Another enjoyable chapter....

On Tue, 1 Sep 1998, Jurai-Knight wrote:

Quantum Destinies
Chapter 5 - Further Complications

Of course!

puzzlement, with her head cocked to one side.  Ranma still felt 
slight tremors of fear running through her, but she was keeping a 
sufficient hold on her emotions to continue to function.  *Hmm... 
what do I do now?*

Run away before she suckers you into taking her on a date.

closest place to get hot water.  *I could use some time to think.  If 
the recall doesn't occur, then I have to start making plans for 
building another projector.  I only hope it doesn't have to come to 
that.*

Especially since you'll never find your home dimension again...

     <Greetings, Matriarch Khu Lon,> said Ranma absently in 
accented Mandarin as she stepped in.  Cologne blinked in surprise.  
*Make that _two_ surprises in one day.*

"Son-in-Law is obviously possessed!"

     "Uhh... I've been practicing in case I'm someday able to return 
to the springs of Jusenkyo," she said reasonably.  Cologne nodded, a 
little uncertain what to make of Ranma's improved manners.  She 

He's possessed, Cologne!  Get out the Exorcism scrolls!

     Cologne smiled.  *Definitely not the same Ranma.  I think I like 
this one better.*  She hopped into the kitchen and grabbed the kettle 

Well, since he has the hots for Shampoo, you should...

     A moment later, Shampoo's excited voice could be heard.  
"Great-Grandmother, Ranma is taking Shampoo on date!"

     *I didn't actually say I would,* Ranma thought to himself.  He 
suddenly felt the hairs on his neck bristle.

Too late...

     A cry of dismay was heard from the front door.  "Ranma 
Saotome!  You try to steal my Shampoo away from me for the last 
time!"  Ranma dodged several weighted chains that flew in his 
direction.  They wrapped around the seat he had been sitting on, 
and it was pulled out the front door with a clatter.  *This won't even 
be a contest,* thought Ranma as he confidently leaped out through 
the doorway.

Got mainRanma's overconfidence for sure, though not much of mainRanma's 
other traits...
 > 

     "Shampoo love movies!"  She dragged a bemused Ranma out the 
door before he could change his mind.  "New Jackie Chan film just 
came out at theater."  Within moments, they were gone.  Cologne 
watched the departing couple.

Funny, I would've pegged her as a "Heroic Trio" fan :-)

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

     Nodoka was looking over the menu in the restaurant to try to 
distract herself from her nervousness.  *This will be a big step in 
my son's life.  I hope Ranma appreciates what I'm about to do for 
him.*  She became absorbed in the selection on the menu, not 

Not a chance...

     "Yes," Nodoka said with a smile.  "A friend of mine 
recommended your agency, since you found her daughter a good 
husband."

Well, at least Nodoka isn't being a complete idiot...

     Otsu looked around.  "Will your husband be participating in 
this?"  She picked up the portfolio with a smile.

     "My husband thought it was a foolish idea when I asked him this 
morning," replied Nodoka.  "He told me to do what I wished, but he 

He thinks he should get drunk with one of his buddies and pick that 
way... 

wouldn't participate.  Men have no understanding of how important 
this is."  Nodoka picked up her menu.  "Lunch will be on me.  I 
thought it would be a good way for you to tell me some more about 
your agency.  Feel free to ask me any questions about my son or my 
family?"

"Does your son turn into a girl in cold water?"

     "I'm sure we'll find your son a fine bride," said Otsu as she 
picked up her menu.  "The best families in the Empire are 
registered with us.  I took the liberty of doing a search on the 
Saotome family register.  I must say, from what I saw the Saotome 
family has managed to have quite a distinguished history.  Your 
husband's father even earned the Imperial Star, I saw."

whoo.

     "He was a brave man," agreed Nodoka.  "Genma took his loss 
rather hard as a child though.  I think that was why he didn't follow 
the family tradition and become a warrior like his ancestors.  My 
husband is a good man though.  He raised my son to be a fine 
scholar."

And Ranma also has a secret ability to learn martial arts overnight...

