Prodigal Son
By Metaverse
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters nor am I making any money from this. Please do not sue me.
It was a lazy afternoon in Nerima. School was out and for once Ranma was Not involved in death duels with any of the random or usual crowd of martial artist that trooped through Nerima on a regular basis. As such he was able to enjoy the afternoon sun, while he lay stretched out on the back porch of the Tendo home.
Thus it was that Nabiki found him, "Hey Ranma, letter for you."
The pig-tailed martial artist cracked an eye open before sitting all the way Up, stifling a yawn as he did so. "Whose it from?" he asked.
Ranma noted that the middle Tendo daughter seemed to actually have to work at keeping her normal manor of bored disinterest. "A friend of my family." She stated simply as she handed the letter to him.
Ranma tore into the note as she took a seat across from him, and began to read.
Dear Ranma Saotome.
I am not a challenger or a potential fiancée, I do however have A vested interest in your stay at the Tendo home and the arrangement between your father and Mr. Tendo. I wish to discuss these matters with you. Please meet me at the Akies down on fifth street at 8 pm sharp. I look forward to meeting you.
T.T.
Ranma leaned forward to look at the clock in the main room and noticed He had a few hours before he was due to meet this person. If someone Was actually willing to talk something out instead of leaping into battle he was all or it. It'd be a nice change of pace.
Sitting back he realized that Nabiki seemed to be watching him rather intensely. "What?"
"Nothing." She said as she stood and began to walk away.
Ranma watched her go. Unsure of what was up. Deciding to let it go he took another look at the note, and tried to figure out what was going to happen.
******
The restaurant was one of those family places that'd been popular of late. A warm atmosphere and the smell of baking bread greeted him as he swung open the door and entered. For a moment he let himself enjoy the sights of happy families chattering about their day and the smell of good food being prepared.
As he glanced about he saw dark haired young man waving him over the both he was sharing with a young girl. He couldn't make her out as he approached the corner both they occupied because her back was too him. The man however he could see pretty well. He looked to be about 18 with long dark hair and a strong face and gentle brown eyes. He wore a blue button down shirt that was open, exposing the white t-shirt underneath. His tan pants became visible as sat down next to him.
He extended a hand to the young Saotome "Nice to finale metcha. Names Toshiro Tendo, but my friends call me Toshi.
Ranma took the hand and shook it uncertainly. "Toshiro.TENDO? Any relation to."
A recognizable female voice answered his questions. "He's Daddies eldest Son and Kasumi's fraternal twin." The girl answered.
Ranma turned from the smiling visage of Toshiro to that of Nabiki Tendo. "Wha..?"
"Articulate as always Saotome." She chuckled
Toshiro's voice brought him back around. "This will take some explaining."
----
Ranma rubbed his temples as he digested what he'd just been told. "Okay, let me see if I've got this straight. Your Mr. Tendo's eldest son and at one point was his heir to the Tendo school."
Toshiro nodded "right."
Ranma rested his hands on the tabletop. "Then a couple of years before I arrive you have a major falling out, over the fact you wanted to live your own life and follow your mother's heritage."
"Daddy felt his only concern should be the dojo."
Ranma nodded. "So he kicks you out and now you come back to. what?"
The conversation was interrupted as the waitress brought drinks, and then took their orders.
Toshiro took a sip of his soda. "It's time father had to face a few things, like reality. The way he's relied on Nabiki to fund the Dojo will end."
Ranma agreed whole-heartedly, he never could say much because of his guest status in the house but they way Soun lazed about the house while his daughter slaved to put food on the table had irked him. Thus much of the money he did earn when he could make it went to Nabiki, and it was also the reason he only put up a token resistance to the photos she took and sold of him. "So what do you plan to do?"
"Actually he's already done it." Nabiki supplied as she lifted a cup to her lips
Seeing the curiosity on his face Toshiro decided to elaborate. "Ranma do you think that Nabiki honestly makes enough cash from her side business to support a family?"
"I guess not, but how else.."
"I pay for the home's expenses." he said.
Ranma's cup stopped midway to his mouth "What? How!? And If so why is Nabiki doing all that blackmail?"
