Hello! I have switched jobs, and other than being overwhelmed, I am very happy.

The Keeper of Worlds - Yes! Kuno is going down, see note at bottom. And I am past my issues and I have a wonderful husband-like person, I just think that that kind of betrayal needs a kicking first, therapy later - in any case, Ryoga is half responsible for this own troubles. No one forced him to snuggled up to Akane - that is taking advantage, plain and simple.

Diablo200030002002 - I am getting there. If they get a Happily ever after, they need to work for it :)

Richard Ryley - There is a reason, and it has more to do with emotions. I am going to wrap them all up, but I can't get Kodachi to work. Suggestions anyone?

Guest - Assault and witnesses and evidence in the shape of blood tends to do that…

Chapter 8

It was obvious that the Nerima's Wrecking Crew had managed to spread their influence all the way to the police station as poetic language spewed forth from within its doors. The Head of Nerima's police, and the Chief Officer tried to block out the racket as he reached for his water.

"Unhand me, vile peasant! You interfered in a match between a hero and a great villain! Let me go so that I may vanquish him hence forth. Look, he stands there, unbound, laughing at my predicament while you restrain me! Do you not see that the sorcerer's black magic is affecting you all? Release me, and I shall free you from his corrupting grasp! Free me, and the unholy influence that he exudes will be henceforth stopped by the fearsome warrior that you see before you!"

The head of the police station held his head in his hands, before taking another painkiller. There had been a reason as to why he had never gotten involved with the NWC, and this man was precisely one of them. However, this was a golden opportunity to take a mad man off the streets, one that he knew had gotten away with things before due to his financial influence, and he decided to stick it out, looking at the witness he thought would be the most reliable, before him. "I honestly thought that you were exaggerating, Tendo-san, but you appear to be correct. Kuno does not appear to have any remorse for his actions. So let me get this straight. This young man attacked your sister's fiancé because he believes that he is an evil wizard, who has corrupted the minds of the other girls that came with you, and thought that by killing him, he would free them?" Nabiki thought of saying something, decided against it, and soundlessly nodded. "How stupid is he?"

As Nabiki grinned and opened her mouth to reply, the man waved her away. "That was a rhetorical question. Now, I need you to sign your statement here, and once you are done, I need your opinion. You seem to know him well, and you have provided valuable insignts into the town in the past. That's the only reason I decided not to go after the Golden pair you know - they are only insane due to their obsession with ice skating, and your suggestion of isolating them to their school's rink has helped cut down on the madness with them. Last I heard, Asuza-san was actually undergoing therapy for her hoarding tendencies, and without a skating partner, the young man has not been out of his house or classes in well over three months, so I will trust your judgement again. How do I stop him from attacking my men?"

The middle sister reached for her pen, seemingly ignoring the question and reread through the statement before signing her name and reaching for her stamp to put her seal on the document. The man in charge visibly relaxed as soon as that had been done, and Nabiki had handed the statement back to him.

For a moment after, Nabiki sat there in silence, simply looking at the desk in front of her, her brain churning away at scenarios. She had to try to spin this in the way that would benefit her family, and herself, the most. Finally she looked up. "I can tell you the following for free, Officer. Probably the safest way is to use the method that used when I managed to get him to come quietly to you." The Chief winced. The young man had awakened from his tazering in the back of a police car, and only the fact that Nabiki had snapped out that he was going to be declared ronin for not following the police's orders had kept him from trying to break the car apart from the inside, or trying to incapacitate the men. Nabiki ignored that and continued. "Kuno, well, he comes from an old family and they are very set in their own, olden ways. Now, I told him the police force were the Emperor's men, and he would follow your word like gospel form how on. You can use that to your advantage."

Tendo's eyes went unfocused for a moment, as she tried to think of what to say next, and then a slow smile camde over her face. She raised first her eyes and then her face to the officer and focused on him.

"Now, that was the free advise. And for only three thousand yen, I can tell you what to say EXACTLY, to get Kuno to leave my family alone for ever, and to have him bundled off to prison where he belongs. A consultancy fee, nothing illegal, but you have said that I am an expert on the family…"

The Chief sighed and opened his desk draw to get his wallet.

It was a little while later that the head of the station marched into lock up and shouted with the most authority he could muster at his rambling prisoner: "Kuno Tatewaki, are you or are you not subject to the Emperor?"

