Dreams of Sakura: Chapter 3

Author’s Notes: This chapter had to be split, the consequences continuing into Chapter 4. It gets a bit dark at the end as a result of what happens midway through. This chapter is 16,030 words long.

Chapter Tags: [Continuation, Post Vol. 38][Moderate crossover with increasing original elements][Dark Spots] [WAFF spots]

Tatata-tap.

Tatata-tap.

Irritably one Nabiki Tendou drummed her fingers on her desk. The last class of the day before lunch on Saturdays always seemed the most tedious. A class that was already boring with a teacher who droned on in similar discontent was made worse by it being the last class of the week.

Her annoyance was heightened by what she would have to do in less than an hour.

Tatata-tap.

Running damage control with the likely suspects was always tricky. She was never certain what kind of odd curveball would come at her, so making a plan was more useless than usual. All she could do would be to prepare herself with as much knowledge as she could and just take charge when she needed to.

Tatata-tap.

Her father and the panda would be a predictable duo, though the scent of money might distract them. Akane would probably charge in and deny anything, but she was easily redirected. Ms. Saotome would be predictable until she learned about Ranma's new 'family', then who knows what that woman would do.

Tatata-tap.

The others, well, what they did and how they reacted didn't really matter. They could dig themselves into a hole for all she cared.

Tatata-tap.

Tatata-tap.

What was up with Ranma anyways? She had seen him do some strange things before, but he had been easy to see through then. Those two girls had practically molded themselves against his body, and he had seemed just fine with it. The girl that may as well been an antique doll in her fragile beauty had been bad enough, but the other one was obvious in what she wanted.

Heaving a sigh, Nabiki forced herself from that line of thought. It certainly wasn't something she needed to put herself through.

Tatata-tap.

Tatata-tap.

Overcome with boredom, Nabiki decided fantasizing about a nice rich guy with long black hair in a damp bathrobe wasn't all that bad of a way to pass the time.

Just as long as she didn't end up hanging off of his arm like a lovesick girl.

Then of course it would be worse if she started daydreaming about him. Perverted daydreams were one thing, as they could be blamed on hormones, but romantic ones weren't so easily dismissed. At least she wasn't daydreaming of doing both in any variety.

A few minutes later the entire class was startled as Nabiki's desk rattled as she thumped her head down on it. Nervously, several people edged their desks away from her covertly.

Nabiki sighed in annoyance as her distraction technique worked for the moment.

Being lonely, sexually frustrated, and reading manga ranging from sappy romance to kinky hentai just didn't go well together at all when she was trying to maintain an icy disinterested demeanor.

A low, light sound partially between a chuckle and a giggle sounded in the class, and a few brave poor souls ventured to look at Nabiki. The wiser students had already scooted their desks clear across the room. The poor souls that saw the devious grin she was sporting at that moment practically teleported across the room to cower in fear on the other side.

Nabiki had a little experience before acting the part of a sexy intelligent woman in teasing boys, particularly her favorite, Ranma. She was still a young girl though and just acting the part. She knew though eventually she would become a woman with real experience, and she knew just what type of woman she wanted to become. Sexy and intelligent, with wit and will, turning her aggressive behavior towards dominating business matters, and being passionate where it mattered.

Part of it was finding a guy she actually liked enough. She didn't want someone too pathetic to stand up to her, a whipped boy was useless to her. Most of the willful boys however were self absorbed to the point of ignoring their trophy girlfriends, the other extreme Nabiki was going to avoid.

Ranma was definitely willful, but despite his previous arrogant attitude, he would bend over backwards for a girl, while sometimes showing some willful pride. His first turn off to her had been his unexpected surprises, which she had quickly realized just made him the most interesting guy she knew of. With that sore spot gone, the only two areas he lacked in as far as she was concerned was that he was poor and crude to the point of being insolently insulting at times. Of course, that was most definitely not the case with him now.

The teacher squeaked and fainted as the catty Tendou girl licked her lips and moaned breathily. Nabiki merely grinned and strutted over to the door, the barricade of students and desks suddenly parting before her. "Mhmm...I suppose that means class is dismissed."

As she left, the guys and girls of the class continued staring at the doorway. Guy and girl alike, they felt like they had been graded like a piece of beef and been dismissed as lacking.

The only thing they were thankful for was that Kuno hadn't shown up again today.

It actually took them a few minutes to collectively realize class was basically over with.

Nabiki made it home a bit early that day, getting there before Akane did. Her first order of business was finding Kasumi and Nodoka, whom happened to be in the same room. "Hey Aunty, stick around while I gather everyone up, I have information on Ranma." Almost absently she turned around, having almost forgotten, "Oh yeah, I have some news for you too Kasumi."

Kasumi was a bit surprised at being included like that, wondering what news Nabiki would have for her. Nodoka on the other hand was a bit more active, immediately following after Nabiki. "You know something about my son?"

Nabiki turned back towards Nodoka with a grin that was warmer and more confident than her usual one. "Oh, he's just fine Aunty. We even had a nice date, so you should be happy."

Nodoka was a bit too stunned by that information to continue. That was definitely not the kind of information on her son she was expecting, no matter how good it was. Kasumi recovered first and walked over to the Saotome matriarch, gently leading her back in the kitchen.

Nabiki took the opportunity to make her phone calls. She didn't want to explain this more than once.

"Telephone Master Ranma. It's Nabiki Tendou."

Ranma looked up from the tray of pastries he was plundering in the kitchen towards to direction of Maria's bright voice. Glancing at Nanako for a moment, he went over to the kitchen phone and picked it up. "Hello, Ranma here."

He listened for a moment as Nabiki told him she was going to inform everyone about his whereabouts today. "Alright Nabiki, thanks for the heads up. I'll be sure to arrange a proper welcome for them." He was a bit surprised when Nabiki changed the subject. "Well of course I meant it about Kasumi. You? Well I suppose if you really mean it. Alright, later."

After hanging up the phone, he stared at it for a moment. Then he let out a snort while shaking his head. "Heh, She's something else. Oh Nanako, we're going to have guests today, dunno how many will be eating if any." That seemed to remind him of something else, causing him to rush out of the kitchen.

The house's ninja-cook looked after her master. Of course, he was the only master she had ever had, but he was a pleasure to serve. It was surprising to see him leave without finishing his after class snacks. Humming to herself, she turned to put away the snacks for later, only to find the tray empty. Even with her training, the boy managed to pull something like that as a common occurrence. Giggling to herself, she planned out a dinner with food suitable for hand feeding him with again.

Nabiki smirked as she looked out over the milling crowd. They were just so predictable. Time to see just how many of them would stay and listen to everything. "Alright everyone, I found out Ranma is staying at the mansion near Shinamori University. The owner of both just happens to be a woman named Sakura."

Kuno took that moment to stand up, point his bokken into the sky and start torturing everyone else again. "Ha! So that is where the foul villain lies in his lair of deceits!" Not staying to listen to the mindless peasants, he rushed out of the Tendou compound so Sasuke could be allowed to arrange transportation so he could slay the fiend swiftly.

Genma took this as an opportunity to try and make himself seem important. "Well then Tendou old boy, it's time to go fetch that disrespectful son of mine."

Shampoo bounced up while hammering Mousse into the ground before he could shout out anything she considered stupid. "Yes! Shampoo go save husband from woman who no know not to steal Amazon woman's husband."

Cologne took this as an opportunity to teach Shampoo another lesson. Bashing the impulsive girl on the head just happened to be one of the few ways to get her attention. "Shampoo, I don't believe that is all the information Nabiki has for us. Perhaps you would like to know more before you go rushing off into battle?"

Nabiki gave the sometimes-cat-girl a catty grin before turning her attention back to the group. "Don't worry there kitten, this is useful information after all. I wouldn't be wasting my time here otherwise."

"Now to get to the matter at hand, I met Ranma there, and he's better than ever as far as I can tell. He's also staying there voluntarily and not really taking any real effort to hide. He admitted to having something done to him to make his memories foggy, but they seem to be distant instead of changed. From what I can tell, his memories are still accurate. I didn't meet with this Sakura woman since she was out at the time, but I met his new personal maid and a girl that sounds like the busty ninja Konatsu noticed."

"As for the rest, he nor the people there seemed hostile. Kasumi has been invited to stay there and attend the local college for free, and I managed to get permission to stay there myself."

Cologne was a bit surprised when Akane asked an intelligent question before she could raise it, though it wasn't phrased as she would have put it. "Kasumi was invited to attend college there? Who invited you and how come I'm not invited?"

Nabiki gave her little sister a surprisingly warm smirk. "Well that's simple. Sakura made Ranma her heir. Right now he basically owns the college and is richer than Kuno. As for the why, I think Kasumi is the only person he remembers fondly so to speak, but he seemed willing to put the past behind him. I got an invite just because I asked nicely."

Cologne narrowed her eyes in thought, finding one curious bit of information that might be important. "Tell me now child, you mentioned Ranma's memories. Is there something you suspect there?"

The predatory young woman nodded thoughtfully. "I'm not positive mind you, but I think his memories were made more distant so to speak. When I was dealing with him, I'm pretty sure he remembered everything I did to him, but he wasn't afraid of me or angry, just very objective about it."

The ancient shriveled woman nodded thoughtfully. "The sounds troubling for our cause. I take it these new people in his life are taking pains to be nice to him?"

