"Oh Please Akane, who could possibly hurt them? Goten wouldn't cause them any serious harm, and you know Trunks isn't up to their level with such on and off training."
She frowned at him, "That's not his fault Ranma! The poor boy, not having a father."
He held his hands up as a shield, "I wasn't pointing fingers! I'm the one that's getting Vegeta in on his training, if you remember."
She sighed and set the pot of soup on the table, "I know, Ranma. I'm sorry. You know the girls' levels better than I do, so I'll trust your judgment, but if anything happens . . ."
She let her voice trail off ominously, but he simply grinned and grabbed her around the waist in a spinning hug. At the sound of girlish giggles he paused and smiled over his shoulder at the girls.
"Guess what your Pop just convinced your Mama to let you fine warriors do?" He'd expected their adulation and glee, but not the triumphant grins they exchanged. "We're gonna be in the tournament!!" They jumped around, holding each other's hands, then ran over and jumped at their parents. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" Ranma merely blinked, wondering how they'd known? With a knowing grin his thoughts turned to Trunks and Goten. Leave it to those boys to ruin his surprise.
Oh well, the girls were happy and it would be fun.
"Mom, ya home?" "In the kitchen dear, come on in." Ranma grinned and licked his lips, kitchens meant tidbits from a mother who always worried about her son's health. Akane's cooking, though improved, was still infamous.
He ducked in and smiled, knowing his mother wouldn't like it. "What brings you by Ranma dear?" He shrugged and sat at the table, "Nothin' much, just thought we should catch up. You haven't been by in awhile." She paused to glance at him, then went back to her cooking. After a time she said, "You haven't come by either, you know. Vegeta has asked about you." Ranma shrugged, "Where is my charming step-father?" Even Vegeta was an improvement of Genma, in some ways, though the panda still popped up every now and again.
"He said he would be training. He's going to enter the tournament, you know." She smiled proudly at him.
"I figured. So am I, actually. That's part of why I'm dropping by. Akane and I have decided to allow the girls to enter as well." "WHAT!?!" He snatched the frying pan from the air in front of his face. "Geez mom, it's not like they'll get hurt. The only powerful fighters there will be our own group, and nobody will hurt them. Trunks and Goten are entering too, and you know Goten is barely their equal, and Trunks is, well, not." It had long ago been decided that nobody would tell Nodoka who Trunks' father was. They were waiting to see what Vegeta did, and apparently he had decided to do nothing.
With a frown, Ranma opened his senses wide and sought out his step-father. After a moment he smiled knowingly. Yes, Vegeta was training alright. Training his son.
"Oh, Ranma, I don't like it. The girls are-" "Perfectly capable of handling themselves. I just wish I could get them to fight as well individually as they do together. I never gave much thought to all those rumors about twins, but sometimes I wonder if they don't have some kind of special link after all." Nodoka began spooning the dough out into separated lumps, and Ranma was deeply upset that he probably wouldn't be around long enough to taste the cookies.
"I'll trust your judgment, but not overly willingly. You know I worry, I am their grandmother after all. Just, well, watch them carefully during their fights." He stood and went to hug her, "Did you think I wouldn't?" She smiled up at him, then glanced about. With a smile she snatched up a covered bowl and held it out to him. "Here, take these home to my three favorite girls, and don't eat a one before you get home!" He grinned sheepishly, with a tinge of triumph in his expression as well, and trotted out the door.
He glanced about the empty street before leaping into the air. He had to keep his aura down so he didn't glow as the early evening descended on the town and the sky darkened. He'd stand out like a comet if he powered up while flying. Nerima was used to a lot, but people flying around and lighting up whole streets wasn't quite blasé yet.
He was home shortly, and dropped down on the porch. Setting the cookies on the dining room table he went in search of his wife. He found her just leaving the changing room, drying her hair with a towel.
