Ranma ½
Chapter 3
The Last Mile
Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.
Any of you familiar with my first Ranma story know this one from the possibility file. A few of you thought that this was an idea to be incorporated into Ranma: Take 2. This was meant as a separate story idea.
There are new story ideas at the end of this chapter. I might be able to make them work, as I am beginning to hit some writer's blocks. Let me know what you think of it in your review. If you want to try them, e-mail me and I'll help as best as I can, either as a proofreader, or to help with writer's blocks.
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"Hello mom."
"Oh my god, is that you Ranma?"
"Yeah mom, it's me. How are you?"
"How am I? How am I?! My son, who I haven't seen in almost twelve years calls and ask how am I?"
"Son, I am happy. I was worried so much about you. The Tendo's never told me if they heard from you or not. I thought you and your father might be..."
"Listen mom, I'm sorry to worry you. It was just that pops finally told me that you were still alive and about the contract, and to be very honest, I felt his 'teachings' had lacked a little. I was afraid you'd be disappointed in me, and I didn't want to let you down."
"Son, I am sure you are still a man among men. If not, I'll just push off the judgment date until you turn twenty five, then I can fix whatever mistakes Genma made."
"Thanks mom, I really appreciate it. But something happened a few days ago. It's not a mistake I think can be fixed."
"What happened?"
"I want to meet you at our home tomorrow mom, and tell you everything that has happened to me, and here about what you have been doing as well. I want to know you, in case you find me beyond redemption."
"Son, you are starting to scare me, what happened?"
"Mom, I'll tell you tomorrow. I should be there around seven in the morning, could you wait for me?"
"Yes son, but why won't you tell me now?"
"Because if I did, you would rush over here, everyone would assume that me and pops fell short of your expectations, and came to kill us. I want to spend the day with you, no interruptions. If you find me beyond redemption, at least I will have that day with you. Please mom, do this for me. Trust me."
A long pause was heard. "OK son, I don't know what happened, but I will relent. Just tell me, you didn't kill someone did you in cold blood?"
"Nah mom, just a godling who was trying to kill me and the people I care about."
"Oh, that's good...A GODLING!!!"
"I'll see you tomorrow morning mom, wait for me outside, bye!"
Ranma hung up the phone, hoping his mother would not try and call him back. Whatever happens tomorrow, I face it with open arms.
Not like that if she asks me to commit seppuku, I will refuse. Not that I have much of a life left to sacrifice.
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Ranma had been waiting in front of the gate, looking at his watch. He knew he would only have about ten more minutes for the cab to arrive before Kasumi would come looking for him. It would only be about another thirty seconds before she would look outside the gate. He really didn't want to face her, to tell him what he was planning on doing. To be honest, he didn't have the strength to tell her he needed to do this, even if it cost him his...
"Die Ranma!"
He looked to his right, to see Ryoga coming straight at him, fist pulled back to strike. Well, maybe the idiot will get it right and make it quick.
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Ryoga had been traveling for two days, trying to find the Tendo Dojo. It should be here somewhere. First it was that place with all that snow and those birds walking around and swimming. Then it was that long wall somewhere in China, followed by that desert with those weird hopping animals. But I think I am finally back in Japan.
Then he saw him, Ranma Saotome, sitting outside the dojo in a chair, staring off into space. Ryoga's anger flared, looking at the individual who had made his life hell, who cursed him at Jusenkyo, who ruined his chances with Akane, who made fun of him at every opportunity. He was out in the open apparently not aware that Ryoga was nearby.
"Die Ranma!"
Ryoga jumped at him, fist ready to deliver the first blow, ready to fight his rival for the love of Akane, forgetting that days before, he had seen Ranma on the Tendo home porch, seen the sadness in his eyes, and knew why Ranma was sitting in that chair, why he wasn't looking for Ryoga, why he wasn't even paying attention to his surroundings.
But Ranma didn't move. In fact, when Ryoga looked into his eyes, he saw only depression. That alone was enough to make the lost boy stop his attack. Ranma looks weak. What's the matter with him? He usually says one 'P-chan' comment before we even get the first hit. And he's just sitting there, like finishing him off wouldn't matter to him. "What's the matter Ranma, too much of a coward to fight me?"
