>From the Scriivner:

     Okay... revision time... I think it could still stand to be extended a
bit more... after all, stuff I only hinted at in the original version of
this story is now fleshed out considerably better... but it could still
stand a little added length... oh well... I feel like working immediately on
Part 9 for this... since I'm coming really close now to the end, it's only
fitting, hmmm?
     I'd like to thank everyone who wrote in an encouraging word... Thank
you all... I'd also like to congratulate August M. Holgado for figuring out
a major plot point that will be used later but has been hinted at rather
subtly throughout the length of this series... of course I can't tell the
rest of you... go find those clues... heh.
     C&C... Want C&C..!! 
     In any case, please... read on... 


That's 1/2 My Goddess Part VIII: 
Of Friendly Visits and Family Relations...

	Ranma Saotome, heir to the Musabetsu Kakuto Saotome Ryuu, college student,
athletic scholar, Physical Education undergrad and alleged playboy, drove a
fist through seven concrete blocks, failing to split the eighth and chided
himself for becoming lax in his training. There used to be a time when ten
bricks wasn't a problem. He admitted to himself that while, Yes, he was
still the best martial artist in the district, he'd also gotten a little
soft over the past few months. Ever since the goddesses arrived he'd hardly
had time to rest, much less practice properly. Not that THAT was any excuse.
There was never any excuse for not training. That was one of the things his
father had drummed into him. So misgivings about waking up early aside, here
he was.
	He whirled around, pivoting on one foot, while simultaneously lashing out
with both arms as he turned, neatly smashing a perfectly usable board into
so much matchsticks. The Temple's courtyard was a great place to practice.
Roomy, peaceful and plenty of places to put up targets. There was only two
problems with it. First, it made him feel a little homesick practicing like
this. He hadn't gotten any letters from home since he left the dorm, it made
him miss them a bit. He usually practiced with his sisters back in the dojo
at home. He wondered idly to himself how they were doing... he grinned a
little and wondered what they'd think of his current living arrangements if
they ever found out. They'd probably tease him about it.
	The other problem, was that he always felt as if he were being watched. He
supposed that could just be paranoia, after all, this WAS a temple, and who
knew what spirits still lived here. But the feeling that he was being
watched always nagged him while he was practicing... Then again, that was
hardly surprising. Since he was usually being watched while he did his routines.
	Akane, who through no fault of her own, was by nature an early riser. But
Kasumi rose at an even earlier hour than she did and Akane had found Kasumi
had taken over the temple's kitchen and was in the process of preparing some
breakfast. Despite wanting to help, Kasumi mildly, but firmly told Akane
that it was all taken care off and that she shouldn't worry herself. Having
nothing else to do until breakfast was served, she sat on the sill of her
window and watched Ranma. She knew he was good. Those few times she'd
sparred with him, at her suggestion, she could never lay a hand on him. But
it had been a long time since she'd seen him actually move like that... the
grace... the speed... the precision... the beauty...
	Unbidden a sigh escaped Akane's lips and she was surprised to find it
echoed. She leaned out a bit and saw Ranko, similarly sitting on the next
room's windowsill looking at her. They frowned at the same time.
	"You," Akane said without much enthusiasm.
	"You," Ranko replied.
	After a moment's pause while they glared at each other, Ranko turned to
look at Ranma again. "Amazing isn't he?" She murmured in an awed tone.
	Akane followed suit and watched Ranma as well, "You could say that..." She
replied distantly, concentrating on his movements... After a few moments,
Akane turned to look at Ranko. Ranko's eyes were firmly on Ranma. Her face
was flushed and she had an expression of rapt fascination. Her breathing was
coming in shallow gasps as if she were trying to keep from breathing lest
she interrupt him... she looked... Akane couldn't tell what she looked like.
She'd never seen Ranko like this.
	Akane stepped out of her window, murmuring a quiet spell... she walked
across the thin air and the two story drop separating their windows. She
stood on thin air for a moment, while Ranko realized what she meant to do
and moved aside a little on the window to let her sit. 
	"You really do like him, don't you?" Akane said finally.
	Ranko snapped out of her reverie, looked at Akane. She smiled an
uncharacteristically gentle smile, "I don't like him at all. I hate him... 
	"But..."
	"Because I'm in love with him..." Ranko sighed.
	Akane made a face, "You're kidding right? That makes absolutely no sense! I
mean you've spent all this time trying to break us up and get home and
annoying him... all this time..."
	Ranko grimaced at Akane, "Give me a break Akane. Up until Nabiki showed up,
I couldn't get near him without his turning into a girl... that or he'd be
spending all his time with you... and you were acting like he was your
personal property already. It wasn't exactly something I enjoyed seeing you
know... so of course I wanted to get home..."
	"But..."
	"I'll admit, I started out trying really hard to hate him... so I could
pull all those stunts to convince him to send us away, send us home... but
after a while... it became less a matter of going home and more a matter of
not seeing you two anymore..."
	"You mean all of those tricks, all of those stunts and spells were because
you were jealous?" Akane asked incredulously.
