"You know, you could have stayed in class," Nabiki said. "Just because I have an appointment, doesn't mean you need to be there."

Ranma scoffed, squeezing her hand. "Yeah, like I'm going to miss your first baby appointment. School isn't important."

Nabiki blushed. While Ranma was always affectionate before, ever since her announcement the other night he'd been by her side every chance he got. He even tried to sit in her class with her, taking Kuno's seat behind her since the upperclassman was still chasing his girl side in Hokkaido. It took Nabiki's teachers most of the day to notice the new student in the room, and send him back to his own. "One of us should probably graduate," she chastised. "Especially if we're going to be running a business like the dojo." She looked down at her shoes. "It's not going to be me after all…"

"Hey," Ranma said seriously. Nabiki looked up at him. "We're gonna figure it out, and make it work," he said, giving her hand another squeeze.

Nabiki felt her heart start to race at his words. She looked away, but she was smiling. "Y-yeah. Thanks."

Ranma nodded, and they continued on their way. They walked on in silence for a while, hands firmly clasped in each other's grasp. However, when they rounded a corner a car drove through a puddle, splashing Ranma.

"Oh come on," she groaned. "I made it through most of the day without getting changed, and now I get splashed?" She lifted Nabiki's wrist, checking the time. "Think I have enough time to go home and change back before your appointment?"

Nabiki shook her head. "Why didn't you bring a thermos of hot water or something?"

Ranma kicked at a pebble, despondent. "Akane needed it today for that skating thing she and Ryoga are practicing for." She suddenly giggled. "I still can't believe he got adopted and named 'Charlotte'."

Nabiki rolled her eyes, though she was grinning. "Well, I guess you're coming with me as a friend rather than the father."

Ranma pouted. "Okay, but we're gonna tell them that 'Daddy' will be there at the next one," she grumbled. "I don't want the doc to think I'm a deadbeat."

Nabiki chuckled. She returned the hand squeeze, drawing a smile from the shorter girl. "We'll tell the doctor you were busy with school, but you'll come to the next one."

Ranma nodded. "Good."

"Hello, Tendo-san," the doctor said as she walked into the room. "How are we doing today?"

Nabiki didn't enjoy her annual visit to the gynecologist, but she did like her doctor. Dr Michiko Kaiga was young, hip, and a lot of fun to talk to. She had a streak of purple through jet-black hair that fell to her waist. Her ears were loaded down with piercings, along with one on her brow. And while she wore long sleeves to visit her patients, there were hints of tattoos on her wrists. She also insisted that all of her patients use her given name with her, to make things seem less awkward.

Nabiki blew out a raspberry. "You're about to be able to pay for a vacation to Hawaii, Dr. Michiko," she said. She put both hands on her stomach. "I've got a parasite in me."

Michiko's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure?" she asked.

Nabiki sighed. She dug in her pocket and pulled out the positive test, showing it to the doctor.

Michiko nodded. "How's your family taking it?"

Nabiki shrugged. "Dad seems pleased. He made an arranged marriage for one of us with the son of one of his friends from before he met Mom. I ended up with the fiancé."

Michiko quirked an eyebrow. "You're not being forced into anything, are you?"

Nabiki quickly waved her off. "No! No." She glanced over at Ranma sitting in a chair in the corner. She winced when she noticed her fiancée was frowning. "I promise, it's nothing like that. Ranma and I… We kinda…" She looked down at her toes. "We didn't wait for the wedding, is all."

Michiko frowned. She turned to Ranma. "So you're here for moral support then?"

Ranma jumped. "Yes! Um…" she squirmed under the gaze of the grown-up. "I'm Ranko, Ranma's cousin. He wanted to be here, but he's out looking for a job." She gave Nabiki a meaningful look. "He's taking responsibility."

Michiko nodded. "Well, that's good to know." She walked over to the sink, rolling up her sleeves to wash her hands, exposing tattoos on both arms. "I'm a little out of practice with my Martial Arts Body Art, but you let me know if I need to kick his ass for you, and we'll make it happen."

Ranma's eyes widened. "Martial Arts Body Art?" she asked.

Michiko nodded as she dried her hands. "Yep. It's my family's own school, and why I get stares when I visit an onsen. Tattoos and piercings that enhance my ki, my strength, and my speed." She smiled at Ranma. "Are you a martial artist?"

Ranma nodded. "So's her fiancé. Never heard of your school before. Might be fun to have a little match!"

