Chapter 4
The spell was an ancient one and took a large amount of power and energy. It could kill the caster if that person didn't have enough energy and power. Nodoka knew she had enough of both.
She took a deep breath and left the shrine archives. She found Achika talking with Katsuhito and he nodded agreeing to something Achika had asked. Achika then noticed Nodoka, hugged her father, and ran over to her.
Nodoka nodded with a smile at the question in Achika's eyes. Achika's eyes lit up and then she said with a smile, "Father agreed to watch the boys while we head to Kimiko's to help her. I don't want her three little girls to be without her. I am happy you know of a way to save her." Nodoka smiled back and replied, "I to am glad to have remembered thanks to my son. We better hurry."
The two women left the care of the boys with Katsuhito and Nobuyuki and left to Tokyo District Nerima.
They arrived in Nerima from the train late the evening. Both were tired, but determination kept them going until they arrived at the Tendo Dojo. Achika knocked on the door.
When the door opened a six year old girl that looked very much like Kimiko appeared and addressed them, "I'm Kasumi Tendo, and um how can I help you?" Nodoka smiled warmly at the child and replied, "Hello Kasumi-chan. My you have grown from the little three year old I remember. I'm Nodoka Saotome. You called me. . . ." "Auntie Nodoka! Please come in. Mama's been wanting to know about you. She's sleeping right now." "How fairs her condition Kasumi-chan?"
The look on the child's face was enough of an answer and Nodoka said, " Kasumi-chan how would you like your mother to be healthy again?" Kasumi's brilliant smile answered, but then saddened again and she said, "The doctor said she was dying and couldn't be saved auntie." "If there is a will there is a way Kasumi-chan. Will you be her will to live?" Kasumi nodded and lead them to the master bedroom. Upon entering they saw Soun in a chair beside the bed. The local doctor, a young one, named Tofu was taking Kimiko's vitals. He turned to them as they entered and then turned back. He told Soun that he would be back tomorrow. Soun nodded to the doctor and the doctor left.
Soun greeted the two newcomers warmly, but with a bit of strain. They returned the gesture and Nodoka said, "I can save her Soun, if you want me to." Soun perked up and replied, "Can you really save her Nodoka?" "Yes I can Soun, but I need everyone to leave except Achika and Kasumi. Trust me Soun. There has never been reason for you to doubt me. I can do this." Soun nodded then and everyone else left the room. Achika nodded to a retreating Soun and all of the others. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Nodoka's disguise field drop and her start to glow.
Achika hurried to close the door to the room as she felt the power in the room. It was immense. She saw the glow brighten around Nodoka and Nodoka take Kimiko's hands. The glow started to drain from around Nodoka's body and go down her arms and to her hands, and then it passed to Kimiko's hands and down her arms into her body and glowed around Kimiko. The glow was the brightest in Kimiko's chest and in light blue-purple streaks in the now visible veins. It was quite a beautiful sight.
It faded a few minutes later and Nodoka slumped into a chair. Kimiko's skin was a normal hue and Kimiko opened her eyes and blinked a few times and then she sat up slowly. Kasumi ran to her mother and hugged her with tears in her eyes.
Kimiko hugged her happily weeping daughter with tender arms. She then looked around the room to see her two best friends. Nodoka or Norika at the moment looked positively drained. Kimiko had been aware of Nodoka's real identity for a few years now. Anyway, she was confused about Nodoka's obvious exhaustion and she looked to Achika for an answer, and then back to Nodoka and said, "What happened to you Norika? Why are you so tired?" Achika answered and said, "Norika healed you of your sickness Kim. Somehow she eradicated it from you completely. You're healthy. She used her own energy to do it."
Kimiko looked at Norika's slight smile in her exhaustion and Kimiko started to silently weep for joy and slowly walked over to Norika and bent and hugged her and said, "Thank you so much Norika." Norika hugged her back with a, "You're welcome Kimiko. You're so very welcome." Kimiko wiped her eye's with her free hand and then said, "Rest now." Norika put up her disguise field and nodded and fell asleep in the chair where she sat. Kimiko smiled bigger and just shook her head. Is was that time that Kimiko felt her daughter's gentle breathing in sleep and again silently thanked Norika and any deity that would listen.