"Ryoga," Ranma said, looking around for the cab again. "What the hell do you think I'm sitting in?"
Ryoga looked at the chair, seeing the wheels on the side, still forgetting the fact he already knew why he was in that chair, the same type of memory that kept Kuno from recalling his defeats or Ryoga from recalling that certain things in his life weren't Ranma's fault. "So what happened you finally pick the wrong fight and get hurt?"
Ranma finally stared at the lost boy, no longer trying to keep him from insulting Ryoga. "The fight P-chan was me trying to stop Akane, Shampoo, and Ukyo from hurting each other. The result was me getting bashed against a tree and breaking my back. I'll never walk again. There, simple enough for you to understand?"
Ryoga was about to punch him for the P-chan comment when the rest of the story sunk in. The memories of his last moments at the Tendo Dojo came back to him. He remembered seeing Ranma on the porch, staring out into the rain, seeing them bring him into the household, seeing his greatest rival simply being led around to ensure that he ate, that he slept, that he was clean. "I'm sorry man, I forgot."
Ranma looked back down again. "Yeah, whatever."
Ryoga barely kept his breakfast down. He had almost hit someone with no defenses, who wouldn't even be able to respond. He had almost broken his own code. Even when he fought Ranma, he was never serious about wanting to kill him, just hurt his pride. But this...this wasn't something he wished on Ranma. He only wanted to break Ranma's spirit, not his life. So he sat down beside Ranma on the ground, trying to control his depression at what he had almost done. "I really am sorry man, I never even wanted our fights to go this far."
It was then that he saw a bundle of letters being held in front of him by Ranma. "Take these and go through the doors. Kasumi will be out shortly to take you in for breakfast. There is a letter here for everyone; including you Ryoga. But don't open yours until they are all delivered. Shampoo, Cologne, and Ukyo should be here in half an hour. They usually visit me for breakfast before school. Promise me you'll do this man, on your honor as a martial artist and as my friend."
Ryoga was about to make a comment asking if Ranma was insulting his honor when he looked at Ranma, who was looking down the road. Ryoga turned and saw a cab driving down the street. He took the letters from Ranma and stood up. "On my honor I will do this. But Ranma, where are you going?"
"I have an errand to run, something I need to do to try and make some sense out of my life. When I see you again, I'll tell you about it. Hell, read your letter if you get most of them delivered. That will tell you everything. And try not to get lost Ryoga; I'd like to talk to you when I get back."
The cab pulled up in front of the dojo, while Ranma made certain Ryoga made it inside. He turned to the cab driver, asking if he could assist in getting the chair in the cab. The guy was happy to assist, and soon they were off.
I'm glad he wasn't watching. If he was, he might have figured out where I was going. I can't have someone try and stop me. This is something I need to do, to find out if I even have anything left to fight for, to live for.
He turned his attention back to the Tendo Dojo as the cab pulled away, starting its journey to his mother's house. You better take care of them Ryoga. You're their protector now. Please do a better job than I did, because I don't know if I will be coming back.
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Ryoga sat in front of the gate, holding the letters in his hand. He knew that if he moved, he would most likely get lost, even with the short distance between him and the dojo. He figured whatever was in these letters was really important, and didn't want to fail his task. He had sworn on his honor as Ranma's friend and as a martial artist to do this, and his honor was something he was always serious about.
Ranma considers me a friend, even after all I've done to him, after I almost struck him down outside? Why? Why does Ranma think of me as a friend? Maybe that's in the letter he gave me.
But why did he give me letters for everyone? He had to take a long time to write them, so why not just deliver them himself? It just doesn't make sense.
Besides, the look in Ranma's eyes, it was like when Akane called me a friend. There was such depression in them. It was like he had given up on life.
I wonder if I'd be like that if I lost my legs. Would I be able to live if I couldn't fight, if I couldn't live? I mean, for Ranma and I, our whole lives are about martial arts, about facing new challenges and besting them. What would I do if I couldn't be a martial artist anymore?
