A/N: Don’t own Ranma, Love Hina, Fatal Fury, Trigun, Tenchi Muyo or any of the other series that might get a reference here. If I did, there’d be the mother of all cross-overs coming soon to a theater near you…oh yeah.

Interlude

“C’mon Keitaro, we’re going to be late!” exclaimed an annoyed Motoko, casting a look over her shoulder at her love as he hurried to catch up with her.

“I’m coming Motoko, I just wanted to get some flowers,” said the young man as he reached her side. Giving her a crooked, self-conscious smile, he handed her a bouquet of white roses that were wrapped in green tissue paper.

The tall swordswoman smiled tenderly as she accepted the gift, her long fingered hands gently clasping the gift to her chest. Raising her eyes up from the flowers to his warm brown eyes, she let out a contented sigh. “You never cease to amaze me Keitaro,” she told him sincerely, blinking rapidly to stem a sudden onset of tears.

Rubbing the back of his head, he shrugged. “I just thought that you’d look even better if you had some flowers that would match your dress,” he said, wrapping an arm around her waist as they once more resumed their way to the church.

They were dressed in fine clothing, Keitaro in a silver and white suit while Motoko was in a calf length dress of pure white with intricate embroidered patterns in lace. They had been shopping with Bill and Chayn once they’d arrived in Nerima for the double wedding of Nabiki and Ranma along with Kasumi and Tofu. Though they both had been more than a bit embarrassed about the extravagance of the gifts from the one time strangers that had become such good friends, they could hardly argue given the importance of the blessed event they’d been invited to. Although Ranma and Nabiki had been married in a civil ceremony a few months past, they’d wanted to share the day with Nabiki’s older sister and make it a true celebration of the love they shared.

“You think he’s nervous?” asked Keitaro, his arm unconsciously tightening his arm around her waist with the question.

Inhaling the intoxicating and delightful scent of the roses, she considered her answer against what she knew of the married couple. “I would imagine so, given the history he’s had with weddings as well as those attempting to be wed to him. After all they’ve been through, it’s a testament to the devotion and love they share that they’re willing to have their parents involved at all. You remember how insane their fathers were don’t you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

Shuddering slightly, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, I hope they brought enough tissues for Mr. Tendo. I’ve never seen a guy cry that much,” he acknowledged.

Giving him a wry smile, “Well, there WAS a time not so long ago, I seem to remember a certain ronin crying at the drop of a hat over the simplest and silliest of things,” Motoko teased him, leaning into the warmth of his body as she did.

“HEY! It wasn’t the drop of a hat ya know! More like the cutting of a sword, or the swinging of a fist, or the kicking of a foot,” he said, trailing off as he contemplated the amount of physical abuse he’d taken over the last few years.

“Now that you mention it,” he said, turning a stern look to her slightly blushing face.

“Yes, well, I never said it wasn’t for good reason…just that you happened to shed a fair amount of tears as well,” the young woman told him hurriedly.

They both smiled at the banter, knowing how much they’d changed and how far they’d come with each other. “Yeah, but most of them were either in apology or an attempt to save my skin. Not that you seemed to notice, at least not BEFORE you sent me on a low altitude sight seeing trip,” he teased his girl friend.

Rolling her eyes, she smiled widely back at him. “And yet you still persevered and returned time after time until I was finally unable to deny your nobility and honor, as well as my true feelings for you,” Motoko told him quietly, her heart aching at the amount of love she held for the man at her side.

“In the end, it was I that had the issue, not you. I simply transferred my own insecurities and fears onto you, and sought to prove my superiority over them by punishing you. It is something that I have to live with for the rest of my life Keitaro, and something I will continue to make up to you for the remainder of my days,” she reiterated quietly, her voice carrying the weight of her sincerity of her vow.

He paused on the street and pulled her closer to him, his hands on her hips as he looked into her eyes with a determined and serious expression. “I told you before Motoko, I don’t care about what happened before. I don’t want you feeling guilty about all that, it’s all in the past and should be left there. I love you! NOTHING is ever going to change that, understand?” he asked her, making sure that she met his eyes as he did.

They stood in silence for a moment, each lost in the other’s eyes, until finally Motoko gave a slight nod and smiled once more. “Thank you Keitaro,” she said softly, leaning forward and kissing his lips softly.

He returned the affection, careful not to crush the roses she still held in her arms. She’d come a long way, only recently able to show public displays of affection without blushing deeply and averting her eyes from those around her. For Keitaro it was like a dream come true, a situation that never ceased to amaze and mystify him. He’d found a woman that loved and accepted him for who he was, that wanted the best for him and supported his thoughts and dreams. The young man found a kindred spirit, loving soul and partner for life in Motoko.

Touching his face with her fingertips, she drank in his face with a blissful expression. “I love you too,” she said simply, a peaceful smile crossing her beautiful face.

Looping her arm through his, they once more made their way to the church where the dual wedding was being held. Neither spoke as they walked the few remaining blocks to the church, oblivious to the looks they received by those they passed. An older couple smiled knowingly as they passed, the man reaching for the hand of his wife in understanding, giving each other the same look the younger couple were giving each other.

As they entered the church, they found themselves in the midst of a crowd of well dressed people milling about in the foyer. Smiles and nods were exchanged with several people they knew by association as they walked deeper into the sanctuary and took seats in the back pew.

“About time you two showed up, thought for sure I was gonna have to send someone to find you,” said a congenial voice as they settled in.

Bill walked over and shook the hand of Keitaro while Chayn gave Motoko a hug of greeting. “Wow, you DO clean up nice. No wonder why Motoko latched onto you, who’da thought you’d be presentable, huh?” he teased Keitaro, slapping him on the shoulder.

Chayn rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You’ll have to forgive him, he seems to have forgotten that he was only recently house broken,” she told the younger couple, earning her slight chuckles as Bill made a show of adjusting his tie.

“See? No respect I tell ya! NONE!” he said in a wounded tone.

Gently slapping her husband on the back of his head, Chayn brought him back under control. “Anyways, it’s good to see you both again. How was the hotel, did they take care of everything for you?” she asked, taking a seat next to Motoko.

“It was wonderful, thank you. I’ve never stayed somewhere that was intent on meeting our every whim,” said Motoko with a happy smile. In truth they’d been all but spoiled for the last two days at the upscale hotel.

Bill grinned and tapped Keitaro with an elbow, “Told ya it was a good place. I ALWAYS love the hot tub in the room, don’t you?” he asked him.

Nodding and blushing, Keitaro chose to stay silent rather then risk his voice squeaking over some of the memories they’d made in and around the hot tub adjacent to the bedroom.

“Well, if you guys liked that, you’re gonna LOVE this,” he continued, oblivious to the rising red tint in his younger friends face. Reaching into his suit coat, he pulled out a thick business envelope and pressed into Keitaro’s hand.

Looking down at the envelope, he cocked his head to the side as he looked back up at Bill’s face. “What’s this?” he asked curiously, fingers sliding into the corner to open it.

“It’s just a little something we wanted to do for the both of you for everything you’ve done for us,” replied Chayn with a nod.

Motoko leaned over and watched as Keitaro pulled the contents from the envelope, both of their eyes widening at what they found within.

Giving them a wide smile, Bill reached behind them and took Chayn’s hand, happy that they’d surprised their friends. “Well, with all the rotten locale’s we’ve taken you guys recently, and knowing how much you guys like to hang out with Ranma and Nabiki,” he started, to have Chayn finish his sentence.

“We made reservations at a resort for everyone for a week. Even though it is their honeymoon, they thought that you two would enjoy an impromptu vacation as well,” she told them.

Blinking slowly as they looked at them, both Keitaro and Motoko were speechless. They were holding first class round trip tickets and hotel reservations to an exclusive island in the south pacific, as well as meal vouchers and travelers checks for over ten thousand dollars. “We can’t….this is too much,” squeaked Keitaro, struggling to find his voice at such an expensive gift.

Pushing the envelope that Keitaro was trying to hand back, Bill shook his head. “You TRYING to offend me? C’mon guys, it’s the least we can do for you. You’ve both more than earned a vacation, besides; Ranma and Nabiki both asked for you guys to come along. You gonna disappoint the bride and groom?” he asked intently.

Placing her hand over the envelope, Motoko smile and bowed her head to him. “No, we wouldn’t dream of offending you or our friends in this way. Thank you,” she said humbly, touched beyond words at the gesture.

Chayn smiled softly at them, “We wouldn’t have taken no as an answer anyways. We’ve already notified your families and had them pack some bags for you. You’ll find that you’ve already had your baggage checked at the airport, all you two have to do is enjoy yourselves tonight and get to the airport first thing in the morning,”

Standing up, she gave Bill a knowing look. “Now then, if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got to go check on the bride and groom. We’ll see you at the reception,” she told them, bowing as they left them in stunned silence.

Keitaro looked over at Motoko, his face asking the unspoken question as he tucked the envelope into the inner pocket of his suit coat.

“We’ve trained, fought demons, crossed heaven and hell in a matter of weeks my love. It’s time we took some time for ourselves for a change. We can still practice our art even as we relax,” she explained, smiling wanly at him.

He leaned back into the pew as she scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. ‘Now that you think about it, she’s right. We’ve been so busy taking care of everything else we’ve never really just spent some time alone,’ Keitaro realized, thinking hard about when the last time they’d actually spent any time relaxing. Memories of the fiasco at the beach with the residents of the Hinata Sou came to mind, bringing both painful and poignant times back to mind.

Finding her hand with his, he smiled distantly and nodded. “You’re right Motoko, it’ll be good for us to get away for a while, take a break from everything for a while,” he agreed, looking forward to some quiet time with the woman he loved more than life itself.

Pulling Bill aside quickly, Chayn observed the young couple for a brief moment, her hand across her husbands mouth to stop the question she knew was coming. Seeing that they both wore happy but distant expressions, she slowly lowered her hand and grinned at him. “Okay, that parts done, now let’s check on Ranma before our guy bolts,” she said.

Raising an eyebrow at her, “What are you up to Chayn?” he asked her quietly as they made their way to the back of the church and into the inner recesses where the bride and groom were being segregated.

Smiling mischievously at him, she just winked rather than answer and blew him a kiss. Knocking firmly on the door, she waited only a moment before Ranma’s voice called out for them to enter.

