Chapter 14
"Endings and Beginnings"
"We're home." Shouted Akane as she walked through the gate of the compound. The door flew open as Kasumi hurried out to greet them. Following behind though moving at a more leisurely pace came Soun, Nabiki, Genma and Nodoka. Seeing his mother Ranma dropped his pack and swept her up in a great hug.
"Hi mom." He sang.
"Goodness Ranma." said a flustered Nodoka "So.demonstrative."
"Hey, I'm just glad to see ya." Looking over his mothers shoulder he saw his father approaching. "Pops." He called by way of greeting.
"Welcome back, boy." Rumbled Genma.
Breaking his embrace of his mother, Ranma looked around. Akane was being swarmed over by her family and Ukyo was."Hey Uk-chan, come over and meet your new family."
"Ranma." Gasped Nodoka.
"Boy, what have you done?" growled Genma.
"What I shoulda done a long time ago." Replied Ranma as soon as Ukyo came over and stood next to him. "Mom, Dad. I want Ukyo adopted into the Saotome clan. As far as I'm concerned, as of this moment, she is a Saotome." Inwardly, Ranma was gritting his teeth. He was unsure how his parents were going to take this and he was damn sure not going to bring up the other thing that happened on the trip. The three of them had agreed to keep it to themselves until after they spoke to Dr. Epstein.
Ukyo bowed nervously to Nodoka and Genma. Nodoka looked at Ukyo for a moment, considering. Suddenly a smile came to her lips and she bowed in return and then pulled Ukyo into a tight embrace. "Welcome to the family, Ukyo Saotome. I'm sure that between you and Akane you will be able to keep my son in line." Ukyo blushed. Nodoka turned to Ranma. "A very clever solution, my son. I approve."
"Mom?" protested Ranma his ears burning red in embarrassment.
Nodoka ignored Ranma. "Come sit with me my dear. I want to know everything about my 'daughter'." And led Ukyo toward the house and, to Ranma 's embarrassment, giggling all the while. Genma just looked confused.
Eventually everyone was inside and began seating themselves around the table. Ranma, Akane and Ukyo sitting together as had become their habit, Akane on his right, Ukyo on his left. Kasumi was bringing out snacks and tea from the kitchen Nabiki sat next to Akane and Nodoka next to Ukyo.
"So Ranma." Began Soun. "How was the training trip?"
Before Ranma could answer a shout came from the front. "Hello?" called the voice.
"That must be Ono." Said Kasumi. "I called him from the kitchen."
"Come on in, doctor." Called Soun.
Dr. Tofu walked into the Tendo home. Right behind him came Dr. Epstein. Dr. Tofu walked over to Kasumi who greeted him with a hug, while Dr. Epstein walked directly over to the returning martial artists.
"Hey Doc." Called Ranma cheerfully. "It's good to see ya." Akane and Ukyo nodded in agreement. Dr. Epstein pulled up a chair and sat down next to Nodoka.
"Hello doctor." Said Nodoka quietly. "Thank you for coming."
Dr. Epstein nodded. He turned to the returned teenagers. "So did the three of you enjoy your training trip?"
The three teens looked at each other. The doctor could not miss the underlying uneasiness that they projected. Curiously, of the three, Akane seemed the most calm.
"Well we had to adjust to having only one tent." Said Akane. "But other than that, it was great." Ukyo and Ranma nodded. All eyes turned to the Genma.
"Genma Saotome." Scolded Nodoka.
"But wife." Whined Genma. "I didn't know until later that Ukyo was going."
"It's a good thing for you Ranma is used to sleeping outdoors." Nodoka said. "At least he had a sleeping bag."
"Actually Ranma slept in the tent with us." Said a blushing Akane.
"That must have been fun for you Ranma." Smirked Nabiki. "Sharing a tent with two girls. My, my."
"Nabiki!" Admonished Kasumi.
"Hey it wasn't like that." Protested Ranma a half second later.
"Just kidding Ranma." Laughed Nabiki. She turned to Akane. "You did remember to bring your mallet?
