Added disclaimer: At this point I would like to add that it has been brought to my attention who came up with the name Genryu. The author Carrotglace wrote the fic The Three Saotomes where the younger brother has the name Genryu. The reviewers, Kura-kun and Dwaje, brought this fact to my attention, and I would like to thank them both.

Chapter 4: Preparations

:Neko-Hanten, closing time:

Shampoo bowed to the last customer of the day as the door shut behind them before letting out a relieved breath. As she turned around to start cleaning tables, she stretched, reaching high above her head with her arms and rising to the balls of her feet, trying to work out some kinks in her muscles. Today had been a busy day.

As Shampoo approached the first table to clean, wishing she hadn't knocked Mouse out cold earlier that day, she heard the door open behind her. Shampoo turned to tell the person entering that the establishment was closed for the day until she saw who had entered. Instead, She kneeled, bowed her head, and raised her left hand out to the new comer, her right hand placed over her heart. Only when she felt an old and calloused hand lightly touch her own did Shampoo rise. She opened her mouth but was cut off by the distinct sound of her great grandmother pogoing into the room.

Cologne's voice carried across the room, the old matriarch knowing full well who had just entered the restaurant. "Child, please take our guests luggage up to the spare bedrooms while I serve them some tea."

Shampoo nodded, but before she could even think of taking a bag from either woman, Mascara spoke, waving a hand nonchalantly.

"Never mind Shampoo. Neither of us have a bag for you to take."

Shampoo nodded again as Cologne pogoed over to a table and set the tray of tea onto it. Mascara and Lotion walked over to the table, Shampoo following when Cologne beckoned. As the four took seats, Cologne poured the tea and handed a cup to each person, saving the last cup for herself. For a moment, silence reigned as everyone slowly drank the tea before Cologne spoke.

"So, Mascara, what is your reason for being here in Japan?"

Mascara took another sip of tea before answering.

"Much the same reason you are here Cologne." When Shampoo stiffened Mascara frowned at her. "We are not here for Genryu. We are here to see if we can draw another male into the tribe, one far more powerful than your husband, Shampoo."

Cologne had a feeling that she knew who the stranger was. There was no reason for it to be him, no reason for the person Mascara was looking for to even be in Nerima. None except the sinking feeling in her gut. As Cologne stared into the contents of her teacup, she spoke, her voice quiet.

"By any chance, would this young man be about five feet, ten inches in height, with black hair tied back in a pigtail, gray blue eyes, and wearing a black cloak?"

Shampoo, who had just relaxed, once again stiffened, as did Lotion, while Mascara gazed at Cologne sharply before nodding once. Cologne sighed, saying, "I was afraid of that," before taking a sip of tea. Mascara's eyebrows rose slightly, the only signal she gave for Cologne to continue. After taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Cologne explained.

"His name is Saotome Ranma, and he appeared here in Nerima several days ago. I doubt he was in the city for more than ten minutes before encountering his younger brother, Son-in-law. Later that day I learned that he had dealt Son-in-law a single blow, defeating him, and arranging for a match tomorrow. Fearing that during the match he may kill or cripple Son-in-law, and thus negate any worth to the tribe, I set out, accompanied by Shampoo, to deal with this Ranma."

Lotion paled. If it had been only Shampoo who had attacked him, Ranma probably would've survived, but if Cologne attacked him, the young man was most certainly dead.

Cologne smiled reassuringly at the girl before continuing.

"He proved himself to be extremely powerful by defeating both my great-granddaughter and myself easily."

Lotion felt blood return to her face while Mascara released a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. Cologne nodded once to Lotion before giving Mascara a significant look. The other elder nodded before speaking to Lotion.

"Niece, go up to your room and get settled."

Cologne turned to Shampoo, issuing her own instructions. "Child, show Lotion the way to her room, then go into the kitchen where you will find several deliveries that need to be done."

Shampoo and Lotion, both recognizing dismissals when they saw them, nodded and left. Once they were gone, Cologne refilled Mascara's cup of tea before refilling her own. Mascara took a sip from her tea before breaking the silence, her voice carefully even.

"I suppose that something happened in your encounter with Ranma."

Cologne nodded before explaining about Ranma's nearly instantaneous aura change. When she was done, Mascara merely nodded, taking the information in stride and considering it with what she already knew. Cologne's eyes narrowed slightly at seeing the other elder's reaction.

"It seems I'm not the only one who had something happen concerning Ranma."

Mascara nodded before speaking, her voice soft.

"The first time I met Ranma was at the tournament. The Jusenkyo Guide was showing him around the village, and I spotted him in the crowd almost immediately. I quickly went to him, and tried to find a way to establish physical contact after feeling his aura. I tried the westerner's tradition of shaking hands. Cologne," at this point, Mascara looked at the other woman, "He knew what I was doing. I could tell. He grinned at me, showing full well that he knew what I was about, and yet, he willingly shook hands with me."

Mascara fell silent, trying to compose what she knew into words, but found that she couldn't. Cologne waited expectantly, watching the other woman, before Mascara opened her mouth to speak.

