wrapping of wood on wood brought the attention of the argument back over to Nodoka, who was beginning to feel that her influence should calm the two men of her family down.
"What I expected of you, was to follow through with the marriage," she quietly admonished her son, not thinking about the other issues that would have in effect when the wedding was complete, "Yet I'm quite surprised that you didn't tell the other girls that they could have waited for their turn to become mistresses after you and Akane were married." Nodoka brought her hands up to her chest and gave a quiet sigh at the thought of all the grandchildren she would have have with each of the women her son would bed, if the plan had gone through the way SHE wanted. "It would have worked out for the best if you went with what we had planned for the other girls."
This brought some confusion to the Saotome heir, 'We planned? I didn't plan anything like that with you or Pops!' Ranma's thoughts drifted after the confirmation of what Nodoka was trying to accomplish. Not that everyone at the table didn't already know that about the auburn-haired woman that visited their home once in awhile to make sure Ranma was being 'Manly.' Ranma could only contemplate a response that would not insult his mother. He still respected her, but that respect was slowly dwindling down with each passing day his mother brought out these notions of marriage and how to solve his fiancée problems, 'You just don't go and marry everyone you're promised to. It just doesn't work that way at all.' At this time, Nabiki had gotten up and lightly tapped Ranma on the shoulder to let him know that she was leaving. Of course the rest of her family was more involved in the discussion, and it didn't require her to be there any more than necessary. Still she had things that she needed to do and hoped Ranma would be willing to talk about it when they had some time to. Nabiki bid her older sister a good day and left with her bento and school bag before heading out.
While the Saotome's were discussing amongst themselves about what should and should not have occurred yesterday, Soun Tendo decided that he needed to take some type of action before the discussion turned into a brawl. It was healthy to have a good argument between ones parents to show that you were maturing, however this type of argument is not an argument that followed that train of thought. "Clearly the wedding cannot proceed under these conditions." Soun stated as he brought everyone to his attention. Feeling that he needed to get what should have been the original point of the talk out he continued, "As is proper, lingering relationships should be settled before a couple can be married. We can all see that you have plenty of those." Both Nodoka and Genma nodded as they felt that they were both right in needing these relationships figured out, "So we have arranged for the wedding to be delayed, until you can sort out your personal affairs."
Akane knew that what her father was talking about didn't apply to her, as she didn't have any unwanted suitors that continued to ignore her demands. Yet she couldn't forget that there was one suitor who just wouldn't leave well enough alone, and she hoped that once she was married to someone else, that suitor would acknowledge her right to marry whomever she wanted to, "Pay attention, Ranma! All this mostly applies to you." she glanced over at the pig-tailed boy and wondered what he was going to do about the problems now that her father brought them up.
When Akane spoke directly to him, he focused all of his attention towards her. She soon realized that having the full attention of Ranma Saotome was not in anyone's best interest at this time. Ranma gave the youngest Tendo daughter a glare as he decided she needed reminding of some of the other patrons that were at the wedding that were there specifically for her, "This was just as much your fault for what happened yesterday, Akane." He started, ticking off his fingers as he named the suitors that were at the wedding trying to marry her, "You have Kunou, Ryouga, Gosenkugi. All of them were there to see if they could try to marry you." He stopped there before his thoughts frustrated him further than what he should have been, 'I don't plan on being roped in like this between her father and my parents.' Ranma thought as he watched Akane open her mouth to retort only to stop once he turned his attention back to the Tendo patriarch, "So what do you want me to do about it, Tendo-san?" It was a simple question, and one he thought that either his parents or Soun Tendo would be able to answer, "How am I supposed to resolve the problem with these girls when the only one who can honorably do so is Pops?" He growled once more, gritting his teeth before he blew a gasket at the patriarch for the loss of the Nannichuan, which would be discussed after he could get Soun alone.
Deciding that Ranma was not being what she felt was manly, Nodoka made her opinion stand out as she addressed her son in the proper way of respecting one's elders, "Ranma, why are you trying to make Tendo-san feel like he's the culprit in this whole issue?" This brought her son to look at her as she continued to tell her son how he should be treating the host of where he was currently staying, "You know that he is allowing you to stay in his home..."
"Because, Kaa-san," Ranma glared at his mother, "He distinctly took something that was rightfully mine and used it as a bartering chip to marry his daughter!" He waited for his mother to answer before glaring at his Old Man, when he didn't give a response to why Soun did what he tried, he brought the same glare to the man responsible for the issue in the first place. This of course didn't result in any response from him as well. Frustrated beyond belief, he stood up and left the family members left in the tea room to gape at his departure from the conversation.
Akane scrambled up as she saw her fiancé leave the table. She quickly grabbed her shoes and book bag before yelling out, "Ranma!" She was able to get her shoes on her feet and start chasing after Ranma towards school, 'What has gotten into him?' were her last thoughts as she tried to keep up with her fiancé.
Ranma stormed out of the Tendo-ke as he headed towards school. He didn't want to deal with Akane's temper while his mother and both of the fathers were arguing with him about the wedding. They should have understood that talking about the wedding so soon would have bad repercussions. As upset as he was, he ignored his usual mode of transportation across the fences as his focus would have had an unsatisfactory effect of him falling from that perch. His thoughts turned away from the discussion to a more pleasant thought of Nabiki and his time with her in the club. It was an interesting experience, and one he would like to continue, but the fear of what might happen when the rest of the fiancées found out that he was going behind their backs and going out with the Ice Queen of Furinkan caused him to decide that maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to go out with Nabiki any time soon. 'Not like I have much of a choice. They'll kill her if they found out exactly what we were doing.' Ranma's eyes were downcast as he thought of a reason to NOT go out with the middle sister again. Yet he couldn't even think of such a reason. 'It was very fun, and nice. And she seemed to enjoy the dancing as well.' He cautiously licked his lips as he remembered the kiss and remarks from last night and wondered why she teased him about it. 'Or maybe she wasn't teasing...' Considering that his mind kept replaying what the middle sister told him just before they headed to bed kept him pretty much awake for most of that night.
He slowed his approach to the school and looked up as he saw a lone figure standing in the middle of the field between him and the entrance to the school. The Blue Thunder just couldn't let Ranma have twenty-four hours of peace, now could he. Tatewaki Kunou stood at the entrance, his blue kendo garb shifted in the dramatic that picked up, by a conveniently placed stage fan that Sasuke had found in one of the many storage facilities on the campus. Kunou looked at his nemesis for Akane and the Pig-tailed girl and wondered to himself if this would be the day that Ranma Saotome would fall. The wedding he was invited to failed to occur and he knew that the Pig-tailed girl and Akane would thank him for showing the wretched cur the error of his ways.
