New Master 12

ISDH

Ranma And Nabiki phased in, just outside the shop. Setting Nabiki on her feet, Ranma pounded on the door. Waiting for the little Ninja to open the door, Ranma kissed the back of Nabiki' neck. When the lock clicked, Ranma grabbed the door.

Holding the door, Ranma ushered Nabiki in. Stopping to relock the door. "Hey Kon-Chan, Get us a round of drinks, Yourself included." He followed Nabiki to a small table near the back of the joint.

When the Drinks were passed around, Nabiki took a sip, then asked; "What do you know of the Challenge at the Dojo this morning?"

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"What do you know of the Challenge at the Dojo this morning?"

He swallowed his tea, looked both people before him over, licked his perfectly applied lips; "That The Masters of the Tendo Dojo were challenged for the Dojo, Genma for his Title. Ranma Was banned from the fight." His eye looking over Ranma once more, " At least as a Defender. Seeing as Ranma here is dressed as the Challenger was this morning, I would venture that he is the masked man."

Ranma/Higimu grinned. "Thought I scenced someone up there. As they were not aggressive towards me, I could not be sure. How many were there?"

He smirked and dimpled as was proper, "Including myself, three that I could tell. One was Kuno's With a video camera. You might be wanting to triple your prices to them. And one looked to of a Imperial Clan, probably to oversee that Damage to the Ward was kept to a minimum. "

"Imperial?" Ranma asked

"Yeah, I got a letter last month, All NWC activities would be under review. Like Kon-chan here said, to keep the damage to a minimum."

"What is with the Kon-chan?"

Now Ranma licked his lips. "As you know with the Challenge, Soun and Akane are out of the Dojo. I Have Chosen for my wife, Nabiki. We are to have a Six Month engagement. When The Tendo Masters return, I intend to wed Nabiki. I have claimed for my Mistress, Xain Pu. For my Sister, Ukyo has been taken. As her Brother, and the Local Male Head of the Clan, It falls to me to find her a Husband that is an asset to our bloodlines, one that fulfills my sisters needs."

Blink

blink

"You are Choosing me?"

You love her as much as I do, You have served her well as friend, servant, and ninja.

The Blood drained from the Konochi's already pale face, "But..."

"Yeah, we know" Nabiki spoke quietly. "When Mother and I were looking through the records and bylaws involved in the whole process we found that you are listed as a female birth. As Ukyo is list as First male of her line."

"To ease things over," Ranma peered into the perfectly kholed eyes," and to keep Ukyo a Saotome, Mother is adopting a Son, and we are talking to his bride-to-be. If you want, We could do a double wedding."

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>a few days later

Soun stopped to lean on the stone pillar, and tried to catch his breath. Genma, in panda form, (a wet tee shirt competition at an American thumbed Tike bar... draw your own picture, but Genma was not in the bar.) just squatted on his down as he shook his head.

you really let your self go

"You're one to talk, you fuzzy baka." Akane called back from her spot ten steps up. "the only Reason you are not in the same shape is Ranko kicks your fluffy tail each and every morning."

sign flipped

Ungrateful Child, After all I sacrificed...

flip

ten years without my loving wife, the comforts due to a Master of ...

flip

before Soun could read the new sign face, Mallet-Sama smashed the sign, and pounded the Panda's head into the stone, before evaporating.

Shaking his head Soun pushed off the wall and resumed the long climb up the steps. Akane, having reached the top, stood staring about.

The place was both a haven ground and a fortress. Some fifty feet above the surrounding landscape, with only the 100 stairs allowing entrance. The walls were twice the height of the Tendo Compound, and the grounds were Larger then the schools.

There was no Dojo, the whole place was a training ground. Students were everywhere, sparing with one another. Only a third were on the ground, the rest were on railings, posts, walkways and ropes. most were empty handed, but a few were using staves, sais or fans.

Four people, not engaged in any noticeable combat, sat in the center of a stone pavilion, on a marble Island, in the middle of a large pond with no viable bridge. two drinking tea, served by a third, as the fourth played a dreamy tune on a flute.

"What do you think of the place?" Soun whispered to Akane.

"I could spend the next three months here, and still not learn everything they are teaching." pointing to the four in the pavilion. "something tells me they are the ones to be afraid of. But I have no Idea what they are doing."

"That would be Master Chu, and he is training them in Control. Each of the three there can hold their own against the rest of the school, but there, they are learning to control them selves, each other, and the Master."

A quick scan of the ground, "Follow me, step where I step. remain calm." Soun stepped on a seal, and then moved along a path that lead from that seal.

Genma looked about, dropped to all fours and lumbered out into the grounds.

Akane followed