First fic alert. This isn't the first thing I have written. But it is
the first on I have even considered posting to the FFML.

If you have read any kind of fan fiction before then you have seen the
disclaimers that all (well almost all) fics have.

I was warned that my previous please don't sue me statement was almost
an open invitation to sue. Well, please don't sue. I have no real
money I am a poor college student. My estimated net worth could not
even come to a thousand dollars.

C&C is welcomed and encouraged. Flames aren't, really.

Thanks to all my pre-readers, who helped improve this work greatly.

As a final note Kasumi might be a little OOC, at least from the cannon.
I prescribe (at least in this fic) to the idea that Kasumi isn't nearly
as oblivious as she seems.

Here it is.
Version 2.1

--------------------
Thoughts
Authors notes ()
Stressed words --
Sound FX **
Ranma in girl form -chan
--------------------

What has happened before:
A mysterious stranger has come to the Tendo Dojo with a deliver
for Ranma.
That delivery is a small, female, child. Information given to
Ranma indicates that the child is Saotome Miko...And Ranma is
registered as her father...
Kasumi is the only other person at the Dojo besides Ranma, and
she is very surprised at how easily Ranma accepts Miko, and wonders who
Miko's parents really are...
After a bath Miko calls Ranma "daddy", something that
completely floors Ranma...
And something he doesn't entirly accept...
Miko has trouble sleeping, so she sleeps with Ranma.
It is now morning, and the rest of the Saotome and Tendo clans
are due in latter that day...
--------------------
Ranma 1/2:
Childhood Mysteries
Part 3: Times are a Changing
--------------------

It is morning at the Tendo Dojo. Kasumi was already awake and
preparing breakfast. Both Ranma and Miko were still asleep. Thought
they wouldn't be asleep long...
What a strange dream I had last night, Ranma thinks to
himself, not really awake yet, Not really a nightmare, but not a
perfect dream either...
It is at this point, that Ranma realizes that it is slightly
warmer in the futon that it usually is, and that only one of the
breathing sounds belongs to him. Huh, too small to be Shampoo,
Kodachi wouldn't quietly sneak into bed, *gulp* its too small too be
anyone I know, except... With a sinking feeling Ranma realizes that
last nights dream...Wasn't exactly a dream.
Oh, man what am I going to do? Ranma worries, while
carefully loosing Miko's death grip around his chest, I am going to
get pounded by everyone when they find out about this, mom will freak.
I don't care what dad thinks, but mom I -do- worry about.
Oh well, I better see if Kasumi has breakfast ready yet...
Ranma carefully goes down stairs, and Miko just turns over in Ranma's
futon, her dreams suddenly turning for the worse.

--------------------

What a strange dream I had last night... Kasumi thinks to
herself as she continues to go about cooking breakfast, I dreamed that
Ranma had a daughter and he did not complain at all.
Once again, Ranma appears just as Kasumi begins to think about
him. He seems a little thoughtful and worried, but that look passes
quickly when he spots Kasumi, "Morning Kasumi, how are you?"
Kasumi gives Ranma that smile that only she seems to be able
to do and replies, "Ok, Ranma. You know Ranma I had a really strange
dream last night..."
*Sigh* "It wasn't a dream Kasumi. I really do have a kid,
she's still asleep."
"Oh, my. (Sorry) Ranma whatever are you going to do?"
"I don't know. But I am trying not to worry to much about it,
if I do I might lose it completely."
"Hi Ranma," Yells Happosai, flinging the usual bucket of water
at Ranma, triggering the curse, "Let an old man rest in your glorious
bosom." Suiting word to action Happosai glomps onto Ranma-chan's chest.
Ranma reacts predictably and pounds the old man away.
"Ranma, who was that girl last night?" Happosai asks, tensing
to leap in for another glomp.
"I told you last night you old man. It's none of your
business." Ranma yells at the shrunken martial arts master. "Stay
away from her."
"Come on Ranma, I'm not going to hurt her, you can tell your
beloved master who she is." Happosai makes the mistake of glomping onto
Ranma-chan again. Ranma punches Happosai into the koi pond (of
course).
"Ok Ranma, you either tell me who that girl is, or you can have
this." With these words Happosai pulls out one of his fireworks and
prepares to toss it at Ranma-chan.
"Not today you old lech,"* POW* and Happosai is now air-born,
explosive still in hand. He makes it several hundred feet from the
Dojo when it goes off with a giant *BOOM*.

