Disclaimer: 1) the act of disclaiming; denial; rejection. 2) A person who disclaims. 3a) A statement denying responsibility for some act or condition. B) A clause in an agreement relieving one party of responsibility for carrying out certain provisions under certain circumstances.

Again, I'd like to thank John Tannius for his gracious permission to steal…er, borrow ideas from his fic.  Whereas Ranma is a copper dragon hatchling in that fic from falling into the same spring, our hero is…a bit more law-abiding.

I make no claims to owning any of the characters here, except mine.  I also have no money, so if you do try to sue, you ain't gonna get much.  By the way, flames will be used for cooking.

An American Dragon in Nerima

Beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepclick.  An eye opened, and looked at the clock.  In happy red numerals it proclaimed to the world that it was three am, and time to get up.  Marx groaned, then hauled himself out of bed.  He flipped the light on, and cursed to himself in a language that hadn't been heard on Earth in quite some time as he blinked away the spots from his eyes.  Wrapping his bathrobe around his body, he grabbed his shaving kit and uniform, before heading to the furo, to bathe.

Making sure the occupied sign was in place, and the door shut, he began his predawn ritual of getting ready to face the world as an Air Force lieutenant.  Running the hot water in the sink, and lathering his face up as the furo filled, Marx looked at himself in the mirror.  The face that stared back at him wasn't the one that the rest of the world saw.  A long, silvery face, with a mouth full of long, sharp teeth looked back at him-his true form ever since he accidentally fell into the spring of Dai Ryuujin no Nishi and merged with the spirit trapped there.  His original personality and that of the dragon's meshed perfectly, and what memories did trade back and forth on the subconscious level told Marx that the dragon he'd become performed some of the same functions he did.  One of the first things the dragon taught himself, after learning how to walk again and fly, was his innate shape shifting abilities, so he could go on to his next assignment…Yokota Airbase.  Over the few months that he'd been in Japan, more memories unlocked themselves.  Memories of the dragon's human wife, a gentle wisp of a girl with a core of steel…finding her murdered, the blood spattered all over where they lived.  At some point, though, Marx wasn't sure where the dragon's memories and his memories had melded, if they had at all.

His public face freshly shaved, the lieutenant doused himself off with cold water, lathered up, and rinsed again, making sure that all the soap was off, before a quick soak to get the chill out of his bones, before getting dressed.  Dressed in the woodland BDUs that were the standard uniform of the Security Forces, Marx made his way to the kitchen.

A note from Kasumi, written in patient, and apparently rusty, English told their newest tenant that his bento was in the fridge.  Grabbing the box lunch, which had another note on it warning a certain panda that he would be force-fed Akane's cooking if he so much as touched this bento, Marx pulled on his boots, and left for work.

------

Kasumi awoke, dressed and headed downstairs, to prepare for the morning routine.  Setting the kettle full of water on the stove to heat for their Jusenkyo-cursed houseguests, she looked at the clock.  "It's five.  I wonder where Christopher-san is?"  As she gathered the things for breakfast, she noticed that the bento she made for him was missing.  With his boots missing from the genkan, she made a logical conclusion that he was on his way to work.

She stepped out on to the veranda, and watched the sun rise, enjoying this moment of calm before the storm.  Which today wasn't long in coming, unfortunately.  A pigtailed blur came flying from the guest bedroom window, followed by a giant panda.

"Damnit, Pops," the redheaded girl shouted, "why do you have to do this every morning?"

[Because you're growing lax, here, boy!]  The panda "shouted".

"'Lax'?  I'll show you lax, Pops!"  With that, the redhead launched her attack at her father.

Kasumi smiled at the two fighting, like a big sister, but sighed.  "Akane has Ranma.  Ranma has the other girls.  Nabiki has…well, she's been sneaking out to see some one.  I wonder if it's that charming Kuno boy.  I wonder if I'll ever find someone."

------

Marx was sitting in Security Control at Yokota, when a sneezing fit came over him.  "You all right sir," the flight sergeant asked.

"I'm fine, Sergeant Spirenburg.  Must have been some dust in the air."  He looked at the clock.  It wasn't even eight thirty yet.  Day seems to be dragging.  And I'm sure the guys on the flightline feel the same way.  "Mike, let's go for a drive," Marx said as he stood and holstered his pistol.

"Sure sir."  The flight sergeant also stood, and grabbed his rifle.  They pulled out of the lot and headed for the flightline.  Yokota was primarily a transport base, so there were no fighters or bombers to worry about.  But that didn't mean there wasn't a specific level of security required by Air Force Instructions.  And cops tend to go stale if they don't practice what they were taught at the Academy.