Nabiki couldn't help but smile and laugh to herself. "Oh yes, those girls were definitely being nice. They put quite a bit of effort into teaching him how to treat people. They have him well, to put in their terms, acting like a prince. The noble kind, not the "I need to kidnap a princess because I'm a loser" kind."

Shampoo frowned cutely while knuckling Mousse deeper into the ground as he started to stir. "How is this problem? Shampoo go and take care of Sneaky-Husband-Stealing-Girls."

The shriveled piece of human jerky that refuses to die, Cologne, shook her head sadly at her descendant's foolish impulsive nature. "It's much more insidious than that child. Ranma has apparently achieved a state where he can objectively view his life, like a monk's moment of enlightenment, or a person in threat of dying." Seeing no one had quite grasped it yet, she decided to demonstrate. "Shampoo, how do you think Ranma sees you?"

The aforementioned girl cocked her head to the side in thought, sending her long purple hair swaying. "How husband see wife? Shampoo pretty and make nice-nice, not like Great-terror-of-kitchens-girl."

Cologne shook her head sadly. "That is how you see yourself girl. Ranma obviously doesn't share that viewpoint, or he would be your husband already. Ranma likely sees you now similarly to how Nabiki would see you, without emotion."

Seeing the hanging question, Nabiki decided to fill Shampoo in. "I think I know what she's getting at. You spent months trying to kill Ranma, then tried to kill Akane, then erased her memories, tried several times to force Ranma into marrying you, and other than that were the lovely times he got to rescue you, like from the ghost cat. Oh, and you also happen to turn from fairly annoying to his worst nightmare. In the past, he's only been nice to you because you've manipulated his emotions, but now that won't work on him." Looking around, she noted that no one really seemed to understand. The idea that Ranma might now be able to make rational judgments about people was apparently too alien of an idea for this group.

Nabiki decided to ease their worries. "Look, just take your time dealing with this. It's not like they're blood-sucking monsters or some kind of strange cult that needs Ranma for their plot."

".. . "

"Right, forget I said that."

After wandering the mansion for a few rooms, Ranma eventually found Maria in the hanging garden room. The room was so named for its many tiers of plants in multiple rows. The other nice feature of the room was the large banks of windows, allowing for plenty of sunshine and a good view.

Finally finding her, he called out to her a bit urgently, "Hey Maria, I didn't expect you to be in here."

Maria smiled politely from her position near the far wall and daintily walked over to him to prevent her skirt from disturbing any of the lower plants. "I was merely keeping Lady Utena company as you wished."

The aforementioned girl poked her head up from behind a row of flowers, holding up a hand full of flowers. She had a white tulip tucked behind her right ear and a very bright smile, with the backlighting from the noon sun providing a pleasant halo glow to her skin. "Hi Ranma. Maria said it was alright to pick some flowers, so I did. I hope it's alright."

Ranma looked at her a bit surprised, as he had been so intent on Maria. "Ah sure, that's what they're there for." After a moment, he remembered himself and turned back to Maria. "The people from Nerima are coming today, so I want to make sure you're at full strength in case something happens."

Maria blushed faintly and looked away, abashed at getting special attention from Ranma. "Are you sure? I mean, I'm not really hungry yet since last week." Nervously she fiddled with her skirt, embarrassed of getting special treatment from her Master, but also not wanting to go against his wishes in doing so.

The pony tailed young man shook his head in amusement at her bashfulness. "Don't worry about it. It's best to have you charged up in case something happens, and we should have enough time before anyone arrives."

At this time Utena stepped over to the pair with a troubled look. "What are you talking about? Is something wrong?"

Her prince turned to her, giving her his attention again. "Nothing's wrong really. I guess you may as well know about Maria. It's nothing bad, just that some people wouldn't understand."

The pink haired girl blinked and followed after the pair, not quite expecting something like this to come up. "Ah, what exactly are you talking about?"

The petite blond hummed lightly before thoughtfully answering. "Well, to be honest, it sounds scarier than it is. If Master wishes you to know Lady Utena, then it is best you watch, then I shall answer your questions."

"Yeah, like Maria said. Noth'n really bad is gonna happen." Said Ranma, sounding a little distracted.

A bit hesitantly, Utena followed along. Eventually the trio reached their destination, Ranma's room. That was when Maria started taking off her dress. "Ah hehe, I don't think I'm uhm, ready for this." stuttered the suddenly nervous princess.

The provisional man of the house looked at Utena a bit cluelessly, wondering how she figured out what was going on. "Huh? What are you worried about? I'm the one she's going to be sucking and licking on."

Utena colored with a scarlet blush while backing away towards the door. She certainly hadn't been expecting this even though she knew she was supposed to share Ranma. Was this supposed to be a way to introduce her to such a lifestyle?

Ranma paused in the middle of unbuttoning the front of his silk shirt. "Huh? If you don't want to watch, you don't have to Hime-chan."

As her prince reclined on the bed and the slim lingerie clad blond crawled into bed with him, Utena paused at the door. Watching wouldn't be so bad right? She could always leave, even though she was pretty sure she wasn't ready to see someone else with her prince. Was this some kind of torture, or a test?

She could only see the blonde's back and long mane of hair, but it was obvious when they began. Ranma grasped the pale girl's wrists, holding them out to the sides while the pale girl herself kissed her way around the base of his neck. As Maria started to squirm in growing arousal, Utena wondered why she kept kissing near his clavicle. Was this a demonstration of what Ranma liked?

For some reason however, the blonde's moaning and squirming in arousal increased, despite the relatively innocent nature of their contact. Then the blonde's restrained thrashing forced her off to one side of Ranma's chest, letting Utena spy the light smear of blood over his right clavicle. "Ranma?"

The young martial artist looked over at the rather concerned and confused looking girl by the doorway, a little worried about how she was handling this. "See, she only needs a sip of blood to fuel her powers. It's not as bad as you thought."

The pink-haired princess pointed a shaky finger at the couple on the bed. "but, you mean she was drinking your blood?"

Ranma was a bit confused by her question. "Huh? I thought you knew she was Dracula's granddaughter. What were you thinking then?"

Rapidly realizing her blunder, Utena colored again and did her best to shift subjects. "Ah, so she's. . Dracula's Granddaughter? You're kidding, right?"

Ranma briefly gave her a surprised look for a second before wrestling with Maria for a second to keep her from nipping at him again. "Cut it out, you're drunk already." After a moment he had managed to turn the slight girl over se her back was facing him with her forearms crossed over her stomach, making her fairly helpless since she couldn't break his grip. Seeing that Maria had settled down to merely squirming, Ranma turned his attention back to Utena. "Ah, well she's half Vampire Slayer too, the Holy kind and all, so she's not really dangerous. She just needs a little blood each time, and mine is kinda strong."

Still standing there in surprise, Utena was spared having to formulate a reply by a shout from outside. "Whither the foul sorcerer Saotome? I shall slay the foul cur wherever he cowers from my awesome wrath!"

"Huh, looks like my guests have arrived early. Hime-chan, could you hold Maria for me?"

Utena blinked in shock while taking a step forward, becoming increasingly more confused. "Guest? He sounds like he wants to kill you."

The ponytailed young man answered without missing a beat. "Well yeah, when he wasn't trying to rape me or molest my former fiancée. He's pretty good at Kendou though, so it should be good practice." After answering her he waited a few seconds more before asking the still shocked girl, "Uhm, could you hold Maria for me, I kinda need to go out and kick his butt before the guards get a hold of him."

"Uh, sure." Carefully Utena sat on the bed beside the captive girl and cautiously grasped her crossed forearms. "Are you sure I'll be able to hold her?"

Her prince blinked at her quizzically before letting go of Maria. "Sure, she's really weak, and she has enough control to not use her powers. She uhm, wants to do something embarrassing, not hurt anyone."

"Oh." Mollified, Utena gave the pale girl a second look over. She wasn't really moving or struggling now, just staring at Ranma and panting a bit heavily. The blood red glowing eyes were kinda creepy, but the rich pink flush to the normally pale girl's skin along with certain other 'signs' showed just what kind of desires Maria was wanting to act on, and Utena had no doubt about whom with. "Oooh. That kind of embarrassing."

Abashedly Ranma ran his hand back through his bangs. "Eh, yeah. Uhm, well, be back soon Hime-chan, Maria." Not wanting the awkward situation to continue any longer, the young man slid open the window and zipped outside to deal with stick boy.

Utena blinked as the window was somehow shut as Ranma leapt out. She really wanted to go to the window and see him, but she couldn't do that while holding Maria.

"Ranma."

Utena looked at Maria in surprise, having thought she was too out of it. The urgent whisper had been clear enough, and the supernatural girl was staring at the same window for presumably the same reasons. A bit cautious of what the strange flushed girl might do, Utena carefully led her over to the window by her the hand. The earlier comment on drunkenness seemed right-on, as Utena had to support her with an arm around the waist to help Maria walk over to the window.

Outside stood Ayumi and several female ninja, between Ranma and some unconscious boy in a hakama, and a girl in a leotard whom was currently bound and secured between two ninja girls. The only action seemed to be Ranma talking to Ayumi, so there apparently wasn't anything to worry about.

Ranma gazed at the two heaps of Kuno siblings, trying to place everything he could see. The Kuno boy seemed to be as he remembered as normal, wearing a blue and white hakama with a normal wooden bokken. As for the girl, there was a discarded dress that looked like it was a nice one, while the girl was left wearing a black leotard. From the looked of things, the girl had been the victim of a return spike on an exploding ball, while the boy had just been beaten down.

