Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½, Slayers, or Harry Potter.
Author's Notes: Thanks for the great reviews. Please continue to do so. Kodachi, Ukyo, Shampoo, and the rest of the Nerima gang will make a few more appearances, but only until they realize that Ranma has taken control and there is no way to change his mind. Wish me luck with the rest. ^^
'Thoughts' "/Japanese/"
Magical Destiny Chapter 3
New Years approached quickly, and Ranma found himself working harder than before at his job. Harry was often home with just Reesa around for company. Harry got along with Reesa extremely well for them being so far apart in age, and she was always telling him about his parents, the good, the bad, and the odd.
Ranma chuckled to himself as he wiped off his last table. 'I'm surprised that Ukyo, Shampoo, or Kodachi haven't tried to get me again. At least they haven't tried anything on Kim either. There would be hell to pay then. I wonder when Akane, mom, Nabiki, dad, Mr. Tendo, and Kasumi will be coming. Since the others are here, they'll be along soon. I can take control this time though. I'll turn the chaos, not cause it.'
Ranma turned to see the Dursleys enter the restaurant and rolled his eyes. He was off now anyways, and went to the back to hang up his apron and grab his jacket. 'We've all been avoiding the Dursleys for a while now. Don't think they care either. Well, off I go. Spending New Years with a real family will be great.'
Leaving, Ranma quickly jumped to the roofs and started hightailing it to the place he now called home.
"/You sure he lives here Nabiki?/" Akane asked, still skeptical.
"/Of course I'm sure. He now has a new last name, which is Inverse, works at a restaurant not far from here, and lives here with his landlady Kimberly Jennis and Harry. Kimberly's aunt also lives here./"
Genma came up behind them, "/Well let's get the ungrateful brat and force him to get this over with! He had no right to abandon Akane like that./"
Nodoka said nothing as she looked upon the house, the memory of the summer still lingering in her mind. 'I'm going to have to face him and explain why Genma thinks we haven't taken him or Harry off the register yet. Without him, our family name holds no honor. But do I really want to try and drag him back into all that?'
"/Hohohohohohoho! What are you doing at the home of my Ranma-sama! You will stay away whilst I rescue him from that witch's vile grasp!/"
Akane growled as Kodachi started going on about how vile this witch was that had ensnared her Ranma-sama, and then, Ukyo and Shampoo both showed up.
"/What pervert kitchen destroyer do here? Ranma no want you. You why he left./"
"/Yeah Akane. He didn't want the wedding and when you tried to force him into the marriage again he ran,/" said Ukyo smugly.
"/Then why didn't he go to either of you? Looks like he didn't love you guys either,/" Akane sneered.
"/Shampoo headed for China. Airen no could catch up possibly?/"
"/Wrong. Ranma just doesn't like any of you,/" Nabiki stated.
"/You treat him like some prize to be won and don't ask him what he wants to do. Ranma will not be tamed like that. However he was too honorable to really make a choice. By making the choice to be disowned, Ranma saved his honor, yet the Saotome honor was destroyed. You have no claim on him any more, any of you. Kodachi never had a claim in the first place,/" Nodoka said softly, "/Saotome Ranma is dead. Inverse Ranma. is someone new to the world. We shouldn't be here./"
Genma paled at that, "/We haven't taken Ranma off the family register yet. He still has to answer to us. We're his parents./"
Nodoka shook her head. "/I took him off months ago, honoring his decision. We have no son./"
"/Harry is still on! He can marry Akane! The schools will still be joined!/" Genma panicked.
Nodoka shook her head, and then walked up to the door. "/Neither Ranma nor Harry are ours anymore. The Saotome family has no honor. Neither Akane nor Ukyo have any claim and should not be here to chase him. He was right, Kodachi never had a claim in the first place, and Shampoo's claim was taken by Cologne./"
"/Then why are you here Auntie?/" Kasumi asked, still seemingly oblivious.
"/To seek forgiveness from the dead,/" was all she said, as she rang the doorbell.
Ranma arrived on his own roof just in time to hear the last part from his mother. 'At least she respected my wishes. Now to sneak in without the others noticing.'
Ranma went from window to window on the second floor and found most locked, and no one in the room. Then he got to Kim's room. She was half in her closet, and the only thing he could see were her blue jeans. Knocking on the window, Ranma waited for her to notice him.
Kim pulled herself out of the closet with only her bra on, a sweater in hand and looked to the window. Ranma blushed, realizing just how great her figure was, and brought himself back onto the roof. He heard the window open and heard Kim call his name and swung himself into the window. Her face red, she gave him a look that demanded an explanation. Blushing, Ranma gave one as best he could trying not to stick his foot in his mouth.
Downstairs, Harry was giving the whole crew a piercing scowl, while Reesa looked on confused. The four girls were having a stare down, while Kasumi was exploring the kitchen. "What's going on here, Aunt Reesa?" Kim asked while she and Ranma descended the stairs.
Reesa shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine but I think they're here to see you Ranma."
At the mention of Ranma's name, the four girls turned from their stare down and looked up to Ranma, each trying to smile.