"Saotome. How dare you try to wed the youngest Tendo, when you should have known that only I am to wed her." Kunou took a few steps forward while he brought the scabbard forth to show Ranma that he was in deed meaning business. "You have absconded with the Kunou clan in their affairs with the honorable Tendo clan for the last time!" Tatewaki Kunou pulled on the handle from the scabbard to reveal the live steel that kept the weapon hidden. He charged at the pig-tailed youth, raising the blade over his head like a true samurai would have in the fields of battles long ago. His aim was true until he felt himself impact against the foot of his foul enemy.
Ranma slowly brought his foot back from hitting the Kunou heir only to snap his leg out once more against the kendoist chest knocking his opponent out of the way before his anger overtook his actions. Kunou slid back just enough to allow a roundhouse kick to slam into his head, toppling the older boy to the ground. The Kendoist rolled with the blow only to stop in a lowered position to see Ranma's foot connect to the underside of his chin, lifting him up into the air for several jabs to connect with his chest, slamming Kunou back into a tree. The sword dropped from his hand only momentarily, which happened to be enough time for Ranma to flick it upward and away from the Blue Thunder before catching it in his hand. "Listen Kunou." Ranma began, twirling the sword around to feel how the blade weighed, "What you did yesterday dishonored the Kunou clan. You put yourself in the middle of an agreement that was between the Tendo and Saotome clans."
"You lie, cur!" Kunou forced himself to stand up, trying to make himself seem better than his pig-tailed nemesis, "Anything that involves the fair Tendo Akane will have to be sanctioned through the house of Kunou first." This was, of course, the wrong thing to say to a very upset Ranma. Kunou stopped his speech as he felt his hakama cut near his shoulder. A look to his left showed the Kunou blade embedded deep in the tree behind him, barely past his shoulder. As he looked back to his aggressor, his eyes met the disturbingly stormy eyes of his foe.
"Kunou, you just made a fatal mistake." Ranma brought his knee up into the stomach of the Kunou heir, hard, and pulled him away from the tree, only for Ranma to roll onto his back and toss the aforementioned Kunou behind him and into the ground several feet away. Rolling himself back up into a standing position, his feet taking him to the downed Kunou and picked him up off the ground, "Next time you bare steel on or near the Tendo Dojo, and it involves both the Saotome and Tendo clans, you won't be able to lift the sword you bring with you." Ranma then kicked the older student back against the wall of the school, causing several cracks to be heard that sickened some of the student population. Ranma proceeded in to the school and up to his homeroom class. This surprised some of the populous as this would be the first time Ranma arrived at school, not only early enough but without his fiancée, Akane.
Moments later, Akane arrived and looks over at Ranma in bewilderment before glaring at him for nearly making her late, the bell rang as the rest of the students piled in to their classrooms, forgetting about Kunou as he laid against the wall of the school, moaning in quiet agony from the few broken bones in his ribs and shoulders.
As school progressed for the three students of the Tendo-ke, Kasumi and Nodoka had begun to clean the kitchen and get ready for lunch. They both decided something light for lunch and a bit of ramen would wet the appetites of the four in the household. The small talk that started between the two women was directed towards the discussion that occurred earlier that morning.
"I can't believe that my own son would do such a thing." Nodoka started, cutting up the vegetables and meat for the ramen while Kasumi got the water and noodles ready on the stove, "Ignoring the words of his parents. If he just listened to what we told him, he would be married and start having those grandchildren I've wanted."
Kasumi gave the older woman a glance as she placed the noodles in the boiling water, giving the noodles a quick stir to make sure that there wasn't anything missing for the noodles. "What about Ranma's wants and needs?" she questioned, wondering what her thoughts were for her own son's desires.
Nodoka looked up from her cutting and gently waved her free hand as if to dismiss the actual question, or dismiss the thought that Ranma had his own wants and needs, "He should be doing what his parents want of him first before his own desires are taken care of. Most of his desires have already been taken care of as we planned out his marriage to your sister and giving him those mistresses." Chopping the last of the vegetables, before she started cutting the meat that would be put into the ramen.
The brunette rolled her eyes as she stirred the noodles and prepared to add the broth to the ramen once it was ready, 'I don't think you even know a little bit of what Ranma-kun desires.' Kasumi could attest to that as she and Ranma had a few discussions before the wedding of what he would like to do, but now that he caught the attention of Nabiki, those discussions may not happen as often as she would like. "Still, Auntie, are you not presuming a little too much about what Ranma-kun wants?"
This stopped Nodoka from finishing up cutting the food as she focused her attention on the oldest daughter in the Tendo-ke. While it was true that she didn't raise her son. She believed that she could figure out what her son wanted and desired during the time she was around him. Even if most of those desires were partially what she wanted her son to do for her. "Preposterous, Kasumi-chan. I think that I have some knowledge of what my son wants in life." She set the knife down on the cutting board and scooped up what she had cut up into bowls for Kasumi to reach quickly when the time to put everything together was set. "But there are some things he must relinquish and follow through. He should do as his parents ask, as we have his best interests in mind."
"Are they the best interests for him? Or for you?"
The bell rang for lunchtime and everyone decided to escape the indoors halls of the school and enjoy the bright sunshine that rose during the day. While many were sitting with friends and talking about what happened that morning, Ranma sat himself upon a lone branch that overlooked the open football fields and grounds. With the bento Kasumi and his mother made for him open, he idly picked at his food and contemplated what was going to happen after school let out. He knew that he had to deal with Soun's abuse of authority in taking an item that was addressed specifically to him. And that was something he was going to talk to the older man about once he was able to discuss it with him. Taking a bite as he savored the food in his hand, he caught sight of Nabiki and her crew stepping out to also enjoy the early afternoon. He knew that something was up and that Nabiki knew more of what was happening. If last night in the furo gave him any indication that what his father was thinking about and he knew about what was going to happen if he married Akane before he was of age. Still that wouldn't deter him from doing what he wanted to do. A few more quick bites of his bento before his head jerked up from hearing someone below him.
"Saotome!" Nabiki yelled, she had been trying to get his attention for the last few minutes. 'Something must be on his mind if he hasn't finished that bento.' she thought as Ranma put the lunch away and dropped down next to the middle Tendo daughter. 'Still, if it's about what he did to Kunou, I wouldn't be surprised.' Nabiki stepped closer to the pigtailed boy, "So, what declaration did Kunou-chan exclaim this time to deserve several broken ribs?" She questioned. While she was there early enough to proceed with a few of her normal betting pools and other information selling schemes, she wasn't in the vicinity of where Ranma was when both he and Kunou fought. So instead of listening to the rumor mill, she headed straight for the horse's mouth, so to speak.
Ranma gave the middle sister a quiet snort as he turned away, walking to the trunk of the tree before sitting himself down. "His usual declarations. Except that he brought live steel to a public location." Ranma figured she would have had this information all ready, her other informants were close by to hear some of what was said between the two.
