Well I didn't get as many reviews as I wanted, but hey that's how it goes. Still, at least five would have nice, but oh well. This is where the story really starts. Oh, and just a fair warning for the future, this story will also crossover with a few other anime/manga, maybe even a few games. If you really are an otaku, then you should know which group would most likely show up with the hint I gave last chapter.

There, now that that's out, let's begin. I don't own anything but the plot of this story, and even that was based off of two other stories.

Chapter I: Ranma's test

Ranma grumbled as he walked up the road to what had just now become his preferred home. Rubbing the top of his head where Akane had hit him. Although he wasn't really hurt anymore, the continuous mallet attacks still annoyed him.

"It's like that tomboy actually wants to kill me." He halted his thoughts as he reached the front door. *sigh* "oh well, might as well knock. I don't need mom thinking that I'm being unmanly by sneaking in like a coward."

Just as his hand was inches from the door, it quickly swung open, his mother looking straight at him with a smile. "Oh… hello there Ranma, somehow, I knew you'd be coming here tonight. Where's your father? Is he with you?"

Ranma looked on, perplexed for a moment, before lowering his hand and going back to normal. "Umm… nope, it's just me. I was already in the neighbourhood, so I decided just stay here for the night rather than going back to the Tendo dojo, it is already pretty late. You… don't mind if I stay here do ya mom?" A sheepish grin was fixed upon his face, right hand scratching the back of his neck. "Man, even for me that sounded cheesy."

Nodoka looked at him for a second, a curious look on her face, before returning to a smile. "Oh, well of course I don't mind. Ranma, you should know that you're always welcome here."

The pig-tailed martial artist felt relief pass through him. "Whew… thought for a second that she was going to ask why I was in Juban."

"Although…" and then his relief sank. "Ranma, I'm curious; why exactly are you here Juban anyway?"

"Aw dammit, I jinxed it. Gotta think of something fast. I can't tell her that Akane hit me all the way here. I can't even tell her that me and Akane had a fight" "Uhh... a… a challenge! That's right, a challenge. Some guy sent a letter to me this morning saying that he wanted to fight me in Juban at sundown. He was actually pretty good; the fight lasted a few hours," he explained frantically.

"I really don't wanna have to lie to mom, but I might end up getting killed if I don't."

The look of understanding on his mother's face was all he needed to know that she believed him. "A challenge huh? And I'm guessing you won?" Ranma nodded. "That's my boy. You truly are a man amongst men!" she shouted cheerfully as she hugged her son.

"Come on in, I was just finished making dinner. I'm pretty sure that I made enough food for the both of us," she said, as she led the way inside.

---X---

"He's obviously lying, that much I can tell, even without my artifact. Am I really that hard for him to open up to," Nodoka thought as she released him from her hug. "All the more reason for him to need to know the truth."

They went straight to the dining room; Nodoka picking up her Diarium Ejus off a cabinet along the way. Ranma stared at the strange book for a moment, noting the ornate markings on the cover. He didn't know why, but he felt oddly wary of the book. It was as if it held a strong aura of power about it; extremely powerful, but greatly suppressed.

"So, how has it been between you and Akane lately? I haven't heard about anyone in Nerima since that wedding." Ranma was brought out of his musing at her words; his eye, twitching at the memory. He looked back up to his mother as she slid open the dining room door before moving her book so that she could read.

"Oh…… well actually, things have been great for us," he lied sheepishly as he sat down, "yep, chances are we might just be getting married next week. Maybe even tomorrow."

The cursed martial artist looked at his mother, expecting a happy and excited smile. What he got instead was Nodoka looking at her book with a deep frown, a heavy sigh following just seconds later.

"Ranma," she said, not taking her eyes off of the pages. "You're lying… aren't you?" Her tone sounded flat, but the sharp edge of the question was impossible to miss. Her eyes finally turning towards her son with a bored glare as he looked back at her; surprise, evident on his features.

The look of surprise soon melted into one of nervousness with a small amount of terror. "L… ly… lying? Wh… what do ya mean by that mom? M… me and Akane really are doing great." "Oh boy, this doesn't look good. Darn it, how did she know I was lying? I can't be that bad of a liar can I?"

Nodoka continued to glare at him with that bored face –imitating her old friend almost perfectly, before releasing another sigh and going back to her book after Ranma finished speaking.

Oh boy, this doesn't look good. Darn it! How did she know I was lying? I can't be that bad of a liar can I? What'll she do when she finds out the truth? I don't think mom would like it if she found out that me and that tomboy always fought.

"Hmmm… As I expected. He really is scared of me. Well… that's definitely one problem I'll need to fix later. But for now, I have to focus on getting him to agree to go to Wales."

A few seconds of worrying later, Ranma heard a soft laugh come from his mother, the smile on her face indicating that she was simply joking. "I know… I know, I was only teasing Ranma. You really should learn to relax more. You always seem so nervous whenever I see you."

