Ranma 1/2
'Over the Clouds'
Each call dragged her back to the bowels of despair that her own mother had painstakenly worked to bring her back from for many years, inch by inch. With each call, the failing armor that reinforced her resolve was chizzled away, flake by flake, with each person's who recalled the former Nodoka Saotome.
Just as she had feared greatly, almost as much as finding her once husband and child, was their cold, callous, remorsless dismissal of her, and adimant refusal of their assitance. Granted, there were a few that did not even recall Genma Saotome, but she knew that if memory had served them, their reply to her desperate request would be just the same.
Each solid 'no' was like a swift backhand against her cheek, brutally forcing tears of anguish from long since worn tearducts. Refusals that carried an undercurrent that threatened to drown her under an ocean of her own culturing. You are not fit to have a child, you deserve no forgiveness. You should not see them again.
Her determination remained founded steadily, and as long as she could feel hope in her greatly abused and starved heart, she would continue.
The woman took a deep breath to steady herself, and exhaled a shudder that would force the ghosts of those severely wronged to mourn.
She had many more inches to go.
______________________
Nabiki didn't even bother to announce her return, as she entered her home. Akane had told her earlier that she was going to hang out with friends; unspoken was the fact that she needed an excuse to stay away from Shampoo, and especially Ranma, as much as possible.
The middle Tendou sister shook her head at her sister's immaturity. Always hiding from her problems, instead of contronting them. Whether it be though her temper or denial, whenever she was uncomfortable, she avoided acknowledgement forcably.
The familiar sounds of her game system sounded from the tearoom, but of a game she didn't own. With piqued curiosity, she crept down the hall to Ranma and some guy she had never met before.
"Oh, hello Nabiki, I didn't hear you come in."
Startled, Nabiki jerked towards her eldest sister, who had just stepped from the kitchen after beginning to prepare dinner. "Ah, I was just a little preoccupied at the time, sorry," the girl replied, quickly recovering. Nabiki noticed both Ranma giving her fleeting glances between his game, while the other boy watched her patiently to be introduced. She jerked her head towards them, "Who's he?"
The eldest daughter frowned slightly at the terseness of her sister. "This is Ryoga Hibiki," Kasumi introduced, "he's a friend of the Saotomes."
"I see," Nabiki replied, before heading upstairs.
"Great personality," Ryoga dry-toned with a wry grin.
"I apologise for my sister, Nabiki. She's always been somewhat aloof," Kasumi excused with a half truth. Normally, Nabiki would be all over the idea of a new guy around; she was definitely the most boy-crazy of the Tendou daughters.
"It's alright," Ryoga waived off, "she said she had some things on her mind. I know how it is, sometimes."
"I'm glad you understand." Kasumi sat down next to Ryoga, just behind Ranma, and watched the game being played, "I don't recall this being one of Nabiki's games..."
"Ah, it was kinda something I picked up for Ranma when I ended up in Akihabara a couple of months ago."
"Thanks, Ryoga!" Ranma stated for the umpteenth time, not taking his eyes off the screen.
"He's very good at these," Kasumi observed, although not all that sure of her statement.
"Yeah," Ryoga agreed, "It's like martial arts to him, he just knows the best thing to do at the time... it's all a game to him."
Kasumi noted the last part was spokent with just the faintest hint of bitterness and wistfulness, but wisely chose not to explore.
______________________
Soun chuckled at his old friend's plight, as his Amazon wife bounded over to him directly at the shougi table after returning from school.
Regardless of Genma's silent, pleading face, the Tendou Patriarch decided to allow them privacy, and went to check up on his future son-in-law and his friend.
::ring::
Abruptly, Soun stopped by the phone, answering it just before the second ring, "Tendou residence..."
______________________
Cupping the phone to her ear, as if it were to melt away at any moment, Nodoka hesitantly spoke, "T-Tendou-san..."
After a long moment's pause the other end replied, "[Yes, may I help you?]"
"I..." Nodoka closed her eyes, "I was hoping that, well, if you may know the wherabouts of Genma Saotome?"
