Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ An American Dragon in Nerima ❯ Chapter the Twelfth ( Chapter 12 )

An American Dragon in Nerima

Marx just looked at his fiancée.  Kasumi was standing there, getting dinner ready.  And without Ranma being there, she didn't have to cook as much as she did before, although the way Genma ate, he was still living up to his name.  The dragon smiled inwardly as he looked at her, remembering how Peng insisted on taking on the daily chores of cooking and cleaning.  And the fights they got into over it, which led up to some intense making up.  "Anata," Kasumi said, looking up at him from her preparations, "why don't you go and relax.  You've had an intense week."

"You're right.  I do need to relax, but I feel like something is going to happen if I let my guard down.  There's something in the air that doesn't feel right."

"Well then after dinner go take a walk around, see if you're wrong."  Marx nodded, and headed towards their room.  He still had a report to fill out and forward to CINCWESTPAC about the Marines on Okinawa.  Outside, storm clouds began gathering over Nerima.

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The dread feeling that he felt earlier was coming closer when he heard Akane come in, apparently from the mall.  The youngest Tendo was still irate about Ranma "abandoning" her, and with the Dojo in its current state of disrepair, couldn't take her frustrations out on her pig-tailed training dummies.  There was an unfortunate consequence for the finances of the Tendo household.  The money they were saving as a result of not having to replace construction materials and training dummies every few days was going to Akane's shopping fix.  "I'm home," she announced, slipping off her shoes in the entryway.

"Dinner will be ready in half an hour," Kasumi called to her sister.  "I've got everything under control in here," she quickly added, remembering her sister's penchant for wanting to help.

"Ok, 'neechan," she called. 

As Akane trudged up the stairs, Kasumi remembered something.  "Oh dear, I forgot to tell Akane that Shampoo is living with us."  She began heading to the stairs to intercept her sister.  The first bolt of lightening and the immediate following crack of thunder reverberated against the house.

"Shampoo!  What the hell are you doing in my house?"  It wasn't a subtle way of asking.  Hell, the whole neighborhood was treated to Akane's shouting from the top of the stairs.  Genma and Soun, their game of shogi interrupted by the shouting, ran to the stairs.  Marx came running as well from his room.

"Shampoo guest of Nice Girl and Dai Ryuujin no Nishi, Kitchen Destroyer.  It no business of yours."

"The hell it isn't, you Amazon hussy," Akane retorted.  "You threw yourself on my fiancé damn near every time you came near him.  And don't forget when he saved you from the Ghost Cat."  Akane was seeing red, and didn't even notice that Shampoo's hair was shorter that normal, but trimmed cleanly.  "I want you out of my house.  NOW!"

Shampoo looked at Marx and Kasumi standing there, their mouths agape at Akane's lack of courtesy.  Some exception could be made because Ranma left, but this went against all traditions.  Bowing low, she switched to her native Mandarin and apologized.  "Dai Ryuujin no Nishi, Kasumi, I humbly thank you for your treatment and your courtesy in dealing with this Lost One.  But I fear that I cannot find a home here."  She added that, glaring at Akane.  "I think that I would have been proud to call you my parents."  She turned to leave.

"Xian Pu," Marx called, "I think some resolution can be made right now.  Don't leave yet."  He turned to his future sister-in-law.  "You have serious issues, young lady.  Shampoo is not here as a suitor for Ranma.  She's not here as a mistress for me.  She's here as a guest.  And a guest still has entitlements, such as not overextending their stay, and not being kicked out.

"There are issues that the three of us-Shampoo, your sister and myself-are working out.  But, suffice to say, if they do work out, she will be a more permanent resident of the family."

"There is no way in hell I'm going to allow that slut to live in my house…"

There was a resounding slap, and Akane sported a palm print across her cheek.  Kasumi looked at her younger sister.  Marx saw that she was fed up just by the fury in his fiancée's eyes.  "I am sick and tired of your 'spoiled brat' routine.  I should have done this years ago.  Nothing in this world is free.  You, as a martial artist, should realize it.  But you don't.  You looked at what Ranma could do and thought you could be better, but you didn't realize that you were looking at a lifetime of training," Genma began beaming with pride, "by a sadistic fool of a father." His ego deflated as quickly as it inflated.