	"Got it in one hammer girl. But now I can be close to him and he doesn't
have to be scared of me..."
	Akane merely frowned in reply.
	Ranko frowned back, "Don't look at me like that. He's not yours."
	"He's not yours either!" Akane shot back.
	"Yes, but I have no illusions about it. And I know perfectly well how I
feel about him and I can tell it to him now. Which is more than I can say
about you.
	Akane was taken aback, "He... he knows how I feel..."
	"Which is nowhere near actually telling him."
	"That's not the point! I'm not a wanton woman like you..!"
	"But it is the point, Akane. It's not a matter of being wanton, but
honesty... I'm willing to be honest with him... I want to be... Think about
it. If we'd started out on equal footing, without the stupid sex-changing
thing, who do you think he'd be with now, hmmm?
	"But you just admitted that you weren't being honest with him early on!"
	"Times change, cousin. Situations change... it wasn't right before..."
Ranko cut off the rest of her statement to look at Ranma again who was
currently in the process of delivering multiple blows to a wooden man. "It
could be right, now." Ranko smiled, running a hand across the neckline of
her robe...
	"You wouldn't dare!" Akane sputtered.
	"I've got you worried now, don't I?" Ranko's grin widened.
	Akane pushed her anger down with an effort of will, but distant thunder
rumbled. She crossed her arms and looked away, "Not at all. He's already
told me that he'd rather be with me than with you."
	"Mortals can be fickle, Akane." Ranko all but purred.
	"Not Ranma." Akane replied firmly.
	"You know you're not as sure as you sound."
	Akane had no reply to that.
	Ranko turned back to watch Ranma, who by now had stopped his routine, and
her eyes widened in surprise as Kasumi stepped out of the temple and
approached Ranma, a towel in hand.
	"What the..?" Akane frowned.
	Ranma, laughing nervously, accepted the towel from Kasumi who seemed to be
insisting that she should wipe him down with it...
	Ranko laughed suddenly, "Why that sneaky... I didn't realize Kasumi had it
in her..."
	"It's probably not like that... I mean... this is Kasumi..." Akane replied
weakly, "She's just being nice to him."
	Ranko thought for a moment then smirked, "You know, you're right. Nabiki
wouldn't do that without an ulterior motive, but Kasumi would do it just
because."
	Akane sensing the change in the mood and the topic of the conversation
continued, "You and Nabiki still don't get along do you?"
	"Not since she sold those photos of me to all of those Juvenile Gods a
couple of years ago..." Ranko admitted.
	"But I thought you enjoyed showing yourself off..." Akane smirked.
	"Yeah, but I didn't make a cent off of that deal." Ranko grumped, "Besides
which she didn't sell a single one of them to any good looking Gods, just a
bunch of geeks..."
	"I... I see... I guess." Akane nodded slowly.
	"Hey... who's that?!" Ranko cried suddenly, pointing to the outer courtyard
wall.
	"Wha..?"
	Someone, a woman with long brown hair, tied into a ponytail with a long
white ribbon, dressed in a beige oversized sweater and black leggings leaped
over the wall. She had a duffel bag over one shoulder and what looked like a
rugbeater in one hand, raised over her head in an attack position. She was
followed by a second woman... a girl really, with a messy thatch of short
brown hair, she wore a pastel pink jumper and a white shirt underneath in
hand she twirled what looked like a gymnastics ribbon.
	"They're attacking Ranma!" Akane cried out, unhitching her hammer from its
holster. She leapt off the window to rush to Ranma's aid.
	Ranko stared for a moment before she frowned, "Now what?" She murmured
quietly to herself as a glowing sphere of energy began to form between her
hands... she wouldn't use it unless necessary, but she wasn't going to be
taken by surprise...
	Ranma casually sidestepped the first swipe with the rugbeater and danced
out of range hurriedly as the woman hurled the duffel bag at him. The woman,
undeterred, gave chase whirling her weapon in a complex pattern as she did so. 
	Kasumi merely stood aside and allowed the woman to pass, a look of faint
surprise on her face, "Oh my... I see we have guests," Kasumi said.
	Akane managed to intercept the girl before she could reach Ranma. Akane
swung her hammer in a low sweep hoping to catch the girl's legs out from
under her, but the girl jumped up, avoiding the sweep easily. At the end of
its arc, Akane shifted her grip quickly on her weapon and swung it in a neat
overhand arc. She didn't really want to hurt them too much, but it would be
easier if they were knocked out. The girl, still in mid leap, lashed out
suddenly in response to the descending hammer with her ribbon. Akane found
her hammer entangled with the ribbon and pulled unceremoniously off target
as the girl gave the ribbon a quick jerk. 
	"She's good..." Akane thought to herself as the hammer embedded into the
ground. The girl, who Akane only then realized was barefoot, landed on the
head of her weapon, balancing easily.
	"...But not good enough!!" Akane shouted as she ripped the hammer out of
the ground, giving it a mighty heave, sending the girl flying into the air...
