Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ An American Dragon in Nerima ❯ Chapter the Tenth ( Chapter 10 )

An American Dragon in Nerima

AN:  This chapter and future chapters run concurrently with my sidestory Sailor…Sister?!

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Marx and Kasumi settled in for the night, with Kasumi snuggling up next to her fiancé.  "Chris, what happened?  Will we have to worry about Firespur any more?"

"No, we won't," he replied, as he stroked her silky hair.  Marx adjusted the blankets over them, and began telling his tale of the last fight of the red wyrm.  Marx told her how he began the fight-by sneaking up to her lair in the clouds that had surrounded Mt. Fuji that night, and launching a sneak attack.

He explained how the fight went through downtown Tokyo, like a scene from a cheesy World War II comedy, the dragons skimming just over the streets of the capital city, weaving through the urban canyons.  He described the fight with both words and hands, like a fighter pilot.  And to Kasumi, it gave her something to look at as Marx wove his story.

Marx told of how, as they flew out to sea, the two dragons were intercepted by a pair of JASDF F-15 Eagles, flying combat air patrol over the capital.  "When Firespur decided that I wasn't 'worthy' enough for her, she turned and began to attack the fighters.  I guess she thought that downing the fighters would become a better return on her investment of time, since she could deal with me, us, at her leisure."  With a smile, Marx told his fiancée about how that became a bad idea, when the wing of the wingman erupted in flame as a missile was launched.

As he explained it to his fiancée, a majority of his wounds came from dealing with the female red wyrm, but some of the nastier ones were received when the Sidewinder turned Firespur into barbeque, and Marx was hit by flaming chunks of dragon and shrapnel from the missile.  Marx finished his tale with his releasing of Firespur's prisoners and collapsing in the backyard.  "There's only just the Amazons to be concerned about.  And after I talk to Shampoo, I think they'll leave us alone."

Kasumi yawned as she said "I hope so. I'm tired of living constantly looking over my shoulder.  And I know you are."  Her reply was a snore, as her fiancé fallen into an exhausted sleep.  She kissed his forehead, gently.  "I love you, anata."

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Saturday morning arrived like any other morning in the Tendo household- with Genma bellowing for his son.  This time, however, there wasn't a reply or cries of anguish and anger as a certain young aquatransexual had his curse activated.  "Where is that worthless boy?"  He growled, as the overweight martial artist stormed into the dining room.

Nabiki schooled her features well, mainly by coming to the table in her favorite pajamas-the ones covered with currency signs from the G8 nations-and her toothbrush in her mouth.  In a way, she was glad that Ranma had left last night.  It kept her from wanting to act out her naughty thoughts about the pigtailed martial artist's cursed form (although it made for interesting times with her "friend" who was also a redhead).  His leaving would also cut down on the cost of repairs to the house and dojo after a fight with any one of the Nerima Wrecking Crew.

Akane was visibly fuming at the loss of "her" fiancé, calling him every dirty name in the book.  She was the heiress to the Tendo School of Indiscriminate Grappling, she was the best martial artist in Nerima-until Ranma arrived, but she tended to believe that whatever he could do, she could do better-everything had been handed to her on a platter.  It also meant that she was no longer honor-bound to marry him, since he broke the engagement off by his leaving.  That would leave her to pursue her original crush, even though she was still unsure about how to express her feelings.

Kasumi-well, in her heart, she was saddened by the loss of the young man she came to think of as a brother.  At the same time, she was proud that Ranma was trying to find a solution to the quandary that his father had caused for him.

As she laid out the breakfast, the eldest Tendo thought about what her fiancé had said about her youngest sister.  Akane's actions that morning reflected what Marx had said to her.  Perhaps, Kasumi thought, this separation would give the two heirs time to grow up, and grow together.

Kasumi looked at the empty place setting where her fiancé would be sitting, and hoped his day was fairing better than hers was already.  She also looked at the empty place setting where Ranma usually sat and hoped all was well for him.

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Marx sat in the security control room, writing up a long-passed due report on the incident in Chiba.  He had every intention of filing it right after the incident, but when the challenge was issued, the full report went to the wayside.  As it was Staff Sergeant Harnett was languishing in the brig.  At least Captain Schuler was understanding about the whole incident, even if he wasn't sure why Marx had been injured. 

