"Yer my daughter, ain't ya?"
"Eh?"
Rarely is Ryu Anko surprised by anything in life at this point but when she is, she flounders just like her mother. Her skin turned comedically white, her eyes popped out and her mouth began to mumble incoherent nonsense. Her appearance wasn't unlike that of a chibi anime character due to her shape-shifting powers.
"Wwwwhbhhhhaaaaaatttrttt? Naaaaaaaaah!" Her eyes jumped side to side nonstop while avoiding eye contact with her young parent, "That'd be, like,superridiculous, wouldn't it? Time travel doesn't exist! I mean it's not like there's another one of Happosai mirrors hidden in Okayama or something. That'd be silly, completely ridiculous, mom!"
A tumbleweed tumbled through the small alley at an excruciatingly slow pace.
"Wow… never thought I'd meet someone worse at lying than me," Ranma stared shocked while Tatewaki solemnly nodded in agreement.
"Shut up!" Anko yelled, completely red in the face, "I'm great at lying, I'm just bad at dealing with surprises!"
"So, um, you're actually my kid?" Ranma's posture relaxed and their eyes took on a soft expression.
"I…" Anko pulled her hat down to cover her eyes, "HiMom…"
"I mean," Ranma now felt embarrassed, "I was just guessing, didn't think I'd be right…"
Anko tucked her hand into her jacket and pulled out a photo, handing it to Ranma.
"Here's some evidence to help make everything more… digestible."
Ranma took the photo. There was no doubt it was him, just in his girl form, maybe a few years older. A touch taller and more "womanly". His hair was in a simple ponytail and was wearing a muddy tank top. His expression was one of the happiest grins he can recall making, despite the mud on his face. Said mud also was on the item he held in his hands. A baby with bright blue eyes and red hair in her arms. The baby's left hand was outstretched and their mouth wide.
"It most certainly is thou," Takewaki assessed from over Ranma's shoulder, "Although I suppose my review is worthless considering my infamous record of poor identification," Kuno chuckled but saw Ranma become unbalanced.
"Hold there," Kuno steadied Ranma, "Are you well?"
"Yeah… it's just a lot to take in," Ranma almost whispered.
"Seeing it is believing it?" Anko suggested.
"Like I said, it was just a hunch I had with everything going on," Ranma waved for Kuno to let go, which he did.
"How'd… how'd ya figure it out?"
"…ya knew my techniques," Ranma smiled.
"I mean, lots of your techniques are taken from elsewhere."
"Not the Clean Wipe punch. I just developed that last week after watching Kasumi clean and hadn't shown anyone else yet. Even Copycat Ken had to see me use my moves first. Plus once you changed back into yourself from me, it kinda cinched it. You look a lot like me. Add in usual Nerima weirdness, yer weird knowledge of things and interactions with me, best bet was you were from the future and… my kid."
"Damn, definitely not the clueless dumbass mama painted you as sometimes."
"Now, that's one of a million questions I've got. But first, why are you calling me mom and not dad?"
"Uhhh," Anko looked at Tatewaki.
"I will take my leave. This appears to be a private affair," Kuno turned and began to swiftly walk away, "May both thee have a pleasant night."
"Night' Kuno, thanks again," Ryu shouted.
"A minor exercise of goodwill, only a droplet of what is to come," he sang off in the distance before vanishing from sight."
"Man, a reasonable Kuno is gonna take forever to get used to," Ranma loosened his shoulders and looked at the young woman needlessly fidgeting, "But I admit, the privacy is appreciated". He stepped in front of Anko and scratched his cheek, "Actually, can we make this more private? I prefer talks like this high up."
"Uh sure, works for me," she said quietly.
"Great," with a quick pounce, Ranma kept atop a nearby building. "Come on, I know a place."
"What's the place?" She looked up at him.
"You won't know it, just follow me," Ranma waved.
"Well if you told me I could meet you there. It'd… be safer, yeah!"
"Oi, what's your issue here?" Ranma squatted.
Rose muttered something inaudible.
"What was that?" Ranma hopped back down.
"I… I can't roof hop," she looked away.
"Wait, what?! But that's like the most basic thing, if yer my kid how could I have not taught you that?" Ranma was flabbergasted, "How did you get atop the school in our fight?"
"I was already midair! And my legs were shaking the whole time atop there. I'm good at acting!" she shook her head and looked at Ranma, "I… listen, things are complicated in the future, but the basics, for now, is you did try to teach me a few times but it went badly and I developed a phobia. You didn't want to be like your dad though and hurt me with the excuse of training me, so eventually we just dropped it in our lessons."
"…oh," Ranma stretched the back of their neck
"Yeah… sorry," Anko felt like a child, casting her eyes down.
Ranma let out a large sigh. "Well nothing else for it then," Ranma hopped down to her level, "Close your eyes~"
"Huh?" Before she knew it, Ranma scooped her up and was carrying her bridal style. "Man, yer heavier than Akane!"
"Oh my god, mom stop-!" and Ranma leapt onto the roof again, making Anko scream for her life.
Ranma kept on in their roof hopping however much Anko screamed.
"Hey, do you want to wake up Nerima or something?!" Ranma yelled at her. Anko covered her mouth while her eyes continued to shed tears despite being shut close already.
Eventually, the pair made it atop a nearby radio tower near the closed shopping district.
"You can open your eyes now, we're done." Ranma gently put her down, while Anko crawled away before pouting in the corner.
"Hey, it wasn't that bad was it? And you should feel stable, this tower is very solid, I think they pay Ryoga to test out its durability-"
"I'm not actually scared of heights, the sensation of falling is what terrifies me even if I have my eyes closed."
"Oh, my bad. I thought… Maybe if I failed to teach you last time this could help. Pops just kept throwing me out of trees till I got it."
Anko let out another pouty noise before she headed toward Ranma. "My sensei also tried to train me out of it. She decided however to one-up gramps and throw me repeatedly out of an airplane."
"How…" Ranma triple blinked, "How did you survive that?"
"The answer is barely and mostly luck. Ended up though with a body tough like Uncle Ryoga rather than curing my phobia. It got worse if anything. Sensei's training…"
Anko began muttering phrases in Mandarin, repeatedly. Ranma only understood a few words said, something like "seventh rule", "training", and "not speaking". He lightly sighed, stepped over and sat next to her.
"So, where was I? I like to think I won't allow my kid to be thrown out of airplanes."
Anko looked at her mother.
Ranma groaned, "Mom had me fulfil the contract… Ya even told me that."
"Yup, I was thirteen."
Ranma turned his head to Anko, "And I guess you're here to stop that?"
"I mean yeah, among other things."
"Like Fujiko? I wasn't able to beat her, eh?"
Anko nodded, "She's honestly terrifying. I've done plenty of horrible things, but her…" Anko shivered.
"Real evil, eh?"
"She plays with her food as she calls it. The more she can provoke strong feelings from opponents the better.
"Cool, easy to punch then," Ranma cracked his knuckles.
"Yeah… tried that myself. Got the shit kicked out of me at my strongest with help. Doesn't help that she'll try and break you before you even face her. That's what happened before. Despite the wealth of powerful fighters here, suddenly the law became interested in dealing with illegal immigrants, assault and property damage charges. Those left to fight her just didn't care about the consequences. You, Ryoga, Genma, and Happosai attacked her estate but were met with mazes, poisons, and magic that locked you into your cursed forms."
"Woah, she can do that?"
Anko nodded, "She knows a lot of magic and to boot she's the daughter of the springs' creator. Snapped her fingers suddenly two of her opponents were animals and you left completely off balance."
"You mean weaker."
Anko sighed, "Ok, that's an issue for another day, but it actually ain't mom."
"It ain't?"
"No, but back to the fight. The short of it is, you're stuck fighting her alone and… she breaks your spine."
