Introductions part 1

By Kyokukou

Disclaimer : I don't own the characters from Ranma 1/2 only the characters that 
I write myself . So please don't sue me ! But if you try to use my characters 
.....there will be ...unpleasant consequences if I find out . Do not repost or 
reprint this without my permission , however if you do ASK there is a good 
chance I will let you .


" Men are made stronger on the realization that the helping hand they need is at 
the end of their own arm ."
                                            -Sidney J. Phillips


Chapter 2
It's just somewhat shocking 


   She crept closer to the window . Parabolic mikes were good , but she still 
needed to be closer than she would have liked to get a signal good enough to 
record .A final check to make sure the tape was ready and she hit the record 
button after flipping the 'on' switch on the parabolic mike . Looking down at 
the shadow of the roof above she could barely make out the silhouettes of her 
targets .
"-ish boy !" Genma snapped .
" You're running outta warnings old man !" Ranma growled . " Don't call me boy . 
I'm a man and don't you ever forget it ."
" A man of eighteen ?" Genma scoffed .
" I lived without you for three years ." Ranma's voice was soft but full of 
warning . " I went through more than you can imagine Pops . I'm still here , 
guys twice my age couldn't take it , but I did ! And if anyone says I'm just a 
little boy ..." Ranma's voice trailed off in a way that made her want to shudder 
.
" Bein' a man is the only thing I got outta alla that and no one's taken' that 
away from me ." Ranma finished in a almost normal tone .
" Very well .." Genma cleared his throat . " Foolish Ranma !" Genma snapped .
    Ranma tumbled halfway down the roof before recovering .
" Is that better Ranma ?"
" Nan..."
" As I was saying . Foolish Ranma ! How can you say that curing a nuisance like 
this curse is more important than the future of the Anything Goes style of 
martial arts ?"
" Why isn't it ? I don't wanna marry any girl when I'm half woman ! That's just 
sick !" Ranma demanded , clawing his way back up .
" You can get cured after the wedding , and that's after you make your choice !" 
" You eechi , twisted , HENTI !" Ranma loomed over his father . " You know that 
water practically hunts me now ! I can't stay a man for longer than..."
" I think your record is ten hours now ." 
" Yeah , but that was when were in the Mongolian desert !" Ranma took a deep 
breath before continuing . " So you wanna force me to marry a girl before I'm 
cured ? Why ? Why can't it wait ? You guys waited eighte-sorry- sixteen years 
for this what's a month or two gonna hurt ?"
" Ranma ," Genma began ultra seriously . " you more than anyone else knows that 
the life of a martial artist on the road and even at home is filled with perils 
and danger . You could set out to cure you curse and return with something worse 
. Remember the Amazon village Ranma ." 
" Nan......THAT WAS YOUR FAULT !" Ranma bellowed . She thanked all the kami's 
for the overload dampeners on her headphones , still she hoped the ringing would 
stop soon .
" You're lucky I talked them into letting me fight in your place ." 
" When did you pick up so much Chinese ?" 
" I had to pick up ancient Japanese , and some ancient Chinese . So I figured 
why not know the native language , it always helps ." 
" Ancient Chinese ?"
    Ranma responded with some weird noises that only vaguely reminded her of 
Mandarin . Then he slipped into the Chinese she knew . "< And this what modern 
day Chinese sound . Ranma not good but follow conversation .> That's one thing a 
old friend of mine taught me ." He said witching back . " Knowledge is power , 
and power makes all the difference in a fight . My knowing what those Amazon's 
were sayin' saved your hide old man . Side's we spent almost a year in China , 
how come you don't know more than ,< where's the nearest restaurant ?>"
" I...um...we had a translator so I never bothered ." 
" I don't trust translators ."
" You don't trust many things do you Ranma ?" 
" Nope ." Ranma snorted . " By the way , you're still a loooong way from getting 
my trust back after the whole China trip ."
" We're getting of the subject ." Genma said nervously .
" We are ?" Ranma asked in a odd tone . She heard Genma whimper suddenly .
" R-Ranma , who taught you how to give th-those looks ?" 
" I learn from the best ," Ranma smirked , and Genma's whimpers ceased . " a 
samurai of course . Now what is this 'subject' again Pop ?" 
