Shadows Over Nerima

by

Jeremy Harper

Disclaimer – Ranma ½ is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi. Batman is the creation of Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Both are used without permission.

Chapter 6

"An arranged marriage?" said Wally West in disbelief. "An arranged marriage to one of three girls you've never met before?"

"Yup," said Ranma. He threw an Escrima stick, ricocheting it off three targets set on the gym's walls. He caught it on the rebound, spun on his heel and threw the stick at targets set on the opposite wall.

"Isn't that a bit, ah, old fashion?"

"You mean Stone Age." Ranma caught the returning stick, spun it in his hand and sat down Indian-style on the floor with a grunt. He looked at the holographic display showing his three friends gathered in the rec room of Titan Tower. "Yeah, it is. But since the old bastard is a cave man it suits him just fine."

"So, are these sisters hot?" Roy Harper asked.

"Roy!" chided Donna Troy.

"What?"

Ranma shook his head. "You know Roy, I find it oddly comforting that, no matter what the situation, I can always count on you to think with your dick."

"Hey, I'm just looking for a silver lining here. It'd be totally worse if your old man engaged you to some heinous bohog."

"So, a woman's looks are the only thing that matters?" Donna said stiffly.

"Aw Donna, I didn't mean it like that!"

"Then what exactly did you mean?"

"Uh..."

"I think you should quit before you dig yourself in any deeper," murmured Wally.

"I agree," said Ranma. "Not that it matters, but all three of them are gorgeous. The youngest is especially cute. But I'm not gonna marry any of them." Ranma sighed. "Not if I can help it."

His three friends looked at him silently for a minute. "Did something else happen?" Donna asked, concern prominent in her sky-blue eyes. Ranma did not answer. "Ranma?"

He sighed again. "Yeah, I guess something did." Slowly, he told them of meeting his mother for the first time in over ten years and of the obligation to her inflicted upon him by his father.

"You have got to be fucking kidding," said Roy, anger heating his voice.

"Wish I was."

"And I thought my mother was a bitch," muttered Wally. Ranma let out a bark of strained laughter at that.

"Ranma," said Donna wide-eyed, "you don't actually think you have to go through with... with it, if that... woman thinks you're unmanly, whatever she means by that?"

Ranma frowned unhappily, looking away, unable to meet his friend's worried gaze. "I know it's wrong, up here." He tapped himself on the temple. "It's a sick thing to expect of anyone, and especially of a kid. It's signed with my hand prints, for crying out loud. I couldn't have been more than a toddler. All the logic and common sense I have is screaming at me to tell her to go to hell. But... until I was ten, the old man ground into me that a martial artist has to keep his word, or else he has no honor. Fine thing coming from him, since he broke any promises he made right and left, best I recollect. Yet it's been burned into me, and I don't want to be like my pop. I made a promise to be a man among men."

"But you were a baby!" protested Donna. "There's no way you could have understood that contract."

"I know, Donna. It's stupid, and I'm stupid for even thinking I'm bound to it, but I can't help how I'm feeling." He slammed the butt of his Escrima stick against the floor in frustration.

Silence again. Then Roy cleared his throat. "Say, you looking for some company? We probably can get away for a week or two. It's been pretty quiet."

Ranma looked up at them. "Won't your guardians object to you all running over here on a moment's notice?"

Roy snorted. "You're pretty thick sometimes, Saotome. Two months ago we were on frickin' Apokolypse helping Mark Moonrider rescue his friends from Kanto and Devilance. Ollie ain't going to say shit about me spending some of my summer vacation hanging out with you in Tokyo."

"Aunt Iris was pretty upset about that last mission," said Wally, giving Roy a bit of a sour look for his flippancy. Garth had been badly hurt during their time on Apokolypse. "But I don't think she or Uncle Barry would mind me dropping in on you, Ranma."

"I've never been to Japan before," mentioned Donna. "And I'm sure Diana won't have a problem with me paying you a visit."

Ranma looked quietly at his three dear friends for a few moments before smiling. "Thanks guys. It... it would be good to see you all in person and hang out. Maybe in a week or two – Bruce is coming to try to sort this mess out, and there are a few people I want to visit. But after that, I'll be more than happy to show you the sights." He sighed and stood up. "Speaking of Bruce, I gotta go clean up. Alfred and I are picking him up at Narita International in two hours. I'll talk to you guys soon."

