Subject: [FFML] [fanfic][ranma]Comes the Cold Dragon: PartVIId Rev 3
From: Don Granberry
Date: 1/29/2001, 2:32 PM
To: "ffml@fanfic.com" <ffml@fanfic.com>
Reply-to:
lunohoco@lunohoco.com

I was going to hold this for further feedback from my pre-readers, but

given that the list may go onto long hiatus within the next couple of

days, I have elected to ship the last two sections of PartVII a bit

green. My apologies to my pre-readers for behaving precipitously, but I

think you can all follow my reasoning.



Thanks to one and all for your patience and help,



Don Granberry.







-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --

-- File: CtCDPrtVIIdRev3.txt

-- Desc: Unknown Document





       Extra special thanks to my pre-readers for helping 

me improve this one!



       Most of the characters in this piece and the setting 

for it were conceived of by Rumiko Takahashi for her 

Ranma1/2 series of Manga. All such characters and the 

setting are the property of Takahashi-san and her 

licensees. All other characters, except those noted below, 

are purely fictional and any resemblance to actual persons 

living or dead, are purely coincidental.



      Jack Burton is the creation and property of W.D. 

Richter, Gary Goldman, and David Z. Weinstein, 

screenwriters for the movie _Big Trouble in Little China_. 

The role of Jack Burton played by Kurt Russel. The movie 

directed by John Carpenter.



      Brief mention is made of Sensei Nobuhara Yagyu. 

Yagyu-Sensei is the current and twenty-first headmaster of 

the Shinkage-ryu hyoho. He is a direct descendent of Yagyu 

Sekihusai Munetoshi, the founder of the Shinkage-ryu. The 

Shinkage-ryu hyoho was the school of swordsmanship adopted 

by the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Yagyu and their allied clans 

were instrumental in assuring a Tokugawa victory at 

Sekigahara.



No insult of Yagyu-sensei or his renowned school is 

intended by mentioning him and the Shinkage-ryu in this 

story. Quite the opposite obtains. In this writer's 

opinion, it would be a gross violation of verisimilitude to 

write of a great, Japanese Martial Artist and not mention 

the Sensei and his school, at least in passing.







                 ------------------





       Nabiki and Ukyo were downstairs waiting when Burton 

pulled up to the curb in front of the clinic. Kasumi had 

called them a block or so away. Kasumi got out of the front, 

after having thanked Burton for such an entertaining ride. 

Tofu Ono got out of the back next, then reached inside and 

withdrew a very limp Onna-Ranma. Nabiki noted the care and 

protectiveness with which Tofu seemed to be handling Ranma's 

limp form and found it revealing, but not terribly surprising. 

Ranma seemed to grow on everyone that was around him very much 

and Tofu had seen quite a bit of Ranma since his arrival in 

Nerima. It took Akane three separate tries and Kasumi's help 

to get out of the cab. Nabiki rolled her eyes at this. Not 

only would there be more bills, but Ranma would likely be 

furious once he found out. 

 

       "Are you okay, Akane?" Nabiki asked worriedly.

 

       "I'll be okay, Onee-chan," Akane said irritably, "I 

just overdid it a little, that's all."

 

       "Are you sure?" Nabiki asked.

 

       Akane grimaced as she nodded her head yes. Nabiki stood 

aside so that Kasumi could help her youngest sister into the 

clinic. The slow drizzle turned into a light rain as they went 

into the lobby. Nabiki deployed her umbrella, then turned back 

around only to find Konatsu clinging to the open door of the 

cab for support. The ninja looked like the proverbial cat 

caught in the washing machine--frazzled and bruised.

 

       "Oh, Konatsu!" Ukyo cried out, sounding dismayed. "What 

on earth happened to you? You poor baby."

 

       "It's a long story, Ukyo-sama," Konatsu said in a weak 

voice.

 

       "Where's Ryoga?" Nabiki asked, sounding concerned.

 

       "Ryoga?" Konatsu asked, sounding puzzled. "I haven't 

seen him all morning. Was he here?"

 

       "I mean P-chan," Nabiki amended.

 

       "He's in the trunk," Konatsu said tiredly. "He had a 

nosebleed and the Buruto-san did not want him in the passenger 

compartment."

 

       "Konatsu, honey, are you okay?" Ukyo asked, with 

obvious concern on her face. Konatsu looked past the chef at 

Nabiki and gave her a sly wink, then slid into a slow 

collapse. Ukyo caught him, of course. 

 

       "Let's get you inside before you catch your death of a 

cold, Sugar," Ukyo said, carrying Konatsu towards the clinic 

door. Nabiki chuckled softly as she watched them go.

