"Actually, sis, I gave them the option of buying an info service
where I call them whenever Ranma's about to go off on an adventure or do
something that might impact their relationship with him." Nabiki smirked
from where she was sitting. "This qualified." 
        Shampoo smiled cutely at Ranma, trying to make him look at her,
"Airen should wish for strong wife who doesn't get in trouble." 

{As a grammatical note, facial expressions are not a substitute
 for "said", "commented", "suggested", et al.}  

        Ranma gulped a bit.  If he did that, both Akane and Shampoo would
probably be picked, probably in the worst way possible.  That was a bad
idea, a very, _very_ bad idea. 

{I think it's more likely that a fifth fiancee would show up.  Perhaps
the winner of the All-Japan Female Bodybuilding Championship.}

        "Hey, Ranchan, if you're gonna make a wish, why don't you wish to
marry the fiancee that really loves you?" Ukyou smirked, knowing that
neither Akane nor Shampoo could compete in that arena. 

{Or so she thinks.  I'd say instead "certain that neither"}

        Ranma looked up, that actually didn't sound too bad at all. He tried
to think of what would be so bad about that one, but couldn't come up with a
reason.  It would make the best out of a bad situation.

{What's wrong with it is that 
   a:  It ignores who Ranma loves.
   b:  More than one fiancee could be defined as "really loving him"}

        Nabiki huffed arrogantly, knowing that she had to head this off
before her favourite meal ticket disappeared and Ukyou got her wish.  The
best way was to appeal to Ranma's best feature; his gullibility. "Oh, get it
_over_ with, Saotome.  There is no single thing that can solve all the
problems _you've_ managed to accumulate.  You _know_ that whatever you wish
will just make your problems worse anyway.  Besides, the wish was for 'the
pigtailed girl.  If you make that one, then get ready to marry Kuno, or one
of those male friends of yours, or any number of 'Ranko's' admirers.
Who knows how many men Uncle Saoatome and Daddy have promised thier
daughters to.  Why not just give it up to someone else?"

{"Saotome", "their".}  
 
        Elsewhere, a panda sneezed and felt this awful premonition of
doom.  If he was right, events were happening that would be detrimental to
his health.  Perhaps it was time for another training trip with Ranma.  Say
to Austrailia.  He heard that a person could get lost in the outback for
years at a time.

{"Australia"}

        Everyone looked startled at that, then the comments began.
        "Oh, right, maybe if his father had been rich or related to
wealth," Nabiki snorted. 
        "...more mature, more intelligent," said Kasumi, but in a very
polite manner. 
        "...and if he wasn't such a cowardly, freeloading, immoral wretch,"
said Ukyou, thinking of her own treatment at the hands of Genma. 
        "...and if even stronger fighter who could teach Airen much useful
techniques, so Ranma even better and more powerful fighter," Shampoo said,
clasping her hands together and looking at this wonderful vision in her
mind. 

{What, no suggestion from Akane?}

        Before anyone could say anything or protest Ranma's ill timed words
and actions, a guy of about average height with two slashes that almost
looked like a second set of eyebrows walked in out of a glowing hole in the

{Slashes?  What do you mean "slashes"?}

        He stood up.  "Actually, Saotome Ranma, this is your life!"  Grey

{Actually it's his conception.}

pointed to the wall where images began to appear.  Indicating a picture of
Genma entering a house, Grey also pointed out the woman hiding behind a
tree. 
        "Who's that?" 
        "Your mother, Saotome Nodoka!" Grey smiled, revealing fangs. "What
you're seeing here is your father cheating on your mother yet again.  She
managed to trace him to this house in Kyoto, and decided that enough was
enough.  Not willing to take the life of her husband, but tired of Genma
cheating on her, she decides to GET EVEN!" 
        Ukyou blinked at the house in the image.  It couldn't be...if that
house was...it meant that she was...No.  That was impossible.  It _HAD_ to
be impossible.
        The image changed to the same woman at a party.  It appeared to be
a VERY posh social event with a mixture of foreigners as well as Japanese. 
Some of the people were recognisable to Nabiki from the history books
since these people were financial giants and formulated the fiscal policies
affecting the Home Islands.