	Ranma had gone into a series of defensive movements, ducking and weaving..
The rugbeater swiping dangerously close, but never close enough. He was
laughing, "Is that the best you can do?!"
	The woman gave a snarl and lunged, thrusting her weapon at him. Ranma timed
it and launched himself at her to avoid the strike. He flipped forward,
placing a hand on her head to vault with. The woman stumbled forward as
Ranma sprang away. She glances up at him as he hung in the air and she gave
an amused smile. He was making faces at her as he began to correct his
position to land... Busy as he was with that, he didn't hear the cry of
"Gotcha!" until it was too late.
	He tried to twist in the air for a better view of the new threat, but was
unceremoniously tackled out of the air and dropping to the ground, bracing
for a hard impact. Unfortunately, Kasumi, who was walking slowly back to the
house to set new places at the table, was in the way.
	Akane rushed to save Kasumi and get her out of the way, thunder rumbling
closer now... when the woman vaulted in using her rugbeater to pull Kasumi
out of the way of the tangled mess that was Ranma and the girl with the ribbon.
	Ranko who was gauging the emotions of the combatants finally allowed her
energy ball to dissipate. She'd felt almost no aggression or anger
whatsoever from the two strangers... if anything... she'd felt a great deal
of... affection... what was going on here? She wondered to herself as she
leapt down to join them. 
	From the tangled heap on the ground... there was much squirming... and a
decidedly odd noise could be heard... laughter. Akane, Kasumi and Ranko
stood confused. The woman lunged at the laughing heap and also began to
participate in what was going on... 
	"Peace! Peace! I surrender!" Ranma cried out breathlessly, still laughing.
He had an arm around the waist of each of the two strangers and was holding
them too close for Akane's comfort.
	"Gotcha!" giggled the girl who had her arms wrapped around his neck.
	"What is going on around here?!" Akane demanded.
	"Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts Two Pronged Tickle Assault!"
The girl declared happily.
	Ranma looked up at the three women standing and realized that Akane had
that 'Someone had better explain this to me or they will be hammered' look
in her eye. Ranko was just smiling in a rather disturbing manner at him, if
he had to guess, probably imagining herself twined around him... and
Kasumi... well... Kasumi looked like she always did. 
	The other woman sat up her hands still playfully on Ranma's stomach, looked
at each of the three goddesses in turn and then turned to Ranma, "'Nichan,
who are they?"
	"'Nichan?!" The three goddesses said simultaneously. Akane's tone was of
surprise... Ranko's was speculative... Kasumi, being Kasumi, took it calmly.
	From the house, Nabiki stepped out and called, "Hey... Saotome! Phone
call... What's going on over there..?"
	The girl turned to the look sat Nabiki then at Ranma, "Our brother is being
a naughty boy again."
	"Looks like it," the woman said in reply, "Four at a time? That is amazing."
	"Hey, quite talking about me like I'm not even here!" Ranma voiced.
	All eyes turned to Ranma Saotome... 
	"Well, since you're here anyway, an explanation would be nice." Akane growled.
	"It's not what you think!" he replied, trying to untangle himself from the
two girls... they weren't quite cooperating.
	Nabiki called again, "You'd better get this call, "Saotome. This is costing
you..."
	Ranma sprang to his feet, separating himself hurriedly from the two
strangers, "I'll get that... why don't you introduce yourselves to each
other..."
	The woman and the girl exchanged glances, "Is it just me or is he getting
better at making these exits?" the woman asked.
	"Looks like it." The girl replied. Just as Nabiki made her own way to the
group of five women. 
	"Now..." Akane said, as she helped the two up, "Who are you guys?" 
	Nabiki put her hands at her hips, "This looks like its going to be
interesting..."
	Ranko merely glared at Nabiki.
	"I'm Natsume Saotome," the woman replied, "Ranma's sister. This is our
youngest sister, Kurumi."
	"Hi!" Kurumi waved to them, "So... are all of you 'Nichan's girlfriends?"
	Nabiki chuckled and gave a grin, "Only if he paid me..."
	Kasumi seemed slightly puzzled but she blushed...
	Akane choked slightly...
	Ranko nodded quickly, moving closer towards the Saotome sisters, "Nope.
Just me."
	"No, you're not!" Akane quickly recovered.
	Natsume shook her head slowly, "And he used to be such a shy guy..."
	Kurumi merely nodded.

	Ranma mentally blessed whoever it was on the other end of the phone, as he
dashed into the house. Regardless of who it was. He could explain the entire
matter easily, but not with the ENTIRE Tendo family of Goddesses looking at
him like that. Especially not Akane in that state... hopefully Natsume and
Kurumi could straighten out the situation on their own... unless Kurumi
decided to make matters worse... it was a little late to regret his decision
to bug out...
	He picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"
	On the other end of the line, Ryouga's voice replied, obviously annoyed,
"What took you?"
	"Oh. You. What do you want, Ryouga?"
	"Mousse and I have come up with a sure fire way for the Martial Arts
Varsity to score big money before the sem ends."
