*thoughts*

<Telepathy>

[Signs]

emphasis

SHOUTS

      I don't own any of these characters.  I guess that'll do for a
disclaimer.



      Tsunami was sitting under the grounded spacetree Funaho and looked
like she was just enjoying the day, but really she was waiting for
someone.  Shortly Sasami came running along the path that lead to the
house.

      "Tsunami?" asked Sasami suddenly stopping to stare at the person
sitting under the tree.  It had only been a few hours since Tenchi and his
new brides, Ayeka and Ryoko, had departed for Jurai with Officers Mihoshi
and Kyone as an escort and already Sasami was feeling lonely, but she
hadn't expected to see Tsunami out here.

      "Hello Sasami," answered the goddess.  "Is something wrong?"

      "Good evening Tsunami.  Actually now that Tenchi has made his choice
and I'm not nearly as sad as I though I would be," answered Sasami.

      "All you feel is a faint disappointment right?"

      "Yes, I thought that I would feel worse," continued a puzzled Sasami.

      "The reason that you're not feeling any worse is because you never
really loved Tenchi.  He was a handsome young man and he was nice to you
and called you cute so you thought that you were in love with him.  Then he
chooses someone else and you don't feel as sad as you thought you would.
In short you had a first crush and now that someone has grabbed him its
time to let him go."

      Sasami was still thinking this over when something splashed down in
the lake around the tree.  As Tsunami blinked the water out of her eyes she
saw a girl with red hair sinking deeper into the water.  She quickly shed
the outer robes and dove into the water and quickly pulled the girl to
shore.  The girl was wearing what had once been a red shirt and black pants
but they look to have been burned away.  Her hair was pulled back into a
pigtail.

      "Is she going to be ok?" asked Sasami rushing over.

      "I think so but I'm going to take her up to the ship ok, do you want
to go?"

      "I'd like to go with you."

      Tsunami kneeled down and lightly touched the girl's forehead and then
all three of them disappeared.***



      *Where am I?* thought Ranma as he woke up and noticed that this
wasn't his room.  That thought was quickly shoved aside by, *Why am I so
weak?  I remember Shampoo and Ukyo coming over, then Moose and Ryoga showed
up, and then the old pervert coming home.*  Ranma continued trying to
reconstruct what had happened to him.  He remembered Ryoga throwing Shi shi
Houkdans and one of them heading towards his mother, so he jumped in the
way.  Unfortunately Akane had lost her temper because he was picking on
Ryoga, Happosai had used some technique that Ranma had never heard of and
they had all hit him more or less at the same time.  *Spreading out my
battle aura to protect mother seems to have had some problems that I didn't
think about,* he thought wryly.  He also noticed in passing a flash of red
on the dresser and couldn't figure out why it nagged him so.

      Just then a beautiful young woman walked into the room.  "Hello,
young lady.  Are you feeling better?" asked Tsunmai.  She was carrying a
try of tea in.

      *Young lady?* thought Ranma-chan then looked down at the cover over
her.  *Hmm, water landing again,* she noted, then her senses alerted her to
a massive power level as the woman got to within a few feet of her.  *Man
is she powerful!* thought Ranma-chan noting the power that was rolling off
of her in waves.(Sorry couldn't resist.)  *She also seems to be able to
hide it real well.*  "Yes I am thank you.  Are you the one that rescued
me?"

      "Yes I pulled you out of the lake that you fell into," she answered.

      "Thank you.  Thank you very much.  What do you say to the person that
just saved your life?  Except maybe I'm in your debt," said Ranma as she
sat up in bed.  "And I thank you for the tea."

      *There is something wrong with this girl.  She is deeply troubled by
something, or is it several some things all wrapped up together?* wondered
Tsunami as she noticed the girls aura and feelings.

      "My name is Ranko," said the girl.  "Ranko Saotome."

      "I'm sorry.  My name is Tsunami, Tsunami Jurai."

      "Pleased to metcha."

      "If you don't mind me saying you seemed to heal awfully fast.  You
had some nasty burns and some big bruises and now they're gone."

      "Yeah I've been practicing martial arts for some time now and I've
trained my body to recover much faster then normal," admitted Ranma-chan.

      "Really?  Ranko is something wrong?"

      "Uh I just feel weak for some reason, that's all," Ranma-chan assured
her.

      "Ranko, you said you were in my debt for saving you from the lake
right?"

      "Yes of course.  If there is anything that I can do for you just name
it," answered Ranma-chan with unswerving commitment.

      "Then I actually have two favors to ask of you," said Tsunami
gently.  "You know I've been alone for a very long time."

      Ranma-chan blinked nosily at the complete change of direction.

      "Hehe, don't worry I do have a point to this," Tsunami assured him.
"The point that I was making was that its been a very long time since I've
had a guest and the last one was injured worse then you.(A.N.  Sasami
doesn't count obviously because they're the same person.)  He also had to
race off to a battle.  So my request is this, since your not going anywhere
for a while would you please tell me about yourself.  Maybe who your
parents are, that sort of thing."

      "You saved my life and in return all you want is to hear my life
story?" asked Ranma-chan incredulously.

      "I told you it's been a long time since I've had a real guest," said
Tsunami with a sad smile.

      Ranma-chan's thoughts and emotions stormed around inside as desire to
make this woman smile warred with the need to keep his secrets.  The
desperate need for a friend fought the last stand against the knowledge
that she would reject him as soon as she heard about the curse.  Finely the
sense of shame that his story held was totally routed by the demands of
honor.

      "Uh, before I start this could you pour me a cup of hot water
please?"

      "Of course," responded Tsunami as she took a cup of hot water and
handed it to Ranma-chan.

      "Thank you," Ranma-chan said as she stood up out of bed.  She cursed
herself as she had to grab the bedpost to hold her upright.

      Tsunami moved to help the girl as she got up and swayed on her feet.

      "No I'm ok, this is something that I need to do," Ranma-chan assured
her.  She dumped the hot water over herself and felt the tingling rush as
she turned back to a guy.

      *OH MY!* thought Tsunami in unknown imitation of Kasumi as her female
guest just turned into a guy.  *He's cute!*

      Ranma waited for a moment to see if Tsunami would ask him to leave
because of his curse.  Then he noticed that she seemed to be staring and
suddenly that flash of red on the dresser that had been nagging him made
sense.  He looked down and for the first time since he woke up noticed that
he wasn't wearing any cloths.  "EEEP!" he shouted as he dove back into the
bed and under the covers.

      Tsunami shook herself as the young man that she had brought home
eeped.  Then she realized that she had been staring at him.  *Well he is
nice to look at.  I mean with those toned muscles, those eyes, and
that...,* Tsunami cut off that train of thought as she started blushing
just as bad as the young man that was just poking his head over the top of
the covers.

      "Honest I'm not a pervert, I just didn't know, I'm sorry, don't hit
me," rambled Ranma.

      "Uh Ranko.  I'm not going to hit you," said Tsunami at the strange
behavior.

      "Oh sorry I'm....  Uh nevermind.  Did you still want to hear my
story?"

      "I think that I'd really like to hear it now," said Tsunami.  Then
she blinked as she felt his emotions close off like he had slammed a door
on them.

      Ranma steeled himself for the chore of reciting his life story to
what amounted to a total stranger.  He told her about leaving home with his
dad, the pledge to become a man among men.  He continued telling how his
father had dragged him all over the place, the nekoken, the lack of
schooling, the training, his father telling him that women were weak, the
bartering for meals, the broken promises, Jusenkyo, the engagements, Ryoga,
and everything else.  When he finished Tsunami was just staring at him with
her mouth hanging open.

      "You put up with all of that?  And you haven't seriously maimed
anyone yet?" asked Tsunami who was still in shock at what she had just
heard.  *I knew something had to be wrong but this!  I think that I'm going
to have my hands full!* thought Tsunami as she considered the project of
giving Ranma a more normal view of the world then what he's gotten so far.
"Well I hope you manage to avoid some of that for a time because you need
to spend some time resting."

      "You mean you not going to throw me out?" asked Ranma.  He was just a
little shocked at the fact that someone would be willing to help him when
they had nothing to gain by it.

      "Of course not.  You've been injured and you still have to agree to
that other little favor for me," said Tsunami with a grin.

      "Oh sorry what was that other thing?"

      "Nothing much I just want you to be my friend."

      "HUH?  After hearing about the things that go on in my life you want
to be my friend?"

      "Well you seemed surprised at the fact that you didn't scare me off
with your curse.  I'm surprised that the shear amount of power that I'm
generating hasn't sent you running yet.  With the training you've had you
have to be feeling it."

      "Yeah I can feel it and it is overwhelming until you notice that it
really isn't directed into a battle aura, which to the best of my knowledge
is the only form other than an actual ki attack that is dangerous."

      "You're still an odd person Ranma Saotome.  Since we're going to be
friends I guess I should tell you my story as well."  Tsunami told Ranma
the story of how she founded the Juraian Empire by imbuing a race of trees
on the planet Jurai with energy including the story of her assimilation of
Sasami.

      Later when Ranma's stomach had interrupted them by reminding them
that it was time for dinner.

      "You know you didn't say where we were in the Masaki house," said
Ranma as they walked out of the room.  Tsunami led him through a few
hallways and into a small dining room with a table for two and an
incredible view of the stars.

      "Who said we were in the house?" asked Tsunami who thought the look
on Ranma's face when he saw the starscape was priceless.  "Since I know
your hungry I don't have to ask if your ready to eat do I?"

      "Uh no I guess you don't," muttered an embarrassed Ranma.

      "Don't worry about it.  I know how much energy you must have used to
heal yourself that rapidly.  I also know that something is still off in
your aura so your still not completely well yet."  Tsunami seated herself
and served them both from the dishes that she had set out earlier.

      "This is great!" said Ranma after he took the first bite.  "You cook
as good as Kasumi!"

      "Thank you.  Uh you know your father isn't here," said Tsunami as
Ranma dug into the food like he normally did.

      "So?" wondered Ranma.  Then after catching a look at Tsunami he set
his chopsticks on the table.  "What's wrong?"

      "Did anyone ever tell you about table manners?" asked Tsunami.

      "Uh no actually for the longest time it was just eat as much as you
can before my father gets it all," said Ranma.  He was starting to turn red
as he admitted it.

      "Well how about I teach you," at his nod she began.  "Eat more slowly
and ..." ***



      *That boy is even cuter then Tenchi!  Something I though was
impossible until now,* thought Tsunami after Ranma had gone to bed.  *I
wonder how long its going to take him to build his strength back up.  He's
healing at a tremendous rate but his ki reserves were gone and he was
totally wiped out.* ***



      *Man this is going to be tough,* thought Ranma as he walked out into
the garden the next morning to train.  *I still feel weak after a full day
of healing and then that food.  I think she might just be a better cook
then Kasumi,* considered Ranma as he ran through a couple of katas just to
limber up.

      "What do you think your doing?" asked a sharp voice behind him as he
was preparing to start on a more demanding kata.

      "Uh getting back into shape," suggested Ranma hesitantly as he saw
the look in Tsunami's eyes.

      "I'm the doctor around here and I don't remember giving you leave to
be up and out of bed yet.  I'll tell you what.  I'll make you a deal.  If
you can teach me the basics up until lunch and are still standing on your
feet I'll let you train for the rest of the day.  Deal?"

      "You want to learn Anything Goes?  Of course I'll teach you," agreed
Ranma.  During the first part of the morning Tsunami demonstrated what she
already knew of martial arts under the watchful eyes of Ranma.

      "You've got some real talent, but either your practicing a style like
nothing I've ever seen or your teacher let you develop some real bad
habits," commented Ranma as they took a break.

      "Most of my training has been with the sword actually," responded
Tsunami so that Ranma would realize on his own that she wasn't as bad as he
might have feared.

      "Hmm, dad always said that a weapon limits your attacks and I have to
agree with him for the most part, but Cologne isn't weak by any means and
she uses that stick of hers.  The only problem from my point of view is
where would I keep a weapon until I needed it, something that wouldn't get
in my way when I'm not using it."

      "Hows this?" asked Tsunami.  She held out her hand and formed a ball
of energy then squeezing her hand it formed into a bar of energy.  "Instant
sword," said Tsunami with a big grin at the look on Ranma's face.

      "Uh yeah that would work.  So I guess that its time to get back to
work."  The rest of the morning Tsunami tried to fit what she already knew
into the forms of Anything Goes and Ranma was there with a sure touch
melding the two wholly different styles together.

      "Lunch time," declared Tsunami firmly as Ranma wobbled on his feet
coming out of a spin kick.  "You know you can't push yourself this hard all
the time and expect to escape totally unscathed from it."

      "Everyone is probably starting to worry about me and I need to get
back home so I'm trying to get my body to cooperate."

      "Well your not leaving this ship without my consent so you might as
well get your rest and take it easy.  Besides after hearing about the war
zone that Nerima is I don't think you should go back until you're
completely ready to defend yourself."

      "Well I guess your right," admitted Ranma settling down to the picnic
lunch that Tsunami had packed for them.  *I really wish that at least one
of my fiancées could be more like her,* thought Ranma wistfully.  *What am
I thinking I shouldn't be thinking about Tsunami like that and I really
shouldn't be wishing my life on anyone!  But still having all the traits I
admire in one person would be nice to have beautiful, kind, caring,
skilled....  I'm doing it again!*

      Tsunami watched Ranma's emotions rise and fall during the course of
lunch.

      "Hey Ranma you said you were doing bad in school didn't you?" asked
Tsunami.  Thinking quickly about a way to keep him coming back to visit so
that they could at least stay friends.

      "Uh yeah I did, why?"

      "I though that I might be able to help you and then you could train
me some more," suggested Tsunami with a smile that could have convinced
Cologne to leave Ranma alone.

      "Uh yeah I guess we could do that," agreed Ranma.  "Maybe you could
even teach me to do that sword thing."

      "Sure lets start the tutoring tonight.  I don't think your going to
be leaving for a few more days anyway."

      After a grueling round of schoolwork, during which Tsunami seemed
convinced that she had to teach him everything at once, Ranma was tired and
more sore from this morning then he would like to admit.  He was also
nearly sleep walking, which could explain why he didn't notice Tsunami's
cloths in the changing room hamper or it could be the fact that Tsunami
didn't have a hamper, but what ever it was Ranma walked through the other
door and into the bathroom and right into a very naked Tsunami.

      "Uh Ranma," called Tsunami waving a hand in front of his face.

      "Oh hi Tsunami have I been standing here that long?"  *Gee Tsunami's
hair color really is blue,* noted the sleep walking part of Ranma's brain.
A sharp whistle in his head signaled that the higher brain functions would
like to get a word in.  *BLUE HAIR?
Ohmygod!DidIjustwalkintoTsunamiinthebath?!*  "I'm so sorry Tsunami!"
shouted Ranma and in combination with his haste to get out of the room his
near sleep walking sent him running the wrong direction.  He slipped on the
wet tile and started wind milling his arms to regain his balance only to
catch a hold of Tsunami and bring her down too.  Ranma slipped into the tub
going down with Tsunami sliding backwards toward him, then he went in and
all he could see were stars and the back of his head cracked into the side
of the tub.

      He registered a splash as the stars cleared away as fast as they had
come only to be replaced by Tsunami's chest landing on his face.

      "Well hello to you too," laughed Tsunami as she moved off of him to
sit at the other end of the tub.

      "I'm so sorry," he started blushing from hair to toenails, a brighter
red then his shirt, which he had left in the changing room.

      "You already said that," noted Tsunami.  "And this really doesn't
bother me at all."

      Ranma openly gapped at this young woman who had just told him that
having a naked man run into her in the bath and pull them both down in the
tub didn't bother her.  "HUH?"

      "Ranma you have to remember who I am.  Before Sasami I didn't have a
form in this dimension other then a tree as a result I've gotten rather
used to seeing people as souls rather then bodies.  As a result having
other people see my body doesn't bother me at all," answered Tsunami.
"That's one of your problems.  You need to learn to look past someone's
body to the person inside.  Like this thing you have about not hitting
girls, sometimes warriors live in the bodies of women and those warriors
can hurt you if you don't fight and more importantly to you they can hurt
those you love."

      "Uh."

      "Ranma," she called softly.

      "Uhh. Oh sorry its just I don't often sit in the bathtub having
conversations with naked girls," said Ranma honestly.  "If I were at the
dojo and you were Akane you would have malleted me into next Tuesday or if
you were someone else she would have walked in on us and then malleted me."

