[Ranma][Fanfic] Adulthood of a Modern Dynasty - Chapter 1: Growing up
Cursed: One Small Step
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Adulthood of a Modern Dynasty
Chapter 1: Growing up Cursed: One Small Step

Ranma 1/2 characters/situations created and copyright by Rumiko
Takahashi/Shogakukan/Kitty/Fuji/Viz - Used without permission

Adulthood of a Modern Dynasty series created, written, and
copyright 2000 by Jim Lazar

An ongoing series set after the end of the Ranma 1/2 manga and anime.
For maximum enjoyment of this fanfic series, please read my Childhood of
Modern Dynasty series before reading Adulthood.

E-mail comments and/or criticisms to: jim [at] animeprime.com

Make sure to check out my Modern Dynasty website for
all released AMD stories, graphics files, and other information:
http://www.animeprime.com/ff/md
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>From the Journal of James Davidson


May 15-16, 2058

      I flinched when the black blood splashed across my face and body.
I stumbled backwards and tried to protect my pregnant wife as best I
could from the blood bath, but the blood was nothing compared to what
might have happened if Yohachi's well-aimed chi ball hadn't blown apart
the Buyierfei when it had gotten a little too close to Hanaki and me. Of
course, anywhere within a hundred kilometers is too close for my
comfort. And the other attacking Buyierfei were considerably closer than
that at the moment. Seeing a Buyierfei pick up a moviegoer and throw him
across the plaza, I decided a hundred kilometers would still be too
close. I saw the aforementioned moviegoer start to crawl away from where
he had landed, dragging his obviously broken leg behind him. A few
hundred trillion kilometers would be better for all of us, I think.

     I wiped the black blood off my face and looked up to see dozens of
men and women wearing tuxedos and elegant dresses leap into the air to
fight the invisible attackers. I knew some of them, but I had no idea
that this many Task Force members had been in the theater with us and I
knew they weren't all in the private tube with us when we arrived here.

     As I looked closer, I noticed that many of those who were now
fighting did not have the red streak that identified an active Task
Force member. Either they were Task Force members who were incognito or
they were just Tendos who couldn't resist a good fight. I suspected the
later, since most people outside the Tendo family had no idea the Task
Force used the red streak to indicate an active member there would be no
reason to hide it on an occasion like this.

     It's not like the red streaks stood out in the crowd either. I had
seen several of the VIPs at the premiere with stranger hair coloring,
including the jet black hair on the retiring mayor of Tokyo--I doubt
anyone was fooled into thinking he wasn't seventy-five--and the actress
who played Shampoo in the movie had all the colors of the rainbow in her
intricately styled hair--she must have been devastated to have to use
just one color during the filming.

     And with the Tendos, one didn't have to be active in the Task Force
to know how to fight. It wasn't required to train, but this family does
take their martial arts seriously, and I have yet to meet a Tendo--or
any of the other families that live in the compound for that
matter--that hasn't had at least basic martial arts training. Most of
them had considerably more than just the basics. That training came in
handy when they had to fight.

     Which they were doing now. Akane and her family were concentrating
on keeping the Buyierfei away from the moviegoers and the crowd that had
assembled to see Akane and the others. Some of the crowd had fled and
were hopefully safe, but the Buyierfei had caught the rest of the crowd
in what looked like a carefully laid out trap. The theater was in front
of a small circular park that led into a long pedestrian mall lined with
stores of all shapes and sizes. Two small service streets branched off
from opposite sides of the park. Those roads were now swarming with
Buyierfei, which were keeping the Task Force members busy.

     The pedestrian mall was clear until a black chi ball dropped out of
the sky and blew apart a large store. The rubble crashed to the ground,
blocking off that avenue of escape.

     Yohachi had been herding people toward the tube station and looked
up at the sound of the explosion. Something caught his eye in the night
sky. "Oh no... INCOMING AVIAN!"

     Hanaki and I followed his gaze and saw the black patch moving
across the stars of the Milky Way. "Well, that answers the question of
where the chi ball came from."

     "Crap," Hanaki commented as she wrapped her arms around me.

     At first I thought she was afraid, but when a hazy, green aura
formed around us I realized she was really forming a chi shield to
protect us. And our son, of course. I hoped the battle would be short,
because I've been told that the chi shields are hard to keep stable for
long periods and also require a lot of energy to generate. So much, they
are rarely useful for anything except defense. "Is it okay to generate
the shield in your condition?"

     Hanaki nodded. "The chi shield was discovered by a pregnant woman
long ago. It's an extension of the chi charging technique Uncle Sanma's
first wife discovered."

     I opened my mouth to ask who, but Hanaki's expression told me she
couldn't tell me. One of Akane's little secrets, I guess.

     Yohachi slipped a pair of data glasses on--which were basically a
wraparound eyeglass frame without lenses that had two tiny holo-emitters
positioned to superimpose images directly onto the lens of the wearer's
eye--and scanned the area while he built up a chi ball in his hands. I
haven't been able to find anyone who would show me how they used them in
battle--not even the Reis--but I have seen Task Force members wearing
them before. In fact, many of the combatants currently fighting had
donned them as well. Not Sanma or Akane though. "I need a barrage to
deflect the avian!!" Yohachi yelled out as he launched his chi ball at
the approaching avian. It hit the avian directly in its mouth of
tentacles.

     The avian continued towards us until over a dozen chi balls hit it,
causing it to veer away. Unfortunately, it appeared to be circling
around for another pass.

     I was so mesmerized by the avian and all the small battles going on
around us that I almost jumped out of Hanaki's protective shield when a
black creature appeared in front of us and tried to get through the
shield.

     "Don't worry... I can hold it back," Hanaki explained.

     I could see the concentration on Hanaki face as she focused on
keeping the chi shield up. I hoped she could, because I doubt there was
anything I could do if the creature got through the shield.

     The Buyierfei was lashing out at the shield with its tentacles, the
flesh covering them burning with each impact. All around us, the
moviegoers were being attacked as well, the Buyierfei having slipped
past the fighters. There were just too many of them.

     Akane descended on a pair of Buyierfei that were strangling a trio
of reporters, including the one who had asked about my grandmother.
Faster than I could follow her movements, she had used carefully placed
kicks and chi balls to save the reporters and then jumped away to
another battle, leaving the three dazed reporters behind to catch their
breaths.

     Like Akane, Sanma had quickly returned to the center of the battle
when she had seen the Buyierfei start to attack the moviegoers. Sanma
came down hard on top of a Buyierfei that had just thrown a person
across the courtyard. Sanma blew apart the creature with a quick shot
and then swung around and shouted, "Moko Takabisha-Rainbow Blast!!"

     At Sanma's cry, Hanaki pushed me to the ground and I could see
other people hitting the deck. "What's going..." I saw the answer before
I finished the question.

     Sanma had jumped into the air and released dozens, if not hundreds,
of small multi-colored chi balls, each about the size of a baseball.
They flew from his hand and destroyed dozens of invisible Buyierfei.
Although the black masses that appeared and disintegrated were the
intended targets, several of the balls hit moviegoers and even the
Tendos.

     "Stupid old man!!" Jaki yelled, as she patted out the smoke from
her singed dress, which was ripped in a rather revealing manner. But
then Tendos never let modesty stop them from fighting. Of course, Jaki
wasn't the most modest woman to start with. At least she had decided to
wear panties to the premier or she'd have ended up changing the battle's
rating to 'R'.

     I looked around and saw that Sanma's attack had caused some minor
injuries the humans, but also took a large number of the attacking
Buyierfei out of the battle--including the one that had been attacking
our chi shield. "Damn, that was impressive. Why didn't he use that
attack in the monolith?"

     Hanaki smiled at me as we got to our knees. "It doesn't work well
inside the Buyierfei realm. It homes in on Buyierfei energy with the
concentrated chi balls and there is just too much Buyierfei energy
inside the monoliths to use it effectively. Unfortunately, it has a
tendency to hit non-Buyierfei as well, so he can't fully charge the chi
balls." She slumped a little and the green haze fluctuated around us.

     I grabbed her to steady her. "Ah... are you okay?"

     Hanaki nodded. "I'm getting a bit tired from forming the shield,
but I'm okay."

     We sat huddled together and watched the battle progress. Since
Sanma's blast had reduced a few dozen Buyierfei into a couple hundred
pieces, the Tendos were not quite as outnumbered. At least by the
Buyierfei they could see.

     That was when the avian reminded us that it was still there by
firing a black chi blast directly in front of Hanaki and me. Because the
Tendos had been firing at it, the avian was still keeping its distance
from the main battle. That didn't make the explosion in front of us any
less destructive.

      The pavement blew apart and sent debris everywhere. Although
Hanaki's shield protected us and we only felt the force of the
explosion, the others in the area weren't as lucky. It didn't look like
the blast hit anyone directly, which was very fortunate, but it did send
asphalt and other debris flying across the battlefield. I could see
Tendos and non-Tendos fall to the ground with all sorts of injuries,
which ranged from large bruises to bloody gashes.

      Sanma picked himself up from the ground and surveyed the area. He
looked up to see that the avian was very close and getting closer.
"Sparky, use your shift blast on the avian!!"

     Akane was halfway across the plaza from her husband, but she heard
Sanma's call. She looked around, as if uncertain. But when she saw a
side building collapse from another chi blast from the avian she tensed
and her facial expression changed to one of fierce determination. She
stretched her arms out in front of her, a faint glow forming between the
two hands. The energy surged, flickered, and then faded into nothingness
when a sharp tentacle was thrust through the right side of her chest.
Her eyes widened and blood erupted from her mouth.

     "AKANE!!" Sanma flew across the battlefield faster than I'd ever
seen her move. She came down on top of the Buyierfei that had speared
Akane at the same time as Yohachi, who had been behind his mother.

     Together, Yohachi and Sanma quickly ended the Buyierfei's life and
Akane dropped to the ground when the tentacle that had impaled her went
limp.

     "Akane!!" I shouted as I saw a large pool of blood form around her.