     "The first young lady comes from a fine family in the Koga 
Mountain region," she said with a smile.  A photograph of a 
smiling teenaged girl was presented to Nodoka.  She was dressed in 
a school uniform with her hair worn in a single ponytail that was 
tied with a white ribbon.  "Her family takes care of a large shrine in 
the mountains near Koga that is famous for...."

okonomiyaki?

the afternoon sun kept the day warm.  A single figure slowly 
maneuvered down the walkway, lazily sweeping the dust and stray 
leaves from the path.  It was a girl, dressed in the white and red 
robes of a shrine maiden.  Her hair was pulled back into a single 

Ukyou as shrine maiden?  Hmm...

     "Well done, my little Ukyou."  She relaxed as her attacker was 
revealed to be a wizened figure of a man, dressed in monks robes.  
He was a little shorter than she herself was.  "Your skills have 
grown.  I actually had to work a little bit to sneak up on you.  Your 
mother would be so proud to see how her daughter has grown up 
into such a fine young shadow warrior."

altUkyou the ninja?  And what does this mean for altKonatsu?

     "Sorry, grandfather," she said as she bowed her head.  "I let my 
overconfidence get the better of me."  A ninja groaned behind her.

     "That is a dubious privilege of the young," he replied sagely.  
"You should always remember to watch your back when you are 
alone.  The Kuonji Clan can ill afford to lose a promising warrior 
such as yourself to carelessness."

"Oh, and from now on, dress like a boy."
The fight scene looked okay to me, but I'm not good at those things.

emerged from the trees to tend to the fallen warriors.  Ukyou stood 
beside him, enjoying the cool breeze that had suddenly sprung up.  
He suddenly looked up as he sniffed the wind.  He turned to her 
with a smile.  "A change is coming to these mountains, child.  I can 
sense something marvelous for our clan looming on the horizon.  
Be prepared."

Ooh...

     "What of the third daughter,"asked Nodoka as she looked over 
the two photographs.  Both were in Security cadet uniforms.  Akane 
had a slight smile as she looked into the camera.  Nabiki managed 

She can smile?

to convey an air of grace as she smiled brightly into the camera.  
Nodoka was convinced that she had seen these two girls somewhere 
before.

Standing over her son's battered body...

     "That was another of my successes," said Otsu with a large 
smile.  "Kasumi, the eldest daughter, married a fine young doctor 
serving in the Ministry of Health.  I understand that they are 
expecting a child before the winter months will be over."

"I'm out of that madhouse!"

     "Well," said Otsu before she paused a moment to think.  "Both 
daughters are currently attending the Tokyo Imperial Academy, in 
the Officer's Training Program for the Security Directorate.  Nabiki 
has regularly received high marks across the board from her 
instructors.  When I interviewed her, she was a charming young 
lady."

Like a serpent is charming?

     Otsu picked up Akane's photo.  "This young lady is best 
described as a healthy and high-spirited girl.  She regularly excels 

yup.

at athletics, and is rated a fifth-dan black belt in Shorinji Kempo."  
Nodoka raised her eyebrow in disbelief as Otsu continued to speak.  
"I am sure that she would be able to give you many fine 
grandchildren."

Assuming her husband lived through the honeymoon...

     Akane slept peacefully while her sister kept vigil on her.  The 
doctors had said that Akane should be watched over the first 
twenty-four hours just in case there were any problems.  Nabiki read 
a new fashion magazine while she waited for her father to come 
home.  She could have had one of the servants watch over her sister, 
but she preferred to do it herself.  *Since Kasumi left, this house 
just seems lonelier.  I miss her.*

aww...

     Nabiki banished that thought with a frown.  If any of her fellow 
cadets ever suspected that she had a softer side, her reputation as a 
cast-iron bitch would be gone.  *A woman has to be strong and tough
to survive in this world, especially in service to the Empire.  I will
be strong and tough at all times, and make Daddy proud of me.  I intend
to be every inch the officer that he is.*  She flipped the page of her
magazine, and continued to read.

Ah.  Mr. Tendou is a bit more of a role model in this world...

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

     "Three young ladies to choose from for my son already," said 
Nodoka with a smile.  "A mother should always have such 
problems."

