A Different Type of Visitor (ADTOV) Chapter 09
Standard disclaimer, don't own Ranma 1/2, or Rifts. Wish I had some stock or shares but I don't. I'm doing this for my enjoyment and for the enjoyment of any of my readers. May they continue reading my works after they read this.
Thanks again to all my reviewers.
Work on ADTOV will continue. Book 2 ADTOW is started and will be posted, as it's own story on and I'm not sure about other hosts as so far this is also posted in Ranchan Crossing bridges. Oh well. On with the Story
It was brought to my attention by Hiryo about Ranma and Shakeera seeing Nodoka's weaponry and trophy room. That room is her office. It is not located in her house. So far Ranma and Shakeera have not exactly shared Weapons information with Nodoka. So far Nodoka knows that Shakeera is indeed not from this plane of existence, and is from a high tech environment. However Shakeera has only shown Cologne, Shampoo, and Ranma her plasma cannon and has kept it either hidden (With her tech cloak) or put away in its travel case for non-combat carrying.
Sorry for the confusion.
On with the fic.
Chapter 09
It had been a few days since Ranma and Shakeera had moved in with Nodoka. So far they had not met with too much success finding the other practicing family of Anything Goes Martial Arts. It had been a bit frustrating until Shakeera had asked one simple question.
"Ranma?"
"Yes Shacky?" Ranma answered using his new nickname for the four-armed dimensional traveler.
"You know I don't like that nickname. Anyway, I think I may have found your fathers old friend." Shakeera answered.
Ranma perked up at this and came over to the table where Shakeera was sitting at in front of her small computer. "So, what did you find?"
"Well, first I was trying to find a School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. But there was nothing listed for that in any of the government registries." She began. "So then I tried to do just searches of known dojo's and otherwise that have a unique style that no one else teaches." Shakeera grimaced after that. "Big mistake that by the way."
"Why, how many individual styles are there?"
"To many. Let's count a few in one district by itself. Martial Arts Tea Ceremony, Martial Arts Calligraphy, Martial Arts Baking, Martial Arts Sewing, Martial Arts Karaoke, to name a few. The list goes on, I won't bore you. However the Tendo Dojo is listed as using the style known as Indiscriminate Grappling. Ring a bell?"
"Uh... Shakeera. They're almost the exact same thing." Ranma said.
"Not to Trade Four. Ranma, you forget that I'm still using magic to communicate. Your Japanese translates several ways depending on the meaning or the tense."
"You are? But, why? Haven't you learned any Japanese yet?" Ranma asked seeming slightly taken aback by her statement.
"Well, I do speak it now. But I don't want to sound like an illiterate foreigner. So I keep my spell going on and off. That's why I'm sometimes waiving my hands around a little. I'm recasting the spell or enhancing its duration."
"Doesn't that get a bit tiring?"
"Naw, after awhile it gets easier. Think of it this way, it's a way to build up my potential psychic energy. Sort of like stretching a muscle, the more you use it the stronger and more endurance it has." Shakeera said then turned back to her computer. "Anyway, the Tendo Dojo is located in Nerima. And they're only a few miles from here. Want to go?"
Scene Break
Ranma and Shakeera are walking down the sidewalk in Nerima. Ranma is dressed in his Chinese tangs, with a dragon embroidered in black and purple threads moving upwards on the left side of the shirt. Shakeera however was the one drawing stares. She was once again in her combat armor, and once again it looked like a JSDF set of combat fatigues. Complete with a proper rank insignia.
"Why did you wear those? We've got some clothes for you." Ranma whispered to her as they walked down the street.
"Because, last time I went to meet up with your past I was attacked by a Demon Slayer. I'm coming prepared this time."
"Har har. That was my mother. And can you totally blame her? I mean we aren't completely human now are we?" Ranma said in a slightly downtrodden tone.
Shakeera bopped him in the shoulder quickly. "Hey knock that off. It's not so bad, and you still look human." Ranma replied only by lifting up a little bit of his hair so that Shakeera could see his pointed elf like ear. "Ok, well mostly human. But the point is you have to clue people in on the fact you aren't." She said. "Hey, we're there."
"We are?" Ranma said acting a bit clueless. In response Shakeera pointed over his shoulder to a sign proclaiming the property behind the retaining wall to be the 'Tendo Training Hall of Indiscriminate Grappling'. "Hey we are. Shall we announce ourselves?" He asked.
Since the front gates were open but the front door of the house inside was closed they decided to walk up to the front door and knock politely.
Inside the Tendo house Soun was reading the daily paper shortly after his two youngest daughters had returned from to school. He heard a knock at the door and was about to call out to Kasumi to answer it when he remembered that she was preparing dinner at the moment. The Tendo Patriarch got up and walked to the door quietly. However his serene state of mind took a quick blow when he opened the front door, and saw a young man dressed in a similar manner to Prince Herb. And a young female JSDF officer beside him.
Soun Tendo stood there for a few moments before his wits returned to him. "Welcome to the Tendo residence. How may I help you." He politely answered.
"Are you Soun Tendo?" Shakeera asked in a very strait forward manner.
"I am, and may I ask why the Military is interested in me?" Soun asked in return, his mind spinning and trying to think back to any incident he may or may not have had with the government.
"Oh, the Military is not interested in you. But my companion may have some business with you." She answered.
The young man bowed before Soun. "I am Saotome Ranma, and I'm sorry about meeting like this." Ranma said and stood back up to face Soun.
And was taken completely by surprise when the older man grabbed him in a bear hug. "Finally you have come!" Soun proclaimed as Ranma's braid seemed to levitate behind him. Soun seemed to realize the discomfort that he was causing his old friends son and backed off a bit, but didn't release Ranma's shoulders even though he did release him from the hug.
Before Ranma and Shakeera can say anything more they found themselves ushered into the house and sitting at a family meeting and dining table. Soun sat down at the head of the table and waited for several moments before he spoke. "Ranma, I thank the heavens that you found my house and family. I will need a few moments to get my daughters for a family meeting with you." Soun then stood back up and walked away.
Shakeera took a moment to look at her companion; she noticed that he seemed to be sitting there sweating bullets. "What's wrong Ranma?" She said quietly to him.
