The characters in this story belong to their respective creators
and rights holders. Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi.
Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoko Takeuchi. All original content
is the creation of Samuel Phoenix. Recognition is given to Harold
Ancell who has been a near constant source of input, information,
and ideas.

Awkward Consequences
Chapter 9a: Butting Egos
PsyckoSama (syp104@psu.edu)
http://www.fanfic.net/~psyckosama/

With strained breath, and a pulsating vein on her forehead, Ten'ou
Haruka slowly stepped forward, blocking off the only way out of the
alley way.

"Mustn't kill. Mustn't kill. Mustn't kill..." muttered Haruka as she
approached the two.

Ranma looked at his side, to Hotaru. She appeared to be in a state of
shock. She slowly choked down her discomfort and opened her mouth.

"Papa, what... what are you doing here?" she asked.

Haruka sneered. "That's my question, young lady?! What the hell are you
doing here with this hentai?"

"Hey, who's a..." began Ranma's before he was cut off with a wave from
Hotaru.

Once Ranma was silence, Hotaru clenched her fists and violently shook
her head. "No!" she cried, and she looked Haruka dead in the eyes,
"What are you doing here?! Why did you come here?"

Haruka stepped back, shocked by the vehemence in Hotaru's voice. "I'm
here to protect you..."

"Protect me?! Protect me from what?!" screamed Hotaru.

"From... from him..." murmured Haruka, her own rage cowed by Hotaru's
anger.

"No... that's... that's a lie..." Hotaru's head dropped, and all anger
slowly began to leave her features. With a sigh, she continued. "Why...
why can't you trust me? Why do you refuse to trust me?"

Ranma looked side to side. Hotaru slowly sat on the steps of the hotel
they had just exited, while Haruka stood in place, words obviously lost
to her.

Hotaru slowly looked up to Haruka, her eyes red and clouded with unshed
tears "I'm not a child any more... or... or is that not it..." Hotaru's
tears began to flow as she continued, "Last night, did you lie to me
when you apologized? Do you really think that I'm a..."

Haruka winced. "No! That's not it! I'm... I'm sorry Hotaru. I did mean
it, more then anything. I wish I had kept my mouth shut."

Once again, an uncomfortable silence gripped the group. Ranma wanted to
say something, but he really didn't know what to say.

Hotaru looked Haruka in the eyes. "Why don't you trust me?"

Haruka smiled, and placed her hand on Hotaru's shoulder. "Of course I
trust you, you're my daughter." Suddenly her head twisted to Ranma.
"It's him that I don't trust him."

"Like you how you trusted me last night?" replied Hotaru.

Haruka looked at Hotaru and winced, "I'm sorry Hotaru... I wish you had
just come to us in the beginning... I was angry, and said things I
should have..." Again, her gaze shifted to Ranma, "Maybe it would have
made dealing with this little jerk easier..."

Ranma stepped back. "Hey, what did I do?"

He winced as the sentence left his mouth. Bad reply.

Haruka stood in place, her face turning bright red with anger. "What
did you do? What did you do?!"

In an instant Haruka was in Ranma's face looking him directly in the
eyes. "You bastard! What gives you the gal to even *think* about asking
that question?! You want to know what you did!? I'll tell you what you
did!"

Hotaru tugged on Haruka's arm attempting to hold Haruka back, or find
some other way to calm her down or distract her, but it didn't work.
She was far too angry.

"Fifteen! Hotaru is *fifteen*. You've ruined her chance have a normal
youth. Now because of you, she is going to be a mother before she
finishes her first year of High School... I hope you're happy. I hope
you had *your* fun, Saotome."

Haruka grabbed Ranma by the collar, and pushed him against one of the
alley walls. "I hope your sister was telling the truth... you damn well
better marry her, because if you don't I'll cut your damn ball off! You
here me?! I will fucking KILL YOU!"

"I hear that a lot..." reflected Ranma.

Haruka snarled. "Well, I'm *dead* serious... There is no way in hell
I'm going to let you get away with this!"

