Ranma 1/2

Disclaimer: I don’t own Ranma, Rumiko Takahashi does. I just borrowed some of the characters. Rated: NC-17

Shades of Home

Chapter 41

“Where the hell is Saotome.”

“Don’t bother him. He’s with Yao and I think they want some privacy.”

Sunny and Ranma however, weren’t doing what everyone thought they would be doing. Ranma was filling Sunny in on everything he’d been doing, in detail.

“Well, I’m glad Mu Tzu got Xian Po to act like a woman instead of a girl. She’s a nice person when she isn’t obsessing about that fiancee of hers. I don’t know his name, Mom wouldn’t tell me. She said he’d started a new life and didn’t need the grief of every one of us trying to get revenge for Xian Po almost gettin’ exiled. I’d like to give her a piece of my mind, as she shouldn’t have tried to force someone who was unwilling, but . . . “

Ranma, meanwhile, was sitting with his jaw in his lap. He’d never told Sunny Shampoo's name and hadn’t mentioned that she’d been engaged to him, he’d just told her that they were friends. Now –

“And I don’t care if she is some sort of cousin of mine. We’re from different villages. I remember going to her wedding. But . . .”

“Whoa, Whoa.. Time out, take a breath. I need to . . . Sunny are you telling me that Shampoo is a cousin of yours?”

“Yes, you’d have to ask Mom exactly how we’re related. But we’re close enough that I could take on her responsibilities when she went to Japan. Of course, one of her village elders did it, but then informed me of it. Real mess . . . oh, damnit. Ranma you better not tell me that you . . .”

Ranma ducked his head. This was a real mess. His past was getting ready to mess up his future again.

“Well. Hum . . . “

Ranma grabbed Sunny’s hand. He pressed it to his lips. “Sunny, please don’t be mad at me. I’m sorry I never . . . but I didn’t know . . . you never told me you were . . .”

Sunny just shushed him absently, barely even noticing his distress. “Shush, koibito. I’m thinking . . . “ After a few moments she turned to him and realized that he was shaking. “Stop that. I’m not mad at you. If I should be mad at anyone, I should be mad at myself . . . Ranma, you need to get into Shoushow Village, right. Well, it isn’t going to be easy. You know that they are the Guardians of Jushinko, right? And they’re the most traditional village of the five Amazonian villages?”

Ranma nodded, he knew all this and it was a problem. He watched Sunny as thoughts chased each other across her face. What was she up to?

“Ranma, as Xian Po’s cousin, and the one appointed to take her responsibilities, I think we have a way into the village and even a way into the Elders circle. I need to talk to Mom. Come on.”

After consulting with Ma Yao and throwing a little fit when she got an argument, Sunny came out of the office and sat down next to Ranma.

“Bishi, we can do this. I know a way to get you into the village and give you enough leverage to make them do what you what them to do.”

Ranma clutched Sunny’s hands, “Sunny, you’re a life saver and I mean that literally. What do . . . “

“Don’t get too excited just yet.” Sunny told him exactly what he had to do and Ranma just gaped at her for a second.

“You’re sure that’s the only way? Absolutely?” At Sunny’s nod, he bit his lip “You want to do this? I won’t put you on the spot like this unless you really want to do this.”

“Ranma, I wouldn’t have even mentioned it if I wasn’t completely aware of what I was getting into and willing to go all the way.”

~ * ~

Ranma gathered up Dr. Tofu, Ryouga, Leela, Kuno, Steven, Doris, Ma and half a dozen other people.

“In front of these witnesses I, Saotome Ranma, make my submission.”

Ranma dropped to one knee in front of Sunny, bowed his head and raised his crossed wrists to her. She reached out and touched them gently with her finger tips

“I accept this submission.”

The up roar was so loud that it brought MP’s running, thinking there was an incipient riot.

“Damnit. Ranma you . . .”

“He’s lost his mind.”

“Ranma, you can’t. “

Ranma took a deep breath and shouted them all down. When they were finally quiet, he said, “If anyone can think of a better way to get all of us into the village in the next week, I’d like to hear it. I’m ok with this, but I hate to put Sunny on the spot like this. Anyone? . . . No? Didn’t think so. Dorrie, get us a chopper to take us to Sun Yao’s village. ASAP.”

Then he went to Sunny and knelt at her feet, waiting patiently for her to tell him what to do next.

“Ranma. Get up. I don’t want you to do that. It’s not necessary until we get home.”

