Where I Belong
By The Unseen Watcher
R1/2 and RK are not mine. I am getting no money out of this. Only a curious mix of pleasure/pain (i.e.. Getting compliments and having to update and make it good). Any variations from the original characters are caused by the fact that I am not the original creator(s) and so think differently. Duh. ^_^
Chapter 8
Time and Reflections
------------------------
Everyone had adjourned to the Tendo sitting room once again. Kasumi was pouring out some tea, receiving a warm thanks from the self-declared goddess Belldandy, who sat at the center of attention.
After her calm declaration of divine status, not to mention her purpose for coming there, the yard had been so silent that you could practically hear the koi breathing. Then it was shattered once again by the inevitable chaos that was a Nerima argument. Belldandy had seemed slightly taken aback by all the commotion, her expressive eyes widening.
Then all protests had been effectively squashed by an unlikely trio of rescuers. Kasumi, Nodoka, and most surprising of all, Cologne, had stepped forward. They'd formed a determined wall of bodies between the newcomer and the others. Kasumi appeared to be motivated by the sight of a fellow gentle woman in trouble. Nodoka took a mother's point of view. All of her softer instincts had been activated at first sight of the lovely girl.
Cologne's reasons were her own.
This unexpected opposition cowed the worst of the lot. Ranma could only gawk at it all as the women respectfully ushered Belldandy into the house, setting her in a place of honor at the table while they left to prepare tea and snacks. Their orders not to bother her were clearly stated, the look in Nodoka's eyes alone enough to make the majority back off. Genma was cowering in a far corner after a particularly dark look cast his way by his wife.
They all waited in brittle silence. Ranma chafed at the delay, shifting about in his seat at the table, afire with curiosity. What did she want with him? Was she really a goddess? He felt a sudden chill. Had she come about his fight with Saffron? He Was a demi-god, after all. Had he angered some divine court because of his actions on Phoenix Mountain?
"No. I have not come to speak of the Phoenix king."
Ranma was abruptly jerked out of the downward spiral of worry his thoughts had become by Belldandy's soft voice. Looking up, blue eyes met blue. Ranma could only blink in stupefication. "What?" He managed to say.
Belldandy's smile dimmed slightly, a truly alarming sight. It was probably her version of a severe look. "The one known as Saffron was not recognized as having any divine status by Yggdrasil. I am here concerning a wish made by your mother." Her smile widened to its usual dimensions. "The wish parameters include the reading of the recipient's thoughts. Since you are the focal point of the wish, your thoughts are also considered to be within the contract."
Ranma sat back, processing this. He was more than a little worried by the idea. He hadn't been thinking very charitably toward a whole lot of people lately. His brain might just get him into trouble. However, as the rest of her sentence registered, his worries were pushed to the background. Glancing in the direction of the kitchen, and seeing that all was clear for the moment, he returned his gaze to the goddess. "My mom?" He prompted eagerly. He leaned forward over the table, his posture conveying just how interested he was in the subject.
Everyone else in the room tried to fade into the woodwork, hoping that if they weren't noticed they wouldn't be sent away. The curiosity level would have put an alley full of cats to shame.
Belldandy nodded, immediately seeming to understand both spoken and unspoken questions. "Yes. I speak not of Saotome Nodoka, but the woman who gave you life." She looked at him kindly. "She who was your birth mother. The one that made the wish I have come to at last complete."
*
Ranma sat back, his face blank but his eyes showing a virtual storm of conflicting emotions. He honestly didn't know What to think anymore.
A few hours ago, he had learned that he was adopted. Then, just as he managed to get a mental hold on that idea and decide to go find the truth of where he came from, a rather large clue had literally dropped in. He didn't know whether to be excited or paranoid. He settled for somewhere in the middle.
Before he could attempt to say anything further, the three eldest women of the group chose that moment to sweep into the scene. Kasumi came first, a formal tea set held carefully before her. Cologne and Nodoka were flanking her on either side. They cast disapproving looks at Ranma, evidently divining from his posture that he was bothering their special guest.
Ranma clapped his mouth shut under their scrutiny, knowing he'd just get into more trouble if he protested. Holding tightly to calm and his limited patience, he braced himself to wait through the entire ceremony.
**
Kasumi and Belldandy bonded immediately, falling into conversation as if they were old friends. Anyone watching them would have sworn that they must have been separated at birth, so alike did they seem in personality despite their differing looks, and fashion taste. Nodoka made pleasant conversation when she could inject a word or two in, and surprisingly respectful Cologne chimed in occasionally as well.
The rest of the residents' just sat their, tea largely forgotten as they listened in fascination to the four-way exchange. Eyes darted from speaker to speaker, but they kept carefully silent.
Finally, after a few hours of excruciating small talk, Ranma could stand it no longer. Setting down his cup with an audible clink!, and trying to ignore the stern looks thrown his way by Nodoka and Cologne, he focused completely on the brown-haired goddess. He had only one goal at the moment. He needed answers and he needed them Now. However, he still had enough of a sense of self-preservation to attempt to go about it somewhat politely.
"Ok. You've told us who you are and stuff. Now can ya-You please explain what you meant by 'you've come for me'? And what you mean by my birth mother and a wish." He finished firmly, jaw set. He refused to meet any other gaze but that of Belldandy. He would not be deterred even by protocol now.
If he was expecting some sort of evasion, then he was pleasantly surprised for the nth time that night.
Belldandy smiled, setting down her empty cup as well. Her delicate hands rested in her lap as she looked back at him. "Of course, Ranma-san. An explanation is the very least I can give you in what must be quite a strange situation for you."
