The Silent Wife

Disclaimer: I don't Ranma Hotaru or most of the other insanities in this story.

Inspired by: The AnimeAddventure Coupled Union threads, BUT this isn't a copy I just took the idea that Ranma might have married before he left.

Warnings: I'm a Ranma/Hotaru fan, Ranma is 16 Hotaru is 13, according to old laws (some 10 or so years ago) that was the legal age for marriage in Japan. If I got this wrong correct me please. Oh and DON'T expect lemons this time. WAFF yes, Hotaru overpowered slightly OOC (for me that is) and the fanon Silence. Feels nice to make Ranma the weak one.

Dedicated to: fukufics and those that I keep waiting.

Timeline: Hotaru about a year after Galaxia, Ranma after Jusenkyo

"Stupid Panda!" a glowing redhead kicked the mentioned furry animal across the street. It slittered a little before it came to a hard stop at a lamp post. "You are insane, stupid, mindless, telling me NOW about something like this!" She didn't notice the panda get up, rip a street sign out and use it to bash her.

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

"So, this panda just came to visit you for no reason daddy" was the first thing Ranma-chan heard.

Reacting fast she gave the panda a good whack and dropped to the ground. "Sorry about him, may I have some hot water and use your phone?" She kicked back and hit the large animal in the stomach.

Soun felt slightly detached from reality as he agreed.

Kasumi smiled "Please come with me, do you want the hot water first?"

"Yes please." The redhead followed Kasumi, a tall and pretty brunette, into the kitchen.

Nabiki grinned as her eyes followed the two. "So daddy, we have a panda and girl instead of your friend and his son."

Soun started to weep.

Akane meanwhile was threatening the animal with a broom. "You are not coming inside, you are dripping wet."

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

Kasumi stared as the petite redhead took the water and upped it over her head.

Her eyes almost bugged out as she saw the girl flow and shift into a taller, black haired boy.

"Thanks a lot, now where is the phone?" he asked smiling at her.

Kasumi blushed and pointed, "In the hall." As he left she stared at the now empty kettle and let out a small "Oh my."

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

Nabiki decided to get herself a small snack after she had changed out of her kimono, after no boy meant no need to dress up. Than she saw the wet piece of meat by the phone. She decided to ask her sister who their new guest was. "Hey Kasumi, you know that piece of beef by the phone?"

Kasumi frowned, looking cute while doing it, then she took a kettle and upped it over her sister.

Nabiki blinked, she wiped some water and hairs out of her eyes. "I'm sure you have a good reason for doing this."

"She turned into a boy when she did it." Kasumi replied, taking the kettle, filling it again while mumbling "Maybe it needs to be hotter."

Nabiki nodded and decided to leave, her sister had finally lost it, one could only stay at home caring for the family for a certain time. Idly she wondered how to find the girl a nice guy to get laid. Unfortunately you couldn't count on Tofu for that. "Sorry, what's the address?" Nabiki found herself being pulled out of her musings and replied by instinct "150Yen"

The boy blinked but paid up. As she collected the money Nabiki wondered if her habits weren't getting the better of her. She decided not to listen in on what he was talking.

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

Ranma took the phone and called the same number he always did when he had the time and money. "Hello Setsuna, is Hotaru in?"

"Bad, stupid panda, never again.."

"Hey hime-chan."

"Nope hime-chan."

"I'm back in the country."

"Tokyo, Nerima currently."

"I'll head out once the rain stops."

"No idea, one moment." He turned to the girl with the pageboy cut. "Sorry, what's the address?" afterwards he spoke to the phone.

"There are a few problems, oh, what, wait, hello? ... damn. This is bad. Stupid panda, stupid me."

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

Setsuna Meioh was a old woman that didn't look like it, currently she was picking up the phone. "Moshi moshi"

"Oh hello Ranma, I'll call her."

She turned around and called out uncharacteristically loud "Hotaru, phone."

"How was your trip?"

"That bad? Oh wait, Hotaru is here."

"Ranma! Stop calling me that." The blushing girl pouted.

"Where are you?"

"Really? Where?" Now she was bouncing up and down by the phone.

"When are you coming."

"Where are you currently?"

"I'm waiting." She started playing with the phone cord humming happily.

Michiru was staring at the unusually happy girl. The last three months, since her 13^th birthday had been full of mood swings. This was a pleasant change but still rather weird.

