"How could you, Ranma . . .?"
Ranma's eyes went wide on seeing Akane float before her in a sea of
burning energy. This Akane, draped in the Densetsu no Doogi,
possessed a burning slash mark cleaving her face and body right to her
groin. The Doogi's buckle was shattered. "Akane . . .!" she gasped.
"I thought . . . " the apparition moaned. "You loved me . . . "
Ranma cried out in shock as Akane literally fell apart before her
eyes. She then shrieked on feeling hands grasp her shoulders. She
kicked herself away from whoever was behind her, spinning around to
see a headless girl's body wearing an okonomiyaki-ka's uniform. "U-
chan!"
"Ran-chan . . . " Ukyou's head floated by. "Why . . .?"
Ranma squeezed her eyes shut. "U-chan . . . "
"**Humph! Pathetic!**"
Her eyes flew open as she spun right, nausea surging up her throat on
seeing the darkened figure standing a couple metres away. Despite her
being in total shadow, the body shape and hairstyle spoke volumes.
"Wh-who . . .?"
"**Just pathetic.**" The newcomer came out of shadow, revealing
Ranma's face pierced by cat-slit eyes. "**Isn't it?**" She glanced
at the decapitated Ukyou. "**Even in death, all they can do is whine
and complain that you didn't kowtow to them like you did when they
were still alive!**" She sneered. "**Honestly, what did we ever do
in our life to deserve this shit, eh?**"
Ranma peered at her doppelgänger. As Ukyou's body bumped against
her, she took it, and then reached for her head in some vain hope of
reattaching them. "**Oh, please! Don't bother!**" the other Ranma
snarled. "**She doesn't deserve help from us. None of them do. None
of them EVER did!**"
She waved around them. Ranma looked before a fresh bout of nausea
surged through her. There floated Shampoo, the top of her head ripped
away. Over here was Mousse, a big hole where his forehead should be.
Near him was Nabiki, a jagged wound in her chest. A decapitated Kunou
Tatewaki. Kodachi with a sword wound under her breast, her throat
ripped out. Souun chopped in half. And a sea of shattered body parts
and globs of human blood, a hand holding a fifty-yen coin floating
nearby. Ninomiya Hinako, Ranma concluded.
What was left of her . . .
"Why . . .?"
"**Why?**" Neko-Ranma snorted. "**Why not? They would've done that
to us one way or another if we didn't kowtow to them! You know that
as much as I do! Those spineless bastards got what they deserved!**"
Ranma spun on her doppelgänger. "WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO DO THIS!" she
shrilled, pointing to the drifting corpses. "NONE! Yeah, they were
idiots, but they sure as hell didn't deserve something like
THIS . . .!"
"**Oh, spare me, please!**" Neko-Ranma spat out. "**Have any of
these fools ever done what we've done?! No! Have they fought
immortals, dragon half-breeds, monsters and a fucking OCEAN of martial
artists?! No! Have they endured insult after insult because of what
Jusenkyou did to us?! NO!**" She pointed to the corpses. "**All
they've ever done, all EVERYONE WE'VE MET has ever done to us, is spit
on us, use us, laugh at us, insult us and HATE us! Well, FINE!**"
She made a dismissive wave, and then she thumbed herself. "**If
that's the way they want to keep treating us, then let's show them
what we can REALLY to do to them, to ALL of them, in return!**"
Ranma shuddered. "I won't let you . . . " she hissed.
"**Oh?!**" Her double smirked. "**What're you doing to do? Destroy
me? You can't! I'm PART of you! If you destroy me, you doom
yourself! And not just yourself . . . **" She pointed behind Ranma.
"**But him, too!**"
Ranma turned to see a ghostly image float behind her. "Ataru . . . "
"**Right,**" Neko-Ranma drawled. "**We're bound to him, remember?
If we die, he dies. What's more important to us now, Ranma? Our
Other? Or them?**" She contemptuously indicated the corpses floating
nearby.
Ranma fell silent. "**Don't worry about what happened last night,
Ranma.**" Neko-Ranma then snorted. "**Thanks to you learning how to
manipulate those null-time bubbles in Sanctuary, you saved their sorry
asses.**" A ho-hum look crossed her face. "**Then again, does it
matter? We're going to be leaving these fools behind. And if they
have a problem with that, well . . . **" She shrugged, turning away
from Ranma. "**It's nice to know that we can kill them all if we
really feel it necessary. Ne?**"
As Neko-Ranma faded from view, Ranma screamed out, "NO . . .!"
** ** **
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO . . .!"
Ranma gasped as she felt strong arms embrace her. She turned,
sinking into Ataru's hug. "There, there . . . " he whispered before
kissing her, his hand ruffling her hair. "It's okay. It's okay.
It's just a nightmare . . . "
"N-n-n-nightmare . . .?" she sputtered before a pained moan escaped
her.
Ataru remained still as she wept, his eyes narrow as fingers kneaded
and stroked her vibrant crimson locks. The door to his bedroom
opened, revealing a worried Sakuya. "Onii-sama, is . . .?" She
stopped on seeing Ranma crying.
"Nightmare," he wordlessly mouthed.
Sakuya nodded. As the door closed, Ataru allowed Ranma to sink into
her futon, his hands keeping her close. Her moans continued for what
seems an eternity before a train of sniffles heralded a restoration of
self-control. "Th-thanks . . . " she then muttered under her breath.
He stared at her. "You okay?"
"Should I be . . .?" She bit her lip, and then reached up to stroke
his cheek above his beard. "That guyver-thing you turned into . . .?"
"Same general idea as what you can become now," he confirmed. "And
initially created under surprisingly similar circumstances. For me,
it was Onee-chan being forced into my mind when I was six. For you,
it was . . . "
"The Neko-ken training when I was ten." She rubbed her forehead.
"Could that've happened because of the bond between us? I . . . "
He shrugged, reaching up to rub the side of her cheek. "Maybe."
"I killed them, Ataru . . . "
He shook his head. "No, you didn't."
"But that thing said . . . "
"You used the null-time bubbles, remember?"
"But still . . . "
"No!" He placed a firm finger on her lips before leaning down to
kiss her forehead. "They're still alive, Ranma. No one died."
She squeezed her eyes shut. "You know that's a lie!"
"I'm not a theologian, Ranma," he reminded her as he shifted himself
onto his back, allowing her to lean on his arm. "Don't worry about
things that can't be changed. All you'll do is working yourself into
a nervous breakdown."
"I can't forget that, Ataru."
"I know."
Silence fell as they lay together. "Was it the same for you?" Ranma
then asked. "When the Cyborg first came out?"
