master 7

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It had been three days since the Wedding.

It was costing her more then she got from selling the info to the 'Crashers'. The Damage to the Dojo alone swallowed every yen she had swindled out of everyone. But then there was the Damage to the Stone wall, the House itself needing minor repairs, and then the bribes to keep the neighbors from filing complaints.

Then her network was in a slump. Ranma had just returned from China, with Akane. The Amazons were walking on Eggshells around Ranma. Shampoo, was her normally bubbly self, but she would flinch when Ranma made a sudden move. Mouse showed for the Free-for-all, but did not attack Ranma. All he did was stand on the remaining wall and watch Ranma get attacked.

Nabiki was walking home from talking to Cologne about what happened in China.

121

Ding-ding

"Hello, Welcome to the Nekohatten(spck). How many today?"

"Mouse, I am over here. I just wanted a bite and to talk to the Elder." She plucked a menu from his hand. "I will be at my usual table. A Jolt Cola please. " She swept past him.

"Niho(spck) Shampoo want new pictures of Ranma. Camera-Boss have?"

"Nothing new Shampoo, but I should have some of the older ones. Get me a spicy shrimp noodle with a wedge of lemon and lime. I will dig out my stock of pictures. You can have your choice of three for the meal."

"Five. Granny raised price of Spicy Shrimp."

"Done" Shampoo bounced away, much to the joy of the few salarymen sipping their tea.

"That was too easy." a voice at her elbow. The ancient keeper of Mysteries climbed into a chair across from Nabiki, "Thought you would be avoiding us for a bit. From Damage my charges did to the Dojo, to any feelings of betrayal over the whole affair. "

"I am here for a few things. Biggest is the Question; What happened in China?" Nabiki pulled out a folder of pictures and set them aside. "Ranma is a bit up tight, you are cautious around him, and Shampoo jumps every time he sneezes. "

"I am sorry child. I am sworn by the council not to reveal what happened that day. All I can say is that I was correct to want Ranma for Shampoo, and wrong to follow the path We took trying to claim him for our Line." The Elder hoped on her stick and pogoed out of the room.

"Here Spicy Shrimp with wedge of lemon and lime."

"Thank you, Here is your bill for the Repairs to the Wall of the Compound, Dojo, and Kasumi's garden." Nabiki handed a detailed list to the perky purple haired gal, "Page four is my offered payment plan. and because I am feeling nice, Take six of your choice," the folder was slid across the table, " besides the Soup is perfect."

Shampoo got twice what the meal was worth, but Nabiki was preoccupied with other issues then last quarter's pictures of Ranma.

121

'What Happened out there?' She wonder, 'Ryoga lit out of here Grumbling something about Ranma not coming back right. Ranma is not right, Akane is as getting out of control, and the Amazons are flinching when ever Ranma moves. He is not even eating as much..' her train of thought drifts as She sees Ranma walking towards her.

"Ah Ranma, Just the person I wanted to..."Nabiki, leaning back against a stone wall, tried to wrestle control of the encounter but was brought up short when Ranma slapped his hand against the wall, next to her head.

"Hello Nabiki." He was shaking with anger. The Wall behind her began to vibrate. It was like what Shampoo did to the Wall of the Compound, but where Shampoo would cause the wall to shake then explode in less then a second, this was taking longer and when it blew, it would take out half the Ward. "Care to guess what I learned to today?"

Looking him the eye, "My guess would be that I had something to do about the Wedding that did not happen."

"How could you do that? To Me? To Akane? To your Father?" The wall shifted in pitch.

"Three Answers; 1, You and Akane will not work. One of you will end up dead within five years. 2, The Money is needed. Just last month I pulled the Dojo out of debt, and I still need to pay for the rebuilding of your Mother's place. That was a big goof on my part. 3, There were matters that required you to be single for a bit longer." Nabiki did not even twitch, 'like I need you, You are mine, and I will only release you when you are no longer needed. 4, I love you, I want it to be me in the white dress next to you.'

