** I do not own Ranma 1/2. That masterpiece is the property of Rumiko Takahashi.**
"This is our new home!" Nodoka announced as Ranma, carrying Megami (now two months old) in a baby carrier on his chest, and Genma followed her inside the quaint four bedroom house about a five minute walk from the Tendo residence. Nodoka had kept her promise to not move too far away from the Tendos. She was under the impression that Soun was lonely and wanted to keep his friend close. After everything he had done for her boys, keeping close was the least she could do.
Ranma looked around. "It's great, Mom." Megami cooed happily while kicking her legs and flailing her arms. Ranma laughed. "I think Megami likes it, too."
Nodoka put her nose up to her granddaughter's nose and smiled. "Of course she does. She knows Grandma has great taste and knows best, doesn't she?" she cooed at a happy Megami.
Ranma rolled his eyes. "Where do I put her stuff?" he asked, lifting the bags of baby things in his arms.
"Her room is the second door on the left. Yours is the first door on the left. That way, you have some privacy and easy access to her room when she needs you." Nodoka explained.
"Alright. Thanks, Mom," Ranma said as he carried Megami and some of her things to the room his mother directed him to. The door was slightly open, so he used his foot to push the door the rest of the way. "Wow, sweet pea. Grandma has already set up your room." Ranma looked around at the light pink paint with clouds on the walls.
Nodoka came up behind him. "Well, she is Grandma's little angel, isn't she?" Nodoka justified.
Ranma looked at his mom. "Half." he joked.
Nodoka playfully hit his arm. "Get her set up and let's go have dinner in our new dining room," she instructed as she gave Megami a kiss on the forehead. "Grandma will see you soon, my sweet angel." Nodoka left the room and walked back toward the kitchen.
"Alright, Mom. Be there soon." Ranma told her as he set down the bags.
Ranma saw that his daughter's new crib was set up and ready to go, complete with all kinds of angel paraphernalia. Ranma rolled his eyes. Grandchildren are always considered angels to their grandparents, but Nodoka was a little obsessive about having a grandchild who was legitimately half tennyo.
Ranma pulled Megami out of her carrier and held her over his head, smiling at her. "Hey, sweet pea. What do you think? Do you like your new room?" he asked her as he pulled her back down to his chest and turned her around to be able to see her room as she continued to kick her legs.
"Da da." Megami said.
"Pardon? What did you just say?" Ranma was shocked. "You didn't just.. Isn't it too early for you to start talking?"
"Da DA!" Megami repeated.
Ranma's heart almost blew up. "Are you actually saying 'Dada' or are you just making sounds?" Ranma asked her. Megami giggled and squealed with delight. Ranma raised an eyebrow at her, chuckled, then sighed. "Yeah, that's what I thought." He then moved to place her in her crib. Megami let out a few complaints about being put down, then turned to see a stuffed angel bear and some teething rings in there with her. She grabbed the angel and put its foot in her mouth. Ranma chuckled. "You're too cute. Lay here with your toys for a couple minutes. Daddy is going to get some more stuff set up."
Ranma then took a look around at what work he could get done in his daughter's room while he was there. He decided that the baby monitor would be the next best thing, and started pulling it out of the box. After he was done with the baby monitor, he directed his attention to some boxes of items on the floor that needed to be put away. He pulled Miyuki's photo out of the first box and stared at it for a few moments.
"Knock, knock!" Nabiki said at the doorway where she stood with her two sisters.
"Hey guys. Come to check out the new house?" Ranma asked as he quickly placed the photo on the nightstand beside Megami's crib.
"Yes! I wanted to see Megami's new room so badly," Kasumi said, excited. "Hello, sweet girl! How is my favourite baby girl doing today? Do you like your new room?" Kasumi cooed at the baby while tickling her belly. Megami let out another little gleeful squeal, happy that someone was paying attention to her.
"Her room is.. very pink and.. angelic. You didn't decorate this yourself. Did you, Ranma?" Akane teased.
Ranma laughed. "Definitely not. If I had my way for her, the whole thing would be martial arts themed. Until I start paying rent, I doubt I'll get much of a say in that."
"No surprise there." Nabiki rolled her eyes.
"It's going to be a big change not living at the Tendo house anymore. I wanted to let you know that I really appreciate everything you've all done for me and my family. I'm sorry you guys had to see me at my worst. I hope this space can really help mend things between us all." Ranma said.
The three girls smiled and nodded.
"Da da!" Megami yelled from the crib.
Akane's eyes widened. "Did she just say 'Dada'?"
"Naturally." Ranma chuckled, pretending for a moment that his daughter had actually learned how to say 'Dada' at two months old. "She's obviously a genius. Takes after her father, you know. Except, I'm almost positive it doesn't mean anything. She's probably just making sounds."
Kasumi smiled at him. "She will say it for real one day, Ranma. Are you ready for that?"
Ranma laughed. "I'm 18, Kasumi. I'm not ready for any of this. It's just all happening anyway."
