A Duet of Pigtails
Her Prelude: Where I Am Today
By Libby Thomas
Magic Knight Rayearth and Ranma ½ belong to their particular owners. They're not mine. If they were, I
wouldn't have to say this.
I never thought it would happen.
Love, I mean. I really never thought that things would be the way they are, and yet, somehow it makes
sense. Magic begets magic, and here I am, nearing thirty, with our newborn twins in my arms, watching
him train his son, my stepchild.
It's a beautiful day here at the Saotome-Tendo dojo, and we've just gotten back from Ono's clinic, where
Tofu gave Hikama and Hotaru a clean bill of health. My oldest friend, my pet, Hikari sits aside me,
watching the children as though they were his own.
I love my husband, and my sons and daughter. But, I can't help but think, if fates had worked out
differently, maybe this would not have happened this way. Maybe I'd be back on Cephiro, with Lantis.
Maybe my husband would still be with his first wife. But, things don't always work out that way, do they?
They haven't seemed to work out that way since the day I was told those dreaded words, words spoken by
someone I thought was my best friend:
(<>)
"I'm carrying his child, Hikaru," she said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen."
I stared at Umi in shock. Here she was, a month after we'd returned from Cephiro after a casual visit--that
lasted about three months Cephiro time. I wanted to see Lantis again, and we had to bid farewell to Fuu,
who would be staying behind to marry Ferio, and become his queen. Initially, I had thought that there was
going to be a conclusion of the building romantic tension between Umi and Ascot. There was, and I didn't
know about it until it was too late.
It happened the night of the Wedding Reception. There they were, in all their splendor, King Ferio and
Queen Fuu, the happiest couple I'd ever seen. I sat there, hoping that Lantis would make me that happy
someday. When I looked at him, though, he seemed as though he had a little too much to drink. I shouldn't
have been surprised at that. He and La Farga were there, split between maintaining a dignified front like
Cephirian nobles and having fun like soldiers will (in this case, having a drinking contest between
themselves, Geo, Zazu, and Ascot). Over in the corner, again, not surprising, Umi, Presea and Caldina
were doing pretty much the same thing.
Everyone knew I didn't drink, so I was never invited to the matches, such as they were. Sadly enough,
though, everyone else at the party was leaving me alone. I suppose they thought I was unapproachable,
even with my easygoing demeanor. I mean, I was Shidou Hikaru, the Knight Commander of the Magic
Knights, and if that wasn't enough, I was the Pillar of the planet, regardless of whether I'd abolished that
system.
I decided to take a walk before anyone thought about my discomfort and tried to take away from Fuu and
Ferio's moment. I went out the main hall, taking the time only to use my gauntlet to change from the
formal kimono I'd brought to the dinner to a pair of pants and a shirt. I ended up walking amongst the
courtyards for a few hours, enjoying the peace that Cephiro had enjoyed for so long, soaking in the
tranquility that existed amongst the people (literally soaking it in, as though it permeated my skin; being the
last Pillar, I was still at one with the planet in the same way as Emeraude had been).
Upon my return to the palace, on my way to my chambers, I saw Lantis, carrying what was clearly a drunk
Umi, to the Water Knight's chambers. At the time, I should have known better; I saw he was still a bit
drunk as well. I never put two and two together; I was too trusting and naïve at the time.
It never dawned on me until that moment, three months later, when I stared at Umi as she told me what
they had done. Neither never meant to hurt me, she said. She told me that she was honorbound to return to
Cephiro and marry Lantis, or to seek his approval for an abortion here in Tokyo.
I never heard the rest. I turned and ran, tears falling down my cheeks, never hearing her cries telling me to
stop, to come back, to forgive her. I never did, that day.
I never have, in the six years since.
(<>)
I never thought I'd find love, ever again. I never was going to seek it. I never told my brothers why I never
dated, nor why I never spoke to Umi anymore (they knew that Fuu had moved to another country, but
nothing more). And as my older brothers married, I found myself hurting more and more, but unwilling to
forgive Umi or to return to Cephiro. On my end, I had never been summoned, and though I missed Fuu, I
would not return to Cephiro if I could avoid it. Petty, I admit, but I was the first time that I'd ever been
betrayed, and I didn't know how to handle it.
