[FFML][Draft][Ranma][Fanfic] Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family - Part 2
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Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family - Part 2
Ranma 1/2 characters and situations created by Rumiko Takahashi - Used
without permission
Ranma 1/2 Copyright by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Inc., Kitty, Fuji,
Viz Communications
Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family story created, written, and
Copyright 1998 by Jim Lazar
Continuity based on anime up to and including 'Back to the Happosai'
episode. Events after that episode are not part of this universe.
<Speech text in angle brackets are thought by character.>
All other speech is in Japanese, although written in English in this
story of course.
=======================================================================
This story takes place in my Ranma-ototo universe. Reading the six-part
Ranma-ototo will help you enjoy and understand this story more. It is
available on the RAAC archives or at my website at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime
Here is a brief overview of the events of the Ranma-ototo mini-series:
Ranma and Akane went back in time using Happosai's magic mirror. They
met their younger selves and Mother Tendo (called Hanaki Tendo in this
story). From this encounter, they believed that they were actually
brother and sister. They confronted Soun and Genma with this news.
After various orbit shots and threats, Soun and Genma finally told them
the truth: Ranma is really Soun and his wife's (Hanaki) son. Akane is
Genma and his wife's (Nodoka) daughter.
Akane took this news bad, very bad. After some property damage, Ranma
found her in a park. Not wanting to see her hurt any more, and because
the big jerk loves her, he proposed to Akane. She accepted.
After Ukyo saw Akane's new engagement ring, Akane and Ukyo fought.
Akane took Ukyo to Dr. Tofu's clinic to treat some bad cuts. Ranma
found her there, but not until after P-Chan's secret was revealed.
Again, they went back in time to return a five year old Ryoga (who
hitchhiked to the present with them the last time they went back in
time). They also met Mother Tendo again and Ranma carved his and
Akane's initials in a tree in the Tendo yard. They shared their first
kiss, but actually their five year old selves beat them too it. Kasumi
saw the teenage Ranma and Akane in the garden.
Back in the present, Ranma and Akane informed the Tendos about THEIR
engagement. Nabiki announced the news to Furinkan High, causing a large
fight. She sold videos of it, of course.
Here is a brief overview of the events in Ranma-ototo: Please Save My
Family - Part 1
Akane was born to Nodoka and Genma. Genma taught her martial arts
almost from day one.
Ranma was born to Hanaki and Soun. Soun taught Ranma when he wasn't
training his other students.
When playing together little Ranma and Akane sometimes were nice to
each other, sometimes fought, and sometimes played doctor. Genma and
Soun started letting them spar together to work off their excess
energy.
Nodoka Saotome went into a coma while giving birth. The child did not
survive. Genma left Akane with the Tendos while he cared for Nodoka who
eventually came out of her coma, but was not coherent.
An attempt by Genma to take Akane and Ranma on a training trip was
stopped by Hanaki Tendo. Genma relented and promised to stay and train
Akane at the dojo instead.
Under the sea, Happosai escaped from a chest that Soun and Genma had
imprisoned him in years earlier...
Note: This story has some darker parts, since it deals with some
difficult parts of Ranma and Akane's lives. I tried to keep a good
balance and I hope it isn't depressing.
=======================================================================
Genma trained Ranma and Akane in the dojo every day, they both made
great progress. Soun was a bit jealous of Genma's success, but he knew
that he couldn't give Ranma and Akane as much attention, since he had a
large number of 'paying' students to teach himself.
Genma was showing Ranma and Akane the finer points of throwing
techniques when a cold wind blew into the dojo.
"No...that's all wrong Genma, do it the right way."
Genma blanched, then slowly turned around. "Ma...st...er?" He
stammered.
"Yup! I'm back to make you and Soun suffer for dumping me into the
sea all those years ago!" The small deformed troll declared.
"Master Happosai! It's so good to see you again!" Genma said, as
he groveled at Happosai's feet.
"Genma, you poor excuse for a student. How dare you think you can
teach my techniques without my permission!"
"But, this is my daughter Akane and Soun's son Ranma," Genma
informed his master.
The two kids just looked on confused and wondered who the funny
little octopus was.