     The green chi shield around us faltered and vanished. "No..."
Hanaki gasped as we watched the blood spread across Akane's chest.

     A dozen Task Force members swarmed around Akane and quickly sent
chi balls screaming into the night sky to deflect the avian. They hit,
but the avian didn't veer off and looked like it meant to crash into the
plaza. Considering how much energy the large avians carried, that would
likely wipe out the entire area. And everyone in it, of course.

     "Move!!" I yelled, but there was nowhere for them to go.

     Suddenly, a huge gust of wind blasted the plaza and sent dust in
every direction. I heard a familiar roar and then a loud squelching
sound. I looked up through the dispersing cloud of dust and saw a
hoverjet shoot off into the night sky with the avian wrapped around it.
Well, it was half wrapped around the hover jet and half impaled by it. A
few seconds latter a bright explosion lit up the nighttime sky. "Shit."

     "They all got to the dropjets." Hanaki commented a few seconds
later. She was looking at her wristtop, which was projecting a
holographic status display of the battle.

     I breathed a sigh of relief and within a few seconds, I saw a
couple dozen dropjets land around the plaza. The occupants of the small,
single-person vehicles hopped off and joined the battle. A few seconds
later, two more hoverjets came into view and hovered over the plaza.
Several more dozen dropjets dropped from the twin-rotor hoverjets and
the Task Force members they carried quickly joined the fray.

     Carefully aimed chi blasts from the hovering aircraft blasted apart
Buyierfei at the edges of the battle, while those on the ground dealt
with the rest.

     Just like that, the battle turned in our favor, but at what cost? I
helped Hanaki stand up and looked at Akane. Sanma, Yohachi, and a couple
Task Force members were huddled over her. Without even consciously
remembering doing so, we slowly walked to Akane's side and silently
stood nearby, watching them tend to her wounds.

     I don't think any of us remembered when the battle ended after
that. It did, but if asked I wouldn't have been able to say how or when.
All I knew is the woman I considered a dear friend--no my best
friend--was terribly wounded and, by the look of the wound, near death.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     The next day, I walked down the hall of the Compound clinic with
Hanaki. We clung to each other's hand mostly to keep our hands from
trembling. There were numerous injuries in the plaza last night, both
Tendos and moviegoers. Fortunately no deaths, but the local hospitals
had their share of injuries to attend to nonetheless and, of course,
there was Akane. My eyes widened as I saw a very tired Kasumi walking
slowly down the hall. "Kasumi!"

     Kasumi looked up with weary eyes and managed a weak smile. "She's
over the rough part. She lost another part of her right lung. I don't
know how she manages to survive everything she's been through." She
trembled a bit. "Now we'll just have to wait and see if her body can
recover from another wound that should have killed her."

     Hanaki asked half a question, that apparently Kasumi knew the rest
of without it being spoken. "How about..."

     "It's intact, but we can't find out more until she stabilizes."

     Hanaki exhaled in relief.

     I wasn't sure what the question was, but didn't feel it was the
right time to pry. So I put a hand on Kasumi's shoulder to steady her.
"Let me help you back to your place."

     Kasumi shook her head. "No... I'm fine. I can't leave her until
she's stable."

     Hanaki gasped. "Grandma! You haven't been up all night, have you?"

     "I got a little sleep..." Kasumi must be very tried to sound so
unconvincing.

     "Grandma, come on... I'll take you home so you can get some real
sleep." Hanaki held out her arm towards her grandmother.

     Kasumi shook off her help. "No... no, I'm fine."

     "Mother, stop pushing yourself. Aunt Akane will be fine," Moyashi
said as he came up from behind Kasumi. He looked even more tired than
she did. "She's a strong woman, you know that."

     "I'm alright. I have to be there for my little sister."

     Moyashi wrapped his arm around his mother's shoulder and looked
into her eyes. "Mommy, can you tuck me in? I'm dead tired after sewing
up that gaping hole in Auntie," he said in a child-like tone of voice
with his eyes opened wide in an attempt to look innocent.
 
     Kasumi smiled. "I get the picture, dear. Okay, let's both go get
some rest before we're needed again."

     Hanaki and I watched the two weary doctors shamble off towards
their much deserved rest and then turned to go down to the room that
Akane was recovering in. When we got to the open door, we heard an
argument from inside.

     "Pop, go get some rest! I'll stay with Mom."

     "I'm fine. I promised that I'd take care of her and what did I do?
I left her back exposed!! I should have covered her while she was
concentrating on the shift blast. Hell, *I* was the one who told her to
use that attack!!"

     "We were outnumbered and you know it! You're not responsible for
everything that happens! Go home!"

     "Dammit, I have to be here for her when she wakes up!"

     "Tell you what, Pop, if she wakes up while you're away I'll punch
her and knock her out until you can get here. Okay?"

     That produced a chuckle from Sanma. "Even in this condition, she'd
wipe the floor with you."

     "I know, Pop, just get some rest. I'll stay with her."

     "Okay.. okay..."

     A few seconds latter, Sanma stumbled out of the room and bumped
into us. She was still wearing the tattered remains of her tuxedo from
the night before. "Sorry..."

     "That's okay. How is she?" I asked.

     Sanma smiled weakly. "She's been hurt worse. I... well, I wouldn't
leave her side if I thought she might not make it, would I?"

     I could hear the fear and doubt in Sanma's voice, but didn't press
it. "Yeah, I couldn't see the old tease dying before she could tell me
all her stories."

     Sanma laughed weakly. "No.. she wouldn't go before she could tell
all her stories."

     We said our good-byes to Sanma and then went into the room, which
actually turned out to be a viewing room with a glass window overlooking
the critical care center of the clinic. Behind the glass, I saw Akane
stretched out on a bed, a rather standard looking medical holo-display
floating above the bed. In addition to the indicators for her vitals, a
holographic representation of her major organs inside a wire frame of
her body was shown. By the look of the display, the wound was bigger in
back, and broke a couple of ribs in addition to the damage to her lung.

     I looked down at Akane and frowned as I saw her ashen face. I'm not
used to seeing her as frail and weak looking as she looked at that
moment. In fact, I've never seen her look that bad. I could see the
thick bandages around her chest. About the only sign of life was a slow
rising and falling of her chest as she took what appeared to be labored
breaths with the help of a nearby ventilator that fed oxygen through
small hoses inserted in her nostrils. An I.V. was slowly dispensing a
fluid into her arm and an assortment of other monitor cables stretched
from her body to the various pieces of medical equipment arranged around
her, only some of which I could identify.

      There was another viewing room across from the one we were in. A
nurse was sitting near Akane's bed and monitoring her condition via
several displays and keyboards. Was she in that bad of shape that they
need to watch her that closely, or were they just being overly cautious
for the 'Matriarch'? I hoped it was the later.
 
     Yohachi looked up at us. "Come, sit down." Unlike Sanma, he had
obviously had a chance to clean up and change his clothes, but still
looked tired. As I imagine most of us in the Compound were after the
battle last night.

     I know Hanaki and I had a hard time trying to sleep last night. If
she wasn't pregnant, I'm sure she would have been waiting outside the
clinic waiting for news after the operation like most of the other
Tendos had been last night. We had only heard the results when we had
woken up in the middle of the night and checked the news. Akane had
survived the emergency surgery she had been rushed into, but she was
still in danger.

     "How is she?"

     Yohachi looked back at his mother. "She's okay."

     Hanaki and I sat down next to Yohachi and joined in the silent
vigil. As we watched, our breathing unconsciously fell into time with
Akane's labored breaths. It was almost as if we were trying to lend our
own breaths to Akane's in an effort to keep her breathing.

     Occasionally as we sat there, another nurse or doctor would come in
to check on Akane's condition. We didn't want to ask any questions for
fear of a bad answer. We contented ourselves that their concerned faces
didn't show any alarm.

     After an hour or so of this, Yohachi spoke out of the blue. "Th...
she was always there for me growing up and now the thought of her
dying..." He trailed off into sobs.

     I patted his back to comfort him. "Yeah... I had the same reaction
when my mother had her stroke.  Up until then, I couldn't imagine her
not being around." I took a deep breath. "It was the same way with my
father when he passed away. I sometimes I wonder if I took it for
granted that they would always be there, despite the realities of life."

     Yohachi looked up at me with his weary eyes. "It's been a long time
since I could assume without doubt that my mom would always be there.
Probably back before the Black Wars, in fact. But even knowing that
every battle could cost me my mother, it's never easy seeing her like
this." He looked through the glass at his mother.

     "No... I don't suppose it ever is." I looked through the glass at
my friend.
  

***********************************************************************
April 4-6, 2005 - The Moon; Nerima, Japan


     "With this step-" The English voice paused as a heavy boot set foot
on the gray surface. "-Mankind returns to the Moon after thirty-two
years." The camera--which was mounted on a small remote controlled
rover--zoomed out to show the space-suited figure take some more steps
away from the lander behind him.

     The lander was very lightweight and covered with golden foil like
the original lunar landers used during the Apollo Moon landings. But it
was over three times as big, more ruggedly constructed, and oblong
instead of spherical. The upper section was roughly the size and shape
of a small bus, with a series of windows in front arranged around a pack
of equipment, at least one of which was a video camera.

     The most prominent feature of the lander was the 'Microsoft' logo
emblazoned across the side. Needless to say, NASA had had to accept
corporate sponsorship to pull off the mission. In exchange for an
undisclosed amount plus computer equipment and software, Microsoft got
its name all over the biggest event of the new millennium. Well, the
biggest event thus far. Of course, the landing was inspired by the
biggest event of the former millennium.

     The spacesuited figure looked around the vast plane of gray spread
out before him. "It looks calm here, the landing site chosen appears to
be free of the sharp boulders and uneven terrain that are evident in the
areas that were heavily blasted in ninety-nine."

     He looked back at the lander and studied the small pits and gouges
in the outer metal plating. "Houston, it looks like the lander got
through the debris field with only minor impact damage. We'll begin our
examination of the area and give a detailed report of the lander's
condition as soon as the others join me on the surface."

     "Roger that, proceed according to plan."

