Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) Chapter Nineteen Nabiki stands outside the new 'Joketsuzoku Village', it is still closed but the place looks interesting. She can see that one side of the building is going to be a Chinese Restaurant and the other some kind of department store. If she can get a percentage of the gross off this complex she will bring in enough to support her family and still put away some for college for her and her two sisters. The only problem is getting Kasumi to go to school. She shrugs she'll worry about that later. She walks to the main entrance and knocks loudly, as she waits she looks in through the window; she can see the hustle and bustle going on inside. She notices the name on the furniture delivery people's uniforms. [Hmmm I missed that one; my lackeys are getting slack.] She writes the name 'The Yankee Trader' in her notebook. While she is writing down the names of the restaurant and store. A girl of sixteen with long purple hair and with partial ponytails on each side of her head opens the door. "Niaho, what Xian Pu do for you." Nabiki raises an eyebrow as she sizes up the young Amazon. [Shampoo? What a weird name.] "I would like to talk to the manager." "We not open come back in month for grand opening." Xian Pu starts to close the door when Nabiki stops her. "I am not interested in buying anything, I have a business deal for the manager." Xian Pu looks at her suspiciously. "Amazons no need help." "Well don't you think the manager should make that decision." Nabiki insists, as she again blocks Xian Pu's attempt to shut the door. "She busy, _go away_." Again Xian Pu starts to close the door, and again Nabiki stops her. "I can wait." Xian Pu's anger starts growing as she pulls out her weapon of choice a bonari and raises it threateningly toward Nabiki. "You worse than Muz Tze, Xian Pu said we no need you help." Nabiki gulps but refuses to give the violent girl any measure of control. "Xian Pu, what is going on here." In mandarin Xian Pu quickly tells her great grandmother what is happening. Then she steps out of the way so that Ku Lon can meet with the girl. "I am sorry child, but when you are told by an Amazon to leave I would recommend you do so. My great granddaughter is correct however, we do not need your assistance." Nabiki was not to be put off. "Well I can see you are foreign to Japan, For a small percentage of the gross I can get you all the necessary work permits and business loans and insurance you need at a discount price. I can probably even get you a better deal on the furniture, then what you have." Ku Lon glares at the girl this time Nabiki does step back. "We have already been provided with the necessary documents, and we have already made our deal for furniture there is nothing you can do for us and if there was I would not allow it." Ku Lon narrows her eyes at Nabiki, who cringes internally. "We have gone so far as to have this complex and it's property declared Amazon Territory by your government which means our laws apply and not yours." With that Ku Lon shuts the door and locks it, returning to the interior of the complex. To say Nabiki is furious is a gross understatement. [_How dare_ that _old mummy_ talk to me that way! She is lying about this being declared as 'Amazon Territory'. She'll rue the day she tangled with me!] Nabiki pulls out her cell phone, she knows who to contact to find out for sure if Cologne is lying or not. She will not be treated this way by anyone. As Nabiki walks away stewing in her own anger, she does not notice the white hair girl watching her, with narrowed glaring eyes of lavender fire. She turns from the window in search of her great aunt Ku Lon. She finds her in the Emporium supervising the setup of the different areas. "Elder may I speak with you please." Ku Lon turns and smiles at the white hair beauty. The other Amazons drop what they were holding as they stare at the newly changed girl. "Coming Nephew, back to work ladies." Ku Lon leads Ranma to the Nekohanten and takes a table that is in the corner, looking out the window to the outside. "Now nephew, what is wrong?" Ranma cringes, at the word nephew. "First _Auntie_ when I woke from the final merging I told you I planned on living as a girl, since as an Amazon I am female..." "Until you have decided if you wish to permanently live as a boy or girl, I know, you want me to stop calling you nephew." She finishes more as a statement then a question. Ranma nods her head. "Yes, please it can cause problems, and I figure since my life was not that great as a male, maybe it will be better as a female." Ku Lon looks sadly at the young girl, and wonders how _could_ her life go so far astray. "That can not be the only reason you wanted to talk to me?" Ranma shakes her head her mane of white golden hair flowing freely down her back unbound. "You had a visitor today." Again said as a statement of fact, Ku Lon nods. "She was Nabiki Tendo." Ku Lon's eyebrow shot up. "Of the Tendo's from Genma's promise?" Ranma nods. "He is living with her family now. However, I wanted to let you know that Tendo Nabiki did not like being out maneuvered by you today. She is going to look into your claim of the 'Joketsuzoku Village' being foreign soil and if it isn't she plans to cause trouble. She may cause trouble even if it is. She also prides herself on knowing everyone's business even to the extent of bugging a place with microphones." Ku Lon nods. "You read her mind?" "Yes I am able to do that now without causing pain. I have asked the cats to watch her for us and keep me and Ryoga posted if she tries anything that is not in our best interest." Ku Lon smiles. "That is must be a nice ability to have." She sighs wistfully, as Ranma chuckles. "Ranma child, what are you going to do about Sanders and your mother?" Ranma shrugs, and a sad look comes to her eyes. "Well, Sanders will work with me and Ryoga to learn to use the powers the monks have given us. Although, he is still new at as well. With your help Ryoga and I will be able to manage our ki/Chi better." She sighs deeply, then looks sadly at the Elder. "But as for my mother I don't know what to do, have you any ideas?" Ku Lon looks at the young girl with pride, it is a wise person who knows when to ask for help. "You show great wisdom _niece_, to know when to ask for help" Ku Lon says smirking at the girl. Ranma returns the grin. "I think it is Ra Koh's influence." Ku Lon smiles at her then puts a finger to her chin, "I think you should talk to her, but do it here, the restaurant will be opening early. We could invite her to the grand opening." Ranma looks a little nervously at Ku Lon. Ku Lon reaches out and pats her hand. "Don't worry child we will talk to her together, but know this you are now an Amazon, and no longer a Saotome, so the promise no longer holds for you. Not only that, but, you are no longer who you were when your idiot of a father took you to Jusenkyo. You are a whole new being. If she demands it be filled we will make her understand that it was fulfilled." Ranma nods unsure of herself, then a thought comes to her and she asks the elder. "Ku Lon, isn't my mother an Amazon also? Making it possible for her to force the promise to completion if she chooses?" Ku Lon nods then states with a sober look. "Yes, child she is an Amazon, as is your father by marring her, _BUT_ because she showed bad judgement in permitting Genma to take you away from her, which, allowed him to do all those things, _in the name_ of training to you. The counsel has revoked her and his rights as Amazons. You are an Amazon in your own right, and are not bound by their promises." Ranma looks at Ku Lon with a slightly lost expression then when everything she said sinks in, Ranma nods her ascent.