Chapter 49 Trials and Tribulations
Soun stared nervously at his three daughters as he realized that they were angry with him.
Nabiki asked, her face impassive, "Daddy where were you last night?"
"Yeah, what kind of example are you setting for Nabiki? Running around all night chasing a woman," Akane said, angrily.
Nabiki glared at Akane.
"What would Mom have said?" Kasumi asked calmly.
Soun turned to his oldest daughter and said with a dignity that they had not seen in quite some time, "If your mother was still alive, I wouldn't even be thinking of another woman. She's not though. And I suspect that wherever she is right now, looking down at me, she's probably screaming her lungs out saying 'it's about time idiot'. Your mother would have wanted me to be happy after she was gone. In fact, she told me before she died to find someone else. I was just so busy feeling sorry for myself that I never did. Then you two got married, and Nabiki got engaged, and for the first time, I realized that I was letting myself grow old. And I really didn't want to be alone any more."
"So you decided to chase the first female that found you attractive," Akane accused, "and then hop into bed with her."
"Not exactly, daughter. We haven't gotten quite that far in our relationship, not that that is really any of your concern," Soun said, his face heating up, "both of us are quite aware what our hormones are telling us. Hinako has only recently been able to be an adult for more than just a few hours, so her body is telling her to get busy. But that episode when she drained Happosai's chi has her skittish, so she's in no hurry. And I'm not going to rush her. I have become very fond of her so I'm not going to ruin our chance to be together just becaue I can't control myself."
Akane had begun to blush furiously when her father mentioned the old freak. Her mind flashed back to the uncomfortable hours she had spent in the living room of her teacher's apartment, listening to Hinako pleasure herself. "But where have you been all night then?" she asked.
"Just because we didn't go that far, doesn't mean we couldn't be together," her father said gently. Then he said half to himself, "and she is a wonderful kisser."
"Oh my," Kasumi replied, "I think it's wonderful, Daddy. I like Hinako, and I hope the two of you can get together."
Nabiki grimaced and added, "Mom would have wanted you to be happy, that's true. And I guess I hadn't thought about what you might be feeling with all of us growing up and eventually leaving you behind."
"B-but," Akane stammered, "She's my homeroom teacher. What will everyone think when they find out that she's dating my father?"
"We didn't really take that into consideration," Soun admitted, "but, if someone has a problem with it, they can talk to me. I'm sure I can make them see reason. I doubt she will show you any favoritism just because we have a relationship."
"Daddy, just how naïve do you think I am?" Akane asked. Then she stopped to think about the last month. She finally added, "You do have a point, I suppose. When we helped her get cured, she didn't really cut either Ranma or me any slack, even though we had to be practically intimate with her. Just don't talk to her about school. I'm not sure I could handle the embarrassment."
The little girl slowly opened her eyes to the smell of freshly brewed tea. As she sat up in the large bed, she saw an attractive woman sitting down at a table, calmly sipping from a small cup.
"Good morning, dear," the woman said, with a smile, "How are you feeling?"
The woman looked strangely familiar, with a friendly face. The little girl had mixed feelings about her. She loved the woman, but was also afraid of her. Then as she saw this odd bundle leaning against the dresser, she realized she was afraid of the contents.
"I'm a little hungry," the girl admitted. "Who are you?", she asked, her eyes looking troubled. She asked, "Who am I?" She began to panic, tears beginning to stream from her eyes. Finally, she cried, "Why can't I remember anything?"
The woman crossed over to the bed, and took the small girl in her arms, holding her close. "Hush, little one," she said, "It will be all right. You're suffering from something called amnesia, so you've forgotten many things, but we'll help you remember."
Sniffling, the little girl smiled uncertainly at the woman holding her. "Are you my mommy?" she asked, feeling that she knew the woman somehow.
"Yes, I'm your mother," the woman replied, "My name is Nodoka, and you are my daughter Genko. You have an older brother named Ranma, and an adopted sister, Ukyo. Now, why don't you get dressed, and we can get something to eat once your sister joins us."
Genko looked puzzled for a moment as what she had heard seemed to conflict slightly with what little she remembered. The names Nodoka, Ranma and Ukyo sounded familiar, though. She slid out of bed, and her mother handed her a set of clothing. As the little girl took off the Hello Kitty pajamas that she was wearing, an older girl came out of the bathroom. "Hello, Genko," the girl said, in a kind voice, "Do you remember me, sugar? I'm your sister Ukyo. You sure are a pretty little thing."