She looked up and smiled hesitantly, "Well, you're alive. That's a good sign." He chuckled and gave her a hug. "She took it rather well. I think she's taking me being 'head of the Soatome family' as meaning I can actually make decisions without consulting her. Not that there's much left of the Soatome family." "And who's fault is that?" Ranma rolled his eyes and turned, "Hey Pop, when did you get back in town?" Genma remained in the doorway to his room, the one he'd shared so long ago with Ranma when the two of them had first come to Nerima.
"This morning." "Just before Lunch," Akane quipped.
Ranma walked over clapped his father on the back, "You know you're always welcome Pop. The girls were asking about you awhile back. When was your last visit? Two, three months ago?" "Five." Ranma chuckled through his discomfort, "My, time flys." Genma winced, and Ranma repeated the gesture. Genma didn't take any mention of flight well.
"Uh, The girls and I are entering the World Tournament in a couple months. You should come with us, the girls would love for you to see them fight, and-" "No, I don't think so. Your mother would be there, and Him." "Well, probably but . . . right. So, sorry I didn't get to see you any earlier today, I've been running errands and such. Ukyo's boy was having a little problem I had to help him with, and I visited Chi-chi this morning to drop something off from Akane, so I thought I should check in on our favorite amazon while I was there." Akane snorted and headed down stairs. Ranma looked around vainly for one of the girls, who were the only souls his father cheered up for anymore. "So, uh, their tournament is coming up next week, and of course the whole family's invited. Why not come to that? And no, Mom isn't coming." Genma started to speak, hesitated, and sighed. "Fine, if I haven't left town by then." "Great! The girls are looking forward to it. Shampoo promised to let them spar with the winner, well, one of them at least." Genma chuckled, "Either of my girls could take on the whole amazon tribe with one arm and both legs tied back!" Ranma failed to mention that all they'd have to do then would be to fly, but he refrained just in time. "Yeah, they sure are something, aren't they?" "I brought them some presents from my journeys. I told them of a training ground they should check out. You'd better go with them, keep 'em in line." Ranma nodded and gestured to the stairs. "How long's it been since you saw Mr. Tendo?" "Hmmph. Too long. I'll drop by tomorrow." Ranma nodded and led the way to the dining room and then out to sit on the porch. Oh yeah, he thought, and dropped his aura. It distressed his father to see Ranma get splashed and stay human. With a mental sigh Ranma studied the skyline. If only he could cheer his father up, but it seemed impossible. Maybe he should just stop trying, but his father was just so bitter after losing his wife to another man. The fact that he was now so far down on the list of strong martial artists didn't help.
"No, no, Rinko. No ki blasts, remember?" Ranma walked over to his daughter, the expansive desert he'd brought them to for training as blessedly empty as he'd known it would be. All of the Z fighters used this area on occasion, but Ranma never really saw anyone else around even though he was careful to do a quick sweep of the area before they started.
"I know Daddy, but I didn't think she'd be expecting one right then." Ranko grinned and stuck her tongue out at her sister, who blushed and dug her toe into the sand.
"I know Ranko, but you never know. Close distance only, but only under the most drastic conditions. Remember, we'll be fighting normal people in the tournament. Not very many earthlings can use ki to the great extent needed for an energy blast." He stepped back and jumped onto a boulder a good thirty feet away from the girls. "Okay, now start again." He watched them carefully as the two girls jumped and twisted and fought. They were beyond grubby now, with torn shirts and mud streaked cheeks, but Akane would understand. He smiled, his wife was already quite proud of the fact that her daughters would be participating in the World Martial Arts Championship.
She'd even packed them lunch. Ranma shot the bundled baskets off to his right a wary glance. She may be getting better, but she was by no means a master chef.
He returned his attention to his daughters as Rinko shot into the sky to avoid an attack, then plummeted back to the ground to send a spinning kick to her sister's back. Ranko turned just in time to catch Rinko's extended ankle, and gave it a jerk. Rinko went flying and landed neatly outside the lopsided square Ranma had dug into the ground with his ankle. He'd purposefully made it a little small. It was always easier to get bigger than suddenly confine yourself to a smaller area.
