Nodoka Saotome lay back on her bed, the sheets dirtied with sweat and blood; she had just given birth to her baby, Ranma. She and her husband had decided on a name months prior to the birth regardless of the gender. Her husband had taken the new-born away to bathe it, she had yet to learn of the gender and the suspense was killing her but Genma was so adamant in bathing their child in some 'blessed water' that he had 'liberated' from his old master before he 'mysteriously disappeared' she was too weak to argue and so resided to waiting for her husband to return to the site of the home birth and hand her little Ranma.
The door to their rather small bedroom opened and the overweight, balding martial artist entered the room holding a small bundle in his arms. He approached the tired mother and handed her the small bundle, she took the now clean baby, wrapped in a small white towel, and held it close to her breast.
"He'll grow up to be a fine martial artist and a proud heir of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts." Genma said proudly, having checked the gender before he bathed the child.
"He." Nodoka said quietly, a small smile upon her face, her eyes half closed. She slowly pulled back the end of the towel and peered in, wanting to see her baby's gender for herself, she frowned when she saw that she held a girl in her arms, not a boy.
"Genma she's not a boy, she's a girl…your parents did explain the difference right?" Nodoka asked tiredly as cradled her baby closer to her breast.
"What are you talking about of course he's a boy, I saw his manhood with my own eyes!" Genma objected.
"I can assure you Genma, Ranma is a girl." Nodoka sighed, struggling to keep her eyes open as she opened the bundle once again and showed her husband the naked infant, Genma looked, blinked, looked again, rubbed his eyes, looked again, pinched himself…nope it was true his son was a girl…a weak little girl, how was he supposed to unite the schools now.
Genma continued to stare at his daughter as Nodoka rewrapped the sleeping infant, holding her to her breast protectively as she slowly succumbed to her fatigue.
'I failed…but regardless I will continue to try until I have a son and heir.' Genma internally swore.
…
Nodoka was currently in the bathroom, on her knees beside the bath as it gradually filled warm soapy water, she held Ranma on her knee as she used her spare hand to test the water temperature, she turned the tap off when it was a reasonable depth that wouldn't be dangerous to three day old infant and when the temperature was neither too hot or too cold.
She lifted the infant and slowly lowered her into the bath, Ranma squirmed at first but stopped when her little behind touched the bottom of the bath, captivated by the water as her mother continued to hold her up in the bath.
Nodoka stiffened as she watched the small amount of red hair atop Ranma's head turned dark, almost black when she touched the water. The young 'girl' began to move her tiny arms through the water, not even noticing the sudden change in hair colour. Nodoka snapped out of her shock when Ranma started to fall out of her grip, she caught 'her' quickly, she lifted her back up only to freeze again, her eyes widening to their full extent when she saw what lay between her legs, her mouth dropped open and she did the only thing she could think to do, scream.
Her scream was quickly followed by the sound of Genma's heavy footsteps charging up the stairs, the half open door slammed against the wall as her husband stumbled into the bathroom to be met with the sight of his shocked wife holding up a dark haired baby who was simply staring at her.
"What's wrong?" he asked in a rushed tone.
"She…she…she…he…" Nodoka stammered, Genma frowned and peered into the bath and at the child and saw it to be a boy.
"Nodoka what's going on? Where's Ranma?" Genma questioned.
"Here…I put her in the bath…and then…" Nodoka stammered.
'This is Ranma? I knew he was a boy before I bathed him…water must change his gender…I have a son.' Genma internally celebrated.
"I HAVE A SON!" Genma declared proudly, pounding his chest with his left fist.
Genma then began to celebrate by dancing about the bathroom, his thoughts going on about how he now had an heir for the school, an heir he could marry to one of Soun's daughters, a strong boy he could train. Nodoka's, however, were trying to come to terms with what had just happened and how it could possibly happen. Then it came to her.
"The blessed water." Nodoka breathed, she turned to Genma and glared at him 'You did this…I knew you wanted a son more than a daughter but…to go this far…to turn your own daughter into a boy just so you could have a male heir!' She mentally screamed at Genma, assuming that the reason he had 'mistook' Ranma for a boy was because of the fact that the blessed water didn't work instantly and that the reason he wanted to bathe Ranma in the blessed water before checking the gender, to ensure that she'd think Ranma was born a boy whether it be natural or by the water.
"How could you!?" Nodoka snapped at Genma, he looked to her with a confused expression "To your own daughter!" She continued.
"What do you mean No-chan?" Genma asked.
"Don't you No-chan me, I knew you wanted a son but I didn't think you would go this far to get one." Nodoka spat.
"I don't know what you mean. I admit I wanted a son but I didn't know the blessed water would make him switch gender when he touches water." Genma stated.
"Switch genders?" Nodoka questioned 'So that would mean…it's not permanent…and that Ranma can choose, if he wants to be a boy or is she wants to be a girl.' She mused.
"Yeah, I swear on my life he was a boy before I bathed him, then he was a girl and now he's a he again." Genma explained, beginning to sweat when Nodoka's gaze hardened.