" Tendo-kun's daughters , what do you think of them ?" 
" Nan ?"
" How about Akane ? She's the one we were originally intending you to marry ."
" Akane ?" Ranma lowered his head in thought for a moment . " Well , she's a 
little young . Kinda immature too , but she is cute and means well ...I guess 
I'll think about her too ."
" And Nabiki ?"
    She cranked the volume up .
" Her ? She's the crafty one . I'm gonna have to watch her for a while before I 
can decide if she's like someone I use ta know ."
" And if she is ?" 
" I doubt she is , but I can't be sure ." 
" And if she is ?" Genma repeated .
" If she is then there's no chance in hell I'm marryin' her ." Ranma said lowly 
before adding . " But I don't think she is ."
" What about Kasumi ?"
" I dunno 'bout her . She's older than me but ... she isn't maturity wise it 
looks like . She's real nice , and I know she doesn't wanna hurt anybody . I 
mean you know the kinda person that specializes in the flowing wind school ?" 
" Oh , she's the passive one of the three ." Genma nodded to himself . " A 
passive wife isn't all that bad Ranma ." 
    She expected Ranma to either agree or blow up at his father . But yet again 
he surprised her .
" In my experience people like her are far from passive . They just do things 
really different from us ." 
    The pair sat in silence for a few moments after that . She tucked the pole 
that extended the mike under one arm . The thing gets heavy after a while . 
Their silhouettes did not budge , but she got the distinct impression that the 
two were communicating on some level .
" Why can't guys blab more like girls ?!" She grumbled mentally . " It'd make my 
job a whole lot easier that way ." 
    Finally Ranma decided to switch back to verbal communication again .
" Nabiki was the first to notice it ." He said without preamble .
" I thought she would be ." Genma grunted . " Kasumi was next ?"
" No , Akane was . Kasumi hasn't noticed it yet ..." Ranma trailed off for a 
moment . " Akane had the best reaction to it I guess . She just acted all 
shocked and asked how it happened , nothing more . But ," He snorted as if in 
disapproval . " Nabiki kept glancin' at it even just before I came up here ."
" Scars are held in unconscious superstition by many . Facial scars in 
particular* ."
" I don't see what's the big deal !" Ranma growled . " No one thought nothin' of 
it at home . No one thought nothin' of it in China , but here everyone starts 
staring and gets all scared ."
" It's a badge of honor Ranma . I too have a few myself . They are a testament 
of your walk along the path of a true martial artist ." 
" Oh shut up ." Ranma growled in annoyance more than anything . " You got those 
little things in a few accidents and one serious fight or two ."
" Your point Bo-uh-Ranma ?" Genma asked , managing to catch the slip of habit . 
" I don't care about them . They ain't badges or honorable , their just scars . 
I just don't want people to keep getting all shocked and scared 'bout them ."
" You mean 'it' ." 
" Yeah . So it's on my face , big deal ."
" Ranma ." Again Genma switched to his mighty sensei voice . " People judge so 
much on a face . A friendly smile , a shifty eye , a honest face , a guilty one 
, and so on . A scar implies violence in your past ." 
" Well they got that damn straight ! If I was a millisecond slower my head 
woulda been chopped in half ."
" You see my point ." Genma continued . " It's just not a everyday thing for 
them to see . They'll get used to it , you'll see ."
" Whatever Pops ."

                         *           *          *

     She mentally ran over her 'to-do-list' for that morning . Thankfully she 
had had the presence of mind the previous night to clear a few things with 
Ranma's father . So Ranma's school supplies were prepared , she had the day's 
meals planned out , and after Ranma stopped sleeping on the roof he could unpack 
in the guest room that his father had spent the night in .
    Everything was in order so far . She paused to listen as she passed Akane's 
room . Her baby sister was still sound asleep . Another pause at Nabiki's 
bedchambers . No surprise here , Nabiki usually slept as long as she could get 
away with . She considered checking on Ranma up on the roof after she listened 
to his father's snoring , but she decided to do that after she had taken her 
morning bath and was dressed in something more outdoors than a nightgown . 
