Chap 12: Reality Setting In

Jinx and Akane stood across from each other with Ryuki between them acting as moderator and referee. While the youngest Tendo daughter wore her usual training gi and determined expression, Jinx was dressed in her old black dress that complemented her pale skin tone and had her hair done up in its usual hornlike appearance, which was essentially pigtails tied up with black elastic scrunchies. Jinx didn't seem to be taking Akane seriously, paying more attention to her nails as she filed them. Ryuki wore a nervous expression as he knew the outcome. Akane was strong, true, but she didn't have the sort of training Jinx had.

Ryuki sighed. He might as well just stand aside and watch. Prof. Yuriko was up at the control room, observing the events for further study. She was such a science nut that she regarded humans as test subjects. Thankfully, she had morals. He teleported up to the control room to watch at a safe distance.

The Dragon Knight raised up his arm, looking back and forth between the girls, before throwing it down. "Begin!"

Akane unleashed a yell as she charged at Jinx who just grinned at her.

"Now it's time for some fun!" Jinx exclaimed before she charged straight at Akane too, fingers curled into claws.

Ryuki backed as far away as he could, not wanting to interfere. He just hoped things were okay between his teammates regarding the Kuno siblings.

The Kuno siblings now wore blank expressions and were both drooling. It was a sight that unnerved Ranma. Whatever Ichijyo did turned the two insane siblings into vegetables.

"What did you do?" Ranma demanded.

"Oh, just did a little tweaking in their brains," Ichijyo stated, wiping his gloves with a napkin. The things he'd been forced to see. "Call it magical lobotomy if you will."

"Are they OK?" Takada asked, waving his hand in front of their faces. "Man, they are out of it."

"They'll recover, but with no recollection of Ranma or Akane," Ichijyo informed.

"What?" Ranma asked.

"They won't remember you, and with the thing I planted in their brains they will never ever remember you, even if they are reminded," Ichijyo walked to the door and opened it, allowing 4 men in suits to enter. "Take them back to Nerima and put them to bed. Erase any evidence of our involvement while you're at it."

The 4 operatives nodded before walking over to Kuno and his sister before lifting them off their seats after removing their bonds. They carried the two catatonic siblings away.

"They won't be a problem for you anymore," Ichijyo said.

Ranma took a look at Ichijyo's expression. It seemed unremorseful for what he'd done. Ranma had never thought of solving his problems in such a way but Ichijyo had driven his hands into the Kuno siblings' brains, doing whatever god knows what. It was a sight that gave Ranma an insight of what his new employer was truly capable of.

"Why?" Ranma asked.

"Because they were a bother to you," Ichijyo stated.

"No, I mean why did you have to do it that way? Couldn't you have done it differently?"

"You mean the SB-Cells?" Ichijyo remarked. "Sure, they can be used to erase memories, but overtime a number of people we've used them on either develop an immunity or start regaining their memories. We can't really risk it, so that's where I come in."

"But still…it's a little harsh," Ranma said, blanching.

Ichijyo's eyes narrowed, "An old teacher of mine once told me to do whatever it takes to get the job done." He then walked to the door. "This is not Nerima, Ranma. Either accept the way we do things here or you can just return the Inzecter and go on home to Nerima. Your choice. I'm not keeping you here by force."

Ranma sighed. "Fine…"

"Good, I'm glad we had an understanding," Ichijyo then vanished out the door.

"How do you live with that guy?" Ranma asked Takada.

"Hey, he's a creep, but he's got principles," Takada shrugged.

Nodoka thanked the cab driver who'd brought her to Fukurou. Thankfully, it wasn't too far from Nerima. When she'd heard her son had gone away, she wanted to at least see if he was living up to the contract. From her husband's tirade, she frowned. What was her son doing and what kind of people was he associating himself with. From the way her husband spoke of this Amakusa boy, he didn't seem very respectful to his elders. Of course, she learnt to take her husband's word for face value.

She went in search for the Red Horse Institute. She'd heard from Nabiki that her son was attending that school. She was going to have a good talk with her son.

