My one, my only, my Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ and/or any series that might show up in the future (hint hint, nudge nudge, wink wink). If I create any new characters to further the plot, or simply for my own amusement, you will be notified. Aren't you the lucky one?
Losing Innocence, Finding Self
Chapter 4: Point of No Return
'So this is how it's going to end? Fine...if this is the only way I can get any peace, I gladly accept' Ranma thought bitterly as his mother guided him towards the dojo.
As they made their way to the dojo, Nabiki and Kasumi shot Ranma worried glances. Akane was still standing against the wall, shock clearly written all over her face. 'Heh...for once, the tomboy isn't shouting at me.'
Taking a deep breath to prepare himself for what was inevitably to come, Ranma stepped through the threshold of the dojo.
Sighing defeatedly, he decided not to delay his fate, "Alright mom...I'm ready. I won't try to get away from this. I know you want me to commit seppuku for what I've done, and I will accept your judgement."
Bowing his head, Ranma waited patiently for his mother's response. After several moments of receiving only silence in reply, he took a chance and lifted his head. "Mom?"
"Do you really think I would force my own son to kill himself?" Came the quiet, expressionless anwer.
"I..." Swallowing the lump in his throat, Ranma couldn't think of what to say. 'She...she's not going to make me...?'
"Ranma...you are my only son. You are more precious to me than anything. I would rather die myself than ever lose you. As long as you are happy, I will always support you in your decisions." Smiling warmly at her greatest source of pride, Nodoka stepped forward and caught Ranma in a loving embrace.
Fervently returning the hug, his voice catching with emotion, Ranma could only manage to whisper, "You aren't angry that I dropped the Saotome name?"
"...Ranma...you were never a Saotome to begin with..."
His blood suddenly freezing in his veins, the pigtailed one quickly broke contact with his mother and took a step back. "W...what:
Sighing softly to herself, the Saotome matriarch mentally prepared herself for what was to come. "Ranma...you ARE my son...but Genma is not your father."
'That bastard isn't my real father? Is this a dream? No, it can't be...but wait...if he's not my father then...' Mind racing to coherently phrase the most important question he had ever asked in his life, Ranma breathed in deeply.
"Then who is my real father?"
Turning her head away from her son, Nodoka hesitantly replied, "I can't tell you yet. Not now...but soon. Please Ranma...trust my judgement on this. You are not ready to know the truth yet!"
Pausing only an instant, the former Saotome nodded slowly before agreeing. "Alright mom...let me know when your're ready to talk about it."
Favoring her son with another bright smile, she clasped her hands together and stepped to wards the door.
"I will Ranma, I will. For now, You should pack your things. It will make me feel much better if you stay with me at my home. Your old room will be waiting for you when you arrive."
Nodding his thanks and grinning broadly, Ranma quickly accepted his mother's offer. "Sure mom."
Watching as the Saotome matriarch stepped through the door and disappeared from view, the pigtailed fighter decided to visit his favorite location in order to think.
Treading lightly through the dojo entrance, Ranma vaulted himself to the roof of the Tendo home. Sitting down and shifting slightly to make himself comfortable, he began to reflect on recent events.
As a certain pigtailed martial artist attempted to make sense of his life, a young woman rested her head on her pillow and considered her past- and her future.
'It's not fair...why couldn't we be together? We were so happy...why did it have to end?'
Rolling onto her other side, she tried her best to stifle another tear.
'Am I meant to always be alone? Or...is there someone else out there for me?'
Sighing gently, she squeezed her eyes shut to try and fight away the sadness. Sleep claimed her soon after, and she began to dream...
Ranma was startled out of an exhausted sleep by a sharp pressure in his chest. Snapping his eyes wide open, he prepared to jump to his feet in a ready stance...and found that he couldn't move anything below his neck.
Refusing to allow panic to set in, he quickly scanned the area until his eyes rested on a shrunken form standing nearby, arms crossed in superiority.
"Heheh...you put up a good fight m'boy, but you should know it takes more than a little ice to keep me down! Now...you will relinquish the title of Grandmaster to me. If you refuse, then I will have no choice but to punish you severely for your disobedience."
Happosai was met with only a defiant glare. His tone challenging, Ranma growled out, "You don't deserve to be the Grandmaster, old lech. You're a disgrace to the Martial Arts! Can't even beat me without using underhanded tricks!"
