Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ use it merely for entertainment purposes.
"Cousin?" the Tendo's Saotome's and Happosai repeated. It was rather difficult to get the idea that the new guest was related to the Chinese Amazon in any way. But then again considering the nature of the lives of the people in the room the concept was not all that hard to grasp. The greater the improbability something could the higher the chance it would.
"Well more like third or fourth cousins actually," Eugene admitted. "My Grandmother was her Grandmother's younger Sister." He indicated to the attached Amazon. "Still Mom has kept ties with the Village and even though she doesn't live there we make several visits. Cousin and I have known each other since we kids and have been really close since then." He then turned to Shampoo and asked, "Now my question is what are you doing in Japan?"
"Shampoo here for Airen," Shampoo happily said pointing to Ranma, "Eugene come back to Neko Haten. Great Grandmother want see you."
"Wait!" Eugene pushed Shampoo away so he could look at her in the eye, "Ranma's your husband?"
"NO!" Soun shouted. "HE IS AKANE'S FIANCE AND MUST MARRY HER SO THE SCHOOLS WILL BE JOINED!"
"I am not marrying that Pervert!" Akane denied. "He can go back with that Chinese Bimbo and take that cheater with him for all I care!"
"Don't ever say anything like that about my Cousin!" Eugene shouted while the temperature in the room dropped rather significantly as a result of the Soul of Ice he was using.
The room was quite for a few seconds until Shampoo spoke up, "Cousin no worry. Violent Kitchen Destroyer no match for Shampoo." Eugene looked at his cousin and nodded and stopped the Soul of Ice make the room temperature return to normal.
"All right Cousin," Eugene said. "Now did you say Great Grandma is here?"
Shampoo nodded, "Come she want to see you."
"Yeah I think I will go," Eugene agreed. "Then she can tell me what is going on?"
"I think we should go with you," Nabiki spoke up. With Eugene's arrival and his unexpected relation to Shampoo it could either interfere with her profits or help make her some. At the moment she could not determine which, that meant that she needed more information and the right place to get it was the Neko Haten.
"I agree with Nabiki," Happosai said surprising many in the room. "I want to know more about how my third student ended up with an Amazon and us going there will save us needless trips."
"Ya I wanna know what's goin' on to," Ranma admitted. Ranma figured his new sparring partner, he already saw Eugene as near his level, like Ryouga though more reliable to be around, and wanted to know more about him and any other techniques he might know. That and having another guy around not wanting to kill him was also a plus. He came to the conclusion that Eugene would not kill him because usually if he met someone new and they wanted to kill him they would attempt it in less than five minutes. Eugene was currently going on an hour and five minutes.
There were no more real objections to going. Genma and Soun were too cowardly to contradict Happosai and Akane kept quite because it was Nabiki who suggested the plan in the first place. The only one who was not going was Kasumi saying she had to start dinner soon. So everyone made their way to the restaurant that the Amazon's were using a base of operations for their time in Japan. Along the way the group was relatively quite mostly because they were occupied with their own thoughts, that and Shampoo was walking with Eugene and not glomped onto Ranma thus keeping Akane quiet for the time being.
"Shampoo back Great Grandmother!" Shampoo called as she and Ranma were the first two people through the door.
As soon as they entered Mousse was about to jump at Shampoo as he was able to zero in on her voice, but saw someone was with her and assumed it was Ranma. "Saotome you dare try and steal my Shampoo!" Without thinking he launched his attack at his perceived target and quickly the chains wrapped tightly around the person next Shampoo.
Mousse was surprised and scarred when Eugene replied, "Mousse if you don't take these chains off me right now or I'm going to cram them up your ass!"
"Aack!" Mousse jumped back after hearing Eugene's voice. The near blind boy still remember the last time he made him angry. Eugene's parents were some of the most respected warriors among the Amazons and they taught their son quite well. Needless to say Mousse was very reluctant to anger Shampoo's Cousin. "Eugene what are you dong here?"
"That's what I want to know Grandson," Cologne said coming out of the kitchen.
"Hey Grandma," Eugene was about to hug the old woman but she hit him on the head with her staff, "Ow! What was that for Grandma?"
"That was for night righting me for six months," Cologne scolded.
"Sorry, but I was in Brazil learning from a friend of Dad's and they didn't have a regular means of mail," Eugene explained.
"I'll forgive you this time," Cologne said. "Now tell me why did you come with the residence of the Tendo Dojo." She gestured to the six other people watching the exchange.
"That's a long story Grandma," Eugene admitted. "Though I imagine why you're here will be even longer," it was at that time that a passing car ran through a puddle and the water came through the still open door splashing the Saotomes and Mouse, he was trying to get a sneak attack on Ranma, activating their curses, "Very long." A sweat drop formed on the back of everyone's head at the timing of the occurrence.