“I might as well start now. I don’t want to forget when we get there.”

Sunny reached out and hauled Ranma to his feet. She gave him a little shake.

“When have you ever forgotten anything important?”

“Never that I remember, but there’s always a first time and this isn’t the time to take chances on my memory. Practice makes perfect. Just consider it Anything Goes Amazon Husband technique.” Ranma smirked at Sunny, raising one eyebrow.

Sunny sighed heavily. “I hate it when you’re right.”

“Get used to it. I’m usually right, aren’t I”

“Shut up . . . Ranma, I know you’re right but that doesn’t mean I have to like it, does it? . . . .Ranma? . . . .Damnit.”

“Permission to speak, Betrothed.”

“NO. You’ll just say something else I already know and don’t want to hear.”

Sunny stomped off with Ranma trailing three steps behind, leaving a trail of snickers floating in the air.

~ * ~

Vignette

"What just happened?"

"They got engaged, amazon style."

"Oh . . . uh . . . I heard that they have some really weird customs."

"Yes they do and Saotome better know what he’s doing. She’s related to his other fiancee Xian Po."

"So?"

"That means that the only kind of marriage they can have is . . . well, he’s practically her slave. He can’t know what he’s in for. He submitted to her. That means that he can’t even talk if she doesn’t let him. He has to ask for permission to do almost anything."

"Why would he do that? I mean he . . . wait, wait, I got it. If he’s married to Yao Sun that means that he’s ... oh, that little devil. I just hope they accept him."

~ * ~

Ranma waited patiently as Sunny gathered her things together. Then they went to his room to get his things. He grinned evilly at Sunny, he still hadn’t said a word and wouldn’t until she gave him permission. He wasn’t taking any chances of forgetting. {In for a penny in for a pound. Sunny’s so gonna hate this}

“Hey, Saotome. I heard you just got engaged. Congrats. This the lucky girl? . . look, I know we don’t get along, but that’s no reason to give me the silent treatment.”

Ranma eyed Sunny raising his eye brow. “Permission, please?”

“You may speak. But get on with your packing.”

“Hai, Koishii. I’m taking everything. What I don’t need, I’ll put in storage, if that’s all right with you.”

“Fine, get packing.”

“Hey, you can’t order him around like that.” Charlie reached out to grab Sunny and found out that Ranma may have submitted to Sunny but he sure as hell hadn’t submitted to anyone else.

“Get your dirty hands off her--now.” Ranma bent Charlie’s wrist back and twitched his fingers, which effectively dumped the man on his butt. ”She’s my mistress and she can do anything she wants to. Get over it.”

“Ranma, just pack, please. I don’t know how you managed to get such a nasty man for a roomie, just look at the mess.” Sunny turned to Charlie, “You’re a pig and that’s insulting pigs. Oh and be glad that Ranma got in my way, otherwise I’d be wearing your testicles for earrings.”

Ranma blinked, then realized that Sunny was an Amazon, so she surely had some training. He wondered if she’d purposely hid it or just never thought to make a big deal.

“Oh, Ranma, I never hid anything from you, but Mom insisted after we got kidnaped, that I take up the traditional training. I don’t care for it, but there you are.”

Charlie looked from one to the other. He didn’t know how Sunny knew what Ranma wanted to know, she just had.

“I didn’t think you would hide things from me. You’re your own person and I don’t need to know everything you do and think. I . . .” Ranma grinned at Sunny. “I just wish you’d let me train you. I’ll do a better job than anyone else would. And you don’t have to worry that I’ll take it easy on you. I love you too much to let you down like that. Better a bruise from me than a stab from an enemy.”

“Hey, you can’t just ignore me like this.”

Sunny looked at Charlie and smirked. “He didn’t ask permission to speak to you. You want to ask him something, you’ll have to go through me. He really won’t answer you unless I give him permission and I don’t think you’re worthy of his time. Ranma, you are forbidden to speak to him.”

Ranma bowed his head and eyed Forester through his bangs. He looked like he was ready to explode. “Yes, Onna no Baka. I’ve got my things together. Shall we go?” Ranma grinned unrepentantly at Charlie and walked out, following Sunny. His laughter rang out in the hall followed by a smack and Sunnys giggles. ”Onna no Baka indeed. Is that any way to address me?”

~ * ~

After collecting his sword and speaking to Steven about arrangements to bring in a full battalion at a moments notice, Ranma and Sunny boarded a Jolly Green Giant and headed for the Amazon village of Pearl of Great Price, the home of the Amazonian High Council.

