After school...
"Welcome back, everyone. How was school today?"
"Just great, Kasumi-neechan," Akane smiles as everyone relaxes around the coffee table. "I think we're finally going to do something about Kunou-baka and the rest of those idiots before long. Oh, everyone knows about the engagement now."
Kasumi blinks, then stares at Ranma. "Did you have any problems with that, Ranma-chan?"
"Iie. Before we came home, some of Akane's friends and acquaintances told us we had guts admitting that in public," Ranma indicates herself, than her sisters. "It's sad when you think about it. When does truth require courage to tell it?"
"Sometimes, Nee-chan, the truth is too painful for some people to admit to themselves, not to mention admit to other people," Ranko muses. "The chances are, Kunou may be like that, which means we have to be EXTRA cautious around him. Besides, you were like that before the Crossing Over, remember?"
"Hai, you're right. Ranma Saotome, she who possessed the greatest inferiority complex in the world! That's me!!"
The Saotome sisters laugh. Nabiki and Akane remain silent, then turn as Kasumi steps out of the kitchen, tea and several cups in hand. "Oh, I did some shopping while you were gone," the elder Tendou daughter announces. "Starting with your wardrobe and all that, plus some basic necessities you might need. Would you three be willing to sleep with each of us instead of in the guest room?"
Everyone blinks. "First of all, have you discussed this with your father?" Ranko hums. "Personally, I wouldn't mind sharing a room with Nabiki, but I don't want to cause problems with Ji-san."
"Given that there are four of you crammed into the guest room, it's only fair that the accommodations be spread around," Kasumi cautions, smiling. "I personally won't mind Kikuko-chan staying with me. Would you mind sleeping with Ranma-chan and Ranko-chan?" she stares at Nabiki and Akane.
"Well, since we agreed to partner up, it does make sense," Nabiki shrugs. "Besides, that's another thing that'll keep Dad and Saotome-jisan off our backs."
"Akane?" Ranma stares at her fiancee.
"What if someone on the outside finds out?" Akane hums.
"Then they're the perverts, only deserving to get squashed!" Ranma winks. "People should learn to mind their own business, after all. Besides, there are...things I have to learn from you and you need to understand some things in return about me. Okay?"
Akane stares at Ranma, then grins. "Okay!"
* * *
"Three Sisters"
by Fred Herriot
fherriot@yahoo.com
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir kush1@iaw.on.ca
With C&C by Kevin D. Hammel khammel@pacbell.net and Robert Geiger robertgeiger@prodigy.net
**** **** ****
Based on "Ranma 1/2" created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
PART THREE - REUNIONS
"There we go. You look beautiful, Ranma!"
"Domo, Akane," Ranma hums, staring at herself in the mirror. A light amount of blush, lipstick and shadow was added to her face, plus her hair was styled loose. That, added to the track suit that subtlety accentuated her features, gave Ranma a wilder, untamed look. Kasumi had used their private funds to give them a balanced wardrobe that spoke volumes about their personalities. Put simply, Ranma was the tomboy, Ranko the self-assured woman and Kikuko the traditional maiden. Ranma had to compliment Kasumi for her judgement; it was no wonder that she had become the new house matriarch after her mother's passing. "I really like it a lot. It's just enough to make me look beautiful without overdoing it."
"I thought style didn't matter to you," Akane muses, laying her hands on Ranma's shoulders.
Ranma gently grasps her fiancee's hands. "Not really. When you're on the road, one of the last things you have to worry about is how you look to others. But now, I want to make my own style. Nothing too aggressive; that's more Ko-chan than me. But I want people to know in their hearts 'This is Ranma Saotome'...just like you want people to know 'This is Akane Tendou' when you pretty yourself up for a night on the town."
"A little pride shining through, don't you think?"
"Maybe," Ranma shrugs slightly. "Then again, we're already moulding everyone's worldview with what we started this afternoon. I want to keep it as positive as possible to save trouble later. I agree there'll be people around who won't like me because of what I am...or the fact that I'm 'stealing' you off the market. You have to admit, you are pretty popular at the school, Akane."
"Hai, but it's like you said. My popularity's come to hurt other people. I didn't like that, so I wanted it stopped. This was a way of stopping it, doing it in such a way that doesn't hurt those who don't really deserve to be hurt anymore. I like it..."
A knock at the door. "Akane-chan, Ranma-chan?"
"C'mon in, Nee-chan!" Akane calls out.
Kasumi steps in, then gasps on seeing Ranma. "Ranma-chan, you look beautiful!" she beams. "This is nice. Your first try?"
"Hai, it is," Ranma smiles. "I'll get the hang of it soon enough. What's the problem, Kasumi?"
The older Tendou sighs. "Your mother just called."
Silence. "And?" Akane probes, sensing Ranma tense.
"She sounded confused more than anything else," Kasumi sighs. "I asked her to come here right away. She'll be here in an hour, Ranma-chan. It was best to warn you."
"Okay," Ranma sighs. "Domo, Kasumi."
Kasumi withdraws. Ranma walks over to her backpack, reaching in to draw out a small earthen jar, a present from one of her friends in the Nyuchezuu, Tiger. Akane walks over, then kneels beside her. "Your old body's ashes?"
"Hai," Ranma nods. "Well, no matter what, Mom'll get what she wants tonight. I just hope it won't cause too much bad blood."
Akane nods, gently squeezing Ranma's shoulder...
* * *
"It's good to see you again, Nodoka-san."
"Domo arigatou, Souun-san," Nodoka smiles, placing the Saotome honour sword on the floor before her, then she sighs. It was agreed to that Souun would receive Nodoka first and begin the explanations before the triplets would be brought out. "I really don't want to bother you about this, but...something very strange is going on here. A person at the family registrar has just told me...that my son...is now legally a woman! On top of that, I now have two additional daughters!!"
Souun sighs. "Nodoka-san, this is very hard for me to say to you up front...but you deserve to know the truth no matter what the consequences. Genma-kun and Ranma are here now...along with the others, Ranko and Kikuko. But...something happened a little over a month ago as they were winding down their training trip...that caused this present state of affairs. A bad accident occurred in China...that cursed your husband and forever changed your first child. That...shames Genma-kun very much; he would gladly exile himself from you to atone. I...please, I know of the agreement Genma-kun made with you before he left with Ranma. I...ask you, for your family's sake most of all...to just listen to what I say and understand how much things have changed."
The determination in his voice causes Nodoka to stare at him intently. "I...I'm listening."
Souun begins. The explanation lasts twenty minutes. At the end of it, Nodoka is ashen-faced, stunned at how much things had flown out of control. "Then...my son is physically dead...but lives on in a part-alien woman, one of these...Nendo-kata...?"
"Yes," Souun nods. "Ranma...has the ashes of her old body, the body you gave birth to...if all you can bring yourself to accept is just that. This was just as hard for her to see through to the end as it was for Genma-kun. But one thing I do know, Nodoka-san...is that this new Ranma loves you very much...and wants your family to be brought back together again."
Nodoka shudders, then grips her katana. "I...I'm not sure what to think right now..." she breathes out. "Where are they?"
"In the dojo. Nodoka-san...please..." he indicates the katana in her hands. "It would make it easier for them."
Nodoka blinks, then stares at the blade. She then shudders as an image plays in her mind. One of her acting as the second, Genma and her son on their knees before her, tantous in hand as they're about to be thrust into their stomachs. No doubt, that very image would be flashing in their minds. There was no place for fear at a time like this...either theirs or hers. With that, she places the katana on the table, then rises. "Shall we?"
They walk out of the house, heading into the dojo. Stepping through the doorway, Nodoka stops, her eyes widening. Sitting in a row by the shrine, with Genma to one side, were...three teenage versions of HERSELF, all in beautiful kimonos, their faces done up just so. No doubt, Kasumi's deft hand was involved; Kimiko had always told her how good her eldest daughter was when it came to housework. Their hair was styled differently to accentuate the spiritual differences heralded by their eyes. The woman in the middle holds an urn in her hands. She had blue eyes.
Ranma's eyes.
Nodoka blinks, then walks over to kneel before Ranma, hands reaching out. Ranma hands her the urn. Nodoka shudders, gazing at the small clay pot, then she hugs it close. "Sayonara, atashi no musuko-chan (my son). Kesshite wasurenai (I won't forget you)."
"Kesshite wasurenai," the three younger women whisper.
Nodoka blinks, then sets the urn aside before she gazes on Ranma. There was concern in those sapphire orbs...but there was love...not to mention joy and satisfaction that this was happening.
She stares at the green-eyed woman. Ranko, her lost daughter, who might have never had the chance to live, miraculously restored. There was concern in those emerald orbs...and a barely-veiled warning. No doubt, Ranko had often felt the opposite of Ranma when it came to their training trip...and perhaps now harboured some resentment to Nodoka for allowing it to happen in the first place.
To the brown-eyed woman. Kikuko, the unfortunate girl who drowned in that awful spring so many years ago. Loneliness and delight flashed in her eyes, not to mention hope that this would turn out for the best. Oh, yes, she could welcome her, too.
Nodoka sighs. "My son is dead. However, that does not mean I will turn any of you back if you...desire me as your mother. I have been denied a family for a decade. That...you seek to help reform my family...speaks well of you. Souun-san has told me much of what has happened to you all. I would now hear it from you."
"As you wish, Okaa-san," Ranma nods.
Nodoka blinks, then smiles, her eyes misting.
Oh, it was SO nice to be called "Mother" again...!
* * *
Later...
"I hope they're alright."
"They'll be fine," Kasumi sighs as the Tendou sisters relax around the coffee table. The Saotome clan's honour blade sits nearby, drawing wary stares from the three women. "We have to think positively about this, Akane-chan."
"I hope so," Akane sighs.
The door opens. The three turn to see everyone stream in. Nodoka smiles on seeing Kimiko's daughters. "There you are! We missed you in the dojo, girls!"
"You deserved the chance to be with your daughters first, Saotome-basan," Kasumi smiles as everyone relaxes, rising to head into the kitchen to fetch some tea.
Kikuko follows Kasumi into the kitchen as the others relax, the parents forming a row on one side of the table. "Now that this is settled finally, we can get on to other matters...namely how we will arrange for you two to get married, not to mention WHEN it will happen," Souun gazes on Ranma and Akane.
"Tou-san, I believe we decided this last night," Akane warns. "It's not right to set dates until things are right."
Souun jolts. "B-but...!"
"I agree," Ranma sighs. "Tendou-san, I realize how important this is for you. It is for that reason that we are willing to give it a chance. But if you and Oyaji try in any way to force us into something we're not ready for...you'll be in for a rude surprise."
"Girl, family honour is on the line...!" Genma protests.
"Oh?" Ranma fixes him with a level stare. "Speaking of family honour, shall I inform Okaa-san of the other things you've done behind her back, not to mention Tendou-san's, during the trip?"
Genma jolts, paling. "Husband, what is our elder daughter talking about?" Nodoka wonders.
"N-nothing at a-all, dear..." Genma stammers.
"What IS this all about, Ranma?" Nabiki muses. "You said last night that complications would set in because of this."
"Do tell us, Ranma," Nodoka instructs.
"Hai, Okaa-san," Ranma nods. "During the trip, we were living in conditions that would seem quite hellish to many people used to a stable home and steady job. Money was scarce if not totally absent. In a way, that's a good thing; I learned to travel light and have come to eschew material things that doesn't pertain to the Art. However, when things became very tight, we were forced...or rather, Oyaji forced me on some occasions...to steal and perform other illegal acts to keep us whole and hearty."
Genma shudders. Nodoka sighs. "Genma...!"
"Don't be surprised, Nodoka-san," Souun chuckles. "When we were training with the Master, it was just as bad."
"Oh, really, Tendou-san?" Ranma's eyebrow rises. "When you were with your teacher, I doubt you had to endure...complications a young, growing boy, someone who is clearly developing into a very handsome young man...could present to those who have daughters for whom they'd like to find a nice husband."
Silence.
"Daughter...is this leading to where I think it's leading to?" Nodoka tightly grips her sword.
