Marital Arts 0 - Part II
 
Nodoka smiled at Kimiko. 
 
Nodoka:  "Are you experiencing any pain, Kimiko?" 
Kimiko:  "Some, but I can ignore it by separating myself from my 
body.  I wanted to be sure I was alert when you showed up.  We have 
to talk..." 
 
Kasumi knocked and entered. 
 
Kasumi:  "Mother, do you or Auntie need anything?" 
Kimiko:  "No, thank you, Kasumi.  I'd like to talk to Auntie Nodoka 
privately, if you don't mind." 
Kasumi:  "Of course not, Mother." 
 
Kasumi left the room, closing the door behind her. 
 
Nodoka:  "She's turning into quite a beauty, isn't she?" 
Kimiko:  "Yes, she is.  She's almost taken over all of my household 
duties as well." 
Nodoka:  "Is it that bad?" 
Kimiko:  "I think so.  I don't think I have much time left.  I've just 
been waiting for you to arrive so we could talk about my children." 
Nodoka:  "My two are visiting Akane and Nabiki right now." 
Kimiko:  "Do you think Ranma will love her?" 
Nodoka:  "I don't know.  He likes her a lot.  But he's still too young 
for that." 
Kimiko:  "Sometimes they know.  I think Akane likes him.  She has 
friends, but... none that she can open up so easily as with Ranma or 
Ranko.  If they kept in regular contact over the next few years I think 
they would fall in love without any prodding from us." 
Nodoka:  "Genma wants to start taking my two on longer training 
trips..." 
 
Kimiko stretched out her hand and Nodoka took it into her own. 
 
Kimiko:  "I understand.  At least after they're sixteen..." 
Nodoka:  "I'll train them as we would have done.  I promise." 
Kimiko:  "Thank you, Noka-chan.  I have another favor to ask as 
well." 
Nodoka:  "What is it, Kimi-chan?" 
 
Both women smiled at their nicknames, given each other when they 
were lovers.  Kimiko became serious. 
 
Kimiko:  "If Soun should have problems accepting my death, will 
you... help him?" 
Nodoka:  "You mean..." 
Kimiko:  "The incense is in the back of the cabinet under the family 
alter.  I've tried to help him accept it, but he just can't seem to let 
some things go." 
Nodoka:  "Some things!  You're not 'some thing'." 
Kimiko:  "I know.  Please, Noka-chan?  For me?" 
Nodoka:  "I don't want to, Kimi-chan.  I've always been faithful to 
Genma, even with you." 
Kimiko:  "But you will?" 
Nodoka:  "I... I will." 
Kimiko:  "Thank you, Noka-chan.  I'll write a letter in case Kasumi 
discovers the two of you together.  She's the only one that might try to 
find out what was going on." 
 
Nodoka found herself crying. 
 
Kimiko:  "I'm only sorry that we couldn't have seen the four of us 
together." 
Nodoka:  "I know." 
Kimiko:  "Now let me tell you how Soun and I make love so that he'll 
believe it's me." 
 
************** 
 
Kimiko:  "Noka-chan.  You said you haven't betrayed Genma yet.  I 
haven't done so with Soun.  But I want to spend as much of the time I 
have left with him... and I want to make love to you.  If you want..." 
 
Nodoka stood and unwrapped the kimono from her body.  She hadn't 
been sure if she would when she first arrived, even if Kimiko had 
asked her like she did.  But being next to her made it different and 
simple.  They still loved each other.  She stepped out of her kimono 
and checked to make sure the door was locked; in the meantime 
Kimiko moved out from under the bedsheets and removed her 
nightgown. 
 
Kimiko found that the pain returned somewhat as she removed 
herself from her meditative state.  But that was soon forgotten as she 
reunited with her former lover. 
 
************** 
 
Nodoka dressed herself; it had been some time since she first entered 
the room, but nothing that couldn't be explained by the friendship 
they shared and the time since they last saw each other.  Kimiko 
slipped back underneath the covers, a little slowly as the pain became 
more noticeable to her. 
 
