Author's Note: Upon seeing Pink and Link's names, Pin Ke and Lin Ke in the manga, I realized that Ku Long's family name is possibly Long, not Ku. I thought it would follow eastern convention though, so I'm really confused. Do I need to retcon the name? I might go for Tso Pu (Soap) since it would imply a link to the "Pu" family that Xian Pu is part of. Also, I apologize for the delay since the last chapter. This one is shorter in part because I had trouble with pacing at the end if I pressed further. It felt like it moved too fast if I continued it without a break indicated by a chapter change.

Edit: I dropped the Tso Pu idea and just called Ran 'Lan' in their tongue. It seems that 'Pu' and 'Long' aren't family names either.

Elsil: I'm glad you're enjoying the story. I'm doing what I can to subvert or elaborate on fandom while exploring the canon. This is a hybrid of the anime and manga, as well.

1) Tanya hasn't gotten back to the Soviet Union yet to be punished, and she'd really be punished by them for being caught and inconveniencing them. Happosai doesn't care about their punishment. Besides, it's supposed to be a bit much. Few truly deserve Happosai's worst. I just had to be careful with how dark I went with it.

2) I got the name while looking around Rhythmic Gymnastics competitions of the era, and am also a fan of Nadia from Secret of Blue Water. As such, I decided to use it as a double-homage.

3) Oh, there will indeed be changes. :3

4) True. I wanted to give Ranma a headstart in that regard. It will still likely take time for Shampoo and company to get to their destination.

5) I'm thinking harem fic, personally, though a lot of people seem to consider it an Ukyo fic because the others haven't featured as strongly and I haven't added other names to the listed characters yet. Ukyo will also be a stronger contender than in canon for various reasons.

Well, for one thing, Genma is barely a master. He is the minimum bar of a ki-capable master of Martial Arts outside of specialized disciplines. His ki control is geared toward concealment and sneaking rather than overt combat, and he otherwise can't do much aside from reinforcing his own body, even in 1989. In 1977, I figure he's only been a 'master' for a couple of years and had inferior skill in spite of being in his prime. Of course, he's still better than Soun, since Soun has been stuck in a Dojo outside of training with Happosai. Even now he's starting to lapse. Regarding crossovers, I may consider brief ones that serve a purpose but otherwise steer clear of forcing universes together that otherwise won't fit naturally. Your suggestions are distinct possibilities.

Honestly? Kimiko could go either way at this point. While a fic with Soun and Nodoka seems like an interesting perspective and something this Kimiko is indeed planning for, the backstory gives Ranma all the tools and timing he needs to attempt to intercede. There's a storyline point far later that makes me lean one way over the other, but I shan't say more on that matter yet.

I concede that the flow of the fight was difficult there. I am not 100% happy with it, but I would also have been breaking away from person to person rapidly and making lines everywhere. I figured that everyone being in the same physical location and able to see each other made the lines unneeded, but I suspect this to be untrue.

Politics will indeed have consequences, but I think I'll let those be a surprise.

Tribun: Yeah, Ranma knew full-well that Genma would normally try to weasel out of such consequences or act like it never happened. Ranma also knew that television cameras and every authority figure in Anything Goes were there to watch the battle to prevent him from being able to do so, and went for it. Genma didn't know this, or he'd never have agreed to the challenge. Genma isn't stupid, but your assessment of his character is 100% correct. Genma also wouldn't stay in one place for long if he could help it, though, unless it's the Tendo Dojo.

Happosai is also as you say, though he's since learned how far to push in most cases without making the government willing to act. He's a hassle for them, but he'd be more trouble to take out than he's worth.

The Joketsuzoku will probably have to deal with the consequences, especially since the video recording clearly caught the icy footsteps of the spiral dance and the thermal cameras in the military helicopters could show the other half of the story. People have half the technique to analyze there and the JSDF military has both halves. The speed and defense benefits Ranma achieved using their Wushu will also be noted by the world, including the Chinese Communist Party.

You're right about Genma not being invincible. The government has developed a counter to the Umisenken, after all. However, that counter eliminates peripheral vision while adding an imbalanced weight to their heads. Genma, meanwhile, is unnerved and weakened from a fight. Only Soun is at 100%, so it's anyone's game.

The mirror has a name, but Mirror of Truth is a good stand-in for that. The reveal of its true nature might be a while in coming.

Ranma will indeed read the message from Ran once he gets a chance. I'd intended to do it last chapter, but the pacing didn't allow it to happen without making it feel clunky.

I don't think that school always starts on April 1st, but rather the first Monday in April. As such, I'd planned for the school year to start on Monday, April 4th, 1977. If this is incorrect, however, I have the leeway necessary to change it. Let me know.

Oh, Akane will change in various ways. She'll never quite have the same delusions she had developed in canon about being the best. Her base personality remains, as shown by her earlier impatience in trying to master ki-hardening of the scoop, but she will be healthier. Her story isn't over yet, though.

Nabiki is the same way. You're right in that she dodged a bullet, but she still likes math and sees money as a game at the moment. If you save money, you're winning. Even if she doesn't understand money's nature yet. The Kunos indeed got another lesson to deal with.