      "Well you don't have to worry about mallets here I promise.  You know
when you told me the story of your life you hid your emotions rather well,
but didn't anyone ever tell you that bottling your emotions up was a bad
thing?"

      "My mother would probably say that letting my emotions get the better
of me wasn't manly, my father would pitch a fit about being a whiny little
girl, and Nabiki would sell the whole thing to everyone which would give me
even more problems then I've got now," explained Ranma.  The barriers that
he had created were starting to weaken.

      "Oh Ranma.  I'm your friend now and always.  You can trust me with
anything," she whispered as she leaned over and pulled Ranma to her in a
hug.  "Come on you can tell me," cooed Tsunami.

      "I just...its been so long since I had anyone that I could trust."

      "I give you my word as Tsunami of Jurai that you can trust me and
I'll never betray you," murmured Tsunami in his ear.

      The combination of Tsunami holding him and her willingness to hear
him out so far broke the dam.  Ranma leaned against her shoulder and told
her about he loneliness, not being able to trust anyone.  His mother
because of that contract, his father cause he was a dead beat, Akane
because she'd never listen to him, Nabiki cause she'd sell it, or any of
the others because they'd just use it to try and get closer to marrying him
regardless of what he wanted.  Finely he just cried, letting the emotional
hurts that had build up wash out of his system and then he fell asleep
there in the tub.

      *At last he's starting to let go.  No one should have to bear these
things alone!*  She washed him and tucked him into bed and gave some
serious thought to giving the population of Nerima a large piece of her
mind and an impressive reason never to bother her or Ranma again.  *Darn, I
couldn't bring myself to totally wipe out pieces of Tokyo and that would be
what it would take.  Now maybe later if I can lure Ranma out of his shell
far enough to be more then friends and they hurt him again then that could
be another matter entirely.***



      *I feel a lot better then I have been,* was Ranma's first thought as
he enjoyed the rare luxury of waking up at his own pace instead of getting
shocked awake from water or an attack.

      "Are you awake," called Tsunami from just outside the door.  "And can
I come in?"

      "Please do," responded Ranma.  He sat up in bed just in time for
Tsunami to come into the room and set a large try of food on the bed.

      "I made you breakfast, because I thought that after last night you
would need to sleep yourself out," she explained.

      "Uh, about last night...," started Ranma.  "I'm sorr-."

      "I'm going to make a new rule in this ship.  Only one apology per day
and you've just used today's," said Tsunami firmly cutting him off.
"Besides who do you think washed you and put you to bed last night?" asked
Tsunami with a wicked grin.  Ranma blushed again as Tsunami continued, "You
do have a nice body you know, but like I was telling you last night the
body isn't everything.  Heck it isn't even most of it, especially in your
case.  You can change bodies at the nearest convenient water tap.  The body
is just something that the soul uses to interact with the world and a
convenient container."

      "Are you sure?  I mean I do change into a girl," responded Ranma.

      "Well your body does anyway.  You haven't changed since you got here
but I'm pretty sure that if you did we'd discover that you don't change on
the inside."

      "Well thank you for breakfast.  Is that still allowed?" teased Ranma.

      "Manners are always appreciated," answered Tsunami with supreme
dignity.

      The next few days Ranma and Tsunami trained in the mornings and
Tsunami tutored Ranma in the afternoons.  Tsunami also made some progress
working with Ranma on some other topics, like tact, manners, and explaining
to him how with the right skills he could fight as well on the verbal and
mental battlefields as well as his normal ones.  They also discovered that
they both liked the challenge of strategy games, but only if they could
play each other.  Tsunami finely got tired of losing against Ranma's almost
instinctive grasp of tactics and powered up the Juraian fleet holotank.
After giving Ranma an hour to familiarize himself with the components of
Juraian fleets, she was screaming two hours later as Ranma was on the verge
of conquering the empire.  Meanwhile his ki reserves were building back up
with incredible speed and due to Tsunami's influence on his being and a new
training idea his reserves were expanding even as they build back up.  They
also spent a great deal talking about things that they would never tell
anyone else, Ranma because he'd already let his emotions out, and Tsunami
because she had found someone that had that same caring heart that had
originally attracted her to Tenchi, but this time he was unattached at
least emotionally.

      "Are you sure you have to go?" asked Tsunami at dinner after Ranma
had been there for a week.

      "Yes, I've been here for a week now and the people at home are
probably worried by now.  Besides I really should get back to school," shot
back Ranma with a grin.

      "Well I hope your going to still come by and see me sometimes,"
pouted Tsunami.

      "Probably not I'm afraid," countered Ranma.

      "You better be afraid if that's your answer!"

      "You see you never showed me how get to the ship," finished Ranma
innocently.

      "Oh that's easy.  I'll just give you this necklace," said Tsunami
handing him a silver chain with a three-inch hawk that looked to have been
cut from a single, flawless diamond.  "This will let you move to the ship
from anywhere on the planet below."

      "Thank you very much, but I know that the most precious thing that
I'll take from here is friendship!" said Ranma.

      "You will stay for the night won't you?" asked Tsunami.

      "Yeah.  If you want to instead of practicing with the panda I could
drop by in the mornings and we could continue your training," offered
Ranma.

      "I'd enjoy that very much."***



      The next morning they had gotten up early and headed out to the
garden to work out for the morning.  After finishing Tsunami cooked
breakfast while Ranma grabbed a quick shower then after breakfast Tsunami
sent him back to Earth.

      *That was a nice shot,* thought Ranma in admiration as he landed on
the roof of the Tendo Dojo.  He flipped off of the roof and landed in the
backyard and walked on in.

      "What do you mean you've lost my son?" demanded Nodoka in a tone that
would have made an angry drill sergeant stop and take notes.

      "Uh, dear after the fight a week ago where the dreaded master was
using new techniques we haven't seen him," whined Genma.

      "During which I seem to remember you hitting him," snapped Nodoka
turning to face Akane.  "I presume you have a reason for having done so?"

      "That baka was picking on Ryoga!" said Akane who was getting angry
all over again.

      "PICKING ON RYOGA?!  Akane Tendo that boy attacked my son and tried
to kill him.  When it was proved that he couldn't do it he started throwing
those energy balls around and if my son hadn't stepped in the way that boy
would probably have killed me.  Could you kindly point out which point in
there that Ranma was picking on Ryoga?" asked Nodoka with sarcasm think
enough to cut.

      "He's always picking on Ryoga and P-chan when he knows that they
can't defend themselves!" insisted Akane keeping it civil, even Akane
doesn't want to push Nodoka too far.

      "If he spends all his time jumping out at my son yelling 'Die Ranma'
I have no problem with Ranma beating the tar out of him.  If he's not good
enough to beat Ranma then he shouldn't go out of his way to attack him!  Oh
hi Ranma," she said, briefly interrupting herself as Ranma walking through
the dinning room and into the kitchen waved at her.  "And further
more...RANMA?"

      "Yeah mom, is something wrong?" asked Ranma sticking his head back
through the door to the kitchen.

      "Where have you been?" demanded Nodoka.  She rushed over and hugged
him.  "I though that I'd lost you."

      "No I was injured when the three of them attacked me together and
someone found me and gave me a place to sleep while I healed and I just got
back to Nerima this morning."

      "I have an announcement to make," declared Nodoka.  She had the
unsheathed Saotome honor blade in her hands so everyone realized that she
was making a binding statement on the Saotome family honor.  "I have
considered carefully and have come to the conclusion that if Akane Tendo is
the most suitable candidate that the Tendo family can produce for the
pledge to unite the two families then I have no choice but to declare the
pledge null and void."  A thundering silence met this pronouncement.

      "No the houses must be united," wailed Soun.  "Akane is a perfect
match to Ranma!"

      "He has to marry me!" agreed Akane.

      "There is no way that I will allow this to happen," said Nodoka
flatly.  "When you defend another man against your fiancé without good
cause and still support that man even after he tries to kill your fiancé's
mother then you will never marry into my family!  Since you seem to think
so highly of this Ryoga why don't you convince your father to engage you to
him."

      The whole Tendo family was reeling in shock at this statement.

      "Uh Nodoka you don't have to be so hasty.  Maybe Ranma and Akane were
just being pushed together too hard.  Also the dreaded master was there so
he may have had something to do with it," quickly explained Genma.

      *I have to do something quick or I'm going to lose to that bimbo!*
thought Akane furiously.  "He's right Auntie Nodoka, I don't know what came
over me.  Its just that that last blast of the old perverts came so close
and Ryoga is just trying to improve himself by fighting the best," almost
no one noticed but Akane was grinding her teeth as she admitted the last
part.

      "Are you sure about this?" asked Nodoka.  *Oh, I knew that my son was
so manly that the thought of losing him would convince Akane to straighten
out.*  After Akane's nod she continued, "Very well then.   I'll resend the
decision, on the condition that the other two girls have equal chance.  It
wasn't right for me to deny the other two based on one thing."

      Ranma manfully hid his desire to sigh loudly as his escape from what
he had thought to be the lowest level of hell turned into a plunge to a
deeper level yet.  *And here I though that I was going to be free.*  "I
think that we'd better get to school if we don't want to be late," said
Ranma sounding board with the whole thing.

      "Ahh, we've got to go!" yelled Nabiki.  The three of them grabbed
books and lunch then ran out the door.

      Outside Ranma jumped toward the top of the fence and the leap carried
him over the fence into a spinning flip to land running on the top rail.

      "Show off," yelled Akane until she realized that he was leaving her
behind then she started yelling at him to slow down.

      *Wow!  I didn't realize that the change would be that much from just
a few short days,* thought Ranma as he sped along rail.  After he was
judged to be physically back to normal he had convinced Tsunami to turn up
the gravity in the ship so that they were living with everything weighing
twice as much as it had before.  The result that Ranma had just noticed had
been everything that he could have hoped for even if it had been kinda hard
to get used to at first.

      Ranma bounded into the schoolyard and effortlessly up to the third
story window where his classroom was.

      "Good morning," he called as he took his seat.

      "Ranchan?" asked Ukyo in statement as the last person she was
expecting arrived.

      "Yeah I'm back."

      "Where have you been?" she demanded.

      "When I got in that fight I was knocked quit a ways away and someone
offered me shelter so I just got back this morning," explained Ranma.

      "If its that bad maybe you should just move in with me," offered
Ukyo.

      "No I don't think I'll be able to do that just now.  Mom expanded the
engagement to include both of the other Tendo girls."

      "So you've got two more fiancées?"

      "Fraid so."

      The day got started and nearly ended in a fatal heart attack for some
of Ranma's teacher as he was actually paying attention in class for once.
Since he was paying attention and ignoring all the notes that were being
passed his way everyone had to wait until lunch to have their questions
answered.

      "Hey Ranma can I ask you a question?" asked Daisuke.

      "Well you just did, but I guess you can ask another," laughed Ranma.

      "The person that helped you, was she pretty?" asked Daisuke in a loud
voice.  When hear this they gathered around to here what Ranma had to say

      "Actually she was very pretty," said Ranma as he pulled his sandwich
out of his lunch box.

      "Huh?" asked Daisuke stunned as Ranma actually admitted that he'd
been spending his time with a pretty girl where Nabiki could hear about it.

      "I said that yes she was pretty," responded Ranma.

      "I don't think that you want me to repeat that to your fiancées now
do you Saotome?" asked Nabiki after she walked around from behind the tree.

      Shampoo crashed over the wall on her bike and somehow landed next to
Ranma without spilling any of the stuff in the box that she was carrying.

      "Husband try some tasty food that Shampoo spend long time preparing,
right?" asked Shampoo as she quickly set out the stuff that she had
brought.

      "Nabiki here is going to try and sell you something.  Information
that when I disappeared a warrior woman sheltered me till I was well enough
to come back," said Ranma to the horror of Nabiki and the possibility of
violence backed most of the other students away.

      "Ahh, Shampoo need to thank other girl when get the chance for making
sure that husband can return to Shampoo," said Shampoo thoughtfully.  "So
husband going to eat some tasty food made just for him?" pressed Shampoo.

      "Depends.  Do you swear on your word of honor as a warrior that none
of this contains a love potion?" asked Ranma.

      "Uh, why husband ask?"

      "Do you really have to ask me that question?" asked Ranma with a
raised eyebrow.

      "Husband hate Shampoo!" cried Shampoo.

      "Now Shampoo I don't hate you, but in all of the time that I've known
you you've never given me a reason to trust you," explained Ranma.

      "Ahh, Shampoo so sorry," said Shampoo as she started to cry.

      "Don't worry shampoo.  If you can stop, its not to late to be
friends."

      "Shampoo have to marry Ranma, or Shampoo have no honor.  Shampoo also
love husband and want to be with him."

      "I'm sorry Shampoo I don't think that its meant to be.  You need an
Amazon husband, if you tried to take me back to the village I'd die of
boredom inside a month.  Can you imagine me sitting around doing house
work?" asked Ranma and succeeded in getting a weak chuckle out of the
Amazon.  "But if your honor depends on it you can keep trying, but don't
tell anyone I said so and don't use love potions.  I'll try and find a way
out that can make both of us happy," promised Ranma quietly to Shampoo.

      "Then Shampoo be back later," she promised as she jumped up and
grabbed her bike.  *I haven't lost his trust entirely, so I still have a
chance to win his heart for my own!* thought Shampoo in glee as she raced
back to the Nekohanten.***



      *What a day!* thought Ranma as he bounded up on the roof.  *I can't
believe the shear amount of damage that the rumor that Nabiki and Kasumi
have been added to the list of my fiancées has caused me.*  Everyone had
wanted to know just what he was going to do now.  *And I'm going to be very
upset if I find out who started that rumor that I'm going to marry more
then one of them.*  He looked quickly around and grabbed his new pendent
and vanished in a swirl of light.

      "Hello Ranma," called Tsunami.

      "Hi Tsunami," responded Ranma.

      "If you don't mind I was going to ask you to try something besides
school work this afternoon."

      "Do you honestly think that I'm the person that would object to not
doing school work?" asked Ranma with a crooked grin.

      "I didn't think so, but I wanted to check.  I want to see if you can
do something."

      After they had both relaxed on the deck in meditation position she
asked him to let her into his aura.  Once she was in she took them in a
plunge down through his being.

      *Its got to be here.  I know he's the kind of person that would have
it.  That chaos that swirls around in his life could be nothing else.*

      "What is it your looking for?" asked Ranma.

      "Something that would explain the craziness in your life."  *Ahh,
there it is!  WOW!  I knew he had to have a connection, but I didn't
realized that it would rival Tenchi's.*  "I've found it.  I would like you
to try and follow me down this time."

      Ranma nodded and gathered his concentration.  *I wonder what it is
that she was searching for so hard and now wants me to see?*

      This time Tsunami raced downward pulling Ranma along until she can to
that place deep in Ranma's soul where there was a rip in the fabric of the
universe.  A place that let pure energy seep through, most of the people
that had this well of power in them either wasn't aware of it or didn't
know how to use it.  The Juraian scientist thought that they had it all
figured out.  They called it Juraian power and though that it was something
that set the Juraian race apart from the others.  Really it was a
potential, a sign that the being that had it had the potential to move to
the higher dimensional planes.  Even the people that had it and knew what
it was never managed to control it enough to use it at it a real level.
The Juraians all had it because they all were descended from families that
had been born in the massive energy storm that was caused by Jurai's
spacetrees, but they would never be able to harness enough to even approach
the level that they would need to do anything other then a few tricks with
it.  However now Tsunami had found two beings that not only had been born
with the true ability, but also had the potential to use it.

      "Wow what was that?" asked Ranma after the floated back to the
surface.

      "That was something that I'm going to show you how to use in addition
to the sword.  It's like a second well of ki inside you.  You can even use
it like ki if you want to, but it can be used for far more powerful things
then ki."  Tsunami got a distant look in her eyes then snapped them open,
"They're home!"

      Tsunami teleported them down to the Masaki house just as a crystal
starship dropped several people down on the end of the dock before turning
into a little rabbit looking thing.

      "Tenchiii," called Sasami running towards the group on the end of the
dock.  Then when she became aware of Tsunami and Ranma materializing next
to her she stopped and turned to say hi to Ranma only to bump into the
still materializing Tsunami and nearly send them both into the water.
Ranma's reflexes were fast enough to catch Sasami though before she could
fall.

