Chapter 10
"House Call"
"Hello." Called a voice from the gate. "Is anyone home?"
Kasumi opened the door to the courtyard to see who was there. "Dr. Epstein." Said Kasumi. "What brings you here today?" She looked at the doctor with some surprise. He was wearing black leather pants and a matching black leather jacket. Under his arm was slung a motorcycle helmet.
"I wanted to visit Ryoga at the Unryuu farm and I was hoping to get directions." Said the doctor.
"Who is it, Kasumi-chan.' Said Nodoka as she opened the door. "Well hello doctor." She said warmly.
"Hello Nodoka." Said the doctor.
"Dr. Epstein wants directions to the Unryuu farm, Auntie." Said Kasumi pleasantly. "He's going to visit Ryoga and Akari. Isn't that nice?" She walked into the house.
Dr. Epstein nodded. "I received a call from him the other day." He explained. Dr. Epstein chuckled. "I understand you recommended he see me." He said to Nodoka.
"He has a Jusenkyo curse, doctor."
The doctor nodded again. This time a slightly grim look came to his face. "I know." He replied. "He was Akane's pet piglet." Dr. Epstein rubbed the back of his neck. "I've been wanting to talk to him ever since I found out." He said. "I figured I'd ride out today and see him."
"Ride?" Said Nodoka curiously. She took in his garb. "Robert Epstein don't tell me you're going to ride a motorcycle to the farm?"
"Sure." Said the doctor with a grin. "Why not?"
"Don't you think that is a little inappropriate?" She asked. "I mean for a man of your," Nodoka hesitated for a moment. "Position." She said finally.
"You mean for my age, don't you?" Laughed the doctor. "You're only as old as you feel, Nodoka." He smiled.
"If you say so." She replied dubiously. "It just doesn't seem very dignified." She said. "I shudder to think about what your neighbors must think."
"Now there is where age comes in handy." Chuckled the doctor. "I've reached the age where I no longer worry about what the neighbors would think." He laughed. "Whenever anyone comments I just tell them I'm having a mid-life crisis."
Nodoka laughed. "Oh Doctor." She said. "You're so funny."
"Why thank you Nodoka." Replied the doctor with a smile. He sketched a short bow. "I try to please." Just then Kasumi came out of the house. She walked over to the doctor and handed him a piece of paper.
"Here are the directions to the Unryuu farm, doctor." Said Kasumi sweetly "Just take the highway north, " She said. "It's only twenty miles outside of town." Doctor Epstein took the piece of paper and studied it.
"Oh this is easy." He said. "I'll be there in no time." He folded the paper and put it into a pocket in his jacket. "Thank you again." He turned to go.
"Oh Doctor." Called Nodoka. The doctor stopped and turned around.
"Yes Nodoka?"
"Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?" She asked.
"Are you cooking?" He asked with a smile. Nodoka nodded. "Well in that case." Said the doctor. "What time should I be here?" Nodoka blushed.
"Eight o'clock." She said finally. Dr. Epstein nodded. "I'll be there." He said. Doctor Epstein bowed to both Nodoka and Kasumi and left the compound.
He walked to the corner and got on his bike. It was a 900 cc black and yellow Triumph Bonneville Cruiser. It may not have the power of a Harley but it handled beautifully. He straddled the bike and inserted the key into the ignition. Dr. Epstein leaned over and opened the stopcock to the fuel tank, then sat back up. He turned the key, flicked the ignition into the on position and hit the starter. The finely tuned engine roared to life. He flipped up the kickstand and squeezed the clutch. He shifted into first gear and gently released the clutch. The bike started to move.
While in the city, Dr. Epstein kept the bike running in third gear but once he hit the highway he quickly accelerated into overdrive and was racing north. As was typical, traffic was heavy but the doctor expertly wove in and out of traffic and quickly left the city behind. Soon the landscape changed from city to country and the doctor kept his eyes peeled for his exit. Less than forty-five minutes after leaving the Tendo compound, Dr. Epstein was riding up a country road and into the Unryuu farm.
The noise of the motorcycle alerted the residents that they had a visitor. As the doctor dismounted a very pretty young woman had opened the door and was walking over to him. The doctor removed his helmet. "You must be Akari." Said the doctor.
"Why yes." She replied. "And you are?"
"My name is Robert Epstein. I'm a doctor." Replied the doctor. "I'm here to see Ryoga."
"You're the psychiatrist." Said Akari. "Aren't you?" Dr. Epstein nodded. "Ryoga is expecting you doctor." She said. "Please come this way." Akari led the doctor around to the back of the house.
