Chapter 40

Ranma watched as the class did their practices. He would count and they would throw punches. That's when the doors were opened by someone. They all looked to see a short portly man with a weird looking beard and funny hat. He looked at the group until his eyes looked at Ranma. Ranma looked him and he immediately recognized him.

"You!" Ranma exclaimed.

"So you remember me. Good, I am here for my revenge, Ranma Saotome." He said. He took a step and that was all he took when he was sent flying into the wall. Two of the students looked ready to finish it but was stopped by Happosai. Ranma joined him and they all glared at him.

"What the hell are you doing here Gambling King?" Ranma asked, cracking his knuckles.

"I'm here to get my revenge for what you and that chef did to me years ago." He stated.

"Are you really surprised? You cheated me, Ukyo and a bunch of other kids at that fair. What's the matter; you can cheat kids but adults out of your league?" Ranma asked with a smirk. The man growled but he would not be deterred.

"Seeing as how Ukyo can't settle her debt, then I will take what you put up that day!" the Gambling King shouted. He pulled out the paper that Ranma signed and placed it in front of them. "I now own the Tendo dojo!" Everyone turned and faced Ranma who had a stupid look on his face.

XXX

"YOU PUT MY DOJO UP IN A BET!" Soun roared, his head large and in charge. Ranma looked at him with some regret.

"Hey, I was just a kid then. Plus pops said that it would be mines." Ranma said. Soun turned to Genma who was trying to wave him off.

"Listen, don't worry about this guy." Nabiki said. "I will handle this."

"What are you talking about? I can handle it Nabiki." Ranma said.

"I trust you Ranma but something tells me that you will make things worse. Don't worry about it. I was actually prepared for something like this." Nabiki said. They watched as she walked up to the phone and picked it up. After a few minutes, they heard her speak.

"Hello detective Koji, how have you been? Do you remember that thing I asked you about? Yes, that guy. Well, he should be here tomorrow so you can come early if you want. Thank you for your help." Nabiki said and hung up the phone. She smiled at the group with her coy smile.

XXX

Ukyo was making her way to the dojo with a smile on her face. After running into the Gambling King, he asked for her father's cart. When she explained what happened, he wanted the thing that Ranma promised. She immediately pointed him to the dojo. She decided to go and see the damage that was caused by him. Knowing that idiot Ranma, he would do anything to get himself out of it.

When she turned the corner, she was in for a site. It was the Gambling King in handcuffs. He was slammed against the car and restrained. He had this stupid look on his face. She could hear him shouting.

"Why am I being arrested?! I haven't done anything! That boy owes me that dojo!" The Gambling King shouted.

"First of all, the boy does not owe the dojo. He was six at the time and his word doesn't mean anything. Only the owner of the dojo can give it to you and that is Ms. Tendo. Secondly, you know damn well why we are arresting you. You think that you could swindle the son of the police chief and get away with it. We have been looking for you Kobe Wanatabe and you will not get out of this. You're crimes against children are well documented." The officer said. Kobe was sweating bullets at what was just said to him.

He was forced into the car and had the door shut in his face. Detective Koji turned his attention to Nabiki.

"Thanks again for the tip Nabiki. Here is the reward that was offered." He said and handed it to her. "You know, I'm glad that you have turned a new leaf. I didn't want to arrest you one day."

"Well, the dojo is doing well and I don't have to do any of the stuff that I use to. Anyway, I hope that this helps you and your position." She said. The man laughed and waved good-bye. As Nabiki was heading inside, she caught sight of Ukyo leaving the area. She did not look happy and Nabiki wanted to know why. She had a few calls to make. Just because she backed off for her rackets doesn't mean that she still did not have connections.

XXX

Ukyo wasn't a happy person right now. She couldn't believe that her plan had backfired. She was going to watch Ranma fumble and stumble to get the dojo back and watch him fail. He would have never had beaten Kobe because he was a skilled cheat. She just sighed and flipped her okonomiyaki. That's when she heard the bell on her door ring.

"Hello, welcome to…" Ukyo paused when she saw who it was. It was Nabiki. Ukyo knew of the middle Tendo's reputation and was wary to tangle with her. She was even expecting so sort of payback for the time she kidnapped Kasumi. However, she didn't receive any type of payback and relaxed a bit. Still, she was concerned now.

Nabiki took a seat and faced her.

"So, what do you recommend Ukyo? This is the first time that I have been in your restaurant." Nabiki asked. Ukyo was quiet for a while before she just started cooking.

"What are you really here for Nabiki?" Ukyo asked, cutting to the chase. Nabiki just smirked at her.

"Fine, if you want to go that route. I figured out that it was you that sent the Gambling King. I have Genma's journal and using it, I was able to get some information about his life. Cost me a bit but since you and his rivals decided to come out of the woodwork to get even with him, I figured that I should be prepared. Still, I will admit that your plan was pretty clever, unlike your last plan." Nabiki said with a tone. Ukyo gulped but kept her cool as she finished the okonomiyaki and placed it in front of Nabiki. Nabiki took a bite and had to admit that it was good.

