Chapter II ......Moonlit Interlude.
by Shade

In the name of Fanfiction I will Pun you!
(Disclaimers? We don't need no stinkin disclaimers!)

Previous parts can be found at my page:
members.xoom.com/Ranma_Tenchi/main.html

This is just a little extra to finish up Chapter II inspired 
by too much Evangelion, enjoy.
~~~~~~~~

{Unfamilar ceiling.}

Ranma lay on his futon looking up 
at nothing in particular, only the light 
background noises of the Japanese 
suburbs at night and the chirping of 
some tenacious crickets broke the 
quiet stillness of the late hour.

Sleep eluded him. Not that he 
really needed it, but there was no 
sense in exerting himself without 
the need to.

[Still awake?]

{Yeah, guess I�m still too used to feeling the rhythm 
of Untamed Stallion�s engines. At least in China I could 
gaze up at the stars, it�s just too quiet here.}

[It has been quite a day......]

{You can say that again.}

[Something is still bothering me though.....]

{What is it?}

[It�s....a feeling. Are you sure there�s no magic 
around here? You didn�t try an active scan and 
with enough shields even a half-rate mage can block
a passive search. I could do a quick check now if you want.]

{It would give our presence to any sensitive 
that might be in the city though. While I highly 
doubt there�s anyone with even a moderate 
amount of magical talent on this world I�d be 
willing to wager that there are at least some 
fairly competent psychics around. I�d 
rather wait until any evidence turns up before 
dropping the element of surprise. You worry too much.}

[And you don�t worry enough!]

Ishtar�s concern was mixed with exasperation, 
if she could have she would have pulled out a 
blunt instrument and beat some sense into that 
thick head of Ranma�s. As the weapon was locked 
inside of Ranma�s suitcase at the moment she had to 
settle with simply berating him instead.

[You dolt!]

{Well....I was kinda curious about everyone�s 
behavior during dinner......}
~~~~~~~~

�What are you doing?�

�Uh......nothing!� The Bard quickly 
ditched his dirty bootlegged copy of the 
future plot devices in this Private Bet.

Shadow shot a probing glance at him, still 
suspicious of the fast talking rogue musician.

�By the way Bard, I�ve been meaning to ask you something.�

�What?�

�What the heck�s your real name anyway?!! 
I�m getting sick and tired of having to always call you the Bard!!!�

�Uh....it�s kinda embarrassing actually....�

�Spill it.�

�Bar*mumble*mumble*�

�What?! Speak up!�

�It�s BarthalamuDraconiousfranchesicabobescacalifradalisticexpialidocious 
the Third.�

�Good grief!!!�

�So now you see why I prefer being just called the Bard.�
~~~~~~~~
*Insert a Flashback sequence intro here*

Dinner had been uneventful. Mostly. 

�This sukiyaki is delicious Kasumi! The beef is 
so tender and sweet! You can really sink 
your teeth into it, it�s just so good!�

Fro some reason Ranma couldn�t understand 
all three of the Tendo girls had turned beet red 
after hearing that. 

Things got even weirder after he asked Akane 
for some sweet buns. She�d nearly choked on her drink,
but when he had asked what was wrong she 
said that she was fine.
~~~~~~

Genma had decided to steal his son�s food 
under the guise of training. The fact that the boy 
had actually taken normal sized servings didn�t
go unnoticed, the older man lamented about this 
obvious slacking off from the Founding Principles
of the Anything Goes School. He would have to 
start teaching the boy all over again.

When Ranma�s attention was focused elsewhere 
Genma�s chopsticks struck out for a pickle.

*Snip*

With a self satisfied smirk the glutton prepared
 to claim the prize.

Then he looked down.

Never taking his eyes off of Kasumi who was 
questioning him about China, Ranma allowed himself a 
small smile.

Genma stared dumbly at the cleanly sheared ends of his 
once much longer pair of chopsticks. Then he looked 
at Ranma, the boy appeared to not have even noticed.

Genma couldn�t understand it so after getting 
another pair he tried again. This time Ranma�s 
head was turned as he passed some fishcake to Nabiki.

Again the master food thief made his attack.

*Snip*

Once again he pulled back two little wooden stubs.

{How�d he do that?!!}

A cowed Genma decided that discretion was the 
better part of valor and for once in his life actually 
ate with what passed for manners. Something was 
definitely wrong with the boy.
~~~~~

Nabiki Tendo had finally regained her 
composure and self control after
a very cold shower. Her natural 
tendency to question things was 
returning to her as the multiple 
overwelming shocks to her system 
she�d received ever since Ranma 
had arrived had started to wear off. 

Several nagging doubts had popped 
up ever since she�d had a chance to think 
rationally about this engagement and more 
importantly about their potential fiancee.

With great effort the infamous �Ice Queen� 
of Furinkan pushed away the effects of 
that free show she�d gotten. She couldn�t let silly 
hormones influence her judgment at a time like this.

Nabiki�s eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the 
friendly but rather quiet young man.

He was too good to be true. There had to be a 
catch here somewhere, unless this guy was an 
absolute saint he was hiding something. A disturbing thought
struck her.

{Say......we never did find out if 
he was cursed like his father! What if he turns into
a little black pig! Or a white duck! Or a yeti riding 
a bull with a crane and eel! Or worst of all, a 
buxom young GIRL!!}

The middle Tendo daughter wanted to bang her 
head against the table for missing such an obvious 
thing like that, was she really that hard up for a date?!

This mistake would have to be remedied.

{No time like the present to find out.}

�Say Ranma....�

�Yes?�

�Oops....�

Nabiki *accidently* knocked over her glass of water.

Somehow Ranma was in the water�s path 
as it started to fall but he wasn�t there when it hit.

*Splash*

�NABIKI!�

�Sorry Akane.� 

{Damn. Missed!}

She�d have to wait for another oppertunity. Not now,
 but when he wasn�t expecting it.
~~~~~

