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This story's been up on FF.net for a while, but I wanted to post it here a 
well. Please enjoy.



-- Attached file included as plaintext by Ecartis --
-- File: art.txt

	"So," commented the silver-haired pseudo-god, "this pool simulates 
possible timelines?"
	"Yeah," said the cat, "a while ago, I used it to run a little bet. Lots of 
fun, really."
	"Oh. Cool. It OK if I play around with it?"
	"Of course."
	"Good. Make a change right... here."
	"You've GOT to be kidding."
	"Nope."


	"Spoken Words"
	<Telepathy>



	The Art

	by

	Aleh



	"WHAT?!?" yelled the three sisters who were sitting at the table.
	"Yes," commented their father, "He's the son of a very good friend of 
mine. His name is Saotome Ranma. If one of you were to marry him and continue 
the dojo, our family's legacy would be secure."
	"Tell us a little about him, father," suggested the oldest.
	"Well, I can't really say all that much. I've never met him."
	"WHAT?!?" exclaimed all three of the sisters.
	"Come on, father, you have to know SOMETHING," prodded the middle sister.
	"Well..." As the father was about to continue, he heard a knocking at the 
door. He dropped everything in a fashion that was quite typical for anyone who 
knew him and ran to the door, accompanied by his middle daughter...
	"Growf."
	...and promptly ran back into the house, being chased by a highly singed 
panda. The panda, noticing their fear, ran into the kitchen, from which emerged 
an old man in a ratty white gi.
	The father recognized the old man. "Genma!"
	"Soun!"
	The two were promptly embracing.
	"So, Saotome, where's your son?"
	Genma looked a little sheepish. "Come on in, boy!"
	In response, a young man of around sixteen walked in. He was dressed in a 
Chinese-style outfit, consisting of black pants and a red sleeveless shirt. His 
black hair was tied into a pigtail, which he was fidgeting with sheepishly. On 
his forehead was an odd birthmark, which was shaped like an inverted triangle, 
which had been cut in half vertically. There were matching diamond-shaped 
birthmarks on each cheek, as well.
	"Hi, I'm Omigami Ranma. Sorry about this."
	"At last, our families can be joined!!" shouted Soun as he embraced Ranma.
	"Umm... Tendo-san," he replied, "I am not Genma-baka's son."
	THAT got Soun to let go quickly. "What do you mean?"
	A few minutes and a few explanations later, Ranma and the three sisters 
were sitting and talking.
	"So, let me get this straight," Nabiki commented, "Saotome-san, here, 
kidnapped you and forced you to come here?"
	"Yep. Something about fulfilling a pledge between his family and yours. 
Problem is, I'm NOT a member of his family."
	"Then why'd he bring you here?"
	"When his son was ten, this moron wrapped him in fish sausages and threw 
him into a pit of starving cats."
	"WHAT?!?!" exclaimed the three sisters, including Kasumi.
	"Yes, well, he was trying to teach him a forbidden martial arts technique 
called the neko-ken. The idiot didn't even bother trying to find out why it was 
forbidden."
	"Umm..." asked a pale Kasumi, "Why was it forbidden?"
	"Well..." A brief explanation of the mechanics of the neko-ken later, 
Akane was violently retching, and Nabiki and Kasumi looked more than a little 
queasy.
	"Anyway," continued Ranma, "a kind lady came by Ranma while he was in his 
feral state. She knew of the neko-ken, and was... more than a little upset at 
Genma."
	"I can see why," remarked Akane, between retches.
	"Yes, well, she convinced her father to adopt young Ranma, and, well, here 
I am."
	"So," Nabiki returned, "you USED to be his son?"
	"In essence, yes. I've legally renounced the Saotome name, and as far as 
the world is concerned, Saotome Ranma died in that pit."
	Nabiki sighed in comprehension. "And Genma doesn't care about that."
	"Bingo."
	"So how'd he force you to come here?"
	Ranma pointed to the bracer on his left wrist.
	"This is the Manacle of Hades. It's an ancient magical artifact which was 
designed to bind the gods. While I know some magic, I'm not powerful enough to 
resist it."
	"You seriously expect us to believe that?"
	"Hey, my sister cursed Genma to turn into a panda. If that isn't enough 
proof that magic exists, I don't know what is."
	"Good point," Nabiki acknowledged.
	"Why don't you just take it off?" Kasumi asked.
	"The magic won't let me. I can't take it off unless the one who put it on 
my wrist, namely Genma, gives me permission."
	Kasumi smiled and made an offer. "Would you like me to?"
	"You can't, Kasumi, but thanks. The magic only allows me or the one who 
put it on me to remove it."
	"Are there any limits to its power?" asked Nabiki.
	"Yes," Ranma replied, "The bracer prevents the wearer from attacking the 
one who put it on him, and forces them to obey three commands. Genma's already 
used his."
	"If you don't mind..."
	"Of course. The first was to 'come with' him."