"/Airen come with Shampoo yes? Restore Shampoo's honor?/"
"/No Ran-chan, come with me and we'll be extremely happy. I promise! We'll run Ucchan's together!/"
"/Oh! Hoho hohoho ho, Nay Ranma-sama! Come rejoice in my arms that you are finally freed of these harridans!/"
"/Ranma! You're coming back with me! Or else./"
Nabiki sighed at her little sister's outbreak and shook her head, and then turned her head. "/You're going to have to be extremely blunt and don't worry about feelings,/" she said softly, "/They're going to have to realize that your good graces have worn very thin, and you're not going to put up with their crap anymore./"
Ranma sighed and nodded to Nabiki, giving her a half hearted smile before turning into a stern expression. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Kim made her way to the kitchen to keep out of danger, like he asked her too. He motioned for Reesa to do the same, and turned back to the group gathered there. 'Amazing that pops and Mr. Tendo haven't tried anything yet. I would of thought that they'd of brought a priest with them. Best not count my chickens yet though.'
"/Shampoo, you had no honor to begin with. You crashed the wedding and crushed it yourself. You'll find no redemption from me. You can't kill me either, or else your grandmother will kill you. I don't love you Shampoo, nor will I ever. Ukyo, you also lost honor at that wedding. Your problem and claim is not my problem. If you want your honor satisfied don't look to me. Look to pops. He stained it. Kodachi, you never had a claim on my heart and you never will. LEAVE ME ALONE!!!! If you don't, I will file charges of assault and attempted murder for not only Japan but England as well,/" Ranma smiled at the three girls' look of shock at his revelation, but frowned at Akane's look of triumph, "/As for you Akane, I am not a prize as all you girls seem to think. I have come to realize that the love I felt for you has faded. You killed it, with all your abuse and attempted 'good' deeds that nearly killed me. You refuse to realize your faults, and take out your anger on me when I try to refuse one of the girls' advances. You never try to listen to my side of the story before you blame it on me. Since I am no longer Saotome Ranma, I suppose I can tell you without harming my honor. Ryoga is P-chan. He made me promise on my honor not to tell you but he used that dishonorably. If you don't believe me, bathe with him one day./"
Ranma then turned from the girls to look at his mother, and watched the emotions play on her face. Pride, anger, pity, sadness, pain, and love were all there. "/What are you doing here, Mrs. Saotome, Mr. Saotome?"
Nodoka started, and then calmed looking up at the man who was once her son. "/My husband came to see that Saotome Ranma is truly gone, I have come to seek forgiveness from the dead./"
Ranma smiled slightly, and nodded. Suddenly, Kim and Kasumi came out of the kitchen giggling. Suddenly Kodachi screeched, "/You harridan! You witch! You'll never take Ranma-sama away from me!!/"
Pulling out her ribbon, Kodachi made to kill Kim with Shampoo, Ukyo, and Akane not far behind. Before they could react, Kasumi stepped in front of Kim, and gave them a disapproving look. Kodachi was the only one who kept up the attack, only faltering a second when Kasumi stepped in. However, before she could attack, Ranma let out a roar of fury, and attacked her, punching her in the gut and knocking her out.
Shampoo, Ukyo, and Akane stared in shock. The idea seemed to finally get through their thick skulls. Ranma did not want them then and he didn't want them now. Akane realized that she lost the only man that would have ever loved her at any point without a delusional mind. 'Ranma had accepted my faults. I abused that. I lost him. Not to the girls, but to my own selfishness.'
Shampoo turned and ran out the door. 'Ranma doesn't love me, or any of us. Why did I choose not to see it? I will be punished for sure for my follies, and I will accept the punishment with a heavy heart.'
Ukyo just sat there shocked, 'How could my Ran-chan do this? Why did he hit Kodachi!? He's never hit a girl before. I've lost his love and his friendship now.' Turning on Genma, she frowned. "/So baka panda how will you restore my honor?/"
Genma had the sense to look rather scared before turning and running out of the house. Ukyo said a soft, "/I'm so sorry, Ran-chan,/" before giving chase to the evil panda man.
Nodoka sighed, "/It was nice visiting you, and a pleasure meeting your housemates. I must go and wait at the hotel for my errant husband./"
Nodoka bowed and left, leaving Ranma with mixed emotions. Nabiki sighed and moved to a shell shocked Akane. "/Come on sis. You look like you need to sit down./"
Akane followed Nabiki to the couch, as Kasumi and Kim poured tea. Kim nudged Kasumi slightly. Ranma raised an eyebrow as Kasumi blushed slightly and looked up at her father. "/Father, as you know I took an at home study course for a private school that I had gotten accepted to. I just received a letter from a boarding school here in Europe asking if I would like to Intern at their infirmary. I have decided to accept and hone my skills. Kimberly-san has graciously offered me a place to stay here until I leave for that school. I would appreciate your blessing. The letter went on to say that they wish to examine Nabiki to see if she would fit in to this school also./"
Soun's eyes lit up thinking, 'The schools will be joined for sure if my daughters stay here!' "/Of course you may! Why don't all three of you stay here and see if you can get into that school./"
Nabiki and Kasumi rolled their eyes, but everyone was shocked when Akane said no.