"Wait, what?! Doesn't that kill people?"
"Yeah, most people. But not Saotome Ranma," Anko smirked with pride, "You know, with a little help from Cologne and Doctor Tofu pulling out all the stops to save your life."
"That's a relief, but where's the but?"
Her smile dropped, "You can barely walk even after months of recovery in the Amazon village."
"Oh god but… what about the art?"
Anko looked at her mom.
"Mom…"
"I'm the strongest martial artist, what am I without that?!"
"Mom," Anko touched Ranma's shoulder.
"What would pops think of me? God Akane, Mom, I'd be nothing, I'd be-"
"Mom!"
Ranma looked at their daughter,
"You were still the best mom I ever could have imagined. You were so loved by a number of people," Anko pleaded, "Dad, mama, aunt Ukyo, Konatsu and many more! Besides, that's whathappened, not what willhappen!"
Unfortunately, Ranma's brain flatlined at one word, "Dad?"
Anko looked away from her mother, "Right, this topic…"
"And what is with ya calling me mom? I ain't complaining, but it's making me feel funny and ya owe me an explanation!"
"Ok, how to start this…" Anko looked to the stars for guidance, "You were obviously locked into your "cursed" form long before I was born… so you did kinda give birth to me,"
Ranma's eyes went wide "I gave birth?"
"Yup," Anko gave a solemn nod, "I know this is going to be a weird topic to discuss over the next while, but to me, you were always a woman if you didn't always believe you were."
"Oh, well duh, course' I was a woman. My curse was locked."
"… Mom you do realize there are ways to make your feminine form more masculine without magic right?"
"There are?!" Ranma's brain was running out of sockets to short circuit.
"I've got my work cut out for me…" Anko sighed deeply, "We will discuss gender and your curse another day, but I want you to know regardless of what happens or how you chose to identify, I will always love you. Got it?"
"Uh, ok…" Ranma
"I said, got it!?" Anko's aura flamed up a bit.
"I get ya, I got ya!" Ranma gestured waving hands to put out the "fire". But when he opened his eyes, he saw Anko's blue eyes had tears in them. Something within Ranma called for action and before he knew it, he was hugging her. It came so naturally, pressing Anko's head to his chest. Anko, after the initial surprise, snuggled in and slowly began to give a hard cry.
"It's ok," Ranma said, "I'm not going anyway."
Anko cried harder and for the next several minutes, Ranma held her as she unloaded years of grief.
'It's strange… the idea of being a mother… it terrified me to my bones at first but now… I kinda wanna be one. Is being a father the same thing? Anko said I had the opportunity to change but didn't. So many questions…'Ranma sighed, unable to stop his internal struggle while holding his future daughter.
W̴̨̛͔͓̫͙̘̦̥̿̋̓̅̀͘̕̚e̷̲͚̫͖͎͌͊̏̓̓ ̷͉̖̺̭̜̞͠a̷̳̘͓̮̳̠͖̖̟͆̈́͘̚͜r̵̟̰̭̝͐̀̋͗́̏͝͝e̶̺̩͈̩͊͛̄̾̑ͅ ̸̡̼̦̭̰̞̭͐͆̀̓͌͑͂̚
̷̢̠̣͖̀͂͜I̵̞̼̩̲̫͉͎̞̔̾̋ ̸͓̳̠̊̽̎̒̈́͜ą̶̛͚̅̀͐͆̌m̴̻̯̭̠̌́͌̌
Eventually, Anko relented and Ranma released her.
"Better?"
She nodded, "I… I've wanted to do that for so long," Anko chuckled and sniffed, "Not many orphans get to cry and hug their mums again." She chuckled.
"That reminds me of my question," Ranma began to sweat, "So… so who's the jerk knocks- I mean who's your dad?"
Anko grimaced, "Please don't freak out… again."
"Oh god, it's not Kuno, is it? Is that why you brought him-"
"No, god no!"
"Ryoga?"
"I mean people often said I remembered them of him but no-"
"Mousse?"
"Give yourself some standards Mom."
"…Konatsu?"
"Ok, that's actually an interesting idea but no, Auntie Ukyo would kill you if you slept with her wife."
"Wait, wife?"
"Long story, but either way, the hints in my name."
"… Ryu Kimion? That bastard-"
"Let me finish! And no, not him. Should have started with this, but my name, Ryu Anko, is fake."
"Thank god, Anko is a terrible name."
"Blame Mama."
"Who?"
"Sorry. I'll explain that later," She waved off, "My name is Saotome Rose. You'd often call me by the nickname Rosebud, or bud like the English word for buddy."
"Saotome Rose… that's a good name," Ranma nodded.
"You're complimenting yourself, mom."
"Right…"
"Plus you were kinda limited to a… certain naming convention. Rose is actually short for Rosemary, which is a spice and there's a certain culture in the Jusenkyo region that names its people based on spices."
"…no."
The memory of a remote Chinese tribe with such a naming convention surfaced in his mind as a section of his daughter's bangs shifted from auburn to their presumably natural, and notably a familiar, white, "My full name is Princess Saotome Rosemary of the Musk Tribe."
Ranma's mind flashbacks to the prince of the animal man tribe; Prince Herb of Musk. His unrivalled pride and ego suited his dragon heritage. In some ways, he was like a dark reflection of Ranma. A cocky misogynistic man with far too much power for his age. He even had the same curse as Ranma with even greater sex dimorphism.
For the crime of being a nuisance, the prince had locked Ranma into his cursed form and tried to kill him. Herb's defeat only came because he was somehow even more inexperienced with women and was easily distracted by the female body. The two-part on, at best, uneasy terms.
"Herb?!"
"Yup," Rose looked at her mother, currently hyperventilating, "I told you not to freak!"
"But how, and why? That guy nearly killed me!"
"Eh, so have most of your romantic interests mom."
Ranma wanted to argue but instead just grumbled and had to submit.
"The way you told me was you were really lonely after everything went down. The two of you took up a friendship- a "close" rivalry as you put it, and one day, the two of you made it a competition to see who was better at being a woman… I was born nine months later."
Silence stretched for what felt like an eternity as Ranma processed the information.
"… I really hate that I can see myself doing that."
"Brightside, you won the competition?" Rose cheekily smiled.
"Thanks…" Ranma left his head flop, "Should have figured this when you said both your parents had the girl curse."
"You were still the first to figure it out, so cut yourself some slack mom," Rose scratched her cheek, "Everyone else has been shockingly dense."
"Huh, you do that too," Ranma remarked before a thought flashed, "And whose this "mama" you keep mentioning?"
"Tendo…" Rose looked away and whispered the last word, "Nabiki."
"Nabiki?!" Ranma gagged and began to choke on the air.
"How many times are you going to freak out tonight?!"
"I don't know, how many freaky revelations you got kid?!"
Rose started counting her fingers, "Potentially a lot. But mama's not a freak," she protested.
"Have we met the same person? Woman's a demon!"
"I mean yeah. She holds the title of Yuki Onna in the future, but she's got other sides to her. For one, she's a really good step mother," Rose chuckled, "She's the type to relentlessly embarrass and tease ya but if a jerk teacher makes you cry, she'll buy you a tub of ice cream and said teacher will be relocated a few days later."
"That's… intense," Ranma sweat dropped.
"That's mama," Rose hummed, "She's terrifying and a slob but she loves without reserve or judgment."
"She certainly… changes then?" Ranma shivered, "And I… marry her?"
"Not officially. Gay marriage ain't legal in Japan yet even in the future I'm from," Rose shrugged, "But you two raised me together and she lived with us most my childhood. You two started sharing a bed when I was fairly young too. All but married in name. Ya even had matching "bond" rings in your ring finger."
"Oh," Ranma looked at Rose, "But what about Akane?"
