I came up with this silly idea to get a sillier idea involving Kasumi 
moving to Minneapolis and getting a job at a News Station Out of My 
system.I sort of began to wonder what it would be like if martial arts 
were not on the top of the list in Ranma's priorities. I will make the 
traditional plea for mercy by saying that this is my first posted fanfic 
and everyone (except for Jenkins and Kowalski) Belong to Rumiko 
Takahashi (please don't sue me)

So without further ado......

                                   Nerima Law Chapter One
                                       By Montanto


A young woman running down the sidewalk interrupted the temporary 
tranquility of Nerima Washington, right after a morning rain. People 
jumped out of her way in a panic barely avoiding her. She was short, 
barely 5 feet tall. Her long red hair was tied in a braid.  She wore an 
ill-fitting red polo shirt and black Dockers and carried large backpack 
and attach� case. She ran barefoot since it was obvious that the patent 
leather shoes that she carried were several sizes too large for her. It 
was as if the Devil himself was after her. It turned out to be only a 
giant panda wearing a loud tie. 
	As the Panda gained on her she halted, nonchalantly crossed her arms 
and turned to face it. The whole predicament did not seem to affect her 
at all. She glowered at the large beast.  People around them let shock 
and fear be replaced by curiosity. A crowd quickly gathered. "This is 
all your fault you old fool." She said in a calm cold manner.  
"Arranging a marriage? Without telling me? I can think of a dozen 
precedents that would throw this nonsense out in a heartbeat.  What in 
the world makes you think you have the right to force this on me?"
	 The Panda bear produced a signed document out of nowhere and waved it 
in front of her. She sniffed. "Yeah, right. That will really hold up in 
court. I'm going back to China so just suck on that you old fool."
	The woman turned and walked away.  The Panda produced a sign, that had 
the words "WHAT IS NECESSARY IS LEGAL" written in sloppy letters, and 
hit her over the head with it. She slumped to the ground unconscious. 
	 The Panda picked her up and hoisted her over its shoulder. Growling at 
the growing crowd, which quickly dispersed. It lumbered to the street 
and hailed a cab. 
	* * * * * * * * *
	Soun Tendou Esq., senior partner at Tendou and Associates, looked out 
at the Nerima skyline as he sipped his coffee in his office on the 34th 
floor of the Takahashi Tower. The morning mail and paper had just 
arrived and he began to sort through it. A water stained postcard with a 
picture of a Panda bear caught his attention. China? He thought to 
himself looking at the return address.  Who do I know in China? All his 
doubts ceased as he read the post card. 
	"Coming with Ranma. �. Saotome" 
	"Ranma. Finally Ranma is coming." Soun whispered to himself. 
	All of his life Soun Tendou prided himself for his sensitivity. There 
was not a single jury that he couldn't sway with a mere shed tear. This 
time he bawled.
	"Kasumi!" He shouted as he dashed out of his office. "Kasumi!"
	Kasumi Tendou, Soun's oldest daughter and personal secretary, looked up 
from her computer at her desk just outside Soun's office. Father looked 
very emotional today she thought as she made a mental note to switch him 
to decaff.
	"What is it Father?" She asked. She generally expected the worst 
whenever he was in this state. 
	"Cancel all morning appointments. I'm calling a family meeting." Soun 
said excitedly.
	"Are you quite sure? I mean the Henderson case is..."
	'This is more important then the . . .. Oh well. . Put Jenkins on it. 
The kid needs the experience."
	Kasumi decided not to comment on how her father intended an intern to 
deal with what was essentially an open and shut case for the district 
attorney and started to call her sisters' offices.
	* * * * * * * * *
	Nabiki Tendou, the firm's corporate law specialist and office manager, 
put down the ledger she had been studying and picked up the phone. 
	"Yeah Sis what is it?"
	 "Nabiki? Could you come to the boardroom? Father's scheduled another 
family meeting. ." Kasumi said as cheerfully as possible. 