How about four? :-)

     "Ranma will be allowed to make a choice himself," replied 

Wow, that's a change.

Nodoka.  "Since I'm pre-screening the candidates for his bride, any 
one of them would be acceptable to me.  I suppose I could engage 
him to them all, and then let him choose one for himself."  Nodoka 

aiee!!

chuckled at her little joke.  "I do want my son to marry for love, 
after all.  Genma and I were an arranged marriage, but we love each 
other too."

     "I am sure that we will find the best bride for your son," said 
Otsu.  "Perhaps he will find one himself that will surprise you."

You can say that again.
Apparently, the Kunou family was too high up to consider initially...

     "Ranma happy to be on date with Shampoo?"  Shampoo 
whispered her question into his ear.  He turned to answer her and 
almost bumped his nose against hers.  They stared into each others 
eyes in the darkness for a time.

Trick question...

     "You no miss violent girl?"  Shampoo could hardly believe her 
luck.

     "Akane?"  Ranma paused a moment to think.  He turned back to 
her.  "Not at this moment."  He gave her a friendly squeeze.  

But as soon as I'm in my right mind again....

Shampoo sighed in happiness and snuggled against him some more.

     *Oh, Shampoo,* he thought with a slightly wistful air that 
surprised him, *I wonder if you even exist in my own world?*

Yes.

white, laced up the front to mid-calf, completed the outfit.  It was an 
audience favorite, so she wore it for most matches.  *It makes me 
look like a kung fu video starlet,* she thought to herself with a 
slight sigh in her native Mandarin.  She went into her cubicle.

And you're not going to be?

corners of the Empire.  There was even one girl of Native American 
stock, a tall, reddish-tan skinned beauty who called herself Running 
Deer in the language of her people's conquerors.  She never spoke 
her name in her native Apache.

hmm...

     Running Deer was one of the few girls here that Shampoo would 
consider a friend.  They had been together for the last couple of 
years, ever since they were placed together in the same elite training 
class.  They had alternated for the top slot of their class, along with 
the Korean girl Mina Li.  Mina was a powerful Tae Kwon Do fighter,
and perhaps Shampoo's strongest and most mutually disliked rival in
the Arena.  That rivalry began the first time that they had faced each
other, and it would probably only end when one of them was dead.

uhoh....fighting movie plot #3...Mina Li will kill or at least severely 
wound Running Deer within the next two chapters...

     Late at night, Shampoo and Running Deer would sometimes lie 
on their cots and talk about their dreams and plans for the future.  
The dream that Shampoo had was to return home with honor, and 
find a man able to win her hand.  Running Deer had laughed at first 
at the Amazon laws when Shampoo had explained them to her.  
Running Deer found it odd to only love a man who was willing to 
beat her up as a form of courtship.  She eventually made Shampoo a 
solemn promise that she would come visit the Amazons and see for 
herself.

RD's doomed.

     Shampoo busied herself getting ready.  She unwrapped the towel 
from around her body, and admired her nude body briefly in the 
mirror.  She opened the underwear drawer on the right of her 
dressing table, and slipped on one of the pairs of panties that she 

Happosai suddenly appears...

     "Look who's admiring herself again," she heard whispered 
loudly from across the way.  Shampoo turned to glare at Mina, who 
then whispered something more softly to the newer girl next to her.  

"Support me or die."

     Mina had left a string of broken bodies behind her on her climb 
to the top of the Imperial Arena's Junior Division.  She had even 
killed three times since her debut fight almost two years ago, two 

uhoh...

stuff my bra, you barbarian giant!  These are the real thing, and I 
have several male conquests who will confirm that!"

"Or I'll tear their balls off..."

     "RANMA!  HOW DARE YOU BETRAY AKANE LIKE THIS!"  Ranma looked up
to see a figure falling out of the sky at him, the sun at its back,
a large umbrella shape held above the head.

Uhoh.  This is going to be a much tougher fight...

     *Oh yeah,* he thought wryly, *it will be _so_ good to get back 
home where my life is simpler.*

I love irony, when it's not directed at me...

SKJAM!