      From the other end of the dock it looked like a stranger had shoved
Tsunami out of the way and grabbed Sasami.

      "No you don't!" yelled Ryoko as she teleported in and grabbed Sasami
and then teleported back to Ayeka.  Tenchi had a somewhat more direct plan
in mind, he charged the intruder and the need to protect Sasami dropped all
the pieces into place and the wings came to life in front of him.

      Ranma was still staring at the place that Sasami had been standing
when her call of 'Ranma look out!' broke through his daze.  *Huh?
Yiiikes!* were the two quick thoughts that went through his head as Tenchi
charged him.

      *I don't believe this,* thought Tenchi as the stranger dodged both of
his original swings with speed and sureness of motion that sounded alarm
bells in his head.

      While this was happening Tsunami had given up getting out of the lake
and simply moved to Sasami's body.

      "Hey don't let Tenchi do that!  He's my friend," said Sasami.

      "Now Sasami you don't have to worry we know Tenchi is your friend and
he'll keep that bad man from hurting you," Ayeka assured her.

      "I think this is about enough of this one sided fight," said Tsunami
from Sasami's body.

      "TSUNAMI?" asked Ryoko as a single light hawk wing formed in front of
Sasami.

      "Ranma!" she called as she grabbed it forming it into a katana that
she tossed to Ranma.

      "Hey thanks!" shouted Ranma as he leaped over Tenchi and grabbed the
falling sword.  He stepped in on Tenchi's next swing slamming both swords
out wide then delivering a one handed chestnut fist to Tenchi's
midsection.  The hits sent Tenchi staggering back, but didn't even knock
him down.  "Sasami what's the deal here?"

      "As long as he's using light hawk wings he's pretty much immune to
anything other then another wing," called back Tsunami.

      "You mean I'm going to have to kill him?" demanded Ranma.  "There's
got to be another way."

      "Ok," said Tsunami as she transformed Sasami's body into the adult
Tsunami and crossed the distance to Tenchi in an eyeblink.  She caught his
sword arm and physically snatched the sword out of his hand.  "Do I have
you attention now?" asked Tsunami while glaring at Tenchi from inches away.

      "Tsunami?  What are you doing?" asked Tenchi trying to get a look at
the bad guy over her shoulder.

      "I'm trying to keep my guest from having to kill you in
self-defense."

      "Tsunami what are you doing?" asked Ryoko.

      "Doesn't anyone around her listen to you?" asked Ranma as Tsunami
pulled back her power and let Sasami's body return to normal.

      "Why should they?  They already know what I need so why ask me?" said
Sasami in a sarcastic tone.  "I mean as they may have noticed Tsunami is
protecting me so the idea that a normal Earthling or even a Juraian could
hurt me is next to nothing, but they still don't listen when I tell them
that Tenchi's attacking my friend."

      "Uh he's your friend?" asked Tenchi.

      "So you're the great Tenchi Masaki I've heard so much about?" asked
Ranma.

      "He could beat you," insisted Ayeka coming to the aid of her husband.

      "Funny I looked like it was going the other way to me," snickered
Sasami as Tsuanmi's older body formed beween her and Ranma.

      "Now Sasami that's not very nice.  I have the advantage of having
seen a lot of the moves Tenchi was using, while he'd probably never faced
anyone that uses my style before."

      "How do you know so much about Juraian swordsmanship?" asked Tenchi
who was impressed at the other boy's skills.

      "A certain blue haired person has been trying to hammer the basic
principles into my head for a week now," winked Ranma.

      "Lets go inside then we can all tell each other our stories to our
hearts content," suggested Tsunami.

      Once inside Tenchi told the rest of them about their trip to Jurai
and Tsunami told about how she had met Ranma, but nothing about his past.

      After dinner Ranma and Tsunami begged off further conversation in
order to get some work done.

      "So that was Tenchi and the gang huh?" asked Ranma after they were
back up on the ship.

      "Yep that was them," confirmed Tsunami.  "Now would you like to do
your school work or have me show you some of the uses for that well of
power?"

      "I think that I'd like to learn some more about that power that you
showed me and if it doesn't violate any super secret Juraian government
rules could you tell me about the Light Hawk Wings?"

      "Oh I think I could manage to give you a few details."

      This quickly disintegrated into a sparing session that forced Ranma
to rely on one of his greatest abilities.  Tsunami chased him around the
training ground until he managed to adapt the new power to his use and
started fighting back.

      *WOW!* thought Ranma as his powered soared.  *This is incredible.*
Ranma was applying the chestnut fist to speed his whole body with this new
influx of energy.  Then with a grin he formed a ball of energy and squeezed
it into an energy sword.  "I figured it out," he said to Tsunami
nonchalantly as she had to rapidly duck under it.

      The fight carried them for over an hour until it was time for Ranma
to head home.

      "Uh do you mind if I borrow your shower?  I'm not that interested in
going back to the house smelling like I've been fighting all night."

      "Sure no problem," said Tsunami.  "But only if you don't mind if I
soak at the same time."

      "I think that you've cured me of that problem," grinned Ranma as he
remembered how she'd bothered him until he started to realize that it was
the soul inside that mattered and not the body.

      After Ranma got his shower he grabbed his suddenly clean clothes and
promised, "I'll see you in the morning!" as he departed for the Tendo Dojo.

      *I've been alone so long I think that it'd be nice if one of these
days he just stayed here instead of running off to the dojo,* thought
Tsunami wistfully.  "Come in," she called when the faint chime sounded that
when someone wanted into the ship.

      "So who's the new boyfriend?" asked Washu.  She walked over and sat
down on the side of the tub.  "And where did you find him?"

      "Believe it or not he fell out of the sky," answered Tsunami
sincerely.  "As for who he is.  He's Ranma Saotome and could one day be our
equal."

      "Are you serious?"

      "I tested him today just before the others arrived.  His power
potential is greater then Tenchi's!  And he has the will to use it and
possible carry it to the end."

      "And you may have already snagged and bagged him, rats!" said Washu.
"A gorgeous guy that has the potential to move to the higher plane and
you've already got a head start on me."

      "You stay away from my Ranma!" said Tsunami rising up from the
reclining position in the tub.

      "Your Ranma?" asked Washu with an arched eyebrow.

      "Uh, well, that is," stammered Tsunami, blushing under the stare of
her sister.

      "Just as I thought.  You're in love with this boy, and you don't have
a clue what to do about it, do you?"

      "Well I do like him," admitted Tsunami.

      "Maybe I should have Tenchi help him along," offered Washu.

      "If I wait for Tenchi to get around to moving him along I'll never
get married.  Heck if the girls hadn't left him no choice at all he still
wouldn't be married," Tsunami reminded her sister.

      "Then we'll have to come up with something else.  What about..."***



      *I think I'm getting more and more depressed when I have to come back
here,* thought Ranma glumly as he arrived on the roof of the Tendo Dojo.
*Then again it could just be because I'm leaving Tsunami at the same
time.*  Ranma shook his head and firmly pushed that thought out of his
head.

      "Where have you been you baka?" demanded Akane as Ranma dropped off
of the roof and walked into the door.

      "Where have you been Saotome?" asked Nabkiki with a grin on her face.

      "Out," was Ranma's only answer as he walked on into his room and laid
down to go to sleep.

      "Good morning," called Nodoka.  She had come over early so that she
could observe the Tendo sisters to see if they were suitable for her son
after all.

      "Morning mom," called back Ranma as he bounded down the steps.  He
had already been up and trained with Tsunami this morning and was ready for
breakfast.

      Everyone had sat down for breakfast when Nabiki repeated her
question, "So where were you last night Ranma?"

      "If you really must know I was sharing a bath with a beautiful
woman.  Could you pass the soup?" responded Ranma.

      "HUH?" demanded Nabiki with her mouth doing a hanger imitation.

      "Oh my son is so MANLY!" shouted Nodoka as she started twirling
around the room.

      "YOU PERVERT!" shouted Akane as she brought her mallet smashing down
with more then normal force.  Everyone but Ranma was surprised when a near
miss sent Soun flying into the wall.  He slid limply to the ground.

      "Akane what are you doing?" asked Nodoka who had been startled out of
her 'oh he's so manly dance' when Soun hit the wall.

      "He was sharing a bath with a girl!"

      "Oh I'm so sorry I should have realized that you'd be upset when he
didn't share one with you," apologized Nodoka.  "I should have been more
considerate."

      *What did that boy do?* wondered Genma as he tried to reassemble what
had happened.  *He was sitting there, she swung, the mallet passed through
him, and almost creamed Soun.*  "So boy you've been evading your
responsibilities again.  You should have been taking a bath with Akane!"

      Ranma just turned and looked at Genma, "Panda I think you've got your
fur wrapped too tight.  I'm going to school now-," Ranma was cut off as
Ryoga charged from up stairs.

      "DIE RANMA!"

      "This is ridiculous.  Would.  You.  Just.  Go.  AWAY!" yelled Ranma
as Ryoga came charging at him.  Ranma flipped over backwards and kicked
Ryoga under the chin, sending him right out the roof.  "What is it around
here I can't even eat breakfast in piece," muttered Ranma as he grabbed his
books and headed to school.

      The rest of the group could only stare as an unconscious Ryoga
crashed right back through the same hole he went out.

      "Did you see that?" asked Nabiki.  "He just took out Ryoga with one
hit!"***



      The schoolyard of Furinkan was just the same as Ranma remembered it
from the day before, it just felt smaller.  *This is kinda strange.  I've
always had to be careful around other people so I don't hit them to hard or
something, but I've never had to reign in my energies so that I don't out
run the cars to school.*  Ranma was having great fun playing with the new
energy that Tsunami had showed him how to use.  As far as he could tell it
was a near limitless source of ki.

      "Foul sorcerer I shall defeat you this morn and free the fair flowers
Akane and the pigtailed goddess," proclaimed Kuno.

      Ranma didn't even hear him.  He'd already moved onto something that
he was more interested in.  *What can I do for Tsunami?  I mean she's done
so much for me.  I need to something to repay all she's done and doing for
me.*  Memory surfaced.  *Hmm, the other girls seemed to like to go out to a
restaurant or something.*  Something tapped Ranma on the head.  *Did it
start raining or something?*  Ranma snapped out of it just in time to see
Kuno pulling another bokken out and getting ready to swing again.  *Hmm, I
think I should pay more attention to whats going on around me, but this is
a great excuse to show off!*

      The rest of the schoolyard had been surprised when Ranma had ignored
Kuno and even more so when the hit connected.  Nothing however could have
prepared them for what happened next.  The bokken snapped off and seemed to
jolt Ranma out of a daze, then he exploded into motion and demolished Kuno
in the blink of an eye.

      *That was easier then I thought!  I'm going to have to be careful
with this, it'll be to easy to loss my edge if I can just beat everyone
with shear speed.*  Ranma ignored everyone that was staring at him and
proceeded into the classroom still thinking about what he could do for
Tsunami.

      At lunchtime Ranma was still thinking about Tsunami.  *Lets see if I
could borrow some money somewhere I can take Tsunami out to a nice
restaurant and then maybe we could go do something else.*

      The rest of Furinkan's population wasn't sure just what as going on,
but Ranma had just set a new record taking out Kuno so they weren't in a
hurry to get in his way.  The teachers noticed that while Ranma was keeping
up in class and turned in his homework he obviously was thinking about
something else.

      "Hi mom I'm home," called Ranma after coming home from school.

      "Oh my manly son.  Is it true that you took a bath with a girl?"
asked Nodoka grabbing her son in a hug.

      "Uh yeah it is, sorta," confessed Ranma with everyone in the Tendo
living room watching him.

      "Sort of?" asked Nodoka.

      "Uh, you see I was taking a shower and she was in the bathtub then I
sat down to soak," explained Ranma in a hasty voice.

      "Ranma how dare you cheat on Akane like that!" shouted Soun.

      Ranma totally ignored him and asked he mother, "Uh mom I hate to ask
but could I borrow some money?  I owe someone for what they've done for me
so I was going to treat them to dinner."

      "Oh of course Ranma you should always pay your debts," said Nodoka
pulling out a wad of bills and giving them to Ranma.  "Here is this
enough?"

      "Uh yeah mom this should be more then enough," answered Ranma.

      "Nonsense son, when taking a lady out for dinner just enough is never
good enough," winked Nodoka.

      "I'm so glad your taking my little girl out to tonight," sighed Soun.

      "I'm not," said Ranma absently.

      "You foolish boy, we must up hold the pledge to unite the families,"
cut in Genma.

      "Bye mom," said Ranma turning to leave.

      "Come back here you ungrateful little boy!" shouted Genma as he
jumped to grab Ranma as he walked away.  Akane was just walking in the
door.

      Ranma side stepped the lunging Genma and turned to Akane.  "Hello you
uncute tomboy," greeted Ranma.  *I hope this works,* thought Ranma as he
subtly boosted Akane's strength and reinforced his own defenses.  Akane
reacted exactly as expected.  She grabbed her mallet and swatted Ranma into
LEO.

      Ranma crashed to the ground in a carrot patch.

      "Miya," shouted the startled Ryo-ohki.

      "RANMA?" asked an equally shocked Tenchi.

      "Yeah I decided to drop by today," grinned Ranma as he picked himself
up out of the dirt.

      "Would you like to come in for something to drink?" asked Tenchi
politely.

      "Uh actually I was hoping to talk to Washu, but something to drink
would be nice.  That tomboy isn't as strong as she likes to think but if I
didn't have a good reason I wouldn't have let her hit me like that," said
Ranma rubbing his shoulder where he had landed on a rock.

      "You let someone hit you hard enough to launch you here from Tokyo?"
asked Tenchi in shock.

      "Yeah normally she can't hit me this far, so I had to help her,"
explained Ranma as the walked back to the house.  "Uh can we get into the
house without Sasami catching us?"

      "I guess so, why?"

      "I don't want Tsunami to know I'm here just yet."

      "Hello Ranma," called Washu as they opened the door.

      "Uh hello Washu.  I was wondering if I could talk to you for a
minute?" asked Ranma.

      "Sure step into my office," said Washu, grinning as she opened the
door to her lab.  "So what was it that you needed?  Birth control, the Kama
Sutra in Japanese, or some practice?" asked Washu, changing to her adult
form as she finished.

      Ranma is standing just inside the door to Washu's lab with a glow in
the dark face.  "Uh, I, Uh..."  Ranma snaps out of it, "Uh what I really
needed is some advice."

      "Advice on what subject?" asked Washu as she realized that this boy
was determined to get something done.

      "Uh, I was going to ask Tsunami if she wanted to go get something to
eat I could take her somewhere nice and I don't know what to wear,"
admitted Ranma.

      "Oh well in that case I think your going to need to really dress up,"
said Washu.  Her laptop appeared and she started typing.  "Hmm, Juraian
formal?" wondered Washu as Ranma's cloths changed to formal Juraian robes.
"Maybe something less formal then!" giggled little Washu as she hit the
button.

      "Eep!" said Ranma as he was standing there in a very small swimsuit.

      "Well Tsunami would have liked it," said Washu defensively as she
changed it to a tuxedo.  "That should do it."

      "Thanks," said Ranma gratefully.

      "No problem.  Just make my little sister happy," ordered Washu.  "Oh
and if you change your mind here," continued Washu handing him a videotape
with the label Kama sutra, and a small box of pills.

      "Uh sure is there somewhere that I could leave these until I get
back?" asked Ranma.

      "Sorry you have an appointment to keep," snickered Washu as she
teleported Ranma to the ship.

      "Were you coming to study or did you have other plans?" asked Tsunami
as Ranma appeared in front of her and she saw what he was carrying.

      "Uh no, I uh, that is, you see," stammered Ranma.  He took a deep
breath and said, "I was coming to see if you wanted to go somewhere for
dinner and then Washu gave me all this stuff."

      "Oh, well in that case why don't you just put it on the table there,"
suggested Tsunami pointing at one of the side tables.  "So you mentioned
going somewhere for dinner.  Since your all dressed up I assume you were
planning something fancy?"

      "Uh, I was just going to ask you where you wanted to go," admitted
Ranma.  "I'm not very good at this kinda thing."

      "Let me get dressed and we can go."

      Ranma waited until Tsunami had changed into something that would
match his tuxedo and then they left for Tokyo.  After dinner at the
restaurant where Ranma put to use every one of the manners that Tsunami had
been drilling into him.

