Author's Note: I have made some updates to the previous chapters, including adding a new scene to the start of chapter 3. If you haven't seen that yet, please go back and check it out.
A Mother's Secret
By JaquiK
Chapter 4: Daughter
The sunlight streaming in from the window landed in Nodoka's eyes, causing her to wake up. The eighteen year old woman let out a groan as she stretched out on the mattress, once again grateful she went and splurged on such a large and comfortable bed. She smiled to herself, thinking about her life and how 4 years ago she never would have thought she'd end up here, much less that it would actually be as a 'she'.
"Good morning, babe."
Speaking of the last 4 years of her life.
She turned to look at the pair of beautiful brown eyes, framed by that absolutely gorgeous face. "Morning Michan. What time is it?"
Kimiko Tendo gave a warm smile to her. "It's almost eleven. Sorry for not waking you up earlier Dochan. You just looked so peaceful there."
"No, it's okay. We're done with school now. We should enjoy being able to sleep in."
"Yeah, that's true. I should probably be heading home soon though."
"Hey now, you don't have to leave just yet." She brought a hand up and stroked Kimiko's long blue-black hair. She contemplated for a moment how she was finally able to grow out her own red hair, but dismissed that thought as it would also mean thinking about what happened to get to that point.
"Hmm, I don't know," Kimiko coyly pondered. "Maybe I'll stick around if I find a good enough reason for it."
"Well, I could make breakfast for the two of us. Although at this point, I guess it would have to be lunch." Nodoka then gave a salacious grin. "Or, maybe dinner if we decide to perform a repeat of last night's activities."
Kimiko's smile slowly faded and she turned away. "Right, last night. I should probably go and apologize, shouldn't I?"
Nodoka propped up on her elbows and looked over in confusion. Apologize? For what? That was probably the best night of her life. She had no idea anything could be so wonderful. "What are you talking about?"
"Come on, you don't have to hide it. It was really selfish of me."
"Michan, I still don't know what you-"
"I'm talking about the bath, okay?!" Kimiko yelled out in frustration, turning back but avoiding looking at Nodoka in the eye. "Look, I…I just wanted to be with all of you last night. I shouldn't have forced it on you though."
"Wait, is that what you're worried about? Michan, you didn't force anything on me. I'm happy that I can give you that variety. It's supposed to be the spice of life after all." Nodoka then winced slightly. Oh god, that line was terrible.
"See? You are upset about this."
"I'm not upset, Kimiko. We talked about this last night. I…" Nodoka paused, then let out a sigh and looked at the other woman on the bed through lidded eyes. "Okay, what's actually bothering you?"
"What? I just told you. I-"
"You're trying to start a fight with me. You do that when you're trying to distract yourself from something else."
"I do not!"
"Darling, I've known you for four years. I'm well aware of this by now. Please, tell me what you're upset about."
Kimiko stared down Nodoka for a few seconds, before letting out a huff and flopping onto her back. "Some relatives are coming to visit tomorrow. From some distant branch of the Tendo clan, I don't even know how many generations apart."
"Okay, so you have a little family reunion going on. What's the problem?"
"The problem is that they're bringing their son with them. He's supposed to be about a year older than me and apparently he's been training with some great martial arts master I've never heard of. What if…what if he's coming to take over as heir to the dojo? I don't think I could stand losing that."
"Hey now, Michan, it will be okay. Your dad is, well, your dad, but I seriously doubt he would pick some 37th cousin over his own daughter. Besides, even if this guy tries to take your claim, all you'll need to do is go and kick his ass."
"But what if he's really strong though?"
Nodoka then gave a smirk. "Well, in that case I'll go and kick his ass myself."
Kimiko let out a laugh and playfully swatted at Nodoka's shoulder. "Hey now, this is Tendo family business and the last time I checked, you're not a Tendo."
"Well, not right now anyway," Nodoka said in a soft voice while cupping Kimiko's cheek with her hand. "But perhaps I could be in the future."
"Do you really mean that, Dochan?"
Nodoka gave a warm smile to Kimiko. "I do." She then pulled her into a long sensuous kiss.
