Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that i claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:

Chapter 1: It always begins with an ending.

Nabiki Tendo had to admit, the last two years were something else. She had offered to become a witness against the Yakuza, been chased, attacked, poisoned, tortured and somehow managed to find the love of her life. She was a mother now, and married to Ranma Tendo (He had taken on her name, since he had to give up his own, but that was perhaps a tale for another time.)

Currently, she was dealing with their one year old son Chiko Tendo, who was a fussy little thing. Personally, she blamed it on her aunt Akane, who also was a fussy baby. Or, so she very vaguely remembered. Kasumi wouldn't answer her question, and that in itself was an answer.

She gazed fondly over at her (currently) male husband, who was making a general idiot out of himself, much to the amusement of their son. It was nice, this bit of familial bliss was a rare thing, even with Ranma taking a bit of time off after that last job. It was a rough one, for everyone involved. Ranma never took it well when he lost a client, much less a pair. There wasn't really anything he could have done, they contacted him too late. At least he was able to save their daughter, who surprisingly had found a new home with Akane and Ukyo.

Always try to find the light in the darkness, as her sister Kasumi would say.

Nabiki, for her part, was kept quite busy. She was getting the Tanaka's new legal business venture off the ground, and being a new mother. Honestly, it was exhausting, but worth it. Kasumi of course was a pillar even with her own brood to tend to, and she had found a surprising endless supply of 'aunts' at the Teahouse. Honestly, she was more worried they would spoil her son horribly than anything else.

The life of a mother is fraught with peril, it would seem.

She was just starting to get supper ready when there is a heavy knock at the door, or more like something falling against it. Nabiki and Ranma share a quick look, with Nabiki heading into the kitchen and getting down behind the counter, holding her son against her chest while Ranma went to the door and after checking it, opened it quickly.

His shout of dismay and grief chilled Nabiki to the bone, but she still stayed put until he called for her to get the first aid kit, and to hurry about it.

She cast a brief glance in the direction of Ranma as she hurried to the medical kit, letting Chiko ride in his harness as she brought it over, getting a good look at the person laying on the floor just inside the doorway. It's a small girl, couldn't be more than ten or twelve years old dressed in bloody, tattered Chinese clothing. Her lavender hair is dirty and matted, and her face is pale. She appeared to be breathing, so at least that is good.

"I'm calling Tofu." Nabiki declared as she hurried to get to the phone while Ranma just nodded and set about tending to the mysterious girl.

Nabiki dialed the number quickly, feeling a bit more relieved when the bespectacled healer picked up the phone. "Tofu, it's Nabiki. I need you here, now. We have a ten to twelve year old girl here who is injured badly. Yes, Ranma is here and tending to her now. We need you, Tofu. Yes, yes, thank you. Bye."

Nabiki hurried over, staying nearby if Ranma needed her assistance as he moved quickly, tending to the worst of her injuries. "Who is she, Ranma? You seem to know her." She asked as she handed him another roll of gauze.

He nodded with a grim expression on his face. "Her name is Qiang Pu, her mother is Xian Pu. I'm her father." He said as he lifted her, and started to head towards the spare bedroom. "Get some hot water going, 'Biki. We need to get her wounds cleaned up as best as we can before Tofu gets here."

Nabiki nodded as she let that process. She knew about the young girl, and the fact that she was part of the deal that Ranma had made years ago with the Chinese Amazons to release him from their wrath. What the girl was doing here, and in such poor shape, was a mystery that they would have to answer sooner rather than later. But for now, they had to get her stable and make sure that she lived through this.

Whoever did this to a pretty little girl like her was going to pay for this. As she looked to her husband and received a grim nod in return, she knew that they were going to pay dearly for this.

But for now, tending to the girl was the first priority.

Nabiki settled Chiko into his crib, giving him a bottle as she moved to help Ranma with his daughter. The poor thing had been cut, stabbed, and it looked like a shot with at least one arrow. She shuddered, never imaging how she made it this far. "Did...She come here from China, like this?" Nabiki asked in horrified wonder as she helped Ranma clean the girl up.

He nodded, his expression growing more and more dire by the moment. "They hurt her, 'Biki. Someone hurt my daughter. Once Tofu gets here, I need to call them, see if I can find out what happened, what is going on. Then, I might have to leave for a while…" He said in a hesitant voice.

"Ranma, if you didn't go, I would be very unhappy with you. We need to find out what is happening, and take care of it. You know how this works, Ranma. We are partners in everything." Nabiki stated matter of factly as they bundle the girl up and wait.

Tofu arrived in a short period of time, without Kasumi in tow. "Kasumi is home, taking care of the kids." He stated as he walked back into the room with Ranma, asking them both to leave while he tended to the girl.

It's a nervous and agitated pair that exits the room, Ranma nodded to Nabiki once as he pulled out the satellite phone, and started the call as he walked into the other room. All Nabiki could do at this point is wait, and hope that all is well. She had never met Xian Pu, but couldn't help but feel some connection to the mysterious Chinese Amazon. The other woman in his life, as it were. The mother of his other child. She hoped that she was okay, and this was some horrid misunderstanding.