Picking up the radio mic, Marx contacted Control. "Security Control, Security Five."

"Security Five."

"Control, I'd like to initiate a flight-level exercise."

"Go ahead with exercise input, Security Five."

"Control, Security Five.  Two individuals have blow through the main gate, and are on their way to the flightline.  04B1313 is simulating a Mitsubishi Fuso panel truck."  The exercise led off with a merry chase along the flightline and taxiways, through the various aircraft parking areas, and towards the actual aircraft, before the cops assigned to base patrol duty had set up a roadblock.  Both the Lieutenant and Master Sergeant were hauled out of the truck, handcuffed and searched.  Their vehicle was also given a hasty search, and that's when the airman searching the vehicle found the training explosive device.  Which would have detonated with all the radio traffic going back and forth, killing everyone.  Marx gave everyone good marks for the personnel searches, but low marks for not searching the vehicle after the suspects were on the ground and cuffed.

"Gentlemen, and ladies," he said, "this is why we conduct these exercises.  To make sure that nothing like this happens for real.  But other than that, it was a good exercise."  The cops involved in the exercise saluted their flight chief as he and MSgt. Spirenburg climbed into the Air Force Yukon and headed back on the road.

------

Walking through the gate, Marx wearily shuffled his way up the path to the house.  Balancing on one foot in the genkan, he took off his boots and slipped on his house slippers.  "I've really got to get lace-in zippers for my boots," he muttered. 

As the newest resident walked past the kitchen on his way to his room, he heard Kasumi call to him.  "Rough day at work?"

Marx stopped in the kitchen.  "No.  Just slow.  About the only thing that livened up the day was the exercise we ran."  He smiled at her.  "I 'killed' my flight with a training simulator."

"Oh my, that's horrible."  She gave their American tenant a disapproving look.

Marx shrugged, and gave her a sheepish look.  "Better they 'die' in training than in real life.  But they did do a good job up until they found the device."  He smiled at her.  "It's all good, Kasumi-san.  It was just an exercise."

"I…I see, Christopher-san.  I'm just used to listening to Ranma's fights with his friends and rivals."  Behind the mask of an oblivious homemaker, was an intellect that could rival the savviest detective.  She knew exactly what was going on between Ranma and his "friends".

Marx set his boots down on the floor, and sat on a stool.  "What's the deal with Ranma, anyway?  Besides Jusenkyo, what else is going against that boy?"

Kasumi sighed, and sat down next to the Lieutenant.  "That's really Ranma's story, but my father and his father promised to unite the two schools of Musabetsu Kakutou if they had children when they finished training with Grandfather Happosai.

"After taking his son on a ten-year training trip, which involved the curses that you saw last night, they showed up here almost two years ago…" Kasumi began to relate what she's seen going on since the Saotomes arrived on that rainy day.  The rivals appearing out of the woodwork, the kidnappings of her little sister, the fiancée mess.

Marx interrupted on the fiancée mess.  "Wait a second-in addition to being engaged to Akane, he has an Amazon 'wife', and two other engagements?  Who the hell did all this to him?"

Kasumi's face darkened for a moment, before clearing.  "His father," was all she simply stated. 

The panda in question shuffled in, and opened the refrigerator.  [Kasumi,] the signs began popping up.  [Is there anything to snack on?  I'm feeling a bit hungry.]

Her plastic smile back in place, "Of course, Saotome-san."  She reached around and pulled out a plate of bamboo.  "That's all we have for you right now."  Growfing under his breath, Genma took the plate of bamboo, still happy about being able to feed his stomach.  "Oh dear," she said, as she looked at the wall clock.  "I have to get dinner ready."  The sounds of the three teens still in high school coming through the gate could be heard in the distant background.

"And I want to get cleaned up before dinner."  Marx excused himself, and headed up to the furo, after stopping in his room, setting his boots down and grabbing his shaving kit. 

After cleaning off, he settled into the hot water, letting its therapeutic qualities soak out the aches and pains from wearing his duty gear.  It was a long day for him, not only because he was up while it was still dark, but also because Ranma and Akane had been arguing long into the night about P-chan.  Marx kind of figured out that P-chan was Akane's pet pig, but didn't know why the two teens would be arguing over something so trivial.  The heat of the water was soothing, and Marx could feel his eyes closing.  He gave in to his fatigue.