Ranma scowled, and pushed Haruka, causing her to put some distance in
between them. "I'd no control over what happened. I was drunk, and so
was Hotaru...." he paused for a moment, and sighed. "I'm stuck between
a rock an' a hard place here. If I don't marry here, you'll kill me...
a fate I'll welcome 'cause I couldn't live with myself. If I do then
I'll have the goon squad in Nerima after my ass lookin' for blood. It's
a damned if I do, damn if I don't situation. I know things are gonna be
tough for her... the next few months are gonna be hell on both of us,
but were gonna go through this together."

Haruka snarled. "Bullshit. I'll believe that when I see it..."

With a sigh, Ranma said, "Hotaru, could ya back me up here?"

Haruka's fists clenched, but she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.
Slowly, Haruka turned around to address her daughter.

"Papa... You don't have to worry" Hotaru lifted her left hand so Haruka
could see the engagement ring which Ranma had given her. "He's already
asked, and I've accepted his proposal."

Haruka took Hotaru's hand in her own and looked at the ring. "That's
one hell of a rock..."

Hotaru blushed. "Yes, it is..."

"Err, guys, we're startin' ta draw a crowd" muttered Ranma, with a
slight wave to the small cluster of people that was starting to form
within earshot.

Almost instantly, Haruka was in front of the group of people, chasing
them off. "Ok, show's over... break it up... Get the hell out of here!"

"I'll get us somethin' ta eat." He paused for a moment, then motioned
to Haruka adding, "She can come to if she can keep her trap shut, and
the volume down."

Haruka snarled and clenched her fist. "Why you little..."

"Fine," replied Hotaru, cutting Haruka off. "Lets go."

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

Hotaru looked down into her beef bowl and sighed. What the hell was
with these two? Haruka-papa just seemed to hate Ranma on general
principle, while Ranma took ever one of her snide and threatening
remarks as a challenge to be met, feeding into her. Between all their
bitching and screaming, they barely had time to eat their food.

She had just about given up running interference for these two baka.
Maybe the best idea was to block it out and let them beat the crap out
of each other. Maybe they might actually get along afterwards... It
worked for 'Ranko'...

Ranma slightly nugged Hotaru in the ribs to get her attention, and
said, "Hotaru-chan, you know any way ta make her keep her trap shut,
and the volume down. I really want to eat..."

Hotaru sighed, and looked down into her food. He had wonderful
timing...

Haruka snarled and clenched her fist. "Why you little..."

Ranma rolled his eyes at Haruka's threatening gesture. "Oh get off yur
self, Haruka! I... err... my sister told me how ya were doin' when she
showed ya the Amaguriken and she told me how good ya fight."

"Oh ya? As soon as were out of here, I'm gonna kick your ass, you
little bastard!" hissed Haruka in response.

Ranma scoffed. "Haruka, you couldn't beat me if I was blind folded, my
arms were tied behind may back, you couldn't beat me!" Suddenly, a
thought raced through Ranma's mind, and he added, "Hell, ya'd have ta
transform ta give me a decent workout!"

Haruka's face twisted into an expression of shear and utter shock. Her
head jerked from Ranma to Hotaru, and her eyes narrowed on the smaller
girl.

In a low, startled voice she said, "Hotaru, you didn't! You didn't tell
him... how the hell could you tell him!?"

"Setsuna-mama said I could..." Hotaru paused, and continued, "She said
he was trustworthy."

Haruka growled. "Trust worth me ass... the little bastard just blabbed
in a public place."

Ranma's eyes narrowed, and he replied in a cool, low voice. "You're one
ta talk. You were screaming about Hotaru's baby in front of kami-sama
only knows how many people in that alley. You know how fast rumors
spread! Ya could have made things a lot worse!"

Haruka backed up, as she was struck by a wave of realization. After
just a moment it faded, being replace by anger. "But you still..."

Ranma rolled his eyes. "No I didn't, I said I could beat ya
transformed. I never said what ya turn in to. Besides, this place is as
dead as a door nail, and no one in here prolly gives half a damn what
we say."

Haruka sighed, and looked around the almost empty restaurant. They were
a good 15 meters from the counter, and the closest of their fellow
patrons was well out of earshot if they kept their voices at a low to
normal tone. "I guess you're right... but we still should avoid
mentioning names" she paused and look to Hotaru, "Exactly what did you
tell him?"

"That... that I'm... I told him who I am."

