A Mother's Tale

by juandelacruz

It's alive, Igor! It's alive! Nodoka Saotome, on her way to the Tendo Dojo for the first time, sees an unknown boy fall into a storm drain and change into a girl. Chapter 6 finally up. Things are beginning to heat up once again in Ranma's life.

3. Mama's Boy

A Mother's Tale

by Alex Tomas

This is my first work of fan fiction. Reviews welcome.

Disclaimer:

I do not own the Ranma characters.

Conventions:

" " - Japanese

{ } - foreign language (Chinese, English)

[ ] - sound effects

- thoughts

# # - signs

Summary:

This happens after season 7 episode 143, Ranma Meets Mother Boy Meets Mom, Part I in the television series or volume 22 chapter 2 of the manga. It takes elements from both the anime and the manga.

Ranma's mother, Nodoka Saotome, on her way for the first time to the Tendo Dojo sees male-type Ranma fall into the storm drain and transform into girl-type Ranma. Ranma stutters some excuse but Nodoka waves it off as she is in a hurry and proceeds to the the Tendo Dojo without giving out each other's names.

I am assuming that Nodoka does not know the Tendos and has no knowledge of the honor contract Genma and Soun entered into to unite their two families. My reason is that if Genma informed her then she would know the Tendos and vice-versa.

++++++++++-

Chapter 3: Mama's Boy.

++++++++++

Nodoka Saotome woke up with a smile on her face. Gone was the weariness that marred her beauty since she last heard from her husband all those months ago. In its stead was a radiance only a loving mother reunited with her beloved child could have. She rose to face the day with renewed vigor, not letting the sight of her husband lying next to her dampen her buoyant spirits. She may have allowed him into her home but she had yet to forgive him for all the heartache he had caused her and her son.

She put a robe over her nightgown and began her day doing the chores she longed so much to do for her family. She hummed a happy tune as she lit a fire to warm water for the bath and prepared a traditional breakfast of fish, rice and miso soup. When all was in readiness she went up the stairs to wake her little family and scowled. What she saw upstairs ruined an otherwise perfect morning. Standing in front of her son's bedroom door was her husband with one foot raised as if preparing to break down the door.

Genma wanted to wake up Ranma the usual way by tossing his son out the window but found the door to Ranma's room locked. He was about to break down the door and had his right foot already raised when a throat cleared behind him. Genma turned around slowly to see his wife standing behind him with a scowl on her face.

"Husband dear, I hope for your sake you are not thinking of breaking down that door." The glint in her eyes made Genma think carefully of his answer.

If there was one thing Genma valued greater than anything else it was his personal well-being. Any threat to it he took very seriously.

"Um, no?" Good answer, Genma.

"Good."

"Uh, dear, I need to wake up Ranma in the morning to spar. It's part of his training to be a man among men." He left out the part on how he woke up his son. No need for Nodoka to know he usually threw her son out a second floor window or some other similar method.

Nodoka did not budge. "Husband, I will not tolerate any damage to the house and as I recall your training journey has already ended." Nodoka raised one hand to silence Genma's protests that Ranma will lose his edge without training. "However, I understand the need for Ranma to continue his training. You may do so in the afternoon when he gets back from school in the backyard but not for more than two hours. He has a lot to catch up on in his education which you have sorely neglected. If he has nothing do during weekends then you may train him then also. Now if you'll excuse me, I will wake Ranma up. I don't want him to be late for school and breakfast is already waiting."

Nodoka hadn't finished the last sentence when Genma bolted for the breakfast table. His son's training may be important to him but not as important as food. Heck, Ranma wasn't as important to Genma as food.

Five minutes later, Ranma and his mom found Genma sitting at the dining table contentedly patting his stomach. All the food had been eaten except for a small portion Genma had decided would be enough for his wife.

"Ah, you're too late, boy. If you can't wake early enough then I'll just have to eat your portion, too. Nodoka, I've left some of the fine meal you prepared for you." Genma grinned when he saw his son become angry, sure that the next morning Ranma would wake up earlier. His plans were derailed when Nodoka simply smiled and said:

"I'm glad you like the fish and rice, dear, and you can eat my portion as well. Ranma, let's go into the kitchen and I'll prepare some more breakfast for the _two_ of us."

Genma followed mother and son into the kitchen where he saw to his chagrin Nodoka taking out from the refrigerator breakfast items he vaguely remembered those American servicemen he and Ranma had met on Okinawa ate. He noted Nodoka cooked just enough eggs, bacon and sausages for her and Ranma. He slurped the drool from his chin.

"Um, Nodoka dearest, can you cook some for me, too?" Genma fluttered his eyelids at his wife and tried to look cute. Ranma threw water on his father from a glass.

[Splash!]

"Growlf!" # What d'ya do that for?! #

"Pops, if ya wanna be cute, at least turn into a panda first!"

# Oh, yeah! Right! Didn't think of that! Thanks, boy! # Genma tried again.

[Punt!]

Ranma kicked his old man unconscious out the kitchen door and into the backyard where some bamboo grew.

"Pandas don't eat eggs, bacon or sausages but they do eat bamboo, ya old fart!"

[Slam! Click!]

Ranma slammed the door shut and locked it. "Stupid pops!" he growled under his breath.

"Thank you very much, my son. It's much too early in the day for your father's antics."

"No sweat, mom. Um, need any help?" Ranma's salivated as he smelled the aroma rising from the food.

"Thank you, dear, but I'm fine. Now why don't you wait at the table."

"Uh, sure mom." Ranma sat. "Uh, mom?"

"Yes, dear?"

"I ain't complaining or nothing, but why are ya cooking that kind of food?"

"Oh, I just thought I'd cook something different and partly to get back at your father for what he did." Nodoka shook her head, it was too early in the day to be angry. "Cooking is one of the hobbies I indulged in to take my mind off the loneliness. I now know how to cook several countries' cuisines." Nodoka beamed proudly.

"Wow! That's great, mom!"

"Thank you, dear." Nodoka began to lay out the food onto the table and handed Ranma a spoon, fork and knife instead of chopsticks. Ranma attacked the food with his usual Amaguriken speed.

"Ranma, you really should eat a lot slower. Food tastes better that way."

Ranma stopped with the spoon in his mouth. He tried to talk around it.

"Mphf mphf, mphf mphf!"

[Sigh.]

"Ranma, it's not polite to talk with your mouth full especially with a spoon sticking out of it."

Ranma took out the spoon and swallowed. "Uh, sorry, mom, but like I told ya yesterday, this is the way I always ate around pops." Nodoka had heard the story of how Genma stole food from Ranma if Ranma wasn't quick enough to defend it. She put it aside yesterday considering it minor compared to everything else her husband had done to Ranma but she had vowed there would be a reckoning one day with her husband on that point. She decided to put him on a strict diet one of these days when she had the time to waste on him. The unconscious panda shivered.

"Your father isn't here right now, is he?"

Ranma looked at every nook and cranny in the kitchen before replying. He knew from experience his father was a sneaky SOB.

"Uh, yeah. Guess he ain't here."

"So you can eat slower without fear of your food being stolen."

"Um, guess so." Ranma made an effort to actually chew his food before swallowing. "You're right, mom! The food _does_ taste better!"

"See? From now on eat a little slower, son. I'll make sure your father doesn't steal your food anymore." Nodoka began to eat her own breakfast. After his fourth helping Ranma pushed himself away from the table.

"Mom, that was delicious!"

"I'm so glad you liked it Ranma. I'll have a wonderful time showing you all the kinds of food I can cook." A gleam came into Nodoka's eyes. "Ranma, do you think some of the girls would like to learn cooking from me?"

"I'm sure they'd be happy to learn from ya, mom." It'll give his mother something to do. "But I gotta warn ya about Akane. She has this tendency to destroy kitchens whenever she tries to cook."

A certain tomboy sneezed.

"You must be exaggerating, Ranma. How can anyone destroy a kitchen just by cooking?"

"You ain't seen Akane cook yet."

"Oh, I'm sure we'll be just fine."

Ranma shrugged. Well he warned his mother. He only hoped Akane didn't totally destroy his mom's kitchen. Or their house. He crossed his fingers.

"Oh, I'm so glad! I'm sure we're have lots of fun together!" Nodoka happily clapped her hands together. "Speaking of the girls, Ranma, there is one more thing I need to talk to you about before I forget again."

Uh, oh. "Uh, what's that, mom?"

"It's your attitude towards them. You said last night you didn't really object to them as your fiancees but I observed yesterday you're not very comfortable in their presence and not very affectionate towards them."

Well, duh! "Like I said last night, mom. They tend to overdo or overreact to things."

"How so?"

"They're either too jealous or too affectionate. Either way I get pounded."

"I see. Have you talked to them about it?"

"Ah, not really. I ain't good at words. Either I get it all wrong or they don't listen to me. That's why I need ya to talk to them for me."

"Ranma, I will talk to them for you at the slumber party but you need to learn how to communicate with them better. If they don't listen then try to be more assertive. A man must learn how to handle his women after all. It will save you from a lot of trouble in the future."

"Uh, what's 'communicate'? Isn't that when ya ride a bus or train?"

[Sigh.] "That's 'commute', Ranma. Communicate is another word for talking, son."

"Oh. I try, mom, I really do but I just get it all wrong."

"Try harder, son. I'm sure you'll learn how." Nodoka looked at the clock. "Oh, dear! Look what time it is already! You should get going or you'll be late for school. We'll talk more later when you get home from school."

"Oops! Almost forgot. Yeah, I better get going." Ranma went up to prepare for school.

"Don't forget the lunch I made."

"Gotcha, mom."

"And Ranma?"

"Yeah, mom?"

"Try to be more affectionate to the girls but do it equally to each. I'm sure if you treat them nicely they'll act nicely also. It does wonders for a girl to know she's appreciated." Nodoka left to finish the rest of the household chores leaving her son to think on what she said. She was confident her son would figure out what to do on his own.

++++++++++

Ranma arrived at Furinkan earlier than usual and found to his relief Kuno wasn't at his usual place yet. He thanked the Kami since he didn't really want to pound the kendoist anymore after what he learned. He decided to wait at the gate for Akane and greeted his classmates that passed by who were surprised to see him so early at school and without Akane. He ignored the whispers behind him as he thought about what his mother told him.

Treat them nicely? Be more assertive? How am I supposed to that? Probably just get pounded for the effort.

Several minutes later he saw Kuno approach the school. The kendoist stopped short as he saw his rival at school earlier than him. He drew his bokken and posed in his usual manner.

"Foul sorcerer, what manner of trickery is this?! What kind of evil deeds do you plan against the noble Blue Thunder?!" Kuno reconsidered his usual approach of charging headlong and instead approached Ranma carefully. Ranma boggled.

Kuno actually using his brain?

Ranma watched warily as Kuno came closer, leading with his bokken, looking around for the trap he was sure the vile Saotome had laid out. Kuno was so engrossed in searching for the trap he didn't notice he had stepped within kicking distance of Ranma. Ranma shook his head.

