[Fic][Ranma1/2] Promises part one
From: perotessa5@aol.com (Perotessa)
[Fic][Ranma1/2] Promises part one
From: perotessa5@aol.com (Perotessa)
Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko
Takahashi and are used here without permission.
Author's Notes: This story is inspired by Thomas Scruggs's
"Childhood Mysteries".
Promises will be rewritten from the original draft. It's not exactly
working out. So take your first/last look at Promises as it stands now.
I'll be posting the "New" and hopefully improved version of it soon.
Prologue
Far off in a mountain shrine sounds of mourning could be heard. That most
of the sobs were torn out of the throat of a three year old boy didn't
make them any less heart wrenching.
A tall man dressed in a dark business suit looked down at the boy in
sympathy then walked into the main bed chamber.
The sole occupant of this room was an older white haired woman whose face
was wrinkled with time.
"Ah Mister Tanimura how good to see you."
"Mrs Kawashima it is with deepest sympathies that I see you."
The older woman waved his silken words away. "Oh stop that. I am only
dying. It's the living that need your sympathies Tanimura not I. Have
you found him?"
The lawyer nodded putting his attache on the floor and opening it
withdrawing some documents. "Yes. We've found him. The courier is already
on his way to send him the letter. I should see him by Saturday."
"And have all the other arrangements been made?"
"Hai."
The elder Kawashima sighed and closed her eyes momentarily.
"Good. Good...it's all coming together. Hopefully
soon my great grandson will have nothing to worry about."
She opened her eyes with a snap. "Now I am sure you have some documents
for me to sign."
Tanimura nodded and watched as the woman drew out her hanko.
"Yes. Please mark here." He indicated a spot. She marked. He flipped
some papers over; "And mark here."
This went on for a few minutes. He double checked all the documents making
sure she had signed everywhere she was suppose to.
"I think that concludes our business Mrs Kawashima."
Kawashima Kyoko smiled softly then began to cough. The wave of
coughing carried her till tears filled her eyes, spilled down her checks,
and she wondered desperately if she would ever be able to draw in another
breathe. She fell back on the futon weakly gasping for air.
When she felt she could speak she whispered hoarsely, "Good day Mister
Tanimura.
I think we've concluded our business. It's been nice working with you."
The lawyer bowed out of respect and left the room.
Kyoko lay on her futon listening to the sounds of the birds out
in the forest, the wind as it rippled through the trees, and the
silence of the house as it stood waiting for her end to come. She thought
about her daughter and her granddaughter; of their beauty and their warmth
of their innocence.
It was time for the cycle to start again.
"Obaasan?"
Kyoko blinked and turned her head to the small voice that was next to her.
She looked up into large blue-grey eyes that were awash with unshed tears.
"My joy." She mummered and held out a hand to the boy.
The three year old didn't know exactly what was going on. All he knew was
that his mother had gone away a few months ago and now his grand mother
was going away too.
"Don't you worry, my boy. Don't you worry. I've made all the
arrangements. You'll be well taken care of."
"Where ya going Obassan?"
Kyoko sighed and closed her eyes feeling the peace flood over her again.
Life was worth living but she had lived her's. Her only regret was leaving
the boy behind. Her only hope was that his father was as kind, noble, and
protective as he had been four years ago. For Shinji was the only one
left now of their clan and his destiny was already written. Just as her's
had been and her daughters and her grand daughters.
It was time for the cycle to start again.
"I am going to join your mother Shinji. And we shall
watch over you and protect you as best we can."
At the mention of his mother, Shinji collapsed next to his
great-grandmother
and began to cry with uncontrollable grief.
"It will be alright Shinji. You'll see. I promise you it will be alright."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Shadow Moon Productions Presents
A Ranma 1/2 fan fiction.
Promises
By
Perotessa Detwieler
Chapter One
Saotome Ranma of the Musabetsu Kakuto Ryuu once again glanced at the
letter held in his hand. It read (for the most part) "Please come to 12134
Neima Plaza Downtown Tokyo at 16:15 pm so that we may finish our
business."
Signed Tanimura Katsui
Ranma frowned. He didn't remember any Tanimura Katsui that he had
fought either recently or in the past.
Either way a challenge was a challenge and he wasn't about to back down
from someone who was foolish enough to send him a challenge letter.
