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!

A/N: I don't have access to the later episodes of Tenchi right now to tell me how Azusa, Funaho, and Misaki interact really so please forgive my mistakes. Any errors will be corrected once I learn of them. I'll be getting access to those episodes later this week most likely.

Chapter 5

"How does the search go for the intruder," Azusa asked the guard. They had been getting a series of monthly break-ins by the same boy, and they were at a loss to explain how he even got into the palace let alone how he got out.

"He escaped once again, although this time he arrived with another. We're still looking to see if the other man is still in the palace, he incapacitate several of the guards before escaping," the guard informed Azusa.

"What? There shouldn't be a single man that has that power except a Juraian Noble," Azusa exclaimed in shock.

"My Lord," a sentry called from the doorway, "Lady Funaho, Lady Misaki, and a guest are on their way to meet with you."

"Thank you," Azusa replied before turning his attention back to the guard in front of him. It wasn't like he could keep his wives out anyway; if he tried he'd be paying for it later. "Describe this man for me."

"Yes My Lord," the guard replied before his eyes widened in shock. Funaho, Misaki, and the second intruder just walked into the throne room. Well, the intruder didn't technically walk, he was more dragged by Misaki, but that was beside the point.

"Well, answer already," Azusa yelled in his impatience.

"That's him My Lord," the guard replied before unsheathing his sword and standing in front of the Emperor. This action confused Funaho and Misaki because they hadn't heard of the earlier troubles yet. Ranma, well, he couldn't quite tell what was going on because he was still being drug by Misaki like a kite in the wind. "How dare you be familiar with the Queen," the guard shouted as he knew he had to. He knew from personal experience that once you catch Misaki's eye that nothing will get you free, but it was his duty to act like a pompous idiot, or so his Captain said.

"Dear, what is this man talking about," Funaho asked icily. She had been around Ranma for the better part of two hours now and he had done nothing but act kindly and honorably, he may be a little rough around the edges, but she didn't see why he would set off the guards.

"You know how we've had something of a…problem with an intruder these last few months," Azusa asked. He knew he was on thin ice right now, Funaho's face was already slightly stern, and if she glared he was a dead man.

"What does that have to do with Ranma," Misaki asked with a childlike face. In her mind he was too cute to be evil.

"According to the guards this…Ranma came with the usual intruder and incapacitated several of the guards before escaping," Azusa explained.

"That's PERFECT," Misaki exclaimed making everyone sweatdrop.

"You still haven't explained what you intend for him Misaki," Funaho groaned in exasperation.

"H…help," Ranma pleaded once he got his bearings back. They had stopped in front of a throne and he saw the guard and the king, emperor, whatever sitting there with large sweatdrops falling off the back of their heads.

"Leave us," Azusa told the guard. He saw how pathetic the man in front of him appeared, and while he felt great power from him Azusa could tell that Ranma meant them no harm unless provoked.

"But My Lord," the guard protested.

"I said leave us," Azusa demanded making the guard quickly sheath his sword and hightail it out of there. He wasn't stupid enough to stick around, it wasn't like the Emperor of Jurai needed protection anyway, he had the most power out of anyone except maybe the new first prince that was rumored about. According to the rumors that kid had used the Light Hawk wings to destroy Kagato last week.

"What is this about Misaki," Azusa asked.

"Let's give him to Sasami," she shouted in joy, "He'd be perfect for my little Sasami!" She knew that if Ayeka found Yosho that those two might be wed one day, but Sasami wasn't arranged to marry anyone as of yet.

"Whaddya mean 'give him to Sasami'," Ranma shouted in shock. This caused Misaki to frown at him again, something he had experienced one other time in the last couple hours. It wasn't a pleasant feeling for Ranma, not that he could ever really handle dealing with angry or upset women in the first place.

"I believe she means she wants you to be betrothed to my youngest daughter," Azusa explained. He could guess what Ranma had assumed, and he couldn't quite blame the lad for that assumption either. Because when Misaki said 'give' it sounded like they were just going to give Ranma to Sasami as a slave of some sort.

"I ain't marryin' nobody," Ranma said defiantly. He'd just gotten out of one fiancée mess, sans Shampoo who he still had to take care of, and he didn't want to get stuck in another. Plus, he still had to find out who his parents were. Of course, this was probably not the smartest thing to say when faced with an already upset Misaki, because she began to glare at him.

"What…Did…You…Say," she asked angrily.

"I'm sorry pretty lady," Ranma replied quickly heavily sweatdropping. He'd learned his lesson earlier when Misaki had forced him up against a wall. Funaho had quickly whispered into his ear the appropriate response before Misaki let loose the power she had been building up. While Ranma was dealing with Misaki Funaho was whispering in Azusa's ear and explaining everything she had learned about the young man in the last two hours.

"Ranma is it," Azusa asked, wanting to put the younger man at ease.

"Um, yes sir," Ranma replied hesitantly.