"Hmm, so my students have families now. Well, lets see what the
boy has," Happosai softened and lit his pipe.
"Ranma and Akane, show him what you can do."
"Who's the funny octopus?" Ranma asked.
"I am not an octopus!"
Genma whispered to Ranma, "Careful, boy, that is a very powerful
martial arts master. Just spar with Akane for a bit."
The two kids faced off and soon were trading blows.
"Not bad, but he needs a lot of work."
"They are only four years old, Master," Genma explained.
"When I was four I could already emit my battle aura!"
<Maybe that's why you stopped growing you little maggot,> Genma
thought.
"Okay, I'll train the boy. He shows promise."
"No, Master, I'm sure you have better things to do with your life.
Lots of bras and panties to 'collect'," Genma suggested.
"True..."
Genma smiled in hope.
"But I still need to find someone worthy of carrying on the
Anything Goes School of Marital Arts."
"Me and Soun are..."
"Complete and total failures. You could never beat me! So why
should I give my school to you?"
Genma couldn't think up a reason at that moment. He tried for the
next several years, but he never did think up a reason.
* * *
"I don't want that monster training my little boy! He'll warp his
young mind!"
"Hanaki, I know, but until we can manage to get rid of him we
can't get him mad. He could blow up the house if he got angry enough,"
Soun explained.
"You and/or Genma better be on hand during the training to make
sure that old pervert doesn't teach my son any of his perverted ways. I
will not have my son stealing underwear or running around sneaking
peeks at naked women!"
"Yes, dear."
* * *
"I want to train with Ranma!" Akane shouted for the millionth time
and started to cry.
Happosai smiled sweetly up at Akane, who was already taller than
the old pervert, and said, "Akane dear, little girls are for looking
pretty and wearing dresses, bras, and panties. Martial arts are for
men."
Ranma sadly watched Akane, as she ran away crying. He missed
training with his 'sister'.
Happosai and Ranma spent several months training. Then Happosai
disappeared for several months. Genma and Soun hoped he would never
come back.
* * *
Hanaki and Soun sat silently on their bed. Soun was holding his
crying wife in his arms. "Are they sure?"
"Yes, they want to do a mastectomy and then start the chemotherapy
right away to keep it from spreading," Hanaki explained, between sobs.
Soun looked sadly down at his wife and held her tight, then said,
"We'll beat this. I won't let our happy family lose you."
"Soun, whatever happens...keep my family together. I don't want to
see their lives destroyed because of this."
"Yes, I will. You just have to promise me you'll fight this
cancer. The woman I married would never give up a fight."
"I never gave up on chasing you. Did I, husband?"
"Nope, even when I couldn't admit my love for you. The happiest
day of my life was when I finally told you that I loved you and you
were still by my side to hear it. I cringe at the thought that I might
have waited too long and have lost you."
"Love kept me by your side until you were ready, I just hope my
children can find their loves without as much trouble as we had."
"You've brought them up well, they will be fine adults," Soun
said, then pulled Hanaki in for a kiss.
Soun and Hanaki didn't come to dinner that night. They spent the
night in each other's arms.
* * *
The days passed, Kasumi started taking care of more of the
household duties and cooking. Hanaki spent a lot of time outside the
house. 'Visiting friends' was the reason she always gave.
Happosai appeared from time to time and trained Ranma some more.
Genma trained Akane full time and Ranma while the Master was away.
When Akane turned five, Hanaki gave her a little mallet to 'even
things up a bit'. Ranma was getting extremely good and was routinely
beating Akane in their little sparring fights.
When Ranma turned five, Hanaki gave him a cute little red Chinese
outfit. He had to be begged to wear anything else after that.
* * *
Kasumi, now nine, was collecting towels when she walked into the
bathroom and saw her Mother examining herself in the mirror. "Mommy?
What's wrong with your hair?"
"Kasumi!" Hanaki exclaimed, then pulled on a shirt to cover the
scar on the left side of her chest. She looked down at the dark-blue
wig and decided that it didn't matter anymore, Kasumi had seen it all.
"Kasumi, come over and sit by me."
Kasumi did so, and sat on a bench next to her mother. She looked
up at her mother's head.