	Nabiki groaned. "Did you mention to Daddy that some of us have other 
things to do with our day besides working on our puts?"
	"Nabiki."
	Nabiki sighed. You just could not argue with big sister. "All right, 
all right I'm coming." 
	"Oh good. Oh and Nabiki could you go find Akane? She's turned off her 
pager again." * * * * * * * * *
	Akane Tendou came into the office dressed in her designer sweatsuit 
only slightly out of breath. She always jogged to work, and since she 
never scheduled any appointments before. 10:00 she had more than enough 
time to freshen up after she got there. "Morning Akari" She said to, the 
receptionist, with a smile. 
	The receptionist looked up from her work. "Oh good morning Ms. Tendou. 
How are you? Oh this just came for you by courier I think it's from Mr. 
Gosunkuki." She handed Akane a large manila envelope. 
	Akane took the envelope with a big grin. "All right! This must be the 
stuff he's been working on for the Kowalski. Case. I've been waiting for 
this. Thanks Akari!" With that she ran to her office. 
	Akane could barely contain her excitement as she tore the open the 
envelope. As she leafed through the contents of the folder it had held 
she began to smile. "This is good. This is really good." She chuckled to 
herself. At this point the phone rang. She picked it up. "This is 
Akane," she said. "Oh hey Gos. Yeah it just arrived. You really out did 
yourself this time I owe you one. .....Yeah right in your dreams pal. "
	Akane smiled, as she hung up the phone. The little PI had done well. 
She had hoped that Gosunkuki would be able to get enough dirt to give 
her some leverage against Kowalski at their next meeting. But this? The 
bastard would have to settle out of court!
	Akane put her hand on her heart, and sighed to herself, feeling the 
flush she always got whenever the scent of the kill approached.	
	"Oh bravo, bravo. Chill out a bit Kid.  It's no wonder the boys at 
Von's think you're weird."
	Akane turned to the voice that sent chills down any rational person in 
the field. 
	"Some people don't think that the world revolves around men, Nabiki." 
She sniffed. 
	"Is that a fact? Well, then. I guess Daddy's announcement won't 
interest you then." Nabiki said coolly, as she turned to the boardroom.
	What? Thought Akane puzzled. 
	* * * * * * * * *
	Soun smiled, as all three of his daughters sat entered the boardroom 
and took their places around the table.  Nabiki let her icy facade drop 
just enough to show signs of mild irritation. Akane stewed. Kasumi put 
on her usual sweet smile completely unfazed by anything as she poured 
everyone coffee and brought out a plate of homemade cookies.
	"So, Daddy. What's so important that we have to throw our day's 
schedules out the window?  Nabiki asked. 
	Soun laughed. "I have excellent news. Tendou and Associates are taking 
on a new senior partner. He's an old friend, and sparring partner, of 
mine Genma Saotome. One could almost hear the silence in the room. 	
	As usual Akane broke the silence. "What!? We bust our asses to get our 
positions in the firm. You're the one who keeps saying that you will not 
tolerate anything even hinting at nepotism and you just let an old 
friend just waltz out of the blue and just let him claim the high 
ranking position that is rightfully his?"	
	"Got to admit Daddy. The kids got a point." Nabiki said calmly. 
	Soun smiled nervously. For a minute he wondered if this was a good time 
to mention the engagement. However common sense had never slowed Soun 
Tendou before and he continued. "He, and his son Ranma, have been 
studying law in China w3ith a little martial arts training on the side.  
And as a gesture of sealing the arrangement of our partnership we�" Soun 
took a deep breath and quickly muttered something that he prayed the 
others would not understand. 
	"What was that Daddy? I'm not sure I caught that " Nabiki said 
facetiously.
	"I think he said something about us being engaged to Ranma" Kasumi 
said. As his personal secretary, she was used to having to translate her 
father's hysterical ranting into legible English. Soun grinned 
sheepishly. 