Kimiko hugged Achika as she walked back to the bed and once at the vacant bad she placed her sleeping little girl on it and tucked her in. Kimiko kissed Kasumi's forehead and whispered in the child's ear, "I love you my little angel." The child smiled in her sleep and mumbled, "I love you to mama." Kimiko just kissed the child's head, smiled and then turned toward the sleeping Norika then to Achika and said, " Is everyone out of the room?" Achika nodded and Kimiko went to the door and opened it.
Everyone fell through the doorway on top of each other. The loud 'thud' from their landing woke up Kasumi. Kimiko went to her daughter's side and took her in her arms. Soun and Doctor Tofu were stunned to silence at the energy that Kimiko displayed. The doctor pulled from his shock and said, "You should rest. The cancer might still be malignant, but is benign for the moment. It could come back." " But it won't doctor. I know it won't. I am going out tonight with my friends. I'll check back later. Go home for the night doctor." Doctor Tofu nodded to Kimiko and left.
* * * *
The following morning Achika and Nodoka returned to the shrine to see Katsuhito training Ranma and with Tenchi watching. Katsuhito and the boys turned to see the two women and Ranma dropped his bokken and ran to hug his mother and Tenchi followed suit with his mother.
* * * *
Two years later
Genma looked at the clock by the bed and saw it was three a.m. He got up from his bed quietly and snuck out of the bedroom. He hated to sleep in a separate bed from his wife, but he would not argue with Nodoka about it, because she was very scary when she got mad.
He entered Ranma's room and went to the bed of the boy and woke him up. Ranma woke with a jolt as he felt himself fiercely shaken. He looked up at the man he called 'pops' and sleepily asked, " Pops what do you want? It's early, to early to wake up." " Get up boy! We're going on a training trip. We need to get an early start."
Ranma looked cautiously at Genma and knew something was up. He loved to train, but the feeling he was getting from Genma wasn't pleasant. He was about to call out when a hand slapped over his mouth and Genma's voice say icily, " Boy if you call out you'll regret it. (Calmer) Now do you like to finger paint boy? I'm not going to hurt you to much in training if you don't call out."
Ranma nodded then and Genma pulled out paints and opened one and dipped Ranma's hand in it and then onto the paper in his other hand.
* * * *
*Princess! Princess! You must wake up! Your fool of a husband is taking young Asuka away!* Nodoka awoke immediately and ran to her son's room to see Genma grab Ranma and getting ready to jump out the window. "Genma!"
She smirked when Genma tensed. She ran and with more strength then Genma thought his wife had, pulled himself and the boy back through the window and back into the room. She pulled Ranma from Genma's grasp and gently deposited the scared little boy on his bed and flung Genma angrily into a wall, making a deep indention and icily asked, "What were you planning on doing with MY son Saotome?" Forgetting her last name was the same.
Genma was scared and very near pissed his white gi pants. He never knew Nodoka could get this angry. He started the stutter, "Um. . . .well. . . .you see. . . ." " Get to the point Genma and fast!" He really was frightened now so in one breath replied, "IwanttotakeRanmatrainingandmakehimamanamongmenlikeyouwantedyearsago." Genma took a deep breath after saying all that in the one breath. He looked Nodoka in the eye and gulped at the look there.
Nodoka smirked inwardly at Genma's fear and thought, 'He should be scared.' As sweetly as she could manage Nodoka said, "Please repeat that husband. I could not hear, and slowly."
Genma barely relaxed and said, "I said Nodoka sweetie that I wanted to take Ranma training and make him a man among men like you wanted years ago." "Ahh, but tell me, why were you going to take him without consulting me first hmm?"
Genma saw a glint of metal, his family katana, and started to sweat bullets. He wouldn't say anything and he felt cold metal at his neck, "Answer me Genma or. . . ." He felt the blade slowly descend and press against his groin and he started to panic, "I don't want to do this Genma, for I want more children, but you better answer or I won't care. I'm also sure you want future children." Genma nodded and said, " I didn't want to wake you and I wanted an early start. I left a contract on the bed over there."