The little girl slipped into her clothing and then said, bashfully, "No, I'm sorry. I don't remember you. I remember the name, but that's all." She ran and hid behind the older woman, and peeked out from behind her. Something about her sister scared her and she didn't know what it was. It was like someone inside of her was saying, "Danger! Danger!"
"That's okay, sis," Ukyo said, with a smile, "We'll make plenty of good memories in the future. That I promise. You can't believe how I'm looking forward to helping Mom raise you." Suddenly, that bright smile seemed to look just a little bit dark.
"Are you ready for something to eat?" Nodoka asked.
In reply, the little girl's stomach growled. The older two women laughed, not unkindly. Her sister said, "Well, that hasn't changed any."
Nodoka turned to Ukyo and asked,"Could you finish packing and then meet us downstairs? There's no reason to spend another night here."
Ukyo nodded and pulled a backpack up off the floor and set it on the bed, while Nodoka and Genko walked out of the door of the hotel room. Nodoka held out her hand. Genko stared at it for a second and then grabbed it as if it were a lifeline.
"What's my sister like? She scares me for some reason," Genko asked as they walked down the long hallway.
"She's a very nice girl. I think you'll come to care for both her and her husband, Ryoga. They have a baby on the way, so you'll have a little one to play with soon," Nodoka replied.
"A baby?" Genko asked, excited.
"Uh huh, you'll be a little auntie," Nodoka replied, "Anyway, Ukyo runs a small restaurant in our hometown of Nerima. We'll be going home as soon as we finish packing. Then you can see the rest of your family."
"Do I have a big family?" the little girl asked shyly.
Nodoka smiled and said, "Yes, your brother Ranma is married to a lovely girl named Akane. She has two older sisters, Kasumi and Nabiki. Kasumi is married and Nabiki is recently engaged. And there's a young girl that I've come to care for as if she were my own named Shampoo. She just got married."
The girl put her thumb in her mouth and began sucking on it.
Nodoka gently removed the thumb and said, "Let's not start any bad habits, dear. If you do that, your permanent teeth can come in crooked."
The two of them entered the small restaurant that the flea-bitten hotel offered. Nodoka wrinkled up her nose at the faint smell of rancid grease that wafted through the air towards them and grimaced slightly. "Oh well, I've been in worse places," she said as she led her daughter to a table overlooking the busy street outside.
Genko woke from her nap and realized with a start that the train had stopped. Nodoka was gently shaking her, and then as she saw the little girl was awake, smiled and said, "We've stopped at our station. We're almost home. Did you have a good nap?"
"Yes, mommy, I did," the little girl said, "Home, that's such a nice sounding word."
"Yes, dear. It is, and I'm really glad we're back," Nodoka replied. She again held out her hand and Genko grabbed hold of it. The two of them headed down the aisle toward the exit, with Ukyo bringing up the rear. Once they exited the car, Ukyo held out her hand as well. Genko grasped her hand and the trio headed out of the station, with the little girl half-skipping between the two older women. Over her head, the two women exchanged amused looks.
"I'll walk with you to your house, Mom, but then I really want to get back to my husband," Ukyo said.
"I know you've missed him, dear, but you know why I didn't let him come," Nodoka said.
"Yes, I know. The same reason that you told Ranma to stay here as well," Ukyo said, "What are your plans?"
"Well, I need to talk to my son and let him know how things went," Nodoka replied, "and I need to take Genko out shopping for more clothes."
Genko's attention was caught as they approached an ice cream parlor. "Mommy, can we get some ice cream?" she asked.
Nodoka smiled down at the eager little girl and replied, "Why don't we wait until we get home? We're nearly there. I can fix some lunch, and I think there's a little ice cream in the freezer."
At the mention of the word lunch, Genko's eyes lit up, and she replied, "Okay, mommy. I can wait that long, I think."
"That's my good little girl," Nodoka said.
As they continued walking, the little girl saw that they were nearing a small walled compound. At the gate, Ukyo bent down and hugged the little girl and said, "Drop by the restaurant tomorrow, Mom, and I'll come with you. She needs a taste of okonomiyaki anyway." Then she hugged Nodoka, and headed off, as the other two entered the compound and headed up the flagstone path, through what appeared to be an immaculate garden, toward the front door ofa small but neat house.