Haruka blinked. "Then how did he...?"

Ranma shook his head. "Hey, my speech might be kinda crude, but I ain't
stupid. One plus one is two and all that."

Haruka blinked. "What?"

Ranma smiled, and put his arm around Hotaru. "She's one of the... you
know."

Haruka nodded.

"So are you, right?"

Haruka nodded again.

"It explains the huge holes with yur fighting style."

Haruka blinked. "How's that?"

"Well, your either a real baka, soaking blows even though ya can't take
'em or ya got some kinda huge magical handicap."

Haruka's eyes narrowed. "Magical handicap?!"

"No real fighter needs some skimpy cheerleaders outfit to fight stuff
in. All it does is give ya a free boost. Power should be earned, ya
should just get it! Getting' power for free kinda drains the value, and
in your case, it's making ya get sloppy."

Haruka scowled. "Screw you."

Ranma sighed and shook his head. "Listen Haruka, I'm serious. What I
think about yur powers is just what I think. I know there are holes in
your style, and I... err... Ranko and I are gonna help ya fix 'em."

Haruka looked at Ranma, and a smile slowly made its way to her face.
"You seriously want to teach me?"

Ranma nodded, "Yeah, I do. You got potential, and even not that I know
what you two are, I still don't think your quite good enough as is."

Haruka's smiled faded, replaced by annoyance. "Whys that?"

Ranma sighed. "While it's never really interested me, I've seen videos
and crap of you guys in action..."

Hotaru turned to him. A smile slowly made its way to her face. "You
have?"

Ranma nodded. "Yeah, one of my fia... on of the girls, Akane, was kinda
obsessed with ya guys for a while."

"She's the one who I met at the Dojo, right?" asked Hotaru morosely.

"Yeah," replied Ranma.

Hotaru's face fell. Great, it wasn't Ranma at all. It was that stupid
fianc�e from the dojo... the one that had made her so upset.

Ranma smiled and placed his hand on the shoulder. "Ya know, Hotaru. I
think I'm taking a new interest in your group... I don't know about
you, but I think the one with the purple skirt and pole arm is really
cute..."

Hotaru blushed, and gave Ranma a peck on the cheek. "You're pretty cute
too... in every shape, way, and form."

Haruka began rubbing her temples and coughed. "No offence, but do I
really have to be center stage for this touching moment?"

"Fine." Ranma sighed. "As I was sayin' I've seen movies of you guys in
action. You fight in a pack an use magic ta blast the critter while you
avoid close combat... While it's good against demons, it wouldn't stop
determined martial artists."

"Hey," interjected Haruka, "I do not avoid close combat, neither does
Hotaru, or a couple of the others."

Ranma sighed. "That doesn't mean you're are able to fight people who
had dedicated their entire lives to the Art in one on one personal
combat. While those skimpy outfits of yours might give ya a boost and
stuff, but it ain't enough ta make up for skill."

Haruka scoffed at Ranma. "And how the hell do you know the limits of
our abilities."

Ranma shrugged. "I might not know how they perform in a fight, but I've
seen how the power up perform in an... *Ahem*... 'extreme physical
situation'..."

Hotaru blushed brightly, and smiled blankly. He did not just say
that...

Haruka blinked, "What the hell..." Haruka paused mid sentence as she
realized what he was implying. Her face twisted into a grimace, and she
gave Ranma a bitter look. "Oh for the love of... I really didn't need
to fucking know that..."

"Ranma," Hotaru squeaked, "There are some things I think we should keep
out little secret..." she blushed even brighter, and continued,
whispering in Ranma's ear, "our sex life for example."

"Please do..." Haruka's voice dropped a decibel, and she stared Ranma
in the eyes coldly, "Listen, for Hotaru's sake I'm trying my best to
act congenial, but you are trying my patients and my self control...
Don't piss me off."

"Ok, ok..." Ranma sighed, and shook his head. "Haruka, if ya want
proof, when ya spar with Ranko tomorrow, do it transformed."

Haruka blinked. "Hotaru, did you tell her too?"

"There are no secrets between me and Ranko..." muttered Ranma.

Haruka sighed. "Sure... maybe this'll make you see reason."

