What does your heart say now
"Now that we have touched, now that we have kissed. Now that its come to this. Is it the same, or has something changed. Now that we have let our guards down. I just want to know, what does your heart say now." Enter, Saotome Kiyomi. She might be related to Ranma, and she certainly looks the part, but no one's really sure. Could she ever find peace with the Saotomes? OC-centric!
Chapter 2 – Love's choice
8-8
Life isn't fair. The words ring in Kiyomi's head, over and over and over. Even as she calls up one of Ono-sensei's suppliers, cursing them out for adding zeroes to the invoice willy-nilly. She curses the intern in finance, she chews out his supervisor, the manager comes on the phone and finds himself getting an earful all the same. What kind of company lets a complete jackass make its invoices?!
Still, she can't complain too much. She's good at her job, and her boss—after finding out that she has all his finances up to date, reorganized his appointments so there's room for emergency patients, and all his patients just adore her and Jiro—can't stop praising her insight and work ethic. Things could be worse.
"It's Wednesday morning. I expect our corrected invoice to be out of your office by closing time tomorrow. That means that if I show up on Monday morning and I don't have a properly filled out invoice in the mailbox, you're going to have me on the phone again. And next time, I won't be very hospitable," Kiyomi explains in no uncertain terms. "Is. That. Clear?"
"Crystal, Chishu-san. You have my word!" Kiyomi hangs up, uncaring what pointless promises that man would make.
She's quite proud of herself, all things considered. She didn't raise her voice. She didn't call their intelligence or sanity into question. She didn't even try to sound threatening! All she did is point out as clearly as possible, that if the sum of all items on an invoice is forty-six thousand Yen, then the total amount can never be fifty times that, before demanding a new invoice with proper itemization and correct pricing—insinuating that she has the company's most recent catalogue, for price comparison purposes.
She looks at the clock, finding it's only nine fifteen. Sighing, but figuring now's as good a time as any for some tea, she goes into the kitchen and puts some water to boil. "I wonder how Kei-kun's day is going."
8-8
School is hell! That's the only thing going through Keitaruo's head. He tries making sense of things, but keeps coming up short.
He met up with Kiki, walking her to work and trying to cheer her up a little—he remembers saying for the millionth time that she doesn't have to visit mother's grave every day, but figures it'll fall on deaf ears this time, too.
He introduced himself to Ono-sensei, who seems like quite a kind and caring man—not even a little eccentric. Why would Kiki think he's a typical Furinkan-native?
That aside. He ran into Saotome and Tendo on the way to school—they were having an argument, he supposed, given they were shouting about something.
Up until this point, it had been a run of the mill morning. Nothing strange, nothing out of place. Just getting on with his day.
Then some cat started stalking him. A pink one, with red smocks and a red-tipped tail, and little bells dangling from its ears. It's eerily piercing gaze did NOT strike him as normal. Not in the least! He didn't try to shoo it, or even acknowledge it. He just kept walking at the same pace, leaving whatever that weird feline is supposed to be to sort itself out.
He ran into Kuonji, which he doesn't mind. But she seemed quite amused with his tail of a sentient-seeming cat—she never explained why. Still, she was good company, talking about her okonomiyaki restaurant and her latest recipe—not quite his thing, but he can appreciate her passion for it. He noticed her bandoleer and her giant spatula, but figures it has something to do with her shop, or her personal brand of martial arts, so he doesn't ask.
Then, as if the cat wasn't bad enough, a fricking DUCK attacked him! And not just any duck. No, that would be too tame—too normal. So instead, it's a duck wearing glasses! Kuonji seemed to recognize said duck, and thwacked it with her spatula, calling it 'moose' for some reason. She said something about telling 'cologne' about this, which Keitaro could only assume had to make sense to someone—though it certainly made none to him.
And he had yet to make it to school!
Fine. He shrugged it off, and continued on his merry—if far more reserved and weary—way. He points out that it might rain, she says she hopes it doesn't, but the dread in her tone hints at something far deeper than I don't want to get wet. He chalks it up to personal quirks, and leaves it at that.
That is until some kunoichi looking chick starts stalking us. What kind of idiot thinks red blends in with the grey background, and the predominantly white buildings? No matter how stealthy she thinks she is, he picked up on her presence almost immediately. And when he mentions it to Kuonji?
"Konatsu! We talked about this!" The kunoichi disappears without another word. "I'm sorry about him. He tends to get very protective when newcomers show up."
O…kay. Cross-dressing kunoichis. Check. Rampaging and glasses-wearing ducks. Check. Creepy, stalker-y cats. Check. The morning's weirdness index seemed on a steady incline.
Then they make it to school. Keitaro shivers, wondering what made Kiki think this is a good place to raise their Jiro.
In the schoolyard, the kendoist from yesterday announces he needs a word with Keitaro. Mind you, he'd barely only just set foot on school property. His footprint wasn't even fully formed yet. And already half the school was present—and for some reason, the middle Tendo girl was taking bets from an eager crowd on who the winner was going to be.
He isn't sure if it's the cultural differences between Sapporo and Tokyo, or if this is specific to Furinkan, or whatever the heck is going on. What he does know is that this idiot started spouting about how the child in 'his' pig-tailed goddess' arms yesterday looked too much like me for my own good.
And that's where he finds himself. Surrounded by the typical schoolyard taunts of 'fight, fight, fight, fight', with some idiot that claims to feel insulted her child looks like him. And no one is explaining much of anything to him.
