For those of you who remember, this is my, previously untitled, Ranma
1/2--Demon Hunter Yohko X-over.  I'm reposting pts 1-3 because of some
fairly major revisions.  As always C&C is welcome and appreciated.

AJ

Family Demons
A Ranma 1/2, Demon Hunter Yohko Crossover
Part 1
Version 3.0

Ranma 1/2 and Demon Hunter Yohko belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Masao
Mauyama, respectively.
To quote several fanfic authors:  "Please don't sue me!" 

This fanfic takes place the summer after Nodoka learns about Ranma's
curse.  The entire Saotome family is living in the Tendo household.
Nodoka and Genma share the guest room.  Ranma sleeps in the dojo.

<...>  thoughts

	Demon Hunter Yohko Mano was happy.  Today had been the last day of
school and her summer promised to be a chance to relax from the stresses
of being a high school student, not to mention being one of the most
successful demon hunters around.  Yohko walked home daydreaming about days
spent in idleness and maybe even a romance or two.  <Minako's lab partner,
Hiroshi, is sooo cute,> she thought, <but that Mikado's just as good
looking and he did invite me to that party at Makoto's this weekend.>
Yohko was so lost in her daydreams that she ignored her grandmother, who
was avidly reading a newspaper in the kitchen, as she entered the house.
	Yohko climbed up the stairs to her room and flopped down onto her
bed with a sigh still lost in her visions of future romance.  She was
shocked out of her daydreams when her grandmother yelled sharply,
"Yohko!  Azusa!  Come here!"  Yohko sighed as she shuffled downstairs to
her grandmother's summons.  Yohko noticed Azusa already there standing
almost at military attention.
	"Yes, Obaasan.  What is it?"  Yohko sighed, slouching.
	"Stand up straight Yohko."  Madoka admonished.  Yohko complied,
immediately.  "We have serious business to talk about.  There has been a
rash of strange occurrences in Tokyo recently.  I want you and Azusa to
investigate."
	"Why should we investigate, Obaasan?"  Yohko asked, surprised.
This wasn't the sort of thing that Yohko's grandmother usually asked her
to do.  
	"I believe that these strange occurrences are the result of
demonic powers.  There have been reports of people turning into animals
and other strange forces in that area."
	"I still don't understand.  Why send us?  Can't the local demon
hunters handle it?"  asked Yohko.
	"Normally they would.  But the demon hunter of the family died
before she could pass on her legacy or even choose her heir, some sort of
sickness I believe.  I have written to the daughter of an old friend, and
a demon hunter from another family.  She wrote back saying that she _had_
noticed many strange things, but no sign of demons.  She did invite me to
come and see for my self, just in case she missed something."  Yohko could
see where this was leading and she sighed as her daydreams for summer
slipped out of her grasp.
	"I wrote back to her, saying that I could not come."  Madoka Mano
continued, without ignoring her granddaughter's dismay, "but I said that I
could send my granddaughter and her apprentice as she is the family demon
hunter now."  Yohko's day had just gone from amazingly good to amazingly
bad.  Not only was she not going to get a boyfriend this summer, she would
spend it chasing imaginary demons!  Yohko knew better than to argue with
the 107th demon hunter of the Mano family, however.
	"So, what's your friend's daughter's name?"  Yohko sighed,
resigned to her fate.
	"Nodoka Saotome."

***

	The moon was bright and full that night but the lone figure
wandering through the forest couldn't see it, or much of anything for that
matter.  The trees around him rose like stone pillars, their branches
obscuring the light of the moon.
	Ryoga was lost.  Again.  Which in itself wasn't odd.  In fact
Ryoga was lost so much of the time that one would think he'd be used to it
by now.  Of course, being Ryoga, he wasn't.  He was damn tired of it.
<This is all your fault Ranma!> he thought to himself, trying to remember
the last time he'd seen his hated rival...

