~~~~~~~~
Chapter 2f: ...Moonlit Interlude.
~~~~~~~~

-Tendo Guest Room

{Unfamilar ceiling.}

Ranma lay on his futon looking up
at nothing in particular, only the light
background noises of the Japanese
suburbs at night and the chirping of
some tenacious crickets broke the
quiet stillness of the late hour.

Sleep eluded him. Not that he
really needed it, but there was no
sense in exerting himself until he
needed to.

[Still awake?]

{Yeah, guess I`m still too used to feeling the rhythm
of Untamed Stallion's engines. At least in China I could
gaze up at the stars, it's just too quiet here.}

[It has been quite a day.]

{You can say that again.}

[Something is still bothering me though.]

{What is it?}

[It's...a feeling. Are you sure there's no magic
around here? You didn't try an active scan and
with enough shields even a half-rate mage can block
a passive search. I could do a quick check now if you want.]

{It would give our presence to any sensitive
that might be in the city though. While I highly
doubt there's anyone with even a moderate
amount of magical talent on this world I'd be
willing to wager that there's at least the
possibilty of some fairly competent psychics
around. I'd rather wait until any evidence turns
up before dropping the element of surprise.
Besides, you worry too much.}

[And you don't worry enough!]

Ishtar's concern was mixed with exasperation,
if she could have she would have pulled out a
blunt instrument and beat some sense into that
thick head of Ranma's. As the weapon was locked
inside of Ranma's suitcase at the moment she had to
settle with simply berating him instead.

[You dolt!]

{Well, I was kinda curious about everyone's
behavior during dinner....}

~~~~~~~~
-We are watching you

"What are you doing?"

"Uh...nothing!" The Bard quickly
ditched his dirty bootlegged copy of the
future plot devices in this Private Bet.

Shadow shot a probing glance at him, still
suspicious of the fast talking rogue musician.

"By the way Bard, I've been meaning to ask you something."

"What?"

"What the heck's your real name anyway?!!
I'm getting sick and tired of having to
always call you the Bard!!!"

"Uh....it's kinda embarrassing actually...."

"Spill it."

"Bar*mumble*mumble*"

"What?! Speak up!"

"It's BarthalamuDraconiousfranchesicabobescacalifradalisticexpialidocious the Third."

"Good grief!"

"So now you see why I prefer being just called the Bard."

~~~~~~~~
*Insert a Flashback sequence intro here*

Dinner had been uneventful. Mostly.

"This sukiyaki is delicious Kasumi! The beef is
so tender and sweet! You can really sink
your teeth into the meat, it's really good!"

For some reason Ranma couldn't understand
all three of the Tendo girls had turned beet red
after hearing that. This was the best food he'd
had since leaving the ship!

Things got even weirder after he asked Akane
for some sweet buns. She'd nearly choked on
her drink, but when he had asked what was
wrong she said that she was fine.

~~~~~~

Genma had decided to steal his son's food
under the guise of training. The fact that the boy
had actually taken normal sized servings didn't
go unnoticed, the older man lamented about this
obvious slacking off from the Founding Principles
of the Anything Goes School. He would have to
start teaching the boy all over again.

When Ranma's attention was focused elsewhere
Genma's chopsticks struck out for a pickle.

*Snip*

With a self satisfied smirk the glutton prepared
to claim the prize.

Then he looked down.

Never taking his eyes off of Kasumi who was
questioning him about China, Ranma allowed
himself a small smile.

Genma stared dumbly at the cleanly sheared ends of his
once much longer pair of chopsticks. Then he looked
at Ranma, the boy appeared to not have even noticed.

Genma couldn't understand it so after getting
another pair he tried again. This time Ranma's
head was turned as he passed some fishcake to Nabiki.

Again the master food thief made his attack.

*Snip*

Once again he pulled back two little wooden stubs.

{How'd he do that?!!}

A cowed Genma decided that discretion was the
better part of valor and for once in his life actually
ate with what passed for manners. Something was
definitely wrong with the boy.

~~~~~

Nabiki Tendo had finally regained her
composure and self control after
a very cold shower. Her natural
tendency to question things was
returning to her as the multiple
overwelming shocks to her system
she'd received ever since Ranma
had arrived had started to wear off.

Several nagging doubts had popped
up ever since she'd had a chance to think
rationally about this engagement and more
importantly about their potential fiancee.

With great effort the infamous "Ice Queen"
of Furinkan pushed away the effects of
that free show she'd gotten. She couldn't let silly
hormones influence her judgment at a time like this.

Nabiki's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the
friendly but rather quiet young man.

He was too good to be true. There had to be a
catch here somewhere, unless this guy was an
absolute saint he was hiding something. A
disturbing possibility occurred her.

{Say...we never did find out if he was cursed like
his father! What if he turns into a little black
pig?! Or a white duck! Or a yeti riding a bull with
a crane and eel! Or worst of all, a buxom young GIRL!!}

The middle Tendo daughter wanted to bang her
head against the table for missing such an obvious
thing like that, was she really that hard up for a date?!

This mistake would have to be remedied.

{No time like the present to find out.}

"Say Ranma...."

"Yes?"

"Oops...."

Nabiki *accidently* knocked over her glass of water.

Somehow Ranma was in the water's path
as it started to fall but he wasn't there when it hit.