What Nodoka didn't know was that she was being watched. Emiko had also been roped into this by Ichijyo. The son of her dearest friends was a nice boy despite his appearance and attitude. Emiko's assignment was to watch out for a Nodoka Saotome. Emiko learnt that some of Ranma's problems came from Nodoka's insistence about him being a 'man amongst men' and to uphold family honor. Emiko frowned. For a mother to care more for honor than her son was not really rational.

Emiko approached the kimono-clad woman, who looked out of place in Fukurou. She tapped Nodoka lighty on the shoulder and the woman spun around. "Yes?" Nodoka asked politely.

"Excuse me, but you seem lost," Emiko stated.

"Oh, I'm looking for my son. His name is Ranma," Nodoka answered, fishing out a picture of him. "This is what he looks like. Have you seen him?"

"Yes, I have," Emiko said as she fished out a picture too. "You see, he's friends with my son. Take a look." It was a photograph of both Ranma and Ryuki at the pool, grinning at the camera.

"Oh, my!" Nodoka exclaimed. "What a coincidence! Can you tell me where he is?"

Emiko had Nodoka hooked. Emiko, despite her appearance, could be manipulative when it counted. How else was she able to keep Ichijyo in line for her son. "Well, I can't say, but he does come over to my home with my son. Why don't you wait with me?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude…" Nodoka spoke uncertainly.

"Nonsense! I insist!"

"Aright then," Nodoka bowed. "Thank you for offering me your hospitality."

Emiko smiled. 'Perfect…'

Akane was growing frustrated and angry. Why? Well, no matter how hard she tried to hit Jinx, the pink-haired mistress of hexes just grinned as she dodged all the strikes with her hands behind her back. It reminded Akane so much of how Ranma had beaten her the first time. That memory just enraged her more as she roared, picking up speed.

If Akane had bothered to look up Jinx, she would know that the pink-haired girl was an expert gymnast. She had to learn how to dodge since superheroes would use brute force on her. In addition, her probability manipulation powers that she'd practiced were mostly used to cause bad luck for her foes. Of course, with Ryuki and Ichijyo's help, she managed to access the second half of her powers. She could cause good luck as well. It was only because she'd been trained as a villainess that only the bad luck part of her powers was nurtured.

Her good luck only worked on her, however. It allowed her to dodge Akane's blows simply by luck. Akane would be right that Jinx was just lucky, but since Jinx could manipulate luck, she was half right.

Many had luck, but not many could control it.

Jinx dodged a haymaker to her face, which barely missed her cheek by an inch. Grinning ferally, Jinx went into a move that would be considered illegal. However, this was a free-for-all, so to hell with that!

She elbowed Akane hard in the chest, knocking the air out of her. She then grabbed Akane by the hair and spun around before tossing Akane at the wall. The girl bounced off it hard. Akane groaned, pushing herself back to her feet. A bruise was forming on her forehead but the look of pure rage in her eyes took the attention away from it. She roared and then a red aura flared around her. Jinx knew she was in trouble so she decided to take it up a notch.

Jinx had been in the Danger Room dozens of times so she knew where each of the weapons were hidden. So, she sent out waves of her hex energy around her, hoping to trip one of them.

She got more than she bargained for as Yuriko panicked, shouting, "The weapons are turning themselves on!"

Ryuki's eyes narrowed as he gritted his teeth, 'Jinxy-chan, what are you doing?'

The disc launchers rose up and fired at Akane, who barely missed the sharp edged discs coming. She leapt up but got struck in the arm. Fortunately, it'd only cut her sleeve and grazed her. Still, seeing blood on her arm unnerved her. She took a shaky look at Jinx. "You're doing this!"

"Well, it is my power," Jinx said nonchalantly.

"That's cheating!" Akane accused.

Jinx frowned, eyes glowing pink, "Well, too bad if you think so. We never said I couldn't use my powers."

"But-" Akane tried to protest but the guns on the walls came out and aimed at her. "Oh, shit!"