<Begin Flashback
	"Ranma!" Ryoga cried, leaping from a tree, his umbrella poised to
strike, "prepare to DIE!"
	"Hey Ryoga," Ranma smiled, diving to the side to avoid the lost
boy's attack, "how're ya doin'?"
	"You have the nerve to ask that," Ryoga snarled, flinging several
bandannas at his enemy, "after all that you've put me through?"  With that
Ryoga leapt at Ranma with a flying side kick.
	"What did I do this time?" Ranma asked, leaping over the bandannas
and diving under Ryoga's kick.
	"It's your fault that I can't tell Akane-san how I feel!" Ryoga
cried, punctuating his words with a punch meant to crush Ranma's skull.
	"Hey," Ranma protested, shifting to avoid the attack, "is it my
fault that you get nosebleeds talkin' to that tomboy?"
	"It's your fault that Akane-san doesn't love me!" Ryoga snapped,
accompanying his words with an ax kick.
	"Like I control how Akane feels?" Ranma snorted, leaning back to
dodge the kick, "you've got t' be kiddin'."
	"It's your fault that I turn into P-chan!" Ryoga screamed,
throwing another punch in Ranma's direction.  To his surprise Ranma did
not dodge the attack, but caught the fist in his hand.
	"And it's your fault f'r not tellin' her 'bout your curse, pig
boy," Ranma snapped.  Screaming incoherently, Ryoga punched with his other
fist.  Once again, Ranma trapped it with his own hand.
	"I thought ya liked sleepin' with her, P-chan," Ranma snarled.
Growling with frustration, Ryoga tried to head butt the pig-tailed boy,
but Ranma simply rolled backwards, robbing the attack of its power, and
drove his feet into Ryoga's chest, throwing him into a nearby tree.
	Ryoga leapt to his feet and snarled wordlessly at his hated enemy.
Cupping his hands in front of him, Ryoga summoned the dark chi that
festered deep with in his soul.
	"Shi..." he muttered, beginning the incantation that would release
his most powerful attack.
	"Shi..." Ryoga could feel the dark aura of his power flare into
existence, his body glowing a sickly green.
	"Houkou Dan!" he cried, releasing the power of his pent up
depression.  A wave of green fire erupted from his hands, its destructive
power obliterating everything in its path.  Exhausted Ryoga collapsed
against a nearby tree and slept a dreamless sleep.  
	Several hours later Ryoga picked himself up and returned to his
wanderings in search of the Tendo dojo.
End Flashback>

	That had been a month ago and Ryoga hadn't seen Ranma--or Tokyo,
for that matter--since.  Shaking himself free of his memories, Ryoga
looked around and realized that he had no idea where he was.  This in
itself was strange because he usually saw something that he
recognized--his wanderings had taken him all over the continent and he had
seen just about everything.  This time, however, he was totally clueless
as to his location.  There was nothing around that he recognized and no
one around that he could ask for help.  
	He cursed Ranma again as he started to look around for a place to
set up camp.  As he glanced around again, Ryoga spied a small clearing not
too far away.  There, illuminated by a single shaft of moonlight, was what
looked like a small temple.  <Maybe someone there can help me out!> Ryoga
thought as he raced through the trees.
	Ryoga broke through the trees into the clearing that held the
temple.  It looked like a traditional Shinto temple built out of hard
wood, oddly enough the temple seemed to be painted black, and it was
surrounded by several boulders, four of them covered in prayers.
Unfortunately as Ryoga scanned the clearing an the temple he realized
that, though the temple seemed to be in good repair, it was also utterly
abandoned.
	"Damn you Ranma!" Ryoga screamed in frustration as he shattered
several nearby boulders, including the four hung with prayers, "this is
all your fault!"  His rage released for the time being Ryoga began to
relax.  And immediately tensed up as his danger sense informed him that he
was being watched.  Spinning around Ryoga dropped into a fighting stance
and called out:  "Who's there?  I know you're out there, I can feel you
watching me."
	"Sssso you can mortal," hissed a voice from the trees to Ryoga's
right.  He spun to face it, and saw a pair of glowing green eyes hiding in
the darkness of the trees.
	"But what shall you do about it, human," boomed a voice from
behind Ryoga.  Turning around he saw a pair of shining red eyes in the
darkness of the trees.
	"The question should be, what should we do about you," crackled a
voice to his left.  Ryoga glanced around and saw a pair of yellow eyes
staring back at him.
	"That is the question is it not," came a voice to his right.
Ryoga realized that he was surrounded.  
	"What do you want with me," he asked, barely keeping a note of
fear form his voice.
	"What do we want, he asks," laughed the red eyed voice.
	"It issss what you want, mortal," hissed the green eyed voice,
"you have freed ussss.  Ssso you may asssk of usss a ssssingle boon."
	"Anything I want?" questioned Ryoga.
	"Anything," cackled the yellow eyed voice.  Ryoga didn't even have
to think about his answer.
	"I want to kill Ranma Saotome."  The voice that seemed to have no
eyes began to laugh maniacally with pleasure, and was quickly followed by
the other voices.  As they laughed the voices moved forward into the moon
light that lit the clearing.  Upon seeing his new allies Ryoga joined them
in his laughter as they continued on through the night.