"Is something wrong Master?"

Turning to Ayumi, Ranma shook his head slowly. "No, not really. Kodachi should be secured, but I wanna duel with Kuno there when he wakes up in a minute. Just be careful with Kodachi, she's tricky."

Making some discreet hand signals, Ayumi relayed the orders to her subordinate ninja, all the while giving Ranma her attention. "If you wish to practice your sword techniques Master, we have many sword-masters here including myself. That boy wouldn't be a proper challenge even if he was fresh."

"Well, I just want to see how well I do against him. Besides, he has a pretty hard head, so he'll be up soon."

"Well, he was hit in a few soft spots besides the head."

Ranma paused and re-examined the Kuno boy, noting the way he curled up to protect his injuries.. From the rather delicate posture he was keeping unconscious, it looked like his pelvis was just shy of being fractured. "Uhm, Ayumi, that's a little cruel there."

Discretely watching Kodachi being bound and carried away, the busty ninja girl shook her head. "My squad didn't do it. A guard that was with you broke away to do it. Such a mauling is surprising from her to be honest."

"Mhmm. Well, I want to speak with her." Feeling around for emotional auras, he felt one shrink and wilt some in shame. Noting the aura belonged to Aki surprised him. While several of his guards were skilled shadow ninja, Aki was extremely gentle, relying entirely on her stealth skills as far as he had known. Turning slightly so the ninja herself got the point, Ranma spoke to the empty air. "I'm not that upset, but I do want to speak with you about this, okay?"

After a short wait, an entirely black clad ninja girl knelt by Ranma's side. She would have been the typical indistinguishable slender female ninja, except there was something that looked like spiky black fur hanging from her backside. Having everything about her covered in black except her face, her painful ashamed expression made her look like a kicked puppy, an image not helped at all by her drooping tail.

Sighing, Ranma knelt down and put his hands on her shoulders in the hope of comforting her. "What happened Aki-chan? You're the last person I would have expected this from."

At that, the petite ninja girl started sniffling as her large sparkling eyes started to tear up. Holding her balled up fists close to her chest, she started franticly trying to explain in between sobs, but being too emotional to be understandable.

Sighing to himself, the young man took the petite dog-demon into his arms in an attempt to comfort her a bit. His empathic senses were of little help, since all he got was a jumble of emotions whirling intensely. Finding no help there, he tried a more mundane approach of rocking the slender girl in his arms while murmuring to her, "It's okay Aki-chan. Just breath in and out. One more time. That's a good girl."

Feeling her emotions were still jumbled up, Ranma went for the one activity that always worked with Aki, one that he had unknowing started to apply to other girls in his growing comfort around women. One hand snaked up high to stroke her hair and neck, while the other went lower to rub around her lower back and rump. His actions had an immediate effect on the puppy girl as she started to relax and get sleepy, but unlike a human girl who could enjoy the same attention, Ranma made a point to use his high hand to occasional rub her velvety black floppy type dog ears that blended in well with her hair.

After only a few minutes of this, the shy puppy girl had curled up in his lap, legs tucked under so her backside would be in easy reach, especially her rump and neck. Taking up this position reminded Ranma of when they first met years ago, when he was a young boy and she was truly a puppy herself. Being a boy and puppy, they had immediately taken to each other, even if he was a wandering martial artist and she walked on two legs and wore dresses. It truly brought back many warm memories of the yearly weekend get aways that Genma probably never noticed in his frequent binges.

Frowning in thought however, Ranma realized he had neglected her since his return. It wasn't too surprising however since Aki's one and probably still her only special ability seemed to be naturally melding into shadowy invisibility, an apparent result of her natural shyness. He didn't understand why she hadn't come out when he returned this time, pouncing eagerly like she normally did. Dredging up a smattering of memories from the eight to fifteen year old range of his life where he knew her, he had to guess she thought something was wrong, as she only hid from him when she was ashamed. Until they could talk and find out what was bothering his childhood pet, he would just have to settle for petting her affectionately, an action that would probably make everything alright in Aki's world of flowers and cuddling.

"And ladies and gentleman, that brings our tour of this quaint little college to a close. Next is the final stop on our tour, the stately Hisegawa Manor. Please remember to stay with the tour group, and your guide takes no responsibility for any actions you may take."

"Gee, thanks Nabiki. Your confidence in us is very reassuring."

Grinning at her younger sister, Nabiki obviously didn't regret her jab in the least. "Say what you want sis, but I didn't see what kind of flunkies are here, or even meet their leader. For all I know this Sakura woman employs hitmen and snipers, and would dispose of us by selling us to some forgotten brothel somewhere. Of course, she could practice Martial Arts Flower Arranging and just give us bouquets, but for now I'll err on the safe side."

"Come now girl, it won't be anything we can't handle. Why Tendou and I have developed a simply perfect plan to get back my ungrateful son, " blustered the blustery old fool of blustervania.

"Now now husband, I do recall you stating how easily this 'mere woman' made a fool of you before."

Finally nearing the open gates of their destination, the group noted they were apparently expected. Four men and women, dressed in varying styles but showing the similar features of carrying melee weapons and an assortment of pouches lined the path just inside the gate, two on each side. All four maintained their positions, but their relaxed and ready body language made it obvious they were ready to act and not shy about announcing it.

Turning to one of the armed young men, Nodoka inquired, "Excuse me young man, but where might I find my son?"

The gruff young ninja smirked rudely in return. "Just up the path in front of the manner. You're not with the pair that was here earlier are you?"

"Heh, must have been Kuno-chan, he did run off half cocked like usual." wryly observed Nabiki. "What happened with them?"

The guard grinned again, this time showing off pearly teeth and enlarged canines. "Well, he was insolent enough to proclaim he was here to slay the Lord of the House. I hear he might recover in time, so perhaps he'll do us the honor of gate crashing again. Us poor jonin rarely get a chance to practice our 'evil sorcerous ways' these days."

The woman beside him merely rolled her eyes. "Stop being so melodramatic. You'll get your chance to enjoy yourself. *sigh* Boys. Just ignore the lug there, we're just traditional gardeners that practice Martial Arts Gardening."

Smirking at the chewing out, Nabiki once again led the group, being more comfortable than the rest of the group since she had already been here. In the back of her mind however, something about ninja and traditional gardeners clicked.

Having moved down the path a bit, Nabiki noted Ayumi was coming partway to 'greet' them.

Kasumi however observed the black wagging tail attached to the black lump in Ranma's lap, which caused her to cheerfully proclaim. "Oh how cute, Ranma has a pet doggy here."

"Heh yeah, figures Saotome is a dog person." smirked Nabiki before elbowing her little sister in the side. "Heh, maybe if we should have gotten him a dog."

Akane turned an irate glare at her playful older sister, "He doesn't need a dog, besides it's enough trouble looking after Ranma."

"Well you could have trained it to keep intruders away. Who knows, it might have kept a certain cat from popping into the house and making new doors."

"That not funny! Shampoo take defense at that!"

As the group was finding amusement in Nabiki's joke, Ryouga made his way around the group to the front, where he proceeded to pose dramatically. "Finally I've found you Ranma! I'll make you pay for your crimes!"

Nabiki frowned at the young man, not having a clue about when or where Ryouga joined their little tour, but she knew he hadn't bought a ticket. She also noted that various people were homing in on Ryouga, and subtly began edging her group back away from the angry boy.

Having exhausted his small amount of patience, Ryouga continued his shouting. "Damnit Ranma! Stop playing with that mutt and fight me like a man!" To get his point across, in one smooth motion he proceeded to unstrap his iron umbrella and fling it straight at Ranma.

Somewhere, distantly, Aki was aware the hairs on the back of her neck were standing up, but right now she was in heaven. There was no greater joy for her than Ranma, and right now her was stroking her neck, replacing that prickly sensation with bliss, while the hand meandering around the small of her back produced a warmth that made the sun itself shy.

Ranma was back in her life, and as soon as she could move and form coherent thoughts, she would shower him with affection. There weren't words to express her love, so she would use flowers and cuddles. Maybe she would look for words again. Owner was too cold, and Master was too formal. Friend too little, and lover too stifling.

Tomorrow she would bring him fresh peonies, and she would call him Ranma, and he would call her Aki. He would then smile at her, and she would once again reside in paradise as a simple pet and her boy.

Upset with herself for letting a fight begin, Ayumi stood her ground for the moment, since with Ranma outside she wanted to see what he wanted done. Something however made her glance over at her young master whereupon she noted the warm sight of a boy and his puppy reunited. As a know of darkness formed in her guts, she noticed he was occupied with his pet, and recalled that a crying girl or lapful of puppy could distract Ranma enough to allow him to be hit. Even to her heightened perceptions, the umbrella was only a blur that was almost on Ranma, and even if she rent the air with her ninjitsu in time, it was too close to her young naive master.

Point first it impacted his forehead, cleanly transferring its impressive momentum to the unsuspecting youth, sending him crashing back into the mansion wall, caving it in, while one dazed and shocked dog-girl was left spinning in mid-air.

Knowing there were dozens of people there better suited for caring for Ranma, Ayumi's gaze snapped onto the young man that dared strike her master right before her eyes. Seeing that he was mid-stride forward and apparently intent on continuing his assault, she launched herself forward while preparing a fast ninjitsu technique. Slamming the spell hard and fast into the ground, the chi flows writhered like a den of vipers, ensnaring the entire group in hyper vitalized vines and grass creepers, snaring them to the ground before Cologne could even shout a warning.