"Daughter," Soun growled, "apologize to my friend immediately."

Kasumi ignored her father and continued her rant.  "You expect everyone to bow and scrape to you because you're the heir to Daddy's school.  Respect is earned, not given, and you need to earn it.  So what if you were the best martial artist in Nerima before Ranma showed up.  It doesn't matter if you act like a child about it.

"Do you know why Ranma left?  Because he got sick and tired of the bullshit that occurs here.  He got sick and tired of not being trusted by the person who's supposed to be his fiancée, regardless of the fact that their engagement were arranged.  And if I could go back in time, I'd correct that problem, but it doesn't matter, since I found someone who I love and trust implicitly.

"Christopher told you that Shampoo is having problems and is a guest here.  He has as much authority as I do, because Father is incapable of being the head of house.  Who manages the accounts?  Nabiki does, not Father.  Who makes sure that there is food on the table?  Christopher and I do, not Father.  We are, with all intents and purposes, the heads of this household, and this is our house."

Soun, frustrated until now that he couldn't get a word in edgewise took Kasumi's breather to interject.  "You are correct, Daughter," he said.  "I did place that codicil in the estate that whichever of my daughters marry first gets the house and Dojo, and not just the heir to the School."  He looked at Akane.  "I wish that it had been you, daughter, but with Ranma showing his true colors by deserting you, it falls to Kasumi."  He looked at his eldest daughter.  Marx had moved up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her waist.  "If you and your fiancé truly believe that you are the heads of this household, then it is time that you two stepped up to the plate."

"Father," Kasumi said, "Christopher-kun has already formally proposed and I have accepted.  Did you not notice the ring on my finger?"

"I did.  I was wondering if he was going to ask permission of me to marry my daughter, or if he was going to surprise all of us with a 'shotgun' wedding."

"Gomen nasai, Tendo-sama," Marx said, bowing deeply.  "We were planning on finalizing our wedding plans after my promotion comes through."  There was glint in the dragon's eye that could promise pain.  "However, Tendo-sama, you placed us into the position of a potential 'shotgun' wedding, when you and Genma-baka felt it appropriate to move Kasumi into my room.  I did not press any objections, being an outsider to Japanese customs.  Now, though, having lived with this family for as long as I have, I think it's time.  In the name of trying to force two incompatible people together, you placed your eldest daughter in a position that could sully her own honor.  I cannot abide by that, nor would I.  However, since I love Kasumi with all my heart, and she loves me with all hers, that problem does not present itself.  I would not, Tendo-san, try to force an issue that was not yours to begin with…" Marx was saved by the proverbial bell from upbraiding his father-in-law.

Kasumi released herself from her fiancé's grasp to answer to door.  "Herb-sama, a pleasure to see you again.  Ranma isn't living here anymore," she said.

"Kasumi-san," she replied as they walked towards the stairs, "I'm not here for Ranma, although by rights I should rechallenge him.  I am here to meet with the person who fell into the First Spring."  There was a reverence in her voice as she said it, as though she were talking about an ancestor.

Marx looked at Akane when he heard the voice.  "We will continue this later, young lady."  He turned to Shampoo.  "Kasumi and I will switch to her old room, and you can take ours."

"That is not necessary, Yin Zi.  But thank you.  Akane and I," she said as she glared at her former rival/friend, "have some differences to work out, and I think the proximity to each other will help.  And I would be glad to call you and Kasumi my parents."

Smiling Marx looked at Kasumi, and quickly translated what the former Amazon had said.  Kasumi gave a sigh of relief, not for her sister, but the fact that Shampoo wouldn't have to face the world alone.  "Chris, this young lady is looking for you."

"Can I help you," he asked.

"May I ask you some questions?"  Herb asked, not sure if the American in front of her was the same one that the Guide had said that had fallen in to the Spring.

