"After my husband sneaked out of our house one night, carrying Ranma and leaving a document behind promising to make Ranma a `Man among men', I waited three years for some word of his whereabouts, but I never received a single note.
"I finally decided that this went far beyond all reasons, and filed papers with the courts. When the courts couldn't find him, they eventually acceeded to all my requests. I am head of the Saotome family, and sole legal guardian of my son, Ranma. My divorced husband, Genma, has no family name, I'm afraid that if he's still using the Saotome name, I shall have to punish him.
"Anyway, four years later, I had him declared legally dead, as he'd been missing for seven years, so if he decides to uphold his honor, there wont be any problem with the courts over his seppuku. If you do come across Genma or my son, would you please inform them of this? If he doesn't return my son, I will have him arrested for kidnapping a minor."
Soun looks shocked "But what about our agreement to unite the two families?"
"Oh, that's between you and Genma to decide. All arrangements or commitments that my son has accumulated while in his care, are legally Genma's burden. Ranma has never been obliged to carry on any burden other than carrying on my family line."
"But this agreement preceeds your divorce. It happened before Ranma was even born. Surely it's valid."
"That man never asked my approval of the arrangement, or even mentioned it when it happenned. I told him when I found out about it, that I was against the idea of an arranged marriage. After all, look how mine turned out. He assumed that when the time came, he could order me to accept it. He assumed he'd be in a position to dictate how my son and my own life would proceed."
Nabiki interjects, "Surely you're observant enough to know that when he hears of this, he'll grab Ranma and run for it."
"Oh yes, that's why I briefed the police and the school on this situation before approaching you. They informed me of my offspring's unique problem with water, and Genma's transformation also. The police will escort Ranma here as soon as he's found. Just before I left the station I heard they found Genma. He should still be sleeping off the tranquilizers in his pen in the zoo."
"The zoo?"
"Yes, the police said they didn't have cells suitable for animals, and as he has sizeable tabs at several bars, his rental to the zoo should help cover some of them, while his various outrages across Japan are coalated, and presented to him."
Soun looked shocked. "You'd do that to your husband?"
"Of course not. I'm only trying to retrieve my son, and present Genma with the official paperwork for our divorce, and retrieve his hanko, of course. The rest of the situation arose independently when the police tried to trace Ranma's whereabouts."
Soun wailed "But he's engaged to marry my daughter, Akane."
"Oh, that's no problem. If my son asks me for permission, who am I to refuse him."
Nabiki snorts "Like that will happen. Ranma and Akane have been quite vocal about not wanting to get married."
"Well then, the answer is quite simple. Genma must make repartitions to you. I understand you've been friends for years, so you should know how reliable he is in fulfilling his obligations."
"This is not acceptable. Genma swore we'd unite our families. Ranma must marry Akane!"
"I don't mind if you want to bring Genma into your family. But you will not use Ranma to do this. Ranma is a Saotome, Genma is not. I'm willing to forgive you for pressuring my son, as you were deceived by my ex-husband. But from this point on, if you try to force my son against his will, then I shall have to take action against your clan."
"Now, now. I'm sure that isn't necessary."
"If you persist to insult my clan saying that my son is failing to behave honorably, then I will answer that insult. If your daughter and my son want to marry or date, that is one thing. If you try to apply any pressure to my son, I will react directly. If it is necessary, I'll swear that our families won't be united, and kill your dreams once and for all."
"But what about the art?"
"That has nothing to do with it. Ranma is merely a student of the Saotome school. If you and Ranma wish, I have no objections to him studying under you. Ranma has a moral obligation to pass on his training, just as you do. What more do you expect him to do?
Note: This idea is too sensible to make into a decent story. The only way I'd
continue this one is if I had another story idea causing chaos involving Ranma
and the fiancees, that I could merge with this one, or if I wanted to write a
crossover with another series.
It's also totally out of character, as it implies that one of the adults has
half a brain.
"I finally decided that this went far beyond all reasons, and filed papers with the courts. When the courts couldn't find him, they eventually acceeded to all my requests. I am head of the Saotome family, and sole legal guardian of my son, Ranma. My divorced husband, Genma, has no family name, I'm afraid that if he's still using the Saotome name, I shall have to punish him.
"Anyway, four years later, I had him declared legally dead, as he'd been missing for seven years, so if he decides to uphold his honor, there wont be any problem with the courts over his seppuku. If you do come across Genma or my son, would you please inform them of this? If he doesn't return my son, I will have him arrested for kidnapping a minor."
Soun looks shocked "But what about our agreement to unite the two families?"
"Oh, that's between you and Genma to decide. All arrangements or commitments that my son has accumulated while in his care, are legally Genma's burden. Ranma has never been obliged to carry on any burden other than carrying on my family line."
"But this agreement preceeds your divorce. It happened before Ranma was even born. Surely it's valid."
"That man never asked my approval of the arrangement, or even mentioned it when it happenned. I told him when I found out about it, that I was against the idea of an arranged marriage. After all, look how mine turned out. He assumed that when the time came, he could order me to accept it. He assumed he'd be in a position to dictate how my son and my own life would proceed."
Nabiki interjects, "Surely you're observant enough to know that when he hears of this, he'll grab Ranma and run for it."
"Oh yes, that's why I briefed the police and the school on this situation before approaching you. They informed me of my offspring's unique problem with water, and Genma's transformation also. The police will escort Ranma here as soon as he's found. Just before I left the station I heard they found Genma. He should still be sleeping off the tranquilizers in his pen in the zoo."
"The zoo?"
"Yes, the police said they didn't have cells suitable for animals, and as he has sizeable tabs at several bars, his rental to the zoo should help cover some of them, while his various outrages across Japan are coalated, and presented to him."
Soun looked shocked. "You'd do that to your husband?"
"Of course not. I'm only trying to retrieve my son, and present Genma with the official paperwork for our divorce, and retrieve his hanko, of course. The rest of the situation arose independently when the police tried to trace Ranma's whereabouts."
Soun wailed "But he's engaged to marry my daughter, Akane."
"Oh, that's no problem. If my son asks me for permission, who am I to refuse him."
Nabiki snorts "Like that will happen. Ranma and Akane have been quite vocal about not wanting to get married."
"Well then, the answer is quite simple. Genma must make repartitions to you. I understand you've been friends for years, so you should know how reliable he is in fulfilling his obligations."
"This is not acceptable. Genma swore we'd unite our families. Ranma must marry Akane!"
"I don't mind if you want to bring Genma into your family. But you will not use Ranma to do this. Ranma is a Saotome, Genma is not. I'm willing to forgive you for pressuring my son, as you were deceived by my ex-husband. But from this point on, if you try to force my son against his will, then I shall have to take action against your clan."
"Now, now. I'm sure that isn't necessary."
"If you persist to insult my clan saying that my son is failing to behave honorably, then I will answer that insult. If your daughter and my son want to marry or date, that is one thing. If you try to apply any pressure to my son, I will react directly. If it is necessary, I'll swear that our families won't be united, and kill your dreams once and for all."
"But what about the art?"
"That has nothing to do with it. Ranma is merely a student of the Saotome school. If you and Ranma wish, I have no objections to him studying under you. Ranma has a moral obligation to pass on his training, just as you do. What more do you expect him to do?
Note: This idea is too sensible to make into a decent story. The only way I'd
continue this one is if I had another story idea causing chaos involving Ranma
and the fiancees, that I could merge with this one, or if I wanted to write a
crossover with another series.
It's also totally out of character, as it implies that one of the adults has
half a brain.