Fingering one of her remaining patches of hair, Hanaki said,
"Kasumi, I've been sick for the past few months. The doctors are
treating me, but the treatment causes my hair to fall out. They say I'm
getting better, so you don't have to worry."
"Sick? Is that why you've been out of the house so much?" Kasumi
asked. Hanaki nodded. "What about the scar?"
"Well, my breast had a disease. To keep it from spreading they had
to remove it. They call it a mastectomy."
Kasumi mulled the word over in her head. Kasumi then said, "Are
you going to be all right?"
"Kasumi, you're a big girl now. The younger kids wouldn't be able
to understand this, so please don't tell them," Hanaki said. Kasumi
nodded. Hanaki continued, "I am sick a lot now, but I seem to be
getting better. There are no guarantees in life, but I hope to be
around for a very long time. I still have to see my children get
married, don't I?"
Kasumi nodded, then hugged her mother tightly while they both
cried softly.
"That's my big girl. You're a great help to me with all the
cleaning and cooking you do."
Soun looked in on his wife and oldest daughter, then wiped the
tears from his eyes and left them alone.
* * *
Hanaki walked through the park, then called out,
"Akane...Ranma...time to go home!!!".
"Okay, Mom!" little Ranma and Akane both replied in unison and
started to run towards her.
"Hope you two played nice," Hanaki said.
Hanki looked up and saw the young couple that had been talking to
Ranma and Akane. "Oh, hi. I hope the kids didn't disturb you two?" she
asked.
"Oh no, they are adorable," the young girl with short dark-blue
hair said.
"Yes, they are, but also quite a handful," Hanaki said, then is
interrupted by a tug on her dress by Akane. "What is it Akane dear?"
"When I grow up I'm going to marry him," Akane declared, as she
pointed at the young man with the pig-tail, who looked a little
awkward.
"Well, that's nice dear, but it looks like he already has a
girlfriend," Hanaki replied, indicating the young woman.
"Oh...well...you see," the young woman began, blushed and puled
away from the young man a bit.
"Don't worry you two, the kids are very imaginative...they keep
saying they are going to marry each other when they grow up. If it
wasn't for the fact that they fight all the time, I'd think they were
serious," Hanaki said, then smiled lovingly at the kids.
The young couple exchanged glances, both troubled and knowing.
"Kids will be kids I guess," the young man finally managed to say.
"That's what I said when I caught them playing 'doctor' a few
months ago," Mother Tendo said.
"Well, it's been nice meeting you O...basama," the young woman
said, blushing for some reason.
"Yes it has, but we have an appointment we have to keep," the
young man explained.
"Thank you for entertaining the kids. You're such a cute couple,"
Hanaki said, with a loving smile on her face.
"Err...thank you," the young couple said together, blushing.
Hanaki turned and walked away, little Akane and Ranma waved
goodbye.
The older Ranma and Akane watched their mother walk away, tears
filled their eyes.
* * *
The next day, Hanaki was walking to her appointment, when she
spotted the young couple she met yesterday. "Oh, you're the young
couple from yesterday," Hanaki said, with a smile.
"Oh...hi, Obasama. It's nice to meet you again," the young woman
replied, a little nervously.
"Yes, it is. You know we never did introduce ourselves yesterday.
I'm Ryoga," the young man said, then continued, "and this...is my
fiancee Shampoo."
<Shampoo? What an unusual name,> Hanaki thought, then said out
loud, "It must be recent, you weren't wearing the ring yesterday."
"That's very observant of you. Yes, he asked me last night,"
'Shampoo' explained. She smiled broadly and held up the ring. 'Ryoga'
put his arm around her shoulder.
"Well, I know you'll make good parents. My Ranma and Akane kept
going on and on about you two last night," Hanaki informed them.
'Shampoo' blushed and said, "You seem to think very highly of
Akane, even though she's not your own daughter."
"Oh yes, I love Akane just like my other children. Her own mother
is too sick to take care of Akane herself and her father wouldn't know
how to raise a daughter if his life depended on it. He said he was
going to take her to China on a training trip. Really! Imagine taking a
four-year-old girl to China! If it wasn't for the fact that Genma
introduced me and my husband, I'd never let him near my kids," Hanaki
explained.
