251Author's Note: I'd like to thank everyone for the positive response to the last chapter. I had a lot of trouble writing it to where I felt the payoff for everyone's wait on Ranma's reunion with his mother was good enough. I'd built up to it heavily and found it to be rather difficult, but it seems to have gone over well. I'm happy with it as well, which I didn't think I'd manage for a while there.
Also, I know that the history of okonomiyaki as it is currently named doesn't go back four hundred years, but it does have dishes it is descended from that are that old. Funoyaki is likely the food that the Kuonji family first based their art on.
It seems that I gave the NHK reporter and Ranma's mother the same given name. Well...I guess people run into people with the same names on occasion. Still, it's a bit frustrating to have failed to notice that. I wonder if I should retcon one of them. Thoughts?
Important Question, possible retcon: My understanding of Chinese naming sucks, but has grown just since I came up with "Ku Lan" to realize that I need help. Should I simply ditch the "Ku" and keep the name as Lan(Ran in Japanese) for "orchid" as a simpler solution abandoning the pun (easiest to implement)? If I retconned and made the female Ranma be Shampoo's adopted sister, would the names Tso Pu and Xian Pu (Soap and Shampoo) work from a Chinese naming standpoint? Would you all even want me to make a retcon like one of these or leave things as-is?
Chapter 19: Inquisitions
Though initially intimidated by the two women staring at her, Nodoka was pleased to see that her father had supported her thoroughly. He mentioned calling in a psychiatrist in good standing with the court, but sitting in front of her were both a psychiatrist and a therapist. This was just like her father to do when he was serious. Under-promise and over-deliver. The man had also wanted to sit in with her through the session for support, awkward as it was for him, but this wasn't permitted.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Saotome." The blue-haired therapist in her mid-thirties started, smiling at Nodoka. "I am Riho Gekkogahara, your psychologist for the day. The young woman next to me is a psychiatrist, Aoko Hatano."
"Greetings." Aoko said, the glasses-wearing redhead in her late twenties holding a clipboard and bearing a more clinical air than her kindly co-worker.
That was all the woman said before Riho continued, speaking to Nodoka. "First, I feel a need to clarify something. There are two of us, but we are not ganging up on you nor are you unintentionally double-booked. Many, including your father, don't always realize how broad the gamut of mental health analysis and treatment can be. A complete explanation would take too long, but we will be approaching your mental health from two different angles. I will listen to your story and ask various questions as they come up to understand your thoughts, feelings, logic, and reasoning. Once this court battle is done, we can continue to meet if you desire to work through such matters."
"I, meanwhile," Aoko started to explain her own role, "will listen and administer various tests. These will be geared toward the identification of mental illness and its severity, if any such ailments exist. It will also help determine preventative measures or treatment."
"We are not enemies here. We're seeking the truth and the best way to help. Do you understand?" Riho asked, after which Nodoka gave a nod. She was nervous, more of Aoko than of Riho, but both held Ranma's future in their hands. Riho smiled disarmingly before proceeding. "Good. The best place to start would be in the beginning. We can determine what to explore further as we go. So, tell me about your childhood."
"What do you mean I can't speak to Ranma? I'm the one in charge of the case!" Major General Kensuke Ishida inquired of Detective Hideki Nogura at the latter's temporary desk at Tokyo Police Headquarters. Detective Nogura could tell that the Major General was a man accustomed to being obeyed, especially by civilian agencies. The other police working there found an interesting sight in the JSDF officer appearing so livid while his target remained calm. The detective idly wondered what kind of blood pressure the older man bore.
"You were put in charge of Genma's capture. Ranma's case is still my responsibility, along with Genma's civilian legal trial. The very first measure taken once Ranma was determined to be physically healthy was to get him and the other kids appointments with social workers to determine their perspective on things and ascertain their mental health. The fact that you are a family member of one of the girls he has been dishonorably engaged to would also make it inappropriate for you to speak with him right now." When Hideki's last sentence hit the Major General's ears, the latter's livid expression went up a notch.
A red face and a glare promising consequences met the statement as the Major General began to yell more loudly. "Explain yourself, Detective! What do you mean 'dishonorably'? Are you accusing me of impropriety?" The enraged man wouldn't tolerate his honor being questioned. Fortunately, this was not Detective Nogura's intention.
"No, I accuse Genma. It turns out that the authority of the Saotome Clan flows through the mother's side rather than through him. He didn't have the permission of the mother nor the head of the clan to engage Ranma to anyone. Even when seen purely through the lens of honor rather than contract law, the agreement Genma made with you is still just paper with ink on it." That fact made the Major General's fist clench and he had to calm himself down for a few moments. Thankfully, the true target of his ire had shifted and wasn't present for him to assail.
"I will still need to speak with the boy soon. His destructive power is not something that can remain unaddressed. If both of his parents are deemed unfit, he will be a ward of the State and special considerations will have to be made." There it was. Ranma's ability to blow a hole through solid rock with a ball of energy, and perhaps train others to do the same, was something the JSDF didn't want to ignore. No, Hideki suspected that they were positively salivating at the idea. Tying him to the JSDF through engagement to an officer's family would be all the more concrete in guiding his future, particularly favorable over the alternative of Happosai having influence over the boy. Hideki hated politics.
"I'm not aware of any civilian or military law forbidding a person from being able to blast a hole through solid rock without tools or weapons. Only the consequences they face once they actually do so. Ranma's destruction of private property was justified by the defense of its occupants from a hostile threat and the property owners' refusal to even consider pressing charges." In other words, there was no legal justification for the military to be sticking their nose in Ranma's business. While Detective Nogura was effectively but temporarily keeping the officer from intruding, Tenma Saotome observed very carefully from a nearby seat. He quietly discerned the motives of the officer in front of him and what they meant for his grandson, avoiding the urge to intrude in favor of gathering information on the man's demeanor and intent.
The grandfather also wondered just what sort of stories the social workers were hearing from the children. It had to have been an interesting trip for them.
"I almost lost my mind in the pit when the cats were attackin' me, but I was able to get the strength to jump out and attack Pops before passin' out. When I woke up, I knew I had to get away from him. Luckily, the old man was lettin' himself get attacked by cats so I was able to get away. When I found all those engagement contracts and learned I had a Mom when packin' up, I had to fix what I could with Ucchan and her Pop before goin'..."
"Then Daddy just threw me out of the house! Ran-chan told him that his daddy was a thief who'd engaged him to all kinds of people already, but Daddy knew and just...didn't care! He abandoned me! If it weren't for Ran-chan, I don't know what I'd have done!"