He was relieved when the katana left his groin and he heard her footfalls and looked up to see Nodoka pick up Ranma tenderly and place him on her hip, and then picked up the slip of paper.
Genma trembled in fear harder as he felt her battle aura flare to life, hot and deadly. He 'eep'ed when she turned her icy gaze to him and said in a lethal coldness, "Genma Saotome I was going to let you off with a warning, but after reading this. . . .Genma Saotome I want a divorce ASAP and I'll make sure you can't come near my son ever. Your school of martial arts can go to hell! Kimiko will agree with me and Soun can find another boy to marry his daughters to. Kimiko didn't like that deal at all and is fighting it. Why so shocked Genma? Didn't you know that Kimiko, Achika, and I found that contract in your clothes when I helped heal Kimiko two years ago? Well you do now and I won't allow it. I'll let him choose his wife. Now I suggest you leave my home and find a place to stay, because by the end of the week or sooner we will just be acquaintances. I want nothing more to do with you. Now get out!"
Genma didn't need to be told twice. He jumped out the window and disappeared over the horizon. Nodoka's fury left her and she held Ranma closely and hugged him and said softly, "I am sorry you had to see that my son." Nodoka began to silently cry and Ranma lifted his head from his mother's shoulder and looked at her crying face. He lifted a small hand and brushed the tears away and replied, "It's ok mama. I didn't want to go with him anyway." Nodoka looked at Ranma and said, "Asuka, my little boy, what would I do without you? I wish Gray was here. I wish he could have seen you."
* * * *
In chains in a dungeon on a ship, a tall man, muscular, with dulled black hair lifted his head and a weak smile appeared on his narrowed face and he hoarsely said, " You finally see the way Genma really is Norika, my beautiful wife, mother to my son. I will escape this god-forsaken ship. Please wait for me."
The man moved his wrist around and a sharp bone piece that he had found recently fell into his hand, and he stared to pick the lock on the shackle. It clicked and opened. The man smiled and said, "Yes, three more to go. I'll get free Norika. You wait."
The spell was an ancient one and took a large amount of power and energy. It could kill the caster if that person didn't have enough energy and power. Nodoka knew she had enough of both.
She took a deep breath and left the shrine archives. She found Achika talking with Katsuhito and he nodded agreeing to something Achika had asked. Achika then noticed Nodoka, hugged her father, and ran over to her.
Nodoka nodded with a smile at the question in Achika's eyes. Achika's eyes lit up and then she said with a smile, "Father agreed to watch the boys while we head to Kimiko's to help her. I don't want her three little girls to be without her. I am happy you know of a way to save her." Nodoka smiled back and replied, "I to am glad to have remembered thanks to my son. We better hurry."
The two women left the care of the boys with Katsuhito and Nobuyuki and left to Tokyo District Nerima.
They arrived in Nerima from the train late the evening. Both were tired, but determination kept them going until they arrived at the Tendo Dojo. Achika knocked on the door.
When the door opened a six year old girl that looked very much like Kimiko appeared and addressed them, "I'm Kasumi Tendo, and um how can I help you?" Nodoka smiled warmly at the child and replied, "Hello Kasumi-chan. My you have grown from the little three year old I remember. I'm Nodoka Saotome. You called me. . . ." "Auntie Nodoka! Please come in. Mama's been wanting to know about you. She's sleeping right now." "How fairs her condition Kasumi-chan?"
The look on the child's face was enough of an answer and Nodoka said, " Kasumi-chan how would you like your mother to be healthy again?" Kasumi's brilliant smile answered, but then saddened again and she said, "The doctor said she was dying and couldn't be saved auntie." "If there is a will there is a way Kasumi-chan. Will you be her will to live?" Kasumi nodded and lead them to the master bedroom. Upon entering they saw Soun in a chair beside the bed. The local doctor, a young one, named Tofu was taking Kimiko's vitals. He turned to them as they entered and then turned back. He told Soun that he would be back tomorrow. Soun nodded to the doctor and the doctor left.
