Chapter 45: No going back
Upon finishing with his relaxing bath and having turned back into a guy, him and Ranka proceeded to go downstairs to deal with the after math. She had made sure to make it look like her necklace gem was gone, to let the little intruder think she had suceeded.
It didn't take long as Nodoka fussed over Ranka's well being, before having everyone sit at the table to talk things out, as she tried to be the mediator. Which she could already see the tension between her two daughters. She hadn't questioned Tenka, just tried her best to calm her down, though now that seemed like it was being un done. She cleared her throat with a stern expression on her face. "Tenka, why did you attack Ranka?" Tenka and especially Ranka were both growling back and forth at each other, a bit less also Ranma was. She already being angry, held back nothing, forgetting her place for the moment as she pointed at Ranka. " Because she's a traitor!"
Ranka and Ranma both made smug faces for a second, at seeing the enemy had slipped some. Ranka fired back, as she wasn't as afraid of her actions as Tenka was. "Because she's a demon intruder and she.. attacked me." Ranma had his arms crossed as he got a look from his mother. " You know why I attacked the little stinker.." Nodoka sighed heavily. " No one should be attacking anyone." Ranka had a frustrated look on her face. " She's a demon in disguise mom! She just said so and why else would all the demon hunting equipment go missing or get accidentally ruined?"
She took a deep breath. " I can tell you exactly why, it fits with her agenda." She shuffled her foot about a bit anxiously at having to bring up the past, or having to delve further into it. Though that got Tenka started up again as she hahed. " Such a traitor." Ranma glared daggers at her, which because of the intensitity, started to make her nervous. Nodoka played along as she followed up. " And why is she such a traitor?" The two siblings smirked as the intruder wasn't thinking straight. Tenka bristled as she pointed at Ranka. " Because she betrayed the great lord Satan!" At seeing Nodoka's alarmed look with her hands to her mouth, Tenka froze up, realizing her folly.
Nodoka's mind raced with thoughts, as she recalled the nightmare and how Ranka kept trying to tell her Tenka was a demon, as well as how Satan had taken Ranka back. She didn't want to believe it as she hung her head, feeling like she had been stabbed in her heart, but her mind felt clearer. Tenka had hurt Ranka, and attempted to try to kill her. She wanted to cry, but held the urge back as she pressed on, with a stern but very hurt look. " That certainly sounds like you are on the devil's side.."
Ranka glared daggers at Tenka. " If I could, I'd show you she's disguising." Tenka glared back at her enemy, as she smirked really quickly for a second as she couldn't be made, " easily" to shed her disguise. She also thought to herself how to back track on what she had said. Before she could it was Nodoka who spoke. " I'm not so sure of that, as I said before she's very similar to how you were, Ranka dear. I believe the poor dear has been led astray by Satan, and we all must be patient with her. She doesn't know any better."
Ranma and Ranka both had annoyed looks on their faces. Nodoka smiled sweetly. "That being said." She placed her hand on top of Tenka's head gently, giving her a pat. " Tenka dear, you are part of this family now, we love and respect one another. While I love all my children, I will not hesitate to reprimand them." Her sweet tone, changed to a far more serious one, which made Tenka flinch a bit.
Ranka at seeing her start to bend, decided to contribute to it. "Mom's being dead serious Tenk, you'll get the spa treatment... and hours of grueling training." Ranma nodded his head in agreement. " And lots of chores." Tenka looked more nervous as she heard more. Nodoka just smiled, though her smile was mixed with anger. "Now Tenka sweetie, if you attack Ranka again or Ranma, depending on how far you've gone, I may have to do something unspeakable.. Which I would rather not."
She clasped her hands together. " Now Tenka, Ranka, make up with each other." She gave Tenka a bit of a jab. "Tenka.." Tenka pouted as she slouched down in her seat. "I'm sorry.." Ranka huffed as she looked off the other way. " I'm sorry, that you don't know proper manners." Nodoka felt proud at hearing her daughter state so, putting her hands together. " Well done Ranka dear." She then turned her attention to Tenka. " Entering someone else's room without knocking is very rude Tenka." Ranma almost fell out of his seat at hearing that, but was able to steady himself at the last minute.
Nodoka smiled a bit more. " Now then Tenka dear, I will teach you and show you that the demon's teaching, is bad. As well as your big sister Ranka. I also will reprimand you if I hear you calling her a traitor again, is that understood?" Tenka gulped as she nodded. Both the traitors were smirking evilily at her from where they were sitting.
Nodoka continued on as her smile widened more, into a very scary looking smile. " Now Tenka dear, I must insist that you bring back the katana's. Or whom ever took them. They have an hour to do so. As soon at they do come back, we can have icecream." She had a bit more of a pleasant smile as she got up from the table. "And no fighting with your sister and brother." She went off to the laundry room, to give the time needed.
Ranka quirked an eyebrow at the little intruder. "Hey, you should know there's no turning back now." She then smirked a tad. " Once I took on a new name, that was it. You know what she told me about trying to leave? She would hunt me down and bring me back." She got up from the table and gave the smaller girl a pat on the head. " So, you're screwed."
Ranma snickered at the whole thing, before he got up from the table as well to mock the enemy. " Welcome to the fam, lil stinker." Unlike Ranka though he was not as nice, as he gave her a furious look. "You touch Ranka again, and you will be VERY sorry." To further his point he took a utensil from the table and bent it in front of her.
Tenka had a horrorified look on her face, as she was freaking out in her mind. Things weren't supposed to end up like this, she just had to infiltrate, which she did and it was supposed to be temporary. Hearing from the traitor, herself, how she was trapped now, had her nervous as hell. The demon hunter was also terrifying, she seemed like a gentle human, but now she was starting to see why she was such a fearsome demon hunter. Also as much as she hated to admit it, things she heard from Ranka, were indeed the truth. The spa treatment, had to be something dreadful..
She was also even more nervous at having lost her hold on the demon hunter with the charm spell, that the orange gem necklace she had, had before the damned traitor destroyed it on her. She nibbled on her nails as the nerves kicked in more. She couldn't easily go and get another one, not to mention Nodoka had kept her close, constantly, while her other children had been gone. She wondered if she would be able to get a chance to get sneak away and contact her allies. It had been days since she had been able to talk to them.
She struggled with the matter, as with such a horrible out look, she could really use that pick me up, having some ice cream. After a few minutes she told herself, at least she had been able to keep the demon hunting weapons away for awhile. It was humiliating to admit defeat, but with her charm on the demon hunter gone, she didn't have much choice. She groaned and pouted as she went off outside from the porch.
A few minutes later she set the wrapped up weapons on the table, before she scurried off upstairs in a rush to the guest room, intent on getting to her mirror to report to her allies. When she got into the room she gasped at seeing her mirror shattered into pieces, making her tremble with anger.
Ranka gave her a vicious look from the door way. " Whoopsie." Tenka bristled at her as she stormed over to her. " YOU.. did that on purpose.. and now.. your going to get it.." Ranka just waved her off, to which Tenka rushed by her as she sped down the stairs as she yelled, holding the broken hand mirror. " Mommy! Big sis broke my mirror!" She acted like she was crying but they were crocodile tears.
Nodoka sped out from the laundry room as she found Tenka. " Now now sweetie, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation." Tenka shook her head. " She's mean, she did it on purpose!" Ranka had come downstairs shortly after. Nodoka was busy comforting Tenka as she looked at Ranka. " Ranka dear, Tenka says you broke her mirror on purpose, is that true?"
Ranka put on her own act as she girled it up, with big eyes. " I didn't mean to, it was an accident.." Ranma stayed out of the mess, as he was relaxing on the couch, watching tv. Though he was staying out of it, he was paying attention and enjoying hearing the little stinker fail at her game.
Nodoka gave her a pat to her head. " Now now, you see it was an accident." She then spotted the katana's on the table and smiled down at Tenka. " Let's have some icecream now, shall we, since my katana's have been returned." She grabbed them up and went off to the other room with them.
Ranka and Tenka glared daggers at each other. Though Tenka was a bit tense, as she had seen the traitor was still very vicious. It was not what she had been told, also how she didn't think Ranka was much of a threat. Now she was thinking otherwise.
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Everyone was a bit more calm after having icecream, though Tenka was still feeling tense around Ranka. She definitely knew how to fight back, in more ways than one. Not to mention how protective Ranma was over her, and further to her annoyance how tight nit the two were. Trying to sway one or the other against the other, seemed impossible.
Not too soon after Nodoka had taken Tenka off upstairs to get her ready for bed, before setting her up in her room. "Now Tenka dear I expect you to listen to your siblings as mother has a lot of back upped work to do." She gave her a pat on her head and a kiss on her forehead, before she left the room.
After awhile she got up out from bed, going off downstairs. Looking around the two traitors were watching tv on the couch, she scanned the rest of the area not seeing the elder woman. Making her have to question the traitors. "Where's mom?" Ranka smirked at her. "Well, she's off killing demons of course." Ranma smirked as well. " Yeah she put US in charge of you, lil stinker." Tenka's eyes widened at hearing that, making her regret having to return the weapons. Ranma gave her an annoyed look. " Why are you up? You're supposed to be in bed."