At the same time that Shakeera was looking at him, Ranma had figured out exactly what was going on. Somehow his father's old friend had managed to get them seated in a formal meeting placement. The tea and other party may be missing at the moment, but the Saotome youth knew for a fact that they were properly arranged with Shakeera on his right in the place of where his parents would be, and Soun on his left where the matchmaker or clan head would be. And if he was not mistaken then the most eligible for marriage of Mr. Tendo's daughters would be placed directly in front of him.
However before he could answer her question Soun ushered in two beautiful young women. One was dressed in a plain housedress that did nothing to hide her beauty. The other one was dressed in a pair of business slacks, and a yellow blouse and had her hair in a helmet style hair cut. The younger business looking girl quirked her eyebrow up as she sat down directly across from Ranma.
"Ranma, these are my two eligible daughters. My youngest is already spoken for, but Kasumi is 19 and Nabiki is 17. Please pick one and she will be engaged to you to be your wife." Soun said after he had sat down. As he was talking however, Kasumi had turned her face downward a bit and Nabiki rolled her eyes slightly. To Shakeera it was obvious that the girls in front of her were only going along with this to please their father, and they didn't really want to be here in the first place.
"Mr. Tendo?" Shakeera spoke up from where she sat.
Soun blinked once at the irregularity of Ranma's companion speaking up instead of the Saotome youth himself. "Yes um..."
"Shakeera Sonee'"
"Yes Shakeera-san?"
Shakeera looked plainly at Soun before continuing. "We already know about the engagement. And since Ranma is still learning the finer parts of negotiation I shall speak for him as his Teacher and companion Elder." She said, of course Ranma stared at her for her breach of etiquette. "Ranma's Mother has agreed to honor the engagement for now, but insists on a trial period in which for Ranma to meet his fiancée to be and for her to meet him. At the end of this period they will decide on the engagement for themselves, be it in favor of the engagement and later marriage or in favor of separation."
Nabiki kept her eyebrows raised after hearing this from the very young seeming girl in front of her. At first the middle Tendo daughter thought that the girl was either Ranma's sister, or that the Saotome youth was going out with her. But she was surprised to find Shakeera defending the idea of the engagement, all be it under a specific condition. The middle Tendo daughter had to hand it to the girl as this way everyone could either find piece or find a way out.
"Tendo-san?" Ranma said from his position at the table. Soun nodded his head to Ranma as if to tell him to go on. "I am also searching for my father, Saotome Genma."
Soun sat up and straightened out his back squaring his shoulders in an authoritative manner. "My old friend Genma, your father, has already been here. And he did assure me that you would be wed to one of my daughters upon your arrival. Between us it was a matter of honor."
"A Matter of Honor?" Shakeera spoke up in a questioning tone. "How so Mr. Tendo? Why would a marriage of Ranma to one of your daughters be a matter of honor?" After she finished her question, but before Soun could speak up she turned towards the two Tendo girls sitting in front of her. "Sorry, no offense to the both of you." Then she turned back to Soun who she could see was about to start blustering again. "Are your families of Royal Blood? Or the last of a lineage? Why marriage? As far as I've seen Ranma is more of a martial artist, and that can be trained. Is there something that must be passed on between your families heredity."
Soun at this point found enough of his backbone to stand up to the strange visitor that he found inside his domicile. "This pact was made between Genma and myself many years ago, it was a pact to join our two clans while also strengthening our school of Martial Arts. To create in one heir the mastery of Tendo/Saotome Unrestrained Grappling and Weapons Use. This was and has been our dream for many years." He said in a strong voice. To which Nabiki and Kasumi both looked at him in surprise.
To Nabiki she was seeing the Father that she felt should have always been there. To Kasumi who had been old enough when their mother died to remember her, this was the father that she remembered and felt had died along with her mother.
However after both of the Tendo Daughters have that basic epiphany Nabiki has another and looks over at her father. "Father? Did you make this agreement with Uncle Genma at a bar?" She said.
Soun looked at her in astonishment for a second before he answered. "Why yes we did. How did you know that Nabiki?"
Ranma and Shakeera look at each other for a second before Ranma slaps his forehead and Shakeera pinches the bridge of her nose.
"Ai kosho neair kolasamach!" Shakeera exclaims in a strained voice. "Puerre no KlaShin ea locoflich!" She continued as she looked back up. "Did you ever consider that to be a bit on the moronic side?" She exclaimed.
"As much as I want to defend our family right now daddy," Nabiki started, "Why would you consider a drunken agreement to be so honorable?"
As this was starting to turn downward towards a blame throwing session, Ranma straightened up from the slouch he had gone into after discovering a bit more of his fathers moronic behavior. "Tendo-san, as I stated earlier. I will honor the engagement, but only honor the marriage if both myself and one of your daughters finds it acceptable." He said in a calm tone.
Everyone looked at him for several moments before Nabiki took charge. "And what makes you think that one of us wants to be engaged to you?" She said with slightly narrowed eyes.
"I don't." Ranma said plainly. "But I also know my father. And if I agree to at least be engaged he'll let me be to discover that I like or dislike it." Soun nods his head in agreement. "And that since my mother did know and approve of the engagement that means that there is honor here to be saved. So I will accept the engagement, but I will only give it so much time."
Kasumi looked at him for a moment. "My, so mature for a teenager." She said.
"He's only that way after much work on mine and Elder Cologne's behalf." Shakeera said.
Nabiki took this opportunity to ask a question that she'd been dying to ask for a bit. "So, Shakeera-san. Why is a member of the JSDF here? Why are you escorting Ranma around anyway?" She said with a slightly feral grin, thinking that she had at least regained some of the high ground of the intellectual battlefield.
"Oh, this?" Shakeera said with a wave towards her torso. "This is only an illusion to hide my battle armor. Let me show you what it really looks like." With that she touched her left arm bracer lightly in a peculiar manner and the control holo-keyboard appeared. She punched a small combo into the holo-keys and her green military fatigues seemed to melt and shift into a glossy dark colored armor that almost looked like pressed and buffed obsidian. A slight shimmering appeared on her back and hip, and a metallic backpack with a large alien rifle on one side and strapped on sword on the other side. On her hip a holster appeared with a pistol inside of it.
