Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½, or anything else you may recognize. Not a dime is being made of this story and is for entertainment purposes only. Enjoy!
Chapter 3
"That stupid, baka tomboy! Why do I always have to be the one to apologize? Nobody ever tells her to apologize for hittin' me," Ranma grumbled as he made his was across the roof of the Tendo home to take a quick peek into Akane's room before swinging down in the hopes of apologizing. He had already attempted her door, and she just yelled at him to leave not even giving him the chance to speak after telling her it was him. Poking his head over the edge of the roof Ranma got a look at something that he never thought he would see. In Akane's room was not a girl crying to her pet pig as everyone in the house assumed. Ryoga was in there alright, but the closest he was getting to his cursed form was an acronym for the couple's current actions. Seeing the woman he cared for most, especially after going the distance to kill a God for her, cheating on him, Ranma was understandably pissed off. It was safe to say that he hadn't ever been this angry in his life. All the instances of his going off to save her life flashed through his mind, and all the times she had hit first and didn't bother to even listen to his side of the story even later followed. By the time the memories stopped he had to resort to the soul of ice to keep from burning the roof due to the heat generated by his aura.
"SWEETO," Happosai yelled attempting to douse Ranma once again with water, unfortunately for him he didn't see the warning signs and Ranma calmly dodged the water.
"Hey, ya ol' pervert! Perfect timin', I need a good workout," Ranma yelled, "Waddya say we settle this once and for all?"
"What do you mean Ranma," Happosai asked curiously. He wasn't worried about Ranma, even though he hadn't gone to China he knew he could still take the boy, but he was a little curious as to what the lad meant.
"You, me, fight for the title of Grandmaster of Anything Goes, now," Ranma ground out settling into a stance. He knew the old pervert would agree, and right now he was really glad he'd been holding back for a while. The lech would never know what hit him.
"Alright Ranma, if that's what you want," Happosai replied seriously after taking a drag off of his pipe, "Let's take this fight somewhere else."
"I'm not stupid Happosai, we need someone ta be a witness," Ranma sniped.
"And we'll have one," Happosai snapped back, "Meet me behind the school in half an hour."
"You're on," Ranma yelled before bounding off keeping to rooftops. He was still extremely angry by Akane's betrayal that he wasn't sure that this was the best idea, but there was no backing out now. "And she calls me a pervert," he muttered to himself as he dashed over the rooftops towards the school. He was moving his legs just short of Amaguriken speeds, he had found after training them to that speed that if he ran that fast he tended to damage property just by running, so he had to slow just a bit. He made it to the school in near record time, of course, if you asked Guinness, it would've been a world record. Keeping a firm clamp on the Soul of Ice so he didn't alert Happosai to his true strength Ranma lied in wait for the battle that he'd wanted to happen for a while now. Unfortunately Happosai had been on a vacation to a hot springs for the past month and hadn't been available. According to what he heard before alighting the roof it appeared it was a women's only hot spring due to the sheer amount of stolen panties the pervert had returned with.
"Are you ready Ranma," Happosai asked bounding into the field looking as serious as he had upon the rooftop.
"You bet ya old perv'," Ranma called out.
"What's this for son-in-law," Cologne called out as she hopped out from behind Genma and Soun.
"Good timing old ghoul," Ranma called out, "We need someone to witness the old pervert losing his title as Grandmaster of Anything Goes. Someone who won't lie about the results of the fight because of fear of Happosai."
"I would be honored son-in-law," Cologne replied after gathering her wits. She had witnessed Ranma's battle with Saffron and knew he was powerful, much more so than Happosai, but what would he have to gain by taking the title of Grandmaster? Genma and Soun were wailing that Ranma was acting dishonorable and/or Ranma wasn't going to live to join the schools. Cologne decided to call out the terms of the battle to make sure everyone agreed and hopefully prevent any deaths tonight.
"This match is Anything Goes Martial Arts for the title of Grandmaster. There is no time limit, and to win you must knock out your opponent or they must concede, no lethal blows allowed. There will be no rematches allowed within a year. Are we all agreed," She asked, seeing nods of heads all around she prayed that it stayed that way before calling out, "BEGIN!"
