"I told you I'm fine, mom." Akira complained at his mother's antics. The woman had refused to let her son go to school for the day and was now dragging him home to obviously shower him with affection.

Next to the arguing teen walked his cousin Kimiko and brother Hanamichi. They didn't understand why Akane told them to go home with her. Much less why Tofu agreed. As the doctor explained what happened to Akane the woman suddenly seemed to make a connection in her mind and smiled brightly. It was almost as if something she'd been expecting to happen finally did.

They made their way home and found Soun waiting for them at the gates. "Akane-chan, what happened?"

"I'll explain inside, daddy. Could you please tell Kasumi to prepare some tea while I take Akira to his room?" Akane said with a smile.

Soun nodded and went inside. Akira, on the other hand, protested vocally. "But I said I'm fine, mom!"

"You are going to rest and that's final. I want you up and around later in the day." Akane said with a finality that shut Akira up instantly. Few were the times when Akane spoke like that to her children, but when she did obeying was the only smart thing to do.

Kimiko and Hanamichi watched the proceedings in confusion and walked to the kitchen. Upon entering Kasumi, who was talking to Soun, blinked in surprise. "Oh my. Shouldn't you two be in school?"

Kimiko tilted her head to the side, a confused look on her face. "Aunty Akane wanted us to come home with her."

Kasumi's expression matched that of her daughter's and she shrugged it off with one of her usual happy smiles. "Please help me with the table, dear."

Hanamichi turned to his grandfather as Kimiko followed her mother's wishes with a smile on her face. "Grandpa... what's going on?"

Soun blinked a couple of times at the question and shook his head. "I don't know. Why don't you tell us what happened?"

Hanamichi shrugged and explained the encounter with the girls. He was careful to describe the way the silver-haired teenager moved, which entranced Soun. Very soon Akane's second son was utterly confused. Both his aunt and grandfather had a knowing smile that matched Akane's. "Grandpa?"

Soun looked at his grandson. "Hanamichi, do you remember what we've told you of the Saotomes?"

The boy nodded his head slowly. He'd grown up in the martial arts hearing stories of how his parents participated in numerous adventures by Saotome Ranma's side when they were young. Adventures that came to an end when said martial artist left to fight for his wife's people in China. Since that day, many years ago, none of them had heard a word about what happened to him. Not even Ryoga, who got lost constantly and even now was wandering the Earth by accident, had found anything about the Saotomes. "Why do you ask this, grandpa?"

Soun smiled. "The girl that fought Akira, you say she has silver hair." Seeing his grandson nod in confusion he continued. "It might be a coincidence, but around here coincidences don't exist. A silver-haired martial artist skilled enough to defeat both of you... I'd say you just met Ranma-kun's daughter."

"What?" Hanamichi asked in shock. Coming from the dining room Kimiko had a look that mirrored her cousin's.

Kasumi smiled sweetly. "Kima did have silver hair, something I'd never seen before."

The four of them made their way to the table and Kasumi started serving tea. Five minutes later Akane arrived to find her family talking about the Saotomes and their stay in the dojo. She wasn't surprised her father and sister made the connection. The silver hair clinched it.

Hanamichi was entranced as he heard tale after tale of the many opponents Ranma faced and defeated. Unlike Akira, Ranma was considered the underdog in some of those encounters, while Akane's son was always considered the better from before the fight started.

Kimiko served her aunt some tea as she listened in to her mother's tales. Kasumi had a gift for retelling stories, something she discovered when she had her daughter and, later on, nephews. As she spoke the ones listening were inevitably drawn to her.

It was when Kasumi was telling everyone about the adventure involving the Seven Lucky Gods when a knock on the front gate was heard. "It must be them!" Hanamichi said in excitement as he jumped to his feet and went to open the front gate.

Soun, Kasumi and Akane looked at each other and smiled, confusing Kimiko. She didn't know they were remembering an afternoon many years ago, when a young Nabiki reacted in pretty much the same way as Hanamichi did. Seeing everybody stand up and walk to the door she followed close behind, wondering if the people at the front gate were indeed the Saotomes. And if so how should she react to the girl that beat Akira down.