	"Oh yeah? What bright scheme is it this time?" Ranma said incredulously.
	"Well, the school fair's coming up soon, right?"
	"Yeah..." Ranma replied cautiously... he'd learned not to trust Ryouga and
Mousse's get rich quick schemes...
	"Well, we come up with a presentation for the fair. With you, Akane and
Ranko in it and we can charge people for entrance! Much as I hate to admit
it, between your three fanclubs we'll rake it in! "
	"Ranko and Akane have fanclubs?"
	"You haven't heard?"
	"No." Ranma replied incredulously... he needed to pay more attention to
what happened in the school...
	"I though mine broke up already? You know... after me and Akane at the
start of the sem..."
	"Yeah it did, but Kodachi managed to reorganize 'em again after the rumors
you two split up started popping up again."
	"I don't believe this."
	"Better believe it." Ranma could almost feel Ryouga grinning on the other
end of the line.
	"By the way, the jury is still out for the 'Break up cause' betting pool...
but we've kept the odds pretty low on the 'Just another nasty rumor', just
in case."
	"Good thinking." Ranma replied sourly.
	"In any case, Ranma, we're giving you the starring role, for the crowd draw
potential."
	"What?! What're you talking about, Ryouga! I don't know anything about acting!"
	"What's the matter Ranma..? Chicken?"
	"What?! Who're you calling a chicken?! I just said I..."
	"Okay... I guess you don't care what happened to the Varsity... "
	"I didn't say that either!!"
	"It's alright to say it... if you're too much of a coward to help us out,
we understand..." Ryouga's voice said slowly, in a hurt tone, "Maybe we can
give you a little job... like fanning the REAL star... or holding the
sandbags... or something..."
	"Fine then! I'll star in your damn play! It's the least you owe me!" Ranma
shouted into the phone.
	"Great! We'll be there with the rest of the club to discuss the
preliminaries in half an hour!" Ryouga replied.
	"Fine!" Ranma shouted into the phone, before slamming it back into the
cradle... it didn't occur to him until a few beats later what he had once
again wandered into a Hibiki and Mousse get rich quick scheme. He slapped
himself on the forehead and wandered out to the foyer... he HATED it when
they did this to him.

	Back at the Martial Arts Varsity Gym, Ryouga traded high fives with Mousse,
watched by the other members of the varsity team.
	"Hook line and sinker, Ryouga-kun, as always." Mousse grinned.
	"Man, is Ranma ever gullible..." Ryouga chuckled.
	Shampoo stood near them her arms crossed and her toe tapping angrily,
"Shampoo still say this no good idea... maybe should've asked Ranma-sempai
nice-nice, maybe he agree without fast-talk..."
	"Saotome would never agree in that manner, Shampoo-chan." Mousse replied.
	"Besides," Ryouga grinned, "This is more fun."
	"Um... what play ARE we going to present, sempai?" asked the pink-haired
newbie, over whom opinions as to the masculinity or femininity thereof were
still in question, even now two thirds of the way through the sem...
	Mousse and Ryouga traded blank expressions, "Er..."
	Shampoo shook her head reprovingly at the two heads of the club, "Silly
sempai... obviously no know."

	Ranma stormed out of the house to find the girls had all gathered around
the table at the foyer and were chatting amiably. Ranko, Akane and Nabiki
were all talking with Natsume, while Kurumi helped Kasumi bring breakfast
out... 
	The scene was enough to give him some pause. It was almost a little too...
pleasant.
	"Everything, okay?" Ranma asked hopefully.
	Natsume waved to him, "Of course it is, 'Nichan. You could've introduced us
to them sooner though."
	"Why didn't you tell us you had sisters?" Akane asked, smiling at him.
	Kurumi giggled as she put the tray down, she said in a mock hurt tone,
"Probably ashamed of us or something... what a bad brother..."
	"You know that's not it, sis..." Ranma replied.
	Natsume grinned and said to the three women she was talking to, "I'm still
not quite getting this though... so you're Ranma's girlfriend, right?" She
pointed to Akane.
	"Not formally..." Akane blushed. Ranma blushed too...
	Ranko sighed and rolled her eyes, "No. they aren't. He's still a free
agent," Ranko moved up to Ranma suddenly, "Isn't that right, honey?" she
moved as if to wrap an arm around his waist, but he jumped out of her reach,
landing next to the seated Akane.
	"Hey! Stop that!" Ranma and Akane said simultaneously, both glaring at Ranko.
	She winked at him and blew him a kiss, "Tease."
	Nabiki grinned, "As you can see, things have been quite interesting here."
	Natsume nodded in agreement. 
	The food having been set, could hardly be ignored, thus they dug in. It
quickly became apparent that a ravenous appetite was a Saotome family trait.
As Ranma, Natsume and Kurmi ate with much gusto... Akane watched in
horrified fascination as the three of them managed to consume thrice what
the combined Tendo's had... thank goodness Kasumi liked cooking large meals.
	Conversation had ground to a stop during this time for obvious reasons... 
