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Chapter Text

"A FIANCE!?!" Akane tendo was already not having a good day now her dad was trying to pawn her and her sisters off like a set of fish meat. She's this close to just letting shark drake take a bite out of him. The poor guy needed a snack anyways. She put so much effort into not getting recognized dark blue flannel, men's skinny jeans, tying her hair back in a way she never did and boom instant pretty boy but not even one of those thugs she trashed had a number! Worse, she had to run back to the house before it started to storm, cutting her search short. 

 "Akane?" Honestly, they weren't even any good "Akane?" The god damn hentai horde gives her a better challenge back when they were allowed to duel her then that, what she wouldn't give for a decent challe- "AKANE!" Oh, she spaced put hard didn't she and she was already pacing around the room. "Sorry dad I think the bloodlust got to me for a second".  

"We get Akane you'll die if you stop moving no need to add to the stereotype" the middle daughter of the tendo family snarked, honestly Nabiki wasn't too happy about this engagement either. Running the betting of school duels and her own underground dueling were what kept the household in the green. Barely! Hopefully Akane lost her temper and threw out whatever riffraff their dad had invited to their home, and they would be gone in a week. Still the Saotome name did sound familiar, she had better look into it later. 

"Oh, I hope he's older, younger men are just so immature," sighing Kasumi Tendo the eldest daughter rested her hand on her cheek. Clad in a conservative dress and apron with long flowing hair, one could easily mistake her for one of her dragonmaid monsters, without the draconic features of course. Two more mouths to feed, that would be hard with the groceries she bought, but she’d figure it out.  

Sighing, the Tendo patriarch placed his head in his hands, his impressive mustache drooping to reflect his mood. His daughters were never this disobedient when their mother was around! But alas hopefully with Genma and his son they could win some local tournaments and start bringing more money into the dojo. His late wife's savings were only going to last so long after all. 

"LET ME GO YOU RAT BASTARD! I'LL FUCKIN SKIN YOU! YOU HEAR ME YOU DAMN FLEA RIDDEN PANDA!"  

All the gathered Tendo's swung their heads toward the high pitch scream coming from their house. "That must be Ranma!" Soun rushed to his feet almost tripping on his gi, his daughters right on his heels. All skidded to the stop as an unbelievable sight appeared in front of them. 

A looming 6-foot-tall panda clad in a martial arts gi and round spectacles lumbered into the hall carrying a petite screaming figure.  

'That's Ranma? Way shorter than I imagined hell I make a better guy than him' Akane snorted to herself as the panda set the trashing boy down, 'Wait guys don't have F cups.... That's a girl!’ 

As the rest of her family freaked out Akane took the time to time to look at the pink haired girl twirling her hair in front of her way to shy for the loud cursing she just screamed, red jacket, pig tail that was tied at the top with a yellow ribbon, a bracelet with a weird purple stone, a vaguely hi tech looking shield thing strapped to her wrist. Jackpot!  

"Hey, do you want to go check out the dojo?" Akane offered to the girl scratching the panda's face. Hopefully this girl wouldn’t be too mad once she was done with her, and they could be friends.  

"Oh, uh sure? I'm Ranma Saotome by the way, sorry ‘bout this," Ranma muttered softly as she followed what she assumed was a boy taller than her with soft features. 

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"So, you're a duelist, right?"  

Akane called out after watching the pig tailed girl pace around the room for a bit. Honestly, her new friend reminded her way too much of a cat hell her weird bracelet was clinking like a bell as she walked around. She was even sniffing the air! 

"Huh?" The ensuing head tilt and blank stare were way too cute then they had any right to be. Ugh she's not into girls she's not into girls she's not into girls. "I mean it's kind of weird looking but that's a duel disk, right? Custom made I'm guessing must have been a fortune". 

Ranma perked up at that, honestly her duel disk was a point of pride she earned the damn thing, "actually uh it was a gift, there was this older lady from when I was a kid that helped me out after pops' lesson weren't stickin' an she gave me her ol’ disk n jacket". 

 "Oh, uh cool guess it's lucky you're so short so it still fits" Akane nodded along honestly the jacket was really cute it probably would've been a neat crop top on anyone else. But on the petite girl in front of her it looked close to a fashionable Slifer red uniforms of one of the fancier duel schools minus all the school insignias. 

"HEY, who ya calling short pretty boy, I don't need criticism from a guy that looks like he walked out from one of Xian pu's magazines" Hissing Ranma turned bright red her pig tail trashing around like an enraged cat's tail. It’s not her fault she lost a foot while in girl mode; it’s everyone else for being freakishly tall! 

 "How does your shampoo read magazines? Wait- HEY I'm a girl you damn bimbo!" Enraged Akane attempted to tower over the shorter girl to prove her point. 

 "Bimbo!?" Ranma practically screeched shoving her face to be nose to nose with Akane "That's it let's go tomboy this bimbos gonna knock you the hell out". 

 "Fine by me let's duel! Duel disk set! Duel gazer online!" After walking to the opposite side of the dojo, Akane's dark blue duel disk shifted to its full tablet form as she slapped it on her wrist. It released the slots for her monsters and spells, placing her fin shaped duel gazer on she noticed Ranma’s set up was comparatively simpler. 

Shoulder raised, the hissing girl simply lifted her left arm up and flicked her wrist. The strange shield like disk emitted a lot hum then in a blink of the eye a blade like solid black with a blue outline display came to life. Then she tapped the little claw mark tattoo by her right eye, and it glowed for half a second.  

"Duel!" Both shouted in unison. 

Akane Tendo: 4000 Life Points  

Ranma Saotome: 4000 Life Points  

"Damn a tattooed duel gazer to?" Akane muttered then she mustered up all her bluster and yelled "Alright proper ladies first and joining us from the depths of the ocean to kick things off is Lantern shark in attack mode!" 

Swimming up from a small pool of water that had suddenly gathered a sleek black shark with a silver metallic under belly (1500/900).  

"Since I normal summoned Lantern shark its effect allows me to special summon from my hand a level 3, 4 or 5 water monster in defense mode so buzzsaw shark make a spla- wait are you drooling!?"  

Sure enough, the pinkette had stars in her eyes while a long line of drool came out of her mouth. God there really wasn't anything up in that head of hers was there. 

"What? Oh shit- I mean no of course not uh anyways bring out your next mea- I mean monster yeah monster hehehe" Ranma trailed off giggling and rubbing the back of her head looking for to sheepish for someone planning on EATING Akane's monsters.  

"You know their holograms- ugh whatever buzzsaw shark stop hiding! Was there an update to the augmented reality system, my monsters have never been this expressive before.... Anyways I'm activating its effect, targeting Lantern shark. I'm now able to special summon another fish monster with the same level but a different name so another buzzsaw shark in defense mode! However, as a drawback for this effect I'm not allowed to activate the effects of this second buzzsaw."  

Poking its head out from the water on the floor of the dojo, a black headed with a red body shark with rectangular fins with buzzsaws in the front that started to rotate spat out a jet of water where a second identical monster emerged. (1600/500) 

"But these monsters won't stay on the field for long because I'm going to use all three to build the overlay network!" Thrusting her hand high into the air Akane channeled her ki to flow in a relaxed state. Her monsters became crimson motes of light and joined together in the golden spiral galaxy typical of xyz summoning. "Since all of these monsters can be treated as level 3 or level 5 when xyz summoning in addition to their normal level 4, I xyz summon! Rank 3 Shark Ceaser!"  

A massive 7 foot-long 3 feet tall purple shark with a large golden crest shaped like the head of a great white and purple teeth roared to life with 3 blue orbs of light flying around it ( 1800 /2000).  

"I'll activate its effect by detaching one overlay unit I can place a shark counter on Ceaser. Then I'll set two cards face down and end my turn." Smirking as Shark Ceaser ate one of its overlay units Akane took the left most and right most card in her and set then in the two ends of her spell and trap zone. ‘Alright, even if she somehow gets around drowning mirror force, Torrential tribute should keep my life points safe and with armored shark, I can make a follow up play after her turn. Yeah, I've got this one in the bag' 

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"Juskenkyo! What terrifying magic! Why it almost reminds me of the master's old shadow games," Soun exclaimed holding his chin in one hand as he watched his old training partner return to human form.  

"Yes, yes it's quite insidious indeed old friend" Genma stated shaking off the last bits of water clinging to his dirty gi "But we have a much bigger problem than my ungrateful son's girl curse". 

"No, you can't mean!" 

"I do" nodding solemnly the light caught Genma's glasses giving his solemn statement more gravity "The boy has found a rival, the biggest threat to an engagement. Quite a pretty one at that." 

Back in China a purple haired amazon sneezed. 

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'SHARK MEAT SHARK MEAT SHAR- oh shit it's my turn. Damn this guy- er girl I guess has no poker face she keeps smirking at her face downs, ah well I'd feel bad for beating up a girl but well I'm a girl now ain't I', a feral grin passed over Ranma face as he drew his card for turn.  

"Let's start by making sure I ain't got any face downs to worry about so I'll activate mystical space typhoon targeting the face down on the right," a tornado emerge from Ranma's duel disk rushing towards Akane's side of the field blowing away her set trap and shattering it while blowing around Akane's hair. 

 'Even the wind feels real, what the hell's going on? This girl, she has one, doesn't she? It's the only explanation! A number monster!' Akane stiffened and set into a much more serious stance.  

"Next up I activate fire formation - Gyokkou targeting the left-over set card, so long as it's on the field you can't activate that set card and all my beast-warrior monster gain hundred attack points." 

A spectral wolf and tiger made of blue flames shot out of the spell card that was no hovering by Ranma’s side of the field and jumped into Akane's remaining face down leaving traces of blue flame all over.   

"Then I'll activate another fire formation this time Fire Formation - Tenki which adds any level 4 or lower Beast-warrior monster from my deck to my hand. It also gives my beast-warrior 100 attack points" two birds made of yellow flames this time rammed into Ranma’s duel disk and jutted out a card that he caught.  

"I add lunalight golden leo to my hand and I'm immediately normal summoning her" A young anthropomorphic girl with golden fur in a purple corset with a red ascot and a golden crescent shaped mask jumped up from out of nowhere. Landing in front of Ranma, she grabbed his deck from the slots on duel disk. Rifling through it until she stopped and picked up a card to shove into Ranma’s face.  

"When golden Leo is normal or special summoned, she lets me add a Lunalight monster from my deck to my hand. But I gotta discard a card after I do. An she thinks I should take Lunalight crimson fox to my hand. Don't mind if I do and I'll immediately discard her." Taking the card offered to him by his monster Ranma slid it into the graveyard slot where the disk auto accepted the card while golden leo shuffled the deck and put it back into the disk.  

"What was the point of that? Just thinning out the deck isn't going to win you the duel," Akane huffed, reddening as she saw how Ranma's monsters hung off of him as golden leo took to leaning on the shorter girl's shoulders tail wagging around.  

"Relax tomboy I gotta plan don't you worry. As chain link one I'll activate golden leo effect which lets me add a lunalight monster back to my hand after it goes to the grave. Then as chain link two crimson fox will use her effect when she's sent to the grave by a card effect. I can target one monster on your field and make its attack points zero," Smirking Ranma snapped his fingers at Shark Ceaser and crimson anthropomorphic fox girl with a mask similar to golden leo leapt from a black hole in the ground. Slashing the large shark, she left a gapping crimson wound then backflipped and returned to a card form that Ranma caught between his fingers.  

"Stop calling me that!! Shark Ceaser, no!" Akane screeched, getting progressively redder that changed into a sudden paling as she watched her monsters attack points drop. ( 1800 /2000) -> ( 0 /2000).   

"Let's wrap this up I activate polymerization and fuse two of monster in my hand!" Throwing his arms to either side of his body, Ranma aligned his ki with his monsters and began the summoning chant necessary to bring out his monster. 

"Crimson fox that props through the darkness, Emerald wings that fly over the night sky! Spiral into the moon's gravity and become a new art! Fusion summon! Beautiful Beast that fights in the moonlight! Level 7 Lunalight Cat Dancer!"  

Ranma slammed his palms together as from the swirling vortex that had formed from his spell, a voluptuous 7-foot-tall woman with pale purple skin and flowing pink hair in a two-tone leotard with red at the top and dark blue at the bottom accented by flowing light blue ribbons. The only other notice that she wasn't a normal human were the two cat ears at the top of her head sauntered out onto the field . ( 2400 /2000) -> ( 2600 /2000).  

Akane would have screamed pervert as soon as cat dancer strutted out to the field, but a different thought was occupying her mind. The flirtatiousness, the lack of shame, the pink hair, the way the duel was coming to life. It all made sense, it wasn't a number. Hell, it wasn't even an xyz monster, the typical extra deck method used in Japan. She’d only seen fusion from international pro matches; they really did go to China. Only one thing could explain everything; She couldn't believe it. "Dude did you just summon your mom?"

"What!?" The twin looks of disbelief and hunched up shoulders were not helping the enraged cat duelist case.  

"I mean it's the only explanation for why you act like a cat and a bimbo!" In a brilliant reversal of the Saotome-foot in mouth technique Akane slammed her fist into her palm grinning like she had solved one of life's greatest mysteries. It all made sense this girl was some kind of monster given life, maybe a runaway science experiment, no what about a vengeful spirit come to haunt her family. Wait no the Saotome’s brainwashed a monster they found to offer her as a fiancée that must be it! 

Trembling in rage Ranma spoke with just enough volume to reach Akane at the other side of the dojo. "I activate cat dancers' effect by tributing another Lunalight I control cat dancer can attack all your monsters twice. They aren't destroyed by battle for the first attack which means you lose Tomboy," The pink hair girl took the time before starting her battle phase to pull down her eye lid and blow a raspberry at her opponent.  

"Why you!! Ha wrong thanks to Shark Ceaser effect it'll gain 1000 attack points during the damage step, and I'll be left with enough life points to turn around this duel!" Akane immediately shouted out a retort. Tragic backstory be damned she wouldn’t lose to this girl.  

"Heh thanks for letting me know tomboy then in that case I'll use Lunalight purple butterfly effect to increase cat dancer attack by thousand till the end of my turn." Smirking as he slid the last card in his hand into his graveyard and practically preened.  

"Wha- HEY that's a cheating!"  

"It's anything goes tomboy now battle! Luna light cat dancer attack Shark Ceaser due to her effect you take 100 points of damage!"  

Now clad in a purple glow cat dancer jumped into the air with an assist from golden leo and launched one of her hoops at Akane ( 2600 /2000) -> ( 3600 /2000).   

Akane Tendo: 4000 Life Points -> 3900 Life Points  

"At this instance Shark Ceaser gains a thousand attack points!" ( 0 /2000) -> ( 1000 /2000)   

Raking her claws across Ceaser, Cat dancer added to the gash already across its belly.  

Akane Tendo: 3900 Life Points -> 1300 Life Points   

"Cat Dancer one more time! Attack!”  

Shattering Shark Ceaser with an uppercut Cat Dancer leaped over and pushed the top of Akane's forehead with two of her fingers knocking the shark duelist to the ground.  

Akane Tendo: 1300 Life Points -> 0 Life Points   

Winner Ranma Saotome!   

"That's what you get! I'm prettier, I'm smarter, better built and I'm a better dueli- Ack!" 

Ranma’s boasting was cut off as worn as with a feral scream Akane tackled him to the ground, both now locked in a much more childish competition. 

"You little-" "HEY watch the hair would ya" "You watch where you're touching pervert!" "You jumped me an now ya' complainin!"  

After a while Ranma eventually wins their impromptu scuffle and pins Akane to the ground. However, due to his currently petite stature it looks like he was straddling the taller girl. "Haha! Ranma Saotome always tops!"  

Sliding the door open Kasumi popped her head in "Akane, Ranma I just finished dinner come- Oh My!" Flushing red, she mustered up the sternest expression she could. "Young Ladies! I understand you're engaged but it is far too early for these kind of activities! You just met!"  

Twin shrieks of embarrassment almost blew her away. "WHO'D WANNA SLEEP WITH THIS BIMBO/TOMBOY!!" 

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Gazing up at the stars Ranma sighed to himself now back in his black-haired lanky birth form laying down on top of the Tendo's roof, "Damn, wha'ta shitty day".  

"Hey! Boy Gender, I need to talk to you for a bit" Nabiki raised her voice enough to let her presence known but not enough to alert her sisters as she climbed onto the roof of the house. 

The panda was worthless, but she had just gained a new investment, beating Akane was no joke especially so handily. 

"Wha' do ya want Nabiki?", honestly Ranma wasn't a fan of the middle sister. She seemed way more like a shark than her sister, but he didn't need any more trouble after the shit show that was dinner. 'Kane had not taken that he was a guy well at all. 

"Aw relax Ranma baby, I got an offer for you" smirking the demon queen of  Furinkan high laid out her deal, "there's a couples tag duel coming up in a while, you need to earn your keep and since you beat Akane in one turn let's enter an make some green".  

"Ugh fine I ain't a freeloader, but 'Kane don't seem like she'd be down now that she knows I'm a dude" Sitting up Ranma offered his agreement grimacing as he kept to himself that their decks didn't really mess well either.  

"Leave that to Kasumi big guy, Akane got her own problems to work out long as you can keep your ego in check, we should be fine. If not worse comes to worse, I'll enter with you" Grinning Nabiki grabbed Ranma's hand to shake marking the first but not last deal with the devil he would make. 

Chapter Text

"Ow ow ow!" Akane hissed in pain as Kasumi treated her wounds. "Geez I get that you're mad but there's no need to be so rough Kasumi."

"Oh, stop being so dramatic Akane. I know this only slightly stings," putting away her medical supplies Kasumi put her hands on her hips and began to scold her sister. "I know you're more mature than this Akane. I mean really jumping on our guest and attempting to beat her up. And then causing such a scene at dinner i thought you were working on this."

"Wha- Hey HE started it!" Akane retorted back defending herself. "And he lied to me! He didn't even try to deny he was a girl!”

Letting a huff of air out and pinching the top of her forehead, Kasumi tried to regain control of the conversation. "Fine, but young man or young lady, you saw how their father acted. I'm not saying to let them walk all over you, just try to be patient.” A scowl crossed the normally demure woman’s face. "I can't imagine what having only that man for company has done to their development."

"Ugh you're way too nice sometimes Kasumi. But fine I'll try to at least get along with the jerk." Pouting Akane turned so she wouldn't have to look her sister in the eye when making her promise. ‘She never talks badly about anyone. Did Ranma’s dad get on her nerves that much?’

"That's all I ask little sister, and hey maybe you'll end up wanting the engagement to go through," giggling Kasumi couldn't help but tease her youngest sister a little, she really made it too easy.

"Huh- HEY!!"

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'Get along huh?' Watching as her new fiancé left from fence post to fence post, Akane tried to figure out where to start. 'Ugh guess I'll just ask what's on my mind already.'

"Hey, why are you in girl form anyways Ranma?"

"Huh? Oh, uh I guess the school didn't have any extra uniforms an my jacket was an acceptable replacement. But they said only in girl mode since it don’ look like a full one when I'm taller," the currently pink haired Ranma grimaced recalling how Nabiki started to smirk when explaining this to her. Apparently, the middle sister was the one who was actually able to enroll her in Furinkan and took it upon herself to inform the staff of the curse.

"Oh, sorry then must be uncomfortable having to go to school as a girl." Akane did actually feel bad for her pink haired companion, even if he was a boy. "I'm surprised they put you in Slifer though, I thought you'd be an Obelisk blue for sure."

"Aw it ain't that bad, honestly this body is easier to move around in anyways." Ranma explained leaping from the fence to join Akane on the sidewalk causing the girl beside her to raise her eyebrows in confusion. "What's with the colors anyways Nabs didn't really explain, jus' laughed an said it was probably cause of my spotty attendance."

"No kidding huh? And that sounds like Nabiki basically all students are ranked by dueling skill. Reds at the bottom, yellows the middle and blue is the top" She explained her own yellow coat feeling heavier as she did. Choosing to try and solve Ranma’s gender later, she continued. "Some people consider it an archaic system but the all the big duel schools use it, so everyone follows suit."

"Damn lame, bottom of the food chain huh. Aw well it ain't nothing new." Throwing her hands behind her head, Ranma turned back to look at Akane as she had gained a slight lead. "Still, your sister had one of those fancy blue coats she really that good?"

"Nabiki's a lot of things. A bad duelist isn't one of them. I doubt you'll see her duel though she basically crushed the last head girl in charge to gain control of the school's betting ring." A dark look crossed Akane's face as she continued to explain. "Now she practically rules the school and rarely gets into any matches. Not that I think anyone could beat her though her deck really is absurd."

"Damn, now you're makin' me wanna throw down even more 'Kane." Ranma started to whine. "Seriously if I knew she was that good I woulda challenged her on the spot."

"Geez battle maniac much," trailing off in a fit of giggles Akane's tone started to take on a much more serious mood. She didn’t really want to apologize first, but she couldn’t let a duelist with Ranma’s skills go. Also, it would probably make living together easier. "Um listen Ranma... Maybe this is sudden, but I wanted to apologize. I know I've got some um pretty bad anger issues and I'm working on it promise."

"Aw don't worry bout it I was dick to, sides I uh I get it. Really, I do" looking away Ranma took a deep breath. Shaking off the memories that started to bubble up, she decided to open up, hoping it would give her some leeway from her new housemate. "Back when I was a kid, I had some pretty bad outbursts too. So, I'm sure ya got ya reasons. An uh pops threw me into a pit of starving cats to try an' "fix" me. So figur’ I gotta be more understanding or whatever."

"Ranma thanks really" a serene smile passed over Akane's face making Ranma a blushing mess before she fully took in Ranma's statement. "He did what!? Seriously, what a jerk, that's insane."

"Aw it's not that bad they didn't attack me or nothin’, so I came to like 'em. An the lady I was telling you about came an got me out. Pop's is a bastard an all but at least his spell an traps come in handy." A relaxed grin passed over Slifer Red's face as she remembered the old hag who gave her the Lunalights.

"Ugh just another reason to hate men. Still if all you got out of that experience is some catlike tendencies that's probably for the best." Akane huffed still mad that any father would do such a thing, sure she had her problems with her’s, but he'd never do anything like that, would he?

"Aw worried about me now tomboy?" Smirking Ranma took a joking tone trying to get Akane's attention back.

"Jerk." Akane's smile came back, but it dropped just as quickly slapping her face to hype herself up. "By the way Ranma whatever happens don't interfere. Got it?"