Ranma comes back into the room, looking even more grim. "No answer, not on either of the lines. I have to go, Nabiki." He stated in that flat, dangerous voice.

"I understand. You start to get things ready, and we will see how Qiang Pu is doing, then we will go from there." Nabiki said as she opened her phone, starting to look at making arrangements for travel.

"Nabiki, dear… You need to stay here. You have to take care of Chiko, and Qiang Pu. Plus, if something happened with them, it is going to be way too dangerous for you to be there. I need you here, where it is relatively safe. Maybe stay at the Teahouse for a few days, or see if they can spare you some company. I need you all safe so I can go and deal with...Whatever this is." Ranma said as he walked over and rested his head on hers.

Nabiki sighed, and wrapped her arms around him. "Okay, okay. You win. You just better come back in one piece, or I will be very...Vexed. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it 'Biki." Ranma said as they found some small comfort in the presence of the other.

They are pulled back to the present when Tofu exits the room, looking unhappy. "She is going to be fine, she needs rest, food, and more treatment. I would say a hospital, but I know that is probably not an option. It never is with you two. So, I imagine you will be contacting someone you know to see to her?"

Nabiki nodded as Ranma finished gathering one of his go bags, hesitating as he looked back at Nabiki. "I'm sorry about this, Nabiki. I.. I don't know how long I will be gone." Ranma said, looking aside.

Nabiki stepped up to him, pulling him in for one more hug. "I know. You will be fine, we will be fine. All of us. I will call Konatsu and the girls, arrange transport back to the Teahouse for us. You know we will be fine. Tofu will wait til they get here, right?" She asked as she looked over to her brother in law, who just nodded.

Ranma gripped the bag tighter, then nodded, walking over and kissing his son on the forehead before giving Nabiki one last kiss before he headed out the door.

Nabiki sighed, watching the door for a moment, before opening her phone again and calling a familiar number. "This is Nabiki Tendo, I am calling for pickup. Yes, for four. Yes, I would like a rush on the order. Thank you."

"They will be here in a few minutes." Nabiki said to Tofu, who pushed his glasses up and nodded.

The waiting began.

Few minutes later, there is a sharp knock on the door, with it immediately opening as Tachi and Michi sweep into the house. The scarred Lilly immediately moves to check the back door to the small yard, giving a curt nod to Nabiki and Tofu as Michi stops in front of Nabiki.

"Can you please take this One to see our new guest?" She asked politely, adjusting her medical bag over her shoulder.

Tofu glances at Nabiki, then leads her towards the room, filling her in as they go. Koda is the next to enter the room, followed by Konatsu. Nabiki balked a bit, more than a bit surprised to see the Mother of the Teahouse herself present.

"It's...an honor to have you here, Konatsu. I...Wasn't expecting you." Nabiki admits as Koda oversees the activities of the others and Konatsu started to look around.

"This One was curious what could cause such distress for my most esteemed friend, Nabiki. So this One came, to see what could be done. How is the child?" She asked as she leaned against the wall.

"She...Is unconscious, but Doctor Tofu said he thinks she will be okay. She needs medical attention, and I don't trust the hospitals. Plus, it's likely she is not here legally, and I want to keep her safe. She might not be my daughter, but she is Ranma's, and that makes her family as far as I am concerned. And Tendo's protect their own." Nabiki says, as she fussed nervously with her son.

"I see. When my ladies take you from here, I shall stay for a while. In case you have...Other guests." Konatsu says as she checks her perfect kimono over.

Nabiki relaxes a bit, the less formal tone that Konatsu only takes when dealing with those she considers her extended family bringing a sense of comfort to her. "Thank you, Konatsu. We are in your debt." Nabiki said as she bowed deeply to the geisha.

"We still have much to do, to pay the debt that we owe Ranma, and you by extension. Without both of you, we would not have what we do now. We would still be lost, trapped in bodies that do not match our souls. It is a debt that we will never be able to repay, but we will keep trying to." Konatsu pauses, then smiles softly. "Plus, you are our friends and family. What good is such bonds if they are not tested and affirmed?"

Nabiki smiled sadly, stepping over and hugging the other woman gently, whispering in her ear. "You are truly the greatest friend we could ever hope for."

Konatsu returned the hug, then gently stepped away. "As are you, Nabiki Tendo. You gave our lost horse a place to call home, and a family." Konatsu bowed once more as Michi and Tofu came out of the bedroom, carefully carrying the small girl between them. Tachi watches them with her one eye, her hand resting lightly on her swords hilt. She doesn't move until they are escorting Nabiki and Tofu out as well, then falls in line at the end with one last deep bow to Konatsu.

"It's going to be okay, isn't it Tofu?" Nabiki asked nervously.

"Ranma will be fine, and the three of you will be safe at the Teahouse. What more can you ask for right now?" Tofu answered.

Nabiki had nothing else to add, only able to grimly nod as she was swept along.

*A/N*

I couldn't leave the Teahouse and the world of Y3 alone it would seem…

I have...a few more projects than I expected, but I will update as often and as fast as I can.

And yes, I will cover what Ranma is up to in another story.

I just need to recharge before I start the War of the Horse.

PS. I really seem to hate my life :P