Guess not.

Ranma casually walked around until he was behind the kendoist.

When Kuno reached the spot where he last saw Ranma standing he looked from side to side in confusion.

"What black magic is this?! Where art thou, vile sorcerer?! Thou art a coward to run from the mighty Blue Thunder!"

"Kuno, why doncha give it a rest? I really don't wanna pound you anymore." Ranma tried to talk the elder Kuno sibling out of fighting. He was rewarded with a swing of the bokken which Ranma ducked under.

Guess it ain't no use talking to ya.

[Punt!]

He kicked the senior away but this time instead of a random direction he kicked Kuno towards the senior's third floor classroom. Might as well try ta help him if I gotta pound him. Kuno hit the wall beside the window, peeled off and fell down to the ground with a thud while screaming "I fight on!" before falling unconscious.

Hmmm, aim's a little off. Better get some training in.

He turned around to see Akane and Nabiki round the corner toward school. He started towards them.

Okay, be more affectionate whatever that means.

"Ranchan!"

His head whipped around to see Ukyo running towards him. He blinked as he saw she was wearing a girl's uniform again. He noted the way the other guys were staring at her, their mouths open and heads bobbing up and down. Some had nose bleeds and several had passed out. It took him a while to figure out why. Ukyo was a little 'bouncier' than usual today. His brain shut down as soon as he realized Ukyo had removed her chest bindings and was only wearing a bra to restrain her generous chest. His mouth gaped, his head bobbed up and down and he felt a nose bleed coming. With heroic effort he tore his eyes away from the male fantasy to see Akane fuming at him from a few feet away. Uh, oh.

"You pervert! I saw what you were looking at!" Why can't you look at me like that, you jerk? Am I really that bad to look at? Akane's good mood that morning was ruined. She had promised herself to be a lot nicer to Ranma after her talk with her sisters. She was ready to apologize to Ranma that morning and even made him lunch but something, as usual, sidetracked her.

Akane was about to hit Ranma with her book bag when Ukyo latched onto one of Ranma's arms. Ranma was acutely aware of the soft mounds pressing into his arm. He repeated his mantra to take his mind off them.

Be more affectionate. Be more affectionate. Be more affectionate.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Akane screeched at Ukyo.

[Sigh.]

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm hugging my fiance!" Ukyo replied defiantly. Ukyo didn't really want to fight that morning. Like Akane she was in a good mood and she didn't want to ruin it but she'd be damned if she's going to let anyone stop her from showing her affection towards her fiance. If they can't handle it then tough luck to them. She hugged Ranma's arm tighter.

"Why you..." Akane stalked towards Ukyo. She needed to release her anger and decided to redirect it to another target. Where's Kuno when you need him?!

The two ignored the crowd that was gathering while they glared at each other. Ranma looked for an escape and saw Nabiki working the crowd and could easily guess what it was about. Nabiki may have confessed her feelings but that didn't stop her from plying her trade. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to feed her family after all.

[Kring! Kring!]

Ranma's head jerked up at the sound. He looked around frantically for the source. He turned around in time to see a purple blur streaking towards him. He braced himself for impact.

[Glomp!]

Shampoo's aim was flawless. She had her arms wrapped around Ranma's neck before he knew it, bowling him over and tearing his arm away from Ukyo. She landed on top of Ranma while her bicycle landed beside them.

Ranma felt lost. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to be nice to his fiancees but things were spinning way out of control. He cringed at the inevitable brawl that was going to take place with him probably in the middle of the crossfire.

Man, and the day started out so well. Maybe this is what mom said to be more assertive about.

"Good morning, Airen! I'm so happy to see you!" Shampoo nuzzled his neck and pressed her body against his. Shampoo was lost in her happiness and it showed in the way she nuzzled. She just knew today was the start of something wonderful between her and Ranma.

Ranma, for his part, tried very hard not to react to the lips against his neck or the two hard points poking into his chest but some things were beyond conscious control. Shampoo's eyes widened as she felt something poke her in her hips. Aiyah!!!

Shampoo was about to get bolder when she was pulled off by an irate Akane and Ukyo.

"Get your hands off my fiance, you bimbo!" The shout came out eerily in stereo. The crowd blinked. Akane, Shampoo and Ukyo blinked. Ranma used the distraction to scramble to his feet away from ground zero and adjust his pants.

Assertive, gotta be assertive. How the heck do I do that without getting myself killed?!

"Did you hear that? Akane just called Ranma her fiance!" came the whispers from the crowd. Akane blushed beet red.

"Why should I take my hands off my Airen?! And who are you calling a bimbo?!" Shampoo retorted belligerently. She didn't appreciate being pulled away from her Airen, especially when she felt him responding to her advances in a very positive way.

"He is not your Airen and I'm calling you a bimbo, bimbo!" Again the shout came in stereo. Everyone blinked. Akane, Shampoo and Ukyo paused.

"Man, this is getting too weird even for us." Ukyo muttered. The other two nodded. "Um, where were we?"

"You two were calling Shampoo a bimbo." Nabiki helpfully reminded. She had some bets riding on the coming fight. Ranma gave her a glare. He was surprised when he saw Nabiki flinch a little. He rubbed his eyes and looked again but Nabiki had turned away.

Must have imagined it.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks, sugar." Ukyo said to Nabiki's back.

"I am not a bimbo! You both take that back or I'll teach you two a lesson!" Shampoo waved her bonboris menacingly.

Wait a minute! Does Shampoo sound funny today? Man, the day's getting weirder and weirder.

"Make me!" Ooohhh, that's in stereo again. Akane hefted her mallet while Ukyo brandished her battle spatula. They began to circle each other.

Ranma debated whether it was worth risking his life and limb to jump in and try to stop the catfight. He knew from first hand experience those weapons felt awfully painful. He desperately looked around for deliverance. Seeing none he said a silent prayer, quickly wrote his last will and testament and jumped into the middle to stop the girls just as the three charged each other. Banzai!

"Girls, please, can't we talk about this? Can't we all just get along? Aaahhh!" Ranma desperately tried to duck as he saw weapons coming at him from three directions. Be more assertive my butt!

[Whack!]

[Bonk! Bonk!]

[Smash!]

Three guesses on who got hit with a giant battle spatula, a pair of bonboris and an oversized mallet.

[Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!]

The last thing Ranma heard and saw before he lost consciousness were three little yellow birds circling his head. He grinned stupidly at the imaginary little birds.

"Pretty birdies..."

[Thud!]

Ranma fell face first into the dirt.

"Ranma!"

"Ranchan!"

"Airen!"

Three pairs of hands went in to grab a single head. The result was a mangled face as the three pairs pushed and pulled.

[Mangle! Mangle!]

"Man, Ranma gets all the luck! Imagine having three hot babes fighting over him." Hiroshi commented to Daisuke.

[Mangle! Mangle!]

"Yeah, just look at the silly grin on his face!"

[Mangle! Mangle!]

"Y'know, I think he's fallen asleep."

[Mangle! Mangle!]

"Leave it to Saotome not to appreciate how lucky he is."

[Mangle! Mangle!]

"The world just isn't fair!"

"Get your filthy hands off my fiance/airen!"

The three began pushing each other away from Ranma while pulling Ranma in three different directions. It would have been the end of our hero were it not for the squeal loud enough to be heard over the noise.

"Oh, my! My son is so manly! Just look at how the girls fight for him!" Hmmm... I should teach Ranma how to divide his time equally so the girls don't fight.

Every eye blinked and every head turned in the direction of the new voice.

"Auntie!" Three voices chorused. Akane, Shampoo and Ukyo simultaneously released their hold on Ranma and jumped back a step. Nodoka approached them with a huge grin on her face, her ever present bundle cradled in her arms.

[Thud!]

Ranma again fell face first into the dirt. Nodoka did a quick check on her son to make sure he was fine.

"Now, now, girls. I know my son can have that effect on women but you really shouldn't fight like that, especially in public. It's not very ladylike" Nodoka gently admonished after she satisfied herself that her son was unharmed. She genuinely liked the girls and would be happy to call anyone of them daughter but like her son they needed some work to smoothen out the rough edges. Oh, well. Nobody's perfect.

The three girls blushed furiously as they stammered excuses and denials at the gentle rebuke. They shuffled their feet nervously. The crowd began whispering again with this latest development.

"Who's the lady?"

"Is she referring to Ranma as her son?"

"My God! She's Ranma's mother?!"

"Saotome has a mother?!"

"Yeah, I thought he just spawned from his father."

[Bonk!]

"Don't be an idiot!"

"Com'on, she can't be Ranma's mom! I mean, just look at her!"

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Can you imagine someone like her marrying someone like Saotome's father? No way!"

"Growlf!" # I heard that! #

"Yeah, she's gorgeous! I wonder if she goes for younger men?"

Nodoka slightly blushed as she heard the comment. Wild fantasies began circulating in most male students.

"Perverts! She's old enough to be your mother!"

"So?"

"Yeah. Aren't girls always saying 'age doesn't matter'?"

"Just think of what we can learn from her!"

"Ooohhh...!" Wild fantasies just went up on the perversion scale. Nose bleeds galore.

"Hey, here comes Nabiki. Maybe she has some information on the lady."

"Maybe she has some pictures!"

"Ooohhh!!!"

Sure enough, Nabiki and her lieutenants were selling a booklet containing the latest development in Nerima but no photos much to the disappointment of the males.

"So, she _is_ Ranma's mom." Came the disappointed conclusion. Male fantasies vanished like soap bubbles popping.

"How lucky can you get? Even Saotome's mom is a major babe!"

"Yeah, I wish my mom was half as hot."

"He's lucky he got his looks from his mom."

[Growlf!] # I heard that! #

"The world just ain't fair, I tell you!"

"Look at the bright side. If Saotome's father can dupe a babe like her to marry a dork like him then there's no reason why we can't do the same. Not that we're dorks or anything." Daisuke said to Hiroshi.

The girls cringed at the comment. They shuddered at the thought of the same fate befalling them. The boys had silly grins on their faces and drool escaped their lips. They had hope!

"You know what, Dai? That actually makes me feel better." Hiroshi replied.

"Yeah! Alright!" roared the males.

[Growlf!] # I said I heard that! Damn it! Doesn't anyone read my goddamn signs?! #

"What's this? Another goddess has come to grace the great Tatewaki Kuno with her presence?!" Kuno regained consciousness to see Nodoka standing in front of Akane, Shampoo and Ukyo. He charged Nodoka with open arms with his usual shout of "I shall date with thee!"

[Whack!]

[Bonk! Bonk!]

[Smash!]

Guess who was hit with a thrown battle spatula, two bonboris and an oversized mallet?

"Don't you even think about laying a finger on Auntie you pervert!" The three owners of said weapons screamed. They proceeded to imitate a herd of stampeding bull elephants over the fallen swordsman.

[Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!]

"Gee, they must really like Ranma's mom, I've never seen the three of them get along so well in something." Yuka commented to Sayuri.

[Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!]

"Yeah, they're really getting into the groove now. Look at how they don't get in each other's way and still stomp every part of senior Kuno."

[Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!]

"Shouldn't someone stop them? Kuno's a jerk and pervert but that's just too much."

[Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!]

"Maybe a few minutes more."

[Crack! Pop! Crackle! Snap! Crinkle!... Crinkle?] The sickening sounds came from somewhere in the middle of the mini-dust storm at the feet of the elephant wannabes.

"Oh, my! Girls, I think that's quite enough." The three didn't seem to hear as each was lost in their intent to impress the future mother-in-law. They had seen how Nodoka dealt with a wayward male.

[Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!]

Nodoka finally had to physically pull the three girls off the flattened figure with some help from Nabiki. Nodoka waited until they calmed down.

"Eeeeeewwwwww!!!" somebody said as they saw the remains of Kuno.

"Girls, I am grateful that you would defend my honor but I am prefectly capable of defending myself." Nodoka held up the wrapped katana. "Besides I believe the boy was simply expressing his manly intentions towards a desirable woman." Nodoka giggled girlishly. Yes! I definitely still have it! She would have pumped her right arm if she had some privacy.

"She approves of perverted boys!" came the cheers from the male student body.

The four girls along with the rest of the female student body blinked.

"Um, Auntie, I don't think you know how Kuno-baby there expresses his manly intentions."

"He seems to be a normal healthy young man with normal manly urges."

[Glomp!]

"At last, the gods smile upon the great Blue Thunder. They have bestowed upon my greatness a vision of loveliness that knows the way of true love!" Everyone knew about Kuno's ability to recover. Perverts always seem to have that.

Nodoka stared down at the pair of hands now cupping her breasts. She spasmed at the way Kuno rubbed his cheek against the back of her head.

"AAAIIIYYYEEEE!!!"

Before anyone could blink Nodoka had broken out of the grasp of Kuno, turned around, unwrapped and drawn her katana.

[Swish! Slash! Swish! Slash! Swish! Slash! Swish! Slash! Swish! Slash!]

In less than a second, Kuno was left standing in his boxers, his clothes lying in tatters at his feet. Nodoka smoothly sheathed her sword and calmly re-wrapped it. Kuno looked down at himself then at the remains of his clothes and finally up at Nodoka. He smiled lecherously.

"Milady, do you not think it is improper to be so forward in public? Methinks such displays of affection should only be shown in a more private setting."

The collective facefault registered as an eight on the Richter scale.

"Ah, truly the sight of the magnificent physique of the great Tatewaki Kuno overwhelms the adoring public." He proceeded to do some poses he saw on a show called 'Johnny Bravo'. Interesting show for something made by gaijins, the hero reminded Kuno of himself. One by one the students threw up their breakfast.

[Punt!]

Akane, Ukyo, Shampoo, Nabiki and Nodoka finally kicked the insane and perverted kendoist away before any more students lost their morning meal.

"I shall date with theeeeeeee......"

Off to one side hidden in some bushes a certain dimunitive and incompetent but well-meaning ninja recorded the events on film.

Hmmm... I must inform Mistress Kodachi as soon as possible. But first I have to find Master Tatewaki.

Sasuke snuck off as stealthily as he could.

"Sneaky feet, sneaky feet, ninja feet."

"See what I mean, Auntie?" Nabiki reminded while taking note of the ninja's departure. Well, Kodachi should make her appearance to Auntie soon.

"Yes, perhaps the young Mr. Kuno was a little too forward in showing his manly urges."

"Perhaps?" Nabiki echoed, not sure whether she understood Ranma's mother correctly.

"Well, yes. Were it not for the fondling, what the Kuno boy did were simply expressions of his manliness." The girls blink, blink together. Now if only Ranma could learn a thing or two from the Kuno lad. A shiver passed through her son's body jolting Ranma into wakefulness. He groggily sat up and groaned.

"Ugh. Did anyone get the plate of the truck that hit me?"

"Ranma!"

"Ranchan!"

"Airen!"

"Aaarrrggghhh!!!" it was the cry of someone being crushed in three bone breaking glomps.

[Pop! Pop! Pop!]

"Ah, you three might want to ease up a little. Ranma's turning a little blue." said boy in distress shot a grateful glance at Nabiki. Said boy then became confused as he saw said girl blush.

Did I just see Nabiki blush?! Further thoughts on the matter were derailed as the more important matter of getting oxygen into his lungs occupied his mind when he was released from the death trap.

[Gasp!]

"Oh, sorry, Ranma/Ranchan/Airen! So sorry!"

Ranma held up his hand. "I'll be [Gasp!] fine in a [Gasp!] minute. Just need [Gasp!] to get my [Gasp!] breath back [Gasp!] and my ribs [Gasp!] back into place. [Gasp!]"

After a minute of deep breaths and popping his ribs back into place Ranma stood up shakily.

"So what hit me? More importantly, did I win?"

His three fiancees sheepishly held up their respective weapons.

"Oh. How?" He couldn't recall much. Must have a concussion or something.

"You stepped in to try and stop the girls from tearing each other a new hole over you. You got hit in the crossfire." Nabiki helpfully supplied.

"Oh, my! My son is so manly to try and stop the girls from fighting over him!"

Ranma staggered forward as if hit by a sledgehammer and his eyes bulged at hearing the voice that came from behind him. No, please, don't tell me she's here! He slowly turned around and saw what every teenager didn't want to see in school. A doting parent. He groaned inwardly. He had seen and snickered at how the other parents had embarrased his classmates with their antics. He escaped the same fate only because his pop was anything but a doting parent. This can get ugly.

"Mom! What a pleasant surprise. Watcha doin' here in Furinkan?" Of all places. It was said in a tone teenagers all over the world use when they see their parents where they didn't want to see them. He can already hear the snickers from the crowd of high school students. This is not good.

"Why, Ranma? Why else would I be here except for you?" Ranma cringed as his mother approached to give him a bear hug and a peck on his cheek.

"Mom!" Ranma tried to get out of the bear hug without hurting his mother. Fat chance of that.

Nodoka looked puzzled at the reaction of her son, oblivious to the increasing snickers from the crowd and the amused looks on her son's girlfriends. "Is anything wrong, son?" She didn't let go of the hug.

Ranma was panicking and he began to sweat. He had to do something before... but what? He was new at this mother-son thing and he didn't want to hurt his mom. If it was his pop he'd break the older man's arms off without a second thought. He'd even break both legs just for the heck of it. He shivered at the memory of the 'Cradle From Hell' technique. Ranma could already see the amused looks on his classmates and could guess what they were snickering about. He looked at his fiancees pleading for help. They all smiled back benignly. Ooohhh. Wait til I sic my mom on you.

"Ranma? Is anything the matter? You look distressed? Why are you shivering?" Nodoka released Ranma but her son's relief was short-lived as she pulled his head down to touch his forehead. "You don't feel feverish but you're shivering and all sweaty." Nodoka pulled out a hankerchief from her kimono's sleeves and dabbed Ranma's forehead and face delicately. The snickers increased in volume.

"ggguuurrrgggllleee..."

"What was that son? You don't sound well. Maybe you shouldn't go to school today."

I'll never live this humiliation down. Ranma forced himself not to cry in despair. What came out was a grimace. Too bad Nodoka misinterpreted the expression.

"Oh, my! Are you hurt, son? Where does it hurt?" Nodoka hugged her son again and cried out for everyone to hear. "OH, MY POOR _BABY_!" A sudden stillness descended over the entire school.

[Wooooo....]

A gust of wind swept a few leaves from the grounds. The stillness was broken by the sound of a Ranma statue slowly cracking.

His fiancees finally couldn't take it anymore and fell down laughing while holding their sides. This set off the rest of the school population to laugh hysterically.

Nodoka obliviously continued fussing over her son with motherly pride.

After several minutes of side-splitting laughter the school administrators, who had avidly watched the proceedings below from windows of the school building, remembered they had a school to run and rang the bell thirty minutes later than regulations. The students streamed into their classrooms and the school day began.

++++++++++

After Ranma's mother made the three of them promise they wouldn't fight over Ranma anymore, Akane and Ukyo supported the still stuporous pig-tailed boy into the school building leaving Nodoka, Nabiki and Shampoo on the school grounds. Panda-Genma headed off to the Tendo Dojo to hang out with Soun.

"So, Auntie, what brings you to Furinkan?"

"Oh, I'm just checking on my son's education. Shouldn't you two be in class as well?"

"I think I can spare some time showing a student's parent around."

"What about you Shampoo?"

"I don't go to school, Auntie. Great-grandmother said I don't need to go to school here and she needs help at the restaurant." Shampoo replied in a sad voice. She wanted to go to school. It would give her more time to spend with her Airen.

"I see." A pause "Do you want to go to school, Shampoo?"

Shampoo nodded hesitantly. She wanted to go to school but she also didn't want to leave her great-grandmother alone. "I want to go, Auntie but who'll help great-grandmother?"

"You're a good girl, Shampoo. I'll talk to Elder Cologne and see what I can do."

"Really, Auntie?" Shampoo asked hopefully.

"I will, Shampoo, but don't get your hopes up. Will Elder Cologne be at your restaurant the whole morning?"

"Yes, Auntie. I don't think she has any outside appointments."

"I see. I will pass by later after I am through here."

"I'll tell great-grandmother you're coming. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."

"Thank you, Shampoo. Now head on along so I can finish my business here faster."

"Aiyah! So long, Auntie!" Shampoo excitedly picks up her bicycle and zooms off towards the Nekohanten.

"So Auntie, where would you like to go to first?" Nabiki started walking towards the school building alongside the older woman.

"The school office for a start. I'd like to see Ranma's grades for myself."

That caused Nabiki to stop.

"Um, you wouldn't have any, uh, unrealistic expectations of Ranma's grades would you, Auntie?"

"What do mean, Nabiki?"

"Um, like Ranma getting passing grades?"

"Come now, Nabiki, I'm sure you're exaggerating. Even though my husband neglected my son's schooling, Ranma couldn't be that bad."

"Um, right." Nabiki decided not to say anymore. She had seen Ranma's grades and she still couldn't believe anyone could get grades that bad. Except for Kuno, she corrected. Oh, well. She'll be there to help Auntie get through the trauma.

++++++++++

"Can you believe it? Ranma's a mama's boy!" One boy whispered to Daisuke and Hiroshi.

"Yeah, the great Ranma Saotome! Who would have thunk it?!" Hiroshi replied.

"Not a mama's boy, but a mama's baby! Har! Har!" Daisuke put in.

"Heck, I wouldn't mind being babied by someone as hot as Saotome's mom!"

[Snork! Snork!]

"Ooohhh... Don't you think its just adorable?" One girl said to another.

