Many moons ago I posted a teaser of this story to the list, and garnered a couploe of positive responses.  Now I feel it's about a done as it's going to get without help.  Send C&C to maikoru@hotmail.com


The following work of fiction contains copyrighted characters
used without permission, if legal action is forthcoming so be
it, I'm poor, I've not much to lose.

Blind Chance
By Michael Watson

Part 1

    The pain was tremendous, Ranma kept tring to blink it away, but the pain only worsened.  He'd underestimated the Old Letch again, and one of the bombs had gotten through Ranma's defenses.  The splash of water that followed brought no relief, but let the now female Ranma anticipate her opponent's trajectory without needing sight.  Rather than the bountiful assets Happosai was groping for, he was met with a series of full strength punches at Amiguriken speed.  Unlike the carefully placed blows that would disable without true harm, as was Ranma's usual style, these were nearly wild strikes canvassing the volume of space she determined Happosai occupied.  There were several sickening cracks and an almost inaudible groan as the old man dropped like a sack of dirty laundry.

    Silence reigned in the Tendo courtyard.  Being unfamiliar to the area, the silence was a tense and nervous one that soon departed.

    "Way to go son!  You do your father proud!" Genma congratulated his son loudly.

    As Soun and Genma set to work wrapping Happosai for delivery to Madagascar, the pain in Ranma's eyes settled down to a dull ache, throbbing in time with his pulse.

    "What'd you do to set the Old Letch off _this_ time, Ranma?" Nabiki asked.

    "I didn't do nothin!  Could you get Akane?  I need to ask her something." Ranma responded.

    "I'm right here you jerk!  You pulling a Mousse on us?" queried Akane in a dangerous tone.

  Ranma's response to this held none of his usual bravado, "I don't have time to argue with you Akane, I need you to lead me to Tofu's.  I...I can't _see_ and my eyes _hurt_."

***

    Tofu fumbled with the pen light, his hands shaking as he set it down.  "Nothing?" he asked.

    "The pain's nearly gone now, but I still can't see.  This is just temporary, right?"

    "Ranma, I won't sugar-coat this for you, there are some odd chemicals present, and indications of damage to the optic nerves.  It is unlikely that even your remarkable metabolism can regenerate _this_ kind of damage."

    "Oh man, on top of everything else.  How am I supposed to break _this_ to Pops, Mom...Akane.  Is Akane still here?"

    "This way.  She's waiting for you." Tofu led Ranma back out to the lobby.

    "You going to be all right Ranma?" Akane asked.

    "Not right now.  Lets just get home, I don't want to have to say this more times than I have to." said Ranma, still trying to figure out how to break the news.

    Akane looked to Doctor Tofu, but he just shook his head, "Alright, but if this is just a ploy to get a few more minutes of sympathy, you're in _big_ trouble." she said, tears welling in her eyes.

***

    The pair wern't even halfway home when they were interrupted, "Ranma Saotome!  Release the fair Akane Tendo this moment!  I, Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder of Furinken High, will not allow this display!"

    Akane let go of Ranma's hand.  Ranma heard a solid thump as Akane sent Kuno flying with a powerful uppercut, "Give it a _rest_ Kuno!" she cried.  She turned to smile at Ranma.

    The smile faded at his prideful response, "Come on, Akane!  Even blind, I can take on _Kuno_.  You are so not cute!"

    "If you're so capable, then you can find your own way home." Akane pivoted on her toe and stalked away, "Hmph!  Jerk."

    "All right I will!" Ranma yelled, but Akane had already left.

***

    Ranma was walking carefully along the street, kicking the curb every once in a while to verfy his position.

    "Ran-chan!" called out Ukyou's cheerful voice, "The griddle's
hot would you like a Special?"

    "Sure Uk-chan, I'd love one." Ranma answered a little nervously, he had forgotten that Uk-Chan's shop was on this route back to the Dojo.  Maybe he could get by without Ukyou making a scene?

    No such luck.  "Ranma is something wrong with your eyes?  They're all...  Oh Ranma, what have they done to you now?  Was it that Chinese bimbo?  The psychotic gymnast?  It was that violent tomboy, wasn't it?  She finally hit you once too often with that damned mallet of hers..."

