A fan fiction story revolving around the world of "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures" and "Ranma 1/2." No infringement of ownership is meant. It is just for fun.

November 13th, 2017 in the evening: The private residence of the Emperor of Japan.

Emperor Akihito looked over at his wife in worry. "The Koreans, backed by China, are bound and determined to invade. They are just maneuvering until we are weaker." His hands that had had more strength in their youth clenched his family's katana. Age was creeping up on him.  The politicians looked as if they would soon vacillate, turning his proud country into a subservient state that would have far less freedom and dignity than anything the Allies had visited on them after World War II. "There must be some way to save our country."

"Will not the United States stand at our side?" his son Naruhito asked. The crown prince looked worried. He appeared only barely younger than his father did these days. Age was creeping up on them.

"With public opinion as it is around the world, they will be hard pressed not to be seen as Imperialists over this," Emperor Akihito explained.

"Even some of our own people think this. Like that reporter Uchio. He's been calling us the 51st state of America again."

 "If only we were, there would be no doubt that we would be defended," the emperor said with a bitter-tinged voice. As sudden as if a switch was set, an idea bloomed in his mind. "Do you remember your cultural studies of the United States?"

 "Not really. You are the one that has become American mad so to speak." The prince smiled to remove the sting from the comment.

 "You can just join the United States of America. Becoming another state. Or states." The gleam in the older man's eyes was suddenly bright and firm. Hope had blossomed.

 "Father, that sounds like the raving of a madmen! The United States hasn't had a new state in almost a century! Not even their protectorates have managed to succeed at admittance!"

 A paper screen door opened, to admit a young woman in an expensive business suit in to bow deeply, her head quite low. "You majesty, may my humble self enter your august presence?" she asked.

 "Of course, Kasumi Tendo! You are a dear and loyal to our house. Is this another threat, you think?" he replied.

"I just wish to be close, so that I may be here to protect you. These are troubled times," she said with a rueful smile. "I also wished to inform you that preparations to leave Japan at a moments notice have been completed."

Akihito stood up to start pacing. "I will not leave this land like, no matter what the Prime Minister wants. To do so admits defeat, something we must strive against with all of our heart." He gave the very young seeming woman a deep look. "You are close to the American President Lee?"

"Professionally. I would never have thought him to go into politics, but like Senator Arnold Schwarzenegger, he has a great aptitude for it." The woman who was also the super-heroine Rising Sun just shrugged. "Matters of this nature are always on his mind. He fears that soon he will have to fight the new Asian Alliance, something he is loath to do."

Akihito looked at his bodyguard for several seconds before replying, "It will be truly ironic if America's first Asian president must declare war on a greater part of Asia. Does he play poker? I hear all American's play poker," he said suddenly, changing his thought-tangent.

"Not that I'm aware of. Do you wish me to ask him?" Kasumi asked.

"No. I think it is time that I have to make a formal trip to meet our allies in their home. Is there some American holiday that we can go to? Something seemingly frivolous."

"America has that Thanksgiving holiday. The one with the turkey," she answered in explanation.

"That will work. We will set it as quickly as we can without it seeming to be too urgent."

 The gang of toughs sat around in an abandoned warehouse. "We are agreed? With our strength, we will be able to overwhelm the guards. With that, all that money is ours!" All of the men looked quite young, but the seemingly eclectic group all did not quite fit the appearance of youth with their mannerisms.

"Gee, you think that this recording will be enough to convict them, Red Hawk?" a voice from up in the rafters asked.

A young woman, in the prime of her life, dropped from the rafters landing only ten feet from the gang with a soft thump. Her red ponytail stuck out from under her full mask's back. "Probably." She cricked her fists. "How about you make it easy on yourself and just surrender?"

"If you know who we are, you know that we all have-" the leader of the Dead Heads started to speak.

 "-been enhanced with the power of supermen. Um, clue-truck time. You got a lousy civilian enhancement, you ain't a match for Red Hawk." She pointed at herself with her thumb in an exaggerated pose of confidence. Her tight clothes fit the trim and muscular body like a second glove. Not a bit of her skin was showing under the bonded-lycra in red and black colors.

