Ranma and Nodoka in America
                                                                  By
                                                            Dale Ratner


		Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is the property of Rumiko Takahashi. The 
Real Adventures of Johnny Quest is the property of Hanna-Barbera and Turner 
Communications. I did not have any permission in using them nor do I seek 
profit from the publication of this story. All comments should be sent to 
Shadow6865@aol.com

		Author's Notes: This story takes place after the Hiyru Shoten Ha 
Arc in the Ranma manga. 

		                 Chapter One: A Change of Scenery

		In Juuban, a handsome young boy stood nervously in front of the 
door wondering if and when he should ring the door bell. A passerby might think 
the boy was going to pick up a girl for their first date but the boy could only wish 
he was at the house for something so normal. He was hear to get help for a 
problem from a person who could be his greatest supporter or biggest annoyance 
depending on her and his mood. "It's now or never" the boy thought to himself as 
he pushed the buzzer.
		"I'll be there in two minutes" a woman called from upstairs. The 
woman was attractive with medium brown hair and large brown eyes that could 
show huge quantities of compassion but had a small twinkle that read "don't mess 
with me." "What do you want?" the woman said as she opened the door to see a 
handsome young man in Chinese clothing.
		"Hi mom. Long time, no see." the boy stated simply sheepishly 
trying to avoid eye contact with his mother. 
		Nodoka Saotome could not believe her ears. If this boy called her 
mom, the he must be Ranma! But if Ranma was here where was her husband 
Genma? Her heart stopped for a minute, she hopped that nothing happened to her 
husband but was happy that she and Ranma were finally reunited. She regretted 
allowing her husband to take Ranma on a ten year training trip, every day since 
they left. Ten years was just too long for a mother to be separated from her son, 
especially since he was so young. "Ranma, I'm so happy you're here" said 
Nodoka "but where is your father? Did anything happen to him?" Nodoka said, 
praying to Kami-sama that her husband was alright.
		"No mom, pop is okay. He is at the Tendou dojo. I had to come 
here alone without telling anyone." 
		"Why?" Nodoka said, now praying to Kami-sama that nothing 
was wrong with Ranma.
		"I have a lot of huge problems, all of which are related, most of 
which are pop's fault. We should go inside you are probably going to need to be 
sitting down, while I tell you everything."
		With those words Nodoka led Ranma to the living run and pointed 
to large couch. Ranma sat down on the couch and took a seat right next to him. 
"Please tell me about your problems?" Nodoka said sounding equally like a       
professional psychiatrist and a caring parent at the same time.
		"I better show you the first problem because that's where it all 
began. Would you please get me a glass of cold water and a glass of hot water?" 
said Ranma.
		Nodoka was puzzled by her son's request but left to get what he 
wanted. "The room is exactly the same as when I left." thought Ranma. "She 
probably kept my room the same to" he chuckled a little with his last thought as 
Nodoka returned with the hot and cold water on a tray. Ranma told her to put the 
tray on the table and to sit down again. As soon as Nodoka returned to her seat 
next to Ranma, Ranma took the glass of cold water and poured it over his head. 
Nodoka could not believe her eyes where Ranma was siting, no sat a gorgeous, 
young woman with red hair. The young woman could have easily passed a s 
Ranma's twin sister. Before Nodoka could say anything, Ranma took the hot 
water and poured it over herself and turned back to his real form. "What 
happened to you? she finally managed to let out.
		"On the last leg of our training trip, Pop and I went to a place 
called Jusenkyo. Jusenkyo is an old training ground with hundreds of pools and a 
single bamboo pole sticking out of the middle of each pool. In the old times, 
martial artists used to go there and train to get their fighting and balancing skills 
in sync with each other. There is a catch to the pool's though, if you fall into one 
you take the form of the first thing the drowned in there. I fell into the spring of 
the drowned girl, pop fell into the spring of the drowned panda. Cold water turns 
you into your cursed form, hot water turns you back." Ranma answered his 
mother.
		"And this is the first of your problems?" Nodoka said, feeling like 
she was about to faint from hearing about the problems her son had.
		"Yeah" returned Ranma. "And it gets worse form here on, you 
should probably get something to drink. It might help."
		After Ranma finished his story two hours later, Nodoka wished 
