Ranma-Papa, Shampoo-Mama

Chapter 13

"Well, last stop, the Tendo Dojo." Shi muttered, glancing over at her depressed best friend. Amara, on the other side of Himeko, was frowning and visibly concerned about her, since the older girl had not spoken much since her fathers assault. Shampoo and Cologne were trailing behind them by a few paces while Kaji and Mike Hibiki walked in the middle of the group. Kaji and Amara had both planned on splitting up from their classmates, but the attack had made them nervous and angry so they had stayed. Mike was along looking for his older brother, but he was no less eager to kick Hiokai around again, after hearing an abridged story from everyone.

Himeko sighed and pushed open the gate, leading the somber junior crew inside. They all walked around the house towards the dinning room where Himeko was supposed to meet her family.

They all froze upon discovering a tiny old man fighting with a European girl wielding a sword.

"Happi, what did you do to annoy a ten-year-old?" Cologne demanded, watching the surprisingly skilled girl slash at the pervert.

"Hello Cologne-chan, meet Elizabeth. I adopted her." Happosai chuckled proudly.

"Would piss Shampoo off." Shampoo muttered.

Cologne just blinked and considered the girl who was now hiding behind the Anything Goes Grandmaster. She had witnessed the girl's skill, which for her age was most impressive (Just slightly above the elder Nerima crew's average... which granted is brought down by Kuno.) She was an underfed ten, and easily years away from displaying the... Attributes Happosai appreciated in most women, meaning Happosai was displaying his most frustratingly endearing quality. "Not another wounded bird."

"Worse then that. Is that Himeko?" The ancient master asked.

Himeko answered for herself, shyly. "Yes sir."

"Oh, she called me sir. Finally some respect." The ancient pervert crowed. Then he became serious. "Himeko, I need to ask you a question about your father. I am sorry, but I need a few answers that you might be able to provide."

"O...Okay."

"Did he ever mention preparing you for a 'Him'? As a wife or something like that?"

"Um... Kinda. He never said anything about marriage, but he mentioned a HIM. Why?"

Happosai ignored her question. "Did he ever mention a name?"

"No. Why?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll explain when Ranma and the rest of your family get here."

Himeko looked around, just realizing their absence. "I was supposed to meet them here..."

"Oh...something came up dear child. Don't worry, they'll be back shortly."

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On the other side of Nerima.

"Damn you Happosai! Change my name!"

"Why the heck did he have to bring you here now! And why did you kidnap Kasumi, Pantyhose?"

"He said she could change my name! That lying old man!"

"Oh my..."

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"I'm sure they won't be long." Happosai assured the group, pulling a small package out of his gi. "Shampoo, would you tell me if you think Kasumi would like this bracelet?" (AN: Hey, Even HAPPOSAI doesn't want Kasumi upset. Gifts are good, not getting fed is bad. heh.)

"Aiyah... Very pretty."

"Good."

Cologne had slipped around Happosai to look Elizabeth over. The girl didn't shy away completely, but she was obviously nervous. The sword in her hands was a miniature version of a European bastard sword, a weapon Cologne had only a passing familiarity with. It had obviously been well used and the sweat stains on the light-colored wood of the handle showed to her trained warrior's eye that it had served mostly in the girl's hand. It was a simple weapon of iron and steel and the crone could identify the words on the blade as German. "VonDruchtner Leads All? What an arrogant slogan to wield."

"You should have met her father... Of course, he probably would have found what I did to him far more kind then what you would have done." Happosai said, slipping the jewelry box back in his tunic. "It seems, from what I remember in Kasumi's letter, that Elizabeth has had a life similar to Himeko's, right down to a father preparing her for something... Or more accurately, someone."

Cologne nodded absently. "She's good, but we really should teach her some REAL warrior's skills."

"I've started with some anything goes, but I was actually going to ask you to adopt her into the tribe while we're at it. Amazon Wu Shu is definitely more apt for a weapons user then my personal style, and she is definitely an abused female."

"Under our Ancient laws?" Cologne chuckled. "I knew I should never have let you read my Laws book."

"That's not ALL you swear you shouldn't have done." The old man laughed as the old woman tried to hit him with her stick.

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Wakari Troika growled in anger as he watched the video one of his more subtle agents had brought to him. He turned off the VCR when the Tendo's and Saotome's returned to the Dojo, and lead Happosai and Elizabeth VonDruchtner into the house. He tapped a key and a woman dressed in the classic black of a ninja entered the room. "Have a courier take this to Lord Hakama. Also get four of your best troops and have them check the other girls. These people are stumbling across far too much."

"Hai, Lord Troika. Should we also look into the fate of the Elder VonDruchtner?"

"No. I have heard of Happosai. If the German fool truly enraged him, then the fool is dead. Just check on the other girls."

"Very well. It shall be done."

"It had better be. We only have a few months before the Darkness."

AN: I know these tend to come out short. Sorry about this.

Well, Troika's back, and Happi's brought the news that something is wrong to the gang. This should get interesting.