Chapter 37
Ranma listened to everything that Kasumi had just told him. He had just come back from getting his strength back. When he entered, Kasumi had something to tell him. That thing was the meeting between her and his mother. Kasumi explained the meeting and Ranma was less than thrilled. That's when she told him her plan.
"I don't know Kasumi. It isn't that I don't appreciate what you're doing for me but I'm more worried about meeting her. Her views are really out there." Ranma said.
"I understand that you're worried but I think that I can help curb a bit of those ideas of hers. The first step is that you should contact her with a letter. If you tell her some small things about yourself, then you can start the ball rolling." Kasumi explained. Ranma sat there in deep thought. He then sighed and looked at her.
"What would I even say?" Ranma asked.
"Write from your heart. You don't have to tell her everything now but you will work your way up to that." Kasumi said. She handed him a piece of paper and a pen. She stood and walked out of his room. Ranma looked at the paper and sighed. He picked up the pen and put it on the paper.
"Hi mom,"
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It's me, your son. Man, this is really hard for me to write this. The truth is I always thought that you were dead. Pops never told me about you during our trip. I recently learned about you when I took a peek of his journal. That was an eye opener. Anyway, I can tell you about that another time. Kasumi explained that I should tell you something about me. Well, here we go.
I'm sixteen now and in high school. I'm doing really well in my classes. I learned that no one wants to be trained by a dumb instructor. I've made plans to further my art. Yeah, I'm creating my own branch of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū (Anything Goes Martial Arts). I want to spread the art to as much people as I can. I've already got the grandmaster's blessing and I hope that I will have yours.
This is all I can think of right now. I hope to meet you in person one day.
Nodoka read the small letter from Ranma and couldn't help but weep at what she read. Kasumi sat across from her and allowed the woman to compose herself. Once Nodoka was okay, she faced her.
"You know, I should have recognized you the day we met. Your mother and I were good friends and she sent pictures of you and the other girls. You have grown into a beautiful young lady." Nodoka said.
"Thank you Saotome-san." Kasumi said.
"Please, you may call my auntie. It is the least I can do for helping me reunite with my son. Even if it is just a letter, I am happy. Still, I am a little concerned. How could Genma not tell him about me? Exactly what has my son gone through?" Nodoka asked.
"That I believe is between you and Ranma. Your husband has done a lot of things auntie and I don't know if you would be happy about them. My advice to you is to not push Ranma and just ease into this. If you want, I can give you the address of the dojo and you can mail him a return letter." Kasumi said.
"Thank you but I already have the address. It will be hard but I will be patient. Thank you again for this." Kasumi just gave her a smile and the two began to talk about other things.
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It had been a week for Ranma. He was sparring against Happosai who was pushing him hard. They only had four and a half months left until the tournament. Happosai was pushing him, showing him a lot and making sure that there were no interruptions to his training. He even had his old and new teachers spar with him so that he would not forget anything. Ranma did not complain, he just kept training.
From outside of the dojo, Genma, Soun and Akane watched the spar. Each had a scowl on their face because they were not allowed into the dojo when Ranma was training or when a class was going on. These were the rules that Nabiki laid out for the three and they had to obey or else. After a while, Akane decided to go to Ucchan to get some training. Soun decided to go inside and wait for dinner to be finished. Genma stood outside and continued to watch Ranma train.
Genma could help but resent his son's ability. When he was just a child, he could see huge potential in him. It was one of the reasons that he took him away from his mother so that he could bring it out. He did what was necessary to make Ranma the strongest. Sure, he did things that he himself would never do but it made him strong. He figured that the boy owed him for all his hard work into making him who he was. Then he found that damned journal.
When he found that, the boy thought he could just cut him off. He started acting like a little girl just because he was used. It was pathetic how he just ignored everything that he taught him. Then he got it in his head to break away from his teachings and create his own school. That ungrateful punk just took all his hard work and spat in his face. What was worst was that everyone was supporting this. That was something that angered him. Happosai found more value in his son than him.
Genma growled and clenched his fist. Despite the warning his got from Happosai, Genma would not have his plan ruined by the boy's selfishness. He was going to get his cushy retirement whether Ranma liked it or not.
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Akane smashed another stack of bricks. She winced a bit as she was not up to full strength. That damn hurricane that Ranma used had sent her flying into a wall. She popped her shoulder out because she did not brace herself good enough. Lucky for her, she was near her father. They both made their way to Tofu's office and were treated. In fact, Kuno, Ryoga, Genma and Ukyo also entered the clinic to be treated. She told the doctor what happened and he just sighed. He just fixed them up and let them stay at his clinic.
When she came home a few days later, Ranma was talking with her sisters. She attempted to make Ranma pay but he just ignored her. He then cheated when he tapped her injury. Nabiki told her to leave him alone. Kasumi didn't really tell her anything but did give her a disappointed glance. Akane was left to stew in her rage but she swore that she would get even with Ranma. In the meantime, she had to get even with his hussy of a girlfriend, Kodachi.
