Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ use it merely for entertainment purposes.
"Damn it!" a shout from Ranma followed by the sound of something shattering. Ranma was currently in his bipedal wolf form trying to control his massively enhanced strength. He was doing this by performing some of the oddest training exercises he encountered, simple housework. When he asked Aishia and Riener what good this would do they demonstrated by giving him a cup of water, which immediately shattered, when he grabbed it. They then explained that learning the exact pressure needed to perform everyday tasks was needed for him to survive in the world. Ranma immediately agreed, he could easily see how difficult it was for him to eat anywhere if he broke all the dishes he was given just by holding them. So since the time of his first transformation, two days ago, into his bipedal form Ranma has been doing basic housework to get a feel for his new strength. He had already mastered his enhanced strength of his human form; with his Martial Arts training he knew his body better than most people so learning to adjust its strength was not as difficult. His bipedal form however was not going as fast as he hoped. Thus the reason for the cup that broke while he was cleaning it. "Sorry about that," Ranma apologized to Riener.
"Is ok," Riener said. "I make more."
"Good thing too," Aishia said coming inside. "That's the fifth cup you broke in just under an hour."
"I'm getting the hang of it," Ranma protested. "I've already got the right pressure for other stuff." Ranma gestured to various pieces of broken and bent objects around the kitchen ranging from a few pots to some various cleaning instruments. "Once I get this done…" a splash interrupted him as a plate fell in the sink causing the water to jump out turning him into a her. Her new female bipedal form had the same silver coat of the female full wolf form and looked absolutely stunning to anyone who looked, "We can leave and get my curse cured."
"First of all there is no guarantee that she can cure you," Aishia amended, "All I said was Dona might be able to help you nothing is for certain. And second you still need practice so the right pressure of your grip comes on reflex not heavy concentration like it does now."
"Still why do I have do this in this from?" Ranma-chan asked. "I mean I'll only fight in this form, right?"
"Give good control as human," Riener answered.
"And you won't just fight in that form," Aishia continued, "There are still some rules that you need to be told about. One is when meeting with another Lycanthrope in terms of an official meeting like a treaty meeting it shows a sign of respect to show in the most powerful form."
"I guess so," Ranma-chan shrugged picking up a plate absently and crushing it at the same time, "Not again."
"Just image if it was your Mother's or Kasumi's dishes you were doing it to," Aishia commented.
Ranma-chan thought for a minute easily picturing Kasumi's slight frown and his Mother's disapproving look, "I will learn this," she thought getting back to work being extra careful with the dishes.
In Japan Happosai was currently observing his two foolish students as they played a bad game of shoji against each other. "Pathetic," Happosai thought. "They can't even cheat with any skill. Not too mention their inability to catch each other. Its no wonder Ranma is such a better Heir than either of those two fools." Thinking of Ranma made Happosai think of his growth in the Martial Arts, "I have no doubt that he will challenge me soon after he gets back. If he changes into either of his Lupine forms I'll be no match for him. But still my style is a human style so it'll be easy to get him to fight under the stipulation he can only be human. Even then the fight will probably be close. If Ranma was not a Lycanthrope he would have the strength to beat me in a couple of years easily. Now he is one, he can beat me as a human in a few months." He sighed in thought, "Then I can retire and take all the silky darlings I want not have to be distracted with training a worthy heir."
As their Master silently observed the them Soun and Genma were currently trying to think of a way to gain the an advantage in their game. Well at least Soun was Genma on the other hand was very worried. He could still not convince Nodoka to stop the divorce and it would be only a matter of days until the divorce papers arrived and the fact that it was clear even to him that Ranma would no longer listen to him made his future prospects very narrow. "How could that ungrateful boy turn against me and cause No-chan to side with him," he thought. "When he gets back from…well where ever he is I'll defeat him and make him marry Akane that way I can retire in peace." Even after heavy beating Ranma gave Genma the night of the last full moon he still thought he could defeat Ranma in battle. After all in Genma's mind Ranma could not defeat him because he survived all of Happosai's training and that was the toughest training around. Unknown, or more suitably unrealized, to Genma was that Ranma had gone through all of the training Happosai gave them and even went beyond. Combined with Cologne's training, the training Ranma had with his Mother in her sword style and the training he was going under now Genma would never reach Ranma's level if he lived to be Cologne and Happosai's combined age.