"My wife tells me that you are from Earth and that you are searching for your parents," Azusa asked. He wanted to make sure that what he heard was clear.

"Yes sir, I uh, just found out that the people I thought were my parents weren't. I wasn't even on their family register," Ranma explained.

"We, my two wives and I, were preparing to venture to Earth soon to speak to my son about an incident that just came to our attention. You will be accompanying us so that you may be returned to Earth," Azusa commanded.

"Uh, thanks," Ranma replied. Misaki was still making him plenty nervous even though she was all smiles and clinging onto his arm at this point. Of course, he was always nervous when a woman was clinging onto his arm.

"Later this evening I wish to speak to you about an important matter, I will have someone show you to a room, please remain there until you are sent for," Azusa told him. He wanted to talk to Ranma without the presence of his wives because he figured that there might be a way to talk Ranma into this whole mess. He knew Misaki wouldn't give up until Ranma agreed to be married to Sasami, but if he could convince Ranma to be a bodyguard or something like that for now then he might be more open to it in the future.

"Sure," Ranma said before making his way towards the butler that was now waiting at the door to the throne room.

"You cannot be seriously thinking about betrothing that Earthling to Sasami," Azusa asked Misaki in near disgust.

"What…Exactly…Is wrong with Earthlings," Funaho asked coldly with a glare. He noticed this and saw Misaki frowning at him. He knew he was in the doghouse for sure now, he just had to keep forgetting that Funaho was originally from Earth.

"N..Nothing dear," Azusa assured her quickly, perhaps a little too quickly.

"I support Misaki's choice in this. In the time I've spent around Ranma he has proven to be kind and honorable, perhaps rough around the edges, but that can be fixed easily enough," Funaho told him coolly.

"You keep complaining about Sasami not having enough protection since she hasn't been trained enough," Misaki pointed out seriously. It was a rare serious moment for her when she wasn't dealing with politics meaning Azusa paid close attention to what she had to say.

"You are correct, and I am even considering asking that young man to be her body guard providing he passes a few test," Azusa replied a little easier. He knew this wasn't an argument he was going to win so he conceded that point in the face of his two wives in the hopes that the argument would end. Thankfully it did, and his wives left after telling him that if he didn't convince Ranma he would be spending two years on the couch…instead of the one year he had already earned.

(Break)

"So what's it like livin' in a palace," Ranma asked in an attempt to make small talk with the butler.

"It is quite nice, we are treated fairly well by most nobles and our pay is quite considerable considering the size of the palace that we have to clean and traverse to serve," the butler responded happily. He was always happy to 'talk shop' with someone.

"What're," Ranma began before being cut off by a shout.

"KENJI YAMAKI WHAT ON JURAI ARE YOU DOING HERE! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PREPARING TO MEET YOUR INTENDED," a woman shouted as she stalked towards the two, "AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO YOUR HAIR?"

"Are you Kenji," Ranma whispered to the butler. He had thought the butler introduced himself as Jiro, but he could've been wrong.

"No, but now that I recall, you do look quite a bit like Lord Kenji," Jiro whispered back.

"Um, I'm sorry lady, but I ain't this Kenji person," Ranma replied sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck. The woman seemed to be in a towering rage and he honestly didn't want to deal with any more angry females today.

"OF COURSE YOU ARE KENJI! THERE ISN'T ANY OTHER PERSON ON JURAI THAT IS A COPY OF YOUR FATHER," she snapped back.

"Ya mean there are two people who look like me," Ranma asked curiously before deciding to nip it in the bud, "Look lady, I'm Ranma from Earth, I don't know no Kenji or his pops, so ya best look somewhere else for him."

"What," she asked in shock before turning to Jiro, "Is this true?"

"Yes Lady Ayame, in fact he will be accompanying the Emperor to Earth when he and his wives make the trek there later this week," Jiro told her.

"…Ranma, how old are you," she asked a bit nervously.

"18," Ranma replied without hesitation. He didn't see why the question would make the woman nervous, nor could he see why his answer would make her faint, but both did and he found his arms full of an unconscious woman. "Um, Jiro, any suggestions about what ta do?"

"Let us take her back to her rooms in the palace," Jiro suggested before leading Ranma in the direction Ayame had come from. About halfway to their destination they were stopped by what appeared to be Ranma's twin.

"Who are you and what are you doing with my mother," the man, presumably Kenji, demanded.

"She fainted, we was just takin' her back ta her room," Ranma replied before studying the other man curiously. It seemed Kenji was doing the same thing and neither one could come up with a satisfactory answer to their questions.

"I ask again, who are you," Kenji demanded.

"Name's Ranma," Ranma replied seriously with his eyes down to slits, "Who're you?"

"I am Kenji Yamaki," Kenji answer mirroring Ranma's pose, sans the woman, and then began circling Ranma suspiciously. "What are you doing in the palace?"

"I was followin' a rival of mine and ended up here, dun ask me how we got from Earth to Jurai, but we did. The Emperor's gonna take me back ta Earth with him later this week," Ranma answered, and Jiro nodded his head to imply that the story was true so Kenji wouldn't question it further.