He walked down the very busy sidewalk then looked up at a huge skyscraper
that was labeled 12134 Neima Plaza.
This couldn't be right!
No way would the guy be dumb enough to fight in this place.
Something had to be going on.
Shrugging he opened the door and went inside. There was a huge
reception desk with five women sitting at it with headphones on. They
looked very classy to his eye and yet gave him the creeps.
Not that he would ever admit it.
Hesitantly he went over to the desk and asked.
"Uhm...excuse me. Can you tell me where Tanimura Katsui is?"
The office girl in front of him smiled. "He's on the 18th floor. Tanimura,
Nobumoto, Kataama and associates."
Ranma blinked. <'What the heck was going on here?!'>
"Uhm. Thanks."
He wandered off to the elevators, pushed the button and waited for the
doors to open.
He looked at the letter again just to make sure that this was the right
place. The doors chimed open.
Shaking his head he entered the lift and pushed the 18th floor button.
The elevator opened to a hallway and a huge frost glass wall
that proudly announced the offices of Tanimura, Nobumoto, Kataama and
Associates Legal Office.
Ranma suddenly had a BAD feeling about this whole thing.
Drawing up all the confidence he had, he walked into the office
and was again confronted with a reception desk. The receptionist gave him
a very effective if insincere smile.
"Hello. How may I help you?"
"I am...uhm...Saotome Ranma. I am here to see Tanimura Katsui."
"Oh yes! Mister Saotome! Yes he's expecting you. I'll take you to his
office."
She pushed a couple of buttons that he couldn't see, took off her
headphones and then lead him down the hallway to a huge cherywood colored
door.
She knocked twice then entered. Cautiously Ranma entered after her.
Tanimura Katsui, also known as the lawyer for the Kawashima Clan looked up
at the firm's receptionist. "Mister Tanimura your 16:15 is here to see
you."
He nodded and watched as a young man, who was clearly uncomfortable,
entered his office.
He's wasn't exactly what the lawyer was expecting.
The young man's hair was an unruly mop that fell into his eyes; it was
long the end tied up into a braid that could be seen over his shoulder.
He was tall and slim apparently taking good care of himself.
If the reports were true he was also a martial artist. Tanimura didn't
know how well that would fit into the Late Kawashima's plans though. Not
that it was any of his concern.
Sighing he looked up into the young man- no. Ranma's eyes and tried
to surpress a shudder.
They were the exact same shade.
Steeling himself he rose from behind his desk and gestured toward a chair.
"Welcome Mister Saotome. Please have a seat. Would you like anything to
drink? Coffee? Tea?"
Ranma shook his head a bit dazed and confused.
"Thank you Miko that will be all. You may bring "him" in about ten
minutes."
The receptionist nodded and left the room closing the door with hardly a
sound.
"Now Mister Saotome as to the reason why you're here-"
Ranma interrupted "You're Tanimura Misako?" his tone clearly puzzled.
The lawyer nodded his features schooled into an unreadable mask.
"You sent me this?" Ranma tossed the now crumpled letter onto Tanimura's
desk. The older man smoothed out the paper, glanced at it, then nodded.
"Yes I sent you this."
"Why?!"
Tanimura sighed settling back into his chair. "Mister Saotome do
you remember the Kawashima Shrine in the Kagmura mountains?"
All the color drained from Ranma's face and he looked like he had just
been sucker punched.
"Ah...I see you do. I am the retained lawyer of the Kawashima
family. It is my sad duty to inform you that both elder Kawashima, and the
woman you knew as Kawashima Yoshiko, have passed on."
Ranma's eyes slid closed. A very faint trembling could be seen wracking
his body.
"How? When?"
"The Elder Kawashima died no more than a week ago. Yoshiko,
died about nine months ago."
The young man's head fell forward; Tanimura couldn't see his eyes because
of the fall of his fringe.
"Why are you telling me this now? Why...?"
"It was Kawashima Kyoko's wish that you know. She also wanted.....no.
She needed you to take care of...a certain family obligation."
Ranma looked up, his eyes serious, cold, and deadly.
"What sort of 'Obligation'?"
There was a knock on the door and then it was silently opened.
"Come on, Dear. It will be ok."
The receptionist again.
Slowly Ranma turned around and looked at her and the person that was with
her.