"Oh thank you, I'll be right there to pick you up." The girl scribbled something on a paper slip. She hung up the phone and ran past Michiru up the stairs mumbling "First shower, than that dark outfit that contrasts my skin?"

"What's going on?" Haruka asked her lover.

"I'm not sure, I think it's some date." Michiru replied disturbed while reaching for the slip with the address.

"I forgot that, sorry." Hotaru already clad in a towel said, slipping between her parents and snatching the paper-slip away before turning around and running back.

"That was weird." Haruka stated.

Setsuna smiled, it seems that no one had thought to tell them about what happened three months ago. Nothing to be done about that. Let nature let run its course. Besides, she approved.

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

"Who are you?" Soun asked.

"Ranma Saotome, sorry about this."

That was when they heard a scream.

"My baby!"

"I just know it's that panda's fault." Ranma mumbled as the third sister came down in a gi and went for the stone latern at the koi pond. "Why me?"

He wondered if he imagined the "Why not?"

"What's up?" Asked Nabiki using a towel on her head and handing it to Ranma who shrugged and tried to get a little drier.

"There is a pervert in the bathroom!"

"Why don't just kill him with your hands?" Nabiki asked wondering aloud.

"Because I don't want to touch him with my hands!" Akane replied carrying the heavy stone sculpture.

"Akane, Nabiki, Kasumi meet my friend Genma Saotome, and his son Ranma Saotome." Soun came down the stairs with a a fat man who was wearing a handkerchief on his head.

"That's the pervert that peeped on me." Akane accused glaring at the bald man.

He adjusted his glasses "I am not interested in little girls."

Naturally a girl would take offence to something like that

Ranma stared down and realised one thing "That he had coming."

Kasumi came out of the kitchen with the kettle and a glass of water. She saw the portly man with the head embedded in the floor. First she splashed him the glass of water.

The other two girls stared as he turned into a panda. Than she poured the steaming water onto the panda.

"HOOOOTTT!!!!"

Kasumi smiled. "It's the water temperature!" She sounded satisfied with herself.

Ranma sighed, "It doesn't have to be boiling, somewhere above body temperature is enough."

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

Hotaru ignored the watching parents. "Red? Not my colour. Pink? Chibi-Usa must have left that. Blue? Not enough contrast to the eyes. Blood red? Maybe for the underwear, where did I put that thong I got? There, black and see through."

Michiru elbowed Haruka and the two girls retreated to a save distance. "I worried."

"Me too, this is very ... weird."

"Maybe we should ask Setsuna?"

Haruka nodded, that was when the door opened again.

A cute Gothic Lolita, that was what Hotaru looked like, she had ignored the make-up except for some blood red lipstick. "I'll be back soon, make a lot for dinner please." With that she skipped past her confused parents and downstairs.

They heard the front door open and close.

"Lets ask Setsuna now." Haruka decided.

Michiru just nodded.

Outside Hotaru looked around before summoning the Glaive. "I'm in a hurry, take me to where ever Ranma is." The Glaive glowed in agreement and Hotaru faded away.

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

"I'm Ranma, and really sorry about him."

"Respect your father." The fat man bellowed.

"In your dreams and my nightmares." Ranma glared back.

Kasumi served Ranma some tea.

"Thank you." he sipped, "Some mint?"

Kasumi nodded.

"What the hell is going on here?" Akane yelled.

Her father nodded and gave Genma a questioning look.

"Oh the horrors, in China we went to that dangerous training ground."

"You insisted on going there, when I tried to listen to that guide you kicked me into a spring."

Ranma interjected.

"Silence boy." said Genma and splashed Ranma with some leftover water from Kasumi's experiments.

"I'm a girl at the moment!" Ranma-chan said and kicked her father outside.

Several minutes and a few bruises later both were human and male again.

"It's not so bad my son." Soun started, Ranma twitched but only Nabiki took note of that, "Even after the true horrors of Jusenkyo have been unintentionally brought to light your problem is not that bad. These are my daughters, Kasumi is 19, Nabiki is 17 and Akane is 16. Pick one to be your wife."

Kasumi and Nabiki wanted to push Akane to the front when.

"I'm already married." Ranma calmly replied.

Silence.

"Genma!"

"I never signed to anything!"

"I have been emancipated ever since I was 14 you buffon."