"We have numbers on our side, bitch!" the leader yelled, even as he snapped out a whip made of chains with razor edges.

With a blur of motion, the chain was grabbed by Red Hawk and snapped tobring the owner to her. With a single mighty down-punch, she embedded him into the concrete at her feet. She cricked her knuckles again. "Next?"

With a roar, they all charged. Three of the thugs were just about squashed when another girl in a tight outfit landed on them. "Hey! Leave some for Retribution!" Her outfit actually showed portions of her skin. The tight tank-top and gloves gave her a more 'bad-girl' appearance. Her features were hidden by a simple mask tied around her head, but her short hair was free and wild.

 "Don't you have something more important to do?" yelled a thug.

Red Hawk thought for a second, finger touching her mask-covered lips. "Nope."

 And with that, Red Hawk and Retribution dove in to beat the enhanced thugs down in the minimum of time. In just a few short super-speed moments, the fight was over.

 "Guess it's time to call the Enhanced Police," Retribution remarked in irritation as she patted her hands together. "And it looks like another dead end on finding that group of terrorists that tried bombing the Tokyo Enhancement Center.'

"Yeah, looks like it. Rising Sun's going to be a bit peeved." Red Hawk touched the wrist of her outfit, showing a time display in the cloth. "And we have to hurry if we are going to be in time for supper." She dropped a small GPS bug-mitter, so that the Enhanced Police could home in on the are shortly.

"Sheesh. It's not like we are both in school anymore," the other girl groused. With a sigh, she held out her arms slightly so the smaller woman could pick her up. In moments they were winging through the air. "When am I going to be able to start flying?"

"Dr. Newtrich thinks in another couple of years, you might be able to fly at the minimum speeds," Red Hawk explained as if it were something they had gone over many times.

"Lucy still doesn't understand how you can improve it. I think she's trying to make a machine that does what you do naturally."

"Ha! Good luck at that! Of course, I am the best!" Red Hawk said with a grin you could even see through her mask. "Here we are!" They landed behind the dojo in a blur.

In moments, they had switched into much more normal clothing. Ranma stretched her back with a pop. "It's nice to be home!"

Akane rolled her eyes. "Dummy! We come home every night!" she called out loudly.

Ranma stuck her tongue out, even as she skipped backwards into the house. "Stupid tomboy!"

"Oh, Genma! They're still fighting! The houses will never be joined!" Soun Tendo cried. He still looked quite fit, though his age was starting to show.

Genma bounced to his feet in anger. "Ungrateful boy! What are you doing in that form?" He had not changed much at all in the last fifteen years. His bald head was still hidden under his head-scarf.

"Sorry, got wet on the way home," Ranma sing-songed with a twinkle in her eyes.

"And where have you two been out to?" Soun asked. "You haven't been putting my little daughter in any danger, have you?" His hair was starting to wave as if a wind was about to pick it up, a sure sign of an impending 'Demon's Head Attack'.

"I have not been putting your daughter in any danger," Ranma snapped out.

"I'm right here, you know! And I can speak for myself!" Akane shouted. "Daddy! Ranma has not been 'putting' me in any danger." She hid a smirk at that small adjustment of truth. She was tagging along behind Red Hawk on her own free will.

"Nodoka will be here shortly. I think we should consider a marriage again!" Genma said in his most wise voice.

"I'm not marrying that macho chick!" Ranma cried out.

"Me marry that insensitive jerk?" Akane hollered just as loudly. "You have to be kidding me!"

 Kasumi walked in with a frown on her face that she hid almost immediately.

"The fathers are trying to force you to get married again?" she asked as she sat down at the table. "Oh, I have to fly to the United States."

"Can't they send someone else?" Soun cried, suddenly diverted from his struggle with his other daughter.

"I'll be perfectly fine! I'm just going to be part of some diplomatic matters that the department has to set up." She smiled sunnily at her father. "It will be fun seeing my old friends."

