Bet Your Life

by Richard Palmer

Prologue:

Phil wandered around town, a heavy overcoat over his business attire. The frank of it was he’d gotten to like the small town of Nerima. He’d spent most of his days in the hustle and bustle of big American cities like New York, and LA, there he was always rushing. But here things were different. Phil didn’t know how to put it… less stressful. So he had bought a penthouse apartment on the edge of town. He'd instructed Carl to spend the rest of the day finding someone to redecorate the place. Meanwhile he was casually walking around town enjoying this quiet winter day.

"Filmore," Phil turned to see an old man in a green kung fu uniform, "How nice to see you again." Matsusake grinned.

"Yashiro Matsusake." Phil grinned, "It's been some time, hadn't it? You're looking rather well."

"You seem to be in rather good shape yourself." Matsusake said as he motioned Phil into a nearby teashop. Matsusake walked over to a table and sat down, "You still owe me a debt."

"Hardly," Phil yawned, still standing; "All decisions were final. It's not my fault you made a bad business decision."

"Cut it out, Filmore this wasn't one of your shady business deals this was poker! You cheated and I want my money back!"

"I bluffed, I didn't cheat." Phil remarked calmly.

"You told me that a strait beats a flush!"

"And that's what's called a bluff." Phil grinned.

Matsusake sighed, "Fine, then I'll make you a deal. I'll forget the whole thing if we play another poker game."

Phil sighed; this whole ordeal was starting to bore him. Suddenly he saw something rustle behind a large potted plant on the other side of the room. Phil Smiled, Carl had chosen quite an appropriate time to show up, winning a game of cards was always easier with a master of stealth around. "Sure, anytime." Phil replied.

Matsusake Grinned, "How about now?"

Phil shrugged, "Sure." He replied nonchalantly.

"I hope you don't mind if I play by proxy." Matsusake said.

"Hey, lose you're money any way you want." Phil said as he sat down. Matsusake motioned to a shady character in the corner. The man stood up and headed to their table.

Part one: You’ve Got to Know When to Hold ‘Em

Ranma and Akane headed down the street towards their house. There was still snow on the ground and Ranma wanted to get inside to someplace warm. He had two reasons to dislike the cold on days like this. First the snow gave more opportunities to cause his transformation, and second when he was hit with cold water now it was real cold.

"Is Ben moving?" Akane asked as the started to walk past Ben’s house. Ranma looked up; there was a moving van in front of the house. Men in gray uniforms were carrying stuff down the walkway.

"No way." Ranma said. He headed towards the Setlin residence.

As they walked in the front door Ranma looked around, Phil was in the living room talking with one of the movers. Ranma walked up to him and said, "Hey, Filmore, is Ben here?"

"No I think he’s still training over at your dojo."

"What about Jennifer?" Akane asked.

"She left a few hours ago."

Ranma sighed, Phil wasn’t exactly high on his list of likeable people, but he did want to get to the bottom of this. "What’s the deal with…"

"What in the name of Martin Scorcese is going on here!?!" Ben shouted from the front entrance. Ranma, Akane, and Phil turned to see both him and Jennifer looking on with their eyes wide in shock.

"Phil, what the hell are you doing?" Jennifer said to her brother.

"Don’t blow a blood vessel, this is just temporary." Phil said. A man in a mover uniform walked up to Phil and said, "Excuse me which Lamp did you want us to get this one or that one." He said pointing to two of the lamps in the room.

"Neither one of ‘em!" Ben shouted.

"Hmm," Phil said as he looked them over, "I can’t decide, grab them both."

"Phil that was a wedding gift from Aunt Florence!" Jennifer said astonished.

"Oh, well I’ll be sure not to tell her you lost them." Phil said.

All Ranma needed was a reason… and this was enough of one. He grabbed Phil by the collar and said, "What is going on here?’

"We had a little problem in a poker game." Carl said as he stepped out of a large dresser that the movers were carrying towards the van, "We just need some collateral to win back what we lost."

"So you think you can just barge in and take our stuff?" Ben fumed.

"How much?" Jennifer asked, a little calmer than her husband.

"The point isn’t how much I lost it’s how much I can win if I…"

"How Much?!" Jennifer repeated impatiently.

Phil sat down and mumbled something.

"What?" Jennifer said.

"Five point two billion dollars worth, including control over all but three of my companies, My houses in Aspen, California, Florida, Madrid, London, and two limited edition sports cars I don’t really even own."

"Five point…" Akane stammered, no one, not even Ranma’s father, no one she’d known had ever been this careless.

"F… Five point two Billion?!" Jennifer repeated, "Phil what could’ve possibly been in the pot to bet…"

"FFN."