 

       "Hey Nabsy-doll," Burton said in Nabiki's ear, causing 

her to gasp in alarm.

 

       "Yeah, what is it, Jack?"

 

       "Money, remember?"

 

       "I've got one more little job for you first," Nabiki 

said.

 

       "Money, first!" Burton said, with a grim look on his 

face. "Gas ain't cheap around here."

 

       "You have a pig in your trunk," Nabiki said in a 

matter-of-fact tone, rather than starting another round of 

haggling.

 

       "Yeah, so?"

 

       "I need you to deliver him to the Unryuu farm west of 

town. Do you know here it is?"

 

       "Oh, yeah! That's the place where they raise all those 

Sumo pigs, right?"

 

       Nabiki nodded.

 

       "It's gonna cost ya! That place is way, way outta ... "

 

       Nabiki slapped Burton hard--with a wad of bills. He 

grinned stupidly in response.

 

       "You win!" Burton said, still smiling.

 

       "Put those in the trunk with him," Nabiki said, 

indicating Ryoga's loose clothing and other gear.

 

       "Wha? Whose stuff is this?" Burton asked.

 

       "It belongs to the pig," Nabiki said, handing Burton a 

thermos bottle.

 

       "The pig?" Burton asked sounding puzzled as he took the 

thermos. Realization dawned in his face. "You mean he's ... "

 

       "Yet another victim of Jusenkyo, yes."

 

       "Has everybody in this town been to China?" Burton 

asked, then looked alarmed. "Damn! I nearly forgot Wang and 

Mai Ying!"

 

       "Who?" Nabiki asked.

 

       "Old friends of mine! I'm supposed to pick 'em up at 

the airport!" Burton said. "Would'ya mind if I picked them 

before I delivered your porcine pal to his farm?"

 

       "No," Nabiki said smiling evilly. She knew all too well 

how Burton drove. 

 

       "I wouldn't mind that at all. Just make sure he gets to 

the Unryuu farm, Jack. If you lose him anywhere near Nerima 

and my baby sister finds out, she'll throw a major fit."

 

       "What she did this morning wasn't a major fit?" Burton 

asked, sounding shocked.

 

       Nabiki shook her head no.

 

       Burton whistled as he clapped a palm to his forehead.

 

       "I'd better get goin'!" Burton said, sounding excited 

as he carelessly pitched Ryoga's pack and other things into 

the trunk. "Nice doin' bidness with ya, Nabs."

 

       "Pleasure's all mine, Jack," Nabiki said, suppressing 

the urge to laugh out loud. "Drive safely!"

 

       "Hey! This is Jack Burton you're talkin' to here!" 

Burton said, with an offended note in his voice and 

demonstrating his agitation by angrily waving his arms. As he 

got into his cab he added, "I always drive safe!"

 

       "Yeah, right!" Nabiki said, as she watched the cab fly 

off down the street and take the first corner it came to on 

two wheels. "Except when you're in a hurry, Jack!"

   

       

 

 

                 -------------------

 

  

 

         Nodoka Saotome awoke early, bathed, and made 

breakfast, finding that she missed Kasumi already. She could 

not blame the girl for walking Tofu home. Had it been her own 

daughter in similar situation, having a fine catch like Tofu 

Ono in the offing, she probably would have advised the girl to 

do the same. Kasumi had taken a small risk relative to the 

potential reward. Word would spread quickly, and that was at 

least part of the idea. Other girls would be warned away from 

the good Doctor with Kasumi Tendo, of all people, staking her 

reputation on him.

  

       Nodoka sat down at the table in Kasumi's usual place, 

seeing to it that Genma and Soun were amply supplied with 

food. Much to her chagrin, they began stealing from each 

other's plates. As embarrassed as Nodoka felt about it, Soun 

seemed to enjoy the game. Judging from the look of his 

technique, Tendo had plenty of practice at stealing food from 

the plates of others.

 

       "Husband?" Nodoka asked, seeing that the two men were 

fast approaching satiation.

 

       "Yes, Nou-chan?" Genma rumbled.

 

       "With your permission, I will be gone for most of the 

day," Nodoka said.

 

       "Oh? And why is that, my dear?" Genma made it sound as 

though he could refuse her, and if he did; Nodoka would have 

complied with his wishes. She was that kind of traditionalist. 

However, Genma was not nearly the idiot many believed him to 

be.

 

       "I wish to congratulate our son on his victory over 

that hoodlum," Nodoka replied, "and spend some time with him."