'How can she do that? She's normally so docile and loving and now…she's super scary.' Genma internally screamed.
"You better be right Genma or I will skin you and gut you with my family katana." She hissed, Genma swallowed and nodded in understanding, before dashing out of the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
Nodoka turned back to her…son; he was still staring up at her with innocent eyes, his head tilted to one side. A small smile spread across Nodoka's lips, he just looked so adorable, she hugged him close again, bestowing a small kiss on his cheek. She then set about cleaning little Ranma while trying to avoid the occasional splash from the curious infant.
…
It didn't take long for the couple to work out that it wasn't the water that caused Ranma to switch genders but rather the temperature, though it took Genma two weeks longer than it did Nodoka. Nodoka was a little worried at the start with her baby switching genders every time she took a bath or he spilt his drink but she soon came to the realisation that she still loved her baby the same as if he…she…had only one gender, if anything this just made her baby more special.
2 Years Later…
Nodoka smiled to herself, she was currently standing in the kitchen icing a cake on the countertop, the cake itself was chocolate, atop it was spelt, in white icing, 'Happy 2nd Birthday Ranma'. It had been two years since their child's birth and Nodoka just couldn't stop smiling, Kimiko was going to come over with her three girls to play with Ranma.
The doorbell sounded and Nodoka stopped her icing and placed the said icing down beside the cake before heading to the door, cutting through the living room, casting it a cursory glance, there was a single green three piece sofa against the wall to Nodoka's left and directly ahead of her was a single comfy chair, the walls were a vibrant yellow and the carpet a light cream, in the corner beside the comfy chair was a small pile of gifts for Ranma, balloons of multiple colours were scattered about the room.
She exited the living room, entering the hall way, stopping a pace or two from the door, upon pulling it open she was met with the sight of her old college friend, Kimiko Tendo, she was a tall woman with brown hair, tied into a pony tail that reached her behind, her eyes were a deep oceanic blue, her face as always held a deceptive appearance of innocence, enhanced by her summer dress.
Standing in front of her were her three daughters, the eldest Kasumi, aged 4(1) was almost a perfect clone of Kimiko of when she was younger, her dark brown hair styled identical to her mother's, her clothing consisted of a pair of dark blue trousers and a dark purple top that left from her arms to her shoulders bare. Her eyes held the same mischief that her mother's did, though the child hid it far better than her mother did.
Beside Kasumi stood Nabiki, the middle child aged 3, she was half a head shorter than her elder sister, her brown hair a shade lighter than Kasumi's that was cut short, stopping just before her shoulders. Her eyes held an almost calculative gleam to them. She was attired in a faded yellow top with a small picture of a Baby Dragon on it with light blue jeans.
And to the middle Tendo's left stood the youngest, Akane aged 1, she would turn 2 in two months, had long blue hair reaching the centre of her lower back, she was wearing a bright yellow sundress. Each of the Tendo sisters held a small present, wrapped in light pink wrapping paper with a blue bow.
"Hey Kimiko, I'm so glad you could all make it and I'm sure Ranma will be more than happy to see you." Nodoka greeted as she smiled down at the three girls.
"Hey Auntie." The young trio chorused, each of them wearing a bright smile.
"Hey Nodoka, Soun says hi and that he's sorry he can't come but he has students to teach at the dojo and we can't really afford to blow classes off at this time." Kimiko replied.
"I didn't think he'd be able to come so don't worry; besides I know just how expensive one child is, never mind three." Nodoka chuckled as she stepped to the side and allowed her old friend and her daughters to enter the Saotome household.
The Saotome matriarch then presumed to lead the Tendos into the living room to be met with the sight of the decorated room, Nodoka smiled when she saw Ranma-chan run into a small collection of balloons, sending them flying, the air filling with balloons and giggles from the petite redhead.
"Why don't you three put your presents with the others and go play with Ranma-chan?" Nodoka said; the three girls nodded before placing the gifts with the others and dashing over to Ranma. Kimiko remained by Nodoka's side and simply looked on as their children played together with a small smile, while true originally she had, had her own doubts about Ranma with him changing genders every time she popped round but if anything it seemed to strengthen the growing friendship between her daughters and...Nodoka's young one.
"It's so good to see them getting along." Kimiko said as she turned to face Nodoka.
"I know what you mean." Nodoka chuckled.
"So how come she's a girl today?" Kimiko asked, casting a small glance to the young redhead as she chased a giggling Akane with a pink balloon.
"She just said she wanted red hair today." Nodoka chuckled.
"Has she worked out yet that not only her hair colour changes when she…switches?" She asked.
"She knows…she just doesn't understand it yet." Nodoka answered, not sure how to phrase her answer.
"Uhuh…so has Genma started trying to train Ranma-chan yet?" Kimiko asked, recalling how Soun wanted to started trying to convince her to let him train the girls not long after they started walking.
"Yes…according to him she has a lot of potential." Nodoka answered, she wasn't too thrilled with the concept of Genma training Ranma-chan at her young age but she just couldn't forbid it, not when she saw the smile on Ranma's face whenever she got to spend time with her daddy, even if he was a little rough in her opinion.
