The Wandering Saotome Chapter 4 Br Dr. Suekeiichi Kaiton "Japanese" [Thoughts] (Footnotes or Author's commentary) ---Tendo Dojo--- "Must you leave so soon?" Kasumi asked as Nodoka doted on her son, Ranma smiling in embarrassment. He really was too sweet for his own good, no wonder all those nice girls were chasing after him. Of course Nodoka would have to meet this 'Kiima' and make her own decision on the girl's qualifications. Secretly she giggled at the prospect of thirty grandchildren. "Can't you stay a while longer?" "I'm sorry Kasumi but I promised Choiler that I'd return as soon as possible." He absently directed his mother's hands away from his hair. Kasumi's brow creased in determination. "Could I come along? I promise not to be a bother." She put on her best 'pout' face and brought a few tears to her eyes. Soun began getting weepy-eyed watching the love his daughter had for the nice boy. Sure Ranma was responsible for Genma's coma and the odd way his legs splayed but according to Nodoka he deserved it, he wanted nothing more than to see his eldest marry such an upstanding man. "Please...?" Nabiki and Akane peeked inside from the kitchen, both intent on other things. Akane was busy thinking of various ways to slaughter the miserable _boy_ in horribly painful ways, preferably a scenario with a nutcracker, a hot dog bun and a cocker spaniel. A blue glow surrounded her body. On the other hand was Nabiki, gazing eagerly at the man's leather pouch tied to his waist. In particular she watched as the contents shifted and jingled as he moved, it didn't really hurt that when he moved his pants rode up either. A flurry of little hearts surrounded her body. "Uh...I don't know about that..." "Pretty please?" Kasumi began her final attack: 'Pressure him with puppy dog eyes until he cracks!' She could tell he was ready to break, his hands were fidgeting and his foot tapped in irritation. Nabiki noticed the way his money pouch bounced with each tap. Nodoka and Soun were already in the other room discussing Kasumi's impending marriage to Ranma. Ranma sighed in defeat, he really had to stop being that easy to kick around. "Alright, I suppose no one will mind." "Yes!" Kasumi leaped at the pigtailed man and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissing him passionately on the lips repeatedly. Nabiki's eyes nearly popped from their sockets as she saw their innocent Kasumi being forward with a man! Akane snapped the doorframe as she saw the foreign jerk forcing himself on their kind and pure sister. Ranma just smiled and laughed at Kasumi's reaction, glad that he'd found another free soul, although it could have been just a residual effect of the ale from before. "Will your family be alright without you?" His gaze swept over the peeking sisters and weeping father. "Mr. Tendo, do you give your permission?" The Tendo patriarch wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his gi. "I hope you two live happily together. Take good care of my baby girl!" He broke down into tears again as Nodoka futilely tried to calm his down. "Wah! My little girl's going to elope!" "Dad!" "Daddy!" Akane and Nabiki stormed in from the kitchen. "How can you just give Kasumi to this strange pervert!?!" "How can you let this rich hunk...er...I-I mean how can you let this guy we don't know walk off with Kasumi!?" Nabiki had the good conscience to blush at her slip of the tongue. Soun's serious glance, a complete 360 from his previous weeping, silenced the two girls immediately. The two sat next to Ranma across from their father, trying their best not to notice the way Kasumi squirmed in his lap and giggled in glee. Nodoka stood up and ducked into the kitchen to prepare tea, if Kasumi was going to travel with them they would have to let her pack. It seemed they'd be staying the night. "Nabiki, Akane, you two may be wondering why I have put up no resistance to the idea of Ranma marrying Kasumi but I have a very good reason." The tea kettle whistled in the kitchen as Nodoka hummed to herself. "Many years ago when Genma and I trained under the dreaded master Happo-...while we were training under the Master, we made a pact." Soun stood and walked dramatically over to the porch where the rain still fell steadily. "We agreed then on the Master's grave that we would join the two schools of Anything-Goes in matrimony!" He turned quickly around and posed ridiculously with a cordless microphone. Everyone sweatdropped except Nodoka, who was far too busy ignoring Tendo and serving tea. Ranma smiled a little wearily and watched as the Tendo sisters shook their heads in disgust. "So...uh...just because of some drunken pact between you and the old bastard I have to marry one of your daughters?" "Come, come, Ranma, you should marry them all!" Nodoka tried to admonish her son. It seemed that new sensei of his, 'Choiler', had instilled the unmanly idea of monogamy into Ranma's head. Sweat dripped down