Chaotic Rebirth

by Trugeta

The Great Freeze is drawing nearer, Pluto's carefully hatched plans are short from bearing fruit. Just a desperate plan concocted by descendants of Queen Serenity might offer a chance to save billions. The Price? Betraying one of their own, Ranma Saotome.

8. Chapter 8

Title: Chaotic Rebirth

Author name: Trugeta

Edited by: Howard Russell and Ordieth

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ as well as Naoko Takeuchi and many others. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Note further that I don't own any of the trademarked properties mentioned in this story. Also, the OCs used in this story are works of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead is not intended and purely coincidental.

This story takes place after the failed wedding in the Ranma series and the defeat of Galaxia in the Sailor Moon Series. It's an AU, and reviews are welcome and appreciated.

Chapter 8

Ranma and Ryoga were the second group to head for the Nekohanten, the Amazons already having left. The Tendo sisters would be the third group to head for the Nekohanten in about ten minutes, and Chibi Moon would follow once she had taken care of some important business she had mentioned. The daughter of Sailor Moon had sworn on her magic that it was nothing that could or would harm Ranma—and the pregnant martial artist had believed Chibi Moon, now being aware of the fact that she—as a fellow member of the Serenity line—was incapable of lying.

The disguised redhead—who was posing as a member of the Hibiki family—and the lost boy walked side by side under a relentless burning sun with her leading the large boy, the ambient temperatures being well above thirty degrees Celsius, which made even the walk a tedious task.

The Hibiki youth had taken it upon himself to carry the still paralysed Genma which they had changed into a panda to look more inconspicuous, which was something that could and would only work in Nerima.

Ryoga had slung the pandafied Genma over his right shoulder—which didn't even cause raised brows, it being Nerima after all. To further deflect any spies Ryoga had loudly claimed that they had a few bones to pick with the panda for ruining his sister's honour and had socked him in the head for good measure.

Ranma had reacted like a true Hibiki, claiming "Genma Saotome, it's all your fault! For making my life hell you'll pay!". The understanding faces and comments of the Tendo sisters—as well as Nabiki's recommendation to ask Cologne for some creative assistance—had been the icing on the cake.

Ryoga had barely contained his amusement, but he had outright refused to let Ranma carry the panda, seeing that she was pregnant, and he had remained steadfast. The raven haired girl had just shot him a look that had communicated the question if he was shitting her—especially considering that he had seen her perform the Art in their 'fight' with the Senshi and not to mention her knocking him through a tree yesterday—but had shrugged in acceptance when he had argued that she shouldn't risk anything by carrying the traitorous sometimes-panda. She hadn't wanted to argue and had given in to Ryoga's gentlemanliness—which she supposed as the real reason.

Ranma didn't know if she should be bothered by Ryoga viewing her as a woman or not, but put this thought into the back of her mind in favour of pulling out a bottle of water, pausing for a bit to gulp down some of the cool liquid. Ryoga waited patiently for her, and Ranma gave him a thankful grin as she stored the bottle in her backpack.

Resuming their walk Ranma continued her silent contemplations and assessed her priorities. Her top priority was to find Lemuria which was equivalent to a safe place in her mind, closely followed by—verbally—tearing into the fathers and relating her story to the Amazons and later on Ukyo, if she managed. She felt pretty bad that she hadn't had any contact with her childhood friend in so long, but it couldn't be helped. Circumstances had dictated secrecy, as much as she would have wished otherwise.

Shrugging to herself about things she couldn't change anyway the disguised girl brought herself back to reality and noticed that the Nekohanten was just a mere two-hundred metres away, and Ranma grinned. Her instinctive knowledge of the area was still so good that she had found the way without thinking, and she was glad that they had reached the Nekohanten without bumping into anyone—which was a small miracle for her track record in Nerima. Yet she was even gladder for having the opportunity to visit the loo.

Ranma pushed the door that led into the restaurant open with an austere expression on her tanned face. "I really hate when she's lying on my bladder," she muttered quietly, but Ryoga heard it anyway.

He would never have thought that he would ever be glad to have fallen into the Spring of drowned piglet, but now was such a time. Just the mere thought that it might have been him to fall into the Nyannichuan and that it might have been him to get pregnant—provided the improbability his family had skeletons of the likes Ranma's family had in the closet—made the hairs on his back stand up.

That Ranma had agreed to go through with something that went so completely against his—or rather her—nature had impressed him as soon as he had taken the time to listen to the backgrounds, and the magical light shows plus the involvement of the Sailor Senshi had been all the clues he had needed to believe Ranma. That, and the kicks the baby produced simply couldn't be faked. No, he did not envy Ranma's curse any longer, all things considered, that much was sure.

A low chuckle escaped the Hibiki youth as he watched Ranma speed towards the loo like liquid lightning, and a look at Cologne who was standing on the table nearest to the entrance showed him that she was amused as well. "Ahh, the joys of a pregnancy..." her wizened voice mused in a reminiscing tone.

Ranma, who had reached the loo and had just pushed the door open was not of the same opinion and stopped to glare at the Matriarch. "Yeah, having to run to the loo every other hour is such a joy!" she retorted grumpily and disappeared into the facilities.

Cologne cackled with a knowing look on her face, and Ryoga shook his head in wonder as he dropped the pandafied Genma on the ground like a sack of potatoes, just a bit harder than necessary. "It's remarkable how he... she deals with it. I'm not sure I'd have the same strength in her stead," he admitted as he closed the door.

"Same here," a neutral voice commented from the stairway, and Mousse entered the serving area, sharpening a throwing knife. "I'd probably have killed myself, or better yet, those bastards who did it to me."

The Amazon boy was actually wearing his glasses for a change, and his face didn't show the angry expression it usually displayed when Ranma was just mentioned. The raven haired boy seemed to be a lot calmer than usual, and as he took one of the chairs surrounding the large table Cologne was perched on Ryoga looked a little closer at his sometimes ally. His well honed instincts told him within seconds that yet another rival of Ranma—outside of him—had put the feud aside. And it was only logical considering that Ranma was out of the running for Shampoo's heart—if the boy-turned-girl had been in it in the first place, which he doubted after the redhead's spilling of her heart at the Tendos.

"You preparing for war?" the Hibiki youth jokingly asked as Mousse continued to sharpen the knife.

It was Cologne who answered from her position on the large table, and her serious face was a mask of stone. "As a matter of fact, we are indeed preparing for any eventuality. I have set up every ward I have at hand, and I have also used all means of protection against magic imaginable, just as Ranma asked of me. I trust her that the situation is indeed as serious as she lets on.

"Being prepared is the logical course of action in an unknown situation," she explained, waving the staff she held in her right hand for emphasis.

"Is too too true!" Shampoo's bubbly voice exclaimed as she exited the kitchen with a steaming mug of what seemed to be tea. "Warriors always is prepared!"

Cologne nodded in approval. "Well spoken, child."

Shampoo bowed her head in a gesture of thankfulness as she walked towards the table her great-grandmother was perched on. "Is special tea hiba-chan made," the purple haired Amazon explained at seeing Ryoga's inquiring look, placing the cup onto the table. "Gives too too strong daughters!" she added, grabbed a chair and sat down, well away from Mousse.

"D-Daughters?" Ryoga asked, so baffled that he plopped down into one of the chairs surrounding the table as well. "As in plural?" he added, his brows trying to climb into his bandanna.

Cologne cackled, her face showing her amusement in brown eyes that glinted. "Not what you are thinking, child. This special brew ensures that females born of Ranma's line will be strong in spirit, mind and body. It is a traditional talisman in our tribe," she explained between more cackles.

"You had me worried there for a second or two, old mummy," Mousse commented with a look of relief on his face.

His comment was subsequently followed by a bonk to the head courtesy of Cologne's staff and a muffled, "OWWIE!"

"And why, pray tell, is that?" the matriarch inquired sternly, her right brow raised.

Mousse fixed the Elder with a stare, rubbing the sore spot where the staff had impacted. "Saotome is a guy, despite everything. He'd never go through... through this willingly again," he exclaimed, his face showing the revulsion he felt at imagining himself in Ranma's shoes.

"You're wrong, Mousse," Ranma's lilt replied from just outside the facilities just as Mousse continued to rub his head due to the bonk to his cranium, and her statement caused facevaults.

Genma reacted just as surprised—within the scope of his current capabilities—as the others, as was evidenced by the widening and subsequent narrowing of his eyes. Had the father of Ranma possessed the full range of his bodily functions—and access to hot water—he'd likely have read his son turned daughter the riot act, which in turn would have sent anyone wishing for ear plugs. Luckily for everyone present Genma was as mute as they come for the time being, and it was the teens' turn to express their disbelief.

"What!" Mousse and Ryoga cried out in unified unbelief, and the female Amazons were surprised as well which was evidenced by their wide eyes.

Ranma walked towards the group with a giggle and pointed at them. "You should have seen your faces!" she exclaimed in mirth, earning displeased glares.

"Sorry," she added as she sat down beside Ryoga, dropping her smile as he became serious, "But that was just too good to pass up. And I meant what I said, at least partially.

"Oooh," she exclaimed happily as she took notice of the steaming mug on the table, forgetting about anything else, "is that for me?"

Cologne, who had watched Ranma with an intrigued expression, cackled and managed a nod. "Yes, Ranma. This is a special tea that will provide your body with the minerals, vitamins and trace elements and everything else it needs. It's a traditional talisman to ensure strong daughters born to your line."

"Thank you," Ranma replied with an inclination of her head and grabbed the mug with both hands, hoping to alleviate both her thirst as well as the coldness in her fingers that stemmed from washing them with too cold water.

"You're welcome," Cologne said, smiling briefly before turning to Shampoo. "Great-granddaughter, get us some tea and cookies before we sate our curiosity—in sufficient quantity. Ranma will surely be able to stomach it, if you'll pardon the fun, sonny girl," she added with a cackle.

"Yes, hiba-chan!" Shampoo replied and disappeared in a purple haired flash while Ranma grumbled good-naturedly.

The clattering of dishes emanated from the kitchen some seconds later, and Ranma drank her tea in amiable silence—Ryoga and Mousse shooting her curious glances from time to time—thinking back to the times she had spent in these rooms as a waitress. She had lived through a lot in this house—the fight for the Phoenix pill being the most prominent incident that came to mind next to her 'meeting' with Herb—and it figured that she should return here when the going got tough.

Cologne had always been a rock in the surge in times of need—the times aside where she had strived to see her own schemes through—and the development that she had ceased to be Shampoo's Airen had made her more inclined to rely on the ancient Amazon for help. Taking another sip from her tea Ranma let her eyes wander, and a small smile appeared on her face.

The boys had stopped watching Ranma when she didn't do anything of interest and had instead busied themselves with activities that were typical for males: they were tending to their weapons, Mousse busying himself with sharpening any bladed weapon he possessed while Ryoga tended to his umbrella.

Ranma smiled slightly at the sight before frowning slightly. She herself didn't feel the same drive to fight as before, oddly enough. She didn't know when it had started or when she had stopped caring, but her instincts had slowly changed within the last six months, making protecting her offspring the top priority. She would still fight to the end and to win if necessary, but not because she wanted to prove she was the best, no, to ensure the safety of her child. Which was a way more honourable and sensible reason in her mind.

Her gaze slowly wandered to Cologne as she continued to sip her tea, and Ranma watched in curious interest as Cologne unfolded an ancient looking scroll and began muttering something that sounded like an incantation. The raven haired young woman returned her attention back to her own body when she noticed someone waking up and leant back in her chair, beginning to stroke her belly.

Shampoo returned from the kitchen not two minutes later, effortlessly balancing a trayful of cookies and a large can of tea. The warrior maiden placed the nourishments onto the table with graceful and fluid movements and a slight smile at Ranma, then she went back to the kitchen to retrieve the dishes.

The purple haired Amazon returned to the serving area yet again a few moments later and had set the table in no time, and not a minute later everyone was enjoying tea and cookies. Ranma helped herself to a cookie and nibbled it, taking small, savouring bites. She sighed when the tasty home-baked treat had fallen prey to her sweet tooth and looked at the fellow warriors, her eyes coming to rest on Cologne.

"Thanks for everything you have already done for us, Elder," Ranma said with a bow of her head. "We appreciate it."

Cologne inclined her head and smiled, which was—as always—a truly dreadful sight to behold. But Ranma didn't care, for this smile of her sometimes mentor was an honest, a true smile without any ulterior motives.

"You are welcome, Ranma. But now to what I assume interests all of us. What did you mean by what you just said?" the Elder inquired, and Ryoga, Mousse and Shampoo switched their attention back to the two women.

Ranma smiled, her face gaining an introspective quality. "Simple. On the one hand Mousse is right. I'd never go through another pregnancy willingly, regardless how awe-inspiring it is, but on the other hand he's wrong. I'm not just a guy, not any more," she added.

"What Ai... Ranma mean?" Shampoo inquired for the attendants, whose reactions varied from surprise to an understanding nod.

Ranma leaned back in her chair, her right hand firmly holding her mug while her left went to her belly, coming to a rest on her slightly swollen mid-section. "I'm almost six months pregnant, and that puts me at odds with being a guy and nothing but a guy," she said with irony tingeing her voice, and smiled when she felt Senny kicking. "I know you probably think I'm all guy mentally, but that ain't true any more. Don't get me wrong, I'll never start pining after guys or start donning frilly skirts and stuff," she said with a look of revulsion on her face, "It's just that being pregnant brought me more in touch with my feminine side.

"Guys, you can't stay female and pregnant for about six months without being affected by it," she added at seeing the boy's incredulous looks. "Before my pregnancy this body felt alien to me at all times, which was why I always wanted to change back right away. But ever since I got pregnant this 'itch', this feeling of malaise, of being in the wrong body vanished into thin air.

"I don't feel below par any more, and I'm pretty comfortable with this body. Maybe I simply came to realise that I'm a woman as much as a man, for you can't get any further away from being a man than being a pregnant woman. But I am still a right tomboy, will always be and am proud of it," she finished with a mischievous grin.

Amused snorts ensued, and just Cologne kept her composure. The matriarch nodded her head thoughtfully, her tiny left hand stroking her chin. "To tell you the truth, I expected as much, Ranma," she mused. "Your case is just like many others I witnessed in my days, and I am glad that you stopped your struggle against the curse and accepted it as it is, not as a curse, but as another aspect of yourself. I am sure you already guessed that there are no cures for Jusenkyo curses, no?"

"I suspected it, yes," Ranma admitted with a wary sigh.

"There really is no cure?" Ryoga wanted to know, his facial expression conveying his mounting depression.

"What about the Nannichuan?" Mousse inquired, his tone hopeful. "Wouldn't it cure the curses?"

Ranma, who had watched Ryoga slip into a depressed state worried that her friend would get even more depressed considering what Cologne's expression indicated. She herself didn't view her curse as that any more—Cologne had been right in that respect—but Ryoga had every reason to want to rid himself of the Heituenniichuan curse. Cologne's discouraging look as good as shattered these hopes, however.

"No," the Elder said gravely, making their suspicions reality. "Nannichuan water would only make things worse, at least for Ranma. Pantyhose Taro is the prime example as to why."

Shampoo shot her great-grandmother a confused look. "What has bullhead do with things, hibachan?"

"Yeah, old mummy, my Shampoo is right, what's that to do with monster-boy? OWW!"

"He'll never learn," Ryoga sighed as Mousse rubbed another lump courtesy of Cologne's staff. "But I'm curious as well. Taro has that Drowned Yeti and stuff curse—"

"Niuhoomanmaorenniichuan," Cologne interjected.