The young couple just absorbed all this information.
"I'm afraid I have to go and do my shopping now, you two are
welcome to come over anytime and play with the kids, I'm sure they'd
enjoy it," Hanaki suggested. "It's the Tendo house down on Takahashi
Street."
"Well, we're just visiting Nerima, but we will try and drop by if
we're in the neighborhood," 'Ryoga' promised.
"That would be fine. Oh, Shampoo dear?" Hanaki inquired, as she
leaned towards 'Shampoo'.
"Yes," 'Shampoo' replied.
"I know your fiancee may like it, but you really should wear a
bra, and boxers are really not appropriate for a young lady. If you're
not careful someone will call you a tomboy," Hanaki whispered to
'Shampoo'. Apparently 'Ryoga' heard since he grinned. 'Shampoo'
blushed. <Kids these days, well I hope my children never run around
without bras on,> Hanaki thought, then considered, <Well, I hope my
daughters don't...god forbid Ranma ever starts wearing bras or
dresses.>
Hanaki said her good-byes and then walked off to her chemotherapy
appointment, while she whistled a little tune.
* * *
Kasumi had just finished putting fresh sheets on all the beds
upstairs when she noticed two adults kissing in the garden. She looked
out the window and tried to remember if she'd ever seen them before.
<Why are those two people kissing in our garden?> she pondered, as she
watched them kissing. <They look a little familiar...>
Down in front of the porch, little Ranma and Akane were watching
the kissing adults, who they knew as Shampoo and Ryoga. "Ick, why are
they doing that?!" Ranma asked.
"It's called kissing, adults do that! I've seen Momma and Poppa
doing it!" Akane asserted.
"Well, I'm never going to do that! It looks gross!" Ranma
insisted.
"Want to try it with me? You never know it may be fun, they seem
to like it," Akane hinted, as she pointed at the couple.
"Nope, I'd never do that with a tomboy like you!" Ranma declared.
Then he noticed that she was suddenly holding her little mallet, so he
said, "Um, okay, but only once."
A little awkwardly, the two little kids leaned together and
kissed. It was just a quick press of their lips together, but a kiss
nonetheless.
Back in the corner, the older Ranma and Akane finally broke their
kiss and then spotted their younger selves.
"Icky!" Ranma shouted, as he broke the kiss.
"Baka! Fine! I will never kiss you again," Akane promised.
"Fine by me," Ranma agreed, then received a mallet blow from
Akane. They both stormed off in different directions.
After the young couple left the garden, Kasumi came out of the
house and looked closely at the initials that the couple had carved
into the tree. "T. R. and S. A.," she read aloud, as she examined the
letters with her finger. A smile crossed her face. "Oh my."
Later Kasumi was in her bedroom and writing in her diary. She
wrote the following:
=======================================================================
Dear diary,
Mother went to get another of her treatments today. She says that she
is getting better, but I'm not sure she is. She is so weak and unable
to get out of bed some days. I promised her I wouldn't tell my sisters
and brother, but I don't know how long they can miss seeing that she's
sick. I'll keep helping out with the housework, it's kind of fun being
head of the household.
A strange thing happened today, I saw a couple of adults kissing in our
back yard. They also carved some initials in one of our trees. The
initials were 'T. R. and S. A.' Those are Ranma and Akane's initials
too, but I know that the adults carved them. At first I thought maybe
the adults were Ranma and Akane, but older. Maybe I'm watching too many
anime shows on television.
I wonder if I should talk to mother and father about them?
Oh, I also met this cute young man when I borrowed a medical book from
his mother. His name is Tofu Ono. He's a teenager, but so cute and
handsome. I hope when I get older that I can marry him.
=======================================================================
Kasumi closed her diary and pulled out the medical book. She
opened it to the section on cancer and began to read it. She frowned
the more she read.
* * *
The Tendo and Saotome families were going about their lives and
looking forward to a long future together. Even Nodoka had come out of
her coma recently. Unfortunately, she was incoherent and didn't
recognize Genma at all. The few words she managed to say to him told
the doctors that there had indeed been some brain damage from her
stroke of two years earlier, but they were unable to determine when or
if she may get better. Genma tried to visit her once a week to try to
help her remember and get better. She was bedridden and only
occasionally was she even aware of others.