Ah Sum sat next to his wife Xian Pu as they waited impatiently in the council chamber for the trial to begin. Ah Sum had just enough time to start to fidget and for Xian Pu to turn to him and hiss, #Stop That!# before the doors at the front of the chamber opened and the seven tribal Elders slowly filed out and took their place on the raised dais at the front of the chamber.
The Matriarch, sitting as the middle of the seven Elders, slowly stood up. She began to speak in a language unfamiliar to Ah Sum. He turned and shot a puzzled look at his wife, who whispered, #She's praying to our Gods in our ancient ancestral tongue.#
As the Matriarch spoke, Taro heard what sounded like an invocation to the names, Hair Ah, Fro Die Tie, De Meter and finally, The Na. Once the prayer was finished, a solemn hush fell over the audience as the Matriarch sat back down, stone-faced.
The doors at the back crashed open, and Khu Lon appeared. She made her way to the front of the room, facing the raised dais, and her fellow elders. Following her, two guards in full regalia brought forth the Elder Par Fum, who stared defiantly at the crowd.
The Matriarch said sternly, #We are here today to judge a matter affecting the honor of the Amazon tribe. This court of Joketsuzoku is now in session. Who stands in judgement?#
#The former Elder Par Fum is being brought before us today,# Khu Lon began, neither her voice or face showing signs of the pain that she felt about bringing her old friend to trial.
#What is the charge?# the Matriarch asked.
Khu Lon replied, #Interfering with the marriage of Xian Pu of the Amazons and her husband Ah Sum Taro, who defeated her in lawful combat in the land of the Rising Sun. In the course of that interference, Xian Pu was wounded and one of the attackers was killed.#
A buzz of intense conversation arose from the audience, only to die down as the Matriarch frowned in anger. #Do you have witnesses for this interference?# the Matriarch asked.
#Yes, Honored Matriarch. There are Xian Pu and Ah Sum, as well as the misguided warriors that performed the attack. There is Par Fum herself who participated,# Khu Lon stated, #There is also the testimony of the guards who came to the rescue after the alarm was sounded.#
#Very well,# the Matriarch replied, #present your case, Elder Khu Lon.#
Khu Lon turned to Xian Pu and asked, #Warrior Xian Pu, tell us what you can of the events of the previous night.#
Xian Pu blushed and asked, #Can I start with after we were awakened?#
A brief smile flashed across Khu Lon's face as the audience was filled with the sound of barely suppressed laughter. #Is it safe to assume that your marriage was consumated?# Khu Lon asked.
Xian Pu nodded her head, her cheeks flaming. Then bringing herself under control, she continued her testimony, saying, #My husband awakened me and said that he heard something at the door, and suggested that I get my sword and some cold water. I did as he suggested and ran to the bathing chamber, bringing back my sword and the water. By the time I got back, a party of warriors led by Elder Par Fum had just burst open the door and was beginning to attack. However, my Airen has a Jusenkyo curse and when I splashed him with the cold water, he changed.#
#What happened then?# Khu Lon prompted.
#Several of the warriors charged my husband with their spears. He took off the spearpoints, rendering their weapons useless, so they fell back in disarray. The next two came at us with their maces, and one of them attempted to hit me with her mace. I threw my knife at her, and caught her in her belly, taking her out of the fight. Airen took care of the other one with a swipe of his paw,# Xian Pu said proudly, #Then, Par Fum began to chant an incantation, but Airen shot her with his ink from his tentacles, blinding many of the remaining warriors, and filling the Elder's mouth with ink. They turned to flee, allowing Airen to block the doorway. I began to bind up the warriors that we had beaten, and staunched the wound of the one I had fought. Then one of the warriors attempted to attack Airen from the side so I fought her off. That is where I received my wound, and that's about all I remember.#
#Thank you, Warrior Xian Pu,# Khu Lon said. She turned to Taro and asked, #Can you add anything to the testimony you have just heard, Warrior Ah Sum?#
The crowd stirred restlessly at hearing Ah Sum called a warrior.
#In defending my wife from her attacker, I unfortunately killed the warrior,# Taro said slowly, #I regret the necessity of that action, however, I would do it again if I had to. No one attacks my Xian Pu with impunity.# His eyes flashed angrily with that avowal.