“Hey guys! What’s up?” asked Ranma as he got up from the seat he’d been crouched on. He was dressed in a tuxedo of the deepest black, offset by the white of the shirt and peeking of the handkerchief from the breast pocket.

Bill walked over and clasped hands with his friend, giving him a crooked smile. “Not much, just wanted to stop by and give you our best. How ya feeling?” he asked, nodding for them to take seats once more.

Ranma gave the man a nervous grin, but held an air of determination about him. “This is it, I mean we’re already married an’ all, but this time it’s in front of everyone. I just hope they keep the panda under control…Mom too come to think of it,” he said, looking slightly perplexed by the thoughts.

Chayn walked over with a proud smile, holding up the boutonnière to pin on his lapel. As he stepped close, she made a clucking sound with her tongue. “Don’t worry about them, we’ve made sure NOTHING is going to ruin this day for you guys. Trust me on that,” she assured the man, brushing off imaginary specks of dust from his coat as she finished.

He eyed her curiously, still unsure of what to make of the woman. That she was intelligent and competent wasn’t in question, nor was her planning ability as she’d displayed over the last few weeks with Nabiki and Bulma. “You sure? It ain’t that I don’t trust you an’ all, it’s just that…” he trailed at the look she gave him.

Chuckling at the interplay, Bill shook his head. “Trust me Ranma, anyone so much as BREATHE’S wrong out there and they’ll be dog piled in under a second. You’ve got friends that are going to make sure this goes off without a hitch, not to mention your wife. Seriously, can you even THINK of anyone in their right mind that would want to cross, much less EMBARRASS your wife on a day like this?” he asked.

The look Ranma gave him was all the answer he needed, “Didn’t think so, so don’t worry so much about it. You just get your butt out there and look pretty for your wife and let US worry about everything else, okay?” Bill asked him with a confident smile.

Taking and releasing a deep breath, Ranma gave them a smile. “Thanks guys, for everything. It can’t have been easy, ‘specially with all the problems my family caused, but I really appreciate it. I know for sure that Nabs does too,” he said, licking his lips as he fidgeted around with the alien feeling tuxedo.

Chayn walked up and kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t worry about it, that’s what friends are for. Now you boys just relax, I’m going to see Nabiki,” she informed them, smiling in excitement before leaving them alone in the room.

“Where’s Tofu? I thought you two were supposed to be sharing a dressing room,” asked Bill, looking around the sparsely decorated room for the other groom.

Pointing to a door at the far side of the room, Ranma rolled his eyes. “Seems like Doc is kinda worried sick about screwing up out there. He’s acting like he ate some of the tomboy’s cooking,” shaking his head at the sounds of retching that drifted across the room.

Making a look of distaste, both men took a couple of steps farther from the bathroom, each giving the door a look of sympathy.

“Chayn! Please come in,” said a radiant Kasumi, her long snow white gown seeming to float around her.

Nabiki and Shampoo turned to greet their guest as well, each giving the woman a happy smile.

“You ladies look beautiful,” she murmured, eyes misting up at the sight of the two brides.

Nabiki blushed slightly, not used to such attentions. ‘I feel like an old maid next to Kasumi, she’s just GORGEOUS!’ she thought, giving her sister a loving and proud look. That she was sharing this day with her still gave her goosebumps, especially since she knew exactly how much this meant to her older sister.

“Is too true, Nabiki and Kasumi are too too beautiful, make Shampoo worry when she marry Ranma,” the Amazon Warrior said of her new family, though in truth she looked resplendent as well in her light lavender gown that brought out the highlights in her hair and eyes.

“You ain’t so bad yourself Shampoo, just wait until we do the whole Amazonian Ceremony for you and Ranma,” Nabiki interjected to her co-wife with a warm smile, placing her hand on the girl’s shoulder.

Locking her lavender eyes with Nabiki’s brown one’s, she smiled gratefully and nodded, the small golden bells in her hair tinkling merrily at the motion. “Nabiki make wonderful sister to Shampoo, make Shampoo very happy to have Nabiki as co-wife,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.

“You’re both just beautiful,” whispered Kasumi, practically glowing with love and serenity as she looked on the tender moment between the two women.

Chayn smiled and nodded her agreement as she stood next to Kasumi, “You’re going to take their collective breath’s away ladies, let me assure you,” she told them.

“Okay, Bill’s with the guys now and I’ve got Amon with a tight grip on Ryoga up near the front of the church, so all we’re waiting on now is for your father to arrive and the music to begin,” she continued, checking the delicate watch on her left arm.

Nabiki couldn’t help but smile and shake her head. “Only Ranma would choose the single most directionally challenged man in the universe to be his best man,” she said with fondness, knowing full well how much the friendship he shared with Ryoga meant to him.

“He’s such a sweet boy, when he’s in town that is,” added Kasumi, smiling lightly as she played with the delicate flowers of her bouquet.

They all chuckled at the statement before quietly regarding each other once more, all lost in their individual thoughts of the moments fast approaching them.

A gentle knocking was heard, along with muffled sobbing. Rolling her eyes, Nabiki let out a long-suffering sigh. “Looks like Daddy has finally arrived,” she said, nodding for Chayn to open the door.

“MY DAUGHTERS ARE GETTING MARRIED!” sobbed a near hysterical Soun Tendo, just missing Chayn with the patented Tendo Fountain Works as he rushed into the room.

Kasumi and Nabiki had held many a discussion concerning a moment like this should it arrive and gave each other a nod to implement Operation: Quick Sponge.

Shampoo moved almost faster then their eyes could comprehend, whipping a blind fold made of state of the art fibers that would trap and hold up to 30 gallons of fluids in an instant around his head, covering his eyes. Using the techniques she’d honed from years of martial arts and Amazon secret teachings, she double tied the first of several blindfolds on him before he’d taken 3 steps into the room.

As the man pulled up in shock, another of the blindfolds was secured over his face as the first would be almost filled to capacity within moments. “Wha…?” he managed to stutter, hands thrown outwards in an attempt to gather his bearings.

“Now Daddy, what did we tell you about crying around us in our gowns?” asked the clinically cold voice of Nabiki as she walked marginally closer, still staying well clear of the range of his tears should he manage to escape or overcome the defenses they’d just installed on him.

Opening and closing his mouth, outrage starting to push past his normal overly emotional responses. “Now see here, I’m your FATHER…” he began to spout, only to be quickly silenced by the firm tone of a slightly displeased Kasumi.

“Daddy, you PROMISED that you wouldn’t do something like this to embarrass us or this family. You aren’t going to go back on your solemn vow are you?” the eldest sister asked him, taking up a place beside her sister.

There was a click that seemed loud in the suddenly quiet room as his mouth shut suddenly, few having the ability to stay angry or outraged in the face of Kasumi’s annoyance. Letting out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagged and his head drooped slightly. “You’re right my dears, I fell into my old patterns again haven’t I?” he asked quietly.

“It’s okay Daddy, we just don’t need you to be an emotional wreck. We need you to be our proud father that is going to see us down the aisle to give us away,” Nabiki told him, her tone warming slightly as he brought himself back under control.

Shampoo, her hands still in place on the blindfolds, eyed the two sisters from over his shoulder in askance about what she should do. Seeing that both of them wanted her to stand her ground, she gave a tight smile and resumed her duties as keeper of the tears.

“I would be honored to do so, without my normal hysterics, if you can forgive an old man his faults?” he asked them, a melancholic smile on his face.

Kasumi crossed over to her father and held him closely, closing her eyes as she did. “Father, we love you and will always be your little girls,” she said quietly, smiling as she felt his arms encircle her gratefully.

From beyond the room the faint strains of organ music drifted to them all, sending butterflies through the stomachs of the brides to be.

“We’re going to have the blind fold taken off now Daddy, you’d BETTER behave yourself. It’s time,” Nabiki said, her voice tighter than usual as the moment had finally arrived for them to walk down the aisle.

“Of course, I will not humiliate my daughters or disgrace our family’s honor,” he said, standing straight with his shoulders pushed backwards.

As his watery eyes were revealed, he smiled at the sight of his beautiful daughters before him, nodding solemnly as he did. “I couldn’t be prouder of either of you,” he said quietly.

Kasumi kissed one cheek while Nabiki kissed the other, each linking their arms into his as they turned to the door to follow Chayn and Shampoo from the room.

Ranma and Tofu stood nervously before the crowd of people seated in the pews, both of them struggling to find their peaceful center as they awaited the arrival of their beloved.

The fanfare rose as Shampoo walked through the doors, giving Ranma a glowing smile as she did. Her moves were graceful and slow, not wasting any motions or energy, her body as sinuous as a cat’s.

As she reached the front, she turned as the music once more began, this time with the traditional march. The large double doors at the rear of the sanctuary were pulled open to reveal the brides along with their father.

Ranma’s heart leapt into his throat as he finally laid eyes on his wife in her bridal gown. He stood transfixed before all, lost to the sights and sounds beyond that of the beauty that was Nabiki.

Tofu’s jaw hung slack as he too was absorbed by the radiance of his soon to be wife, not even feeling nor acknowledging Ryoga’s hand firmly closing his mouth for him.

The women smiled as they saw the respective expressions on the men’s faces, walking with slow deliberate steps towards the altar.

Soun walked proudly, stiffly taking each step, his face betraying no emotion beyond that of the proud, sorrowful pride that every father bore when escorting his little girl to her groom.

Akane watched the proceedings with tears coursing down her face, living in both this moment and that of a past failed wedding some time ago. There were no explosions, ambushes or riots to disrupt these happy proceedings though, Nabiki had taken great pains to ensure that there would be none. Taking several deep breath’s to curb her rising anger and sense of jealousy, she focused on how happy both Nabiki and Ranma were, to the point that they were oblivious to all else going on around them.

‘It should have been me and Ranma,’ her mind told her, wallowing in the pity she felt for herself over the entire situation. Her logical mind ran parallel to these thoughts, reminding her of the lost chances and ruined opportunities she’d had with him. Wiping the corners of her eyes before her tears ruined the makeup she’d spent so long in putting on, she forced herself to smile, knowing how important it was for both of them that she was there. Not to shame or humiliate her with their wedding, but because they both loved and cared very deeply for her.