"I can't put what I found into words Cologne. I'm sorry. I'm afraid you yourself will have to touch him, and then explain your findings to me. I'm afraid that the only things I'm sure of after that touch are these: Ranma is very powerful, and very, very dangerous."

Cologne nodded. Those two facts were already blatantly clear to her.

:Tendo Household:

Nabiki rounded the corner to her street, and walked to the doors leading into the Tendo Household, several bulging manila envelopes clasped protectively in her arms. As she neared the doors leading into the property, she hummed a happy tune quietly to herself, and she had a slight smile on her face. She opened the door into the Tendo compound and walked up to the house, when the smile suddenly vanished.

She knew that smell.

Nabiki slid open the door and walked into the entryway where she kicked off her shoes before running up to her room and stashing the folders in a special compartment in the wall. After making sure the compartment was closed, she left her room and walked down to the living room where she discovered the source of the smell, even as it made her lightheaded.

Soun and Genma, the latter of which was in panda form, were currently trying to dance. Their dancing skills, already less than stellar, were dramatically impeded by the half empty sake bottle each held in their free hand. When Nabiki glanced at the floor to discover nearly a dozen empty sake bottles, she couldn't help but wince as she mentally calculated just how much it would cost to replace the expensive rice wine that her father insisted they have plenty of.

Nabiki glanced around, hoping to find something to distract herself from the two men attempting the tango, when her eyes fell on both Akane and Genryu, the latter of which was rather sweaty and dirty, but grinning broadly. The two were seated at the table, doing their level best at ignoring Soun and Genma, and both glanced at Nabiki as she took a seat across from them, her back to the two abysmal dancers.

Nabiki took in Genryu's appearance in more detail, noting how he slumped against the table, his head resting on his arms, which were crossed on the table.

"Shouldn't you be resting up for your match with Ranma tomorrow?"

With her back to the two men behind her, Nabiki didn't notice how Genma suddenly froze, throwing Soun off balance and causing the man to crash to the ground. As their left hands were clasped, Genma followed suit a second later, falling onto Soun. The three teens at the table ignored the man and panda as Genryu raised his head slightly and flashed Nabiki a cocky grin.

"Plenty of time to rest before the match tomorrow in class."

Nabiki nodded, knowing Genryu spent more time asleep in class than paying attention. As Genryu continued, Nabiki felt an eyebrow climb up her forehead, and a faint feeling of uneasiness.

"'Sides, I wanted to practice my new technique as much as possible. I want to show my appreciation to him for giving me the idea by beating him with it."

Genma, still lying on Soun, held up a sign that said 'What's this about a match?' Nabiki turned around to study Genma, noticing Genryu and Akane looking behind her. Nabiki was surprised at how clear the handwriting on the sign was, since Genma was obviously plastered. Almost as if hearing Ranma's name had immediately sobered Genma up.

Surprise clearly showed on Genryu's face and in his voice as he asked, "Didn't you know Pops? Ranma's back. Been in town a couple a days. I've got a match with him tomorrow at school. You should come and watch me kick his ass."

Genma's sign flipped over to display, 'I just might, boy.' The fat panda then sat up straight, staring at his sign as if it had suddenly betrayed him, and allowing Soun to breathe.

At that moment, Kasumi walked in carrying a platter with food from which delicious aroma's were wafting. Genma suddenly forgot about how his sign had betrayed him and moved to the table with quickness that the Tendo family had long since gotten used to. A moment later, Soun joined them, having pried himself out of the floor.

:Roof of the Tendo Household:

One Saotome Ranma leaned back against the cool roof tiles beneath him, staring up at the stars, idly spinning a knife in his right hand. (So, Genryu's got a new technique, one that I gave him the idea for. Guess I'll have to keep tomorrow's fight simple, give him little to work with.) Ranma stood up, tucking the knife back into the sleeve of his cloak, before crouching down, and gathering power into his legs. A moment later, he launched himself nearly fifty feet into the air without a sound, leaving behind only a slight disturbance in the air as the only sign he had been there.

:Furinkan High, next day:

As Nabiki walked onto the campus the next day, several manila folders clamped in her arms, she noticed how the air was charged with an excitement only one of Genryu's matches could bring. She walked over to the designated spot reserved for her flunkies, dodging several people who sought her out. When Nabiki arrived at her destination, she found all of her flunkies ready and waiting. She grinned as she walked up to them, and several of them blinked in surprise at her expression.

It was time for business.

"Okay girls, we have work to do, so I'll be brief. We have two tasks during school. The first is to sell these, I've already written down the prices." Nabiki handed out a folder to each girl, waiting while they opened the folders. General sounds and motions of surprise abounded as the girls discovered the contents of the folders.

One turned to Nabiki and asked, "How did you get these!" She waved one picture of Ranma slightly hysterically.

Nabiki just grinned like a predator before simply saying, "I'm a professional."

