Marital Arts
Episode 1 - Part 6

Soun Tendo walked through the streets of Nerima with a panda, 
which inevitably drew stares from the crowd, but Genma wouldn't 
change back to his normal form.  The streets were full of people 
going to work, but the children going to school would stop and try to 
play with Genma.  Genma had said he had come to accept his cursed 
form.  He just hoped Ranma hadn't.

They had spent the week catching up on the years from their last 
meeting.  Genma had talked about his training trips with the twins 
and Soun talked about raising his daughters and running the dojo.  
Soun couldn't remember most of what Genma had said because they 
were drunk at the time.

Soun was nervous.  Hung over, too, but mostly nervous.  Today he 
would find out if the union between the two families would be 
finalized.  He remembered when he told his wife about the 
engagement she was furious at his presumption.  Normally she was 
sweet and loving, like Kasumi had become, but she had immediately 
called the Saotomes and worked out the present arrangement with 
Nodoka, then presented it to him with an expression that brooked no 
argument and threatened divorce.

They walked to the front gate of the dojo.  Waiting for them was 
Nodoka and everyone else.  Ranma and Akane were holding hands.  
He started to celebrate with Genma, spreading out fans and dancing 
in the street.  That is, until they tripped over some backpacks.  
Genma knew what that meant.

Nodoka:  "That's right, dear.  I'm taking the twins on a month-long 
        training trip and the three girls are going with us."

The panda 'growfed' sadly.

Nodoka:  "No, my mind is made up.  They need to take this trip.  Its 
        important.  Remember our deal, dear."

The panda 'growfed' again as he remembered the deal he had made 
with Nodoka when she first allowed him to take the twins on 
training trips.  She allowed him to go without asking anything about 
the training if he would also allow for her own private training trips.  
It made for some incredible lovemaking sessions when they were 
together so he hadn't regretted the loss of his original plan to take 
the twins on an extended trip that would last years.  Still, she had 
never just left before (they had always taken a few days to get 
reacquainted).

Soun started to cry at the temporary loss of his daughters.

Nodoka whispered in Genma's ear.

Nodoka:  "I'll definitely want a 'week's vacation' when I come back, 
        so you'd better get your rest."

Genma gulps.

Nodoka:  "I've gotten a part-time job for you at Dr. Tofu's clinic.  
        Soun can show you the way.  Keep out of trouble, dear."

Nodoka left with the children walking behind her as they started on 
their way back to her home.

***************

Shampoo found she had arrived in Nerima a week too late to kill 
Ranma, that she had left with her family and some family named 
Tendo on a training trip.  She looked around the courtyard.  It was 
full of weaklings who probably didn't know the first thing about 
combat.  Ryoga yelled "Ranma, you coward, running out on me 
again!" and ran off, promptly getting lost.  Good riddance.  Being 
with him probably was what made her late.

One of the students directed her to the Tendo Dojo, where she 
spotted the pet panda.  She followed the panda to some kind of 
health clinic, where it seemed to have some sort of job doing menial 
tasks.  She decided that a trained panda was to valuable a pet to just 
leave; Ranma would surely return for it.

She went up to the man in charge and he hired her as an apprentice 
nurse based on the herbal knowledge that her Great-Grandmother 
had taught her.  He allowed her to stay in one of the spare rooms in 
the clinic.  The panda seemed extremely uncomfortable to see her.

As she fell asleep that night she found herself hoping that Ranma 
would return soon so that she could kill her and go home again.  She 
also thought a little about Dr. Tofu.  Maybe the trip had an added 
bonus; he was attractive and he moved with a fluidness that spoke of 
martial arts and he had medical training as well.  She could 
definitely imagine him making love to her, his tall, muscular body 
looming over her smaller, rounder one as she wrapped her arms and 
legs around him in desire.  She moved a caressing hand to her breast 
as she licked her lips at the thought.

Shampoo quickly jerked her hand back to her side.  First, revenge.
     
****************************End Marital Arts Episode 1