Chapter 44

Ranma couldn't help but be angry. He was making his way back to his room after speaking with his mother and uncle. She explained to him who Stefina Princela and her family was. Ranma vaguely remembered any of the girls his father engaged him to and he definitely didn't remember her. Still, learning about the influence her family held scared him. Then there was the fact that his mom might have to pay a price for his father's actions due to their relationship.

Ranma reached his room and opened it. He was quick to catch something thrown at him. He saw that it was his stuff. He turned his focus on the person who threw it.

"No time to explain boy. We have to," that was all he got out before having the pack thrown right back at him. He caught it easily only to be slammed into the wall. Ranma easily pinned him against the wall and glared at him with fire in his eyes. Genma struggled to free himself. "There is no time for,"

"Shut it, old man! I'm not going anywhere with you!" Ranma shouted.

"Dammit boy, you don't understand the danger we're in!" Genma explained loudly.

"We're in trouble because you're a greedy idiot who swindle one of the world's top families! A family who are in business with mom's family! How many more deals have you done that I have to deal with?!" Ranma spat.

"They don't matter! Only the Tendo agreement matter!" Genji shouted.

"What about mom, you moron?! Do you even realize the trouble that she's in with her family?!" Genma just stared at his son and that pissed him off. He slammed his father into the wall harder. "You selfish prick! Do you even care?!" Genma glared at Ranma and finally pushed him off.

"Don't you judge me, brat!" Genma snapped. "The only thing that matters is me! I don't care who I hurt in the process!" It would be moments before Genma realized what he said. He looked into his son's eyes and saw nothing but rage. He didn't get another word in before he was blasted away with a ki blast. Genma went sailing through the air and out of view.

Ranma was breathing hard, trying to calm himself. He didn't even register security entering the room. He was just thinking of why he was cursed with such a father.

XXX

Kasumi and Nabiki returned to the hotel room after a nice dinner with Happosai. The grandmaster was called away when a member of the Kusanagi came to get him.

"I wonder what that light was." Kasumi said. "I do hope Ranma is alright."

"Knowing him, he's probably in the middle of it." Nabiki said. They entered the common room to see Soun and Akane. It looked like they were waiting for them. The two sisters were curious about this but did not move to join them. It wasn't until Soun spoke that they learned the seriousness of the situation.

"We need to have a talk about the attitude you two have." Soun said with a tone. Nabiki rolled her eyes while Kasumi sighed. They took a seat across from them and waited. Nabiki then looked at Akane.

"So, is it you that's calling this 'family meeting' or is it Akane? We know how much you lie to be her puppet." Nabiki said.

"I will not be spoken to like that Nabiki." Soun said sternly, Akane glaring at Nabiki. "I will not be disrespected by my own daughters. I am an adult and when I make decisions, I expect them to be followed. Yourself and Kasumi have forgotten this."

"Is it because we are too independent? Is it so wrong that we want lives for ourselves? Apparently, only Akane has that choice." Kasumi said with an even tone.

"You had a life, a good and stable life. It was our life and we were happy with how everything was." Soun countered.

"How would you know that father? You never cared to ask any of us about our feelings, wants or dreams. Ever since mother died,"

"Do not bring your mother into this!" he shouted, cutting her off.

"No because it is the reason things have turned out this way." she said strongly. "You were grieving, we all were but that didn't mean you had to abandon us."

"How can you say that about him?!" Akane exclaimed.

"Because he did. I had dreams, things I wanted to do. I saw that everyone was grieving so I decided to be a mother. I knew that I couldn't replace her but it brought a little light back into our lives. I thought that 'you'", pointing at her father. "Would have gone back to normal but you didn't. You refuse to teach any one, you refuse to help with house, you drank yourself stupid every time and I had to drag you to your room. I wasn't even a grown woman yet but you were still grieving. So, I gave up on my dreams, my wants and took care of this family because you refused to." Kasumi said passionately.

"Because of your grief, because of your stupidity, we almost lost everything. I didn't want to lose the only home I knew, where mom raised us. I was good with numbers, so I helped lessen the load. But instead of manning up and taking responsibility, you drown us into more debt. So I had to get creative. Was it wrong, what i did? Yes, it was but I wasn't about to lose what mother made into a home for us. I wasn't about to let you do that to us." Nabiki said with a tone. Soun couldn't say a word. He was stunned by what his daughters thought of him.

"You guys aren't being fair." Akaner stated.

"You would say that." Nabiki scoffed.

"What does that mean?" Akane demanded with an edge.

"Father never disciplined you. He always made excuses for your jealousy even when he was teaching you. Even when you were in the wrong, he would always make excuses for your behavior. Also, you have no right to talk about fair. What have you ever contributed in helping the family. Can you cook? No. Can you clean? Barely. Do you contribute anything to help this family?" Nabiki asked.

"I… I contribute!" Akane shouted but her voice wavered. Nabiki rolled her eyes at her , enraging Akane. She stood and took a step toward her when Kasumi spoke.