"Uh sure but wha-"

Her reply was soon cut off as they reached the school gates.

"AKANE TENDO" "SHE'S HERE, GET HER" "DATE ME AKANE" "NO ME" "I'LL BE THE ONE TO BEAT HER" “I LOVE YOU AKANE”

Ranma blinked as she watched a stampede of men charge towards Akane. Jumping on the school's fence to get a better view, she saw Akane absolutely pummeling the horde back with her fists. 'Damn she's good at that, wonder if that means she'd be better in battle royal duels too'.

"Ranma! Don't worry about Akane just get to class" shouting from the top window the demon queen in her Obelisk blue coat tried to get her new housemate going.

"Ya sure, but I kinda wanna watch tho" yelling back Ranma stood to her full height.

"Your funeral Ranma baby" shrugging the mercenary girl turned back into her classroom.

Leaping down as the fight had concluded Ranma made her way to the panting Ra yellow. "So, uh what was that about 'Kane?"

"Ugh that's the main reason I hate men. These jackasses try to jump me every morning in order to date me." Huffing as she caught her breath, Akane continued. "At least they aren't allowed to duel me anymore, teachers got fed up with so many students being late since all the girls would join in to help me out. Now no dueling's allowed outside of approved matches."

"Truly such a boorish lot. Forced to turn to such primitive combat now that an honorable duel is off the table.'" Strutting out on to the school's entrance was a tall young man with an Obelisk coat framed around his shoulders to act like a cape and a kendo uniform underneath. "However, I Tatewaki Kuno will bring an end to this farce. Listen well wolves of Furinkan high only one noble such as I is worthy of fair lady Tendo's hand."

"Psst. 'Kane what's with the Heartland samurai wannabe" "You've been to Heartland?" "Once by accident with a friend in middle school we got chased out, I might still have the pair of cat ears I won tho’."

"Hark! Who are thou foul red headed temptress to speak so causally with Lady Tendo" pointing his wooden practice sword at the bantering pair Kuno inserted himself back into the conversation.

"Temptress?? Listen big guy my names-" baffled Ranma attempted to introduce herself before being cut off.

"Ah but I suppose it's proper to introduce oneself first. Very well! I am Tatewaki Kuno! Furinkan highs crack of blue thunder! Destined soulmate to the fair Akane Tendo!" Shouting to the heavens, he raised his sword as a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Baffling both girls as there weren’t any clouds in the sky.

"Um uh well I'm Ranma Saotome of the anything-goes marital arts school of dueling and I'm staying at the Tendo dojo for now" whiplashed from the sudden amount of information given to her Ranma decided to use one of her dad's guaranteed techniques. "And we really gotta get to class so uh bye see ya never, come on 'Kane let's book it."

"Wait Ranma slow down, I'm right behind you. Don’t pull so hard, idiot."

"A cunning opponent indeed. No one's ever just left before. Very well Ranma Saotome if that is your real name you have made an enemy of the noble Tatewaki Kuno." Standing over the laid-out bodies of the horde members, Kuno muttered to himself. "I must gather more information about this witch, even if the prices of the demon will be high."

"Hey jackass you can get off of us now."

"SILENCE PEASANTS!"

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"Alright class we have a new student transferring in; I know this year has been hectic but please treat him? Huh... well anyways please treat him with kindness." The exhausted teacher went to sit at their desk as Ranma came up to the front of the classroom glancing confused at the girl.

"Hey there! I'm Ranma Saotome, I like dueling, martial arts and cats in that order." She attempted to give her best winning smile to the class as hushed whispers broke out.

"Damn she's cute, think she has a boyfriend?" "Why did the teacher call her, him that's definitely not a guy." "She came to school with Akane I wonder if the rumors are true"

Twitching as the teacher sighed Ranma went to sit beside Akane as instructed. " 'Kane is the whole year gonna be like this." "I really hope not Ranma."

"I REFUSE. I won’t allow it to be true." Bursting into the classroom Kuno began to shout, increasing in volume as he threw a cup of hot water onto Ranma.

"Gah WHAT THE HELL MAN!?" Spring to his feet an enraged black-haired Ranma shot to grab Kuno's collar. "You're lucky my deck case and disk are waterproof otherwise we'd be having a really different conversation."

Ignoring the glaring boy Kuno started to make his point. "So, it is true the girlish form is not but an illusion. Even worse you’ve beaten Lady Tendo in honorable combat. But no, the devil Nabiki only ever says half-truths then this black-haired form must be a cage to shackle the fairer one. Yes, I understand then Ranma Saotome!"

"Uh yeah?" Blinking Ranma paused the punch he had begun to wind up.

"Foul sorceress you may be but even you do not deserve such a fate. I will free you from this black magic that you've helplessly put upon yourself and the forced engagement to Lady Tendo." With full confidence Kuno stated his mostly wrong conclusion.

"Kuno go back to your class and Ranma change back to be in uniform" not looking up from his desk the teacher shouted out instructions.

As Kuno released himself from Ranma’s grip, whispers began again, he sighed, banging his head on the desk. "I'm starting to really hate this school."

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"Sorry about the curse, Ranma. I thought you'd at least get to reveal it on your own terms," Akane apologized leading her now pink haired friend up to the roof of the school.

"It's fine 'Kane prob wouldn't have stayed secret for long, wish people stop lookin at me like a zoo animal though" Ranma muttered following her fiancée. The looks she got for beating her exam proctor were the worst. ‘It’s not my fault my monsters ar’ so touchy jus’ means they care bout me.’

When Akane opened the door to the roof Ranma saw four figures waiting for them, a taller girl with long brown hair and a golden key like necklace in a Slifer red jacket, a shorter girl with hair tied into a ponytail and a Ra yellow jacket, a brown haired Ra yellow boy fiddling with a radio, and finally a Slifer red boy with messy black hair looking over the others shoulder.

Smiling, the girl with the necklace perked up noticing the entering pair. “Akane and you brought Ranma too!"

"Hey everyone, this is Ranma. Ranma this is Yuka, Sayuri, Hiroshi, and Daisuke" introducing her friends in order Akane sat down and fished the bentos Kasumi had made for her and Ranma.

"Hey nice to meet y'all" plopping down next to Akane, Ranma started to stretch out.

"Wow Akane wasn’t kidding you really are a cat huh. Make sense with all the leaps you were doing by the gate." Sayuri pointed at Ranma with her chopsticks as the pink haired girl tilted her head.

Looking up from his radio, Hiroshi started to speak as well, "I can't believe you just left Kuno standing there, I've never seen him look so confused, it was great."

"Uh thanks, I think? What' ar' ya fiddling with that thing anyways" Ranma asked as she started to dig into the divine meal set in front of her by Akane.

"Oh!" Eager to explain his project Hiroshi started to ramble and then abruptly trailed off. "I'm trying to see if i can tap into the broadcast for the turbo duel finals in the states. The frequency technically not public broadcast since you have to pay and it's uh not going so hot."

Sighing Daisuke started to speak, "Sorry about him Ranma, he's a huge turbo dueling nut. Since no one else will let me welcome you to the unofficial number hunters club."

"Number Hunters?"

"Akane did you not explain anything!? Ugh I'll do it then" shocked Yuka began to lay out the friend group's current goal as Akane rolled her eyes. There was other stuff going on give her a break! "So, there's the really powerful monsters called numbers and supposedly there's only 100 of them in the world. They've been showing up around Nerima and possessing people I guess is the best way to put it? Basically, someone starts causing havoc out of the blue with power they shouldn't have. Only me and Akane seem immune to the possession though for some reason."

'"No, I know what a number is, duel'd one back in China but why ya' hunting them in the first place. Also, ya’ sure there's only 100?"

"Oh, uh just seems like the right thing to do you know, but yeah I'm sure why?" Paling Yuka hastily stumbled out a reply as the rest of her friends shared a frown. As much as she wanted a duelist as strong as Akane to help, she wasn’t ready to share her true reasons.

"Cause Mu Tsu had number 104, weird that they just jump around like that I guess" shrugging Ranma went back to devouring her meal. “He’s kinda spacy but possessed doubt it.”

"That's- that's not possible, there are over one hundred numbers?" Saiyuri muttered as the friend group started to share worried glances. No one noticed Akane's first tightening, her extra deck starting to feel heavier.

"Lady Tendo! Sorceress Saotome!" Slamming open the door to the roof Kuno brought the number hunters out of their current state of shock and worry. "I have gained approval of the school on Friday foul Sorceress I shall defeat you, gain lady Tendo's hand in marriage and free you from your male curse. Farewell."

As quickly as he entered, he left, leaving behind a slip to show the matches' start time. Slowly the group began to regain their barrings. "What is wrong with that guy!? Is he possessed by a number, too?” Ranma spat out fully fed up with the day, she had only really agreed to come to Nerima to get trained at a duel school. She was not impressed so far, at this rate her rival in China would surpass her!

Tapping her finger to her chin, Sayuri contemplated the question. "Kuno? No, I think he's just like that. His dad's the principal so he can basically do whatever he wants and lives in his own fantasy land. He issued a challenge at the start of the year saying whoever could defeat Akane could date her, and the rest is history."

Slamming her hands down Akane's building rage toppled over. "That's it! I'm ending this once and for all! Come on Ranma, let's see if we can swap you out of the duel!"

As she began to run out of the roof, Ranma grabbed the bentos and gave a apologetic shrug to the group. "So, Ranma guy or girl?" Daisuke finally asked as the two were out of ear shot. "Definitely a girl" Yuka answered. "Yeah, no way Akane would fall for a guy." "Agreed." All four started to nod in agreement.

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Storming down the halls Akane rushed to the faculty office as Ranma attempted to keep up. " 'Kane slow down, I don' wanna drop the food. It's sushi 'Kane sushi!"

"Ugh shut up about your fish Ranma! This is more important!" Spinning on her heels Akane turned to face Ranma with the nasty glare the pinkette had seen on her face yet.

"I get tha' you're mad but please talk to me, don't jus' blow ya top" pleading the cat duelist put a hand to rest on her friends shoulder to try and ground her. They had just reached a understanding she didn’t want to lose that because of some loser.

"Sorry, it's just Kuno makes me so mad! He acts like he can just get whatever he wants. And I don't have a say in the matter at all! Well not anymore he's always refused to duel me but now I'm going to beat him so bad he'll never bother me again." Huffing Akane took a depth breath and tried to explain, fighting to not lose herself in fantasy of her shark monsters ripping apart her wannabe suitor.

"Alright then Tomboy, that blue coat probably ain't for show. So I'm gonna run ya ragged training till Friday." Smirking Ranma patted her chest, her oceanic friend was going to reel in a win against that pompous asshole she'd make sure of it.

"Really! Thanks, Ranma." Perking up at the thought of being trained by the girl who beat her in one turn Akane was able to ignore the tomboy comment before trailing off. "Hey, wait are you going to have enough clothes to make it to Friday?"

"Uhhhhhhh."

The two's school days marched on as they made strategies for the upcoming duel.

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"I can't believe letting him look at Akane's bulk was all it took," Nabiki spat out flopping on the floor of Akane's room.

She and Kasumi had spent the better part of the last hour chasing Ranma across the house to put a shirt on the once naked girl. Fed up Akane said if she sat still she would get to look at the boxes of cards under the bed and Ranma became immediately compliant.

Whistling and sorting through the cards Ranma sat on Akane's bed in only a pair of overalls with the word China printed on them. "Full-Armored Xyz? 'Kane this card reads crazy why didn't you use it against me." Stopping as she came to a trap card, Ranma plucked the card and shoved it into the face of the girl sitting on the other side of the bed.

'Don't look down, don't look- ack why are they so big!?' Flushing Akane turned away to try and recover some dignity she muttered ashamed "I really don't have a good target for it, besides I can't do Rank-up Xyz evolution".

"Ranma techniques like that are really advanced, our dad only taught all of us the basics of xyz summoning before he stopped." Kasumi attempted to explain gently before Akane could start to lose control of her anger.

"Hmmmmmmm" humming to herself in thought Ranma suddenly shot up and snapped her fingers "That's it! Akane teach me how to xyz summon." Pushing herself to again be face to face with Akane Ranma failed to notice exactly how red her fiancée was getting. "How is that supposed to help idiot! And haven't you ever heard of personal space." Shoving Ranma off the bed Akane tried to catch her breath and get some of the heat off her face. 'Stupid Ranma. Why can't he understand how cute he is. Not that I think she's cute! It's just objectively, yeah objectively. He’s cute, I mean wait no augh.'

"No, I get what the cat's meow is saying it's like when you tutor someone, it helps reinforce the principles" Nabiki added in her own opinion flipping through commons. "But that doesn't solve the issue of Akane's lack of targets."

"Then let's make some, the card press at school is free right? And 'Kane has a bunch of these random Xyz monsters I bet she doesn't use" From where she was now sprawled out on the floor Ranma raised the extra copies of Xyz monsters that had landed on her face.

Turning to each other, the Tendo sisters nodded. Tatewaki Kuno was going down.

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"It's BLANK!?" Rushing to hold Akane back from attacking the guy manning the press, the self-proclaimed number hunters looked to see what she was talking about.

The last attempt of Akane's card creation had printed a card with a black border but without a name or any effect text. The only other thing to show for her efforts was a grey blurred out image and a stat line of 2800 attack and 2100 defense.

"I don't know what happened, it was working fine just earlier! I'm just here for detention, please don't hurt me!" Cowering in fear a pale and sickly looking Slifer red cried out, Hikaru Gosunkugi had been forced to man the schools printing press after being caught attempting to take photos of test answers. He did not want a repeat of the time Akane trashed him after realizing he was using a number card to spy on people.

"Seriously tomboy calm down, 3 out 4 ain't that bad." Ranma cried out trying to point out the silver lining from where she and Akane’s friends were holding the fuming girl back. "Ya' freaking the poor guy out!"

"I'm calm totally calm yeah" Shoving the anger down Akane broke free from her friends grasp and turned on her heel. "Come on, I'll ask Nabiki later right now the duel with Kuno is more important."

Worried, Yuka shared a glance with the rest before focusing on Ranma. "Do you really think she'll be ok? I mean Ranma you still can't xyz summon and she just made those monsters! How do you know your plans are going to work! Kuno's no pushover, he knows more than just Xyz summoning!"

"Ack- well um- look just have faith in 'Kane even if that Loon's as good as everyone says, she's got this." Sweating Ranma started to rationalize his and Akanes gambit. "Sides we've been dueling practically non stop this week an one thing I learned bout 'Kane is that she works best under pressure."

"I really hope you're right," Sayuri muttered, leading the group to the pool where the duel would take place.

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The sun was shining on the glorious day of the duel. The great Tatewaki Kuno was ready to earn his fair maiden's hand and vanquish the foul Sorceress' curse. Perhaps she'd be so grateful she'd join the noble pair in bed ahahaha... Wait that wasn't a pink haired beauty at the outside of the pool, its Lady Tendo!

"What manner of trickery is this! Why is Lady Tendo strapped to the other end of the pool!" Just as the hero of the tale stated, Akane Tendo was at the other end of the pool with her ankle shackled to the mechanism intended to drag the foul Sorceress into the water when her life points reached zero. He intended for the water to submerge the curse not his one true love!

"Guess you have enough honor to hook yourself up to this nonsense too. Anyways I'm here to kick your ass Kuno. No one gets to decide my fate but me." Mustering up a rather cute impression of the sorceress his fair lady threw a punch out to show her resolve. Such Intensity! Such Resolve! He couldn’t deny her, he’d make this quick and merciful.

"I see you were jealous and couldn't stand another woman to be locked in combat with me. Very well, I'll accept this change." Nodding to himself satisfied Kuno raises his duel disk customized to look like it was made of bamboo wood.

"That is not all what I- Argh whatever" Huffing Lady Tendo raised her disk in unison.

"Duel!"

Tatewaki Kuno: 4000 Life points

Akane Tendo: 4000 Life points

"The gods have chosen to smile upon me today. Therefore, I will start us off" drawing his opening hand and ignoring the shout of "Its decided randomly by the system!" from the peasant peanut gallery he began the first step of his grand epic. "First I activate Gateway of the Six! Then my noble quest will begin by normal summoning Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki!"

Hovering by Kuno's spell and trap zone now sat a large gate to a dojo with the symbol of the Six samurai on it. A warrior with four arms with swords in each and brown armor with yellow markings leapt up from behind it and began to hover over the pool (200/2000). The symbol on the gate seemed to glow brighter as two of the six circles now filled in.

"Since I've successfully summoned my spell gains two bushido counters and Kageki effect activates allowing me to special summon another Six Samurai from my hand as long as its level 4 or lower. I pick the level 2 tuner Kagemusha of the Six Samurai!"

Raising its four blades stoically Kageki changed them together summoning another one of its comrades with a similar brown armor but green highlights and a spear in their hand (400/1800). That gateway glowed once more gained two more orbs of life showing the growing counters.

"Now allow me to so you the one good thing gained from my ignorant father's trips in Hawaii." Channeling his ki to align his monsters with one another Kuno became a necessary monologue for once. "Warriors of the distant past, harmonize together and show the noble Kuno clan's greatest legacy! Synchro Summon! Level 5 - Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En!"

As the monsters on Kuno's field turned into three orbs of light and two green rings in a bright flash, they gave way to the ruling shogun of the Six Samurai clad in an orange armor with a demonic looking katana raised high in the air (2500/1400). That gate once again glowed as a Six Samurai monster was summoned.

"Using 4 counters from my gateway I'll choose to use the ability to add any Six samurai monster to my hand. I'll choose to add Tactical Trainer of the Six Samurai to my hand." As he pressed the buttons on his disk to activate his spell, the gate way lost some of its glow and only two orbs remained. Accepting the card that was spat out by the disk automated system he added it to his hand and started the closing moves of his turn with a dramatic flourish. "I'll set one card face down and pass it over to you my fair lady."

Ahh what a pretty shade of red, she must be embarrassed to be addressed in such a flattering manner! Yes, that must be it!

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"Seriously Kuno got out his ace monster on his first turn!" Yuka screeched from the spot in the crowd the number hunters were able to grab.

"If that isn't bad enough Akane looks like she's going to blow a gasket. The duels barely started and its already a mess! I can't watch!" Putting her hands to cover her eyes and letting a crack between her fingers so she could still watch.

Besides Hiroshi who was arguing with Nabiki about the going rates of duel commentating, Daisuke turned his attention to the relaxed but focused Ranma. "You don't seem worried. Why? Did you and Akane come up with a plan?"

"Mmm somethin' like that. Kuno's crazy an all but he's from an influential family right, we figured there was probably a public profile with his cards out there." Smirking Ranma laid out the vague idea of a plan her and her student made nights before. Nabiki had offered to sell them his full decklist but neither could afford her rates. "We couldn't prep for everything but Akane knows everything she's walkin into. She's a little hardheaded an all but with enough direction she can ram the Samurai wonders life points to zero. Err if she doesn't kill em first."

_________________________________________________________________

'He'll be shark food! Shark food dammit, I swear it by the time this duel is done! Maybe I can get Ranma to make my monsters real and, in the pool, when this is over.' Drawing her card for turn, Akane looked at her hand and began her strategy. 'Ok if that traps what I think it is he can only stop one play I make since I don't have any spell or traps to destroy cards on my turn. Let's line up the bait'

Plucking the spell card on the left of her hand, she slotted it into the disk. "Let's start my swim to victory with this Morray of greed!"

"My apologies Lady Tendo I can't allow that I activate Shi En's effect this negates the activation of your spell card and destroys it!" When he raised his arm to signal Shi En's effect, a wicked bolt of lightning from his monster's sword shattered the image of moray of greed. How lucky for him the fair maiden must have bricked if she was already resorting to hand filtering.

'He's on the hook' smirking to herself Akane schooled her features and played her next card. "Then I'll activate mystical grateful charity spell card! I'm sure someone as rich as you knows what it does Kuno but I'll explain it anyways! I get to draw the top three cards of my deck, but I have to discard two afterwards."

Sliding her armored xyz spell card and her copy of Lantern Shark to the graveyard, she then plucked another spell out of her hand. "I'll play water hazard this continuous spell let's me special summon one level 4 or lower water monster in my hand so long as I control no monsters once per turn!"

A large wave manifested from the pool now swirling around Akane to frame a sheet in front of her. "So swim on out Armored Shark!" A sleek torpedo like shark shot through the sheet of water and swam on to Akane's side of the pool (500/2000).

"Using its effect, I can send one water Xyz monster from my extra deck to the grave and special summon another monster with the same level as its rank! So fishing out my Lantern Shark using Full Armored Black Ray Lancer as bait!" The same black metallic shark that she used in her duel against Ranma swam up from the bottom of the pool's depth and leapt to catch the sunlight on its metal belly blinding Kuno for a brief moment.

"I won't be using its effect. Instead, I'm going to build the overlay network! Treating Lantern Shark as a level 3 monster I Xyz summon! Rank 3! Xyz Armor Torpedo!" Thrusting her hand high into the air and her monsters began to swirl into the spiral of the overlay network, Akane allowed a genuine smile to pass over her face.

From out of the galaxy a red robotic armored figured appeared with twin orange shark shaped torpedo strapped to its fist and golden accents across its armor (2500/800).

"Hmm it's attack points are still the same as Shi En's. As impressive as your monsters is fair Akane I'm afraid it wont be enough to topple the legacy of the Kuno clan!" Kuno boasted not worried in the slightest. 'Now let's see if I can reel it in' Akane gazed hardened as she ignored Kuno boosting and began the gamble that would hopefully win her the duel. "I activate Armor Torpedo's effect! By detaching two of its materials, I can draw one card!"

'Yes this just keeps getting better! I should save it though Ranma keeps telling me I should be ready to adapt at any time.’ Adding her monster to her hand, Akane took a deep breath. "From the depths of the ocean! I rebuild the overlay network! Go! Rank-up Xyz chan-agghhhh."

Stumbling in pain Akane barely caught herself to finish performing the summon. Now panting with her hands on her knees, she cried out. "Xyz summon! Rank 5! Xyz Armor Fortress!" A taller more militant robot appeared on Akane's field with a large bazooka with a great white shark shaped missile loaded in strapped to it's shoulder and green armor plus a futuristic visor on its face (2500/1800).

__________________________________________________________________

"She did it! She was able to evolve her monster!" Jumping in join Yuka and Sayuri began to celebrate and jump in each other's arms once the panic of watching Akane stumble faded away.

"And she's still got four cards in her hand! Akane's doing great! Where'd she even get a card as expensive as graceful charity?" Hiroshi added joining the celebrating girls.