Genma tried to take this in stride, his lovely wife was at least
alive and able to speak. He brought Akane to see her once. Akane didn't
even recognize her mother anymore, she had gotten so used to thinking
of Hanaki as her mother that her mind pushed the thoughts of her real
mother into the dark recesses of itself. Genma decided it was better to
leave it like that until Nodoka could be a mother to Akane.
* * *
Akane was smiling. She giggled as her family all sang to her. She
then leaned over and blew out the six candles on her birthday cake. <I
wish my family will always be like this,> Akane wished. Sadly, even the
Goddesses can't grant all wishes.
"Well, Akane, what is it like to be six years old," Genma asked
his daughter.
Akane considered this question for a few seconds, then said
straight-faced, "A lot like five!" This earned laughter from all the
adults and Kasumi. The younger kids wanted to know what was so funny.
After Akane opened all of her other presents, Ranma shyly offered
his to Akane. Akane took it and opened it. It was a little plastic
ring.
Genma almost choked on his drink.
Soun started to cry.
The women all looked on with smiles, as Ranma playfully placed the
ring on Akane's ring finger.
"Isn't that adorable, looks like Ranma really wants to marry Akane
someday!" Hanaki exclaimed, looking lovingly at her son.
Soun and Genma exchanged glances and each raised an eyebrow. Soun
started to cry.
"Daddy! Stop crying all over me!" Nabiki said, trying to avoid the
sudden barrage of water. <Why does daddy seem to cry so much lately?>
Nabiki wondered to herself.
Hanaki hugged her two youngest children closely. She had stopped
considering Akane as anything except her own child long ago, she loved
Akane as much as she loved her own children.
"Maybe we should have a wedding ceremony for them?" Soun
suggested. Genma quickly agreed.
"Soun! If they want to get married in the future that's great, but
let them decide for themselves," Hanaki scolded her husband, but it was
also directed at Genma as well.
After the kids went to play, Kasumi started to clear the table.
Hanaki got up to help Kasumi, but was scolded by her oldest daughter,
"No, Mother. I can handle this. You go and rest."
Hanaki smiled and nodded at her oldest daughter, then she walked
slowly to her room.
* * *
That night Kasumi wrote in her diary again:
=======================================================================
Dear Diary,
Tonight Ranma proposed to Akane and gave her the sweetest little ring.
We all know it was just for fun, but I sometimes wonder if those two
will end up getting married someday. I hope they will, as it would be
nice to have Akane in the family for real.
I'm getting worried about my mother. She seems to be getting weaker,
although she claims she's getting better and is beating the cancer.
I did some reading about cancer and think she's putting a brave front
on for everyone. I hope I'm wrong. I don't want to loose my mother.
Will someone please save my mother?
=======================================================================
Kasumi closed her diary and cried herself to sleep.
* * *
The weeks passed, Soun stopped taking new students while he tried
to spend as much time helping his wife fight the cancer within her.
Genma took Ranma and Akane on a training trip to the mountains, they
apparently had a great time. Akane even proudly claimed to have
defeated Ranma without her mallet. Ranma denied it. Genma just shrugged
off questions about that subject.
* * *
Kasumi helped her mother into the hot bath. She wiped the water
off her face with a towel. Kasumi rubbed the sickly looking woman's
shoulders and hummed a little tune.
"You make sure to teach your children that tune, Kasumi dear,"
Hanaki said, softly.
"Yes, Mother."
"You know, don't you?"
"Yes, Mother."
"Kasumi, your father will not be able to handle this. I know
you're young, but you're going to have to shoulder a great burden. Mr.
Saotome will help, but it'll be up to you to keep the family together.
I know you can handle the household chores, but...there is much more
you'll need to do. Can you take my place?"
"Yes, Mother. I will try, but no one could truly take your place."
"First of all, make sure that Ranma and Akane grow up well. They
will take this worse of all."
"Akane?"
"Yes...she's as much a part of this household as any of you kids,
I hope she can remain a part of it. I've written letters to Mr. Saotome
and your father, they should be honorable enough to follow my wishes,
but you may have to do some prodding from time to time."