"That family wanted to adopt me but leave my little sister at the orphanage. I couldn't do that to her, so we left. We had to steal to eat and hide in the woods. We didn't belong anywhere until Master saved us from the bear and asked us to travel with him and Ukyo. Kurumi and I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for him, and his mother even agreed to adopt us...eh? 'Was it really a bear?' I think so. I have a picture here somewhere..."
"He said Kurumi couldn't eat the bear 'cause it had a baby. Then they fed us okonomiyaki and we've been with them ever since! Oh, he's been teaching Kurumi more martial arts, too! And his mama's going to be Kurumi's mama now!"
It had taken the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. Nodoka had told the women about her childhood, her marriage, her relationships with her family and friends, the contract, and how she'd coped over the years. She discussed her plans, her feelings, her interpretations, and reasoning. She'd taken various tests and discussed hypothetical scenarios with the women. Now, she tensely waited for their professional opinion.
"You've been through a great deal, Mrs. Saotome. No one could get over that in a day." Riho stated, making Nodoka worry. "You have reasonable problems with the abandonment by your husband and the seizure of your son, and you seem to have been clinging to the seppuku pledge and the promise contained therein as a way of justifying your loneliness. That if Ranma returned as a 'man-among-men', the time you lost with him would have been worth your suffering. Carrying your blade around as a surrogate for your baby was a coping mechanism that could, in time, have crossed into the bounds of obsession and mental illness." Nodoka sank in her chair, seeing her chance at custody for her son slipping away...
"But it hasn't," Riho continued. Nodoka's expression regained its life upon listening to the woman. "You do not carry your sword with you now nor have you seemed to crave its presence to excess, you've already rejected the contract and recognized the flaws behind it, and seem to know in your mind and heart what you should do. Your fixation on honor over practical living which your parents have cultivated is still a sticking point you may need to tend to and is something I would like to see you further for...but I see no reason for you to be denied the custody of your child."
"I agree," Aoko stated while regarding her clipboard. "While there would be a risk of mental illness further down the line if things had not changed, the fact is that they have changed. Preventative action is sufficient to resolve these issues. I also deem you fit for custody, though I recommend voluntary counseling with Doctor Gekkogahara due to the unusual circumstances in play. A woman who has had her child taken from her at the age of two can't be expected to have the cumulative experience needed to raise a child that is six years old flawlessly, nor can a child who has gone without a mother or proper care be expected to act in a typical manner. Thankfully, your parents seem to be prepared to support you in the process and the child is clearly making an exceptional effort to connect with you."
As both women gave their written professional opinions to Nodoka for her counsel to present tomorrow in court, tears ran down Nodoka's face. She accepted the opinions and bowed deeply to the women. "Thank you...thank you very much. I will certainly abide by your recommendations."
"There is no need to thank us. We merely present our true and unbiased opinions on the matter. Had you come to us even a week ago, I suspect our decision would have been rather different. That is a testament to your personal growth, Mrs. Saotome." Aoko was a bit blunter than Riho on such things, but it was important to point out lest Nodoka ever consider backsliding. Riho opened the door for Nodoka to leave, smiling warmly to her.
Of course, that was when a female police officer entered in a rush and almost bumped into Nodoka. "A-ah, you're...You work with Soun in Nerima sometimes, do you not?" Nodoka inquired in recognition.
The female officer nodded. "Y-yes. I'm Officer Hayumi Nohara, here with Detective Nakamura for the Ranma Saotome case. I've been asked to bring the doctors to test some people regarding that matter..."
"O-oh no, what's wrong with Ranma and the girls? Nodoka asked, worry entering deep into her soul.
"Ranma? No, this isn't for the kids. We need help tending to some of the social workers assigned to them. Mrs. Hitotose is writing out makeshift spiritual wards with her stationary while hiding under her desk. Please hurry." The officer was a bit embarrassed, not liking the impact that Nerima's more esoteric aspects sometimes had on more typical people.
Aoko sighed. "We'd best tend to this quickly. They should be alright if we get to them quickly, otherwise they'll be like poor Doctor Fukuda." Nodoka had to think back but soon remembered him as a scientist who moved to Nerima and went mad from being unable to reconcile the laws of physics with the practical mechanics of a martial artist's roof-hopping ability. They found him in a fetal position on the floor of his apartment with equations scrawled all over the walls related to the forces and strain imparted on the human leg. He had never accounted for ki-strengthening in his work.
"Please do. Don't allow me to hinder you." Nodoka said swiftly. The group left the room and entered the hallway to see a bench where the kids sat with Tenma and Sachiko.
Tenma was regarding the whole scene and maintaining a taciturn and refined appearance, but his disapproval was palpable. Sachiko was looking between the kids with empathy and at a certain office door with anger. Ukyo and Natsume were pulling makeshift spiritual wards out of Ranma's hair while Kurumi studied the ones which had been pulled out thus far with curiosity.
"It ain't my fault! She's the one who asked me what ki was, so I showed her. I didn't even destroy anythin'. I just made a ball of it in my hand and she flipped out! I know that normal folk don't all act like that!" Ranma said in irritation. Sachiko moved a hand to Ranma's back and started rubbing in circles to support him.
"She mistook it for a hitodama, a ghost orb that a dead human soul is said to sometimes appear as, and thought you some sort of conjurer. But you are right, Ranma. That was...very inappropriate of her." Sachiko was quite displeased. The boy crossed his arms, glowering at the door for a moment before he was aware of his mother.
"Oh, hey Mom! You done with your thing? Mine turned out kind of weird." The boy was in a better mood immediately after seeing his mother. Her own mother and father looked to her with a mix of nervousness and hope. Nodoka stooped down and put her hand on her son's shoulder, inspecting him for harm from the somewhat unhinged social worker. Finding none, she smiled.
"Mine turned out much better, Ranma. It went as well as I could have hoped for." This revelation made Sachiko and even Tenma visibly relax. The message was received even if the kids remained unaware. The psychiatrist and psychologist entered Mrs. Hitotose's office to help her. Officer Nohara stayed in front of them just in case the spooked woman was violent. The hushed tones inside implied that things would be resolved peacefully.
They had little chance to proceed further before two people approached who Nodoka would recognize. "Ah? Detective Nogura and...Detective Ito? I am surprised to see you in Tokyo." Indeed, the man whose life Nodoka had saved in Kyoto was present. He gave a deep bow, one which Tenma noted to be one of genuine respect rather than formality.
