Ranma 1/2 is owned by Rumiko Takahashi

Tribe of One is owned by TSR



"Otosan,  Do I _have_ to walk around like this?"  Ranma-chan asked.

"Trust me on this, Ranma.  I understand that you do not know me
very well yet, and... _perhaps_  I have caused you a _couple_
of problems, but when it comes to something like this; I'm a master.
After all, it is a part of the Saotome Secret Technique!"

"The Saotome Secret Technique? What is that?"

Genma looked at his son, now in his cursed form and thought about how
he would explain this particular 'technique' to him.  There was, of
course, a very sophisticated and professional way to explain it.  That is,
when it is explained to an outsider; Ranma was his son.  Genma sighed and
decided to be blunt.

"The Saotome Secret Technique is simply escaping an unbeatable opponent
so you could fight another day."

"You mean, running away?!"  Ranma asked a shocked look on his face.

<Bitter>  *HAHAHA... That sounds like pop, alright!*

<Play>  *Sounds fine to me... Who wants to fight anyway?*

"Ranma, " Genma explained patiently, "There are many things worth living for,
but there are few things worth dying for."

The two continued to walk in silence.

<Guardian>  *He DOES have a point though... If any of those Amazons are chasing
us, they would be looking for a young man and his pet panda, not a father and
his daughter...*

<Ranma>  *Do you really think that they will be coming after us? I mean, we'll
be coast-side soon, and then off to Japan.*

<Guardian>  *I doubt that many of those women would follow us all the way
to Japan, but it never hurts to be careful.  Staying as a female for a few
more days won't hurt you.*

Ranma sighed then slowly drifted back and let Lyric take control.

"Yappa pa, Yappa pa..."  Lyric began to sing.


   *****************************************
   *     *
   * Raoh the Conquorer presents *
   *     *
   *    A Story of Ranma 1/2  *
   *     *
   * A Stained Glass Mind part 4 *
   *     *
   *****************************************


"Look Ranma, this is really not a good idea.  You don't want to die, do you?" Genma pleaded.

The pair had finally arrived in Japan without any problems with the amazons and were now
in Nerima, where both Ranma's mother and the Tendo's lived.  ( auth note: this is a guess.
Where does Nodoka live?) Ranma turned back into a male as soon as he got of the freighter
that they had ridden from China.

"You're more scared that Okasan is going to kill YOU."  Ranma replied.

"That's not true!  Well, yes... I'm scared for myself.  But I'm also scared for you.
You may have read my mind, but you don't know your mother.  She will KILL you if
she believes that you are not a 'Man among Men' "

"I want to meet her.  I have the RIGHT to meet her.  You don't have to come with me.
In fact, I think it would be better if you went to the Tendo Dojo instead.  I can
catch up with you later."

"I'm not going to leave you alone, Ranma...  Let's go to the Tendo Dojo together.
We can talk about this, come up some sort of a sche-, I mean plan, and then talk
to your mother. A martial artist doesn't just walk into a situation blindly."

"Ryoko-sensei taught me all about being a martial artist.  But I also developed my
mind and my soul.  Finding Okasan is not about martial arts!  She's my MOTHER for God's
sakes!  I want to see her.  I want to see her as much as I wanted to travel with you."

That last statement completely deflated Genma.  In the depths of his mind, even deeper
than Guardian had probed, Genma had felt guilty about abandoning his only son.  He knew
that Ryoko could help Ranma in a way that he never could, but it was abandonment all
the same.  It had amazed him that in spite his actions, his son still wanted to be
with him.

Genma had told Ryoko that he wanted Ranma returned to him.  He believed that he had
a right to see his own son.  Didn't Nodoka have the same rights as well?  Genma sighed
and came to a decision.  His son had trusted him, and now, it was time for Genma to
trust his son.

"OK Ranma... Go see your mother.  But I expect to see you at the Tendo Dojo in a few
days.  You have to meet your new fiancée' "

"Otosan I can't get-  Oh never mind, we'll talk about it later."

"Good.  I'll see you in a few days boy."

Genma lifted his back pack and trotted off down the street somewhere towards the
Tendo Dojo.

<Bitter>  *You should have told him why you can't get married.  He'll never let
go of this.*

<Guardian>  *That's true, but I don't think he could handle the fact that some of us are
female either. Let's talk to mother first, then decide what to do.*

<Ranma>  *Right. Hope this works out.  I didn't expect things to get so complicated.*

<Guardian>  *Try not to worry about it too much.  Things will work out... somehow.*


It took Ranma about an hour to find his mother's house.  It was a small, and quaint little
home and Ranma got a warm feeling by looking at it.