I'll never know what called me to Tokyo Tower that day, but I thank the kami for it. Nostalgia, or maybe a
sense of longing--there certainly was no demand for the Fire Knight--but nevertheless, I was there. I had
just finished looking out at Shinagawa-ku through one of the pay-viewscopes (since that first day, I always
made sure I had plenty of 100-en pieces when I went there), when I when I saw him. He caught my mind
in a way that no other man had. He looked so sad, as though he was emotionally dead, if not for something
that I didn't know. He was sitting there, on one of the benches with a very beautiful woman, and for an
unknown reason, I felt jealousy. I later found out, it was his older sister, Nabiki.
(<>)
Nabiki looked as if she was at her wit's end about something with him, but she left, and I heard her say
something to him as I walked towards the nearby soda machine: "Please cheer up, Ranma. You're not
doing anyone any good. It's been a year since she died. Let her go. You have no idea how hard it is for me
to say that, and it means everything to know you still love her, but let her go before you destroy yourself.
Please."
"I…can't, Nabiki," he told her, and his voice seemed to wrap around my soul. "I just can't."
"I have to go to work now, Ranma. I'll talk to you tonight." He nodded solemnly and looked forlornly at
her as she walked away.
Ranma. The name meant wild horse, but I saw nothing wild about him, except may be his choice of dress:
something that looked fairly Chinese. Rather, I saw someone who was empty and hurting, who existed
rather than lived, something in his pale blue eyes that spoke of a pain deeper than anything he'd ever
experienced. Someone just like me. Before I knew what was going on, I found myself next to him, asking,
"Excuse me, but is this seat taken?" He looked at me, and said nothing.
Then he looked at me again. With astonishment. And as I looked at him, I noticed something as well: he
looked exactly like me. Not exactly, mind you; I'm female, and I was sure (long since confirmed, thank
you) that he was male. Not wanting to sit there all day looking goofy, " I said, I couldn't help but think that
you looked so sad, so I thought misery loves company. By the way, my name's Shidou Hikaru. What's
yours?"
"Ranma. Saotome Ranma," he said, still looking at me with absolute wonder. "I'm sure I sound crazy
when I say this, but are you for real?"
I hmphed, though more puzzled than insulted by his words. I should have been, but there was too much
disbelief in his tone to make me think that I was being insulted. However…. "Well, if you feel that I'm that
kind of woman, Saotome-san, then it must have been a mistake for me to come over here and talk to
someone who seems to be in as much pain as you seem to be. My regrets. Good day." I got up to leave.
His hand clamped around my wrist, desperately, as though I was a lifeline. But as that hand clamped on, I
heard the sound of my can of tea (open, but otherwise untouched) being knocked over, immediately
followed by, "Shimata…." That voice sounded way too eerie. That voice sounded almost like mine. I
turned around, and got the surprise of my life.
There, where Ranma had been, was a woman, who with the exception of slightly wet Chinese clothing and
pale blue eyes, looked as though she could have successfully passed as my twin sister. And as those blue
eyes locked on to my own brownish-red ones, I heard her say, "And now I hope you understand why I said
what I did, Shidou-san. Sorry about this."
In the hours that followed, we went to dinner at this nice little place out in Yaesu-ku that I knew about.
Something magical (even for two such as we) must have happened that day, for I told him everything about
myself, and though I didn't think he was going to believe me, but he did. I then listened to his life--no less
fantastic than mine--and I already believed him, since he had transformed right in front of me. That night,
in the center of Tokyo station, as we gave each other our phone numbers, I hoped I could see him again. I
wanted to see him again.
I wanted to know if I was falling in love.
The next day, he called, and set up a date. That date went along wonderfully, like a dream. And so did the
next. And the next. And everyone one we had, from the day he told me he loved me, to the day he
confided that he had been married once before--and had a child from that previous marriage, to the day I
became Saotome Hikaru.
