Saturn's guardians: Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own either Ranma 1/2 or Sailor moon so don't sue me as it would be pointless as I have no money.
Ranma and Sakura took baby Hotaru to Ranma's Juuban house. It didn't take too long to get to and it wasn't that big a house. It was a simple house and was a bit smaller than the Tendo's House. It had four bedrooms on the top floor along with a bathroom with furo and toilet and sink. Downstairs there was a kitchen which led to the dining room; also there was a living room with a few things like a T.V. and a DVD player as well as shelves with books on many different things like politics, martial arts, magical phenomenon and many other things. There was also an attic and a basement but they were filled with old things and junk mostly.
Ranma had only been to this house once before and that was when the lawyer was showing him what his grandmother had left him which was everything in the house including the house as well as all her money. Of course Ranma made sure that no-one else knew about the fact that he had inherited anything because if they found out that he had it wouldn't take them long to find out what and try and use it to their advantage and then he probably wouldn't have it any longer.
"Sakura if you take Hotaru into the kitchen and have a look into what we have in the way of food while I go down to the basement as if I remember right there is some baby stuff like a pram and cot." Ranma said
"Ok but I don't think there will be much in the way of food as no-ones been here for a while." Replied Sakura
"I know but I'm pretty sure there is some food here and I just want to know what we need to buy." Then Ranma went down to the basement to sort through the junk. While he was doing that Sakura went into the kitchen and started searching through the cupboards looking for food. In the end she came up with some tinned food and instant Ramen that would last a couple of days with Ranma's appetite.
Meanwhile Ranma had managed to find a cot and a pram and also some baby toys like a rattle. He went and put them into the smallest bedroom as he thought that a baby wont need that much room. He then went down stairs to see how Sakura was doing.
"Hey Sakura managed to find anything?"
"A little just tinned food and instant ramen and only enough to last a couple of days. So you'll have to go shopping for a lot of food and you'll need to buy stuff for Hotaru. Like nappies, food mixture, she'll also need clothes but I think I'll go and get those myself as I know what to look for and what sizes to get. Oh and little Hotaru-chan woke up but seems to be a very quite little girl, she hasn't even cried once."
"Ok I'll go and get food and stuff then as I've got a fair amount of money in an account that I inherited from grandmother. Why don't you go and put Hotaru to bed. I've put the baby stuff in the second bedroom on the right. Oh and there are some blankets next to the cot that you can use and I found some baby clothes and they are on top of the blankets." Ranma then went and headed towards the front door "See ya soon Sakura." he said before leaving the house.
"Well I guess that means that I better put you to bed then little Hotaru-chan. As you need all the sleep you can get especially now that you're a baby." Sakura then went up the stairs while cradling Hotaru in her arms and took to what is now Hotaru's bedroom. She then finds some clothes and puts Hotaru in them and then puts her in the cot and puts the blankets over her and hums a little lullaby that she remembers from her childhood. After about 10 minutes Hotaru is asleep and Sakura quietly leaves her room and goes downstairs. She then notices that some post has been delivered so she picks it up and is surprised to see one letter addressed to her. She opens it and finds a pile of identification. A birth certificate, a bank card and a pile of other bits of identification needed to get a job or go to school. She then noticed a letter inside and opened it and read it.
Dear Sakura Yamada
I hope you like the identification that I've got for you. Since you are in an 18 year olds body I've given your identification to make you 18 years old. You could either get a job or go to a university just get Ranma to help you study a bit for entrance exams because just since you have Ranma's memories doesn't mean you understand all of the information that he does. I have left a bank account for you and the necessary information here for you. It should be more than enough to keep you going for a while. You can tell Ranma that I have added a fair amount of money to his account as well so that both of you have time enough to get settled in and maybe even get a job. If you want, though you will eventually need to get one. Hope you do well
Saturn.
Sakura then looks through the stuff and when she looks at the information on the bank book and gasps as there is enough there to keep her Ranma and Hotaru going for a few years even with paying for something like University as well. After Sakura had recovered from the shock she finds that the only other post is a couple of bills for Ranma, a letter for Ranma from someone and an official letter addressed to both her and Ranma. When she saw that last one she thought that she would open it and found that they were some papers that needed filling out for Hotaru-chan's adoption. She looked through the papers and filled out the bits that were for her with a pen she found lying around. A little later she was sitting in front of the T.V looking through the papers making sure that she had filled out everything necessary and that she understood it all. Then she heard the door open and close and Ranma called out that he was back. She went out to meet him and saw him with his back to her putting away a pile of food in the kitchen.