-----

When Hanamichi opened the gate he gulped as he caught sight of the very same girl that took both his brother and him down with ease. Granted she took them by surprise, but even then he'd never met someone their age that could do that. "... Hello." He said hesitantly, for the moment his eyes focused on the silver-haired girl.

Karmine reacted in a way very similar to how Akane's son reacted. She was somewhat nervous over what she'd done, even if her parents didn't punish her in any way. "Hi." She replied in a subdued manner.

They continued to stare at each other, unsure of how to act after what happened.

"Ranma!" Akane's voice brought them out of the uncomfortable moment and they each turned to see Akane walking forward with a smile on her face.

Ranma, who had been watching the exchange in amusement as he held Kima's hand, turned to see the Tendos, save Nabiki, walking towards the gate. He smiled at them and waved with his free hand.

Hanamichi turned as soon as the name registered in his mind. *Ranma?* He asked himself as he gazed upon a man his parents had told him many stories about. He blinked when he caught sight of him. He'd been expecting, from the stories and the mental image he made himself, a towering figure that exuded power from every pore. Instead he found himself looking at a tall black-haired man, whose body was covered entirely by black pants and a loose gray Chinese shirt.

Let it be known that for some reason it never occurred to Kimiko, Akira and Hanamichi to ask if their parents had photographs of Ranma or Kima. Most of the pictures the Tendos had were of the period of time after Kimiko was born. Nabiki, in a gesture of good will, burned all the pictures remaining from her time as the Ice Queen of Furinkan High. After Akane and Soun started teaching she didn't need the money anyway.

Akane ran up to Ranma and gave him a hug, which he returned with a smile on his face. "I've missed you, baka." Akane said as she held on tight.

-----

"This is nice." Nodoka said with a smile as she looked around.

After Akane let go of Ranma her father greeted the pigtailed man and asked about his old friend. Both Kima and her husband sobered and asked if the children could show the dojo to Nodoka, Karmine and Seijuro while they explained what happened in the past seventeen years. Soun knew something was terribly wrong but agreed and asked his grandchildren to go to the dojo.

While the adults spoke in the house the Saotome and Tendo children were in the dojo.

Karmine nodded as she took a deep breath. "It feels alive in here. Only places back home that have this much energy are the training hall and Lord Saffron's throne room... And the terrace, of course."

Kimiko smiled and nodded. "The dojo has many students. You're probably feeling the residual chi from yesterday's class." She wasn't a good fighter, her nature being too peaceful for that, but she was being trained by her father in the more esoteric aspects of medicine.

Hanamichi smiled, somehow feeling at ease with the visiting teenagers even if he didn't exactly hit it off with Karmine a few hours ago. The fact that he knew they were Saotomes overrode any feeling of unease. "The Tendo Dojo is famous all around Japan. The best are trained here."

Nodoka smiled at the pride in Hanamichi's voice. Her smile slipped a little when she heard what her sister said, though. "The best? I'm not sure about that." Both Kimiko and Hanamichi turned to Karmine with raised eyebrows. The girl hardly noticed as she continued to look around, feeling the energy all around. "Some very strong people train here, but the best are trained back home. You need the best to train the best." The tone of voice she used made it clear to everyone that she was stating a fact.

Even Kimiko, who was the most easygoing of the Tendo new generation, felt a little offended at the statement. "Excuse me?"

"Sister..." Nodoka started only to be interrupted by a male voice.

"What the hell are YOU doing here?" They turned to see Akira, who came to the dojo to practice even if his mother ordered him to remain in bed. His surprise at seeing the girls they bumped into earlier talking to his brother and cousin was forgotten when he heard the silver-haired girl insult his dojo. It didn't matter that she didn't do it directly, the very fact that she said the best weren't here was offense enough.

"Akira." Kimiko said reprovingly.

"Save it, Kimiko-chan." Akira said without taking his eyes off the girl that beat him earlier in the day. He walked towards her, his steps menacing and his eyes hard. "What was that you said? Of course the best are trained here! There's no martial art more powerful than the Anything Goes."