Tenka hahed. "How old do you think I am?" Ranma gave her a smug look. " Your a baby, right?" Ranka nodded in agreement. " Right and babies got to go to bed early." Tenka stomped her feet about. " I am NOT a baby!" Ranma got up and grabbed her up by the back of her shirt, taking her off upstairs kicking about. " Well you sure look like one, so your going to get treated like one." He dropped her down on his mothers bed in her room, before shutting the door behind him as he took his leave.
Tenka huffed with her arms crossed. " Arghh this sucks!" She huffed and puffed awhile more, before getting under the blankets. This pretending to be a much littler kid than her usual age was getting to her, but she was stuck. She couldn't jeopordize her persona any further, as well as her safety. During this mission she was Tenka, who was a six year old child. Though she wondered, now would be a good chance to try to leave and go see her allies.
The traitors were down stairs and watching tv, so it was un likely they'd notice. She cackled as she slid out from bed, opening the door as quietly as she could, as well as sneaking into Ranka's room as quietly. Her target was the window, as Nodoka's room didn't have access to the roof. Once she got the window open, she slipped out onto the roof top, ready to cheer for her victory. Her next move however had her smack into a barrier. She grumbled as she rubbed her nose, trying to make a move again, but in a different spot, only to fall back once again. She tried a few more times, before she grumbled, going back inside.
To her shock Ranma and Ranka were waiting inside for her, as Ranma grabbed her up by the back of her shirt again. " Man your stubborn.." Ranka smirked evily at her with her red gem glowing faintly, unseen. " What, were you trying to leave already?" Tenka grumbled. " Don't you two hate me?" Ranka gave her an annoyed look. " Well no duh, but no one wants to get in trouble. Like I said, you wormed your way in and now you're stuck." Ranma took her back to his mothers room, dropping her back down on the bed with an annoyed look. "Now go to bed dammit."
After awhile Tenka was woken up pretty suddenly as the door opened and Nodoka came in humming a tone. She stopped at seeing Tenka was up. " Sorry sweetie, did I wake you up? It's alright go back to sleep." She finished putting on her night time kimono, before getting into bed with her.
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It was another start to a school week as a nervous Tenka watched the traitors leave for school. While she still had a disdain for Ranka, she was in a way a shield and also probably the only person she could really level with. Though the traitor Ranka wasn't born a she- devil, she was like her, born and raised from hell. It didn't sit well with her now, being alone with a non charmed, demon hunter, who wouldn't let her out of her sight. At least when her siblings were there, the demon hunter, woman was a bit more interested in them.
She was snapped out of her thoughts as Nodoka set a pile of new tailsman's down on the table with a scary smile. " Alright now Tenka dear, you'll help me make new ones." She set up a caligraphy brush and ink for her, but seeing at how nervous she looked she frowned a bit as she thought to herself, before voicing herself. "Oh my, how rude of me, to just assume you know how to write. Well then, we'll save this for another time."
Tenka sighed a breath of relief, till Nodoka went and came back with a bunch of writing paper, setting it down on the table with a big smile. " We'll start with the basics. I will teach you sweetie how to read and write, since it's possible you don't know the right way. Just as I've been working with your brother and sister on their writing." Tenka tensed up and gulped as the lesson began.
It was grueling as she kept writing, getting a break for lunch, only to go right back to it. She couldn't wait for the traitors to get back from school, with the hopes Nodoka would go after them instead.
Time went by and soon enough school was out for the day, as Ranma caught Ranka going off the other way. "Where are you going?" He gave her an annoyed look. Ranka scratched at her head. " Well, I was going to get another mirror. Not because I want to, more like.. if I don't, I'll get reprimanded for breaking the brats." Ranma hmmed and decided to go with her, while walking towards the shopping district, he got splashed with cold water out of blue. Ranma-chan shook her head off back and forth. " Always something.." She then thought for a minute before smiling. "Welp since I'm a girl, why waste the moment." Ranka just smiled knowingly as they kept walking towards the shopping district.
Once they got there, the attention they were both getting, was getting lots of free eats, much to Ranma-chan's pleasure, as she munched on a corn on the cob on a stick. "They never learn, but hey i'm not complaining." Ranka smiled some. " Course not, I'll be right back." She went off into one of the little stores, while Ranma-chan was busy enjoying her free eats. It didn't take too long as came back out with a bag. " We'd better head back."
Ranma-chan licked at her fingers. " We could hit one more store and probably be back with enough time." Ranka hmmed. " I guess so, is a new manga out?" Ranma-chan had a big cheesy grin on her face, that said it all as they ran off to the book store, giggling.
The guy at the register fawned over the twin red head's before him, letting them get a discount. Ranma-chan hehed as she held her bag with her prize. " Alright free eats and an almost free manga." Ranka smiled a bit. " Yeah but we'd better get our butts back home now." Ranma-chan pouted some. " Don't you want some free ramen?" Ranka sighed. " Not as much as you do. I wouldn't mind but, I do not want to face mom's wrath. If you want to, then you can go see Shampoo for that free ramen." Ranma-chan sighed, giving up. " Yeah yeah, well I did get some freebies."
While they were walking back, they got attention from another food seller, getting another freebie, much to Ranma-chan's pleasure. She munched on her takoyaki, as Ranka enjoyed her own. They both jumped back as a ribbon smacked it's tip at them, also smacking the box of food out of Ranma-chan's hold, but only a second as she was able to catch it, before it fell to the ground. " Hey! What's the big idea!"
Kodachi twirled her ribbon around. " How vile, two evil red headed urchins, seducing men." Ranma-chan glared at her. " How about you mind your own damn business Kodachi.." Kodachi laughed, making them tense up. " I cannot ignore such a horrid act, from two evil, wicked girls!" Ranka gave her a dull look. " You're just butt hurt, you can't get free eats from guys." Ranma-chan started laughing, but stopped herself so she wouldn't choke on her food, as she finished her last puff. Kodachi twitched at the jab. "Is that so? Little home wrecker, I shall teach you some manners!" She whipped her ribbon at Ranka, only for it get grabbed by an angry Ranma-chan. " Knock it off already, Kodachi!" She then let it go, so Kodachi went flying along with it, as she tried to pull back.
Ranma-chan grabbed her sister by her hand. " Let's run for it." Ranka pulled her hand away. " Wait, just let me put the stuff away first.." Ranma-chan grumbled. " You didn't eat all your takoyaki's?" Ranka gave them to her. " You can have the rest then." She went about to putting the purchases into her book bag, while Ranma-chan finished off the rest of the puffs quickly, then motioned towards the rooftops.
Which is what they did as they took to the roof tops, running at a fast speed as they jumped from one to another, though not too soon after they could hear the loud haunting laughter from Kodachi as she pursued after them. That made them run faster, trying to loose her, even if just a little. Once they were close enough they jumped down to the street again, running the rest of the way home. Kodachi followed suit as she went to jump to the Saotome's rooftop, she was met by Ranka's barrier to her face, as she slid down against it, while they made their get away, off inside the house.
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After taking off their shoes, and going upstairs to change and put away their things, when they came back downstairs it was snack time. To their relief the food was spice free. When everyone was done, Ranka made sure to "make nice" in front of Nodoka, as she gave a bag to Tenka. " Here you go Tenk." Tenka sweat dropped for a minute before she pulled the hand held mirror, getting a big grin on her face. All excited she tore off upstairs with it.
Nodoka smiled. "Oh my, who knew she liked mirrors so much." Ranma-chan had a dull look on her face as she finished her drink. Ranka had gone off upstairs as well.
Tenka was off in the guest room cackling as she held the handle of the mirror, her eyes grew wider as images appeared on it and started talking. Ranka poked her head into the room with a big grin on her face. " So, how are you liking your new magic mirror huh?" Tenka had angry tears on her face as she fwailed the toy, magic- talking mirror around in her grip. " How dare YOU mock me!" Ranka gave her an evil smirk. " Mwah? Whatever are you talking about? It's just like your old one." She laughed a bit as she left, going back downstairs.
Nodoka greeted her with a smile. " That's so sweet you got her a new mirror, but Ranka dear I disapprove of her having one. The fact that their was broken pieces all over. A child cannot be trusted with such a thing."
Ranka smiled back at her, handing her the real mirror, she had also bought. " I'll give it to you then for safe holding." Nodoka scratched at her head, looking a bit confused. " But dear didn't you give her a mirror?" Ranka hmmed. " I did but it's a toy, so it's a safe one." Nodoka clasped her hands together, very proud of her daughter. "Wonderfully done Ranka, and you've made your little sister so happy." Ranma-chan tried not to snort, as she held back on laughing out loud before disappearing for a few minutes.