*Splash*

"NABIKI!"

"Sorry Akane."

{Damn. Missed!}

She'd have to wait for another oppertunity. Not now,
but when his guard was down. How hard could it be?

~~~~~

Akane excused herself to dry off. In the bathroom
she started banging her head against the wall while chanting
"I hate boys, I hate boys, I hate boys..."

It had been a mistake to peep on Ranma.
She felt like a complete pervert. If he ever found
out about that she'd just die from complete embarrassment

~~~~~~~

"Um...Ranma?"

"Yes Kasumi?"

"Do you...I mean...do..." She
faltered, unable to complete
her question.

"Hmm?"

"Are you...cursed in any way like your father?"

There, she'd said it. Contrary to some people's
belief Kasumi was not stupid, nor was she on a high
prescription of Valium. It would have surprised her family
to find out that their dear sweet innocent housekeeper
possessed a mental acuity that rivaled Nabiki's. She simply
utilized it differently. Kasumi had become something of a
minor legend in the marketplace for her ability to get the
lowest prices no matter where she shopped. Her aura
of niceness combined with a intelligence that few expected
from such a seemingly normal girl never failed to get a discount.

{Oh boy...}

Now, how to answer that without actually lying...

"Um...well I don't a have a Jusenkyo curse if that's what you mean."

Nabiki and Kasumi both caught the implied
"but" at the end of that statement.

{What is he hiding!?}

*End Flashback*

~~~~~~~

In the Guest Room a large shape turned slightly to observe
a second smaller one that lay only a few feet away.

A careful glance revealed Ranma was not moving,
his chest rising and falling with the evenness
of someone fast asleep.(1)

With a sneakiness that came from long practice
a giant lump inched its way out.

~~~~~

Genma scratched the kerchief on his head as he
read some of the stickers plastered all over the
innocous gray case.

`Hug a Pikachu!'

`Wendy Rider Concert Live!'

`Be nice to Wookies! Or else they'll rip your arms out!.

There were also several luggage stamps. Yavin IV, Lazlo,
Melva, Pern, New Hope and several other places were
listed. A large sweatdrop had developed behind Genma's
head by this time, this was beyond odd and heading straight
into downright bizarre.

But he could smell an opportunity for profit a mile away.

During their training journey Ranma had only one small traveling
pack of supplies and personal belongings. So naturally Genma was
*ahem* curious as to what was in these two rather large pieces of
luggage. The boy wouldn't mind, surely a small trinket or two
was for him. He'd just take it early and save his son the trouble...

~~~~~~~~

{Quiet Night.}

[Quiet Night.]

*ZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTZZZZZZAAAAAPPPPPP!!!!!*

[What's that?!]

{Sounds like Pops discovered the anti-theft mazor in my suitcase.}

[A microwave taser? Where did you find it?]

{Traded a Flame-blade for it at that little shop in Perv, works great too.
As effective as an electrical stun gun without the risk of fatality.}

[Ewww...it smells like roast pork over here!]

*Sweatdrop*

{Sorry about that, it does tend to leave the victim a little crispy.}

~~~~~~~~
-Up the stairs and down the hall we go

Kasumi slept alone.
With any luck that would soon change.

{He seems like such a nice young man. I wish...}

A smile lit her peaceful slumber.

~~~~~~~~~

Nabiki Tendo was suffering the agony of indecision.

{Do I or don't I? Argghh!!! I can't decide!!!}

Was the risk really worth it? Should she just try to use
him or did she dare to go for the big jackpot?

The whimpering coming from downstairs wasn't helping either.

~~~~~~~~

Akane couldn't sleep a wink. Every time she closed her
eyes...IT appeared. The scene from the bath continued to haunt her,
every inch of Ranma's body seemed to have etched its way into her
memory...

{I am not a pervert!!!}

Now if only she could believe her own declaration.

~~~~~~~
-Not quite far enough

Sailor Mars paused for a moment.
Just a minute ago she'd felt a presence
brush past her. It looked like their quarry was
on to them...

~~~~

Yohko looked out at the bright moon from
the hotel balcony. She was going with
Mrs Saotome to meet her future fiancee.

{I hope he's cute.}

Admittedly she'd been reserved at first
about this whole business. But Aunty Nodoka could
be very persuasive when she wanted to and anyway Devil
Hunting was a lousy way to meet guys. They either got
killed or tried to kill her. Plus most people thought
she was just plain weird, but Mrs Saotome had actually
been delighted with her combat skill. If this Ranma
guy was even a tenth as good as his mother said he was
she'd take him!

~~~~~~~

Belldandy finished her wards, the entire shrine was now
shielded enough to withstand anything short of Ragnarok.

No matter what happened Keiichi would be safe.

~~~~~~

Ranma was almost about to fall asleep when an urgent
buzzing in his mind awakened him.

[Ranma!]

{Wha? Huh??}

[Remember what you said about there being no traces of magic around?]

{Yeah?}

[Well get a load of this!]

The sentinent weapon opened the link between them fully
to let Ranma "see" what she'd just picked up.

It was one heck of a nasty surprise.

{Impossible! Those sources weren't
there earlier!!}

[So what do we do?]

{We wait till tomorrow then start looking. Ishtar...}

[Yes?]

{I've got a bad feeling about this.}

[Join the club.]

~~~~~~

(End Chapter II)