Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ use it merely for entertainment purposes.
It was three days after Joe issued the challenge to Happosai for the title of Anything Goes Grandmaster and everyone felt the tension in the air. In that time he and his wife Mei Lynn, actually left the district in preparation for the challenge. Several found this odd at first but Eugene explained that they were going somewhere private to train. Joe commented that when his parents trained seriously the area around them was often leveled. To prove his point he showed them the Roberts Rock Quarry that was formed after as a result of his parents' training one weekend. Needless to say no one questioned the reasons for the Third Master of Anything Goes and the Amazon Chi Master's departure for the area after that.
At the Tendo Dojo Nodoka had taken up residence and was starting to get to know her Son. She had moved into the Guest Room where Ranma and Genma were staying previously. This forced Ranma to sleep in the Dojo itself, not that he minded as Ranma always felt most comfortable inside a Martial Arts Training Hall. Genma did not share the Guest Room however; he was forced to sleep in the living room as Nodoka refused to share with him.
Currently Ranma was practicing with his Mother in the Dojo learning how to use a katana, Genma objected of course but no one listened him. As with all things related to Marital Arts, Ranma showed his usual incredible learning ability by quickly mastering every one of the katas she showed him. Ranma was willing to learn how to use a katana because of two reasons; one he wanted to make his Mother happy and two after a brief sparring session with Eugene where he used a bokken Ranma lost rather quickly. Because the two Heirs of Anything Goes were relatively equal in skill, strength, speed and endurance the extra reach with the weapon tipped the advantage in Eugene's favor allowing him to win the match.
As Ranma finished off the latest kata his mother showed him, he could not help at be impressed by the complexity of yet effectiveness of the techniques it used. "I have to admit Mom yer katas are a lot more challengin' than anythin' Kuno's showed," Ranma said.
"That is because Kuno uses formalized Kendo techniques while my family style still uses the techniques that would be effective on the battle field," Nodoka answered. "And as such I must worn again about using them, they are designed to seriously harm or kill, so you must use extreme caution when using them."
"Don't worry Mom," Ranma assured. "One thin' Pop's did right was sayin' that Martial Artists don't kill, only defend."
"That is good to hear Ranma," Nodoka said. "Now I think this is enough for today, go get cleaned up while Kasumi and I prepare dinner."
"Ok Mom," Ranma called out dashing out of the Dojo. The food Nodoka made with Kasumi was arguably the best in the entire district.
As he ran out he passed Eugene who was making his way to the Dojo. He only stopped to ask, "I thought you were at the Neko Haten to help out?"
"Nabiki wanted to talk to me about something so she invited me over for dinner," Eugene answered. "After dinner I'll head back and finish helping. Besides I could use a break from Liner."
Ranma laughed at that. He was glad he was not the only one who had to suffer an Amazon Glomp. "I don't know who ya deal with it ta begin with."
"I've lived with it for all my life," Eugene answered. "So I'm used to it. It's just that with Liner Glomping on and Cousin, the Twins, and Grandma encouraging her it gets a bit much. So I decided to take a break for a while."
"Well I gotta get cleaned up," Ranma said before heading off to the furo. Eugene waved and went into the dinning room to wait for dinner to be served.
No sooner than he sat down did Nabiki sit right next to him. "Glad you could make Eugene, we've got some things to discuss," Nabiki spoke with ice-cold chill in her voice.
"And what would that be Nabiki?" Eugene returned with clear surprise in his voice. For the most part he though Nabiki and him were on pretty good terms. So he was caught off guard by the coldness from Nabiki.
"You messing with my business deals," Nabiki answered. "I don't like it when someone messes with my deals. Because of you half of the seats I sold have demanded a refund because they said they wouldn't show up at the Challenge."
"And you should be thanking me for that," Eugene replied with even greater coldness then the Ice Queen, now understanding why Nabiki was being so hostile. Before Nabiki could reply Eugene continued, "Do you remember the picture I should everyone yesterday?" Nabiki nodded, "And do you remember the damage that one of Ranma's fights can make?" Again Nabiki nodded, though this time a bit reluctantly. "Now then let me tell you something the Quarry was formed by my parents when they were not fighting at their strongest. When Dad fights Grandmaster Happosai, they will be fight at their full strength. Now think about the collateral damage that will result from a fight between my Dad and the Grand Master of Anything Goes. You should get a pretty good idea what can happen."