At Nodoka's house Nabiki was waiting patiently for the owner of the house to answer the door. She was here to collect the current payment they had worked out to pay off Ranma's debt for staying at the Tendo Dojo. And though Nabiki admitted she now considered Ranma more than a friend this was still business and business was business. She was just glad that Nodoka and Ranma seemed to understand that concept leaving no ill feelings when she came to collect. After a few seconds of waiting the door opened and Nodoka greeted the middle Tendo girl, "Ah Nabiki it is good to see you, is this business of social?"
"Business I'm afraid," Nabiki answered.
"Oh yes the payment," Nodoka replied pulling out some yen, "This should do." She handed the money to Nabiki who did not even count it knowing it was the right amount just from past dealings with Nodoka. She never shortchanged her in any of the payments, "Now that, that is taken care of come in and we will make in a social visit."
"That would great Auntie," Nabiki happily accepted.
Would you like to share some tea with Ukyou and I?" Nodoka asked.
"Ukyou is here?" Nabiki asked surprised. She honestly was not expecting the chef to be visiting at this time of day, "Shouldn't she be at her restaurant?"
"Konatsu can handle the few customers that show up around this time," Ukyou answered hearing Nabiki's question. "Though I should get back soon for the dinner rush."
"I shall get some more tea," Nodoka announced entering the kitchen.
When Nodoka was out of the room Nabiki asked, "So why are you here?"
"Just talking with Auntie about Ran-chan," Ukyou answered honestly. It was actually a good idea to tell Nabiki the truth most of the time other wise it would cost a person more latter in the long run, "It's still hard not thinking about him as my fiancé."
Nabiki understood, as soon as the divorce went through Nodoka and Ranma would have their names changed to Ranma's real Father's name Wolf Eye. And while those who knew the full truth accepted that any agreements, including the engagements, Genma made with Ranma meant they were void it was still hard for any to accept completely after all the time everyone invested in it. "Akane is still angry, whether about the engagement being called off or because she had no say in it I can't tell you. She's been avoiding us ever since we started training again."
"Never did like the idea of competition did she?" Ukyou asked.
"Why do you think she entered so few tournaments," Nabiki sighed. "She always bragged about being the best yet never tried to really prove in front of people that could show her how much she still had to learn. You know I honestly think she never liked you more because you were completely for Ranma than anything else."
"Speaking of competing for Ran-chan," Ukyou said changing the subject, "Just so you know, I'm not going to loose to you." She gave Nabiki a stern look, "And don't deny it I've seen how you look at him, it's just like the rest of the girls at school."
Nabiki gave Ukyou her patented smirk, "I never once denied that I wasn't…"
"There is no that girls," Nodoka said interrupting Nabiki from saying anything further, "I'm sure my Manly and Feral Son will be able to accommodate all of your desires."
"Umm…ok Auntie," Both Nabiki and Ukyou sweat dropped. They had become used to Nodoka's quirks in the time they knew her and found it best just to play to her quirks when talking to her.
Ukyou looked at the clock realizing she was going to be late getting back, "I've got to go or Konatsu will be swamped. I'll see you later Auntie."
"Good-bye dear," Nodoka said as she showed her out. When Nodoka returned she asked, "Now shall we discuss a dating schedule like the other girls?" It was a good thing Nabiki was not currently drinking her tea other wise it would have been all over the living room furniture as a result of Nodoka's question.
Not far away from Nerima Ryouga was sitting alone while Cologne went to a near by store to call the Neko Haten to see what was happening while they were away. He was currently tied to a tree and while he did not like it he hated getting bopped in the head for complaining about it even more, so he accepted it. For the last few days he had been thinking about what Cologne had been pounding into his head about not everything in his life was Ranma's fault. As he thought about it, at least the times when he would not sink into depression and anger he could see things a bit more objectively and found at least some instances she was right, but not all. "And he still cheats on Akane!" Ryouga thought bitterly. "For that he will definitely pay!"