	"So, guys," Ranma asked his sisters after the last of the food had been
consumed, "What are you doing here?"
	"Didn't you get the letter Pop sent?" Kurumi asked.
	"Letter? What letter?" Ranma asked, confused.
	"The one telling you we were coming." Natsume replied.
	"I didn't get one."
	"Funny, it should've arrived a week ago..." Natsume said thoughtfully.
	Akane and Ranko looked at each other. The two traded embarrassed glances.
	Akane sprang to her feet and dashed for the hallway.
	"Wha--?" Ranma asked. Ranko rolled her eyes up to the ceiling and quietly
counted the cracks...
	Akane came back a few moments later, holding an envelope in one hand and a
handful of papers in the other, "Was this it?" she asked as she passed it to
Ranma.
	"Yeah, that looks like Pop's handwriting." Kurumi said.
	Nabiki leaned uncomfortably close to Ranma to peer at the envelope, "That's
someone's handwriting?"
	"Well, Pop's got a sloppy hand," Ranma replied as he opened the letter.
"Where was this, anyway? I haven't seen it before."
	"Well..." Ranko began, slightly embarassed...
	"Do you remember the night Nabiki arrived?" Akane asked.
	Ranma glanced at Nabiki, who had by now moved back to her original
position, "Yeah, what about it?"
	"Remember when I was... um..." Akane stammered.
	"When she was chasing me around the house trying to hammer my lights out
for planting a great big wet one on you." Ranko smiled silkily at Ranma.
	Akane turned to glare at Ranko a moment before she continued, "In any
case... she knocked over the table in the hallway where we keep the new mail..."
	"Me? It was you who knocked it over, swinging the polo hammer of yours..."
Ranko shot back gesticulating wildly, "That letter must've fallen behind it..."
	"Whatever!" Ranma interrupted, "I get the picture. Somebody knocked it
off..." as he read through the letter. He looked up at Natsume in surprise
as he finished, "Wow. I didn't realize they'd advanced you that much."
	Natsume gave a grin and shrugged, "What can I say, I'm not just another
pretty face."
	Kurumi chimed in, "Yeah, you're not even that."
	Natsume glared sourly at Kurumi.
	"What does it say?" Akane asked reclaiming her seat next to Ranma.
	"Well, just that it turns out that Sis finished high-school ahead of
everyone else, she's already applied to Nekomi Tech and passed the entrance
exam... she's going to be studying here."
	"Oh my, that's wonderful, does that mean you'll be able to visit?" Kasumi
asked.
	"Probably so," Natsume grinned, "You've got a cozy set up here... and this
food's great."
	"Thank you." Kasumi smiled.
	Natsume turned to Ranma, "I was sort of hoping you'd help me look for an
apartment..."
	"Sure no problem. I know of a couple of places," he replied.
	Akane added, "I think Ukyou still has that back room available."
	Ranma nodded then turned to look at his youngest sister. "Of course this
doesn't explain why you're here though..."
	Kurumi smiled sweetly at him, "Aww, come on, 'Nichan... You don't expect
'Nechan to visit without bringing me along. Besides we missed you, you never
call, you never write..."
	Ranma looked slightly sheepish.
	Natsume elbowed her sister, "And now we can see why he never invites us to
visit..." the two giggled, and Nabiki hid a smirk behind the back of her hand.
	Ranko rested her chin on her hand and grinned at the Saotome sisters,
"Well, it's not every day you find out that your brother's got his own
personal harem, hmmm?"
	"Ranko!" Akane sputtered, shocked.
	Ranma colored slightly and cast about desperately for a way to change the
topic... "Er... um... good thing we only lost that one letter, huh?"
	Akane glanced at the handful of papers she still held, "Actually, it fell
along with the rest of the bills..."
	"The bills?" Ranma groaned... "I was wondering why they took so long!"
	Akane looked through them, "Um... it looks like they're going to be cutting
our water and electricity off soon..."
	"Oh my." Kasumi paled slightly.
	Nabiki snatched the bills out of Akane's hand, "Not to worry about that,
sis. I'll take care of it."
	Ranko, Akane and Ranma boggled at Nabiki, even Kasumi's moderate expression
slipped slightly.
	"You what?!" Ranko burst out.
	Kurumi and Natsume traded confused looks, "What's wrong with her paying the
bills?" Natsume asked.
	Ranko faced the two sisters and jerked a thumb in Nabiki's direction, "This
is the shrewdest, most tightfisted, money grubbing mercenary on the planet!
She'd never offer to do something like that!"
	Nabiki waved a hand airily at Ranko, "Compliments will get you nowhere,
cousin."
	Kasumi put a hand on Nabiki's forehead, "Sister, are you feeling, alright?"
	Nabiki laughed Kasumi off, "I'm fine, 'sis. In any case," she grinned at
Ranma, "Let's just say I'll be happy to get Ranma owing me a little more."
	For some indescribable reason, everyone who knew, felt slightly more
relieved by Nabiki's statement... everyone except Ranma of course.
 	"I'll pay you back next payday, Nabiki." Akane said.
