A New Home

A New Beginning
by Lerris Smith

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon or Tenchi Muyo. This piece of work is purely for entertainment purposes. This is just a reposting to insure clean chapters. This story is on hold for now.

The scene is somewhere in Jubaan.

"Jupiter thunder Strike. Dang missed again."

"Mars fire surround" "Venus crescent beam"

"Wait for me guys.", commented Sailor Moon from down the street.

Sailor Jupiter said, "That is one fast youma."

A disgruntled store owner turned in their direction. "Your wrecking the area."

Mercury was trying to look at her computer and run at the same time and having difficulty keeping up.

"Wheeee! All the pretty girls are showing me their affection. I must continue my quest to free them all." Happosai continues to bound away with his sack full of purloined women's underwear.

Sailor Jupiter said, "Come on he's getting away!"

Happosai spots a beautiful young woman with long blue hair and launches himself at her chest. "Sweeto!"

"Die!" Nabiki tries to peel the pervert from her chest but can't seem to shake him.

"Happosai, get the heck away from my sister!" Akane comes after Happosai with her mallet only to suddenly have Happosai jump to her chest.

"Akane-chan. How nice to see you." Happosai embraces Akane but suddenly seems confused.

"Hey you old freak come get me."

"Ranma-chan! You've come to comfort your old master in his time of need." Happosai jumps to Ranma-chan's chest and glomps her. Suddenly he jumps away looking a bit unsteady and goes to over to pick up his bag. A bolt of blue energy crashes into him just as Akane's mallet makes contact. Happosai left the ground and began his flight leaving behind Ranma and Akane who were both sharing small grins, and an annoyed Nabiki.

The Senshi came running up.

Makoto looked at the departing projectile. "Great! You got the youma."

Mercury commented, "According to what I scanned that wasn't a youma."

Minako said, "Then how was he draining energy before?"

Nabiki said, "She's right. He is human. That was Happosai." In a sarcastic tone she continued, "He was our father's Master in the art. I haven't introduced myself yet though. My name is Nabiki Tendo. I'm Akane's sister. It is an honor to meet the Sailor Senshi."

There was no one near their group. Ranma spoke. "Nabiki knows all about Akane and me. She can be trusted." Ranma wished he was as certain as he sounded. Still it felt right even with all the changes. For the first time since Nabiki's change he allowed himself to truly examine Nabiki's aura and realize that she could be trusted, without any reservations whatsoever. Ranma was surprised at his own conclusion, but managed not to show it.

Sailor Mars said, "You told her!"

Akane said, "My sister may be mercenary, but she has always protected her family and friends. Besides, I don't think we could have kept a secret this big from her. She has a way of finding out secrets."

Sailor Moon came up to Nabiki and looked her in the eyes and smiled. She then shifted back to her normal form. "Hello, my name is Usagi Tsukino. I'm pleased to meet you. Come on everyone, she can be trusted, somehow I'm sure of it."

Venus and Makoto stared at their leader, but in the end simply nodded and shifted to their normal forms. Mercury looked at her computer for a minute longer before nodding and shifting back. Rei grumbled, but did so as well. "I hope you know what your doing." she said to no one in particular.

"Thank you. I'm honored to receive your trust. I will not betray it."

Ami said, "What I don't understand is why he seemed to weaken after he glomped onto Ranma."

"Happosai has a trick where he can leach the ki of women to regain his strength. Since my ki is laced with chaos energy he got a rather upset stomach. I think the link with Akane confused him when he went after her before. It may even protect a little, but well he was able to drain some from me, so I wouldn't count on it."

Nabiki added sarcastically, "Why Ranma, you charmer. People get sick just hugging you."

"Hey. Its not my fault. Its not as if I helped him, well not much at least. He seemed to like you allot though. It reminds me of how he first glomped me..." Nabiki paled.

Akane laughed. "Serves the pervert right."

Rei said, "Well if we are done punishing evil, shouldn't we go check out your new home?"

Makoto said, "Setsuna said something about you agreeing to train us in martial arts?"

Ranma said, "Yes, we both owe you all more than we can ever repay. I will gladly teach any of you the art or anything that I can to help."

Akane added, "I'll help too."

Ranma said, "So who wants to learn?"

Most of the senshi seemed dubious at the idea. Makoto was interested. Rei was curious. Ami looked thoughtful, but the rest seemed to ignore the idea.

Before long they arrived at what would be the new home to the Nerimians when summer started.