"So what are you saying? Are you here to get revenge because of my actions?" Ukyo asked.

"Please, this didn't even get serious. I called it in, made some money and helped someone's career. I've done well today. Why should I concern myself with your petty little plans to get back at Ranma? He's a big boy and he can handle whatever you throw at him. My only issue is the fact that you are using my little sister to further your plan." Nabiki said.

"I don't know…" Ukyo began to say.

"Don't insult my intelligence Ukyo." Nabiki said, cutting her off. "You think I don't know why you became friends with Akane? She's too stubborn and too set in her ways to see this clearly. It's why she can't see that Ryoga in her pet pig, it's why she can't admit that she's jealous that Ranma is such a good martial artist, it's why she can't admit that she likes Ranma and it's why she can't see that you are using her to even with Ranma. You are only her friend because it keeps you in the hunt. She's a connection to getting even with Ranma. But she's not as strong as Ryoga, isn't she?" Nabiki said. Ukyo looked at Nabiki with wide eyes. She just smirked and Ukyo clenched her fists.

"Anyway," Nabiki said as she wiped her mouth and put some money down on her counter. "Thanks for the okonomiyaki, it was really good. I hope that you will keep my family out of your plans from now on?" Nabiki didn't wait for an answer. She just walked out of the restaurant. Ukyo was pissed and her knuckles white. She relaxed after a while and continued to prepare for the lunch rush. She would just have to be careful from now on.

XXX

Ranma and Happosai were throwing blows. He now had two months left until the big tournament. He increased his training with his other instructors. This was after he had some visitors about a month ago. He knew that damn Dragon Whisker would get him trouble someday. He really needed to reevaluate everything he did when he was younger. A lot of his pass mistakes were coming back to bite him in the ass.

Things in his life had gotten back to normal. He still dated Shampoo and Kodachi. He was still creating his own style and that was going really well. He had written a few manuals thanks to him paying attention in class. His teacher was more than helpful. His art teacher was helpful as well. It was mostly beginner stuff but he continued to create several manuals to his style. Because of his father destroying one of them, he had to get a new place to store them. Lucky for him, Nabiki had gotten him a deposit box at the bank. He put his manuals there and some cash for any expenses.

His greatest achievement was the Nekoken (Cat Fist). His meditation had helped him greatly. He was able to be around six cats at a time. He also found a way to enter the feeling of the Nekoken without going nuts. The only change to his appearance was that his eyes were slit and the color changed from blue to amber. He could only hold this feeling for five minutes now. Happosai was amazed by the power that Ranma unleashed. He used Genma and Soun as training dummies to demonstrate. Happosai did tell Ranma to use it as a last resort, which he agreed.

In all, Ranma couldn't wait for the tournament. He was looking forward to fighting some real competition.

XXX

Nodoka waited patiently for her guest to arrive. After the third letter from her son, her worry began to grow. In her letter, she asked her son why he was so angry at his father. He wrote back the reason. Nodoka was shocked to what he wrote. At first, she thought that maybe this was some sort of joke but the more she read, the more shocked she became. The training that Ranma went through was not something she would have ever agreed to. She understood the plight that a martial artist must go through but this was ridiculous.

Nodoka needed some answers and there was only one person she could think of for help. That's when she heard the bell. She stood up to greet the person. She smiled when he saw him and vice versa.

"Cousin, it is so good to see you." The man said happily.

"It is good to see you to Hamza." Nodoka greeted. She led him inside and to the common room of her house. The two sat down at the table where tea was already made. She poured him a cup.

"Still the housewife huh? You could have been a really good swordswoman if you kept it up." Hamza said.

"Let's not go into that now. I actually called you here because I'm very concerned about my son." Nodoka said.

"Ranma, he's back?" Hamza asked surprised.

"In a way. He is currently staying at the Tendo Dojo. I learned about him through one of the people that lives in the house with him. Because of my views it was suggested that I communicated through letters with him. It has worked out greatly and I feel that I have gotten to know a little about my son." Nodoka explained.

"But you are still worried about something? What did Genma do?" Hamza asked. Like the rest of the family, he did not like or trust Genma. He could see right through the thief and that he only married his dear cousin to have a stable income. He was nothing more than a con man and only cared for himself. It was one of the reasons that most of the family did not talk to Nodoka.

Nodoka nodded and handed him the last letter. Hamza read the letter and the more he read, the angrier he got. He looked at Nodoka with rage in his eyes.

"Seriously, this is what that fool considers training?! He has a fear of cats Nodoka!" he shouted.

"I know and I feel horrible about this. That is why I have called you here today. I need you to track my son's and husband's training trip. I do believe that he only told me a little about what happened through that training trip. While my son might be strong, I did not want this for him." Nodoka explained.

"You got it cousin. I'll start right away." Hamza said.

"Thank you cousin, thank you very much." She said. The two began to talk about how Ranma, making Nodoka feel a lot better. In the back of her mind though, she was hoping that nothing else happened during that trip. She would soon learn that it only got worst.

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Authors' Notes: Here you go, another chapter. Nothing really to say about this, it's just straight up. Anyway, enjoy the chapter.