Closing in on the shocked boy as he was still in mid-stumble, she shot out one leg to brace her as she hit him with her strongest right cross. Taking the blow combined with her momentum, Ryouga tore out of the ensnarement as he rocketed backwards.

Pausing a moment to crouch down and prepare, the green haired kunoichi turned to her side and barked out, "If they move, kill them!" Having then made her announcement, she leapt after the still airborne lost boy, electricity crackling between her hands as she formed a ranged attack that would assure he wouldn't have a chance to recover before she was on upon him in all her fury.

Simultaneously, Aki, having been left spinning in the air due to Ranma shooting out from under her, instinctually extended her arms and legs to slow her dizzy whirling. Catching the ground by digging in her hands and feet brought her to a jarring stop, which unfortunately left her stunned as the iron umbrella landed on one extended limb, snapping her slender left leg.

"What the hell just happened?" Asked a very confused Akane. She had almost gotten close enough to cal out to Ranma, then suddenly Ryouga pops into the scene, and now she's neck deep in perverted weeds.

Cologne, currently free of weeds and perched on Mousse's head attempted to divert some unadvisable behavior. "As always, someone managed to cause a great amount of trouble is what. I advise we all sit tight and carefully consider our actions, as we're currently in a hornet's nest of ninja and at a distinct disadvantage."

Genma of course was ignoring such advice and attempting to break free, but the vines seems to grow back just as quickly as he broke them and twice as belligerent.

Cologne shook her head in annoyance as a decent yet stupid fighter went down, a needle sticking out of Genma's neck before the vines covered his body. "Right, anyone else feeling a need for impulsive stupidity? Mousse?"

Growling slightly the myopic walking armory replied, "No, I'm good elder, I seem to have vines stuck in my equipment for some reason. Anything else I can do for you besides play pedestal for you?"

After a moment of silence where the group warily watched the surrounding ninja that watched them just as intently, the downed dog girl finally regained her senses and pushed herself up. Spotting Ranma in the debris of the destroyed wall, she scampered over to him, unmindful of her useless leg. Finding him unconscious, she followed her senses and knelt by his head on her one good leg. Staring at him intently for a moment, she went with her instincts, licking away the trickle of blood on his forehead, hoping he would wake up. When he didn't stir she stopping to gaze at his sleeping face, looking for a sign. "Ranma? Wake up. Please wake up. . . Please. . . wake up."

Hearing the pitiful pleading that was starting to degenerate into sobbing, the still bound Nerima bunch were to worried with how this was going to turn out to really notice the girl's dropping black tail was weird.

Starting to get a little nervous, Nabiki posed the question worrying a number of people, "This isn't going well, is it?"

A frustrated red-head chose that moment for her outburst. "Let me go! I want to see my son. Why isn't someone helping him?"

The black haired woman from the gate earlier growled in reply, having since then lost her playful demeanor for a growling snarling countenance that indicated she would love to rip out someone's heart right then. Pausing between sentences to pant, she ground out, "You. Be. Quiet. You have. No right. To call yourself. His mother."

This treatment didn't have the intended effect on the indignant redhead, perhaps because she had little experience with the adventures of her son's life, unlike the others present. "How dare you say that! He's my little boy, and I waited ten long years to see him again only to have you people take him away from me."

Still having trouble controlling her breathing enough to finish entire sentences, the irate black haired woman growled out slowly, "How dare I? How dare I?! That's my daughter crying over him. They grew up together, and I watched over them. I had to treat him better, because she would have died for him before she even hit puberty! She even sleeps at the foot of her own damn bed waiting for him to return!"

Even though she wasn't the target of the woman's ire, even Akane was a bit cowed, though her stubborn nature gave her the courage to ask, "Well, why isn't someone helping them? I think her leg is broke."

The woman's breathing seemed to have calmed somewhat, but her eyes seemed more intent and dangerous as she carefully replied. "I'm a killer, not a healer. I doubt she's even noticed she's injured, much less cares. Knowing her, if he doesn't get up soon and smile at her, she'll just curl up and die. So if he's not better soon, her leg is the least of my concerns."

It was Kasumi that noticed first, but gradually the rest of the group looked over without being told to notice the woman in the blue kimono tending to Ranma.

Kneeling beside Ranma, the Lady of the House gently placed her hands near his forehead before closing her eyes in composed concentration. After a tense moment for everyone in the room, Sakura turned to regard Maria, still in her underclothes with Utena and a number of house servants standing beside her. "Maria, stay with Ranma and see to him. It's a concussion, so he isn't to be jarred or moved until a healer gets here. Utena, keep Aki company please."

Following Maria over to Ranma's side and away form the gathered group of onlookers waiting for orders, Utena addressed Sakura instead of kneeling beside Ranma with Maria. "Ah, who is Aki?"

With a wave of her hand, Sakura indicated the slender gild curled up beside Ranma with her head resting on his torso. "She's his childhood pet. Just keep her company please, someone else will tend to her leg."

"Her leg?" Curiosity striking her since the dog girl seemed to preoccupied with Ranma's breathing, Utena examined her legs, having to pull away the translucent silk skirts to spot a rip in the girl's black panty hose. There was no blood or wound, but now that she could clearly see the outline of the leg, she could tell it was bent unnaturally. She almost demanded to know what the hell was going on here, but a quick glance around revealed that the situation was still apparently underway and they didn't need her underfoot, so she sat as ordered, choosing to keep a wary eye on the detained group outside.

Making her way out carefully through the partially cleared away rubble, Sakura made her way to behind and to the side of the woman that had admitted to being Aki's mother. "Kimiko, what has happened here?"

Reluctant to back away form her guard duty, the black haired woman held her ground, combat knives held at the ready now that she wasn't too angry to think clearly. "The Hibiki boy attacked the Master unawares, injuring both of them. Ayumi ensnared the group and knocked him into the Forest of Lost Souls. She left us orders to kill any of them that try anything."

Gazing off in the direction, Sakura seemed to contemplate the situation. "So that explains her where abouts. Very well then, Kimiko, set up security for Lord Ranma. When he's ready to be moved, he's to be placed in the Chamber of the Sun. Until then tend to your daughter. Once that's done, return to me."

Kimiko perked up immediately, quickly hopping back out of her place in the circle. "Thank you Mistress." Tracing a quick bow, she was quick to go to her daughter's side so she could set the leg, allowing for the demon healing factor to finish the rest.

With Ranma's safety arranged, Sakura turned her full attention to the group of impromptu shrubbery before her, carefully considering them as if judgment were going to be passed. Few present doubted that was going occur given their present state. Finding something within the group, she posed them a surprising question. "Is there anyone here who wishes for Ayumi to spare the Hibiki boy?"

"What?!" exclaimed Akane, supplier of surprised outbursts and outraged tirades.

The Lady of the House remained perfectly composed as she explained clearly, "Well, if someone wishes too, they may bargain for his life. I doubt Ayumi will give up her kill under no other circumstances."

Several in the group stared at Sakura's cold and uncaring offer. Akane however was outraged that the woman would treat poor Ryouga like that. "What? Can't you just order your flunky to back off? And get us out of this perverted weed garden?"

"No to both. Ayumi and a number of ninja you are currently finding hostile serve the Lord of the House, and as he is currently unconscious, they will deal with any threats in their own manner." So saying, Sakura's only change in response was to gaze at Akane in particular.

Akane blinked at that, not finding quite the answer she wanted. After all, wasn't this woman in charge? "Well still can't you do something?"

Sakura at that moment bowed her head and closed her eyes, raising her right hand to her heart. "I am afraid you misunderstand, I serve my Lord most faithfully. I find myself reluctant to offer even this much."

"What kind of person are you?! Ranchan would never stand for such cruelty!" ,cried a distraught Okonomiyaki chef.

Long silky black hair fluttering lightly in the growing breeze, Sakura turned to gaze at her surroundings in contemplation. "I suppose not." Catching sight of a wandering firefly, she murmured, "perhaps he will be displeased, but he shall be safe, ne Ayumi?"

The firefly pulsed once, becoming a softball sized globe of light, then again, enlarging into a softly glowing basketball of forest flavored chi. It maintained this state of stability for a moment before exploding into a maelstrom of natural life energies, revealing the busty ninja girl Ayumi in all of her battle glory, aura blazing and hands covered in blood. "Yeah, so how is he?"

Briefly, Sakura closed her eyes in an attempt to establish a more serene atmosphere, knowing that Ayumi wouldn't receive what she had to say well. "It's what I feared might happen. He's in a coma at the moment, but we should be able to safely wake him in about a week, perhaps sooner."

"What?" exclaimed the youngest Tendou girl, shocked and slightly appalled at her statement. "It was just a little bump to the head. He gets hit on the head all of the time." Slightly unsure, she continued, "I mean, he's probably faking, he'll just get up and laugh at you for worrying."

Stepping away from the group and turning, Sakura let out a quiet sigh, "How I wish that was true, but his condition is poor. Normally it wouldn't be a concern, but he's still recovering from psychic surgery, hence why we are intent on guarding him from harm. He'll receive our best care of course, but it will take time for his mind to knit together."