"So, your mother invited us for your first dinner in your new home. Kind of a celebration and a thank you for our hospitality. She sent us up here to tell you it will be ready soon and to bring Megami with you." Akane told him.
Ranma nodded, then walked over to the crib to pick up Megami. Kasumi stopped him. "Do.. you mind if I carry her? I'm going to miss her being in our house so much and I'd like to get as much baby time as I can."
Ranma smiled and nodded, backing away to allow Kasumi to pick up Megami. "You know, we didn't move far. We will see you all the time. I'm sure Megami would insist."
Kasumi smiled brightly as she lifted Megami and put her on her hip. "Thank you, Ranma. Come on, sweet girl. Let's go see Grandma." Megami let out a happy yell.
A couple more months passed. Megami was growing, Ranma was adjusting to his new normal, Akane and Kaze started going on more dates even though Kaze spent nearly all of his time as a human now, Ukyo and Ryoga were inseparable and, as it turns out, Shampoo and Kodachi had no issues with Ranma having a baby with another woman so long as that woman was not in the picture. Ukyo was one of Megami's biggest fans.
That night, Genma and Soun were playing a game of shogi at the Tendo residence over several rounds of sake.
"Well, Tendo. Looks like you're cheating." Genma raised an eyebrow at his friend after looking up from the board where he was clearly losing.
"Now, now, Saotome. I don't cheat. Not like your son." Tendo fired back.
"People make mistakes, Tendo." Genma said as he adjusted his glasses. "Just like you!" he cried out as he discovered a winning move on the board.
"True, Saotome. However, your son's mistake has cost us the joining of the schools. Just like mine has set you up for failure!" Soun said as he realized his own move on the board and excitedly moved his piece across the board.
"But, does it have to, Tendo? Ranma has a child now, yes, but he isn't married or engaged to any other woman. Seems to me that there are still two heirs that are eligible for marriage. If Akane can deal with a child, then it seems to me that the schools could be still be joined." Genma told him.
"This is true, Saotome. It then poses the question.. Can our schools still be joined with a child in the picture? Will Akane accept a child that isn't hers?" Soun sat thoughtfully.
"I see no reason why not, Tendo. Akane is a nice girl. I'm sure she would make a great step mother." Genma crossed his arms.
"So, we should tell the children that they are still engaged! I think Akane forgave Ranma a some time ago, so I see no reason why they still can't be wed like we planned!" Soun announced happily.
"There is still the issue of the other man she's seeing." Genma gave his friend a stern look.
"I'm sure that won't be an issue. We need a master of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts as the heir to the dojo, and that's Ranma. I will speak with my daughter. We will secure the schools." Soun said, laughing.
Genma nodded. Tears started to flow between the two men as they basked in their ability to have come up with such a brilliant solution to their problem.
"Come on, Megami. You can do it!" Kasumi called over to the now six month old infant who Ranma had brought over to the Tendo residence for a visit.
Ranma chuckled. "Soon, Kasumi. She's almost there," he told her.
Megami sat on her hands and knees, bouncing her bottom half in anticipation of making herself mobile. Her hair had grown into adorable blonde curls that bounced on top of her head with a little bow to the side. She made little grunting sounds as she readied herself for movement.
"You just don't want to have to start chasing her around," Kaze, who sat crossed legged near his niece watching her, said.
Ranma laughed. "I can handle chasing a kid around. Just like I've handled everything else so far."
"Don't be too sure, Ranma," Akane said, sitting herself next to Kaze. "It's going to be exhausting. She's going to get into everything. I hope your house is baby-proofed."
"You know my mother had that place baby-proofed the second after we moved in," Ranma told her. "She's an overbearing grandmother."
"She's doing it!" Kasumi cried happily as she motioned for everyone to watch the baby.
Megami started to move toward Kasumi, but only a few strides before she abandoned the mission and moved herself into a sitting position. Megami started clapping happily while she let out a little laugh looking around at the faces watching her. Clearly she had done something to please her audience and she was going to capitalize on that by cheering along with them.
"You did it, sweet pea!" Ranma scooped her up and tossed her in the air. He brought her down and kissed her cheek. "I'm so proud of you!" Megami laughed and squealed.
Akane, Kasumi and Kaze all smiled and clapped for Megami.
The TV was playing in the background. Soun had his back to the others, watching the news. The children, so far, have ignored his announcement that the engagement was still on, which frustrated him immensely. He sat silently with a frown, his eyes never wavering from the screen in front of him. Why can't those two see that it's for the good of the family dojo. It's their responsibility as Anything Goes Martial Artists! My daughters love the baby, so what's the problem? I need to have another meeting with Saotome..
Megami smiled up. "Dada!" She hugged her father.
"That's a real 'Dada'!" Kasumi said.
"Yeah, she's been saying it for a little while now. Right, sweet pea? You love your Dada?" Ranma nuzzled her nose against hers as he spoke in a baby voice.
"Who would have thought that you were going to be such a doting father, Ranma? I don't think I would have ever pictured this." Akane laughed at him
"Who wouldn't be with a kiddo that cute?" Kaze laughed as he put his arm around Akane.