 

       "Of course, dear!" Genma said cheerfully. "That sounds 

like an excellent idea! I am sure Ranma will find your company 

a great comfort about now."

 

       This last sentence was habit on Genma's part. He was 

forever watchful of Nodoka lest she cause the boy to become 

soft. Nodoka managed to contain her desire to scream with red-

eyed rage by giving Genma a polite sniff. 

 

       "Actually, I am rather counting on his comforting me, 

dear," Nodoka said with a grim smile. 

 

        Genma looked vaguely surprised for a moment, then 

smiled and nodded his head.

 

       "Of course, Nou-chan," Genma said in his rumbling 

voice. "Don't worry about him too much. You do remember what 

the doctor said?"

 

       "I will be leaving sandwiches in the refrigerator for 

lunch," Nodoka said. "Do try to make them last until the 

evening meal."

  

       "Of course, dear."

 

       The two men retired to their shogi board for yet 

another battle of wits. Had it been just them and Kasumi, Soun 

might have tried to help clear away the dishes, but knew 

better than to even try such thing in Nodoka's presence. They 

were slogging through an exceptionally difficult mid-game 

phase, when Nodoka quietly left the house in her tattered 

overcoat. She proceeded down the street towards the Ono Clinic 

carrying a picnic basket and affecting a kind of imperious 

dignity and reserve, despite her faded umbrella and badly worn 

geta. The life of a Martial Artist's wife was not an easy one, 

but Nodoka Saotome carried it off with a style that few could 

match. 

 

       She wished the food in the basket could have been for 

her son as well as Akane, Nabiki, and herself, but that simply 

was not possible given Ranma's condition. Hopefully, Nabiki 

had already seen after the delivery of Ranma's rations. She 

was shocked when Ranma did not appear to be in the green-space 

between the clinic building and the property's wall.

 

       "Ranma?" Nodoka called out.

 

       "In here, Aunt Nodoka," Nabiki called from the doorway. 

"He changed back much sooner than expected."

 

       "Already?" Nodoka asked with more than a little concern 

in her voice. "I thought Doctor Tofu said it would be at least 

a week."

 

       "Well, Ranma probably should have waited at least that 

long," Nabiki said, her voice sounding angry about something, 

"but he changed trying to help a friend out of trouble. I'm 

afraid your son is incorrigibly heroic, even when he should 

not be."

 

       "How is he?" Nodoka asked.

 

       "He's pretty weak, but Doctor Tofu thinks he'll be fine 

after a few days of rest."

 

       Nodoka closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then 

sighed.

 

       "What will it take for my son to have a little peace?" 

Nodoka asked as she tapped her umbrella against her geta to 

shake the water off. 

 

       "Doctor Tofu has an idea about that," Nabiki said 

quietly, clearly sharing Nodoka's concern. She took Nodoka's 

overcoat and hung it up carefully on the wall of the lobby. 

"We were about to call you."

 

       "He's here?"

 

       "Yes, he and Kasumi arrived here about an hour ago. 

Doctor Tofu is in the lab concocting some medicine for Akane."

 

       "Akane?" Nodoka asked, now even more concerned. The 

future of her clan was riding on these two young people. "Is 

she sick?"

 

       "Well, you know how my baby sister is, Aunt Nodoka," 

Nabiki said with an irritated sigh. "She never does things by 

halves. She overexerted herself this morning chasing after 

Ranma and Ryoga."

 

       "Perhaps you had best explain," Nodoka said. "Who is 

Ryoga?"

 

       Nabiki explained about Ryoga, then brought her up to 

date the morning's events. Nodoka was furious at Ryoga's 

behavior towards Akane, but managed to contain it behind her 

cold, steely facade. 

 

       "Perhaps I should speak with Doctor Tofu before going 

upstairs," Nodoka said after an uncomfortable period of 

silence. 

 

       Nabiki merely nodded her head in reply.

 

       "Do you have any idea why my son tolerated this young 

man's behavior?"

 

       "Aunt Nodoka, one of your son's shortcomings is that he 

is honorable to a fault. I cannot imagine why Ranma allowed it 

to go on, but I'm sure he had what he believed to be good 

reason. Kami-sama knows, it must have caused Ranma enough 

grief."

 

       This brought Nodoka up short. Much of Ranma's odd 

behavior towards girls was suddenly explained by Nabiki's 

observation. It was not that her son was unmanly. Ranma was 

simply trying to be honorable. Nodoka wondered why she had 

never considered such a possibility before. His behavior was 

truly amazing, given that his father had raised him.

 

       "I'll go see Doctor Tofu now," Nodoka said after 

another moment of silence. "Will you be joining us upstairs?"