"Yes, Mrs. Saotome. While I'm not pleased to do so, I still have to investigate the matter with Ukyo Kuonji and her father's safe. When the children were reported to have made it to your home, I was sent here to do so. The man is insistent that the contents are returned." Ukyo gave a pout and lowered her head, noting that he made no mention of returning her.
"He can have his safe back, but not that stupid marriage contract inside. That thing's ruined Ucchan's life! He wouldn't even drop the engagement when I told him what junk Pops had done!" Ranma said, appraising Detective Ito.
"So you did take it." Detective Ito said, having not believed Detective Nogura at first. A look at a concerned Nodoka made the man change his mood slightly. This was the son of the woman who saved him, and there were clearly extenuating circumstances. "Well, her father admitted that you attempted to warn him that Genma had made the agreement in bad faith. While I can't condone theft, the prosecutor doesn't want to press charges as long as the rest of the safe and its contents are returned, minus reasonable funds for Ukyo's care."
Ranma crossed his arms with a 'hmph' and grumbled. "I never even opened the stupid thing. I just want Ukyo to be able to choose her future, you know?"
"Don't worry, Ranma. Ukyo." Tenma said, looking to the children. "I am the Saotome Family head and Nodoka is the authority in Ranma's immediate family through which that lineage flows, not Genma. He never had permission to marry Ranma to anyone without her input. Whatever agreement Genma made with Mr. Kuonji is worthless and reflects solely on their personal honor. Not your own." Ukyo gave a shudder at the revelation.
"Hey, that's great, Ucchan! You can do what you want and your honor's just fine!" Ranma said, looking to his friend...whose expression was not one of pleasure. It was one of shock and confusion. "...Ucchan? Hey, you alright?" The girl looked to him in surprise.
"Uh...y-yeah, Ran-chan. I-I'm alright..." It was a lie, Ranma knew Ukyo enough to tell even as dense as he could sometimes be.
"So...where might the safe be, Ranma?" Detective Ito inquired. Ranma looked to the detective, pondering between tending to Ukyo and to the man's request. He decided to tend to the policeman quickly so he could be on his way. Taking a sheet from his backpack, the boy stood from his seat and moved the sheet in a way to briefly obscure a part of the hallway from sight...and pulled it away to reveal the safe. It was a seemingly impossible magic trick achieved through the use of the Hidden Weapons Style's implementation of ki-space. "...Huh...that's..." The man shook his head, recalling how Nodoka had deflected a bullet with a sword. Nothing this family could do should really surprise him. Detective Nogura simply smirked, having become a bit more versed in such things lately and having his suspicions confirmed.
Ranma returned to his seat next to Ukyo, but she'd decided to watch Detective Ito as he went to the safe and used the combination. Opening the safe and finding it to match both in description and combination with Mr. Kuonji's description, the man began to investigate the contents with gloved hands. He found the agreement front and center and read it, verifying the claims of all parties involved. He then started to inspect the contents of the safe, determining that they matched reports and that nothing was missing. Ranma noted that the spatula Ukyo used in the future was among the safe's contents, though the handle was unscrewed from the blade and it was stored in pieces.
"Hey, what's this?" The man asked, finding something inside which was listed as part of the contents. "This sealed letter is in the list of items inside the safe, but it's marked as being for Ukyo." That made the girl perk up and she accepted the letter when it was handed to her. She opened it by breaking the seal and tried to read its contents. Her knowledge of kanji wasn't good enough to manage though.
"I...can't read a lot of this. Ran-chan, can you read it to me?" Ukyo asked the boy, who accepted the letter.
"Alright, let's see..." He started to read, not really considering the complexity of the kanji as he read and relayed their meaning. He took special care to enunciate properly.
To my daughter Ukyo,
If everything is going as I hope and you are reading this when I expect you to be, then I wish you a Happy Twentieth Birthday. Today, you are an adult. I am sorry I could not live to see this day and tell you how proud I am as your mother, and I can only hope that your father has conveyed my love for you properly over the years."
Ukyo started to tear up, hearing the contents of the letter and knowing who it was from. Her mother. Ranma continued to read.
"As the nineteenth master of our four-hundred-year-old Kuonji-style of Okonomiyaki Martial Arts, I have charged my husband to train you as my heir. Our family has dwindled over the years, few having the skill to achieve what is needed to keep the Art alive. I can already tell, even as young as you are while I write this, that you have the potential for it. Upon being given this letter, you have become the twentieth master of our family art and the head of the family. It is a duty which I have faith you will thrive in. As you go forth in this, I ask you to remember to continue to evolve our style just as funoyaki grew over time into the okonomiyaki we know today. Remember what came before, but do not be a slave to it at the cost of improving upon our style for future generations.
With all of my love,
Yayoi Kuonji
"...Uh..." Ranma said, blinking awkwardly. "...and there's a list in here of stuff you're s'posed to get from the safe. Your inheritance, seems like." Detective Ito took the list and inspected it, verifying that it was in the same handwriting as that of the letter. Confirming it, he found that most of the safe's contents were indeed Ukyo's.
"But...why? Why did Daddy send me away if Mommy wanted him to train me?" Ukyo asked, confused. The Police Detectives were hesitant to voice their suspicions, but someone else present had no such inhibition.
"If you joined someone else's family by arranged marriage, you could be married out of the Kuonji family before you were twenty. In that case, he could possibly claim the position of Master and Family Head for himself if he had a drop of Kuonji blood in his veins." Tenma said bluntly, analyzing the matter calmly. "If true, he has betrayed your mother's final wishes and brought dishonor upon himself. It is a bid for power that distant branch sons who marry into their family's main line sometimes perform in such cases. Genma's actions are similar, though more overt and less thought-out."
The man was broken from his musings and realized his error when he looked to see Ukyo's tear-stained face, just before the child broke into uncontrollable cries. The girl clung to Ranma desperately as she wailed, "D-Daddy really abandoned me! He betrayed Mommy and threw me away!" The girl buried her face in Ranma's chest and sobbed while Ranma awkwardly hugged her. The adults looked to Tenma with disapproving glares.
"There's the famous Saotome foot-in-mouth disease." Sachiko groaned. Tenma at least had the decency to look sheepish, having demonstrated that Ranma's condition was at least somewhat hereditary. Nodoka hugged Ukyo as well to make her feel better and spoke softly to the girl.
