She smiled calmly as she opened the door for a new day. A new day full of customers and, hopefully, a lot of work to distract herself. Life had been calm the last couple of years. By Nerima standards that meant boring. The excitement had ended when the center of the chaos vanished, leaving behind confused people that really didn't know what to do. They all realized their lives had a meaning because of Ranma Saotome, though everyone took that in a different way.
She prepared the grill for the morning rush and checked her supplies. *I'll be needing more shrimp.* She thought as she continued making inventory.
Her phone suddenly started ringing, and she frowned. She rarely, if ever, received any calls. Her life had turned into a monotony where she had little to no contact with people outside of her business. Her only friend was the mother of her one time fianc, and she rarely called instead of coming over. She laughed as she moved to answer. *If someone had told me that Nodoka-san would be my friend before Ranchan left I would have laughed in his face.* She had been young then, and reckless. Even if Ranma did have his fare share of guilt in all that mess, all the others refused to accept not everything was his fault. "Moshi, moshi." She answered after four rings. She smiled as she recognized the voice. "Nodoka-san, how nice of you to call."
Sitting down she idly twirled the phone cord in between her fingers as she listened. Her movement stopped when the full message registered in her mind. "He's back?" A feeling of elation formed in her chest as she heard the news. "Really? A priestess?" She giggled at that one. "That's rich! I bet the panda just about 'loved' it." Her eyes widened as Nodoka continued speaking. "He what?" She sobered somewhat and continued asking questions about what happened that morning. "I'll be sure to tell him, don't worry. Arigato, Nodoka-san. Sayonara." and with that she hung the receiver and sat back.
Only to jump in joy. "He's back! He's finally back!" She no longer thought of him as her fianc, even if the concept was alluring. After years of thinking it over, she came to the conclusion that she didn't know what love was. Not the love needed for a marriage, at least. To know that her best friend would be coming over excited her. She was also really happy for Nodoka, she sounded so relieved, yet at the same time nervous that Ranma wasn't in her sight. *I wonder if that's how I'll get if I ever have children.* She thought as the first customers of the day entered the restaurant. "Welcome to Uchan's." She greeted with a cheerful smile. A smile she didn't have to fake at all.
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"Nice place." Kakurine observed as they walked in the park. This early in the morning it was quite pleasant to see as people either exercised or walked to work. They were calmly walking around, arm in arm, and seeing as other people went on with their lives.
Ranma chuckled lightly. "Indeed. Though I'm not sure how long it will be this peaceful. By now I'm sure Nabiki knows I'm back. She'll make sure to make my life 'hell.'" Ranma said the last word sarcastically, as he was sure the middle Tendo sister didn't have the slightest idea of what Hell really was. "Anything in particular you want to do?" He asked.
Kakurine tilted her head to the side and thought about it. "I think we've done a little bit of everything. Nothing's really new anymore."
"It doesn't have to be new for you to enjoy it." The man said.
Kakurine nodded as she happily smiled up at him. "You're right. Parenting still feels great."
Ranma smiled fondly as he thought about it. "How long has it been since we last saw her? A year? Two?"
The purple haired woman shrugged. "Something like that." She looked a little saddened at the answer. "You know we can't spend much time with her. She deserves a normal life, something she won't get around us."
"I still think we should visit her sometime soon. We're in Tokyo after all."
"Maybe after we settle in. She should be old enough to start her training." Kakurine said as she smiled. She was really looking forward to teaching her daughter, even if she would only teach her the basics.
Ranma looked over to a little girl being taken to school. He was a little jealous of the happy couple that lead their daughter, that probably spent their dinners together as a normal family. "Do you think we could stay with her this time?" It had been a decision made by both to let their daughter grow up with that priest instead of taking her in their travels, yet it had never been easy to leave after spending even a couple of hours with her.
Kakurine sighed softly. "I would like that. We can finally settle down after so long..." She trailed off, wondering if they could settle down at all. If their daughter would accept them. So many ifs.
The couple continued walking aimlessly, both lost in their thoughts as to what their future held. They didn't know for how long they wandered, time having little meaning for them. They didn't notice the startled looks the people of Nerima that knew Ranma gave them. Ranma Saotome walking down the street arm in arm with a woman was like the first sign of the Apocalypse. The streets started to get deserted as more and more people became aware that Nerima's chaos source was back in town.