    Proceeding to the bathroom she disrobed after locking the door . No one was 
up at this time aside from her , but why take chances when there were guests in 
the house ? Slinging a towel around one arm she slid open the door , intending 
to start the hot bath filling before she rinsed . 
    However she found herself frozen in place at the sight that greeted her . 
Ranma sat waist deep in the bath , his head resting on a towel and his eyes to 
the ceiling . Time slowed to a crawl in her paralyzed state , she took in every 
sensory detail that presented itself . 
    The hot water had given his skin a slight red flush . Highlighting the 
muscles that flowed underneath , his body had speed and power written all over 
it even as it sat motionless . The slight haze of steam that hung in the air 
rapidly dissipated as the cooler air flowed in from the doorway she stood in .
When the steam vanished another detail presented itself . The red flush that 
tinted his skin did not extend to the paler scars that flashed along his body .
    She found her hand somehow at her mouth when she noticed his slowly moving . 
As if by magic suddenly her brain registered that he was speaking . But it 
wasn't Japanese . Well most if it wasn't Japanese as she knew it , a word here 
and there was clear , but the rest was so accented or archaic that she failed to 
comprehend .
" Akane-san , Nabiki-san , Kasumi-san . Three ,(something) why (something , 
something) time . (something) hate's me ." Ranma was muttering to the ceiling . 
All the somethings were starting to irritate her curiosity . " Three girls now , 
three (something) . Foremost Megumi-chan (something , something) and (something) 
. Ah , why ca-"  Ranma's mouth clamped shut and while his eyes remain fixed upon 
the ceiling they grew lager than she would have thought possible .
    The whole time she had been in the bathroom she had failed to sense the 
presence of another person , and up until Ranma's sudden halt in his monologue 
she had failed to sense his presence even with him right there in front of her . 
Not so now . His skin changed from tinted pink to flushing bright crimson . 
Embarrassment filled the room more than the steam ever had . Whether it was hers 
or his she couldn't tell .
" Kasumi-san ." Ranma began slowly . " Could you please step back and shut that 
door so we can talk about this ?"
    Finding that while her mouth was still paralyzed her body had now regained 
mobility she complied so fast the door almost derailed . Once separated from 
Ranma's direct presence her mind kicked back into proper gear . She wrapped her 
towel around herself as she head Ranma exiting the bath . Slowly , very slowly 
Ranma slid the door open . He entered , towel wrapped around his waist , only 
after he was sure she was covered .
    He kept his eyes at her feet when he faced her . " Kasumi-san ," He began 
before bowing deeply in apology . " gomen nasai . I didn't lock the door like I 
shoulda . Gomen nasai ," He repeated , still holding the bow . " it's kina a 
habit of mine , 'case I need to get outta a room quick ."
" It's my fault Ranma-san ." She protested , deciding that a bow might not be 
appropriate considering her current...clothing . " I was the one who walked in 
on you . I failed to realize you were there ." 
" Gomen nasai again . Another habit I got when I wanna be alone ." Ranma said as 
if having read her thoughts . At last he straightened , but still he kept his 
eyes firmly fixed upon the floor .
    Now much closer us to him than she had ever been she noticed two things .  
Ranma was just as if not taller than her father . Towering over her by almost a 
full head's height . Looking up into his face which was still flushed red she 
could not help but find her eyes following a pale line of a scar . It started , 
barely visible at a hair's breath in width , off to the side of his chin . It 
sliced through the corner of his lip , up across his cheek and nose . Through 
the inner tip of his eyebrow and on up his forehead , thinning again until it 
vanished before it reached his hairline .
" I got others , what's the big deal 'bout that one ?" Ranma asked suddenly , 
bitterness barely touching his tone .
" Oh , my ! I was staring wasn't I ?" She said needlessly .
" Yup ." He brought his storm gray eyes up to hers . " Seriously Kasumi-san , 
what's the big deal 'bout this one stupid scar . Nobody cared 'bout it until I 
got back here ." 
    For a moment she was at a loss for words . Or was it lost in his eyes ? With 
a mental stomp on her brain's clutch she shifted into high gear searching for a 
quick answer . 
" I'm not sure Ranma-san ." She began . " It's just somewhat shocking , it looks 
like it must have been a horrible experience ." There went her best stab at a 
decent answer under duress .