"Alright. Let's try this," Keitaro begins, crossing his arms. "How long have you known this girl you speak of?"
"Six months, three weeks, four days, and twenty-three hours." Because that answer in no way makes the kendoist look like a stalker.
"Alright. How long have you known she was pregnant?" Kei continues.
"I only saw the child yesterday, you cur! What is your point?!" the blue-clad numbskull belts out, indignant as any petulant child can be.
"When did you last see her?" Keitaro presses, hoping to offer enough breadcrumbs to allow him to figure this out. Hope is dwindling with each proclamation, though.
"Last week, naturally!" Naturally? Why is that obvious? "It was Friday afternoon; we were strolling through the park together, admiring the roses and the daffodils." Uh, huh… he isn't buying it.
"And how long were you together?" This should be the last piece he needs.
"Well, let's see. Half hour stroll in the park. An hour-long lover's spat. Apologizing via French cuisine in a five-star restaurant…" Keitaro feels sorry for whoever that girl is. "Six hours at the very least!"
The yard is filled with murmuring about what's going on. No one's ever gotten through to Kuno before, after all.
"Okay. So, recap. You didn't know she was pregnant, and you see her yesterday with a three-month-old baby. Ignoring the nine months of pregnancy you're skimming over, and the three months of the baby's life you clearly know nothing about. A baby at that age needs to feed at least every three hours. Adding that my Kiki hasn't left Jiro out of her sight since he was born means you'd had to have noticed the baby at least twice in six hours, let alone the expectable diaper change and either laughter or wailing. Not to mention that I was with her Friday afternoon. We were at home, watching a rerun of I love Lucy. And yet, none of this tells you that the person you're assuming she is, is not the person you saw yesterday?"
The boy is frozen in place, his eyes completely blank. Keitaro isn't sure what to make of that—of any of this, really.
Keitaro sighs, shaking his head. Could this day get any weirder?
"PIG-TAILED GIRL!" the kendoist belts out, flying with open arms at someone. Keitaro takes one look—red hair, blue eyes, same face, same height—and decides he's after his Kiki.
There's little more than a blur, before Kuno is sent flying into the wall. At the point of contact, Keitaro stands, glowering at hole in the wall Kuno finds himself in. Dead or comatose, either is fine.
8-8
Ranma can't believe his luck! First Akane starts an argument, refusing to accept his more than logical stance that the bento she made for him will just hospitalize him! Then, she punches him while he's distracted with his early morning Mousse-sighting.
It wasn't bad enough that Mousse attacked him for no reason—though he can't lie, that's pretty common. So after punting him head-first into the canal, Akane decides he has the right idea, and punts Ranma after him!
So, soaked, female, and furious, Ranma makes his way to school. He doesn't utter a word, silently fuming that the one time he makes all his homework, it'll be too waterlogged to bother handing it in!
Then, of course! The first sight that greets him is none other than Kuno! The idiot!
"PIG-TAILED GIRL!" comes the predictable—and somewhat depressing—announcement.
Ranma takes a ready stance, knowing this won't end well.
Then… he blinks.
One second, Kuno is coming at him for a glomp. The next, Kuno's disappeared and Chishu's standing in his place. There's also a curious cloud of dust billowing up from the wall.
Daring to hope, Ranma peers in that direction. A sigh of relief escapes him, finding the idiot out cold.
"Oi! Chishu! I owe you one!" Ranma announces, sending the schoolyard into a frenzy at how easily Kuno was beaten.
Chishu turns to him, his eyes filled with worry, with concern—with a lot of things Ranma's never had anyone look at him and feel.
"Ranchan!" Ucchan comes running, clearly concerned. "Are you alright?" she demands, already checking him to see if he's injured.
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Ranma gets out, flustered at how overprotective Ucchan can sometimes be. "Besides, Chishu's the one that got inna fight."
Akane starts muttering under her breath, something about Ranma being able to take care of himself.
The crowd stills, the eerie silence grating on Ranma. He looks around, wondering what the idiots spotted that's got their tongue, but the only noteworthy event is Chishu walking towards him.
The look in his eyes though. The steely resolve, the balled fists, the carefully measured stride. Ranma gently shoves Ucchan behind him, putting himself in harm's way.
"Who are you?" Chishu demands, fire in his tone.
"Saotome Ranma," he answers, hoping this doesn't end badly. "We met yesterday at the Tendo Dojo."
"Saotome Ranma…" Chishu murmurs, as if testing the name. "So this is why."
"Huh?" Ranma's used to people not making a whole lot of sense, but Chishu ain't known to be one of them.
"You could pass for my Kiki's twin sister," Chishu explains. "Sort of at least."
"Oi! What's that s'posed to mean?!" Ranma demands hotly.
"You're slightly shorter. You don't have her scar. You wear your hair differently. Your fighting stance is different—you're into Kenpo, she's into Tai Chi Chuan and Wing Chun. You don't look at me with the same eyes. You carry yourself completely different to her. And when you're shouting, the veins on your neck don't bulge." Keitaro lays it out. Ranma shrugs, seeing no point in arguing facts. "I can't believe I confused the two of you. Even at a glance."
"Ain't that the truth," Ranma mutters, shaking his head. He didn't know any o' that stuff Chishu was just spouting off, but he's glad there won't be any confusion in the future… hopefully. "So come on, we gotta get to class before we get bucket duty."
8-8
"Aww man!" Ranma complains. He didn't have enough time to get some hot water, so he ended up suffering through the first three periods still female!