"Yeah, I'd like to _baby_ him myself."

"And how would you baby him?"

"Well, you know how you need to feed a baby every now and then?" The girl looked at her chest meaningfully.

"You wouldn't?!"

"Wouldn't I?"

"Me, I'd like to change his diapers myself!"

"Ooohhh!!! You naughty girl you!"

[Squeal! Squeal!]

In his seat Ranma felt his cheeks burn and tried to shrink behind the textbook he had opened. Although no one dared to say it to his face he could hear the whispers clearly enough.

From their seats Akane and Ukyo looked at their mutual fiance with amusement and sympathy. They were about to go over to console him but their teacher made his entrance and their first class of the day began. Soon after that Ranma was fast asleep at his desk, his embarassment forgotten for the time being.

++++++++++

The piece of carboard called a report card fell from the lifeless fingers of a mother whose pride over her child had just been dealt a blow. Nodoka Saotome stared into space with a blank look, her jaw slack and face pale and sickly. She wobbled momentarily on her feet before Nabiki was able to steady her.

"No." Nodoka whispered. "It can't be true. It's too horrible!" She looked down at the school administrator wearing a hawaiian shirt and bermuda shorts who gave her the report card. She suddenly grabbed the poor office worker by his shirt collar and hauled him to his feet. Her eyes blazed.

"Is this some kind of sick joke?! My son can't have grades _that_ bad!" She indicated the piece of cardboard on the floor. Classic case of denial.

"Kah! Kah!" The man tried to talk through the constriction at his throat.

"Uh, Auntie, he'd be able to answer you if you let him breath a little."

Nodoka blinked. She saw the fear in the man's eyes a few inches from her own. She dropped him like a hot potato.

"Oh, dear. What have I done?" She bowed and apologized to the man. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean any harm. I don't know what came over me."

The man took several seconds to recover his breath and nerves.

"Quite alright, ma'am. I'm sure it would have been a shock to anyone. In fact you handled it much better than most people."

"Oh?"

"Yes, ma'am. Most people would faint, run away screaming, laugh hysterically or simply lose their sanity when they see those grades. That's why we keep your son's and Mr. Kuno's report cards in a special safe marked 'Extremely Hazardous' and under very tight security. They can be very dangerous weapons in the hands of the wrong people."

"Then... then these grades of my son are real?"

"Yes, they're very real I'm afraid. If they weren't they wouldn't have the effects I mentioned."

"How, why?"

"It would be best if you saw for yourself what your son does in class. I would be happy to escort you but I have many things to take care of here." The man turned to Nabiki. "Ms. Tendo, can you escort Mrs. Saotome around the school? I'll give you a pass to give to your homeroom teacher."

"Sure, I'd be happy to tour Auntie around."

"Alright, just a moment while I prepare the pass." The man wrote something on a piece of paper. "Here."

"Um, is the principal around?"

The man looked around surreptitiously. "No, I haven't seen him yet. Thank God."

"Thanks. Don't want anymore surprises." With that Nabiki led Nodoka to Ranma's classroom.

Nodoka was puzzled at the last exchange but decided it was no concern of hers. She followed Nabiki.

++++++++++

Nodoka fumed as she looked into her son's classroom where she saw Ranma fast asleep with a smile at his desk. Her anger grew when she saw Akane and Ukyo try to wake him subtlely when they saw her without success. It seemed he enjoyed sleeping in class too much. She knocked on the door to get the teacher's attention and asked him if she could talk to her son.

"Can someone wake Mr. Mama's Boy [snicker] from his nap. His mama [snicker] wants to talk to him." That elicited snickers from the class. They really enjoyed the spectacle that morning.

"Baby, sir, Mama's Baby."

"Yes, yes. Baby. Can someone wake Mama's baby?"

Laughter filled the classroom but died out when they saw Ranma stirring.

"Wha? Whassup?" He noticed everyone was looking out the door. He followed their gazes and paled when he saw his mother standing outside with her arms crossed over her chest. She was looking directly at him with an angry expression on her face. He gulped. What did I do now?

"Mr. Saotome, your mother wants to have a word with you. You may step outside." And may God have mercy on your soul. The teacher had seen that look on a parent's face countless times before and every time things didn't turn out well for the teenager concerned.

Ranma walked towards his mother with trepidation. Every step seemed weighed down with lead weights. His danger senses screamed for him to turn and run for his life but something made him continue.

"Ranma please close the door and follow me." His mother told him once he had stepped outside the classrom. "Nabiki-chan, thank you for your help. If you don't mind I would like to have some words with my son in private." Nabiki nodded and shot a sympathetic look to the doomed boy before turning to head back to her classroom. Mother and son began to walk in silence.

Nodoka led her son outside. She was angry and disappointed. She was angry at Ranma for the disrespect he showed towards his teacher, his classmates and the school by sleeping in class. She was disappointed at his attitude of casually disregarding his education. The grades didn't matter anymore. It had upset her, yes, but if that was what her son was _truly_ capable of then she can come to accept it. However what she saw was that Ranma didn't even bother to put some effort into his studies. If he didn't care for school then why come here at all? He could sleep all he want at home and not be a distraction for others and an embarassment to their family.

She sighed. She did not want to be angry at her son, not after being separated for ten long years but she knew she had to correct his behavior.

How do I go about that without alienating him from me?

She sighed again and reined in her anger. Shouting at her son in anger will not help any. She needed to talk to him, to learn the reason why he behaved that way.

Nodoka at last stopped under a tree to one side of the school field. She turned around to face her son. Ranma breathed a sigh of relief on seeing the anger gone from his mother's face but didn't dare utter a word and waited for his mother to speak.

Nodoka chose her words carefully, the walk having helped her calm herself. If she was to help her son then she must not turn him away from her. "Ranma, my son, I know your father does not put much value into education, even regarding it as a distraction from the Art. Do you share his opinion?"

"Mom?"

Nodoka rephrased her question. "How do you feel about your education? About going to school?"

"School's boring, mom. Don't see how what they teach's gonna help me be the best martial artist. Don't see why I gotta go to school."

"Is that all that matters, my son? To be the best martial artist?"

Ranma was puzzled. "Pops always said that's the only thing that mattered. That's the reason why we went on that training journey in the first place. Should there be anything else that matters, mom?"

"Yes, many things like family, friends and loved ones."

Ranma's face tightened. "Only had pops for family, mom. Pops never mentioned ya, not even where ya lived or that ya were alive. Didn't have much time for friends 'cause pops wouldn't let me. Never ever had loved ones. Pops and the Art were the only things I had until ya found us, mom."

Nodoka's stepped back as if she had been slapped. "I... I see." Her son's revelation had come as a shock. She began to see the kind of training and life her husband subjected her son to. How could Genma go to those lengths? How could he strip my son of his family, of friends, of everything for martial arts? Did he care for nothing but the Art? Did he even care for Ranma? She staggered and paled as the horror of her own culpability dawned on her. My God! What have I done? What have I condemned my son to? I should never have agreed to that journey!

"Mom, ya okay?" Ranma was worried. His mother acted as if she was struck by a blow. Her pallor only increased his worry,

"I, I'm okay, Ranma. I just need to think." What do I do now? How can I ever make it up to Ranma for everything he suffered and endured? "Perhaps it would be best for us to go home now." (1)

"Eh?" Ranma was even more puzzled. "What about school?" He didn't really care about school but he had friends or at least people his age to talk to and hang out with here.

"As you have said, Ranma, school does not matter. I do not want anything to distract you from your quest to be the best Martial Artist ever." Nodoka paused. "That is what you want, is it not?"

"What I want?"

"Yes, is it not? This way you will be able to practice the Art the whole day with nothing to distract you."

"Whole day?" Sure, Ranma didn't want to go to school but to do nothing but practice the whole day? At home? By himself? No friends or chance to make some new ones? That he definitely didn't want. Sure he had his mom and pops to be with but it just wasn't the same. And he didn't need or wanted to practice the whole day anyway. "Um, yeah, that sounds great, mom, but ya know what they say 'all play and no work makes Ranma a dull boy'." That didn't sound right.

[Sigh.] "Ranma, it's 'all work and no play makes Ranma a dull boy' and school is not a place to play in. You can play and hang out with your friends after school or on weekends when they do not have their studies to attend to." He isn't overjoyed he doesn't have to go to school? Maybe all is not yet lost.

"But..." It wouldn't be the same, what would we talk about? It's hard enough as it is with not much in common.

"Ranma, do you want to stay in school?"

"Um, yeah?" It's better than to stay at home the whole day with pops.

"Ranma, if you want to stay in school you will have to behave properly."

Ranma scrunched his eyebrows. "Uh, how am I supposed to behave?"

"For one, you shouldn't sleep in class. It's distracting and disrespectful."

"I can't help it, mom. The teachers are boring!"

"Nevertheless, it's not proper behavior. Not only are you disrespecting your teachers, you are distracting the other students who want to learn. If you cannot stop yourself from falling asleep then you might as well do it at home."

Ranma thought about that. It made sense. If he had fallen asleep while training under the various Martial Arts Masters he had trained under he probably would been given a very painful reprimand. And staying at home the whole day didn't appeal to him. "Um, okay, mom. I'll try."

"Not good enough, Ranma. It's either sleep or not sleep." Nodoka will not budge on this. If her son wanted to go to school then he has to be serious about it.

Ranma grimaced then nodded. "Uh, what else should I do?"

"Aside from sleeping you will not do anything that will be a distraction like eating and talking while you have classes."

"Um, sure, I can handle that."

"And you will listen to your teachers and do your best in your studies."

"What for? Ain't got no use for what they teach."

"Ranma, do you trust me? Do you trust your mother?"

"Of course, mom! Why wouldn't I?"

Because we've only been reunited for a day and because I was not a better mother to you. "Then trust me, my son, when I say there is no honor in not giving your best. It is for your own good for you to always do your best in whatever you do, including school. It may not be apparent now but one day you will realize the importance of a good education."

Ranma looked at his mother. He saw and felt the sincerity on her face and in her voice. So unlike his father who used insults and physical abuse to motivate him. He slowly nodded. It wasn't an unreasonable or dangerous request from his mother anyway.

"Sure, mom, I'll do what ya say."

"Thank you, Ranma." Nodoka settled for that. It was a start and she can work with that. "Now you better return to your class. We don't want you missing out on your lessons."

"Uh, what about ya, mom? Where ya going now?"

"I promised Shampoo that I will drop by the Nekohanten to speak with Elder Cologne. After that I'll go to the Tendo Dojo to pick up your father before going home."

"Oh, okay. Be careful mom."

"Thank you, son, I will. You go along now and I'll see you this afternoon at home." Ranma turned to go. "And Ranma?"

"Yeah, mom?"

"Remember your promise."

"I will, mom."