Ryoga was hard at work sawing some wood. Ryoga had already laid out most of the framework to a medium sized structure. From what was done, the doctor could see that Ryoga was copying the floor plan of the Tendo dojo. Seeing the doctor Ryoga put down the saw he was holding and walked over. As Ryoga approached the doctor scanned him. He hid a smile as he felt Ryoga size him up and then dismiss him as an opponent.
"Hello Ryoga." Said the doctor. "I'm Dr. Epstein. We spoke on the phone the other day."
Ryoga shrugged. "Ranma's mom suggested I call you. I don't know what good you can do but she was insistent."
Dr. Epstein chuckled. "Nodoka is a formidable woman isn't she?"
Ryoga rubbed the back of his head and smiled wryly. "Yeah." He said. He looked at the doctor. "So what do we do?"
"We talk." Replied the doctor. He walked over to the unfinished structure. "It appears you are building a dojo." He said conversationally.
"Isnt it wonderful?" Gushed Akari. "My Ryoga running a dojo." She walked quickly over to Ryoga. "And I just know you're going to be a good teacher." Akari smiled at Ryoga. "Oh, where are my manners?" She said in dismay. "Please come into the house. I'll make some tea." Akari hurried ahead while the doctor and Ryoga followed.
"She's a very sweet girl." Said the doctor to Ryoga. "Are you planning on marrying her?"
Ryoga blushed slightly. "Yeah." He shook his head in bewilderment. "I guess. Don't get me wrong Doctor, I love Akari it's just that." Ryoga trailed off.
"Akane?" Asked the doctor in sympathetic tones.
Ryoga nodded unhappily. "I-I know she loves Ranma but." He trailed off again.
"He loves her, Ryoga." Replied the doctor firmly. He tapped his forehead. "Believe me, I know." Ryoga looked confused but the doctor didn't enlighten him.
"But then how come Ukyo?" Asked Ryoga in confusion. "Does he love her too?"
"Yes he does." The doctor replied calmly. "And so does Akane."
Ryoga shook his head. "I don't understand." He said finally. He sighed.
They entered the house and Ryoga led the doctor over to the main table. With a grunt, the doctor lowered himself to the ground.
"Excuse me." He said. "But I'm still not used to the Japanese custom of sitting on the floor." He smiled.
Akari tried to hide her smile as she poured tea for the doctor, Ryoga and then herself. Dr. Epstein picked up the teacup and surveyed the young couple in front of him over its' brim. Akari seemed to be a relatively well-adjusted young woman and the doctor could only sense the normal emotional stresses for a woman of her age.
Ryoga on the other hand was a different story. The doctor grimaced, as he tasted Ryoga's roiling emotions. The turmoil was more than could be explained by Ryoga's feelings for Akane. The curse could be the reason but the doctor felt there was something else, something darker that affected him. He extended some of his abilities to sooth some of the emotional turmoil.
"I'm very glad to finally get a chance to talk to you Ryoga." Said the doctor.
"Yeah, well like I said, Ranma's mom was very insistent." Replied Ryoga.
The doctor cocked his head to one side. "Does that mean you didn't want to see me?" He asked.
Ryoga shook his head. "It's not that." He protested.
"You just wonder what good I can do?" Replied the doctor.
Ryoga nodded.
"Your curse really bothers you doesn't it?" Continued the doctor.
Ryoga nodded again. Akari reached over and grasped one of Ryoga's massive hands between both of hers. Ryoga took a breath. "You have no idea what it's like." He said. He raised his free hand and made a fist. "I'm pretty strong." He barked a short laugh. "Even stronger than Ranma."
"Go on." Urged the doctor.
"But the pig." He shook his head. "You don't know how many times I've almost been eaten." Ryoga shuddered. Dr. Epstein extended his abilities to calm him. "I hate feeling helpless."
"I can imagine." Agreed the doctor.
"No you can't." Snapped Ryoga. "No one can." Dr. Epstein exerted some calming influence on Ryoga.
Akari put her arms around Ryoga and hugged him fiercely. "It's okay, it's okay." She whispered soothingly. "I'm here."
"Maybe you're right." Agreed the doctor. He rubbed his chin in thought. Ryoga's emotions when he talked about his curse were painful and strong, but again the doctor felt there was more. He used his abilities to soothe the feelings related to the curse. 'Yes.' Thought the doctor. 'There is something more here.'