Still, it ain't all bad. Even though Daisuke and Hiroshi teased him about being the damsel in distress, everyone's more concerned with the new guy—which is a relief. What Ranma does find curious, though, is that Daisuke explained how Chishu managed to talk Kuno down, only attacking when he thought Ranma was in danger.
And now, here Chishu is, taking notes, paying attention, working through the English assignment Hinako-sensei gave them—English isn't exactly Ranma's forte. But then, he could say the same for bookkeeping, history, geography, chemistry, physics, algebra… well, a lot of subjects, really. Other than PE. He's good at that!
"Hey! Isn't that Hibiki?!" Ranma hears, but he isn't really interested. P-chan isn't good for much other than getting him in trouble.
"Yeah, and he's fighting some new guy!"
Still not interested. It's not as if other people's matches are all that fascinating.
8-8
Lunchtime rolls around. Keitaro finds himself gazing at the door every other second, hoping for his Kiki to burst in, so she can get on his case about forgetting his bento once again. "Oi, Chishu." Keitaro looks to Saotome, wondering what he needs. "You forget your bento on purpose."
"That's none of your—" The door slides open, revealing his redhead with Jiro strapped to her chest. He dashes for them, taking them into his arms.
"That's the third time this week. You're doing it on purpose, aren't you," Kiki murmurs, a smile in her tone. From how she snuggles up to him, he knows she doesn't mind—in fact, he's fairly certain she likes this idea of his.
"Is it tempting you to join me for lunch?" he asks, not minding how easily he was found out.
"Maybe," she teases. The smile only becomes more obvious in her voice, so he knows she really doesn't mind. "Don't you need your bag?"
"In a second."
8-8
By some stroke of luck, Kiyomi and Kei-kun find themselves under the same tree for the third time this week—they're starting to suspect everyone's acceptance that this is their spot.
Once again, Kei-kun sits cross-legged to allow Jiro to tumble around in his custom seat, while Kiyomi unpacks their bento and offers Kei the first bite. He starts asking her about work, but all she'll say is that she's glad Kasumi-san showed up again—she even admits to calling the eldest Tendo sister and saying how Ono-sensei is inviting her to lunch.
He isn't sure why that means much of anything, but the amusement in her eyes says there's more to it.
"Hey, guys! Mind if I join you?" Kuonji asks, already coming over with bento in hand. This, too, is fast becoming a custom. Still, she's good company, so they don't mind.
"Of course!" Kiki agrees, smiling warmly.
8-8
"Of course!" Kiyomi-chan agrees, smiling as warm as ever. Ukyo can't claim to have a lot of friends. Customers, people who love her cooking, and people she knows well enough, sure—but not friends.
But these two? With their easy going nature, the calm air they wear like a cloak, and how they want to be together for no reason other than wanting to be together, Ukyo can't help but feel close to them.
She likes sitting with them and listening to them talk about little things. Things like Jiro's paediatrician appointment from yesterday—she can't recall how much he grew, or much of anything, but she enjoys Kiyomi's glowing smile while she's talking. She likes how the pair of them fuss over Jiro, no matter what he's doing they both keep a keen eye on him.
Ukyo likes seeing these three together. Simple as that. But… she won't lie, in the back of her mind it's always Ranchan holding their baby while she's offering him something to munch on.
"Oi! Ucchan!" Ukyo turns, her face already lighting up before she spots him.
"Ranchan!" she calls back, waving and beaming at him as he walks through the door from the cafeteria. He makes his way over, plopping down beside her. "You forgot your bento today?"
"Nah. Someone refused to let mom make one for me, and demanded I suffer through her poison a second time this week," Ranchan explains, making a face and rubbing the back of his head. "So I figured cafeteria food ain't all that bad." He takes out the three buns he bought, opening the paper bag and taking a bite.
"Hmm?" Kiyomi noises, drawing Ranchan's attention. Ukyo can tell she's curious what that's about, but she shrugs and turns back to Chishu-kun.
"Oh, Kiki. I finally figured out why people keep staring at you," Chishu-kun says, a smile in his eyes. "Turns out Saotome-kun here turns into a girl with cold water."
"Is that so," Kiyomi murmurs, shrugging again. "Okay. Were you still having trouble with trigonometry?"
Ukyo stares. She can't help it. Not only does Kiyomi not react badly, but she barely seems to react at all. It's as if…
"You're from Furinkan," Ranchan says, taking another bite. Ukyo can't help but agree. Only locals could ever shrug off something like that.
"I'm not really sure. I know I lived here before, and I do remember some things. Like the Fazu bookstore? You know the one that's run by Buddhist monks?" Ukyo and Ranchan share a look, shrugging. "Well, anyway. I know some things, and I remember the general chaos of living here."
"SAOTOME~EEEEEEE!" Ukyo turns to see who's issuing the battlecry this time.
8-8
"SAOTOME~ EEEEEEE!" Kiyomi glares at the tanned, tiger-tripe bandana-wearing idiot storming over to them. She sees the fury, the rage, the desire to rip Saotome-kun a new hole to breathe from. But she also hears someone that is threatening to frighten Jiji-chan.
"Hibiki Ryouga!" Kiyomi belts out, her tone stern. "You will lower your voice this instant!"
Like a switch is hit, the eternally lost boy stops dead in his tracks. He blinks, wondering what he's bearing witness to this time. He knows for a fact this is Furinkan High—he read the sign twice before entering. But he also knows that voice—and she lives in Sapporo.
