Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ use it merely for entertainment purposes.
It had been an odd past few days since Ranma moved in with his Mother. During that time he had not been attacked by any of his rivals. Kuno attacked him, but he stopped being anything more than an annoyance months ago. Ryouga had disappeared, not all that surprising really so he just figure he would attack him in a few days but the strange thing was that Mousse had disappeared as well. This was odd because Mousse was usually kept on a tight rope by Cologne so she could keep an eye on him. All the old woman knew was that Mousse had just disappeared around the time he moved back to the Saotome home. Mousse only left the Neko Haten without the other Amazons when he went to either train or his glasses got broke. And both Cologne and Shampoo said that he recently bough several pairs of glasses so that only left one option. Mousse went to train, and that meant trouble was coming soon.
With the sharp decline in serious threats and the fact that, since the disaster of a wedding, the Saotome home was considered neutral ground to the fiancés Ranma had been living in relative peace. Not even his Father moving back into the house dampened the break from the craziness. When Genma did move back Ranma was surprised to learn that Nodoka did not sleep in the same room as him. The room he thought was an extra bedroom was actually his Father's room. The biggest shock was that this arrangement had been set up even before he was born. When he asked his Mother the reason for this, she would always change the subject. He asked his Father and he said that he 'allowed' it to happen because it would be a distraction to the Art for him to sleep with a weak woman. The comment about a weak woman got Genma belted with the back of Nodoka's sword. Ranma did not really believe Genma, but he let the matter drop for now.
Currently he was making his way to meet Nabiki for a fight she set up for him. After he moved out of the Dojo Nabiki could only set up meetings during lunch. After school was no good because of the distance so that meant that every day since he moved out he would meet with Nabiki during the lunch hour. The most amusing accept about him spending so much time with Nabiki was the rumors that were going around. At first the students thought the engagement was switched to Nabiki again, but with Nabiki's control over information that rumor ended rather quickly. The next rumor was that Akane's Sister had become Ranma's secret lover, the fiancés were not happy about this one, but again that one was crushed soon after conception. The final one actually came from some of Nabiki's business associates, this rumor was that Ranma had become her enforcer and because it came from Nabiki's associates everyone believed it. Undoubtedly anyone that owed Nabiki money quickly paid up or worked out a payment plan. After all who would want to try and fend off the Saotome Ranma.
Ranma soon came to the place he was to meet Nabiki and saw she was waiting for him. When they first started doing this it worried him that she would come alone. But after the assurance that they would only meet in well-traveled areas it alleviated his fear some degree, though not all of it. As she came up he greeted her in his usual manner, "I still say I should pick you up at the Dojo."
Nabiki replied, "Then you would have to deal with Daddy hugging you every time he answers the door hoping its Genma. I swear all he does now is whine about the Schools never being joined."
Ranma shrugged knowing she was right. Yesterday he came by the Dojo to visit and Soun gave him a bone-crushing hug practically begging him to marry Akane right then. Apparently without Genma, Soun lacked the backbone to try and force the issue but still insisted. "So where are we going this time?"
"We're going to the Pit," Nabiki answered.
"I thought we were banned when we broke the place?" Ranma wondered. It was true in the final match that night Ranma fought a pretty good fighter and had to use a Ki blast to win. When the blast connected with the other fighter it carried him out of the fighting area and continued past the crowd creating a large hole in the wall. Afterwards the proprietor had forbidden Ranma from returning.
"Only you were banded," Nabiki answered. "I can still come and bring other fighters, just not you."
"Then why am I here?" Ranma asked.
His answer came in the form of a splash of cold water. "It's girls tonight and your fighting as Ranko," Nabiki smirked.
"I hate fighting girls you know that," Ranma-chan said. "I won't fight my hardest, I don't want to hurt them." Though he still did not like fighting girls he had gotten over the idea that girls were weak, the Amazons and his Mother changed that.
"So much the better," Nabiki said. "You keep the fights close and the odds with be in our favor the whole making profits from the bets even higher."
"I still don't like fighting girls," Ranma-chan complained. The two girls continued until they reached a seemingly abandoned warehouse and knocked five times on the door. A man came out of the shadows recognized Nabiki and after a brief exchange knocked four times that allowed them entry.