X
Akane was in good spirits as she got up and started to prepare for the day. Normally the night of The Anniversary would have her feeling a bit down, but hearing the stories last night really helped to elevate her mood. She couldn't help but compare the exploits of her mother and Aunt Nodoka with what she and Ranma managed to get up to. Minus the annoying suitors of course. And also the fact that their adventures centered around two girls who were the best of friends and got along great, while hers…
Heh, if only Ranma was an actual girl. Then maybe we'd-
She quickly slammed the door shut on that thought and then proceeded to brick it in as though she falsely promised the thought a cask of amontillado.
Akane rushed to get dressed in her school uniform. Staying up listening to stories also meant deciding to sleep in a bit and skipping her morning jog. She hurried out of her room towards the stairs, only to pause and let out a sigh. Her dad and Mr. Saotome 'celebrating' last night meant they would be sleeping off their hangovers in the dojo. Which meant Mr. Saotome would be skipping his morning spar with Ranma. Which meant it would be her job to wake the idiot so they wouldn't be late for school.
She turned around and headed towards Ranma's room, hoping at least this time she wouldn't need a bucket of water. "Alright, come on! Get up or you're going to miss…breakfast?" Opening the door, Akane found herself looking at an unoccupied room with even the bedrolls put away. Oh. Aunt Nodoka must have gotten him up.
The Tendo girl smiled as she remembered Ranma nodding off next to his mother the previous night. She couldn't help but chuckle imagining Nodoka struggling to actually get her child awake this morning. Then her thoughts wandered to a stubborn little girl and a mother that had to drag her out of bed on some days.
The chuckling stopped and the smile disappeared as Akane could only stare back into an empty room. Blinking a few times, she turned around and headed downstairs.
Going into the family room, she was surprised to see Kasumi alone at the dining table casually sipping on a cup of tea. Getting slightly nervous, she asked, "Did I miss breakfast? What time is it?"
Kasumi looked up with a content smile on her face. "Oh no, you're right on time. I got some help this morning and was sort of kicked out of the kitchen." She then took a long sip of her tea. "Make sure not to tell anyone, but I've rather enjoyed just sitting and relaxing."
Akane couldn't help but smile at her sister's confession. "Don't worry, I'll keep your secret safe. Hey, if you want, I could help cook sometimes."
Kasumi nearly dropped her teacup, but managed to catch herself in time. "Oh, that's quite alright, Akane. One morning is fine, but if I take any more of them off, I'm sure I'll become restless."
Before Akane could respond, a voice called out from the kitchen. "Breakfast is ready everyone."
"Oh, I'll go let Ranma know." Akane rushed out the back entryway, missing what her sister said. She took a look around the backyard, trying to see where the pigtailed martial artist was. On days where he wasn't woken up early by his father for training, which usually just amounted to an all out brawl between the two, he would still be in the backyard practicing his katas. Currently, however, she was not able to find any sign of her wayward fiancé.
Confused, she went back inside. "Hey Kasumi, do you know where-" The remainder of her question got caught in her throat as the red haired object of her search walked in from the kitchen. The large number of dishes he was balancing on his hands, arms and head wasn't what caused her to pause. It was the apron he was currently wearing. An apron that had quite a large number of ruffles on it. "Ranma? You made breakfast this morning?" she asked with a tinge of betrayal in her voice.
"Oh, um, yeah." Ranma looked down slightly, managing to not let any dishes fall over. "Mom asked if I wanted to help, so…"
"And I'm very grateful, sweetie," Nodoka said as she came in, carrying the rice container. "It was so nice getting some assistance in the kitchen."
Akane looked from Nodoka to Ranma and back to Nodoka. "But…but…why didn't you ask me?" she asked, the entire bottle of betrayal spilling out onto the canvas.
"Oh I'm sorry, Akane. You were still sleeping and I didn't want to wake you. I'm sure I could use your help for lunch later if you'd like."
"Auntie, I have school today."
"Oh." Nodoka looked down, noticing for the first time Akane's uniform. "Oh dear, I didn't even think of that."