 

       "I gather you brought a luncheon along in that basket," 

Nabiki said.

 

       "Yes."

 

       "I'll take it up for you and set the table," Nabiki 

said.

 

       "Thank you, Nabiki."

 

       "No, thank you, Aunt Nodoka," Nabiki said with a smile, 

"I was just about to order take-out. This will save us a few 

yen."

 

       "At least you won't have to feed Ranma in his dragon 

form," Nodoka said with a wan smile.

 

       "I wouldn't mind it too much. He'd make a great pet 

like that, you know."

 

       Nodoka managed a smile in lieu of a shudder, then went 

to find Doctor Tofu.

 

       "Ah! Okaeri-nasai, Saotome-san!" [Please be welcome, 

Mrs. Saotome.]

 

       "Thank you kindly, Sensei," Nodoka said. "How are 

things today?"

 

       "Well, Ranma is again in great need of rest. He changed 

back to his human form much too early, but Elder Ko Lon agrees 

me that he will be fine in a couple of days."

 

       "And Akane?"

 

       Tofu Ono shook his head.

 

       "She has the worst case of acute overexertion I've seen 

in years. She is going to be sore for at least a week, 

probably longer."

 

       "Will she recover fully?" Nodoka asked, her concern 

quite obvious.

 

       "Oh, yes!" Tofu said cheerfully. "She's quite strong, 

you know. A perfect match for Ranma in many ways."

 

       Nodoka breathed a sigh of relief.

 

       "Why don't you try cup of my special tea, Saotome-san."

 

       "Special?"

 

       "Yes, it's quite rare," Tofu said. "It's a fine oolong, 

aged for two years with rose petals. I just received a box of 

it from China earlier this week."

 

       "It sounds delicious," Nodoka said, "thank you."

 

       Tofu smiled and poured Nodoka a cup of the brew. 

 

       Nodoka sipped accepted the cup and sipped it. Not only 

was it delicious, but she could feel the tension flowing out 

of her even as its aroma reached her nose.

 

       "Ranma has a great future ahead of him, you know," Tofu 

said with a sunny smile, "All we have to do right now is help 

him past this little hump."

 

       Nodoka tightened her grip upon her cup, fighting off a 

shiver.

 

       "Doctor, I'd like to ask you about my son's cursed 

form, if I may."

 

       "You mean his female form?"

 

       "Yes."

 

       "What would you like to know?"

 

       "Is it truly complete?"

 

       "Physically, Ranma is one-hundred and ten percent 

female in his cursed form," Tofu said in a careful tone of 

voice, "Mentally, I don't think he knows how to be a female. 

His psyche is overwhelmingly masculine."

 

       Nodoka nervously sipped at her tea again.

 

       "Then you don't think he ... suffers from ... has urges 

... " 

 

       Nodoka could not continue and cursed herself for even 

thinking of the question.

 

       "That, I'm sure, is one of the unique challenges Ranma 

has faced on nearly a daily basis since the day he fell into 

that spring," Tofu said gently, "but his determination to be a 

man has never wavered insofar as I can tell."

 

       "Then it _does_ affect his mind to some degree?"

 

       "He has never said so," Tofu said evenly, "but I cannot 

imagine how it would be otherwise. He loses several kilos and 

several centimeters of his reach when he becomes a girl. The 

change in his body is totally complete, including fully female 

hormones according to the lab tests."

 

       Nodoka took another sip of tea and closed her eyes. 

 

       "My poor, poor son," Nodoka whispered after a long 

silence.

 

       "Oh, I wouldn't say that, Saotome-san," Tofu said, "He 

will have a much richer life than the rest of us for all of 

this."

 

       Nodoka opened her eyes wide with shock.

 

       "You sound envious!" Nodoka said.

 

       "Think of it this way, Saotome-san," Tofu said, "Ranma 

is one of the few people on this earth who will be able to 

know what it is to be fully human."

 

       Nodoka started to speak, but Tofu held up his hand.

 

       "Please, hear me out," Tofu said. "Ranma is not just a 

fine young man. He is also a lovely young woman, or can be 

should the need arise. Now he is also a powerful young 

dragon."

 

       Silent tears began to well up in Nodoka Saotome's eyes.

 

       "These are opportunities to be treasured, but they do 

come with a great price. They mean that Ranma must do three 

times as much growing up as any ordinary human being. The kami 

have seen fit to ask a lot of him."

 

       "It's unnatural!" Nodoka exclaimed.

 

       "Nonsense!" Tofu said, sounding amused. "It's all 

perfectly natural, just extraordinary, that's all."