Ranma managed to close his mouth on the protest he had ready. All this cooperation was really starting to make him edgy. No one had Ever been this willing to explain things to him.
Belldandy settled herself further, her head raised to address the onlookers as well as him. "About 150 years ago, as you measure time, a young woman turned up on our database as eligible to have a wish granted. You see, only certain people fill the parameters needed for granting a wish. They are rare enough that someone of at least goddess status is sent to them. The wish can be anything they desire."
"This woman lived in a time of war. Her wish was to have her unborn child grow up in a time where that conflict was no more than a memory. So, in order to grant her request, she was taken to this time; to a little over 17 years ago to be precise."
Belldandy's face saddened slightly as she took in a wide-eyed Ranma. "Once you were born, she had to go back to her own place in time, and to whatever fate had in store for her there."
"You see, her presence in a time in which she was not supposed to exist was causing rather large waves in the time stream. As a result, natural chaotic ripples that would otherwise have happened in separate places were all converging on one spot; that which she occupied."
Nabiki cleared her throat "Just what do you mean by 'chaotic ripples'." She asked. She was taking in every word, her eyes sharp with interest.
"Everyone has a certain place in history they are supposed to be at a certain time in their lives. Any variation in that causes ripples like a stone tossed into a pond. If one is off, then it affects everyone around them to a certain degree, pushing them slightly out of alignment from where they are supposed to be. And so it continues until it hits a proverbial shoreline and bounces back." She looked solemn. "Your mother was only able to be here for a relatively small amount of time, so as to minimize the effects. By the time the ripples returned, she had already been put back in her rightful place. You, however, were still here, and so became the focus of the fluctuations. You create less disturbance because of the fact that you were born in this time, but unfortunately you seem to have received the greater part of the impact for both you And your mother. Reality is continually struggling to adjust around you, with sometimes unusual shapes." She smiled apologetically.
"Wait a minute!" Ranma finally managed to sputter. "Are you telling me that That's why my life is so nuts?!" He asked incredulously.
Belldandy nodded. Ranma boggled. He'd always had a suspicion that the universe was out to get him. It was not at all fun to find out that he was right. He shook his head in helpless disbelief.
"It's not, you've simply been displaced in it. It's trying to adjust around you." Belldandy corrected.
Ranma stared at her, realized that he hadn't spoken aloud and groaned inwardly as their audience looked on in some confusion. He could get tired of that mind-reading trick of hers really fast.
Nabiki spoke up again, sensing that she was out of the loop. "So in other words, now that the wish has been officially completed by Ranma's 'growing up'-." Her mouth twitched against a derisive smirk at the notion. Ranma glared at her. She ignored him. "-You've come to take him back to where he should have been in the first place. 150 years in the past." She finished smugly, knowing she was right.
The crowd exchanged startled glances. Even Ranma looked taken aback. He'd been so focused on extracting reasons that he hadn't thought that far ahead. He cast the young goddess an inquiring glance, but whatever she might have said was forestalled as Nabiki continued, unwilling to surrender the floor so soon.
"The goddess here-" She said, nodding to Belldandy, "-said the terms of the wish were 'a time without war' and 'where the war was just a memory' and 'where he can grow up'. She raised an eyebrow. "It's no coincidence that someone shows up to collect him on his 17th birthday. They must consider him to be technically an adult." She couldn't resist the sarcasm this time, her grin only widening at the annoyed look Ranma cast her.
"Yes, that's it!" Belldandy agreed happily, completely oblivious to any mockery. Nabiki looked at her as if she couldn't decide whether to believe that someone could be that clueless or she was being mocked. But one glance at her older sister, who was also beaming, and she gave up. She'd never be able to prove it either way.
Genma finally spoke up, backed quickly by a stern looking Soun. They tried to loom from their far corner away from the dangerous cluster of women, with little success. "I'm sorry, young lady, but the boy's place is here with his fiancée." Soun nodded in agreement. "His engagement to my daughter is important to the future of our school. He is to marry Akane and carry on the Anything Goes Martial Arts tradition."
"No way! I told you that I'm not marrying that pervert!" Akane immediately objected. Why did their fathers' have to drag that out all the time? It seemed like they never thought of anything else.
Soun chided her. "Now Akane, it is your duty as the Tendo heir to . . ." Genma chimed in at the same time "Now, Akane-chan you know this is your father's and my decision that . . ." The three broke into an argument, Akane by far the loudest of the trio and the most threatening. The two men backed away from her fists' range, but continued to alternately order and cajole.
Belldandy sat there, large blue eyes blinking in bewilderment at the scene. She looked from them to an irritated yet resigned Ranma who was eyeing them as well. "Ranma," she asked innocently "Are you really a pervert?"
Ranma's whipped his head around, tearing his gaze away from the familiar, depressing scene to stare at her in dazed befuddlement. The question even quieted the quarrel in the background. All eyes turned to the raven-haired martial artist.
Ranma's mouth worked for a moment, trying to even attempt to come up with an answer for the unexpected question. The inquiry was unheard of in Nerima. But finally, he managed to shake his head, slowly at first, then firmly. "No, Belldandy-san. I'm not." He said quietly.
Belldandy smiled one of her special smiles. "I'm glad." She said.
Akane opened her mouth to refute that, but events were already moving on without her. Ranma's expression grew more serious as he met the lighter colored eyes of their guest. "I don't want to hurt your feeling, but I just have to ask . . ." he paused then plowed forward "don't I get Any say in this at all? All my life others have been deciding things for me, and I've only recently been trying to get control and think for myself."