Even though Ranma and Kakurine were the center of attraction wherever they went, they had the good luck of not encountering any of Ranma's most persistent 'friends.' Considering the fact that some of them were already informed of his return to Nerima and actively looking for him meant a lot of luck for the wild horse.
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"Thank you for coming!" Ukyo cheerfully said as the last of her customers exited the restaurant. It was a long morning, yet it was finally over. Now she could relax a little and wait for the students to get out of school. They were her best customers, mostly because of the fame she had as one of Ranma Saotome's fiances. Even if she didn't like being called that, the memories of those days always made her smile. She was also entertained by the stories told by the boys and girls from Furinkan. *Ranchan, if only you knew how much of a hero you became.*
Ukyo started cleaning the grill and leaned down to pick some more batter from under the counter. "Nihao!" A female voice startled her.
The chef closed her eyes and hoped beyond hope she had heard wrong, that her former rival wasn't here. Even if Shampoo could have been a good friend, her Amazon origins and arrogance stopped such a relationship from forming. When the Amazons closed the Nekohanten and left Shampoo and Ukyo parted as mortal enemies.
Ukyo was still a pretty good fighter. *A hell of a lot better than Akane.* She thought smugly. Yet Shampoo was being trained by the best martial artist Ukyo knew of, aside from Ranma. She was sure to become a great warrior after so long.
Steadying herself, Ukyo stood up to her full height and faced the new arrival. "Hi!" A purple haired woman smiled cutely and waved at her. Ukyo blinked a couple of times. Even if a lot of time had passed, she was sure this woman couldn't be the Amazon.
Laughter attracted her attention to another person, who was sitting on a chair casually. "You should have seen your face." He said with a big grin.
Kakurine watched as Ukyo's eyes moistened and the chef rushed Ranma and hugged him tightly. "You jackass!" The purple haired woman smiled as Ranma exchanged a glance with her. He returned Ukyo's embrace and stood there with a smile on his face as Ukyo continued insulting him. He couldn't be offended by it, because he knew that was Uchan's way to tell him 'I missed you.'
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"So he's at the Uchan's? I see. Keep me informed about his movements and make sure you don't lose him." With that Nabiki hung the receiver and smirked. She heard Akane's shout of fury at the news, and wondered if her father actually believed he could hold the wedding in the Saotome house. *At least that's what he thinks.* She thought as Soun had already called the priest and was making preparations with Genma in the living room. Nabiki rolled her eyes as they announced another of their stupid plans to get the schools united.
Akane was a joke as a martial artist, while Ranma was the best she knew, but pathetic when it came to anything else. Those two couldn't be any worse off. Nabiki still cared for her sister, very much, but she had seen Akane become obsessed with her hatred for Ranma and stop training seriously, thinking she was the best. It was a wonder she could still defeat Kuno even if the kendoist held back as much as he did.
The only one in the family that had really improved was Kasumi. Since she married Tofu and spent most of her time at his clinic she had changed a lot. She was still the nicest person of the century, yet she wasn't as oblivious.
Getting out of her remembrance, the middle Tendo sister stood up and walked out of her room. *Three, two, one.*
"WHERE IS HE, NABIKI?!" Akane all but yelled in her sister's face.
Nabiki's expression remained her usual indifferent mask, even if she was grinning evilly in the inside. "Uchan's." She muttered slowly so her sister understood.
If possible, Akane's rage increased at the mention of the okonomiyaki chef. She wordlessly stomped downstairs and slammed the front door as she exited the house. "Get ready, Saotome. Because your life is taking a turn for the worse." Nabiki playfully said as she returned to her room.
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"And that's pretty much where I've been for the past years." Ranma finished the story.
As soon as Ukyo calmed down enough to be coherent, introductions took place. The priestess and the chef hit it right off and exchanged some interesting information on Ranma. The fact that he was right in front of them didn't bother either one. After that Ranma started explaining about how Kakurine came to this world looking for warriors to face an evil deity. "It took you so long to fight her?" Ukyo asked, not surprised by the fact that Ranma defeated a god. He had done it before, after all. But she was intrigued it took him so long.
