Chapter 5
Nodoka held Ranma in her arms as they lay down to sleep. Tomorrow they were going to go to Juuban and visit Grandfather Hino, but after talking with a lawyer and filing divorce. The sun was up high when mother and son awoke. Nodoka got up and made brunch for her and Asuka. She wanted to contact her mother and father, but feared their reactions. She made a decision, 'Sayda, please contact Tsunami and have her contact my parents on Jurai. I need to do this. Oh, you know, while your at it please have the files ready to be organized. I haven't organized them in 200 years. It is going to take me awhile to sort then.' *Understood, but can't the files wait for now princess? I mean what is the need?*
Nodoka nodded and replied, 'Your right. I'll wait. No hurry.' Without letting Nodoka know her thoughts Sayda thought, *Thank goodness. It is not time for Norika to see those files yet.*
* * * *
Nodoka finished the food and then ate with Ranma. They left and headed to a lawyer. They found one just before leaving Shinjuku. They entered and asked for the lawyer to settle divorces. Nodoka and Ranma entered the office and Nodoka filed the divorce, on grounds of attempted kidnapping, spousal abandonment, and child endangerment, by showing the lawyer the seppuku contract. It went through quickly after that and Nodoka had what she wanted, plus she went to the police of Tokyo and called for a restraining order against Genma to protect Ranma.
* * * *
Nodoka and Ranma arrived at the Hikawa Shrine that evening. Father Hino or Grandpa Hino, as most younger generations call him, heard a knock at the door and saw his granddaughter Rei go to answer and he said, "I'll get it Rei. Continue with your meditating exercises. You learn fast."
"Ok Grandpa." The black-haired little girl went back to a lotus position on the floor in front of the large fire, the Sacred Fire. Grandpa Hino smiled and answered the door. His smiled brightened at the sight before him, "Norika, young Asuka, wonderful to see you." "Hello father Hino." Grandpa Hino chuckled and said to Nodoka, "You know you can call me father." Ranma smiled at the older man and said happily, "Grandpa!"
"So you know me Asuka?" The little boy excited nodded and said, " 'Course I do. Mother told me, just not how." Grandpa Hino looked at Nodoka and saw her mouth the words, 'Not yet." He nodded and said, "You'll know one day grandson. Now come in both of you."
Rei came in then and said, "Grandpa I'm done with m. . . .Who are these people grandpa?" "Rei, this is your aunt Norika and her son Asuka, your cousin." Ranma and Rei stepped toward each other for a step and then stopped. Ranma looked toward his mother and she nodded and said, "Go ahead son. Father?" "Yes. Go Rei. Go play. Get to know each other. You're free from your chores until they leave." "Yay!" The two children chorused and the two five year olds ran from the room and Nodoka and Grandpa Hino went to a private room away from all ears and began to talk. "Norika why have you not told the boy about his real parentage? Are you ashamed of it?" "NO! I'm not. Gray was a wonderful man and would have been a wonderful father, but with Genma around I didn't. . . .I divorced him father. I sighed the papers today. I had reasonable grounds to get it without his signature."
"It's great to see you come to your senses my girl. I didn't care at all for your choice when you married him. I didn't like him from the moment I laid eyes on him as a boy. Grey and Yoshi didn't either. We all, now including Rei, have gifts of perception, insight, and it seems also precognition. What of Asuka, Norika?"
"I don't know father. I think he has perception. He can sense ki. I do know that. His sword fighting is excellent, so is his hand-to-hand. He learns fast." Grandpa Hino nodded his approval and said, "Rei is also a fast learner. Another family trait it seems. What of his Jurian power?" "They are maturing rapidly. The human in his blood does wonders." "Yes."
* * * *
Ranma and Rei sparred and played tag together. Rei giggled and smiled. Once they stopped playing, Rei asked, "Hey Ranma are you going to go to school?" "Yeah mama signed me up, but as home schooled. What about you?" "Yeah."
The two children continued to talk until the sun was down. They both entered the shrine then and saw Grandpa Hino sitting and drinking tea. They saw Nodoka in the kitchen cooking dinner.
