Chapter 6: Tangible Nightmares

Ranma sat there looking at his father as his eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. Genma calmly lit his pipe and stuck it in his mouth, puffing away casually as if he and his son were only talking about the weather. For a moment there was silence and then a Koi jumped into the water, landing with a small splash back into the pool. This change in the environment kick started Ranma's normally slow brain processing power into full gear.

"Your kidding... right pop? That was just a sick joke of yours...right? You were just fooling? Trying to get me more nervous, right?" He laughed nervously.

Genma shook his head. "Ranma my boy, it's the way of nature. True, at first you may feel a bit timid and scared but I assure you that it is one of the most natural and beautiful acts performed by two members of the opposite sex."

Ranma sat looking at the water and thought for a moment. His body went rigidly still. "Wow…"

Genma glared at him, as his glasses reflecting in the sunlight like spotlights. "In less than a day you will getting intimate with the woman you've loved for over two years and all you have to say is 'wow'?!"

Ranma hit his father over the head angrily. "Are you trying to make me have a nervous breakdown?! You should have told me all this years ago! What's the big idea telling me two days before the wedding?! A guy needs time to prepare for something this monumental!"

Genma pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose and took another puff from his pipe. "Ranma, remember 'Anything Goes Martial Arts' Tenant number fifteen: 'It is always better to know late information then never at all.'"

Ranma folded his arms in annoyance. "I didn't even know we had a list of tenants until a year ago! If you would actually write them down it might help!"

"Foolish boy! What a stupid question! How am I supposed to write down something I make up on the spur of the moment?!"

"You stupid old man!"

Akane stared wide eyed at her grinning sister in dumbfounded shock. "Is that really how people like to do it?" She asked, trying to calm herself down. For some reason, her heart was beating heavily in her chest. She dismissed it as a simple case of nerves even has her own conscious pointed its finger and laughed at her from deep inside her brain.

"Hey, its info learned in the field, sis! I guarantee it." Her middle sister winked impishly.

"Nabiki! You're much too young to be doing that! You're still in high school!" Kasumi scolded.

"Who was it?" Akane asked as her curiosity rose. There was a side to Nabiki she never realized existed before. To think she had once thought Nabiki only cared about money! Maybe she was more three dimensional than people gave her credit for.

Nabiki chuckled. "Mmmmmm, let's just say that there's more to Kuno then just his money."

"Kuno!?" Akane's jaw hit the ground.

"Hey, he's not such a bad guy once you get him to shut up," Nabiki retorted, almost defensively. "All that poetry he spouts may drive me nuts… but he can be… sweet when he wants to. Of course we've kept all this secret, of course." She adopted a theatrical pose with one hand covering her face as if overcome by shame. "He couldn't bear to hurt his two beloveds with such a vile scandle."

Akane shook her head, smiling lightly. It was funny how things turned out in life. She guessed Nerima mysticism had a bit to do with that. Briefly, she wondered if her children's lives would someday be as weird as hers had been thus far. She hoped not. She'd seen enough chaos and wackiness to last three lifetimes.

Another thought found its way into her mind as a frown set in on her face. Her sisters, sensing that something was wrong, moved in closer, giving the youngest Tendo their utmost attention. "What if...I'm not good enough for him? I mean, it's not like I do it a lot or practice or anything..."

"Don't worry, Akane," Kasumi said reassuringly. "Ranma will be just as unprepared and nervous as you are. I think his father just finished telling him his role for tomorrow. Look."

She pointed out of Akane's room as Ranma hilariously chased his father around the backyard for a beating. A crimson blush flashed across his face and Akane couldn't help but giggle. Clearly there was nothing to worry about. No matter how inexperienced either of them was, they would work things out. They always did.

Suddenly, a green energy blast shot downward, enveloping Ranma before he could even think to blink. Genma took this time to slip silently in the house, caring only for his own hide. From the other side of the stone wall, Akane could hear loud laughter as two large hands thrust through the wall.

Her blood went cold. "No..."

The two hands pushed in opposite directions, widening the hole and shattering the rock formation until it was large enough to pass through. A large form, seemingly too big for a normal human, squeezed through the ruined structure, grinning like a madman. An unfamiliar howl sounded across the afternoon sky, as the second figure, as yet unseen, awaited its turn to go through the makeshift entrance.

"Mint... Lime... Oh no… no!" Akane felt weak and she had to grip the balcony to keep from losing her balance.

Ranma climbed to his feet, shaking his head as he blinked away the red spots that flashed in front of his eyes. Preparing a sharp remark at his attacker the words froze in his throat as he looked up in stunned horror. The horror looked back down at him, grinning so wide it looked unnatural.

Ranma was horrified. "Lime!? What on earth!? What the hell did you do to yourself?!"

The behemoth was indeed Lime, but he hardly looked human anymore. Every inch of his body was covered in massive muscle and his eyes, which had once been gray, now held a pale glowing green tone. His teeth were clenched together as he laughed though the gut wrenching sound could hardly be classified as laughter. Strangest of all his features was his skin. It was covered in striped fur that seemed to ripple with each step he took.

"Why if isn't our good friend Ranma! Mint, don't be rude! Come give your greetings as well! You deserve it! You were the one who tracked them here by scent after all."

In a flash Mint was beside his friend, grinning like an infernal demon. His change has been less severe than in his comrade but it was a nightmare all the same. His face seemed narrower, like the wolf that was his patron. His eyes seemed more slanted and held a tint of red in them. His teeth looked razor sharp and slightly yellow from decay. He almost seemed to be panting with expectation. Opening his maw, he unleashed a terrible howl that shook the window panes.

"Mint and I are very glad to see you, my friend. Why don't you make this easy on yourself? Tell us where Mousse and Ryoga are?"

Ranma shook his head, turning away from them. This new version of them was a completely different one then the two strong yet naive boys he had met over a year ago. "Why?"

Lime smiled. "A means to an end. Nothing more."

"Why on Earth did you guys do thi-"

"I asked you a question!" Ranma's words were cut off as Lime charged forward, slamming his boulder sized fist into Ranma's stomach, hurling the stunned teen through the dojo wall with tremendous force. A large energy burst followed him in, pushing the winded boy out the other side and setting fire to the wedding hall that quickly spread to the entire building.

Staying on his feet, Ranma hunched over, staggering to remain standing against the burning pain of his body. He looked the two over again from the other side of the burning building with renewed awareness.

Not good. These odds aren't in my favor. They're just too strong! Dropping into a low combat stance, Ranma balled his hands into fists and leapt into the fray. Mint howled again and jumped in to meet him. They struck at each other in mid-air, landing frenzied attacks and surprising each other with the sheer amount of ferocity they both produced.

Nabiki turned to Akane. "You better do something quick, or you won't have to worry about the wedding...or a husband for that matter."

With shaking hands, Akane reached for the phone.