Nabiki paled at the thought. "I'll contact my associates tomorrow and have them tell everyone not to show up," Eugene nodded in agreement. "Still I hate to loose the money this fight could generate from people wanting to watch…"
"Just set up some video cameras capable of recording the fight at a safe distance," Eugene suggested. "That's what we do back home when a serious Challenger comes to the Dojo."
"Good idea," Nabiki admitted already going over the contacts she had that could get her the equipment needed. The two lapsed into silence for a few minutes until Nabiki caught sight of a tare in Eugene's shirt, "What happened there?"
Eugene looked to where Nabiki pointed. "Must have happened when Kuno attacked me on the way here. Must have been practicing the last the couple of days to get this close to hitting me." He then shrugged a little, "Guess I'll have to be a bit more careful when dealing with him."
"He has been on the warpath lately," Nabiki said. "Paying top dollar for information on 'the Foul Sorcerer and the Dishonorable Gaijin."
"Tell me about it," Eugene sighed. "He came charging at me this time shouting about how I was here to deflower his 'Pinnacle of Japanese Womanhood."
"Must be talking about Aunty," Nabiki thought. "He'll probably want pictures of her too. Not that I'd take pictures any of her anyway." Nabiki had cut back a great deal over the last couple of weeks on her picture taking. The Dojo did not need the money the pictures generated because of the added bets coming from Eugene's appearance. Nabiki also owed Nodoka for the dramatic drop in the food bill. With her there the Saotomes were forced to eat a normal person's share so even with another mouth they were feeding seven people not the equivalent of seventeen people because of Genma.
"Dinner ready yet?" Ranma asked coming down the stairs.
"Not yet Ranma," Nabiki answered. Ranma looked dejected at the thought of not being able to eat right away so he sat at his usual place and pouted until dinner was ready.
At the Neko Haten Cologne was in her room mediating on the upcoming fight. She knew from personal experience the power the two combatants possessed. This would mean that for her to be the proper judge she would also have to exert high levels of energy in order to keep up with them. For this she spent much of her time in mediation building up and storing her Ki. A knock on her door brought her out of the trance, "Elder," Liner said from the other said. "Shampoo has returned from her deliveries."
"Thank you Child," Cologne replied. "Tell her that's the last delivery for the evening."
"Ok Elder," Liner replied.
"It's been years since I've seen Joe fight at his full strength," Cologne thought. "For that matter it's been a long time since I've seen Happi fight seriously as well. This will defiantly be a worth battle in the Tribe's Archives. The question is who will win?" Out loud she called out, "And when Eugene gets back tell him to check on Mousse to make sure he hasn't broken anything again." Liner nodded leaving the three hundred plus Amazon Matriarch alone once again.
After school the next day Ranma once again found himself in the Dojo. Unlike the last couple of days he was training with Eugene instead of his Mother. Yesterday after Eugene got back from the Neko Haten Ranma asked him if he could show him something from his School. Eugene agreed in exchange for Ranma teach him something from the Saotome School.
So that brought them here. There were several stacks of differing material lined up in front of the two boys. Eugene decided to show Ranma Pulverizer and its effects on various materials. "The basic concept of Pulverizer is to hit the target twice the moment of impact," Eugene began to explain.
"Do ya mean with both hands?" Ranma questioned he could only think of hitting someone at the same time was with two hands or two feet.
"No you only use one hand," Eugene answered. He held up his fist and showed the first two knuckles of his right hand elevated slightly. "When you hit the target you first hit with you lower knuckles then instantly tighten the fist creating two hits at the same time thus doubling the power." To demonstrated he walked up a block of wood six centimeters (about two and half to three inches) thick and punched shattering into saw dust. "Like Grandma said the advantage of BakusaiTenketsu is that it can work on all materials not just stone." Ranma could definite see the advantage this technique had and went to try it. His first attempt resulted in the brick he was using breaking it two. Unfortunately that was not the desired result, like the wood the brick should have shattered after the blow. "I wouldn't worry about not getting it right of the bat," Eugene said. "Now what's this technique you were going to show me?"