***

	It was the first day of Ranma's summer, and he was loving it.
<Mom's not trying to kill me, I don't have to worry about school, and no
more Kuno trying to kill me, OR date me!> Ranma thought as he worked on
katas in the dojo.
	"Saotome you foul sorcerer!  Come out and fight me so that I may
free my loves the fierce Akane Tendo and the beauteous pigtailed one from
your lecherous grasp!"  called Tatewaki Kuno from the front gate.  <Guess
I spoke too soon.>  thought Ranma with a sigh as he walked out to face his
challenger.  
	"Yo, Kuno.  Doncha get tired of getting beaten all the time?"
asked Ranma as he settled into a fighting stance.
	"I shall never grow weary until I have vanquished thee and freed
my loves from your foul grasp!  Prepare to DIE!" Kuno yelled as he
charged, bokken raised to strike.  Ranma responded with a back kick which
caused Kuno to double over in pain and followed up with an uppercut that
sent Kuno into LEO (Low Earth Orbit).  Dusting off his hands Ranma walked
toward the house to see if breakfast was ready.  
	As Ranma walked into the house to the smell of breakfast he heard
Kasumi exclamation of surprise, "Oh my!  Mrs. Saotome, this letter has
been forwarded to you from your old address.  It's dated two weeks ago!"
Ranma sat down in his usual place, next to Akane.  The two of them had
been getting along a little better lately.  It helped that he had started
to watch his mouth recently.  Of course it didn't mean that all was fine
and dandy between them, they still had their fights, but they were less
frequent.  Ranma had even started to think about taking her out.  <She IS
my iinazuke,> he thought, with a smile, <and she really is cute.>
	"Ranma!  Earth to Ranma!"  Akane yelled, waving her hand in front
of his face.
	"What do ya want Akane!"  Ranma growled, "Ya don't have t' yell ya
know, I'm sittin' right here."
	"You could have fooled me, baka," Akane said, "I've been trying to
get your attention for a couple of minutes and you just sat there with
that stupid grin on your face."
	"Well you've got my attention now," Ranma grumbled.  "What do you
want?"
	"I was asking what all the noise from outside was!"
	"Oh," Ranma said with a smirk.  "That was Kuno before I sent him
back home."
	"You could at least found out what he wanted before you sent him
flying." Akane said with an exasperated sigh.
	"He told me what he wanted," Ranma said, rolling his eyes, "he
wanted to defeat me so that he could free you and his 'pigtailed
goddess.'"
	"Oh."
	"Tendo-san, may I impose upon your hospitality once again?"
Nodoka asked politely after quietly reading her letter.
	"Of course Nodoka-san.  Anything for Genma's wife."
	"Domo Arigato Tendo-san," Nodoka said with a deep bow, "I have
been corresponding with one of my mother's friends for several weeks now
and I invited her to stay with me in Tokyo.  Unfortunately, the unforeseen
destruction of my home forces me to extend your hospitality to her
granddaughter and her friend."
	"Great, two more people in this house," Nabiki drawled, "as if we
didn't have enough already."
	"That's enough Nabiki," growled Soun to his daughter.
	"Yes, Otousan," Nabiki sighed not wanting to set off another one
of Soun crying fits.
	"When will she arrive Mrs. Saotome?" asked Kasumi.
	"This afternoon."
	"Well," said Soun, "they can have Akane's room and she can sleep
in the dojo."
	"You're going to put me in the dojo with that hentai!" Akane
exclaimed, pointing at Ranma.  At this Soun began to cry.
	"Who are you calling a hentai you tomboy!" exclaimed Ranma, "as if
I would try something with a kawaiikunee girl like you!"
	"Ranma no baka!" yelled Akane as she pulled out her
interdimensional mallet and proceeded to pound him into the floor.  After
she had worked out her anger on Ranma's body, Akane looked up and saw Mrs.
Saotome looking at her disapprovingly.  Akane blushed a deep red and tried
to hide her hammer behind her back.  Nodoka looked at her for a moment
longer and then sighed.  
	"It's all right Akane," Nodoka said, "the kami know, I want to do
the same thing to my husband some times."
	"After breakfast we'll set up a futon in the dojo for you Akane,"
said Kasumi.
	"Nani!" exclaimed Akane, "I thought you would be against Ranma and
I sleeping in the same room Oneesan!"
	"In this case," Kasumi said, "father is right.  We must do our
best to make our guests comfortable no matter our personal preferences in
the matter."
	"Hai, Kasumi," sighed Akane.
	"While you and Akane prepare the dojo and Akane's room for our
guests," Nodoka said, "Ranma and I will meet them at the train station."
Everyone turned back to breakfast, only to find an empty table and Genma
with his chopsticks poised to place another morsel into his mouth.
	"I guess I'd better cook some more breakfast," Kasumi shrugged.
	"Let me help you, Kasumi-chan," offered Nodoka.
	"Me too, Kasumi," offered Akane.
	"Um Akane," Kasumi said with a nervous look in her eye, "why don't
you start getting you things ready for your stay in the dojo."
	"Hai, Kasumi," sighed a downcast Akane.
	"While they do that," said Ranma with an evil grin, having peeled
himself off the floor, "you and I are going to have a little sparring
session pop."
	"Um, you sure about this son?" Genma gulped, fully aware that on a
full stomach he was far too slow to beat his son.
	"Yup," Ranma said as he grabbed his father and tossed him into the
pond.