"Certainly.  Why don't we move into the living room where we'll be more comfortable?"

"Thank you…"

"Christopher Marx," he replied, as they walked into the living room.  Marx motioned for her to sit, as he sat.  "So what can I do for you?"

"Did you happen to spend any time in China, Marx-san," she asked as she sat in the chair across from him.

"Yes I did.  I spent about six months at a PLAAF base near Jusenkyo."

Herb's eyes widened when she heard that.  "Just how did you learn of Jusenkyo?"

"From listening to wild rumors and folklore while on the base.  I took a little trip out there."

The aquatransexual prince of the Musk Dynasty got off her chair, and knelt before him.  "You are my ancestor.  Dai Ryuujin no Nishi, I am a descendant of your son, this many generations later.  You are the rightful leader of the Musk, and will lead us to great things in war against the Amazons."  The house shook as another crack of thunder reverberated over Nerima.

Marx looked at the shocked expression on Xian Pu's face.  Even though she was kicked out of the tribe, she was still, by heritage, an Amazon.  "No.  There will be no war with the Amazons."

"Why?"

"What do you know of the history of the Musk?"

Her slitted pupils narrowed.  The heir to the Dynasty recited exactly what she'd been taught by her tutors.  Which was almost a direct opposite, but exactly like what both Shampoo and Cologne had said.  "Eldest, that is why we must go to war with the Amazons and finish them off, destroy them utterly."  Kasumi had brought the Musk Prince a cup hot water to change back.

"No, Herb.  There will be no war.  My alter ego, the person you see before you, is a military historian.  War does not solve anything, only creates new problems. I can recite chapter and verse of various military conflicts since I died, using the knowledge that Lt. Marx has learned, where the peace turned out to be more costly than before the war.

"Before Rol Lon took over as Matriarch, there was peace in the valley.  After she assumed power, there was tension that, like that before an earthquake, built up until it exploded into all out war.  And that war, my child, resulted in the death of Peng and myself, as well as the creation of Jusenkyo."

"Eldest, that is another concern of my father's, as well as my people.  We have, for the lack of a better option, have used Jusenkyo to continue our nation.    Without the Spring of Drowned Girl, I fear that our nation will die out."

"I cursed Jusenkyo as a punishment on the Amazons for betraying our trust.  But, with my resurrection, the Springs are no longer cursed; because it is time to make amends for three thousand years of unrelenting hostility that neither nation can afford.  There are also modern considerations, grandson.

"Beijing considers Qinghai to be a backwards province, one who's governor does not have full authority, because of the fighting between the Musk and Amazons and Phoenix.  Beijing considers the three tribes as semi-autonomous, keeping a junior party boss as the official representative there to keep the peace, and ignore the internecine wars.  But if the wars get too far out of hand, Beijing will send the army and air force in; remember there's an air force base only a half-day's drive away from Jusenkyo.  Don't give me anything about being able to defeat the PLA, if it gets too bad, the Chinese will respond with special weapons.  I do not want three thousand years of tradition for both tribes to end in a nuclear fireball."

"What of our enemies the Phoenix, Eldest?"  Herb asked with complete sincerity.  It was no lack of knowledge that the third tribe in the region was despised by the other two.  "Shall we make peace with them?"

"Herb, Herb, Herb," Marx said with a hint of draconic chuckle.  "Of course I do.  Saffron was once an ally against the Amazons all those years ago.  So it makes perfect sense that we add their strengths to the alliance of Jusenkyo tribes."

"And then we take over China?"  The dragon princeling had this look of anticipation that made Marx nervous.

"No.  We prove that the region around Jusenkyo can prosper in peace, and petition Beijing for autonomous rule.  The way I wanted it to be all those years ago."

"I…see," Herb replied cautiously.  "There is no honor in this, Eldest."

"Honor is in the end, not the means, my child.  Didn't Sun Tzu say: 'Is it not better to defeat an enemy without firing a shot?'  This is the most honorable way, Herb.  Truly it is."

