Or so it seemed, until the second Genma had come along... with a son. The two resident idiots had seen hope for their dreams, since the out of world idiot was exactly the same as his counterpart. Their hopes had been dashed, though when they found that Interdimensional Genma (i-Genma or idiot-Genma, igit for short) had already branded his son a Mumlak.
Their savior came in the form of Soun's wife. Kimiko Tendo, a master martist in her own right, had sensed a great potential in the young lad and decided to be his sponsor, which she could afford being a doctor. That meant that Ranma would have to serve a 5 year contract with the Tendo family as a Yojimbo. Suddenly there was hope again. Perhaps the master and mistress would wall in love. Though marriage between a owner and slave is unheard of, that didn't mean they couldn't conceive an heir. Besides if Ranma proved to be exceptional at his trade he could earn his freedom and become a regualar Yojimbo, one of the most highly coveted, and well paid for, professions in the world.
The three had gotten roaring drunk that night. The next afternoon, once they had gotten over their hangovers, they had gone their seperate ways. Igit-Genma had left to take his son to the training schools for Mumlaks. Dimensional-Genma (d-Genma or Dummy-Genma, dummy for short) had taken his daughter on their famous training trip. Soun had stayed home of course and eventually lost his wife to cancer, leaving him more of a wreak than before. Luckly for Ranma, Kimino had set up a fund of sorts for him and so her death had little effect on his training. If anything, her death had firmed his resolve to be the best of the best. In his eyes, she had put her faith in him, believed in him when few others did. At the end of his training he would serve one of her daughters, her legacy and there was no way he was going to let her down.
And so here he was. After 10 long, hard years of training. He had learned a lot from the masters. From various weapons to hand to hand. He even learnt a few ninja tricks. He could take apart and put back together any gun in under 30 seconds. He was an excellent swordsman and excelled with a staff. The biggest surprise had been his father sealed schools. Who would have though an idiot like him could make TWO powerful schools like the Umisenken and Yamasenken.... Mind you he still had a way to go before he mastered either. Of course, his masters made sure he didn't concentrate only on martial arts. They drilled strategy and tactics into his brain as well as giving him a normal school education. They made him memorize Sun Tzu's Art of War and a lot of other books.
He subtilely brushed his hands on his sides and felt the two .45 caliber Colts through overcoat. Mumlaks were the only ones allowed to carry real weapons by law, and even they had certain rules to obey. He also had a Katana strapped across his back and a matching wakizashi at his belt.
He let out another breath as the door started to open.
***************************************
A few minutes earlier Soun Tendo had called all his daughters for a family meeting. He had just recieved two postcard. One from each Genma stating they were bringing their respective child along.
"Girls, I have some good news. My old friend Genma is comming."
"Which one father," Kasumi interrupted. She was old enough to remember the two weird twins with the same name. And there was something about a pledge.....
"I kindda remember them. I remember playing with their kids.... Ranma and Yumi I think," Nabiki added.
"I do too," said Akane. "Not too clearly though."
"Its good that you remember them." Soun nodded sagely puffing on his pipe. "They will be here shortly and before they do I have something important I have to tell you about Ranma."
"You didn't engage us to him did you daddy," asked Nabiki.
"Oh father, you could have atleast told us earlier."
"I'm NOT getting engaged. He's probably a pervert anyway."
Soun laughed nervously while scratching his head. "No, no nothing like that," he said quickly. Then he became serious again. "Ranma is a mumlak, a Yojimbo."
He looked at his three girls. Kasumi looked at him with a calm smile. Nabiki had an eyebrow raised. Akane was looking away in a huff. He took a deep puff of his pipe. "More specifically he will belong to one of you."
The three girls blinked in surprised.
Akane slammed her palm onto the table. "I don't need a bodyguard!!! I can take care of myself! I'm a martial artist!!"
"Gee daddy. Where did you get the money to buy a mumlak-yojimbo," asked Nabiki suspiciously.
"I didn't buy him Nabiki. Your mother sponsored him when he first started. So he had a 5 year contract with one of you already."
The three girls stared at him. Kasumi was the one that broke the silence.
"Mother sponsored him?? Is that why she always got letters from the mumlak schools?"
"Thats right Kasumi."
"Oh I better place a few extra futons in the guest room then."
"I still don't need a bodyguard. Especially not a BOY bodyguard. They are nothin but perverts."
That was when someone loudly knocked at the door.
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(Posted Thu, 12 Aug 2004 00:00)
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