"Too bad, your male form isn't bringing in big payoffs now," Nabiki responded with a whisper continuing their conversation, "You won too many fights to easily. Ranma needs to lay low for a while."
Inside Ranma-chan scanned the area and noted that the crowed consisted of more people than the last time she was here. It was clear from the conversations she overheard that a lot of the guys enjoyed seeing two 'athletic' girls fighting more than two guys. Making their way through the crowd Ranma-chan noticed something else she did not like about this, she was going to fight in a cage. "You never said anything about a cage," Ranma-chan almost growled.
This was not lost on Nabiki and she said. "They put it up after the 'guy' I told you about knocked 'his' opponent through the wall. It won't be a problem will it?"
"I don't like cages," Ranma-chan answered.
This caught Nabiki's attention remembering her deal with Aishia a few days ago about a male fighter that became upset when he felt enclosed somehow. She decided to file Ranma-chan's reaction away for further analysis later. "Well in any case try not to damage the cage, other wise 'you' might be banned just like that 'guy'." Ranma-chan nodded though her scowl never left her face.
In an outcropping of large rocks in a large open field Aishia was sitting by a campfire with a stake in the ground with a cord that went off into the darkness. Every few minutes the cord would become taut rather fast and then went loose just as quickly. After a few minutes Ryouga came into the fire light with a frown of his face. "Do you know how hard it was to put my clothes on while I had this on?" he pointed to a cuff where the other end of the cord was attached.
"It was for your own good," Aishia replied, "I don't have time for you getting lost all the time. This kept you from going anywhere and with the number of times the line became taut it was a good idea."
Ryouga feeling somewhat depressed about having to be chained like some kind of pet, sat down and asked, "You said you would explain the increases in strength once we arrived at where you were going to train me?" Aiashia nodded and was about to start but Ryouga asked, "Wait where are we anyway?"
"We're in Mongolia," Aishia answered.
"If we're in Mongolia why aren't there any polar bears?" Ryouga asked
Aishia could only blink at the question having no idea how to answer that question. Instead she decided to get on with her explanation. "Before I tell you why let me ask, did you get bit by a wolf when you were younger?"
Ryouga nodded, "Yeah it was just after that Honorless Bastard ran out on our duel." Aishia rolled her eyes she really needed to get this kid to think more clearly later on. "I had just passed through a large desert with a lot of old temples and pyramids when I found myself, according to a local, in Northern Norway, I was in a forest and was attacked by this huge wolf. It bit me on the leg then ran off I never saw it again but it's just one more reason Ranma must pay for making my life hell!"
"Out of curiosity Ryouga how many languages do you speak?" Aishia asked very intrigued because it would be difficult to ask for directions unless he understood people from other countries.
"More than a dozen," Ryouga answered, "It's I must with my family's directional curse."
"Well anyway," Aishia began, "That wolf is the cause of your increase in strength."
"What do you mean?" Ryouga asked.
"Do you know about Lycanthropy?" Aishia asked.
"You mean like Werewolves?" Ryouga asked and Aishia nodded. "Well I don't really believe in that stuff."
"You don't believe in Werewolves yet you change into a pig," Aishia pointed out. Ryouga began to fume and mutter about making Ranma pay for breaking his promise. Aishia continued anyway, "Well the wolf that bit you was a Werewolf or a Lycanthrope of the Lupine Tribe as we prefer. He was an outcast trying to create his own pack and was waiting for you to change." Ryouga was hanging on every word feeling more depressed with every second. It was bad enough that he had two curses, now he had a third one, one that made him a monster at that. "I am also a Lupine and others of my tribe and I caught the outcast that bit you all those years ago. We received information from him on your general whereabouts and I was sent to find you and teach you the basics of being a Lycanthrope. How to control your strength and instincts and other aspects you need to know." She then looked at Ryouga who did not look like he was paying attention anymore, "Hey did you get all that?"
"Yeah I got it," Ryouga answered. He then looked at the fire and thought, "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT RANMA!"