"But the terrorist attacks on planes going to the US are at an all time high! It isn't safe! I forbid you from going!" Soun put on his most formidable face.

"Father, I have to go. It's part of my work. I will be perfectly safe!"

Ranma got a gleam in her eyes even as she took a kettle from the live in housekeeper, Ami. One splash of hot water and his gender was restored. "Say, Akane, didn't you say you wanted to go to the United States sometime for a vacation?"

"Yes. Why?" Akane asked suspiciously. She glanced over at Kasumi when Ranma's hint got to her. "Say, Kasumi? I'm sure I could afford some tickets to go with you. If it wouldn't be an imposition."

"Akane! They'll shoot my little girl!" her father exclaimed with tears in his eyes.

"Daddy, I've got a decent Ultra Enhancement. No mugger with a gun is going to hurt me," she replied with a roll of her eyes.

"My little girl wants to go to the United States and get mugged!" he started to wail.

"Kasumi, rescue me!" Akane said with a twinkle in her eyes. "I need a vacation from these men!"

 "This isn't a vacation for me. It's part of my job," Kasumi said, smothering her laugh behind a quick cough.

 Ranma and Akane shared a quick, corner-of-the-eyes glance. Akane piped up with, "Well, I could try to help out there. And it's not like I don't mind helping out with your department when I can."

"I'll see what I can arrange, but I'm sure something can be done," Kasumi said with a heartfelt smile. This may be just what they needed.

Ranma just nibbled on a bun while they waited for supper. He kept a nonchalant eye on his father. Any moment and- 

"Boy! You must go with Akane!" Genma suddenly shouted.

"She doesn't even know if she is going!" he replied glibly. "And she wants to get away for us men, you know!"

"Luckily, that is something you can adjust!" And with that, Genma splashed Ranma with a cup of water when it appeared he wasn't watching.

"Hey! What's the big idea?" the suddenly-a-woman shouted in feigned anger. "Are you calling me a girl?"

"You certainly sound like one right now!" her father snapped back with laughing glee.

That was when Nodoka stepped into the room. She looked around disapprovingly. "Genma? Why did you do that? Isn't our son manly enough to make his own decisions?"

"Er, Nodoka! Of course he is! I'm just trying to make sure he watches out for his fiancée!" the man tried to protest half-heartedly.

"Why, of course our son is going with Akane. That is the sort of thing that is just so manly, don't you think?" She smiled a perfectly innocent seeming smile that was totally at odds with the threat those words contained.

"Uh, sure! But no way are you guys trying to stick us in the same room again!" Ranma crossed her arms as if in a pout. When none of their parents were looking she gave a quick wink to Akane.

"Flight 20512 direct to Washington D.C. is now boarding at F-16. I repeat, Flight 20512 direct to Washington D.C. is now boarding at F-16," the announcer proclaimed over the intercom. She shook her head at all the antics being put out by the elderly Emperor of Japan and his close advisers. Not to mention Rising Sun who looked incredible in her formal outfit. On top of her normal bodysuit she was wearing her ceremonial mask and cape. Not to mention most of her medals and ribbons.

But in this day and age, the Emperor had to fly publicly. So there were a smattering of people waiting for all of the non-First Class seating  

"Really, Daddy! Ranma and I'll be fine! Now shoo! You are attracting

attention!" Akane told her father in a cross tone. She looked pointedly over at the television news crew.

"Where is Kasumi?" her father asked worriedly. He looked around Ranma, trying to spot his oldest daughter.

"Didn't she mention that she was asked to check some paperwork on the plane already?" Ranma replied, seemingly confused. He craned his neck to look around.

"Yes, she did. She said she'd meet us on the plane later. If she doesn't make it, she'll call your cell phone, Daddy!" Akane gave her father a small shove after patting the pen-like cell phone clipped to his dogi.

"Very well." He scooped up his daughter in a tight hug! "You do your father proud!" He whispered suddenly into her ear, "If you need any money to elope in Las Vegas, just let me know! I'll wire it immediately!"

"DADDY! Scoot!" Akane fumed at her father's back as he finally left.

