Rumiko Takahashi owns Ranma.

Warren Murphy and Richard Ben-Sapir (A"H) think they own The Destroyer, but in truth, it is owned by Master Chiun. All hail the Master of Sinanju, the perfection that is Sinanju, and all things Sinanju.

Chapter 3

Soun Tendo prostrated himself before the ancient Korean.

"Oh thank you for gracing my unworthy dojo, Master Chiun." He wailed, as he slammed his forehead into the tatami mat repeatedly.

Chiun gazed about. He was very short, barely 5 feet tall. Aside from the small tufts of white hair behind his ears, he was bald and he has a long whit goatee. He wore a robin's egg blue kimono (Korean style, of course) and sandals. He was very thin and frail in appearance. His fingernails were each two inches long. The strange thing about him was that he was carrying a body over one shoulder.

"Unworthy, but adequate." He sniffed.

"Can you put me down now Chiun?"

Chiun rolled his eyes. "Arise, Soun Tendo, and behold the ungrateful whelp that is betrothed to one of your daughters." With that, he placed Ranma in front of the elder Tendo.

Soun cried copious tears of joy. "I'm so happy," he hugged Ranma, "after all these years, the son of my old friend Genma has come to ensure the future of the Tendo school of Anything Goes Martial Arts! Welcome home s-s-s-s-s-s-son??"

Something didn't feel right.

Soun held Ranma at arms length and stared down at Ranma's chest. It wasn't just a chest, it was a bosom.

Nabiki stepped forward, index finger extended, and poked, several times.

Ranma blushed. "Please don't do that."

"Um, daddy, Ranma's a girl."

"It can't be!"

She poked again. "Definitely a girl."

"I really wish you'd stop doing that." Said Ranma in an embarrassed whisper.

Akane put her hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Nabiki, stop it. You're embarrassing our guest." She turned to Ranma. "Hi, my name is Akane, would you like to be friends?"

Ranma bit her lip and nodded.

Akane took her by the hand. "C'mon, I'll show you around."

The two girls walked out of the room under the watchful gaze of Chiun. Ah, he thought, perhaps this girl may be suitable. She certainly has good childbearing hips.

"Come Tendo!" He commanded. "Have your daughters make tea and rice. There is much I must tell you."

"And this is the training hall." Announced Akane, in the process of showing Ranma around. "I understand you're a martial artist too?"

Ranma nodded. "My pop taught me a bit before, um, he died. Chiun's been busting my hump ever since."

Akane smiled. "Would you like to spar?"

Ranma took a step back as though frightened. "I don't think,"

"Oh, don't worry Ranma, I'll go easy on you."

A strange look flitted across Ranma's face. "Ok."

The two girls bowed to one another. Akane slid easily into a fighting stance, but Ranma just stood there, with her hands clasped behind her back. Akane came on the offensive, throwing jabs at the smaller girl's head, but none of them connected.

Akane stepped back in shock. Ranma had not moved an inch, but had somehow dodged Akane's punches.

She decided that she was holding back too much and attacked again, this time with a flurry of punches and kicks.

All she hit was air.

This wasn't possible! She was Akane Tendo, daughter of Soun Tendo, Master of the school of Anything Goes Martial Arts. She had beaten black belts from several different disciplines. She'd even bested a sumo wrestler and yet this girl with the red pigtail was evading her attacks with no effort! She wasn't even breathing hard.

And if Akane had been better instructed by her father, that would have terrified her. For, not only was Ranma not breathing hard, the way she was breathing was absolutely perfect.

Akane lunged in to grab Ranma's shirt and fling her to the floor, but before her fingers had even touched the fabric, Ranma was behind her, tapping her on the shoulder.

Akane turned slowly and stared at her new friend in shock. Ranma just smiled shyly at her. Akane began to laugh. Ranma joined in, nervously at first, and then both girls gave in to laughter.

"Wow, you're really good." Akane gasped, wiping tears from her eyes. "I'm just glad you're not a boy!"

Ranma turned away so that Akane wouldn't see her hurt expression. Mumbling something about going to the washroom, Ranma ran from the room.

"And so, Tendo, that is Ranma's predicament." Chiun explained.

Soun was dumbfounded. "How horrible! Truly the path of the martial artist is fraught with dangers."

"Indeed."

Ranma bumped into Kasumi, who was carrying some towels. "Oh Ranma, here," she handed Ranma a towel, "You must be chilled to the bone, coming in from the rain, why don't you take a nice hot bath?"

Ranma thanked her and walked into to bathroom. She stripped of her rain and sweat soaked clothes and sat down on a stool to wash herself.

What am I going to do? She thought. It looks like we're staying here for a while, which would be nice. It had been a long time since I've stayed in any one place for more than a few days. And that Akane, she's so cute!

Ranma rinsed off the soap from her body and then stepped over to the tub that was filled with steaming, hot water. She sank into the water and the tingling sensation began, as always, at the base of her spine.

Ah, that's so much better he thought to himself. Now, what to do? Nothing for it but to go out there and tell them the truth and face the music like a man.

Akane saw Ranma's dirty clothes and realized that she was in the bath. Oh good, she thought to herself, maybe I can find out what upset her. I hope she doesn't mind sharing the bath, it is big enough.

She opened the door and stepped in. In front of her was a boy and he was n- (at this point her brain redirected itself). He was about Akane's age and he was n- (detour). He was getting out of the tub and he was n- (monotonous, isn't it?). He was really good looking and he was n- (aw, the hell with it!).

She turned around and walked out the door, closed the door quietly behind her (HE WAS NAKED!).

Akane took a deep breath and screamed.