"Of course she's cute. She looks like you and your family." Akane teased.
"Hey! She looks at least a little like me!" Ranma argued.
"Sure she does, Ranma," Kaze laughed.
"She has your nose, ears and eye shape, Ranma." Kasumi smiled.
"See? Kasumi sees it!" Ranma raised his head with pride.
"Yesterday in Canada, a young couple claimed to have seen a homeless man transform into a young girl right before their eyes after accidentally splashing the man with tea." The reporter on the television announced.
The broadcast continued. "Yeah, we were just walking along to the convention center and I accidentally tripped on my own shoelace and then my Tim Horton's tea went flying and my drink went all over him. Before I even had time to apologize or check if he was burned, we watched him turn into a woman! I know it sounds crazy, but we swear it's true! Then, the woman ran away from us like she was the one who was scared! My boyfriend was there, too. It wasn't just me who saw it." The woman spoke into the camera in English, but had a Japanese dub overtop to translate for the Japanese audience. A man, probably her boyfriend, stood beside her nodding.
"Investigators are still looking for the man and/or woman in question. The police in Canada have received sketches of both the man in question and the woman he allegedly turned into. The sketches can be located on our website. Many believe the allegations are false or that the couple simply have mental health issues and imagined the change. It's possible, but stranger things have happened. We will provide you with further details as they become available," the reporter concluded.
"Did you hear what I just heard?" Ranma looked at Kaze as he placed Megami back down on the floor. Megami protested.
Kaze nodded. "That is strange. Do you think it's someone who is Jusenkyo cursed?" he asked.
"Hey Soun!" Ranma called Soun. "Where in Canada is that coming from?" Ranma asked.
Sound scoffed. "Well, now all of a sudden you guys want to hear what I have to say. Funny, how you guys want my input when it suits you but not when it suits the school."
Ranma and Akane deadpanned. "Daddy, please could you tell us," Akane added.
"Agree to be married and I'll tell you," Soun said with quite a bit of sass.
"Daddy, we need to know. There may be someone there that needs our help." Akane gently told her father.
"It's Toronto." Soun said quickly, then turned his attention back to the television.
Ranma rolled his eyes. "Well, I don't know about how I would get there, but at least we have a location. There's no way I could afford a ticket all the way to Canada."
Kaze smiled. "Well, I can get to Canada."
Ranma looked at him questioningly. "How so? Are you rich all of a sudden?"
Kaze smiled larger. "No, but I can still turn into a tennin. When I'm tennin, I can fly incredibly fast. I could make it to Canada in no time."
Ranma nodded. "You've been in human form so long, I sometimes forget. You could go check things out in Canada and let us know what you find when you get back."
Kaze nodded. "Yes, but, because I'm not going to the heavens, I could bring you with me. I could use some help checking things out," Kaze smirked.
"What? How?" Ranma asked.
Kaze chuckled. "I could simply carry you. It would be really fast, so you would need to be prepared for that."
Ranma's eyes widened. "That's crazy! Let's do it!" Ranma said excited, then flinched as he heard Megami coo at him. His face fell. "Wait, I can't just take off like I used to. I have a kid now to worry about. What about Megami?" he said.
Megami crawled the two feet over to Kasumi. "Baby girl! You did it again! Great job! You'll be walking in no time!" Kasumi picked up Megami and cuddled her as she squealed happily. "Mama!" Megami yelled.
Everyone's face dropped. "I'm.. I'm sure she's just making noises. I'm sure she just doesn't understand what that means yet!" Kasumi defended.
"It's okay, Kasumi. It's impossible to have that conversation with her now. I dread the day that I have to tell her why she doesn't have a mom," Ranma said, sadly looking over to his daughter who looked so much like her mother.
Kasumi smiled. "I would love to watch her for you while you go with Kaze to Canada. I promise that I won't let her think I'm her mother," she offered eagerly.
Ranma laughed. "I really appreciate that, Kasumi. Something in my gut tells me we need to go see what this whole thing is about. I promise to be as quick as possible." he told her.
"We will manage just fine," Kasumi smiled at Megami as she handed her a toy, which Megami gleefully took from her.
Akane appeared with hot water ready and poured it on Kaze. The room lit up as the divine energy emerged, changing Kaze from a human to a celestial being once again.
Ranma looked at Kaze. "Alright then. Let's go."
Ranma picked up Megami and hugged her. "Daddy has to go out for a little bit. You stay here and play with Kasumi and Akane. I'll be back as soon as I can. Okay?" Megami made several happy noises as her legs kicked under her. Ranma lightly laughed. "I'll miss you, sweet pea." He gave her another hug. He then placed a kiss on her cheek and placed her back on the floor in front of Kasumi.
Kaze motioned for Ranma to climb into his arms. Ranma raised an eyebrow at him. "I don't think so, man." he chuckled.
"How did you think this was going to work, Ranma?" Kaze asked.
"Ugh." Ranma groaned as he climbed into Kaze's arms to be carried.
Kaze looked at the girls. "We will be back soon." He and Ranma vanished.