Ranma and Kakurine smiled as they joined hands under the table. "We did take some time to ourselves." The later admitted.
Ukyo sobered and said. "Your mother called." When she was sure he got the couple's attention she continued. "Genma is planning to marry you off to Akane. He and Tendo-san already called the priest and are planning to ambush you later today."
Kakurine frowned at that, while Ranma raised an eyebrow in amusement and mischievously turned to Ukyo. "I can't get married."
Ukyo gave him a questioning look. "And why not?"
Kakurine, still frowning over Genma's stupidity, answered. "Because he's already married." Her expression turned to a smirk when she saw Ukyo fall off her chair. Ranma laughed at his friend's reaction. When Ukyo finally sat on her chair again Kakurine continued. "Do you really think we would be sleeping together if we weren't married?"
Ukyo rested her forehead on her hands to try and assimilate the information. "You are aware Nodoka-san doesn't know about the whole marriage thing, right?"
Ranma was, for the first time since returning to Nerima, surprised. "She doesn't?" Ukyo shook her head in the negative.
Kakurine placed a finger to her chin and thoughtfully said. "Now that you mention it, I don't remember the subject ever coming up. She just accepted our relationship and that was the end of the discussion."
Ranma dismissed it after a couple of seconds. "She's on our side. If she wants to be at our wedding we can have a second ceremony for her to attend. As for the Tendos, I'll simply have to tell them to back off."
Ukyo sighed. "They won't listen to you."
Kakurine smiled as Ranma got a cocky expression on his features. "They won't have a choice." The okonomiyaki chef could almost feel the air freeze with Ranma's sentence. Even if he said it so casually, she had the funny feeling he meant it this time.
"When do you think they'll make their move?" Kakurine asked as she rested her head on Ranma's shoulder.
Ranma shrugged, smirking as the move made his wife pout. "Probably after they manage to convince Nabiki to give them the information. I'm sure by now she knows I'm here." He started to get up. "It would probably be best if we left. I don't want anything to happen to your place, Uchan." Kakurine nodded as she took his hand and stood up as well.
Ukyo, although she wanted to talk to Ranma some more, knew she would have trouble if some of the others found him here. "Just promise I'll be seeing you around. I've missed you."
Ranma nodded as he waved and left, Kakurine by his side.
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Akane saw as a couple exited the Uchan's. She recognized the man instantly, even if it had been so long. "RANMA!" She bellowed as her aura blazed angrily and she clenched her fists almost to the point of drawing blood. Her anger only increased when she saw the martial artist turn to her, flash one of his cocky smirks, and turn around to walk away. Akane's eyes studied the hussy with him in an instant, and the only thing she really saw was her hand locked onto Ranma's. With a feeling of self-justified betrayal, the heir to the Tendo Dojo ran to impart some divine punishment.
Ranma and the woman next to him turned a corner as they continued on walking calmly. It took only two seconds for Akane to turn around that same corner, and her aura diminished significantly when she didn't find her prey. Still angry, yet greatly confused, she forgot where the couple had been a few seconds ago and started running down the streets. She would have her revenge.
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Nabiki frowned at the report given to her. "Are you sure they vanished in thin air?" She hoped not, but maybe Ranma had once again greatly increased his power level. He had done so before, even to the point of fighting and killing the Phoenix. Now he had been gone for a very long time. "Keep looking for him and try to find out more about this woman with him. Also, see to it that the Uchan's is bugged. I don't want a repeat of the last time. You're going down if Ukyo even suspects anything about the job." *I'll get you yet, Saotome.* Even if he had grown stronger, so had Nabiki Tendo.
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"Tadaima!" A male voice was heard from the front door. Nodoka smiled as her son was obviously back and waited for him to enter the living room.
The first thing Ranma and Kakurine saw was Nodoka dressed in a training outfit, a bokken on her right hand. "Practicing this late, mom?" Ranma asked.
Nodoka nodded. "I always practice in the afternoons, son. It gives me something to do since Genma is never around." She finished kind of sadly. She had once loved Genma more than anything. Yet that love had been greatly jeopardized when he took her baby away from her, and finally destroyed when all the terrible things he inflicted on Ranma were known.