"Whatever. And he came back with octopus tentacles last time," the lost boy mused thoughtfully. His face slowly became horrified as realisation settled in. "Does that mean the curses combine?!" Ryoga and Ranma screamed in horrified stereo.

Cologne nodded gravely. "I'm afraid so, yes. The tribe has vast experience with Jusenkyo curses, experience we paid for in blood. We have suffered great losses throughout history where promising and aspiring sisters fell prey to the Nannichuan and tried to cure their affliction with a dip in the Nyannichuan. The results were mixtures of man and woman, shunned by the tribe, doomed to live a life without acceptance. Many sisters who suffered this fate chose the way of the knife."

Ranma shuddered as she imagined that gruesome fate, and her right hand unconsciously went to her belly. "Oh my Kami-sama," she breathed, her face green.

"Now you understand why I was so relieved that Happi drank the Nannichuan, Ranma. I am sure he knew what could happen," Cologne mused.

"Meh, the old geezer probably just wanted to ensure that his favourite student and pet project for dress up wouldn't perish," Ranma groused. "Good that he did," she added with a sniff.

"So there's no cure for Ranma," Ryoga mused, shooting the disguised redhead an apologetic look. "But what about us, Shampoo, Mousse and me, I mean? Combining our curses with the Nannichuan would go a long way in alleviating our helplessness!"

"Yeah!" Mousse agreed, nodding his assent.

"And combining my curse with Nyannichuan would neutralise my weakness as well. Just claim I found the water when you were running an errand or something, hiba-chan. I'd take being a cat-girl over being a helpless little pussy-cat any time," Shampoo exclaimed in her native tongue, her voice sounding as pleading as her dignity allowed.

Cologne sighed and seemed to fall into deep contemplation. "If what Ranma has to tell us is indeed as bad as I fear— and her agreeing to a pregnancy strongly indicates this," the matriarch finally mused in a pondering tone, "it is likely to affect us as well. Where you are concerned there are always warring parties and high stakes, Ranma—"

"Can't help that I'm popular," Ranma interjected with a wry smile that caused the boys and Shampoo to chuckle.

"And it is probably for the best to be well prepared," Cologne continued, giving Ranma a bop to the head for interrupting her, eliciting a muffled "Oww!". "I have Nannichuan and Nyannichuan available, and if you are willing to have cursed forms that resemble monsters, Hibiki-san, Mousse, great-granddaughter, I will give you access to it. Provided the future prospects make it needful," she concluded.

Mousse and Ryoga exchanged a look, turned their heads back at the matriarch and nodded eagerly. "I am willing," they exclaimed in unison, Shampoo agreeing in her usual lilt as well.

"Very well," Cologne replied with a solemn face. "Mousse, you will go to my room and enter my storage cupboard once I give you clearance. Hibiki-san will accompany you.

"Xian Pu, I will take care of your curse myself should Ranma's story make it necessary. Your reasoning was sound, and you are deserving of the Nyannichuan. The maturity you displayed in the aftermath of the wedding and the restraint you showed, not to mention your handling of today's revelations speaks for itself. Don't thank me yet, though, the final decision is still pending," Cologne added in Mandarin.

Shampoo nodded solemnly. "Understand."

"Good. Mousse," she exclaimed, "you heard me. The Nannichuan is clearly labelled, but use your glasses, boy!"

"Yeah, yeah," Mousse replied, grumbling under his breath.

"I am just sad that there's nothing I can do for you, Ranma," Cologne said with a sigh. "But there's nothing that could help those afflicted with the Nyannichuan curse, except acceptance."

"Ain't exactly surprised, and don't really care any more. This form grew on me, literally," Ranma commented with a shrug as she let her hand wander over her belly, a small smile playing in the corners of her mouth.

Cologne nodded sagely. "Am I right to assume that your acceptance of yourself being both male and female stems from the pregnancy and the love for the child you are carrying?"

Every single attendee watched as a myriad of emotions played out on Ranma's face, and her eyes became unfocussed for a few moments. Slowly, deliberately she met the matriarch's eyes. "Yes, Elder. I love my daughter more than anything in the world, and I accepted the entirety of my curse when I accepted being her mother.

"Can anyone believe that," she added with a snort as her gaze switched from person to person, finally coming to rest on her 'ex-wife', "The big, badass macho Ranma Saotome saying something like that?"

Four heads collectively expressed their negative inclination through shakes of their heads. "No, Saotome," Mousse spoke up as he sipped his own tea. "The world must be coming to an end," he mused in a joking tone.

Everyone present flinched at the darkening of Ranma's face. "You have no idea how close to the truth you are, Mousse. No idea," she whispered darkly, sending chills up and down everyone's spines.

"Goddess," Cologne muttered with a shake of her head, "Please don't let it be as bad as I feel it is."

"But it is," a grave female voice said as the front door was pushed open.

-.-

Everyone turned to look at the new arrival—or rather arrivals considering that it had been Nabiki who had made the comment—and the middle Tendo sister returned the looks she was getting unflinchingly. The former Ice Queen of Furinkan High walked into the room shrouded in her usual aura of calm confidence, extending a greeting before heading straight for the facilities.

Kasumi let her youngest sibling pass her by and took it upon her to close the door seeing that Akane was carrying a certain someone and followed her sister into the serving area. the brown haired woman extended a friendly smile to the round—which couldn't help but to smile back—and took the free chair to Ranma's left. Most noticeable about her was that she had doffed the housedress and apron she had been wearing not twenty minutes ago in favour of black slacks and an white blouse. This little detail wasn't lost on anyone, and it was a grinning Ranma who raised the topic.

"Finally decided to show who wears the breeches, oneechan?" she inquired with a smirk, both hands resting on her belly.

"Yes, imoutochan," Kasumi replied with a smile of her own, her brown eyes glinting confidently. "It was long since overdue."

"And daddy deserves it," Akane scoffed, her face frowning as she walked past the table.

Ranma surveyed her ex-fiancée and stifled a giggle at the sight of Mr. Tendo. Akane had obviously taken it upon herself to carry her father, whom Ranma had only recognised due to the fact that she knew which Instant curse powder Cologne had left at the Tendo home so as to not arouse the suspicions of anyone who might be watching the house, and the cobalt haired girl dropped the pink, paralysed and unconscious poodle—who'd had his nose and butt shaved to add insult to injury—right next to the pandafied Genma. Mousse went to the kitchen without a word and returned with a bucket filled with hot water not a minute later, handing it to Akane who had been standing guard over the animalified fathers. The youngest Tendo girl nodded her thanks, took the offered bucket and threw its content onto the poodle under the watchful eyes of the others, making sure not to miss the panda either.

Cologne and Ranma communicated silently and agreed that the father's freedom of movement had to be restricted beyond just the paralysis points, and few moments later the two masters found themselves bound and gagged as well as propped up against a back-wall. Akane—who had insisted on helping Ranma and Cologne—gave her father a burning glare as she finished tying the knots, and the blue haired girl snorted derisively before walking back to the table, choosing the vacant chair to Mousse's right.

Nabiki chose that moment to return from the restrooms and took the chair beside her younger sister, giving her father a sidelong glance before looking at Kasumi. "I heard you were just talking about oneechan's emancipation. It was about damn time in my opinion. Daddy has passed himself off as an adult long enough. He has proven time and again that he won't stand up to his 'master', and we can just about forget about his meagre contributions to our finances stemming from his work for the city council. Not to mention that he all but abandoned us as a father over ten years ago.

"But what really broke the camel's back was your endeavour to kill Ranma's child, father. I will reserve my final judgement for after your attempt at an explanation. but whatever your explanation will be, daddy, know that you have lost a good deal of my respect, if not all of it," she finished with an icy glare, crossing her arms under her breasts as she watched her father shrink into himself.

Akane, who had helped herself to tea and some cookies fixed her father with a heated glare. "I admit I jumped to the wrong conclusions as well, daddy, but at least I didn't try to murder Ranma's daughter.

"And if I hear it was for the joining of the schools, I will be... displeased," she added with a snarl.

The attendees watched as Ranma favoured her own father with a glare that put everything Akane could ever hope to produce to shame, and it made the Saotome patriarch visibly flinch. "I will find out what drove ya to whatcha did, pops. Pray I'll find it to my liking," she snarled, her silver eyes shooting daggers at her father.

The widening of Soun's and Genma's eyes was the only visible indication of their growing nervousness, and both men probably asked themselves if facing Ranma's wrath might just be more painful than the truth serum...

-.-

"I would prefer hearing your tale before we question the males, Ranma," Cologne commented after Ranma had returned from a visit to the facilities, the matriarch's gaze coming to rest on the two bound and gagged males in question, her vicious grin making crystal clear they were not off the hook.

"I am convinced their actions are closely linked to what happened to you. Learning the entire extent of what you know might open their eyes to the truth as well," the Elder concluded.

"Is reason why Ai... Ranma pregnant really bad?" Shampoo inquired with a curious expression, unconsciously gnawing on her lower lip.

Ranma's head swivelled towards the Amazon, and her sad gaze robbed the young Amazon of her hopes that it wasn't. "It's worse, Shampoo. What I am about to tell you guys will likely shock you beyond reason.

"But I swear on my honour and on the life of my unborn daughter that it is nothing but the honest to goodness blasted truth," she said, switching the focus of her still silver eyes on the Elder.

Cologne inclined her head. "I have always respected your word, Ranma," she said softly. "I know you would not lie in all things important."

"Thanks, Elder," she said, a small smile upturning the corners of Ranma's mouth.

"This is not to leave these rooms," she added a few seconds later, her mood changing to utter seriousness as she gazed intently into the apprehensive and tense faces of the three Amazons. "You have to give me your word of honour, all three of you, that you'll only take measures once I have found a way to keep all of us safe."

"You seem to know what Saotome's talking about, Ryoga," Mousse muttered quietly to the lost boy. "Is she telling the truth?"

"It's not really my place to tell seeing that it's her story," Ryoga retorted and placed his cup onto the table, his expression changing from neutral to very serious, "But yes, it is true. Every damn word of it, man. I have seen damn good proof."

Cologne, whose sinking feeling had only gotten worse at hearing a rival of Ranma—or, more precisely, a former rival, she corrected herself—confirm the Saotome's words, sighed. "Even though I know I won't like what I'll be hearing, Ranma, I ask you to tell your story. My gut feeling tells me that the safety of the tribe is at stake, and I agree to your conditions," she said, an even deeper sigh escaping her lips as she looked into the grim face of her former son-in-law.

The much younger woman's eyes met the old matriarch's eyes, her own blue orbs unreadable as she inclined her head. "Your gut feeling is not betraying you, Cologne-san. Okay, here goes."

Seven heads suddenly turned around towards a sudden source of noise, it being the entrance door of the Nekohanten which had been opened with a bang.

"Figured I'd find you guys here," the newcomer muttered, a lopsided grin on her face. Her lean figure, the flowing long raven hair, her choice of clothing—it being a blue happi and black tights—as well as the leather bandolier and the giant combat spatula slung around her back made her easily identifiable.

The Saotome girl looked at the newcomer in surprise, surprise that slowly changed into elation. "Ucchan?"

-.-

"Do I know you?" Ukyo asked as she stepped into the restaurant.

Ranma turned her head towards Ryoga and pasted a hurt expression on her face. "Ryoga-niichan, you have been in Nerima how long? Two years? And you never told your friends about your cute lil sis? Brother mine, I'm hurt!" she whined.

Groans but also giggles ensued, and Ryoga sighed deeply. A split second later an evil grin lit up his face. "Do I need to spank you for embarrassing your big bro, imoutochan?" he asked with a raised brow that said two can play this game.

Ranma's hands actually went to her buttocks, remembering the spanking her poor bum had received when Ryoga had spanked her during the episode where she had pretended to be Ryoga's little sister Yoiko. "No thank you. It could damage important parts, bro." she replied with a large sweatdrop rolling down the back of her head.

Ukyo looked from 'brother' to 'sister'. "You Hibikis are weird," she commented.

"Actually, I am no Hibiki," Ranma admitted with a laugh. "Though Ryoga would make a fine big bro. To someone," she added with a grin.

Ryoga grinned back. "And you'd make an annoying but passable li'l sis, Ranma. To someone."

Said teen turned her head towards Ukyo and winked, her face twisting into her usual cocky grin. "Ranchan?" the chef queried, question marks floating above her head.

"Yeah, it's me, Ucchan. I'm just disguised to look like a relative of Ryoga," the raven haired girl replied, smiling slightly.

"Huh? And why didcha do that?" Ukyo wanted to know, her brows cocked in curiosity.

"Long story," Ranma sighed. "So, what brings you here?"

Ukyo shook her head to clear it, shrugging off yet another oddity in Ranma's life. "I saw Akane and her sisters walk in this direction, and she had never come here of her accord without a reason. Right, Ranma-honey?" she queried with a lopsided grin that caused Akane to scowl slightly.

The okonomiyaki chef closed the door behind her and extended a polite wave at the other attendees as she stepped into the room fully, but it was obvious that she had only eyes for Ranma.

"Take a seat, child," Cologne suggested, making an inviting gesture. "Ranma here was just about to tell us about yet another occurrence of the strange kind in her life."

Ukyo inclined her head and unstrapped her combat spatula, leaning it against the wall. She had just grabbed a wooden chair when what the Elder had said caught up to her. "Wait a sec... Did you just call Ranma 'Ranma' and referred to him as 'she'?" she inquired flabbergasted.

"Indeed I did, child," Cologne replied with a cackle.

Ukyo plopped down onto her chair and shook her head as if to clear it. "I've got the feeling that's gonna get really weird," she muttered quietly.

Ryoga snorted. "Hell yeah."

Ukyo looked from him to Ranma and back to Cologne. "So why didn't ya call Ranma-honey son-in-law?"

"That is connected to and an important part of Ranma's story," Cologne replied, her face completely serious. "I advise to take a good, long look at her, Kuonji-san. Use your senses and tell me what you see behind the disguise, and you might uncover the piece of the puzzle we already know."

Ukyo pouted and shot Cologne an annoyed look. "Aww come on guys, tell me already!" she whined.

Ranma grinned back at her. "No can do," she said, her grin turning teasing. "But I give you a hint, Ucchan, you must look underneath the underneath, like shinobi and kunoichi do."

Nabiki smirked. "And here I figured I was the only one to enjoy a good manga or two. You are always good for a surprise, Ranma," she drawled, giving the disguised redhead a wink. "But the hint is good, Kuonji-san, there are several things that have changed about Ranma-chan, the disguise notwithstanding."

"Yes, Kuonji-san, it might be a good idea to compare Ranma-chan's appearance as of now to what it was about six months ago. Pay attention to physical changes not concealed by the disguise," Kasumi remarked with a sly smile.

Ukyo absorbed the hints she was getting with a slow nod, noticing something odd. "You called Ranchan 'Ranma-chan', Kasumi. Normally you always call him 'Ranma-kun'. Why not now?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Kasumi actually smirked. "I have my reasons, Kuonji-san. Which, that is for me to know and you to find out. We gave you all the hints you need, and I admit it is quite fun to leave people guessing. I can see what you like about it, Nabiki-imoutochan," she concluded giggling.

Everyone invariably stared at Kasumi with wide eyes, and it was Ranma who broke the silence when she broke into a fit of giggles. "I… always knew… you had… it in… you, Kasumi-onee… chan," she managed between giggles, her face as red as a tomato from all the laughing.

