PM Productions Presents
A Phillip Masters Fanfic
Games Without Frontiers
Part Three

	Genma entered the little pool in the backyard with a resonant splash.  
Nodoka raised an eyebrow as a large hairy panda walked out of the
amazingly full 
body of water.  Her husband turned beast growfed at her son, who had
done the 
dunking, and lumbered into the house with the most dejected look a panda
could 
muster.  She stood up and faced the seven foot monstrosity before her
once again.  
She still wasn�t quite used to having her husband turn into an animal. 
She was 
beginning to wonder if she ever would.  "Saotome Genma, you change back
right 
this instant!" was the only thing she could think of saying.
	With the same pitiful glare, the panda slowly made its way into the
kitchen, 
where Kasumi already had another kettle boiling.  Nodoka wondered
exactly how 
many kettles of hot water the unusual household went through in a day. 
A broken 
water heater, or horror of horrors, a broken gas line must have been the
end of the 
world for its shape changing occupants.
	Genma came back from the kitchen human and still steaming.  He also 
looked a bit too red and a slight bit pained.  He walked over to Kasumi,
who was 
sipping tea slowly next to Dr. Tofu.  "Um, Kasumi, if you could manage
to not 
make the water so hot somehow... I would be most grateful."
	Ranma had come in smiling large as life.  Nodoka couldn�t help but
return 
it, she�d almost forgotten what it felt like to see her son happy.  He
walked over to 
his father and proceeded to slam his hand down on his back.  Even Nodoka
winced.
	Genma downright screamed, then crumpled to the floor in agony.  Ranma 
smirked, looking down at his disabled old man.  "Hey!  Don�t tell me a
little hot 
water�s all it takes to knock you down now?"
	Genma seemed to glow blue for a moment, then he hopped up as vigorous 
as ever.  However, before he could do anything, he was interrupted...
	"Saotome Ranma!" cried Nodoka, "You should respect your father!  
Sparring is one thing, but knocking down an injured man is another
story!"
	Both competitors froze solid in their tracks.  Nodoka grinned a little,
she 
had missed reprimanding the two for their constant fighting.  She
regained her 
stolid expression as they turned to her, looking for all the world like
a couple of 
four year olds caught playing in the mud.  
	Akane, who was walking into the room, Ikeda in tow, took one look at
the 
spectacle and burst out laughing.
	Ranma took on a more upset look.  "What are you laughing at, Akane?"
	She could barely answer between snickers.  "Y... You two... your... 
faces..."  She exploded into another round of giggles.  
	Nodoka looked at Kasumi and Tofu, and found them slightly red.  Both 
seemed to be holding it in, on the brink of loosing it entirely.  Nodoka
frowned a 
little, it was hard to reprimand people when others were finding it all
so amusing.  
"Kasumi, Tofu..."
	"Hmm?" both replied simultaneously, still trying not to open their
mouths 
for fear of making a fatal mistake.
	"What�s going on?  Why are you all finding this so funny?" Nodoka
asked, 
looking back to Akane, who had just gained control over herself.
	"I�m sorry, Mrs. Saotome," Akane bowed slightly, "it�s just that I�ve
never 
seen those two look like that exactly.  So... so, caught in the
headlights with one 
hand in the cookie jar, so to speak."
	"Oh."  Nodoka nodded.  She turned back to her men, who looked like they 
were trying to find a way out of the house as quickly as possible with
as little noise 
as possible.  She held up her hand, catching their attention.  "It may
have been over 
ten years, but at least you, Genma, should remember my rules about
fighting."
	Genma bowed his head.  "Yes, dear."  He looked up and began to count on 
his fingers.  "One, no fighting in the house.  Two, if you get mad, it�s
time to stop.  
Three," he shot a glance at Ranma, "don�t kick the other person while
they�re 
down.  Four, keep it clean."  Both fighters winced at that one. 
"Lastly, the one who 
looses sets the table."
	Nodoka smiled, as well as Kasumi.  
	Ranma made a seeping hand gesture toward the table.  "Well, pops, looks 
like you lost to me."