"[Oh? Why, yes. He's actually here, right now on a matter of family honor. If you would like, I can-]"
______________________
Soun blinked as he pulled the phone away from his ear, after the click had sounded, "Hmm, odd."
"What was odd?"
"Oh, some lady had enquired about you," Soun replied, turning to Genma with Shampoo hanging from his arm, "She had disconnected before I could enquire who it was. Perhaps you could shed some light on this?"
Giving Shampoo a quick glance, and confirming the irritated expression she wore from hearing about some other woman enquiring about her airen, Genma began to sweat slightly. "Ah... can't say that I do, Tendou. I guess we'll probably find out who it is soon enough..."
______________________
Akane waved good-bye to her friends, as she started the trek home. It would take her longer than usual, as she decided to take a more roundabout path. Perhaps pick up something to eat before she returned home, since she would probably arrive well after dinner, she considered.
The few hours with her friends, she managed to maintain a jovial mask that spoke little of her true mood. Even a brief stint of windowshopping hadn't served to lighten her, as in the back of her mind, she knew it would all end, and she would have to return home.
Ranma drew feelings of discomfort that Akane hated with great passion. It was farther than anything she was accustomed to, having a retarded person at her home.
She had kept a cheerful expression around her friends after school, for fear that they may enquire as to what was wrong with her. That, in turn, may lead to the discovery of her current houseguests.
It wasn't as if she were ashamed of Ranma, per say. She was pretty sure he and his bimbo of a 'mother' would be gone, soon, but she feared that any more exposure to Nerima would make things worse in the long run. Truthfully, she wasn't sure of her feelings towards him, and how she should deal with him, how to deal with how uncomfortable his presence made her.
A grip of foreboding held fast to her, occupying her concentration enough to about stumble into one other.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Akane apologized with a bow. She then looked up, and stifled a gasp. The woman before her was no doubt someone who could be called lovely, but it was a beauty of cracked and dirty crystal; dysmal and miserable from lack of care. But even with her condemning flaws, she held a nervous hope in her eyes, like a sparkle of flickering, withering light reflected within that very same crystal. With a hesitant voice, Akane ventured her next question, "Um, are you okay?"
The woman shrinked back, nodding her head slightly, but enough to shake the few strands of her dull, auburn hair loose from the sides of her head, dangling them before her face like the treads of hair on a Raggedy Ann doll, "I... should have been paying more attention, I'm sorry, young lady."
Even her bearing spoke of fallen confidence, missing pride; a melodious song that lacked the instruments that gave it its true granduer. Her expression was that of loss, more than not knowing where you're going, but where you are, and where you're destined to go.
Akane offered a timid smile, "Are you looking for something? Maybe I can help?" Maybe a friendly offer could brighten this poor woman's evening, with the added bonus of Akane being able to stall that much longer.
The woman seemed to hesitate for a moment, before finally answering, "Tell me, would you know the directions to the Tendou household?"
Akane felt her smile flicker, realizing that she wouldn't be able to gain those frew extra moments, "I could take you there, if you like." Once again, Akane bowed, "I'm Akane Tendou."
"Oh!" the woman returned the bow, "My name is Nodoka Soh, I didn't realize..."
"It's okay, I'm heading home, after all," Akane cut her off, motioning the older woman to follow her. Though Akane kept an expression of sanguine, she didn't feel the mood to continue to converse.
The woman that followed behind her several paces apparently felt the same.
______________________
Nodoka's hands clutching tightly before her chest, hoping now that she possibly could have missed them, or that the man she had spoken to was mistaken. Nodoka had been in such a hurry upon the news, and now as the moment of truth was upon her, she felt as if she had hastened to her own execution.
The girl that had led her opened the door, "I'm home!"
"Welcome home, Akane, I'm afraid you missed dinner, but I..." Kasumi paused, finding her sister with company, "Hello, we have another visitor!"
The woman seemed to grow even more nervous, and quickly bowed, "Thank you for accepting me into your home, but I may have been mistaken in-"
"Nodoka."
The chill of the voice froze the woman like no physical degree ever could.