For a dreadful moment, he wonders if he didn't enter a 'Furinkan High' in Sapporo.
"That's better. Now, come over here. Sit down, and stop attacking people. We've talked about this!" Kiyomi gets on his case. Unwilling to argue, Ryouga stows his battle umbrella, takes off his bag, and slinks to the ground beside her—if after blinking and shaking off the mindjob he was just given.
"Good boy," Kiyomi praises, beaming at him. "Aren't you going to say hello, Jiji?"
"Unn!" Jiro noises, his owlish gaze studying the newcomer.
"It's nice to see you, too," Ryouga says, making a funny face for his little buddy. "Just one question though… Am I in Sapporo, or are you in Furinkan?"
"Well, if you want to get technical," Kei-kun murmurs, smirking. "Then we're all in Furinkan."
"Ah… ahhh," is all Ryouga can manage.
"We moved here recently,"Kiyomi explains. "Just after…"
"Yeah…" Ryouga mutters.
8-8
"Yeah…" the jackass mutters. Ukyo can't make sense of the sudden shift. So she tries to fill in the blanks, using past interactions between her Ranchan and his sometimes friend sometimes rival.
So. Ryouga gets lost—again. Winds up in Sapporo—how he winds up on a different island is not something Ukyo wants to understand. Spots someone that looks eerily like Ranchan, and attacks on sight. Either Chishu or Kiyomi beats the snot out of him, and demands an explanation. That would explain why Ryouga-baka knows them, and why he would know for a fact he'd better not get on their bad side—Ukyo's assuming, but given how effortlessly both of them dealt with Kuno, she feels it's a safe bet.
What intrigues her, however, is that he seems to know something about their past. Something heart-wrenching, if their sudden dip in mood is anything to go by.
"A brrrrriiiii!" little Jiro announces, plopping his little hands against Chishu-kun's chest. Like a switch is hit, Chishu-kun and Kiyomi beam at the little boy, not a sign of trouble on the horizon.
"So, Hibiki-kun. I'm assuming Saotome is the reason?" Chishu-kun demands, his gaze harder than a moment ago.
"Ah, well… yeah."
"So, seeing as we both live in Furinkan now. I assume that means you are not going to be attacking either of them on sight, before first confirming which one it is. Thereby ensuring I don't have a reason to break both your legs," Chishu-kun asks, his tone light and airy. Ukyo is almost certain he's talking this way to not scare Jiro.
"O… of course! I would never attack Kiyomi-san!"
"Never?" Chishu-kun snipes, his eyebrow raised. Poor bacon-butt sputters, flushing and no longer able to meet their gaze. Ukyo nods, having figured as much. "But that's beside the point. Saotome, I would suggest you speak to any and everyone that usually attacks you on sight. I'm not going to tolerate people attacking my Kiki for any reason. Is that clear?"
"I'mma try, but re—"
"No. You will do," Chishu-kun cuts him off, his tone starting to darken. "Because if I find out so much as one person attacks her in your name…"
Ukyo shivers.
"I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to her!" Ranchan's spine is ramrod straight, his eyes shining with his determination. The way his whole being is prepared to defend this girl makes Ukyo feel a little lightheaded.
"There you are! Jeez, you guys. Thanks for waiting!" Akane complains, storming over with her usual lackeys. She sits down, not bothering to ask if she can join them. "Oh, hey, Ryouga-kun! Long time no see!"
Ukyo sighs. Graceful as a hippo in a tutu, nothing new there, she muses, growing more and more annoyed with the recurring scene. Why doesn't Akane just admit she doesn't like Ranma like that, and let him move on?
"A-Akane-san! How nice to see you again!" The scene is nothing if not a familiar one to Ukyo. How Ryouga takes gift after gift out of his bag, how Akane thanks him and beams for each one, how Ranchan just rolls his eyes and shakes his head. She knows that he notices what's going on, the subtle but undeniable tension between them. And yet, he says nothing about it.
And there they go again, Ukyo mutely complains. The jackass openly flirts and showers her with gifts, Akane just uses it to make Ranchan jealous. And of course, my poor Ranchan is only accepting this because his mom likes Akane for him.
"Oh, Kiyomi-chan," Ranchan changes the subject, completely ignoring what Ukyo can only guess he believes will never change. "Mom's hopin' you'll join us for dinner tonight."
Kiyomi and Chishu-kun share a look, both shrugging and obviously seeing nothing wrong with that. "We'll be there," he assures Ranchan.
"Ooh! You should come too, Ryouga-kun!"
Ranchan shakes his head, but once again says nothing.
8-8
Kiyomi finds herself in a particularly strange position. She's always prided herself on being an excellent judge of character, and she can sniff out romance better than any bloodhound. The trouble is, she sees all the right signs, with all the wrong people.
Still. This isn't her problem to solve, and no one's asked for her input—not that she'd willingly give it. So, as Kei-kun knocks on the Tendo Dojo's front door, she mentally prepares herself to give as little away as she can.
Quiet giggles and hushed whispers seep through the door, following by almost inaudible smacking.
The door slides open, revealing Kasumi-san and Ono-sensei. Ono-sensei looks goofy happy, as usual when around Kasumi-san—it's part of the reason Kiyomi's been going out of her way to get those two together more and more often, they both look happier for it.
"Oh, Kiyomi-san! Keitaro-san! How nice to see you again!" That's authentic joy in her tone, Kiyomi decides.
Instead of answering, the Chishus peer at Ono-sensei. The 'mosquito bite' on his neck, the red lipstick on his collar and chin and lips. The pair of them sport knowing smiles.