    He weighed her answer for a moment , his eyes probing hers in a way that 
make her feel...decidedly nervous .
" I guess I'm done with the bath ." He said suddenly . " I'll be out back doin' 
morning stretches if you need me ." 
    He started to leave when a sudden question hit her . " Oh , Ranma-san ?"
" Hai ?" He paused without turning .
" Why are you up so early ? The sun hasn't even risen yet ." She was very much 
used to being the only early riser in the household .
" Oh that ." Ranma chuckled a bit . " I'm a real heavy sleeper , but I don't 
sleep as much as most people do ." He was still chuckling at some private joke 
when he picked up his clothes . She took that as her cue to start her own bath .
    She settled into the water after she was sure he had left . Or was she ? It 
was uncanny how she couldn't sense him until he seemed to have allowed her to . 
She prided herself on even being able to sense Nabiki lurking about ,and Nabiki 
all but specialized in her abilities of becoming unreadable to opponents . She 
knew it wasn't her . She could still extend her senses and feel the ki's of her 
family members and even the sleeping Saotome Genma . But Ranma had been totally 
undetectable to her . She had felt nothing , and heard nothing until he had 
started to speak .
" What kind of boy has that level of skill in stealth ?" She asked herself .
    The rest of her bath was totally uneventful , downright anticlimactic now . 
Still she dressed and made preparations for breakfast . Everything was ready for 
her to begin by the time the sun began peeking over the neighborhood roofs .
    She headed out towards the backyard , intending on engaging in her morning 
meditations by the koi pond . Instead she found Ranma stretching as he had said 
he would be . She stood for a moment , simply watching . 
    He held his arms at his sides as he raised a knee to his chest , before 
uncurling it until his foot was almost directly above his head . Slowly he 
retracted it before repeating the process with the other leg .
" Alright , so he's good ." She nodded to herself . Over ten years of intensive 
training had to show results . " So he's very good ." She amended after watching 
him slowly bring his palms together , directly behind his back with straight 
arms .
    Finally she walked out into the yard an took her usual spot by the pond . 
After a deep breath she let herself sink into the meditative trance . One by one 
she left her senses behind until all that she could search for was her center . 
Long years of practice let her drift into the place where time had little 
meaning . But practice also told her when she must return , breakfast needed to 
be made , cleaning to be done , and so on . 
    She opened her eyes to find Ranma's staring into hers curiously . Again the 
odd feeling returned .
" You have ta be the second fastest person at finding their meditative center 
that I've ever met ." He said with genuine wonder . " The fastest I've ever done 
it was almost three hours ." 
" Oh my , thank you Ranma-san ." She said , a uncomfortable warmth touched her 
face .
" Just call me Ranma ." He smiled .
" Alright Ranma , I better go make breakfast now ." She said , getting to her 
feet . " Could you wake up the others for me ?" 
" Sure thing ." 

                         *           *          *

    " Ranma you're a absolute , total , complete , and , utter , BAKA !" He 
mentally berated himself as he ascended the stairs . " Letting her walk in on 
you like that ! What were you thinking ? Oh , I'll conceal my presence , but I 
won't lock the damn DOOR ! Ranmanobaka , Ranmanobaka ."
    He stopped his mental ravings when he reached the door with a wooden duck 
and some English lettering on it . Squinting he translated it as best he could .
" Aie-ka-nn-eh ." He guessed , he hated English . Shrugging he rapped once on 
the door . Receiving no answer he rapped a few more times . Still no response . 
Now beginning to become annoyed he stepped closer and prepared to give the door 
a nice resounding thump . Only to have said door fly open and a groggy and angry 
Akane lurch out .
" Nabiki wha-" Was as far as she got before plowing face first into his chest .
" OW !" She exclaimed , rubbing her nose after the rebound .
" Um...Kasumi-san told me ta get everyone up ." He explained .
" Alright , alright , I'm up ." Akane said before retreating into her room , 
rubbing her nose and muttering about brick walls .
    He was about to head down the hall when Akane called back to him .
" Oh yeah , wake Nabiki up last or you'll be sorry ." 
" Nan ?" 