-----------------------

The sound of the explosion causes Miko to start in her sleep
and leap back to awareness. Without opening her eyes she tries to
discover where she is, no, No, NO. It couldn't have been a dream, I
can't still be at that bad place. "NOOOOOO!" Miko screams out loud.
She shoots up straight in the futon and begins crying to herself, "No,
it wasn't a dream, it wasn't, I know it wasn't a dream, it can't have
been a dream."
Miko continues to cry to herself, slowly becoming aware of the
world around her, which is not the place she feared it was, and of the
worried faces of the two people that she just meet last night.
"Daddy!" Miko cries out and grabs Ranma in a hug tighter than
one Shampoo has ever given, totally cutting off Ranma's air supply.
Despite of not being able to breathe Ranma is relived, Miko
doesn't appear to be hurt. He is also annoyed that she called him
'daddy' again. But when she doesn't stop crying Ranma begins to
panic. What'll I do? I don't know how to calm down little girls. I
can't calm down Akane when she gets mad, so how am I supposed to calm
a little girl down?
Ranma looks to Kasumi with a pleading look on his face. Seeing
Ranma's look, and his swiftly changing face hue, Kasumi takes pity on
Ranma and using her most comforting tones she carefully tries to pry
Miko from Ranma, but only succeeds in transferring Miko's death grip
from Ranma to herself. "It's ok Miko, it's ok. You are safe here."
Ranma takes his cue from Kasumi and also adopts a soothing
tone, "I ain't going to leave you Miko, you are with me now. I ain't
going to let anyone hurt you. You understand?"
Miko smiles thorough her tears and nods to Ranma, but still
doesn't release her grip on Kasumi. Kasumi begins to notice that she
can't breathe but decides not to worry about it. "Come on Miko, why
don't you let go of me and come have some breakfast."
Miko decides that this is a good idea, and lets go of Kasumi.
Ranma smiles at Miko and goes and gets another of the outfits Kasumi
had found for Miko and as the two of them help Miko dress both notice
that the clothing is looking old and a little threadbare. Both also
notice Miko's rather poor physical shape.
Kasumi recommends Ranma goes shopping for some newer clothing
for Miko. Ranma isn't happy with this idea and makes some token
protests, but Miko's hopeful look soon changes his mind, though he
still grumbles about not wanting to do 'girlish' things.

---------------------

The three have gone downstairs and have begun to have
breakfast. It seems Miko still has a tremendous appetite and is well
on the way to out eating Ranma.
"Thank you pretty lady," Miko thanks Kasumi after she has
destroyed her portion of breakfast.
"You are welcomed Miko, but please call me Kasumi."
"Ok...Aunt Kasumi."
Kasumi's reaction to being called 'aunt' isn't that different
than Ranma's reaction to 'daddy'. She is completely shocked that this
child has come to trust her so much in such a short period of time.
She realizes now that this child is now very much a part of the family,
and that removing Miko from her family would be the same as killing
her. With Ranma Miko finally has someone who at least makes all the
motions of caring for her. And it seems to Kasumi that she has joined
that rather exclusive group that is a child's trust.
"Your welcome Miko." Kasumi, as usual, tries not to let any of
her rather stunned feelings out, but Ranma's rather 'she got you too'
grin told her she wasn't entirely succeeding. "Alright Ranma why don't
you get ready, and then you can take Miko shopping." Ranma's face
falls as he realizes that he hasn't gotten out of the shopping trip.
*Sigh* "Alright Kasumi." Ranma heads upstairs for a minute,
getting ready for the shopping trip.
After finishing his preparations Ranma heads downstairs,
collects Miko, and heads towards the nearest mall, I hope I don't run
into anyone I know. I really don't want to have to try to explain
this.

