After a lengthy staring match, Nodoka realized that she was not going to get any help from her husband or son. Grudgingly, she backed down, apologizing to Motoko for her ill-chosen words. However, it was clear that the relationship between Ranma's mother and her daughter-in-law-to-be would remain adversarial for some time to come.
"What of our family honor, Son?" Nodoka asked sternly. "If you don't marry Akane, our family will be dishonored."
Ranma was about to mention all the other promises Genma had made but Genma once again stepped in.
"The boy has made his choice, No-chan," Genma said. "He's given his word as a martial artist and to go back on that now would be a greater transgression than breaking the Tendo pact."
"Gee, Pop, you're takin' this well," Ranma mentioned. "I figured you'd be furious and threatening to disown me unless I agreed to marry Akane."
"What's done is done, Ranma," Genma explained. "Yes, I'm angry and disappointed that the pact won't be fulfilled and the schools joined, but I realize it's not entirely your fault. Besides, we can always put the agreement off until the next generation."
"Er...thanks, Pop," Ranma said awkwardly.
Genma shrugged and eyed Motoko speculatively.
"At least you chose a family with a long tradition in the art," Genma stated. "While I'm not happy this happened, I approve of your bride."
Before anyone could say anything else a commotion was heard outside. The door to the dojo slid open and one of the guards poked her head of spiky, black hair inside.
"Forgive me for interrupting, but there is an ancient crone here that says she has important information for Ranma and Motoko," the girl said.
"You can go ahead and let her in, Setsuna," Ranma instructed. "Maybe we'll find out what happened to us."
Setsuna nodded and stepped back from the door allowing a slightly disgruntled Cologne to hop in on her staff.
"Ancient crone, indeed," Cologne muttered as she hopped over to the Aoyamas and Saotomes.
"What do ya want, old ghoul?" Ranma asked warily.
Cologne ignored Ranma for a moment as she came to a stop in front of Motoko. The elder looked the girl over carefully and then sighed tiredly.
"Ranma, please introduce me to your young lady and her...sister?" Cologne said.
"Sure," Ranma agreed. "This is the girl I'm going to marry, Motoko Aoyama. And, yeah, this is her sister, Tsuruko Aoyama. Motoko, Tsuruko, this is Elder Cologne, matriarch of the Joketsuzoku Amazons. She owns the restaurant where this mess started."
"Miss Aoyama, on behalf of the Joketsuzoku Amazon tribe, I would like to humbly apologize for the actions of the male, Mousse," Cologne said, bowing low. "You can rest assured that he will be punished for his crime."
"What exactly happened to us, Elder?" Motoko asked.
"In desperate pursuit of my great granddaughter, the foolish male used a drug called Lust Dust," Cologne explained. "When breathed or swallowed, it fills the victim with uncontrollable lust for the first person or persons the victim sees. It also has the effect of temporarily overpowering the victim's inhibitions, sexual orientation, and moral code. In a way, you and Ranma were fortunate that only the two of you were involved in your incident. At least you know who the father of your child is."
"The father...of my...child...?" Motoko asked faintly, the blood draining from her face.
"Yes, you are quite pregnant, Miss Aoyama," Cologne nodded gravely. "I must say you are fortunate to have secured a most sought-after male. Your children will be strong."
"I'm...pregnant..." Motoko repeated before her eyes rolled up and she fainted, falling across Ranma who hit the floor unconscious moments before she did.
"They certainly took that well," Tsuruko laughed.
"Indeed," Cologne chuckled. "Please inform Ranma when he awakes that the Kiss of Marriage is hereby negated. Shampoo, Mousse, and myself will most likely be returning to China, provided Miss Kuno does not convince them to stay here. We will no longer be pursuing Ranma for Shampoo's husband. I hope there will be no hard feelings between the Aoyama clan and my tribe."
"I think the Aoyama clan came out of this unfortunate incident quite well," Tsuruko said thoughtfully. "While poor Motoko probably wasn't ready for this, she did bring the Godslayer into our clan--quite an accomplishment. I think we will look at this as fate smiling on our clan and leave it at that."