"/Father, I did not receive letters like they did. I'm not fit for that school or the one in Japan. Nabiki and Kasumi should have gone there in the first place but were too worried about you and me to leave. They took the at home study courses and hid it from you. Only they should remain here. I wish to return home however./"
Ranma raised an eyebrow and looked at Kim mouthing Hogwarts to her. She shrugged and winked, letting him know that she saw Kasumi's letter, not Nabiki's. Ranma looked at Akane who looked close to tears and waited. She then looked up at him, "/Ranma, I am so sorry. I realize now that it never would have worked, as I never and still don't trust you much. I'm sorry for trying to force this on you./"
Akane got up and left, leaving Soun and the rest speechless. Reesa then came out of the kitchen and looked at who was left, holding two Hogwarts letters in her hands. "Oh! Is everyone leaving now? This is for Nabiki and Kasumi." The two girls took their respective letters and opened them. Nabiki grew excited and grinned, while Kasumi smiled serenely. Soun Tendo looked on confusedly, trying to figure out what was going on.
Suddenly, Ranma had an epiphany, a sudden enlightenment about what had gone on while he was at the Tendos. Nabiki used her magic to gather information, keep secrets, and guard herself. Kasumi used her magic to heal, and keep peace. 'They're the reason Akane and I never seriously got hurt from our stronger enemies. No one ever knew what was going on! Ha! Not even me. They kept it hidden well.' Ranma grinned in spite of himself, despite the fact he had been tricked.
Ranma then turned to Mr. Tendo and frowned slightly. "/Tendo-san, I believe it was stated that Kasumi and Nabiki may stay here for the times they are going to school. Akane has professed a wish to return home and I hope that you will take good care of her, for she needs you now. Not her sisters Tendo-san, you."
Soun nodded and got up. Giving his two eldest one final farewell, he left in search of his youngest.
Harry, who had been watching for the most part, chose that moment to speak up, "So you two are going to stay here? That is so cool!"
Nabiki looked over at him and took a moment to reply, "Yes, but now we have to get used to speaking in English. I will finish my independent study at Hogwarts, and Kasumi, who passed all her tests in Maho's school, will be interning with the nurse until she gets a license to practice magical medicine."
"At least Nerima won't follow us around anymore," Ranma said, nearly sighing in relief.
"I wouldn't count on that one, Ranma. Mousse will be sure to come for breaking Shampoo's heart. Happosai is still miffed because his darling 'Ranma-chan' has disappeared. Ryoga will probably just show up somewhere along the line," Nabiki stated.
Ranma fell into an easy chair, "You had to ruin it for me didn't you?"
Nabiki just shrugged, "You know it as well as I do, it needs to be thought about and taken care of."
"We'll take care of them as they come. Right now, it's almost midnight, and the New Year!" Kim said cheerfully.
Ranma smiled at her as she poured them all a glass of wine and handed them all some food, rumored to bring luck with the New Year. (I.e. grapes, black eyed peas, etc.) Harry was the only one who didn't get wine, she gave him grape juice instead. Ranma chuckled as the count down began.
"What's so funny Ranma?" Nabiki asked, giving him a funny look.
"Ranma-chan will never make an appearance again," he said, as Kim walked up next to him.
"Why's that?" Kasumi breathed eyes wide.
"10!"
"There are no cures to the Jusenkyo curses, but mine was unique. The girl there could not rest until her knowledge was made known."
"9!"
"You learned it?" Nabiki asked skeptically.
"8!"
Ranma nodded, "After she knew that I had stored all that information, she left, taking the curse with her."
"7!"
"Can you use that magic?" Kasumi asked curiously.
"6!"
"Only a few spells, but they're really draining on my magic. I have to build it up a lot before I'm at her level. I'm still unsure if I'll ever be as strong as she was."
"5!"
"I thought you could pull off the fireball pretty well Ranma," Harry said, puzzled.
"4!"
Ranma popped a grape in his mouth and nodded slightly, "Yes but its only strong enough to start a small fire, not really explode."
"3!"
"You have all really lost me here," Kim said.
"2!"
"I'll explain everything later," Ranma started.
"1!"
"This year I want to do things correctly," Ranma said huskily, leaning closer to her. Kim held her breath in anticipation as Ranma came in to claim a kiss.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!"
Ranma's lips found hers as Nabiki and Harry cheered while Kasumi blushed. Reesa came in just in time to see it and smiled approvingly. A sad look crossed her face briefly, but the smile returned before anyone noticed. "Alright you two, that's enough. Or should I send you two to Kim's room for the night."
Kim and Ranma broke apart blushing furiously, as the rest of the household laughed.
Ranma's birthday approached with spring, and passed with the joy of spending it with a real family. It was two month's later, in June, two days before Kim's birthday, that trouble struck again. This time it struck in the forms of Ryoga and Mousse. "/Ranma, Prepare to die!!/"
Ranma and Harry were out training in the yard in the early morning when the yell was heard. Ranma, already agitated over what to get his girlfriend and lack of sleep from working late, heard this battle cry and got angry. Extremely angry. He got his emotions under control and quickly beat them. The fight was brutal. Ranma took all his frustrations out on the two boys that constantly attacked him before asking questions he already knew the answer to. "/What did I do now? I no longer have any hold on your girls./"
"/For the travesty of breaking Shampoo's heart you will pay!/" screeched Mousse.
