Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ use it merely for entertainment purposes.
The two Weres were near the center of the English Isle. The two, Ranma and Aishia, were stopping off at a Stalker Household. They were making a stop to pick up a couple of manuals on the Stalker fighting style known as Fang of Lunar Stalker. As they approached their destination and the household Ranma took note of the house, or Manor House would be a better term. The place was larger than the Kuno Estate back in Nerima. The main part of the house was four stories tall with four triangular apexes with four chimneys on the west end. Off from the East side was a smaller looking house connected to the main house by a covered walk way. On the west side past the chimneys and further back by about ten yards or so was a appeared to be a large garage that looked like it could store nearly a dozen cars. From what Ranma could tell there were also several structures in the rear of the Main House but could not see them because of the Main House was obstructing them. Turning to his Lupine companion Ranma asked in English, "Do we Call?"
"No," Aishia answered in perfect English, "I have already called ahead," she indicated to a cellular phone she held, "And told them we're coming."
"So who I see?" Ranma asked. He felt like a fool talking like this and decided to help Shampoo with her language problem when he got back now understanding how she might feel.
"You'll meet the current Master of this House," Aishia answered, "His name is Scott Stalk. He's young, for a Lupine, only about five hundred years old of so. He'll give us the Manuals and let us stay for a few days and then we'll head north to Scotland and meet with Dona to see if she can held you with your curse."
"I hope she do," Ranma said just as it started raining turning him to a girl.
A few minutes later the two were at the Manor House's front door waiting for it to be answered. After a few minutes of waiting an elderly man that appeared to be in his early sixties answered the door, "Miss Aishia it is good to see you again," the elderly man greeted, "I have not seen you since I was a mere boy."
"Hello Bastion," Aishia greeted, "You've grown to be very distinguished." She then paused and gestured to Ranma-chan, "This is my companion Ranma Saotome."
"Greetings Miss Saotome," Bastion greeted, "Though I am confused the Master indicated that you would be a young man not a young woman."
"I cursed," Ranma-chan said. From what Ranma-chan could tell from the conversation this man was human and not a Lupine and thus probably was in his early sixties. Ranma-chan had to wonder how a normal human could something like magic so easily. There were still people in Nerima that were surprised with magic and anything associated with it.
Bastion misunderstanding the reference frowned a little, "Now Miss Saotome, being a Lupine is hardly a curse. You are not some monster…"
Aishia decided to interrupt before Bastion could go on, "Ranma was not referring to her Lycanthropy. She was referring to a curse she received in China that changes her gender. She is actually a young man that turns into a young woman when splashed with cold water."
"Oh please forgive my mistake, Miss, um Mr. Saotome," Bastion apologized.
Ranma-chan waved it off, "Just call me Ranma, we be level."
Bastion blinked in confusion at the wording then guessed Ranma-chan meant even, "Very well, Ranma." He then turned to Aishia, "The Master is waiting for you and Ranma in the Library, if you will please follow me." Bastion then stepped inside the house with Aishia and Ranma following close behind leading them to the Library.
About a minute latter the three came to a set of double doors that Bastion opened, "Master Stalk your guests have arrived."
A young man only looking a little older than Ranma stood up from a comfortable looking armchair with a smile on his face, "Thank you Bastion you can leave us now." Bastion bowed and closed the doors behind him as he left, "Aishia it's been years since we last saw each other. And I see you are looking a lovely as ever."
"Still trying to be the Charming Bachelor I see," Aishia smiled. "Just remember I still think of you as that Cub that got sick in my home all those years ago. This is my companion Ranma Saotome."
"I was not expecting you to be such a lovely young woman Miss Saotome, and if you will please call me Scott," Scott made a gesture to kiss Ranma-chan's hand.
Ranma-chan jerked her hand away with a scowl, "I a guy!"
Scott was taken back then looked at Aishia who had a mirthful smirk on her face. He was about to ask what was going on when a knock came from the door, "Enter!" Scott called still very confused.
"I apologize for the interruption but I believe Ranma would benefit with some warm water," Bastion said as he entered.
"Warm water?" Scott asked.
"Here," Ranma-chan took the offered water and dumped it on herself turning her into a guy. "I got Jusenkyo curse."
Scott blinked again then began to apologize, "Please forgive my error Mr. Saotome." He then looked at the puddle on the floor, "Bastion."
"Yes Master Stalk," Bastion said taking out a washcloth and cleaning up the puddle. "I shall take my leave then."
"Thank you Bastion," Scott said as his servant left. "Now then shall we discuss what you came here for?"
"Of course," Aishia answered, "Ranma here needs to learn about part of his heritage as a Member of the Stalker Clan and their fighting style."