{Wasn't that long ago.  Many of those people would still be important.}

        "So she goes to this party held in honour of the Prime Minister of
Japan, hoping to meet someone who she could respect."  Continued the Demon,
"Your mother can't hold her drink very well, and got more than a little
bit...well...to put it politely..."
        "Smashed," supplied Akane. 
        "Tipsy," provided Nabiki. 
        "Drunk?" Ranma squeaked. 
        "Enter this fellow," Grey made a motion and the picture changed
again. 
        "That's that gaijin maniac super-villain, the Joker!"  Nabiki
exclaimed in wonder.  It was the first time that the maniac had struck
anywhere outside of the US, and the first time the Batman had ever shown
himself in Japan.  It had led to some speculation that the Dark Knight
Detective was Japanese since he had talked with some of the government
members after the incident without an accent.  Given the way he had
appeared, and later disappeared, there was also some speculation that he
was a renegade Shinobi, who operated away from the Clans.  "She was at
_that_ party?"
        "Indeed," Grey flicked his wrist and the central picture changed
again. It now showed a man and a woman, stripped bare and who's eyes were

{"whose"}

slightly glazed, being thrown into a broom closet.  The door to said
closet being sealed with Joker Glue immediately thereafter. 
        "Oh my,"  Kasumi covered her mouth with one hand, slightly
distressed at the sight before her.  "How long were they stuck there?" 
 
        "Yes, and Bruce Wayne has just discovered evidence that his son is
alive and well and living in Nerima Japan." 

{comma after "Nerima".  What evidence could that possibly be?  I mean, just
giving birth 9 months after the tryst is hardly conclusive.}

        Nabiki managed to stop coughing but was now looking at Ranma as if
he had grown horns.  That this uneducated, lazy, obnoxious, jackass was
now the heir to a financial fortune measured in...in...Nabiki had to think
about how much he would be worth...

{Lazy?}

        "There's more, but you'll find that out after you go to live with
your father."  The image changed again. 
        "Such a big house," Kasumi exclaimed pleased and excited.  It must
take a lot of time to clean.  Who knew what wonderful new things could be
found?  And the kitchen that must be in such a house... 
        "That place bigger than entire village!"  Shampoo blinked in
surprise.  The concept of so much land for one house was alien to her, but
it didn't stop her from thinking of one thing.  "Airen could invite entire
village over for wedding."
        Akane was still alternating between staring at the pictures, the
guest, and Ranma.  If he was willing to flirt with so many floozies now,
who knew how many he would be with so much at his disposal.  Her anger,
already at a slow burn, began to grow hotter.
        "Damn, sugar.  Do you think Wayne Enterprises would be interested
in a merger with a little okonomiyaki shop? I've got some ideas for
advertising..." 
        Nabiki looked at the house, the helicopter landing field, the car
in front of it, the various other buildings in the background.  A quick
estimate of the total value caused her eyes to roll up in the back of her
head.  Followed immediately thereafter by a crunch as her head impacted the
little tray of rice cakes in front of her. 
        "Sorry, I couldn't stay longer, but the Rival Relief Office keeps
me on short notice and I don't exist in this particular timeline anyway."
Grey smiled at Kasumi and handed a business card to Ukyou.  He wished he
could stay longer, That girl was cetainly worth looking at.  Waving, he
walked towards a wall and, quite abruptly, vanished. 

{"certainly"}

        "Grey. Demon, fourth class, not affiliated with Hell. Rival Relief
Office, Asgard."  Ukyou blinked as she read the Meishi.  "It lists a pager
number for emergencies?"
        "Ranma...you..." Akane began to get angry at Ranma for screwing up
everything once again, especially with Ukyou now hanging onto him and
discussing all her plans for expanding her business. "You're not even pure
Japanese!!!  YOU BAKA!" 
        Nabiki's eyes snapped open.  That's right.  Akane wasn't too fond of
Ranma, and in many ways was too traditional to consider marrying an "Ai no
ko."   And the same thing held true for Kasumi!  Images of bags of money
flying away from her seemed to fill the air.  There had to be something
that she could do, and it had to be quick. 

***

        Alfred Pennyworth, Foremost butler in the world, brought up in the

{"foremost" or "Foremost Butler In The World".  I'm not sure but you might
need a semi-colon after "world".}  

old school of how to keep the master happy in every way, trained never to
show surprise and to hold in his emotions as any proper Englishman, stated
his worry over the upcoming changes to the household.  "Are you sure this
is the proper thing to do, Master Bruce.  After all, the lad has already
made quite a name for himself, and if any of these activities follow him

{question mark}

here there could be some unwanted scrutiny towards the affairs here at
Wayne Manor." 
        Bruce Wayne, dilettante playboy, acknowledge womaniser, layabout,