----------------------

As soon as she is sure they are gone Kasumi heads up to Ranma's
room. I don't really want to invade his privacy like this. I know I
tried to watch he Ranma was with my little sister, but I have never
actually spied on him before.
Kasumi begins a short, but through, examination of the room
Ranma shares with his father. Unfortunately, and much to her
frustration, Kasumi is unable to find any of the papers Ranma showed
her concerning Miko's parentage.
Kasumi begins to check around the room again, and this time
notices a note on Ranma's desk that she missed the first time. The
note is in Ranma's rather poor handwriting, made even sloppier by the
haste it was written in.
The note's message makes Kasumi laugh, "Dear Kasumi," Kasumi
reads out-loud from the note, "If you are looking for Miko's birth
certificate, it is downstairs on a shelf. Don't bother trying to see
if there was anything else, I have already hidden all that stuff in a
place not even Nabiki could find it." After getting a short laugh at
Ranma's note Kasumi sobers up and slowly goes over the room one more
time.
Ranma what are you keeping from me? I am afraid that this is
going to hurt my family, and that child as well.

-----------------------

Ranma, or rather Ranma-chan, has succeeds in getting Miko to
the nearest mall with no incident greater than a splash by the usual
lady throwing water. Ranma is most definitely put out by the change,
but after a moments thought he decides that returning to his male form
just wasn't worth the trouble, especially for what is coming up. So
with only a minor pause to adjust clothing the shopping trip continues.
Wow look at all the pretty clothes. Miko thinks as
Ranma-chan leads her into a store specializing in clothing for women,
"Daddy...I mean Ranma...er, why are you like that right now?"
Ranma has a nervous expression on his...her face as she leads
Miko into the department store, "This store only sells clothing to
girls, and I don't want anyone I know seeing me here, I will never live
it down. And don't call me daddy."
"Oh." Miko is still confused but decides to let the matter
drop, "Oh isn't this dress pretty? Please can we get this dress?"
Ranma's fears prove all to true as Miko begins to drag him from
rack to rack of clothes, trying on everything in sight. She even tries
to get Ranma to try some clothing, and after several attempts
(employing some pleading and a couple tears) gets Ranma into a cute red
sundress. Ranma is completely disgusted with it, but finds he can't
refuse Miko for very long. Ranma has begun to beg to the gods that no
one he knows sees him, especially one person in particular...
"What a glorious day this is, hark do my eyes deceive me? Is
this form that graces my eyes my glorious pig-tailed goddess? Hello my
dear goddess, you are trying to make yourself pretty for a date with
the noble Kuno Tatewaki."
"I have told you before Blue Dunder, I ain't going to date
you." Ranma is cursing the fates that brought the absolute worse
person to her at the absolutely worse time.
"Hark, what is this vision of youthful beauty is this? Perhaps
your cousin or your sister, my pig-tailed beauty."
Ranma grins a rather nasty idea, "Nay, my gentle Tatewaki, this
is mine offspring. Is not my child a truly great beauty?"
Kuno, for once, is stunned beyond his usual speech mode.
"-No-, this can't be. Who is the father of this demon child?"
Ranma is stunned by Kuno's rapid change in attitude, and
forgets to keep up her formal speech, "My, child is -not- a demon,
-Tatewaki-, and you don't need to know who her father is."
Ranma guides the slightly stunned Miko away with their
purchases, stopping only long enough to change back into her usual
Chinese outfit, leaving a stammering and shocked Kuno.
Kuno stands stock still for several minutes, his mind furiously
trying to fit in Miko into the world he has created in his mind.
Unfortunately Miko's existence is contrary to Kuno's deepest beliefs,
that his pig-tailed goddess is as pure as snow, and that he is the only
one she sees as a love. Struggling with this unimaginable (at least to
him) paradox Kuno comes to the decision that only one person could be
the source of this dilemma...
"-No-, that foul sorcerer Saotome has defiled the laws of
nature itself and has summoned a demon in the likeness of a child, to
force my beloved pig-tailed one away from her true love. He will not
get away with this fallacy. First I will destroy the foul sorcerer,
then that demon-spawn that wears the guise of an innocent child. I
Kuno Tatewaki, Blue Thunder of Furinkan High -swear- it!"
With these words Kuno runs of to get a true weapon to do the
foul sorcerer and his demon away with. Thoughts of glorious victory
running through his head, along with the dream of a grateful pig-tailed
goddess...