Regarding Ranma's impression of the sisters, he has started to think about that. Not as much as he will later in the story, but the seeds are planted.


Chapter 15: Journies Resume

Genma struggled on his feet, his clothes cut by combat knives and his body having been pelted with rubber bullets. In spite of his skill and pride, the man knew that he would be dead had the military not restricted itself to non-lethal means. However, rubber bullets weren't sufficient to take down a man like Genma Saotome. At least not with the enemy so hindered as to be unable to practically aim.

The cat helmets the JSDF relied upon to have a psychological impact failed when Genma thought of it as a cartoon fox instead of a cat. The large heads and the optics that saw through his Umisenken also conveyed a number of disadvantages. They were unwieldy and messed with the soldiers' balance, they made it impossible for the soldiers to employ their scopes with their firearms properly, and they eliminated the soldiers' peripheral vision. The soldiers also had access to tear gas and knockout gas, but were forced to avoid employing it due to the proximity of the crowds and the prevailing wind.

When Genma got close to a soldier, his prowess in martial arts combined with the encumbrance of the helmets made it relatively simple to strike down his opponent. This came with its own risks when the sheer number of the soldiers were factored in, indicated by a number of light wounds from their blades, but the martial artist had proven able to manage thus far. The problem was that he was tiring. Fighting Ranma and knocking out Soun had taken a lot more out of him than he would have cared to admit.

It wasn't really due to the skill difference that Soun was incapacitated. The strange scopes that saw through his Umisenken seemed to have trouble identifying individual people. If a person didn't have the huge helmet and was on the battlefield, they were at risk of being fired upon. A spread of rubber bullets in his back surprised Soun enough for Genma to take advantage and knock him out cold with a combo move from the Yamasenken. Kocho Kuno, who had volunteered unbidden for his emperor's cause, lasted longer because of his armor and in spite of his comparative lack of skill. A neck strike from behind finally took him down as well.

Now the unconscious martial artists lay amongst a number of soldiers on the pavement that Genma defined as 'not enough' when compared to the quantity that remained standing. Genma had briefly used Kocho as a human shield of sorts, but that effort alone was tiring and was soon abandoned. The fugitive needed to finish this quickly. Unfortunately, he heard the sound of rotors as more helicopters arrived. Even more problematic, he still had three dozen men to contend with. Working to ensure Genma couldn't escape, the JSDF soldiers made sure to keep the pressure on as the helicopters landed at the four corners of the parking lot. More soldiers in helmets emerged, but they secured the perimeter as the true combatants emerged rather than joining the fray.

Genma noted the fathers of assorted fiancees, a highly ranked officer of some sort, and Nodoka. His eyes widened upon seeing his wife. "N-n-No-chan! Why are you here?" The worried and tiring man asked, showing enough fear for the Umisenken to break. The woman glared at him with a look of cool fury.

"Genma. I did not think much of you when my father first brought you to my attention. Regardless, I married you out of duty and was an obedient and faithful wife." Her eyes bore into him in a way that made him flinch. "When you wanted to take Ranma from my arms, that was the only time I failed to immediately yield. Then you came up with that agreement. An agreement that was so serious that I actually felt bad for not acquiescing. An agreement you made in bad faith. So I foolishly let you go on a training journey thinking it was for the best...one which you have admitted that you never planned to return from."

The woman focused and drew the Saotome family honor blade, the shine of metal making Genma shudder. "...I've since learned that assisting in seppuku is illegal in the eyes of modern law, regardless of the promises you've made in that regard to get your way in the past. So worry not, my wayward husband..." Genma was briefly relieved that his wife had seen sense, but a new and primal fear entered his being when he heard his wife's concluding words.

"...I will not let you die."


"This is Sachiko Hinata with HNK. Police have cordoned off the parking lot of the Takato Castle Ruins Park and more reinforcements from the military have arrived, including several apparent martial artists and a woman with a sword who seems to be the assailant's angry wife. Grandmaster? Mrs. Tendo? Do you have any clarification for us?" Sachiko asked the pair sitting with her for any input. The kimono-clad newscaster had been fascinated with the stories she'd heard of the Joketsuzoku as well as the occasional commentary on the fight thus far. This was making for excellent television.

The ancient martial arts grandmaster crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "That is certainly Genma's wife, but I haven't really followed their family matters and only learned about Genma's trespasses yesterday. Kimiko, might you have heard anything?"

Kimiko was holding her youngest in her lap, who cheerfully waved at the camera. Akane had been worried when Soun was knocked out and needed comforting by her busy mother, but she was quite happy now after reassurance that her father would wake soon. "Yes. Ranma was taken by Genma four years ago at the age of two on a training journey. Genma made various promises which have been proven to be made in bad faith, and the poor woman hasn't heard much if anything from them in all that time. When Genma was arrested in Kyoto and Ranma went missing, Nodoka went there running. Genma promptly broke out of jail and Nodoka and has been chasing leads all over Japan while assisting the police and military wherever possible ever since."

The news reporter was shocked. "So you're saying he abandoned his wife for four years?"