"That doesn't tell me a lot, Saotome." The brunette tapped her finger on her chin in thought before setting herself down next to him. Though not uncomfortably close, she was close enough to him that they could whisper and still be heard between each other, "Was it his undying affection to rid you of both your alter-ego and my baby sister?" Ranma shook his head to indicate that wasn't what happened. "What about his proclamation that you're an enemy of women? That you lead so many of us poor, unappreciated flowers away so that you can have your wicked way with us?" She finished with a wink, causing the Saotome heir to quietly chuckle at the remark.
Ranma began to understand that Nabiki was trying to make light of what happened that morning and knew she was teasing. He could learn to like Nabiki if all she did was just teasing. Though he figured that one good laugh deserved another, "Unappreciated? You know we guys appreciate you, though some appreciate certain parts of you." They both laughed and settled in to finish their bentos, "No, that wasn't it either." Ranma calmly responded to the unanswered question.
"Then what happened?"
Ranma released the breath that he held and looked at Nabiki as he spoke, "He thinks he lords over what happens to Akane." Nabiki blinked at the answer, wondering exactly what he meant before it started to click for her. Her all ready neutral face began to drift to a more apparent anger before she caught herself and replaced her expression with that of her normal icy persona.
'That.. That damned Kunou-chan.' Nabiki growled in her thoughts, 'He's really taking this whole noble samurai and daimyo act too far if he thinks that he controls what we do in our house.' Her grip tightened around her chopsticks that she had before letting it relax and took a few meditative breaths. 'I might have contributed to some of that, but that wasn't supposed to happen like this. I took great means to make sure that it didn't get out of hand when producing pictures of my sister to him.' Nabiki gave a quiet shudder, as she thought was Kunou might have done if he was enamored with her. 'I'm not letting him act like that again. Especially after what happened this morning.'
Ranma saw the middle sister shudder and figured that she was thinking about what Kunou said. He looked down at his bento and quickly finished what was left before looking back at her, "So now you see why I decided to hurt him a bit more?" Nabiki gave a nod herself. The lunch bell rang after the quiet moments between them faded, letting the students know that they had to be back in their class rooms. When Ranma stood up, he helped the mercenary Tendo up off the ground and walked with her towards the entrance of the school.
"Ranma." He looked to Nabiki, giving her the attention she requested of him, "For what its worth, thank you for defending our family honor." She stepped inside and headed to her homeroom to finish the rest of the school day.
Nodoka sat in the middle of the room that housed her son for the better part of the year. She wished that her husband and son had visited her first before deciding to go over to stay at the Tendo's. 'It wouldn't have hurt them to stop by.' She thought, 'I wouldn't have held Ranma or my husband up to that contract if I had at least seen him first before they told me about the curse.' She took a deep breath before exhaling, allowing her to calm down. She couldn't find any fault for their reasons of why they didn't stop to see her because of her wishes should Ranma not meet her requirements as a man among men. 'But I promised myself that I would be a better mother to Ranma.'
Her thoughts, however, were a bit disturbed at what the eldest daughter of Soun Tendo said to her. 'Do I really know Ranma all that well? Is what I want and he wants the same?' She questioned herself for only that moment before shaking her head as she banished such thoughts. 'No I know exactly what my son wants. And he would want to please his mother first by doing what I ask of him.' She stood up and picked up the silk bundle she carried around with her. 'I will make sure my son chooses the right path to take. And that will allow me to have all of the grandchildren I want.'
With the grace of practice and experience, she walked down the stairs and stepped into the tearoom, where she saw her husband and his devoted friend playing their game of go. 'It seems that the discussion this morning had an adverse affect between the two. They are not cheating each other out of their pieces and positions.' Nodoka observed as she strode over to her husband and lightly patted his shoulder, "Husband, I require an escort to help me with groceries for tonight's dinner." She asked of him, 'And maybe we can talk about what exactly is happening between my son and his entourage of fiancées.'
Genma looked up from his game to see that his wife of seventeen years needed his assistance. While it was a known fact that Genma Saotome was afraid of what his wife would do to him for certain things, he knew when to give up and follow what his wife asked him to do. This happened to be one such time. 'Maybe we could finish the game later.' He thought as he moved one last piece on the board before standing up, "Good game friend. Perhaps we can finish this game when the children aren't here."
"Quite right, Saotome-kun. Another time perhaps." Soun agreed with his friend and let the Saotome couple leave his home to pick up what groceries she required. It would give him some time to think about the day before and what occurred that morning.
Just as the Saotome couple turned the corner towards the market plaza, Ranma-chan arrived in front of the gates to the Tendo-ke. Having been splashed along the way to her destination, Ranma-chan gently twisted the edges of her silk shirt and stepped up to the entryway.
"I'm home." She called out, hoping Kasumi was around with something to dry her hair out so she didn't get water all over the floor.
"Welcome home, Ranma-kun." Kasumi looked out from the kitchen to the door and noticed the damp state the redhead was in. "Just a moment Ranma-kun and I'll have a towel for you." Kasumi's head slipped back into the kitchen only to have her walk out a moment later with a small towel she kept just in case for Ranma-chan or her father.
"Thank you, Kasumi." Ranma-chan responded after receiving the towel, giving the older girl a smile that was returned, "What would I do without you?" she playfully said.
"Probably make a mess of everything you do." Kasumi's rebuttal earned the redhead's laughter that wasn't forced, "How was your day at school?" She asked of Ranma-chan, as they both headed towards the kitchen to let Kasumi finish up cleaning.
Ranma-chan's face became sour as she thought of the day up until just that moment. She knew that letting Kasumi worry about what happened would only make the household feel just as sad, and she didn't want to dampen the mood that Kasumi was already feeling. But one just doesn't lie to Kasumi Tendo. It was just not in anyone's nature to lie to the eldest Tendo daughter. "Not so well, Kasumi."
"Oh? So tell me about it? Maybe that'll make you feel better about what happened."
Ranma-chan began telling Kasumi of her day, including the fight between herself and Kunou. While most of it was the usual scatterings of what happened in days past, this time it was more emotional because of the day before.
Kasumi listened with rapt attention as Ranma-chan finished her tale, offering some tea to help calm the martial artist as she sat in front of the Jusenkyo victim, "That's very unfortunate, Ranma-kun." She reached over and patted her hand softly, "Maybe you need a few days to unwind."
"Maybe Kasumi." Ranma-chan looked up at Kasumi before taking tea from the eldest Tendo daughter before taking a few sips. "If I can get some time to myself I would."
"You can always ask Nabiki to help you there. I'm sure she could get it so you had that time to yourself." Kasumi mentioned before she took a few sips from her own cup. Ranma-chan looked at her as if she just told her to jump into Jusenkyo head first.
"Maybe I will." Ranma-chan said as she finished her cup.
Nabiki arrived home an hour after Ranma-chan had arrived. She figured Ranma would head home right after school got out, as he never signed up for any club activities for the most obvious reasons. Sliding the door open, she called out that she was home before taking off her shoes at the entryway and headed up the stairs, noticing Kasumi's quiet reply that welcomed her home. She slipped into her room and removed her school uniform so she could slip into her usual shorts and t-shirt she habitually wore. Once completed, she stepped out of her room to head for the kitchen when she noticed Ranma stepping out of his room. "Saotome." She called out to him, "Can I have a word with you?"