"Don't worry, Ukyo..." Nodoka said, smiling gently at the crying child. "If you need to, you can stay with us. You don't even have to give up your name or style if you don't want to. I know how important that can be." The woman felt guilty for Genma's role in having the girl tossed out on the street and had also developed a strong liking for her. She was clearly Ranma's friend, one of the closest ones he had, and she had defended him vigorously when she felt he was in danger.
It was time to return that kindness.
The fire low on the mountainside kept the camp somewhat warm in the early spring evening and was visible for a short distance in the waning light of dusk. Cologne's group had stopped for the night in this place because it was near a lake and had a defensible outcropping. Dinner recently eaten, Ran was washing pots while Cologne tended to the fire. Shampoo had it the easiest, having already been put to bed in the tent. The child had a full day of stamina and jumping training as they traveled, with education in Japanese during times of rest. She deserved a nice, long sleep.
One could get lost in the mountains and nearby deserts if they did not know the route. They had only been passed by a single Peoples' Liberation Army truck the entire day. Even that was a rare occurrence in the wilds of China's Qinghai Province. What was even more unusual were the airplanes which were occasionally seen overhead. Things took a more interesting turn, however, when a pair of headlights became visible driving in their direction.
Taking note of the approaching truck, Cologne spoke to Ran to be on guard as the Peoples' Liberation Army vehicle drove to the base of the small mountain. One female soldier stepped out while another stayed behind in the vehicle. Carrying her rifle, the woman who was barely more than a teenager approached what she saw as a woman in her prime and a girl who was slightly younger like herself.
'A soldier out this far? Very strange. What is it you need?' Cologne asked with a sort of wary politeness. Ran took note of this and said nothing, letting the elder speak for them.
'You are also out rather far. What are you doing out here?' The soldier inquired, not desiring to volunteer anything and looking to Ran suspiciously. 'And with a Japanese too? What's her story?' It was not uncommon for the Chinese to have a dislike of the Japanese due both to their actions as invaders during the Second World War and the Communists' propaganda keeping their crimes as fresh in the minds of the populace as possible. While in cases true, those wartime sins were used to fan the flames of racism and distract from the Communist Party's own actions.
'We're traveling to Xining, soldier, to buy herbs and supplies. This is my younger adopted sister. Her blood bears no sin against our people.' Cologne vouched for Ran, and indicated for the redhead to speak.
'Hello, soldier. I'm not sure what sin my sister could mean, but I bear no ill will.' Ran responded in perfect Mandarin, surprising the soldier who had pegged her as a foreigner.
'I see that education in history leaves much to be desired out here. And who is in the tent?' The soldier questioned, curious.
'My daughter. She is young but must learn how to conduct this business to survive. She is tired from our travels.' The soldier peeked inside the tent with her gun at the ready just in case. Ran was ready to fight to protect Shampoo, but a glance from Cologne stopped her from acting rashly. If the soldier had moved to aim her firearm though, she was distracted enough to have been attacked by the two martial artists before she could have harmed the child.
Satisfied that there was indeed a little girl sleeping within and nothing more, the soldier pulled her head back and stepped away from the tent. 'You bore your child young.' The soldier noted with a little sympathy.
'She is healthy and I have no regrets. We have been fortunate.' It seemed that the ice had been broken. The soldier nodded back with a less stern expression. These were just a group of unarmed women in the soldier's mind, but just to verify...
'Yes, there are tales of far worse. Before I leave you to your business, I must inquire. Do you know of a village of warrior women known as the Joketsuzoku?' This was not expected, but the response to such a question had been made clear before Cologne left with the girls. When an outsider asked of the Joketsuzoku, there could only be one answer.
'No...I'm sorry to say I haven't.' Cologne then added a little intentional misinterpretation to appear more innocent. 'Do you mean an all-woman Army base? I am not aware of such a thing, but I have heard that you can build quickly. If the Army has built something new in the past few months, I would not know about it.'
'This is nothing of the like,' the soldier stated. 'This is a village of primitive warriors who have impressive skills. They were thought to be mere legend until some of their techniques were witnessed in Japan's use. The Peoples' Republic has need of their skill.' Of course, this meant that the government wanted to control or destroy these abilities. This was what the Joketsuzoku had feared since the Cultural Revolution. It also meant that someone was employing techniques they shouldn't. Cologne suspected Happosai, though Ran suspected someone else entirely.
'Primitive warriors needed in the current era? How strange. I apologize for being unable to help. I wish you well in your search, Soldier.' Cologne said, the soldier giving a nod of understanding.
'Be careful in your travels.' With that, the soldier departed and got in the truck. Afterward, they drove away into the waning dusk. Ranma watched for a while, as did Cologne. The later was pondering things, waiting to speak until they were sufficiently far away.
'This is bad. They seek the village. Happi, what have you done now?' Cologne wondered.
'They didn't even ask us where we came from. Was she really a soldier?' Ran asked, confused. Cologne smiled. That particular detail indicated a little manipulation by the Xiu on the soldier not to inquire too hard on the origin of the people she encountered. Not enough to interfere with pursuing specific people for actual crimes, but enough to keep her from tracing back someone to the village accidentally over an innocent encounter. Of course, Cologne didn't dare press the girl for information while someone else was watching from the truck.
'She was. Thankfully, certain protections are holding for the moment. Ran, we need to complete our task and return home as soon as possible to protect it. What a dangerous time to be kicked out of the village...' Cologne grumbled. Had Lu Fa not been so manipulative, she'd be able to help her people rather than run this 'errand.' They'd no choice in the matter now though. They'd eventually sleep for the night, rotating their night watches to make sure no other surprises came their way without warning.
"I am so sorry, Ranma." Mrs. Hitotose bowed deeply, her head lowered. The woman in her early fifties was earnestly apologetic after being talked to her senses. "I thought you had called someone else's soul into your hand. I didn't realize you were just showing part of your own. I've never even heard of such a thing."
Ranma held his arms behind his head and stood against a wall as he listened. When she was done, he responded. "It's alright. At least you apologized. That's a lot better than I usually get when somethin' happens. Stuff like this used to lead to bein' dragged off by Pops and runnin' from somebody. We're good." His irritation faded quickly once he got a decent apology.
"Thank you, Ranma. I hope the best for you. I've heard about your father's conduct. No child deserves that." With that, Mrs. Hitotose bowed again to the group before she moved along.