Nabiki watched in amazement as the seeming youthful JSDF officer turned into something that even most Otaku would find intimidating stood up and bowed to them.
"Let me re-introduce myself." Shakeera said before reverting back to the foreign language they had heard before. "Dosh Doran le kasamophorentine sil Sonee' kala phere Shakeera du dekesh plenkessel huanti toe kar bil semikantar semikuantikar luforeina pel doshkin in un phyle loo kash." She then came out of the bow. "I am Shakeera Sonee' of the Confederated Armed Forces Deep insurgence fighting contingent. Engineer Second grade, pilot first grade, at your service."
After she stood back up and translated her greeting in to Japanese she then dropped her disguise illusion allowing everyone to see her lower set of arms before giving a basic wave with them. "As you can see, I'm not exactly from around here."
Scene Break
Nabiki sat alone in her room digesting what she had seen earlier. "Weird, magic and aliens. But what did they leave out?" She thought to herself. After Shakeera had reintroduced herself her father had decided to end the meeting for a bit so that Ranma and Shakeera could settle in as they had also agreed to reside in the house for a time. She then looked down at her books and then over at the several fifty thousand yen notes that her father had handed to her.
"Rent for Ranma's sensei." Her father had said. She thought on that but decided that it did make sense. Shakeera was not related, nor was she involved in her family in any manner. However the four-armed visitor from elsewhere was instructing her potential fiancée in some form of art, and she said that she must be near him at all times for now until he passed his first discipline. "Kinda fishy, what type of art requires the Sensei to be near the student twenty-four seven?" Nabiki thought to herself.
"But then again, what kind of student does she have?" She asked out loud. "I mean, this guy, shows up out of nowhere…"
"Nabiki? Can I come in?" Her elder sister asked from outside the door interrupting her thoughts.
"Sure Kasumi. Close the door behind you though. " Nabiki said with a waive of her hand. Nabiki continued her talking after the eldest Tendo daughter entered her room. "So what do you think about Ranma sister?" She asked.
"You mean besides the curse?" Kasumi asked. Both girls thought back to shortly after Shakeera had shown her full form. The alien girl had said that there was one thing beyond the natural that they needed to be aware of. And that was about Ranma's curse. Luckily all the girls had seen Ranma's father change into a Panda and back before, however they still were a little bit surprised when they watched as Ranma was turned into a girl. Nabiki had whistled a quick wolf whistle much to Ranma's embarrassment. While Kasumi had given her trademarked "Oh My."
"Yes, besides the curse. Believe it or not, after Prince Herb, Uncle Genma, and Ranma's Sensei the fact that Ranma turns into a girl with cold water almost seems mundane. It's his personality that I'm asking about."
"I don't know little sister. He seems mature for his age. But we don't really know him yet. But the fact that he went to see his mother first and then still came here knowing about the engagement speaks volumes for his character." Kasumi said with her hand on her chin. "Why don't we just wait and see how this turns out? At least he won't be boring, ne?"
Scene Break
On the docks in Tokyo Harbor Genma and a depressed Herb-chan step off of a small passenger ferry from China to Japan. Both of them look a bit more travel worn than usual, and there is a near palatable sense of depression in the air around them.
"At least we now know that Ranma's in Japan." Genma said in an attempt to start up a conversation.
Silence was his only reply. "Hey, Akane's here as well."
Herb-chan looked up at that and seemed to perk up a bit, but then she felt the eyes of someone else watching.
"Hey doll, why don't you ditch your old man and hang out with us?" A randy looking sailor said as he sauntered down the dock towards Herb-chan and Genma.
Herb-chan grinned darkly and handed her pack and precious metal tube container to her larger companion. "Here, I think I found something to cheer me up a bit." Once her possessions were out of the way of being damaged she flared her aura slightly, enough to cause her hair and clothes to seem almost weightless but not enough to cause it to become visible. "Hello boys." She said in a dangerous tone. "I think I will 'Hang' with you for a bit. Or maybe you'll just be hanging."
Scene Break
Ranma-chan blocked Shakeera's lower arm and countered with a knee to her opponent's hip. The four-armed girl bent slightly around Ranma-chan's knee and held it there with her lower right arm as she used her upper right arm to do an ear chop. Ranma-chan weaved her head backwards and flexed her thigh in quick repetition as she spun horizontally while turning her backwards lean into a backwards leap. Her four-armed opponent was unable to maintain her grip and was also rewarded a snap kick for her efforts from Ranma-chan's right leg as her red haired foe used her own stomach as a spring board for her move.
While the two of them were in their morning training session, Akane was watching in from her place just inside of the gate to the Tendo estate. "I'm glad that I wasn't engaged to that gender bender." She thought to herself as she stood there. "It's bad enough that Kuno's chasing after me. But to have to deal with that freak and his weird paramilitary bimbo?" The angry girl thought to herself and then walked into the house without another word.
As Akane was walking into the house, a tired Nabiki had made her way downstairs and into the kitchen. She still had a toothbrush hanging out of her mouth, and watched out the doorway for a moment as Ranma-chan executed a flip over the back of her opponent and punted her into a tree. "Hey Kasumi." She called out and went into the kitchen.
"Yes sister?" Kasumi called out politely and then stopped herself as she caught a glimpse out of the open doorway of Shakeera jumping over Ranma and then bear hugging the other girl with her lower arms and pummeling the back of Ranma-chan's head with her upper arms. "I'm going to have to get used to that." She said under her breath and turned around to continue cooking content in the knowledge that if Nabiki wanted to continue the conversation that she'd follow Kasumi into the kitchen herself.
"How long have they been going at it?" Nabiki asked as she came into the kitchen and pulled her toothbrush out of her mouth.
"Oh, about an hour now."
"An hour?" Nabiki said in astonishment. "I've never seen Akane keep moving like that for even a half hour. You sure they haven't taken a break?"
"Nope, no breaks yet that I've seen." Kasumi said. "Here stir this." She said as she handed Nabiki a small bowl with some eggs and tofu in it. "They're moving faster now too."
"Wow, I wonder how Akane's taking it?" Nabiki said trying to get into the rhythm of stirring the mix that Kasumi had handed her.