He flinched as if struck and felt his world crumble all around him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tendo Kasumi was busy at work in the kitchen starting dinner for her
family. Well her family and the two martial artists that had dropped in
about two years ago.
Genma and Ranma for all their posturing, bluster, and arrogance were
very nice people. Once you got past their barriers and got to know them.
This was something that she was sure her father knew and
why he tolerated their behavior. It was also something she herself had
witnessed time and time again especially on Ranma's part. If one could get
past those barriers, he had put up to protect himself, they would find a
person who desperately wanted someone to talk to and to share with.
Who was deeply loyal and took matter of honor seriously.
She knew that the insanity of the past two years had to be getting to him.
Her younger sister Akane, Ranma's iinazuke, had stormed home after school
today slamming doors and boiling mad.
When asked why she was so angry, Akane told Kasumi about a challenge
letter that had arrived for Ranma just before the end of school.
Of course the idiot just HAD to go answer it. He was such a jerk! A macho
jerk! And with that Akane had stomped off.
Kasumi was glad that Nabiki had "bought" another truck load of
cinderblocks.
She had the strangest feeling that there was going to be a lot of cleaning
up to do later.
She finished chopping up some vegetables and put them into the soup she
was making.
"Tamida. I am home." said a very weary, and familiar voice.
Kasumi exited the kitchen and went to the foyer to greet Ranma.
"Welcome home Ranma." She said smiling.
"Dinner should be ready in about an hour." She opened her eyes,
blinked....then blinked again.
"Who is your little friend Ranma?"
Next to the young martial artist stood a child who could be no more than
three or four years of age. He looked vaguely familiar and a tingle raced
up and down Kasumi's spine.
For his part Ranma looked extremely nervous then sighed in resignation.
"This is Shinji. Shinji say 'hello' to Kasumi."
The boy, Shinji, quickly looked up his blue-grey eyes spearing her to her
soul.
He didn't say anything and quickly looked at the floor again.
"I'll be up in my room Kasumi." Said Ranma.
He quickly bent, picked up the boy and climbed up the stairs to the
second floor.
Kasumi stood there for a few moments staring sightlessly at
where Shinji had been a moment ago. Then her knees gave out and she
slumped to the floor with a small "Oh my."
Once safely in the room he shared with his father, Ranma put Shinji down.
The boy stood where he was put.
Ranma looked at the bag that had been thrust into his arms. Inside were
some clothes, a few coloring books, crayons, and a stuffed animal, a ball
and a little truck.
"Do you want your truck?"
The boy didn't move.
Ranma sighed and looked at the last article that had been handed to him.
An envelope marked "To Saotome Ranma"
He unfolded a futon and sat down. "Come here Shinji. Sit."
Shinji slowly walked over to the futon and sat down.
Ranma opened up the envelope and spilled the contents on the futon. The
first thing to capture his eye was the large bundle of cash.
He quickly swiped that up and started counting. 100,000 yen.
He blinked.
Never had he seen that much money.
He stuffed that back into the envelope. Wouldn't do for anyone else in the
house to see it either.
He found Shinji's birth certificate.
Saotome Shinji
born April 23, 1993
Mother: Kawashima Yoshiko
Father: Saotome Ranma
Ranma's hands trembled. "Mazaka. You really are my son."
The dark headed boy looked up into Ranma's shocked face; into eyes that
were the exact same shade as his own and gave a tentative smile.
"Otousan?"
Ranma blinked and looked at Shinji; really looked at him for the first
time and
remembered.
Remembered the mountains and the training ground his old man had found
when he was 13 years old. He remembered the cooling air as summer was
slowly falling into the embrace of fall. He remembered long raven hair,
skin as pale as pearl, and eyes the color of a midnight.
Yoshiko.
"Shinji." He nodded.
Shinji's smile became genuine. He happily snuggled up to this 'man' who
was his father.
His grandmother had told him that his father would take care of him. She
had promised.
Promises were something that were not broken.
Ranma had the sudden urge to go talk to someone, anyone who could help
him.
Instantly he thought of Doctor Tofu. But what to do with the boy?
Ranma broke the companionable silence with: "Shinji? Have you taken your
nap?"
The little boy shook his head, his eyes were droopy and his body language
clearly said that he was sleepy.