With that aside, Ranma's main worry right now was with Ukyo. She'd been offered counseling by Nodoka's therapist after she'd finished crying and had yet to come back out of the room. A warrant was formally sent to Kyoto for Tetsuya Kuonji's arrest in the meantime and it was formally decided not to charge Ranma for the theft of the safe. From time to time, Ranma's grandmother still gave his grandfather a glare of irritation which he narrowly managed not to wither from. He looked remorseful, but at the same time had more spine than Genma.
"You owe that girl." Sachiko said bluntly.
"I agree, Dear." Tenma stated, well aware of his wife's displeasure. "If she wants to stay with Nodoka, be it full adoption or guardianship, I intend to support it fully."
"We both know that we'd have done that anyway. Her suffering was caused by something too similar to our own mistakes with Nodoka and Ranma to ignore. You owe her something on top of that." Sachiko said, arms crossed.
"...Ice cream?" Tenma inquired, apparently not good at trying to resolve matters of the heart. Sachiko's eyes narrowed.
"It's a good thing for you that I know you are trying your best, Ten-chan." Sachiko said in response and making her husband flinch a bit. "I think you just volunteered to help her train in her family's art. There are all kinds of recipes and techniques in that safe. I help with the cooking, you help apply kenjutsu and kendo techniques to her skills to make her more versatile with that large spatula."
"Eh? Gramps knows kendo?" Ranma asked, having not had much of a chance to see his mother in combat. All he recalled was his mother fumbling with the blade in the future, unaware that it was because of her nervousness at the prospect of taking her son's life rather than a lack of skill.
"Yes, Ranma." Tenma was a bit surprised by being called 'Gramps', but continued. "I head the Saotome School of Kenjutsu, which includes kendo techniques. Kendo, however, is a limited school due to being born at the end of the sword's use in modern war in a period of simplification and sport. We preserve and advance the greater spirit of kenjutsu in as complete a state as we can. Nodoka and I will be training you in that art as the eventual heir, and perhaps your soon-to-be adopted sisters as well should they take an interest. It must remain separate from the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts though. I will not have my techniques abused by Happosai or fall under his authority."
Ranma was momentarily excited at the prospect but froze before he agreed. Ranma may have been considered dense by some, but wronging someone enough times will leave them suspicious. He looked at his Grandfather warily. "Much as I like practicin' and learnin' the Art, I'm worried you'll saddle me with bad surprises like Pops did. Engagements, trickin' me into promises I don't understand, junk like that. I don't know if I should jump into it without knowin' you first."
"Completely reasonable, Ranma." Sachiko said, interjecting. "There will be no more talk of schools, inheritance, or custody battles tonight! It's done enough damage already. Ranma needs to settle in and Ukyo needs to recover." Tenma took his wife's hint, especially since his tongue had been the one to push both topics to excess. As he acquiesced to his wife's will, the door before them opened. Ukyo and Doctor Gekkogahara stepped out of the room and into the hall.
The young chef was still sad, her eyes showing unshed tears in spite of the sucker in her mouth. As soon as her eyes found Ranma, she rushed to his side and clung to an arm. Her head lowered and her hair hung over her eyes, no words escaping her mouth. The child was not in the mood to talk about her session, so Riho had to discuss matters. "It has been an...interesting session. Ukyo needs a lot of support and to stay at Ranma's side at the moment. Separating them by any measure would be harmful to her at this stage." This was an understatement, really. She didn't want to say as much to the children, but Ukyo's entire world had been upended. The one person who was serving as her anchor at the moment was the young Ranma Saotome.
"Sadly, they won't be able to stay with you tonight, Mrs. Saotome." Riho's words snapped Nodoka's attention off of Ukyo and fully to the therapist.
"What do you mean? I'm Ranma's mother, and these are his friends!" Nodoka wasn't yelling, but she was clearly displeased. The doctor shook her head slightly.
"I'm afraid that it would be improper in the eyes of the court for you to take care of any children until the court case tomorrow morning, including Ranma, given the other side's question of your fitness as a parent. Regardless of whether or not you are fit, which I believe you are, the court has yet to decide so. The kids will have to spend the night somewhere in good standing with the court that ideally has the support of both parents." Riho showed Nodoka an address she'd written down, and her eyes widened slightly.
"Genma Saotome has already approved of this residence. I suspect you do as well? I don't believe you both know any of the same people who meet all of the criteria, and the alternative is having them spend the night in state custody." Riho prodded, while Ranma wondered just who both his parents knew that was in good with the courts. He didn't like the sound of this.
Ranma should have known that he would wind up back here. Fate, karma, or whatever guiding force was laughing at his expense wouldn't allow him to escape things that easily. He stood impassively in front of the gates of the Tendo Dojo pondering the obligations and memories the place held while Nodoka and Officer Nohara spoke with Soun. Ukyo, meanwhile, clung to Ranma tightly as she glared daggers at Soun Tendo for his earlier trespasses.
"Soun, are you certain you can care for seven children?" Nodoka asked with concern, knowing of Kimiko's declining condition. The ill woman could barely handle her own trio of children at this stage. Adding four energetic children to the group might not be the best of ideas. Sadly, Nodoka wasn't sure what other options she had.
"Don't worry," Soun said in hopes of reassuring the woman, "we have room and these aren't normal children. So long as Ranma helps with the care of his students, we will manage just fine for the night. Besides, the Master was quite clear that I should help if Ranma or the girls show up at my door." As perverted as Happosai was, his care for children was one of his redeeming qualities in Nodoka's eyes. The embattled mother would have to thank him later.
"I don't want Ran-chan to stay here, Mrs. Saotome! You know what Mr. Tendo tried to do with Ran-chan and Kasumi!" Ukyo said in worry and mounting anger. She remembered Soun grabbing her from behind by mistake, his interest in marrying Ranma and Kasumi, and finally his presence at Takato. The girl had no positive memories with the man.
"It's okay, Ukyo." Kasumi said as she stepped forward to try to disarm the situation. "Thank you for worrying about me and Ranma, but Daddy really regrets it and said he was sorry. Ranma's mommy already fixed things. It'll be okay, right?" Kasumi looked to her father hopefully, asking him to prove that he was honest about this. She could even feel emotions now, so outright lies weren't easy to pass by her.
Soun knew that the heat was on. The children were wary of him, as was his own wife. His desire to join the schools would have to be dialed back to a low simmer. Finally, he felt bad about what had transpired and that Kasumi had been made to cry and rightfully chastise him in front of others. No, he could honestly say he didn't want to repeat that incident. "That's right. I was excited and that suspended my reason. It is far too soon for Kasumi or Ranma to be wed even if they desired it. I apologize for my conduct and indecision back then." The man bowed, though not going for a 'Crouch of the Wild Tiger' as he had with his wife. That would be too much in this situation. He needed to appear respectable.