Ranma looked at Nabiki before responding back to her, "Sure. What did ya want to talk about?" Ranma took a moment to lean up against the wall he was close to.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go out for a bit this weekend. You seemed to enjoy yourself last night." Nabiki noted as she remembered the night in question.
'Do I really want to go out with her again?' Ranma's thoughts started to contemplate the idea of going with the middle sister, 'It was fun to go out and act like a normal person. Not having to worry about my Fiancés or anyone else. But will I get that chance to have the same thing again?' Ranma's finger tapped against his chin as he gave it some more thought before responding to Nabiki's request, "Honestly, I'm not sure Nabiki. I don't want to see you hurt because you're trying to show me a good time." It was a legitimate concern for him. If Nabiki was hurt during their 'date,' as his followers would probably think it was, it might ruin what growing relationship he has currently with her.
Nabiki looked at Ranma for a moment, believing he was breaking up what friendship she was starting to have with him before reviewing what he said to her. 'He is right about that. I might get hurt because of his rivals. Or from his Fiancées that think that I'm taking their man. Not that I would take him.' She reminded herself at the last minute. She knew that he was a handful if the past year told her anything of the martial artist. "Well I can't force you to go, Saotome. But the offer is there if you want to take it." Nabiki's fingers traced across his collarbone before she continued towards the kitchen, swinging her hips to tease the Saotome heir.
Ranma stood there for a moment, watching the brunette leave his line of sight while admiring her backside that she was teasing him with. He shook his head before heading to the dojo to get a few kata exercises in before dinner.
-X-X-X-
That night, dinner was a quiet affair as everyone decided not to disturb the current peace that was affecting everyone. Even the two Saotome men were not fighting each other for the food on their plates. It was just the calm that would occur before the raging storm approached the household and they knew this calm wouldn't last. Soon it was time for the three students to start on their homework and head off to bed, while Kasumi and Nodoka cleaned off the table and washed the dishes, saving any leftover food that they could. Ranma had taken the time to grab his book bag and climb to the top of the Tendo-ke so he could study without having to bother anyone. As he completed his assignments, thoughts entered his mind of what he was going to do with Soun Tendo.
'If it wasn't for him and trying to hide the cask from me when it should have gone directly to me I would have been cured of the curse.' The pigtailed boy took note of that as he decided that he needed to speak with the Tendo patriarch about his treatment of Ranma's property and Soun's reason for using the cask of Jusenkyo water to keep him in line. 'We're definitely going to have a few words about that cask.' Ranma began as he closed his books. He placed his notes and schoolwork in his satchel before climbing back into his room. He noticed that his parents were not in the room like they were last night after the wedding before he placed his school pack next to the door. He unfolded the shiki futon and kake futon from the bedding closet in the room before taking off his clothing, leaving him in his customary tank top and boxers. Covering himself in the kake futon comforter he drifted off to sleep.
-X-X-X-
The sun rose the next morning and only the early risers were up to greet it as it passed the horizon. Soun Tendo was one of those individuals. as he sat on the veranda overlooking the koi pond. Breakfast had just be severed minutes ago and it was a good time to let the food digest properly. As nice as it would have been, a game of Go or Shogi would make the morning be just that much better. But Genma had decided to follow his wife back to their home. The excuse was to start rebuilding the Saotome home, but Soun knew that it must have been in regards to the wedding that happened a few days ago. Soun frowned as he remembered the attempt to marry his daughter off and his 'old friend's' part in disrupting it. 'Ahh.. A waste of a good morning.' He said to himself while watching the sun continue to rise.
"Tendo-san? Could I have a moment of your time?"
Soun turned slightly, seeing the boy he'd hoped would be his 'legal' son and heir by now stepping out of the house to join him on the veranda.
"Of course, Son. Please, join me," he responded, indicating for Ranma to sit beside him before once again looking out over the garden. "It's a beautiful day this morning, isn't it, Son?"
"Actually, Tendo-san," Ranma stated, an unusually hard edge to his voice and choosing to remain standing, "I'm not your 'son', yet."
"Ah, but you will be, once you do the 'honorable' thing and marry my sweet little Akane," Soun stated, getting to his feet. Something about the boy this morning was making him nervous and his long dormant 'fight-or-flight' instincts were acting up. It didn't take a genius to understand that the boy may have been a little upset about that day's incident, so Soun attempted to move their conversation away from such topics. "But enough about weddings, for now. We can try again, at a later date, once you've resolved your relationships with those other girls. Now, what was it that you wanted to talk about, Son?"
Ranma was trying to keep his frustrations in check and not attack the Tendo patriarch outright for daring to remind HIM of what was 'honorable' and once again foisting the problem of the fiancées off on him to solve, instead of the one who'd created those very problems in the first place... Genma Saotome. Reining in his rapidly dwindling control of his temper, Ranma gave the older man a hard glare as he spoke, "Tendo-san, I understand that the cask of Nanniichuan that was LOST at the wedding had been sent here by the Jusenkyo Guide as a gift TO ME for helping to restore the cursed springs?"
Soun nodded slowly, his mind scrambling for an answer that would seem logical and curtail thoughts of reprisal, "Yes, there was a cask that came here. It was addressed in the 'care of the Tendo Dojo' and assumed to be used as I, as the Master of the Dojo, saw fit." He turned to look at the Saotome heir, a smile on his face, before continuing, "So, I thought it would make a fine addition to the dowry of this Dojo when you married my little girl."
Ranma glared at the older, supposedly wiser, man as the tenuous grasp he held on his anger began to slip and his battle aura became visible, causing Soun to pale and step back as he prepared to make a run for it. 'He's getting to be just as powerful as the Master.' Odd how that thought seemed to appear in his mind before all hell broke loose between himself and the Saotome heir.
"You ASSUMED that with TWO Jusenkyo curse victims residing in your house," Ranma growled, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, "that the cask was sent to YOU?! You ASSUMED that you could do with it as YOU saw fit, even after the Guide called you and told you SPECIFICALLY who it was intended for and WHY?!" Ranma's battle aura continued to grow as his anger mounted and his voice rose. "You had the GALL to use it to BLACKMAIL your own daughter into agreeing to marry me and THEN intended to hold it for RANSOM in order to gain MY cooperation in marrying your daughter!"
"Now, Son," Soun nervously began, "I just wanted to ensure that you would finally marry my little gir-"
"SILENCE!" Ranma roared, unconsciously strengthening his voice with his chi and nearly causing the windows of the house to shatter. "You had NO right to withhold what was clearly MY property! Nor did you have the right to try to use it as you did, which resulted in its LOSS! YOU OWE ME, TENDO! For the DISHONOR and DISRESPECT that you have shown me, a GUEST in your home, you OWE me!"