Looking toward home, and with a grin "And in reverse order; Father has had more activity trying to get you hitched these last 18 months then in the last 9 years, combined. Akane, Where to start with that brat? I love her, but I fear it would be worse for her if she was married to you at this time. She will either kill you, cause you to kill her or to kill someone else we care for."

Looking back at Ranma, "You. Until last Year your were little more then a drain on our resources. An Outsider. But You are like a fungus, and you grew on me. You spread your spores, seeped into every nook and cranny of my life. Where there was once a void, now there is a spark. You have become more then a brother, but a Champion of Tendo Dojo and those who live there. You even attempt to help out around the house with chores and money here and there. And all you 'ask for' is a place to sleep and as much food as you can keep away from your Father."

"Good Answers." He backed away, but the wall was still humming, "I will return to talk to you in a week. I need to clear my head. Tell the others I am going on a training trip. Alone!" and embracing Genma's Cloak, vanished into thin air.

The wall hummed for another 5 minutes. it was another 3 before her legs would work.

123454321

Just Home from China

He looked at the heavy bundle that Herb handed him as they left valley.

121

"Take this with you. I was unable to unlock its secrets, but something tells me you might be able to. I have also included what I could of my Line's Art." He lashed out with a palm-blade, slashing Ranma's hand. He then slashed his own. "So I can call you Brother, in more ways then one."he clasped the bleeding palms together, "I still need a wife of my own, Let me know if being a man gets to being too much for you." He laughed and walked off.

121

In the bundle was a massive locked Tome. The Covers were a metal forged stronger then steel, purer then silver, and harder then diamond. The lock was Chi based. it popped at the touch of Ranma’s hand, but slammed shut if he ever removed his hand.

The works within were skills and styles that pushed his mind to the limit. It explained the theory of Chi and Ki weapons, like Akane's Hammers, and other Items like Genma's signs in panda form. Not everyone was able to pull them off, as they were a limited Skill, and would limit users further growth. As Ranma’s was beyond the Cap as for using Chi and Ki when he was introduced to the basic skills of Forming Weapons and Items, that the Knowledge was now Forbidden to him. But it spoke of another option.

It explained the hidden weapon Art, and that he could use it, but that using it would drain his reserves, and limit any offensive abilities. It Explained how Mouse could hold so much, but what it cost him. How Shampoo was so good, but with her using it to hold her bonbori, how she had yet to release a chi blast.

It showed a Cloaking ability that was similar to Genma's, but where Genma could only disappear, Ranma’s would be able to phase through solid matter.

It showed Chi/Ki being used to reenforce normal items to make them stronger, sharper, or what ever was needed.

Then Ranma’s found Chi Weapons and Ki Weapons.

Flipping back to the front of the book, there was an Explanation of how Chi was ying to Ki's yang. Like Coke to Pepsi, was the best way for him to understand it. Now a Ki sword would shatter on a Chi Blade, so would a Chi blade when hit a Ki Sword.

Ranma’s was thinking deeply on the Knowledge he had of his Art when he walked out of the Furo that morning, that he missed panda-Genma sneaking up behind him and smash him over the head with a Sign.

He awoke in a tux, standing next to Akane in her beautiful White dress...

Then the Stone Wall imploded...

12321

Three days later Akane Backhands him up over the town. He lands outside of Ukyo's restaurant.

Seeing him landing lightly as only he can, she preforms a flying glomp that would make her rivals jealous

"I am so sorry, Ra-chan. I do not know what came over me." sobbed a distraught Ukyo as she latched onto him. " I heard from Nabiki that you were..." The rest was muffled into his shirt, and choked by her sobs, but Ranma’s knew enough.

Nabiki had a hand in the fire works that was his life this last week. Other pieces fell into place, and a bigger picture began to take shape. And with it a plan to reclaim his life, his mind and his Art. But first he needed to know where she fitted into the whole thing.

When Ukyo had cried herself out, and fallen asleep, he passed her to the only one who loved more then he did. "Take of her. I will be altering a few things when I return. Tell Her that she is my Friend first and foremost."

