I don't own these characters and I couldn't afford the income tax if I did.
Let Takahashi-sama and Takeuchi-sama deal with the Revenooers.  So there.
:p

I've seen all sorts of Ranma-as-Senshi crossovers.... those and the "Uncles"
story lines are interesting concepts.  But Ranma doesn't necessarily *have*
to be related to any of the Senshi, nor does he necessarily have to *be* a
Senshi.....

What, I wondered, would happen if Nodoka happened to be their next-door
neighbor?

(And before you comment on it, yes, I know they're OOC.  It's also WAFFy
and, if I continue the story, will more than likely be a Ranma-and-Akane
fic, if not a Ranma-and-everybody-under-the-sun fic.  Hey, I like tomboys.
Besides, what fun is fanfiction if you can't play with it a bit?)

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

by Steffan


**SPLASH**

Ranma Saotome swam to the edge of the pond, got her feet under her, and
trudged out of the water.  Wringing her shirt out as much as she could
without taking it off -- Kasumi's lectures on feminine modesty had been
getting rather pointed lately -- she shook the water out of her eyes and
looked around.

*Nice park,* she thought.  *A lot nicer than anything around Nerima.  I
wonder where the tomboy dumped me now?*  These trips by Air Akane weren't
happening as often as they had been.  Ranma didn't know if it was because
she was finally learning to think before she spoke, or if Akane was
beginning to mellow a bit.  Maybe it was both.

Mellowing or not, however, Akane *still* didn't know how to cook, she
*still* insisted on cooking, and she *still* insisted on feeding the result
to Ranma without tasting it herself.  And Ranma *still* had to comment on
it.  And Akane *still* got mad about anything Ranma said -- or didn't say --
about her cooking.  And Akane *still* had that damn mallet.

It was getting better, Ranma thought, but Akane still had her moments.  She
snorted.  She still had them herself.  Maybe the tomboy would learn how to
cook when *she* finally learned to watch her mouth.  She straightened her
clothes and started walking.  Maybe one of the locals could tell her how to
get back to Nerima.  She noticed a small, dark-haired girl coming toward
her.  The gang of boys following the girl made her scowl.

Hotaru Tomoe was having a *very* bad day.  It wasn't so bad at school -- she
was used to it by now -- but when some of her tormentors decided to follow
her, jeering and poking at her, it was all she could do to *not* transform
to Sailor Saturn and do a Silence Glaive Surprise on Kenichi and his...
*friends*.  She twitched and tightened her grip on her books.  And stopped
when a redhead *sprang* in front of them in a move that took her breath
away.

"You little creeps wanna gang up on a girl?"  the redhead snarled.  "You
wanna try that with *me*?"  She gave the boys a smile that reminded Hotaru
of a hungry youma and cracked her knuckles.  She then started to.... glow.

"If you're still here when I count three," the redhead said in a voice of
doom, "You're gonna learn not to pick on girls."  She smiled. It wasn't a
nice smile. "One.  Two.  Thr--"

"Uhgottagobye!"  Zoom.

"Heh.  Always works," the redhead smirked, watching the boys disappear.
Letting her battle aura dissipate, her smirk became a gentle smile when she
looked at Hotaru.  "You all right?"

"Wow," Hotaru enthused.  "How'd you do that?"

"Practice," the redhead said.  "Lots an' lots of practice."  She looked
around.  "You live around here?"

"Just up the street," Hotaru said.

"Let's go," the redhead invited.  "I'm Ranma.  What's your name?"

"I'm Hotaru," she said.  Chatting about school, and friends, and boys, she
led the way down the street to the home she shared with the Outer Senshi.
She glanced at the house next door... the construction was finally finished,
she noted.  She still didn't understand what could have happened.

"No, couldn't be," Hotaru heard her new friend mumble.  Ranma was staring at
the house next door, a look of shock on her face.  "What's the name of the
family living there?" she asked.