"Don't ever say I don't do anything for my sister" Nabiki snarked ,she and Kasumi had both given a card to Akane for good luck but she was surprised it came up this early even if it was one of the top utility cards a duelist could buy. Her mouth set into a frown. "Still don't celebrate yet she only did a Rank up Xyz Change not a Rank up Xyz Evolution."

"Charity from the demon huh, I almost feel bad for Kuno. But there's a difference between those? I thought it was just semantics." Daisuke asked now worried as he saw the calculating look in Ranma's eyes.

"Nabs is right. Xyz Change is like wearing a new coat not makin an outfit from the scraps of the old one. If that had that harsh of a backlash without the extra hoop of funneling ki through her trap, I dunno know if ‘Kane can handle ranking up her monster." Ranma knew there could be a harsh push back when summoning any extra deck monster if the summoner didn't channel their ki or whatever equalivent they used correctly. Monster were after all alive as much as people seemed to forget that, but she thought Akane's loved her! Her student had such an easy time with Xyz summoning that she had assumed this would be no problem for her.

"I can see your two braincells trying to rub together Ranma baby. Relax Akane and I have always had to channel our ki weirdly to Xyz summon. I'm sure she's just adjusting." Shaking the shorter girl in an attempt to reassure her, Nabiki tried to force herself to relax as well, failing as Akane used Armored Sharks graveyard effect to increase armored fortresses attack points. (2500/1800) -> (3000/1800)

"Ya tellin me or ya self? Still guess the demon queen does have a heart. It's probably black an made of coal tho" snarking back Ranma tried to distract herself from her worry it worked about as well as Nabiki's attempt.

"Yep and for a thousand yen per stand by phase it can be your’s stud" winking Nabiki was finally able to fluster the pink haired girl.

"Don' joke ‘bout things like that!"

"Battle!"

Akane's cry returned everyone's attention to the duel.

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"Xyz Armor fortress attack Shi En!" Throwing a punch as her monster launched its attack Akane was on a fever high. She did it! Her training was paying off and she was kicking Kuno's ass in the duel and in card advantage.

Tatewaki Kuno: 3000 Life Points

She even drew first blood! And it was doubled thanks to her monster's effect. Now to keep up this moment and make sure it was him dragged into the pool.

'Ok I drew my full armored Xyz and Xyz Poseidon Splash so I should be good on Kuno's turn but ugh if that set card is Muskanai Magatama like we thought I might not able to use it. Worse I dont think there's a way for me to get around it since it's a counter trap.' Akane debated not setting her second trap, not wanting a repeat of her duel with Ranma. 'Damn it fine what's dad always say not risk no gain?'

"I'll set two cards face down and end my turn! Back to you Kuno but your days are numbered and soon you'll be sleeping with the fishes!" Setting both of her trap cards, Akane continued to attempt to taunt her opponent. 'Ranma said the best way to get your opponent to slip up is to make them mad. But this guy's so delusional he thinks all my taunts are some kind of ploy to be hard to get!'

"I thank you lady Tendo. Yes, a waterbed does sound quite nice indeed but first to win this duel!"

"Aggghhhhh! No cares about your bed!"

'Hmm still to think she took a fourth of my life points. Perhaps I underestimated the devil's younger sister. More Angelic she may be but no less fierce' ignoring the screaming girl in front of him Kuno began his counter assault. "I activate the spell card pot of greed and draw two cards. Next the continous spell Six Samurai United!"

After looking at the top two cards of his deck Kuno slides the second one he drew into his spell and trap zone adding a second hovering insignia next to his gate's.

"Then I'll activate the trap I set last turn! Double edge Sword technique! This let's me summon two Six Samurai from my grave in attack mode!" As Kageki and Kagemusha returned to the field both symbols of the six samurai light up showing the growing bushido counters. "However, they are destroyed at the end of the turn, and I take damage equal to their attack points."

"It wasn't the counter trap? Ugh and doubt they'll stay around for long so he won't have to pay any life." Akane couldn't help but mutter in frustration as her prediction was proven wrong. 'Still that means I'm free to use Poseidon splash when I need to.'

"Using 4 counters from gateway and 2 from united I'll pay the cost to special summon back Legendary Six Samurai - Shei En!" Leaping from out behind his duelist, the general of the Six Samurai returned to the field.

'Seriously, he's back already! Fine time to try and put myself ahead!' Pressing her trap Akane yelled out its effect "I'll activate Xyz Poseidon Splash! Since I control an Xyz monster with another Xyz monster as material, I can declare one attribute and destroy all monsters with it! I declare dark!"

"A valiant effort to destroy Shei En once more however I'll use his effect to negate your trap."

As the ways started to gather around Shei En in an attempt to drag him into the water, the samurai slashed his sword making a gust of air to repel the water.

"I'll special summon from my hand Tactical Trainer of the Six Samurai. Once again increasing my bushido counters." Kuno placed the monster in defense mode causing a man with a dwarven stature and a cane appear on his field (200/1200). "Then I'll tune Kageki with Tactical Trainer to synchro Summon! Level 6! Legendary Lord Six Samurai- Enishi!"

Once again, a warrior joined Kuno's field with green ornate armor and a long katana with golden blade (1700/1200) -> (2200/1200).

"When Tactical Trainer is used as a synchro material, the monster it summons gains 500 attack points. Then I'll use Enishi effect to banish a Six Samurai from my grave and return a monster to your hand! I target Xyz Armor Fortress!" Kuno declared removing Kaegki from his grave and into his banishment.

While the lights on Kuno's spell cards lit up as Enishi attempted to slash through Fortress with his katana. 'Do or die time' Akane steeled herself and activated her remaining trap "I activate Full Armored Xyz! I can xyz summon one monster using a xyz monster I control. Go! Rank up Xyz Evolution!"

'Come on! Come on! Please, I need this!' Raising her hand once again to the sky Akane pleaded with her deck as a bright light enveloped the field.

" 'KANE!"

Chapter Text

Attempting to rush towards Akane where the shark duelist was splayed out on the ground side Ranma was stopped by a surprisingly strong Nabiki. "Le' me go dammit. 'Kanes hurt why ar’ ya stopping me! Don't you care bout her!"  

"Ugh don't try and guilt trip me Saotome, you're not any good at it." Scowling Nabiki tightened her hold on the trashing girl gazing warily at the monster hovering over her sister. "Furinkan rules state that any duelist helped by a person outside the game forfeits. No exceptions got it. They also take the stakes bet on the duel extremely seriously."   

"Wha tha FUCK is wrong with this school! 'Kane's really gotta marry that joker if she loses!" Ranma screeched, finally stopping resisting.  

"What this is wrong but the chain dragging you into the pools fine? Besides Akane knew what she was getting into even if she can't swim, all we can do is watch." Nabiki released Ranma turning to look at Akane's friend group. "What are they doing?"   

All four had clasped their hands together and closed their eyes. "We're trying to send Akane energy since we can't interrupt the duel." Yuka explained like it was supposed to be obvious.   

"Fuck that. TOMBOY WAKE THE HELL UP AND KICK THIS LOSERS' ASS!" Ranma fed up, cupped her hands and yelled as loud as she could to the passed-out girl before swerving to face Nabiki. "Wait she can't swim!?"  

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"A pity I had all these expectations, but I suppose no one's perfect even the fair Tendo. Still, you are quite impressive, perhaps after this duel is over you'd consider joining my side. After all the lady needn't duel once we're wed." Staring up at the towing black knight with a massive crimson trident, Tatewaki Kuno couldn't help but attempt to get the monster on his side. It after all radiated power the thing all good leaders have asides from women of course.  

"Loyal even to a duelist who could barely withstand summoning you. How curious indeed." Ignoring the foul Sorceress yell he continued to contemplate the strange beast's nature before a low chuckle interrupted him.  

"Shut up Kuno, no cares about your expectations certainly not me. Xyz summon. Rank 7. Full Armored Dark Knight Lancer!" Pushing herself up from the ground, Akane stated her new monster's full name, feeling a rush of power. "Dark Knight Lancer gains 300 attack points for every material and card equipped to it!" ( 2800 /1500) -> ( 3400 /1500)  

Cheers erupted for the girl as she raised her fist high in the air. Ignoring them Kuno frowned. " I see, still its my turn and even the most impressive monsters die to a skilled blade. Using Gateway's effect! I remove 2 counters and target one Six Samurai monster to gain 500 attack points until the end of my turn! I'll do this four times split between my two synchro monsters." ( 2200 /1200) -> ( 3200 /1200)   

( 2500 /1400) -> ( 3500 /1400)  

"In response I activate my Poseidon splash traps graveyard effect by banishing it I can special summon a fish, sea serpent or aqua monster to ether one of our fields. I chose to bring back my Lantern shark! On my own field naturally." The metallic shark was once again however as Dark Knight detached a material its attack points dropped ( 3400 /1500) -> ( 3100 /1500).  

"Delaying the inevitable by walling up Lady Tendo. I didn't take you for the cowardly type." Kuno huffed out slowly losing patience with the duel he should have won ages ago. How was a Ra yellow pushing him this much? Akane's physical prowess was impressive yes, but her sister was always the better duelist, and he considered himself equal to the devil watching from the crowd.   

"Cowardly!? I don't want to hear that from a guy who hides behind his dad all the time!" Akane couldn't help but yell out instinctively. "I'll activate my full armored Xyz graveyard effect! I can banish to equip one Xyz monster on my field with an Xyz monster in the grave! So Xyz Armored Fortress load up Dark Knight Lancer!"  

Dropping its heavy trident and causing a large splash the Knight now loaded on to its shoulder the hefty bazooka of its new equip spell gaining attack points from the effect of the trap ( 3100 /1500) -> ( 5600 /1500) .   

"Hiding behind! How dare you! Hold your tongue, Tendo. I've been lenient, but my mercy only extends so far." Face flushing a red that put the color of Dark Knight Lancers trident to shame Tatewaki Kuno could not bite back the retort that left his mouth ignoring his opponents monster soaring attack points.   

'He's totally losing it, guess his dad's a sore spot. Perfect!' A cheshire grin that rivaled Ranma’s normal expression crossed Akane's face. "What Daddy's money not enough to buy you the skill to keep your cool Kuno. When Dark Knight is equipped by a card I can turn one of your monsters into its overlay units, so Shi En get on over here!"   

"Wha!? How dare the absolute insolence I can't believe I was ever attracted to a wench like you!" Not even bothering to react to the theft of his monster, Kuno used the normal summon he had been saving. "I summon Hand of the Six Samurai. Using her effect, I tribute Kagemusha to target and destroy your Dark Knight!" A woman in a purple kimono rose onto Kuno's side of the field and chucked two throwing knifes, one Kagemusha the other at Dark Knight Lancer (1600/1000). 

"I use the other effect given to my equip spell I can send it to the graveyard instead of my monster when it would be destroyed." Akane stated sliding her monster turned spell to the grave. ( 5600 /1500) -> ( 3400 /1500)  

"Yes, but now you've lost all those attack points. Scornful Siren of Furinkan High! This is the end! I use my gateway to give Enishi another 500 attack points one last time and move into my battle phase! During which he gives all my Warrior monsters another 500 attack!" Kuno roared thrusting his hand forward as a signal for his monster to attack.   

( 3200 /1400) -> ( 4200 /1400)   

( 1600 /1000) -> ( 2100 /1000)  

"Battle! Enishi attack Dark Knight Lancer! Hand of the Six Samurai attack Lantern Shark!" Both monsters on Akane's field shattered as their forms shattered into shards of light.   

Akane Tendo: 3200 Life Points   

"Scornful Siren? What when you were rehearsing, you couldn't come up with anything better. Guess those acting lessons were a waste. Maybe you should get your dad to higher you a ghost writer!" Akane yelled as she did her best to keep her footing from the system's natural collision impact and the chain now slowly dragging her forward to the pool.   

"My showman ship is well above Average! I activate my quick play spell card! Cunning of the Six Samurai!" Now fuming so hard steam was literally coming out of his ears Kuno slammed his card into his duel disk. "I tribute one Six Samurai on field to bring another back from the grave! Return Legendary Six Samurai- Shi En! Attack!"   

Once again Kuno's ace took to the field and ran to slash at Akane. "In response to my own declared attack I activate poison of the old man. I choose to use the effects to deal 800 life points. Which means you fall to my noble sword, Akane Tendo don't bother coming to the wedding." Picking the last card in his hand Kuno activated the card he only played to deal with his irritating sister.   

"I activate kuriboh!" A desperate scream erupted from the other side of the field.   

"What! No! That's not even a Shark monster!" Kuno flinched backwards in disbelief, a common that children threw away, that's what stopped his victory!  

"Hehe Kasumi loves collecting cute monsters. Told me she was sorry all she could give me was a Kuriboh but it sure saved my skin." Akane chuckled as she raised her arm to block the purple acid thrown her way while a large brown ball of fur with two beady yellow eyes blocked Shi En's sword.   

Akane Tendo: 2400 Life Points   

"I.. I.. I end my turn." Lowering his duel disk and turning away Kuno did not dare look in his opponent's eye.  

"My move!" Drawing her card with all her might, Akane created a small red trail only visible to those with spiritual inclined vision. "Yes! I'll activate my already on the field water hazard!"   

"I'll use Shi En's effect to negate." Kuno muttered half-heartedly.  

"Then I'll normal summon Buzzsaw shark and use its effect targeting itself to summon Viess Shark from my deck. Lastly, I special summon from my hand Abyss Shark!" Smiling to herself as Akane didn't even bother waiting for all her monsters to finish summoning. "I use these three monsters to build the overlay network! Treating Abyss Shark as a level 4!"  

_________________________________________________________________  

"It's coming. It's coming. Let's go Akane!" Jumping up and down, Yuka started to cheer with increasing fervor.  

"Whas' got her all excited?" Turning confused to Sayuri a cheered-out Ranma asked. Honestly couldn’t the tomboy worry her less?  

"Abyss Shark can only be treated as a level 4 for a number monster. You're about to see Akane's ace. Viess and Abyss were some of the first monsters Akane printed to support it." Sayuri exclaimed, shaking Ranma.   

"It's that impressive huh," the pigtailed girl muttered. 'Still, what was with that light at the start?'  

Her thoughts unknowingly echoed the worried ones of the middle Tendo. 'What was that? Akane, you better not have; I’ll make your debt so bad you’ll be taking photos for months.'  

"Unappeased hunger lurking in the depths. Arise from the cruel ocean and devour all sorrows! Xyz summon! Rank 4! Number 32 Shark Drake!" Descending from the sky above where clouds had suddenly begun to form, a large maroon shark tooth appeared. As it slowly lowered itself to hover over the pool, it shifted into a large bipedal shark with four fins, a sharp angular head and a crimson 32 printed on its chest. A roar was heard three wards over as Shark Drake made its presence known (2800/2100). 

"Alright big guy let's wrap this up I use armored sharks grave effect! Equipping it one to shark drake he gains 500 attack points! Battle take a bite out of Enishi!" ( 3200 /2100) .   

Tatewaki Kuno: 2000 Life Points    

"Thats it? I still have half my life points remaining." Kuno muttered in confusion. "All you've done is gained a minimal lead."  

"Wrong. I activate Shark Drakes effect! When he destroys a monster by battle, I can detach a material and bring it back to attack again but it loses a 1000 attack! Then Shark Drake gets to attack again!" Smirking Akane signaled for her monster to end the game.   

Number 32 began to search the pool for a bit then after about half a second brought up a waterlogged Enishi. It unhinged its jaw as it pulled in the struggling samurai and crunched!   

Tatewaki Kuno: 0 Life Points   

Winner Akane Tendo!  

"I won? I won!!" Pumping her fist in the Akane began to charge at her friends already rushing to meet her.   

"You scared the life outta' me tomboy" first to reach Akane, Ranma leapt to tackle her reckless fiancée.   

"Aw relax don't worry your pretty little head Ranma. I'm as tough as they come." Catching the shorter girl Akane began to twirl her around in her arms before placing a hand behind Ranma's back to steady her and flexed her other arm. Flushing both realized the position they were in and rushed to separate.   

"Still what kind of shark can't swim?" "Shut it you mangy cat" were all both got out before ending up in a pile of bodies courtesy of their school friends.   

Ahem clearing his throat, a now drenched Kuno got the attention of the group. Having servants to fish you out certainly came in handy. "As per the agreement I will no longer bother you, Siren Tendo. However, if the fair Ranma ever rids herself of her curse, please let her know my bed chambers are always open."   

"Huh!? You were calling me foul sorceress na' minutes ago. Wait Bed chambers!" Eyes flashing red Ranma lept from the celebratory pile with a feral yowl and began to scratch Kuno's face.   

"Not the face! Not the Face!"  

_________________________________________________________________  

Sighing to herself as Akane's dinner celebration raged on, Nabiki started to dig through her closet until she reached an ornament jewelry box. Fishing for the key to open that she always carried on her person, she turned both ways to make sure no one was watching her. After unlocking it she let out a sigh of relief as she saw the card stored inside was still there.  

"Good it's still here. Still, that means Akane didn’t take it, that must mean..." trailing off Nabiki realized she didn't know what it meant. "Later I'll talk to her later, yeah."   

Shoving the card back in and locking the box, Nabiki threw it back into the closet where she wouldn't have to worry about Number 103 for as long as she could.  

_________________________________________________________________  

"Man, Daisuke's got some pipes on him" a currently black-haired Ranma pointed out as he helped Akane onto the roof of the dojo. His dad had splashed him as soon as he got home, some nonsense about how he needed to a proper man for his fiancée.   

"He's a huge audio nerd, even his deck is music based, and he'd probably only listen to duel broadcast if Sayuri didn't show him the turbo duel circuit." Laughing Akane let the dark-haired boy pull her up. Today was great, she got rid of her biggest harasser and Kasumi made her favorite octopus dumplings.   

"Still, they're all a riot, I uh see why you're friends with them," Ranma let out sheepishly scratching his cheek as the two sat down to watch the stars. Today was overwhelming. He wasn’t used to so many people’s attention, normally when he was the new kid, they all found him too weird to hang out with.   

"They're your friends too now Ranma. Yuka's already trying to convince me to invite you to girls' night." Rolling her eyes, she shoulder checks the boy to try and lighten the mood. "Wow, really? Didn' realize I made tha' good impression" shocked blinking Ranma forgot to protest that he was a guy.   

"What not a lot of friends on the road?" Akane fished eagerly for more information on her surprisingly private fiancé.   

"I mean a couple there was that guy from China I mentioned an his friend but I guess she's more like a rival, that kid of middle school I went to Heartland with an uh..." trailing off a dark unnatural look passed over Ranma’s face. "An a boy from when I was little, don' know if he'd consider us friends anymore tho."  

"Did something happen?" Now worried Akane placed a hand on his shoulder. She’d only known him for a week, but Ranma was usually upbeat if a little feral. Such a depressed expression looked unnatural on his face.  

"Member' those outbursts I mentioned. I uh hurt him pretty bad for I got them under control. Pops grabbed me an booked it after never saw 'im again." Ashamed Ranma looked away. This was going to blow up in his face for sure, but Akane deserved his honesty. He wasn’t that stupid to not notice how much she had to stop herself from blowing up.  

"Hey, we're both working on it, I get it no judgement here" forcing the boy to turn her Akane gave her best reassuring smile. ‘Was it really that bad? He must be exaggerating.’  

"Heh yeah sorry for bringing down the mood, hey I'll uh take you to Heartland to make up for it!" Ranma perked up trying to save some dignity from making a girl worry about him during her party. It was the manly thing to do, probably.  

"Heartland? You going to get us kicked out of a children's amusement park like you did your friend?" Huffing Akane couldn't help but reply sarcastically though it lacked the bite of their bickering from their introduction.  

"Aw that wasn't my fault, he used to get lost real easily. We're walking home an next thing I know we're in the middle of the park havin to run from security." Flopping back, Ranma threw up his hands. Man, he missed that guy, hopefully he was able to get to school on his own now.  

"No way, no one gets that lost!" Laying back, the blue-haired girl started to gaze up at the stars. "They sure are pretty huh?"  

"I'm serious! But ya they are." Replying, the boy of the pair began to think and when his idea was formed, he shot up. "How bout this then? Amusement park not good enough for ya then we'll go there then."   

Following his finger Akane shot up and raised her eyebrow in disbelief, "What space? You Ranma Saotome more cat than human are going to bring me to space? Yeah, right.” Ranma was as arrogant as they came, but this took the cake, at least he could back up his dueling taunts.   

"Well tomboy it's that or Heartland pick ya poison. We'll bring tha' rest of the gang too." Smirking Ranma gave a cocky grin daring Akane to disagree.   

"Those are the choices, huh? Heartland or Space. Alright I'm in but holding you to this Ranma." With just as much energy Akane replied in agreement. "We should probably go to bed though before our dad's try throw the wedding right now."   

"Aw what are married people but friends who live together." Ranma whined still hyped up on energy.   

"That’s so not what it is Ranma," Akane made the face she always made when she thought Ranma said something stupid before turning slowly to a realization. "Wait, are we friends? Like really friends"   

"I uh if you're cool with it" flushing as pink as his hair in his cursed form Ranma refused to look Akane in the eye.   

"Sure, Ranma put er there" holding out a fist Akane waited for the emotionally stunted boy to get over his embarrassment.   

Sitting under the moon and stars, the black and blue pair fist bumped, sealing their promise.   

"Friends"  

________________________________________________________________  

"Things are progressing nicely, Genma. I attack with Chronomaly Vimana." Soun started rubbing his mustache as he continued the daily games he had been having with his old friend.   

"Scrap iron scarecrow will stop the attack, yes the boy and your daughter seemed to have bonded already" Plucking a fire fist to summon as the turn shifted Genma frowned. "But perhaps things are progressing too quickly. The summoning she performed already seemed to indicate the seal might be weakening."   

"Bah, you worry too much. If either loses control, I'm sure the other will bring them back from the brink." Moving his monster to the grave, Soun dismissed his friend’s concerns.   

"Yes maybe, but what if both lose control? The boy and I are already under enough threat from Nodoka's blade." Looking up from the game, Genma tried to get his friend to see how serious he was. The man could give him some sympathy even if he didn’t have the same looming sword over his head.   

"Yes, I understand, but surely she wouldn't kill her own son. Whatever role he might play in the world." Frowning Soun also looked up. What mother would do such a thing? But surely Genma could stop her even if it came to that.  