Soun, sensing his absolute authority in his own home being threatened by Ranma, resorted to his 'Demon-Head Attack' in an attempt to intimidate the younger male into submission to his will. Right or wrong was irrelevant. The Dojo was HIS home and HE was its only master. That was the way it had always been and that was the way it would always remain, even after Ranma finally gave in and married Akane. Unfortunately for Soun, and unlike all the previous times he'd used the technique to intimidate the boy into backing down, Ranma merely sneered at the ki-attack and with a wave of his left arm backhanded Soun's demon-head with his own battle aura, which disrupted Soun's attack and caused a backlash of energy that forced Soun to his knees.
"N-now, Son," Soun stuttered in shock at the failure of his technique and more than a little fear of what Ranma would do next, "I-I was only doing what I felt b-best for y-you and Akane."
"YOU WERE DOING IT FOR YOUR OWN SELFISH REASONS AND NOTHING ELSE!" Ranma roared, before his voice lowered to a throaty growl. "You owe me, Tendo! And one day I WILL collect! Pray that you do nothing else to increase that debt, or force me into collecting upon it in the near future! And don't you EVER think that YOU know what is in MY best interest ever again, as you have CLEARLY shown that you care only for YOUR OWN selfish desires and nothing else!" With that said, Ranma struggled to regain control of his anger before the now trembling Tendo patriarch, immersing himself in the 'Soul of Ice' technique and causing the moisture in the air to condense around him, activating his curse, before forming a layer of frost upon the now slightly charred flooring of the veranda.
Throwing a last withering glare at the cowering creature before her, Ranma-chan turned and walked back into the house. She paused upon seeing Kasumi and Nabiki just inside the entrance, having obviously heard most if not all of what had just taken place, before releasing a weary sigh and continuing on further into the house. She needed to regain her center and, as the dojo had yet to be cleaned, that meant meditating in her room. Fortunately, her father decided to head back to the Saotome home and was out of her sight, so she should have ample privacy for at least a little while.
The two eldest Tendo daughters silently watched the redhead walk out of sight, different thoughts flowing through their minds at this most recent event.
Nabiki shivered slightly as the cooled air of Ranma-chan's passing wafted about her. She'd known that Ranma had been upset about the wedding attempt and the loss of the Nanniichuan, but she hadn't expected the Saotome heir to actually develop enough backbone as to actually confront her father, in the manner he had, on what he'd done, let alone claim that an 'Honor Debt' was now owed to him. That Ranma had had to resort to the 'Soul of Ice' technique in order to control himself spoke clearly of how close things had come to turning violent.
Kasumi, for her part, watched Ranma-chan walk away with a sorrowful expression. It was only due to her belief in being a dutiful and obedient daughter that she hadn't confronted her father, herself, over his recent actions. Especially in regards to the loss of what may have been Ranma's last chance at a cure for his curse.
More often than not, Kasumi had been the one to comfort the distraught young man when some new aspect of his curse surprised him, to explain how the female body functioned, and to soothe his frayed nerves after he'd suffered all-too-frequent nightmares of 'herself' becoming intimate with various boys. And that wasn't even considering the other types of nightmares Ranma suffered from, thanks to all that his father had put him through. Kasumi didn't believe for an instant that it was 'for the sake of the Art' or to make Ranma 'more of a man', as Mr. Saotome was so fond of saying about his 'training' efforts. Kasumi recognized blatant laziness and idiocy when she saw it. The vast majority of Genma's training methods were nothing more than extremely dangerous 'shortcuts' that placed Ranma in life-threatening situations, just so Genma wouldn't have to exert himself more than was absolutely necessary.
Kasumi had heard most of the discussion between Ranma and her father, and she found herself in total agreement with Ranma. What her father had attempted to do was both dishonorable and disrespectful of a guest in their home. While it was true that the cask of Nanniichuan water had been sent in 'care of the Tendo Dojo', Kasumi had found the receipt from the delivery service in the trash and it had clearly stated that Ranma Saotome was to be the recipient... NOT the Dojo and NOT her father!
Looking towards her now weeping father, as he blubbered on about the schools never being joined, Kasumi felt an uncharacteristic need to punish the overgrown child that passed itself off as an adult. And for once, made no move to go comfort the crybaby, instead turning about and moving back towards her kitchen.
"Nabiki, perhaps you could check up on Ranma-kun and make certain he is alright," Kasumi said over her shoulder, recalling the argument between the two that she'd overheard the night before and that the two had parted on reasonably good terms. She was just thankful that she'd sent Akane on a short run to the grocery store right after breakfast, or things could have gone considerably worse this morning.
Ranma-chan sat, lotus-fashion, on her futon, still employing the 'Soul of Ice' technique and trying to bring her anger back in check through meditation. As the more spiritual aspects of the Art had been something Genma actively discouraged whenever possible, as they tended to promote thought and reason, Ranma-chan was only having minor success in calming herself down from her encounter with Soun 'Waterworks' Tendo. Even so, she had been successful enough in submerging her consciousness as to be unaware of the entrance of another person into the room, until she felt a hand placed upon her shoulder... and a loud, colorful, series of expletives escaping the lips of the possessor of said hand as it was quickly removed from her person. Smirking humorously at Nabiki's colorful language, Ranma-chan ceased using the 'Soul of Ice' technique and turned about to see the still softly cursing Nabiki attempting to rub some feeling back into her now numb hand.
"Damn it, Saotome, I knew you could be a cold bastard upon occasion, but do you have to take my title of 'Ice Queen' as well?" Nabiki demanded, moving her fingers slowly and grimacing at the 'pins-and-needles' sensation that encompassed her entire hand.
Ranma-chan shook her head with a grin before taking the older girl's hand into her own smaller ones. Gently massaging Nabiki's hand, Ranma-chan began to slowly infuse some of her own chi into the cool flesh to warm it and ensure that no actual damage had occurred. "I couldn't pull it off as well as you, even if I can generate a cold aura," she responded. "How does your hand feel now?"
Nabiki, almost reluctantly, withdrew her hand from the warm embrace of Ranma-chan's hands, clenching it into a fist a few times and assuring herself that it felt back to normal. "It's better now," she said, gazing at the petite redhead and contemplating the best way to bring up the recent confrontation on the veranda. Seeing Ranma-chan's expression sadden as she released a soft sigh, Nabiki pressed ahead before she completely lost her nerve, "Ranma... about the 'debt' my father now owes you..."
Ranma-chan's eyes hardened in an instant, causing Nabiki to cease talking. "That is nothing you need to worry about, Nabiki. It is strictly between me and your father," she growled lowly. "It was NOT the Tendo 'family' that withheld MY property and subsequently lost it. It was Soun Tendo, acting alone and in his own self-interest, that was responsible. Therefore, it is Soun Tendo and Soun Tendo alone, that I am holding in my debt. I just hope he has more honor left in him than my own worthless father."