Ukyo whereas narrowed her eyes because of the display and surveyed Ranma critically while said martial artist—who was still stifling giggles—had tilted her head to watch Ukyo. "So I have to compare Ranchan to what he looked like six months ago, that stupid disguise aside… Hmm, Ranma-honey, you've put on weight!" she said, exclaiming the first observation that occurred to her.

Ranma, who had observed her friend with an expectant look, frowned. "Put on weight, my cute li'l ass. She hasn't seen me in over six months and comments on my weight. Feh," the disguised redhead pouted with her hands on her hips as she leant forward in her chair to drill holes into Ukyo's head, causing everyone except Mousse and Ukyo to snicker in amusement. "What a nice thing to say to a girl," she added only half-jokingly.

"G-Girl? R-Ranma-honey?" Ukyo asked uncertainly, Ranma's unusual behaviour weirding her out. "What happened to you? Are you... Are you locked again?"

"You could say that," Ranma agreed. "But that's just another piece of the puzzle, as granny here put it," she added.

Ukyo looked from Cologne to Ranma, shaking her head. "What has being locked to do with Ranma-honey putting on weight?" she muttered to herself.

"Granny?" Cologne had inquired at the same time, looking questioningly—yet pleased at the same time—at the pregnant young woman.

Ranma shrugged. "Blame it on my hormones, granny. That, and our prior disagreements pale with regard to what's coming," she replied seriously.

The matriarch inclined her head, respect and affection glinting in her wizened eyes just long enough for Ranma to perceive it. "I'll do that, chóngsunnu," Cologne retorted with an amused look.

Mousse's and Shampoo's heads shot up at Cologne's usage of the Chinese word. "You'll adopt husb… Ranma as your great-granddaughter, great-grandmother?" the purple haired Amazon inquired with a look consisting of a mix of surprise, sadness and happiness.

The hidden weapons master was as surprised, but kept his thoughts to himself. 'If the old mummy were inclined to do so it'd really mean Saotome is no competition for me any longer! Hooray, my Xian-Pu is finally free! Soon my love and I will—'

A sudden, severe blow to the right backside of the head stopped the thought processes of the Yaazuniichuan cursed Amazon rather abruptly and sent him sprawled out on the flooring, straight into la la land. Shampoo, who had used her speed to appear behind the sitting sometimes duck, innocently twirled her bonborri and shrugged as she reclaimed her seat. "Duck boy looking way too perverted. He had coming."

The others took it in stride, long being used to flare-ups of violence and random destruction. "To answer your question, great-granddaughter," Cologne said, catching Xian-Pu's attention, "yes, I am contemplating it. But I am interested in hearing her story first.

"Children," she added as she used her staff to jump onto the ground, "Make yourselves at home. I will be preparing more tea and snacks. Kuonji-san," her face acquired an amused look, "you should correlate Ranma's gain of weight and her being locked. You might arrive at interesting conclusions."

Ukyo looked at the retreating matriarch's back as she pogoed towards the kitchen like a kangaroo on crack. Shaking her head the chef shrugged, only to become acutely aware of everyone watching her. "Let's see… Ranma-honey gained weight… Hmm, yeah, his female form sure got broader hips and less of a waist. And... Hell! What happened to your bosom, Ranchan? Oh well, nothing some good training can't take care of."

Ranma grumbled audibly and her face darkened. "Treading thin ice here…" she muttered warningly.

Ukyo sweatdropped but chose to overlook the warning. Ranma didn't do angry, which meant she must have heard wrong. Yes, that had to be it, she had heard wrong and would continue this stupid guessing game. "Let's see what else… The other bit of information I have is that my Ranma-honey is locked. Now if I correlate that…"

"Yes?" everyone in the room—except Mousse, who'd yet to return from his trip to never never land—urged.

"Can that be?" Ukyo breathed, and everyone assumed she'd figured it out. "Is it that time of the month for you, Ranma-honey? Is that why you're locked?" she added, and everyone face-vaulted.

"It's not that unreasonable for her to arrive at that conclusion. Ranma-chan has a fully functional female body," Nabiki pointed out.

"And the hormones that come with it," Ryoga added with a solemn look, only to receive a bop to the head from the young woman in question for his efforts. "See? That proves it," he added smugly, and received yet another—this time playful—bop.

"You HAVE a period?" Ukyo inquired with a baffled expression.

"Yes," Ranma admitted with a feint blush.

That admittance caused quite the stir, especially among the fathers whose eyes had widened to the size of dinner plates.

"I can't believe it," Ukyo exclaimed with a disbelieving shake of her head, making everyone look at her. "And who explained the facts of life to you, Ranma-honey?" she inquired.

The martial artist, now having the misfortune of being in the limelight, looked like a caged tiger and shot Kasumi a pleading look for help. The oldest Tendo sibling got the message loud and clear, and smiled back reassuringly at Ranma. "That would have been me," she spoke up, making the others focus on her. "Let's just say Ranma-chan came to me one day in near hysterics—"

"Ahem," Ranma interrupted, indignantly clearing her throat.

"Sorry, Ranma-chan, in full hysterics," Kasumi corrected herself with a mischievous smile, eliciting chuckles from everyone bar Ranma, "Thinking that she had taken internal injury."

"A logical assumption given the facts she had at the time," Cologne commented as she returned from the kitchen, balancing a trayful of cookies and a pot of tea.

Kasumi was about to get to her feet to help the matriarch, but Akane shook her head, giving her sister a smile. "Please continue your tale, sis. I will help."

"I'll help as well," Ukyo exclaimed, giving Akane a glare, thinking that she was doing it to get 'her' Ranma for herself.

Akane ignored the glare due to its meaninglessness to her and began serving tea, and between the two girls everyone was enjoying tea and cookies in under a minute. Cologne, who was pogoing back into the kitchen was the only exception bar Mousse, who had yet to re-awaken.

Kasumi looked into the round, smiling slightly as she reminisced about Ranma's menarche. "I will not violate imoutochan's privacy by telling you any more," she said, causing several disappointed exclamations, "But there's not much more to add anyway. I explained the facts of life to Ranma-imoutochan, and she has lived with it like any other female in the world."

"True, Kasumi-chan, but if you hadn't explained it to me I'd likely have died of embarrassment. Heck, I've never been more embarrassed in my life than on that one day," Ranma admitted with a blush.

Soft blushes crept on the faces of the other females as well, each reminiscing about how it had been for them. "Was the same for me," Akane admitted, her face slightly red as well.

Ukyo boggled. 'What the fuck is going on here!' the okonomiyaki chef screamed inside her mind. 'Akane not calling Ranma-honey a pervert after that admission, no malleting, nothing? What is this, the twilight zone or what?'

"I guess it was that way for all of us," Kasumi added, smiling softly. "And I doubt this special rite of passage leaves anyone cold."

Ranma nodded at the older girl, a thankful smile playing in the corners of her mouth. "Thanks for all you did, oneechan. Back then as well as today."

"You're welcome, imoutochan," Kasumi replied, her smile mirroring Ranma's.

Ukyo boggled throughout the whole exchange, her expression resembling that of a fish out of the water as her astonishment about the change in dynamics grew.

-.-

The Elder re-entered the serving area a few moments later, a steaming plate of soup in her right hand, the staff in her left. she handed the plate to a surprised Ranma who swallowed her cookie and took the offered plate, placing it in front of herself. "What's that?" she inquired, giving it a sniff.

"That you will find out once Kuonji-san has correctly guessed your condition," Cologne cackled. "I just hope she figures it out before the soup has chilled so much that it doesn't unfold its full taste and properties."

"No fair," Ranma grumbled, giving the matriarch the puppy-dog-eyes, but Cologne's amused look gave nothing away. "So hurry up already, Ucchan, that stuff smells great and I'm hungry," she added, her stomach punctuating the statement with a loud growl.

"Ranma-honey, haven't you learned anything from your past mistakes?" Ukyo inquired with a sigh. "That could be something to get you chained to Shampoo!"

The Amazons didn't even bat a lash at the insult, and Ranma's only response to Ukyo's serious statement was a chuckle. "No worries there. Shampoo ain't my 'wife' any more," she replied, causing a sad expression to appear on the Amazon's beautiful face, "and won't take up the position, ever. And to give you another newsflash, the Tendo-Saotome agreement is a case for the rubbish heap as well. I will not fulfil it, and neither Akane, Nabiki nor Kasumi-oneechan."

That statement caused solemn nods from the Tendo sisters and furious looks from Genma and Soun, who could only rage impotently in their paralysed states.

"Before you get your hopes up," Ranma added at seeing Ukyo's gleeful look, "figure out what's changed about me. Then I'll tell you and everyone else my story. And to give you another clue, I ain't got my period and won't be getting it for a good, long time."

Ukyo took another home baked treat and slowly munched on it, going over the facts laid out before her. When the answer came to her she actually choked on her cookie. Shampoo lent a helping hand and patted the chef on the back, and Cologne handed Ukyo a glassful of water, thus helping along her recovery.

"You… You are pregnant?" Ukyo finally gasped out after she had gulped the water down, a look of stark disbelief on her face.

Ranma met the disbelieving and downright shocked look of her oldest childhood friend unflinchingly. "Yeah, Ucchan. It's gonna be a girl, and now that you've found out I can finally sample that tasty smelling soup. Took you long enough," she remarked in a mock-chiding tone.

"Excuuuse me. Ain't every day I have to guess that my fiancé—my fiancé, for Kami-sama's sake!—is pregnant and gonna be the mom of a little girl!" Ukyo barked, obviously more than just a little peeved.

"Jeez, no need to rip my head off," Ranma retorted with a shrug of her shoulders. "But you will understand once I told you what happened, which will be once I've eaten. Granny?"

"This soup, Ranma, is a traditional speciality to strengthen mother and child. It's another well renowned talisman in our tribe, and my mother prepared it for me as well back when I was pregnant," Cologne replied with a reminiscing and slightly wistful expression.

Had anyone else made that claim Ranma would have discarded it. It being Cologne who had claimed that she just nodded respectfully and dug in with gusto after she had received no warning from her daughter. The soup was much to Ranma's liking, tasting of several different herbs which gave the soup a fresh taste, but she could not detect which herbs had been used. It was spicy at the same time which complemented her love for hot foods, yet the soup was not too spicy so as to cause heartburn.

The pregnant martial artist polished the plate off in under two minutes and unsurprisingly asked for a second helping of the delicious soup, a hopeful look in her big sapphire eyes that made everyone bar Ukyo—who had yet to recover from the shock—smile.

"Behold the puppy-dog-eyes of doom. Feared by vendors all around for a good reason," Nabiki commented dryly, causing amusement all around.

A chuckling Cologne obliged all too gladly to Ranma's request and supplied her with another dishful of soup, and when the disguised redhead dug in for a second time everyone wondered if her child would inherit the infamous Saotome appetite, invariably coming to the conclusion that the likely answer was yes.

Few minutes later Ranma leaned back in her chair, full and satisfied. An expectant air had sprung up as soon as she had finished eating, and everyone waited for her tale to unfold. Ranma, fully aware of what her audience craved, looked intently from face to face, then she took a deep breath and began to sum up what had happened to her in the last half year, and her listeners—including Mousse, who had been reawakened by Cologne so that Ranma wouldn't have to tell her tale twice—listened with rapt attention...

-.-

Silence reigned supreme in the serving area of the Nekohanten after Ranma had finished her tale. The raven haired girl had left nothing out, just as she had promised. Ryoga and the Tendo sisters, who knew the story of what had happened to Ranma in the last half year—and had helped Ranma in explaining things like the rapid aging process Ranma's daughter would go through and the reasons for it—watched the three Amazons and Ukyo for reactions, and they noticed that they reacted much like they had. Anger, disbelief and pity were the prevalent reactions after the surprise had been overcome. Ukyo was yet again cursing the Saotome Clan, not surprisingly, and excused herself for a visit to the restrooms to get the bad taste the name 'Saotome' had left out of her mouth.

Ryoga and Mousse had withdrawn from the table to discuss the implications, both boys agreeing that their feud with Ranma had come to an end, once and for all. The myopic Amazon boy had no doubts that Ranma's story was true, one look at her as well as at Nabiki—who was presently standing behind the redhead with a very serious expression on her face as she watched the attendees for reactions—told him that with frightening clarity.

That his Shampoo was currently hugging Ranma—who was yet again drinking from that yellow water bottle of hers, much to his amusement—and crying silent tears did not bother him at all. Yesterday he would have screamed bloody murder and attacked the Saotome youth upon seeing his Shampoo cry, but now, with his current knowledge everything was changed. Ryoga was right, their feud with Saotome was over, and he felt relaxed around Ranma Saotome for the first time in two years. He, or rather she was no no longer a threat to his perfect love with Shampoo, and should his Shampoo decide to support the Saotome—and it certainly looked that way—he would follow her lead.

Pushing his hands up the sleeves of his robe Mousse watched the others, taking in the caring and worried expressions of the girls. It was still incomprehensible how Ranma had managed to wrap so many gorgeous girls around his little finger, but looking back at it with eyes unclouded by jealousy and his single-minded focus to win Shampoo from Saotome's vile clutches he came to a startling conclusion: Saotome had never really encouraged them. True, he had always strived for affection and recognition and could not deal with rejection as had been revealed throughout the incident with the blasted reversal jewel, but that probably had to do with the way he had been raised. He—now she—had never taken advantage of the many girls throwing themselves at him/her, he could see that now.

He would have to dwell on the insights he had gained today, but one thing was becoming more and more clear: Saotome was much more of an honourable person than he had thought—not least for going through with something that threatened to make him puke any time he thought about it—and supporting the boy turned girl in this would ensure him brownie points with Shampoo as well. All in all a win-win situation for him, the Amazon youth realised with a smirk.

-.-

Cologne had been hard pressed to keep her calm during Ranma's tale, and the old matriarch of the Joketsuzoku had been very glad that she had guarded against any eventuality. The magical wards as well as the other safety measures Ranma had asked for had been a wise precaution indeed with regard to the involvement of the Sailor Senshi.

"How reliable is your information, Ranma?" Cologne finally asked after long moments of thought from her cross-legged position on the table, drowning out the others. "Could it all be a ruse?"

Ranma shook her head and placed her bottle on the table, and she could feel the eyes of the matriarch searching her face. The raven haired girl sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I thought they were raving nuts when they told me what they got planned, but I've seen photos, scans 'n' any other proof. That big rock exists, and it's gonna kill a whole friggin' bunch o' people. If my little girl don't stop it.," she said and stroked her belly, a loving look playing on her face.

Shampoo smiled due to the loving gesture. "Aire… Ranma be good mother," she commented as she sat back down in her own chair.

Ranma shrugged and gave the Amazon a lop-sided grin. "I can only hope."

Her smile turned grim as her gaze travelled through the room and came to rest upon the fathers, who were both wide-eyed and pale. "Could you disable the pressure points, granny? I think now would be a good time to question them," she said in a serious tone, and walked over to her father, removing the gag from his mouth.

"Of course, chóngsunnu." Cologne agreed and pogoed over to the wall the two fathers were propped up against. Her staff blurred and coughs emanated from Soun and Genma moments later.

Ranma, who had carefully watched Cologne, towered over her father who was still recovering from his coughing fit and stared him directly into the eyes, her silver eyes drilling holes into his cranium. "Why?" she asked harshly, not managing more than that one word.

"Counter question, boy. Who tells me you haven't been brainwashed by your mother's Clan?" Genma retorted in a demanding voice, trying to keep a brave facade.