	"What you engaged us with out asking us first?" Akane demanded. "That 
is so turn of the century Daddy haw could you even think of.."
	"Is he cute?" Nabiki interrupted with a predatory grin.	
	"I hope he's older, younger men bore me." Kasumi said looking very 
concerned. 
	"Would you two listen to yourselves." Akane shouted. 
	Soun laughed. "Well actually I have no idea. You see I've never seen 
him in my life."
	"What!?" Akane and Nabiki shouted. Kasumi looked shocked. 
	Before the two younger Tendou sisters were able to do their father any 
bodily harm the phone rang. Kasumi picked it up. "Yes Akari what is it?" 
She asked. 
	"I'm sorry Kasumi. I know Mr. Tendou said that he wasn't to be 
disturbed but there's �� a Panda Bear to see him.
	"I see." Kasumi said calmly. "I'm sure I would have remembered 
scheduling a Panda bear. Tell it that it will have to wait." She hung up 
the phone. "Don't tell me you're taking on a Panda bear as a senior 
partner Father." She said sternly. Soun shook his head frantically from 
the lobby one could hear growling and high pitched screaming. 
	"Oh sure. Pandas come by every day for legal advice." Nabiki said 
sarcastically. Soun continued to shake his head.
	"I'm calling security." Akane said, reaching for the phone, as the 
screaming and cursing got louder.  
	Suddenly the door burst open. The Panda, carrying a kicking, screaming 
and swearing redhead, entered the boardroom. The Panda put her down. 
Soun looked down at her. "Who are you?" he asked hesitantly. 
	The small red head looked up slightly embarrassed. "Ranma Saotome" She 
said. "Sorry about this. 
	"Ranma! At last you've come!" Soun shouted as he grabbed Ranma in a 
massive bear hug. He suddenly noticed something strange about his 
potential son in law. Quickly he pushed her back noticing her 
substantial bust. 
	Nabiki got up to see what her father was staring at. "Well guys I guess 
we don't have to worry about the engagement after all. Ranma's not 
exactly good husband material." She said as she poked Ranma in the 
breast.  Soun fainted.       
	* * * * * * * * *
	Soun woke up in his office lying on his sofa. His daughters, the young 
redheaded woman and the Panda bear were sitting over him. Kasumi put 
another ice pack on his forehead. "Well this is another fine mess 
Daddy." Said Nabiki coldly.  "It's bad enough that you bring up the 
Fianc�e nonsense at all� but this." She gestured at Ranma. "This is 
insulting."
	"I don't understand" Soun murmured. "Saotome said he had a son."		
	"Son?" Nabiki asked, pointing at Ranma's chest "Does that look like a 
son to you?" 
	"Hey watch it." Ranma said defensively. 
	"Nabiki be polite. He.. ah she is our guest." Said Akane. She turned to 
Ranma with a smile on her face and stuck out her hand. "I'm Akane. Want 
to be friends?" Ranma shook Akane's hand hesitantly.  Akane grinned. 
"Come on. Let's get out of here." She said. Virtually dragging Ranma out 
of Soun's office.             
	Akane stopped at her office. "I just have to make a few phone calls. 
Just sit down and make yourself comfortable. " 
	* * * * * * * * *
	" A few phone calls" turned out to be an hour long argument with 
someone named Kowalski who after having had a number of photographs 
faxed to his office agreed to settle unconditionally out of court and 
apologize personally to Akane's clients. Akane sighed blissfully to 
herself as she savored her victory. She had turned to Ranma who was 
lounging in one of the easy chairs drinking coffee. 
	"Sorry about that" She said  "But I had to put that bastard in his 
place before he got any more ideas. Say do you do sports? I can take you 
to my club". Ranma smiled politely and nodded. "I heard Daddy say 
something about you doing martial arts. Kempo?" Ranma nodded again. That 
is so cool we can spar together! I haven't had a decent sparring partner 
since�." Akane laughed sheepishly remembering that embarrassing 
incident. "Well come on it'll be fun!"