Michiko shook her head, chuckling. "Nah, I'm pretty well retired. If you like, though, I can give you my dad's card. I'm sure he has some students that would enjoy a challenge." She pulled on some gloves, and sat on a little stool in front of Nabiki. "All right, take your pants off and put your feet up in the stirrups," she said. "We'll start with a pelvic exam to make sure everything is good."

Nabiki sighed, unbuttoning her jeans. This was always her least favorite part of her visits to Dr Michiko's office. Her pants and panties shucked and a blanket put over her legs, she lay back on the exam table, and shut her eyes. She was just about to tune out everything, when she felt someone take her hand. She opened her eyes, and saw Ranma had moved her chair closer, a small blush on her cheeks as she held Nabiki's hand. Nabiki smiled, squeezing her in thanks, then grimaced as Michiko started her exam.

"So we don't get an ultrasound?" Ranma asked as they walked home.

Nabiki shook her head. "Next month. It still won't be much to look at, but it will make sure everything is viable. It'll also tell us if there's more than one."

Ranma's eyes widened. "More than one?"

Nabiki shrugged. "Twins happen. Or more. We have some cousins on Mom's side who are triplets. Dad has twin sisters. Multiples kind of run in the family."

Ranma swallowed hard. He was only sort of used to the idea that he was going to be the dad of one kid and now she was telling him there might be two or more?

They continued their walk in silence while Ranma contemplated her impending fatherhood. Finally, she shook her head, and then looked at Nabiki. "Hey," she said softly. "You know I–"

"Ranma!" came a cry from above. "I kill!"

Instantly, Ranma grabbed Nabiki and leaped away. Where they were standing moments before, a massive crater grew under the blow from their attacker. Ranma landed far enough away that the ground remained firm beneath her feet, and she put Nabiki down, before taking up a defensive stance.

Nabiki was breathing hard and her heart was racing. "What the fuck was that?" she cried.

"Shampoo," Ranma said coldly. "Chinese Amazon from a village near Jusenkyo. She gave me the Kiss of Death after I defeated her in a tournament. Apparently, she has to kill any girl that defeats her."

Nabiki boggled. "She chased you all the way here?"

Ranma shrugged. "Honestly I thought we lost her back in China before we made the crossing back to Japan. Guess we were wrong."

Shampoo climbed out of the crater, a fierce look on her face. She brandished one of her chuis at Ranma. "Kiss of Death is promise to chase you anywhere until you die!" she spat. "You cannot outrun Shampoo!"

Ranma pointed her thumb at Nabiki. "Leave Nabiki out of this," she warned. "She's pregnant."

Shampoo shrugged. "Good for her. So long as she stay out of way, she be fine." Without further warning, she sprinted forward, attacking.

Ranma kicked out at the mace before it could make contact, knocking the weapon out of Shampoo's hands and into the canal. Shampoo responded by whipping around, attempting to hit her prey with the other chui in a brutal backhand. Ranma caught the blow in both hands. She was pushed back, but stood firm.

"Okay, well…" Ranma growled. She gripped the end of the mace, ripping it out of Shampoo's hand and tossing it away. "Maybe we could fight away from her then?" Shampoo followed up with an ax kick. Ranma spun away, cartwheeling to gain distance.

Nabiki was frozen. After everything she'd been through to secure her future, and this bimbo rocks up into town to ruin it all? "Stop!" she blurted out. "She's my baby's father!"

Shampoo reached behind her back and pulled a nasty curved sword out of… somewhere… and stabbed it at Ranma. The shorter girl jumped back, barely dodging the blow. "Eeee!" Ranma cried. She quickly patted at her chest, and sighed in relief at the lack of blood on her hands. Unfortunately, her shirt was less fortunate, and a wide cut exposed her breasts underneath.

Shampoo chuckled darkly. "Don't look much like father," she said, glancing meaningfully at Ranma's chest. She reared back to strike again.

"Jusenkyo!" Nabiki yelled.

Shampoo stopped, taken aback that someone all the way out here knew that word. "What?"

"Jusenkyo!" she said again. "He fell into a cursed spring, and changes into a girl!" She walked determinedly forward, this time placing herself in front of Ranma. "Ranma said you were from a village near there, so you know all about the cursed springs, right? He turns back into a boy with hot water."

Shampoo growled. "So?"

Nabiki held up her hands in a half-remembered defensive stance. "If he's not a girl, you don't have to kill him, right? I'd rather you didn't so I don't have to raise this kid by myself…"

Shampoo hesitated. Images of her own father flitted through her head; of him playing with her, giving her a martial arts lesson, holding her as she cried when she lost the battle against Ranma and had to leave the village to chase her down.