----------------------

Ranma-chan and Miko spend another couple hours shopping, Ranma
seems to be a little less reluctant to be shopping with Miko as the
length of the shopping trip increases. While she doesn't get to the
point of actually enjoying the trip, Miko doesn't need to put in nearly
as much effort to get Ranma-chan into a store. Along with clothes
Ranma-chan has bought Miko some important items, like toothbrush and
other personal items. Miko also got some not so important items, like
a stuffed rabbit, (Ranma turned down the original idea of a stuffed cat
down flat.) and a pretty rubber ball.
Miko herself is thrilled, this is the first time she has been
shopping, and she plans to see everything and everything available.
That looks nice, maybe daddy will take me there next, but I'm getting
hungry. I want to see it all, but I'm hungry too, maybe daddy know
what to do...
"Daddy, I'm hungry." Miko quietly tells Ranma-chan after they
have been shopping for about four hours. Ranma's arms are loaded with
packages. (You've seen this before, a person so loaded down with stuff
that you can't see them through the packages, well Ranma has almost
reached that point.) He doesn't seem to mind the weight of the
packages too much (truth be told they really aren't that heavy). He
too, however, is getting hungry.
"Ok, Miko so am I, and what did I tell you about calling me
'daddy'?"
Miko has the good sense to look slightly ashamed and look down
at her feet. She isn't very sorry though. She doesn't understand the
problem Ranma tried to tell her about last night. Why doesn't he want
me to call him daddy? I don't understand.
Ranma stops next to a bathroom in the food court, "Now, Miko
you wait here a second, I am going to change back." Ranma steps into
the bathroom and comes out less than a minute, once again male. Ranma
takes Miko's hand and leads her down into the food court.
I like daddy much better like this, Miko thinks, He feels
much stronger when he's like this.
Man, is it good to be a guy again, Ranma thinks to himself,
Miko seems to like me better as a guy too, I can't fault her taste.
Ranma and Miko purchase a large lunch (for anyone normal, we
all know Ranma can eat a horse) and settle down to enjoy it. They eat
quietly for several minutes when Kuno appears in the food court.
Kuno is in an almost rabid rage. He is carrying a real katana
and is almost franticly searching for something. He then notices
Ranma, and more importantly (to him at least) Miko. "At last I have
found you demon child, with your death my lovely pig-tailed goddess
will be free."
Ranma looks at Miko, surprised by Kuno's rage, "Hold it Kuno,
what are you doing? Attacking a child is low, even for you." What's
wrong with Kuno? He usually doesn't act this crazy.
"I see no child accursed Saotome, all I see is a demon in the
guise of a child. A demon you no doubt you summoned to bind my beloved
pig-tailed goddess to yourself in eternal slavery."
Miko looks like she is about to burst into tears (she has just
been called a demon, what would you do?). Ranma turns to look Kuno in
the eye and yells, "That's stupid even for you Kuno."
"Silence nave," Kuno yells, "And stand aside I am here for your
demon, you I will slay later."
Ranma quickly shifts into a combat stance and yells to Miko