"I am afraid so, Okaa-san," Ranma sighs. "As of now, atop the obligation to the Tendou clan...I am technically engaged to marry at least nine other women."
Silence.
Souun blinks, then spins on Genma. "***SAOTOME, HOW COULD YOU DO SUCH A THING?!?! HOW COULD YOU JUST FORGET THE AGREEMENT WE MADE TO UNITE THE SCHOOLS AND THE FAMILIES?!?!?!***" he bellows, a chi-charged Demon Head sending Genma cowering away.
Nodoka moans. "I can't BELIEVE you, Genma!!!" she glares at him. "Doesn't honour mean ANYTHING to you?!!" She then turns to Ranma. "When did you learn of this, Ranma?"
"When I was undergoing the Crossing Over, Okaa-san," Ranma sighs. "That's also when I learned of the seppuku pledge Oyaji made to you. However, save for one of those other engagements, I would personally dismiss the others as somewhat...trivial."
Nodoka's jaw drops in shocked disbelief. "Ranma, I hardly consider a marriage promise 'trivial!'"
"When it's made in exchange for a simple meal, Okaa-san?" Ranma's eyebrow arches. "I don't condone any of this either, by the way...and I've warned Oyaji that HE is the one that's going to answer for this, not me. I don't like the idea of being sold like that whatsoever. However, concerning the cases of eight of those nine women I mentioned, the promise was made for a simple meal to keep us both going. Charity to lonely Wanderers is one of the Great School's core beliefs. To actually AGREE to bind a Wanderer in an engagement to a total stranger...ugh, no thank you!" she shudders, then sighs. "I'm not sure about you, Okaa-san, but if those families believed they could, in a way, take advantage of two starving, wandering martial artists...and obtain a husband for their daughter for the price of a simple meal...well, doesn't that, in some way, allude to a form of slavery they're practicing?"
Nodoka and Souun blink, then exchange looks. "An...unusual conclusion to make, Ranma...but indeed, if they valued your life so LOW as to agree to what was being offered?" the former hums, then glares at a trembling Genma. "It does not condone what your father has done whatsoever...but I can, as your mother, dissolve the other agreements in case they press this matter...and force your father to adhere to what you demand concerning them."
"Ranma-chan, you said 'eight of the nine' women were in this situation," Kasumi muses. "What of the ninth?"
Ranma blinks, then sighs. "That...will be the problem. Both in concerns of honour...and friendship."
"Ranma?" Akane gazes worriedly at her.
"Gomen, Akane. The ninth person is...Ukyou Kuonji."
"U-chan..." Ranko whispers.
"Poor Ukyou-san," Kikuko bows her eyes.
"Who is Ukyou Kuonji?" Nodoka wonders.
"My first true friend, Okaa-san," Ranma curls her lip inward as memories flood back. "Someone who, when we first met, I assumed was a boy. We were only five years old at the time. Hence, our nicknames for each other: 'U-chan' and 'Ran-chan.' Her father is from Kyoto. He's an okonomiyaki chef and a practitioner of an armed Art which uses kitchen utensils as its weapons base. Oyaji and I were training close to where the Kuonjis' yatai was set up. To obtain something to eat, I'd challenge U-chan for a free 'yaki every day. Because of my better skill, I won every time. Besides, even then, I thought U-chan was the best cook I'd EVER met."
"So this is an accumulated debt, you mean," Nodoka sighs.
"No, it's worse than that, Okaa-san. Over time, U-chan and I became close friends. Her father then approached Oyaji to make an agreement to see us married. Oyaji then came to me and asked what I liked better: U-chan or okonomiyaki. I answered the latter, not understanding, of course, the true significance of the question. The next thing that happened was that Oyaji was carting away the Kuonjis' yatai with me riding on the back...and U-chan..." she looks down. "Chasing after us begging to be taken with us."
Silence. Nodoka blinks, not WANTING to believe what Ranma just said, then she glares at Genma. "You...ABANDONED an innocent child on the road just because you TRICKED OUR CHILD into choosing FOOD over HER?!! WHAT POSSESSED YOU TO DO THAT, GENMA?!?!?!"
"Nodoka, I couldn't bring her along with us!!!" Genma snaps back. "It's the VERY same reason I chose to take Ranma away from you!! You wanted a 'man above men,' remember...?!!"
"That no longer matters! Besides, THAT was what YOU promised me so you could drag my child off on your fool crusade in the first place!!!" Nodoka snaps, hefting her katana in emphasis, then sighs. "I can only THINK of what poor Ukyou-san went through back then!!!"
"There's one more thing," Ranma advises.
Nodoka stares at her. "Being?"
"U-chan's father considered the yatai a dowry to solidify the engagement," Ranma flatly announces.
Silence. Nodoka stares at her daughter, then she emits a controlled sigh. "I see..." she hums, then stares at Souun. "Even you must admit, Souun-san, once a dowry has been taken, that makes the agreement quite legitimate in many people's eyes."
"Yes, I would, Nodoka-san," Souun gravely nods. "And if you wish to press through with this to restore Ukyou-san's honour, I will not object. Given the fact that you now have THREE children instead of one, it's not as damaging as you'd think."
"Agreed," Nodoka nods, then stares at Ranma. "I assume that now with our family reunited, your next priority...?"
"Is U-chan," Ranma nods. "Hai, Okaa-san, that was exactly what we had in mind. We've only been here two days. While we're settling down, we want to see these matters resolved immediately before they end up blowing up in our collective faces."
"True. Alright, as far as I am concerned, the engagement with Ukyou Kuonji bears equal ranking with the engagement to the Tendou family and WILL be honoured as best as possible," Nodoka nods, then turns to Akane. "I know you've only known my child for a couple days, Akane-san. But...if Ukyou-san's situation demands it...would you be willing to dissolve the engagement so Ranma may answer it?"
Akane sighs. "Saotome-basan, you said it yourself. I've only known your daughter for two days. The reason we're keeping the engagement 'floating,' in spite of our fathers' wishes, is that, despite the long traditions of arranged marriages, no one can ask people to fall in love with total strangers at a drop of a hat. At this time, I consider Ranma a friend. I also know your daughter has FEW friends to speak of...and it grieves me that her father's callous actions years ago tore Ranma from her first true friend. If Ukyou-san can accept Ranma as her life-mate...and if her own situation leaves her no way out...then I will gladly step aside."
"We really can't judge until we know what's actually going on with U-chan, Kaa-san," Ranko warns.
"We better make sure she's not going to try a scam in reverse just for revenge," Nabiki adds, holding up a warning finger.
"Agreed...but given Ranma's new abilities, we will be quite forewarned if such happens," Nodoka sighs, then stares at Genma. "Husband, you and I have some things to discuss. We will do so now. In the meantime, minna-san, I bid you all a good night."
"Oyasumi nasai (Good night)," everyone chimes...
* * *
"You okay?"
Ranma hums, sitting on her futon beside Akane's bed, gazing out the window at the starry night. "Oh, I was just thinking about U-chan, Akane," she turns to her fiancee, now on her bed. "Gomen."
"Don't apologize," Akane smiles. "Given what happened, you've got every right to be angry at your dad...but why is it...?"
"I'm still with him?" Ranma hums. "One, as a Nendo-kata, I'm supposed to promote Unity, not disUnity. To walk away, put simply, would destroy my family and no doubt break my mother's heart. Two, my human half was raised by him alone for ten years. Despite...his bizarre, cruel ways of teaching the Art, he was the only adult in my life. And..." she sighs. "I know he's done a lot of things wrong...and thinks it's okay to run away from problems he's caused. But I'm not letting him get away with what he's done, Akane...and deep down, I can sense that he...wants to atone."
"Why do you suppose he's like that, anyway?"
"Actually, it goes back to when he was training with his and your dad's sensei, Happousai," Ranma snorts. "If you think Oyaji's bad, Happousai's a million times worse. Then again, if you think about it, that is...the basic philosophy of the Art. 'Win by any means possible.' Clearly, Happousai...and in a way, Oyaji...think it's alright to live their whole LIVES that way."
Akane shakes her head. "No thank you! I like the Art, but I don't want to throw away honour and truth to practice it."
"Neither do I. At first...damn, it seemed like a silly game to me, you know," Ranma bows her eyes. "I didn't understand back then what was going on. Only now is it dawning on me...how much damage Oyaji and I caused. If...oh, U-chan...!"
Akane watches as Ranma buries her face into her hands, gentle sobs escaping her. Immediately, the younger Tendou moves to shift her fiancee onto the bed, drawing her arms around her. Ranma gazes at her, then smiles as she rests her head on Akane's shoulder.
"Arigatou, Akane," she smiles.
"You deserve it," Akane pats Ranma's back. "Don't worry. It worked out with your mom. It'll work out with Ukyou, too. Hang onto your faith, Ranma...and don't give up hope."
"Hai..."
* * *
Near Tokyo, the next morning...
"Oh, Ryouga, you fool, where'd you go?!!"
Ukyou sighs, eyes glowing as she scans around for the missing wanderer. Jeez, no wonder Ryouga carried his pack with him at ALL times. He had confessed to her that he could get lost in a room with one door. She thought he had been joking...but now...!
She bows her head, relaxing her powers. "Don't get hurt, my friend. I'd hate it if you got hurt," she whispers, then sighs, picking up her own bag. Well, time to get back on the trail. She had learned that Genma and Ranma had returned to Japan from China near Fukuoka and were heading towards Tokyo. Given the mass of people ahead of her, this was going to be hard even WITH her new powers aiding her. "Ready or not, Ran-chan, here I come..."
With that, she boosts herself into the air, pack in hand as she soars towards the distant metropolis...
* * *
The Tendou dojo...
"Ugh!! Akane, how in the blessed name of the Mother Ocean do people STAND wearing these torture devices?!! Sports bras and panties are WAY better than these damned things!!"
Akane laughs as Ranma slips her bloomers on, then straightens her skirt before the two step out of the former's room to have breakfast. The uniforms arrived the previous afternoon; with some alterations thanks to Kasumi, they were modified to chase away the feeling of "sameness" the blue skirt and white blouses forced on the Saotome triplets. Even better, Kasumi found what Akane now nicknamed "Ranma socks"...socks with prancing horses forming the trimming...to give Ranma a further sense of individuality. "I know. We all hate them, Ranma. Relax; you're not alone."
"You got yours on so we can practice fence-walking?"
"Hai, Sensei, all in place."
"Yokatta!"
Both sit at the table as they dig in. Nodoka had stayed with Genma overnight; she was now fussing over Kikuko's hair. Nodoka's presence ensured that Genma didn't try to perform some "table-top training" with her children.
Ranma could sense the unease Genma felt at Nodoka being part of their lives again. Given Genma's "man above men" philosophy, women were a "corrupting" influence. That was what led to the farce with Ukyou...and what forced Ranma away from Nodoka for a decade. Now that Ranma WAS a woman...and with two sisters to boot, each of whom now possessed Ranma's skill-level...Genma's world-view was being fed into a blender called "reality" and set to puree.
Take the fact that Ranma, Ranko and Kikuko were dressing, acting and being accepted by society AS women, most hints of the pre-Crossing Over Ranma vanished into the Black Ocean. To further accentuate their differences, the Saotome triplets had abandoned the old Ranma's braided pigtail. Ranma wore her hair loose, Ranko preferred a ponytail bound with barrettes, while Kikuko braided her hair. Atop the uniforms and personalized socks...Kikuko had flowers on hers while Ranko's were trimmed with fire (they were as unique as Ranma's!)...the three were worlds different from the tomboyish martial artists who had walked into the Tendou dojo two days ago. Worse (in Genma's eyes), they were showing no sign of letting up on their self-transformation.
Once breakfast is done, Ranko gives Nabiki another ride on Air Ranko to Furinkan, ensuring that the middle Tendou daughter was ready just in case Akane's message the previous day hadn't sunk in. Kikuko accompanies them; while some thought her the odd woman out, it was always smart to have someone held in reserve just in case things got totally out of control. Ranma and Akane stay to the ground...or rather, the fence-line...as they head to school. "Can you sense if someone's waiting for us already?" Akane wonders.
