Accidental Discoveries: Not the best beginning

By

triviatrap1982

I do not own Ranma 1/2. It is owned by Rumiko Takahashi

It was a very average day...well...as average as it was going to get in the Furinkan district of Tokyo, Japan. It was one of those rare quiet days where...the only attack was from Kuno against Ranma Saotome...who easily dispatched him. Classes were the same as always. Their Ki-stealing teacher Hinako was well...as childish as ever...and the ever popular crude comments about Ranma, and the fiancée squad. There was one thing bothering him. That was why his mom, Nodoka, was hell bent on him proving his manhood. Still...he still felt a duty to at least go check up on her. She did back off of her debt to have Ranma and Genma...commit seppuku. Either way, Ranma ended up waiting for the end of the day. He yawned, as the bell rang. He just blew past everybody and got to the gate. Akane was there. She did notice that Ranma was troubled.

"Ranma...what's going on?" Akane asked quite concerned.

"I'm not sure," Ranma said.

"You better figure this out, because Kasumi's taking us to dinner tonight!" Akane warned.

"I should go get my mom, right?" he asked attentively.

"Yes...you should," Akane said bitterly.

"I'll be right back then!" Ranma said.

He ran to his mother's house. He dreaded coming here because there were way too many bad memories that came from here. Sure things weren't easy at the Tendo house, but it wasn't all that bad either. He sighed as he stopped by the house and he let himself in. He called out to his mom, to see if she was in. It was quiet, too quiet. He looked to see if she was some where around. He knew that even she would have wanted peace and quiet. Ranma came into the living room and saw an envelope with the name of another man on them. He ignored it, at first, and went to the bedroom. She wasn't there. She must have been out doing something. He came back and the envelope was on the table.

"What's this?" Ranma asked to himself.

He opened up the envelope, and he was beyond shocked. These were photographs of his mother in rather...seductive poses. He thought about this for a moment. At no time that he remembered that his mother actually did something like this. In fact if anything, Genma was the one who almost always tried, but then gave up when she decided she'd not want to do anything. Even then, Genma thought it was just bad. Ranma took the pictures and he left the house. He put them in his backpack. He couldn't even try to show these pictures to anybody. Much less Akane...he knew she would take things out of proportion. He knew he was in a bad spot. He came back home. He quickly went to go change. He kept the pictures on his person. He also looked through his wallet. He saved up some money from doing some odd jobs. Still he checked because he knew that he would have a problem if anybody stole his money. He came downstairs where Nabiki was waiting.

"You're taking you're sweet time," Nabiki admonished. "You sure you don't want to eat?"

"Considering the alternative..." Ranma said, though it was a slam against Akane's cooking.

"Right...hurry along everybody's waiting," Nabiki warned.

"Fine, I'm coming," Ranma answered.

'I wonder what's with him," Nabiki thought. 'He's definitely not himself.'

Ranma joined the group and went to dinner. They did end up going to the restaurant that Cologne owned. Akane internally cursed because she didn't want to deal with Shampoo, and Ranma didn't want to deal with her, Cologne...or the always near-blind Mousse. Cologne greeted everybody and sat them down. She knew it wasn't the time, or place to cause trouble. To the contrary, she knew this was the time and place to at least try to make a little money. She smiled and spoke up to the group. She noticed a certain perverted gnome wasn't there. She sighed. She knew what he was up to.

"Hello everybody," Cologne said, "Welcome to the Cat Café."

"Hello, Cologne," Genma said, "I hope you're doing well this evening."

"I'm doing well," Cologne said, "It's been a brisk day today."

"Hello, Cologne," Ranma greeted, trying to hide his anger, "how are you?"

"I'm well son-in-law," she said. "Let's get you all to your tables."

Cologne realized something was wrong. She decided not to pursue it now. However, she decided that she'd have to talk to Ranma. She also noticed that Nabiki looked a bit worried for Ranma. This was rare. It is true that Nabiki did take things to her advantage...even to the point of selling information, or straight-up blackmail. Nabiki decided she was going to talk to Ranma in the Dojo after breakfast. She also wanted no interlopers to muck things up. Once the dinner came, Ranma forced himself to eat. After all, this wasn't a rare time where the group ate out. This was a rare time where everything just was quiet. Shampoo noticed and she turned to Cologne for guidance. Her time in Japan, her speaking has become more pronounced like Colognes.

"Great grandma, what's going on?" Shampoo asked.

"Something is troubling son-in-law," Cologne said seriously. "It's actually not Akane this time."

"Oh...what are we going to do?" Shampoo asked.

"I'll have to get him to tell me what's going on," she answered. "There must be something serious if he's trying to hide his emotions."

"I've finished cleaning the bathrooms," Mousse said. He had to change his clothing.

"Good," Cologne said, "you have the dishes next."

"I don't mind the dishes...it's the pots and pans that kill," Mousse said honestly.

"You're right..." Cologne started.

"I'll be quiet now and go sweep outside," Mousse said, grabbing the broom.

'Well, he learned,' Cologne thought. 'I was going to agree with him.'

After the dinner and the bill was paid up the group went home. Mousse noticed Ranma was beyond angry. He decided he better not set him off. That is, he really didn't want to deal with the wrath of Saotome, and Cologne. He also didn't want to piss off Shampoo to the point where she'd kill him. He sighed and he went to the kitchen to do the dishes. He still had to do the pots and pans, but it was easier since it was closing time. He saw Cologne and he spoke up to her. He really knew what Ranma was capable of, but he knew that he was very angry over something. He spoke up bluntly.

"What's Saotome upset about?" Mousse asked. "I haven't seen him all day because of work."

"That's a good question," Cologne said. "Shampoo and I noticed the same."

"If Genma made him that upset...he probably should leave Japan under a new identity," Mousse guessed grimly. Even he knew of Genma's exploits.

"He'd done that long ago just for teaching son-in-law the cat fist," Cologne spoke up. "It's something more sinister than that."

"Yikes...did Nabiki find something that embarrassing and is holding over his head?"

"No, even Nabiki was troubled," Cologne said.

"We better find out, because it will cause serious trouble," Mousse answered concerned.

"Actually...I think I might have an idea on how to get him alone," Cologne said. "I cannot have you mucking up the works."

"If Shampoo has a ton of deliveries, that would work out...I can split with her."

Cologne nodded. That plan was set. However, at the Dojo, Ranma just was sitting in the corner. He was out of it, to the point where Akane really didn't want to train with him. He had the pictures...it just felt like something was wrong. Nabiki came in. She was hoping she could at least try to find out what's troubling Ranma. If it was major, but nobody she knew was involved...she probably could have profited from it. That wasn't going to be the case.