Nabiki and Akane's backs...they just hoped- "What an excellent idea! I know a priest who does special ceremonies! He can perform the vows tonight!" Soun began to cry again but was silenced by a firm mallet attack by Akane. "Shut up, Dad! There's no way I'm going to marry that pervert!" Akane lifted her weapon and tucked it to wherever it went behind her back. Nabiki pulled a moderately sized mallet from behind her back and gave her father a meaty bonk on the head. "That's right, Daddy, I don't want to marry a complete stranger!" Her eyes kept darting to Ranma's money pouch...she could just see the gold coins already. "Besides, it looks like Kasumi's already made her decision." The older brunette was lovingly draped over Ranma's lap. "When do we leave, Ranma?" Nodoka helped peel Soun from the floor. He shrugged. "Whenever Kasumi wants to, I have to go to Teh Sthlhu anyway on business so you two can come along." "How about tomorrow morning? I fear that all this excitement today has been quite taxing." "Don't worry then Mom, we'll leave tomorrow, that should give you time to rest and Kasumi to get packed." Pak waddled in from the porch and lay down next to it's master with an exhausted (get it?) sigh of hydraulics. A bit of torn gi from its attack on Genma wavered as it breathed. It's master sure had a penchant for getting in trouble, it didn't want to be around when nice-lady Kiima found out. ---Phoenix Mountain--- Choiler looked up from his cracked tome as the doors to his great library opened on their creaking ancient hinges. It was a rare privilege indeed for their great Lord Saffron to visit his humble chamber of knowledge. The Phoenix king entered with Kiima in toe and her two flunkies tailing behind. Masara and Karuma grumbled at their commander's short temper - two welts grew from both of their heads, proof of Kiima's lack of patience. "My Lord, this is a pleasant surprise, what brings you here?" Saffron's long hair trailed after him as his head turned from Kiima, the jewel hanging from his forehead swinging from inertia. "Is something wrong, my Lord?" He noticed Kiima's scowl. "Seneschal Kiima has just informed me of Saotome's extra-marital affairs in your land of Teh Sthlhu. I would like an explanation as to why you did nothing to hamper these activities." Kiima was glaring at the old Phoenix, after all Ranma was in his care. "Uh well, my Lord Saffron, the young Saotome seems to attract a lot of attention by himself. I haven't gone to Teh Sthlhu with him for the past two years and even if I did there is very little I could do. These 'affairs' of his are beyond our control, one is the daughter of the Emperor of the land, the other a princess of Dragons, I wouldn't advise refusing either one." Sweat rolled down his brow, he was well aware of Kiima's anger at her childhood friend. "These are simply diplomatic ties." [I hope he believes this...] "Diplomatic ties? I will not condone these marriages unless a meeting between the rulers occurs." [Ever the politician.] "Uh yes, lord Saffron, I will ask Emperor Maximillian for a parley but I fear the Dragon chief will not agree to meet." Masara and Karuma could already see the signs of anger on their commander, the way her fists clenched, the clack of her toenails tapping on the stone floor; they began to pray. "When is Ranma due back? I wish to speak to him regarding this matter." "He contacted me earlier to say he would be returning in the next few days." The librarian sighed in relief as Saffron turned back towards the door, leaving his entourage. Ranma was in it deep this time, Saffron was a very traditional person, he didn't take kindly to polygamy especially when it disturbed his seneschal. "Is there anything I can do for you Lady Kiima?" An evil grin lit her face as she looked down at him. Choiler suddenly noticed how much she'd grown since the last time they'd spoken. He swallowed hard as her talons grabbed him by the collar and lifted him until they were face-to-face. He looked to see if her guards would help him. Masara had already run off screaming while Karuma was shaking. "You're relieved now, Karuma, I have some personal business to discuss with Master Choiler here." The light haired guard flew swiftly out down the passageway, glad to finally be gone, he swore that his job would kill him. "As for you...I want you to take me to Teh Sthlhu. I want to meet these other wives of his." The gray man looked once into her blood-red eyes and knew he couldn't refuse... "Ah, Lady Kiima I don't think this is a good idea, it would be better if Ranma took you when he returns." He grappled ineffectually with her iron grip. "I'm sure he'd love to give you a tour of the land." "Oh no, Lord of Antiquities, I want to meet Ranma's other wives now. You'll show me around, won't you?" She watched as he sweated and tried to struggle. "You _will_ show me around, won't you?" "...uh...yes I will?" "Good answer." ---unfinished---