Chapter 23 Gemna's Return
Several weeks went by. Early in the morning, while the dew was still on the roses, Ranma was in the dojo working out. Of course, the only reason he was up at such an ungodly hour was because his daughters had decided to wake up that early wanting attention. He had discovered a month ago that they would be quiet if he gave them a toy and placed them where they could watch him. Something about the way he moved fascinated them, Kimiko especially. He wondered if that meant she was fated to be a martial artist. He had left Akane asleep in their bed, allowing her the luxury of sleeping in.
As he exercised, he sensed a presence behind him. "Yo, Pop," he said, "Are you here to meet your grandchildren?" He turned to see his father standing in the doorway. His father had a puzzled look on his face, as if to wonder how Ranma had known he was there. Ranma smirked, and pointed to the small mirror that Gemna's reflection was in. "Pop, the young lady with the red hair is Nodoka, and her sister is Kimiko," he said proudly.
"Boy, when are you going to have a son so he can inherit the school? You know how worthless women are as far as martial arts is concerned. I'm disappointed that you don't have a worthy heir," Gemna growled.
"Uh, Pop, I'm very proud of my daughters. Either one can grow up to be my heir. Would you like to rephrase your greeting while you still have your health, not to mention your teeth?" Ranma said pleasantly.
"Are you threatening me boy?" Gemna said.
"No, I'm not. I don't have to. I'm actually warning you about the extremely angry, but very cute, woman standing behind you who is planning on putting her mallet where it will do the most good. Morning, dear," Ranma said brightly.
"Gemna no Baka!!" Akane screamed as Gemna turned and paled. He had not seen a battle aura that fierce since the last time he fought Happosai. There was only one thing to do, use one of the Saotome Secret Techniques.
He threw himself on the floor, bowing, and saying, "Gomen nasai, Akane. Please don't kill me. I didn't mean it the way it sounded."
"Worthless, am I? NOT A GOOD MARTIAL ARTIST!!" Akane screamed as she swung her mallet and drove Gemna's head into the dojo floor. She stood there breathing heavily.
"That's Pop for you Akane. I thought he sounded too nice last night. I should have known he still thought like a caveman. Looks like he really didn't learn anything as a zoo attraction," Ranma said as he dragged his father out of the dojo.
"Anyway, I came out to tell you that breakfast is ready. Go cleanup and I'll bring the girls in," she said.
"Didja make enough for Pop? Or do ya want me ta leave him here until he comes to?" Ranma asked, "We don't want the students tripping over him after all."
"There should be enough for him. Go ahead and wake him up so he can join us," she said with a sigh.
Ranma went into the kitchen and came out with a bucket of warm water. He splashed his father with the water, waking him up. "Pop, I thought you were brighter than that," he said, "Akane's got breakfast on the table if you want to join us."
"Thanks, boy. You know me, I never pass up a free wait a minute, you said Akane. Does that mean she cooked? Are you trying to kill me?" Gemna asked.
"Don't worry, Pop, Akane's a good cook. Maybe not in Kasumi's class, but she doesn't miss that by much," Ranma said with an amused expression on his face, "I thought by now you'd figured out not ta insult Akane, anyway. After all, I finally did." Ranma went into the house to cleanup. His father followed him into the house and found a place at the table.
Soon, the five of them were seated in the dining area. Akane served out the meal, with small portions for the two girls, plus some finger food for them. Gemna waited nervously for Ranma and Akane to eat before digging in.
"Akane, this is good," Gemna said.
"Gemna, you're full of it," Akane replied, "But thank you anyway."
"Pop, you still haven't told me why ya came by?" Ranma said, "After the crack ya made about my girls, it couldn't be ta see them."
"Uh, well, I needed a place ta stay. I'm broke, and I obviously can't go stay with Soun. Them getting engaged kinda ruined what was left of our friendship, after all. I don't want ta see either of them again. I lied last night. I'm not happy for them," Gemna replied.
"We've got the room, I suppose. But Father is here everyday teaching. I don't see how you can avoid him," Akane said in a troubled voice.
"You're welcome ta stay, Pop, but ya got ta behave. No causing problems with Soun or Mom, ya understand. If ya hurt either of them, there'll be a grease spot where ya used ta be," Ranma said with a feral expression on his face, "Ya brought all of this on yourself, ya know."
"Boy, show some respect for your father," Gemna demanded.
"Pop. You haven't earned any. Once I thought ya were something special, but ya weren't much of a father for the longest time. There have been too many bad things that ya did ta me and Akane. It's gonna take a long time ta forgive ya for that," Ranma responded, "Now, I want ya ta stay at least for a while. I owe the girls the chance ta at least meet ya. Besides, they like big, cute, cuddly things."
Gemna bristled at the tone in his son's voice. Then his shoulders slumped. "You don't leave me much choice, Son. I have nowhere else ta go, no one else ta turn ta," he said.
"Pop, you and I are going over to Ucchan's this afternoon. Ukyo deserves an apology from you as well. You're going ta work for her ta help make up for what ya did. I talked ta her after your last visit, and she agreed ta let ya do that if ya came back," Ranma said.
"I understand. I'd like to get cleaned up and then take a bit of a nap. I didn't sleep real well last night. I'd also like ta avoid Tendo," Gemna answered.
