This is the new draft of part five of Childhood Mysteries.
Please oh please C&C for me!
Thanks
ENJOY!!
First fic alert.
I didn't create these characters or their setting. I am
using them without permission and realize that I could
get in serious trouble for this. I also realize that I
am making no profit on this work, and not really capable
of being a good lawsuit victim.
C&C welcomed and encouraged. Flames used for
experiments in spontaneous combustion.
Thanks to my pre-readers, who helped improve this work
greatly. Special thanks to Toby Kilbreath; who has
given me many ideas for this work.
This occurs after the 36 volume of the manga, meaning
that Nodoka knows of Ranma's curse, but the Saffron
incident has not occurred. It should also be noted that
I really don't know much about Nodoka's character.
Since the only character her that is mine is Miko I would
greatly appreciate it if you asked me before using her in
another work, thanks.
Here it is.
Version 1.11
Date Started: 6/16/98
Last revised: 10/02/98
-------------------------
Thoughts <>
Authors notes and details ()
Stressed words --
Sound FX and some actions**
Ranma in girl form -chan
-------------------------
What has happened already:
Late the day before Ranma received a mysterious
visitor...
The visitor left him behind a small child, with
a birth certificate proclaiming her as Saotome Miko...
Ranma takes Miko to the mall and accidentally
runs into Kuno, Kuno claims that Miko is a demon and
attacks Ranma...
After visiting Tofu, Ranma and Miko return to
the Dojo...
Unfortunately, the rest of the Tendo and Saotome
clans are home, and they did not react well to this...
And the Kuno's believe that Miko is a demon
keeping them from their loves, and plan on doing
something about it...
-------------------------
Ranma 1/2:
Childhood Mysteries
Chapter 5: Impact
-------------------------
<What now? > Ranma thinks to himself, <Its bad
enough this stuff has to start now, just when things
started to settle down. *Sigh* All I would have needed
was a few more months and everything would have been
ready, but it had to happen now...Just when everything
was calming down. >
This was just one thought of many as Ranma
climbs the stairs and walks down the hallway to his
room. But just before he reaches the door he hears it
close and catches the sound of quiet crying.
"I just had to ask." Ranma moans to himself. He
quickly steps into the room, not noticing the eldest
Tendo sister climb up the stairs.
-------------------------
Ranma entered his room with some apprehension.
Actually, though he'd never admit it (even to himself),
he's scared. Scared that Miko will ask one of the
questions he fears questions he can't really answer.
Not that the sight of Miko is any better. Miko
is as he thought crying; or to be more specific crying
into the pillow of the futon, which she is laying on
top of.
Ranma decides to start with the most obvious
question, "You heard us talking didn't you?"
Miko nods into the pillow, but doesn't look up.
*Sigh* "You weren't supposed to hear that. And
I...apologize for not making sure you where somewhere
else before they started yelling."
Miko looks up at Ranma and with tears in her
eyes asks the question he fears most, "Are you really my
daddy?"
-------------------------
One of Kasumi's lesser known abilities is
superior hearing. Kasumi can hear almost everything
going on around her with clarity that few others have.
So when Kasumi hears the door to Ranma's room closing
softly it only came surprise that it would be closing
with Ranma still in the hallway, not that she could hear
it.
Still Kasumi is definitely shocked when she
hears a faint sound coming from the room... <Crying? >
Kasumi arrives at the door about the same time
that Akane leaves her room, dressed in her usual workout
gi. Seeing Kasumi pause outside the door to Ranma's
room she decides to get closer to find out what she was
doing.
The two are joined by the middle Tendo sister
just in time to hear Miko's voice asking the question
they all wanted to know...
"Are you really my daddy?"
-------------------------
"That's what we...um...ugh..."
Akane's exclamation is cut short, when Kasumi
places her hand over Akane's mouth and makes a shushing
motion with her other hand.
<Now maybe we'll find out want is going on
here, > Nabiki thinks, ignoring the movements of her
sisters, <And then I'll ask Ranma about that money. >
<This isn't right, > Kasumi thinks privately,
<But I need to know. >
Akane just stands there in shock. <Wha...What's
with Kasumi? She's never acted like this before. >
All three girls bend closer to the door to
listen.
-------------------------
Ranma opens his mouth to answer when a loud
voice is heard yelling outside. "Damn, that's got to be Kuno,"
Ranma looks quickly down to Miko, "Stay here, I'm going to get
rid of him before he causes any trouble. If anyone but me
tries to open the door, hide, got it?"
Miko nods once.
Ranma turns and leaves, but as he does he
notices something out of the corner of his left eye.
