Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma, Sailor Moon, or Tenchi Muyo. Sad ain't
it?
Authors Notes: Sorry it took so long. it's been a rather. interesting. couple of weeks. Anyways, I'm back, and will be updating soon. mIRC keeps distracting me from this and other things -_-. Oh well. I'm getting better. I will hopefully get around to writing another chap to Wild Horse and possible get something new up. ^^ Wish me luck.
Updated 10/7/03
'Thoughts'
Soul's Destiny, Blood's Inheritance Chapter 5
Getting back to the hotel, the group parted and left to go to their rooms. Ranma quickly found his best clothes and changed while Ranko and Tenchi talked about what to say and do when Nodoka got there. "She should be here around now shouldn't she?" Ranko asked, "I just hope that she didn't bring that katana, other wise I'm not sure how to react. I won't be able to hug her or anything with that blade beside her."
Ranma looked over and studied Ranko a bit. She was more open than he was, and definitely had a female persona. Yet she was the same as him too. She knew what he felt and was acting on that. Ranma shook his head. Mulling over his new twin was great and all but he still had to worry about meeting his mother.
"Let's go. We should be out there to meet her," Ranma said, standing up.
Ranko and Tenchi nodded, and followed Ranma out of the room to the front lobby. She was not there yet, which surprised them, but they sat and waited. After about five minutes, Nodoka walked through the doors, carrying a small suitcase but nothing else. Ranko sighed in relief at the missing katana and quickly went into hyper mode, running to Nodoka squealing "Auntie!!" Nodoka dropped her luggage and hugged Ranko, giving the girl a quick look over. Ranma and Tenchi walked over to them and waited for Nodoka to finish fussing over Ranko.
Nodoka finally looked up to see Ranma and Tenchi in front of her. Immediately looking up to Ranma, Nodoka released Ranko and walked up to her son. Ranma, immediately nervous, uttered a quiet, "Hello, mom."
Eyes tearing up, Nodoka hugged her son, as if trying to make sure he was real. "My son. My. son. Oh it's been so long. I'm so happy to see you once more."
Ranma carefully hugged his mother back, as if afraid she would break with the slightest stress. Tenchi smiled, and Ranko grinned, both happy that Ranma was seeing his mother for the first time as himself. Ranma smiled at the two, and then looked at his mother, his expression growing happier.
Nodoka pulled away and then looked over to Tenchi. "You must be Achika's boy. I don't know if your grandfather told you that he had two daughters, but I was her sister."
Tenchi, Ranma and Ranko gave a surprised look at this news. Suddenly Ranma chuckled a bit, "I guess it all fits. The woman troubles, the strange amount of energy we both can produce at any given time, not to mention our own way of doing martial arts."
Ranko snickered, "That's only icing on the cake and you know it."
Nodoka looked startled at Ranko's proclamation, "What do you mean?"
Ranma, Ranko, and Tenchi each looked at each other, and then Ranma turned to his mother. "We'll explain everything after we get you settled in. I'll take your suitcase. Ranko, will you get your keys?"
Ranko nodded and went to the front desk, soon returning with the keys to the bedroom she and Nodoka would share. Making their way down the hallway, Ranma heard the laughter of children coming up the hallway, and he knew that the room was close. Suddenly, three children came running down the hallway, Trista chasing after them. Ranma recognized Hikaru, Toya and Shinji from their earlier afternoon picnic.
Hikaru looked up and squealed, "Ranma nii-san!" before running up to him and clinging to his leg. Ranma chuckled a bit as the other two five year olds ran up and clang to him as well. Hikaru's big brown eyes looked up imploringly at Ranma, shining with laughter as she squealed for him to save them from the demon.
Ranko snickered as she looked at Trista's exasperated look and asked, "You the demon?"
Trista roller her eyes and nodded. Nodoka giggled, and picked up one of the five year olds. "Oh you're so cute!!!" she squealed, "Oh it would be nice to have a child around the house again."
Hikaru looked up at Nodoka and asked, "Want to adopt me? I want a mommy."
Nodoka looked at the child's serious expression and nearly dropped her. Looking at Ranma, Nodoka started, "You mean.?"
Ranma nodded, and Ranko spoke up, "One of the older orphans had won a lotto or something and brought the children here. She herself had been living on her own for quite awhile now apparently."
Trista nodded, "Yes, Hikari and I have been on our own for a while. It wasn't really a lotto she won though, rather she sold something really valuable for this trip for the children," Trista said shaking her head, "Hikari is always thinking of others and not herself. It is gonna get her killed one day."
Nodoka absorbed this information, and looked at the small girl with reddish brown hair, obviously thinking hard. Putting the child down, she smiled reassuringly at Hikaru's disappointed face and looked up to Ranma. "Let's get to my room. You have to tell me about your training trip and everything that has happened recently."
Nodding, Ranma pried the other two children off his legs, and continued down the hallway, almost stopping as he heard the children start to whisper. "Do you think she'll adopt one of us?" followed him all the way down the hall.
'Maybe she will,' Ranma thought as he watched his mother reach the door to her room, 'She deserves a child that she can raise. I'm afraid Ranko and I are far too old now, with the exception of making Ranko lady-like.' Ranma smirked at that last thought, remembering all the times his mother tried to get him to act more lady-like.