"Nodoka would do anything for the family Soun. Including kill to protect it" the sunlight reflected against Genma's glasses as he shuffled the board state while his old training partner was distracted.  

"Hey my monsters! Genma, you cheat!"  

________________________________________________________________  

In a distant part of the world a lone duel runner roared to a stop. A young man took off his black helmet revealing a black-haired boy with a yellow bandana and fanged teeth. A yellow tattoo below his left eye running down in a line to cover his face. Grabbed a random pedestrian he asked gruffly "You where in Japan am I?"   

"Dude you can't park there, wait Japan. This is LA dude?" Luckily, he had grabbed the one person who could speak Japanese.   

"Damn you Ranma Saotome! You'll pay! Because of you I've seen hell!" Shoving his helmet back on the driver sped off into the night not noticing the Rainbow Kuriboh plush he ran over that was now crushed framed in the moonlight.   

_______________________________________________________________  

A girl redoes her bandages as another sorts through the cards they just been given. Flipping through the new deck given to her partner, the girl dressed as a ninja coos at the art. "Aw look at this one my lady it has all of the ships in a yard."  

Grumbling the now bandaged girl made her complaints know, "Thats nice Sugar now if only it wasn't only sushi themed. It ruins the branding, who's going to buy okonomiyaki from girl whose deck is a different food. Least he gave you cards that already worked with your deck." Seriously Heartland couldn't have given her a more on theme archetype? Still, it probably beat jamming whatever food-based card she could find into her deck, and her dad took away the family deck a long time ago.  

"I'm sorry I know it's not exactly what you wanted but um... Oh! Maybe if we do well enough Lord Heartland will make you a okonomiyaki deck?" Ugh how was she supposed to stay made at the human embodiment of optimism. Worse, she saved the girl from a life of servitude and immediately got them stuck as lackeys for Heartland. At least her partner was enamored with the carnival considering her monsters fit right in.  

Sighing, she got off the bed and grabbed her bag "Sure Sugar. Let's get to work then, Nermia's coming up as a stop maybe I'll even get to see Ranchan."  

"Oh yes! How dramatic two childhood friends reuniting as the big finale duel would do wonders for our ticket sales."  

_______________________________________________________________  

"Oh! Xian pu is never going to get this down" Flopping down in defeat on ground of the woods outside her village a young woman with purple hair tied up into two buns looked at the card of the fusion monster she was failing to summon. "What Xian pu doing wrong? She just doesn't get it"  

Practicing her Japanese for her upcoming trip she continued aloud struggling with the language and her training alone. "Maybe Xian pu's going about this wrong. But she has no idea where to start. Agghhh Ranma even got mandarin easier than this." Failing about, she stopped as a blue catlike creature approached to comfort her by licking her face.   

"Thanks Ruby you always know how to cheer Xian pu up" smiling and petting her monster she launched up as she heard her childhood friend calling her.   

"Xian? Your father made dinner, come eat!"   

"Stupid Mu Tsu, Xian pu on her way!" Yelling back, the girl rushed to her house echoing the same thought as two others around the world.   

'Just you wait Ranma, I'm coming for you.'  

Chapter Text

"Hmmmmm" drawing out her hum as long as possible Nabiki peaked open one of her eyes.  

Yep her favorite comedy duo was still there looking at her expectantly. Shrugging her shoulders with an forced causal air she gave the answer that would get the best reaction."Yeah no idea." 

Both fell over in shock. 3 2 1. Twin shouts of "What do you mean you dont know?" assaulted the older girl's ears. Now the pair were giving her their best glares better throw them a bone. "Look card creation isn't an exact science, best guess the old spirit of the card rejected her." She made sure to put emphasis on old. Ranma's weird theory of the cards still be alive wasn't something she wanted her sister fully buying into.  

Grumbling Ranma didn't disagree they needed the information, and she had already got in enough trouble with Kasumi over getting into this argument with her teachers. But they were alive! She didn't only have monsters for company throughout most of her childhood for nothing! She even learned to talk martial arts catgirl to communicate with them, didn't Nabiki understand how hard that was?  

"Nabiki! We payed you for a guess!" Fuming Akane was so close to just tackling her sister. "Come on, isn't there anything else you can tell us? This is like your thing, right?" Akane didn't really get her sister's whole lectures about controlling the means of production or whatever, but she did know she wanted to run a card printing company someday. 

Rolling her eyes Nabiki started to explain to the two meatheads in front of her, "Look a girl can want to be the next Industrial Illusions or Kabiacorp and not know everything. I gave you my best guess, the only other thing I can think of is maybe the card is complete yet. Some just need an extra kick to be ready thats what happened with Pendulum cards if either of you payed attention in history class." 

Twin looks of embarrassment passed over the engaged pairs' faces. Yep, that's what she thought even though Ranma actually owned some pendulum cards and Akane's grades were almost as good as hers but if it wasn't something useful in an actual duel, both tended to forget the information after a while. "Look is this even what you should be worrying about, Ranma's Xyz training isn't exactly going well if all those screams from the dojo are any indication." 

"Ha I'm so close to nailing it just you watch next time I'll pull it off no problem." 

__________________________________________ 

*Thud* 

Flinching the gathered Tendo sisters watched as Ranma was slammed into the wall of the dojo for the umpteenth time. "Oh my! I didn't think it'd this bad, even the Xyz monsters made for beginners seem to reject them."  Putting her hand to her mouth so her sisters couldn't see her expression, Kasumi began to plan.  

"Yeah, Ranma baby no problem at all, that ragdoll impression of yours is a nice touch." "Aw shut it, I'm just workin’ the kinks out."  Ignoring the bickering Akane turned to her eldest sister for guidance, " I just don't get what's going wrong Kasumi, I taught Ranma just like mom and dad taught us but no matter how I try to reframe it he just goes flying! It's like the Xyz method is rejecting him somehow."  

"Akane, remember what works for you might not work for everyone" placing her hand on the youngest tendo, Kasumi continued "I know you wanted to teach your and Nabiki's special method but let's start them on the fundamentals."  

Pouting Akane nodded she had really hoped Ranma would be able to use the method her mom taught her of drawing on her chaotic Ki, she and Ranma were so similar otherwise even if she had a more defensive playstyle than Ranma's hyper aggressive one.  Apparently, it use to be worse, but Ranma got drilled in the need to be able to respond to his opponents plays the hard way.  

 Clearing her throat to get Ranma's attention and stop the bickering that was quickly getting close to becoming a duel, "Now Ranma what's the basis of Xyz summoning?"  

"Easy, you put the monsters on top of eac' other"  

"This might be harder than I thought" 

_________________________________________ 

"Saotome! Wake up you delinquent!"  

"Wha' shit sorry teach" The pink hair girl sputtered sitting up, Hinako Ninomiya class was the one she did her best not to fall asleep in mainly because she was the only teacher who would actually care when she did. Plus, the rumors about her detentions being a duel against her vampire deck sounded more annoying than a fun brawl.  She could go without the annoyed stare Akane was trying to drill into her.  

"Well, you apologized to me, so I guess it's ok. Anyways class dismissed!" The now child sized teacher declared trying to keep the air of authority she had in her fully grown form.  

Slamming her hands on Ranma's desk, Akane began to chastise the shorter girl, "Ranma! You're already behind as is falling asleep in class is only making worse!" "Geez 'Kane give me a break, 'sumi is a real slave driver alright." " Sumi!! Why you little- Arggh!"  Waving off the fuming girl Ranma still didn't understand why she was so worked up over Kasumi taking over the lessons and she was making better if slow progress. She only exploded 2 out of 3 times she attempted to summon now! 

 “No rest for the wicked huh Ranma.” Yuka patted the pinkette on the back to show her support after all she also struggled hard with Xyz summoning. Not that she could really do more than the basic monsters given to duelist to learn the summoning mechanic. 

“Who ya’ calling wicked?” side eyeing the rest of the number hunters, Ranma lifted her head off the desk. ”Honestly hurts my pride sumi was basically able to fusion as soon as I gave her a polymerization.  I just don’t get why this is so hard for me, was the same way back in middle school.” 

Weaving past a furious Akane and the pair of Saiyuri and Daisuke trying to calm her down, Hiroshi added his own two cents to the conversation. “Why’s it called polymerization anyways? Seems like a mouthful for a card that could just easily be called fusion.”  

“Ugh some spiritual reason apparently wires got crossed whenever the first person to make the card got it. So you have a bunch of support cards that say Polymerization. That stops them from going with Fusion. Same reason you get differently named cards from time to time.” 

“You know this Ranma but can’t pass a class to save your life?” Yuka teased, she finally wasn’t the one with the worst grades in their friend group and was going to ride that for all it was worth. 

“Agh! Giv' a guy a break would ya’ this is totally different had to learn as much as I could about fusion’s all only way I could compete with anyone from middl-” 

*Vroom* *Vroom* *Vroom*   

“Alright that’s it! How's anyone supposed to think with that racket outside!” Ranma grabbed her duel disk and jumped out the window before anyone could protest.  

“Wait! We’re on the third flo- Is that a Duel runner!” Hiroshi warning faded out as he pressed his face against the window to try and get a better look. 

“Dude your drooling”  

_____________________________________________________ 

“RANMA SAOTOME! Come out and face me like a man!”  

A horde of students parted gathering around to watch the unfamiliar black-haired boy on a duel runner shout at the school building. “Ranma a man?” “Not with those assets” “Who even is this guy!’  

Ignoring the peanut gallery, Ryouga started to rev his runner again. If the bastard refused to face him, then he’d just slam into the school and wreck it till there was no place for the coward to hide.  

“Hey jackass if you stopped shouting for five seconds, you’d realize I’ve been here for the past four mintues” He looked up to see a busty pink haired girl in a red jacket tapping her foot impatiently on the fence of the school who probably jumped up there to make up for her short stature. 

“I have no conflict with you, ma’am just bring out the bastard Saotome so I can have my revenge!” Ryogua had to admit the girl was cute, but he was here to crush his rival not stare at pretty woman that made him more confused than Ranma did whenever they held hands. “Bastard! Oh I’ll show you.. Moron! I’m Ranma Saotome.”  

“Ranma!? You're a girl!”  

“Yeah, big whoop captain obvious look it’s a long story that I don’t feel like explainin’ so let’s just get to the fun part already” 

“Ranma... you not only have the audacity to abandon our manly duel but also your masculinity itself! How dare you mock me!” Slamming the gas and crashing into the fence she was atop of it was only due to her unnatural grace that Ranma was able to avoid being roadkill.  

“Hey! Watch where you drive that thing!” shaking her fist as the reckless driver ranma moved slam her duel disk on her arm but before she could a thin red energy whip wrapped around her wrist. “Wha’ the hell! Hey, what's the big idea!” 

“The duel anchor should stop you from running this time Ranma! Now coward I’ll rob you of all your happiness!”  

“Duel!”  

Ranma Saotome: 4000 life points  

Ryouga Hibiki: 4000 life points 

‘Seriously the system made me go first talk about bad timing’ Ranma bit her bottom lip she couldn’t afford to take it easy on this guy if his willingness to run her over and that yellow marker where any indication of how serious he was.  

“I’ll start things off with a classic polymerization! Black sheep that dances in the night and hound that prowls on the hunt! Spiral into the moon's gravity and become a new art! Fusion summon! Beautiful Beast that fights in the moonlight! Level 7 Lunalight Cat Dancer!”  

Slamming her hands, together Ranma summoned her pink haired ace monster however instead of it’s normal song and dance Cat dancer came out onto the field simply with her arms crossed prepped to be a wall for her duelist in defense mode. (2400/2000)  

“Since I used black sheep as a fusion material, I get to add back a Lunalight monster from my grave to my hand but before I do that, I’ll resolve silver hounds' effect to special summon a Lunalight monster from my deck so join the fray Lunalight Yellow Marten!” 

A yellow fox girl with a a trapeze outfit backflipped out of Ranma’s deck and joined her senior monster on the feild in defense mode (800/2000). 

‘Ok not great but with Cat dancer battle protection and yellow martens' high stats I should be able to crush this guy next turn no problem. Ugh this why I hate going first least I took sumi’s advice an added my monster hand traps back into my deck since I got screwed on my traps’ 

“What with the smug look Saotome you think this pitiful defense is enough to stop me! Draw! First I’ll activate the effect of Superheavy Samurai Motorbike from my hand, as long as I have no spell or traps in my graveyard by discarding it I can add any super heavy monster from my deck to my hand!”  

“What’s with black haired jerks and samurai archetypes? Wait no spell or traps? Steadfast dueling?” 

“Looks like your two brain cells are finally rubbing together! I activate the Superheavy samurai scales I just added to my hand! I can special summon it if you have two or more monsters while I have none and when it’s summoned, I can special summon a superheavy samurai from my grave so welcome back motorbike!”  

A green robot balancing two steel scales leaped onto Ryouga’s field as a purple gate opened and pink motorbike with a samurai helmet for a visor shot onto the scene. (800/1800) (800/1200) 

“Wait if that’s steadfast dueling that makes you! Ryouga! Why are you attacking me!? You big jerk, I thought we were friends!” 

“As if I’d ever be freinds with you Saotome! Also, my turns not over yet I special summon my superheavy Samurai stealthy! Then I tune my scales and stealthy with my motorbike to synchro summon! Level 7! Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja!”  

A small mechanized purple ninja flew out to Ryouga’s side and became a single star of green light as Scales turned into four more stars while Motorbike turned into two green rings as a flash of light blinded most of the spectators. Slamming on to the field a purple and blue mech with a staff that had two balls on each end whirred and towered menacingly over the short pink-haired girl. (1200/2800) 

“Then I’ll equip my stealth ninja with my Superheavy Samurai Soulhorns from my hand this will allow my stealth ninja to attack twice each battle phase!” 

Scrunching her nose together, panic was clear on Ranma’s face. ‘Shit! This couldn’t get worse!’ 

“By halving Stealth Ninjas defense it can attack directly!”  

‘Fuck!’ 

______________________________________________________ 

The number hunters and Nabiki watched as Akane paced back and forth. “It’s fine, sure some guy with a criminal marker tried to run over Ranma but it’s fine. That monster is still in defense mode, so it can’t attack anyways! Right tell me it’s fine!” shaking the closest person she could Akane tried no to panic to hard. She wasn’t having a lot of success.  

Saiyuri with spirals in her eyes from being shaken only added to her worry, “I think the gimmick of the deck is that they all get to attack in defense mode.” 

“What!? How is that fair he gets all the advantage of the battle phase while never having to take damage unless his opponent has a piercing effect! Ranma watch out that guy’s got the defense of a monster!” Yelling her concerns were all Akane could do as for whatever reason each time she attempted to jump in and interrupt the duel her duel disk only gave her an error.  

_______________________________________________________ 

(1200/2800) -> (1200/1400) 

“Go! Stealth Ninja! Direct attack one!”  

Ranma Saotome: 2600 life points 

“Direct attack two!” 

Ranma Saotome: 1200 life points 

The large mech slammed one end of it’s staff into Ranma and then immediately spun to slam the other into her stomach as her monsters were forced to watch her helpless to stop their duelist from taking damage.  

Pushing herself up from the ground Ranma tried to regroup one more attack like that and she was done for and worse her Sarraceniant couldn’t even help her since stealth ninja was able to just attack directly. She needed a plan and fast.  

“Delaying the inevitable Saotome I’ll end my turn with this. I normal summon Denko Sekka! As long as he’s on the field if I control no spell or traps neither of us can set spell or traps or activate set cards of those types!” Glaring Ryouga made his final move finally everything he trained for would come to fruition even if Ranma used to be his friend. Even if the cute smile the maybe girl used to give him made his heart flutter. He knew what he had to do Ranma could not leave this duel a duelist.  

Growling Ranma’s eyes turned into slits as she drew her card for turn. ‘Alright Sumi let’s put these lessons to the test!’  

Chapter Text

'Ok with out a way to crimson fox I can't win this turn with cat dancer and panther dancer can't hit over stealth ninjas defense so that means silver hounds out since I'll be locked into my Lunalights' biting her bottom lip Ranma desperately tried to assess her options, Denko Senkka had forced her into making aggressive plays probably as a way to bait her since Ryoga’s last two cards had to be hand traps or he would have used them to finish her off last turn. At least that’s what she hoped since she didn’t have a way towards game this turn. 

"What's with the slow play Saotome! I thought you were all about speed!" 

"Let a girl think would ya! What's your problem with me anyways you still haven't explained anythin Ryouga!" 

"Like I need to explain myself to the likes of you!" Gritting his teeth Ryouga looked around to the sizable audience they gathered who probably saw him as nothing more than a brute beating on a poor helpless girl. "But fine since you want to know so bad. You stole everything from me my happiness my joy and my pride!" 

"Aren't two of those basically the same thing?" 

"Shut up! What's worse my eyes were opened as I followed you throughout Japan and China. I learned the truth about the monster you really are Ranma! I'll end this here and now!" Raising his fist to the sky, Ryouga expected the crowd to join his side now that he had exposed Ranma, but all he really got were some concerned looks.  

Taking the opportunity to read her opponent’s cards while he tried to sway the crowd decided her play. ‘I can’t let steath ninja use it’s revival effect so that means.’ “I’ll normal summon Lunalight emerald bird and I'll use her effect to draw a card.”  

As Ranma slid her copy of sliver hound into the grave and drew a new card, a teal skinned bird woman joined her side of the field in an orange dancers' outfit who begun to start to dance with yellow marten as cat dancer giggled at the two girls. (1200/1000) 

“Sorry to interrupt girls but I’ll need the two of you to build the overlay network!” 

________________________________________________ 

“That idiot, she better know what’s she’s doing” Akane, having finally calmed down enough to stop shaking Saiyuri, was immediately thrust into another crisis as her idiot took a risky play.  

The glare Nabiki was giving the opposition wasn’t helping her nerves either. “It’ll be fine Kasmui’s lessons have been going well even if there is backlash Ranma will walk it off. What I’m worried about is whether this guy will actually accept the duel result or not.” Turning to look at the faculty that was debating whether this counted as a school duel or not only made the devil of furinkan high’s scowl worsen.  

“I mean he’s Ranma’s old friend right? You can’t seriously think he’d not honor the duel?” Yuka got that the whole trying to crash a motorcycle into Ranma was well not a great look but disrespecting the result of a duel was way harsher crime. Also she needed to keep Akane calm. Ranma may not have been able to see the eyes Ryoga was giving her every time he thought she wasn't looking but the rest of them could. 

“You see that yellow marker on the side of his face, it’s an old punishment they used to give to duelist who got arrested for illegal turbo duels. Now though duelists get it to show their loyalty to the yakuza or other minor duel gangs. So, ether Ranma’s old pal is a lot older than he looks or we better be prepared to rush in there when the duel ends.” Hiroshi was not happy he wasn’t getting his awesome turbo duel and instead had to worry about his new pal’s grudge match turning ugly. The rest of the number hunters exchanged worried looks as they turned their attention back to the match.  

_________________________________________________ 

Having spun yellow marten into a dip emerald bird pulled the other girl up and let her leap into the air to become a yellow mote of light while she turned into a purple one. Both went into the black hole that had formed below their feet. 

“Xyz summon! Rank 4! Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer!” 

A pink avian monster formed from the explosion of light dressed to the nines in a blue soldier's uniform and carrying a musketeer ready to fire at their mistresses' foes. (2000/1500) 

‘Yes and no backlash this time! Am I the best or what! Better thank ‘sumi later’ Smirking Ranma wiped the sweat from her forehead and began to make her play. “By detaching both overlay units, I can send one card on the field back into the deck so stealth ninja see ya!”  

Gritting his teeth as a gust of wind from Castel’s mustkeet blew his synchro monster back into the deck, Ryoga sent the equipped soul horns to the graveyard. “How were you able to  xyz summon you should only have access to fusion monsters?” 

“Ha I’m just that good blockhead and I’m taking control of this duel!” 

Narrowing his eyes at the girl’s softly glowing extra deck he came to his own conclusions rather than listen to his enemies boasts. “Removing one monster hardly counts as controlling the duel Saotome still as eager to get ahead of yourself as always.”  

“Aw shut it would ya! Battle! Castel destroy Denko sekka and Cat dancer swipe his life points down!”  

The blue haired samurai attempted to swipe the hail of bullets raining down on him with his word but alas he couldn’t handle the sheer number. Cat Dancer leapt to follow up her new comrade's attack but froze in place as a rainbow sheen glowed around her and immobilized her.  

“Wha- Hey what’s the big idea!”  

“Even someone as dumb as you should recognize this, Ranma. I activated Rainbow Kuriboh’s effect from my hand to equip onto cat dancer and since she has him stuck to her, she can’t attack” The smoke from Denko senkka demise cleared to reveal a relatively unharmed and smirking Ryouga.  

Ryouga Hibiki: 3700 life points 

“Grr using a card I gave you is a new low Ryouga! Fine main phase 2 I activate  Luna Light perfume! This spell I drew off emerald bird’s effect will let me special summon a lunalight monster from my grave and I choose yellow marten in defense mode then I set one card face down. Turn end.” Snarling the pink haired girl set a card into her spell and trap zone, dueling was supposed to be fun and it was! Usually when she wasn’t dueling a jerk who insulted her every five minutes and seemed to have built his deck specifically to mess with her. They were best friends! What happened? Sure she missed their going away duel and he had gotten weird about holding her hand to make sure he didn’t get lost around that time, but it didn’t warrant this level of hostility! Still, he had one card in hand and no board presence at all, no way could he close out the game now. She’d get her answers one way or another. 

‘Still not angry enough to use it huh, fine then I’ll crush you before you can blink Ranma’ Glaring across at his opponent who had that stupid determined look on her face she got whenever backed into a corner during those middle school days irked him a lot more than he liked to admit. Ryouga couldn’t afford the increase in skill level she seemed to get whenever it appeared. “What a long turn for a measly three hundred points of damage! My turn! Draw!” 

“I special summon from my hand Superheavy Samurai Thief! Then I’ll special summon my Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter! I tune my level ten Thief with my level two Trumpeter! Synchro Summon! Great samurai that cleaves through my enemies' rain justice upon this wicked world and smash through those lost in fear! Level 12! Superheavy Samurai Brave Masurawo!” 