Everyone went quiet as they heard someone at the front door, which prompted Nodoka to go see who it was, with Ranma coming back from having splashed himself with some hot water, and Ranka as the siblings followed after their mother from a distance. Nodoka greeted the visitors at the front door way. Madame St Paul and Picolet Chardin stood at the front door. Picolet the blonde, suave gentlemen cleared his throat as he held up a letter with Genma's signature on it. " Pardon me but I am here for Miss Ranka Satome, to collect Genma Saotome's debt he owes."
Ranma at seeing the two familar faces, almost fell over. Nodoka snatched the piece of paper from him with a furrowed brow, as she read through the contract that her idiotic husband had signed. She held herself back so that she didn't immediately crumple it up. While she was angry, she would be seen as rude if she attacked them, it was Genma who she needed to attack. She cleared her throat and had Ranka come over next to her, much to Ranma's dismay.
Picolet's eyes lit up at seeing her, she looked exactly like Madamoiselle Ranma, as he forgot himself, trying to greet her the same way with engulfing her inside his mouth. He was rudely snapped out of his attempt as the red head girl socked him in the face, before he could touch her. Madame St Paul gasped in shock. Nodoka had her hand to her face, trying to hide her embarrassment, yet also understanding why her daughter did it. Ranma pushed his way forward, as he crossed his arms and addressed his former opponent from the past. "Serves you right Picolet, who said you could touch my sister!"
Madame St Paul had recovered as she shook her finger at Ranka. " Non non, a lady does not hit." Picolet pat his face with his handerchief for a brief minute, before putting it away, as he greeted Ranma, though it was awkward, since he had found out his Madamemoiselle Ranma was a man. It started to make some sense though at seeing the two together, he started to fall into a daze, that his precious Madamemoiselle Ranma was indeed a girl after all. " I should not be surprised since she is your sister."
Nodoka then took the chance as she cleared her throat to interupt. " My idiot husband may have signed such an agreement, but I did NOT, and my Ranka is already spoken for, she has a suitor already. So, I'm sorry but this agreement between Genma has no leg to stand on." She also decided to try her best to make her daughter appeal less to them. " And well she's not exactly as lady- like as what you are looking for, I'm sure."
Madame St Paul tsked in reply. " That may be true, but I can work wonders." Picolet was too busy staring at Ranka in awe, though she looked exactly like his Mademoiselle Ranma, aside from a different hair style, she was however not as friendly as she had been. Madame St Paul carried on more. " We shall take Mademoiselle Ranka for bridal training." Nodoka moved herself so she stood in front of her daughter, with a stern look on her face. " "That", I will NOT allow. Genma has no say or guardianship on Ranka."
Picolet smiled and held up his hand as he bowed. " We shall leave for today, thank you for your time madame." Madame St Paul hmpfed but also bowed, before they both took their leave. Ranma was furious, as was his mother, both of them stewing. Nodoka hmpfed as she took Ranka by the hand and pulled her back inside the house, before letting go of her hand, going off to the other room for a brief second, before coming back armed with her sheathed katana. "Ranka dear, watch Tenka while I go to have some choice words with your father." Then she was gone in a flash, as was Ranma as they both sped off towards the Tendo Dojo in a furious blur.
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A smaller red head finally came down the steps, as she looked around the house. She got a head of herself as she started to make a run towards the front door, thinking she was alone, only for Ranka to stick her leg out purposely, making Tenka trip as she fell face first to the ground. Ranka sighed as she flopped back down on the couch, looking annoyed as she mumbled to herself. " Man.. I wanted to go beat the crap out of the old man too, but I got stuck babysitting YOU." She said as she directed her annoyance at the smaller red head.
Tenka pulled herself up from the ground as she growled at Ranka. " Damn it! Why are you still here?!" She cursed in anger at having her chance to get away, snatched away. Ranka gave her a glare in response. " Because mom told me to watch you." Tenka bristled at her. " Does that include tripping me?!" Ranka shrugged her shoulders at her. " It was to keep you safe in the house, right?" She said as an evil smile crept across her face. Tenka backed herself up against the wall, as she could feel the intense aura coming from the traitor, she had to remember how vicious she was and it wasn't wise to piss her off at all, as it was just "them." She pouted as she shuffled her feet about. " You don't want me here, so why not just let me go."
Ranka had her arms crossed. " That's right but like I told you before, I don't want to get in trouble with mom." Tenka grumbled as she thought quickly, coming up with trying to badger her opponent. " Wow, you're so good at taking orders, aren't you? For a traitor, that is."
Ranka quirked an eyebrow at her. " Are you trying to piss me off, lil intruder..? Listen good, moms like a viper when she's angry. Your not going anywhere. I'm not getting hours of extreme training, etc, because of YOU!" Tenka spit back at her. " Push over!" Ranka curled her lip at her. "Go play with your magic mirror." Tenka had a little temper tantrum over being mocked, as she balled her fist and stomped her feet about on the ground, until she heard a splash of water, making her eyes go wide. Her face was bright red at the fact that the traitor had done her dirty, just like Ranma had.
Cut to the Tendo Dojo, Genma was sitting on the porch, sipping his cup of tea as he admired the lovely day. His reality set in as he heard the front door open, followed by Kasumi greeting the visitors and then hearing his wife's voice, making him freeze up. He then managed to avoid a frenzied attack out of no where from his son. Ranma yelled in annoyance. " Stand still pops and take your beating!" They both darted about in the yard, back and forth, before Nodoka's voice was heard. "Ranma, leave your father to me.." It was a dead serious, dark tone that sent chills up both their spines.
Ranma gulped and backed off as he was told, jumping out of the way as soon as his mother lunged forward at his father, having un sheathed her katana. " GENMA!" Genma screamed like a little girl as he ran like hell, with Nodoka taking off after him in a blur as she sliced her katana in the air at him. " How DARE you try to sell off Ranka!"
Akane and her two sisters had gathered as they watched out the back porch. Soun was also watching with his daughters in awe as well as fear, as he prayed for his idiotic friend. Akane took notice of Ranma backed up against the wall, looking bewildered. " Ranma, what's going on?"
Ranma snapped out of his fear, as she shook his head about. " Pops had a feast at the Chardin restaurant and made a deal to hand Ranka over to them for his debt.. That french jerk came and showed the signed contract to mom and well.. I was gonna beat the snot the out of him.. but mom told me to back off.." He looked a bit disappointed.
Nabiki couldn't help but poke fun at him. " Aww poor Ranma, you look like a sad puppy." Kasumi shook her head at her sister. " Nabiki, don't tease him." Akane rolled her eyes at other sister, but kept quiet about what was said. Soun had his arms crossed as he nodded. " It's best to listen to what a woman says Ranma, especially your mother, she's not one to be trifled with." Akane then oohed as she realized. " Where's Ranka? I'm sure she wanted to beat up your dad as well." Ranma hehed at hearing that. " Well yeah but.. mom had her stay to watch the lil stinker."
Soun cleared his throat as he went and sat down at the ground table on the floor. " Well I have a feeling they'll be a while." Kasumi put a hand to her face as she giggled. " I'll get some more tea." She went off to the kitchen to heat up the kettle.
After awhile they were all sitting at the ground table with cups of tea and a bowl of rice crackers. Akane stared intently at her fiancee. " So, what happened with Picolet?" Ranma finished eating a rice cracker. " Well he tried to pull that gross mouth thing, but Ranka socked him good in his kisser. And well mom told him she's already spoken for." Akane hmmed. " And they backed off, after that?" Ranma took a sip of his tea, before getting another rice cracker. " I wish, she told them off, basically about trying to take Ranka and they left for now, but.. that french jerk, likely won't quit easily.." He munched angerily on the rice cracker.
Nabiki took the chance to chime in as she hehed. " Well of course he's not, since he found out his lovely Ranma was in fact a man and now he has his lovely back, in his eyes, anyways. Since your sister is your girl side's twin." Ranma grumbled in reply to that, inbetween angry bites. Kasumi shook her head. "Oh my, that's awful and are you sure it's alright leaving Ranka and the little one, alone together?" Ranma grumbled more. " I wanted to beat the stuffing out of pops.."
Soun sipped his tea. " Well son, I think your father and mother will be busy for quite some time.."
Back at the Saotomes house hold, Tenka eventually came back downstairs, as she looked at the time. " Isn't mom back yet?" Ranka looked over at her for a second, out of the corner of her eye. " Does it look like she is?" Tenka huffed as she sat down on the opposite side of the couch, she hated to admit how she was annoyed the demon hunter, woman wasn't back yet, as her stomach growled, loudly. She had grown accustomed to being pampered.
Ranka sighed as she got up and went off into the kitchen, rustling around through the fridge for things, as she whipped up some sandwiches. She took note of the time, knowing it wasn't quite late enough to attempt dinner just yet. If she went and made it too soon, she might end up disappointing her mother, so a snack was best. She sat back down on the couch, as she set one plate down near the intruder, while she kept her own. Tenka was a bit taken back, then she also braced herself for the awful human food, when it came to the bland flavor, but was plesantly surprised at tasting it was spicy.
