Chapter 18 Secret's revealed
"Mom, the mail's here and, oh my, there's a letter from Ranma," said Ukyo as she came into the kitchen looking for Nodoka. She opened the envelope, pulled out the letter. Three photographs fell out of the letter, landing face down on the floor. She picked them up, turned them over, her eyes opening wide in surprise as she realized what she was seeing. There in the one of the pictures were Akane and Ranma, holding two babies; the other two were separate shots of the two babies. "Mom, look at these," she said as she handed the pictures to her mother, and then began to read the letter.
Dear Mom, Ucchan;
I guess you have figured out by now that Akane and I are married, at least if you looked at the pictures first. I am sorry we misled you all this time, but when I left Tokyo, I came here and joined Akane. After dating for a while, we realized that we truly did love each other, so eighteen months ago we wed. To make our joy more complete, six weeks ago, Akane had our two girls. We named our eldest Nodoka, after you Mom and the younger Kimiko, after Akane's.
The Tendos should be here for Akane's graduation by the time you read this letter. When they come back, I am sure they will have much more to tell you.
Unfortunately, we can't return with them. I have one more semester to go before I graduate, but after that we will be returning home so you can spoil your granddaughters and nieces.
Again, I apologize for misleading you about where I was. I had my reasons, and it turned out exactly the way I wanted it to.
Akane sends her love to you both. She also can't wait to see you. I want you both to know how much "my uncute tomboy" completes my life; fortunately she feels the same about her "pervert". I honestly don't know how I would survive without her love.
Looking forward to hearing from you, now that you have my address. See you in a few months.
Your son and brother
Love Ranma
As Ukyo read the letter, Nodoka began crying tears of joy mingled with sadness. Ukyo felt a small pang, thinking 'That could have been me, but I am so glad he is really happy.' "Mom, are you ok?" she asked.
Nodoka just smiled, "Yes, I am fine, it was just so unexpected. I was afraid we had lost him. It looks like they were wiser than we were. If we had just not tried to force them together, we wouldn't have lost him for three years. Have I told you lately how glad I am that you are here with me, daughter?"
Ukyo just held her mother. "Mom, we both needed each other. I have to admit, I am feeling a bit jealous of Akane, though," she said.
"Why, because she married Ranma?" Nodoka asked.
"Maybe a little, but mostly because those girls look so cute," Ukyo said.
Nodoka was cooking in the kitchen at the Tendo's, Kasumi keeping her company while she worked. At first, Kasumi had been annoyed about her job being usurped, but then she remembered, it wasn't her kitchen anymore. In fact, it hadn't been for a couple of years, ever since her marriage to Ono. She also rubbed her somewhat oversized stomach for the other reason she didn't need to be standing around a lot, every once and a while, the occasional kick reminded her too.
Her husband was in the living room talking to her father. Nabiki was in there as well with her husband Tatewaki, playing shogi. The doorbell rang. Soun walked over and opened the door. There standing in the doorway were two women, one red-haired, the other with blue-black hair, both dripping wet. There were a couple of suitcases on the ground next to them, and they were each holding an infant in their arms. Soun just smiled, shaking his head, "Ranma, do you just attract cold water, or what? Come in, I'll get the luggage."
They followed him into the living room, where Soun put down the suitcases. "Ah, if it isn't the pig-tailed girl and the fair Akane Tendo," Kuno said, "Both visions of loveliness." Then he laughed as his wife elbowed him in the ribs.
"Very funny, Kuno. I really missed that flowery stuff. NOT," Ranma said, "Besides she's Akane Saotome, now, anyway, and I stopped wearing my hair in pigtails years ago, Say hello to your nieces while Akane and I change, I think that old lady down the street must have been waiting four years to make sure she nailed me." The women handed their babies to Nabiki and Kuno, and then took one of the suitcases into the bathroom. A few minutes later, Akane came out, followed by the now male Ranma. Kasumi and Nodoka had joined the rest in the living room.
Ranma and Akane went around the room hugging their family members. "We've missed all of you while we were gone," Akane said, "We are so glad to be back home. Father, the rest of our belongings should be showing up in the next few days, we shipped them back about a week ago. Where do you want us to put all of our stuff?"
"We have done a bit of rearranging since the girls moved out. We converted the guest room into a bedroom for the two of you, added a door between it and Nabiki's old room for a nursery and added a small bathroom. Now that the dojo is a going concern again, I've also had to add a small office and study as well," Soun said.
"Ukyo will be here as soon as she can get free from the restaurant," Nodoka said, "That way all of the family can be together for dinner and we can catch up on everything."