Two new mechanized samurai plopped onto ryouga field but before Ranma could get a good look at them, they turned into the green light and rings of synchro summoning and in a burst of light something worse appeared. Almost towering over the school itself a monster created the largest impact crater she had seen yet, sleek red thrusters a white mechanical body and a mechanized glare set in just how much Ryouga had grown since middle school. (2100/4000) 

“Level twelve....” Ranma couldn’t help but whisper in awe even if it wasn’t her first time staring down such a huge wall. The rest of the school seemed to have lost their voice in the face of such a monster as well. What was worse was that if she let it battle any of her attack position monsters she was done for. Shaking herself from her stupor Ranma made her next gamble. “I activate the quickplay spell Flash Fusion! I can fusion summon a monster using monster’s I control but it’s destroyed during the end phase!”  

“In response to Flash Fusion I activate Brave Masurawo’s effect! If you activate a spell or tap outside of the damage step I get to draw until I have three cards in my hand and would you look at that my hand’s empty” Smirking the fanged boy couldn’t help but gloat a little as he drew the top three cards of his deck, Ranma was on the complete backfoot he had this in the bag.  

“Dancer that fights in the night! Emerald bird that soars under the moon! Mustketeer who aims for the heavens! Spiral into an all-new beast! Fusion summon! Level 9! Trishula, the Dragon of Icy Imprisonment!” 

Slamming her palms together as her monsters became the orange vortex of fusion Ranma cried out. A dragon with three heads that summoned a blizzard along with it, curled defensively around it’s duelist and snarled at her opponent. However as soon as it appear it was shattered by the much larger mech as Ryouga moved to his battle phase. (2700/2000) 

‘Can’t believe that old ghoul’s soul of ice card is coming in handy, but I'll take what I can get. That was way to close.’  

“You're just stalling the inevitable Saotome! I end my turn.”  

“Draw. I activate the spell card allure of darkness! I get to draw two new cards but I have to banish a dark monster in my hand if I want to keep my hand so bye bye Predaplant Sarraceniant!” looking over her two new cards Ranma saw her path to victory glaring at the boy across from her. “I activate Lunalight Fusion! Since you control a monster special summoned from the extra deck I can have one of the materials be from my deck or extra deck! So I send the Lunalight Tiger in my hand and a Lunalight Kaleido Chick from deck to grave. Fusion summon! Lunalight Perfume Dancer!”  

Putting Cat Dancer to shame with a far more flirtatious dance a purple haired cat woman in a red one piece sauntered onto Ranma’s field giving the girl quick peck on the cheek, causing the shorter girl to go red as her jacket and sweat to run down her back as she could sense Akane’s glare from the oohing crowd, Ryouga’s stunned and bright red face wasn’t helping ether! (2000/1500) 

“It’s not my fault! She picked up the habits of who she was based on before I could stop her! Ugh why am I defending myself to you. Perfume Dancer’s effect lets me add a Luna Light Perfume from my deck to my hand when summoned! Using the perfume in the grave I can discard a card to add any Lunalight monster from my deck to my hand! I choose Lunalight Wolf!” 

A purple skinned wolf girl in a green dress appeared beside Ranma in a pillar of light as she set the card in her pendulum zone. 

“Using the pendulum effect I fusion summon! I banish black sheep, emerald bird and silver hound for the materials! Lunalight Sabre Dancer! She gains two hundred attack for every beast-warrior in either banishment or either graveyard and since there’s currently seven that's a fourteen-hundred-point boost!”  

Purring over the gold glad warrior that came out of the latest fusion vortex perfume dancer leaned her body on the serious and proud sabre dancer. (3000/2600) -> (4400/2600) 

“Next I’ll use yellow marten’s effect from grave to special summon her by sending wolf back to my hand and I’ll tribute summon wolf right after that effect resolves! Wolf’s effect gives all my  Lunalights piercing battle damage!” 

“But that mean’s I’ll actually take damage when you attack Brave Masurawo!” Shocked out of his pretty woman induced silence Ryouga couldn’t help by cry out.  

“That’s right! Thanks for being such a good sport about Ryouga. Go Sabre Dancer!”  

Twirling perfume dancer who was still leaning on her into a dip sabre dancer chucked her sword at Brave Masurawo. It exploded into shards of light and smoke she leaned in to kiss the other monster as they continued to dance. 

Ryoga Hibiki: 3300 life points 

“Perfume Dancer you’re up next!”  

“Rainbow Kuriboh's graveyard effect! He special summons himself to my side of the field!” Ryouga knew he didn’t have enough to stop Ranma’s kill turn but this would at least buy him some time to start up his duel runner as he grabbed his spare bandana's from the glove compartment sharpening one of them into a blade with his iron cloth technique.  

As the dancing pair tango's led them to the opposite side of the field Perfume Dancer stomped on the newly formed kuriboh.  

Ryoga Hibiki: 1400 life points 

“Wolf wrap this up!” 

Slashing the boy revving his engine wolf brought the duel to a close but as soon as the system declared her duelist the winner, Ryouga shot off like a bullet towards Ranma while her and her fellow warriors had to watch helpless as they disappeared into light as the duel field closed. 

Ryouga Hibiki: 0 life points 

Winner: Ranma Saotome! 

“Ranma!”  

_________________________________________________ 

Next time: Tag Team Temper 

“You just don’t get it Akane!” 

“AS if I’d ever lose to a girl as ugly as you!” 

“That’s not very cute of you. Bad girls need to be punished!”  

“You’ll need to start from scratch child.” 

Chapter Text

Clumps of blue hair filled Ranmas vision as she was tackled to the ground.  Coughing from the dirt thrown in her face from Ryouga's runner which caused her to miss the red light that protected Akane from any lethal wounds, she weakly pushed herself from the ground. Only her heart dropped as her vision finally cleared; she saw lying in a small pool of blood was Akane now sporting an uneven haircut and more pressingly a rather large gash across her back.  

"K-Kane?" Shaking the other girl, Ranma tried to get her to stand up. "Come on tomboy you're scaring me. Seriously Kane, this ain't funny. Wake up. Please wake up? I promise my monsters won't flirt anymore? It'll take a lot of catnip but..." 

"She's unconscious Feline menace, honestly for someone who grew up in the wilderness you have no idea how to treat a injury. Isn't that like survival 101?" Rolling her eyes Nabiki knelt by her sister to check her pulse and only relaxing when she could feel it. "Alright Ranma, you've got to get her to Kasumi asap; your little friend must have swung twice when he realized he missed your head. We got lucky that's she's not losing a lot of blood, but she still needs treatment sooner than later so get moving"  

Nodding the pinkette scooped up her taller counterpart and took off running. Turning to the number hunters that had gathered around in concern, Nabiki put the mask back on. "Alright you four are helping with damage control."  

__________________________________________ 

"She's going to be ok right?"  

"Yes, luckily her wound isn't too deep. Nothing, some stitches and bed rest can't fix." Trying to reassure the pacing girl, Kasumi fished out her deck from the pocket she had sown on her apron as a practical measure. "Trust me Ranma she couldn't be in better hands, I didn't apprentice under Dr.Tofuu for nothing."  

Pumping her fist and trying to imitate the boisterous confidence of her sisters and Ranma, she started to fix her duel disk on her arm. She could see the pink hair girl tilt her head with a confused look on her face from the corner of her eye. " Dr.Tofuu? That can't be the docs' real name. Hey, what are ya doin anyways? I thought kane needed stitches."  

"Normally yes. But there is a faster method just don't tell anyone, Nerima pretty strict about duelist with special abilities. That's the reason the good doctor transferred districts. Alright, Nurse dragonmaid help my sister please."  

Forming in a flash of light a pink anthropomorphic dragon girl in what could have passed as a nurse's outfit except for the fact that it was bright pink appeared and started to hold her hands over Akane who was facing down on her bed. Pink light formed from the newly monster's hands as she hovered them over Akane's wound which slowly started to close.  

"Woah! That's amazing S-" she cut herself off as she had to focus her attention on catching the falling older girl. Now lying in her arms was a pale and sweat drenched Kasumi.  

"Oh my, that took a lot more out of me then I thought." Whatever Ranma replied, Kasmui didn't hear it as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep. 

__________________________________________ 

Ranma was facing her toughest opponent yet. Kasumi's spare apron. No one would know that she wore it, and really it was the practical thing to do when cooking, right? Afterall Kane and Sumi weren't waking up anytime soon, so it was her duty to cook. 

"What are you doing Ranma?"  

A shrill shriek came out of her as she had staring at the apron, "Pops!?"  

"I think the aprons meant to be worn boy not stared at like a ghost rare card." Genma had returned from his day drin- day training with Soun to Nabiki nose deep in research. It had taken a few bribes to make she didn't mention the Hibiki boys' connection to the Shimizu dojo to Ranma or Akane for now. Which meant while Soun checked on his resting daughters, he and his child would be in charge of dinner. 

"You uh... don't think it's too girly or whatever?"  He hadn't even thrown hot water onto her; this had to be some lead up to a scam, right? 

"Ha! There's nothing more manly than following proper food safety." The deadpan look on his son turned daughter’s face was probably a sign to move on. "Ahem anyways we're cooking dinner tonight and changing height in the middle of cooking might mess up the food." Ha! Nailed it. 

"Oh yeah I guess that's true. Wait we? How are you gonna help old man if your hands turn into paws anytime you touch water?"  

"Bah don't underestimate me besides I can at least cut fruits and vegetables without getting wet."  

Cooking with her pops was weird, admittedly but not awful they had mostly settled into a decent pace. It was probably the most time she ever spent around him without either of them yelling at each other. Honestly, she hadn't known the old bastard knew how to cook considering they mostly swiped food or it was up to her to scrounge something together on their training trip.  

"So, I heard the Hibiki boy showed up to duel you." 

"Oh uh yeah. He was a real jerk about it too! Kept going on and on about how I stole his happiness or whatever. Ugh! What's worse i would've lost without the old ghoul's cards! I don't lose!" If Ranma started to treat the ingredients more harshly, that was between her the cutting board and her pops. "I just I wish I knew what his problem was, why he hates me so much now."  

"Hatred isn't rational Ranma whatever his reasoning is i don't think it'll satisfy you."  

"I guess... do you think there's any way we could go back to being friends?" Genma was starting to regret dragging Ranma away from that promised duel, but they had been in one place for too long. He started to do the only thing he could think of to comfort his child was to lie but was interrupted before he could.  

"You still want to be friends with that jerk!?" Akane had barged into the kitchen furious with what she heard she couldn't belive Ranma would be this idiotic! "He tried to kill you Ranma! You shouldn't want to have anything to do with that guy!"  

"You just don't get it Akane! He's important to me." Ranma's elation that Akane was ok was killed the instant she was suddenly put on the back foot and had to defend herself."Ryouga was one of my only friends for so long. There's gotta be something I can do."  

Watching the pink hair girl ball up her fists and clutching the bottom of the apron she was wearing defending a shitty, no good, rotten boy! It was enough to make Akane see red and spit out her next words with as much venom as she could. 

"Fine if he's so important why don't you marry him then! You already look like the housewife you're so desperate to be."  

__________________________________________ 

"It's been a week little sister are you really just going to give the martial arts minx the silent treatment forever?" The spat between Ranma and Akane had gotten bad enough that their friends had finally gotten Nabiki involved. "The tag duel competition is tomorrow guess I'll be the one to sweep Ranma baby off her feet this time." 

"What! No! Ranma's my partner Nabiki we can tag duel together just fine," Huffing Akane glared at her sister who was clearly trying to rile her up.  Sorting through her number hunting clothes she was trying to pick something to go with the wolf cut she was now sporting courtesy of Kasumi. 

"Ok geez so possessive over someone you won't even talk to. What's the point of all these outfits anyways?"  

"Ranma wants a boyfriend so bad then I'll be her boyfriend and she won't think of that jerk ever again!" It was a foolproof plan! Ranma had been staying in her girl form at all hours of the day now as some form of protest and was playing up the flirting she usually did to Furinkan’s more gullible boys as a way to get on Akane's nerves and win duels faster. 

"What." Nabiki had no idea where her sister had gotten in her head that this was the best idea to fix things. Maybe Kuno had infected her, that was the only explanation. "I really don't think that's how she feels about the guy. Well, whatever so long as you make me some money." 

"Don't worry I doubt anyone there will be on our skill level." 

__________________________________________ 

“Making it pass the semifinal round by the skin of their teeth is the pair of Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo!“  

Mamoru Chiba & Usagi Tsukino: 0 life points 

Ranma Saotome & Akane Tendo: 500 life points 

Winner: Ranma Saotome & Akane Tendo! 

"That was way to close. What was that Akane!? Are you trying to get us to lose?" Sure, Akane was finally talking to her again and holding the door open and doing stuff that made her heart flutter. But that doesn't mean Ranma would let her not carry her weight when it came to card games!  

"Give me a break, Ranma! They just caught me off guard, that's all." It was going so well to she had Ranma basically putty in her hands since she couldn't deal with the suave Akane tending to her every need with the princess treatment. Of course, one almost loss threw them almost completely off course. At least they were moving on to the finals, and she had to admit Ranma pouting and huffing in one of her old dresses was pretty cute. The buns Nabiki had styled in the shorter girl's hair really sold the angry kitten look too, something about branding? 

“We will now take a twenty-minute break for the competitors to grab lunch. Teams Shark bait and Team Cute Supremacy please return after the break is over for the final duels.”  

“I can’t believe they got Hiroshi to be the announcer.” Scarfing down the bento Kasumi had prepped for her, Ranma turned to look at her friend fiddling with his sound equipment. 

“The broadcast club has more connections than I thought that, or they ran out of budget to hire a professional announcer. They did host this at the ice rink for some reason.” Wiping the face of her fiancée who started hissing? Honestly Ranma’s protests would be more believable if her face wasn’t bright red. “Still um thanks for the bento I mean.”  

“Yeah, no problem. I mean Sumi made me make not that I made cause I felt bad or whatever.”  

The silence between the two lasted a while as they continued to eat. “Hey-” “I’m sor-” 

“Boring!” A new voice caused the two to jump apart and rapidly try to find the source. They were answered by the bench they were sitting on standing and revealing a girl with long brown hair and a yellow bow. “I wanted some strategy information not this romance drama.”  

“How did you flatten yourself into a bench? Wait who are you!?” yelling Ranma did not appreciate the fact her and Akane’s food was now spilled over the floor well Akane’s more than hers since she had eaten most of her bento. She worked hard on that damn it! Sumi had started giving her more cooking responsibility after she had helped with dinner, and this was her best attempt at an apology. 

“I’m Tsubasa Kurenai! My darling wanted me to do some reconnaissance on our opponents, but I guess that was pointless. AS if I’d ever lose to a girl as ugly as you!”    

“Recona? Ugly!? I’m way prettier than you lady! Why don’t ya put your deck where your mouth is!” Starting to raise her duel disk and growling, Ranma’s eyes narrowed. 

“One I’m above gender little girl and two if it’s a duel you want it’s a duel you’ll get!” 

“Ok you two let’s save it for the finals” Trying to calm the glaring pair down as sparks were literally staring to form, Akane only received a pair of yells for her efforts. 

“Stay out of it!” 

__________________________________________________ 

“You’ll need to start from scratch child. But before your training can be started you’ll have a new assignment.”  

Gritting his teeth, Ryouga took his sensei scolding with as much grace as he could. “Yes sensei. I promise I’ll redeem myself.” 

“Good, I want you to use your pig curse to spy on the Tendo household.”   

“What! But Shimizu sensei I can do so much more than that! Ranma only barely beat me!” Slamming his fist into his runner that was currently on auto pilot so he wouldn’t get lost.  

“Ryouga, calm yourself. You're not ready for a rematch with the fusion child, do as you’re told, and you’ll get your revenge, I promise. Now I need to call St. Hebereke don’t do anything foolish.”  

“Yes Sensei.” 

__________________________________________________ 

“Oh, it was awful my love those two are just the worst.” playing up it’s distress Tsubasa hung off a short girl in a frilly dress who was now glaring at the pair of Akane and Ranma.  

“That’s not very cute of you. Bad girls need to be punished! Azusa will take you down!” 

“Tsubasa’s clearly lying! Fine come on Akane let’s trash these losers!”  

“Ranma please calm down. They're just trying to rile you up.” Putting her face in her hands Akane only let them peek out to see the film crew recording and have her embarrassment worsen.

Tsubasa Kurenai & Azusa Shiratori: 8000 life points 

 Ranma Saotome & Akane Tendo: 8000 life points 

“Duel!” 

“Things are heating up on the field folks! Stepping into the fire up first is Cute Supremacy’s Azusa being the only player without a battle phase this round how will she set up her team's defenses!” 

“Azusa plays the continuous spell Madolche Salon which will let Azusa normal summon an Madolche in addition to the normal summon she gets this turn. Now Madolche Magileine swoop in!”  

A young pink haired witch flew on to the shared field of Azusa and Tsubasa riding atop a fusion of a broom fork and a pastry. (1400/1200) 

“Magileine’s effect adds a Madolche monster to Azusa’s hand! Then Azusa will normal summon the Madolche Butlerusk added to her hand by this effect.”  

Standing atop a waffle, a young brown-haired butler started to serve a cup of tea. (1500/800) 

“Butlerusk effect adds a field spell card to Azusa’s hand. That card will be Mimighoul Dungeon!” 

“Not the Madolche field spell? Ranma she’s up to something watch out!” Turning to her partner that was glaring at her hand, Akane tried to share the little knowledge she had about the madolche archetype.  

“Next Azusa builds the overlay network! Xyz summon! Rank 4! Madolche Teacher Glassouffle!” Interrupting Ranma’s response, Azusa raised her hand to the sky as the black hole of xyz summoning started to form.  

Forming from the explosion of light a woman in a green dress holding a textbook pointed a teaching stick at her duelist's opponents. (1800/2500) 

“Azusa plays Mimighoul Dungeon and sets a card face down then ends her turn.”  

“There it is dueling fans! The field spell that won Team cute supremacy's previous duels when it’s on the field players with face down monsters can’t normal summon monster’s and their special summoned monster can’t attack the turn, they were special summoned!”  Putting his foot on the table he was announcing from Hiroshi started to really get into the duel. “However, without a way to give her opponent's a face down monster means she’s safe from the oppressive effect. Can team Shark bait pull off the first turn kill strategy that failed last round this time!?” 

“What’s the point of hiding strategies if Hiroshi’s just gonna yell them out. It’s my turn, draw! I activate Lunalight Fusion!” Glaring at her friend as she sent Cat dancer and Kaleido Chick to her grave and then slamming her hands together, “Dancer that fights in the night! Chick that kicks under the moon! Spiral into a new lunar legend! Elegant beast dancing in the moonlit wilderness! Fusion summon! Level 8! Lunalight Panther Dancer!”  

A dark-skinned woman with a shorter haircut and more regal ornaments than most of Ranma’s lunalights slashed her way onto the field. (2800/2500) 

‘Ok if she set up this field without a way to abuse it that much means it’s set up for Tsubasa. I’ve gotta do as much damage as I can and give Akane the best shot to win.’ Looking at her partner who seemed to be in shock of Cat Dancer’s upgraded form she took the left most card in her hand, "Pay attention tomboy! I wasn’t just sitting on my ass for a week! I place Lunalight Tiger in the pendulum zone and with its effect I special summon Kaleido Chick from the grave with its effects negated!”  

The pillar of light that once held lunalight wolf now held a younger monster with yellow fur and pink ribbons on her arm and tail, as Kaliedo chick backflipped from the graveyard slot on Ranma’s duel disk. (1400/800) 

“I told you not to call me that! Still, you evolved cat dancer that’s pretty cool Ranma you know for a bimbo.” Smirking Akane nodded, getting the unspoken words from her partners they’d resolve the weeks fight later right now it was time to win. 

“I’m not done yet! Kaliedo Chick’s effect may be negated, but I can still activate it and since the cost isn’t part of the effect, I get to send a Lunalight from my deck to the grave! I choose Yellow Marten! Using her effect Tiger is sent back to my hand and she’s special summoned from the grave.”  

Yellow Marten leapt on the field and struck a pose with Kaliedo Chick in front of Panther Dancer as the two turned into motes of light.  

“My turn to xyz summon! Rank 4! Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer! I’ll use its effect to shuffle Glassouffle back in the deck!” 

Castel polished its musket as it fired a tornado towards Glassouffle only to recoil in shock as she stayed on the field. (2000/1500) 

“Azusa activated Glassouffle effect by detaching a xyz material one of Azusa’s Madolche monsters is unaffected by monster effects other than its own.” 

“Tch Plan B then I set Lunalight Wolf in the Pendulum zone and use its effect to fusion summon Lunalight Sabre Dancer banishing the three lunalight monsters in my grave!” 

Now in the shining pillar of light, Wolf raised her hand, and Ranma’s third extra deck leapt onto the field and brandished her sword ready to strike. (3000/2600) -> (3600/2600) 

“Battle! Let’s go Panther-” 

“Azusa activates Madolche Waltz! Each time a Madolche Monster attacks or is attacked this continuous trap deals three hundred points of damage to Azusa opponents.” 

As Panther Dancer ripped Glassouffle to shreds a card with a blonde boy and a blonde girl turned face up and shot a gust of wind at Akane and Ranma. 

Ranma Saotome & Akane Tendo: 7700 life points 

“Go Castel! Sabre Dancer! With no monsters on her field, we won't take any burn damage.”  

Tsubasa Kurenai & Azusa Shiratori: 2400 life points 

“Ranma Saotome shows off her aggressive style by dealing over five thousand points of damage but still it’s not enough to close out this match! Can Tsubasa recover from this losing position!”  

“There’s more where that came from, I set two cards face down and set tiger in the pendulum scale. I end my turn after that.” 

“It’s my turn! Draw! First I activate the spell card Mimighoul Maker, I reveal two flip monsters with different names and you ugly girl must randomly choose one to special summon on your side of the field face down the other will be added to my hand. So chose one of these monsters is Mimighoul Dragon and one is Mimighoul Slime.” 

“The card on the left!” Sweating Ranma pointed at one of the face down cards the systems showed in front of her the smug grin that sprouted from Tsubasa face didn’t give her much confidence in her choice.  

“Mimighoul dragon will be set to your field then and I add slime to my hand then maker allows me to special summon a mimighoul from my hand to the field. I summon Mimighoul Cerberus and since you have more monsters than me, I special summon Slime with it’s effect!”  

Two cartoon chests spawned on Tsubasa’s field with a purple three headed dog and a green slime popped out of the chests while a red and black chest now sat on Ranma’s field. (400/1800) (400/500) 

“I’ll use them build the overlay network! Xyz Summon! Rank 1! Giant Mimighoul!” 