He scowled. "Fortunately, no. You might say that I had the very
distinct *pleasure* . . . " -- she could sense the sarcasm in his
voice on saying that word -- "Of watching three billion people die
when that happened."
They stared at each other. Ranma drew her arms around Ataru.
No more words needed to be said.
**** **** ****
"Lonely Souls"
By Fred Herriot
pyeknu@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
OR fherriot@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
**** ****
Based on "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2," created by Takahashi
Rumiko; and "Sister Princess," created by Tenhiro Naoto and Kimino
Sakurako.
**** **** ****
Set in the universe of the fan-fiction series "Urusei Yatsura - The
Senior Year," created by Mike Smith and Fred Herriot
**** **** ****
NOTE: The writer's notes are in a separate text file.
**** **** ****
THE FIFTH PART - THE MORNING AFTER
To quote the old Cat Stevens song, morning had broken over Tokyo and
her many surrounding municipalities. For some, however, this day
would be radically different than any in recent memory. Events on the
front lawn of a high school in Nerima would have earth-shattering
repercussions for most of its participants for years to come, perhaps
even the rest of their lives.
Case in point: The Tendou doojou.
Kasumi shuddered as the rays of the morning sun penetrated her
bedroom window and curtains. Grunting, she shifted into a sitting
position to rub the sleep from her eyes. Pausing as her senses
reached out to detect the current state of the house's wa, the eldest
daughter blinked on sensing that both her siblings were awake. Odd.
Akane was often an early riser, but she rarely if EVER got up at THIS
time of the morning. Nabiki, even with her moving to recapture her
martial arts skills over the last week, still preferred to get as much
beauty sleep as she could. A glance in the direction of her father's
bedroom a floor below revealed Souun to still be asleep, no doubt
emotionally exhausted from last night's shocking and traumatizing
events. A glance towards the guest rooms revealed Happoosai currently
in his own room, also asleep -- not to mention a yawning emptiness
from the space that, until last night, served as quarters for Saotome
Genma. Genma . . .
Kasumi shuddered as the climax of events at Fuurinkan High replayed
in her mind's eyes. A furious Ranma unleashing something she called
the "Modified Soulsword/Fire Scythe of Death" on Genma. A cascade of
ki slammed into the Saotome patriarch, it possessing the energy
necessary to sever his normal body from the cursed form Jusenkyou
forced on him months ago. The riot police stormed onto the grounds
soon after, prepared to lay the long arm of the law on the Saotome
patriarch. Genma tried to flee, but Ranma used a "psychic kusarigama"
to propel her father into Justice's embrace. Genma then tried to use
a ki blast to scatter the police before making his escape -- and he
was shot down by a local officer defending his brother policemen. On
his falling, an unexpected side-effect of the Fire Scythe
disintegrated Genma's body in a burst of fire, leaving nothing behind
of the Saotome patriarch save memories.
Shifting the covers away, Kasumi swung her feet into slippers.
Standing, she reached for her housecoat. Once dressed, she made her
way to Nabiki's bedroom. A gentle knock was responded by, "C'mon in,
Onee-chan!"
Kasumi peeked inside to see Nabiki in her nightclothes, she seated at
her work desk, her legs tucked in underneath her. On her desk were
several sheets of heavy art paper, plus several plain and coloured
pencils. Seeing that, Kasumi fought down an urge to smile. Before
their mother's passing, Nabiki frequently demonstrated her skill with
coloured pencils, a skill that seemed to have vanished over the years
as the middle daughter threw her agile mind into ensuring a roof
remained over their heads. "Have you been up for long?" Kasumi asked
as she stepped inside, moving to take a look at Nabiki's work.
The middle daughter quickly sensed what gained her sibling's
interest. "Been dozing on and off since we came back from the
school." She picked up one sheet, holding it up for Kasumi. "Take a
look at Ranma-kun's LATEST trick."
Kasumi took the sheet -- and nearly dropped it on seeing what had
been drawn there. "A winged . . . catgirl?!" She stared at Nabiki.
"I didn't know you were into THIS sort of fantasy . . . " she said,
moving to be flippant.
The look Nabiki gave her in response told the eldest Tendou daughter
this was NO joking matter. "Droll, Onee-chan. Real droll."
Kasumi blinked before staring at the picture. Turning it to gaze on
those fierce features from a new angle, she frowned. "This is unlike
any feline I've ever seen," she noted before staring at Nabiki. "An
alien feline?"
"Possibly, especially given what Ataru-kun turns into." Nabiki
reached under one of her pictures of Neko-Ranma to draw another sheet
of paper, holding it up to allow Kasumi a view of the Cyborg. "What
do you think of THIS?!"
Kasumi blanched, a hand flying right to her mouth. "Oh, dear . . . "
"Yeah." Nabiki placed that picture down, sitting back in her chair.
"A lot's changed with Ranma-kun, Onee-chan," she then warned.
"So it seems," Kasumi agreed before she placed the picture of Neko-
Ranma onto the desk. "What happened last night?" she then asked.
Nabiki sighed. "Like I told you after we came back home. We all get
together at the school. Genma shows up trying to slice Ranma-kun down
with his mom's katana. Hinako-sensei tries to stop it and nearly gets
skewered. Ranma-kun takes the hit and *BANG!*" She made an exploding
motion with her hands. "We all wind up in this big, white NOTHING!
By the time I managed to get to some place where I can see what's
going on in the real world, Genma's bound against a tree, Ranma-kun's
a catgirl, Ataru-kun's doing his Terminator impression and . . . " A
deep breath. "Shortly after that, you and Toofuu-sensei are on the
scene. You know what happened next."
Kasumi slowly nodded. "How did this all come about?"
"Only person that'd know the whole story is most likely Negako."
"Negako-san?"
Nabiki nodded. "Yep. Onee-chan, last night, Ranma-kun was able to
use a SOULSWORD! That's the deadliest basic manoeuvre in Saikoo
Jinseijitsu-ryuu. One touch of the blade edge, you're dead. One
touch of the flat, your brain becomes instant fried nattou . . . "
"Ranma-kun is capable of learning martial arts forms VERY
quickly . . . "
"Onee-chan, I KNOW!" Nabiki cut her off. "But how is it he LEARNED
all this?! Negako's been HERE in Nerima while Ranma-kun's been off
with Ataru-kun and his family! And I don't think Ataru-kun could've
taught him that!"
Silence fell over the room as the elder Tendou daughter considered
that. She then crossed her arms. "What do you plan to do now?"