Rose looked away, "She… she got kidnapped by Fujiko. Thus, you fight with her, but everyone in the end fails to defeat her. Akane passed away later when I was about ten."
"Oh," Ranma went still, eyes unfocused.
"But hey, that's what happened, not what will happen!" Rose stood proudly, "We just need to kick a lot of ass and things will be fine! Mama's already working on ensuring Fujiko won't be able legally ensnared everyone like before while Sensei is already attempting assassinations on Fujiko!"
"Your Sensei is actually an assassin?"
"Well, the world's most wanted terrorist but yeah. A lot of assassinations involved in that," Rose explained, "I'm the actual semi-professional hit woman."
Ranma stared at his future daughter, hoping for some punchline, but none came.
"What kinda mother was I to let this happen?"
Ranma sighed briefly before lifting their head,
Rose smiled, and sat back down next to her young mother.
"In my book, you were the best. None of what happened was your fault. Sure, you could be a little rough and certainly didn't teach me any manners, but you cared so much. You never hurt me and were always there when I needed you, whether it was a silly nightmare or my seventh grade piano performance."
"You play piano?"
"I mean I'm your musician teacher, hopefully I can play an instrument,"
Ranma stared into the horizon.
"Oh, you hadn't figured that out…"
"Rose, am I an idiot?"
"Yeah, but most of the world is. Me included," Rose hung her head back, "Besides, being a genius in martial arts ain't nothing and shows you have a brain."
"More than some around here at least," Ranma noted.
The pair lightly chuckled and looked out onto the night city.
Ranma turned to his daughter, "So where do we go from here?"
"Well… I guess home?"
"I guess. Feels kinda weird after all this big revelation stuff to go back to normal stuff," Ranma scratched his neck.
"There's a lot more to explain obviously, but it's also late and we're not in a dire rush so yeah," Rose scratched her neck as well, "This was not how I was expecting tonight to go."
"No?"
"No, I mean I was going to reveal stuff but ease you into stuff and focus on stuff that needs to be addressed more immediately."
"Makes sense. This is a lot," Ranma gestured with his thumb, "Want me to carry you home?"
"I don't think sleeping at the Tendo's is doable as from what I gathered Happosai is back and that room will becontaminatedagain," Rose's face contorted at the thought.
"Well, where do you live? I can at least carry you there," Ranma stood up.
"Yeah… actually do you wanna stay at our place? It's just me and Mama and she's won't be back until tomorrow. It's closer by too,"
Ranma held his chin, "Guess missing the morning pond wake-up won't be bad."
"Great!" Rose stood excitedly, "Come on, it's just a jump to the left, down to that street."
Within a few minutes, the pair stood at an apartment's door, Rose opening it with her keys.
"Welcome to our very humble abound," Rose welcomed her future mother in. Inside was a small apartment, likely only a single bedroom with the kitchen off to the side of the living room. Said living room was immediately before him, a second-hand wood table big enough to accommodate four, a beaten couch and a shocking fancy TV.'Wonder if they brought it from the future.'Otherwise, the first noticeable characteristic of the place was a dozen or so cheap empty beer cans with a few wine bottles, mostly sitting on the table and a few scattered around along various articles of clothing.
"Geez, you weren't kidding about Nabiki becoming an alcoholic, this place smells like my pops tent," Ranma remarked.
"But… I cleaned up this last night-" Rose turned to Ranma, "Shit, I thought she'd be in Taiwan for another day."
Rose began to push Ranma back towards the entrance.
"Hey what's the big deal?!" Ranma shouted.
"We need to get you out of here before-"
"Darling?"
The light switch flipped on and revealed the other occupant of the apartment. She stood in the hallway and Ranma couldn't turn away. It was a middle-aged woman wearing just a ragged tank top and underwear. He could tell even from a distance she had some big tattoos which beaked over from her back. More than the tattoos, the countless scars from swords, burns and bullets drew his eyes. She had more than most, certainly the most he'd ever seen on a woman in fact. She was even missing her left eye but what eye she had was transfixed onto him. Strangest of all was that this woman was undoubtedly Tendo Nabiki. The shape of her face and eye, sound of her voice, and hair colour but… older, beaten and tired. Her hair was long, just to the tip of her chest, and it hung off her shoulder, several visible white strands showing her age. She stumbled forward, her gaze unwavering on Ranma.
Rose sighed, before putting her arm in front of Ranma.
"Mama, go back to bed. You're drunk and dreaming,"
"I… don't dream of him though," she was just a foot away, "My beautiful wife…"
Ranma stood still like a deer caught in headlights as Nabiki reached out and crested his cheek. This situation was so surreal but he couldn't take his eyes off of this Nabiki. He'd never seen someone look at him with such sadness, joy, love and… lust. He couldn't help but find her beautiful. Not helping the situation was her "laze" attire.
"That's close enough Mama-" Rose froze as Nabiki causally poked a pressure point on her neck without turning away. Rose fell face-first onto the ground, twitching.
"You're real…" the older woman's voice was hoarse. She gripped his shoulders and, for a second, Ranma was scared she was going to kiss him, but then she pulled him in tightly. She hugged him harder than even Akane had, as she began to snob in his shoulder. Ranma was something of an expert when it came to tight hugs but this was decidedly different. It wasn't purely by strength but desperation like she was clinging with every fibre of her will to never let go.
"I'm so sorry," she repeated over and over again in his ear as they slowly slumped onto their knees. Ranma was stupidifed as to what to do at first before slowly began to hug the woman back. Several minutes passed before Rose rose up from the ground.
"Dirty trick hitting my sleep point, hag," she muttered before looking at the situation.
"Uh…"
"It's okay," Ranma smiled at Rose, patting Nabiki's back, "She's asleep."
Rose let out a breath of relief.
"I'm so sorry about this-" Rose began to whisper apologies but Ranma held up their hand.
"Could you get me a glass of water?"
Rose felt like asking but the less said the better so she got up and left for the kitchen.
Soon she was back and standing next to her parents. Ranma gestured to their head and mouthed "a light splash."
Rose compelled and poured a bit of water, transforming Ranma's form. The transformation had two benefits for Ranma. One, Nabiki's hug loosened as Ranma became smaller. Two, having an adult woman press her nearly naked body against him had his male bodily faculties react naturally if very unwanted. Rose and Ranma quickly grabbed hold of the older woman before she fell or collapsed onto Ranma. They wordlessly carried her to the bedroom. Once there they laid Nabiki on her side, making sure her mouth was wide open. Exiting and lightly closing the door behind them, the pair of redheads sighed in relief once out.
"Sorry again," she pressed her hands together and bowed.
"Eh, no big deal," Ranma shrugged, "You should see pops when he's drunk."
"Eh, I don't know, grandpa- Tendo Soun, said mama would put both of them to shame apparently during a visit. Especially in her destructiveness. You weren't a great drunk either."
Rose grinned, snickering at Ranma's embarrassed face.
"Oh, you should give the dojo a call. Ya know, so no one worries you've been kidnapped," Rose suggested.
"Good idea," Ranma nodded.
"Phone's over by that back table," Rose pointed, "I'm going to get ready for bed in the meantime."
Ranma gave a thumbs up and walked over. It only took a few rings for the call to be answered.
"Tendo Residence," Akane's voice echoed.
"Yo Akane," Ranma smiled, "It's me."
"Finally! I've been worrying about you since you went for a walk. Where are you?"
"Ros- Anko's place. We met up and got chatting, she offered to let me stay the night since her place was closer."
"Anko's place?" Ranma heard the sound of dramatically falling in the background, "Nabiki you ok?" Ranma heard Akane away from the phone. He didn't hear Nabiki's answer, just some swearing. "You sure it's safe there?" Akane asked him.
"Yup, she's cool and it will be safer to sleep than staying at Ukyo's or Shampoo's," Ranma chuckled.
