"SHE CAN'T DO THIS!" Genma shouted in outrage, slamming his fists into the oak desk hard enough to leave deep indentures.
"Saotome, please," Soun urged, knowing the outburst would not help this situation at all.
Indeed, the clean cut man on the other side, the one that happened to own the desk, stared back dispassionately; quite unamused with the display, "I'm afraid, Mr. Saotome, that she has every right to do this. She is the mother, a very distraught mother who has not seen her child in eight years. There is a great deal you need to answer for in this regard."
"She does not deserve to be near my son," Genma seethed, "How can you say that she should have custody, when she was willing to put my boy to death?"
The man before the two martial artists kept his hands folded under his chin, as he never even seemed phased at the accusation, "Was it not you who proposed the contract in the first place?"
Genma blubbered at the response, but once again became firm, "She was more than willing to carry through with it! I was more than willing to burn that damnable contract!"
The lawyer shrugged, as if Saotome's explanation was irrelevant, "It's understandable that a woman would be under duress; finding that her pride and joy was mentally indeficient. Did you even attempt to get her to understand the situation?"
Genma started to speak up, right as the attorney continued, "No, I doubt it. Your solution was to simply refuse your former wife any contact with your mutual child for eight long years. I would think that a man who supposedly cared dearly for his son would understand his mother's plight."
"Mr. Nakamura," Soun interjected, "We understand your perspective, but the poor woman did sanction her own son, even in the heat of the moment. Would it truly be prudent if she did have access to the boy?"
"That is for neither me, you, nor Mr. Saotome to decide," Mr. Nakamura replied, "There are procedures for such cases as these, procedures that your friend here failed to adhere by. As it was mentioned before, Ms. Soh was emotionally distraught at the time. A psychological evaluation would decide her capacity for parenting. Besides that, there are numerous other issues we must not overlook."
Genma didn't like the slight, almost unnoticeable smirk the man before him grew; a cocky, victorious expression that said the fight was already won before the battle commenced, "This is ridiculous..."
"First of all, as it has been established, Ranma is a boy of special needs," Nakamura began, "If not for Ms. Soh's recent interest, we would be unaware of young Ranma's particular requirements."
"I... I was told that wasn't necessary," Genma replied, lying.
"But it is, when the boy is required to attend school." Nakamura's expression grew almost aloof, "Such requirements were not in his school records... in fact we haven't been able to trace Ranma's school records beyond... eight years ago."
Genma's bottom lip trembled, unable to respond to what was being insinuated. Soun sunk deeper into his chair, noticing his old friend's reaction, and began to grow more concerned.
"And that isn't even the worst of this," Nakamura continued, enjoying the reactions across his desk like jackal watching a gazelle trapped in quicksand. "Ms. Soh never did give up custody of Ranma, did she or did she not?"
"She gave up custody the moment she handed me that damn tanto!"
Sighing almost dramatically, Nakamura responded, "We've already been over this issue, haven't we? What I asked was did she actually relinquish custody of Ranma?" Silence was his answer, "I didn't think so."
"Listen you little pipsqueak and listen good-" Genma stood, overshadowing the man. Nakamura flinched, but seemed as if he would not do anything more.
"GENMA, RESTRAIN YOURSELF!" Soun commanded, hoping to keep a bad situation from getting worse. Genma turned an expression of betrayal towards the Tendou Patriarch, before Soun continued, "We have justice on our side. Do not jeopardize our position with threats of violence!"
Genma's face grew sour, and he almost snarled at the now completely visible smug expression on the lawyer, "That woman will not have my son, no matter what you say! Ranma deserves to be happy, and Nodoka would never allow that."
"What your ex-wife would allow is the boy to have a stable home and the help he needs to continue through life. I fail to see how traveling around with a vagabond father would make your son happy."
"Ranma has a home," Soun spoke up, himself growing highly irritated, "My home is open to him, and my family cares for him as his father does."
"Would this have anything to do with the pact made to unite your two clans in blood?" Nakamura enquired, almost innocently, "You do realize, with Ranma's condition, that is not a very likely possibility?"
Genma looked sideways at Soun, as the latter pursed his lips, "That fails to be any of your business. Ranma is welcome in my home, regardless. He is cared for by my eldest daughter, Kasumi, as well as Genma's..." Soun paused, "Genma's other ward, Shampoo."
"Ward? I was lead to believe this Xian Pu was his wife."
Soun and Genma wondered where the man was getting such information, "I doubt the laws of Chinese rural tribes are recognized on this land. Genma acts merely as her guardian, nothing more."