"Get some answers from Negako about what's been going on with Ataru-
kun since Lum got kicked off the planet," Nabiki replied. "Onee-chan,
there's something about this part of Ranma-kun you have to know." She
pointed to the pictures. "This part of Ranma-kun is clearly female in
personality. What's worse, 'she' is VERY attracted to Ataru-kun. If
there's any hope, ANY hope at all remaining for Akane-chan to patch up
things with Ranma-kun, we have to find out what's going on between him
and Ataru-kun."
Kasumi nodded.
* * *
Unseen by her siblings, Akane was standing in the hallway between
hers and Nabiki's rooms. The door to the middle Tendou daughter's
bedroom was ajar enough to have allowed her to overhear a LOT of what
Nabiki and Kasumi had said over the last couple of minutes.
Unfortunately, given her long habit of assuming many wrong things
about Ranma . . .
*That monster that possessed Ranma . . . it's attracted to MOROBOSHI?!
* she exclaimed as she quietly shuffled back into her bedroom, closing
the door behind her. Walking over to her own work desk, she sat,
leaning on her elbows as she tried to make sense of what she just
heard. *Or is it just that guyver-thing Moroboshi turns into . . .?!
* Her forehead furrowed before her eyes went wide. *Wait a minute!
How is it Moroboshi turns into that thing in the first place?! Was it
something Negako-san did . . .?!*
A hollow sleeve tapped her. Akane gasped, spinning around to see the
Densetsu no Doogi floating by her chair, it tilted in a display of
concern. A sign went up. [YOU OKAY, AKANE?!] It twirled around.
[WHAT'S WRONG?]
Akane gazed on the magic fighting uniform. She then grimaced as the
altercation between herself and Ranma in the wake of Genma's death
replayed. "Do not EVER again presume you have the right to fight
ANYONE because of me, Tendou-san," the redhead said after giving Akane
a dose of the Psychic Laser Beam, one of the basic ki attacks of
Saikoo Jinseijitsu-ryuu. Ranma then followed that with a warning that
if such happened again, she would see to it that Akane's career in the
martial arts would come to an end.
Akane shuddered as a swell of anger thundered up from her heart.
Then her body lost strength as a cloud of regret put a damper on
that. Hugging herself, she fought back tears as the sheer scale of
what had been lost over the last few weeks came back to her. The
blunder she made with the Nanniichuan casket at the wedding and how
the after-effects of THAT spiralled out of control over the following
weeks, exploding finally in the fight between the fiancées over Souun,
Genma and Nodoka's last attempt to force a marriage between Ranma and
Akane. An explosion that had sent Ranma away for four weeks. And
when he returned, he announced that he would be leaving the Tendous.
When that happened, Akane would be forced onto a level playing field
with Ukyou and Shampoo when it came to vying for Ranma. Even more,
Ranma warned that if his would-be lovers screwed up, their claims on
him would be rejected regardless of what honour demanded or the cost
such might unleash on the fiancées.
Then, in the immediate wake that awful terrorist attack on Tomobiki
High School last week, the Tendous and the Saotomes learned that Ranma
had befriended MOROBOSHI ATARU of all people! The so-called "Cancer
of Tomobiki" -- a man whose levels of lechery rivalled Happoosai's
despite his late "wife" Lum's attempts at taming him -- who had
mysteriously vanished from his hometown the very day of the failed
wedding at the Tendou doojou, had just come back from a long training
trip. A trip that ultimately helped Ataru become a world-class
martial artist in his own right, a lingering "gift" of his being the
last host of a sentient non-corporeal life form created by the
Moroboshi Clan with the help of Master Hosan Hirosuke eight hundred
years ago. A sentient non-corporeal life form that currently lived as
Moroboshi Negako, Grandmaster of the Moroboshi-Hana Saikoo Jinseijitsu
Ninjutsu-ryuu, the only real friend of Happoosai, Ataru's adopted
elder sister . . . and Ranma's new sensei, thanks to Negako soon
discovering Genma's greatest blunder concerning his son and heir.
A blunder Akane learned of the HARD way the day after things
literally exploded in Tomobiki, when an automatic outburst of anger
thanks to Ranma's showing up her dearth of cooking skills resulted in
a shattered arm. AND effectively destroyed what respect Ranma might
have held for her, not to mention ending what relationship they had.
Negako's discovery also, atop driving a permanent wedge between Ranma
and his father, destroyed Genma's marriage, which brought up the
spectre of Ranma renouncing the Saotome name to wipe the slate clean
when it came to matters of honour. THAT spectre had ultimately driven
Akane into getting the Densetsu no Doogi back in hopes of giving her
one last chance at bringing Ranma back into her home.
But Ranma had, to everyone's shock and disbelief, stayed a step ahead
of the game this time. Last night, as he moved to destroy the Saotome
doojou sign to bring a final end to Genma's and Souun's dreams, Ranma
revealed that he had somehow been given the legal right to form an
AUTONOMOUS branch of the Saotome Clan, free of any obligations being
Genma's and/or Nodoka's child might force on him. Saotome Ranma, the
would-be husband of Tendou Akane, Kuonji Ukyou, Nu Shanpú, Kunou
Kodachi and who knew how many other people -- was legally no more.
Thus, with Genma's death shortly afterward, the Saotome School of
Musabetsu Kakutou-ryuu was wiped out forever.
Ranma, Negako told everyone after the transformed martial artist had
left the school grounds with Ataru, was presently a student of Saikoo
Jinseijitsu-ryuu thanks to a private agreement between herself and
Happoosai reached days before. On hearing that, Souun launched an
immediate protest, one instantly shot down by Happoosai. Declaring
the Saotome-ryuu dead with Genma, he then seized the Tendou doojou
sign and shattered it. "When you decide to wake up to reality, Souun,
THEN I'll consider giving you a new license," the aged grandmaster of
Musabetsu Kakutou-ryuu snarled before leaving the school grounds with
Negako and Cologne. "Until then, the Tendou-ryuu is no more."
Poor Souun had to be dragged home, comatose over the fact that
EVERYTHING he and Genma had tried to create had been destroyed so
easily and so SWIFTLY. Genma dead, Souun's doojou wiped out, Ranma
living with the Moroboshis . . .
The Moroboshis.
Akane shuddered as she remembered what Kasumi and Nabiki had just
said concerning Ranma's and Ataru's other-selves. She then glanced at
the Doogi. "Gomen, Dou-chan." She placed a hand on its shoulder.
"Right now, I'm going to have to do some things on my own."
[CAN I HELP?!] the sentient battle uniform signed.
Akane shook her head. "No. Ranma doesn't like you, remember?"
Seeing the Doogi tilt its blazer in a mimicked nod, she then sighed.