Ranma walked over to his mother, and hugged her again. He then bowed to Soun, shocking him slightly. "Are we forgiven for running off like we did?" Ranma said, then realizing something, "Uh, Mom, have you met your granddaughters, yet? Biki-chan is holding your namesake, and Kuno has Kimiko."
Nodoka hugged Akane, "I'm so happy for the both of you, I'm just sorry we had to chase you away with all of our nonsense." Akane kissed on the cheek, Nodoka then smiled at her granddaughters, "Seeing you two together, with my lovely granddaughters, makes me so happy."
Kuno stood up, gave Kimiko to Nodoka and said, "Ranma, Akane, I need to talk to the two of you in private, please." Ranma and Akane looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and followed him out to the dojo. When they entered, Kuno bowed to both of them and said, "Forgive my dishonor to you both. I was a proud, blind fool when we were in high school. I didn't want to hear what you were saying; only listening to what my delusions were. What can I do to remove this blot from my honor?"
Akane said softly, "Just make Nabiki happy, brother-in-law. That is all I require of you. We forgave you a long time ago for high school."
"Besides, Kuno, Nabiki will knock off a lot more rough edges than I ever could. She cared for you a bunch, you know, I suspect it hurt her feelings more while you were chasing us. I'm just glad you figured out who I was finally," Ranma said.
"Well, Nabiki actually convinced me, I can't believe I was so blind," Kuno replied.
"Yeah, well if it hadn't been me falling into the spring, I'm not sure I would have believed it myself. I treated you pretty badly as well. I would like to apologize for that," Ranma said, "I would like to borrow your wife for a few minutes, I need to talk to her." They walked back into the living room. Ranma said "Nabiki can I talk to you for a moment?" She nodded, and then followed Ranma and Akane into the office.
"Nabiki, we really didn't get a lot of time to talk when you visited us. I needed to ask you some things, but the time wasn't right," Ranma began.
"Ranma, before you start, I need to say a few things. I need to apologize to you for everything I did to keep you two apart, and for all of the mean things I did. You deserved better from me than that," Nabiki said.
"I forgave you for that, Nabiki, you know me, I never carry a grudge. Besides, Nabiki, you made up for that already, with your helping me disappear, and for hiding where I was for so long. I just needed to know why you hated me then is all. I know I wasn't the best person in the world at that time, but I didn't think I had ever done anything to hurt you," Ranma replied.
Nabiki started crying, "Ranma, I never hated you. I just didn't like the forced engagement, I though we were all too young for marriage. I also was trying to protect Akane from you breaking her heart. I didn't realize until after you left that you truly loved her, and would never have hurt her on purpose. My interference almost caused her to lose you, and I don't know if I can forgive myself for that. Plus I think I was a bit jealous of her, she had all of those boys chasing her, and I had no-one."
Ranma just stared at her, then went and poured some water on his head to trigger the change. "I still have a hard time with crying unless I'm like this," she apologized, "Nabiki, I didn't realize you felt so alone. You hid it well. Both Akane and I realized that you were doing what you thought best, we didn't look like we were ever going to be a happy couple, we didn't admit to ourselves how we felt, why should you have known?" Ranma started crying a little, then hugged Nabiki tightly, "You're my family now, you have Kuno, he loves you, and we love you. You need to forgive yourself, you were trying to take care of the family."
Nabiki sniffled, "Thanks, Ranchan, I needed to hear that. Now go change back, while I pull myself back together." Ranma held her for a second, looked deep into her eyes. Finally satisfied with what she saw in them, she nodded and left. 'Ranma's turned into a pretty good guy, I hope Akane knows what a gem she was getting,' she thought as she rejoined the party.
When Ranma returned to the living room after changing back, he found that Ukyo had joined the party. There was also another girl, dressed much like Ukyo, except with long lavender hair. Ukyo saw him and came over to him; the other girl started to, and then froze. Akane joined Ranma, just as Ukyo reached him and hugged him. Ranma hugged her back, saying, "Ucchan, I missed you. Did you see your nieces?" Then lowering his voice, he said, "I thought it was just family tonight, what's she doing here?"
Ukyo said, "I missed both of you too. It wasn't nice for both of my best friends to leave town you know. No, we haven't seen the girls yet, Shampoo and I just got in. As for family, I consider her part of the family Ranma. When she got deserted by Cologne and Mousse, and banished by the Amazons, she didn't have any one to turn to. Cologne had sold the restaurant out from under her; I found her wandering the streets, looking lost. I couldn't leave her like that, could I? I brought her home to Mom, and we got to talk about things, the next thing I knew Mom moved her in. She works with me at Ucchan's, though we had to add Ramen to the menu. She needs to talk to both of you, please?"