"And what was in the pot to bet FFN?"

"Look, this is no mind Game, all I’m worth now is maybe fifty bucks at best, and that’s before I pay the movers. Which reminds me Ben, Can I spot some cash to pay these guys?"

"I still don’t see why I should take any involvement in this!" Ben steamed.

"Oh, C’mon Ben, we’re family. Besides it was your lousy Sensei who took all I got!"

"Matsusake?" Ben muttered

"Yeah him and that guy… with the hat… and the coat… and… Carl help me out here."

"Some guy dressed like the King of clubs,’ Carl responded, "Maybe, I’m a little rusty on my card suits."

"The Gambling King." Ranma muttered.

"You know the guy?" Ben asked.

"It’s a long story." Ranma said.

"Where is this guy now?" Ben asked. Phil muttered something again to which Ben responded "What?!"

"My apartment… He won my brand new apartment."

Ben sighed and said, "Okay lets see about this."

As they rode the elevator to Phil’s floor, Ben muttered to himself, "I don’t get it Phil’s usually pretty damn good in a game of Poker."

"Gambling King likes to cheat a lot." Ranma responded.

"So does Phil, that’s why he’s so good." Ben replied.

"Do you mind? I’m right here!" Phil stammered.

"Hmm," Akane thought, the Gambling King had no ability to hold a poker face, So how could he have won so much from Phil. Was Phil even worse or was there something else. They stepped off of the elevator and into the spacious apartment that formerly belonged to Phil Filmore.

"So, Filmore, you back to give us some more of your money?" Matsusake said as they approached.

Gambling King looked at Ranma, "Ranma Saotome, it’s been a while."

Akane noticed something odd right off; Gambling King was speaking very flat and monotone, with almost no hint of emotion. And his face was emotionless as well.

"What’s the deal? He sounds like some dang machine." Ranma said.

"I thought he was just one of those kinda people." Phil responded.

"No, look at his face," Akane answered, "it’s like he has no emotion."

"Ah, you are very perceptive, Akane dear," Matsusake responded, "I’ve helped him overcome a certain flaw in his technique."

Ben looked at the King; suddenly he noticed something hanging around the King’s neck. "That medallion!" Ben Stammered, "I get it, I’ve seen that medallion before, it was your ultimate defense against a lie detector."

"What do you mean?" Ranma asked.

"Matsusake is a good thief, but he ain’t perfect. He had this amulet that stifled all emotion and made it impossible to read ones face or speech to figure out whether or not he’s lying… the perfect thing to use if you’re being questioned by the cops. A polygraph won’t even pick up on it."

"It could also be a tool for the ultimate poker face!" Akane exclaimed.

"Mats’ you dirty cheat!" Ben shouted.

"It’s only cheating if you get caught," Matsusake replied, "After all the time you trained under me you ought to have learned that much at least."

"Alright," Jennifer said. Akane looked over at her, her brow was furrowed. Akane had seen this look on Jennifer before, right before she used the 'assault of a dozen lawyers' technique on Cologne. She knew Jennifer had a plan forming as she spoke, "If you want a battle you got one."

"Excellent my dear," The Gambling King said, "Just name the game."

"BACCARAT!"

"Huh?" Matsusake stammered.

"Baccarat is a Game a lot like Chemin De Fer, where two players and a dealer…" Carl Started.

"Forget the history, How do you play?" Matsusake asked impatiently.

"Ah, that’s the beauty of Baccarat;" Jennifer remarked," you don’t really need to know how to play to play." Matsusake turned to the Gambling King; the King nodded. Jennifer took off her coat and stepped up to the table and started to shuffle. "Okay," Jennifer said as she dealt out three piles of two cards each, "Here’s the deal, you can either bet on the Bank…" She pointed to one stack, "Or the Player." She pointed to the stack on the opposite side of the center stack. "This one is the dealer’s hand." She said as she pointed to the center stack.

"The Bank or the Player." The Gambling King repeated, thinking it over.

Ranma looked at Ben; Ben had a wide grin on his face. "What are you so happy about?" Ranma asked.

"It’s Baccarat, you don’t need to know the rules to play, cause either way the dealer will almost always win." He looked at Ranma, "Especially if that Dealer is Jennifer, this is kind of her forte in card Games."

Ranma looked back at the game. "I’m going to bet on the Bank." The Gambling King announced.

"Are you sure?" Jennifer asked.

The King nodded.

Jennifer smiled and flipped over the three stacks of Cards…

"It isn’t possible!" Jennifer said as she, Ben and Phil brought what was left of their stuff into the Tendo household. "I tell you no one could have that kind of a winning streak in Baccarat. Not even if they were cheating!"