Kimiko:  "Noka-chan, would you send Soun up here?" 
Nodoka:  "You're insatiable." 
Kimiko:  "Its just love." 
Nodoka:  "I know how that is." 
 
Nodoka smiled and kissed Kimiko with a lover's kiss, both knowing 
it would be their last.  Nodoka left the bedroom to look for her 
children.  She found them looking extremely uncomfortable as Akane 
and Nabiki had fallen asleep on them.  She gently moved the sisters 
so that they continued sleeping; Ranko and Ranma moved slowly out 
of the way. 
 
Nodoka led them downstairs to the guest room, where she let 
instructed them to take a short nap after unpacking their things.  She 
then went to send Soun to Kimiko.  Nodoka still hoped that she 
wouldn't have to make love to him, but he was already starting to 
display the hysterics that Kimiko talked about. 
 
************** 
 
Nodoka entered the kitchen and checked on the amount of "special 
tea" in the cupboard. 
 
Nodoka:  "Kasumi, may I talk to you for a moment?" 
Kasumi:  "Of course, Auntie.  I was just starting to prepare dinner." 
Nodoka:  "In a way, that's part of what I want to talk about.  Come, 
sit down."  [both sit at the kitchen table]  "Your parents probably 
won't be at dinner tonight." 
Kasumi:  "Oh, why?" 
Nodoka:  "They're making love." 
 
Kasumi blushed.  She and her mother had talked about it, and she 
had learned about it in school, yet to bring it up so openly... 
 
Kasumi:  "Auntie!" 
Nodoka:  "Its nothing to be ashamed of, Kasumi.  Your parents love 
each other.  This is part of how they express it.  Your mother has 
talked to you about it, hasn't she?" 
Kasumi:  "Well... yes..." 
Nodoka:  "And how do you feel about it?" 
Kasumi:  "I... I haven't done it yet.  I want to wait until I'm married." 
Nodoka:  [smiling]  "That's not what I asked, Kasumi.  I wanted to 
know if you were comfortable talking about it, but I suppose you 
aren't.  You're still young." 
Kasumi:  "Yes, Auntie." 
Nodoka:  "Kasumi, your mother told me she hasn't talked to either 
Nabiki or Akane yet about sex, or having a period, or any of that.  Do 
you feel that you can talk to them or would you like me to talk to 
them when the time comes?" 
Kasumi:  "I can do it, Auntie.  You make it sound like Mother's 
going to die soon." 
Nodoka:  "That's what she says.  And I've known your mother far too 
long to not trust her instincts." 
 
Kasumi started to choke as tears started to fall. 
 
Kasumi:  "I thought that she'd get better." 
Nodoka:  "I know." 
 
Nodoka pulled Kasumi around to sit on her lap, letting Kasumi cry as 
she held her in her arms. 
 
************** 
 
Nodoka checked on the children, who had all gathered in one of the 
guest rooms and spread their futons. 
 
Ranma:  "When is Pops going to get here?" 
Nodoka:  "I left him note on the kitchen table, Ranma.  But he's still 
checking out some training sites.  	He's not going to be back for 
another week." 
Ranma:  "Oh." 
 
************** 
 
Nodoka found herself taking care of most of the funeral 
arrangements.  Soun was racked by grief.  Nodoka wished that 
Genma was there to help her; but it would be another three or four 
days before he even read the note.  Still, she owed her friend anything 
she could do. 
 
************** 
 
After the funeral Soun retired to his room. 
 
Kasumi:  "Father?  Please come out.  You haven't come out for a 
whole day.  Dinner is ready." 
 
Kasumi, not hearing a reply, went to look for Nodoka.  Nodoka 
finished talking on the phone. 
 
