Untitled

by Bryan Neef
version 1.2

                                 Chapter 3

Ranma rode quietly with Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru.  They had insisted
on coming, especially after Haruka said the Tendous were her cousins.
Ranma's frown deepened.

Haruka gracefully parked the car.  She held the door open for her com-
panions.  Taking a deep breath, she said, "The memories.  I miss coming
here."

"You came here?" asked Ranma quietly.

"I used to train here, with my cousins.  About five years ago, something
happened.  Unlce Soun stopped teaching altogether."

"I thought he stopped for everyone, but Akane, after his wife's death."

"He stopped for all but his daughters.  Except my folks made a deal.  That 
deal fell apart five years ago."

"Oh.  How good are you?"

Haruka smiled.  "We can always find out in the dojo."

"I, um, don't fight girls."

Haruka blinked at the statement.

"Why not?" asked Michiru.

Ranma sighed.  "Bad things happen when I do."

"Then we'll wait until good things start happening," replied Haruka.

Entering the main house, Ranma announced her return.  She turned to
the guests.  "Thank you, for everything.  I need to change before Akane
finds me like this."

The Senshi frowned.  Before they could protest, Ranma was up the stairs.
Haruka crossed her arms as Kasumi entered the hall.

"Haruka-chan!  How are you doing?"

"Great, Kasumi-chan.  We brought Ranma-chan home."

Kasumi sighed as she ushered her cousin into the house.  "How is he?"

Haruka frowned.  "'He' was a girl all night.  We know about Jusenkyo."

"Oh dear.  Did you tell her you knew about her curse?"

Hotaru shook her head.  "We didn't exactly get to that.  Perhaps you
could help us with that?"

Kasumi frowned.  "It's a long story.  If Ranma didn't tell you, then 
I'm not sure I should."

Michiru smiled as she took the offered tea.  "We understand.  I'm sure
she'll tell us when she's ready."

"I suppose.  I'm Tendou Kasumi.  Welcome to my home."

"Thank you.  I'm Kaiou Michiru."

"I'm Tomoe Hotaru."

"How did you meet Ranma?" asked Kasumi.

Haruka sighed.  "She was in Juuban last night.  The Sailor Senshi
found her fighting a powerful youma.  She was losing."

"Oh dear.  That'll make his father upset," interrupted Kasumi.

"Well, she was apparently suicidal.  According to the Senshi, she was
begging to die fighting."

Kasumi frowned.  "That's not like Ranma.  He's usually so cheerful."

"It's a mask," replied Hotaru.  "She hides her pain very well.  Too
well, if you ask me."

Kasumi nodded.  "I suppose that's true.  After all, he's learned that
emotions are a weakness."

The Senshi looked ate each other.  Before they could say anything more,
a loud voice cried "PERVERT!"

The group heard glass and wood breaking, followed by a splash.  They
rose to see that happened.  When they exited the house, the front gate
exploded.

"Shampoo here for date with husband, yes?"

Shampoo started moving toward the pond.  Ukyou chose that moment to
arrive.  "Hey, Ranchan!  Welcome back.  I brought you breakfast."

She, too, started moving toward the pond.  Ranma was trying to get out
of the pond.  Shampoo was inches away from glomping her.  Before Ukyou
could confront her, a third person entered the battlefield.

"How dare you make out with them in my home!" screamed Akane as she
attacked.

Without thought, Haruka moved into action.  Her first target was Akane.
Akane was shocked to find herself on the ground, trying to breathe.

Ukyou had brought out her battle spatula, to help Shampoo learn the
error of her ways.  She only had time to notice movement before feeling
the spatula's head crash onto her foot.

Shampoo ignored the danger, until it was too late.  She felt herself
removed from Ranma's side, then slammed, hard, into the large cherry
tree.

Haruka glared at all of the women, her summoned scimitar in her hand.
"Leave Ranma alone.  She needs to recover from her injuries."

"You no take Shampoo's husband!"

"I'm not taking Ranma from anyone," replied Haruka as she threw Shampoo
to the ground.  "She needs to heal from a nasty fight last night."

Michiru and Hotaru helped Ranma dry off with large towels.  Akane growled
as she watched the two fuss over Ranma.