Ranma shifted uncomfortably in his kneeling position, feeling like he was being incredibly rude. But, he didn't like to leave things uncompleted so he managed to finish. He needed her to know how he felt. "I just want to have a choice in whether I'm going somewhere. I won't be forced into anything ever again." He finished, his voice was cautious, as if feeling out unknown, possibly dangerous ground, but the look in his eyes was resolute.
Before Belldandy could reply Cologne spoke up, her tone reproving. "Watch your tongue, son-in-law." She said sharply. "It is not your place to question the will of the gods." She straightened to her full, diminutive height. "Do you have any idea to whom you speak? By her markings she is a goddess of the first class, with unlimited access. She is a sacred being." She scolded.
Ranma could only blink at the old hag lecturing him. She had rarely been so straightforward, preferring to trick him into doing what she wanted. The visit of a goddess had obviously shaken up her calculations quite a bit.
Belldandy looked at the old woman beside her, surprised. "You know a lot more than most do about ways of the heavens." She said curiously. Cologne bowed low. "I have had . . . dealings with the Powers in times past." She said, her face still toward the floor, hiding her eyes.
Belldandy looked thoughtful, studying the older looking woman.
Ranma spoke before they could get even more off track. He was starting to lose patience again. "Belldandy- . . .sama. DO I get a say in this?" He asked after a brief pause and glance at Cologne.
Belldandy turned back to him, her eyes wide at the question. "Why of course you do." She said.
Ranma stopped, blinking stupidly. "I do?" he managed weakly. Man, this situation was starting to feel more and more unreal.
Belldandy nodded. "I didn't realize that you would object to going back to the time you should have been in in the first place, but if you need to think about it that's ok with me. Free choice is very important. You must do what you think is right, for yourself and for those around you."
Ranma looked into those guileless eyes and saw only truth. He had some control in this bizarre situation after all. She had stated as much, and he could only believe her. This gentle girl could not possibly be capable of any type of deceit. Every instinct shouted it. It was now his decision what happened next. Felling more than a little weirded out, he managed to stammer out a request for a day to think about it. Belldandy agreed. "I'll stay here and talk to my wonderful hostesses'!" she said happily, turning back to the three women around her.
Nodoka and Kasumi edged forward, and soon the three were once again engrossed in pleasant conversation.
**
For a minute Ranma just sat there, unable to decide whether to be pleased or indignant at the apparent dismissal. She hadn't been rude about it. She was giving him exactly what he requested; time to think. She wouldn't bother him until he made up his mind.
Feeling awkward, he got up and left the room. He noticed that most of the others had taken their leave while he was still sitting there, but was too preoccupied at the moment to worry about possible trouble from them just yet. Hands in his pockets, he meandered down the hall.
Unfortunately for his plans, it didn't take him long to start running into people. The first were, predictably, his Pop and Tendo-san. Or rather, Saotome-san and Tendo-san, he reminded himself with a sigh as he braced for a fight when he saw the two older men charging up. They came to an unexpected halt a respectful few feet away from him. Genma in particular seemed a bit more wary, though he was visibly twitching to get his hands on him.
"Now, boy. Be reasonable." The older martial artist began. "You've always wanted to inherit the school. If you go off to some other time how can that happen?" he pleaded. Soun nodded. He was the perfect backup for his old friend, one chiming in where the other paused. "Yes, son. Think of our -your- dreams for the future. You can't go away now that they are so close." He had put on his city-councilor face, the very image of reasonability.
Ranma studied the two of them, lined up against him and rather conveniently blocking the hallway. Then, very deliberately, he stepped forward, at the same time allowing his eyes to narrow slightly.
Soun immediately jumped backward in fright, long hair stiff in alarm, leaving an opening beside the still stupidly stubborn Genma nearly wide enough for Ranma to get through. One well-placed kick in the fat man's side widened the gap. He continued on before the two could gather their metaphorical wits.
Reaching the end of the hallway, he spotted Ukyo waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, shifting from foot to foot. Looking up, she saw him and her face brightened. "Ranchan!" she greeted him. "Where are you going?"
Ranma shrugged. "Nowhere in particular. Just thought I'd walk around a bit."
Ukyo smiled. "May I join you?" she asked, her tone a bit too eager.
Ranma shook his head. His attention was mostly elsewhere, and so he missed the slight fall in her expression. "Sorry, Ucchan, but I gotta work this out alone."
Ukyo opened her mouth to protest, to plead, to guilt trip him into letting her go by acting hurt, Anything to keep him within sight.
Ranma spoke up, unintentionally forestalling whatever course of action she might have taken.
"Ucchan, what would you do?" he asked suddenly, turning from his contemplation of the distance and looking at her. His eyes were sad. "If you had a chance to go be with a family you've never known, but had to drop everything to do it . . . would you go?" Troubled gray-blue eyes met hers.
Ukyo started to speak, but realized that what she was about to say wouldn't help. She found it hard to meet the gaze of her distressed friend and lie. After a moment she was forced to look away, studying her feet instead.
"I . . . I would do anything to be with my family again." She finally admitted softly, feeling as though the words were being torn from her. *That's not what I want to say! * She wailed inwardly. *Stay! Be with ME, your cute fiancée remember? Who cares about the past? Your future is with me! *
But she didn't say any of that, simply staring at her stockinged feet with tears shimmering in the dark eyes hidden by her bangs.
Ranma looked at her, understanding coming of just what she might be going through at that moment. This was his childhood friend. The one who had spent most of her life searching for him. She'd always been a support, listening when others would not. She had at least been willing to Try to see his side of things.