"I'm pleased to hear this," Cologne nodded. After all, this was indeed a powerful clan. If she wasn't mistaken, the girl that had let her in was a young hanyou. "Again, my apologies on behalf of my tribe for any inconvenience this has caused. I shall take my leave."
"I presume," Tsuruko addressed the Saotomes after Cologne had left, "that there will be no problems with you accompanying us to sign the marriage documents as soon as the government offices open tomorrow? I should like for my sister and Ranma to be married as soon as possible given her condition."
"That would be best," Genma agreed as Nodoka sniffed in disdain. "I must go speak with Tendo. When Ranma and his chosen wake up, we can inform the others of what has happened."
"What is going on, Saotome?" Soun asked agitatedly as Genma stepped into the tea room where the Tendos were gathered. "What has the boy gotten himself into this time?"
"I need to speak with you privately, Tendo," Genma said grimly.
Soun took in the serious look on his friend's face and instantly knew it wasn't good. He rose to follow the larger man into the yard.
"What has the boy done now?" Tendo asked as Genma stopped at the edge of the koi pond, staring deeply into the waters as he gathered his thoughts.
"I'm sorry, Tendo, but the boy won't be marrying Akane," Genma explained.
"What?" Soun exclaimed. "But the pact...the schools must be joined!"
"I'm afraid that's out of the question at this point in time, Tendo," Genma disagreed. "It seems the boy ran afoul of one of those Amazon tricks along with the Aoyama girl. She is pregnant with his child and he has given his word as a martial artist that he will stand by her. We are fortunate that she only requires him to marry her. He offered to perform seppuku to atone for taking her purity."
"And you are allowing this?" Soun demanded. "What of our pact?"
"Think about it, Tendo," Genma said carefully. "If we move the pact to the next generation, not only will the schools be joined, but our children will be part of the Aoyama clan with access to the Shinmei Ryu and its secret techniques. Our families will gain status and our art will grow stronger."
"But what about my little girl? She will be crushed that Ranma has betrayed her," Soun pointed out.
"There is nothing we can do about that now," Genma said sadly. "This is partially her fault too. If she had just bedded the boy instead of pounding on him with that temper of hers, then this would never have happened."
"Are you saying it's my little girl's fault that your honorless son cheated on her with that...that...?" Soun demanded.
"Careful, Tendo," Genma cautioned. "The girl is the future head of the Aoyama clan and her sister is the current master of the Aoyama Shinmei style. If you insult them, the best you can expect is to get challenged to a duel of honor. Do you want to risk a blood feud with Aoyama and their allies?" Soun gulped as he realized how bad this could get. "I thought not. All I'm saying is that if Akane had wanted the boy then she should have claimed him. Regardless of the accusations, the boy has a strong sense of honor. If he didn't, the Aoyama girl wouldn't have been able to claim him."
Soun sighed heavily.
"Saotome, you know as well as I do that without Ranma, the Tendo school won't last another generation," Soun admitted. "Akane is a fine martial artist, but with her temper, I dare not teach her the advanced techniques. And I gravely doubt she will accept another arranged marriage. I had hoped that Ranma would reverse the damage that the Kuno boy had done and restore her trust in men, but with this betrayal...I doubt she will ever trust a man."
Genma patted Soun on the back consolingly.
"Sorry, Tendo," the larger man said. "I'll help however I can. Perhaps we can find a way for Akane to get control of her temper and get her past this. A nice long training trip, perhaps? You have to admit that you've coddled the girl. Maybe if she experiences the way of the true martial artist as Ranma has, she will come around."
Soun though this over for a bit before answering.
"Perhaps you're on to something, Saotome," Soun nodded. "That just might be what she needs to mature into a true master."
"It's settled then," Genma clapped the smaller man on the back. "It'll be just like the old days! As soon as the boy is married we'll hit the road! Nothing like a training trip to take Akane's mind off of things, right, Tendo?"
"Indeed, Saotome," Soun nodded, but inside he was gravely unsettled about what was happening.
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(Posted Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:52)
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