* * * *
Four days later mother and son were returning home. Rei and Ranma had gotten close and the farewell was teary, because Nodoka and Ranma were going on a training journey and wouldn't be returning for awhile. Once home Nodoka and Ranma packed up and left the house to the care of caretakers until they returned.
The journey started early the next morning. The first stop was to the cave with Sayda and Nodoka started Ranma's education with the ship, being he was going to get one with his spacetree Nemo. Sayda informed Nodoka that her parents couldn't arrive for a good ten years or so and that they would reply a message when they could come.
Nodoka sighed in disappointment, but it passed as Ranma was taught all about the ship and all of the needed experiences and trials of the ship and battles. They had gone into space for all the training, while along the way he was continuously still taught in the sword and hand-to-hand. They stayed in space and traveled for the next four years. He learned about the different races in that time and then they returned to Earth.
* * * *
It took Ranma about a week to finally be use to the gravity of Earth again. They traveled around the world for the next six years. Ranma learned languages and cultures, just as Nodoka had when she first arrived on Earth. Ranma soaked it all in like a sponge. Ranma was now fifteen and he and his mother were in China at an Amazon village not to far from a magic valley that made Ranma very uneasy and he avoided it.
At the entrance Nodoka dropped her disguise field. Ranma was able to see through it when it was up now since his mother had thought him about it and how to create one and see through it. A female guard jumped in front of them and said in Chinese or Mandarin, Halt outsiders. What is your business? Nodoka stood taller then the woman and was very intimidating in her natural form, but her gentle voice calmed the Amazon, Please, we are of no harm to your village young one. My son and I are on a journey of knowledge and have come here to speak with the elders to learn. I know of your laws and such, but my son does not and I wish him to learn of your culture. If you know of our ways then why come here? Teach him yourself. I cannot. I made an oath on my honor not to reveal a word without consent of the council. You see I was adopted into the tribe 400 years ago. My name is Sa Tan.
The guard was in shock. The savior of their village stood before her, standing tall and young, and she somehow knew that it was real. She led the two into the village and the Council House where council was in session. Please excuse this interruption elders, but this woman and her son are in need to speak with you. She claims her name for our village is Sa Tan. The council was quiet for a few minutes for a few minutes, and then they said, Leave us Per Fume. Return to your post and thank you for bringing them to us.
Per fume nodded and bowed to the council before she left. Nodoka and Ranma were left alone in the Council House with the council and one of the women came forward and said, I am Ku Lon, matriarch of the Amazons, and I welcome you savior and son to our village again. I did not know you then, but I heard of you and am honored for your presence. It is a pleasure Matriarch. May I present my son Asuka or Ranma. "Asuka this is the matriarch of this village. Speak Mandarin son alright. Etiquette remember." Ranma nodded and turned toward the old woman, Pleasure at your acquaintance Honored Elder. Please call me Ranma. Greeting young one. You honor our village with your fluency of our language. Ranma smiled his heart-stopping smile that made many of the council almost swoon at the young man has he replied, It was drilled deeply into my head Honored Elder. Ku Lon laughed and nodded kindly and said, It shows dear boy. Sa Tan what is it you wish to speak with us about? Matriarch I am here to ask a personal favor. Would you teach my son about your culture and, if you so wish it, some of your special techniques. At your choice of course, or give me permission to do so. I don't ask this lightly.
It looked like the council started to discuss the favor asked. Nodoka and Ranma waited patiently for the answer. They were whispering in low tones so mother and son could not hear. After what seemed like an eternity, but was only about ten minutes, Ku Lon turned toward them with a smile and replied in Japanese, "We agree. We will teach him, but ask that you, Sa Tan, make sure that your son keeps what he is taught, a secret and will teach it to no other without our consent." "Understood honored elders." "Good. Also I to ask a favor of you Sa Tan." "Anything for the agreement." Ku Lon took a deep breath and asked, "I ask, we ask that you teach our children about the outside world. Just the teens from ages 13-16 and give permission for those children to teach their youngers." "Granted. I'll teach them for a year. That will be all the time needed." Ku Lon nodded and said, "Thank you. You and your son are guests and our hospitality is at your service. My home is your home while you star for that year."
"That is greatly appreciated elder."