Karmine stared at the boy impassively. She wanted to apologize to him... before he spoke to her as if she was inferior again. His arrogance grated at her nerves. "I know. The Anything Goes is the martial art with the most potential." She turned to Hanamichi and Kimiko. "I didn't want to insult your school. It's just that my parents are the best. And they train everyone where we come from."

*That's... right.* Kimiko thought to herself. She let Karmine's first words anger her, and in doing so she missed a very important fact. Even Akane admitted Ranma was better than both her and Ryoga, even if she did so through her teeth. Ryoga wouldn't admit to it, but then again he was too prideful to do so. Karmine was right, at least in the part about Ranma being the best.

Hanamichi nodded slowly. He knew Karmine was right in what she was saying, but that didn't mean he had to like having it rubbed on his face.

Seijuro remained silent during the exchange. He didn't want to get involved and complicate things further. He'd done it in the past and the results were never pretty. His father always had to take their fat out of the fire when that happened.

Akira, who still didn't know who Karmine's parents were, growled angrily. "That's it! I challenge you to a fight." He clenched his fists. "When I win you will take back all those things you're saying... publicly."

Karmine didn't even bat an eyelash at that. "You're still weak from the blow I gave you earlier. I'll just beat you again."

"I'm the best martial artist in Nerima!" Akira bellowed. "You took me by surprise. I wasn't ready that time, but now I am."

"Akira... maybe you should..." Hanamichi started only to be interrupted by his brother.

"Call the start of the match, Hanamichi." Akira demanded.

"I haven't agreed to your challenge, boy." Karmine said with a frown. "I don't want to fight you."

Akira glared at the silver-haired girl. "Are you afraid?"

Karmine felt her blood boil but refrained from lashing out at the young man. She took a deep and calming breath before turning away from Akira. *Calm down, Karmine. You're a member of Lord Saffron's Royal Guard. You're above a little boy's insults.*

"Cat got your tongue?" Akira said with a smirk. "I guess you're a coward, after all."

Seijuro glared at Akira and reached for his sword. Nobody spoke like that to his sister, who was most definitely not a coward. "Why you..."

"Seijuro!" Karmine snapped as she looked at her younger brother, her eyes hard. "His words mean nothing to me."

"But sis..."

The silver-haired girl smiled at her sibling. "Don't worry about it, little brother." Actually seeing her brother about to jump Akira in her defense helped do what she couldn't do on her own. She calmed down and thought about it with a level head. *I guess I got a little too much of father.* While Ranma was nowhere near as impulsive as he was in his youth the man was still a lot more impulsive than Kima. She got a lot of character traits from Ranma.

Kimiko frowned as she regarded her cousin. "Akira, please let it go."

Akira shook his head vehemently. "No way!" He pointed a finger at Karmine. "That stupid girl insulted my school! I'll put her in her place!"

Karmine turned to Akira with a calm look on her face. "Say what you want, boy. I didn't insult your school and I'm not going to fight you because you say so."

Akira growled and clenched his fists tightly. "Don't call me boy. I'm Tendo Akira, heir to the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts."

Hanamichi and Kimiko frowned at the self-proclaimed heir of the school. It wasn't the first time he claimed such a title, and he'd been reprimanded harshly by both Ryoga and Akane for it.

"If you're the heir to the Tendo branch of Anything Goes then act like it." Karmine said seriously. Martial Arts was a serious subject with her, especially when it had something to do with her school.

*Here it comes...* Hanamichi thought with a sigh.

"I'm the heir to both branches of the School of Anything Goes." The eldest of Akane's children said proudly.

Seijuro and Karmine were about to protest when a male voice was heard from the side. "That's interesting." They all turned to see Ranma standing by the door with his arms crossed over his chest.

-----

When he first heard the commotion coming from the dojo he stood up and excused himself from the table. Soun was silently grieving over the loss of his best friend, and needed time to assimilate it before they could offer some sort of comfort, while Akane and Kasumi heard the details of the final battle from Kima. Even if Kasumi and Akane were affected by the death of Genma and Nodoka the blow wasn't as hard as it was for Soun.

As he walked he heard the cries of a young man, he assumed it was Akane's eldest son, and walked faster. He didn't want his daughter making an enemy of Akane's son. If the boy was anything like Ryoga...