The middle Tendo winced a bit. "Daddy would never accept help from him he's too mad at him and too proud for that. So we set it up to look like I was doing all that so he wouldn't question where the money was coming from."
"Wait, so all that crap you've pulled."
"Mostly cover Saotome."
He gave her a side-glance "Mostly?"
Amusement touched her features "I'll admit, some of it was in good fun."
Ranma considered as he took another drink. "So where do I come in."
Toshiro decided to be blunt. "Aside from owning the Tendo home I'm also the recognized head of the clan, and before you ask, let's just say I have some highly placed friends who owe me big. Anyways as such, I'm dissolving the Tendo Saotome Agreement."
Ranma almost spit his drink out. " *cough* WHAT?!"
Toshiro handed him a few napkins. "I'm dissolving the arrangement. Don't take it personally, I just don't think either of you are ready for the commitment of marriage. Heck I KNOW Akane isn't. If you marry now it'll only cause pain and suffering down the road."
Ranma couldn't find fault with this as it mirrored much of his own musings on the matter of late. There was still to much to do before getting tied down now. "So you wanted me here to?"
"Gauge your reaction." He took a sip of his drink. "I want to know how you feel about my sister."
"How do I feel?"
Nabiki set down her drink. "Let's be honest here Saotome, for good or ill you have feelings for Akane. What those feelings are, and how deep they go can really only be known by you."
Feeling pressured the pig-tailed son of Genma fell back on routine. "Hey It's not like I love that.." And trailed off as Toshiro stared at him.
"I never said that you loved her, in fact I'm willing to bet you don't know
what love is."
Ranma's mouth opened and closed, unsure how to answer to that.
"Look Ranma, all I'm really trying to do is give you and Akane the space to figure something's out. If you two decide to marry for love, I shall not interfere, if you decide to part ways, I'm fine with that as well."
"Dissolving the engagement ain't enough." He said "I still have to live with her and I know pops and Mr. Tendo." Nabiki's chuckle interrupted his line of reasoning. "What?"
"Saotome, don't you think my brother knows his own father by now?" Nabiki looked very amused by the situation.
"Well yeah I guess but."
"Ranma." Toshiro began. "I also came here to offer you a way out from under the influence of your parents. You see I have a three-bedroom two-bathroom apartment I'm moving into and I need one more room mate to make it work."
Ranma immediately perked up at the idea of having his own place (sort of) away from all the loonies, then reality hit and he bowed his head. "I can't afford something like that."
Toshiro shrugged and took another pull from his drink. "Get a job then, teach some self defense class at the Y. Besides you only need to cover food, I'm covering housing and Nabiki's covering furnishings & utilities."
Ranma blinked "Nabiki?"
"Well I needed a room mate and I've lived with her before so it won't be a problem."
'"Sides," Nabiki added. "Living under daddies roof is getting somewhat stifling."
"So, Ranma" Toshiro began "what do you say?"
It didn't take much thought, after all, when you came right down to it. If he wanted to live his own life this was his one shot at it. "I accept."
*****
Author Notes:
I'll stop here for now.
I can see this going in some interesting directions. Ranma Nabiki and Toshiro trying To adjust to living together as well as having the usual Nerima crew and regular problems follow them to their new home. Plus Soun will not be happy with his eldest son and will seek to right the injustices he feels were done to him. Not to mention the work Toshiro does is fairly hazardous and brings problems of it's own.
Nabiki loves her older brother as it was with his help that she got over their mother's death. Akane is jealous of him and his talent while, Kasumi is still mad at him for things he did in his Youth.
Toshiro is not innocent. As he'd tell Ranma in a later scene he came to his senses at the age of 16, after he'd broken a lot of hearts and did emotional harm to a lot of Kasumi's friends. Which is why they don't talk to her anymore. His carousing and ability to cause mayhem earned him the nick name, Terrible Toshiro Tendo, or "Triple T" for short in the Nerima ward, and he is famous for number of girls he slept with and the havoc he caused. In the last few years he's repented his evil ways, but still feels a great amount of guilt for the pain he caused.
He slept with women, as a way to feel loved even for a moment, and he caused trouble to get his father's attention. Soun only wanted and heir and cared little for his sons emotional well-being, thus he ignored these cries for help.
