Scroll 2. Jal khaless zhah waela
(All trust is foolish)
The well-known (for us) scenario of meeting Saotomes with Tendos was doomed from the start: first, both Jusenkyo victims was in their... natural form; then there was that outsider... so while fathers was whispering something to each other at one side of the table (and naturally celebrating the reunion of the old friends with some sake), another part of the same table got the strangest conversation possible.

"...but, friend Saotome..."

"...friend Tendo, it's a good..."

"So, you are Ranma."- Akane eyed said boy a little distrustfully (hey, deal with Kuno and the Horde of Hentai daily even for a month and the chances of trust to anybody male will definitely wears thin).

"Yes, I am Ranma. Pleased to metcha."- This was a definitely unfamiliar ground, but no insults was throwed yet, so it was not qualified as a battle. Yet. Meaning: no insults either.

"Well, at least he got some decent physique,"- Nabiki was seriously trying to gauge the potential of this new... fiancé. So far she got mixed results. He was not sounding as someone too bright, but was definitely good as a martial artist - she WAS practicing for some time, before changing her focus a little, plus running a betting pool, after all, so right now her judgment on the boy was maybe the most precise of all the Tendo sisters. Not the best pick, but definitely not the worst either. Well, maybe she must claim this fiancé... IF she would feel like doing all the thinking.

"Tea?"- Kasumi was her usual oblivious self... on the outside. She was appreciating the politeness of her today's guests, but was not too set about the whole fiancé thing. Yes, he was kind of good looking... But so was Doctor Tofu, and said doctor was SO silly that she was wondering if she must look for someone even elder, or it was just HIS personality quirk. At the other hand, she was already 19, and there was a 'good' possibility that with all the chores she would not find anybody till the 25. She was NOT too thrilled of the perspective to be considered a "Christmas Cake", thank you very much. Plus that outsider... it was just impossible to bring the family troubles on the fore with someone looking.

"Thank you." (sip) "Oh, it's really good."- Well, looks like this outsider was of the polite sort.- "You know, I'm really impressed, it's a rather unique blend. But you would prefer to sit for some of my information might be TOO strange."- Hmmm. Strange but definitely polite. How unusual for the outsider.

"Oh, thank you, you are too kind."

"...but my little girls..."

"...ndo, this is a perfect opport..."

"You see, I'm in need of the help, so Saotome-san here- a polite nod to Ranma- was so helpful to agree to do so. As you can guess, he was inclined to meet you all first, for this was the earlier agreement."- Seg was pleased: so far everything was going according to the plan. The only on-the-fly decision was a minor disguise spell to conceal the color of his eyes... after all, Japanese themselves avoid shades to not 'look like Yakuza', right? No point to alienate his... friends too early.

"I..."- Ranma was more then puzzled with the current situation. At one hand, he was NOT too thrilled to go to the Tendo dojo, and this... outsider was stating just the opposite; at the other hand, he was showing Ranma in the best light possible. What to do, what to do...

"Too polite, you know. Well, the matter at hand is a simple travel to the exotic location. Not too long nor too far, and with Saotome-san helping it is definitely safe. The problem is, the local... customs demand not to travel alone, you see. No exclusions. So, Saotome-san will need someone to accompany him on his way back. As I need him to accompany me, I am willing to reward the one who will go with him either."

Nabiki was the fastest thinker as always:

"What reward we are speaking of?"

"Well... How about a magic item and a bit of gold?"

"And how much gold will it be?"

"Let's see... Will a pound be sufficient? Plus anything you will get yourself?"

"Sold!"

"Oh my!"

And then things goes strange. First, Seg rose from his place (leaving some book at the table), and left to the back yard, motioning to the Ranma and Nabiki to follow; then he give to the middle Tendo some strange pouch (seemingly from nowhere, which was alarming) and to the Ranma- the weird black sword with the golden trimming (with the comments about 'looking good' and 'customs'), then said "let's go" and start slowly chanting something under his breath, completely ignoring any questions. The circles of blue light begin to rotate around the three, and a low humming sound fill the air. After the minute or so he stops chanting (the rings of light cease their rotation, but did not disappear) and politely ask Kasumi to bring his book. When she take it from the table, suddenly a flash of lighting light the Tendo home.

Tendo Akane look in awe as Ranma, her two sisters and the stranger all vanished in the flash of the blue light.

"What's up?"- Well, seemingly the fathers just decide to pay attention to the whole matter...

But far more interesting was the new eruption of light near the koi pond, this time violet, and the four figures in translucent green armor with closed helms standing guard with the crimson and black weapons... Then as one they eased their stances and sheathed the blades.

Then they take the helms off, and Akane gasped: two of them without a shadow of the doubt were her sisters... Yet they weren't looking their usual selves, and even worse- their movements looks completely 'off' to the youngest of the Tendo present. Almost as if BOTH her sisters somehow get a lifetime of training over a couple dozen of seconds they was absent.

"Looks like we are home... at last,"- said Nabiki with the big sigh and in a single fluid move sat down right where she stand at the moment, looking definitely exhausted, and lightly brush her long hairs absentmindedly.

'At last'? Nabiki has long hairs? Wait, if two of these figures are her sisters... Akane's eyes darted to the somehow... firmed face of this boy, Ranma... then to the fourth of the armoured figures, finding rather attractive yet unfamiliar redhead... A sudden gasp from behind her alerted her to the arrival of the fathers to the scene, and let her know that this... friend of her father, Genma was his name?- knows the redhead, if his wide eyes and a chalk-white face was any indications.

Akane suddenly got a sinking feeling that a Grand Headache was definitely ahead.

"Well, if Nabiki say we are home, then we ARE home,"- and Kasumi made a complex hand gesture, resulting in the translucent white wave passing through Nabiki, leaving her far fresher then a moment ago (and occasionally leaving Akane completely stunned at the sight of her sister performing 'real magic').

"Thank you, oneesan."- Nabiki sounded completely sincere - the soft affection in her tone was practically palpable.

"It's a pleasure, oneechan."- Kasumi answered with the equally soft amusement.- "As reckless as always, ne? There was no real need in THAT precise spell targeting, you know."

Nabiki... reckless? Scratch the 'ahead' bit, headache was already there and definitely getting worse by minutes.

"You know me well, oneesan."- Nabiki made a show of the slow and gracious return in the upright position, all the movements fluid and flawless.- "Yet you are not completely honest now, ne? It was not necessary to put THAT much efforts in the glamour spells either, but you practically work yourself in the ground preparing them..."

"Let's call it a draw,"- interject Ranma equally softly.- "And maybe your family will be interested in our story, ne?"

The dual thump from the general direction of fathers prove that Genma and Soun had as bad time with this new turn of event as Akane has.

"Oneesan, what has happened?"

"Well, Akane-chan, it's a long story..."