     "Harry, the LEM looks stable. Begin your E.V.A."

     "Understood, we'll be..." was the response received, but was
interrupted by a loud beep. "Damn! The computer crashed again. Damn
Windows two thousand and three! Hold on... Let's see...
control-alt-delete."

     Microsoft shares plummeted.

     While he waited for his fellow astronauts, the first figure looked
up at the disc of the Earth. "The debris field is obscuring the view of
Earth, but it's still a gorgeous sight."

     He tilted his body up to allow the camera on his shoulder to show
the Earth. Small specks drifted by the still blue-green disc that they
had left orbit from three days earlier. An even finer dust gave the sky
a grayish tint, instead of the dark black that the first astronauts saw
from the Moon's surface.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     In Nerima, a family crowded around a widescreen television that was
hung on the wall. The screen showed two space-suited figures making
their way out of the hatch of the lander.

     Soun and Hinako knelt together. Soun was trying to keep a large
brown dog from lying on top of him. His efforts proved to be in vain
after the dog finally got the upper hand and pushed Soun onto his back.
The dog wasted no time in lying on top of Soun's chest like he had since
he was a puppy. Of course, at his current size he ended up covering
Soun's whole chest and face. A whimpering sound came from the mixed pile
of human and dog limbs.

     Hinako took a sucker out of her mouth to scold the dog. "Bad boy!
Get off your father's face!!"

     The dog ignored her.

     Soun started to turn blue.

     "I'll give you a lollypop."

     The dog's head shot up and his tail wagged. He sat up and barked.

     "Good boy," Hinako gave the dog a sucker as Soun took some long
overdue breaths.

     Genma and Nodoka sat near the door, occasionally looking outside
for signs of a walking disaster. A loud crash indicated the latest
disaster had occurred right on schedule.

     Nodoka sighed and stood up. "I'll go this time."

     Genma nodded and watched his wife leave the room in search of their
little terror. <Ranma was such a nice, loving, respectful child... where
did I go wrong with little Kenage?>

     Akane, Ranma, and Ranko knelt together, each with a child in their
arms. Akane smoothed the hair of the redhead girl in front of her.
Despite the birth mother's attempts little Daiji no longer sported a
pigtail, but a short unisex haircut. Akane, on the other hand, sported a
long ponytail that stopped in the middle of her back.

     Ranma was doing his best to keep the five-year-old boy in his arms
from pulling his older sister's hair. The loud slap that Daiji landed on
Yohachi's face after a successful hair-pulling attempt stopped any
further attempts by the boy to annoy his big sister.

     Ranko held a fidgeting girl--who was just shy of four years old--in
her arms, unable to keep the girl's attention focused on the screen.

     "Play!" little Ayami shouted.

     "Shhhhhh..." Ranko kissed Ayami on the head. "This is an historical
moment."

     Ayami looked up at Ranko with her innocent blue eyes. "Why?"

     Ranko hesitated. "Well, it's been a long time since someone has
walked on the Moon."

     "So not first time?" Ayami looked confused.

     "No, but it's the first time during our lives that anyone has gone
to the Moon."

     Ayami thought about that for a few seconds before blurting out,
"Play, Papa-chan!!" She clapped her hands together and looked up at
Ranko with her innocent blue eyes.

     "Later, okay?" Then Ranko met Ayami's gaze. "Err..." <Damn, I can
never resist her. Maybe it's because she looks so much like Akane.> She
was saved--sort of--by her other daughter.

     "Mommy, why is that man so fat?"

     Ranko's eye twitched and she looked over to see Daiji staring right
at her. She tapped her chest right between her breasts. "I'm 'Daddy',
remember?"

     Daiji blinked a few times and tilted her head. "Mommy, why is that
man so fat?"

     Ranko sighed. "He's in a spacesuit. Since there's no air on the
Moon, he needs it to breathe there."

     "Oh. Thanks, Mommy."

     Ranko smiled and reached over and ruffled her daughter's red hair.
"That's okay, precious."

     "Why are they on the Moon?"

     The adults all tensed at Yohachi's question. They all looked
between themselves, no one wanting to answer that question that they all
knew they would have to answer someday.

     Yohachi waited for the length of a five-year-old's patience--which
is about two seconds--and then asked the question again. "Why are they
on the Moon?"

     Another awkward pause followed until the astronaut on the
television answered the question. Or to be more exact, the Japanese
translator answered it after the astronaut on the Moon spoke the words
in English.

     "Houston, the rover is unloaded and checks out. All systems are go
for tomorrow's examination of the site where the anomaly exploded. We
are beginning our survey of the landing site."

     The screen showed three space-suited figures around a large
enclosed lunar rover, which was emblazoned with a large BMW logo.

     "A... nom... oly?" Daiji rolled the unknown word over in her mouth.

     More awkward glances were exchanged.

     "Well, Daiji-" Akane began cautiously. "-that 'anomaly' was used by
some bad creatures."

     Daiji tilted her head. "Creatures?"

     Ranko reached over and grasped Daiji's hand. "Don't worry, I beat
them and they won't come back."

     "*YOU* beat them?" Ranma asked, incredulously. "Akane and me beat
Shuma!"

     "Ranma! We all beat them together." Akane snapped and then looked
down at Daiji. "Don't worry, precious, the Blackness is gone."

     "Oh, you mean the Buggyfei!" Daiji blurted, earning startled gasps
from the adults in the room. The adults all looked around and silently
verified that none of them had talked about the Buyierfei with Daiji.

     "Daiji, how do you know that name?" Akane asked, ignoring the fact
that it was the slang term that had come into use after ninety-nine and
not their real name.

     "Nippy told me all about them, Daddy."

     Akane's eye twitched and she looked at Ranko. "We'll have to have
another talk with Nipplering."

     Ranko nodded.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     Later in the large garden near the koi pond, Ranko began the talk.
"Nipplering, we've asked you not to tell our children about the
Buyierfei."

     Nipplering's expression didn't change. "They can't combat the
Blackness if they don't know about it."

     Akane sighed. "The Buyierfei are gone and I don't want my children
to grow up terrified of something they will hopefully never have to
fight.  When the time is right, we'll tell them everything. They're just
too young to understand it now."

     "I hope they are gone for good too, but if the Amazons hadn't
prepared for the past four thousand years, where would your family be
today?"

     Akane opened her mouth to answer, but closed it when she realized
that the Amazon was right.

     Ranma looked at Nipplering. "We appreciate that, but..." Ranma shut
up when Nipplering glared at him as if trying to figure out the best way
to make sure he couldn't have any more children. <Damn, she sure knows
how to hold a grudge.>

     Nipplering looked at Akane and Ranko. "My warriors and I are honor
bound to protect your family, but Amazons have always believed that a
battle can only be won or lost by the weakest member of a tribe."

     "We're not a tribe!" Akane blurted, then realized how harsh she
sounded and softened. "We're a family, Nipplering. Since you have helped
my family survive the Blackness, I have not resisted your new compound-"
Akane gestured to the outer defensive wall that could be seen a couple
blocks away. "-but please leave raising our children to us. Okay,
Nipplering?"

     Ranko put her hand on Nipplering's shoulder. "Nip, trust me, our
children will be the greatest martial artists the world has ever known
even without scaring them with tales of the Buyierfei."

     "Well, besides us, you mean," Ranma interjected.

     Ranko grinned. "No, I'm planning on Daiji to be able to beat us all
before he's a teenager."

     "Ha!! She'll have to beat my Yohachi first!"

     "He already can!"

     "Shut up!"

     "Sorry, Akane..." Ranma said apologetically.

     "Sorry..." Ranko muttered, looking at the ground.

     "Good," Akane said and then looked at Nipplering. "Why don't you
watch one of my two boneheads' training sessions with the kids, you may
change your mind about them not being ready to take on life's
challenges."
  
     Nipplering's eyes brightened. "Ah, so you are training them to
fight the Blackness!"

     Akane shook her head. "No, we're training them to continue the
Tendo and Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts."

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     Daiji flew through the air and landed a kick to her brother's chin.

     Ranko smiled like a proud father and/or mother, being both or
either depending on who you asked.

     Yohachi countered by falling down and crying.

     Ranma slapped his forehead in disgust.

     Daiji frowned and knelt down next to her crying brother. "Sorry,
Yoyo." She put a hand tenderly on Yohachi's knee.

     Yohachi lashed out suddenly with the back of his hand. He hit
Daiji's chin and sent her flying across the dojo and into a bucket of
water. She became a he. "That's cold!!" He pouted as he stood up and
wrung out his gi. "No fair!"

     "That's my boy!!"

     Ranko glared at Ranma. "That was a dirty trick!"

     "Anything Goes, remember?" Ranma smirked.

     Ranko wiped the smirk off Ranma's face with her fist.

     Daiji loosened his little gi, which was a little too snug in his
boy form. Then he sat down and stared at the fight. "Beat up Papa,
Mommy!"

     Ranko glanced at her son. "That's 'Daddy'!" So concerned with
correcting her son, Ranko missed a leg sweep from Ranma and crashed to
the ground. She slid to the side and landed a kick to Ranma's stomach,
before springing back to her feet and preparing for Ranma's response.

     Yohachi plopped down next to Daiji. "My daddy's going to beat up
Papa-chan!!"

     "No way! My mommy's the best!"

     Ranko's eye twitched as she kicked Ranma's chest.

     Nipplering and Akane stood at the entrance to the heavily fortified
dojo. Nipplering looked between the kids and the fighting parents. "Is
this usual for their training sessions?"

     "I'm afraid so." Akane sighed heavily. <I told those two idiots not
to fight amongst themselves this time.>

     Nipplering stood up straighter. "Then I will accept your assurance
that they will be mighty warriors one day even without knowing of the
Blackness."

     Akane's jaw dropped open. "Huh?"

     "Yohachi's use of sympathy to beat his opponent is worthy of an
Amazon."

     "But..."

     "Many men have fallen to the charms of a Amazon warrior."

     Akane smirked knowingly. "Like 'accidentally' exposing your
breasts?"