She glanced to where Ryoga stood next to Tofu, his ankle secured with a reinforced titanium cable to the stairs to avoid him simply vanishing again. Her cheeks colored with shame over what she’d done to both him and Akari. She’d been influenced by forces beyond her control that had manipulated her base feelings and multiplied them a thousand fold to make her a violent and unstable person that hurt almost everyone she cared for.

Akane’s head hung at the memories of what she’d done and how far Ranma had to go to bring her back from the brink. Even after all they’d been through and the horrible way she’d treated him, he still did everything he could, risked his very life and soul to save her. She’d almost killed Akari out of a rage fueled spite for Ryoga, attacking an innocent that wasn’t able to truly defend herself, breaking the code of honor she’d always held dear.

It had taken a lot for her to forgive herself, even though all the people she hurt had done so without a second thought. Day by day she worked to earn their respect and trust once more, proving more to herself then to them that she was worth all the trouble and pain they’d gone through. Her family had stood by her, working with her on her martial arts, taking her to the various doctors and giving her the unconditional love and support she’d needed to heal not just her body but her heart and soul as well.

Today was her biggest trial, watching her two older sisters getting married to the men she’d harbored feelings for for so long. Her smile was sad, her vision swimming slightly as unshed tears blurred the happy proceedings. Akane’s heart ached, but even with the pain of loss she felt, a happy pride was warming her as well, knowing that each of her sisters was fulfilling their dreams. For Akane, at this moment, that was more than enough for her. Her dreams and hopes could wait, today wasn’t about her, it was about family and the love they all shared.

‘You better take care of her you baka, I know she’s gonna take care of you,’ she thought to Ranma, nodding her approval of their union, tears running silently from the corner of her eyes. A quiet snuffling pulled her attention from the reciting of the vows, her eyes finding and meeting those of Ukyo as she too was crying quietly over the events playing out before them. Nodding to her long time rival and friend, she gave the okonomoyaki chef a silent nod of understanding before returning her attentions back to the marriage.

Ukyo, dressed in a fine gown with her dark brown hair cascading down her shoulders in loose curls and flowing locks, looked more lovely then she had in many years. Forgoing her normal attire of men’s clothing, she’d thought to show the world that she too was finally moving on from her years long pursuit of Ranma, first to kill him, then to marry him. That he’d finally chosen a bride was only a secondary shock to the actual choice. It wasn’t one of his primary fiancée’s but rather a woman that had spent the majority of her life building a reputation as a cold and heartless businesswoman that would stoop to any level for the almighty yen.

The true insult to injury for her had been his, albeit reluctant, acceptance of Shampoo as a wife to him as well. Though not recognized by the official government of Japan, it did count in the eyes of the Chinese Amazon Nation, Shampoo’s people. It had allowed her to keep her honor, but had cost her her rightful place as the champion to her people and heir to her great grand mother’s legacy.

‘Everyone got what they wanted but ME!’ she thought viciously, hating herself for even having such feelings but unable to stop them. She knew it was irrational, she knew it wasn’t true, that many people had suffered because of his choice, but after all she’d gone through, Ukyo felt that she deserved something more than what life had handed her.

Wiping almost violently at her eyes, she focused her attentions on her fingers that were twisting and turning the fine linen kerchief, using the distraction to bring her emotions back under tight control. Her breathing was shaky and shallow, her anger slowly bleeding away to leave her with a cold sense of loss that bordered on apathy.

‘I loved you, you jackass, why couldn’t you see that?’ she asked the pig tailed man of her dreams in her mind, reluctantly bringing her eyes up to where he was sliding the ring onto Nabiki’s finger.

Her thoughts drifted as she watched the ceremony proceed, oblivious to the heartache she was suffering. A sorrowful smile crossed her face remembering how earnest Ranma had been to her about wanting to be best friends with her, how important she was to his life. It wasn’t what she wanted from him, not in the least, but it was more than she’d hoped for. To make it more surreal to the girl was the fact that both Nabiki and Shampoo had wanted the same thing, not to hurt her but because of the ties they all shared. Though they’d been rivals, they all had come to trust and depend on each other.

‘I’ll never stop loving you Ranma, but I won’t try to ruin the happiness that you’ve finally found,’ she said to herself, taking and releasing another shaky breath that threatened to break her hard fought control. Swallowing hard past the lump in her throat and the pain in her chest, she too forced a smile to her face, taking what comfort she could in the fact that she would always be a part of his life.

Keitaro looked deeply in the depths of Motoko’s expressive brown eyes, his hand holding hers, fingers playing with the oddly unique ring on her ring finger. The matching ring on his hand seemed to pulse with it’s own warmth as they listened to the sacred vows being spoken between the couples at the alter. He smiled lovingly at her, finding his future to be within his hands, happiness beyond his wildest imaginings in the beauty that loved him as deeply as he loved her.

Motoko smiled back at the man she loved with every fiber of her being, seeing the depth of love and understanding he held for her. She’d never expected to love this deeply or this completely, to find someone that not only accepted her but challenged her and made her stronger because of it. He wanted to be a part of her life, not because of the prestige it would bring him or his family, but because of how much it meant to her. She’d never met another man like him, and wholly believed she could go the rest of her life and not find anyone able to hold a candle to him.

“I love you, my husband,” she whispered to him, her voice unheard by all but him in the back of the church.

He blushed at her words, but smiled even more broadly at her heart felt whisper. “I love you, my wife,” he replied, heart soaring at the words.

Neither had given much thought to a ceremony to legalize the feelings they shared, both content to know that their bond went beyond any such petty legitimizing. The rings they wore were gifts from the spirit of the Great Tree, blessing their union. They’d battled heaven and hell for their love, facing adversity with every step. They were married beyond what most couples would ever find or discover, and loved with a mature intensity and depth that belied their youth.

Interlocking their fingers, they silently pledged their own love and devotion to one another, taking the opportunity to bask in the moment and once more affirm their unyielding and unbreakable commitment to each other. Though none were there to bear witness to their love, it was a solemn and beautiful moment that underscored the magnitude of the event they’d been invited to witness.

Ranma’s eyes were focused on Nabiki’s, though he could tell his mouth was working he couldn’t for the life of him figure out what was being said. The moment caused him a moment of panic, fearing he was making a fool of himself in this important moment of his life.

The warm brown of Nabiki’s eyes sparkled, her knowing smile seeming to reach the depths of her soul as she silently reassured her nervous groom.

Then, as quickly as it started, it was over. The organ began a stirring and powerful march as the holy man proclaimed both couples to the attendants to be now and forever more married.

Both men found that for all the illusions of power and strength they held, it was nothing compared to the composure and assurance their wives held as they were led from the chapel. They were met with the raucous cheers of their guests outside the chapel, handful’s of rice thrown into the air above them as they rushed to the waiting limousine at the curbside.

As the door shut and the limo cruised off to the dinner reception, Akane felt a nudge on her arm. “Hey Tendo, wanna get a drink?” asked a smiling yet somber Ukyo.

Giving her rival and friend a brave smile, Akane nodded. “Yeah, I think I do,” she answered, walking slowly from the chapel towards the restaurant that Ukyo ran.

Amon glanced cautiously back to where Ryoga was walking a beautiful young woman in a wheelchair. “Are you certain we shouldn’t escort them? His reputation is impressive,” he asked the small blonde woman next to him.

Smiling as she watched them walking slowly down the sidewalk, Robin shook her head. “No, I think they’ll be just fine. As long as they’re together, I’m sure they’ll both be happy. Besides, something tells me that this is one party they won’t miss,” she replied, taking the well muscled arm of her beau.

The dark man nodded as they too headed towards the small silver car they drove. Opening the door for her, he gave her one of his rare smiles. “We won’t be able to stay long,” he told her.

Looking up at him, she smiled wanly and shrugged. “It doesn’t matter how long we stay, just that we’re there. Once the festivities are under way, we can slip away. It’s not about us, it’s about them,” she assured him, knowing all too well how uncomfortable he was about being in public.

Accepting her answer at face value, he entered the vehicle and headed to the reception to join in the celebration.

The hall was almost deserted, a small crew of hard working catering staff cleaning and sorting the various dishes left over. A portly man walked almost morosely across the dance floor, absently kicking at a balloon resting there. With a heavy sigh, he looked over to where the honor table was, a sad smile on his face. “My legacy is complete, the schools are joined,” he said softly.

“Quite right Saotome,” answered his long time friend, rising from the stage he’d been sitting on.

“Well Tendo, what now? I always expected us to kick back and live in the lap of luxury,” Genma asked him, as they stood shoulder to shoulder and observed the industrious workers hired by Nabiki.

Taking a moment to contemplate his answer, Soun smiled suddenly. “Who says we can’t, eh Saotome?” he asked him with a mischievous grin.

A wide smile crossed his round face, “I think you’re on to something there Tendo,” he agreed, both men hooking arms and heading towards the bar and the left over bottles of sake.

Nodaka simply shook her head and watched as the two men went off to indulge themselves yet again. “When are you going to tell them about the new training schedules?” asked Bill, setting down another glass of white wine for the women at the table.

Nodding her thanks as the man retook his seat, she gave him an almost malicious smile. “Oh, I believe it will be bright and early tomorrow morning, just before sunrise. After all, it IS a martial artist’s duty to practice with fervor and discipline,” she told him, earning her more than one laugh from the rest of guests left at the table.

Chayn, her cheeks pinked with alcohol, leaned into Bill’s shoulder and giggled. “And you thought I was bad,” she said tipsily.

Julia nodded as she slammed back her shot of bourbon, then took a long draw from her glass of beer. “I’ma guess they’re in for a whole new worlda hurt come mornin’,” she agreed.

Glancing over to the doctor, Bill grinned. “Speaking of a world of hurt, when’s Jake gonna make his appearance?” he asked her.

The red headed woman didn’t answer but only smiled slyly and took another drink.

“Don’t worry about that Billy, he’s got his own way of things,” smiled Chayn, giving her friend a knowing wink as the women giggled slightly over a hidden joke.

Licking his lips almost nervously, Bill glanced around the table at the women with a fearful look. “Ya’ll scare me, you know that?” he asked them seriously, only earning him more laughter as they all watched the two men across the room getting thoroughly and totally drunk, oblivious to the pain and suffering on the horizon for them.

A few days later…

“Excuse me, the gentlemen at the end of the pool would like to buy you ladies a drink of your choice,” said a well-mannered voice, interrupting the quiet conversation that had been taking place.