She stood down from her attack stance, rubbing at her suddenly moist eyes. "Show me," she ordered. "Show me she a man."

Ranma blew out a sigh of relief. "You promise not to attack anymore?"

Shampoo nodded. "If you actually a man, I stop."

Ranma glanced at Nabiki before nodding. "Okay. Follow us then. I'll show you the change when we get home." She took Nabiki's hand, and started the walk back to the Tendo home again. Shampoo put her weapons away, and fell in a few steps behind.

They took their time walking back to the Tendo compound. Ranma took her time, keeping one eye on Shampoo to be able to fend off any sneak attacks she might try. Her mind was racing, trying to think of any plan to get rid of the Amazonian once and for all. Unfortunately, her brain kept thinking about different ways Shampoo might attack Nabiki and the child she carried.

She shivered. Who knew fatherhood would change how she thought about a fight? It never seemed to bother Genma much.

Nabiki was doing her best to keep her heart rate steady, but she found it difficult to keep a handle on her own emotions along with those of her fiancée who seemed like she wanted to bolt. "Take it easy," she said softly. "We have no reason to believe she's lying about the whole 'not killing you if you're a man' thing."

Ranma chuckled darkly. "Yeah, but if they have a law about killing any outsider woman who defeats them, what do they do with the men?" She gave Nabiki's hand a squeeze. "Don't worry. Whatever happens, I'll make sure you don't get hurt."

Nabiki swallowed hard. "That goes for you too," she replied. "Don't you get hurt either."

Ranma smiled smugly at her. "Hey. It's me!"

Suddenly Shampoo sped up until she was walking abreast with the other two. Ranma flinched, but she calmed down a little when Nabiki squeezed her hand. Shampoo was ignoring her though, looking Nabiki up and down. "You don't look pregnant," she said accusingly.

Nabiki frowned. Was she trying to find a way around her promise? She dug in her pocket, pulling out the test she had shown Dr Michiko. "See? A positive test."

Shampoo recoiled in disgust. "You pee on that and keep it in your pocket?"

Nabiki pouted. "Urine is sterile…"

"And you sure she the father?" Shampoo barreled on, nodding to Ranma. "Great-grandmother has a magic amulet that can tell who father is. Maybe I send her a letter asking for it?"

Nabiki grimaced. "O-of course it's Ranma, who else would it be?" She laughed nervously, praying her fiancée didn't notice.

Shampoo, on the other hand, did notice Nabiki's nervousness. She frowned, but didn't press the issue.

They finally reached the house, announcing their arrival as they removed their shoes. Surprisingly, Akane came to the geikan to greet them. "I thought you were still practicing for this weekend," Ranma said.

Akane rolled her eyes, pointing a thumb over her shoulder. "My partner couldn't stay upright on his skates no matter what we tried. So he got angry at the ice for being 'too damned slippery' and punched it."

"Ice isn't usually that slippery!" Ryoga shouted from the living room.

"It's ice, you idiot!" Akane shouted back. She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, you know how stupid strong he is? Yeah, the ice shattered like a pane of glass. And since the rink was created over the top of a swimming pool, it was like a scene from the Bering Sea in January."

Nabiki winced. "Do we have to pay for that?"

Akane shrugged. "Ryoga got turned into a pig when his fist went through the ice, and I don't think anyone saw me shove him in my bag when we left."

"Āi yā!" exclaimed Shampoo. "You have two people living here cursed by Jusenkyo? They brother and sister?"

Akane winced. She hadn't realized there was a guest when she started talking about curses. Then she gasped. "Wait, you know about Jusenkyo curses?"

"Tendo Akane, meet Shampoo," Ranma introduced. "She's from a village near Jusenkyo in China, which is why she knows about the curses. She's in Japan because she's trying to kill me."

Shampoo smiled cutely. "Nǐ hǎo!"

"Shampoo, this is Tendo Akane, Nabiki's sister"

Shampoo nodded politely. "Nice to meet you!"

Akane smiled awkwardly. "S-same…"

"Is there a kettle hot then?" Ranma asked.

Akane blinked, coming back from the insanity of the cute, cheerful assassin standing in her house. "Um, I think Ryoga might have used it. The bath is hot though."

Ranma grumbled curses about her rival. "Okay, I'll just go jump in the bath real quick." She made her way towards the bath, her in-laws and huntress following behind.

As she entered the changing room and started to get undressed, Ranma paused, realizing she wasn't alone. "Uhh, Shampoo?" she asked.