{Say, isn't someone going to wonder about that, given that the wish 
specified a non-lazy father?  Of course I suppose most of them have 
forgotten there ever was a wish.  "acknowledged"}

and generous business person smirked as he looked over the file on his
son, Saotome Ranma, or as he would be called in America, Ranma Saotome.
Admittedly the boy was a fighter, having spent many years training in
various places and in numerous Martial Arts, including some of the places
that he had trained himself.  The boy had already surpassed him in so many

{Oh...so sorry.  You fall in Spring of Drowned Man Carrying Fruit Bat!}

areas at such a young age, easily being the equal of Bruce in the pure skill
of the Arts.  No doubt the young man could teach Bruce many tricks, but he

{How could Wayne assess the boy's skill from a written file?}

still had a long way to go, especially on a social level.
        What Alfred had been refering to, however, was that Ranma was linked
in many incidents, having made the newspapers several times in both Japan
and China.  One of the ones that stood out was that apparently Ranma had
several suitors, all of whom wanted to marry him, despite the fact that
they knew him to be virtually penniless.  It appeared, from all the reports
that he had been able to get from his people, that the girls and people who
surrounded his son were the cause of most of his troubles.  He chuckled a
bit.  "I'm sure that he will be fine Alfred.  Besides, when he comes here,
such activities will seem to be normal, and the son of a rich socialite
millionaire, sewing a few wild oats which his father has to take care of

{"sowing"}

now and then will make a lot more people ignore what goes on here rather
than attract attention." 
        Tim heard all of this from the doorway.  "I guess you won't want
me around anymore then." 
        Bruce's chair whirled around at that, "What do you mean by that
Tim?" 
        "Well, with your son coming, I wouldn't think there would be any
room around here for me." 
        Bruce frowned, "What gave you that idea.  If anything, he would be
more like an older brother to you, just like Dick.  I already consider you
one of my sons." 
        Tim blinked.  "You mean that?" 

{Gee, I wonder what Tim's father thinks of that.}

        Bruce nodded slightly.  "Besides, what would I do without Robin?" 
        Tim Drake jumped happier than ever, "Yeah!" 
        "But as of right now," Bruce continued in his command voice, "You
have some training to do with Batgirl in the Simulation area.  Get to it." 
        Tim nodded and then went to get his uniform.  The one thing he
was most proud of. 
        "Alfred, make arrangements to have a company jet ready to take off
for Tokyo, Japan in 30 hours.  And pack suitcases for Barbara and Tim.  I
want them to accompany me."  Bruce said as he pulled on his cowl and went
towards the Batmobile.

{Barbara Gordon:  Oh, Dad?  I'm flying to Japan with Bruce Wayne this 
 weekend.
 Demon Head Commissioner Gordon:  What!?}

        "Of course sir.  And happy hunting."  Alfred said as he watched
Batman take off into the night.  Cleaning up, he looked over the folder on
the young man coming to live here.  After all as a Gentleman's gentleman,
it was required that he know the complete life story of his employers, and
as such had to be able and willing to help whenever and wherever possible. 
And it was apparent that this young man would need tutoring in a proper
language.  Ranma's English marks were not all that good, despite his
having travelled to countries where the language was necessary. 

{When did Ranma ever travel to a country where English was necessary?}

        He stopped suddenly and reread the passage to make sure that it
was correct.  "Oh my.  This may cause a problem in making arrangements for
the young master.  I wonder if Miss Barbara will be doing anything
tommorow.  She may be the best one to ask how to properly prepare his

{"tomorrow"}
{Annie:  Tomorrow!  Tomorrow! Tomo-ack!}
{A large weight falls upon her}

chambers and to which school he should be sent to." 
        He started back up the stairs to the Manor proper, taking the
silver tea service with him.  "Master Timothy will be in for a rather large
surprise when he finds out about Ranma's abilities.  I do so hope he will
not be rude about it." 

{Alfred:  Tell him?  Why would I do that?}

***

        Nabiki was dazed, looking over the books that she had.  Ranma
would leave.  There was no question of that in her mind, especially since
Genma no longer had a hold on Ranma.  Ranma could now declare all the

{Who says?  Regardless of the genetics, Genma was married to Nodoka when
Ranma was born, and raised him from a grub.  Panda-san has at least as much
claim to be called Ranma's father.}

engagements made on his behalf by Genma null and void.  She would loose
_BILLIONS OF YEN_ because her sister was so insistent on _not_ marrying
Ranma.
        Nabiki opened up her ledgers and took a look at the amount that she
had stashed away.  If she was careful, she would be able to afford a
fairly good apartment, enough for her to finish high school and complete
an American university program.  And if Nabiki just happened to be in Gotham
City, where she could claim her families honour would be ruined since
Ranma was assumed to have been Genma's son...Well if Akane didn't want
him, then she would marry him. 
        Now, it was just a matter of making some arrangement with people
she knew and checking for apartments over the Internet... 