"And seems to never have intended to return. Regardless of the outcome, my family will have to be kind to her. She did not deserve this any more than her child did." Kimiko gave a sigh and hoped that the woman and the others Genma had wronged would leave something for the military to take into custody.

"Well, I am glad she has elected not to take his life. It sounds like seppuku was very nearly on the table." The kimono-clad newscaster then looked back to the camera. "To everyone watching the broadcast, we at NHK do not advocate marching into battle with a sword or resolving civil disputes in this manner."


Genma Saotome knew that he was in trouble. Not only was Nodoka here, but so were a number of other masters. Alone they likely could not be too much trouble outside of their elements and with their more niche arts, but fighting them all together was another story. The alcohol-fueled fireballs spat by Seto Tachibana proved to be fine support for the shorter range fighters. The Noodle Wrap and Fish Cake Blizzard techniques were also useful, keeping Genma from fleeing easily. It was all the man could do to avoid being burned or receiving strikes to his pressure points. Of course, rubber bullets were still an unpleasant and ever-present threat as well.

Nodoka's charges were conducted with the back of her blade, thankfully, but she kept the ki-strengthening up. Being hit by the sword would still hurt horribly. Scrambling, the man picked up the knife of one of the unconscious men and used it to try to block the katana of his wife. Clumsily, he blocked several strikes, his wrist feeling the forces involved as the woman whittled away at away his shallow protection.

"Have you neglected your training with weapons? Do not draw a blade against me unless you are more confident!" Swinging solidly and still using the back of the Saotome Honor Blade, a loud clang was heard as the blade of the knife was cut cleanly from the handle through sheer force. Genma gawked for a moment as he was forced to jump back from another strike.

"No-chan, listen! It's all for the future of the Art! You know this!" Genma kept evading blows, and in one notable case had to squat and raise his arms to intercept the raging blade.

"I know that you never intended to return! That you use contracts as tricks and honor as a leash! That the Art and our child are merely means to an end for you!" She shifted to a single-handed grip and surprised her husband by slugging him solidly in the face with her free hand, forcing him to let go. He stumbled back and turned it into a retreat, this time managing to evade the ranged fire, bullet, and fish cake attacks intended to contain him.

His effort to flee was stopped short by the most unlikely of things, however. It wasn't just the broken line of soldiers that had worked to form a perimeter on Nodoka's arrival, but also a line of stray cats that glowered and hissed at him at the edge of the parking lot. His new phobia would not allow him to pass. Looking to his left and then to his right, he could see that the line of cats had cut off his escape and with them stood one of Soun's daughters. The violet glow in Kasumi's eyes made his fear rise almost just as much as the cats did. As if this weren't enough, a bald boy in a kendoist's gi leapt over the wall of cats with his unconscious father's family blade.

"You struck down my father and attacked my friend! Enemy of the Emperor, I strike!" Tatewaki landed in front of Genma and made jabs with his father's blade that were still a bit amateurish, but pushed Genma back into the fray when combined with the fear of cats.

"Ow! Ow! Datatatatata! Knock that off!" Genma roared at the child as he took on a few cuts even with his ki-strengthened arms, only for Nodoka to re-enter the fray. The woman squared up near the child with the blade, Genma in her sights.

"Thank you, but do not use live steel unless you have the intent to kill or the skill to avoid it. You cannot take back the consequences. This coward's blood is not meant to stain your blade." Nodoka advised Tatewaki. The boy thought for a moment, hesitating, as the battle continued from there. One of the soldiers ran in and picked up the scion of the Kuno clan under his arm, risking his own well-being to do so.

"Unhand me! I have battle to wage! Dare you obstruct the blade of House Kuno?" Tatewaki asked, the JGSDF soldier with the cracked cat helmet silently lamenting that he wasn't paid enough for this as he passed over the cat cordon. Further efforts of Genma's to get clear were confounded by projectiles in the form of clubs from the Japanese National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team, its more skilled ribbon-bearers entering the fray in close combat with their nascent Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics skills.

Sachiko Hinata looked on at the carnage with a dumbfounded expression while Happosai simply sipped tea. Kimiko had a look of quiet contemplation, holding her youngest daughter while her eldest child held the line with the aid of the soldiers and the neighborhood cats. The Nerima-grade pandemonium, however, was interrupted by a glowing white light...

"That's it!" Genma's voice boomed from the epicenter.


From the summit of Kamanashiyama, a mountain top to the general east of the battle, Ranma finally relaxed a bit. They'd sped away as fast as they could, Ranma having been forced to fire a few ki blasts at rocks to clear the way for the speeding cart. He could sense the madness happening behind them and knew his father's ki senses and his issues with tracking multiple targets well enough to determine that speed was more beneficial than stealth. Upon stopping to let himself and the girls gather their breath for a moment after feeling relatively safe, Ranma was alerted to his senses by a spike of ki at the battlefield.