***

	It was about a quarter past eleven when Ranma and Nodoka arrived
at the train station.  Checking the schedule the saw that they had some
time before the train they were expecting arrived.  Sitting down at a
bench with his mother Ranma decided to find out a little bit more about
their new house guests.
	"So, Mom.  Who are these people that are going to be staying with
us?" asked Ranma.
	"Their names are Yohko Mano and Azusa Kanzaki," Nodoka said as she
gazed off into space,  "The Mano family has been friends of my family for
more generations than I can remember, but we haven't had much contact
lately."
	"Oh," said Ranma, he didn't really know much about his mother's
family and he was interested in finding out more.
	"Actually," Nodoka continued with a smile, "you and Yohko are
about the same age and there's talk about having the two of you engaged to
each other."
	Hearing this Ranma broke out into a cold sweat at the thought of
_another_ fiancee.  Shampoo would try to kill him, again.  Ukyo would use
him as the topping for her next okanomiyaki.  Akane would...best not to
think about it--suffice to say that he would seriously consider marrying
Kuno before coming home with another fiancee.  He shuddered at the
thought.  Nodoka noticed Ranma's discomfort.
	"What's wrong son?" she asked, worried.
	"Nothing Mom, I was just imagining what it would be like coming
home with an iinazuke..."
	"Oh," she said, smiling, "don't worry about it.  Oh, the train's
arriving."  Nodoka pulled out a pair of photographs one with Yohko and the
other with Azusa in them.  "This one is Yohko and the other is Azusa,"
Nodoka said pointing to each of the pictures in turn.  <Gee, they're both
pretty kawaii,> Ranma thought to himself, <but neither of them is a match
for Akane.>
	"All right," Ranma said, "I'll go look for them."

***

	Yohko sighed for the thousandth time as the train announced that
it was arriving in the Nerima district.  All of her dreams for the summer
shattered.  Why?  Because of her duty as a demon hunter.    <Why me!>
Yohko thought and sighed again as the train pulled into the station.  <At
this rate I'll be Obaasan's age before I start dating!> 
	"Yay!" Azusa cried, "we're here!" 
	"Great," responded Yohko, rolling her eyes, "we're here."  Yohko
reached into her pocket and pulled out a photograph.
	"Who's that, Yohko?" asked Azusa, looking over Yohko's shoulder,
"she looks nice."
	"This is Mrs. Saotome," replied Yohko, "the 96th Devil Hunter of
her clan.  She's the woman we're supposed to meet here.  According to
Obaasan, she doesn't have an heir yet, 'cause her husband took their son
away to train in martial arts when he was only five."  Yohko kept to
herself some of the other things that Madoka had said to her about Nodoka
and her son.
	"Let's hurry up and find her," said Azusa dragging their luggage
toward the door, "I wanna get out of here as soon as possible."  Yohko
smiled and moved to help her apprentice with their bags.

