Part 4 is coming out in the next day or so... Any comments on this chapter will be appreciated!
Legends
Part 3
Pacing back and forth between the carpeting or the lobby, Ranma practically wore a circular track in the ground. Fidgeting with his silk tuxedo, Ranma wondered why Shampoo had made him change into these clothes, not that he minded, it still felt nice when he was babied by Shampoo. Glancing around the room he looked at the trio of women chatting to the side of the room. Shampoo had changed into a two piece dress that showed her flat stomach off nicely. The dress seemed to float around her due to the fabric it was made out of. She looked beautiful in it, her hair seemed to shine in the light and her face was angelic. Ranma smiled inwardly, he had a beautiful wife, he told himself. Ucchan wore a nice purple dress that seemed a bit daring to Ranma, it had no shoulders and showed off quite a bit of cleavage. He chuckled as her remembered Ryouga's reaction when he saw her dress.
Ranko seemed just as nervous as Ranma if not more so. She wore a simple forest green dress, it complimented her deep copper red hair quite well, on each ear she wore the pair of earrings that Ryouga had given her on their wedding day. Around one arm she wore a silver phoenix armband. That armband was a symbolic piece of jewelry that Herb had bestowed to her. Each one of them had one, Ryouga had his pendant, Shampoo had a similar armband to Ranko, Ucchan had an a pair of bracers around her wrists, his father had a ring, and he had a crown of all things. He was just glad he wasn't wearing it, it bore down on his head and cause a lot of attention he did not wish to have.
His father and Ryouga seemed to be in a deep conversation which seemed to require quite a few hand gestures and exasperated looks. They were each wearing a tuxedo each like Ranma, except Ranma had a golden sash, whereas Ryouga had a deep green sash, and his father had a white sash. Finally he rested his eyes on his daughter who seemed to be listening to every word that Cologne was telling her. She was probably the pride and joy of his life, she was the product of himself and HER. Everytime he saw her he felt pride, joy, happiness, and sadness all at once. She was beginning to look so much more like her mother as days passed by. She knew her mother had died and accepted Shampoo as her mother quite easily. She was stronger than him in some ways, yet she was so carefree and Ranma wanted to keep things that way. he didn't want her to deal with all the crap and the trials he had to be put through. He wanted her to have the best, just like he wanted his new child to have a carefree life as well. But so far, he hadn't succeeded in providing Kaze with a life that could be considered carefree. She was raised in the epicenter of a war, how she remains so cheerful all the time is still a mystery to him. It must be from her mother.
But now that the war was over, he wanted to just settle down. He no longer yearned for anymore heroics as he did when he was younger. He had been talking to Shampoo about it, she wanted to settle down as well. Where? They still hadn't decided, but he wanted a stable life for a change. Briefly glancing down at his watch he noticed that he still had twenty minutes before his mother showed up.
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As the four women sat in the car waiting, there was an eerie silence between them. Nodoka was both anxious and worried about Kasumi. Kasumi simply wasn't her cheerful self anymore. She seemd to have died a bit, everytime she saw her daughter, it seemed like she was just about to break out into tears. And the worst part was that Kasumi refused to talk to anyone about it. But soon she was going to have to sit that girl down and make her tell her what was wrong.
"So what do you think Ranma looks like?" Nabiki asked Nodoka.
"I don't know I haven't seen him in so long. Your uncle told me that he was a powerful martial artist though, and had well surpassed his own master in skill." Nodoka said with quite a bit of pride.
"Wow, I wonder if I can take him on..." Akane wondered.
"Akane-chan, I understand that you love martial arts but you don't need to challenge every martial artist you meet." Nodoka admonished.
"Yes mom. But still I haven't had much of a chance getting authentic Chinese martial artists to spar with me. They seem scarce. The ones I have sparred with were quite skilled but not one of the better ones in China. I just want to scale myself." Akane explained.
"Of course, but try not to challenge Ranma."
"I won't Mom." Akane assured her.
"Kasumi dear, why have you been so quiet this evening? Is there something on your mind?" Nodoka asked as she brought Kasumi out of a trance like state.
"Oh I'm sorry mother. I have a lot on my mind."
"Like the reason that you have to leave dinner early today?" Nodoka guessed. She was determined to ferret out the reason that her daughter was in so much pain.
"Yes." Kasumi said in a far off voice.
