Khu Lon sat down at the table and checked the item that oppurtunity had given her. Magic like this rarely was found. Still she'd checked every which way and it wasn't cursed. She didn't want to do this, but it looked like in son-in-law would accompany them no other way. She sat down and did a brass rubbing of the script. Tsu could translate it later. Khu Lon hated to admit it but the only fighting man ever to come out of the amazon village was better at languages than she was. "" "" Khu Lon sat down and contemplated her navel for a short while. A somewhat sardonic voice disturbed her. "" She considered the options. Nabiki would have used the full address. Ranma would have been heavily accented. That meant Mu Tsu, and he was never this formal unless he knew he was right and expected you to know as well. He then repeated himself: "" Khu Lon suddenly understood why the ruling council had saddled her with this male. At home he would ask awkward questions like why the patriachs had granted more freedom to women than Amazons had to men. She rushed to stop Xian Pu but it was too late. "" The room glowed a deep purple and the item shattered into a thousand pieces. Obviously the wish had been granted. <"No!"> Mu Tsu and Khu Lon yell in chorus concerned for Xian Pu's well being. ----------------------------------------- Nabiki was awake in the middle of the night. After all it was time for her to take more Ranma-chan pictures. Then she noticed a note on Ranma's door. She decide to see what it said: "Oh ****" Nabiki yells. She just knew she was going to be Ranma's new fiancee. The yell must have woken up Ranma because he had exited his bedroom and looked as if he was about to tell her off. "Ranma, I think you ought to read this." He does so and screams "NO!" Ranma missed breakfast which was most unlike him. Nabiki found him in the dojo breaking blocks. It had just turned out that Nabiki's assumption was correct. She was Ranma's new fiancee. If she got hold of her sister she'd kill her; after all blood should have priority. ----------------------------------------------- Mu Tsu read the rubbing that Cologne had taken off the item. " "<.. a long and winding road> Khu Lon interrupted. Khu Lon now wished she had got Mu Tsu to translate earlier. Khu Lon knew she was beginning to have a big problem for a matriach. She was starting to respect a man. On this case they could work together. Xian Pu had only got rid of the obvious competiton. The reason Khu Lon had agreed not to kill Akane was that Ranma and Nabiki were deadly in combination. Separatly they were only nasty, so Khu Lon had done nothing but observe. However, being over two hundred years old, she had noticed that their mutual nervousness came from him being Akane's fiancee. It would take a little time for their enimity to die down but once it did Xian Pu would be in the same position as before demoralising to say the least. "" *Changed your tack, Tsu? You're learning. All the reason not to allow you to return to the village.* ------------------------------------------------------ Ranma was female, He'd stayed female for three hours straight. He fiddled with the tanto tossing it back and forth, back and forth. He was using the tanto as a toy. Dangerous but not suicidal-yet. Still, Akane had made Ranma feel worthless. That no-one could love a half-man. That for Shampoo and Ukyou it was only a matter of honour. The two people he really did like had run off together. "So going with all honour intact, or just commiting suicide?" Ranma looked up and glowered, which was hardly suprising since he had been glowering for five hours so far. He'd even considered getting stuck as a woman. Akane had crushed his spirit. Nabiki suddenly understood why she'd always disliked him. He showed that she didn't have to fall as far as she had. Nabiki bowed her head and tried to prevent herself crying. Ranma tried to comfort her, but as usual failed miserably. Nabiki kicked herself, she had just made things worse - again. Someone had to build his esteem up. Nabiki decided to use blunt tactics. "Akane is an idiot. If she can't take you as is, it's her own bloody fault. Secondly does it matter what she thinks. Hell, everybody in school wants to go out with you. Some even think you're a one in a million find. Two for the price of one. A dream come true." For some strange reason this works. It seems to galvanise Ranma. His mood has changed to one of forget them. What does it matter anyway. It is obviously only a quick fix. Nabiki is about to leave when .. "Stay, please." Nabiki bites down the price which she tends to quote more out of habit than anything else. She looks at Ranma again. Love just opens you to hurt. Then she remembers that Ranma drew strength from Akane. And despite the many fights he got into with Ryouga and no matter how much they argued, they always made up. Then another slim excuse and off they went. Something just didn't add up. If Akane had wanted to leave Ranma she would have. Something had changed but how and who would want it changed? Still Nabiki's basic motivation was family. Nabiki knew that if she didn't hunt down and kill Akane Ranma would reluctantly do what honour demanded and kill every last Tendo before taking his own life. That