It was willpower alone that enabled Ranma to remain in control of her emotions. Just a minute flash of silver lightning and her pissed off face betrayed her struggle. After taking a few calming breaths to regain control of herself Ranma blurred and hit the paralysis points yet again.

"That's so that you listen and I be uninterrupted, you jerk. You never really understood the 'I talk, you listen,' part very well, and this move is just so nifty," she snapped, closing her eyes to regain her equilibrium.

"That it is indeed. And so easy to use for able people," Cologne smirked, twirling her staff in a meaningful way.

"Way to go, Ranchan!" Ukyo, who had long since reclaimed her chair, exclaimed gleefully. "Now let us get down to why the jackass did it. Betcha it was to bring Akane 'n' you together."

Ranma massaged her temples, keeping her eyes closed. "Maybe, but that I'll find out," she drawled and opened her eyes to reveal their still silver colour. "Well, where to begin... Oh yeah, you were probably alluding to my enjoying this 'unnaturalness' or some such shit, right? Don't look so surprised, your face told me everything, pops. You would expect me to hate my daughter, doncha? But you have no idea, no idea at all," she breathed in barely a whisper.

"You have no idea what it feels like to feel her growing inside of me, what it felt like to feel her first motions, her first kicks," Ranma continued in a far-away voice, drawing everyone in. "I had no idea either, and I'd never have thought I'd come to accept being pregnant. But I do. Mind you, I won't try for a second kid, never, but carrying Senny ain't the abhorrence I thought it would be. You change inside when you're pregnant, pops, it's inevitable. Hormones 'n' stuff, I've been told. Doncha worry, I won't start likin' guys, but I will be a mother. If you can't hack with that, tough."

Ranma smiled due to the supporting exclamations she was getting from most of the others behind her back, and a smile made its way on her face. She blurred again and hit the counterpoints she had observed Cologne use.

Then she stepped back and placed her hands on her hips, favouring her coughing father with a stern glare. "I was neither brainwashed nor drugged, and if you don't believe me I can't help it. That's as far as I'm concerned. Now to you. Why did you try to kill my daughter, 'unnaturalness' aside?" Ranma queried, her narrowed silver eyes demanding answers.

Genma sighed, his before stoic face falling. "I must know, Ranma, is what you have told us really the truth? How can I be sure you haven't been brainwashed?"

"You can't. But wouldn't I have stayed with mom and... the others to stay safe had I been brainwashed? Yet I escaped and did everything in my power to... elude capture, one would call it," Ranma drawled.

Ryoga—who had avidly watched the interrogation from his position a few centimetres away from Genma and Soun—stepped at Ranma's side. "Her story is true, Genma," he snarled, his angry face inches away from the older man's. "We fought our way through the ranks of the Sailor Scouts who ranted some shit about Ranma carrying a demon spawn. We have encountered and fought demons in the past, and Ranma's aura ain't showing any signs.

"Heck, her developing magic proves what she said. And the involvement of the Senshi and what they claimed, not to mention Ranma's own experiences prove that this Asteroid exists. It's gonna hit Earth, and you can refuse to believe it all you want, it ain't gonna change one bit. It'll just offer further proof that you're an incorrigible fool. Ranma whereas doesn't need to prove anything, she already has."

Ranma gave the lost boy a small smile. "Thanks, buddy. Now to my questions. Why?" she asked, turning her full attention back to her father, her face a mask of carefully construed neutrality that hid the raging storm of emotions warring inside of her.

Genma let a laboured sigh escape his lips and his face fell even more, betraying that he believed the teens. Then he righted himself up as much as his bounds allowed. "I know saying that I'm sorry won't help, Ranma, but I'll say it anyway. I am sorry, truly and deeply sorry. I believed the story of someone I took for an agent of the crown, and the 'facts' she fed Soun and me made the most sense in regards to why you were willingly carrying the baby."

Ranma kept a neutral expression on her face and ignored the surprised expressions of her friends as she focussed exclusively on her father. She was going over what he had said in her mind, and most surprising to her was that Genma's voice had held an undertone she had seldom heard in his voice: genuine regret and sorrow. He was—as far as she could tell—honest to goodness sorry.

"You are right, pops, sorry doesn't cut it. But I'd like to hear more of what this 'agent' told you, what she looked like, everything. Leave nothing out," Ranma commanded, her face remaining completely expressionless as if it had been carved out of ice.

Genma nodded his head, the intent stare of his daughter chilling him to the bone, effectively eradicating any intention he had had to hold back information. "Of course," he agreed with repeated nods of his head. "It all began when Soun 'n' me were enjoying a few drinks in that bar, the 'Red Dragon'..."

-.-

It had taken Genma ten minutes to tell his tale to a captivated audience, and everyone present believed it without a second thought. Anyone who knew the fathers knew that they were easily influenced where the joining of the schools and dangers to it—real or imagined—were concerned. The agent—as to whose identity Ranma had a very good guess but no proofs—had played them masterfully.

The demon part now made sense to Ranma, yet she—like everyone else—couldn't believe the gullibility of the fathers. But she was oddly touched—almost against her will—as well that her father had done it to make it up to her, to try to make amends for his past (mis)deeds. He had been driven by the want to look out for her for a change, but he had made every mistake imaginable in his approach, had allowed himself to be used. His intentions hadn't been—just—selfish, though. Ranma understood why he had done it, could even follow her father's logic on an abstract level, yet it was the emotional level that couldn't let him—and Soun—off the hook.

Akane, Nabiki and Kasumi were berating their own father for being so foolhardy at the same time as Ranma was trying to find a solution that would take both her father's well meant actions as well as the almost fatal consequences into account. The disguised girl walked back to her chair, her father's eyes never leaving her as she well noticed, and plopped down into it, massaging her temples as soon as she had propped up her elbows on the table.

Conversation at the table continued to discuss the motives of the fathers and their credibility, and it made it impossible for Ranma to focus. After a few minutes of trying to focus she got to her feet and began to pace through the room, and the others interrupted their conversations briefly to look at her only to resume their discussions once it had been ascertained that Ranma was alright.

The Saotome girl came to a stop close to another table, shrugged and plopped down into one of the chairs. True, she thought as she massaged her temples, the fathers had committed a great blunder that had nearly killed Senny, but their motivation had been—amongst things—to free her from this 'demonic pregnancy'. She believed her father in this, auras couldn't lie. But what to do?

She would have to drive home the point that non-thinking, impulsive acts based on inaccurate and dangerous information was something she did not, could not tolerate where the safety of her child—and her own—was concerned. The raven haired girl nodded to herself as an idea began to form in her mind, her neutral expression giving way to a wicked grin. Provided Lemuria offered the prerequisites it would be ideal indeed. It would hit Genma—and Soun as well—where it hurt most, his laziness and lack of discipline where his own persona was concerned. Yes, that would work well, but she would have to clear it with Senny first. Her daughter was bound to know.

Her brief mischievous grin gave way to a look of concentration, and slipping into the trance that acted as the gateway to bring her into the dreamscape came easily. Blinking her eyes open she looked into the silver-blue eyes of her daughter, and had time to blink before finding herself in a hug. Ranma smiled and let herself fall into the soft embrace, and her right hand reached up on its own accord and started caressing her daughter's right cheek. Looking up into the softly smiling face of her girl Ranma's own smiling face began to sport a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling.

"You up for some payback against the panda?" she asked, her grin becoming so evil her father would have run for the hills had he been able to see it.

Senny sported a matching grin, rubbing her hands with a maniacal gleam in her eyes. "What did you have in mind, mom?"

-.-

"What is Ranma doing?" Soun inquired, speaking the first coherent sentence since Cologne had neutralised the paralysis after Ranma had finished talking to her father.

Ryoga's head swivelled towards the Tendo patriarch and laced him with a frown. "She is using the method she described to contact her daughter," he explained, his frown giving way to a scowl. "The very same daughter you morons tried to kill. The very same daughter that is Earth's last and only hope to survive as it is."

Soun's head had progressively sunk lower and lower until it was completely bowed, and Genma—who'd been avidly watching his son turned daughter—had mirrored his friend, a look of shame on his round face.

"I think they have been sufficiently chastised," Kasumi commented with a neutral expression, her ever-present obliviousness missing for once. "I also think they have understood the follies of their actions."

Nabiki looked over at her older sister, a frown marring her features. "Do you really think those two windbags have grasped the severity of what they very nearly did?" she asked, her tone holding a heavy dose of incredulity.

"WAAAAAAAAAH! My daughter hates me!" Soun wailed, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"And she as much as Akane and Kasumi would have every reason to, Tendo, old friend. Just as my Ranma would have every right and reason to hate me," Genma spoke up in a quiet tone devoid of emotions, his eyes closed and his expression sad and regretful to equal parts.

Him speaking up so unexpectedly had interrupted several biting and angry comments to Soun's display, and it had effectively stolen the thunder of at least Nabiki, Akane and Ryoga. The Amazons—being as surprised as the rest—just leaned back and watched with interest.

"What?" Soun finally managed to ask in a baffled tone—tears still spilling down his cheeks—clearly not able to believe what he'd just heard.

Genma opened his eyes and turned his head over to his left where his oldest friend was propped up against the wall. "Soun, old friend, it's really time you stopped that crying act. Don't you see that no one is receptive to it? It never worked on angry females back in the days, why should it be different now?" he inquired with a sigh.

Soun swallowed as he remembered the various times he had tried to earn the sympathy of angry mobs of females hunting them—for something the master had done, of course—and tried to come up with just one point in time when it had been successful against righteous female fury, but try as he might, the Tendo patriarch drew blanks. The master of the Tendo school realised the logic behind Genma's words and stopped the crying, a deep sigh escaping his lips.

"It had a prayer of working when Kasumi was still sympathetic, Soun, but your oldest is angry as well, and with just reason." Genma continued with another, this time even more laboured sigh and bowed his head yet again.

The master of the Saotome school was acutely aware of the watchful eyes resting on him, but he didn't care. for once in his life he would not run away from his messes, his responsibilities. He remembered the look Ranma had had in his eyes when he had gone toe to toe with the 'master' in their confrontation on the streets of Nerima all too well. it had been a look filled with respect, respect for him trying to deal with a mess he had had a part in. This mess here was his as well and was much more personal, and he would do his best to patch things up. If he had a chance left.

Taking another deep breath Genma looked up to meet the eyes of Soun's daughters and Ryoga, seeing varying emotions in them. curiosity, apprehension but distrust as well. He couldn't really fault them, his track record didn't really speak in his favour. But he would say what he had to say anyway. It was time to face up to his sins.

"Old friend," he began in a grave voice, his head slowly turning to his left to focus on Soun, "we have to face up to what we unwittingly did. We committed a huge folly when we listened to that 'agent' and acted on the information we had without double-checking. we believed what we wanted to believe without considering alternatives, and it very nearly cost my unborn grandchild her life."

Painful sounding thuds emanated from the table as jaws impacted the ground due to supreme facevaults. It was just so out of character for Genma to admit fault, but maybe it was the enormity of what their actions could have caused that had torn down the inner walls of Ranma's father. That, or the pod people had invaded without them noticing.

"Don't get me wrong," Genma continued and looked from face to face, finally coming to rest on his daughter who was in a deep looking trance, "I don't like it one bit that my cursed son carries my first grandchild and will be its mother instead of its father, but it's not the boy's fault. He did what his sense of honour dictated, and I blame my in-laws for subjecting my child to what he's going through.

"I can respect what Ranma did and I understand his motives, but in hindsight I can't justify our motives, Soun. When we tried to kill a baby—acting on information we blindly believed because it suited our view on things—we sinned against our code. A martial artist protects the weak, and it took me nearly killing my granddaughter to remember it," Genma concluded, tears streaming down his cheeks.

The silence that ensued after Genma had stopped speaking was so absolute that one would have heard a needle drop, and it took Soun as well as anyone else a few seconds to process what Ranma's father had said and that he had meant every single syllable of it.

Soun shook his head as if to clear it after he had absorbed Genma's words. "But what of the joining of the schools?" he asked, disbelief coating his voice as he stared at his old friend with a deep frown.

Genma motioned his head over to where Soun's daughters were sitting. "I don't think I have to translate what those snorts of your daughters mean, do I, Soun? The joining of the schools can wait, it is not as important as what is at stake here. I believe what Ranma told me, Soun, I know the boy, he could not lie to save his life. If he says there's a giant rock heading for Earth that'll wipe out most of humanity then it is so. I didn't doubt him when he said he would unlock his curse and I didn't doubt him when he said he could beat Ryu Kumon.

"Besides, if they don't manage to destroy that Asteroid there won't be any schools left to join anyway, old friend. And," Genma emphasised, "we never specified which generation had to join the schools. Give it a rest, old bud, I know I have."

Soun turned his head away from Genma and leant it against the wall, a look of deep contemplation on his face. The looks his daughters had shot him when he had just mentioned the joining of the schools strongly suggested that they were absolutely unwilling to see it through. Ranma was likely as opposed to another wedding attempt, and what Genma had said rung true: what was there to join if this big chunk of rock killed them all?

He finally looked up a full minute later and let a laboured sigh escape his lips. "The joining of the schools is postponed," he uttered in a strained tone, as if in great pain, twin streams of tears pooling from his eyes.

But the beaming and relieved looking faces of his daughters were enough to convince Soun of the rightness of his decision, yet he saw in their eyes that it would be a hard and very rocky road to travel until he would have regained their trust. But it was a road worth travelling, and he would face every hardship head on.

Genma was happy as well, even though his exterior didn't show it. the balding man turned his head and fixed his fellow master with a weak, but heartfelt smile. "I know how hard that was, Soun. But it was the right thing. It is a start at making it up to our children, and even if we unwittingly tried to do what we thought was best, ignorance is no excuse for what we did, Tendo, old friend. We very nearly killed an innocent baby. My granddaughter," he said gravely.

For once Soun Tendo, often nicknamed 'Fountain-sama' by those exaggerating his penchant for crying, cried real tears as he realised just what they had very nearly done, but in contrast to any other time his tears dried up when a look of firm resolve appeared on his face. "You are right, Genma. We did something truly foolish," he admitted in a voice barely above a whisper. "I will apologise to Ranma as soon as is opportune, and I will accept his decision on a punishment. So speakest I, Tendo Soun."

"That's a start if I ever saw one," Ryoga commented into the silence that had descended upon the room, and choruses of 'Hear, hear's' sealed the fathers promises to try and undo the damage they had done.

-.-

Ranma had given her daughter a quick rundown as to why her father had acted the way he had in the meantime, and was aware of the silver-blue eyes of her daughter watching her incredulously as she absorbed everything she had heard. The older redhead—now back in her true form—leaned against the wooden southern wall of the dojo, and Ranma was still surprised how real everything felt in this dreamscape. The feel of wood against the back of her head and back felt as real as in the real world, and the comforting sounds of bird song made her smile.

"You won't let gramps get off the hook without paying him back, will you, momma?" Senny asked in a voice that suggested she would be very disappointed if she did, her scowl matching her tone to a tee.

The redhead rolled her shoulders, pitching her weight away from the wall she had been leaning against and gave her daughter an incredulous look. "Are you kidding? I already said I had a plan… I just gotta know if Lemuria offers what would be required."

"Good. What do you wanna know, mom?" Senny inquired eagerly, her mouth spewing out the words nearly too fast for Ranma to understand properly.