"Prodding?" Kasumi asked.
"Any good wife or mother knows how to gently guide their husband
or children down the right path. Yelling and pushing will only force
people to resist harder. Although, sometimes you have to be forceful
too, don't worry you'll know when. Sometimes a gentle reminder,
suggestion, or just a smile can move even the most stubborn people. How
do you think I got your father to marry me," Hanaki instructed,
cracking a smile. "Nabiki has a good head on her shoulders and I
believe she knows that I'm ill. She may even be able to help you with
the finances, she actually helped me with the bills for the past few
months."
"What are finances?" Kasumi asked.
"Ask Nabiki, dear," Hanaki replied with a smile. Then her body
convulsed. "Kasumi, I need the bucket." Kasumi grabbed the nearby
bucket and handed it her mother. Hanaki spent several moments throwing
up into it. Kasumi wiped the blood from the corner of her mother's
mouth.
"Isn't there anything the doctor's can do?" Kasumi asked, tears
started to flow freely from her eyes.
"I've seen many different doctors and even some spiritual
healers...I'm afraid the cancer was found too late. Kasumi when you and
your sisters...including Akane...get into your thirties, you must
examine your breasts regularly. I don't want to have any of you leaving
this world before your time."
"Yes, Mother, I understand."
Kasumi helped her mother out of the tub and dried her off. She
then helped her back to her room, and brought her dinner.
"Kasumi?" Hanaki asked, after finishing her meal.
"Yes, Mother?"
"Please save my family..."
"Yes, Mother, I promise," Kasumi said, then knelt by her mother's
side till she went to sleep.
* * *
Hanaki awoke the next day when a bright light filled her room.
When she opened her eyes, two young adults were standing over her. They
both gasped and turned to leave. "Wait...please..." Hanaki insisted.
The two figures stopped then knelt down in front of her, the man
with the pig-tail spoke," We...We're sorry, but..."
"Ryoga and Shampoo, wasn't it?" Hanaki asked.
"Yes, we heard you were sick and wanted to come by and see if we
could help," the young woman with the short blue hair said.
"That's very nice of you. I'm afraid that the only thing left is
to make sure the kids are taken care of and grow up to be fine adults,"
Hanaki said.
"They do...err...I'm sure they will," the man said.
The door opened and little Ranma ran in to the room and jumped
behind his mother. Little Akane followed him in with her little mallet
in hand. "Ranma-ototo, come back here!" little Akane shouted, taunting
Ranma with the term she knew he hated.
"Stop calling me that! I'm only three months younger than you!"
little Ranma shouted back.
Little Akane stuck her tongue out at the little boy.
"Kids, please stop. Your mother is under the weather today,"
'Shampoo' said.
"Ryoga and Shampoo! Yippie!" little Akane shouted and glomped onto
'Ryoga'.
"How's my beautiful girl?" "Ryoga' asked, messing up little
Akane's hair.
"Just fine now!"
"Ranma, I think you and Akane should go outside and play nicely,"
'Shampoo' asked nicely.
"Okay! Hey Akane race you to the kissing tree!" Little Ranma
shouted. Both the little kids ran out.
"Kissing tree?"
"According to my oldest, Kasumi, she saw you two kissing out by
the tree," Hanaki explained.
"Oh. That tree holds special memories for us," 'Shampoo' said and
blushed.
"So when are you two getting married?"
"Actually...we got married yesterday," 'Ryoga' said, then looked
at his new bride and smiled.
"And you came here for your honeymoon?" Hanaki asked,
incredulously.
"Just passing through and had to visit some family," 'Shampoo'
said, then added quickly, "in the area."
"Well, you two run off now. Have to look towards the future,
especially when you're on your honeymoon,' Hanaki insisted.
"We will, goodbye Mrs. Tendo," 'Ryoga' said, then took his wife's
hand.
"Goodbye Mrs. Tendo. Don't worry, your children will be fine."
The newlyweds turned and started to leave, then 'Shampoo' turned
around, flung herself at Hanaki, and hugged her tightly.