Nabiki said, "Ranma hasn't even moved in yet and it already wrecked." There was a hole about as tall as a person but twice as wide going through one side of the house. Exiting the other side of the house was a similar hole.

The building was made of dark yellowish bricks. The roof was covered in red slate. The only windows were on the top floor and were angled to accommodate the roof line. The front of the house had a garage type door on the right as well as a normal door to the left of the garage door. The driveway was paved with concrete and their was a small lawn to the left of the driveway with shrubs lining the roadside.

Rei said, "You know I think I remember this place."

Minako said, "Didn't we chase a youma through here not long ago?"

Nabiki snickered, "Well Ranma, it would seem your friend managed to find you a home she could get a deal on. Ah well, its fortunate that I know so many construction workers."

Usagi said, "I think its a cool house."

Ranma unlocked the door and went inside. The floor was covered with sawdust. There were empty boxes all over the place, and leftover scraps of wood.

Ami was looking at her computer. "Hmm according to public records this used to be a shop that made custom cabinets. That would explain the sawdust at least. It looks like his insurance company refused to pay for the damage since it was caused by a youma and he decided to move."

The inside of the ground floor was about 20 feet by 30 feet 3ft is approx 1m in size. The ceilings looked to be about 10 feet. There were two steel beams running along the ceiling being supported by two steal beams running from the floor to the ceiling. The floor was an old hardwood floor that was covered in scratches and nicks everywhere the eye could see.

Ranma said, "Well its not a real dojo, but it looks like it will work. I wish it were a bit bigger though."

Akane said, "Let's go check out the upstairs."

There was a black steel spiral staircase to the left of the door as you came in. Everyone made their way up the stairs. After exiting the stairs you could see to the left was a bedroom and to the right was the bathroom with the laundry area past that. To the far right was the entrance to another bedroom. Straight in front was the kitchen area. Its windows had an excellent view of the park that was a couple blocks away. The upper windows were shaped in a triangular fashion to accommodate the roof line of the house. The windows in front of the house matched those on the kitchen side, except where one was different for the bathroom. The windows made the inside of the top floor almost as bright as outside. The cabinets were a simple woodgrain finish and the walls were white. The floor was carpeted with a dark blue plush carpet.

Akane said, "Kasumi is gong to love this kitchen. Especially the view of the park."

Nabiki nodded her agreement and continued taking pictures.

Usagi said, "Hey look the bedrooms have the slanted ceiling too. Thats so cool."

Ami added, "You have your own washer and dryer."

Ranma was looking in the bathroom. "No furo though. Still the bathtub is large enough to relax in." After exiting the bathroom Ranma looked back. There was nearly four feet between the top of the bathroom/laundry area and the ceiling of the house. Ranma jumped and twisted and landed on top of it on hands and feet. "It's carpeted up here too. This is kinda cool, but I'm not sure what to do with it. Its just this triangular wedge of space." The floor of that area was about five feet by twelve feet with the ceiling slanting from less than four feet along one long side to nothing at all on the other. "It has a great view through the top windows of the house though."

Akane smiled and said, "Well if we put a futon up there, then I could have my own room."

Ranma tried to respond, "But..I thought.. I mean.. "

Nabiki added, "Nice try sis. Still a small attached ladder and a futon might be worthwhile, for guests if nothing else."

Minako turned to Ranma and chimed in, "Well, at worst, it would give you a place to sleep in case Akane locks you out of the bedroom."

Akane grinned, "I hadn't thought of that."

Ranma muttered something quietly about women, but no one heard.

It turns out that very little martial arts training occurred that day. They all discussed how best to decorate and place furniture, and where the best deals could be found on furniture. Setsuna had given them enough money to buy their own furniture, as long as they didn't get too fancy. In other words, they had to buy mostly used furniture. Both Akane and Ranma blushed when Minako noted that Nabiki had wrote down a queen sized bed for Ranma and Akane's room. Kasumi and her were to have two single beds.

Nabiki said, "Well they are getting married."

Usagi said, "Married. Thats so romantic."

Makoto said, "So when is the wedding?"

Akane added, "After my sister's graduation. Your all invited of course."

Ranma said, "Yes, it would be great to have you there. You might be a little surprised by Nerima though."

Minako said, "It can't be any weirder than Jubaan."

The Nerimians winced as a group.

Nabiki said, "Now that is one bet I would not make."

Usagi said quietly to Akane, "How did you know it was..?"