Ranma's face twisted into an evil grin as soon as she had deciphered Senny's words. "Well, I know pops and Mr. Tendo did what they did 'cause they thought they'd be 'delivering me from this unnaturalness' and 'kill the demon spawn', you demon spawn, you," she said with a giggle, affectionately ruffling her daughter's hair which caused Senny to giggle as well, content expressions on both redhead's faces, "But fact remains that they're idiots that need to learn to think before they act.

"That's why I wanna know… Could we put them through some kinda modified combat training once we get to Lemuria? you know, they have both become rather complacent and lazy, especially in the last two years. I wish Lemuria had some kinda academy where I could push them through the grinder. The lazy idiots would learn something useful for a change if we pushed them through tactical training in addition to physical exercises. we could finally subject them to some training that teaches them to use their brains for something other than their schemes. But I fear something like that doesn't exist," the redhead concluded with a sad sigh.

"On the contrary, mom. If I remember everything correctly then I may have the perfect thing… Lemuria has facilities for just such training, or rather, it had one. I don't know what became of it, but we will know for sure once we find the city," Senny replied with glee in her voice.

Ranma smirked, her eyes glittering with barely suppressed anticipation. "Great! I'm glad that you like my idea, dear. And I can hardly wait to reach Lemuria…"

"Me neither, mom," Senny said, and hugged her mother to her. "Take care, momma, you'll do great, I know it. Love you."

The smaller redhead returned the hug with equal strength, and asked herself for the umpteenth time how someone could love another person so much. "Love ya too," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling from overflowing emotions.

Ranma gave her daughter a kiss to the forehead and a loving smile, then she concentrated on the real world and felt the familiar pull that whisked her away to the real world.

-.-

Ranma's re-emergence in the real world came as swift as ever. She blinked her eyes several times so as to adjust them to the ambient light and let a small grin escape her control. it seemed she could spend hours in the dreamscape, and 'wake up' in the real world barely seconds—sometimes minutes, as in this case—having slipped by. The only reason she had not visited her daughter more often than once per day plus her unannounced visits was the very real 'danger' that it would give her daughter even more opportunity to girlify her, something Senny liked to do every single time she visited. That, and she had decided early on that she couldn't and wouldn't neglect the real world.

She got to her feet and slowly walked over to the table the others were seated at, silently giggling to herself due to all the evil training she would push the fathers through. She immediately took in the serious faces of the fathers as she passed them by, and wondered what had happened in the time she had been 'out of touch'.

"What's up with the serious face, pops? Did granny give you a lemon to suck on, or what?" she inquired in an attempt at humour as she sat down on the chair she had vacated minutes before.

Cologne got to her feet at the same time and used her staff to jump to the ground, Ranma giving her a questioning look which the matriarch countered with a veiled smile.

"I suppose you wonder at the lack of response from your father, don't you?" the Elder inquired, an amused expression on her face. Upon Ranma's nod Cologne actually cackled. "The males are asleep, chóngsunnu. It is a side-effect of the paralysis pressure points that its victims fall asleep very sudden, their last facial expression being practically imprinted on their faces. They are literally sleeping with open eyes," she explained, a humorous glint in her eyes.

"Granny, wake them up, or at least pops!" Ranma urged. "You don't wanna hear him snoring! Trust me, you don't."

"Better wake daddy up as well. He can be as bad as 'uncle'," Akane added, eliciting agreeing nods and comments from her sisters.

Cologne mused that her chóngsunnu and her friends knew what they were talking about, and snoring males were… well, even more annoying than they were normally. Ranma had been on the road with her father for over ten years after all, and the Tendo sisters knew their father best. Thus she quickly went to work and woke the two men up with carefully applied pressure points. Genma and Soun practically shot up from their slumber and looked around wildly, and Cologne turned back to Ranma.

"Danger averted," she commented with a grin.

"You can say that again, granny," Ranma replied, making a gesture as if wiping sweat from her forehead. "Now I can find out what got pops into such a serious mood without having to raise him from a snoring fest."

"Tendo, you got an idea what they're talking about?" Genma questioned in confusion.

"Not the foggiest, Saotome. But I think Ranma will want to know what happened while he was 'out'," Soun replied.

"You betcha," Ranma agreed, hands planted on her hips.

"Children," Cologne spoke up, looking at Mousse and Shampoo, "I require your help in the kitchen."

"But great-grandmother…" Shampoo began to protest, "Is just get interesting! I—"

"Now!" Cologne barked with her ki backing her voice, making Mousse and Shampoo bolt to their feet while everyone aside from Ranma shuddered. "This is a very personal matter, and our sister deserves to settle this affair in private. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, great-grandmother," Shampoo replied with her head bowed as she listlessly trudged towards the kitchen, Mousse following her at some distance to get a good look at her firm backside and hopefully up her skirt.

A quick bop to the head courtesy of Cologne's staff took care of that. "Stop staring and get to work, boy, or we might be serving duck for dinner," she threatened.

Mousse grumbled and rubbed the sore spot on his head where a good sized lump was forming, but otherwise obeyed, and soon the young Amazons had disappeared to the kitchen, leaving just the matriarch in the serving area.

"We will be preparing some specialities, I am sure you will find a way to keep yourselves busy," she said and paused, looking at Ukyo as if something had just occurred to her. "Kuonji-san, wouldn't you like to contribute to the dinner? Ranma needs decent sized meals, I am sure she would appreciate some okonomiyaki," Cologne suggested.

Ukyo mulled this over for a few moments and nodded then with a smile forming on her face. "You are right, sugar. I'll set up camp in the kitchen and Ranchan will be enjoying tasty okonomiyaki in no time. A great idea you had there," she replied with a grin, getting to her feet.

Cologne inclined her head. "This 'old ghoul' is still good for a good idea or two," she cackled and pogoed towards the kitchen, leaving a sweatdropping Ukyo to follow.

-.-

Two Saotomes and four Tendos—the respectively oldest of them bound and propped up against the same wall they had been leaning against for the last hour—had the whole of the serving area to themselves. Ryoga had excused himself as well, and Cologne had led the lost boy towards the kitchen to 'help'.

"That was weird," Ranma commented with a shrug, trying to get comfortable in her chair which had been re-arrayed next to Kasumi's chair to her left and Nabiki's as well as Akane's chair to her right, forming a half-circle around the table so that the four girls were facing the fathers.

"Not at all, Ranma-chan," Kasumi replied with a smile at the younger girl, "Cologne was so kind as to give us the privacy she thinks we deserve, and she simply convinced the others to go along by using pretences."

"Ahh," Ranma mused, nodding in understanding as her sisters were looking incredulously at Kasumi, who just smiled innocently as if she hadn't just completely dropped her image of obliviousness, "That makes sense. So what did happen to pops? Did granny give him a lemon to chew on or what?"

Helping herself to some cookies and tea Ranma looked into the round and encountered amused looks, but it was a low chuckle from Nabiki that drew her attention. "One could say it was self-imposed, Ranma. Here, listen to this recording and you'll understand," she said and handed Ranma her DAT recorder complete with ear phones. "It's much more efficient and time saving than telling you verbally."

The disguised redhead nodded in acceptance and took the offered DAT recorder, operating it correctly after familiarising herself with the buttons. Ranma started to play the recording after inserting the ear phones, her face a mask of stone as she listened to what she had missed out on, ignoring the watchful eyes of the others as she immersed herself into a state of absolute concentration. The recording ended with her father's words, leaving out Soun Tendos' declaration that he'd make it up to Ranma, and said girl surveyed her father with an evaluating look.

"If you really meant it, pops—and your tone suggests it—I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt," she began, her face acquiring a stern look as she saw hope blossom on her father's face. "However, it is not likely that I will forgive the attempt on my baby any time soon. I am her mother, and do you have any idea how I felt when I learned that you had tried to kill my daughter?" Ranma inquired with tears suddenly streaming down her cheeks as she slowly lost control of her emotions.

Genma looked as if he wanted to crawl under a rock and die, thoughts of reprimanding his child for this blatant display of emotions not even entering his mind. "I'm sorry, Ranma, so very sorry, and I will do everything to make it up, son," he said in a voice that was filled with truthfulness.

Everyone watched as Ranma wiped tears away from her cheeks and out of her eyes, her watery gaze locked on her father. "That's a start. I don't wanna kick ya outta my life, pops, I want that you can see your granddaughter once I have given birth to her. I don't wanna kick you outta my life, you're the only pops I have…" she exclaimed with more tears streaming down her cheeks as her emotions took control, her body wracking with sobs.

Genma swallowed hard and had anyone looked closely at him they would have spotted tear tracks on his face. The Tendo sisters reacted more strongly, and their hearts went out to the fellow girl who was evidently suffering from an hormonally induced breakdown. Kasumi gracefully got up from her chair and softly hugged the crying girl from behind, encircling Ranma's shoulders. With experience born from being the oldest sister Kasumi whispered soothing words into Ranma's ear as she stroked the younger girl's sides, and ever so slowly Ranma calmed down and managed to rein her emotions back in.

The disguised girl craned her neck and looked up into the caring brown eyes of the woman she considered a sister, a small, thankful smile spreading on her face. Her gaze then turned to linger on Akane and Nabiki, who both had similar expressions in their eyes as their sister. "Thanks, guys. I don't know what came over me," she tried in an attempt to justify herself.

"You're welcome, imoutochan. And it is nothing to be ashamed of, pregnant women do get more emotional. Ne?" Kasumi teased softly as she sat back down on her chair and ruffled Ranma's raven mop of hair, eliciting a giggle from the pregnant young woman in question, which caused smiles to blossom on the three sisters' faces in turn.

Genma on his part had been deeply moved by what his son—he still refused to view Ranma as his daughter, despite her being pregnant—had confessed. He knew he had screwed up big time, but Ranma was giving him another chance, a chance he actually knew he didn't deserve.

"Thank you, son," Genma whispered quietly, yet loud enough for Ranma to hear him.

Ranma turned her head to face him, eyes still glistening with tears, but a small smile blossomed on her face. "You're welcome, pops," she replied, her face slowly settling back into the neutral expression she had worn before. "Just don't botch it up this time, or I don't know what I'll do."

Genma nodded with an appropriately serious expression that indicated he had understood. "Got it, son."

"I understand as well, Ranma," Soun spoke up, and said Saotome youth turned her head a few centimetres to focus on the master of the Tendo school, watching him with an now expressionless face, making the man fidget uncomfortably. But Soun managed to pull himself together. "I realise that I made a huge mistake, and I want to apologise. I acted without thinking, only believing in what I thought to be the truth without verifying the facts. Forgive me," he concluded, his head slowly sinking forward until it was completely bowed.

Ranma surveyed Soun with a stern look for several seconds before slowly nodding. "I'll give you one more chance as well, Mr. Tendo. I know I'm a forgiving idiot and likely to regret it, but that's the way I am. But make no mistake," she said, holding up her right hand that was suddenly shrouded in silver and blue energy, her face sporting a dark and threatening look, "any further botch-ups will be dealt with with extreme prejudice. I won't place my daughter at risk if I can help it, ever. Got it?"

At the fathers frantic nods Ranma allowed herself to relax into her chair and let the energy dissipate. "Good. And don't think you or Mr. Tendo are off the hook either, pops," Ranma added, an evil grin spreading on her face that made the two adults very apprehensive. "I have decided upon a punishment, and it will be enacted once I have discovered Lemuria and brought everyone to safety."

"What is it?" five voices asked in unison.

Ranma smiled mischievously and waggled her finger. "You guys will have to wait until I have confirmed Lemuria is still intact."

"You have mentioned this Lemuria a few times, Ranma." Akane remarked. "What exactly is 'Lemuria'?"

Ranma met the curious brown eyes of her ex-fiancée with a thoughtful look. "You wanna know what Lemuria is, eh? Well, here goes..."

-.-

Ranma had launched herself into a detailed explanation containing all the facts she had gleaned from her daughter about the erstwhile secret base of the Moon Kingdom on Earth. The Amazons, Ukyo and Ryoga had rejoined them with enough food to last a decent sized army a week, and everyone had listened with rapt attention to what Ranma had to tell between bites of food.

In the end everyone agreed that it would be the best course of action to relocate to the ancient city if it were still intact and functional. Soun had revealed that he was hesitant to leave the house he had lived in with his daughters for so long, and said daughters shared their father's sentiment to varying degrees, yet it was Nabiki who brought it into perspective with her usual businesslike approach: should they stay at the Dojo their safety was compromised by several factors, the Asteroid—which wouldn't care whom it killed, the Senshi, who likely knew of their connection to Ranma, and, finally, Ranma's Clan.

Soun somewhat caved in when Ranma pointed out that neither of these factors would give a damn about their safety, yet he caved in completely when Genma reminded him of the basics of survival they had learned under the master, namely to cut their losses when opportune. Being attached to a building—regardless what memories, impressions and sentimental attachments it held—, Ranma argued, was understandable, but was it worth getting killed over it? Ryoga had added that it would probably well be possible to move important memorabilia with them when the time came, and that had tipped the scales for the Tendo sisters who then convinced their father to go along with the plan—provided Lemuria still existed.

Ryoga had easily agreed to move to Lemuria, subject to the condition that he could bring along his family—which he probably would have to find first—as well as Akari and her 'extended' family. Ukyo was still undecided on the topic, which stemmed from the fact that she hadn't seen any of her folks in over ten years, and she would have to check back on them to see if her folks were still alive. She would decide later on what to do, but opted an 'exodus' to Lemuria as a promising idea.

Ranma had made a casual remark about offering the Amazon tribe refuge in Lemuria as her compensation when the going would inevitably get tough, and had nearly fallen out of her chair when Cologne had accepted it in the most formal way she had ever seen the old matriarch speak in. Upon inquiring if she was serious Cologne had simply confirmed, and had added that she would smooth things over with the council once proof had been obtained that Lemuria existed and that 'Doombringer' would indeed graze Earth. Ranma had swallowed her retorts and had just smiled back sweetly, keeping her trap firmly shut so as to not botch up things. If Lemuria existed still and was intact and as big as her daughter estimated it would be easy to accommodate the tribe. she would have to convince them to leave their idiotic outsider laws in China first, though, but that should be doable.

The only unknown Ranma faced was the sorest spot of all. She still had no idea of how to deal with the maternal side of her family.

-.-

Ranma sat relaxed in her chair and was rubbing her full belly in a satisfied way. She was filled to the brim with delicious food, and her daughter had stopped her full scale kicking assault for the time being, much to Ranma's immense relief. Soun and her father had been released and had been convinced to return to the Tendo home so as to not raise the suspicion of whoever might be watching them, and the two masters had reluctantly agreed.

She was feeling a bit dozy from all the food—not to mention the trying past two days—and thus not in the mood for a sudden frontal—verbal—assault from Ukyo.

"Ranma-honey, we must find a place where we can raise our daughter in safety. It doesn't have to be this Lemuria, provided it's still there. I believe you-"

"Our daughter?" Ranma interrupted in a deceptively calm voice that gave all attendees a feeling of foreboding. "I think not."

"B-But you said it yourself," Ukyo began with a surprised expression on her face, "You won't marry Akane and Shampoo. That nutjob Kodachi ain't even worth consideration which means that we'll be happily married. We'll raise our daughter and you'll be such a good fath-"

A silver flash of lightning stopped Ukyo cold, and her eyes which had glazed over due to her visit to her personal dreamland focussed back on Ranma. A Ranma that glowed an eerie silver.

"That is something I have never understood," the now silver-eyed young woman drawled in a tone that conveyed her annoyance, "Where do you and others get off to claim they know what I want?"