 

       "Natural but extraordinary?" Nodoka asked, sounding 

suspicious.

 

       "Ranma is not the only man to have had this type of 

curse, you know?"

 

       "No?"

 

       "Nor is it peculiar to the orient if legend is to be 

believed. The Ancient Greeks have stories about at least two 

different individuals who spent parts of their lives as 

members of the opposite sex."

 

       "Did they ever meet?" Nodoka asked, her curiosity 

overcoming her fears for a moment.

 

       "Not as far as I know," Tofu said, "but you have to 

admit that it would have made for some intriguing 

possibilities."

 

       "I can't imagine," Nodoka said, then winced. "No, 

that's not true. I think I _can_ imagine and it is one of the 

things which concerns me."

 

       "You needn't be concerned, Saotome-san," Tofu said. 

"I've watched Ranma and Akane together now for quite sometime. 

Ranma is so much in love with her I do not think anyone, much 

less another man, could ever turn his head. He looks at Akane 

the same way no matter what form he is in at the moment. She 

is the same by him."

 

       Nodoka breathed a huge sigh of relief in spite of 

herself. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but her son's 

doctor knew more about him than she did. She was just now 

barely beginning to know who or what her son was. She could 

not deny that he was manly after seeing him fight that 

horrible monster and winning with such relative ease.

 

       "But what of his draconian form?" Nodoka asked. "You 

seem to think his female form has some effect on his mind. 

Won't this new form effect him as well?"

 

       "Oh, certainly," Tofu said, "but Ranma is basically a 

very decent human being down deep inside where it counts. To 

him, his draconian form is just another challenge to be 

mastered. Just as his Jusenkyo curse was a challenge to be 

mastered."

 

       "Has he really gotten control of curse?"

 

       "He has at least partial control," Tofu said, "that 

much is certain. Whether or not he has full control of it, or 

whether he will be able to control it all the time is another 

question."

 

       "Why?"

 

       "Well, changing forms without using water, or resisting 

it when he is splashed, takes a lot of ki. Fortunately, Ranma 

generates a great deal of ki. He is the strongest adept I or 

even Ko Lon has ever seen. Even so, he may not be able to 

resist the Jusenkyo affect whenever he's very tired, or has 

expended a great deal of ki. He is in his female form right 

now because of that."

 

       "Oh," Nodoka said. "I did not realize this might be the 

case."

 

       "Then of course, there's the fact that he will need to 

spend some time in his alternate forms once in a while in 

order to stay healthy."

 

       "What?" Nodoka asked.

 

       "Here," Tofu said with a gentle smile, "allow me to 

freshen our tea."

 

       "Thank you, Doctor," Nodoka said, as Tofu refilled 

their cups. She told him with her eyes that she would not be 

distracted from receiving an answer to her question.

 

       "Ranma will spend the rest of his life engaged in a 

kind of balancing act. In order to maintain the proper and 

healthy balance of his ki, he will need to spend time in each 

of his three forms."

  

       "Then he will need to be fully female when he is 

female?"

 

       "Ah, well more or less. He cannot help that, really. 

Mentally he remains masculine, but his body is, well ... "

 

       "Drop dead gorgeous and female?" Nodoka asked.

 

       "Yes," Tofu said with a chuckle, "and his draconian 

form is, well, very draconian as far as I can tell, even 

though I'm not sure of all the details." 

 

      Tofu unconsciously scratched the back of his neck with 

one hand, then said, "Once he reaches about age eighteen, 

Ranma will probably spend the bulk of his time in his male, 

human form."

 

       "I don't understand, he doesn't do that now?"

 

       "He tries, but he just recently gained partial control 

of his curse. His real problem has been that young women 

mature at an earlier age than young men."

 

       Nodoka gasped, then covered her mouth with one hand. 

Tofu raised his eyebrows in response.

 

       "You see now what I mean about Ranma having more 

growing up to do than anyone else? He has three different 

bodies now. Each of them needs time to grow. He's only 

seventeen."

 

       Nodoka closed her eyes and nodded her head.

 

       "His father may not approve of it, but Ranma needs a 

lot of nurturing right now. The next year or so is going to be 

quite difficult for him. I think it is well past the time he 

had a loving mother in his life. The same could be said for 

Akane."

       

        "I'm not sure of what to do!" Nodoka said, clearly 

distraught. "Is he my son or is she my daughter? Is he a human 

or is he some kind of kami in the making?"

 

       "Welcome to the club, Saotome-san," Tofu said in 

gentle, but amused voice. "I am his doctor, and I seldom know 

exactly how to treat Ranma either. I find that I must think 

every step completely through before I take it. He is no 

ordinary patient." 