	"So that's why you're here."
	"Yep," Ranma replied, "the second was to not ask my family for help, or 
even to contact them. They'd be able to rescue me, and ARE aware of my 
situation, but they can't do anything without me asking... it's sort of a catch-
22."
	"I can see that. And the third?"
	"I'm not allowed to tell you just who my family is."
	"Why would he waste a command like that?"
	"I can't tell you. I'll try dropping hints, though. Please, if you can 
figure it out... it'll be a great help."
	"I'll try," promised Nabiki.
	Ranma briefly looked as though he was struggling with something before he 
continued. "The marks on my face have something to do with it. They're..." At 
this point, he started struggling more with each word. "not... birthmarks... 
exactly... t-they... are... t-th-the... sym... symb... symbol... of... o-our..." 
With that, he passed out of exhaustion.
	"Oh, my!" exclaimed Kasumi.
	When Ranma came to, everyone was gathered at a table.
	"So," said Soun, "it's been decided. Ranma will marry Akane."
	Just as Akane was about to protest, Ranma spoke up.
	"No... no, I don't think so."
	Genma thwacked him on the back of the head. "Boy! This is a matter of 
honor!"
	Ranma, who was still drowsy, replied simply. "Your honor, Genma, not 
mine."
	Genma turned to Soun. "See how thoroughly he's been brainwashed?"
	Soun nodded. "Indeed, Saotome."
	Ranma turned to Nabiki for a moment. As he did so, she heard Ranma's voice 
in her head. <Is your father an idiot or just gullible?>
	Nabiki turned towards Ranma in surprise at the unexpected sensations. "HOW 
did you do that?"
	<I simply projected my thoughts into your mind. Don't worry, I'm not a 
mind reader. I can't hear your thoughts unless they're specifically directed at 
me.>
	"Oh," Nabiki said, more than a little shaken.
	<Well,> Ranma said in her head again, <Which is it?>
	Nabiki turned over to where Soun and Genma were taking out the sake to 
celebrate, then tried directing a thought at Ranma. <Just gullible, I think.>
	<I see you've figured out that little trick.>
	Nabiki looked puzzled. <What did I do?>
	<It's the intention. If you want me to hear your thought, I do. It's 
another thing about my fami... fami... fami... oh, crap.> As he said the last 
part, he passed out once more.
	When he came to yet again, Nabiki was sitting next to him. "Hello, Ranma. 
Welcome back."
	"How long?"
	"Only about an hour or so."
	"This doesn't seem like you."
	"Whatever do you mean?"
	"You seem genuinely concerned, and have been going out of your way to help 
me."
	"Oh."
	"I know your reputation, and it just doesn't match your behavior."
	"Well, I could say that there's a limit to what even I can tolerate, and 
it would be true, or I could say that your presence is hurting my family, and I 
put my family above everything else, which is also true. But the honest answer 
is that I'm curious, Omigami. I know you'd just tell me what's going on if you 
could, and I've seen what even hinting has cost you..."
	"Thanks."
	"No problem. I'm not doing this for you."
	"That's what I'm thanking you for."
	"Huh?"
	"Think it through. Where's Akane? I need to talk to her."
	"She's in the dojo, practicing."
	With that, Ranma excused himself and left.
	In the dojo, Akane was in the middle of smashing a stack of cinderblocks 
when she noticed Ranma watching.
	"So, what do you think?"
	Ranma smirked. "Second-dan level Kempo skills. Your style depends strongly 
on brute force and puts heavy emphasis on the ability to fight multiple 
unskilled opponents in a short amount of time. Although you aren't very good at 
it, you subconsciously use your ki to enhance your blows, primarily using rage-
aspected ki."
	At this point, Akane was gaping.
	"Your potential for ki-manipulation is high; I suspect it's genetic. In 
fact, I've only encountered three humans with a higher potential, and one of 
them is your sister."
	"Wha... what?"
	"Kasumi has an extremely high affinity for ki-manipulation. In fact, I've 
met gods with lesser ki-abilities. Hers is, quite simply, the largest ki-
potential I've ever seen in a human."
	Akane was nearly in shock.
	"Anyway, back to your style, you're somewhat stalled in improving your 
skills due to a lack of a competent instructor. You're largely self-taught, and 
it shows. You're bordering on becoming a stage-one martial artist, and only need 
a slight push to go over that edge. If you'd like, I can give you that push."
	"You're offering to teach me?"
	"Yes."
	"Why?"
	"The Art is my domain," he started, much to Akane's puzzlement, "and you 
show potential. Besides, I'm stuck here, and I don't know anyone nearby who can 
give me a decent spar."
	Now Akane was confused. "What do you mean?"
	Ranma simply tapped his bracer. "I can't tell you. Sorry."
	Akane sighed. "Ok."
	Ranma grinned. "Good. Now, for the first lesson."
	"Oh, great," Akane thought, "what have I gotten into?"