"I think I've known for quite awhile that Ranma and I were destined or perhaps doomed to be together. Sometimes I was never quite sure which. Ranma proposed yesterday. It began when ... " Akane told of the events of yesterday. "I realized when I almost lost him how much he truly meant to me. The rest was obvious." Akane looked over at Nabiki and tried to once again convey her thanks.

Ranma wiped a tear from his eye. Usagi seemed to be lost in thought.

Rei said to Nabiki, "So your some kind of half alien goddess now? Thats odd even for Jubaan."

Nabiki said, "Perhaps half goddess is more accurate. Much of my power was lost in the merging. In a thousand years perhaps I will be that strong again. Still this is better. I was so tired of being trapped there. It was so lonely there. The trees kept me company, but it just wasn't the same."

Usagi said, "Well your among friends now." Nabiki smiled.

Ami had long gotten into the habit of letting her computer scan her surroundings while it was idle. It had saved them many times in the past after all. "Look at this. About thirty feet below this house is a tunnel that leads down to several other caverns."

Ranma studied the map the computer generated including the scale. "That one room is massive. It doesn't look right though. Its too orderly for a natural cave system."

"If I'm right it is not a natural cave system. I think this is, or rather was, the home of some youma we defeated a few years ago. Yes, here is the record where the city sealed the surface entrance to the tunnel system after we exposed its location in one of our fights."

Usagi asked, "Why are we talking about some old tunnels anyway?"

Ranma said, "I was just thinking that if we had a way to get down to that room, it might be a good place to practice some of our more dangerous attacks.."

Ami added, "Well if you know how to dig a hole straight down through thirty feet of various kinds of rock.."

"I never mastered Ryoga's attack, and even if I had it would make too much of a mess. I could eventually bore a hole with magic, but it wouldn't be quick."

Nabiki said, "Your serious aren't you? Well I suppose you might keep property damage to a minimum practicing way down there. I don't suppose we can just hire a construction company since we probably want to keep it secret? No i guess not. Still given the number of super powered people around, we should be able to come up with something."

Akane said, "I think it would be great."

Makoto said, "I agree. It would give us a place to really cut loose." Rei snickered.

After a time they returned to the subject of planning what they would need for the house. Nabiki made a call and arranged to have construction workers repair the damage early next week. Ami made some computer drawings of the layout of the house to help with the planning. In the end plans were made and Nabiki had a list made of all they needed to get.

Nabiki had Ami email her two particular views. The first was the layout of the back wall with the kitchen and bedrooms. It showed the layout of the windows.

http/ second view was a floor plan Ami made that they had used to figure out what furniture they needed and the sizes they could get.

http/ and Ranma arrived home just before dinner time. Nabiki went up to print out copies of some of the pictures to show Kasumi.

Akane and Ranma went into the kitchen to talk with Kasumi.

Akane asked, "So how was your day? Did Dr. Tofu like the lunch you made?"

Kasumi said, "It went well for awhile. We even talked over lunch without him getting silly. He volunteered to tutor me when I start school. Towards the end his eyes did glaze up a bit though, so I thought perhaps lunch was over."

Akane asked, "I still wonder how you do that to him. I guess he's in love. I certainly have never had that affect on Ranma."

Ranma said, "I'm right here you know."

Akane said, "Baka." She then proceeded to give him a brief kiss.

Ranma just sat there stunned.

Kasumi said, "I'd say your doing well enough sis. So tell me about this new house."

Nabiki came in waving several pictures she had printed, "Take a look Kasumi. I think you'll really like it."

Kasumi said, "I think I love the kitchen already."

Ranma said, "We thought you might. I actually like the place quite a bit. We can practice in the nearby park, or downstairs. We even found some tunnels nearby that might be useful for practicing."

Nabiki said, "I think Ranma would have been happy with anything as long as he could practice."

Ranma said, "Speaking of practice we really should get some in after dinner. We were supposed to do some today in Jubaan but we never got to it."

Akane said in a slightly monotone voice, "Yes Sensei, of course Sensei."

Kasumi interjected, "Well dinner is done. If I could get some help setting the table.."

Soon enough the table was spread with one of Kasumi's better meals.

Nodoka said, "Your food is excellent as always Kasumi."

Soun said, "Don't worry about any of the details of the wedding. We have it all taken care of."

Ranma choked on his food. Akane grimaced and looked at her plate.

Nabiki asked, "So who is on the guest list?"