Shampoo was currently pulling her shirt up over her head. "What?"

Ranma swallowed hard, looking up and away as Shampoo's breasts came into view. "W-why are you getting undressed?"

Shampoo shrugged, making her boobs bounce happily. "If you lie, Shampoo kill. Is hard to get blood out of clothes. If you tell truth, Shampoo have bath. It has been a long time."

Nabiki growled, her face scrunching up. "Hey!" She grabbed Shampoo's arm, dragging her back out into the hallway. "I'm the only one allowed to take a bath with him!"

Shampoo looked confused. "We both girls, yes? I have everything she has."

"He's not going to have it for much longer!" She turned to her sister. "Back me up here, Akane!"

"Huh? Oh! Y-yeah!" Akane blushed red as a tomato, ripping her eyes away from Shampoo's chest, and staring at her toes. "Ranma's going to change into a guy, so you won't be two girls anymore…"

Nabiki rolled her eyes. Oh, so now she has her sexual awakening?

Shampoo cursed. "How I know her brother is not inside?" she asked. "Must see change to be sure."

Nabiki set her lips in a firm line. "Fine. But put your shirt back on!"

Shampoo sighed, grumbling in Chinese. She stomped back into the changing room, pulling her shirt over her head. She crossed her arms, pouting, and gestured for Ranma to get on with it.

Ranma winced. She blew out a breath, grabbed her drawstrings and shucked her pants. Her shirt followed next, flying through the air as she tossed it towards the hamper. Turning on her heel, she marched into the bathroom. Without stopping to wash off, she jumped into the water, ducking her head beneath the surface.

Shampoo and Nabiki rushed in behind, waiting for Ranma to come up. Shampoo peered through the water, trying to make out any indication of who might come up. Nabiki eyed Shampoo uneasily, unsure what her reaction would be.

Finally, Ranma surfaced like a whale leaping into the air. Nabiki nodded satisfactorily, as if there was a chance that he wasn't going to change. She glanced at Shampoo to gauge her reaction.

Shampoo's eyes widened slightly as the girl who had submerged in the water came out a boy. He was taller; his shoulders broader, and his hips narrower. His hair had changed color. And yes, his anatomy changed; round breasts flattened to firm pectorals, and…

"Āi yā…" she said softly, her eyes glued to his crotch.

Ranma blushed hard, covering himself with his hands and ducking back down into the water up to his shoulders.

The air around Nabiki noticeably chilled. Shampoo recoiled slightly when she saw the look on her face. She cleared her throat to regain her composure. "Ranma is not a girl," she said matter of factly. "Kiss of Death does not apply."

Nabiki nodded. "Good. Now what happens since he was a boy that defeated you?"

Shampoo dug in a pocket and pulled out a handbook. "Here," she said, handing it over.

Nabiki took the book, looking at it curiously. The title was in Chinese, but when she leafed through the pages, she could see a Japanese translation had been written in the margins. "The Laws of the Amazons?" She looked up at Shampoo who nodded cheerfully.

Nabiki grabbed Shampoo's wrist. "Let's get out of here to go read it then." She marched out without giving Ranma another glance, dragging Shampoo behind her.

Ranma sighed, reclining in the bath. On the one hand, it was nice to know Shampoo wasn't out for his head anymore. On the other, he couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't going to be the last he saw of her…

The families gathered together around the table in the living room. Ranma sat next to his fiancée on the other side of her from Shampoo. Akane sat next to her, fidgeting in her seat slightly. Any time she accidentally touched the other girl, she jumped, muttering quiet apologies. Kasumi and the fathers were arranged around the other sides of the table, drinking tea as if they were just there for a pleasant conversation.

Nabiki had her nose buried in the book she had been given. "In the event that a woman warrior is defeated by an outsider; If her opponent is a woman, she must give her the Kiss of Death and kill her."

Shampoo nodded seriously. "Well deserved for stealing my food."

Ranma slammed a hand on the table. "I was hungry dammit! And since I defeated you, that meant the prize belonged to me!"

All of the Tendos looked at Ranma and Shampoo in disbelief "This was about stealing her lunch?" they all cried.

Shampoo harrumphed. "Was enough food to feed a normal person for a week. Ranma and Panda are gluttons."

"She's not wrong there," Kasumi agreed.

"Whose side are you on?" Ranma cried.

Kasumi gave him a stern look. "I'm still not happy with you for getting my sister pregnant."

Ranma recoiled, muttering apologies.