Later that day, after the classes for the day were over, Gemna and Ranma walked over to Ucchan's. The restaurant was just reopening for the dinner crowd, so no customers were there. Ukyo looked up and grimaced when she saw who had walked in the door. "So you're back," she snarled, "You come here to mess up our lives again?"
Gemna sighed, and then said, "Girl, I came ta apologize. I can't go back and fix what I did in the past. All I can do is try ta be better in the future. I don't expect ya ta believe me. My track record isn't very good."
"Yes, I wonder why. You're a lying, cheating, no-good bastard, and those are your good qualities," Ukyo hissed.
"Come on, Sis. Please, ya promised ta at least hear him out. I know he doesn't deserve it, but let him try," Ranma begged.
"Sure, sugar. Since it's you asking," Ukyo said. "Well, I'm waiting," she said to Gemna with a voice as cold as ice.
Gemna bowed to Ukyo, "I apologize for the trouble I have caused you. Please allow me to make amends for the wrongs that I have done," he said.
"You'll do what I tell you, and not cause any trouble?" Ukyo asked.
"Yes, Ukyo," he replied.
"For now, try calling me Boss," she said.
"Hey, where's Shampoo?" Ranma asked in surprise.
"She's out on another date with Ryoga," Ukyo replied, "They've gone out most every night for the last two weeks. I don't mind though, she makes up for it during the day."
Ranma grinned. "I'm glad they're getting along so well. I gotta run, Akane wanted me to take care of some stuff and she's expecting me home. Pop, remember, I expect ya ta behave yourself," he said. He ran out the door, heading home.
"Before you ask, old man, yes I'm happy for them. I knew for a long time they were made for each other, I just didn't admit it to myself," Ukyo said, "I got over the pain a long time ago." Just then, the door opened, and several customers came in. "Okay, Gemna, time to get to work. You go wait on tables, while I cook," Ukyo ordered.
The next morning, Ryoga woke up in his bed in the dojo. Something was tickling his nose. He was curled around something extremely soft and warm. He opened his eyes to see that he had his arms wrapped tightly around a lavender haired beauty, his body pressed against her, her hair in his face. His eyes grew big. 'Oh man, oh man, I'm gonna die,' he thought in panic. Then Shampoo rolled over, exposing her charms to his view. He gulped, and then realized his nose wasn't bleeding. 'I guess I'm not that shy anymore. Thank you Kami-sama for bringing her into my life,' he thought. He gazed at the woman he loved, drinking in her beauty, adoration in his eyes.
Shampoo opened her eyes to see Ryoga staring at her. "Good morning, lover," she teased. Ryoga blushed; relieved that at least she wasn't mad. She pulled his head down and kissed him thoroughly. Ryoga started reacting to the kiss, his arms pulling her toward him, his hands caressing her back.
'I'm in heaven,' Ryoga thought.
Then the door of the dojo opened. Ryoga's eyes grew wide as he saw who was standing in the doorway.
"Ryoga, what are you doing with my daughter?" Nodoka asked calmly.
"It's not what it looks like," he said, in panic.
"Uh, if you want us to understand what you're saying, you need to stop kissing my sister," Ukyo said, with a snicker.
He pulled away from Shampoo, and then realized that it really looked bad now. "I said, it's not what it looks like, nothing happened I swear," Ryoga protested.
"I don't know, it looked like you were doing a pretty good job of kissing my sister," Ukyo teased, "It sure looked like something was happening from here," pointedly looking at his midsection.
Ryoga sat up suddenly, the blanket falling to his waist. He looked down, blushed and sighed, 'At least I'm wearing boxers,' he thought.
"Ryoga, did you take advantage of my daughter?" Nodoka said, with her hand on the hilt of her katana.
"As far as I know, I went to bed by myself last night. I don't know what she's doing here," Ryoga said.
"Oh, Ryoga, that's not what you told me last night. Don't you remember what we did?" Shampoo said. 'Poor Ryoga, I really shouldn't have sneaked into his bed last night,' she thought.
Ryoga looked at Shampoo, appalled. "I don't remember anything after kissing you good night, I swear," Ryoga said, panicking. 'Oh man, oh man, I really am dead. Forgetting sleeping with Shampoo. She'll never forgive me,' he thought.
"Ryoga, you will marry my daughter, now won't you?" Nodoka asked, with a chill in her voice, "I can have a priest here in a couple of hours."
"But, but, but, nothing happened," Ryoga said.
Shampoo started laughing. "I'm sorry, love. I couldn't resist teasing you. That panicked expression on your face was priceless. Mom, nothing happened last night. Ryoga was sound asleep when I snuck in his bed. I wanted some more cuddling, I guess. Particularly after he gave me this." She held her left hand out, showing the engagement ring on her finger.
Nodoka beamed. "Congratulations, you two. I was wondering when you'd get up enough courage, Ryoga," she said.
Ukyo smiled and then said, "Maybe we should just leave the two of you alone for a while, huh, Mom." Ryoga blushed again. Then his stomach growled.
"Okay, you two. Out of bed, I have breakfast on the table and I don't want it to get cold," Nodoka said, "We can talk about this then." She and Ukyo walked out of the room laughing.
"Sorry, honey. I just couldn't sleep last night. I was so excited about the ring, well, I just had to be with you," Shampoo said, "Do you forgive me?"
"There's nothing to forgive. I could do a lot worse than to wake up next to you.