Ukyo didn't recognise the danger signs, which stemmed from the fact that Ranma had never really been angry with her. But the gender-changing martial artist had also never been pregnant before, which accounted for altered behavioural patterns as Ukyo was about to find out.

"Ranma-honey," she began patiently, "Akane and Shampoo are out of the running, which means I, your cute fiancée win by default. We'll marry, raise our daughter and you'll save the world."

"I don't think so," Ranma simply replied, her voice level but forceful. The only indication for her displeasure was a brightening of her silver aura.

Ukyo was so baffled by Ranma's response that her mouth hung open, no sounds coming out of it.

"Good thing I set up the strongest wards and protections I had," Cologne muttered to herself, a sweatdrop rolling down the back of her head in face of the strength of Ranma's aura.

Ryoga nodded his assent. "This could get ugly," he commented with a worried frown as he looked from Ranma to Ukyo, who was slowly commencing a mental reboot.

Cologne readily agreed to this assessment. "Children," she spoke up as she looked at everyone bar Ranma and Ukyo—the former downright glaring silver daggers at the latter—, "I suggest we give Ranma and Kuonji-san some privacy to clear the air between them. This will likely get even more 'interesting' than the talk with the fathers.

"Mousse, I suggest you show Hibiki-san what we have talked about," she added, looking from boy to boy.

The male Amazon frowned in confusion. "What are you talking about?" he inquired, this time not adding any insult due to the still throbbing set of lumps on his cranium.

Cologne shook her head in dismay. "Place that boy in the same room as my great-granddaughter and his mind takes unlimited vacation," she breathed in a laboured sigh. "Do you remember per chance that we talked about a way to alleviate the weaknesses in Hibiki-san's fighting style, boy?"

"Weaknesses?" Ryoga blustered. "I have no weaknesses!"

Ranma's head slowly turned away from Ukyo and towards Ryoga, and she gave him a half-lidded stare which made the lost boy focus on her. "Don't take this the wrong way," she began, and Ryoga as well as anyone else could see that she was pushing herself to bring the next words over her lips, "But you have weaknesses, p-chan," she finished, her look apologetic. "And it's partially my fault you have them."

Ryoga swallowed a few times to bite back the angry retort that was on the tip of his tongue, but the look in Ranma's eyes made it easy. His pregnant friend was looking genuinely sorry, and he knew she hadn't intended to insult him. She had taken way too much care to make this as clear as crystal, and even he, stubborn and blockheaded as he could be from time to time had understood. Ryoga finally sighed deeply, tearing away his gaze from Ranma's sad blue eyes.

Clearing his throat, well aware that everyone was watching him as they were asking themselves what was going on—those not knowing that he was p-chan, at least—he focussed on Ranma again, giving her a slight smile to convey the message that he was not angry with her.

"You really think they can help me with my problems, Ranma?" he asked, though his veiled question ran more along the lines if he could trust the Amazons after everything they had done, both good and bad.

Ranma kept a neutral expression in place—careful so as not to show the happiness she felt at Ryoga not having blown up on her—and shrugged. "There ain't no guarantees, there never are, but if anyone can help you it would be granny here, Ryoga," she replied.

"Help with what?" Akane inquired curiously, finally not able to hold in her curiosity any longer.

Ryoga turned his head to his erstwhile crush—managing to keep an even face, much to his own surprise—and noticed that her sisters as well as Ukyo—who had been sufficiently derailed from her spat with Ranma—were looking at him with identical expressions of curiosity.

"With my depression, Akane-san. Having found love with Akari has helped tremendously, but I still have my relapses," he explained with a solemn expression on his face, his brown eyes holding a sad glint to them. "I don't want to endanger Akari, my future children or anyone else just because I am not master of my emotions. And the Shi Shi Hokodan is tempting due to its destructive power," he added, a laboured sigh escaping his lips.

Cologne nodded. "That it is, which is the exact reason why I was so unsettled when you first learned it. It is a most dangerous attack, and we will have to remove the triggers in order to 'cure' you from it. Which is what I had been discussing with my great-granddaughter and Mousse prior to your arrival here, children," she said, drawing everyone's attention on her. "It is not unlikely that we will find ourselves in combat situations rather sooner than later, and the Shi Shi Hokodan—especially the perfect variant—is way too dangerous as it may kill friend and foe alike.

"Which is why we have to replace the technique with something less dangerous, or seal it at the least." the matriarch concluded.

The teens nodded in acceptance of this logical sounding explanation. they all had witnessed Ryoga using the Shi Shi Hokodan numerous times, and every single one among them knew of the dangers and destructive potential of this technique. Helping Ryoga to get rid of this suicide move was worthwhile indeed.

"I remember now and will show him the scroll you prepared, Elder," Mousse commented with a nod of his head and got out of his chair. "If you'd follow me, Ryoga…"

The lost boy nodded and got up as well. "Of course, Mousse. Lead the way," he replied as he followed the other boy.

Ryoga was in reality hard pressed not to perform an impromptu tap dance and clamped down hard on his overflowing emotions. the Amazons had promised him—through the back-door, at least—a cure for his curse, or an improvement of his situation, at least. His depression was not what made him a liability in battle, it was his thrice damned Heituenniichuan curse which left him near helpless at the most inopportune of times. it was also likely that their opponents knew of his weakness and how to exploit it. It would be so good to be rid of it, nearly too good to be true he thought as he followed the Hidden weapons master out of the room.

Six women watched the retreating backs of the boys as Ryoga and Mousse disappeared upstairs, and everyone slowly glanced back at Ukyo and Ranma. But Kasumi clearing her throat before a resume of the prior discussion could commence caused everyone to look at her.

"Nabiki, Akane, it would be most improper of us to not give Ranma-imoutochan and Ukyo-san the privacy they deserve for settling this... affair," she commented, causing thoughtful but agreeing expressions to appear on her sisters' faces.

"Elder, I would be honoured if I could help you in preparing some more special tea for Ranma-imoutochan. I have learned of some interesting Chinese brands with properties benefiting a pregnant woman, and I was wondering if you had them available," Kasumi added.

Cologne inclined her head. "The wards and spells I set up avoid detection to the highest degree and make just about any magical burst fade into the background noise, so yes, we should have the time to browse through my shelves and prepare some more tea for my chóngsunnu. She could do with some more weight on that lithe body of hers. it won't do for her daughter to look like a plucked chicken when she is born into this world."

"My daughter ain't a plucked chicken!" Ranma retorted, her lips forming a pout, which only served to cause amusement.

"Don't pout, chóngsunnu," the Elder commented amusedly at seeing Ranma's pouting face, "You may not be eating for two, contrary to popular belief, but you have to take in the calories, vitamins and minerals you two need. Don't worry about putting on weight, you can always bring yourself back in shape later."

Ranma's pout changed into a frown. "Easy for you to say, granny. Your figure ain't mattering to you 'cause you're older than any dinosaur ever got—OWIE!" she exclaimed, painfully rubbing the sore spot on her head where Cologne's staff had impacted, causing polite snickering from the other females.

"Don't disrespect your Elders, chóngsunnu." Cologne huffed in a mock-haughty voice. "I still remember it as if it were yesterday how my first childbirth was for me, despite my old age. And trust me, I had to get back in shape myself. But the right amount of training achieved that in no time and will do the same for you, especially considering your metabolism and physical attributes. So don't worry about getting fat and eat, chóngsunnu."

"Yeah, yeah, granny," Ranma relented with a grumpy expression on her face as she helped herself to more cookies, looking like a chided six year old, much to the amusement of the others.

Cologne nodded in a satisfied way, mounted her staff and jumped to the ground. "I suggest you children help in the kitchen," she commented, giving Akane, Nabiki and Shampoo meaningful looks. "There might just be some tea on my shelves that helps sooth a broken heart."

Akane and Shampoo looked at each other and shrugged in unison before getting to their feet to follow the older woman. Nabiki took a bit longer, contemplating to leave her DAT recorder hidden under the table but decided against it. Ranma and Ukyo did indeed deserve privacy to resolve their issues, and if the discussion would get as heated as the 'preliminary round' indicated she would hear every word anyway.

Glancing one last time at Ranma and noticing how resolved she looked Nabiki trudged towards the kitchen. This was bound to be an interesting discussion between Ranma and the last official fiancée.

-.-

Ranma sat on a chair opposite from Ukyo, her face a mask of stone, her arms folded underneath her breasts. The pregnant martial artist didn't move a muscle and remained completely silent all the while, nearly stoically so, daring her counterpart to initiate the conversation. And Ukyo was the first to cave in.

"What did you mean, Ranchan? We won't raise our daughter together?" she inquired, finally breaking the silence.

"It meant no, we won't raise my daughter together, and no, I won't marry you. In short, no, that is the answer to your declaration," Ranma replied in an even voice.

"No?" Ukyo parroted in disbelief.

"No." Ranma repeated in a calm yet strong voice. "I am no prize to be won, and neither is my daughter. You have to realise one thing, Ukyo," the chef winced at the absence of the endearing term 'Ucchan', "I am that little girl's mom—her biological mom, not you or anyone else. It is me who is carrying her to term and will bring her into this world, and I love her as any other mother would.

"Sure, I will be Senny's dad as well with a splash of hot water," she allowed with a smile, "but I am her mom, first and foremost. And no one will ever take this away from me. Those who try won't like the consequences," she finished with absolute conviction, her voice holding a threatening undercurrent.

"B-But..." Ukyo began, her face showing her confusion.

Just at that moment Cologne pogoed into the room and over to their table, placing a steaming mug of tea in front of her soon to be great-granddaughter. As soon as she had placed the cup onto the table her eyes met Ukyo's. "I overheard what you said, Kuonji-san, and I'll give you a word of advice."

Ukyo's head slowly turned towards Cologne, her face a mixture of surprise and anger. "Go ahead, sugar."

"Give it a rest, child. It is unwise to challenge a mother's position, and Ranma is no exception. It would be better if you asked what it is that Ranma wants from life, what her plans are," Cologne advised, giving Ukyo an intent stare. "The Goddess knows none of us ever stopped to ask this simple question, me included." she added with a sigh.

The angry expression Ranma had worn after laying down her view on things gave way to a wistful smile. "Too true." she sighed, and her eyes met Cologne's. "But better late than never," she added with a small smile, her softening eyes conveying the message that the Elder was on the right track to forgiveness.

"But I already know what my Ranma-honey wants," Ukyo exclaimed in a tone filled with conviction as Cologne inclined her head in gesture of thankfulness and respect towards Ranma.

Ranma's head whipped around and silver eyes focussed on Ukyo, giving her an intent stare that made the chef flinch. "Yeah? Now you've made me curious," she retorted, her tone making it obvious that she doubted that very much.

Ukyo regained her equilibrium fast and shot Ranma a cute smile—which had no effect on her—and took a sip from her tea to moisten her lips. The chef gathered her thoughts and looked her fiancé straight into the eyes with huge puppy-dog eyes in an effort to make Ranma soften up, but the pregnant girl simply stared back with serious, unblinking silver eyes, prompting her to speak up.

Cologne on her part didn't like the situation one bit. Ranma was quite obviously angry, and justly so due to the fact that no one gave a damn about her wants and dreams, not even Ukyo, the first friend she had ever had. On the contrary, the Kuonji child did nothing to alleviate the pregnant girl's anger, which would be easily done by inquiring what it was that Ranma wanted to do with her life—aside from saving the world, Cologne mused wryly. This was not good, for she would be forced to resort to more drastic means to ensure their safety from the Senshi should Ranma's aura continue to grow in strength. A diversion tactic was called for.

"Indeed, child," she mused in a thoughtful voice from her position on her staff as she looked at the chef, who turned her attention away from Ranma and towards the matriarch, "I must admit that I am curious as well.

"Our intentions pertaining Ranma were quite clear cut," she continued wryly, mentally congratulating herself that she had managed to alleviate the tension in the room by drawing Ranma's attention on her.

"You can say that again," Ranma snorted half-amusedly, her face twisting into a smile almost against her will, her eyes changing back from silver to blue as well. "Old ghoul," she added in a half teasing, half affectionate tone.

She received a playful bop to the head and a mock-stern look from the Elder that caused her to giggle, which alleviated the tense atmosphere further.

"Adolescents nowadays. No respect." Cologne sighed, but the small smile in the corners of her mouth betrayed her. Shaking her head she pasted a serious expression onto her face and looked back at the chef. "What are your interests beyond marriage where Ranma is concerned, Kuonji-san?" she inquired, her big brown eyes gazing curiously at Ukyo.

"Yeah, Ukyo, how had you envisioned 'our' life?" Ranma herself inquired curiously.

Ukyo's brown eyes gazed back at the other girl in a way that suggested she was surprised that Ranma had asked this question as the answer was so obvious. "That's quite simple, Ranchan. You, me and the restaurant. Maybe opening up a whole chain of 'Ucchan's' once we employ the full range of your abilities in the culinary world, which will surely increase 'Ucchan's' success rate and provide us with the necessary funds," she mused in a dreamy voice, her eyes slightly glazed over.

Ranma frowned, her eyes changing colour again an indicator of her displeasure. "The full range of my abilities… Interesting you should mention that. So what about the Art, Ukyo? What about me wanting to open a dojo of my own after I have gained my master's license, provided we," she stopped to stroke her belly, "manage to save the world as it is?" she asked in a demanding voice.

Ukyo was oblivious to Ranma's tone of voice—or pretended to be at least. "What about it, Ranchan?" she asked with a genuinely puzzled expression. "What would we need a dojo for if we got the restaurant—potentially a whole chain of 'em—to provide us with the income we need? We would be settled for life!"

"You know as much as I do that money isn't why we practice our arts." Ranma retorted with a frown. "I sure as hell don't, I practice my Art 'cause I want to protect the weak. The Art ain't about money, Ucchan," she concluded, her tone getting chiding.

"True, Ranchan. What I meant is that we'd have enough money to live off, and rather comfortably, not becoming rich. You wouldn't need to open a dojo and you wouldn't have the time to do so anyway, seeing that you'd be busy with helping me in the restaurant. Who do you think has to manage 'Ucchan's' while I'm pregnant?" Ukyo asked with a dreamy smile.

"I see." Ranma replied in a level tone, her eyes having changed their colour again already during Ukyo's monologue.

Warning bells started to go off in Cologne's head and she excused herself, intent on strengthening the wards seeing that her attempts at steering the conversation to relative safety had failed. Ukyo was quite apparently oblivious to Ranma's mood, which stemmed from the fact that she like almost everyone in Ranma's life had his or her own personal view on all things pertaining to the young Saotome provided by rose-tinted glasses.

"I knew you would, Ranchan," Ukyo finally said with a beaming smile as she returned from her trip to her personal dreamland where she and Ranma were married, had kids and a chain of 'Ucchan's', leaning forward to grab a cookie, giving her fiancé an 'accidental' view of her cleavage. "I knew you didn't mean what you had said. Soon we'll be married, and then-"

"No." Ranma interrupted with force, her eyes flashing, chin thrust forward in defiance.

Ukyo was stopped cold by this single word. It was a simple two-letter word, yet it managed to throw the okonomiyaki chef completely off track due to the resolve and conviction with which it had been spoken, bringing her out of her dream world more effectively than a bucket of ice water. she fell back into her chair and stared at Ranma with her mouth hanging open.

"No?" she repeated as she looked at Ranma in askance, her tone conveying her utter disbelief.

"No." Ranma repeated, glancing at her 'cute fiancée' with a hard look in her silver eyes. "You have made the same mistake everyone else in my life has made, Ukyo. Which is the very reason why I won't marry anyone. Wanna know which mistake it was?"