"I have to be a little closer for my empathic powers to be effective...and almost at the gates before my telepathy can come into play. Gomen, Akane," Ranma smiles. "People around me always haze up my senses. I have to be some centuries older before I could expand my range to encompass something bigger."
"It's okay...but it would be nice to have some advanced warning in case Kunou-baka didn't get the message, ne?"
"That's true. Then again, all we have to do is ask Kiku-chan to give us a shout of warning..."
Nee-chan!!!
"Speak of the devil-shark!" Ranma grits her teeth. What is it, Kikuko?! Something wrong?!
Get ready! Kunou and about a dozen boys from the Horde are waiting at the gates! They're after you now!!
"Uh-oh!" Ranma snarls.
"What?!" Akane stares at her.
"Looks like Kunou's decided to take me on now!"
"Oh, brother...!"
The two race on ahead, picking up their pace as they close in on the school. Once they are within range, Ranma's own empathic senses lock in on the targets. Sure enough, there were a few boys at the gate. The entire kendo team (and their captain) plus a couple others, she realizes, all decent fighters though they didn't possess her years of training. Alright, this might be a little more intense than what Akane once faced. From what she could sense of their emotions, they were determined to beat her...ah!
Ranma's eyes glow as her telepathy comes into play. She was still out of sight from the school gates and behind Akane, so there was no danger. The boys ahead had been whipped into line because of Kunou in some mad hope to "cleanse" Ranma of her lesbianism. Kunou was now flatly convinced that alien sorcery was involved and saw it as his "duty" as a samurai to see it erased. That didn't mention his outrage at Ranma's and Akane's engagement. Idiot. He couldn't make up his mind who to pursue, Akane or Ranma!
She relaxes, handing Akane her bookbag. "Would you mind? I'll make sure they don't interfere with you going into class."
"Okay! Good luck, Ranma!" Akane hops off the fence.
With that, Ranma makes a telekinetically-boosted leap, clearing fifty metres in one spring to land on the school grounds behind the crowd of boys at the gate. Before they could realize what was happening, Ranma cups her hands, focusing her chi.
"***SEIGI TSUNAMI!!!!***"
A bolt of pure blue ki lashes out, expanding into a wall of energy that slams into the poor boys' backs, sending them flying everywhere. As Ranma intended, the ki of her Righteous Tidal Wave expended itself solely on target; Akane was nowhere close to being threatened. Once the way is clear, Ranma walks up to the gate, turning to present her arm to Akane. The youngest Tendou blinks, then slips her arm around Ranma's as she passes over her fiancee's book bag. With that, they walk towards the front doors.
Watching from the windows, hundreds of students are hushed, awed by the display of POWER Ranma Saotome unleashed on Kunou and the Horde. Suddenly, a whoop escapes from one of the classrooms. "Way to go, Ranma!!! That's showing them!!!" a girl cheers.
"Put that jerk in place, Ranma-san!!!" another girl whoops.
A mass outcry of cheers and applause thunders through the air as Ranma pauses, her cheeks flaming at the overwhelming attention. Sensing Akane's delight at her fiancee's acceptance in the Furinkan community, Ranma then pulls away before curtsying cutely to the crowd before her. She then turns to Akane. "Iko (Let's go)!"
"Hai!!" Akane nods as they race inside...
* * *
Ukyou hums.
She now stands atop the Toranoseishin Tower in Tomobiki, about three kilometres from Furinkan High. Her eyes glow as the echo of telepathic/ki energy reverberates through the air. Nendo-kata possessed a unique psionic signature, a beacon to others that a sister was near. Being the social species they were...and seeing that Ukyou was a Wanderer, alone for five centuries...Nendo-kata were drawn together when they sensed one of their own.
"Well, might as well not be rude," she hums. "Maybe that girl can help me find Ran-chan."
With that, she bounds off...
* * *
"I must confess, Ranma-san, that was quite a display this morning. Would you care to explain what you just did?"
"Hai, Sensei," Ranma nods. The teacher had called her to the front of the class as she came in. "One of the things martial arts teaches, especially in the more advanced forms, is the manipulation of chi and ki, the life energies we all have within us. Since I've trained for so long, I can easily call forth my chi and ki to aid me in defeating my opponent. This morning, I made use of a special attack I learned a month ago in China. Since it is modeled by myself, I gave it the name 'Seigi Tsunami.'"
"But why did you attack Kunou and those idiots from behind, Ranma?" Sayuri Toshio, one of Akane's friends, inquires.
Ranma sighs. "Under normal circumstances, if Kunou offered me a proper challenge, I would respond honourably. He didn't. He was willing to allow a dozen people to attack me in hopes of wearing me down, then defeating me. It's the same stunt he tried to pull on Akane, Sayuri. A creeping conquest. And I will not stand for it."
"Atop that, by attacking Nee-chan, most likely in some vain hope of separating her and Akane, Kunou shows he has NO honour to speak of because he disregarded the agreement between our families," Ranko adds. "As Akane said yesterday, minna-san, this is *giri* that's been invoked. That's a serious matter to us. If he doesn't care for that, then as that one fellow said, screw 'em and the high horse he rode in on, that's all!"
"Ranko-san..." the teacher warns.
"Sumimasen," Ranko blushes.
Everyone laughs. "Ne, ne, Kikuko-san, can you do that, too?!" a girl asks Kikuko.
"Hai," Kikuko rises, then cups her hands.
Everyone gasps as pure gold ki forms a ball inside her hands. "My attack is similar to Ranma-neechan's, but I call it the Kibara No Toge Arashi (Yellow Rose Thorn Storm). Watch!"
She cups one hand at Ranma. The older Saotome raises her hand to receive. "***KIBARA NO TOGE ARASHI!!!!***" Kikuko calls as a volley of ki balls, each the size of baseballs, lashes out to smack into Ranma's hand, the energy disintegrating on contact harmlessly.
"Sugoi...!" escapes a dozen lips.
"What about you, Ranko?!" Akane wonders.
"Well, my special attacks are the Uzumaki-ken (Whirlpool Fist) and the Fuuyou no Gekido (Wind Dance Fury)," Ranko hums. "But since both can easily wreck this room and put most of you into the hospital, I won't show them in class. And yes, Akane, you'll be taught how to make a ki attack when you're ready for it, okay?"
Akane jolts, then beams. "Yoshi! Arigatou, Ranko!"
The others blink. "What about the mallet?" Yuka Sudou hums.
"'Mallet?'" Ranma wonders.
"She means this, Ranma," Akane whips out a wooden mallet, holding it up above her head. "For some strange reason, Nabiki calls this 'Mallet-sama.'"
"Yeah, that's a basic ki attack, alright," Ranma comes up to feel the weapon's surface. "But it's too clumsy in some cases. Yeah, it's great for pervert-bashing, but in a serious fight, all your opponent has to do is knock it out of your hand. If you're too used to using this in a fight, that'll hurt you bad, Akane."
"Oh...soo ka," Akane hums, returning Mallet-sama to wherever it goes when she doesn't need it.
"Oh, hang onto it, of course. Like I said, it's great to keep perverts and chikan artists at bay."
Akane blushes. "Arigatou, Ranma!"
"Okay, you, what did you do to Akane?!" Daisuke Koomei, one of the few men Ranma befriend in this class yesterday, glares at her. "This isn't the Akane we know of! Cough her over!!"
Akane flushes while everyone laughs...
* * *
"So what's your problem, friend?"
Kunou moans, slowly rising to his knees as his brain comes back on-line, then he looks up to see a woman in black form-fitting trousers and a purple okonomiyaki-ya's gi, a HUGE spatula slung on her back, standing before him. The woman was raven-haired (with a white bowtie for the right kawaii effect) and brown-eyed. Staring at this lovely vision, he bolts up to grasp her hand...and gets an elbow with the power of a flying log smashed into his head!
"I asked if you had a problem, friend. I didn't give you permission to touch me," she snarls.
"Beauteous...goddess...!" he drops to the ground, passing out.
Ukyou sighs, her eyes glowing as she probes the after-effect of whatever downed the kendoist and his sparring pals. Yes, a ki blast of some sort...but it had been boosted with both telekinesis and force-empathy. Only one of her sisters could pull THIS off.
But who was it...?
"Aiya! What happened here?!" a voice accented by the wilds of rural China tickles the cook's ear.
Ukyou looks to see a lavender-purple haired Chinese woman with chestnut eyes standing there, staring quizzically at the fallen boys. Concentrating, she senses the other woman was clearly a combination matriarch/sage/healer-in-training, about the age of Ukyou's human-self. A soul honed of steel; she probably came from a part of the People's Republic who didn't kowtow to the idiots running the country in Beijing...but so full of passion at the same time. She was here looking for her "airen." Well, help those in need of help; that was the Golden Rule of the Nendo-kata. "Someone got angry at these morons, that's for sure," Ukyou chuckles.
Shampoo blinks, staring at the other woman...then her eyes widen as the other's chi signature comes to her. "You...you're of the Great School!" she exclaims.
Ukyou jolts. "You know of us?!!"
"Hai! Airen's also from the Great School!! Aiya, this is so nice! Um...are you also a Wanderer?" Shampoo then probes.
"Hai, I am. Oh, my manners. Atashi wa Kuonji Ukyou desu (I'm Ukyou Kuonji). Yoroshiku (Pleased to meet you)."
"Yoroshiku. Watashi wa Joketsuzoku no Nyu Xian-pu desu (I'm Nyu Xian-pu of Joketsuzoku)."
"Alright, Xian. So, what's your fiancee's name?"
"Ranko Saotome."
Ukyou blinks surprisedly. "Ran-...KO Saotome?! Um...would she be related to a RANMA Saotome?"
"Hai. Ranko is Ranma's sister. Um...I also know that Ranma used to be a boy, but he Crossed Over and became a girl the same time Airen and their sister Kikuko did."
Ukyou blinks again, then her quite shocked look turns into a delighted smile. "Ran-chan's...one...he...she...Crossed Over...?" she stammers, then screams, "YATTA!!!!!!"
Shampoo hums. "Is Ranma your Airen?"
"I...ah, y-yeah, in a way!" Ukyou calms herself, then stares at the insensate Kunou. "Let's see now..." she kneels, touching his head as she telepathically probes his mind. "Oh, ho! Looks like we're in luck, Xian! Ran-chan, Ranko-chan and Kikuko-chan come to this school here," she thumbs Furinkan High.
"Can we see them now?" Shampoo trembles excitedly.
"No. Most likely, they're in class. It's rude to interrupt classes while they're in session. Let's just go to the cafeteria and wait until lunch before we see them, okay?"
"Okay!"
With that, they head inside...
* * *
"Are you okay, Ranko-chan? You look a little unnerved."
Ranko blinks, then stares at one of Nabiki's assistants, Mitsuri Hanna. Nabiki had introduced Ranko as the newest member of their faction (officially known as the Furinkan High Economics Club) yesterday. "Hai, I do, Mitsu-chan. I can't understand why...but I feel as if someone I know very well is close by."
"A friend?" Mitsuri hums as they step into the cafeteria.
"More than..."
"Wo na ai, Airen."
Ranko stops, her face paling as she senses a pair of warm arms wrap around her from behind. She then turns to see a cute face framed in lavender hair gazing fondly at her. "X-xian...?"
"Miss me?" Shampoo coos.
"What do you think?!!" Ranko snarls as she spins around, swamping Shampoo with a hug and a kiss.
Gasps echo from the students around them as the Amazon and the Nendo-kata enjoy their passionate reunion, then a woman clears her throat. "Care to introduce your friend, Ranko?"
Ranko blinks. Damn, she HATED it when people interrupted her time with Shampoo. "'Biki, I swear, you have NO sense of romance whatsoever!" she pulls a twitterpated Shampoo erect, then glares at her friend. "Jeez, can't a girl be passionate with her girlfriend without everyone throwing in their five yen worth?"
