Karma's Retribution.
Chapter 2: Lawsuits, Threats, and Angry-As-Hell Rivals.
----
Andrew and Ranma had met without onlookers.
"Wait," Ranma said. "You're telling me that you're the world-class billionaire, AND my cousin?" Andrew nodded. "Well, what can you do? Other than that display of speed, I doubt you can try to beat Akane."
"Beat her?" he asked Ranma. "Nah, I plan on doing something worse than that. Sometimes, fighting isn't the only alternative, and I'll plead self-defense if she attacks me."
Okay, now Ranma was curious. "I'm assuming you're a martial artist, then?"
"More than that. Sure, I may not be as strong as you are, but sometimes, fighting's about strategy. Same as business. You just have to outwit and psych out your opponent."
Something tells me he did this sort of thing before. "Good luck, then."
Soon enough, Andrew was at the door, knocking.
As soon as the door was opened, the woman said, "Oh my. You didn't fall into the pond again, Ranma?"
"Nah," he replied. "This guy happened to notice. Which reminds me, can you set the table for one more guest?"
"How are you doing, Miss Tendo," Andrew said, acting like a gentleman. "Name's Andrew, and I came in order to straighten things up."
If business was a type of martial arts, Ranma thought, this guy would be a Fourth-Degree Black Belt.
"Yes, of course." At that, Andrew took his shoes off and entered the room. "Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please."
Soon enough, Akane stepped in and noticed Andrew. "Who's this guy?" she asked Ranma. "Is he one of your perverted friends?"
"How should I know?" Ranma asked her. "I only met him a couple seconds ago!"
"I'd advise you step lightly, Akane," Nabiki said, walking down the stairs. "This guy's not meant to be toyed with."
Andrew gave Ranma a look that said, "You sure she blackmailed you?"
"I'll explain later," Ranma said. "Where's Pops and Mr. Tendo?"
"Out," Kasumi said, lightly, "but I'd be happy to take a message."
"Actually," Andrew said, "they won't be joining us. Apparently, he has a bit of explaining to do with Aunty Nodoka, which is why I'm here today."
After dinner, Andrew had started to explain everything.
"There are three things I dislike: One is when someone rapes someone, regardless of gender, the other is when they're being scammed out of their money by a bunch of hackers, and the final one is when someone abuses a family member, which is why I'm here today. Because of the abuse my cousin here is taking from members of this household, I've decided to press charges against those who want to either take Ranma as a trophy husband or kill him for love, as well as multiple charges on Genma Saotome for child abuse, animal abuse, neglect, bargaining, thievery, and basically anything that's against the rules during the years Ranma was on his training trip up to this day."
"You can't do that!" Akane yelled. "You're not even the head of the household!"
"I wasn't the one who placed the charges in the first place. Auntie Nodoka did."
That threw everyone in a loop.
"However, this charge involves the Fiancee Brigade and the Nerima Wrecking Crew, excluding Ranma, to be arrested for life by attempted murder and the Chinese Amazons living here to be deported."
"But you can't involve everyone!" Ranma said.
"I know," Andrew said. "Kasumi's excluded because she's a victim as well. Nabiki, although charges of blackmail are present, is trying to provide for the Tendo Dojo, and if anything, she values family despite her cold exterior. There's also Dr. Tofu, who's basically been like a psychiatrist to you, and Ukyo, whom I found out recently, is like a sister to you."
"Why exclude her?" Akane asked him, angrily.
"One of the loopholes of a marrage contract is basically another way of getting her into the family, which is through adoption. As for you, Akane Tendo, you are to be charged with sexual harassment, spouse abuse, and adultery."
Before Andrew could explain why, a certain black piglet with a bandanna on his neck had attacked him, but he managed to block the strike.
"You leave P-Chan alone!" Akane yelled, but she was restrained by Nabiki.
"This is why I added adultery," Andrew said to Ranma.
"I can understand that," he replied. "Kasumi, can you be a dear and get a cup of hot water and another of cold water?"
"Certainly, Ranma," Kasumi said. She had brought it out and gave me both glasses.
"This…is a loophole overlooked in the Tendo-Saotome agreement," Andrew said. With that, he had poured the hot water over P-Chan…and he turned into a guy, much to Akane's shock.
"Ryoga?" Akane yelled.
"Damn it, Ranma!" Ryoga yelled. "Why did you tell Akane?"
"I didn't," he replied.
"RANMA, BECAUSE OF YOU, I'VE SEEN HELL!" Before he could move, however, he found out he couldn't. "What kind of trick is this?"
"Ki Cuffs," Andrew said. "Basically a private project of mine that drains the ki of dishonorable martial artists. It can be locked onto a certain emotion as well, since yours is depression. As for Akane, she's feeling her anger ki drained right now."
"When did you slip one on me?" Akane asked him.
"He didn't," Nabiki said. "I did."
"It's basically a contribution to the police force that deals with the most troublesome martial artists." With that, Andrew had turned to Ryoga. "As for you, Ryoga Hibiki, you're marked for attempted murder, destruction of public property, crossing countries without a passport, and rape. Not to mention you owe me money for the destruction of some of our equipment. Do you know how expensive it is to recreate programming for a game we had planned?!?"
"Wait," Nabiki said, "Ryoga was in your company building?" I nodded. "You screwed yourself over, pig-boy."
"What about the Kunos?" Ranma asked him.
"Due to the instability of all three Kuno representatives," he replied, "they are to be committed to three separate mental hospitals across the globe, although we tried to get the elder to somewhere OTHER than Hawaii."
"Can't exactly help you there," Nabiki said. "And how do you know about these things?"