was the problem with being over traditional. Akane was no longer family but the shame was not over yet. Nabiki came to a decision. She would accept the changed engagement. A pity, but best for her family. Nabiki understood why Ranma had never said anything about P-chan. Until now he had never really been accepted as family. He would have dishonoured the Tendo name by that. Hints were all he could drop and drop he did. "If your still willing to be part of this family. I will accept the engagement. Akane has voted with her feet. She is no longer a Tendo." "I just wish society would accept that little, Nabiki." "Me, too. But I have to deal with Akane. She was family. It is my responsibility. I have to protect my own. You know something, I might not have loved you ever since you came. But I was jealous of her then. I gave you back to Akane because I had fallen in love with you properly. Not that I was going to admit it." "Yeah, Hiro and Dai hang round me. Yeah maybe they are a bit perverted but like Happi they admit it." "It took me a long time to realise I swing both ways." Ranma nods. "Funny how it took Ryouga and Akane running off to realise I did. Hell I kissed on him the cheek once. It was wonderful, real wow stuff, and it still didn't click. I guessed you were but didn't realise I was." "The same here. What gave it away?" "Your early jealousy. I orignally thought you were lesbian since you fondled my.." "..breasts. I suspected it on Kuno's 'date' in the park but it was how you acted around Ryouga that clinched it for me. I didn't think Akane would run off with Ryouga. I had a side bet on you doing so. Ridiculous now I think about it. You are the most honour bound person I've come across. It suddenly clicked that until you had been properly accepted you couldn't say Ryouga is P-chan. You dropped a lot of hints in front of Akane." "Ryouga extracted an honour promise from me." "WHAT? Forget Akane, I'll kill Ryouga. How dare he use you like that!" "Privilidge reserved for you?" "I never did anything that wasn't necessary and you must have given me your tacit agreement. Me sneak up on you? How many photos did I really take?" "You're right, Nabiki- I just hope we catch up with her." "Disowning Akane now won't do her much damage since she's wandering with Ryouga but it will help this family. You admit that you let me take photo's of you." "I can't, not until Akane's been dealt with. It has to be done quickly though. or Ukyou is my only legitimate fiancee. As much as I want to - " "You can't help. Pity. But I need training" "Tsu could do it." "We'll say my sis has been kidnapped." "That will cover it for a while. But you two must hunt and train on the move." interrupts Kasumi, "Ukyou was never a fiancee. It was the Gambler King's yatai you stole. Also you had an omai. So it is just the Tendo sisters. Me and Nabiki." The gambler king is a bit of a sore point between Ranma and Nabiki because it is a contract Ranma cannot remember signing That in itself is not too unusual, but at the time he didn't know about his fiancees so how the hell could he sign away the Tendo Dojo. Of course Nabiki dislikes the reminder of Ranma having signed away the Tendo Dojo. Ranma also lost it for the second time. She had to step in to recover it again. ------------------------------------------ Part 2 The man paused. This wasn't good. He'd missed him. The three brothers each practiced what they called the Art. In Ranma they all thought they had found an heir but before they could tell Nodoka, one had vanished taking Ranma with them. The sorcerer, the martial artist and the gadgeteer. Well the sorcerer had been here. He couldn't he? A powerful ward which he recognised. That of the shared tutor-Happosai. Designed to block the sorcerer. SO Happi had got interested in the boy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Happi why are you so interested in the boy? Why stay here, when Cologne is perfectly capable of teaching him Martial Arts?" "Godai?" "Yup." "He's a sorcerer. Cologne knows of his arcane potential but hasn't realised his method. She thinks to teach him wizardry. I thought you'd lost the deal." "Actually I won it. When has Genma ever kept a promise if its inconvenient." "Umm. Never." "Ah. The old mystic bra. But why present it to a boy?" "He collects curse like no-ones business. He has a jyusenkyou curse. Had the dragons hair. Then there's that interesting times one." "He's that powerful?" "More so. He is the one person that has come close to controlling the wrong method of teaching the Neko-ken." "Any one who manages to avoid his curses?" "Nabiki." "Does she have her own curses surrounding her?" "No. Which means she must have arcane potential to deflect Ranma's and it must be a tightly controlled one. She's a mage" "or has the potential." -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hi, Ranma." "Uncle Godai. I thought Genma won." "When has Genma ever kept a promise?" "I'm supposed to marry one of Tendo's daughters. It was originally Akane and now is Nabiki because Akane ran off with Ryouga." "Not that he's entirely surprised are you Ranma?" "I trusted her." "You trust too easily." Nabiki says. "Why do you think I'm engaged to you and not Kasumi." "Look you arrogant..." Godai bursts out laughing. "Bwahahaha" "What's so funny." "Okay I can see why you got into the habit of concealing a mutual attraction but she's gone." "And before you protest. How bad were your arguments? Just think about it. Any way this isn't what I came to do. Ranma take up Happosai's offer of training. He will teach you arcane ways. I'll keep an eye on him. Why the idiot has to present every female student with a lace bra I'll never know." -------------------------------------------------------------- Nekohanten Next day.