"What are you doing with my fiance?" she yelled.

"Your fiance?  Ranchan's my fiance."

Shampoo didn't speak as she leapt at Haruka.  She fell to the ground
when Haruka hit her, hard, with the pummel of her sword.

All eyes turned to Haruka as she returned to her guarding position.
The flat of her blade held lightly over her extended arm.  She remained
between the fiancees and Ranma.

"Are you all right, Ranma?"

"NO!  You just made my life Hell!" spat the young woman.

"Come on, Ranma.  Let's get you inside," coaxed Michiru.

Ranma shrugged her off as she stormed inside.  Both Michiru and Hotaru
followed the angry woman.  Haruka sighed as she relaxed her guard.

"What the Hell is going on?" she asked.

"It's none of your business, Sugar.  Just stay away from my Ranchan,"
replied Ukyou.

"You no take Shampoo's husband.  Shampoo kill!"

Haruka glared at the fallen Amazon.  "Let's get this straight, Girl.
You attacked Ranma, then me.  Ranma is under my protection."

"The pervert doesn't need your protection."

"What was that, Akane?"

"I said the pervert doesn't need your protection!" she yelled.  "If he
found out you were protecting him, he'd get mad."

"I'm sure he would.  Now, I'm going inside, with Kasumi, and catch up
on the last four years.  As far as I'm concerned, this fight is over.
Any objections?"

Haruka avoided Shampoo's attack.  The Amazon fell to the ground.  As
she began to roll to her feet, she felt the impact of a foot in her
back.  She rolled over, only to find the point of the sword at
her throat.  She felt a warm, liquid roll down her throat.

"This ends now, Girl.  I will defend myself, my family, and my friends."

Shampoo glared at Haruka before completely relaxing.  Haruka nodded as
she stepped away.  Shampoo sat up, only to notice her head felt lighter.

Touching her shortened hair, then her throat, she screamed, "Outsider 
die!"

Haruka sighed as she prepared to take on Shampoo.  Ukyou interrupted
the duo.  "Give it a rest, Shampoo.  It's obvious you can't defeat
this person."

"Shampoo kill obstacle.  Shampoo give Kiss of Death!"

Haruka smiled.  "I think my lover would take a dim view of me kissing
another girl."

Before anyone could respond, a loud voice errupted from the house.
"SAOTOME, FREE MY SHAMPOO!"

The group entered the house.  They found Mousse at the foot of the
stairs, with a naked, female Ranma pounding him into the wall.

"Damn it, Mousse!  If you want to fight me, fine!  DON'T INVOLVE ANY-
ONE ELSE!"

Hotaru and Michiru quickly came down the stairs.  Haruka noted Michiru's
torn shirt.  Hotaru and Michiru grabbed Ranma, pulling her from the
wounded boy.

"It's all right, Ranma.  I'm not hurt.  See?  I'm fine," soothed Michiru.

Ranma stopped struggling.  She looked into Michiru's worried face.
"But he attacked you, thinking you were me."

Michiru smiled.  "And thanks to you, I'm fine.  Come on.  Let's get you
upstairs."

Akane's screams of "Pervert!" convinced Ranma to leave with Michiru and
Hotaru.  Haruka collected her thoughts as she turned to the assembled
group.

She stared at Akane.  "Why, exactly, is Ranma a 'pervert?'"

"Didn't you see?  He parades around, naked.  He was also making a pass
at your friend."

"Sure.  And did you see the moron she was fighting?"

"Is only stupid Mousse.  He no threat to husband."

Akane fumed.  "Well, if he didn't pick on everyone, he wouldn't be in
this trouble."

"Right.  And why did Mousse attack Ranma?"

"He only think he love Shampoo.  He do stupid things to prove love."

Haruka nodded.  "Just like you think you love Ranma?"

"Ranma love Shampoo.  Why else he defeat Shampoo?"

"Riiight.  According to a friend, you attacked Akane from behind."

"Everyone must be hungry," interjected Kasumi.  "Snacks anyone?"

Everyone but Kasumi, Nabiki, and Haruka grumbled.  The group moved to
the family room.  Shortly, Hotaru and Michiru joined them.  Both
avoided Mousse.