***

        Ukyou had a couple of problems to contend with because of what
Grey had shown her at the Tendos. 
        The first dealt with Ranma.  If everything went right for him,
then he would be moving with his natural father to America, leaving
everything he knew, and all his problems behind him.  He would be leaving
her.  Again. 
        She wasn't about to allow that. 
        Already, she had packed up almost everything that she needed, with
only the large items left to go.  The big question now was should she sell
her restaurant, rent it out to someone to operate, or make it into one
shop in a chain?  She had enough money to get there, and enough money to
operate for a while, but not forever, and it was a lot harder to buy land
in Japan than it looked.  If she sold her restaurant, the center of her
life, would she ever be able to regain it? 
        Was she willing to regain it? 
        Because if she left for America, and if she was to acknowledge who
Ranma really was, then it was time that she should acknowledge whose
daughter she could really be. 
        Ukyou shuddered, trying hard to erase the memory of seeing HER
house, HER home, as the one Genma entered for his little affair.  To be
related to that lazy, no-good, cowardly furball would be a nightmare come
true.  In her dreams, she had always taken Ranma AWAY from that panda.  If
she was related to him by blood... 
        That was too scary a thought to contemplate. 
        At that moment, someone walked in through the door, and it wasn't a
person she was expecting to see.  "Hello Shampoo.  What do you want?" 
        Shampoo came up to the counter, in a rather dejected state, "Great
Grandmother say Shampoo no can go to America.  Say Wayne-san and any him
children not bound by laws.  Shampoo no care!  Shampoo want Airen." 
        Ukyou shook her head.  "Well, what are you going to do then?  You
don't expect me to help do you?" 
        Shampoo looked up, even more dejected than before.  "Shampoo not
know what to do.  Shampoo no want to disobey great grandmother, but also
cannot give up Airen.  Am not expecting spatula-girl to help, but wish
to know if know solution.  Shampoo willing to help if want." 
        Ukyou grimaced.  It was hard enough for her to stay mad at
everyone, even harder to deny the feelings of others, but she had to.  It
was for Ranma's own good.  She was the one who deserved him, the one who
gave up the most, the one...the...one...../Oh to heck with it all!/

{I find myself skeptical.  Ukyo now has a clear shot at the R-Man.  Why
give it up?}

        "Shampoo, what if the two of us just happen to apply for school in
America, say in Gotham City.  We both have experience with restaurants,
and we _could_ open a konzern in that city..." 
        Shampoo's face lit up as Ukyou started to make a few Okonomiyaki,
"Aiya!!  Shampoo understand!  We help other and be close to Ranma! 
Shampoo willing, but if do, must agree Ranma make choice, not us." 
        Ukyou winked, "Well sugar, I think we should talk about this quite
a bit.  After all, as partners, we should plan for contingencies, and for
what may happen to Ranma.  We both can't take off from the restaurant at the
same time, and if we want Ranma to be better, we need to leave him along with
his father more.  What we should do now is dis..." 

{Dis is da plan youse guys...  "alone with his father"  I'd suggest that
perhaps Ukyo might be willing to team up with Shampoo if individually neither
had the resources to move to America and start a restaurant there.}

***

        The Nekohanten was closed to the public, something that had
happened many times before and would doubtlessly happen again.  Despite
being one of the best places in Nerima to eat, anyone in the know knew
that it was a place frequented by Ranma, and therefore subject to the
unusual.  It was actually expected. 
        Inside, an older woman named known as Cologne sighed and smoked her

{redundancy}

pipe calmly, wondering at this revelation that came from divine sources.  It
was not hard to imagine that Ranma could be Wayne's offspring.  Quite the
opposite really.  Now that she knew this fact, so much that had been a
mystery made sense.  And there was so much more that she could end up
teaching the boy since he had as much potential as his father.  If Ranma
asked, which was doubtful considering the many things that she had done to

{One thing.  Just one.  A big one, mind you, but still just one thing.}

him in the past.  Ranma would learn a lot from his natural father, however,
and the boy was worthy of taking over his fathers role in the world.
        She snorted suddenly, as if Wayne was really fooling anyone with his
act.  Anyone who knew him, who trained with him, would be able to recognise
him instantly.  His way was too obvious to anyone who was observant, such as
all of his teachers.
        Hoping down from her perch, she went over to a table and poured