Each village had a council of Elders, but they answered to the High Council and that was what Ranma was aiming for. As Sunny’s husband he would have an entry into the council chamber and, if they acknowledged him, he could try to get them to intervene.{If this don’t work, I’m in real trouble. I don’t know what we’ll do}

Ranma settled himself in one of the seats and crossed his feet at the ankles.

“Sunny, unless you need me for somethin’, I’m going to sleep until we get there. I’m gonna be so short of sleep soon, I’d like to bank some z’s now.”

“Sure Ranma, you go to sleep. I’m gonna make some calls..” At Ranma’s look she grinned “What? . . . not all the villages are hide bound. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at my village. We’re quite modern. Sleep, now.”

Ranma smirked at Sunny. “Yes, Mistress. Sleep now.” And he did. Falling asleep almost at once, but he didn’t miss Sunny’s look. {Later for you, Boy}

Ranma woke once to find himself laying on the seats. Several armrests had been folded up so he could lay flat, but the most interesting thing was he had his head in Sunny’s lap and she had her fingers entwined in his unbraided hair. He wondered when that had happened, then fell back to sleep.

~ * ~

“Ranma, wake up! We’re here. Now you have to be in submission. Please, you can’t make a mistake. No matter what happens, don’t speak, don’t resist, and for heavens sake,don’t disobey me, no matter what. You understand?”

Ranma knuckled the sleep out of his eyes and nodded. Sunny put the tip of her finger on his lips, Ranma nodded again and licked her finger, just barely touching the tip of his tongue to the pad of it.

Sunny sighed, “You’re going to be difficult aren’t you?”

Ranma made puppy-dog eyes at her and shrugged.

When they disembarked Ranma knelt at Sunny’s feet as she greeted her Grandmother, an Aunt and two women who weren’t introduced.

“Grandmother, this is Ranma. He’s my fiancee. Please make him welcome.”

“Well, well, child I had despaired of you. Why is he kneeling?”

“He’s the boy who beat Xian Po, the one who repudiated her? Kou Lon had a time convincing her Council that Xian Po should be allowed to marry Mu Tzu, remember?”

“Ah. And you want him for your own? Well, he’s a fine-looking thing. He know what’s about to happen to him?”

Sunny stroked Ranma’s hair and allowed him to put his arms around her thighs and press his cheek to one. “No Grandmother, I don’t know myself. This hasn’t been done for over six hundred years. So. . . but he’ll do as he’s told.”

The Aunt spoke up with a frown. “You better have a really good reason to put that young man through an antique Amazonian marriage ceremony. With all the trimmings. Really good or I’m going to have a talk with your mother.”

“Auntie, it’s so important I’m willing to risk Ranma hating me when all this is over. I only have a vague idea from some of the things I’ve heard older women say. Ranma, get up.”

Ranma stood and at the Aunts gesture he turned, not to follow her, but to Sunny for permission.

“Yes, Ranma, go with Aunt. Do whatever she tells you to do, unless it involves any sort of damage to your person. Do you understand?” Sunny’s look took in Ranma and her Aunt. She nodded to Sunny and again gestured to Ranma.

Ranma wasn’t too happy with being separated from Sunny but he followed the Aunt into a building and obediently stripped off his clothes and stepped into the tub.

“Well, boy, you’re well setup. Very nice body.“ Ranma shivered, her assessment was as impersonal as was humanly possible. “You cold? . . . oh, hell. I forgot to get you permission to speak. Now what?”

Ranma shrugged.

“Well. My name is Bo An. I am Sun’s Aunt by her Father. Do you know what is going to happen to you?”

Ranma shook his head and then shrugged. {Please, just get on with this. I’m nervous enough as it is}

“We are going to bathe you then dress you as befits an Amazonian groom. I don’t expect you to give us any trouble.” She eyed him for a moment “After all, how much resistance could a submissive little boy like you put up.”

Ranma raised one eyebrow and allowed himself a small smile. {Lady, you have no idea}

The bath wasn’t unpleasant, in fact, it was nice–until they started gawking at him, they stared and pointed and whispered, until he wanted to scream at them to shut up and go away. But he held it in and stood in the bath, with his head meekly bowed, waiting for them to finish bathing him.

{I can do this. I have to. Stand still, shut up.} No one noticed his tightly clenched fists or the blood seeping from between his fingers.