"Kasumi, please just tell us what is wrong. Everytime I look at you, you seem be on the verge of crying. What is it?" Nodoka questioned. Kasumi looked at her briefly before the dams broke. She could never hold anything back for long from Nodoka. Holding onto Nodoka, she cried. Startled, Nodoka simply tried to comfort her child.
"Oh mom, I'm just so confused!" Kasumi sobbed.
"What of dear?" Nodoka said as she smoothed the Kasumi's hair.
"I just don't know if I love Phadron anymore... I'm not sure of what to do!" Kasumi bursted out with a fresh new batch of tears.
"You should just dump him!" Akane commented.
"Akane you're not helping calm her down..." Nabiki said as she moved to Kasumi's side.
"I just need some time to think this through and then I will know what to do." Kasumi said as the tears subsided. Taking a few breaths she smiled for the benefit of her family.
"Kasumi you needn't smile on the outside if inwardly you are sad..." Nodoka admonished.
"But I don't want Ranma to see me weepy, it would be a terrible first image." Kasumi said as she dried her eyes.
"Did Phadron do something that caused you to want to have time away from him?" Nabiki asked hoping that Kasumi would not confirm her suspisions.
"No... I just expected something of him that I shouldn't have, and as a result... I don't know if there is anything that binds to two of us together." Kasumi said as she looked out the window.
"No matter what you decide, we'll be there with a shoulder you can cry on." Nodoka said confidently.
"Yeah, do you need me to tell Phadron of your decision?" Akane asked, while planning Phadron's demise.
"No Akane-chan, this is something I must do for myself."
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Within the city of San Francisco a force began to stir with restlessness. The shifting of the earth had woken it from its slumber. Like a bear woken from its hibernation too soon, it was not happy. It was eons too soon. But soon the Earth would feel its coming.
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Javier was a simple man, he loved to cook and he did what he liked. Tonight was a special night, his employer Nabiki and her surrogate mother Nodoka were supposed to meet a long lost relative for the first time in 23 years. From what he gathered this Ranma was supposed to have gone on some sort of a training trip before the war, but then got caught up in China when the war began. But that didn't concern him. Nabiki obviously wanted this meeting to be special, and as her employee and her secret admirer, he would oblige. Although he knew that there could never be anything between himself and Nabiki, he still admired her. Her every gesture and movement so commanding and confident. He loved that about her.
"Javier! Miss Nabiki and her guests have arrived!"
"Good show them to our VIP lounge." Javier said indifferently trying not to destroy the tedious designs he had decorated the plates with.
"Yes sir!" Smiling to himself, Javier whispered to himself
'Show Time!'
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Ranma heard some movement by the stairs on the far end of the room, looking over he saw three youthful young women gracefully walk towards them, he could see there was another woman behind them. Each of the ladies wore a mysterious smile as they regarded his group. To his side he felt Kaze and Shampoo stand next to him. Looking to his father, he could have laughed. His father seemed to be extraordinarily nervous. Ranma hadn't seen those emotions and facial expressions cross his father's face except before the war. Taking a deep breath he stepped forward.
"Hello, you three must be the Tendo sisters. I am Ranma Saotome. It is a pleasure to finally the three women who my mother is proud to call her daughters." With a grand sweeping bow he only preformed in Herb's court, he ended his short greeting. Suddenly a voice that he had not heard in 23 years called out to him. In his childhood, he always heard this voice call to him in his mind. He used to weep everytime he recalled the voice. He used to weep for days when he realized the voice had been a dream. But now, right in front of him, the voice was real.
"Ranma?"
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Nodoka was the most nervous she had ever been in her life, calling upon her years of dealings in businesses, she steeled herself and forced herself not to fidget. Her daughters walked in front of her blocking her from seeing her son. Then she heard the voice. A man's voice.
"Hello, you three must be the Tendo sisters. I am Ranma Saotome. It is a pleasure to finally the three women who my mother is proud to call her daughters." It was her son! his voice was so deep, fighting back a few tears as she was reminded that she had missed out of a large chunk of her baby's life. Her daughters parted to allow her to view a young man in an elegant bow his head facing down, his posture indicated that he carried himself as a true man of samurai descent would have done. She wanted nothing but to run to him and hug her child. Her dear sweet little boy. yet he was no longer so little anymore. He was a man, but forever her child in her heart. The tears seemed to just simply flow from her eyes.