He could feel assorted fighters at the scene, but the trees concealed a lot of the actual combat from sight even with his higher vantage point. The sounds of battle had not carried this far. However, the white light surrounding Genma Saotome's frame cleared the treetops as he summoned his Battle Aura. Soon, standing with the trees generally at his waist, Ranma saw his thirty-meter-tall father scan the horizon.

"Hide!" Ranma called out, their ride vanishing into ki-space and the children rushing down behind the summit.

"W-what was that, Ran-chan? How did he grow giant like that?" Ukyo asked, quite surprised by this display. The other girls were similarly surprised, but also quite impressed. They hadn't the negative experiences with Genma that the others had.

"That's called Battle Aura. You know how ki is visible sometimes or can be controlled? That move uses it as an armor around yourself that can also make you look huge if you pump enough power in it. His real body's inside that ki construct someplace. That's one of Happosai's moves outside the Saotome School and Pop never taught it to me, but he can't use it for long. I could probably use the Hiryu Shoten Ha to tear it apart, but I hope that who all he's fighting can hold out..."


Genma, pushing all the power he had left into his form, found himself over fifteen times as tall as he was before. The frightened cats stood their ground for their mistress but proved to no longer scare Genma at his height. Soldiers and fighters looked up at the man in awe and fear, unable to do much. Genma spared the time to give a deep, booming laugh.

"Hahaha! Nice try, but I doubt any of you can manage this! I stand head and shoulders above you all as a martial artist! Now, I have a son to find. No-chan, go home and be an obedient wife." This was said with a bit of condescension which he wouldn't otherwise dare, the woman giving him a glare that still made him recoil. The man recovered quickly, however, beginning to walk away.

It wouldn't be the unconscious Soun who would rise to meet Genma's boast, nor would it be the masterful Happosai to rein in his errant pupil. No, that fate was reserved for the nine-year-old girl who was focusing a ball of purple light in her hands. The camera barely picked up Kasumi's words, "Serenity of the Gentle Butterfly", before the iridescent purple orb floated up into the air and touched Genma's thigh. The concentrated ki of Genma's Battle Aura vanished with a sudden burst of wind and light. Genma found himself drained of ki and falling, the man barely managing to harden his body. He made another crater as he smashed into the pavement. When the dust cleared, he was on his back and unconscious in front of Kasumi and the cat cordon. Nabiki walked up beside her sister and poked the man's face with a stick, before smiling and taking a picture of the humbled man with her new camera.


"'Serenity of the Gentle Butterfly'? It's certainly a good counter to the Battle Aura technique. Of course, Ranma's Hiryu Shoten Ha could have torn it apart as well if Genma could be baited again. This coming generation is showing more promise than their parents!" Happosai sagely noted Kasumi's ability and her successful defeat of Genma. Kimiko gave a sigh of relief, both proud of Kasumi and relieved that she hadn't been hurt. Akane was simply in awe of what she'd just seen.

"Can anyone learn to do that?" Sachiko inquired of her impromptu guests, wondering how the military might contain such power. Happosai, however, shook his head.

"No. Ki use is a mix of training and talent just like other disciplines, with the addition of being impacted and colored by a person's fundamental nature. A technique like Kasumi's requires a serene and gentle soul that is not often found in martial arts. As I recall, she had shrine keeper training first and developed from that angle after witnessing Ranma exorcise a youkai. Of course, such people can be amazingly effective when they've finally mastered their skills." The prospect of combat shrine keepers and exorcists was a strange one to the news anchor, but seeing Kasumi's actions seemed to make it a bit more plausible.

The camera recorded Genma being injected with a paralytic medication to keep him from moving. As Genma was restrained in ki-strengthened noodles and a gas mask to keep him from biting them off, Doctor Ono volunteered to assist with keeping Genma sedated since he was familiar with martial artists' increased recovery time. He'd already tended to his son's injuries anyway. Soun and Kocho were also starting to wake and no longer needed his aid. The NHK group and its unlikely guests made their way down to the parking lot, where they heard Nodoka begin to speak.

"Thank you, Kasumi. Both for containing my husband during a critical moment and for delivering the final blow. I noticed that your father also attempted to stop him." Nodoka looked to the rising Soun, who was quite surprised and confused that Kasumi of all people had decided the battle. This was particularly puzzling given the sorry state of the parking lot showing the ferocity of the fight. "Though Ranma has departed again, you both have my gratitude."

Next, the woman regarded Tatewaki. "And thank you as well, young man. You were quite brave acting as you did. Are you also a friend of Ranma's?"

"Y-yes, Saotome-san." Tatewaki said, giving a bow to the woman who he recognized as his clear better in Kendo. "My sister and I met him and Kuonji in Sekigahara. To think that ki is real...even after witnessing it in Sekigahara, I scarcely believed it until he used my own blade to effortlessly cut stone in two. I can see where he received that control." Nodoka beamed upon hearing that Tatewaki thought her son resembled her rather than Genma. That thought quickly got the boy on her good side.

Before they could speak further, however, Happosai bounded over and looked Kasumi over with an appraising eye. It wasn't lecherous, thankfully, but he seemed pleased with what he perceived. "Just as I thought. An emotional element of serenity. Hard to maintain in battle, but quite powerful. Given that you've defeated both Soun and Genma now, perhaps I should give you your father's title as well!" The man laughed, teasing an incredulous Soun.

