Disclaimer: Ranma and the cast aren't mine, except Himeko and Shi... But they have so many Takashi themes inside of them I can't really wrest total control from the Goddess.
Ranma-Papa, Shampoo-Mama
Chapter Seven
"Hop down, Himeko." Tofu gestured to the floor as the young girl hopped down. "Your injuries have all healed nicely except for that rib. Its knitted but won't be a hundred percent for a week or so longer."
"Can she start working out again?" Ranma asked. "She's been badgering me to let her." He chuckled at the girl's blush.
"I suppose, but none of the full contact sparing you all seem to love. Keep it to kata and low intensity sparing."
"Cool! Now maybe you'll show me that Katchu Tenshin Ameriguiken." She chirped.
Ranma looked the girl over with a critical eye, and was slightly amazed at what he saw. In the short span of a week she had filled out considerably, gaining at least five pounds and loosing her bony, pale complexion. This in spite of eating like a bird in Ranma's opinion, who didn't realize it, was about normal for a girl her age and size.
Her hair was much cleaner and Nodoka had taken her to a beauty parlor for a trim and style, giving her auburn head, which was a shade or two more red then Nodoka's, and nice cut that framed a cute face. Ranma figured she'd be giving the fiancee brigade a run for their money in a year or two looks wise.
Socially Himeko had managed to open up quite a bit around the band of crazed extroverts known as "The Nerima Wrecking Crew", and she got along with Shi when she was human very well.
Granted she was as terrified of cats as Ranma, but he didn't see a problem with that himself.
She did still get quiet when people yelled, and burst into tears when Akane malleted him on one occasion. Ranma still thought the scene of Akane apologizing to her, him, and at one point her MALLET was just about worth getting hit! And on the plus side she hadn't pulled her mallet since, even for Kuno.
Of course, watching Ryoga try to challenge him while not yelling or cussing was also kind of funny. The pig-boy had even forgotten why he was challenging Ranma in the first place!
"We'll look into it. I have some idea's for teaching it that doesn't involve third degree burns."
"Yay!" She jumped up and down, causing both men to smile. She was definitely related to Ranma.
"Well doc, we have plans to meet Shampoo and Shi for ice cream, so unless you need to poke and prod me we have to run."
"Go and have fun, you two. I'll prod you next time you get yourself injured."
"Thanks doc." Ranma said with a grin.
Outside Ranma hopped up onto a fence, then leaned down, offering Himeko a hand. "Come on! You want to train so we'll work on balance." He winked and held his hand out patiently, waiting.
The girl, for her part, nervously took his hand and hopped up onto the fence. Ranma nodded as she landed well balanced and ready on the fence top. "Good. You won't have any trouble though I wouldn't suggest doing this in one of the skirts my mom got ya."
"What are we doing?" Himeko asked.
"You ever play tag when you were younger?"
"Yeah." The young teenager nodded.
Ranma grinned and tapped her on the forehead. "Tag, your it! And no touching the ground!" He flipped away and landed not to far away down the fence.
Himeko, concentrating on her excellent balance, walked towards Ranma who let her get close before hopping away again. "Ya can't walk to play tag! Run a little, I know you can do it!"
Himeko went after Ranma again, the pig tailed boy hopping away each time she got close, gently teasing her into picking up the pace until she was running and jumping with abandon. Ranma, smiling at the giggles from the not ordinarily care free girl, and decided it was time to turn things around, and faked a stumble, letting her 'catch' him.
"Well, I guess I'm it. I'll give you a three-second head start. One... Two... Three!" She was already running down the fence. "Remember to head for the restaurant!" He called after her as he gave chase.
This time, he was 'trying' to tag her, and pushed her awareness and reflexes to the limits with his 'near misses.' Both young martial artists were laughing by the time they reached the Nekohatten. Ranma led her inside, congratulating Himeko on 'winning'.
"Hello son-in-law, hello Himeko. How are you both today?" Cologne asked, pogoing out of the kitchen.
"Hello grandmother." Himeko said, politely bowing.
Ranma's "Hi ya." Was a bit more casual.
"So young lady, has the doctor released you to actually working here?"" Despite the stern sound of the statement, Cologne was smiling cheerfully. The 'work' in question was teaching Shi the martial arts, tiger kung fu seemed the best choice to the Amazon elder, and she knew Himeko wanted to 'work' too.
"Yes, though he said I couldn't really spar for a while still."
"That's fine. It'll give us time to get you back in shape. We still have a month before next semester starts and you girls have to start school."
"How's Shi's other studies going?" Ranma asked absently.
Cologne shrugged. "Vocally she speaks every language I do fairly well or at least at my skill level. She's also actually picked up Tofu's verbal history lessons fairly well."
"I sense a but."
"Yes you do. Her reading is progressing, but slowly and her intrest in Math makes you look like a Mathematician, son-in-law. She just seems to grasp None, To little, enough, and too much and finds anything more redundant. The rest, honestly, her memory will be what keeps her up but I doubt she'll do a lot with the sciences."