Kasumi took a cookie, this was way better than TV, maybe younger man weren't boring after all.

"I never allowed this!" Genma glared, "You never had the time!"

"Right before we left for china."

"I never found a ring."

"I hid it in my school papers, the few I have." Ranma pulled them out of his backpack and retrieved a marriage certificate and a plain silver wedding band, he slipped it on his finger without hesitation, only to find his hand snatched by Kasumi, who inspected it carefully.

"I forbid it!" Genma interrupted "It's a matter of family honour!" Soun "Let's see how your wife likes to be married to a girl!" Genma threw Ranma into the pond.

"You asshole." the redhead shouted.

Further violence was averted by the bell ringing.

Kasumi stood up "I will get it."

What the woman found outside was on par with the day, it was a petite Goth. Kasumi guessed the girl to be somewhere about 11 or 12.

"Hello I'm Hotaru, is Ranma in?" She bowed politely.

Kasumi smiled and gave the left hand a look. "I think she is already waiting for you."

Hotaru followed wondering about the gender.

"Oh, hime-chan ..." a dripping redhead whispered.

Hotaru's first reaction was a good look at the eyes. Sky blue eyes, full of life with a lot of insecurity and fear of rejection. Hotaru smiled stepping forward, the redhead found one hand holding her left hand, the other pulling her head down. Right into a fierce kiss as the Goth stood on her toes.

"That's perverted!" Akane was staring wide eyed.

"Wow, that's some serious tongue action." Nabiki commented.

Kasumi just sighed sniffing silently into a handkerchief, this was so romantic.

After several more moments Hotaru, blushing deeply, released an equally blushing Ranma-chan. "This means I don't have to make you bow for a kiss any more." Hotaru said grinning at the redhead.

This caused Ranma-chan to smile. "I can turn back you know."

Hotaru sighed happily and snuggled into the bustier girl.

"You … you perverts!" Akane screamed.

Hotaru flinched and Ranma-chan held her a bit tighter. "Hey we are married you know!" the redhead shot back.

"I will not let my son marry some weak undeserving girl." Genma decreed.

Ranma-chan winced when Hotaru shuddered. "Koi, I know he is an idiot but please don't level the house, we are guests."

For Hotaru this came as a surprise, it meant he knew ... she knew. She pushed the redhead away and looked into those blue eyes.

Ranma-chan was confused, she never understood girls, not even now with being a part time one. But those amethyst eyes held her, first hope and than happiness, acceptance. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Genma attack her wife with clearly harmful intent. At the same time Hotaru jumped forward, happiness flowing through her very being, the obstacle coming at her was disregarded as weak and unimportant, a small wave with the hand, a twist from the wrist, a technique about 12 millenia old, was used by pure instinct alone. She pounced her target.

Ranma-chan briefly wondered about two things, one was how her wife did that without levelling anything in the house, the other why she was on her back and when Hotaru had slipped her the tongue.

"Perverts!" Akane was past boiling point and attacked Mallet in hand. Said mallet got stopped by Ranma-chan and handed to Kasumi so she could put it away.

"Get a room you tow unless you want to give us a free show." Nabiki smirked.

Hotaru blushed and buried her head in the older girls chest. Ranma-chan's face turned the shade of her hair.

Ranma-chan rose without dislodging her snuggling wife. While the casual acceptance of her curse was creepy she didn't really mind, not at all. But first, "Well, we are leaving."

Soun was weeping over his friend leaving him with a psychotic Goth from hell.

Kasumi gave the pair a smile and hot water.

Akane was growling and glowing.

"Thank you for your hospitality." Hotaru bowed and made Ranma bow as well. "Did you forget all manner I taught you?"

"Sorry."

"He's whipped." Nabiki grinned.

"That's perverted!"

"Not that kind of whipped Akane."

Husband and wife left the House and walked to the gate, they turned and waved, with a smiling Kasumi waving back. With holding hands they left.

Kasumi gave a deep sigh.

"What is it sis?" Nabiki asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not all younger men seem to be boring." Kasumi said turning and entering the house.

"Where is he?" The fat man asked.

"500 Yen!"

"But …"

"600 Yen"

"Here."

"They just left."

"Why was I cursed with such an ungrateful son? What did I do to deserve this?"