"Welcome to the real world, Akane Tendo! Only the strong survives!" Jinx laughed as the guns fired at Akane, who was now focused on staying alive than pummeling Jinx. The com-link in her ear turned on. "Yes?"

"Jinxy-chan, stop this, please," Ryuki asked. Jinx pouted.

"She won't get killed, baby," Jinx relayed. "I'm just teaching her a lesson." One of the pillars popped up as Akane stepped on the floor panel, sending the girl flying and screaming. A few flame throwers blew flames at her and then the chainsaws. Akane was reliving the whole nightmare yet again. "On second thought, OK…" She snapped her fingers and all the weapons deactivated. "Happy?"

"Yes."

Akane was on her knees, eyes wide with horror and her clothes in disrepair. She was panting hard and sweating as her heart beat a mile a minute. Jinx might've gone a little too far there, but from what she'd learnt from Akane, the girl had way too much pride for what little skill she had. Jinx had to agree with Ichijyo, which was quite uncommon, that Akane did not deserve to get an Inzecter or become an Operative like Ranma. She didn't have the skills for it. A desk job maybe, but not as a field agent.

Both Nodoka and Emiko sat in the garden at a table with an umbrella shielding them from the sun. Nodoka was being treated to foreign tea being served in foreign cups. Aside from the dojo she'd seen in the back of the mansion, this whole house was foreign in appearance.

She didn't really like it.

Emiko had gotten all her information after doing some searching. The Narukawa Clan had as much resources as the Akuma Clan and used them when needed. Emiko got enough information to deem Nodoka as a bad mother. The woman had been neglectful of her son for 10 years. If only she knew what horrors her son had to go through for her approval.

Emiko was not the typical traditional Japanese woman. She was a modern career woman. She was also a mother who made time for her beloved children after their father's 'death'. She hated lying to them but she'd promised to keep it from them. It was her husband's wish.

"So, what brings you here to Fukurou?" asked Emiko as she poured herself another cup of tea.

"Well, I wish to bring him back to uphold his responsibilities," spoke Nodoka. "His place is back at the dojo with his fiancée. It is unmanly to give all that up."

Emiko frowned but it was barely noticeable. "Tell me, how long have you known Ranma?"

"Does that matter?" Nodoka asked, perplexed by the question.

"Humor me."

"Well, I left him in his father's care when he was 6 years old and let them go on their training trip. My husband promised that when my son turned 16, he would be a man amongst men. I ever have the contract right here." Nodoka pulled out the contract and laid it out on the table. Emiko picked it up and looked it over.

"And your son was 6 when he signed this?" Emiko asked.

"Yes."

"Did he even know what was going on when he did?"

"Does that matter? A son should obey their parents no matter what."

Emiko flinched. This woman needed to be checked back into reality. It wasn't the feudal era anymore.

"Well, let me tell you about my son," Emiko said. "One day I found out he'd been keeping secrets from me. Therefore, I confronted him about them. At first he tried to deny but then I gave him no choice but to tell me." Emiko was referring to the time when Ryuki had revealed his secret to her. To be honest she knew her son would become a Zodiac Knight but she never expected it to be that soon, when he turned 15. He was barely even a man then. "Then, an enemy of his appeared. He drove him away. My son decided to go after him and I told him to not go. I even threatened to disown him." Emiko finished, "But, he said something to me. He said, 'Okaasan, I love you and thank you for everything you've done. However, I cannot let him get away less more people get hurt. Disown me, if you will, but be glad that I can give you this'. Then he hugged me and went after his enemy."

"He really shouldn't have abandoned you," Nodoka spoke up. "A son who disobeys his parents is dishonorable."

"No, if I had stopped him I would've lost my honor. All I cared about was keeping my son safe from harm that I forgot that he had a responsibility. To tell him to stop helping people would be like stopping him from upholding his honor."

Nodoka was silenced. This woman allowed her son to rebel?

"But he is dishonorable!" Nodoka insisted.

"No," Emiko shook his head, "A true man makes decisions for himself. Yes, he must respect his parents and take care of them, but we can only guide our children. We have to let them choose their own path." She smiled fondly. "Like his father."