"Were you about to hit your sister?" Akane stopped to look at Kasumi who was giving her a very stern glance. Akane flinched at the look.

"I wasn't, I wouldn't," Akane tried to explain but the look she received cowed her. Kasumi just sighed and stood up with Nabiki following her lead.

"We are far from done, young lady. You both will stop this foolishness and apologize to your sister and me." Soun demanded.

"Yeah, that's not happening." Nabiki said and went to her room. Kasumi just looked at the two with disappointment before retiring to her room. After a few minutes, Akane got up and rushed to her room, slamming the door. Soun was going crazy. This was not how things were supposed to turn out. That's when he heard clapping. He turned around to see Happosai.

"Very good Soun. Keep destroying everything you care about." the elder said before retiring. Soun was going crazy and burst into an emotional mess, crying about his family.

XXX

Genma dragged his hurt body to the shore. In his cursed form, the panda groaned in pain with each action. He cursed his son for putting him in such a condition. Granted, he knew that his words caused the attack but Ranma overreacted to them.

'Damn that boy, I'll teach him a lesson if it's the last thing I do!' Genma thought. Genma was halfway to the road when someone stepped in his way. He looked up to see someone who scared him dearly. It was Stefina Princela. What was she doing here? Trying to be cool, he used his dumb panda routine only to be splashed with boiling hot water. Genma screamed in pain and rolled on the ground. Steam came off as a blanket was thrown over him.

"Wow, I would have never believed it if I hadn't seen it. Jusenkyo is real." Stefina said. Genma looked at the young girl with caution.

"You didn't need to make it that hot." Genma complained.

"Be happy that I didn't throw you in boiling water while it was still on fire. Stefina said. She then gave Genma a once over a scoffed. "So you're the fool who swindled my father? He must have been really drunk in order for that to happen."

"N-Now, I know that you m-might be upset but if you would let me explain," Genma said.

"Wow, still looking for an out, huh?" Like father, like son only it didn't work for your old man, did it. It must have skipped a generation because I don't see it in him. I look forward to speaking with him and his uncle about the contract that was created, in blood I might add." she explained. Genma gulped when he heard that his brother-in-law was here but he was grateful. He could let the boy deal with this.

"Yes, my son is the one you should speak with." Genma said a little excited.

"No hesitation. You're mom and dad must be proud." The comment made Genma narrows his eyes. It only further to amuse her. "Still, there is the money you owe us. Those items you stole, I'm happy to say that we retrieve them" Stefina said.

"Oh, that's great."

"Yes, it was. The guy you pawn the items to, the man who swindle you by the way, was just as stupid as you. One of the people he attempted to sell to contacted us. We paid him a visit and he was very compliant in giving us the information when he realized just who you stole from. Every item we retrieved and those he sold to were given a nice compensation for it. We then proceeded to 'punish' the pawn owner. He won't be doing any business any more.

"Okay then. So, no harm, no foul?" he asked.

"Not quite. Mother was furious with you and father. He's already paid his price but then there is you. She has come up with the most 'fair' punishment." Stefina handed him a piece of paper. Genma took it and read it. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. He quickly stood, throwing the blanket off him. Luckily and surprisingly, he was dressed in his karate uniform.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Genma exclaimed.

"Why, that's the amount that those artifacts are worth and that is the total amount that you're going to pay us back." Stefina said calmly.

"1.9 trillion yen! There's no way I am paying that girl!" Genma roared.

"That would be a very unwise decision. Besides, we're giving you time to pay it off. How does the day of your son's graduation sound? Fair?" Stefina asked. Genma rushed her only to be blasted in the jaw with a kick. Genma barely saw it coming and crumpled to his knees. Before his head could hit the ground, Stefina caught it and brought it up so he could look up at her.

"You have a little under two years Genma. Better get to work." She said. She allowed his head to drop to the ground. She brought her shoe and dusted it. Stefina walked away with her men and left Genma on the ground.

XXX

The stands were filled today and the sun was out. The comfortable breeze was enjoyed by everyone in attendance. Kasumi sat with Happosai, Cologne and Shampoo who were waiting for the matches to begin. Kasumi felt really good about today as her father, Akane and Genma were not there. She was a bit sad due to the fact that Nodoka was not with them as she had to return to her families' home. She could not go into detail about why and was sad to see her go.

Akane had flat out refused to go, not wanting to deal with the crowd. Her father did not even give an answer as he was laid out with several liquor bottles surrounding him. It was the one time that she was glad for it. Genma was not found since his intrusion last night. The security had orders to hold Genma so that the police could arrest him. What could he have been thinking? Knowing what she knew about the man, he was probably trying to rob the place.

Her attention turned towards the rings as the MC got on the microphone. The tournament was about to begin.

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Authors' Notes

Happy New Year everyone! Here's a new chapter. Hope you enjoy it.