Ryoga glowered in what he thought was righteous anger, "/You told Akane about my curse you honor less dog!/"
Ranma rolled his eyes, "/Mousse, Shampoo will get over it. Did you ever think for a second that if you were there comforting her in her time of need she MIGHT fall for you. But now she's just going to go find another guy. You poor thing,/" Ranma said in mock sympathy. He turned to Ryoga, "/You used the promise dishonorably to begin with. You lost all honor there and I was losing mine, so when I threw away my name as Ranma Saotome, I also threw away what little honor that name had. As a Saotome I lost all my honor, but now as an Inverse, I have new honor that is unstained by the likes of either of you!"
With that, Ranma stormed into the house with a grinning Harry on his heels, leaving two speechless ex-rivals beaten in the dirt. The two looked at each other, shook themselves, and then left.
Nabiki, still in pajamas with ruffled hair, watched lazily as Ranma stormed past her and up the stairs. She threw a questioning look at Harry who sat down at the set table. "Mousse and Ryoga," was all he said.
Nabiki yawned, "I thought they would have gotten here earlier. Guess I lost that bet."
Harry gave her an odd look, "For a seer, you don't take the future very seriously do you?"
Nabiki grinned, "No use losing sleep over what you can't change, Happosai will be along soon."
Harry just shrugged, and looked to the kitchen, where Kasumi, Reesa, and Kim were bringing out breakfast.
"Ranma! Breakfast is ready when you are! You had better come down before it gets cold," Kim hollered up the stairs. The reply she got was one she was supposed to be used to. Ranma ran down the stairs, barely avoiding knocking her over, and got to his seat at the table in under a second. Kim joined him after she shook herself out of her stunned state.
"I thought we could all go to the zoo today, because it's supposed to be really nice," Kim said thoughtfully.
Harry grinned, and the others shrugged. "Sure, sounds like a good idea to me, since none of us have to work today," Nabiki said. Kasumi and Reesa nodded. Ranma continued eating his breakfast, not missing a beat.
Kim just smiled and finished her own. They all set out after breakfast and were soon at the zoo. They stayed together, watching the lions and tigers, and laughing at the monkeys' antics. When they reached the reptile cage, Kasumi and Reesa declined going in, in favor of sitting out in the warm sun. The rest went in, and saw Dudley staring at a large snake, with Mr. Dursley tapping on the glass. "Awwww this is boring," they heard Dudley say as he walked away. Mr. Dursley spotted Ranma and Kim with Nabiki and walked over to talk to the three. Harry went to see the snake Dudley had been looking at.
"Sorry about that, Dudley's always like that. Even at school he bullies things and people. Must not be very nice in there, having people look at you all day," Harry trailed off. The snake had raised its head and WINKED at him. Looking around, he saw Ranma and saw him and Kim talking to Mr. Dursley. Nabiki was headed his way.
Harry shrugged and turned to the snake again. "What's Brazil like?"
The snake shook its head, and used its tail to point to the sign. "Oh, bred in captivity. Bet you would love to see your native land."
The snake nodded, and Nabiki, who was now right beside him gave him an odd look, "Are you speaking to the snake?!"
Harry nodded, looking at her curiously.
"I thought snake language was only known by... unless.." Nabiki looked at Harry, "Do you realize that you're speaking in a different tongue?"
Harry looked startled, and shook his head. He started to say something, when he was interrupted by Dudley, who was yelling, "Hey Piers!!! Look at what the snake is doing!!"
Shoving Harry out of the way, Dudley placed his piggy face against the glass as Nabiki stepped away, startled. Harry got angry as he lay there on the floor, and suddenly, the glass wasn't there, and Piers, running to Dudley, couldn't stop as he knocked them both into the snake's cage. The snake itself was slithering out, as it whispered to Harry, "Thanksssss, amigo." Harry just looked on startled, as the snake left and Piers and Dudley got up. They tried to get out, but the glass was back, and they started screaming. Mrs. Dursley walked up and fainted as Nabiki came up and dragged Harry away from the 'crime.' Harry was still too stunned to move.
Nabiki didn't look down until they had joined Ranma, Kim, Kasumi, and Reesa who looked slightly confused. "Harry let the snake out accidentally," she said softly so only they could hear, but then she smirked, "Kind of sad that those two idiots got trapped in there afterwards though."
Harry and Ranma both started to chuckle. Harry had gotten revenge, and didn't even think about it till now. Suddenly a thought occurred to him, and he turned to Nabiki, "What did you mean I was speaking in another language when I was talking to the snake?"
Nabiki looked at him. "You really have no idea. You were speaking in Parseltongue Harry, a forbidden tongue because it's related to the man who killed your parents. Now I suppose when he attacked you and failed, he might have transferred that power, as well as a few others, onto you. I wouldn't worry about it too much but keep it secret! That knowledge can't get into the wrong hands!"
Harry listened as Nabiki spoke, yet noticed how pale Reesa, Kasumi and Kim were getting at the news. Ranma looked alarmed but confident in his little brother. Everyone knew about the demise of Harry's parents, and Harry knew the secret was safe with them. They left for home shortly after the fiasco, hoping that the muggles would refuse to see the magic there, like they had done for the past six decades.
