Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½, Birdy the Mighty, Dirty Pair Flash, or Tenchi Muyo.

Author's Notes: No my friends, you are not dreaming. I have decided to continue this story as well as FLH so forgive me if updates for it come slower now. I reread the whole series thus far and I am a little ashamed with myself for the irregular pacing. I vow to try not to hurry too much and keep it flowing nicely. For those of you who remember, our poor heroine Kikuko can't seem to get a break. Just when she's reunited with her friend Mihoshi, a daring sacrifice forces her apart from her friends once again. Life is so unfair as if the will of the author. Also, I am not retelling the Ranma the Mighty story with Kikuko in it if anyone was wondering. I just felt it would be interesting to explain where Revi had finally taken control. Great trauma of any kind could have caused the snap so Kikuko hadn't really changed history. If there are no objections (and I care not if there are) let's get on with the show!

Kikuko the Mighty

Chapter 11

The bright light shining in from the outside cast a golden glow over the bedroom. It was a truly gorgeous day already with the morning usually punctuated by cries of violence and mayhem as the two Saotome men fought tooth and bail against one another in a display of acrobatic artistry. However, this particular morning was silent. Devoid of the battles that usually graced such beautiful days. The reason for this was that one of the participants was sitting beside Kasumi's bed, lost in thought. The eldest Tendo girl was downstairs making breakfast and getting everything ready for the day so she wasn't the focus of his thoughts. His blue eyes looked to the girl lying in Kasumi's bed with a look of angelic peace on her face. The girl was obviously a gaijin and a pretty one at that, but she seemed strangely artificial. When he saw her fight the previous day she was a monster of brutal power that fought like a true martial artist should, with grace and control. He had to admit that anyone who could knock Ryoga into the stratosphere was not someone to mess with. But what got to him was how scared she was the night before. She was almost paralyzed with fear and that bothered him.

"What could give a girl like you a scare that bad? You're a martial artist and definitely everything that my Pops says girls ain't. Yer strong and smart so what happened?" he asked out loud. When he noticed her stirring, it took all his self control not to run for the hills in fear of a mallet. He laughed softly as he realized that his brain was assessing her by Akane protocols. If it moved, squish it. If it was perverted, squish it. Sometimes it felt like: It it's Ranma, squish it.

"Mmmm….?" The girl moaned softly from the covers as she fought to remain asleep, but when the gentle laughter penetrated her brain, she opened her eyes fast. She looked panicked until she noticed Ranma and visibly relaxed. The pigtailed boy tried to look as harmless as possible but nothing could have prepared him for what happened next. The strange gaijin latched onto him with both arms, bawling her eyes out. He tried not to panic and remember what Cologne told him to do in this situation. Tentatively, he hugged her in return. Instead of easing her sobs, it seemed to make them worse. The only thing he could think of doing was simply riding out the tears and bide his time to ask questions.

-Kikuko's POV-

The sensation of waking up in a strange bed was turning into a familiar feeling. The displaced girl was awakened by a gentle laugh that warmed her soul. It was her father's laugh. The kind man who loved her and her siblings with all his heart. She had to forcibly restrain herself from glomping the teenage boy and calling him Daddy because it wasn't him. Not yet anyway. Her eyes took in his confused but caring look as well as internally noticing how much pain she was in.

'Note to self, you are not a half Alterrian with godlike ki reserves.' She thought ruefully before the events from the day before hit her like a ton of bricks. The school day hadn't been bad, but hell was visited upon her the minute she walked in the door at "home". That woman who claimed she was her mother was a monster! With a wail, she found her arms wrapping around the pigtailed martial artist so tightly that his ribs creaked, but her tears wouldn't let up. When he placed his arms around her, it only served to wedge open the floodgates further. In anguish, she realized that this wasn't a constructed body but a real girl with a real history. Her "mother" had done this before, but unlike Kikuko, poor Madison didn't have the strength to fight back. It was a terrible sensation to know you're powerless and there was no one more powerless than Madison.

"I want my Daddy!" she couldn't help but wail into his chest, feeling her future father's strong arms hold her tighter. What she could dimly tell was that he seemed to be growing angry. Not angry like "I stubbed my toe" but a menace that rivaled Ryoga on his worst day. She looked up, choking back her tears to see his eyes screwed shut with his jaw clenched. His aura was threatening to break into the visible spectrum. He seemed to settle down a little but he was no less intense.

"What happened?" he asked when he realized the girl had stopped crying. The girl was eerily silent, staring up at him with such trust that it was painful to look at. It was the kind of look reserved for children with their parents, not for two relative strangers. Madison, as he read in her wallet, took a long, shuddering breath before telling her tale. For the pigtailed boy's sanity she left out who she "really" was and left it at that. When she finished relating her tale, she didn't expect what happened next as Ranma abruptly stood, dumping her back completely onto the bed, and storming out. The look of disgust on his face cut right through her.