Ranma and Akane studiously ignored a reporter they recognized. Umizo Kenchi.  The same reporter that had been trying to ferret out for years a certain  super-powered duo that they just happened to be.

 Finally everyone else was allowed to board the plane. By amazing coincidence, Ranma and Akane were given a seat at the far front of the plane, right up against the curtain that led up to First Class. Akane took a deep breath and focused her energies. She then squinted up and down the airplane, looking over each of the passengers. "They look clean. At least I don't see any bombs."

Her financé just nodded as if it were a polite conversation. He felt a bit naked in this situation. Having to depend on his merely human abilities was something he did often, but he could not help feel a bit vulnerable. "So is that a new shampoo I smell?"

Akane smiled brightly. "Why, yes it is! Do you like it?"

"Pepperminty. For some reason that just seems so you. I'll be glad to get out of Nerima for a while. It's been a while since we've had anything worthwhile as a challenge." Ranma leaned over and took a deep breath through his nose to appreciate her scent.

"What? You don't want Kuno dropping in to demand that you quit attacking his reputation?" she said with a giggle. Her hand clasped his with fond familiarity. "Or his latest harebrained scheme to break us up? Or his sister's attempt to kidnap you? Or Ukyo?"

Ranma nodded. "It'll be nice to let our hair down, so to speak. Without the threat of being forcibly married or attacked."

"So when do we want to get married?" she asked archly.

He shrugged. "No real rush, after all. I think we'll have a long time together!"

"Our parents aren't getting younger, Ranma. I think I heard Daddy talking about making Nabiki's son Mika the heir to the dojo, just in case he has problems." She squeezed his hand gently. "And I think I'm more than ready."

 "So do you think we should elope?" Ranma's grin was positively infectious.

 "You overheard that, didn't you?" she said with a pout.

 "Yup! Ancient Ninja Secrets, you know! Besides, I have the sneaking suspicion that they don't quite believe our little acting as much as they used to."

 Akane sighed. "At least we will get to see something interesting this time."

The pony-tailed man at her side tensed. "We saw plenty of interesting things our first time in the US, too."

"Oh. I'm sorry Ranma. I doubt we will have a problem with Luthor now." She bit over her lower lip to show her worry.

 "If that bastard come within a hundred miles of you, I'll rip his arms off and feed them to him," Ranma vowed quietly.

 "I know. And he knows it, too." Akane squeezed his hand again, trying to relieve the sudden tension.

 "He'd better."

 The airplane started to taxi to the end of the runway. The new Boeing Space Flyer was the fastest public transport out there now. While it wasn't a real space ship, it could cut off hours off with its short orbit.

 "This is CNN live. The Emperor of Japan has just landed is about to be met by the United States Senator Schwarzenegger. While not a close friend, they've dealt with diplomatic issues in the past. Watching over the proceeding is Japan's premiere super-heroine, Rising Sun. Doesn't look like there will be much work for her today."

 Akihito shook Arnold's hand firmly, even as he walked unsteadily towards the waiting cart leaning on his cane. "Senator, it's nice to meet you again."

"Yes, it is quite nice to see you again." Arnold helped the more frail man into the seat and then helped his wife. He slid into a back seat. As the cart started moving off, Rising Sun floated just behind, looking constantly around. "I understand you wished to meet with me privately?"

"Not here, Arnold. The walls have ears," he replied.

"This is Agent Viper. The Japanese Emperor has arrived. It definitely doesn't look like just a state visit like they are claiming. I'm betting that he's here to drum up United States support to protect Japan from our long term operation. I am going to be instigating local cells to stage an attack. Once the United States is blamed for killing such an important figure, Japan will be ours for the plucking." The oriental man clicked a button on his digital recorder. With just a few moments of work, he had transmitted it so that it could be encoded as a pirate music file that would end up in a North Korean Internet server.

He picked up a phone. "Hey, Roger? You hear about that Nip that's here? Doesn't that just boil your blood that one of them Japanese freaks is here after murdering your great grandfather during World War II?" He hung up and started laughing. "Your days are numbered, you murdering Japanese bastard!"