"It's good to see you," Kiyomi coos, her finger tracing her jawline. She doesn't know if it's booze, or if the doctor and his bride to be—Kiyomi's never been wrong about that in her life—are stuck on cloud nine and don't realise how flagrant they're being, but it's quickly decided that it doesn't matter. "But what is this? Kasumi-san, should you really allow Ono-sensei to walk alone in such a state? People will get the wrong impression of him!"
"So. Kasumi-san, if you could take Ono-sensei home, I'll help Saotome-san in the in kitchen. That way you can take your time—I'm sure he'll need a woman's touch to make him look presentable, after all. And you can be sure to see that his home is in tiptop condition. Does that sound agreeable?"
Kasumi-san takes one look at Ono-sensei, an amused smile taking over her face and her eyes suddenly half-lidded. "You know, Kiyomi-san, I think you're right. A woman's touch is just what the good doctor needs." Kiyomi grins, shooing them.
The lovebirds barely make it to the gate when Kei-kun gives Kiyomi a curious look and a raised eyebrow. "There'll be marriage talks before the week is out," comes the prediction.
"Oh really?" Kei-kun murmurs, smiling.
"Uh huh," Kiyomi noises, bobbing her head.
"What makes you think that?"
"Kei-chan, really?" she sounds almost indignant he's doubting her. "A woman like Kasumi-san risking her reputation on him?"
He shrugs, conceding her point. "And what about a woman like you?" he asks, studying her lips. "After all, you've risked more than your reputation on me."
She leans in, putting her index finger against his lips so he doesn't try to kiss her. "Ask me later."
"Ooh. Low blow," he teases, mischief in his eyes.
"Hmm," she noises, a nervous little smile peeking through even as she bites her lip to hide the evidence. "Come on, Chishu-san." She takes his hand, leading him into the house.
8-8
While Kiki's in the kitchen, Keitaro has Jiro in the family sitting room, keeping him entertained. Unfortunately, that means he's stuck with 'the uncles', the middle Tendo, and an annoyed Saotome-kun—Ryouga's keeping the youngest Tendo entertained, so they don't count.
Everyone keeps studying Keitaro, trying to figure him out. He sighs, shaking his head—he's been down this road before. "Staring is rude," he says, rolling his eyes.
"What exactly is your relationship with Kiyomi?" Saotome-san begins, acting as if he has any right to enforce propriety.
"We're engaged to be wed," Keitaro intones, as if it should have been obvious.
"That's not what I'm talking about. How could you dishonour her in such a way?" the bald boulder of a man demands, fire in his tone.
Keitaro smiles, shaking his head in amusement. He thinks back to the day he told her much the same thing. "You wouldn't understand," he says, his voice burdened with his past.
"Try me," the middle Tendo cuts in. Keitaro sighs, shrugging. They don't even know if there's a family relation, yet they're acting like Kiyomi's theirs to protect. It may have been forever ago, but Keitaro remembers what that was like—wanting nothing but the best for your family.
"Kiyomi didn't give birth to Jiro. My mother did," Keitaro says, smiling sadly as his son tumbles around, trying to figure out this whole crawling thing. The silence almost becomes a presence, one that grates on him. "But our mother died in childbirth."
8-8
"But our mother died in childbirth," Chishu-kun intones. Ranma knows that tone of voice—he's used it and heard it often enough. Talking about this cuts so deep that the only thing Chishu-kun can do is shut off his emotions entirely. It doesn't explain why he's willing to talk about it, not to Ranma, but he feels nothing but respect for Chishu-kun and Kiyomi-chan.
"I tried to tell Kiyomi that calling Jiro our son will give people the wrong impression of her, but she's pretty stubborn sometimes," Chishu-kun continues. "She told me that she'd rather have her name dragged through the mud, than allow our baby to grow up feeling anything but loved. And that the only thing I can do to fix that is to marry her. But we can't, not until we're twenty."
Ranma blinks, wondering what that could do to a person. He isn't sure about a lot of things, but it takes guts to offer up your life and reputation like that—he's damn sure of that!
"So, do me a favour. Never doubt Kiki's integrity," Chishu-kun demands, balling his fists so hard Ranma's sure his nails are biting into his skin.
All Ranma can do is whistle, long and low. "Well, Keitaro," Ranma begins. "I guess you and me'll have to knock anyone's teeth in that talks trash, huh."
Keitaro snorts, shaking his head. His gaze never wavers from little Jiro, who's still tumbling around unaware of just how utterly devoted his young parents are to him.
8-8
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Nodoka asks again, an apron in her hand but not yet being offered.
"Of course," Kiyomi-chan says, smiling warmly. She sees the reluctance in the elder woman, but there isn't a doubt working together will have dinner ready on time—no matter how reluctant Nodoka is about this.
With a subtle shrug, obviously figuring having a little help can't hurt—let alone the company while she's busy—she hands her the apron and fishes out one for herself.
Once both women don their apron, they set about preparing a feast for their families. Nodoka is a bit hesitant at first, unsure how practiced the young lady is, but once she starts chopping the meats and asking about the seasonings needed, the conversation quickly starts up.
It's pretty tame at first—Saotome-san doesn't want to overwhelm Kiyomi, after all—but after the third or fourth funny story is exchanged about their babies, Saotome-san finds herself liking and trusting her more and more.