	* * * * * * * * *
	 "At least I was able to kick your ass in racquetball" Akane said 
trying to sound smug as they drove to the Tendou estate in Akane's 
Miada. Ranma sniffed. 
	"Oh yeah Racquetball it must be a relief for you to have some talents." 
	"Hey I said you were good okay? You don't have to gloat. Anyway I'm 
glad you're a woman."
	"Huh? Why?" Ranma asked looking nervous all of a sudden. 
	"Oh it's just that I'd hate to be beaten by a man. " Akane sniffed with 
other disdain for the other sex. 
	Ranma looked pensive. Before she could say anything. Akane pulled in at 
the Tendou estate. "Well here we are she said. Cheese Tendou.  She 
smiled as she hopped out of the car. Say we have a Jacuzzi in the back 
I'll meet you there. 
	Ranma shuddered "Ah no. Thanks but I don't really want to impose and�"
	"Nonsense there's nothing like a good soak after a work out. See you in 
a few minutes. 
	* * * * * * * * *
	Nabiki watched Kasumi, as she got a bottle of cabernet out of the 
refrigerator. "Any idea the old guy with Dad is?" She asked.
	Kasumi shook her head "No I've never seen him before. "
	Nabiki nodded "Me neither" she said "Funny though I know I've seen that 
tie before.
	* * * * * * * * *
	Soun sat in his favorite chair next to the fireplace. He stared at his 
old friend tears streaking down his face.
	His friend was a large heavyset man in his late 50s he wore glasses and 
covered his head in a handkerchief. He wore the same loud necktie as the 
panda. 
	"So that is it" Said Soun. "The legal path is fraught with peril" His 
friend nodded in agreement. 
	* * * * * * * * *
	"What to do. What to do." The person soaking in the Jacuzzi muttered. 
"They're going to find out eventually so I might as well come out like 
this but�"
	"Hey Ranma! Water hot enough?" 
	Akane stood in front of the Jacuzzi in her fluffy pink bathrobe and 
nothing else. She was just about to slip it off when she saw young man 
with long black hair tied in a familiar pigtail dressed only in his 
birthday suit climb out of the hot tub. 
	They stared at each other for almost a minute. Akane calmly pulled her 
bathrobe back on and walked back into the house. Once inside she took a 
deep breath and screamed. 
	* * * * * * * * *
	Soun, and his friend, were toasting each other when Akane rushed into 
the den. They barely got their drinks out of the way before she lifted 
the coffee table up over her head. "I'm going to beat him senseless!" 
She shouted. "I'm going to drown him!"
	"Akane. What on earth is the matter?" Kasumi asked. As she came out of 
the kitchen, with Nabiki, carrying a tray of ice water.
	"There's a Pervert in the hot tub! I'm going to kill him!" Akane said. 
	"Gee Sis. Why don't you just strangle him with your bare hands?" Nabiki 
said sarcastically eyeing the coffee table. 
	"Because I'm frightened. Okay?" 
	"Oh my." Said Kasumi. "Ranma's in the hot tub right now I hope she's 
alright. 
	"Ah. Hello." A voice from the doorway said. Every one turned to see a 
handsome young man dressed in Ranma's Polo shirt, dockers and patent 
leather shoes. They fit him perfectly. 
	"Yes? Who are you?" Asked Kasumi. 
	"I'm Ranma Saotome. Sorry about this." Said the man.
	* * * * * * * * *
	"Well. Let's take this from the beginning." Soun said, after everyone 
had calmed down some and Kasumi had gotten drinks. "This is my dear 
friend."
	Genma Saotome." Said the older man with the loud tie. "And this is my 
SON." He gestured to the younger man. 
	"Ranma."
	The three daughters stared at Ranma. "Was that really you?" Kasumi 
asked. Were you really that woman?" 