"Lieutenant," MSgt. Spirenburg said, looking over at his flight chief, "what about Sergeant Harnett?  He's going to languish in the brig?"

Marx nodded.  "Until we get the court date for him, he's stuck."  The flight sergeant nodded and went back to the specs on Playmate of the Month.

*          *          *

Returning home, Marx almost wished he hadn't.  Not counting the piles of rubble from Akane's training, the Dojo itself suffered from major structural damage.  There was evidence of Shampoo's attacks on the building, scorch marks on the walls and floor of the training hall from Ukyo's explosive food attacks, and black rose petals intermingled with the debris.  "There goes this month's rent," he muttered, walking into the house.  "Although I might have a Plan B."  Marx had worked a deal with the squadron commander of the 374th Civil Engineering Squadron, so it might be time to call in that marker.

He was met by his fiancée as he was in the genkan, removing his boots.  "Tough day," he asked, and immediately regretted it.

"You have no idea," Kasumi replied, her hair unkempt.  The normally calm Tendo daughter looked frazzled enough for the two of them.  "Ranma's disappeared.  And the fiancée brigade thought Akane had something to do with it."

"Oh boy.  So that's why the Dojo and the yard look like World War 3 was fought here."  Marx started pulling his boots back on.  "Tell you what, why don't we slip out and go get something to eat."

"But, I've got dinner on the stove…"

"And the rest of the family can fend for themselves.  Especially if it's already finished, and just staying warm.  Besides, you and I haven't had a night out to ourselves since before the challenge."

"Well…you're right, I guess.  I'll go get changed."  Kasumi spun away, her step lightened, leaving her fiancé in the entryway, waiting for her.

"So, Marx," Nabiki asked, "you're taking my big sister out, and leaving us to fend for ourselves?"

"Yes, I am.  She needs some time away from the family."  Marx gave his future sister-in-law a grin that made the hair on her neck stand on end.

"Ok, ok.  Just show her a good time."  Nabiki turned away from the draconic Air Force officer, and headed back up to her room.  Jeez, I hate it when he does that, she thought as she prepared for her own date that night.

"All set," Kasumi asked as she walked back into the entryway.

"I feel so underdressed," Marx said, as he looked at his fiancée.  She's apparently picked up a few new clothes while he was either recovering from his wounds or was at work, and was wearing a simple yet form fitting dress that hugged every curve.  "Very nice."

"Thank you, anata.  I hope I'm not too overdressed for dinner tonight."

"No, but I'm going to rethink where we go eat tonight," Marx replied, a wry grin on his face.

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The couple was walking through the gates of the Dojo, Marx regretting what he had done.  They spent half the night in a karaoke bar, with Kasumi singing.  They'd been going out for quite sometime, and Marx had just discovered his fiancée's hidden passion-karaoke.  Inwardly he shook his head, even as Kasumi rested her head on his shoulder while they walked towards the house.

As they got closer to the front porch, another couple locked in a passionate   embrace could be seen silhouetted by the porch lights.  "Nabiki!"  Kasumi exclaimed.

"Airman Hutton?"  Marx said, a questioning look on his face when he saw who the redhead was.

"Um, hi sis," Nabiki, the person voted by her class "Most Likely to Stay Single", said sheepishly.  "I guess an explanation is in order."

"Um, good eve…morning, Lieutenant," Hutton replied to her question.  "Sorry about this."

Moving away from her fiancé, Kasumi pulled her sister off to the side, as Marx looked at his orderly, and motioned for her to come closer.  "Airman, would you care to explain yourself?"

The redheaded E-4 looked at the Lieutenant.  "Well, sir, it's like this.  I've never been comfortable with guys, except maybe as one of the guys.  Hell, sir, most of my friends in high school were guys.  I'd have to close my eyes when I was in the showers after gym and at Lackland and Keesler only to control myself.

"It was only when I got here, and went into that off-limits bar that I found Nabiki…"

Marx raised his hand, forestalling any further comment.  "Airman…Lauren, its just that the military is very…cautious about certain things.  President Clinton and his 'Don't ask, Don't tell' policy, and all that.  Frankly I don't care what your sexual preference is, just as long as it doesn't interfere with your job.  One thing that I would strongly, very strongly recommend is that you try to keep your relationship with Nabiki professional to the rest of the world.  What you and she do behind closed doors is something else entirely."