"All right, I just meant that if he doesn't follow through with what he owes you, then I'll see what I can do to make sure he does honor that debt," Nabiki said.
"Don't worry about it, Nabiki," Ranma-chan said, her expression softening. "If he fails to honor his debts, then he merely proves that HE is without honor, not the Tendo family as a whole." Feeling calmer now, Ranma-chan rose to her feet and reached out to help Nabiki up. Not entirely calmed, however, she used a bit more strength than necessary in assisting Nabiki to her feet and Nabiki stumbled forward slightly, so that they ended up bosom to bosom just as the door to the room slammed open.
"Ranma! Hurry up or we'll... be..." Akane stood there in the doorway, her eyes widening almost comically as she took in the scene before her. There were her sister and her unwanted fiancé, presently in girl form, standing so close together that their breasts were flattened against the other, their lips scant inches apart, and clasping each other's hands. It looked so intimate... so erotic... so... "Pervert!" Akane spat giving them both a hard glare, before turning about and stomping away. A few moments later they could hear, and feel, the front door slamming shut.
"Was she calling 'me' a pervert, like always, or you?" Ranma-chan asked, still looking towards the open doorway. "Or both of us?"
Nabiki wasn't entirely certain, herself. Still, she wasn't about to pass up this opportunity she'd been given and wiggled her upper body slightly, while leaning more forcefully against the smaller girl, distracting her long enough for Nabiki to free her hands from Ranma-chan's and grab hold of her shapely bottom to give it a good hard squeeze.
"Eep!" Ranma-chan squeaked, her eyes widening at the surprise assault upon her person, before her expression turned scolding. "Nabiki," she growled, reaching back and firmly pried Nabiki's hands from her bottom. "Never mind who Akane meant, I KNOW who the real pervert in this room is!"
"Aw, you're no fun!" Nabiki mock pouted, but nonetheless backed off.
"Whatever," she said, ushering the older girl towards the door. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to get ready for school."
"I'm willing to help you dress," Nabiki fired back playfully. "No charge even!"
"Out!"
Akane huffed as she exited her home while digesting the scene she saw between her older sister and her Fiancé. 'It just wasn't that they were intimate. They both had clothing on.' She thought as she ran towards the school. 'It's all Ranma's fault. Why can't he figure out what I want and just let me have it!' Her complaint was all for naught as she entered the school and headed for her classroom.
Both Nabiki and Ranma knew that after the little 'incident' this morning that talking about what happened might spark off a heated debate between them. As Ranma had stated, it wasn't her fault and it was all her father's as he kept property that was for Ranma and Ranma only. They walked in companionable silence as each thought of other things to keep from bringing up that morning. 'Maybe Ryonami would like to go to that new club that's opening this weekend. I could definitely use it to get some frustrations out.'
Ranma was forcing his mind to leave his discussion with the Tendo patriarch and give more attention to how he was going to explain the scene to Akane. Truthfully he wished that Akane would at least ask or question something before she thought that he was at fault with whatever looked or seemed wrong in her eyes, but as usual he would have to at least find some way to get her to talk to him so he could explain. 'Maybe tomorrow. I really don't want to deal with her temper today if I can avoid it.'
Both arrived at the gates to the school without any problems. That brought a bit of fear to Ranma as he knew something was going to happen today. It had been far too quiet after he beat Kunou to the ground the day before. Yet he knew that if he asked for something to happen at that moment, that something would happen to him. He gave Nabiki a parting goodbye and walked to his classroom as Nabiki went to hers. Once he slid the door open, he did notice someone who would not make the day very pleasant for him.
Sitting at her desk, because she had been absent yesterday to heal up from the wedding disaster, Ukyo Kuonji gave him a smile and a wave, beckoning him to sit next to her before class started. Her smile faded as she saw Ranma turn his head away from her and sit down at his desk that was a few seats away from hers. 'What's got his boxers in a pinch.' She thought. Class, unfortunately for her, started as soon as Ranma had sat down at his desk. Ukyo wished she had some time to talk to him about the day before and make her own statements about her actions. She settled for writing a small note that asked him what she was thinking and passing it to him with help from the other students.
Ranma took a quick look at the note before his face took on a scowl as he read the cute handwriting before crumpling it up and setting it aside on his desk. Ukyo noticed that the paper was crumpled and made a angry face of her own at the boy she had given the note to. Another note was written, asking him bluntly what crawled up his ass and died. Again this note followed the first and caused a small tick to appear above the eyebrow of the okonomiyaki chef. Several more notes passed from Ukyo to Ranma, each note being read and ignored by the pigtailed boy as he listened to the lesson as best as he could.
Over in another part of the classroom, Akane Tendo took quiet glances at the same pigtailed boy that was currently running in her thoughts. After she completely digested the scene that she walked in on, she figured that Ranma couldn't have been the pervert. While the position was very intimate, it wasn't something that he would do normally. 'He's more of a grab and glomp than a tender hold.' She rationalized before glancing once more at the pigtailed boy, spotting the notes that were being passed to him. 'Why would he be getting notes? Everyone knows he's mine.' That was currently debatable at the moment as she tried very hard to find a reason why she should still keep the jerk. 'I'll have to keep an eye on him.' She thought as she continued to watch notes being passed to him.
During the rest of the class period until lunch, all of the notes being passed to Ranma had piled up next to his head. Ranma tried very hard not to fall asleep once again in class, but it was for naught. Still the teacher droned on about the assignment before the bell rang, telling everyone that lunch had started. Ranma got up as he heard the ringing of the bell, picked up the crumpled notes and tossed them into the trash bin before he jumped out the window to his usual place he had lunch. This upset Ukyo as she wanted desperately to talk to him and hunting him down at lunch would take some time. She grabbed her weapon of choice and left the classroom to catch Ranma before he could settle down. She arrived at the main courtyard of the school and spotted him in the tree where he customarily sat in eating his lunch at a slowed pace. This worried Ukyo as she usually saw him wolfing down his food like there was no tomorrow. She walked up to the tree and looked up at him, "Ran-chan!" She called out. Hoping he would look at her. The pigtailed boy looked down at the chef before standing up on the branch and putting away his food. He jumped away from the branch and landed half a dozen feet away before bouncing again into another tree close by and away from her. This caused Ukyo to fume quietly while she yelled out at him again, "Hey Jackass! Get back here!"
She tried to follow his path but lost sight of him after several minutes. She sat down and grumbled quietly, "He's sure being a jackass today. I thought I was doing him a favor with saving him from marrying his unwanted Fiancée." She stood up and decided that she was ultimately going to catch Ranma after school let out, "Better get out the grill and try to make some sales before lunch is over." She said to herself as she started grilling the okonomiyaki for her classmates.