Ranma took his usual defensive stance that he reserved for battles with Happosai or Cologne while he waited for the founder of his school of martial arts to make the first move. Happosai seemed to take on Ranma's usual stance of complete cockiness and indifference. It didn't last long though, after seeing that he wasn't going to goad Ranma into attacking first this time Happosai made the first of many mistakes throughout the fight. Leaping towards Ranma with his pipe extended feinting an attack for his chest he was surprised when the next thing he knew he was practically seeing bras flying around his head and he was imbedded in a crater. He hadn't even seen Ranma move before he was put into the ground! From there it went downhill. When he tried a Happo fire burst the attack was caught and sent back at him at the last second so he couldn't dodge. When he manifested his aura Ranma let go of the Soul of Ice releasing his Aura which dwarfed the old lech's aura by twice the size! Ki attacks were nullified by one moko takabisha only to have another following on it's tail.
Within 15 minutes Happosai was feeling fear for the first time in quite a long time. Happosai jumped back to assess the situation and redirect more of his ki. He couldn't think of a single way to beat Ranma back and he was quickly losing his strength. Normally he could fight for hours on end but his ki had been redirected to healing the wounds he had been accumulating throughout their battle and it was taxing even him. Ranma only looked a little winded at this point due to the high speeds they were keeping up whenever they weren't using special attacks and Happosai knew now that there was no way he was walking away from this battle with his title. As loath as he was to do it, even for his chosen heir, he felt the only thing he could do was to concede. Ranma was too good, and it wouldn't be so bad. He would only need a few days to recuperate his lost energy at this point and he could live out his retirement. If the battle continued it might take him much longer to recuperate, if he did at all.
"Ready to give up ya ol' perv," Ranma yelled out.
"Alright Ranma, you win," Happosai replied shocking everyone, "I grant you the title of Grandmaster of Anything Goes School of Martial Arts. I always knew you would be the one to get the title from me, I just didn't think it'd be this soon."
"You're really giving up," Ranma asked in shock. He couldn't believe that one of the banes of his existence was finally conceding! It was like the Kami's were making up for what happened earlier tonight.
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"Are you messing around with that mortals life again," Skuld asked her elder sister.
"I'm not messing with it…I'm improving it," Urd replied with a grin.
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"The winner is Ranma Saotome as Happosai has conceded," Cologne called out.
"Ya ain't gonna come around in a year and try and get the title back from me are ya," Ranma asked.
"Not at all, I plan on enjoying my retirement," Happosai told him, "I can finally get away from these two who ruined my school."
"Why didn't ya ever kick 'em outta the school then," Ranma asked.
"I couldn't, there was nobody else to take over the school," Happosai replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world before he handed a scroll over that he had made quite a while ago when he realized that Ranma would one day best him. It detailed that Ranma was now the Grandmaster of Anything Goes School of Martial Arts with all right and privileges, yadda, yadda, yadda, and it said he could both issue and revoke the right to teach the school from anyone.
"Thank you Happosai," Ranma told him with a Cheshire grin that didn't sit well with the two other men present. Cologne herself hopped away the moment the scroll was handed over as she was afraid Ranma would challenge her to get the kisses revoked now that Happosai was taken care of.
"Not at all my boy," Happosai told him, "Now, I'll be off." With that Happosai bounded off towards the dojo, albeit a little slower and with a little more care than normal.
"Congratulations boy, I knew you could do it," Genma yelled racing towards Ranma in hopes of getting the scroll. He wanted to steal it and doctor it so he was named Grandmaster, after all he had spent all those years training his boy, he deserved it didn't he? (Anyone besides Genma really think he does? I didn't think so.)
"Genma Saotome," Ranma called out stopping his father in his tracks with the sheer amount of venom in his voice.
"What is it boy," Genma asked perplexed.
"For failin' ta uphold the honor of the school, and usin' the skills in the school in a way that brings dishonor upon it, your right ta teach Anything Goes Martial Arts is taken away," Ranma called out shocking both Genma and Soun to the core. "Ya disgrace the school anymore and ya will lose your right to practice Anything Goes Martial Arts."
"Now see hear boy," Genma screamed before running at Ranma. Not one of his brightest ideas, but it's Genma, he was swiftly made unconscious for the effort.
"Soun Tendo," Ranma yelled seeing the other man attempting to make a break for it, "I have not decided yet as ta whether or not take your license ta teach Anything Goes, probably wouldn't do any good seein' as how you don't teach anyway, but hear this now, Akane Tendo will not be allowed to continue practicing! She uses Anything Goes to force her way onto others as opposed to protecting others as is a martial artist's duty."