"Atop that, who knows WHAT sort of feelings that cat-monster might
actually have concerning all of us. Right now . . . " Her jaw
tightened. "I have to find some way to convince Ranma to come home.
If there is something connecting him to Moroboshi that allows that cat-
monster to take control of him, separating Ranma from Moroboshi might
get rid of that thing . . . "
[YOU CAN'T FIGHT THOSE MONSTERS, AKANE,] the Doogi then frantically
signed. [EVEN WITH MY HELP, YOU'D LOSE. BADLY.]
"Hai, true." She grimaced, fighting down a burst of anger at
admitting the fact that Saotome Ranma -- much less Moroboshi Ataru! --
was worlds better than Tendou Akane in the martial arts. "But one way
or another, Dou-chan, I'm bringing Ranma back home!" she then vowed.
A pause as the Doogi considered Akane's words. It then signed, [IF
YOU NEED ME, I'LL BE RIGHT HERE FOR YOU, AKANE.]
She beamed. "Thanks, Dou-chan."
* * *
In a secluded part of Tomobiki, someone rose. Stretching, Fujinami
Ryuunosuke rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Glancing around the room
she just spent the previous night in, a shiver quaked her as a sense
of unfamiliarity seized her for a moment. Memory then clicked in as
she saw Mister Big Screen, and then her eyes turned right and down to
gaze on the peacefully dozing woman beside her. "Ran . . . " she
whispered.
Leaning down, she kissed the alien teen's cheek before sliding
herself back under the covers. She took a moment to glance briefly on
the nightstand. The chronometer sitting there had been adjusted to
read local time. Seeing how early it was, Ryuunosuke closed her
eyes. A couple more hours' sleep would do her some good, especially
since she had no school to worry about. Given last week's shattering
events, officials decided to keep Tomobiki High closed for another day
before allowing the new school term to start.
"Good morning, Ryuu-chan."
Ryuunosuke's eyes opened, a smile crossing her face on seeing Ran
gazing warmly at her. "'Morning." She leaned over to kiss the alien
teen's lips before leaning back. "Didya sleep okay last night, Ran-
chan?" she then asked.
"Hai." Ran's eyes then glowed. "Hmmm. Lum-chan and Shinobu-chan
are still asleep in the guest room. Guess they needed it."
"What happened last night, anyway?"
Ran shook her head. "I'm not too sure. Lum-chan tried to reach out
telepathically to Darling, but someone got in the way."
Ryuunosuke considered that, and then she shook her head. "It ain't
gonna happen between them, Ran-chan. Is there some way to help Lum
let him go?"
"I don't know," Ran admitted. "Right now, we can't worry about
that."
"Why?" the tomboy asked before catching herself. "Right, I forgot!"
She snapped her fingers. "The Men in Black're gonna be here later
today to help you and Lum settle in." She nodded. "You want me to
stick around, Ran-chan?"
"No. Jay and Kay get a little nervous when outsiders try to learn
how the SCAA does business." Ran then chuckled, an inviting smile
crossing her face. "Still, it shouldn't take us that long. Are you
busy today?"
Ryuunosuke considered the invitation to a date lying unspoken in her
bed mate's words. While she would not have really wanted to date a
girl while her father was still alive -- except if (as what happened
in Ryuunosuke's only previous date with Ran) the chance was there she
could try to learn new things about being a girl -- Ryuunosuke
couldn't deny that Ran really cared for her. Besides, if things
happened, they happened. Much that it surprised her, she felt calm
about this. "Not really." She shrugged. "Got somethin' in mind?"
"Oh, shopping, a long dinner, a movie . . . " Ran reached over to
draw Ryuunosuke closer to her. "After that'll be up to us, I guess."
They kissed. "We're kinda moving fast, aren't we?" Ryuunosuke mused.
Ran frowned. "Who cares about how fast we go?"
The tomboy considered that before shrugging. "True."
* * *
"There! All done!"
"Rinrin-chan, what are you doing up so early?"
Rinrin chuckled on seeing Shirayuki heading to the kitchen. "Oh,
'morning, Shirayuki-chan. Just doing some graphics work."
"What graphics?" The chef walked over to gaze on the screen of
Rinrin's laptop. Recognizing what was being displayed, Shirayuki
stared quizzically at the teen inventor. "Rinrin-chan, are you
redesigning Nii-sama's room?"
Rinrin eagerly nodded. "Expanding it so Aniki and Aneki can live
together. We can take the space from the divider between Aniki's and
Karen-chan's room to the main doors. Let the room grow out five
metres, which'd take up everything under the canopy, plus a bit. The
storeroom doesn't need a window, so we can close it off. Toss in a
kitchenette and make the other new space the main bedroom. They can
use the old room as a living room. We can shift the closet so they
can use the old closet space for a study area, too," she explained,
indicating the changes she made.
"Sugoi desu no!" The chef whistled. "That'll be so nice!"
"You best add an upstairs atrium, Rinrin-chan."
Both turned as Chikage stepped up. "What do you mean?" Rinrin asked.
"Add a bedroom on the second floor level outside the girl's furo."
The sorceress pointed to the area she was concerned with. "Slip in a
ladder to the kitchenette. Design it so it doesn't obliterate more of
Aria-chan's window view than necessary. If you want, stagger it to
hang over the main doors. We don't need the extra window on the
stairwell leading to the second floor, ne?"
Rinrin considered that before nodding. "Yeah, I can do that. But
why would Aniki and Aneki need an extra bedroom, Chikage-chan? I
doubt they're going to worry about having kids until long after they
get married."
A knowing chuckle escaped Chikage. "You'll be surprised, Rinrin-
chan."
She headed to the furo room for a morning soak. "There are days Hime
thinks she'll NEVER understand Chikage-chan!" Shirayuki moaned.
Rinrin sighed. "You said it."
* * *
The lovely twenty-something in slacks and polo shirt stifled a yawn
as she stepped aboard the Shinkan-sen. It was the first run of the
day between Morioka and Tokyo. Glancing around, Feiya -- to those who
knew her beyond the bounds of the Hotel Kiraboshi, she was Arima
Fumiko -- tried not to smile too much as she took her seat by a
window. Travelling at odd times of the day to avoid the crowds was an
acquired art form in Japan. It is one Feiya/Fumiko had to master
quickly. One need not look past her tapered ears, presently hidden
under thick bangs of raven-black hair, to truly understand why.