"Take care of yourself, buddy," said Roy.

"Hang in there Ranma," added Wally.

"Let us know if there's anything we can do for you," said Donna. She was frowning slightly, feeling unhappy she was not there in person. If anyone needed a good hug right now, it was Ranma.

Ranma smiled at his friends and waved before the holographic display shut down. He sighed again and with a shake of his head headed for the shower.

Ranma and Alfred watched as two men passed through the private gate at Narita International Airport. The first was Bruce, looking tired, his suit a bit rumpled from the long flight from Gotham. The other man was not familiar to Ranma, and he frowned slightly as he evaluated him. He was African-American, taller than Bruce, though not quite as broad across the shoulders. Silver threaded through his close-cropped hair and his dark-mahogany eyes were large, keen and expressive. Unlike Bruce, his suit was immaculate, his black tie straight and stark against his white dress shirt. When the man spotted Ranma and Alfred he smiled and stepped ahead of Bruce, extending his hand. "Ranma," he said, his voice a warm, melodic baritone. "It's good to see you again."

If the form was not familiar, the voice certainly was. "John!" Ranma exclaimed, and with a grin shook his hand.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise," said Alfred. "I was not expecting you, Mister J'onzz."

"Yeah," agreed Ranma. "I didn't think I'd see you until I got back State-side."

J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, inclined his head slightly. "Bruce mentioned to me your recent... difficulty, Ranma, and suggested an earlier visit would be beneficial. I agreed with him completely, and accompanied him on his flight."

Ranma took a deep breath, a strain within his chest starting to relax. "Thanks, J'onn," he said, quietly and sincerely. He looked at Bruce. "Thanks, Bruce."

Bruce smiled at his ward. "No problem, old chum." He gently slapped Ranma's shoulder.

Alfred examined his eldest with a critical eye. "When was the last time you slept, Master Bruce?"

"Thirty-six hours ago," said Bruce with an unrepentant shrug. Quietly, he continued. "I needed to arrange some things with Lucius since I was leaving on such short notice. Hal also needed some advice on matters outside his expertise, and there was some League business I wanted to discuss with J'onn." His concern for Ranma had also made it difficult for him to relax, but that needed not to be said. "I'll sleep round the clock once we get to the penthouse, Alfred. I promise. I have the feeling I'll want to be at my sharpest to deal with this mess Saotome's gotten Ranma into." Alfred nodded. Ranma made a face but said nothing, not disagreeing with Bruce's assessment.

Not much was said on the drive from Narita International, what conversation there was being between Ranma and J'onn, the two of them catching up, since they had not seen each other since before spring. Alfred made an occasional interjection while Bruce dozed. Once back at the penthouse Ranma and J'onn retired to the private study while Bruce settled himself in the living room. He owed J'onn J'onzz a great debt for the copious amount of time he had spent with Ranma. Psychiatry and psychology were refined sciences among the Martians, millennia more advanced than any Earthly techniques; the Martian Manhunter's telepathic therapy sessions had done much to put back together Ranma's sanity, badly shattered by the insane training inflicted upon him by his father.

Alfred set a tray of refreshments on the coffee table before Bruce. "Some Earl Grey, Master Bruce?" Bruce murmured his thanks as he picked up the steaming cup. "Have you a plan to extract Master Ranma from this intolerable situation, sir?"

Bruce sipped his tea and let out a soft sigh. "The beginnings of one, Alfred. Saotome I'm not worried about – he has several handles I can use to lever him into compliance. I've done some research on Soun Tendo. As of now he's a respectable citizen, but his youth is somewhat checkered. That can be used to our advantage if he proves unreasonable. Ranma's mother concerns me, however. I'll be paying her close attention when we meet tomorrow. There are some people whose minds you can't change once they've made a decision, and any woman who'd insist on her son agreeing to a seppuku pact is someone to be wary of."

Alfred sighed and shook his head as he picked up his own cup of tea. "She seemed such a lovely woman."

Bruce shrugged. "Appearances deceive, for good or for ill, as you well know old friend. Harleen Quinzel can be one of the most charming people you'll ever meet, if she puts her mind to it, and I still remember how taken I was with Pamela Isley when Harvey first introduced her to me."

