Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Ranma ½.
The streets of Nerima were once again subjected to a weird occurrence. One that was weird enough for the citizens to take notice. There was a large overweight panda walking on its hind legs next to a rather handsome young man, and while this was odd enough for Nerima it was not strange enough to draw the residents attention. What did draw their attention was the fact that the young man was talking to the panda and the panda was responding with written signs. "Now why are we heading to your friend's home instead of ours?" the young man asked. His voice showed his clear displeasure.
"You're mother moved since we left," the panda replied with its sign. "My old friend has her current address."
"And how do you know this?" the young man asked.
The panda began to sweat a little before it replied. "Well I called our house when we arrived," the panda wrote. "There was not even a ring just a message saying the number was disconnected. I then called Tendo." The young man seemed satisfied with the answer and let the matter drop. The panda whipped the sweat from its brow in relief. What he had said was true. He did call his wife's number and a message saying it was disconnected and he did call Tendo. What the panda did not tell was that the message gave another number his wife could be reached at nor did he say that what he talked to Tendo about on the phone.
"So where is this Tendo Dojo?" the young man asked.
"Just a little further," the panda answered. "We'll be there in a few minutes."
At said Dojo three teenage girls waited, with varying degrees of patience, for their father to explain why he called them here. Ever since he got a phone call yesterday the man had been even more excitable then he normally was. The girls were wondering what the phone call had been about and now it appeared that they would finally get an answer. "Girls I have some wonderful news!" the man said with huge smile. "My old training partner and dearest friend is coming by and will be staying with us for a while!"
"Why is that good news Daddy?" the middle girl asked. "Great that means more strain of the budget."
"We trained under the same ma…person when we were younger," the father explained. "It'll be good for the Dojo to have another Master here." The truth was he was excited because his friend was coming to fulfill the pledge they made many years ago. The only problem was his old partner told him not to mention the engagement just yet and would explain once he got here.
"How could you invite someone to stay with us without even asking?" the youngest yelled. "I don't want some perverted boy staying here so he can try and feel me up!"
"Just what's your friend's name and what kind of guy is his son?" Nabiki asked. "A new Master for the Dojo could bring some real students back and would certainly help with expenses," Nabiki thought. "Not too mention a new guy could be good to have around here." Nabiki had to admit the idea of having a boy around that was not already infatuated with her sister was a pretty good bonus. She, like several girls in the area, found her weekends pretty dull with no one to ask her out.
"What kind of food do they like?" the eldest asked. "If they are staying here then I should know what to cook."
"Well knowing my old friend anything you cook he will enjoy Kasumi," the man said, "I don't have a clue about his son."
Another bout of silence occurred before Akane yelled, "How can you not know?"
"Well I never met his son before," the father answered. "All I know is that he and his father have been on a training trip for the past ten years and have recently returned from China."
"Well at least he sounds well traveled," Nabiki commented.
Further discussion was ended by a knock coming from the front door. As it was part of her self-imposed duty Kasumi stood up. "I'll get it."
The father quickly stood up and followed yelling, "Saotome my old friend!" Not more than five seconds later the eldest daughter and father came running back in clearly scared of what ever was at the entrance.
Another second went by and what scarred the two eldest members of the Tendo Clan became clear. A large panda waving a sign that said, "Tendo! It's good to see you!" came lumbering in behind them.
"This is your old friend?" Nabiki asked completely surprised. Her father shook his head frantically.
"I told you to change back first!" the voice of a young man said from behind the panda. "Now look at what you did. You scared them half to death!" the source of the voice pushed the panda behind him with surprising ease. "I'm sorry for the scare, he," he gestured to the panda, "Doesn't think before he acts most of the time and never listens to me."
"And just who are you?" Nabiki asked. "He's pretty cute," she thought.
"Oh I'm sorry," the young man said. "I am Saotome Ranma…" Ranma was cut off from saying more because the father jumped at him and squeezed the breath out of him in a giant hug."
"Oh I'm so happy you came!" the father cried. "I've waited so long for you to show. Come sit down!" Not waiting for a reply the Tendo father dragged the wheezing Ranma to the dinning room table.
As Ranma was dragged to the table the panda held up another sign, "Could I have some warm water please?"
"Oh my just one moment," Kasumi answered.
The panda flipped the sign, "Thank you." He then joined Ranma and the rest of the Tendos at the table. Kasumi soon returned with a kettle of warm water and handed it to the panda.
"Perhaps you should do that outside," Ranma suggested.
"Why?" the panda wrote before picking up the kettle.
Before Ranma could answer the father spoke up again. "Um Ranma where is your father? He said he was coming with you."
"Well that is a little…" Ranma tried to say but a splash to his left cut him off.
"Right here Tendo," Genma said. The four Tendos stared at the fat man in shock for several seconds and then passed out.
"I told you to change outside!" Ranma scolded. "Now we have to wait to find out where Mom lives."
"Er…right," Genma said nervously.