#Thank you Warrior,# Khu Lon said. Turning to the Matriarch, she added, #The testimony of all of the warriors is in front of you there. All of the ones who attacked the Warriors Xian Pu and Ah Sum state that they did so under the direction and leadership of the former Elder Par Fum. The testimony of the warriors under my command state that they saw the former Elder Par Fum in the cabin, covered with ink, and that they secured her and the remaining warriors.#
The Matriarch wearilly rubbed her eyes, and turned to Par Fum. She asked, #Do you have anything to say in your defense, Par Fum?#
Par Fum lifted her head proudly and replied, #No. I did what I did for the good of the Amazon people, as I have always done. I have spent my life in service to the tribe, and I regret none of my actions.#
The Matriarch sighed in vexation and said, #Then I have no choice but to pronounce that you are found guilty both in the attack on the Warriors Xian Pu and Ah Sum and in the death of the Warrior maiden So Ap.# She hesitated and then turned to Khu Lon. #Do you have a recommendation for punishment, Elder Khu Lon?# she asked.
Taro turned to Xian Pu and whispered, #What is the proper punishment for what happened?#
#For interferring with our marriage, the usual punishment is death,# Shampoo replied.
#There was enough death that night, can you request mercy?# Taro asked, quietly.
Xian Pu stood up and asked, #Honored Matriarch, as one of the injured parties in this matter, I would request that as much mercy be shown to this woman as possible. In recognition of her long service to the tribe, and the fact that neither my Airen nor I wish the memory of our wedding to be marred by any more deaths, I request that this favor be granted.#
Khu Lon turned to the Matriarch and replied, #I would add my wish that this request be granted. As Warrior Xian Pu has stated, Par Fum has served admirably in the past. I would request that she be banished to the retreat for the next year, there to ponder her actions. At the end of that year, I would ask the Council to judge her fitness for return to the village. Furthermore, I request that her family pay reparations for the death of the Warrior So Ap.#
The Matriarch turned to the other six Elders, who all nodded in agreement. #So be it. Punishment to begin immediately. Guards, take the prisoner to her cabin and allow her to pack. She shall be sent to the retreat on the morrow,# the Matriarch stated firmly. She paused and then added, #This Court is now over.#
The guards turned Par Fum and led her out of the coucil chamber. Khu Lon turned to follow, but stopped as the Matriarch said, #We will need to appoint a successor to the former Elder, Khu Lon. We will meet in session once the chamber is cleared.#
Shampoo turned to Taro and said, #Tomorrow, I'd like to start heading back home. I miss my other family, and you need to get to know them better.#
Taro said, #Where are we going to stay?#
#I've been living with my foster mother, Nodoka, and she said that you were welcome there until we come up with a better arrangement. But with me in high school, I can't earn too much money,# Shampoo replied.
Taro thought for a moment and then said, #It wouldn't hurt for me to continue my education, either. I wonder if I can get into college.#
Shampoo smirked and suggested, #When we get back, we can talk to Nabiki. I bet she can pull some strings and at least get you into the local school.#
Author's notes: Thanks for all of the comments, and suggestions. As always they are appreciated and encouraged. Thanks also go to my pre-reader, Taechunsa, for his suggestions. Specific comments are below:
SilverBullet23: I do need to get Ranma some advanced training. On the one hand, I'm not sure I can use the unperverted Happosai, I'll have to look closely at what I've already written to make sure it doesn't cause a paradox. On the other hand, Ranma does have Happosai's scrolls, so there's that possibility as well. On the gripping hand, most of those techniques are pretty perverted.
Blueramza: I've got several more ideas for this story. It just doesn't want to write itself as fast as my other tale.
Albert: I guess we have a bit different opinion of Ranma and Genma. Ranma almost painfully defined the word honor. Granted he did scam for free food, but that's probably the worst that he did. Genma on the other hand wouldn't know what the word meant. Plus, almost all of the training that he put Ranma that we know about from either the manga or the anime was pushing abuse. Certainly the Neko-ken was. Certainly, I've portrayed Genma as a bit more venal in this story than he may come across in the canon, but I don't think I've taken him to out of character.
Taechunsa: You're right. I have neglected his training. Thanks for the reminder. I guess my only excuse was I was concentrating on the romance/relationship part of the comedy and overlooked the martial arts side of it. Not much of an excuse.
LordStrife: Not really. I plan on taking that relationship a bit slower than it may have first appeared. That scene though was just too good to not use.
Renzuko: Yep. Ranma has great sense for combat. I figure he and Tofu would both know better than get in the middle of that mess.
Wonderbee31: Thanks. Well, here's what happens to Par Fum, at least for now. (VBG) As for Ukyo's father, I do have a few ideas percolating. As far as Genma is concerned, yeah, hopefully she'll be a better person. Though, Nodoka as a mother?