Akane laughed. "It wasn't necessary, Nabiki"
"Yeah. I would become a girl when we went to bed." Pause. "Oops."
"That was very considerate of you Ranma." Said Kasumi brightly. "You take up less room in your girl form."
"Yes, that was a very manly thing to do." Agreed Nodoka. Nodoka kept a pleasant expression on her face. Inside she wanted to weep. She hadn't missed the tremor that had passed through Ranma and the immediate sigh of relief at her words. Nodoka fumbled in her purse. She extracted a worn piece of parchment and, with trembling hands, placed in on the table in front of Ranma. Ranma could see tears in her eyes.
"Mom?" Asked Ranma. "Does this mean you think I've fulfilled the contract?" Ranma was startled when Nodoka shook her head.
"No, Ranma." She glanced at Dr. Epstein. "I just finally realized something important." Tears poured down Nodoka 's face and she grabbed Ranma in a fierce hug. "You're my child and it doesn't matter if you turn into a girl. It doesn't matter how manly I think you are. I just want you to be happy." Nodoka buried her face in Ranma's shoulders. "I want my baby back." She sobbed.
"Don't cry Mom." Said Ranma, his own tears mingling with his mothers. Ranma looked at the paper with a mixture of fascination and horror. "What am I supposed to do with it?"
"Burn it." She cried. "Oh, I wish I had never had insisted on that horrible contract." She grabbed Ranma harder. "Please forgive me Ranma. I never meant to hurt you."
Upon hearing her words, Genma made to grab the piece of paper only to find his hands slapped by Ukyo. "Stay away from that, old man." She snarled. "That's for Ranma, not you." Akane smiled approvingly from her seat.
"My name is on that too, little girl." Protested Genma angrily. "Is that any way to treat the head of the Saotome clan? The clan you are being adopted into, remember?"
Ukyo angrily glared at Genma. "I don't care. Ran-chan is the one that suffered not you."
Nodoka untangled herself from Ranma. "Actually Husband, Ranma is the head of the clan not you."
"What?" chorused several voices. Loudest among them being Genma.
Nodoka nodded firmly. "If you remember, Husband, you left all the Saotome seals in my keeping when you took Ranma away." She looked sternly at Genma. "It was a simple matter to have the necessary documents filed."
"Nodoka? How could you?" Genma 's voice vibrated in anger.
Nodoka ignored her husband. "I happen to agree with Ukyo-chan." Said Nodoka. "By any measurement you want to use, Ranma has earned the position as head of the Saotome clan." Nodoka smirked at Genma. "You should be very proud of yourself, Husband. You were successful in your task." Nodoka turned to a stunned Ranma. "Ranma, as clan leader, you will be responsible for all clan decisions. That includes social as well as financial decisions." Nodoka smiled.
Ranma was too shocked to respond. Akane and Ukyo walked up beside him, both of them beaming in pride. "I'm so happy for you, Ranma." Said Akane hugging him tightly. "Me too sugar." Said Ukyo hugging Ranma in turn.
"Bu-but how can I be clan leader?" said Ranma in bewilderment. "I don't know hardly enough about anything."
"That's where your family comes in Ranma." Said Nabiki from the couch. "I'll be more than happy to help you with the Saotome finances." Nabiki grinned at Ranma. "For a small fee, of course."
"Of course." Said Ranma smiling back warmly. "Thanks, sis."
Nabiki waved him off flushing a bit in embarrassment. "No problem, little brother."
Kasumi had during this point left the room and soon returned with a ceremonial brazier. Quickly she lit the coals. Ranma stood and gingerly picked up the contract. He approached the brazier and placed the parchment on the live coals. Ranma watched the paper burn. "Free at last." He whispered as it was consumed in the flames. "Free at last."
End Chapter 14
Authors note: I am not done yet. Yes, I know this chapter seems to ignore what happened on the training trip. The flames and criticisms were interesting to say the least. Well at least I know you're reading this. To those who are most outraged, I say, give it a chance. There is still more to reveal and the doctor is in the thick of it.