After the few minutes required to heat the water to change everyone back one again they all sat in preparation for a long conversation. The first to speak was Cologne, "So Grandson why are you in Japan?"
"Dad sent me here to continue my training in Anything Goes," Eugene answered. He then went on to tell the Matriarch of the Amazon's what he told everyone else earlier that day. Cologne nodded at the explanation. After he was done Eugene asked, "Grandma did you know Dad studied under um…" he knew about 'he who should not be named' but with Happosai right there it was rather difficult to continue.
"Of course," Cologne said after taking a sip of her tea. "I recognized his fighting style the first time I saw him fight your mother. I never said anything because I could tell Joe was nothing like Happosai. Just like with Son-in-law."
"About that," Eugene spoke up, "How did Cousin become married to Ranma?"
"That is one of the many long stories that surround him," Nabiki spoke up. "But first would you tell us the rest of your story?"
Eugene looked to Cologne who took over, "About eighteen years ago Eugene's Father Joe came to our Village on a training trip through China."
"How'd he do that if he was trainin' with the old letch?" Ranma interrupted.
"Joe, unlike these two," gesturing to Genma and Soun, "Was smart enough and often good enough to be able to train on his own a lot," Happosai answered. "He had a talent for the Art that I've only seen you rival m'boy."
"Quite true Happosai," Cologne agreed. "He came to our Village to buy supplies as he was camping not to far off. It was later I found out that he had learned of our laws from some locals and planned ahead so he wouldn't be caught. During his visits to the Village he would observe us in our training then leave for a few days and come back."
"Dad said he was observing their patterns and while their skills were impressive he could see no indication of the Amazon Special Techniques he heard about," Eugene joined. "He started to wander around the outside of the Village incase they trained in different locations."
"That was when I first met him personally," Cologne took over. "I was training Mei Lynn, Eugene's Mother in Bakusai Tenketsu…"
A young man in his late teens early twenties comes upon a clearing and sees one of the Amazon girls he recognized from the village tied up. Wondering what was going on he silently observed as the girl called out in Mandarin, "Send another Grandmother. I know I can take it!" The young man was surprised to see a large boulder swing from a tree and race toward the girl who had her finger extended. The young man was about to leap to save the girl but a voice from his right stopped him.
"Don't interfere Outsider," Cologne hopped on her staff into view.
The young man heard an explosion coming from where the girl was and turned to see that the rock was had shattered and was now nothing but rubble in the clearing, "How she do that?"
"That's our secret Outsider," Cologne answered, "What is your name Outsider?"
"I Joe Roberts," Joe answered.
"You're that Outsider that has been buying supplies in the Village. But that is not what you were really doing was it?" Cologne inquired.
"No," the young man admitted figuring lying would not be in his best interest at this point. "I come to learn techniques."
"If you wish to learn why don't you fight my Granddaughter here and find out," Cologne said. All this time she was reading Joe's aura and saw it was rather impressive in terms of size and focus.
"I know Law of Kisses," Joe answered with a smile. "I no want marriage." Cologne smirked herself liking the intelligence he should, "May I watch?"
Cologne thought about the request for a few minutes. She was debating on if she should, the Bakusai Tenketsu was one the Village's Secret Techniques but she could also use this a test see how accurate her senses were in regard to his potential. "You may observe our training until it is complete. Though that might not be long, my Granddaughter is nearly complete with her training."
"Thank you Elder," Joe bowed and went to find a comfortable place watch the training.
"He watched for the rest of the day then thanked me and Mei Lynn and walked," Cologne continued. "A few days later he stumbled into the Village his body covered in bruises and his knuckles were bleeding."
"He attempted Bakusai Tenketsu training on his own?" Ranma asked.
"No," Eugene answered, "He developed a technique that produced similar results only he did it with his fist instead of his finger."
"So that's where he learned his Pulverizer," Soun spoke up.
Pulverizer?" Akane asked. She was curious about the technique, she had attempted to do Bakusai Tenketsu on some bricks about a week ago but all it did was jam her finger. She only tried it a couple of times before she gave up being to frustrated to continue. She wanted to know if there was an easier way to do the technique.
"It's what he called the technique he came up with," Cologne answered. "It's similar to Bakusai Tenketsu in the effect that it can shatter rocks. The difference is His technique works on other substances and not just rock or stone the draw back is the technique does not work on all sizes of stone."
"After Dad collapsed at the center of the Village Grandma and Mom and Aunt Shun Li," Eugene told. "For the next two weeks Dad was under their care and he and Mom really fit it off however after he recovered he had to leave."
"It was another year or so until he returned," Cologne once again took over. "this time I gave him an invitation to train with us. It was a month after that Joe challenged Mei Lynn and won."