	"Well er ah." Ranma stammered.
	"Hm. How shall I explain this? Ah." Genma said and threw the remains of 
his drink in Ranma's face. 
	"Ow! You bastard. That stings!" Shouted Ranma. Now much shorter with 
red hair and much better endowed. 
	"Now she's a woman." Said Nabiki fascinated. 
	"Oh the shame. The Humiliation." Genma said weeping "How will I ever." 
He stopped when he suddenly became incapable of speech due to Ranma 
throwing a glass of water at him. 
	"Yeah. Like you should talk. My Pop's a Panda Bear." Ranma said. They 
broke into a heated argument. 
	"Father. Why are you friends with these two people." Kasumi asked. 
	"They weren't always like this." Said Soun. "They were attending a 
series of conferences in Beijing that ended a few weeks early due to a 
political misunderstanding. They used this extra time to check out some 
of the martial arts training grounds."
	"Ah yes the last stop in our tour was the valley of Jusenkyo in the 
Qinghai province of China." Said Genma after he, and Ranma, had been 
restored to normal form. "There were hundreds of pools each with a 
tragic tale of something or someone drowning. Whoever falls into these 
pools takes the forms of whatever drowned there. I don't think I have to 
explain to you about what happened. Unfortunately the guide pointed out 
that this fact was well documented and the valley claimed no 
responsibility for any training accidents."
	"Ah the legendary Cursed springs." Soun muttered. "They have long been 
shrouded in mystery but only know do we see the true horror."
	"What do you mean true horror?" Ranma growled. "Yo. Old man. What was 
the big idea taking us to those springs in the first place? He asked 
grabbing Genma by the Lapels. 
	"Ranma. Act like a man!' Weren't you willing to give your life for you 
training?" Genma shouted as he threw another glass of water in Ranma's 
face. 
	"Life yes." The now female Ranma shouted as she grabbed the pitcher of 
water and dumped the contents on her father's head. "My manhood is 
another story! It's all your fault. I mean you didn't even read the fine 
print on the release form like you could read a word of Chinese to begin 
with!" The woman and the Panda began to fight again. 
	"Ah I see." Soun said. "Hot water restores you" He produced a teakettle 
and poured it over Genma returning him to human form. 
	"It doesn't have to be that hot." Genma said.
	"And hot water turns you into a man." Soun said repeating his actions. 
	"Hot water! Not boiling!" Ranma shouted, jumping out of the way. 
	"Ah. Well." Said Soun, stroking his mustache. " Your problem isn't as 
bad as you think. Here are my daughters. Kasumi, age 29, Nabiki 27, and 
Akane 26. Choose any one you like and she will be your fianc�e. 
	"Now wait a minute. What legal authority do you have to force two 
consenting adults into�"
	"Oh he wants Akane." Kasumi said cheerfully as she grabbed her sister 
by the shoulders. 
	"Oh yes definitely." Nabiki said, with a smile patting Akane on the 
back. 
	"What?" Akane demanded. "Me? Marry that pervert?" 
	"Hey. What do you mean by pervert?" Ranma demanded. 
	"You looked at my body pervert!" Akane shouted. 
	"What? You walked in on me with your robe open." 
	"It's different with women." Akane stammered.
	"Oh how?"
	"It. It. It just is okay?"
	"They're acting like a couple already. Genma said gleefully.
	"He's a couple by himself" Said Akane. 
	"I don't have to take this." Muttered Ranma as got up and left the 
room. 
	"Ranma. Where are you going?" Genma demanded. 
	"Back to china to get a cure. This is no time for engagements." Ranma 
said. She paused. "Oh." He commented, turning to Akane. "It's no big 
deal for me to look at a woman. I mean, I've seen myself plenty of 
times."   She pointed to her bust for emphasis. "And I'm more stacked 
then you'll ever be." She burst out laughing until Akane Hit her over 
the head with the coffee table. 
