hThe characters in this story belong to their respective creators and rights
holders.
Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi. Sailor Moon is the creation
of Naoko
Takeuchi. All original content is the creation of Samuel Phoenix.
Recognition is given to
John Sanchez for a small kick of inspiration that helped produce this story,
and to
Harold Ancell who has been a near constant source of input, information, and
ideas.

Awkward Consequences
Chapter 10b: Felines and Family Part 2
PsyckoSama (syp104@psu.edu)

Tsukino Ikuko looked slack jawed at the girl and the meaning of her
words hit. "Excuse me, Hotaru-chan," she murmured, "but did you just
say your going to have a baby?"

Hotaru's stance slightly altered, pressing back into Ranma. She looked
the elder Tsukino in the face, and said, "Yes. I'm pregnant."

While her face was shining with happiness, her eyes told a story of
fear of rejection. It was clearly obvious to Ikuko that Hotaru was
terrified, and not of having a child. She was afraid of rejection.

This wouldn't do. No, it wouldn't do at all.

The elder Tsukino swiftly banished her visible signs of surprise. If
Hotaru's parents knew, then it was likely that their reactions were
harsh. She'd probably ring Usagi's neck.

It was obvious to her that Hotaru needed someone, especially at a time
like this. She'd be that person. There was time for questions and
answers later.

Ikuko smiled brightly and walked over to the girl. With a wide smile on
her face she placed her hands on Hotaru's shoulders.

"Congratulations, Hotaru-chan!" she exclaimed with a wide smile on her
face as she pulled the young girl into a loose hug.

Hotaru's eyes closed and with a smile she returned the hug.

"Thank you," she muttered with genuine relief.

After a minute or two Ikuko pulled Hotaru into the family room and sat
the girl down next to her.

"Now Hotaru," she said in a maternal tone, "If you have any questions
what so ever, please ask."

Hotaru smiled and replied, "Thank you, Ikuko-san. I will."

Usagi's mother smiled. "So, how far along are you?"

Hotaru blushed. "Two months."

"Ranma's the father, correct?" asked Ikuko.

Hotaru nodded. "Yes."

Ikuko gave Ranma an in appraising glance. As she looked at him, she had
two things in mind. In the last two years Hotaru had become all but a
member of the family. She didn't wish to pressure Hotaru. She had seen
how the girl had come in crying and been rushed up stairs last night.
She had been concerned then, but had not made any motions to interrupt.
Now that she knew what was going on, she was going to find out the
whole story.

Mentally she considered the situation. She needed to speak with them
both. "Hotaru-chan?"

Hotaru smiled. "Yes, Ikuko-san?"

"I would like to speak to you and your fianc�," she replied.

Hotaru looked at Ranma, who shrugged, and then glanced back to Ikuko.
"Ah, okay."

Ikuko smiled and turned to her 'niece'. "Chibi-Usa-Chan, why don't you
and Hotaru speak to each other upstairs?"

"Okay, Ikuko-Mama," replied the pink tressed teenager. Chibi-Usa smiled
at her closest comrade and grabbed her by the arm. "Come on Hotaru! You
have to tell me everything."

The delicately featured girl smiled widely and followed the little
rabbit up the stairs, pausing only to glance into her beloved's eyes
for a long moment, before continuing to the second floor.

Once Hotaru and Chibi-Usa were up the steps, Ikuko turned to the young
man and gave him a long hard stare.

The look of discomfort crossing his features was subtle but there. His
extremities quivered very slightly, his eyes darted side to side, and a
very slight sheen of stress induced sweat. He looked like he was on the
spot, in the midst of some form of interrogation, which in all
honestly, he was.

Ikuko sat down and motioned for Ranma to join her, an act he did with
some reluctance. One they were both seated she took a deep breath and
began to question the youth. "Ranma-kun, how long have you known
Hotaru-chan?"

"Well," replied the gender-bending young warrior, "I met her 'bout two
months ago but I've only really know her for a couple of days."

Ikuko blinked, and then, she blinked again. That answer was not even
close to what she had expected.

"Could you explain that to me?" she asked, the look of puzzlement
obvious across her features.

Ranma took a breath and closed his eyes. "Well, it all started when..."

----------------

Chibi-Usa chuckled to herself like a mad woman as she sealed the door
to her hall behind her. With a demented smile on her face she locked it
and sat down in front of the doorway.

"Chibi-Usa-chan, what on Earth are you doing?" asked Hotaru.

"This way you're not leaving until you tell me everything!" exclaimed
the pink-haired teenager. "I want names, dates, and all the sloppy
details!"

Hotaru's face turned 7 successive shades of red, starting with a light
pink and ending with a brilliant crimson.

Chibi-Usa giggled. "Getting embarrassed?"

The purple hair girl smiled and punched her friend in the arm. "Quit it
Chibi-Usa-chan!"