Ranma and Akane looked at each other, then he nodded. "I just hope she hasn't adopted Kodachi, too, that would be too much for me to take," Ranma said to Akane, she started, and then began giggling.
Shampoo walked over to them. "Shampoo glad to see Airen and violent girl," she said, "Airen date Shampoo now?" Major face faults all around. Ranma stood there with a panicked look in his eyes. Then she giggled, "Sorry, I couldn't resist, you guys. Don't worry, I'm just kidding. It's just so hard to get away from the Chinese Bimbo act once we leave the restaurant. Of course, the only reason I do it is the tips are better when I act that way." 'I bet Nabiki taught her that,' Akane thought.
Then Shampoo kneeled down in front of Ranma and Akane. "Clan elder, please forgive me. I should never have tried to force myself upon you. I wouldn't let myself believe that you didn't return my affection. Looking back, I realize now I was only chasing you because of those outdated 3000-year-old Amazon traditions. By the way, you two are safe now, one of those traditions is once you have actually announced your choice, marry and have children; all other claims are void. Of course, one of the other traditions is not to tell you about the traditions that help. I'm so sorry for what I did. I tried to hurt you; I did hurt Akane. Cologne told me what you had said, that I was your friend. Your mom and Ukyo have helped me see what true friendship is; I would like to try to be friends with you and Akane. Can we start over?"
Akane sighed. She then reached over and pulled Shampoo to her feet, hugging her. Shampoo looked startled, and then hugged back, tears streaming down her face. Ranma nodded at Ukyo, and then said, "Shampoo, I guess all I can say is, welcome to our family." He and Ukyo joined the hug. After a few minutes of catharsis for Shampoo, Ranma added, "Since you two just got here, you haven't had a chance to meet the youngest members of the family yet. Let me get the girls." He walked over and picked up Nodoka and Kimiko, brought them over and said, "This is Nodoka, and this is Kimiko." Ukyo and Shampoo's eyes filled with tears again.
"They're gorgeous, brother," said Ukyo.
"Ranma, Akane, you make good babies," agreed Shampoo.
"Dinner's ready," Nodoka called. Everyone found a place around the table. Ranma put the girls down in their carriers, and then placed them where he and Akane could keep an eye on them.
"Mom, where's Pop? I guess I'm surprised that he's not here to see his grandchildren," Ranma asked. Nabiki, Nodoka and Soun looked nervously at each other.
"After he came back from his training, it was obvious he hadn't learned anything. He didn't like the fact that you had left; he felt that you had betrayed him I guess, and that I had made you soft. I decided that I didn't like the man he turned into, and I really didn't like what he had done to you. Any, one of the things I didn't want to tell you in a letter is that I divorced your father a year ago. I haven't seen him since, and I don't have a way to get in touch with him," Nodoka said. Ranma looked at her, and then sighed.
"I know he wasn't the best father to me, nor the best husband to you, but I still feel sorry for him. He only wanted me to be the best martial artist, after all, so he sacrificed a lot for that goal. I just hope he feels it was worth the sacrifice," Ranma said finally, "After all he's lost both of us."
The family sat around the table, eating dinner. The conversation revolved around some of the changes that had occurred in everyone's life over the past few years. Then Mr. Tendo began talking about the students he was teaching. He went on to describe how he wanted to expand the programs available now that Ranma was back. At that point, Ranma interrupted, "Father, I'm not the only sensei that came back. Akane is just as qualified as I am to teach classes. We discussed the possibility of teaching more women the art. Akane would be a wonderful role model for them; although I would not want to limit her to only teaching women. Not if I value my health, that is," he said with a smirk.
Akane mock glared at him, "Baka," she said, playfully punching him in the ribs. "Seriously, though, I would love to share the responsibility for teaching some younger students. I found out that I really like to teach children at the day care center. We need to advertise to attract them. Maybe Nabiki can help there with all of her contacts."
"Already in work, Akane, as soon as I found out that you were returning, I put the word out. You should have people coming by in a week to enroll. I thought you might like a little time to visit before the inrush started," Nabiki responded.
"You're planning on continuing to teach, though, aren't you Father?" Akane asked.
"Well, that remains to be seen. At least for a while I plan on continuing, but ultimately I want to turn those duties over to Ranma and you. I'm not as young as I used to be, and while the last few years have helped, I don't recover as quick. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish packing," Soun replied.
"Packing? Are you going on a trip?" Nabiki asked.
"In a way, now that Ranma and Akane are here, there is no real reason for me to live here anymore. Nodoka has graciously offered me a place in her home. I have decided to accept her offer. Besides, the Ranma and Akane need their privacy," Soun replied, "Don't worry, both of us will be dropping in to see our granddaughters. As you said, we're supposed to be around to spoil them, remember?"