	Nabiki tsked, "Now, now, sis. The one who owes me is Ranma, not you. No
paying off his debts for him.
	Natsume leaned towards her brother, "'Nichan... you've got some heavy duty
weird living companions."
	Ranma mouthed, "You don't know the half of it."
	Nabiki stood up, "In any case... I've still got some business to take care
of. It was nice meeting you Natsume, Kurumi." She bowed to each.
	"I'll see you around." She smiled as she walked off.
	Kasumi stood up as well, "I'd better get started on lunch..."
	"But we just finished breakfeast..." Ranma said.
	"True enough," Kasumi said as she swept into the kitchen, "And before you
know it, you'll be hungry again, best to have an early start."
	"Better make a bit more than usual, though, Kasumi-san." Ranma called after
her, "The Martial Arts Varsity going to be dropping by in a while!"
	"They are?" Akane asked "Did they say why?"
	"They want you, me and Ranko to star in some sort of production for the
school fair."
	"They want me to act? Moi?" Ranko smiled, genuinely flattered, "Well...
it's about time, I got noticed..."
	"Sounds interesting." Akane nodded agreeably.
	"Martial Arts Varsity... say... didn't you used to live at their dorm?"
Kurumi asked after a moment.
	"Yeah, I did..."
	"When you wrote home a while back that you'd moved out of the dorm, Mom and
Dad thought you'd gotten some girl in trouble and they wanted to rush over
here to see what was going on." Natsume grinned.
	"Er..." 
	Ranko and Akane swapped glances, then burst out laughing.
	"Not quite."
	"Sort of." 
	The two goddesses chuckled simultaneously, despite Ranma's mild scowl.
	Kurumi's eyes widened, "You didn't..! 'Nichan, don't tell me you've already
got a baby you haven't been hiding from everyone! Who's the mother?"
	Akane gaped in surprise, totally caught off guard. Ranko broke out into a
fresh burst of laughter...
	"Hey! Quit talking like that, 'Nechan! What if someone heard you and..."
	A familiar voice called out from around the corner, "What was that about
Ranma having a baby?"
	"Oh great..." Ranma bowed his head, "It never fails... one small totally
false rumor and everyone's heard of it inside of a day..."
	Ukyou walked into plain view, "Ranma and Akane are going to have a baby?"
She looked pleasantly surprised at the news. She was dressed as usual in her
shirt and slacks, but she hadn't taken any blatant pains to hide her
femininity, but she still gave a definite impression of being an
androgynously handsome young man.
	Akane blushed, "No, that's not it!"
	Ranko went into a mock tragic pose, "Yes... yes... oh the shame of it
all... an unwed mother at the tender age of nineteen all because Ranma
refuses to do the honorable thing and make an honest woman of her..."
	"Ran-ko!" Akane thundered.
	"Is everyone going to keep talking or are they going to listen first?"
Ranma asked, looking harassed.
	Natsume and Kurumi looked at Ukyou speculatively, then at each other.
	"Nine." Kurumi said.
	"Eight and a half." Replied Natsume.
	"Beg pardon?" Ukyou asked... she did a double take as she looked at the
Saotome sisters... "Nat-chan? Kurumi-chan? Is that you?"
	The Saotome sisters looked at Ukyou again in surprise, "What?" They tried
to get a closer look at her, but it proved too difficult as she'd already
barreled past Ranma and was in the process of smothering both women in chest
crushing hugs...
	"Ohhh... it's been so long!" Ukyou bubbled.
	"Er..." Natsume tried to begin...
	"Who..?" Kurumi attempted to ask, trying to fight her way out of the hold...
	"Wha..?" Ranko asked, slightly miffed that her speech was interrupted.
	Ukyou released them somewhat and pulled back just enough for them to get a
good look at her face, "It's me guys, don't you remember Ucchan any more?"
	Natsume's eyes widened in recognition, "Ucchan? Ukyou? It IS you! I didn't
recognize you!"
	Kurumi ohhhed, "Ukyou-nesan, you looked like a guy!"
	Ukyou laughed warmly, "Just a fashion statement, guys. Nothing to get upset
about." She turned to Ranma, "Now... what did I just hear about a baby?"
	"Let me TRY to explain it from the top..." Ranma said, sighing internally...

	"... and that's how we ended up living here." Ranma finished finally. He'd
told them the entire story assisted in turns by Ranko, Akane and Ukyou...
more or less... of how he'd ended up with the Tendo's... leaving out any
mention of their divinity of course... and no mention of his... 'problem'.
      "So they threw you out because of Akane and Ranko?" Natsume asked.
      "Sort of..." Ranma admitted sheepishly.
      Ranko laughed, "'Sort of' nothing. If it weren't for us he'd still be
stuck there in that boring old dorm instead of in this nice temple. With
us." She grinned.
      "She's got a point, 'Nichan." Kurumi chimed in.
      Ranma traded a glance and a smile with Akane, prompting both Ranko and
Ukyou to look away momentarily, "Yeah... I guess she does."