Kasumi stopped cutting the vegetables she was cutting to look directly at Nabiki. "Take what?" She said.
"Take the fact that these two are much better martial artists than her."
"That's not a nice thing to say sister." Kasumi said with a slightly disapproving smile.
Nabiki rolled her eyes as she felt the old argument start up again. "Kasumi, you know that if Akane is to do anything, we've got to stop coddling her. She's not been the best around here in a long time, if ever."
"What do you mean?" Kasumi said and took back the bowl that Nabiki had been stirring.
"I know that you still practice Tai Chi and Mui Thai while we're at school. Why have you been trying to hide it from us?" Nabiki said to her sister as she started to lean up against a counter.
Kasumi's eyes got a bit large at her younger sisters insinuation and her expression clouded over a bit. "Out you." She said as she waived Nabiki out of the kitchen. "And don't you dare mention that to anyone." She said shaking a wooden spoon at Nabiki who was only too pleased to get out of the kitchen without being handed any other dishes to be stirred.
Nabiki decided to take a look at the floorshow again as she still had plenty of time to get ready for school this morning. She moved onto the porch and sat down next to her father who was watching Ranma-chan and Shakeera fighting. "They're good." She commented to her father who nodded his head in agreement.
Ranma-chan had just gotten the upper hand yet again using Shakeera's lower two arms to flip her upwards into the air where he proceeded to jump after and punt her slightly higher. On his return trip into the air from the ground he was attempted to do an air-juggling move he'd been learning when Shakeera upped the ante and summoned her Psi-Shield.
To Nabiki and Soun who were watching they saw Ranma-chan throw Shakeera upwards about two meters then follow with a kick that pushed the four-armed girl a touch higher into the air. And on Ranma-chan's rebound from the ground Shakeera had held her upper right hand in a peculiar fashion and a glowing blue and gold medieval looking shield appeared on her arm that she used to block Ranma's second upward kick. Then she countered with her upper left arm with a similarly summoned blue gold rod of force. After her first strike on Ranma-chan's shoulder she then followed her fellow red haired foe while jabbing and striking with her self-generated energy rod.
Ranma-chan managed to flip off of the ground before Shakeera could pin her and rebounded off to the wall where they started to continue their combat. Started to that is until Soun jumped up and yelled. "STOP! STOP THIS INSTANCE!" The Tendo Patriarch bellowed as he ran over to them.
"How did you do that miss?" Soun said as soon as he had made it up to the two slightly winded combatants.
"Huh?" Shakeera asked a bit dimly before she realized that he was talking about her Psi-Shield and a less cutting version of her Psi-Sword. "Oh these, all Psi-Warriors are trained in using their inner spirit to bring forth weapons and defenses." She answers, "Though they often aren't strong willed enough to use them in combat until they are well into their third discipline, the Art of Offense."
"So they are not a Ki technique?" Soun asked seeming slightly confused.
"Not to my knowledge." Shakeera answered honestly then held forth the shield for his inspection.
Soun touched the shield and pulled his hand back as if burned. "But… How?" He asked
"Only certain races, and a select few Humans can harness their Inner Spirit in the use of Psionics. My race is one of them, Ranma can now do the same." She said with a quick nod to the pig tailed youth who was watching Shakeera's interaction with Soun. "Psi is not too dissimilar to your Ki abilities, but it is used to harness and tap into the weave of existence using your inner spirit. However, though a person must be trained in the use of Psi, the same abilities can not be trained into a null."
Ranma-chan perked up a bit at hearing that as she hadn't heard this part about Psionics yet.
"Null?" Soun asked simply.
"Null. A person without the spark of Psi. Someone who is incapable of using even the slightest amount of their spirit through Psionic ability." She said and released her Psi-rod. "But why would you be so worried about my creating weapons out of my spirit?" Shakeera asked with her head cocked slightly to the side.
Soun stopped for a second before composing himself. "It is because the Tendo-ryo specializes in ground combat and with the creation of Ki weaponry for offense and defense. We have not trained anyone outside of our family in that aspect of the art for many generations and it is considered to be a family secret."
Ranma-chan stepped forward this time. "Ki Weapons?" She asked. "Could you show me?"
Soun nodded his head and concentrated, a light reddish colored mist seemed to coat his forearm for but a moment and then it flowed down towards his open palm. Once the flowing mist centered in his palm it started to elongate outwards into the shape of an ornate Naginata. Once the spear had taken shape it seemed to harden into finely lacquered wood and a dark brushed metal blade. There were two tassels just behind the blade itself and they seemed to almost float upon the wind as the blade sat there.
"Ki weapons." Ranma-chan said to herself. "And if it's so secret to your family, why would you want to 'join the houses'?" She said to Soun who was still wielding his spear.
Soun stood there holding the spear looking at Ranma-chan like she should have understood herself. "If you took your clans style of airborne unarmed combat and added to the Tendo style of grounded weapon use you would have a style that-"
"That is either the most powerful style in the world. OR one of the weakest as it uses too many core concepts." Shakeera interrupted. "And who would you teach it to? And who would the style benefit?" She asked directly to Soun.
"Why, we'd teach our children and carry on the line." He said in a near flabbergasted tone.
Ranma-chan picked up on what Shakeera seemed to be doing. "And would I learn any of these techniques?" She asked the Tendo Patriarch.
"Of course not. Only your son would learn them."
Of course this also served to annoy Ranma-chan a bit, but with her training for the last month as well as social coaching from Shakeera she decided to resort to words instead of actions. Better though she had thought of a path that would most likely get Soun to either submit or at least think about it for a long while. "And what makes you think I'd agree to that?" She asked putting her hip into a slight cocked position that was very hard to do as a guy, but very easy as a girl.
"Because it's a matter of family honor!" Soun said falling back on his tried and not quite so true logic base.
"So, only a son can learn? Why not a daughter?" Ranma-chan stated.
Her statement however only served to derail Soun a bit as he had thought that the child of his old friend and training partner was talking about learning the Tendo School, not the gender of her child. "Huh?"
"I said, why not a daughter. Are only men good enough to learn your school?" Ranma-chan said then looked down at herself. "Is that why I can't learn the techniques? Because I'm part girl now?"