<She's fading out...Nah, couldn't be. Worry about the
Kunos, not Miko. > He also notes that all the Tendo
sisters are out in the hallway, but puts the thought
aside for the moment.
-------------------------
Kuno is still ranting when Ranma arrives
downstairs. Both Mister Tendo and Genma are looking
bored and uninterested, they heard it all before.
"What are you doing here Kuno," Ranma asks in a
insulting drawl.
"I've come to rescue your prisoners from your
evil bounds, foul sorcerer. I will claim my loves and
rescue that child from your wicked clutches."
"And what would do with a child Kuno. It ain't
as if I really need the responsibility of a kid."
"It should be obvious to anyone that you have
bespelled my pig-tailed goddess into thinking that she
is that child's mother."
"So."
"I heard that child call you daddy. It is
obvious that by using your foul sorcery you have used
the holy bounds of motherhood to try to further your
hold on the pig-tailed girl."
Both the fathers and Ranma give Kuno a look of
pure disgust while simultaneously thinking, <Just how
stupid is he? >
Ranma advances on Kuno, intent on pounding Kuno
into something resembling bean paste. But just as he
reaches Kuno an pulls back for the first punch a loud
crashing noise is heard upstairs.
"What tha..." Ranma begins turning his head
towards the stairs.
Kuno sees his opponents lapse and with the cry
of, "Die fiend," grazes Ranma's right side, much like
the way he did in their first major fight. But instead
of kicking Kuno in all his vital points like he did the
first time Ranma chooses a much simpler path. Namely
continuing Kuno's lessons in the basic art of flying,
through the means of an applied foot to the chest.
Ranma finishes his turn and heads upstairs,
unconcerned about where Kuno lands. Though he would have
laughed if he did. Kuno was in fact very luck, if he
course had ended more than a foot to the left he would
have crashed into Shampoo, and probably have knocked her
out. Kuno, however, was in no condition to appreciate
this when one minute latter his battered and beaten body
landed in the trash out side the Nekohatten.
"...And stay out, stupid stick boy," Was the
last thing Kuno heard before he began a short unexpected
nap.
-------------------------
All Ranma needed was one question, "What
happened?"
His room is a total mess. There are black
petals everywhere, and a large hole where the window use
to be. All three Tendo sisters are standing in the room
looking around, but Miko is know where to be seen.
Nabiki answers, in a quiet tone of voice, "We
*gestures at Akane and Kasumi* where going to talk to
Miko when Kuno started ranting. Thing is we couldn't
find her, I mean she wasn't here when we came in. Then
Kodachi breaks in saying something about children and
wedding plans. Akane gives Kodachi the boot and then
you show up."
*Sigh* "Kuno was a distraction, he was going
to keep me busy while Kodachi got Miko. But I figured it
out before Kuno could get me caught up in a fight. I
told Miko to hide when I left so that's why you can't find
her. You ok?" This last was delivered to Miko, who is slowly
getting up from her prone position.
Miko nods and manages a smile. "I was hiding
when that silly woman came in. Then she *points at
Akane* kicked that lady out the window."
Akane snorts lightly and looks away.
"Thank you Akane," Ranma says politely. However
he is sighing inside, <Is she ever going to get over
this? I hope so, but somehow...I just don't know. >
"You know Ranma," Nabiki's voice was strangely
calm, "I'm willing to bet that whatever your hiding from
us is big, very big. So I am going to give you a
friendly, and free, piece of advice. Tell us now,
before we find out ourselves, things will be much easier
on you if you do."
"*Sigh* And what makes you think I'm hiding
something from you?"
Nabiki grins a predator-like grin, "Can't say I
didn't warn you Ranma. You can come to any of us when
you decide your ready to fess up."
The sisters leave, but not before each gives
Ranma a different glance. Kasumi's look was filled with
pity and a little curiosity; Nabiki would obviously
enjoy finding out everything there was about Miko, and
rubbing Ranma's face in it; Akane was just plain mad,
though something else unidentifiable was also present.
Ranma checks the hallway one more time to make
sure there are no more listeners then turns back to
Miko. <Got make sure Kodachi didn't do anyhting wierd
to her. > "Come one Miko lets get you back to Dr. Tofu's."
Ranma then picks-up Miko and carefully settles her on
his back, her arms around his neck.
"Daddy," Miko hesitantly begins, after they had
gotten halfway to Dr. Tofu's , "Remember what I asked
before that bad man came?"
Ranma freezes for a moment then nods and begins
to walk again.
"I don't want to know."
This time Ranma does more than freeze, he
face-faults (to Miko's secret enjoyment), "Wha'...why
not?"