She couldn't help but question the traitor. " I thought you hated me.." Ranka munched on her own sandwich. " I do, but mom loves you, like she said, we're family now, regardless of if you or I want that. But.. I love mom and I want her happy and that means you need to eat."
Tenka ate up both of her sandwiches, really fast, before she started to get upset. Ranka gave her an annoyed look. " What? I made them spicy, so that should make you happy." Tenka shook her head. " It's not the food.. just.. she's got to know I'm a demon right?" Ranka was still eating hers, as she took her time. "Not yet, but even when she does figure it out, she's not going to let you go."
Tenka shuddered at hearing that. " She's.. going to kill me?" Ranka finished her sandwich as she wiped at her mouth with a napkin. " Uh no.. she loves you too much, she'll just train it out of ya." Tenka sweat dropped. " Isn't that.. what she's doing?" Ranka laughed at her, before she started on her other sandwich. That just made Tenka more nervous, as well as annoyed as she questioned things. Then of course she thought she could try to get away, while Ranka was busy eating, as she slipped away towards the porch.
She thought she had made it as she was able to open the back doors to the outside, with a smirk on her face as she charged forward, only to bonk her face into something, which bounced her back off inside the house as it sent her sprawled across the floor a ways. Tenka shot back up on her feet, determined to get through, only to get the same treatment, she tried a few more times before she stormed into the living room, huffing and puffing. She caught sight of the red light she spotted briefly, as she pointed in annoyance at Ranka. " Aaah, YOU, you have another gem don't you?!" Ranka, finished dabbing her mouth with her napkin, having finished her other sandwich, before sticking her tongue out in reply.
Tenka tried to jump at her in the air, only to bonk into her defense barrier, as she slid down against it. She groaned. " God you're just like him.." She said as she referred to how Ranka was just as bad as Ranma. Ranka hehed. " Well I'm sure you know everything, now don't you, so you shouldn't be suprised. Now stop being so annoying, you should be enjoying your free time." Tenka blinked in confusion. " Free time? What do you mean by that, traitor?"
Ranka gave her a dull look. " Well when mom comes back, she's gonna be all over you. You know since she's going to re-teach you. Don't feel bad, I went through the same thing, though I didn't go through being taught by the demons for too long and well I was controlled." Tenka gulped at what she heard and took in mind what the traitor had said, as she sat down and let herself sink down into the couch.
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In the mean time Ranma had after awhile more taken his leave from the Tendo's as he figured he'd better get back. Though before that he went off looking for his rival, which didn't take too long to find him camping out in a vacant lot. He grumbled as he got closer and at being spotted he greeted Ryouga. "Yo, Ryouga.." Ryouga had just finished having a cup of ramen, as he shot up from where he had been sitting. " You wanna fight, eh Ranma!" He couldn't help but feel that's what he wanted, since he could feel the angry aura from his rival. Ranma showed he was annoyed as he ruffled up his own hair and yelled. "Nah, not this time." He tightened his fist at what he had to do. "Listen man, my mom's gonna be looking for you."
Ryouga dropped his attack pose as he blinked. "She is?" Ranma groaned as he tightened his fists more. " Yeah she picked you, right.. " He coughed. "My dumb old man went and pigged out and signed a contract for his debt, selling Ranka off to Picolet.." Ryouga bristled at hearing that. " That bastard, he sold her off again?!" Ranma grumbled as he kicked his foot at the ground. " Well he tried to, but my mom put her foot down and said she's already got a suitor, so you'd better stick close. Picolet left for now but he's not gonna back down easily."
Ryouga demanded details on this guy. Ranma waved his hand about, not too thrilled about having to tell him. " I'll tell ya on the way, since as annoying as it'd be having you stick around, I don't need you going and getting lost, right now." Ryouga started to fall into a daze, knowing he'd get to see and be close to Ranka. Only for a few minutes, before Ranma gave him a bonk to his head, barking at him to hurry up or he'd leave him behind. In a flash he packed up his camp site, as he hauled his back pack over his shoulders and followed after his rival.
A few minutes later they were let in, Ranka looked annoyed at seeing Ryouga with her brother, but greeted him anyways. Ranma took a look around. " Mom's not back, yet?" Ranka shook her head. "Nope." Ranma looked over, seeing the little intruder was watching tv. " Hah, you two didn't kill each other huh." Ranka shrugged her shoulders. " More a less."
While they were all yammering on, Tenka tried to take any chance on the sly to sneak out, only for her to once again smack into Ranka's barrier. She bounced back quickly as she yelled in frustration. She was about to say something when the front door, slammed opened and a furious Nodoka stalked through, before shutting the door behind her as she sheathed her katana. Her demenior changed as she spotted Ryouga, to which she smiled. " Hello Ryouga, pardon my appearance I was busy dealing with my idiot husband. I'm very glad to see you, we have much to talk about. I just need a few minutes to prepare."
She smiled at her children as well, before she disappeared upstairs for a bit. It wasn't very long before she came back downstairs, looking refreshed. First she called Ranka over and they went off into the kitchen briefly, before Nodoka came back out, motioning for Ryouga to sit at the table as she did. She first addressed Ranma. " I'm sorry Ranma dear, I didn't expect to be gone so long, but you were right to come back home as well as to find Ryouga for me." Ranma rubbed at his nose, feeling proud at being praised by his mother.
Nodoka then turned her attention back to Ryouga. " Ryouga I take it Ranma has let you know what's going on." Ryouga nodded. Nodoka continued on. " As you are a suitor for my daughter, and I have stated so to a competitor, you need to stay close and act the part." Ryouga nodded again. " I'll do my best Mr's Saotome." Nodoka smiled as she got up from her seat. " Feel free to stay here for the time being, I do hope you'll stay for dinner." After that she disappeared off into the kitchen, as she got to work on whatever things were left to do.
Further away at a park closer to Tendo's house, Genma was up in a tree, clinging on to a branch, he had numerous slice marks all over his outfit, with some pieces of fabric hanging from ripping. Nodoka had chased and slashed at him relentessly. Once he realized the coast was clear, he slid down from the tree and made his way back, as fast as he could.
Back at the Saotomes house hold, everyone was enjoying dinner. Tenka had no complaints as she was able to spice her own plate up. Ryouga and Ranma were eating feverishly, like they were in competition. When dinner was done, as was clean up, Nodoka set her sights on Tenka. " Tenka dear, I'm not sure if I have already made myself clear, but if I haven't, you WILL do chores to work off paying to replace the game system you broke." Tenka gulped as she pouted. The phone rang suddenly, to which Nodoka rushed over to answer, not staying on it long as she hung up.
She started to head off upstairs to get ready. " Ranka dear, please make sure Tenka takes a bath and gets to bed." She then smiled at everyone. "I have a job, so I'll be going in a bit." She then disappeared off upstairs, rushing about as she got herself ready.
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It wasn't too much longer after she had left the house in a rush, shutting the door behind her as she sped off into the night in a blur. Tenka sweat dropped at how she was stuck with all the traitors at once. She protested as she was lifted up by the back of her shirt and brought upstairs to the bathroom, where she was set down.
Ranka shut the door behind her. " Well hurry up and take a bath." Tenka grumbled in annoyance. " I will when YOU get lost!" Ranka gave her a dull look. " Which I would love to do, but mom put me in charge of your butt. So hurry up and take one, before I make you.." Tenka hahed. " You just don't want to be near Ryouga." Ranka gave her a glare, before she took a towel and smacked it like a whip, at her butt. " Take a bath already!" Ranka grumbled as she had her back turned. "Do it or when I turn around, I'll strip you and toss you in." Tenka gehed as she stripped herself down and got into the tub, not wanting to be touched, it was bad enough the demon hunter did it.
Once she finished up and had gotten dressed for bed, she started to suddenly cry, which startled Ranka a bit. Tenka wiped at her eyes. " I want to go home!" Ranka gave her an annoyed look. " Well too bad, you should've thought of that, before you dived in to some recon mission. I already told you, you're doomed." Tenka sniffled, before giving the traitor, a good glare, as she balled her fists. She was upset and not thinking rationially as she thought, maybe if she revealed her true self, then the traitor would gladly kick her out.
Ranka quirked an eyebrow at what Tenka was doing, she looked like she was trying to hold her breath, or maybe she was trying to purposely fart. She rubbed at her head. " What are you trying to do? Knock it off, before you hurt yourself." Tenka hahed, as she felt she had changed back into her true from of a she-devil. " Go on, I bet you can't wait to get rid of me now." Ranka blinked at her. " Why? Because you were trying to fart?"
Tenka felt insulted as she stomped her foot on the ground. " What? No! Are you blind? Don't you see, me?!" Ranka hmmed. " I see you, stop being a brat and finish getting ready for bed." Tenka at seeing her reflection from the mirror, looked like she was bewildered, before she grabbed at her face, and tried to change back again.
Ranka gave her a strange look. " Stop trying to fart already, okay, it's gross." Tenka slumped down to the ground on her knee's. "Why.. can't I turn back.. I'm a demon, dammit!" Ranka snapped her fingers. "Ooh, so that's what you were trying to do huh? " Tenka turned her attention to her as she bristled. " YOU, you did something so I can't turn back!"