Author's Notes: Thanks for the great reviews. Please continue to do so. Kodachi, Ukyo, Shampoo, and the rest of the Nerima gang will make a few more appearances, but only until they realize that Ranma has taken control and there is no way to change his mind. Wish me luck with the rest. ^^
'Thoughts' "/Japanese/"
Magical Destiny Chapter 3
New Years approached quickly, and Ranma found himself working harder than before at his job. Harry was often home with just Reesa around for company. Harry got along with Reesa extremely well for them being so far apart in age, and she was always telling him about his parents, the good, the bad, and the odd.
Ranma chuckled to himself as he wiped off his last table. 'I'm surprised that Ukyo, Shampoo, or Kodachi haven't tried to get me again. At least they haven't tried anything on Kim either. There would be hell to pay then. I wonder when Akane, mom, Nabiki, dad, Mr. Tendo, and Kasumi will be coming. Since the others are here, they'll be along soon. I can take control this time though. I'll turn the chaos, not cause it.'
Ranma turned to see the Dursleys enter the restaurant and rolled his eyes. He was off now anyways, and went to the back to hang up his apron and grab his jacket. 'We've all been avoiding the Dursleys for a while now. Don't think they care either. Well, off I go. Spending New Years with a real family will be great.'
Leaving, Ranma quickly jumped to the roofs and started hightailing it to the place he now called home.
"/You sure he lives here Nabiki?/" Akane asked, still skeptical.
"/Of course I'm sure. He now has a new last name, which is Inverse, works at a restaurant not far from here, and lives here with his landlady Kimberly Jennis and Harry. Kimberly's aunt also lives here./"
Genma came up behind them, "/Well let's get the ungrateful brat and force him to get this over with! He had no right to abandon Akane like that./"
Nodoka said nothing as she looked upon the house, the memory of the summer still lingering in her mind. 'I'm going to have to face him and explain why Genma thinks we haven't taken him or Harry off the register yet. Without him, our family name holds no honor. But do I really want to try and drag him back into all that?'
"/Hohohohohohoho! What are you doing at the home of my Ranma-sama! You will stay away whilst I rescue him from that witch's vile grasp!/"
Akane growled as Kodachi started going on about how vile this witch was that had ensnared her Ranma-sama, and then, Ukyo and Shampoo both showed up.
"/What pervert kitchen destroyer do here? Ranma no want you. You why he left./"
"/Yeah Akane. He didn't want the wedding and when you tried to force him into the marriage again he ran,/" said Ukyo smugly.
"/Then why didn't he go to either of you? Looks like he didn't love you guys either,/" Akane sneered.
"/Shampoo headed for China. Airen no could catch up possibly?/"
"/Wrong. Ranma just doesn't like any of you,/" Nabiki stated.
"/You treat him like some prize to be won and don't ask him what he wants to do. Ranma will not be tamed like that. However he was too honorable to really make a choice. By making the choice to be disowned, Ranma saved his honor, yet the Saotome honor was destroyed. You have no claim on him any more, any of you. Kodachi never had a claim in the first place,/" Nodoka said softly, "/Saotome Ranma is dead. Inverse Ranma. is someone new to the world. We shouldn't be here./"
Genma paled at that, "/We haven't taken Ranma off the family register yet. He still has to answer to us. We're his parents./"
Nodoka shook her head. "/I took him off months ago, honoring his decision. We have no son./"
"/Harry is still on! He can marry Akane! The schools will still be joined!/" Genma panicked.
Nodoka shook her head, and then walked up to the door. "/Neither Ranma nor Harry are ours anymore. The Saotome family has no honor. Neither Akane nor Ukyo have any claim and should not be here to chase him. He was right, Kodachi never had a claim in the first place, and Shampoo's claim was taken by Cologne./"
"/Then why are you here Auntie?/" Kasumi asked, still seemingly oblivious.
"/To seek forgiveness from the dead,/" was all she said, as she rang the doorbell.
Ranma arrived on his own roof just in time to hear the last part from his mother. 'At least she respected my wishes. Now to sneak in without the others noticing.'
Ranma went from window to window on the second floor and found most locked, and no one in the room. Then he got to Kim's room. She was half in her closet, and the only thing he could see were her blue jeans. Knocking on the window, Ranma waited for her to notice him.
Kim pulled herself out of the closet with only her bra on, a sweater in hand and looked to the window. Ranma blushed, realizing just how great her figure was, and brought himself back onto the roof. He heard the window open and heard Kim call his name and swung himself into the window. Her face red, she gave him a look that demanded an explanation. Blushing, Ranma gave one as best he could trying not to stick his foot in his mouth.
Downstairs, Harry was giving the whole crew a piercing scowl, while Reesa looked on confused. The four girls were having a stare down, while Kasumi was exploring the kitchen. "What's going on here, Aunt Reesa?" Kim asked while she and Ranma descended the stairs.
Reesa shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine but I think they're here to see you Ranma."
At the mention of Ranma's name, the four girls turned from their stare down and looked up to Ranma, each trying to smile.