Getting into the room, Ranma put down his mother's suitcase and sat on the floor. Ranko and Tenchi followed his example and Nodoka sat on the bed looking down on her son. At Nodoka's nod, Ranma began his tale, and began as accurately as possible, starting with what he could remember before his father took him, to the neko-ken, and then heading to the cursed springs. Ranma stopped as he got to where his father was cursed and then took a breath, waiting for the unavoidable question, still trying to decide if he should tell her or not.
"Ranma, did you...? Did you get.. cursed?" Nodoka asked slowly, almost as if afraid to.
Ranma looked to Ranko, to see what she thought. They had gone over this story before, but now before their mother, it was far too hard to lie. Ranko nodded at Ranma and then looked back to Nodoka. Nodoka looked at Ranma expectantly but it was Ranko that spoke up. "I am his curse. We recently got separated and are now of different minds and bodies, yet same blood."
Nodoka turned white, "You mean.."
Ranma nodded, "I fell into the spring of drowned girl. After you found us, pops told me about the seppuku pledge, and made me stay a girl and try and act differently cause he was afraid to die. For me, it wasn't the dieing, it was your disappointment," Ranma looked down, finding the floor interesting before he continued, "I wanted to just run up to you and tell you exactly who I was, but pops kept stopping me, wanting me to marry Akane so you couldn't go through with the seppuku pledge."
Nodoka gasped, and thought of the katana at home, knowing that it and Genma were the reason she hadn't found her son for so long. Clenching her fists in anger, she actually started to growl, "When I get my hands on that man.."
Ranko giggled, "But you haven't heard the whole story yet Momma."
"Momma?" Nodoka echoed, and then smiled, "Yes I suppose I am. I promise not to rush off and kill him until you finish the story then."
Ranma grinned, "Thanks but we have a better idea after the story is finished."
Ranma then continued with their arrival at the Tendo's and how Akane was always beating on him, violent girls' fascination with him, and them all proclaiming to be his fiancée whether he wanted it or not. He also told of Genma's multiple debts and promises that he expected Ranma to keep and Genma's multiple attempts to best his 'ungrateful boy.' By the end of the story, Nodoka looked more than ready to have Genma fulfill his half of the seppuku arrangement. Ranma stopped her from saying anything with a hand.
"Hold on, you haven't heard our idea. Ranko came up with the fact that I'm now 18 and have the right to choose my name should you and pops divorce. Since he's been rather unfaithful and has not held to the contract at all, if you divorced and took your maiden name, I could choose yours, and that would solve many of the problems. The police force has already taken care of my engagement to Shampoo. That would leave me with my right to choose my bride and no honor would be lost for anyone. All I would have to deal with is Kodachi, and she'll be easy enough to handle before I move back home."
Nodoka thought about the three's plan. It was sound, and it meant she wouldn't have to deal with her dishonorable hus. well, she wasn't sure what to call him anymore. It would solve both her and Ranma's problems. No more bill collectors for her, no more tramps looking for Genma. For a while, she was hoping someone had just stolen his identity but now she knew what she had suspected before about Genma's... doings before. Nodding, Nodoka smiled at her son.
"You shall not have to go through with the seppuku contract. After this vacation, I will return first to get the divorce papers and everything signed with Genma. I'll call the Tendo's ahead to make sure he's there and not in panda form. I'll leave the open the child part so you both may choose which name you wish to be registered under after I return my name to what it should be."
"Momma, I still need birth papers and stuff," Ranko said, "What do we do about that?"
Nodoka smiled, "I'm sure Chief Kino and a few of my contacts would help us to get some documentation for you."
Ranma nodded, and then looked at the clock, "Well, we'd better turn in if you're going shopping with mom tomorrow."
Nodoka looked at her son surprised, "Oh but Ranma, you and Tenchi are coming with us."
Ranko giggled as Ranma and Tenchi turned white and looked fearfully at Nodoka's innocent face. Both then looked at each other and gulped and looked down, nodding their heads in confirmation. Nodoka looked at Ranko and both fell into a fit of giggling as the two boys moaned. They all then said their goodnights, two looking forward, and two dreading the next day.
***** The Next Day *****
Ranma was awakened by a cold splash of water. "What did ya do that for you.?" Ranma stopped, suddenly realizing his voice was still male. Then the rest of his mind woke up and he remembered everything that happened over the past few days since his birthday and looked up to see his smirking mother.
"Was Akane really that bad?" she asked, pity slowly coming into her face. At Ranma's nod she put her bucket down and hugged her now soaking son. Then another splash was heard, as well as Tenchi's yelp, "Yaaahhh!!! That's cold!!!"
"Well if the two of you want to sleep all morning, but it's a beautiful day!" Ranko's voice sang out. Both Tenchi and Ranma glared at the overly cheerful girl and got out of bed. "Wow matching pj's. If I didn't know better I'd say you two were twins or something," Ranko said giggling.
Ranma and Tenchi looked down at their soaking clothes and then at each other, grinning. "If you two don't mind," started Ranma. "We'd both like to get dressed or we won't be going shopping with you," Tenchi finished.