	Genma grumbled, then slowly made his way to the kitchen again.
	"Ranma," Nodoka began, "I�ve noticed a few things different around here 
from what I remember.  For instance, where�s Soun?  Or Nabiki?"
   	Ranma frowned and looked out into the yard.  "Soun died a year ago
from 
cancer."
	Nodoka looked at Kasumi with a sorrowful expression.  "I�m sorry, I
hadn�t 
heard."
	Kasumi smiled sadly, which amounted to the sun suddenly being 
extinguished.  "Thank you, but he was happy, and I�m glad for that." 
Tofu put an 
arm around her shoulder and hugged her.
	Ranma turned back to face the room.  "Nabiki�s at college... Tokyo U.  
She�s studying to become an Accountant."
	Nodoka nodded.  "So, it�s just you five here then?"
	"Yup.  One big, happy family." Ranma replied without sarcasm.
	"How did you end up here, Ranma?  And married to Akane, and have a 
child?"  Nodoka realized the lack of information she had was catching up
with her, 
and she found she needed to know.
	Ranma smiled, nostalgia seeming to take control as he focused on
nothing 
for a moment.  "Well, that is a story.  However, it all boils down to my
father and 
her father making an agreement before either of us were born to combine
the two 
houses.  One stipulation was the Tendo name would have to be used, it
seemed Mr. 
Tendo was paranoid about not having a boy to carry on the name."  He
looked at 
Kasumi for a second.  "Seems his fears were grounded.  Anyway, my pops
brought 
me here four years ago, and Akane and I almost instantly fell in love.  
Unfortunately, it took us a year and an insane amount of hardship to
accept the fact 
and get married.  Ikeda came along nine months later, I�m sure you can
fill in the 
blanks from there."
 	Nodoka looked confused.  "Okay, that�s clear enough... but what are
these 
hardships you spoke of?"
	Ranma rolled his eyes.  "That could fill at least thirty manga... and
believe 
me, my life would definitely make a good manga."  He smiled a little. 
"Let�s just 
say, we survived, and it would take years to bring you fully up to
speed.  So, we�ll 
tell you some other time, over time."  He looked thoughtful for a
second.  "Or, 
when those involved decide to show up, anyway."
	"Those involved?" Nodoka asked.
	As if to answer her question, a young man around Ranma�s age stumbled
in 
from outside.  Nodoka startled a bit at his sudden entrance.  He was
wearing a 
cotton outfit, black pants and a yellow shirt.  He also had a bandanna
wrapped 
around his head.
	"Hey, Ryouga!" Ranma called to the newcomer and ran over to him.  He 
placed an arm around Ryouga�s shoulder.  "What brings you here?"
	"Unca!" Ikeda yelled, and pulled away from Akane to also run over to 
Ryouga.
	Nodoka raised an eyebrow and looked to Akane.  "Uncle?"
	Akane smiled, "Not literally.  Ryouga�s a childhood friend of Ranma�s,
and 
a good friend of the family."
	"Childhood friend?" laughed Ryouga as he leaned down to pick Ikeda up, 
"This idiot has been a thorn in my side for years."  He pointed his
thumb at Ranma.
	"Hey now, who you callin� a thorn, P-chan?"  Ranma grinned as Ryouga 
grimaced. 
	Ikeda instantly went into a tirade of "P-chan!  P-chan!  P-chan!"
	Ryouga rolled his eyes and endured the verbal onslaught.  "Yeah, yeah, 
okay, Ikeda.  I�ll let you play with P-chan later."
	"Yay!" Ikeda cried, and hugged Ryouga around the neck.
	While all this was going on, Genma had been setting the table.  Kasumi
rose 
and went into the kitchen to begin on dinner.  Nodoka followed her and
offered to 
help.  Kasumi kindly turned her down, and Nodoka had the feeling the
kitchen in 
the Tendo home belonged to the oldest daughter.  She was a finely oiled
machine in 
that room, and would only be deterred by another cog in the gears. 
Nodoka 
gracefully bowed out, and retook her seat in the living room.
	She smiled at Tofu.  "How�s your practice going?"
