"Ah," said Mihoshi as a little fanfare played from the sphere. "It looks like all the girls engaged to Ranma are to be married to him by changing where his mother's branch joins her family tree! Ranma's new Grandmother should be along shortly to handle the actual wedding details." The sphere popped when Mihoshi clapped cheerfully. "And that's it for me! Good luck!" With that the blond 'poofed' into a cloud of lavender smoke which swirled into her lamp which itself vanished with a slight 'pop' sound and a puff of glitter.
After that the room was deathly silent while everyone stared at Akane.
It took quite a few minutes before the girl became uncomfortable enough to weakly try and stand up for herself. "How was I supposed to know that was a real genie!"
To his credit, Ranma did not say a thing. He just stood there, head hanging and trying not to have a breakdown.
No, it was Kasumi of all people who said the obvious. "Well, maybe if you had listened to what Ranma was saying for once, you would have known. This time Sis you have nobody to fault but yourself."
Akane wanted to defend herself but couldn't muster anything to refute what her sister had said. The sudden and frantic knocking at the front door made everyone jump. Kasumi swished out of the room, mostly in the hopes that whoever it was would lighten the mood some. When she reached the front door she was slightly shocked by what was on the other side.
Normally, Nodoka Saotome was gave all the appearance of a very cool and collected woman. A woman with dignity no unpleasant situation could crush. At least when her temper wasn't up, or her world view questioned. When Kasumi opened the door to greet her guest and found a very frazzled and panicky looking Nodoka it did not help her already strained nerves.
Luckily Nodoka didn't seem of a mind to catch the lack of proper greeting, instead she swept into the house as quickly as she could. "Hello Kasumi dear. I'm sorry to impose but I'm afraid I have something important to speak to my husband and son about. Are Genma and Ranma in by any chance?" A moot question really as she had not stopped moving as she spoke, was in the tea room by the time she was done and was able to catch sight of her son herself rather than wait for an answer. That Ranma seemed to be stuck in some kind of funk only helped her at the moment. "Oh my Ranma! You look as though something has you down. I know just what will perk you up though! You and your father should go on one of those wonderful training trips you love so much!" That she managed to get all of that out in a single rushed breath did not pass any of the listeners by.
Including the one new listener nobody knew about. "Now now my daughter, whats the rush? I'd enjoy some time to get to know my son in law and grandson after all."
While Nodoka froze with an odd combination of 'deer caught in headlights' and 'hand in cookie jar' looks on her face, the rest of those present turned to the source of the new voice. Which just happened to be from the direction of the yard. Standing in the open doorway was a woman.
The woman was fairly tall, with hair an odd shade of light green, held back in a long flowing ponytail. Her fair complexion made her hair stand out even more sharply as it framed her face. A face which itself was lit with a smirk that screamed "Caught you" and the mirth in her eyes was evident. Her outfit was odd. A strange maroon semi-kimono thing with puffed white sleeves attached to some strange decorative blue shoulder... wing bobble things. Ranma was only praying he was not somehow related to the Amazon's. He would never stop having nightmares about people wanting to beat his girl side if that were the case.
The awkward silence was broken by Kasumi when the need to be a good hostess asserted itself. "Please come in miss. I'll fetch some tea. Nabiki, be a dear and show our guest to a seat once Auntie has introduced her." She was managing to keep calm now. This was, after all, Ranma's Grandmother that nice genie had said would arrive and Kasumi had the feeling she wanted to make a good impression.
Kasumi's words managed to snap Nodoka from her daze... at least enough to plaster on a strained smile and turn to the others assembled together. "Yes. This is my mother, the Lady Kamiki Seto Jurai."
If one thing could be said about Mihoshi, it was that she liked to work with what she knew. This universe never had a Kagato. Without Kagato, there was no attack on Jurai by Ryoko. No Ryoko on Jurai meant no reason for Yosho to go to earth (and no Tsunami merged with Princess Sasami). No Yosho on earth meant no Tenchi. Now, she wasn't about to try and make Ranma into Tenchi, that would just be mean to both. But she did notice the parallels in their lives and how a few Jurian traditions could fulfill the wish Ranma let Akane make for him.
Yes, Ranma could marry all of the girls who wanted him if he were Jurian Royalty. Just like it had helped that nice Seina boy. So what if it meant no being hauled off to China and no forcing him to help run a restaurant or Dojo? Ranma didn't really care for any of those possibilities anyway. With this solution, he could fight space pirates and stuff and put his martial arts to good use! So when she made her recommendations on how to grant the wish the Council of Djinni saw it as workable. It helped that this would toss the many plans for Ranma's future out the airlock.