At that, both women left the room, and the boys got dressed, both deciding on a pair of loose jeans and for Tenchi, a light blue t-shirt, and for Ranma a bright red one. Both walked outside to see Ranko and Nodoka waiting for them. "Decided to go for a change nii-san? I like it," Ranko said quickly appraising them both and liking what she saw.
Nodoka nodded and motioned for them to follow. Getting to the front of the small hotel, they found the first bus of the day waiting for them to take them into town, as well as Usagi, Rei, Ami, Motoki, and Mamoru. Ranma's eye twitched slightly as he suddenly got a bad feeling about the day. Usagi saw them and waved, shouting, "Yoo-hoo!! Ranma!! Over here! We're going shopping want to come with us??"
Nodoka smiled and said, "Why not Ranma, the more the merrier."
Ranma looked at his mother and asked, "Who deprived you of a childhood?"
Nodoka frowned at Ranma, and then put on a mischievous grin, "Well if you must know, I just never grew up."
Ranma sighed as Ranko giggled and he caught Tenchi's grin out of the corner of his eye. "Whose side are you on Tenchi?"
Tenchi gave Ranma an innocent look, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Shaking his head, Ranma and the group approached the rest of them. "We're headed that way to do some shopping for Ranko so why not."
Usagi cheered and Rei got a rather disconcerting smile on her face as if she were plotting something. Turns out, Ranma wasn't too far off.
The group got on the bus and headed into town. On the way, Usagi and Rei broke into a small fight over something extremely trivial, and after that ended, Usagi fought with Mamoru about his odango atama comment. For Tenchi and Ranma, the arrival into town arrived none too soon. Getting off the bus, Ranma and Tenchi breathed a sigh of relief as Ranko, Ami and Nodoka talked about things. Rei started talking to Mamoru and latched on to his arm as he looked annoyed and tried to talk to Motoki, who was talking to Usagi, who hadn't done anything so bold yet.
"Ne," Usagi started, "Where do we want to go first? The shops are all down this street according to the pamphlet."
Ranma shrugged, "Why don't we just pick a direction and start walking, if anyone sees a store they want to go into just ask everyone to stop and we'll all go in."
"That's a great idea!" Rei exclaimed. 'He heh... even if Mamoru-kun doesn't respond to my advances, I'm sure Ranma will if I wear as little as possible. I'm sure he'll be easy to snag as a boyfriend if I show that my body is better. Maybe I'll even get Mamoru-kun to notice me, if I play my cards right. My future husband is secure if all I have to do is pick one.' Rei let go of Mamoru's arm as the group started to walk.
Usagi talked animatedly while looking for a store she wanted to go into and the group listened with half an ear. Nodoka started looking for good clothing shops right off the bat and the rest looked around just admiring the shops. Almost no one noticed as Ami stopped to look in a book store. It was Ranko that stopped the group. "Hold up! Let's go in here!"
Ami looked startled as she saw the group stop, "Oh no, you don't have to if you don't want to, I was only looking in the window."
"Now, now Ami. Like Ranma said, if you want to go in, just stop us and we'll all go. This isn't just our vacation, it's yours too," Usagi said.
"Besides, I need to look for a couple of books in here anyways," Tenchi said, "I'm falling behind in my work and a book shop is the best place to find a way to catch up."
Ami blushed slightly and the group went in, Usagi and Rei automatically heading for the manga section, while Ranma looked around at martial arts books. Nodoka and Ranko went to the home ec section, while Tenchi, Motoki, Mamoru and Ami went over to the sciences section. After a while, Ranma went over to where his mom and new sister were looking at cooking and started to look around at the cook books. His eyes fell on a cookbook labeled, "Easy cooking tips for the worst cookers, make your dishes edible." Ranma snickered, and Ranko turned around to see what he was laughing at. Seeing the title, Ranko burst out laughing. "Wow Akane really needs that one!"
Nodoka looked disapprovingly at Ranko and then looked at the title of the book. "Is she really that bad a cook?"
"You have no idea mom. Everything she cooks turns out like nuclear waste," Ranma said, "She never tries it before hand either so she won't admit how bad a cook she is."
Nodoka sighed and shook her head and then looked to Ranko, "Well you certainly won't turn out that way. I'm going to make you the best cook ever."
Ranko grinned at her, "Yes mother."
Tenchi came around the corner, "You all ready to go? Ami and I are going to go purchase what we want now, as are the rest of us."
Ranko, Ranma and Nodoka nodded, and headed to the front of the store to make their purchases. After they were all out, Ranma took a short head count and smiled as they were all their. Then he saw Ami struggling with her bags, "Need help Ami?"
Ami looked at him startled, "You don't have to help, I can make do."
Ranma grinned, "Here, you'll fall behind. Besides, I'm used to heavy loads."
Blushing, Ami handed Ranma her bag, and watched as he hefted it with no real trouble. 'Amazing,' Ami thought, 'I know four of the books I bought were extremely heavy, and the other two weren't exactly completely light weight. I wonder if I should scan him with my mercury computer to make sure he's human.' Ami then shook herself, 'I'm just being paranoid.'