"You seem to have managed to stay in one place this time." Commented the doctor. "From what Ranma has told me, that is quite a feat."
Ryoga laughed sadly. "You don't know the half of it, doc." He said. "I'm glad I made a habit of carrying my backpack if I plan on going more than a block."
The doctor grimaced inwardly as he tasted Ryoga's response. He instinctively damped down the rising tide of negative emotion. "Has it always been like this?" He asked.
Ryoga nodded. "Ever since I can remember." He replied.
"Didn't your parents worry?"
Ryoga snorted. It was an unhappy sound. "My parents are just as bad." He replied. "We're lucky if we see each other more than twice a year."
"Both of your parents have the same problem?" Asked the doctor. A feeling of discomfort came from Ryoga.
Ryoga nodded. "Yeah. It's a family trait"
"That's very surprising." Said the doctor slowly. He felt Ryoga's emotions. 'This was it!' He thought. "How did your parents meet?" The emotion, a combination of shame, guilt and anger, began to spike. Dr. Epstein damped it down some more. He turned to Akari." Miss Unryuu, may I speak to Ryoga alone for a few minutes please?" He gave her a little mental shove to move her along. She nodded and got up.
"I'll be in the kitchen if you need me, Ryoga." Said Akari and she left the room.
Dr. Epstein gazed at Ryoga for a moment. He dreaded having to ask the next question but he had to know. He increased his grip on Ryoga's emotions. "Ryoga I found it very difficult to imagine two unrelated people having the same problem." He damped down on the rising emotion. "Don't you?"
Ryoga looked down at the ground. Suddenly he chuckled. It was a forlorn sound and the doctor cringed inwardly as he both heard and felt it. "You know, I think you're the first person who ever put it together."
"I take it you haven't told Akari?" The doctor said quietly.
Ryoga looked up at the doctor, tears were streaming from his eyes. "Tell her?" He demanded. "How can I tell her, her boyfriends' parents are half- brother and sister?" He sobbed.
End Chapter 10
Authors Note: Didn't it strike you as odd that both Ryoga's parents had the same rare affliction? It was the one thing that always struck me as one of the oddest coincidences in the Ranmaverse.
Sorry for the delay in updates. I just got back from two weeks in Senegal. If you're interested I'll tell you about it. But not today.
"House Call"
"Hello." Called a voice from the gate. "Is anyone home?"
Kasumi opened the door to the courtyard to see who was there. "Dr. Epstein." Said Kasumi. "What brings you here today?" She looked at the doctor with some surprise. He was wearing black leather pants and a matching black leather jacket. Under his arm was slung a motorcycle helmet.
"I wanted to visit Ryoga at the Unryuu farm and I was hoping to get directions." Said the doctor.
"Who is it, Kasumi-chan.' Said Nodoka as she opened the door. "Well hello doctor." She said warmly.
"Hello Nodoka." Said the doctor.
"Dr. Epstein wants directions to the Unryuu farm, Auntie." Said Kasumi pleasantly. "He's going to visit Ryoga and Akari. Isn't that nice?" She walked into the house.
Dr. Epstein nodded. "I received a call from him the other day." He explained. Dr. Epstein chuckled. "I understand you recommended he see me." He said to Nodoka.
"He has a Jusenkyo curse, doctor."
The doctor nodded again. This time a slightly grim look came to his face. "I know." He replied. "He was Akane's pet piglet." Dr. Epstein rubbed the back of his neck. "I've been wanting to talk to him ever since I found out." He said. "I figured I'd ride out today and see him."
"Ride?" Said Nodoka curiously. She took in his garb. "Robert Epstein don't tell me you're going to ride a motorcycle to the farm?"
"Sure." Said the doctor with a grin. "Why not?"
"Don't you think that is a little inappropriate?" She asked. "I mean for a man of your," Nodoka hesitated for a moment. "Position." She said finally.
"You mean for my age, don't you?" Laughed the doctor. "You're only as old as you feel, Nodoka." He smiled.
"If you say so." She replied dubiously. "It just doesn't seem very dignified." She said. "I shudder to think about what your neighbors must think."
"Now there is where age comes in handy." Chuckled the doctor. "I've reached the age where I no longer worry about what the neighbors would think." He laughed. "Whenever anyone comments I just tell them I'm having a mid-life crisis."
Nodoka laughed. "Oh Doctor." She said. "You're so funny."
"Why thank you Nodoka." Replied the doctor with a smile. He sketched a short bow. "I try to please." Just then Kasumi came out of the house. She walked over to the doctor and handed him a piece of paper.