Almost an hour later the Tendos began to regain consciousness. The first up was Kasumi, when she sat up she saw that there were guests in the house and left to prepare for some tea. The second up was Nabiki, after a few seconds she realized what happened and slowly inched away from Genma while giving both people an unusual look. The father and Akane woke up after that. "Wh…what happened t…to you?" the father stuttered when he saw Genma and remembered what happened previously.
"Well I guess an explanation is in order," Ranma said as Kasumi reentered the room.
"It all started when I took my son to the legendary training ground Jusenkyo…" Genma explained. He went on to tell the Tendos what happened, with the proper corrections from Ranma, and how he acquired his curse.
When Genma finished his tail and after a couple of demonstrations Genma's old training partner began to wail, "Oh this reminds of the times with the Master!"
Ranma leaned over to Kasumi, who was the closest to him. "Is your father always like this?"
"Please forgive Father," Kasumi said. "He can be rather…emotional at times."
Nabiki always curious for information asked, "So Ranma what do turn into when splashed with cold water, some kind of rat?" Her mind was trying to work out how this could benefit her.
"I don't have a Jusenkyo curse," Ranma answered. "I was smart enough to learn so Chinese and ask the Guide that was there."
The Tendo Patriarch overcoming his emotions for once started to make introductions. "Now let me introduce everyone. I am Tendo Soun and these are my daughters Kasumi she is nineteen, Nabiki she is seventeen, and this is Akane she's sixteen. Welcome to out home!"
Akane finally recovering from all the shock yelled, "We can't just have some pervert staying here!"
"What makes you think I'm a pervert?" Ranma asked. He had only met this girl less than an hour ago and she was already accusing him of something.
"You're a boy and all boys are perverts," Akane said with full conviction.
"That's a rather impersonal reason to call me a pervert, especially when you've only known me for less than an hour" Ranma said with a slight growl in his voice. The only one who seemed to notice was Genma who started to feel a shiver down his back.
"S..son, now remember w…we are guests here," Genma stated hoping to get his son calmed down.
It worked as Ranma turned back to Soun looking much calmer "I thank you for the offer but I'm kind of in a hurry to find my mother. Pop said you know where she was."
"You're unguarded," Genma said jumping up and attacking Ranma hoping to distract him from the subject of leaving. His attack was cut off by a vicious back kick from Ranma sending out into the yard and into the Koi pond.
"Knock it off Old Man I think they've had enough excitement for one evening!" Ranma yelled out the door. "Mr. Tendo, I was brought here because I was told you would know where my mother was. So Mr. Tendo if you could tell us where my mother lives?" Ranma asked.
Soun was about to answer when he saw a sign stick up out of the Koi pond. "Don't tell him, or else it'll ruin our dream!"
"No," Soun said firmly. He was always a much better liar than Genma and with the threat of his dream ending right before his eyes he went along with Genma. "I am afraid I haven't spoken with her in some time.
Ranma narrowed his eyes for a moment. His father had said the Tendos knew where his mother was and now Soun was saying the opposite. "Pop is up to something again," Ranma thought. "Then I guess I have no further business here," Ranma said. "I will just have to find her myself."
"Now don't be hasty," Soun said. "You and your father can stay here for a while. We have plenty of room."
Nabiki seeing an opportunity to make some money asked, "Do you have any clue where to begin? If not I could help you."
"I could actually help with that, for a small fee of course," Nabiki said. "I'm actually pretty good at finding information on people."
"Do you really think you can help?" Ranma asked. Nabiki gave him a confident nod, "Well I could differently use the help."
"That's an excellent idea! You can stay here until Nabiki finds your mother!" He quickly turned to Kasumi, "Kasumi please prepare the guest room for them."
"Yes Father," Kasumi said standing up and going up stairs.
"I still don't like having a perverted boy here," Akane said.
"Akane they're guests," Soun pleaded.
"Fine just let him," Akane pointed at Ranma, "Anywhere near our rooms." She stood up and left through the back door. "I'll be in the Dojo!"
"So Tendo you still got the shogi board?" Genma asked.
"Of coarse Saotome," Soun said as he stood up.
"Boy go unpack our things," Genma said.
Ranma gave Genma wondering look. "I'll play along for now to see what he's up to," Ranma thought. He gave no response except to pick up the bags and head up stairs.
Nabiki had noticed the look then glanced at Genma. She knew something was not right here because that was the exact same look she gave someone she suspected they were holding out on her. "I wonder what he's hiding." Nabiki then stood up and went up to her room to try and figure out what was going on.
Ranma quickly found the guest room and saw Kasumi just coming out, "The room is ready for you Ranma."
"Thank you Kasumi," Ranma smiled. "I'll just put our packs inside then." Kasumi returned the smile and headed down stairs. After Kasumi left Ranma entered the room, "Not to bad, though a little small for two people. Still I wonder what Pop is up to?"
After Ranma had left the dinning room Soun asked, "You said there was a problem?"
"Yes it's the Boy," Genma whispered. "He won't agree to the engagement if we try to force it on him."
