Dragon Exile

Italics are thoughts

Bold is Japanese

I do not own Ranma ½. I write this for entertainment only. But if you copy what I wrote, shame on you!

Chapter the Third: The Bargain

As was custom, the group took tea in one of the smaller dining halls of the palace. On one side of the table sat Herb, Mei Ying, Ryu-shen, and Perfume. On the other sat the four teens. On one end of the table sat Ranma and on the opposite sat Akane. They were all drinking tea in the tense silence of the room.

"Okay, so those two are the Godslayer's offspring?" Mei Ying gasped, "what are they doing here?"

"I found them," Akane explained into her tea, her tone chilly, "abandoned on a street corner. So, I adopted them. They're the same age as my children, so I just gave them the same birthday and went on with life."

"Impressive to have raised four children like that. Even with a husband, that had to be quite the job," Perfume sneered.

Akane's face fell at that and she went back to her tea. Her children eyed her worriedly, but didn't comment. Apparently, they knew enough Chinese to understand what was going on…when they weren't too upset, that is.

"Perfume, that was rude," Mei Ying chided, "she did the best she could."

"I don't have a husband," Akane murmured without looking up, "my family helped me raise them."

Perfume snorted at that, "we are to believe that you were faithful all this time?"

"More than that bastard!" Kama spat, jabbing a finger at Ranma.

"Kama…" Suzuma began worriedly, but was interrupted by Yukima.

"No, sister, he's right. No matter the circumstances, you left our mother without so much as a farewell," Yukima said, speaking directly to Ranma, "how Akima-san and Kama share blood with such a coward, I will never know!"

"I left ta protect her!" Ranma blurted out angrily, slamming his fists onto the table hard enough to shake the teacups, "if I hadn't left, she'da been attacked by every stupid guy who has a grudge against me! Don't you dare tell me it wasn't worth it! She's alive, ain't she!" he demanded, pointing accusingly at an oddly quiet Akane.

For a moment, there was stunned silence, then Akima slammed her hands onto the table and surged to her feet, "how STUPID are you! Protect Mom! From what! You're just a coward afraid of commitment and Mom was unlucky enough to fall in love with you!"

"Akima," Akane said sharply, "that's enough."

"No, Mom, it isn't! I heard you! We all heard you! You'd wake up in the night, crying and calling HIS FILTHY NAME! And whenever you talked about him, you'd start crying! He doesn't deserve to be forgiven!"

"What are you saying! He doesn't need to be forgiven! You should be honored just to carry his blood!" Perfume jumped in, pulling out a mace and waving it threateningly at the glowering girl.

"Bite me, Amazon witch!"

"DIE!" Perfume screamed, launching herself at Akima.

"DIE!" Akima yelled back, then abruptly her legs gave out and she collapsed into her seat. Perfume was still flying at her, but only till the Amazon collided with a savage kick and was flung backwards into the far wall.

"Touch Akima-san and I WILL kill you!" Yukima roared, his lavender eyes blazing with rage, "I'll tear this entire land apart!"

"Yu!" jumping up, Akima latched onto him, "Yu! Calm down! It doesn't hurt anymore!"

"What's wrong with her?" Mei Ying asked worriedly.

"One of those people HE tried to protect Mom from," Akima growled, still practically riding piggy-back on Yukima, "I got in the way."

Ranma cringed at that, but it was Herb who spoke this time, "we still require our heirs. My wife, Mei Ying, cannot bear any more children. You will be well taken care of. We even have betrothed for both of you."

"BETROTHED!" Kama and Suzuma shrieked in unison, "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!"

"Why not? They come from some of the most well-known martial arts families in the world," Mei Ying coaxed.

"You can't! I'm marrying Kama!" Suzuma cried, latching onto the blue-haired male, who nodded emphatically, "we love each other!"

"Love fades," Ryu-shen countered.

"My siblings are soul mates," Yukima growled, "they have been inseparable since the day they met. Do you not think that they might have decided otherwise with almost seventeen years beneath their belts?"

"Youth is blind."

Yukima glanced sidelong at his sister, then sighed and dropped into his seat, "what if there was a bargain made?"

"What sort of bargain?" Herb asked warily.

Again, Yukima glanced at his siblings, then sighed and bowed his head, "if you agree to let my sister live her own life, free of your interference, then I…I will be your heir without a fight."

"What!" Kama gasped.

"Brother! No! You can't do that for me!" Suzuma gasped.

"Yu? Are you sure this is what you want?" Akane asked.

"Yes. For my sister's happiness."

Akima hadn't said a word yet.

"Mother! Tell him! We'll fight our way out! You can't be doing this, Yu!" Suzuma protested desperately.

"Suzuma, it's the better deal. I have…no one," Yukima said reluctantly, "you have the love of your life, but I haven't found any such person for me. Maybe this betrothed will…be good for me."

"Listen to yourself! You can't even say it! Don't do this, Yu!" Suzuma insisted.

"It's the best thing for us," Yukima shook his head, then turned to look challengingly at Herb, "will you accept this?"

Herb considered him a moment, then nodded, "yes. It's a deal."

"So be it."