-patchmonkey
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2, Aa! Megami-sama, and associated properties are used in a derivative work without permission. Scenes a faire, character placement and wording, changes in personality, and specific situations as they differ from any extant work are non-infringing uses and are held with rights reserved to this author. Republishing of this work, without permission from the original authors or the derivative author is strictly prohibited.
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Getting Home Wednesday
Foreword: Nodoka's June
Originally published to the FFML between 1999 and 2002.
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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.
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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.
"Ah, children...," thought Nodoka. "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.
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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.