"/Airen come with Shampoo yes? Restore Shampoo's honor?/"
"/No Ran-chan, come with me and we'll be extremely happy. I promise! We'll run Ucchan's together!/"
"/Oh! Hoho hohoho ho, Nay Ranma-sama! Come rejoice in my arms that you are finally freed of these harridans!/"
"/Ranma! You're coming back with me! Or else./"
Nabiki sighed at her little sister's outbreak and shook her head, and then turned her head. "/You're going to have to be extremely blunt and don't worry about feelings,/" she said softly, "/They're going to have to realize that your good graces have worn very thin, and you're not going to put up with their crap anymore./"
Ranma sighed and nodded to Nabiki, giving her a half hearted smile before turning into a stern expression. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Kim made her way to the kitchen to keep out of danger, like he asked her too. He motioned for Reesa to do the same, and turned back to the group gathered there. 'Amazing that pops and Mr. Tendo haven't tried anything yet. I would of thought that they'd of brought a priest with them. Best not count my chickens yet though.'
"/Shampoo, you had no honor to begin with. You crashed the wedding and crushed it yourself. You'll find no redemption from me. You can't kill me either, or else your grandmother will kill you. I don't love you Shampoo, nor will I ever. Ukyo, you also lost honor at that wedding. Your problem and claim is not my problem. If you want your honor satisfied don't look to me. Look to pops. He stained it. Kodachi, you never had a claim on my heart and you never will. LEAVE ME ALONE!!!! If you don't, I will file charges of assault and attempted murder for not only Japan but England as well,/" Ranma smiled at the three girls' look of shock at his revelation, but frowned at Akane's look of triumph, "/As for you Akane, I am not a prize as all you girls seem to think. I have come to realize that the love I felt for you has faded. You killed it, with all your abuse and attempted 'good' deeds that nearly killed me. You refuse to realize your faults, and take out your anger on me when I try to refuse one of the girls' advances. You never try to listen to my side of the story before you blame it on me. Since I am no longer Saotome Ranma, I suppose I can tell you without harming my honor. Ryoga is P-chan. He made me promise on my honor not to tell you but he used that dishonorably. If you don't believe me, bathe with him one day./"
Ranma then turned from the girls to look at his mother, and watched the emotions play on her face. Pride, anger, pity, sadness, pain, and love were all there. "/What are you doing here, Mrs. Saotome, Mr. Saotome?"
Nodoka started, and then calmed looking up at the man who was once her son. "/My husband came to see that Saotome Ranma is truly gone, I have come to seek forgiveness from the dead./"
Ranma smiled slightly, and nodded. Suddenly, Kim and Kasumi came out of the kitchen giggling. Suddenly Kodachi screeched, "/You harridan! You witch! You'll never take Ranma-sama away from me!!/"
Pulling out her ribbon, Kodachi made to kill Kim with Shampoo, Ukyo, and Akane not far behind. Before they could react, Kasumi stepped in front of Kim, and gave them a disapproving look. Kodachi was the only one who kept up the attack, only faltering a second when Kasumi stepped in. However, before she could attack, Ranma let out a roar of fury, and attacked her, punching her in the gut and knocking her out.
Shampoo, Ukyo, and Akane stared in shock. The idea seemed to finally get through their thick skulls. Ranma did not want them then and he didn't want them now. Akane realized that she lost the only man that would have ever loved her at any point without a delusional mind. 'Ranma had accepted my faults. I abused that. I lost him. Not to the girls, but to my own selfishness.'
Shampoo turned and ran out the door. 'Ranma doesn't love me, or any of us. Why did I choose not to see it? I will be punished for sure for my follies, and I will accept the punishment with a heavy heart.'
Ukyo just sat there shocked, 'How could my Ran-chan do this? Why did he hit Kodachi!? He's never hit a girl before. I've lost his love and his friendship now.' Turning on Genma, she frowned. "/So baka panda how will you restore my honor?/"
Genma had the sense to look rather scared before turning and running out of the house. Ukyo said a soft, "/I'm so sorry, Ran-chan,/" before giving chase to the evil panda man.
Nodoka sighed, "/It was nice visiting you, and a pleasure meeting your housemates. I must go and wait at the hotel for my errant husband./"
Nodoka bowed and left, leaving Ranma with mixed emotions. Nabiki sighed and moved to a shell shocked Akane. "/Come on sis. You look like you need to sit down./"
Akane followed Nabiki to the couch, as Kasumi and Kim poured tea. Kim nudged Kasumi slightly. Ranma raised an eyebrow as Kasumi blushed slightly and looked up at her father. "/Father, as you know I took an at home study course for a private school that I had gotten accepted to. I just received a letter from a boarding school here in Europe asking if I would like to Intern at their infirmary. I have decided to accept and hone my skills. Kimberly-san has graciously offered me a place to stay here until I leave for that school. I would appreciate your blessing. The letter went on to say that they wish to examine Nabiki to see if she would fit in to this school also./"
Soun's eyes lit up thinking, 'The schools will be joined for sure if my daughters stay here!' "/Of course you may! Why don't all three of you stay here and see if you can get into that school./"
Nabiki and Kasumi rolled their eyes, but everyone was shocked when Akane said no.