"Heck, up to two weeks ago, she was a fur ball! She's doing pretty well from what you say."
Cologne nodded. "This is true."
Ranma looked around, then asked. "By the way, where is Mousse?" He had just realized he hadn't been attacked any of the several times he'd come to visit.
"Mousse has been in China. He went with Shampoo but family matters kept him from returning as planned. I'm expecting him to return next week."
"Okay. Not getting attacked every time I came around here was getting spooky."
Cologne just chuckled. "Shampoo and Shi are outside sparing. Don't keep her out to late, son-in-law, your bride to be has dinner rush, and this is the first day I've been able to use her for it!"
"Aw cut that out, ya old ghoul."
Cologne whacked him one, and hopped into the kitchen chuckling.
Ranma and Himeko walked out the restaurants rear door, finding Shampoo dodging pounces and attacks from her kitten-daughter. Both Himeko and Ranma shuddered with a ghost of fear at the girl's cat-like movements but both quickly recovered. "Hey you two are we still going for ice cream?" Ranma called out over the two girls' grunts and heavy breathing. Ranma absently noted that, while Shi was obviously not as skilled as Shampoo that her speed and sense of balance surpassed her adopted mothers amazing agility. The tiny slip of a girl did suffer from a lack of reach, though, and Shampoo had no problem fending her off while not embarrassing or frustrating the young girl.
They both paused, glancing over to the two newcomers. Both smiled widely and seemed to blur for a moment.
"Airen come to take Shampoo on date?" Shampoo almost sang as she gripped him around the waist.
Beside them Shi had wrapped arms around Himeko's waist, though she was just hugging her friend lightly so she didn't hurt her friends sore ribs. "I am happy to see you Himeko!" She happily declared.
"It's good to see you too! Dr. Tofu said I could train again, with you and Shampoo!" Himeko smiled, ignoring Ranma and Shampoo as the pig-tailed boy tried to pry her off. "I can't spar yet, but I can work out and learn. Ranma-sensei showed me how to run on fences like he does!"
"I just learned how to do that too! Maybe we can play tag!"
"That's even what he had me doing! I felt silly at first but it got to be fun after a while."
The kitten-girl shrugged. "It's fun to be silly, so don't worry about it."
"Hey girls! Come on! Ice cream!" Ranma called out.
Only ten minutes later they were all sitting in a nearby ice cream shop. "Shi, use your spoon! Please!" Shampoo pleaded. The cat girl looked at her, blinking in confusion. "You can't just tick your face in the dish!"
"Why not? It's fun!"
Ranma chuckled, next to the giggling Himeko as Shampoo wiped off the messy, younger girl's face. Shampoo spared them both a glare as she finished cleaning chocolate sauce from Shi's nose. "She still hasn't grasped the concept of utensils, eh?" The pig-tailed boy asked, while taking a bite of his own sundae.
"No. She figured out for Ramen and soup, but if she no think it necessary, she no uses the utensils." Shampoo answered. She picked up Shi's spoon and slipped it into Shi's hand. "Shampoo wants daughter to try anyway."
"Yes mother." The girl muttered, and used the spoon effectively, if inexpertly.
"So Himeko, I hear you say you can work out now, yes?"
"Doctor Tofu said so."
"Then tomorrow Shampoo teaches you very special technique all teen women should know."
Ranma perked at the suggestion of a new technique. "What's that?" Granted he was a guy but if he had to learn how to hook a bra as a girl, for which he still hadn't forgiven his mother proper or not, he should know this special technique.
"The... AMAZON GLOMP!" Shampoo grinned from her new location in Ranma's lap, clutching him tightly.
"Hey! Now cut that out!"
"Grrrrr...." The sound came from behind Ranma, and he groaned recognizing that growl anywhere. Turning he groaned again finding not just Akane, but Ukyo as well. Both were carrying shopping bags and neither looked to amused.
"Now... You two... I told you we were taking the girls out for ice cream." Ranma stuttered.
Akane glared, but then got a big smile, which caused Ranma to stand, ready to run away. "Really?"
"Um... Yeah?"
Shampoo, who had slipped out of the way of an expected hammer, looked on as Akane slipped closer to Ranma.
"The 'girls' eh?" Akane continued smiling like her slightly older sister while Ranma just nodded. She was really concentrating on a 'Skill' Nabiki had taught her in junior high. "I'm so glad to hear that."
"Um. You are?"
Akane nodded. "After all, Ukyo and I are girls, and ice cream sounds great after shopping!" She tapped Ranma's nose... with his own wallet! "Thanks for buying!"
"Huh? Hey wait!" Akane and Ukyo both ran off for the counter, giggling. "Come on! I already lost a wallet last week! Give it back!"