'Ryoga' wrapped his arms around both of them, then slowly pulled
his bride to her feet. "Goodbye," he said. 'Shampoo' was rubbing a
small plastic ring on a necklace as 'Ryoga' led her out.
They exited the room and closed the door behind them. Tears were
still flowing from Akane's eyes, Ranma held her close and wiped his own
tears away. They turned to leave, but then Hanaki's voice was heard
behind them, "Goodbye, Ranma and Akane. Live well."
Ranma and Akane exchanged surprised looks. Then they said,
together, "We will, Mother."
Ranma held the mirror and let both his and Akane's tears hit it.
"Paris?" He asked. Akane nodded. "Magic mirror, take us to Paris, turn
of the century." As the mirror flashed, Ranma asked, "You know French,
right?" Akane shook her head and frowned, then vanished. They began
their future together, even if they spent a lot of time trying to find
people who spoke Japanese in turn of the century France.
After they disappeared, Kasumi carried breakfast into her Mother.
"Here you go, Mother..." Kasumi said, then stopped as she saw that her
mother was crying. "What's wrong, Mother?"
"Oh, nothing, but I may have one more thing for you to do for our
family..."
* * *
The next day, Soun awoke and rolled over and gave his wife a kiss.
He sadly ran his hands over her remaining hair and sighed. "I love
you."
After several moments he got up and stretched. As he left the
bedroom, for no particular reason he looked back at his wife. He stood
and stared at his wife. His feet gave out. He continued staring at his
wife. He willed her to breathe. Just one. Only one. Was that too much
to ask. Just one breath.
Later, Kasumi found her father cradling her mother in his arms. He
had run out of tears to shed long ago, but the expression on his face
told the story. Kasumi calmly slid the door closed and knelt down
facing her father and mother. Tears flowed from her eyes, but she just
waited until her father spoke.
After many minutes and with a scratchy voice, Soun asked, "Kasumi
dear. Will you please say goodbye to your mother and then go get Mr.
Saotome?" He didn't look up at his daughter once.
"Of course, Father," Kasumi said. She stood up, took one of her
mother's hands in her's, and said a soft, "Goodbye, Mother. I'll keep
my promise." Wiping the tears out of her eyes, she left to go find Mr.
Saotome.
* * *
"Where is Mommy?"
"Mommy had to go away."
"Where."
"Heaven."
"When is she coming back?"
"She can't, but she'll be keeping an eye on us."
"I want my Mommy back!"
"I know, we all do."
"Mommy!"
"Mommy!"
"Mommy!"
"Mother."
"Hanaki!!!!!" A muffled cry came from another room.
"I'm so sorry, Soun."
* * *
"Mommy!" Akane cried out.
Kasumi rushed in and held Akane close, "It's okay, Akane, I'm
here...no one will hurt you. I promise."
"Mommy!"
* * *
Ranma tossed rocks at the fish in the koi pond. The fish just
ignored him. Ranma jumped into the pod and chased the fish. Genma
lifted him out, then yelled, "Ranma! Stop it. The fish didn't make your
mother go away!"
"I don't care! I want Mommy back!"
"I know. We all do. Please calm down...we can go train in the dojo
if you like."
"No! Martial arts are stupid!"
"Just let your anger out, boy. Things will get better."
* * *
The next few days were hard ones at the Tendo household. Soun
never came out of his room, he just spent the days and nights crying
while he stared at pictures of his wife.
Nabiki mopped around the house, occasionally helping Kasumi with
housework.
Genma arranged the funeral, plus tried to keep Ranma and Akane
occupied by doing some sparing and training in the dojo. Akane started
to take her anger out on Ranma, both during training and after. After
couple days of this, Genma tired to take Akane home with him, but she
screamed and clung to Kasumi and called her 'Mommy' in her sorrow.
Soun, Kasumi, and Genma all decided to let Ranma stay over at the
Saotome house until Akane calmed down and stopped smashing Ranma with
her mallet, or whatever else was handy, every time she saw him.
* * *
The day for the funeral came. Kasumi had gotten Akane and Nabiki
dressed. She then had to try and get her father to snap out of his
depression. "Father, it's time to for you to clean up and get dressed
for the funeral," Kasumi said, calmly.