"Endings and Beginnings"
"We're home." Shouted Akane as she walked through the gate of the compound. The door flew open as Kasumi hurried out to greet them. Following behind though moving at a more leisurely pace came Soun, Nabiki, Genma and Nodoka. Seeing his mother Ranma dropped his pack and swept her up in a great hug.
"Hi mom." He sang.
"Goodness Ranma." said a flustered Nodoka "So.demonstrative."
"Hey, I'm just glad to see ya." Looking over his mothers shoulder he saw his father approaching. "Pops." He called by way of greeting.
"Welcome back, boy." Rumbled Genma.
Breaking his embrace of his mother, Ranma looked around. Akane was being swarmed over by her family and Ukyo was."Hey Uk-chan, come over and meet your new family."
"Ranma." Gasped Nodoka.
"Boy, what have you done?" growled Genma.
"What I shoulda done a long time ago." Replied Ranma as soon as Ukyo came over and stood next to him. "Mom, Dad. I want Ukyo adopted into the Saotome clan. As far as I'm concerned, as of this moment, she is a Saotome." Inwardly, Ranma was gritting his teeth. He was unsure how his parents were going to take this and he was damn sure not going to bring up the other thing that happened on the trip. The three of them had agreed to keep it to themselves until after they spoke to Dr. Epstein.
Ukyo bowed nervously to Nodoka and Genma. Nodoka looked at Ukyo for a moment, considering. Suddenly a smile came to her lips and she bowed in return and then pulled Ukyo into a tight embrace. "Welcome to the family, Ukyo Saotome. I'm sure that between you and Akane you will be able to keep my son in line." Ukyo blushed. Nodoka turned to Ranma. "A very clever solution, my son. I approve."
"Mom?" protested Ranma his ears burning red in embarrassment.
Nodoka ignored Ranma. "Come sit with me my dear. I want to know everything about my 'daughter'." And led Ukyo toward the house and, to Ranma 's embarrassment, giggling all the while. Genma just looked confused.
Eventually everyone was inside and began seating themselves around the table. Ranma, Akane and Ukyo sitting together as had become their habit, Akane on his right, Ukyo on his left. Kasumi was bringing out snacks and tea from the kitchen Nabiki sat next to Akane and Nodoka next to Ukyo.
"So Ranma." Began Soun. "How was the training trip?"
Before Ranma could answer a shout came from the front. "Hello?" called the voice.
"That must be Ono." Said Kasumi. "I called him from the kitchen."
"Come on in, doctor." Called Soun.
Dr. Tofu walked into the Tendo home. Right behind him came Dr. Epstein. Dr. Tofu walked over to Kasumi who greeted him with a hug, while Dr. Epstein walked directly over to the returning martial artists.
"Hey Doc." Called Ranma cheerfully. "It's good to see ya." Akane and Ukyo nodded in agreement. Dr. Epstein pulled up a chair and sat down next to Nodoka.
"Hello doctor." Said Nodoka quietly. "Thank you for coming."
Dr. Epstein nodded. He turned to the returned teenagers. "So did the three of you enjoy your training trip?"
The three teens looked at each other. The doctor could not miss the underlying uneasiness that they projected. Curiously, of the three, Akane seemed the most calm.
"Well we had to adjust to having only one tent." Said Akane. "But other than that, it was great." Ukyo and Ranma nodded. All eyes turned to the Genma.
"Genma Saotome." Scolded Nodoka.
"But wife." Whined Genma. "I didn't know until later that Ukyo was going."
"It's a good thing for you Ranma is used to sleeping outdoors." Nodoka said. "At least he had a sleeping bag."
"Actually Ranma slept in the tent with us." Said a blushing Akane.
"That must have been fun for you Ranma." Smirked Nabiki. "Sharing a tent with two girls. My, my."
"Nabiki!" Admonished Kasumi.
"Hey it wasn't like that." Protested Ranma a half second later.
"Just kidding Ranma." Laughed Nabiki. She turned to Akane. "You did remember to bring your mallet?