"Hell yeah," Ukyo retorted grumpily, her face conveying that she was not the least bit willing to let go of her claim.

"You fit me into the dreams you had for your life, Ukyo. You just assumed I'd give up the Art and work happily by your side—the few morsels like occasional training trips you might throw my way having to suffice.

"No need to confirm it, 'sugar', I've learned everything I wanted. What else? Hmm, let me think..." she mused with a thoughtful look, putting her right hand to her chin. "A few kids, more restaurants and new recipes. That about right?"

"Yeah," Ukyo confirmed, her face frowning due to the derogatory way Ranma had listed her dreams. "What's wrong with that?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Nothing," Ranma replied, her neutral stare communicating the polar opposite, "Except that these are your dreams, not mine. You just assumed my goals in life were the same as yours without asking about my goals, my dreams."

She placed both hands on her belly and fixed Ukyo with a stare of her silver eyes. "Goals like giving birth to my daughter. like wanting to be a good mom when I raise her. Like saving this world from this friggin' big rock. After that, furthering the Art, Ukyo, teaching my daughter. Developing and mastering new techniques, and, finally, living without the headache relationships are," Ranma concluded in a cold tone.

Nerimans have strong reality filters in their brains as a prerequisite to survive the insanities they are confronted with on a daily basis, and the members forming the eminent group of Nerima's martial artists even more so, but not even the strongest reality filter would have been able to filter this unveiled message.

Ukyo burst into tears as Ranma's words hit home. "Don't you love me, Ranchan?" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Ranma had no idea if the tears were faked or not, but she didn't care. Prior to her pregnancy she would have gone to pieces and would have done just about anything to comfort the crying girl. Not so any more.

"I admit that there was an attraction to you, Ukyo. You really are cute," Ranma allowed, a small smile creeping onto her face.

The Saotome youth shook her head as if to clear it, and the neutral expression was firmly back in place. "But these feelings weakened more and more over time, and do you know why?" she queried.

"No." Ukyo breathed, now on the verge of crying real tears. "Why?"

"Because you chased me like a prize to be won, just like everyone else. Because you chased me for selfish reasons, like meeting the terms your father set—kill Ranma and Genma Saotome or marry Ranma Saotome. and, more important, you wanted to be the one to win me over from the other girls, just like them. It may stroke the ego of some to be chased by so many gorgeous girls, but I simply found it annoying.

"Do you have an idea how good the last six months did, despite being held by my dear grandparents, despite the pregnancy? No one threw themselves at me, no one fought over me, to cut it short, I had my fuckin' peace and quiet."

"Then why did you never say anything, Ranchan? I could have—"

"What, Ucchan? Toned it down a bit?" Ranma interrupted with a disbelieving expression, and leant forward to give Ukyo an intent look. "Bloody unlikely considerin' the competition. I just never did anything about it 'cause I didn't want to hurt the feelings of any of you. And what didcha and anyone else do? You threw honour into my face in an effort to make me choose. Yet I couldn't and didn't choose 'cause I didn't wanna cause any of you distress.

"Yeah, big ole softie Saotome, eh? But there's more to it, Ukyo. The reason why I never made a definite choice was honour. Honour demanded I marry both Akane and you. Which is quite impossible seeing that Japan doesn't allow for polygamist marriages. And I know for a fact that none of you would have agreed to become my mistress," she concluded and leant back, steepling her fingers.

Ukyo's face showed her objection to this concept quite clearly. The brown haired girl slowly shook her head and sunk deeper into her chair, only to right herself up as a look of determination appeared on her face. She wanted Ranma for herself, sharing was out of the question. She deserved him after all she had been through, she and no one else.

"See?" Ranma asked, her face a mask of neutrality, but her annoyed tone made Ukyo look into her eyes—eyes that were silver. "Your face tells me everything, Ukyo. You wouldn't have. Yet honour ain't an issue any more, eh? Maybe, but I won't marry you, because I don't want to," she concluded, crossing her arms underneath her breasts.

The finality in Ranma's voice prompted the chef to bring out the big guns. "But what about the agreement between our fathers? What about the dowry your father stole? You have to marry me!" she exclaimed angrily, her face set in a stubborn scowl.

"And that's the perfect example for what I just said. You try and use honour to manipulate me, to guilt me into marrying you. Do you have even an inkling of how fed up I am about that?" Ranma growled, and silver lightning briefly lit up the serving area.

A strong kick from Senny prompted Ranma to look down at her belly, and the raven haired girl laid her left hand onto her belly, taking a few calming breaths. When she looked back up her eyes were blue again, her face devoid of emotions.

"Have you thought about the consequences of using my honour against me? Have you considered what it boils down to? I have to marry you? Nice. So forcing me to marry you will ensure us such a good marriage, won't it? It will surely make me love you endlessly," Ranma retorted in a tone so thick with sarcasm it was a miracle she was still able to breathe through it.

"I—I..." Ukyo stammered, unsure of how to navigate out of the pit she had manoeuvred herself into.

Ranma shook her head, her face sporting a look of annoyance. "Save it. I will not marry anyone. I don't even know if I am capable of forming a relationship any longer, and I have no intention to find out in the near future, maybe never. All you and everyone else have managed to do is that you girls have made me wary of physical contact. Do you have an idea how much effort it cost me to just hug Kasumi-oneechan? So don't get me started on love. My experience shows that love equals pain, and I have had enough pain in my life. The only exception is Senny-chan, her love ain't selfish, her love doesn't cause me pain," she said with conviction.

"Y-You can't mean that..." Ukyo whispered as she shrunk into her chair, tears spilling down her cheeks, and the chef made a vain attempt to get a hold of her emotions, only to descend into hiccoughs.

Ranma's expression remained neutral, her eyes resting on her mid-section. "I do. Before it was just me who got hurt—physically and emotionally—which was no big, but I meant it when I said I've had enough pain in my life, and for one simple reason: Senny. She's my daughter and as such she will inevitably come to know pain, but by Kami-sama, I can and will clamp down on the sources I can control, and that is first and foremost my environment.

"I will raise Senny, and then we'll do what we must. I simply have neither the want nor the time for superflous baggage like a relationship. And that is final," Ranma said, her intent stare communicating that she meant every word.

"What about the ten years I spent training? What about the dowry that your family lost?" Ukyo demanded angrily with tears in her eyes, her face a mask of fury.

Relentless blue eyes met angry brown ones unflinchingly. "I'll ask bluntly, Ukyo: what of that is my fault? I was six when pops ran off with the cart, and I had no idea you were a girl. As for my honour, it is not affected by your claim. No," she growled, her silver aura producing an impressive light-show as it flared up, "you will let me finish!

"Your father, Ukyo, knew full well that a prior engagement existed. That is fact. Yet he offered his yattai anyway—which pops, greedy idiot that he is, took—expecting my family to dishonour a previous honour pact."

"But—" Ukyo tried to object.

"I am not finished yet," Ranma interrupted in a sharp tone of voice that shocked Ukyo into silence, the silver eyed girl's face expressing her extreme annoyance. "Your father, Ukyo, had to have known that an agreement such as this was dishonourable! My pops acted faulty as well, I'll admit that freely, but your father had no grounds for the actions he took! It had nothing to do with my honour!

"Then there's the fact that I had lost the yattai to the gambling king prior to the agreement between our fathers. The contract you base your claim on is faulty. As for the training you put yourself through, isn't it the foundation for your business? Don't go blaming me for things that ain't my fault, 'sugar'. I've had enough of that, and I won't stand it. If you want compensation, address your complaints to pops or the Saotome Clan. I don't fuckin' care which you choose, I have other problems to worry about," she concluded in an adamant tone.

"That's it? You just say I should fuckin' forget about ten bleedin' years? Years I spent training and chasing you and your father?" Ukyo demanded with a furious expression, slipping into the slang she had customarily used in the ten years she had spent as a boy.

Ranma rubbed her right temple, as if warding off a gigantic headache. "You must understand one thing, Ukyo, I am not the same Ranma you knew six months ago. My priorities have changed, a lot. So believe me when I say, if you push me, I will push back. And I can push damn hard when push comes to shove," she stated, her silver eyes lighting up with power for a moment.

"But really, I don't want to. You know, Ucchan, my life went to hell as soon as battles ensued over me, with me as the prize. Do you know how much it annoyed me that I had been made into an object? How much it turned me off that you girls threw yourselves at me?" she asked with a troubled expression. "You can be happy I didn't start liking guys, for Kami-sama's sake!"

Ukyo looked shocked. "Y-You wouldn't have—"

"I am a woman like you in this body, this pregnancy proves it. It's just everyone's damn luck I prefer women, in both forms.

"But I don't want a relationship," Ranma continued in a calmer voice after a short pause, "and anyone who tries to force me into one will regret it. I am a single mother, and no one will change anything about it. I'm just not in the market for a relationship, and all I can offer to you is friendship, Ucchan, nothing more, nothing less.

"If you want to restart the vendetta you had going be my guest, but I'll do everything in my power to defend my child and me. I just don't want to have to do so, for I'd lose one of the few I consider a friend," she concluded, a tired sigh escaping her lips as soon as she had finished.

"You absolute jackass!" Ukyo exploded and jumped up from her chair with a furious expression, her face red as a tomato, only to deflate and slump back into her chair a few seconds later after she had taken a few calming breaths. "I can't believe you really mean that," the chef finally breathed.

Glancing at Ranma she noticed firm resolve in the other girl's silver eyes, but also an enormous amount of tiredness. "But you really do mean it, doncha?" Ukyo pondered, her eyes widening at Ranma's nod. "You really don't know if you're capable of entering into a relationship, huh?"

"No, Ucchan, no idea," Ranma admitted, her face completely honest and open. "You know, you girls fighting over me and fitting me into your various ideas of how life should be without considering what I want drove me away from all of you. And as I said, my priorities ain't exactly on finding the girl I'll spend the rest of my life with."

"You really don't have the best prerequisites to go babe hunting at the moment, sugar," a somewhat recovered Ukyo chuckled, tracing Ranma's pregnant form.

Ranma chuckled as well, glad that her childhood friend had understood where she was coming from. "Don't I know it. 'Nineteen year old single mother looking for girlfriend,'. Ain't the ideal opening line, eh?"

"Not by any stretch of imagination, Ranchan," Ukyo replied, her facial expression changing from amusement to disbelieving wonder. "I'd never have thought that you'd ever get pregnant in the first place—or be the first one of our group. I think no one did."

"Least of all me," Ranma agreed with a wry chuckle, letting her right hand wander over her belly.

Ukyo nodded. "I'll be there for you, sugar. I have understood the message. I'll have to think about what it means for us, but neither you nor your kid asked for it to happen. Who knows, maybe you'll see things differently once you're a man again."

Ranma inwardly marvelled at Ukyo's turnabout at this point. It had come way too quickly for her taste as she had expected much more resistance. But then again, Ukyo had always been the most rational amongst the fiancees, and she must have sensed that a temper tantrum wouldn't have impressed her. It was likely that she wanted to preserve the chance she thought she had. Now to test if this theory held true.

Pasting a neutral expression on her face Ranma waggled her right index finger at the other girl. "Don't count on it, Ucchan. Better try to settle for a friend that'd go to hell and back for you than for a love interest that doesn't return your love and will push you away."

"Got it sugar. Ain't that I have that many friends to begin with…" Ukyo sighed, confirming Ranma's suspicions. The other girl hadn't given up, rather the opposite. But she knew when not to press it beyond a certain point, had likely learned from the wedding fiasco. That could turn very ugly in the future, but she had many witnesses for her refusal of Ukyo's claim. Besides, she had other, more important matters at hand.

"BWEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHRGGGGGHHH!" a voice exclaimed in a loud, tortured scream from upstairs, interrupting what Ranma had wanted to say.

The raven haired girl turned her head to where the inhuman scream had originated from, an alarmed expression on her face, which had gone deathly pale. The first half of that yell had sounded vaguely like an animal, but the second half could only be described as completely inhuman.

Throwing caution into the wind Ranma stormed upstairs, vaguely aware that the other females were hot on her heels. Rounding the corner at the top of the stairs Ranma ran straight into the room the yell had originated from, but stopped cold at the sight that greeted her.

"W-What the hell…" was the only coherent sentence she managed as her brain tried to catch up to what she was seeing…

-.-

The other females had just barely avoided bumping into Ranma, and when the pregnant martial artist had noticed that she was standing in their field of view and had stepped aside the others got a clear view as well on what had caused Ranma to stammer.

"Oh my Kami-sama! What is happening to Ryoga-kun?" Akane exclaimed, shock written on her face, her hands clasped over her mouth.

That was indeed the question on everyone's mind. Ryoga—who was only recognisable due to his trademark bandanna and his clothes or rather what was left of them—was rolling on the wooden floor with an expression of immense pain on his face, and his features were undergoing drastic and continuing changes. It was hard to estimate from this perspective and made even more difficult due to the state of constant flux his body seemed to be in, but it was near certain that Ryoga had at least gained two feet when he was at his tallest.

The females watched as Ryoga's body seemed to be trapped in some kind of constant flux, shrinking and expanding between his original size and the newly gained height. His body was alternately covered in bristly looking fur that resembled a pig's and jet black coloured, tough looking skin. For the moment his head had taken on a form that resembled a jackal, complete with a maw filled with razor-sharp looking pointy black teeth, yet his head was just as much subject to the same changes afflicting his body and alternated between the jackal form and something resembling a mixture of a human and a pig, complete with curved tusks. His hands and feet alternately sported mundane, human-sized hooves and wicked looking claws which had torn apart his shoes, shredding them beyond recognition.

It tore at everyone's heart to see Ryoga in so much pain, and the effort the lost boy invested in biting back pained screams was readily apparent in the thick strands of muscle that tensely rippled underneath his skin. Cologne pogoed into the room and fixed the only male Amazon present with a glare.

"What has happened, boy?" she inquired in a strained voice.

Mousse turned truly frightened and confused eyes on her and fought hard to regain his composure, succeeding after a long moment's effort. "I honestly have no idea, Elder," he replied, him addressing the matriarch by her title an indicator of how rattled he really was. "One second Ryoga was in here with me and the next he had disappeared. Then he reappeared again a few seconds later, and he was like that and began screaming his head of."

Cologne glanced at Mousse and back at Ryoga, a frown marring her face. His explanation was completly and utterly bogus, that was readily apparent to her, seeing as she had ordered Mousse to give Ryoga access to Drowned boy water to combine the curses in order to negate Ryoga's weakness. Yet something had happened that had botched it up, and the Elder had a good idea as to what. Suppressing a groan Cologne pogoed over to a good sized cupboard she kept some of her magical artefacts in. She opened the door to the three by three metres sized room which she'd ordered Mousse to use to combine their Heituenniichuan and Yaazuniichuan curses with Nannichuan water, and one look told her that cursed water had indeed been used.

The matriarch was hard pressed not to explode and gut Mousse on the spot for his damned vanity. The idiot boy had confused the kegs and had doused Ryoga-buta with water from the Spring of Drowned Jackal mixed with Nannichuan—commonly referred to as Anubis water in the tribe. Instead of giving in to the images of violence and carnage her mind conjured up Cologne took a few deep, calming breaths and finally turned back around to the awaiting group.

"I am afraid Ryoga came in contact with an unstable experiment I was conducting," she sighed, making the explanation up on the spot. "He got exposed to curse water that is a result of my efforts to alleviate the effects of unfavourable curses, like Shampoo's," she concluded, a grave expression on her wrinkled face.