"Maybe you can go home now, Ukyo." He said quietly. Her shoulders twitched at the more formal use of her name, the only sign that she had heard. "After all-" Ranma said, his old grin tugging at his mouth "You beat Pop-Genma- fair and square in a fight, so your honor should be restored. If that still isn't enough I'm sure you can discuss a proper price for your stolen dowry with mom." His voice softened again "You can go home, Ucchan."
*Home is wherever You are. * Ukyo thought silently, but finally managed to nod her head. Blinking back the tears, she looked up at him and smiled weakly. "I'll think about it." She agreed quietly, biting her lower lip to prevent an outburst of emotion that might push him even further away from her. She had to go somewhere where she could think.
Ranma smiled at her, clapping her on the shoulder as he passed like they were still childhood buddies. He gave a slight nod to a nearby shadow and received one in return. As Ukyo turned numbly toward her restaurant, Konatsu trailed respectfully after her.
**
Ranma actually made it as far as the gate this time and was turning into the street when he encountered Cologne and Shampoo. The old hag must have slipped away from the other women and been lying in wait. There was still no sign of Mousse. He was probably still running around the city mistaking telephone poles for Ranma or Shampoo. The Kunos had been blessedly absent since the initial revelation. Ranma hoped they had taken a wrong turn and ended up on the other side of Tokyo. Ryoga was who-knows-where, having not even made it the party. Ranma knew that it was only a matter of time before he showed up.
*But back to the women at hand. * Cologne was looking at him with that same measuring expression she usually had whenever she laid eyes on him. It was one that clearly stated that she was intrigued by what she saw, but didn't know quite how to control it yet. It always made him feel like a more than a little uncomfortable, as if he were an unruly puppy that needed to be taught his proper place. The thought didn't put him in a very receptive frame of mind. "What do you want now?" He asked irritably, eying the two warily.
"This changes things, son-in-law." Cologne said, ignoring his question and challenging behavior. She'd had a lot of practice at it. "Time travel was not a part of the agreement." She continued with a note of disapproval in her aged voice, as if he'd somehow come up with the whole idea in order to escape her, he thought in annoyance. Looking at the old ghoul, an idea of his own formed as he recalled her out of character reaction to Belldandy.
"What about all your talk about 'the will of the Powers'?" He asked, smirking slightly as she twitched at having her earlier words thrown back at her. "Don't you think you're disagreeing with yourself?" he said, trying and failing miserably at an innocent look of inquiry.
Cologne glowered at him from atop her staff. He wasn't impressed.
Finally her lips pressed together in a thin line. "This isn't over Son-in- law." She said sharply, dragging an objecting Shampoo along with her. The young Amazon had remained silent, convinced that her great-grandmother had things under control. Her shrill protests were cut short by a whack to the head and the distant sound of scolding as they turned a corner.
Ranma couldn't help but breathe out a sigh of relief. That had gone better than he'd dared hope.
**
Dawn found him still walking. Occasionally he would stop in his wandering and just look at a place. There by the canal was where he seemed to land the most frequently after a fight with Akane. This corner was where Shampoo favored landing on him with her bicycle.
He walked on, each place seeming to hold a memory. The ice-skating rink, Furinken High, the park, the fountain . . . s/he wiped the cold water from her face, pushing back now fire bright bangs; the Ladle Lady. S/he smiled. S/he couldn't help but see the irony of it now. S/he had never passed that spry old woman without getting soaked, no matter how he approached the place. Absently, s/he pulled out yet another thermos, making a note to restock his supply of hot water. He was just glad that it never seemed to get cold stored in his personal space.
He had already changed three times that night, falling into any water nearby. The rest of the time water seemed to seek him out on its own as a sprinkler system suddenly spurted or a bucket was dropped. He winced at the recollection, fingering the knot still forming on his head.
A sudden, almost ridiculous notion crossed his mind, forming into an idea so preposterous that it just might work. Stopping, he retraced his steps to stand in front of the old bag. She looked up at him, smiling her deceptively unaware smile.
There were a lot of things he'd always wanted to say. 'Stop doing that!' and 'I'm going to break you ladle, Ok?' being in the top five. Instead, he pushed back wet bangs in frustration at the whole, stupid scenario he'd lived with for too long.
"May I help you with that, grandma?" He asked as politely as he could manage, stretching out an offering hand.
She actually paused, looking almost startled. Then she smiled even wider, her eyes still closed, and handed him the ladle and bucket. Carefully, he splashed the contents onto the walk, well away from him. Then he handed her the empty containers, bowing and receiving a lower one in return. Turning, he made his way back onto the street. He abruptly had the strangest feeling; like he had crossed an unseen line into an alternate reality. In the place where he lived, things like this just didn't happen.
Feeling slightly lightheaded at the feeling of displacement, he moved down the road. There were a few more stops he wanted to make before he went back to the Dojo and his fate, whatever it may be. Stride quickening, he headed for the clinic.
------------------------
It's coming. It's coming . . . honest. ^_^ Oh, I actually don't believe this time-displacement theory. The universe can't be as fragile as some believe. Someone displaced in time would more likely be like a twig in a river. The future (and past) is made by our choices. The idea of a fixed destiny is too depressing for words. Oh, I've already asked around a bit, but I'd like your input too. When Ranma is in girl form, should he be called 'he' or 'she'? I'm most concerned because there are some . . . *cough * . . . emotional scenes that would sound better if I used 'she'. Or should I continue to cheat with the 's/he' form? Annnnnnnd thanks to all you helpful people for pointing out the various true modes of travel for the three goddesses. The intent, if not the volume (42), was appreciated. P.s., my sister denies she ever said any such thing. Oops, my bad.^_^
By The Unseen Watcher
R1/2 and RK are not mine. I am getting no money out of this. Only a curious mix of pleasure/pain (i.e.. Getting compliments and having to update and make it good). Any variations from the original characters are caused by the fact that I am not the original creator(s) and so think differently. Duh. ^_^
Chapter 8
Time and Reflections
------------------------
Everyone had adjourned to the Tendo sitting room once again. Kasumi was pouring out some tea, receiving a warm thanks from the self-declared goddess Belldandy, who sat at the center of attention.