Kakurine and Ranma nodded in understanding. The later was angry at his father for being such an idiot, but he didn't want to get involved. This was something his parents had to deal with themselves. "Want some company for your training?"
Nodoka smiled widely at that. "That would be very nice, dear. I'm eager to know how much you've improved over the years. And there's another thing I'd like to tell the both of you." With that they all went to the dojo.
Ranma examined the room, since he had never really trained in it. Compared to the Tendo dojo, this one was a little smaller, yet that was the least noticeable difference. Ranma opened up his senses and was nearly overwhelmed by the power emanating from the structure. A place used for serious training always has a certain sense to it, power that emanates from the practitioners of the Art and impregnates the place.
While the Tendo dojo had little to no energy in it when he first arrived, since Akane was the only one that trained there and she didn't take the Art seriously, this smaller dojo spoke highly of the practitioners, or in this case, practitioner of the martial arts. Ranma was impressed. His mother wasn't proficient in emanating a battle aura or executing chi techniques, yet her discipline and determination more than made up for that. He turned to his mother and nodded respectfully.
Kakurine felt the exact same thing Ranma did. With it her already great respect for her mother-in-law went up another notch. By the aura of the place alone she could almost see Nodoka practicing inside as she ignored her physical limitations. Exhaustion being confronted by a will of steel. "I like it." She said with a smile.
Nodoka stepped forward and turned to the couple. "Ranma, Kakurine." She said solemnly. "I would like to instruct you both in my family art. It has been passed on for generations, coming directly from a great samurai who taught our ancestors."
Both Ranma and Kakurine straightened as soon as they caught the serious tone. They exchanged a glance and turned back to the Saotome matriarch. "You make us a great honor, sensei." Ranma said as both bowed to Nodoka.
Nodoka bowed back and continued. "Kakurine, it would be best if you wore something more appropriate for the occasion. Tomorrow we shall go shopping to get you some clothing."
"Hai." Came the reply from the purple haired woman, who had a serious expression on her face as her eyes flashed a startling red. Or so Nodoka thought.
Motioning for them to fully enter the small dojo, Nodoka started explaining about the 'Path of the Sword.'
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"He's here, Tendo." Genma whispered to his long time friend as he jumped over the wall to the Saotome grounds. "He's in the dojo with Nodoka and that priestess."
Soun, who was already showing signs of advanced age due to his grief, nodded. "Who is she, Saotome?" He suspected she was another fiance Genma had arranged for his son, yet gave his friend the benefit of the doubt.
Genma shrugged. "Doesn't matter. After this day is over our families will be united." He helped his friend get over the wall and they started to make their way to the dojo.
"What will your wife say?"
Genma smiled. "I'll just have to make it seem as if her honor was at stake here. She'll even help us conduct the wedding like last time."
Both slowly made their way across the yard and cautiously peeked inside. They could see Nodoka showing how a downward strike was made to ensure a returning slash. Ranma and the priestess followed through the motions, both showing great promise for kendo. Soun studied the young man wielding the bokken and quickly knew Ranma hadn't been slacking off in his training. He started having second thoughts about their chances to knock him out. Unlike him, both masters of the Anything Goes had been playing shogi and drinking most of the time.
Genma frowned as he recognized the technique the trio was practicing. It was the very same move with which Nodoka took him down when they first met. Since then Genma had made sure to train harder and prove weapon wielders were weak. He had been successful so far except for one person, his wife. Something that also caught his attention was that while Nodoka was breathing hard and sweating profusely both his son and that purple haired woman seemed fresh, as if they had just started training. Putting those thoughts aside he turned his attention to his ungrateful son, to a way of taking him down.
After five minutes of carefully watching, finally an opportunity presented itself. Nodoka called the other woman, 'Kakurine' she was called, forward to show how a parry should be properly made. Ranma gave both parents his back to pay close attention to the demonstration. Not knowing if such an opportunity would ever present itself again they rushed the younger Saotome. Genma going high while Soun attacked low.
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Nodoka was taken by surprise when she heard the loud crashing of flesh against flesh. She turned in a ready position to face the possible threat. Kakurine followed suit, though she had felt the attack coming long before it even started. Both were met with the sight of Ranma jumping over two older men that crashed with each other after their target had suddenly vanished. "Hey, pop!" Ranma said with a sarcastic smile as he landed easily and turned to face him.