{"Hopping"}

herself some wine.  Not the Sake which the Japanese numbed their senses
with, but a proper Mongolian red whose body was much richer and more
delicate than anything suited to the Japanese palate.  Besides, it was
time to reflect, celebrate, and give up at the same time, and what better
way than in mankind's oldest tradition, the toast, even if it was to
oneself. 
        She raised her glass of warmed wine into the air, appreciating
it's colour, "Here's to you Ranma, and to your father, Bruce Wayne.  May
you find the peace you desire, and the family you need.  May the sins of
the past be eased, and the safety and the future of the planet be
bettered.  And may the Knight of Darkness teach the Knight of Confusion." 
        As she drank, the wine burning it's way down to an appropriately
empty stomach, she thought of all the new adventures that Ranma would be
having, and all of the villains that would be in for a shock as Batman's
son...eh...child, went into his fathers line of work. 

***

        "Nightwing." 
        Nightwing didn't turn from his task as he acknowledge the other
person on the roof with him.  "Batman." 
        "I'll need you to watch over things for a few days, perhaps as
long as a week." came the gravelly voice. 
        The young man with the long pigtail smiled grimly, "Where." 

{Question mark}

        Batman smiled slightly, "Japan, I'm bringing your younger brother
home." 
        Nightwing didn't turn his eyes away from his target, he had been
too well trained for that, but he did stiffen.  There wasn't any point in
asking questions however, especially since Batman was long gone.  Although
he and the others had acquired that ability as well, it was annoying when
it was applied to himself. 

***

        Batgirl smiled at the young man in front of her, practising the
same manoeuvres that she had been forced to do so long ago.  "So, how's
school going?" 
        Robin huffed, "Aww.  It's OK, I guess.  I still can't understand
that stuff on Civil Government, I mean, WE break the law every day, don't
we?" 

{Isn't Tim Drake an A student?}

        The redhead rolled her eyes, "How many times do I have to tell
you.  We don't break the law, we may bend it a little, but we don't break
it." 
        "Yeah, right.  Tell me another one." 
        Batgirl fumed a bit and then turned up the TASER trainer up a
couple of levels.  "I admit what we do tends to intimidate some of the
creeps, but then it's better to intimidate them, put the scare of
superstition into them, rather than let them off the hook.  Our guises,
the martial abilities that we train in, the knowledge of our bodies that
allows us to seem to be 'supernatural' or 'super-powered' are our
advantages." 
        "Huh."  Robin replied as he avoided a needle to his back, "I
suppose the fact that none of us never seem to die adds to the illusion." 

{"ever"}

        "Given the number of times Batman has been presumed dead from one
threat or another, or the fact that we always seem to escape does lend
itself to the illusion." 
        "Well, I hope my new big brother won't be this much of a
'practicer.' I want to do something, like take some villains or something
out." 
        Nodoka was prepared to lose her son once more, perhaps
permanently. 
        Ranma's father was coming back to Japan, to reclaim his son as
Genma failed to take care of him.  Of the young man he had promised to

{had failed}

make a Man Among Men.  She had failed in her duty to her family by
allowing Genma to take Ranma with him. 
        Thanks to Bruce-kun's resources, she had managed to read up on all
of the adventures and troubles that her son had been in since Genma had
taken him away.  The Neko-ken, all of the fiancees, the challengers, and
the dangers.  She had even read up on Jusenkyu, and the problems that had
created for her son.  After Bruce-kun took her son to America, she planned
to regain her honour for failing so miserably. 
        But there were some things that needed to be taken care of first. 
Mainly dealing with Saotome Genma.  Dealing with the betrayal of her trust
in him, and the way he had harmed her son.  Most of all, dealing with a
young girl named Ranko and her pet Panda. 
        She could not hold Ranma to the promise made so long ago, but

{Why couldn't she?}

Genma would be held to it, and he would pay for the trivialities that he
had made of their lives.  He would pay for all of the broken promises, the
pain and suffering, and for endangering her child without cause.  He would
fulfil his promise or she would chase him to the ends of the earth. 
        Holding up her Katana and checking the surface, she decided that

{"katana"}

it's polish was complete.  She placed it down and then powdered the
length, knowing that it would dink it's fill of blood before her task was

{"drink"}

complete.  Unless something happened, Genma would pay with his life. 

{Bah.  Either Ranma is a man among men, or he is not.  If he is not,
 if Nodoka finds his curse to be shameful, then Ranma should have a 
 problem.}