    "Uk-chan!  No!  Akane didn't do nothin' it was one of the Old Letch's bombs!" Ranma reached out hoping to calm his friend down, but instead got a handful of Ukyou's chest.  He pulled his hands back as if burned, "Sorry! I didn't mean to...I was just...Sorry, I should just go now."

    "Wait!  Ranma!" Ukyou calls out too late, "You didn't finish..." She blushed and looked at the half eaten okonomyaki trying not to think of how Ranma's hands felt on her body.

***

    "Genma, this foolishness has gone on long enough!  It has been a year now and though he's tried, he hasn't had a moment's peace to clear up the tangled obligations _you_ have forced on him!  Your training methods have made a travesty of our son's life, and since one of those mistakes means he is now my daughter as well as my son, there are are obligations to _my_ family's Arts.  Considering this latest incident with your old master, obligations I would like to fill while our child is still alive to benifit." Nodoka was lecturing Genma, who was bowing and scraping at her feet, "It is _despite_ your efforts that our son has met the conditions of our contract.  I will ask him when he returns, and if he agrees, he and I will begin training in the morning.  Agreed _Mr. Panda_?"

    "Yes dear." Genma responded

    "I'm back!" Ranma called as he entered the Tendo house, and collided with something.

    "We notice." remarked Nabiki's most sarcastic voice, from somwhere near floor level.  "You've still got at least four senses left, would you consider using them before you rush about?"

    "Ranma!  Akane said you'd insisted on walking back yourself!  Did the doctor have good news?" Kasumi asked.

    "She _would_ put it that way." Ranma grumbled, "I have something to say, is everyone home?"

    "Yes." Kasumi nodded, "Everyone wants to know how you are, and I think your mother wants to talk to you too."

    "Oh, _just_ what I wanted to hear." Ranma breathed lightly.

    The Tendo and Saotome families assembled in the living room for the announcements.

    Ranma couldn't see everyone's expressions so he was not quite as nervous as he would usually be with so much attention on him and he actually gets his news out with a minimum of delay, "The doctor says that there's nerve and retina damage, and that...that it might...no, _is_ permanent.  I'm blind."

    The silence even more strained this time, visiting unfamiliar territory twice in one day.

    "My poor son, am I already too late?" said Nodoka in a voice so quiet that even Ranma could scarsely hear it.  Then louder for everyone, "My son's life has not been gentle with him.  Since fate has decreed that he is also my daughter, it is my duty to ask; Ranma, would you like to carry on _my_ family's martial arts?  It is very different from your father's and the training would take quite some time, nothing like the ten years your father took, but perhaps more than one."

    "No mom, you're not too late."  Nodoka looked surprised, and intrigued, that he'd heard her soft words.  "I would love to learn anything you care to teach mother, and if it gives me time away from my problems to adjust, all the better."


Part 2

    Nodoka looked at her child with sadness and hope.  In the months since they left the Tendo Dojo, she had seen him shed his tight formality with her, revealing the bright spirit that had captured the hearts of no less than four beautiful young ladies.  She had also seen _her_ gain confidence as well, both mother and child beginning to understand that 'masculinity' and 'femininity' fall far short when compared to simple humanity.  It weighed heavily on Nodoka's heart that the arts she strove to teach might dim that humanity, her family's was a killing Art.  "Remember in the days to come, a sword's designed purpose is to kill people.  My ancestors could have developed a bare-handed art deadly as any sword, but decided that life or death must always be preceeded by the conscious decision of reaching for the proper tool.  You have been taught that dependance upon tools is a crutch for the weak.  This is true, in games of dominance that can always be re-played at a later time if the outcome is not to one's liking.  Death, on the other hand, can not be taken back, and even the strongest person will find he needs help to bear the weight of it."

    Ranma was taken aback by the heavy philosophy.  Under his father's tutelage, philosophy always took a back seat to technique, if it was mentioned at all.

***

    "Grrr.  Do I need to get a bucket of water and see if my _daughter_ can listen to instruction?" a frustrated Nodoka growled, "Despite your loss of sight, your form is better than mine now.  Your attacks, lightning; your blocks, stone.  How then, can you tell me, is it that it is _my_ blade at _your_ neck rather than the reverse?"