Soun greeted the two newcomers warmly, but with a bit of strain. They returned the gesture and Nodoka said, "I can save her Soun, if you want me to." Soun perked up and replied, "Can you really save her Nodoka?" "Yes I can Soun, but I need everyone to leave except Achika and Kasumi. Trust me Soun. There has never been reason for you to doubt me. I can do this." Soun nodded then and everyone else left the room. Achika nodded to a retreating Soun and all of the others. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Nodoka's disguise field drop and her start to glow.
Achika hurried to close the door to the room as she felt the power in the room. It was immense. She saw the glow brighten around Nodoka and Nodoka take Kimiko's hands. The glow started to drain from around Nodoka's body and go down her arms and to her hands, and then it passed to Kimiko's hands and down her arms into her body and glowed around Kimiko. The glow was the brightest in Kimiko's chest and in light blue-purple streaks in the now visible veins. It was quite a beautiful sight.
It faded a few minutes later and Nodoka slumped into a chair. Kimiko's skin was a normal hue and Kimiko opened her eyes and blinked a few times and then she sat up slowly. Kasumi ran to her mother and hugged her with tears in her eyes.
Kimiko hugged her happily weeping daughter with tender arms. She then looked around the room to see her two best friends. Nodoka or Norika at the moment looked positively drained. Kimiko had been aware of Nodoka's real identity for a few years now. Anyway, she was confused about Nodoka's obvious exhaustion and she looked to Achika for an answer, and then back to Nodoka and said, "What happened to you Norika? Why are you so tired?" Achika answered and said, "Norika healed you of your sickness Kim. Somehow she eradicated it from you completely. You're healthy. She used her own energy to do it."
Kimiko looked at Norika's slight smile in her exhaustion and Kimiko started to silently weep for joy and slowly walked over to Norika and bent and hugged her and said, "Thank you so much Norika." Norika hugged her back with a, "You're welcome Kimiko. You're so very welcome." Kimiko wiped her eye's with her free hand and then said, "Rest now." Norika put up her disguise field and nodded and fell asleep in the chair where she sat. Kimiko smiled bigger and just shook her head. Is was that time that Kimiko felt her daughter's gentle breathing in sleep and again silently thanked Norika and any deity that would listen.
Kimiko hugged Achika as she walked back to the bed and once at the vacant bad she placed her sleeping little girl on it and tucked her in. Kimiko kissed Kasumi's forehead and whispered in the child's ear, "I love you my little angel." The child smiled in her sleep and mumbled, "I love you to mama." Kimiko just kissed the child's head, smiled and then turned toward the sleeping Norika then to Achika and said, " Is everyone out of the room?" Achika nodded and Kimiko went to the door and opened it.
Everyone fell through the doorway on top of each other. The loud 'thud' from their landing woke up Kasumi. Kimiko went to her daughter's side and took her in her arms. Soun and Doctor Tofu were stunned to silence at the energy that Kimiko displayed. The doctor pulled from his shock and said, "You should rest. The cancer might still be malignant, but is benign for the moment. It could come back." " But it won't doctor. I know it won't. I am going out tonight with my friends. I'll check back later. Go home for the night doctor." Doctor Tofu nodded to Kimiko and left.
* * * *
The following morning Achika and Nodoka returned to the shrine to see Katsuhito training Ranma and with Tenchi watching. Katsuhito and the boys turned to see the two women and Ranma dropped his bokken and ran to hug his mother and Tenchi followed suit with his mother.
* * * *
Two years later
Genma looked at the clock by the bed and saw it was three a.m. He got up from his bed quietly and snuck out of the bedroom. He hated to sleep in a separate bed from his wife, but he would not argue with Nodoka about it, because she was very scary when she got mad.
He entered Ranma's room and went to the bed of the boy and woke him up. Ranma woke with a jolt as he felt himself fiercely shaken. He looked up at the man he called 'pops' and sleepily asked, " Pops what do you want? It's early, to early to wake up." " Get up boy! We're going on a training trip. We need to get an early start."
Ranma looked cautiously at Genma and knew something was up. He loved to train, but the feeling he was getting from Genma wasn't pleasant. He was about to call out when a hand slapped over his mouth and Genma's voice say icily, " Boy if you call out you'll regret it. (Calmer) Now do you like to finger paint boy? I'm not going to hurt you to much in training if you don't call out."