"M-m-Master! Please, she certainly has the potential and did well today, but she has much training to do in the Art before we consider that." Soun was conflicted between being proud of his daughter and defending his title from the Master. The old Grandmaster simply laughed as Kimiko hugged Kasumi.

"Oh, don't worry, Soun. I was joking! But I certainly do want you to cultivate this power. Hinako, Ranma, Kasumi...this generation is going to be a joy to watch grow!" Soun wondered who Hinako was, but Nodoka stepped forward and elected to speak at that moment.

"Grandmaster, it has been a long while." Nodoka gave a bow to the impish man. "I heard on the radio that you confirmed Ranma's mastery of the Saotome School. Is this accurate?"

Happosai regarded the woman with a smile. Nodoka was always a pleasant sight for the eyes, and such a respectful young woman in spite of her strength. A treat that was rarely seen in the modern era. It had also spared her of his more unsavory attention, putting her in the 'look, but don't touch' category. "It is, Nodoka. He defeated Genma soundly in strength, power, and technique. He even found a way through Genma's stealth and I'm confident that he could have torn apart Genma's Battle Aura had he needed to with the Hiryu Shoten Ha. His disposition toward training others is also far more favorable than his father's. Genma's using my art as a means to an end instead of spreading it as I entrusted him to do is not something I favor." These last words were said sternly, and Nodoka nodded in agreement.

"Might it be possible to get that in writing, Grandmaster? I do not wish there to be any doubt for the courts. I may be forced...to take custody of my son through divorce regardless of my parents' wishes, and I do not want the Art to be used to tie him to his father's aspirations any longer." It was not easy for Nodoka to even consider. Divorce was not as common an option for a woman in traditional Japan and was often frowned upon. However, it was perhaps the best option Nodoka had.

"Oh! He does need that, doesn't he? Let's see..." Happosai pondered for a moment, before pulling out a scroll from his ki-space. He wrote on it in his neatest hand before signing it and stamping it with his personal seal. Fanning it for a time to make the ink dry, he handed the scroll to Nodoka. "There you are! I'm sure you'll see him again to give him that."

With a smile, Nodoka bowed again. "Thank you, Grandmaster. I have great hopes for my son...he seems so different from Genma that any damage that has been done may yet be corrected. It is my hope that he meets your expectations." Happosai smiled, having assorted expectations for the boy...though not all of them were appropriate for discussing with the boy's mother. Or with young children around. Soun understood this better than anyone and elected to change the subject.

"What...will they do with Saotome? He has proven difficult to contain before." The man asked, attracting the attention of both Nodoka and the newscaster.

"Well, I believe that the original plan was to use paralytics and also to house him in a special cell. I do not know the details...but I do know that it was built by the JSDF specifically to contain him. In the meantime...I must go with Genma to ensure that he cannot escape. No matter how much I want to follow Ranma right now." Nodoka's eyes hardened slightly, but she gave a dignified bow. "I apologize for Genma's interruption of your vacation and broadcast. I hope you will be able to have a nice time with the remainder and thank you for your assistance."

Nodoka walked over to the Type 73 Armored Personnel Carrier which Genma had been drugged and bound inside of. He was conscious but was terrified by a single kitten that was snoozing in his lap after honoring its mistress' orders. His terror increased when his wife sat next to him, giving him the side-eye. The door shut, and it was clear that the two would have a nice, long talk on the way to Genma's incarceration. Doctor Ono, who went along with them, would ensure that Genma was properly medicated through all of it.

Kimiko, who pondered how to salvage the mood, pondered how best to pursue this goal. After looking around, she found a possible distraction. "Well, then...who wants cotton candy?" She asked, immediately capturing the attention of both her own children and the Kunos. Sachiko simply smiled and looked at the camera.

"Well, one can certainly say that the opening day of the 1977 Takato Cherry Blossom Festival has been an interesting one. The pavement of the parking lot may be repaired shortly, but people will remember the martial arts battle here for years to come. This is Sachiko Hinata of NHK from Takato Town. Over to you, Hanami." She was relieved when the camera stopped recording, and she was finally able to exhale and relax. She immediately slumped against a tree, trying to collect herself.


"...Is it over, Master?" Natsume asked, looking at where the giant Genma had vanished in a burst of light. The man had started to turn and walk in their general direction, only to pop like an overinflated balloon made of light. It had been strange to say the very least.

"I think so," Ranma replied with a bit of confusion, "but I could've sworn I felt Kasumi's ki at the end there. Pretty sure Pop is down for the count, whatever happened." He felt a lot of different ki mixed up there. Though some were hard to place beyond vague familiarity, some of it felt more familiar like Mr. Tendo's. Kasumi's ki stuck out in memory because he'd very recently felt it from her when she mastered the Shin Neko-ken. He might have to ask about that the next time he saw her. For now, though, it was time to leave.