    Ranma was frustrated as well.  He had progressed to the point where he could again defeat the likes of Kuno with ease.  Despite his bluster to the contrary, Ranma knew he would have had a lot of trouble that first day.  "I'm not focusing enough." he replied deadpan, prepairing himself to withstand the lecture once more.

    Nodoka could see her son closing himself off from the oft repeated lecture, and she sighed, cutting it down to the short form this time, "Your control is excellent, only your commitment is lacking."

    "How can I commit to a strike I can't _see_!  I don't want to hurt you, mom."  Ranma responded by rote, obviously not really listeng any more.  "I don't want to hurt anyone."  He added more quietly.


***

    That night, Ranma remained awake long after his mother had gone to bed, indulging in something his life has not given him the opportunity to do much of before he began training with his mother, thinking.  The training had done wonders for his confidence in his remaining senses, but they still could not fully compensate for the lack of sight.  As he thought back to every fight in which he'd triumphed, it nearly always came down to his _seeing_ some weakness to be exploited in his opponents technique.  None of his remaining senses had both the range and discrimination to do that for him any more.  The techniques he was learning from his mother were truely lethal, nearly all death strikes or defenses from death strikes.  He could see the need for commitment, but short of direct physical threats to one of his friends could not think of anything that drew that kind of commitment from him, and that motivation dissapeared with the threat. Maybe if he knew someone who exhibited the kind of total commitment his mother was asking of him, he might be able to figure out where he was lacking.

    The first person he thought of was Cologne, he had experienced first hand how ruthless the Amazon Matriarch could be.  The 'Soul of Ice' that formed the basis of the powerful Hiryu Shoten Ha seemed to also be the basis of how she dealt with the difficult choices she must make, emotion carefully held in check so the decision can be made with dispassionate logic.  Upon further thought, however, Ranma realized that he couldn't recall a single instance where she set aside her tribal laws, even whe it would have been to the benifit of Shampoo or Mousse for her to have done so.  She was more commited to the letter of the law than to her family or tribe, that wasn't the kind of commitment he wanted to emulate.

    Next he thought of another who's ruthlessness he had personal experience with, but unlike Cologne, he also had personal experience of times when she set aside her mercenary codes for her family and occasionally even himself, Nabiki Tendo.  She also tended to promote a cold exterior, but her ice did not penatrate to her core, rather, her sharply honed logic was used to accomplish her heart's goals.  With a satisfied feeling, Ranma drifted off to sleep, memories of Nabiki as both ally and opponent running through his mind.

***

    "Is something wrong, my child?" Nodoka asked as she adjusted the folds of a fidgiting Ranma's kimono.

    "No...Yes there is." Ranma gestured vaguely indicating her current feminine gender, "I understand why you think I have to meet Grandma like this, I don't have to like it.  Pops was wrong about your reaction to the truth, couldn't you be wrong about Grandma?"

    "Yes, I _could_ be wrong," Nodoka admitted, "but you are my only child, and I will take no chances."

    "OK, but if I decide she won't over-react, I'm going to tell her before we leave." Ranma stated, her tone velvet over steel.  A tone Ranma had never exhibited before she embraced the demands of their family's style of Kenjutsu, and began winning their sparring matches on a regular basis.

    Ranma and her mother entered a building.  Ranma's senses, always on edge in unfamiliar surroundings, picked up something.  She couldn't really describe which of her remaining senses was making her aware of a powerful presence in the rooms ahead, but the message was undeniable.

    "Is this youngster yours, daughter?  I was told you'd had a son."  asked a voice with the high pitch, but not the tremor, Ranma associateed with advanced age, "It seems I was mistaken about that man you took to husband, he is good for something after all.  Unless you followed my advice and had an affair or two?"  This comment is followed by an extended cackle that raised unpleasant memories of Cologne.

    "You know me better than that, mother.  This is mine and Genma's child.  I would ask your permission to record her as student of the family style of Kenjutsu."  Nodoka responded.

    "From the sword on her back, you haven't waited for my permission.  Let's see how badly you've embarassed us."  Ranma's grandmother said, nothing in her voice betraying the swift lunge she performed toward Ranma.

    A lunge neatly blocked by Ranma's own blade, still in its scabbard.

    "She is too kind-hearted; meeting a death cut with a mere block rather than a counter-attack.  Too slow; she did not even free her blade from its scabbard.  Totally unacceptable." the old woman said coldly.