"Well..." Ukyo uttered, pondering the matter. Kasumi's smile and guarantee seemed to satisfy her and Ukyo finally smiled. "Okay! I'll give you another chance, Mr. Tendo. Don't mess it up! We're all watching you! Besides, Ran-chan's mommy is the one in charge, not his daddy!" Nodoka's silence and pleasant smile indicated complete agreement with Ukyo's statement, though the woman was confident that Soun would comply. She'd already forgiven him for that particular trespass.
An uncomfortable Soun ushered them into the house with a nervous smile, guiding everyone to the living room. Ranma braced himself but found that the Tendo home looked much the same as it did years later. Little changed aside from the television, the woman in the western-style chair in the living room, and the contents of the kitchen. It seemed that traditional Japanese decor tended not to change with the era. It was a timeless style the boy found himself more appreciative of lately.
"Hello," the blue-haired woman said to the group, "I'm sorry for not standing to greet you. I am Soun's wife Kimiko. It's nice to meet you all!" Ranma could tell by her ki that something was off. His senses told him of strength sapped by illness and he recalled her being in a wheelchair when he caught a glimpse of her at Takato. Thinking back to before his little trip through time, he recalled that this woman had died at some point during Akane's youth. His mood dropped a little at the thought that he was seeing a woman fated to die...
"Hi, I'm Ranma Saotome. Sorry about this." He apologized for the impromptu visit imposed on them all by the court.
"I'm Ukyo Kuonji! Ran-chan and Kasumi are my friends, and Mr. Tendo mistook me for Kasumi once!" Ukyo said, smiling to the kind-looking woman.
"I'm Natsume and this is my sister Kurumi. Master saved us and took us as students. Mrs. Saotome is going to adopt us soon." Natsume bowed and Kurumi followed suit. The small girl was gradually getting better at the action, having had to do it repeatedly on meeting so many new people.
"It's very nice to meet you all!" Mrs. Tendo said, staying cheerful in spite of her condition. "I know it's just for a short time until things are worked out, but make yourselves at home. We've set up some futons in the guest room for you all, and the girls can join you to make it a sleepover if you want."
Soun stepped forward to introduce the children. "I understand that you've all met at Takato and that Ranma and Ukyo also know her from the Shrine, but this is Kasumi, our eldest. She's nine." Kasumi gave a nod and a pleasant smile, happy to have the group here.
"This is Nabiki, our middle child. She's seven." Nabiki nodded in greeting as well, snacking from a tray on the table.
"And this is Akane, our youngest. She's six." Akane nodded, sizing up Ranma. There wasn't malice or anger in it, but this was their first meeting since Ranma became a master. There was some envy and disbelief there that he was a master and the same age as her, but she'd watched the battle between Ranma and Genma with everyone else. That fact tempered any suspicion that he might not deserve the title.
"Nice to see you again. Sorry I didn't say my real name back at Takato. I was on the run from Pops while tryin' to get to Mom, and already had to deal with one fiance's father fightin' to catch me." Ranma wasn't sure if they were angry at him for just answering to 'Ran-chan' or not. He knew Kasumi was more likely to be sad about it than angry, but he wasn't sure if that was better or worse.
Kasumi spoke up quickly. "I'm not mad, Ranma. I wanted you to do that. I saw how hard you had to fight at the Shrine to save me. You needed a rest." Kasumi bowed, taking responsibility for the deception.
"You gave me that camera. We're good." Nabiki said before biting down on an apple slice, not really minding the situation. She was thankful to Ranma for saving Kasumi, but she didn't have the sense of loss or danger to truly appreciate what he'd done for the family. Marriage also seemed too far away for her to think about.
Akane considered the matter. She wasn't really angry about the hiding of his name. When it was explained to the girls what a bad man his father was and that Ranma was hiding while trying to get home to his mother, it made sense even to her young mind. What father kept a child from his mother? Her envy was also softened when her own mother said that Ranma got his Mastery for fighting bad guys like his father and protecting people like Kasumi. These were the sorts of things she'd been told from the cradle that Martial Artists were supposed to do.
"...It's okay, but we're sparring later! Got it?" Of course, none of that would stop Akane from seeing how good this boy was for herself. Akane was still Akane at her core and she was still reeling from having Kasumi leapfrog her in strength and speed as well as her learning to access ki. Ranma was supposed to be yet stronger still.
Ranma was hesitant to agree. The idea of not fighting girls was still a bit ingrained, but fading heavily thanks to training and sparring with Ukyo. He was starting to realize that not sparing with Akane's future self had just made things worse. If he controlled his strength like with Ukyo, things should be okay. His hesitation made the girl glare at him a bit in irritation, so he decided to avoid risking a foot-in-mouth incident by passing the buck. "Only if Mr. Tendo says it's okay. You're his student and we'd have to use his Dojo, right?" Ranma attempted to pass the decision on to Akane's father rather than commit and was thankful when Akane's irritated expression shifted to a more calm one. She looked to her father in hopes that he'd approve.
Soun laughed, patting Akane's head. "I'm afraid our guests need to rest first, Akane. They just arrived in Tokyo today and have been very busy all day long. If Ranma feels like it in the morning and you wake up early enough, I'll allow it. I warn you though, Ranma is stronger than Kasumi right now."
Akane was a bit disappointed that it wasn't happening right away, but it made sense to her. The promise of a sparring session tomorrow against a strong opponent and the paternal head pat also seemed to be enough to please the girl. "Thank you, Daddy!" Akane said happily.
"Alright! Now that introductions are over, how about I help cook something?" Nodoka offered in an awareness that Kimiko couldn't handle cooking for all these children, though a hand on her shoulder made her look to Officer Nohara. The woman shook her head. Apparently even that was a taboo at the moment. Not while the court had a question of Nodoka's sanity and fitness as a parent. "Ah...sorry, I guess I'll have to leave too soon to do that." It was frustrating for the woman to be kept from caring for her child, but it was for only one more night. Then she'd make up for the four years they'd lost.
"It's alright, Mom. I can cook some stuff for us." This comment drew Nodoka's attention, the woman looking to her son with a puzzled expression. The boy crossed his arms at her surprise, suddenly feeling defensive. "It's not that shockin'. Pops can't cook to save his life, so I had to learn. 'Sides, the best time to eat a little without him stealin' it from my plate is before it gets to my plate in the first place." That made sense to Nodoka and was one more sin on Genma's back. Though she was surprised to hear that he had a skill that she might have considered unmanly, the admission didn't have as much weight as she thought it would. Besides, didn't her mother make her father help in the kitchen?
