Dreams of Destiny
1 Prologue
The sun shone down on the city, basking it in the warmth of a late spring day, giving off a cheerful, peaceful ambiance. This mood was completely at odds with the way that a certain teenaged boy felt as he trudged wearily along the streets, radiating sadness and determination. He stopped abruptly and slipped the backpack off his shoulders as he dug in his pocket, coming up with a slip of paper. He stared at it for a moment and then at the nameplate on the low wall surrounding the small house, his brow furrowing in confusion. Finally, he shrugged, hefted his pack again and entered through the narrow gate. He walked hesitantly up to the door and rang the bell. The door opened slowly, a young girl appearing in the doorway.
* * *
Ami Mizuno rushed down the stairs from her room when she heard the doorbell ring. She swung open the door, expecting it to be one of her friends stopping by, but received a shock when she saw a handsome young man with the saddest eyes she had ever seen standing on her front step.
"Umm… Can I help you?" Ami asked, feeling a little flustered by the strange boy's gaze.
"I'm looking for a Mrs. Saotome," the young man answered slowly in a rough voice. "The address I found for her said that this was where she lived, but I noticed the nameplate read Mizuno."
"I'm sorry," Ami answered, "but I don't know any Saotomes around here and I've lived in this house for my whole life."
"Oh," the boy said, seeming to deflate. "Well, I'm sorry to bother you like this. I'll be on my way now."
Ami had always been a gentle girl and she could never stand to see anyone or anything in pain, a trait she shared with her friend Usagi. Both of them were a soft touch for someone in pain. Ami could feel great pain and despair radiating from the young man in front of her like heat from an oven. Before he could turn away, she asked, "What's your name?"
"Ranma. Ranma Saotome," he replied.
"Is this Mrs. Saotome that you're looking for a relative?" Ami asked.
"Yeah, she's my mother. Only I haven't seen her in nearly ten years," Ranma said, his eyes misting slightly. "I had hoped to find her here, but since she's not, I won't bother you anymore." He turned to leave.
"Wait!" Ami shouted. Ranma started and turned back toward her in surprise. Ami felt something strange. She knew that she couldn't just let this boy wander on his own. There was no telling what might happen to him. After all, the streets weren't safe with the Deathbusters and their Daimons running around. "Why don't you come in for a little while?" Ami offered. "My mother will be home from the hospital soon. Maybe she knows where you can find your mother. Besides, you look like you could use something hot to eat."
Ranma's face perked up a bit at the mention of food, but he still looked hesitant. 'If you're sure it would be okay…" he began.
"I don't see why it would be a problem," Ami replied. "My name is Ami Mizuno. Why don't you come on inside?" As she spoke, Ami opened the door wide to allow Ranma into the house. Ranma stepped inside hesitantly, lowering his pack to the floor as he bent over to take off his shoes. Ami moved past him into the house and ushered him into the living room and seated him on the couch. "Wait here, while I get you something to eat," she said.
Ranma watched Ami as she disappeared into the kitchen, his stomach rumbling quietly at the prospect of a hot meal. It had been over two weeks since he'd had a hot meal. That had been from that nice sensei who lived in Kyoto. He had let him stay with him for a couple of days and had helped him understand a few of the scrolls he had found in his Oyaji's pack. Thinking about Oyaji brought other memories to the surface. Painful ones that Ranma ruthlessly pushed down. I'll deal with them when I find her, he thought.
Ami entered the kitchen and headed straight for the refrigerator. She knew that there were plenty of leftovers in there. She pulled out a couple of plates and stuck them in the microwave, thankful for the speed with which it could reheat the leftovers. When it was ready, Ami put the food on a plate and scooped a bowl of the rice that she had prepared for dinner out of the steamer for Ranma. She prepared Ranma some tea as well, sensing that he could use the warmth. Gathering the food together, Ami carried it out to the table on a tray, where Ranma sat waiting patiently. Ami snagged a pair of chopsticks that they used for guests and handed them to him. Ranma dug into the food with gusto. Ami was amazed. Either the boy hadn't eaten in days, or he was an eater on a comparable level with Usagi. No. He was faster than Usagi. Not even Usagi could have polished that much food off in less than half a minute.