"You let him? Don't you think it's a little dangerous at her age?" Kimiko questioned.
"Well…he is a little…rough but Ranma just lights up whenever she trains with him…it makes her so happy…" Nodoka's voice drifted off.
The two adults continued their conversation as they watched the children continued to play, mainly chasing each other around, tackling each other or using the balloons as weapons, neither of them noticing how when Genma first entered the room from wherever he'd been and took in the scene there was a disapproving scowl upon his face, it vanished almost as soon as it appeared but it was there, even if no one saw it.
2 Years Later…
Genma stood in the back garden of the Saotome home, the grass was freshly mown, a flower bed or two along the edges, a tall wooden fence surrounded the small plot of land, concealing the garden from view from outside, unless someone were to stand on tiptoe to peer in. The bald martial artist was stood opposite his son.
Ranma was attired in a white robe, tied with a blue belt bound around his waist. He assumed an aggressive stance as his father had taught him, lowering his centre of gravity as he prepared to spar with his father and sensei.
"Are you ready Ranma?" Genma called.
"You bet dad." The four year old answered with excitement before charging at his father, keeping his centre of gravity low before he was close enough to Genma; he leapt into the air, striking upwards with his leg. Genma leaned back and out of the path of the strike.
Ranma began to fly past Genma's face, just passing him before his descent began. Genma brought up his leg as he began to turn his body before landing a roundhouse kick on the back of his son, sending him flying once again.
He watched on with an expression of disappointment as Ranma landed on his face at the foot of the far side of the fence, his face buried in the earth. Ranma brought up his arms and pushed himself up onto all fours before finally rising to his feet, wincing with every minor movement, his left elbow was cut from a couple sharp rocks and his right leg and lower back had suffered from a bruise.
"Come on Ranma, be a man, men don't cry over little boo boos, babies and little girls cry!" Genma spat, glaring at his son, Ranma flinched at Genma's words.
'But…I'm both a boy and a girl.' Ranma internally muttered, fighting back his tears as he turned to face his father again, focusing on his breathing as he took on a more defensive stance. A smirk split across Genma's face, Ranma flinched.
Genma then charged at his son, crossing the small distance between them in seconds, Ranma flinched back, taken aback by how quickly Genma reached him, he brought up his arm just in time to block a punch, followed by a second, he blocked it again, wincing as he felt the beaten flesh start to bruise. Genma swept his foot beneath Ranma, decking him.
Ranma's back slammed against the grass, he winced as pain thundered throughout his being, Genma then proceeded to pin Ranma by his foot, applying enough pressure to prevent Ranma from escaping, subsequently causing the small child intense pain.
Genma watched his son struggle, waiting for him to do something. Ranma opened his mouth and screamed at the top of his lungs "MUMMY!" He cried, tears now streaming down his cheeks. Genma stiffened, his highly trained ears picked up the stamping footsteps of his wife as she ran to the back door, it swung open to reveal the concerned face of Nodoka.
"Ranma!" Nodoka cried out as she charged towards them, altering her form as she did so, she struck Genma with her shoulder, hard. Genma fell from his position atop his son and crashed upon the ground. He looked on as Nodoka fell to her knee, pulling Ranma into her embrace, whispering comforting words as she continued to pet his back as he continued to cry into her shoulder.
"Shh Ranma, shh mummy will make it all better, shh." She whispered as she began to rock Ranma back and forth. The young boy felt his eyes grow heavy, feeling what little energy he had left leave him as he continued to cry until finally he fell asleep.
Nodoka continued to rock her baby long after he fell asleep. She turned to face her husband, still lying on the ground watching, her gaze hardened into a death glare as she rose back to her feet, inwardly wincing at her son's weight.
"Nodoka you've got to stop babying the boy, how do you expect him to grow up to be a real man if his mother is panicking over every little bruise!" Genma snapped, proving for certain that he had no survival instinct.
"No! Genma you are taking this too far, look what you've done to our baby Genma!" Nodoka spat.
"I've done nothing to him, all I was doing was teaching our son to be a true man, that in life situations will turn against him, as a martial artist he will have to face all kinds of martial artists, big and small…" Whatever else Genma was about to say died on his tongue when Nodoka struck out with her leg, striking her husband between his legs, his voice left him as he fought to control his pain.
He failed. Genma fell forward, clutching his crotch with all his strength in pain.
"Genma if I ever catch you…training our baby again then I promise you I will divorce you." Nodoka spat, her voice becoming one of disgust when she described Genma's options.
Nodoka turned and walked back inside, holding Ranma close to her chest as she began to trace circles on his back. Genma could only watch on in shock as Nodoka walked away with his son.
'How dare you threaten me woman…I don't care what you say I will train my heir!' Genma inwardly cried.
A/N Wrote this a while ago, not too sure on where it is going, please review and any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
(1) This is obviously an AU, I altered the Tendo girl ages for one year or so apart for Duel Academy.