The young martial artist could only stare at his mother incredulously, "Nervous? Who the hell wouldn't be nervous if they had a mother that would kill them for the smallest mistake."

"Anyway, Ranma, is it alright if I ask you something?" Her son turned to her, curious.

"Huh? Well… yeah, I guess it'd be fine. What do you wanna know?"

The mixture of relief, curiosity and confusion on her son's face only served to make Nodoka chuckle at him. "Actually, it's more of a request dear. Tell me Ranma, would you like to take go on a trip to Wales?"

An confused gaze was all she received. For Ranma, the calm within his mother's voice was enough to convince him that she was being serious. "But really, Wales? Isn't that country next to France or something? Why would she ask me to go there?"

As the pig-tailed boy was about to voice his thoughts, Nodoka –now back to reading her book, had beat him to the punch. "Me and my old high school classmates are planning to have a two-week reunion starting the day after tomorrow you see. Our former class rep, being as successful as she is, managed to arrange a private flight for all of us to Wales; that was where our former homeroom teacher used to live. I only ever got to tell them about you, and I've already seen each of their kids. I guess you could say that I want to be able to finally introduce you to them."

Ranma relaxed a little at her explanation, but still held a little disbelief. "Gee mom… I don't know. I mean sure, I guess I wouldn't mind going there for a while. But then I'd end up missing on some major training. Uh… not that it's more important or anything, it's just that… well… *sigh*. And besides, there's still the whole fiancé matter to take care of," he reasoned.

Nodoka, smiled brightly back at him. "Well that shouldn't be much of a problem. Ranma, if you want, I can ask some of my old friends to give you some training in their styles." She paused. "And besides, only three of my old friends actually had boys. The rest of them are all girls, and most are at your age too. I'm sure that they'll be enough to satisfy you till we get back."

That was all it took. The mere mention of being surrounded by girls –and a lot of them from the sound of it, most of which were as old as he was, made Ranma's face turn pale.

"Hahahaha… I may not like the whole 'proud playboy's mother' façade, but seeing him act so much like his father did, definitely makes it all worth it." Nodoka thought, giggling at her son's expense.

Meanwhile, Ranma was practically hyperventilating at the news. "What-do-I-do? What-do-I-do? She already said that some of her old friends can give me some training, so I can't say no. If I do, then she'll find out that it's because of all the girls. Mom'll probably see that as being 'unmanly', and then pull out that seppuku contract again. But if I do go, I'll probably end up getting killed by those girls during our trip anyway. Hell, with my luck, I'll probably be engaged to one of them too."

Before he could think up a solution, the cursed martial artist was once again broken from his thoughts.
"I see…… so you don't want to go with your mother, do you Ranma?" Nodoka asked, her son now turning to her with very nervous face.

"Uhh… it… it's not that I don't want to go. It's just that…"
"There would be too many girls your age than you'd be comfortable with?"
"Uhh… we… well…"
*sigh* "Ranma, be honest with me. You're scared of being around so many girls, aren't you?"

Knowing he probably couldn't win this argument, Ranma simply settled for a reluctant nod, waiting for the inevitable Saotome honour blade to appear. But it never did, instead, all he got was a calculating stare from his mother.

"Hmm… alright, since that's the case… let's compromise. I'll give you a little test; if you pass, you can chose whether you will go or not, but if you fail, then I will. Does that sound reasonable?"

Ranma was again surprised for the umpteenth time that night. Not only was his mother not reaching for the family sword due to him acting 'unmanly' as she always put it, but she was actually giving him a choice. That was something he found he was rarely ever given.

Feeling confident that he could pass easily; the surprise and confusion on his face was replaced with a smug smirk.

"Heh, sure mom, hit me. I can take on any challenge that ya throw no problem." Nodoka could practically feel the confidence rolling off her son, her own smirk now in place. "Hook, line and sinker. I have to admit, I may not like how Genma raised my son, but sometimes, the gullibility that comes with it can be helpful."

Ranma saw his mother nod her head at him, the grin she held unnerving him a little. "Alright then, let's go to the backyard, that should make you test easier." And with that, she walked out of the dining room, book still in hand.

---X---

Nodoka didn't have to wait long for her son to follow. The sky was cloudy, leaving the light from inside as the only source of illumination. Being so late at night, the silence that permeated the darkness came as no surprise. Even the fish in the nearby koi pond dared not to make a noise.

As soon as they reached the middle of the yard, Nodoka turned around, her expression clearly serious. "Alright then Ranma, do you really think you're ready for this? I highly doubt you'll pass."

Ranma felt a twinge of annoyance at his mother's words, clearly offended, before shaking the feeling off. "We'll see about that," he said, a clear smugness in his voice, "what do I have to do?"

Silence followed after as Nodoka stared dauntingly into her sons eyes, leaving a rare feeling of intimidation up his spine. The smirk that followed didn't help at all.