-----------------

	Watching through the well, the silver-haired pseudo-god shed a tear. 
"Brother... I never knew..."

-----------------

	Later that night, Akane staggered into the house, covered in bruises.
	"Oh, my poor baby!" wailed Soun, looking up from a game of Shogi with 
Genma, "Who could have done this to you?"
	"He... he's a monster..." stammered Akane as she staggered to the furo.
	"Waaahhh!!!! What happened to my baby?!" her father wailed.
	As Genma started to comfort him, Ranma stuck his head in the door. "Hey, 
Soun, I noticed that you've been slacking off on Akane's training," he started, 
as Genma paled visibly, "So, I'm going to take it up. Hope you don't mind."
	Now it was Genma who needed comforting. "Now the families will never be 
joined!!" Genma started.
	Soun was startled out of his wailing at this. "Truly, Saotome, it can't be 
THAT bad!"
	"Tendo," Genma said, pale, "The Master has nothing on my son."
	Soun paled. "That bad?"
	"My son could defeat him effortlessly. He's THAT good, and his teaching 
methods match his skills. He once took a totally untrained boy and took him to 
at least a fifth-dan level in kempo overnight."
	Soun was now stammering. "M...my...my p...poor b... baby... Waaaahhh! What 
kind of horrors has he inflicted on my little girl in the name of the Art?!?"
	"I don't know, Tendo, and I don't want to find out."

-----------------

	"You were right, Ranma," Akane said after she got out of the furo and 
tracked him down, "That WAS fun."
	"Yeah. They still haven't figured out that training doesn't have to be 
unbelievably harsh to be effective."
	"How did you do that, anyway?"
	"What?"
	"It's like... well, I could have sworn that we spent at least four or five 
hours in the dojo, but when I left, I saw that it had been only one."
	"Oh, I just sped up time in the dojo. It's a little spell I know that lets 
me do that. The spell I used slows aging, too, so don't worry about getting old 
from using it continuously."
	Nabiki nearly spat out her drink from where she was listening in. Even 
Akane looked a bit shaken up.
	"By the way, want me to heal those fake bruises?"

-----------------

	"School?" Ranma asked at breakfast.
	"Yes," Genma said, "it should be a good chance to spend some time with 
your fiancee."
	"What fiancee?" Ranma replied.
	"Akane, of course!" exclaimed Soun.
	"Nope, not engaged."
	When Soun went into his demon-head attack, Ranma simply ignored it.

-----------------

	"So, why are you going to school? You didn't really have to."
	"Three reasons. First, I have business there."
	"Oh? With who?"
	"A person named Kuno Tatewaki."
	"Ugh," Akane said in disgust, "What do you want with that pervert?"
	"He's been twisting and perverting my domain. I don't like that, and if 
I'm stuck here, I might as well take care of it."
	"Huh?"
	Ranma sighed. "I'm nearby, and he's been abusing the Art. I dislike that 
intensely."
	"Oh."
	"Secondly, it gives me the opportunity to stop the morning fights, should 
you want me to."
	"How?!?"
	"Simple. I give them a little taste of what I can do, and ask them 
nicely."
	"What?!?"
	"Akane, I'm better than Kuno. It's his declaration that started this mess. 
You do the math."
	"Oh. Well, thanks, but it's my problem. I'll deal with it."
	"Okay, but I'm taking Kuno, ok?"
	When they arrived at school, Akane realized that she had forgotten to ask 
about the third reason.