Akane laughed. "It wasn't necessary, Nabiki"
"Yeah. I would become a girl when we went to bed." Pause. "Oops."
"That was very considerate of you Ranma." Said Kasumi brightly. "You take up less room in your girl form."
"Yes, that was a very manly thing to do." Agreed Nodoka. Nodoka kept a pleasant expression on her face. Inside she wanted to weep. She hadn't missed the tremor that had passed through Ranma and the immediate sigh of relief at her words. Nodoka fumbled in her purse. She extracted a worn piece of parchment and, with trembling hands, placed in on the table in front of Ranma. Ranma could see tears in her eyes.
"Mom?" Asked Ranma. "Does this mean you think I've fulfilled the contract?" Ranma was startled when Nodoka shook her head.
"No, Ranma." She glanced at Dr. Epstein. "I just finally realized something important." Tears poured down Nodoka 's face and she grabbed Ranma in a fierce hug. "You're my child and it doesn't matter if you turn into a girl. It doesn't matter how manly I think you are. I just want you to be happy." Nodoka buried her face in Ranma's shoulders. "I want my baby back." She sobbed.
"Don't cry Mom." Said Ranma, his own tears mingling with his mothers. Ranma looked at the paper with a mixture of fascination and horror. "What am I supposed to do with it?"
"Burn it." She cried. "Oh, I wish I had never had insisted on that horrible contract." She grabbed Ranma harder. "Please forgive me Ranma. I never meant to hurt you."
Upon hearing her words, Genma made to grab the piece of paper only to find his hands slapped by Ukyo. "Stay away from that, old man." She snarled. "That's for Ranma, not you." Akane smiled approvingly from her seat.
"My name is on that too, little girl." Protested Genma angrily. "Is that any way to treat the head of the Saotome clan? The clan you are being adopted into, remember?"
Ukyo angrily glared at Genma. "I don't care. Ran-chan is the one that suffered not you."
Nodoka untangled herself from Ranma. "Actually Husband, Ranma is the head of the clan not you."
"What?" chorused several voices. Loudest among them being Genma.
Nodoka nodded firmly. "If you remember, Husband, you left all the Saotome seals in my keeping when you took Ranma away." She looked sternly at Genma. "It was a simple matter to have the necessary documents filed."
"Nodoka? How could you?" Genma 's voice vibrated in anger.
Nodoka ignored her husband. "I happen to agree with Ukyo-chan." Said Nodoka. "By any measurement you want to use, Ranma has earned the position as head of the Saotome clan." Nodoka smirked at Genma. "You should be very proud of yourself, Husband. You were successful in your task." Nodoka turned to a stunned Ranma. "Ranma, as clan leader, you will be responsible for all clan decisions. That includes social as well as financial decisions." Nodoka smiled.
Ranma was too shocked to respond. Akane and Ukyo walked up beside him, both of them beaming in pride. "I'm so happy for you, Ranma." Said Akane hugging him tightly. "Me too sugar." Said Ukyo hugging Ranma in turn.
"Bu-but how can I be clan leader?" said Ranma in bewilderment. "I don't know hardly enough about anything."
"That's where your family comes in Ranma." Said Nabiki from the couch. "I'll be more than happy to help you with the Saotome finances." Nabiki grinned at Ranma. "For a small fee, of course."
"Of course." Said Ranma smiling back warmly. "Thanks, sis."
Nabiki waved him off flushing a bit in embarrassment. "No problem, little brother."
Kasumi had during this point left the room and soon returned with a ceremonial brazier. Quickly she lit the coals. Ranma stood and gingerly picked up the contract. He approached the brazier and placed the parchment on the live coals. Ranma watched the paper burn. "Free at last." He whispered as it was consumed in the flames. "Free at last."
End Chapter 14
Authors note: I am not done yet. Yes, I know this chapter seems to ignore what happened on the training trip. The flames and criticisms were interesting to say the least. Well at least I know you're reading this. To those who are most outraged, I say, give it a chance. There is still more to reveal and the doctor is in the thick of it.