'Over the Clouds'
Each call dragged her back to the bowels of despair that her own mother had painstakenly worked to bring her back from for many years, inch by inch. With each call, the failing armor that reinforced her resolve was chizzled away, flake by flake, with each person's who recalled the former Nodoka Saotome.
Just as she had feared greatly, almost as much as finding her once husband and child, was their cold, callous, remorsless dismissal of her, and adimant refusal of their assitance. Granted, there were a few that did not even recall Genma Saotome, but she knew that if memory had served them, their reply to her desperate request would be just the same.
Each solid 'no' was like a swift backhand against her cheek, brutally forcing tears of anguish from long since worn tearducts. Refusals that carried an undercurrent that threatened to drown her under an ocean of her own culturing. You are not fit to have a child, you deserve no forgiveness. You should not see them again.
Her determination remained founded steadily, and as long as she could feel hope in her greatly abused and starved heart, she would continue.
The woman took a deep breath to steady herself, and exhaled a shudder that would force the ghosts of those severely wronged to mourn.
She had many more inches to go.
______________________
Nabiki didn't even bother to announce her return, as she entered her home. Akane had told her earlier that she was going to hang out with friends; unspoken was the fact that she needed an excuse to stay away from Shampoo, and especially Ranma, as much as possible.
The middle Tendou sister shook her head at her sister's immaturity. Always hiding from her problems, instead of contronting them. Whether it be though her temper or denial, whenever she was uncomfortable, she avoided acknowledgement forcably.
The familiar sounds of her game system sounded from the tearoom, but of a game she didn't own. With piqued curiosity, she crept down the hall to Ranma and some guy she had never met before.
"Oh, hello Nabiki, I didn't hear you come in."
Startled, Nabiki jerked towards her eldest sister, who had just stepped from the kitchen after beginning to prepare dinner. "Ah, I was just a little preoccupied at the time, sorry," the girl replied, quickly recovering. Nabiki noticed both Ranma giving her fleeting glances between his game, while the other boy watched her patiently to be introduced. She jerked her head towards them, "Who's he?"
The eldest daughter frowned slightly at the terseness of her sister. "This is Ryoga Hibiki," Kasumi introduced, "he's a friend of the Saotomes."
"I see," Nabiki replied, before heading upstairs.
"Great personality," Ryoga dry-toned with a wry grin.
"I apologise for my sister, Nabiki. She's always been somewhat aloof," Kasumi excused with a half truth. Normally, Nabiki would be all over the idea of a new guy around; she was definitely the most boy-crazy of the Tendou daughters.
"It's alright," Ryoga waived off, "she said she had some things on her mind. I know how it is, sometimes."
"I'm glad you understand." Kasumi sat down next to Ryoga, just behind Ranma, and watched the game being played, "I don't recall this being one of Nabiki's games..."
"Ah, it was kinda something I picked up for Ranma when I ended up in Akihabara a couple of months ago."
"Thanks, Ryoga!" Ranma stated for the umpteenth time, not taking his eyes off the screen.
"He's very good at these," Kasumi observed, although not all that sure of her statement.
"Yeah," Ryoga agreed, "It's like martial arts to him, he just knows the best thing to do at the time... it's all a game to him."
Kasumi noted the last part was spokent with just the faintest hint of bitterness and wistfulness, but wisely chose not to explore.
______________________
Soun chuckled at his old friend's plight, as his Amazon wife bounded over to him directly at the shougi table after returning from school.
Regardless of Genma's silent, pleading face, the Tendou Patriarch decided to allow them privacy, and went to check up on his future son-in-law and his friend.
::ring::
Abruptly, Soun stopped by the phone, answering it just before the second ring, "Tendou residence..."
______________________
Cupping the phone to her ear, as if it were to melt away at any moment, Nodoka hesitantly spoke, "T-Tendou-san..."
After a long moment's pause the other end replied, "[Yes, may I help you?]"
"I..." Nodoka closed her eyes, "I was hoping that, well, if you may know the wherabouts of Genma Saotome?"