"Your test Ranma," she started, turning around completely, her tone, as calm and clear as ice, "is to beat me in a fight. If you can knock me down for longer than a second… then I'll let you decide whether you go or not."

Ranma stood where he stayed, eyes as wide as dinner plates and mouth gaping like a fish. Shock was all that ran threw him after digesting those words.

It was nearly a minute before he finally regained his composure. "F… fi… fight… y… you?" though whoever would say completely is fool. "That's supposed to be my test? You're kidding right! I can't do that."

An eyebrow rose in curiosity on his mother's face, a hint of disappointment on her features. "Oh… and why is that Ranma? Is it because you think I'm weak? That I wouldn't be able to fight? Or is it perhaps because you actually believe that idiot, Genma's sexist ideas?" she asked, a hint of anger in her tone.

The apprehension in the pig-tailed martial artist grew at her question. His mind scrambling to find a good enough answer. "Uhh… no, it's nothing like that. It's just that… well, you're my mom, it just wouldn't be right. And most of all, you're not even a martial artist so I'll just end up winning easily. I'd only feel like I cheated if I passed this test." Which of course, him being THE Ranma 'foot-in-mouth' Saotome, will never be able find one.

The killing intent (I don't care if this isn't Naruto, I will have KI in this story) that rolled off of Nodoka after hearing that was palpable enough to be felt even by untrained senses. Ranma was having a hard time standing up from the sheer pressure and would have surely fallen had it been directed at him.

Meanwhile, in the guestroom of the Tendo dojo, Genma Saotome felt his danger senses flare to life just as he was getting ready for bed. Shuddering, his eyes darted to all possible directions, attempting to find the threatening presence that wished to do him harm. "Damn it! Where has that honourless son of mine gone off to! I'm sure he's responsible for whatever's trying to kill me. Why the hell isn't he here to take the punishment!"

And for once, the old, panda-cursed thief was right about his ramblings. Nodoka's anger only kept growing as she continuously re-read her son's thoughts through the Diarium Ejus.

Well I guess I can't just say that I can't fight a lady, she'd probably just get offended by that, and then where would I sleep? And she won't even be able to fight back, even with the Saotome honour blade. That thing was about as useful in her hands as Akane's food in my stomach!

"So… are those only reasons? I hate being lied to you know?" Ranma nodded hesitantly, causing Nodoka to give a heavy sigh. "Well… it doesn't matter. You already said you'd take the test, and a man amongst men will always keep his words. So just get ready," she commanded.

No movement followed her words as they both stood. A great tension hanging in the air, as a loud silence passed over them. "Well?..."

Finally, with great hesitation, Ranma proceeded to get into a stance. It was more to show that he was ready to begin rather than to get ready for an actual fight; the sloppiness of his posture was enough to give that fact away.

Nodoka –following her son's actions, tossed her book towards a nearby sakura (1) tree before pulling out an odd earpiece. Putting it in place, she moved her arms to the front of her chest, forming in X with her fore-arms.

"Alright then sochi(2), seeing as you're ready to fight, allow show you one of the first things that you'll be able to learn if you go with me."

As she ended her short speech, an aura unlike anything Ranma had ever felt(3) began surrounding her as she absorbed them into her being. The wind began swirling lightly around her as Nodoka threw her hands open with a shout: "Cantus Bellax!"(4)

---X---

Aaaaand cut! Well, that's a wrap my dear readers, I'm afraid the fight scene's going to have to wait till next time. Believe me, it wasn't an easy decision to make, but with the finals in just a week's time, I wasn't quite sure when I'd be able to update next. Besides, I already had half of this ready when I published the first chapter. If I get enough reviews, I might just try to squeeze in another one by Thursday, so make sure to comment. Also, I'm kind of a little indecisive about who I should have paired with Ranma. Akane is obviously out, but there's still Ukyo and Shampoo to think about (no way Am I doing Kodachi), not to mention Nabiki and Kasumi (in case of the off chance that you get confused, this is definitely not the Negimaverse Kasumi). Not to mention the various mentioned daughters of the Mahora girls (though not all of them will be available, try to guess why). They'll all have similar personalities and talents as their parents, so just think of them as OOC versions the original characters.

I highly doubt that you don't know this already, but sakura means cherry blossom. It's so common in anime and manga that it's nearly impossible to know if you're a fan.

Sochi literally means 'My son'.

As far as I'm concerned, Ranma never fought anybody that ever used magical energy (will be referred to as mana, the namesake of the Tatsumiya priestess).

If you haven't read that far into the manga yet or if you just forgot about the scene, there was actually one panel which hinted that Nodoka had managed to learn –or at least was interested, in augmentation magic. It would only make sense that she would know the Cantus Bellax (battle hymn) spell 21 years later if that were the case.

Well, make sure to review now, you might just see their fight earlier if you do. See ya.