By Metaverse
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters nor am I making any money from this. Please do not sue me.
It was a lazy afternoon in Nerima. School was out and for once Ranma was Not involved in death duels with any of the random or usual crowd of martial artist that trooped through Nerima on a regular basis. As such he was able to enjoy the afternoon sun, while he lay stretched out on the back porch of the Tendo home.
Thus it was that Nabiki found him, "Hey Ranma, letter for you."
The pig-tailed martial artist cracked an eye open before sitting all the way Up, stifling a yawn as he did so. "Whose it from?" he asked.
Ranma noted that the middle Tendo daughter seemed to actually have to work at keeping her normal manor of bored disinterest. "A friend of my family." She stated simply as she handed the letter to him.
Ranma tore into the note as she took a seat across from him, and began to read.
Dear Ranma Saotome.
I am not a challenger or a potential fiancée, I do however have A vested interest in your stay at the Tendo home and the arrangement between your father and Mr. Tendo. I wish to discuss these matters with you. Please meet me at the Akies down on fifth street at 8 pm sharp. I look forward to meeting you.
T.T.
Ranma leaned forward to look at the clock in the main room and noticed He had a few hours before he was due to meet this person. If someone Was actually willing to talk something out instead of leaping into battle he was all or it. It'd be a nice change of pace.
Sitting back he realized that Nabiki seemed to be watching him rather intensely. "What?"
"Nothing." She said as she stood and began to walk away.
Ranma watched her go. Unsure of what was up. Deciding to let it go he took another look at the note, and tried to figure out what was going to happen.
******
The restaurant was one of those family places that'd been popular of late. A warm atmosphere and the smell of baking bread greeted him as he swung open the door and entered. For a moment he let himself enjoy the sights of happy families chattering about their day and the smell of good food being prepared.
As he glanced about he saw dark haired young man waving him over the both he was sharing with a young girl. He couldn't make her out as he approached the corner both they occupied because her back was too him. The man however he could see pretty well. He looked to be about 18 with long dark hair and a strong face and gentle brown eyes. He wore a blue button down shirt that was open, exposing the white t-shirt underneath. His tan pants became visible as sat down next to him.
He extended a hand to the young Saotome "Nice to finale metcha. Names Toshiro Tendo, but my friends call me Toshi.
Ranma took the hand and shook it uncertainly. "Toshiro.TENDO? Any relation to."
A recognizable female voice answered his questions. "He's Daddies eldest Son and Kasumi's fraternal twin." The girl answered.
Ranma turned from the smiling visage of Toshiro to that of Nabiki Tendo. "Wha..?"
"Articulate as always Saotome." She chuckled
Toshiro's voice brought him back around. "This will take some explaining."
----
Ranma rubbed his temples as he digested what he'd just been told. "Okay, let me see if I've got this straight. Your Mr. Tendo's eldest son and at one point was his heir to the Tendo school."
Toshiro nodded "right."
Ranma rested his hands on the tabletop. "Then a couple of years before I arrive you have a major falling out, over the fact you wanted to live your own life and follow your mother's heritage."
"Daddy felt his only concern should be the dojo."
Ranma nodded. "So he kicks you out and now you come back to. what?"
The conversation was interrupted as the waitress brought drinks, and then took their orders.
Toshiro took a sip of his soda. "It's time father had to face a few things, like reality. The way he's relied on Nabiki to fund the Dojo will end."
Ranma agreed whole-heartedly, he never could say much because of his guest status in the house but they way Soun lazed about the house while his daughter slaved to put food on the table had irked him. Thus much of the money he did earn when he could make it went to Nabiki, and it was also the reason he only put up a token resistance to the photos she took and sold of him. "So what do you plan to do?"
"Actually he's already done it." Nabiki supplied as she lifted a cup to her lips
Seeing the curiosity on his face Toshiro decided to elaborate. "Ranma do you think that Nabiki honestly makes enough cash from her side business to support a family?"
"I guess not, but how else.."
"I pay for the home's expenses." he said.
Ranma's cup stopped midway to his mouth "What? How!? And If so why is Nabiki doing all that blackmail?"