They continued down the street, talking happily, until Nodoka asked them to stop at a clothing store. It wasn't an all girl store, for which the guys were grateful, but they knew they were going to be dragged there and asked what they think of all sorts of clothes. As soon as they walked, they found they were right as Rei grabbed Mamoru, Usagi grabbed Motoki, Ranko grabbed Ranma and Nodoka grabbed both Tenchi and Ami, who was hanging back a little.
Guiding the boys to the dressing rooms and chairs, the girls sat them down, fixed them with a glare and then left to gather clothes. Each returned to the fitting room within ten minutes with an armful of clothes except Ami and Nodoka. Ami wasn't really into clothes shopping so Nodoka was looking for her and Ranko. Five minutes later, Ami was shoved into the last dressing room with an armful of clothes and a few more dresses were thrown over the top of Ranko's stall.
After a few minutes, Ranko's dressing room opened and she stepped out in a gorgeous sundress. It was baby blue with a white rose design near the bottom and fit her perfectly, easily accenting her curves. Ranma grinned, and gave his approval of the dress cause it didn't show off much cleavage, nor was it too short, after all, he needed to protect his sister right?
Rei stepped out in a rather showy sundress that didn't look real good, and showed far too much. All the guys tried to say what they thought without hurting her feelings, yet knew they were about to lose the battle when Usagi stepped out of her dressing room. She was wearing a shirt/skirt combo which was adorable on her and made her look a little more grown up. The shirt was a pretty light blue color with no sleeves that accented her eyes, and showed a bit of cleavage without being trashy. The skirt was black and reached to mid thigh with a slit that allowed for better movement.
Ranma grinned, "Looks good Usagi." Motoki and Tenchi gave similar comments praising her choice. Ranma looked to Mamoru who hadn't said a thing, and saw the guy staring at Usagi, stunned. Ranma smirked, and then looked to the last dressing room, which had cracked itself slightly. "Are you coming out Ami or do you not want to show us?" Ranma called.
Usagi looked to Ami's dressing room and pushed the door open snatching Ami and bringing her out. Ami was wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans which looked good on her. "See Ami you look great, you've nothing to be ashamed of!" Usagi said. Rei nodded and turned back into her dressing room.
Ranma then realized that his mother hadn't said anything to the girls, and looked around for her. He saw her talking to Trista, who looked to be shopping also. "I wonder if she left Hikari with the kids," Ranma said softly.
"What was that Ranma?" Usagi asked, looking a bit concerned.
Ranma turned around to answer when a small voice piped up. "Wow that looks good on you!"
Those not in fitting rooms turned with the guys. Sitting on the floor were the twins, Ann and Toby, as well as Ikari, Sasha, Toya, and Shinji. "I knew I heard your voices," said Ikari happily, "We can all have lunch together now!"
Ranma chuckled, "Only after the girls finish."
"Hikaru has to choose a bathing suit also. Hikari went with her to help her out because she's five. We're going to the water park tomorrow so we need em," said Toya.
"A Water park sounds like fun!" said Rei stepping out of her dressing room in a string bikini.
"I think that would fall off at a water park though," snickered Ranma, "You might want to choose something that will stay put."
Rei glared at Ranma and then went back into the dressing room. Right after that, Usagi and Ranko came out saying, "These are the last of our clothes!" Usagi came out in a blue two piece with sunflowers on it. The top ended an inch above her belly button and went up around her neck like a halter top. Ranko came out in a solid emerald one piece with Boy Crazy written in red across the bust. Her suit also fit like a halter top would. Ranma smiled and nodded at the two's choice in suits, while Mamoru sat speechless. Motoki and Tenchi both gave out their own opinions on the suits and the two went back into their dressing rooms to change.
"You boys might want to go suit shopping while we're here if you don't have one already," said Nodoka from behind them, making them all jump.
Looking reproachfully at his mother's innocent gaze, Ranma nodded as he and Tenchi got up. Looking at Mamoru and Motoki they shrugged and got up also. They headed to the men's swimwear section and quickly found swim trunks they liked. They tried them on quickly and then purchased them so they could go eat lunch. They met up with the girls' who had just finished getting their own clothes as well as Trista, Hikari, and the kids, who each had a small bag of their own. Picking up Ami's books and some of Ranko's new clothing Ranma waited for everyone else to get situated. Then they all left to get lunch.
Author's Notes: So what did you think?? ^^ I'm trying hard. this was rather long... Ehh... Well... There'll be more action in the next chapter, I think. Umm... As for some of the. flames... or suggestions I've been getting, scouts and the other guys not affiliated with Ranma aren't surprised at curses cause of the weird stuff in their own world. I'm pretty sure they would be able to easily accept that stuff now since they've seen some weirder stuff. Thanks again... (Less flame and more suggestion to improvement please. Quite frankly... I figure if you really flame someone... that just means you want them to feel poor about their ability and not help them improve it.. And those kinds of people S # C K!!!!!!!!) Contrary to what other people think. a flame is something like this story is bad.. or I hate it or something about the characters being OOC and not liking that.. its just a story.. Suggestions for improvement are not flames as long as they're written correctly.. like listing what a person thinks should change and a way to improve it.. its up to the author to take that suggestion though. Thanks to Gundraw and Akira for boosting my confidence ^^. Ja ne!!