***

	Somewhere south of Okinawa...
	"Where on earth am I NOW!" came the famous cry of Ryoga Hibiki.
This time however, he was not alone.  Walking beside him (though invisible
to other eyes) were four large...things.  The first, slithering
immediately to the left of Ryoga, looked sort of like a snake.  It had a
cobra-like head, complete with a forked tongue, fangs, and two emerald
green eyes.  Below the head it had a torso like a male human with four
arms, but below the waist, instead of human legs, it had at least 9 feet
of snake tail.  To complete its snake like form it was covered from head
to tail in dark green scales.  The second, marching next to the snake,
looked like an eight foot tall suit of samurai battle armor, complete with
horned helmet, and the traditional katana and [short] blades sheathed at
its hip.  Two angry red eyes glowed from behind the helmet.  The third,
moving immediately to the right of Ryoga, was a big rock.  It had no
steady shape or size it moved like a wave along the ground, sometimes
rising several feet higher than the armor, sometimes sinking a foot or so
shorter than Ryoga.  The only thing that stayed steady about the rock were
the two black orbs that served as its eyes, they always looked forward
with the steadiness of, well, rock.  The fourth, hovering to the right of
the rock, was something of a cross between a bird, a man, and who knows
what else.  It had a red, vulture-like head, and a man shaped body with
wings sprouting out of the back.  The thing's torso was a garish orange,
while everything from the waist to the feet was covered in yellow fur.
It's hands had five digits, yet each one of them ended in long claws, the
feet looked like they belonged to a chicken, and the wings were colored
like the rainbow.
	"Perhapsss we made a missstake in choosssing to help thisss one,"
whispered the snake-demon to its armored sibling.
	"Perhaps we did," replied the armored demon, "but it is too late
to turn back now.  Besides I enjoy seeing all of these new places, Japan
has changed much since we saw it last."
	"You are right," said the snake-demon after a bit of thought, "but
I wish we could kill thisss Ranma Sssaotome sssoon ssso that we may be
free to sssee what we wish to sssee of this new world inssstead of
visssiting every placesss at random."
	"I second you there Yuan-Ti," laughed the armored demon as Ryoga
led them to the west.  (Author's Note:  Okinawa is a small island _south_
of the main island of Japan.)

***

	Yohko and Azusa climbed off the train with their luggage looking
for Mrs. Saotome.  Yohko scanned the crowd, searching, but she failed to
spot any one who looked remotely like the woman in her photo.  
	Then she saw _him_.  Perfection in the form of a man.  He was a
young man, about her age, with untamed black hair with a pig-tail in the
back that reached to his shoulders that gave him a rakish look.  He was
wearing a loose red Chinese shirt with slightly baggy black pants but
these light clothes couldn't hide his well muscled frame.  He seemed to
walk with an unconscious grace like a panther stalking its prey, ready to
leap in any direction.  His eyes, by the kami, his eyes were a beautiful
bluish gray and they flashed with an inner life that sent chills up her
spine.  He fairly radiated danger, excitement, and sensuality.  Yohko
swallowed as she realized that those wonderful eyes were staring right at
her.  
	"Are you Yohko Mano?" the young man asked.  <He even knows my
name!> thought Yohko with a nod and a blush, <I must be dreaming!>
	"Hi," he said with a bow, "I'm Ranma Saotome."  <Ranma,> Yohko
thought with smile, <wait did he just say _Saotome_!>
	"Nodoka Saotome is my mom," Ranma continued, "I'm supposed to take
you to her."
	"O-o-ok," Yohko stammered, unsure of what to say.
	"Here, let me help you with those bags," Ranma offered, reaching
down to pick them up.
	"N-n-no," Yohko stuttered, "t-that's all right, you don't have
to."
	"It's not a problem," shrugged Ranma as he picked up the two
heaviest bags, grunting under the weight, "come on, Mom's this way." Ranma
said gesturing with his head.  <Wow,> Yohko thought, <this guy's perfect.
He's handsome, strong, helpful, now if only he's not taken...>

