Ch. 4 Inheritance
Monday mid am.
Nodoka Saotome carefully wrapped her bundle and placed it on her back. The sword had been under the protection of her family for centuries and as the only known living relative of her family, it was her task to watch over it. This responsibility would have passed onto her child if it weren't for some - unforeseen circumstances.
Nodoka adored children. She had been lonely as an only child and had often fantasized of a large family. This was not to be, however, when it was discovered that due to a training accident, her husband Genma was unlikely to be able to produce offspring.
So, in desperation, Nodoka had returned to the traditions and legends of her family. After doing all the proper rituals, she had called on their guardian spirit for aid. She had hoped that he, through some ancient magic, would grant them the ability to have a child. She did not expect him to make love to her.
Nodoka had conceived and, fearing the demon half of the child, had arranged for his youkai powers to be sealed away. Ranma would live his life as a human. Because of her indiscretion, Nodoka had consented to her husbands wishes to take away the child on the condition that he became a man among men, or they both would commit seppuku. When this pledge was made, it was not feminine traits that Nodoka had feared to see in her son, but that of the demon.
Later, when she had found out about Ranma's curse, she had feared that it was due to his demon powers emerging. But, upon further demonstration of the other Jusenkyo curses, she was able to determine that the curse was of other magical origin and had refrained from holding Ranma to the promise of seppuku.
Upon hearing from Kasumi about the purpose of Ranma's latest training trip, she had decided that it was time for another visit with her son.
* * * *
Monday morning.
Ranma was frustrated. How many Higurashi's were there anyway? He had gone to the library and looked in all the phone books for the Tokyo area, but he'd found no references to a Higurashi, Kagome. Sigh. He wanted to check the student listings on the internet but couldn't think of anybody who could help him figure out how, who also wouldn't "accidentally" leak the information. At least he'd been able to sneak away last night to train. He'd gone to a section of woods just far enough out of town that he could practice Anything-Goes hanyo style, adapting and combining fighting skills of both the past and the present in his half-demon form.
As for his former curse, Ranma had so far been able to pass off his lack of change to some supposed new speed techniques he had learned in the cave of dreams. No more Jusenkyo curse. No more cat fear. Now if only he could come up with some miracle cure to get rid of his finacees.
Not to mention Nabiki. She had been giving him the evil eye since he got back. He could almost hear her thinking, I know you've got a secret Saotome, and you can't keep secrets from me. You might as well give it up now or it will only make more trouble for you later.
Now he had to go back to school again. Even with his new current century insight, he still didn't understand why Kagome had been so obsessed with this stupid stuff.
* * * *
Sunday evening.
Sessho-maru looked out of his Los Angeles office window with a frown, straitening his white three-piece suit. A tremor of familiar magic had passed through him indicating that the binding spell he had placed on his son had been undone. This was not unexpected, however, a change in his immediate plans would be needed. "Sherie," he called to his secretary, "cancel all my appointments for the rest of the week. Oh, and I need you to book me first class on the next flight to Tokyo, Japan."
"I checked and the next available flight will be the Red Eye sir. It leaves at 7:30 pm."
"Good. Have a limo waiting for me at my apartment in one hour."
He'd have to call his contacts in Tokyo, Nerima district. What was their name? Kuno. It was time to visit some of his old haunts and, of course, teach a young pup a few things about the real world.
Author's note:
Twistier and twistier I know. Now that the pieces are in place, let the show begin. Oh, and if your wondering why the time elements are reversed I wanted them introduced in that order but still wanted you to know when they happened.
Monday mid am.
Nodoka Saotome carefully wrapped her bundle and placed it on her back. The sword had been under the protection of her family for centuries and as the only known living relative of her family, it was her task to watch over it. This responsibility would have passed onto her child if it weren't for some - unforeseen circumstances.
Nodoka adored children. She had been lonely as an only child and had often fantasized of a large family. This was not to be, however, when it was discovered that due to a training accident, her husband Genma was unlikely to be able to produce offspring.
So, in desperation, Nodoka had returned to the traditions and legends of her family. After doing all the proper rituals, she had called on their guardian spirit for aid. She had hoped that he, through some ancient magic, would grant them the ability to have a child. She did not expect him to make love to her.
Nodoka had conceived and, fearing the demon half of the child, had arranged for his youkai powers to be sealed away. Ranma would live his life as a human. Because of her indiscretion, Nodoka had consented to her husbands wishes to take away the child on the condition that he became a man among men, or they both would commit seppuku. When this pledge was made, it was not feminine traits that Nodoka had feared to see in her son, but that of the demon.
Later, when she had found out about Ranma's curse, she had feared that it was due to his demon powers emerging. But, upon further demonstration of the other Jusenkyo curses, she was able to determine that the curse was of other magical origin and had refrained from holding Ranma to the promise of seppuku.
Upon hearing from Kasumi about the purpose of Ranma's latest training trip, she had decided that it was time for another visit with her son.
* * * *
Monday morning.
Ranma was frustrated. How many Higurashi's were there anyway? He had gone to the library and looked in all the phone books for the Tokyo area, but he'd found no references to a Higurashi, Kagome. Sigh. He wanted to check the student listings on the internet but couldn't think of anybody who could help him figure out how, who also wouldn't "accidentally" leak the information. At least he'd been able to sneak away last night to train. He'd gone to a section of woods just far enough out of town that he could practice Anything-Goes hanyo style, adapting and combining fighting skills of both the past and the present in his half-demon form.
As for his former curse, Ranma had so far been able to pass off his lack of change to some supposed new speed techniques he had learned in the cave of dreams. No more Jusenkyo curse. No more cat fear. Now if only he could come up with some miracle cure to get rid of his finacees.
Not to mention Nabiki. She had been giving him the evil eye since he got back. He could almost hear her thinking, I know you've got a secret Saotome, and you can't keep secrets from me. You might as well give it up now or it will only make more trouble for you later.
Now he had to go back to school again. Even with his new current century insight, he still didn't understand why Kagome had been so obsessed with this stupid stuff.
* * * *
Sunday evening.
Sessho-maru looked out of his Los Angeles office window with a frown, straitening his white three-piece suit. A tremor of familiar magic had passed through him indicating that the binding spell he had placed on his son had been undone. This was not unexpected, however, a change in his immediate plans would be needed. "Sherie," he called to his secretary, "cancel all my appointments for the rest of the week. Oh, and I need you to book me first class on the next flight to Tokyo, Japan."
"I checked and the next available flight will be the Red Eye sir. It leaves at 7:30 pm."
"Good. Have a limo waiting for me at my apartment in one hour."
He'd have to call his contacts in Tokyo, Nerima district. What was their name? Kuno. It was time to visit some of his old haunts and, of course, teach a young pup a few things about the real world.
Author's note:
Twistier and twistier I know. Now that the pieces are in place, let the show begin. Oh, and if your wondering why the time elements are reversed I wanted them introduced in that order but still wanted you to know when they happened.