Authors Notes: Sorry it took so long. it's been a rather. interesting. couple of weeks. Anyways, I'm back, and will be updating soon. mIRC keeps distracting me from this and other things -_-. Oh well. I'm getting better. I will hopefully get around to writing another chap to Wild Horse and possible get something new up. ^^ Wish me luck.
Updated 10/7/03
'Thoughts'
Soul's Destiny, Blood's Inheritance Chapter 5
Getting back to the hotel, the group parted and left to go to their rooms. Ranma quickly found his best clothes and changed while Ranko and Tenchi talked about what to say and do when Nodoka got there. "She should be here around now shouldn't she?" Ranko asked, "I just hope that she didn't bring that katana, other wise I'm not sure how to react. I won't be able to hug her or anything with that blade beside her."
Ranma looked over and studied Ranko a bit. She was more open than he was, and definitely had a female persona. Yet she was the same as him too. She knew what he felt and was acting on that. Ranma shook his head. Mulling over his new twin was great and all but he still had to worry about meeting his mother.
"Let's go. We should be out there to meet her," Ranma said, standing up.
Ranko and Tenchi nodded, and followed Ranma out of the room to the front lobby. She was not there yet, which surprised them, but they sat and waited. After about five minutes, Nodoka walked through the doors, carrying a small suitcase but nothing else. Ranko sighed in relief at the missing katana and quickly went into hyper mode, running to Nodoka squealing "Auntie!!" Nodoka dropped her luggage and hugged Ranko, giving the girl a quick look over. Ranma and Tenchi walked over to them and waited for Nodoka to finish fussing over Ranko.
Nodoka finally looked up to see Ranma and Tenchi in front of her. Immediately looking up to Ranma, Nodoka released Ranko and walked up to her son. Ranma, immediately nervous, uttered a quiet, "Hello, mom."
Eyes tearing up, Nodoka hugged her son, as if trying to make sure he was real. "My son. My. son. Oh it's been so long. I'm so happy to see you once more."
Ranma carefully hugged his mother back, as if afraid she would break with the slightest stress. Tenchi smiled, and Ranko grinned, both happy that Ranma was seeing his mother for the first time as himself. Ranma smiled at the two, and then looked at his mother, his expression growing happier.
Nodoka pulled away and then looked over to Tenchi. "You must be Achika's boy. I don't know if your grandfather told you that he had two daughters, but I was her sister."
Tenchi, Ranma and Ranko gave a surprised look at this news. Suddenly Ranma chuckled a bit, "I guess it all fits. The woman troubles, the strange amount of energy we both can produce at any given time, not to mention our own way of doing martial arts."
Ranko snickered, "That's only icing on the cake and you know it."
Nodoka looked startled at Ranko's proclamation, "What do you mean?"
Ranma, Ranko, and Tenchi each looked at each other, and then Ranma turned to his mother. "We'll explain everything after we get you settled in. I'll take your suitcase. Ranko, will you get your keys?"
Ranko nodded and went to the front desk, soon returning with the keys to the bedroom she and Nodoka would share. Making their way down the hallway, Ranma heard the laughter of children coming up the hallway, and he knew that the room was close. Suddenly, three children came running down the hallway, Trista chasing after them. Ranma recognized Hikaru, Toya and Shinji from their earlier afternoon picnic.
Hikaru looked up and squealed, "Ranma nii-san!" before running up to him and clinging to his leg. Ranma chuckled a bit as the other two five year olds ran up and clang to him as well. Hikaru's big brown eyes looked up imploringly at Ranma, shining with laughter as she squealed for him to save them from the demon.
Ranko snickered as she looked at Trista's exasperated look and asked, "You the demon?"
Trista roller her eyes and nodded. Nodoka giggled, and picked up one of the five year olds. "Oh you're so cute!!!" she squealed, "Oh it would be nice to have a child around the house again."
Hikaru looked up at Nodoka and asked, "Want to adopt me? I want a mommy."
Nodoka looked at the child's serious expression and nearly dropped her. Looking at Ranma, Nodoka started, "You mean.?"
Ranma nodded, and Ranko spoke up, "One of the older orphans had won a lotto or something and brought the children here. She herself had been living on her own for quite awhile now apparently."
Trista nodded, "Yes, Hikari and I have been on our own for a while. It wasn't really a lotto she won though, rather she sold something really valuable for this trip for the children," Trista said shaking her head, "Hikari is always thinking of others and not herself. It is gonna get her killed one day."
Nodoka absorbed this information, and looked at the small girl with reddish brown hair, obviously thinking hard. Putting the child down, she smiled reassuringly at Hikaru's disappointed face and looked up to Ranma. "Let's get to my room. You have to tell me about your training trip and everything that has happened recently."
Nodding, Ranma pried the other two children off his legs, and continued down the hallway, almost stopping as he heard the children start to whisper. "Do you think she'll adopt one of us?" followed him all the way down the hall.
'Maybe she will,' Ranma thought as he watched his mother reach the door to her room, 'She deserves a child that she can raise. I'm afraid Ranko and I are far too old now, with the exception of making Ranko lady-like.' Ranma smirked at that last thought, remembering all the times his mother tried to get him to act more lady-like.