"A little over a year later I was born," Eugene finished. "It took another couple of years for Dad to finish his training under Happosai and then they moved to the US."
"So how good is yer Mom?" Ranma asked. His view that women were weak bad been dropping rather quickly in the past few months, though he still hated fighting girls, he was more open to the idea that they could become strong.
"Aunt Mei Lynn Village Chi Master," Shampoo said with pride clearly in her voice.
"She's a what?" Happosai shouts in surprise spitting his tea all over Genma and Soun. "How can she the Chi Master at such a young age?"
"What's a Chi Master?" Nabiki asked.
"Chi Master is the title given to an Amazon that has proven to have unrivaled levels of control of their Ki and Chi," Mousse explained. "To achieve such a level usually takes close to fifty year or more."
"Mom did when she was twenty five," Eugene added. "Youngest there ever was. Though Mom and Dad think I can do sooner."
"Mei Lynn had always shown incredible talented in the manipulating of Ki and Chi," Cologne explained. "In fact that's what makes her and Joe such a good couple in my opinion. Their abilities simply complemented each other near perfectly."
"Well now that you know about me," Eugene started. "Why don't you tell me about all of you?"
"It began when Pops took me on a ten year training trip…" Ranma began to explain about his life through the years. He quickly went through only the most important parts about the journey, like Ukyou, the Neko-ken, and Ryouga. After he started talking about Jusenkyo everyone else started to add comments to the story where they could. Eugene was told about the Jusenkyo curse, the arrival at the Amazon village, coming to the Tendo Dojo, the arrival of various rivals and various fiancés, Happosai's return and the training ending with the most resent use of the Hiryü Shöten Ha.
After they were done Eugene's mind was spinning with all the information, "And hear I though my life was an adventure." After a few more moments Eugene spoke again, "Dad always wondered which was stronger, Genma's greed, stupidity or gluttony. I guess it's his stupidity and gluttony."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Genma asked indignantly.
"It means you're to stupid to realize that if you wanted to you could traded Ranma for more if you weren't so stupid," Eugene said. "I mean if you factor in your laziness, even a person of moderate intelligence would realize that not only could have you gotten more for dowries but it would have been better to honor the richer ones it you wanted to sit around on your ass. Not too mention all those stupid training exercises you came up with."
"The life of the Marital Artist is full of peril," Soun came to Genma's defense. "And he did not honor the other agreements because he knew our Schools must be joined, right Genma?"
Genma for his part was slow to respond. For once not thinking about his planned retirement through Soun and his agreement but through one of the missed opportunities with some of the rich people he sold Ranma too. After all it was easier to live in luxury if one actually had a steady supply of money. "Um yes, he will marry a Tendo," Genma stated without his usual enthusiasm though the only one who did not notice was Soun.
"So Grandson what do you think of what we told you?" Cologne asked. She was rather curious as too her Grandson's opinion on this matter. He was a rather intelligent young man and had the unique perspective of both an outsider and an Amazon , plus with his ties to Anything Goes thus making his opinion rather interesting.
"What I think is…" he trailed off for a few seconds causing everyone to lean in. "I think I'll be seeing Mom and Dad a lot soon than I first thought."
In Xinghai Province in China the Amazon Village near Jusenkyo five people were talking about the happenings in Nerima. Speaking in Mandarin a man of Western Decent addresses twin girls that look like in their early-teens and another girl in her mid-teens. "Ok Ling-Ling let me get this straight, Xian Pu is currently in Japan with Elder Ku Lon chasing down a boy that defeated Xian Pu in combat." The three teenagers nodded. "Because after Xian Pu failed to deliver the Kiss of Death and had to return home where she was cursed as punishment and now has sense gone back to claim the Kiss of Marriage and this boy's family name is Saotome."
"Correct Uncle Joe," Ling-Ling said.
"Are you sure of the name?" an Amazon woman in her mid thirties asked.
"Quite sure Aunt Mei Lynn," the twin to Ling-Ling said.
"Ug I hope it's not my old training partner," Joe commented. "That guy was just too stupid to be around."
"I think we should go to Nerima as soon as possible Joe," Mei Lynn stated. "I've go a feeling there is more to it than this."
"I think you're right," Joe agreed.
"May I join you? I am worried about Eugene," the elder teenager inquired.
"Can Lung-Lung and I come too?" Ling-Ling asked. "It's been so boring here without Sister Xian Pu and we miss Great Grandmother."
"I don't see why not, Li Ner," Mei Lynn said. The three girls smiled in joy, "You three go pack you stuff we'll be leaving in the morning." After they were out of the hut Mei Lynn turned to her husband, "What do you think is happening in Nerima?"
"I'm not too sure," Joe answered. "But I've got a feeling we're not going to like it all that much.