Miko squeezes Ranma's neck a little harder, "If
I don't know I can still pretend you are, even if you're
not."
Ranma smiles a sad and ironic smile, "Ok, Miko,
I won't tell."
Miko just smiles in response.
-------------------------
One examination and lollipop (and a private
warning to watch her leg) latter Ranma and child are
back at the Tendo's. Ranma is doing a kata in the back
near the koi pond and Miko is watching from the porch.
Ranma is quietly thinking up battle plans as he
goes through his practice, <Let's see. The Kunos know
and have attacked. That means I should expect Shampoo
and the old Ghoul soon. Ukyou will probably confront me
before school tomorrow. But Ryoga could show-up
anytime. Since Nabiki isn't here my bet will be that he
shows up *tenses to jump* NOW! >
Just as Ranma's feet leave the ground the space
he was standing in became filled with umbrella, "Ranma
prepare To DIE!"
<Might as well find out what he if he's heard
yet. > Ranma grins, "Well if it isn't P-Chan! What did
I do to you this time?"
Ryoga lands next to his umbrella, which he
retrieves, and drops his pack, "You cheated on Akane!
You've been stringing her along all this time when you
already have a kid! DIE!"
"Now Ryoga," *dodges a bandana* "How can I have
cheated on Akane when I Miko is older the entire time I
spent in Nerima?" *Dodges an umbrella strike*
"That doesn't matter, because today is the day I
finish you off, witness my new technique Bakusai
Tenketsu Saikou!" (I could use a full translation and
the proper wording please)
Ryoga's new technique is an improved version of
the original Bakusai Tenketsu, with a much bigger blast
radius and a more violent explosion, an explosion that
sent large chunks of rock in every direction. Ranma
himself is easily able to dodge all the larger pieces of
rock will still maneuvering closer to Ryoga.
Miko is another story.
Luckily for her most of the rocks (and all the
larger ones) miss entirely, but in her haste to try to
dodge the rock her leg gives and she topples over onto
her side. Even worse as she lands a distinct *SNAP*
is heard.
Ryoga, Ranma, and the Tendos (who arrived before
the blast occurs) stand in total shock for about two
seconds before anyone even breaths. Then Ranma screams.
"MIKO!" Ranma shoves Ryoga aside, gathers the
unconscious Miko into his arms and is over the wall
before Ryoga has even finished falling over. If he had
stayed he would seen Ryoga transcribe a graceful
arch...right into the koi pond...
-------------------------
Ranma makes a dim note of the giant column of
blue chi that erupts in the general direction of the
Dojo, but pushes it to the back of his mind, for he had
just arrived at the clinic.
Dr. Tofu ushers Ranma out of the check-up room,
or rather tries to. Ranma doesn't seem to be very
co-operative mumbling something about 'all my fault'.
In the end Dr. Tofu hits Ranma's sleep spot, dropping
the martial artist like Kuno after glomping Akane.
<Strange, > the doctor thinks to himself, <Her
leg isn't really broken, but it's cracked slightly.
There is nothing I can really do about it though. A
cast won't really help, but a cane might. >
*Sigh* <But I doubt it will ever really heal. I
wish I knew what caused the original injury to her leg,
I might be able to do more if I did, but Ranma swears
that he has no idea what caused it. And I believe him,
not that it's any stranger than anything else he's told
me. I really should do something to help Ranma get over
Genma's interference, and Mrs. Tako's death, but
what...>
Tofu ponders on these and other thoughts as the
sun goes down and another day ends.
-------------------------
A young lady stops and looks down at a letter
she has just finished composing. Her room is clean and
well organized. Bookshelves are all over and they are
all full.
"It'll be good to see Ranma again," the lady
mutters to herself, "It's been so long..."
With a quick flourish the letter is complete and
in its envelope.
The lady smiles to herself and begins to prepare
for bed. Just before she falls asleep she has one last
thought, <I hope he has enough of a warning, things are
likely to get messy otherwise. >
-------------------------
End Part 5
-------------------------
(If I got any special technique names wrong please send
me the proper words. Thanks.)
Finally its finished!
Remember C&C is always welcome.
After all if you don't tell me what's wrong then I can't
get better.
The lady? You'll find out in a few chapters.
I'll do my best to get the next part out soon, but don't
get your hopes up too high. And check out my webpage while your at it.
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~trscrogg/index.html
Thomas Scroggs
Cartoon Survival Rule #4: You can hide anywhere. Behind
trees, boulders, anything. Just remember, unless your
hiding place is destroyed, don't change them. If you do
you'll end up hiding behind the same whatever your enemy
is.