Snarling in rage, the lecherous gnome shot forward like a missile and slammed his foot into the prone martial artist's side. The force of the blow flung Ranma through the air and over the fence of the Tendo compound to crash painfully on the street below.
Fighting to retain consciousness, the young former Saotome could only watch helplessly as Happosai leapt down from the roof and approached slowly.
"Watch your mouth, BOY! As you are now, you do not stand a chance against me. I have used one of my more advanced pressure point techniques to lock your entire body below the neck. You are as helpless as a newborn! Don't be a fool...just give in, and it will all be over. Over time, I will be able to forgive your insolence. I can't begrudge you your youthful foolishness."
His eyes beginning to lose focus, Ranma found it to be increasingly difficult to think. 'Damn it...I can't even defend myself like this! What am I going to do? Maybe...maybe this is it...I've finally lost. But I can't give up! I won't!'
The last thought that crossed the former Saotome heir's mind before he drifted into unconsciousness was 'I...will not...fail...'
Shadows. All around him, shadows. Everywhere he cast his gaze, nothingness greeted him. Suddenly, a bright light banished the shadows and bathed him in warmth. From the light the outline of a humanoid form appeared. The figure was tall, towering over Ranma by over a head. Although he couldn't make out any of its features, he KNEW the thing was looking directly at him.
"Who...are you?"
Ranma could somehow feel the figure smiling kindly at him, and it made him feel strangely at peace.
"Why are you letting that ancient fool win, Ranma? Why don't you stand up and show him your true power?"
Before he could even think, Ranma found himself answering, "I...I can't. He hit some kind of paralysis pressure point on me. I can't move! There's no way I can counter it."
The figure seemed to nod in agreement before replying, "Hmm yes...it is a very effective technique...against humans. So tell me Ranma...what is stopping you from rising up and claiming victory?"
A puzzled expression passed over Ranma's face as he hesitantly asked, "What...what do you mean?"
The figure seemed to smile even wider at Ranma as the light intensified, drowning out all else.
Turning from the downed pigtailed boy, Happosai smirked triumphantly as he began walking towards the Tendo home.
"Heh...maybe in another hundred years, you'll be able to win against me. Maybe."
Laughing haughtily, the ancient pervert couldn't stop himself from tossing one last insult at the unconscious martial artist. "Don't worry about it, m'boy...you never really stood a chance. You weren't the first one foolish enough to challenge me, and you won't be the last."
Happosai continued on in a fit of laughter, celebrating his perceived victory. That is, until he finally took notice of the shadowed figure towering over him. A low, inhuman growl cut off his jubilation and stopped him in his tracks. He began turning around half a second before everything around him went dark.
Ranma awoke to the sensation of something damp and cool brushing against his forehead. Slowly opening his eyes and casting his gaze to the left revealed the source to be a wash cloth. His mother was kneeling down next to him, gently applying the damp cloth to his brow.
"Mom? How did I get here?"
"Ryouga found you unconscious in the street. He actually managed to make his way here!" Nodoka answered, joyful that her son was finally awake.
'He actually managed to find my mom's house? Heheh...that's a surprise. Guess I owe him one. Wait a second...where's...'
"Happosai! Where is he!"
"Calm down Ranma! He is currently resting at a hospital in the Juuban ward. According to the news, somebody found him in an alley, close to death. When he finally woke up several hours later, he kept screaming and demanding they move him out of Nerima immediately. Do you remember what happened?" She asked, her voice full of concern.
"I...no...I don't. I can't remember much of what happened after you left the dojo. I just remember hopping up to the roof to think...then nothing after that."
"Ranma..." Nodoka began nervously, "There is something we need to discuss."
Immediatelysensing his mother's tension, Ranma shifted his full attention to her. "Does it have to do with my real father?"
Hesitating momentarily, the Saotome matriarch nodded before continuing, "Yes...it...it's time I explained everything."
AN: Eh...well, well. So many possibilities, so many answers to so many questions. Who was the sad young lady? What is Ranma, really? Who was his father? Just what happened to ol' Happi? There are many MANY ways I could continue the story...trying to consider them all makes my head spin. When I finally choose the path this story will take...I hope you guys don't hate me / Thanks for all the reviews! Keep 'em comin, good or bad, please!