++++++++++

Ranma went to his seat after the teacher gave him permission to re-enter the classroom. He knew everyone was looking at him, wondering whether they should be worried or not. He looked down at the textbook on his desk and wondered about what his mother had said. He couldn't find anything wrong with what she said. She didn't force him to stay in school. It was his choice and it surprised him he actually chose to stay in school. He debated whether it would be worth the effort. He shrugged.

I can always quit later.

He blinked. He shook his head. That wasn't a good attitude.

I ain't a quitter.

It was either he continued until he won at the end or he didn't start at all. No half-measures. He looked around and saw his classmates still looking at him, curiosity clearly in their eyes. He smirked to himself.

Probably worried why I haven't fallen asleep yet.

Was it really worth all the effort just to be able to stay with his classmates? He didn't know the answer to that one but he did know staying at home doing nothing appealed to him even less. It was probably what his lazy panda of a father would do. He blinked. Of course! It just wasn't because he wanted to stay with his classmates. It was also because he didn't want to be like his stupid, lazy father! He smirked visibly this time, oblivious to the collective cringe of his teacher and classmates his smirk elicited.

His decision made he squared his shoulders, straightened his back and brought out a notebook and pencil from his book bag. He opened his textbook to the page he saw his neighbor had her textbook opened to. He looked at his teacher expectantly and prepared to listen and take notes. He ignored the massive face faults and waited patiently for his teacher and classmates to recover their wits.

He would make his mother proud.

++++++++++

Nodoka walked towards the Nekohanten absorbed in her thoughts. Her brief talk with her son at his school had unsettled her greatly. One thought rang again and again in her mind.

Only had pops for family.

Every time it was like a knife through her heart. Every time it reminded her she was the one who let her husband take her only child away from her.

Why wouldn't my own husband tell my own son about his mother? Does he think my very existence would be a distraction for Ranma?

Her husband couldn't be that heartless, could he? Stupid, ignorant, careless, irresponsible, lazy, glutton, greedy, selfish, coward, fat, bald, dishonest, dishonorable, disreputable. All that, yes. But heartless? (2)

No time for friends? Nothing else matters?

She never thought her husband would take Ranma's training to _that_ extreme.

My husband is that stupid?

It bothered her greatly. It bode nothing good for her son to have nothing but martial arts in his life even if he was the greatest ever. If she had known beforehand the stupidity her husband was capable of she would never have agreed to the training trip. She sighed once again. No matter how much she wanted to blame her husband she knew she was not blameless for agreeing to the trip in the first place and then letting herself to be convinced not to accompany them. Even if she did have Ranma's best interests in mind at the time. The guilt weighed heavily on her.

A lesser woman would have broken down crying, guilt-ridden and doubting her worth as a mother for allowing her only child to be taken away. But Nodoka knew that was counter-productive. If Ranma had blamed her for all that went wrong in his life then she would have broken and taken her own life but he did not and she was eternally grateful for that. She now had a second chance at raising her son and she will not waste it wallowing in self-recrimination. When the time comes when she had to pay for her mistakes then so be it. She will face it like a true samurai. Until then she will make every moment count in raising her son and correcting the mistakes she had made.

What else did that stupid husband of mine do and teach to my son? And what can I do to correct them?

She decided as she reached the Nekohanten that a long talk between her and her son was in order for later that day. She would have to get rid of Genma then and for as long possible. Perhaps her husband would like to spend a night out on the town with his friend Soun. As an incentive she would give him some spending money. The time the money would buy for her to spend quality time with her son alone would make it money well spent.

Perhaps it is time I made use of the other account.

She decided to contact her broker friend. With the plan firmly in her head she opened the door and stepped inside the restaurant.

++++++++++

Cologne was sipping tea patiently waiting for Nodoka to arrive at one of the tables. She could afford to relax as it was the time of day that the Nekohanten wasn't busy with customers. She had sent both Shampoo and Mousse out on errands as she did not want any distractions in her talk with Mrs. Saotome. She looked at the door at the sound of the chimes to see Nodoka stepping in.

"Ah, Mrs. Saotome. It is a pleasure to see you again so soon."

"Please, Elder Cologne, it would honor me if you called me Nodoka." She bowed low to the older woman.

My, such respect for one's elders. A pity she was not the one to raise Ranma.

"As it would me if you would call me Cologne. There is no need for formalities between us." She gestured for Nodoka to sit at her table and offered her tea. "Now then, Nodoka, I am curious as to the reason you wished to speak with me. Shampoo seemed happy with the news."

"Ah, yes. I spoke with Shampoo earlier at Furikan and she told me she does not attend school. May I inquire as to the reason why, Elder?" Nodoka was not comfortable with addressing the Amazon Matriarch in informal terms. She commanded respect and Nodoka could not help but give it.

Cologne cocked her head to one side. "Simply because I see no reason to enroll Shampoo in Japan's schools. I am proud to say that despite the remoteness and lack of modern conveniences of our village, Shampoo can read and write Mandarin very well. She is also very well versed in our history and culture, knows the rudiments of traditional and herbal medicine and has the basics of mathematics and geography. You may also have noticed Shampoo speaks Japanese fluently. "

Nodoka nodded, her respect for Amazon society rising. "I am impressed by the breadth of knowledge Shampoo possesses and it is a tribute to your society, Elder. From a purely educational standpoint I also see no need to enroll Shampoo in our school system. However I believe Shampoo will benefit greatly by attending Furinkan. She will be able to learn more of her fiance's culture not only from the teachers but also by interacting with people her age. She will also be able to spend more time with Ranma and the other girls." She paused. "And she has expressed a desire to do so."

"Oh?" That was news to Cologne. Shampoo had never asked to enroll in Furinkan.

"Yes, she told me herself but she never brought up the subject with you because she felt it was her duty to stay with you in the restaurant. She is a wonderful great-granddaughter to put her wishes behind her concern for her great-grandmother."

"Yes, she is. You do not fear that she will be prejudiced against?"

"There is that danger but I am confident Ranma and the other girls will allow no harm to come to Shampoo. I believe the benefits outweigh the risks."

"Very well, I will consider your suggestion."

"That is all that I ask, Matriarch. I only ask for Shampoo's benefit."

"That I believe, child. I will speak with Shampoo as soon as she returns." Poor child. Her motherly instincts must be crying out for release after ten years of being bottled up.

"Thank you, Matriarch." Nodoka stood. "I take your leave as I still have other appointments to keep."

Cologne held up a hand. "How are you and son-in-law coming along, Nodoka?"

Nodoka sat down again and sighed. "As well as can be expected, Elder. We still have much to talk about."

"I sense something bothers you?"

"It seems my husband has not been a good father to my son."

Cologne snorted. "That I can agree with whole-heartedly." She paused for a second. "If I may ask, why did you allow Genma to take Ranma on that training journey? I admit I am impressed with the results of the journey but..."

"Yes, I know, Matriarch." Nodoka sighed again and her shoulders sagged a little more. "I allowed Genma to take Ranma away from me because I felt at the time it was in Ranma's best interest. I am beginning to see that may not have been my wisest decision. There is no doubt in my mind that Ranma is an impressive Martial Artist as Genma promised, arguably the best of his generation. However I can not help but feel it came at too high a price for Ranma and I feel I am partly to blame for that. If only I had made a better decision. If only I had been a better mother to him."

Cologne saw the anguish in the younger woman's eyes.

"Do not be too hard on yourself, child. We are only human and we all make mistakes big and small. Even now with more than three-hundred years of experience I still make the most foolish of mistakes."

Cologne grimaced as she remembered the cat-tongue technique she used on Ranma. She badly misjudged Ranma at the time. Then Happosai had handed her a golden opporutnity to atone for that mistake. She had hoped by teaching Ranma the Hiryu Shoten Ha and helping him regain his strength stolen by Happosai she had done enough to correct that error. Only time will tell. She only prayed that she did cost Shampoo her happiness with Ranma.

"What I will say to you is this. We may regret our error all we want but regret will not correct the error."

Cologne saw Nodoka's eyes harden with resolve.

"Ah, I am impressed to see for someone as young as you to already understand this. I look forward to the future of son-in-law with you there to guide him." And perhaps he will be the greatest martial artist of all time, greater than myself or the cursed Happosai.

"Thank you, Elder, for understanding. I can do no less for my son." Nodoka paused. "Elder, I brought to Ranma's attention what you told me yesterday. That you and Shampoo would not mind Ranma marrying Shampoo by Amazon Law alone."

"Oh? And?"

"I do not know if you will be pleased, Elder, but he refused. He said that would be fine if they were going to stay in your village but he and Shampoo will probably stay here in Japan. He says Shampoo deserves to be married to him properly by Japanese Law."

"I see."

"I believe my son cares for your great-granddaughter as he does for all the girls, Matriarch, and that he holds their interests above that of his own. He does not want anyone to challenge his commitment to any of the girls."

Cologne smiled "I expected no less from son-in-law. Indeed, he is the man for Shampoo."

"Thank you, Matriarch, for understanding again. I only pray that there will be a happy ending for all of us at the end."

"As will I, child, but there is a saying in the west: God helps those who help themselves. We will do our best to have a happy ending, ne?" Cologne smiled conspiratorily.

"Of course, Matriarch, of course." Nodoka stood and bowed again. "I am afraid I must go, Elder, if I am to keep my other appointments."

Cologne nodded again. "Safe journey, child."

"Thank you, Elder." Nodoka continued on her way to the Tendo Dojo to pick up her husband leaving Cologne to ponder on whether to enroll Shampoo or not.

Perhaps it will do Shampoo good and there is nothing to lose. If Shampoo says she wants to enroll at Furinkan then I will enroll her.

++++++++++

Nodoka reached the Tendo home thirty minutes later after making a short stop at an automated teller machine. Kasumi as usual opened the door.

"Good morning, Auntie."

"Good morning, Kasumi. Is my husband here?"

"Why yes, Auntie. Uncle Genma is playing shogi with father in the living room." Kasumi led Nodoka into the house where they found Soun and Genma at their usual spot at the porch. Soun rose to greet his new guest while Kasumi went into the kitchen to get some tea. Genma waited a moment to rearrange the pieces to his liking before rising as well.

"Nodoka, welcome to my home."

"Thank you, Soun."

"Nodoka, are we going home already?" Genma didn't want to go home yet. He was having fun with his friend. Nodoka didn't miss the reluctance in his voice.

"No, not yet. In fact why don't you take Soun out?"

"Eh?" Genma didn't think he heard right.

"Think of it as partial thanks for the hospitality he extended to you and Ranma." Nodoka slipped Genma the money she withdrew from the ATM. Genma's eyes widen as he saw the amount Nodoka gave him. "Now why don't you two enjoy yourselves?"

Genma wasn't the brightest bulb in the world but he knew enough not to look a gift horse in the mouth. He quickly grabbed Soun and ran out of the house before his wife could change her mind and take back the cash.

"Oh, my. Where did father and Uncle Saotome go?" Kasumi asked from the door into the kitchen.