she took her son's offer of getting something to drink. It probably would have 
helped her calm down. She couldn't believe all the stupid things her husband did; 
the cat fist, engaging Ranma to Ukyou and leaving her behind while taking the 
dowry from the arrangement. She was also mad at all the people who tried to 
attack and kill Ranma for things that were beyond his control especially Kuno 
and Ryoga. Yet she could place total blame on her husband because she also felt 
responsible. If she did not allow Genma to take Ranma on that stupid training trip 
none of this would have happened. But her husband promised Ranma would turn 
into  "a man amongst men." He was "a man amongst men" alright but at what 
cost. He had few or no friends, four would be fiancées with very interesting ideas 
on showing affection. Nodoka would give anything right now, to have Ranma be 
six again, so she could raise him the proper love and attention he so desperately 
needed. "Ranma I have heard your whole story but I need some questions 
answered before I can help you."
		"Okay mom, ask away."
		"Which fiancée, do you truly love?
		"I don't know, mom. Under different circumstances I could see 
myself dating each one expect Kodachi she is just nuts. Akane can be cute when 
she smiles but she usually doesn't and she jumps to conclusions and always calls 
me a pervert when the other girls chase me. She hits me a lot too, which isn’t 
fair. Shampoo is cute and I sometimes like her affection but she is too passionate 
most of the time and I don't like the way she uses love potions and such, like I 
am a possession to her. If I knew Ukyou was a girl and she went training with us 
back then, I probably could have grown to love her. But I just see her as a friend. 
The point is if the other two weren't around, I would try to get closer with the any 
of the girls, expect Kodachi of course."
		"Family honor says you should marry Akane Tendou." Nodoka 
said.
		"It also says I should marry Ukyou to, mom."
		"I see, that is true." Nodoka said. "How about Kasumi and Nabiki, 
you didn’t mention them. How do they treat you?
		"Kasumi is nice enough to me, but she is a little too oblivious to 
notice when I am upset sometimes. Nabiki just sees me as a cash cow."
		"A cash cow?"
		"Yeah. Whenever I get some money into my pocket, she finds 
someway to get it into hers. She knows almost anything I do and she sells 
pictures of me, in both guy and girl forms. I don't mind totally though because 
most of the money goes to the dojo as opposed to herself."
		After thinking for a few minutes about her son's plight she could 
only think of one solution. "Ranma I have a possible solution to your problem."
		"Nani? What is it?" Ranma said, excited at the prospect that his 
life could become easier.
		"You need a change of scenery. If you leave Nerima and all the 
craziness behind it will probably help you sort out your problems and I will help 
you with them."
		"Thanks, mom! But if I mover here to Juuban it will take Nabiki 
one hour, tops to find me and start selling my address to everyone." 
		"I was thinking of leaving Tokyo, altogether. Do you remember 
your Aunt Sakura.
		"Yeah, I think so" Ranma said while trying to jog his memory. 
"Wasn't she the one that married the gaijin and moved to Maine or something 
like that."
		"Ranma!" Nodoka scolded. "Don't refer to your Uncle Daniel as a 
gaijin but you are correct they do live in a large house in a town called Bar 
Harbor in Maine. But you are correct I am sure we could live with them for a 
while."
		"You know this idea might just work and it will give us some time 
together." Ranma said "but my English isn’t so good, I got a B in the class but 
what they teach us in school only helps for restaurants and stuff like that."
		"I happen to be fluent so I will help get your English up to a level 
where you can talk to people in a normal conversation consider it a challenge. 
Now go take a bath, you have had a long day and I want to make your dinner and 
I need to call your Aunt and explain our problem. Nodoka said cheerfully, happy 
that her son was finally back.
		"Domo Arigato, mother." Ranma said as he ran up the stairs to get 
into the bath, happy to be back in his old house with his mother.

				    End of Chapter One

	Author's Notes: This ends the first chapter of Ranma and Nodoka in 
America. I know this chapter was a little on the serious side but I promise that 
there well be more comedy or at least comic relief in the up coming chapters. I 
want to put in The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest because I have some 
interesting ideas on how to cross the two series. Up next: Ranma and Nodoka 
arrive America, we meet Ranma's overly affectionate Aunt, His "normal" Uncle, 
His cousin who is worried about how Ranma and Nodoka are going to affect her 
image at school, and Ranma meets Johnny, Jessie, and Hadji.