Back in Japan Mousse was continuing his training in private. He knew from village history a turned Lycanthrope would not change until a full moon. That meant he had just over a week to finish his training and deal with Ranma. Mousse knew that if Ranma changed under the full moon Cologne would severely punish anyone who attacked him, whether to get married or prevent it, and the punishment would be most severe. As of yet no one had seen him change so confirmation had not happened yet so he could still challenge him. Still with Ranma being a Lycanthrope Mousse's ordinary weapons would not work which is why he sent for his special silver ones. Now that he thought about he understood why Ranma always defeated him. With the Lycanthropes' ability to heal quickly any damage Ranma took from his regular weapons would not really effect him. "Yes now it all makes since," Mousse thought, "Ranma only defeated me because he was a Lycanthrope." What Mousse forgot was that a Lycanthrope, even the natural born ones, did not gain their powers, including healing, until their late teens. That meant all the defeats Ranma gave him were because Ranma was just a better fighter, as he was still technically human in terms of abilities.
Back in Nerima another five days passed and there was still no attack by any of his rivals, this made Ranma very nervous. Whenever Ranma went a long time without getting attacked that meant one big one was coming up. It was because of this he was training extra hard so that he would be ready. The problem was even though he was pushing himself very hard Ranma felt he could do more. It was like something was holding back a large portion of his Ki and no matter what he did Ranma just could not get passed what ever was blocking his Ki. Even when he entered deep meditations to try and find it all he would do was find the mental brick wall that he attributed to the Neko-ken. He knew from stories that he was stronger, faster and more agile when he used the Neko-ken so he assumed that it had to do with it. But for some reason all his instincts were telling him that was not the whole answer, like the Neko-ken was a part of it but not all of it.
One night after a heavy workout Ranma came home to find the house empty. He figured his Father was out either drinking or plotting with Soun again and his Mother was at a neighbor's house. After he got cleaned up Ranma decided to search some of the storage spaces for some kind of technique scroll his Father forgot about over the years. In the past Genma had often forgotten scrolls he had on him so the possibility of him forgetting one at the house was high. Ranma was still worried about the inevitable confrontation with his rivals and hoped that a new technique could tip the scales in his favor. While Ranma was confident that he could beat any one or two of his rivals he knew that if they all ganged up on him, like they have done in the past, they could actually overpower him. Thus the reason for the search for an edge in battle. As he finally made his way to the attic he came across a old chest that peeked his curiosity.
Yielding to his desire to see what was inside he undid the latch and opened the lid. Inside was a several items wrapped in cloth. After a brief search he found that most of the objects just appeared to be a few items of no real value except of maybe sentimental value. He was about to close the lid to the chest when he caught sight of a photo album. Again yielding to his curiosity Ranma took the photo album out and started to flip through the pages. After the first few pages he concluded it was an album about his Mother as they showed a little girl with red hair through various stages of life. He concluded that it was his Mother when he came across a picture of a teenage girl that looked just like his girl form. "I guess everyone were right we do look like each other." This idea actually brought a smile to his face, Ranma had always felt distant when it came to his Mother. These pictures somehow made him feel closer to her. He continued to look through the album when he stopped on one of the pages the picture that caused him to stop showed his Mother as a young adult about Kasumi's age. What made him stop was the fact that there was a man next to her that was definitely not his Father. It was clear by the way they sat the two cared for each other a great deal but what caught Ranma's attention was man's eyes, they were deep blue, "Just like mine." The revelation caused Ranma to drop the photo album in shock. "I've got to talk to Mom," Ranma thought.
With that thought Ranma picked up the photo album went out to search for his Mother. It was not until a half an hour later that realized he had no idea where to find her. So he made his way back to the Saotome home to wait for her to return. It was not until an hour later did Nodoka come home. "Ranma are you here?" Nodoka called.
"Yeah Mom I'm in the living room," Ranma answered. Up until his Mother got home Ranma was determined to get answers. Now that she was here he did not know how to proceed.
Nodoka hearing her Son answer entered the living room and noticed a distressed look on his face. Concerned for her Son's well being Nodoka asked, "Ranma, is something wrong?"