Akane excused herself to dry off. In the bathroom 
she started banging her head against the 
wall while saying �I hate boys, I hate boys, I hate boys...�

It had been a mistake to peep on Ranma.
She felt like a complete pervert. If he ever found 
out about it she�d just die from complete embarrassment
~~~~~~~

�Um....Ranma?�

�Yes Kasumi?�

�Do you...I mean...do...� She 
faltered, unable to complete 
her question.

�Hmm?�

�Are you....cursed in any way like your father?�

There, she�d said it. Contrary to some people�s 
belief Kasumi was not stupid, nor was she on a high 
prescription of Valium. It would have surprised her family 
to find out that their dear sweet innocent housekeeper 
possessed a mental acuity that rivaled Nabiki�s. She simply 
utilized it differently. Kasumi had become something of a 
minor legend in the marketplace for her ability to get the 
lowest prices no matter where she shopped. Her aura 
of niceness combined with a intelligence that few expected 
from such a seemingly normal girl never failed to get a discount.

{Oh boy....}

�Um...well I don�t a have a Jusenkyo curse if that�s what you mean.....�

Nabiki and Kasumi both caught the implied �but� 
at the end of that statement.

{What is he hiding!?}

*End Flashback*
~~~~~~~

In the Guest Room a large shape turned slightly to observe 
a second smaller one that lay only a few feet away.

A careful glance revealed Ranma was not moving,
his chest rising and falling with the evenness of someone fast asleep.(1)

With a sneakiness that came from long practice
a giant lump inched its way out.
~~~~~

Genma scratched the kerchief on his head as he 
read some of the stickers plastered all over the
innocous gray case.

�Hug a Pikachu!�

�Wendy Rider Concert Live!�

�Be nice to Wookies! Or else they�ll rip your arms out!�

There were also several luggage stamps. Yavin IV, Lazlo, 
Melva, Pern, New Hope and several other places were
listed. A large sweatdrop had developed behind Genma�s 
head by this time, this was beyond odd and heading straight 
into downright bizarre.
~~~~~

 During their training journey Ranma had only one small traveling 
pack of supplies and personal belongings. So naturally Genma was 
*ahem* curious as to what was in these two rather large pieces of 
luggage. The boy wouldn�t mind, surely a small trinket or two 
was for him. He�d just take it early and save his son the trouble......
~~~~~~~~

{Quiet Night.}

[Quiet Night.]

*ZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTZZZZZZAAAAAPPPPPP!!!!!*

[What�s that?!]

{Sounds like Pops discovered the anti-theft mazor in my suitcase.}

[A microwave taser? Where did you find it?]

{Traded a Fire sword for it at Perv, works great too. As effective 
as an electrical stun gun without the risk of fatality.} 

[Ewww....it smells like roast pork over here!!!]

{Sorry about that, it does tend to leave the victim a little crispy.}
~~~~~~~~

Kasumi slept alone.
With any luck that would soon change.

{He seems like such a nice young man. I wish......}

A smile lit her peaceful slumber.
~~~~~~~~~

Nabiki Tendo was suffering the agony of indecision.

{Do I or don�t I? Argghh!!! I can�t decide!!!}

Was the risk really worth it? Should she just try to use 
him or did she dare to go for the big jackpot? 

The whimpering coming from downstairs wasn�t helping either.
~~~~~~~~

Akane couldn�t sleep a wink. Every time she closed her 
eyes....IT appeared. The scene from the bath continued to haunt her,
every inch of Ranma�s body seemed to have etched its way into her 
memory..... 

{I am not a pervert!!!}

Now if only she could believe her own declaration.
~~~~~~~

Sailor Mars paused for a moment.
Just a minute ago she�d felt a presence 
brush past her. It looked like their quarry was 
on to them......
~~~~

Yohko looked out at the bright moon from 
the hotel balcony. She was going with 
Mrs Saotome to meet her future fiancee.

{I hope he�s cute.}

Admittedly she�d been reserved at first 
about this whole business. But Aunty Nodoka could 
be very persuasive when she wanted to and anyway Devil 
Hunting was a lousy way to meet guys. They either got 
killed or tried to kill her. Plus most people thought 
she was just plain weird, but Mrs Saotome had actually 
been delighted with her combat skill. If this Ranma 
guy was even a tenth as good as his mother said he was
she�d take him!
~~~~~~~

Belldandy finished her wards, the entire shrine was now 
shielded enough to withstand anything short of Ragnarok.

No matter what happened Keiichi would be safe.
~~~~~~

Ranma was almost about to fall asleep when an urgent 
buzzing in his mind awakened him.

[Ranma!]

{Wha? Huh??}

[Remember what you said about there being no magic around?]

{Yeah?}

[Well get a load of this!]

The sentinent weapon opened the link between them fully
to let Ranma �see� what she�d just picked up.

{What the heck?! Those sources weren�t 
there before!}

[So what do we do?]

{We wait till tomorrow then start looking......Ishtar....}

[Yes?]

{I�ve got a bad feeling about this.}

[Join the club.]

(End Chapter II)
~~~~~~~

1) Ranma doesn't need to breathe but he still has to 
keep up appearences. Plus it's very hard to talk without
any air moving. 

Obviously I need more sleep and less coffee.

Treason doth never prosper; what's the reason?
For if it prosper: none dare call it treason.

-John Harrington

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

-Dorothy Parker

I am his Highness' dog at Kew;
Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?

-Alexander Pope

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