Ranma nodded then and Genma pulled out paints and opened one and dipped Ranma's hand in it and then onto the paper in his other hand.
* * * *
*Princess! Princess! You must wake up! Your fool of a husband is taking young Asuka away!* Nodoka awoke immediately and ran to her son's room to see Genma grab Ranma and getting ready to jump out the window. "Genma!"
She smirked when Genma tensed. She ran and with more strength then Genma thought his wife had, pulled himself and the boy back through the window and back into the room. She pulled Ranma from Genma's grasp and gently deposited the scared little boy on his bed and flung Genma angrily into a wall, making a deep indention and icily asked, "What were you planning on doing with MY son Saotome?" Forgetting her last name was the same.
Genma was scared and very near pissed his white gi pants. He never knew Nodoka could get this angry. He started the stutter, "Um. . . .well. . . .you see. . . ." " Get to the point Genma and fast!" He really was frightened now so in one breath replied, "IwanttotakeRanmatrainingandmakehimamanamongmenlikeyouwantedyearsago." Genma took a deep breath after saying all that in the one breath. He looked Nodoka in the eye and gulped at the look there.
Nodoka smirked inwardly at Genma's fear and thought, 'He should be scared.' As sweetly as she could manage Nodoka said, "Please repeat that husband. I could not hear, and slowly."
Genma barely relaxed and said, "I said Nodoka sweetie that I wanted to take Ranma training and make him a man among men like you wanted years ago." "Ahh, but tell me, why were you going to take him without consulting me first hmm?"
Genma saw a glint of metal, his family katana, and started to sweat bullets. He wouldn't say anything and he felt cold metal at his neck, "Answer me Genma or. . . ." He felt the blade slowly descend and press against his groin and he started to panic, "I don't want to do this Genma, for I want more children, but you better answer or I won't care. I'm also sure you want future children." Genma nodded and said, " I didn't want to wake you and I wanted an early start. I left a contract on the bed over there."
He was relieved when the katana left his groin and he heard her footfalls and looked up to see Nodoka pick up Ranma tenderly and place him on her hip, and then picked up the slip of paper.
Genma trembled in fear harder as he felt her battle aura flare to life, hot and deadly. He 'eep'ed when she turned her icy gaze to him and said in a lethal coldness, "Genma Saotome I was going to let you off with a warning, but after reading this. . . .Genma Saotome I want a divorce ASAP and I'll make sure you can't come near my son ever. Your school of martial arts can go to hell! Kimiko will agree with me and Soun can find another boy to marry his daughters to. Kimiko didn't like that deal at all and is fighting it. Why so shocked Genma? Didn't you know that Kimiko, Achika, and I found that contract in your clothes when I helped heal Kimiko two years ago? Well you do now and I won't allow it. I'll let him choose his wife. Now I suggest you leave my home and find a place to stay, because by the end of the week or sooner we will just be acquaintances. I want nothing more to do with you. Now get out!"
Genma didn't need to be told twice. He jumped out the window and disappeared over the horizon. Nodoka's fury left her and she held Ranma closely and hugged him and said softly, "I am sorry you had to see that my son." Nodoka began to silently cry and Ranma lifted his head from his mother's shoulder and looked at her crying face. He lifted a small hand and brushed the tears away and replied, "It's ok mama. I didn't want to go with him anyway." Nodoka looked at Ranma and said, "Asuka, my little boy, what would I do without you? I wish Gray was here. I wish he could have seen you."
* * * *
In chains in a dungeon on a ship, a tall man, muscular, with dulled black hair lifted his head and a weak smile appeared on his narrowed face and he hoarsely said, " You finally see the way Genma really is Norika, my beautiful wife, mother to my son. I will escape this god-forsaken ship. Please wait for me."
The man moved his wrist around and a sharp bone piece that he had found recently fell into his hand, and he stared to pick the lock on the shackle. It clicked and opened. The man smiled and said, "Yes, three more to go. I'll get free Norika. You wait."