Release 1.1 - To FFML, with love.
Hi. It's been a while since I've written anything new. As an update,
P-Chan day is under production, Untitled (the big timeline) is under
production, Tocatta and Fugue is under production, Stock Uh-oh is on hold
until some more of these are further along, and this is under production.
Whee. I'm taking Japanese this year in college too!
Disclaimer: My ideas, not my characters.
--
Getting Home Wednesday
Forward: Nodoka's June
In her younger days, Nodoka, the current Mrs. Saotome, was
known as a beautiful, honorable young lady with a heart of gold. She would
give of
herself to let others succeed, even if it meant that she might not get to do
what she wished to do.
She grew up, and met her love, one Genma Saotome, of the Saotome
School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. And it was good, and she was happy,
except that she always worried about his abilities to raise a son, even
before their son, Ranma, was conceived.
So, when Ranma was five, and Genma and he left upon a training
trip that was to last ten years, she cried. Not for loss of a son, but in
hopes that he would be what Genma had promised he would be.
Life always was funny like that.
-----
The sun shined on Tokyo on a June day in 1991, as an auburn
headed Japanese woman in traditional garb walked through the park. Her eyes
were reddened (as though by tears) and people would later remark that she
carried herself with slightly less aplomb than usual. The woman sat upon a
park bench and
gazed longingly at the children in the playground near the center of the
park.
<Children. My child.I hope that he is well.>
"Pardon me. Is this seat taken?" asked a young girl, who looked
to be about seven years old.
"Oh, not, not at all. Have a seat, young lady."
"Thank you."
The young lady and the woman sat in silence for several minutes,
as the young lady intently studied the woman's features, while the woman
continued to watch the children play.
"So, child, where are you from? You don't seem to be Japanese.
But I must say, you are quite good at speaking the language."
"I'm from Asgard...Norway, I mean. My sisters and I came here
on
a trip to Japan because our father works all over the world, and we might be
spending some time over here someday soon."
"I see. Oh, I forgot my manners, young lady. My name is Nodoka
Saotome."
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Saotome. My name is Skuld."
"Well, it is my pleasure Skuld."
"Can I ask you a question?" Skuld began, stopping for a gesture
to continue, "Mrs. Saotome, do you have any children?"
"A..a son."
"Is he out there? In the playground, I mean?"
"No, no he isn't. I haven't seen him in over a year now."
"Oh," Skuld paused, thinking about this. "Have you seen him out
then?"
Nodoka chuckled. "No, child, no. His father and he went on a
training trip to make him a man among men. My son, Ranma, will be the heir
to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts."
"Wow!" exclaimed Skuld, her eyes widening at the name of the
school. "What does that mean?"
"It means that his father is teaching him, so that when he grows
up, as a man among men, he can keep the school and family alive."
"Coooool."
"I just hope...I wish that Ranma would be above any other
man.that
he'd be the best he could be."
"You do? You must really love him."
"Yes, I do. You're a very precocious young lady, you know."
"Thanks, Mrs. Saotome!"
"SKULD!! IT'S TIME TO GO!" yelled a voice from across the park.
"Uh-oh. That's my big sister Urd. Mrs. Saotome, I promise that
someday he
will be, and I'll come visit you then. Bye!" shouted Skuld as she scrambled
off, her body glowing slightly.
Nodoka just chalked that last statement up to childhood
innocence, and the
glowing up to the warmth of the sun. She stood up, and her back seemed to
straighten and a small smile came across her lips.
---
Belldandy sat in her office in Asgard, looking over the files of
people who were to be granted wishes during the week on Earth.
"Rosen, Rubini, Rzazao, Saotome, Schwartz...wait, Saotome's
done.
But that wasn't supposed to happen until later on today. Sister!"
"Yeah, Bell?"
"Did you take care of Nodoka Saotome?"
"Who?"
"I guess that's a no."
"So, what's wrong? She got her wish, right?"
Belldandy looked up at Urd. "Yeah, but it says that it was
granted by the Goddess Relief Office. Not the Earth Relief Office, or that
other office. By one of us."
"So, whose name is on the file as the granter?"
"Let me check, sister...oh, my."
"Oh my? There's an Oh My in this office?"
"No. The granter is named as.Skuld."
"Oh, my," concluded Urd. (1)
-----------
(End Forward, Draft version 1.1)
(1) Why is Skuld, of all people allowed to grant this wish? She probably
needs a license to do so, and she's a bit young. Well, it wasn't quite a
total wish, but a goddess's promise is very strong (and the fact that she
was due for a wish altered the promise even further). Plus, the entire
episode was conducted like a wish scene, if you think about
it. She wished for something good, and it was done as a conversation that
led up to Nodoka mentioning what she wanted most in the world. Plus, the
Ultimate Force would always have final say on a wish anyway, and if it
judged the wish, through Skuld, to be good, then I don't see why it wouldn't
get approved. That's how I feel. Tough luck.
----------------------------------
Jerry / Patch Monkey
Lord of Darkness, Brenin of Light
Reverend of the ULC
maddhatter@earthling.net jlevine@wam.umd.edu
http://maddhatter.cjb.net
"You can find true love in the Konan Empire,
but no fast food." - Miaka's Lesson
Hi. Pleased to meet you. I'm a man of wealth and
taste. I've been around for many years, and I've
stolen many a man's soul and faith. Hope you can
guess my name.