When they finished with the bath, the women dressed him in a pair of pants with draw strings at waist and ankles, a shirt with very long tails, nearly to his ankles and a pair of soft slippers. He’d only had one small problem, they wanted to take his watch and bracelet. When he’d refused silently to allow them to take either piece of jewelry, Bo An had sent one of the younger women to Sun for advice. She simply sent word back that he was to be allowed to keep both.

“Well, young man, you seem to be favored. She has also sent word that you aren’t to be chained. It is a true test of your commitment that she allows you the freedom of your body. She only wants your hair braided.

Ranma wondered just exactly what he’d gotten himself into but he would complete the marriage ceremony no matter what. 1) he couldn’t give up on anything he’d decided to do, 2) he wouldn’t embarrass Sunny in front of her family and 3) if he didn’t get into the Village they’d have to commit a breach of international etiquette that would cause more problems than he wanted to imagine.

Keeping his head down, Ranma just shrugged his shoulders.

In the council chamber, Sunny was glaring at the council with a look that would have frightened even Ranma.

Dressed in her weding robes she looked beautiful, the robes were sea green silk and suited her perfectly.

“I realize that this is most unusual, but I will marry Saotome Ranma. He will prove his devotion to me and you will support me in my desires. Do I make myself clear? I will not subject him to examination by committee. Absolutely not. There is a great deal more involved in this than teen-aged horniness. He’s making a greater sacrifice than you realize and I will not have you humiliate him any more than absolutely necessary.

Ranma would have been shocked at Sunny’s uncharacteristic harshness even though it was for his sake.

Ranma entered the room and glanced around, it was a large room, with six tiers of seats. They were only half full, but that still meant that there were almost a hundred and fifty women in the room. All staring at him. He went directly to Sunny and knelt at her feet.

“Submit, boy.“

Ranma again offered Sunny his crossed wrists, but this time she bound then together with a silk ribbon that a child could have broken. A concerned gasp rose from the gathered Amazons. Ranma bowed to the floor and allowed Sunny to put her bare foot on his neck. She was very gentile and pulled him to his feet immediately.

“Come, boy.“

Sunny quickly led Ranma to a room and slammed the door, shooting a dead bolt and slamming a cross bar into place.

“Well, I’m glad that’s over with. Come here and let me untie you. You can speak as you will. Love?” Sunny grasped Ranma by the chin and looked him in the eyes. “Are you ok? You want to go home?”

Ranma allowed Sunny to untie him, “Yes, but . . . No. This is too important. We’ve got to get to the Council of Elders and this is the only way. Tell me you thought of something else and I’ll be happy. When do we have the ceremony?”

“Un . . . Ranma . . . that was it. We’re married.”

“Damn. Romantic much?”

“Yeah well. What did you expect hearts and flowers?”

“I expected more than a foot on my neck. Even if you did take off your slipper. Maybe a kiss or something.”

“Well . . . there is the consummation.”

Ranma goggled at Sunny and nearly choked on his tounge. “T the what? I. . . you . . . er . . . we?”

Ranma’s brain went directly to his groin

“Yes, we. We’re married. Really married. And we have to consummate it, or it’s not valid and if it’s not valid, we’re stalled. Ranma?”

Ranma’s brain scrambled around in his skull for a minute before he realized what Sunny was saying.

“We have to . . . but . . . I’m . . . you. Oh, hell. Fuck! Damn, we’re so screwed.”

Sunny grabbed Ranma by the arm and pulled him onto the bed.

“Not yet, we’re not. Lay down.”

~ * ~

Sunny let her hands roam over Ranma while he tried not to spontaneously combust.

“Ranma?”

“Huh?”

“Take off your clothes.”

“Yeah . . . un.”

Ranma’s eyes glazed over and he had trouble untiing the drawstring, he finally snapped it and dragged the pants off, jerking them over his feet and breaking the ankle strings as well

Sunny meanwhile was enjoying the vision of Ranma completely flustered.

“Ranma, let me, you’ll tear it.”

“Fuck it! I’ll tear it if I want.”

“No you won’t. You still have to obey me. They’ll know.”

“How?”

“I don’t know, they just will. It’s happened before. Hold still.”

Ranma held still as Sunny unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside. She slid her hands over the flat planes of his chest and teased at his nipples with her finger tips. Ranma reached out to do the same for her and her soft whimper was loud in the quiet of the room.

