Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ An American Dragon in Nerima ❯ Chapter the Fifth ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer:  Ain't mine, don't own 'em.  Wish I did though.  Flames will be extinguished.  And in case you missed it the first three times ideas have been borrowed, with permission from John Tannius' Dragon's Destiny.

Marx reached across the table and took her hand.  "I know.  I've enjoyed our time together too."

"Christopher-kun, I just wanted to say that…"

There was a crash and in a dulcet mezzo-soprano was Ranma shouting at her father.  "Get offa me, Oyaji!  Baka Panda!"

Marx rolled his eyes.  "So much for a quiet evening at home," he muttered.  Kasumi smiled and nodded in agreement.  "Kasumi, I love you too."  He leaned across the table and kissed her.

Kasumi blushed brightly, and kissed back.  There was a flash of a camera going off.  Soun pulled the Air Force lieutenant into a bear hug.  "Oh, happy day!  Happy day!  My little girl's growing up!"

Marx was being squeezed to death by his landlord.  "Father," Kasumi said, "he needs to breathe.  Besides, it's not like her proposed to me."

"I'm sorry, daughter," Soun said as he let go of Marx.  The lieutenant gasped and coughed, trying to regain his breath.  "I'll leave you two alone."

-------

As Kasumi and the Lieutenant were cleaning the dishes, as was their after dinner activity, far to the east, and a few islands north of Guam, a long dormant volcano began belching out smoke.  The natives, relatively civilized, remembered the tales woven at night by the chieftain's family about the only way to appease the volcano god was to sacrifice virgin females, between 16 and 19.

Rounding up two score young virgins (which is most of the unmarried population); the villagers place them in a small stone "castle" to await their sacrifice to appease the "god".

Unbeknownst to the villagers, the volcano "god" is a red dragon, waking up from a millennia-long nap.  Sniffing the air, the dragon took in two scents-one was closer and more immediate, the other older, but no less significant.  "So, after all this time, my old friend, you are finally awake."  Sniffing the air again, she rumbled "But first, a snack."

Amid the screams coming from the "castle", there was the lighter sound of bones crunching, as the villagers prayed for salvation from this blight.

-------

Marx shot awake, at the feeling of someone dancing on his, or his, grave.  In friendly red letters, the clock proclaimed 230 in the morning.  For whatever reason, he was pulled from a perfectly…perverted dream that involved him, Kasumi and a can of whipped cream.  Ok, something is not right.  When was the last time I felt this way?  Oh yeah, it was the night of my big final exam.  But it's not on the same level.  A remembrance slammed into Marx's mind.  A fight between two wyrms, over what is now Tibet, raging for several days between a silver male and a red female.  A battle that didn't end until the red dragon escaped into a blizzard.  He climbed out of his futon, and threw a robe over his pajamas before heading down to the kitchen.

"Couldn't sleep," Kasumi asked, as the kettle began to steam.

"Had a lot of things on my mind," Marx replied.  His sleep-addled mind noted that Kasumi was in her nightgown and robe.  "What about you?"

"I…I had some things on my mind as well."  She poured the hot water, fixing a cup of tea for the both of them.  "Christopher-kun, you're a dragon now."  Marx nodded.  "And don't dragons live for thousands of years?"  He nodded again, as he sipped his cup of tea.  Kasumi had a sad look on her face.  "So you'll still look like you do, even when I'm old and decrepit."

Marx pulled his girlfriend into a hug, letting her cry out her fears and tears.  "The person I love…that I give my heart and all to will age with me.  Right now, I'm the equivalent of a teenager.  But because of my human heritage, I'll mature faster than any of my kin.  And any of our children will share those traits.

"Let me tell you a story, about my…the dragon's first love, Peng Xuan Wang."  They settled down in the living room, on the couch.  Marx pulled a blanket over the two of them, before he began.  "It all started really about four thousand years ago, with the birth of a silver dragon in what is now Switzerland…" Marx wove a tale for his love that spanned over a thousand years, and several thousand miles.  Kasumi had snuggled in, resting her head against Marx's shoulder, as he told his not-so-tragic tale, including the fight with the female red dragon, Firespur.  He wove the tale of how Peng was the eldest of three sisters, but had no interest in court intrigue, or marrying any of her suitors; how she was content to just be in the background, even as she was to cement the line of succession; of how Yin Zi, which was what the dragon called himself, met Peng.  He told of their wedding, and exile to the west, far from the lands of the Zhou Dynasty, the valley of Jusenkyo, and brought peace to the valley and allied with a race of bird-people that lived on Mt. Phoenix.  In even more intricate detail, Marx told Kasumi how in the last year of Yin Zi's father-in-law's reign, a tribe of warrior women arrived from the west; of how, at first they peacefully coexisted with the non-aligned villages, the Phoenix and Dai Ryuujin no Nishi, but when the old Matriarch died, the new one decided that the warrior women needed living space and began a crusade against the villages and Phoenix.  The villagers came together as a nation and elected Yin Zi as their ruler.  Marx told of how talks for a peace treaty turned into a deception, and led to the death of Peng to try to humble the upstart male dragon.  He told her the last memory of the dragon, of cursing Jusenkyo and plunging into the first spring.