Ranma nodded and stuffed all the things back into the envelope.
"Here, lets set you down so you can take a nap."
Ranma figured he might have an he could take the legal papers over to
Doctor Tofu's And hopefully he could tell him what they meant.
Shinji nodded a bit groggily and began to take off his shirt. Ranma helped
him undress till all he was in was his briefs. Then he covered the little
boy with a blanket and gave him the stuffed animal.
There was a knock on the door.
"I'll be right back." He said softly and went to open the door.
Kasumi stood outside a worried puzzled look on her face.
"Ranma..if you don't mind.Can I come in for a moment?" Ranma nodded and
let her in.
She instantly saw the rolled out futon and it's single occupant. She
could see the striking resemblance to the young man next to her.
"Oh Kami-sama! I wasn't dreaming. Ranma...who is he?"
Ranma laughed a bit nervously and went back into the room, sitting next to
The futon and the boy in it.
Shinji's eyes were droopy but still he turned his face toward his father
and smiled.
There was a softening of Ranma's features and he reached out to brush the
boys long bangs out of his eyes.
"He's my son." Ranma said simply.
Kasumi's jaw dropped open.
All you had to do was look at the boy and know that what the martial
artist said was true.
"But Ranma...how?"
Ranma quirked a brow and gave Kasumi an amused grin. "I thought you knew
how babies were made Kasumi."
The eldest Tendo daughter blushed. "You know what I mean Ranma-kun." She
said quietly.
Ranma watched the boy as his breathing deepened, his eyes drifted closed.
Softly he said: "Yeah I know. I'll tell ya later.
With everyone else. Kasumi can you do me a huge favor?"
She looked up at him.
"Can you watch Shinji? I am gonna go down ta see the Doc."
She nodded. "Sure Ranma I'll watch him."
Ranma picked up the envelope and went to the door.
With one last look at "his son" he left.
He flew down the stairs, put his shoes on, and was out the door like a
shot.
A few minutes later he was at Doc Tofu's the envelope clutched to his
chest.
He needed this man's help.
Ono Tofu was just about the smartest guy he knew and the only one that
Ranma trusted not to talk about any of this.
"Hey Doc you in?"
The same aforementioned Ono Tofu was in; in his office to be specific. He
stood up, and looked out the door to see Saotome Ranma standing in the
hallway looking a tad nervous.
"Back here Ranma. What can I do for you today?"
Ranma turned toward the doctors voice then smiled his fairly normal grin.
"I was wondering if you could help me out with some stuff. I uhm.." he
dropped the act suddenly and wailed.
"Che Doc! I am screwed! Check out what happened to me today!"
Ten minutes after trying to calm down Ranma and listening to his babbled
tale and trying to sort it all out Doctor Tofu was, to put it mildly,
horribly confused.
So far he understood that Ranma had gone to a lawyer's office
today after getting a letter. He had picked up a package at the office of
some sort and taken it home. And now he was scared that his life was going
to be even more chaotic than it was.
Tofu really wasn't sure how that could happen.
Not unless the Apocalypse suddenly descended over the Tendo Dojo.
Either way, Ranma was badly shaken.
That's when he handed Ono Tofu the envelope.
Upon seeing the birth certificate everything began to fall into place.
"Oh dear Ranma. Maybe this isn't as bad as you think it is."
Ranma held a cup of tea in shaking hands taking a sip. "Oh yeah..I am
sure. It's probably worst. Look at them! Tell me what they say please
Doc."
Tofu began to unfold the papers. The first one was a contract with
stipulations as to one Saotome Shinji's maintenance and welfare. The
second one was about Saotome Shinji's Majority and what he was going to
inherit.
The third one discussed what Saotome Ranma's responsibilities were toward
Saotome Shinji.
Tofu was able to quickly and easily pick out all the important aspects of
the papers and saw where the Kawashima Clan had just as surly trapped
Ranma as had the Tendo's.
Through honor, obligation, and promises.
This time promises that Ranma had made.
No matter that they were given by a thirteen year old boy, Saotome Ranma
never broke his promises.
"Well Ranma this isn't as bad as you may think it is. You have been given,
according to these documents, partial custody of Saotome Shinji along with
your father. Both of you will have full legal custody and responsibility
of him till he reaches twenty years of age. According to this, you Ranma
will be given a monthly allowance of fifty thousand yen to take care of
him; for maintenance it says. You have been given another one hundred
thousand yen to buy clothes and other things you'll need for him in the
mean time.