"Here we go," continued Nabiki. "If her opponent is a man, she must make him her husband…" She looked up at Shampoo, stunned. Ranma blanched. Gasps were heard around the table.

Shampoo waved all of them off. "Keep reading," she said to Nabiki.

Nabiki picked up the book again. "The exception to this rule is if another woman has claimed him by bearing his child."

"See? He all yours. What kind of woman I be if I steal away father of your baby." She narrowed her eyes at Nabiki. "You sure it his baby?"

Nabiki flushed. "O-of course!"

Shampoo shrugged. "Then no problem."

Nabiki felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. A massive smile burst forth from her face, and she sighed in relief. She quickly turned away, frowning. Where did that come from? Sure she needed Ranma to act as cover for her story, but would she really care if Shampoo dragged him back to China to pop out a dozen little warrior girls?

Ranma took her hand, squeezing it. She turned to him, and he smiled, relief written all over his face. She felt herself returning the smile. Well, she had to admit she was glad Shampoo wasn't going to kill him. She'd gotten used to him being around.

"So what will you do now, Shampoo?" Akane asked.

Shampoo shrugged. "Go home, I guess." She sighed. "Has been a big adventure, don't really want to go back." She leaned forward, propping her chin up on the table with her hands. "Great-grandmother probably going to punish me for not killing him," she said. "Maybe I get own Jusenkyo curse…"

"Well… You could stay…" Akane said hesitatingly.

"Huh?" Shampoo said perking up.

"Yeah, huh?" asked Ranma.

Akane rolled her eyes. "She's not trying to kill you anymore." She turned back to Shampoo. "How many people from your village get the chance to leave? To go somewhere else in the world?"

Shampoo frowned. "I have cousin who move away about five years ago. Dunno where. But you right, not many do."

"How old are you?" Akane asked.

"Sixteen, why?"

"Want to continue your education?" Akane pointed a thumb at Ranma. "If they let him enroll, surely they'll let you in."

"Hey!" Ranma said indignantly.

Nabiki hid a giggle behind her hand. "She's not wrong, Ranma."

Ranma pouted.

"Can you get your grades or something from home without talking to your grandmother?"

Shampoo considered. "Could call Bàba... He in charge of my education. He won't tell Great-grandmother if I ask him not to." She sighed. "Sound good, but I have no place to stay. And who going to give foreigner who barely know the language a job so I can eat?"

"Stay with us," said Nabiki.

Ranma choked.

Nabiki looked at him seriously "I know how you feel about being cursed. You want anyone else to go through that? At least you stay human. What if she turned into a cat or something?"

Ranma shuddered. "Okay but…"

Nabiki lowered her voice. "If she goes back, who's to say they don't send someone else to finish the job?" she whispered. "You did say she was the village champion. Are they going to let it stand that some outsider beat her?"

Ranma winced. "Good point."

Nabiki turned back to Shampoo. "We can set you up a futon in the living room. You can come to school with us and get your diploma. I bet that would impress your great-grandmother."

Shampoo blinked in surprise. She had been trying to kill this woman's fiancé; the father of her child. And she was offering her home? "You sure?"

Nabiki glanced at Kasumi, who nodded approvingly. "Yes," Nabiki said. "I'm sure."

Shampoo smiled warmly. "Then I stay. Thank you."

Author's Notes: Sorry for the short chapter. Unfortunately my muse is sometimes fickle, and I was having a hard time transitioning from Shampoo's arrival to a time skip. Rather than sit on what I had so far for a long time while I work on something else, I figured I'd post what I have.

I will say I'm excited for a few of the things I've set up for this story, along with the differences between this and "It's Like Rain…" If you read this chapter and chapter 2 of the other story, you can see the hints here and there. Both of these stories are completely planned and outlined, just need to flesh them out.

Readers who have been around a while probably recognize Dr Michiko as an OC I've used before. She first appeared in my Ranma fic "The Ring" where she was a tattoo artist who practiced Martial Arts Body Art, and gave Akane a piercing that helped her touch her ki more easily. She more recently appeared as a character in a couple of my MHA fics, once as a tattoo/piercing employee, and once as a doctor.

You may also recognize another Easter Egg from an earlier fic: The medallion Shampoo mentions to help verify who the father is came from my old fic "Japanese Wedding, Chinese Honeymoon"

One of these days I swear I'm going to go back and finish those stories…

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Wanna help me brainstorm ideas and beta read for me? I hang out in The Warehouse Fanfic Server on Discord! (TApH8UvShT)