Marx told the woman that he was willing to protect, to die for, that he had come to love, of how their personalities merged and blended, and became one creation-neither wholly dragon, nor wholly human.

So involved with the story were the two that they didn't hear the front door open, or see Nabiki slip by, dressed in her favorite red dress, the one she let Kasumi borrow for her first date with Marx, her lipstick smeared and hair mussed up.  Last time I spend most of the night in a love hotel with her, she thought idly, not for the first time.

-------

"They look so cute together.  Don't you think so, Tendo?"

"Hm.  That they do, Saotome.  If only our children could be like that."  The Tendo patriarch looked at his friend.  "I have an idea…" And in hushed tones outlined his plan to get Akane and Ranma together to his friend.

"I think that would work, Tendo.  We'll just have to do it when the Lieutenant is at work."

"It'll be Soun's…"

"And Genma's…"

"Operation Get'em Together!"  Both men did a little victory jig in the living room."

"Daddy," Kasumi said sleepily, "I'm trying to sleep.  Can't you and oji-san be a little quieter?"  She snuggled up closer to Marx, who was sound asleep, with his head back.

Nabiki came staggering into the living room, looking the worse for wear, toothbrush still in her mouth.  "Well, they certainly look cozy," she said.  "I wish I had my camera."

Marx rolled his eyes open when he heard Nabiki's comment.  "Um…" He nudged Kasumi.  "I think it's time we got up."

She yawned and stretched.  "H-hai, anata."  A few eyebrows went up at that.  "I'll go get breakfast ready."  Kasumi moved towards the kitchen, as Marx rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

He looked around, and noticed the fathers dancing a jig, Nabiki had an all-knowing smirk on her face, and the two engaged teens were nowhere to be found, all though "Ranma, hold still so I can smash you," could be heard being shouted from the Dojo.  "Good morning," Marx said as he folded up the blanket and put it away

Kasumi came out of the kitchen, a steaming mug in hand.  "Here you go, Christopher-kun.  I thought a mug of coffee would wake you up better than tea."  Marx took the mug as she kissed him on the cheek.  "Thank you for that wonderful tale last night.  Breakfast should be ready soon."

As Marx sat on the edge of the porch, sipping his coffee, he was approached by Nabiki.  "So, Marx, what was the tale that you told my sister last night?"

"Ancient Chinese mythology," was Marx's only reply.

"Yeah, sure.  Since when are you an expert on the subject?"

"One word, Nabiki-Jusenkyo."  Marx was feeling his ire climbing, and really wanted to teach this insolent pup a lesson, but to do so would probably upset Pen…Kasumi.

"So, you were there?  What spring did you fall into?  Yeti riding bull carrying crane?  Cat?  Virtuous Man?"  Nabiki was having a grand old time.  "Let me guess, One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People eater?  And if you fell into one, why haven't I seen you get hit with cold water once?"

Marx set his mug of coffee on the porch.  Ranma had come out of the Dojo when he smelled breakfast cooking.  Fixing his gaze at Nabiki, the draconic lieutenant simply stated: "There are things in this world that you shouldn't question, young lady.  One of those things, after living with Ranma and his father for the past two years, with the craziness that goes with them, is the existence of magic.

"As for the spring I fell into, all I will tell you is that I fell into the first, the very first cursed spring.  And as to why you've never seen me get hit with cold water is because I am in my cursed form right now."

-------

It was unfortunate, or fortunate, that a certain Amazon tracker was walking by the Tendo Dojo at that moment.  All scents led to this location, but she'd never been able to find the source of it.  "As for the spring I fell into, all I will tell you is that I fell into the first, the very first cursed spring.  And as to why you've never seen me get hit with cold water is because I am in my cursed form right now."  She turned tail and ran back towards the Nekohanten.

"Elderrr Kuh Lon!" She shouted as she threw open the door to the still closed restaurant.  "I've found him!  I've found Dai Rrryuujin no Nishi.  He's staying at the Tendo Dojo."

The diminutive Matriarch pogoed out from the kitchen.  "The Tendo Dojo, you say?  This warrants a look, I think.  Tigar, I want you to watch the Dojo at all times.  We do nothing until the reinforcements I am going to request get here.

"Mu Tzu, Xian Pu," Cologne shouted up to the apartments above the restaurant.  "Get down here!"  The other Amazons came down the stairs as quick as lightning.  "We are going to keep a watch on the Tendo Dojo…"

Shampoo interrupted.  "What Airen do now, Great Grandmother?"

Cologne gave her great granddaughter a dry chuckle.  "It's not what Son-in-law has done, but what another resident of the Dojo has done.  How much do you remember of your history, Xian Pu?"