When he reached the door he stared at something that made him proud as both a parent and a sensei. His daughter, and finest student, declined a challenge and ignored Akira's insults, something he himself wasn't able to do until he was almost twice her age. Granted, one of the tenets of the Anything Goes was to accept all challenges but with the years of experience, and Kima's influence, the pigtailed martial artist learned an important lesson. Sometimes it was even more of a challenge to avoid a fight, since some fights weren't worth fighting. After he became the only master of the Saotome branch of Anything Goes, he changed the rule. *Accept all 'worthy' challenges.* If the fight would do more harm than good then it was better to avoid it.

He was about to intervene when he heard Akira proclaim he was the heir to his school as well. The insults towards Karmine he could ignore, if his daughter chose to do so as well, but matters of the school he couldn't. "That's interesting." He said calmly with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Father." Karmine said, wondering how much of the conversation the pigtailed man heard. She was too distracted to notice when her father arrived.

Kimiko and Hanamichi didn't say a word. They just stared at Ranma as he uncrossed his arms and walked into the dojo, his eyes focused on Akira.

"You claim to be the heir of the Anything Goes?" He asked after stopping just a couple of feet from Akira, who stared at the new arrival in confusion.

Akira shook himself out of his daze and nodded. "I do."

Ranma raised an eyebrow. *This boy reminds me of Akane.* He thought back to his first encounter with his friend and almost smiled at the memory. "Sorry, kid. But you can't claim that title. You know nothing of the Saotome branch."

Akira instantly took offense at the condescending tone. "Of course I do!"

The others stared silently at Akira and Ranma as they stared at each other. The boy didn't let the fact that the pigtailed man was bigger affect him. He'd taken down guys much bigger than him.

Ranma smirked and shook his head. "Look... even if you did you still wouldn't be the heir to the Saotome branch."

"Akira!" Kimiko said before the boy could retort hotly at the man. She didn't want to see what would happen to her cousin if Ranma decided to shut him up. She turned to Ranma and bowed. "Please forgive him, Saotome-san. He's really a very nice young man."

Ranma raised both his eyebrows at the words. The similarities with his first arrival to the Tendo Dojo were starting to become disturbing. "Kimiko, right?" When he received a nod he smiled at the girl. "Don't worry. I'm not going to beat him up." He turned to Akira. "I just want him to stop claiming to be the heir of my school." After saying that he smiled at the girl. "And just call me Ranma. Everybody does."

Kimiko found herself smiling back brightly, a small blush coloring her cheeks.

Akira was frozen in place. *Saotome?!* He pointed a finger at Ranma. "You're Saotome Ranma?"

"What of it?" Ranma asked with a frown. The boy sounded disappointed. *What the hell have Akane and Ryoga been telling their children?*

Akira was still staring at Ranma, his eyes wide. After a few more seconds of uncomfortable silence the boy smirked confidently. "Saotome Ranma, I challenge you!"

Ranma resisted the urge to groan. *Why am I not surprised?* He asked himself rhetorically.

Nodoka decided to say something to try and calm the boy down. She could see Ranma was looking for a way out of the challenge. "At least rest some more before you challenge my father. In your current condition you're no match for him."

Ranma wondered if Nodoka had been hanging out with him for too long. That sounded almost like something he would say to make an opponent angry.

And anger Akira it did. "Stay out of men's business, little girl!" He snapped angrily before turning back to Ranma. "So are you going to accept or are you a coward like your daughter?"

Karmine clenched her fists tightly and glared at Akira. She could try to ignore his insults towards her, but her father was off limits. She didn't say anything, though. She knew, as well as Nodoka and Seijuro, that Ranma would take care of things and would take offense if they got involved. She didn't want to spend the next three weeks under Ranma's intensive training. *And Seijuro thinks father goes easy on me? Ha! He's the one that has it easy.* Seijuro was mostly trained by Kima in the sword, while Karmine was trained by both of her parents, but most particularly her father.

Ranma stared hard at Akira. "You got your challenge, boy. What are the terms?"