Back in Nerima about two and a half weeks have passed since the Lupines left and Cologne took Ryouga to teach him the basics of being a Lupine. Said Matriarch was making her way to the Neko Haten because Ryouga had wander off last night and she knew he would show up in Nerima sooner or later. His training in the basic control was almost complete all he really had left to do was control his bipedal strength. She was not too worried about that though because Ryouga always had experience in controlling incredible strength. When Cologne arrived at the front door she heard a loud crash from the other side followed by a yell, "LEAVE SHAMPOO ALONE STUPID DUCK BOY!"
Sighing Cologne entered the restaurant, "I'm back Shampoo." She did not bother to greet Mousse because she knew he would be unconscious for a few hours.
"Great Grandmother?" Shampoo asked surprised, "Shampoo no expect you for days. Where Lost Boy?" Shampoo asked taking note Ryouga was missing.
"Lost were else," Cologne sighed. "He'll show up around here sooner or later. I knew not to waste time waiting for him where I was training him. He'd never find it anyways."
"Shampoo glad Great Grandmother back," Shampoo said. "Shampoo tired of dealing with Duck Boy and customers on own. No can turn Duck Boy to duck because Shampoo need help with restaurant."
"Well I'm back so you don't have to worry anymore," Cologne said. "Have you heard anything about Ranma?"
"No Shampoo not hear anything," Shampoo answered. "Ranma Mother no hear anything too."
"Well Aishia said they would be back by the full moon," Cologne said. "That means they'll be back in a few days." Shampoo nodded but looked like she had more to say, Cologne seeing this asked, "Is something wrong Child?"
Shampoo shook her head, "Shampoo just wondered how Amazons and Lupines become allies. Shampoo think a lot since Ai…Ranma become Lupine."
Cologne nodded at her heir's curiosity. "As you know the treaty between the Amazons and the Lupines goes back almost as long as our history 2,500 years about. The treaty came about when we settled after many years of being nomads. At the time we were plagued by the Musk and we did not have the power to fend them off. One day a small pack of Lupines came to our village. Now our tribe had dealings with several Lycanthropes in the past before that so we knew they were not the Musk. The asked for lodging and supplies or a couple of nights and our tribe granted it to them. During their stay the Musk heard about Lupines staying with us and attacked." She paused here taking a sip of tea that Shampoo had prepared while Cologne spoke, "The Musk also knew of Lycanthropes, in fact as I understand it they started introducing animal traits into their blood because of Lycanthropes. They wanted the power it offered. Now expect for a few bloodlines like Prince Herbs the power from they received from mating with turned animals was a pale comparison to the power of a true Lycanthrope. Because of this they attacked, they wanted true Lycanthrope blood. So in a surprise attack they raided our village kidnapping some of the Lupines' young and killing a few of the adult Lupine."
"And that why Amazons have treaty?" Shampoo asked.
"Yes," Cologne answered, "But that is not the end. You see Lupines value their children above all else, it's in their nature. So when everything was settled after the surprise attack the Lupines' were furious vowing to get their children back." Cologne then turned very serious, "And let me tell you Great Granddaughter there is little in this world that is more dangerous than a Lupine enraged by the theft of their children. Back to the story even though the Lupines were severally out numbered and many were still injured because the Musk used silver weapons they still were going after their children. Our tribe knowing the Musk and the region, that and they saw this as an opportunity to inflict massive damages to the Musk, offered our assistance. The Lupines agreed, the attack was, according to the writings very savage, the Lupines were in a state of utter fury when they attacked, our people simply acted as back up in all reality. The Lupines rescued their children and returned to the village. Seeing the true power of the Lupines the Elders of the time quickly offered a treaty with them. In their thanks for helping retrieve their young the Lupines agreed. Since that day the Lupines have been the strongest ally we have had. Because of that treaty we were able to become strong enough survive and flourish in our home until now." Cologne looked at the stunned look on Shampoo's face, "Now you understand why the treaty overrides all other of our laws including the Kiss of Marriage and Kiss of Death."
"Shampoo understand," Shampoo nodded. "Amazons always owe Lupines great debt."
"Correct Child," Cologne agreed. "Because of fear the Musk had at another retaliation from the Lupines they did not attack our village directly for many years allowing us to have the numbers and the resources to defend ourselves against the Musk."
"Shampoo still want Ranma as Airen," Shampoo said, mostly to herself.
"I understand Child," Cologne said. "Even before he became a Lupine, Ranma was a magnificent young man and would make any one a good husband. Why if I was a couple of hundred years younger I would have pursued him as well."
Shampoo slightly cringed at the thought of her Great Grandmother and Ranma. "Shampoo not want to think that," she said.
Cologne cackled hearing Shampoo, "Anyway let us get cleaned up and prepare to open for the day."
Later that day at the Court House Nabiki and Nodoka were walking out caring a small stack of papers. These papers were divorce papers that the picked up to end the marriage between Nodoka and Genma. Nodoka had signed them as soon as they picked them up not wanting to be married to Genma any longer. "So the question is how do we get that Baka-Panda to sign these papers, Auntie?" Nabiki asked.