***

	Ranma Saotome, heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial
Arts, the greatest martial artist in the Nerima district of Tokyo, and
defeater of countless enemies a countless number of times, was worried.
Worried that when he got home he would be the first Saotome to be beaten
to a bloody pulp by a purple haired Amazon, the first Saotome to be served
_as_ an okanomiyaki by the greatest okanomiyaki chief in the world, or the
first Saotome to leave the solar system courtesy of the Tendo Hammerspace
Travel Agency.  He knew that at least one, if not all, of these things
would happen once he got home with Yohko Mano in tow.  Ranma glanced at
Yohko, a worried look in his eyes.  It wasn't that he didn't like
Yohko--in fact he liked her very much--she was a very beautiful young
woman--which was precisely the problem.  He'd noticed that look in her
eyes when she had seen him.  It was the same look that he got from Shampoo
and Ukyo whenever they saw him.  He glanced at her again.  
	Things had gone pretty well up till now.  He had gotten Yohko and
Azusa to his mom without incident.  Yohko and Nodoka had chatted for a few
minutes while he had listened to Azusa small talk.  They had left the
train station and waited for a taxi.  Nodoka talked with Azusa while Yohko
and Ranma talked about inconsequential things like school, family, and
friends...

<Begin Flashback
	"So Ranma-san," Yohko asked, "where are you going to school?"
	"Furnikan High," he said, thinking, <Maybe if I'm rude she won't
like me.>
	"What year student are you?" Yohko asked. smiling.
	"Junior," he replied, thinking, <I wish she wouldn't smile like
that.>
	"Sugoi!" she laughed, "what a coincidence!  I'm a junior in high
school too!"
	"Yeah..." he said, smiling weakly.
	"So Ranma-san," she smiled, "do you have a girl friend?"  Ranma
opened his mouth to answer but Yohko continued talking, "a cute guy like
you probably has his pick of girls, huh?"
	<Oh boy,> he thought, <I'd better head this off right now.>
Before Ranma could speak, however, Yohko started talking again.
	"I wish I had a boy friend," she sighed, glancing at Ranma.  It
was at this point that Ranma's inability to think before speaking kicked
in.
	"I'm sure a cute girl like you c'n any guy she wants," Ranma said.
<Wait a sec,> he thought, <I didn't just say what I think I said...>
Ranma's thought's were interrupted by the sensation of a well proportioned
young woman grabbing him.
	"Oh Ranma-san!" Yohko cried, "you say the nicest things!"
	<Oh boy,> Ranma thought, <I'm dead.>
End Flashback>

	A few seconds later the taxi came and they loaded the luggage and
climbed in.  Things would have been all right except for the seating
arrangement in the taxi.  Nodoka sat in front and Azusa sat next to Yohko.
Unfortunately Azusa wanted to look out the window so that left Yohko in
the middle and Ranma sitting next to her.  
	Which was where they were now.  Ranma glanced at Yohko again,
worried about the troubles their new house guest would cause him.

***

	Yohko Mano was in Heaven.  Here she was sitting next to the man of
her dreams and she could already tell that he liked her.  What other
explanation could there be, he kept glancing at her when he thought she
wasn't looking.
	Yohko giggled and made a point of leaning into him as the taxi
made a sharp turn.  Ranma gulped audibly as their bodies touched and Yohko
smiled.  <He's even nervous around me,> she thought with a giggle, <that's
_so_ kawaii!>
	Yohko smiled and sighed.  Perhaps, Mano Demon Hunter clan _would_
be joined with the Saotome Demon Hunter clan.  Yohko sighed again at the
thought.  <What am I thinking, I'm too young to get married,> Yohko
thought, glancing at Ranma, <but then again...>

***

	Nodoka Saotome was happy.  It looked like her son was getting
along quite well with Ms. Mano.  <Perhaps it's not too late to unite our
too families,> she thought, <after all we must keep the Demon Hunter
bloodline strong, and there's no one stronger than my son.>  With that,
Nodoka smiled slightly.  <It's too bad I didn't have a daughter too,>  she
thought with a pang of regret, <then I could pass on the Demon Hunter
legacy on to her.  I can't pass it on to Ranma, all the Demon Hunters of
the past have been female.  I'd pass it on to Akane, she is like a
daughter to me, but she isn't a member of a Demon Hunter family.>  Nodoka
sighed.  <It looks like I may have to break off Ranma's engagement to
Akane, and engage him to Yohko, after all _someone_ has to carry on my
family's Demon Hunter tradition...>