"Ranma?"
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Both mother and son looked to see the face that had only appeared in their dreams. Ranma stood slowly as he regarded his mother. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. Searching her face, he found her eyes. They were forever beautiful, like two swirling orbs of emotions. Tears flowed down her young and dignified face. Willing himself not to cry, he took a step forward to Nodoka.
"Mom?"
His mother took several steps to him and threw her arms around him. Sweeping his mother up in a hug, he took a deep breath. She smelled the same, her touch was still like magic. His mother. This day had waited long enough to arrive. And now it had, oh how sweet it was to be held in his mother's arms again. He never wanted her to let go. Not for eternity.
"Oh my Ranma. How I've missed you."
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Nabiki looked at the man before her. Just by how he stood, she could tell he was extraordinarily powerful. He seemed to radiate confidence. Standing tall, he looked perfect, every detail about him was perfect. Briefly she judged his clothes. They were surprisingly very expensive, silk made, very hard to come by an entire suit made of silk. It seemed to be new too, that meant he had be either rich or knew the right people. As he made his small speech, she couldn't help her reaction to his voice. So deep and full of strength. Gods he was obviously Mother's son, who else could have the genes for such a man?
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Kasumi caught her breath as she gazed on the man in front of her. It couldn't be! He resonated with such enourmous amounts of chi. His heart was that of a healer's, yet his soul was that of a warrior. The different extremeties of this his character intrigued her. Who was this man? How did one man contain the malestrom of power contained within his body?
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Genma looked to his wife and son now both hugging each other. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes. It had all been worth it. All the suffering he and Ranma had to endure. This moment was all worth it. Walking to his family, he waited for his wife to release his son. When she did so, he looked at her beautiful face. She hadn't aged a bit. She was just as beautiful and youthful as the day he married her. Gods how he loved her. Even though her face was streaked with tears, it seemed to make her more beautiful. He wanted to open his mouth but nothing came out.
Nodoka relinquished her son and looked around for her husband. She found him standing just a few feet away from her. He looked the same as every, except he was much thinner now. His posture was more refined yet humbled, and his face indicated the many trials he had endured. All these years, she had questioned whether or not he was still worth waiting for, and it amounted to one answer.
Yes.
"Genma?" In a moment's notice, she was caught up in a fierce kiss. It had been so long since a man had kissed her. But that would all change, because her husband was back. The man she had given her heart to. Melting into his strong arms, she returned the kiss. After a minute or so, she felt him reluctantly break the kiss.
"Gods Nodoka, I've missed you so much!" He exclaimed to her.
"As have I anata. As have I." Looking into his eyes, she saw the man she loved, they were both back, her precious son and her love. Stepping back she looked to her daughters who all seemed to be beaming with happiness. Akane and Kasumi were crying openly, as Nabiki held back.
"Ranma, I would like you to meet three girls who have been my pride and joy for the past decade." Bringing each one of them in front of Ranma, she introduced them.
"This is Akane. She owns the largest chain of Martial arts schools around here. She is also the heir to the Tendo-ryu." The short girl bowed to Ranma as a show of respect for a fellow martial artist. Ranma nodded back acknowledging Akane as a martial artist.
"This is Nabiki. She makes many of the important decisions in my corporation." Nabiki gave him a insinuating smile and winked at him. Fighting back a shudder, Ranma knew he would have to look out for her.
"And this is Kasumi." Kasumi simply smiled at Ranma with a beautific smile. Ranma's heart stopped. 'That smile...' He thought 'It can't be.'
"Hello Ranma, it has been quite a while. I am so glad to meet you again." Kasumi said in a shy voice. She felt she had to look away. His look was so intense, she felt her body begin to heat up quickly. 'You just met him!' she scolded herself.
Ranma looked to Kasumi with a mixture of disbelief and happiness. Her voice it was the same exact match. There could be no mistake. He knew everything about her. His first love. His goddess.
"B- Bell?" He said as he closed the distance between them. He was so close to her, her scent, her aura. They were all the same! "Bell-chan? Is that you?" He turned her face to him. Looking deep into her eyes, he saw the same warmth as he did in Belldandy.