Lowering the sunglasses on her nose, Nabiki glanced over at the men without much interest. “Thank you for the drink but please tell them not in their wildest dreams,” she said with a sweet smile and twirl of her hand to refill the drinks.

Kasumi blushed slightly, unable to look over at the men as she leaned closer to her sister. “Are you sure that’s wise Nabiki? I wouldn’t want to give them the wrong impression,” she admonished, not feeling comfortable with accepting such a bribe for attention.

Motoko frowned at the men, ignoring the smiles she received in return. “They are pigs, unworthy of note even at the best of moments,” the woman added before settling back into her chair. The fact that she was more than a bit uncomfortable with the attention drawing the men even more of her ire then normal.

“Couldn’t agree with you ladies more, BUT…” she trailed off, tipping the waiter as he set the refreshed drinks down. As the man walked over to the grinning men, Nabiki continued. “They’re dumb enough to think they could get our attention with drinks, let’m. We don’t have to pay for it and they are left feeling stupid for trying. This way we get something free out of the deal for having to even tolerate their ignorance,” she told them, enjoying the crestfallen then angered expressions of the men she’d just shot down.

“It’s a talent,” she murmured, pushing her glasses back up on her nose and sipping from her drink.

Giving the men a warning glance, Motoko shook her head. “Perhaps you are correct but I still don’t feel right about it. I’m going to walk by the shore for a little while, would you like to come along?” she asked the two sisters as she swung her legs off the chaise lounge and took her feet.

Kasumi gave her a peaceful smile, “No thank you, I think I’m going to just relax here until my husband returns,” she said with a dreamy expression.

Nabiki gave a chuckle at her sister’s tone. “Who’d of known how much of a romantic you were Kasumi,” she told her with a slight shake of her head.

Tapping Nabiki on the shoulder, Kasumi giggled at her. “As if you have room to talk Nabiki! This is the first time you’ve spent any real time with us since you’ve gotten here,” she responded.

Now it was Nabiki’s turn to let the dreamy expression cross her fine features. “Just making up for lost time sis, just making up for lost time,” was all she said, glancing meaningfully at her sister over the tops of her sunglasses.

Motoko blushed deeply and smiled at the banter of the two girls, taking a few steps away lest she too be drawn into such an overtly intimate discussion. ‘Besides, it isn’t proper to speak of such things that I do with my husband…’ she caught herself thinking, before quickly heading off such thoughts and turning her attention to the gently rolling waves along the beach.

“Who the hell does she think she is?” asked a very annoyed man to his two companions as the waiter walked away after giving them the message.

The trio of men had been taking a vacation from their studies at a university along the western coast of america and had discovered the three gorgeous women lounging along the beach. Seeing an opportunity seeming to fall from the heavens, they quickly tried to capitalize upon it, wondering how it was that the beauties would be unaccompanied.

“Just let it go man, there’s plenty more puppies to play with,” his friend responded, unable to take his eyes off the dark haired beauty that was walking from her friends down the beach. Shifting slightly in his chair, he whistled low and appreciatively at the way her body moved and shook with each step. “I still think I’m in love though,” he added, almost drooling as he did.

The third simply shrugged and smiled. “Trust me guys, I’ve got a plan. Remember our little siesta in Baja?” he asked with a devilish smile and wink.

“By the time we get done with these chicks, they’ll be BEGGING us for it…again and again,” he said, giving a deep throated laugh that was echoed by the other two.

Giving him a high five, the one that had been complaining mirrored the devilish smile and looked wolfishly at the duo still remaining in their chairs.

A short time later…

Keitaro was wandering down the beach, enjoying the feel of the sun baking on his skin. Pausing in his stride, he turned his face up to the cloudless sky and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this relaxed,” he said quietly, then suddenly wishing that Motoko were at his side for such a moment.

Smiling broadly, he once more began towards where they were supposed to meet the girls. Ranma and Tofu had convinced him to accompany them on a supposedly short run along some of the trails on the island. They had failed to mention that the short run was going to be almost a full blown marathon.

While not minding too much, he’d let them complete their run and had turned back to where the girl’s were waiting. ‘I’m on vacation, besides, I already did my training this morning,’ he reasoned with himself, feeling slightly guilty about leaving them behind as he had.

Though neither the doctor nor Ranma had led him to feel that way, it was in his nature to not desert his friends. Only after being assured that they understood had he left them, none of them willing to deny a moment of peace with the respective woman in his life.

His smile widened as he saw Motoko walking alone by the shore, her hand idly playing with the long black pony tail that blew luxuriously in the gentle tropical breezes.

Making a beeline for her, he was rewarded for his efforts by the happy smile she gave him as he approached.

“Keitaro!” she said, clasping hands with him as he fell into step with her. “How was your run?” she asked him, turning him around and beginning to head back towards the reserved lounge area they’d been given.

He shrugged and laughed self-consciously. “I, uh…kinda didn’t finish it exactly. Ranma and Tofu are still going,” he admitted.

Raising an eyebrow at him, “You came back early? For what reason?” she asked him coyly.

“Well, you know…I was, uh…just kinda,” he stammered, blushing heavily until he realized that she knew exactly why he’d come back early.

Leaning into her side, enjoying the feeling of her skin on his as she did the same, he sighed lightly. “I just wanted to spend more time with you. Once we leave here, our lives are going to go back to the same old routine and I just wanted to savor every moment I had with you,” he said quietly, with heartfelt earnesty.

“Our lives will be spent with one another Keitaro, no matter where we go or what we are doing. However, I do understand and I am happy you did so. There was a point in my life not so long ago that all I knew was training and discipline. It’s only recently that I realized how a true warrior must balance all of life and it’s complexities in order to truly attain peace and serenity,” she explained, pulling up his hand and leaning her cheek into it.

Keitaro blinked at the admission and it’s deeper ramifications, especially given how deeply into the warrior lifestyle his lover was. “Wow Motoko, I never really thought about it like that. But then again I usually tend to get goal oriented and forget to smell the roses,” he said, pondering her words as the strolled along the beach, almost silent waves gently lapping at their feet.

“You’ve GOT to be kidding me! THIS is the guy you want?” came a shocked and annoyed voice from in front of them.

Both of them stopped and jerked their heads at the rude interruption. “Who the hell are you?” asked Keitaro, feeling a bit perturbed at the man’s attitude and tone.

The well built man gave Keitaro a dismissive once over before turning his eyes back to the swim suit clad Motoko. “You mean to tell me that you didn’t want to hang with us cuz you’re hooked up with geek boy here?” he said, not bothering to acknowledge the man’s question.

Narrowing her eyes dangerously, Motoko’s tone was stone cold and icily hostile. “You would do well to behave yourself and temper your words and attitude with caution lest I have to punish you for your impudence,” she warned him.

A shiver of dread washed down Keitaro’s spine at the tone, knowing all to well from experience what was impending for the big-mouthed moron in front of him.

“Look, we don’t want any trouble from you. Why don’t you just go and leave me and my wife alone?” he asked in a friendly tone, hoping to defuse the situation before Motoko decided to unleash her abilities on the outclassed man.

“Why don’t you just shut your damn mouth before I have to hurt you?” the man shot back, his arm shooting out and shoving the seemingly frail man before him.

Keitaro was momentarily rocked backwards by the brusque treatment, though the countless hours of training he’d done with Motoko allowed him to regain his balance almost immediately. Before he could fully turn and face the man, the sands around them swirled violently, scouring exposed flesh of those nearby as Motoko’s anger was fully unleashed on the man.

“FOOL! FEEL MY ANGER!” cried the beautiful swordswoman, her voice going ominously deep and commanding. With the simple gesture of raising her hand, she summoned her attack and unleashed it by dropping it towards the man. The air blast screamed the short distance to him, slamming into him brutally, sending him flying backwards with amazing speed and power.

The young man bounced viciously down the beach, the hot sand pulling skin from arms, legs, chest, back and face as he ragdolled down the beach to a skidding stop at the bottom of a shallow trench.

“Ouch, that’s gonna leave a mark,” winced Keitaro, shaking his head sadly at the man’s suddenly painful future.

Glaring down the beach, Motoko dismissed her abilities as silence once more fell around them as dumbfounded spectators turned and regarded her with astonishment.

Ignoring the looks, she turned her attention to her lover, “Are you okay Keitaro?” she asked.

“Yeah, he just shoved me is all. You really let him have it, didn’t you?” he asked her, nodding towards where the man was still lying, unmoving on the sand.

“He’s lucky that I only used a fraction of the power required for that attack. Let his wounds remind him to not only keep his hands to himself but to not disrespect others as well,” she responded, but did manage to look slightly sheepish about her actions.

Turning to look at the man as well, “Although I might have over did it a bit,” she acknowledged.

Chuckling lightly, Keitaro slipped an arm around waist. “I’d forgotten that you can use just about anything to channel your attacks, remember the umbrella the first day we met?” he asked her with a smile. Noticing her blush at the memory, he hugged her close, “C’mon. Let’s go get him some help,” he said as they walked past the unconscious man.

A woman’s calls for them made them pause, turning to find a young attractive blonde woman rushing towards them. “Oh please don’t let this be his girl friend,” muttered Keitaro, wondering if his long run of good luck was finally at an end.

Motoko merely frowned lightly as she watched the woman approach. “No, I don’t think so, she appears more relieved then angered,” she said quietly.

“I don’t know how to thank you, that guy is SUCH a jerk!” the woman exclaimed, breathing heavily as she reached out and took Motoko’s hand in hers.

Looking mildly shocked at the outburst, Motoko didn’t immediately pull her hand from the girl’s. “Did you know him?” she asked.

“KNOW him? PUH-lease! I barely knew his name before he had his hand in my shirt looking for a quick feel, talking all this crap about how pretty I was and how he was gonna make me feel like a real woman. I swear, if it hadn’t been for hotel security…well, I’m just glad they ran him and his buddies off,” she finished, a shamed and angry expression on her face over the ordeal.

Motoko’s eyes narrowed once more at her words. “Friends? One with shoulder length blonde hair and the other with blonde spiky hair? Both with tans and funny colored shorts?” she asked hastily.

Now it was the woman’s turn to look surprised, “Yeah, you saw them too? Man, you were lucky to get only one of them. They’ve been preying on a bunch of us single girl’s since they got here,” she told them, then laughed darkly. “But it looks like you showed one of them this time! You go girl!” she said, giving Motoko a brief hug before starting to walk away.