The pretty male nodded and bowwed to Ranma’s, before carrying his mistress up to her bedroom and tucking her in.

Ranma’s returned to the Dojo, Employing his Father's gifts. Landing cloaked on the Wall next the gate, he scanned the chi readings of those in the Dojo;

Kasumi was in the kitchen,

Soun and Fat Bastard were on the Back porch,

Akane was in the Dojo, and by the sound, smashing more blocks into sand.

Nodoka was...With Kasumi. The Sword was what he finally noticed. Other then that Mom read like Kasumi when in the kitchen.

Entering the House like a ninja, Ranma’s dropped his 'cloak' and stepped to the door to the kitchen. "Hey Kasumi. Mom, I need to speak to you up stairs please."

121

When they were kneeling in Ranma’s's room, "Mom, I need to take a training trip. The Other's came close to hurting you and Kasumi. I am going alone. I am only telling you, as I find you should be the one to tell Pops and everybody. I love you, Mother, I was not going anywhere without telling you."

He stood. picked up his pack, slung it over his back. "I need to speak to Nabiki before I leave, but do not expect me back before the end of next month."

"How will you live?"

"I have a few yen, I can cook simple meals, and do not much if it is just me. My training ground has a fishing hole."

She dug unto her sleeve, pulling a small wad of large yen notes out. "Here. Take this."

"No need Mother, but I might be needing a loan when I return. " He kissed her on the check. "Got to go mom, or I will miss Nabiki."

121

"Ah Ranma’s, "

His head snapped up. Hearing a voice, the voice of his Target.

"Just the person I wanted to..."Nabiki, leaning back against a stone wall, tried to wrestle control of the encounter...

He got tunnel vision, more like scope vision, with a red cross hair centered on her pouty lips, her button noise, her...

'Get a handle big guy, this yummy number just sold you and your future to the highest bidder!'

Ranma’s slapped his hand against the wall, next to her head, focusing Chi into the wall in a version of breaking point. "Hello Nabiki." He was shaking with anger. The Wall behind her began to vibrate. It was like what Shampoo did to the Wall of the Compound, but where Shampoo would cause the wall to shake then explode in less then a second, this was taking longer and when it blew, it would take out half the Ward. "Care to guess what I learned to today?"

Looking me the eye, "My guess would be that I had something to do about the Wedding that did not happen."

"How could you do that? To Me? To Akane? To your Father?" The wall shifted in pitch.

"Three Answers; 1, You and Akane will not work. One of you will end up dead within five years. 2, The Money is needed. Just last month I pulled the Dojo out of debt, and I still need to pay for the rebuilding of your Mother's place. That was a big goof on my part. 3, There were matters that required you to be single for a bit longer." Nabiki did not even twitch.

She Looked toward home, and with a grin "And in reverse order; Father has had more activity trying to get you hitched these last 18 months then in the last 9 years, combined."

'Him and Pops really pulled out all the stops and then some.' Ranma’s worked hard to keep his face from showing his thoughts.

"Akane, Where to start with that brat? I love her, but I fear it would be worse for her if she was married to you at this time. She will either kill you, cause you to kill her or to kill someone else we care for." Nabiki's voice had a sad catch.

'At least it would be an end to this mess' Ranma’s wanted to turn away.

Looking back at Ranma, "You. Until last Year your were little more then a drain on our resources. An Outsider. But You are like a fungus, and you grew on me. You spread your spores, seeped into every nook and cranny of my life. Where there was once a void, now there is a spark. You have become more then a brother, but a Champion of Tendo Dojo and those who live there. You even attempt to help out around the house with chores and money here and there. And all you 'ask for' is a place to sleep and as much food as you can keep away from your Father."

'That was unexpected, but I can see the truth in her eyes. I need to think about a few things.' "Good Answers." He backed away, but the wall was still humming, "I will return to talk to you in a week. I need to clear my head. Tell the others I am going on a training trip. Alone!" and embracing Genma's Cloak, he vanished into thin air and ran for it.