"Hey, I can afford it!" Nabiki smirks, then stares at Shampoo. "And you must be Xian-pu. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Did Airen teach you Mandarin?" Shampoo blinks surprisedly on hearing Nabiki's near-flawless accent.
"The same way she taught you Japanese, so she tells me. I take it your honoured great-grandmother's allowed you to pursue Ranko in earnest," Nabiki muses.
"Hai," Shampoo switches back to Japanese. "Hibaa-chan was more than happy to let me net Airen."
"But what of the other elders?" Ranko wonders.
"It's no problem," Shampoo winks. "You made a decision that was to our benefit. Besides, what's better? A small disUnity and a larger Unity or a small Unity leading to a civil war?"
"Aaai, you make your point well," Ranko smiles, then gently grasps her girlfriend's hand. "C'mon, let's go see the others. They'll be more than happy to see you again, Xian."
"Oh, dear, I'm being dumped," Nabiki mock-wails.
She then yelps as Ranko grabs her arm and drags her over to the corner table where the other Saotomes and Akane now sit. "Xian-san!" Kikuko beams. "What are you doing here?!"
"Coming to claim my Airen, sister-in-law, what do you think?" Shampoo smiles, then gazes on Ranma. "Oh, Ranma, I've got some really good news for you. Your Airen's here, too."
Ranma blinks confusedly. "MY Airen...?!"
*PLOP!*
She looks down to see a warm okonomiyaki on a plate before her, a message written in the sauce: I MISSED YOU, RAN-CHAN. DID YOU MISS ME? Seeing this, the elder Saotome feels a lump in her throat, then she turns...to see the adult version of her fondest memory gazing at her. "Ohayo, Ran-chan. It's been a while."
Ranma blinks, then her eyes widen as her empathic senses reach out...and find a loving warmth only another Nendo-kata could project awaiting her. "U-U-chan, wh-what happened...?"
"No doubt, something similar to what happened to you," Ukyou winks, then turns back to her portable grill. "We'll talk about it later; too many people close to us. I suppose you two know what we really are, do you?" she then gazes on Nabiki and Akane.
"We've been...informed," Nabiki nods. "In fact, we've been expecting you since last night, Ukyou. Ranma...told us of what her father did to you all those years ago."
"That, I will settle between me and him in due time, I assure you," Ukyou hums as she starts to cook more for the others, her eyes glancing at Akane. "Oi, I don't bite, you know."
Akane jolts, then blushes furiously. "Gomen."
"Relax, honey, it's okay..."
"No, you don't understand," Akane sighs. "You see, atop what Ranma's father did to you...he made a promise to MY father to see one of my family marry into Ranma's family. I...Ranma and I..."
Ukyou pauses, then gazes at Ranma. "You mean...?"
"I had no idea about your situation and there were a ton of other problems along the way, U-chan," Ranma shakes her head. "I never really realized how complicated Oyaji made my life until the day I Crossed Over. One of those problems concerned my mother, believe it or not. You can't expect me to help you until the problems with my family were resolved, would you?"
Ukyou hums. "Ran-chan, if this was before I Crossed Over, I wouldn't've really cared. I'll explain why later. But, miss..." she then gazes on Akane, "I give you fair warning right now. I do intend to see this through...with Ran-chan and no one else."
Akane returns her stare, then nods. "I...can understand that, Ukyou-san. We...really should save this until later. No doubt, it's been a very long trip for you."
Ukyou blinks, then turns back to her stove, inwardly smiling. So, the young lady...Akane Tendou, she remembers from mind-scanning that sub-creature Kunou...had a torch for Ranma, eh? Hmmm...maybe there was a way to settle this and allow both Akane and Ukyou to get the best from it. Hoping Ranma wouldn't mind, of course...
* * *
Later...
"Minna-san, we apologize for...the presence of these two young ladies in class today, but there's a reason for it."
"Please, Ranma-san, tell us," the teacher smiles. He had to privately admit, teaching classes hadn't been THIS interesting at Furinkan for a long time now. After all, morning brawls and badly quoted Shakespeare could get quite tedious.
"Hai, Sensei," Ranma nods, then turns to Ranko. "Ko-chan?"
"Hai, Nee-chan. First of all, may I present...my fiancee, Nyu Xian-pu of the Nyu-che-zuu of China," Ranko indicates Shampoo, the latter's name in kanji and katakana on the board. "If you have problems pronouncing her name, she does answer to 'Shampoo.' I met her a month ago when my family came to her village."
"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, minna-san," Shampoo smiles.
"Isn't that a little fast, Shampoo-san?" Sayuri wonders.
"Not at all. When Airen and her family came to our village, they helped us defend several of our younger warriors from bandits trying to kidnap brides for the Musk Kingdom."
"Bride-napping exists in China?!" Yuka gasps.
"In certain parts," Shampoo nods. "You see, my tribe is quite matriarchal, hence our nickname 'Chinese Amazons.' The Musk are the total opposite of the Nyu-che-zuu. Worse, they can't conceive of the fact that we won't submit to a male-dominated society. We've been at war, off-and-on, for the last couple thousand years."
"That sucks!" Hiroshi Ikuo, Daisuke's best friend, snorts.
"You're right, 'Roshi, it does," Ranko snorts. "When my sisters, Tou-san and I came on the scene, Xian was leading a party to recover several younger girls who weren't well-trained to defend themselves from Musk raiders. We rescued the girls, took care of the Musk, then escorted them back to the village."
"For us, it was love at first sight," Shampoo beams. "Since they did us such a service, I petitioned my great-grandmother, one of the elders of our tribe, to pursue a formal engagement with Ranko, thus solidifying a blood-bond between the Nyu-che-zuu and the Saotome Clan. It was only proper...and I was more than happy to see this through. Hence, here I am."
"Congratulations, Ranko-san. Will Shampoo-san desire to come to school when she settles down?" the teacher probes.
"It's only right, Sensei," Shampoo smiles, hugging Ranko's arm. "After all, I don't want someone stealing MY Airen!"
Laughter fills the room. "Welcome to Japan, Shampoo-san," the teacher nods, then gazes on Ukyou. "Now, Ukyou-san, how is it you came to know Ranma-san?"
"That...is a little more tragic than what happened between Ko-chan and Xian-chan, Sensei," Ukyou sighs.
She and Ranma explain what happened. Disbelief crosses many faces. Shampoo, Akane and Kikuko shake their heads in sympathy. At the end, Yuka speaks for them all. "If you don't mind my saying so, Ranma...your father is a total IDIOT!!!" she exclaims.
"Unfortunately...but given that he did raise me and train me in the Art, I can...still find it within myself to forgive him...AS LONG AS he strives positively to reform himself. That, Yuka, I intend to see happen," Ranma gazes on Ukyou. "My mom, on hearing what happened, has declared that Ukyou's engagement to me has as much validity as the engagement between my family and the Tendous."
"Ranma and I, as I said yesterday, discussed the possibility of ending or modifying what goes on between us in case any sort of complication sets in," Akane sighs. "Ukyou-san, in that respect, is a very profound complication...no offense."
"None taken. By the way, my friends call me U-chan."
"Hai...U-chan!"
"Okay...A-chan," Ukyou winks, eliciting grins from the people around them, then she sighs. "I have to also admit that my own father is being...very bull-headed about this. When Ran-chan and her dad left, he felt so ashamed at me that he forced me to become a boy legally. For the last few years, I've attended all-boys schools, behaved and acted as a boy, all just because I wasn't supposedly enough of a girl to hang onto my fiancee."
"Didn't he know Ranma was a girl, too?!" Sayuri wonders.
"No. We both believed the other was a boy...and neither Oyaji or Kuonji-san tried to correct us on the matter," Ranma shrugs.
"Besides, the body's just window-dressing. It's the heart and soul that matter more to me," Ukyou adds, gazing on Ranma. "And I do say I'm very attracted to the soul of the person beside me."
"Pretty brave," Daisuke hums.
"Way to go, Ukyou-san!" a girl cheers.
More laughter...then the door slams open. "***NEVER!!!!!!***"
Eyes turn to see a shuddering Tatewaki Kunou glaring at them. "So what brings you here, Kunou-baka?!" Akane wonders.
The kendoist quakes, his outrage boiling around him. "I have heard enough to realize this...PERVERSION of such heavenly angels cannot continue!!!" he points accusingly at the women standing by the teacher's desk. "No doubt, some dark sorcerer has bewitched these fair damsels into such evil!!! Forgive me, maidens, for this I must do this if I am to save you!!! HAVE AT THEE!!!!"
Everyone scatters as Kunou lunges at Ranko. Sensing a threat to her fiancee, Shampoo whips out a bonbori to clock the idiot in the skull, but the speed and raw power of the kendoist's strike slashes through Shampoo's weapon, causing the mace-like head to drop HARD on the warrior's skull! Shampoo yelps as she slumps to the floor. Ranko ducks aside as Ranma grabs Kunou's blade and flips the kendoist through an open window to soar into the yard!
"Get out of here, you clueless moron!!!" Ranma snaps.
"Xian!!" Ranko drops down to help Shampoo sit up, then checks her head for bleeding. "Daijobu?!"
"Oooh...Stick Boy's pretty good..."
Ranko tenses. "Don't tell me you have to...?!"
"Baka!" Shampoo playfully swats Ranko's nose. "I gave YOU the Kiss of Marriage, remember?!"
"I'll avenge you!" Ranko kisses Shampoo, then races for the window, leaping out.
"Ranko, this is THREE FLOORS UP!!!" Yuka screams.
Everyone races to the windows to watch Ranko flip around to land gracefully five metres from Kunou, now trying to recover from Ranma flipping him out of the classroom. As the kendoist surges to his feet, the middle Saotome daughter tenses. "Bastard, you just waltzed over the line!!" she snarls. "You attack me, you attack my sisters, you totally disregard an HONOURABLE engagement and THEN you attack my fiancee and future sister-in-law atop that?!! Time for you to get a REAL taste of what it means to piss me off!!!"
"I will...free you, fair damsel!!" Kunou lunges. "HYAAA!!!! TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!!!!!!"
Ranko ducks clear of the storm of thrusts from Kunou's bokan stick, swerving around him. To the watches above, it seems as if the energy of Kunou's attack was being absorbed into a miasmic cloud of greyish-blue energy around Ranko. "He NEVER did that to me before!!!" Akane exclaims, her whole body shuddering. "That JERK!!!! Who the hell does he think he is, anyway?!!"
"The B.A.O.C...Big Asshole On Campus, A-chan," Ukyou snorts. "Trust me. You encounter idiots like this everywhere!"
Laughter fills the room; they could certainly agree to THAT! "What exactly is Ranko-san doing?" the teacher wonders.
"Looks like Stick Boy's gonna be dancing to the wind!" Shampoo smiles. "This is Airen's attack, Sensei. Using her enemy's ki against him. Even my hibaa-chan says it's really good!"
The dancing continues as energy builds around Ranko. Over Kunou's shouting, the people above hear Ranko continuing to taunt him, mocking his skills, family, sense of reality...all to goad him into throwing off more ki through his bokan stick. Finally, Ranko draws the ki together, then flips back, locking on target.
"***FUUYOU NO GEKIDO!!!!!!***"
The bolt of ki slams into Kunou, creating a cancelling effect whose backlash rips through the kendoist like a scythe. While it does little physical damage, the Wind Dance Fury literally punches through all the various ki and chi elements which give Tatewaki Kunou the power to be what he is. Kunou is smashed away from the impact point, spiralling dizzily like an out-of-control top as his mind and body try to reforge links and restore him to normal.
Ranko relaxes, then walks over to trip him up. "Timber!"
Down he goes! Ranko sighs, then walks away...before a round of applause echoes anew from Furinkan High School. She turns to see that dozens of students, even many teachers, were cheering her on, then laughing, bows to them before heading in.
In their class, Ranma and Akane exchange a look. "When it comes to ki manipulation, Ko-chan is the best," the former smiles.
"I'd say so!" the latter whoops...
* * *
To be continued...