After her calm declaration of divine status, not to mention her purpose for coming there, the yard had been so silent that you could practically hear the koi breathing. Then it was shattered once again by the inevitable chaos that was a Nerima argument. Belldandy had seemed slightly taken aback by all the commotion, her expressive eyes widening.
Then all protests had been effectively squashed by an unlikely trio of rescuers. Kasumi, Nodoka, and most surprising of all, Cologne, had stepped forward. They'd formed a determined wall of bodies between the newcomer and the others. Kasumi appeared to be motivated by the sight of a fellow gentle woman in trouble. Nodoka took a mother's point of view. All of her softer instincts had been activated at first sight of the lovely girl.
Cologne's reasons were her own.
This unexpected opposition cowed the worst of the lot. Ranma could only gawk at it all as the women respectfully ushered Belldandy into the house, setting her in a place of honor at the table while they left to prepare tea and snacks. Their orders not to bother her were clearly stated, the look in Nodoka's eyes alone enough to make the majority back off. Genma was cowering in a far corner after a particularly dark look cast his way by his wife.
They all waited in brittle silence. Ranma chafed at the delay, shifting about in his seat at the table, afire with curiosity. What did she want with him? Was she really a goddess? He felt a sudden chill. Had she come about his fight with Saffron? He Was a demi-god, after all. Had he angered some divine court because of his actions on Phoenix Mountain?
"No. I have not come to speak of the Phoenix king."
Ranma was abruptly jerked out of the downward spiral of worry his thoughts had become by Belldandy's soft voice. Looking up, blue eyes met blue. Ranma could only blink in stupefication. "What?" He managed to say.
Belldandy's smile dimmed slightly, a truly alarming sight. It was probably her version of a severe look. "The one known as Saffron was not recognized as having any divine status by Yggdrasil. I am here concerning a wish made by your mother." Her smile widened to its usual dimensions. "The wish parameters include the reading of the recipient's thoughts. Since you are the focal point of the wish, your thoughts are also considered to be within the contract."
Ranma sat back, processing this. He was more than a little worried by the idea. He hadn't been thinking very charitably toward a whole lot of people lately. His brain might just get him into trouble. However, as the rest of her sentence registered, his worries were pushed to the background. Glancing in the direction of the kitchen, and seeing that all was clear for the moment, he returned his gaze to the goddess. "My mom?" He prompted eagerly. He leaned forward over the table, his posture conveying just how interested he was in the subject.
Everyone else in the room tried to fade into the woodwork, hoping that if they weren't noticed they wouldn't be sent away. The curiosity level would have put an alley full of cats to shame.
Belldandy nodded, immediately seeming to understand both spoken and unspoken questions. "Yes. I speak not of Saotome Nodoka, but the woman who gave you life." She looked at him kindly. "She who was your birth mother. The one that made the wish I have come to at last complete."
*
Ranma sat back, his face blank but his eyes showing a virtual storm of conflicting emotions. He honestly didn't know What to think anymore.
A few hours ago, he had learned that he was adopted. Then, just as he managed to get a mental hold on that idea and decide to go find the truth of where he came from, a rather large clue had literally dropped in. He didn't know whether to be excited or paranoid. He settled for somewhere in the middle.
Before he could attempt to say anything further, the three eldest women of the group chose that moment to sweep into the scene. Kasumi came first, a formal tea set held carefully before her. Cologne and Nodoka were flanking her on either side. They cast disapproving looks at Ranma, evidently divining from his posture that he was bothering their special guest.
Ranma clapped his mouth shut under their scrutiny, knowing he'd just get into more trouble if he protested. Holding tightly to calm and his limited patience, he braced himself to wait through the entire ceremony.
**
Kasumi and Belldandy bonded immediately, falling into conversation as if they were old friends. Anyone watching them would have sworn that they must have been separated at birth, so alike did they seem in personality despite their differing looks, and fashion taste. Nodoka made pleasant conversation when she could inject a word or two in, and surprisingly respectful Cologne chimed in occasionally as well.
The rest of the residents' just sat their, tea largely forgotten as they listened in fascination to the four-way exchange. Eyes darted from speaker to speaker, but they kept carefully silent.
Finally, after a few hours of excruciating small talk, Ranma could stand it no longer. Setting down his cup with an audible clink!, and trying to ignore the stern looks thrown his way by Nodoka and Cologne, he focused completely on the brown-haired goddess. He had only one goal at the moment. He needed answers and he needed them Now. However, he still had enough of a sense of self-preservation to attempt to go about it somewhat politely.
"Ok. You've told us who you are and stuff. Now can ya-You please explain what you meant by 'you've come for me'? And what you mean by my birth mother and a wish." He finished firmly, jaw set. He refused to meet any other gaze but that of Belldandy. He would not be deterred even by protocol now.
If he was expecting some sort of evasion, then he was pleasantly surprised for the nth time that night.
Belldandy smiled, setting down her empty cup as well. Her delicate hands rested in her lap as she looked back at him. "Of course, Ranma-san. An explanation is the very least I can give you in what must be quite a strange situation for you."