        Nodoka sipped at her tea, looking upset despite its 

calming effects.

 

       "I think your job is much simpler than mine, really," 

Tofu's said.

 

       "How so?" Nodoka asked, sounding slightly offended.

 

       "You need merely do what is already in your heart, 

Saotome-san," Tofu said. "Just love your child and nurture him 

as best you can."

 

       Nodoka stared at Tofu for a long time without saying 

anything.

 

       "It can't be that simple, Sensei."

 

       "The normal standards for many things do not apply to 

Ranma," Tofu said, "but the most important ones are just as 

much the same for him as they are for anyone else. In many 

ways perhaps, they are even more important. Right now, he 

needs a mother who loves him. What could be simpler? Or more 

complicated?"

 

       "Is Ranma conscious right now?"

 

       "Yes, in a way," Tofu said. "He is aware of what is 

going on around him, but he is very lethargic. He may have 

gone to sleep since I came down here."

 

       "Then I will go see him."

 

       Tofu smiled at her.

 

       "Good! I'll be up as soon as Akane's medicine is 

finished."

 

       "She will bear him strong sons, won't she?"

 

       "Hah!" Tofu laughed. "Her daughters will be at least as 

strong as the average boy. Each of her sons will be more than 

a handful."

 

       "I look forward to that," Nodoka said with a grin, then 

left the lab and made her way up the stairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   -------------------

 

  

 

 

  

       Happosai sat quietly in his cell, thinking and 

reminiscing. He had done much more of that than he liked in 

the last few days. He was, he had decided, a man living 

outside of time. He had, over the long years, slowly become a 

stranger in his own homeland without ever realizing it until 

today. Japan had changed so much from the time of his youth, 

that if he stopped and thought about it, she was hard to 

recognize. The number of people he had known when a young man 

and who were still alive was quite small. Out of them, the 

ones he could count as friends were even fewer. He had 

outlived the majority of his friends and all of his serious 

enemies. While his wealth was not vast, he was more than 

comfortable. He was at an age now where he would have to do 

something truly foolish to ever want for money. Wealth meant 

very little to him anymore. 

 

       The only thing left that he actually treasured was The 

Art. Oh, to be sure, he loved stealing lingerie, but he never 

kept it for very long. There was a ready market for stolen 

lingerie in Tokyo and he sold the stuff by the truckload. He 

did not enjoy keeping his silky darlings nearly so much as he 

did stealing them, but even that was beginning to pale 

somewhat. No, what truly mattered to him now was to see his 

Art continued. The true medium of a Martial Artist's Art is 

his students. Having watched two of his best do battle in 

Furinkan yard, there was no longer any question about which of 

them was his true heir.

 

       Like it or not, it was time for him to begin the hard 

and dangerous work of passing the torch. He would license 

Ranma to teach. In teaching, the boy would learn more about 

himself and The Art than he would from further study with a 

master. Happosai got out his writing materials and began 

drafting a license, no, a permit really. Ranma would be 

allowed one student of his own choice. If that student did 

well, then perhaps Happosai might certify him as a master of 

the Anything Goes School. In this, as in all else, the boy 

would have to prove himself worthy. Ranma would also have to 

prove himself capable of producing more than one heir. The Art 

was too important to have its future hopes pinned to the well-

being of a single person.

 

       Happosai would have preferred that Soun Tendo had 

remarried and tried to have more children, but that simply was 

not to be. The death of his wife had reduced the man to a 

quivering shadow of his former self. Genma had been nearly 

hopeless from day one. The fool believed that a woman's 

influence weakened him, when obviously the exact opposite held 

true. Nodoka was all the backbone Genma had ever had or ever 

would have. Fortunately, Ranma Saotome showed every sign of 

having his mother's steely nature and implacable will. 

Happosai laughed mirthlessly to himself and silently thanked 

the kami. His waning years were going to prove interesting 

after all.

 

       

 

 

                      -------------------

  

 

 

 

       Nodoka paused at the top of the stairs. The climb had 

seemed interminable to her. She had begun to fear that she had 

waited too long; that the distance between herself and her 

child had become so great that the gulf between them could 

never be bridged. Now, on this very evening, she would find 

out if she were just a woman with a grown child, or hopefully, 

a mother.