"That will not be much of a problem Nabiki," Nodoka said. "He may know that the divorce is coming and will actually read anything he signs but he is still drinks quite a lot."
"So we just get him drunk then have him sign the papers?" Nabiki asked. "Isn't that a little too simple Auntie. I mean he is good avoiding problems for himself."
"True," Nodoka said. "But when Genma is drunk he is quite easily manipulated. Even into doing something that is against his own benefit. In fact that was how I got him to sign over the dowry my family offered when we got married. To this day he thinks he owns the house and the property."
"So all we have to do is wait for my Father and Genma to go out on another night of drinking wait until they come back and have Genma sign the divorce papers," Nabiki said. "I still say it's a bit too simple."
"The more complex a plan is the more chances something can go wrong," Nodoka countered. "And considering the tendency for plans to go wrong here the simpler plan the better."
"I guess you do have a point," Nabiki said. She could not count the number of times her plans worked out in ways she did not expect or pretty much back fired ever since Ranma and everyone else showed up an Nerima.
"By the way have you seen Ukyou lately?" Nodoka asked changing the subject. "I have not seen her in a few days and her restaurant appears to be closed, even the nice young lady working for her has not been present."
"All I know is that Konatsu went on a short training trip and Ukyou went to Kyoto for some personal business," Nabiki answered. "I suspect that she went to visit her father's grave, from what I've learned he died around this time." Not long after Ukyou showed up Nabiki did a back ground check on the okonomiyaki chef. In it she learned that Ukyou's father died not long after Genma and Ranma left her. That meant that Ukyou's Father's request of finding Ranma and Genma was a dieing man's request. That meant that Ukyou's engagement had as much weight as any other at the time in terms of honor. Now the agreement about marrying Ranma Saotome was a moot point because in just a few days there would be no Ranma Saotome, only Ranma Wolf's Eye because Ranma and Nodoka were going to take Ranma's Father's name.
"I see," Nodoka nodded. "I guess I will see her in a few days then."
"Back to the original subject," Nabiki shifting the conversation, "Daddy and Baka-Panda are going out drinking again tomorrow, so I think we should get Genma to sign these then."
"That sounds like a very good idea," Nodoka agreed, "I do not wish to share Genma's name anymore than I have to."
Genma and Soun were at the moment planning on ways to entrap Happosai once again in a cave. The most recent training trip their Master had sent them on had been particularly brutal in their opinion. In reality though there was no actual training involved, Happosai just had them running ragged for a few days to get them out of everyone's hair while they figured out what going on with the Lycanthropes. He had the two men running around bathhouses, dorms, and hotels stealing women's underwear earning them the wrath of said women. "So how do we get the Master this time?" Soun asked. "He won't fall for getting drunk this time around."
"Think Tendo," Genma said stealing some of Soun's shogi pieces. "Besides drinking Sake what does the Master love?"
"That's easy Saotome my old friend," Soun answered. "Women."
"More specifically what women wear, right?" Genma urged.
"Women's underwear!" Soun said.
"Exactly," Genma responded, "All we have to do is lure him into a deep cave with some women's bras and panties and then seal him up once more!"
"That's perfect Saotome!" Soun started to wail again.
"You two really think I would fall for that?" Happosai asked dropping onto their shogi board. He had been listening to the two from the roof and decided to give his students a good scare.
"M…MM…MMMaster!" both men started to bow, "We would never think of harming you Master!"
Happosai spat in disgust, "You two cowards are not worth the time of a beating." He then left them as they were still in the Crouch of the White Tiger and went to his room. "What ever possessed me to think those two fools were worthy of my teachings? They weren't even good enough to provide a good Heir. I'm actually glad Ranma isn't Genma's Son, I would hate to see his blood continue into the next generation." As he arrived in his room he took his time to admire his vast collection of pilfered underwear, "Soon Ranma will return with Aishia and then he'll probably challenge me for the title of Grand Master, I have no doubt he will prove himself worthy of the title. And when the time comes for me to pass the title I can finally retire with my silky darlings for the rest of my days." He went to the prize of his collection, a bra he stole from Cologne herself when they first met, and rubbed it against his face, "Soon I won't have to worry about anyone stealing my treasures. I will never have to part with them, that is unless I wish to add to my treasure." He then put down the bra and pulled up one that he had selected for Ranma to wear when he was a girl, "If only I could have gotten him to wear this, it would be as just as valuable as Cologne's. A keepsake from the one person that proved worthy of my teachings. But even I will admit I won't be able to get this on her." He sighed putting it down, "Life's regrets I suppose." Feeling down Happosai decided to cheer himself up by making a run on the local high school in order to add more to his collection. "Nothing cheers me up better than getting new silky darlings."