Genma added, "Why everyone of course."

Ranma said, "Doomed. doomed.. We are so doomed." Akane looked sick.

Nodoka said, "It can't be that bad."

Ranma stared at his mother. "Bad? Bad? Its an open invitation to disaster."

Akane said, "Ranma's right. I hadn't thought of it until now. Perhaps now Ukyo and Shampoo won't react too badly, but the Kuno's alone..."

Nabiki interjected in a sarcastic tone, "Well at least if the house is destroyed Kasumi, Akane, Ranma and I have our home in Jubaan."

Soun turned to Nabiki, "Jubaan. What are you saying? I thought only Ranma and Akane who are leaving."

"Sorry dad, Kasumi and I are going as well. Kasumi got a scholarship to attend medical school and I have already accumulated my college funds. We are going to go to Jubaan University while Ranma and Akane finish high school."

"No, all my babies are leaving. Not Kasumi." Soun cried a flood of tears.

Genma said, "We'll starve."

Kasumi said, "Father. It will be ok. Perhaps auntie Nodoka could stay here and help out once we leave."

Nodoka said, "I don't think so. Genma has yet to make a significant effort to make up for his mistakes. You guys are on your own."

Genma said, "Please No-chan. We can't eat our own cooking. I'd almost rather eat Akane's."

Akane pulled a mallet out and stared at him, "You were saying?"

Genma splashed himself and held up a sign, "I'm just a harmless panda."

Nodoka said, "If you expect any help from me you'd better get off your behind and do something. You call yourself a martial artist and yet you sit around all day. You could at least teach students. For that matter, since Nabiki is going to be off to college, if you want to eat, your going to have to bring in some money."

Soun looked at Genma, "She's right you know."

Nabiki said, "Well its either you teach enough students to support yourselves or we could go with my backup plan."

Genma held up another sign, "What backup plan?"

Nabiki said, "Why the one where Father and you are hired out for children's parties. Trained pandas are rare you know."

Genma held up, "I'm a martial artist, not a plaything."

Kasumi said, "Oh, it would be fun though. Little kids running all around and hugging and tackling you. Think of the children, they would love a panda as a friend and you do so look the part."

Genma held up, "Do not."

Nabiki said, "Well then I guess your just going to have to start teaching some students then."

The rest of the dinner was largely uneventful. Ranma and Akane went to the dojo after dinner.

"Ok now go through that kata again."

"Again? But its still just a beginning one."

"When you are perfect on it, every time, then you get to learn the next. Now focus."

It took almost two hours before Akane could complete the kata several times in a row to Ranma's satisfaction. By then it was getting time for sleep.

"Good. Now if you can repeat that the next time we practice without error you get to go on to the next one." Akane sighed. Later in Akane's room Akane brought up the subject of the wedding.

"Do you really think it will be that bad?"

"I don't know, it just that with everyone invited it just gives me a bad feeling. I suppose that the scouts may be able to help with the probable chaos."

"Must you always think of the worst possible outcome?"

"Hey, with my life, the odds of that outcome happening are pretty good."

"You have a point."

"What about Yosho, Achika and Ryoko?"

"We should invite them too of course." Ranma nodded.

Nabiki stood outside her older sister's door in thought for a moment before announcing her presence. "Kasumi, can I talk to you for a bit?"

Kasumi opened the door. "Hello Nabiki, I was hoping you would come by." They went over and sat on the bed.

"I guess you want to know what happened to me huh?" Kasumi nodded. "I was right. Father would accept almost anything without much of an explanation as long as he could see we were ok, but not you. Where do I begin? Well I suppose you deserve to know the whole truth of what happened yesterday." She went on to tell her the story. The story about how close to death Ranma and Akane had been. "So you see, there was no choice really, or rather the only other choice was so much worse."

"I'm glad everyone is ok. I suppose that helps explain Ranma and Akane's sudden decision to finally set a date for a wedding." She paused in thought. "Just who are you now really?"

"I am neither fully Nabiki Tendo or Tsunami. I am like Ranma, a melding of two people. In a way Ranma helped me make the decision since I knew someone who had gone through something similar already."

"So your saying my sister is now a goddess? That is a bit hard to believe, even seeing the blue hair and how the rest of your body has changed."

"Half goddess is closest I think, but more importantly I'm still your sister. Blue hair and all." Nabiki reached out to hug her sister, who hesitated for a moment before returning the hug. "Thanks, I needed that."