    "Slow?  I suggest you check again grandmother.  As to kind-hearted, you should be sincerely thankful."

    With Ranma's words the old lady noticed a certain new breeze through her kimono, ten new openings, each over a vital spot.  A gleem entered her visage, one Ranma would recognize from any number of sensei over the years,if she could see it.  "Amazing!  Even the legendary Amazons never..."

    Ranma smiled, "Funny you should mention _them_ grandmother..."

***

    "Reach out with your feelings," Ranma's grandmother called out to her new student, "trust what they tell you.  Don't _try_ to see, it will only confuse you."

    Ranma nodded, a serious expression on her face.  The exercise she was engaged in taking the majority of her concentration.  It was similar to the challenge of the Pools at Jusenkyo, several flexible bamboo poles to be balanced upon, but there were also rigid steel posts scattered about as well requiring a different balancing technique.  Ranma was doing rather well against live opponents, but the flying obsticles on ropes eluded her newly opened chi senses most of the time.
In fact, one such was on a trajectory to meet her head as her Grandmother was speaking.  Something must have jogged her awareness for she turned to face the threat, _almost_ in time to dodge, or strike it away.  Almost was not good enough, with a hollow sounding "THOCK" the hardwood block made contact and Ranma found herself sprawled on the floor clutching her aching head, "Owie!"

    "Nearly had it, child." Ranma's grandmother shakes her head at the amazingly cute display. She was about to tell her student to get back on the poles, but Ranma was already there, a determined expression on her face.

***

    "I'll be sorry to see you go, grand_son_.  It's not often a teacher comes across a student like you."  Ranma's grandmother said wistfully.

    "Well, there's some stuff I've got to take care of back in Nerima...Waitaminute!  Grandson!?  You knew?"  Ranma sputtered.

    "Of course, the chi sensing techniques I've taught you may not be as sure as the sight you've lost, but they will often percieve more deeply.  You were going to tell your grandmother before you left anyway weren't you?" the old lady said in syrupy tones.

    Ranma nodded, then added suspiciously, "...and you never let mother in on this?"

    "A parent needs to maintain a certain image of inflexible authority if she wants to retain the respect of her children.  Grandchildren, on the other hand, she is allowed to spoil rotten."  Impulsively the old woman hugged her grandchild, a hug which after a moment of uncertainty Ranma returned in full.  "Now Ranma, I beleive you had something to show me before you left?" she pointed to the thermos of hot water in Ranma's hand.  "It's about time I saw what my grandson is _really_ like."

    Ranma nodded again, and dumped the hot water over her head, becoming a him. "So what do ya think?" he struck a dramatic pose.

    "Oh my!  Are you _sure_ Nodoka-chan didn't take my advice about that no-good husband of hers?" Ranma's grandmother chuckled.

    After Ranma recovered from his face-fault, his expression turned to one of uncharacteristic thoughtful amusement, "If so, we'll never hear it from her. Seems that _Someone_ raised her with strict notions about the _appearance_ of respectability."

***

    As she got ready for bed, Akane couldn't help but smile.  The last few months since Nodoka and her son left on their training trip had been a welcome relief from the pressure cooker her life had become.  To her surprise the boys at school had not resumed the daily attacks.  The relaxation had done wonders for her temper; she hadn't needed to pound anyone for a long time.  Today she had even come to an understanding with Ukyo,  Ranma was going to need both their help when he got back.  Funny, without Ranma there, saying the wrong things, she and Ukyo hadn't come to blows for _weeks_.  She was even beginning to see what Ranma liked about Ukyo, Ukyo was a real good listener.

***

    The Nekohanten stood empty, the Amazon Matriarch looked back with regret.  She thought about how it shouldn't have to end this way.  Even blind, Ranma would still make an excellent catch, for anyone but _her_ granddaughter.  It simply would not do for the husband of her heir to have any such obvious shortcomings.  She turned back to the child, "Our time here is done, let us go home."

    Shampoo, as usual, was nowhere near as restrained, with eyes red from tears since Cologne had announced her new ruling on Ranma's status, "He will always be the one, Grandmother, I may marry someone else for the good of the tribe, but my heart will always be his."

    "I would expect no less of an honorable Amazon, child."