I'd probably give up living.
As the thought came to Ryoga, his face went white. No, he wouldn't do something like that would he.
"Kasumi! Come out here quickly!" Ryoga only hoped he wasn't too late. He couldn't follow Ranma without getting lost, but the Tendo's could.
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Kasumi had been on her way to get Ranma, happy that Ranma was finally starting to come out of his depression, hoping that his favorite breakfast would help her little brother out of his shell, and maybe try to live again, when she heard Ryoga yelling. Oh my, I hope Ranma didn't fall over or injured himself. He was just beginning to come back to us. When she got to the door, she noticed that she didn't see Ranma, but saw Ryoga running towards her, a letter in his hand. "Hello Ryoga, where's Ranma gone to?"
"Kasumi, you have to read this now, Ranma just left in a cab and I think he is going to do something crazy."
"Oh my," Kasumi exclaimed. She took the letter offered by Ryoga and read it.
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Dear Kasumi,
If you are reading this, than Ryoga stayed put. Thank him for me. I know how hard it is for him to do that.
Before I tell you why I'm not there this morning, I need to tell you some other things first. So please do not skip forward in this letter to find my reason, you need to know these things first, you deserve to know these things.
First, I want to thank you for everything you've done for me these last two years. You have helped me become a better person, and for that I am grateful. Second, I want to thank you for all the food you made me. I know I should have helped you more, and for that I am sorry. I should have tried to make your life easier, but I fear I actually made it worse. For that, I am truly sorry. Third you should go visit Dr. Tofu after all of this; smack him to get him to stop acting silly for a moment, and ask him how he truly feels about you; smack as necessary until you get an answer. Fourth, don't let pops order you around. When he reads his letter, he will probably disappear, which should make the chores a lot easier to handle.
I am sorry I tricked you this morning into helping me out. Don't blame yourself. This is just something I needed to do.
You should know that even if I never married a Tendo, I would always consider you family. From day one, you have shown me nothing but kindness and respect, helping me with whatever problems that came my way, even trying to help smooth things over between me and Akane. I couldn't have asked for a better friend than you, almost like you were an older sister or even a second mom to me.
But that is what I am doing. I am going to meet and talk to my mom. If I come back, I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit for what I've done. I am sorry, but this is something I need to do. I know you will get the others and try to follow me, I won't ask you not to, and you would just ignore it anyway. I know you care so much about me.
Goodbye.
Love always,
Ranma
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"OH MY!" was all Kasumi could say. She grabbed Ryoga by his hand and dragged him inside, he barely managed to hang on to the letters, not having a chance to ask if he was right about what Ranma was about to do.
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Story idea #1: Ranma and Genma arrive at the Tendo Dojo, but find things much different than expected. Soun died in an operation to save his wife, leaving Nodoka Saotome to raise his three girls. What will happen when Ranma finds out his mother is still alive, what will she do when she learns of Genma's training techniques and what will the three girls do when she announces that she would like to see their father's last wish, that they join the schools, be done? This is an alternative universe. But I am uncertain what the series and manga defined as her definition for her son to be "manly". Any notes would be appreciated.
Story idea #2: Ranma finally gets tired of Akane's attacks, as well as Soun, Genma, and Happosai's interference in his life. He decides to renounce his name and leave, receiving a box from Nabiki and Kasumi, filled with money and a letter stating that if he finds a new place, they would like to come live with him, as they are also tired of their family's antics. Ranma finds a place in Juuban, as well as a job and manager who sees and accepts his curse. Sending for Kasumi and Nabiki, the three try to make a life for themselves. But with demons appearing, as well as the developing relationship between Nabiki and Ranma, how will he handle things, even when the Sailor Senshi sees him kill a demon by himself. This will be a crossover, but I will need some sites that have a ton of information on the series, as I never watched in on Cartoon Network.
If I messed anything up, then let me know including typos.
Any suggestions on how I should continue the story or improve it would also be accepted.
Also, if you have any suggestions for how this should go, let me know. My own imagination, while vast, always enjoys a new thought. Also, catch me if you don't think I am making the characters true to form, or a way to make them better.