The day continued on, and as Akane watched more notes appear on her Fiancé's desk she found where they were coming from. This piqued her interest as she thought of reasons why the okonomiyaki chef wanted to talk to him. 'That just wont do. I can't have her thinking that the wedding wouldn't have happened if herself and the purple bimbo from hell hadn't entered the Dojo.' As the last bell rang to let the student's leave, she noticed both Ukyo and Ranma leaving at the same time. One by 'normal' means and the other by the window. 'Now what are they up to? I hope that she doesn't think she can get her hands on him right away.' She followed Ukyo out, ignoring her friends that she needed to head to her cooking club meeting place. As she exited the school, she saw the two of them standing by the gate and decided to get closer to listen in on their discussion.
Ukyo finally caught up to the pigtail boy, reaching out and grabbing his arm to forcefully stop him in his tracks. She turned her Fiancé around so he was looking at her before reaming into him about his behavior towards her. "Listen you jerk. What's the big idea not talking to your friend?" The cold stare she received back shocked her for a brief moment as Ranma's storm-blue eyes rounded upon her dark brown orbs.
"I didn't have any reason to talk to you." His response felt just as cold as his stare. The day was going just fine for him until this happened. He managed to get through the entire day ignoring Ukyo as he thought about her actions on the day of the wedding. "You acted like you didn't care about any of my choices."
'But that's not true.' Ukyo looked back at Ranma, pleading with him first to try and understand her reasons why she did what she did. "But I'm your friend. You know I care about what you want..." This might not have been the right thing to say to the pigtailed boy. Ukyo took a step back as she saw Ranma's shoulders shaking, not in sadness, but in anger.
"I thought that you were my 'friend!'" He spat out, letting his anger come out in slow waves of power to show how visibly upset he was with her. He took a step towards her as Ukyo herself took several steps back, "What kind of friend tries to make decisions about how their 'friends' are supposed to live?" Another menacing step towards the girl made the rocks next to the foot almost float upwards with the density of ozone and his aura, "Or who they're supposed to marry? Why couldn't you have asked me if it was something that I wanted. Make a decision, Ukyo! Are you my 'friend'?"
"But, Ran-chan... We were engaged by our fathers. I am your Fiancée!" Ukyo cried out, knowing that she had to calm him down or there would be things said. Things that could hurt both of them later in their lives. She bit her lower lip for a moment as she responded once more to the pigtailed boy, "But I'm also your friend. Your father took my dowry. And you promised to always be there for me! We're supposed to be married!"
"Did I ask you to marry me?"
The tone Ranma said that almost made the actual words grow frost. Ukyo had just crossed the line and it was upsetting him even further. Around the school yard, many were originally ignoring the two as they talk. They hadn't bothered anyone and it wasn't something that would cause the gossip mills to start running. However many did stop their conversations just to listen to what was taking place.
The okonomiyaki chef shivered as she felt the waves of power that were originally engulfing her suddenly drop as the temperature also followed. Tendrils of cold ki whipped across her body and made her realize who she was talking to. She almost wanted to back down and let him go. Almost. "But our fathers-"
"Did...I...Ask...You?"
The tone should have set her off. She shouldn't continue with this conversation. It was definitely not going the way she planned at all, "Wh-what about Akane? Or Shampoo?"
Ranma leaned in and glared harshly at the brunette in a male school uniform, "I haven't asked anyone to marry me. Not you. Not Shampoo. And not that violent uncute gorilla of a wannabe martial artist, Akane." This of course shouldn't have been said in the vicinity where said individual could hear it. By the time Ranma realized that he said that about Akane, he spotted out of the corner of his eye a large mallet heading towards him before being sent into the air by an angry Akane.
"Ranma no BAKA!"
Akane watched as her Fiancée was rocketed through the air towards an undetermined destination. She took a moment to wonder exactly where he might land in that direction before banishing such thoughts. 'I will never like the jerk. Not after the way he insulted me like that.' She muttered mentally, focusing her attention on one of the many girls who were chasing the pigtailed boy, "Well? You couldn't leave well enough alone now could you?"
Ukyo balked at the statement. 'She has the gal to blame all that on me?' The chef grabbed two spatulas off her bandoleer and shot back a hateful glare. With Ranma physically gone, whatever fear that was holding her back against him had dissipated and she focused her ire towards the girl who punched her Fiancé, "ME? If you wanted him as your Fiancé, why didn't you walk with him to school like you always do?" She twirled the sharpened weapons around her fingers while advancing towards the dark-haired girl, "Though as he was walking with Nabiki, you might have switched the engagement to her again."
That brought a tint of red to Akane's cheeks as recalled the reason why she wasn't walking with Ranma that morning. The image of her sister and her Fiancé's female form so close together and in such an embrace continued to get a rise in body temperature, "Its not like that!" She denied, shaking her head at the thought that continued to creep up in her mind.
"Not like what?" Ukyo questioned the girl, getting closer to her so she didn't have to broadcast where her thoughts were taking her, "Did you catch them doing something that's only reserved for his Fiancés?" She scowled mentally as she saw Akane turn a brighter red color to indicate she did see something and it was with Nabiki. 'That woman and I are going to have a little talk at some point.'
'It's not like that. Nabiki knows that he's mine. Knows that she has no rights to him. That she gave him up to me.' Akane's mind continued to battle it out about who actually had rights to Ranma and why. 'I thought I had it figured out this morning when I got to school. Now Ukyo brings it back up.' Akane turned to the last rival for snaring Ranma, bringing her hand back and snapping it right back out.
SLAP!
Ukyo stumbled back slightly as she felt her cheek begin to throb. 'What the hell just happened?' she wondered, rubbing the inflamed cheek to bring the light swelling from the slap down. She knew if she retaliated she might not get any chance at all with her Ran-chan. Stepping away from the angered girl she turned away and started for her restaurant. 'Kontatsu should be able to find out what happened to Ran-chan. And then I'll decide from there.'
Not everyone heard what had happened to the pigtailed boy as one of is Fiancée's tried to find out why he wasn't talking to her. Upon the rooftop of the school, the middle Tendo sister looked down upon the scene with a quiet calm that was abnormal for her. She wondered when one of the girls would snap and start to talk to Ranma about the wedding. It seemed that Ukyo was the first one. And from the way Ranma was almost bearing down on the girl, from her perspective, it seemed he just about snapped with what happened earlier that morning with her father.
"...pai."
'Why couldn't you do that with my little sister, Saotome?' She thought to herself as she knew Ranma wouldn't lash out at just anybody for no particular reason, 'Or what about Shampoo? Are you going to do the same thing with her as you did with Ukyo and Daddy?"
"Sen..."
'What is going on through that head of yours?' She continued to ponder, letting her mind wander for a chance to come up with ideas of what was going through Ranma's mind. 'And what can be done to stop you from going AWOL?"
"SENPAI!"
Nabiki jolted out of her thoughts and turned towards her subordinate and friend, "Yes, Ryonami?"
The girl in question looked at Nabiki with a questioning glance, along with several others that were a part of Nabiki's betting pools, "Everything all right, Senpai?"