Nodoka held Ranma in her arms as they lay down to sleep. Tomorrow they were going to go to Juuban and visit Grandfather Hino, but after talking with a lawyer and filing divorce. The sun was up high when mother and son awoke. Nodoka got up and made brunch for her and Asuka. She wanted to contact her mother and father, but feared their reactions. She made a decision, 'Sayda, please contact Tsunami and have her contact my parents on Jurai. I need to do this. Oh, you know, while your at it please have the files ready to be organized. I haven't organized them in 200 years. It is going to take me awhile to sort then.' *Understood, but can't the files wait for now princess? I mean what is the need?*
Nodoka nodded and replied, 'Your right. I'll wait. No hurry.' Without letting Nodoka know her thoughts Sayda thought, *Thank goodness. It is not time for Norika to see those files yet.*
* * * *
Nodoka finished the food and then ate with Ranma. They left and headed to a lawyer. They found one just before leaving Shinjuku. They entered and asked for the lawyer to settle divorces. Nodoka and Ranma entered the office and Nodoka filed the divorce, on grounds of attempted kidnapping, spousal abandonment, and child endangerment, by showing the lawyer the seppuku contract. It went through quickly after that and Nodoka had what she wanted, plus she went to the police of Tokyo and called for a restraining order against Genma to protect Ranma.
* * * *
Nodoka and Ranma arrived at the Hikawa Shrine that evening. Father Hino or Grandpa Hino, as most younger generations call him, heard a knock at the door and saw his granddaughter Rei go to answer and he said, "I'll get it Rei. Continue with your meditating exercises. You learn fast."
"Ok Grandpa." The black-haired little girl went back to a lotus position on the floor in front of the large fire, the Sacred Fire. Grandpa Hino smiled and answered the door. His smiled brightened at the sight before him, "Norika, young Asuka, wonderful to see you." "Hello father Hino." Grandpa Hino chuckled and said to Nodoka, "You know you can call me father." Ranma smiled at the older man and said happily, "Grandpa!"
"So you know me Asuka?" The little boy excited nodded and said, " 'Course I do. Mother told me, just not how." Grandpa Hino looked at Nodoka and saw her mouth the words, 'Not yet." He nodded and said, "You'll know one day grandson. Now come in both of you."
Rei came in then and said, "Grandpa I'm done with m. . . .Who are these people grandpa?" "Rei, this is your aunt Norika and her son Asuka, your cousin." Ranma and Rei stepped toward each other for a step and then stopped. Ranma looked toward his mother and she nodded and said, "Go ahead son. Father?" "Yes. Go Rei. Go play. Get to know each other. You're free from your chores until they leave." "Yay!" The two children chorused and the two five year olds ran from the room and Nodoka and Grandpa Hino went to a private room away from all ears and began to talk. "Norika why have you not told the boy about his real parentage? Are you ashamed of it?" "NO! I'm not. Gray was a wonderful man and would have been a wonderful father, but with Genma around I didn't. . . .I divorced him father. I sighed the papers today. I had reasonable grounds to get it without his signature."
"It's great to see you come to your senses my girl. I didn't care at all for your choice when you married him. I didn't like him from the moment I laid eyes on him as a boy. Grey and Yoshi didn't either. We all, now including Rei, have gifts of perception, insight, and it seems also precognition. What of Asuka, Norika?"
"I don't know father. I think he has perception. He can sense ki. I do know that. His sword fighting is excellent, so is his hand-to-hand. He learns fast." Grandpa Hino nodded his approval and said, "Rei is also a fast learner. Another family trait it seems. What of his Jurian power?" "They are maturing rapidly. The human in his blood does wonders." "Yes."
* * * *
Ranma and Rei sparred and played tag together. Rei giggled and smiled. Once they stopped playing, Rei asked, "Hey Ranma are you going to go to school?" "Yeah mama signed me up, but as home schooled. What about you?" "Yeah."
The two children continued to talk until the sun was down. They both entered the shrine then and saw Grandpa Hino sitting and drinking tea. They saw Nodoka in the kitchen cooking dinner.