Ranma managed to close his mouth on the protest he had ready. All this cooperation was really starting to make him edgy. No one had Ever been this willing to explain things to him.
Belldandy settled herself further, her head raised to address the onlookers as well as him. "About 150 years ago, as you measure time, a young woman turned up on our database as eligible to have a wish granted. You see, only certain people fill the parameters needed for granting a wish. They are rare enough that someone of at least goddess status is sent to them. The wish can be anything they desire."
"This woman lived in a time of war. Her wish was to have her unborn child grow up in a time where that conflict was no more than a memory. So, in order to grant her request, she was taken to this time; to a little over 17 years ago to be precise."
Belldandy's face saddened slightly as she took in a wide-eyed Ranma. "Once you were born, she had to go back to her own place in time, and to whatever fate had in store for her there."
"You see, her presence in a time in which she was not supposed to exist was causing rather large waves in the time stream. As a result, natural chaotic ripples that would otherwise have happened in separate places were all converging on one spot; that which she occupied."
Nabiki cleared her throat "Just what do you mean by 'chaotic ripples'." She asked. She was taking in every word, her eyes sharp with interest.
"Everyone has a certain place in history they are supposed to be at a certain time in their lives. Any variation in that causes ripples like a stone tossed into a pond. If one is off, then it affects everyone around them to a certain degree, pushing them slightly out of alignment from where they are supposed to be. And so it continues until it hits a proverbial shoreline and bounces back." She looked solemn. "Your mother was only able to be here for a relatively small amount of time, so as to minimize the effects. By the time the ripples returned, she had already been put back in her rightful place. You, however, were still here, and so became the focus of the fluctuations. You create less disturbance because of the fact that you were born in this time, but unfortunately you seem to have received the greater part of the impact for both you And your mother. Reality is continually struggling to adjust around you, with sometimes unusual shapes." She smiled apologetically.
"Wait a minute!" Ranma finally managed to sputter. "Are you telling me that That's why my life is so nuts?!" He asked incredulously.
Belldandy nodded. Ranma boggled. He'd always had a suspicion that the universe was out to get him. It was not at all fun to find out that he was right. He shook his head in helpless disbelief.
"It's not, you've simply been displaced in it. It's trying to adjust around you." Belldandy corrected.
Ranma stared at her, realized that he hadn't spoken aloud and groaned inwardly as their audience looked on in some confusion. He could get tired of that mind-reading trick of hers really fast.
Nabiki spoke up again, sensing that she was out of the loop. "So in other words, now that the wish has been officially completed by Ranma's 'growing up'-." Her mouth twitched against a derisive smirk at the notion. Ranma glared at her. She ignored him. "-You've come to take him back to where he should have been in the first place. 150 years in the past." She finished smugly, knowing she was right.
The crowd exchanged startled glances. Even Ranma looked taken aback. He'd been so focused on extracting reasons that he hadn't thought that far ahead. He cast the young goddess an inquiring glance, but whatever she might have said was forestalled as Nabiki continued, unwilling to surrender the floor so soon.
"The goddess here-" She said, nodding to Belldandy, "-said the terms of the wish were 'a time without war' and 'where the war was just a memory' and 'where he can grow up'. She raised an eyebrow. "It's no coincidence that someone shows up to collect him on his 17th birthday. They must consider him to be technically an adult." She couldn't resist the sarcasm this time, her grin only widening at the annoyed look Ranma cast her.
"Yes, that's it!" Belldandy agreed happily, completely oblivious to any mockery. Nabiki looked at her as if she couldn't decide whether to believe that someone could be that clueless or she was being mocked. But one glance at her older sister, who was also beaming, and she gave up. She'd never be able to prove it either way.
Genma finally spoke up, backed quickly by a stern looking Soun. They tried to loom from their far corner away from the dangerous cluster of women, with little success. "I'm sorry, young lady, but the boy's place is here with his fiancée." Soun nodded in agreement. "His engagement to my daughter is important to the future of our school. He is to marry Akane and carry on the Anything Goes Martial Arts tradition."
"No way! I told you that I'm not marrying that pervert!" Akane immediately objected. Why did their fathers' have to drag that out all the time? It seemed like they never thought of anything else.
Soun chided her. "Now Akane, it is your duty as the Tendo heir to . . ." Genma chimed in at the same time "Now, Akane-chan you know this is your father's and my decision that . . ." The three broke into an argument, Akane by far the loudest of the trio and the most threatening. The two men backed away from her fists' range, but continued to alternately order and cajole.
Belldandy sat there, large blue eyes blinking in bewilderment at the scene. She looked from them to an irritated yet resigned Ranma who was eyeing them as well. "Ranma," she asked innocently "Are you really a pervert?"
Ranma's whipped his head around, tearing his gaze away from the familiar, depressing scene to stare at her in dazed befuddlement. The question even quieted the quarrel in the background. All eyes turned to the raven-haired martial artist.
Ranma's mouth worked for a moment, trying to even attempt to come up with an answer for the unexpected question. The inquiry was unheard of in Nerima. But finally, he managed to shake his head, slowly at first, then firmly. "No, Belldandy-san. I'm not." He said quietly.
Belldandy smiled one of her special smiles. "I'm glad." She said.
Akane opened her mouth to refute that, but events were already moving on without her. Ranma's expression grew more serious as he met the lighter colored eyes of their guest. "I don't want to hurt your feeling, but I just have to ask . . ." he paused then plowed forward "don't I get Any say in this at all? All my life others have been deciding things for me, and I've only recently been trying to get control and think for myself."