"You cursed him to be a part-time girl?" Kasumi suggested as Genma brushed past her and jumped over the gate, only to find himself alone.

Nabiki pocketed her money, and gave her oldest sister a guarded look. "You know it's not like you to criticize somebody like that."

"They are good of each other, they seem to accept each other quite well. Besides it's so romantic, the poor boy raised by an idiotic, selfish, probably greedy father manages to leave for his one true love."

Nabiki dodged one of the pink hearts flying around her oldest sister. "That's it, I won't get you those more lurid romance novels." Her poor sister was getting brain damage from the stuff.

"Do you think they will celebrate their wedding night tonight or that they already tasted the forbidden fruit?"

Nabiki just groaned.

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

Once outside Hotaru summoned her Glaive "Let's go home."

Ranma squeezed her hand gently. "Home." The word felt strange, foreign even.

"Silence Teleport."

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

"I told you it's something we forgot to tell you, don't worry." Setsuna was having fun. Michiru and Haruka were asking her why Hotaru was so happy, what had happened, if there was a new enemy approaching, how she was able to drink so much without killing her liver and where Hotaru had gotten that lingerie from.

That was when the door opened.

Haruka and Michiru stared when Hotaru entered holding hands with a boy.

She blinked, before blushing.

He stared at them and then at her. "You forgot to tell them?"

She nodded burring her face in his side.

He sighed and dropped his backpack before bowing. "Hello, Haruka-san, Michiru-san, I'm Ranma Tomoe, Hotaru's husband, sorry 'bout this." As he straightened again he grinned, "Yo, 'Tsuna, how are you?"

Setsuna gave him a soft, amused smile before replying. "Thank you, the same as ever. You staying this time?"

Ranma nodded, "Yeah long story, got a weird curse to boot. I'll tell you once I wash up and drop my stuff at Hotaru's room."

She casually waved. "Take your time, I doubt these two will be moving soon."

That was an understament. Haruka and Michiru were gaping and overly confused.

That left Hotaru dragging her husband up the stairs and into her room.

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

"That's a big bed." Ranma eyed the double bed warily, especially what was lying on it.

Hotaru was busy blushing "Uhm, I had trouble deciding what to wear and didn't have time to clean up …" She stopped stammering when he picked one of the things on her bed. There were only three words to describe it, red, sexy and see-through. Her face almost matched the colour. "Ranma …"

He blushed and sat on the bed. "Will you show me sometime?"

Hotaru didn't trust her voice so she nodded.

Than he took her hand and pulled her close, he raised the hand to his lips and kissed the ring, before letting himself fall onto the bed pulling her with him. His arms circled her.

She shifted into a comfortable position on top of him.

"You need a bath."

"I know."

"I don't want to move." She embraced him squeezing gently.

He squeezed back. "Guess I should try to make a good impression."

Hotaru nodded.

"I'll take quick shower and join you downstairs." He bent forward to give her a quick kiss on her brow.

She pouted but let go of him before getting up. "Hurry."

With that she was gone.

Ranma allowed himself a smile. He was married, he loved her, she accepted him, there was just something that made all this feel so right. It was as if he belonged to be with her. He had been told of soul bonds, maybe there was something like that, he would have to talk to her. He certainly had a lot to tell her.

With smile he rose from bed and pulled his washing utensils from the backpack, as well as some fresh clothes.

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

"You are married?" Michiru asked disbelievingly.

Hotaru nodded happily, preparing a few sandwiches for her hungry husband. She wasn't the greatest of cooks but she was up to making sushi for when he was a cat once again, or sandwiches now.

"When?" Haruka was trying to approach this rationally.

"Three months, two days, and" she glanced at the clock "three hours 27 minutes since the kiss." A happy giggle and a healthy blush followed.

"Why?" Michiru wanted to ask why they were never told.

"It was a rather spontaneous thing, and my birthday, the first day when I was allowed to marry. He was leaving the same day with his father."

Setsuna decided to add something "They already knew each other since Hotaru was about five. They even met up regularly by accident, I have NEVER before seen such a soul bond."

"Hmm?" Hotaru wondered what Setsuna-mama meant.

"Actually I wanted to know what that meant anyway, I was told of that at this weird Amazon Village in China." Ranma mentioned as he came down the stairs. He walked up to Hotaru handing her a wrapped package that looked as if it seen better days. "Sorry I had to hide it from the panda."