Meanwhile Akane had come back down stares in her school uniform and saw her father holding one of the family weapons and confronting Ranma-chan about something. Not sure what it was about she had caught the last sentence about being a girl. Confused and wanting more information the youngest Tendo daughter walked up behind her father to listen.
"Of course that's not why. It's just that you're not family yet and even then you are not blood related. Our clans honor demands that only the Son of the clan may learn our techniques."
"Have you taught your daughters the technique? They're blood related. Are they to teach the son of a union between your house and another? How are you going to pass along your knowledge if you die between now and when the child is old enough to learn?" Ranma-chan rapid fired at Soun. She then got a slight gleam in her eye as she saw Akane standing behind her father. "Take this you misogynistic creep." She thought to herself preparing another verbal onslaught. "Or is it that girls are to be protected. That they can't become warriors. That they aren't strong enough. What is it, because if I'm to be part of an arranged marriage to continue a tradition, then it had better be a worthy tradition." She finished in a clipped manner.
Not surprisingly to anyone with a moderatum of common sense, Akane was starting to take offense to this line of questioning. Especially when she saw the Japanese Spear in her father's hand revert back into a Ki Cloud and dissipate into his body. She may not have been to terribly advanced in her own house of martial arts, but she was advanced enough to recognize a high level Ki ability when she saw it. "FATHER! IS IT TRUE!" The youngest and arguably the most spoiled Tendo daughter yelled.
Soun jumped at hearing the enraged voice of his youngest from right behind him and slowly turned around to face her only to see her blazing eyes and fury almost palatable through her aura. "What Honey?" He asked in a simpering voice.
"THAT YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT GIRLS CAN BE MARTIAL ARTISTS!" She bellowed taking a hold of her father's gi top. "WHY DON'T YOU DRY UP AND DIE!" She yelled and pulled her father over her shoulder in an Aikido flip that launched him over the lawn and into one of the trees next to the guardian wall. After which she turned on Ranma-chan who had been smirking as if in though that she had won a battle. "AND YOU, YOU OVERCONFIDENT JERK. I challenge you, I'll show you that a 'Weak Girl' can be a martial artist."
Ranma-chan shrugged her shoulders and turned towards the dojo.
"WAIT! Turn back into a guy, I don't want you whining when I beat you that I only won because you were a 'Girl'." Akane told the other girl in a slightly mean tempered voice as she stomped into the Dojo.
Ranma-chan just looked at Shakeera who had sat the last little bit out with a curious expression. "What'd I do?"
"You insulted her family, and insinuated some interesting points about her fathers capabilities."
"Oh."
Scene Break
Ranma-kun stood facing Akane in the Dojo. He was dressed in his red Chinese shirt and black pants but wasn't wearing shoes at this point. Akane was dressed in her yellow Gi, with her red belt. The fiery tempered girl faced Ranma with a glare and seemed to vibrate on the soles of her feet in anticipation of the duel to come.
Shakeera stood in the judging position between the two youths; she was dressed in a black tank top and black pants similar to Ranma's clothes. Also she had her lower two arms tucked behind her back to at least appear to fit in a bit. "Ok, no special abilities." She said looking directly at Ranma. "And no grudges." She said with a look at Akane. "This is only to determine martial arts capabilities, so it's touch only not full contact."
Akane started to speak up at that point however a single look from their four-armed referee stopped her cold.
"3 points only, points awarded for a clean hit to the torso, neck, back, or otherwise. Half points for disabling touches to the arms and legs. I will call out the points, and keep track of them. Double points for disabling the body, and points taken away for dishonorable conduct and overly vicious blows." Shakeera stepped back a couple of steps. "Do you both understand?"
"Hai." Akane bit out.
"Yes Sensei." Ranma said respectfully.
"Ok, Begin!" Shakeera yelled out and took four more steps back to observe.
Ranma immediately jumped up as Akane lunged forward with a punch. As soon as the Pig tailed youth came near the ceiling his hands flashed upwards and pushed down and back against the ceiling putting him in a forty-five degree angle that would land him behind his opponent.
When he touched down he did a quick mule kick before turning around only to feel Akane block it and try to flip him onto his face. Ranma grinned at his opponents attempt and kicked down at the floor with his bracing leg to push him upwards so as to use the momentum that Akane had given him by her attempt to flip him over. That way instead of being flat on his face he was coming upright after a nearly full revolution of his body. And in a movement that seemed as if it was an after thought his left hand flashed out in a poke that touched Akane directly in the solar plexus strait through her defense.
"Point Ranma!" Shakeera yelled out. "Fighters back to your positions." She called again.
Akane looked perhaps even more enraged at this point as Ranma had yet to take a serious stance with her. Ranma meanwhile had pegged her down to basic Kempo, a touch of Aikido, and only a rudimentary understanding of Tai Chi. Overall a good combination for the standard publicized competition. But not to good at actual combat or even some of the higher level dojo's that he'd been to in the past.
Deciding not to be quite so cocky anymore as he could see that it'd only enrage her further Ranma actually got into a stance this time. However he felt that the stance was only one that Genma and perhaps Shakeera would recognize. As his right leg was raised with the flat of his foot almost resting on his knee. His Right arm was across his body pointing downwards, with his left arm in a near blocking position in front of his chest.
As the match was about to begin again, Soun Tendo surprised Ranma-kun as the older man seemed to recognize his stance if Tendo's widened eyes were any sign of recognition. Shakeera almost groaned though as she had only seen one other person use this stance so far and that person was still back in China.
Akane however didn't seem impressed. In fact as she looked on at her opponent she thought that he was just trying to make fun of her.
"Begin!" Shakeera said and stepped back again.
Akane lunged forward once more, and this time instead of jumping upwards Ranma spun in place using his left forearm to block her frenzied punch away from him and his right hand to grab her belt and push just slightly to send her stumbling away from him. When Akane regained her balance and rushed him again he used the same tactic to send her stumbling away.
Once more after Akane regained her stance she rushed Ranma who instead of sending her stumbling, tripped her with his right foot after lowering it slightly. The second she landed face Ranma lunged forward and placed a knife edged hand on the back of her neck and held in a rigid position over the prone girl.
"Two Points to Ranma." Shakeera announced. "Winner, Ranma."