"Welcome back, everyone. How was school today?"
"Just great, Kasumi-neechan," Akane smiles as everyone relaxes around the coffee table. "I think we're finally going to do something about Kunou-baka and the rest of those idiots before long. Oh, everyone knows about the engagement now."
Kasumi blinks, then stares at Ranma. "Did you have any problems with that, Ranma-chan?"
"Iie. Before we came home, some of Akane's friends and acquaintances told us we had guts admitting that in public," Ranma indicates herself, than her sisters. "It's sad when you think about it. When does truth require courage to tell it?"
"Sometimes, Nee-chan, the truth is too painful for some people to admit to themselves, not to mention admit to other people," Ranko muses. "The chances are, Kunou may be like that, which means we have to be EXTRA cautious around him. Besides, you were like that before the Crossing Over, remember?"
"Hai, you're right. Ranma Saotome, she who possessed the greatest inferiority complex in the world! That's me!!"
The Saotome sisters laugh. Nabiki and Akane remain silent, then turn as Kasumi steps out of the kitchen, tea and several cups in hand. "Oh, I did some shopping while you were gone," the elder Tendou daughter announces. "Starting with your wardrobe and all that, plus some basic necessities you might need. Would you three be willing to sleep with each of us instead of in the guest room?"
Everyone blinks. "First of all, have you discussed this with your father?" Ranko hums. "Personally, I wouldn't mind sharing a room with Nabiki, but I don't want to cause problems with Ji-san."
"Given that there are four of you crammed into the guest room, it's only fair that the accommodations be spread around," Kasumi cautions, smiling. "I personally won't mind Kikuko-chan staying with me. Would you mind sleeping with Ranma-chan and Ranko-chan?" she stares at Nabiki and Akane.
"Well, since we agreed to partner up, it does make sense," Nabiki shrugs. "Besides, that's another thing that'll keep Dad and Saotome-jisan off our backs."
"Akane?" Ranma stares at her fiancee.
"What if someone on the outside finds out?" Akane hums.
"Then they're the perverts, only deserving to get squashed!" Ranma winks. "People should learn to mind their own business, after all. Besides, there are...things I have to learn from you and you need to understand some things in return about me. Okay?"
Akane stares at Ranma, then grins. "Okay!"
* * *
"Three Sisters"
by Fred Herriot
fherriot@yahoo.com
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir kush1@iaw.on.ca
With C&C by Kevin D. Hammel khammel@pacbell.net and Robert Geiger robertgeiger@prodigy.net
**** **** ****
Based on "Ranma 1/2" created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
PART THREE - REUNIONS
"There we go. You look beautiful, Ranma!"
"Domo, Akane," Ranma hums, staring at herself in the mirror. A light amount of blush, lipstick and shadow was added to her face, plus her hair was styled loose. That, added to the track suit that subtlety accentuated her features, gave Ranma a wilder, untamed look. Kasumi had used their private funds to give them a balanced wardrobe that spoke volumes about their personalities. Put simply, Ranma was the tomboy, Ranko the self-assured woman and Kikuko the traditional maiden. Ranma had to compliment Kasumi for her judgement; it was no wonder that she had become the new house matriarch after her mother's passing. "I really like it a lot. It's just enough to make me look beautiful without overdoing it."
"I thought style didn't matter to you," Akane muses, laying her hands on Ranma's shoulders.
Ranma gently grasps her fiancee's hands. "Not really. When you're on the road, one of the last things you have to worry about is how you look to others. But now, I want to make my own style. Nothing too aggressive; that's more Ko-chan than me. But I want people to know in their hearts 'This is Ranma Saotome'...just like you want people to know 'This is Akane Tendou' when you pretty yourself up for a night on the town."
"A little pride shining through, don't you think?"
"Maybe," Ranma shrugs slightly. "Then again, we're already moulding everyone's worldview with what we started this afternoon. I want to keep it as positive as possible to save trouble later. I agree there'll be people around who won't like me because of what I am...or the fact that I'm 'stealing' you off the market. You have to admit, you are pretty popular at the school, Akane."
"Hai, but it's like you said. My popularity's come to hurt other people. I didn't like that, so I wanted it stopped. This was a way of stopping it, doing it in such a way that doesn't hurt those who don't really deserve to be hurt anymore. I like it..."
A knock at the door. "Akane-chan, Ranma-chan?"
"C'mon in, Nee-chan!" Akane calls out.
Kasumi steps in, then gasps on seeing Ranma. "Ranma-chan, you look beautiful!" she beams. "This is nice. Your first try?"
"Hai, it is," Ranma smiles. "I'll get the hang of it soon enough. What's the problem, Kasumi?"
The older Tendou sighs. "Your mother just called."
Silence. "And?" Akane probes, sensing Ranma tense.
"She sounded confused more than anything else," Kasumi sighs. "I asked her to come here right away. She'll be here in an hour, Ranma-chan. It was best to warn you."
"Okay," Ranma sighs. "Domo, Kasumi."
Kasumi withdraws. Ranma walks over to her backpack, reaching in to draw out a small earthen jar, a present from one of her friends in the Nyuchezuu, Tiger. Akane walks over, then kneels beside her. "Your old body's ashes?"
"Hai," Ranma nods. "Well, no matter what, Mom'll get what she wants tonight. I just hope it won't cause too much bad blood."
Akane nods, gently squeezing Ranma's shoulder...
* * *
"It's good to see you again, Nodoka-san."
"Domo arigatou, Souun-san," Nodoka smiles, placing the Saotome honour sword on the floor before her, then she sighs. It was agreed to that Souun would receive Nodoka first and begin the explanations before the triplets would be brought out. "I really don't want to bother you about this, but...something very strange is going on here. A person at the family registrar has just told me...that my son...is now legally a woman! On top of that, I now have two additional daughters!!"
Souun sighs. "Nodoka-san, this is very hard for me to say to you up front...but you deserve to know the truth no matter what the consequences. Genma-kun and Ranma are here now...along with the others, Ranko and Kikuko. But...something happened a little over a month ago as they were winding down their training trip...that caused this present state of affairs. A bad accident occurred in China...that cursed your husband and forever changed your first child. That...shames Genma-kun very much; he would gladly exile himself from you to atone. I...please, I know of the agreement Genma-kun made with you before he left with Ranma. I...ask you, for your family's sake most of all...to just listen to what I say and understand how much things have changed."
The determination in his voice causes Nodoka to stare at him intently. "I...I'm listening."
Souun begins. The explanation lasts twenty minutes. At the end of it, Nodoka is ashen-faced, stunned at how much things had flown out of control. "Then...my son is physically dead...but lives on in a part-alien woman, one of these...Nendo-kata...?"
"Yes," Souun nods. "Ranma...has the ashes of her old body, the body you gave birth to...if all you can bring yourself to accept is just that. This was just as hard for her to see through to the end as it was for Genma-kun. But one thing I do know, Nodoka-san...is that this new Ranma loves you very much...and wants your family to be brought back together again."
Nodoka shudders, then grips her katana. "I...I'm not sure what to think right now..." she breathes out. "Where are they?"
"In the dojo. Nodoka-san...please..." he indicates the katana in her hands. "It would make it easier for them."
Nodoka blinks, then stares at the blade. She then shudders as an image plays in her mind. One of her acting as the second, Genma and her son on their knees before her, tantous in hand as they're about to be thrust into their stomachs. No doubt, that very image would be flashing in their minds. There was no place for fear at a time like this...either theirs or hers. With that, she places the katana on the table, then rises. "Shall we?"
They walk out of the house, heading into the dojo. Stepping through the doorway, Nodoka stops, her eyes widening. Sitting in a row by the shrine, with Genma to one side, were...three teenage versions of HERSELF, all in beautiful kimonos, their faces done up just so. No doubt, Kasumi's deft hand was involved; Kimiko had always told her how good her eldest daughter was when it came to housework. Their hair was styled differently to accentuate the spiritual differences heralded by their eyes. The woman in the middle holds an urn in her hands. She had blue eyes.
Ranma's eyes.
Nodoka blinks, then walks over to kneel before Ranma, hands reaching out. Ranma hands her the urn. Nodoka shudders, gazing at the small clay pot, then she hugs it close. "Sayonara, atashi no musuko-chan (my son). Kesshite wasurenai (I won't forget you)."
"Kesshite wasurenai," the three younger women whisper.
Nodoka blinks, then sets the urn aside before she gazes on Ranma. There was concern in those sapphire orbs...but there was love...not to mention joy and satisfaction that this was happening.
She stares at the green-eyed woman. Ranko, her lost daughter, who might have never had the chance to live, miraculously restored. There was concern in those emerald orbs...and a barely-veiled warning. No doubt, Ranko had often felt the opposite of Ranma when it came to their training trip...and perhaps now harboured some resentment to Nodoka for allowing it to happen in the first place.
To the brown-eyed woman. Kikuko, the unfortunate girl who drowned in that awful spring so many years ago. Loneliness and delight flashed in her eyes, not to mention hope that this would turn out for the best. Oh, yes, she could welcome her, too.
Nodoka sighs. "My son is dead. However, that does not mean I will turn any of you back if you...desire me as your mother. I have been denied a family for a decade. That...you seek to help reform my family...speaks well of you. Souun-san has told me much of what has happened to you all. I would now hear it from you."
"As you wish, Okaa-san," Ranma nods.
Nodoka blinks, then smiles, her eyes misting.
Oh, it was SO nice to be called "Mother" again...!
* * *
Later...
"I hope they're alright."
"They'll be fine," Kasumi sighs as the Tendou sisters relax around the coffee table. The Saotome clan's honour blade sits nearby, drawing wary stares from the three women. "We have to think positively about this, Akane-chan."
"I hope so," Akane sighs.
The door opens. The three turn to see everyone stream in. Nodoka smiles on seeing Kimiko's daughters. "There you are! We missed you in the dojo, girls!"
"You deserved the chance to be with your daughters first, Saotome-basan," Kasumi smiles as everyone relaxes, rising to head into the kitchen to fetch some tea.
Kikuko follows Kasumi into the kitchen as the others relax, the parents forming a row on one side of the table. "Now that this is settled finally, we can get on to other matters...namely how we will arrange for you two to get married, not to mention WHEN it will happen," Souun gazes on Ranma and Akane.
"Tou-san, I believe we decided this last night," Akane warns. "It's not right to set dates until things are right."
Souun jolts. "B-but...!"
"I agree," Ranma sighs. "Tendou-san, I realize how important this is for you. It is for that reason that we are willing to give it a chance. But if you and Oyaji try in any way to force us into something we're not ready for...you'll be in for a rude surprise."
"Girl, family honour is on the line...!" Genma protests.
"Oh?" Ranma fixes him with a level stare. "Speaking of family honour, shall I inform Okaa-san of the other things you've done behind her back, not to mention Tendou-san's, during the trip?"
Genma jolts, paling. "Husband, what is our elder daughter talking about?" Nodoka wonders.
"N-nothing at a-all, dear..." Genma stammers.
"What IS this all about, Ranma?" Nabiki muses. "You said last night that complications would set in because of this."
"Do tell us, Ranma," Nodoka instructs.
"Hai, Okaa-san," Ranma nods. "During the trip, we were living in conditions that would seem quite hellish to many people used to a stable home and steady job. Money was scarce if not totally absent. In a way, that's a good thing; I learned to travel light and have come to eschew material things that doesn't pertain to the Art. However, when things became very tight, we were forced...or rather, Oyaji forced me on some occasions...to steal and perform other illegal acts to keep us whole and hearty."
Genma shudders. Nodoka sighs. "Genma...!"
"Don't be surprised, Nodoka-san," Souun chuckles. "When we were training with the Master, it was just as bad."
"Oh, really, Tendou-san?" Ranma's eyebrow rises. "When you were with your teacher, I doubt you had to endure...complications a young, growing boy, someone who is clearly developing into a very handsome young man...could present to those who have daughters for whom they'd like to find a nice husband."
Silence.
"Daughter...is this leading to where I think it's leading to?" Nodoka tightly grips her sword.