"Panda?" Haruka asked wondering.

Ranma sighed and gave them a look. "Don't wanna talk about it."

"Be nice Ranma!" Hotaru told him.

His shoulders sagged.

"Hot and cold water?"

"Yes, I'll help you carry."

Finally everyone was assembled at the table, Ranma was chewing on a sandwich with Hotaru unwrapping her present.

"Thank you Ranma!" Ranma blushed when his wife gave him a happy smile.

Haruka, not really happy with finding her little girl married, snorted. "He's whipped."

"Haruka." Michiru chided her tomboy.

"He isn't the only one." Setsuna observed casually.

Hotaru made a choking sound.

"Hmm?" Ranma asked chewing.

His wife showed him something tiny sexy and silky.

The husband proved that humans were not able to use their lungs to digest food.

Haruka was actually blushing "Well, he has taste at least."

Setsuna was clearly amused by this.

Michiru was not sure what to make of it.

"Guess I should tell you the story behind those two."

Everyone currently female at the table nodded.

"I'll start with the recent stuff. then we will work from there." Ranma thought for a few minutes.

"I guess I'll start after the wedding."

O.o o.O O.o Flashback o.O O.o o.O

"Stupid pops!" Ranma complained. This was the last time he promised himself once again. Swimming to China, than roughing it for a month, now a weird training ground made of pools with bamboo sticks in them.

"Stop your whining boy, or are you a weak little girl?"

This was a useless insult, especially when you were married to a girl that could level a city. "Stuff it old man."

"This no good! Springs very dangerous." a weird looking man came from a small hut.

"We are martial artists, this is nothing." Genma boasted.

Ranma had a bad feeling. "Watcha mean?"

"Is magic, if you fall in spring ..." The man in a mao uniform started.

Genma kicked his son into a spring. "Enough of this rubbish."

"... you change into what drowned there." The guide stared "Oh Customer fall into spring of Drowned girl, very tragic story of girl who fall into spring 1500 years ago."

Ranma came up, she catalogued the changes. Red hair, no penis, breasts, she was smaller, she was female, she was MAD. "DDDIIIIIEEE!!!"

A hit dunked her father into a pool that turned him into a panda. Once the panda left the cursed training ground Ranma-chan stopped following.

She managed to get an explanation out of the guide and a hot kettle. That was when someone else fell into a pool. Sighing she took up her backpack and headed for where she had last seen the panda.

O.o o.O O.o Flashback End o.O O.o o.O

"Actually I can destroy a planet." Hotaru was the first one to react.

Ranma blinked. "Well it's still a lot." He shrugged it off.

Haruka and Michiru stared, Ranma knew, Hotaru was okay with it. Setsuna was not complaining.

"Your father is an idiot." Setsuna once again said.

"I know." Ranma sighed. "Hotaru you want to?" he gestured at the cups of water.

The girl got up and nodded happily.

One cold splash later, cute girl.

That blew a mental fuse with Haruka and Michiru.

A hot cup turned cute girl to cute guy.

The Outer couple suffered from information overload.

"I'll get a towel." Ranma explained as he got up. Being soaked sucked.

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

"Now that everyone is back to normal," That meant the Outer couple. "let me continue." Ranma thought for a bit. "I almost ate a soup that causes hair to grow, only on males but still, would have been annoying as hell. After some travel we managed to get to Jokesomething..."

"Joketsu" Setsuna corrected.

"What she said, it's a bunch of Chinese Amazons, a weird bunch with even weirder rules. I'm so glad 'taru thought me some manners or I would have been through hell."

O.o o.O O.o Flashback o.O O.o o.O

"Customers very lucky, is annual tournament. Best of village fight for title of champion."

"Groaf"

"Stuff it." Ranma-chan kicked the panda as they entered the village. Most of the village was around a tournament log. The place where the panda was heading.

But a flash of amethyst caught her eye.

It was clothes, one of the garments that the women in the village were wearing. Setting her priorities straight Ranma-chan decided on a nice souvenir for her wife.

Shopping proved a problem due to the language barrier, Ranma-chan wanted clothes for someone smaller, the woman wanted something in her size. After pulling the daughter who was built very similar to Hotaru, (only was 3 years younger) and showing Hotaru's picture from her backpack with the wedding ring, almost everything went along perfectly.