"Good Ranko, now what did you do wrong?" Ranko frowned at the rebuff, expecting praise instead. Then she frowned in thought and shrugged, "I left myself too open when I threw her?" Rinko nodded, "Yeah, if I'd caught myself, I would have been able to turn around and get ya, maybe even knock you out of the ring." "Right! Now, that makes you two even for the day, so why don't we eat a little lunch? Then I'll work with you each individually for awhile." They squealed in excitement, and Ranma picked one girl up in each arm. They loved it when he worked with them one on one. They may look identical, but their fighting styles were entirely different. Besides, everyone always wadded the two of them up into one bundle, and Ranma was sure they got a more than a little fed up with that after awhile. Everyone wanted to be their own person, and the Art was where his little twins found their differences.
He spread a blanket with a flick of the wrist and dragged over the pair of baskets they'd brought for the picnic. He opened one to find the girls' thermoses for school, and two plates with a multitude of little containers of food inside. Ranma noted that Akane had packed both girls' favorites, and set that basket between the girls as Ranko licked her lips and Rinko's eyes tripled in size as they waited expectantly.
They were already digging in when Ranma opened his basket and undid the top frog closure on his shirt. He licked his lips as well at the sight of all of his favorites. Grinning, he dug in as well.
The three enjoyed their meals as Ranma quizzed the girls on school work and friends to get caught up. As young as they were, they were already attracting unwanted male attention, and Ranma mentally groaned at the thought of having to fight off suitors as the girls grew.
He was setting aside his now empty basket when Rinko turned and studied the sky behind her. He frowned in confusion and turned to see what had gotten her attention, only then sensing Vegeta's approaching ki. Ranma smiled and gave his a little flare to attract the former Prince's attention. Two tiny specks of light in the distant sky suddenly switched directions and Ranma and the girls waited patiently for Vegeta and Trunks to arrive.
"Hey Vegeta! How's it going Trunks?" "Fine sir." Trunks landed near the seated Ranma and shot Vegeta a wary glance as the older man landed.
"Ranma, I see you had the same idea that I did. I'm getting the boy into shape for the tournament. His training has been abysmal up until now, so he'll have to work hard to satisfy me before then." Ranma frowned at his step-father, knowing who most of the Z fighters blamed on Trunk's stunted training. "Yeah, well, we'll let you have the place to yourself in a few. I just wanted to go over a few little things with the girls before we headed home." Vegeta nodded and turned to his son, "Well, c'mon." Taking once more to the air, Vegeta and Trunks had soon reached a safe distance where they could train without the two groups getting in each other's ways.
Ranma made a mental note to watch for errant ki blasts, and turned back to his daughters as they stood. He helped them pack up the picnic gear, and turned to Ranko, "Why don't you go through some kata for me, while I work with your sister. I'll get to you soon though, promise." He held his right hand up with a solemn expression as she gave him a suspicious study. After a moment she gave a satisfied nod and walked over to work in private.
"Now," he knelt in front of Rinko, "I want to congratulate you. Have you been practicing sensing ki?" She looked puzzled and shook her head, "No, should I have?" He was startled, but more intrigued than anything. "No, not really, but you sensed Vegeta and Trunks before I did." "Oh, that." She muttered, "I'd know they were coming forever, but I hadn't realized they were getting that close with the last match and all." Huh. Apparently his daughter was a natural at sensing ki. He'd have to look into that; maybe it would be useful.
"Alright, now here's what I noticed . . ."
The girls landed right on the porch and ran inside to hug their mother, who promptly sent them off for a bath and change of clothes. She then met him in the dining room and sighed.
"It's a good thing you're back so early, or they wouldn't have any clothes left and they'd just be covered in dirt." Ranma chuckled and gave her a hug, "I know. They were in rare form today, throwing each other around and grinding one another into the dirt." She smiled and looked up at him, "Why are you back so early? I wasn't expecting you three until dinner." He shrugged, "Vegeta showed up with Trunks." He frowned, "He's taking this awfully seriously, you know, like his son and our daughters are competing or something. I guess I got kind of caught up in it too, and I didn't like the idea of him watching the girls and I train." Akane rolled her eyes and headed into the kitchen, "Saiyan men. Chi-chi warned me." Ranma didn't know what she meant, and didn't want too, so he remained silent.]