"Very true." The two men fell into a companionable silence as they drank their tea. A few minutes later J'onn J'onzz emerged from the study, having reverted to his costumed Martian/Human hybrid form. "Some refreshment, Master J'onzz?" Alfred asked, gesturing to a small plate of Oreo cookies and a glass of milk.

J'onn smiled gently. "Thoughtful as always, Alfred. Thank you." He sat down and ate an Oreo with relish.

"How's Ranma?" asked Bruce after J'onn drank some of his milk.

"As well as can be expected," said J'onn. "Better, in fact. Mind you, he has been hurt by this. Ranma has no firm memories of his mother, having been separated from her at an early age, but what feelings he could recall were ones of maternal warmth and unconditional love. Meeting Nodoka Saotome awoke in him an unconscious but powerful longing for her and her approval. This... contract," J'onn frowned, brief but sharply, "was a great shock to him. It caused him great pain, and he is still in distress, but never doubt that Ranma has a strong core. He is determined to overcome this. He has admitted he feels obligated, despite knowing the irrationality of it. He will need support to reconcile that there is no dishonor in refusing such an unreasonable demand."

"Of course," said Alfred.

Bruce frowned thoughtfully. "Should I take him home?"

"Only if he wishes it," said J'onn. "But I don't think he will. He considered leaving the Tendo's abruptly something of a tactical retreat -"

"His secret technique," Bruce said with a wry chuckle.

"- But to leave the country would be, to him, running away from this problem – something his father would do, who is that last person he wishes to emulate."

Bruce nodded. "Very well. We'll let this play out and do our best to mitigate the situation. Thank you again, J'onn."

"You are welcome, Bruce. I am fond of Ranma." J'onn's eyes seemed to turn inward for a moment as he telepathically contacted Ranma, letting the young man know he was done speaking with Bruce and Alfred.

Ranma appeared a few minutes later. "You taking off, J'onn?"

J'onn J'onzz nodded. "Yes. I have monitor duty on the Watchtower this weekend, but please do not hesitate to call upon me if you have the need to talk."

Ranma shook hands with J'onn, smiling his thanks. "I'll walk you out, J'onn," said Bruce, and he escorted the Martian Manhunter out of the living room to one of the penthouse balconies. Ranma threw himself down onto an armchair. Alfred watched him closely; his boy seemed tired, emotionally wrung out, but the smile Ranma gave him was sincere, and his eyes lit up when he noticed the plate of red bean mochi on the refreshment tray.

When Bruce returned a few minutes later he was scowling at his phone, his face as black as a thundercloud. "What's wrong, Master Bruce?" asked Alfred.

Bruce did not answer immediately. "Of course, the minute I'm needed elsewhere something like this happens," he growled. He snapped his phone onto his belt. "Goddamn it... Alfred, I'm going to have to fly back to Gotham first thing Sunday. Victor Zsasz escaped from Arkham Asylum."

"What the hell," Ranma swore. "We just put him away six months ago. Sharpe should install a revolving door in that place and be done with it."

"How serious of a breach was there, Master Bruce?" asked Alfred.

"No one was killed, thankfully, but there are signs that Zsasz had assistance getting out."

Ranma frowned. "Who'd help Zsasz out? Not even the Joker will have anything to do with the freak, and Joker's willing to work with about anyone, if he thinks it'll be amusing."

"No data," said Bruce. "Finding out will be high priority once I get Zsasz collared."

"Want me to come back with you?"

"Do you want to come back?"

Ranma hesitated a moment as he thought. "Only if you think you'll need me. I don't want to leave things with the old man and... my mom unresolved. Also, I want to make sure Akane Tendo is going to be all right. I haven't made any headway on finding out who's stalking her yet."

Bruce arched a brow, noticing a light blush briefly dusting Ranma's cheeks, but did not push the matter. "I can handle Zsasz. Don't worry. And if we don't settle matters with your parents and Mr. Tendo tomorrow, I'll return as soon as I'm able to do so." Bruce yawned cavernously. "Excuse me."

"I think that's a sign you should retire," said Alfred.

"Agreed, Alfred. See you both first thing in the morning."

Author's Note – Sorry about the long delay on such a relatively short chapter. I've been working on a non-writing project that's consumed a lot of my time this past month. Hopefully I'll be able to produce more of Shadows or my other stories a bit more regularly from here on out.

Cheers.

Jeremy Harper