Grabbing Keitaro’s hand, Motoko turned and began to move rapidly down the beach. “Keitaro, his two friends were around Nabiki and Kasumi when I left. We must get back to them quickly,” she told him.

“I’m with you Motoko,” answered the now seriously concerned Keitaro, matching the woman stride for stride.

Meanwhile…

“I know you didn’t mean what you said,” came a suave voice from above Nabiki.

Without opening her eyes, Nabiki gave a cynical smile. “Oh, I’m sure I did. Perhaps you have difficulty understanding how a beautiful creature…that would be me,” she said, shifting her body slightly to enhance her point.

“Could ignore such a study in male ignorance and ego-centricism…that would be you,” she finished, waving a hand casually in his direction.

With the sputtering noise the man made at her comment, she gave a soft chuckle. “Oh, don’t take it too hard. The simple fact is you have NOTHING I need…or want for that matter. I’m a happily married woman whose husband supplies her every need and whim. You don’t now and will NEVER hold a candle to him. So, if you don’t mind, could you kindly move along? You’re blocking my sun,” she said with a bored sigh.

The man stewed only briefly, struggling to keep his composure in the face of her cutting remarks. “Tell you what beautiful,” he started with an ingratiating tone and slick smile. “How about you meet me tonight WITH your husband at the dance they’re holding? If you still think I’ve got nothing for you, I’ll leave you both alone AND pay for your drinks all night, what do you say?” he offered.

The offer intrigued Nabiki, though she held her poker face to further antagonize the man. “You’re gonna have to do better then that, that offer is a joke not to mention a blatant set up,” she countered, opening her eyes slightly to regard the man.

“Afraid your hubby won’t match up to this?” he asked, flexing what he thought was a manly physique.

It was Kasumi’s laugh that deflated the man, and sparked a giggle from Nabiki as well. “Tell you what, ‘Stud’,” she said with heavy sarcasm. “Why don’t you show up and see what our husbands say about your little offer? To make it interesting, why not have it in the central ballroom where all the guests can see what a real ‘Man’ you are, that sound good?” she asked in a taunting voice.

Narrowing his eyes, he wondered about what he wasn’t seeing, and why they were laughing at him. “Just make sure they know that I ain’t gonna be responsible for what happens to them,” he said haughtily, hands on hips as he looked down at them.

Nabiki tapped a manicured finger to her chin in thought. “You’re right, make sure there’s the medical staff on stand by…just in case. I don’t want it said that I’m cruel after all, taking advantage of the intellectually challenged,” she said with a calculating smile.

“You’re going to regret this bitch,” he hissed at her, losing his temper with the arrogant and beautiful woman.

His insult drew a gasp from Kasumi and caused Nabiki to slowly pull the glasses from her nose. “Okay, I’ve been nice up to now, but you’ve asked for it. If you leave now, I’ll make sure that you are able to leave under your own power. If you don’t…” she trailed off, fixing him with an icy stare.

“You’ll what? Call security? Your husband? You’re in over your head little girl, you have no idea of who I am,” he said darkly.

Her lips drew into a firm line as she swung her legs off the lounge and stood before the much taller man, her figure almost causing him to lose focus of his anger.

“Wrong on both counts, and so far off on the third it’s not even funny. By the time we’re done with you, you and your little friends will be begging to swim back to what ever cave it was that crawled out of,” she said evenly, going over the training she’d done with Ranma.

Kasumi stood by her sister, giving the man a firm stare. “You are unspeakably rude and should leave now. I will not tolerate you or this behavior any further,” she added.

The shouts of Motoko and Keitaro drew all their attentions as they approached. Motoko pointed to the man with a stern visage. “Leave them at once or face the consequences,” she ordered him.

Rolling his eyes, he gave her a rude gesture but taunted Keitaro. “Wow, looks like she’s got you on quite the leash huh buddy? You gonna let a girl do your talking for you?”

Shaking his head, Keitaro wondered if some of the men on this island had lost their minds as well as their manners. “You’d better leave before you get hurt,” he advised the man, taking a step forward to place himself in front of Motoko.

“Whatever, I’m outta here. I’ll see you sluts tonight when I teach your husbands a lesson of how a real man acts,” he said in disgust, spitting on the sand in front of him before he stalked away.

Motoko moved to Nabiki and Kasumi, “Are you two alright?” she asked, not seeing any type of wounds or trauma.

Giving the man’s receding back a glare, Nabiki nodded but smiled grimly. “Yeah, we’re fine. Mono-brow there just bit off way more then he can chew,” she told them, releasing a sigh as she took her seat once more.

“What about you two? Something happen?” Nabiki wondered, picking back up her sunglasses and returning them to her face.

“We kinda had a run in with a friend of his back there. He got physical and Motoko knocked him senseless,” explained Keitaro, giving them a brief run down of events.

“NABS!” came a worried shout from a shadowed form in the sky that was rapidly approaching them.

Ranma landed with a supernatural grace and power in the midst of them, eyes taking in the situation quickly as he found his wife’s side.

“Easy tiger, we’re fine. Just had a bit of an argument with an idiot,” she assured her worried husband, taking his hand in hers and allowing herself to be pulled to her feet. Nabiki found herself wrapped into the warm and protective embrace of Ranma, a place she adored to be.

“We saw Motoko’s attack as we came down the mountain and got here as quick as we could. Me’n Doc had to really hustle to keep up with’m,” he told her, nodding in respect to Keitaro and Motoko, both whom looked sheepish at the praise.

“Kasumi!” came the shout of Tofu as he finally caught up to the rest of his friends. He too pulled his wife into his arms as he looked around for any hint of the threat that they’d sensed.

“Thank goodness! That man was vile and rude to us!” exclaimed the normally reserved Kasumi, an instance that almost made those that knew her fall over in absolute shock.

Tofu’s face darkened along with Ranma’s as they heard first hand what had transpired. When Keitaro and Motoko added in the events they’d witnessed and been told of, expressions were borderline explosive.

Seeing the hostility rising exponentially, Nabiki broke into the line of thinking. “Hold on a second everyone. I’ve got a plan that’s going to not only humiliate them but is going to get us some much needed publicity for our respective schools,” she said with a crafty smile.

Ranma looked at her apprehensively, “Are you sure Nabs? It ain’t like they’re gonna be much of a challenge,” he told her, knowing that look in her eyes all too well.

“Oh trust me lover boy, I’ve VERY sure. Now, here’s the plan,” she said, pulling Ranma down next to on the lounge as she began to hastily outline her plan.

Later that night…

Ranma smiled as they walked through the ballroom arm in arm, nodding to people that smiled at them as they passed. “Wow, there sure are a lot of people here tonight,” he noted absently.

“With all the work I put into this, there had better be,” said a smug sounding Nabiki, secretly pleased at the spectacular turn out.

The crowds thinned as they neared the center of the room, revealing a large square that was built up 18 inches off the floor and covered with a canvas. The floor all around the platform was black, giving it the appearance of floating in a void. Beyond that was row upon row of padded seats and wide aisles that reached back to the furthest points of the expansive ballroom.

Clucking her tongue happily, Nabiki approved of the setup. “Yes, this should do nicely,” she murmured, swiveling her head around to make sure the camera’s were in place.

One eyebrow rose in question at her actions as Ranma watched his wife carefully. “I dunno Nabs, this still don’t feel right,” giving voice to his concerns once more.

Her attentions fully focused on his concerns, she gave him a warm smile. “Don’t worry so much Ranma, everything’s gonna be fine. All you have to do it spar with him like you usually sparred with Akane. There isn’t anyone here that can match you, much less lay a finger on you if you don’t want them to,” the woman told him sincerely, her arms sliding around his waist and pressing her body to his.

With a contented sigh, Ranma held the woman he so fiercely loved as his mind wandered to the beating he was going to give the man that had called his wife such an ugly name.

“Hey Ranma,” came the call of Keitaro as he and Motoko made their way to them. Both of them were dressed in the traditional clothing of their art, the distinct red of the pants offsetting the white of their tops. The swords they carried on their hips caused the crowds to give them both a wide berth.

“Keitaro! Hey man, you ready for this?” he asked him with a crooked smile.

Nodding, Keitaro returned the smile. “Yeah, I guess so. I just hope they don’t get stupid, I’d hate to have to really hurt them,” he admitted with a self conscious chuckle.

“Nah, don’t worry about it. They’re gonna get what they deserve for acting all dumb today,” Ranma said as Nabiki moved from his arms to his side, her arm still around his waist.

“I must thank you Nabiki for allowing us to help in this. I look forward to showing our family’s art as well as adding retribution upon them,” Motoko said in a formal tone, her hand firmly on the hilt of her sword.

Shrugging and smiling impishly, “Not a problem, I couldn’t see trying to do this without you guys anyways. Now then, where are our punching dummies?” she wondered aloud, eyeing the outskirts of the crowds.

The trio of men were accompanied by a group of hotel security through the crowds to the platform. One of them was still bandaged from his initial run in with Motoko and was looking fearfully at the woman from between bandages.

“Is all this really necessary?” asked the leader of the little group, his cocky expression replaced by nervous apprehension at the sight before him. The man hadn’t expected to be challenged formally or so publicly, but was hard pressed to find a way out of this without appearing a coward.

Ranma gave the man a disgusted and hateful frown. “You’ve got a lot of nerve asking that after the way you treated my wife,” he snarled at the man.

The leader of the trio held up his hand and gave an ingraciating smile, "C'mon man, how were we supposed to know? They were all alone and well, you KNOW how women can be..." he trailed off, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

"No. I don't. Why don't you EXPLAIN it to me...HELP me understand," said the pig-tailed martial artist dangerously, the air around them suddenly seeming to become electrified with tension.

Blinking at the irate expression, the man stumbled over his words. "You know...all like, no I'm not interested when they REALLY are, or..." he started, noticing how suddenly quiet the room got.

"Or...I'm MARRIED when they're really not," he finished, dropping his hands. "Fine, look, I'm an asshole, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm sorry, it won't happen again," he said with a begrudging tone accompanied with a sulky expression.

"Hmmmm..." Nabiki said, swaying her hips as she stepped from Ranma's side, her finger once more on her chin as she casually looked over the trio of men. "Nope, I'm not feeling it. Ranma?" she asked with a devilish grin.