Nodoka was unsure of what to say or think. How could being dishonorable be honorable? It just didn't make sense to her view of things. A son should be filial, but this woman didn't seem to care about honor…

Wait, Emiko did care, but not more than she did for her son. She cared more for her son than her honor.

Had Nodoka ever given up her honor for her son? What was more important? Family or honor?

Akane was in shock and brought to the infirmary to be treated. She didn't look too good. Jinx really did a number on her. Ryuki frowned at his girlfriend's actions, but really couldn't argue with her motives. Akane had been pampered and spoiled far too long. A does of cold hard reality was all she needed.

When Akane saw Jinx, she immediately reacted on auto-pilot, going into her 'Rage Mode'. She conjured her mallet, flew out of bed and charged with her mallet swinging, shouting. However, the mallet never made contact as it was incinerated into ashes via Ryuki's powers. Akane turned to the boy who'd stopped her and tried to strike but then Jinx stuck out her leg and tripped her. Akane got up and glared at Jinx, shouting, "YOU CHEATER!" she was about to get up when she realized her body was stuck. She struggled but couldn't move. "WHAT'S GOING ON!?"

The answer was that Ryuki was restraining her with his telekinesis. It was straining but he could hold it.

Jinx kneeled down and lifted Akane's chin to look at her. "So, how does it feel to be at the bottom of the barrel, Tendo?"

Akane spat and glared hatefully, "You cheated! You used those freaky powers!" Jinx's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm one of the best in Nerima! In a fair fight I would've won!"

"There's a problem with your theory," Jinx pointed out, "There's no such thing as a 'fair fight' and last time I checked this isn't Nerima." Jinx stood up. "Nerima is just a small speck on the map, really. So you're strong. Big deal. Even the strong can fall."

"But, you used your powers. How is that fair?" Akane questioned, still struggling."

"We all use what we have at our disposal," Jinx reasoned. "Nothing wrong with that. Everyone has a talent they use to get by in life. For me, I use my powers."

"But it doesn't change that you're a cheater," Akane grumbled.

"Hey, I worked to get my powers at this level and you worked to get strong. Too bad you never trained your speed or how to maintain your cool."

"I just need to be stronger, that's all," Akane muttered.

Jinx kneeled down. "Why?" Akane refused to meet her eyes. Jinx forced her to face her. "Tell me why you want to be strong?"

Akane opened her mouth but no answer came. Why had she wanted to be strong? Confusion rose up and then anger as she struggled against her invisible bonds.

"No reason of becoming strong, huh?" Jinx rolled her eyes. "No surprise there. You're no better than an animal." Jinx paused, "Actually, that would be an insult to all animals."

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!!" Akane screeched. Jinx reached to Akane's neck and tapped a few pressure points, knocking the girl out. Ryuki removed his hold. Jinx stood up and walked to her boyfriend.

"You okay?" she asked.

"No," Ryuki wiped the sweat off his brow, "It was like holding down a rampaging buffalo."

Jinx giggled. "Well, we better put her back in bed." Ryuki nodded and telekinetically lifted Akane up and into one of the infirmary beds. Knowing fully well how she'd react once she woke up, he strapped her down too.

"So, how long will she be like that?" Ryuki asked.

Jinx shrugged. "Not sure." Jinx stretched and sniffed under her arms. "Ugh, I stink. I need a shower." She gave her boyfriend a sultry look. "Mind joining me?" Getting cleaned up was not exactly what she had in mind. What she did have in mind was getting down and dirty.

Jinx realized she had a talent for riling up her boyfriend. Sure, half the time since she'd first met him, his inner demon's personality would show instead of his own. The normal Ryuki was polite and could get nervous easily when it came to women he liked. The Ryuki influenced by Yaminekoryu would use slang, was streetwise and confident. She liked both of them but she loved to tease the normal Ryuki.

"I'll make it worth your while," she rubbed her hands up and down his chest before rubbing her body against his. His face was now the same shade of red as his hair as he stuttered. She gave him a deep kiss and he nearly passed out.