A/N: alright, there's another chapter. I'm still having issues with where to take this fic. I have my ideas, but there's just soooo much db storyline. From now on, it will be more like the movies, not really fitting into the storyline and all. Well, review please!
"Guess what your Pop just convinced your Mama to let you fine warriors do?" He'd expected their adulation and glee, but not the triumphant grins they exchanged. "We're gonna be in the tournament!!" They jumped around, holding each other's hands, then ran over and jumped at their parents. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" Ranma merely blinked, wondering how they'd known? With a knowing grin his thoughts turned to Trunks and Goten. Leave it to those boys to ruin his surprise.
Oh well, the girls were happy and it would be fun.
"Mom, ya home?" "In the kitchen dear, come on in." Ranma grinned and licked his lips, kitchens meant tidbits from a mother who always worried about her son's health. Akane's cooking, though improved, was still infamous.
He ducked in and smiled, knowing his mother wouldn't like it. "What brings you by Ranma dear?" He shrugged and sat at the table, "Nothin' much, just thought we should catch up. You haven't been by in awhile." She paused to glance at him, then went back to her cooking. After a time she said, "You haven't come by either, you know. Vegeta has asked about you." Ranma shrugged, "Where is my charming step-father?" Even Vegeta was an improvement of Genma, in some ways, though the panda still popped up every now and again.
"He said he would be training. He's going to enter the tournament, you know." She smiled proudly at him.
"I figured. So am I, actually. That's part of why I'm dropping by. Akane and I have decided to allow the girls to enter as well." "WHAT!?!" He snatched the frying pan from the air in front of his face. "Geez mom, it's not like they'll get hurt. The only powerful fighters there will be our own group, and nobody will hurt them. Trunks and Goten are entering too, and you know Goten is barely their equal, and Trunks is, well, not." It had long ago been decided that nobody would tell Nodoka who Trunks' father was. They were waiting to see what Vegeta did, and apparently he had decided to do nothing.
With a frown, Ranma opened his senses wide and sought out his step-father. After a moment he smiled knowingly. Yes, Vegeta was training alright. Training his son.
"Oh, Ranma, I don't like it. The girls are-" "Perfectly capable of handling themselves. I just wish I could get them to fight as well individually as they do together. I never gave much thought to all those rumors about twins, but sometimes I wonder if they don't have some kind of special link after all." Nodoka began spooning the dough out into separated lumps, and Ranma was deeply upset that he probably wouldn't be around long enough to taste the cookies.
"I'll trust your judgment, but not overly willingly. You know I worry, I am their grandmother after all. Just, well, watch them carefully during their fights." He stood and went to hug her, "Did you think I wouldn't?" She smiled up at him, then glanced about. With a smile she snatched up a covered bowl and held it out to him. "Here, take these home to my three favorite girls, and don't eat a one before you get home!" He grinned sheepishly, with a tinge of triumph in his expression as well, and trotted out the door.
He glanced about the empty street before leaping into the air. He had to keep his aura down so he didn't glow as the early evening descended on the town and the sky darkened. He'd stand out like a comet if he powered up while flying. Nerima was used to a lot, but people flying around and lighting up whole streets wasn't quite blasé yet.
He was home shortly, and dropped down on the porch. Setting the cookies on the dining room table he went in search of his wife. He found her just leaving the changing room, drying her hair with a towel.
She looked up and smiled hesitantly, "Well, you're alive. That's a good sign." He chuckled and gave her a hug. "She took it rather well. I think she's taking me being 'head of the Soatome family' as meaning I can actually make decisions without consulting her. Not that there's much left of the Soatome family." "And who's fault is that?" Ranma rolled his eyes and turned, "Hey Pop, when did you get back in town?" Genma remained in the doorway to his room, the one he'd shared so long ago with Ranma when the two of them had first come to Nerima.
"This morning." "Just before Lunch," Akane quipped.