***

	By the time they reached the Tendo Dojo Ranma was _extremly_
nervous.  The girl hadn't stopped sighing every time she looked at him and
that worried him. Something was bothering his mother too, she kept looking
at him and Yohko speculatively.  <If I didn't know better,> Ranma thought
as he unloaded the luggage from the taxi, <I'd say that she's looking at
me the way Pop always does when... no it can't be that, not Mom.  She
wouldn't do that to me... would she?>  Ranma's thoughts were interrupted
by Azusa's exclamations of delight at the sight of the Tendo Dojo.
	"Wow!" she said, "what a _big_ house!  Is this _your_ home
Ranma-san?"
	"Umm," he responded, "it's where I live..."
	"The Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts," read Azusa, "you
live here?"
	<Hmm,> thought Ranma, <this might be my chance to stop her from
chasing me before she starts...>
	"Yeah," he said aloud, "me, Mom, and Pop are staying here with my
iinazuke's family, the Tendo's."  At that Nodoka looked at her son with a
slightly worried look on her face and Yohko just stared at him, her shock
evident on her face.
	"Son," Nodoka called.
	"Yeah Mom?" he answered.
	"Come here," she beckoned, "there's something I need to tell
you..."

***

	Ranma was talking to his mother while Yohko stood there in shock.
<His _iinazuke_!> she thought, <he's _engaged_!!!>  At that moment all of
Yohko Mano's dreams were shattered.  Her chances at finding a boyfriend
had been reduced to nil and the man of her dreams was _engaged_!  As Yohko
grappled with these weighty thoughts, her mind registered Ranma's voice in
the background.
	"_NANI_!"

***

	"You're tellin' me that I'm gettin' engaged to Yohko Mano, a girl
I just met today!"  Ranma asked in disbelief.
	"Yes my son," Nodoka sighed, "I'm afraid so."
	"Well, Mom, _I'm_ afraid that it's not gonna happen!" he cried.
	"My son," Nodoka said, "you must, it's a matter of family honor."
	"Have you forgotten that I'm already engaged," he exclaimed, "to
Akane Tendo _and_ Ukyo Kuonji!  Not to mention the Chinese amazon who
thinks I'm her husband _or_ the crazed gymnast who thinks that I'm _her_
iinazuke!"
	"I'm afraid that those engagements will have to be dissolved,"
Nodoka responded, a chill note entering her voice.
	"I couldn't care less if Shampoo or Kodachi stopped chasin' me,
Mom," he said, "in fact, I'd love it.  But my engagement to Akane and
Ukyo, in case you've forgotten, are also matters of honor."
	"I have not forgotten, my son," Nodoka replied, "and I have
decided that those engagements are to be dissolved as well."
	"So you're gonna throw away _Pop's_ honor and _my_ honor so that
you can satisfy yours!" Ranma cried.
	"I have considered the situation," she said, "and have decided
that it is in the best interests of everyone involved that our two
families be joined."
	"What's all this about anyway?" Ranma asked, "what could be so
important that you'd throw away me and Pop's honor?"
	"That is something that you do not need to know."
	"I'd damn well better know," he spat, "since I'm gettin' engaged
because of it."
	"You are wrong my son."
	"You're tellin' me that I'm gettin' a _third_ iinazuke and I'm not
gonna be told _why_!  At least with Pop I knew why!  It was his stomach or
the school but _this_..."
	"You will have _one_ iinazuke," she said her voice hard as steel,
"and you will be _married_ to Yohko Mano before this summer ends, if
possible."  Ranma simply stood there unable to believe what his mother had
said.
	"You know I've been wonderin'," Ranma said, almost cheerfully,
"where Pop got the idea of marryin' his son t' complete strangers."  At
this his voice turned cold, "now I see he musta learned it from you."
	"I am nothing like your father, Ranma," Nodoka said a touch of
cool arrogance in her voice.
	"Coulda fooled me," he shrugged.  "Maybe we should take you to
Jusenkyo and drop you in the Spring of Drowned Dog, then you'd have a
proper body."
	"Watch your mouth boy!" Nodoka snapped, fingering her ever present
katana.
	"Or you'll what," Ranma sneered, "kill me?  Where would your
precious 'honor' be then?"  With that Ranma turned and walked into the
dojo.  His mother simply stood there--unable to believe what had just
happened.  Tears formed in her eyes as realization struck her. <By the
kami,> she thought, <what have I done!>