      "So what do you want to do know?" asked Ranma after they had paid and
left the restaurant.

      "I don't know whats going on around here?"

      "Hey, that looks like a carnival over there," pointed Ranma.

      "That sounds like fun.  Sasami went to the carnival with Tenchi the
one time, but I've never been to one," said an excited Tsunami.

      "Ok, lets go," agreed Ranma quickly.  "But I don't think we're
dressed for it."

      "No problem," said Tsunami as her own clothes turned into a plain
dress and Ranma's into his trademark red and black.

      Ranma paid their way in and they wondered around looking until
Tsunami saw something that looked familiar.

      "Oh look Ranma it's a stuffed Ryo-ohki!" giggled Tsunami.

      "A what?" asked Ranma.  He hadn't met Ryo-ohki when the gang had come
home.

      "A Ryo-ohki.  Can we go take a look?"

      "Sure this night is to thank you for all you've done for me, so its
up to you," explained Ranma as they headed toward the stall with the doll.

      "Step right up sir and win a doll for the little lady here," called
the man behind the counter.

      "Ok, whats the challenge?" asked Ranma.

      The man pointed toward the stacks of bottles.  "Just knock down all
of the bottles with three balls and you win."

      Ranma paid the man and took his three balls.  A quick snap of the
wrist sent them spinning one after another toward the stacks of bottles.
Each one hit the center bottle with a wicked curving spin and the three
balls promptly sent three stacks of bottles to the floor.

      "Here you go," said the man handing three of the dolls to Tsunami.
Then turning to Ranma he asked, "How did you do that?"

      "I've had lots of practice," grinned Ranma.

      "If you don't mind my asking, where did you get the idea for this?
They're adorable," Tsunami asked the man.

      "Believe it or not I was in a bar a few months ago when I thought I
saw something like this sitting on a table with some lady who seemed to be
upset that this other girl was moving in on her man."

      "Oh I believe it," said Tsunami shaking her head as they moved away
from the both.

      They wondered around some more until Tsunami spotted the cotton candy
and had to try some.  They toured the rest of the park with Ranma deftly
dodging Tsunami's defending hands to grab pieces of cotton candy from her.

      Tsunami had turned to look at something and ended up holding the cone
out to one side and Ranma went to bite the last of the pink candy off when
Tsunami suddenly turned back to get the last bite and they ended up looking
at each other eye to eye, separated only by the thin paper cone.

      "Uh sorry," said Ranma pulling back after a long minute.  *I almost
kissed her!  I should have,* came the following thought that surprised
Ranma just a little.  *I've been thinking that Tsunami would make a better
fiancée then any I've got now anyway.  No she's a friend and I wont try to
take advantage of that friendship!* finished Ranma firmly.

      "Its no problem.  I should have known that you would go for the last
little bit," teased Tsunami.  *Darn I thought he was going to kiss me!  I
can't figure out what his problem is.  I know he likes me, I can get that
much from his emotions.  But every time we get close he pulls back and all
I can get is a sense of determination from him.  He's driving me crazy!*
"Would you like to go up in the Farris Wheel?  The view must be great."

      "Sure lets go," agreed Ranma.

      Once they were on the wheel Tsunami sat close to Ranma.

      "Ranma?"

      "Yeah?"

      "I thought for a minute there you were going to kiss me."

      "Don't worry I know we're just friends.  You can trust me," Ranma
assured her.

      *He thinks that I only want to be friends.*  The thought struck
Tsunami that he may not have put together gaining his friendship as a way
to get closer to him.  *In his life friendship and fiancée seem to be
mutually exclusive.  Hmm, I think I'm going to have to educate him!*

      Tsunami leaned over and deliberately kissed him on the cheek.

      Ranma's brain locked up when Tsunami kissed him.  *She kissed me!*
Then the smarter part of Ranma's mind, the one that guided him
instinctively through things that would kill anyone else finely gagged the
other part and shouted, *SO KISS HER BACK YOU BAKA!*

      Ranma followed those trusted instincts and leaned over to Tsunami and
pulled her into another kiss, this one lasted for far longer.

      "See we can kiss and still be friends," giggled Tsunami.  "And since
I started it you don't have to worry about you using your friendship to
take advantage of me.  Did you want to watch a movie tonight?"

      "Sure what did you have in mind?" asked Ranma as he put his arms
around her.

      "I was thinking that I have popcorn and quite a few movies back on
the ship," said Tsunami.  At Ranma's startled look she laughed and
continued, "Don't worry I wasn't trying to rush you I just thought that we
could spend a nice quiet evening watching a movie and some popcorn."

      "Ok.  Lets go."  They disappeared from the Farris Wheel, taking the
Ryo-ohki dolls with them and a figure looked up from the ground.

      "Way to go little sister."***



      Ranma woke to an unfamiliar sensation.  *What in the world?* wondered
Ranma as he cracked his eyes open.  The first thing that he noticed was the
blue hair across his chest.  *Oh man.  Now I remember.*  Ranma could recall
last night with total clarity.  After coming back to the ship they had
popped a whole bowl of popcorn and grabbed a few sodas and sat on the couch
with Ranma sitting by the arm and Tsunami curled up against his other side
with her head on his shoulder.  Then sometime after the first movie she had
fallen asleep he had turned so that one leg ran across the back of the
couch and the other hung over and he had leaned Tsunami's head on his chest
so that she would be more comfortable.  *I fell asleep!  What time is it?*

      "Is something wrong?" asked Tsunami raising her head.

      "Uh I was just wondering what time it was," said Ranma.

      "Just enough time for you to take a bath and get back to the dojo,"
said Tsunami.

      "I'd better go back to the Dojo and take a bath," apologized Ranma.
"It would keep slander down."

      "I appreciate the fact that your trying to protect me but..., oh
never mind I'll see you later today," said Tsunami kissing him on the lips
before getting up.

      "You can count on it!"  Ranma teleported right into his room at the
Tendo home while Tsunami muttered, "I really should have told him that I
fixed his pendant so he can teleport directly to me now."

      "Nice entrance Saotome," said Nabiki.  She stepped the rest of the
way into the room holding her camera.

      "Oh hi Nabiki.  Whatcha up to?" asked Ranma rummaging through his
drawers looking for a change of clothes.  "I'm in kind of a hurry this
morning," he continued as he brushed past Nabiki and out into the hallway.

      *Now that was weird,* thought Nabiki as she briefly considered the
fact that she might finely had been around Ranma long enough that she was
starting to crack up.  *Naw, I saw him step out of a light swirl, but
there's only one way to prove it!*  Nabiki ran out of the guest room and
raced to her closet A.K.A. her dark room.  She stretched out the film and
quickly pulled the pictures that showed Ranma's arrival out and blew them
up to 5x7.

      In the Tendo dinning room everyone was standing around yelling at
each other about who's fault it was that Ranma had disappeared.  Shampoo,
Ukyo, and Cologne were of the opinion that it was Akane's fault.  Genma,
Soun, and Akane thought that it was Ranma's fault and that he was just
hiding.

      "I think I have a lead on where Ranma was last night.  If anyone has
the right price," said Nabiki coming down the stairs.  "Now I only have one
set of these pictures so I'm just renting them out just now."

      Everyone had paid and were just laying the pictures out on the table
when Nodoka entered.

      "Good morning," she called to those gathered around the room.

      "THAT HENTAI!" exploded Akane as she started glowing and stormed off
in the direction of the bathroom.

      Nodoka ran over to look at the pictures laying on the table as the
rest of the people headed off.  The pictures showed Ranma appearing out of
a swirl of lights and growing fainter as he grew more distinct was a young
woman with blue hair winking at Ranma, which showed what was the most
likely source of the blue hair that was stuck all over Ranma's shirt.  She
turned and ran after everyone else.

      Ranma was sitting in the bath thinking about last night when the
bathroom door crashed open and in stormed the fiancée brigade.

      "What were you doing spending the night with another girl?" demanded
Ukyo.

      "Why husband cheating on Shampoo," asked Shampoo at the same time.

      "We've got the proof right here Saotome," said Nabiki next.  She was
holding up the shirt that he'd just taken off, the one with the blue hair
on it.

      "How could you cheat on your fiancée?" wailed Soun.  "The schools
will never be joined!"

      "Boy you'd better have an explanations for this!" shouted Genma.

      Ranma was just getting ready to respond to at least some of that when
Akane shouted, "Whats this?" and lunged for the hawk pendant on hanging on
the wall.

      "Don't touch that!" yelled Ranma.

      "Let me see that," Ukyo ordered Akane.

      "Give to Shampoo," seconded Shampoo.

      *I wonder who that bimbo that he's been with is?* thought Akane as
she looked at the pendent just as Ukyo's and Shampoo's hands closed over
it.  Then Genma went for it realizing that he could sell that for enough to
get drunk on for a long time.  He dragged Soun along to help him get it.

      A light flared up suddenly from the pendent.  Cologne, fearing the
powerful magic that she could feel, grabbed her great granddaughter by the
back of the neck.  Nodoka and Kasumi ran through the door and ran into
Nabiki, shoving her into the knot of girls blocking the doorway.  Happosai
dropped from the ceiling and grabbed at all the girls standing there.

      All of them appeared above the currently occupied bathtub of one
Tsunami of Jurai.

      *Of all the...,* trailed off Ranma as he pushed off of the others to
get to the bottom of the pack and grabbed Tsunami out of the bath and
kicked off of the rim of the tub sending them flying to a stop with their
backs to the wall as the rest crashed into the tub.

      "Well Ranma you are of course welcome anytime, but you could have
called to let me know that you would be bringing guests," teased Tsunami.
Unfortunately this brought the attention of the people that were struggling
to get out of the tub.

      The girls quickly noticed that both Ranma and Tsunami were dressed
for bathing, or undressed as the case maybe, they however weren't the only
ones that noticed.

      "SWEETO!" cried Happosai as he lunged for the naked Tsunami.

      "Leave her ALONE!" shouted Ranma as he smashed the old pervert with a
Ryoko style ball of energy and added a Mouko Takabishi for good measure.
The combination sent the troll hammering into a wall that didn't give an
inch.

      "RANMA NO BA-."  Akane was cut off suddenly as a blue colored energy
bar snapped into being in Ranma's hand.  It was just about two inches from
her throat.

      "Ranma what are you doing?" snapped Nabiki.

      "Stop there," Ranma ordered everyone as the fiancées dragged
themselves out in to some kind of order."

      *How dare that baka pull, what ever that thing is on me!  I'll teach
that hussy to move in on my fiancée.* thought Akane without consciously
being aware that she'd switched targets.  She backed up, grabbed her
mallet, and started to swing at Tsunami this time.  The rest of the
fiancées realizing that this was their chance to go after this new girl
attacked.

      *I didn't think she'd actually do it,* thought Ranma as he saw the
swing start to descend on Tsunami and the rest of the girls charge.

      Ranma lunched the energy blade at the flight of throwing spatulas
that Ukyo sent, dropped himself parallel to the floor kicking Akane in the
stomach on the way down while sweeping Ukyo's legs out from under her, and
spinning back to his feet to plant the heel of his hand in Shampoo's
stomach sending her back into the tub along with Akane and the still
toppling Ukyo.

      Genma, Soun, Kasumi, and Nodoka just stood there staring at what
Ranma had done.  Happosai was still out cold on the floor against the
opposite wall and Cologne was taking advantage of Ranma being distracted to
sneak up on him.

      "Oh no you don't," said Tsunami almost conversationally to Cologne as
she used a low power light hawk wing as a battering ram to slam her against
the same wall that had stopped Happosai's flight.

      "Uh Ranma are you ok?" asked Nabiki looking at Ranma with a new
wariness.

      "Son what is the meaning of this?  You shouldn't hit your fiancée
like that," said Genma, who was still in just a little shock by one seeing
his son take out the dreaded master and two by seeing the completely new
twist of seeing his son hit not one but three girls.

      "Then she shouldn't attack her host and my friend," countered Ranma.

      "Well Ranma you seem to be healthy in your male form as well,"
snickered Cologne as she tried to find a way to get him back on the
defensive.

      "Gee old ghoul you really ought to get your mind out of the gutter
and back on whats going on here and now," shot back Ranma.  Then turning
back to Tsunami.  "You know it would probably help if we went and got
dressed."

      "Yeah it probably would.  I still have a few of your cloths here from
when you were sick," suggested Tsunami.  "They'd be in your room.  Oh and
the rest of you should feel free to use the towels," grinned Tsunami as she
and Ranma traipsed toward opposite ends of the hallway.

      "How dare that baka do this to me?" demanded Akane in a shout as soon
as she finished climbing out of the tub again.

      "Because somehow he has more then doubled the power that he used to
defeat Saffron," said Cologne as she was getting back up from where she had
landed.  "And he took out Happi with a single strike.  Also that girl has
some serious power of her own."

      "So what we do now, great grandmother?" asked Shampoo.

      "Now we do like the lady said, we dry off and wait for her and
son-in-law to come back."

      "If you ladies would follow me," said Tsunami after she had gotten
dressed.

      They followed Tsunami into the living room and found that Ranma had
set out the things for tea.

      "Lady Satome, I am Tsunami Jurai and I welcome you to my home,"
intoned Tsunami formally.

      "I thank you.  And if you don't mind my asking what is your
relationship with my son?" asked Nodoka.

      "Your son and I are friends.  He arrived here injured and I cared for
him and he has been teaching me the Anything goes style," she admitted
quite truthfully.

      "Then if I may ask a question, where are you hiding your power?"
asked frustrated Cologne.

      "Excuse me?"

      "After that fight in the bathroom I know you have more power then
son-in-law, but I can't sense any of it around you," continued Cologne.
The rest of the girls paled at this statement that their new rival was
capable of defeating one of if not the top marital artist in the world.

      "Oh you just want a chance to measure my abilities," said Tsunami.
"Why didn't you say so?"  Tsunami touched her own connection to the higher
plane and let her power fill her like a rising tide.  "You do realize that
I'm not going to show you my full power, like Ranma I always believe in
holding something back."

      Cologne was staring at this girl that had produced a power level that
she had never seen anyone aspire to in all her years.  *This can't be!  She
has more power then most of the rest of the village combined!  I must get
her to join the tribe!* were the frantic thoughts that chased themselves
around her head.  Then her eyes rolled back in her head as Cologne the best
fighter of her generation fainted in the face of an eighteen-year-old
girl's power.

      "Great grandmother!" called Shampoo running to Cologne's side.  "What
blue haired woman do to great grandmother?"

      "Nothing I promise you," Tsunami assured her.

      Ranma walked into the room in his red and black with the hawk pendant
back around his neck.  "I found it in the bottom of the bathtub," he told
Tsunami.

      "Hmm, I never considered the fact that I should have keyed it to your
energy pattern and I never got time to tell you that I had changed it to
allow you to find me even if the ship wasn't here," said Tsunami.

      "So what do you want with my son?" demanded Genma.

      "And why did you bring him here when you were in the bath?" demanded
Akane.

      "After all you've done for Ranma I don't think that you deserve much
consideration from me, and to answer your question Akane.  You, Ukyo, and
Shampoo were the ones that brought everyone here into my bathing room,"
countered Tsunami.

      "Good morning, Tsunami," called Washu as she arrived in the living
room.  Then looking around she noticed the new arrivals.  "You're having a
party and didn't invite me?" she asked.

      "Tsunami could I please have a word with you in private?" asked
Nodoka.

      "Of course Mrs. Saotome.  If you could follow me," answered Tsunami
leading the way down the hallway.

      After a short walk they arrived at the tree garden.

      "Mrs. Saotome," began Tsunami, but she was cut off by Nodoka.

      "Please call me Auntie Nodoka, because it is obvious that you and my
son had seen each other before and I don't mean sparing.  Were you the one
that he shared the bath with?" asked Nodoka, she had seen the fact that
Ranma didn't have any problems being with a naked Tsunami and she was
equally at ease with him.

      "Actually yes I am.  I don't know if he knows it yet but I have every
intention of perusing him," explained Tsunami forthright.

      Nodoka looked over Tsunami, then briefly considered whether this
person was suitable to join her family.  *She can be formal when needed,
but relaxed and natural with those that she trusts.  She also seems to have
finally interested Ranma in the sword and possesses tremendous potential if
Cologne's fainting is any indication and she is beautiful enough to give me
beautiful grandchildren.*  All of this flashed through Nodoka's mind as she
answered, "I would ask you a question first."