Nabiki didn't so much as bat an eyebrow when she saw several of her flunkies slip some money into the folders and remove a picture or two for themselves.

"Right, onto the second bit of business: I want you all to spread the rumors that Genryu's got a new technique to use against Ranma, and that Genryu's gonna pound Ranma flat. Everyone understand?"

When everyone nodded, Nabiki said, "Then go to work."

The girls scattered, each heading for a certain area of the school where she'd sell pictures, and start the rumor mill going. Nabiki took a deep breath, and then started as a voice sounded behind her.

"Genryu's going to pound me flat?"

Nabiki spun to stare behind her. For a moment all she could see was nothing, but then the air not five feet from her seemed to ripple slightly, then Ranma faded into view, grinning at her. "If I didn't know better, Ms. Tendo, I would say you're trying to rig the game."

Nabiki quirked an eyebrow at him and Ranma chuckled before saying, "Which is something I myself have done in the past, so I'm in no position to judge. Rig away, Ms. Tendo."

Nabiki nodded, eyeing Ranma. The effort was rather mute since he was dressed in the same outfit as every other time she had seen him. She returned her attention to his eyes and spoke, her voice even.

"I wasn't lying about Genryu having a new technique. He says he's going to beat you with it."

Ranma just nodded. "I know. I heard him say it last night."

Nabiki's eyebrow once again climbed up her forehead until Ranma explained, grinning slightly.

"There's a rather comfortable spot on your roof that has the added benefit of sound carrying from inside the house to it rather well."

Nabiki frowned, and her voice was slightly accusatory.

"So you've been eavesdropping on us. Have you been doing anything else that's invasive of our privacy?"

Ranma's grin grew and changed in character, becoming slightly feral and wild looking, and Nabiki had to fight a sudden urge to step back.

"And if I had? You can't stop me, and you're hardly one to judge me on such matters anyway, Ms. Tendo. But to ease your worries, no I haven't done anything more invasive than listen in. At least, not since that video tape."

He took a step toward her and Nabiki took a slight step back. She was about to take another step, but Ranma suddenly stood before her. He reached up and lightly brushed her bangs with his right hand. He opened his mouth and his voice was quiet, more of a purr now, and it sent shivers through Nabiki's body.

"But if you want, I can do more."

When his words registered, Nabiki put all of her will toward keeping her blush down, and succeeded. Somewhat. Her face felt as cool and composed as ever, but other parts of her body felt uncomfortably hot. And somehow, she was sure Ranma knew that. His eyes had never left her own, but she suddenly felt naked before him.

Then the bell rang and Nabiki gave a rather undignified squeak, and turned away from Ranma in surprise. When she turned back, he was gone. Nabiki cursed and headed for class.

Up on the roof of the school, Ranma watched as Nabiki hurried to class. He chuckled, feeling slightly giddy as the rush he had just experienced slowly ebbed away. He looked up at the sky overhead, studying the slight spattering of clouds that lazily floated about. (Okay, Death was right, I have got to try that more often.)

:Furinkan field:

School that day seemed to pass agonizingly slow, more so for some than for others. Word of Genryu's fight had spread like wild fire, and all week the atmosphere had become more tense and expectant. Today, almost no one listened in class, instead, opting to study either Genryu, the field where the fight would take place, or one of the two Tendo sisters, whichever could at the time be studied.

Once the bell rang, Genryu had headed for the field, feeling the eyes of almost everyone on his back. When he arrived, he wasn't surprised to see most of the school body gathered, as well as several people who didn't attend the school.

Soun sat on the hillside that ringed the field next to Genma, who was in panda form and appeared to be sweating bullets and glancing about nervously. Not ten feet from them sat Cologne and Shampoo, accompanied by two new amazons that Genryu had yet to meet. One was like Cologne, old, short and wrinkled, while the other was younger, had red and stood a bit taller than Shampoo. Sitting next to Cologne, and talking quite avidly with her was Dr. Tofu. Genryu assumed the two were talking about various forms of medicine and healing.

"Place your bets everyone, place your bets!"

Genryu turned to see Nabiki, complete with megaphone, and two of her flunkies, running the betting pool as usual.

Genryu shrugged, and rolled his head about, popping his neck, as he swept his gaze over the gathered crowd, trying to spot Ranma. As Genryu's eyes passed over a tree, with several students gathered under it to enjoy the shade, Ranma suddenly dropped down to the ground from the tree's canopy, startling the students who hadn't known he was there. As Ranma walked out onto the field, Genryu was aware of silence slowly taking over the crowd. When a hand fell onto his shoulder he looked behind him to see Akane standing there. She simply said, "Good luck," before moving off to a free spot of grass.

Genryu started to walk out onto the field, toward Ranma, feeling confidence burn through him. (I won't need luck for this fight. It's already mine.)

:Author's Note:

I apologize for the rather large amount of time since my last update, but I've only recently gotten my computer fixed. Since then, I've dragged my much rested typing and story telling skills out of the closet and have begun to wring them for all they're worth, so please, no reviews chewing me out for taking so long.