"Oh, but to have such a willing bride, Saotome. Surely you've considered it at least once or-"
"You will shut your mouth before I shut it for you," Genma interrupted in a cold rage. He knew he was being goaded, but it was as if he were being pushed downhill by a massive boulder. With all the will he could muster, Genma began to roll the boulder back up the steep incline, "No, You aren't worth it. Once this whole damn mess is cleared up, I will never have to deal with you again."
"Oh, but we will be meeting later," Nakamura responded, "This meeting was only to inform you of Ms. Soh's movement. You should have plenty of time to provide yourself with a representative of your interests."
Genma said nothing to the man, turning away, "Let's go, Tendou, the air here makes me ill." The lawyer waved goodbye to both men almost too cheerfully, as they exited the office.
Genma visibly sagged, once in the supposed privacy of the elevator, "Tendou, I don't know how to handle this."
"Do not fret, Saotome. I assure you that we shall remain on your side in this," Soun consoled; prepared to take on the trials that await his friend and son.
"Tendou, maybe it would be best if I disappeared... with Ranma," Saotome replied in a defeated tone, "I could not afford a lawyer, much less one skilled enough to assist me."
Soun baulked at the suggestion, "You mustn't! I mean, do you think they would simply leave you be? You would not only make matters worse, but do you think you will have a moment's peace, once you venture out?"
"I don't know, Tendou. Japan's pretty big... China's even bigger..."
"But that would not resolve matters," Soun argued. He put a hand on Genma's shoulder, "My dear friend, I know how helpless this must seem, but you must persevere."
"Why are you so insistent on this, Tendou?" Genma asked, a hint of suspicion creeping in, "What do you think you would gain from this? If I lose Ranma, I don't think I would be able to stay within your hospitality. Is this really worth the gamble?"
"Saotome, all things in life... all that makes life worth living... all of it is worthy of a gambit."
"I just don't know, Tendou," Genma replied. He removed his glasses, and held the frame with both hands before his face to inspect them for dirt or other splotches, "I just don't know"
"I don't know," Ranma replied, holding his hands before his face; his index and thumb forming imaginary binoculars around his eyes.
Kasumi smiled, pointing out to where she wanted Ranma to look at, "That's the big dipper. Some times in the west they say it's a giant bear that roams the night sky."
"Cool!" Ranma replied, stretching himself upwards, as if trying to get a closer look.
"And look over there; you see those three bright stars right... there?" Kasumi waited until Ranma nodded. "That's the belt of the great western hunter, Orion. He now defends the night with his shield and club."
"Where's his club?" Ranma asked.
"He's holding it right... there," Kasumi guided Ranma's finger, while placing her head right next to his to make sure she was matching up the perspective, "And over there is his shield."
"Oh, I see it!"
"Amazon say that it great warrior Yuan Xhi. She fight bravely against many enemy, and perish in battle after saving Amazon village. She now look down at village from night sky, when all Amazon sleep, ready to strike sword upon any who attack cowardly in night."
"Hello Shampoo," Kasumi greeted, scooting over for the young Amazon.
The lavender haired young lady nodded gratefully, "Is beautiful night, yes?" Kasumi nodded in agreement; as the refreshing luke warm breeze caught her, and fluttered her ponytail and frills of her dress slightly.
"Wow, so she just smashes bad guys with her sword?" Ranma urged, hoping Shampoo to continue the story.
"Mmhmm, all Amazon aspi-... asp..."
"Aspire," Kasumi assisted.
"...aspire to be brave like Yuan Xhi. Train too, too hard for whole life."
"Can I be brave like her when I'm a girl?" Ranma asked, hopeful at the prospect.
Kasumi chuckled, "You can be as brave as Yuan Xhi, as a boy or a girl."
Shampoo nodded in agreement, "Is true."
At that moment, the sounds of the back gate sounded, allowing their fathers entrance. At their return, Kasumi stood, and dusted her apron off, "Hello, father, I left dinner for you and Uncle Saotome on the oven."
Soun smiled slightly, but it was without humor, "Thank you, Kasumi, but I'm afraid Genma and I do not have the proper appetite. Perhaps you could save it for us at a later time?"
"Aiyaa," Shampoo uttered, surprised to see her beloved so downtrodden in the presence of his... their son. Kasumi nodded mutely, as she watched her father and his friend walk by with a gait lacking any energy. She didn't know where they had gone for the evening, but she had a sense of foreboding that it would herald storms that would blot out the stars in the near future...