"I don't know," Ranma admitted. He then brought up the photo album and Nodoka's eyes became wide in surprise. Seeing the reaction gave Ranma the fortitude to proceed, "I found this in the attic, I was looking for any technique scroll Pops might have forgotten about." He then flipped through the album coming to page with the picture of Nodoka and the man with blue eyes. "Who…is…h…he?" Ranma asked in a very worried voice.
Nodoka went over and sat next to Ranma taking the photo album with a look of past pain and happiness on her face. "A man I loved very much and your real Father."
"Re…Real Father?" Ranma repeated. "Wh…What do you mean?"
Nodoka took a deep breath, this was going to be hard and would take a lot of energy. "Before I met Genma I met a man named Wolf's Eye Tomas. He was an American that came to Japan to see his Mother's homeland. His Father was American Sailor stationed here and his Mother Japanese. He told me they met and fell in love and after his tour of duty was up she went with him back to the United States. He came t Japan to meet his Mother's family after her death. During that time I met him and we fell in love. After a few months of dating he asked me to marry him and I said yes." By now tears were falling from Nodoka's eyes and Ranma took her hand to give her support. After a few minutes Nodoka composed herself and continued, "We driving back home to tell my Parents the news when the train we were on derailed. I was put in a coma for two weeks and Tomas, he…he," she could not continue and started to sob again.
Ranma then pulled his Mother into a hug regretting ever looking through photo album and forcing his Mother to relive memories that brought her such pain. After a half an hour she calmed down again and Ranma asked, "Then how did you meet Pop, I mean Genma."
"During the medical examination the Doctor's found out that I was pregnant with you," Nodoka began. "When Tomas asked me to marry him and I said yes we…celebrated," she then got a rather content smile at the memory. "He proved to me that night that he
was a Man Among Men."
"Mom!" Ranma cried very embarrassed knowing very well what she meant. She giggled at her Son's reactions while Ranma thought, "At least now I know why she was so obsessed about me being a 'Man Among Men.'"
After she stopped giggling Nodoka continued, "It turned out that night caused me to become pregnant with you. And as you know unwed Mothers were and still are looked down upon. I told my parents what happened and they understood. They knew, however, I needed a husband otherwise people would take the most important thing in my life, you, as a severe dishonor. So they called in a few favors and I was soon wed to Genma through an arranged marriage. Nine months later you were born." She then started to laugh a little, "Genma was too much of a fool to realize your eyes did not match mine nor his and was too drunk on our wedding night to realize we never slept together."
"You mean you never, um…ah…um, you now with him?" Ranma asked.
"No," Nodoka answered, "I never have and never will. I will not sleep with someone I don't love. Genma gets drunk very easily so it is easy to convince him we were together."
"Why did you let him take me on that training trip if he's not even my real Father?" Ranma asked. "And why did you let me sign that contract?" His words were a bit harsh but he needed to know.
Nodoka apparently understood her Son and calmly answered, "Tomas was a gifted Martial Artist, just like you. I had though Genma could raise you to be like him. Genma also convinced me that his School could only be taught on the road. I was still reluctant to give you up, so he signed that contract sure he could raise you right. You on the other hand just thought it would be a good piece of paper to do a finger painting on." Nodoka had an amused and whimsical smile on her face when she said that. After thinking for a moment Ranma started laughing at the thought of the contract he feared so much when he originally thought it was just a simple figure painting. "Soon after Genma took you out to become a Man Among Men and you know the rest."
"What about my Father's family?" Ranma asked. "The one in America?"
"While you were on the training trip I tried to find information on them," Nodoka answered. "Tomas was an only child and Tomas's Father died before his Mother did. His Father was the last member of a Native American Tribe so he had no other relatives. After that I resigned myself to be a Saotome and locked everything away."
"Until I found the photo album," Ranma finished. Nodoka nodded in response, "Mom I'm sorry for making you go through that."
"Ranma don't be," Nodoka smiled. "I'm glad I can finally tell you about your real Father. And if he were alive I'm sure he would be very proud of you, just like I am."
Ranma smiled back and asked, "Mom do you think you can tell me more about him?" Nodoka was more than happy to fulfill that request and the two talked long into the night. They were fortunate that Genma had decided to spend the night at the Tendo Dojo after a night of drinking and plotting to united the Schools other wise he would have interrupted the best night they both had in a very long time.