"The Gambling King again, huh?" Nabiki asked Akane.

"Yes, but this time he’s got Matsusake helping him out." Akane said, "He’s not that easy to defeat."

Part Two: Know When to Fold ‘Em

Ranma and Ben stood outside the bathroom; Phil had been monopolizing it all morning. "I never minded it while you were here, you were at least willing to work around other people’s schedules, But him…" Ranma started.

Suddenly the door opened and Phil walked out, "Ahh, that was just what I needed, a good long soak in the tub." Phil sighed, "Hope there’s still some hot water for you boys." He said as he headed down the hall. Ranma and Ben just grumbled.

"We’re home." Soun said as he walked in the Door.

"Hello father, where did you go this early in the morning?" Kasumi said as she handed Soun his breakfast.

"Yeah pop, where’s you skip off to?" Ranma snapped.

"Ranma my boy, sometime a martial artist must look beyond his own needs and put all his skills to use in the aid of others, even when you know you are hopelessly outmatched you have to get out there and do you best."

"What are you talking about, pop?" Ranma asked, this lecture on generosity was unusual for his father.

"Oh good, you’re back," Phil said as he entered the room in a silk robe. "How’d it go?"

"We lost everything." Soun sobbed.

Akane Jumped up, "Dad, you didn’t…!"

"I’m afraid so, Akane dear, we’ve got till tonight to move out." Soun bawled.

"What could’ve come over you to challenge the Gambling King?" Akane stammered.

"To help friends out, Ben who’s been a fine student all these months, and Jennifer who’s been a good friend and neighbor." Soun replied between sniffles.

"The two million yen Phil offered didn’t hurt either." Genma muttered. Ranma kicked him in the Face as Akane glared at Phil.

"It seemed like it could work," Phil said defensively, "After all you said you’d faced him before!" everyone continued to glare at Phil. "well what about the masks didn't they work?"

"Masks?" Akane asked.

"Yeah show 'er." Phil said. Soun and Genma pulled out two latex masks and put them on. Soun wore a chicken mask and Genma wore a mask of a Panda. "See." Phil said as he finished his breakfast.

"And exactly how are these supposed to help them win anything?" Nabiki asked.

"Well, first you can't see their faces, right, no telling facial features. And second this Gambling King guy would be confused, He'd look at the masks and think what relation do a chicken and a panda have with each other, Why am I facing a Chicken and a Panda?" Everyone stared at him as if he had turnips growing out of his ears, "Oh, hell, I guess I shoulda had Carl go with you to offer his services."

"Where is your enigmatic attorney anyway?" Nabiki asked.

"I sent Carl out to round up some more people that might be able to defeat that gambler." Phil said, "Quite frankly, thing’s don’t look good."

"I’ll take on the King for you," Ranma said, "If you’d be willing to send me to China."

"You? No." Phil quickly answered.

"Why not?" Ranma questioned, "I’ve beat him before."

"I made some inquires," Phil answered, "right now the King seems to have something you lack, namely the ability to keep a poker face."

Ranma grumbled. Ben walked up to Phil, "Just let us come along with you, we may find a way to beat him otherwise."

Phil looked between the two for a minute, and then responded, "Okay, I seem to have no real choice anyway."

As they entered the apartment, there was a line of people waiting to challenge the Gambling King. Ranma and Ben even recognized a few of the faces. Phil went and stood off to the side to watch the outcome of each match. Every time the King defeated someone, Ranma swore he could hear Phil’s teeth grind. Finally it was down the line was down to two groups, Anvil, who was there with Genro and Amano, and The Tendos

Anvil pulled out a weather beaten old briefcase. He placed it on the table before the Gambling King. Flipping open the briefcase he presented three cards, all creased in the center, "The rules is simple," Anvil said as he held one card up and showed it to the King, it was the queen of spades. "Find the lady."

He set it down and shuffled the three cards around very fast and very precise, all the time Amano chanted, "Find the lady, find the lady." Anvil stopped, crossed his arms, and grinned.

The Gambling King reached out and pointed to a card. Genro flipped it over. It was indeed the queen of spades. Genro and Amano looked shocked, but Anvil continued to grin. Finally Genro flipped the other two Cards over… all three cards were the queen of spades.

"Anvil, you idiot!" Genro yelled, "You’re supposed to replace the queen with a different card not replace all the different cards with queens!"