Ranma sighed and leaned back as he finished the last of his food. "That was good," Ranma said smiling. "I haven't had anything like that in a while."
"It was just some leftovers," Ami stammered, a slow blush creeping up her cheeks as she looked at Ranma. Wow, she thought. He really is cute. But I can't let myself feel like this, I hardly know anything about him. "So, Ranma, you said you're looking for your mother," Ami began. "Where did you live before?"
"I've never really lived in any one place for very long. Me and Oyaji were always moving around, looking for some new place to train at," Ranma said, hanging his head, so that his bangs hid the glistening threat of tears.
"So where's your father then," Ami asked, feeling a little confused.
"He's dead," Ranma said in a flat voice that sucked the questions right out of Ami's mouth. I had no idea, she thought, horrified at her tactless question. It must have been really hard on him too, from the way he's repressing his grief like that.
"So that's why you're looking for your mother, then," Ami said softly. Ranma nodded jerkily in response, still unwilling to look Ami in the face. An awkward silence fell over the two of them, one that neither of them was willing to break.
"Ami, I'm home," came a call from the door. Ami and Ranma both started at the sound of the voice and Ami rose quickly to her feet to go greet her mother.
Ranma rose slowly, aware that this woman could either be the end of his long search, or just another dead end. He prayed that she would know where his mother was. He hadn't seen her since he had been five years old and ten years had blurred his memories of her until all he could remember was a warm and comforting presence. Completely different from Oyaji's bluster and insults… Ranma clamped down on that line of thought. Thinking about the old man brought the grief up from where he'd locked it down, and a real man should be able to control his own feelings, not let them control him. What would his mother think of a son who wept whenever he thought about what had happened? He turned to greet the woman that was entering the room with Ami.
* * *
Ami ran down the hallway as he mother finished taking off her shoes. Her mother looked up at her and smiled. "Having a friend over?" she asked casually. She had always expressed her worry over Ami's lack of friends, and had been much happier since Ami had started hanging out with Usagi and the others.
Ami shook her head. "No, Mother. We have a visitor. He said he's looking for a Mrs. Saotome."
"Really," Dr. Mizuno said interestedly. Very few people had ever come looking for the Saotomes. Most of them had been people she had been more than happy to send on their way with the knowledge that they no longer lived here, but something about the way Ami spoke told Dr. Mizuno that this time would be different.
Dr. Mieko Mizuno stepped into her living room as the young man sitting at the table rose to his feet. Immediately, Dr. Mizuno sensed that this young man was under a great deal of stress and desperately needed to release it. She motioned for Ranma to sit down and sat on the couch across from him. "So, I understand that you're looking for a Mrs. Saotome," she said. "May I ask why?"
"She's my mother," Ranma said bluntly. "My name is Ranma Saotome and I don't have anywhere else left to go."
'You're Ranma!" Dr. Mizuno exclaimed in surprise. Ami jumped a little at her mother's shout. She hadn't been expecting a reaction like this.
Dr. Mizuno leaned over the table looking closely at Ranma. Yes, she thought. I can definitely see some of Nodoka in the boy. A lot of Genma too, unfortunately. "Where is your father, Ranma," she asked glancing at Ami when she heard a sharp intake of breath. She turned back to see Ranma's hung head as he answered.
"He's dead," Ranma choked out. Dr. Mizuno's heart went out to the boy. Although she herself had never felt any fondness for Genma Saotome, she knew what it was like to lose a parent. Especially if it was the only parent you've ever known. Oh no, she thought. If he's already lost Genma, what's he going to do when he hears about Nodoka?
"I'm sorry, Ranma," she said softly. "I know it's hard to lose a parent. That's what makes this even tougher for me." Ranma gave her a questioning look with his glistening eyes. Dr. Mizuno could see the effort Ranma was making in trying to hold back the tears. She fully expected the dams to burst when she told him. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Ranma, but your mother is dead."