over his shoulder, "Miko, run!" Then Ranma attacks Kuno without
preamble.
Miko runs away quickly, and Kuno seeing his target fleeing
quickly tries to follow, but is stopped by the enraged Ranma. More
specifically by the enraged Ranma's foot, which is landing in Kuno's
face.
The fight with Kuno goes relatively quickly, at least to an
outside viewer. To Ranma, however, the fight seems to go on forever,
he is so worried about Miko that Kuno lands a few glancing blows with
his katana, causing minor cuts to appear on Ranma. Ranma's shirt is
cut many times, and a few of those cuts draw blood. Kuno seems pleased
that he has injured Ranma, though he is fighting no better than before,
only Ranma's worry for Miko allows Kuno to land the blows that he does.
The fight goes on for about a solid minute, and while Kuno has done
more damage to Ranma than ever before, he is rapidly losing. Ranma's
punches, while slower than usual, are certainly not lacking in power.
In the end of the fight Kuno ends up buried in a wall, placed there by
a snap kick to Kuno's stomach. Kuno then mumbles something about
resting a short while, and closes his eyes.
"Miko, Miko where are you?" Ranma calls out, pushing through
the crowds that have gathered to see the fight, "Miko answer me!"
Ranma is beginning to panic, "MIKO!"
"Over here daddy." Miko's voice calls, calming Ranma's panic.
Ranma looks in the direction of Miko's voice and sees...
nothing. "Miko where are you? I can't see you." Ranma searches the
area Miko's voice came from, but sees nothing.
"Over here daddy," Miko giggles. Then Miko -appears- next to a
trash can, just appears. First she wasn't there then and then she was,
appearing in a place Ranma could have swore she wasn't a second ago, "I
was hiding."
Ranma is shocked by Miko's sudden appearance, "Whaa...How did
you do that Miko."
"Do what?"
"Disappear like that."
"I don't know what you are talking about." Miko's confusion is
clearly evident in her voice.
*Sigh* "Never mind," Ranma concedes, also ignoring Miko's
calling him 'daddy' in public, "Are you hurt Miko."
"My leg hurts," Miko whines, "What's wrong with it?"
Ranma looks at Miko's leg, but sees noting wrong with it, then
an idea occurs to Ranma, "Listen Miko, an old friend of mine just moved
back into town, he can fix you right up."
Miko accepts this and closely looks at her father, "Are you
hurt daddy?"
"Nah, its nothing."
"Are you sure?" Miko gently touches one of the wounds on
Ranma's sides, making him whimper a little, "You are hurt."
Daddy got hurt to save me, he really does like me...
Ranma clenches his teeth and manages to force out the words,
"Nah, its nothing."
Ranma gathers up Miko and their purchases and slowly caries
them out of the mall leaving Kuno stuck in the wall.
So, Kuno musses to himself, That despicable Saotome is that
child's father. I fear that I need more information about this -Miko-,
I also may need to in list the aid of my sister in riding the world of
that blight. She will most undoubtedly assist in destroying the link
between that cur Saotome and my beloved pig-tailed girl.
Unfortunately, it seems that many people heard Miko call Ranma
daddy, and dozens of rumors where created on the spot. Also
unfortunately for Ranma, none of these rumors where very kind...