* * * *
Four days later mother and son were returning home. Rei and Ranma had gotten close and the farewell was teary, because Nodoka and Ranma were going on a training journey and wouldn't be returning for awhile. Once home Nodoka and Ranma packed up and left the house to the care of caretakers until they returned.
The journey started early the next morning. The first stop was to the cave with Sayda and Nodoka started Ranma's education with the ship, being he was going to get one with his spacetree Nemo. Sayda informed Nodoka that her parents couldn't arrive for a good ten years or so and that they would reply a message when they could come.
Nodoka sighed in disappointment, but it passed as Ranma was taught all about the ship and all of the needed experiences and trials of the ship and battles. They had gone into space for all the training, while along the way he was continuously still taught in the sword and hand-to-hand. They stayed in space and traveled for the next four years. He learned about the different races in that time and then they returned to Earth.
* * * *
It took Ranma about a week to finally be use to the gravity of Earth again. They traveled around the world for the next six years. Ranma learned languages and cultures, just as Nodoka had when she first arrived on Earth. Ranma soaked it all in like a sponge. Ranma was now fifteen and he and his mother were in China at an Amazon village not to far from a magic valley that made Ranma very uneasy and he avoided it.
At the entrance Nodoka dropped her disguise field. Ranma was able to see through it when it was up now since his mother had thought him about it and how to create one and see through it. A female guard jumped in front of them and said in Chinese or Mandarin, Halt outsiders. What is your business? Nodoka stood taller then the woman and was very intimidating in her natural form, but her gentle voice calmed the Amazon, Please, we are of no harm to your village young one. My son and I are on a journey of knowledge and have come here to speak with the elders to learn. I know of your laws and such, but my son does not and I wish him to learn of your culture. If you know of our ways then why come here? Teach him yourself. I cannot. I made an oath on my honor not to reveal a word without consent of the council. You see I was adopted into the tribe 400 years ago. My name is Sa Tan.
The guard was in shock. The savior of their village stood before her, standing tall and young, and she somehow knew that it was real. She led the two into the village and the Council House where council was in session. Please excuse this interruption elders, but this woman and her son are in need to speak with you. She claims her name for our village is Sa Tan. The council was quiet for a few minutes for a few minutes, and then they said, Leave us Per Fume. Return to your post and thank you for bringing them to us.
Per fume nodded and bowed to the council before she left. Nodoka and Ranma were left alone in the Council House with the council and one of the women came forward and said, I am Ku Lon, matriarch of the Amazons, and I welcome you savior and son to our village again. I did not know you then, but I heard of you and am honored for your presence. It is a pleasure Matriarch. May I present my son Asuka or Ranma. "Asuka this is the matriarch of this village. Speak Mandarin son alright. Etiquette remember." Ranma nodded and turned toward the old woman, Pleasure at your acquaintance Honored Elder. Please call me Ranma. Greeting young one. You honor our village with your fluency of our language. Ranma smiled his heart-stopping smile that made many of the council almost swoon at the young man has he replied, It was drilled deeply into my head Honored Elder. Ku Lon laughed and nodded kindly and said, It shows dear boy. Sa Tan what is it you wish to speak with us about? Matriarch I am here to ask a personal favor. Would you teach my son about your culture and, if you so wish it, some of your special techniques. At your choice of course, or give me permission to do so. I don't ask this lightly.
It looked like the council started to discuss the favor asked. Nodoka and Ranma waited patiently for the answer. They were whispering in low tones so mother and son could not hear. After what seemed like an eternity, but was only about ten minutes, Ku Lon turned toward them with a smile and replied in Japanese, "We agree. We will teach him, but ask that you, Sa Tan, make sure that your son keeps what he is taught, a secret and will teach it to no other without our consent." "Understood honored elders." "Good. Also I to ask a favor of you Sa Tan." "Anything for the agreement." Ku Lon took a deep breath and asked, "I ask, we ask that you teach our children about the outside world. Just the teens from ages 13-16 and give permission for those children to teach their youngers." "Granted. I'll teach them for a year. That will be all the time needed." Ku Lon nodded and said, "Thank you. You and your son are guests and our hospitality is at your service. My home is your home while you star for that year."
"That is greatly appreciated elder."