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A Healer's Art
By DeepQuote <>
early chapters can be found on the TASS archive or
fanfiction.net
Chapter 3 "Where have the good men
gone?"
"...." Words
*...* Thoughts
<Panda
Sign>
Ranma's Saotome's first taste of Medical School
was rather unexciting. It was a large room reminiscent of a large movie theater,
with a large white board at the from of the room, with seats facing it on an
incline. Ranma had heard several of the other students refer to it as "The Pit."
Sitting there amongst the students, Ranma enjoyed his anonymity. He was quite
happy that no one there had heard of the great Ranma Saotome. It allowed him to
simply watch and observe his fellow classmates, instead of being the one who was
watched.
Biomedical Ethics was the class that Ranma was
waiting in. Using his time wisely, Ranma readied his notebooks and other
materials. Closer and closer the time for the class drew. However, there was
still no sign of the errant professor, and Ranma began to hear complaints among
his classmates. Ranging from guesses on the professor IQ to statements about
leaving in another 5 minutes. Satisfied with his current setting, Ranma's eye
once again began to wander the room. Out of all the nameless faces of his
classmates, Ranma's eyes were drawn to a brown haired gaijin sitting directly in
the center of the room.
Peering closer at the man, Ranma observed the man's
face to be a mask of cool control behind the mustache and goatee he presently
wore. The whole time, the professor seemed to be mimicking Ranma as he too
looked around the classroom observing the occupants. Intrigued by this seemingly
common trait, Ranma continued to watch the man.
Soon the whole class was just about to leave, when
they all noticed the man who had been sitting in the middle of the classroom,
walking to the front after placing his bag on the professors desk. With a
slightly raised voice, he silenced the room as he said.
"It is exactly 8:30. Class is now in
session."
The silence was deafening, as embarrassed students
realized the professor had been there the whole time.
"I would like to welcome you to Biomedical Ethics."
The professor continued addressing the class. "In other words, Welcome to hell
and I am your professor."
Silence would have been an understatement until a
group of students from the back bolted out of their chairs and ran out of the
room. The remaining students just stared at the professor.
"Ahem!" He started by clearing his throat. "Now
that we have been begun allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Alexander, and I
currently teach here at the university as well as take on a few shifts as a ER
physician at the local hospital. As for all of you, please let me know your name
when you give an answer to the questions I will pose to you during class.
Hopefully it will not take me long to learn your names. Now to the important
part. Why was I sitting among you, posing as a student? Anyone know?"
A small trembling hand that belonged to a young
woman sitting in the back was slowly raised.
"Yes, young lady... and please tell me your name
before you answer."
"I am Noriko Tanaka, and I think that you were
sitting among us to hear what we were saying about you."
A grin split the professor's face as he
replied. "Nice try, but no. Anyone else? "
"Ranma Saotome, Sensei. While sitting among us,
you were watching and observing gaining information about your students."
"Correct, Mr. Saotome. I spent my entire time
here simply watching and observing, slowly gathering and deducing information
about all of you. Let me ask you another question. Was my actions the actions of
an ethical person?"
From the back a hand raised, this time from a
young man surrounded by several girls batting their eyelashes at him, with coy
looks on their faces.
"Go ahead." The professor said motioning to the
student.
"Your actions were unethical, sir. It was a
deception plain and simple. By playing the role of the student you go in our
defenses and invaded our privacy."
The young mans voice was cool as ice, and was
clearly hiding barely repressed anger.
"And you are?" The professor inquired, unaffected
by the glare being sent to him by the professor.
"Akira Hyabusa"
"Does anyone here disagree with Mr.
Hyabusa?"
The room seeming grew restless as no one saw
fit to argue with the angry man in the back. Ranma grew irritated at the
cowardly lack of action and raised his hand.
"Ah, Mr. Saotome."
"I think several people would be glad to know
that the only doctor in the room noticed certain things. For example, the young
lady with asthma in the front row, The man in the back whose stomach is hurting
him, the guys sitting on the side, who are hungover, not to mention, the young
ladies in the back who happen to think you are cute,
Alexander-sensei."
A light chuckle escapes the professors lips as
he states, "Very good Mr. Saotome."