Ranma walked over clapped his father on the back, "You know you're always welcome Pop. The girls were asking about you awhile back. When was your last visit? Two, three months ago?" "Five." Ranma chuckled through his discomfort, "My, time flys." Genma winced, and Ranma repeated the gesture. Genma didn't take any mention of flight well.
"Uh, The girls and I are entering the World Tournament in a couple months. You should come with us, the girls would love for you to see them fight, and-" "No, I don't think so. Your mother would be there, and Him." "Well, probably but . . . right. So, sorry I didn't get to see you any earlier today, I've been running errands and such. Ukyo's boy was having a little problem I had to help him with, and I visited Chi-chi this morning to drop something off from Akane, so I thought I should check in on our favorite amazon while I was there." Akane snorted and headed down stairs. Ranma looked around vainly for one of the girls, who were the only souls his father cheered up for anymore. "So, uh, their tournament is coming up next week, and of course the whole family's invited. Why not come to that? And no, Mom isn't coming." Genma started to speak, hesitated, and sighed. "Fine, if I haven't left town by then." "Great! The girls are looking forward to it. Shampoo promised to let them spar with the winner, well, one of them at least." Genma chuckled, "Either of my girls could take on the whole amazon tribe with one arm and both legs tied back!" Ranma failed to mention that all they'd have to do then would be to fly, but he refrained just in time. "Yeah, they sure are something, aren't they?" "I brought them some presents from my journeys. I told them of a training ground they should check out. You'd better go with them, keep 'em in line." Ranma nodded and gestured to the stairs. "How long's it been since you saw Mr. Tendo?" "Hmmph. Too long. I'll drop by tomorrow." Ranma nodded and led the way to the dining room and then out to sit on the porch. Oh yeah, he thought, and dropped his aura. It distressed his father to see Ranma get splashed and stay human. With a mental sigh Ranma studied the skyline. If only he could cheer his father up, but it seemed impossible. Maybe he should just stop trying, but his father was just so bitter after losing his wife to another man. The fact that he was now so far down on the list of strong martial artists didn't help.
"No, no, Rinko. No ki blasts, remember?" Ranma walked over to his daughter, the expansive desert he'd brought them to for training as blessedly empty as he'd known it would be. All of the Z fighters used this area on occasion, but Ranma never really saw anyone else around even though he was careful to do a quick sweep of the area before they started.
"I know Daddy, but I didn't think she'd be expecting one right then." Ranko grinned and stuck her tongue out at her sister, who blushed and dug her toe into the sand.
"I know Ranko, but you never know. Close distance only, but only under the most drastic conditions. Remember, we'll be fighting normal people in the tournament. Not very many earthlings can use ki to the great extent needed for an energy blast." He stepped back and jumped onto a boulder a good thirty feet away from the girls. "Okay, now start again." He watched them carefully as the two girls jumped and twisted and fought. They were beyond grubby now, with torn shirts and mud streaked cheeks, but Akane would understand. He smiled, his wife was already quite proud of the fact that her daughters would be participating in the World Martial Arts Championship.
She'd even packed them lunch. Ranma shot the bundled baskets off to his right a wary glance. She may be getting better, but she was by no means a master chef.
He returned his attention to his daughters as Rinko shot into the sky to avoid an attack, then plummeted back to the ground to send a spinning kick to her sister's back. Ranko turned just in time to catch Rinko's extended ankle, and gave it a jerk. Rinko went flying and landed neatly outside the lopsided square Ranma had dug into the ground with his ankle. He'd purposefully made it a little small. It was always easier to get bigger than suddenly confine yourself to a smaller area.
"Good Ranko, now what did you do wrong?" Ranko frowned at the rebuff, expecting praise instead. Then she frowned in thought and shrugged, "I left myself too open when I threw her?" Rinko nodded, "Yeah, if I'd caught myself, I would have been able to turn around and get ya, maybe even knock you out of the ring." "Right! Now, that makes you two even for the day, so why don't we eat a little lunch? Then I'll work with you each individually for awhile." They squealed in excitement, and Ranma picked one girl up in each arm. They loved it when he worked with them one on one. They may look identical, but their fighting styles were entirely different. Besides, everyone always wadded the two of them up into one bundle, and Ranma was sure they got a more than a little fed up with that after awhile. Everyone wanted to be their own person, and the Art was where his little twins found their differences.