----------------------

On route to his 'old friend' Ranma remembers to tell Miko about
her calling him 'daddy' again, she once again relents, but seems even
more reluctant to do it after being saved from a madman.

----------------------

Ranma has taken Miko to a familiar looking clinic. One that
has a 'Just reopened' sign on its front door. Miko seems nervous at
being in a place so completely new to her, but trusts her father knows
what he is doing.
"Dr. Tofu, are you here?" Ranma asks as he enters the clinic,
he carefully sets Miko down and calls out again, "Doc, I need your
help."
"In here Ranma," Dr. Tofu's voice echoes from one of the
examination rooms, "Come right one in, I'll be with you in a second."
Dr. Tofu steps out from the examination room, whipping of his
glasses. He appears no different than the last time he was seen in
Tokyo. "What can I do for you Ranma? Oh and who is this young lady?"
Ranma reaches behind his head and nervously plays with his
pigtail, "Well Doc, this is Miko (nervous pause, -extremely- nervous
pause), my daughter. We both need a check-up, and I sort of need to be
patched up again."
Tofu raises an eyebrow at this announcement, but decides not
to make any major comments, "Ok Ranma, you first, then your daughter."
Dr. Tofu's examination of Ranma is done in his usual efficient
way, though slightly more gentle for Miko's sake, after the examination
Dr. Tofu sets Ranma on his feet and Miko promptly hides behind his
legs, shyly peaking out a Dr. Tofu, "That wasn't too bad, Ranma. Not
the worst I have seen you, but if you where anyone else I would tell
you to go to the hospital. However, I am going to ask that you don't
get into anymore fights for a day or two, to make sure your fully
healed. You have lost some blood, and these are bad cuts."
Ranma gives a rather ironic grin, "That might be a little hard
Doc, you see Akane and our folks don't know about Miko yet. I'm pretty
sure that staying out of fights, or avoiding poundings, is something I
ain't going to be able to do for a few days. Now Miko needs a
check-up, she complained about her leg about half an hour ago."
Tofu looks carefully at the shy little girl and stoops down so
their eyes are even with each other, "Hello Miko, I'm Dr. Ono Tofu, but
you can call me Dr. Tofu. I try to make people that are hurt better.
Can I look at your leg?"
Miko nods at doctor Tofu and steps out from in front of Ranma's
leg. Ranma carefully picks Miko up and places her on the examination
table. Tofu carefully examines Miko's leg, and pokes a few pressure
points, a few minutes later Dr. Tofu is finished with his examination.
"There all done, Ranma I need to talk to you alone for a second or
two."
Ranma nods and turns to Miko, "Miko, why don't you go play with
your new ball in the lobby."
Miko smiles and nods at Ranma and heads out into the lobby, as
soon as she is gone Dr. Tofu's face turns serious and he motions Ranma
to sit down.
"Ranma, I don't really want to be the one to tell you this,"
Tofu begins, "But something is seriously wrong with your daughters
leg."
Ranma is not too happy to hear this, I hope nothings to bad,
"What?"
"I am not entirely sure, but my guess would be that it was
badly broken a long time ago. For some reason it didn't heal
correctly. I fear that if she suffers from too much stress, she might
suffer from some serious complications."
"I understand Doc, I'll do my best." Ranma responds.
"Now Ranma, I know Miko is too old to be your daughter, so why
don't you tell me what is going on?"
Ranma frowns and thinks to himself for a moment then sighs and
looks Dr. Tofu in the eye and says, "Only is you swear not to tell
anyone else about any of this."
Tofu nods his head, "I swear never to reveal any of your secret
to another living soul."
"Well Doc, it began like this..."

---------------------- (Don't you just hate me?)

Miko has gotten her ball out of one of the bags of assorted
purchases, a bright blue ball, just slightly bigger than her head, and
true to almost any child she is throwing the ball into the air and is
trying to catch it. Unfortunately, she is not very good at it. She
continually missies the ball on its return journey. But now matter how
bad she is at it she is still enjoying herself and is happily laughing
to herself when she misses the ball completely. The ball passes
between her hands, bounces off her head, and rolls into a corner. Miko
turns and begins to walk towards the ball when someone drops down from
the ceiling.
The figure is wearing all brown, and wears a partial mask over
his face. His isn't very tall, and has a disturbed expression on his
face. Miko is scared, but convinced that if this person is bad her
daddy will save her. Miko picks up her ball and decides to try to be
friends, "Do you want to play?" She asks the figure, holding the ball
out as an offering.
"Sorry, but I am afraid that I do not have the time" the figure
says, his voice is friendly enough, but Miko doesn't relax any, "My
name is Sasuke and I have a message I want you to give your father."
Miko relaxes a little, but is still nervous, though for
different reasons, Daddy said that some people might do bad things if
they knew he was my daddy, didn't he? That other man said he wanted to
get me..., "What is it?"
Sasuke sighs slightly and looks Miko in the eye, and while he
can't do it very long Miko does see that he is very serious, "Tell him
this. The Kunos' have gone totally insane, both Tatewaki and Kodachi
are after your daughter. They have convinced themselves that your
child must die for their loved one to be free. They told me to keep an
eye on your daughter as they prepare, and well I did what they asked
and have found that your daughter is just what she seems to be, just a
little girl. But, the Kunos think she is a demon, or very close to it,
and are likely to try to kill her again. I think the Kunos have
finally gone to far, and I want you to know that I am on your side
now. I will try to give warnings to their attacks whenever possible,
for as long as I can. Can you remember that?"
Miko has had a look that seems that she is far away during
Sasuke's message. After it is finished she nods and smiles at Sasuke,
"I think I can."
"Good, I must go, have fun with your ball."
Miko waves to Sasuke with one had and then heads into the
examination room where Ranma and Dr. Tofu are.