Ranma smiled and stood up. "Hotaru, are you finished."

"Yes," she replied.

"Good. Now there were all done, lets go..."

"Hey," retorted Haruka, "I'm not finished yet!"

"Looks to me like you are," replied Ranma, pointing to Haruka's empty
bowl.

Haruka blinked in confusion as the looked at it. "I... only ate half of
it."

Ranma chuckled. "Haruka, new stage in you speed training. If you can't
guard your food, someone else will eat it."

Haruka glared at the pig tailed martial artist. "You stole from my
plate?!"

"Yeah, and the next time you see her, Ranko will do it too. If ya can't
defend it, ya can't eat it. It's all part of the training." Ranma
paused for a moment, and added, "Or at least that's what my baka old
man claimed."

Hotaru gawked at Ranma. His father stool food of his plate

Haruka stood up, and snarled at Ranma. "What kind of stupid training is
that?"

He shrugged. "Hey, ya can always return the favor... at least I do."

"Oh..." said Haruka as she began to realize the intention of the
training, "It's an incentive to get faster isn't it..."

"Yep, while he probably came up with it to fill his fat stomach it does
work." replied Ranma.

Hotaru looked at Ranma. "Is this how you've always eaten?"

"Yep. All my life."

Hotaru eyes narrowed. The more she heard about Ranma's Old Man, the
more she despised him. Staling food from the mouth his own child...
what kinda of depraved individual was he?

"No wonder you're table manners are so horrible..." she commented.
Setsuna-mama was right. He was a fixer-upper.

"At least I don't have to grab anything out of a fire..." jested
Haruka.

Ranma chuckled and shook his head. "Haruka, you've only seen the
beginning..." He paused for a moment and in a low voice he added, "The
path of a martial artist is fraught with peril."

"I suddenly feel like accepting you sister offer for training wasn't
such a good idea," relied Haruka in an unsure tone.

"Feel like someone just walked over you grave?" inquired Ranma.

"Well... kinda."

 Ranma smirked, "I get it all the time... get used to it. Lets go."

The two teens and the twenty year old stood up and left the
establishment. As they walked, Hotaru slipped her hand into that of her
fianc�e.

"What's with this Papa and Mama crap any ways? Haruka a girl, there's
no way Michiru is your mom, and Setsuna looks nothin' like ya..."

Hotaru smiled, and snuggled into Ranma, who put his arm around her.
"They're like a family to me. It's a long story."

"We have a lot of those..." reminisced Ranma.

Hotaru turned her head to Haruka, "Papa, How did you know where we
were?"

"Well... Minako saw you enter the hotel," answered Haruka calmly.

She did? "And she told you?" questioned Hotaru.

"No, she told everyone else. Rei told your Mama and I. She said you
tricked into going into a love hotel with a pervert."

Hotaru scowled deeply. She and Rei were going to have a very *long*
talk. The priestess needed to learn when to butt the heck out of other
people's lives.

"So, what ya wanna do how, Hotaru?" inquired Ranma.

"I don't know," answered Hotaru.

Ranma shrugged. "Ya wanted ta introduce me to your friend, so lets do
that."

Hotaru smiled. She really liked the idea of having a cute significant
other to show off to Chibi-Usa and the other Senshi. Maybe she should
rub Rei's nose in it... In a cheerful voice she replied, "Okay!"

"Going to see Chibi-Usa?" inquired Haruka. With a shrug, she continued,
"I'll give you a ride."

"No thanks," said Ranma. "We can walk, and it'll do Hotaru some good."

"Then walking it is," replied Haruka. "Lets go."

"Haruka-papa, why are you coming with?" asked Hotaru.

Haruka smiled, and looked at her surrogate daughter. "I may not want
kill this jerk any more... but I'm sure as hell not going to trust him
alone with you. Where you go, I follow. If you don't like it, tough."

Ranma smirked, "Then we'll just havta ditch ya!"

Haruka chuckled and shook her head. "I would like to see you try!"

Ranma paused for a moment, then smiled. "Okay!"

In one deft motion he pulled a laughing Hotaru into his arms, then
bounded off across the Juban rooftops at high speed.

Left alone on the sidewalk, Haruka could only think of one thing to
say. "I really had that coming..."


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