Snarling somewhat, the green haired kunoichi glanced over at her mistress before choosing Akane to glare at. With a cutting hand gesture, the grasping grass and vines receded into the ground. "Alright then, we'll just finish this quickly. If you've got issues or an inkling of wanting to harm Ranma, then let's get it on, we'll settle everything right now."

Seeing no one eager to accept the bloodstained kunoichi's offer to fight, she decided to spur them along, "Come on, get the lead out, this is your last chance, after this there will be no forgiveness."

Stepping near the irate ninja girl, Sakura turned slightly towards her to address her, "That's enough now. Nabiki and Kasumi Tendou, you can step away from the group since you're invited." Beckoning them forward, she led the far enough away that they were noticeably apart form the group, but not so far that they were uncomfortably separated.

"Hey, what's this about? How'd Nabiki get invited?" ,not that actually doubted Nabiki worming her way in, but she felt the matter needed to be protested at least.

"Quite simple, your middle sister called before hand to ask if she could stay here and attend school with her older sister. As for what this is about, it's quite simple. Would everyone who's struck or harmed Ranma outside of sparring practice raise their hands?" Seeing everyone left in the group eventually raise their hands, sometimes with the prodding of a neighbor, she considered the case closed.

Seeing the idiots with their hands up in what could be considered enemy territory, Ayumi grumped at their foolishness. "So what do you want done with them?"

Sakura glanced over at her, bringing up a slightly different subject. "What about the Hibiki boy?"

Cracking her neck slightly to loosen it up after staying still so soon after a fight, Ayumi made her intentions clear, "I haven't decided what to do with him yet, but just finishing him off seemed unsatisfying. I don't really want to hand him over to Kaede either. I suppose I'll leave it with the forest for now."

Nodding her head in acknowledgement of her report, Sakura addressed the group of violent Nerima regulars, "Well then, if anyone wants to bargain for his life, now is the time, he could die any moment now."

Seeing everyone, including Sakura looking at her expectantly, Akane blurted out, "Hey, what's everyone looking at me for?"

Raising her hand again, Ukyou volunteered. "Okay, I'll do it, what do you want?"

Catching up with the conversation, the youngest Tendou raised her hand as well, "Fine, I'll go along with this, but what kind of people are you to do this?"

Ayumi bowed her head slightly, casting her eyes into shadow and peering at the young girl through her green bangs, suddenly appearing dark and menacing. "I'm a ninja little girl, the real kind. My life belongs to him and I'll do anything in my power for him. I'll also do what I believe must be done, even if he demands my life in return. Bear that in mind girl, because what Sakura is really asking is for me to show mercy, and I shall not unless it's in his best interests." Glancing over meaningfully at the Chinese trio, the moody ninja girl left them a final statement to consider, "I'll even bury a village or few if I have to."

Silence reigned for a moment, chiefly because Cologne silenced her two impetuous young wards. During that time, Ayumi actually considered what the two girls might have to offer that would outweigh someone like Ryouga wandering around with his ability to sneak past defenses. "Sorry girls, but you're not worth it."

"What?" ,cried both Akane and Ukyou in disbelief, however, since it wasn't an illusion, their effort at disbelief was wasted, Ayumi was still dismissing them.

"I was considering what you might have to offer, but even if both of you promised to serve Ranma faithfully, the hassle wouldn't be worth letting that boy free to attack again." stated Ayumi simply.

"That's crazy, why would I do anything for that pervert?" demanded Akane while Ukyou put her feelings in order.

Sighing at the injustice of it all, the ninja girl exasperatedly asked, "Why are you wasting my time? Why waste your time coming here with that attitude? Did you think you'd waltz in here and have him follow you home like a trained monkey?"

Upset and not thinking straight, Akane blurted out, "I'm his fiancée, of course he'll come back home, right after I save him form you kidnappers."

"Hah, you have the nerve to call yourself his fiancée? He was just putting up with you because he promised himself he'd tough it out and put up with that fat fool's blunders until he was eighteen. I guess he figured someone might redeem their self in that much time." opined Ayumi, hoping beyond hope that that would finally drive the point home, but deciding that elaborating would help. "We're his home, his family." The dark brooding aura dropped for a moment as the ninja girl quietly continued with a funny look on her face as she self-consciously looked away. "That's what he calls us, even as we teach him we're his servants."

Not waiting for the girl to finish and missing her last quiet statement, Akane shouted in outrage and pain, "So what?! He had this all planned out? Lead us along for a few years and then run off with you floozies?"

Gathering herself together as she realized she'd exposed herself somewhat for a moment, Ayumi gave the irate girl a sickly grin, "Heh, stupid girl, he gave you plenty of chances. You had a chance at him that a lot of girls would give anything for and you blew it. Instead of using your time as fiancées, you girls skipped right on to the jealous girlfriend phase and ruined any chances of anything significant growing between you.

Frustrated with all of the accusations, with people always judging her, she angrily denied her part in it. "Hey, it isn't like that! You don't know what I had to put up with!"

"Really?" Ayumi grinned as she continued her verbal assault on the girl's psyche, "So tell me, what did he want for the future? What would make him happy?" The assembled group stared back stupidly for a moment, considering briefly their own ideas and finding them plagued with doubts.

For Soun, did Ranma actually want a dojo, or to get married, much less to his own precious little girl. While the boy took great joy in the martial arts, he didn't seem interested in marrying or becoming an honorable sensei. Perhaps the boy just hadn't had enough time to grow and mature to feel the need to settle down.

Kasumi found it a sad thought that she knew so little about Ranma. She did however know he genuinely appreciated her cooking and when she would mend his shirts. Memories of him being happy at those moments flooded her, making her realize something simple, he didn't get near enough of those moments. They were easy to supply, and he would have had more fond memories if she hadn't made way for Akane to spend more time with her fiancée, not that Akane took those chances.

Nabiki kept her peace, because while she knew the tidbit about being a prince, she didn't know what the plans were. She did however know what he didn't want, and that was good enough for now.

After wrestling with whether she should even care or not, Akane actually considered something what Ranma might want, and as usual, she didn't understand him. The only thing that kept popping into mind was Ranma fighting, Ranma annoying her, and Ranma with girls. Considering that and what Ranma's current situation looked like, she came to a simple conclusion. "He wants a big harem of girls fawning over him, isn't that what you've set up here?"

Many of those assembled chose to stare at Akane for a bit, the freshly assembled ninja girls doing so with eager expressions. A pink haired one was actually bouncing in place in her eagerness. "That's a great idea, can we? Mistress Sakura, Miss Ayumi, we could have a lot of fun and dress up and everything!"

Sakura turned to regard the energetic young girl for a moment. "An amusing idea. While it's not quite traditional, it would make a great number of people happy. It will be a while before such should be considered though. You of all people should know he's shy."

Deflating slightly, the pink haired kunoichi sighed and nodded, knowing she had been overeager one already.

Shaking her head at her students antics, past and present, Ayumi addressed Akane again, "You might care to know, but Ranma is still quite virgin, won't even feel a girl up." Shaking off her disappointed frown, she continued, "So you're wrong, Ranma's about the only one here that doesn't want that outcome. Anyone else care to make a fool of themselves?"

Shampoo at that point was at a true loss. She was pretty sure Ranma didn't want to return to the Amazon village, and for some unfathomable reason he didn't seem to want Shampoo. Obviously though these girls here knew what they were doing, because they were encountering the same problem, yet making progress.

Cologne kept her thoughts to herself, because guessing correctly wouldn't do her any good and destroy any chance Shampoo had of figuring it out for herself and winning some favor here.

Mousse found he had a simple problem once he considered it that way. He wanted Shampoo, Shampoo wanted Ranma, and Ranma didn't want Shampoo. Mousse couldn't really fathom it, but Ranma didn't want Shampoo for some unfathomable reason. Perhaps if he could figure out what Ranma wanted so the boy could move on, Shampoo would be able to put this foolish quest behind her.

The Saotome Matriarch found herself with a dilemma of her own. She had yet to sit down with her son and speak to him, to have a heart to heart. While she had her beliefs about her son, they were more based on expectations than her limited time with her son. While she would love to tell these people off, but she had a horrible feeling that might tell her the truth she didn't know, and that would mean these strangers were closer to her child then she was.

Even as a seasoned chef, Ukyou had her own doubts with Ranma, however, she was fairly sure he'd be happier with her then he was at the Tendou's. Maybe she couldn't offer anything fancy, but she could make Ranma comfortable and happy. With her restaurant she could support him enough so he could continue his martial arts freely, perhaps winning some tournaments or getting some sponsors. Of course that was based on what she used to know. It seemed likely now that Ranma had other childhood friends that lived at this place, the strange girl wearing the tail being the most likely suspect.

She knew she didn't really have a right to say anything, but Konatsu had considered what Ukyou and Ranma might do for the short time she had known them both. Both had done much for her, and she would have liked to see them happy as a result. Ukyou she understood fairly well, the girl just wanted a happy life with Ranma and her restaurant and was willing to allow room for Konatsu in that. Such an outcome would have pleased the kunoichi as well, as she would be servant to both then and able to repay their kindness.

Ranma on the other hand, she had to admit she knew not of his goals. She had often wondered what it was he desired. The situation in Nerima hadn't seemed suited to him, yet he did what he could to maintain the happiness of the area and even preserve a status quo that wasn't favorable to him. She had always thought he didn't pursue the engagements because he had not wanted any of them. Perhaps in the light of new information, he had no reason to choose, and simply kept the quo so the girls could all have a chance.