"Think of what?" Nabiki asked, shuffling in and looking like she was struggling to solve the differential equation known as 'awake'. "Hey Sis, you got my-"
"Coffee right here, just like ya like it!" Ranma cheerfully responded, holding out a large mug of the black liquid out in front of the middle Tendo sister.
Nabiki blinked a few times, looked down at the coffee, up to the smiling redhead, then back down to the coffee again. Shaking her head, she took the mug and shuffled over to her spot at the table. "It's too damn early for this," she managed to mumble out.
Breakfast started as a relatively quiet affair with Ranma once again not having to fight his father for food. He still ate with his normal gusto, until a comment from Aunt Nodoka caused him to slow down. Akane couldn't help but notice the occasional glances he would give his mother. Like an apprehensive child waiting for approval before she went out to play. Wait, he! Before he went out to play! Akane shook her head in frustration. She was at least relieved he was no longer wearing the apron and that he did have his regular outfit on.
Nodoka looked to be completely lost in her own thoughts. As the meal neared its end she spoke up. "So, the school year is almost complete, isn't it. Did you do well on your exams, Ranma?"
Akane looked on in amusement as Ranma struggled to get out an answer. Not that he really had anything to worry about. He probably squeaked by on the finals just like she suspected he did for all his other tests, and even if that wasn't the case he'd still get moved up to Junior on the simple fact that the principal didn't want him there any longer than necessary.
"I, um, did alright I guess," Ranma finally managed to stammer out.
"You guess?" Nodoka asked in concern. "Did something go wrong? You can tell me."
"No, it's fine. It's…" Ranma quickly gulped down the rest of breakfast and stood up. "Hey Akane, we should get going or we'll be late for class."
Akane rolled her eyes and finished her own meal, then got up to follow Ranma out the door.
"Wait, where's your uniform?"
Ranma froze in the doorway and slowly turned around. "My uniform?"
"Yes, of course. If you're going to school, you should be in your uniform." Nodoka looked on in concern. "Ranma, you are going to school, aren't you?"
Akane saw Ranma looking unsure of how to respond and felt the need to intervene on behalf of her classmate (as well as fiancé she supposed). "Oh, it's a little complicated, Auntie. You see, with the whole curse and all, he-"
"Of course I'm going to school, Mom," Ranma interjected. "I, uh, just didn't put the uniform on yet because of cooking and all. One sec, I'll go get it." Before Akane could respond, the redhead quickly dashed upstairs.
Akane looked on in confusion for a few moments. Wait, he had a uniform this whole time? Okay, she understood why he wouldn't wear it at school. The sheer white shirt would be a disaster if he ever got wet in it. Although with the blazer, it wouldn't be bad. Mostly though she was a bit miffed she never got to see him in the boy's uniform.
"Oh, by the way Akane."
Akane quickly snapped out of her musings. "Yes, Auntie?"
"Last night I went and saw the tape of that cheerleader competition."
Akane paused a moment, then turned angrily towards her middle sister. "Nabiki!"
"What? I gave her the family discount."
"It's alright," Nodoka continued. "I just wanted to say it was really nice for Ranma to help out your school like that. And I was really impressed by your performance as well."
"Oh, thank you, Auntie." Something nagged in the back of Akane's mind, but she wasn't sure why.
"Right, so I would like you to be honest with me. Did Ranma do well on exams?"
"What? Oh, yes. He did just fine."
"Really, are you sure?"
"Yep, I was right there, so you have nothing to worry about."
Instead of relief, Nodoka had a look of confusion. "You were there when Ranma took the exams?"
"Huh? Oh I guess you didn't know. I'm actually in the same class as him, so I could definitely see he took all of his tests."
"Wait, I don't understand. What do mean the same-"
"Got the uniform, Mom. Just like I said," a soprano voice interrupted.
Akane turned and did a double take at what she saw in the doorway. Oh, it's THAT one. Before she could say anything, Nodoka managed to get her words out first.
"Ranma. Is…is that the high school girl's uniform?!"
Akane saw that Ranma at least had the decency to look embarrassed as he answered. "Oh, um yeah."
Nodoka stood up and walked over to her child. "Akane said you're in the same class as her."