"I'll have to agree with you on that one," Akane sighed, "See you in the morning?"
"'Course," Ranma smiled, "Good night!"
"Goodnight," the phone hung up.
"All good I gathered?" Rose asked. She was wearing pyjamas and, surprisingly, large round glasses. Nothing frilly but a light blue shirt and pastel pink shorts. Without her hat, Ranma realized her hair colour was like his mother's. Maybe his own would grow darker with age too.
"Yup," he shrugged.
"Right, here's the bad news," Rose sighed, "I was going to offer you the bedroom but Mama's taken it obviously. I'm going to share it with her in case she throws up in her sleep. She almost certainly won't but I rather not lose her in such a lame manner. The couch is yours though, it's a pull-out and ain't half bad. It's my usual bed when Mama's home."
"You don't need any help?"
"Nah, you're good. I got this," she gave him a familiar thumbs up. She then smirked and skipped over to him.
"Mom, can I get a goodnight hug?" She said in an overly cute voice with arms outstretched.
"Ain't you a little old for that?"
"Making up for all the lost ones!"
Ranma sighed and hugged his future daughter. She hugged back with great force, but it wasn't a long hug.
"Thanks, Mom," she kissed his cheek and skipped away.
Watching her skip away made him reflect on their similarities. It was funny. Knowing she's his and Herb's, you'd think she would have a super petite build like them, but she had some of his dad's build in her it seems. He hadn't noticed before but her glasses made it click to him. Still, by most definitions being under 5 feet, she was still "tiny", but a tiny tank with her muscles.
She's my kid…
It was thoughts like these that stirred in his mind as he lay down.
Once I said it, it became so obvious. She looks like an in-between of my guy and girl form, got the personality of me and Nabs mixed, and fights only slightly differently. Wonder how I trained her? She said I was a great mom. Mom…
Ranma unsurprisingly couldn't sleep. Who could after an evening of such revelations? He has a daughter, he's a mom, was Herb's and Nabiki's lover, and all that tragedy with Fujiko. It could drive some mad for days. So many thoughts and things to consider.
Why does the idea of being a mom bring him such joy? The idea of being pregnant alone should terrify any guy, especially me!
It was lingering in these thoughts when he heard noises from the bedroom. A worry knotted in his gut so he got up and made his way. Opening the adjusted door he saw Rose sleep matched his own style, spiralled out, mouth wide and without a care in the world. Nabiki, meanwhile, was curled up into a ball and crying. He approached slowly, but when he got within a foot her arms grabbed him.
"Darling~" Nabiki purred into his ear. At first, he thought she was awake but no, her eyes remained closed as she pulled in her newly found teddy bear. Thankfully it wasn't as tight as earlier and she held him perfectly. Less a plushie and more a lover cradling a partner. It was strangely nice. Nabiki roll him on her side, allowing Ranma access to the pillow.
'At least she's doing better,'Ranma thought watching Nabiki's expression become blissful. 'Hard to believe she's Nabiki,'it wasn't the age or sweet expression, but the scars. Most were subtle on her face save the burn marks where her right eye once sat. "Darling," she whispered. 'Still, she calls me that after all these years. At least it's more pleasant than when everyone else used it…'
Ranma felt something tug on his back. Glancing his eye over, he saw Rose had curled up against his back. She was making happy fox chirps every now and then.
Ranma sighed and tried to get comfortable.
'Why do I feel like a parent here when I'm the youngest and smallest?'Ranma thought, not dwelling on how happy it made him feel as he drifted to sleep.
Ranma woke as light creaked through the blinds. He couldn't feel Rose behind him anymore, but Nabiki was still there. And in a position with him that would surely result in a hammer to the head if Akane were here. Her eyes flickered open before staying on him.
She didn't react to the position she was in with him, instead bringing her hand to his face.
"You weren't a dream," she smiled, making Ranma instantly blush.
"I-ugh," Ranma's fusing was assuredly short fusing currently, "Sorry, I didn't mean to touch you-"
Her hand moved to his lips, pressing her finger against his lips, "Shush, I won't want to wake any other way," She giggled.
"I'm not Akane, nor am I my bratty self. So rest assured, you can feel me anywhere free of charge."
"But-"
"On the one condition I can do the same to youdarling~" And Ranma's brain just hit meltdown.
Nabiki leaned in closer, looking to steal a kiss when ice cubes began to rain on her head.
"This is coming from the resident flaming lesbian, chill horndog," Rose remarked standing above the pair with a jug of ice cubes. She was wearing a t-shirt, jeans and a black apron that said "Keeper of the Flame". Her glasses were missing, so presumably wearing contacts. She did not look amused. Nabiki moved away, grunting and yelling swears as she attempted to rid herself of the ice cubes sliding all over her.
"I was just teasing her!" Nabiki argued.
"Kissing is teasing?"
"A peck on the cheek!"
"Uh-huh, you know the rules mama," Rose looked to her other parent, "You good mom or do you need an ice bath to cool off too?"
"I-I'm good," Ranma began to reboot, looking anywhere but near Nabiki. "Ice bath does sound good, I suppose."
"I can get the bath ready in a minute, we've got plenty of ice made," Rose began to leave.
"I can join you if you like- OW!" A kick to the back sent Nabiki to the ground.
"Rule number two. No fucking your teenage wife," Rose's aura burned as she glared at her stepmother.
"Tch, you're no fun," Nabiki sighed, before standing and stretching.
"I'll go get that bath ready. Breakfast will be ready in a bit," Rose left the room.
Ranma finally looked at Nabiki who was smiling at him.
"Relax, our daughter is correct. Apologies for teasing you, it's been too long,"
"Yeah, sorry for-"
"Nope," she lightly karate-chopped the top of his head.
"No apologies are allowed to be given to me from you. It's rule number 3," she smiled again, but this time there was a weight behind it. He wasn't prepared for her to approach him again. Ranma was scared she'd kiss him and shut his eyes when he felt her press on his head.
"Huh?"
"Wha?" Nabiki snickered, "I have some ethics, give me a break kid!"
'At least when I'm fully awake and sober', she kept that thought to herself. She smacked Ranma on the back.
"Now get out and take that bath!" She pinched her nose, "You reek like some alcoholic smoking hag." She snickered again.
"Uh, right," Ranma obeyed, feeling completely out of his element.
"It's down the hall to your right, can't miss it!" Nabiki shouted behind him before the bedroom door shut. It was easy as she said, but as he opened the bathroom, he hesitated. Ranma turned and swore he had heard crying from the now silent bedroom. He saw Rose step outside the kitchen, looking at the door like him, before she saw him. Rose waved him off, bidding him to take a bath.
"I got this handle," she said.
Shrugging, Ranma went into the washroom. It was decently clean at least and the bath was readied as promised. The cold bath was shockingly refreshing once you got used to it.
Part of Ranma worried about needing to get to school before remembering it was Sunday.
Sunday… it's only been a week since Rose popped up in our lives but everything feels like it's different now.
Ranma snickered
Guess they're right about how having children changes your life.
Ranma outstretched his hand
It's weird to have a bath without changing forms. Even weirder to know this form isn't apparently weaker. Pops always said girls were weaker but when did I start believing him? I've met a whole village of warrior women that'd kick most male martial artists asses any day. Cologne is the strongest person I know besides Happosai and he mostly uses tricks and bombs to beat me. If girls can be strong, like Rose, then could I be the best martial artist I could be as a woman?
Ranma brought his hand before his face,
What does it mean to be a woman? A mother? Martial artist? Me?
Everything Nothing
Background chatter began playing in his head, replaying certain pleasantries.
"Can we keep the other one?"
"Pervert!"
"You're a selfish, egotistical, battle manic!"
"Nerima's resident egomaniac!"
"But what can I expect, you're a daddy's boy!