"The Saotomes," Hotaru said.  "Auntie Nodoka is a wonderful lady," she
smiled, "and makes the most fantastic cookies."  Not to mention adopting the
Senshi in all but name, Hotaru carefully didn't mention.  Maybe the idea Ami
had of using the Mercury Computer to find Auntie Nodoka's missing husband
and son was worth trying....  She led her friend up to the door and opened
it.  "I'm home," she called.

***

The Senshi were having a meeting.  For once, it wasn't in the Hikawa Shrine.
It also, not for the first time, included a non-Senshi.  Everyone's favorite
adopted aunt sat on the couch, flanked by Setsuna and Usagi, who were
holding her hands. Setsuna had been telling everyone a story about a boy
named Ranma.  The moon cats had departed rather abruptly after Setsuna's
story got to a point about something called the "Neko-ken."

".... and that's what your husband has done for the sake of the Art,"
Setsuna said.  "In spite of all this, he has succeeded beyond his wildest
dreams.  Your son, Ranma, *is* a man amongst men.  And possibly the most
powerful martial artist on the planet."

"I knew his curse included living in interesting times," Nodoka said, "but I
never knew it was *this* interesting.  I wonder if he'll ever have a normal
life?"

Setsuna snorted, startling the other Senshi.  "The odds of that are
infinitesmal at best," she said.  "Your son is a Nexus.  Strange and
wonderful things happen to them."

Nodoka gave her friend a sad smile.  "In spite of anything anyone else can
do?"

"More like because," Usagi said in her Princess Serenity voice.  "That he
has prevailed against such odds speaks well of him."  More than one of the
Senshi were giving Usagi nervous looks.  Usagi continued, "We are, of
course, more than happy that you have finally been reunited with him.  In
spite of the news for some of us."

"The best thing you can do for him," Setsuna said, "is to love him, cherish
him, and burn that damned contract."

"Auntie, is he *really* that good at martial arts?" Makoto asked.

"Oh, yes," Nodoka beamed.  "I haven't gotten the full story yet of what
happened in China, but from all accounts, he killed a god."

Setsuna shook her head.  "Saffron wasn't *really* a god," she said.  "He
was, at best, a demigod.  A rank, incidentally, that Ranma may achieve
himself if he's not careful.  I know of three pantheons who are evaluating
him even now."

"I," Haruka said, "still think it's funny that he's engaged to all of the
Inners."  Ami, Rei, Minako and Makoto twitched.

"I would love to know how that happened," Rei said.

"In your case, Rei," Setsuna said, "it was because your grandfather caught
Genma trying to steal some scrolls from your shrine."  She glanced at the
others.  "For the others, it was because their parents had something --
food, money, or in Ami's case, access to medicines -- that Genma needed or
wanted.  Genma Saotome may be a master martial artist, but he is also a
greedy fool who has been entirely too willing to trade his son for favors."

"And I *will* be discussing that with my husband the next time I see him,
panda or no."  Nodoka's voice was grim.

"And he really cares for this Akane girl?" Minako asked in a wistful voice.

Nodoka smiled.  "I'm sure we can work something out, Mina-chan," she said.
"Akane-chan has a bit of a temper -- she reminds me a great deal of Rei-chan
in that -- but she is a very sweet girl.  I'm sure she'll understand."  Her
smile broadened as her eyes glazed over a bit.  The thought of a roomful of
grandchildren was very comforting.  Surely Ranma was manly enough for that?

Minako and Makoto traded a glance.  Temper, hmmm?  *They'd* show Ranma what
a caring fiancee should be!

Haruka and Michiru traded a glance.  The Inner Senshi Soap Opera was about
to open a new season....

Setsuna smiled.  This was going to be fun.

The door opened.  "I'm home!" Hotaru called.  Setsuna's smile widened to a
grin.  Perfect timing.