Kasumi:  "Auntie.  Father won't come out." 
Nodoka:  "I know, Kasumi.  That was Uncle Genma on the phone.  
He'll be here tomorrow." 
Kasumi:  "Will Uncle be able to help?" 
Nodoka:  "I hope so.  Do you want me to try to talk to him?" 
Kasumi:  "Please, Auntie?" 
 
Nodoka went to Soun's bedroom and knocked on the door.  Kasumi 
followed her. 
 
Nodoka:  "Soun?"  [silence]  "Soun, your children need you." 
 
Nodoka left the door behind her, knowing that if she would follow 
Kimiko's request, it would have to be that night. 
 
Nodoka:  "Kasumi, I'll try to talk with him later tonight.  I'd like to 
talk to him in private because I may have to use some words that you 
shouldn't be hearing." 
Kasumi:  [blushing]  "Do you think it will work?" 
Nodoka:  "I hope so." 
 
************** 
 
Nodoka got out the incense from where Kimiko had said it was.  
Soun's depression was as bad as Kimiko had feared it would be; 
Nodoka also took out the note Kimiko had written for her.  She 
checked on their children sleeping in the guest room and went 
upstairs. 
 
She opened the door to the bedroom; it was dark, but lit by a small 
votive candle on the dresser.  Next to the candle was a picture of 
Kimiko and an o-ihai.  Soun lay sleeping on the bed. 
 
Nodoka prayed briefly, remembering her friend who had asked her to 
perform the task ahead then sprinkled the incense onto the candle.  
The flame released the hallucinogenic fumes as it consumed the 
incense.  Nodoka gave the smoke time to permeate the room. 
 
Nodoka:  "Soun?  Soun, wake up.  Its me, Kimiko..." 
 
************** 
 
Kasumi opened her eyes as she heard Nodoka shut the door behind 
her.  She moved quietly as to not awaken the others.  She knew that 
she shouldn't, but she wanted to be there when her father became 
himself again.  Kasumi saw an envelope with her name on it waiting 
for her. 
 
She looked at it in dread.  Even her inexperienced ear could make out 
the sound of lovemaking occurring beyond the door.  That meant it 
could only be Auntie Nodoka and Father.  She opened the letter.  It 
was in her mother's handwriting. 
 
Dearest Kasumi, 
 
If you are reading this it is because you have discovered your father 
making love to Auntie Nodoka.  Do not blame her for this.  I asked 
her to do it to help your father.  We can not ask the Saotomes to help 
us forever.  One day, soon, I promise that Auntie will explain why I 
asked her to do this. 
 
Mother 
 
************** 
 
Nodoka carefully removed herself from Soun's embrace.  She opened 
the door to find Kasumi crying behind it.  Nodoka sighed as she 
dressed in the bathrobe she had worn earlier in the evening.  She 
brought Kasumi to her feet and closed the door behind her.  Nodoka 
put her arm around Kasumi's shoulder in a motherly way and they 
walked to her room. 
 
Nodoka sat down on the bed as Kasumi lay down on her lap.  Nodoka 
slowly ran her hand over Kasumi's hair. 
 
Nodoka:  "How much did you hear?" 
Kasumi:  "I heard the two of you..." 
Nodoka:  "Do you hate me now?" 
Kasumi:  "I don't know.  Mother says she asked you to do it." 
Nodoka:  "She did." 
 
Kasumi started to cry again as Nodoka felt the tears fall onto her lap 
to run down her legs, the bathrobe opening and exposing her body to 
the night air.  Nodoka continued to comfort her, ignoring the chill. 
Kasumi was now the Tendo who needed her the most. 
 
************** 
 
Soun woke up, finding that his dream had seemed so real that his 
body had reacted to it as if Kimiko had been there making love to 
him.  Kimiko had come to him to tell him to move on with his life.  
As he left the room he caught sight of the o-ihai on the dresser.  He 
prayed to it, then brought it down to the family alter. 
 
Genma arrived and expressed his condolences.  The Saotomes stayed 
two more days, then left the Tendos to resume their own lives. 
 
*****************************finis Marital Arts Episode 0