"I am afraid so, Okaa-san," Ranma sighs. "As of now, atop the obligation to the Tendou clan...I am technically engaged to marry at least nine other women."
Silence.
Souun blinks, then spins on Genma. "***SAOTOME, HOW COULD YOU DO SUCH A THING?!?! HOW COULD YOU JUST FORGET THE AGREEMENT WE MADE TO UNITE THE SCHOOLS AND THE FAMILIES?!?!?!***" he bellows, a chi-charged Demon Head sending Genma cowering away.
Nodoka moans. "I can't BELIEVE you, Genma!!!" she glares at him. "Doesn't honour mean ANYTHING to you?!!" She then turns to Ranma. "When did you learn of this, Ranma?"
"When I was undergoing the Crossing Over, Okaa-san," Ranma sighs. "That's also when I learned of the seppuku pledge Oyaji made to you. However, save for one of those other engagements, I would personally dismiss the others as somewhat...trivial."
Nodoka's jaw drops in shocked disbelief. "Ranma, I hardly consider a marriage promise 'trivial!'"
"When it's made in exchange for a simple meal, Okaa-san?" Ranma's eyebrow arches. "I don't condone any of this either, by the way...and I've warned Oyaji that HE is the one that's going to answer for this, not me. I don't like the idea of being sold like that whatsoever. However, concerning the cases of eight of those nine women I mentioned, the promise was made for a simple meal to keep us both going. Charity to lonely Wanderers is one of the Great School's core beliefs. To actually AGREE to bind a Wanderer in an engagement to a total stranger...ugh, no thank you!" she shudders, then sighs. "I'm not sure about you, Okaa-san, but if those families believed they could, in a way, take advantage of two starving, wandering martial artists...and obtain a husband for their daughter for the price of a simple meal...well, doesn't that, in some way, allude to a form of slavery they're practicing?"
Nodoka and Souun blink, then exchange looks. "An...unusual conclusion to make, Ranma...but indeed, if they valued your life so LOW as to agree to what was being offered?" the former hums, then glares at a trembling Genma. "It does not condone what your father has done whatsoever...but I can, as your mother, dissolve the other agreements in case they press this matter...and force your father to adhere to what you demand concerning them."
"Ranma-chan, you said 'eight of the nine' women were in this situation," Kasumi muses. "What of the ninth?"
Ranma blinks, then sighs. "That...will be the problem. Both in concerns of honour...and friendship."
"Ranma?" Akane gazes worriedly at her.
"Gomen, Akane. The ninth person is...Ukyou Kuonji."
"U-chan..." Ranko whispers.
"Poor Ukyou-san," Kikuko bows her eyes.
"Who is Ukyou Kuonji?" Nodoka wonders.
"My first true friend, Okaa-san," Ranma curls her lip inward as memories flood back. "Someone who, when we first met, I assumed was a boy. We were only five years old at the time. Hence, our nicknames for each other: 'U-chan' and 'Ran-chan.' Her father is from Kyoto. He's an okonomiyaki chef and a practitioner of an armed Art which uses kitchen utensils as its weapons base. Oyaji and I were training close to where the Kuonjis' yatai was set up. To obtain something to eat, I'd challenge U-chan for a free 'yaki every day. Because of my better skill, I won every time. Besides, even then, I thought U-chan was the best cook I'd EVER met."
"So this is an accumulated debt, you mean," Nodoka sighs.
"No, it's worse than that, Okaa-san. Over time, U-chan and I became close friends. Her father then approached Oyaji to make an agreement to see us married. Oyaji then came to me and asked what I liked better: U-chan or okonomiyaki. I answered the latter, not understanding, of course, the true significance of the question. The next thing that happened was that Oyaji was carting away the Kuonjis' yatai with me riding on the back...and U-chan..." she looks down. "Chasing after us begging to be taken with us."
Silence. Nodoka blinks, not WANTING to believe what Ranma just said, then she glares at Genma. "You...ABANDONED an innocent child on the road just because you TRICKED OUR CHILD into choosing FOOD over HER?!! WHAT POSSESSED YOU TO DO THAT, GENMA?!?!?!"
"Nodoka, I couldn't bring her along with us!!!" Genma snaps back. "It's the VERY same reason I chose to take Ranma away from you!! You wanted a 'man above men,' remember...?!!"
"That no longer matters! Besides, THAT was what YOU promised me so you could drag my child off on your fool crusade in the first place!!!" Nodoka snaps, hefting her katana in emphasis, then sighs. "I can only THINK of what poor Ukyou-san went through back then!!!"
"There's one more thing," Ranma advises.
Nodoka stares at her. "Being?"
"U-chan's father considered the yatai a dowry to solidify the engagement," Ranma flatly announces.
Silence. Nodoka stares at her daughter, then she emits a controlled sigh. "I see..." she hums, then stares at Souun. "Even you must admit, Souun-san, once a dowry has been taken, that makes the agreement quite legitimate in many people's eyes."
"Yes, I would, Nodoka-san," Souun gravely nods. "And if you wish to press through with this to restore Ukyou-san's honour, I will not object. Given the fact that you now have THREE children instead of one, it's not as damaging as you'd think."
"Agreed," Nodoka nods, then stares at Ranma. "I assume that now with our family reunited, your next priority...?"
"Is U-chan," Ranma nods. "Hai, Okaa-san, that was exactly what we had in mind. We've only been here two days. While we're settling down, we want to see these matters resolved immediately before they end up blowing up in our collective faces."
"True. Alright, as far as I am concerned, the engagement with Ukyou Kuonji bears equal ranking with the engagement to the Tendou family and WILL be honoured as best as possible," Nodoka nods, then turns to Akane. "I know you've only known my child for a couple days, Akane-san. But...if Ukyou-san's situation demands it...would you be willing to dissolve the engagement so Ranma may answer it?"
Akane sighs. "Saotome-basan, you said it yourself. I've only known your daughter for two days. The reason we're keeping the engagement 'floating,' in spite of our fathers' wishes, is that, despite the long traditions of arranged marriages, no one can ask people to fall in love with total strangers at a drop of a hat. At this time, I consider Ranma a friend. I also know your daughter has FEW friends to speak of...and it grieves me that her father's callous actions years ago tore Ranma from her first true friend. If Ukyou-san can accept Ranma as her life-mate...and if her own situation leaves her no way out...then I will gladly step aside."
"We really can't judge until we know what's actually going on with U-chan, Kaa-san," Ranko warns.
"We better make sure she's not going to try a scam in reverse just for revenge," Nabiki adds, holding up a warning finger.
"Agreed...but given Ranma's new abilities, we will be quite forewarned if such happens," Nodoka sighs, then stares at Genma. "Husband, you and I have some things to discuss. We will do so now. In the meantime, minna-san, I bid you all a good night."
"Oyasumi nasai (Good night)," everyone chimes...
* * *
"You okay?"
Ranma hums, sitting on her futon beside Akane's bed, gazing out the window at the starry night. "Oh, I was just thinking about U-chan, Akane," she turns to her fiancee, now on her bed. "Gomen."
"Don't apologize," Akane smiles. "Given what happened, you've got every right to be angry at your dad...but why is it...?"
"I'm still with him?" Ranma hums. "One, as a Nendo-kata, I'm supposed to promote Unity, not disUnity. To walk away, put simply, would destroy my family and no doubt break my mother's heart. Two, my human half was raised by him alone for ten years. Despite...his bizarre, cruel ways of teaching the Art, he was the only adult in my life. And..." she sighs. "I know he's done a lot of things wrong...and thinks it's okay to run away from problems he's caused. But I'm not letting him get away with what he's done, Akane...and deep down, I can sense that he...wants to atone."
"Why do you suppose he's like that, anyway?"
"Actually, it goes back to when he was training with his and your dad's sensei, Happousai," Ranma snorts. "If you think Oyaji's bad, Happousai's a million times worse. Then again, if you think about it, that is...the basic philosophy of the Art. 'Win by any means possible.' Clearly, Happousai...and in a way, Oyaji...think it's alright to live their whole LIVES that way."
Akane shakes her head. "No thank you! I like the Art, but I don't want to throw away honour and truth to practice it."
"Neither do I. At first...damn, it seemed like a silly game to me, you know," Ranma bows her eyes. "I didn't understand back then what was going on. Only now is it dawning on me...how much damage Oyaji and I caused. If...oh, U-chan...!"
Akane watches as Ranma buries her face into her hands, gentle sobs escaping her. Immediately, the younger Tendou moves to shift her fiancee onto the bed, drawing her arms around her. Ranma gazes at her, then smiles as she rests her head on Akane's shoulder.
"Arigatou, Akane," she smiles.
"You deserve it," Akane pats Ranma's back. "Don't worry. It worked out with your mom. It'll work out with Ukyou, too. Hang onto your faith, Ranma...and don't give up hope."
"Hai..."
* * *
Near Tokyo, the next morning...
"Oh, Ryouga, you fool, where'd you go?!!"
Ukyou sighs, eyes glowing as she scans around for the missing wanderer. Jeez, no wonder Ryouga carried his pack with him at ALL times. He had confessed to her that he could get lost in a room with one door. She thought he had been joking...but now...!
She bows her head, relaxing her powers. "Don't get hurt, my friend. I'd hate it if you got hurt," she whispers, then sighs, picking up her own bag. Well, time to get back on the trail. She had learned that Genma and Ranma had returned to Japan from China near Fukuoka and were heading towards Tokyo. Given the mass of people ahead of her, this was going to be hard even WITH her new powers aiding her. "Ready or not, Ran-chan, here I come..."
With that, she boosts herself into the air, pack in hand as she soars towards the distant metropolis...
* * *
The Tendou dojo...
"Ugh!! Akane, how in the blessed name of the Mother Ocean do people STAND wearing these torture devices?!! Sports bras and panties are WAY better than these damned things!!"
Akane laughs as Ranma slips her bloomers on, then straightens her skirt before the two step out of the former's room to have breakfast. The uniforms arrived the previous afternoon; with some alterations thanks to Kasumi, they were modified to chase away the feeling of "sameness" the blue skirt and white blouses forced on the Saotome triplets. Even better, Kasumi found what Akane now nicknamed "Ranma socks"...socks with prancing horses forming the trimming...to give Ranma a further sense of individuality. "I know. We all hate them, Ranma. Relax; you're not alone."
"You got yours on so we can practice fence-walking?"
"Hai, Sensei, all in place."
"Yokatta!"
Both sit at the table as they dig in. Nodoka had stayed with Genma overnight; she was now fussing over Kikuko's hair. Nodoka's presence ensured that Genma didn't try to perform some "table-top training" with her children.
Ranma could sense the unease Genma felt at Nodoka being part of their lives again. Given Genma's "man above men" philosophy, women were a "corrupting" influence. That was what led to the farce with Ukyou...and what forced Ranma away from Nodoka for a decade. Now that Ranma WAS a woman...and with two sisters to boot, each of whom now possessed Ranma's skill-level...Genma's world-view was being fed into a blender called "reality" and set to puree.
Take the fact that Ranma, Ranko and Kikuko were dressing, acting and being accepted by society AS women, most hints of the pre-Crossing Over Ranma vanished into the Black Ocean. To further accentuate their differences, the Saotome triplets had abandoned the old Ranma's braided pigtail. Ranma wore her hair loose, Ranko preferred a ponytail bound with barrettes, while Kikuko braided her hair. Atop the uniforms and personalized socks...Kikuko had flowers on hers while Ranko's were trimmed with fire (they were as unique as Ranma's!)...the three were worlds different from the tomboyish martial artists who had walked into the Tendou dojo two days ago. Worse (in Genma's eyes), they were showing no sign of letting up on their self-transformation.
Once breakfast is done, Ranko gives Nabiki another ride on Air Ranko to Furinkan, ensuring that the middle Tendou daughter was ready just in case Akane's message the previous day hadn't sunk in. Kikuko accompanies them; while some thought her the odd woman out, it was always smart to have someone held in reserve just in case things got totally out of control. Ranma and Akane stay to the ground...or rather, the fence-line...as they head to school. "Can you sense if someone's waiting for us already?" Akane wonders.