"Why is he disgusted with me? I-I couldn't help it…I couldn't…" the wounded girl murmured to herself. After several minutes, the girl climbed out of bed, still dressed in her clothes from the day before, and left the room to question Ranma.

-Nabiki's room-

The resident mercenary of the house was just getting up and checking her surveillance equipment when Ranma knocked on the door. The girl was halfway tempted to tell him to go away, but with the unusual noises from the dojo last night she invited him in. Something told her that the Saotome boy was in no mood for games. Maybe it was the look of intense anger on his face that told her to keep her teasing to a minimum.

"What can I do for you, Saotome?" she asked, sounding far more alert than usual this early. What few people realized was that the coffee just tasted good, it wasn't needed to wake her up.

"I need ya to do me a favor and price is no object. Ya can shoot my girl-half naked if ya want." He practically growled out. Nabiki blinked in astonishment, any lingering thoughts of sleep banished by what he just said. Did he just say what she thought he said? After replaying the last few minutes, she realized it wasn't a dream. Something needed her help so badly that he would offer that.

"Tell me what you need and we'll talk about it." The girl said as her mask slipped back in place, but her lingering astonishment remained. The gender bender martial artist sat down, uninvited, on her bed with a growl of fury. She could faintly make out his mantra of "Soul of Ice" as he got his temper under control.

"I need information about Madison Avenue, the new girl in school, and about her Mom." He finally said.

"Why? Did they get stiffed by your father? It's not that unusual you know…" she said in a faintly teasing tone until his furious hiss left her breathless.

"No way…if it was I'd kill the old freak myself. I can't do anything about this cuz this ain't a martial arts match or some stupid shit like that. This is serious and I need information." He told her with the voice of a man hanging onto his anger by a hair.

"S-sorry but I need to know what to look for…" Nabiki said, clearly unnerved.

"Reports of abuse, any kind at all and find out where her dad is." The pigtailed boy said in a voice so low she had to strain to hear it. The middle girl's eyes widened to the size of saucers as her imagination filled in what wasn't said. If she knew how close her images were to the truth she would have given in to the urge to vomit that she could barely suppress.

"I…see Saotome. Fine, get out of here and let me see what I can do. As for payment…" she said to Ranma as she turned her back towards her computer.

"Make sure she stays safe."

-Outside Nabiki's room-

Akane was growing angrier by the minute. She had heard through her sister's door about her fiancé wanting to know more about the stupid little whore who just started in their school. If that girl was here she would have a few words with her that was for sure! The sound of a hesitant footfall alerted her to someone's approach. She whirled about in time to face the target of her anger only to falter. The girl before her looked like hell. She seemed barely able to stand, leaning against the wall for support. Her eyes were red and puffy as if from an extended period of crying. This was not the girl from yesterday. She seemed too broken to be the Madison that launched Ryoga into LEO.

"Uh…Madison?" Akane asked with a hint of worry. It was hard to mad at the girl when she obviously looked like death warmed over. She didn't seem to be entirely with it, hugging her tightly as if to ward off a non-existent chill. It was no surprise when the girl's next step dumped her unceremoniously on the floor of the hallway. The youngest Tendo was at her side in an instant, an arm around her shoulders to support her. Madison's eyes looked to Akane blankly causing the girl to almost recoil in shock. This was not the girl that fought her only the day before. Something inside of the girl began to shriek at her just from the dead gaze she was receiving.

"…Akane?" the girl inquired in a small little voice. Kikuko would have kicked herself for sounding so weak if it wasn't obvious that the girl she was had every reason to be this way. Apparently this was Madison's natural self and her own confidence had projected itself onto her "host". Could this have been the quest she was sent on? To strengthen this girl and get her away from her abusive mother? So far, she must be doing alright. At least the girl hoped so.

"Yes, I'm Akane. What happened if you don't mind me asking?" the youngest Tendo asked gently. The girl gave her a suddenly wary look but nodded to herself before launching into everything she could remember. By the time she was done, Akane looked sick to her stomach as if someone had force-fed her some of her own cooking. At the moment that she would have probed more, Ranma exited Nabiki's room. The look on his face was at first thunderous before settling into a look of concern. The pigtailed boy was still uncomfortable with emotions but now was not the time to hide his kind nature.

"What are you doing out of bed?" he asked the girl gently as he and Akane helped her stand up. For reasons he couldn't explain, when the girl suddenly clung to both he and his betrothed it brought up a well of emotions.