The doors whooshed shut. The train glided away from Fukushima
station on its trip south into the Kantou plain. Barring unforeseen
problems, it would arrive in Tokyo in less than two hours. Once in
the capital, it would be a quick transfer to the Marunouchi subway
line to Nakano-Sakaue, another transfer to the Toei Ooedo line which
would take her to Nerima, and then yet another transfer onto the Seibu
Ikebukuro line for Tomobiki. Tomobiki . . .
Fumiko's brown eyes closed as her mind shifted back in time a
year . . .
** ** **
"THAT CAN'T BE TRUE!"
Ishi took a deep breath before facing the younger woman. "It is."
The doctor, senior physician to the Church's observers in the Holy
City, nodded. "The blood tests do not lie, especially in cases such
as yourself, Feiya. You are . . . " He paused before hoarsely
whispering the last word, "Avalonian."
Feiya stared at him, her body quaking slightly as the word echoed
again and again and again in her mind. Avalonian? HER?! But . . .!
"How . . .?"
Was that her voice?
Ishi sighed. "It is a recent development, admittedly. Those of the
Faithful on the Homeworld who lose a child due to some unforeseen
accident often view the bioroid factory on Phentax Twelve as the
perfect way to get their child 'back.' It's not illegal, though
the . . . " -- his lips twisted into a scowl bleeding contempt --
" . . . potential outcome of such 'adoptions' have yet to really sink
in with the ruling councils."
"What does that mean for me?"
The fear in her voice was noticeable. Feiya knew the rules, just as
much as Ishi. NO Avalonian was to leave Niphentaxian sovereign
territory, especially under her own free will. The leaders of the
Church of Lum considered themselves very blessed to have the bioroid
factory under their control. If news of its existence managed to
become commonplace across the Galactic Federation, who knew WHAT could
happen next. To ensure such did NOT happen, any Avalonian caught in
places like Earth was to disappear. Literally.
"You are one of the Faithful, Feiya. A blind man could understand
that without being told. To . . . " He looked out the window of his
office, located close to the Aisuru home. "Do something like THAT to
one of the Faithful is wrong. But still . . . " He shrugged.
"Sensei . . . " Feiya's eyes softened.
Ishi closed his eyes before he nodded. "There is a way."
** ** **
Fumiko twitched slightly on sensing a hand glide up one of her
thighs. *Chikan,* her mind automatically declared as her hand grabbed
the twerp's wrist. Then, with a sharp snap-twist of her fingers, she
sent him face-first into the seat ahead of him. The twerp in
question, a middle-aged salaryman, grunted painfully as he felt the
bones in his wrist shift into unnatural positions. Fumiko let go, and
then grabbed she his hair to yank him back so she could glare intently
into his eyes. "Get lost," she hissed.
She contemptuously shoved him into the aisle with a well-placed
foot. He collapsed onto his butt. Then, staring warily at the
strange, raven-haired woman in the window seat for a moment, he
staggered off. Fumiko paid him no further attention as she watched
the countryside pass by.
"Another one," she whispered, her voice drowned out by the train.
"Another one like me. How the hell did that happen? How . . .?"
* * *
"Oh, Panda-san, you didn't need to do this!"
[PLEASE, I INSIST!] The sign went up before it twirled. [BEING YOUR
GUEST IS MUCH MORE PLEASING TO ME THAN STAYING IN A ZOO!]
Sitting around a low coffee table, Ninomiya Hinako, Ono Toofuu,
Cologne and Moroboshi Negako gazed on the beast as he sat between the
teacher and the doctor. Toofuu and the Nujiézú elder chuckled. When
she had awoke twenty minutes before, the metamorphic teacher
discovered that her new guest had spent some time cleaning up her
apartment. "He's more human than most humans!" Cologne declared,
gazing in amusement at Toofuu.
"A pity we can't apply a Nanniichuan curse to him." Toofuu sighed
before gazing on the entity that, in one sense of the term, had died
well over two millennia ago to ultimately create the Jusenkyou pool
known as Shonmaoniichuan. "If you want, I'll be happy to keep you in
my employ as my grounds-keeper."
[I ACCEPT YOUR GENEROUS OFFER WITH THANKS, SENSEI,] the panda raised
a sign. [BUT PLEASE DON'T EXPECT ME TO ANSWER PHONES.]
"We should think of a name for you," Hinako proposed, she currently
an adult thanks to a special ki-boost from Negako. "I don't think you
want to be called 'Panda-san' or any silly or 'cute' name like they
apply to your brothers and sisters in zoos. What do you think?"
The panda crossed his arms in contemplation. Watching him, the
others were quick to notice how much Genma had actually come to
influence this being in the year and more since the Saotome patriarch
fell into that particular spring. Finally, a sign went up. [I
WOULDN'T MIND THAT.] It twirled around. [I LEAVE THAT DECISION TO
YOU SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE A NAME IN MY PAST LIFE.] Another twirl. [BUT
PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU ALL, DON'T CALL ME 'GENMA.'] Yet another twirl.
[I WISH NOT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT MAN ANYMORE!]
"We'll spend time thinking about that," Toofuu assured the panda
before turning to Hinako. "So school's cancelled today because of the
window damage."
"Not to mention cleaning the debris from that tree Saotome-kun
destroyed when he used the Fire Scythe." Hinako gazed on Negako. "It
surprised me that your uncle's company was quick to offer to pay for
repairs, Negako-san."
"It is of no concern," Negako admitted. "What happened last night
was instigated by our family due to our desire to help Ranma. It
would be only proper to see the matter resolved to the benefit of as
many as possible."
"Good." Toofuu nodded, a knowing look crossing his face. "So what
of Ranma-kun, Negako-san? What DID happen last night? When I stepped
onto the school grounds before Genma was shot, I couldn't ignore what
I sensed."
"What did you sense?" Hinako wondered.
"Death."
Silence fell. A clawed finger tapped the table. Eyes locked on the
panda as he raised a sign. [SENSEI, YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW!]
"You know what happened?!" Hinako asked.
"He does."
As the others looked on her, Negako's face turned icily neutral.
"What I am about to speak of, I would desire none of you repeat
outside this room," she instructed. "What happened last night
concerning Ranma's 'neko-self,' Ataru's Cyborg persona and Genma must
be answered with emotional support, from you AND from those around
her. She does NOT deserve condemnation for murder."
Toofuu and Hinako paled. Cologne grimly nodded.
* * *
"School's cancelled?"
"Yeah." Nabiki replaced the telephone receiver into its cradle; her
homeroom teacher had just called. "The damage to all the windows,
plus that wrecked tree, has to get cleaned up before they'd allow
classes to continue."
She sat by the table. Kasumi nodded. "I think Kunou-san and his
friends will be disappointed they won't be able to play with Akane-
chan today."