That being said, judging by the reception, none of the girls had passed whatever test there might have been. Having thought most of that before allowed Konatsu to keep something else in mind. "Excuse me, Miss Ayumi, if two aren't enough, would three be enough?"

The green haired kunoichi gave the black haired pseudo kunoichi a curious look. "Three?"

The boy pretending to be girl ninja nodded politely, "Yes, three lives of service for the life of Ryouga."

The ninja mistress blinked at the offer, considering the worth of it. "Well, this is unexpected. You're suitable to be a kunoichi, despite your birth status. With a little extra training you might even be able to fend off someone like Ryouga. However, I would much rather just have the business with him over and done with. Give me a moment to think about this."

The chef stared at her waitress, surprised to hear her making such an offer. "Konatsu, are you serious? Do you even know Ryouga?"

Konatsu ducked her head in embarrassment, not wishing to upset her mistress. "It's not really about Ryouga. While I am happy as your waitress, I would be just as happy to serve beside you. I also do wish to be a true kunoichi with a master, and there are only two people I would wish for that position." Smiling shyly at Ukyou, she continued, "As you see, my reasons are entirely selfish."

Not wanting to think about what Konatsu was saying, partially because a cross-dressing kunoichi joining Ranma's harem was really perverted, Akane decided to reasonably reinstate her complaint. "What the hell are you on about? You're still not satisfied? How could you toy with Ryouga's life like this?" Seeing the situation starting to deteriorate, Kasumi stepped up behind her sister and quietly put her hands on her shoulders. "It will be okay Akane-chan." Looking at the currently irate green haired girl in charge of this, Kasumi beamed her a gentle smile in the hopes it would restore her spirits so she could clearly consider the matters at hand. Seeing the situation was still tense, she decided to do something very odd for her and make a serious choice. "I know I can't offer as much as others, but I will join as well. Would four be enough?"

Giving a reluctant smile, Ayumi threw her hands up in the air, sending her chest bouncing in her disheveled mini-kimono. "Fine, you win. I'll get him some medical attention and drop him off with Kaede. She can take care of him." Stepping back from the group, she stood near Sakura and Nabiki. "Alright then, if I have your word of honor you four will serve Ranma faithfully, step over here."

Experiencing a bit of doubt, Ukyou glanced beside her to Konatsu, only to find the pseudo girl looking expectantly at her. Finding herself still in doubt about all of this, she decided to encourage her good hearted but bumbling kunoichi onwards. "You go on Konatsu, I'm still trying to sort out my feelings."

Smiling at her mistress, Konatsu felt blessed by her friendship once again. "I shall wait for your decision Mistress Ukyou."

Finding herself troubled, Ukyou chewed on her lower lip in thought, "But, isn't this what you want? You could be a kunoichi instead of a waitress, and they look like they're well equipped. So, it would be best for you."

Nodding her head in deference to her mistress, Konatsu chose to reasonably disagree, "I am fond of you both, and I would be happy serving as a waitress or ninja. However, if you two aren't together, then I feel my place is with you, doing what I can."

While she was touched at Konatsu's loyalty and thoughtfulness, one statement of her's stood out the most in her mind. Her and Ranma not being together. Her best and possibly only chance might be working on the inside. Doing otherwise, she felt like would be giving up on Ranma, and that was unthinkable for her. Stepping forward, she resolutely walked over to the bloody ninja girl, Konatsu a step behind her. "Alright. I spent ten years training for revenge on Ranchan. I can spend ten years at his beck and call if that's what it takes."

Ayumi managed to keep it off of her face, but while she was happy at the girl's commitment, she found the fact she'd forgotten all about Ryouga amusing. At least she felt Ukyou might honor such a promise now, one of her biggest concerns with Ukyou and Akane.

Seeing Ukyou and Konatsu step up and Akane still unmoving, Kasumi gave her little sister's shoulder a gentle squeeze to encourage her. "It's okay Akane-chan, I'm right behind you."

Hearing her sister encourage her to join Ranma's little harem was enough of an impetus to cause Akane to step forward, only to whirl around and grab her older sister's arms so she could state at her in shock with a hint of heat. What was Kasumi of all people doing encouraging all of this? "What are you doing? How could you agree to this? How could you agree to being Ranma's slave?"

Smiling gently at her little sister, Kasumi managed not to show much of the turmoil and worry she was feeling over doing something so impetuous. "Well, I wanted to help you save Ryouga-kun. Besides, it won't be so bad."

Akane gaped at her dear sweet innocent and extremely naive older sister, of course she couldn't understand what Ranma was capable of. While a lot of her knowledge of how boys thought came form the hentai horde and her own private collection of hentai manga, she had caught Ranma in plenty of compromising situations and knew from her 'research' exactly what he was truly up to. "You don't know what he's capable of Kasumi! He's a pervert and he'll mistreat you!"

Of course, Akane didn't realize Kasumi passed the boring parts of the day by reading her collection of naughty manga, along with Nabiki's stash. She also never considered the possibility of Ranma being an innocent when it came to sex. The thought of herself as Ranma's plaything would usually have made her blush uncontrollably, but instead she took offense with Akane's accusations this time. "That's enough Akane-chan. I trust Ranma." 'Just like you should,' she mentally appended to herself.

Not understanding her normally reasonable older sister a bit, Akane couldn't think of any other arguments in her frustration. "Come Kasumi, you can't do this. You don't know what you're doing."

Sighing quietly, Kasumi gave her little sister a final sad smile before stepping past her. Stopping in front of the kunoichi mistress, she politely bowed to her before addressing her. "Please excuse me Miss Ayumi, but please forgive my sister. Can you settle for the three of us, perhaps with Akane-chan promising to leave Ranma alone?"

Giving the girl a half-hearted smile for being braver than she expected, Ayumi nodded her head in acceptance before quietly speaking. "That should be alright, three honest promises are much more than the four half-hearted ones I was expecting."

Running on emotion and instinct, the young Tendou stomped her way over to the group, before speaking without giving her words any real thought. "Like hell! If Kasumi's going so will I!"

The green haired kunoichi quirked an eyebrow at the irate girl, finding her statement mildly amusing. "and am I supposed to take you seriously after what you've said? I'm not going to let you in on a promise you intend to break."

Finding an opening, Akane stood triumphantly with on finger pointing proudly at the cruel woman before her. "I'll do it until I find out what you're up to. Until I bust your scheme though I'll play your sick little game."

Grinning like a wolf finally cornering her prey, a sight which actually momentarily shocked Akane, Ayumi brought up an interesting point. "Well, what if there is no scheme? What if you're wrong about Ranma?"

Deflated somewhat, Akane settled on staring back at her instead of letting any doubt show.

The kunoichi however didn't want things to stand as they were, she wasn't in the mood for halfway measures. "If you can convince Kasumi to leave, then you can leave as well. However, since for the time being Ranma is going to own you, you'll find out without a doubt what kind of guy he is, because there will be nothing stopping him if he wants something from you."

The thought of Ranma being able to do anything to her with no one to stop him and what he might do was too much for her, causing Akane to betray herself with a nervous gulp. Prideful as ever though, she wasn't about to back down, despite the sinking realization she had jumped into something she never should have agreed to. "Alright, if that's your game, lets play."

Hearing the girl finally agree, Ayumi glanced over the rest of the group before glancing over to Sakura. After a moment of silence, Sakura quietly nodded before speaking up. "If everyone will excuse us, we have important matters to attend to. Kasumi, Nabiki, if you would come with me I'll show you to your rooms."

After Nabiki and Kasumi went to her side as requested, she made no move to leave, instead addressing her head ninja. "Ayumi, take those three into hand and relieve Kimiko. When Kimiko gets out she can take over as their unit leader for now."

The green haired woman nodded, idly eyeing the rest of the group. "and the rest?"

Sakura nodding, since it was still a civil matter she would deal with them. "To be honest, you people aren't invited. You can leave now, and if you return uninvited, you will be considered hostile until proven otherwise." Seeing the group was silent, she didn't give them a chance to recover, choosing then to turn and make her way into the mansion.

Seeing what was left of the Nerima group standing there at the entrance in shock, took a moment to compose herself before settling into the business of clearing them out. "You heard the Lady, time to leave."

Temporarily finding his courage, the Tendou patriarch spoke out against the apparently viscious kunoichi. "You expect me to leave my babies behind?" Seeing his awesome rage was having no effect on the traitorous ninja, he changed expressions and attempted another route. "Come-on Akane, you don't have to do this. Come on home and we'll talk some sense into Ranma and get this all cleared up."

Frustrated with her father's meddling, Akane responded with frustration, "Dad! Leave me alone! I can handle this." For once she wished that he would treat her like an adult instead of babying her. The fact that this time she might actually need help just added insult to injury.

The green haired kunoichi, unfazed by Soun's attempt at intimidation, turned to the youngest Tendou in amusement. "Indeed, Miss Tendou, would you escort Mister Tendou and Mister Saotome off the premises?" Hearing the reasonable manner in which she was asked, Akane was taken back by the green haired ninja girl asking her to do it like it was an everyday thing. "What?"

Sighing at the necessity of having to repeat herself for such impetuous youth, Ayumi decided to clarify what she wanted in a slow clear voice. "You're getting a chance to prove yourself. If you don't do it, I'll have someone else do it and they won't be so gentle."