 

       She took in the scene of the second story flat with 

fearful eyes. The place was warm, but the silence pervading 

the room was heavy, almost oppressive to Nodoka. Kasumi and 

Nabiki had finished setting out dishes for luncheon. Nabiki 

was sipping at a cup of tea while reading a textbook. Akane 

was lying on a futon next to Ranma, obviously suffering from 

great discomfort and awake because of it. Kasumi was kneeling 

beside her baby sister, holding a cup of tea for her. Ranma's 

appearance was positively frightening; Nodoka had never seen 

him so pale or his exhaustion so complete; yet he called out 

to her in the soft voice of his feminine form. Somehow, 

without ever opening his eyes, Onna-Ranma had detected 

Nodoka's presence.

 

       "Mom?"

 

       Nodoka fought against the adrenaline surging into her 

bloodstream. The desire to tear across the room and throw 

herself down by Ranma's side was nearly unbearable, but she 

had an example to set. Her son did need to do a lot of growing 

up, and he needed to learn the things his father had not 

troubled himself to teach, or worse, discouraged. Nodoka 

walked softly across the room with carefully measured steps, 

then knelt down by her son.

 

       "Yes, Ranma?" Nodoka asked as she took Onna-Ranma's 

left hand. She found the feel of it startling. There was 

little that could be called feminine about the feel of Onna-

Ranma's hand. It was all ropy steel wrapped in the hard 

calluses of pain and endurance. Nodoka clutched it a bit 

harder than she intended, waiting for Onna-Ranma to speak. He 

had to struggle several times to get out the words.

 

       "I'm ... I'm ... sorry, Mother. I ... did ... didn't 

... mean ... to ... disappoint ... you."

 

       Onna-Ranma opened his eyes despite the fatigue plaguing 

him, staring deep into Nodoka's eyes, worriedly seeking 

reassurance. Nodoka gave out a little gasp as she felt her 

heart plummet into those ocean blue depths.

 

       "Nonsense, Ranma! You have not disappointed me. I was a 

little frightened, that's all."

 

       "Didn't ... mean ... to ... do ... that ... either."

 

       "It was a most difficult battle, my son," Nodoka said, 

silently cursing at the catch in her throat. "You were 

magnificent."

 

       The obvious relief in Onna-Ranma's face tore at 

Nodoka's heart. Just the day before her son had faced a 

monster nearly five meters tall with careless ease, as though 

it were just pleasant walk in the sun. Today all Ranma Saotome 

was worried about was what she, his mother, thought. Tofu had 

been right. Her son might occasionally be as much a daughter 

as a son, or even a dragon in his spare time, but the truth 

was undeniable. He was her child. Hers! She loved him and he 

was as precious to her now as the day he was born.

 

       "We are about to have luncheon, Ranma. You should eat 

if you can."

 

       Onna-Ranma moved his head from side to side, and smiled 

faintly.

 

       "Had ... a ... really big ... supper ... last night, 

Mom."

 

       Nodoka laughed softly at this, as did the other girls.

 

       "Perhaps you should rest then."

 

       Onna-Ranma nodded his head, then felt about with his 

right hand until he found Akane's left. He gave it a squeeze 

before falling fast asleep.

 

       Nodoka looked up at Akane.

 

       "How are you feeling, my dear?"

 

       "I ache all over, Mother, but I'll be okay in a day or 

so."

 

       Kasumi and Nabiki both gasped at the word "mother." 

Both had on some level expected to eventually hear Akane call 

Nodoka that, but hearing her actually say it came as a shock. 

Even Nodoka had been taken aback, but she recovered her poise 

quickly. She gave Akane a sunny smile.

 

       "Good. Will you eat here? Or shall I help you to the 

table?"

 

       "I'd like to try eating at the table I think, Mother."

 

       Kasumi quickly moved aside, her face aglow with 

happiness.

 

       "Lean on me, child," Nodoka said to Akane. "Don't 

strain yourself any more than you must."

 



       

 

 

                   -------------------

 



  

 

 

       P-Chan woke up tumbling around within the dark confines 

of Burton's trunk like a dried pea rattling around in boxcar.  

To say that he was confused amounts to the understatement of 

this century and possibly the one previous. He could remember 

very little of what had happened during his brief ride in the 

dogcatcher's truck. All he could remember was a hungry-looking 

dragon speaking with Ranma Saotome's voice. Shortly after he 

became conscious, the thermos Nabiki had given Burton 

shattered, covering him with hot water. While the sudden 

increase in size greatly reduced the velocity at which he 

banged into the limits of his confines, rattling around in 

Burton's trunk still hurt. Being assaulted by his own pack and 

umbrella only added insult to injury.

 

       "Great!" Ryoga shouted. "First you swallow me whole, 

then you go for a long jog! Is that how dragons settle their 

breakfast, Ranma?"