"Here are the directions to the Unryuu farm, doctor." Said Kasumi sweetly "Just take the highway north, " She said. "It's only twenty miles outside of town." Doctor Epstein took the piece of paper and studied it.
"Oh this is easy." He said. "I'll be there in no time." He folded the paper and put it into a pocket in his jacket. "Thank you again." He turned to go.
"Oh Doctor." Called Nodoka. The doctor stopped and turned around.
"Yes Nodoka?"
"Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?" She asked.
"Are you cooking?" He asked with a smile. Nodoka nodded. "Well in that case." Said the doctor. "What time should I be here?" Nodoka blushed.
"Eight o'clock." She said finally. Dr. Epstein nodded. "I'll be there." He said. Doctor Epstein bowed to both Nodoka and Kasumi and left the compound.
He walked to the corner and got on his bike. It was a 900 cc black and yellow Triumph Bonneville Cruiser. It may not have the power of a Harley but it handled beautifully. He straddled the bike and inserted the key into the ignition. Dr. Epstein leaned over and opened the stopcock to the fuel tank, then sat back up. He turned the key, flicked the ignition into the on position and hit the starter. The finely tuned engine roared to life. He flipped up the kickstand and squeezed the clutch. He shifted into first gear and gently released the clutch. The bike started to move.
While in the city, Dr. Epstein kept the bike running in third gear but once he hit the highway he quickly accelerated into overdrive and was racing north. As was typical, traffic was heavy but the doctor expertly wove in and out of traffic and quickly left the city behind. Soon the landscape changed from city to country and the doctor kept his eyes peeled for his exit. Less than forty-five minutes after leaving the Tendo compound, Dr. Epstein was riding up a country road and into the Unryuu farm.
The noise of the motorcycle alerted the residents that they had a visitor. As the doctor dismounted a very pretty young woman had opened the door and was walking over to him. The doctor removed his helmet. "You must be Akari." Said the doctor.
"Why yes." She replied. "And you are?"
"My name is Robert Epstein. I'm a doctor." Replied the doctor. "I'm here to see Ryoga."
"You're the psychiatrist." Said Akari. "Aren't you?" Dr. Epstein nodded. "Ryoga is expecting you doctor." She said. "Please come this way." Akari led the doctor around to the back of the house.
Ryoga was hard at work sawing some wood. Ryoga had already laid out most of the framework to a medium sized structure. From what was done, the doctor could see that Ryoga was copying the floor plan of the Tendo dojo. Seeing the doctor Ryoga put down the saw he was holding and walked over. As Ryoga approached the doctor scanned him. He hid a smile as he felt Ryoga size him up and then dismiss him as an opponent.
"Hello Ryoga." Said the doctor. "I'm Dr. Epstein. We spoke on the phone the other day."
Ryoga shrugged. "Ranma's mom suggested I call you. I don't know what good you can do but she was insistent."
Dr. Epstein chuckled. "Nodoka is a formidable woman isn't she?"
Ryoga rubbed the back of his head and smiled wryly. "Yeah." He said. He looked at the doctor. "So what do we do?"
"We talk." Replied the doctor. He walked over to the unfinished structure. "It appears you are building a dojo." He said conversationally.
"Isnt it wonderful?" Gushed Akari. "My Ryoga running a dojo." She walked quickly over to Ryoga. "And I just know you're going to be a good teacher." Akari smiled at Ryoga. "Oh, where are my manners?" She said in dismay. "Please come into the house. I'll make some tea." Akari hurried ahead while the doctor and Ryoga followed.
"She's a very sweet girl." Said the doctor to Ryoga. "Are you planning on marrying her?"
Ryoga blushed slightly. "Yeah." He shook his head in bewilderment. "I guess. Don't get me wrong Doctor, I love Akari it's just that." Ryoga trailed off.
"Akane?" Asked the doctor in sympathetic tones.
Ryoga nodded unhappily. "I-I know she loves Ranma but." He trailed off again.
"He loves her, Ryoga." Replied the doctor firmly. He tapped his forehead. "Believe me, I know." Ryoga looked confused but the doctor didn't enlighten him.
"But then how come Ukyo?" Asked Ryoga in confusion. "Does he love her too?"
"Yes he does." The doctor replied calmly. "And so does Akane."
Ryoga shook his head. "I don't understand." He said finally. He sighed.
They entered the house and Ryoga led the doctor over to the main table. With a grunt, the doctor lowered himself to the ground.