Getting into the room, Ranma put down his mother's suitcase and sat on the floor. Ranko and Tenchi followed his example and Nodoka sat on the bed looking down on her son. At Nodoka's nod, Ranma began his tale, and began as accurately as possible, starting with what he could remember before his father took him, to the neko-ken, and then heading to the cursed springs. Ranma stopped as he got to where his father was cursed and then took a breath, waiting for the unavoidable question, still trying to decide if he should tell her or not.
"Ranma, did you...? Did you get.. cursed?" Nodoka asked slowly, almost as if afraid to.
Ranma looked to Ranko, to see what she thought. They had gone over this story before, but now before their mother, it was far too hard to lie. Ranko nodded at Ranma and then looked back to Nodoka. Nodoka looked at Ranma expectantly but it was Ranko that spoke up. "I am his curse. We recently got separated and are now of different minds and bodies, yet same blood."
Nodoka turned white, "You mean.."
Ranma nodded, "I fell into the spring of drowned girl. After you found us, pops told me about the seppuku pledge, and made me stay a girl and try and act differently cause he was afraid to die. For me, it wasn't the dieing, it was your disappointment," Ranma looked down, finding the floor interesting before he continued, "I wanted to just run up to you and tell you exactly who I was, but pops kept stopping me, wanting me to marry Akane so you couldn't go through with the seppuku pledge."
Nodoka gasped, and thought of the katana at home, knowing that it and Genma were the reason she hadn't found her son for so long. Clenching her fists in anger, she actually started to growl, "When I get my hands on that man.."
Ranko giggled, "But you haven't heard the whole story yet Momma."
"Momma?" Nodoka echoed, and then smiled, "Yes I suppose I am. I promise not to rush off and kill him until you finish the story then."
Ranma grinned, "Thanks but we have a better idea after the story is finished."
Ranma then continued with their arrival at the Tendo's and how Akane was always beating on him, violent girls' fascination with him, and them all proclaiming to be his fiancée whether he wanted it or not. He also told of Genma's multiple debts and promises that he expected Ranma to keep and Genma's multiple attempts to best his 'ungrateful boy.' By the end of the story, Nodoka looked more than ready to have Genma fulfill his half of the seppuku arrangement. Ranma stopped her from saying anything with a hand.
"Hold on, you haven't heard our idea. Ranko came up with the fact that I'm now 18 and have the right to choose my name should you and pops divorce. Since he's been rather unfaithful and has not held to the contract at all, if you divorced and took your maiden name, I could choose yours, and that would solve many of the problems. The police force has already taken care of my engagement to Shampoo. That would leave me with my right to choose my bride and no honor would be lost for anyone. All I would have to deal with is Kodachi, and she'll be easy enough to handle before I move back home."
Nodoka thought about the three's plan. It was sound, and it meant she wouldn't have to deal with her dishonorable hus. well, she wasn't sure what to call him anymore. It would solve both her and Ranma's problems. No more bill collectors for her, no more tramps looking for Genma. For a while, she was hoping someone had just stolen his identity but now she knew what she had suspected before about Genma's... doings before. Nodding, Nodoka smiled at her son.
"You shall not have to go through with the seppuku contract. After this vacation, I will return first to get the divorce papers and everything signed with Genma. I'll call the Tendo's ahead to make sure he's there and not in panda form. I'll leave the open the child part so you both may choose which name you wish to be registered under after I return my name to what it should be."
"Momma, I still need birth papers and stuff," Ranko said, "What do we do about that?"
Nodoka smiled, "I'm sure Chief Kino and a few of my contacts would help us to get some documentation for you."
Ranma nodded, and then looked at the clock, "Well, we'd better turn in if you're going shopping with mom tomorrow."
Nodoka looked at her son surprised, "Oh but Ranma, you and Tenchi are coming with us."
Ranko giggled as Ranma and Tenchi turned white and looked fearfully at Nodoka's innocent face. Both then looked at each other and gulped and looked down, nodding their heads in confirmation. Nodoka looked at Ranko and both fell into a fit of giggling as the two boys moaned. They all then said their goodnights, two looking forward, and two dreading the next day.
***** The Next Day *****
Ranma was awakened by a cold splash of water. "What did ya do that for you.?" Ranma stopped, suddenly realizing his voice was still male. Then the rest of his mind woke up and he remembered everything that happened over the past few days since his birthday and looked up to see his smirking mother.
"Was Akane really that bad?" she asked, pity slowly coming into her face. At Ranma's nod she put her bucket down and hugged her now soaking son. Then another splash was heard, as well as Tenchi's yelp, "Yaaahhh!!! That's cold!!!"
"Well if the two of you want to sleep all morning, but it's a beautiful day!" Ranko's voice sang out. Both Tenchi and Ranma glared at the overly cheerful girl and got out of bed. "Wow matching pj's. If I didn't know better I'd say you two were twins or something," Ranko said giggling.
Ranma and Tenchi looked down at their soaking clothes and then at each other, grinning. "If you two don't mind," started Ranma. "We'd both like to get dressed or we won't be going shopping with you," Tenchi finished.