    Mousse was not there gloating over this turn of events.  Shortly after Cologne had announced Ranma as unfit to be Shampoo's husband, he had dissapeared.


Part 3

    Ranma was returning to the only home he'd ever known since he was too young to remember, Nerima.  The familiar streets were giving Ranma a sense of freedom he hadn't known since loosing his sight.  He hadn't realized how much he was still depending on his mother to guide him in unfamiliar surroundings.  Nothing so overt as leading him by the hand was necessary, just the presence of someone he knew he could trust in an unknown situation. He was distracted from these maudlin thoughts by the enticing odor of a hot bun vendor.  There was the ice cream shop he took Akane to after defeating Kodachi, and all too few times since.  Around this corner... Splash! ... an old woman wetting down the walkway with her inescapable Ladle of Doom.  Ranma grinned while adjusting her damp clothing, surprising the old biddy with a polite greeting, rather than an angry diatribe.  Nodoka caught up with her wild child at this point, and Ranma turned to her and exclaimed, "I'm home!"  Then proceeded to the Tendo Dojo, literally bouncing off of the walls, fences, lightposts with energetic joy.

    Nodoka just shook her head at the display of exuberance, and having come to know the trends of her child's life, began looking around and preparing for the inevitable disruption.  She didn't have to wait long.

    Glomp!  Glomp!  "Welcome back Ranma!" two voices in stereo belonging to the girls who had attached themselves to either side of Ranma, not noticing or not caring that she was a girl herself at the moment.  One Ranma recognized immediately as his old friend Ukyo, the other took a moment because the tone of voice was so foriegn to his experiences with her, "Thank you Uk-chan, it's good to be back, and A-Akane? Is it relly you?" Ranma was wondering since niether girl had let go and the girl that sounded like Akane had yet to get angry at either Ukyo or her for being so close.

    Ranma should have been ecstatic.  Here she was with her best friend Ukyou and her fiance Akane laughing and talking about things they'd been doing since they'd last been together, with no signs of a fight.  It was one of Ranma's fondest wishes come true, but she could not bring herself to feel more than polite cheerfulness, and she was beginning to wonder why.

***

    The next morning, Ranma expected a resumption of Akane's usual behavior toward him, but these hopes were dashed as Akane insisted on hand feeding his breakfast, like he was some helpless pet she'd found and was nursing back to health.  Seeing that his protests weren't getting through to the girl, Nodoka tried to explain to Akane that Ranma was fully capable of taking care of himself, but she had no more success than her son and gave up with an exasperated sigh.



Part 4


    "Whoah!  Nabiki, watch where you're going!" Ranma deftly moved out of the way, "Unless you're _trying_ for a repeat of that first day?"  Ranma leered suggestively, making Nabiki blush.

    "When did you aquire an attitude, Ranma?"  Nabiki asked, forgetting what her hurry was about and profoundly glad that Ranma couldn't see how red she was.

    "Let's just say I'm leasing it for now, with an option to buy later if it works on me."

    Nabiki's jaw dropped to the floor at the zinger, from Ranma of all people!

    "Seriously, Nabiki," Ranma's tone lost its jocularity, "Of all the people I've come to know over the last few years, there is one person I've learned the most from, and she isn't even a mar..."

    "Ranma!  There you are!"  Akane burst into the hallway, "He didn't run into you again did he, Nabiki?"  Akane continued without waiting for her sister's reply, "Come on Ranma, Ukyou and I have a really fun day planned for you, you don't want to dissapoint your oldest friend now do you?"

    Ranma sighed and allowed himself to be dragged off, "We'll talk later, OK Nabiki?"

***

    Ranma listened intently, stretching his senses outward, assuring himself that he was unobserved.  He was about to attempt something he hadn't done since he was blinded, stargazing being kind of pointless from that time on.  With a powerful burst from his legs, he leaped into the air, up to the roof of the Tendo Home.  He allowed himself a small sigh of relief and a smile of triumph as he did not blow the landing.  A little harder than planned, but...he listened again, also using the advanced chi-sensing techniques of his mother's School...he remained unnoticed.  Out of habit, Ranma took a couple of steps the wrong way before remembering that the former tomboy's room was not his destination this time.  Correcting his path to the edge of the roof, he calmly hooked his feet on the eaves and let his body swing down.  The rush of the movement done without sight almost caused Ranma to let go with his feet.  Calming down, he took a couple of deep breaths and tapped on the window.