That hurt more than any of Rose's punches. Pops just repeats the same thing over and over again but Nabs hit me where it hurt.
Felt like I ate Akane's cooking, it made me so sick to my stomach. Maybe.. that's my biggest fear. Not counting those demons. I don't wanna end up like pops. Is that why being a mom appeals so much more than being a dad? I'm not a real girl afterall.
"My wife,"
Ranma's cheeks blushed and their body warmed despite the freezing water.
I'm someone's wife. Nabiki's of all people. She looked at me… Shampoo's looked at me with lust and Ukyo with dreams, but neither felt like they were seeing me. Akane… I don't know. Her looks feel warm and sweet sometimes but Nabiki's… it's like she saw right into me and that made her craze me. All of me.
The image of young Nabiki crossed against this older version.
She sure becomes a beautiful woman.
"Breakfast's ready!" A shout rang out beyond the door.
"Coming!" Ranma shouted back before rising from the tub.
Soon enough, Ranma stood before the table, feeling fully refreshed. Sitting down, a full-course Western breakfast slid in front of Ranma. Somehow, Rose managed to fit on a single plate scrambled eggs, several strips of bacon and sausages, onion roasted potatoes, two pancakes, and toast. In the centre of the table was a bowl of fruit and yogurt for each person with condiments from basic ketchup and salsa to Canadian maple syrup and hollandaise. Ranma couldn't help drooling at the sight of all this glorious food. He was amazed he hadn't been woken by the smell of this delicious feast before him.
"Bud, you went over the top again."
Ranma turned to see Nabiki sighing before joining him at the table. She was dressed now with even some makeup applied, notably dark red lipstick. She was wearing a suit and tie… kinda. She hadn't bothered to tie her tie yet, letting it sit loosely around her neck. No suit jacket yet either, just a brown vest unbuttoned along her white shirt, exposing her cleavage in what was no doubt another attempt to get a reaction from him. Apparently, she got what she wanted as she smirked at his red face before sipping a cup of coffee already awaiting her..
"The brat's been planning this," Nabiki looked to the kitchen.
"Huh?"
"This meal," Nabiki looked at her coffee, "She used to love helping you prepare meals as a kid. It helped that she had the same appetite as you if not worse in some areas."
She snickered.
"It's called nearly starving to death several times in Serbia makes one ravenous," Rose round the corner with her own plate. "You drink coffee yet, Mom?"
"Uh no,"
"Well try this, it was your go-to in the future," she set a cup before him. It smelled like coffee but better? Certainly had some cream in it. Ranma didn't hesitate and took a sip, being shocked. It was coffee but it was… fruity? Like a citrus strawberry cream cake, but made with coffee. It was really good either way so he didn't hesitate to sip more.
"This is great!" Ranma began to dig into the meal in earnest now.
"Well, you can thank Mama for that one," Rose's thumb gestured to Nabiki, "She figured out a special blend that would be palpable and energizing when the struggles of adulthood began."
"She was a single mom, I just wanted to help," Nabiki began to bite into the sizable breakfast, "And I know my coffee."
"Uh-huh, that's why you got it for her on Valentine's Day," Rose snickered, "If I recall Mom's stories right that's when she started to suspect you liked her."
"Yeah, it still took the idiot a year to figure out though," Nabiki muttered between bites of her food.
"Well, maybe mom will figure it out better this time, eh?" Rose looked at Ranma still plowing food into his face.
"Huh?" Ranma looked scared.
"Fat chance of that," Nabiki chuckled.
Rose began to eat now, and if there's one thing all Saotomes had in common, it's bad manners at meals and the ability to consume beyond the reasonable. Nabiki only had a quarter of her meal, surrendering the rest to the other two, clearly satisfied watching the two joyous faces eating.
"That… was so good," Ranma rubbed his belly.
"Where that all went I still have no idea but I've learned to enjoy life's mysteries like that with age," Nabiki sipped a cup of coffee, her third this morning.
"It's been far too long since we've had a meal together," Rose was visibly giddy.
"Amen," Nabiki raised her mug.
"How long…?" Ranma asked.
"Thirteen at least," Rose quietly said.
"Oh," Ranma pondered for a moment, "I died when I was thirty?"
Rose nodded and the table went quiet save for Nabiki's loud sip of coffee.
"We should talk business," Nabiki looked at Ranma, "First order of which, what questions did you want to be answered?"
Ranma went bug-eyed, "Uuuuhhhh, there's a lot."
"Haha, of course," Nabiki's smile never seemed to leave her face.
Rose piped up, "Well, you got to remember what happened in our future is very likely not going to happen the same,"
"Hell you'll probably marry Akane if we're being real," Nabiki stood up, walking towards the kitchen.
"Hey, you have a shot!" Rose cheered to stepmom, "Mom's just gotten to see another side of you!"
"Yeah, it's not Ranma I'm worried about," Nabiki said as she pulled out from a cabinet a small liquor bottle and poured some into her mug, "I'm a bitch as is and particularly short-sighted at that age. My world had to fall apart before I saw what I was missing in front of me."
Ranma scratched his cheek, "Uh, maybe not romance-related then?"
"Probably for the best," Nabiki snickered as returned, "You sure don't wanna hear about yourhusband?"
Nabiki nudged Ranma, who shivered at the word, making Nabiki burst out laughing.
"What else then?" Rose asked.
"Right, so if I lost to Fujiko before and I've lost to you before, what shot do I have if you lost to her too?"
"Oh, yeah how to put this…" Rose crossed her arms.
"You're a hard counter to Rose and likely Fujiko," Nabiki put it plainly.
"Wait, how?"
"The answer lies in how you lost to Rose and how you beat her yesterday," she finger-gunned Ranma.
"Soul of Ice?"
"Bingo," her finger gun fired.
"But I lost to you the first time!"
"Yeah, 'cause I knew your weak spots already," Rose shrugged, "You have a bad habit of underestimating your opponents the first time you fight I was told. A few jabs at your ego and blam, mad mom. You're pretty sloppy when pissed. I literally spent the whole fight dodging until you were exhausted."
"Think back to your first fight with Akane but played in reverse. Rose is a powerhouse fighter, she's got decent skills and the power behind said fist arguably the scariest in history but technically wise, she ain't a once in a century martial artist genius trained from birth. Fujiko, meanwhile, got lifetimes more experiences than all of us combined. That requires something special to counter."
"Still, how am I ahardcounter?"
"Well in Rose's case, she's stupid powerful and runs crazy hot. She ain't as fast as you, however nor as mobile. She can't even use her powerful moves on you due to how dangerous they are. You haven't seen her at her scariest."
"I can't even go into that state in a fight against you Mom. I have to become blinded with rage before I start to ignite and burn my ki,"
"Jeez, is that safe?"
"Hell no, it's only because she's got Herbs dragon bloodline that she doesn't burn up instantly and die," Nabiki sighed deeply, "It doesn't protect her completely, however…"
Rose raised herself, "Let's not get into that-"
"No, Ranma deserves to know."
"Get into what?"
Rose looked upset and turned away, but sat back down.
Nabiki stared into their eyes, "It's killing her."
"Say what now?"
"The technique she uses is known as Burning Wish Dragon. A mythical technique that granted its users the strength to vanish foes who wronged them. It can only be attained after great loss. The user relives that pain to activate it fully, causing one lifeforce, their ki, to ignite. Under normal circumstances, the user has to have a great wealth of ki to do anything and they'd die instantly anyhow after. Using it multiple times is only possible by those with dragon lineage as they're naturally heat resistant as Rose has displayed to you a few times. Nonetheless, burning away one's lifeforce comes at a great cost and that's the user's lifespan. At full strength, a few minutes can eat away years."
"Doesn't help that Sensei thought it wouldn't be enough and figured out a method to amplify it."
"What..?"