      "So does this mean nobody's pregnant?" Kurumi asked for what must've
been the umpteenth time. She seemed pretty disappointed, truth be told.
      "No." Akane said flatly. She was definitely beginning to like Ranma's
sisters... but Kurumi had a tendency to not let go of an idea until she'd
ridden it into the ground... 
      "I can just imagine what Mom and Pop would say to that..." Natsume
smirked.
      Akane blushed and Ranko laughed giving Ranma a meaningful stare.
      Ukyou giggled, "Mr. Saotome would probably say something like," she
deepened her voice to a base rumble, "'That's my boy! What a chip off the
old block!'"
      Kurumi cracked up at that, "You sound just like dad does, Ukyou-nesama!"
      Natsume chuckled, "And mom would probably beat both of them up for
being perverts..."
      "You guys sound like you've got pretty interesting parents," Ranko said.
      "You could say that," Natsume started to say, "Mom especially... she's
got this..."
      "Erhm..." Ranma laughed nervously. The conversation had wandered into
areas he didn't particularly like... specifically his mother's proclivities
regarding the way a man should act... he cast about desperately for a new
conversational topic. He looked vaguely at the clock and said vaguely,
"Wow... um... would you look at the time? We're expecting..."
      SLAM!
      What Ranma had intended to say was that they were expecting the
Martial Arts Varsity to arrive at any moment... but, through the untoward
workings of chance in the universe... that or its perverse desire to keep
kicking Ranma Saotome in the gut while he was still dazed and confused...
Ryouga Hibiki had slid open the door. Standing next to him was Mousse.
Behind the two of them stood the entire massed ranks (all 16 of them) of the
Martial Arts Varsity, crowding the hallway... 
      "Who's expecting?" Ryouga demanded. He wasn't really sure what had
just happened, but there were considerably more women now in the temple than
there used to be... Ranma couldn't possibly be up to his old tricks again...
especially not with Akane in the same room... but still...
      "So there IS someone pregnant!" Kurumi said clapping her hands
delightedly...
      "Saotome you didn't!" Mousse and Ryouga both said, jaws dropping to
the floor.  They both turned to look at Ranma and the now blushing Akane.
The Varsity members began a low grade murmuring which Ranma had learned to
recognize as rumors getting passed and exaggerated... inside of a few
seconds he heard someone in the back say aloud, "You mean Ranma got all the
girls in this house pregnant?!"
      Nabiki chose this point to return to the scene... she'd heard the
shouting... she leaned against the doorway and watched... this looked to be
interesting...
      Ryouga stomped forward towards Ranma and lifted him out of his sitting
position by his lapels, "You evil fiend, how dare you do something so
foolish?! Couldn't you have waited until marriage?! Now you've got Akane
pregnant and you'd damn well better stand by your honor and marry her!"
      Nabiki applauded, "I didn't know you had it in you, Ranma... or in
something else..."
      Ranma could only stare dazedly... and to think this day had started
out so peacefully and calmly...
      Mousse had already pulled out a green eyeshade and a clipboard from
the confines of his white overcoat and had opened up bets on who the woman
pregnant with Ranma's love child in fact was. The long odds favorite was in
fact Ranko... there were also side bets being placed with regards to sex and
precise date of birth...
      Natsume and Kurumi merely watched in awe at the chaos... Kurumi leaned
towards Natsume and very quietly said, "I'm really starting to consider
whether I should actually go to college or not..."
      Akane reached up and touched Ryouga on the shoulder, "Um... I'm not
pregnant Ryouga."
      "You aren't?" Ryouga said after a moment's contemplation... still
holding Ranma up by his lapels. Ryouga's gaze turned towards the Saotome
sisters... to Natsume in particular... Natsume however... hadn't even heard
what her sister had said... she was too busy staring at Ryouga in... for
lack of a better phrase... rapt fascination... the thoughts that were
running through her head at the time were along the lines of... 'What a man...'
      Ryouga dropped Ranma quickly and bowed to her, "I'm terribly sorry,
miss... were you the one that Ranma dishonored?"
      Poor Natsume, still in a world of her own snapped out of her reverie
to find Ryouga standing very close to her, "... dishonored?" she asked
awkwardly... her heart beating very rapidly.
      Ryouga stomped back to Ranma and picked him up by the lapels again,
shaking him doubly hard this time... "Saotome!! I knew you were an evil,
womanizing, conniving rat! But I didn't realize you would really... actually
truly sink so low as to betray Akane! She's the best thing that ever
happened to you, you idiot! How dare you betray someone as wonderful as
her?! She's the best possible girlfriend you could..." his spiel was
interrupted by a small spatula that flew past his nose...
      By this point, Ranma largely beyond care... he was simply just staring
numbly at Ryouga. Akane was blushing mildly trying to get Ryouga off of
Ranma, with little success since she didn't particularly want to hurt either
of them... Ranko was with the rest of the varsity and she was placing bets
on the Ranma baby pool, naming herself as the mother... Mousse thought it
was entirely all too unfair...