"Me neither. Sorry pal, but you've got a lot to answer for," Ranma affirmed.

The other two tried to sidle away, only to be stopped by the passively smiling faces of both Tofu and Keitaro. "I'm sorry gentlemen but you've got an exhibition match about to take place," informed the doctor, hands firmly holding the non-bandaged man in place.

The bandaged man looked in horror to the happy face of Keitaro, slowly letting a smile play on his face as he didn't see any malice or hostility there. Nodding agreeably, the man gave a giggling sigh of relief.

Keitaro's expression slowly changed, the smile faded into a deep scowl as he shook his head in the negative.

The injured man's once happy eyes widened into fear, the nodding and the smiling disappearing into shaking his head and frown. "I'm sorry?" he squeaked out, swallowing the rather large lump of fear in his throat.

"Apology accepted, but I've still gotta show you why you should act like a gentleman. You won't learn anything unless something SHOWS you what you did wrong," Keitaro told him firmly, his voice carrying determination.

As the trio were led, mostly forcibly, to the center of the ballroom and onto the fight surface, the crowds noise picked up as they sought out seats and began to motion for the bidding attendants.

Nabiki's smile was predatory as she watched the men shift and fidget atop the surface. "Now now gentlemen, I thought you were here to teach our husbands how a REAL man treats a woman. You HONESTLY believe that everyone man and woman here tonight isn't just DYING to see something of this importance?" she asked, her voice easily rising above the din and drawing a wave of chuckles from the guests assembled.

"YOU'RE NUTS LADY!" cried the defacto leader of the trio, pointing a finger at her accusingly. "We ain't gonna fight NOBODY!" he promised, folding his arms across his chest.

Nabiki shrugged unconcernedly, "Your choice really," she stated bluntly, nodding for the MC to hand her the microphone.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to welcome you to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts and Shinmei Ryuu exhibition and demonstration," she said, turning her back on the victims in the ring and addressing the crowds.

"I'd like to thank you all for your interests and personally assure you that what you are about to witness is VERY real and NOT staged. As you can see, our 'guests of honor'..." she pointed to the men with a wolfish smile.

"Are rightfully concerned over their safety and well being. Let me assure you AND them that we've got the FINEST medical staff available, standing by. That being said; do NOT try this at home. Our practitioners have trained for years and are considered masters in their respective arts. Should you wish to pursue a training regime with either of our schools; directly following this exhibition we will be accepting pertinent information and giving out enrolling applications as well. Now then, IS EVERYONE READY?" she cried out, raising her hand with her voice.

The crowd roared in it's eagerness, cheering and whistling, with more than one spectator rising to their feet.

Pointing to the side, Nabiki motioned for Keitaro to step onto the platform. "Let me first introduce the newest member of the Shinmei Ryuu, Keitaro Urashima!" she called, drawing a thunderous applause for the man.

Keitaro, totally unused to such attentions, blushed furiously but raised a hand in acknowledgment.

The spotlight followed the young woman as she walked closer to the bandaged man. "And his sparring partner...I'm sorry WHAT is your name again?" she asked, holding out the mic expectantly.

The man shook visibly at the attentions as well as the thrashing he was certain to take at the hands of the swordsman on the platform. "I'm sorry...for the love of pete, please don't do this! I don't wanna get killed!" he choked out in a strangled and high pitch sob, falling to his knee's and clutching at the hem of Nabiki's dress.

"Some how, I don't think that's your name," she responded nonplussed at the begging.

Giving him a cold look, "You have something to say then?" holding the mic to his tear streaked and bandaged face.

"Yes...yes! I'm sorry man, really really really sorry! Please don't hurt me!" he sobbed out, near hysteria.

Keitaro rolled his eyes at the man, pulling his sword from the scabbard with an ominous hissing metallic ringing. "You insulted my wife and me, and NOW you're sorry? Didn't your parents teach you any manners or decency?" he asked in disgust, walking closer to the man. The lights of the ballroom glinted off the razor's edge of his sword as he moved, drawing all eyes to it.

Holding up his hands wardingly, "I...I'm sorry...I was an asshole! I'll never do it again!" he promised, his words rushing out in a jumble.

Looking over to Motoko, Keitaro sought an answer in the depths of her inscrutable gaze. Turning back to the man, he gave him a deadly intent look. "Fine, I accept your apology, but..." he paused, motioning for the girl they'd met on the beach to approach.

"You have to pay for this girl's room and services for the rest of her trip here AND you have to leave. Tonight. Do we have a deal?" he asked him, twisting his wrist slightly to catch the light on his blade to emphasis the point.

Nodding like a maniac, the man walked on his knees to Keitaro and shook his hand vigorously. "Sure thing! Anything you say man, thank you!" he babbled. All but leaping to his feet, he ran to the entourage of security around the manager of the resort and immediately began to make good on his agreement.

Nabiki smiled broadly at the developments, "Well, given that our first volunteer has just UNvolunteered, why not give our man here a round of applause and see if he'll show us some of what he's mastered," she egged on the crowd, which responded enthusiastically.

Swallowing hard and turning several shades of red, Keitaro nonetheless acquiesced and began one of the advanced kata's he and Motoko practiced daily.

As he stepped into the second form, Motoko mounted the platform and took up a position opposite him, moving with him so that they gave the appearance of doing a very beautiful but deadly dance of steel.

Eyeing the last two men, Nabiki looked meaningfully over to Tofu and nodded. The man moved quickly, easily immobilizing him with a touch of but a few pressure points on the back of the second man.

As the two sword master's wound up their kata, Tofu all but carried his opponent onto the platform, earning him a round of polite applause.

"Moving along, next we have Dr. Tofu Ono and his subject to stress the importance of good health, the locations of the major chi points and the fundamentals of basic self defense," Nabiki announced, giving the man a nod to begin.

Tofu smiled benignly, tapping two points on the man's neck to release him from his paralysis. Before he could flee, he pushed his thumb into the small of the man's back, turning off his legs and letting him collapse to the ground.

As the crowd was enthralled by the scene playing out, Ranma walked up next to his bride, sliding an arm around her waist. "Having fun Nabs?" he asked, wincing as Tofu showed the dangers of not controlling the power of the pressure points, the victim's bladder suddenly releasing to emphasis the point.

"More than you know lover boy, but just wait until later," she said, nuzzling his neck and kissing his skin softly.

"Look, we need to talk lady...seriously," said the now visibly nervous man that had insulted Ranma and Nabiki.

Ranma glared at the man, stepping gracefully in front of his wife and stepping directly into the man's face. "No way, not a chance. I'm gonna teach you a lesson, one you ain't ever gonna forget," he said darkly, eyes narrowing as he did.

Used to bullying people with his size and looks, the man suddenly found himself face to face with a superior predator in his little world, one that was very angry and volatile. He opened him mouth to speak, only to find himself suddenly aloft from the floor, his lapels held firmly in the ultra powerful grasp of Ranma Saotome.

"You ain't talkin' yer way outta this one, so shut up now and I MIGHT go easy on ya," he promised, vibrating his arms slightly and shaking the man almost violently with the subtle action.

"You win...you were right. I'm nothing, you're a better man than I am," the man said in a quavery voice, eyes wide in terror at seeing the promise of pain and suffering he saw in the depths of the blue eyes that glared at him.

Ranma smiled dangerously, "You REALLY think that's gonna work now? You're an idiot," he said, shaking his head sadly.

Tapping Ranma's shoulder, Nabiki pointed to the platform. "Tofu's done Ranma, you're up," she informed him quietly, giggling lightly at the man's horrified expression.

"And finally ladies and gentlemen, we have Ranma Saotome to demonstrate the power, grace and intricacy of his school's art. Luckily, it just so happens that his sparring partner was a willing participant of tonight's activities, in fact, it was this man's actions that brought all this entertainment to you," she acknowledged as Ranma dropped the man unceremoniously to the platform.

The man immediately curled into a fetal position, covering his head with his arms. "Aw c'mon man, show some pride will ya? Be a man!" he chided the cowering pretty boy at his feet in disgust.

The man only tucked himself tighter into a ball as a response, whimpering slightly louder.

Shrugging, Ranma gave a confident smile. "Oh well. It ain't like I need you ta fight back or nothing to train," he said, cracking his knuckles.

He moved explosively forwards, lofting the balled up man into the air and spinning gracefully in pure defiance of gravity, kicking him towards the back of the room.

One moment he was on the platform, the next he was in front of the airborne man, slapping him back towards the center of the room. Crouching slightly, he launched himself up once more and seemed to run on the ceiling, overtaking the man and catching him easily before sending him volleying back to the ground.

People gasped in wonder and amazement at the man's actions, applauding and whistling as he manhandled the frightened big mouthed bully around the ball room with ease.

Slowly at first, then with gradual buildup, Ranma sped up his attacks until he became nothing more than colorful blur around the room chasing the ball shaped man to keep him from hitting the floor, walls and ceiling as means of displaying his prowess.

After almost five minutes of action the crowd was roaring and cheering the display and Nabiki, Kasumi and Motoko found themselves swamped by volunteers to the respective schools, all clamoring to be accepted and trained in the art form's they were witnessing.

Ranma landed lightly on the platform and without looking extended up an arm and caught the man as he flew past, easily holding him above his head. With deliberate slowness he stood, brining the cringing man's face to his. "Have ya learned yet moron?" he asked quietly, the room having gone silent at the sudden change in playful demeanor by the smiling hero.

One eye shot open and the terrified man nodded comically, babbling incoherently until an open palmed slap shut him up. "You insulted my wife, my friends and my honor, but I'm gonna take it easy on ya. You pay for all expenses tonight...for all of us, without question, or I'm gonna have to get mad," he said narrowing his blue eyes meaningfully.

Smiling without humor, Ranma set him almost gently back on his feet. "Good, I knew you couldn't be as dumb as you looked," he said, dusting off the man's shirt, then motioning for the manager of the hotel to come over.

"Make sure this guy pays up," he told the now broadly smiling manager, a rather large list of expenditures in his ready hands.

Moving back to his wife, Ranma caught her deftly as she leapt into his arms and kissed him deeply, drawing a cheer of encouragement from the crowds.

Blushing profusely at the attentions, Ranma's eyes popped open as he met the gazes of a sea of strangers around him. "Um...Nabs?" he squeaked, swallowing hard.

