Paul Arezina wrote:

Actually, if the big sign said "Tendo Dojo", Azaka and Kamidake would be
stopping by to check on their long-lost brother. Sister. Whatver.

Weren't you the one complaining about how ideas wouldn't go away, during
the adfics?  After trying to get myself to work on other things all day,
I have three words for you: thanks a lot... ;)

******

"Excuse me please, but are you Ranma Saotome?"

Ranma instinctively tensed.  Almost everyone who came looking for him
brought trouble in one form or another, and the fact that this person
had snuck into the Tendos' house while no one else was around, managing
to get all the way to his room without Ranma hearing something, did not
promise a break from the pattern.  Resolution of said trouble usually
involved a fight, and lately, more and more of his opponents had nearly
killed him.  He briefly considered lying, but he was not good at it...
and, besides, with his luck, this new person had pictures, retinal
scans, blood samples, brain waves, and more.  Ranma never had figured
out how that last one, some pink haired kid who wanted to play
scientist, managed to get sperm samples out of him.

"Yeah, that's me.  Who are you, and what do you want?"

"You may call me Ayeka.  As for what I want..."

Ranma had been content to read his book, confident that he could see
any incoming attack out of the corner of his eye, until he registered an
abrupt surge of power.  Standing up quickly, and tossing his homework to
the four winds in the process, he saw a purple haired beauty dressed in
what had to be ceremonial robes.  Ranma thought he saw a few small logs
floating around her, but they vanished before he could be sure.

"...I am looking for Nabiki Tendo, the slaver," she finished in a cold
voice.

At least she had no problem with him...waitaminute.  "Slaver?  Nabiki
may be a mercenary by heart, but even she doesn't use slaves."

"Perhaps that is the side she presents to you, but she has been using
a friend of my friends against his will for the past several years.  I
am here to put an end to it...and to her, if need be."

Ranma wracked his brain for any of Nabiki's known acquaintances that
would fit that role, but could think of none.  "Are you sure you're not
looking for the Kunos and Sasuke?"

"No.  I'm sorry, I should have explained: the slave is not human.  To
you, he would appear to be a robot encased in a floating tree trunk.
At least, he used to be, but I am afraid Nabiki...*altered*..."  The
sheer venom in her voice on that one word made Ranma step back
involuntarily.  "...his form, removing critical life support equipment
in the process."

Ranma shrugged.  "Do you know what he looks like now?"

"No, and that is why I am asking you.  Have you seen any structures that
repair themselves around here?"

"Err...no, can't say that I...wait.  The dojo patches itself up every
night, even after we keep putting holes in it.  I thought Pop or Soun
had some repair firm on contract, but it might be self-repairing."

"This 'dojo', where is it?"

Ranma pointed out the window.

"Thank you."  Ayeka pulled a high-tech-looking scanner of some sort out
of one sleeve, pointed it at the dojo, and studied the readings.  "Yes,
it is he.  Nabiki must have tricked him into going to sleep, then
cut him up to make part of the dojo.  Over time, his essence has grown
to take over the entire structure, but at the cost of his sentience."
Ayeka sighed.  "He is now beyond repair.  The one I came for is dead, at
Nabiki's hands."

Ranma smiled, but kept his face pointing away from Ayeka.  This had to
be an elaborate practical joke.  Curious to find out the punchline,
Ranma decided to play along.  "If you want to talk to Nabiki about it,
she's at Yuri's place.  It's a few blocks up the street towards
Furinkan."

Ayeka bowed.  "Thank you for your assistance.  I shall deal with her
immediately."  She walked off, but just as she reached the bedroom door,
she paused.  "Oh, and Washu says 'hi', and that she's thinking about
linking her lab to your house.  If you see a door appear out of thin
air, or find a door that should not be there, my advice is to board it
up and *definitely* don't open it.  She'll get the hint and leave, if
you don't let her start thinking of this as her home first."

Ranma frowned.  'Washu' had been that kid's name...but, no, it could not
be the same person.  Could it?

Shrugging, he returned to his work as Ayeka left, and quickly forgot
about her.  It was not until a week later, when Kasumi was filling out
a missing persons report for her sister, that Ranma remembered the
visitor.  He remembered just in time, too, as a door appeared in the
stairwell's wall only half an hour later.  Curiosity overcame caution,
and he stepped inside.  The door vanished behind him.

Neither Nabiki nor Ranma were ever seen again.