"Everything else is held in a Trust Fund in Shinji's name. Which he'll be
able to inherit when he turns twenty years old. Hmmmmm...."
Ranma put the cup down and leaned toward the desk. "What?"
"Looks like you've inherited the Kawashima shrine and the forty acres of
land surrounding it.
That's yours. Also it says here: "Legal Guardian, Saotome Ranma, upon
Saotome Shinji's twentith birthday will receive a lump payment of five
million yen for his services as caretaker. Provided that he does not enter
into marriage before April 23rd, 2012."
Ranma's jaw dropped open. "You're kidding me."
Tofu looked at the document again. "Nope...says so right here. As long as
you don't get married until Shinji is 20 you'll get five million yen."
Ranma dropped his head muttering "They are going to kill me. Hell they'll
kill me once they find out about Shinji...but this! This....they'll kill
me for sure!"
He sighed and looked up. The clock on Tofu's bookshelf read 5:55 pm.
"Chikusho! I gotta get back." He picked up the birth certificate and the
money and the letter that the Elder Kawashima had written to him.
"Can you hold the rest of that stuff here. I want to show it to Nabiki
tomorrow if I can."
"Sure Ranma, that's probably a good idea. I'll put them in the vault. And
don't worry so much I am sure everything will work out fine." Tofu smiled.
Ranma looked at the good doctor and wondered how long he was going to
burn in hell for that little lie. "Yeah whatever doc. See ya."
He left the office and ran out.
Tofu looked at the documents for a few moments then shook his head.
"Your life really is quite an insane mess isn't it Saotome?" He chuckled
softly and folded the documents back up and put them into them envelope.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tendo Akane was heading toward the stairs when Ranma entered with a cry of
"Tamida." She stopped and stared at her iinazuke. She noticed the look of
nervousness and the slight windidness of him.
She hmphed "Must not have been much of a fight eh Ranma?"
The object of her scorn merely blinked.
>From the kitchen, Kasumi looked out. "Ranma. Would you mind coming in here
for a moment?"
He stared at Akane for a moment more, but she turned and stomped up the
stairs.
He sighed in disappointment and slight relief and went into the kitchen.
Sitting at the table was Shinji eating a carrot stick. "Ot-san!" he
squealed and launched himself off his chair and hugged one of Ranma's
legs.
Ranma blanched and rocked back on his heels.
He looked at Kasumi blankly for a moment then down at the ankle bitter
that was currently attached to his leg.
Shinji was looking up at him with a look of complete adoration.
Ranma felt lower than a bug.
"Uh Kasumi...why is he down here?"
Kasumi was putting bowls on a tray and other things. "He woke
up a little while ago. I didn't think you'd mind if he waited for you down
here. Neither Nabiki or Akane have seen him yet."
<'Gods....and when they do I am gonna be in deep.'> He thought.<'How the
hell do I explain all of this?! I am sooooooo dead!'>
He disengaged Shinji's strangle hold on his leg and knelt down.
"Hey Shinji. How about after dinner I give you a bath?"
Shinji nodded his head enthusiastically.
"Good. I am going to help Kasumi take dinner out; you sit here and I'll
come back for you ok?"
Shinji hesitated.
"You promise?"
"Yeah, I promise."
In response to that, Shinji hopped back into his chair and waited.
Ranma sighed and went to go help Kasumi.
As they placed the last of the dishes out onto the table and the mats in
their places, Kasumi called out "Dinner's ready."
Ranma went back into the kitchen and retrieved Shinji then placed him next
to him on his right side; right between himself and Akane.
Genma and Soun reluctantly left their Shoji board and didn't seem to
notice the dark haired youngster at first.
Nabiki came in. She merely arched a brow in curiosity and asked quite
loudly, "Who's the runt?"
Ranma ignored her and began to serve Shinji making
sure the boy had enough to eat then began to serve himself.
Akane came into the room in fresh clothes and stopped. She stared at the
picture of domestic tranquility and noticed an extra person. Then she
noticed the coloration of said person and she did a double take.
"Raaannnnnmmmaaaa..."
Said 'Ranma' flinched as his name was drawn out like nails on a chalk
board.