Kasumi felt her heart flutter. Ranma had just called her Bell. She wasn't sure how to act. But without a sound he seemed to materialize before her eyes. She wanted to look back at him, but his eyes. They were so penetrating. Firm yet gentle hands turned her face to him. His eyes, they were so beautiful. Kasumi tried resisting but she felt herself being drawn to him. Closing her eyes, she leaned into him. Their lips came so close.
"Hey! What are you doing to Kasumi!" Akane had yelled. This man may have been mom's son, but he was way to forward for her tastes. He was seducing her eldest sister right before her eyes! She saw her outburst break the silence in the room.
"Husband! What are you doing!" Shampoo stomped up to Ranma and turned him around. "What are you trying to do?!" Ranma floundered a bit, his confused eyes, melted Shampoo's anger as warm day melted ice.
"It's her. Bell is alive!" Ranma said excitedly.
"Ranma it can't be." Shampoo said non-commitally. She had heard the woman, it was Bellandy's voice. She would know, Bellandy was like her sister, second to Ukyou as a best friend. Looking around Ranma, she looked at the woman. Her face was different, Bellandy was not Japanese, she was European.
"Ranma, she looks nothing like Bellandy." Shampoo said in a huff.
"Her eyes, Shampoo look at her eyes." Shampoo looked carefully as her eyes widened. It was true, they were Bellandy's eyes. The kindness that reflected from those eyes were unmistakable, one of many times she remembered looking into them. Ranma gently turned Kasumi's head towards his own.
"Gods, I've missed you." Bending his neck down to Kasumi, Ranma placed a gentle kiss upon her lips. It was so full of love, longing, and happiness. However it all caught up to Kasumi as she fainted at the intensity of the kiss.
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A dark shadow stalked through the residential part of San Francisco. It neither walked, but it stumped along. It seemed to be muttering something that no one could hear, or understand. Reaching the front of a house, it stopped.
"Where is that stupid bitch!" Lightning struck in the background revealing the shadown to be Phadron. His eyes were deep red as he seethed. "She was supposed to come to me tonight! When I get my hands on her, I am going to rip her heart out and eat it. how dare she diobey me! Her master?" Striking the pavement, he cause a large crack in the ground.
"Um excuse me sir, but the Tendos have left or the evening, I don't think they are coming back tonight." A young girl said from behind him. A young and innocent girl. Phadron smiled wickedly.
"Really, tell me more..." he said as he struck the girl to the ground, rendering her unconscious. If he couldn't have Kasumi tonight, he would have another woman. Carrying the young girl away, he swore that he would teach Kasumi to disobey him.
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There was a brief touch that fell upon her face, it contained such warmth, such power, and such love. Kasumi relished the feeling, holding the hand to the side of her face. It had all been a dream, just a dream. Pity though Ranma was so handsome... As she opened her eyes, a pair of grey eyes stared right back at her. Focusing, she made out the rest of the face, a handsome man with a worried look. It was Ranma.
"Are you okay?" he asked urgently.
"Yes, I think I am." Kasumi said as she tried to stand up, but had found that Ranma had picked her up and set her on her feet with ease.
"Will someone please explain what is going on?" An annoyed Akane looked at the group of strangers crowded around Kasumi. She had it in her mind to throttle them all, except for the fact that she wasn't sure if she could.
"Ranma? Please explain." Nodoka asked of her son.
"I'm not too sure of where to start... this is unexpected." Ranma said as he turned to his mother. "Bell is here now and I'm just confused."
"Ranma... I know not of who this Bell you have mentioned, but that is Kasumi you just kissed." Nodoka informed her son.
"No mom, I know her soul, it is Bellandy, she's just in a different form. I don't know how, but she just is..." Ranma said as he turned back to Kasumi. "It's all in her eyes."
Blushing horribly, Kasumi took a step back to gain some air. It seemed that with Ranma in close proximity of her, she felt her chest tighten everytime. This was so odd, Ranma must have mistaken her for someone else. Who this Belldandy person was must be very lucky to be loved so much by Ranma.
"Husband? I think you may be mistaken... I know you still mourn for Bell, but you must understand that even though she is like Bell, she isn't Bell." Shampoo said gently. She would have been angry at Ranma if he had kissed any other woman, but this Kasumi reminded her so much of Bell. Her best friend Bell, her sister Bell, her co-wife Bell. Ranma looked to his wife and to the others in the room. Dejected, he relented. Though it had been some time, but he missed Bell very much. Kasumi seemed so much like her that he may hve jumped to conclusions. But her eyes they held the same soul as Bellandy. This would bear further invesigation. Gathering his wits again, he turned to his mother.