"I gave my husaband some money and told him to treat your father out to thank your father partially for the generosity he extended to him and Ranma. I don't think they'll return until later tonight if not tomorrow morning." Nodoka smiled to herself. Getting rid of her husband was easier than she had thought.

"Oh. What will I do till then?"

"Don't you have friends to go out with, Kasumi?"

"I've never had a lot of time to make friends much less go out with them with all my responsibilities here at home, Auntie." Kasumi said a little sadly.

"I see." The poor dear. It must have been hard on her. "Well, why don't we go out ourselves then? It's been a long time since I went shopping with someone."

"I don't know, Auntie. Who'll take care of the house?" Kasumi paused and continued more hesitantly with head slightly bowed. "And I don't have much money."

"I'm sure the house will be fine, Kasumi, and it'll be my treat. It's the least I can for someone who took good care of my family for several months. Now why don't you go along and change while I take care of things down here." Nodoka indicated the shogi board and cups her husband and Soun left.

"Oh, no, Auntie. It wouldn't be right for a guest to clean up."

"Nonsense, Kasumi. You've done this for my husband and son for several months. It's the least I can do in return. Now go along, dear." Nodoka shooed the reluctant Kasumi away. She quickly put away the shogi board and cups left behind by the two men. By the time she finished Kasumi had changed into one of her modest dresses.

Oh, dear. That dress just wouldn't do. How can she hope to attract young men wearing something that? It hides too much of her.

"Ready, Kasumi?"

"Yes, Auntie."

"Then let's go." Nodoka took hold of one of Kasumi's arms. "I know of this nice little dress shop where I'm sure you'll find some nice dresses." She practically dragged the bewildered girl out of the door. This is so much fun! I finally get to play dress up! A gleam came into the woman's eyes. I wonder if Ranma would let me dress up his girl side? Somewhere out there, someone felt a shiver go down his spine.

One hour later found Kasumi wearing one of the dresses Nodoka had picked out for her.

Very nice. Very, very nice. "Do you like it, Kasumi?"

"Oh, yes, Auntie!" The girl questioned gushed. It was still modest by most standards but somehow it made her feel more... like a woman. "Do you... do you think Ranma would like me in this?" Her hands flew to her mouth when she realized what she just asked. She didn't mean to ask the question but it came out nonetheless.

Nodoka's eyebrows arched questioningly. Ranma? Why would Kasumi... oh, my! Her eyes widened. My son is so manly! "I'm sure my son will like it Kasumi. It really brings out your femininity." Now that's an understatement. "If you don't mind, Kasumi, why do you ask if my son would like it?"

Kasumi blushed a deep scarlet, a fact not lost on the Saotome matriarch. She uncharacteristically stuttered. "I-I-I... oh, I'm so embarrased!" Kasumi hid her face in her hands.

The poor dear, she's so shy. Maybe this isn't the place for me to ask such personal questions of her. "It's alright, Kasumi, if you're too embarassed to answer." Nodoka stood and brought the other dresses she and Kasumi picked to the cashier. They all looked so nice on her it'd be a shame not to buy them. "We'll take them all."

"Auntie?" the girl's eyes widened. There was a half dozen dresses. "You don't have to, Auntie. I wouldn't want to impose."

"And you are not imposing, Kasumi. I want to buy these dresses for you. They all look so nice on you it'd be a crime not to buy them." Nodoka paid the amount with a gold credit card. The saleslady smiled. If only all her customers were like this one.

"I don't know what to say, Auntie. Thank you." Kasumi bowed deeply.

"No need to thank me, Kasumi." She took the shopping bags. "Now why don't we have some tea before we go back to the dojo, eh?"

Kasumi nodded and followed Ranma's mother to a tea shop.

"Ah, isn't it a fine day, Kasumi?"

"Yes it is, Auntie."

"Ooohhh, look at that, Kasumi, aren't they sweet?" Nodoka gestured towards a couple coddling at another table, hoping to segue into the topic she was actually interested in. She was gratified to see Kasumi redden. "Don't you wish you have someone to coddle up with?"

"Sometimes, Auntie, but I juist don't have the time and who would be interested in a boring housewife like myself?" Kasumi looked down.

"Come now, Kasumi, you are _not_ a boring housewife. And if men are stupid enough to see you as such and not as the desirable young woman that you are then it is their loss not yours." She paused. Let's see now. I wonder what happens if I say something like... "I'm sure my son sees you as a desirable young woman." That startled Kasumi enough to be visible.

Aha!

"Do... do you think so, Auntie?"

"I know so, Kasumi, and if he saw you in one of the dresses we just bought I'm sure you would know also." There, I'm sure I've tickled her imagination. Oh, this is so much fun!

"Auntie, do you think it'd be improper if I brought Ranma some lunch at school?"

Yes! Yes! Yes! "Of course not, Kasumi. Why do you ask?"

"I... ah... nothing, Auntie. Just curious."

"My, look at the time! Do you want to go home now so you can prepare the lunch?"

Kasumi dragged the older woman home as politely as possible. Nodoka smiled like the cat that swallowed the canary all the way back to the Tendo Dojo. She barely had time to pay for their tea.

++++++++++

"Ranma?"

"Ranchan?"

Ranma slowly became aware of two hands shaking him. He groggily looked up in the direction of the voices.

"Wha? What happened?"

"What else? You fell asleep as usual."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, Ranchan. You had us worried a moment there when you pretended to listen and take down notes. Whew! Everyone thought Ragnarok was coming."

Ranma came awake at that.

"Oh, shit! I fell asleep?!"

"Yes, you dummy! We thought you've lost your mind. You kept pinching and slapping yourself and then you knocked yourself unconcious when you punched yourself. What were you trying to do? Good thing you didn't poke yourself in the eye with your pencil when your head fell on it."

"Oh." Ranma now remembered what happened. He had been trying to listen and stay awake by pinching and slapping himself but it was a losing battle. In desperation he had punched himself hoping it would wake him. Stupid idea. It had knocked him out instead. He groaned as he felt the swelling at his right cheek where he had hit it with his right hand. Man, I lost this round. This is harder than I thought. I gotta think of a counter fast....

"Ranma/Ranchan, are you alright?"

Ranma blinked. "Oh, sure I'm okay. Er, what time is it?" He looked at the empty classroom. "Where is everybody?"

"Lunch time, you dummy! Why do you think we woke you up? Everyone's left already, they didn't feel like eating here after you made them all jumpy."

"Oh. Um, wanna eat together?"

Akane and Ukyo blinked. Ranma's asking them to eat together?

"Uh, sure, Ranma/Ranchan."

"Let's eat outside. I could use the fresh air."

"Okay."

"Sure."

Ranma stood and followed the two girls out of the room, down the stairs and out of the building towards their favorite tree. They had their lunches opened when Nabiki approached.

"Hey, mind if I join you guys for lunch?"

Ranma and Ukyo looked up in surprise. Nabiki was usually busy at lunch conferring with her business associates. Akane simply shrugged.

"Sure, sis. Have a seat."

Nabiki waited until Ranma and Ukyo nodded then sat down next to Akane and opened her own lunch. The girls had barely touched their food by the time Ranma finished inhaling the lunch his mother prepared.

"Man, that was good!"

Even before the sentence was out of his mouth two additional lunch boxes were thrust into his face.

"Here Ranma/Ranchan, I made you lunch!"

Ranma blinked and sweated, he wasn't in the mood to visit the nurse's office either for an abused stomach or blunt trauma. He was about to retort something to that effect when he saw the look on Akane's face and hesitated. It wasn't the usual demanding look she had when she wanted him to eat what she had cooked. It was simply... expectant?

Damn! Damned if I do, damned if I don't. There's gotta be a less painful way out of this.

Akane noted his hesitation. She was about to yell "Well, aren't you even going to taste what I worked so hard for, you jerk?!" and pound him for his insensitivity when she remembered what she had promised herself. She pulled back the lunch she was holding out and looked down.

"You... you don't have to eat what I cooked if you don't want to, Ranma. I... I understand."

Ranma boggled. Ukyo boggled. Nabiki smirked inside. Akane was being nice to Ranma?! She wasn't going to force feed him that stuff she called food?

I ain't gonna get poisoned or pounded?

He looked around to see if Ryoga was flying. Nope. He should be estatic but his conscience bothered him.

Man, having a conscience sucks. I know I'm gonna regret this.

"Hey, who told ya I don't want your lunch? I'll take them both!"

The smile Akane gave him on hearing those word made his heart go ba-bump.

"You will?" That easy? I should have done this a long time ago.

"Uh, su-sure."

He slowly reached out to take both lunches. He noticed the smiles both girls had.

They sure are cute when they're smiling.

He saw Nabiki looking at him strangely.

What's with her today? He decided to kid around with her.

"So Nabiki, got any lunch for me too?" He boggled again as he detected the slightest tinge of red on the middle Tendo daughter's cheeks.

"I would have made you lunch except the kitchen was no longer there when Akane finished making hers."

"Hey!"

"Oh, calm down, sis! It's only a joke!"

"It wasn't funny!"

[Sigh.]

Ranma was in the act of opening the lunch Ukyo made for him when he heard the tell-tale sounds of a bicycle. Sure enough he turned just in time to see a purple streak hurtling towards him. He barely had time to get the two lunches out of the way.

"Ooofff!"

"Nihao, Airen! I brought you delicious special ramen for lunch!" Shampoo said holding the delivery box with one hand while wrapping her other arm around Ranma who was now down on his back in the middle of the other girls. Ranma breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the two lunches he was holding still intact.

Whew! Thank God! There'd been hell to pay.

He then saw the battle auras around Akane and Ukyo. He had to diffuse the situation fast.

"Uh, Shampoo, can you get offa me for a sec?"

"Don't want to." Shampoo nuzzled Ranma's chest sending a tingle down his spine.

"But I can't eat your ramen in this position."

"Oh." Shampoo got off and sat down beside Nabiki. Ranma prayed that was enough.

"You hussy!" Akane and Ukyo hissed. They were having a nice lunch with Ranma and Shampoo had to come and ruin it. Well they're going to make her pay.

"Who are you calling a hussy?!"

Things would have degenerated into another melee were it not for the new voice that sent calming waves over them.

"Ranma-kun!"

Heads whipped around to see the oldest Tendo daughter walking towards them.

"Kasumi! Sis!"

Ranma's eyes bugged. Kasumi was wearing a white sun dress that showed her slender shoulders while the skirt went down to just below her knee. The lightness of the material clung to her lush curves whenever the wind blew. The dress was still modest by most standards but the effect was startling. Gone was the plain, simple girl-housewife. What stood there was a young woman in full bloom. The fact was not lost on the other girls who felt jealous but couldn't work up any animosity towards the eldest Tendo sister.

Kasumi?! That can't be sis!

Where did sis get that dress? Not my style but I wouldn't have missed something like that!

Nice Tendo girl is now nice Tendo woman!

Whoa! What is Kasumi wearing? Gotta buy me one of those. Wonder where she got it?