Well the time to bite the bullet had come. Gathering up all his courage
he swallowed and looked up at Akane with what he hoped was the most
innocent look he had and asked: "Yeah?"
"Who. Is. That?" she pointed to whom she meant. Shinji was slowly eating
his portion seeming not to notice the sudden tension in the room. Kasumi
came back into the room with the rice cooker and took her normal spot at
the opposite end of the table a her father. "Akane please sit down and
have some dinner."
She said pleasantly.
Trembling, Akane sat down next to the little boy who looked
exactly like Ranma. Stubbornly she served herself keeping her tongue
firmly in check and began to eat.
Tendo Soun cleared his throat and began quite nervously.
"Uhm...maybe you have something to tell us, Son?" he
asked Ranma. Ranma for the first time in a long time didn't feel hungry
at all. Sighing he put his bowl down and pushed it away and looked at all
assembled and said. "I guess I got an announcement to make." He reached
into his shirt and took out the birth certificate and the letter from the
Elder Kawashima.
"This," he gestured towards the boy next to him. "is Shinji. My son."
Silence descended on the room. Which was broken by a: "Isn't that nice?"
from Kasumi.
"Your....your.....Son?!" sputtered Soun. He turned to his cohort.
"Saotome! How could this have happened?! Did you know of this?! Oh! The
tragedy! Now our schools will never be joined!" He began to wail and the
tears began to flow.
Ranma sighed and looked at his old man with a look of
almost complete disgust on his face. "Yeah pop! You remember the
Kawashima's don't you? Go ahead and tell him all about that training trip
up into the mountains. I am sure he'll love to hear it."
Nabiki's mind was whirling. How could she get a cut in this? She was
practically salivating thinking about how she could use this information.
She frowned suddenly as she noticed the blue aura suddenly erupt around
her younger sister.
"You....you...PERVERT!" she screamed slamming her chopsticks down on the
table. She stood up fists balled at her sides trembling with the force of
her anger. Slowly Ranma turned toward her. The look in his eyes impressed
and yet also sad. "Please Akane...calm down." He said softly.
"Calm Down?! Don't you dare tell me what to do! You....Jerk!" Out of
nowhere her mallet appeared.
She raised it over her head.
"Akane please stop. You're scaring him."
She looked down at the little boy who was sitting next to Ranma. His head
was bowed and he was trembling slightly.
Her anger was douched as quickly as it had risen. <'He must
think I am some sort of monster.'> She thought dully. She lowered the
mallet and then turned and stalked out of the room.
Kasumi could see that this was going to get a lot more tense and stood up.
"Ranma? You wouldn't mind if Shinji and I went into the kitchen to eat
would you?"
He shook his head, "Thanks Kasumi."
She picked up the bowls that Shinji was eating out of
and picked the little boy up. They left the tearoom closing the door
behind them.
Then all hell broke loose.
Genma and Soun immediately pounced on Ranma with shouts of:
"What the hell is going on?! Boy what have you done now?"
Nabiki was rubbing her hand together wondering how much
money the younger Saotome had on him.
Ranma let most of the questions crash over him before slamming his hands
on the table.
"ENOUGH!" he yelled. He pinned each person at the table with his furious
eyes and snarled, "You will listen to me or I won't tell you whats going
on!"
That got them to settle down and start to listen.
"Four years ago, Pops took me to this training ground high up into the
Kagmura mountains.
We stayed there for about a month. Next to this training ground
was a Shrine. The villagers said that the women of the shrine could talk
to the forest spirits and whatnot. I never believed it myself. Anyway,
the shrine was run by an old woman named Kawashima Kyoko and her
grand-daughter Yoshiko who was sixteen.
"Anyways, Mrs Kawashima was kind enough to invite us over whenever we were
close, for dinner. I liked her and Yoshiko, they were really nice people.
Today I got a letter from a Tanimura in Tokyo. I thought it was a
challenge letter. I mean look at it!" He produced the letter and threw it
at his old man.
"So I go over there today and he tells me about the Kawashima's had died
and that they were giving both you and me pops custody of Shinji. I didn't
know why until I got home this afternoon."
He produced the birth certificate and gave it to Nabiki who practically
tore his hand off.
Her eyebrows shot up when she saw what was written on it.