"Yes sir."

"And try not to use your military ID when you go to those off-limits clubs."

SrA Hutton smiled at the Lieutenant.  "I don't sir.  I enrolled at Tokyo University for a few college classes, and use that ID card."

"Good thinking.  Kasumi's done with your date.  Finish saying good night, and I'll see you on Monday morning.  And do try to get some sleep Sunday night.  You and I are going to have a very long day."

Hutton nodded.  "Yes sir, I know.  Captain Shapiro is leaving that day and we have to go over what he's been doing.  By the way, sir, a letter arrived yesterday from Chiba Municipal Court.  Sergeant Harnett has his first court appearance."

"That's quick.  I guess they want this taken care of as quickly as we do.  When is it?"

"A week from Monday.  I've informed the commander, and the ADC.  Everything will be ready, sir."

"Hutton, I don't care what they say about you on the flightline, you're a model of efficiency."  The young senior airman beamed at the praise.  Kasumi waved to her fiancé.  "Airman, good night.  And remember what I said about Nabiki."

"Understood, sir.  I hope…"

"No need to worry about it.  I'm the soul of discretion.  I think your date wants to say 'Good night' again."  Marx winked at the young woman, and headed back over to his date for the night.  As the two young lovers wished each other pleasant dreams a little less…vigorously…Marx looked at his betrothed.  "So what did your sister have to say?"

"That, anata, is a secret," Kasumi said with a grin and a wink.  "Maybe I'll tell you about it in the morning."  She led him into the house, past the young lovers, and towards their bedroom.

Morning broke with the new routine, of Genma lamenting on where his unworthy son disappeared to, Soun, bawling about how the two schools will never be joined, and Akane wishing that the perverted jerk was dead for leaving her.  Marx staggered out to the dining room, more asleep then awake.  For the dragon, last night had been a night of discoveries: first discovering Kasumi's secret passion of karaoke, discovering that both his future sister in law and his orderly were lesbian lovers, and then discovering that within his mild-mannered fiancée dwelt such a dynamo of sexual energy, that even his constitution couldn't keep up with her.  He sat down at the table, a steaming cup of coffee already at his place.  He sipped the potent black beverage, letting the caffeine try to wake him up.  Rolling a catlike eye towards Nabiki, he noticed she wasn't in much better shape that he was.

Kasumi, on the other hand, was her usual bright eyed and bushy tailed self.  "Ohayo, anata," she said, kissing her fiancé on his forehead.  The father's stopped their blubbering for a few minutes to take note of that.  Almost a year of being together, the couple really hadn't shown much public displays of affection, preferring to keep their romance private.  "Breakfast is almost done.  Don't mind Uncle Genma.  He's been like that since yesterday."  Marx nodded, before placing his head on the table.  "Don't forget anata, that you need to get in touch with Shampoo today and schedule that meeting."

"Thanks for reminding me," Marx replied, muffled by the lacquered table. 

"Why do you need to meet with that bimbo," Akane growled, directing her anger at Ranma's leaving to her sister's fiancé.

Her tone pulled the silver dragon to a state of alertness.  "That, young lady, is between me and her.  And none of your business."

"Oh, so you're going to be like that jerk Ranma and cheat on my sister?"  Akane was starting to get furious over assumed cheating, much like she did while Ranma was here.

"No, Akane, I'm not.  Just because I'm going to meet another girl means I'm going to cheat on Kasumi."  Marx was already aggravated with Genma's whining, and Akane was starting to push him over the edge.  Something you don't want to do to a dragon, since the results could be…unfortunate.  The heiress to the Tendo School of Indiscriminate Grappling paused in her ranting on their tenant.  "All I would like is a quiet weekend at home, is that too much to ask?"  With that, and before his landlord became short one daughter, Marx grabbed his coffee cup and left the dining room.

Kasumi walked in just after he left.  "Where did Christopher disappear to?"

"I think he disappeared to your room," Nabiki said.  "Akane's slipping back into her routine.  Plus Daddy and Uncle Saotome aren't helping."

"Oh, I hope he's alright."

Nabiki patted her sister's arm.  "I'm sure he is, 'neechan.  He just seems frustrated at all the lunacy here."

"Nabiki, I have a question for you.  To whom does the property go to in the event of Daddy's death?"