"Why? She's gone...no reason to do anything," Soun said, just
staring at the ceiling as he lay on his futon.
"FATHER!" Kasumi yelled, then softened again, "Your children need
you to be strong for them now. Ranma will be there too. You want him to
think his father is dead too!"
"Kasumi?" Soun muttered.
"Father, just get through today. Then take it one day at a time.
Mother doesn't want you to collapse in on yourself. Your family needs
you now," Kasumi said, then took her father's hand in hers.
"Hanaki?"
"Father, I promised Mother to keep this family together. The first
step is saying goodbye to her," Kasumi said, calmly. Her father didn't
move. Then Kasumi yelled, "NOW!" She slapped her father, very hard.
"Kasumi?" Soun said, holding his cheek.
"You need to clean up, I'll lay out your good clothes."
"Yes, dear."
"Thank you."
* * *
A cool wind blew across the cemetery. The Tendos were already
standing in front of the grave. Kasumi stood by her father's side and
supported him. Little Akane clung to Kasumi's leg. Nabiki stood beside
Akane. Kin Ono and her son, now in his late teens, walked up and joined
them.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Tendo. If there is anything my family can do,
please ask," Kin Ono said, then hugged Soun.
"Thank you," Soun replied, between sobs.
Kasumi pulled Akane close, then said, "Remember, Akane, no
fighting with your ototo today."
"Kay," little Akane said, then wiped her tears away.
Genma carried little Ranma up to the grave. He looked sadly down
at the grave, then looked at the Tendos and his daughter. "Tendo.
Kids," Genma greeted them and nodded.
As the priest walked up to the grave, Kasumi looked over and saw
two young adults standing in the shadows cast by the trees. She thought
she recognized them, but wasn't sure.
* * *
The older Ranma held his new bride close. "She will always be your
mother, Akane," he said, holding back his tears.
Akane clutched the plastic ring between her fingers and she cried
softly into Ranma's chest.
The funeral came to a close, Kasumi looked over again at the adult
Ranma and Akane. She smiled, nodded, and then herded HER family away.
Both pairs of Ranmas and Akanes, old and young, walked away from their
mother's grave holding each other's hands.
Ranma held his bride close and kissed her, then said, "One last
stop then we start our honeymoon?"
Akane nodded and cried on the offered mirror.
"Magic mirror, please take us to see our mother the day before
she..." Ranma said, then trailed off. The mirror knew. The mirror took
them where their hearts wanted to be, even if their hearts didn't want
their mother to die at all.
[End - Part 2]
=======================================================================
Email me at: mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net with comments, criticisms,
or if you would like to join my pre-reader list.
http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime
Author's notes/ramblings:
Well, I wasn't planning on continuing events started in my Ranma-ototo
mini-series, but couldn't resist looking back and looking first hand at
the events that caused Soun and Genma to swap Akane and Ranma.
I gave Mother Tendo a name in this story because events were focused
more around her (in the original Ranma-ototo mini-series I referred to
her only as Mother Tendo). Hanaki means 'flower spirit'. I thought it
appropriate for her.
As I reviewed the various Anime episodes, most especially the first TV
episode, I was amazed at how easy the altered events in Ranma-ototo
could be incorporated. Many of the references in Ranma 1/2 were usually
vague enough for me to flex them a little bit. Even Happosai's history
was easy to integrate. Having him out of the way for the early years of
Soun and Genma's marriages made sense. Then at the ten-year mark before
the Anime started, to have him escape an earlier incarceration by Soun
and Genma worked well.
I'd like to thank various FFML members and my pre-readers: xxxx, xxxx,
and xxxx. Of course in the end, any mistakes and botched characters are
my fault.
Revision 0.0 - Rough draft (May, 1998)
Revision 0.3 - Pre-reader draft (June 6, 1998)
Revision 0.4 - FFML draft (August 3, 1998)
Revision 1.0 - First RAAC posting (??? ??, 1998)
--
Jim Lazar
E-Mail - mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net
Home - http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar
FanFiction - http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime
"You made Akane whose daughter?!?!"
"Genma's."
"Has she hit you with her mallet yet?"
"Several times, actually."