Nodoka realized that accepting Ranma as he was might not be as difficult as she'd feared.
Ukyo seemed to feel her mood brighten at the reminder that Ranma could cook. That was a way in which the two were similar, and that she was able to contribute to improving his skills. "Right! Ran-chan and I can work on dinner! Leave it to us!" Ukyo grabbed his hand and they rushed to the kitchen.
"Ah! See you later if you're gone before we get back, Mom!" Ranma said, pulled along behind an excited Ukyo. Nodoka waved, smiling at the scene.
"I should go help them too." Kasumi said with a smile, bowing to Nodoka and the officer before heading to the kitchen as well. She was able to cook a bit now too thanks to her mother's teachings. Kasumi was left cooking alone more and more often due to her mother's illness, so it would be nice to have some help. The girl was roused from these thoughts on sensing her mother's sickly ki take on a shade of guilt over the fact that she couldn't assist.
Being so in-tune with others' feelings was really a double-edged sword at times.
The work hadn't been as Mousse expected, though he had started out light that day. He was mostly responsible for fetching the proper herbal products or shampoos, monitoring water temperature, sterilizing the combs and scissors in boiling water, and other basic things. It was frustrating, but he needed to earn his keep somehow. This was all he could do until he learned more valuable skills. With the closing of the barber shop, he helped Xiao Mei clean the place from top to bottom. She then prepared a simple meal which was made in part of army rations, though her skill with herbs made it far more palatable.
When they sat to eat their meal, the mint-haired girl took a medicine bottle and measured out two pills before taking them with water. She then began to eat, though she was soon aware of Mousse' curious gaze. She regarded him for a moment before addressing him. 'It is medicine. I mentioned that we of the Xiu included the infirm.'
'Really? You don't look infirm.' Mousse said bluntly before starting to eat his meal. The woman accepted the honesty as a compliment.
'I was born with a weak heart. Though I trained as best I could, I never could attain the stamina of a true warrior. I studied the ways of medicine, herbs, and pressure points to improve myself. Still, even that knowledge could not produce all of the same medicines that the outsiders can with their ability to move ingredients across the world and refine them. I was unable to survive without the outsiders' medicines and was eventually barred from marrying within the tribe.' Xiao Mei's confession surprised Mousse. He adjusted his glasses while pondering her words, glasses whose lenses had to be made and ground outside the village. The fact that such faults could prevent one from getting married brought him fear as he considered Shampoo. Did she judge him for his eyesight? Would he become a pariah for his flaws like Xiao Mei?
'I was trained in ambush and stealth, so I might quickly win battles before my heart reached its limit. This and my prior training made me a fine fit for the Xiu.' The woman looked to Mousse, electing to use this as a teaching moment. Having a proper mindset would help him cope with the duty if he ever joined their ranks. It was a matter of perspective. 'For some, being Xiu is a punishment. For those like me, it can be a way to survive when we otherwise couldn't. To be useful and fight for our people when we would otherwise be a burden to them. I wish to be useful, not something to be pitied. Do you understand, Mu Tsu?'
Mousse gave a slow nod. Yes, he understood. It was a horror to some and salvation to others. The dichotomy was not easily reconciled, but everyone's circumstances were different. It also explained why this particular member of the Xiu still had light in her eyes. She didn't need as much conditioning to accept the role, just some memory alteration to avoid revealing where the village was or any critical secrets while under torture. Some of those forced into the role for dishonorable acts were reprogrammed with the Xi Fa Xiang Gao to the point of losing their freedom of mind.
'Good,' the young woman stated, 'after dinner, you may sleep. Tomorrow I will start your training in earnest.' There was a lot to do. Finger dexterity training, pressure points, herbal mixtures, massage, hair styling...at the very least this boy had a good basis in the beginnings of the Hidden Weapons Style. That would allow him to be a 'walking barber shop' capable of carrying the tools of the trade wherever he went. It also included the potential for ambush or assassination. If he ever joined the Xiu, the skills would be useful and could convince the council to allow him less mental conditioning to preserve his flexibility. If he did not join, the skills might give him an edge in life regardless. She might as well train him while he was here.
Once the child had eaten and fallen deep asleep, Xiao Mei resumed her analysis of his situation. Oh, sending people out of the village with missions wasn't unusual. Sending a six-year-old child out on a solo mission was. While skilled for his age, he was by no means ready for a mission of any sort. No...this had strange written all over it and required investigation. The verdette went to Mousse' backpack and started to carefully inspect it. There were the normal items and survival gear one might expect, but she hit pay dirt when searching a smaller pocket. She found both a tuft of purple hair and the printed letter Mousse had been given.
'Mu Tsu. You are not wrong to worry for Xian Pu. Elder Ku Long is under the effect of powerful magics that have altered her mind, and her so-called-daughter Ku Lan is the cause. The only way to free the Elder is to burn this letter into ashes and mix it into her favorite tea for her to drink. If you burn the ashes fine enough and mix it in well, she will not even notice the taste or texture change. Succeed in this mission, and you will have saved Xian Pu and the Elder from Ku Lan's manipulations, becoming a hero to the Joketsuzoku.
Let no one read this. In fact, burn it as soon as possible. The Council would not believe us anyway.'
The letter was very suspicious to the Xiu agent. It rang with false promises and she knew that the paper was a type often used to suspend deadly poisons for covert transport. The waft of a hand and a gentle whiff conveyed to her the minute scent of a familiar lethal poison which would easily be concealed by tea. The woman's eyes narrowed at the confirmation of her suspicions. She promptly hid the tuft of hair and the letter in a hidden compartment under the floor of the barber shop's backroom, not yet sure what role the tuft held in the plot. Xiao Mei was thankful that the child hadn't yet burnt the letter as he'd been instructed to do.
Whoever managed to set this up had access to the village's more creative poisons as well as its printing press, as evidenced by the note. They also had access to the radio and telegraph system because of their ability to direct the Xiu to evacuate Mousse. The council, even if they had supported this measure and written the last line to avoid responsibility, still wouldn't entrust this to a child. No, it was someone who had high access but was unable or unwilling to allocate a proper force to this task. This was likely some sort of power play that was interrupted by the current shift to wartime status. Calling the Xiu to suspend Mousse' activities was a necessity that couldn't be avoided, and they'd banked on Mousse meeting one of the less 'mentally free' agents who wouldn't investigate the boy's mission. That gambit had failed.