"/Father, I did not receive letters like they did. I'm not fit for that school or the one in Japan. Nabiki and Kasumi should have gone there in the first place but were too worried about you and me to leave. They took the at home study courses and hid it from you. Only they should remain here. I wish to return home however./"
Ranma raised an eyebrow and looked at Kim mouthing Hogwarts to her. She shrugged and winked, letting him know that she saw Kasumi's letter, not Nabiki's. Ranma looked at Akane who looked close to tears and waited. She then looked up at him, "/Ranma, I am so sorry. I realize now that it never would have worked, as I never and still don't trust you much. I'm sorry for trying to force this on you./"
Akane got up and left, leaving Soun and the rest speechless. Reesa then came out of the kitchen and looked at who was left, holding two Hogwarts letters in her hands. "Oh! Is everyone leaving now? This is for Nabiki and Kasumi." The two girls took their respective letters and opened them. Nabiki grew excited and grinned, while Kasumi smiled serenely. Soun Tendo looked on confusedly, trying to figure out what was going on.
Suddenly, Ranma had an epiphany, a sudden enlightenment about what had gone on while he was at the Tendos. Nabiki used her magic to gather information, keep secrets, and guard herself. Kasumi used her magic to heal, and keep peace. 'They're the reason Akane and I never seriously got hurt from our stronger enemies. No one ever knew what was going on! Ha! Not even me. They kept it hidden well.' Ranma grinned in spite of himself, despite the fact he had been tricked.
Ranma then turned to Mr. Tendo and frowned slightly. "/Tendo-san, I believe it was stated that Kasumi and Nabiki may stay here for the times they are going to school. Akane has professed a wish to return home and I hope that you will take good care of her, for she needs you now. Not her sisters Tendo-san, you."
Soun nodded and got up. Giving his two eldest one final farewell, he left in search of his youngest.
Harry, who had been watching for the most part, chose that moment to speak up, "So you two are going to stay here? That is so cool!"
Nabiki looked over at him and took a moment to reply, "Yes, but now we have to get used to speaking in English. I will finish my independent study at Hogwarts, and Kasumi, who passed all her tests in Maho's school, will be interning with the nurse until she gets a license to practice magical medicine."
"At least Nerima won't follow us around anymore," Ranma said, nearly sighing in relief.
"I wouldn't count on that one, Ranma. Mousse will be sure to come for breaking Shampoo's heart. Happosai is still miffed because his darling 'Ranma-chan' has disappeared. Ryoga will probably just show up somewhere along the line," Nabiki stated.
Ranma fell into an easy chair, "You had to ruin it for me didn't you?"
Nabiki just shrugged, "You know it as well as I do, it needs to be thought about and taken care of."
"We'll take care of them as they come. Right now, it's almost midnight, and the New Year!" Kim said cheerfully.
Ranma smiled at her as she poured them all a glass of wine and handed them all some food, rumored to bring luck with the New Year. (I.e. grapes, black eyed peas, etc.) Harry was the only one who didn't get wine, she gave him grape juice instead. Ranma chuckled as the count down began.
"What's so funny Ranma?" Nabiki asked, giving him a funny look.
"Ranma-chan will never make an appearance again," he said, as Kim walked up next to him.
"Why's that?" Kasumi breathed eyes wide.
"10!"
"There are no cures to the Jusenkyo curses, but mine was unique. The girl there could not rest until her knowledge was made known."
"9!"
"You learned it?" Nabiki asked skeptically.
"8!"
Ranma nodded, "After she knew that I had stored all that information, she left, taking the curse with her."
"7!"
"Can you use that magic?" Kasumi asked curiously.
"6!"
"Only a few spells, but they're really draining on my magic. I have to build it up a lot before I'm at her level. I'm still unsure if I'll ever be as strong as she was."
"5!"
"I thought you could pull off the fireball pretty well Ranma," Harry said, puzzled.
"4!"
Ranma popped a grape in his mouth and nodded slightly, "Yes but its only strong enough to start a small fire, not really explode."
"3!"
"You have all really lost me here," Kim said.
"2!"
"I'll explain everything later," Ranma started.
"1!"
"This year I want to do things correctly," Ranma said huskily, leaning closer to her. Kim held her breath in anticipation as Ranma came in to claim a kiss.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!"
Ranma's lips found hers as Nabiki and Harry cheered while Kasumi blushed. Reesa came in just in time to see it and smiled approvingly. A sad look crossed her face briefly, but the smile returned before anyone noticed. "Alright you two, that's enough. Or should I send you two to Kim's room for the night."
Kim and Ranma broke apart blushing furiously, as the rest of the household laughed.
Ranma's birthday approached with spring, and passed with the joy of spending it with a real family. It was two month's later, in June, two days before Kim's birthday, that trouble struck again. This time it struck in the forms of Ryoga and Mousse. "/Ranma, Prepare to die!!/"
Ranma and Harry were out training in the yard in the early morning when the yell was heard. Ranma, already agitated over what to get his girlfriend and lack of sleep from working late, heard this battle cry and got angry. Extremely angry. He got his emotions under control and quickly beat them. The fight was brutal. Ranma took all his frustrations out on the two boys that constantly attacked him before asking questions he already knew the answer to. "/What did I do now? I no longer have any hold on your girls./"
"/For the travesty of breaking Shampoo's heart you will pay!/" screeched Mousse.