"Much that I care." Akane sneered, and then something came to her.
"Hey! Why don't I go to school and wait for the Horde? When they
don't show up, I declare Kunou's challenge null-and-void, then avoid
them in the future!"
Kasumi blinked, and then she grinned. "It's a wonder why you never
thought of doing something like that before, Akane-chan."
Akane stared at her plate. "Yeah, it is, isn't it?" she noted, and
then a nod twitched her head. "What the hell! I WILL do it! I'll
get the girls in the class to come down so I can have witnesses to
what I say, and then go from there. That should knock the wind out of
Kunou's sails!"
"I'll call to make sure the Blue Blunder doesn't show up and spoil
it," Nabiki then volunteered before heading to her bedroom.
Souun stepped in. Gazing on him, Kasumi and Akane winced on seeing
the look on his face. "Do you want some tea, Father?" Kasumi asked as
he sat.
He stared nowhere in particular for a moment. Then, realizing his
child just asked him something, he nodded. "Yes, please."
Kasumi headed to the kitchen. Akane turned back to her breakfast.
"Are you going to see Ranma-kun today, Akane?" Souun asked.
"I . . . " Akane paused before sighing. "Yes. Why?"
"You will tell him to come here as soon as he can."
Akane stared quizzically at him. "Why?"
"He has things to answer for." Souun grimaced. "What happened . . .
"
"No, Father!"
He spun around, seeing Kasumi stare angrily at him. "Kasumi . . . "
"That is ENOUGH!" she snapped. Storming up to him, she glared into
his eyes, her actions making him shrink on himself. "Why, Father?!
Why are you pressing this madness, even after, ESPECIALLY after, all
that's happened since the wedding?! Do you actually BLAME Ranma-kun
for doing what was RIGHT, what was PROPER, when it came to that lazy
fool you called a 'friend?!'"
Souun quaked. "He deliberately . . .!"
"What?! He deliberately led Genma to his death?! Is that what you
were going to say?! No, he didn't! Ranma-kun simply reported what
Genma did wrong to the proper authorities! And THEN the police
stepped in to deal with the matter! And from what I saw last night,
it wasn't Ranma-kun's fault that Genma actually used a KI blast on
RIOT POLICE! What did you expect them to do?!"
"They had no right to involve themselves in private business . . .!"
"'Private' business?!" Kasumi shrilled, making Souun duck. "It
stopped being private when Genma started selling his son off to every
family that crossed his path! Did you know Ranma-kun found out about
FIVE more fiancées Genma never bothered to tell him about?! Did you
know the size of the food bill that lazy oaf would've eventually
slouched off on Ranma-kun?! Well?!"
"Enough!" Souun snapped. "Ranma-kun will come here and . . .!"
"No, he will not!"
His eyes widened. "What did you say?"
"I said 'he will not,' Father," Kasumi snarled as she pointed at
him. "You have no right to demand ANYTHING of Ranma-kun now . . .!"
She cried out as Souun's hand lashed at her face. Before it could
strike, a pipe caught it, and then he was sent flying. Crashing into
the koi pond, he surged up, and then he stopped on seeing Happoosai
glaring at him from the porch. "I think you'd know better, Souun!"
the grandmaster snarled.
"You stay out of this . . .!"
"SHUT UP!" Happoosai roared, making Souun wail as his master's battle
aura seemed to consume the Tendou home. As soon as the Tendou
patriarch had collapsed to his knees in the koi pond, a burble
escaping his lips, Happoosai relaxed. "Like I told you last night,
you blind fool!" he said, turning to head inside. "Wake up to
something called 'Reality!' It's all you have left!"
The Tendou patriarch remained still, weeping. "No . . .!"
* * *
"Ye gods . . .!"
"I can't believe that!"
Cologne nodded. "Believe it."
Toofuu and Hinako exchanged a look before the former turned to
Negako. "Is there some way for Ranma-kun to be rid of that thing?"
The grandmaster shook her head. "Not without ultimately killing her
-- and Ataru -- along the way. Yes, it is through Ranma's 'neko' self
and Ataru's Cyborg persona that their personal psionic link is
maintained. It has been that way since Ranma underwent the Neko-ken
training. But those personas are deeply ingrained in the other
elements of their minds. How it is that Neko-Ranma and the Cyborg are
able to access their hosts' memories? How is it they know exactly who
is what in their hosts' lives?"
The chiropractor and the teacher exchanged a stunned look. "And this
part of Saotome-kun . . . " The latter turned back to Negako, the
fear in her voice quite apparent. "Hates us all? Hates us to the
point where it would kill us if it got the chance? Every one of us
who might have hurt him in one way or another, regardless of reason,
since he underwent that awful training?"
Negako nodded, a thin smile crossing her face. "Yes. Do you think
she would forget the time you repeatedly absorbed her ki while you
were a guest of the Tendous just so you could remain an adult to
impress Souun, Hinako? Do you think, Kelun, she would forget you
forcing her through the cat's tongue? Even a 'trivial' incident like
what you did to Ranma to give her a 'favourable' impression of Akane
would loom large in Neko-Ranma's eyes, Toofuu."
Silence fell as the others considered her words. Toofuu then took a
deep breath before he shook his head. "We helped create a time-bomb.
Thus we have the responsibility to help defuse it before it destroys
Ranma-kun and all those she cares for. What's your plan, Negako-san?"
"Remove Ranma from Nerima, plus restrict if not outright block any
attempt by Ranma's would-be paramours or rivals to force her to remain
in a place where she should not be," Negako explained. "That has
been, in effect, done. All marriage claims save Shanpú's were
resolved when Ranma declared herself an orphan and was allowed to
start her own branch of the Saotome Clan. Shanpú's claim will be
resolved when Kelun's fellow councillors allow the Blood-Sibling Law
to be invoked. At the same time -- we may arrange this today -- Ranma
will be transferred from Fuurinkan High to Stargazer West College,
then allowed to complete her high school education in peace."
"Though I am familiar with many aspects of Promised Island, I don't
know too much about the school," Cologne mused. "Is it good?"
"Very good," Hinako replied. "It's one of the top 'ladder' schools
in the country. Negako-san's family supports it with grants and
scholarships. Saotome-kun . . . " She paused, and then she asked,
"Is Ranma really a girl?"
Toofuu nodded. "Yes. I didn't get the chance to examine her in
detail last night, but from what I could sense, Ranma-kun . . . " A
chuckle escaped him. "I guess I can't call hi- . . .! -- Excuse me,
*her!* -- that anymore, can I?" A pause, and then he nodded. "I'd
like to see her. Could you ask Sakuya-chan to bring her down sometime
today?"