The pink haired girl smiles and gave Hotaru a hug, and a friendly kiss
on the cheek. "Relax Hotaru-chan!"

Hotaru giggled and pulled her legs up, placing her chin on her knees.
"I'm fine," Hotaru sighed, "It's just that things been happening so
swiftly."

"Yeah," stated Chibi-Usa in response.

"I mean, a week ago I was just a normal... well, somewhat normal school
girl. Now I'm engaged to..."

"A total hunk," interjected Chibi-Usa.

"Chibi-Usa! I'm trying to be serious!"

"So am I," quipped Usa.

Hotaru scowled slightly. "No, I'm really trying to be serious."

"Sorry," replied Chibi-Usa, "I'll stop teasing you."

"Chibi-Usa, I'm getting overwhelmed. I'm engaged, pregnant, I have no
idea haw this will affect the future, and to be honest, I find Ranma
kinda intimidating."

"Why's he intimidating?" asked Chibi-Usa, he curiosity honestly peeked.

"Because," stated Hotaru, "I seriously think that he is just as
powerful as almost any one of us."

"What?"

"He's as strong as a Sailor Senshi, if hot more so."

Chibi-Usa gawked at her friend wide eyed. "You can't be serious."

"You didn't see what he did to that mailbox."

"What did he do?" asked Chibi-Usa.

"Then he found out I was pregnant, he punched it."

 "Ouch...," replied Chibi-Usa with a wince. "I hope his hand's okay."

Hotaru sighed and shook her head. "You should be more worried about the
mailbox."

"Nani?"

"With one punch he crushed the box like a soda can, ripped it off its
mounting bolts, and sent it flying through the air. It was going so
fast that it hit, and totaled a parked car on the other side of the
street! It was scary!"

Chibi-Usa blinked. "Does that scare you?"

"Not in the slightest," Hotaru blushed and smiled demurely. "It makes
me feel safe."

"Huh?"

"I know that he'd never hurt me. When he holds me, I can feel his
strength around me. It's so powerful but so gentle. I've never felt
so... protected in my life."

Chibi-Usa sighed, "That's so... wow!"

"I know... I told him what I was capable of too."

"That you can end the world?"

Hotaru nodded.

"Was he afraid?"

"No. I was more scared then he was, but he was so sweet. It didn't
matter to him, in fact," Hotaru paused. "He said he already knew people
who could do it."

Chibi-Usa went wide-eyed. "You're not serious!"

Hotaru shoot her head. "I am. I don't know if he was being serious but
I will ask him about it."

Chibi-Usa nodded in agreement. "That would be a good idea.

There was a long, awkward silence, broken with a smirk from Hotaru as
she said, "So... do you want the steamy details now?"

Chibi-Usa all but jumped her friends with a huge smile on her face. "Do
I ever!"

Hotaru smiled with glee. "Where should I start? At the part where I
pulled him into a love hotel or the part where we experimented with my
senshi powers?"

"Wait a second! You pulled him into a love hotel and had sex as Sailor
Saturn?"

"Yep!"

"What was it like?"

Hotaru's grin widened even farther. "I think I dislocated something."

"Come on Hotaru-chan, stop playing around! I want the details! Tell me
the detail! I want a story, leave nothing out!"

"Hey," exclaimed Hotaru, "That's private!"

Chibi-Usa looked blankly at Hotaru. "And this isn't?"

Hotaru shrugged. "Okay, Chibi-Usa-chan, how about I just give you a
run-down on everything that happened today?"

"Including the naughty bits?"

"Including the naughty bits."

"Deal!" exclaimed Chibi-Usa. She sat intensively in front of her
friend. The hentai look on her face was far from innocent.

"It all started when..."

------------------------

Ranma gulped as he looked at the woman in front of him





One of Ikuko's eyebrows raised as an idea flashed thro her head
considering Ranma's rather unique situation. With a wave, she cut him
off. "Ranma-kun," she asked, "Did they know about your girl form?"

"Yeah," he replied.

"Would you say they were trying to get you drunk?" she continued.

"Ah, yeah, I guess," he replied. "Isn't that what they try ta do at
those parties?"

"Ranma, college boys only really throw those parties so they can get
girls drunk and have their way with them."

"Ya gotta be kidding me," Ranma replied, "My friends knew that I had
enough girl troubles as it was, and even if I would never do somethin'
like that! Why would they invite me to a party where you..." Ranma
voice slowed as he finished the sentence. "get girls drunk to have sex
with them..."

He looked at the Tsukino woman with wide eyes, "They were going to try
to get me drunk and sleep with my girl half, weren't they."

"Probably," Ikuko replied.

Ranma gaze went totally level, and in a flat, clear voice he said, "I
am going to kill them."










             .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
             | Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
             | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
             |     Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject     |
             `---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'