"Hey, Ran-chan? What was with the paper you put away before? It looked like a letter or something." Ukyo asked in curiosity. Reminded of the letter, the young boy pulled it out and looked it over. He was more than a little surprised at the writing of his name on it, in a hand that looked somewhat like his own. Opening the letter, he started to read.

Ranma Saotome,

This is from what used to be your girl half. I'm going by Ran now. Don't worry though, we're whole and separate people and staying that way. We can access each other's ki-space, so I left this message. If you don't have time for this right now, I'll give you the basics first. I'm your female half plus the memories of everything ever cursed by the Spring of Drowned Girl. I was adopted by Cologne on discovery. She, I, and a young Shampoo are coming to Japan to wreck Happosai or take back what he stole, either-or. Cologne knows you exist and some of our history, including that we beat Saffron, but not that we beat Shampoo. You're still not engaged here. Still with me? Good. Now we can get on to the details of the weirdness.

Ranma blinked, then blinked again as he tried to process this letter. The girls looked at each other and then back to him before Ukyo finally got up the nerve to speak. "Uh, Ran-chan? Who's it from?" Ranma looked back at the curious girls, not sure what to say. He took a moment to try and explain it as best he could.

"W-well...seems like my ki is similar enough to my...sister's for her to share my ki-space. She tacked a letter onto the cart for me to read. Guess she knows how much I like okonomiyaki. She's talkin' about weird stuff on her end." He wasn't sure how else to parse the matter. How could they hope to understand? At least it wasn't a lie.

"You have a sister too? I didn't know that..." Ukyo said. She was wondering why Ranma never mentioned the girl, only to hear him quietly utter a 'neither did I' as he continued to read.

The ki you felt in the pit grabbing to hang on to you was the accumulated female yin energy your cursed side had built up. Without a cursed physical form to anchor to, I was launched clear in your Moko Takabisha. The only anchors in this world that I had left were at Jusenkyo, where I managed to guide the blast through the hidden hot spring of Mt. Jusendo before crashing and absorbing the Spring of Drowned Girl. The hidden hot spring allowed me to regenerate a physical form. The Spring of Drowned Girl gave me the memories of every being cursed within over the spring's history. I exist as a gestalt of them all, though I strongly lean toward being your girl half. You could say I am the Spring of Drowned Girl and I even feel a connection to the new spring they made to replace the one I used up to manifest. Before you get angry, nobody died or got forced to make it. More on that one later.

Ranma was surprised at this, to say the least, recognizing this as his own handwriting with some refinements. His girl half still existed, but he'd just booted her out? He got worried at the mention of a new Spring of Drowned Girl but was placated enough by the guarantee to keep reading.

Cologne (Ku Long), Kiema, and the Guide found me quickly. My memories of being various Amazons compelled me to respect Cologne and provide a number of details, but I didn't mention the engagement to Shampoo. I don't want to do that to you and Cologne has no rights over you since that engagement didn't happen this time around. She adopted me as her daughter Lan without asking, but the Amazons in me dulled the shock and kept me from lashing out in the council meeting. At least it still reads 'Ran' in Japanese. It turns out that Mousse flinging us back in time was a forbidden technique with a death penalty on it. The move is meant to banish us back to the first time we used a similar 'shadow ki' to Hidden Weapons or ki-space, which for us was the cat pit. He can't be punished for using it since it wasn't technically this younger Mousse who did it, but they're cracking down on his Shampoo obsession and changing up his training to keep it from happening this time around.

The Phoenix People and the Joketsuzoku are sharing control of the new Spring of Ranma inside Mt. Jusendo (pretty much a second Spring of Rebirth), and I've warned Kiema about letting Saffron get too cruel. Being able to pull out the staves as proof made sure that the warning would be taken seriously. It's looking like he'll actually have a shot at being a kid this time around since the Spring was found early. I'm hoping he and Mousse wind up the better for it. Joketsuzoku politics are making this messy as usual though. An old rival of Cologne's on the council named Loofah (Lu Fa) is taking the opportunity to make problems like demanding that Cologne take care of various things like making a new Spring of Drowned Girl while chasing away volunteers to help her. Cologne wound up using the Spring of Ranma to make herself young again, then made the new Spring of Drowned Girl herself over where the Spring of Drowned Akane would have been in the future. Because the bitter old fool pushed too hard, Cologne's young again and got praised for it by her people like it was some kind of sacrifice or something. Talk about having your cake and eating it too, huh?

This helped put some things in context for Ranma, including just what in the world he was hit with when Mousse used that weird power. Was Mousse so bitter over 'losing' Shampoo that he'd alter or destroy his timeline? That's how it worked when they used the Nanban Mirror, anyway. There wasn't really anything he could do about it, though. Everything he knew was gone, so he could only press onward and improve what he could. Ran seemed to be reaching the same conclusion, given how she handled the Saffron matter.

