Pride Comes Before the Fall

Chapter One

{Kuno Estate - twelve hours later...}

Hate. Rage. Anger. Vengeful.

Those were the emotions that were currently running through Ranma as she meditated inside the master bedroom of the now-deserted Kuno Estate. Her aura radiated around in waves, with the dark emotions washing over her in a way that would have made even Earth Emperor Zeba proud.

"Thought I'd find you here."

Ranma's eyes snapped open, only to find the perverted grandmaster of the Anything Goes, seated before her, smoking his pipe. For once, Happosai was serious.

"Then again, it wasn't that hard," Happosai continued. "Your aura was a dead giveaway."

"What do you want, you old letch?" Ranma demanded.

"Peace, Ranma," Happosai replied, trying to stave off his still-pissed-off heiress. "I came from the hopsital. I know what has happened to you. You worked Genma over pretty well with that katana."

"I was trying to kill him," Ranma deadpanned. "He got off lucky."

"Indeed, but you gave him a fate worse than death," Happosai pointed out. "He won't be able to practice the Art ever again. The Creative Indiscriminate Martial Arts may be a school of questionable morals, but we also pride ourselves on honor. Honor that both your former parents and the Tendo clan are severely lacking. I was expecting this from Akane, but to have Nabiki and Kasumi backing up their father and your parents?" He shook his head. "Those two idiots have abused my school for the very last time. This has turned out to be one unbelieveable mess. Their views on honor are completely one-sided, from what I have witnessed. They wanted you to marry Akane - a person who hasn't been trained by Soun since his wife's passing - and to live off of your blood, sweat, and tears. And the Chinese Amazons..."

"They're mine," Ranma hissed. "The Chinese Amazons, Herb and the Musk Dynasty, Genma, Nodoka, and the Tendos, they're mine, Old Man."

"So you are planning on getting even, aren't you?" Happosai questioned. He almost felt sorry for those involved. Almost.

"No. I'm declaring a blood feud on all parties involved," Ranma replied. "Killing them outright is too merciful. I have something else in mind. I'll deal with the dragon bastard first and get my cure, then Cologne and her village will be next. The Tendos and Nodoka will be left for last." She looked at the ancient pervert with muderous intent in her eyes. "I don't want you to interfere with my revenge."

"I have no intention of doing so," Happosai replied. "In fact, you have my blessings. Regardless of you being a ronin, you are still my heiress."

"I won't be ronin for long," Ranma said. "I've been in contact with Grandma and Grandpa Mamiya for a while. Even met them a couple of months back without the others knowing. They will adopt me as soon as I return from China. I told them what had happened and they were not very happy with their daughter. I told them not to make a move against Nodoka until I return."

"I take it you have something planned?"

Ranma nodded.

Happosai cackled. "Oh, I can't wait to see what you have planned, my dear!" After pausing for a moment, he asked, "What about the okonomiyaki chef? Are you going after her as well?"

Ranma shook her head. "Ukyo is still in Osaka, trying to reconcile with her father. I already told her and to let her know to keep away from this place for a couple of days."

"And the Kunos? I am curious as to how you're hiding in here?"

Ranma smiled evilly. "That was easy. After kicking the fat bastard's ass for trying to pimp me out to that buffoon Tatewaki and his psycho sister, I called in a favor to the government to call the local bank. They transferred the wealth of the Kuno clan into my hidden account that no one knows about, not even Nabiki. As a result, the Kunos went insane. Kodachi poisoned herself, Tatewaki, and their father. Kodachi and her father died from the poisioning, while Tatewaki is in a hospice. The 'True Blunder' is now a vegetable. Everyone else thinks that they are gone on vacation."