"[Oh? Why, yes. He's actually here, right now on a matter of family honor. If you would like, I can-]"
______________________
Soun blinked as he pulled the phone away from his ear, after the click had sounded, "Hmm, odd."
"What was odd?"
"Oh, some lady had enquired about you," Soun replied, turning to Genma with Shampoo hanging from his arm, "She had disconnected before I could enquire who it was. Perhaps you could shed some light on this?"
Giving Shampoo a quick glance, and confirming the irritated expression she wore from hearing about some other woman enquiring about her airen, Genma began to sweat slightly. "Ah... can't say that I do, Tendou. I guess we'll probably find out who it is soon enough..."
______________________
Akane waved good-bye to her friends, as she started the trek home. It would take her longer than usual, as she decided to take a more roundabout path. Perhaps pick up something to eat before she returned home, since she would probably arrive well after dinner, she considered.
The few hours with her friends, she managed to maintain a jovial mask that spoke little of her true mood. Even a brief stint of windowshopping hadn't served to lighten her, as in the back of her mind, she knew it would all end, and she would have to return home.
Ranma drew feelings of discomfort that Akane hated with great passion. It was farther than anything she was accustomed to, having a retarded person at her home.
She had kept a cheerful expression around her friends after school, for fear that they may enquire as to what was wrong with her. That, in turn, may lead to the discovery of her current houseguests.
It wasn't as if she were ashamed of Ranma, per say. She was pretty sure he and his bimbo of a 'mother' would be gone, soon, but she feared that any more exposure to Nerima would make things worse in the long run. Truthfully, she wasn't sure of her feelings towards him, and how she should deal with him, how to deal with how uncomfortable his presence made her.
A grip of foreboding held fast to her, occupying her concentration enough to about stumble into one other.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Akane apologized with a bow. She then looked up, and stifled a gasp. The woman before her was no doubt someone who could be called lovely, but it was a beauty of cracked and dirty crystal; dysmal and miserable from lack of care. But even with her condemning flaws, she held a nervous hope in her eyes, like a sparkle of flickering, withering light reflected within that very same crystal. With a hesitant voice, Akane ventured her next question, "Um, are you okay?"
The woman shrinked back, nodding her head slightly, but enough to shake the few strands of her dull, auburn hair loose from the sides of her head, dangling them before her face like the treads of hair on a Raggedy Ann doll, "I... should have been paying more attention, I'm sorry, young lady."
Even her bearing spoke of fallen confidence, missing pride; a melodious song that lacked the instruments that gave it its true granduer. Her expression was that of loss, more than not knowing where you're going, but where you are, and where you're destined to go.
Akane offered a timid smile, "Are you looking for something? Maybe I can help?" Maybe a friendly offer could brighten this poor woman's evening, with the added bonus of Akane being able to stall that much longer.
The woman seemed to hesitate for a moment, before finally answering, "Tell me, would you know the directions to the Tendou household?"
Akane felt her smile flicker, realizing that she wouldn't be able to gain those frew extra moments, "I could take you there, if you like." Once again, Akane bowed, "I'm Akane Tendou."
"Oh!" the woman returned the bow, "My name is Nodoka Soh, I didn't realize..."
"It's okay, I'm heading home, after all," Akane cut her off, motioning the older woman to follow her. Though Akane kept an expression of sanguine, she didn't feel the mood to continue to converse.
The woman that followed behind her several paces apparently felt the same.
______________________
Nodoka's hands clutching tightly before her chest, hoping now that she possibly could have missed them, or that the man she had spoken to was mistaken. Nodoka had been in such a hurry upon the news, and now as the moment of truth was upon her, she felt as if she had hastened to her own execution.
The girl that had led her opened the door, "I'm home!"
"Welcome home, Akane, I'm afraid you missed dinner, but I..." Kasumi paused, finding her sister with company, "Hello, we have another visitor!"
The woman seemed to grow even more nervous, and quickly bowed, "Thank you for accepting me into your home, but I may have been mistaken in-"
"Nodoka."
The chill of the voice froze the woman like no physical degree ever could.