Everyone there watched as Ranma bent over Akane and offered her a hand to help her up. Akane however seemed to be far from happy about it and grumbled as she stood up refusing Ranma's offer of aid. As she was getting up the pig-tailed youth turned away from her to talk to Shakeera. Doing so he didn't see Akane snarl under her breath and pull a mallet seemingly from nowhere and raise the wooden instrument into a striking position.
Shakeera saw this though and pushed her friend out of the way, once Ranma was stumbling away the four-armed girl summoned her Psi-Shield and stepped forward to intercept the quickly lowering mallet on her shield. "Looks like you might want to reconsider that 'not teaching women' thing a bit Mr. Tendo." She said from her position behind her shield. "It looks like your daughter already has some of the fundamentals of your school down."
Akane stopped for a second and processed what Shakeera had said before her anger left completely. Once her anger was gone, her mallet disappeared in a quiet pop.
"Look, Akane." Ranma said as he stepped around Shakeera who had lowered her shield. "I'm sorry about insulting your family and tradition." Akane perked up a bit at this point. "I know that any woman can be a warrior. I wouldn't be much of one anyway since I turn into a girl with cold water if girls couldn't fight. Besides, with the strength of a gorilla anyone could do well in combat." He said with a grin only to see the business end of Akane's Ki mallet once more.
Shakeera and Soun stood above the downed Ranma as Akane regained her composure once more.
"Now that, he had coming." Akane said with a small sneer while she stood over Ranma's prone form.
Scene Break
Later on that day just before evening, Soun was sitting at his spot on the veranda that looked over the yard. He had a long pipe that he was gently puffing on every now and then he would pass the pipe over to Shakeera who would take a puff on it herself and hand it back while they sat there enjoying the quiet evening.
As the two of them were sharing the pipe Ranma came up and sat down next to Soun who offered him the pipe without a word. Ranma looked at the pipe and slowly shook his head before looking back over the yard.
After several more moments of tranquil silence Soun decided to bring up something that had been on his mind for the last while. "So Ranma, what do you plan to do with your life?"
"Huh?" Ranma answered smartly. "Whadja mean by 'dat?" He asked in reply.
Shakeera grimaced at Ranma's bad grammar, but let it slide this time as she was content to just sit and watch the peaceful evening sky.
Soun, however, didn't waste a moment to respond to Ranma's question. "I mean, what are you going to do? Teach Martial Arts, Study, become a Tournament fighter, become a careerist?" Soun stated, then he paused a moment before continuing. "These last few weeks I realized that besides Martial Arts I haven't done much with my life. And I just thought that besides marrying one of my Daughters that you should aspire to be more than what your father or myself were content to do."
"Hey Tendo-san, that was pretty deep. What brought that on?" Ranma said with a bit better grammar than his last question.
"Well, your father was here a couple of weeks ago. He was traveling around with a nice prince from some country near China. And he seemed to be the same Genma that I knew years ago, as if nothing had changed. It got me to thinking about what ifs and whether or not I wanted that life, or whether I wanted more." Soun leaned back a little bit. "Anyway, I've digressed. Have you considered what path you'll take in the future, and have you decided which of my daughters you'll marry?" He asked.
"Not yet Tendo-san." Ranma said thinking on everything that had happened so far. "Everything has been happening so quickly so far, until it settles down I won't make my decision." The contemplative youth said.
"Very well, but do not take too long on your decision."
Scene Break
"What, are you too good to walk with us?" Akane asked of Ranma who was up on the fence walking along as though it were normal to walk that high off of the ground.
"Hmm..?" He said and looked down at her. "Why would you ask that? This is good balance training."
"Then why isn't your girlfriend doing it too?" The temperamental girl said as she looked directly at Shakeera. Who of course just looked back at her, and then shrugged her shoulders after which she looked back up at Ranma to see if he wanted to field that question himself.
"Why aren't you up here?" Ranma asked Shakeera. "You're pretty good and it is good practice."
"ARE YOU SAYING I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" Akane yelled out at him.
Ranma only put up his hands in a warding symbol "Hey, what bee got into your bonnet? I just invited my friend up here, not told you that you weren't good enough. If you are good enough then come up here and I'll show you how easy this is."
Akane just looked at him for a second then harrumphed and stormed off as Shakeera and Ranma stood there.
"What has gotten into her bonnet?" Shakeera asked before shrugging her shoulders.
"Not sure, why'd you dress like that anyway?" Ranma asked his companion who only shrugged once more as she continued to walk down the sidewalk in her female styled outfit that matched Ranma's clothes.
Scene Break
"TENDO!" Genma hollered out as he entered the Tendo estate. "TENDO SOUN, OLD BUDDY! I'M BACK!" He yelled out then looked over at his slightly depressed companion. "He should be here, we've only been gone a month or so."
"Or so would be right." Herb said as he thought back on the sight of his ruined Kingdome.
After a few moments Soun Tendo came running out of the house to see his old friend and the Prince that he had allowed to court his youngest daughter. "Saotome, how are you. Your trip may have been in vain however."
"How do you mean Tendo?" Genma asked with a slightly befuddled expression.
"I mean that your son arrived yesterday. Ranma went to school with my daughters and should return several hours from now." Soun said as he patted Genma on the shoulder.
Genma patted his friend back, and then used the pat to do a quick arm throw, which Soun shrugged out of. "That's the spirit Tendo. I thought that you seemed more lively than when I left. But back to my son… His curse? Is it.."
"Hmm…? You mean by him turning into a girl? Yes, he showed it to us after we discussed his engagement to either of my two elder daughters."
Herb coughed into his hand quietly. "If you two would excuse me, I have some thought I must attend to. And your boisterous nature is disturbing my personal Wa. I shall be by your pond Tendo-san."
Soun looked slightly taken aback by the formal and gruff statement by the Prince of the Musk. "What got into him old friend?"
"A long story, ideal for a game of Shogi and a bottle of Sake. Perhaps later would be a good time for that. But back to my son, he was male?" Genma nearly pleaded.
"Yes, Genma, yes he was. A strapping young man you have raised. And very assured of his prowess he is. Why he even accepted to honor the engagement even with a beautiful companion with him." Soun stopped for a moment in thought. "You do know of his companion do you not?"