There was an opening of the outer door, a set of quiet footsteps, and the outer door sliding shut.  Marx had tuned out all of it, getting into such a nice, deep sleep.  That is until he heard humming coming from the changing room.  His eyes shot open, as the last splash of rinse water could be heard.  There were footsteps on the tile, closing on the door to the tub room.  In a panic, Marx's eyes swept the room for his towel-he'd left it on his uniform, next to his shaving kit.  Marx was out of the tub, lunging for a washcloth, as the door opened.

Kasumi's eyes tracked the movement, even as her hands reflexively moved to cover her privates.  Marx was covering his privates with just a washcloth.  Caught in such an embarrassing situation, they were both turning a bright red.  "Ah…ah…ah…" was all that came out of Marx's mouth.  Kasumi, didn't exactly trust herself to speak at that point, and slid the door closed with her foot.  Marx slumped against the wall.  On the other side, Kasumi did the same thing.

Oh my, she thought to herself.  She quickly put her robe back on, and tried to compose herself.  But somehow the image of their American tenant wouldn't leave her mind.  Maybe I've kept myself repressed for too long.  The door slid open, and Marx walked out, in his bathrobe.  "Christopher-san…gomen nasai," she said, bowing low.  "I…I…"

"Kasumi, um…it was an…accident…that's all."  Marx said, waffling.  He, too, had been shaken up by the image of Kasumi's glistening wet skin.  And the two matching wet spots on her robe weren't helping him calm down at all.  He blushed again, and lowered his eyes.

The eldest Tendo quickly walked through the open door, and slid it shut.  Both of them were embarrassed to the core by what happened.  Marx quickly toweled off, and noticed that his physical training uniform was missing.  Sighing in frustration at the day's recent events, he grabbed his shaving kit and made his way to his room.  Something is up.  I know that I had a pair of PT shorts and t-shirt sitting on the shelf with my stuff.  But she sure is cute. 

As he was walking down the corridor to his room, the sash on his robe loosened.  Which had an unfortunate consequence as Akane was walking towards the lieutenant.  Without even blinking an eye, or telling him that his robe was open, she automatically assumed he was one and shouted: "Pervert!"  Then grabbed her mallet and smashed Marx through the wall.

Marx flew through the thin wooden structure, and impacted against the stone privacy wall.  He was fortunate that he was no longer a normal human, since he didn't think he'd be able to survive the mallet hit, let alone the impact.  The Tendos and Saotomes had heard Akane's battle cry and looked outside, anticipating seeing Ranma knocked into the pond.

To say they were shocked to see Marx lying there, with barely a bruise, would be a gross understatement.  He staggered to his feet, and closed his robe.  Soun and Genma looked at the American officer, shock evident on their faces.  "How…how did…?" Genma asked, trying to figure it out.

Shaking the cobwebs from his head, Marx looked at the fathers.  "That…is a secret," he said.  He looked at the youngest Tendo, focusing his aura towards her.  "You, my dear, have a problem with your temper.  If you don't learn to control it, it will be your undoing."  With that, he unsteadily walked into the house, and finished walking to his room.  Akane stood there, rooted to the floor.

------

Dinner was a quiet affair.  The fathers were trying to figure out how a low level martial artist like Marx was able to survive Akane in one of her "Pound the Pervert" attack modes.  Nabiki had schooled her features, and was the epitome of calm.  Akane was glaring at Marx.  In her eyes, once a pervert always a pervert.  Ranma…well, the pigtailed martial artist was busy stealing food from his father's plate.  Both Marx and Kasumi were stealing glances at each other.  And this was not lost on Nabiki as well.

It seemed that helping Kasumi out with the dishes after dinner was becoming an accepted norm with their new tenant, while the teens did their homework and the fathers returned to the shoji board.  Once the dishes were away, Marx bid Kasumi a good night.

There was a knock on his door, as he was getting ready for bed.  "Come in," he called.

Kasumi entered the room.  "Christopher-san, I'd like to apologize for my sister.  She's really a good girl, but a violent maniac sometimes."

"She didn't have to hit me.  All she had to do was tell me my robe was open."

Kasumi lowered her eyes.  "I know.  It's just that she thinks that all men are perverts.  And tends to think with her fists, and not her head.  I…haven't been the best surrogate mother for my sisters…"

Marx knelt on his futon, and motioned for Kasumi to sit.  "What happened that put raising your family in your hands?"

Kasumi looked at the American sitting there.  For some reason she felt comfortable in his presence, like he was going to protect her against whatever ills there are in the world.  She didn't feel the fear, or uneasiness that her sisters and the fathers felt.  "Momma…died when I was nine.  Since then, I've had to put aside my dreams and run the family."