      "I will do my best to answer."

      "What do you think of children?" asked Nodoka with a smile.  *Oh I
hope that one of these girls can capture my son's heart so that I can
finely have a grandchild.*

      "I hope to have children one day after I marry the right man.
However it would have to be a joint decision between my husband and me and
would probably be a while.  Most likely if my husband were to be Ranma he
would like to travel around and fullfil any dreams he has first."

      *This girl obviously knows that I want a grandchild but is holding
her ground.  I approve of this girl, and she's old enough to inspire my son
to be manly!*  "I give my blessing to your suit."

      Back in the living room Ranma was under siege by fiancées and
fathers.

      "Husband come home with Shampoo now, yes?"

      "Ranchan I don't think you should be with that girl."

      "You pervert what have you been doing with that girl that you have a
room in this house?"

      "I can't leave, she's my friend, and obviously not what you think or
I'd be sleeping in her room not my own," finished Ranma shaking off
Shampoo's and Ukyo's hand in time to grab Akane's mallet out of her hand.
Then the fathers come up to him.

      "Son you must marry Akane!  The honor of the Saotome family depends
on it," shouted Genma in his face.

      "Not to mention you plan to freeload off me and the dojo for the rest
of your life," shot back Ranma.

      "Wahhhh, the schools must be joined!" cried Soun.

      "Washu a little help here," called Ranma as Cologne got back up and
the old pervert started to stir.

      "What a big boy like you needs a little girl like me to protect you?"
asked Washu, she had arrived in her younger body.

      "Well I could just kill them all and let it become someone else's
problem, but I figured that wouldn't be the right thing to do," explained
Ranma.  Akane had stepped into the gap left by the fathers moving apart
slightly and started to swing.

      "That'll be enough of that while you're a guest here," said Washu to
Akane.  Akane stopped as an energy sword flickered into being close enough
to vaporize several strands of hair.  The threat of that sword was enough
to back all of the others down for a moment.  "I know you said everyone you
knew was crazy but I had no idea that it was this bad," said Washu.

      "Hey," protested Ukyo.  "I'm normal."

      "I don't think any of you people are normal."  She looked back at
Ranma, "And I know you're not normal!  So how did the rest of them get up
here anyway?"

      "Akane grabbed the pendant and the rest of them caught a ride,"
explained Ranma.

      "Figures, you and Tenchi are two of a kind.  The total embodiment of
Murphy's law, which until I met you two I didn't believe in by the way."

      *I have to do something!  That girl will totally ruin my son's
future, not to mention my own,* thought Genma.  *She has to be stopped
before she can totally destroy the Saotome and Tendo schools of Anything
Goes Martial Arts.  But if what that witch amazon said is true then she
could defeat the dreaded master easily.  No matter I'll have to use
stronger measures then, she can't be allowed to endanger the future of all
of us!*

      "What in the world is going on here?" demanded Nodoka.  She and
Tsunami had walked in to see the fiancées and fathers held at bay by the
threat of Ranma and Washu's combined power.

      "Washu I would like you to meet Mrs. Nodoka Saotome, Ranma's mother.
Mrs.-uh Auntie Nodoka this is my older sister Washu Hakubi," introduced
Tsunami.

      "Auntie Nodoka?" asked Ranma.

      "Everyone I have an announcement to make.  After due consideration I
have decided that Tsunami Jurai has my blessing to wed my son.  Thus making
her equal to the rest of you girls," said Nodoka in a totally neutral
tone.  *And I think that other then Kasumi she's the only one that I would
want to win, but honor will have to be satisfied some how,* thought Nodoka.

      "What?" demanded Genma.  "He must marry Akane.  The honor of the
Saotome clan depends on us upholding the pledge between our families!"

      "Husband you have made a mockery of the Saotome family honor with
your multiple engagements.  However he is right my son.  Since the family
honor is at stake you must take each one of them out on a date before you
can make a decision," countered Nodoka.

      "No the pledge to the Tendo family came first it has the most
legitimacy.  The schools must be joined!" said Soun.

      "Don't worry my friend soon Ranma will be free of the brainwashing he
is under," Genma assured Soun.  *That boy will thank me for this later
after his is happily married to Akane!* Genma convinced himself.  He
quickly gathered his concentration and dredged up the memory of the
techniques that he had sealed away years ago.  Then without warning he
launched a vacuum ki blade towards the unsuspecting Tsunami.

      Ranma realized what was happening as he saw his father strike at
Tsunami using a technique that he had never used before.  *NOO, I'm going
to be too late!* thought Ranma desperately as he seemed to crawl between
Tsunami and Genma.  It was only then that Ranma realized that he had no
idea even what this new attack was let alone how to counter it.  Then like
Tenchi Ranma suddenly knew what to do and as he launched himself the final
distance the very dimensional fabric rippled as light hawk wings slammed up
between him and the vacuum blade flying at him.

      Tsunami froze in surprise as the fat bald man launched an attack at
her.  Then Ranma charged in between them and Tsunami realized in shock that
he had just conjured up the Wings of the Light Hawk to defend her, just as
Tenchi had to defend Ryoko and Ayeka.  Then in a horrifying realization she
realized that he had brought the wings into being in time to save her, but
not himself.  The wings arrived in time to clip the end of the strike and
disrupt it, but the leading edge, even as it disintegrated, ripped through
Ranma's upper right chest and shoulder joint, creating a clean hole through
muscle and bone.

      Cologne barely followed Ranma's charge across the deck and into
dangers way, and was sent reeling, as a power that dwarfed even Tsunami's
so far leashed power rolled out from Ranma, but she realized at the same
time that Tsunami did that Ranma wouldn't escape.

      Washu didn't waste time blinking, making sarcastic comments, or
worrying about hitting the fat man, she knew her sister would take care of
him, she just lunged across the distance between her and her wounded
brother-in-law to be.

      "NOOO!" shouted Tsunami as Ranma hit the deck his shoulder and shirt
already soaked in blood.

      "I've got him!" yelled Washu as she slid to a stop next to Ranma
already typing on her computer.  "Stay back!" she snapped out as everyone
instinctively moved toward Ranma.

      "YOU!" snarled Tsunami as she turned toward Genma.  Again Cologne
could only stare as her latest record of the most powerful being was
shattered as Genma found himself face to face with the enraged Goddess of
Jurai.

      Washu realized that the energy bolt that Tsunami was preparing was
excessive to the point that if it went off inside the ship they would all
die.  *Oh no!*

      Tsunami felt something tug on her kimono, as a weak voice whispered.
"Please don't?" asked Ranma with blood bubbles forming on his lips.  The
furry drained out of her face as she turned to Ranma.  He was laying on a
stretcher and had passed out from pain, blood loss, and power drain.

      "We have to get him to the lab as fast as possible, or we'll lose
him," said Washu as Tsunami turned around.  She was still furiously typing
on her computer as she spoke.

      Tsunami paled and formed a wing and used it to rip a hole through the
space-time continuum.  Washu blink as if this use of the trans-dimensional
energy blade had never occurred to her but quickly changed to adult form
and grabbed one end of the stretcher.  Tsunami grabbed the other end and
they hurried through the hole in the air.

      "PANDA NO BAKA!" yelled Akane, Shampoo, and Ukyo at the same time.
The combined hits smashed Genma into the floor as the fiancées, Nabiki,
Nodoka, Cologne, and Soun followed Washu and Tsunami.

      "Oh my!" said Kasumi as she stopped briefly to peal Genma up off the
floor and drag him after the rest of them through the hole.

      "Where are we?" asked Nabiki in wonder.  They were standing in a huge
metal room that had narrow isle ways through the equipment set up all over
the place.  The pushed on through the semi darkness until they came to a
well lit area.  I was a thirty-foot ring that had arcs of monitoring
equipment, Washu typing away at her computer, and Tsunami staring into the
eight-foot tall glass tube on the metal base that held Ranma.  A Ranma that
was wearing just a pair of shorts while bobbing in the thick liquid.

      "You're in my lab and if you don't want to stay as a permanent
exhibit I suggest that you don't touch anything!" snapped Washu.

      "Is my son going to be ok?" asked Nodoka in a choked voice.

      "At the moment its hard to tell.  He's lost a lot of blood and I
don't have anything that can replace it just now."

      "Why don't you just use some of mine?" asked Nodoka.

      "I can't because Ranma's blood is nothing like yours anymore."  Then
turning to Tsunami, "He couldn't have picked a worse time to create the
light hawk wings then just now.  As far as I can tell the first time a
mortal uses the light hawk wings they create an antibody system that could
hold off the Juraian Home Fleet!  Anything that isn't recognized as being
part of Ranma gets destroyed almost as soon as it enters the bloodstream."

      "Look out," said a voice from behind Nabiki.  She turned to find a
girl of about twelve with blue hair standing behind her.

      "Uh yeah sorry," answered Nabiki.

      "Washu-chan is Ranma going to be ok?" asked Sasami who was nearly in
tears.

      "I don't know.  He generated the light hawk wings and now his blood
is like nothing on Earth any more.  I would need at least four days to
synthesis it from scratch, which is three and a half days to long for
Ranma," finished Washu answering the unspoken question.

      "What about Tenchi?" asked a now really worried Sasami.

      "It won't work.  Tenchi has all the right wing marks, but his DNA is
half Earthling and half Juraian."

      "Wait!  Do you have Ranma's DNA, I mean the new one now that he has
used the wings?" asked Tsunami excitedly.

      Washu waved her hand at the double helix slowly revolving on the halo
pad next to her.  "This is it, but I told you I can't make it in time."

      "Not from scratch, but what if you had all the wing markers and all
you had to do was resplice the DNA?"

      "I-I think that I could resplice Ranma's DNA into some of Tenchi's
blood in the time required," said Washu as she grasped Tsunami's plan.
"Sasami could you go and ask Tenchi to come in here a minute?"

      "I'll do anything to help," agreed the now hopeful little girl.

      "Who is Tenchi?" asked Nabiki.

      "I'm Tenchi," said Tenchi coming into the lab.  He was followed by
Ayeka, Ryoko, and Sasami who immediately ran to the tank next to Tsunami.

      "Tenchi I need to get a blood sample.  Ranma has used the light hawk
wings and now I don't have time to synthesis enough blood to save him,"
explained Washu.

      "Washu what does that mean?" asked Sasami looking at one of the lines
on the side of the tank.

      "Oh that's just the readings for brain activity," answered Washu
without even looking at her.

      "Oh are these little squiggles normal then?"

      "WHAT?" asked Washu turning around.  Her eyes bugged out when she saw
the readings on the side of the tank.  She grabbed her computer and started
punching things in and looking at the readings.

      "Is something wrong, Washu?" asked Tsunami.

      "Well you could say that.  Don't ask me how he's doing it, but that
boy is in a Temporal Stasis cylinder and is somehow managing to keep his
mind awake.  So either he's working mental puzzles or he's getting bored
out of his mind, cause his body isn't doing anything," shot back Washu.
She was still looking through readings as fast as she could.

      "Never mind the stasis cylinder.  I think you need to concentrate on
the blood," said Tsunami.

      "Uh yeah, I'll get right on it little sister," promised Washu.

      "When husband be out of tube thing?" asked Shampoo.

      "He'll have to be in there for several days at least, so I suggest
that you all go home and I'll call you as soon as something changes," said
Washu without looking up from the keyboard.

      "I'm not leaving Ranchan," insisted Ukyo.

      "Let me rephrase that.  Get out so I can get on with saving his life
without you people cluttering up and contaminating the lab!" shot back
Washu.

      "I'll show you people back to the Tendo residence," offered Tsunami.
"And no arguments, your presence is bringing things into the operating room
that should never be here!"

      "You will notify us the instant something happens?" asked Nodoka.
She was seeking reassurance that her son would be all right.

      "I promise," said Tsunami.  *I have to get these people out from
under foot, but the girls don't want to leave as long as I'm staying.  So
I'll go and leave Sasami here to look after Ranma,* thought Tsunami.  "I'll
tell you what.  I'll go with you and Washu can call me the minute something
changes," offered Tsunami to the immediate relief of the fiancées.  Tsunami
quickly took them through to the Tendo living room before they could come
up with any other reasons not to go.***



      Back in the Masaki house Ayeka Jurai was calling her mother.

      "Mommy!" she said as Masaki, Second Empress of Jurai came to the
screen.

      "Oh, my little Ayeka.  Is everything ok?" gushed Maskai.

      "I'm fine mother.  I was just calling to tell you that Tsunami seems
to have found a nice boy, which means that when she gets older Sasami will
end up married to this boy as well," explained Ayeka to the suddenly hawk
eyed woman on the other end.

      "Really?  What do you know about this young man?" asked the
sharp-eyed mother.

      "Uh, well I know he was standing his ground against Tenchi in a
fight.  He seems to have taken her out once or twice, and she nearly killed
everyone present when he was hurt," finished Ayeka.  She was feeling a
little uncertain in the face of her mother's gaze.

      "I think I'm going to want to meet this young man before this gets
much further.  Your aunt and I, at least, will be out there soon.  I'll see
you then," she said by way of good-bye.

      *Uh oh.  I think I did something that could cause a little problem,*
thought Ayeka as she realized that Ranma may not even realized that Tsunami
and Sasami were the same person which meant that if he married Tsunami he
would be in line for the thrown.

      Sasami had pulled up a chair next to the tube holding Ranma when her
sister had burst in through the lab door.

      "Sasami!  I have to talk to you for a minute!" called Ayeka urgently
as she ran across the lab.

      "Is something wrong?" asked Sasami turning around quickly.

      "Uh, well, you see.  IcalledmotherandherandauntFunahoarecomeing

tovisitandseeRanam," her sister rushed out.

      "Uh did you just say that Auntie Funaho and Mommy are coming here to
see Ranma?" asked the slightly confused Sasami.

      "Yeah, I called and told mother about Ranma and she was really
interested and then said that her and Aunt Funaho were coming to Earth."

      Halfway across Japan in the Nerima district of Tokyo Tsunami was
getting the same information.

      "Oh no," muttered Tsunami dropping her head into her hands as she sat
on the couch in the Tendo living room with everyone that she had just
removed from her sisters lab.

      "Is something wrong?" asked Kasumi as she finished serving tea to all
of those that were in the room.  For some reason the panda didn't seem to
have made the trip back with them.

      "No, not really," sighed Tsunami.

      "Uh Auntie Nodoka," said Kasumi.

      "Yes Kasumi?" asked Nodoka.

      "Did you say that Ranma has to date all of his fiancées before he can
marry anyone?" asked Kasumi without looking at anyone.

      "Yes I did.  The many promises that Genma has made are going to be
impossible to keep so everyone gets a chance to win him and then he can
make his choice as he sees fit," explained Nodoka.

      "Panda man no promise to Shampoo, but Amazon law says Ranma Shampoo's
husband," said Shampoo, trying to defend her claim.

      "Young lady this is Japan, not the Amazon village of China," replied
Nodoka.  "I am including you in this because you have been pursuing him for
some time and he seems to feel that you have some claim to legitimacy in
this.  But all of you be warned that any attempt to sabotage another's date
will result in disqualification.  If you haven't had your date then you
don't get one, if you have then I'll have to speak Ranma about it."

      Suddenly Tsunami jumped as something chirped and a low voice yelled
something.  The rest of them realized that it must be something strange as
her eyes grew to the size of saucers.***



      Just after Ranma is put in the tank.

      *What is that?* wondered Ranma as he came too and realized that he
couldn't feel his body.  There was a barrier that was preventing him from
making contact with his body.  *Ok first things first take it in order.
What do I remember?*  He calmed himself and sent his mind back for the
details of how he ended up here.

      He had felt the incredible pain as the vacuum blade had torn through
his body and then he had felt that awesome power that had infused him
flee.  He remembered stopping Tsunami from killing everyone in the ship and
he had passed out.  When he had come too he was floating in the tank.