"A few of my employees have been trying to steal our technology. It's basically to the point where I have Wright and Justice Defense and Co. on speed-dial."
"There are two people left," Ranma said. "Pantyhose Taro and Happosai, and both of them happen to be gone."
"Well, Taro just recently got the death penalty because of a murder, but Happosai won't be a problem anymore. If anything, Ki-Draining technology is basically a side-project that's only used by officials like the Police."
"Right," Ranma said. "If you'll need me, I'll be packing my stuff."
"No need," Kasumi said. "I've already done it."
Nabiki blinked. "Is that ours along with it?" she asked her.
Kasumi nodded. "Ranma told me that when it hits the fan, we start a new life. I've managed to get Dr. Tofu and Ukyo to join us as well."
"As for you two," Andrew said, "you'll be meeting with the authorities soon enough."
"It's not like you can prove anything," Akane said.
"I beg to differ, sis," Nabiki said. "Remember, I have eyes and ears all over Nerima, and that's enough evidence to get them to arrest you."
At that, they left a steaming Akane and a confused Ryoga.
"What just happened?" he asked her. Wrong question to ask.
----
In a penthouse somewhere in the Minato ward (Juuban district), the refugees from Nerima were surprised at Andrew's place.
"Is it too late to renounce the Tendo-Saotome agreement?" Nabiki asked Nodoka.
"What's done is done, Nabiki," Nodoka said. "And I don't think he appreciates someone who bilks his stocks."
"True," Andrew said. "If anything, it's a bit of a temporary business home. Which reminds me, is anyone surprised that someone who knows Nerima used the law to disband the NWC?"
"I was," Ranma said. "And I could never understand what's with the bandaged hand."
"It's a restraint," Dr. Tofu said, much to their surprise. "Apparently, there's some kind of ki being built up within it, and if released, it could mean destruction."
"Right," Andrew said. "Basically, it's an abnormality within my system that I've been passing off as a skin condition. If it were to be released, who knows what will happen."
"Sounds like something the Amazons might know about," Ranma said. "Too bad you threatened them with deportation."
"Actually, I didn't." Everyone was surprised at that. "The lawsuit only affected those who were born in Japan. I just invited Elder Khu Lon here to describe your condition and a mending of the Amazon Laws."
"No c-c-c…felines or a blind duck?"
"You think I'm that crazy?"
"Considering your tendencies, Shifter," an old woman said, "you have been able to bring out a few unexpected surprises."
"Elder Khu Lon," Andrew said, bowing.
"What's up, Old Ghoul?" Ranma asked her.
"Not much, son-in-law," Cologne said, "other than the fact that another wayward husband of one of our own Amazons had contacted me after all these years."
"I had a busy schedule, okay?" he asked her.
That was surprising, even to them.
"You're saying that you're married to one of the Amazons?" Ukyo asked him. He nodded. "Why did you say you threatened to deport them?"
"Would they have listened?"
"Other than that," Cologne said, "you want to discuss the matter about son-in-law, right?"
"Yeah. If anything, one of my contacts for Amazon Law happened to be a translator for the rules. From what Nodoka and Ranma told me, you had a tournament that decided a feast, right?" She nodded. "And Genma and Ranma happened to have eaten it, because Genma didn't know Chinese, right?" She nodded, knowing where this was going. "And since your Grand-Daughter was the winner, she fought Ranma in girl form, but gave her the Kiss of Death on Amazon Grounds and later the Kiss of Marriage outside it, wouldn't that make the Marriage invalid and the tournament make Ranko Saotome an honorary Amazon Warrior?"
"That's correct," Cologne said, much to everyone's shock. "However, since Genma disappeared, taking Ranma with him, I couldn't get the chance to do so, and Shampoo jumped the gun, as you youngsters may say. So I had to make a ruse on her and say that we were heading towards Nerima in the facade of getting him drugged, but I really wanted to train him."
"Why bring this up now?" Ranma asked her.
"Because you're as thick-headed as your cousin, who's focused on his work."
"The products don't make themselves, Khu Lon," Andrew replied. "How's Spice doing?"
"Ask her yourself."
As it turns out, she had brought the Amazon Wife I befriended…and she had pounced me in an Amazon glomp.
"I missed you," she said.
"Same here," I said. "I'm just surprised that Khu Lon didn't convince you to drug me and drag me back."
"With your arm?" Cologne asked me. "That would be as dangerous as tipping Ranma over the edge!"
"So," Ranma said, "that makes us equals?"
"I told Mousse the whole story. However, he decided to leave afterwards, and I'm not one to stop him. However, I have nothing left to teach you."
"Well, other than the threats and Splitting Hairs technique, I guess we part on good terms."
"Just watch out for my Granddaughter."
Ranma nodded.
"Spice," Cologne said, "I see you're taking it well."
"You kidding, Elder?" Spice asked her. "I'm staying with him even if he has other girlfriends living with him."
"They're employees," Andrew told her. "And if anything, the 'millionaire playboy' stereotype doesn't apply with me. They're just friends."
"Well," Cologne said, "there IS one thing that I forgot to mention about him. Those with a power that can't be explained by mankind can have more than one spouse, and oddly enough, it goes for Ranma as well."
Both Andrew and Ranma facefaulted at that revelation.
"If the tendency to befriend women is a curse," Andrew said, "then I've got it bad."
"Same here, cuz," Ranma said.
Cologne had left the building, lost in thought.
You may have helped Ranma out, but I'm afraid they won't be subdued for long. Ranma, I suggest you follow his advice and training, because his fighting style happens to be a weird one.
To be continued…