"I…see," Marx said.  "I didn't know."

"It's quite alright, Christopher-kun.  The residents of most of the ward know, but they've also known the family for many years."

"Kasumi," Marx looked at the young woman in front of him.  "Would you like to go out to dinner tomorrow night?"

Kasumi looked at Marx, her eyes wide in surprise.  "Christopher-kun…I don't know what to say…"

Marx smiled at her.  "Just say 'yes'."

"Oh, of course.  It's just that I haven't been asked out in…in a long time.  I'd be happy to go."

"Be ready at six."

"I will.  Sleep well, Christopher-kun," Kasumi said, as she left his room, a lightness in her step that hadn't been there before.

Kasumi knocked on Nabiki's door after leaving Marx's room.  When the middle Tendo opened the door, she noticed the sappy grin on her older sister's face.  "So what happened, oneechan?"

"Christopher-kun asked me out to dinner tomorrow night."  Nabiki arched an eyebrow up when she heard her sister call their only paying tenant so familiarly.  "Do you have something I can wear, Nabiki?"

Nabiki smirked.  "I think I might find something for you."  The financial whiz of the Tendos stood, and began rummaging through her closet.  She knew exactly what to let her sister wear, it was one of the few luxuries that Nabiki granted herself.  Deep in the back of the closet was a red halter-top dress that ended about mid thigh still in the dry cleaner's protective plastic. 

When Nabiki pulled it out, Kasumi's eyes went wide.  "I can't wear that, imouto-chan.  It's…it's indecent."

"I'm not done yet, sis," she replied, as she went back into the closet.  A few more minutes were spent looking through her limited collection of shoes and retrieved not only the matching 5" stilettos but also the matching shawl.  A wry grin on her face, she forestalled her sister's argument for a few more minutes, and went over to her dresser and pulled out the matching silk stockings.

"Nabiki!  I'm going to look like…like…"

"A real woman?"  Her sister answered.  "If you want, I can let you borrow the matching underwear."  Nabiki had a big smile on her face at her sister's discomfort, even though it pained her to see Kasumi reacting like this.

"No, I'll look like a…prostitute," she countered.

"Kasumi, when was the last time you went on a date?"

"Um…about five years ago," she said, a sad smile on her face.  Her responsibilities to her family took precedence over her social life.

"This could be the chance for your happiness, 'neechan.  Besides, he's the first paying tenant we've had.  At least since the human vacuum cleaners moved in.  His rent will help keep us in the black for some time to come.  I want you to look good."

Kasumi sighed.  "I guess so.  But I'm not wearing any of your underwear.  I've seen it, and that's just indecent."

"Alright."  Besides, that's what I wore when I went out to that club and met…her.  Somehow I think 'neechan will have a good time.  Nabiki thought as her sister walked out of her room with the clothes.

------

As the Amazons began closing up the Nekohanten for the night, the chimes jingled as the door opened then closed.  "We closed.  You come back tomorrow," Shampoo said to the cloaked figure.

"I would except Elderrr Lo Xian was most emphatic about my deliverrring herrr message."  The cloaked figure said, rolling her r's.  The hood of the cloak was thrown back.

"Tigar, what are you doing here?"  Cologne said, as she pogoed in from the kitchen.

"Elderrr Kuh Lon, I brrring trrroubling news.  Someone has fallen into the Spring of Dai Ryuujin no Nishi.  Jusenkyo is no longerrr currrsed."  The daughter of a mountain cat that fell into the Nyanniichuan said. 

"Blast it.  For generations, we've hunted down and removed whoever fell into that spring to protect themselves from the curse, and to protect the valley.

"Was the Guide interviewed?"

"Elderrr Lo Xian knew you'd ask.  The Guide was put to the question, Elderrr.  He said that the last perrrson to fall into the spring was an Amerrrican."

"Then this American fused with the spirit of the spring…This is going to be a most difficult hunt."

"That is why I am herrre, Elderrr-to assist in the hunt."  Tigar said proudly.

"I know you are the best tracker in the village, Tigar.  But this is an urban jungle, with rules of its own, girl."

"I underrrstand, Elderrr.  And I will be carrreful."  Tigar was always prideful of her skills as a tracker, more so because of her parentage.  In fact, if she were a full cat right now, her fur would be bristling at Cologne's apparent lack of faith.

"Then let us pray that we find the poor fool before the curse affects him any further."