"Do you need any help Ranma?"
"No thanks Sakura. How's Hotaru?"
"She's fine sleeping away. There are some things you need to fill out on Hotaru's adoption papers. Oh and Saturn has sent all the identification I need as well as giving me a large amount of money in a bank account and he said in the letter that he put a pile of money in your account as well."
"Wow that's great I was wondering what we were going to do about money as my inheritance wouldn't last that long with all three of us using it." Ranma then turned to face Sakura and she could see that Ranma was looking very serious "But you know we are going to have to do something about the wrecking crew and Mom. I know that the fiancée's aren't that likely to give up easily but hopefully mom might help us."
"I know I hope your mother will help us as well as I know how much she means to you. I guess you had better talk to her before you see to the rest of the wrecking crew then."
"I know I'm going to go out and find a pay-phone to call her and ask her to meet me."
"Why not use the phone here."
"Well since mom's house was destroyed by the girls, mom's been staying with us at the Tendo's so if I call from here and Nabiki finds out I called she could trace the phone call and then find me."
"But what if she sends someone to follow your mother?"
"That's why I'm going to ask her to come to Juuban park as I was seen flying towards Juuban and its not too close to here."
"I guess that would work. I'll take out Hotaru to get some clothes for her and myself before you get back with her so that you can have some time alone with her as I'm sure that you'll want to talk to her alone at first."
"Yeah but don't be gone for too long as I'm sure mom'll want to meet you and Hotaru."
"In a way I think she'll be ecstatic as now she'll have a grandchild to fuss over even if its not biologically hers. Well if I go and get Hotaru and leave now to go clothes shopping and you go and make your phone call then everything should time out right."
"Yeah I guess that would work. Well lets have a look at that paperwork quickly first then." Ranma then looks through the paperwork and fills it in, in the appropriate places. He then opens his letter and see's that it is from Saturn and informs him of the money that has been put into the account. "Wow that's a lot of yen this should keep us going for a long time."
"I know I thought the same thing when I saw what I had been given.
"Well I guess that's everything, I'm going to call my Mom now ok. See you in a little while then." Ranma then goes to the front door and leaves.
"Well I guess I had better check on Hotaru then while I'm waiting for him to get back." Sakura commented to herself before grabbing some of the baby stuff Ranma had bought while out so that she could have it near Hotaru in case of it being needed.
Meanwhile Ranma was currently heading for the pay-phone a couple of blocks away and was deep in thought. 'I hope mom'll be alright with this as I would like to still have her as my mom but I have to get away from Nerima and the problems before I do something I might regret. I don't really care about anyone in Nerima apart from Kasumi, Mom and doc Tofu. I used to think I loved Akane but she's beaten it out of me by now and I don't care about Shampoo, I never did I just didn't know what to do about it. Ukyo I just didn't want to hurt as I always thought about her as a brother or sister but she doesn't care about me she pretends to listen to me just to try and beat the others in their competition and after her and Shampoo bombing the wedding I just don't have any feelings for her apart from cold indifference. Kodachi well I am not even going there as I never wanted her and told her that many times.
Now that I think about it everyone in Nerima is kind of like Kuno in their own little world where nothing is there fault and everything is the way they think it is. Like Ryoga blames everything on me when almost all of it is his fault. Mousse thinks I took his Shampoo from him but she was never his to begin with and I want nothing to do with her. Kuno thinks I took his fiery tigress Akane and his pigtailed girl from him but they were never his. Kodachi thinks that I like her because I saved her from falling once but she's just insane. Pops just thinks of me as his meal ticket he just expects me to do what he says with no will of my own. Mr Tendo just deludes himself into thinking that me and Akane love each other and should get married immediately but he is just an emotional wreck who can't get past his wife's death even though it was years ago and has allowed his daughters upbringing to go down hill. As Kasumi has given up everything to look after the house, Nabiki does anything to make money and has become an ice queen who only loves money but still cares about her family, then there is Akane the spoiled brat of the family who gets what she wants and when she doesn't she throws a tantrum, I think that's what happens with me as I am about the only one who doesn't do what she expects or wants. Cologne just thinks that her tribe is the most important thing in the world and that their rules apply to everyone in the world. But they don't as the only reason her tribe survives is because it is so remote and out of the way that no one even knows its there. Principle Kuno just thinks of Hawaii and giving everyone bowl cuts. Miss Hinako just thinks about teaching and punishing delinquents. Happosai He doesn't really care of about anything as long as he gets his bras, panties and can grope women. All four of the girl's have deluded themselves into thinking that I love them. Oh here's the phone.'