" Trust me ."
    Now somewhat confused he headed down the hall . He passed the wooden duck 
labeled 'Nab-eye-ka-eye' and headed for the room that his father's snoring 
bellowed from . He couldn't suppress a smile as he entered . His father was 
snoring away , dreamily peaceful , it had to be stopped .
    He flexed his fingers to loosen them up before setting them into position . 
Searching out the proper nerve clusters and pressure points he struck . With 
speed that boggled the mind of most normal men his fingers flew over the 
vulnerable points mercilessly . His father came to consciousness abruptly . His 
lungs convulsed and the spastic , uncontrollable laughter poured forth .  Within 
seconds tears were flowing , a few more and he began to turn blue from oxygen 
depravation . Finally he stopped , and took a few steps back until his father's 
brain had stopped ceisureing with the insidious tickling sensation .
" T-That w-was ." His father began to stammer out after refilling his lungs .
" Saotome laughing death touchpoint ." He smirked .
" It's lethal Ranma !" 
" Potentially lethal ." He corrected . " Anyways Kasumi-san told me to get 
everyone up ." He said turning to leave . 
    The water splashed over him before a second later his danger instincts 
warned him of the following bucket in time to duck it . 
" Stupid instincts don't think water's a danger ." She muttered to herself as 
she turned to face her father . Who was currently leaping out the window . In 
her current form it was a easy task to close the distance . Two bounding steps 
took her across the room while he leapt , and a leap of her own put her just 
above him in the air above the Tendo's backyard . A well aimed kick not only 
sent her father into the koi pond but her back through the open window as well .
" Stupid old man ." She muttered . " Open the window before you throw the bucket 
and you'll get farther next time ." Shaking he head she walked to Soun's room .
    A quick rapp on the door woke the man up . He exited his room , dressed in 
gi and newspaper under arm before she had gone ten steps . Of course it took him 
a full five seconds to remember that the strange red head in the hallway was his 
friend's son Ranma .
    After almost a minuet of ineffectual rapping on Nabiki's door she decided to 
take more drastic action . Covering her eyes she opened the door a bit and 
called inside .
" Nabiki-san ? Kasumi-san say's it's time to get up ." 
    She couldn't see with her eyes , but long ago she had learned to operate 
blind better than most did with their eyes wide open . With no fear of stumbling 
into something she swung the door open and entered , with her hand clamped 
firmly over her closed eyes .
" Nabiki-san ?" She called uncertainly even though she could clearly feel that 
Nabiki was still in bed .
" Go away ." Nabiki warned through the pillow over her head . " Go . Sleep ."
" Nabiki-san ." She altered her tone to include a near subliminal tone of angry 
warning .
" Huh ?" Nabiki's voice suddenly became clear as she uncovered her face and sat 
bolt upright .
" Love that trick too ." She thought to herself . " Come on . Get up Kasumi-san 
must be obeyed ." She said aloud , adding a giggle to her voice .
" Who are-oh-Ranma . Since when do you sleep as a girl ?" Nabiki yawned 
sarcastically . Probably the only person who COULD yawn sarcastically .
" Pop didn't like his wake up call so he drenched me ." She snorted .
" How nice of him ." She replied laying back down .
" No ya don't Nabiki-san . Your sister said ta get up ." 
" Fine . Fine . Fine ." She muttered , dragging herself out of bed .
" See you at breakfast ." She told Nabiki as she made her way back out .
    She sat down at the table just before her father and Kasumi walked into the 
room . Kasumi carrying bowls of food and her father walking in from the back 
yard and rubbing his shoulder .
" Why didn't you change back boy-uh-Ranma ? You can't go to school in a girls 
body ." Her father asked , correcting himself after a quick number three look 
was shot his way . A female face was actually just as good with intimidating 
looks as a male but they did have to be altered .
" Akane's in the bath right now and Nabiki's 'bout to go in so I'll just wait 
'til..." Finally it hit her . " School ? I thought ..."
" The tests came back sooner than I expected ." Genma said .
" Ranma's attending Furinken with Akane and Nabiki?" Kasumi asked , looking up 
from her task of setting the table .
" Why of course ." Genma proclaimed . " After all knowledge is power and power 
in a major part of a fight ." 