"Why not ask me to bring Ane-kun to see you, Toofuu-kun?"
Toofuu screamed, spinning around to see a smiling Chikage gazing
amusedly at him. "CHIKAGE!" he wailed, waving her away.
As he launched into yet another bout of love-sickness, the others
laughed. "I'd love to hear THIS story!" Cologne declared.
* * *
"Oh, darn! No school today?!"
"I'm afraid not." Sakurambou Sakura was currently standing by the
front gate of Tomobiki High. "We were warned by the Ministry that
several students were transferring to our school, so I was made to
stand guard here in case some of you didn't get the message ahead of
time."
"Bummer." The rose-haired tomboy with the amber-brown eyes smirked
before holding out her hand. "I'm Sawada Minako, from Maizuru."
"Metro Kyoto . . .?" Her eyes then widened before a pleased smile
crossed her face. "I've heard of you! You're the reigning Kyoto
Metro women's high school kendou champion! Welcome to Tomobiki,
Sawada-san!"
"Hai, that's me! But PLEASE, don't blurt it out to everyone in
sight, Sensei." Minako gave her hand a squeeze. "People back home,
especially the girls, just became a pack of raving otaku when I won
that!" She then perked on sensing someone approach her. "Ah . . . "
Sakura tensed. "What is it?"
"It's nothing. Just a couple of close friends," Minako explained.
Sensing Sakura peering curiously at her, she added, "I'm telepathic
and empathic. So are they. I figure that for Tomobiki, that's
normal."
"Somewhat." Sakura then chuckled, surprising Minako with her
candour. "How did you gain those powers? Is it a family
thing . . .?"
"Pretty much so. My mother's not from Earth . . . "
"Minako, do you HAVE to spill it ALL to her on the first day?!"
"Tomomi!" Minako yelped as Yoshino Tomomi gave her a bear hug from
behind. She quickly returned her embrace. "How are you?!"
"I missed you." Tomomi pecked Minako's cheek, and then she turned as
a blue-haired girl with purple eyes approached. "So did she!"
"Stop flirting with her, Yoshino!" Ikusawa Kyooko snarled. Then, as
Tomomi stepped away, she swamped Minako with her embrace. "Hi!"
"Hi, yourself!" Minako kissed her, and then she proceeded to
introduce Sakura to her friends. Along the way, some more information
as to the young Avalonians' origins was relayed to the school nurse/
priestess.
"So all your mothers fled your home planet because the Niphentaxians
wanted to keep your race in chains?" Sakura waved them to follow her
onto school property. "What did they expect to do on Earth? This was
years before we came into open contact with extraterrestrials."
"Our mothers' friends learned there was a Zephyrite missionary colony
based somewhere in Japan," Kyooko explained as they stepped inside,
heading directly to the nurse's office. "If they made contact with
them . . . "
"The Zephyrites . . .?!" Sakura blinked confusedly before nodding.
"Oh, you mean Moroboshi Ataru's grandmother Nagaiwakai! She lived up
in Rishiri-tou before she died while the First Tag Race was being
held. I see now." They stepped into the nurse's office, Sakura
waving the newcomers to the chairs there. "What sidetracked your
mothers?" she asked as she moved to prepare tea.
"Their meeting our fathers, then getting married and having us."
Tomomi chuckled. "You can imagine it, can't you? Switching from
being slaves in a society that went out of its way to ensure they
stayed that way -- to being adopted parts of a 'free' society? It was
pretty disorientating for them!"
Sakura considered that, and then she nodded. "Yes, I can see that."
She smiled. "Do your fathers know of your mothers' origins?"
"Hai, they do. It was only fair." Minako giggled. "Especially
given how long-lived Avalonians potentially can be."
"How long? Several hundred years?"
"Try eight hundred."
Sakura whistled. "Women on Earth would KILL to know that."
"That's why we do our best to keep our origins secret," Tomomi said.
"Though I don't think it'd matter here too much."
"True, it wouldn't."
Tea was soon served. "So what brings you to Tomobiki?" Sakura asked.
"Simple," Minako replied. "The factory unit that created our mothers
is in orbit as we speak. Directly over Tomobiki to be exact."
The nurse blinked, her eyes widening. "Why would it be here?"
"We don't know. Neither do our mothers since they lost their links
to the factory," Kyooko replied. "And given how much the
Niphentaxians would like to keep knowledge of the Avalonians secret,
that it's HERE speaks volumes."
"There's another thing, too," Tomomi warned.
"Being?" Sakura asked.
"Phentax Twelve, the planet where the factory was placed. If the
factory's here, the planet's most likely gone. Mom knew it was
inhabited at the time she was activated." A pause. "If there were
people there . . . "
"Don't think such awful things, Tomomi," Kyooko warned.
Sakura gazed on the three half-alien teens in her office before she
set her cup aside. "You might be able to get some help, then."
Minako perked. "Oh? How so, Sensei?"
"Despite what the news reports may have said about the whole matter
last week, Lum is alive and well. She came back to Earth on Saturday
morning, along with her friend Ran." Sakura lightly smiled. "It was
around that time that several people who knew Lum, myself included,
learned of the Niphentaxians. You see, their latest 'church' is based
on worshipping Lum herself."
The visitors blinked. "That's . . . " Minako paused. "Strange."
"Agreed, it is." Sakura shuddered. "From what I could sense when
Lum spoke of that, she wants nothing to do with the Niphentaxians
whatsoever. I don't blame her, especially after hearing about some of
the things their leader -- Oogi, was his name? -- did on Lum's
'behalf.' And . . . " She paused on sensing something step into
range, and then she looked out the window.
Kyooko tensed. "Is something wrong, Sensei?"
"Shinobu's here." Sakura stood. "Just a moment."
She stepped out. The new students exchanged looks before turning to
their tea. Sakura returned, Shinobu behind her. "Hello!" The latter
bowed to them, and then she gazed on Sakura. "They actually said they
were Avalonians?"
Minako rose. "Half-Avalonians; our mothers are pure-born."
Introductions were made. Sakura prepared tea for Shinobu. Staring
at Ataru's former girlfriend, Minako tried desperately not to blush as
Shinobu's wholesome beauty began to do weird things to her mind's
pleasure centre. Tomomi and Kyooko watched her, and then they
exchanged a knowing look. *Don't be TOO obvious, Minako-chan!* the
former psi-linked to Minako by touching the latter's hand. *You want
to scare her off?!*
*Eh?* Minako perked, and then she made a dismissive wave. *Oh, no!