At that, both women left the room, and the boys got dressed, both deciding on a pair of loose jeans and for Tenchi, a light blue t-shirt, and for Ranma a bright red one. Both walked outside to see Ranko and Nodoka waiting for them. "Decided to go for a change nii-san? I like it," Ranko said quickly appraising them both and liking what she saw.
Nodoka nodded and motioned for them to follow. Getting to the front of the small hotel, they found the first bus of the day waiting for them to take them into town, as well as Usagi, Rei, Ami, Motoki, and Mamoru. Ranma's eye twitched slightly as he suddenly got a bad feeling about the day. Usagi saw them and waved, shouting, "Yoo-hoo!! Ranma!! Over here! We're going shopping want to come with us??"
Nodoka smiled and said, "Why not Ranma, the more the merrier."
Ranma looked at his mother and asked, "Who deprived you of a childhood?"
Nodoka frowned at Ranma, and then put on a mischievous grin, "Well if you must know, I just never grew up."
Ranma sighed as Ranko giggled and he caught Tenchi's grin out of the corner of his eye. "Whose side are you on Tenchi?"
Tenchi gave Ranma an innocent look, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Shaking his head, Ranma and the group approached the rest of them. "We're headed that way to do some shopping for Ranko so why not."
Usagi cheered and Rei got a rather disconcerting smile on her face as if she were plotting something. Turns out, Ranma wasn't too far off.
The group got on the bus and headed into town. On the way, Usagi and Rei broke into a small fight over something extremely trivial, and after that ended, Usagi fought with Mamoru about his odango atama comment. For Tenchi and Ranma, the arrival into town arrived none too soon. Getting off the bus, Ranma and Tenchi breathed a sigh of relief as Ranko, Ami and Nodoka talked about things. Rei started talking to Mamoru and latched on to his arm as he looked annoyed and tried to talk to Motoki, who was talking to Usagi, who hadn't done anything so bold yet.
"Ne," Usagi started, "Where do we want to go first? The shops are all down this street according to the pamphlet."
Ranma shrugged, "Why don't we just pick a direction and start walking, if anyone sees a store they want to go into just ask everyone to stop and we'll all go in."
"That's a great idea!" Rei exclaimed. 'He heh... even if Mamoru-kun doesn't respond to my advances, I'm sure Ranma will if I wear as little as possible. I'm sure he'll be easy to snag as a boyfriend if I show that my body is better. Maybe I'll even get Mamoru-kun to notice me, if I play my cards right. My future husband is secure if all I have to do is pick one.' Rei let go of Mamoru's arm as the group started to walk.
Usagi talked animatedly while looking for a store she wanted to go into and the group listened with half an ear. Nodoka started looking for good clothing shops right off the bat and the rest looked around just admiring the shops. Almost no one noticed as Ami stopped to look in a book store. It was Ranko that stopped the group. "Hold up! Let's go in here!"
Ami looked startled as she saw the group stop, "Oh no, you don't have to if you don't want to, I was only looking in the window."
"Now, now Ami. Like Ranma said, if you want to go in, just stop us and we'll all go. This isn't just our vacation, it's yours too," Usagi said.
"Besides, I need to look for a couple of books in here anyways," Tenchi said, "I'm falling behind in my work and a book shop is the best place to find a way to catch up."
Ami blushed slightly and the group went in, Usagi and Rei automatically heading for the manga section, while Ranma looked around at martial arts books. Nodoka and Ranko went to the home ec section, while Tenchi, Motoki, Mamoru and Ami went over to the sciences section. After a while, Ranma went over to where his mom and new sister were looking at cooking and started to look around at the cook books. His eyes fell on a cookbook labeled, "Easy cooking tips for the worst cookers, make your dishes edible." Ranma snickered, and Ranko turned around to see what he was laughing at. Seeing the title, Ranko burst out laughing. "Wow Akane really needs that one!"
Nodoka looked disapprovingly at Ranko and then looked at the title of the book. "Is she really that bad a cook?"
"You have no idea mom. Everything she cooks turns out like nuclear waste," Ranma said, "She never tries it before hand either so she won't admit how bad a cook she is."
Nodoka sighed and shook her head and then looked to Ranko, "Well you certainly won't turn out that way. I'm going to make you the best cook ever."
Ranko grinned at her, "Yes mother."
Tenchi came around the corner, "You all ready to go? Ami and I are going to go purchase what we want now, as are the rest of us."
Ranko, Ranma and Nodoka nodded, and headed to the front of the store to make their purchases. After they were all out, Ranma took a short head count and smiled as they were all their. Then he saw Ami struggling with her bags, "Need help Ami?"
Ami looked at him startled, "You don't have to help, I can make do."
Ranma grinned, "Here, you'll fall behind. Besides, I'm used to heavy loads."
Blushing, Ami handed Ranma her bag, and watched as he hefted it with no real trouble. 'Amazing,' Ami thought, 'I know four of the books I bought were extremely heavy, and the other two weren't exactly completely light weight. I wonder if I should scan him with my mercury computer to make sure he's human.' Ami then shook herself, 'I'm just being paranoid.'