A massive black and gold chest replaced the two smaller mimics on the field with a blue skeletal arm, and a massive yellow eye roared sending the gold coins in its mouth everywhere. (1300/2000)  

“Since I summoned Giant, I add a Mimighoul card from my deck to my hand. I’ll add the continuous spell card Mimighoul Charm and activate it! Then I’ll normal summon Mimighoul Archfiend when I do I get to flip one of your face-down monsters face up!” With a wide grin and Azusa hand in its, Tsubasa pointed at the copy of dragon on the opponent’s side with its free hand.  

A black chest formed, and a cartoon black gargoyle popped out and ripped open the chest on Ranma’s side. A cartoon dragon came out and started to spit out fire which caused Sabre Dancer and Castel to shatter into shards. Then it hopped across the field to join the other side. (0/1900) (500/2000) 

“Dragon’s effect should have destroyed all your monsters but I’m guessing there was some kind of protection effect. Whatever Charm’s effect triggers when a Mimighoul monster my opponent controls is flipped face-up, I get to randomly pick a face down card in your Extra Deck, and if it is a monster I get to special summon. Barring any restrictions.”  

“Before anything else I activate Lunalight Reincarnation Dance which adds two Lunalight monsters to my hand which are Black Sheep and Gold Leo. Also, yeah Panther Dancer can’t be destroyed by effects.” Glaring at Tsubasa, the pink-haired girl pulled out her extra deck and fanned it out so it could pick a card. She couldn’t help but have her heart drop as it almost picked the card. 

“Eeny meeny miny this one! Ugh Trishula whatever even if I can’t summon it, it still gets banished. Using Dungeon’s effect, I’ll add to my hand Mimighoul Master then using Dragon and Archfiend to Xyz summon. Rank 1! Mimighoul Throne! It’s effect let’s me special summon Master on my field.” 

A large cartoon chest that was shaped to mimic a throne slammed onto the field and then a skeleton wearing a crown walked up to stand beside it.  (0/1000) (1800/1200) 

“Master will add another Mimighoul dragon to my hand which I’ll set on your field with it’s effect. Battle, since you have a set monster, Giant allows my non-xyz Mimighouls to attack directly! Master knock that hideous box dye wench down a peg!” 

Ranma Saotome & Akane Tendo: 5900 life points 

“Now stuck under the oppressive effects of her opponent’s field spell can Akane bring her team victory through this treacherous dungeon!” 

“Draw!” Frowning Akane saw an awful low amount of spell trap removal in her hand, she’d have to rely on ranma for that it seems. ‘Panther dancer can’t go for game with Dungeon boosting the stats all the mimighoul monsters, not unless I use her effect. That field spell really needs to go, maybe playing defense is the way to go?’ 

(0/1000) -> (1000/1000) (1800/1200) -> (3000/1200) (1300/2000) -> (3300/2000) 

Watching her partner bite her lip Ranma started to feel something settle in her stomach, guilt. Akane was taking this really seriously was... Was that because of her? 

“Kane! Relax just play like how you always do.” 

“Huh? Right!” Nodding to her partner, Akane began her counterattack. 

__________________________________________________  

“This is the girl you want me to take care of Sensei? She doesn't seem very impressive.” Kuno Kodachi rested her hand on her chin watching the broadcast with a bored expression. “Still, she is quite attractive you're sure I can’t keep her?” 

“I won’t comment on your taste Kodachi but no you can’t.” 

“A shame, it would have been fun to steal her from her graceless girlfriend.” Kodachi smirked to herself as she watched Akane run into Mimighoul master’s book of the moon effect when trying to use her partner’s evolved ace. 'The fact that it would get Na-chan's attention is just a bonus.’ 

“You think they’re dating?”  

“It’s a couple’s tag team event, no? I don’t see why they wouldn’t be. I know you’re a bit old fashioned Sensei but honestly at least try to keep up with the times.” Waving away one of her pets that had brought her a treat to get some attention, she continued to snark at her teacher. You think she’d be use to these kinds of things by now after all Kodachi brought more than one girlfriend around to be trained when they proved themselves a decent duelist.  

“Don’t put words in my mouth child. On the off chase you can’t beat the fusion child I suppose I could turn a blind eye to any seduction techniques.” 

“Perfect.” Staring at the tattoo of a dragon’s claw on her arm, Kodachi began to plot her attack. ‘It’s time to show those girl’s what real power is.’ 

__________________________________________________ 

“Using the spell card Aqua Jet Surface I special summon Buzzsaw Shark from my hand. Then since I activated a spell card I can special summon Surfacing Big Jaws with it’s own effect Big Jaws will also add Lantern Shark to my hand. Buzzsaw will target Big Jaws to special summon Right Hand shark. Using these three monsters I xyz summon! Rank 4! Full Armored Black Ray Lancer!” 

Akane’s fish monsters jumped into the black hole of the overlay network to form a large black mech that could be mistaken for a certain aquatic superhero with a lance made of purple energy which would have been intimidating but as soon as it was formed it disappeared into the extra deck.  

“Azusa’s sorry but she has to stop this counter attack. Using her darling Josephine’s Throne effect she attaches it to Mimighoul master when she does so one card returns to the hand since it had a single remaining overlay unit.”  Smirking Azusa explained where Lancer had gone as Akane grit her teeth. 

“Dear please at least tell me before you use our cards.” 

“Oh, Azusa is so sorry Josephine, she’ll make it up to you she promises.” 

Mimighoul master rolled its eyes as its duelist display of love though it was hard to tell it did so with no pupils. (3000/1200) -> (4000/1200) 

‘Ugh do they have to be so lovey dovey I can see hearts floating. Whatever I still have plays but I’ll have to use Ranma’s cards.’ Glancing at her partner she tried to subtlety nod to the last face down trap they had, she received a not subtle thumbs up luckily her opponents were too into each other to notice. "I activate the continuous trap Ranma set last turn! Echo Oscillation!” 

Wolf shattered to shards as Ranma placed her face up in her extra deck while Akane drew a card from the traps effect. Their decks didn’t work well together, so they had to get creative with the commons Nabiki and Genma had scrounged together to get even the tiniest of synergies to work. The main plan was to make sure Ranma always had to have the earliest battle phase so she could first turn kill but this was the emergency backup plan. 

“I’ll set in the now empty pendulum zone Performage Water Dancer. Using her and Tiger I pendulum summon! Monsters with levels 3 or 4! Come on out Lantern Shark and Veiss Shark. Lantern’s effect special summons Drake Shark from my deck.”  

Akane had a much more confident grin as Lantern Shark, and two new monsters swam on to her field; the whistle Ranma let out helped a lot. What could have been mistaken as a baby shark drake and white mechanical spear headed shark. (1500/900) (1400/1050) (1800/1100)  

“You weren’t the only one training now I build the overlay network. Unappeased hunger lurking in the depths. Arise from the cruel ocean and devour all sorrows! Xyz summon! Rank 4! Number 32: Shark Drake!”  

Despite Akane’s enthusiasm Shark Drake never left it’s shark tooth form as she had kept it in defense mode. (2800/2100) 

“Number what? Nevermind it doesn't matter anyways since it doesn't have enough attack points to beat us anyways and it can’t attack even if it did!” 

“You sure about that?” 

“What?” 

“I activate Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force!” playing the card she drew off Echo Oscillation Akane’s grin began to grow even wider as crimson light filled the stadium. Ranma said to relax so she wasn’t going to worry about wherever that spell had come from; she was going to win for the both of them! “This allows me to summon a chaos xyz number one rank higher! Chaos xyz evolution! Rage from the underworld be revived into this world once more and protect all that you love! Rank 5! Number C32: Shark Drake LeVeiss!”  

Shark Drake’s sleeping form went into the crimson overlay network and came out now, donning white and crimson armor with extra fins and tails to show it’s evolution beyond just its size. One of Giant Mimighoul’s overlay units were ripped from it as the summoning resolved and LeVeiss proudly sported five overlay units. (3100/2600) 

“It steals overlay units to!? How is that fair, Azusa dosen’t think this is very fair!” 

“It’s not and you’re going to hate this even more I’ll use two of those overlay units to activate the effect given to LeViess by Drake Shark, he gets to chomp on your field spell and add it’s overlay units!” 

“Way to go Akane! Get us out of this shitty dungeon!” 

“Not so fast, as if I’d let you to fours get rid of it, I activate the effect of maker in my grave to flip dragon on your side of the field face up and when that happens you can bye bye to your chaos whatever.” Smirking Tsubasa squeezed its partner's hand that was now starting to tremble. It would have taunted the opponent’s some more, but the feral grins hadn’t disappeared bringing a frown to its face. 

“Since LeViess has Veiss Shark as material, I can detach two more materials and negate your spell. So, my monster is safe from your deck's little gimmick. I activate LeViess original effect! By detaching its last Xyz Material I can change one of your effect monster’s attack points to zero. Go LeViess it’s time to surpass the master!”  

Shooting forward at a speed that would make Ranma jealous LeViess unhinged it jaw and a took a large bite causing Mimighoul Master to scatter into a pile of cartoon bones.  

Tsubasa Kurenai & Azusa Shiratori: 0 life points 

Winner: Ranma Saotome & Akane Tendo! 

“Akane that was awesome!” Ranma yelled out as the crowd hadn’t recovered from Akane’s new chaos evolution, running to jump into the other girl's arm. Forcing the taller girl to catch and twirl her, the two burst out into giggles. “You were also doing some training huh tomboy?” 

“Don’t- yeah, I did the blank card suddenly had LeViess on it after you dueled that jerk. I think it liked that I defended you that or it was enough to get injured.”  

“Oh huh...” Ranma trailed off, causing the two to return to the awkward silence before Tsubasa appeared. Gulping Akane swallowed her nerves. 

“We have to talk about it Ranma.” 

“I know.” 

“He tried to kill us that’s not ok.” 

“I know.” 

“He might never be your friend again. He defiantly won’t be mine.” 

“I know.” 

“You're still going to try anyways, aren’t you?" 

“Yeah. I’m sorry I can’t give up on the guy.” 

“Ok. I get to punch him at least once.” 

“Deal.” 

__________________________________________________ 

Turning to look at the celebrating children and Kasumi, Genma sighed as he spoke. “It’s begun Soun.” 

“I know Genma, but we’ve done all we can. Ranma and Akane’s training isn’t done but it’ll have to be enough.” 

“I suppose old friend. Do... do you think I’ve done a good job with the boy?” 

“I think you haven’t finished raising Ranma yet my friend, don’t give up yet.” 

“Sorry, just I suppose some things are inevitable no matter how hard you try to stop them. Perhaps that old woman was right maybe it’s time to embraces Ranma’s uniqueness than shame it.”  

“I’ll support you in whatever you decide my friend now for the more pressing matter.” 

“Ah yes.” 

The two men spoke in unison. 

“How to get rid of that pig.” 

Both turned to watch Ranma and Akane spoil a black piglet wearing a bandana that looked rather grumpy with the two girls babying it. 

________________________________________________ 

Next Time: The Black Rose 

“Psychic duelist?” 

“She’s admittedly a sadist.” 

“There are those special like us and those who are meant to be crushed.” 

“A cold black flame envelops the world!” 

Chapter Text

Ryoga's observation log 1

The target has elected to take me to school today along with her other half. So far, my cover has stayed airtight beyond the complication with the patriarchs of the household being against pets.

Debating over my code name has been a tense topic in the household. P-chan is the current truce agreed upon. As much as I'm loathed to agree with the target it is rather childish, I must admit. I've attempted to be harsher with the blue haired one to make sure I stayed with the target but that only got me a scolding on how I had to be nice to "Mama Akane".

After the blubbering caused by the new title, my cover gave me a front row to a new family drama. I'd list “Mama A’s” threat level as minimal.

"You." The middle Tendo sister said that with enough ice in her voice I thought my cover had been blown. However, her statement was directed at the target who hadn't put together that she was in danger yet, given that I was the only one allowed to kill her I attempted to warn her. I failed.

"Me?"

"Yes you. You got a challenge letter from St.Hebereke. What did you do!?" A deep rage was held in those hollow eyes, the cutting motion Akane was making over her throat was not inspiring confidence.

"Why do ya think I did somethin! I've never even heard of this place!" The targets hissed that the older girl, I'm starting to think if left to her own devices she would have caused her own death all her own.

"Oh, I should have expected this from you... you.. You mangy street cat! You just have to keep showing off and strutting your stuff huh! God! You're the exact type of girl she would go for too! She'd barely have to try!" Nabiki Tendo's rant went on for quite a while with most of which I feel would be inappropriate for a report. Both the target and Akane looking uncomfortable now that it was clear Nabiki wasn't really upset at Ranma.

"And- And- Arggh! I need stress relief; I need a duel! Come on We're going to school!"

Being dragged by the fuming middle sister, the eldest Tendo sister waved us off with a smile on her face. The middle sister is currently the biggest threat.

Agent R out.

_________________________________________

"Ah the fair- Ow! You don't have to snap it that hard." Glaring at Gosunkugi who was sitting next to him, Kuno went back to attempting to find a way around Nabiki's set up.

"Sorry Senpai but those are the rules, you get a harder rubber band snap than usual if you attempt to actually hit on Ranma or Akane." Nabiki had promised to get him some gimmick puppet cards, the archetype was just unpopular enough that they were hard to source. Also, it wasn't like he didn't enjoy getting to do this.

Ignoring whatever this was and the girl giving Hiroshi an absolute death glare in the corner of the Obelisk blue classroom that had a suspicious resemblance to the guy, Ranma went back to staring at Nabiki. She had finally calmed down. The pink haired girl felt bad for the upperclassmen who had the devil in their class since she couldn't get a duel until the lunch period, and that they'd ever had to duel against her. Locking out all extra deck summoning mechanics was a bit much. But Ranma wanted answers and she was going to get them! If only her friends, she dragged here would actually help instead of cooing over P-chan with Akane.

"So, why's Nabs so freaked out about this Saint Whatever place."

"St.Hebereke? Ah because that's where my sister goes."

The tense air from earlier came back as frost seemed to start to emanate from Nabiki.  Gulping Ranma pressed forward.

"You've got a sister?"

"Ah yes, when she started showing signs of being a psychic duelist, they pulled her out of Furikan. She to like you once was cursed with a dysphoric prison, but the rose of the Kuno family could never be held back! Oh, I lost again... another round?"

Watching as the two upperclassmen reset their decks, Ranma realized she would have to play along with Kuno to get any actual information. What the hell did dysphoric even mean? "Oh, great uh Lord? Yeah, Lord Kuno this humble witch has not heard of these uh menacing... is that a good adjective mages? Ya know the Psychic duelists?"  Xian-Xian's fantasy Manga and the 3 minutes she spent around drama club don't fail her now.

"What."

Damn.

Rolling her eyes Nabiki reinserted herself in the conversation, her turn was over anyways. "She's asking what a psychic duelist is blue Dunder. It's stupid term that idiot let go to her head don't worry about it Ranma. Worry about how you're going to get out of this duel."

"Don't insult my sister Tendo. She is admittedly a sadist, but she is still my sister. Honored sorceress you shouldn't let Nabiki Tendo's scorned lov- Ow!"

Ranma watched as the two upperclassmen started to glare at each other. The standoff grew more tense as Nabiki flipped another floodgate on Kuno, she was just being petty at this point. "Ok I feel like I'm missing something here."

Danger. Threat. Warning. Emperor.

What?

"You ok Ranma?" Akane hadn't expected slipping her arm around the shorter girl's waist would surprise Ranma that much. Yuka and Sayuri said she had to continue to be bold to make sure Ryouga was a distant memory after all. There wasn't any other reason she had been cuddling more with the other girl obviously.

'It’s fine this is what Xian Pu says girl friends do when she did it. Both 'Kane an I are girls and friends right now so naturally her arm is around my waist.  Stupid dragon got me worried over nothin.' Still Ranma was surprised Akane was able to sneak up on her, and trigger the warning system her and her stupid dragon had for her pops. "It’s alright 'Kane, now can you tell me what makin your sister so pissed."

Akane looked between her fiancée's puppy dog eyes and her sister’s demon glare, she felt a bead of sweat run down her back. Someone so much like a cat should not be able to do that ugh! "Kodachi is Nabiki's ex!" Slapping her hand over her mouth Akane started to back away. She really didn't like the look in Nabiki's eyes. Before her sister could lunge at her, Ranma spoke up.

"Oh, so she used to be Nabiki's rival?"

In complete sync everyone else in the room let out a sigh. Before anyone could try and educate Ranma on romance the speaker blared.

"Ranma Saotome to the faculty office. Ranma Saotome to the faculty office."

"Did you get in trouble Ranma?" Tilting her head Yuka asked the pinkette while the rest of their friend group restrained Akane. "I don' think so? Can ya watch P-chan while I go see what this is about."

When she was given an affirmative nod Ranma made her way out calling over her shoulders. "I'll see you both back home."

Neither Tendo sister would see Ranma at dinner. The Saotome girl would not awake till the following morning.

__________________________________________

Ranma woke up to the smell of roses. It would have been comforting if the last thing she remembered wasn't passing out in the faculty office. Getting her bearings she could see a sprawling garden with plants so exotic she was sure she couldn't name any of them.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t enjoy it as her right leg was held by a thorny vibe ensuring she stayed in place. Every time she would try to move it would dig into her skin more and more. "Stupid piece of- Ah just let me go would ya!"

"Insulting my plants won't help you. I'm the only one who gets to decide when you leave." A beautiful tall black-haired girl strolled out with enough confidence to rival Ranma on a good day. Ranma didn't need to ask her name, she could see the family resemblance, but where Kuno was a dope, this girl was the same kind of trouble as Nabiki.

Kodachi Kuno circled her new catch with a intensity that made it hard for Ranma to speak. Not that it stopped her. "So wha'ta ya want from me anyways? I ain't no psychic."

"Really? I find that rather hard to believe Lady Ranma. Do your monsters not move as if they’re alive? Do your spells not make magic manifest?" Raising her eyebrows, the taller girl challenged Ranma to refute her. Before she could growl out her protest Kodachi loudly clapped her hands and the vine wrapped around her leg finally let go. "In any case, I must apologize the sleeping gas was only meant to knock you out until you arrived. Not for the full night, I suppose I misjudged what plants to use." Motioning for Ranma to follow her, she started to walk out of the garden. "Hopefully our exquisite breakfast can make up for that mistake."

Ranma followed mostly because she didn't know how to leave in the first place and partly because she was hungry anyways.

"What's stoppin me from just leavin huh?"

The grin Kodachi gave her sent shivers down her spine. "Why Ranma then you'd miss our duel."

__________________________________________

"She's still not back!?" Akane was pacing by the door to the kitchen. She figured Ranma would at least make it back before breakfast, but no sight of the pink haired girl turned up. Even P-chan gave a worried squee.

Frowning Nabiki turned on her duel disk to try and see where her little sister's wayward fiancée. It wasn’t paranoid to stick a tracking in everyone's duel disk Kasumi see it was already coming in handy. She could really go without the disapproving stare she was giving her.

"I'm sure she just lost track of time. Honestly you two, you should trust her more. She's a very capable duelist and can protect herself." Kasumi was worried but she wanted to give Ranma the benefit of the doubt after all she had been taking up more responsibilities around the house to help her. Maybe she just needed a bit of a break. Though the worried look on even Mr. Saotome’s face didn't help that idea.

"It’s not her I don't trust. It’s Ko-chan ugh Kodachi! Ranma's just the type of girl she'd try to sink her teeth into!" Nabiki erupted in a rare display of emotion, this is why she tried to stay as away from her ex as possible. She always made her lose control like this. "Got it she's at St.Hebereke call your little club Akane. We're raiding that good for nothing school."

"I'm going as well. With that boy Ryouga running around I don’t like the idea of my s- er child being catnapped."

"Fine hurry up and get ready Dad, Kasumi stay here in case the feline menace gets back of her own will." Nabiki barked at the last two members of the household as she ran to her room to grab the card she kept locked in her closet.

_________________________________________

Walking down the halls of the all-girls school Ranma saw plenty of girls pass by and blush at Kodachi. Some would go practically still as stone when she would decide to give them a kiss on the hand. Honestly the black-haired girl seemed to pick at random which to do so. Ranma didn’t get how she could duel this many people regularly.

"So, what you're rivals with all these girls? Seems like a lot of work."

"Rival's is that what they call it at Furikan? No to answer your question these girls and I just enjoy the dance of romance more than anything. If I wanted something more serious it would have to be with someone who gives me a challenge."

"That why you got that special black uniform on? Cause ya stronger or whatever?" Ranma had no idea where romance came into this but was Kodachi that much better than the rest of her school? All the girls who had passed them followed the standard red, yellow and blue ranking of her own school but Kodachi's uniform was custom made. Aside from the color and the school crest there was plenty of rose petals complementing the design and a silhouette of a dragon she had never seen before sewn in.

"That's right I'm the top duelist here which gives me some special perks. Like my garden you woke up in. It also goes without saying I'm the top psychic here as well." Smirking Kodachi continued to lead her new plaything down to the dueling arena. Honestly, she seemed to hiss at whichever obelisk blues took issue with Kodachi leading the girl. It was quite cute. Their duel would decide if the pink-haired girl stayed as one of her pets or as her new object of interest should she beat her.

Sensei would have to get someone else to kill the girl, she was just too cute not to keep.

"All of you are psychics? I thought this was just an all-girls school not a psychic training ground." Frowning, Ranma began to wonder if this is why Kasumi wanted her to keep her healing abilities under wraps.

"The full name is St.Hebereke school for gifted Girls. Our founder worked very hard to ensure anyone with even a silver of ability would be transferred here or to our brother school for boys. Divine was a visionary Ranma you need to understand there are those special like us and those who are meant to be crushed. Stepping stones on the way to the peak." The complete absolute zeal Kodachi said this with unnerved Ranma. Ok it creeped her the hell out. But she didn't have the social skills to communicate her discomfort or debate the other girl. She didn't agree at all, dueling was meant to be fun and people like them who could do things others couldn't were meant to protect that joy. Not run all over it.

"Here we are the duel arena. As much as I get special treatment even I can't get away with the damage our duel is sure to cause."

Thankfully they reached the arena before Ranma was forced to really respond. She'd beat Kodachi in the duel that would solve everything. Even if it didn't work with Ryouga it had to this time.

Arena was underselling it. This place was practically a stadium with seats, concessions and giant screens hanging on the ceiling. Ranma never thought she'd see a professional dueling stadium up close

until she herself went pro but this was a nice warmup. "And they won get mad at us thrashing this place?"