------------------------

"...And that's what happened." Ranma is finishing as Miko
enters the room.
"Hmm, well Ranma I do see the problems in that, I am not sure
what you are going to do, but if you or Miko need my help just ask."
Miko walks in between Tofu and Ranma to get their attention.
"Daddy," she explains, "Somebody gave me a message for you."
Ranma looks at Miko slightly startled that someone has given
her a message, especially one for him, "Who was it?" He asks.
"A little person named Sasuke," Miko replies, "He had a message
for you."
"What was it," Dr. Tofu asks.
Miko then proceeded to repeat Sasuke's message for Ranma and
Tofu. She told the message in a voice that was as close to Sasuke's as
her vocal cords can manage, she also repeated the message word for
word. She started to look a little scared as she reached the end of
the message, as if realizing for the first time what the message
actually said. When she had finished both Dr. Tofu and Ranma look
worried, Ranma also looked a little mad.
"I can't believe it," Ranma muttered to himself, he begins to
pace around the room as he thinks out-loud, "Both Kodachi and Kuno are
after Miko. I thought Kodachi would be happy that the 'pig-tailed
girl' would be no longer available to chase me. What are those idiots
thinking, and more importantly, have they told anyone about Miko?"
Ranma then looks towards Miko, he sees her scared faced and
reassures her that no one will hurt her, a sentiment that Dr. Tofu
echoes. "I better call the Dojo and tell them that we'll be home for
diner," Ranma says out loud, "Doc, can I use your phone?"
"Sure Ranma."

-----------------------

Kasumi is preparing diner when the phone rings.
"Hello," Kasumi begins, "Oh, hello Ranma, you're at Tofu's? Ok,
you'll also be home in time for dinner? Alright, everything should be
ready here by the time you get back."
Kasumi hangs up the phone and returns to her preparations when
the rest of her family, along with the Saotomes, arrive all at once.
After warmly greeting them Kasumi returns to the dinner, expanding its
size to the increased amount of people, Hmm, everyone is back early.
Ranma and I didn't expect them until tomorrow...
Kasumi's face becomes instantly troubled when she realizes that
Ranma is going to be walking in completely unprepared. She quickly
calls Dr. Tofu's clinic, but Ranma and Miko have already left and all
she gets is Dr. Tofu (who for some reason doesn't lose it when she
calls). Kasumi hangs up the phone and leans against the table it is
on for a minute. Then she does something she hasn't done in years, she
opens her mouth and says, "Shit!" After cursing for about three
seconds Kasumi thinks to herself, I can't stop Ranma from getting
here, but with Miko along it will probably take him longer to get here.
That gives me just enough time to get the family ready. I hope...
Kasumi hurries off and begins the preparations for Ranma's
arrival, not realizing that Ranma is carrying Miko, and is coming to
the Dojo at his usual speed...

-----------------------

Ranma arrives at the Dojo with a now laughing Miko, she enjoyed
the piggyback ride he gave her very much. Knowing only Kasumi was
home, and that she was expecting him Ranma didn't yell his usual
greeting to the house. He drops off the packages containing the
purchases at the front entrance and heads towards the main room. The
door to the main room is closed, but before he can open it Miko pulls
on his pants leg.
"What is it Miko?" Ranma asks the girl, not bothering to keep
his voice down.
"Thank you," Miko replies, "I had a great day...daddy."
Unfortunately for both Ranma and Miko, Miko didn't bother to
keep her voice down either, and everything she had said had clearly
carried over to the other side of the sliding door...
And with a bang the sliding door flies open revealing the
shocked faces of the Tendo and Saotome clans...
And at once all of them (saved Kasumi, who put her head in her
hands) scream out if as one voice, "WHAT!!!!!"

---------------------
End part three
(Ha, did it again, didn't I?)
---------------------

Authors notes:

Thanks to all the fanfiction authors I have read, if it weren't for you
I would have the guts to post this.
Thank you to my pre-readers, who have pointed out many of my mistakes.
And of course thanks to Rumiko Takahshi, without which I wouldn't have
this wonderful series to write about.

C&C and even MSTs are welcomed. Please send to trscrogg@unity.ncsu.edu
(note: case is important here)

Thanks
Thomas Scroggs