Sunny pulled the tie off Ranma’s pig tail and ran her fingers through his hair, loosening it and gently massaging his scalp. She slid her hands to the back of his neck and pulled his head up. Pressing her lips to his, she explored his mouth, kissing him until air became a very real concern.

Ranma lay back panting and tipped his head back, exposing his neck to her teeth and lips. She took advantage of that hesitant gesture and left a trail of tiny nips and kisses down from his chin to his breast bone. Blowing cool air across the damp skin made Ranma’s eyes roll up in his head, his eye lids fluttered shut as he enjoyed her touch.

Sunny straddled Ranma’s hips and started to kiss him again. When they parted again Ranma was grinding his teeth

“Sunny let me . . . I can’t . . . I’ll hurt you . . .”

“No you won’t. Just . . . here.”

Ranma pushed Sunny away, he was so hot he was forgetting everything but his need, he knew he needed to regain some control or he’d inadvertently hurt Sunny.

“Please . . . I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m afraid I’ll hurt you. Sunny? What?”

Sunny took the heavy silk rope off the bed curtains and tied it to the bed posts. Then she gently put it in Ranma’s hands. “Don’t let go.” Ranma took hold of the rope and held on for dear life.

After what seemed hours, Sunny wriggled one last time and eased herself off Ranma, whispering in his ear ”Wo ai ne, husband.”

Ranma moaned and shifted, letting go of the rope. Mmmmmm Wo ai ne, wife.” Then he covered his eyes with his arm.

“Holy Shit. We’re married.”

~ * ~

Ranma lifted Sunny in his arms smirked at her and the bemused expression on her face, then he carried her to the bathroom and started up the jacusi. They sat in the tub and washed each other, winding up exhausted and ready for bed, to sleep

“You hentai.”

“Hum . . . me?”

“Yeah you.”

“Oh . . . yeah.”

~ *~

“Arise.”

“Damnit! I knew it was a mistake to unbar that door.”

“Silence.”

Ranma reared up from the bed, pushing Sunny off his chest, and eyed the woman with considerable disfavor. Sunny didn’t bother trying to hide herself, she glared at the woman with an arrogant frown that was just not Sunny.

“We’ll be in the Council Hall in one half an hour; see that everyone who should be there, is.”

The woman bowed and left with a sour expression on her face.

Ranma followed Sunny into the bathroom and straight into a toe curling kiss. He returned it with enthusiasm and joined her in getting ready for a new and probably uncomfortable day.

After showering and washing hair, Ranma brushed Sunny’s hair and braided it for her. Snapping an elastic on the end, he leaned down and nibbled on the nape of her neck.

“Stop that. We don’t have time. I’ve got to do your hair. I won’t have you appearing before the council messy. I’ll look like I don’t take proper care of you. Oh and . . . “

Ranma, who had settled between Sunny’s thighs to have his hair brushed and braided, tipped his head back and blinked at Sunny owlishly. She giggled at him. He looked so funny upside down like that. She was happy, so far things were working out well, Ranma hadn’t freaked out, and he was an amazing lover.

Sunny carefully braided Ranma hair and swept the pig tail over his shoulder. Leaning down she pressed her lips to his trapezious, just back of his shoulder and sucked--hard.

“Wha. . . whacha doin’?”

“Nothing bad. I just marked you.”

“Oh. Well, we better get goin.’”

“Ranma, this will be hard for you. You’ll be on display and you mustn’t react, no matter what they do. I won’t leave you. Just remember; don’t talk to anyone without my permission or obey any order or request from anyone but me.”

“Ok, Sunny. I’ll be ok. I can do this.”

Sunny reached out and gently took Ranma’s hands in hers. “Sure you can. I believe in you.” Sunny healed the crescent-shaped cuts on the palms of his hands. {Damn, I should have noticed those earlier}

~ * ~

Ranma stood on the dais and kept his eyes fixed on Sunny. His Chinese wasn’t good enough to follow everything that she was saying but she was mad.

“I can’t believe that you want me to bind him. You think I don’t have control of my husband? Are you implying that I can’t handle my business? Unlike some people I could mention, I can. I am insulted. My husband is in control of himself at all times. He is not weak, or passive. He is a man among men and a fighter of great skill. He does this because he loves me and it is necessary. If you wish to act the fools, please do so elsewhere.”

Sunny stomped over to Ranma and started unbuttoning his shirt, he started to reach up to do it himself, then put his hands back at his sides. If she was doing this, let her do it. All Ranma wanted to do was get it over with as quickly as possible.