The young man was so taken aback that he floundered for a second, closed his mouth and sat on the provided bunk while trying to understand why this man was so angry or had asked such an obvious question, even if it did have nothing to do with the issue at hand. However, he knew men of authority when he saw them. "Of course, my Lord. That is why I am so incensed that I have been locked up while a criminal walks! I beg that your free me so that I can show you the true villain. I am sure that you would be able to report to the Emperor that I have served him well."

The flowery language was making the Chief's head hurt again, but the officer pushed on, determined to end it once and for all.

"Have you not considered, that as a Samurai your job is to listen to the men of the law? We do enact the power on the Emperor's behalf."

Kuno looked confused. "But I had nought but the wish to assist you in apprehending the villain. I cannot phantom how a noble action such as the one I sought to undertake would be discouraged by the Emperor."

The chief didn't even have to feign exasperation. "And do you presume to know every design of the Emperor, child?"

Kuno bristled at the implication that he was a kid, but shook his head and his mind quickly twisted the sentence to fatherly concern from a mentor in crime fighting. "I had thought not. Had you perhaps considered that what you were about to do is considered illegal by the Emperor himself, on pain of death? What you had been about to commit is murder, and no matter the reason, our leader frowns upon it."

Kuno paled. "But, but, but he is a vile imprisoner of women!" However, the excuse sounded weak to his own ears.

The officer, seeing that there was hope to reason though to Tatewaki, unlocked the cell, slipped inside and sat down next to the rather confused kendoist. "It is alright, young one. I am disappointed in the way that you have acted but you are full of drive and have no experience of real worldly matters. Yes, you had been about to commit murder, and only the actions of your brave cohorts and my men had stopped you. I suggest you thank them when you do get out. Also, if you were so sure that young Saotome was a demon, why did you not seek assistance from a holy man, or make a petition to the Emperor for permission to slay him? Or do you think of yourself as above the Holy Men and the Living God?"

Kuno turned blotchy, as his skin tried to simultaneously drain itself of blood, and blushing in acute embarrassment. Seeing his chance, the man nodded sagely, and sighed. "Furthermore, I am guessing that no one has made you aware that this boy you call a sorcerer, Saotome Ranma, is actually your equal? He is a Samurai like you, and his honour prevents him from committing any crime that you have accused him off. Or the Emperor would not let him keep his title or his head, would he?"

Kuno was dumbstruck, but had to admit that the man spoke the truth. Who was he, after all, to question the wisdom of the man who led their glorious country every day. That fact had just been stressed a moment earlier, and in both cases he would have caused embarrassment to his Leader. Perhaps he had acted too rashly, without the guidance of greater Samurai than himself (though there were few of them). He would remedy the situation by listening and acknowledging the words of this great warrior who risked injury to save the Kuno clan from a great mistake. The face opened up, and became more alert and receptive.

Seeing that he was finally getting through to the boy, the officer relaxed and slung a fatherly arm around him. "Now, you are not entirely wrong in all your assumptions. Ranma is indeed associated with extremely powerful and dangerous magic. However, he is not the caster, but the subject of it. He is subject to a powerful curse, one that seeks to destroy him and plunge our land into darkness. You see, on his travels, intended to have him serve our Emperor better, the boy had angered some spirits who sought to weaken our country, and he was subjected to a horrific curse. It has two side effects. One is that he is chased by men who see him as evil, though women, judged too weak by the enemy, are unaffected by this and see him for the great protector that he is. The other is that, when he touches water, he is forced to undergo a hideous transformation, aimed at destroying him in a moment of weakness."

Kuno looked up, afraid. "What is this curse?" The answer, however, was starting to creep around the edges of his awareness, and the fear was becoming more and more apparent by the second.

The officer let out exaggerated sigh, and put his arm around the boy tighter to give him comfort. "I would rather not say, my boy. But since I can trust you, I will. Saotome-san turns into a fragile, powerless redheaded young woman, whom the enemy hopes to smite while in this form. He loses most of his strength and skill and has to rely on speed to defend himself. Turning this way is painful, as is the temporary reversal with hot water. And it gets worse. If Ranma is to be kissed by a man in this female cursed form, she will be locked in the form forever, dooming our nation, as his male part will become powerless to protect us all. Our enemies have been cunning in their appempts to conquer us, and the young man has been incredibly courageous and has shown great fortitude in withstanding the pain that the curse brings."