"I have to be a little closer for my empathic powers to be effective...and almost at the gates before my telepathy can come into play. Gomen, Akane," Ranma smiles. "People around me always haze up my senses. I have to be some centuries older before I could expand my range to encompass something bigger."
"It's okay...but it would be nice to have some advanced warning in case Kunou-baka didn't get the message, ne?"
"That's true. Then again, all we have to do is ask Kiku-chan to give us a shout of warning..."
Nee-chan!!!
"Speak of the devil-shark!" Ranma grits her teeth. What is it, Kikuko?! Something wrong?!
Get ready! Kunou and about a dozen boys from the Horde are waiting at the gates! They're after you now!!
"Uh-oh!" Ranma snarls.
"What?!" Akane stares at her.
"Looks like Kunou's decided to take me on now!"
"Oh, brother...!"
The two race on ahead, picking up their pace as they close in on the school. Once they are within range, Ranma's own empathic senses lock in on the targets. Sure enough, there were a few boys at the gate. The entire kendo team (and their captain) plus a couple others, she realizes, all decent fighters though they didn't possess her years of training. Alright, this might be a little more intense than what Akane once faced. From what she could sense of their emotions, they were determined to beat her...ah!
Ranma's eyes glow as her telepathy comes into play. She was still out of sight from the school gates and behind Akane, so there was no danger. The boys ahead had been whipped into line because of Kunou in some mad hope to "cleanse" Ranma of her lesbianism. Kunou was now flatly convinced that alien sorcery was involved and saw it as his "duty" as a samurai to see it erased. That didn't mention his outrage at Ranma's and Akane's engagement. Idiot. He couldn't make up his mind who to pursue, Akane or Ranma!
She relaxes, handing Akane her bookbag. "Would you mind? I'll make sure they don't interfere with you going into class."
"Okay! Good luck, Ranma!" Akane hops off the fence.
With that, Ranma makes a telekinetically-boosted leap, clearing fifty metres in one spring to land on the school grounds behind the crowd of boys at the gate. Before they could realize what was happening, Ranma cups her hands, focusing her chi.
"***SEIGI TSUNAMI!!!!***"
A bolt of pure blue ki lashes out, expanding into a wall of energy that slams into the poor boys' backs, sending them flying everywhere. As Ranma intended, the ki of her Righteous Tidal Wave expended itself solely on target; Akane was nowhere close to being threatened. Once the way is clear, Ranma walks up to the gate, turning to present her arm to Akane. The youngest Tendou blinks, then slips her arm around Ranma's as she passes over her fiancee's book bag. With that, they walk towards the front doors.
Watching from the windows, hundreds of students are hushed, awed by the display of POWER Ranma Saotome unleashed on Kunou and the Horde. Suddenly, a whoop escapes from one of the classrooms. "Way to go, Ranma!!! That's showing them!!!" a girl cheers.
"Put that jerk in place, Ranma-san!!!" another girl whoops.
A mass outcry of cheers and applause thunders through the air as Ranma pauses, her cheeks flaming at the overwhelming attention. Sensing Akane's delight at her fiancee's acceptance in the Furinkan community, Ranma then pulls away before curtsying cutely to the crowd before her. She then turns to Akane. "Iko (Let's go)!"
"Hai!!" Akane nods as they race inside...
* * *
Ukyou hums.
She now stands atop the Toranoseishin Tower in Tomobiki, about three kilometres from Furinkan High. Her eyes glow as the echo of telepathic/ki energy reverberates through the air. Nendo-kata possessed a unique psionic signature, a beacon to others that a sister was near. Being the social species they were...and seeing that Ukyou was a Wanderer, alone for five centuries...Nendo-kata were drawn together when they sensed one of their own.
"Well, might as well not be rude," she hums. "Maybe that girl can help me find Ran-chan."
With that, she bounds off...
* * *
"I must confess, Ranma-san, that was quite a display this morning. Would you care to explain what you just did?"
"Hai, Sensei," Ranma nods. The teacher had called her to the front of the class as she came in. "One of the things martial arts teaches, especially in the more advanced forms, is the manipulation of chi and ki, the life energies we all have within us. Since I've trained for so long, I can easily call forth my chi and ki to aid me in defeating my opponent. This morning, I made use of a special attack I learned a month ago in China. Since it is modeled by myself, I gave it the name 'Seigi Tsunami.'"
"But why did you attack Kunou and those idiots from behind, Ranma?" Sayuri Toshio, one of Akane's friends, inquires.
Ranma sighs. "Under normal circumstances, if Kunou offered me a proper challenge, I would respond honourably. He didn't. He was willing to allow a dozen people to attack me in hopes of wearing me down, then defeating me. It's the same stunt he tried to pull on Akane, Sayuri. A creeping conquest. And I will not stand for it."
"Atop that, by attacking Nee-chan, most likely in some vain hope of separating her and Akane, Kunou shows he has NO honour to speak of because he disregarded the agreement between our families," Ranko adds. "As Akane said yesterday, minna-san, this is *giri* that's been invoked. That's a serious matter to us. If he doesn't care for that, then as that one fellow said, screw 'em and the high horse he rode in on, that's all!"
"Ranko-san..." the teacher warns.
"Sumimasen," Ranko blushes.
Everyone laughs. "Ne, ne, Kikuko-san, can you do that, too?!" a girl asks Kikuko.
"Hai," Kikuko rises, then cups her hands.
Everyone gasps as pure gold ki forms a ball inside her hands. "My attack is similar to Ranma-neechan's, but I call it the Kibara No Toge Arashi (Yellow Rose Thorn Storm). Watch!"
She cups one hand at Ranma. The older Saotome raises her hand to receive. "***KIBARA NO TOGE ARASHI!!!!***" Kikuko calls as a volley of ki balls, each the size of baseballs, lashes out to smack into Ranma's hand, the energy disintegrating on contact harmlessly.
"Sugoi...!" escapes a dozen lips.
"What about you, Ranko?!" Akane wonders.
"Well, my special attacks are the Uzumaki-ken (Whirlpool Fist) and the Fuuyou no Gekido (Wind Dance Fury)," Ranko hums. "But since both can easily wreck this room and put most of you into the hospital, I won't show them in class. And yes, Akane, you'll be taught how to make a ki attack when you're ready for it, okay?"
Akane jolts, then beams. "Yoshi! Arigatou, Ranko!"
The others blink. "What about the mallet?" Yuka Sudou hums.
"'Mallet?'" Ranma wonders.
"She means this, Ranma," Akane whips out a wooden mallet, holding it up above her head. "For some strange reason, Nabiki calls this 'Mallet-sama.'"
"Yeah, that's a basic ki attack, alright," Ranma comes up to feel the weapon's surface. "But it's too clumsy in some cases. Yeah, it's great for pervert-bashing, but in a serious fight, all your opponent has to do is knock it out of your hand. If you're too used to using this in a fight, that'll hurt you bad, Akane."
"Oh...soo ka," Akane hums, returning Mallet-sama to wherever it goes when she doesn't need it.
"Oh, hang onto it, of course. Like I said, it's great to keep perverts and chikan artists at bay."
Akane blushes. "Arigatou, Ranma!"
"Okay, you, what did you do to Akane?!" Daisuke Koomei, one of the few men Ranma befriend in this class yesterday, glares at her. "This isn't the Akane we know of! Cough her over!!"
Akane flushes while everyone laughs...
* * *
"So what's your problem, friend?"
Kunou moans, slowly rising to his knees as his brain comes back on-line, then he looks up to see a woman in black form-fitting trousers and a purple okonomiyaki-ya's gi, a HUGE spatula slung on her back, standing before him. The woman was raven-haired (with a white bowtie for the right kawaii effect) and brown-eyed. Staring at this lovely vision, he bolts up to grasp her hand...and gets an elbow with the power of a flying log smashed into his head!
"I asked if you had a problem, friend. I didn't give you permission to touch me," she snarls.
"Beauteous...goddess...!" he drops to the ground, passing out.
Ukyou sighs, her eyes glowing as she probes the after-effect of whatever downed the kendoist and his sparring pals. Yes, a ki blast of some sort...but it had been boosted with both telekinesis and force-empathy. Only one of her sisters could pull THIS off.
But who was it...?
"Aiya! What happened here?!" a voice accented by the wilds of rural China tickles the cook's ear.
Ukyou looks to see a lavender-purple haired Chinese woman with chestnut eyes standing there, staring quizzically at the fallen boys. Concentrating, she senses the other woman was clearly a combination matriarch/sage/healer-in-training, about the age of Ukyou's human-self. A soul honed of steel; she probably came from a part of the People's Republic who didn't kowtow to the idiots running the country in Beijing...but so full of passion at the same time. She was here looking for her "airen." Well, help those in need of help; that was the Golden Rule of the Nendo-kata. "Someone got angry at these morons, that's for sure," Ukyou chuckles.
Shampoo blinks, staring at the other woman...then her eyes widen as the other's chi signature comes to her. "You...you're of the Great School!" she exclaims.
Ukyou jolts. "You know of us?!!"
"Hai! Airen's also from the Great School!! Aiya, this is so nice! Um...are you also a Wanderer?" Shampoo then probes.
"Hai, I am. Oh, my manners. Atashi wa Kuonji Ukyou desu (I'm Ukyou Kuonji). Yoroshiku (Pleased to meet you)."
"Yoroshiku. Watashi wa Joketsuzoku no Nyu Xian-pu desu (I'm Nyu Xian-pu of Joketsuzoku)."
"Alright, Xian. So, what's your fiancee's name?"
"Ranko Saotome."
Ukyou blinks surprisedly. "Ran-...KO Saotome?! Um...would she be related to a RANMA Saotome?"
"Hai. Ranko is Ranma's sister. Um...I also know that Ranma used to be a boy, but he Crossed Over and became a girl the same time Airen and their sister Kikuko did."
Ukyou blinks again, then her quite shocked look turns into a delighted smile. "Ran-chan's...one...he...she...Crossed Over...?" she stammers, then screams, "YATTA!!!!!!"
Shampoo hums. "Is Ranma your Airen?"
"I...ah, y-yeah, in a way!" Ukyou calms herself, then stares at the insensate Kunou. "Let's see now..." she kneels, touching his head as she telepathically probes his mind. "Oh, ho! Looks like we're in luck, Xian! Ran-chan, Ranko-chan and Kikuko-chan come to this school here," she thumbs Furinkan High.
"Can we see them now?" Shampoo trembles excitedly.
"No. Most likely, they're in class. It's rude to interrupt classes while they're in session. Let's just go to the cafeteria and wait until lunch before we see them, okay?"
"Okay!"
With that, they head inside...
* * *
"Are you okay, Ranko-chan? You look a little unnerved."
Ranko blinks, then stares at one of Nabiki's assistants, Mitsuri Hanna. Nabiki had introduced Ranko as the newest member of their faction (officially known as the Furinkan High Economics Club) yesterday. "Hai, I do, Mitsu-chan. I can't understand why...but I feel as if someone I know very well is close by."
"A friend?" Mitsuri hums as they step into the cafeteria.
"More than..."
"Wo na ai, Airen."
Ranko stops, her face paling as she senses a pair of warm arms wrap around her from behind. She then turns to see a cute face framed in lavender hair gazing fondly at her. "X-xian...?"
"Miss me?" Shampoo coos.
"What do you think?!!" Ranko snarls as she spins around, swamping Shampoo with a hug and a kiss.
Gasps echo from the students around them as the Amazon and the Nendo-kata enjoy their passionate reunion, then a woman clears her throat. "Care to introduce your friend, Ranko?"
Ranko blinks. Damn, she HATED it when people interrupted her time with Shampoo. "'Biki, I swear, you have NO sense of romance whatsoever!" she pulls a twitterpated Shampoo erect, then glares at her friend. "Jeez, can't a girl be passionate with her girlfriend without everyone throwing in their five yen worth?"