Ranka shook her head at her. " I did no such thing, but you have been playing your part so well. You know there's the saying, about if you have the same face on, it freezes and stays that way." Tenka looked horrified at hearing that. Ranka scratched at the back of her head. " Or well since your around humans with holy powers, you've been purified, in some way." Tenka teared up with angry tears in her eyes. " I'm a she-devil, my name's not really Tenka.." Ranka picked her up by the back of her shirt, taking her off to their moms room, where she dropped her down on the bed. " Well now you're Tenka, you'll get used to it."
Tenka grabbed Ranka by her arm with pleading eyes. " Please.. let me go, I need to talk to them.." Ranka pulled her arm away from her and gave the kid a stern look. " "They" won't want anything to do with you now, and they might kill you, so, not happening." She felt something that was light, but a bit heavy as it hit her on the back of her head, making her rub at it. " Hey!" She yelled as she realized the brat had tossed a pillow at the back of her head. Tenka chucked another pillow from off the bed at her. " Let me talk to them!" Ranka ducked the next one, as she threw back the other one, smacking Tenka right in the face. "Have it your way."
She left the room, only to come back in a few seconds later, as she tossed the toy, talking mirror onto the bed. "Enjoy." She then shut the door, behind her, before going off to her own room, where she paced back and forth. In her mind Tenka's taunt echoed. " You just don't want to be near Ryouga." She groaned as she sat down on the side of her bed, smacking her hands to her face, trying to psych herself up. It was true, it was harder to be around him, but the fact was he'd be right up her butt for a few days.
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Once she came downstairs, she was questioned by her sibling. Ranma quirked an eyebrow at her. " Did that lil stinker start crap with you again?" Ranka rubbed at the back of her neck some. " Sorta, more like she wanted to leave badly, and when I denied her, she got nasty with me." They were all sitting on the couch as they discussed things. Ranma looked annoyed. " Well the only one who wants her to stay is mom.." Ranka sighed. " I know, I told her that, then she tried to show me her real form." Ranma got all excited at hearing that. " Yeah?" Ryouga was too busy listening to the two siblings, going back and forth.
Ranka rubbed at the back of her neck again. " Well.. she can't seem to turn back, so that really upset her more." Ranma hahed. " Boo hoo, the lil stinker can't turn back into a demon huh. Kinda dumb to stay with a demon hunter huh." Ranka hahed back. " I know, right? I kinda said that to her, but how when you play the part too well.."
Ryouga finally decided to try to voice himself to Ranka, but at the same time fumbled. " Ranka, I promise I'll be the best suitor for you!" Ranma in turn frowned and gave his rival a whack to the head. " Shut up man.." Ranka bit her lip some, looking a tad flustered. " I guess you heard about the french big mouth. It's just for show, so don't get too carried away."
Ranma butted in. " Yeah P-chan, if Picolet didn't know who I was, you wouldn't be needed." Ryouga hahed with an evil fanged smirk on his face. " That's a laugh Ranma, even if he didn't, anyone can tell you and Ranka are related." Ranma and Ryouga butted heads, literally. " You wanna go, let's go man!" Ranka had an un amused look on her face, while she wasn't going to tell them they couldn't, she was going to stick to the house rules. " You wanna go, take it outside or mom's gonna be mad at you and Ryouga."
They both rushed off outside to the porch and into the yard, to have their match. Ranka made sure to put her barrier up around the house, to help keep the battle cries buffered and to keep the fight grounded. She relaxed a bit more, since Ryouga wasn't as close for the time being.
Not too much later after they finished their fighting, with it ending in a tie, they then rushed off to the bathroom as they bickered, back and forth. After a while Ranma-chan came into the room. Ranka was sitting in her bed, doodling, as she looked over. " You know you don't have to stay, the brats stuck in mom's room." Ranma-chan looked frustrated as she tightened her fist. " Yeah well now Ryouga's here and shown he's a pervert, sneaking into your bag.. so, it doesn't sit right with me.."
Ranka didn't argue with her twin as she smiled a tad. " You don't have to explain yourself to me." Ranma-chan took it the wrong way, giving her sister a look. " You saying you want that pervert in here?" Ranka slapped her drawing pad down on the bed in annoyance, her face red. " I didn't say anything, and no I don't! Do you want me to get mad?!" Ranma-chan shrunk back at seeing her sisters angry aura, also how it wasn't too often that Ranka got mad with her and now she seemed to have pushed it a bit too far. She waved her hands about in a frenzy. " No, I don't.. I'm sorry.. it's him I don't trust.. and I'm not happy he's gotta be around.." She mumbled to herself.
Ranka sunk down some in her bed. "But you think I am.." Ranma-chan shook her head, then took note of the time. " Wow mom's still not back huh." Ranka took note of the same thing, as she shut her eyes and her gem lit up some. " She's not in danger." She opened her eyes, as she put her drawing pad away. " She's got a lot of work to catch up on, no thanks to the lil intruder." Ranma-chan gave her sister a thoughtful look. " And are you itching to fight some demons too?"
Ranka looked off the other way. " Not so much." Ranma-chan could feel something was off, which made her furrow her brows. " Ranka, don't tell me you're thinking about going back.." Ranka shook her head. " Even if a part of me is, it doesn't mean I completely agree with it or act on it. Please.. I know better by now." Ranma-chan grumbled as she looked over towards where their mother's room. " It's that damn kid isn't it? Or whatever she is."
Ranka couldn't deny that, but she didn't say anything about it as she lay down. Ranma-chan got all fiesty about it. " Do I have to beat some sense into all parts of you?" Ranka sighed as she sat herself up, looking annoyed. " No you don't, I'm in control." Ranma-chan hehed back in annoyance. " You'd better be, but that brat has got to go." Ranka sighed. " You'll break mom's heart.."
Ranma-chan flinched a bit at hearing that but kept stern. " If that's how it's gotta be. I'm not going to let her dumb decesion take my sister away from me." Ranka's eyes widened a bit at how damned serious her twin was. "I told you it's not a big concern, it's like a really tiny voice, super quiet. I know you don't want to hurt mom.." Ranma-chan had a dead serious look on her face in turn. " Remember I said I would if I had to." Ranka bit her lip and smiled a bit nervously. " Hey remember we got those new mangas."
Her plan to change the subject had worked as Ranma-chan's mood switched over. " Ooh yeah!" She had already grabbed it and was laying back in her bed as she immersed herself in it. Ranka sighed a breath of relief as she went about to looking at her own. Eventually she fell asleep, after which, Ranma-chan put down her manga and left the room.
Ryouga bolted up from his futon at hearing his name and a familar female voice, and a few knocks on his door. His mind thought it was Ranka as he jumped up and answered the door with a big smile on his face, only for that be replaced with disappointment at seeing it was Ranma. " What the hell do you want, Ranma?" Ranma-chan furrowed her brows at him. " You perv, you were thinking I was Ranka, weren't you?" Ryouga sweated nervously as he shook his head about furiously, back and forth. She let herself in as she she shut the door behind her. " Too bad, but I do need to talk to you about Ranka."
Ryouga blinked, looking dumbfounded as they both sat on the ground. " What about?" At hearing it was about Ranka, he was more willing to hear Ranma out. Ranma-chan grumbled as she ruffled her hair up in frustration. " That lil demon brat, has a part of Ranka wanting to go back.." Ryouga eyes widened as he clutched his hand to his chest. Ranma-chan continued on. " So, I want my mom to get that hell brat, the hell outta here. Seeing by your reaction I know you'll back me up on this." Ryouga furrowed his brows. " Your damned right I will!" Ranma-chan gave him a whack to his head. " Jeez your loud, take it down will ya.. So you'll tell my mom that brats a danger to Ranka." Ryouga nodded sternly.
They both listened as they heard noises down stairs. Ranma-chan got up as she headed to the door. " You coming or what?" She left as she went off downstairs, knowing that her mom was finally back. Ryouga followed suit, shortly after. Nodoka blinked at seeing them both. "Oh my Ranma dear, why are you and Ryouga still up?" Ranma-chan tightened her fist. " It's Tenka, she's a demon mom and she's endangering Ranka, she's gotta go. In fact she was pouting about wanting to leave." She gave Ryouga a jab to his arm, with her elbow. He looked a bit startled, also annoyed, before he started in. " I agree with Ranma, Mrs. Saotome, Ranka's well being is at risk with a demon from hell." Nodoka sighed deeply. " I know it seems like that, but she was just raised by demons."
Ranma-chan groaned at her mother. " Yeah no, but sure whatever, she's still endangering Ranka." Nodoka sighed again. " If she presents any influence on Ranka, that I deem a danger, then I will.. have to abandon her. Now, both of you should go to bed." Ranma-chan was still not too pleased that, the little stinker needed to be more of a threat in her mothers eyes, but went off upstairs to bed. Soon after Ryouga followed, as he made a mistake, almost going to Nodoka's room, before finding his room.