	"Now that he had coming." Genma said wincing just a little. 
	* * * * * * * * *
	 Internship!? Ranma shouted. He rubbed his jaw still a bit sore from a 
third encounter with Akane later that night. 
	"Well. We can't make you a full partnership immediately. And this gives 
you a chance to learn the ropes." Genma said calmly. 
	"You'll be going to court with Akane today". Said Nabiki sticking her 
head into Genma's office. I'll be there too. Be seeing ya." 
	"Wait a minute Nabiki." Akane called, as she ran down the corridor to 
catch her sister. "Let's go together." 
	Nabiki cocked an eyebrow.  "With Moi?  Ranma's your fianc�e remember? 
Go to court with him." 
	"He is not my fianc�e." Akane called after Nabiki. She glared at Ranma 
in frustration. Ranma returned her stare. 
	* * * * * * * * *
	"We're not married you know." Akane said as they pulled out of the 
driveway." When we get there I don't want to hear a word about it from 
you as far as the world is concerned we are strangers who just happen to 
be working together."
	Ranma nodded in agreement at the moment he was to busy holding onto the 
armrests for dear life to make any snide remarks. The way that Akane 
dodged and swerved through traffic made him fear for his life for the 
first time in years. 
	"Blasted roadhogs. I'm going to be late again." Akane swore. "Now we're 
going to be dealing with a routine moving violations case. Just keep 
your mouth shut, and do what I tell you. Akane's seized a parking place 
like a lioness pouncing on a gazelle. "Come on hurry up. We've got to 
get inside before. Too late."
	Several dozen reporters covered the steps of Furinkun Courthouse. When 
they saw Akane they rushed down to meet her.  "I thought you said it was 
a routine traffic violation." Ranma asked.
	Shuts up we've got to get through this Akane hissed. The reporters 
struck asking hundreds of questions that had absolutely nothing to do 
with traffic violations. Ranma watched in amazement as watched Akane 
brilliantly evade the questions by use of hearsay, evocation of the 
Fifth Amendment and misdirection. 
	"I'm getting sick this" Akane said as they reached the top of the 
stairs. 
	"Yes the fifth estate does become tedious at times. I confess." Ranma 
and Akane to see a tall handsome man dressed impeccably in a tailored 
three-piece suit stride up the stairs. But is not the freedom of the 
press and the First Amendment are most cherished right fair Akane?" He 
paused and plucked a rose seemingly out of thin air. "After all, they 
only wish to hear the beauty of your voice and the wisdom of your 
informed opinions."
	"Why Assistant District Attorney Kunou " Akane said, dripping with 
sarcasm. "What a pleasant surprise.  
	
Well that's all for chapter one Criticism is welcome and appreciated. I 
have been blocked for a while mainly because of getting around the 
"Premier issue" I was giving myself a headache on how to handle the 
scene in the Dojo and the Bath. Once I got around that I think it flowed 
a little better. 
Where I intend to go with this is as follows. 
The rest of the cast. 
                Shampoo a Private Investigator for the Nekokaisha 
(Mousse,  Cologne and Shampoo's Father are partners at the Nekokaisha ) 
anyone out there who's Japanese is better then mine please check this. 
Kaisha does mean law firm. Right?)
              Ukyo is a detective for the Nerima PD. Ryouga is a rival 
attorney. Yet to make it to court on time. I think you can guess who the 
DA is Happosai's a Judge. In the background soon to come is 
Congresswoman Saotome a firm believer in having promises kept. I've yet 
to figure out what to do with Doctor Tofu. You may have noticed I didn't 
have him appear yet. Mainly because it's hard to get splashed when 
you're driving in a car. One last thing I'm playing fast and loose here. 
The only reason I put Nerima in the states is because I am spreading my 
Legal knowledge very thin and all I know about Japan's three judge 
system is that it exists. Well hope you like it and look forward to 
criticisms and suggestions

Montanto 

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