    Nabiki was unwinding, after a tough session with the household budget, with one of her favorite manga and a bag of chips.  A tapping at her window caused her to glance up.  The sight she saw caused her to gulp reflexively, and painfully considering her crunchy choice in snack food.  "Ack!  Ranma!  What do you think you're doing!?"

    "Shh!" Ranma frantically shushed, "You want the pod people to hear you?"

    "Pod people?" Nabiki questioned, had Ranma's condition finally made him loose it?

    "You know, those sickeningly sweet creatures that have replaced the Tomboy and my Cute Fiancee?" Ranma explained

    Nabiki stifled a shocked giggle, who would have guessed that Ranma even knew what science fiction was?  Then, considering his life, some of it could be considered training manuals.  "So what brings you to my window this night?" she asked with honest curiosity.

    "Well," Ranma collected his thoughts, "Mostly I need someone to talk _with_ and you seem to be the only one around that even listens to me anymore.  Maybe you and Kasumi, but I have to catch her during a break in housework, have you ever noticed how _busy_ your older sister is?"

    Nabiki nodded, then realizing who she was with, replied verbally, "Yes.  Is this going somewhere?  I'm fairly busy myself, Ranma."

    "I realize that, now." Ranma's expresion turned serious.

    Nabiki's heart skipped for no reason she'd admit to, and her throat tightened at the sight of Ranma's smile disappearing so suddenly.

    "It's wierd, but losing my sight has in many ways let me see my life more clearly." Ranma continued, "Particularly, my actions toward the only home and family I've ever known.  I need to appologize for the trouble and strain I've put on you and yours, and more than that, you personally have been an example of determination and mental strength that has gotten me through some rough spots in mom's training."

    Nabiki, very impressed at Ranma's words, was at a loss for words of her own momentarily, but her humorous side came to her rescue, "How seriously am I supposed to take this from a man hanging by his toes from the eaves outside my window.  Either come in and tell me properly, or don't waste my time, Saotome."

    Ranma took her up on the invitation and flipped neatly into her room.  Nabiki stepped back, in wordless amazement at the turn of events.  He repeated his earlier statement, backing it up with examples from his recent training trip, and little events from her own life she never would have thought Ranma had even noticed.  She counters with some similar events or hers that he wasn't present to witness that clarified the methods she employed, and a few recollections of his own actions she'd found admirable.  The two talked  the night through, strangers who happend to live under the same roof for over two years, surprised to discover kindred spirits in each other after so long.

***

    "I smell bacon, has Ryoga found his way here again?"  Ranma comments over breakfast.

    "Why no, Ranma, but Akane's pet piglet showed up last night." Kasumi answered him.

    "I could have sworn I felt _Ryoga's_ aura." Ranma said facing Akane and her pet pig, "Maybe I should practice more."

    Nabiki perked up at the unfamiliar tone of sarcasm in Ranma's voice, saw where Ranma was focusing so intently, and, for the first time, gave Akane's eternally lost pet more than a passing glance.  Her eyes widen at the extremely _familiar_ bandana, and she has to stifle a sob at her own blindness to Ranma's continuous hints at the pig's true identity.

***

    "Ranma Saotome, prepare to die!" This time Ranma easily identified the voice as belonging to his old friend and rival, Ryoga.

    "Ryoga!  It's too crowded here to fight!" Ranma demonstrates his point by firmly shrugging off the 'helping' hands of his two fiancee's, "and I won't have you blaming _me_ when they drag you away for injuring some bystander!"

    "Typical Ranma, hiding behind others." Ryoga sneered.

    "Who's hidin'!  Just, lets take it somewhere away from the crowd!" Ranma came as close to pleading as his pride would allow, not very.

    "And have no witnesses to your ignomious defeat?  I think not! Now die!" Ryoga lunged forward with his umbrella

    "Ignomious?  We've been exposed to Kuno _way_ too long, Ryoga." Ranma dodges easily, surprising most of the onlookers. "So, got any new techniques to back up that statement, or are you counting on my impaired vision to tip the balance?"