She thought for a moment, before slipping into the Jusenkyo-accented Mandarin.  "Three thousand years ago, our ancestors fled bondage of evil men and traveled many thousands of miles to reach a safe haven for our people.  Ancestors found a peaceful valley, and settled there.  But an evil dragon grew greedy and declared war on our people.  Amazons fight many and long battles against minions of the dragon. 

"The dragon tricked great Matriarch Rol Lon during peace talks, and kill self, cursing valley with his last breath."

Kuh Lon nodded, as her heir recited the story told to many a warrior, but there were secrets hidden within secrets.  That the rulers of the Musk were direct descendents of the dragon and his ensorcelled human wife, and the Phoenix had been held in thrall by the dragon.  "Thanks to the report that Lo Xian had Tigar inform me of, Jusenkyo is no longer cursed.  That means that the poor fool who fell into the spring has merged with the spirit, and to prevent another long and bloody war, we need to strike first.  But first, we need information.  Such as where Dai Ryuujin no Nishi is during the day.

"Tigar, go and take the first watch on the Dojo.  Mu Tzu, you will take second watch; Xian Pu, third."  The three Amazons nodded, and the tracker left the restaurant.  "You two, I do not want any of your usual antics regarding son-in-law.  As of right now, the kiss of marriage is suspended, not revoked Xian Pu.  Mu Tzu, Saotome is to be considered off-limits.  Any hint of vengeance against him, and you will be punished.  Do I make myself clear?"  The two younger Amazons nodded.  "Very good.  We have a restaurant to get ready to open."

-------

Nabiki was dumbfounded.  "So wait a second.  You're telling me that you fell into a Jusenkyo spring, and you are in your cursed form now?  What'd you fall into, the Spring of Drowned Boy?"

Marx chuckled.  "If I did, Nabiki, I wouldn't look like such an old man."

"I think the silvery hair makes you look distinguished anata.  Not old." Kasumi said from the kitchen.

"Thank you, Kasumi," Marx said.

"All right, what did you do to my sister, pervert?"  Akane asked, her instrument of feminine retribution in hand.

Marx let his gaze move from Nabiki to Akane.  "I have treated her with the utmost respect and courtesy.  Not as a serving girl, expected to have everything ready on a moment's whim.  You should take a lesson from your older sisters, Akane, not everything comes for free, nor is everything easy.  I've seen the results of your cooking, and frankly even with my cast-iron constitution, I'd get indigestion."  Ranma stifled a chuckle when his "loving" fiancée fixed him with such a look.  "Recipes are written for a reason, Akane-san.  They do not need modifications, unless you want to experiment when you are more experienced."  Marx gave her an evil grin, one that made the youngest Tendo shudder; one that said "Cross me, and you're lunch."  "Chemistry experiments are not to be modified at all.  Otherwise, it will blow up in your face."

"It wasn't my fault that chemistry experiment failed.  If it wasn't for Ranma interrupting me…"

"Hey, how was it my fault that you were so busy talking to Yuka and Sakura that you weren't paying attention to your test tube?"

"Well…it just is!  Everything's been your fault since you and your father got here."  Akane started to swing.  For the first time in the two years that Ranma had been subject to any form of Akane's tools of feminine retribution, he ducked.  Akane overextended in her swing, and fell flat on her face. 

Ranma smiled and turned his back on his fiancée.  As he walked off the veranda, Akane had gotten up, and managed to swing and clock him with the mallet.  The pigtailed aquatransexual went flying into the koi pond.  Spitting out a mouthful of water, and a small koi, she turned to her fiancée.  "What did you do that for, you uncute tomboy?"

Akane turned and stormed off, in a fit of rage.  Marx just sighed, as the fathers rounded on the boy turned girl.  "So much for a quiet Saturday at home," he muttered.

Kasumi sat down next to him, and placed her head on his shoulder.  "I know.  As much as it's been interesting since Ranma and his father moved in, I would like a weekend where nothing happened.  No fights, no arguments, no kidnappings."  Ranma was busy "sparring" with the fathers, Nabiki had disappeared, and Akane could be heard in the Dojo.  And there was a little black piglet wearing a spotted bandana glaring daggers at Ranma.

"Kasumi, you told me the first full day I was here that Ranma had an Amazon 'wife'."  She made what sounded like an affirmative noise from his shoulder.  "Crap.  Then I've endangered you and your family if they find out that I am here."

"Why do you say that, Christopher-kun?" 

"Because if they haven't changed since Rol Lon became matriarch, then they're going to want to either kill me or enslave me," Marx said, as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.  Before his change, he'd have to push his glasses up out of the way, but since Jusenkyo, he lost the need for corrective lenses.  Of course, he still had to basically defocus his eyes to see something right in front of him, but it's become second nature.  "This curse just keeps getting better and better," he muttered.

-------