Nabiki smiled, but anger vibrated behind it, "She was inspired by some stupid kaiju movie and fed our dear child radioactive material. Instead of a firestorm at full strength, now it's more equivalent to a nuke going off your face," Nabiki's eyes shifted onto Rose, unflinching as Rose squirmed away.
Ranma was meanwhile speechless.
"How long…" he eventually whispered out.
Rose breathed in and out, "Nothing certain but I'm not expected to live past my forties at this point. Each time I use it seriously, I take off a decade of my life roughly," Rose shrugged, "It's really not a big deal. More amazed I'm still alive than anything."
A poignant silence settled over the table, eventually broken again by Ranma.
"And this… this wasn't enough to kill Fujiko?"
"Not in our future, but that's because she attained godhood and was basically immortal at that point."
Ranma's eyes nearly popped out, "Say wha?"
"She's a kitsune and has already got eight tails. She would have nine but one of her tails was cut off by the Tendo ancestor and has been hidden somewhere on the estate. She gets that and it's game over. That's why she comes after everyone."
"Then let's give it to her and call it a day!"
Nabiki's expression turned grim, "Oh I did just that way back when. It didn't pan out well. Plus Xian won't have any of that," Nabiki explained.
"Xian?"
"My Sensei, you know her as Shampoo," Rose explained.
"Shampoo turns crazy evil?!"
"Yeah basically. She at least has a better excuse than some for why," Nabiki rubbed her neck where the tattoo reached.
"You're too harsh on yourself mama," Nabiki groaned, ignoring her child's glares,
"Returning to the prior topic, Fujiko is like Rose. She's very resistant and a powerhouse but in a different manner. She's older than anyone so expect a jack of all trades and master of all. Her weakness is that breath of knowledge and technique combined with her… quirky personality, shall we say, often results in her prolonging fights. Her focus is never to win a fight decisively and more to entertain herself. She'll switch up styles of combat and try to invent new ways of victory just to manipulate her opponent in new ways. If someone does take her off guard, she can heal. Vitality, Soul of Ice has displayed the ability to hurt her to prevent that regeneration."
"Then how did she beat me?"
"As I said, she likes to play with her food and did the same thing Rose did. Threw you off your game with pointed jabs and games of trickery. As mentioned before, she locked you into your female form and that rattled you," Nabiki explained, "Between all that and the bodies hitting the floor, pulling off Soul of Ice wasn't an option."
"Who..?" Ranma gripped their cup tightly.
"Firstly, Happosai. She knows him real well and when Fujiko wants to kill, boy does she know the human body well."
"Gramps was next," Rose said, "From what I understand though you had already had your spine broken at that point. Gramps got you and Ryoga out at the cost of his life. She made him into a rug…"
Ranma swallowed air before downing his drink. He whispered his next words, "Who else?"
"Like who drops dead next or whose left?" Rose questions, only to be elbowed by Nabiki.
"Sorry," Rose apologized.
A beat followed before Nabiki spoke, "Of family and friends still living when we left… Kasumi lives in the States with her family. Dad passed away about a decade ago due to lung cancer. The rest of the family you already know about," Nabiki again elbowed Rose who failed to hide a grin regarding one member's death, "As for friends, Ukyo's situation is complicated but she sent herself back via memories, so alive and well now."
"That explains that…" Ranma barely muttered out, "Who else?"
"Uhh," Rose and Nabiki seemed to concerningly struggle for answers.
Rose snapped her fingers, "Oh, Doctor Tofu-!"
She stopped by Nabiki tapping her shoulder, her head turning left and right.
"My bad…" Rose scratched the back of her head.
"Well, Miss Hinako was recovering well last I saw her," Nabiki noted, "Akari has been very successful in business and managing decently, same with Shinnosuke. Your friends… Daisuke and Hiroshi right?"
Ranma nodded.
"Yeah, I saw them somewhat recently advocating for LGBTQ rights funnily enough. Tsubasa's still kicking around somehow. The Golden Pair were in the news again. I think, disqualified at the Olympics for violence or something. The Phoenix tribe was keeping hidden I believe. Plum, the Jusenkyo guide's daughter, was living last I heard too."
"Mint's alive," Rose noted.
"Who?"
"One of Herb's retainers," Nabiki explained, "Became a weird uncle for Rose growing up."
"What about Herb?"
"Chinese military," Rose sipped her drink.
"Chinese military?!"
"They were informed of certain indigenous tribes storing great wealth. Superhuman princes and grammas can only dodge so many bullets and missiles," Nabiki dryly explained.
"Wait, then the Amazons too?"
"Well, Xian's alive as mentioned and a decent number of the non-warriors fled so they're notcompletelywiped out," Rose tried to put a positive spin.
"Mousse too?"
"Ho ho, oh no he died later," Rose coughed.
"Listen, it's easier to list those alive than not…" Nabiki sighed.
"Haven't we already finished that list?" Rose noted.
Ranma jumped in their seat, "Wait, what about Ryoga?!"
"Uh, he died of natural causes, being that he was locked into his curse after all," Rose looked away, "I'm told he lived far beyond the norm for pigs at 24 years."
"He spent his years with Akari, on occasion accidentally visiting us," Nabiki smiled, "He was something of a tourist attraction. The Genius Pig!"
"Oh yeah, they had several TV specials about him! It was hilarious when one tried to prove he was an alien due to his "teleportation" powers," Rose laughed.
Rose's and Nabiki's melancholy was not shared by Ranma. This news hit them hard. Ranma couldn't believe their words. The thought of him being a mother? Theoretically possible. The lover of Herb and Nabiki? Workable. His mother killing him? A regular nightmare. His utter defeat and the death of the freak and his pops? Mousse, Soun, Cologne, Ryoga, Akane… It…
"Hurts…" Ranma spoke without thinking.
Ranma felt something unexpected, both sides of his tiny form to be hugged. Rose held tightly while Nabiki held their head, rubbing the top in a manner that felt just right.
"I'm sorry we don't have better news to share, but we're here to help and you aren't going to shoulder this challenge alone like you've had your whole life," Nabiki whispered.
"We're in your party," Rose said with cheer in her voice, "And we'll do this together. Hell, I might be able to solo her if she's weaker like we hope!"
This broke the dam. The stress, terror and hope that had engulfed Ranma since yesterday. Tears began to descend while hiccups and snobs bellow out. It was then she held the arms of these two people who loved her unconditionally. Loved Ranma. Ranma was certain she'd enter some alternative reality when she heard Nabiki begin to hum a song to them. Rose started to sing Country Roads along with it. She… he wasn't sure how long they hugged together. It was enough time to reflect further on these two familiar strangers.
It was so funny to see the disposition between Anko and Rose. Meeting Anko, she was just a sarcastic trickster not unlike Nabiki with a few more soft spots but also darker edges. But Rose… she was a hurt woman finally experiencing what she lost of her childhood. She was just a kid getting to see her mother for the first time in over a decade. She was his kid. Nabiki meanwhile was a broken woman who wore regrets on her skin, tattooed across her back. Ranma hadn't had too long to look, but it displayed a snow woman standing amongst massacre while tears flowed down her face, falling as ice rain onto her fleeing foes. She should be worse than her younger counterpart yet here she was hugging and singing to him. Free of charge.
That made Ranma laugh and began the slow unravelling of the hug.
"Rose is right, we're here for you, in more ways than one," Nabiki then ruffled his hair, "And we have plenty of time until the big bad arrives."
"Our main goal for now is to help you and the others' mental states!"
"Uh, why?"
"Well, sides' folks' flaws coming to bite everyone's asses hard in the future, Cologne always said you were our best shot at beating Fujiko. Provided you master Soul of Ice."
"Is it really that special? It's mostly a setup move."