Shrugging Kodachi simply replied, "There's a budget for when this place gets damaged. Not so much any other part of the school. Ready? Remember you’ll transfer her if you lose."

"Yeah yeah. I don’t lose so I’ve got nothin to worry about. Hey, why are all the seats empty? Scared of your fan club seeing you get your but kicked?"

"Oh, nothing of the sort dear Ranma. I simply wanted our first time to be private. It wouldn’t do to do it so publicly on the first date." The smirk kodachi had on her face slipped off as her opponent tilted her head in confusion. Letting out a sigh she mumbled how Na-chan would have gotten that joke. "No matter let's begin!"

"Duel!"

Ranma Saotome: 4000 life points

Kodachi Kuno: 4000 life points

Grumbling about she was forced to go first again, Ranma drew her opening hand and immediately frowned. Her only play maker was Gold Leo, everything else was either a fusion spell, hand trap or battle trap of some kind. Well, she worked with less before. Glaring at her opponent she noted how despite how much Kodachi screamed money her duel disk was rather old-fashioned just the original Kabia Corp one. The thing was practically an antique; did it even work with the augmented reality system?

Whatever time to duel! "I normal summon Lunalight Gold Leo and activate her effect!" Going to add the card that usually would have shoot out from her deck slot she was instead met with an error message. "What!?"

Turning to look up she was jumped scared by a floating ghost girl sticking her tongue out and giggling at her. Gold leo while usual confident as her duelist looked back in concern as her mistress started to shake her fist at the offending monster. (600/1600)

"Ash blossom effect lets me discard her in order to negate an effect that would in this case add a card from the deck to the hand. Better luck next time dear." Sliding her left most card in to her graveyard slot Kodachi immediately drew a card as Ranma had set a card and then ended her turn.

Disappointing. Had she bricked? At least she would get to see how Ranma adapts, not the test she was going for but she’d take it.

"I'll activate the continuous spell Black Rose garden which will let me add a rose dragon from my deck to my hand and change all monsters to plant type monsters. It also has some extra effects that you'll have to wait to see."

A marble statue of the monster on Kodachi's uniform erupted from the ground sending dirt everywhere. While Ranma and Leo had to cover their faces Kodachi simply continued her turn as normal and didn't get a speck on her.

"Then I'll normal summon the White Rose dragon from my hand and use her effect to special summon Rose dragon from my hand as well. I'll also set a card face down."

Two dragons identical if not for their color flew onto the field chittering and chirping as they danced around each other. Taking a deep breath Kodachi got ready to summon her ace. The monster that made her special, the monster that made her the top duelist, the monster that made her a signer.

"I tune my level 4 white rose with my level 3 Red Rose. A cold black flame envelops the world. Bloom rose of the Kuno clan and scatter my enemies to the wind! Synchro Summon! Level 7! Black Rose Dragon!"

__________________________________________

"Nabiki!" Yuka ran to catch the girl who was her current tag duel partner. They had split up based on skill level and Yuka was deemed to need Nabiki as protection the most which was a little insulting if she were being honest. Luckily, her partner clutching her head in pain and almost doubling over pain meant she didn't have to dwell on that. In a different Hall Sayuri was supporting Akane who was having much of the same problem.

"Ha! I bet she finally got tired of carrying your weight Silfer Slacker." One of the two St.Hebereke students who they got roped into a duel with mocked. Lot of nerve for someone who's name she didn't even bother remembering and for someone who was losing.

Yuka Tsukumo & Nabiki Tendo: 7000 life points

St.Hebereke Student 1 &2: 500 life points

It was true Nabiki had down most of the work while she played defense, but she'd at least get the killing blow. The swords of revealing light her opponents played last turn wouldn't leave the field soon, but she had a way around that. Yuka glared at her opponents while gently setting her partner down who seemed to be coming back to her senses. "I'll get rid of them ok just take a quick break." "Right sorry Kodachi must have summoned Black rose it always gives me a massive headache for some reason."

"Hey! It's your turn stop slow playing you blanks!"

Raising her eyebrow Yuka turned to Nabiki for an explanation. "Derogatory term for non-psychics. It’s dumb I know."

"Yeah definitely but I'm gonna rough them up anyway for it. I use the set pendulum scale of Leonidas and Scale Surveyor to pendulum summon! Let's go Gogogo Golem and Gagaga Magician!"

A golem made of block with massive arms and a Magician in an orange outfit appeared from the lights of the pendulum contrasting with Nabiki demonic Knight of D/D/D Oracle King d'Arc. (1800/1500) (1500/1000)

Frowning the two psychics shared a look of annoyance. "Those dumb Heartland promotional cards haven't been able to do anything to us before and they still won't with swords of revealing light."

"Wrong they’re about to win this duel as I overlay these two level 4 monsters! I xyz summon Rank 4! Gagaga Cowboy!"

Spinning twin revolvers, a tall man in a cowboy ensemble and a cape now knelt on the field. (1500/2400)

"Did you forget to summon him in attack position Slifer even if you could get rid of our swords you couldn't attack."

"I don't need to attack when Cowboy is in defense mode by detaching one overlay unit I can deal 800 points of damage to my opponent." The twin looks of horror were very satisfying. Yuka raised her hand into a finger gun and pulled her thumb down. "Bang."

St.Hebereke students 1&2: 0 life points

Winner Yuka Tsukumo & Nabiki Tendo!

As the two psychic duelists fell over Yuka ran back to her partner to support her weight. As she picked up Nabiki she frowned noticing something. "You haven't turned off your duel disk. Why?"

"I've got a bad feeling Ranma will need my help when we get to the arena. Now come on its that way."

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Ranma shoved her arms in front of her to protect herself from the incoming rose petals and debris. Even with that she still has cut up and bruised from the effect Kodachi had called black rose gale which apparently destroyed everything on the field. Of course, her dragon and a new monster being on Kodachi’s side of the field made her think it was more to it, but the roaring of her own dragon was distracting her.

Opponent. Worthy. Hunger. Fight!

Damn thing wouldn't shut up. It had been quite since they got back from China that one time with Kane excluded. Why was it freaking out now? The only lead she had was the glowing red tattoo on Kodachi's arm that was shaped like a claw. Freaky.

Ranma Saotome: 1600 life points

"Normally Black Rose would also be destroyed in her effect but since I had Basal Rose Shoot set, I got to special summon her from the grave. Also, since black rose garden was destroyed by my dragons effect you take two thousand and four hundred points of damage." Kodachi started to pet her might beast in reverence. Still her mark was reacting quite a bit for some reason, something she'd have to figure out after the duel.

"That doesn't explain the new dragon or the extra card in your hand." Wiping away at least some of the blood she was now covered in Ranma frowned. Kodachi was good, maybe the best she'd dueled so far, she'd have to step up her game. She was dangerously close to a first turn kill.

Question. Afraid. Humor.

If only it would shut up long enough for her to do that. She wasn’t summoning it; she made it since elementary without needing that dragon and she didn't need it now!

"Ah yes that was thanks to my Red Rose, when used as synchro material I get to summon my Blue Rose dragon from deck and if the monster I summoned was Black Rose I get to add a card to my hand. A two for one deal." Smirking Kodachi continued to pet her dragons. As destructive as Black Rose was it wasn’t that big maybe only a little taller than Cat Dancer and Blue Rose was about a third of its size. Of course, their attack points were the real problem for Ranma. (2400/1800) (1600/1200)

Either one would win Kodachi the duel as soon as they attacked. And that's what would have happened had Ranma been a worse duelist. As is her opponent was currently attempting to attack with her monsters and beginning to be very frustrated that they wouldn't attack.

Glaring at the pink haired girl now snickering at her, Kodachi demanded an explanation. "What did you do!? Why won't my dragons attack!"

"Check the action log, or ya know my grave if ya really want an explanation." Ranma continued to have a smug expression as Kodachi used the old system to check the graveyard. 'I need to get control of this duel and if that means gettin her pissed... well I'm real good at that.'

Slamming her boot against the ground Kodachi huffed out, "Threatening Roar!? That worthless common, you activated it in response to black rose?! You! You! You Harlot!"

"What!? Am I supposed to let you just attack me! Whatever is your turn over?" Ranma had no idea what that word meant but she could tell from the tone it was an insult.

"Fine I suppose I have no choice I'll set a card and end my turn."

'Heh still got it now time to try an salvage this mess of a hand.' Praying for some kind of monster, Ranma drew her next card. 'Yes! Black sheep, I can work with this.'

"I activate the spell card Lunalight Fusion! Using its effect, I can also use my monsters from my deck or extra deck as material and Black sheep will add Gold leo back to my hand! Regal sheep and Elegant dancer! Spiral into a new lunar legend! Elegant beast dancing in the moonlit wilderness! Fusion summon! Level 8! Lunalight Panther Dancer!"

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"Go Junk Warrior! Scrap fist!"

St.Hebereke students 7&8: 0 Life points

Winner Sayuri Izayoi & Akane Tendo!

Ignoring her now collapsed opponents and in a mirror of her best friend she ran to go support the tendo sister she'd teamed up with. "When did you learn how to synchro summon?"

"Kuno senpai is very willing to tutor when you play up the helpless girl act Akane." Smirking Sayuri put the other girl’s weight on her shoulder before looking around and frowning. “We finally got rid of all of them, but we're still lost."

Since there wasn't really anything to take away her attention, she finally noticed the pained expression on Akane's face. Different from the clear debilitating pain of whatever gave her that headache but a look more of guilt. "Ok spill, something’s wrong."

"It’s just I'm not sure how bring it up."

Rolling her eyes Sayuri went with the thing she typically thought was bothering Akane. "It's ok that you like girls."

"No! Not that!" Groaning Akane used her free hand to dig around into her extra deck. Pulling out a card she almost showed it to Sayuri right away before deciding against it. "You have to promise not to tell Yuka."

Narrowing her eyes Sayuri weighed her options. She didn't want to lie to Yuka, but Akane probably would freak if she didn't agree. "Fine but you're telling her as soon as possible."

A reluctant nod was all she got as Akane held up the card. Sayuri let out a startled gasp before both girls started to follow the dimly glowing cards light.

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"Panther Dancer's effect lets her attack all your monsters twice each! The first time they aren't destroyed and when they are destroyed in battle with her, she gains two hundred attack. Go!"

Ranma thrust her first forward as her newest and so far, strongest Lunalight did an impressive display of acrobatics while slashing at Kodachi's two dragons and avoiding when they attempted to counter attack. With two swipes of her claws Panther Dancer shattered Black rose then did a round house on to Blue rose before another rake of her claws sent Kodachi's final monster to the grave. (2800/2500) -> (3000/2500)

"I activate Mirror Force! Destroying your panther dancer."

"Phew fancy card you got there too bad Panther Dancer can't be destroyed by card effects!"

Kodachi Kuno: 600 life points

Gritting her teeth now covered in as many scratches as Ranma though without the blood as none of hers were that deep Kodachi decided against using Blue Roses effect. Panther Dancer would just destroy whatever she summoned anyways. At least its attack points would return to normal now.

"That's the end of my turn. Looks like ya psychic powers ain't doin nothin!"

Sneering at Ranma, who was now bouncing up and down in anticipation Kodachi drew her next card. 'Perfect!'

"Let me show you a real evolution of an Ace! I normal summon Twilight Rose Black Knight. His effect special summons Black Rose dragon back to the field with her effects negated. I'll also special summon my Rose Princess from hand since you control a monster with her own effect." Taking in a deep breath Kodachi tried to control her breathing. She couldn't afford to fail here. Her ace wrapped itself around her protectively before turning into the green lights of synchro summoning while her other two monsters knelt before her in fealty. 'Crimson Dragon here my prayers. Assist me like you once assisted Sensei.'

"I tune my level 7 Black rose with my level 3 Twilight Rose! Petals dyed in blood scatter across the world and bring victory to the Light! Synchro Summon! Level 10! Ruddy Rose Dragon!"

Kodachi's Ace had doubled in size and now had pink highlights adorning all its petals as it let out a fearsome roar. Rose princess rose from her kneeling postion and dusted off her dress before getting in her own battle stance. (3200/2400) (1200/800)

'Thank you' "What was that you said about my powers? Ruddy Rose! Destroy Panther Dancer!"

Two vines slammed into the spot Panther Dancer was just in as she attempted to weave and dodge long enough for her duelist to play a response she didn't have. Eventually Ruddy Rose vines caught up with her and impaled her through the stomach.

Ranma Saotome: 1200 life points

Ranma barely staved of the headache coming from her own dragon’s eagerness to fight to activate her Sarraceniant effect before Rose princess finished her off. Unfortunately, its extra destructive effect wouldn't go off as Kodachi chained the copy of Frozen Rose she added to her hand last turn.

"Since Rose Princess was a plant monster, I draw two cards when I end my turn." Kodachi wasted no time in adding those cards to her hand signaling the end of her turn. She could have negated the destruction with Ruddy Rose and got another attack, but she suspected the last card Ranma had been saving was another hand trap. Hopefully being cautious would pay off besides she doubted the Gold Leo she knew was in the other girls hand was enough to beat her.

'Polymerization, Gold Leo and a dream huh?' Ranma stared at the fusion spell she had been holding since the start of the duel. Without either of her Dancers or Crimson Fox she really didn't have a way to climb over Ruddy Roses attack points. There was one way, but she hoped it didn't come to that. 'Come on Saotome secret top deck technique don't fail me now.'

Closing her eyes she drew her last card for the duel. Only to open her eyes and be disappointed, she drew Lunalight White Rabbit. She'd just have to gamble that Kodachi didn't have another way to stop Gold Leo's effect and add Crimson Fox off of- why are her hands moving on their own.

"I normal summon White Rabbit using its effect I special summon Silver Hound. I activate Polymerization. Hunting Hound and Leaping Rabbit give birth to a new terror!"

Kodachi couldn't help frown at the deeper voice now coming out of her opponent like she was spinning her own version of the femme fatale voice Kodachi worked very hard on. Of course, the way her hands shook and seemed to be reluctantly playing her cards were another concern. The most striking thing, however, was the way her bracelet seemed to be blinking with light.

"Fusion Summon! Heavenly Dragon with the gluttonous fangs! Level 8! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"

________________________________________

“Are you done yet Mr. Saotome?” Hiroshi was starting to get restless. Why Ranma’s dad wouldn’t just let him try and disable the security system. It wasn’t the same as audio equipment but at least he had some kind of background to work with. The sympathetic pat on the shoulder from Daisuke was nice but it was only making him more impatient.

“Quiet Boy! These things require a delicate touch” Now did he cut the red or blue wire?

“Uh Mr. Saotome?”

The blue wire was regal, strong and stubborn but the red was free, unrestrained and confident.

“Mr. Saotome?”

How could he choose! Gah this was just like when Tendo tried to make him pick a favorite monster. He loved all his fire fists equally damn it!

“MR. SAOTOME!?”

“WHAT!?” The one in a yellow uniform had been yelling at him for some reason. Why did they all wear their school jackets anyways? It wasn’t a school day. At least his so- daughter? Hmm. He’d figure that later. At least his child had an emotional attachment to their jacket.

“That building it’s glowing.”

“That’s not good.” Better just cut both wires.

_________________________________________

In contrast to most of her elegant monsters, Ranma dragon was a grotesque sight. Deep purple armor on its body that opened into gaping maws and glowing orbs all over Starving Venom let out a roar causing acid to spill from its mouth. (2800/2000) -> (6000/2000)

"What unholy beast have you brought into my school Ranma Saotome! And where did it get all those attack points!?" Kodachi ripped her attention from the monster to confront her opponent. Her signer mark had started to throb at this point and with Ranma's new sneer that really didn't seem natural her face she knew something was wrong.

"If Starving Venom was fusion summoned it gains the attack points of one of my opponents special summoned monsters. Game over Kodachi." Ranma knew her dragon did something to her mental state and while this was enough to get her to avoid summoning it, when it was on the field that fact was really easy to ignore. Kodachi kidnapped her and drugged her why shouldn't she take a little revenge. She would hurt her too much. She’d still be able to walk at least.

"Battle." Ranma stated in a practically monotone voice. “Go. Final Toxin!"

__________________________________________

Next time: Converging Magic

"Wake up!"

"Absolute Zero!"

"Sensei was right. You’re a monster."

Chapter Text

"Oh Tate-kun! Our Monsters and Mazes session isn't till next week. I'm sorry to make you come all this way."

"Fear not noble Kasumi! I'm here to escort my wayward sister back to our residence."

Kuno was about to go on his typical rant of vanquishing evil, Nabiki's greed of filming their sessions and maybe recruiting new adventurers before he saw the frown on Kasumi's face. "What happened?"

"Honestly I don't have all the details myself. It's probably better if you come and see." Kasumi led him out to the dojo and opened its door to reveal four girls all in various states of distress sleeping on the floor. "We didn't have enough beds, so we put them all in here. They haven't woken up since they were brought home.”

"What madness" kneeling he took his sister’s pulse, still beating good. "No clerical treatments have had any effect."

"None, Akane and her friends went to go pick up some medicine. I’m hoping it will make some kind of a difference” placing her hand against her cheek Kasumi turned her eyes to the resting form of her little sisters and the others still trashing in their sleep. “I’m running out of ideas at this point. Please wake up all of you.”

“Oh my. Tate-kun what are you doing?”

Placing his sister on his back he grunted in strain, “Taking her home. One of her herbs must help. I’ll send word if it does.”

“Thank you. I’ll do the same if the medicine works. Oh, if we only had some idea of what happened…”

__________________________________________

Nabiki did not like the scene she walked in on. It was bad enough she had to rely on Akane’s little friend to walk but her ex-girlfriend and her sister’s fiancée/situationship going at it like a pair of feral cats. The dragons would be impressive if the current power struggle wasn’t so loud!

“Has Ranma always had a monster that freaky!?”

“Who cares! We have to stop them before they bring down the roof of this place!” Urging Yuka to take her closer to the duel Nabiki started to fiddle with her duel disk to activate the interruption program. Technically was illegal and a lot of newer disks had built in protection from it but luckily Kodachi thought her “powers” were a good excuse to not upgrade. As for the first part, well, no one had to know. “Besides I’m the only duelist within a twenty-mile radius who cares about property damage. They should be thanking me really.”

Intrusion penalty!

Nabiki Tendo: 2000 life points

“Stay out of this!” Waving her hands a torrent of dark energy shot out from Ranma attempting to blow away the two girls. The glare the pink-haired girl gave them as they struggled against her efforts to send them flying sent shivers down their spines. “Kodachi’s my prey, wait your turn to be devoured got it!”

“Na-chan! Girl, I don’t know! Something’s wrong with Ranma darling, my marks practically searing my skin. It started when she summoned that grotesque dragon!” Kodachi grabbed onto Nabiki’s hand before the two girls could be thrown into the wall. Gritting her teeth she continued to pump ki into Ruddy Rose, it wouldn’t save her, but it would stall Starving Venoms assault. Especially with the way the Lunalight duelist was dragging it out to cause as much damage as possible. She really could go without how much pain Ranma was starting to inflict.

Snarling Ranma turned her attention back to her opponent, “Hiding behind others while they do yer dirty work. Accept yer defeat like a real duelist.”

“Will you chunnibyous stop flirting! You’ve got a lot of nerve asking me for help while still gunning for the girl trying to kill you. What the red flags didn’t stop you from getting cat scratch fever?”

“Jealous Na-chan?”

“You wish Ko-chan.”

“Figure out relationship drama later please. Ranma and her dragon still look pissed and hungry. I really don’t want to be a snack girls!” Yuka yelled drawing attention back to the duel and the approaching doom.

“Fine I activate the trap Wonder Xyz! This allows me to Xyz summon on your turn Ranma. I use D/D Gryphon and D/D Orthros to build the overlay network.”  Pushing herself off Yuka, Nabiki thrust her hand up into the air. “Restless souls frozen deep within the ice, rise again and bring a new ice age! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Number 103: Ragnazero!”

A towering woman with crystal wings of ice and dress in a flowing white gown raised its curved blade towards the two dragons. (2400/1200)

“You little cheat Nabiki you put those cards on the field before you joined the duel! Wait number wha-”

“So, what that thing doesn’t have anywhere near enough attack points to stop me. Starving Venom finish off Ruddy Rose!” Ranma cut off Yuka continuing her attack.

“Sorry Ranma-baby put you need to cool down. I activate Ragnazero’s effect. Go, Absolute Zero!” Nabiki smirked as her monster sent a blizzard towards Starving Venom. “As a quick effect I can destroy one monster in attack mode with a different attack than it’s original. Oh, and I get draw a card as well.”

Starving Venom attempted to try and claw its way out of the ice. His claws slammed into the ice that started around his feet until he could no longer bend down. Eventually he would be completely frozen solid below the neck and all the dragon could do was glare and growl before Ragnazero shattered the ice and him with her blade.

“Starving Venom has an effect when destroyed. I get to destroy all my opponent’s special summoned monsters!  Go Poison Deluge!” Ranma blinked after using Starving Venom destruction effect. Why was she being so intense? Kodachi was as annoying as her brother but that didn’t mean she deserved to be maimed.

Annoyance. Hunger. Disappointment.

“Yeah, yeah stop poutin. Wait Hunger?”   Now trembling in genuine rage Ranma started to rapidly shake her duel disk. “You did all this because you wanted a snack?! Get out here so I can kick yer ass myself you stupid dragon!”

“Ruddy Rose’s effect I can tribute her to negate a destruction effect! Rose Sanctuary!” Kodachi started to cackle as she slid her dragon to the grave. “Sorry darling but I still have a duel to win, I’ll pay for you and your monster’s counseling once your mine.”

“I ain’t yer darling!” Ranma snapped. “Sides it’s still my turn.”

“You also don’t have a monster Kodachi?” Nabiki raised her eyebrow. “So how exactly are you in a winning position?”

“Wrong, Ruddy Rose effect lets me special summon Black Rose from the grave or my extra deck!”

 All three girls were too enraptured by the duel they failed to notice the glow coming from each of them.

“Uh Nabiki, Ranma are you supposed to be lighting up like that? Girls?” Yuka started to back away as the light coming off each of them became more and more intense. “I really think somethings wrong!”

“But out peasant girl!”

“Hey, you don’t get to talk to her that way!”

“Ranma-baby focus on how we’re going to win please.”

“WE!?”

“All of you please! Something’s wrong!” Yuka shouted. No one was listening to her as a chain reaction of ice, poison and rose petals started to collide. Raising her arms to protect herself from the explosion Yuka’s rusty key erupted in golden light around her neck.