-----------------

	"I HATE boys! HATE boys! Hate BOYS!!!!"
	As Akane shouted her usual battle cry, Ranma watched appreciatively. When 
she finished in less than half her usual time, he spoke. "Good improvement, but 
you're still leaving yourself too open. Now for..."
	At that, a rose came flying towards Akane. Ranma caught it.
	"Kuno," he said in disgust.
	"You!" Kuno yelled, pointing his bokken at Ranma, "You are being awfully 
familiar with Akane!"
	"Why shouldn't I be, Kuno? I'm her sensei."
	Murmurs escaped from the school. Kuno wasn't happy at the declaration, 
either.
	"What?!? Thou dare to teach the fair Tendo Akane?!?"
	"There's no daring involved."
	Kuno attacked. He would later regret doing so, as Ranma simply waved a 
hand towards him and he felt his entire body below the neck become stiff.
	"Release me from this foul spell, sorceror, so that I might smite thee!"
	"Kuno, that was a shiatsu technique. I threw a ki-blast at a pressure 
point, paralyzing you. If you want to see magic," he said, waving a hand and 
causing a barrel to appear and float above Kuno's head, "this barrel contains 
water from the Nyannichuan at Jusenkyo. If I release this, 
it will turn you into a girl."
	THAT shut Kuno up. "Now," Ranma continued, "you've been abusing the Art. 
I'm not happy about it. The Art is my domain."
	In school, Nabiki gasped as she heard Ranma's statement. Suddenly, 
everything clicked. How Ranma could know such powerful magic, how he was THAT 
good at the Art, the hints Ranma had been dropping, his telepathy, and most 
importantly, the name. Omigami. How obvious it was, now that she knew.
	<Ranma,> she thought towards him, <you're a god, aren't you?>
	<Yep,> he sent back, <I'm glad you finally figured it out. We'll talk 
later, OK?>
	<Ok,> Nabiki returned, then turned towards her associates. "In the future, 
never take a bet on him."
	Back on the field, Ranma was busy chewing Kuno out. "Had someone defeated 
Akane, that would have been no better than rape, you bastard. The challenges 
stop. Now. As for your punishment," Ranma said, waving his hand yet again, "That 
should do. I've removed all of your skill in Kendo. You will never fight again, 
at least with any ability."
	At Kuno's shocked expression, Ranma turned towards the school. "The 
shiatsu I used will wear off in about ten minutes. Good day." With that 
declaration, started to walk in.
	"Release me from thy hold, foul sorceror, so that I might smite thee, for 
I am the Blue Thunder of-"
	Suddenly, Kuno was hit by a lightning bolt.
	Ranma stopped walking for a moment. "Thanks, Raijin!"

-----------------

	From where he was watching, the cat turned to his companion. "The depths 
of Genma's stupidity continue to amaze me."
	"Same here."

-----------------

	In class, Kuno asked Nabiki about the 'foul magus' who had so humiliated 
him.
	"Just a moment, Kuno," she replied. <Ranma?>
	<Yes, Nabiki?>
	<What should I tell Kuno?>
	<Whatever you want. He's just going to use it to feed his perverted 
delusions.>
	<Ok,> she finished, "First off, he's not a magus."
	"Sorceror, then."
	"Not one of those, either. His name is Omigami Ranma."
	"Oh? Hark, for I shall smite the foul Omigami and-"
	"Shut up, Kuno. Think about his name for a moment."
	"What?"
	<See? Told you,> sent Ranma.

-----------------

	Upon hearing about the attempted engagement of Ranma and Akane (Without 
hearing the whole story, of course), Kuno came charging into Ranma's class. "I 
will not per- urrk!" he said, as a wave of concussive ki slammed him against the 
wall.
	"Kuno," Ranma replied, "Bother me again, and I WILL turn you into a girl. 
You have been warned." With that, Ranma used his ki to throw Kuno out the 
window. "Sorry about the disruption, teacher."
	A few minutes later, Kuno returned. "Omigami Ranma, I will not allow you 
to-"
	"Kuno," Ranma said, glowing, "You have been warned."
	With that, Kuno found himself soaking wet... and female. His shriek could 
be heard blocks away.
	"Congratulations, Kuno. Welcome to the ranks of the victims of Jusenkyo. 
>From now on, you will turn into a girl whenever you are hit with cold water. Hot 
water will temporarily reverse the change. You're lucky I decided not to lock 
you in that form." Again, Kuno found himself flying through the window.
	A few minutes later, Nabiki directed a thought at Ranma. <YOU TURNED KUNO 
INTO A GIRL?!?>
	<Yep. I warned him.>
	<Yeah, but...>
	<Don't worry. He'll turn back with hot water.>
	<Oh. What's the point, then?>
	<It's not a cure. It's like Genma's curse.>
	<Oh. You mean hot and cold water?>
	<Yep.>
	<Oh.>
	<Anyway, we should be expecting Nerima to be getting a few new restraunts 
soon.>
	<Huh?>
	<Genma's order was to not contact my family. He said nothing about 
friends.>
	<Oh.>
	<Hehe. Genma's life is about to get... interesting.>


	Preview of next chapter:

	In Juuban, Hino Rei felt the massive surge of ki and was very disturbed. 
After she did a fire reading, she was even MORE disturbed. What kind of message 
from the Gods was 'Yeay! Looks like Uncle Ranma's taking on a new student!!'?


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