Then one thought struck four girls at once.

What is she doing here wearing something like that?!

"Uh, um. What brings ya here, Kasumi?" Ranma tried not to roam his eyes over Kasumi. He succeeded a moment later by looking at the tip of his nose. Fortunately the other girls didn't notice as they were also staring at Kasumi.

Kasumi blushed, she had seen how Ranma's eyes had widened and then looked her over before getting cross-eyed. "Oh, I... I thought I'd bring you some lunch. Auntie said that you might not have enough to eat." She indicated the lunch box she held in both hands in front of her.

Shampoo, Ukyo even Akane and Nabiki boggled. Sure the two younger sisters knew what their oldest sister felt towards Ranma and she did bring food to Dr. Tofu on occasion but for her to be this forward? So soon? And wearing that dress? Where did she get that dress anyway?

Ukyo leaned over to Nabiki and Akane and whispered.

"Is there something going on here? Why is Kasumi bringing lunch for Ranma wearing a dress like that?"

Shampoo nodded, she also wanted to know if there was something going on. Nabiki sighed, she wasn't ready to go public yet with her feelings but Kasumi just forced her hand. She already noticed the stares and whispering from the other students.

Well, the cat's going to be out of the bag soon. Wonder what made Kasumi do this?

"Um, can we girls talk later? This isn't a good place." Nabiki cocked her head towards Ranma. She felt he wouldn't be able to handle the fact that he now had two more girls after him.

"When and where?"

"How about your place after school. We'll bring Kasumi." Nabiki said to Ukyo.

"Sure." Ukyo and Shampoo let it go at that. They felt uneasy but at least they'll know later. They returned their attention to Ranma and Kasumi.

"Auntie? Oh, ya mean mom. Where is she?" Ranma kept his eyes crossed. He felt stupid but he preferred feeling stupid to feeling pain.

"She's at the Dojo. She's so nice to let me go out while she took care of the house." She held out the lunch towards Ranma.

"Uh, thanks." I think. Ranma took it and watched as Kasumi blush even deeper, the white of her dress nicely contrasting with the red. She sat with the other girls looking at him. His eyes flicked back and forth between the girls. Their looks made him nervous. He spread and opened the four lunches in front of him.

"Ah, Kasumi?" Akane couldn't stand her curiosity any longer. "Where did you get that dress? I've never seen you wear it before."

"Oh, this?" Kasumi looked down at the new dress. "Auntie took me to a dress shop this morning and bought me some dresses. Isn't she so nice?"

"My mom bought you dresses?"

"Why, yes, Ranma. She said they looked so nice on me it'd be a shame not to buy them."

"'Dresses' as in more than one, sis?" Nabiki wanted to be sure.

"Why yes, Nabiki, she bought me six. Do you think I look nice in this, Ranma?" Kasumi asked shyly. She reddened even more, her boldness surprising even her.

Six? I have got to get on her good side.

"Um, yeah, the dress looks nice on ya, Kasumi-chan." The words were out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying. The smile Kasumi gave him made him weak in the knees. He saw Akane, Shampoo and Ukyo scrunch their eyebrows together.

Why doesn't he ever say nice things like that to me?

+++++ Flashback +++++

"Try to be more affectionate to the girls but do it equally to each. I'm sure if you treat them nicely they'll act nicely also. It does wonders for a girl to know she's appreciated."

+++++ End Flashback +++++

I guess I should say something nice to them too. "Uh, I'm sure ya all look good in a dress like that."

The girls blinked.

"What did you say, Ranma? I thought I heard you say something nice to us." Akane asked.

"Uh, I said I'm sure ya all look good in a dress like that." Ranma nodded towards Kasumi.

The girls boggled. They looked up to check if it was raining frogs. Nope. They whispered among themselves.

"Uh, is Ranma sick or something?"

"Yeah, he's acting nice all of a sudden."

"Maybe it's something he ate."

"Hey!"

"I wasn't referring to your lunch, sis, which he hasn't eaten yet. No need to get defensive."

"I knew that! And I'm not defensive!"

Nabiki, Ukyo and Shampoo rolled their eyes while Kasumi simply smiled.

"So Ranma, what did your mom talk to you about?" Nabiki noted his nervousness and decided changing the subject would relax him. She was gratified to see the gratitude in his eyes. She began eating her own lunch.

"Uh, it was nothing." He began to inhale the four lunches to take his mind off his nervousness.

"Nothing, huh? Then why did you act the way you did when you came back?" Ukyo asked between bites.

"How did he act, Ukyo?"

"Well, he didn't fall asleep right away and he looked like he actually listened and even took down some notes before he did fall asleep."

"Hmmm, that's different alright. So what happened, Ranma?"

"Nothing. Mom just didn't like me sleeping in class. She said it was disrespectful and distracting. I can see where she's coming from. If I did that to any of the martial arts masters I trained under they would have beaten me to an inch of my life. She said if that's all I did in class then might as well go home and do it there."

"So why didn't you?"

"Didn't I what?"

"Go home and sleep? I would have thought you'd be jumping with joy at the chance."

"Nah. I thought about it and I didn't feel like it. Too much like something my lazy old man would do."

"Oh." Five girls chorused. It was a refief for them to know that their prospective life-mate was consciously trying not to be like his father.

"And that's it?"

"Well my mom also said that if I did stay in school I might as well give it my best shot." He shrugged indifferently. "Don't see much use for what they teach but mom's got a point. Ain't a good attitude to have not to give yer best in something, in anything y'know."

"That's wonderful, Ranma-kun!" Kasumi gushed, clapping her hands.

"Thanks, Kasumi." Ranma frowned. "I guess I lost the first round though. I gotta think of a way to stay awake."

"Heh, that's easy, Ranma. If you fall asleep I'll pound you. That should make you think twice before sleeping." Akane was sincerely trying to be helpful. She hefted her mallet.

"Hey, not a bad idea. I'll hit you with my spatula too."

"Urk!" That was not what Ranma had in mind for a counter. "Uh, thanks but no thanks." He finished the last bit of food and stared at the four empty lunch boxes.

That's funny. When did I eat Akane's lunch? His eyes widened. I ate Akane's lunch?! He squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the pain to hit. After a minute of nothing happening he opened one eye to see all the girls looking at him quizically.

"What's wrong, Airen? You look like you're waiting for a punch."

Ranma opened both eyes and grinned sheepishly.

"Hehe. I did? Hehe. Nevermind. I just remembered something." That's funny. Why don't I feel any pain? He smacked his right fist into the palm of his left hand. Of course, the other lunches must have diluted the poison just like the time they had that cooking contest! (3)

"So what are you going to do so that you don't fall asleep in class, Ranma?"

"Well, I thought I'd tie a rope to the ceiling and put a noose around my neck. That way when I fall asleep it'll cut my air off and I'll wake up."

The girls blink, blink. It was stupid but it would work. Typical Saotome male thinking. Stupid but works. They shook their heads.

"Ranma why don't you just make it into a challenge? That always works to motivate you." Nabiki suggested.

"Yeah, but how?"

"Well, how about this. If any of us girls do better than you in tests then you have to do what we say for a week and if you get a better score we do what you say."

"No way!"

"Why? Scared you can't beat us _weak_ and _stupid_ girls?"

"Me, scared?! Hah! No way! This is just different that's all."

"How is it different? A challenge is a challenge."

Ranma knew he was trapped. He could not turn down the challenge without losing face. He tried to negotiate for better terms.

"Okay but only for a day."

"Four days."

"Two."

"Deal. Shake on it." Nabiki felt like a million bucks. It was a win-win situation for her. If Ranma improves on his studies enough to beat her the better he'll be as a potential husband and business partner for her. If he doesn't well she'll have an excuse to get Ranma to take her out on a date. She didn't mind the other girls also having the same chance. 'Win some, lose some' she always said.

"Uh, Nabiki, do you think this is a good idea?" Akane whispered.

"What's there to lose? If we win, we get to have him do what we say. If he improves his grades and wins what do you think he's going to have us do anyway?" Nabiki smiled confidently.

Akane and Ukyo looked dazed. How does Nabiki do that? She'd again manipulated Ranma like so much dough. Not that they minded it this time. If Ranma improved on his grades so much the better. If not, well, they'd think of something to do with him.

"Um, can we join too?" Kasumi and Shampoo asked.

Nabiki thought for a while. "Sure why not. I'll just have to arrange something with the teachers to allow you two to take the same tests we do." Unspoken was the condition they'll owe her.

Ranma looked around and saw the smiling faces. On another occassion he would have found comfort in those smiles but not at the moment especially Shampoo and Nabiki's. I think I just made a _huge_ mistake here. Thunder rolled in the distance.

++++++++++

"Great-grandmother, I'm home!" Shampoo called out as she entered the Nekohanten.

"Ah, welcome back, Shampoo. I am glad you are safe." Cologne hopped onto the counter from the kitchen to see her great-granddaughter.

"Shampoo!" Mousse ran out of the kitchen to show his love. He hugged the nearest plant.

[Splash!]

"Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!"

"Hmph! I do not look like bamboo!" Shampoo was annoyed, her good mood at spending time with her Airen evaporating. To mistake a thin and staright bamboo plant for her full curvaceous body, which she was very proud of, was one of the worst insults anyone could give her. Another was mistaking a pig for her. Which Mousse has also done. She dropped a bowl to silence the quacking. "Stupid Mousse!"

Cologne sighed. Mousse will never learn. Why can't the idiot understand if he just always wear his glasses he would save himself a lot of trouble? Stupid male. She called to Shampoo to stop the girl from storming up to her bedroom.

"Shampoo, please sit. I need to speak with you."

Shampoo went to seat herself in front of the Elder. "Yes, great-grandmother?"

"I spoke with Mrs. Saotome and she said you wish to enroll at Furinkan. I assume this is true?"

"Yes, great-grandmother. It is true."

"Why did you not tell me before?"

"I... I did not want to burden you further, great-grandmother and I know you need my help here and I do not want to leave you alone in this foreign land."

"What a dear child you are, Shampoo. Your mother would be proud to see you today. Tell me, why do you wish to enroll at Furinkan?"

"I... I thought that it would allow me to spend more time with Airen and help me get closer to him. Forgive my selfishness, great-grandmother, I know my place is by your side."

"Bah, you need not concern yourself with an old grouch like myself, Shampoo, I am perfectly capable of handling myself. Besides nothing would make me happier than to see you happily married with many children. So this is what you wish, great-granddaughter?"

"Y-yes, great-grandmother."

"Very well, tomorrow we shall enroll you at Furinkan."

"But what about you great-grandmother? And the restaurant?"

"There is still the slacker there." Cologne pointed at the upside-down bowl on the floor. "And we have Amazon sisters coming."

"Oh?" That was news.

"Yes, I received the message today. The council has approved a husband hunting expedition to come here. Eight warriors but no Elder."