Anvils Grin suddenly faded. "Okay that’s enough!" Phil said as he dashed over and pushed Anvil and his companions out the door, "Thanks for coming in, well call and let you know, good-bye." Phil turned back to the group and sighed, "And I didn’t even see Carl here to try to win my fortune back."

"Ahem." Came a voice from behind the King’s seat. Carl slowly stood up.

"Et Tu Carl?" Phil stammered, exasperated. He shrugged in defeat.

"Phil," Ben said as he approached his brother-in-law, "I think I may be able to defeat this guy…" Ben began, Phil grinned. "But, I’m not going to do it for free."

Phil frowned, "What can I give you now? I’m broke!"

"Just a favor." Ben said.

"Name it." Phil said, he knew he was out of options.

"I want you to get together a team of specialists to get Ranma into China."

Phil looked at him and Ranma uneasily, "Couldn’t I just buy you a studio or something?"

"C’mon Phil, China or Bust." Ben said.

Phil motioned both Ben and Ranma in close, "Look there’s something I haven’t told you two about China, I’m in some serious deep crap with some of the Government officials, I have legal proceedings keeping me from operating in that area anymore." Ben and Ranma looked at Phil questioningly. "Look, I was involved in a hostile takeover deal, nothing new, and the owners of the company I was trying to takeover happened to be a little vindictive. The deal went more than a little sour and they got the government turned on me."

"Well Phil," Ben Replied "some big companies you shouldn’t screw with"

"This wasn’t a huge brand name company this was a Ramen Chain." Phil whispered.

"A Ramen Chain!?" Ranma and Ben shouted in unison.

"SHHHHHHHH!" Phil hushed, "It’s a little embarrassing, I’m the kind of guy who slowly takes control of all areas of business. Entertainment, restaurants, clothing distribution, even bumper stickers. It’s kind of embarrassing to say I was forced out of a country by a small Ramen Chain."

"But you still have your underhanded and devious ways." Ben Smiled. Ranma looked at him, Thanks to Matsusake Ben had some good bartering skills, he knew how to get what he wanted, and right now he wanted China. "I bet you could hire a highly trained professional to head into China, go to Jusenkyou, Get the spring water we need and get out without anybody even knowing he existed in the first place."

"Well…"

"C’mon Phil, I know you. You’re not the type who gives up easy…or at all."

"Okay,…" Phil, said, defeated, "I’ll send in a one man mission, no expense spared to get that water from the ‘Spring of Drowned Man’."

Ben smiled and turned to the King and Matsusake, "Deal ‘em up! Five card draw, nothing wild… We’re about to go the distance.

Part Three: And Know When to Run

"You sure you know what you’re doing?" Nabiki said to Ben, Ben nodded. Before the game started he was over with the Tendos hoping to get a little encouragement.

"We’re counting on you." Soun sobbed.

"You sure you can contend with his poker face?" Akane asked, "Or his tricks?"

"Akane," Ben smiled, "I’m an actor, my job depends on me keeping a poker face. As for his tricks, I know how Matsusake works, so I know what to expect there." He turned to Ranma, "However for the King’s tricks, I’d like an expert in my corner." Ranma smiled confidently.

"Whoah! Hold there a second." Phil said, "He can’t hold a poker face, I don’t want my money riding on a guy whose face can be read like a children’s book!"

"Hey!" Ranma shouted.

"I’m the only one who will see these cards," Ben said assuredly, "I just want Ranma to keep an eye on the King."

Slowly, Phil nodded.

Soun pulled Ben aside and said while sobbing, "Remember, we’re all behind you. You can bet anything we have left…"

"Just as long as it’s nothing of value." Genma quickly added.

Confused at Genma’s logic behind that statement, Ben nodded as well. He and Ranma walked up towards the Poker Table. The King dealt him five cards. Ben picked up his hand and the game began.

For hours the match continued, with Ben slowly regaining everything that had been lost to the Gambling King. Matsusake and the King pulled their share of tricks. Several times the King tried to sneak a card into his hand while Matsusake distracted them, but always either Ranma or Ben caught onto the ploy.

Matsusake told Carl on a few occasions to sneak to a vantagepoint to view Ben’s cards and Report Back. But twice Carl was caught by Ranma, once by Akane, and even once by Phil (who took a cue from Akane by knocking him out with a big mallet.)

Finally it the stakes were pretty much even. Ben sat back and thought, it was his turn to bet. "Okay," He said finally, "I guess I’ll see what you’ve got and raise you… well, all I got.

Matsusake began to get nervous. The King however calmly, and flatly, said, "I’ll see that and raise you…" He looked around to see if there was anything else he could bet. Then he looked down at the amulet Matsusake had given him. "I’ll raise you the amulet." He said pointing to the amulet around his neck.