At the near by store Cologne was on the phone ignoring the stares coming from around her as she waited for someone to pick up, "Nihoa," Shampoo's voice answered on the other end, "What too too good Ramen you want?"
"It's me Granddaughter," Cologne responded.
"Great Grandmother why you call?" Shampoo asked.
"Just to see what…" Cologne was cut off by another voice on the other end.
"Shampoo!" it was Mousse trying to glomp onto Shampoo.
Mousses voice was quickly followed by the sound of a bonbori hitting his skull and Shampoo shouting, "Go away Duck Boy!"
"I take it Mousse has not changed," Cologne stated.
"No, He still stupid Duck Boy," Shampoo replied. "Neko Haten doing good. Pervert back with stupid Panda and Tendo Father."
"Don't let them in the restaurant," Cologne instructed. She did not want to risk Happoasai's perversion, Genma's gluteness or Soun's wailing from ruining her business.
"Shampoo understand," Shampoo replied. "We visit Auntie. Shampoo like her. No hear from Air…Ranma."
"Understandable," Cologne said. "there will not be much of anything about Ranma until he gets back with Aishia."
"Stick Boy and Crazy Girl look for Air…Ranma," Shampoo continued. "They too too annoying. Shampoo head hurt when they talk."
"Same as usual then," Cologne muttered, "Anything else?"
"Nice Girl and Mercenary Girl start Art," Shampoo said after a moment of thought. "Violent Girl no like that."
"Thank you Granddaughter," Cologne said. "I have to get back otherwise Ryouga might get lost. Keep an eye on things and continue to get on Nodoka's good side. Ranma may still choose you as his mate if she approves."
"Shampoo will Great Grandmother," Shampoo said.
Back in Eastern Europe Ranma, in biped form, was cleaning up the bedroom he was staying in when he suddenly he heard an object coming through the air towards the back of his head. Reaching up he caught the object and found it was a glass cup and wondered why anyone would throw it. He then noticed one very important detail; it did not break, "Yes! I did it!"
"Good you can control your strength on reflex now," Aishia said from the doorway. "That means your training is done here. We'll leave in the morning to visit Dona."
"Where does Dona live?" Ranma asked putting down the glass.
"She lives in Scotland," Aishia answered. "So it won't take that long to get there, about two hours flight once we reach the airport. And running through the forest won't take nearly as long as the first time. We'll run in wolf form for most of the way." She was about to leave the room when she remembered something rather important, "How is your English?"
"Ok I guess," Ranma answered, "Why?"
"Dona doesn't speak Japanese so it'll be easier if you can understand English when talking to her."
"well that won't be too much of a problem I guess," Ranma said. "Hey now that I can control my strength when can I start to learn some Lupine fighting styles?"
"When we're in Scotland I'll contact some of the Stalkers that are still in Britain," Aishia answered, "I think you would want to learn some of you Lines fighting style right?"
"Yeah," Ranma admitted. "But what about my other side the White Hunters? Did they have a fighting style of their own?"
"I honestly don't know," Aishia admitted. "And if they did I doubt there would many that even know what it looked liked, sorry."
"That's ok," Ranma shrugged. "Since I'm done here I think I'm going to go for a run in the forest before I get some sleep." Aishia nodded without hesitation of complaint understanding Ranma's pleasure of running free as a wolf.
After Ranma left Riener came into entered the room, "You'll have to tell him the enemies he'll face soon."
"I know," Aishia replied. "Once we reach Scotland word will spread quickly about a new White Hunter. Some of the Feline tribes will want to challenge and even try to kill him. Even after all this time they will still hold a grudge."
"Especially the Siberians," Riener added. "The White Hunters once drove them off their land after the War in the Northern Lands. They will fear that Ranma might try and drive them off again and will try to stop him before he can have a chance."
"I know," Aishia sighed. "I just hope Ranma will be able to handle all of it."