Kodachi had embarrassed her one too many times and she needed to pay. When she could not use HER dojo, she used the area behind Ukyo's restaurant or the yard next to Furinken. She would do a few katas and break bricks until she couldn't feel her fists. She swore that this time, Kodachi would not make a fool out of her.
From the grill, Ukyo just sighed as she heard Akane smash some more bricks. It was no problem with her because she could use the small bricks for repairs. However, she was kind of getting tired of Akane's company. All she wanted to do was to get back at Ranma and his allies. While she did not mind getting even with Ranma, Akane was just too weak to help her get revenge. Even Ukyo knew that she would never defeat that Kodachi girl. She was just too set in her ways when it came to training. She would never defeat anyone here with those skills.
Ukyo need a very strong ally when she got her vengeance. Kuno was out because he was the same as Akane. Mousse would be the best bet but he was kept under the thumb of those Amazons. Also, she knew that if Mousse helped her, she would be in Shampoo's crosshairs. While she was confident in her skills, Shampoo was on another level. There was that Ryoga character. He was strong and Ranma seem to respect his skills. He was definitely a person of interest in her quest of revenge.
Ukyo continued to make okonomiyaki while ignoring Akane's shouts.
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Ranma was taking a much needed break from his training. Kasumi asked him to get something for her and he agreed. He was on his way back when he caught sight of Ryoga. He wasn't wearing his usual yellow jumper and his pack had several signs. He got closer without alerting him and saw that they were signs from other dojos.
"Are you taking over the Dojo Destroyer job?" Ranma asked, alerting Ryoga. Ranma dodged the kick that was aimed at his head. He landed across from Ryoga. The boy realized that it was Ranma and he was actually happy to see him.
"Saotome, I need your help." Ryoga stated. Ranma looked at him with some surprise.
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It took all of Ranma's willpower not to laugh at Ryoga. When Ryoga told him the story of the 'Mark of the Battling God', he was a little concerned for Ryoga's mental help. Ryoga then had a small spar against him and Ranma was made into a believer. Every punch, kick and special move was beaten by Ryoga. When Ryoga showed him the mark, he nearly fell down laughing but he contained himself.
Still, Ranma had one question that he needed answered,
"So why do you want to get rid of it? You could lord this over me any time you want. With this mark, I would never be able to beat you." Ranma stated.
"You would like that wouldn't you." Ryoga snarled. "Every win against you would have an asterisk next to it. You and everyone else would say that I couldn't beat you without this mark. Well forget Saotome. When I do beat you, it will be with my own skill, not the mark. Besides, if I change into my curse, Akane would laugh at me." Ryoga said.
"And there it is, a selfish reason hidden under a noble guise. Whatever P-chan, I help you out. At least you're honorable enough." Ranma said.
"Screw you! You're not noble as well! You might have those Amazons, that crazy girl and Akane's sisters fooled but I see right through you! Because of you, my life has been hell!" Ryoga spat loudly. That's when Ranma's jovial mood changed. He got real serious and looked at Ryoga.
"Let's get something straight Hibiki," Ranma said in a tone that shocked Ryoga. The glare that he was getting worried him as well. "You don't ever call Kodachi crazy. You don't know her so keep her name out of your mouth." Ranma never liked it when Kodachi was called crazy. To him, Kodachi was a normal girl that was just misunderstood. She had her quirks but she was not crazy. Her brother, he was crazy, her father, he was crazy but Kodachi wasn't as loony as those two.
"You want to talk about 'seeing through people'? Let's talk about you. You're just mad because YOUR curse made you late and YOUR curse made you appear in China. I didn't tell your dumb ass to follow me to China after you forfeited the fight we were to have. You're just angry that you don't have a sense of direction."
"As for what led to that duel, yeah, I could have shared my bread but did you even try to make friends with me? I took your ass home sometimes but did I get a thank you? You're angry because you met someone who was just better than you and you couldn't handle it. Finally and this is the most pathetic thing, you call me dishonorable but whose using their curse to further their pursuit for a girl? Why not come clean to Akane huh? Why not tell Akane who her pet is? Because she would hate you because you used her to further your own goals."
"I'm not perfect but I can admit that I'm not. What about you?" Ranma finished his rant. Ryoga was steamed. This was just like when Ranma told him that he was at fault for his curse when they reunited. "Now, do you want my help or do you want to get lost and figure this out on your own?"
"Just help me so I can get away from you." Ryoga snarled. Ranma scoffed at him and Sat down to think. Ryoga sat away from him and tried to get his anger under control. Unknown to either male, a certain okonomiyaki had listened in to the conversation that the two had. Ukyo couldn't help but smile at what she saw. She could feel the anger coming off Ryoga. He must really hate Ranma. He would be the perfect ally against Ranma.
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Authors' Notes: I've decided that most of this story will now be mostly original. While I will still follow the plot until the end, I will be adding my own flare to it. I hope you enjoy the chapter.