She giggled in response to his words, "Don't worry about them, they're just here for the party," she assured him, knowing full well what he was uncomfortable with.

Taking his hand, she led him up to the platform once more. Accepting the mic from a spectator, she held up her husbands arm. "Ladies and Gentlemen, let's get one more hand for our demonstrators for tonight! Ranma Saotome!" she shouted, her voice reverberating around the room.

Motoko and Keitaro were next, called forwards by the exuberant young woman. "Keitaro Urashima and Motoko Aoyama!" she called as both the kendo practitioner's bowed in appreciation for their efforts.

"And finally Tofu and Kasumi Ono!" Nabiki called her sister and husband to the platform, Kasumi waving and smiling demurely as she walked arm in arm with Tofu.

"Thank you all for your interests and applications, someone will be contacting you within the next 2 weeks with further information. As you may have heard, our volunteers have agreed to pay for tonight's festivities, so..." he paused and gave Ranma a hungry smile, "Let's party!" she announced, earning her more cheers.

Later that night...

Ranma held Nabiki in his arms, her legs wrapped around his middle shameless as he carefully stepped to their bed, kissing one another deeply. She moaned playfully as he laid her on the bed, crouching over her like a predator. "You were magnificent tonite lover boy," she cooed to him, pulling the silk shirt from his muscled torso.

He smiled down at her, gently touching her face as he did, enjoying the silken texture of her skin. "It was fun Nabs...and I didn't even hurt the guy," he agreed, helping her with her shirt as she aggressively pulled it over her head.

She laughed at him clumsy yet gentle help, as if fearful of breaking her. "Yeah, but I still wish he'd of wet himself. Did you SEE the look of terror on his face when you were throwing him around like you do the panda man?" she giggled, slightly drunk from the champagne they'd been drinking.

Laying next to her, he touched and explored her body reverently, earning him more than one sigh of desire and moan of want. "I'm just glad I didn't have ta hurt'm or nothing. It ain't like he coulda really defended himself," he admitted, eyes widening as the dark brown of Nabiki's eyes filled his vision, her face leaning closer to him to capture his lips once more.

Ceasing the verbal talking, the newlyweds let their bodies communicate for them, the remainder of their clothing hastily discarded.

There was a loud thud from the front of the rooms, followed by a splintering of wood. The noise caused a naked Ranma to leap from the bed and take an offensive posture as he caught sight of a masked intruder holding a long blade. With an almost primal growl, Ranma's eyes narrowed as the intruders eyes widened comically at the sight of facing an irate and naked Ranma.

"Oh shit..." the man said, his voice very familiar to the martial artist.

Meanwhile...

Motoko tied the rope around her middle, her ebony silken hair flowing around her shoulders as she moved deeper into the room where Keitaro was waiting for her. Accepting the glass of champagne from him, she gently tapped the side of her glass to his. "This is like a dream my love," she said quietly, watching him with a smoldering gaze over the rim of her glass as she took a sip of the beverage.

He flushed at the heat and weight of the gaze, knowing well what her eyes expressed to him and finding a match within his own. He smiled at her, "Sometimes it seems like everything that's happened is a dream, that it's too good to be true," he admitted, stepping closer to his lover.

With careful movements, she wrapped her arms around his neck so as not to spill the champagne, moving her lips only inches from his. "You're too good to be true Keitaro, to me, you're a dream come true and everything I could have ever wanted in a man...and my husband," she whispered huskily, kissing him softly to emphasis her words.

The kiss turned erotic, bodies pressing closely to one another, hands meandering up down as they deepened the intimacy between them. A cracking, splintering sound echoed throughout the room, surprising the young lovers and sending fragile crystal flutes of champagne crashing and shattering to the ground.

Both turned to face the noise as they moved to their swords, blades bared with supernatural quickness. The tips of the swords found two masked intruders, eyes widened in horror as they looked at the nylon rope and knives they held, then up to the eyes of the supposed victims. "Oh shit..." they muttered in unison.

Realization dawned on first Motoko then to Keitaro, anger and disgust filling them along with a sudden need to inflict great bodily harm on the two that dared to enter their sanctum.

"You shall PAY for this intrusion!" growled Motoko through grit teeth.

Keitaro didn't bother with words, so filled with sick dread at what they'd obviously planned to do to his love and wife. He moved swiftly, the sword in his hands suddenly humming dangerously as it felt the need, power and anger of it's master call to it. "ROCK SPLITTING AIR SWORD!" he shouted, spinning as he lunged and sending super charged chi rocketing towards the two men.

The carpeting and flooring was obliterated in the wake of the attack as it raced unerringly at the two intruders, slamming into and then through them. The sheer power of the attack shredded clothing and skin, revealing the two to be the same one's that had been harassing them earlier.

The knowledge was latent however as they were carried forcibly by the wave attack through the wall, door, corridor and far wall at the end of the building before being thrown almost to the warm lapping waves of the nearby ocean.

A moment later, the building shuddered almost violently as the roof all but exploded outwards from a nearby room, a dark figure carrying a limp form silhouetted against the night sky. There was a brilliant flash and a ball of pure chi energy lit up the irate form of Ranma as he unleashed a devastating point blank attack into his intruder, sending him violently rocketing into the unforgiving sand of the beach. "MOKO TAKIBISHI!" he shouted into the broken serenity of the resort.

Looking at the spectacle through the wide and devastating new hole through the wall, Keitaro nodded his approval and understanding at his friends actions, his mind piecing together what must have happened in comparision with his own events.

Looking back at a visibly stunned Motoko, Keitaro rushed to her side. "You okay Motoko?" he asked, unsure of the meaning of her expression.

She blinked almost dumbly at the damage and debris his attack had done, shaking her head slowly. "I...I never expected you to be able to summon such power yet Keitaro...I...wow," she said in a hushed voice, though a flush of pride in her lover's accomplishment suffused her.

Breaking into a smile, she pulled the surprised young man into a passionate kiss, her free arm wrapped tightly around his neck, holding him to her eager lips.

Stiffening only slightly at the sudden change in demeanor, he met her passions with his own, feeling a rush of elation at her amazement of his abilities with the sword. His mind dimly realized that the powers he'd called upon had been not only fed from his near boundless life energies but by the love he held for Motoko and the rage he felt at someone trying to harm her.

The thought gave him great comfort, knowing that he'd be able to defend his love with everything he had at his command and then some. He tightened his own arm around Motoko and returned her enthusiasm with his own.

"Wow...you guys ever gonna come up for air?" asked a smiling Nabiki as she sauntered through the broken wood, plaster and metal that littered the hallway.

They looked over to the girl and had the decency to blush though neither made a move from the other. "We had some attackers..." Keitaro started only to have Nabiki nod and hold up her hand.

"Yeah, us to, but Ranma had a rather short and violent discussion with our uninvited guest about manners and the effects of acceleration and gravity. I think he'll be thinking about it for a few weeks in intensive care. You guys okay? Or should I ask about YOUR visitors?" she asked, eying the destruction with an appraising glance and whistling low at the extent of it.

Tofu and Kasumi walked quickly up to the group just as Ranma landed on the roof and somersaulted into the now exposed hallway, catching Nabiki in his arms as he landed. Smiling broadly at everyone, "WOW! Nice job guys!" he congratulated them, nodding before kissing his wife as if to assure himself she was unharmed.

Basking in the attentions, Nabiki all but purred her appreciation of his love. "Looks like they WERE as dumb as they looked. You call the authorities Kasumi?" asked Nabiki.

She nodded solemnly, "Yes, and Tofu discovered something else as well. It seems that the champagne we received tonight was drugged," she told the others as Tofu nodded.

"Yes, when I tasted it earlier, it had a sharp metallic taste that I was unfamiliar with, so I had the hotel staff call the authorities so that we could have it tested. Just as they were confirming the presence of an unknown additive...well, to put it mildly, all hell broke loose. Is everyone alright?" he asked, not seeing any visible wounds on anyone.

Clamoring footsteps echoed through the hall, announcing the arrival of uniformed officers and rescue workers. Taking quick stock of the situation, the head of hotel security motioned two officers forwards. "What happened here?" he asked tersely, seeing the amount of damage done and no blood shed to be found.

Nabiki gave the man a tired but knowing smile. "You're not gonna believe this, in fact, I KNOW you aren't. Let's go someplace we can sit down and we'll tell you the story..." she paused and regarded her husband, smiling a bit more broadly as she continued. "You're gonna want a seat and a LOT coffee for this explanation, trust me," she told him as the gathered people went to an isolated room in the recesses of the resort.

A few days later, Tendo residence...

Setting their bags down inside the foyer, Ranma looked around curiously. "Huh? Where's everyone at?" he asked quietly, craning his head around to find sight of anyone.

"I'm sure that they're here some where, after all the press we got in the last few days," Nabiki said with a happy yet tired smile.

The days following the attacks had been busy and eventful, the press getting a hold of the footage caused by the honeymooner and playing it up as real heroes standing up for themselves.

The trio of men had turned out to be a cluster of serial rapists that preyed on vacationers throughout the pacific rim and were wanted in several countries for questioning regarding attacks and illicit drug distribution. The drugs they'd been using with great success having failed to effect any of the group they'd targetted this time. It turned out that with all the cooking from Akane that Ranma had eaten had all but made him immune to most toxicology available outside of governmental testing. Keitaro and Motoko, having been the recipient of Su's creations, had also shown a surprising fortitude against the drugs. The men, having counted on their prey being incapacitated, had simply blundered into their own demise. The local government had all but bent over backwards in thanking and acknowledging Ranma, Keitaro and Tofu for their efforts at capturing the men.

The men, however, weren't as lucky. All of them suffered severe internal injuries that would require many weeks of care in a secure hospital before being transferred to a remote prison for incarceration for the next few decades. Women had come forward to press charges against them, and dozens of cold cases suddenly were solved almost overnight as DNA evidence matched the men to a multitude of crimes.

Having been rewarded with a lifetime room at the resort, the honeymooners had reluctantly returned home, unwilling to end such a magical week but still having to return to the mundane lives they did slightly miss.

"Hey guys, about time you all got back," said Bill as he tapped on the door frame behind them.

Nabiki smiled at the man and hugged him in greeting, "Bill, it's good to see you," she told him.