Hearing the voice of an adult trying to be reasonable, Akane considered what the woman was implying. Since she didn't want her father here to begin with causing trouble and embarrassing her, she didn't see any reason not to do as she was asked. "Fine, come on dad, time to go home." Suiting words to actions, she grabbed her father by the elbow and the still comatose fat Saotome by the gi, she began dragging both of them towards the gate they entered from.

While his baby girl going against his wishes and throwing him out wasn't too unusual, her listening to a woman she obviously hated and doing so was surprising. Perhaps she was doing it to reunite with her wayward fiancée like a good daughter? Whatever the case may have been, it didn't change the fact that her grip hurt and she was being none too gentle in her escort. "Baby, what are you doing? How could you do this to your loving father? Who's going to cook dinner?"

Considering his request, Akane sadly had to admit that the two fathers were big babies that could barely care for themselves. Without herself or Kasumi there to look after them, that just left Mrs. Saotome. Looking back pointedly at Saotome Matriarch, she asked, "You coming?"

Looking sad and alone, yet resolute as she wrung her hands over her silk wrapped katana, the red-headed woman quietly responded. "No dear, I'm going to wait for my son."

Akane briefly looked at her for a moment more, before her squirming father prompted her to turn and continue with getting the two fathers out. She was saved from having to consider what might befall Nodoka by concentrating on the fact that she only had two hands and more than enough for her to deal with at the moment.

Ayumi glanced over at the unsure young woman who only had her honor katana to keep her company. The woman wasn't likely to go violent, but she looked determined enough that getting her to leave would cause some trouble. It shouldn't be to hard to preoccupy her however. "I expected as much, Ukyou and Konatsu, would you keep Miss Saotome company?"

Ukyou glanced over to the head kunoichi to see what she meant, but Konatsu understood because this was what she lived for. They were being given a simple task to test them. Knowing this she lightly pulled Ukyou along, wanting to make a good impression and keep her mistress out of trouble.

Seeing everyone but the Amazons having been dealt with in some form or another, Ayumi turned her gaze to them, wanting to get this over with already. "Don't you three have a restaurant to run?"

Looking levelly back in return from her perch on her staff, the amazon elder replied, "The same could said of Miss Kounji."

Ayumi briefly looked over the afore mentioned chef, considering what to do about that. Deciding it was something to handle later after things had settled, she decided to not give the old woman any extra leverage. "Well that's something we'll take care of, probably after she talks with Ranma."

Cologne of course didn't miss the tone, the woman wanted them gone and soon. While they weren't likely to make any headway today concerning Ranma, she's show these ninja that amazons weren't to be taken lightly. "Well, then, supposing we leave, how would we keep in contact. Son-in-Law is quite important to us." The ninja mistress however was prepared for verbal sparring, glad for the benefits of being briefed by a psychic. Given what she knew of how the amazons treated Ranma, she found their assertion to be a curious thing. "Oh, is that so? Guess it depends on why he's important to you. See, we happen to know the cat-girl there still has an outstanding Kiss of Death, and duck-boy has tried everything from cursing to killing him. That's not to mention the occasional other amazon."

Stepping out form the house at her own slow pace, Sakura picked up the conversation like she had been there the entire time. "Indeed, the only true oddity there would be you elder. After apparently winning some initial respect from you, you've essentially left it up to the children. Still however, we can't stand for the girl's attempts of what amount to enslavement, or the boy's attempted assassinations. It's just not proper behavior."

The elder narrowed her eyes at the accusations, knowing they were damaging and determined to return them just as well. "What my grand-daughter employed were mere love charms and tricks, piddling nuisances compared to having a psychic go through someone's mind. How are we to know what other tricks might have been employed?"

Ayumi and a number of other ninja within earshot and visible bristled at the accusations, only calming down minutely as Sakura spoke in turn, "Perhaps, one might say your grand-daughter has failed so far only for lack of motivation, carrying through with the only courses of action she understood. On the other hand, tampering with Ranma's mind is a more dangerous proposition than you realize. He's a fully formed empath now, and that makes him resistant to psychic invasion and illusion. I only removed some psychic scar tissue, originally to deal with the nekoken, so that he could become stronger."

Cologne was a bit surprised and actually worried at how openly the lady explained what had happened, along with virtually excusing her grand-daughter. No that wasn't right, she condemned Shampoo's action, but in a round about way pointed out what the girl was doing wrong. That might mean Shampoo would get a second chance if she changed her approach. The openness about what she did was the troubling part, indicating the woman had no fear of admitting it.

Glancing around at the surrounding people, she noted she still had a number of angry ninja, an upset grand daughter, and a smug duck that was likely to do something stupid on a moment's notice. All things considered it might be best to leave now before a serious fight broke out. "So how do you propose we keep in contact so we know he's okay?"

The kimono clad lady of the house carefully considered the request before her, before quietly making her pronouncement. "You can return next week, Ranma should be conscious then. Until then, is there a volunteer to go with them and act as liaison?"

The simple request led up to an increase in activity as unseen ninja in the trees broke off to deliver and receive messages between their cells. A mere moment later she had three utilitarian dressed ninja kneeling by her side waiting for her verdict. Of the three, she singled out a blue haired woman, addressing her, "Would your reason for going involve certain rouge demon slayers?" Receiving a nod form the kunoichi, she pronounced, "You may observe from a distance, but that problem will be dealt with later. Do not draw their attention. As for the three of you, you will form a temporary cell. Keep an eye on the fathers so we have advance knowledge of their foolishness, and give whatever information you deem appropriate to relations."

Getting three nods of acceptance, Sakura extended one arm towards the gate in a gentle sweeping gesture. "Very well then, see that they make it to the train station and onwards, especially the two fathers."

Seeing the ninja moving into action, Cologne addressed the two amazon children with her. "Very well, we'll leave for now. Come Shampoo."

Seeing the amazons leaving and Akane returning, Sakura turned to her remaining uninvited guest. "Well then, I suppose guarding you shall be their first duty, I assume you would be most comfortable in Miss Tendou's and Miss Kounji's company?"

Hesitantly Nodoka Saotome nodded, seeing the wisdom in that, though curious about why she was trusting Akane and Ukyou so much.

Seeing everything outside was in hand, Sakura nodded once before returning once more to the house.

After a moment of watching the various visible ninja depart, the assembled girls began to get impatient as Ayumi didn't seem intent on going anywhere. Unable to take the suspense of five minutes of quiet, Akane impatiently broke the silence. "Well? What now? What about Ranma? or Ryouga?"

The busty ninja girl sighed at the injustice of having to deal with these people. Couldn't they have waited a bit longer until it was out of her hands? "I already drug the stupid pig-boy off to Kaede, so he'll survive. Ranma's stable and just gonna take time."

Finding something finally, Akane pointed triumphantly at the overstacked ninja as she proudly proclaimed, "Aha! You couldn't have done that because you've been here. Either you left him to die, or you'd already spared him and just tricked us!"

Ayumi in turn gave the girl a flat stare as she pursed in an attempt to keep her cool. "mhmm, or you could be talking to a standard ninja doppelganger sent to deal with some pests." Hearing the girl start babbling protests questions and other inane trivia that Ayumi felt didn't concern her, she instead brightened as a certain ninja finally made her way over. "Took you long enough Kimiko, here's your three new students and one fictional parent, have fun and try not to kill 'em in frustration."

To the Nerima girl's surprise, the busty ninja turned a transparent green before vanishing in a swirl of leaves. Seeing the group without an escort, the black leather clad kunoichi made her way over to them, noting their looks of surprise. Irritated with her assignment already, she just had to find out if they were as clueless as they looked. "What? None of you knew that was an illusion of her?"

The remaining Nerima group quelled for the moment as they didn't want to answer, Kimiko turned and began the walk toward her house in the back forest. "Guess you four are bunking with me. Dunno what you're thinking, but follow my lead for now at least, the guard is gonna be tight and unforgiving tonight."

Nodding mutely and wondering what they had gotten themselves into, the girls from Nerima quietly followed the woman that looked like she came from the streets, idly eyeing moving foliage and shadows for killer ninja.

Except for the kimono clad pseudo-kunoichi Konatsu, she eyed the flitting shadows with a hint of childish glee, eager to finally become a true kunoichi.

Stepping into the house, Sakura glanced about herself before scanning the area. Finding none of the interlopers within her vicinity, she reached out with her mind through the earth towards where Ranma was. With him as an anchor, she easily grasped the hewn stone room he was laying in. Pulling back slightly, she focused on the anteroom connecting it to the rest of the palace. Tensing her mental reserves for a moment, she released them, finding herself where she envisioned.

Stepping through the anteroom, she finally beheld him, lying in quiet repose on a fur in the middle of a circular relief in the floor. Around him were arranged the elite of the compound, spirit weavers, chi masters and psychics, all sitting around the perimeter of the relief, maintaining auras of energy which raised the ambient energy, with all of the excess energy gently seeping into the sleeping young man in the center.

Kneeling down, she solemnly focused her own powers, adding her own psychic energies so they could gently envelop the healing bath of energies. From here she could send her presence abroad to investigate other matters and still maintain her link in the circle, but she was going to entrust their security to the shinobi. Instead she cast about the room, finding several shinobi and well wishers. Almost directly across from the anteroom was Utena, with the now healed Aki resting partially in her lap, and Maria at her side.

Feeling them out, the concern was no surprise coming from Maria, but recriminations about not stopping the attack when she was fully powered were somewhat surprising. That was an issue that might need tending to later, though time spent with Ranma would likely sooth it.