"WAAAAH, THE SCHOOLS WILL NEVER BE JOINED," Soun wailed.
"They wouldn't have been anyway Tendo-san," Ranma told him taking pity on the man. He really was a pathetic man and Ranma couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "Akane is cheating on me with Ryoga, and unless you want her pregnant out of wedlock I suggest you have a priest at your house tomorrow to wed them." With that piece of advice the patriarch of the Tendo family fell over in a dead faint. Since that bit of business was concluded Ranma decided it was past time to head back to the dojo and inform a certain tomboy of his decision. Sure, it was petty, but nobody could deny that he had solid reasoning for taking away her right to practice Anything Goes. Instead of protecting the weak like she should she hit people who didn't agree with her opinions. Especially if she thought they were a pervert.
(Break)
"Ryoga, you better change back before anyone notices," Akane told him quietly while they were snuggling together. They'd had plenty of nights like this after she had found out that he was P-chan. Oh, it had taken her awhile, but Ranma had tried to come into her room with a kettle enough times and called Ryoga P-chan enough times for even her to connect the dots. It all went along with some kinky fantasies she had anyway so after hitting Ryoga a few times for being a pervert she let him off the hook and continued pretending she didn't know a thing.
"Alright Akane-chan," Ryoga told her before grabbing the glass of water they had on her nightstand for just that reason, "I love you Akane."
"I love you too Ryoga," she told him before watching him transform into her beloved pet. After tossing Ryoga's clothes into her closet Akane decided to take a quick bath before going downstairs to hit Ranma a few more times. She always slept better after pounding on him a little. So with a lighthearted smile she grabbed some clean clothes, put a bathrobe on, and headed for the furo.
Meanwhile downstairs
"Where's daddy and Mr. Saotome," Nabiki asked Kasumi. It was rare she didn't know where everyone was, and she didn't like not knowing. She figured Ranma was on the roof, and Happosai she figured was on a panty raid.
"Oh, well Ranma challenged Grandfather Happosai for his title, they went to witness the match," Kasumi informed her younger sister as if it were an everyday occurrence. Nabiki planted her face into the floor at the fact that Kasumi could say that so casually. This was huge news and Kasumi was her usual oblivious self.
"How long ago did they leave," Nabiki asked after she got up and got her mask back on.
"I would say around an hour," Kasumi said as she continued straightening the house up as was her want. She wanted to keep the wa of the house up after all, and that was increasingly difficult after the Saotome's came. She didn't really mind, she enjoyed the work, but she just wished Ranma would treat Akane better.
"I wonder when they'll get back," Nabiki asked aloud.
"Well, my pops'll probably be back pretty soon and your father will whenever he gets over his shock," Ranma replied as he walked in. Nabiki immediately scanned him for injuries but curiously found none.
"Is what I heard right, were you fighting Happosai for the rights to the school," Nabiki asked in a way that said 'you will answer OR ELSE'. This little act made Ranma smirk a bit, seeing as how he wouldn't be engaged to Akane after tonight and he doubted he would even be sleeping under this roof another night there wasn't much Nabiki could do to him. He would humor her though, he was rather proud of the fact that he won.
"Yep, I beat the old pervert too, I'm now the Grandmaster of the School," Ranma told her while showing her the scroll from a distance he knew she could read. He did it casually knowing it would irk her completely that he treated this so casually. He was right, because she planted her face in the floor for what looked to be the second time to him after he told her.
"Oh my, is Grandfather Happosai alright," Kasumi asked. This question got under Ranma's skin somewhat as for the past few months he had been feeling as if nobody under this roof cared about his welfare at all. He didn't want to include Kasumi in that group, but her actions over the last few months told him different. Whenever Akane'd hit him he'd get less food than the others if he didn't apologize, she never inquired about his wellbeing even if it was apparent that he was injured badly, and if he asked if she had any hot water she'd tell him to boil some instead of giving him the ready made kettle. When he asked about it, he'd checked it a few times and sure enough it was full, she'd say it was for 'Uncle Genma' in case he needed it.
"He'll be fine, he said he just needs a few days rest and then he'll be off on his retirement," Ranma informed her.
"What are you on about you baka," Akane asked coolly as she came down the stairs looking fresh from her bath.