Ranma allowed himself a small smirk as his
comment caused a flurry of reactions from his fellow students. Leaning back in
his chair, Ranma allowed himself to relax his thoughts wondering from the now
heated discussion in class. * I always was the start of
things.....hehehe...Just like back in Nerima...* Ranma sighed
heavily, as his thoughts turned back to those he left in Nerima.
The Tendo Dojo
"Acchoo!" "Oh my! Someone must be thinking
about me!" Kasumi explained as her otherwise unexplained sneeze interrupted her
daily chores. The Tendo family laundry was the last thing on her list of things
to do, and Kasumi seemed very upset at that fact. *The laundry loads used to be
some much bigger...they have been so small since....* Kasumi's
thoughts were stopped suddenly as a bright red Chinese shirt was being
automatically folded. *Ranma* Clear tears trace the smooth
contours of the eldest Tendo daughters face. *Ranma.....I...I .. miss
him...I never knew how much he meant to me....* The river of tears grew and
intensity as Kasumi's memory would not let her forget the man, her heart called
for.
**********Flashback**************
A few weeks before Ranma's
"Departure".....
"Kasumi!"
"Over, here Ranma-kun. I'm in the
kitchen."
Briskly walking in with his own brand of graceful walk,
Ranma's female form sauntered into the Tendo kitchen seeking the eldest Tendo
daughter.
"So is there anything I can help ya wit today?" Ranma asked
politely, his good mood plainly written on his face.
Kasumi stands serenely
in the kitchen, her apron splattered with some otherwise unknown substance. AKA
Akane's cooking. Her downcast expression was completely evident to Ranma as he
saw though the soot marks covering her face.
"Akane tried
to cook again, didn't she?"
"Ranma no it was....<sigh> Yes, Ranma
she did. I just got finish cleaning it up, and SHE DIDN'T EVEN HELP
ME!!!!"
Composing herself quickly, she spoke once more. "I'm sorry,
Ranma-kun. I did not mean to yell at you."
"Don't worry Kasumi, I understand.
Are you SURE there isn't anything I can help you with?" Ranma flashed her a good
natured smile, his mind bound and determined to cheer Kasumi up. A flash
of regret seems to cross Kasumi's face as she replies. "No Ranma, I'm afraid all
the chores are done, I am just working on dinner."
"Oh..ah So no magical princes have kidnapped
Akane?"
"No Ranma, she is upstairs."
"Are you sure her cooking is
dead?"
"Yes I am.
"So you need help beating the stain out of a
shirt?"
Ranma's lopsided grin proved more amusing to Kasumi than his
attempting at humor, she let loose a small giggle.
"Ack! laughter from
Kasumi! She must be sick!"
Moving with his infamous speed, Ranma
quickly seats Kasumi down proceeding to check her temperature with the back of
his hand, feeling for her pulse, and looking deep into her eyes. Ranma's antics
were not in vain as Kasumi's short giggles became full blown laughed as Ranma
continued with his "Tofu-like" Examination of his patient. Even his naming of
the vegetables was getting to her.
"Ranma....ok...ok...<giggle> you
win! You can help cut the vegetables for dinner!"
"Cut up my sammy-chan! I'd
never...."Ranma could no longer contain his own laughter as he joined Kasumi in
laughter. Grinning a little more, both of them proceeded to get lost in the
peaceful routine of making dinner. Ranma stood close to the counter as his
hands began to blur and the infamous, Katchu Tenshin Amiguriken was turned into
a salad shooter. Kasumi on the other side of the kitchen carefully measured
small specific amounts from her spice covered, as she read the recipe from a
well worn recipe book in front of her.
Halfway through the meal preparation,
Ranma turned from the cutting board as said..
"Kasumi.." Tugging
at his pigtail nervously, as she turned to address him, Ranma stood there rigid
as a board.
"Yes, Ranma Kun?"
"Well, I was taking lessons from Doc Tofu
today, and well he said something that got me thinking. He said that most people
have someone to take care of them, and in times that they don't they have to
depend on themselves. That way when is there turn to take care of someone they
can.... "
"That's very true Ranma, Ono-sensei is
a very smart man."