The officer had clearly been laying it on thick, thinking for a moment that Nabiki may have been overestimated the youth, and was thus surprised to see that the Kuno in lock up was tearing up. "Is it..." The man swallowed painfully and looked away.

The rest of the sentence was unnecessary. The officer feigned sorrow. "I am afraid it is, son. Please, remember it is not your fault, but the enchantment you were subjected to. You did not really fall in love with a man, and nor did you mean to kill or injure a hero. He has been trained for the service of the Emperor and thus has no equal, while the curse has affected many a man - I am sure that you have seen others pursue Saotome with single minded hatred, born out of trivial matters. They, too, were brindled by the side effects of the curse. Now that you are aware of the truth, I am sure that you will protect Ranma and Akane for the sake of our people. You must renounce them both, as Tendo-san is the only thing that keeps the spells under control. By some blessing, the engagement, made before either of their births, appears to lessen the strain on Saotome and free him of some of the pain. Akane-san is truly his intended, and their holy honourable pledge to each other is the only thing protecting our country. If they should be separated, all hope is lost."

Kuno started crying. It took a few minutes for him to calm down again. When he managed to compose himself, he looked up. "Kind Sir, I thank you for opening my eyes to the truth. I beg you, release me, and I will protect the noble warrior and his fiancée with my life! It is the least I can do to atone for my sins."

The man next to him shook his head sadly. "I am afraid I cannot do so, at least not immediately. If I release you without holding you, without a trial, their enemies would be able to guess what has transpired, and will attack, while he is still weak from the wounds you inflicted. I will have to keep you under guard – at least for a little time, until we deem it safe. There is also the issue that the Emperor is displeased with your destruction of the dojo. He would like you to stay with us, repay the Tendo family for the damage you caused during the wedding, and serve some time for endangering commoners, for the Ruler frowns on that. You understand why this is tactically beneficial, do you not? Since you are a Samurai, you must have a great depth of tactical knowledge."

Tatewaki looked displeased, but nodded, possibly to disguise that he did not, in fact, see the tactical advantage. The officer nodded in satisfaction, and stood up. "I am going to finish up some paperwork to push your case forward as much as I can, and hopefully you will no longer abuse my men while I consider what course of action is best?"

The boy mouthed no.

"Excellent. I thank you for your service to your country. Hopefully, you will be free soon. If it is ok, I will bring some documents for you to sign later - if you do, your case will go to court a lot quicker, and your freedom and ability to become a noble protector will come that much fast. I urge you to remember that others will attempt to claim that you must fight, but remember - they will be men affected by the curse and wish our country harm. "

And with that the police left Kuno alone to contemplate his revelations.

When the Chief Officer had come out to the waiting room, he found that the various witnesses/young people were sitting there, calmly reading magazines and newspapers. However, all of them were fighting grins.

"Alright, out with it. I know you were all listening in."

With that, the entirety of the room exploded with laughter. Shampoo and Akane were both leaning into each other, holding their stomachs, while Nabiki and Ukyo were holding onto Mousse, shaking. Ranma had already fallen onto the floor, and was sniggering from there.

The officer rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know, but how else would you have him understand?"

Once the youths had managed to control their merriment, the Chief smiled. "It should be fine from here. I don't think I will be able to hold him for long with the familial connections, but I will make sure to at least press enough to get the cost of the dojo's repairs returned to you, Tendo-san. With any luck he will claim to be guilty and this can be quickly wrapped up." Akane smiled and nodded gratefully. "Hopefully, your lives will be quieter now. Now off with you, so I can finish this day with at least some dignity."

The teens rolled out, while the various police officers in the building sagged in relief. And made the decision to ask for a transfer somewhere. Like Okinawa.

AN: unsurprisingly, Kuno pleads guilty, fires his entire legal team because he thinks that they have no honour, and is presented to the court in only a few weeks. The Kuno clan tries to get him off on technicalities, but since the poor kid shows remorse and admits his actions, they only get one thing - in exchange for paying all the bills and helping rebuild the dojo (at full value, since lets be honest, Nabiki is shrewd), Tatewaki is allowed to avoid prison by going to a nice mental institution to treat his paranioa and delusions. The court never let on that they were going to do that anyway, just to spite the Kuno clan.