"Why, are you plotting a murder?"

"No, 'moutochan.  It's just that I'd hate to see our family home in Akane's hands.  I want to protect what our ancestors fought so hard to earn from the Mikado."

Nabiki cringed, sort of.  She had planned on selling the property if she had become caretaker of the estate.  But since Marx arrived, and her graduation from high school, the more mercenary Tendo had become more of a realist.  There were ways of making money that were more on the level than what she'd done since their mother died.  "I'll help you out, if you'd like.  There's a lot of family history in this place.  And it wouldn't do for our legacy in the community to disappear.

"If memory serves, the compound goes to the heir of the school.  Which, right now, is Akane.  I don't remember if there is a codicil should either of us marry first, we share the estate with our husband.  Which could be why Daddy and Uncle Saotome have been so insistent on Akane and Ranma marrying.

The two sisters stopped in front of the room Kasumi shared with her fiancé.  As Kasumi placed her hand on the knob, Nabiki placed her hand on her sister's arm.  "I need to talk to you and Marx.  I was going to do it last night…but Lauren and I got caught up in the moment."  Kasumi nodded and opened the door.  Both sisters walked in, and walked into Dai Ryuujin no Nishi's treasure trove.  Nabiki's eyes grew as big as saucers when she saw even just a portion of Marx's wealth.  Her next statement was unlike her.  "Oh my."

There was a deep-throated chuckle coming from another part of the cavern.  "It seems your sister is surprised by what I'm worth."  Marx walked up and placed his head on his fiancée's shoulder. 

"She is, anata."  Reflexively, Kasumi reached up and stroked her draconic fiancé's chin.  Marx began purring like a big cat, which pulled Nabiki out of her stupor.

"Kasumi, Chris…Dai Ryuujin…"

"'Christopher' is fine Nabiki."

"Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I got a call from Ranma.  He's asked me to tell the two of you that he's fine…"

"Where is he?  How is he?  Why did he do it?"  Kasumi asked.  Ranma had been an integral part of her life for the better part of two years, so she had every reason to be concerned.

Nabiki smiled at her sister.  Concerned for Ranma, even though he was the biggest pain in the butt there was.  "He's fine.  He left because he needed to escape the insanity of Nerima.  And he wasn't getting any closer to Akane, despite what the fathers thought.  He's moved back in with his mother, in Juuban.  Ranma's taken control of his life again."

"That's good to hear.  It's also good that he's become his own man.  There's quite the potential for good in the lad." 

"Christopher-san," Nabiki said formally, "don't take Akane too literally.  She's just unused to dealing with her feelings.  She's had everything she ever wanted handed to her without asking."

"I usually don't.  But when my honor is questioned, without a basis of facts, then she should be prepared to pay the consequences."  Marx felt his fiancée give an involuntary shudder.  "Don't worry, Kasumi.  I wouldn't do anything fatal.  Just enough to give her a…gentle nudge in the right direction."

"Well, I've got to get ready.  Lauren is meeting me on campus before we go see a movie.  I'll see the two of you later."  Nabiki started to turn to leave, before a claw firmly stopped her.

"Nabiki.  I know you're going to be my sister-in-law, but if you are going to take anything, I'd at least like you to ask."  Grinning sheepishly, Nabiki opened her hand and held out a ruby the size of a robin's egg.  "Keep it this time, and consider it my rent for the remainder of the year.  Ok?"

"Of course," Nabiki replied, thankful that she was keeping her head.  Marx, or rather Dai Ryuujin no Nishi, told a story of what happened when he found a thief in his lair.  It wasn't a pretty picture. 

"Christopher, I have a question for you.  I know we're engaged, but have we ever thought of when we want to get married?"

"Well," Marx said as he swept his fiancée up in his arms, "how soon do you want to?"

"How about after your promotion comes through?"

"That'll work out well enough.  And it'll give me enough time to contact my family so that they can get their passports in order, and make arrangements for airline tickets."

"I wish I had a chance to meet them, but…"

"No buts, love.  I've talked to them, they've seen your photo.  And they really like you, and can't wait to meet you."  Marx let his fiancée go, and began getting dressed.  "I'm meeting Shampoo in the woods outside of town.  It's safe enough from prying eyes, and neutral for the two of us."

Kasumi kissed Marx on the cheek.  "Good luck."