"I-I didn't want to be alone…" Kikuko (as Madison) said. Dimly she could detect the real Madison as she spoke. Mentally she told the girl that everything would be alright, but the feeling of derision and disbelief she received in return was understandable. Normally Akane would be in "Pound the Pervert" mode but this was definitely not the time for that. However another little voice was telling her it was the perfect time, but that one was too quiet to hear thankfully.

"Everyone breakfast!" Kasumi caroled up the stairs cheerfully. The teens looked at one another for another long minute before adjourning to the breakfast table. It would be a crime to let Kasumi's breakfast get cold.

-Downstairs-

It was a rather tense affair at the breakfast table that greeted the emotionally fragile girl. Kikuko was just glad that no questions were being directed at her and that Ranma was keeping the panda from stealing her food. The more she turned her problems over in her mind the more they refused to resolve themselves. So engrossed in her own thoughts, she failed to realize as she slipped into a light trance state, the result of years of training that was to help her sort out her problems. What she saw inside was her own body clothed in her father's favorite clothing. The silk shirt and black kung fu pants felt like an old friend. Her "eyes" wandered over the room she was in and noticed it to be the dojo. There was a figure sitting in the center of the floor with her legs curled up to her chest, hugging them close.

"Hello?" she inquired of the other person in her dreamscape. The girl refused to budge, but she did show signs of acknowledgement. As Kikuko stepped closer, she felt her form shift into that of Madison's mother causing the girl to whimper in terror. It didn't take a genius to figure out the girl was Madison, but why did she become this bitch? It wouldn't do at all. With sheer force of will, she reverted to her normal form.

"G-go away…" Madison said, quite clearly despite her face being buried in her knees.

"You know I can't do that. If I leave you then what will happen? You need help and right about now I'm the best hope you got." Kikuko said to the distraught girl. She noticed as her "soul mate" lifted her face to look at the redhead with a distrustful look.

"Some hope you are. So far all that's been accomplished is you running away from home. It solved the immediate problem but what about when she comes for us, huh? Have you even thought that far?" the girl asked peevishly.

"Sure I have. How can she possibly know it's you if we're in guy form? Ya gotta admit that's one advantage to having me around." The other girl said with a smile. Her reluctant partner blinked in astonishment at her.

"You're right. It would be impossible to recognize me like that. I guess you can think." Madison said with a smile as well.

"Also, from what I've gathered about how my…er…how "Ranma" reacted that he went to Nabiki to get her involved. If anyone can help you it would be Nabiki. Is your Dad in the picture?" Kikuko asked as she sat across from Madison, unconsciously still eating in the real world.

"Mom took me away from him when I was younger. She got custody despite being an unloving bitch under that stupid "tender years" thing American's have. It made it easy for my mom to get me since all she had to do was prove to the courts she was a good parent and I had no idea she was a bad one." The girl said with disgust. There was definitely something wrong with that, the redhead realized. It fit like Grandpa Genma in a tube top, meaning not at all.

"No, that makes no sense whatsoever. I'm not saying you're lying but this kind of thing is hard to cover up especially if the father is better suited than the mother. I think you got the bum end of the steer. Since law enforcement is what I normally do for a living I am familiar with such things. America is somewhat closer to Galactic Law if that makes any sense probably because they try to think outside the box." Kikuko told her thoughtfully.

"Can we change forms soon? The less time spent as a girl the better if it means mom can't find me." Madison said. At first it was disturbing how easily she took to the idea, but after remembering some of "Mom's" tender affection it made sense. Who knew the girl would get her wish sooner than expected?

splash

The wet girl (now boy) spluttered in shock as he took note of the changes wrought on his body. The clothes had torn more from the sudden growth but what she noticed today was that his guy form wasn't very muscular. He looked to Akane with a raised eyebrow as she guiltily set down her glass. Strangely, Kikuko felt more like herself in the male body which would bear looking into as disturbing as the thought was.

"S-sorry…I was trying to tell you it was time for school." Akane said as her cheeks flushed.

"That would not be a good idea sis. I think that Madison should stay here until we get this sorted out." Nabiki said. Genma panda wished that it was him with the boy curse while Soun merely read his newspaper, not crying today. He had no reason to cry today since it seemed his Prozac was finally kicking in.

"Uh…we'll bring you your homework so ya don't fall behind." Ranma mumbled before being practically dragged out of the house by his fiancée. He would never understand just why he was feeling so damn protective.

"Would you help me clear the table Madison?" Kasumi asked sweetly. When the eldest girl asks you for a favor it just doesn't seem right to refuse. The gender bended girl gathered the dishes and carried them out to the kitchen. The Displaced Saotome decided that today was going to be a great day.