Ranma then goes to the phone puts some change in and calls the Tendo dojo.
"Hello this is the Tendo dojo."
"Hi Kasumi it's me."
"Oh my hello Ranma where are you, are you alright."
"Don't worry Kasumi everything's fine. I was just wondering if I could talk to my mom please."
"Oh of course Ranma I'll just go and get her."
"Thanks Kasumi."
There is then a slight pause that lasts for about a minute until "Hello Ranma is there something you wanted."
"Well mom I was wondering if you could meet me in Juuban park so that we could have a talk about something."
"Of course Ranma you can talk to me anytime but why Juuban?"
"Well today when Akane malleted me I ended up in Juuban and also I don't want to be overheard as I need to discuss some important private things."
"ok then Ranma I'll leave in about half an hour and it'll take me another half hour to get there so expect me in about an hour."
"Thanks Mom see you in a bit then." Ranma then put the phone on the receiver and went back to his house. On his way back he noticed an evil prescience and decided to check it out. When he got there he saw the sailor scouts taking a left over youma that appeared to be made out of cinder blocks.
"Hmm lets see now 1,2,3... that's odd there are only seven of them I thought there were eight and its not like they are that good. It looks like all they can do is throw those magic attacks of theirs around but if that's all how do they survive. Some enemies must have defences against their magic. Let's see now there's one that seems to be hanging back from the rest. Ah I see now she is analyzing the youma and giving tactical advice not that it helps much since they don't change how they attack really. They must be used to fights that are only one through power rather than skill. I wonder what would happen if they fought an enemy who used skill rather than power then." Ranma commented while studying the scouts and extending his aura to try and study them. "Looks like each of their auras is magical only and represents a different element though a couple of them I can't recognise."
Just then Sailor Moon finished off the youma. "Well I had better get back before Sakura gets annoyed and before Mom gets here. " Ranma then goes off unnoticed by all but a black cat that noticed him arrived and watched him from a nearby bush.
"Hmm I wonder who he is. Could he be a threat to the scouts? He obviously knows about fighting as he was making some good observations. This means that if he is an enemy then he'll get skilled enemies to fight us. Oh I'm just being paranoid there isn't even any negative energy around him. Actually he has an enormous amount of life energy. I didn't think humans could become that strong. I guess he must be a powerful warrior then. I just hope he never see's us as a threat as that could be bad. Oh well I wont tell the scouts about him yet as I don't want to worry them about something that probably wont be a threat as I sense no bad intentions from him. He seemed to just analyse potential allies."
Back at Ranma's house Sakura had just changed Hotaru's nappy and was now giving her some milk when Ranma came back. "I'm back."
"We're in here Ranma." Sakura called from the kitchen. "So when's your mother coming then."
"Well she should arrive in about three quarters of an hour. Though I'm a little late as I stopped to watch the scouts get rid of a youma."
"So what do you think of them then."
"Well they have a lot of power. I wouldn't want to get hit by one of those magical blasts under normal conditions as they look to be only a little bit weaker than one of Saffron's blasts. On the other hand they have next to no skill at all as only a couple of them look like they have had any training in martial arts and then not much at all. They also have one person who hangs back a bit and appears to analyse the situation and give advice on what to do based on that. Though one scout was missing as there were only seven of them there. Still I reckon I could beat them but only because of skill and speed, power wise I'm too weak but still we should do fine I think. you know since you have all of my memories you should be able to do anything I can do as well."