"Hey, I can afford it!" Nabiki smirks, then stares at Shampoo. "And you must be Xian-pu. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Did Airen teach you Mandarin?" Shampoo blinks surprisedly on hearing Nabiki's near-flawless accent.
"The same way she taught you Japanese, so she tells me. I take it your honoured great-grandmother's allowed you to pursue Ranko in earnest," Nabiki muses.
"Hai," Shampoo switches back to Japanese. "Hibaa-chan was more than happy to let me net Airen."
"But what of the other elders?" Ranko wonders.
"It's no problem," Shampoo winks. "You made a decision that was to our benefit. Besides, what's better? A small disUnity and a larger Unity or a small Unity leading to a civil war?"
"Aaai, you make your point well," Ranko smiles, then gently grasps her girlfriend's hand. "C'mon, let's go see the others. They'll be more than happy to see you again, Xian."
"Oh, dear, I'm being dumped," Nabiki mock-wails.
She then yelps as Ranko grabs her arm and drags her over to the corner table where the other Saotomes and Akane now sit. "Xian-san!" Kikuko beams. "What are you doing here?!"
"Coming to claim my Airen, sister-in-law, what do you think?" Shampoo smiles, then gazes on Ranma. "Oh, Ranma, I've got some really good news for you. Your Airen's here, too."
Ranma blinks confusedly. "MY Airen...?!"
*PLOP!*
She looks down to see a warm okonomiyaki on a plate before her, a message written in the sauce: I MISSED YOU, RAN-CHAN. DID YOU MISS ME? Seeing this, the elder Saotome feels a lump in her throat, then she turns...to see the adult version of her fondest memory gazing at her. "Ohayo, Ran-chan. It's been a while."
Ranma blinks, then her eyes widen as her empathic senses reach out...and find a loving warmth only another Nendo-kata could project awaiting her. "U-U-chan, wh-what happened...?"
"No doubt, something similar to what happened to you," Ukyou winks, then turns back to her portable grill. "We'll talk about it later; too many people close to us. I suppose you two know what we really are, do you?" she then gazes on Nabiki and Akane.
"We've been...informed," Nabiki nods. "In fact, we've been expecting you since last night, Ukyou. Ranma...told us of what her father did to you all those years ago."
"That, I will settle between me and him in due time, I assure you," Ukyou hums as she starts to cook more for the others, her eyes glancing at Akane. "Oi, I don't bite, you know."
Akane jolts, then blushes furiously. "Gomen."
"Relax, honey, it's okay..."
"No, you don't understand," Akane sighs. "You see, atop what Ranma's father did to you...he made a promise to MY father to see one of my family marry into Ranma's family. I...Ranma and I..."
Ukyou pauses, then gazes at Ranma. "You mean...?"
"I had no idea about your situation and there were a ton of other problems along the way, U-chan," Ranma shakes her head. "I never really realized how complicated Oyaji made my life until the day I Crossed Over. One of those problems concerned my mother, believe it or not. You can't expect me to help you until the problems with my family were resolved, would you?"
Ukyou hums. "Ran-chan, if this was before I Crossed Over, I wouldn't've really cared. I'll explain why later. But, miss..." she then gazes on Akane, "I give you fair warning right now. I do intend to see this through...with Ran-chan and no one else."
Akane returns her stare, then nods. "I...can understand that, Ukyou-san. We...really should save this until later. No doubt, it's been a very long trip for you."
Ukyou blinks, then turns back to her stove, inwardly smiling. So, the young lady...Akane Tendou, she remembers from mind-scanning that sub-creature Kunou...had a torch for Ranma, eh? Hmmm...maybe there was a way to settle this and allow both Akane and Ukyou to get the best from it. Hoping Ranma wouldn't mind, of course...
* * *
Later...
"Minna-san, we apologize for...the presence of these two young ladies in class today, but there's a reason for it."
"Please, Ranma-san, tell us," the teacher smiles. He had to privately admit, teaching classes hadn't been THIS interesting at Furinkan for a long time now. After all, morning brawls and badly quoted Shakespeare could get quite tedious.
"Hai, Sensei," Ranma nods, then turns to Ranko. "Ko-chan?"
"Hai, Nee-chan. First of all, may I present...my fiancee, Nyu Xian-pu of the Nyu-che-zuu of China," Ranko indicates Shampoo, the latter's name in kanji and katakana on the board. "If you have problems pronouncing her name, she does answer to 'Shampoo.' I met her a month ago when my family came to her village."
"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, minna-san," Shampoo smiles.
"Isn't that a little fast, Shampoo-san?" Sayuri wonders.
"Not at all. When Airen and her family came to our village, they helped us defend several of our younger warriors from bandits trying to kidnap brides for the Musk Kingdom."
"Bride-napping exists in China?!" Yuka gasps.
"In certain parts," Shampoo nods. "You see, my tribe is quite matriarchal, hence our nickname 'Chinese Amazons.' The Musk are the total opposite of the Nyu-che-zuu. Worse, they can't conceive of the fact that we won't submit to a male-dominated society. We've been at war, off-and-on, for the last couple thousand years."
"That sucks!" Hiroshi Ikuo, Daisuke's best friend, snorts.
"You're right, 'Roshi, it does," Ranko snorts. "When my sisters, Tou-san and I came on the scene, Xian was leading a party to recover several younger girls who weren't well-trained to defend themselves from Musk raiders. We rescued the girls, took care of the Musk, then escorted them back to the village."
"For us, it was love at first sight," Shampoo beams. "Since they did us such a service, I petitioned my great-grandmother, one of the elders of our tribe, to pursue a formal engagement with Ranko, thus solidifying a blood-bond between the Nyu-che-zuu and the Saotome Clan. It was only proper...and I was more than happy to see this through. Hence, here I am."
"Congratulations, Ranko-san. Will Shampoo-san desire to come to school when she settles down?" the teacher probes.
"It's only right, Sensei," Shampoo smiles, hugging Ranko's arm. "After all, I don't want someone stealing MY Airen!"
Laughter fills the room. "Welcome to Japan, Shampoo-san," the teacher nods, then gazes on Ukyou. "Now, Ukyou-san, how is it you came to know Ranma-san?"
"That...is a little more tragic than what happened between Ko-chan and Xian-chan, Sensei," Ukyou sighs.
She and Ranma explain what happened. Disbelief crosses many faces. Shampoo, Akane and Kikuko shake their heads in sympathy. At the end, Yuka speaks for them all. "If you don't mind my saying so, Ranma...your father is a total IDIOT!!!" she exclaims.
"Unfortunately...but given that he did raise me and train me in the Art, I can...still find it within myself to forgive him...AS LONG AS he strives positively to reform himself. That, Yuka, I intend to see happen," Ranma gazes on Ukyou. "My mom, on hearing what happened, has declared that Ukyou's engagement to me has as much validity as the engagement between my family and the Tendous."
"Ranma and I, as I said yesterday, discussed the possibility of ending or modifying what goes on between us in case any sort of complication sets in," Akane sighs. "Ukyou-san, in that respect, is a very profound complication...no offense."
"None taken. By the way, my friends call me U-chan."
"Hai...U-chan!"
"Okay...A-chan," Ukyou winks, eliciting grins from the people around them, then she sighs. "I have to also admit that my own father is being...very bull-headed about this. When Ran-chan and her dad left, he felt so ashamed at me that he forced me to become a boy legally. For the last few years, I've attended all-boys schools, behaved and acted as a boy, all just because I wasn't supposedly enough of a girl to hang onto my fiancee."
"Didn't he know Ranma was a girl, too?!" Sayuri wonders.
"No. We both believed the other was a boy...and neither Oyaji or Kuonji-san tried to correct us on the matter," Ranma shrugs.
"Besides, the body's just window-dressing. It's the heart and soul that matter more to me," Ukyou adds, gazing on Ranma. "And I do say I'm very attracted to the soul of the person beside me."
"Pretty brave," Daisuke hums.
"Way to go, Ukyou-san!" a girl cheers.
More laughter...then the door slams open. "***NEVER!!!!!!***"
Eyes turn to see a shuddering Tatewaki Kunou glaring at them. "So what brings you here, Kunou-baka?!" Akane wonders.
The kendoist quakes, his outrage boiling around him. "I have heard enough to realize this...PERVERSION of such heavenly angels cannot continue!!!" he points accusingly at the women standing by the teacher's desk. "No doubt, some dark sorcerer has bewitched these fair damsels into such evil!!! Forgive me, maidens, for this I must do this if I am to save you!!! HAVE AT THEE!!!!"
Everyone scatters as Kunou lunges at Ranko. Sensing a threat to her fiancee, Shampoo whips out a bonbori to clock the idiot in the skull, but the speed and raw power of the kendoist's strike slashes through Shampoo's weapon, causing the mace-like head to drop HARD on the warrior's skull! Shampoo yelps as she slumps to the floor. Ranko ducks aside as Ranma grabs Kunou's blade and flips the kendoist through an open window to soar into the yard!
"Get out of here, you clueless moron!!!" Ranma snaps.
"Xian!!" Ranko drops down to help Shampoo sit up, then checks her head for bleeding. "Daijobu?!"
"Oooh...Stick Boy's pretty good..."
Ranko tenses. "Don't tell me you have to...?!"
"Baka!" Shampoo playfully swats Ranko's nose. "I gave YOU the Kiss of Marriage, remember?!"
"I'll avenge you!" Ranko kisses Shampoo, then races for the window, leaping out.
"Ranko, this is THREE FLOORS UP!!!" Yuka screams.
Everyone races to the windows to watch Ranko flip around to land gracefully five metres from Kunou, now trying to recover from Ranma flipping him out of the classroom. As the kendoist surges to his feet, the middle Saotome daughter tenses. "Bastard, you just waltzed over the line!!" she snarls. "You attack me, you attack my sisters, you totally disregard an HONOURABLE engagement and THEN you attack my fiancee and future sister-in-law atop that?!! Time for you to get a REAL taste of what it means to piss me off!!!"
"I will...free you, fair damsel!!" Kunou lunges. "HYAAA!!!! TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!!!!!!"
Ranko ducks clear of the storm of thrusts from Kunou's bokan stick, swerving around him. To the watches above, it seems as if the energy of Kunou's attack was being absorbed into a miasmic cloud of greyish-blue energy around Ranko. "He NEVER did that to me before!!!" Akane exclaims, her whole body shuddering. "That JERK!!!! Who the hell does he think he is, anyway?!!"
"The B.A.O.C...Big Asshole On Campus, A-chan," Ukyou snorts. "Trust me. You encounter idiots like this everywhere!"
Laughter fills the room; they could certainly agree to THAT! "What exactly is Ranko-san doing?" the teacher wonders.
"Looks like Stick Boy's gonna be dancing to the wind!" Shampoo smiles. "This is Airen's attack, Sensei. Using her enemy's ki against him. Even my hibaa-chan says it's really good!"
The dancing continues as energy builds around Ranko. Over Kunou's shouting, the people above hear Ranko continuing to taunt him, mocking his skills, family, sense of reality...all to goad him into throwing off more ki through his bokan stick. Finally, Ranko draws the ki together, then flips back, locking on target.
"***FUUYOU NO GEKIDO!!!!!!***"
The bolt of ki slams into Kunou, creating a cancelling effect whose backlash rips through the kendoist like a scythe. While it does little physical damage, the Wind Dance Fury literally punches through all the various ki and chi elements which give Tatewaki Kunou the power to be what he is. Kunou is smashed away from the impact point, spiralling dizzily like an out-of-control top as his mind and body try to reforge links and restore him to normal.
Ranko relaxes, then walks over to trip him up. "Timber!"
Down he goes! Ranko sighs, then walks away...before a round of applause echoes anew from Furinkan High School. She turns to see that dozens of students, even many teachers, were cheering her on, then laughing, bows to them before heading in.
In their class, Ranma and Akane exchange a look. "When it comes to ki manipulation, Ko-chan is the best," the former smiles.
"I'd say so!" the latter whoops...
* * *
To be continued...