Genma nodded, "If you mean a four-armed girl from an unknown place, then yes I know of her. She and Ranma had been kidnapped by the Amazons of China, that was why I was traveling." Genma shook himself quickly. "But you say that Ranma's curse was not locked? Oh Happy Day…" Genma turned and grabbed his old friend and training partner by the shoulders. "Quick then, the schools can now be joined. Which of your daughters did Ranma choose, I must know."
"He hasn't decided yet. But he said he would once he got to know them better."
Genma sighed in relief. "Good then." Looking directly into Soun's eyes Genma continued. "He must be married soon. If his mother-"
"His mother already knows. He is here on her request."
"What! How did he meet his mother? And he's still here?" Genma said in shock.
Soun motioned into the house and started to walk there, Genma followed and listened to his old friends response to his questions. "Yes, according to your son he had met your wife prior to coming here. In fact if he hadn't met up with her he may never had found out about the engagement. Also according to him your wife Nodoka insisted that he give it a chance. I take it that you have her support once again?"
Genma just stopped walking the second that Soun finished. "Her support? I don't even know if I have her love anymore… Old friend, let us retire to a game of Shogi. I have a lot to think on now. My son will return here this afternoon, it would not do to be caught unawares because I have ignored or blown off what you have relayed."
Scene Break
Shakeera stood there snickering at the expression on her friends face. "I can't believe that you got nailed like that." She said as she crossed her visible set of arms under her breasts. "I mean, to get soaked by an old woman out watering the dust on her walk."
"I can't go to school like this." Ranma-chan grumbled. "Well, I'll have to go home now."
"Wait… Let's go around that corner." Shakeera said and pulled her near look-a-like after her. "Let me cast my disguise spell on you, that way you can change back at your whim."
Ranma-chan looked at her weirdly for a second. "But wouldn't that make it so that you aren't disguised?" She asked her companion.
"No silly. I can keep multiple spells up at once. Besides, do you want to be late or known as a girl?" She asked simply. She also didn't have to wait long for Ranma-chan's nod to go ahead. Shakeera chanted a bit then waived her hands in front of her fellow not quite human red head. Once her hands finished their movement Ranma-chan's figure shifted to her male form.
"Is it done?" Ranma-chan asked. Shakeera reached into her pack and pulled out a small mirror and showed it to her cursed friend. "Hey, how come I'm still a girl?" Ranma-chan asked a bit curelessly.
"You're still a girl, because you haven't changed back yet. The disguise spell only masks your appearance. Oh yeah, try to deepen your voice a bit."
"What!" Ranma-chan squeaked out.
"I said Deepen, not squeak. Your voice hasn't changed, just your looks. Oh yeah, don't let anyone brush your breasts."
Ranma-chan just blushed at that comment. Shakeera watched as her magically disguised friends illusion blushed just like she new her friend would have been.
"C'mon or we'll be late." Ranma-chan said as she grabbed Shakeera's hand and ran towards where she thought the school would be. They made very short time to the school only to see Akane finish throwing a large sumo wrestler into a tree. Both of them grimaced in sympathy but darted into the school without sticking around to question why Akane was beating on the guy, or the several dozen other guys on the ground.
On their way to the school's secretary office Ranma-chan thought of something she wanted to ask her friend, and in a false male voice she started her question. "So, uhm.. How do you cast magic anyway?" She asked.
"Through lots of training and experience Ranma. But if you'd like I can start you on the basics as soon as you get simple Telekinesis down." Shakeera said as they stopped just outside the school's office so they could register.
Ranma-chan felt a bit abashed at this, as she had been having trouble not draining herself in the use of her Telekinesis. Shakeera had told her that she would not advance to anything more complicated or dangerous until after she had mastered that simple art of the mind. The two of them cease their line of thought as they are ushered into the office to start their registration.
Scene Break
A little bit earlier, and totally unbeknownst to the three students walking to school, a small slightly glowing humanoid spirit was floating along above them.
It watched them as it flew along. Sometimes muttering to itself, sometimes just staying completely silent. It even watched as the dark haired girl yelled something at the youth on the fence and took off running.
After a bit it watched as the dark haired youth landed on the ground and continued to walk with his red haired companion. Then its eyes grow very wide when the dark haired boy was splashed with water and turned into a red haired girl. After that the beings eyes went from dish sized to a slitted plotting gaze, while the spirit beings mouth turned up into a menacing grin as it watched as the other red haired girl cast a spell that made the neo-red head appear to be a boy.
Once the spell matrix was finished the small spirit being was able to see through the other similar magic in the area and saw the slightly blurred set of lower arms on the first red haired girl.
"Sonee', I've found you once more." It murmured. "Wha-" It said as it felt a pull from just behind it's navel. "NO NOT YET! I NEED TO FOLLOW HER! NOT YET! NOOooo…" it's voice trailed off as it seemed to be yanked back from where it had come from on the outskirts of Nerima.
Scene Break
The morning class went all right for Ranma-chan in her disguise field, as well as for Shakeera. Well all right except for the fact that Ranma-chan was extremely self-conscious of the fact that she was a girl right now and that she was being checked out by several of the other girls in the room.
After a few hours of that as well as Akane glaring at her for some reason, probably the attention she was receiving rather than anything else, Ranma-chan was ready for relief in any form. Luckily for her the lunch bell rang and she managed to high tail it over to the bathroom. One quick hot water hand and face wash and Ranma no longer felt the need to be disguised by the magic disguise field that Shakeera had placed on him that morning.
Shortly after he had changed back Ranma walked out onto the field where a lot of the students were milling about during their lunch break. As he walked over to where he had spotted the red hair of his friend and sensei one of the girls from his class came up and started to walk beside him without saying anything. Of course, Ranma didn't really know what to say so he just accepted her walking next to him, and also sitting next to him as he sat down next to Shakeera.
Shakeera meanwhile watched as Ranma came walking up with one of their fellow classmates walking demurely next to him, blushing a near nuclear red as she silently walked next to her friend. With one eyebrow raised the disguised traveler decided to keep her peace as both Ranma and the girl sat down.
"Made a friend Ranma?" She asked in a light teasing tone.