Ranma, male thanks to some hot water had gotten himself a amethyst shirt with black pants.

Even if he was kinda forced to change in full few of the owner and her daughter. Just as he was topless the young girl stepped closer and laid a hand on his left side, where he had a bruise from the kick into the spring. To Ranma the warmth felt familiar, it was what his wife was always doing. Out of reflex he held onto the young girl before she even finished and stopped her from swaying. He gave her a smile a pat on the head and a nod of thanks. "Hotaru will love that she isn't the only one who can heal."

"Who is this Hotaru?" came an old voice from the door.

Ranma turned finally donning his new shirt. "My wife." He answered with a smile and pointing to the picture in the mothers hand. "She can heal as well, but she's better at it, or more powerful."

"My name is Khun Lo Anchor." the old woman on the stick said giving him an unreadable look. "And being an Anchor means that you help the Gifted One stay connected."

Ranma frowned as he thought about it. "Like to this world, so she doesn't forget what she is fighting for?"

The old woman cackled. "Oh what a rare find, not only a Gifted One but your wife is a Destined One as well." she hoped into the shop, using her came like a pogo stick. "It is our believe that Gifted Ones and Anchors are protectors of the world. As an Anchor you are exempt from our laws and we shall aid you in helping your Destined One protect the world."

Ranma Saotome nodded "Sounds about right, saving the world is hard, but I can't stay, she is waiting for me."

The old woman cackled "Ahh, young love."

Ranma did not disagree but he did turn a light pink. "I was away for far too long."

The Elder turned to look outside. "Is the panda yours?"

Ranma groaned "What did my father do this time?"

"I think he ate my great granddaughters winnings and is now running around looking for you." The old woman replied after a few moments.

Ranma just shrugged pulling out a scroll from his backpack, pulling a money-bag from that. "So he doesn’t find it, he gave me the scroll himself to carry, so he never thinks about checking in there. I have a wallet too, but he usually empties it."

The old woman laughed, a raspy sound."I like you already young Anchor."

Ranma gave her a look. "I am married."

Khun Lo fell over laughing at that.

Once she collected herself she told him "Thank you I needed that, would you mind helping me pay? I don't think they want my money for some reason."

"It is because you are an Anchor." The Elder looked outside. "Your father has fled, you are welcome to stay, we shall teach you a few things to help your wife."

O.o o.O O.o Flashback End o.O O.o o.O

"Wait, wait, they just accepted it like that. And decided to help out?" Haruka the ever suspicious asked.

Ranma shrugged. "I already knew about the side effects of the healing, I guess I asked the right questions too, or answered them correctly." Yet another sandwich disappeared, prompting Hotaru to smile. "And it wasn't all fun either, they know their stuff, I swear they worked me harder then pops ever did, on the bright side they have some really interesting techniques. I especially liked the massages, I have a few to show you." His smile became rather mischievous. "I even have a few scrolls with several techniques that I couldn't practice without you."

Hotaru took a moment to understand, but then she turned a bright red. "Ranma!"

"Yes Hime-chan?"

She pondered for a moment. "Do you wish to sleep on the couch?" if that threat worked on Haruka, why wouldn't it work on Ranma.

"If you want me to, but I learned several rather nice foot rubs and I even have some proper scented oils and candles."

Hotaru pondered for a moment. "Add in washing my back and we have a deal."

Haruka choked on her tongue. Michiru was staring wide eyed, and Setsuna. "Oh, how I missed the chaos around him."

Ranma smiled and decided to continue the story. "I'll shorten this a bit, I spent about a month there, I gave Ribbon, the healing girl, a few hints as well." He finished the last sandwich off. "Then dad came and dragged me back, he actually made us swim back."

Michiru caught the meaning, "You mean you had to swim back? Across the sea?" She asked in pure disbeliev.

"Yeah, I know, it would have almost ruined Hotaru's dress."

Setsuna laughed as Ranma missed Michiru's point completly.

"How good are you?" Haruka demanded.

Setsuna smiled, having recovered. "He has the potential to be the best there is." She smiled evilly. "I have some more scrolls for you, even one for your furry problem."

Hotaru pouted. "But he is so cute when he goes cat."

"He can do it at will later." Setsuna promised.

The gleam in Hotaru's eyes actually scared Ranma.

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o

o.O O.o o.O O.o o.O O.o