     Nipplering gasped. "Who told you about the most sacred of the
ancient Amazon secret techniques?"

     Akane laughed. "No one. But that technique won't work against a
Buyierfei."

     "True. That's where watching your elders battling each other comes
in." Nipplering gestured to Ranma, who had Ranko in a headlock.

     Akane opened her mouth to correct the Amazon, but realized that
Nipplering had a point when she saw her two oldest children intently
studying her husbands as they fought.

     Daiji and Yohachi were following every gut pounding punch and head
snapping kick. When Ranko got in a good hit, Daiji would clap and when
Ranma smashed Ranko's face, Yohachi would cheer.

     "Hey, Sis?" Yohachi asked after the fight entered its second
half-hour.

     "Yeah, Yoyo?"

     "Wanna go play?"

     "Yeah."

     The two kids got up off the floor and ran past Akane and
Nipplering, hand in hand.

     Akane smiled at her children as they ran out the door. "How about
that?"

     "Playing is good for children, Amazon or not."

     Akane looked at Nipplering and thought she saw a yearning look form
on the tall Amazon's face. <Maybe I should try to find her a boyfriend
before she starts to take her engagement to Jitaru seriously.> Images of
Nipplering glomping onto Jitaru flashed into her head. <That skinny
little boy couldn't take the abuse Shampoo gave Ranma.> She looked back
at her husbands and called out to them. "You two better not get too
tired before your class!"

     If Ranma and Ranko heard her, they didn't respond and their fight
continued.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     That afternoon, Akane walked down a quiet street wearing a long
blue dress that showed off her slender figure. At least that's what
Ranko said when she got it for Akane and Akane wasn't about to argue
with her first husband. She was holding Yohachi and Daiji's hands as
they walked on either side of her. The kids were dressed in some old
clothes that were torn and looked a little tight on them.

     "Now remember, we don't have a lot of time to buy your new school
clothes, so please don't fight at the store, okay?"

     "Okay, Mommy."

     "Okay, Daddy."

     Akane smiled. "Daiji, can you .."

     "Ah... what a vision of motherhood!"

     Akane cringed at hearing the voice. She looked down a side street
to see Kuno standing in his fanciest robes. "Oh... good morning, Kuno."

     "Good morn, my fair damsel. Thou art looking as radiant as usual."

     "Thank you. Um... we've got to..."

     "Nay! Before you continue your appointed rounds, I must set eyes
upon the spawn of that monster." Kuno looked at the two kids, who
instinctively cringed back from the scary man.

     "If you must..." Inside, Akane tried to find a way to get away from
Kuno. She knew running would probably just cause him to pursue them. And
despite Nabiki's best efforts, Kuno had been able to bribe enough people
to stay out of the mental hospital after the Buyierfei invasion. The
fact that he paid to rebuild Furinkan High kept even the politicians on
his side. <We'll have to just be careful and avoid him as much as
possible. I wish Kodachi was still around, she might be able to control
this madman.>

     "They are as beautiful as their mothers," Kuno declared.

     "Thank you. Um... we really must be..."

     "A fine lad, despite his fraternal parentage and the lass... she
will surely be as beautiful as the fair pigtailed goddess."

     Akane smirked, remembering that Daiji was technically a split of
Ranko without the memories. Same body, different mind in other words.
"Exactly alike, actually."

     "Tis a shame that I could not be their fathers, but my dear Mariko
and I are trying."

     Akane cringed. <He still won't accept that she's dead, even though
the Amazons who keep track of him report that he visits the cemetery
every week.> She knew better than to try to make him see the truth,
since they had seen him go from blaming Ranma for killing his wife by
dropping the dojo on his mansion--which of course only fell on the
already dead Mariko by coincidence--to insisting that his wife was still
alive. Every time someone tried to make him see the truth a fight ensued
and Kuno just got crazier and crazier. Which was possible, despite
appearances. "That's nice, Kuno."

     "Well, fare thee well, my fair flower of motherhood." Kuno bowed.
"I must go and smite your husband now." He set off towards the Compound.

     Akane watched him go, then saw the Amazon in a pretty sundress
across the street. <She really needs to shave more often to pull of that
disguise,> she commented to herself as the Amazon tried to casually
follow Kuno. <Her legs too, for that matter. Well, it may be obvious to
others, but Kuno hasn't figured out that we have at least one Amazon
watching his every move around the clock.>

     Yohachi looked back at the retreating figure of Kuno. "Shouldn't we
warn Daddy about the loonie-toonie?"

     Akane tried not to smile at Yohachi's term for Kuno, but wasn't
successful. "Not to worry, Kuno is no match for your father."

     "My mommy will beat him up too!" Daiji insisted.

     "But Daddy says he has beated the loonie-toonie up more!"

     "No, he hasn't!"

     "Kids... the number of wins doesn't matter as much as the end
result. We can't just go around beating up people we don't like."

     "Then who can we beat up?" Daiji asked innocently, but ruined the
effect when she glanced at Yohachi with anything but an innocent look on
her face.

     "You fight to defend yourself, your family, and innocents; not just
to beat someone up."

     "But I fight Yoyo all the time."

     Akane smiled at her daughter. "Yes, but you should only fight when
you spar."

     "Isn't that fighting?"

     "It's part of training, you shouldn't fight your brother out of
anger."

     Daiji thought about that for a few seconds before punching Yohachi
in the stomach. "Time to spar!"

     "Daiji, that was..." Akane's scolding went unheard when Yohachi
retaliated by jumping at Daiji, feet first. Akane rolled her eyes and
then jumped into the fray to break up her kids, wishing that she had
told them not to fight BEFORE they got to the store.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     The next morning, three parents and their two oldest children stood
in the entrance to a local kindergarten. A large play area with other
small children, a teacher, and a couple of assistants could be seen down
the hallway that connected it to the entrance.
 
     Akane straightened Yohachi's little coat they had bought the day
before. "Now you mind your teacher, okay?"

     Yohachi pulled on his coat, causing it to sag a little. "I don't
wanna go!!"

     Akane smiled sweetly. "I know it's a bit scary to do something new,
but you'll have fun."

     "No!" Yohachi clung tighter to his mother.

     Akane looked up at Ranma for help, but someone else beat Ranma to
it.

     "Yoyo... don't be scared. I'll be with you," Daiji said, smiling at
her brother.

     Yohachi stiffened. "I ain't scared!" A determined look crossed his
face and he straightened his coat again. "Nothin' scares a Saotome!!"

     "That's my boy." Ranma smiled.
 
     Ranko echoed the smile and then looked at Daiji. "Now, you be a
good boy and don't get into any trouble."

     "I won't, Mommy."

     Ranko's eye twitched.

     Ranma ruffled his son's hair. "Don't hit anyone or anything, okay?"

     Yohachi nodded.

     "Especially your sister."

     Yohachi frowned.

     Akane patted Yohachi's backside and watched her two oldest walk
towards their kindergarten teacher, a young woman not that much older
than Akane. <She looks a little frail...>

     Ranko smiled and wrapped her arm around Akane. "Don't worry, I'm
sure they won't hurt her."

     Akane smiled at Ranko. "You know me so well."

     Ranma wrapped his arm around Akane as well. "Do you want go home,
or watch them for a little while?"

     "Watch them."

     Ranma smiled. "I thought so."

     The three parents watched their two kids approach the teacher,
occasionally glancing back at them.

     The teacher smiled and held out her hands.

     Daiji burst into tears and ran back to Ranko. "Mommy!!"

     Ranko bent down and took her crying daughter into her arms.
"There... there." She patted Daiji on her back.

     "Daiji! Come on!" Yohachi called out.

     "No!" Daiji replied, tears streaming from her eyes.

    Akane knelt down near Daiji. "What's wrong?"

     "I don't want to go!!"

     "What about what you just told your brother?" Akane asked.

     Daiji thought about that for a couple seconds before replying.
"This is different."

     "How?" Ranko asked.

     Daiji frowned. "It just is!"

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     After convincing Daiji to stay, the three parents reluctantly
walked away from the kindergarten. Akane occasionally looked behind her,
a worried expression very evident on her face.
 
     Ranma smiled and pulled her forward again. "They'll be okay."

     "I hope they don't beat anyone up..."

     Ranko laughed. "They won't, I talked to them about the proper way
to act in public."

     Akane stopped suddenly and looked even more worried.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     As the other kids played, Daiji and Yohachi sat together in a
corner and watched.

     The teacher came over and knelt in front of them. "Don't you want
to play?"

     Daiji shook her head.

     Yohachi looked at the teacher. "We want to go home."

     "Well, your parents won't be back for several hours to pick you up,
so why not enjoy yourself while you're here? If you try, you might find
you like it here."

     "We... we can go home with Rant," Yohachi said and pointed out the
window. Across the street, a purple haired woman could be seen crouching
in a tree and staring in the window.

     As soon as Rant noticed that she had been seen, she looked away and
tried to look casual. If she wasn't in full armor and carrying a sword,
she might have pulled it off. Although how she'd explain being up in the
tree is anybody's guess.
 
     "What the..." the teacher gasped and then looked down at Yohachi.
"You know her?"

     Yohachi nodded. "She lives in the Compound with us."

     The teacher sighed. <I've had overprotective parents do strange
things before, but leaving a lookout armed to the teeth to watch their
kids is a new one.> She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, this is Nerima
after all." She looked at the two kids. "Well, why don't you stay for a
little while longer. I know it's scary and..."

     "I ain't scared!" Yohachi blurted.

     "Well then, come with me, okay?" The teacher held out her hand for
Yohachi.

     Yohachi took the offered hand and looked back at Daiji. "Come on,
Daiji... be brave."

     Daiji trembled, but nodded. "Okay, Yoyo."

     The teacher smiled and led the two kids over to a group of kids
playing with some large plastic blocks. "Children, I'd like to introduce
some new friends for you. This is Yohachi-" she indicated Yohachi. "-and
his sister, Daiji." She indicated Daiji, who was still timidly hiding
behind Yohachi.

     The kids replied with a mixture of hellos, welcomes, mutters, and
crying fits.