"Oh yeah, we sit next to each other actually."
"It's quite romantic if you think about it," Nabiki interjected with a smirk on her face.
Akane rolled her eyes at her sister. "Oh yeah, it's such a dream having to deal with that idiot each day." She then winced and looked over to Nodoka. "Sorry Auntie."
Nodoka let out a small laugh. "No, it's alright. I'm sure my daughter can be quite a handful sometimes." She gave a beaming smile as she looked down at Ranma. "My beautiful genius little idiot." She then enveloped her child in a hug.
"Well, this is sweet and all," Nabiki said, standing up, "but I do have school to get to. Before she left the room, she turned and gave a quick glance to Akane.
Akane blinked a couple of times, before snapping out her stupor. She grabbed her bag and rushed out, catching up to her sister at the front gate. "Hey, it is absolutely not like that."
"Oh, whatever do you mean, dear Sister?" Nabiki nonchalantly asked while not breaking stride.
"Come on, like I don't know that 'I told you so' look. We both know that's just the uniform he borrowed for dealing with Kuno and it's the only one he has. Don't know why he hasn't returned it yet."
"Oh that's simple. He doesn't have to return the uniform because he owns it. Paid for it himself."
"Wait, really?"
"Sure. In fact, all those outfits and disguises he's used are ones he bought."
"All of them? How could he even afford that?"
"Well, part of it is thanks to a very generous line of credit I have provided."
"Nabiki!"
"Hey now, it's nowhere near as bad as you think. Besides, the modeling fees basically make up for it."
"I…hold up, what modeling fees?"
"Really Akane? With my future plans, do you think I would take the risk of not paying the person who is potentially a family member and also technically my employee? I really thought you knew better of me."
"Oh, sorry Nabiki. I shouldn't have…wait, hold on. What about those pictures you took of me?"
Nabiki let out a sigh and reached into her blouse, pulling out a small roll of yen. "I was hoping that would blow right past you. Well, here you go. 15,000 yen for services rendered," she said, tossing the roll over to her younger sister. Akane blinked a couple of times before pocketing the money quickly as they continued along. "Oh, and if you could be so kind, please refrain from mentioning this to Ranma for just a little bit," Nabiki concluded.
"Mention what to me?" asked an approaching voice behind them.
Akane jumped to the side in surprise as Ranma walked up to them. She was about to chastise him for starling her, but then realized he wasn't walking along the fence as usual. Instead he was on the sidewalk with them, slouching with his head down. Seeing the look on the redhead's face, she wanted to try and give support, to say something nice to cheer up her fiancé. "What's wrong with you?" was what she managed to get out.
Ranma glanced over to Akane. "Nothin really. Why'd you care anyway?"
Akane crossed her arms and looked away in a huff. "Look, I'm allowed to worry about someone that lives in my house."
Ranma was about to give a retort, but stopped and closed his mouth. After a few seconds he gave a little snort that Akane noted probably didn't have the effect he wanted while in his girl form. "Whatever. It's no big deal. Just Pops being an idiot again. So what's that thing you're not meant to say to me?"
"Oh, nothing too important," Nabiki casually replied. "We were just commenting on your fashion choice this morning."
"Right, definitely that," Akane said. "So you better quickly find a place to go change or else you'll be late for class."
"Nah, why bother," Ranma said, quickly shuffling past the two Tendo sisters.
Akane looked over at Ranma in surprise. "What? You're actually going to school like that?"
"Sure, it's no big deal. Not like no one hasn't seen me in it already."
"Well, yeah okay, but…you're actually going to class like that?"
Ranma stopped and spun around to look right at Akane. "Hey, ain't you at least happy I'm actually following the stupid rules for once, tomboy?"
"You know, Saotome," Nabiki interjected, "For just a small advance, I can help you get the boy's uniform."
Ranma seemed to consider the offer for a moment, before shaking it off. "Thanks, but it'd probably be a waste of money anyway. Uh, we should hurry up before we're late." The redhead turned around and started running towards the school.
Akane was just about to follow, but then heard Nabiki mutter under her breath, "I really hate when I miscalculate like this."