Kimiko shook her head and sighed. Her cousin had managed to get himself in trouble... again. Only this time she had the funny feeling he bit more than he could chew. *Why is he challenging Ranma? He's heard the stories from aunty Akane.*

Hanamichi stared at the soon-to-be combatants expectantly. He wanted to see the great Saotome Ranma in action. Unlike his brother he believed all the stories Akane told them, while he took everything Ryoga said with a grain of salt. He trusted his father, but he knew Ryoga tended to be stubborn when it concerned his one-time rivalry with Ranma.

Akira smirked. "When I win you'll recognize me as the heir to both branches of the Anything Goes." With that he assumed a fighting stance.

*That's Ryoga's usual stance.* Ranma thought calmly as he stared at the boy, making no move to get into a stance of his own. *He's obviously trying to make me underestimate him. Probably got that from Akane.* Unlike Ryoga, who when Ranma left still fought straight out, Akane had become a trickier fighter. It was the nature of Anything Goes to be that way. Without giving any indication of getting ready, even if his weight was properly balanced to dodge, he crossed his arms over his chest. "And what happens if you lose, boy?"

"I won't."

"Then there's no challenge." Ranma said firmly and turned around to walk away.

"What?!" Akira demanded angrily.

"I won't take part in something like this." Ranma said without turning back to stare at the boy. "You want me to recognize you as my heir. A position that's already Karmine's. That she has earned with her effort. That's a big risk you want me to take." He turned to stare deep into Akira's eyes. "But 'you' aren't taking any risks. I'd say that's an unfair challenge."

Akira growled deep in his throat. Whenever he issued a challenge things were simple. Why did this man that claimed to be Saotome Ranma, and he still wasn't convinced of that, have to make things difficult? "Fine. Then what do you want 'if' you win?"

Ranma frowned at the boy's attitude. *Akane, you seriously messed it up with this spoiled brat... but then again...* When he first met with Akane she wasn't that different from the way Akira was acting. "You'll forget everything about becoming my heir. I don't want to hear about this again."

Akira wordlessly nodded. He didn't really think about the consequences should he lose, so focused on winning was he.

Ranma nodded back, a serious look on his face. "Give me five minutes to stretch. I recommend you do the same." With that he walked to his children and started doing some stretching exercises.

Akira walked to the opposite side of the dojo and warmed up as well, Kimiko and Hanamichi watching him.

-----

"Father..." Karmine started with a frown on her face.

The pigtailed man effortlessly did the splits and stretched his back as far as it would go. "Don't worry, Karmine. I'm not losing."

Nodoka didn't find Ranma's confidence in his victory out of place. She'd seen her father fight full out before, and she was almost certain there wasn't a single fighter out there that could match his prowess. Her concerns, though, were on a different matter. "You're not going to hurt him too badly, are you? Karmine punched him pretty hard in the morning."

Ranma stopped to turn at Nodoka with a raised eyebrow. He favored her with a smile. "Don't worry, Nodoka-chan. The only thing that I'll really hurt will be his pride."

"Still... why take his challenge?" Karmine asked, more than a little upset. She'd worked hard for Ranma to recognize her as his heir. Out of his many students she strived to become the best like none other. To have all her years of effort risked in a challenge like this, even if Akira had no chance at all, was bothering her greatly.

Seijuro didn't say anything, but it was obvious from the way he looked at both Karmine and Ranma that he was with his sister on this one.

Ranma turned to see Akira quietly talking to his brother. "I have to do it, Karmine. That boy won't stop claiming to be my heir if I don't." Upon arriving he saw the tired expressions on Kimiko and Hanamichi's faces at the boy's declaration. Since he was still unnoticed he could study everyone's reactions better.

"We could just ignore him." Karmine suggested, to which Ranma shook his head.

"We can't allow for him to claim that title, girl. Or do you want to live here to see that he does not?" Ranma asked, and nodded when his daughter shook her head vehemently. "This has to be settled now. That boy will learn the world doesn't revolve around him."

Ranma's daughters and soon stared at their father. He rarely, if ever, was so serious on something.

"It revolves around me."

When the pigtailed martial artist smirked and jokingly said that they all smiled. Now this was the Saotome Ranma they knew.