Soun cursed inwardly as he saw Ranma casually avoid their attack. *It seems like my fears were justified.* He thought worriedly. His dream of the school being united once again slowly vanishing.
Genma growled as he jumped to his feet. "You ungrateful boy! I can't believe you would dare dishonor the Saotome name so!"
Ranma snorted as he casually stood in front of his father. "I don't see what's so dishonorable about avoiding a sneak attack from such 'honorable' martial artists." Soun winced at the accusation, since it reeked of truth.
Genma decided to ignore it and turned to Nodoka. "Wife, you know very well that our family honor is at stake here. Ranma has to marry a Tendo for the schools to be joined."
Kakurine watched worriedly as Nodoka was taken aback by the statement. Even if she knew Ranma would never leave her, she also knew he loved his mother dearly. She didn't want to see him hurt in any way. Her worry turned to confusion when Nodoka glared at her husband. "You don't know anything about honor, husband. You're lucky to still be alive after all you've put the family name through." The ice in her voice made Genma stand back. The angry Saotome matriarch turned to Soun with an expression that would make Nabiki shiver. "As for the Tendo-Saotome union, there will be none."
Soun frowned at that. Even if he hadn't shown much backbone during most of his life, this wedding was something he believed in with all his heart. "Now see here. I won't let you slight the Tendo name with such an honor-less action."
Nodoka matched Soun's tone of voice. "No, you see here. I won't see my son suffer in a loveless marriage with one of your daughters."
"Honor demands he does!" Soun was already preparing his demon head attack.
Nodoka icily cut him off. "Akane and Nabiki have no honor." Before he could sputter out a reply, she continued. "Nabiki is worse than the yakuza in her dealings. More than once she's betrayed people out of a small profit. Akane is even worse. She claims to be a martial artist when she has none of the discipline that goes with the title. I've seen her lash out physically at others that can't defend themselves just because they disagree with her."
"HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH A THING ABOUT MY DAUGHTERS?!" Soun bellowed in full demon head attack. He was emanating so much anger that the people in the room had no trouble seeing where Akane got her temper problems from.
Nodoka remained unaffected by the sight and coldly said. "Leave."
"What?" Genma demanded as he temporarily forgot about Ranma. "Wife, stop this right now." He commanded. "You will do as I tell you."
Soun nodded, a little calmer now that he had his friend's support. "It is a matter of honor that Ranma marries a Tendo. He'll do just that."
Nodoka felt as if she was being torn inside out. On the one hand she knew she was honor bound to follow her husband's wishes. She also knew that Soun's claim was valid, though the matter was very complicated. Both Saotome and Tendo patriarchs wanted the union to take place. But on the other hand was her love for her son. She didn't want to let him go through such suffering again.
Both forces waged battle in her. Yet in the end there was one decisive victor. She steeled herself and eyed both men calmly. "No." She simply said.
"What?" Genma demanded with narrowed eyes. "Are you opposing my wishes, wife?"
Nodoka nodded, her blue eyes shining with determination. "Indeed. I won't let my son suffer in the name of honor." She stood up to Genma, who was glaring at her dangerously. Time seemed to freeze for the couple. They had gone through many things, yet never something of this magnitude.
Genma finally broke the moment by nodding. His expression still hard he firmly said. "I want you out of this house within the hour."
Nodoka nodded and proudly walked out of the small dojo. Her stride sure and her jaw clenched tightly. Soun watched respectfully as the woman walked out. Even if she had opposed him, he still recognized determination when he saw it.
Kakurine watched as Nodoka left the room. Even if her emotionless mask was perfect, the moisture starting to form betrayed her feelings. She was hurting, and badly. The purple haired woman exchanged a glance with her husband and nodded to him. She quickly followed Nodoka.
Soun turned to his friend. "Wasn't that a bit much?"
Genma snorted. "I'm glad I finally got rid of her. After she gave birth to my son she became useless. Even worse, for she could have taken my head." He said coldly. Soun was taken aback by such harsh words. This was a side of Genma that he hadn't seen in a while. "Anyway, now all we have to do is hold the wedding." Genma continued as he turned to Ranma. "Boy, you will stop being a dishonorable little girl and follow your fath..." He stopped abruptly when the sight registered.