	The doctor smiled back.  "It�s just great.  Ever since I overcame my 
affliction dealing with Kasumi my business hasn�t been better."
	"Affliction?"
	Tofu laughed mildly.  "Yes, I suppose that needs an explanation.  You
see, 
for years I was enamored by the eldest Tendo daughter.  She was a
goddess to me, 
and still is mind you.  However, I couldn�t tell her, in fact, every
time I saw her or 
heard her I would loose it completely.  I still to this day do not have
a medical 
explanation for why, but she would cause me to go temporarily insane, as
if my 
mind was escaping reality."  
	"So, what made you get over it?" Nodoka wondered, awed that this steady 
and kind man could actually be considered insane for any period of time.
	"Well, it was about a year ago, when Soun passed away.  Kasumi was 
devastated at the time, and needed someone.  I suppose that cut through
the fog in 
my mind, and let me see the light.  I was finally able to be around her
and coherent 
at the same time.  If not for the tragedy involved it would have been
the greatest 
day of my life... however, I believe the day I proposed to her would
take 
precedence now."  His eyes were watering at this point, the past
obviously both 
difficult and happy for him.
	Nodoka smiled and nodded in understanding.  Then, she looked around.  
"What happened to everyone?"
	"They all went out to the Dojo.  Whenever Ryouga visits, him and Ranma 
have to have a sparring match.  Ryouga will also help teach Ikeda some
moves 
along with everyone else.  Here," he rose and put out his arm, "I�ll
escort you 
there."
	Nodoka also rose and put her hand on his arm.  She giggled as they
walked 
out of the house.
	"What?" Tofu asked, amused.
	Nodoka shook her head.  "Nothing.  It�s just that I haven�t been in any
kind 
of romantic situation for many years.  It just feels odd is all."
	Tofu chuckled softly and put his hand over hers.  "Well, that is most 
unfortunate for a young beauty such as yourself."
	Nodoka blushed and put a hand to her face.  In her best impression of a 
young schoolgirl she replied, "But, doctor, I already have a boyfriend."
	"Oh ho!" Tofu said evilly, "Perhaps I shall simply steal you away,
you�re 
obviously too good for him."
	Nodoka nodded, "That is true."
	They both laughed wholeheartedly and made their way into the Dojo.
	They found Ranma and Ryouga beating the holy tar out of each other.  
Neither could seem to get the upper hand, as each landed punch after
punch, kick 
after kick on his seemingly tireless opponent.  Ranma was obviously
fastest by 
quite a margin, but Ryouga seemed to be a hunk of steel when it came to 
endurance.
	Nodoka was impressed by the amount of Martial skill being
demonstrated.  
Both together seemed like they would be unbeatable.  Heck, she thought,
either one 
seemed to be unbeatable by any fighter in the world that she knew of.  
	Ranma suddenly cried out, "Kashu Tenshin Amiguriken!"  Nodoka�s eyes 
widened as Ranma�s fists became an absolute blur of motion, almost to
the point of 
transparency.  Ryouga was struck hundreds of times before he could
blink, and 
flew into the far wall of the Dojo with a monstrous crack.  Nodoka
blinked for a 
moment, than stared in awe as Ryouga got up again and brushed himself
off.
	"Hey!" Ryouga protested.  "That hurt... a little."  He ran toward
Ranma, his 
hands in an attack position.  
	Tofu and Nodoka leaned up against the wall next to Genma, Akane, and 
Ikeda.  Genma and Akane were studying the fighting with a skillful eye,
while the 
youngest of the family was rooting his father on.  
	Ryouga collided with Ranma, and a flurry of motion ensued.  Attacks and 
blocks went by like the wind, as the two fighters continued their
destructive dance.  
Ryouga was getting hit about twice as much as Ranma, though with his
increased 
strength and endurance it seemed as though he would still win.  That was
until 
Ranma got a roundhouse through that knocked Ryouga across the Dojo once
more.
	"Ha, Ryouga!" Ranma chided, "Seems I can still beat the crap out of you
as 
easily as ever!"