"Hey man! What's up? Something wrong?" asked Ranma, frowning slightly as he shook his friends hand.

"Nah, nothing like that. Just wanted to meet you guys here is all. Well, that and let you know that the family is at the hotsprings for a while," he told them, walking into the house with them.

"Hotsprings? What'd they go there for?" Ranma asked him, his brow furrowing slightly in confusion.

Bill just smiled and nodded towards the door. "Me'n Chayn thought it'd be best for them to keep their distance for a few days while you two got your affairs sorted out," he told them cryptically.

Following his look, the married couple looked at the door and found an exquisitely dressed Shampoo in traditional Amazon wedding garb standing there proudly. Her smile was loving as she looked at her husband and co-wife. "Shampoo happy you come home, have big surprise for you," she told them, stepping into the house and being followed by a small woman that bore a striking resemblance to Cologne.

As they stood stunned at the appearance of the elder, the woman laughed in a pleasantly musical way. "Now now youngsters, it wouldn't do to have you gaping like fish at an old woman. Especially one that is here to wed you," she informed them, her tone and expression one of warmth and understanding.

Looking up from her, to Shampoo's face, then back to Bill, both Ranma and Nabiki stood dumbfounded. "It's kinda a long story, but I TOLD you I'd take care of the revenge part against Cologne for going back on our agreement. Seems like she WASN'T as respected in many Chinese Amazon circles as we'd been led to believe. I'd like you to meet Perfume...am I pronouncing that right?" he asked the elder with a respectful nod.

"Close enough young man, close enough. It will do for now," Perfume told him with a nod and negligent wave. "In the mean time, I would like to express my gratitude at your starting a new tribe here in Japan. It's been many a year since the Amazon nations have been expanded and to have such stock as these young people," she said with a exuberant expression, clasping her hands before her and bowing in turn to each Ranma, Nabiki and Shampoo.

Only Ranma was flabbergasted at the admission, looking up in confusion and trepidation at Nabiki. "Huh? Tribe?" he sputtered out, blue eyes wide and slowly blinking at the information.

Walking to her co-wife, Nabiki slid an arm into hers and walked her to Ranma, ceremonially giving her to Ranma as first wife. "Yep. It's like this Ranma, the only way for Shampoo to regain her honor and rightful place was to sever her ties with her tribe and start over. I asked Bill to find out what pacts her old tribe held and if any of their rivals would support a new union that bring honor and prestige to the Amazon nation," she explained, smiling indulgently as Shampoo cuddled up to the still shell shocked Ranma.

Shampoo looked up adoring at her new husband, having been accepted by his first wife, her sponsor tribe and now her husband. "Shampoo make you good amazon wife, give you many daughters to teach in NEW amazon way. Then Shampoo and family challenge Cologne for tribe and take back what Shampoo's!" she said, kissing his cheek, then turning his head slightly and kissing his lips with deep affection.

Nabiki blushed slightly at the sight, still aclimating herself to having Shampoo in their marriage. "I'd of told you earlier but didn't want to ruin OUR honeymoon loverboy, so I thought it'd be a nice surprise for when we got home," she told him before going to stand next to Bill as the remainder of the amazon's entered the home.

Mousse finally entered and gave them a sad but proud smile, bowing before them. "I've come to ask forgiveness Ranma Saotome, and to be allowed to join your tribe," he asked formally.

His mouth hanging open, Ranma was suprised at his one time rival's appearance. "Mousse? Whaddya mean MY tribe?" he asked, his arm going around Shampoo almost instinctively, earning him a smile and giggle from his newest wife.

Perfume walked between them, "He's been outcast from his old tribe and no male may join a new tribe without permission from it's head...in this case, that is you," she informed him bluntly.

"Ranma is husband to Shampoo and Nabiki, both now Chinese Amazon, so Ranma now head male of tribe. Mousse want join to show that he not weak male like others in China. You let him, yes?" she asked Ranma, her voice unnaturally serious.

He looked down into the lavender eyes of Shampoo, then up to the brown and loving eyes of Nabiki, finding both to be supportive of the man before them all. Turning his attention back to Mousse, he extricated himself from Shampoo and crossed to the man whose head was still bowed in expectation.

"Mousse, you're more'n welcomed man. You're my friend and Ranma Saotome don't turn his back on his friends," he announced with a warm smile, extending his hand in friendship.

The white robed Mousse brought his head up and accepted the outstretched hand with a warm smile of his own. "Thanks Ranma, I won't let you down," he promised, letting out a sigh of relief at being accepted so easily by a man whose life he'd made miserable.

The Amazon elder walked almost serenely up to the side of Ranma, "You'll do well young man, very well indeed," she told him, nodding to Mousse as if to dismiss him.

Bowing before first Perfume then to Ranma, Mousse turned and walked towards the others inside the home and began to help them unpack the cases they'd brought in with them.

"Okay Shampoo, let's get you ready," Nabiki told her co-wife, not having to force the girl to accompany her up the stair to dress in her traditional gowns.

Perfume watched the two women walk up the stairs, waiting for them to disappear from sight before speaking to Bill and Ranma once more.

"You've done well Ranma Saotome, to foster such devotion in the hearts and minds of strong women. Are you certain you wish to join your line to that of the Amazonian nations?" she asked him, walking into the main living area.

Ranma followed the strange woman, but nodded as he did. "Well, yeah, I guess so. It ain't like she's gonna force me to go back ta China or nothin' an' her and Nabs get along okay now, so sure. I don't see no problem with it," he answered her, looking over to Bill curiously.

Raising his hands, Bill shook his head but smiled at the young man. "Sorry amigo, you're on your own for this one. I can't help you one way or the other now. If this is something you want to do, then it's all you," he informed him, taking a seat on the couch.

"Indeed, your choice can be solely yours Ranma, though I believe your wives have much to do with your decisions," Perfume told him, turning and regarding him for a moment.

"This ceremony will not only bind the three of you for all your lives but will also seal your alliance with the Amazon tribes and give you the rights according to our laws, passed down through the centuries," the old woman explained.

"Uh, what rights?" asked Ranma, beginning to feel more than a bit out of his league at the turn of the conversation.

"Any slights or grievances you may have can be aired and contested according to our laws. Say, for instance, a grave insult to your honor or the honor of you family by another matriarch," she elaborated, smiling broadly as the man finally began to realize the implications of her words.

"So, you're telling me that I can challenge Cologne for what she did'n said to Shampoo?" asked a suddenly brightening Ranma.

Shaking her head, the woman smiled, "No child, only a WOMAN may challenge a matriarch, especially in matters of honor. Although, I do believe that it shouldn't be an issue given your curse. Also, since we've sponsored your marriage into our tribe, that give both Nabiki and Shampoo the honorary title of matriarch as well, so if either should desire to do so, they are allowed as well," finding her smile to match his own as he figured out the plans Nabiki and Bill had worked so hard on.

Clapping Ranma on the shoulder, "Well, looks like you're gonna have your hands full for a while, so I'll let you get to it. I'll be back to check in on ya from time to time though, just to keep ya honest," he said to him with a wink.

"You're leaving?" he asked Bill, shaking the offered hand as the man stood before him.

"For a bit. Gotta let you guys get all used to each other and you won't need a third wheel along while you do. Just take care of them Ranma, show them you love them both equally and you'll be fine. When you're ready to confront Cologne, have Shampoo contact Perfume and I'll come running. I wouldn't want to miss that for the world," he told his friends, laughing darkly as he thought of the look the old crone would have at having been outmaneuvered so adeptly.

Looking gravely serious for a change, Ranma nodded at the advice. "I will Bill, and thanks again, for everything," the pig tailed boy told his friend.

With a final nod Bill left the home to prepare for it's upcoming nuptials, walking down the street and beginning to whistle a happy tune as he enjoyed the bright sunshine.

Elsewhere...

A gloved hand turned off the monitor that had been playing scenes of the devastation caused by Keitaro and Ranma at the resort. "As you can see, he's more than capable although very unrefined as of yet. Do I have your agreement then to our accord?" asked a raspy voice from the taller of the two cloaked figures.

Stepping closer to the monitor, the shorter of the two reached out and touched the monitor almost fondly before turning to the taller. With slow movements, it brought it's hands up to push back the hood of the robe, regarding the shadowy face of the taller with icy blue eyes. "Yeah, we do. Just make sure he shows up, I can't let him get away with this," said the steely voice of Ranma Saotome.

Another stepped forwards, joining him. "This wasn't part of the deal, but it can be made so. I don't want him killed, just punished. As for his 'wife'..." a female voice said, her tone dripping with venom and sarcasm at the word.

"Destroy her. Utterly and totally," she said, turning to look at the harsh and cruel face of Ranma.

Ranma looked at the woman with almost disgust, his lips curled into sneer. "You WANT that wuss Nabiki? I thought you'd of wanted someone WORTH something...not a waste of flesh like HIM!" he spat, then easily caught the hand she swung at him as she tried to slap him.

Fiendish laughter reverberated around them, the taller figure moving to separate the two volatile and unwilling allies. "Now now, there'll be plenty of hate and hostility to go around to those that DESERVE it. After all, we can't go and RUIN our surprise now can we?" laughed the dark figure, his voice oily and almost obscene.

Throwing down the woman's hand, Ranma simply glared at her then the taller man. "Whatever. Let's just get going, I'm gonna make him pay for what he's done," snarled Ranma, turning abruptly and striding back into the depth of shadows that cocooned them.

Nabiki turned her face and showed a haunted look to the taller figure. "Our deal stands Drake. He won't kill Ranma and I'll make sure this gets pulled off, in return you give me that Ranma and we go back to fix what was taken, right?" she asked, fierce hatred almost glowing in her eyes.

Bowing low, Drake smiled at her from within the shadows that hid his features. "Of course my dear, we have a deal after all. Now then, let's get him to Geese Howard and truly give this tournament something to talk about," he assured his cohort, extending his arm to her and leading her into the shadows once more.

End of Chapter notes:

This has been in the works for almost 6 months or so, kept putting it down and then picking it back up...fixing stuff here and there, toying with the story and what not. This is an interlude to the next set of books to follow up Never Negociate with the Ice Queen and Immortality Sucks. I've known where I'm going to go with them both, just have to get the time to sit down and write them inbetween all the OTHER projects I've started...lol. RnR if it moves you to do so, and I hope that everyone enjoyed this little tidbit.