     As Yohachi knelt down, the teacher slid silently away. Daiji knelt
down a little behind her brother.

     The other kids continued playing as Yohachi and Daiji looked on.

     "Can we play with the blocks?" Yohachi asked.

     "No!" one of the boys blurted, scooping the blocks into his arms
protectively.

     "Why not?"

     "You're new, that's why," the boy stated the 'rule'.

     Yohachi clenched his fist, but Daiji grabbed his arm. "No, Yoyo...
Mommy said not to do that."

     Yohachi smiled. "Okay, Daiji..."

     "Yoyo's a funny name."

     Yohachi clenched his fist again. "Only my sister-" He glanced at
Daiji. "-calls me that. My name's really Yohachi."

     The boy thought for a second. "Oh... that's cool then. Wanna play?"

     Yohachi blinked a few times at the sudden change in the boy.
"Okay." He reached for a few of the blocks. "What are we building?"

     "A... a... a..." the boy stammered, then shrugged his shoulders.
"Whatever."

     Yohachi smiled and put a block on top of another one. Then he
pulled two blocks and gave them to Daiji. "Come on, Sis, help us."

     "No!" The boy pushed the blocks away from Daiji. "Girls can't play
with us!" Ignoring the two girls playing with the blocks just behind
him.

     Daiji scrunched up her face.

     "Why?" Yohachi asked.

     "Because!" the boy stated his second 'rule'.

     "Well... well..." Daiji sputtered. "I'm a boy too."

     The boy scrunched up his face and looked closely at Daiji. "You
look like a girl to me."

     Moments later, Yohachi asked the teacher a question. "Can we go to
the bathroom, teacher?"

     "Okay, it's just down the hall. Do you need help?"

     "No..." Yohachi, Daiji, and the boy scurried off, followed by a
group of other boys and girls who were intrigued.

     In the washroom, Daiji pulled down her shorts.

     "See!! She's a girl!" the boy shouted and pointed.

     The other boys and girls giggled a little.

     "Watch!" Daiji said and ran her hand under the cold water faucet
that Yohachi had turned on. Before the other kids startled eyes, she
grew in size and a little penis appeared.

     The kids were speechless and their jaws kind of flapped open.

     "That... that..." the bossy boy gasped. "That is so cool!!"

     The other kids crowded around and checked out the now male Daiji.
"Do it again!!"

     Daiji smiled at being the center of attention and nodded at
Yohachi, who turned the hot water on. "Hot water makes me a girl again."
He ran her hand under the hot water and shrank. "See?"

     One of the boys frowned as he looked at Daiji's lap. "Where did it
go?"

     One cold water splash later, the penis reappeared.

     "Cool!!"

     One of the girls blushed. "We shouldn't be doing this, should we?"

     "Shut up," the bossy boy said and looked at Daiji. "I'm Akihiro,
let's be friends."

     Daiji smiled. "Okay." He reverted back to a girl with the help of
some hot water and was just beginning to pull her shorts up when the
teacher walked in.

     "What are you all..." The teacher trailed off as she saw what was
happening. "What's going on here?!"

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

       "It was fun, Mommy!!" Daiji blurted as she ran towards Ranko when
she came to pick up the kids. She jumped into her mother's arms. "We
played with blocks and heard stories and..."

     Ranko smiled as her daughter poured out the afternoon's events.
Then she looked at Yohachi. "How did you like it, Yohachi?"

     "It was okay, but I didn't get to beat anyone up." Yohachi sulked.

     Ranko repressed a laugh. "That's good. Keep your fighting for your
sparring sessions, okay?"

     Yohachi nodded.

     "Well, let's go home then."

     Before Ranko could leave, the teacher approached her. "Mrs. Tendo,
can I please talk to you for a moment?"

     Ranko looked up form the kids. "Um... yeah." She looked at the
kids. "Play a little longer, kids."

     Daiji and Yohachi resumed building what looked like a
one-tenth-scale model of the Tendo/Saotome Dojo.

     "Ha ha ha, I shall smite thee!" Yohachi blurted when they finished.

     "You jerk, you couldn't smite a fly!" Daiji retorted.

     "Now what?" Yohachi asked.

     "Daddy said that usually the dojo would get smashed at that point,"
Daiji said.

     "Oh..." Yohachi punched out a wall.

     Daiji giggled and smashed in the roof. "Boom!!"

     Yohachi knocked down the remaining walls. "Crash!!"

     "Daiji, Yohachi... let's go!." Ranko said as she stomped over. She
had a slightly annoyed look on her face. "Now!" Make that a very annoyed
look.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     That evening, Yohachi and Daiji knelt in front of their three
parents.

     "Daiji, it's not proper to pull down your pants in public," Akane
explained.

     Daiji didn't look up front the ground. "But... but they wouldn't
believe that I was a boy if I didn't!"

     The three adults exchanged awkward glances before Akane spoke
again. "Daiji, you've got to remember that not everyone will understand
you being able to switch genders."

     "What's to switch genders?" Daiji asked innocently.

     "Um... it means to change between boy and girl," Akane explained.

     "Maybe we should have registered him as a boy and just..." Ranko
was interrupted by Ranma.

     "No, she should learn to live with the curse and not be embarrassed
about it."

     Akane cleared her throat. "Daiji, just be more careful about who
you tell about your... condition."

     Daiji smiled. "But the other kids thought it was cool!"

     Akane smiled at Daiji. "Well, we're glad you made some friends, but
please don't run around naked like that again, okay?"

     Daiji nodded. "Okay."

     Akane looked at her son. "Yohachi, please try to keep people from
picking on Daiji, okay?"

     "Okay."

     "Why don't you two go see how your grandmother is coming with
dinner." Akane watched her two kids jump up and scurry out of the dojo.
When they were out of sight she sighed heavily. "I was afraid of
something like this once they started to interact more with other kids."

     "Well, hopefully the other kids will get used to it and Daiji can
grow up normally," Ranma said.

     "Yeah.. the kids at Furinkan eventually got used to me... um... us
being male and female," Ranko remembered, looking at Ranma.

     Akane sighed. "The girls hated the fact that you attracted all the
boys and the boys hated you for taking the hottest chick in the school
away from them."

     Ranma frowned. "Huh? When did we do that?" He looked at Ranko.
"What hot chick is she talking about?"

     Akane hoped Ranma was kidding. "Very funny. I hope things go better
tomorrow for them."

     Ranko smiled and kissed her wife. "It will."

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     The next day, Yohachi's fist impacted with Akihiro's chin. "You
take that back!"
     
     "No! My daddy said your sister is some sort of freak!" Akihiro
said, and then was sent flying across the playground by the Yohachi's
kick.

     "Don't talk about her that way!!"

     "Yohachi... don't," Daiji said, trying to repair her ripped shirt.

     "Nobody picks on my sister!" Yohachi took one step towards the boy
before being grabbed from behind. "Let me go!"

     The teacher increased her grip on his shirt. "Yohachi, stop
fighting!"

     Yohachi looked back at his teacher. "But Akihiro punched my
sister!"

     "Well, then you should have told me and I would have dealt with it.
You can't just fight your way through life."

     "That's not what my Daddy says!" Yohachi blurted.

     "I can take care of myself, Yoyo!" Daiji insisted.

     The teacher sighed. "Come on... I think you should go home for the
day." She looked around and waved to the purple haired woman in the
tree. Rant rushed over.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     "I understand," Akane spoke into the telephone receiver and then
sighed. "Yes. Okay, thank you." She hung up the phone and then looked up
at Ranma and Ranko who were hovering nearby. "Just as I feared, one of
the kids made fun of Daiji's curse today."

     Ranko clenched her fists. "What?! I'll show that brat..."

     Akane put her hands on Ranko's fists. "No you won't! Yohachi is
already is trouble for beating up the boy, don't make it worse."

     Ranma's eyes widened. "Did he win?" The glare Akane gave him caused
Ranma to take a couple steps backwards.

     Akane looked back at Ranko. "The teacher sent the kids home with
Rant, let's go meet them at the gate."

     "And then what?"

     "We have another talk with them about not fighting."

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     The three parents waited at the main gate to the Compound for their
two oldest. While they waited, they discussed what they should do about
their kids. They had still not come to any decisions when a purple
haired woman appeared.

    "Rant!!" Akane shouted and rushed to the bruised and battered woman
who was staggering up to them with Yohachi in her arms.

     Ranma, Ranko, and the sentries at the gate were right behind her.

     Akane dropped down next to Rant and pulled Yohachi into her arms.
"What happened? Where's Daiji?" She checked Yohachi out and found that
he was alright, just bruised and exhausted from a fight.

     Rant looked up at Akane. "I'm sorry... Leader... there were too
many of them."

     Akane's eyes went wide and she scanned the area behind Rant.

     Ranma shook Rant. "Where is Daiji?!"

     Rant coughed. "What must have been a hundred ninjas attacked us on
our way home... I tried to stop them, but..."

     Ranko stood up straight and yelled. "Daiji!!"

     "They took her... it all happened so fast... to the south, I
think." Rant bowed her head. "I'm sorry."

     Akane was already glowing a fierce shade of red. "Daiji!!"

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     Akane and Nipplering ran down a street together, occasionally
stopping to ask people if they had seen a small redheaded boy or girl,
both answering to the name of 'Daiji'. All she got were some strange
looks.

     Nipplering's cell phone rang. "Report!" She listened to the caller
and then nodded. "Call the search teams in the area and have them check
that out." She hung up and looked at Akane. "They finally found out
where the kid who Yohachi beat up lives."

     Akane's eyes widened. "It's about time! Let's go!"

     Nipplering put a restraining hand on Akane's shoulder. "I've
already dispatched several teams to check it out. We'll be of more use
if we continue our search here, Leader."

     Akane ground her teeth and muttered something under her breath.

     "I assure you that I do not have to shave above my neck, Leader."

     Apparently Akane didn't mutter softly enough. "Sorry... Let's-" She
was cut off by the ringing of Nipplering's cell phone.