"Hmm." Ben thought, there wasn’t much left to bet, "Okay, then I Bet… Ranma Saotome."

"WHAT?!" Ranma exclaimed. Ben sat perfectly still. "Ben can I talk to you for a second?" He stood up and pulled Ben from the Table "Look, all things considered you can’t just bet another human being in a poker match!"

"It’s okay," Ben replied, "I had a talk with your father before the game."

Ranma shot an angry look at Genma who had conveniently turned himself into a panda and was playing with a large ball. "Fine!" Ranma said in a whisper, "Than just tell me one thing, what cards do you have?"

"I’m not telling you!"

"I think I deserve to know," Ranma whispered impatiently, "What cards do you have in your hand?"

"Do you promise that you won’t show any reaction at all if I tell you?" Ben asked

Ranma nodded.

"Fine," Ben whispered, "I have a royal flush."

"Okay" Ranma whispered, showing no reaction to what Ben had said. They sat down again. The King eyed Ben for a little bit, the man stared back at him, solid as a rock, no telling features on his face. The King glanced over at Ranma. Ranma had a grin from ear to ear.

"I fold." The King muttered, defeated.

Phil, Jennifer Akane and the Tendos cheered. "We knew you could do it, both of you!" Soun sobbed. Ranma shot another angry glance at his father.

As the King tossed the amulet at Ben he asked, "What was it? Four of a kind? A flush?"

"You’ll never know." Ben Grinned. The King sighed and left in defeat.

"Wow," Ranma said as the Tendo’s went through the mountain of deeds and IOU’s that Phil had written to the King, "a royal flush, not bad."

"Yeah." Ben said as he searched for the deed to his house.

"Did you really have a royal flush?" Ranma blurted.

Ben sighed, "Look Ranma if you really don’t trust me, the cards are on the table." Ranma stood silently for a moment and Ben went back to the pile of deeds.

Suddenly, "A pair of fives!?!" Everyone turned to see Ranma holding the cards.

"It worked didn’t it?"

"Fives!?!" Ranma repeated.

"Oh calm down," Ben Replied, "we won."

Ranma sighed and then muttered to himself, "Fives."

Epilogue:

"I believe that’s it, Phil. we’ve got everything we need and you got everything you need." Ben said as he, Jennifer, and the Tendos were leaving to return home.

"And believe me I am much obliged." Phil smiled.

"Just remember what you promised Phil," Ben reminded him, "Don’t doublecross me."

"I’ll send a man into China ASAP, you have my word." Phil smiled.

Ben smiled as well, "Good. Well I’m gone. Who want’s Chinese, my treat?" With that they left the apartment.

Phil sighed as he looked around. This was certainly a close shave; he’d almost lost it all. And all Ben wanted for winning it back was some water from China. Phil decided he should send someone out today if he could. He put on his coat and headed down to the lobby. As he stepped outside he looked around, getting ready to hail a taxi. Then he saw a well-built young man with a heavy Backpack on his Back. This guy obviously already had the provisions and maybe even the experience needed to get the job done. Phil’s mind went to work quickly, with the right amount of money anyone could make it to China. Why hire a professional when there was someone here he could talk into doing the job for half the price. Phil walked up to him.

The boy looked over at him as he approached, "um, sir, do you know where Furinkan High school is?"

Phil laughed, "Screw the high school, how’d you like to make five hundred thousand yen?"

"Five hundred thousand yen?!" Ryoga asked astonished.

Phil pulled out a map, "You go here," he said pointing to a point marked in red, "And bring me back some water from a spring called ‘Nannichuan’ got that? Try and bring back a couple quarts of the stuff." He pulled out a couple thousand Yen; "You’ll get the other half when you return, Okay?"

"I don’t know," Ryoga said, "I’m scheduled to fight somebody…"

"Fine, I’ll find somebody else." Phil said as he took the map and the money and started to walk away.

"On the other hand the trip might do me good!" Ryoga yelled.

Phil turned back and said, "I knew you’d see it like that." He set the map down, with the money inside, on a nearby bench. He pulled out a notepad, "When you get back to Japan you call this number and tell them you want to talk to a man named Filmore, that’s me. I’ll send someone to pick you up and you’ll get paid. Good deal?" Ryoga nodded as he took the pad from Phil. Phil smiled and said, "Good luck."

Ryoga stuck the notepad in his backpack and then looked around franticly, "where did he put that map, and the money?" he turned and headed in the opposite direction of where the map lay, only three feet away from where he had been standing.

The End

The Legal Stuff: Ranma ½ and the characters therein are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and are used without permission.

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