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As the new day begun, the usual routine was carried through, except that Ryouga was in tow. It annoyed Ranma but he dealt with it. It frustrated Ranka more though, which only grew at spotting her pursurer at the school gates. Picolet Chardin bowed and went to take her hand to greet her. " Bonjour, Mademoiselle Ranka." Ranka furrowed her brows at him in annoyance. " Morning to you too, big mouth, stalker.." She gave him a cold glare. " It's not enough you stalk me at my house, now.. your even stalking me at my school." Ranma had his arms crossed. " Yeah man, beat it."
Ryouga gave the blonde guy a glare, as he intercepted between him and Ranka, slapping the french boys hand away. " How dare you stalk Ranka!" Picolet gave the boy with the yellow bandana a glare back. " And who are you?" Ryouga hehed. " I'm Ryouga Hibiki, Ranka's suitor." Picolet hehed back. " A trivial thing." Madam St. Paul came in, carrying a box, that she opened up, that held white gloves. Picolet picked one up, as he held them by the end, before swishing them back as he slapped Ryouga to his face with it. " Monsieur Hibiki, I challenge you to a duel, right here, right now."
Ryouga tightened his fist. "That's fine by me!" Madam St Paul took out a little bell, that she rang. A bunch of servants whisked things about, as they set up a table and chairs and the meal. Ranma sweat dropped as he watched how his rival would have to deal with "battle dining." A large group of students had gathered. Picolet bowed as he motioned to Ryouga to have a seat. " Whoever finishes all their food first, will be most worthy as Mademoiselle's Ranka, suitor." Ryouga took a seat with a stern look on his face. " You're on." Ranma tried to send a hint to his rival, as he stretched his mouth on both sides, then pointing at Picolet.
Ryouga rolled his eyes at him as he thought about what an idiot Ranma was being. Madam St Paul explained the basic rules, then she rang the bell to start the match. Ranka was a bit nervous as she watched. It wasn't long before the bell was rung again and Madam St Paul announced time was up and Picolet had won. Ryouga like Ranma had lost, and had a bunch of food, poking out of his mouth. Picolet dabbed at his mouth with a napikin. " You Monsiuer have lost." Ryouga blinked as he was handed a bill for the food. Picolet smiled at Ranka. " For now I must bid thee farewell Mademoiselle Ranka." Ranka frowned as she jumped away from his advance of him trying to take her hand again. " How about you just go away forever.."
Picolet chuckled at his bride to be's fiesty attitude. Madam St Paul on the other hand, shook her finger at her. " Non non, a lady does not speak so crudely of their husband to be." Ranka sighed heavily. " Well you heard my mom, I'm not that much of a lady. You'd be better off finding one." Madam St Paul had more to say but was silenced by Picolet as they took their leave.
Ranma gave Ryouga an annoyed look. " Great job back there man." Ryouga had finished swallowing the rest of the food as he glared at him. " You could've warned me, at what I was up against!" Ranma stretched out the sides of his mouth again. " I did, you were just too stupid, to take my hint." Ryouga bristled at that. " And what kinda hint would that be?!" Ranka sighed. " That Picolet has a big mouth.." Ryouga suddenly felt dumb as he realized, that was exactly what Ranma had been doing.
Within a few minutes Ranma was swarmed, the main ones were Akane and Ukyou as they demanded answers from him. Ryouga started to panick as he pulled Ranka aside, while Ranma was too busy. Ranka quirked an eyebrow at him, with an annoyed look. Ryouga waved his hands about. " I'm sorry it's just well I.. I don't want to get lost, so.." Ranka didn't need to hear the rest to know what the lost boy was getting at. " Hurry up then and you'd better hope Akane doesn't see you, or she'll feel cheated on." Ryouga hung his head at hearing that, before running off down the street.
A few seconds later after getting splashed by someone tossing water out on the road, P-chan came scurrying back over, keeping Ranka in his sights so he was focused on where to go. She held her book bag open as he jumped up into the air, landing inside it. After putting it back on, she went back over to where the others were.
Before anyone could say anything, the warning bell chimed, which sent everyone packing inside. They all rushed to their classrooms, which Ranma was thankful for as it broke up the swarm.
Once gym class rolled around, Ranka went off to the nurses office, where she went out the back door, letting P-chan outside for a few minutes, before bringing him back inside. She sat on a chair, while she set him on a bed, while she took out her bento lunch box. She set one of the sweet omelette rolls next to P-chan. " To tide you over." P-chan's eyes sparkled as he munched away on it. She also got up and got him some water.
As it got closer to the next class switch, she packed everything back up, including him.
He wasn't taken out again, until after the bells chimed that signaled the school day was over. She went a head citing she had to use the ladies room, before going off to the boys locker room from the back exit. Where she let P-chan in with his clothes. A few minutes later Ryouga came out. Ranka looked anxious as she hustled him, as they made their way to the front of the school to meet up. Except as soon as Ryouga had made it around the corner to the front, Ranka ducked out and took a different route, so she came out the front entrance on her own.
While it made it look like Ryouga had just stumbled in randomly to the school. Akane smiled at seeing him. " Oh hello Ryouga." She had a concerned look on her face. " Are you okay from that match this morning with Picolet?" Ukyou also greeted the lost boy. " Yeah I bet that had to hurt." Ryouga laughed nervously at being reminded that he had lost. Ranma shrugged his shoulders. " I tried to tell ya man." Akane then turned her attention to Ranka as she spotted her. " Ranka I'm sorry what you're going through no thanks to Mr. Saotome.." Ukyou snorted. " He's an awful man.. I'm tempted to try to beat some sense into him with my giant spatula." Ranma sweat dropped. " Hey I get it Uchan, but that's my mom's job, she might get mad at you if you try to steal her thunder." Ukyou looked a tad nervous before she laughed some. " I see, well I'll see everyone tomorrow, I gotta get to work."
Akane then started to take her leave as well, until a fancy carriage pulled up with horses. The door swung open to reveal Picolet as he put his arm out. " Mademoiselle Ranka, you must be tired from your day, allow me to escort you." Ranka wrinkled her nose up at him in disgust. " Get lost, or did you not hear me the first time?" Ryouga bristled at seeing the blonde. " Yeah, you heard her!" Ranma nodded in agreement, while he cracked his knuckles. " I see what your game is." Akane was about to say something as well, but there was a purple blur and before anymore could be said, Shampoo was glomped around Ranka. " Aiya airen, Shampoo come to see you."
Picolet stepped down the steps and out of carriage. " And who do you think you are Madamemoiselle?" Shampoo rubbed her face against Ranka's affectionately for a few seconds before she turned her attention to the blond boy. " That what Shampoo want to know." She un latched herself from Ranka, looking the blonde boy up and down a minute, before she glomped herself around Ranma. " Aiya airen, Shampoo so happy to see you." Akane grumbled. " Enough already, okay!" Shampoo in turn stuck her tongue out at her.
Picolet shook his head as he turned his attention back to Ranka, extending his hand. " Come Madamemoiselle Ranka, as your suitor has lost." Ryouga bristled with fury. " That's because you never said anything about being a monster!" Picolet hmpfed. " How rude." He pulled his hand away quickly, as Shampoo swooshed her hand about, to slap his away. " What you think you doing? Ranka is Shampoo's!" Picolet eyes widened as he put his hand over his mouth. " Madamemoiselle Ranka.. is this true, you and this beautiful lady?" Ranka nodded, looking flustered. " She's.. also my fiancee.." Akane ahemed. " And what about me?!" Ranka sighed. " Yeah.. her too." Picolet almost lost his balance, but was able to steady himself as he leaned against his carriage. " Madamemoiselle Ranka.. I had no idea you were such a pervert.."
Ranka's face flushed and her gem lit up in anger. " It's.. my mom's rules.." Shampoo crossed her arms with an angry look. " Ranka, what he talking about? This man want you, when you belong to Shampoo.." Ranka sweat dropped at seeing how angry the amazon was becoming. " It's.. the old mans fault, he ate at his place and put me down for his debt. I don't want the french, big mouth, I swear!"
Shampoo hmmed as she glared at Picolet. " That right? If Shampoo pay debt, then you go away and no touch Ranka again." Picolet hahed. " If you can Madamemoiselle I will oblige." He handed her a copy of the iou, that stated the amount of the debt. Shampoo hahed. " We meet here same time tomorrow then." Picolet nodded and bowed as he bid adieu. Ryouga shook his fist after the carriage as it left. " Don't come back, you here!"
Ranma dropped his fighting momentum, since Shampoo had stepped in. He was a bit relieved at knowing she had discouraged the french, big mouth to stop his pursuit on his sister. Ranka sighed. "Shampoo you don't have to do that, it's the old man's fault." Shampoo shook her head. " I do it for my airen." Ranka looked over, seeing how down trought Ryouga looked. "Do you think you could help Ryouga out?" Shampoo looked over at him. " Dumb pig boy get in trouble too?" Ranka hmmed. " Not by choice no."