     Nipplering answered her phone. "Report." A brief pause was followed
by a shout. "What?! Her report was negative when we started the search."
Another pause. "I see. Good work." Another pause. "Have all the
south-west teams converge on that location, including the one's that the
Leader's sperm.. err... husbands are with."

     As Nipplering hung up the phone, Akane asked the obvious question.
"What is it?"

     "The warrior that was watching the Kuno mansion today has not
reported in since we first checked with her at the start of the search."

     Akane gasped. "Kuno..." Inside, Akane started to curse herself for
not putting Kuno at the top of the list, but she had grown complacent
about the poetry-spewing nutcase. <He's never shown any particular
attention to the kids, just his weekly attempts to beat Ranma up and
convince Ranko to give up her life of sin as my husband. We've forgotten
just how crazy he is.>

     "I'm sorry we were so lax as to not check with that sentry more
frequently while we searched the area."

     Akane shook her head as she realized that it was not the time to
blame anyone, including herself. "Forget about that. Let's go get my
daughter back!!"

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     Akane's foot connected with a ninja's chin. The ninja crashed into
two other ninjas. All three ninja's crashed against the wall that
surrounded the Kuno Mansion.

     "Give me back my daughter, you bastard!!" Akane's aura burned hot
and red.

     Suddenly, a red chi ball flashed past her and incinerated the
wooden wall in front of her. She snapped her head around the to find the
chi ball's source.

     "No holding back this time, right?" Ranko asked, charging up
another chi ball.

     "Not a chance..." Akane trailed off as she saw the thick steel
fence behind the wooden one that Ranko had just blasted. "Looks like the
lunatic has been reinforcing his place too."

     Ranko glanced up at the top of the tall fence. "Over the top or
burn through it?"

     "We can make it over the top, but some of the Amazons can't jump
that high. Let's burn a hole through it and take everyone in with us."
Akane charged up her own chi ball.

     "Right." Ranko glanced around at the Amazons who were dealing with
the ninjas that had been outside the fence. "Moko Takabisha!!"

     Ranko's gold beam of energy flashed out from her hands and hit the
steel wall. As it started to burn into the thick steel fence, Akane's
beam joined it. The two beams intermingled, little sparks flashing
between them until they merged into a single strong beam. The steel
fence shuddered at the force of the beams.

     The beams suddenly were cut off when a dozen ninjas piled onto
Akane and Ranko.

     Akane kicked one of the ninjas in the stomach and then grabbed
another that was sneaking up behind her. With one fluid movement, Akane
pulled the ninja over he shoulder and flung him into two other ninjas in
front of her.

     Ranko wasted little time in kicking, punching, throwing, and
otherwise pummeling the ninjas that had attacked her. "Hmmm.... these
ninjas are better than the last bunch, Kuno must have paid through his
nose for them."

     Akane finished off the last ninja attacking her and wiped her brow.
"And we'll make him pay."

     Ranma landed at their side and straightened his ruffled shirt. "I
think we've got all of the ninjas outside taken care of. Let's get
inside." He nodded at the steel fence.

     "Right!" Akane and Ranko replied in unison.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     Inside the fence, everything was calm. Then the steel fence
exploded inwards under the stress of three concentrated blasts.

     Akane, Ranma, Ranko, and the Amazons poured in through the hole,
ready for anything.

     They were over-prepared.

     Ranma scanned the empty area. "Where... where are they?"

     Ranko frowned as the expected mass attack never happened. "I don't
know. Could those outside have been all there are?"

     Ranma shook her head. "Kuno may be a crazy, overbearing jerk, but
he never puts all his eggs in one basket. Let's take it slow and be wary
of traps."

     The others nodded their agreement and cautiously made their way
toward the mansion.

     "It's too quiet," Nipplering remarked, her grip on her sword
tightening.

     "Stay focused," Ranma instructed as he slid open the front door.

     "Nothing..." Ranko muttered as she scanned the empty entryway in
front of her.

     Akane looked back at Nipplering. "Nipplering, take your warriors
and move in from all sides of the main house."

     Nipplering nodded. "I'll have some check out the outlying buildings
too."

     "Okay, but just a few and make sure they are careful," Ranma
insisted. "We know Kuno all too well. He'll have Daiji in the main house
and just traps in the outer buildings."

     Nipplering frowned. "Are you sure? With a compound of this size, it
would be smarter to hide in one of the outlying buildings."

     Ranko nodded. "We're sure."

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     Triple chi balls blew apart the latest locked door and three
parents rushed into the room.

     Akane scanned the empty room. "I don't like this. Maybe the ninjas
outside the fence were a diversion. Maybe Kuno isn't even here.
Maybe..." She trailed off as tears formed in her eyes.

     "Daiji is okay. I know it!" Ranko shouted. "I don't know why we
haven't been attacked yet, but Kuno is in here somewhere... I can feel
his smugness."

     Ranma wasn't sure if Ranko was really that sure or if she was
trying to calm down Akane. Either way, he knew they had to continue
looking. "Let's go onto the next room. There's no way I'll let Kuno have
my daughter."

     Akane looked at Ranma. "That's... that's the first time I ever
heard you call Daiji yours."

     "Is it?" Ranma frowned. "I never realized that."

     "Let's go save OUR son!" Ranko insisted.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     A set of finely carved and very expensive wooden doors became
toothpicks after being blasted by three powerful chi balls thrown by
three loving parents looking for their kidnapped child. There are few
things more powerful than that.

     Akane stormed through the hole where the doors used to stand and
prepared another chi ball.

     Ranko and Ranma took up positions on either side of her, also
preparing chi balls to blast anything they encountered.

     Three jaws dropped open.

     Three chi balls dropped to the ground and exploded, the small
debris from the exploding wooden floor went unnoticed by those three
stunned parents.

     "No..." Akane gasped, unable to believe her eyes.

     "How..." Ranma stammered, trying to make sense of what he saw.

     "That's my boy!" Ranko shouted.

     In front of them, Daiji sat on top of a pile of unconscious ninjas.
"Mommy!!"

     Ranko found her legs and ran forwards towards her child. "Are you
okay?" she asked as she quickly checked Daiji's male body for injuries.

     "Sure. I had fun playing here. Can I come tomorrow too?" Daiji
asked.

     "Play... ing?" Ranma gasped surveying the large ballroom. There
were unconscious ninjas everywhere. In addition to the two-meter-high
pile-o-ninjas that Daiji was sitting on top of, there were ninjas
embedded in all of the walls and the ceiling. A glance through a large
hole in the floor revealed a large number of defeated ninjas in a
twisted pile there as well. Several ninjas floated in a fancy rock pool,
while a naked ninja sat under a waterfall that fed into the pool and
chanted a Buddhist prayer that roughly translated as 'save me from the
evil one'.

     "Daiji, you did all this?" Akane asked as she walked over to her
oldest, still dazed at the sheer amount of damage she saw around her.

     "Sure. Funny men fun to beat up." Daiji suddenly looked worried.
"Um... sorry I fought, but they wanted to play first."

     Akane stopped dead in her tracks. After several seconds of silence,
she burst out laughing. "That's okay, precious. In this case, it was
okay to beat them up." She finished walking over to Daiji and joined
Ranko in hugging their son. "Where's Kuno?"

     Ranma smiled as he joined them. "He's over there." He pointed at a
rear end and dangling feet that were sticking out of the side wall.

     Akane studied the butt. "How do you know that's Kuno?"

     Ranma smirked. "I've kicked that butt enough times to recognize
it."

     Akane laughed. "Good, I thought maybe you liked looking at his
butt."

     "No way!!"

     Ranko smiled. "Looks like my son kicked his butt, but good."

     "No..." Daiji said softly.

     Ranko looked at her son. "No? Then who?"

     Daiji smiled. "I was a girl when I kicked his ass!!"

     Ranko smiled as kissed Daiji's forehead. "That's my girl."

     "Well, we'll have to have a talk about our daughter's language
later, but for now let's get out of here."

     Ranma held up a finger. "One second." He walked over and grabbed
one of Kuno's legs and pulled. The dazed man spilled out onto the floor.
"Get up so I can teach you to leave my family alone!!"

     "Mariko... I can't give you the child you always wanted... I'm
sorry," Kuno muttered.

     Ranma almost felt sorry for the battered man.

     Almost.

     Ranma bent down and picked Kuno up by his shirt. "I'm going to tell
you this one last time, Kuno," he growled. "Leave my family alone!" He
pulled his arm back and prepared to pummel Kuno.

     "Ranma don't..." Akane said softly.

     Ranma looked at Akane. "What? After he kidnapped our daughter?"

     "Daiji's already made him pay for that. It's not fair to beat up a
person who is helpless." She glanced at Daiji to make sure her son was
listening to her 'lesson'. Truth be told, Akane would like to kick Kuno
into lunar orbit. Only her maternal instinct to set a good example for
her children prevented her from doing just that.

     Whether Ranma understood what Akane was trying to do or just
conceded to her wishes may never be know, but he relaxed his clenched
fist and let his arm drop. He sighed. "If I have to tell you to leave my
family alone again, it'll be the last time. I promise you that,
asshole." He shoved Kuno away from him, sending Kuno crashing against
the side of the rock waterfall.

     "I... I should have spent the extra money for the deluxe ninjas...
damn second hand ninjas are worthless." Kuno mumbled and opened his
eyes. "Foul demon..." Then his eyes focused and he saw Daiji. He
screamed. Loudly. "Get that she-demon away from me!"

     "Huh?" the three parents gasped.

     Kuno held up a shaky finger and pointed. "That... that... that
demon can change forms! One second she's a sweet girl the next minute
she's a hell-spawn demon-boy!!"

     Ranma shook his head sadly. "Sure... *MY* curse you could never see
even when I transformed right in front of your face, but Daiji's you
notice after only one fight. What a bonehead."

     "Come on Ranma, we're done here." Akane said, holding Daiji tightly
in her arms.

     Ranma looked back at his wife and nodded.

     Ranko put her arm around Akane and then headed for the ruined door
when Ranma joined them. A voice stopped them before they got halfway
there.