(Nabiki's recording) Khu Lon: Xian Pu: Khu Lon: Xian Pu: Khu Lon: Xian Pu: Khu Lon: Xian Pu: Khu Lon: Fate part 3 "Ranma will rescue me." "I know. But you shouldn't worry about that. I've delayed him. Anyway, you have the potential to be a better fighter than Ranma." "I'm a martial artist." "And that is why you do not improve, Akane. You insist on trying to control what cannot be controlled. When do you hit Ranma?" "When I'm in a rage. But Ranma says." "Usually he'd be right. But not for you, rage is the key to your abilities, Rage and Weapons. You are a berserker, not a martial artist. When are you best at fighting?" "When raging, with a weapon. School bag, mallet, table.... Are you saying Ranma will always be a better martial artist than me?" "I'm afraid so. But you can become a far better fighter. MY man here will train you. And you can demonstrate how much better when Ranma comes looking for you." "Thank you umm, err.." "Tenchi Masaki." *Heaven and Earth? Strange Name, not that Wild Stallion's any better.* ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Nabiki was sitting down trying to decipher the strange runes in the book she had recently liberated. She just couldn't do it. She heard she had arcane potential why wasn't she able to. "Listening to what you shouldn't. But I cannot teach you. Only one person can teach you what you need. The book's true owner." "Who is torn between admiration and displeasure, daughter." "Why call me daughter?" "Amazon Law. Any female with the potential is adopted as an Amazon. Now I can call Ranma son-in-law without annoying him. Especially since this girl wants him." "Come on, he's an arrogant jerk, who lives solely for his art and uses it for the moment, not caring about repercussions." "And that makes you different, how?" Cologne states. Nabiki goes bright red for a second as she realises not only does Cologne have a point, but it is true. She is a lot like Ranma. A lot more than she ever wanted to admit. "I soon learnt Nabiki, only one person could take him away from Akane- You. If only I had noticed your potential sooner." --------------------------------------------------------------------- Happosai smiles at Ranma-c. "You like her, boy." "Come on she's an arrogant jerk, who lives solely for her art and uses it for the moment, not caring about repercussions." "And that makes you different, how?" Ranma-c goes red as she realises that she had just described herself. Happi shakes his head. He smiles and then demonstrates some points. "Is that all you could teach me?" "Yup! But only I could teach you that." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Xian Pu looks at her Grandma. Glares at her. "" "" "" "" "" "" "" Fate 4 Khu Lon sat down as she supervised Nabiki's training. Mu Tsu's weapon mastery was useful. Ranma was a weapon master as well. This was the best way for Nabiki to catch up. Nabiki's forms were still good in sparring but she lacked the blooding battle would bring. Only then would she know the truth. Nabiki was willing to win with tricks. She was a lot like son-in-law. A brilliant tactical brain concentrating on one thing to the exclusion of all else. "How is Nabs doing." "A lot like you. This is a rush job so Mu Tsu's basically showing the types of attack she can use. We alternate days. Tomorrow she will wish it was yesterday." "The magic right. Happi's done what he can. The rest is up to me. I want to see how good Nab's is." "I do not think that's a good idea. She will never be as good as you in those Arts." The battle starts. Mu Tsu stands in his flowing robes carefully. He waits for Nabiki to launch an attack. "He's operating too low. Hasn't taken our creativity into account. Nor the training Nabiki kept up. She's got a good way of sneaking. She doesn't." "Good, son-in-law." "Stop calling me that, old ghoul. I ain't going to marry Xian Pu." "I quite agree. I have made my last gamble." Mu Tsu launches some chains. Nabiki picks up the dustbin lid and deflects them. And tries to throw the dustbin lid. Ranma groans, she isn't that good yet. As expected it fell short. But it was a distraction. Mu Tsu is closing. That is bad. At close quarters Mu Tsu will have the advantages. He's stepped up his gears. "FIST OF THE WHITE SWAN!" "That hurt." "It was meant to, daughter." "Hey, Why did you call Nabiki daughter?" "I now qualify as an Amazon. Since I'm being taught arcane ways. Or will be tomorrow. Khu Lon sees a lot of herself in us. I'm wondering why she didn't take me under her wing earlier." Ranma smiles, its rare he gets one up on Nabiki. "Because there is one important difference between us Nabiki. I have honour. That is why I am not a money-grubbing, snack munching opportunist." Ranma has said