      *Ok that's how I got here now how come I can't feel my body?*  He
gathered his chi and pushed it against the barrier to his astonishment he
could fell his probe sliding off into space.  *Now this is really weird!*
Ranma spent a few minutes prying at the barrier but with no effect.  *Hmm,
I can't do anything about his and it doesn't seem to be harming me so I'll
move on.  Those were the Wings of the Light Hawk that I used back there,*
continued Ranma in wonder.  *I can't believe that Tenchi hasn't figured out
how to make them work yet!  That was simple!*  In the precious seconds that
Ranma had held the power to destroy at least a moon in his hands his
trained senses had quickly noted the fluctuating energy levels that he had
used.  *We both have the power inside all we have to do is build a ki
channel to let it out.*  Ranma immediately put his hypothesis to work by
building a outlet from that power at his core to the outside universe.
*Hmm, that rock there should do the trick.*

      Washu's head snapped up as alarms started ringing.  There had be a
major power fluctuation in the vicinity of Jupiter.

      *This can't be happening,* thought Washu as the probe reported in.
The report clearly stated that one of the smaller Jovian moons had been
melted into a perfect sphere.  "Tsunami," she yelled into a communicator.
"Your fiancé just melted a small moon into a puddle!"***



      *I'm tired of standing around out here,* thought Ranma.  *I want to
get back to my body.*  With that thought Ranma turned his newest technique
against the barrier that was separating him from his body, with an ear
numbing explosion the tank that was holding Ranma blew apart in all
directions.

      "NOOO!" yelled Sasami as the tank holding her new boyfriend exploded
right in front of her.  None of the pieces came anywhere close to hitting
her.

      *AHHH!* screamed Ranma in mental agony as the pain of the hole in his
body suddenly made itself known along with the added fact that when the
tank blew up it had dropped him on the ground.

      Washu's head snapped up as the tank went bang.  *What in the...,* was
the first thought as it trailed off.  Ranma pushed himself up in the wreck
of the tank.

      *Ok, Tsunami said that the wings healed Tenchi the instant that he
was hit on Kagato's ship, so why didn't they help me?* wondered Ranma.
*Lets see.  The blast hit him, the wings showed through the dust cloud, and
then....  Of course!*  Ranma once again created the channel that let the
power of the Wings of the Light Hawk spill over into this dimension.  Then
with a twist he pulled them back across his injured body and felt pure raw
power race into and through his veins.

      "WOW!" whispered a thunderstruck Sasami as Ranma gathered the wings
around him and in a flash of blue light he was whole again.  He was also
wearing his normal red shirt and black pants instead of the shorts that he
had been in the tank with.

      "Double wow," muttered Washu as she glared at the now whole martial
artist that had destroyed her Stasis Tank.  "Tsunami I think that you had
better bring the gang back."***



"What's wrong?" asked Nodoka as Tsunami suddenly sat up.  Tsunami was still
reeling from the statement that Ranma had just melted a moon, when the
second message came in.

      "Washu just called and said that I should bring everyone back to the
lab," said Tsunami.  *I wonder what happened?*

      "Hurry we have to go!" said Nodoka urgently.

      "You all have to promise to behave now.  Even if Ranma is out then
you should all be very careful of his injuries," warned Tsunami.  After
hearing everyone's promises not to aggravate Ranma's injuries she
transferred them all to the lab.

      "OH NO!" shouted everyone as they saw the shattered remains of the
tank.

      "Washu what happened?" demanded Tsunami as she spotted her sister
coming across the lab to her.

      "Oh after Ranma blew up my tank and healed himself I sent him with
Tenchi to get some clothes," explained Washu off handedly.

      "What did you say?" asked Cologne.

      "How could Ranma have healed himself this fast?" demanded Akane.

      "I'm going to get you for this you know," said Tsunami.  Then after a
moment she continued, "If he's using the wings to heal himself then I think
he's already got better control then Tenchi."  They were both completely
ignoring Akane.  Tsunami noticed that Nodoka was still crying even after
she heard the news.  "Is something wrong?"

      "I'm just so glad that my son will be coming back to me.  I thought
I'd lost him this time," explained Ndodoka.

      "Don't worry Ranma will be fine," Washu assured her.  "I checked him
out completely and he is one hundred percent."

      The rest of the group could only stare at Washu in astonishment that
she could say that Ranma was fine after what they had seen before they
left.  Just about that time Tenchi and Ranma came back into the lab.  Ranma
was dressed more like Yosho then Tenchi.

      "Hello everyone," called Ranma.

      "Husband!" squealed Shampoo as she jumped over to glomp him.

      "I thought you promised you weren't going to do that?" asked Ukyo.
She was also edging over towards Ranma.

      "Smart girl say husband all better.  Shampoo can hug husband without
hurting him," countered Shampoo.

      "Right," said Ukyo snapping her fingers.  Then she shoved Shampoo
aside and hugged Ranma.  Then Shampoo pushed back and started a shoving
match between Ukyo and Shampoo who were keeping one hand on Ranma.  Shampoo
pulled on Ranma rather then pushing Ukyo and Ranma ended up face first in
her chest.

      *Oh man this is going to be a problem!* thought Ranma in near panic.

      *That baka!  He's been out of that tank for just a few minutes and
already he's all over that bimbo!*  "RANMA NO-!" shouted Akane as she
started her mallet swing.

      "PREPARE TO DIE RANMA!" shouted Ryoga as he jumped out from between
two pieces of machinery.  *How did I get here?  Where is here?  Oh well
RANMA THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!* were the quick thoughts that ran through
Ryoga's mind.

      *Bwahahaha,* was the only thing running through Ranma's mind as he
teleported to where Ryoga was standing and teleported Ryoga to where he had
been standing. (A.N.  I thought Ranma should get the chance to do the evil
laugh thing for once.)

      "BAKA!" finished Akane as her mallet smashed down on Ryoga's head.

      "Ouch!" howled Ryoga as the mallet impacted.  That plus his remaining
forward momentum caused him to stumble.  He quickly reached out for support
and grabbed something with each hand.  When he looked up he realized that
he was in trouble.  He had his face in Shampoo's chest, a hand on Ukyo's,
and the other hand grabbing Akane!  His nose immediately gushed blood and
he started to pass out until his survival instincts kicked in after
noticing the look on three faces.

      "Stupid pig boy should know not to grab Amazon!" yelled Shampoo
pulling her bonbori out.

      "You Pervert!" snarled Ukyo pulling her spatula out.

      "RYOGA NO BAKA!" screeched Akane pulling her hammer back for a bigger
strike.

      The combination of bonbori, spatula, and extra heavy-duty mallet
swing was enough to send Ryoga right through one of the large pieces of
equipment.  He did manage to get up just in time to run from the still
enraged girls, right through another piece of machinery.  *Why can't I get
lost!?* wondered Ryoga desperately.

      Washu was typing on her computer at a rapid pace as she sealed Ryoga
and the girls away in a subspace pocket.  *Now wait, was there something in
there already?  Oh well I don't remember storing any equipment in there,
but...,* thought Washu as she finished typing.

      "Where on earth am I now?!" shouted Ryoga as the scenery changed.
*This looks like a zoo or something.  There's even a panda over there.*

      [You're in hell!] signed the panda.  He pointed toward the big screen
TV just out of reach from the cage that was playing a big purple dinosaur
at high volume.

      "Where are we?" asked the girls as they arrived in the cage.

      [Akane you've come to rescue me so I can be at the wedding to unite
the schools!] signed the panda happily.

      "Panda-man going to pay for hurting Shampoo's husband!" glared
Shampoo.  Then turning to Ryoga she added, "Then go back and take care of
pervert pig boy!"

      "For now I'm with her," said Ukyo simply pointing at Shampoo.

      Akane just pulled a super sized mallet out.  "I've been waiting to
try this new one out."

      Due to the possibility of Adults and younger readers getting to this,
this part had been censored due to extreme violence!***



      "That wasn't very nice," Washu scolded Ranma after she had sent the
four of them away.

      "Well they did deserve it," protested Ranma.

      "Huh?  Oh yes they did I'm not objecting to that.  I'm upset because
they tore up some of my equipment!"

      "Oh sorry," laughed Ranma.

      "Ranma?" asked Sasami.

      "Whatch need?" asked Ranma turning to the girl.

      "How did you get your clothes back when the tank blew up?"

      "Uhhh," said Ranma.  "I'm not really sure.  I fell into my body then
I pulled the wings around me and I was wearing my normal cloths," explained
Ranma.  He turned around as something hit the ground behind him.  "Washu
are you ok?"

      After the red headed scientist picked herself up off the floor she
looked at Ranma and said, "Ranma please form the armor so I can take a look
at it."

      "Sure," said Ranma.  Ranma pulled the wings up and winked at Cologne
through one of the blades.

      *His power is immense!  The whole village couldn't hope to generate a
fraction of that power!  We have to make him part of the tribe!* thought
Cologne.  Then her blood ran cold.  *But we absolutely mustn't upset him!*
Cologne matriarch or the Amazon tribe climbed down off her cane and bowed
before a male.  "Son-i- Ranma could we speak privately?" requested Cologne
as Ranma pulled the wings back.  Cologne gasped as his power vanished and
he was standing there in his red and black.

      "Ok how did you do it?" asked Washu interrupting Colognes train of
thought.

      "Do what?" asked Ranma.  "I'll be with you in a minute Cologne."

      "How did you form the wings without forming armor?" elaborated Washu
with just a touch of inpatients.

      "The same way that I always have.  You know just as well as anyone
that its not the physical armor that does anything.  Look at Ryoko's battle
suit, Juraian armor, or those skirts that the sailor scouts use.  Its not
the physical parts that protect them, it's the energy.  If you drain all
the energy out of those skirt then all you have is the old pervert's
fondest dream, a bunch of school girls in really really short skirts."

      "I know that!  How do you know that?" asked Washu.

      "I've never used armor, but I've been using my ki for years to absorb
damage.  Like Tsunami said this is just like a more powerful, more flexible
form of ki.  So I just save my ki and use this stuff in its place.  Washu
could we borrow a room from you?" asked Ranma gesturing at Cologne.

      "Sure.  Right this way," said Washu ushering the two along to a door
that hadn't been there when they had stared walking.

      "I don't suppose that you could keep anyone from overhearing us could
you?" asked Ranma.

      "I think I can fix your nosy fiancée," smirked Washu.  She was
giggling as she walked out the door.

      "So what did you want to talk about Cologne?" asked Ranma.

      "Well first off why are you suddenly not calling me the old ghoul?"
asked Cologne.

      "Because you're not calling me son-in-law.  If you're willing to be
civil so am I."

      "You mean that?  You equate being called son-in-law with being the
old ghoul?" asked Cologne in a puzzled voice.

      "As far as I could tell you just took up the idea to try and prove to
me that I was Shampoo's husband, which after a few weeks you should have
known that that wasn't going to work.  So the only thing I can think of is
that you did it just to bother me!  So I found the name that would bother
you and kept it up.  Was that all you had to say?" asked Ranma with a
raised eyebrow.

      "No, it wasn't.  I wanted to ask you to consider marrying into the
Amazon tribe.  Shampoo would be my first choice," began Cologne and she
held up a hand to stop him when he started to object automatically.  "I
said that she would be my first choice.  However as Matriarch of the Amazon
tribe I would be willing to give you nearly anything in exchange for coming
into the tribe."

      "Are you out of your mind?" asked Ranma.  *Did she just offer me
anything I wanted to join the tribe?*

      "No I'm not.  For instants it is not unheard of for more then one
woman to share a man in the village if he is worth the trouble.  You could
study all of the amazons' most treasured secret techniques, we would even
offer you full warrior status as male or female."

      "And why would you be willing to do this for me?" asked Ranma, even
though he thought he knew the answer.

      "With your strength added to the whole of the Amazon tribe we would
be invincible."

      Ranma just stood shaking his head.

      "Cologne you have failed to grasp the essential thing that I have
wanted from the Amazons from the beginning," said Ranma shaking his head.

      "And what is it that we can do for you that I have over looked all
this time?" asked a suddenly ecstatic Cologne.

      "You can LEAVE ME ALONE!" shouted Ranma.  *I can't believe even after
all of this time she still doesn't know me well enough to see that one
coming.*  "I don't care about you techniques unless you have one that can
defeat what I can do now and if you did you wouldn't be offering all of
this.  I also don't need more then one wife!  I would have thought by now
that you would know that I'm not some hormonal crazed adolescent to be
temped into things with sex!"  Ranma slammed out of the room and almost ran
over Sasami who was coming to knock on the door.

      Cologne was just staring at the door as is slammed shut.  *I can't
believe that I've alienated what could be the most powerful fighter on
earth.  I thought that the offering him the chance to marry into the tribe
and still marry whoever he so chooses would be enough to tempt him!*

      "What can I do for you squirt?" asked Ranma after picking Sasami up
and moving her out of the way after he had stormed out of the door.

      "Everyone is waiting for you in the living room.  I think that it's
important," explained Sasami.

      Ranma and Sasami walked into the Masaki living room to see Nodoka
sitting in one of the chairs and Tenchi, Ayeka, and Ryoko were taking up
the two person love seat.  Kasumi, Nabiki, and Tsunami were taking up the
couch and Washu was grinning at Ranma from behind his mother's chair.

      *I don't think I'm going to like this, what ever it is,* thought
Ranma as he quickly decided that there wasn't anywhere to sit and so moved
to stand at one end of the room putting his back to the corner.  "So whats
up?" he asked trying to get a feel for the situation that he had just
walked into.

      "I think that we should wait until everyone else has had a chance to
get here," said Nodoka.  "Washu if you would?"

      "Of course Nodoka," said Washu.  She hit the button on her keyboard
and Soun, panda, Ryoga, Akane, Ukyo, Shampoo, and Cologne dropped out of a
hole in the air.  "Now that everyone is here I'm going to explain this only
once.  Nodoka is going to say something and there will be no attacks,
interruptions, or otherwise interference.  If there is any I will eject the
person responsible after I have meted out sufficient punishment.  Are there
any questions?"  This whole time she was typing and setting up a complex
web of energies around the room.

      "Yeah," said Ranma.  "What is this all about?"

      "Well son.  We have established that you have six legitimate fiancées
and that is five too many.  It has been decided that each of them will have
date,  they will try and win you once and for all.  After the dates you can
have one week to decide who you are going to marry.  The rules are," Nodoka
stopped as Ranma raised his hand.  "What did you need?"

      "I just wanted to know if you were planning to ask my opinion about
this?"  After taking in the surprised look on his mother's face he shrugged
and pulled up the wings and punched Genma across the room.  Washu's program
kicked in and ejected him from the house and the sudden storm of paddles
trying to spank him was stopped cold by the wings as he formed armor.

      "Why that little...," trailed off Washu as she realized that Ranma
had used her program and threat to remove himself from the room.

      "What happened?" asked Ukyo looking around.

      "Ranma attacked the panda knowing that my program would eject him
from the house," explained Washu.

      "Smart girl say she attack person who break peace rule, what happen
to husband?" asked Shampoo.

      "Not a thing.  He used his power to protect him and the kind of power
it would take to hurt him through the wings would have vaporized the rest
of you."

      "We have to go and find him," said Ukyo.

      They all rushed outside only to see Ranma vanish once again.

      "Where did that coward run to this time?" demanded Ryoga.

      Washu looked at her laptop, blinked, rubbed her eyes, and looked
again.  "Well he's not in Japan," answered Washu.  "Anyone else have any
ideas?"

      "The only other place that I can think of that he has been has been
China," said Nodoka.  "But how would he have gotten there?"

      "Nope not China.  As a matter of fact I just finished scanning the
globe looking for any trace of Ranma's energy signature, and I can't find
it anywhere."

      "Smart girl not so smart!  How husband leave earth, even he not good
enough martial artist to jump off planet," responded Shampoo.

      "Uh, Washu, I know you're pretty smart, but humans can't survive in
vacuum with out a spacesuit, so if Ranma left this planet then he's dead,"
said Nabiki.

      "Yeah right!" laughed Washu.  "See Tenchi here?  Well he was only
using his power on the instinctive level and still gathered it up and
walked out of a black hole."

      The Nerima Wrecking Crew fainted dead away.***



      Ranma was meditating in low orbit around the moon that he had melted.