"Sure is. Turns out you and Cologne are the only living people close to mastery level. Although, mama can do a low-level version,"
"It's more a wet chill than arctic winds," Nabs shrugged.
"But we need you to get to Antarctica levels. That requires you to achieve something akin to inner peace. That's about all we know though, you weren't super clear on it."
"Inner peace, or genuine happiness as we've been calling it," Nabiki further explained. "Soul of Ice is all about controlling your emotions and there's some deep turmoil inside you that's keeping you from achieving it. "
"Wait, that's what the bet was all about?"
"Subtly doesn't run in the family," Nabiki snickered, "Nor does punctuality it seems."
She pointed to the nearby clock that said 12:02 pm.
"Crap, Akane gonna murder me," Ranma started to panic clean.
"I'll give you a lift!" Rose offered, "My motorcycle is a fast darling."
"Oh, and before you run too far, give me a moment," Nabiki got up and walked to the kitchen where she started writing something down.
Ranma tidied himself and realized the obvious. "Uh, could I have some hot water?"
"Don't wanna give grandma any early ideas?" Rose snickered.
"Nah, she's gone on a trip with some friends. Some cruise I think? Pops tried to sneak along but got the katana threat."
"Here the requested," Nabiki walked up from behind and poured hot water onto Ranma's hair, "And here's my request." She handed Ranma a letter, "For mini-me," she said.
Nabiki then looked Ranma up and down.
"Wha?" Ranma asked.
"I forgot how much of a hunk you were, or are," her mouth turned to a familiar devilish smirk. She then leaned up and smacked her lips on his cheek.
"SUPERVISION INTERVENTION!"
Nabiki was sprayed with a water bottle as Rose slipped in between the two. Ranma for his part, was in lala land by what had occurred.
"I'll call the cops on you, sex fiend!"
"Hey, I'm just helping my younger self out. Bitch can use all the help she can get," the older woman snickered, "I know I'm certainly pissed I never got to do any horse riding."
"I'm imposing a restraining order effective immediately! Saotome Nabiki is hereby banned from entering within a ten-metre radius of Saotome Ranma!" Rose began to pull Ranma to the door.
"How cruel a daughter I have to impose a divorce on tragic lovers," Nabiki crocodile cried, before waving the pair off with a handkerchief, "Bye bye you two, don't be a stranger~"
"Banned!" Rose slammed the door.
"I swear to god if that woman…" Rose pressed her forehead before looking to her ward, "Ya good, mom?"
"Huh?" Ranma shook his head, "Uh, yeah."
"Shellshock?" Rose looked confused, "Don't you get kissed by girls all the time?"
"Not all the time!" Ranma crossed his arms, "Like three or four times…. Sides', they have a different energy."
"They ain't lovestraved horny middle-aged women?" Rose snarked, "Or do you mean they don't leave a lipstick mark on your cheek,"
Ranma panicked, "Oh god where?!"
"Relax I got ya," Rose sighed, before wiping his cheek, "There, no evidence of the crime committed."
Ranma rubbed his face, blushing before noticing a helmet shoved into him.
"Here, y'all need it."
"Helmet? We're riding your motorcycle?"
"Yeah!" Rose's eyes turned star-shaped, "I got a good feeling you'll love it!"
"Sure, whatever ya say kid."
The pair began to walk downstairs, "She always like that?" Ranma asked.
"Mama?" Rose hummed, "When she's not being the most terrifying yakuza shogun in history, yeah I suppose."
"Man, it's still hard to believe she's older Nabs," Ranma said aloud before double taking, "Wait, she's the what?!"
"You're insane, Nabiki!" Akane yelled at her sister, "We have no reason to believe Ranma's been kidnapped by the yakuza!"
"I didn't say it for certain, just a possibility!" Nabiki argued back, "Come on, you must be itching for your turn at being the rescuer!"
Akane growled in response. Nabiki's questions were annoying her for multiple reasons. One, she was incessant. Two, her theories were crazy. Three, Akane couldn't help but be bothered by the questions despite the former is that idiot?She thought.
It was then that both sisters heard the sound of the entrance door opening and a certain duo announcing their arrival. The sisters didn't hesitate, walked over and saw their elder sister greeting Ranma and Anko.
"Sup'," Ranma waved, carefree as always. Anko, funnily enough, matched Ranma's trademark half-wave hello.
"You two good? Ya got serious faces on," Anko questioned.
Kasumi's head popped out of the kitchen, "Nabiki was worried you had been kidnapped, Ranma, while Akane was concerned about your lateness."
"No, I wasn't!" "I hardly call it worry!" Both sisters protested simultaneously.
"Well, I'm fine as you can see," Ranma said, only to be nudged by Anko's elbow. "But thanks for worrying, it's appreciated."
"We all slept in and had a big brunch, chatting the morning away. Apologies for our tardiness," Anko slightly bowed, again nudging Ranma to do the same. Ranma did so and Akane chuckled.
"What did you do, spend the whole morning teaching him manners?" Akane joked.
"Please, we all know that would take a lot longer," Ryu waved away such allegations.
"Hey, I'm a quick learner!" Ranma protested.
"Yeah, if it's for a fight," Anko smirked.
"Maybe there's a polite society martial arts out there," Akane laughed.
"We can only pray," Rose put her hands together in a prayer, before giggling with Akane. "So what's got you covered in dirt?"
"Oh I dug a hole the other day and needed to fill it back up," Akane snapped her fingers, "Actually, I'd like your advice on something!" "Lead on," Akane and Rose walked off towards the yard, leaving Ranma and Nabiki alone. Ranma visibly looked uncomfortable while Nabiki was trying to read him.
"You didn't get replaced did you?"
"What, no!"
"Then why are you staring at me?" Nabiki wore a soured smile, "If you want to add me to your little harem, it'll cost you more than you'll ever make, darling."
"Ugh, no thanks!" Ranma shook his head,'How the hell do I end up as her lover?'
"If you're done with staring then tell me what happened," Nabiki stepped into his personal space, "What did you learn?"
"Uh, a lot of stuff?" Ranma looked away, trying to not recall his encounter with the other Nabiki.
"Such as?" She pressed further, her index finger beneath his chin.
"It's… kinda private?" Ranma blushed.
"Private?" She laughed, "Are you joking? Since when do you keep secrets worth keeping from me? I won't enforce seppuku or strip what little honor you have."
"Listen, there was a lot of stuff and I don't think I should be the one to tell ya." He stared at her, visibly annoyed.
"Hiding behind that sham like Cologne about revealing others' secrets?" Now Nabiki was mad, "Tell me Ranma or I'll start sharing all your secrets to the public for 100 yen a piece."
"No!" Ranma shook his head, "It's not cool!"
"I will fax your mother a collection of your finest photoshoots within the hour, Saotome," she was grabbing his collar.
"To hell with you!" Ranma smacked away her hand, "I don't see why I even bother with you! Fricking asshole." Ranma began to walk away
"Get back here Saotome!" Nabiki stomped her foot, "We're not done talking!"
"Oh, that minds' me," Ranma stopped, turned around, pulled out a letter from inside his shirt and tossed it to her.
"From Ros-Anko's mum," he said.
Nabiki froze, before tearing open the letter.
It was a short letter but it said enough.
No blackmailing Ranma darling unless you want the whole wide world to know your secrets~
P.S. I highly advise reevaluating your standards about what you want in a romantic partner and reviewing what you think of a certain adorable redhead. Remember, true value isn't profit.
The letter was signed with a lipstick kiss, sending a shiver up Nabiki's back. The note's last sentence was something very personal to Nabiki. Something she's never told another soul and she's certain no one living would know either.'How does this woman know what my mother told me when I was a kid?'
Nabiki barely contained her panic before slowly making her way to her room where she collapsed once the door was shut. She hadn't noticed that Ranma had watched her read the note nor that he followed behind her at a distance. He stood in front of her door, hand hovering and ready to knock.
