And yet another fic you're starting. Wonder if we'll get to the end of this
one. :)

    For the Honour of the House -- Prologue

    Disclaimer: Takahashi owns the paint, I am, as ever, using my own
easel to make a new picture.

    Notes: Altaverse. You'll know it when you see it. Do _not_ expect
this fic to be accurate of the era it (kind of) portrays. It's written
to be fun, not edutainment.

Like all writing should be. :)

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

    The Saotome family was, by its history, an honorable one.

Since they killed all the black sheep that grew up in it.

    The family had been raised to its position by the Emperor in years
dimmed by memory, but not entirely forgotten.

    Knowing that their military strength was not the greatest, the
family survived by wits, cunning, and strategic non-involvement.

Ah ha. So they are related to the Swiss.

    Nodoka waved tearfully, bowing by the door, and watching until her
husband could be seen no more. As was proper for a dutiful wife.
However, running the house was a challenge she wished her husband hadn't
seen fit to leave her alone to manage. But it was not her place to

complain.

Instead she merely 'commented' which was femalespeak for complaining

    The girl was dressed up in an immaculate formal kimono, her face
made-up slightly, and her hair bound, as was proper. She stared demurely
at her hands, which remained inside the sleeves of her kimono, while the
two man

men

    "Ain't poor," he grumped, holding out his sake cup.

    "Ah, of course not," the man said agreeably, refilling the cup
without hesitation. "But a little money would never hurt, now would it?"

Genma: True, but a lot of money would be better.

    "She acts just like a servant," Ranma complained. "She's no fun."

Interesting variation.

    "Good enough. Ranma, you understand that we're going to have to
pretend this never happened, right?"

    "Why not?"

Actually think it should be 'Why?'

    "Genma, dearest, lord of my lands and my heart...."

    The man sighed. He knew what that call meant.

Heh

    "D-d-d-dues?" he sputtered, staring upward from where he had been
thrown by the man's errant blow. "I.... I paid them not seven weeks ago!"

    The Imperial representative fished a ledger from his suit, and
scanned over it briefly. "Not according to our records," he said,
grimacing distastefully. "Kuonji, before you demand anything of us, you
had best pay your taxes."

Oops.

    He grasped her like a dying man, rising to sit upright, and clinging
to her, sobbing into the shoulder of her soft short. "I've traded your
brother's lives away, Ukyou-chan. I've given away your brother's lives
for your freedom."

Really? They have no chance at all of survival?

    She was silent for a moment, before she raised her head. "I want
revenge,"

Diamonji: Oh ho. Now that, I can show you. I was a vengeful bastard in my
day, let me tell you.

    "Yes, father?"

Father, I think

    Still, the Divine Son of Heaven, the venerable Sanzenin Happosai

Ohh. Evil.

    A ricocheting bullet glancing off the palanquin was the only warning
he had, before a flood of Russian soldiers crested the low rise that the
Imperial Guard stood atop.

Oops.

    Mikado hid a small smile of relief. Ryu was a capable servant, and
more than that, a trusted friend. There would be no worry of being
stabbed in the back by him.

The best traitors are like that.

    Mikado nodded absently. That was an appropriate request, ensuring
that he didn't try to step over his bounds. The Emperor also seemed to
approve, and inclined his head in a slight nod. Calling out loudly
enough to be heard at the farthest ends of the hall, the Emperor stated,
"Then henceforth, the Kuonji clan shall hold the lands previously
belonging to the Shiratori."

Oh, how did he manage that one?

    Kuonji Akira was hard-pressed to restrain his satisfied smirk. "Of
you, I request permission to avenge a breach of honor from clan Saotome."

heh. He does have a long memory.

    Author's Notes:

    Enjoy, or not.

Odd. Not exactly sure where you were going to take this one. Would like to
see it, though. Things moved fast and well.

D.B. Sommer

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