     "Oh, Mariko... don't worry, we'll find some other way for you to
have a child."
 
     They looked back and saw Kuno holding an inflated rubber doll in
his arms.

     Akane and Ranko almost got sick.

     Ranma did when Kuno kissed Mariko's wide circular mouth.

     "Loonie-toonie funny!!" Daiji started to laugh.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     The family and their Amazon army walked in through the Compound
gates.

     "That explains why he can't get her pregnant," Ranko remarked out
of the blue.

     Ranma and Akane laughed, while Daiji looked confused. "What so
funny?"

     Akane blushed. "Um... we're just happy you're safe." 

     "It was fun!" Daiji blurted.

     Nipplering slid up to Akane's side. "The warrior we had watching
Kuno was found. She was unconscious, but will be okay. How do you want
to punish her and Rant for failing in their duties?"

     Akane gasped. "What do you mean?"

     "They have dishonored themselves and must be punished."

     Akane shook her head. "Forget it."

     "But..."

     "Nipplering, everyone is safe and okay. Just have more warriors
watch Kuno."

     "If that is your wish. I'll also have two warriors for each child
when they are out of the Compound. I'll not let anyone harm my... your
children again, that is my promise as an Amazon warrior."

     "Thanks, that's fine." Akane smiled at the tall Amazon. <She does
really have a soft side for the kids, I think.>

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     That night, the Tendos and Saotomes were all gathered around the
television again and watching the latest live feed from the Moon. The
screen was showing the view from the lunar rover as it rolled across the
lunar surface when Kasumi and Dr. Tofu walked in.

     Dr. Tofu pulled a kicking and screaming four-year-old boy in behind
him. "Moyashi!!" he scolded his son. "We're guests here."

     Little Moyashi scrunched up his face. "I don't like it here! Aya
always beats me up!"

     Ayami look at Moyashi with an innocent little smile. "No I don't!"

     "Yes, you do!!"

     Kasumi looked down at her son. "Moyashi, we'll sit on the other
side of the room, okay?"

     Moyashi looked up at his mother and visibly calmed down. "O...
okay."

     Genma chuckled. "I wish I could do that with Kenage."

     A loud crash was heard from upstairs.

     Genma sighed and looked at his wife. "I'll get it." He stood up and
walked to the door, grabbing a bucket of cold water on the way. <Someday
I'll get him to listen to me when I'm human.> He glanced at Ranma and
Ranko as he left. <Come to think of it... Ranma never obeyed me when he
was growing up either.>

     Akane smiled at Kasumi. "How are you doing, Sis?"

     Kasumi smiled as Dr. Tofu helped her sit down in a high-backed
chair. "Okay. This one is a bit more active than Moyashi was, but I'm
handling it." She patted her pregnant belly.

     "Tell me about it. It seemed like Ayami never stopped kicking."
Akane smiled and looked at her youngest.

     "She still kicks!" Moyashi blurted.

     "Hush, dear," Kasumi said patting her son's hand.

     Dr. Tofu looked nervously at Kasumi. "Are you all right there?"
Kasumi nodded. "Comfortable?" Kasumi nodded. "Do you need anything?"
Kasumi shook her head. "Water?" Kasumi shook her head. "Tea?" Kasumi
shook her head. "No contractions yet?"

     Kasumi smiled sweetly at her husband. "I'm fine, Tofu. You don't
have to fuss over me so."

     "But..." Dr. Tofu started to argue before Kasumi interrupted him.

     "I'm only a week overdue." Kasumi casually rubbed her large belly.

     Akane chuckled. "Ranma was the same way when I was two weeks
overdue with Ayami."

     "I was not!!" Ranma insisted.

     Ranko looked up from where she was helping Yohachi, Ayami, and
Daiji play a board game. "Yeah, right. You kept calling the hospital
every time Akane had a twinge."

     The brewing fight was interrupted when the ceiling caved in and a
black and white furball fell onto the table, smashing it. A
four-year-old boy fell with the panda. He bounced off the panda's
stomach and flew back towards the just created hole.

     "Oh, Kenage is getting quite big," Kasumi remarked as the boy--well
he was more of a blur--disappeared back through the hole in the ceiling.

     Nodoka nodded her weary head. "Yes, he is." She helped her husband
clean up the pieces of the table and then went to get one of the many
spare tables they kept on hand in the 'spare table storage shed'.

     Little Moyashi looked up at his mother. "Mommy, can I go play with
Kenage?"

     Kasumi smiled. "Yes, but don't get into any trouble."

     Moyashi nodded and rushed out of the room, being closely followed
by Ayami who had abandoned the game.

     "Ayami, play nicely!" Akane called out as her youngest disappeared.
She looked at Kasumi. "I'm sorry that Ayami seems to pick on Moyashi a
lot."

     Kasumi shook her head. "Don't worry about it, Moyashi just isn't
used to having a lot of kids around all the time to play with, so I
think he blows everything out of proportion." She looked at Daiji.
"Daiji seems to be okay after what happened today."

     Akane smiled and looked at her oldest. "She's a Saotome, it takes a
lot more than a horde of second-rate ninjas to upset them."

     "I'm glad. I sometimes worry about you here in your 'Compound'." 

     Akane smiled. "How's life at your house?"

     "Great. His old place was very cozy, but I love the new house and
clinic we built together." Kasumi looked around the smallish room. "Do
you miss having the bigger layout?"

     Akane shook her head. "No... I feel more comfortable in the house
Mom built with Dad. I'm still thankful we found some of the original
siding and some of the old floor mats to reuse... I'm not sure it would
feel the same to me if it was made out of all new material." She ran her
hand lovingly across the floor. "With you and Nabiki gone, there's more
than enough room for the rest of us."

     "But you kept the bigger bathroom." Kasumi winked.

     Akane blushed. "Well, yeah..." She decided to change the subject.
"You still planning on starting your internship after you give birth?"

     "When I'm able. It's likely not going to be until the end of the
year. Tofu is great with Moyashi, but I'm not sure he can handle two
kids and keep his practice going."

     Dr. Tofu put his hand on his wife's hand. "Kasumi, I can. Don't
give up your dreams."

     Kasumi looked at her husband. "But I'll have to work long hours as
an intern and..."

     Dr. Tofu put a finger over Kasumi's lips to silence her. "I can
handle it. If I can't, we'll find a way."

     "Damn, I can even get my two knuckleheads to take out the garbage,"
Akane muttered.

     Ranma and Ranko tried to pretend they hadn't heard her.

     Kasumi smiled leaned over to her youngest sister. "Tofu doesn't
like to do that either, but then I..." She started whispering.

     Akane's eyes went wide. When Kasumi finished, Akane sighed. "I've
tried that already." She glanced at her husbands. "I doesn't work with
them."

     "Just keep trying... they'll cave in eventually." Kasumi winked.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     "Anomaly blast site in view, will hold at one hundred meters."

     The television showed the view from a camera mounted on the lunar
rover. The sun cast its light over the rocky, gray terrain in front of
the rover. In front of the rover, a large blackened blast crater could
be seen spread out in front of the rover.

     "The satellite photos and three-D topographical maps were right,
the terrain is littered with sharp boulders and uneven terrain. The
blast from the anomaly appears to have fractured the ground and thrown
debris across the whole area."

     The rover crested the edge of the cater and slowly made it's way to
the center, weaving around a wide assortment of debris and boulders.

     Once the rover reached its destination, the jagged rocks that stuck
up from the gray dirt were casting long shadows across the surface. The
three astronauts climbed off the rover and began their survey of the
area.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     Back in Nerima, a family huddled around the television.

     The youngest kids were still upstairs playing with Genma. The
occasional growls of pain were signs that the kids were playing 'panda
roundup'.

     Nodoka and Hinako were in the kitchen preparing dinner.

     Which left Ranma, Akane, and Ranko and their two oldest to watch
the Moon landing coverage with Kasumi, Dr. Tofu, and Soun.

     "This is boring!! When is something going to happen?!" Daiji asked,
pointing at the screen.

     Ranma glanced at Akane before speaking. "Well...  um... Daiji, it's
actually good that it's so calm there."

     "Why?"

     Ranma gulped loudly.

     Kasumi looked over and save Ranma. "I think I should take them
upstairs to play with the other kids."

     "No, I want watch this he... herporical moment!" Daiji insisted.

     Ranko sighed as her words from the day before came back to haunt
her.

     "I'll make you something special for dessert if you go play nice."
Kasumi smiled pleasantly.

     "Yaaaaayyyyy!!" Daiji and Yohachi shouted and started jumping
around.

     Kasumi started to rise, but Dr. Tofu restrained her. "I'll go, you
shouldn't be climbing stairs in your condition."

     Kasumi tilted her head and smiled. "Thank you." She watched her
husband follow the two kids out and then turned to Akane. "I wish he
wouldn't treat me like I'll break if I do anything even slightly
physical."

     Akane laughed. "Could be worse, my two idiots are always so rough
with me."

     Kasumi's eyes went wide. "Akane, I didn't know you liked rough
sex."

     "I... I..." Akane gasped. "I meant when we train!" She blushed as
she saw her father looking at her.

     A loud wail rang out from across the room shortly after.

     Little Hinako rushed in to the room when she heard the cry.
"Crybaby, stop it!!!!" She scurried over to Soun. "Honestly, you just
can't do this at your age!"

     The others watched as the small girl pulled the large brown
dog--who was at least twice her size--off Soun. Soun took a breath after
getting out from under the dog's body.

     Hinako shook her finger in front of the dog's face. "Bad, Crybaby,
I know your father's comfy, but you can't lay on top of him anymore.
You're just too big now."

     Crybaby whimpered, but lay down on the floor next to Soun.

     Hinako giggled. "Good boy."

     Soun looked up at his wife. "Thanks. I just know he'll asphyxiate
me someday when you're out of the house."

     Hinako giggled. "Crybaby loves you, that's all."

     Soun exhaled. "Yeah, but I wish he could at least show it without
smothering me."

     Hinako bent down and whispered something to Soun, which made him
blush.