"It's the Saotome Technique of Cling to the Ceiling and Hope They Go Away," Ranma answered.
"Ok," Eugene developed a sweat drop at the name, "So how does it work?"
"Watch," Ranma jumped straight up and dug his finger and tows into the ceiling and hung there.
"Ok I'm impressed but what good is that in a fight?" Eugene asked.
Ranma dropped down, "Well it's more for avoiding someone then for fightin' I guess. But I have used if for dodged before and getten the drop on someone."
"Yeah I guess you could use it for that," Eugene admitted. "Still it feels more like a thieving technique than a fighting technique." He looked up the ceiling, "Still I would be fun to learn." He smiled a little and jumped up like Ranma had done. And promptly fell back to the ground after failing dig his fingers or toes into the surface on contact.
Ranma gave a small laugh, "Guess ya need practice at that."
"Yeah guess I do," Eugene laughed as well.
Their laughing was interrupted by the red glow coming from the Dojo entrance. When they turned to the source of the glow they were surprised at what the saw. Akane was standing in the doorway, what was strange was that the typical red glow generated by her battle aura when she was angry was not present. In fact as far as the two teenager boys could tell Akane seemed rather happy for once. The glow however was coming from a smoking pile of something on a plate she was holding in front of her. This caused Eugene to become confused even more and Ranma to become frightened almost as much as when a cat was present. "Hear Ranma I made you a snack," Akane said, just as pile of red glowing substance dripped onto the floor and ate through it like acid.
"I think that might be a little to spicy Akane," Eugene said with sweat drop.
"This isn't for you!" Akane snapped. "It's for Ranma, now eat up!" She ordered shoving to the cursed boy.
"Why would I wanna eat somethin' that's gonna kill me?" Ranma honestly asked.
"RANMA NO BAKA!" Akane yelled dropping the plate of biohazard. She started to charge Ranma with her mallet when suddenly the temperature dropped several degrees instantly. Do to the sudden drop in temperature frost formed on the floor causing Akane to slip and fling her mallet hitting Ranma into the koi pond turning him into his girl form.
When Ranma-chan surfaced she located the source of the sudden freeze very quickly. Eugene was standing in near the doorway just over the plate of concoction that Akane had made. Eugene had used the Soul of Ice to flash freeze the substance before it could eat its way through the floor.
It was at this time that Kasumi came out with the standard clean up tools (Level Five Biohazard Suit) to remove the snack Akane made. "Dinner will be a bit late tonight," she said from behind the transparent faceplate. "Nabiki has placed the order but for something knew she ordered from this nice Italian Restaurant from across the district." She then turned to Eugene, "Eugene could you help me in the kitchen please, some of Akane's snack was dripped on the floor."
"Um yeah sure Kasumi," Eugene blinked. "Where'd she get the Biohazard Suit?" he silently asked himself.
"I need ta go change," Ranma-chan spoke up before dashing into the house.
"RANMA GET BACK HERE!" Akane yelled finally remembering Ranma insulted her cooking.
Across the district there were numerous reports of several thousand pieces of women's under garments being stolen. This of course was caused by the most perverted man to ever walk the face of the Earth. However unlike previous times where Happosai had stolen his 'silky darlings' for the fun of it he was now doing it to store up massive amounts of Ki for the fight against Joe. "Even when he left Joe could give me a good workout," Happosai thought as he avoided several angry women running after him. "And know he knows Amazon Techniques plus the ones he created under me, and ones he made since the time I left. I could tell his Ki levels have greatly increased as well." Happosai then did something he had not done in several decades he smiled, and not one caused by a perverted thought. No this smile was the same smile any fighter would recognize in an instant, it was one of anticipation of a fight facing someone at his or her best. The idea of facing someone that could give him a challenge after so long excited Happosai more than even seeing Ranma-chan in string bikini, well almost. After all even though he was a pervert and an underwear thief Happosai was still a Martial Artist and all Martial Artist love a good fight.