<Ranma>  *I could live here.*

<Guardian>  *Careful Ranma, don't be to hasty.  We still have some barriers to cross.*

<Ranma> *I hope she is home.*

<Watcher>  *There is someone inside.*

Ranma walked up to the front door and firmly knocked on it.  After a few moments,
a woman with an elegant kimono opened the door.  Ranma held his breath as he
looked at her, she was a beautiful lady.  There was kindness and warmth in her
eyes, but pain as well.

"Hello.  Is there something I can do for you?"  She asked.

Ranma just stared at her.

"Is something wrong?" the woman asked, looking concerned.

<Guardian>  *Ranma!*

"I... uh... sorry.  I- I am looking for Nodoka Saotome.  Does she live here?"

"Yes, I am Nodoka.  How can I help you young man?"

"My name is Ranma."

It was Nodoka's turn to hold her breath.  She started at the young man in front of
her. He was handsome; tall and confident.  Her husband had succeeded.

"R-Ranma? " She said in quivering voice.

"Yes, Okasan."

"Okasan..."  Nodoka said as she gave Ranma a hug.  "You don't know how I've longed
to hear that..."

Ranma returned the hug, tears starting to flow down his eyes.  Mother and son stayed
in their embrace for a few moments and then Ranma pulled back.

"Okasan, there... there is much I need to tell you."

Nodoka smiled.  "Please come in, come in.  I want to know everything."

Nodoka suddenly realized that someone was missing.

"Where is your father?"  she asked.

"That is part of what we need to discuss."

Nodoka led Ranma into the house and they sat down at a table.

"Would you like anything to drink?  Some tea... or milk perhaps?" Nodoka asked.

"No thanks, Okasan. For now, all I want to do is talk with you."

Nodoka beamed a bright smile, and tears began to flow down her face. She gently caressed
Ranma's face and said,  "I am so happy to see you, my son.  You are strong, in mind and
body.  I can sense it.  Your father raised you well."

<Bitter>  *That idiot didn't raise us at all!*

"Otosan... Otosan didn't raise me..."

"WHAT?"  Nodoka asked, her gaze became questioning.

<Guardian> *Do you want me to probe her?  To make sure she can deal with this?*

<Ranma> *NO!  Let me just tell her...*

"Okasan, I was raised in a village in China..."

It took the rest of the afternoon and a lot of the evening before Ranma finished
explaining everything about the Village of the Mind, the Tribe, meeting Genma,
and, of course, the curse.

Through out the whole story, Nodoka was very understanding; in a way that only a
mother could be.  She laughed and cried with her son as he relived some of the
more vital moments of his life.  Mostly she was just happy that her son was back home.

Unfortunately, this happiness did not extend to her husband.  She was livid with
anger concerning Genma.  He had left her behind, so many years ago, because he
did not want his son to be raised by a woman.  Against her better judgment, she
let him go knowing that a proper heir to his clan was more important than anything
else in his life.  In this important task, he had failed;  recklessly.  He had
endangered his son's life and sanity, then GAVE him to some other people, women
at that, to raise.  Every time her anger started to seethe, Ranma tried to comfort
her.  He did not feel like loosing his father so soon.

"Okasan, please... don't be to angry with Otosan.  I had a good life, growing
up with Ucchan and Ryoko-sensei.  I learned a great deal from them.  As for
the tribe, well, I don't know any other way to live.  So I don't know what
'normal' is.  They have always been with me, guiding and protecting me. "

Nodoka looked at her son and smiled.

"I won't do anything _permanent_ to Genma, but he and I need to talk.  Soon."

"I understand... We can leave for the Tendo Dojo anytime you wish."

"I want to meet the rest of the tribe."  Nodoka said suddenly.

"Really?"  Ranma said in surprise.

"Yes, after all... ALL of you are my children, right?"

Ranma smiled and then started laughing.  It was the first time he had experienced
heart-felt joy since he left the village.   After a few moments, Ranma let go and
Guardian came forth.  Nodoka stared in fascination as Ranma's demeanor changed.  He
still had the same physical appearance, but his eyes contained more wisdom, and
a greater sense of duty.

"Hello Okasan."  Ranma/Guardian said.

"You must be Guardian..." Nodoka stated.

Ranma/Guardian smiled and said, "Yes Okasan.  You are very perceptive."