1 Prologue
The sun shone down on the city, basking it in the warmth of a late spring day, giving off a cheerful, peaceful ambiance. This mood was completely at odds with the way that a certain teenaged boy felt as he trudged wearily along the streets, radiating sadness and determination. He stopped abruptly and slipped the backpack off his shoulders as he dug in his pocket, coming up with a slip of paper. He stared at it for a moment and then at the nameplate on the low wall surrounding the small house, his brow furrowing in confusion. Finally, he shrugged, hefted his pack again and entered through the narrow gate. He walked hesitantly up to the door and rang the bell. The door opened slowly, a young girl appearing in the doorway.
* * *
Ami Mizuno rushed down the stairs from her room when she heard the doorbell ring. She swung open the door, expecting it to be one of her friends stopping by, but received a shock when she saw a handsome young man with the saddest eyes she had ever seen standing on her front step.
"Umm… Can I help you?" Ami asked, feeling a little flustered by the strange boy's gaze.
"I'm looking for a Mrs. Saotome," the young man answered slowly in a rough voice. "The address I found for her said that this was where she lived, but I noticed the nameplate read Mizuno."
"I'm sorry," Ami answered, "but I don't know any Saotomes around here and I've lived in this house for my whole life."
"Oh," the boy said, seeming to deflate. "Well, I'm sorry to bother you like this. I'll be on my way now."
Ami had always been a gentle girl and she could never stand to see anyone or anything in pain, a trait she shared with her friend Usagi. Both of them were a soft touch for someone in pain. Ami could feel great pain and despair radiating from the young man in front of her like heat from an oven. Before he could turn away, she asked, "What's your name?"
"Ranma. Ranma Saotome," he replied.
"Is this Mrs. Saotome that you're looking for a relative?" Ami asked.
"Yeah, she's my mother. Only I haven't seen her in nearly ten years," Ranma said, his eyes misting slightly. "I had hoped to find her here, but since she's not, I won't bother you anymore." He turned to leave.
"Wait!" Ami shouted. Ranma started and turned back toward her in surprise. Ami felt something strange. She knew that she couldn't just let this boy wander on his own. There was no telling what might happen to him. After all, the streets weren't safe with the Deathbusters and their Daimons running around. "Why don't you come in for a little while?" Ami offered. "My mother will be home from the hospital soon. Maybe she knows where you can find your mother. Besides, you look like you could use something hot to eat."
Ranma's face perked up a bit at the mention of food, but he still looked hesitant. 'If you're sure it would be okay…" he began.
"I don't see why it would be a problem," Ami replied. "My name is Ami Mizuno. Why don't you come on inside?" As she spoke, Ami opened the door wide to allow Ranma into the house. Ranma stepped inside hesitantly, lowering his pack to the floor as he bent over to take off his shoes. Ami moved past him into the house and ushered him into the living room and seated him on the couch. "Wait here, while I get you something to eat," she said.
Ranma watched Ami as she disappeared into the kitchen, his stomach rumbling quietly at the prospect of a hot meal. It had been over two weeks since he'd had a hot meal. That had been from that nice sensei who lived in Kyoto. He had let him stay with him for a couple of days and had helped him understand a few of the scrolls he had found in his Oyaji's pack. Thinking about Oyaji brought other memories to the surface. Painful ones that Ranma ruthlessly pushed down. I'll deal with them when I find her, he thought.
Ami entered the kitchen and headed straight for the refrigerator. She knew that there were plenty of leftovers in there. She pulled out a couple of plates and stuck them in the microwave, thankful for the speed with which it could reheat the leftovers. When it was ready, Ami put the food on a plate and scooped a bowl of the rice that she had prepared for dinner out of the steamer for Ranma. She prepared Ranma some tea as well, sensing that he could use the warmth. Gathering the food together, Ami carried it out to the table on a tray, where Ranma sat waiting patiently. Ami snagged a pair of chopsticks that they used for guests and handed them to him. Ranma dug into the food with gusto. Ami was amazed. Either the boy hadn't eaten in days, or he was an eater on a comparable level with Usagi. No. He was faster than Usagi. Not even Usagi could have polished that much food off in less than half a minute.