      *I can't believe that all these people just want to possess me.  I
don't think that a single one of them actually knows who I am!  All they
see is an old friend that said she was cute, someone to beat up, their
precious laws, or a meal ticket!  If they think I'm going to go out with
all of them then they have another think coming.*

      After a few minutes fuming at his predicament he just let it go.
*This is very peaceful,* thought Ranma as he enjoyed the sound of complete
silence that hard vacuum provided.  He started practicing a kata, but
quickly had to stop as he started rotating out of control.  *Hmm, forgot I
was in space.*  He tried again this time pushing out with he aura in the
opposite direction that he was moving and it worked fairly well even if it
did take more effort then normal.  Finally having gotten the hang of it
Ranma proceded to work out his frustrations, moving through kata after kata
far beyond the reach of any of his fiancées or family.***



      *This is intolerable!* thought Cologne as Ranma vanished from the
face of the Earth.  *That boy must be made to see reason and that girl will
never be part of the Amazon tribe.  He may have power but it not always the
strongest that wins.  There is no way that an Amazon can be out smarted by
a mere male.*  Having assured herself of this Cologne set out to discover
more information about what she was starting to suspect was her newest
rival.

      "Hello," she said to the man that Tenchi had introduced as his
father.

      "Oh hello.  How are you?" he responded.

      "I'm fine thank you.  You know I used to practice marital arts when I
was younger and I have to admit that Tsunami there is really powerful,"
mentioned Cologne.

      "Yeah she is something," agreed Noboyuki who was staring at Tsunami.
"She's a honest to goodness Goddess from another dimension," babbled
Noboyuki.  He didn't get a chance to see Tsunami vary often so he was
making up for it now.

      "Really?" asked a very surprised Cologne.  *I can usually spot a
visitor to this dimension better then this,* she thought.  *Wait there.
Yes she is from another dimension, but she also has a link to this one.
And is that another link?!* she thought as the one rule that every extra
dimensional beings had to follow was shattered.  *On the other hand this
information itself could be of invaluable use.*  She quickly pogoed over to
where Nodoka was standing.

      "Could I have a word with you?" she asked as she gestured toward a
part of the yard that was currently unoccupied.

      "Of course.  If you'll excuse me," Nodoka said to Yosho whom she had
been talking to.  She joined Cologne over by the lake.

      "I've discovered something about this Tsunami person.  Something that
I don't know how to tell you but you have to know," said Cologne.

      "Is it something dangerous?"

      "Yes it is.  You see she isn't from this dimension.  She is a being
that can't even exist in this universe without stealing a body from
someone.  I'm very afraid that she may be trying to take Ranma away from
us."

      "You think that she maybe trying to hurt him?" asked Nodoka in shock.

      "There are ancient writings in our tribe of places that constantly
drain a person's energy, and of the beings that live there.  They must
drain the energy of a living being to sustain themselves.  Your son is a
manly young man and has incredible power as well.  I have no trouble
believing that a female of such a creature would love to get close to him.
He would be a vast meal as well as an attractive package, as long as he
survived that is," finished Cologne darkly.

      "What do you mean?" asked Nodoka in horror.

      "Sooner or later either the creature gets careless or the power
source runs out of strength and they die!" hissed Cologne quietly.  Nodoka
rocked back on her heels in shock as the implications hit her.

      *I must do something to keep her away from Ranma!* she thought
franticly.  "Is there anything that we can do?"

      "Well I don't know whether even the whole village can defeat this
creature, but I can tell you this, the creature must have a connection
before she can start, marriage is considered to be the best method that
they have.  However if you don't get him married to someone else soon it
might be to late," warned Cologne.

      *I have to think.  The first thing to do is get everyone out of here
and back to the dojo,* quickly decided Nodoka.  "Tsunami."

      "Did you need something Auntie Nokoka?" asked Tsunami.  She walked
over to the group.

      "Yes I was wondering if you could send us back to the dojo.  These
girls need to get some stuff ready before they are ready for their dates.
Since you just had one with him I would like to give them a chance to go
first."

      "Of course I wouldn't want to be considered unfair," agreed Tsunami.
*Besides I was trying to get rid of you guys before the Jurian mob showed
up!* she finished in her mind.  "If your ready?" At the nod from everyone
she waved her hand and sent them back to the dojo.

      "Why did we come back so soon?" asked Akane.

      "Don't worry about it child," suggested Cologne.  As Akane bristled
at her comment Cologne sneaked a look at Nodoka to see how she was holding
up.

      *I must find a way to keep them apart.  Under no circumstances must
they be allowed to get married!*  Then suddenly she hit upon the perfect
way to stop them.  *He might not like it at first but he'll understand when
I tell him after he is safely married.* ***



      Millions of miles away Ranma was unaware that his future was being
decided without him.  When he had gotten bored with the novelty of
practicing katas in outer space he had taken to trying out his new
abilities.  He had quickly adapted his Mouko Takabishi to run off of this
new energy source, and he had started working on a new adaptation of the
Hiryü Shöten Ha that would destroy Cologne with hardly any effort on his
part.  As he was experimenting with his abilities he noticed that he had
instinctively crafted part of the wing energy in his armor into patterns
similar to the Umisenken.  These would completely hide his power from
almost any detection.  He also noticed that his senses were getting
increasingly sharper.  As the continuous use of the higher power at his
core slowly adapted his merely human body into a more evolved being.

      *I don't believe this.  I can see every detail of that little moon
down there,* thought Ranma as he looked at the nearly perfectly sphere of
rock slowly turning below him.

      Ranma's musing was stopped short as something tingled along his
danger sense.  His head snapped up just in time to see a ripple race across
the Solar System toward Earth.

      *What is that?* was his first thought but it was quickly pushed aside
with the thought of getting to Earth ahead of it.

      Ranma teleported to Earth just ahead of the ripple and was completely
shocked to see the ripple deposit several ships in low earth orbit.  Two of
them were smaller streamlined vessels and they were in what were obviously
guard positions on either side of the third.  The third ship was huge, it
could have held the whole Tendo house Dojo and all a couple of times with
plenty of room to spare.  As Ranma watched a spark of light appeared at one
end of the large ship and headed toward the ground, Ranma immediately
teleported to the beginning of the dock by the Masaki yard.

      When he arrived at the dock he discovered that the whole household
had gathered to meet this spark of light.

      "I'm glad you're back Ranma," said Washu.  "I wanted to talk to you
about that trick you pulled back in the living room."  The rest of Washu's
speech was interrupted by the arrival of the spark that turned out to be
the Empresses of Jurai and two guards.

      "MOMMY!" cried Sasami and Ayeka as they rushed toward Maskai.

      Ranma turned to Tsunami and blinked.  "She doesn't look old enough to
have a seven hundred year old daughter," commented a puzzled Ranma.

      "Well that's because she is being preserved by the power of the
juraian trees silly," said Tsunami as she giggled at the look of puzzlement
on Ranma's face.

      "Mommy this is my new friend Ranma," said Sasami pulling Masaki over
to where Ranma was standing.  "Ranma this is my mommy Empress Masaki
Jurai."

      "Uh nice to meet you," said Ranma just a little hesitantly.  He made
a small bow as he was taught by Tsunami as a gesture to meet an equal.
Ayeka and Sasami gasped, Yosho raised an eyebrow, Tsunami giggled quietly
behind her hand, washu snickered, Ryoko floated in the air laughing, and
the guard closest to Ranma immediately turned bright scarlet at this.

      "How dare you!" the guard yelled as he leaped to the attack against
someone that had dared to insult the royal house of Jurai.  He charged his
sword hilt with energy and snapped it toward Ranma in a flat arc.  At the
same time the second guard started to step forward as well.

      Ranma's response was quick and efficient as he leaned back out of the
way of the swing and planted the heel of his hand in the gut of the first
guard hard enough that he smashed into his fellow and carried them both out
into the middle of the lake.

      "Huh?" was the only response from the Supreme Commander of the Royal
Bodyguards as she tried to reconstruct what had happened without having
seen Ranma move at all.

      "Uh Ranma I don't think that you needed to hit them that hard," said
Yosho.  He seemed as calm as ever on the outside, seemingly uncaring that
two of the best bodyguards that the Royal guard had to offer had just been
taken out by a kid.

      Ranma's actions hadn't gone unnoticed on the ship above either as
everyone save Ranma disappeared from the dock.  Ranma had less then a
second to look around before everything vanished in a huge fireball as the
gunners of the two smaller ships targeted him and attacked with every
weapon they had.

      "What do you think you're doing?!" demanded Ayeka of the nearest
person.  No one on this ship could possibly not recognize the crown
princess of Jurai, particularly since she radiated power and anger the way
a star radiated heat.

      "Uh the Empresses were under attack your highness so we moved the
royal family to safety and destroyed him," gulped the captain as the
unfortunate officer that Ayeka had singled out first fainted away.

      This claim was enough to send Tsunami off into a laughing fit that
startled the whole bridge.

      "Is something funny ma'am?" asked the captain, who was just a little
annoyed at this young woman laughing at him.  Tsunami answered by pointing
to the screen that showed the lake as the dust cleared.  Ranma was standing
slightly above and in the middle of a largish crater that was quickly
filling up to become an extension of the lake.

      "WHAT?  How could he survive that?" demanded the captain of no one in
particular.

      In the mean time Ranma had located Tsunami and teleported to her
location.

      "Uh Tsunami is there something dangerous in that lake down there that
I didn't notice?  I mean they seemed pretty intent on destroying something
down there," said Ranma as he arrived on the bridge next to Tsunami.

      "Uh Ranma they were trying to kill you," said Tenchi hesitantly.

      "Oh well they should have used a bigger gun then," commented Ranma
idly.  A massive face fault swept the bridge, as Ranma continued, "Was
there some reason that those two people down there and the ships were
coming after me?"

      "The guards down there attacked because you treated the Empresses of
the known galaxy as equals and when you fought off the guards the people up
here thought that you were attacking the Empresses and so they attacked
you," explained Yosho.

      During this whole exchange Funaho had been watching Ranma and finally
asked, "If you don't mind me asking just how was it that you survived that
attack completely unscathed?"

      "The light hawk wings can take a lot more damage then that before I
get hurt.  I think that there is a limit to what they can take, but I have
no idea just how much that would be.  It would have to be at least several
hundred times stronger then that though..." trained off Ranma thoughtfully
as he considered how easily his armor had stopped the attack.

      "Yosho is this true?" asked Funaho in a whisper.  The bridge had gone
totally silent in the wake of Ranma's announcement so it was clearly heard.

      "Yes it is.  Also he has already surpassed Tenchi in the ability of
control them.  I'm not sure whether it was intentional or not but he has
already melted an entire moon with his power," answered Yosho.

      "I think that we need to talk," said Funaho.  "Maybe we could got to
the house and have some tea while we talk," she suggested.

      Over the course of the next two hours Ranma thoroughly charmed both
Funaho and Masaki.  Masaki immediately decided to like him after the story
of the attack by Genma was told and Funaho came over after hearing about
how he had refused to truly hurt Tenchi in there first encounter.  By the
time that Ranma had to leave they were ready to give their tentive approval
of him.***



      "I'm back," called Ranma as he arrived in the backyard of the Tendo
home.

      "Ranma could you come in here a minute?" responded his mother from
the living room.

      "Sure thing mom."  Ranma walked into the room to find that everyone
was still there.  All of the old fiancées, Cologne, Nabiki, Kasumi, Soun,
and Genma were all present and accounted for.  "What did you need?"

      "Well first I was going to tell you that I've reconsidered having you
give everyone a date since you seem to be so opposed to it and I was
wondering if you could sign these for me?" asked Nodoka holding out a few
papers to him.

      "Hey that's great!  So what are these papers you need signed?"

      "Well I was thinking that before you got married you might like to
spend some time visiting your mother.  So I was going to transfer you to a
school closer to me."

      "Wow, I guess I'm getting everything that I want today huh?  Does
anyone have a pen?"  Ranma had a quick flash of paranoia as he was handed a
pen so he looked down the first page.  Everything was in order so he
signed.  *What am I doing?  This is my mother for heaven sake!  I've been
hanging around Nerima too long,* he thought as he signed the rest of the
forms without bothering to read them.  "Ok all done," he said handing them
back to his mother.

      "Thank you," she said as she gestured for Cologne, Soun, and Genma to
add their signatures along with her's to one of the documents.

      "Well its been a long day and I've got school tomorrow so I'm going
to bed," said Ranma.

      After Ranma had gone to bed Akane asked why Cologne had signed
Ranma's school paper work.

      "You see Akane we found out that that Tsunami creature was dangerous
to anyone she married.  Since we couldn't kill her we came up with a way to
keep her from marrying Ranma.  Now we just have to decide who is going to
marry him," finished Nodoka quietly so Ranma wouldn't be woken up.

      Before anyone could start bickering Cologne held up her hand and
said, "I have a proposition that I think can make everyone happy.  I made
this offer to Ranma before he left but now I think that his rejection of it
was due to that creatures influence."

      "What do you mean you think you have a way to make everyone happy?
Do you happen to know how to make more then one Ranma?" asked nabiki wryly.

      "No, but Ranma now has the power that I can make this offer to him.
It is not common, but it does say in the Book of Amazon Law that more then
one woman can marry the same man, should he be worthy.  Which means that if
even if no one is willing to drop their claim to him everyone can marry him
and so keep the honor of all involved intact," finished Cologne.  *She will
never be able to resist taking an opportunity to keep her family's honor
intact.  Besides of the others two are passable fighters, one an excellent
cook, and the fourth a cunning business woman.*  "The catch is that all of
the girls will have to be made honorary amazons, but I can take care of
that tonight.  If this is agreeable to everyone we can leave for the
village tomorrow and you girls can be wedded by this time tomorrow night!"

      "Why should I share with everyone else when I could get him for
myself?" asked Ukyo.

      "I see how great a job you girls have done at winning his heart so
far," responded Cologne dryly.  "This way no one losses.  Everyone gets
what they want, which in this case is Ranma.  Look at it this way, if you
don't work together then sooner or later another one of those people that
Genma promised Ranma to will show up and you might all lose."  *Once
Son-in-law sees what's waiting for him as well as learns that by his own
word he can't marry that girl he'll never want to leave the village again!*
***



      The next morning at school Ranma was startled to notice that Ukyo and
Akane were sitting together whispering while looking at him.  The whole day
the school was on edge because not only were Akane and Ukyo whispering to
each other all of the time, but they nearly lost it when Shampoo showed up
for lunch bringing food for Ranma and also enough for the other two girls
as well.

      It was a good thing for the piece of mind of all of the students that
they didn't hear the conversation of the three girls on the way home from
school.

      "You know I think that this is the most fun I've had in a long time,"
said Ukyo to Shampoo and Akane as they walked along.

      "Shampoo think you right.  Shampoo miss having girl type friends
around.  Also have fighters to help train to win husband, thought not need
to train for that reason anymore," finished Shampoo thoughtfully.

      Ranma arrived home to find that everyone was getting ready for a
trip.

      "So where is everyone going?" asked Ranma to no one in particular.

      "We're just going to take a little trip and I'd like you to come
along," answered Nodoka.  "Don't worry about packing I've already got your
stuff ready to go."

      "Ok if you say so," said Ranma who was getting a funny feeling about
this whole thing.

      The girls and Cologne arrived at the same time and immediately
grabbed pack and announced that they were ready to go.  Cologne pulled a
strange looking crystal scepter out of nowhere and started to chant.  Then
with an eye bending twist they were all standing in the middle of the
Amazon village.

      "Ok everyone we're here," said Nodoka.  Cologne quickly told everyone
where they could store their stuff.

      "Mother why are we here?" asked Ranma looking at Nodoka.

      "Well I wanted to see this village and the girls agreed so we made it
a family outing.  Then Cologne here offered us a way that we could come
here tonight and still make it back before school in the morning."

      "I had no idea that you wanted to see the village," said Ranma.  "I
think I'd like to go to my room for a moment I think something in that
teleport didn't like me much.  On the way home maybe I'd better send myself
back."

      "Ok dear, if you start feeling worse let me know and I'll asked the
Amazons for something."

      *Something is up around here.* thought Ranma as he walked into the
room that had been set aside for him while he was here.  *And I'm going to
figure it out if it kills me!*  Ranma pulled up his armor and disappeared
to all ki senses, then he wrapped a wing powered version of the Umisenken
around himself and hopped out the window.  As Ranma descended toward the
ground he suddenly stopped as he passed the window of the room his mother
and Genma were going to be sharing.  *That looks like one of those papers
that I signed yesterday.*

      Ranma quickly grabbed the edge of the window and pulled himself
inside and moved over to the desk. There was a single piece of paper laying
on the otherwise unused desk.  Quickly Ranma started to read as he noticed
his signature on the bottom.