    Her backfist sent her father to the floor in an eyeblink .
" If you're gonna steal the quote get it right at least !" She grumbled at the 
man on the floor . " Anyways , so what's my schedule like ? Am I a senior or 
junior ?"
" Well ," Her father answered . " you tested at a senior level in some subjects 
and all the way down to  a sophomore in others so ." He paused to take a seated 
position instead of a lying one . " You'll be taking some sophomore classes one 
junior and a few senior classes ." 
" That's weird ." Akane commented , having recently entered the room .
" As I understand it Ranma here will have the same homeroom as Nabiki ." Genma 
nodded to himself . " But don't worry Akane I pulled a few strings and got him a 
class with you too ." 
" Nan ?" She looked at Akane's startled expression then to her father , 
annoyance stirring . Just like him to pull something like that . 
" Pop ?" She began almost innocently . " did ya ever think for a second that 
Akane might not want this stupid betrothal !" She finished with a rank four look 
just for a good warning . Well more because she enjoyed inspiring fear in the 
old idiot .
" Yeah !" Akane agreed heartily . 
    Soon Nabiki walked in , much more awake but far from being in a actual good 
mood . Soun followed shortly , not bothering to look up from his newspaper . 
Then it was finally time to eat . That's when the staring started . Sure she 
took her time , but in hindsight it did seem a bit rude to eat three full 
helpings of everything before anyone else -except her father- had yet to finish 
their first helping . And for some reason she didn't notice the stares until she 
was well into that third helping .
" Um..." She muttered through a mouthful . " What'd I do ?"
" Leave some for the starving people , eh Ranma ?" Nabiki snorted at him with a 
cocked eyebrow .
" Um...sorry ." She said lamely . " This is going to be a long day ." She 
thought glumly .

                         *           *          *

    She turned the page to find the beginning of chapter twenty seven . With a 
sigh she placed the bookmark there and closed it up . She only read five 
chapters a day , any more and the books didn't last long enough to be properly 
savored . She checked the time , only an hour until lunch . She needed to find a 
novel with longer chapters .
    Ranma suddenly walking past her line of sight caused her to jump slightly . 
As before she had felt nothing , heard nothing , if she didn't trust her own 
vision she could have sworn that he had been a hallucination . Just a passing 
mirage of Ranma walking across the back yard to the Dojo . But she did trust her 
eyes considering her last experience with Ranma's apparently perfect stealth 
skills .
" Ranma ?" She called out questioningly .
" Yeah ?" He responded coming into sight from apparently nowhere .
" Why are you here and not in school ?" She began with the obvious .
" Oh , that ." He waved a hand dismissively . " I don't got any classes 'til 
almost an hour after lunch so I came back here ta practice some ."
" I see . One last thing Ranma . How do you conceal your presence so well ?"
" Nan ?" He looked at her blankly .
" If I hadn't seen you I'd never have known you were here ."
" Oh that . It's nothing special just a few tricks that I picked up from a few 
buddies of mine ." 
" I see ." She didn't . " Well how did your first day at school go ?" She 
motioned for him to sit .
" Well first I gotta ask you somethin' Kasumi-san . How does just about 
everybody pull stuff outta nowhere ? I saw Akane whip this huge mallet from her 
bookbag and Nabiki take a abicus and ledger from nowhere . Then there's this 
wannabe samurai , Kuno , he gave me a bokken from kami-sama knows where ! How 
does everybody do it ?"
" Oh my ." She giggled at his befuddled expression . That odd feeling was 
threatening to return . " I suppose they picked that up from Mu Tzu , when we 
were traveling through China . But I cannot speak for Kuno-san ." 
" Mousse ?" Ranma asked with a raised eyebrow .
" Mu Tzu ." She corrected gently . " The boy was studying to be a master of 
hidden weapons . I guess he taught them...well Kuno-san I cannot account for ."
" That guy's gonna get himself killed challengin' everyone he doesn't like ." 
Ranma shook his head .
" Oh my ! Did you fight him ?" 
" Yeah ." He began sheepishly .
" Oh My !" She repeated with more force . " Did he hurt you badly ?" She grabbed 
his arms , inspecting for signs of damage .