Ryoga glowered in what he thought was righteous anger, "/You told Akane about my curse you honor less dog!/"
Ranma rolled his eyes, "/Mousse, Shampoo will get over it. Did you ever think for a second that if you were there comforting her in her time of need she MIGHT fall for you. But now she's just going to go find another guy. You poor thing,/" Ranma said in mock sympathy. He turned to Ryoga, "/You used the promise dishonorably to begin with. You lost all honor there and I was losing mine, so when I threw away my name as Ranma Saotome, I also threw away what little honor that name had. As a Saotome I lost all my honor, but now as an Inverse, I have new honor that is unstained by the likes of either of you!"
With that, Ranma stormed into the house with a grinning Harry on his heels, leaving two speechless ex-rivals beaten in the dirt. The two looked at each other, shook themselves, and then left.
Nabiki, still in pajamas with ruffled hair, watched lazily as Ranma stormed past her and up the stairs. She threw a questioning look at Harry who sat down at the set table. "Mousse and Ryoga," was all he said.
Nabiki yawned, "I thought they would have gotten here earlier. Guess I lost that bet."
Harry gave her an odd look, "For a seer, you don't take the future very seriously do you?"
Nabiki grinned, "No use losing sleep over what you can't change, Happosai will be along soon."
Harry just shrugged, and looked to the kitchen, where Kasumi, Reesa, and Kim were bringing out breakfast.
"Ranma! Breakfast is ready when you are! You had better come down before it gets cold," Kim hollered up the stairs. The reply she got was one she was supposed to be used to. Ranma ran down the stairs, barely avoiding knocking her over, and got to his seat at the table in under a second. Kim joined him after she shook herself out of her stunned state.
"I thought we could all go to the zoo today, because it's supposed to be really nice," Kim said thoughtfully.
Harry grinned, and the others shrugged. "Sure, sounds like a good idea to me, since none of us have to work today," Nabiki said. Kasumi and Reesa nodded. Ranma continued eating his breakfast, not missing a beat.
Kim just smiled and finished her own. They all set out after breakfast and were soon at the zoo. They stayed together, watching the lions and tigers, and laughing at the monkeys' antics. When they reached the reptile cage, Kasumi and Reesa declined going in, in favor of sitting out in the warm sun. The rest went in, and saw Dudley staring at a large snake, with Mr. Dursley tapping on the glass. "Awwww this is boring," they heard Dudley say as he walked away. Mr. Dursley spotted Ranma and Kim with Nabiki and walked over to talk to the three. Harry went to see the snake Dudley had been looking at.
"Sorry about that, Dudley's always like that. Even at school he bullies things and people. Must not be very nice in there, having people look at you all day," Harry trailed off. The snake had raised its head and WINKED at him. Looking around, he saw Ranma and saw him and Kim talking to Mr. Dursley. Nabiki was headed his way.
Harry shrugged and turned to the snake again. "What's Brazil like?"
The snake shook its head, and used its tail to point to the sign. "Oh, bred in captivity. Bet you would love to see your native land."
The snake nodded, and Nabiki, who was now right beside him gave him an odd look, "Are you speaking to the snake?!"
Harry nodded, looking at her curiously.
"I thought snake language was only known by... unless.." Nabiki looked at Harry, "Do you realize that you're speaking in a different tongue?"
Harry looked startled, and shook his head. He started to say something, when he was interrupted by Dudley, who was yelling, "Hey Piers!!! Look at what the snake is doing!!"
Shoving Harry out of the way, Dudley placed his piggy face against the glass as Nabiki stepped away, startled. Harry got angry as he lay there on the floor, and suddenly, the glass wasn't there, and Piers, running to Dudley, couldn't stop as he knocked them both into the snake's cage. The snake itself was slithering out, as it whispered to Harry, "Thanksssss, amigo." Harry just looked on startled, as the snake left and Piers and Dudley got up. They tried to get out, but the glass was back, and they started screaming. Mrs. Dursley walked up and fainted as Nabiki came up and dragged Harry away from the 'crime.' Harry was still too stunned to move.
Nabiki didn't look down until they had joined Ranma, Kim, Kasumi, and Reesa who looked slightly confused. "Harry let the snake out accidentally," she said softly so only they could hear, but then she smirked, "Kind of sad that those two idiots got trapped in there afterwards though."
Harry and Ranma both started to chuckle. Harry had gotten revenge, and didn't even think about it till now. Suddenly a thought occurred to him, and he turned to Nabiki, "What did you mean I was speaking in another language when I was talking to the snake?"
Nabiki looked at him. "You really have no idea. You were speaking in Parseltongue Harry, a forbidden tongue because it's related to the man who killed your parents. Now I suppose when he attacked you and failed, he might have transferred that power, as well as a few others, onto you. I wouldn't worry about it too much but keep it secret! That knowledge can't get into the wrong hands!"
Harry listened as Nabiki spoke, yet noticed how pale Reesa, Kasumi and Kim were getting at the news. Ranma looked alarmed but confident in his little brother. Everyone knew about the demise of Harry's parents, and Harry knew the secret was safe with them. They left for home shortly after the fiasco, hoping that the muggles would refuse to see the magic there, like they had done for the past six decades.