"Hey you're right. I never thought about that but then again I never thought I would escape your mind. Well anyway I better go and take Hotaru out clothes shopping then. Especially if I want to be back while your mother is here. Come on then Hotaru lets get you into the pram." Sakura then puts the empty bottle in the sink and then put Hotaru in the pram which had been put near the front door. She then turned around to face Ranma who had followed her from the kitchen.
"Well I'll see you in a little while then. I hope everything goes alright with your mother." Sakura said in a sincere voice
"So do I. Well anyway have fun and I'll see you in a little while then. Bye." Sakura then opened the front door and pushed the pram out of the door and closed the door behind her.
"Oh well I guess I got the house to myself then for a little while as it'll only take ten minutes to get to the park from here. Oh well I might as well see what I can find of any use in the basement for now." Ranma then went into basement and started sorting through the basement after about ten minutes he found a cardboard box with the name Nodoka on it so he decided to take it upstairs and look through it. When he opened it he saw that inside were an old photo album, a diary and an envelope addressed to Nodoka. "Wow I guess this must be Mom's stuff I wonder what the pictures are of?" Ranma then opened the photo album and saw a pile of black and white photo's and was actually surprised when he saw a girl in them about his age who looked remarkably like his cursed form used to look like but with a few differences like she appeared to be a little taller than he used to be in that form and a bit more flat chested. She also had some freckles as well. Ranma guessed that that must be his mother when she was his age. He also noticed a woman who seemed to be a cross of his mother and Kasumi as she had his mothers face but Kasumi's figure.
Ranma put the photo album down on a nearby table and decided to look at the diary. When he opened it he saw on the first page that written down were words saying that this diary was the property of one Nodoka Misaki. "Wow I guess this must have been Mom's diary from when she was a kid. I wonder what she was like." He was about to look through it when he noticed that it was time to go and meet his mother. So he got up and went to the door and went through locking it after him.
Ten minutes later in Juuban park Ranma was sitting on a bench going through possible scenario's in his head about what might happen when he had this talk with his mother. He was so engrossed in the possible scenarios that he completely failed to notice his mother come up to him until she decided to speak. "Hello Ranma."
Ranma was then jerked back to reality and quickly stood up "Oh hello Mom I didn't notice you get here."
"Yes I could see that. Care to share your thoughts?"
"I was just thinking about what I'm going to talk to you about. Do you want to walk while we talk? I know a place we can go and have some privacy."
"Ok son if that is what you want. Which way then."
"Oh just follow me it'll be quicker that way." They both then walked off while making some light conversation. After a short time they ended up outside Ranma's house.
"That's my mother's house but what are we doing here I thought she passed away and I have no idea as to who inherited the house." Nodoka said in a shocked voice.
"Well you see Grandma left the house to me but it wasn't actually made mine until I turned eighteen so that Pop's couldn't get his hands on it and sell it off for sake money or knowing him one meal."
"What do you mean by that? I know he isn't perfect but he wouldn't do anything like that."
"Lets just go in and sit down and I will explain 'everything'" Ranma stated with a sad look on his face. They both then entered the house and went to the living room where Nodoka suddenly noticed something.
"That's my old diary and photo album!"
"Yeah I guessed as much. I found them in a box with an envelope addressed to you in a box in the basement that had your name on it. I decided to see what was in the box and then had a look at the photo album to see what you and grandma looked like when you were my age. I can see where my cursed form used to get her looks from. Oh and by the way would you like some tea?"
"Um yes please some tea would be great but what did you mean by 'used to'?"
"I'll explain everything soon so just wait a minute. Why don't you see what is in the letter as I left it for you as Grandma might have left it for you." Ranma then walked off to the kitchen to make some tea. So Nodoka decided to open and read the letter that was on the table.
Dear Nodoka
If you are reading this then I am no longer with you. I hope you and Ranma are well. I know you are probably surprised that I didn't leave anything for you. Unfortunately I could not see anyway of giving anything to you without Genma somehow getting his hands on it. I know that you probably are thinking that he wouldn't do anything like that but he would and does. I'm sure that if you asked Ranma he could confirm what I am saying. Because of this I have left all I own to Ranma who will receive it when he turns eighteen and no one else will have any access or be able to sell it or anything until he is eighteen so that Genma can't sell it himself since Ranma would be a minor. I hope you get on with your life and enjoy it and don't let stupid things get between you and your son's happiness.