"Just the girl I wanted to see," Ranma told her with false cheer, "I hope you're ready for a wedding because you and Ryoga will probably be in front of a priest tomorrow."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa Saotome, what are you talking about," Nabiki asked losing her cool. She didn't know a thing about this and things that she didn't know about in her own house didn't happen.
"Oh, didn't you know? Akane here is with Ryoga, unless being naked with a boy in your bed can be taken another way," Ranma said innocently making Akane back up in shock. She looked as if she wanted to run, bash Ranma for peeping or blabbing, or all of the above.
"How did you come by this information," Nabiki asked coolly.
"After she yelled at me when I went up ta apologize tonight I decided to try the window, as I usually do when I hafta apologize, and there she was with Ryoga," Ranma explained.
"That's not proper," Kasumi said in shock.
"At least it wasn't Ranma," Nabiki muttered.
"YOU PERVERT! YOU WERE PEEPING ON ME," Akane yelled pulling out the mallet she had brought downstairs for the occasion of bashing Ranma. Unfortunately her swing didn't connect as she intended and she ended up spinning in a circle before falling on her butt.
"Oh, and Akane, one last thing before I leave this house for good," he told her shocking everyone in the room, "Akane Tendo, as Grandmaster of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts you are forbidden from using the art on any person from now on unless your life or the life of another person is in danger." With his final piece said, and everyone in the room frozen in shock, Ranma bypassed the three sisters and headed up to grab his pack, that hadn't been ever fully unpacked since he moved in, so he could leave. Turning to leave he saw his exit barred by none other than Kasumi who looked at him with a mixture of regret and sadness.
"Was that necessary Ranma," she asked. Old habits die hard after all.
"Yes it was Tendo-san," Ranma replied removing all familiarity he had with her, "She was using the Art to injure those she should have been protecting and she would use it to hurt anyone who didn't agree with her. You may not have seen it, since you hardly leave, but most boys at school have been on the receiving end of her hits more than once. Regardless of whether or not they were guilty."
"Ranma," she began.
"It's Saotome-san," he interrupted making tears come to Kasumi's eyes. As much as it would've pained him six months ago to see that, after the callous treatment of him he found that all he needed was to apply the Soul of Ice and he could deal with her tears without breaking down.
"Saotome-san, do you truly have to leave," she asked hesitantly.
"Why would I want to stay in a house where nobody cares whether I live or die despite the fact that I have saved all of ya at least once? Why would I want to stay in a house where I'm blamed for everything that goes wrong? I used to think ya were different Tendo-san, I thought no matter what happened ya'd always care, but these last few months you proved me wrong," Ranma asked. He could tell each question was like a knife into her heart, especially the last one, but he didn't let it break his resolve to leave.
"I do care about you," she tried.
"If ya cared so much then why didn't ya ask if I was alright when I came limpin' home after everyone, includin' your sister, ganged up on me when I didn't do a damn thing wrong? I ended up seeing Tofu that day, and ya wanna know what he said? It was a damn miracle that I survived! Kuno's sword, yes a real sword, went all the way through and missed everything major. You saw how bad I was that day, but you didn't ask, in fact if I remember right the reason I had to go to Tofu's was because you told me 'don't track anymore blood into the house'. Does that sound like someone who cares about me," Ranma asked. By the end his voice was dripping with sadness. Kasumi herself was on her knees weeping since she remembered that day. Akane had made it home before him and told everyone that Ranma had been flirting with Shampoo. Of course she believed her sister, why wouldn't she? Now that she looked back on it, she saw many instances of Ranma's supposed 'cheating' or 'flirting' and most of the time he was attempting to get out of the mess they caused. The only times he didn't was when a supposed cure was waved in his face.
"Guess I have my answer," Ranma said after a minute of silence, bar Kasumi's weeping, and walked past her on his way out. He didn't care if he had to go through every Tendo on his way out of the house, and he had something to say to each of them. Fortunately he didn't have to go through Nabiki, she had caught his little monologue and it's results. As he was walking out she decided discretion was the better part of valor and tended to Kasumi instead. A swift kick to P-chan got Ryoga out of his way and Akane still appeared to be in shock once he got downstairs. He assumed that Nabiki verified that he was fighting Happosai for the title of Grandmaster tonight and that he had a scroll to prove his claim. The one person he didn't want to see tonight had to be the one coming through the gate as he approached it though.