He spread a blanket with a flick of the wrist and dragged over the pair of baskets they'd brought for the picnic. He opened one to find the girls' thermoses for school, and two plates with a multitude of little containers of food inside. Ranma noted that Akane had packed both girls' favorites, and set that basket between the girls as Ranko licked her lips and Rinko's eyes tripled in size as they waited expectantly.
They were already digging in when Ranma opened his basket and undid the top frog closure on his shirt. He licked his lips as well at the sight of all of his favorites. Grinning, he dug in as well.
The three enjoyed their meals as Ranma quizzed the girls on school work and friends to get caught up. As young as they were, they were already attracting unwanted male attention, and Ranma mentally groaned at the thought of having to fight off suitors as the girls grew.
He was setting aside his now empty basket when Rinko turned and studied the sky behind her. He frowned in confusion and turned to see what had gotten her attention, only then sensing Vegeta's approaching ki. Ranma smiled and gave his a little flare to attract the former Prince's attention. Two tiny specks of light in the distant sky suddenly switched directions and Ranma and the girls waited patiently for Vegeta and Trunks to arrive.
"Hey Vegeta! How's it going Trunks?" "Fine sir." Trunks landed near the seated Ranma and shot Vegeta a wary glance as the older man landed.
"Ranma, I see you had the same idea that I did. I'm getting the boy into shape for the tournament. His training has been abysmal up until now, so he'll have to work hard to satisfy me before then." Ranma frowned at his step-father, knowing who most of the Z fighters blamed on Trunk's stunted training. "Yeah, well, we'll let you have the place to yourself in a few. I just wanted to go over a few little things with the girls before we headed home." Vegeta nodded and turned to his son, "Well, c'mon." Taking once more to the air, Vegeta and Trunks had soon reached a safe distance where they could train without the two groups getting in each other's ways.
Ranma made a mental note to watch for errant ki blasts, and turned back to his daughters as they stood. He helped them pack up the picnic gear, and turned to Ranko, "Why don't you go through some kata for me, while I work with your sister. I'll get to you soon though, promise." He held his right hand up with a solemn expression as she gave him a suspicious study. After a moment she gave a satisfied nod and walked over to work in private.
"Now," he knelt in front of Rinko, "I want to congratulate you. Have you been practicing sensing ki?" She looked puzzled and shook her head, "No, should I have?" He was startled, but more intrigued than anything. "No, not really, but you sensed Vegeta and Trunks before I did." "Oh, that." She muttered, "I'd know they were coming forever, but I hadn't realized they were getting that close with the last match and all." Huh. Apparently his daughter was a natural at sensing ki. He'd have to look into that; maybe it would be useful.
"Alright, now here's what I noticed . . ."
The girls landed right on the porch and ran inside to hug their mother, who promptly sent them off for a bath and change of clothes. She then met him in the dining room and sighed.
"It's a good thing you're back so early, or they wouldn't have any clothes left and they'd just be covered in dirt." Ranma chuckled and gave her a hug, "I know. They were in rare form today, throwing each other around and grinding one another into the dirt." She smiled and looked up at him, "Why are you back so early? I wasn't expecting you three until dinner." He shrugged, "Vegeta showed up with Trunks." He frowned, "He's taking this awfully seriously, you know, like his son and our daughters are competing or something. I guess I got kind of caught up in it too, and I didn't like the idea of him watching the girls and I train." Akane rolled her eyes and headed into the kitchen, "Saiyan men. Chi-chi warned me." Ranma didn't know what she meant, and didn't want too, so he remained silent.]
A/N: alright, there's another chapter. I'm still having issues with where to take this fic. I have my ideas, but there's just soooo much db storyline. From now on, it will be more like the movies, not really fitting into the storyline and all. Well, review please!