"OK," he agreed in a daze. Smiling victoriously, Jinx dragged her boyfriend away to the showers. They would share a stall, close the curtains, and make sure to lock the door. Thankfully, Ryuki had a private shower room like Ichijyo and Takada. They enjoyed their privacy.

"So, you believe that being manly means having a harem of mistresses?" Emiko repeated with a look of surprise on her face.

"It is!" Nodoka insisted, "He has so many women clamoring for him that it makes a mother proud!"

Emiko sighed, palming her face. This woman seemed to have a strange sense as to what was considered to be 'manly'. It was like the woman was living in the Feudal Era. While Emiko liked the fact that there were a lot of girls who were interested in her son, she couldn't see the point in having mistresses. The fashion designer liked having Shampoo around, she really did, but she didn't think that she and Ranma would make a good match. Akane, on the other hand, needed a good female role model and Nodoka didn't look like she fit the criteria.

"But what about a husband being faithful to his wife?" Emiko countered, "Shouldn't that mean something?"

"Um…" Nodoka stuttered hesitantly. She rarely thought about it. Given that Genma didn't have a number of women following him around, she didn't concern herself with it, believing that she was womanly enough for him. Now that this woman mentioned it though, maybe faithfulness was something to consider.

"I guess with a husband like yours it's not surprising," Emiko said, sipping her tea.

Nodoka narrowed her eyes, "What do you know about having a husband?"

"I know enough. My husband may have died but he was a good father. He would never take my children away from me for 10 years on a training trip, depriving them of a mother's love," Emiko answered.

"A wife should always be obedient to the husband," Nodoka insisted firmly. "I could never deny Genma."

"But at what cost?" Emiko asked. "You were unable to be there for your son. For 10 years who knows what happened to him. In those times he needed his mother. What if your husband had died or something had happened to your son? Could you really forgive yourself?"

"But Ranma, he-" Nodoka began, pointing to the contract.

"He didn't understand. He was only 6 years old when he signed it," Emiko clarified. "A child would never understand what it would mean to be a man amongst men."

Nodoka thought about it. Was it really worth losing 10 years with her son?

"Were you ever happy in those ten years without your son?" Emiko asked.

"Would it matter?" Nodoka looked away. Emiko realized that she was treading closer to the true Nodoka Saotome and not this woman who took her place, shaped by honor and old stories.

"You're still a person, with emotions. Don't be afraid to express them," Emiko advised.

"I was miserable," Nodoka answered after a deep moment of silence.. "Everyday since Genma left with my little Ranma I cried myself to sleep. I never got a letter or anything from them telling me how they were. Even when they got back they didn't even tell me!" Nodoka cried, "It was horrible! I wanted to see my baby so badly, but even when I found Genma, he wouldn't tell me! I just wanted to hold my baby again!"

By now, Nodoka was openly crying. Ten years of loneliness and deprivation were finally being let loose. She sobbed into her hands as she dropped the Saotome Honor Blade and the contract, the only comfort she had in those dark days.

"A mother's greatest happiness and honor is raising their child," Emiko spoke sagely. "You carry them within you for 9 months, and then when they are born you carry them in your arms. You see the light shining in their eyes." Emiko remembered how painful it had been to give birth to her little Ryu-chan and Koneko-chan, but when all was said and done, she couldn't help but smile as she held her two children in her arms.

Emiko's children were her greatest honor. Her Ryu-chan has grown up to be a fine young man. He had chosen the dangerous yet rewarding path of a hero. Her daughter, well, may have chosen the wrong path but it was her own path to choose. Emiko really didn't have anymore say. She had raised them the best she could. All she can do is guide them.

"Have I been wrong?" Nodoka asked, "About everything?"

"Maybe you should ask Ranma," Emiko suggested. 'Well, I do believe this problem is solved. Now, it should be time to explain to those two (Ranma and Akane) about the 'birds and the bees' when they get back. It seems like they both really need it.' She remembered giving the talk to her son and his girlfriend. She giggled slightly at their reaction as she gave them that particular talk.