Sunny unbuttoned the first three buttons of Ranma’s shirt and slid it down off his shoulder, baring the hicky she’d given him. Ranma turned, followed her gesture and felt his stomach drop. She wanted him to stand on a small dais set against the wall.{Oh, God! I don’t think I can do this.}

It looked like a sale block and he’d sworn he’d never stand on one again. But if he failed to cooperate, he’d be judged unworthy and his plans would go up in smoke.

“Koi? You’re shaking.”

“It looks like a slave block. I . . .”

“Oh, Honey! I’m sorry. But if you don’t show them that you allowed me to mark you. It’s all in vain. They won’t accept you and then we can’t make the village council obey you.”

Ranma straightened his back and, jaw muscles working, stepped onto the block. His forearms shook with the tension of his tightly clenched fists.

“I’ll do this. Just . . . they can’t touch me. Please don’t let anyone touch me. I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Sunny turned to the room and, eyeing each woman there, announced that no one was to touch Ranma, only look.

The eldest woman there just nodded, many of the women had noticed Ranma’s distress.

“No one will touch your man, Princess. He is very beautiful and the temptation is strong, but he is also so delicate. But he must kneel. No one can see the mark.”

“Very well. Come Ranma, kneel for me. “

Ranma knelt on the raised platform and bowed his head. He was shaking so hard that all the women could see it.

“Why is he so fearful, surely you don’t abuse him. This is not good. You must comfort him. We have no wish for him to fail.“

Sunny stepped up on the platform and stood in front of Ranma. She started stroking his hair and he suddenly lunged towards her, all the Amazon women gasped, but he only wrapped his arms around her hips, burrowed his face in her stomach and clenched his fists in her top.

“Ssshh, Koibito. It’ll be over soon. Just stay calm. I’m here and I won’t let anyone touch you.”

“What have you done to the boy, he trembles like a . . . “ The Elder’s face clenched in fury. “When was he a slave and where did you find him.”

“Ranma was a slave in the shadows. I found him, as you put it, in the Compound. Be quick, he doesn’t need this foolishness . . . Ranma show them, then they’ll hurry. I’m tired of catering to their foolish clinging to tradition.”

Ranma drew blood to the surface of his skin and let the whip scars show. All he wanted was for his ordeal to be over.

“Aaahh. So, he is, indeed, a brave man. . . . come ladies, let us make an end to this, the Princess is getting annoyed.”

The women filed past Ranma and Sunny, looking at the mark on Ranmas’ shoulder and moving away again. He did fine until one of the women just had to touch him. The feel of her cold fingers stroking his shoulder nearly undid Ranma but Sunny reached out and snatched the offending member away snarling, “Hands off. No touching what’s mine.”

Ranma laughed softly into Sunny’s stomach.

“Yours? Possessive much”

“You better believe it, Bishie. You are mine, as I am yours. Get over it.”

“Never.”

Sunny announced to the room in general. “That’s all. No more. I said no touching and I meant it. We will be going back to our rooms now.” One of the women made a halting gesture. “What do you want?” Sunny didn’t look happy at all.

The woman motioned to three men standing in an arch way. They came forward with their arms full of cloth.

“He must be accepted. You know that as well as I do. But he will not be humiliated, that went out in the ‘80's, the 1780's. We are not a hide bound bunch of hick mountain goats. Traditions must be observed, especially when it is as important as Ma seems to think it is. So . . . “

The men set up a small inclosure, made of heavy silk cloth stretched over standing poles. Then they entered, tugging Ranma along with them.

“Hey. Watch it. Gettin a little personal there.”

Ranma blinked, the men had quickly folded the fabric walls back and now he got a look at himself. He was dressed in black pants with banded ankles, a long tabarded top and soft Chinese slippers. The pants were plain, heavy silk, but the top was embroidered with a dragon on the front skirt and scale patterns down the sleeves. And he was given a flat black cap with not only a red tassel but a jade button on the top.

“But . . . but this kind of cap is only worn by a prince. I’m not. . . I. Sunny what the hell is goin’ on here?”

“Ranma, I’m an Amazon Princess. I thought you knew. I’m sure I told you a long time ago. That means that you are a prince of my people. And. . .”

Ranma got an evil look on his face. “That means that the Council has to listen to me.”

“Was it worth it?”

“Weighed against the lives that could be lost? Yeah, it was worth every second of it. . . especially last night.”

“Pig.”

“No, that’s Ryouga.”