They continued down the street, talking happily, until Nodoka asked them to stop at a clothing store. It wasn't an all girl store, for which the guys were grateful, but they knew they were going to be dragged there and asked what they think of all sorts of clothes. As soon as they walked, they found they were right as Rei grabbed Mamoru, Usagi grabbed Motoki, Ranko grabbed Ranma and Nodoka grabbed both Tenchi and Ami, who was hanging back a little.
Guiding the boys to the dressing rooms and chairs, the girls sat them down, fixed them with a glare and then left to gather clothes. Each returned to the fitting room within ten minutes with an armful of clothes except Ami and Nodoka. Ami wasn't really into clothes shopping so Nodoka was looking for her and Ranko. Five minutes later, Ami was shoved into the last dressing room with an armful of clothes and a few more dresses were thrown over the top of Ranko's stall.
After a few minutes, Ranko's dressing room opened and she stepped out in a gorgeous sundress. It was baby blue with a white rose design near the bottom and fit her perfectly, easily accenting her curves. Ranma grinned, and gave his approval of the dress cause it didn't show off much cleavage, nor was it too short, after all, he needed to protect his sister right?
Rei stepped out in a rather showy sundress that didn't look real good, and showed far too much. All the guys tried to say what they thought without hurting her feelings, yet knew they were about to lose the battle when Usagi stepped out of her dressing room. She was wearing a shirt/skirt combo which was adorable on her and made her look a little more grown up. The shirt was a pretty light blue color with no sleeves that accented her eyes, and showed a bit of cleavage without being trashy. The skirt was black and reached to mid thigh with a slit that allowed for better movement.
Ranma grinned, "Looks good Usagi." Motoki and Tenchi gave similar comments praising her choice. Ranma looked to Mamoru who hadn't said a thing, and saw the guy staring at Usagi, stunned. Ranma smirked, and then looked to the last dressing room, which had cracked itself slightly. "Are you coming out Ami or do you not want to show us?" Ranma called.
Usagi looked to Ami's dressing room and pushed the door open snatching Ami and bringing her out. Ami was wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans which looked good on her. "See Ami you look great, you've nothing to be ashamed of!" Usagi said. Rei nodded and turned back into her dressing room.
Ranma then realized that his mother hadn't said anything to the girls, and looked around for her. He saw her talking to Trista, who looked to be shopping also. "I wonder if she left Hikari with the kids," Ranma said softly.
"What was that Ranma?" Usagi asked, looking a bit concerned.
Ranma turned around to answer when a small voice piped up. "Wow that looks good on you!"
Those not in fitting rooms turned with the guys. Sitting on the floor were the twins, Ann and Toby, as well as Ikari, Sasha, Toya, and Shinji. "I knew I heard your voices," said Ikari happily, "We can all have lunch together now!"
Ranma chuckled, "Only after the girls finish."
"Hikaru has to choose a bathing suit also. Hikari went with her to help her out because she's five. We're going to the water park tomorrow so we need em," said Toya.
"A Water park sounds like fun!" said Rei stepping out of her dressing room in a string bikini.
"I think that would fall off at a water park though," snickered Ranma, "You might want to choose something that will stay put."
Rei glared at Ranma and then went back into the dressing room. Right after that, Usagi and Ranko came out saying, "These are the last of our clothes!" Usagi came out in a blue two piece with sunflowers on it. The top ended an inch above her belly button and went up around her neck like a halter top. Ranko came out in a solid emerald one piece with Boy Crazy written in red across the bust. Her suit also fit like a halter top would. Ranma smiled and nodded at the two's choice in suits, while Mamoru sat speechless. Motoki and Tenchi both gave out their own opinions on the suits and the two went back into their dressing rooms to change.
"You boys might want to go suit shopping while we're here if you don't have one already," said Nodoka from behind them, making them all jump.
Looking reproachfully at his mother's innocent gaze, Ranma nodded as he and Tenchi got up. Looking at Mamoru and Motoki they shrugged and got up also. They headed to the men's swimwear section and quickly found swim trunks they liked. They tried them on quickly and then purchased them so they could go eat lunch. They met up with the girls' who had just finished getting their own clothes as well as Trista, Hikari, and the kids, who each had a small bag of their own. Picking up Ami's books and some of Ranko's new clothing Ranma waited for everyone else to get situated. Then they all left to get lunch.
Author's Notes: So what did you think?? ^^ I'm trying hard. this was rather long... Ehh... Well... There'll be more action in the next chapter, I think. Umm... As for some of the. flames... or suggestions I've been getting, scouts and the other guys not affiliated with Ranma aren't surprised at curses cause of the weird stuff in their own world. I'm pretty sure they would be able to easily accept that stuff now since they've seen some weirder stuff. Thanks again... (Less flame and more suggestion to improvement please. Quite frankly... I figure if you really flame someone... that just means you want them to feel poor about their ability and not help them improve it.. And those kinds of people S # C K!!!!!!!!) Contrary to what other people think. a flame is something like this story is bad.. or I hate it or something about the characters being OOC and not liking that.. its just a story.. Suggestions for improvement are not flames as long as they're written correctly.. like listing what a person thinks should change and a way to improve it.. its up to the author to take that suggestion though. Thanks to Gundraw and Akira for boosting my confidence ^^. Ja ne!!