"Excuse me." He said. "But I'm still not used to the Japanese custom of sitting on the floor." He smiled.
Akari tried to hide her smile as she poured tea for the doctor, Ryoga and then herself. Dr. Epstein picked up the teacup and surveyed the young couple in front of him over its' brim. Akari seemed to be a relatively well-adjusted young woman and the doctor could only sense the normal emotional stresses for a woman of her age.
Ryoga on the other hand was a different story. The doctor grimaced, as he tasted Ryoga's roiling emotions. The turmoil was more than could be explained by Ryoga's feelings for Akane. The curse could be the reason but the doctor felt there was something else, something darker that affected him. He extended some of his abilities to sooth some of the emotional turmoil.
"I'm very glad to finally get a chance to talk to you Ryoga." Said the doctor.
"Yeah, well like I said, Ranma's mom was very insistent." Replied Ryoga.
The doctor cocked his head to one side. "Does that mean you didn't want to see me?" He asked.
Ryoga shook his head. "It's not that." He protested.
"You just wonder what good I can do?" Replied the doctor.
Ryoga nodded.
"Your curse really bothers you doesn't it?" Continued the doctor.
Ryoga nodded again. Akari reached over and grasped one of Ryoga's massive hands between both of hers. Ryoga took a breath. "You have no idea what it's like." He said. He raised his free hand and made a fist. "I'm pretty strong." He barked a short laugh. "Even stronger than Ranma."
"Go on." Urged the doctor.
"But the pig." He shook his head. "You don't know how many times I've almost been eaten." Ryoga shuddered. Dr. Epstein extended his abilities to calm him. "I hate feeling helpless."
"I can imagine." Agreed the doctor.
"No you can't." Snapped Ryoga. "No one can." Dr. Epstein exerted some calming influence on Ryoga.
Akari put her arms around Ryoga and hugged him fiercely. "It's okay, it's okay." She whispered soothingly. "I'm here."
"Maybe you're right." Agreed the doctor. He rubbed his chin in thought. Ryoga's emotions when he talked about his curse were painful and strong, but again the doctor felt there was more. He used his abilities to soothe the feelings related to the curse. 'Yes.' Thought the doctor. 'There is something more here.'
"You seem to have managed to stay in one place this time." Commented the doctor. "From what Ranma has told me, that is quite a feat."
Ryoga laughed sadly. "You don't know the half of it, doc." He said. "I'm glad I made a habit of carrying my backpack if I plan on going more than a block."
The doctor grimaced inwardly as he tasted Ryoga's response. He instinctively damped down the rising tide of negative emotion. "Has it always been like this?" He asked.
Ryoga nodded. "Ever since I can remember." He replied.
"Didn't your parents worry?"
Ryoga snorted. It was an unhappy sound. "My parents are just as bad." He replied. "We're lucky if we see each other more than twice a year."
"Both of your parents have the same problem?" Asked the doctor. A feeling of discomfort came from Ryoga.
Ryoga nodded. "Yeah. It's a family trait"
"That's very surprising." Said the doctor slowly. He felt Ryoga's emotions. 'This was it!' He thought. "How did your parents meet?" The emotion, a combination of shame, guilt and anger, began to spike. Dr. Epstein damped it down some more. He turned to Akari." Miss Unryuu, may I speak to Ryoga alone for a few minutes please?" He gave her a little mental shove to move her along. She nodded and got up.
"I'll be in the kitchen if you need me, Ryoga." Said Akari and she left the room.
Dr. Epstein gazed at Ryoga for a moment. He dreaded having to ask the next question but he had to know. He increased his grip on Ryoga's emotions. "Ryoga I found it very difficult to imagine two unrelated people having the same problem." He damped down on the rising emotion. "Don't you?"
Ryoga looked down at the ground. Suddenly he chuckled. It was a forlorn sound and the doctor cringed inwardly as he both heard and felt it. "You know, I think you're the first person who ever put it together."
"I take it you haven't told Akari?" The doctor said quietly.
Ryoga looked up at the doctor, tears were streaming from his eyes. "Tell her?" He demanded. "How can I tell her, her boyfriends' parents are half- brother and sister?" He sobbed.
End Chapter 10
Authors Note: Didn't it strike you as odd that both Ryoga's parents had the same rare affliction? It was the one thing that always struck me as one of the oddest coincidences in the Ranmaverse.
Sorry for the delay in updates. I just got back from two weeks in Senegal. If you're interested I'll tell you about it. But not today.