Shampoo hmmed. " Shampoo think about it, but Ryouga will definitely owe it back." Ranka nodded. " Oh yeah, most definitely." Shampoo gave both of her airens, hugs before she took her leave. Akane wrinkled up her nose. "Ugh, she's so annoying..." She was too mad to talk to either of them as she trudged off. She huffed and puffed to herself at how annoying it was that Shampoo had the money to save the day, again.
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Meanwhile the siblings started their trek back home, with Ryouga in tow. Ranma made sure that he was blocking his rival from walking next to his sister, maybe he would've allowed it some, if the dumb jerk had won. Ryouga could tell that was part of his punishment for not delivering, that and he wasn't worthy to. As they kept walking, from the shadows of both sides of the street at the same time, water was thrown. Ranma jumped away in time to avoid it, and Ranka had shielded herself with her barrier. Ryouga on the other hand was hit and transformed into his cursed black piglet form of P-chan.
He shook off and made angry squeals, before he was snatched away by a shadowy figure that took off. Ranka caught sight of the theft and gave chase. " Hey, you thief, that black piglets not yours!" Ranma gave chase once he realized P-chan got pig napped, only to end up getting splashed by the old lady tossing water. Ranma-chan glared at her a second as she kept tossing water about, before resuming the chase.
Ranka skidded to a halt in the abandonded lot, as the hooded, shadowy figure, tossed P-chan over to a big thug, before she could nab him back. She sweat dropped at how many hooded figures there were. Chriss threw back her hood and shook her long blonde hair about. " Good to see you red-hot." Ranka growled at seeing it was all a set up. "I told you, I'm not!" All the thugs threw off their hoods and bowed, making her more nervous. Ranma-chan came skidding in, then almost falling over at seeing the large amount of thugs. Chriss hahed. " You're so funny."
Ranka hmmed. "Okay well if I'm your boss, gimme back the damn pig, right now!" The big thug bowed again, before handing P-chan back to her. Ranka then laughed at Chriss. "Oh yeah so funny. Okay since I'm the boss, I say Chriss here is the new boss." Chriss sweatdropped. " You can't do that, you already tried that the other day." Ranka waved her free hand at her. " Well with the whole gang all here, maybe the result will take, this time." Ranma-chan snickered before catching her breath. "Man I'm thristy.." Within a few seconds a thug, handed her a drink. Ranma-chan blinked as she took it. " Thanks." Then the guy bowed his head to her. Chriss shook her head. " That's not how it's supposed to work, sure you're a smart ass, "redhot", but you are still the head boss, as well as your twin."
Ranka rolled her eyes at her. " Whatever, but I just put you in charge, in front of sooo many eyes." Chriss hahed and turned her attention to Ranma-chan. " Ranma, right? You don't mind being the boss, do you?" Ranma-chan was busy enjoying her drink, before she responded. " I guess so, but you're still basically in charge." Ranka gave Chriss an annoyed look. " No more stalking, got it or pignapping." Chriss hehed. " I wouldn't have had to, if you had just accepted in the first place." She then suddenly realized she was talking to herself, that the two red heads had flown the coop.
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Once they got back home, they got saddled with babysitting as Nodoka was anxious to go on some errands. Ranma-chan grabbed P-chan away from Ranka as she went off upstairs with him, as he angerily protested. It wasn't too long that she was back downstairs, as she didn't trust "the intruder" being alone with her sister. She kept quiet while they were having "snack time", which Ryouga having had a hot bath, had also joined.
Tenka took her anger out on him, as she splashed him purposely with her water and giggled evilily. P-chan shook his head off, as he squealed angerily at her. Ranka was not amused. " That's real nice Tenk, mom will be "tickled pink" to know you were rude to our guest." Tenka hahed. " You're such a tattle tale." Ranma-chan was busy eating, as she also took the chance to nab the rest of Tenka's snack, while she was busy picking a fight with Ranka.
Ranka hahed back. " Says the biggest tattle tale, ever. Why don't you go play with your magic mirror, like a good little girl." Tenka bristled at her and tried to jump out of her chair at her, only to be caught in the air, by the back of her shirt by Ranma-chan. "Knock it off you lil stinker." She pulled her up so they were face to face. " Don't forget I will mess you up, if you try to hurt Ranka again.." She then dropped her down on the ground, just before she tried to start kicking about.
Tenka hmpfed as she got back up into her seat, ready to eat the rest of her food on her plate. She blinked at not seeing it, instead of blaming Ranma, she blamed Ranka, as she pointed her finger at her. " You pig, you ate my snack!" Ranka gave her a dull look. " Maybe you pigged out and don't remember eating your own food." P-chan darted towards Tenka, ready to attack her for insulting and fighting with Ranka, only to be held back as Ranka grabbed him by his bandana. He sweatdropped as he hung by her hold on it. Ranka sighed. " You'd be just as wrong if you attacked her, the brat would tattle to my mom, that you hurt her." She set him back down, and avoided Tenka's grab for her necklace.
Tenka balled her fists. " Give it to me!" Ranka snorted at her. " Get bent." Tenka growled. " You broke mine, it's only fair!" Ranma-chan bashed her fists together. " Hey! What did I tell ya, you lil stinker? By the way, I was the one that ate your food, you snooze you loose, demon." Tenka felt very frustrated at the moment, she then tried to take it out on nabbing P-chan's food, only to get told off and warned with a bite. Tenka pouted as she held her finger. " Stupid piece of bacon!" Ranka gave her a bop to her head. " Hey, that's un called for, he was just defending his food, like you should've been, but you were too busy fighting with me."
Tenka grumbled as she pouted. " Fine, I didn't want that nasty human food anyways.." Ranka laughed some at her attitude. " So you say, but you can't turn back into a demon, so.. you my dear are stuck eating that nasty human food, so you better get used to it." She went off into the kitchen for a few minutes, before coming back with a plate with a sandwich, that she set down in front of her. Tenka sweatdropped at her actions. Ranka quirked an eyebrow at her. " We're stuck with you, and you're part of the family, so you can't go hungry. I'd never hear the end of it, from mom.."
Ranma-chan had her arms crossed. " I say we just let her go free, while we have the chance." Ranka gave her a stern look. " You know that won't fly with mom." Ranma-chan grumbled. " I know that, dammit.. but I still want her gone.." Ranka sighed. " Do you want her to cry and be miserable?" Ranma-chan tensed up some as she tightened her fist. " Of course not.." Ranka played with her hair nervously. " That's just how it is."
A few minutes later they were all watching tv on the couch. Tenka looked over in the two red heads direction, as she was always on the move to plot against them. Even though she had failed before, she figured it couldn't hurt to keep trying to sway them. This time she tried to prey on Ranma, while also attacking Ranka directly. " It must get really annoying huh, having to deal with yourself all the time." Ranma-chan gave her an annoyed look. " Nope." Tenka tried to keep at it. " Doesn't Ranka piss you off?" She then jumped over to Ranka, figuratively speaking. " And Ranka doesn't Ranma piss you off?" Ranma-chan got more annoyed. " Nope, YOU piss me off.." Ranka had a dull look on her face. "Not really." Tenka couldn't help but push more. " Cmon, doesn't she get on your nerves?" Ranma-chan glared at the brat. " No, I like myself a lot.. but YOU are getting on my last nerve, hell spawn, brat!"
Tenka tried to maintain her innocence. " Why? we're just talking." Ranma-chan gave her a dead serious look. " Ahah, just talking, right.. I know what you're up to and it's pissing me the hell off!" P-chan rattled off with annoyed noises as well. Tenka kept a cute face on. " What am I doing, wrong?" Ranka had her hand to her face. " You can cut the crap Tenk, Ranma knows exactly what you are up to, as do I." Ranma-chan grabbed Tenka up by her shirt suddenly, making her yelp in surprise. " That's right, stop trying to make me and Ranka mad at each other.."
Ranka hahed. " I think she's just jealous." Ranma-chan hmpfed and dropped her hold on her. Tenka hahed. " And why would I be jealous, of a human and their clone." She owwed as she suddenly got a rough whack to her head from a very ticked off Ranma. " You're pushing it brat.." Ranka continued on as she jabbed at her. " Well.. you may be able to take on someone's form, but.. inheriting everything else, you fail at. So you may have taken on the form, but you don't have the know-how." Ranma-chan snickered at that. " That's for sure."
Tenka huffed and puffed at their taunting. " I don't need to know dirty martial arts anyways. That's for tomboys." Ranma-chan pounded her fists together. " You wanna say that again?" Ranka hehed. " I say your just jealous." Tenka hahed. " Me jealous? I can take on anyone's form and then some." Ranma-chan hahed back. " Yet, you went and got stuck in human form." Ranma and P-chan were both laughing at her.
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Elsewhere Nodoka had gone and retrieved Genma by force, as she forced him to walk, with her blade to his back. He had of course at seeing she was at the Tendo's, made a mad dash into the koi pond, turning himself into a panda. That didn't deter Nodoka at all, as she still made him wear a pink tutu and a red wig. She didn't let up, until they made it to their destination, where she left him at the door steps of the Chardin mansion.