(<>)
In the four years since we met, I've adjusted to my life with Ranma and his transforming. He's made me
feel even more complete than I thought. I think I have, as well. I know I'm not a replacement for Akane,
and I hope that someday we'll be able to tell Akama about his real mother, but I hope that wherever she is,
I'll take care of her family as though they were my own. Which they are, assuredly.
And the rest of his family, too--that's something that has been odd to adjust to. I don't like Genma, his
father, not one bit--I see that man worse than Ranma does, and only because Ranma can't quite bring
himself to hate his own father for what he's done to him. His mother, Nodoka, is the exact opposite; there
is nothing I wouldn't do for her. Likewise goes for his sisters, Nabiki (who lives nearby with her husband)
and Kasumi (and the same extends to her husband, Tofu, as well); apparently their father died of something
the same year Akane did. His best friends, Ryoga (those two love to spar with each other, and I think
Ryoga's wife Akari is a dear) and Ukyo (it took her a long time to accept me, even though she knew she
could never have Ranma's love) are absolutely great.
As for my family, he adores my brothers Satoru, Kakeru, and Masaru, and they treat him as one of them.
They've been teaching him kendo, which he sometimes practices with me or Nabiki's husband Tatewaki; he
in turn has been teaching them (and me) that curious karate style known as Musabetsu Kakoto Ryu. Now
that I'm now longer pregnant, I hope to be able to resume my training once I get the chance.
Most of all, there's the twins that I recently gave birth to, Hikima and Hotaru. Hikima looks like a male
version of myself or Ranma's female variant; his red hair and blue eyes are breathtaking, and so peaceful. I
wanted to name Hotaru after Akane, but he'd already done that with Akama, and he wanted to be able to
move on. Hotaru's inherited her father's black hair and my brownish-red eyes, and certainly his sleeping
habits (both Hikima and Akama are very light sleepers, like me).
I'm jolted out of my thoughts as Ranma snuggles up to me, saying, "They're as beautiful as you, love." I
turn to respond, but I find myself being hugged by Akama who tells me how much he loves his mother; as
he says that, I can only hope Akane understands. As he lets go, I look into Ranma's eyes, mouthing silent
words of love to him.
Before he can answer, the phone rings. "I'll get it," he says, "It's probably Ukyo wanting to know if we're
still coming for dinner tonight." At the mention of her name, Akama jumps up and down in delight about
how he just loves his Aunt Ukyo. Personally, I think Ukyo spoils him rotten, but with no children of her
own, I can't blame her. Ranma then goes inside, while Akama decides to wrestle for a while with Hikari.
A second later, the smell hits me; it's time to change diapers. I get up off the tatami mats, and ask Akama
to pick up the cushions and clean up the dojo a little bit. He nods, and heads to get the broom, though I'm
sure in a few minutes he'll be doing some kind of martial arts training instead. He's so much like his father
(and from what I'm told, Akane as well), but still, he's a well-behaved boy.
As a walk into the house, Ranma comes out of our bedroom, a worried look on his face.
"Who was on the phone?" I ask, worried about the look on his face.
"Just…just Ukyo," he says a catch in his voice "She asked what time we'll be over, and I told her sometime
about 6 or so." He's got something behind his back, as though he's trying to hide something.
"Love," I say, "what's wrong? Don't deny it. I know something's wrong." He holds up the item behind his
back, and a second later, the look on his face is matched only by my own.
It's my white gauntlet. The Guantlet that makes me the Fire Knight.
The red escudo gem is glowing.
I'm being summoned to return to Cephiro.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
This came out of an earlier project that I found I couldn't continue. Like Her (by the Eternal Lost Lurker),
the project that I was working on simply didn't suit me anymore, though the basic elements of it did.
Unlike Lurker, this was the basis of an earlier Ranma-Rayearth crossover, also based in part on Rob
Barba's Tales of Shampoo series. I decided to discontinue Tales of Shampoo vs. Magic Knight Rayearth
because there are things that I wanted to do with it that would have seriously messed up his continuity.
Those random elements will end up here (along with some of the "canon" TOS vs. Rayearth elements.
Likewise, those canon elements will be absorbed into TOS.
I hope you'll enjoy this little endeavor.
NEXT: HIS PRELUDE: AKANE NO NICHIBOTSU