-----

"Are you sure about this?"

Akira glared at his brother. "For the last time, Hanamichi. Yes!" The way Kimiko and Hanamichi were trying to talk him into backing out of the challenge was irritating.

"But you've heard all the stories. There's no way you can stand up to him." The youngest Tendo said in frustration. Why did Akira have to be so stubborn? He wasn't even at his best, the blow Karmine landed on his midsection still bothering him.

"Those were all made up and you know it." Akira said. "It was mom's way of getting you interested in martial arts."

Hanamichi's lips became a thin line. His brother was partially right. He did lose interest in the Art when he was younger. That was when Akane and the others started telling them stories of Saotome Ranma. "But still... you're still hurt from this morning."

"And if Karmine was trained by her father then he must be very skilled." Kimiko added her two cents, hoping that would at least make her cousin reconsider. She was very good at reaching out with her senses to read a person's chi. While Ranma felt like a normal person she could feel the power emanating from Karmine. Either Ranma was very good at hiding his power or he was so skilled the power difference didn't matter. Or, she shuddered, both.

"That was a lucky shot in the morning. I won't make the same mistake again." Hanamichi jumped to his feet and turned to see Ranma already waiting in the center of the dojo. He made his way to meet with his opponent.

*But you already have.* Both Hanamichi and Kimiko thought at the same time.

-----

They met at the center of the dojo. The older man seemed relaxed and casual as he stared at the boy. Akira's pose was intense; from the way he tensed and relaxed his muscles to the look in his eyes.

Hanamichi walked to the side and raised one hand. Without further words he lowered it and jumped back.

As soon as the match started Akira was on his opponent with a rain of blows. He was confident in finishing the match in a matter of seconds since he expected his opponent to be slower due to his bigger size. He had to remake that assessment when he saw Ranma dodge around all of his blows, not needing to block even for once. *What the?* He continued throwing out everything he had at the man, and was more than amazed at the feat of dexterity as Ranma was just a few inches away from each of his attacks.

Ranma raised an eyebrow as he dodged out of the way of a kick that would've caught him in the jaw. He had to give it to Akane, this kid was good. *No wonder he has such a big head. He probably hasn't had a real challenge yet.* Ranma could still move faster, but he was more than twice Akira's age. From what he had seen so far, skill wise Akira was on par with most of his students. No small feat.

Kimiko stared in shock at the way the fight was going. She'd expected for Ranma to finish it in a matter of seconds, instead of that he was dodging everything Akira threw his way with what seemed like ease. Aunty Akane told her once that fighting Ranma was frustrating like hell, mainly because hitting him was like trying to hit a wisp of smoke. Kasumi's daughter could now see what Akane meant.

Hanamichi kept his eyes focused on the fight. His brother was very good at attacking, yet it seemed like all his efforts were going to waste. While he was obviously starting to slow down due to the blow Karmine landed on him, Ranma was keeping the dodging up with little effort.

Karmine stared at the fighters and grudgingly admitted she'd underestimated Akira after her easy win that morning. It seemed like what the boy said, about being taken by surprise, was true. Sure, she could beat him in a fight, but it wouldn't be as easy as she first thought.

Seijuro marveled at the ease with which his father dodged around. He was using most of the dojo floor to keep the fight out of Akira's range. *I hate it when he does that.* He thought with a smile, seeing in Akira's expression that the boy was finding it every bit as annoying as he himself did.

Nodoka sighed. Her father wouldn't be harming Akira physically, but the boy would receive a huge blow to his pride. It might be for the best in the long run, but did her father have to enjoy it so much?

"Stand still and fight me!" Akira bellowed as he had yet to even touch Ranma.

As an answer the pigtailed man only gave him his irritating smirk.

-----

The cries coming from the dojo eventually called the entire household's attention. They all went there to see what was happening.

None of them were surprised to see Akira and Ranma fighting it out. Or at least Akira trying to fight it out and Ranma keeping out of range.

"Oh my! Ranma-kun does seem to have improved." Kasumi said with a smile.

Soun and Akane just stared at the fight and wondered what this was all about.

END PART 3