-Later-

In the dojo was where the reluctant fiancés found their houseguest. She was blurring through several martial arts styles with a look of intense concentration on her face. Off to the side stood Kasumi holding a bucket of cold water. At a prearranged signal, the water hit the girl turning her into a him and causing the kata to ratchet up several notches. Judging by the sweat pouring off of him he must have been at it for hourse. If they knew that Kikuko was teaching her "inner self" to fight as well they might have been more startled, but such was Nerima. Ranma made his presence known as the practice wound down.

"Oh…hi guys." The neo-boy said with a shy smile as he wiped off with the towel Kasumi provided.

"That was a lot of fun. Thank you Madison-kun." The Tendo matriarch said with a smile before heading into the house.

"Hey it looks like you're doing better." Ranma said artlessly before being whacked upside the side by Akane.

"We have some good news." Akane said with a smile. At the boy's inquiring expression she elaborated,

"Nabiki found your dad. Apparently he came to Japan on a tip and is staying at a Best Western in the center of town. His name is Derek Gains. Not surprisingly, your mom changed your name to Avenue to avoid him. You can go to your dad now!" Akane exclaimed enthusiastically. Madison thought to Kikuko 'This is too easy.' while the redhead chided her for being pessimistic.

'Try thinking positive for once.' She thought back.

She really should learn to listen more.

-At the Best Western-

Kikuko tugged at the collar of the silk shirt he was wearing. It was one that Ranma didn't wear much anymore since he outgrew it. The shirt was black with a gold dragon embroidered on the front and the blue jeans were his from the day before since apparently Madison liked baggy jeans. Lucky him because he didn't want to wear some else's pants if it could be avoided. According to Nabiki, Dad should be up on the third floor. First order of business was to make it across the lobby without being seen. Upon engaging the Umi-Sen-Ken it became laughably easy. Having god-like ki reserves had its distinct advantages. It wasn't that he was worried about being accosted by hotel personnel, it was the thought he might accidentally run into Mom that bothered him. He may have been in guy-type but that mattered little to his frayed nerves.

"Get a grip Kiku, this is no different than sneaking candy from Daddy when you were three. Just relax because there's a pair of warm arms waiting to make us safe." he told himself and his current passenger. He grinned as he finessed his way to the elevator easily and made sure he was the only one aboard before pushing three. After disengaging the cloaking technique, he poured hot water from a small packet onto his hand triggering the change back to a girl. The jeans barely slid far and her clothes were largely undisturbed. After affixing Chinese sticks in her hair to look nice she squashed down her growing uneasiness.

Upon reaching the third floor is when disaster struck. Standing in the hallway was her mother with a man she never saw before engaged in a passionate embrace. Something bad was going down if her instincts were to be trusted. Without any warning whatsoever, a knife flashed out from behind the sadistic woman's back and went right for the unprotected man's neck! Kikuko didn't think, just acted as her smaller frame shot forward as the air warped around her. The crest of distorted air slammed the woman and her paramour, sprawling them along the hallway with the knife in plain sight. The man was staring at the girl as she assessed the situation.

"What's going on?" he asked in a daze before taking notice of the knife that the blonde woman was scrabbling for only to find her efforts thwarted by a foot descending with brutal efficiency on her hand. The crack as bones popped sounded like gunshots in the stillness.

"Hey Mom. I didn't expect to find out you were a murderer as well as a molester. Funny little thing this world is, huh?" Kikuko said in a voice so devoid of warmth it could have been liquid nitrogen.

"J-Jessica? What is going on? I thought you wanted to reconcile?" the man asked as he got to his feet slowly, his legs felt wobbly from the sudden rush.

"You little whore! How could you hurt your Mommy like this?" the woman hissed in pain and spite, clutching her ruined hand to her chest.

"Madison? Why would you hurt your mother?" the man asked. Apparently this prize-winner was her father. His aura felt weak and it was clear he was just shy of being stupid. He was an ineffectual man that would have been an even worse father. The courts had picked her mom over him, however, which made her wonder who the worst monster was.

"I came to find my Dad but obviously you're not him. If either one of you comes after me I'll scream rape and I bet they'd find evidence of it too. Assholes." The girl spat before walking away from the pathetic little scene. Kikuko could feel Madison's hope shriveling inside her chest with each step and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it. As she entered the elevator, a notion hit her. A fantastic and wild notion, but it was better than nothing.

'What are you thinking?' Madison asked silently.

"I think I know what we can do." Kikuko said out loud, a smile spreading across her face.

End Chapter

Author's Notes: I regret to inform all of you that I will be dividing my attention between two stories but I hope you'll forgive me. After all the time without an update I hope this is a satisfactory addition to the series. Reviews and comments are always appreciated! Ja ne!