Ranma shifted uncomfortably in his kneeling position, feeling like he was being incredibly rude. But, he didn't like to leave things uncompleted so he managed to finish. He needed her to know how he felt. "I just want to have a choice in whether I'm going somewhere. I won't be forced into anything ever again." He finished, his voice was cautious, as if feeling out unknown, possibly dangerous ground, but the look in his eyes was resolute.
Before Belldandy could reply Cologne spoke up, her tone reproving. "Watch your tongue, son-in-law." She said sharply. "It is not your place to question the will of the gods." She straightened to her full, diminutive height. "Do you have any idea to whom you speak? By her markings she is a goddess of the first class, with unlimited access. She is a sacred being." She scolded.
Ranma could only blink at the old hag lecturing him. She had rarely been so straightforward, preferring to trick him into doing what she wanted. The visit of a goddess had obviously shaken up her calculations quite a bit.
Belldandy looked at the old woman beside her, surprised. "You know a lot more than most do about ways of the heavens." She said curiously. Cologne bowed low. "I have had . . . dealings with the Powers in times past." She said, her face still toward the floor, hiding her eyes.
Belldandy looked thoughtful, studying the older looking woman.
Ranma spoke before they could get even more off track. He was starting to lose patience again. "Belldandy- . . .sama. DO I get a say in this?" He asked after a brief pause and glance at Cologne.
Belldandy turned back to him, her eyes wide at the question. "Why of course you do." She said.
Ranma stopped, blinking stupidly. "I do?" he managed weakly. Man, this situation was starting to feel more and more unreal.
Belldandy nodded. "I didn't realize that you would object to going back to the time you should have been in in the first place, but if you need to think about it that's ok with me. Free choice is very important. You must do what you think is right, for yourself and for those around you."
Ranma looked into those guileless eyes and saw only truth. He had some control in this bizarre situation after all. She had stated as much, and he could only believe her. This gentle girl could not possibly be capable of any type of deceit. Every instinct shouted it. It was now his decision what happened next. Felling more than a little weirded out, he managed to stammer out a request for a day to think about it. Belldandy agreed. "I'll stay here and talk to my wonderful hostesses'!" she said happily, turning back to the three women around her.
Nodoka and Kasumi edged forward, and soon the three were once again engrossed in pleasant conversation.
**
For a minute Ranma just sat there, unable to decide whether to be pleased or indignant at the apparent dismissal. She hadn't been rude about it. She was giving him exactly what he requested; time to think. She wouldn't bother him until he made up his mind.
Feeling awkward, he got up and left the room. He noticed that most of the others had taken their leave while he was still sitting there, but was too preoccupied at the moment to worry about possible trouble from them just yet. Hands in his pockets, he meandered down the hall.
Unfortunately for his plans, it didn't take him long to start running into people. The first were, predictably, his Pop and Tendo-san. Or rather, Saotome-san and Tendo-san, he reminded himself with a sigh as he braced for a fight when he saw the two older men charging up. They came to an unexpected halt a respectful few feet away from him. Genma in particular seemed a bit more wary, though he was visibly twitching to get his hands on him.
"Now, boy. Be reasonable." The older martial artist began. "You've always wanted to inherit the school. If you go off to some other time how can that happen?" he pleaded. Soun nodded. He was the perfect backup for his old friend, one chiming in where the other paused. "Yes, son. Think of our -your- dreams for the future. You can't go away now that they are so close." He had put on his city-councilor face, the very image of reasonability.
Ranma studied the two of them, lined up against him and rather conveniently blocking the hallway. Then, very deliberately, he stepped forward, at the same time allowing his eyes to narrow slightly.
Soun immediately jumped backward in fright, long hair stiff in alarm, leaving an opening beside the still stupidly stubborn Genma nearly wide enough for Ranma to get through. One well-placed kick in the fat man's side widened the gap. He continued on before the two could gather their metaphorical wits.
Reaching the end of the hallway, he spotted Ukyo waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, shifting from foot to foot. Looking up, she saw him and her face brightened. "Ranchan!" she greeted him. "Where are you going?"
Ranma shrugged. "Nowhere in particular. Just thought I'd walk around a bit."
Ukyo smiled. "May I join you?" she asked, her tone a bit too eager.
Ranma shook his head. His attention was mostly elsewhere, and so he missed the slight fall in her expression. "Sorry, Ucchan, but I gotta work this out alone."
Ukyo opened her mouth to protest, to plead, to guilt trip him into letting her go by acting hurt, Anything to keep him within sight.
Ranma spoke up, unintentionally forestalling whatever course of action she might have taken.
"Ucchan, what would you do?" he asked suddenly, turning from his contemplation of the distance and looking at her. His eyes were sad. "If you had a chance to go be with a family you've never known, but had to drop everything to do it . . . would you go?" Troubled gray-blue eyes met hers.
Ukyo started to speak, but realized that what she was about to say wouldn't help. She found it hard to meet the gaze of her distressed friend and lie. After a moment she was forced to look away, studying her feet instead.
"I . . . I would do anything to be with my family again." She finally admitted softly, feeling as though the words were being torn from her. *That's not what I want to say! * She wailed inwardly. *Stay! Be with ME, your cute fiancée remember? Who cares about the past? Your future is with me! *
But she didn't say any of that, simply staring at her stockinged feet with tears shimmering in the dark eyes hidden by her bangs.
Ranma looked at her, understanding coming of just what she might be going through at that moment. This was his childhood friend. The one who had spent most of her life searching for him. She'd always been a support, listening when others would not. She had at least been willing to Try to see his side of things.