Love Haruka Misaki.
Just as Nodoka finished reading the letter for fourth time Ranma came in with two cups of tea. "So anything interesting in the letter?"
"Yes but before I go into it could you tell me what you wanted to tell me please."
"Ok then well let's see it started about twelve years ago when Pop's took me on that training trip..." Ranma then proceeded to tell his mother his whole life story as detailed as he can up to when Akane had malleted him this morning. "Well then Akane malleted me for 'picking on Ryoga' and sent me straight to Juuban. I guess it's finally gotten to me and I can't take it any more I'm fed up of everyone in Nerima. The only people I could even consider friends are Kasumi and the doc. Any feelings I may have had for Akane have been beaten out of me and the other girls I never cared for in that way and since the failed wedding I have felt really betrayed by them. I need to sever all ties with Nerima if I want to be happy. The main choice to get rid of most of all but Shampoo of the fiancée's would be to lose the Saotome name not that it has any honour left after all Pop's has done to it. I have an idea on how to get rid of her though."
Nodoka was visibly upset and was seriously considering Panda steaks. She knew that she couldn't let her only child become ronin and she knew there was no way that she was going to remain married to Genma. "Well Ranma you are not going to become ronin as I am going to divorce Genma and you can take up my maiden name."
"Wow thanks mom." Just then they heard what sounded like post arriving and Ranma went to get it. When he returned he had one large thick envelope and seemed a little confused. Ranma then sat down and opened the letter and found inside papers that were for the divorce of one Saotome Genma and one Saotome Nodoka. Also there were papers for Ranma's change in name and then he noticed a letter with the papers which read
Dear Ranma. Thought you might want these.
Saturn
Ranma then chuckled to himself which made his mother curious. "What is it Ranma?"
"It looks like a friend expected what you declared and has sent the necessary paperwork for us." At this Nodoka looked confused but looked over the papers and saw they were indeed what she needed. Then she got to the letter and decided to ask something.
"Ranma who is this Saturn person?" At this Ranma got a little nervous but decided to tell his mother.
"Well he did say I should tell you everything including the chat I had with him. Well you see when Akane knocked me to here in Juuban I landed in some destroyed school or something and was knocked unconscious by the impact. While unconscious I met this old looking man in my head and he told me that he was the Kami Saturn. Apparently he wanted to ask me a favour you see he has an avatar but due to problems he felt that his avatar was threatened and effectively asked me to look after and protect his avatar. What do you know about the Sailor Scouts Mom?"
"They are a group of girls who defend this ward from evil using magic but are thought of as an urban legend. If I remember right there are eight of them. Of the ones we know the names of all but one are named after planets. Only one's name is unknown and the only two planets not claimed are Pluto and..."
"And Saturn. I think you've just realised who Saturn's avatar is. The ninth missing Senshi. You see the unnamed one is Pluto. Apparently the girl who is his avatar is named Hotaru and when she came into her powers as Sailor Saturn she was forced to use her final attack to destroy her enemy and it reverted her back into a baby who wasn't noticed by the sailor scouts and so was left there. Apparently in about four months she will be back to being the age of fourteen but Saturn feels that she is threatened by three of the Sailor scouts. Pluto, Neptune and Uranus as they see her as a threat to the world because she has the power to destroy the planet even though the likely hood of it is next to none."
Nodoka was taking all of this surprisingly well and just seemed to put it as another part of the chaos in Ranma's life. "Ranma just how are you supposed to protect this child from those Sailor scouts because even though you are most probably the best martial artist on the planet but these girls use magic and you can't do much to that."
"Well you see first of all Saturn didn't offer this job with no payment in fact he sort of cured my curse. As he split it off and put the girl who drowned in the spring who was in my head into the female body. She is called Sakura and is very nice and my only true friend. You see she knows everything I know and experienced my life through me so she kind of likes me and after we spent about four days getting to know each other we both agreed to be friends and only friends for now. I know she loves me but both of us know that I'm not ready yet because of the things that have happened in Nerima which have made me uncomfortable just being around women."
Nodoka decided to interrupt for a minute "Ranma how did you talk to her for four days when you haven't been missing for even one day?"