     "I'll have the fighting fish ready tonight," Soun replied softly,
but not softly enough to keep Kasumi and Akane from blushing. Ranma and
Ranko didn't seem to get the implication.

     "Houston, there is a large amount of the black dust around the
blast site."

     The translation of the astronaut's words caused all those in the
family room to turn towards the television. On it, there was a close-up
of one of the astronaut's gloved hands sifting though the blast dust.

     The view switched to another video camera, which showed another
astronaut standing next to the lunar rover. "No sign of any activity
here."

     Akane shuddered.

     Ranma wrapped his arm around his wife. "Don't worry, they're gone."

     "I like to think so too, but seeing this reminds me of all the bad
nightmares I had after we returned to Nerima." Akane looked up at Ranma.
"What if they come back?"

     "They won't." Ranma gave Akane a kiss to calm her fears.

                    -A-           -M-           -D-

     The spacesuited figure stepped off the lunar rover and onto the
Moon's surface. He bounded over to the other two astronauts who were
waiting a dozen meters from the rover. A thin--but very strong--cable
ran from his suit to a large reel on the rover that dispensed cable as
he moved away. "Houston, the hard link and tether to the rover is
secure."

     "Roger, Anomaly Base Two. We are receiving on all communications
links, both primary and backups. Proceed according to plan."

     The three figures looked at each other and then tested the special
attachments on their suits. Long blades extended from sheathes attached
to their forearms. They each swung their arms around to test the range
of the blades. Then the blades retracted.

     "Arm blades functional. Grenade launcher safeties are off. We are
now approaching the anomaly."

     "Roger, all visuals green. All transmissions green. Approach the
anomaly as planned."

     As the world watched the 'public' Moon landing near the first relay
monolith blast site, the 'shadow' Moon landing team walked away from
their small lunar rover and towards the tall black monolith that rose
from the surface on the Moon's far side, out of the view of those on
Earth.

     But not out of view of the satellites that NASA had sent to survey
the ruined surface of the Moon back at the end of two-thousand and one.
The discovery of a lone monolith on the Moon's surface had almost been
revealed to the public before the U.S. Government classified it at a
level of secrecy that is so secret, it doesn't have a name. Certain
elements of the government then embarked on a series of covert plans
that eventually led to this Moon landing.

     The true reason for the Moon mission--to examine the monolith and
determine if it posed any threat to the Earth--was known to only a
select few in the U.S. Government. Even among the people planning the
lunar landing, the true reasons for the mission was known only those
that needed to know. Questions about why the smaller 'test' lunar lander
and rover were sent up to the International Space Station Freedom--which
had been completed in late two-thousand and three--were answered as
being 'a backup for the main lander and rover'. Some people also
wondered why both the primary and 'backup' flight crews were sent to the
space station for the final assembly of the spacecraft, but were simply
told it was to backup the primary crew just in case there were any last
minute problems.

     Few people knew that both teams were on board the spacecraft when
it blasted out of Earth orbit. Even fewer knew exactly where that second
team had gone when their smaller lunar lander had descended from the
orbiter to the surface on the far side of the moon during a 'routine
communications blackout'.

     The commander of the shadow team checked his readings on the large
instrument package strapped to the chest. Like the ones his two comrades
carried, the pack constantly scanned for any sudden change in emissions
from the monolith.

     Of course, that would mean any emissions from the monolith. Despite
the fact that it could be seen in satellite photos, the scientists
studying the data from lunar satellites could not detect it any other
way. Just like the tests run on the Florida Monolith, the relay monolith
didn't seem to emit any detectable energy and didn't reflect any signals
directed at it. It was as if it wasn't really there. Of course, they
knew from experience that it was really there and could cause
destruction on a scale that mankind had not thought possible. Until
nineteen-ninety-nine, that is.

     The astronauts got within a hundred meters of the monolith and
paused to examine their readings, take pictures, and look for any
activity.

     "Control, still nothing to report. Everything is quiet. We are
beginning our collection of samples of the material surrounding the
anomaly.

     "Understood, Anomaly Base Two."

     Over the course of about thirty minutes, the three astronauts
collected various samples from the surrounding area and loaded them onto
the rover.

     "Control, sample collection complete. Proceeding to thirty meters
and holding."

     "Understood, Anomaly Base Two."

     The astronauts cautiously made their way towards the anomaly,
spaced apart by about twenty meters each. The stopped at what their
readings told them was thirty meters. "Control, thirty meters and
holding."

     "Understood, Anomaly Base Two. We are analyzing video feeds for any
signs of movement now. Please stand by."

     The three astronauts stood still while they waited for word form
their control center.

     "This is just too much like that movie for comfort." The astronaut
looked up the length of the monolith.

     "Yeah, but nothing happened to the Moon in that movie. It all
happened in orbit around Jupiter."

     "Florida wasn't incinerated in that movie either."

     "Good point."

     "I hope this is just a relic and those creatures are gone for
good."

     "Yeah, I lost some good friends when Florida was destroyed. I'd
hate to see that happen again."

     "I may never get used to launching from the Georgia Keys instead of
Cape Canaveral. Even if they are physically the same place, it still
feels strange to call it by that name."

     "I know how you feel, I used to have a house near..."

     "Anomaly Base Two, astronauts two and three, proceed to twenty
meters and hold. One, stay at thirty meters."

     The astronauts suddenly remembered why they were there. "Roger,
Control."

     Two of the astronauts strode forward, while one remained behind as
backup. They all kept an eye on their readouts on their instrument packs
and their telltales in their helmet visors. When they reached twenty
meters, they paused and waited.

     "Astronaut three, proceed to ten meters and hold. One, back off ten
meters.

     The first astronaut used a rearview monitor feed from a small
camera in his backpack to slowly back away from the monolith.

     The third astronaut stepped forward slowly. When he got within
about fifteen meters the readings on the instruments of all three
astronauts instantaneously spiked at their maximum values. The astronaut
in front called out, "Control, we have a problem!!"
 
     Three sets of eyes suddenly went wide in fear after they looked
from their instruments at the monolith.

     "The Blackness!!"


***********************************************************************
>From the Journal of James Davidson


May 16, 2058

     "Of course, we had no idea the U.S. had discovered that monolith
until years later." Yohachi yawned. "Well, my parents found out at
least, they didn't tell us kids a lot of what was going on. They tried
to keep us from finding out about their problems, but we knew something
was going on."

     I nodded. "Most parents try to protect their kids that way."

     "Yeah, but you don't know how ornery Mom could get about keeping
her sec... rets." Yohachi looked at me for a couple seconds before
continuing. "Oh... maybe you can."

     I chuckled. "Yeah, she's a handful sometimes."

     "Thanks for listening to me babble today."

     "I didn't mind at all." As we had talked, various people had
occasionally come to check up on Akane. In fact, it was more like a
steady stream. "Are you sure you don't mind me talking notes?" I glanced
at my wristtop.

     Yohachi shook his head. "No, she'd understand."

     "Um... I've been wondering..."

     Yohachi looked at me out of the corner of his eyes. "Yes?"

     "Yesterday I felt pretty helpless out there and... well, I was
wondering if you could train me."

     Yohachi sighed. "It takes years to get even the basic forms down."

     "I know... but I'd like to try. I'll have a son to protect soon."

     Yohachi smiled. "You're just trying to take my mind off..." He
nodded towards the glass. "I appreciate it, but..."

     "No, I'd really like to learn."

     Yohachi seemed to study my face, perhaps to determine if I was
serious, and then answered. "Okay, I have a daily class for beginners
and novices. I hope you can keep up."

     "I'll do my best. Thanks." I exchanged a smile with Yohachi before
we went back to staring at the glass window separating us from Akane.
When my wristtop tingled at the top of the hour, I looked around to see
if Hanaki was back from her walk. Instead of Hanaki, I saw a little
five-year-old girl in the doorway with Kasumi. Correction, Daijiko had
turned six recently. "Hiya, rugrat."

     Daijiko just stared at Akane through the window and remained
silent.

     Kasumi looked down at Daijiko. "Do you want to get closer to the
window so you can see better?"

     Daiji shook her head and wrapped her arms around Kasumi's leg. "Is
great-granny going to be alright?"

     Kasumi ran her hand through the little girl's hair. "We hope so.
She's getting the best care possible and I made sure your Uncle Moyashi
tied the sutures extra tight and put a  pretty bow on each one."

     Daiji looked up at Kasumi. "Like when I hurt my elbow?" She held up
her arm and showed off a small scar.

     Kasumi smiled and nodded. "Yes, just like that."

     Daijiko smiled and jumped over to the window. "Oh, then she'll be
good as new soon!!"

     I stepped over and knelt down next to Daijiko. "You okay?" I wiped
a tear off her cheek.

     Daijiko nodded. "I just don't want great-granny to go away."

     I pulled her into a hug. "Me neither."


[End - Chapter 1]

Coming soon: Chapter 2: Friends, Family, and Rivals; Punches and Kicks;
Blood and Tears
=======================================================================
The real author's (Jim Lazar) notes/ramblings


And thus adulthood begins with a bang.

Be sure to check out the AMD Additional Information page on my website
for a family tree (as known at the end of CMD) and before and after
diagrams of Florida.
http://www.animeprime.com/ff/md/amdindex.html


I'd like to thank my pre-readers Michael A. Chase, Thomas Kinnen, EBJ,
and David Johnston for helping me find and fix problems with this story.
FFML members Thierry Chartrand-Chamblay and Pat Olsen were also helpful
in fine tuning this story. Thank you all. Of course in the end, any
mistakes and botched characters are my fault.


Revision 0.0 - Rough draft began (February 18, 2000)
Revision 0.1 - REALLY rough draft finished (March 5, 2000)
Revision 0.2 - Not -so-rough draft finished (March 31, 2000)
Revision 0.3 - Pre-reader draft (June 2, 2000)
Revision 0.4 - FFML draft (July 6, 2000)
Revision 1.0 - Final version (July 21, 2000)
Revision 1.1 - First RAAC posting (July 25, 2000)