this off hand as if describing himself. But it gets under Nabiki's skin, more than Ranma manages to do usually (which is quite bad at the best of times). Nabiki smiles, "Oh yeah? What about the Okymani, then?" Khu Lon grins. "She's got you there." "Okay, I'm merely a snack-munching opportunist." Ranma says applying the Saotome Secret Technique of tactical withdrawal. Khu Lon looks at Nabiki who is too busy defending herself from Mu Tsu which is more urgent even though defending herself against Ranma is more important. Nabiki looks shocked as she realises Ranma has actually won a round of verbal sparring. She wonders why she seems happy. Then she knows why Ranma usually lost to her. He had more urgent problems to deal with. -------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm exhausted. And Ranma that was mean." "Can't take what you deliver?" Ranma prods, using Nabiki's mental exhaustion against her. This was more fun than ever. He was probably going to pay for it later, but this time she might get the message. "Why are you teasing me?" "You look even cuter when you're flustered, Nabs." Ranma grinned at her. Though Nabiki would deny it, Ranma's cocky grin actually had the same devastating effect on her as his suitors. Fortunately since she usually had the advantage she rarely had it unleashed at her. This meant though she thought her resistance was higher. It was in fact lower - a lot lower. Nabiki felt her heart rise, as the lies she had told herself started to vanish. Damn it, she wasn't in love with Ranma. "Not yet anyway," A voice whispered to her. Fate 5 Nabiki was not having a good day. She was dealing with thirty-five things at once and Ranma's stirring was not helping at all. Worse he'd caught onto the annoyance factor of Nabs and Beaks. And he was going to throw them in her face every time he got. Ranma now had the advantage and he was going to use it mercilessly. Well, he was a lot like her. That's probably why she disliked him. She bit down the 'and' before it could form. "Hi ya, Nabiki." "Why the hell isn't he teasing me?" was Nabiki's first thought. Then she screamed mentally at herself for thinking that. And pointed out that since she was wide awake, she'd probably win. "You're a bastard, Ranma." "I learnt from the best." Nabiki cursed at herself. How was Ranma managing to get so many hits in. He should be worried about.. No, she had run off. Then the wall blew in. "PREPARE TO DIE RANMA!" "Ryouga. Shouldn't you be with Akane." "YOU LET AKANE GET KIDNAPPED AND DON'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO RESCUE HER." "HOLD IT!" Nabiki and Ranma look downwards and grimace, "We thought she'd run off with you." Then in chorus, "Why didn't you rescue her?" Ryouga goes red. "I got lost. And why does Nabiki look so upset?" Nabiki wondered why she looked upset enough for Ryouga to notice. Well she was attracted to Ranma. His honour made him trustworthy despite his mercenary edge. Not that he'd admit to having one. His arts and his honour stopped him from being well- her. Nabiki also knew Ranma had a brain, even if half of her wished he'd use it more often. The other half pointed out that she wouldn't manipulate him quite as well if he did. "RANMA! YOU HAVE ADDED ANOTHER GIRL TO YOUR HAREM!" "Come on. Nabiki may like me, but not that much. I'm just a dumb jock martial artist." "SEDUCING AKANE'S SISTER AND I THOUGHT YOU COULD GO NO LOWER!" Nabiki concentrated. Mumbled some arcane words. And Ryouga froze for a second. Ranma used the opportunity to turn Ryouga into P-chan. "It works?" "I'm living proof of magic and you're asking whether it works?" "I mean it *worked*" Ranma groans internally. Nabs did have a point. None of the magic flying here worked or rather worked right. If it had he'd have been Xian Pu's long ago. Then it suddenly struck Nabiki. Ranma was a sorcerer. And most magic was directed at him was deflected instinctively using the power from Jyusenkyou,. "Ranma I just realised something." "What?" "Kuno's right. You are a diabolical sorcerer." Nabiki smiled. Revenge was sweet. "Ya know, I never thought of it like that." Ranma said, almost concealing his annoyance. Well he supposed he did deserve it for what he did yesterday. Even though he was annoyed part of him was enjoying this. *Don't look at Nabiki like that. She's Akane's sister.* Nabiki cursed at herself as she saw Ranma look at her. *Akane's fiance. Akane's fiance.* Unfortunately the lies they had been telling themselves were dissolving, so they were not having a good time. The mild reluctant flirting that always existed between them, had become major flirting. Genma may be foolhardy but he was not stupid- though it often seemed that way. Annoying Nabiki and Ranma at the same time was worse than annoying the master. So despite their desire to marry Nabiki and Ranma they weren't going to drive them to it. "Should I turn Pig-boy back." "Yup. We need everybody. Time to rescue your fiancee. Again." Nabiki is surprised how much bitterness there is in her voice. It sounded so much like Ranma's generally is. Not very detectable but it is there nonetheless. Xian Pu opens the door and speaks, "Sister. Xian Pu wishes to apply for position of your Guardian. May Xian Pu have your permission?"