"I see your wisdom, Eldest of the Musk.  I will depart and inform my father of your decision."

"Herb," Marx said, "don't think I am weak.  I would rather not have to refight a war lost three millennia ago, if I can find a peaceful means to an end.  Send emissaries under flag of truce to the other tribes.  Kuh Lon has been in Nerima for far too long to be understanding of tribal politics.  And her family has been in power for far too long."

"And what of Saffron?  Reports from Jusendo indicate that Saotome killed the Phoenix King."

"His advisor and regent, Kiima, will act in his stead.  And I'm sure she will have a level head.

"Contact me when you have made contact with leaders from the other tribes, so that we may set a date and location for this meeting."

"Understood, your Majesty," Herb replied, even though the princeling didn't like the idea of being his ancestor's errand boy.  "By your leave."  The young prince bowed to Marx, and thanked Kasumi for her hospitality, before leaving the house.

"Anata," Kasumi said, "is that wise?"

"I do not want a war.  Hell, I've got enough problems as it is being in the American military."

"Why do you say that?"  Kasumi snuggled next to her fiancé on the couch.  Shampoo looked at her soon to be adoptive parents with a bit of envy.  Part of her still wished that she could be doing that with the one person who captured her heart, even though he'll deny it to the last breath in his body.

"I go make dinner.  Let you two get comfortable, yes," the lavender-haired former Amazon said, before bounding off to the kitchen.

Marx looked at the love of his life.  "We really have to teach her proper Japanese, if not English," he said with a chuckle.  His gaze turned serious.  "With this global war on terrorism going on, I could be shipped out at any time, with minimal notice.  I'm not just a military cop, I'm also an infantryman."

"I hope you don't have to go," she said, kissing her fiancé tenderly.

"That makes two of us."  He changed the subject to one of more immediate importance.  "What did your father have to say while I was entertaining my great-grandson?"

Kasumi laughed bitterly, but her eyes were tearful.  "Father would like us married within the month, to take over the Dojo.  Any later and he will declare me ronin, and strike my name from the Clan register."

"Crud," Marx muttered, as he wiped the tears from her face.  "Looks like we need to plan a wedding in a month.  I'll email my parents tonight, and see about plane tickets.  I just can't wait to see what this is going to cost me," he added dryly.

Kasumi laughed, her humor restored.  "Anata, aren't you like the richest person in the world right now?"

Marx gave her a sheepish grin.  "What type of ceremony do we want?  Shinto or Christian?"

"Baka Oyaji will probably want a Shinto wedding; he's that kind of traditionalist.  If Mother were still alive, I think she'd want a Christian wedding, and I've always wanted one.  The ceremony is simpler, and the gown doesn't feel so constricting."  Kasumi had a wistful look in her eyes, when she mentioned her mother.  Just from paying attention to his surroundings, Marx gleaned some information about his late mother-in-law.  The cross Kasumi wore belonged to her mother, so she was possibly Catholic, but more likely Protestant, since it wasn't a crucifix.  There were other little hints and clues as well.

"But it is our wedding," Marx countered.  "If you want a non-Shinto wedding, that's up to us, not your father."

"I know, but it was something I was looking forward to," she countered.  Kasumi had been the dutiful housewife ever since her mother died, so it was something that she wanted.  But at the same time, she was thinking about how a simple Christian ceremony would honor her mother as well as her in-laws.  "I tell you what, anata; we'll have a simple Protestant wedding.  Mother had us baptized Lutheran, although we haven't gone to church since she died.  I don't even know if the priest that was there when we went is still there."

"Only one way to find out, we'll go over tomorrow.  Do you remember where it was?"

"I think I do."

Marx nodded.  "Then we're going to church in the morning.  Of course, the other option is we have the base chaplain marry us."

"We should keep that as a backup, definitely."  Tantalizing aromas caught Kasumi's nose.  "Mmm, what ever Shampoo is cooking sure does smell good."

Marx's more sensitive nose caught it as well.  "Definitely.  Almost as good as yours," he replied cautiously.