      Ukyou glared at Ryouga, "Would you put Ranma down and stop jumping to
conclusions?!"
      Ryouga dropped Ranma, smiling sheepishly and stammering badly,
"Ohh... er... um... Ukyou... I... um... er... I didn't know you were...
um... you know... um..."
      Akane picked Ranma up and heaved a heavy sigh... she hefted him off
towards the bathroom... the mob could handle itself well enough without the
two of them there... she added silently... she was going to let him get a
little rest someplace quiet...
      "Here?" Ukyou said in a bored tone, completing his phrase for him.
      "Um... yeah."
      "Get it straight, Ryouga." Ukyou jerked a thumb at Natsume, "That is
Ranma's sister..."
      "Oh. Hi." Ryouga smiled to Natsume, who was staring back at him and
making puppy dog eyes... Ryouga wondered why she was looking at him like
that... but then something occurred to him, "He got his SISTER pregnant?!"
      That was enough to make even the betting stop... Ranko stared at
Ryouga for a long moment before she degenerated into a fit of laughter...
Nabiki, from the doorway already had a bowl of popcorn and she was watching,
quite amused...
      Ukyou growled at Ryouga, whacking him over the head with one of the
trays, "Pay attention you idiot! She's not pregnant!"
      Natsume muttered very quietly, still looking at Ryouga, "If it's with
him, I wouldn't mind..."
      "I see... alright... okay... She isn't the pregnant one..." Ryouga
said pointing to Natsume, who was waving at him and winking. Ukyou didn't
miss that and glared at Ryouga. 
      "So... she's the one who's pregnant?!" Ryouga asked suddenly swinging
his finger to point at Kurumi. "She's probably not even out of high school
yet! Why that evil Saotome!"
      Ukyou gave Ryouga another whack on the back of the head, "Where were
you when they were handing out the brains? She's another of Ranma's sisters!"
      Kasumi opened the other door and smiled gently at the massed throng,
"Lunch is ready." The gentle voiced goddess said... then the chaos REALLY
started...

      Kasumi had had the foresight to provide enough food to feed a small
army. Ukyou decided to herself that it wasn't wise to question just
precisely WHERE Kasumi had gotten all of that food. She'd gotten so used to
strange things happening around the Tendo's vicinity that she could almost
begin to edit them out.
	Introductions were of course made eventually... certain others of course
pointedly ignored certain people... and certain people with crushes were
forced to keep them largely unexpressed... 
	By the end of the afternoon, four fist fights had broken out and been
broken up, snacks had been served twice, and Natsume had somehow volunteered
herself and Kurumi (who wasn't even in college yet and after seeing this
sort of behavior had resolved to herself to stay in high school forever) as
honorary members of the Martial Arts Varsity.
	By six in the evening, Ranma and Akane had reappeared via the bathtub from
a pleasant day in the park to find that the intended reason for the meeting
had long since been forgotten. The entire thing had degenerated into a
massive housewarming (or is that templewarming?) party after Ranko had
brought out the Karaoke machine...
	People had fun.
	Most of them anyway.

	On her bed, Nabiki tapped idly on her calculator... Kasumi sat on the chair
facing her as she knit what appeared to be a scarf. Outside, the party
continued to rage... the two were fairly certain they could hear a mildly
inebriated Ranma singing a love song, only very slightly off key... and
Akane harmonizing beautifully with him...
	"I still need a little more before he'll be ready, Kasumi..." Nabiki said.
There was a hint of concern in her voice.
	Kasumi smiled gently at her, "I'm sure you can do it before the time comes,
'Nechan..."
	Nabiki sighed heavily, "I wish I had your confidence, 'Nesama... I really do."
	"Now, now... don't do that to yourself, you'll only make yourself feel
worse. Just do your best."
	Nabiki put the calculator away and grinned, "This would be so much simpler
to do if I wasn't who I was..."
	Kasumi set aside her knitting and looked her sister straight in the eye,
"Nabiki-chan... don't say such things. The Office of the Goddess of
Transactions is a very powerful and honorable office."
	"I know that... I just wish I weren't so..." she clenched a fist, "Limited."
	"We aren't allowed to be perfect," Kasumi replied gently.
	"Yeah, yeah... old and established roles... I know. I just have this
feeling, sis..."
	"Yes?"
	"The thing we're preparing for..?" Nabiki continued, "I've got a feeling
it's going to be approaching sooner than we realize."
	"Oh my. I hope not." Kasumi raised her head slightly, "Was that a scream?"
      "Hmm?" Nabiki said, cocking her head to the side, "No... no... it's
just Ranko's voice cracking on some high notes..."

	Outside the temple... beyond the reach of the temple's influence... beyond
the lights and music and laughter... on a lamppost on the street across... a
shadowed figure stood with certain balance. The moon shining behind it left
it little more than a silhouette, but the definite impressions left were of
those of a young child... in the wind her balloon danced lightly, as a
wordless tune echoed through the streets...

To be continued...

Get the rest of the THG series from http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/1227/
E-mail the Scriv at ebon@i-manila.com.ph