"Who are you?  What is my Ranchan doing with you?" demanded Ukyou.

Haruka sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, as the now familiar
arguing began again.  After a moment, she yelled, "ENOUGH!  How can
Ranma stand it here?"

"Because he loves me!"

"Shampoo no know.  Village better place."

"He's a freeloading jerk."

"He likes pain," added Nabiki.

"Duty," replied Kasumi.

"He's a womanizer," concluded Mousse.

"Duty, eh?  Duty to whom, or what?" asked Haruka.

"He's supposed to marry Akane, to carry on the family legacy," replied
Nabiki.

"No way!  He's been promised to me.  Besides, he took my dowry."

"He defeat Shampoo for marriage.  His duty to Shampoo."

"The coward doesn't know what duty is,"

Michiru shook her head.  She noticed Hotaru starting to withdraw from
the world.  She squeezed her daughter's hand.

"Is there any way you can lay off Ranma for the next few days?" asked
Michiru.

"Why?  So you can steal him from me?" accused Ukyou.

"No.  So she can heal.  She has a few cracked ribs and minor organ
damage," replied Hotaru quietly.

"Husband look fine."

"The jerk's faking it."

"I can help him heal."

"I'm fine.  I don't need nobody's help."

Everyone turned to face a female Ranma.  The young woman sat next to
Akane.  The other fiancees glared at the pair.  This reaction did not
go unnoticed by the three Senshi.

"Are you feeling better, Ranma?" asked Kasumi.

"Never better," replied Ranma flatly.

"So, Ranma, would you like to introduce us to averyone?" asked Michiru.

"I thought you already did that."

"No one was talking," answered Haruka.

Ranma shrugged.  "This is Akane, my fiancee.  These are her sisters,
Nabiki and Kasumi.  This is my friend, Ucchan.  These are Shampoo and
Mousse."

Hotaru smiled brightly.  "See?  You've got one friend!"

Ranma snorted before continuing.  "Everyone, this is Haruka, Michiru,
and Hotaru.  I met them last night, after I fought a demon."

Ukyou glared at the trio.  "And what did you do with my Ranchan?"

Haruka sighed.  "We talked.  It was late, so we let her crash at our
place.  IN THE GUEST ROOM."

"Thank you for taking care of Ranma, Haruka-chan," replied Kasumi.

"Wait a sec!  How do you know each other?" demanded Ukyou.

Nabiki smirked as she answered, "Haruka's our cousin."

"Haruka-chan, you mentioned Ami.  Is that Mizuno Ami?" asked Kasumi.

Haruka smiled.  "She is.  She'll make a great doctor, someday."

Kasumi smiled.  "That's good."

"Haven't seen her in ages," added Nabiki.  "Then again, haven't
seen you much, either."

Haruka laughed.  "True.  I've taken up racing and continued with
the piano."

Kasumi smiled as the other fiancees frowned.  "That's good to know.
Nabiki is a big fan of your racing, and I really enjoy your music."
Kasmui looked at Ranma briefly.  "So does Ranma."

Nabiki genuinely smiled.  "Did Ami meet Ranma, too?"

Haruka nodded.  "As well as a few of our friends.  Ranma even met her
cousin, Rei."

"Great, another Saotome," muttered Akane.

Ranma stiffened, then relaxed.  She did her best to continue ignoring
everyone around her.

***

The Tendous and Saotomes stood at the gate with the Senshi.  Michiru
stepped foreward.  "Thank you for letting us stay the afternoon."

"You're always welcome here, Kaiou-san," replied Soun.

"Thank you.  Ranma, you're welcome in our home, anytime."

"Um, thanks, Michiru."

With a final wave, the Senshi left the compound.  They were barley a
meter away when the yelling began.

Hotaru broke the uncomfortable silence.  "Poppa?  Why didn't you get
Ranma to come?"

Haruka sighed.  "Because, if she did, the she'd have no reason to
trust us.  If we keep it her choice, then we'll all be better off."

"Besides, Akane would have killed Ranma," added Michiru.  "Has she
always been this angry?"

Haruka shook her head.  "Not really.  She's always been competitive,
but not like this."

"Will Ranma be all right?" asked Hotaru.

Both of the elder women responded, "I hope so."