Ranma sighed and leaned back as he finished the last of his food. "That was good," Ranma said smiling. "I haven't had anything like that in a while."
"It was just some leftovers," Ami stammered, a slow blush creeping up her cheeks as she looked at Ranma. Wow, she thought. He really is cute. But I can't let myself feel like this, I hardly know anything about him. "So, Ranma, you said you're looking for your mother," Ami began. "Where did you live before?"
"I've never really lived in any one place for very long. Me and Oyaji were always moving around, looking for some new place to train at," Ranma said, hanging his head, so that his bangs hid the glistening threat of tears.
"So where's your father then," Ami asked, feeling a little confused.
"He's dead," Ranma said in a flat voice that sucked the questions right out of Ami's mouth. I had no idea, she thought, horrified at her tactless question. It must have been really hard on him too, from the way he's repressing his grief like that.
"So that's why you're looking for your mother, then," Ami said softly. Ranma nodded jerkily in response, still unwilling to look Ami in the face. An awkward silence fell over the two of them, one that neither of them was willing to break.
"Ami, I'm home," came a call from the door. Ami and Ranma both started at the sound of the voice and Ami rose quickly to her feet to go greet her mother.
Ranma rose slowly, aware that this woman could either be the end of his long search, or just another dead end. He prayed that she would know where his mother was. He hadn't seen her since he had been five years old and ten years had blurred his memories of her until all he could remember was a warm and comforting presence. Completely different from Oyaji's bluster and insults… Ranma clamped down on that line of thought. Thinking about the old man brought the grief up from where he'd locked it down, and a real man should be able to control his own feelings, not let them control him. What would his mother think of a son who wept whenever he thought about what had happened? He turned to greet the woman that was entering the room with Ami.
* * *
Ami ran down the hallway as he mother finished taking off her shoes. Her mother looked up at her and smiled. "Having a friend over?" she asked casually. She had always expressed her worry over Ami's lack of friends, and had been much happier since Ami had started hanging out with Usagi and the others.
Ami shook her head. "No, Mother. We have a visitor. He said he's looking for a Mrs. Saotome."
"Really," Dr. Mizuno said interestedly. Very few people had ever come looking for the Saotomes. Most of them had been people she had been more than happy to send on their way with the knowledge that they no longer lived here, but something about the way Ami spoke told Dr. Mizuno that this time would be different.
Dr. Mieko Mizuno stepped into her living room as the young man sitting at the table rose to his feet. Immediately, Dr. Mizuno sensed that this young man was under a great deal of stress and desperately needed to release it. She motioned for Ranma to sit down and sat on the couch across from him. "So, I understand that you're looking for a Mrs. Saotome," she said. "May I ask why?"
"She's my mother," Ranma said bluntly. "My name is Ranma Saotome and I don't have anywhere else left to go."
'You're Ranma!" Dr. Mizuno exclaimed in surprise. Ami jumped a little at her mother's shout. She hadn't been expecting a reaction like this.
Dr. Mizuno leaned over the table looking closely at Ranma. Yes, she thought. I can definitely see some of Nodoka in the boy. A lot of Genma too, unfortunately. "Where is your father, Ranma," she asked glancing at Ami when she heard a sharp intake of breath. She turned back to see Ranma's hung head as he answered.
"He's dead," Ranma choked out. Dr. Mizuno's heart went out to the boy. Although she herself had never felt any fondness for Genma Saotome, she knew what it was like to lose a parent. Especially if it was the only parent you've ever known. Oh no, she thought. If he's already lost Genma, what's he going to do when he hears about Nodoka?
"I'm sorry, Ranma," she said softly. "I know it's hard to lose a parent. That's what makes this even tougher for me." Ranma gave her a questioning look with his glistening eyes. Dr. Mizuno could see the effort Ranma was making in trying to hold back the tears. She fully expected the dams to burst when she told him. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Ranma, but your mother is dead."