"I'm sorry to disturb you!" someone said.  The Senshi blinked on hearing the
unknown voice.  Hotaru came into the room in the company of a girl whose red
hair was gathered in a pigtail at the nape of her neck.  The bright red
Chinese tang and black pants she wore were quite baggy on her, and she
carried a pair of too-large rubber-soled slippers in her hand.

Rei blinked upon seeing the redhead's aura.  Such *power*... how could so
small a girl as that have such power without being a Senshi?

The Mercury computer beeped.  Ami glanced at it and gasped.  Such
*power*.... and all of it precisely what Beryl had been seeking!  How could
a normal girl have such power?

Makoto's eyes narrowed.  The way that girl carried herself.... she was a
trained martial artist, and *far* above her own level.  She glanced at
Haruka, and saw the sandy-haired girl nod.  She'd seen it too.

Ranma dropped her shoes when she saw her mother sitting with all of
these.... *really* cute... girls.  She blinked when the girls' auras
registered.  Such *power*.... not a lot of it was focused, but they could
still do a lot of damage.  And her mother was just *sitting* there and
*smiling?!*  Why hadn't she mentioned *this* before?  Who the heck *were*
these people?

"Mom?"

The Senshi blinked at that.  The redhead's mother was here?  Who?

Nodoka blinked on hearing her child's voice.  She dragged herself out of her
fantasy and looked at the two newcomers.  She smiled.  "Hello, Hotaru-chan!
Hello, Dear!  What brings you to Juuban?"

"Oh, um," Ranma fumbled, "I was, uh, in the neighborhood."

"She helped me with some bullies," Hotaru said.  "It was neat, too!  All she
had to do was crack her knuckles and glow!"

The Senshi blinked.  "Glow?" Makoto asked.

"Uh, yeah," Ranma said.  "It's just a Ki manipulation technique."  Rei
blinked.  Ki manipulation?

"Bullies?" Haruka bristled.

"It's okay, Haruka-papa," Hotaru said.  "Ranma took care of them."

The Senshi blinked again.  "Ranma?" Minako asked.

Ranma tugged on her pigtail.  "Uh, yeah.  I'm Ranma Saotome," she said.
"Sorry about this."

"*You're* Ranma?" Minako frowned.  "I thought you were supposed to be a boy!
What kind of fiance are you?!"

Ranma froze.  "Fiance?  Wha...?"

"Yeah!  Setsuna told us all about it!  Ami-chan, Rei-chan, Mako-chan, and
me!  Your father arranged it!  And you're a *girl!*"

"It's a.... curse."  Ranma's eyes narrowed.
"Oooooyaaaaaaaaajiiiiiiiiii...." she growled as her battle aura lit the
room.

"See! That's what she did!" Hotaru said.

The Mercury Computer beeped.  "Gods!" Ami gasped.  "She's emitting as much
energy as the Ginzuishou!"

Rei and Makoto teleported in front of the glowing redhead.  "Can you teach
us how to do that?" they demanded in unison.

"What?" Ranma blinked, dropping her battle aura.  "What did you say?"

"Can you teach us how to use our Ki?" Rei asked.

"Well.... I guess so.... I mean, I'm supposed to be a sensei someday...."
Ranma said.

Minako got into Ranma's face.  "Why aren't you a boy?!"

"Hey, back off, Blondie!" Ranma snapped.  "I'm a guy, all right?  Get some
hot water and I'll prove it!"

"Here you go, Dear," Nodoka said, holding a steaming kettle.  She poured it
on Ranma's head.  Exit cute redhead, enter man-amongst-men.  Or so his
mother thought.  And such a manly man, too, Nodoka smiled.  And from the
look of it, the girls agreed!  Such bliss!

Ranma began to sweat as the hostility in the blonde's eyes melted into...
admiration?  Bliss?  He wasn't sure, but the two girls asking him about Ki
were mirroring that.... happiness.... as was the shorthaired girl who looked
so much like Akane.  And why was his mother grinning like that?  And why was
that green-haired girl *laughing?*























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