The middle Tendo winced a bit. "Daddy would never accept help from him he's too mad at him and too proud for that. So we set it up to look like I was doing all that so he wouldn't question where the money was coming from."
"Wait, so all that crap you've pulled."
"Mostly cover Saotome."
He gave her a side-glance "Mostly?"
Amusement touched her features "I'll admit, some of it was in good fun."
Ranma considered as he took another drink. "So where do I come in."
Toshiro decided to be blunt. "Aside from owning the Tendo home I'm also the recognized head of the clan, and before you ask, let's just say I have some highly placed friends who owe me big. Anyways as such, I'm dissolving the Tendo Saotome Agreement."
Ranma almost spit his drink out. " *cough* WHAT?!"
Toshiro handed him a few napkins. "I'm dissolving the arrangement. Don't take it personally, I just don't think either of you are ready for the commitment of marriage. Heck I KNOW Akane isn't. If you marry now it'll only cause pain and suffering down the road."
Ranma couldn't find fault with this as it mirrored much of his own musings on the matter of late. There was still to much to do before getting tied down now. "So you wanted me here to?"
"Gauge your reaction." He took a sip of his drink. "I want to know how you feel about my sister."
"How do I feel?"
Nabiki set down her drink. "Let's be honest here Saotome, for good or ill you have feelings for Akane. What those feelings are, and how deep they go can really only be known by you."
Feeling pressured the pig-tailed son of Genma fell back on routine. "Hey It's not like I love that.." And trailed off as Toshiro stared at him.
"I never said that you loved her, in fact I'm willing to bet you don't know
what love is."
Ranma's mouth opened and closed, unsure how to answer to that.
"Look Ranma, all I'm really trying to do is give you and Akane the space to figure something's out. If you two decide to marry for love, I shall not interfere, if you decide to part ways, I'm fine with that as well."
"Dissolving the engagement ain't enough." He said "I still have to live with her and I know pops and Mr. Tendo." Nabiki's chuckle interrupted his line of reasoning. "What?"
"Saotome, don't you think my brother knows his own father by now?" Nabiki looked very amused by the situation.
"Well yeah I guess but."
"Ranma." Toshiro began. "I also came here to offer you a way out from under the influence of your parents. You see I have a three-bedroom two-bathroom apartment I'm moving into and I need one more room mate to make it work."
Ranma immediately perked up at the idea of having his own place (sort of) away from all the loonies, then reality hit and he bowed his head. "I can't afford something like that."
Toshiro shrugged and took another pull from his drink. "Get a job then, teach some self defense class at the Y. Besides you only need to cover food, I'm covering housing and Nabiki's covering furnishings & utilities."
Ranma blinked "Nabiki?"
"Well I needed a room mate and I've lived with her before so it won't be a problem."
'"Sides," Nabiki added. "Living under daddies roof is getting somewhat stifling."
"So, Ranma" Toshiro began "what do you say?"
It didn't take much thought, after all, when you came right down to it. If he wanted to live his own life this was his one shot at it. "I accept."
*****
Author Notes:
I'll stop here for now.
I can see this going in some interesting directions. Ranma Nabiki and Toshiro trying To adjust to living together as well as having the usual Nerima crew and regular problems follow them to their new home. Plus Soun will not be happy with his eldest son and will seek to right the injustices he feels were done to him. Not to mention the work Toshiro does is fairly hazardous and brings problems of it's own.
Nabiki loves her older brother as it was with his help that she got over their mother's death. Akane is jealous of him and his talent while, Kasumi is still mad at him for things he did in his Youth.
Toshiro is not innocent. As he'd tell Ranma in a later scene he came to his senses at the age of 16, after he'd broken a lot of hearts and did emotional harm to a lot of Kasumi's friends. Which is why they don't talk to her anymore. His carousing and ability to cause mayhem earned him the nick name, Terrible Toshiro Tendo, or "Triple T" for short in the Nerima ward, and he is famous for number of girls he slept with and the havoc he caused. In the last few years he's repented his evil ways, but still feels a great amount of guilt for the pain he caused.
He slept with women, as a way to feel loved even for a moment, and he caused trouble to get his father's attention. Soun only wanted and heir and cared little for his sons emotional well-being, thus he ignored these cries for help.