The door to Nabiki's room swung open.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore Ranma-!" Nabiki turned and was surprised to see another's face, "Kuno?!"
"Kuno Tatewaki," he bowed, "I am to provide your one pm Sunday lessons as scheduled. I see this may have been timed unfortunately today."
"Go away," she spat.
"I will not," he stepped forward," "I vowed to give my support as best I can and you are in need of these lessons whether you believe me or not," he smiled and offered his hand, "Besides, I find exercise and practise pair excellently as distractions and methods of process when the mind is fraught with worry. Come!"
"Fine, just give me a few minutes to change!" Nabiki growled, making Kuno smile.
Meanwhile, Saotome had earnestly debated whether to disturb the Ice Queen where shouting from outside caught his attention.
Stepping downstairs, Ranma saw the source of the yelling. Akane and Rose looked genuinely excited as they pulled out an ancient long box from underneath the deck. Ranma watched the girls quickly move the long crate to the deck, laying it down.
"What ya got here?"
"A relic of my ancestor I think," Akane huffed.
"A very useful item if we're going to be beating up a demon," Anko sharply grinned.
"That the treasure from old Shinzo?! Let me have a lookie!" An unpleasant voice spoke, announcing his arrival atop the yard walls. Happosai hopped over, a smaller than usual bag of "darlings" on his back, examining the crate.
"Yup, that's his handwriting plus a crap load of high-class wards covering it," Happosai said, "Shinzo was well-liked in his community and had a few talented monks and mikos as friends. This looks like their handy work."
The box was over seven feet long, its wood shockingly sturdy despite how visibly ancient it was. What was visible of it anyway. It was covered from top to bottom with likely a hundred seals and warding papers that wrapped around it.
"You want the honour or shall I in case it's booby-trapped?" Anko asked Akane.
"I can handle it, it's my legacy," Akane gripped the box's side and pushed it open. At first, it failed to budge with rusted nails holding still until Akane put more strength into it. The wood cracked and the box opened. Moving aside some aged hay revealed a great naginata wrapped by a long red fur scarf.
"Wow, it's beautiful," Rose remarked looking at the ornate weapon. It hadn't aged a day strangely, its blade shining in the light.
"That's Shinzo's naginata! I'll be, it hasn't aged a day," said Happosai.
"Is that a fox scarf?" Questioned Ranma.
"Fox tails have always been popular, if questionable in their purity and ethnicity depending on the era," a voice spoke from the stairs, Kuno Tatewaki stepping forth, "Good afternoon."
"Hey Tatewaki-kun," Waved Rose.
"Is there an examination of ancient Japanese weaponry underway?" Tatewaki approached the scene, "Allow me, I am proud of my knowledge in that area."
"You know things, Kuno?" Ranma questioned, "Thought I'd have already knocked it out of yer skull."
"Enough to get higher grades than you," he shot back, "Let's see…"
"Hey, don't touch it yet, there could be spells on it!" Anko alerted.
"Noted," Kuno hovered himself over the crate, his eyes beginning to shine within moments, "Masterfully. Naginatas were the weapon of choice by women before the Meiji era. Many famous samurai women wielded them."
"Well, Shinzo sounds like a dude's name, so he ain't one of those," remarked Ranma.
"Uh, from the little I know of him, it tracks that he would be trained in women's weaponry, at least initially," explained Anko.
"Then the owner matched its weapon. This one is a very peculiar naginata. Its materials are all foreign, which have been nearly impossible to procure in its era. The pole isn't black by paint but is visibly made of wenge. Source from an African tree, wenge wood is well known for its durability, elasticity and lightness. It remains an expensive wood in modern times. Meanwhile, the blade is larger than is typical of proportions. Not only that, but it appears to be carbon steel with silver layered over top. It would be a greatly unbalanced weapon, akin to a battle axe with an elongated handle. The wielder would either be comically to watch as they flail around, incapable of hitting anything… or, as sources have suggested, terrifyingly to face in battle. This weapon would already cost a lord's fortune in its time, but whoever assembled and forged it was masterful as well. Look at the lettering that follows the pole," the other looked and saw kanji printed up and down the pole.
"The heck does it say?" Ranma said.
"We only can see a fraction of it currently but what I have quickly gathered is it is a tale of a warrior, likely Shinzo himself."
"His weapon tells his story," Anko's eyes glistened, "Epic."
"Indeed, it is an 'epic' weapon. The artistry does not end there. The blade itself is engraved with silver etchings that read kamikaze. Considering its age, I doubt it has anything to do with the infamous military unit but rather it is referring to the idea of divine winds. Finally, if I'm not mistaken, there is genuine magical energy radiating from that same engraving."
"Any ideas what kind?" Anko inquired.
"Nothing certain, but the obvious reference to powerful typhoons suggests wind, great force or with making the blade as sh-," Tatewaki's examination was paused by Happosai hopping on his shoulder.
"Oh yeah, he had it enchanted to counter Fujichan I believe," Happosai recalled, "Can't recall what it did though."
"Useless creep," Ranma muttered.
"I'm old! You forget things!"
"Lunch everyone!" Kasumi called out.
"Oh heck yea, I'm starved," Ranma said, his stomach growling.
"Same," Anko looked visibly salivating at the thought of Kasumi's cooking. No one was available to call the two Saotomes out of their endless hunger. The call for lunch seemed to draw people out of the woodwork as Genma, in panda form, and Soun appeared at the dining table. P-chan even made a quiet appearance sitting eagerly next to the table in front of a special plate for him. Only Nabiki was completely unseen but she wasn't the only one, her younger sister hadn't joined the others at the table. The young Tendo's eyes remained transfixed on the opened box, and the naginata within. Without thinking, she grabbed it. But a few seconds later, Anko spotted Akane hovering over the box,
"Oi, we can take a look later. Won't wanna risk this beautiful lunch getting cold or disrupted by magical hijinks," Anko walked up to her, her mouth full of food and went to pat the unresponsive teen's shoulder. Anko did not expect her hand to be grabbed mid-pat and find herself airborne, heading the outside pond's rocks. Landing hard, it took a moment for her to get up and see Akane now standing at the deck, naginata tightly gripped and eyes full of hatred.
"Do not touch mefox," "Akane" muttered. The household stood a gasp at the sight of the youngest Tendo daughter as she casually twirled the naginata in her hands and her gaze shifted to them. A blue glow now emanated from her eyes and where her hands gripped the weapon. Their battle aura burned with ferociousness akin to Akane's most furious moments yet with a cold and calm manner never seen.
"Da hell," muttered Ranma upon seeing the scene.
"More pawns of Fujiko," the warrior sighed.
"Accursed shapeshifters," their eyes shot between Genma and Ranma.
"Foxes," looking at Takewaki and Anko.
"And evenHapposaihimself is standing in my household." Happi's name was spoken with such disgust that the vile old man backpedalled.
"G-g-good day Shinzo my lad, pal, old chum, mate, bud… uuh, friend?" Happosai's smile shook, "It's been a hot minute since we last met and I thought I should let you know, I'm not here, at your old home, uninvited because I've taken your descend-"
"ENOUGH!"Shinzo's yell shook the earth, "I will not allow this." Their patient stance shifted, replanting their feet in a familiar Tendo Anything Goes battle form. They raised the back of the pole with their right hand while pointing the front of the blade towards Ranma.
"Come forth, demon spawn," an oni-like spirit form rose over Akane, not unlike Soun's furious demon head. Its sight brought a chill that could unnerve even the battle-hardened, blood-soaked murderers, and the most despicable creatures; each of which was represented at the moment. Footsteps descended the staircase, the stairs creaks echoing through the oppressive still air below. One question lingered in all watchers' minds, before being vocalized by the now-arrived Nabiki.
"What the fuck?"
