The Tendo Dojo
***
Nabiki grumbled as she handed some money over to her little sister. "I can't believe it, but you were right."
Akane smirked, proud to get one over her mercenary sister for once. "Hey, I told you that Kusanagi wasn't all he was made up to be. The guy's been a leech since day one." She smiled as the news showed Kyo being taken out by Rugal again. "This time he didn't get away with it, is all."
Nabiki turned away in a huff... (actually to hide her smile. After all, if she didn't lose sometime, Akane would stop playing...)
Just then, two mummies lurched into the room. "Come, Akane! We must go to Osaka and get your future husband before he heals... er... leaves!" the tall one said.
"Yes," the fat one agreed. "My worthless son will uphold your engagement."
Both the younger Tendo sister looked at them crossly. "Oh no you don't." Akane declared. "I refuse to be a part of this."
Nabiki nodded. "Not me either. I just saw what he can do... I am not getting on his bad side."
"And don't even think about forcing this on Kasumi!" Akane yelled. "Dr. Tofu is this close to proposing, I'm sure!" she said while holding her fingers a hairsbreadth apart.
"Bah! Let's get the boy, Soun. Then we can hash out the details." And so saying the two Masters of the Anything Goes Martial Arts lurched out the room at a snails pace.
Akane shook her head, then turned back to Nabiki. "So, what did you find out about those schools?"
Nabiki held out her palm, and Akane reluctantly parted with the money she had just won. "Okay, little sister... I think Taiyo would be just perfect for you..."
***
South Town, Rock's Apartment
***
Hotaru was relieved as she watched Ranma trying to get away from the reporters. So were the rest of the occupants - Rock (it was his apartment, after all,) Jae, Jae's girlfriend, Bonne Janet, Makoto, and Ibuki. The last three weren't invited, but weren't going to move without a fight.
"Oh, I'm so relieved he's all right." Bonne said.
"Eh, I wasn't worried." Makoto replied.
Ibuki, as was her wont, was silent.
Then Jae's nameless, everpresent girlfriend spoke. "Oh my, doesn't this mean Ranma's stuck in Japan, though?"
There was a moment of silence.
Then tree girls dashed from the room - Ibuki and Makoto heading for the airport, Bonne for the docks.
Hotaru glared at Jae's girlfriend. "Thanks a lot." She grumbled.
Rock smiled and put his hand on Hotaru's shoulder, causing the girl to look at him. "Don't worry, Hotaru, it'll be all right."
"How?! Those... girls are going to get to Ranma while I'm stuck here!"
Rock smirked. "Simple. I'll set up an airplane ticket for Ranma, and then contact Sakura to tell him about it. By my guess, Makoto and Ibuki will arrive just in time to miss him."
Hotaru blinked, and then laughed. "Thank you, Rock!" She said, giving him a quick hug. Then she smirked. "Say... isn't it a school break in Japan? Why don't you invite Sakura to come over here too? I'm sure she'd love to see South Town."
Rock blushed at the thought, and Hotaru reflected that Ranma was right, teasing him about Sakura was fun.
***
South Town. Location: ???
***
Another pair of figures finished listening to a different conversation.
"So," Kain R. Heinlein said, sitting in an opulent chair with a glass of wine in his hand, "My brother-in-law intends to make Ranma his heir, whether he wants to or not."
His companion, the Dark Karate Master Grant, snorted. "That sounds like him. I'm just surprised he's never found that bug."
"Believe me, old friend, I made very certain that he won't find that little devise."
"So what will you do?" The masked man asked.
Kain took a sip of wine. "Why, it's simple, Grant. Geese will have Hell's own time trying to force Ranma to do what he wants. Meanwhile, I shall take up what Geese has so casually discarded. I shall teach my nephew how to control his powers."
Grant shifted. "Isn't that dangerous? Won't Rock rebel against you like Ranma will against Howard?"
Kain smiled. "No, my dear friend, that is the beauty of it. All I need do is teach Rock how to handle his own power. I will not even try to influence his choices of how to live."
Grant waited for Kain to continue.
"Don't you see? Rock's own nature will bring him in opposition with his father sooner or later. We need not do anything to make that conflict happen. And afterwards, Rock will be unlikely to move against us as long as we do not force him into anything."
Grant nodded. "Regardless of the outcome, you will come out ahead that way."
Kain smirked. "But of course. However, Grant, there is one thing I would like you to do."
"Yes?"
"The Futaba girl. She is the key to Ranma. Geese knows this, and will try to use it. A ploy that can only backfire, but that never seems to stop Geese from trying it. I would like you to watch her, and try to make sure Geese does not succeed, without exposing yourself, of course."
"Why is that?"
"Oh, for several reasons. Primarily to frustrate my brother-in-law. But also because a friend of mine has asked that I encourage the relationship between young Ranma and Hotaru. And her getting kidnapped and possibly killed by Geese would not be conductive to that end."
"A... friend?" Grant asked, looking at Kain.
Kain just tapped one of the rigs he wore.
Grant nodded in understanding. "Oh. That friend. I see."
"Yes, he would like to see it that those two get together. And preferably have many children. You know how he gets, making plans for generations down the line..."
Grant nodded, and then faded into the shadows, off to his mission.
Kain just sat and sipped his wine.
***
AN - With apologies to the Darkheart One, but I couldn't resist that particular gag...
(Posted Mon, 21 Oct 2002 08:32)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.