That same rival, on learning that I knew about the old lech and some leads they could go on, demanded that Cologne go to Japan to take him out. The Matriarch in charge of the council saw it for what it was, an attempt to chase Cologne out of the place with a raw deal and kick her out of the Council, and instead said to either bring back his head or the stuff he stole. Then she set up ground rules to make sure no shady stuff happened in town while Cologne was gone. From what I remember of the feel of Joketsuzoku politics from previous cursed Amazons, this is as much an opportunity for Cologne to elevate her status in the tribe further as anything else and Loofah is running scared. I'm coming along since I know where the stuff is, and Shampoo's coming along for training purposes and to keep her away from Mousse. I'm a bit worried that she might try to trick you and Shampoo into an engagement fight based on beating Saffron alone, so be careful if you run into us.

I've seen from the photo album that you've met Ucchan and even Kasumi somehow. And were those Kuno and Kodachi? Maybe you could try to keep me up to date on how things are going. I'm assuming you got away from Pop if he's not in the recent pictures. We're too good for him to keep a hold of now, anyway. If you're actually and completely free of him, maybe I can write out some Joketsuzoku techniques for you to learn through this correspondence as long as you don't tell. We can stick the letters in the empty thermos we used to keep hot water in and check it often. Not like we need to use it for the curse anymore!

I look forward to when I can see you again, Better Half.

Ran (Lan) Saotome

Ranma sighed. Interacting with Amazons at all was something he'd hoped to avoid, but maybe he could just stay out of sight until the Amazons looted the Tendo Dojo or beat the lech. He might need to make photocopies of the scrolls there and take the non-Amazon stuff just in case, though. Irreplaceable stuff tended to get destroyed at times like this. At least his girl side had given him a heads up and was confident enough in him to know that Pop wasn't an issue anymore. He'd have to write her later.

The comment 'better half' struck him as odd though. What could she have meant by that?

Ranma looked back at the girls and decided to summarize. "Yeah, it turns out I have a sister in China right now who's been learning a bunch of stuff and livin' with a tribe of warrior women. She's no more of a fan of Pop than I am, either. She'll be coming back to Japan soon, but I don't know when. 'Soon' can mean a month or two when you're going on foot from that place. I should write back after we set up camp for the night. For now though...it's time to get back to training!"


'I wanna get back to training...' Shampoo said, a bit irritated at the diversion. It was true that the village was one that she'd never been to before, but the village of Yaocaicun, or Yakusai in Japanese, was not something the child found to be very impressive. Cologne, walking with her and Ran, gave a chuckle.

'I'm aware, Xian Pu, but we need to stock up on medicinal herbs. Many of the herbs we require won't be found easily once we proceed further in our travels. Lan, I've got the list you asked for as well. Can you watch Xian Pu while she waits for me here? Some of the local children like to play mean tricks on people.' When Ran nodded in acquiescence, Cologne bounded off with a little more flair in her step than strictly necessary. In truth, she was eager to enjoy her newly recovered youth. Her staff was kept in her ki-space rather than used openly to pogo about now, and several of the local males turned their heads at the blue-haired beauty. Not bad for a 108-year-old woman.

Shampoo pouted but quietly started to take a stick and draw in the dirt while Ran looked on in sympathy. She knew what boredom felt like from her time waiting for her father at random points in their journey or during classes. Rather than let Shampoo be idle, Ran elected to pull a tub of water out of ki-space and set it down before she put some rocks at the bottom. Shampoo looked on in confusion. 'Auntie Lan, what's this for?' Ran simply smiled as she put a hooded poncho on the girl as a precaution. It was Ukyo's, but the girl would hopefully forgive her borrowing it.

'This is a method of speed training that Ranma invented. It's a lot like the Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire exercise, but it's safer for children because it doesn't use any fire. He used goldfish instead of rocks to learn, but you can at least get started with this. The point is to grab the rocks so fast that your hands don't get wet. You'll splash a lot at first though, so I put the poncho on you so your clothes don't get wet.' Shampoo, when she came to understand, beamed. The Chestnut Fist exercise was restricted to those who were older because one could really hurt themselves trying it. If Ran's way let her practice it without the risk of burning herself, she could get stronger faster than the other kids!

Water was soon being splashed about in earnest while Ranma lent advice. 'Don't use normal punches right now, you need to plunge your hand through the water efficiently and withdraw it efficiently. Use the washide hand form to enter the water smoothly and pluck at the rocks.' Shampoo nodded and shifted her hands into a more aerodynamic and focused form resembling the beak of an eagle. She was by no means succeeding, but her speed was improving and she was displacing less water. It was a gradual process, but it would hopefully set Shampoo on the path to improvement. Ran strongly suspected that Ranma was doing the same for Ukyo, given the photographs.

'You're from the next village over, right? If you're washing clothes, they're gonna get holes in them like that.' Shampoo and Ran both looked over, seeing a girl who Ran felt looked familiar for some reason. It was hard to tell why, but she held something in her hands. 'Please, come here!'

Ran wanted to tell Shampoo to stop, but the child was quickly in front of the stranger, who took note of the wind direction and tried to blow seeds on Shampoo. 'Wind direction, okay! Now just add water!' water was dumped on Shampoo's hood, and the child responded by kicking the stranger away.

'What are you doing?' Shampoo called out in anger after kicking her foe, though the girl didn't seem to mind. If anything, she was amused.