"Oh my!" Kasumi exclaimed, her face going even paler than what it had been before.

"Poor Ryoga-kun!" Akane exclaimed, her face as white as the wall.

"What can do to help, hiba-chan?" Shampoo asked.

Cologne turned to her heir and shook her head with a sad expression on her face. "Nothing, child. The curses must run their course, and we can just hope that the Hibiki boy is strong enough to survive this ordeal."

"It is that serious, Cologne-san?" Nabiki inquired in her calm business tone, her ice-queen façade firmly in place. she wouldn't call Ryoga exactly a friend, but he was a decent enough guy who didn't deserve what was happening to him.

"I fear it is, child," Cologne replied in a grave tone and matching facial expression. "It is particularly bad that the experiment that crashed on Ryoga contained both water from the Heituenniichuan as well as the Anubis water. I wanted to discern how weak curses react to strong curses in hopes to dispel or replace the weak and in most cases unfavourable pig, dog, cat or duck curses, for example. I had not expected a reaction that violent."

A sudden loud two-voiced scream coming from Ryoga made everyone cringe. Ranma growled angrily at seeing her friend suffer, hating the helplessness imposed on her with every fibre of her being. Her head suddenly shot up as a thought popped into her mind. Was she really doomed to observe and nothing more?

Relaxing to the ground Ranma folded her legs under her body Indian style and closed her eyes. the trance that brought her spirit to the other Tendo dojo came easily to her, and when the redhead blinked her eyes open she gazed into the concerned silver and blue eyes of her daughter.

"Mom," she exclaimed and oofed as she was engulfed in a strong hug, "Air… need… air." she gasped out.

Ranma, the mother in question let up on her daughter to some degree at least, allowing the silvery-redhaired girl to draw some valuable oxygen into her lungs.

"Sorry, dear," the older redhead replied as she raked the fingers of her right hand through her daughter's soft hair, sighed and held her at arms length. "It's just that you are my last hope, hon. Something really bad has happened to Ryoga, and I have to help him! Senny, he could die!"

"Mom, take a deep breath and tell me what has happened," Senny soothed, hugging her mother to her with her left arm around her waist. She then used her right hand to stroke her mother's back in circling motions which noticeably managed to calm Ranma down.

The redhead looked up at her daughter after she had recomposed herself and quickly summarised what had happened in the last few minutes. When Ranma had finished Senny swore. "That's Bad mom, bad with a capital 'B'. Curse magic like that is damn potent and unpredictable," she mused with a very troubled expression.

"That mean we can't help him?" Ranma questioned, her face twisting into an even more helpless expression.

Senny sighed, closed her eyes and massaged her temples before opening her eyes again with yet another sigh. "I didn't say that, momma," she replied in a strained voice. "But helping him would require something I shy away from."

"What? What is it?" Ranma inquired in a hopeful voice. "I am partially responsible for the situation he is in now, Senny. If I hadn't run him over he'd never have gotten the curse. So if I can help him tell me how, by the kami!" she urged.

"Okay, mom," Senny agreed and removed herself from the hug, sitting down on the ground. Ranma mirrored her daughter and positioned herself across from her. "I will give you a quick rundown. I have been collecting every spare ounce of magical energy I could so that I could use it to trigger something to protect you should it become necessary, momma."

"Trigger what?" Ranma queried with a curious yet cautious expression.

Senny shrugged, a lop-sided grin appearing on her face. "You, mom, have magical potential inside of you that rivals that of the strongest Scouts, even Sailor Moon's," she commented off-handedly, so as if talking about the weather.

"I am no magical gi—" Ranma started to interrupt, only to be stopped cold by her daughter.

"Mom, please listen to me. I'm just gonna explain it without giving an opinion, the actual decision is up to you. Okay? Good. As said, you have that magical potential, but it is inactive, hasn't been triggered yet. That is due to the fact that the magic of members of the Serenity line only becomes active in female members, and only when the right triggers are involved."

"Triggers? Which triggers?" Ranma queried, having a good idea that Jusenkyo had been one.

"I'll come to that. You, mom, have been a boy for the first sixteen years of your life, which means that regardless how vast your potential is it would have stayed inactive, even with the right triggers involved. There's just one instance where a male became a Senshi, but he's of no relevance right now.

"Now to the triggers. You became a woman due to Jusenkyo and you had me, which provides all the triggers needed. In times of old, in the Silver Millennium, it was the Queen who unlocked the magical potential of the females of our line at a given age—a safety precaution to prevent accidental magic, you could say—, but me being the reborn Queen—technically not yet, I know—I can do that as well. I have the power it takes and more," Senny explained with a smirk.

"Go on," Ranma reluctantly muttered, curious against her will.

"You have recently been drawing on your magic in times of anger and stress, mom, but only on a fraction of it. Helping your friend would require releasing the blocks placed on your magic so that you can access it fully. You would turn into a magical girl, in essence," Senny cautioned, her tone of voice showing that she knew her mother's sentiments pertaining that topic.

"A magical girl…" Ranma whispered, her focus turning inward for a few moments, before switching back to her daughter again. "And you say I have always had this magical potential in me? It's just that because I was born a boy that it remained… dormant? It's no cheap power-up or something and won't endanger my male form?"

Senny shook her head with force that made her long silver hair swirl with the motions, her expression completely serious. "It is not, mom. It is your birthright, and we will need every ounce of power we can get. Keep in mind, it will be just the two of us against the other Scouts, and even if you agree and turn into a magical girl it will be no guarantee that we would be strong enough to face them on equal terms. We will still need allies, mom. it's not a free ticket to as much power as you want.

"It won't endanger your manhood either, Momma, I promise. Even though I don't know for the life of me why that's so important," she muttered silently. "You're my momma, that's all that counts."

Ranma nodded her head thoughtfully and chose to ignore her daughter's opinion on her male form, one of her worries alleviated. "Good, dear, on both accounts. I hate nothing more than undeserved power-ups. Hard training and work is how I gained my skills and strength, but if this magic thingy is part of me anyway I can accept it.

"Heck, I'll take becoming a magical girl any time if I can save Ryoga and help you by becoming less of a sitting duck. Ryoga's a good friend who has helped me a lot recently, and I owe it to him. Hadn't it been for pops 'n' me he'd never be in this situation," she mused. "Then there's to consider that a good deal of additional power—it being my power after all—will come in handy when dealing with the old hags on the Elder council. 'Cause I'm sure that's gonna be quite the show."

Senny sighed and impulsively hugged her mother to her. "But it'll hurt you so much, momma, and you have been hurt so much in your life already," she exclaimed with tears spilling down her cheeks. "Must it be now? Isn't there another way?"

"Not according to granny, my little one," Ranma replied softly as she stroked her daughter's hair. "Senny-chan, I cannot tell you how much it touches me that you're thinking 'bout my well-being. But Ryoga might die if I don't do it. And I hate the thought of not being able to assist you in what you've gotta do. Who's gonna keep 'em off your back while you destroy that big rock if not your ol' mom?

"My mind is made up, dear," she continued after taking a deep breath, her face displaying fierce determination, "I am no stranger to pain, and regardless how much it'll hurt it'll be worth it in the end. No pain, no gain."

"Momma, I hate that your life has made you so callous to pain," Senny whispered, using the right sleeve of her Chinese silk shirt to dry her eyes. "But I accept it. As if I had a choice."

Ranma smiled softly and held her daughter close. "Thank you, dear. So what's gonna happen now?" she queried, her apprehension barely audible.

Senny leant back in her mother's arms and looked into her stormy blue eyes, reluctance obvious in her own silver-blue eyes. "I will begin to reroute the spare magical energy I have been storing and send it into your magical core once you give me the go ahead, mom. I have collected every ounce of spare magical energy I could for a single reason: to protect you."

"Huh?" the smaller redhead queried.

"Momma, the Senshi nearly got us once, and I knew there'd be attempts on us. That's why I collected every spare ounce of energy, and Ryugenzawa was most helpful in that regard, as it allowed me to bolster my magical core without drawing on yours. My drawing on your magic was not detrimental to you in any way or form, mom, but I didn't like it.

"Which is why I jumped for joy when we reached Ryugenzawa. The water of life as well as the ambient magic in and around the area have filled me up to the brim, and I wanted to start channelling energy into your magical core anyway to safely erode the blocks over time. You are now nineteen, mom, and the normal age for a member of the Serenity line to have her blocks removed is twelve.

"Your blocks are bound to be strong, especially considering your frequent exposure to magic. Removing them in one go will be painful. Very painful," Senny cautioned, her expression dissatisfied. "But now that you have made your decision uninfluenced I can tell you about the benefits of being a magical girl."

"Benefits?" Ranma inquired, looking questioningly at her daughter.

Senny cracked a grin. "The protection I mentioned, momma. Your strength, endurance and other physical attributes will be amplified, you will gain an ultra-light armour that's able to absorb a lot of damage, and... Magical attacks in addition to the ki-based attacks."

Ranma nodded to herself as she mulled it over. "Not bad," she finally said, looking up into the expectant eyes of her daughter. "Not half as bad as I'd have thought."

"I'm relieved to hear that, momma," Senny said with a big smile. "Your potential is vast, how vast I dunno. As said, it is probably strong enough to rival that of the strongest Scouts."

"How?" Ranma whispered. "I mean, how is that possible?"

"That has to do with the source of our magic, mom," Senny explained, a far away expression in her eyes. "The Scouts' powers result from the mana taps they have on different celestial bodies, but members of the Serenity line tap into the power of the solar system itself. Sailor Moon is the only exception for reasons I do not remember, she is order bound to the Moon. But make no mistake, mom, they are strong, together likely stronger than even the two us combined."

Ranma slowly nodded as her mind absorbed the information, and her expression changed into a frown as something occurred to her. She lightly swatted her daughter on the right shoulder and began shaking her head. "You sly dog, you."

"Huh?" Senny queried, the monosyllabic question the only response she managed.

"Don't play innocent, dear, it's unbecoming. You planned on turning me into a magical girl all along, didn'tcha? The channelling of magic into my blocks to 'erode them', as you put it, would have led to that, wouldn't it?" Ranma inquired, an incredulous expression on her face.

"I had planned it as a trump card, a kind of last resort to use if you ever got into a tight spot, mom," Senny admitted in a regretful tone. "I just wanted to have a way to protect you so that you could protect yourself," she concluded with a downcast expression, her eyes filled with sadness. "I understand if you're mad at me."

Ranma placed her right hand under Senny's chin and softly forced her daughter to look up at her. "I am not mad at you, dear, not really. You didn't plan it for selfish reasons, other than ensuring our survival, maybe," she added with a chuckle, "and I can respect why you wanted to do it. But next time give me a warning in advance before you want to turn your mom into a magical girl, will ya?"

Senny giggled as her mother ruffled her hair, and her relieved expression made Ranma grin. "So, dear, what could happen to me if you remove those blocks? Aside from the pain, I mean?"

"I'll put it bluntly, momma, it will trigger a transformation. One you might not like," Senny admitted with a sigh.

"Transformation?" Ranma repeated, her brows climbing into her hairline. "Figures. I know I probably don't wanna know but I'll ask anyway: what kind of transformation?"

Senny frowned. "I dunno for sure, mom, but I'll take an educated guess. Well, lets face the facts, shall we. You are a direct descendant of the Serenity line with the strongest magical potential since Tenma, otherwise known as my predecessor's brother Orion the Hunter. You are female, at least half of the time," she relented at her mother's glare, "which is another essential prerequisite. Then there's your frequent exposure to magic, the latest example being Ryugenzawa, which likely bolstered your magical core. So…"

"Don't stall, dear," Ranma interjected, tapping her foot impatiently. "Just tell me how bad it's gonna be."

"Keep in mind," Senny remarked, waggling her finger at her mother, "you're doing it to save your friend. And to help your poor lil daughter."

"Wisecrack," Ranma muttered, trying to scowl, but failing miserably.

The silvery-redhaired girl shrugged, an evil grin blossoming on her face. "You asked for it, mom. It might be enough to trigger a Serenity transformation which might—or might not—give you abilities similar to what I will eventually have, just weaker, and your looks will likely be similar to what you have seen from the recording."

"That's not too bad then," Ranma shrugged.

"But… you are in for a fuku at the least," Senny added, her face holding an entirely too smug expression for Ranma's tastes.

"A fuku?" Ranma retorted, her face contorting in disdain. "Like what the Senshi are wearing? That wet dream of every perv in the whole wide world?"

"In essence, yes. It was very uncommon, but there were times when more than one girl was born to our line, and only one descendant could be the heir, based on the strength of their magic and their character. That's the reason why the Head Scientist of the time created a template based on the Senshi garb for the Serenity line in case members proved to be too magically weak or... inept to achieve the Serenity form. But I have no idea what will happen in your case, momma. None at all," Senny admitted with a shrug, contemplating if she should tell her mother the part that would make it bearable for her, finally deciding to do so after long moments of grinning at her mother with a teasing expression. "But you will be able to change the characteristics of your uniform should you indeed gain a fuku provided your magic is not strong enough for the Serenity transformation. Your magic has not been bound to any preset parameters as is the case with the Senshi, thus changes to the uniform will be possible."

Ranma's face relaxed somewhat. "That's at least something. I always asked myself who the perv was that came up with the Senshi's fukus. Must have been an ancestor of the old perv or something," she groused.

Senny chuckled. "Worse, mom. The Head Scientist I mentioned was a great-uncle of my predecessor. He was utterly brilliant, but any time he felt inspired it was prudent to hide at the other side of the universe. That, and he had a lewd view on things," she said with a snort.

"Now I know where mom's quirks come from. It's genetic," Ranma muttered with a dejected expression, putting her face in her hands. "Well, at least I'll have control over what my garb will look like. Don't wanna give the pervs of the world a free show."

Senny hugged her mother close to her. "I am glad that you don't have a problem with becoming a magical girl, mom. I was worried you would take it a lot harder what with all that manliness crap stuffed into your head. That's why I wanted to keep the trump card as a last resort."

Ranma drew back so that she could look her daughter into the eyes, a solemn yet caring expression adorning her face. "Having you took care of that, hon. While I may like my male form 'cause of its greater strength and reach I have understood and can appreciate the strength of a woman. 'Sides, that manliness crap came from my mom, and she has proven time and again that she ain't the best judge of character.

"I have outgrown the 'I have to be manly all the time phase', and it's my mom's own fault. Hadn't my grandparents and she forced me to have you—which I don't regret one second, dear—I might still be the macho Ranma who tried to be manly even in female form. If I have to become a magical girl to help Ryoga, and if it can aid me in helping you I'll do it. So let's do it."

The redhead oofed as she suddenly found herself hugged to her daughter with force that drove the air from her lungs. "I love you, mom. I love you so much," the silvery-redhaired girl whispered, and Ranma could feel the tears that spilled from her daughter's eyes as they dripped onto her skin.

Half a year ago Ranma would not have understood that crying could also be an expression of happiness or simply overflowing emotions, but her pregnancy had taught her a lot in regards of female emotional make-up. Her face sported a soft smile as her right hand made soft circling motions on her daughter's back.

"I know, my little one, I love you too," she whispered, revelling in the love they held for each other.

It was with a heavy heart that she willed herself out of the dreamscape, filled with certitude that her daughter knew what had to be done and would do it. Ranma Saotome was in for yet another change in her life, and she would face it head on, like she always did. For Ranma Saotome did not lose.

to be continued...