    To the surprise of many of the students in attendance, and to Nabiki's great profit, the ensuing battle was neither swift nor decisive.  The blind martial artist held his own against the Juggernaut that was Ryouga.  If not as deftly as before, then with greater tenacity and forethought in choosing combinations that led the lost boy into predictable responses.  Finally, Ranma emerged victorious, his best rival twisted into a submission hold claiming foul as always.

    "One of these days your tricks will run out, and I will have my vengeance!" Ryouga spat.

    "You're welcome to try any time, Pig Boy." Ranma's freindly tone totally at odds with the cruel words of his reply.  "Oh, and Nabiki," He calls out to the middle Tendo sister who looked in his direction questioningly, "Apply my forty percent of the profits to my debt please."

    Nabiki's jaw hung slack at Ranma's nerve in finally claiming _any_ portion of the money she made off of his activities.  However, she was unable to refute his claim and her sixty percent was still a hefty margin larger than a manager's traditional ten.


Part 5

    The raised voices drew Nodoka out to the Dojo door, but what they said held her from entering.

    "What are you scheming this time, you mercenary wretch?  Ranma's been avoiding us for a week, and I find out he's been hanging out with you!  What are you playing at?" to Nodoka's surprise, it was Akane speaking.

    Nabiki answered her, "What do you expect?  Your new attitudes aren't scoring any points with him.  He grew up basically alone, having you two hanging all over him _really_ makes him uncomfortable.  How do you think he was able to resist Shampoo so long?"

    "We are not 'hanging all over him'!  He's blind, we _help_ him!" Ukyou objected, "And how do _you_ know so much about him?"

    "He may not be able to see," Nabiki could not hide the scorn in her voice, "but _he_ isn't as blind as _some_ people.  You were at the fight with Ryoga, was that a man who needs help?  As for how I know him so well, he may not speak to me as often as he does to his oldest friend, but when he does, _I_ listen to what he has to say."

    "You're dodging the issue, what have you got over my RanChan this time?" Ukyou lowered her voice to threatening tones.

    "Tell us!" Akane's outburst was punctuated by a heavy thump.

    Nodoka almost walked in to put a stop to the argument, but a steady hand on her shoulder stopped her.

    "That was Akane hitting the wall, Nabiki is harder to intimidate than that." Ranma informed his mother quietly, "I'll make sure no one gets hurt, I have few enough friends without them killing each other."  he only half-smiled, indicating that there was more truth to his joking words than he liked, "They need to work this out."

    "Akane," Nabiki's voice was sad, "You should know.  This dojo isn't just yours, it's mine too, _our family's_.  I do what I have to, to keep it going since Dad doesn't take students any more.  It's been a lot easyer since Ranma's arrival.  He knew the score almost from the first if I'd only seen it, I could never have gotten away with some of those scams without his approval," Nabiki sounded much happier, almost smug, "and for _some reason_ he's been more active in helping me lately."

    "Loose the 'tude Nabiki-chan, it's not helping." Ranma muttered under his breath, he flashed a wry grin, "But then, she wouldn't be Nabiki without it. Uh-oh, so much for letting them work this out themselves."  Suddenly Ranma was between the argumentitive girls.  "_What_ is going on here?"

    Nodoka looked in shock to her side, where her son disappeared from, and stepped into the dojo to where he'd gone.  She was just in time to see Ranma catch punches from Akane and Ukyo, one in each hand, they weren't aimed at the wall this time.  Nodoka could not help but wonder how the polite Ukyo and sweet little Akane she had come to know came to this.

    "Ranma!  Why are you defending her!  She's caused nothing but trouble for you since you arrived here." Ukyo accused in venomous tones.

    Akane growled in wordless anger, trying to regain control of her hand, ignoring the pain she inflicted on herself in the attempt.

    "Nothin' I can't handle, and it's for a good cause, the future of the Art." Ranma said seriously.

    Akane and Ukyo just stared at the blind martial artist, mouths hanging open.

    Nabiki sidled up beside him, giving him a quick hug, "Thank you Ranma, I didn't think they would get carried away like that.  It might be too soon for our announcement after all."

    Ranma shook his head, "No, if there's one thing I've learned it's that sometimes a guy's gotta make a choice.  Mom?  I've asked Nabiki to marry me, she has said yes, the papers are all signed, are you free to attend the ceremony next Sunday?"

The End

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