      I the undersigned here by swear that I will avoid all contact with
the being known as Tsunami for the rest of my natural life.  Furthermore I
do swear on my honor to marry the Amazon Warriors Akane Tendo, Ukyo Kuonji,
Xain Pu, Nabiki Tendo, and Kasumi Tendo and be with them for the rest of my
natural life!



                                                Ranma Saotome

                                                Witnesses

                                                Nodoka Saotome

                                                Elder Cologne

                                                Soun Tendo

                                                Genma Saotome

      *Oh no mother what have you done!*  thought Ranma as he realized that
he had trusted his mother and she had coned him into swearing on his honor
to stay away from the woman he loved and marry five others for the rest of
his life!***



      "I know you haven't had a chance to meet Ranma yet but I know you'll
approve of him.  I can't wait until those other problems are settled and we
can get married!" said Tsunami happily to Emperor Azusa.

      "I'm sorry but you won't be able to marry this man," he responded.

      "I know we can't do it right awa-.  What did you say?" asked Tsunami
in a suddenly flat voice.  "I thought you just said that I couldn't marry
Ranma?"

      "I did.  Ayeka has married Tenchi and now Sasami, which means you,
must secure an alliance marriage among the lower houses to ensure harmony
on Jurai.  Otherwise the Masaki family might lose the throne!" said Azusa.
Then he continued in a totally uninterested voice, "I'm sorry about this."

      "You're telling me that I can't marry the man that I love, because of
your politics?" demanded Tsunami.

      "Some times you have to do what's best for the group," he explained
in a patronizing tone.

      "I'll get back to you," snapped Tsunami.

      "I don't believe this!" snarled Tsunami as she walked in to the
living room of her ship.

      "What's the problem sis?" asked Washu.  She was in adult form and
reclining on the couch.

      "Funaho and Masaki were of course all happy with mine and Sasami's
decision, but it appears that Azusa has other ideas.  And I quote due to
Ayeka marrying Tenchi, Sasami must secure an alliance marriage among the
houses to ensure harmony on Jurai end quote," finished Tsunami.  She was
glaring hard enough that Washu was surprised when nothing blew up.

      "So what are you going to do?  I don't see you just putting your
roots back down and letting the tide of time wash away the feelings you
have for Ranma."

      "I'm not sure what I can do.  I mean what will Sasami want to do.
She did stand up to her father when he came to take them back to Jurai but
will she defy him this time.  And more importantly what do I do if she
doesn't?!"

      "Calm down!  You're supposed to be the Goddess of Jurai, but at the
moment you're acting like a kid that just broke the window out of your
parents' bedroom and are trying to decide how to tell them.  So call Sasami
up here and explain everything to her and see what she has to say about
it.  Then we'll take care of Azusa," grinned Washu.  It wasn't a nice
grin.***



      *I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!*  Ranma had made it back from his parents'
room and was currently pacing the length of his own.  *Ok like Tsunami
said, sometimes you can't fight your way out of a problem sometimes you
have to think you way out.  So what is the way out of this one?  They put
it together fast enough it should have a large number of holes in it.*
Ranma sat down and calmed himself with effort and tried to find a loop hole
in the document that would let him get out of the mess he was in.

      Two hours later he still hadn't come up with anything except one last
resort measure and he knew he was running out of time.

      "How are you feeling dear?" asked Nodoka after she knocked on the
door.

      "I'll be fine by dinner time," Ranma assured her.

      "Ok then I'll just leave these clothes here on the door hanger.
We've been invited to a party tonight."

      *I'll just bet we have!* thought Ranma to himself as his mother
walked away from his door.

      Finally Ranma sighed and got up from the bed.  *It looks like I have
no choice.*  He walked over to the desk and grabbed a piece of paper out of
the draw and quickly drafted a note to Tsunami.  After he carefully read
over it and put it in an envalope with the hawk pendent he closed the
window, pulled the curtains, and made sure the door was locked.  Then he
generated a single wing and tore a hole through space and time.

      *WHAT IS THAT?* was Tenchi's astonished thought as the very fabric of
space time around him ripped apart.  He blinked a few times as he noticed
Ranma standing on the other side of the hole.  "Uh Ranma is there any
particular reason that my bedroom now has a rip in the space time continuum
in it?"

      "Yeah I needed to ask you to deliver a message for me.  As for why I
did it this way, well after Tsunami did it I picked up the technique and I
can't leave here at the moment."

      "I thought you were unconscious when Tsunami did this?"

      "I was but shortly there after I woke up and this is the kinda thing
that leaves and impression on the continuum, so the pattern of what she did
was still there, but this is all beside the point.  Could you please
deliver this to Tsunami for me," finished Ranma holding an envelope out to
Tenchi.

      "Of course but couldn't you just give it to her yourself?"

      "No I'm sorry I can't.  Thanks again and goodbye."  With that Ranma
allowed the hole to seal over.

      *This is it,* thought Ranma as he took the formal wear off of the
hook on his door and started getting dressed.  He looked at the necklace
that came with it for a moment then shrugged and put it on.  *Since I don't
have the hawk anymore I guess I do need something.*

      "I need to talk to you about something," said his mother.  She walked
into the room.  "My you look handsome my son.  I have to tell you something
Ranma..." she trained off as Ranma looked up for the first time.  She could
see that his eyes were like chips of ice and his face was totally devoid of
emotion.

      "I already know about the contract," he said coldly and completely
without emotion.  "If you could give me a moment I'll be ready."

      Nodoka was slightly taken aback by this complete change in attitude
from Ranma, but she stepped out to give him a moment to prepare himself.

      *He's upset, but he'll understand after I explain why I did it after
he is married,* thought Nodoka.  *I couldn't bare to see him killed by that
thing.*

      After his mother left Ranma ripped another small hole in space-time
and shoved a complicated web of energy through it.  He didn't even bother
to look at the results as he let it close.  Then he turned back to the door
and stepped out.

      "Shall we get on with this," suggested Ranma in that same emotionless
tone.

      "Of course," said Cologne.  She had joined Nodoka outside his door
after having insured that all of the others were ready.

      They all marched outside to where the elders where waiting with the
five brides.  The whole village was gathered in their party dresses to
watch the wedding.  There were tables laid out for afterwards and they
positively groaned under the food.  Every house was decorated with
streamers and ribbon and they had even donated one of the houses for the
wedding party.

      The girls were already waiting at the end of the isle with the
village elders and Ranma was lead to them.  Each of the girls were dressed
up in copies of the same beautiful white gown and each had a different
colored bouquet.

      "We are gathered here today," began the first elder.

      Ranma promptly tuned them out and started thinking again.  *I was
hoping that another way out would present itself, but it looks like plan A
is going to have to do the trick,* he thought.  He turned slightly to make
sure that he knew where his mother was.  He was snapped back to the wedding
when the Elders asked the girls if they consented to take him as his
lawfully wedded husband.

      "We do!" chorused the girls.

      "And do you Ranma Saotome take these women to be your lawfully wedded
Wives?" asked Cologne.

      "It seems that I have no choice, so I have to," responded Ranma in a
voice that could have left a skin of ice over a lake.  *I guess this is
it.*  The gathered were somewhat shocked at this but the elders concluded
the exchange of vows.

      "You may kiss the brides," said Cologne with a smile.  A smile that
crumbled and slid off her face as Ranma exploded into motion before the
girls could get close to him.

      In one startling motion Ranma was standing outside the ring of people
that had watched the wedding.

      "I figured that you would do something like this before we had a
chance to explain," said Colonge.  She nodded to one of the elders off to
the side and suddenly Ranma couldn't feel his body anymore, other then the
sensation of the necklace turning into a collar.  "This will give us the
chance to explain ourselves, so please listen to us."

      *I'VE HAD IT!* thought Ranma in a building rage.  *And so have they,*
he finished the thought as he calmed enough to start to gather his power.
*I should have expected the old ghoul to have one more trick up her sleeve,
but then she should have expected the same of me!*  Ranma may have been cut
off from his body but fortunately none of the Amazons realized the source
of his new power.

      "AHHHH!" screamed the elder as Ranma's power crashed into barrier
keeping him from his body.  That was all the warning they had as the rod
that she was using to control his body exploded taking her and the two
bodyguards that were supposed to insure its safety with it.

      "Cologne you never know when to let things go did you?" asked Ranma
as his armor formed.  "I told you once to leave me alone, but you just had
to push it didn't you.  Well I've had enough of your games.  Elder Cologne
Matriarch of the Amazon tribe I challenge you to mortal combat!"

      Cologne and the Elders of the tribe paled as they realized that they
had finally pushed the martial artist that had destroyed Saffron too far,
and their final trump card to give them time to explain had just been wiped
out along with its wielder.

      "Why are you doing this?" asked Akane.

      "After everything that you people have done to me you actually have
to ask me that question?" laughed Ranma.  He power raged a few notches
higher and a wind started to pick up.  Then he turned back to Cologne,
"Come on surely the greatest warrior of the Amazon tribe whose fighting
traditions extend back over 3000 years isn't afraid to face a mere male in
single combat?" asked Ranma in a mocking tone.

      "Why are you doing this?" asked Nodoka.  She was truly shocked at
what had happened.

      "I've decided that since I can't trust any of you then I'll just have
to rely on myself and take what I can get out of this," answered Ranma.
"Not one of you was ever interested in finding out what I wanted.  There is
not one person here that was willing to be my friend when I needed one.
It was always about what I could do for you.  No one would ever listen to
me and now you've decided to take control of my future with a con that I
would have only thought Nabiki of all of you was low enough to use.  Well I
hope you enjoyed it cause it ends here and now!"  Then turning to Cologne,
"Would you get over here?  I wasn't planning on winning by default after
you die of old age!"

      Cologne shakily stepped into the circle that had formed around Ranma
after he had issued his challenge.

      "Ready?" he asked.

      "When ever you are," answered Cologne as she quickly calmed herself.
*What ever happens I will face my destiny as an Amazon warrior!  No matter
what happens here there is nothing he can do to get out of this anyway.  I
shall leave the Amazon tribe stronger then ever before!*

      Ranma didn't give her a chance to go first he opened with a straight
punch that flashed through Cologne's defenses before she could hope to
respond.  After picking herself back up she launched a complicated series
of attacks that combined the chestnut fist with her knowledge of pressure
point, but her staff passed harmlessly through a fading afterimage.  The
fight continued the same way, completely one-sided.  Cologne's fist and
stick hit only air as Ranma's afterimage faded away each time while Ranma
smashed hits in from every side and angel.

      "I think its time to finish this," said Ranma after five minutes that
seemed to the others to go on for an eternity.  "I do have a way out of
this you know," he said conversationally to Cologne, but the others didn't
hear him.  As she looked up in startlment he winked and clasped his hands
together and smashed Cologne to the ground hard enough that she bounced
back up.  He followed with a kick that sent her crashing into the house
that had been made ready for the newly weds.  "Goodbye old ghoul," snarled
Ranma as he gathered a full light hawk wing in his hand and called, "Winged
Whirlwind!"  The ball of energy flashed out of his hand and hit the house.

      The house and Cologne both were caught up in a massive Hiryü Shöten
Ha, but the part that did the damage were the small pieces of light hawk
wing that had been tossed into the tornado.  In seconds there was nothing
but sawdust left of the house, its furnishings, and the Matriarch of the
Amazon Tribe.

      Ranma turned back to the crowd as the tornado faded away.  "Anyone
else interested in taking me on?"

      "Why husband kill great grandmother, grandmother just trying to help
husband be happy?" cried Shampoo.

      "Of course I should have realized that you people think I'm happy
only when someone else gets to choose who I'm to marry and spend the rest
of my life with, how forgetful of me," cried Ranma theatrically.

      "Don't think that that fight and the mess are going to let you
dishonor this agreement boy!" snapped Genma after looking at the remains of
the house.

      "Of course not.  I take wedding vows very seriously," said Ranma as
he carefully pulled each wing free of himself and placed them in a circular
orbit several feet from his body.  As his armor dissolved it burned the
formal wear away leaving him clad in his black and red.  He glanced at his
mother as he pulled the Saotome honor blade out of a subspace pocket and
she instinctively grabbed for the hilt that wasn't were it was supposed to
be.  "I especially take the last part seriously.  'Till death do us part',"
he quoted as he slammed the sword to the hilt into his heart.  As the rest
could only stare his body fell to the ground.  The village healer raced
over and touched the side of his neck but shook her head as the others
looked on hopefully; he was dead.  Then the body vanished in a flash of ki
fire.***



      "Washu," called Tenchi.  He was hoping that she could help him find
Tsunami because he was still looking for her to deliver the letter that
Ranma had given him.  He had checked the everywhere that he could think of.

      "Was there something that you needed?" asked Washu.

      "I was wondering if you knew where Tsunami is.  Ranma gave me this
letter and I've been running all over the place looking for her to deliver
it," explained Tenchi.

      "Ok Washu we've decided," said Sasami.  Sasami and Tsunami had just
stepped out of a room that hadn't been there yesterday.

      "Good, what did you decide to do about it?"  *Not that I don't know
the answer already but...*

      "We have decided to ignore Azusa and marry Ranma no matter what our
parents have to say on the subject."

      "That's wonderful, am I invited to the wedding?" asked Tenchi.  Then
he remembered and extended the envelope toward her.  "Oh I almost forgot
Ranma dropped this by for you earlier."

      "Why thank you," said Tsunami as she opened it.  She pulled the hawk
necklace out and with a puzzled look she put it around her neck.  Then she
pulled the single sheet of paper out and started to read.  "NOOOO!"
screamed Tsunami and Sasami at the same time as they vanished from the
room.

      Washu looked at Tenchi with big eyes and snatched the paper that was
still drifting down out of the air.  She opened it so that both she and
Tenchi could read it and swore loudly as Tenchi turned ice cold beside her.

      Dearest Tsunami,

      I have made a grave mistake in placing my trust.  Due to my lack of
attention I am sworn never to see you again and marry the other five girls,
both for the rest of my natural life.  I'm asking Tenchi to deliver this so
I don't break the terms of the agreement.  Know that I will always love
only you so I shall take the only way out that has been left for me.  I
still believe in heaven and shall pray that I meet you there one day.
Please forgive me.

                                          Always and forever yours,

                                                      Ranma

***



      Two weeks later at the Amazon village virtually everyone was still in
shock over the fact that Ranma had chosen suicide over marrying five girls
and abandoning one other.  They had taken to sitting in the house that
Nodoka was using to share their grief.

      "That's funny," said Nodoka as she picked up and envelope that had
been delivered to the village for her.

      "What is it?" asked Kasumi.

      "It's a letter from that boy Tenchi," answered a puzzled Nodoka.

      Mrs. Nodoka Saotome,

      I would have you know this.  While your former son distrust you but
does not hate you, for what you've done you have earned the everlasting
hatred of the Royal house of Jurai.

                                                  Tenchi Masaki

                                          Crown Prince of Jurai



      "Is that it?" asked Nabiki.  She was startled at the title and the
shear emotion that seemed to radiate from the page.

      "No there is something else in here," said Kasumi.  She pulled a
piece of newspaper out and spread it on the table.

      'Royals gather at wedding' read the headline on what was obviously
the front page of some paper.

      Today Crown Prince Tenchi Masaki, Crown Princesses Ayeka and Ryoko
Masaki, and the Empresses Funaho and Masaki gathered at a wedding on
Aquarius IV.  These reporters have so far failed to uncover why such
notable personages gathered along with the Scientist Washu Hakubi, and
Detectives First Class Mihoshi and Kyone to attend this wedding.  They were
not willing to answer questions at this time.  However we did get several
pictures as well as a front row seat as the newly weds Ranma and Tsunami
Hawkwing simply vanished after hugs and kisses from the assembled notables.

      The article was followed by a picture that had Ranma in a tuxedo
leading Tsunami in a beautiful wedding dress out of the church and kissing
on the steps of the church flanked by the people that they had seen at the
Masaki residence.***



      One a higher plane of existence then those gathered in China were
aware of existing resided the Goddess of Jurai and the plane's newest
resident.

      "Have I told you that it was shear genius to punch a hole in space
time and revive yourself from the dead?" asked the new Mrs. Tsunami
Hawkwing.

      "Actually you have, but since we have all of eternity to be together
now I think we have time for you to say it.  I love you Tsunami!" finished
Mr. Ranma Hawkwing.  He was the newest being to have gathered enough power
and abilities to move himself to the higher plane of existence.

      "I love you too!"***



      THE END