Soun's face turned as white as a sheet at the show.
Ranma had seen the entire encounter with increasing hatred for Genma. He had come back with the idea of giving his old man a second chance. *And he blew it.* Ranma grimly thought as he glared at the fat martial artist. By the time Genma had finally turned back his attention to him, the pigtailed martial artist was emanating a battle aura that threatened to burn the dojo down. It completely bathed the room in a red glow. The final straw was when he saw his mother start to cry after she confronted Genma for him. Now he was furious.
It wasn't an uncontrolled anger like Akane's or Ryoga's, though. Ranma's was a cold rage, a controlled and very focused anger. "INSOLENT FOOL!" He bellowed with a force that made the walls tremble.
Before Genma could recover from the shock, his son already had him by the throat. The bald martial artist was lifted with ease one-handed by a furious man with red tattoos on his face and arms. The red markings pulsed with power as Ranma's muscles increased to nearly double in size. Genma tried to say something, but the sounds to come out of his mouth were those of a choking man. He futilely tried to free himself or hit Ranma as his vision started to darken.
Soun saw Ranma choke Genma and reacted on instinct. He picked up a bokken from the floor and slammed it on Ranma's back. Or at least tried. Before his very eyes the bokken was burned to ashes as soon as it touched Ranma's battle aura.
Even if the attack had no effect, it did make Ranma come to his senses. He released his hold on Genma and he stepped back. Taking deep breaths he calmed himself enough to stop glowing. The tattoos vanished as mysteriously as they appeared. "Ranma?" Soun tentatively asked from Genma's side. The later was coughing violently as he tried to regain his breath.
Ranma shook his head to clear it of the anger he felt and addressed Genma. "If I ever see you again you'll wish I killed you today. I hereby renounce the Saotome name and all that's related to it." He turned his gaze to Soun. "That includes the engagement."
Soun and Genma protested, yet none made a move to threaten Ranma. He simply started looking all around, trying to sense any energy in this dojo belonging to Genma. Finding none he smiled nastily at the two masters. "As for this dojo."
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Nodoka had composed herself after crying on Kakurine's shoulder and all the time that took her to pack her most prized belongings. Her eyes were red and puffy from it, yet her face betrayed no emotion as she stepped out on the yard. Kakurine helped her with some of her things and stood by her side giving her silent support.
"I never thought I would leave this house. Not like this." Nodoka whispered to herself. She studied her garden, the place she had spent so much time working on. Now no one would take care of her flowers.
Her eyes lingered to the dojo. The one place where she could forget about the many wrongs in her life and lose herself in her family art. A place she would never again place foot on.
She was startled out of her thoughts as she saw Genma and Soun hastily jump out of said building. Just as they got out the dojo exploded from the inside. "RANMA!" She yelled, not at all caring of the building but for her son.
Kakurine placed a hand on her shoulder and sighed. "Ranma's fine, Nodoka-san." *He just got angry.* She thought.
To Nodoka's relief, Kakurine was right. As the dust cloud cleared, she could see Ranma standing where the dojo once was, unscathed. The pigtailed martial artist walked towards them, completely ignoring the pair of cowering men. "What a way to work off stress. Ready to go?" He asked calmly.
Nodoka pointed to the now collapsed building. "Why?" She asked.
Ranma got serious. "You made that dojo what it was. I'm not letting all your effort and sacrifice go to waste with Genma."
Nodoka seemed like she was about to argue that, but Kakurine anticipated her. "Don't worry. We'll build another dojo. One for us to work together."
Nodoka felt her eyes moisten again, but this time with joy. She quietly nodded and picked up her things. She started walking out of the Saotome grounds, followed by Ranma and Kakurine. Followed by her family.
END PART 2
Author's notes: Well, I ended this chapter without a cliffhanger. I'm not sure why I use those, maybe I do it on purpose, maybe not.
How did you like the chapter? For those of you who think Nodoka is too emotional here, maybe you're right. However too many things happened in two days for her. After grieving for her son's disappearance for years and then having all this happen, well, I think she's justified to break down.
I hope you like the chapter. I'll see you next time! |