"Huh, what did you miscalculate?"
"Well the good news, dear Sister, is that you don't have to worry about him losing his mother."
"Yeah, I already told you that."
"Now, you just need to worry about losing him."
"What? What does that mean?"
Nabiki held out her hand, palm up. "15,100 yen."
Akane glared at her sister for a moment, before rushing off to try and catch up with Ranma.
Nodoka sat at the table in silence staring at the dishes still left out. This was preferable to her as she knew if she tried to say anything, the words would definitely not be befitting of the lady she worked so hard to become.
Fortunately for her, Kasumi decided to speak up first. "If it helps any, Auntie, this isn't the worst thing he's done."
Nodoka couldn't help but let out a small chuckle to that. "No dear, it really doesn't. But thank you anyway."
Kasumi gave a smile, then started to pick up the dishes on the table. "Well, I should get started cleaning up I suppose."
"Here, let me help you with that."
"No, it's alright, Auntie. I got this. You should go and have that discussion with your husband."
Nodoka paused and gave a glance at her katana that was set in the corner of the room. "I think it best I wait a bit. We'd have a more…civil discussion if I give him the chance to sleep off his hangover. Here, let me help out. It will make the work go faster and I can tell you some more about your mother."
"Oh, I would like that very much."
The two got to work, first washing the dishes from breakfast and then cleaning up the house. The whole while, Nodoka told her stories about her time with Kimiko, making sure to leave out certain details she felt didn't need to be said out loud.
As the two got to work hanging up the laundry outside, Nodoka said, "You know, I've talked so much, I haven't given you a chance yet. Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself, Kasumi."
"Oh, there's really not much to say. I basically spend each day taking care of the house and my little sisters. And more recently now, taking care of Ranma too."
"And I really do appreciate that, but there must be more you want for your life."
"Well, I have always been interested in medicine. The thought of healing others just appeals to me. I even used to borrow textbooks from our local doctor before he had to move away to help his mother. It's too bad. He was quite an amusing man and I learned so much with what he lent me."
"That is a lovely goal, Kasumi, but why aren't you in college for it now? Studying to be a doctor will take quite a few years."
"Yes it will, and it will also be a lot of work. Right now much more than I can afford with also handling the house and everything else. Once Akane graduates, I'll be able to go join her in college, but until then…"
Kasumi gave a long sigh. "To be honest, the end of high school was a bit of an ordeal for me, for several reasons really. Some days, I wondered if I could get past the college entrance exams and still keep everything together."
"Oh dear, I'm sorry that you had to go through that. It must have been quite a relief when you graduated last year then."
"Two years ago actually, and yes it did lift a few burdens off my shoulders. That's why I'm going to wait until my sisters have moved on before I take up any more schoolwork.
The two continued their work before something occurred to Nodoka. "Two years ago? Kasumi, doesn't that mean you're twenty now?"
"Yes, since January 23rd in fact. At the very least, I didn't have to worry about being the absolute youngest in my class."
Nodoka didn't answer, lost in her own thoughts. Well then, those two certainly didn't waste any time, did they? No! No, don't be like that. You were the one who ran away and hid. You were the one who couldn't handle it. It's no wonder that they…
"Wait, hold on. Did you say your birthday is January 23rd?"
Kasumi paused for a second, but then gave a gentle smile. "Yes, I've done the math myself. Mother said I was born almost a month premature, but just between you and me I'd like to think of it as proof my parents truly loved each other even before the arrangement happened." She turned to give Nodoka reassurance, but then noticed the other woman's white knuckles as she tightly gripped the sheet she was holding. "Auntie?"
Nodoka just stared ahead for several seconds, then closed her eyes and took a long breath. She turned towards Kasumi, giving her a gentle look that the younger woman was unsure about. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm sure what your mother said is correct, so there's no need to worry about it." She then quickly and mechanically finished hanging up the rest of the laundry. "There we go. Now, I think that's been enough time, don't you?"
Nodoka went back into the house and grabbed her katana. As she walked towards the dojo, she turned towards Kasumi and gave a bright smile. "I need to go have that talk with my husband."