"Oh." That was no surprise. The shortage of good husbands had been felt when she was still in the village and it could only have gotten worse. To send the expedition here with no Elder was also no surprise since an Elder, no less than the Matriarch herself, was already in the area. "Did the message say which warriors were coming, great-grandmother?"

"Perfume, Conditioner, Lotion the younger, Powder, Lipstick, Cream, Gel and Pomade."

"Oh." They were of the same age as Shampoo and some of the tribe's best warriors, almost the equal of Shampoo herself and just as beautiful. "Do you think they will find enough good fighters for husbands here, great-grandmother?"

"Ah, that is where we have a problem, Shampoo." Cologne replied in a nervous-sheepish voice.

Shampoo did not like the tone of her great-grandmother's voice. "What would the problem be, great-grandmother?"

"I may have conveyed son-in-law's fighting prowess to the council a little too enthusiastically." Cologne continued vaguely.

"What do you mean, great-grandmother."

"What I mean, Shampoo, is that the council was impressed enough by son-in-law they decided to make him an exception to the 'first come, first serve' rule. The warriors may pursue son-in-law if they find no other suitable males as husbands. (4) I think the council wants as many of his offsprings as possible in the tribe. What can I say Shampoo, he _is_ a great fighter." Cologne weakly finished, sure of the coming outburst.

"What?!" No, it can't be! It was bad enough with all the other girls but to have her own Amazon sisters as competition? It was too much! "No! No! No! Great-grandmother, you can't let them!"

"Calm down, Shampoo. I already sent a message to that effect but you do know the council can overrule me if enough Elders vote against me."

"But, but, but..."

"Shampoo, snap out of it! All we have to do is make sure they find husbands besides son-in-law." Cologne tried to reason. "So make sure to warn son-in-law not to defeat any of them even by accident."

"Y-yes, great-grandmother. I'll go wait for Airen at Furinkan."

"Good, Shampoo. The warriors should arrive by the end of the week. And while you're at Furinkan, you might as well get the documents we need to enroll you."

"Yes, great-grandmother." Shampoo sped off on her bicycle to warn her Airen of the coming man hunting women.

++++++++++

The bell ending the school day finally rang. For one particular martial artist it didn't ring a moment too soon. Ranma slumped in his chair as he massaged his eyes to take the stress out of them. His eyes were blood-red and his eyelids and eyebrows had been twitching for the last hour from fatigue as he forced them to stay open for the last three hours.

I shoulda used the rope. Man, this is harder than I thought. I wonder if stitching my eyelids to my forehead would hurt. Hmmm...

What was worse, he didn't understand a word his teacher said. He sighed deeply.

All that effort for nuthin. Should never have let Nabiki talk me into that challenge.

He groaned as he thought of the homework the teacher assigned.

I guess I should ask mom for help. Ain't no one else to help me.

"Hey, Ranchan, you okay?"

Ranma opened his eyes to see the worried faces of Ukyo and Akane.

"Just a bit tired. Didn't expect it to be this hard to stay awake."

"You should be proud, Ranma, you didn't sleep at all this afternoon. Although I think the teacher was starting to freak out after an hour of you looking at him with those bloodshot eyes of yours."

"Yeah, you really should take it easy for his sake. He ran out the room as soon as the bell rang."

Ranma grunted. If he didn't feel so tired he would have found it funny. "Nah, he'll get used to it. I'll have to get used to it." He stood up and stretched, popping several joints in the process. "What really bugs me is that I didn't understand a thing he said." He cricked his neck.

"Don't worry too much about it Ranma, you'll get the hang of it sooner or later."

"Yeah , guess you're right, Akane." Better sooner. I don't wanna find out what you guys are gonna make me do. "Let's go home."

When they stepped out of the building they saw Nabiki talking with Shampoo. Shampoo ran to Ranma the instant she saw him.

[Glomp!]

"Airen! I have to warn you!"

She was pulled off by Akane and Ukyo. "Will you stop doing that!" It's getting to be a habit for these two to do a duet.

Ranma groaned. Not again.

Shampoo angrily shrugged off the hands holding her. "Stop doing what?! And stop pulling me off my Airen!"

I know I'm gonna regret this.

"Rubbing yourself against _my_ fiance! And he is not your Airen!"

"Uh, girls?"

"You two are just jealous! And he _is_ my Airen!"

Be assertive! What am I, a man or a mouse?

"Is not!"

"Girls?"

"Is too!"

Man, they're ignoring me.

"That does it! This time you're going down, you bimbo!"

"Girls!"

"What?!" The combined shout of the three girls blew Ranma off his feet. The three girls blinked as they realized what they just did.

"Ranma/Ranchan/Airen!" They ran to him to make sure he was okay. They began pushing each other aside.

Nabiki sighed. "Girls, remember what you promised Auntie. You said you wouldn't fight over Ranma anymore. Auntie wouldn't like it if she found out you three were fighting again." The the three girls stopped pushing.

That pricked Ranma's interest. He looked at Nabiki from where his butt was resting on the ground. "They promised that?" When Nabiki nodded he jumped up. "Yahoo!" He knew the three couldn't last very long without going at each other's throats but he at least he could remind them of their promise every time they got too physical. He danced a short jig before he faced Shampoo and happily asked:

"So Shampoo what do want to warn me about?" His smile and happiness vanished a minute later.

++++++++++

"What?! You say my darling Ranma's mother is here?!"

"Y-Yes, mistress I saw and heard it myself this morning. H-here, I took some pictures." Sasuke handed over the photographs showing Nodoka from his bowed position on the floor.

"Then I must introduce myself. It is only proper for me to meet my future mother-in-law. I trust you uncovered her place of residence?"

"Y-yes, mistress. I followed her this afternoon to her house." After retrieving his fallen master Sasuke had come back to Furinkan just in time to see Nodoka leave after her talk with Ranma. He stuck to her like a leech until he knew where she lived. He gave a slip of paper to Kodachi where the address of the Saotome house was written.

"Very good, Sasuke. You have outdone yourself today." Kodachi stood. "I must prepare myself. Ohohohohohohohoho!" With a blizzard of black rose petals Kodachi went off to her room.

Sasuke waited until the last petal fell. He cautiously sniffed the air and when he felt nothing he raised his eyes slowly. When he saw he was alone he breathed out and sat back.

"Well today went better than expected." Sasuke counted any day that he didn't get blown up, poisoned, fed to Mr. Turtle or just plain beaten as a good day. If he was able to eat, drink or sleep he considered it a great day. Today was one of the latter as he headed to the kitchen to see if there were any scraps left.

++++++++++

End Chapter 3

(1) According to the All Refer website (link graciously provided by Philip Jacobs. Thanks, man!) upper or secondary high school, the level Ranma and Co. I think are in, is no longer compulsory in Japan so Nodoka can withdraw Ranma from school.

(2) Did I miss anything?

(3) TV anime series. Season 3 episode 45: Ukyo's Skirt! The Great Girly-Girl Gambit.

(4) This is one thing I definitely made up to make polygamy in Amazon society compatible with the 'first come, first serve' rule mentioned in the anime TV eipsode "Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung. Two Too Violent Girls." If anyone disagrees with this send me an email with the reason why.

Well the story's progressing slowly. Hope nobody's getting impatient for the action/adventure part. It's just that there are so many little things that I want to flesh out. Here we are seeing some character changes due to the influence of Nodoka. Where it leads? Who knows but here are some appetizers.

Tatewaki Kuno met Ranma's mom. Will he develop the same obsession for her (she does resemble his pig-tailed goddess and they have the sword in common)? Will he accept that she's his rival's mother? That's she's married? Will he even accept that she's not interested? Will he make a good stepfather for Ranma? Ugh! How will Ranma react?

Can the male students of Furinkan duplicate Genma's miracle and marry a major babe?

Ranma gets serious with his education. Will he start making mechas in their backyard and build an underground laboratory? That warsuit Gosungkugi is wearing sure looks nice. Wonder how it works? Will he be able to keep up his training?

What will the girls do with Ranma? We know he'll lose at the start then win in the end (he won't win all the time). When he does what will he do with them? Cut his nails? Carry his books? Wash his clothes? Do his homework? Sic Hiroshi and Daisuke on them for leaving him to his mother's tender mercies? Ugh!

Kasumi goes out of her shell with the help of Nodoka. The other girls are alarmed but just can't get angry and physical against her. What will they do?

Who will go shopping with Nodoka next?

What will happen at the meeting between the girls?

What will Nodoka learn from her talk with Ranma. Is that a cat she's holding? Ooohhh, what's she doing starving those big, bad, panda-eating tigers? Where did she get those tigers anyway?

What's that other bank account Nodoka is referring to? Is she a yakuza? Not in this fic.

Where did Genma and Soun go? What did they do? Schemed to get Ranma and Akane married while getting drunk, of course. Now what exactly did they scheme?

Shampoo is going to school. How will Furinkan cope with a liberated, ass-kicking Amazon hottie? Is she the girls' worst nightmare and the boys' wettest wet-dream? Will the Furinkan girls' uniform survive?

The Amazons are coming! The Amazons are coming! What does that mean for the long suffering residents of Nerima? Will they catch husbands? Will Nerima survive?

Kodachi knows about Ranma's mother and is off to see her. Will she hit it off with Nodoka?

Where is Dr. Tofu? Is that an Amazon he's running away from? Is that his mother helping the Amazon? Did the Amazon pass the hip test?

Where are Ryoga, Happosai and Tsubasa?

For the answers to those questions stay tuned for the succeeding chapters of "A Mother's Tale."

Finally a teaser to those wondering how this will all end:

Kodachi will be the key. Ohohohohohohohoho!

But that is still in the far, far off future.

++++++++++

Philip Jacobs ,

Thanks for the positive comments and thank you very much for the links you provided on information about Japan. Had some nice story ideas from them.

Nutty AL,

Don't give me any ideas. Who knows, Cologne does like Ranma enough to think him worthy of her only great-granddaughter and is not adverse to marrying him as shown in the love pill story. (very evil grin followed by maniacal laughter)

Joe Fenton,

Glad you liked the changes in chapter 1 and thanks for the tip on "Culture Shock: Japan." I'm still looking for it though. About polygamy in Arizona and the USA, I researched on the internet and what I found is that while there is no law against polygamy (except Utah, I think, because of a condition your Congress set for statehood back in the 1890's) there is also no law recognizing it although there are moves in your courts to have polygamy recognized.

dennisud,

Hey, where's the challenge if I keep it simple?

TheCentauress,

Thanks for the support. The nice thing about Nodoka is that for a potentially major character she wasn't really fleshed out in the anime or manga so there's some leeway in what's IC or OOC for her. Maybe I should make a "Nodoka Profile" side-story to see people's views.

To the others who made reviews, heartfelt thanks to all of you. Keep 'em coming.

Thankfully I haven't received any flames yet. If I do they'll be used to light mosquito coils. Damned bloodsuckers!