"well, I was wonderin, since ya take of me, and pops and
Akane, and biki and your dad. Who takes care of
you?"
..
...
......
"I....I....I do Ranma. Just like you said, I
have to take care of myself."
Ranma Saotome has been called many things
in his life time, but he was not a fool. Pain, pure unadulterated pain was
behind Kasumi's beautiful eyes. Instinct guiding him into unfamiliar territory
namely, comforting a woman. Ranma spoke.
"Kasumi, promise me something. Promise me
that you will go to school with me an Akane. We are all growing up and I know
you need to too!."
"Ranma, I can't I have to....."
"No you don't! I
understand what the Doc said now. You got to be yourself Kasumi. You got
to take care of you, and then maybe you can help us again... please
Kasumi...Promise me..."
"Okay Ranma...I will.......*
*****************Ucchan's
Okonomiyaki*****************
Normally at this time of day, The
Ucchan was bustling with the smell of hot okonomiyaki, and hungry customers, but
today...today was different the restaurant was empty. The Grill was still clean,
the floor shone with the fresh wax placed on them the night before. Not a single
soul could be scene within. Above the restaurant, a small lamp burned brightly,
balls of paper surrounding it as they cast eerily shaped shadows on the
wall.
Sitting at a desk against on wall of the room, sat Ukyou
Kuonji. Her face folded into a tight grimace, as her tongue poked out one side.
Soft grunts of effort came from her mouth, as the pen flew across the page
before her. Her writing was slow and measured, her whole body was tense with the
simple effort of writing one letter. Around her sat numerous pages of paper,
smeared ink evident upon all of them.....
Ukyou's Battle spatula rested along
a side wall with a small bag containing most of her belongings. The once
decorated room now sat bare as she sat methodically writing her letter. Beside
the weapon and backpack sat an unsigned marriage certificate between one Ranma
Saotome and Ukyou Kuonji along side it was Ukyou's hanko, and a Kuonji
Clan tanto.
*********************Tendo Family
Attic****************
Slam! Bam! Creak!
Scrape! Crash!
Boom!
Dusty boxes fell, Dust mites took to the air, and the Tendo
attic generally became a mess. The cause of all this.. was one Tendo Nabiki
frantically searching for something hidden within the attic. Sweat
glistened from her forehead, as the clothes she wore showed evidence of her
presence in the attic for the last several hours.
"A ha! I found it!
finally!"
Cough Cough
Clutched in Nabiki's hands was a tightly
wrapped bundle carefully wrapped in dust-covered brown material. Grasping the
side string, Nabiki slung the bundle over her shoulder and immediatlely began to
make her way out of the attic. No sooner than Nabiki's feet hit the ground did
she begin to ride her bike at speeds that would even rival shampoo's best.
As Nabiki Raced across town on her bike, the bundle stayed on her shoulder,
slapping lightly on her back,
Finally reaching her destination, she knocked
on the door and awaited the door to be answered. A older lady dressed in an
elegant kimono with copper haired answered the door.
"Nabiki-chan so good to
see you!"
"Konban wa, Auntie Saotome."
********************Back at the
university***************
"Class Dismissed"
With a unsaid amount of relief the class began to
depart. As the rooms begins to empty of students, Ranma slowly gathers his
books, placing them carefully into his bag. While readying for his departure,
Ranma hears..
"Mr. Saotome, Stay a moment."
"Yes sir."
"I just wanted to tell you, I was impressed with
the way you handled yourself today. Keep up the good work, and one day you may
be as observant as me."
"Well, sensei. I was trying to be nice and not
embarrass the two sleeping students, and the one that is pregnant, and also I
didn't want to embarrass you with the fact that I cant tell you had eggs for
breakfast."
"Not bad saotome...not bad."
"Thank you sensei, I have to be going
now."
Author's note: Over the past few months I
have had a lot of fun with writing this story, but I am affraid that is coming
to an end. I have recieved some comments on on my work the other day, due
to that and a lack of motivation / entusasim, and RUDE comments; This will most
likely be the final update to HA. Any Author interested can contact my for
my notes and chapters I have half done and not published. thanks
all.
Deepquote
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