 By the time the rest of the rescue party found the four girls, they were all unconscious. Genma was the first to suggest they take them to the dojo in case the roof actually decided to cave in and in part to get the hell out before any cops showed up.

As the group fled from the scene, they all winced as the heard the building collapse in a thundering…

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*CRASH*

“What was that!” Akane spun on her heels towards the noise. It was one thing after another! They just got the medicine and distributed it. Yuka had woken up first after taking it and was taken home by Sayuri. Kasumi was hopeful for Nabiki and Ranma’s recovery, so they were in the kitchen preparing dinner. Well Kasumi was preparing dinner, she was handing her ingredients and washing them when needed.

“It came from the dojo. Stay behind me Akane.”

“But Kasumi!”

“No two of my little sisters were already hurt today. I won’t let that happen again on my watch.”

“Fine.”  Akane gritted her teeth and followed her sister in creeping towards the dojo. There was no arguing with her when she got like this, she’d just have to steal the fight or duel more likely when they found whatever made that noise.

When they reached the dojo, they could hear a rough voice attempting to whisper and failing.

“-ight be unfair. But stay still and take your punishment like a man Ranma! Die!”

Rushing into the dojo and quick as a whip Kasumi shot out the same red energy whip that Ryouga used to force Ranma into a duel at the boy. Catching Ryouga raised arm before he could slam his first down again, she pulled him away from the resting girl.

“What the! This is between me and Ranma lady. You’ve got nothing to do with it!” Ryouga growled. Who did this housewife think she was! Wait those were the Tendo sisters, great he probably couldn’t acuatlly get them to abandon the leech Ranma. ‘How’d she make a duel anchor anyways? It took me months or practice to finally get it down. Why does this housewife know a technique this advanced?’

“Kasumi that’s Ryouga! He’s the guy who was trying to kill me and Ranma at the school the other day!”

“Hey lady I was only trying to get Ranma. You just jumped in the way!”

“Why you!”

“Children!” The glare Kasumi sent quieted both of the arguing pair. She tugged on the duel anchor once more leading Ryouga out of the dojo. “Now young man, you’re going to leave our house quietly or I’ll have to make you leave. Akane watch over them while I escort him out.”

“Oh uh yeah sure.” Nodding his head in a trained response to the mom voice, Ryouga let himself be led out the door. Wait. What was he doing!? “Hey! I still have to kill Ranma!”

“Ok being forced out it is.” Kasumi raised her duel disk.

‘Was she hiding that in her apron? I’m not really about to duel this girl am I? I mean I dueled Ranma but that’s different kind of- she’s drawing her hand already.’

“Duel!”

Kasumi Tendo: 4000 life points

Ryouga Hibiki: 4000 life points

Blinking and now standing over Ranma, Akane couldn’t help but ask herself. “What-what just happened?”

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Yuka blinked herself awake. Pushing herself up all she could see was sand for miles. Patting herself down all she had was her duel disk and her deck. Call function right it has a call function. She’d just get Sayuri to pick her up, easy! Darn. No signal.

“Ok um I guess I’ll pick a direction; I guess. This way! The sand looks nicer…” letting out a loud sigh Yuka started her trek. The heat started to bear down on her almost right away as she trudged through the sand. It would be hours before she found anything or that’s how long she guessed she walked. The weird twin moons off in the distance didn’t budge at all, so she had no real way to tell.

“Water, finally.” Kneeling at the stream she found, she was about to scoop some of it into her mouth. Luckily, she paused to look at it before she did. “Purple… of course it couldn’t just be a normal stream.”

Four streams of water were right by her feet, each a different color rushing by. Purple, black, white and red all starting to leak into one another.

Restore…

Guided by something unseen she started to separate the water back into their proper streams and cut off the runoff by filling it with sand.

Order…

“I think I put too much sand.” Biting her thumb, she looked at the now narrower streams each only a quarter of the width they once were. “It’s fine, I’m sure.”

And…

 Following the black stream she eventually reached a large pool it flowed into. She tried stepped forward to get a better look but slipped and sunk right to the bottom.

Chaos…

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‘Extra monster zone? When did that get there?’ Ryouga frowned at the display on his disk, his opponent didn’t seem worried, but it was still confusing. At least his hand was good, he’d wrap this up fast and get back to hunting Ranma with ease.

“I normal summon Parlor Dragonmaid and I use her effect to send a Dragonmaid monster from my deck to the grave. I choose Chamber Dragonmaid.” Kasumi slid her chosen card to the graveyard slot. She’d play conservatively for now, she’d better let Ryouga test the changes to the field rather than her. “I’ll also play the spell Dragonmaid Hospitality allowing me to special summon the Chamber Dragonmaid I just sent to the grave. Then I get to send one dragonmaid monster from my deck to the grave with the same attribute but different level.”

(500/1700) (500/1800)

Looking through her deck for both the mill target and the trap that chamber allowed her to search, Kasumi studied her opponent. She did actually know who Ryouga was before Akane told her, Ranma talked a lot during chores. Still from the story she got she’s not sure where the homicidal tendencies the fanged boy had come from. “I’ll set two cards face down and end my turn.”

“They only have five hundred attack points? Are you mocking me lady!?” grinding his teeth Ryouga started his turn. It was bad enough that Ranma’s monsters dressed like they did but at least they weren’t in maid outfits. The dragon girls in a French and Victorian maid outfits were very distracting. Was it a tactic making using such cute monsters to make him reluctant to attack!? He wouldn’t be fooled that easily! “I special summon Scales and Trumpeter. I tune my level four scales with my level 2 Trumpeter! Synchro Summon! Level 6! Superheavy Samurai Ogre Shutendoji!”

Chuckling to himself Ryouga watched his monster destroy all of the eldest Tendo’s spell and trap cards. His smug expression quickly changed to one of bewilderment as his opponent’s monster started to clean Shuntendoji. The green haired dragon girl was polishing with a speed that put a Ranma during lunch to shame. “Hey, what is she?”

He cut off as his now sparkling clean monster turned into a mote of light and gently floated back into his extra deck. “Shutendoji! Get back out here!”

“Oh, I’m sorry I just figured your monster would want a polishing, so I played my Dragonmaid Tidying trap. By returning one dragonmaid monster to my hand I can return one card my opponent’s card to their hand.”  Kasumi clapped her hand and gave a sweet but oblivious smile as she explained the effect of her trap.

“Oh, uh thanks? He wasn’t that dirty, was he?” Ryouga started to look at his hand, he had to find another line to lethal now and it was hard to get mad at the sweet older girl in front of him.  Why couldn’t Ranma be more like that? No that he wanted Ranma to be sweet to him of course it was just so he could kill the pink haired menace obviously… He really should go back to his turn now.

“I special summon Superheavy Samurai Big Waraji from my hand, but I now must only special summon Superheavy monsters. Not that really matters in my deck, then I’ll normal summon Superheavy Samurai Fist.” They wouldn’t make the best monster for this board state but they would get him another synchro on the field. “I tune my level five big Waraji with my level two Fist. Synchro summon! Level 7! Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja!”

(1200/2800)

“Atta-”

“At the start of the battle phase chamber dragonmaid’s effect activates. I can special summon from my hand or grave a level seven or higher dragonmaid!”

__________________________________________

Ranma woke up to pouring rain and an almost empty highway. The only other people were the duelist currently involved in a high-speed turbo duel and the girl with her face clinging to the losing player. Wait her face?

???: 1800 life points

Ranma Saotome: 500 life points

Why was her name on the display? She tried to get a good look at the duelist on the runner by she couldn’t see anything past the visor on his helmet. Luckily, she could hear the conversation between the girl and the guy using her name easily.

“Just forfeit! Maybe they’ll go easy on us.”

“Don’t be an idiot Akari. This guy didn’t chase us halfway across Japan to suddenly play nice.”

“But you can’t win from this position!”

Ranma looked at the bored and realized the green-haired girl was right. While the name thief’s opponent had an empty hand there was still a massive dragon with eyes all over and three thousand attack points on their field. Compared to the sad five hundred attack the toy mechanical cork gun thief guy had; it was a towering difference. The full back row he was up against didn’t inspire any hope either.

“We just need to get rid of this guy, right? So, I don’t have to win. I play the spell card Monster reborn! I revive from the grave Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!”  Throttling the engine of the runner he slammed into his opponent. He just need to buy enough time to reach max speed. Akari’s complaints of how Katsunishiki jr. engines couldn’t handle this went ignored. “I tune my level seven clear wing with my level three Hi-Speedroid Cork Shooter! Accel Synchro!”

In a blinding flash of light, they were gone. It could have only been seconds before they reappeared, but Ranma didn’t see any sight of the name thief pursuers anywhere. The duel runner was smoking and the doppelganger passenger (Akari?) had to maneuver to a slow stop. The thief was passed out, smoke rising from his body. Whatever he just tried had a nasty recoil effect. His monsters still hovering from the unsuccessful summon eventually disappeared into motes of light.

Duel Terminated. No Result.

“You’re always so reckless. Using something you don’t even know the real steps to.” With a grunt she heaved thief guy onto the back of the runner and started to fiddle with the navigation system. “We’ll have to stop and make repairs somewhere. But after that… Can we even hide anywhere? Is there any safe Mr.-”

His lips moved but Ranma could tell it wasn’t the thief talking. It was her. “Nerima ya can hide out there. Promise.”

“Ok. Repairs and then Nerima.” Akari started up Katsunishiki jr. and took off at a steady slow pace and began to hum to herself. “Going fast makes me feel alive my heart beats in hyperdrive~”

__________________________________________

Snuggling more into her pillow Ranma didn’t want to get up and have to think about whatever her dream meant. As much as she was curious about the pig sticker slapped on that duel runner, she honestly hoped it had just been a weird product of her sub whatever and not something important. No if only her pillow would stop squirming! The way it was scratching her head was nice though. Purrrr. Wait…

“K-k-kane! Whata er ya doin in my bed!”

“It’s not your bed stupid. We were watching over you in the dojo and then you dragged me next to you in your sleep.” Rolling her eyes Akane finally was able to stand again. Ranma had a really strong grip in her sleep still it wasn’t like Akane was any better in her sleep. “Now come on, your ‘friend’ is here.”

“Wha why’d ya say it like that?” Ranma followed Akane out of the dojo to see Kasumi and Ryouga dueling. “What the hell! Why’s he here?”

Frowning she looked at the state of the field Kasumi had a black dragon flapping its wings with surprisingly nice hair and nails? Ryouga had the dumb blue metal samurai that had kept attacking her directly in their last duel. (2800/1800)

“Ranma!” Ryouga cried out in shock. He missed his chance! All because the oldest Tendo sister wouldn’t leave him alone! “Don’t run you bastard! Once I’m down with this lady I’ll send you flying, got it!”

“I told you he was bad news Ranma!” Akane was now glaring at the stupid boy who was now threatening her family. She couldn’t interrupt the duel but she could slam her fist into his very punch able face. Before she could, the pink haired girl had her hand on Akane’s wrist in a vice grip.

“’Kane wait! You said you’d let me talk to him.”

“Ranma but he-”

“Please.”

Ugh that face was too earnest and Kasumi and the jerk had paused their duel to watch their drama unfold. She’d punch him after. “Fine. Just hurry up.”

“Thanks ‘Kane.” The little smile she got in return made her face flare up, but it made her patience worth it. Stealing herself Ranma turned to address the lost boy. “Ryouga! I don’t know what I did! But leave the Tendos out of it! We used to be best friends just tell me what’s going on!”

“Even if you say that I can’t explain my shame and your sin! Besides you left me! You don’t get an explanation.” Ryouga turned back to the duel. Ranma couldn’t understand no matter how much he explained he knew that for certain. So obviously not explaining at all was the correct choice. “Since Stealth Ninja doesn’t have enough defense point to attack over Dragonmaid Stern I’ll use it’s effect to attack directly!”

“Don’t ignore me you jerk!” She was sick of getting the run around, she was going to make him talk whether he wanted to or not. Ignoring Akane’s cries of protest Ranma ran off into the middle field and raised her arms wide facing Ryouga. “You want me gone so bad well here I am! Cmon!”

“Ranma!”

“Oh my!”

“What- Are you insane!? What’s this supposed to prove Ranma!” Ryouga took a step back as Ranma started to rapidly approach him. What was she doing!?

“Proving that we’re still friends. You can’t actually go through with it can ya.”

“Huh!? I totally can!”

“Prove it then jerk!”

“But I- I can’t do it if you’re screaming in my face!”

“Ya had a perfectly good shot earlier!”

“Ranma listen I- do you hear that?” Both turned to see a stampeding man and a panda rushing at them, Ranma did the sensible thing and leapt away back as to not be hit by the charging duo. A cry of “get away from my daughter!” and a sign with ‘get away from my boy kid’ were heard/seen before Ryouga was sent flying. His cry of “I’ll get you for this Ranma!” could be heard off in the distance.

“What the hell did ya go an do that for pops!” Ranma shrieked in her dad’s face, she almost had him! They almost made up but no, something just had to ruin it. She was about to lunge at the man turned panda but stopped once she heard sniffling behind her. “Uh ‘Kane you, ok?”

“Ranma you idiot!” Akane stormed off back into Tendo residence tears streaking down her face.

“What? Wha’d I do?”

__________________________________________

Nabiki was in a dark room that she didn’t recognize. She had enough awareness to know she was kneeling and something in her gut told her to hang onto the words of the woman in front of her.

“Do you understand Kodachi?”

Her lips made a response on their own. “No Sensei, I’m sorry.”

“That’s ok child, the burden of a signer is a heavy one. I wouldn’t have told you this until you were older but unfortunately, we don’t have that luxury.”

“You’ve been saying that term a lot Sensei but I really don’t understand how it relates to me.”

“Look at the birthmark on your arm child. That mark only appears on those chosen to be signers. Duelist chosen by the crimson dragon to carry part of its power.”

“Crimson Dragon?”

“A god of light sort of. The details aren’t important on that end. What is important is that it choose special duelist important duelist to defend this world. Originally, we were only supposed to fight the forces of our dark counterparts. But with how unstable magic in Nerima and its neighboring wards is those roles are a bit more flexible.”

“Important duelist… Wait we? You’re a signer to Sensei?”

“Yes but my dragon isn’t currently with me.” The woman whose face Nabiki still couldn’t make out rolled up the sleave of her kimono to show a tattoo of a dragon’s head? It could also have been easily a stylized tail.

“I see. How have our roles changed then?”

“We no longer only fight against one force. We must cleave the world of all evil that hides within.” The woman’s voice took a cold edge that unsettled even the devil of Furinkan before she was thrust out of the realm of dreams with the slash of a sword.

All Nabiki could do was stare at the ceiling of the dojo, blinking the sleep out of her eyes and mumble to herself. “She really did join a cult.”

__________________________________________

“I activate Giant hand effect Ranchan! By detaching two overlay units I negate your Chimerafflesia’s effect!”

Kodachi was having a rather pleasant dream. A simple duel between two children, one of whom was clearly a young Ranma. The girl must dye her hair pink, she’d have to ask about it later, her roots didn’t show at all. Still, she was surprised the girl had always used fusion as her primary extra deck mechanic, it just wasn’t all that common in Japan. Another over one hundred number as well, Ranma really was well traveled. Or maybe magic just attracted magic, she didn’t really know.

“Ucchan your monster still can’t beat mine!”

“Not yet! That’s why I’m activating shrink! Your monsters attack points are halved so I can really cook up that flower of yours!”

“No fair.”

Smiling to herself she couldn’t help but get influenced by the children’s enthusiasm. They weren’t even using duel disks, just a small stump to place their cards onto. It was funny to watch them struggle to do the math must of the system did by automation she had to admit.  Ranma’s plant deck wasn’t anywhere near as elegant as hers, but she gave it points for being focused on the best type. Maybe her name had orchid in the kanji and she was gifted it? She wasn’t sure why else she would switch decks.

“Ok so it’s my turn now!”

“Give me your best shot Ranchan!”

“I normal summon Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio!”

“Again? Cmon Ranchan do something different.”

“Uuchan1 Stop making fun of me. I special summon Predaplant Spinodionaea after discarding Predaplant Byblisp!”

“How can you pronounce all these weird names but can’t spell your own?”

“Shut up Ucchan!”

Children. She turned to the side to see two men attempting to arrange a marriage pact between the two kids. Was that progressive or old fashioned? It was an arranged marriage, but it was between two girls. She’d figure that out later. She turned back to the duel and frowned. There it was on the tree stump that gross monster Ranma had almost beaten her with. She had it for this long? Sensei had mentioned to be wary of it, but it didn’t seem to be doing anything now.

She would eat those word as “Uuchan” was blasted across the hill they were playing at after Ranma had declared her winning attack with the beast. She turned away to not see the result. The marriage pact had defiantly broken down. She didn’t feel good about having one less rival as she watched an inconsolable Ranma cling to her dad and try to explain how it was an all an accident.

She wouldn’t be able to see the results of that talk as sleep left her. Snuggling further into her dear brother’s back she couldn’t help the smile that bloomed on her face. That kind of power wasn’t natural. “Sensei was right. You’re a monster. But that only makes me want you more Ranma Saotome.”

“Did you say something?”

“No dear brother nothing at all.”

__________________________________________

“Ya always get me into trouble ya know that. Seriously can’t ya ruin some else’s life.” Glaring at the purple dragon on the card she held up. She didn’t get a response as she laid on the roof, she did vaguely feel like it was sticking its tongue out at her though. “I mean Uuchan was bad enough but I ain’t ever gonna see him again. I really like the Tendo’s ya know? I don wanna screw this up. Me an ‘Kane ain’t gonna get married obviously but she’s still important to me I guess.”

“Aw we love you too paw prowler. And hey you’re not brooding in boy mode this time.”

“Gah!” Leaping up in surprise from the mocking voice Ranma turned to face Nabiki. “Nabs yer up! Also, I didn’t really get that one and I don’t brood.”

“Fine you don’t brood, you sulk like the wet kitten you are. Not my best work I admit. But yeah, Kasumi sent me to talk to you.” Nabiki pushed herself onto the roof, really Ranma could get an easier to reach sulking spot. “Not sure why I get to play therapist but hey I’ll send you the bill, or you could keep talking to a piece of cardboard seems real healthy.”

“Ha ha. I’m dying of laughter here Nabs I really am.”

“Ok sourpuss seriously though what’s with the cold-water body. You always go boy to stew.”

“Don’t know just easier to be angry stead of sad as a guy. I guess I don’t really feel like bein angry.”

Raising her eyebrow Nabiki decided that she was a low-level therapist in that instance. She’d let her hammerhead of a sister unpack that one. “Ok why are you sad?”

“You suck at this.”

“Throw me a bone Ranma or like catnip? I guess in your case.”

“Ya know I’m not actually a cat right? Whatever cause Kane’s mad at me I guess.”

“See now we’re getting somewhere.” God why couldn’t Kasumi have done this herself. “And why is Akane mad?”

“I’m not five! But uh cause I almost killed you an yuka, an I didn’t let her punch Ryouga.”

Blinking Nabiki couldn’t only stare at the pouting shorter girl. She seriously didn’t get it? “No moron, she didn’t appreciate that you offered up a free kill shot to the second samurai blunder. Also, I didn’t tell her about your demon dragon. We’ll talk about that after.”  

“That’s why?” Ranma blinked expecting to see a joking expression but only saw a serious look on Nabiki’s face. The same judging look that the rest had given her earlier. She was fine! Nothing happened, not like Ryouga actually had the guts to kill her. His motor murder attempts didn’t count that guy couldn’t reach any destination without going off course. “Wait why didn’t ya tell her?”

“After Ranma.”

“Aw nothing happened that guy’s always been kinda intense. He wouldn’t of’ve done it”

“Look Ranma.” Nabiki placed her hands on her shoulders and stared with an uncomfortable intensity. “As someone whose ex kidnapped you literally yesterday. Trust me when I say not all middle school relationships are worth salvaging. Got it?”

“Uh yeah. Can ya let me go tho this is really uncomfortable.”

“Right sorry.”

“It’s fine what’s the deal with you and Kodachi anyways?”

Sighing Nabiki laid back on the roof trying to see what made Ranma and her sister come up here so much. You could barely see any stars, what a waste. “People change a lot in a short amount of time. I realized I didn’t like the girl I was dating after those changes happened, so I dumped her end of story.”

“Oh, uh sorry. Ya know-”

“Don’t try to comfort me. You’re not any good at it. Now big purple and scary what’s the deal.”

“Gee thanks.”  Ranma rolled her eyes and pulled Starving Venoms card back out. “Pops said I’ve had it since I was a baby. Its real uh violent so I try not to use it. Not like I can get rid of it either.”

“What do you mean?”

Nabiki watched in confusion that slowed melted into shock as she watched Ranma fiddle around her jacket until she pulled out a box of matches. It was so strange to watch the girl who said her monsters were so important to her causally light the dragon’s card on fire. Like she had it so much she was numb to it. As embers left her hand, she pulled out her deck box and showed Nabiki the copy of Starving Venom she had just lit on fire. Sitting in ranma’s extra deck unharmed. All Nabiki’s look of horror earned was a small shrug from the other girl.

“It always comes back no matter what I do.”

“I have so many more questions now.”

“One pops sucks as starting fire, the matches are something I carry out of habit. Two yes, I tried to leave it in the middle of the ocean. Three it doesn’t feel any pain from that I asked.”

“I have less questions. Does it not have a gender? You always call the rest of your monsters by gendered terms?” Nabiki only got a blank look in return. “You didn’t ask did you.”

“Uh no?” Ranma pulled starving venoms card back out for the third time. That couldn’t have been why it-Starving venom was mad the whole time right? A grunt from her dragon gave her some insight. “Yer a guy!?”

“Well, I think my jobs done here.”

“Wha-hey!” Ranma turned to watch Nabiki start to climb down the ladder. She could at least help her try to figure out a way to apologize.

“Ranma-baby you don’t teel anyone about my weird monster I don’t tell anyone about your weird monster deal?” Nabiki winked and slid the rest of the way down before yelling up. “Oh, and leave Kodachi to me. Also take Akane out for ice cream that’ll help patch things up.”

“Why do I feel like I got played.” Ranma could only stare at the spot that the middle Tendo had left to go inside. “Also, what the hell is ice cream?”

A grunt told her that he had no clue either.

__________________________________________

Next time: The Gung-ho Duelist

“Nihao!”

“There’s no laws for a tie.”

“This feels dishonest elder.”

“Good luck Blessed-in-law.”