Nabiki had never been one for displays of affection, and Kasumi was at a loss for words to suddenly feel her sister's hug. It lasted for several minutes, both shedding a few silent tears before separating.

"I had another reason for coming here tonight."

"Oh?"

"I wanted to give you a gift. I hope it is something you can accept."

Kasumi looked at her Sister. "What kind of gift? Just having everyone alive, healthy, and happy, is all I ever wanted."

"Long ago I gave the people of Jurai a seed of my power. It gave the potential for controlling one of the greatest sources of power in the universe. Those who were able to master it lived much longer than others. Some became warriors, and used their power to protect others." Nabiki's tone became sad. "A few used what I had given them in darker ways and were eventually stopped, sometimes at a great cost." Nabiki's tone became hopeful. "A treasured few, took the hardest path, and learned to use what I had given them to heal others. That is what I want to give you, if you will accept it."

"Why me? Surely Ranma or Akane..."

"Both of them are linked to great sources of power. They need no more. I doubt it would even work on them as they are. You, on the other hand, are the most caring person I have known in several hundred years and have already admitted wanting to learn to heal."

"What is the difference between this and what Ranma offered to teach me?"

"They are different ways of doing very similar things. The healing that Ranma knows involves the use of magic and ki. It works very well much of the time, but is very tiring to the healer. Healing with Jurian energy also tires the healer, but not as much. It can often heal things that Ranma's form of healing cannot. The two forms of healing complement each other and in time, you could learn to master both I think."

"I don't know what to say." Kasumi pauses in thought. "What would happen to me?"

"Mastering control of magic, ki, or Jurian energy each has the potential to greatly lengthen your life span. You would have great potential in all three, and no matter what happens you would pass on the potential for controlling Jurian energy to any children you might have. You would have the potential to be one of the greatest healers I have ever known, but it won't be easy. Ranma, Akane, and Myself could live for thousands of years as we are, provided of course we aren't killed before then. I'm hoping you will accept and be around for those same thousands of years to help us."

"Is it like the bond between Ranma and Akane?"

"No, we would feel a greater kinship for each other, but thats all."

"Ok, I'm not sure I believe all this, but you are my sister and I trust you. If you both are going to live for so long, well I'd want to be there to help too." Kasumi paused in thought. "What about Dr. Tofu?"

"If you did nothing and I did nothing, then Dr. Tofu would live an ordinary life span and die. There is nothing wrong with that and its not as if you would love him any less because of it. If you learned the spell that Ranma used on Akane it is likely you could share your life with him, although you might live perhaps half as long because of it. Eventually I should be able to do for Dr. Tofu what I'm offering to do for you, but it will likely be many years before that is possible. Please say yes sis. I have not always appreciated you as much as I should of and I want to do this for you."

Kasumi thought about it for several minutes. "Yes, I want this. If it hadn't been for you they would be dead now. How could I pass up the opportunity to learn to heal like that?"

"Ok just lay down on your bed and leave space for me. I will need to be near you for the night for this to work." Kasumi did so. Nabiki then began to glow a brilliant blue. She cupped her hands over the front of her chest and as she withdrew them a brilliant sphere perhaps a centimeter in diameter formed. It seemed to pulse and swirl with flecks of gold and white. "Don't be afraid, just try to relax and accept it." She held the sphere over Kasumi's chest and turned her hands allowing it to settle into her sister's body. Kasumi's body glowed a brilliant blue with specs of gold and white and then suddenly it was over. Nabiki yawned, and curled up beside her sister and was fast asleep.

"Goodnight sis.", came from Kasumi before she too was fast asleep.

If one looked closely they could see a faint blue glow surrounding them both that night.

Happosai was in a hotel room not far from where he had run into Ranma and Akane. The anything goes school of lock picking was a handy thing after all.

I don't get it. How did Nabiki get blue hair and that odd aura? I could barely steal any of Akane's ki at all, and when I tried to steal Ranma-chan's I got sick. Just what have those three been up to? He then looked over at his bag and decided that finding out could wait. He had important work to do. Without further ado he got out a clothes iron and began.

Happosai tossed and turned that night. His dreams were filled with visions of what happened when he glomped onto Ranma-chan with Ranma-chan being replaced by all the pretty women he had ever known. Noooooo!

Author's Notes: The house design should be included in the web page version of this story as images. The suggestion to rent Genma out to parties came from some other fanfiction. I don't remember which.

2006-02-01