It was late afternoon when Ranma arrived back in Nerima with Motoko, Tsuruko, and their escort of three swordsmen and three swordswomen. He had been gone from the Tendo home for three days now and he suspected he was going be in for all sorts of hell for it. Oddly enough, for once, Akane's inevitable accusations of his infidelity would be right on the mark.
Ranma opened the gate to the Tendo property and lead the procession inside. Entering the house, he uttered the words that would, no doubt, release the first wave of chaos.
"I'm back!" Ranma called out. 'I'm home' just didn't sound right given what he was here for.
Suddenly there was a noise like a stampede of buffalo as the residents all ran down the hallway in a race to be the first to berate the young martial artist for disappearing without a word.
"Where have you been, boy?" Genma demanded loudly.
"Yes, how dare you abandon my daughter?" Soun joined in just as loudly.
"RANMA!" Akane bellowed. "Who are these people? Have you been out collecting more girls for your harem?"
"Son, it's not very manly to leave your fiancée for three days without letting her know where you are," Nodoka chimed in. "Akane-chan was worried about you."
"I wasn't worried about that jerk!" Akane insisted.
"Oh my, we have guests," Kasumi pointed out, causing the others who hadn't noticed that Ranma hadn't arrived alone to do so.
"What is the meaning of this?" Soun asked. "Who are these people?"
"Well," Ranma began, "this is Tsuruko and Motoko Aoyama of the Aoyama Shinmei Ryu..." He proceeded to introduce the others who had come to escort them and provide security if things went badly. "Mom, Pop, we need to talk...privately."
"Son, what is this about?" Nodoka asked.
"It's a family matter, Mom," Ranma stated, the implication being that he wouldn't discuss it in front of the Tendos.
"Boy, the Tendos are practically family already," Genma proclaimed. "Anything that concerns our family concerns your fiancée as well, so just tell us what this is about."
"'Fraid not, Pop," Ranma shook his head. "Why don't you, Mom, and I go out to the dojo where we can discuss this without interruption? I'll meet you there."
Without giving them a chance to argue, Ranma spun on his heel and led Tsuruko and Motoko out to the dojo. Their escort took up a perimeter around the dojo to prevent anyone from entering uninvited.
When Genma and Nodoka entered, Ranma was already in the middle of the dojo in seiza position. On his one side was Motoko and on the other was Tsuruko, also in seiza. Ranma indicated for his parents to sit.
"So what's this about, boy?" Genma asked, sitting with his arms folded across his chest, trying to appear wise and dignified.
"Yes, Son, what do you have to tell us that you would say in front of these women and not in front of the Tendos?" Nodoka asked.
"A coupl'a days ago, something happened," Ranma explained. "I stopped by the Nekohatten to grab a bite to eat and Mousse threw some kinda powder bomb. Motoko had just come in as well and we were both caught in it. I guess it was some kinda love powder or something because when I blinked the stuff outa my eyes, I saw Motoko. She was lookin' at me too. It was like we was the only people in the world that mattered 'cause suddenly we just lost control. We ended up in a love hotel where we...well...made love to each other for almost a day straight before the stuff wore off."
"Foolish boy!" Genma bellowed. "How could you let this happen?"
"Oh dear," Nodoka said in consternation.
"Indeed," Tsuruko smirked.
"Anyway," Ranma continued, "Motoko was really upset when she woke up. She was pure before that and I had taken her virtue and honor. I felt terrible, like I had raped her, so I swore on my honor as a martial artist that my life belonged to her. I thought she'd either make me commit seppuku or have me turn myself into the police as a rapist, but instead, she took me to Kyoto to consult her sister, the acting-head of the Aoyama clan until Motoko feels ready to assume the position. Tsuruko said the best option was for us to be married and Motoko agreed. Sorry, Pop, I know you wanted me to marry a Tendo, but I owe Motoko an honor-debt for taking her purity. If she wants me to marry her then that's what I gotta do."
"I understand, Son," Nodoka nodded. "Don't you worry. You can still marry Akane-chan. This loose woman is obviously prostituting herself and preying on your innocence to trap you for herself."
"WHAT?!?" Motoko, Tsuruko, and Ranma all shouted--two in anger, Ranma in horror.
"Mother! How dare you say such a rude thing about Motoko," Ranma snarled. "She's a victim in all this! It wasn't like she meant for it to happen! If you got any honor at all, you'll apologize to her!"
"You dare question your mother's honor, son?" Nodoka demanded ominously.
"You dare question my chosen fiancee's honor, Mother?" Ranma countered.
"Enough!" Genma bellowed, causing everyone to fall silent. "The boy is right, No-chan. You must apologize to the girl at once."
Ranma gaped at his father. Never in seventeen years could he remember Genma standing up for him and he certainly didn't expect it now when Ranma was pretty much telling him that his dream of uniting the schools was dead.
"Pop..." Ranma breathed in surprise.
"Why should I apologize to some harlot that is trying to trap my son in an unwanted marriage?" Nodoka demanded.
"That's enough, Nodoka!" Genma commanded firmly, beads of sweat popping out on his forehead as he glanced at the fuming Aoyama's. "You must apologize at once before the girl challenges you to an honor duel. Better to apologize now than to be forced to apologize after being beaten and humiliated in a fight."
"But--" Nodoka started to protest.
"Foolish woman, do you not recognize their clan?" Genma asked. "The Aoyama clan is one of the old warrior clans. They and their allied clans practice the Shinmei style of swordsmanship under the auspices of the Emperor, himself. They are responsible for protecting Japan from demons and evil spirits. If you don't want to ruin us, you must apologize immediately."
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(Posted Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:10)
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