Utena seemed to be overwhelmed by the situation. First the assault on her prince and a feeling of helplessness. Then tending to Aki, only to later have her mother come in and snap her broken leg back into proper shape, leaving that as the only medical treatment the poor girl received. Now the girl was simply at a loss for what to do or even feel.

The aforementioned demon dog-girl was sadly no surprise in her state, she was a bundle of sad puppy inside. The pain of her leg being set had been enough for her to notice it dimly, but she had paid it no heed, not even realizing when it had healed. She was only miserable and alone, even more so than the last three years without her Ranma.

Knowing that the best cure for their sad hearts would be a healthy Ranma, she recentered herself with no regrets about not helping them now. Their presence didn't hinder his recovery, but they contributed no substance to it either. Rather, their concern and feelings tinted the swirling energies, flavoring them in a way likely to draw Ranma back from the twilight brink of death.

Focusing inwards on him, she envisioned his soul, a helpful indicator of his health in this instance, as his mind in body were in balance with it due to her actions weeks ago. Finding the general feel of his aura, she focused in even further, seeing the dim dark grey disk of discarded detritus. Above that fog of taint floated a gentle pulsing blob of light, illuminating the hazy mass below.

Focusing in further, the globule of light resolved itself into smaller globules of light, with sparse strands of light interconnecting them and the occasional speck of light drifting between them. Those globules were representations of his memories and skills. The strands of light were pathways connecting them to make a whole mind, at this point they were as fragile as spider silk strands. The motes of light themselves were misplaced memories, displaced by the shock and gradually breaking free and drifting to their proper places.

Before his psychic surgery, his mind had been nothing like this, instead having the globules forced together and misshapen by globs of darkness. Entire globule sections had been composed of what was now detritus, notably surrounding the nekoken and his curse. That dark tar however had held him together before, forming a myriad of pathways, albeit poorly functioning ones.

With time however, the now pure consciousness would form it's own pathways, spider silk giving way to a shell of steel strands. The clean connections would take their own time to form however, but be so much stronger and efficient, leaving new room to grow. Like any person that experienced pain and hardships in life, his soul would accumulate more detritus, but with that pain would come new motes of light and strands to hold them all together, strong and unified.

With the new mental strength, the nekoken would be a bad memory, his trip to china no longer a curse, and his empathic powers no longer a hindrance. In fact, with training and time, he would be able to control his emapthic powers, learning to shield himself from pain instead of blindly accepting negative feelings directed at him. He had been partially there, but in his focus on caring for someone, he had left himself open for one terrible moment, and now all that progress had been undone.

There was however, no way she or the others present would let that stand. They would all stay here watching over him until he was as healthy as could be. This opportunity would be used to not only heal him, but strengthen him even further, to stalwart this brittle weakness put into place to open his future.

To those present, they had chosen the boy to be their future, so bringing his full potential to bear was dearly important. To Sakura and Ayumi however, it was not the future of their people and adoptive tribe that concerned them, but their own futures and happiness.

Dimly and faintly, sensation came into a being, a persistent all encompassing buzz of pain. As unknown time passed, aches became apparent. Finally a state of wakefulness was reached as the discomfort prevented a return to unconsciousness. Fleeting thoughts of danger caused the eyes to try to force themselves open in a panic, finding no painful light, but a disappointing dark blur.

Grimacing with pain he held his eyes open as they painstakingly adjusted, putting the darkened room into focus. Finding the view disconcerting due to it's angle, he attempted a concerted effort to move, only to find such action extremely painful and futile. Not even his head could turn, but he could feel his arms held straight out to the sides, and his legs below him, though he felt no floor beneath him. The only thing of importance he could see in the room were thick suspicious lines of webbing, particularly the streamers leading towards his body beyond his field of vision. Being stubborn, he ineffectually wiggled in his prison, considering the searing pain better than not trying to break free.

As his body tired anew, a quiet sultry feminine voice from behind caught his attention, cutting through the pain and stilling him so he could hear her better.

Again clearly now toned the voice, much closer and crisper, "Oh, do please continue struggling, let me see you writhe in pain." While the voice was definitely creepy, the soft hand brushing his cheek caused him to jump, ripping a muffled shout of pain from him as pain lanced through his abused shoulders.

Stepping around him to appear in his limited field of vision was a young woman in a black dress with short black hair and a sinisterly delighted expression upon her beautiful face. "Oh, I'm being a bad host, do you know what's befallen you, thou poor lost soul?"

Receiving a bewildered expression and a faint attempt at a head shake, she continued, "Well, while the young Master was attending to his lonesome pet puppy, you assaulted him unawares. You do know my Master do you not? Ranma-dono is such a sweet and interesting child, why he weaves simply spectacular strands of fate."

Turning to her erstwhile guest, she happily took in his slowly comprehending stare of horror the boy was so famous for. "Oh, I simply must introduce myself, I am Kaede, the fate weaving spider demoness." Feeling a proper description would help shape the mood she was aiming for, she decided to expand a bit. "For allies, I collect magic trinkets and spells to make them more powerful, more useful, and much happier. For interlopers, I keep a store of curses and demonic trinkets, or sometimes I just prepare their souls for devouring. But my true specialty is altering a person's fate, sending those I favor along the path of happiness, while those that displease me become one with their own personal hell."

Grinning widely to show off her fangs and dark red lips, she paused long enough that he could realize she was about to make his day that much more worse. "You my dear little piggy in my web, you are my most very special guest, the kind for which death is too sweet a release. How would you like to be an immortal little piggy, forever reforming a day after your last death? Why you could feed hundreds that way."

Seeing him writhering in horror, trying desperately to get away from her filled her with a great sense of sadistic glee and satisfaction. While he struggled and stained her web bandages with fresh blood, she contently hummer to herself, visibly pleased with herself. After only a few moment however, he once more tired, sagging into his web support harness. Now that he was ready to listen again, she changed tactics, knowing a period of calm was best for inspiring another fit of terror later.

"Well, sadly, I am not to punish you this time. You see, after blindsiding a man who was healing from prior wounds, his bodyguard stepped in. You do remember Ayumi do you not? Short green hair, short purple kimono? The one that beat you mercilessly into your present state?" Seeing a glimmer of painful recognition in his eyes, she relented so she could drive the stake home. "Well, like me, she considered death too sweet a release for someone like you. So she brought you here to me to become my prey."

Turning around so he couldn't see her anticipatory grin of grim delight, she continued in a seductively positive tone, "but then, do you know what happened? Akane and Ukyou decided to trade their lives for yours. Of course, they didn't know they were saving you from a fate worse than death, but it was just the same. Of course, not how you're thinking, but instead something much worse to you, they would give their lives to Ranma, to live by his whim as servant ninja. Of course, Ayumi-chan didn't believe them, such promises were mere hollow things. Then Kasumi and Konatsu joined in, offering their lives as well to tip the balance."

Turning around, she grinned in dark triumph, knowing he was already imagining much worse things, allowing his darkly obsessive mind to do her work for her. Still though, why let him suffer a little when she could drive him further along. "Of course, with dear Kasumi in the mix, Akane can't abandon her empty promise, now can she? Kasumi, the dear that she is, will keep her promise, chaining Akane to hers. Now what do you think Ranma would do with disobedient little Akane-chan?"

Letting him stew in his own overactive dark little imagination again, she instead soaked up the well trained aura of despair surrounding him now, bathing the room in it's sickly darkness. As enjoyable as it was, without being able to find release from his own world of horror, he was starting to lose focus. Since mind numbing horror wasn't quite as satisfying, she decided to finish this so she could tend to her other guests.

"Of course, nothing will happen between Ranma-dono and Akane. Despite what you might think, he would despise her being in such a position, being at his feet in such a way. Of course, that will lead to the worst thing he could do, rejecting the poor girl, stripping her of honor and pride and setting her free to wander soullessly through the world. Not that he would know of course. Perhaps not quite so, perhaps she would be drawn back by her older sister, forced to beg a master that doesn't want a slave."

Seeing the horror fresh on his face, the pleasure of his renewed despair was slightly marred by having to speak of the possible future. Perhaps she would nudge the girl towards a happier future, one that wouldn't cause her pride and stubbornness to break her. Certainly Ranma-dono would appreciate it. Feeling the sickly despair begin to wane again, she smiled pleasantly at her prey again. "I honor her promise however, so after you recover in my care, you will be evicted, as unharmed as possible. I won't miss the pleasure of escorting you into the hell you brag about visiting so often, because I know you will wander willingly back into my web. Do take care until then."

Smiling and waving pleasantly at the horror shocked boy, she fairly bounced along corridors towards her next patient. His punishment would be more normal, but at least she would get to do something besides inflict a little mental anguish. Reaching the doorway, she teasingly called out to him. "Oh dear Tate-chan, you've been ever such a bad boy. Whatever shall I do with you? Why, I think I'll visit Kodachi-chan and see if she has any ideas, she's such a dear imaginative girl."

Swirling away from the door, she disappeared down yet another hallway, her gentle trilling laughter chilling the poor souls in her wake.

Aki, Kimiko and Kaede are original characters. Kaede is actually a ‘neutral’ demoness, she was just being mean to Ryouga because he’s off limits for the moment. Kimiko is a wolf demon who generally fights with claws or knives. Aki currently only has the ability to travel through the shadow realm.

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