"Maybe you can go home now, Ukyo." He said quietly. Her shoulders twitched at the more formal use of her name, the only sign that she had heard. "After all-" Ranma said, his old grin tugging at his mouth "You beat Pop-Genma- fair and square in a fight, so your honor should be restored. If that still isn't enough I'm sure you can discuss a proper price for your stolen dowry with mom." His voice softened again "You can go home, Ucchan."
*Home is wherever You are. * Ukyo thought silently, but finally managed to nod her head. Blinking back the tears, she looked up at him and smiled weakly. "I'll think about it." She agreed quietly, biting her lower lip to prevent an outburst of emotion that might push him even further away from her. She had to go somewhere where she could think.
Ranma smiled at her, clapping her on the shoulder as he passed like they were still childhood buddies. He gave a slight nod to a nearby shadow and received one in return. As Ukyo turned numbly toward her restaurant, Konatsu trailed respectfully after her.
**
Ranma actually made it as far as the gate this time and was turning into the street when he encountered Cologne and Shampoo. The old hag must have slipped away from the other women and been lying in wait. There was still no sign of Mousse. He was probably still running around the city mistaking telephone poles for Ranma or Shampoo. The Kunos had been blessedly absent since the initial revelation. Ranma hoped they had taken a wrong turn and ended up on the other side of Tokyo. Ryoga was who-knows-where, having not even made it the party. Ranma knew that it was only a matter of time before he showed up.
*But back to the women at hand. * Cologne was looking at him with that same measuring expression she usually had whenever she laid eyes on him. It was one that clearly stated that she was intrigued by what she saw, but didn't know quite how to control it yet. It always made him feel like a more than a little uncomfortable, as if he were an unruly puppy that needed to be taught his proper place. The thought didn't put him in a very receptive frame of mind. "What do you want now?" He asked irritably, eying the two warily.
"This changes things, son-in-law." Cologne said, ignoring his question and challenging behavior. She'd had a lot of practice at it. "Time travel was not a part of the agreement." She continued with a note of disapproval in her aged voice, as if he'd somehow come up with the whole idea in order to escape her, he thought in annoyance. Looking at the old ghoul, an idea of his own formed as he recalled her out of character reaction to Belldandy.
"What about all your talk about 'the will of the Powers'?" He asked, smirking slightly as she twitched at having her earlier words thrown back at her. "Don't you think you're disagreeing with yourself?" he said, trying and failing miserably at an innocent look of inquiry.
Cologne glowered at him from atop her staff. He wasn't impressed.
Finally her lips pressed together in a thin line. "This isn't over Son-in- law." She said sharply, dragging an objecting Shampoo along with her. The young Amazon had remained silent, convinced that her great-grandmother had things under control. Her shrill protests were cut short by a whack to the head and the distant sound of scolding as they turned a corner.
Ranma couldn't help but breathe out a sigh of relief. That had gone better than he'd dared hope.
**
Dawn found him still walking. Occasionally he would stop in his wandering and just look at a place. There by the canal was where he seemed to land the most frequently after a fight with Akane. This corner was where Shampoo favored landing on him with her bicycle.
He walked on, each place seeming to hold a memory. The ice-skating rink, Furinken High, the park, the fountain . . . s/he wiped the cold water from her face, pushing back now fire bright bangs; the Ladle Lady. S/he smiled. S/he couldn't help but see the irony of it now. S/he had never passed that spry old woman without getting soaked, no matter how he approached the place. Absently, s/he pulled out yet another thermos, making a note to restock his supply of hot water. He was just glad that it never seemed to get cold stored in his personal space.
He had already changed three times that night, falling into any water nearby. The rest of the time water seemed to seek him out on its own as a sprinkler system suddenly spurted or a bucket was dropped. He winced at the recollection, fingering the knot still forming on his head.
A sudden, almost ridiculous notion crossed his mind, forming into an idea so preposterous that it just might work. Stopping, he retraced his steps to stand in front of the old bag. She looked up at him, smiling her deceptively unaware smile.
There were a lot of things he'd always wanted to say. 'Stop doing that!' and 'I'm going to break you ladle, Ok?' being in the top five. Instead, he pushed back wet bangs in frustration at the whole, stupid scenario he'd lived with for too long.
"May I help you with that, grandma?" He asked as politely as he could manage, stretching out an offering hand.
She actually paused, looking almost startled. Then she smiled even wider, her eyes still closed, and handed him the ladle and bucket. Carefully, he splashed the contents onto the walk, well away from him. Then he handed her the empty containers, bowing and receiving a lower one in return. Turning, he made his way back onto the street. He abruptly had the strangest feeling; like he had crossed an unseen line into an alternate reality. In the place where he lived, things like this just didn't happen.
Feeling slightly lightheaded at the feeling of displacement, he moved down the road. There were a few more stops he wanted to make before he went back to the Dojo and his fate, whatever it may be. Stride quickening, he headed for the clinic.
------------------------
It's coming. It's coming . . . honest. ^_^ Oh, I actually don't believe this time-displacement theory. The universe can't be as fragile as some believe. Someone displaced in time would more likely be like a twig in a river. The future (and past) is made by our choices. The idea of a fixed destiny is too depressing for words. Oh, I've already asked around a bit, but I'd like your input too. When Ranma is in girl form, should he be called 'he' or 'she'? I'm most concerned because there are some . . . *cough * . . . emotional scenes that would sound better if I used 'she'. Or should I continue to cheat with the 's/he' form? Annnnnnnd thanks to all you helpful people for pointing out the various true modes of travel for the three goddesses. The intent, if not the volume (42), was appreciated. P.s., my sister denies she ever said any such thing. Oops, my bad.^_^