"Hmmm…?" Ranma murmured then looked at the girl again. "Hello?" He said to her and watched as she sat down next to the pigtailed youth.
"Hi" She said quietly, and seemed to be about ready to dart off. "Umm… can I ask you something Ranma-san?" The girl said. Upon Ranma's nod she continued. "Some of my friends were wondering if you two were siblings."
Ranma and Shakeera looked at her then looked at each other before they both broke down in laughter. The girl seemed mortified and was about to get up when Shakeera put a hand on her knee. "Sorry.. giggle about that. No there is no way that Ranma and I are giggle brother and sister." Shakeera sobered up after that. "Actually we met just several months ago, may I ask why you wanted to know?"
"Well, you both are dressed so similar, and your faces looked almost like twins would." The girl said calming down a bit.
"Someone put you up to this didn't they?" Shakeera asked. To which the girl bowed her head a little abashed. "Don't worry, we're not offended. May I ask your name?"
"It's Amaya I'm sorry about being to forward." She said and got up to walk away.
Shortly after the girl had left Akane showed up and sat down next to Shakeera. As she sat the raven-haired girl looked past Shakeera at Ranma with a level look in her eye. "What's so funny Ranma?" She asked evenly.
Ranma sat there for a moment before he answered. "Nothin, just one of the girls in the class asked a question."
"So, what was it?" Akane asked him and started to drink some milk.
Shakeera waited a second before she answered for Ranma. "Amaya wanted to know if Ranma and I were related."
Akane's immediate response was to spit take through her nose. The girl spluttered briefly before wiping her face with a napkin. "WHAT?" She demanded.
"Nothing much Akane. Just whether or not Ranma and I are brother and sister. It's really not that bad a question either as we both showed up in the same clothes and do look similar." Shakeera said in a slightly oblivious tone.
Akane took a look at her, then at Ranma and re-packed her lunch and quickly left.
Ranma-kun looked at his companion. "You did that on purpose didn't you?" He said.
"Yep. You know, she is fun to rile up." Shakeera said.
Scene Break
Akane had just arrived at her house when she heard something from the back yard. The slightly troubled teen went around to the back where she found Herb-chan practicing some form of meditation. The girl squealed in delight and nearly hopped over to her friend and gave her a tight hug, which interrupted the Princess of the Musk dynasties Chi building exercise.
"Hey Herb-chan. You're back!" She said from her tight hug.
Of course the girl in question felt highly twerked at not only having her meditation interrupted, but also being handled in such a fashion. If not for the fact that she was trying to woo the temperamental girl that was hugging her Herb-chan might have let loose with a chi blast right there.
"Yes, I'm back. Kindly let go now please?" She asked her friend and recently betrothed. Of course only Akane seemed to not know about Herb-chan's curse, but Herb didn't feel inclined much anymore to try to spend all her time in her uncursed form. Especially since having lost her Kingdome and vassals she had sunk into a heavy melancholy.
Akane noticed that her friend seemed a bit down. "Wanna spar? Touch or full contact?" She asked hoping that some physical activity would get the pink and purple haired girl out of her funk.
Before Herb-chan could answer the bubbly if sometimes temperamental girl Soun and Genma made their presence known by a very loud clearing of the throat. "Akane." Her father said. "Do you know if Ranma is on his way home?" He asked in a solemn tone.
"No daddy. I don't. Do you mind if Herb and I use the dojo?" She asked quickly.
"I don't see a problem with that Akane." Soun said and watched as his youngest ran with the other girl cursed young man that the Tendo patriarch knew.
Genma placed a hand on Soun's shoulder and was about to speak up when they heard another person announce their presence at the front gate. The terrible duo make their way to the entrance hall. Genma was about to great his son but stopped the second he saw both Ranma-kun and Shakeera come around the corner.
Ranma and Shakeera also stopped when they saw the elder Saotome. Shakeera looked at the older man whom she had not seen before but felt Ranma stiffen up a bit at her side. "You ok Ranma?" She asked quietly. Out of the corner of her eye she saw her companion nod his head slightly. Shakeera decided to let Ranma deal with the man in front of her, but just in case he needed her she walks past Genma and drops her disguise field just as she passed him. She grinned inwardly as she saw his almost startled expression at her second set of arms suddenly appearing under her top set. "I'll be in the other room Ranma, holler if you need anything." She said and continued on her way.
"Boy!" Genma started. "Where have you been all this time." He says in an overbearing tone.
Ranma looked at Genma and stiffened a bit. "That's it? No how are you? No what happened?" he asked in a questioning tone. "I was training. Where were you old man?"
"Training? With women? Hah. Some training. What about that girl you were with. What type of training could she give you. Especially as most defiantly gaijan."
"Actually she's been a very good sensei. And training me in more than just a few techniques pops." Ranma stated in her defense.
"She's a girl, and weak. There's no way that she could give you adequate training." Genma said in a blustering tone. However he noticed that Ranma wasn't paying much attention to him, instead his son was looking just past him. Genma decided that Ranma probably wasn't playing a trick on him, but rather was actually looking at something so he turned to look. Only to see the young red haired and four-armed girl standing there with a cross look on her face and holding a glass of water in her lower left hand.
"Weak? So us girls are weak and can not give decent training." She said in an even voice and looked down at the glass of water. Genma watched in wonderment as the water flowed up and out of the glass into a shape reminiscent of a snake. Then the head of the water snake pointed in his direction and shot forward rapidly and struck him square in the forehead. Genma-panda stands there for a moment blinking before stomping out of the entranceway.
Ranma also stood there blinking as he watched the panda walk away. "I forgot about that." He said.
"Forgot about what? Shakeera said.
"That pops was cursed as well." Ranma said as he looked back at where his father had walked out of the building.
Shakeera looked over at where Genma-panda had walked away. "That was your father?" She asked.
"Yep. Though the Panda thing is going to take some getting used to. Suits him." Ranma-kun then shrugged his shoulders. "Hey I need to do some sparing… join me in the Dojo?"
End Chapter.
Authors Notes:No I am not dead. No this story is not dead. However it will be slow for the next several months (hopefully not years)
Feedback, comments, anything is appreciated. More chapters will be forthcoming as soon as I can get them flushed out.
TTFN To all.