"Oh, Ranma was such a handful at that age. He was an early crawler, and he wouldn't stop putting everything in his mouth," she reminisces. "I remember having to keep anything I didn't want him touching out of sight."
"Oh dear. I hope Jiro doesn't have that!"
"He probably will. Most babies do. Don't worry, though. It's how they explore. My mom told me the best thing is to have only safe things in reach. Like teething rings?"
"Hmm. That might work."
"Really, though, dear. You should give your mom a call. I'm sure she'd adore little Jiro." Suddenly, chopping beef didn't seem like a bright idea, so Kiyomi decides that scooping the cubes into the bowl is a safer bet.
"So, we're making rice soup, huh? You said it was Ranma's favourite?"
It isn't that Nodoka doesn't know about Keitaro-kun's mother passing away recently, she saw the headstone, and she made the connection fairly quickly. But, she has a feeling in her bones this has to do with her birth mother.
She'd been wracking her brains all week, trying to figure out who this girl's family was, and what the exact relation was between them. She'd called her elder sister in Nagoya, her cousin in Kyoto, her mother in Tokyo Central, her aunt in Osaka—the matriarch of the family. No one knew of a girl around Kiyomi's age.
There was a consensus, though. If anyone would have had a child and told no one about it, it would be Hatsuyo. The Saotome brat and rebel extraordinaire. Nodoka's younger sister.
Every family has one like her, that one everyone knows about and no one ever talks about. The Saotomes are no exception. The one that drinks too much. The one that is always right, especially when she's wrong and don't you dare question her about it! The kind of woman that will hate you with the passion of a thousand suns if you dare look prettier than her. She's the one everyone warned should never have children, because she'd never be able to raise so much as a dog responsibly! And they thought she listened to reason!
Last she or anyone in the family heard, Hatsuyo was in a car accident. Drunk, no doubt. According to the news reports, both cars were totalled. The pictures and video coverage made her wonder if those lumps of twisted metal were cars to begin with. There were only two survivors, though only 'the driver' and 'a ten year old girl' were ever mentioned, so Nodoka assumed it was a girl from the other car. She doesn't remember what happened to the girl, though…
That was almost six years ago… in… Sapporo, if she recalls.
"So you moved here from Sapporo, right?" Nodoka asks for confirmation.
"Yeah. Kei-kun and I figured a change would do us some good," Kiyomi says, her voice weighed down. "I didn't expect to find any family around, though. Let alone within the first month."
That's all the elder Saotome needs. She washes her hands and goes to Kiyomi. "If you mean to talk about that woman, don't bother." The venom in her voice would scare anyone else, but Nodoka can't say she's surprised by it. She knew Hatsuyo shouldn't have ever had a child, let alone attempt raising it.
"I mean to talk about you being my niece," Nodoka corrects, her tone soothing and her arms held wide for a hug. "You laid your mother to rest, so you'll need someone to turn to. When Jiro has a fever. When the millions of questions come in the middle of the night. When you're not sure about something and just need confirmation, or want someone to talk to about it. You'll need a babysitter you can trust, when you need an afternoon to rest."
Kiyomi regards her with world-weary eyes. Eyes, Nodoka decides, that belie the beauty she'd seen over and over in her.
"It's alright, Kiki-chan. Auntie's here," Nodoka soothes, taking the final steps and taking the slight girl into her arms.
For a long moment, Nodoka doesn't dare to breathe. Will Kiyomi pull away? Will she understand her birth mother is the bad apple, the black sheep of the family?
More importantly. Will she be open to finding—truly finding—the family she'd been denied her whole life?
Mute sobs, though hard on her heart, tell her that Kiyomi isn't entirely against it.
Unbeknownst to aunt and niece alike, the pair of them sighs contentedly—as if they can breathe for the first time in a long while.
8-8
Keitaro is starting to get nervous. He's used to Kiki coming into the sitting room to check on him and Jiro—he hasn't seen hide or hair of her since disappearing into the kitchen.
"I like what you did to Kuno today," the middle Tendo muses, her eyes boring into him for some reason. "No one's ever been able to talk him out of a fight."
"Okay," Keitaro shrugs, unsure what that has to do with him. He stares at the kitchen door, wondering why he isn't hearing much of anything coming from in there. Kiyomi isn't one to make more noise than needed, but he has every reason to expect Saotome-san to strum up a conversation. Is she alright? Are they arguing and trying to keep it down? Should he go check on her?
He hears her name, but not from the kitchen. He turns back to his hosts, questions in his eyes.
"Kiyomi," Saotome-kun says, obviously the speaker he blotted out. "How'd you two meet?"
"In Sapporo General Hospital. Mom…" the word knocks the air out of him, cutting deep, even now. He takes a moment to catch himself before continuing. "She… she had to stay overnight for a few tests. I don't really remember what. And Kiki was in her room."
"Hmm?" Saotome-san noises, obviously wondering why Kiki was hospitalized.
"She doesn't talk about it, not even to me, but I heard from one of the nurses she was in a car accident," Keitaro explains. He furrows his brow, trying to recall something—something that strikes him as important. It slips away, no matter how hard he tries. He shrugs it off, figuring it'll come to him eventually. "It was at the beginning of summer break and I didn't have anything else to do. So I stayed, too."
The scene plays out in his head, finding this cute, shy little redhead in a bed across the room. "She didn't talk much, but her eyes would tell tales," he recalls, smiling. "M… mom had to go run some tests, so she told me take Kiki down to the cafeteria, to get something to snack on."