Shampoo just shook her head, and returned to watching Shi and Himeko.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Across the street, unnoticed by the group, Troika watched them from an expensive Sushi parlor. The glass, mirrored for the customers' privacy, didn't block his sight, or any of his finely tuned extra senses. What he saw and felt made him frown.
The most interesting, and disturbing he'd discovery he had made while following Himeko, was that the girl who had been beaten and abused in hopes of keeping her subservient had paired streaks of stubbornness and defiance running through her soul. This caused him to wonder about her appropriateness for the project.
He was also shocked when he discovered she was weaker then most of the six people settled at her table. Not only did every one of the people there move with the grace of a martial artist, but the confidence of seasoned warriors who had fought and survived, even in the youngest girls movements.
The Ki of the young warriors told the tale. The Pig-tailed mans was the most powerful by far, with both the feel of a Neko-ken adept and of a man who'd killed in battle. The focus of his aura was astounding for one as young as he was, and Troika had to assume this man, little more then a boy, was at the very LEAST his equal, and thought he was probably the superior warrior. This in spite of Troika's two decades more experience. He did wonder at the strangely 'elastic' feel to the pig-tailed man's ki, as well as the large quantity of feminine ki.
The Lavender haired, Chinese girl was next in line by the standard of power. While she was completely out classed by her male tablemate, her power was easily in the top five percent of earths martial artists if not higher. Her Aura was also that of a blooded killer and had, of all things, noticeable traces of the Neko-ken! He hadn't even known that was possible and detected an interesting side effect to the technique.
Her aura had the static, though fading, vestiges of one who'd reached their limit, beyond which they could not improve their power. The Neko-ken seemed to have pushed her off that ledge!
The two teen girls were tied for third. They were both well above the top ten percent of fighters in the world, and were capable of using their ki to a limited extent. They, like the lavender haired girl, were still focusing Ki into limbs and weapons though the longhaired girl had more structure then either of the other women. She, however, was the only one at the table with the defined feel of having reached her limit.
Troika absently decided she'd need to be kidnapped and put through a modified Neko-ken training to see if it would push her off as well. It might be worth doing to some of his own soldiers if it did.
The blue haired girl next to her had a more powerful, if unfocused, aura and had the same elasticity, if less pronounced, as the lone man at the table. He'd have to investigate that later.
Himeko, who had been so impressive before, had made a significant jump in power. She was at the point of competing with the tenth percentile as well, and showed no signs of leveling off in the near future. She also had the slight 'Shudder' of the onset of puberty, which her fathers brutal training and poor diet had postponed. Amazingly a week of rest and plentiful food had jump-started her development, though the intriguing boost in female ki was possibly also responsible.
Next on the list, ignoring the salesman behind the counter, was the smallest girl. While, in comparison to her tablemates she was barely worth noticing, anywhere else she'd be impressive. Her aura, ALSO showing traces of the Neko-ken, was absolutely huge for a young girl and showed signs of instinctive use. She also had a remarkably feral feel, her emotions simple and easy to read even at this distance. It also had certain amoral neutrality he'd rarely encountered. He refined his assessment of that girl from warrior to predator.
"Hiokai, you have a talent for making enemies." The large man muttered.
AN: Okay, since I know I'm gonna get asked questions for THIS one, I'd just explain some things now, and save time.
1: Why did Shampoo name the kitten-girl Shi?
Defiance is part of it. They survived what no one should, and in some cases would want to, survive. The name is a bit of 'Whistling in the dark' to deny the terror they both wake up screaming from in the night.
2: Is Ranma going to pair up with {Enter fiancee/villan/other person here}? Any of the fiancée's is fair game, though I honestly don't think there is a "One". I believe Ranma cares about all of them (Ignoring Kodachi) though at the end of the Manga I grant Akane was in the lead by a fair margin and at that point WOULD have been the one. However, my style tends toward examining "what if?" To a great degree. As a note, I plan to use Akane and Ukyo more later, but am going to develop Himeko and Shi a bit first. And no, time travel isn't involved... Yet.
3: The Neko-Ken: My theory regarding the Neko-ken is fairly lengthy so if anyone wants to hear it ask, and I'll post it as an independent fic. The power limit boost is partly because of the earlier mentioned absorbing of cat spirit, and partly my theory as to why it existed long enough to BE banned. Most people who were trained as heavily as Ranma would reach their limit by the time they were ten, with Mostly technique refinement and MINOR power increases afterward. I've seen real, if less dramatic, examples of this by comparing Olympic athletes to others who train just as hard but never will compete. Most Gymnastic medallists are under sixteen.
The Neko-ken pushes past that barrier and increases the upward limit by a fair percentage. Otherwise the inventors would have chucked it before it became a 'legendary' technique, unless the liked having berserkers trying to kill them.
As for Shi and Shampoo's aura, only part of what he saw are the curse's fault. They have essentially gone through 'Neko-ken light' which might be good, or might be bad. I don't know how much I'm going to play with this idea yet.