"Well that is because while inside my head no matter how long it seemed, no time passed in the real world. So anyway Saturn has made us two into avatars of two of the kami of his moons. Titan and Rhea to be exact. So Sakura and I are now the knights of Titan and Rhea. I'm Titan knight and Sakura is Rhea knight. Luckily the uniforms we get are sensible and not indecent. So because we are knights we get magic to help us as well as magical armour and weapons."
Ranma then wills the change and changes into Titan knight. He then notices that his mother is completely still and waves his hand in front of her face. "Hmmm she's fainted oh well I had better wait for her to wake up. Ranma then powers down and waits for his mother to wake up. After about twenty minutes Sakura returns with Hotaru and the clothes for Hotaru and herself.
"Hi Sakura how was the shopping?"
"It was fine I got plenty of clothes for Hotaru and myself so we should be fine for now."
"That's great. I've managed to explain pretty much everything to Mom but when I showed her the transformation she fainted so I'm waiting for her to wake up."
"That's good. How is did she take the rest of stuff?"
"Well I think she wants Panda steaks and a Panda rug. So she is going to divorce Genma and I'll have my name changed to Mom's family name. So all but Shampoo of the fiancée's will lose their claim. I just need to get rid of Shampoo and I might be able to do that with out hurting her physically but I don't know if it'll work."
"Urrrggghhhhh." moaned Nodoka as she regained conscious "What happened?"
"Well I showed you the transformation and you fainted." Ranma replied. Nodoka then noticed that she and Ranma weren't alone and that a young lady who resembled Ranma's old cursed form was there and had a baby with her.
"Ranma who are they?" She asked indicating Sakura and Hotaru.
"Well Mom this is Sakura. You know the girl that was inside my head who was separated from me. The baby is Hotaru who is mine and Sakura's adopted child."
"Grandchild...?"
"Yes Mom as the only way for us to protect Hotaru was for us to live with her and it was thought best for us to adopt her. So I guess that she is your adopted Grandchild." He then noticed that his mother had stars in her eyes and was looking at Hotaru with an adoring look on her face and before anyone knew it she had Hotaru in her arms and was cooing at her like there was no tomorrow.
"Um Mom."
"Yes Ranma."
"A couple of things I want to say are that you are more than welcome to stay with us as I know your house was destroyed."
"Thank you Ranma. This way I can stay with you and my grandchild." Nodoka replied with an enormous amount of joy in her voice and on her face.
"One thing though Mom is that because Hotaru was turned back to a baby due to magic. Over the next four months she will have a couple of growth spurts that will bring her back to the physical age of about fourteen. She should also regain all of her memories then"
"Well we will just have to make the most of the time that we have while she is still young." Nodoka stated. "Now that think about it Ranma what are you going to do about the future as you have nearly finished school and your grades aren't exactly that good."
"Well Mom I plan on going to University and studying medicine and before you mention my grades there is something I want to tell you. Mom I am a genius literally but because of Genma beating me till I was unconscious if he saw me doing any learning or anything so I always hid my intelligence and learning from him and pretended to be stupid though it did become a bad habit. I guess it'll really annoy Nabiki to know that I will score a lot higher than her on the exams than she ever could."
"I see who else knows about this."
"Only Doc Tofu because I borrowed books from him and asked him to teach me stuff. I guess the teachers will have a heart attack when they see my exam results."
"Well then I guess that's all fine then. What about you Sakura?"
"Well I'm not that sure yet as even though I have Ranma's memories I don't know how well I would do but I must admit that healing people does sound nice if I could get in."
"Don't worry Sakura-chan I'll help you and we will be an unbeatable team if that's what you really want." Ranma replied
"Really?"
"Of course you are my only friend apart from the Doc and Kasumi. So I want to do everything I can to help you to do what you want." Ranma said
"That's nice but what about figuring what to do with the people in nerima?" Asked Nodoka
"Well let's figure something out then." Sakura said and they then started discussing what to do.
To be continued
Next time Ranma will finally settle things with the NWC
Author's notes: I will soon be looking over the previous chapter to try and sort it out and make it less rushed and forced. Thank you to everyone who is reviewing some of you have really helped me. Just keep the constructive criticism coming.