Her eyes lit up when she heard, even though her lips were but a thin line. She reached out, trying to grab her wheelchair, itching to get something to eat…
He remembers thinking how frail she looked. How her legs didn't seem to work, how Kiki had to grab her own knees to get her feet onto the little steps. But once her hands touched those wheels, they took on a life of their own.
"We ended up racing down the hall to the elevator, sending most of the nursing staff diving out of the way." He smiles, shaking his head in amusement. "When we got there, the lady behind the counter… her eyes lit up when she saw Kiki." It was as if she brought life into whatever room she entered.
"Gods, did that poor woman have to work to keep up with us. We went back for sixths, I think. Or was it sevenths?" He can't remember, but he doesn't care. "We tried every dish. Every dessert. Every drink. Every snack. And the way her eyes would close every time she tried something new… the way her face would light up…"
And that happy little noise she makes. She didn't need words to express herself, he decided. Sometimes words seem to take away from the beauty she naturally exudes, as if they get in the way.
"I went back every day to see her. I had to," he murmurs. Seeing her, the way her face lit up when she saw him walking into her room. He was addicted to her smile, even if he didn't understand why at the time. Even after school started up again, he would swing by on his way to and from school. He would make his homework with her, tell her stories about his day. He'd do everything he could to tease scantily any words at all from her.
He remembers studying her every time. Seeing her growing stronger with each visit, like a wilted flower he was breathing life into one story at a time. It was almost six months before she could walk down the corridor with him, down to the cafeteria. And almost another year before they would race it.
"When she was being released, I begged for her to come stay with us." It was two years after meeting her, more or less. She looked so much healthier, so much stronger. So vibrant, as if she was the sun that rose every morning—though that wasn't anything new for her.
He didn't have to beg very much, really. It was almost as if it was already arranged, not that he cared—he just needed to see his Kiki. "She was written into the same middle school as me, and we've been inseparable ever since."
"What about her family?" Saotome-san demands, fire in his eyes.
"Dunno," Keitaro admits, shrugging. "I've never met them. And she doesn't talk about them. I know she lived here in Furinkan for a while, but even that she barely talks about."
8-8
Kiyomi studies her reflection in the mirror. She looks like she's been crying, even after washing her face. There's no way Kei-kun won't notice, she decides, so she needs to show that she and Auntie weren't fighting.
She turns to the counter, grabbing a heavy-looking bowl filled with soup and follows Auntie through the door. "Seriously, though, Auntie," Kiyomi begins, beaming as she enters the sitting room. "You need to teach me how to make that soup. Otherwise we'll end up eating every meal here!"
As predicted, Kei-kun's already studying her. She smiles just a little brighter, to set him at ease, though she also sees how little he buys it. She smiles—a special little smile reserved just for him—and shakes her head, no; I'm fine.
"In that case, there's no way I'm teaching you!" Auntie teases with a laugh, setting her burden on the table. "Ranma, sweetie. Please set the table for us while we're bringing dinner."
"Sure, mom," Sao… Ranma-kun agrees, bobbing his head. For some reason, Kiyomi feels him studying her as well—Kei-kun's been talking about her again.
As she sets the bowl down, she turns to head for mo—
"You know the agreement," Kei-kun stops her. He motions for her to sit down, scooping up Jiro as he stands and offering him to her. "You cooked." She sighs, holding her hands up in defeat before taking her Jiji and blowing a raspberry in his neck. The peals of laughter that greet her, they light up her whole world.
"So, little man. Have you been on your best behaviour?" Kiyomi asks with smile.
"Unn!" Jiji belts out, plopping his balled fists against her cheeks. He rubs them up and down, his nails scraping against her skin as if he's trying to open his hand but is too distracted to work them.
"Is that so?" she asks, kissing his nose. "And what about daddy? Was he talking about me again?"
Jiji starts warbling something out she can't make sense of, dribbling a little more with each word.
"I see, I see. And what does my little Jiji have to say about that?"
"Unn a brrrrrrrrriiiiiii!"
"I think so, too," she teases rubbing her nose against his. He giggles, before taking her nose into his mouth. She pulls him back, making another funny face for him. He starts wriggling, his hand grabbing her shirt and pulling with all his might. "I know, I know. But you'll have to wait a minute. It's rude to let you eat if everyone's hungry."
He starts getting fussy, a whining whimper and a grumpy cry telling her he doesn't want to wait—he's hungry now!
"So impatient," she teases, moving around a bit so she can sit cross-legged and gently setting him between her thighs. When she starts unbuttoning her shirt, he gets even more impatient, as if she's taking forever. "Hold your horses, little man."
8-8
While Ranma's grabbing the plates and setting the table, he can't help but steel a peak at Kiyomi now and again. He's still a bit weirded out at how much she looks like his girl-side, but Keitaro's right, they act nothing alike. In the room barely a minute, and she's alright brightening everything around her.
Jiro was busy the whole time, but he was pretty quiet about it. Now, the boy's holding an elaborate conversation with her, and he can't stop smiling. Even though her face looks like it's been washed recently—Ranma isn't sure what that's about—he can't help but compare her to the sun, shining her light on all she sees.
He goes about setting the table, wondering about the little smile he can't seem to shake.
"I know, I know. But you'll have to wait a minute. It's rude to let you eat if everyone's hungry." Kiyomi says, drawing his attention to the pair of them. Jiro's making little sucking motions that he isn't sure Kiyomi even notices from that angle. Then he plops his face against her chest, obviously trying to get what he wants.