Nodoka took Ranma's hands in hers and said, "I've always wanted a daughter.
And now, I have three.  I know you carry a great burden.  You are the mother
that Ranma and the tribe needs.  Thank you for taking care of my son.  I want
you to know, that if YOU ever need guidance, or just need to talk, I'll be
here for you. always."

Ranma/Guardian started crying.  "Thank you Okasan... I think, I am going to
need you in the days to come."

Nodoka gathered up Ranma/Guardian in a hug and said, "Can I meet my other daughters?"

Ranma/Guardian leaned back and said, "Watcher never comes out.  But you can meet Play.
I should warn you, she can be a bit... whimsical."

Nodoka smiled knowingly.  "Many girls are at that age."


And so it went, into the night, Nodoka met several of the personalities that resided
in Ranma's body.  There were a few exceptions, of course.  She did not meet Shade,
nor did she want to for that matter.  Nodoka was not a threat to the tribe, so it
was impossible to even call Shade.  Nodoka did not have any cats, so meeting Neko
was out of the question as well.  These things, Nodoka was able to understand,
but Master confused her.

"Why can't you call him?"  She asked Ranma.

"Well, he never responds to any of us.  He's just there.  I can feel him, but..."

"And he only took control that one time?  When you fought that dreadful old woman?"

Nodoka suppressed the rage she felt as she mentioned Cologne.  She did not find Ranma's
experiences in the Amazon village amusing at all.

"Yes... and I didn't even call him that time.  He just came.  The strange thing was
that he was able to perform a Ki attack that I had been studying.  The Solit-Aire.
I've been trying to get that technique right for a long time, but I was never able
to do it."

"Well, perhaps Master is like Guardian... She is telepathic, but you are not.  Maybe
you CAN'T do Ki attacks, because the part of you that has that ability resides in
Master."

Ranma looked at his mother, obviously impressed.

"You've taken this whole thing really well.  You have some insights about my situation
that I never even realized." Ranma said.

"Ranma, you're my child.  I have only known for a few short hours, but I have ALWAYS
loved you.  And I always will.  That's what being a parent is all about."

"It doesn't bother you, that I'm like this?"

"It will take a little getting used to... but if the option is having you out of
my life forever, I think I can manage. "  Nodoka replied with a smile.

"I think, " *yawn* "that we should probably head towards the Tendo Dojo soon..."

"Maybe my son, but not tonight.  Its getting late, and you need your sleep. I'll show
you to your bed."

Nodoka stood up away from the table and Ranma followed suit.

"Okasan..."

"Yes, Ranma?"

"You are not going to make me marry one of the Tendo girls, are you?"

"Family honor demands a union between the Saotome and Tendo clans..."

"But-"

"Let me finish Ranma,  "  Nodoka said, "Like I said, honor demands a wedding,
but in this case, we are probably going to have make some kind of concessions..."

"Concessions?  What do you mean?"

"I mean that I am not going to force you into a wedding, and either will Genma
if I have anything to say about the matter.  However, we are going to have to
explain things to the Tendo's."

<Bitter>  *Does she REALLY think its a good idea to tell the whole world about us?*

<Guardian>  *I agree that divulging too much information might be premature, but
if it stops a wedding...*

<Play>  *A wedding might be fun!  We can dance, and dress up, and eat lots of good-*

<Guardian>  *Play, not now.*

"Uh, Okasan...  Can we possible NOT tell the Tendo's everything... I mean not until
we really get to know them?"

Nodoka gave Ranma a side-long glance as she opened the door to his room.

"We can keep the tribe a secret as long as you want, but you have to tell
them about the Jusenkyou curse."

With a relieved look on his face, Ranma said, "Thanks Okasan, and good night."

Nodoka smiled and gently kissed Ranma on the cheek.

"Good night my son... and good night to ALL my children."

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END PART 4

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Thanks to everyone who wrote in about part 3,
I got some good responses on that one, and they
were greatly appreciated.  There wasn't much in the
way of action in this one... I guess I'm still laying
some ground work.  Things should pick up a little in
the next few parts as Ranma meets the Tendos and Akane
has to deal with Ranma's multiple personalities with out
knowing whats really going on...

Now, did Nodoka take this too easily?  I don't think so...
Parents surprise you sometimes, I know mine have.  They get
all bent out of shape over the little things, but can be
totally understanding when it comes to something that you
expect them to explode at.

I'm still stuck on the Lodoss War fic but I REFUSE to give up.
It is my only non-Ranma fic and an attempt to expand
my horizons...  part 3 of Brothers in the Art is being
written and will hopefully be out soon... once again,
thanks to everyone who C&Ced me...

until next time,

Namaste.

-anand