" What's the big deal ?" He pulled his arms from her grasp gently . " I took out 
guy's a hundred times better than he is ." Pride echoed in his tone . " He may 
use the mountain blade school of sword fighting but I've beaten Hiten Mitsurugi 
Ryu , hel-um-heck I know some Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu ."
" Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu ..." She repeated , searching her memory for what she knew 
of the style . " Oh my ." She whispered when the specifics came back . " I 
suppose you defeated Kuno-san ?" 
" Easy ." Ranma nodded proudly . " But I didn't expect him to be anywhere near 
as good as he is . How does Akane keep beating him he's almost twice as good as 
she is ?" 
" Oh he holds back and uses regular Kendo or Kenjitsu whenever he's fighting a 
girl ." She explained . " What else happened today ?"
" Well I got hit by water......five times so far . Everyone at school knows 
about the arrangement that our parents are trying to work out so I got 'bout 
three quarters of the school out for my head . What else ...oh yeah , some weird 
guy from India came after Nabiki-san right after first period ."
" A tall man with his hair shaved and many tattoos ?"
" Yeah , that's him ." Ranma nodded . " Man , I'd never thought that Nabiki-san 
could run so fast , and she's real good at stealth techniques too ." 
" The man must have been Raishal . He's been after Nabiki for ...almost four 
years now ."
" Four years ." Ranma whistled . " What did Nabiki-san do ta tick him off that 
badly ?"
" She accidentally caused him to be bumped from the Braman caste down to the 
untouchable caste ."
" Barman's are on the top and untouchables are lower ?" He guessed .
" At the bottom ."
" Ouch ."
" Hai . So he's devoted his life to ending hers for ruining his ." She sighed 
sadly . " We've tried to talk him out of it , we've even tried faking Nabiki's 
death a few times , but he's never deterred ."
" Wait a sec ." He held up a hand . " I thought that they believed in 
reincarnation . So why's he so ticked , doesn't he just gotta die and he'll be 
reborn one caste up and so on ?" 
" Hai , but it's for the insult that he's after her and he say's that if he 
kills her with that sword of his-"
" That things magic ." Ranma interrupted , his face alarmingly serious . " He 
had it in a case but I still felt it , it's some serious spells on that thing ."
" Hai ," She repeated after he had finished . " He claims that the sword will 
trap Nabiki's soul in it , stopping her from being reborn ." 
" I believe it ..." Ranma stared at the floor , furious thought flashing through 
the storm gray eyes . She found that she couldn't bring herself to look away 
from those eyes .
" Oh well ." Ranma brought his head up without warning , a broad smile firmly in 
place . " He's no match for Nabiki anyhow if she's still breathin' after four 
years ." He stood and nodded to her . " I'll be in the Dojo until it's time for 
me to head back to school ." 
    She blinked once as he walked off . Then once more after he was out of sight 
. It seems that she did not have a monopoly on being shockingly calm about 
things . That odd feeling had returned but was receding again . What was wrong 
with her , he was just a young boy , not even out of high school . But she had 
just graduated last year herself a little voice reminded her . 
" Still a woman should marry a older man ." She told the voice firmly . " Nabiki 
hasn't had a real boyfriend ever and Akane needs a more mature boyfriend than 
the sixteen year olds that chase her ." 
    It nagged her about her own neglected needs her mind continued to nag . She 
never had a boyfriend either , and she wasn't getting any younger . Did she want 
to spend the best years of her youth being a maid ? Did she ever want to have 
her own family ?
" Of course I will marry and have a family ," She told the little voice . " but 
that's in the future . My family needs me now I can't let them down , I can't 
let them worry too much . I'm just being selfish thinking otherwise ." 
    Sometimes a little selfishness is needed to balance selflessness , otherwise 
one wastes away as the world takes all you have to give . The voice whispered .
" I'll just discuss it with Akane and Nabiki some time ." She thought . Finally 
the nagging , selfish , little voice was silent .



*    The Japanese hold the face in high regard . A slap or blow to the face is 
one of their highest insults . So facial scars are very very rare and held in 
superstition and fear as westerners hold blindness or missing limbs in 
superstition and fear .