Master of the Art 4

ISDN

It was the Morning of the Challenge.

Nabiki wore her black silk kimono with a gold obi. She was up early this morning.

Skipping breakfast, she went before the shrine to her Mother.

Kneeling, she pressed her forehead to the floor. "Forgive me, Mother, for what I do. It is for Father's own good, as it is for Akane's. But they will see it as a betrayal. With Your passing, Father lost all but the will to live, and we tried to live up to what we remembered of you. Ranma knows the Truth, and tries to help where and when he can. He has done more for me then I can ever thank him, and he is always on hand to help Kasumi, and not because she might be making cookies..."

Sitting back on her heels, "You would have been proud to call him Son, as I will be to call him 'Mine'."

Her mind is Made up. She found the concept warming. She had called 'Mother' yesterday and began the paperwork. She had found a few old laws that allowed her to move quickly and start the paperwork to head off the blood feuds. Shampoo would serve best as Ranma's Mistress as Ukyo would regain her Honor as his Sister and he could not seeher as more.

She reaches over to the shrine, and opening a hidden drawer, removed the finial piece of her mother's Legacy. A short bladed sword. It was time to claim her male.

12321

Only Ranma was Absent from the breakfast table.

Kasumi was worried. Not that she allowed it to show. She projected her spacy aura, that allowed her to slide through the Combat filled region without being harmed, threatened, or even noticed. It was a defensive Art her mother showed her before the sickness.

The middle Tendo returned in a somber mood. Nabiki was dressed in black, with Mother's sword in her obi. Something was up, and Nabiki was taking steps to remain above the flood.

Kasumi had thought that the sword had bee sold to pay for bills shortly after Mother's passing. It was good to see

Akane was dressed in a red Gi compared to her yellow one that she practiced in. She was focused on the Match and 'knew' that she would win. Kasumi smiled, Akane was going to get hurt today, and nothing Kasumi could do would soften the blows to her youngest sister's ego, mind, or even body.

Father was dressed in his Gi, his hair pulled back. He was going to at least look the part. Kasumi had offer heard him talking to one of Nabiki's girls; '500,000 yen on Ranma fighting, and winning the Dojo for Us.'

'Oh Father, To have fallen so far...'

Genma was in panda form. Claiming it allowed him better range of combat skills. 'Fat bastard. If he allows us to keep the Dojo, it will be the only reason to put up with his fat ass...'

'Oh my, where did that come from?'

"Niho, Where Ranma?"

It was the only notice that the Amazons were there. Kasumi set a cup before the Elder and poured her some tea. "One guesses that you have already eaten this morning Elder, but the offer of Soup and rice is before you."

"Thanks Child, but the tea is more then enough. I am wondering where the Boy is though, I had some questions to put to him." The shrunken woman blew on her tea to cool it.

"He was not among the Us when we got this morning. His note spoke of things he needed to take care else where, or that Father and Uncle Saotome would do something stupid."

"Smart boy, but even the river will bend if you beat it hard enough."

The Front bell Rang.

12321

Mother Saotome.

She liked that title.

It offered her more power in the Ward of Nermia then that of 'Emperor's Concubine'. It was with this power and a scroll in her sleeve that she walked into the small restaurant owned by one Kounji Ukyo.

"There you are young lady. We need to talk."

The young woman was prepping her grill for the mid-morning rush. "Oh?"

"Yes dear. I am afraid that you are no longer in the Running for my Son." her hand raised to stave off the coming outburst. "It would be improper for him to woo his Sister." Pulling the scroll from her sleeve, "This is the adoption paperwork. You can fill it out, join Our family, and even enjoy the gifts of my son, in the proper manner, or you can reclaim your Right of Vengeance against my soon to be former husband."

She looks toward the Dojo, " My Son has decided that he is going to change the way things are going in his life." Looking back at the young woman, "You are his best friend from his childhood, and he would welcome you as his sister, but anything more, would not be allowed in his eyes. Not in public anyhow. He has spoken to me, and we have decided who his wife shall be, who he will take as a mistress, and how we should treat you."

"Treat Me? As in that I am nothing more to him then a... a..."

"Kounji Ukyo, As Mother Saotome, head of the Tokyo House of the Saotome Clan, I offer you Adoption into Clan Saotome." This was spoke in a clear ringing voice.

"This includes the honor that is left to us, the closeness of my son, and if you wish to bring scandal to our door, a chance to carry my son's child." this was a whisper, as Mother Saotome blushed.

Ukyo blushed deeply.

Nodoka cleared her throat and with head held high, intoned, "As my Daughter-intended, I ask you to join me to the Tendo Dojo. I have yet to inform my husband of the Divorce, and finish the Legalities of my son's future."

"To see the Challenge? I am in." She shut down her grill, grabbed her Baker's peel, and locked up the shop, leaving a sign; 'Gone to Tendo Dojo, be back later'.

"Nice sign, Go to the Tendo Dojo often?" the sign was of carved New England Oak.

"Yes, Ranma is there most times." the young chef blushed deeply.

They hurried along the streets. As they neared the Gates of the Dojo, they noticed that the Streets were block off and people were streaming in carrying chairs. Venders with carts were working their way through the crowd.

"Nabiki would not let anyone in, but for a match of this size, odds are Ranma is going to end up fighting, and with the screwy odds on this match, even the shirt venders are out in force today." Ukyo looked about her. "If only I had not lost my Yauti to that glutenous bastard, I could have made a killing..."

"That debt will be paid in full my dear, give it time." Nodoka stepped past many of the spectators, to reach the gate. With a firm grip, she tugged the rope. Twice.

12321

He stood cloaked and cowled on the roof across the street from the challenge gate.

All the Players were here expected one...

"Where the Hell am I now?"

'Ah, there he is Now, Piggy never misses a Cue.'

Dropping behide the heavy pack of the Lost Boy, "Great Wanderer," Hibiki spun to face the speaker. "I need a Favor. I have a Challenge Match coming Up, and I need to keep One Saotome Ranma from interfering. Up to the Challenge?"

"That Bastard is going Down." snarled the rage filled traveler.

Higimu lead the Wanderer to the Challenge Gate and Rang the bell.

'Show time'

AN; might need some help with spelling. Also need info on the following; Kodashi the sword not the kuno, and the spelling of the 'mate' to a katana, usually worn by the samurai. thanks one and all. when i have the info i need, will repost these chapters.