 

       The violent motion tortured Ryoga's middle ear 

unmercifully. Bile rose in his throat. The good part about 

this was that he had not eaten for quite some time and 

therefore threw up very little. The bad part of it was, his 

stomach insisted that he keep throwing up.  If Ranma doesn't 

stop running soon, my stomach is going to pitch my toenails, 

Ryoga thought as his empty stomach made yet another painful 

effort to heave its nonexistent contents. 

 

       "Why am I throwing up when I should be giving him 

indigestion?" Ryoga cried out between painful retches.

       

       

 

 

                         -------------------

   



 

        Jack Burton did not forget the black piglet in his 

trunk, but he did have more pressing concerns on his mind. 

Chief among those concerns was the traffic slowing his 

progress towards Haneda airport. He was thankful that his 

friends were coming in from Taiwan, rather than Australia as 

they had originally planned. That would have meant a trip out 

to Narita. The very thought of making a trip to Narita caused 

him to shudder. Once at the airport he could not convince the 

airport cops that he was there to pick up friends and not a 

paying fare, so he had to park in the garage. 

 

       

 

 

                        -------------------



 





        The sudden cessation of motion first came as a relief 

to Ryoga, but then he began to worry. Soon, very soon, Ryoga 

thought, he would be bathing in the gastric juices of a 

dragon. Then, over the next several days, he would slowly 

dissolve, as he became a part of his hated enemy. He would 

never see Akari or Akane again and it would all be Ranma's 

fault. Yellowish-green fire began to flicker around Ryoga as 

the worst case of depression he had ever felt began settle 

upon his heart. Unfortunately, he did not open his eyes. If he 

had, the light of his own aura would have given him cause for 

hope.

 

       "Oh, so you finally decided to take a nap and digest 

your breakfast, is that it, Ranma?" Ryoga bellowed. "I'll show 

you! YOU BASTARD!"

 

       "SHI-SHI HOKODAN!"

 

       Life for both Jack Burton and Ryoga Hibiki then became 

very, very complicated as Ryoga's ki blast tore Burton's cab 

to pieces and generally made a shambles of the parking garage. 

Airport security and damage control personnel immediately 

leapt into action. They were not amused by this turn of 

events, even after finding a naked and very befuddled Ryoga 

Hibiki standing in the middle of the wreckage.

  

       

 

 

                       -------------------



 



       Ukyo Kuonji lay back on her futon, marveling at how 

relaxed she had become. Konatsu had just proven to be a 

marvelous gift. She just wished she had been sensible enough 

to unwrap it sooner. Oh, well. No use crying over spilt milk, 

right? Konatsu might not be nearly as showy as Ran-chan, but 

he certainly possessed a great deal of talent. Oh, did he EVER 

possess some talent! Life without Ranma was going to be pretty 

good after all, provided she could figure out a way to explain 

things to her dad.

 

       

 

 

                       -------------------

 

 



 

        There were times when Nabiki Tendo well and truly 

hated the cellular telephone. Now was just such an instance. 

She was tired. It had been a very trying day, even though a 

Saturday. Now, while she and Kasumi were rushing about the 

house gathering the things needed to take Ranma and Akane out 

to Tofu's country house, the damned phone had to ring.

 

       "Tendo!" Nabiki all but snarled into the infernal 

device.

 

       "Nabiki Tendo?" A rough, masculine voice asked on the 

other end of the call.

 

       "Yes," Nabiki said, sounding both irritated and 

puzzled.

 

       "The Master told me to call and ask about your pet 

dragon."

 

       "Tell him the dragon is just fine and well fed for the 

moment, but that could change suddenly," Nabiki answered, with 

a fine, sharp edge of menace in her voice.

 

       The man on the other end chuckled then said, "He said 

to tell you that he needs to see you as soon as possible. He 

has something on hand that the dragon will want."

 

       "Tell him I'll be there as soon as visiting hours start 

tomorrow morning," Nabiki snapped. "I'm in the middle of 

covering another emergency."

 

       "Are you sure you want me to tell him that?" The man 

asked. "He seemed rather keen on seeing you this evening."

 

       "Tell him that I won't have the dragon leashed in time 

to make it tonight," Nabiki said, making sure her grin got 

across in her voice. "He'll understand."

 

       "I'll tell him," The man said, then broke the 

connection.

 

       Nabiki shook her head and went about her business. 

Happosai would just have to wait his turn. Ranma and Akane 

would always come first in her book. Well, Ranma would always 

come first, even if she went to her grave without ever 

admitting it to anyone. Well, anyone but Ranma. Her secret was 

safe with him.

       

 

 

 

 

                        -------------------









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