	"Ranma!  Watch your language!" Akane warned from the sidelines.
	"Oh, right, sorry, Akane!" he called back as he dodged more blows from
a 
now fully enraged martial artist.
	The fight went on for a good ten more minutes before the two fighters 
finally wore down to a point they felt they could stop.  Not that they
couldn�t have 
gone on by any stretch of the imagination, Nodoka noted that neither of
them were 
actually out of breath.  Ryouga was only panting a little because of the
countless 
punches he took in the gut.  
	"Seems neither of us wins again, eh?"  Ranma slapped his friend on the 
shoulder as they walked to the wall everyone else was leaning against.
	Ryouga nodded, "Yeah, but wait till next time!"
	"What?" Ranma asked, "I�m just going to beat you up again!"
	"If you two are quite finished, I don�t think the walls can take much
more of 
your ego inflating." Akane said as they seemed to get into full steam.
	"Yeah, honey, I know." Ranma replied as he reached down and picked his 
wife up, hefting her into the air as if she were a feather.  She
squealed lightly, then 
began to hit him half-heartedly.
	"Put me down you big ape!" she yelled while giggling.
	"Ape?" Ranma repeated, his brow furrowing, "So I�m an ape, am I?"
	"Oh, no... Ranma, don�t you dare!"  Akane increased the power of her 
blows a little.
	Ranma began to walk out of the Dojo, a laughing Ikeda following as if
he 
knew exactly what was about to happen.  Nodoka and the others followed,
she for 
one was curious as to what was going on.
	"Tendo Ranma, you put me down right now!"  Akane seemed to be getting 
a bit more desperate now, but somehow she also seemed resigned to her
fate.
	Ranma did not comply, in fact he held her closer to himself.  Then, he 
placed a kiss on her lips and leapt into the small pond Genma had gone
into 
previously.  
	Nodoka turned to Tofu.  "How in the world does that pool stay full like 
that?"
	Tofu shrugged, "Freak of nature, I guess."
	Ranma carried Akane out of the pond, both of them dripping wet.  Ranma 
had turned into his more buxom form, and now looked as though he should
be 
having difficulty carrying his soaking wife.  However, his girl side
seemed just as 
capable as his male in this case.  Nodoka found it strange that she
found the 
difference in height to be almost more unusual seeming than the
difference in sex.  
Having Ranma suddenly be almost half her size, when he�s usually looking
her in 
the eye is quite a shock.  
	"Dinner!"  Everyone looked over at Kasumi, who was standing in the 
doorway.
	Almost instantly, Genma, Ranma, Ikeda, and Ryouga were in the house.  
Akane was too, but only because Ranma was carrying her.  Kasumi�s hair
was 
actually waving due to their hasty passing.  Nodoka was glad that they
were still 
the same in these little ways, the ways that mattered.  
	Nodoka�s hair began to blow as a wind picked up.  She put up a hand to 
gather all the loose strands that had fallen from her tie.  The area
darkened as black 
clouds passed in front of the sun, the shadow an almost tangible
presence.  She 
turned and looked at the sky, it wasn�t entirely unusual for Nerima
weather.  
However, the foreboding feeling she had earlier was coming again, and
she didn�t 
like the ill omen in the air.  A jagged streak of lightning flashed in
the distance, and 
a rolling thunder followed, washing like a wave over the serene
landscape.
	"Hmmm... looks like we�re in for some nasty weather."
	Nodoka looked over at Tofu, who was staring upward along side of her.  
She hoped he was right, and that�s all it was.  She turned back toward
the house, 
only to find a still wet and female Ranma looking outward toward the
horizon, his 
pigtail flapping about in the breeze.  The look on his face did not
instill her with 
any confidence.  

END PART THREE
Hmmm... slightly shorter part... and the main plot is delayed until next
time.  
However, as you can probably tell it�s coming, and soon.  Sorry to leave
you in 
suspense, but I hope I have built up a good setting so far.  As always I
appreciate 
all comments, criticism, and corrections (MST�s included!) anyone can
give.  Send 
everything here, and thanks for reading!
PMasters (3-9-98)