'Planting flowers! Mommy showed me how!' The child watched as Shampoo looked confused...the few rapidly growing mandragora seeds that weren't already on the ground just sliding off of the plastic poncho. '...Eh? What is that strange thing you're wearing? The roots just slide off! Not fair, over!'

Seeing the mandragora growing on the ground, Shampoo knelt down to inspect the fast-growing plants while the strange girl plugged her ears with her fingers. Thankfully, Ran finally recognized the girl and what was happening. 'Xian Pu! Don't touch them! Those are mandragora! A poisonous and dangerous plant you don't want to pull from the ground!' Shampoo quickly recoiled and jumped away, having been protected by the poncho.

'No fair! You ruined Pin Ke's fun!' The spoiled child was irritated at Ran for not allowing Shampoo to be poisoned? Pink's callous disregard for others made the redhead's eyes narrow...

Moments later, Pink's cries called various townsfolk to the area in a hurry, where they were granted with a strange sight. Mandragora was clearly growing nearby, a young girl from the Joketsuzoku was clearly angered, and Pink...was bent over a redheaded young woman's knee getting her bottom vigorously spanked. The townsfolk realized right away what happened and considered it the least dangerous of the inevitable outcomes of Pink's conduct, but a voice rang out in anger.

'What are you doing to Pin Ke? Who are you, over?' Link asked, looking on in surprise and anger. Shampoo looked at the identical-looking girl and approached to attack in her anger, only for Ran to respond promptly.

'Xian Pu, stay back. This one is did nothing to you!' Shampoo was surprised but acquiesced, settling for returning to glaring at Pink. Ran resumed spanking as she spoke. 'This one-' SMACK! '-Pin Ke-' SMACK! '-tried to poison-' SMACK! '-Xian Pu-' SMACK! '-with mandragora seeds!' SMACK!

When Ran let the girl go, she was stern as she looked at the child and crossed her arms. Pink stumbled back, holding her bottom with her hands as she held back angry and painful tears. Ran paid that little mind as she introduced herself. 'I'm Lan, and she got off light with ten spanks. She said she was doing what her mother taught her by planting flowers, but I doubt that was meant to be used to try killing other children. If your family has a problem, then bring them to talk to me. They need to hear how their child was disrespecting their teachings!'

Link was initially surprised by this before she gave a sigh of understanding and resignation. Yes, that sounded like her sister. 'I'm sorry for her, Miss Lan. She studies poisons. I make antidotes if you need some...'

'At least one of my little sisters is acting properly...' A cool, angry voice grumbled and made both of the twins freeze all movement. The two looked to a young woman who stood beside Cologne, a clear relative of the girls. Pink tried to hide behind Link, the latter simply stepping aside. Pink gave a momentary glare to her sister but was distracted from this when she was grabbed by the ear and pulled painfully to her elder sister's side. 'I am Min Ke, and I apologize for my sister's behavior. I assure you she will spend time in the fields harvesting the crop until she learns to respect it and the power it holds. Until then she will not be allowed to learn our ways any further.' Mink glared at the child, the look promising that Ran's choice of punishment would pale in comparison. Link knew better than to be amused at her sister's misfortune. Any trespass might bring Mink's anger down on her as well.

Mink would look over Shampoo and note her attire, making an antidote quickly and providing it with a speed that made Ran blink. Once Cologne administered the antidote just in case, and Shampoo washed it down with some water to tend to the taste, the sister spoke to her wayward sibling sternly. 'Apologize, Pin Ke. Then you will be responsible for these Mandrogora once everyone is out of earshot. They will be but the first ones you pull today.'

Pink didn't like the idea of having to apologize so her 'I'm sorry' wasn't too genuine-sounding, but her sister promptly barked in Chinese to double Cologne's order. Given more supplies than she had paid for as an apology, Cologne looked to the poncho and the tank of water with some confusion.

'Ranma's version of Chestnut Fist training. It's best done with goldfish or minnows, but rocks will do until she gets closer. The plastic coat she's wearing was to keep her clothes dry.' Ran said, understanding the look of confusion. Cologne took a prompt interest, noting that the less dangerous method would allow the technique to be employed and practiced more widely.

Already Shampoo had taken off the coat and shaken off any remaining seeds. She looked at Ran in a bit of confusion. 'Great-grandmother? Auntie Lan? Why did she do that? I hadn't even attacked her before she tried to poison me!'

Cologne was about to respond, but Ran beat her to it. 'Because she thought being strong meant disrespecting and thinking nothing of people she thought were weaker. She abused her strength and was punished for it. It wasn't even her own strength she was using, either.' It might not have been exactly what Cologne would have said, but it was close enough. The young elder did elect to elaborate, though.

'She learned a new skill and was too proud. That unfounded pride became arrogance, and arrogance has a way of being a martial artist's downfall. Come, Xian Pu. Lan. We had best get moving. We have what we came for. My target will not wait forever.' With that, the trio started the long trek east toward the Land of the Rising Sun. Ran noted that she might have to be a positive influence on Shampoo, lest she become disrespectful of others outside the Joketsuzoku and be a problem to Ranma again later on...