No! I'm not interested in Shinobu-chan THAT way . . .!*
*Bullshit, Minako!* Kyooko gave her friend a knowing look. *We
could sense your hormones kicking in all the way over here!*
Minako flustered. She then started as Shinobu asked, the concern in
her voice apparent, "Are you okay, Minako-san?!"
"Eh?!" Minako bolted up. After a few seconds' hysterics, she
scratched the back of her head, laughing. "It's nothing! Nothing!"
Shinobu gave her a curious look. Tomomi and Kyooko tried not to fall
on their butts howling. Watching this from nearby, Sakura shook her
head. *And I actually wanted things to be boring for a change?* she
mused.
* * *
"Onee-sama, are you okay?"
Ranma perked on hearing Sakuya. She then shook her head. "Not
really." She turned to her French toast as everyone enjoyed breakfast
in the living room. "That nightmare I had last night's still buggin'
me."
"Was it a bad nightmare, Aneue-sama?" Marie asked.
"Pretty bad," Ranma replied. "It was me meeting a version of myself
who hated everyone -- and I mean EVERYONE -- who did me wrong, no
matter how big or little it was. And she had gone out and killed all
those people. And . . . "
She shuddered. Mamoru grimaced. "That's pretty raw."
"Tell me about it."
Ataru gazed on Ranma, inwardly smiling at the latter's use of a dream
metaphor to divert the sisters' curiosity away from what happened at
Fuurinkan High last night. None save Chikage knew of what happened to
Saotome Genma. Not that the others might really care, Ataru mused.
While she was staying on the Island, Ranma had gone out of her way to
draw as bad a picture of her father as she could to the sisters. But,
especially for the young ones, harping too much on the theme of death
wasn't the wisest thing.
The living room door opened, revealing Negako. "Tadaima."
Shirayuki smiled. "Oh, Nee-sama, there you are! Do you want some
breakfast? Hime made her special French toast today."
"So I can scent." Negako took her place in the circle. "Please."
"Hai desu no."
Shirayuki headed into the kitchen. "Where were you?" Ataru asked.
"Meeting with Ono Toofuu, Kelun and Ninomiya Hinako," Negako replied
as Karen poured her a cup of tea. "There is no school today at
Fuurinkan due to a considerable amount of damage done to the windows
and the front lawn."
Ranma perked before she nodded. "Well, that's good."
"Waaai!" Hinako then gushed. "That means Onii-tama and Onee-tama can
spend the whole day with Hina and her sisters!"
Mamoru nodded. "Hey, that's right! Why don't we go swimming?!"
"Where, Mamoru?" Sakuya demanded. "It's February, remember?!"
"Baka! The indoor pool at the Tower in Tomobiki! It's the same size
as the indoor pool at school! We can swim there!"
Ataru hummed as he considered the question. "Good point." A sly
smile then crossed his face as he gazed on the eldest of his half-
sisters. "And we can visit Esmerelda's to get Ranma a new swimsuit!
Right, Sakuya-chan?"
"Oh, definitely!" Sakuya gushed.
Hearing that, Ranma's head slumped. "I'm dead."
"Why don't we make today 'Make Onee-chan A REAL Girl' Day?!" Karen
proposed. "After all, she's GOT to be tired of wearing the same blah,
unisex things day-in and day-out, even if she's used to living on the
road."
Ranma glanced at her, and then she stared at her clothes. She was in
her normal white tang and pants. "Well, yeah, you got a point, Karen-
chan," she mused, scratching the back of her head. "But what'd be
good for me?"
"For that, we best get to Esmerelda's early!" Sakuya proposed.
"I'll call the boys to get the road-train here," Rinrin called out.
She headed to her bag to dig out her phone. Ranma watched the others
launch into chatter about the day's events, and then she stared
concernedly at Ataru. "Hey, Ataru, I thought you wanted to keep them
AWAY from Tomobiki!"
"I thought it'd be okay when we were just concerned with a swimsuit
for you to wear," he lamented. "But for a whole WARDROBE . . .?!"
Ranma laughed. She then paused, a finger scratching her chin. "Hey,
wait . . . " Her voice trailed off.
He blinked. "What is it?"
"You planning to go to Stargazer West next week when classes start?"
"Of course. Why . . .?" Ataru turned away as the possible gist of
Ranma's train of thought sank in. "Do you want that?"
She shrugged. "What's the use going to Fuurinkan for four or five
days when we could be starting a whole new school year next Monday on
the Island?" A smile turned her lips. "Kinda redundant when you
think about it, ne?"
"True. Besides, high school isn't mandatory in Japan. Thought I do
hope you'd consider going all the way to graduation."
She nodded, and then she stared at her plate. "Of course I will.
But I only realized pretty recently that I've got a lot to catch up
on. I've missed so much being on the road with Oyaji and all
that . . . "
He waved her down. "Oh, don't worry about it, Ranma."
"Worry about what, Onii-chan?"
They turned to see the sisters staring at them. "Oh, it's nothing,
Karen-chan," Ranma assured her. She then turned to Negako as
Shirayuki came out of the kitchen. "Um, I hate to ask, but can you
ask the school to . . .?"
The ninjutsu grandmaster nodded. "I've already discussed the
possibility with Hinako this morning. The staff will be in school
today. It will be easily arranged regardless if Pauline tries to
interfere or not."
A hang tugged Negako's sleeve. "Onee-tama, Hina's right here!" The
youngest of the sisters pointed to herself with her free hand.
"I am speaking of Ranma's former homeroom teacher, Hinako, not you."
"Oh!"
Giggles wafted through the room. Everyone perked on hearing a knock
at the front door. "I'll get it!" Haruka headed over to open the
door. "Hai?"
The man flashing the police identification booklet smiled. "Sorry to
bother you, but are Saotome Ranma and Moroboshi Ataru here?"
"Hai. Please." Haruka waved the policeman in, and then she looked
at the dining room table. "Anigimi-sama? Anegimi-sama?"
Ranma rose, bowing. "You're here because of last night?"
"Hai." He nodded. "Okajima Keijou of the Nerima Precinct. I have
to get both your statements about what happened at the school."
"Right, right." Ranma nodded before sensing Ataru standing behind
her.
"Would you mind if we took this outside the house, Okajima-keibuho?"
Ataru then whispered to the policeman, cupping a hand around his
lips. "I don't want my sisters, especially the younger ones, to
overhear some of this."
"Of course, Moroboshi-san." He smiled before heading out.
Ranma and Ataru moved to follow, the latter whispering into the
former's ear, "Tell him the facts you know. That's all they need."
She nodded. "Right."
* * *
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