Ranma continued. "I am suppose to go back. Not this Monday
but the next Monday; they're gonna read the Will. As of right now, Pops
n me are Shinji's legal guardians cause I am his ...father." He fell
back shoulders slumped.
"So Saotome, you're trying to tell us that you fathered a child
when you were thirteen and you don't remember doing it?" asked Nabiki
sweetly.
Ranma had the decency to at least blush. "I never said I didn't remember.
I just didn't understand what could happen. I mean I was only thirteen and
believe it or not she came on to me."
"Wait wait wait! WHO? Came onto you?"
Ranma looked at Nabiki with thinly veiled disgust. "Yoshiko who did you
think? You think it was the Elder Kawashima? You're sick Nabiki."
Nabiki smiled her sharky grin. "I've learned never to underestimate you
Saotome."
Ranma snorted.
"Ok so four years ago, you and your dad go to this training ground and you
and this Yoshiko do the nasty...how many times Ranma?"
The addressed party looked up, eyes cold and glittering dangerously.
"Once. Only once. We left the next day."
Nabiki ignored the glittering eyes and went back toward her oration.
"Ok so you do the horizontal mambo with this Yoshiko once. She
gets pregnant then then dies. I guess the grandmother took over for the
kid, but she gets sick and dies. So they track you down and give the kid
to you.
"Man, Saotome you really know how to pick them. Even when they are
in the ground they still come after you. First it was Shampoo, then Ukyo
and now this boy. You know if she was alive I am sure this Yoshiko would
really have the best claim to marry you. After all you did knock her up."
Ranma growled low in his throat. "Nabiki, only because I really need your
help will I pretend that you didn't say that. You are to never speak
Yoshiko's name ever again. Is. That. Clear?"
Nabiki's sly smile slowly drained off her face at the sight of a Ranma she
Had never seen before.
She nodded jerkily and swallowed. She did NOT want to be on Ranma's bad
side. Whatever it was he had in mind, he was going to have to pay out his
nose to afford it.
Soun looked at both documents then looked at Ranma in incomprehension.
"So what does this mean? So now you have a three year old son. You can
still marry my daughter."
Ranma sighed. "You saw how angry Akane was when she stormed out of here.
I really don't think it would be fair to her to become a mother right
away.
Besides, Shinji may have the Saotome name but he's a Kawashima. They left
me their shrine to be held for Shinji when he grows up.
"Gods...I am too young for all of this growing up and responsibility
crap!"
He looked at his pop who was once again vacuuming in as much food as he
could.
"Then again...I guess I am the only one here who is grown up enough to
take on this responsibility crap!" He stood up.
"I am gonna go take my bath." He trudged out of the tea room and
off to the kitchen to retrieve Shinji.
Kasumi sat at the kitchen table and stared at the doorway moodily. The
shouts had been expected, the forcefulness that Ranma had answered them
was not. The door opened and quietly slid shut. Then in came Ranma who
looked like he had just been trampled by a herd of elephants.
"Hey Shinji. You ready to take that bath?" Shinji was eating cookies and
drinking milk when Ranma entered. Upon seeing his beleaguered dad he sat
up.
"Here." he held out a cookie.
Ranma smiled faintly.
"No thanks. Come on. Lets go get your things and get you all cleaned up."
The boy shrugged his small shoulders, put down the cookie, swiveled in the
chair and raised his arms in a wordless gesture of "up".
"Thanks for looking after him Kasumi."
"It's no problem Ranma...you know that."
"Yeah...still sometimes I wonder."
He put Shinji up onto his shoulders and walked out of the kitchen.
Together father and son went upstairs and retrieved their toiletries
before golomping back downstairs. Ranma peeked into the kitchen, but
Kasumi wasn't there.
Just then a knock sounded on the font door.
"I'll get it!" he hollered, knowing that there was probably a war session
going on in the tearoom and no one would care.
Cradling Shinji with is left arm he opened the door. Just as Shinji threw
his little arms around his neck and squealed "Otsan!" and nuzzled at the
side of his neck and hugged him.
Ranma looked at the person who was at the door and the blood drained from
his face.
She looked at him, one eye brow arched in curiosity.
"M....Mom!"
End Part One
"...The malleting shall be harsh! the malleting shall be prolonged! the
malleting shall be painful!"