Getting a warning to the village would be difficult since the person in question could access and intercept the inbound reports. If she failed to get it through, other Xiu could be ordered by the attacker to kill her and Mousse. She needed to be careful. Perhaps waiting until some time had passed and the entity in question grew complacent was the best course of action.
Now she had the unenviable task of telling the child he had nearly been tricked into killing someone. Stretching a bit, she decided to put that off until tomorrow and started to walk over to her bed. She was too tired for that mess at the moment.
Dinner had gone very well. The trio of cooks had assisted each other in their preparations while Mrs. Tendo watched the remaining children. Akane's envy specifically at being unable to cook had yet to manifest due to her young age, but the general competence of others in her age group seemed to leave her feeling inadequate. Kurumi was just happy to have a decent meal, a fact that was immortalized when Nabiki photographed Kurumi opening her mouth wide to shovel in food.
Ukyo had tried to stay with Ranma through the bath time afterward, but the Tendos thankfully arranged it so that the children would bathe in pairs of one older and one younger. Ranma was the only boy and the odd one out, allowing him to bathe by himself since he was able. A repeat of the embarrassment of Nekoyama Shrine was thus avoided.
Now the Tendos and Ukyo were in their pajamas, while Ranma and his future sisters were wearing more general light attire. Akane had brought along a fishbowl with the red goldfish Ranma had won for her in Takato. Kasumi was scooching the chin of a kitten on her lap which had helped keep Genma pinned down at Takato and had since been trained to leave the goldfish alone by its mistress. Stories were traded and the group reconnected. Kasumi was starting to train in martial arts, Akane was stubbornly trying to figure out how to do ki-strengthening, and Nabiki was practicing her photography when she wasn't being dragged into martial arts lessons with her sisters. Ukyo couldn't bring herself to share her father's actions with the group, but she was able to talk about Ranma introducing them to a nice ghost. This wasn't believed until the other two girls backed up the story.
"Ranma, why'd you have to go and get Daddy into the mood to teach us all the Art again? I ached all over this morning..." Nabiki was a bit irritated, and Ranma wasn't sure how to respond to the girl's protest.
"Nabiki, don't be rude. I was the one who asked Daddy to train me because I was too weak to protect myself. It's my fault you were pulled into it. I'm sorry if it's not fun for you." Kasumi looked a bit upset at this but did not stop tending to her kitten.
"I don't wanna blame you or Daddy, so I have to blame Ranma." The girl said with her arms crossed, not caring that it wasn't reasonable. It seemed that she'd yet to develop the tact and maneuvering she was famous for in the future.
"There's nothing wrong with training with us! I'm glad Daddy started again!" Akane interjected, recalling how their father had gradually stopped training her to focus on their mother's care. She couldn't blame him for that, but it wasn't good. The truth was that their father was scared into training them again. They'd almost lost Kasumi. That and the happiness he'd felt at her asking to be trained managed to snap him out of his mood for their sakes.
"Nabiki. All Ranma did was save my life. Are you blaming him for that?" Kasumi asked, making Nabiki freeze up. Nabiki grumbled a 'no' and left it at that. The middle Tendo had been looking forward to a fun sleepover, but every single one of the others in attendance was a martial arts nut. She felt a bit lonely since Kasumi was going to the other side of the fence now, too. Perceiving Nabiki's mood, Kasumi decided to try something. "Ranma, can you show her some of the gold and silver I gave you and Ukyo? She likes shiny things."
"Shiny things? What do you think I am, some kind of...crow?" Nabiki asked, distracted when the boy complied and pulled some coins from his ki-space to wave in front of the girl's face. This made Akane giggle. The distracted girl looked at the coins, taking one and inspecting it. She was tempted to bite it as she'd seen people do on those old foreign 'westerns' but doubted that it was a good idea.
"Kasumi gave me this to help pay for Ucchan's schoolin', but she wants to pay her own way as much as possible. I respect her for it, but I still worry." Ukyo, who was next to Ranma, huddled against the boy while Nabiki put the money back in Ranma's hand. She wasn't as greedy as her older self yet. Money was a shiny thing that you kept score with. It wasn't a way of life. "There was a room full of this stuff. Gold, silver, gemstones, fancy cloth and silks...the Nekoyama Castle had a full-blown vault."
Kasumi giggled slightly at the expressions on her sisters' faces. "It's true," she clarified, "there's a lot down there. I gave Ranma a pouch of pocket money that's supposed to be worth about a million yen in gold...I've been told that's a lot."
"A lot? Kasumi, Ran-chan could buy just about any new car he wanted with that much!" Ukyo blurted out, stunned. Kasumi's eyes widened slightly, but she managed to maintain her composure as Ukyo continued. "And that's just the gold value, right? These are rare coins. They sell for a lot more than that. Ran-chan might be able to buy a house with what you gave him!" Ukyo, being raised by a merchant, had a far better grasp of money than the remainder assembled.
"Oh my...I guess that's why the police were so surprised and decided to guard the treasure...well, it just means you can all go to school! Natsume and Kurumi, too!" Kasumi pondered saying something more but stopped herself. It wasn't time yet. Her mommy was clear on that and her daddy still didn't agree with the idea at all. She'd stay quiet about that secret for now.
Soun approached the doorway, looking in the guest room and smiling at the sea of futons with kids seated on them. "Children, it's time to sleep. Ranma has a big day tomorrow." When the kids had said good night and the lights were turned off, Ranma pondered from his resting position in his futon. The talk of treasure reminded him of Happosai's cache of stolen goods which was likely tucked away here at the Tendo home. Ran's letter said that the Joketsuzoku wanted to get their share of it back or there'd be trouble eventually unless they could kill the old lech. Perhaps he should sneak away and put it all in his ki-space while he was here?
He was distracted from these thoughts when Ukyo turned and wrapped her arms around him. She was already asleep, tired out from the day, but her embrace was desperate and fearful. As the child clung to her only anchor in the world, he recalled Doctor Gekkogahara's words:
"Ukyo needs a lot of support and to stay at Ranma's side at the moment. Separating them by any measure would be harmful to her at this stage."
Ranma gave a light sigh. An arm absently wrapped around Ukyo and rubbed her back, visibly calming the sleeping girl from her nightmare. The pony-tailed martial artist permitted himself to fall asleep, deciding that he could let Ukyo win their little game this time around.