"Follow me," Kenji told them coldly before stalking off towards his parent's suite. Jiro and Ranma nodded, if only so they could drop of Ayame, and followed Kenji the rest of the way to the suite. Once they got inside Ranma deposited Ayame on the couch and looked at Jiro to see if they could leave only to see a man looking not too many years older than himself looking at him in shock.

"Alright, what's goin' on here," Ranma asked angrily.

"H-how is this possible," the older man asked.

"What're you talking about," Ranma and Kenji shouted in unison shaking up the older man.

"You…You were sent to Earth! You shouldn't have been able to get back here," he shouted angrily.

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT," Ranma shouted. He was getting angry now. Something was going on and nobody seemed to want to clue him in.

"Father, do you know this man," Kenji asked suspiciously.

"He is your half brother," Kenji's father answered shocking everyone present. "I had an affair and he was the result. Your mother demanded I get rid of him, so I sent him to Earth. I assumed it was far enough away and primitive enough that he would never make it back."

"So you're sayin' that cause ya couldn't keep it in yer pants I had to get sent ta Earth and get tortured," Ranma asked angrily. He had wanted to find his parents, and he was hoping that Genma had stolen him or something and it would be a happy reunion, but this dashed those hopes.

"Yes, you should have died there too," the man replied coldly.

"Lord Seiji," Jiro exclaimed in shock, "You know our laws, any child is to be cared for regardless! You should have given him to a family that would have taken him like Lord Yamata and his wife!"

"Shut up slave," Seiji yelled, "I won't be lectured by the help!"

"Well Jiro, I think it's time fer us ta go," Ranma commented before walking towards the door without a glance at the others in the room. "Wouldn't want the Emperor ta get pissed cause I wasn't in my room when I was summoned."

"What," Kenji and Seiji exclaimed, "You're seeing the Emperor!"

"Who do ya think is takin' me back ta Earth," Ranma commented before walking out the door leaving the two men in shock. Not waiting for Jiro Ranma began walking quickly towards where they had met Ayame initially figuring that Jiro would catch up to him there if nothing else.

"Lord Ranma, please wait," Jiro shouted as he attempted to catch up. The way he called out made Ranma stop cold.

"Please don't call me 'Lord' Jiro," Ranma asked sadly, "They don't want me, my pops and mom on Earth dun want me, so I guess I'm on my own."

"Don't worry Ranma," Jiro replied once he caught up, "I'm sure that once this is explained to the Emperor something will be done about it."

"I ain't gonna say anything ta him, it's a family matter, and as my mom used ta tell me, family matters are ta be kept private," Ranma responded with a hint of despair in his voice.

"I must inform him of this, it is part of my duty to the Emperor to report any and all misconduct by the nobles that is discovered so that they may be dealt with swiftly," Jiro told Ranma, "You may not like it, but the Yamaki family has done something unforgivable and must be punished for their actions."

"I understand, it's yer duty, just like mine's ta protect the innocent," Ranma replied. He wanted to argue with Jiro about it, but couldn't muster up the strength to do it right now so just agreed with him. "Hey Jiro, what's in that room?"

"Oh, that's where the space trees are kept prior to being partnered with someone," Jiro commented before realizing this is the first time Ranma had asked about part of the castle and became curious, "Why do you ask Ranma?"

"I'm feelin' a pull, or somethin' callin' me, I dun know. It's just somethin' tellin' me ta go in there," Ranma replied with a dazed voice before walking towards the doors like a man on a mission. Jiro hurriedly grasped his shirt in an attempt to keep Ranma from venturing in, only to be drug along for the ride. The doors opened of their own accord allowing the two men entry into the area that was supposed to be locked with the exception of ceremonies. Jiro noticed Ranma seemed to be walking towards a specific tree, one of the original space trees to be exact, and he upped his efforts to get Ranma to turn around.

"Ranma, we aren't supposed to be in here, we'll get in trouble," Jiro exclaimed nervously.

"Kaikou," Ranma said softly when he had reached the tree. Jiro noticed a line of light connecting one of the branches to Ranma's forehead and really began to panic. This was the last of the original space trees to need a new partner, and the honor was highly sought after. If it was found out by the nobles that Ranma was chosen when their children were not…Ranma would have quite a few problems to deal with.

"What are you doing in here," a voice shouted from the doorway making Jiro jump.

"We are in troooouuuuble," Jiro commented before his head dropped, and the last thing he saw before closing his eyes to wait for the next shout to come was Ranma's bracers become wooden bracers that were to be his keys for the ship. He didn't get to see the symbols appearing on Ranma's forehead however, but the guard at the door did, and he gasped in shock before running to get more guards and send someone to inform Emperor Azusa.

A/N: What should Ranma's markings look like? I'm not creative enough to think of that. Next time will cover the rest of the time on Jurai and we'll look in on Nerima.