"Everything's all right, Ryonami. Tell the others that we will continue tomorrow like we have before. I just need to make sure our 'investment' isn't going to have any problems." Nabiki looked back towards the gate, just barely catching Akane giving Ukyo a slap before the brunette turned and headed out of the school. She briefly heard Ryonami giving out the announcement and the girls walking away from her so they could head home to do their school work. Once the door shut for the entrance to the roof, Nabiki turned around to see Ryonami hadn't left with the other girls.
"So what's really the matter, Nabiki-senpai?"
Nabiki gave the girl a grin as she knew her answer wouldn't persuade her to ignore the problem. "Trouble in paradise as usual. Though I was hoping to get some time either this week or on the weekend to go dancing."
"So why don't you?" Ryonami walked over to the railing that Nabiki was leaning up against. She stretched her arms in front of her for a moment and looked over at her mentor, "It's not like it stopped you from going on a weeknight anyway."
'I really haven't told her the reason why though. She might as well figure it out as he isn't going to go out anymore because of a certain group of girls who will hound him.' The middle Tendo daughter released a sigh before responding to the question, "I was hoping to get Ranma-kun to go out and loosen up. Maybe get you involved so we could all go clubbing."
"Ranma-kun?" Ryonami grinned as she elbowed Nabiki softly in the ribs, "Deciding to join the 'take the stud and ride him' club?"
'You have no idea.' Nabiki thought before turning towards her friend, "That, my dear Ryonami, is a secret!"
-X-X-X-
The screaming bullet of red and black landed with a giant splash in the middle of one of the canals that ran through the city. While in went a raven-haired male youth, what came out was a drenched female red-head. Sputtering out what water was stuck in her throat as she stepped out onto the shoreline, Ranma-chan slammed her fist into the ground as she stood up, 'That uncute tomboy.' She grumbled mentally before wringing out what water she could get out of her silk shirt and pants. 'Every time I say something bad about her and WHAM!' It took several minutes to get the excess water out of her clothing before she jumped out of the canal and up to the rooftops. She didn't feel like heading back to the Tendo-ke, knowing that Akane would still be in her foul mood no matter what time she got there. She opted to spend the time thinking about her relationships with all of her Fiancés. What she said to Ukyo rang true. She never asked any of them to marry her. She never asked to have them follow her. In fact, she never wanted any of them in the first place because she wasn't ready to settle down and have a family.
As Ranma jumped around the rooftops she spotted someone she recognized when she was at the club. She dropped down from the roof she was on and started running towards the woman, "Hey!" The woman in question turned around and looked at the redhead with a questioning look before Ranma-chan spoke up again. "You were at the club a few nights ago, weren't you?"
The woman with long white hair blinked once, and then twice before responding, "You're Ranma? From the dance club, right? Jinkies, I'd heard about a guy around here that turned into a redheaded girl, but I'd no idea it was you." Ranma-chan gave a light smile as the woman remembered her from the night before.
"Yeah that's me." She walked closer to the older woman and looked at her face directly. She wondered when she would test to see if she really was a girl with the usual response. When it didn't occur, she tilted her head slightly before asking the obvious question, "So this doesn't bother you?"
"Nope." Gina smiled at the redhead before continuing her walk. Ranma-chan followed her as they went into a small cafe at the corner. They slipped in and found a table where they both could talk. "Honestly I've encountered stranger things than someone changing genders. Dragons and Djinn are just the top of that long list." She smiled and flagged down a waitress for some tea and a snack. She looked at Ranma-chan, who just ordered some green tea, before continuing, "I even knew a shapechanger once during my travels."
"Really? Where did you go?"
The older woman smiled at Ranma-chan's enthusiasm about traveling, "Many places. Been through Europe, Africa, and Antarctica just to name a few of the continents that I went through." Their tea arrived and she was told her other order would be a few more minutes as the waitress went to another table to take the order of another customer.
"So what's got you down?" Gina noticed from their small walk that the redhead was contemplating something that occupied her mind. Ranma-chan looked up from her drink and gave a very light movement of her shoulders before she started.
"It seems like nothing is going right for the moment. And everything is falling apart around me." Ranma-chan took a deep breath before continuing, "And I can't seem to get relaxed enough to let the day go by anymore."
"You were plenty relaxed at the club when we were dancing." The older woman smiled and took a few sips of her tea. "Sometimes I go out just to relax. To dance the night away and use that anxiety to keep me dancing. It's a great stress reliever."
Ranma-chan thought of that night when she was dancing. She admitted to herself that dancing did help her relax and made her forget about the problem with the wedding and the parents. Even though they brought everything back in the morning. Gina's snack arrived and she nibbled quietly on it, offering some of her pastry to the redhead to finish it off. "It was fun, and I did feel better after leaving the club."
"See. That's why you just need to take a night or a full day and have fun. Go out dancing again with Nabiki. She seemed to know how to get you to relax." This brought a light blush upon the redhead's face before Gina took the check and paid for their drinks and pastry. "And I think she enjoyed it as well." She got up from the table along with Ranma-chan, before she splashed herself with the rest of her tea. Gina gave him a once over as she noted the change as they left the cafe. "Maybe the next time I see you I'll teach you a different dance step." That brought a smile to the pigtailed boy at the thought of learning something new.
"I might take you up on that offer, Gina-san." Ranma smiled before they parted ways.
-X-X-X-
Ranma sat on the roof of the Tendo-ke after dinner was completed. He decided he was going to ask Nabiki to go out again, but he hadn't been able to find any time to do so without alerting the parents or Akane. It took him a few minutes as he gazed into the starry night. He stood up and walked to the edge of the roof before turning upside down to peer through the glass window of the middle sister's bedroom.
Nabiki groggily got up from her bed after hearing the incessant tapping from her window. She knew of only two things that could do that and she hoped it was one of Akane's suitors picking the wrong window so she could charge them for upsetting her slumber. As she looked at the window, her eyes widened at the sight of Ranma dangling from the edge of the roof over her window, pigtail falling past his head and an expression on his face that she couldn't quite place. 'What could he want at this time of night?' She thought to herself, cursing him for waking her up in the middle of the night. She opened her window enough to allow Ranma to enter her room and quietly sit at her desk while she slipped herself back into bed once the window was closed, "Out with it, Saotome. Even I have little patience when trying to get my sleep."
The pigtailed boy sat there, lightly tapping his fingers together as he came up with the words he needed to tell Nabiki, "Would you like to go out this weekend for some dancing?"
"I thought you didn't want me to be hurt if we went out?" Nabiki curled up on her bed, watching the Saotome-heir as he brought his hands together.
"It's true. I don't want you hurt for showing me a good time." He looked at her for a moment, continuing his train of thought, "But I think the great Nabiki Tendo can find some way for us to still have fun."
The smile that adorn the middle sister's face was all the proof he needed that he made the right decision. And it was a decision that he had made for himself.
-X-X-X-