"So impatient," she teases, moving around a bit so she can sit cross-legged and gently setting him between her thighs. When she starts unbuttoning her shirt, he gets even more impatient, as if she's taking forever. "Hold your horses, little man."
Ranma stares, seeing her whip out a tit and seeing Jiro latch on, not unlike that's his… well, his mother. If he didn't know any better, he'd never guess they aren't mother and child.
He's seen it a thousand times. Travelling through rural areas throughout Japan, China, and Korea, it's hard not to. But this is different. This isn't some stranger, this isn't some random person. This is like seeing himself in the mirror, breastfeeding his child.
That confuses him. And yet it intrigues him—which confuses him even more. To see himself doing that, without any kind of begrudging acceptance… that is love in her eyes. A love Ranma can't really say he's ever known.
Not that he thinks his parents… well, mom loves him—he isn't sure if pop knows what that word even means. But those eyes… he's never seen anyone look at him like that. Ever.
…
Well. There was that one time. When he was feeling down, and just needed someone to talk to. As usual, he found himself in Ucchan's. It was in the middle of the afternoon, so there weren't any customers, and he's usually so comfortable with her. He kind of just unloaded it all, right there in her restaurant.
When his brain caught up with his mouth, he felt so embarrassed, apologizing over and over about burdening her with his problems.
But…
She just smiled and shook her head.
It's what friends are for, Ranchan.
He smiled, unable and unwilling to do much else.
And she…
It was gone almost as soon as quickly as it peeked out, but…
She looked at him with those eyes, too.
He couldn't place it at the time—he usually can't figure out girls anyway, so he chalked it up to girl-stuff.
But now… seeing Kiyomi with that same look… that I'd do anything for you look… that you mean the world to me look…
Keitaro comes back into the room, carrying in the last of the dishes with mom. And he has that same look in his eyes as he smiles at Kiyomi.
That same look.
A look he barely ever saw at all.
A look that he never wants to forget.
But more importantly, a look he wants to see on his partner's face—whoever that ends up being. He doesn't want a loveless marriage like his parents—business transaction type relationships where I'll do this if you do that.
He wants someone who's going to do something because they want to do it. He wants that connection. That desire to be together, even when every other option is easier.
He wants what they have.
8-8
Ukyo can't believe her luck! Ucchan's hasn't been this busy in months! Customer after customer keep pouring in, ordering dish after dish after dish. It's exhausting, to be sure. But seeing so many people smiling as they try her food, to see hear them telling their dining partner how good it is and how they're definitely coming back?
There isn't a stool that isn't taken. And for each satisfied customer that leaves, another enters and takes their place.
They have their hands full, her and Konatsu. But she wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world. "Can I get a number five with the Kobe sauce, and some oolong tea?"
"Coming right up, sugar!"
8-8
Nodoka studies her son, wondering what's going through his mind. He has a faraway look in his eyes as he pokes at his food, stirring it around as if he isn't hungry.
It's his favourite, she knows that. And he's done nothing but be supportive and protective of Kiki-chan. It isn't because of any of that, she's sure of it.
Yet, she can't seem to figure him out.
"Come on, say ah!" Keitaro teases, bringing his chopsticks to Kiki-chan's mouth—after blowing it of course.
"I can feed myself, you know," Kiki snipes, blushing furiously.
"Not while holding Jiji, you can't," Keitaro insists. "Come on, you let me feed you at home all the time."
Part of Nodoka despises their antics—it's not very manly of him to be this way. And yet, seeing him take care of the love of his life strikes her as the manliest things she's ever seen—though, for the life of her she can't remember seeing or hearing of a man doing so, let alone having a man take care of her that way.
The conflicting views are starting to give her quite the headache.
And yet, from the corner of her eye, she sees Ranma gazing at the pair of them. She sees something she hadn't thought she'd ever see, something she honestly didn't think men were capable of feeling: longing.
Her parents never looked at each other that way. Genma never looked at her that way. No man ever had.
Well, Ranma used to. Whenever she'd leave him with a sitter, he'd look at her with those big tearful eyes of his and he'd beg her not to go, not to leave him. It frightened her—that she might be turning her son into a… well, a… a pansy.
And yet, here she finds Keitaro, who certainly is a man among men, fussing over his beloved, openly caring for her, making sure she's eating enough. It's as if Kiyomi is more than his future bride, more than the mother of his child—and future children.
Ranma sees it, too, she doesn't doubt. How the two of them so obviously care for one another. Is that what he longs for?
"Ranma. Stop staring. It's rude," Akane-chan chides. She glares at her fiancé, demanding what she rightly ought to—propriety demands as much, after all.
"Jealousy is unbecoming," Keitaro snipes, offering his beloved sautéed beef this time. Unsurprisingly, Akane-chan sputters and starts shaking her head, obviously about to deny it. Both Kiki-chan and Keitaro glare, cutting whatever she was going to say. "Perhaps you should be more concerned with your own meal. Instead of pining over your boyfriend getting lost on his way over here."
Kiki-chan gives him a look, barely more than a glance. Keitaro sighs mutely, shrugs, and gets right back to feeding himself and Kiki.
They see it, too. The rift between Akane and Ranma. Hmm. Perhaps Nodoka just needs a fresh perspective on how to help them grow close?
She decides she needs to speak to her niece, away from curious ears.
8-8
End Chapter 2
8-8
A/N: There we have it. Chapter 2 is done! Just chapter 3 left, and we'll see if you guys find this interesting enough for me to continue writing beyond the planned content.