Master 3

ISDN

'Now They will see just how good I am. They have laughed at me and my skills. ' She thought as she powered her way kata after kata. 'Now they will have to admit that I am the best of the Female Teens if nothing else. If I Show that I am good enough, Elder Cologne might teach me.'

She danced on.

121

The Fathers watched her.

"You know Tendo, that I am the Best of all three of us. If you sweet loving Wife had not passed, it would not have mattered, for you would still be in your prime, and would have gifted Akane with your skill."

"I know Saotome. I know. Our only chance of winning is if Ranma fights. And the Challenge states that Should Ranma fight, We forfeit." He hung is head.

Then both heads pop up, and splash Genma with cold tea. "No Ranma, but said nothing about Ranko!" both the thin man shouted and read the panda's sign.

12321

Nabiki lounged in wicker chair on the third story balcony of a small eatery, known to a select few. Ranma had brought her here, back when they were Engaged. The Fact that He had brought her here again spoke highly of what he thought of her.

Ranma was finishing a large bowl of rice, vegetables, and chicken. His third.

"So 'Higimu', What are your plans for the fight?" She looked into her tall glass of iced coffee, as he finished his bite, i.e.; his bowl.

"I am really tired of that 'uncute tomboy' and that fat bastard of a pig, I mean Panda, always hitting me and blaming me for every little thing." he set down the bowl and chopsticks, and looked her in the eye. "As Master of My School, and it is mine as it no longer Pop's as I have advanced beyond him, I am free of the abuse they wish to inflict on me. All I have to do is enforce my will. I do not know the skills of your father's Art nor the old freak's, but I know more then they know, and use more then they use."

He leaned back. "I need to learn to care for a Dojo if I am to run a Dojo. I have the Basics of Repair, Rebuild, and even some Upgrade. I need to learn Money managing, as well as Housekeeping. So I decided that for now, I will put a hold on my advancement in the Combative Arts, and Learn from the two greatest masters in the Area. I will need a place to learn these Arts and I learn best in a Dojo."

He looked out towards China, as if he could see that far. "Have any of the others Told you what happened in China?"

"Not the Whole Story."her tone was calm, cool even. 'What is he up too?'

"I was forced to kill a man, a god even, to save Akane. Does she even say thank you? No. Then we get home, and there is the Wedding Snafu. Then She blames the whole thing on me, because 'those damn perverted hussies of mine' blow up the place, and then starts hammering me for picking on Ryoga, who Attacks me in the First Place." Ranma starts to glow a pale blue green. "And then Pops and Soun..."

Nabiki grabs up her glass of Water and flings it at Ranma.

"Hi-chan, Relax."

"I am Breaking the Engagement with Akane." Ranko looked at Nabiki, "It falls to you to fulfill the oath our fathers made 'oh so long ago'. Kasumi is out of the running. I have called Mother, and asked her to join us for Ice Cream in," Ranko pulled out a pocket watch, popped it open, "3 minutes at our usual place." Standing she pulled out a wade of Yen and dropped it on the table.

"Shall we?"

Nabiki Stood slowly. 'I now have the sexiest plaything for a taxi, and She is mine should I want her. Do I want her?"

Ranma picked up the Bags, swept Nabiki into her arms, and jumped.

12321

She had received a weird Phone Call; Met me at the Snow Queen's Palace, eight tonight. It concerns Your Daughter's Happiness.

Then the line went dead.

'My Daughter? I do not have a Daughter...unless they mean Ranma and his girl form. '

She Arrived at 7:30, and after having a small snack and some tea, she saw Ranko land outside the door, carrying Nabiki in her arms with a bunch of bags.

She was not the only one to see Ranko land, The serving man behind the counter started filling the largest bowl he had with all the left over scrapings of Ice Cream. It was all the Ice-cream that they could not sell this week in those flavors, but could not throw out either. Then he topped it with Chocolate Ice Cream, and then hot fudge, sprinkles and a few cherries. His Buddy whipped up a fudge-mocha-cappa swirl, what ever that is, and they both carried their 'delights' to the Table where Redhead and her 'Friend' were joining another guest. "This is Eleven, so it is free, but how do you do it is beyond us. Have fun Ranko."

Nodoka watched as the two guys swept away, "What was that about?"

"After the Wedding, Ranma found out that I was the one that tipped off the Others, and was willing to clean the slate if I bought him or rather her Ice Cream every week, just the two of us. It allows us a chance to talk about things we can not tell others, and to plan our Week." Nabiki answered calmly. "This Place has a deal ; you buy 10 mega 'delights' and the next is free. I was hoping that this was the tenth, so the next one, one I would be buying him would be free. Oh well"

Nabiki took a sip of her smoothie "So you got the call, eh?'

"What was it about?" Nodoka's hands slipped below the table.

"First I must ask; have you heard of the Challenge to the Tendo Dojo?" At the older woman's shake of her head, "Father and Akane have been Challenged for the Dojo, not just the Sign, but the whole Place. Father has gotten very relaxed about who can Challenge and what terms. The Challenger tells me his Name is Higimu of the Lost Lover School of Anything Goes. He has no Family name for he is lost in the ways of Love. Until a Lover finds him, he is without Surname, but at the same time is not Ronin. "

"What has this to Do with my 'Daughter' and her Happiness?"

"The Challenge states clearly that it is for the Masters' Tendo and, if He is willing to surrender his title of master, Saotome Genma. If Ranma is to fight, the Match is forfeited, and father loses the Dojo."

"I need you to show up, Mother, and Claim that I am Saotome Ranko, and that Saotome Ranko is not of the Tendo Dojo." Ranma spoke, peering over her melting pile of sweetened goo. "No Doubt that Chichi-baka is thinking that I as Ranko can fight for him and Soun. I will also like you there to enforce the Rules when the Elder can not."

"You have yet to answer me."

"Mother." Ranma was suddenly male, "I am Higimu. I am tired of the Life I have been living for the last 2 years. Nabiki is my Intended, as I have thrown off Akane, and will not allow Kasumi to enter into the Game. When Higimu wins and Claims the Dojo, He will declair that Genma, Soun and Akane must leave. They may return in two to three Years and try to reclaim the Dojo. If they return before that time as anything other then students, They will face Saffron's fate."

"And your Happiness?"

Ranma was back to his female form, "That involves the time I spend with my Mother."

She grinned over the spoon in her mouth.

12321