Lady Seto bowed as Nodoka introduced her. "A pleasure to meet you all." Directed to a seat by Nabiki, Seto settled in at the table. She of course dragged Nodoka and Ranma into the seats next to her. Seats that happened to be across from Genma. The stocky martial artist sweated under the intense gaze of his mother in law. "And you are the man who captured the heart of my daughter. Honestly dear I'm not sure I see the appeal." Genma, in a rare wise move, kept his mouth shut rather than put both feet into it.
Nodoka kept her weak smile and offered a meager defense. "Well he had a more dashing look when we first met and the years don't tend to be kind to humans as they go by. Plus he used to have hair."
"I'll grant you, maybe if I could see him as you did, perhaps I would understand it." She turned from Genma to Ranma. "Though I suppose I can't argue the result. Oh you'll be a wonderful addition to the family! I can see so much skill in you, even at your age and so much potential left to work with as well. I'd stake my reputation on you making a great name for yourself in the years to come. Why, just introducing you to your uncle with be wonderful fun."
"Uncle?" Nabiki asked, a bit curious as to why that would be important.
"Yes, his uncle, Emperor Masaki Azusa Jurai. But before that I'm afraid we'll need to introduce Genma and Ranma my Husband, Kamiki Utsutsumi Jurai."
Most of the people at the table gaped at that statement, Lady Seto and Nodoka excepted. Lady Seto was just smirking and Nodoka hung her head tiredly. Kasumi used the lull in conversation to serve everyone tea, which Lady Seto complimented wholeheartedly.
Nabiki's brain was saved from a meltdown by the tea as she took a sip. I can't believe it. Akane bungled a wish and it makes the poster boy for foot in mouth disease royalty?! Then her eyes narrowed a bit as another thought occurred to her. "Lady Seto? Emperor of what?"
Lady Seto blinked and looked around at the Tendos as if seeing them for the first time. "I'll admit I may have gotten a bit ahead of myself but who are you to my daughter and grandson to ask?"
"Your grandson's future sister in law, seeing as he is engaged to my younger sister," Nabiki waved a hand towards a still utterly shocked Akane. "I need to know how this will effect the family after all."
Lady Seto nodded then turned an appraising eye towards Akane for a moment before going on with a broad smile. "Azusa is ruler of the Jurai Empire. And is my son in law trough Nodoka's older sister Misaki. The history of the empire is long and prestigious. Why, the power of Jurai can be traced back over one-hundred and fifty-thousand years."
Nabiki wasn't sure how to take that so just looked over to Ranma. "Congratulations Saotome. You can trump Cologne now. Her three thousand years of Amazon history are nothing compared to that." Inside, she was itching to get to her computer and try and look up this Jurai Empire and it's GNP. If Akane didn't start treating Ranma better maybe he would look to trade in Tendos. Unlike her sister, Nabiki understood that thanks to the wish she would have to share. Not a bad deal if this 'royal family' were wealthy enough.
Ranma seemed to perk up a bit at that. "Yeah, maybe the old ghoul will back off now." Maybe this wouldn't all be so bad...
"Who?" Asked a curious Lady Seto.
"Cologne. Well, Elder Ku Lon is trying ta get me to marry her granddaughter thanks to some law her tribe has. She always goes on an on about how her three thousand years of Amazon traditions are going ta win out an all. Just cuz I beat Shampoo in a fight, she has ta become my wife." Ranma tried to explain, hanging his head. "They have been trying all sorts a stuff to trick me or challenge me into marrying her. Drugs, magic and loony attacks and stuff. Just cuz the males opinions don't matter much in their tribe ya see." Ranma looked up to see his grandmother had a very unhappy look on her face.
"I do believe I may have to have words with this Ku Lon about her matchmaking tactics," Uttered a fuming Devil Princess. Nobody imposes themselves into the personal lives of my family like that BUT ME! "Ranma, if you would please, show me where I might find this woman."
Ranma blinked. Someone actually caring about the stuff he had to deal with? For a moment he considered letting a tear of joy roll down his cheek. Then he decided against it with his father and mother around. Even if he was happy, it was not worth the headache. "Ok." Ranma stood and offered a hand to his grandmother and mother.
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(Posted Sun, 18 Aug 2013 04:10)
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