Genma was too scared to dare to run, he could feel the fury coming from his wife and did everything he had been told. He even had a sign ready, stating his punishment, as being offered up a bridal candidate, even being given a girly name, "Penka"
Nodoka felt more refreshed as she had laid out her husbands punishment and went about her shopping, wasting no time as she wanted to get back home as soon as she could.
It wasn't long, before she did just that. She was impressed at hearing no fighting going on, as she set the shopping bags down on the table and let them know she was back. " I trust everyone behaved, while I was gone?" She poked her head into the living room to see Tenka all wrapped up like a caterpillar in a blanket. Ranma-chan nodded with a big cheesy smile. " Yeah we were just playing a game with Tenka." Ranka nodded as well. "She's training to be a butterfly." Nodoka smiled. " That's so cute." Ranka got up without being asked, to go help her mother put the shopping away. Ryouga had just come down stairs, having turned back with a hot shower, hoping he wouldn't have to repeat himself again, as he took a seat on the couch.
After most of the things were put away, Nodoka got Ranka's attention. " Ranka dear, I know you were very upset to loose your bowl, so I went and got you a new one." She set the pink bowl on the counter. Ranka's eyes lit up at seeing it, before giving her a mother a quick hug. "I love it, thanks mom." She then frowned. " I just hope it, it doesn't get broken, like the other one did.." Nodoka sweat dropped as she kept a smile on her face. " Well I also got Tenka her own, as she may have been jealous, so hopefully there won't be another problem like that."
She got more excited as she couldn't hold it back, as she took out two swords from a bag. " I even got her a practice sword, as well as a starter, won't she be so excited." Ranka ahahed. " Sooo excited." Nodoka prattled on. " All my children should be well versed in the art of demon slaying, especially my daughters." Ranka rubbed at her head. " Yeah but, she's on the demon's side, so I don't think she's going to want to slay them." Nodoka kept smiling as she hid them away, back in the bag. " She just doesn't know any better, similar to how you were used by the demons dear." Ranka sweatdropped. " I think it's a lot deeper and more rooted in her case."
Back in the living room, Ranma-chan finally un rolled Tenka from the blankets, death grip. Nodoka had a big smile on her face, as she held the bag. " Tenka sweetie, I got you some things." Tenka blinked, looking un sure of the motive. Nodoka first showed her the bright magenta bowl with a cute little character on it. " Now everyone has their own bowl, so there's no need to be jealous anymore and there will be no more broken bowls, right?" She set the bowl down on the coffee table. Tenka gulped at seeing how much the demon slayers smile, had changed into a more aggressive one, as she nodded in compliance.
Nodoka clasped her hands together. " Very good, now I also got you, your own practice sword." She pulled out the small, wooden sword first. Tenka sweated at seeing it. Nodoka then pulled out the small katana. " And once you've mastered the sword, you can use a more suited one." Tenka's eyes bugged out, while her heart thumped away, getting louder the more her nerves hit. This was it, the demon hunter was going to force her to train in the art of demon slaying. She threw her arms up in the air as she yelled. " Keep it away from me!" As she tore off outside, through the back porch.
Nodoka gasped as she dropped the bag, running off to the back porch, where she scanned the area, frantically. " Tenka!" She dropped to her knee's as tears ran down her face. Ranma-chan was quite happy, that the hell brat, had flown the coop, but not at how hard her mother was taking it. Ranka sighed and went to try to comfort Nodoka, as she was better at dealing with her, than Ranma was. Nodoka dabbed at her eyes with a hankierchief. " I don't understand why she ran away.. You.. never ranaway from a sword." Ranka sighed as she rubbed her mothers back gently. " Well.. I'm not a demon.." Nodoka shook her head. " She's not, she just has been mislead by them." Ranma-chan came over and while she felt bad some at how upset her mother was, her denial was also upsetting her. " Yes, she IS mom, we've both been telling you that. That lil stinker is a demon! She tried to kill Ranka, for crying out loud! It's a good thing she ran off."
Ranka grimaced at how blunt Ranma was, with such a sensitive subject. Ryouga shook his head from the living room, at hearing his rival,blast his own mother so harshly. Which made Nodoka start weeping again. Ranka sent her sibling a mind message, that told Ranma to lay off. A few minutes later Nodoka got herself up, only to start to collapse back down again, if Ranka didn't catch her. "Hey mom, you should go take a nice hot bath." In her depressed state of mind she didn't fuss and let Ranka guide her upstairs to the bathroom.
She came back down a few minutes later as she sighed heavily. Ryouga got up to lecture Ranma. " Real nice Ranma, you broke your mothers heart." Ranma-chan gave him a glare. " Watch it, P-chan.. All I did was say how it really was." Ranka had her arms crossed. " Yes but she is fragile right now, it wasn't the best time to hammer down on her about the little intruder." Ranma-chan huffed. "I'm tired of mom being in denial about the hell brat." Ryouga shook his head at his rival. " You're the worst Ranma." Ranma-chan flipped him off. " Shove it!"
Ryouga looked over to Ranka, feeling she'd agree with this. " Right, Ranka?" Ranka looked upset. " Lay off, it's not Ranma's fault." Ryouga sweat dropped feeling a bit confused. " But you are upset at what Ranma said to your mother, right?" Ranka shook her head back and forth. " No, I don't do such a great job myself with things." Ryouga tried to argue that. " No, you do fine Ranka, your way better than Ranma." Ranka sighed with a dull look on her face. " Well I am a girl. Now knock it off with the bashing.." Ryouga gulped at how serious she got and nodded, as he stayed out of it from that point on.
They were all back to sitting on the couch. Ranma-chan sighed. " Was I really that bad?" She looked to her sister for guidance, as she was a lot gentler with others. Ranka shrugged her shoulders some. " Well.. like I said mom's fragile, when it comes to Tenk." Ranma-chan mumbled. "But it's annoying as hell.." Ranka looked thoughtful. " No argument there, but it was just really bad timing to say what you did to her." Ranma-chan groaned. "I'm starting to see that.."
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Tenka kept running for awhile, till she stopped to catch her breath, also taking note that she hadn't been followed. She smiled brightly, she had finally been able to get out of that cage, now she could finally report back to the others. She back tracked her way to the hotel, going off to the room, as she banged on the door. " It's me, Izzy!"
The door opened and she was pulled off inside the room, before the door was shut behind her. Alley had her hands on her hips. " You don't look it, so hurry up and shed that foolish human disguise." Izzy sweated nervously as she tried to change back again, hoping it had just been a fluke, but to no avail, which had all eyes on her.
She waved her hands about more nervously. "It wouldn't be a good idea for me to change back right now, the demon hunter's out looking for me.." Alley gave her an annoyed look. " It's been days over and we never heard anything back from you.." Ivory added in. " That's for sure, we were thinking maybe the demon hunter found you out and gutted you." Alley gave her a stern look. " Ivory.. that's enough." She turned her attention back to the small girl. "Why didn't you report back?"
Izzy waved her hands about as she recounted what went on in an upset tizzy. " The traitor.. she broke my mirror, both the traitors found out, and then stupid Ranka also broke my gem, and the demon hunter woman won't let me out of her sight! This has been the only time, that I got lucky enough to get away.."
Alley shook her head at her, the mirror on the wall, had Satan's image on it as he nodded his head at everything. Izzy at realizing her lord was there, bowed down. "I'm so sorry lord Satan, I didn't mean to.." Satan's image in the mirror, held up a hand. " Don't fret my child, you did report back as soon as you could. Now then, let's talk about our next plan."
While Satan went on about his next plan and equipped Izzy with the items, as well as instructing her on how to carry it out. He was also able to see through her lie, it was more than apparent the girl had been tainted by the demon hunters and was no longer able to take on her real form. He figured he'd use her as long as it was beneficial to him, but in the long run she was now a lost cause.
After their meeting, he told her to return to her post. Izzy trembled at hearing that. " Please don't make me go back there lord Satan.." Alley gave her a cruel look. " You are being disrespectful, child." Ivory stayed out of the matter. Satan used the girl further as he made her feel guilty. " Izzy, was it not YOU, yourself who agreed to do this very important misson for me." Alley chimed in as well. " Yes you don't want to dissapoint and disgrace lord Satan any further than you already have."
Izzy tensed up as she teared up. " I'm sorry I just can't do it anymore.." Satan hmmed. " That's too bad, I suppose I'll have to break the news to your parents, that I will have to take away everything, that I have given to them. I said I'd take care of them, as long as you did the mission, as I asked you to do." Izzy's eyes widened as she wiped her tears away. " Noo, I don't want that.." Satan smirked. " That's a good girl, now run along, back to your post."
Alley showed her the way out, before shutting the door behind her and turning her attention back to the mirror. Satan sighed. " Such a shame the girls been tainted, she's no longer one of us. Not to mention her resolution has faltered. We will make use of her for the time being."
copyright- I do not own Ranma 1/2 or any of it's characters.