"I'm sorry for my improper behavior, but Kasumi sounds exactly like my first wife, Bellandy. But she died a long time ago."
"Ranma... You were married? Your first wife?" Nodoka asked hesitantly. She missed her only son's wedding! Looking to the woman who called her son Husband a horror washed over her entire being. Oh such a horrible fate, as his mother she should have been there. Her son had married twice! And now she had missed on a chance to meet this girl that Ranma had loved so long ago.
"Yes, about eight years ago mom. I'm sorry that you haven't met Bell, but Kasumi is almost exactly like her."
"Oh son, I'm so sorry. I've missed so much of your life." Nodoka cried as she hugged her son. 23 long years... It just wasn't fair. She loved being a mother, and now she had missed her chance to be one because her son was already grown up.
"It's okay mom..." Ranma said as he comforted his mother. As he slowly broke the hug, he turned to Shampoo and Kaze.
"Mom, this is Shampoo, my second wife, and Kaze my daughter." Shampoo bowed to Nodoka as Kaze just looked at her. Nodoka walked to Shampoo and placed her palm on her head. Smiling she tried to say something but it had only came out as a whisper.
"Welcome to the family, Shampoo-chan." With that she embraced the younger woman. Shampoo's eyes filled with tears as well, as she embraced her mother-in-law. Kaze walked to her father and tugged at his pants to gain attention.
"Daddy, is that grandma?" She asked in an innocent voice. Ranma looked down and kneeled to face his daughter.
"Yes Kaze, that's your other Grandma." Kaze smiled in acknowledgement and latched herself onto Nodoka's leg.
"Yeah! I have another grandma!" She squealed in happiness. Nodoka and Shampoo both broke their hug and smiled at the young girl. Gently Nodoka picked up her granddaughter. Looking at her face trying to pick out the features that her son may have passed along.
"And how old are you Kaze?" Nodoka asked as she playfully poked Kaze's nose.
"I'm almost eight!" Kaze said holding up eight fingers. "Do you know lots of stories like my other grandmama?"
"Well I know of some, I could tell you sometime." Nodoka looked upon the child with delight.
"I love stories! Like with dragons and pretty ladies." Kaze said as she snuggled into Nodoka's bosom.
"Oh what a delight you are!" Nodoka said as she held the child closer. Ranma smiled as he looked upon the happy scene before him. Shampoos snuggled to his side as she look on as well. Drying her eyes, Nodoka looked to Ranma.
"Ranma, aren't you going to introduce me to the rest of the group?"
"Yes mom, right this way." Ranma said as he directed his mother to the rest of the group. Stopping in front of Ryouga and his family.
"Mom this is Ryouga and his two wives, Ranko and Ukyou. They are my best of friends." Ranma introduced his mother to them.
"Well this is a plesant surprise, two wives?" Nodoka said questionly.
"I hold a status in the Amazon village that allows me to hold two wives." Ryouga explained.
"Well it very nice to meet friends of my son." Nodoka looked closely at Ranko and wanted to say something, but thought better of it.
"And finally this is Cologne, Shampoo's great-grandmother." Nodoka looked closely at Cologne for a moment before her eyes lighted up with recognition.
"Cologne, Grand Matriarch of the Amazon tribe?" Nodoka asked.
"Well, you caught me red-handed." Cologne laughed "Yes I am who you say I am."
"Well this is a surprise now..." Nodoka said "My sources tell me that you have direct contact with the Emperor and the Dragon."
"Well... that is true, I have known both for quite some time."
"Well we have a celebrity in our midst!" Nabiki said as she recovered from Nodoka's proclaimation.
"Now now deary I'm just here to support my great-granddaughter. She wants to settle down and I said I would help her pick out a spot."
"Well... NGR has many lands for sale... if you are interested for a purchase... or better yet a trade?" Nabiki hinted.
"Nabiki, She is family there is no need for deals and trades." Nodoka said sharply.
"No no, I enjoy these chats with today's youths." Cologne said with a smirk. Ranma cleared his throat hoping to avoid any more of this conversation.
"Well shall we be seated?"
"Of course son-in-law."
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