"But it's a matter of honor," Soun began to cry.
"Not too worry Tendo," Genma assured. "All we have to do is get Ranma close to one of your daughters and then tell them about it. Then we contact Nodoka and she'll come and reinforce the agreement and Ranma will marry one of your daughters."
"Yes of course," Soun agreed. "Your idea I brilliant, we'll just let nature take its course and the Schools will be joined."
Genma let out a silent sigh as he relaxed. He knew Ranma would not consent to an arranged marriage from the time his son caught him trying to arrange one previously. When Ranma caught wind of the engagement he beat him unconscious and dragged Genma back to the parent and girl to nullify the engagement. The only they would is if Genma paid off what he owned them, and if it is one thing Genma hates it is to do work. "Foolish boy's ruining my retirement," Genma grumbled.
A few minutes later Ranma came down the stairs and saw Genma and Soun playing shogi and Kasumi in the kitchen. He could tell that she just started fixing something to eat. Shrugging Ranma decided to check out the Dojo, "It should be a good place to train while we're at least." Ranma then thought for a minute, "I should talk the Tendos about paying for my stay. I don't want to be a leech like Pop."
When he went out to the Dojo he saw Akane set up six bricks and then prepare to break them. As he watched from the entrance he analyzed her form as she broke them, "She's not lined up, didn't follow through and she had no speed to speak of. The only reason she broke all of them was because of brute power."
"What do you want pervert?" Akane snapped at him.
Ranma frowned a little. "What's with her?" Ranma asked himself. "Just wanted to check out the Dojo and simply found you here breaking bricks." He then added, "To be honest I'm not impressed. All you have is brute force nothing more." Normally Ranma would not have been as critical of, in his opinion, someone just starting to learn the Art. But the way Akane kept calling him a pervert rubbed him wrong way.
"What?" Akane yelled. She started to see red at that comment. Akane knew she was the best in Nerima and this boy had just insulted her at the Art. "Care to try me and see just how good I am!"
"Sorry not interested," Ranma said brushing her off. Ranma never liked fighting people weaker than him. And even in his human form, his weakest form, Akane was incredibly weak compared to him.
"What are you afraid you'll get beat by a girl!" Akane accused. She hated when people did not take her seriously in Marital Arts just because she was a girl.
"You being a girl has nothing to do with it, Tomboy," Ranma really hated being rude, especially when he was a guest but Akane was just pushing his buttons. "It has to do with you being so weak."
"WEAK!" Akane now saw nothing more than a red haze and blindly charged at Ranma. Ranma easily dodged Akane's wild punch and the sloppy follow up kick.
Ranma backed into the Dojo and Akane quickly followed sending several wild swings trying to hit Ranma. Not a single one even came close making Akane even angrier every time she missed. After nearly ten minutes of this Akane was gasping for air and Ranma was standing in the corner shaking his head, "You need to learn better control."
"My control is fine!" Akane snapped. She took a deep breath and charged Ranma once again intent on putting all her power into this one blow and finishing him off.
It was too bad for Akane that by focusing on just her power she became even slower. Ranma effortlessly spun around the punch as it smashed the corner, "You need better control, more speed, better combos, and greater stamina. If you want I can help you…"
"I don't need your help pervert!" Akane yelled and stomped out of the Dojo and passed Nabiki.
"What is her problem?" Ranma asked Nabiki who just entered the Dojo.
"She's the best fighter in School," Nabiki answered. "I don't think she likes loosing."
"Nothing wrong with loosing," Ranma said. "So what can I do for you?"
"I just came here to ask how you plan to pay for your stay?" Nabiki asked. Normally she was not this direct but this issue needed to be gotten out of the way as soon as possible.
"I've got some money in my pack," Ranma said. "It should cover Pop and I for a couple weeks or so and help with locating my mom. And if we're here longer than that I'll get a job somewhere."
"I heard your father was going to register you at our school. Around here you should know they don't allow students to get jobs," Nabiki informed. "Don't suppose your father would get a job?"
"Not likely," Ranma said. "And if I can't get a job around here I get one somewhere else."
Nabiki was rather disappointed about Genma not getting a job but liked to see that Ranma was willing to carry his weight. If Ranma could make enough to cover himself and his father she might be able to break even depending on how much they eat. "Maybe I can make a little profit too. I'm sure the girls at school would pay top dollar for pictures of him working out just like Kuno does for pictures of Akane."
"Hopefully we won't be here that long," Ranma continued. "But I have a feeling Pop is up to something that will only cause me and your family a sever headache."
"You speak from experience," Nabiki stated.
"Lets just say I am aware of my father's stupidity," Ranma said. "I'm usually able to catch him before any real damage is done but every once in a while he gets something past me and it ends up biting us in the ass."
"Thanks for the warning," Nabiki said. Ranma's father sounded like hers sometimes with his get rich quick schemes. If both of them were at then it could spell trouble for them financially. "I'll keep that in mind." Ranma nodded and the two left the dojo as Kasumi called them in for lunch.